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Mansukh Mandaviya, the former Union Health Minister who played a pivotal role in India's COVID-19 response, has been appointed as the new Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet. Mandaviya, who represents the Porbandar Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat, replaces Anurag Thakur, who held the post for nearly three years.Mandaviya's appointment comes at a time when India is preparing to host the 2036 Olympic Games. During Thakur's tenure, India achieved its best-ever performance at the Olympics, winning a record seven medals in the Tokyo Games. Thakur also oversaw the revision of criteria for government jobs for medal winners in Khelo India competitions.Mandaviya, who was entrusted with the health portfolio during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, is credited with ramping up the supply of oxygen and medicines and overseeing the vaccination program. He is expected to bring his experience in crisis management and public health to the sports ministry.Raksha Khadse, a three-time BJP MP from Maharashtra, has been appointed as the Minister of State (Sports) under Mandaviya. Khadse, who represents the Raver Lok Sabha constituency, is the daughter-in-law of Eknath Khadse, a former NCP leader who recently returned to the BJP.The appointment of Mandaviya and Khadse is seen as a move to strengthen the BJP's presence in Gujarat and Maharashtra, two key states in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Indian distance runner Gulveer Singh has etched his name in the history books by shattering the men's 5,000m national record at the Portland Track Festival High Performance Meet. The 26-year-old clocked an impressive 13:18.92 in the Paul Banta Memorial race, eclipsing the previous mark of 13:19.30 set by Avinash Sable in 2022.Singh, who hails from western Uttar Pradesh, now holds the national record in both the 10,000m and 5,000m events. He had previously won the 10,000m bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year with a time of 28:17.21 seconds.In the Portland race, American distance runner Dylan Jacobs, a three-time NCAA champion, emerged victorious with a time of 13:18.18. India's Kartik Kumar finished 17th with a timing of 13:41.07, while Sable, who has a season's best of 13:20.37, unfortunately did not complete the race.In the men's 5,000m high performance event, Abhishek Pal set a personal best of 13:41.57 to secure third place.The Portland Track Festival is a prestigious track meet in the United States, attracting Olympic champions, world record holders, and countless Olympians over the years. Singh's record-breaking performance at this event is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication.

The Indian men's hockey team, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, has concluded their FIH Pro League campaign with a commendable performance, finishing fourth in the points tally with 24 points from 16 matches. The team's journey included five wins, three shootout victories, five defeats, and three shootout losses.Harmanpreet Singh, the star drag-flicker, emerged as a standout performer, finishing as the top scorer for India with 12 goals. He also holds the joint lead in the tournament's scoring charts alongside Australia's Blake Govers and the Netherlands' Jip Janssen. Singh's scoring prowess was evident as he netted eight goals from penalty corners and four from penalty strokes.The FIH Pro League has served as a valuable preparatory event for the Indian team ahead of the Paris Olympics. The tournament provided the team with an opportunity to compete against top-tier teams and assess their strengths and areas for improvement."This league has been crucial in helping us understand our strengths and areas for improvement. Competing against top-tier teams has given us valuable insights into our game," said Harmanpreet Singh. "We now know where we stand and what we need to work on to perform at our best on the global stage."The Indian team will now take a short break before assembling for a brief camp in Bengaluru. "We have identified specific aspects of our game that need attention, and the upcoming camp will be vital in working on those areas," said Harmanpreet. "Our goal is to build on our performance and ensure we are fully prepared for the Paris Olympics."

Max Verstappen's dominance continued at the Canadian Grand Prix as he secured his third consecutive victory, extending his lead in the drivers' championship. After a challenging start to the season, Verstappen bounced back with a commanding performance, aided by strategic calls from his team.Starting second on the grid, Verstappen faced a competitive field, including pole-sitter George Russell of Mercedes. However, the race was far from straightforward, with two Safety Car interventions adding to the drama. Verstappen capitalized on these interruptions, making timely pit stops and managing the gaps effectively.Despite a suspension issue, Verstappen remained unfazed, showcasing his resilience and determination. He crossed the finish line 3.879 seconds ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren, who had a strong race and secured his second podium of the season.Mercedes' Russell finished third, ahead of a frustrated Lewis Hamilton, who was unable to match his teammate's pace. The race also saw the retirement of both Ferraris, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failing to finish.Verstappen's victory marked his 60th career win and lifted him to 194 points in the drivers' championship, 56 points clear of Leclerc. Red Bull also extended their lead in the constructors' race, moving to 301 points ahead of Ferrari.Norris, who finished second, praised the chaotic and eventful race, while Russell expressed disappointment with his performance. The race also featured a strong showing from McLaren, with Oscar Piastri finishing fifth and bringing the team their first points in Canada since 2014.

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula One world champion, has expressed his dissatisfaction with Red Bull's performance after qualifying second behind George Russell of Mercedes for the Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen, who has won three world championships and last year's race from pole position, believes that rival teams have caught up to Red Bull and that the team needs to respond immediately.Verstappen has been defeated in two of the last three races, and his aura of invincibility has been eroded. He stated that he was not concerned about being beaten by Russell, even though they had identical lap times, because the Briton set his time first."No, I'm not worried by that," Verstappen said. "And probably I should be pleasantly surprised to be on the front row in a way, but we lacked pace. The time Mercedes did in FP3 - that is not possible for us. Not really. And we have had a messy weekend. We need to tidy up and we need to improve our car too."Verstappen emphasized the importance of tire management in the race, especially in the event of rain. He acknowledged that Red Bull has a lot of work to do and that the circuit is not the easiest for them."There will be more rain tomorrow and then it will be all about how the tires hold up in the race - and whoever is best at that wins," Verstappen said. "So we have got a lot of work to do and it is not the easiest circuit for us here. But our target has to be that we are good everywhere."Sergio Perez, Verstappen's teammate, who recently signed an extended contract, described qualifying as a "disaster" after failing to progress beyond Q1 for the second consecutive race."It was a total disaster as I just couldn't get the grip," Perez said. "The issue was mainly the rear end of the car, the rear axle. It felt a lot worse and I couldn't get the tires switched on."Perez qualified 16th and faces a challenging race on Sunday if he hopes to score points for the team.

The Indian women's hockey team's struggles in the FIH Pro League continued as they suffered a 2-4 defeat to Germany on Saturday, marking their seventh consecutive loss in the tournament. The Indians squandered a promising start, having taken an early 2-0 lead through goals from Sunelita Toppo and Deepika. However, Germany's Viktoria Huse converted two penalty corners to level the scores before the break.In the second half, Germany took control of the match, with Stinne Kurz and Jule Bleuel scoring field goals to seal the victory. The defeat extended India's winless streak in the Pro League to seven matches, having lost all four games against Belgium and Argentina last month and succumbed to defeats against Germany and Great Britain last weekend.The Indian team started brightly, with Lalremsiami creating an early chance that was saved by German goalkeeper Julia Sonntag. Sunelita then broke the deadlock in the ninth minute, putting India ahead with a superb field goal. Deepika doubled the lead just six minutes later, capitalizing on a counter-attack and finishing with ease.However, Germany responded strongly, with Huse converting two penalty corners in the 23rd and 32nd minutes to bring her team level. The Indian defense struggled to contain the German forwards, who created numerous chances in the second half. Kurz scored a penalty corner in the 51st minute, and Bleuel added a field goal four minutes later to put the game beyond India's reach.The latest defeat is a major setback for the Indian team, who are now at the bottom of the Pro League standings with no points from seven matches. They will face Great Britain in their final Pro League match on Sunday, hoping to end their losing streak and salvage some pride.

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.

Norway Chess 2024: Carlsen Extends Lead, Praggnanandhaa Loses in ArmageddonThe Norway Chess tournament is nearing its conclusion, with the stakes reaching unprecedented heights. In the main event, all classical games of Round 9 ended in draws, forcing an Armageddon tie-breaker to determine the match winners.India's Praggnanandhaa R suffered a setback in Armageddon against Fabiano Caruana, who now has a slim chance of claiming the title. Caruana must defeat Hikaru Nakamura in the final round and hope that Magnus Carlsen loses his game against Caruana.Carlsen, the five-time World Champion, extended his lead with an Armageddon victory over Alireza Firouzja in Round 9. A win in the final round would secure him the tournament outright. Nakamura, who lost to Ding Liren in Armageddon, needs to win his last game with Black against Praggnanandhaa to remain in contention.In the women's tournament, Lei Tingjie secured the only classical win of the day against Vaishali R. The Chinese GM's decisive victory with the white pieces in 30 moves has significantly boosted her chances of winning the tournament in the final round.Ju Wenjun, the Women's World Champion, defeated Koneru Humpy in Armageddon to take a 1.5-point lead in the competition. Anna Muzychuk also registered a tie-break win over Pia Cramling.With the tournament reaching its final round, only 1.5 points separate Wenjun, Tingjie, and Muzychuk at the top of the table in the women's tournament. The inaugural edition of the Norway Chess 2024 Women's Tournament is poised for a thrilling finish.

Formula One's governing body, the FIA, has announced plans to introduce lighter and more agile cars from 2026. The move has been welcomed by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who believes it is a step in the right direction. However, Hamilton also expressed concerns that the weight reduction of 30 kilograms (66 lbs) may not be sufficient."It's only 30 kilos so it's going in the right direction but it's still heavy," Hamilton said. "I've only just seen what you've all seen this morning. I don't really have huge thoughts on it just yet, but I have spoken to some drivers who have driven it on a sim, and they said it's pretty slow."Hamilton's comments were echoed by Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, who suggested that more could be done to reduce the weight of the cars. "Yeah, it's certainly quite different and has some interesting areas and aspects, some that still need a bit further work," Hulkenberg said. "And like Lewis said the weight reduction is good but 30kg is not the world."The new regulations aim to make the cars more efficient and sustainable, with a focus on reducing downforce and increasing the use of sustainable fuels. Hamilton praised the move towards sustainable fuels, saying it was "a bold step and in the right direction.""We've just got to make sure the cars are efficient, fast and a natural step forward -- and actually the racing is improved," Hamilton added.The 2026 regulations package is set to be ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council on June 28. It remains to be seen whether the changes will be enough to address the concerns raised by Hamilton and other drivers.