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Magnus Carlsen, the undisputed world chess champion for over a decade, has expressed his belief that chess ratings today are somewhat "deflated" compared to the past. However, he remains unfazed by the possibility of someone surpassing him.Carlsen, who held the world title from 2013 to 2023, chose not to defend his crown, citing lack of motivation. Despite stepping back from classical tournaments, Carlsen's reign at the top is one of the longest and most dominant in chess history."I don't play a lot of classical chess, so whenever somebody is going to pass me, I wouldn't particularly mind," the 33-year-old Norwegian said. "I think a lot of people had the chance to surpass me, but we'll see when it happens. I think it sort of depends on others."Carlsen also suggested that chess ratings may not carry the same weight they did a decade ago. "There's definitely been deflation in chess ratings, so a level of ELO 2830 would probably correspond to 2850 about 10 years ago, and not a lot of people have reached that," noted Carlsen, who currently has a FIDE rating of 2831.Having held the world number 1 spot almost continuously since July 1, 2011, Carlsen first achieved the top ranking in January 2010 at the age of 19, becoming the youngest player to reach that position. After briefly losing it in mid 2011, he reclaimed the top spot and has dominated it ever since.Throughout his career, Carlsen has set multiple records, including the highest FIDE rating ever recorded at 2882 in May 2014. Since opting out of the World Championship in 2023, Carlsen has "picked and chosen" tournaments with formats and opponents he finds exciting, focusing on rapid, blitz, and other flexible events that align with his evolving interests.Reflecting on the younger generation of players, Carlsen conveyed his respect for their progress while noting that they don't always measure up to his level, a statement more reflective of his confidence than arrogance. "I'm looking forward to testing myself against the younger generation. I'm always curious to see how much they've improved since the last time. It turns out they have improved, but not always enough."Carlsen has won the World Rapid Chess Championship four times (2014, 2015, 2019, and 2022) and the World Blitz Chess Championship five times (2009, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019), making him one of the most versatile and dominant world champions across different formats.On the younger generation of chess players, Carlsen said: "It's very interesting to see a different brand of chess. A lot of the older players of my generation are not going to surprise you in a major way in terms of where they stand, but with the younger generation, it's interesting to try and understand."India has come a long wayCarlsen began his reign after defeating Viswanathan Anand in the World Championship in Chennai in 2013 and he feels the country has come a long way. "I came to Chennai in August (2013), to look at the facilities and so on. I was told that I'm going to meet some of the better kids in the area to play, and it feels like half of the kids are now either GMs or some of them are even playing in top tournaments.""That's what has changed. Those kids back then are now the core of the Olympiad-winning team. Indian chess has come a long way since then, much thanks to Anand and what he did for Indian chess," he said.Carlsen was also impressed with three-year-old chess prodigy from the city Anish Sarkar, who recently became the youngest FIDE-rated chess player in the world with a rating of 1555. "First of all, it's amazing to see the level he's at. My nephew is turning 4, he's a bright young child, but I don't see him getting a rating of 1500 anytime soon," he said."It's very impressive. Most of all, try to enjoy as much as you can. Don't think about ratings, results, titles, and so on. They will come automatically; just do what you love," he signed off, while posing for a photo with the kid.

Neeraj Chopra, India's reigning Olympic and world champion in javelin throw, has made a resounding start to his Paris Olympics campaign by topping the qualification round with a season's best throw of 89.34m. This is the second consecutive Olympics where Chopra has finished first in the qualification.Chopra's throw was a statement of intent, sending a clear message to his rivals that he is in top form and ready to defend his Olympic title. The qualification standard was set at 84.00m, and Chopra's throw was well above that mark.The other Indian in the fray, Kishore Jena, could not make the 12-man final, with his best attempt being 80.73m. The qualification round was highly competitive, with five of the 12 finalists posting their season's best throws.Chopra's main rivals include Czech Jakub Vadlejch, who has a personal best of 90.88m, and Germany's Julian Weber, who threw 87.76m in the qualification. Pakistan's Nadeem Arshad, who was placed in the same group as Chopra, also managed an automatic qualification with a season's best throw of 86.59m.Chopra's ability to switch gears and touch peak performance at the biggest events is what makes him truly extraordinary. He is a rare Indian athlete who is a favorite for gold in a track and field event."The mindset and situation of a qualification and final are completely different. You have to just focus on the fact that you've had a good start and now you put in your best preparation towards the final," Chopra said after the qualification.Chopra said his adductor is feeling better after he pulled out of the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in Czechia last month as a precautionary measure. He is confident that he will be fully prepared for the final, which will be held in the evening session.Chopra's friend and on-field rival Weber spoke of spending time together with the Indian at the Games Village. "We talked a lot. He's calm, and in good shape," Weber said.In Paris, Chopra is bidding to do what no Indian athlete has ever done before – win two successive Olympic gold medals. India so far has only three medals to show from this edition of the Games – all of them bronze – with curtains coming down on the Olympics in less than a week's time.

Nikhat Zareen, the reigning World Champion and Commonwealth Games Gold medalist, recently shared her inspiring journey and aspirations for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics in an interview with Dinesh Karthik on JioCinema's 'Get Set Gold.'Zareen's path to success has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks. In 2019, she faced disappointment when she was denied a trial for the World Championships in the 51kg division. Undeterred, she raised her voice and demanded a fair chance, eventually securing a trial and proving her worth.Despite losing that bout, Zareen remained determined and focused on her goal of representing India at the Olympics. Her hard work and dedication paid off in 2022 when she became the World Champion in the Flyweight category. She further cemented her status as a global force by winning the Light Flyweight division in 2023.Zareen's journey is a testament to her resilience and unwavering belief in herself. She has overcome obstacles and used setbacks as motivation to push herself to greater heights. As she prepares for her Olympic debut in Paris, she is excited about the opportunity to represent her country on the world's biggest sporting stage."This is my first Olympics. Of course, I'm very excited about the Olympics, and there will be a lot of expectations from me," Zareen said. "But I'll take that expectation as a motivation, and I'll push myself inside the ring. This expectation is not a burden, I've always dreamt of representing India at the Olympics and I'll take that as a blessing."Zareen's achievements have not only brought glory to India but have also inspired countless young athletes. Her story is a reminder that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible. As she embarks on her Olympic journey, Zareen is poised to make history and leave an indelible mark on the world of boxing.