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Olympic double medalist Manu Bhaker recently made her debut on the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week 2024. Her confident walk went viral on social media, garnering both praise and criticism.Bhaker, who won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics 2024, faced negative comments from some quarters. However, she responded with a message of positivity and self-belief."Don't limit yourself to anything, make your life big, your career shiny and your parents proud," she wrote on Instagram. "Haters will hate, lovers will love, you do you."Bhaker's message resonated with many, who praised her for her resilience and determination. She emphasized the importance of pursuing one's dreams and not being deterred by negativity.Despite the criticism, Bhaker remains focused on her shooting career. She will resume training in November and return to competitive shooting next year."I will be back for the training in November and to the match maybe by next year," she said. "I will follow all the action thoroughly."Bhaker's break from shooting after the Olympics was pre-decided by her and her coach, Jaspal Rana. She had been facing injuries due to pistol recoil."I do feel like competing," she said. "But before Olympics, my coach had told me to take three months off."Bhaker expressed happiness at being able to spend time with her family after a long time. She also emphasized the importance of the ISSF World Cup Final for young shooters."To play here is a big experience in itself," she said. "Players should make the most out of it, give their best and not be afraid."Bhaker's message of positivity and determination serves as an inspiration to all who face criticism and adversity. She reminds us that it is possible to overcome negativity and achieve our goals with hard work and self-belief.

Indian Olympic medalist shooter Manu Bhaker has announced her plans to resume training in November and return to competitive shooting next year. Bhaker, who won two medals at the recently concluded Paris Olympics, shared her intentions during a media interaction in Delhi ahead of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final.Bhaker's decision to take a break from shooting after the Olympics was a pre-planned move, as advised by her coach Jaspal Rana. "I do feel like competing, but before the Olympics, my coach had told me to take three months off since I was facing injuries due to pistol recoil," she explained.During her break, Bhaker has enjoyed spending time with her family and indulging in homemade food. "I am happy that I got a chance to spend time with my family after a long time. I eat homemade food and enjoy it a lot," she said.Bhaker expressed her excitement about the upcoming ISSF World Cup Final, which she believes is a valuable platform for young shooters. "To play here is a big experience in itself. Players should make the most out of it, give their best, and not be afraid," she advised.At the Paris Olympics, Bhaker and her partner Sarabjot Singh secured bronze in the 10 M Air Pistol Mixed team event, defeating South Korea's Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the bronze medal play-off match. Bhaker also opened India's medal tally in the Olympics by securing third place in the women's individual 10m air pistol event, becoming the first-ever woman shooter to win an Olympic medal for India.Following that, Sarabjot Singh and Bhaker won the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol (mixed team) event, which was India's first-ever shooting team medal. In her final event, Bhaker narrowly missed out on a historic grand treble and finished fourth in the women's 25m pistol shooting event.Bhaker's achievements at the Paris Olympics have cemented her status as one of India's most promising shooting talents. Her return to training in November and competitive shooting next year is eagerly anticipated by fans and supporters alike.

The ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi has been marred by the absence of three top British shotgun shooters, including Olympic trap gold medalist Nathan Hales. The shooters were denied visas due to "confusion" over paperwork, leaving the prestigious event without some of its most elite competitors.The World Cup Final commenced at the Karni Singh Ranges with elite shooters from around the globe participating in training sessions on Monday. Competitions will begin on Tuesday.Former shooter Peter Wilson, Hales' personal coach during the Paris Games, expressed disappointment over the visa issue. "It's a massive shame that they're not competing," Wilson said. "There were three shooters: Hales and Matt Coward-Holley in men's trap, and Ben Llewellin in men's skeet."Wilson explained that Llewellin initially received a tourist visa but was later advised to apply for a business visa. However, his application was incorrect, and he was denied a visa. The other two shooters were also affected by the visa confusion.NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo acknowledged the issue, stating, "I think there was some confusion with the way they applied."The absence of the British shooters is a significant setback for the event. Hales, in particular, was expected to be a strong contender for the trap title after his triumph in Paris.Despite the visa issue, the World Cup Final will feature a star-studded field, including Olympic and world championship medalists. India's Paris Games squad will also be present, with the exception of double bronze medalist Manu Bhaker, who is taking a break.

Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian hockey captain, emerged as the most sought-after player at the Hockey India League auctions, fetching a staggering ₹78 lakh from Soorma Hockey Club. The ace drag-flicker's acquisition set the tone for a bidding frenzy, with several Indian national team players commanding prices far exceeding their base price of ₹10 lakh.Abhishek Nain became the second-most expensive buy at ₹72 lakh, snapped up by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. India vice-captain Hardik Singh was acquired by UP Rudras for ₹70 lakh. Jugraj Singh (Bengal) and Amit Rohidas (Tamil Nadu Dragons) rounded out the top Indian buys at ₹48 lakh each.Among the overseas players, Gonzalo Peillat was the most coveted, triggering a fierce bidding war before being acquired by Hyderabad Toofans for a massive ₹68 lakh. The Argentine-turned-German became the fourth most expensive player overall, surpassing Dutch drag-flicker Jip Janssen, who went for ₹54 lakh to Tamil Nadu Dragons.Youngsters Araijit Singh Hundal and Rohit also had impressive outings, fetching ₹42 lakh (Gonasika) and ₹40 lakh (SG Pipers) respectively. Australian forward Jeremy Hayward (JSW, ₹42 lakh) and Dutchman Lars Balk (UP, ₹40 lakh) were the other prominent foreign buys.However, Gurjant Singh and Mandeep Singh were left disappointed, receiving only ₹19 lakh and ₹25 lakh respectively as teams initially hesitated before gaining momentum.The auction also witnessed some confusion when Dutch goalkeeper Maurits Visser was put up for bidding before franchises were informed of his withdrawal, forcing last-minute adjustments.Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey acknowledged that the ₹4 crore purse was insufficient, stating that the possibility of increasing it next year would be considered after reviewing feedback from franchises.

India concluded their campaign at the Asian Table Tennis Championships with a historic haul of three medals, including a bronze in the women's doubles. The bronze medalists, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee, had previously stunned the reigning world champions from China at the Asian Games last year. However, in the semifinals, they faced a tough challenge from Japan's Miwa Harimoto and Miyuu Kihara, losing 4-11, 9-11, 8-11.Prior to their semifinal loss, the Indian duo had defeated South Korea's Kim Nayeong and Lee Eunhye in the quarterfinals, securing India's first-ever women's doubles medal at the Asian meet.The Indian women's team had earlier made history by winning a bronze medal in the team event. The trio of Manika Batra, Ayhika Mukherjee, and Sutirtha Mukherjee secured the country's first-ever medal in the women's team category since the competition began in 1972. However, they eventually lost 1-3 to Japan in the semifinals.In the men's category, India secured another bronze, their third straight in the tournament, after the team of Achanta Sharath Kamal, Manav Thakkar, and Harmeet Desai fell 0-3 to Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.In men's singles, Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah bowed out in the pre-quarterfinals. World No. 60 Thakkar, who had earlier shocked world No. 14 Jang Woojin of South Korea, was defeated by Hong Kong's Baldwin Chan, 4-11 4-11 8-11. Meanwhile, Manush put up a tough fight against Lin Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei and took two games before narrowly losing 8-11 5-11 11-7 11-6 12-14.

Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen's Olympic debut ended in disappointment as she bowed out in the preliminary stage of the 50kg women's boxing competition. Despite being a strong medal contender, Zareen suffered an unanimous decision loss to top seed and reigning Asian Games champion Wu Yu of China.Zareen acknowledged that it was not her day, but vowed to return stronger. She expressed her disappointment at losing to boxers she had previously defeated, but emphasized the need to accept reality and move forward.The two-time world champion revealed that she is currently searching for a personal coach to help her improve her game. Zareen believes that a personal coach will provide her with the necessary guidance and support to become a better boxer.She also expressed her desire to train abroad, citing the benefits of facing different styles of boxers and pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Zareen identified strength as an area she needs to improve upon.The future of boxing at the Olympics remains uncertain due to the suspension of the International Boxing Association (IBA). However, Zareen is hopeful that the World Boxing Council (WBC), which has the backing of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will unveil new weight categories in the near future.Zareen expressed her preference for the 52kg category, which she considers her most comfortable weight. She is eagerly awaiting the announcement of the new weight categories and is determined to make a strong comeback.

SuperGaming, India's leading game development studio, has unveiled its ambitious year-long esports roadmap, the 'Clutch India Movement.' This initiative aims to elevate India's esports ecosystem and nurture new heroes.The centerpiece of the movement is the Indus International Tournament, featuring a massive prize pool of INR 2.5 crore, the largest ever for a battle royale game in India. The tournament will run from October 2024 to February 2025, attracting top teams from India and abroad.The tournament will consist of four phases:* Homegrown: Open to all players, offering a prize pool of INR 15 lakhs.* Nationals: For Indian teams, with a prize pool of INR 10 lakhs.* Powerplay: For professional esports teams, with a prize pool of INR 25 lakhs.* International: Exclusively for invited global teams, leading to the Grand Finale with a prize pool of INR 2 crore.The MVP of the tournament will receive a brand new Mahindra Thar.SuperGaming's commitment to grassroots talent is evident in its support of tournaments like 'Grudge Wars,' 'Indus Inferno,' and 'Indus Unchained.' The Clutch India Movement extends this support, providing a platform for aspiring esports athletes to showcase their skills."We want to see new heroes rise from our community and take their place in the larger esports ecosystem," said Roby John, CEO and Co-founder of SuperGaming. "India's esports landscape is rapidly evolving, and we believe the country is ready to compete on the world stage."In addition to the Indus International Tournament, SuperGaming will host the Indus International Mahasangram in October 2025, further solidifying its commitment to growing the Indian esports ecosystem.SuperGaming is also empowering third-party tournament organizers by providing Indus' proprietary tools, enabling them to host events with the same efficiency as SuperGaming.Registration for the Indus International Tournament Homegrown is now open. Players can sign up and learn more about the tournament schedule, rules, and eligibility through Indus' Discord channel.

The revival of the Hockey India League (HIL) has sparked excitement among hockey enthusiasts, with former captain Sardar Singh expressing optimism about its impact on the sport. The league's return after a seven-year hiatus is expected to revitalize Indian hockey and provide a platform for young players to showcase their talent.Over 1,000 players have registered for the HIL 2024-25 Players' Auction, scheduled for October 13-14 (men's) and October 15 (women's). The league's comeback is seen as a significant step towards reviving Indian hockey's golden era."The HIL will be bigger and better this time around," said Sardar Singh. "With a Women's league being held concurrently, the League is set to revive Indian hockey's golden era."The HIL provides a high-performance environment for players, allowing them to compete against and alongside some of the best in the world. This exposure to different cultures and mindsets creates a valuable learning experience for young players.Sardar Singh, who captained the Indian team at the age of 21, believes the HIL has played a crucial role in identifying and grooming talented players. "Current mainstays in the team; Harmanpreet, Mandeep, Sumit and many more were identified and groomed in the HIL," he said.The league's return is expected to expand the pool of potential players for the Indian Hockey Teams. By providing a platform for young players to gain experience at the highest level, the HIL will contribute to the development of a stronger and more competitive national team.The HIL's impact extends beyond the field, fostering a sense of community and passion for hockey. The league's return is a testament to the sport's enduring popularity in India and its potential to inspire future generations of players.

The Women's Indian Open 2024, scheduled for October 24-27 at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, promises an exciting showdown between the world's top female golfers and a formidable Indian contingent.Leading the charge is Chiara Tamburlini, the current Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit leader. The Swiss golfer has made a remarkable impact in her rookie year, claiming two victories and guiding her team to victory at the Aramco Team Series Shenzhen.Tamburlini will face stiff competition from a field that includes nine players who finished in the Top 10 of the 2023 edition. Among them are former champions Christine Wolf (2019), Camille Chevalier (2017), and Caroline Hedwall (2011).The international field will also feature Trichat Cheenglab of Thailand, the 2023 LET Order of Merit winner, and Lee Anne Pace of South Africa, the 2010 LET top spot holder.India's hopes will rest on Diksha Dagar, who secured third place last year, and Gaurika Bishnoi, who finished eighth. Amateur Avani Prashanth, who tied for fifth place in 2023, will make her professional debut at the event.Other notable players in the field include Alice Hewson (VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open winner), Amy Taylor (Ladies Italian Open victor), Perrine Delacour (Dormy Open Helsingborg champion), Manon De Roey (Investec SA Women's Open champion), and Shannon Tan (Magical Kenya Ladies Open champion).Caroline Hedwall, a seven-time LET winner, is one of the most prominent returnees. The Swedish golfer won the event in her rookie year in 2011 and has since finished runner-up three times.The Women's Indian Open, established in 2007, has become a prestigious event on the LET calendar. The 2024 edition promises to be another thrilling chapter in the tournament's history, with a strong field and a passionate Indian crowd cheering on their homegrown stars.