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Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula One world champion, will seek redemption at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend after suffering two defeats in the season's opening six races. The Red Bull driver will face stiff competition from McLaren's Lando Norris, who will be armed with upgrades after his maiden triumph in Miami.Most teams will introduce revised cars for the seventh race of the season, with Ferrari and Mercedes hoping to close the gap on Verstappen. The race will also serve as a poignant tribute to the victims of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, where Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna were killed.Verstappen, who leads the championship with 136 points, will aim to repeat Red Bull's success at Imola in 2022, where he led a one-two finish with Sergio Perez. The race was canceled last year due to flooding, but it is expected to launch a busy period of six races in eight weeks."Imola is an iconic track to race at," said Verstappen. "We have had some great team results here, and it's always interesting to race at a really old-school track like this."Red Bull may face challenges from rival teams, including Mercedes, who have introduced a major upgrade package. However, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff cautioned that his team is not yet ready to threaten the leaders."We're a quarter of the way through the season," said Wolff. "The first six races have not been straightforward for us, but we do have a clear understanding of where we need to improve."For Lewis Hamilton, this weekend will mark his first racing appearance in Italy since Ferrari announced his signing for 2025. The seven-time world champion, who grew up admiring Senna and Ferrari, is expected to experience an emotional weekend.Sebastian Vettel, another veteran driver, will pay tribute to Senna by driving his 1993 McLaren MP4/8 car at the track on Sunday morning. "Ayrton Senna was not only a driver who I valued highly for being one of the best racing has ever seen, but also a man of great compassion," said Vettel.

Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra has set his sights firmly on the Paris Olympic Games, scheduled to commence on July 26 in France. Competing in his first domestic competition since his historic gold medal triumph at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Chopra showcased his dominance by securing the gold medal with a throw of 82.27m."Winning an Olympic gold medal is far more glorious than breaking the 90m barrier," Chopra asserted. "I will undoubtedly break that barrier, but my primary focus right now is to make a significant impact at the Paris Games."Chopra acknowledged that he had anticipated a strong challenge from Manu DP, but DP's rhythm faltered, preventing him from surpassing the 85m mark. Manu DP of Karnataka finished second, while Uttam Patil of Maharashtra claimed third place with a throw of 78.39m.Asian Games medalist Kishore Kumar Jena finished fifth with a throw of 75.49m, while Shivpal Singh, another prominent thrower, was eliminated in the preliminary round. Only the top eight athletes advanced to the medal round.Chopra commenced his 2024 season with a second-place finish (88.36m) at the Doha Diamond League. Following his domestic competition in Bhubaneswar, he plans to compete in Europe as part of his preparations for the Paris Olympic Games.He has meticulously planned his Olympic preparations, including competitions in Ostrava (Czech Republic) on May 28 and Turku (Finland) in June. After these events, he will evaluate his fitness and make further decisions. "I will assess how my body and mind respond to these high-quality competitions and then make a call," he explained.Chopra's personal best and national record of 89.94m was set in 2022. The champion thrower expressed his confidence in breaking the 90m barrier on a good day. "I prefer to prioritize winning over distance," he emphasized.As the "golden boy" of Indian track and field, Chopra was thrilled to witness the enthusiasm of young fans at Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium. "I'm excited to see so many supporters at the stadium," he remarked.

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra made a triumphant return to Indian soil, claiming the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event at the Federation Cup in Patiala. Despite a slow start, Chopra's spear soared through the evening sky, securing him victory in his first competitive outing in India in three years.The 26-year-old superstar initially struggled to find his rhythm, trailing in second place after the first three rounds. However, in the fourth round, he unleashed a mighty throw of 82.27m, taking the lead. With DP Manu, his closest rival, having completed his final throw, Chopra opted to skip the final round, confident in his lead.Chopra's last domestic competition was at the same event in 2021, where he won gold with a throw of 87.80m. Since then, he has achieved remarkable success on the international stage, including a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the Diamond League title in 2022, and the world championship in 2023. He also successfully defended his Asian Games gold in China.Despite his impressive achievements, Chopra is yet to surpass the 90m mark. His personal best and national record stands at 89.94m. However, his performance at the Federation Cup demonstrates his continued dominance in the sport and his unwavering determination to reach even greater heights.

The prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual canine extravaganza, recently graced the hallowed grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for three days. Over 2,500 elite dogs from across the United States showcased their exceptional qualities, vying for the coveted Best in Show title.The competition commenced with breed-specific contests, followed by group rounds. The seven group winners then faced off in a thrilling finale on Tuesday night. The illustrious Arthur Ashe Stadium, transformed into the show's grand stage, witnessed the crowning of Sage, a 3-year-old black miniature poodle from Houston, Texas. Sage became the fourth poodle to claim the Best in Show honor and the first female dog to do so in four years.Mercedes, a German Shepherd, emerged as the runner-up. Sage's victory marked a triumphant end to the illustrious career of her handler, 65-year-old Kaz Hosaka. With 45 years of experience in the ring, Hosaka announced his retirement, along with Sage's."I've been lucky," Hosaka said, his voice filled with emotion. "This is my perfect end. I cannot ask for more than this."The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show also featured a range of ancillary events, including an agility competition, an obedience championship, and demonstrations of dog sports such as herding and scent tracking. A junior championship encouraged young handlers to develop their skills and foster responsible dog ownership.Sage's triumph serves as a testament to the exceptional bond between humans and their canine companions. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show continues to celebrate the beauty, intelligence, and unwavering loyalty of dogs, showcasing the extraordinary diversity and talents within the canine world.

Diksha Dagar and Pranavi Urs, two of India's most promising golfers, will lead a contingent of seven Indians at the €300,000 Amundi German Masters. The tournament, held at the Seddiner See course near Berlin, will feature 132 players competing in a 72-hole event.Dagar, who will also represent India at the Paris Olympics, has had a stellar 2023 season, finishing third in the LET Order of Merit and winning the Czech Ladies Open. She was also third at the Amundi German Masters and the Hero Women's Indian Open.Urs, meanwhile, finished T-7 last week in the Aramco Series Korea. Vani Kapoor, Tvesa Malik, and Amandeep Drall will be looking to regain their LET Tour cards, while Sneha Singh, the 2023 Hero Order of Merit winner, will be hoping to make a mark on the international stage. Amateur Avani Prashanth, who played in the event last year, is also expected to turn pro at the end of the year.Defending champion Kristyna Napoleaova of the Czech Republic will be among the favorites, along with former Order of Merit winners Trichat Cheenglab and Lee-Anne Pace. Four winners from the 2024 LET season, including Bronte Law, Alexandra Forsterling, Mariajo Uribe, and Manon De Roey, will also be vying for the title.The cut will be applied after 36 holes, with the top 60 and ties advancing to the final two rounds. The tournament will provide a valuable opportunity for the Indian golfers to gain experience and compete against some of the best players in Europe.

In a thrilling 10-inning battle at Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros emerged victorious over the Oakland Athletics, claiming a 2-1 victory. The game took an unexpected turn when Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco was ejected in the fourth inning following a foreign substance check.Despite the early setback, the Astros managed to take an early lead in the second inning when Alex Bregman launched a solo home run off Athletics starter JP Sears. Bregman continued his impressive performance, becoming the first player in franchise history to record an extra-base hit in five consecutive at-bats.The Athletics rallied in the eighth inning, tying the game at 1-1 on a single by Brent Rooker. However, the Astros regained the lead in the 10th inning when Victor Caratini drove in the winning run with an RBI single.Josh Hader earned the win for the Astros, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 10th inning. The veteran closer struck out pinch-hitter Esteury Ruiz and induced a groundout from Rooker to end the threat.Blanco's ejection for using a foreign substance is likely to result in a 10-game suspension. The right-hander, who threw a no-hitter in his season debut, has a 2.09 ERA this season.In other news, Oakland reinstated second baseman Zack Gelof from the injured list, while the Astros sent outfielder Chas McCormick on a rehabilitation assignment.

Caitlin Clark, the NCAA's all-time Division I scoring leader, made her WNBA debut for the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night, but struggled early against the Connecticut Sun. Clark finished with 20 points, but shot just 5-for-15 from the field and had 10 turnovers.The Sun's DeWanna Bonner led all scorers with 20 points, while Alyssa Thomas recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. DiJonai Carrington added 16 points for Connecticut.Clark, who was hounded by Carrington on defense, missed her first four shots before finally getting on the board midway through the second period. She finished the first half with seven points on 2-of-7 shooting.The Fever trailed 49-39 at the break, but got within 63-57 late in the third quarter on two free throws by Clark. However, the Sun pulled away in the fourth quarter, with Clark hitting four 3-pointers but unable to bring the Fever any closer.Bonner moved into fifth on the WNBA's career scoring list, passing former Phoenix Mercury teammate Candice Dupree. Bonner now has 6,901 points, while Dupree finished her career with 6,895.Brionna Jones, who ruptured her right Achilles tendon last June, made her return to the court for the Sun. The All-Star center played just under 20 minutes and scored eight points.

Indian athletes faced a disappointing day at the ongoing Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, with long jumper Jeswin Aldrin and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor failing to meet the Paris Olympics qualification mark.Aldrin, who holds the national record of 8.42m, managed a best effort of 7.99m, falling short of the Olympic entry standard of 8.27m. Despite his below-par performance, Aldrin remains in contention for Paris by virtue of his rankings. He is currently placed 26th in the Road to Paris rankings and needs to stay within the top-32 by June 30 to secure his berth.Asian record holder Toor also had a disappointing outing, with his best throw of 20.38m falling well short of the automatic qualification mark of 21.50m for the Paris Games. Toor's personal best of 21.77m came outside the qualification window last June.With the June 30 deadline for direct entry looming, Toor will have to make the most of the remaining domestic events to improve his performance. He is scheduled to compete in the Indian GP 2 in Chennai on May 30, Indian GP 3 in Bengaluru on June 12, and National Inter State Championships in Panchkula from June 27-30.In the men's 3000m steeplechase, Madhya Pradesh's Sumit Kumar took the top spot with a time of 8:39.67m. Reigning Asian Games champion Avinash Sable is the only Indian male steeplechaser to have booked the Paris ticket by meeting the entry standard of 8:15.00.The last day of the competition will witness the return of Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra. Chopra, who won the historic gold medal in Tokyo, will compete in India for the first time since his triumph. He will be joined by Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Jena and Asian Championships silver medallist DP Manu, who will chase a direct ticket to Paris.

Olympian Manu Bhaker and Paris quota winner Vijayveer Sidhu emerged victorious in the fourth and final Olympic Selection Trial (OST) for 25m pistol events in Bhopal on Tuesday.Manu, under the guidance of legendary pistol shooter Jaspal Rana, showcased her dominance by equaling the world record with a score of 42 in the women's 25m Pistol OST T4 final. Vijayveer, on the other hand, secured a score of 34 in the decider of the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol OST T4 to claim victory.Manu's consistent performance throughout the trials was evident as she won two and finished second in the other two. She was the only shooter among the selected five to maintain a score above 580 in the qualification round. Abhidnya Patil (35) and Simranpreet Kaur Brar (30) secured the second and third podium positions, respectively.In the men's rapid fire event, Vijayveer took an early lead and maintained it until the final series to register his first outright victory in the trials. Anish Bhanwala (30) and Adarsh Singh (25) finished second and third, respectively. Anish, however, emerged as the most successful shooter in the event, having won two trials and finished second in the other two.The qualification rounds for the men's and women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event will take place on Wednesday, with local hopes Aishwary Tomar and Ashi Chouksey set to participate.