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India's para-athletes continue to shine at the World Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, with Sachin Sarjerao Khilari claiming a gold medal in the F46 shot put event. Khilari's triumph marks India's fifth gold at the ongoing competition and is a testament to the country's growing prowess in para-athletics.Khilari, a defending champion in the event, shattered his own Asian record with a remarkable throw of 16.30m. His previous record of 16.21m was set in Paris last year. The Indian athlete's dominance was evident throughout the competition, as he consistently outperformed his rivals.With three days remaining in the championships, India has amassed an impressive 12 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze). This tally surpasses India's previous best performance at the 2023 Paris iteration, where the team secured 10 medals.Khilari's gold medal is a culmination of years of hard work and determination. Hailing from a humble village in Maharashtra, the 34-year-old athlete overcame a childhood mishap that resulted in a disability in his left hand. Despite multiple surgeries, his arm never fully recovered.The F46 category in para-athletics is designed for athletes with moderately affected movement in one or both arms or the absence of limbs. These athletes must transmit power from their hips and legs into their throws.Khilari's success is not limited to the World Championships. He is also a Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist and has qualified for the Paris Paralympics. The Indian athlete is confident of continuing his winning streak and bringing home another gold medal from the prestigious event.India's medal haul was further boosted by Dharambir's bronze medal in the men's F51 club throw. Dharambir, a Hangzhou Asian Games silver medalist, broke his own Asian record with a throw of 33.61m. The gold medal in the event went to Serbia's Zeljko Dimitrijevic, who set a championship record with a throw of 34.20m.India's performance at the World Athletics Championships is a testament to the country's commitment to promoting para-athletics and providing opportunities for athletes with disabilities to excel on the world stage.

The Indian men's hockey team displayed resilience and determination to secure a hard-fought 5-4 victory over Argentina in a thrilling FIH Pro League encounter on May 22. The match, played in Rotterdam, Netherlands, witnessed a captivating battle between two evenly matched sides.India started the game on a positive note, with Mandeep Singh scoring a field goal in the 11th minute. However, Argentina responded swiftly through a penalty corner converted by Lucas Martinez in the 20th minute. The first half ended with both teams locked at 1-1.The second half saw a more intense contest, with both sides creating numerous scoring opportunities. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay gave India the lead in the 40th minute, but Argentina's Tomas Domene equalized with a fierce penalty corner flick in the 60th minute.With the match heading into a shootout, the pressure mounted on both teams. India's skipper Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh each scored twice, while Abhishek contributed the other goal. Argentina's efforts fell short, as they could only convert two of their five attempts.The victory was a significant one for India, as it kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the FIH Pro League Grand Finals. The team's performance was particularly impressive considering they were without several key players, including Akashdeep Singh and Simranjeet Singh.India's chief coach, Craig Fulton, praised his team's fighting spirit and determination. "We showed great character to come back from a goal down and win the match in a shootout," he said. "It was a tough game, but we never gave up."The Indian team will now face hosts Belgium in their next Pro League match on Friday. They will be looking to continue their winning ways and secure a spot in the Grand Finals.

Swapnil Kusale, a promising Indian shooter, has secured his spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a remarkable journey marked by both triumphs and setbacks. Kusale's Olympic quota was earned at the 2022 World Championships, where his fourth-place finish in the 50m rifle 3P event granted India its third quota.Despite facing health challenges, Kusale remained determined to hold onto his quota. A chronic tonsils issue plagued him, causing extreme pain, fever, and weakness. After identifying lactose intolerance as the trigger, Kusale eliminated milk products from his diet, significantly improving his condition.Kusale's career has been a testament to perseverance. After breaking through as a promising junior, he missed out on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. However, he bounced back to win his first individual World Cup medal in 2022. He also contributed to India's bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3P team event at the Cairo Worlds and their gold medal at the Asian Games.Recognizing the importance of physical fitness, Kusale focused on strengthening his build and improving his overall health. This enhanced his shooting technique and helped him overcome mental setbacks. In the past, Kusale had narrowly missed out on medals due to faltering in the final shots. However, he has worked tirelessly to rectify this issue and stay present in high-pressure situations.With Paris in his sights, Kusale is eager to represent his country at the Olympics. He believes that this is a new beginning and a chance to fulfill his dream.

Indian chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu is eagerly anticipating his participation in the prestigious 12th edition of Norway Chess, set to take place from May 27 to June 7 in Stavanger, Norway. The tournament boasts an exceptional lineup, including world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, World Champion Ding Liren, and world No. 3 Hikaru Nakamura.Pragg, 18, expressed his excitement about the opportunity to compete against such a formidable field. "I am very happy and excited to play in Norway Chess. The field is extremely strong. This is perhaps the strongest field I have played, and I see this as an opportunity and a challenge to give my best," he said.Reflecting on his memorable contest with Carlsen at last year's FIDE Chess World Cup, Pragg emphasized his eagerness to face the Norwegian once again. "I always enjoy a good challenge. After the World Cup last year, this will be my first classical game with him. I am quite excited to play him and equally excited to play the others. No doubt the experience here will help me in future tournaments."Pragg dismissed the notion that playing Carlsen on his home turf would pose a significant challenge. "I don't think playing Magnus on his home turf is a challenge for me. Usually, it matters to the player playing in his home, but it won't matter so much for me," he asserted.The young Indian also expressed his delight at the inclusion of an exclusive women's tournament in Norway Chess. "I am happy to see an exclusive women's tournament being introduced in Norway Chess. It is a very good initiative because there are not many tournaments for women. This will encourage other organizations to come up with women's tournaments too."Pragg's sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu, will also make her debut in the Norway Chess Women's Tournament. "I am looking forward to seeing how she will do," Pragg said.The tournament will be played in a double round-robin format with classical time control. In case of a draw, an Armageddon game will be played.

Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023 have made their first in-person appearance in a Canadian court. Karan Brar (22), Kamalpreet Singh (22), Karanpreet Singh (28), and Amandeep Singh (22) appeared before the British Columbia Provincial Court in Surrey, with the judge ordering them to have no contact with several individuals in the community.Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh activist, was shot and killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023. His death sparked outrage and protests within the Sikh community, both in Canada and India.The ties between India and Canada came under strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing. The Indian government has denied these allegations.The four accused appeared in court wearing red prison sweatsuits. Judge Mark Jette placed them under a no-contact order before adjourning the case until June 25. Richard Fowler, the lawyer representing Karan Brar, emphasized the importance of a fair trial and the need to ensure that the community's interest in the case does not compromise the defendants' rights.Attendees at the hearing were subjected to security checks, with phones being placed in plastic bags and recording devices prohibited. Hundreds of local Sikhs carrying Khalistan flags and posters gathered outside the courthouse in support of Nijjar and the Sikh separatist movement.The case has drawn international attention, with concerns raised about the potential for further tensions between India and Canada. The next hearing is scheduled for June 25, and the outcome of the trial is expected to have significant implications for both countries.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has announced that no selection trials will be held for the Paris Olympics, and the six wrestlers who have secured quotas for the country will represent India in Paris. This decision has come as a surprise to many wrestlers, including Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Dahiya, who were preparing for the trials.The five women wrestlers who have earned Olympic berths are Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Antim Panghal (53kg), Reetika Hooda (76kg), Nisha Dahiya (68kg), and Anshu Malik (57kg). Aman Sehrawat (57kg) is the only male wrestler to have secured a quota.WFI president Sanjay Singh stated that the seven-member selection committee unanimously decided to exempt quota-earning wrestlers from trials for the Paris Olympics, citing "a one-time exception in the current peculiar circumstances." The committee members, including chief coaches Jagmander Singh (men) and Virender Singh (women), believed that conducting trials at this short notice could impact the wrestlers' performance at the Olympics and increase the risk of injuries."Five wrestlers had written to us to not hold trials as it will affect their preparation. They will have to reduce weight and it will shift their focus on trials. Since there is little time left for the Paris Olympics, the selection committee has decided to not hold trials and select the quota winners for the Olympics team, as WFI has been doing previously," said Singh.The decision has disappointed Ravi Dahiya, who was hoping to challenge Aman in the selection trials. Dahiya, who is recovering from an ACL surgery, had lost to Aman in the selection trials in March for the two qualification competitions for Paris Olympics."I was preparing for the trials because we were told that the Paris Olympics team will be selected through trials. Now suddenly they are saying that there will be no trials. I don't know what to say," Dahiya told Hindustan Times."I was injured for a long time and it has taken time to recover. Since then I have been focusing on my training. The Paris Olympics is all I have been preparing for.. aur kya hai batao aap (What else is there for me?) It is very disappointing. I am trying to reach out to WFI. I will decide on my next step tomorrow," said Dahiya.The decision has also affected other wrestlers, including Sarita Mor, who was preparing to challenge Anshu Malik for a Paris berth. "We just came back today from a training stint in the US," said her husband and coach Rahul Mor. "Now they are saying that there is little time for Paris, but the trials were to take place only after all the qualifiers were over. So why this change of decision?"Vinesh Phogat, on the other hand, felt that the WFI's decision vindicated her call to compete in two weight classes for the Olympic qualification trials in Patiala. "A lot of people criticized me when I trialled in two weight categories (50kg and 53kg) in March but I knew WFI will be up to some mischief later," said Vinesh. "That's why I participated in two weight divisions in Patiala. All this while, we were told there will be a trial but suddenly they announce there won't be any trial. Is it fair to the wrestlers who appeared in the 53kg trials?"The WFI's decision has raised questions about the fairness of the selection process and the impact it will have on the wrestlers' morale. It remains to be seen if any wrestler will challenge the decision in court.

India's medal count at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games is set to drop by one after boxer Parveen Hooda was suspended for 22 months for whereabouts failure. Hooda, who won a bronze medal in the women's 57kg weight class, has been stripped of her medal and her results from December 11, 2022, to May 17, 2024, have been disqualified.The suspension stems from Hooda's failure to file her whereabouts three times within a twelve-month period, a violation of the International Boxing Association's anti-doping rules. The International Testing Agency (ITA), which is responsible for results management, handed down the suspension earlier this month.The suspension is a major blow to Hooda, who had earned an Olympic quota for the 2024 Paris Games with her bronze medal performance at the Asian Games. The quota has now been surrendered, and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine Lamboria will fight for the 57kg quota in the final Olympic qualifier, starting in Bangkok on Friday.The suspension is also an embarrassment for Indian boxing, which has been plagued by a series of controversies in recent years. In 2021, the International Boxing Association (IBA) suspended the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) for alleged mismanagement and corruption. The suspension was lifted in September 2022, but the BFI remains under scrutiny.Despite the suspension, India's overall medal count at the 2023 Asian Games will remain at 106, which is good enough for fourth place in the overall medal rankings.

Reigning Paralympic champion Sumit Antil defended his F64 javelin throw world title in emphatic fashion at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan. The Indian star hurled his spear to a distance of 69.50m, leaving his rivals trailing in his wake. Compatriot Sandeep added to India's medal tally with a bronze medal in the same event, with a throw of 60.41m.Tokyo Paralympics silver winner Thangavelu Mariyappan continued India's golden run by claiming the gold medal in the T63 high jump. Mariyappan soared to a championship record of 1.88m, showcasing his exceptional athleticism.Ekta Bhyan also contributed to India's medal haul by securing the gold medal in the women's F51 club throw competition. Bhyan unleashed a season's best throw of 20.12m, leaving her opponents in her dust. Kashish Lakra added to India's success in the same event, taking home the silver medal with an effort of 14.56m.India's impressive performance at the World Para Athletics Championships is a testament to the country's growing prowess in para-athletics. The athletes' determination and resilience have brought glory to India and inspired countless others.

Deepthi Jeevanji's remarkable journey from an intellectually impaired child to a world champion in para athletics is a testament to her indomitable spirit and the unwavering support of her coach, Nagpuri Ramesh.Ramesh first noticed Deepthi's exceptional athleticism but also her inability to express pain or fatigue during training. Suspecting an underlying issue, he took her to the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, where she was diagnosed with intellectual impairment.Undeterred, Ramesh encouraged Deepthi to pursue para sport. In 2016, she made her debut and quickly rose through the ranks. Her breakthrough came at the 2018 Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, where she won gold with an Asian record time.Deepthi's success has not only transformed her own life but also that of her family. Her parents, once subjected to taunts, are now filled with pride. With the cash awards she has received, they have been able to buy back land they had to sell and are now farming.At the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Deepthi blazed to a world record time of 55.07s in the 400m sprint (T20), securing her a gold medal and a berth at the Paris Paralympics. She became the first Indian to win gold in track in world para championships.Ramesh attributes Deepthi's success to her natural talent, her ability to push her limits, and the support she receives from her family and the Pullela Gopichand Foundation. He emphasizes the importance of not overwhelming her with technical instructions, as she is like a "small child."Deepthi's story is an inspiration to all, demonstrating that with determination and support, anything is possible. Her journey is a reminder that disability does not define potential and that every individual has the right to pursue their dreams.