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Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, has effortlessly qualified for the javelin throw final at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. With a season's best throw of 89.34 meters in his first attempt, Chopra sent a clear message to his rivals.The qualification standard was set at 84.00 meters, and Chopra's throw was well above that mark. The other Indian in the fray, Kishore Jena, could not make the final, with his best attempt being 80.73 meters.The final promises to be a thrilling affair, with Chopra's Czech rival Jakub Valdech, who has a personal best of 99.88 meters, also in the mix. Valdech, like Chopra, needed only one throw to qualify, registering a distance of 85.63 meters. Germany's Julian Weber also impressed with an 87.78-meter attempt.Chopra's ability to perform at his peak during major events sets him apart. He is a rare Indian athlete who is a favorite for gold in a track and field event. Pakistan's Nadeem Arshad and Grenada's Anderson Peters also qualified automatically with season's best throws of 86.59 meters and 88.63 meters, respectively.The qualification round was of exceptional quality, with five of the finalists posting their season's best throws. India's qualification comes after a disappointing day at the Games, with Lakshya Sen missing out on a bronze medal in badminton, the mixed skeet shooters team losing a bronze medal playoff, and wrestler Nisha Dahiya suffering an injury and losing her quarterfinal bout.

India's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, has emerged as a formidable force at the Paris Olympics, defying adversity and showcasing unwavering resilience. Their stunning victory against Great Britain in the quarterfinals has ignited a belief within the squad that they possess something special.The team's journey to the semifinals has been marked by a series of challenges, including a narrow escape against New Zealand and a hard-fought draw with Ireland. However, they have risen to the occasion, displaying exceptional attacking prowess against Australia and a masterclass in defense against Great Britain.Harmanpreet Singh attributes their success to a newfound team spirit and a belief that they can overcome any obstacle. "The kind of situation that happened in the match and we still managed to win, I think something is there," he said. "We are just two steps (away)."The next step for India is a daunting semifinal clash against Germany, the reigning World Cup champions. Germany boasts a formidable attack, led by drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat, and a strong defense. However, India's confidence is sky-high after their victory against Great Britain."If we can win from one man down, then we can definitely beat any team playing with 11 men," said Manpreet Singh, the captain of the Tokyo Olympics team. "If we have beaten Australia, we can beat any team in the world."Mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton has played a crucial role in developing the team's resilience. "We've worked hard on it, but it was only ever going to be revealed when the rubber hit the road," he said. "Now we've seen they have resilience."Despite the suspension of Amit Rohidas for the Germany match, India remains determined to make history. They have proven their ability to adapt and overcome adversity, and they are now within touching distance of a medal of a different color than the bronze they won in Tokyo.

Indian hockey's legendary goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh, etched his name in history once again with a heartwarming gesture during the team's thrilling victory over Great Britain in the Paris Olympics 2024 quarter-finals.As the Indian team celebrated their hard-fought 4-2 shootout win, Sreejesh's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for his wife, Aneeshya. In a moment of pure love and gratitude, he pointed to the camera, revealing her name proudly written on his hockey stick.This heartfelt gesture captured the hearts of millions on social media, with fans praising Sreejesh's dedication and love for his family. "Emotions," wrote one fan, while another exclaimed, "Congratulations Team India!"Sreejesh's performance on the field was equally remarkable. The veteran goalkeeper made several crucial saves throughout the match, denying Great Britain scoring opportunities and inspiring his teammates. In the penalty shootout, he saved two shots, helping India secure a place in the semifinals.After the match, Sreejesh expressed his gratitude to his team and his wife. "It's a daily job of a goalie," he said. "But today is our day. Even in the shootout, the guys who took shots didn't disappoint.""They scored and that gave me enough confidence," he added.Sreejesh's performance and gesture have become a symbol of the Indian team's resilience and determination. As they prepare for the semifinals, the team will undoubtedly draw inspiration from their goalkeeper's unwavering spirit and love for his family.

Legendary Pakistani hockey player Hassan Sardar has expressed his belief that Team India has the potential to end their long wait for an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games 2024. India's impressive performance in the ongoing Summer Games, where they defeated Great Britain in a thrilling shootout to enter the semi-finals, has caught the attention of Sardar.India's last Olympic gold medal in hockey came at the 1980 Moscow Games, and they will be hoping to break their drought in Paris. Sardar, who played a key role in leading Pakistan to a gold medal at the 1984 LA Olympics, believes that the current Indian team has the talent and determination to achieve success."I always support India when Pakistan is not playing cricket or hockey," Sardar said. "It's a much better side and one of the best Indian teams I have seen. They have improved a lot and they are giving hard times to the Europeans. They (India) can win and they should win this Olympics."Sardar praised India's performance against Australia in the group stage, highlighting their mental strength and ability to adapt to different situations. He also shared some valuable advice for the Harmanpreet-led side ahead of their semi-final clash against Germany."When we won the Asian gold against India, we only focused on taking the lead and doubling it," Sardar said. "Both teams played well but we were lucky that we could score so many goals. Mental strength is the most important aspect in crucial matches. The Germans are a tough team."Sardar emphasized the importance of short passes, preventing counter-attacks, and scoring from penalty corners against Germany. He also advised the Indian team to stay calm and play as a unit, even when things are not going their way.India will be without key defender Amit Rohidas for the semi-final against Germany after his one-match suspension was upheld by the FIH. However, Sardar believes that the team has the depth and quality to overcome this setback.

Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy in athletics, is poised to defend his Olympic title at the Paris Games 2024. The reigning Olympic champion arrived in Paris last month, ready to make his mark on the world stage once again.Chopra is an integral part of the 29-member Indian athletics contingent at the Summer Games. The Indian team will be hoping to add to the nation's medal tally in the 16 athletics events at the Paris Olympics.Athletics events at the Summer Olympics commenced on August 1, with all track and field events taking place at the iconic Stade de France in Paris. Chopra will be joined by Kishore Jena in the men's javelin competition. Jena won a silver medal for India at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, finishing behind Chopra.Chopra's journey to the Paris Olympics has been marked by remarkable achievements. He won India's first-ever Olympic gold in athletics at the Tokyo Games, followed by the Diamond League title in 2022 and the Asian Games gold medal in 2023.The reigning world champion in javelin throw is set to kickstart his campaign at the Paris Games 2024 this week. Chopra will headline the javelin throw event on Tuesday (August 6), with the qualification round getting underway at 1:50 pm. The Group A action will be followed by Group B at 3:20 pm on the same day.If Chopra advances from the qualification round, he will defend his gold medal in the final. The men's final of the javelin throw is scheduled to begin at 11:55 pm IST on August 8 (Sunday). Chopra and Jena will lead India's charge in the summit clash.Indian fans can watch the live broadcast of the Paris Olympics 2024 on multiple channels of the Sports18 Network. Sports18 1 and Sports18 1 HD are broadcasting the Paris Olympics in English, while Tamil and Telugu options are also available. Sports18 Khel and Sports18 2 are presenting the Summer games in Hindi.The Paris Olympics 2024 is also available for a livestream on the JioCinema app and website. Fans can watch the live stream of multiple events free of cost in India.

In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the Paris Olympics, veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a pivotal role in his team's 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Great Britain. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Sreejesh making several crucial saves to keep India in the game.Sreejesh, who is playing in his last international tournament, was the star of the show. He denied Great Britain numerous scoring opportunities, including a penalty stroke in the second half. In the penalty shootout, he saved two shots to help India secure the win."It's a daily job of a goalie," Sreejesh said after the match. "Some days it's a different effort, but today is our day. Even in the shootout, the guys who took shots didn't disappoint."India played with great determination and unity, forcing the match into a penalty shootout. Sreejesh said it was a "do-or-die" situation for him, and he was ready to give it his all."When I stepped on this field today, there were two options for me," he said. "This can be my last match, or I got an opportunity for two more matches, and I think, yeah, I got two more matches now."Sreejesh said India will focus on their own game in the semifinals. "Whoever comes in the semis, we (will) just play our game," he said. "That's it, that's important, because now it's a different game, because we are one man down and we need to focus on that now."India will wait for the FIH's decision on the red card shown to Amit Rohidas with more than 40 minutes left in the game. "I don't know how it's going to be," Sreejesh said. "They must take a decision on that. We are just waiting for that, but still, we need to play our best game in the semifinals."

For most teams, the Olympics is a meticulously planned four-year cycle, from player selection to training regimens and target setting. However, for the Indian men's hockey team, Craig Fulton had just five months to prepare them for the Olympic qualifiers. Now, as the team prepares to take the field for their opening game on Sunday, Fulton will have been in charge for exactly 15 months.For the Indian team, this is nothing new. The team and the sport have witnessed a revolving door of coaches and playing styles over the years, leading to a remarkable adaptability among the players.In a candid conversation, Fulton and captain Harmanpreet Singh, the duo responsible for India's hockey fortunes in Paris, shared their insights:Partnership and Communication:"He's like a big brother," says Harmanpreet about Fulton. "We have open discussions on every situation with the team. The trust is very high."Fulton echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of trust in building a strong partnership. "Once you have that, you can be honest and then you can move mountains."Team Environment and Expectations:"The expectation is through the roof," says Fulton. "But we have a good environment and a good staff."Harmanpreet adds, "We are very close to what we want to achieve in major tournaments."Leadership and Growth:As captain, Harmanpreet has embraced his responsibilities. "I think the big change is you have more responsibilities and need to talk more, be a good communicator and guide the team."He has also experienced personal growth. "I have become a father so patience levels have skyrocketed! But seriously, as a senior player and with growing maturity, you learn to handle different situations and play smartly."Team Composition and Strategy:Fulton explains the team's selection process. "What strengths we have in the squad, what do we need for who we playing against, how do we play our best hockey?"He believes the team's chemistry and balance in attack and defense are key to their success.Rankings and Pressure:"Rankings are there for periods of time," says Fulton. "Right now, we are seventh, but we don't want to be there."Harmanpreet acknowledges the pressure but remains focused. "The responsibility to score is there but it is not a pressure. We have variations that we have not revealed."Medal Hopes and Legacy:"It'll be a reward for the process that we've put in place," says Fulton about the possibility of a medal.Harmanpreet adds, "It will be everything for me. More importantly, I want to bring back the time when people thronged to watch hockey matches and loved the game – a medal will be key to reach more people and revive the game more than ever before."

India's Olympic contingent has taken a significant step forward by appointing its first-ever chief medical officer, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. This move reflects the IOA's commitment to enhancing medical support for its athletes.Dr. Pardiwala, a renowned sports medicine expert, has played a crucial role in the recovery and rehabilitation of top athletes like Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bhumrah, Neeraj Chopra, and PV Sindhu. His expertise extends to injury management, sports nutrition, mental conditioning, and sleep optimization.The medical team's primary focus is injury management. Athletes often sustain injuries during high-intensity competitions, and the team ensures prompt assessment and treatment to minimize impact on performance. They also provide holistic care, addressing athletes' nutritional needs, mental well-being, and recovery.To facilitate this, Team India has established a dedicated recovery room within the Olympic Village, equipped with ice baths, sleep pods, cryotherapy, and other recovery equipment. Sports massage therapists are also available for both male and female athletes.Despite the high demand for medical services, the team has maintained a smooth operation. This is attributed to the collaboration between the IOA's 13-member team and 15 additional physios and strength and conditioning coaches who work with individual athletes and teams.Dr. Pardiwala emphasizes the importance of trust and familiarity within the sports medicine community. He notes that the team's long-standing relationships with athletes and other experts facilitate effective coordination and support.

Indian Athletes Face Uniform Disappointment at Paris GamesAs the Indian contingent embarks on its quest for medals at the Paris Games, a disheartening issue has emerged off the field. Several athletes have expressed disappointment over the quality of dresses and attires provided for them.Former badminton star Jwala Gutta took to social media to voice her concerns, criticizing the designer responsible for the uniforms. She highlighted the poor fit of the blouses, the lack of pre-draped sarees for those unfamiliar with wearing them, and the unflattering color and print."I had huge expectations from the designer, but only met disappointment," Gutta wrote. "It was a work of absolute mediocrity and looked shabby."The uniforms, designed by Tarun Tahiliani, were intended to reflect a modern Indian ethos with ikat-inspired prints and Banarasi brocade. However, the athletes and fans alike have expressed dissatisfaction with the final product.The women's sarees, made of viscose crepe, feature a high-neck blouse and digital printed saffron and green-hued panels. The men's kurta-bundi set is crafted from lightweight moss cotton with similar tricolour detailing.Despite the designer's efforts to incorporate Indian cultural elements, the uniforms have failed to impress. The poor fit and unflattering design have raised concerns about the comfort and confidence of the athletes.This issue highlights the importance of prioritizing the needs of athletes in all aspects of their preparation. While aesthetics are important, the functionality and comfort of uniforms should be paramount.The Indian contingent has already begun its medal hunt, with several athletes advancing to medal rounds. However, the uniform controversy has cast a shadow over their efforts. It is crucial that the authorities address these concerns promptly to ensure that the athletes can focus on their performances without distractions.