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Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured a thrilling pole position at his home Monaco Grand Prix, ending Max Verstappen's streak of seven consecutive poles. Leclerc's lap time of 1:10.270 seconds was 0.154 seconds faster than McLaren's Oscar Piastri.Verstappen, the championship leader, struggled with his Red Bull and could only manage sixth fastest after hitting the barriers on his final lap. Leclerc's pole position was his third at Monaco and ended Verstappen's record-equalling run of eight straight poles.Leclerc's Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, finished third, followed by Lando Norris in the second McLaren, George Russell in the Mercedes, and Verstappen. Piastri, who impressed in qualifying, said he was close to pole position but missed out due to a split lap.Sainz admitted to struggling with confidence in the car but was pleased with his improvement. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finished seventh in the second Mercedes, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon, and Pierre Gasly.The qualifying session was fiercely contested, with the top 14 drivers separated by less than a second. Sergio Perez of Red Bull and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin were among the notable drivers to miss out on Q3.In Q2, the Alpines impressed with Gasly securing a place in Q3. Piastri and Norris led the way for McLaren, while Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, and Kevin Magnussen were eliminated.In the top ten shootout, Leclerc set a blistering pace, clocking a time of 1:10.418. Sainz and Verstappen attempted to challenge but fell short. Hamilton improved to fourth, while Russell finished fifth.Leclerc's pole position was a significant moment for Ferrari, marking their 250th pole position in Formula One. The Monegasque driver will be hoping to convert his pole into a victory on Sunday, a feat he has yet to achieve at his home race.

Diksha Dagar, a trailblazing golfer, has etched her name in the annals of sports history. Despite her profound deafness, she has defied limitations, excelling both on the golf course and in the classroom.As a second-year BCom (Prog) student at Delhi University's School of Open Learning (SOL), Dagar recently achieved a remarkable feat by tying for 24th position in the 2024 Amundi German Masters. Her accolades extend beyond the golf course, as she was honored with the prestigious Arjuna Award in January 2023.Dagar's journey has been marked by resilience and determination. Born with profound deafness, she relies primarily on lip-reading or sign language to communicate. "I don't think any athlete wants to be referred to [as disabled]," she asserts. "It's like being labelled as someone lesser and being put in a box."Despite the challenges, Dagar refuses to let her disability define her. She has become the only golfer to participate in both the Olympics and the Deaflympics, where she has won two medals. "The biggest challenge [as a hearing-impaired person] is when people have different accents, especially on international tours," she explains. "But overcoming that is as important for me as excelling in my discipline."Dagar's academic pursuits are equally impressive. She credits SOL for providing an "inclusive space" for differently-abled athletes. "When I'm at DU, I feel there are opportunities available to us," she says. "We're the selected few, so we're better off than most physically challenged people in other parts of the country."However, Dagar emphasizes the need for athlete-specific courses in DU to ensure inclusivity for athletes who prioritize their academics. "Being a professional athlete, my academics often take a backseat," she admits. "But it's a well-deliberated decision. That's where an institution like SOL is helpful; it's why I can play 100 LET tournaments."Diksha Dagar's story is an inspiration to all. She has proven that with determination and support, anything is possible. Her achievements on and off the golf course serve as a testament to her unwavering spirit and the transformative power of inclusivity.

The Indian women's hockey team's European leg of the FIH Pro League has taken a disappointing turn as they suffered a second consecutive defeat, this time to Belgium by a score of 1-2. The loss marks the team's seventh straight defeat against Belgium in international matches.Under the guidance of new coach Harendra Singh and captain Salima Tete, the Indian team has struggled to find its footing in the tournament. After a 0-5 thrashing by Argentina on Wednesday, they were hoping to bounce back against Belgium. However, the home side proved to be too strong, taking an early 2-0 lead in the first half.Belgium's goals came from penalty corners, with Ambre Ballenghien scoring in the 14th minute and Vanessa Blockmans adding another in the 20th. India managed to pull one back in the 34th minute through a field goal by Kumari Sangita, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory.Belgium's relentless pressure and effective penalty corner conversions proved to be the difference in the match. The Indian team struggled to create clear-cut chances and were unable to capitalize on the few opportunities they had.Despite the setbacks, the Indian team showed glimpses of their potential. They withstood Belgium's initial pressure and began to dominate possession in the second quarter. However, they were unable to sustain their momentum and Belgium regained control of the game.In the third quarter, India managed to score a goal through Sangita, but Belgium continued to threaten their defense. The final quarter saw both teams create chances, but neither could find the back of the net.The defeat leaves the Indian women's hockey team with a lot of work to do. They will face Argentina again on Sunday in their next match and will be hoping to end their losing streak and secure their first points in the tournament.

The Indian women's compound archery team continued their golden run, securing their third consecutive Archery World Cup gold medal at the stage two event in Antalya, Turkey. The trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Parneet Kaur, and Aditi Swami dominated the Turkish team of Hazal Burun, Ayse Bera Suzer, and Begum Yuva, winning 232-226 in a lopsided final.The Indian team, ranked number one in the world, showcased their superiority from the outset, winning the first end and maintaining their lead throughout the match. They did not drop a single set, sealing the gold with a comfortable six-point margin.This victory marks a hat-trick of World Cup gold medals for Jyothi, Parneet, and Aditi, who had previously triumphed at the season-opening World Cup Stage 1 in Shanghai and the stage four event in Paris last year.The Indian team's success is a testament to their consistent performance and unwavering determination. They have established themselves as a formidable force in compound archery, consistently delivering podium finishes at major international events.In addition to the women's team gold, India is also eyeing a second gold medal in the compound mixed team event. Jyothi and Priyansh will face the USA in the final later in the day, aiming to add to India's medal tally.

National Anti-Doping Agency Cracks Down on Dope Cheaters at Delhi State Athletics MeetOn a sweltering morning, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) launched a surprise raid at the Delhi State Summer Athletic Meet at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, sending shockwaves through the participating athletes.The presence of NADA dope testers caused a stir, with one medallist in the shot put boys' U-18 event attempting to evade officials by fleeing around the stadium. Another shot putter in the girls U-18 category also managed to escape.Undeterred, the NADA team continued its mission, collecting samples from medallists and randomly selecting athletes for testing. The heightened scrutiny led to an unusually high number of athletes withdrawing from their respective events.In the boys (U-18) 1000m run, 17 athletes failed to finish the race, while 10 others did not even start. The boys (U-18) 400m competition saw nine withdrawals, while the men's 400m run had seven athletes pulling out.The throwing events were also affected, with five athletes withdrawing from the boys U18 shot put event and three from the men's shot put. In men's javelin, four out of nine competitors pulled out."These are unusually high numbers of athletes withdrawing from events," said an official at the venue. "It's clear that the presence of dope testers has had an impact."The result of the shot putter who fled without giving his samples has been withheld. Suspicious syringes were also discovered scattered in the stadium's washrooms.The Delhi Athletics Association (DAA) has implemented a new policy requiring athletes to provide the names of their coaches, who will face punishment if their athletes are suspended for doping.This crackdown comes in the wake of India recording the highest number of doping offenders in the world in 2022, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). India tested 3,865 samples during that period, with 125 returning Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs).NADA's recent raids and the DAA's new policy are part of a concerted effort to combat doping in Indian athletics. The aim is to ensure fair competition and protect the integrity of the sport.

The MotoGP Indian Grand Prix, scheduled for September 20-22, has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks. However, Fairstreet Sports, the race promoters, have confirmed that the event will proceed as planned.Initial concerns arose due to delays in fulfilling financial obligations from last year's race. However, the Uttar Pradesh government intervened, with its investment wing, Invest UP, becoming a partner in February-March. The hosting rights fee will now be shared by Fairstreet Sports and Invest UP."The race is on," said Fairstreet Sports COO Pushkar Nath Srivastava. "We are grateful to the Uttar Pradesh government for their support."The organizers acknowledge that the fulfillment of contractual obligations has taken time due to formalities, paperwork, and the ongoing elections. However, they are confident that all issues will be resolved shortly after the elections, with a tripartite pact in place between Dorna, Fairstreet, and Invest UP.Ticket sales for the event will commence on June 14, with both single-day tickets and season passes available. The second edition of the Grand Prix will also feature a range of fan engagement activities.Fairstreet and Dorna have a seven-year contract to hold the race at the Buddh International Circuit, with six races remaining. India's track record in hosting international motorsport events has been mixed, with Formula 1 and Formula E both having short-lived stays.Despite these concerns, the organizers are optimistic about the future of MotoGP in India. The 2024 MotoGP calendar initially included a record-breaking 22 races, but was reduced to 20 after the cancellation of the Argentina race and the postponement of the Kazakhstan GP.

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton set the pace in the opening free practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, edging out McLaren's Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.029 seconds. Hamilton's Mercedes teammate, George Russell, finished third, followed by Lando Norris in the second McLaren.Local favorite Charles Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, placed fifth, ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll. The session was interrupted by a late red flag after Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu lost control of his Sauber and crashed, disrupting teams' plans to switch to soft tires.Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, struggled in his Red Bull car and finished 11th, 0.815 seconds off the pace. Verstappen complained about the car's handling on the bumpy Monaco circuit, which he had previously described as "one of the more difficult" for his team.McLaren unveiled a striking yellow and green livery as a tribute to the late Ayrton Senna, who won the Monaco Grand Prix six times. The session began with most teams opting for hard tires, but Piastri set the early pace on softs. Norris and Leclerc traded fastest laps before Hamilton and Russell moved up the order on softs.Hamilton's fastest lap of 1:12.169 put him at the top of the timesheets before Zhou Guanyu's crash triggered the red flag. The incident also caused damage to Leclerc's Ferrari, forcing him to pit for repairs.

India's hockey team has faced a series of setbacks in recent months, including a disappointing performance at the 2023 World Cup. However, the team has been working to rebuild its momentum and belief through a series of team-building exercises designed to foster friendship, trust, and bonding within the group.Chief coach Craig Fulton and mental health expert Paddy Upton have implemented a variety of activities to help the team detach itself from hockey and focus on other aspects of their lives. These activities have included swimming, surfing, hiking, and even making short films.The team's recent success in the Pro League, where they defeated 2016 Rio Olympics champions Argentina, is a testament to the importance of keeping the mood light and fostering a positive team environment."These activities will not necessarily improve your hockey but what it will improve are your relationships, understanding and trust of your teammates," says Fulton. "Investing in team and individuals and doing things outside hockey are ways to refuel the process because if you just train, you’ll end up running out of fuel."The team's bonding exercises have also helped them to develop a better understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. During a hike up Table Mountain in South Africa, the team realized that they needed to look after everyone, communicate, understand, and go up together."They were small but important things. Some had issues with the altitude, some were nervous looking at the climb, some got tired. The idea was to support, boost each other and take everyone along. That is how you win," said India forward Lalit Upadhyay.The team's bonding exercises have also helped them to develop a greater sense of creativity and presence of mind. During an "Oscar night" event, the team was divided into groups and had to make short films based on certain themes. The entire squad then watched the films together during a special screening which turned out to be a laugh riot following which ‘Oscar’ awards were also handed out."The name of our movie was Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. Just think – Akashdeep (Singh) was a king who had to deliver justice. Raj(kumar Pal) was playing a female dancer who had been teased. I was senapati (military chief), the movie was shot by Shamsher (Singh). It was super fun. All teams had a director, actors, cameramen. We shot the entire day and it was screened during a team dinner. The entire campus was filled with laughter," says Hardik.The team's bonding exercises have been a key factor in their recent success. They have helped the team to build a stronger foundation and to develop a greater sense of trust and camaraderie. These exercises will continue to be an important part of the team's preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to reflect on his journey in Monaco ahead of this weekend's 81st Monaco Grand Prix. Recalling his first visit to the principality as a 13-year-old, Hamilton was struck by the event's history and grandeur."I really felt the place and its history," Hamilton said. "As I came through the tunnel, I remembered Ayrton (Senna) from watching it on TV as a kid. It felt surreal to think that I am now one of the 22 to do it - and that I have been doing it for so long."Hamilton's dream of racing in Monaco became a reality when he won the Grand Prix three times - in 2008, 2016, and 2019. He also purchased an apartment and now resides in the Mediterranean principality."I raced here the first time when I was 18 or 19," Hamilton added. "In Formula Three, it was epic. I had a rented scooter and was running around town. It was really epic for me. And then, I got to go on the grid, and it was crazy because I had only ever seen Martin Brundle there."Despite the recent struggles of his Mercedes team, Hamilton remains enthusiastic about driving and is eager to perform well in Monaco."We don't have any upgrades this weekend," Hamilton said. "The package was spread over the last two races. We have our highest downforce package and an evolved wing, but otherwise, I don't know where we'll be.""But I am more excited than I have been with the previous two cars. They were not so great. This one is a real work in progress and it's much better than last year."Hamilton emphasized the complexities of racing in Monaco, including the need to consider factors such as ride height, balance, weight distribution, cambers, and tows. He expressed optimism about the potential of his car and his team's ability to improve."I hope we just hit the ground running and we don't look back," Hamilton said. "But this car is more predictable and it is nice to drive. It's not perfect, but we are going in the right direction."