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Masters champion Scottie Scheffler's PGA Championship journey took an unexpected turn on Friday morning when he was arrested on his way to the tournament. The incident occurred during a pedestrian fatality investigation, with Scheffler allegedly failing to follow police orders.Scheffler was initially detained in gym shorts and a tee shirt, but was later photographed in an orange jail shirt for his mug shot. Despite the arrest, he managed to return to Valhalla Golf Club in golf clothes just 56 minutes before his scheduled tee time for the second round.According to Scheffler's attorney, Steve Romines, the arrest was a "big misunderstanding." He stated that Scheffler was following instructions from a police officer when he was stopped and detained.The incident occurred as traffic was backed up on the road leading to Valhalla due to the pedestrian fatality. Police reported that a pedestrian was struck by a bus while crossing the road in a lane designated for tournament traffic.ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington witnessed the arrest and described Scheffler as being "very stunned" and asking for help. Darlington also noted that police initially appeared unsure of Scheffler's identity.Scheffler was booked for second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic. However, Romines maintains that Scheffler did not intentionally do anything wrong.The PGA Championship announced a delay in play due to the accident, with the second round starting over an hour later than scheduled. Scheffler was ultimately able to tee off after 10 a.m.Despite the arrest, Scheffler remains in contention for the PGA Championship title. He opened with a 4-under 67 and is five shots off the lead. He is aiming to become only the fifth player since 1960 to win the first two majors of the year.

Billie Jean King, the legendary tennis icon, has made significant contributions both on and off the court. This week, she showcased her versatility by appearing on Jeopardy! and receiving recognition for her groundbreaking work in promoting equality through Billie Jean King Enterprises (BJK Enterprises).On Jeopardy!, King presented clues in the "Trailblazing Women in Sports" category, honoring fellow athletes like Wilma Rudolph, Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee, and Mia Hamm. Her appearance highlighted the achievements of women in sports and inspired contestants to answer correctly.Beyond her Jeopardy! appearance, King's advocacy for equality has been recognized by Chief, a network of senior executive women. BJK Enterprises, co-founded by King and Ilana Kloss, was named one of 25 exceptional companies shaping the future of business through innovation.BJK Enterprises, a women-owned and women-led firm, supports women in sports and business. In 2023, they played a pivotal role in establishing the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), the first sustainable women's hockey league. The PWHL has witnessed record-breaking attendance in major cities, demonstrating the growing interest in women's sports.BJK Enterprises also partnered with the International Tennis Foundation to create the BJK Cup, the World Cup of women's tennis. This annual competition is the largest international team sports event for women, attracting nations from around the globe."We are finally seeing the impact of real investment in women's sports," said Ilana Kloss, CEO of BJK Enterprises. "We've always known that women's sports was good business, and we're glad to see more leaders join us in driving innovation and investment in this market."BJK Enterprises was selected for the New Era of Leadership Awards by a panel of judges from renowned organizations like PepsiCo, Bumble, and IBM. Chief itself has been recognized by TIME and Fast Company for its influence and innovation.King's legacy extends beyond her tennis achievements. Her unwavering commitment to equality and her work through BJK Enterprises continue to inspire and empower women in sports and business.

Clarke Schmidt's dominant eight-inning shutout propelled the New York Yankees to a 5-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins, completing a three-game sweep. Schmidt's career-best outing featured eight strikeouts, two singles, and a double allowed, lowering his ERA to 2.49.Anthony Volpe's leadoff home run ignited a three-run first inning for the Yankees, who extended their winning streak to 11 of their last 14 games. Gleyber Torres contributed two doubles and an RBI, while Anthony Rizzo, Austin Wells, and Alex Verdugo also drove in runs.Aaron Judge continued his torrid pace, going 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk. His 409-foot flyout to center field in the fifth inning would have been a home run in most ballparks.The Twins' defense struggled throughout the series, with Alex Kirilloff misplaying a line drive by Torres in the first inning. Starter Joe Ryan allowed four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.The Yankees' victory snapped the Twins' six-game series winning streak and extended their lead over Minnesota in the AL Central to 10 games.

India's Olympic medal hopes have suffered a significant setback with the provisional suspension of World Championships bronze medalist Parveen Hooda for Whereabouts Failure. The 26-year-old boxer has accumulated three such failures within a year, violating WADA regulations.Hooda's suspension, which carries a potential two-year ineligibility, has left the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) scrambling for solutions. The federation is in constant communication with the International Boxing Association (IBA) to explore options for reducing the sanction or overturning it altogether. However, there is no precedent for such a reversal.Even if the suspension is reduced to one year, Hooda will lose her Olympic quota in the 57kg category. The berth will likely be awarded to 60kg pugilist Jaismine Lamboria, who has been asked to prepare for the World Olympic Qualifiers in Bangkok.Hooda's coach, Sudhir Hooda, expressed disappointment and frustration, stating that repeated reminders about whereabouts updates were ignored. The BFI has remained tight-lipped on the issue, but secretary general Hemanta Kalita indicated that they are exploring all possible channels to mitigate the situation.Parveen's absence from the Elorda Cup in Kazakhstan, where she was initially listed, raised suspicions about her status. The Asian Games bronze medalist is currently at her home in Rohtak, Haryana.The Whereabouts Failure violation highlights the importance of athletes adhering to anti-doping regulations. Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool are required to provide accurate and timely information about their location to facilitate out-of-competition testing. Failure to do so can result in severe consequences, as Parveen has unfortunately discovered.

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and World Championships gold medalist, is set to compete in his third competition of the season at the Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet in Czechia on May 28. This World Athletics Continental Tour Gold label event marks the 63rd edition of the prestigious competition.Chopra's season began with a second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League on May 11, where he threw 88.36 meters, just shy of the winner, Jakub Vadlejch. Despite battling fatigue at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar, Chopra secured a gold medal with a throw of 82.27 meters.At Ostrava, Chopra will face a formidable lineup in the men's javelin throw, including Vadlejch, the home favorite, and Anderson Peters of Grenada, a former World Champion. Peters finished third behind Vadlejch and Chopra in Doha.Chopra was scheduled to compete in Ostrava last year but withdrew due to a muscle injury. Vadlejch won the title with a throw of 81.93 meters.In addition to Chopra, Vadlejch, and Peters, the Ostrava meet will feature other global stars such as Marcell Jacobs of Italy, the reigning Olympic 100m champion, Gianmarco Tamberi, the Olympic co-champion in men's high jump, and Mondo Duplantis of Sweden, the world record holder and Olympic gold medalist in pole vault.After Ostrava, Chopra is expected to remain in Europe for the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on June 18. This Continental Tour Gold event is a top-tier World Athletics competition. In 2022, Chopra won a silver medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games with a throw of 89.30 meters, his personal best at the time. He later broke his own record with a throw of 89.94 meters at the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League, which remains his national record.Chopra's participation in these competitions is part of his preparation for the Paris Olympics 2024, scheduled for July 26 to August 11.

Bhavani Devi, India's pioneering sabre fencer, faces a bittersweet reality as the 2024 Paris Olympics approach. Despite her relentless training and recent achievements, she will not be competing in the Games.After her historic Olympic debut in Tokyo, Bhavani relocated to Orleans, France, to train under renowned coach Christian Bauer. The move has transformed her understanding of the sport, leading to a career-high ranking of world No. 32. She became the first Indian fencer to win an Asian Championship medal in 2023, defeating reigning world champion Misaki Emura.However, her Olympic hopes were dashed at the Asia Oceania Zonal qualifiers in April. The disappointment has been profound, leaving Bhavani struggling to cope. "It's really painful," she confides. "I'm trying to let it pass."Bhavani's training regimen is grueling, with 35 hours of intense practice each week. On weekends, her body aches from the constant lunging, thrusting, and parrying. Yet, she finds solace in the physical exertion, using it to process her lost opportunity.Despite the setback, Bhavani remains determined. She believes that her improved skills and the support of her training partners, including her former Tokyo Olympics opponent Manon Brunet, will propel her forward."I've learnt so much," she says. "I'm learning to weave in more techniques, provocation, and working off my opponent's repertoire."Bhavani's absence from the Paris Olympics is a blow to Indian fencing. However, she remains hopeful for the future. At 30 years old, she knows that time is on her side. Five of the top 10 female sabre fencers are aged 30 or above, including 38-year-old Sofya Velikaya, who has medalled at the last three Games.Bhavani's journey is a testament to the resilience and determination of Indian athletes. While the pain of missing out on the Olympics lingers, she is committed to continuing her pursuit of excellence and inspiring future generations of fencers.

Olympian Anjum Moudgil and Paris Olympic Games quota winner Swapnil Kusale emerged victorious in the women's and men's 50m rifle 3-positions events, respectively, at the ongoing Olympic Selection Trials (OST) in Bhopal on Thursday.In the men's 50m rifle 3P final, Kusale, who had finished second in the qualification round with a score of 587, shot 463.7 to secure the gold medal. Akhil Sheoran claimed the silver with 461.6, while local lad Aishwary Tomar took the bronze with 451.9.In the women's 3P final, Moudgil shot 463.9 to clinch the gold medal, leaving India No. 1 Sift Kaur Samra in second place with 462.0. Ashi Chouksey finished third with 447.3 points.The OST also witnessed the qualification rounds for other events. In women's 10m air pistol OST T3 qualification, Olympian Manu Bhaker topped the standings with a score of 577, followed by Palak (576), Esha Singh (576), Surbhi Rao (574), and Rhythm Sangwan (573).In men's 10m air pistol OST T3 qualification, Arjun Singh Cheema finished first with 583 points, ahead of Ravinder Singh (581), Sarabjot Singh (581), Naveen (579), and Varun Tomar (577).In women's 10m air rifle OST T3 qualification, Elavenil Valarivan emerged as the top qualifier with 634.4 points, followed by Tilottama Sen (632.4), Ramita (630.8), Nancy (629.4), and Mehuli Ghosh (628.4).In men's 10m air rifle OST T3 qualification, Arjun Babuta finished first with 632.2 points, ahead of Rudrankksh Patil (632.0), Sandeep Singh (631.6), Divyansh Singh Panwar (631.4), and Sri Karthik Sabari Raj (630.5).The Olympic Selection Trials will continue with further events in the coming days, with the top performers aiming to secure their places in the Indian shooting contingent for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

India's table tennis contingent for the upcoming Paris Olympics has been finalized, with veteran Sharath Kamal and world no. 24 Manika Batra leading the men's and women's squads respectively. The six-member teams (three in each section) were selected by the senior selection committee of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) based on the latest world rankings.Sharath, Harmeet Desai, and Manav Thakkar will form the men's team, while Manika, Sreeja Akula, and Archana Kamath will represent India in the women's category. G. Sathiyan and Ayhika Mukherjee will serve as alternate players in each section.In the men's singles, Sharath and Harmeet will compete, while Manika and Sreeja will represent India in the women's event. The selection was made as per the Olympics norms and the TTFI's pre-established criteria.Sharath, 41, will be making his fifth and final Olympic appearance in Paris. He made his Games debut in 2004 and has been a consistent performer for India over the years.The selection of the women's team sparked some debate, with Archana Kamath edging out Ayhika Mukherjee for the third spot. Kamath's higher world ranking (103) and consistent performances gave her the edge over Mukherjee (133).In the men's team, Sharath's top ranking (No. 40) ensured his selection, while Harmeet (No. 63) and Manav (No. 62) were separated by one slot in the world rankings. Harmeet's superior international and national performances earned him the nod over Manav.Massimo Costantini, a special invitee at the selection meeting, provided valuable inputs that aided in the team selection. Costantini will take charge of the Indian team for a third time next week.Alternate players Sathiyan and Ayhika will travel with the team to Paris but will not stay in the official Games Village. They will be available in case of an injury to any of the main players.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has forged a multi-year partnership with sports apparel giant Puma, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletics. This collaboration will provide approximately 400 Indian athletes with cutting-edge apparel, footwear, and accessories for both domestic and international competitions.As the official kit sponsor, Puma's gear will be adorned by India's top athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, and steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary. Chopra, who has been training for over a decade, emphasized the importance of high-quality gear for optimal performance. He expressed his belief that this partnership will empower Indian athletes at all levels with world-class training equipment.This partnership marks a groundbreaking moment for Indian athletics, as it grants athletes access to world-class speed suits that Puma supplies to athletes globally. These suits are meticulously designed to enhance freedom of movement, aerodynamics, and speed, allowing athletes to focus solely on their performance and maximize efficiency.Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director of Puma India, expressed the company's commitment to supporting athletes and helping them reach their full potential. He stated that Puma is thrilled to partner with the AFI and assist Indian athletes in achieving excellence in various sporting disciplines worldwide.AFI President Adille Sumariwalla hailed the partnership as a significant milestone for Indian athletes. He emphasized that Puma's high-quality gear will not only enhance performance but also foster a culture of excellence within the country's sporting community. Sumariwalla expressed confidence that this collaboration will propel Indian athletics to new heights on the global stage.