Others

Jaismine Lamboria to Represent India in Olympic Boxing Qualifiers After Parveen Hooda's SuspensionIndia's hopes of fielding a full contingent of boxers at the Paris Olympics have suffered a setback with the suspension of Parveen Hooda, the quota holder in the women's 57kg category. As a result, Jaismine Lamboria will now compete in the second Olympic boxing qualifiers in Thailand, which begin on May 24.Hooda's suspension stems from three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period, a violation of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. The International Testing Agency (ITA) has imposed a 22-month suspension on the boxer, which has been backdated to Friday. This means Hooda will serve a 14-month suspension, effectively ending her Olympic hopes.Lamboria, who previously competed in the 60kg category, will now represent India in the 57kg division at the qualifiers. She has a strong track record, having won a bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and competing in the first Olympic qualifiers and the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.The loss of the 57kg quota is a significant blow to Indian boxing, which has already secured three Olympic quotas through Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti (54kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg). The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) expressed disappointment over Hooda's suspension, calling it an "unprecedented embarrassment."In boxing, Olympic quotas are awarded to countries, not individual athletes. Therefore, India has lost the quota in the 57kg category, and Lamboria will be competing for a new quota in Thailand.Lamboria's performance at the qualifiers will be crucial for India's hopes of fielding a strong boxing contingent at the Paris Olympics. The qualifiers will feature boxers from around the world, and only the top finishers in each weight category will earn Olympic berths.

Max Verstappen's dominance in qualifying continued at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as he secured his eighth consecutive pole position, equaling the record set by the legendary Ayrton Senna. The Red Bull driver's blistering lap time of 1:14.746 was a testament to his exceptional talent and the team's unwavering performance.Verstappen's achievement was particularly poignant, coming three decades after Senna's tragic death at the same circuit. "It's a great start to the year but also very special 30 years since he passed away at this track," said Verstappen. "Of course, very pleased to get pole here and in a way it's a nice memory to him."Oscar Piastri, in his McLaren, came tantalizingly close to snatching pole from Verstappen, posting a time just 0.074 seconds slower. The Australian's impressive performance was a testament to his growing confidence and the team's progress.Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate and the winner of the previous race in Miami, secured third place, followed by Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. Carlos Sainz and George Russell rounded out the top six, while Yuki Tsunoda, Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo, and Nico Hulkenberg completed the top 10.Sergio Perez, Verstappen's teammate, suffered a disappointing qualifying session, failing to make it past Q2. The Mexican's frustration was evident as he muttered "what a mess" over the team radio.Piastri, despite narrowly missing out on pole, was thrilled with his performance. "My lap was a bit scruff in the final corner, but it is so difficult to do a perfect lap at this circuit," he said. "But I'm very happy."Norris, who claimed his maiden victory two weeks ago, acknowledged the tight competition. "P3 is not a bad job and both of us are within a tenth of P1, so it is all about tiny margins," he said. "We've had a good day and a good weekend so far."Verstappen's pole position sets the stage for an exciting race on Sunday, as he aims to extend his winning streak and further cement his dominance in Formula 1.

Sarabjot Singh, the 22-year-old shooting prodigy from Ambala, has set his sights firmly on the Paris Olympics. Despite his recent success at the Bhopal World Cup, where he won the individual 10m air pistol gold, Sarabjot remains focused on his ultimate goal: an Olympic medal."I like to celebrate only when I do things I've actually dreamt of," he said. "For me, it is not about winning World Cup medals, it is about winning the Olympic gold."Sarabjot's unwavering determination stems from years of visualization and a deep-seated passion for shooting. "Ek aag hoti hai bande ke andar (a fire burns inside one), that I want to do this," he said.His consistency and front sight focus, honed through tratak meditation, have been instrumental in his success. "It has done wonders for my front sight," he said. "I focus a lot on yoga and meditation."Despite his love for speed and cars, shooting remains Sarabjot's primary passion. "Shooting came later," he said. "I had a keen interest for racing and cars from a young age."However, Sarabjot's journey has not been without its challenges. Last year, a nagging shoulder issue threatened to derail his progress. "That was a difficult phase, the lowest point of my career so far," he said.Undeterred, Sarabjot persevered, skipping tournaments and undergoing rehabilitation. "My goal was to be at the Paris Olympics and win a medal there," he said. "That is what I had visualized."With the Paris quota secured, Sarabjot is now focused on fine-tuning his skills and preparing for the biggest stage of all. "Pressure is built from outside," he said. "In my mind, I had no pressure. I wasn't even thinking that I have to do well in these trials and stuff like that."Sarabjot's unwavering belief in himself and his unwavering pursuit of excellence make him a formidable contender for Olympic glory.

Sift Kaur Samra and Niraj Kumar emerged victorious in the women's and men's 50m rifle 3 positions competitions, respectively, on the penultimate day of the Olympic Selection Trial (OST) 3 and 4 in Bhopal.Sift shot 461.3 in the women's 3P trial 4 final, edging out Nischal by a point. Ashi Chouksey finished third with 448.1. Shriyanka Sadangi and Anjum Moudgil placed fourth and fifth, respectively.In the men's 3P, Niraj finished on top with a score of 462.9, a significant 1.7 points ahead of second-placed Chain Singh. Aishwary Tomar secured third place with 449.8, while Swapnil Kusale and Akhil Sheoran finished fourth and fifth, respectively.These results confirmed Sift as the top finisher in women's 3P, considering the best three scores out of the four trials. Anjum Moudgil also secured her position as the second-best shooter among the five qualified shooters. In the men's 3P, Aishwary Tomar and Swapnil Kusale finished 1-2 after the completion of four trial matches.The day also witnessed the qualification rounds of the men's and women's 10m air rifle and air pistol trial 4. Sri Karthik Sabari Raj topped the men's air rifle with a score of 631.6, while Ramita Jindal shone in the women's air rifle, posting a remarkable 636.4, just 0.1 points more than the existing world record set by China's Han Jiayu.Ramita's performance propelled her to second place in the overall calculations, just 0.1 points behind Olympian Elavenil Valarivan. Mehuli Ghosh (633.1) was second, while Nancy (630.6) and Tilottama Sen (628.8) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.In the men's air rifle, the results had no impact on the standings as Sandeep Singh (fourth with 628.3) and Arjun Babuta (fifth with 624.7) maintained their top two positions.Manu Bhaker confidently topped the women's 10m air pistol standings, finishing on top of the trial 4 qualification round with a score of 581. Surbhi Rao (577) was second, while Palak (572) was third. Rhythm Sangwan and Esha Singh finished fourth and fifth, respectively.In the men's air pistol, Sarabjot Singh shot 584 to top the trial 4 qualifications, while Arjun Singh Cheema was second with 583. Varun Tomar (577), Ravinder Singh (576), and Naveen (574) finished third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.These results in air pistol indicate that Manu and Rhythm are currently ranked 1-2 in the women's air pistol, while Sarabjot and Arjun hold the top two slots in the men's event.

Two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen has added another feather to her cap by clinching the Elorda Cup in the Women's 52 kg category. Zareen defeated Zhazira Urakbayeva of Kazakhstan by a unanimous decision of 5:0.Zareen's victory was not the only highlight for India at the Elorda Cup. Minakshi (48kg), Anamika (50kg), and Manisha (60kg) also made their way into the finals with impressive performances. Minakshi and Manisha both secured 5-0 unanimous victories against their Kazakh opponents, while Anamika was declared victorious after her opponent was disqualified for excessive holding.However, not all Indian boxers were able to reach the finals. Sonu (63kg) and Manju Bamboriya (66kg) ended their campaigns with bronze medals after suffering defeats in their last clashes. Sonu lost to Uzbekistan's Zieda Yarasheva by a score of 2-3, while Bamboriya faced a tough 0-5 loss against China's Liu Yang.Shalakha Singh Sansanwal (70kg) and Monika (81 kg) will play their semi-finals later today. Four Indian men pugilists, Yaiphaba Singh Soibam (48kg), Abhishek Yadav (67kg), Vishal (86kg), and Gaurav Chauhan (92 kg), will also play their semi-final bouts on Friday.The Elorda Cup is an important tournament for Indian boxers as it provides them with valuable international experience and helps them prepare for upcoming competitions, including the Asian Games and the Olympics.

Doping Crackdown: AFI Punishes Coaches of Sanctioned AthletesIn a bid to curb the rising cases of doping in Indian athletics, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has implemented a stringent policy that holds coaches accountable for the actions of their athletes.Under the new policy, athletes will be required to disclose the names of their coaches, who must also register with the AFI. If an athlete is caught and punished for doping, the coach will face similar sanctions from the federation.AFI President Adille Sumariwalla emphasized the severity of the doping issue and the need for decisive action. He stated that the federation will recommend government departments to take action against coaches involved in doping."We will ban the coach and inform the Army, Navy, Air Force, and SAI. We will not let such coaches enter the stadium or accompany any team," Sumariwalla said.The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code provides for sanctions against individuals who assist or cover up doping violations. The AFI's policy aligns with this code, recognizing the role of coaches in preventing and combating doping.However, some coaches have expressed concerns about the policy. Amrish Kumar, who trains India's top steeplechaser Avinash Sable, believes that coaches should only be punished if it can be proven that they assisted in doping."You cannot just suspend a coach because the athlete has been caught and punished for doping," Kumar said. "The athletes are smart today and have nutritionists, physios, and so many people around them."Despite these concerns, Delhi's chief coach Dinesh Rawat supports the policy. He believes that firm steps are necessary to curb doping and that coaches have a responsibility to monitor their athletes' performance.In addition to the coaching crackdown, the AFI is also decentralizing training camps and introducing a new kitting partner, PUMA. The federation aims to create a more robust and transparent system to support Indian athletes and combat the scourge of doping.

Sift Kaur Samra, India's rising star in 50m rifle 3 positions shooting, has secured her berth for the Paris Olympics after a remarkable performance at the Asian Games and World Cup. Her journey to the top has been marked by patience, resilience, and a carefree attitude.Last year, Samra made her mark at the Bhopal World Cup, winning her first senior individual medal. A year later, she emerged from the same venue as an Asian Games medalist, a world record holder, and an Olympic qualifier.Samra attributes her success to her improved patience. "I didn't have a lot of experience a year ago. My thinking was to just finish the matches. Now, I know how to handle aspects like wind and pressure," she said.Her patience was tested in the final qualification round of the Olympic trials. Despite not having a top finish to her name, Samra delivered her best round of 593, securing a top-two spot in the trials."I was a bit nervous at the start, but after the start, my confidence grew. My only thought was to correct the mistakes I had made in my previous matches and come back to the top," Samra said.Her breakthrough at the Asian Games, where she won individual gold and team silver, was followed by a silver at the Asian Championships. Her world record scores have shattered expectations."Why will I be surprised? I only started it. New generation, new techniques, new scores," Samra said when asked about her high scores.Her carefree attitude and ability to control pressure have been key factors in her success. "I do feel pressure, but controlling that pressure is what shooting is about," she said.Samra's patience has come with experience, not through traditional mental techniques. "I'm different from other people. I do nothing to help clear my mind — I watch movies, dance, talk to friends."With the pressure of Olympic qualification behind her, Samra is looking forward to shooting "for myself" at the Munich World Cup. She is confident in her ability to shoot well despite challenges like wind."When amid this strong breeze I could shoot 10s, it was a nice feeling. If I could manage such scores here, there (in Paris) it will be a bit easier," she said.Samra's journey to the Paris Olympics is a testament to her talent, patience, and unwavering determination. She is a rising star in Indian shooting, and her future holds endless possibilities.

India's hockey team faced a rude awakening in their recent five-Test series against Australia, losing 5-0 in Perth. The defeat exposed glaring weaknesses in the team, particularly in their inability to score field goals and their poor defensive work.Vice-captain Hardik Singh acknowledged the wake-up call, stating that the team had been under the illusion that they were performing well. He emphasized the need for constant alertness and proactivity in international hockey.The series against Australia, a team with a rich Olympic history, was crucial for India as they prepare for the Paris Olympics. However, instead of building on their strengths, the Kookaburras exploited India's weaknesses.India's forwards struggled to score field goals, managing only two in five matches. Hardik pointed out that the forwards need to work harder and be more aggressive in the opposition's 'D'.Defensively, India's man-to-man work was inadequate, and they failed to capitalize on counterattacks. The team's lack of consistency, due to constant chopping and changing, also contributed to their downfall.Despite the setback, Hardik expressed confidence that the team will not be affected mentally. He highlighted the importance of a positive mindset and the support of mental health expert Paddy Upton.India will face Australia again in their last group match at Paris, which could determine their qualification for the knockouts. Hardik emphasized the need for tactical improvement and a unified mindset to overcome the challenge.The team is currently in Antwerp, preparing for their remaining Pro League matches against Belgium, Argentina, Great Britain, and Germany. They are focused on getting back to winning ways and addressing their weaknesses before the Olympics.

Anjum Moudgil, a seasoned Indian shooter, has overcome adversity to secure a berth at the Paris Olympics in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event. After a tumultuous year marked by poor performances and missed opportunities, Moudgil has emerged stronger than ever, proving her resilience and determination.Moudgil's journey to redemption began with a string of impressive performances in 2022, including two World Cup medals and a No. 1 ranking in her discipline. However, a series of disappointing outings in 2023 left her feeling shattered and on the brink of despair."It was a very difficult time," Moudgil said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I felt like I had failed myself and everyone who believed in me."Undeterred, Moudgil resolved to rebuild her confidence and regain her form. She took a break from training and spent time alone in Budapest, focusing on the fundamentals of her sport."I had to go back to the basics and figure out what I was doing wrong," Moudgil explained. "I needed to find my own way back."With the support of her husband and fellow shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Moudgil gradually regained her composure and began to train with renewed vigor."Aish has been a great friend and mentor," Moudgil said. "He helped me believe in myself again."At the Olympic selection trials, Moudgil faced a tough challenge, but she rose to the occasion, finishing among the top two in all four rounds. Her performance earned her a spot alongside Sift Kaur Samra in the Indian team for Paris."I'm so grateful for this opportunity," Moudgil said. "I've worked so hard to get back to this point, and I'm determined to make the most of it."Moudgil's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of never giving up on one's dreams. Despite setbacks and disappointments, she has emerged as a stronger and more determined athlete, ready to represent India on the world's biggest stage.