Others

Commonwealth Games 2026: Key Sports Dropped, Dealing Blow to India's Medal HopesIn a significant setback for India's aspirations at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, host city Glasgow has announced a revised roster of 10 disciplines, excluding key sports such as hockey, badminton, wrestling, cricket, and shooting. This decision has raised concerns about the impact on India's medal tally, as these sports have historically contributed a substantial number of medals.The move is part of Glasgow's efforts to keep the event budget-friendly and streamline logistics. The Games will be held across four venues, with a total of nine fewer events compared to the 2022 Birmingham edition. The pruned roster includes Athletics and Para Athletics, Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball.The exclusion of hockey, badminton, wrestling, cricket, and shooting is a major blow to India's medal prospects. Hockey has been a consistent medal-winner for India, with the men's team claiming three silver and two bronze medals, while the women's team has also shone, clinching three medals, including a historic gold in 2002. Badminton has been another strong suit for India, with an impressive 31 medals to its name, including 10 gold, eight silver, and 13 bronze.Wrestling has also been a fruitful sport for India, yielding 114 medals, including 49 gold, 39 silver, and 26 bronzes. Cricket's reintroduction in 2022 saw the Indian women's team claim a silver medal. Shooting was a stronghold for India, with a staggering 135 medals, including 63 gold, 44 silver, and 28 bronze.The absence of these sports will significantly reduce India's chances of achieving a high medal count. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has acknowledged the setback, stating that the roster is a "massive setback to India's medal prospects."Despite the disappointment, the CGF has emphasized that the Games will deliver over 100 million pounds of "inward investment into the city" and is expected to support add an economic value of over 150 million pounds for the region. The body asserted that all this would be possible thanks to a model "that has been specially designed to not require public funding for the delivery of the Games."

Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik has released her autobiography, "Witness," in which she shares her experiences as a wrestler and the challenges she faced throughout her career.Malik, along with Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, led a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in 2021. However, she criticized Phogat and Punia's decision to accept exemption from the Asian Games trials, stating that it undermined the credibility of their protest.Malik also revealed that she was molested by her tuition teacher during her childhood but kept it a secret. She struggled with self-blame and fear, which affected her early wrestling career. Despite her physical abilities, she lacked the confidence to confront opponents.During the WFI protest, Malik expressed disappointment with the political class and accused Babita Phogat, a former wrestler and current BJP politician, of having selfish motives. She alleged that Phogat aimed to replace Sharan Singh rather than solely advocate for the protesters' demands.Malik also shared that her parents took away most of her award money and opposed her relationship with fellow wrestler Satyawart Kadian. However, she stood her ground and fought for her love.Malik's autobiography provides a candid account of her journey as a wrestler, the obstacles she overcame, and the controversies that shaped her career. It highlights the challenges faced by female athletes and the importance of speaking out against injustice.

The sixth edition of Tata Steel Chess India, scheduled from November 13 to 17, will witness the return of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. The Norwegian Grandmaster, who previously triumphed in the 2019 edition, will headline the prestigious event.India's strong contingent, fresh from their golden performance at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, will feature rising stars Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi. Nihal Sarin and S L Narayanan will also represent India in the 'Open' category.Like previous editions, the tournament will comprise 'Open' and women's categories with identical rapid and blitz formats and equal prize money. India's women's team will be represented by Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, D. Harika, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agrawal.Chess legend Viswanathan Anand, the tournament's ambassador, expressed his excitement: "I am looking forward to being back at Tata Steel Chess India. It has become the marquee event in India. This year brings the best of the world headed by Magnus Carlsen."Chanakya Chaudhary, vice-president of corporate services at Tata Steel, said: "We are excited to host the sixth edition of Tata Steel Chess India, which marks the return of world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Members of the Indian men's and women's squads, following their gold medal wins at the Chess Olympiad, will also join the tournament alongside top global players."The tournament lineup includes:Open:- Magnus Carlsen- Nodirbek Abdusattorov- Wesley So- Vincent Keymer- Daniil Dubov- Arjun Erigaisi- R Praggnanandhaa- Vidit Gujrathi- Nihal Sarin- S L NarayananWomen:- Aleksandra Goryachkina- Kateryna Lagno- Alexandra Kosteniuk- Nana Dzagnidze- Valentina Gunina- Koneru Humpy- R. Vaishali- D. Harika- Divya Deshmukh- Vantika Agrawal

Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra recently pulled off a hilarious prank on his long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz, who is set to depart from his role after the ongoing season. In a viral video posted on Instagram, Chopra, Bartonietz, and physiotherapist Ishaan Marwaha created their own version of the popular "give me my money" trend.The video begins with Chopra saying "give me my money," while Marwaha and Bartonietz clap. Marwaha repeats the phrase, and everyone claps again. However, when it's Bartonietz's turn, no one claps, leaving him puzzled. Chopra and Marwaha then burst into laughter, revealing their prank.The video has garnered widespread attention, with fans and fellow athletes alike praising Chopra's sense of humor. It also highlights the close bond between Chopra and Bartonietz, who have worked together for five years.Under Bartonietz's guidance, Chopra has achieved remarkable success, including winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the silver medal at the Paris Games, and the world championship title. He has also become the Diamond League champion and the Asian Games gold medalist.Bartonietz's decision to step down as Chopra's coach is due to his age and family commitments. The 75-year-old German has expressed his desire to spend more time with his family and reduce his travel schedule.Chopra has expressed his gratitude for Bartonietz's contributions to his career and has wished him well in his future endeavors. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has also acknowledged Bartonietz's significant role in Chopra's success and has thanked him for his dedication.As Bartonietz prepares to depart, Chopra will be looking for a new coach to guide him in the next phase of his career. The Indian javelin star is determined to continue his winning ways and cement his legacy as one of the greatest athletes in the world.

In a thrilling United States Grand Prix, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured a dominant one-two victory, while McLaren's Lando Norris was relegated to fourth after a five-second penalty.Leclerc, starting from fourth on the grid, seized the lead on the opening lap, capitalizing on a gap left by pole-sitter Norris. Verstappen, who had initially challenged Norris, was forced wide and fell to third.Norris, despite a strong start, dropped to fourth as Sainz also overtook him. The opening lap was further marred by Lewis Hamilton's retirement after an off-track excursion.As the race progressed, Leclerc extended his lead, while Verstappen struggled with understeer and defended valiantly against Norris. On lap 53, Norris finally passed Verstappen, but the move was deemed illegal by the stewards, resulting in a five-second penalty.Norris's penalty dropped him to fourth, behind Leclerc, Sainz, and Verstappen. Oscar Piastri and George Russell completed the top six, while Sergio Perez finished seventh for Red Bull.Leclerc's victory was his first in the United States and his eighth career win. It also marked Ferrari's first one-two finish in America since 2006."It wasn't an easy weekend up to now," said Leclerc. "I have been struggling with the feeling with the car, but I had confidence in the race. I am really happy with today, a 1-2 for the team, we couldn't have dreamed for better."Verstappen, despite his podium finish, extended his championship lead over Norris to 57 points. "It was a difficult race for me," said Verstappen. "I never had the pace to attack and defending was quite difficult with understeer. It was a tough battle and tough to keep him (Norris) behind but it's a great result."Norris expressed disappointment with his penalty. "I have my opinion about his move, but I'll leave it to the stewards," he said. "I don't need to say anything here."

The Indian Racing League (IRL) Round 4 at the Kari Motor Speedway witnessed thrilling races and intense competition. Chennai Turbo Riders continued their dominance with a fourth victory, led by veteran British driver Jon Lancaster.Lancaster, 35, showcased his skills in a tight finish, holding off pole-sitter Neel Jani of Hyderabad Blackbirds. Jani, a former Formula 1 test driver, returned to the IRL after missing the previous rounds. India's Sohil Shah of Goa Aces JA Races secured third place.The race began with Jani establishing a five-second lead from pole position. However, Lancaster gradually closed the gap and took the lead midway through the race. Jani fought back but was unable to overtake Lancaster, who displayed exceptional driving to maintain his position.In the Formula 4 Indian Open, South African Aqil Alibhai of Hyderabad Blackbirds claimed his third win of the season. Starting from P2, Alibhai made a bold move on the first lap to overtake pole-sitter Ruhaan Alva of Shrachi Rarh Royal Bengal Tigers. Alibhai maintained his lead throughout the race, consolidating his position at the top of the leaderboard.The 27th FMSCI National Racing Championship saw veteran Diljith TS of Dark Don Racing emerge victorious in the JK-LGB Formula 4 race. Tijil Rao, who was leading comfortably, made a mistake in the closing stages, allowing Diljith to take the lead. Dhruvh Goswami of MSPORT finished second, while Tijil recovered to secure third place.The two-day Indian Racing Festival featured live coverage on Star Sports and Fan Code. The event showcased the talents of both domestic and international drivers, providing an exciting spectacle for racing enthusiasts.

Dipa Karmakar, the trailblazing Indian gymnast, has expressed concern over the lack of passion among the current generation of gymnasts. She believes that this deficiency is hindering their ability to excel on the global stage.Karmakar, who made history as the first Indian woman gymnast to compete at the Olympics and finished a remarkable fourth in the 2016 Rio Games, retired earlier this month. Her career was marked by her awe-inspiring performances of the highly-difficult Produnova vault."There was 'junoon' (passion) in Dipa, that is why. Same for Pranati," she said, referring to the scarcity of successful Indian women gymnasts. "I can't see this 'junoon' (passion) much in the current generation (of gymnasts). I feel they look for short term, instant success."Karmakar also highlighted the problems plaguing the national federation, which she believes have not helped the cause of Indian gymnastics. She cited the lack of clear selection criteria for the Asian Games as an example."There was a problem between the SAI and the federation. For example, the selection criteria for the last Asian Games (2023) were known only after the actual trials," she said.Despite the challenges, Karmakar remains committed to giving back to the sport. She plans to become a coach or support the next generation of gymnasts in their pursuit of dreams.Meanwhile, Indian men's doubles shuttler Chirag Shetty has set his sights on an Olympic medal in 2028. He and his partner Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are currently recovering from injuries but plan to return to the international circuit soon."Medal in 2028 LA Olympics is the target," Shetty said. "We wanted to win a medal in the Paris Olympics but that was not to be. But never say never. We have won almost every medal except for an Olympics medal. We would also like to win gold in the World Championships."Shetty acknowledged the historic Thomas Cup title win, attributing it to the team's unwavering determination. "The difference was in the urge and jest to win the title," he said.

At the recently concluded Chess Olympiad in Budapest, the highly anticipated clash between India and China on the top board did not materialize. China opted to rest Ding Liren, the world's second-ranked player, against India's rising star, D. Gukesh.Gukesh, 18, expressed no disappointment over the missed opportunity. "We thought it was likely Ding would play, but there was a chance he might not because he had lost the previous round," said Gukesh. "I was ready for both scenarios."Despite the absence of Ding, Gukesh's performance at the Olympiad was exceptional. He won the individual gold medal for the second consecutive time, playing a pivotal role in India's dominant victory."It was a very special performance for me," said Gukesh. "I'm glad with how I played and handled different situations."Gukesh's confidence has soared ahead of his upcoming World Championship match against Ding, scheduled to begin on November 23 in Singapore. However, he remains unfazed by the pressure."The pressure is about just playing in the World Championship," said Gukesh. "For me, it's just a match against a very strong player. I'm sure Ding will come to the match with the right spirit and give it his best. My approach is to treat every game with the utmost respect and energy."Gukesh's exceptional performance at the Olympiad has not only boosted his confidence but also raised expectations for his World Championship match. As he prepares for the biggest challenge of his career, Gukesh remains focused and determined to give it his all.