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Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra has set his sights firmly on the Paris Olympic Games, scheduled to commence on July 26 in France. Competing in his first domestic competition since his historic gold medal triumph at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Chopra showcased his dominance by securing the gold medal with a throw of 82.27m."Winning an Olympic gold medal is far more glorious than breaking the 90m barrier," Chopra asserted. "I will undoubtedly break that barrier, but my primary focus right now is to make a significant impact at the Paris Games."Chopra acknowledged that he had anticipated a strong challenge from Manu DP, but DP's rhythm faltered, preventing him from surpassing the 85m mark. Manu DP of Karnataka finished second, while Uttam Patil of Maharashtra claimed third place with a throw of 78.39m.Asian Games medalist Kishore Kumar Jena finished fifth with a throw of 75.49m, while Shivpal Singh, another prominent thrower, was eliminated in the preliminary round. Only the top eight athletes advanced to the medal round.Chopra commenced his 2024 season with a second-place finish (88.36m) at the Doha Diamond League. Following his domestic competition in Bhubaneswar, he plans to compete in Europe as part of his preparations for the Paris Olympic Games.He has meticulously planned his Olympic preparations, including competitions in Ostrava (Czech Republic) on May 28 and Turku (Finland) in June. After these events, he will evaluate his fitness and make further decisions. "I will assess how my body and mind respond to these high-quality competitions and then make a call," he explained.Chopra's personal best and national record of 89.94m was set in 2022. The champion thrower expressed his confidence in breaking the 90m barrier on a good day. "I prefer to prioritize winning over distance," he emphasized.As the "golden boy" of Indian track and field, Chopra was thrilled to witness the enthusiasm of young fans at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. "I'm excited to see so many supporters at the stadium," he remarked.

Indian athletes faced a disappointing day at the ongoing Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, with long jumper Jeswin Aldrin and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor failing to meet the Paris Olympics qualification mark.Aldrin, who holds the national record of 8.42m, managed a best effort of 7.99m, falling short of the Olympic entry standard of 8.27m. Despite his below-par performance, Aldrin remains in contention for Paris by virtue of his rankings. He is currently placed 26th in the Road to Paris rankings and needs to stay within the top-32 by June 30 to secure his berth.Asian record holder Toor also had a disappointing outing, with his best throw of 20.38m falling well short of the automatic qualification mark of 21.50m for the Paris Games. Toor's personal best of 21.77m came outside the qualification window last June.With the June 30 deadline for direct entry looming, Toor will have to make the most of the remaining domestic events to improve his performance. He is scheduled to compete in the Indian GP 2 in Chennai on May 30, Indian GP 3 in Bengaluru on June 12, and National Inter State Championships in Panchkula from June 27-30.In the men's 3000m steeplechase, Madhya Pradesh's Sumit Kumar took the top spot with a time of 8:39.67m. Reigning Asian Games champion Avinash Sable is the only Indian male steeplechaser to have booked the Paris ticket by meeting the entry standard of 8:15.00.The last day of the competition will witness the return of Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra. Chopra, who won the historic gold medal in Tokyo, will compete in India for the first time since his triumph. He will be joined by Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Jena and Asian Championships silver medallist DP Manu, who will chase a direct ticket to Paris.

Indian athletes are embracing a new training strategy in preparation for the Paris Olympics, opting for short, objective-specific training camps abroad. These camps provide access to world-class facilities, sparring partners, and coaching expertise that are not readily available in India.Priyanka Goswami, India's leading race walker, has been forced to adjust her training plans due to visa issues. Despite the setback, she remains committed to her goal of competing at the highest level. Her training regimen includes stints in Switzerland, France, and Germany, where she will focus on improving her technique and endurance.Sharath Kamal, India's top male paddler, has also opted for an overseas training camp in Germany. The 41-year-old is seeking to sharpen his skills and intensity on the table in preparation for the Olympics. He believes that training with world-class players will help him identify and address areas for improvement.Other Indian athletes who have benefited from overseas training camps include boxers Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Preeti Pawar, who spent time in Turkey sparring with boxers of varied styles. Wrestler Anshu Malik credits a month-long training stint in Japan for her technical developments.The primary benefit of these overseas camps is the opportunity to engage with quality sparring partners, especially in contact sports like boxing and wrestling. However, other factors, such as access to ideal training conditions and equipment, can also play a role.For Priyanka, finding flat roads for training in high-altitude places in India is a challenge. Hence, she has opted for a month-long camp in Switzerland's Saint Moritz. Sharath, on the other hand, chose to move to Germany because the tables and balls there mirror the ones at the Paris Games.These overseas training camps are a testament to the growing professionalism and dedication of Indian athletes. By embracing this new strategy, they are maximizing their chances of success on the world stage.

India's Olympic wrestling hopes have been dampened after only one male freestyle wrestler, Aman Sehrawat, qualified for the Paris Games. Sujeet Kalkal and Jaideep Ahlawat's losses in the repechage rounds at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul dashed India's chances of sending more men to the Olympics.Wrestling was India's most successful sport at the Tokyo Olympics, with Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia winning silver and bronze medals, respectively. However, the sport has been plagued by turmoil in the past year due to protests and a lack of national camps.Sujeet's failure to qualify also ends Punia's hopes of competing in Paris. Dahiya remains in contention, but he will have to prove his worth in selection trials scheduled for June 10.In women's wrestling, India has secured quotas through Vinesh Phogat, Antim Panghal, Anshu Malik, Nisha Dahiya, and Reetika Hooda. Vinesh, who has been at the forefront of the wrestling protests, has the option to compete in either 50kg or 53kg.WFI president Sanjay Singh emphasized that Vinesh must choose one weight class for the trials. "She has to choose between 50kg and 53kg; whichever weight she gives her weigh-in, she can compete in that," Singh said.Despite the challenges, India's wrestlers remain determined to make their mark in Paris. However, the lack of preparation and turmoil within the sport have raised concerns about their ability to replicate their success from Tokyo.

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has set his sights on victory in the next Diamond League meeting after finishing a close second in the Doha leg.Chopra's second-place finish in Doha was a mere two centimeters behind Jakub Vadlejch's winning throw of 88.38m. The 26-year-old Chopra trailed the veteran Czech throughout the competition, but his final effort of 88.36m fell just short of the top spot.Despite the narrow margin, Chopra remained upbeat and expressed his determination to improve in the next meeting. "The most important competition for me this year is the Paris Olympics, but Diamond League meetings are important too," Chopra said. "This was the opener for me this season, I finished second with a narrow two-centimeter margin, but next time I will try to draw far and try to win."The next Diamond League meeting featuring men's javelin will be held in Paris on July 7. Chopra also expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the Indian diaspora in Qatar. "The support I am getting from the Indian people here in Qatar is always amazing," he said. "There aren't words enough for me to thank them for their support."Chopra's performance in Doha was a promising start to his season, and he will be looking to build on it in the upcoming meetings. The top six javelin throwers will compete in the Diamond League Finals in Brussels on September 13-14, and Chopra will be aiming to lift the DL champion's trophy.

Indian Shooters Gear Up for Paris Olympic Trials in BhopalThe Indian shooting contingent is set to resume their quest for Olympic glory as the third and fourth Olympic Selection Trials (OST) commence in Bhopal on Saturday. With 16 Paris quota places secured in pistol and rifle events, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is conducting trials among the top five shooters in each event to determine the squad for the Games.In shooting, Olympic quotas are earned for the country, but individual shooters must prove their worth in selection trials to secure their berths in Paris. The top two shooters in each event, based on the average of their best three trial scores out of four, will represent India at the Olympics.The first two trials were held in New Delhi last month, and the MP State Shooting Academy in Bhopal will host the remaining trials over the next nine days. The opening day will feature the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol and women's 25m pistol T3 qualification rounds, with the finals scheduled for Sunday.A total of 16 matches across eight Olympic rifle and pistol individual events will be held, culminating in the men's and women's 10m air rifle T4 finals on May 19. Three women shooters, Olympian Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan, are vying for multiple events, including the 25m sport pistol and 10m air pistol.Among the favorites in the men's rapid-fire pistol event are Anish Bhanwala and Vijayveer Sidhu, who hold quota places and have performed well in the first two trials. In the 25m sport pistol, Manu and Esha have emerged as strong contenders after the initial trials.Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Ashi Chouksey will renew their rivalry for Olympic spots in the men's and women's 50m rifle 3 positions, respectively.The trials will be a crucial test for the Indian shooters as they aim to secure their places in the Paris Olympic squad. With the competition expected to be intense, the top performers will have the opportunity to represent their country on the world's biggest sporting stage.

Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and world javelin champion, will kick off his season at the Doha Diamond League 2024 on Friday at the Qatar Sports Club. Joining him will be fellow Indian Kishore Jena, who will also make his Diamond League debut.Both athletes have already secured their spots at the Paris Olympics. They last competed at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where Jena won silver and Chopra took gold. Chopra is the only Indian athlete to have won a Diamond League title, which he achieved in Zurich in 2022. He lost the title last year to Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch, who is also competing this year and won silver at the Tokyo Olympics.Chopra is aiming to break the 90-meter barrier. "I've been training well and have had some good throwing sessions leading up to this event," he said. "I'm in form, but I don't know...there are three throwers over 90m. I'm still not there."Vadlejch has a personal best of 90.88m, while Anderson Peters has a personal best of 93.07m and Julius Yego boasts 92.72m. "I'm stuck between 88 and 90m. But I really want to break this barrier. Maybe tomorrow, it will be good," Chopra said.

National record holder Jyothi Yarraji has made a triumphant start to her outdoor season, claiming gold in the 100m hurdles at the Harry Schulting Games in Vught, the Netherlands. The 24-year-old clocked a time of 12.87 seconds, her fourth career best, to secure victory in the World Athletics category E event.Yarraji's performance is a testament to her consistent progress and unwavering determination. Last year, she made history by winning a silver medal in the 100m hurdles at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Her impressive display in Vught suggests that she is well on track to qualify for the Paris Olympics, even though she has yet to meet the qualifying standard of 12.77 seconds.Currently ranked 26th on the World Athletics Road to Paris list, Yarraji is poised to secure a spot in the Olympic field through world rankings. Only 25 athletes will qualify for the women's 100m hurdles in Paris based on entry standard, while 15 will earn their place through world rankings.Yarraji's national record stands at 12.78 seconds, a mark she set during the World University Games last year. Her versatility was evident in February when she claimed gold in the 60m hurdles at the Asian Indoor Championships in Tehran.Yarraji's success is a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes in India and around the world. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and her ability to overcome challenges serve as a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.

Shaili Singh, India's rising star in women's long jump, has been consistently ranked among the top three in the country. However, her struggles to surpass her personal best of 6.59m, set at the 2019 World Under-20 Championships, have raised concerns.At the recent Indian Grand Prix 1, Singh jumped 6.52m to secure the top spot. While this performance is commendable, it falls short of the Paris Olympics qualification mark of 6.86m. No Indian woman has ever achieved this distance.Singh's mentors, Anju Bobby George and Robert Bobby George, remain confident in her abilities. They believe she has the potential to not only qualify for her maiden Olympics but also consistently jump in the range of 6.80m."Qualifying by entry standard will be superb, but we are targeting the rankings route," said Robert.Anju believes Singh can come close to 6.86m during the qualification period. "All she needs are some minor technical adjustments. These things take time to become muscle memory, but Shaili can certainly break my national record," she said.Anju's national record of 6.83m has stood for 20 years, while Singh's best is 6.76m."I would back her among the current crop to break my record. If she does it at the Olympics, that'll be a wonderful story," Anju added.Singh's journey to the Paris Olympics will be a learning curve. India will also hope for strong performances from Hangzhou Asian Games silver medalist Ancy Sojan (PB 6.63) and Nayana James (PB 6.67m).Robert is ambitious about Singh's potential. "Our target is a top-eight finish, and even that will take a few perfect jumps from her," he said.To achieve this, Singh must consistently jump over 6.80m, which means 6.70m-plus jumps in training. "Usually, there's a 10cm increment from training to competitions because we give 3-4 days of recovery time before the events. As of now, she jumps 6-60-6.65m in training."Robert and Anju have identified key technical areas to work on, including adjusting her center of mass before take-off and improving her hip extension.Singh has faced challenges with injuries and illness. A lower-back injury sidelined her for nine months in 2022, and she took three months to recover from Covid-19 last year. A disappointing fifth-place finish at the Asian Games, where a bad landing led to a shoulder injury, further hindered her progress.Despite these setbacks, Singh remains determined to achieve her Olympic dream. With the support of her mentors and her own unwavering spirit, she has the potential to make history for Indian athletics.