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Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian woman paddler to break into the top 25 of the world rankings. The 28-year-old rose to a career-best singles ranking of 24 following her impressive performance at the Saudi Smash tournament.Batra's journey to the top has been marked by determination and resilience. She began playing table tennis at the age of four and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a national champion at the age of 16. In 2018, she made history by winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in both the individual and team categories.Batra's success at the Saudi Smash was a testament to her hard work and dedication. She shocked multiple-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Wang Manyu of China on her way to the quarterfinals, becoming the first Indian woman to advance that far in the tournament. Her run in Jeddah earned her 350 points, propelling her up 15 spots in the world rankings.The ranking boost has come at a crucial time for Batra, who is aiming to secure a berth at the 2024 Paris Olympics. "An extreme confidence boost on the road to Paris 2024," she wrote on Instagram. "Breaking into the Top-25 and achieving the best rank ever achieved by an Indian in women's singles of the ITTF Ranking."Batra's success is not only a personal triumph but also a testament to the growing strength of Indian table tennis. She has inspired a new generation of players and shown that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak over the San Francisco Giants to four games with a thrilling 6-4 victory in 10 innings on Monday night. Will Smith's two-run double in the extra frame proved to be the game-winner, giving the Dodgers their 20th consecutive game allowing four runs or fewer.Mookie Betts opened the scoring with his 50th career leadoff home run, but the Giants responded with a three-run homer from Luis Matos off Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the second inning. Kiké Hernández tied the game at 4-4 with a pinch-hit homer in the seventh, setting the stage for Smith's heroics in the 10th.Blake Treinen picked off pinch-runner Tyler Fitzgerald at first base in the ninth inning to earn the win, while J.P. Feyereisen recorded the final three outs for his first save of the season.The Giants' bullpen struggled to hold a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning, allowing back-to-back walks to Yamamoto before Heliot Ramos drove in a run with an RBI single. Jordan Hicks, who allowed only one other run in five innings, was charged with a no-decision.In other news, Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward is expected to play two games for Triple-A Oklahoma City before being re-evaluated for a potential return to the major league roster. Giants infielder Jung Hoo Lee was placed on the injured list with a dislocated left shoulder after crashing into the wall on Sunday.

George Kirby's stellar outing and Luke Raley's offensive prowess propelled the Seattle Mariners to a 6-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.Kirby, despite battling a sore knee, showcased his dominance on the mound. He allowed only three hits over seven shutout innings, striking out six batters and walking none. His performance marked his third outing this season with at least six innings pitched and no runs allowed.Raley played a pivotal role in the Mariners' offensive success. His two-run homer in the second inning gave Seattle an early lead, and his RBI singles in the third and fifth innings further extended their advantage. Cal Raleigh also contributed with an RBI double and a 410-foot single that tipped off the Royals' outfielder's glove.Ty France added a two-run homer in the eighth inning to seal the victory for the Mariners. Kansas City's Michael Massey managed a two-out, two-run double in the eighth, but closer Andrés Muñoz shut down the Royals' offense, recording the final four outs for his sixth save.Royals starter Brady Singer struggled on the mound, allowing a season-high nine hits and more than two earned runs for only the second time this season. He needed 108 pitches to get through five innings, striking out six batters.The Mariners' victory marked their 19th win in the past 30 games, solidifying their position as a contender in the American League West. The Royals, on the other hand, dropped to 13-27, continuing their struggles this season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates emerged victorious in a thrilling 8-6 battle against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at American Family Field. Bryan Reynolds led the charge for the Pirates, delivering an impressive 5-for-5 performance with a home run and two doubles.Reynolds' offensive outburst began in the first inning when he connected on a 1-2 sinker from Colin Rea, sending a 376-foot shot over the right-field wall to give Pittsburgh an early lead. His offensive prowess continued throughout the game, as he added two doubles in the third and fifth innings.Mitch Keller was equally impressive on the mound for the Pirates, tossing six shutout innings while scattering eight hits and striking out seven. Keller's performance marked a significant improvement from his previous starts, lowering his ERA from 5.18 to 3.93.The Brewers' offense came alive in the eighth inning, sparked by an error from Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz. Jake Bauers capitalized on the opportunity, launching a 3-2 sinker from Josh Fleming over the right-field wall for a grand slam, bringing the Brewers within one run.However, Reynolds provided some much-needed insurance for the Pirates in the ninth inning, leading off with a 421-foot blast to center against Joel Payamps. David Bednar then retired the side in order in the ninth to secure the save for Pittsburgh.Other notable contributions for the Pirates included two-run homers from Jack Suwinski and Yasmani Grandal. For the Brewers, Rhys Hoskins left the game in the second inning with a hamstring injury.

In a thrilling extra-inning battle at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the Toronto Blue Jays emerged victorious over the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Monday night. The game was highlighted by a remarkable defensive play, a clutch home run, and a game-winning groundball.Daulton Varsho stole the show for the Blue Jays, showcasing his versatility with a spectacular glove-saving catch in center field, a solo home run in the eighth inning, and a game-winning RBI groundball in the 10th.The Orioles had taken an early lead with two home runs from Adley Rutschman, but the Blue Jays chipped away at the deficit. Ryan O'Hearn nearly added another homer for Baltimore, but Varsho's leaping catch above the wall kept the game within reach.In the sixth inning, Daniel Vogelbach tied the game with an RBI single, but Rutschman's second homer in the bottom of the inning put the Orioles back in front. However, Varsho's solo shot in the eighth knotted the score once again.The game went into extra innings, where Varsho's groundball proved to be the difference. The Orioles had a chance to tie it up in the bottom of the 10th, but Jordan Romano struck out Colton Cowser and induced a groundout from Cedric Mullins to secure the win.Despite missing key players due to illness, the Blue Jays managed to overcome the Orioles' strong pitching performance. José Berrios allowed only three hits in seven innings, while Corbin Burnes allowed one run in six innings for Baltimore.The victory snapped the Orioles' 16-game series winning streak against AL East opponents. The two teams will face off again on Tuesday night, with Kyle Bradish starting for Baltimore and Chris Bassitt taking the mound for Toronto.

Chicago White Sox-Washington Nationals Game Postponed Due to Rain, Doubleheader Set for TuesdayMonday night's highly anticipated matchup between the Washington Nationals and Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be rescheduled as a straight doubleheader on Tuesday, with the first game starting at 1:10 p.m. CT.The pitching matchups for the three-game series have yet to be announced. Washington's Trevor Williams was originally slated to face Chicago's Chris Flexen in Monday's opener. Williams is seeking his third consecutive victory, while Flexen has impressed in his last three starts, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.69 ERA.The White Sox enter the series on a positive note, having won three of four games against the Cleveland Guardians in their previous series. They have improved their record to 9-7 since enduring a dismal start to the season, where they lost 22 of their first 25 games.Meanwhile, the Nationals have split their last six games, including dropping two of three to the Boston Red Sox over the weekend.Injury Updates:Nationals:* Right-handed pitcher Cade Cavalli is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Tuesday after a short bullpen session on Saturday.* First baseman/designated hitter Joey Gallo is set for another rehab appearance with Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.White Sox:* Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. will attempt to run at 90% and potentially participate in rehab games in Arizona this week.* Infielder Yoán Moncada is expected to begin hitting left-handed on Monday.* Infielder Danny Mendick will join Triple-A Charlotte for a rehab assignment.* Manager Pedro Grifol believes right-handed pitcher Dominic Leone will not require a rehab stint in the minors.The doubleheader on Tuesday will provide an opportunity for both teams to make up for the lost game and continue their respective momentum. The White Sox will aim to extend their winning streak, while the Nationals will look to bounce back from their recent setbacks.

Abha Khatua, a renowned shot putter from Maharashtra, has shattered the national record in women's shot put with an impressive throw of 18.41m at the National Federation Cup Athletics competition in Bhubaneswar. This remarkable achievement surpasses the previous record of 18.06m set by Manpreet Kaur in 2022.Khatua's triumph marks a significant milestone in her career, as she had previously equaled the national mark at the Asian Championships in Bangkok last year. This was her third competition of the year, following throws of 16.59m at the Indian Grand Prix in Bengaluru and 17.56m at the Indian Open Throws meet.Kiran Baliyan of Uttar Pradesh secured the second position with a throw of 16.54m, while Nayana James of Kerala emerged victorious in the women's long jump with a fifth attempt of 6.53m. James's impressive performance continues her strong season, although she remains some distance from the Paris Olympics qualification standard of 6.86m.In the men's long jump qualification, Jeswin Aldrin finished fifth with a jump of 7.63m, while Aditya Kumar Singh of Madhya Pradesh topped the qualification with a jump of 7.73m. Animesh Kujur of Odisha narrowly missed the national record in the men's 200m final, clocking 20.62 seconds.The final day of competitions promises to be a highlight, with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra set to compete in the men's javelin. Chopra, who recently finished second at the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 88.36m, will be joined by India No.2 Kishore Jena in the final.

Indian athletes are embracing a new training strategy in preparation for the Paris Olympics, opting for short, objective-specific training camps abroad. These camps provide access to world-class facilities, sparring partners, and coaching expertise that are not readily available in India.Priyanka Goswami, India's leading race walker, has been forced to adjust her training plans due to visa issues. Despite the setback, she remains committed to her goal of competing at the highest level. Her training regimen includes stints in Switzerland, France, and Germany, where she will focus on improving her technique and endurance.Sharath Kamal, India's top male paddler, has also opted for an overseas training camp in Germany. The 41-year-old is seeking to sharpen his skills and intensity on the table in preparation for the Olympics. He believes that training with world-class players will help him identify and address areas for improvement.Other Indian athletes who have benefited from overseas training camps include boxers Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Preeti Pawar, who spent time in Turkey sparring with boxers of varied styles. Wrestler Anshu Malik credits a month-long training stint in Japan for her technical developments.The primary benefit of these overseas camps is the opportunity to engage with quality sparring partners, especially in contact sports like boxing and wrestling. However, other factors, such as access to ideal training conditions and equipment, can also play a role.For Priyanka, finding flat roads for training in high-altitude places in India is a challenge. Hence, she has opted for a month-long camp in Switzerland's Saint Moritz. Sharath, on the other hand, chose to move to Germany because the tables and balls there mirror the ones at the Paris Games.These overseas training camps are a testament to the growing professionalism and dedication of Indian athletes. By embracing this new strategy, they are maximizing their chances of success on the world stage.

Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa secured an impressive fourth place finish at the Rapid and Blitz chess tournament in Poland, while world number one Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious after a remarkable performance on the final day.Carlsen, trailing China's Wei Yi by 2.5 points entering the final day, unleashed a stunning nine-game winning streak, including victories over three Indian players: Arjun Erigaisi, Gukesh D, and Praggnanandhaa. This triumph marks Carlsen's seventh consecutive tournament win, solidifying his dominance in the chess world.Arjun Erigaisi finished in fifth place, while Gukesh D, the youngest-ever challenger to the world title, placed 10th. Carlsen's victory propelled him to the top of the Grand Chess Tour 2024 season standings, a prestigious circuit of tournaments offering substantial prize pools.Praggnanandhaa's fourth-place finish is a testament to his exceptional talent. In 2023, he became the world's youngest chess player to reach the World Cup final, joining Viswanathan Anand as the only Indians to achieve this feat. His remarkable rise to prominence continued in 2022, when he defeated Carlsen multiple times, showcasing India's growing chess prowess.Praggnanandhaa's journey began at the tender age of five, and he became India's youngest and the world's second-youngest Grandmaster at age 12 in 2018. He is the fifth-youngest person to achieve the Grandmaster title, following Abhimanyu Mishra, Sergey Karjakin, Gukesh D, and Javokhir Sindarov.The International Chess Federation (FIDE) acknowledged Carlsen's triumph, tweeting, "Magnus Carlsen emerged as the winner of the 2024 Superbet Poland Rapid & Blitz. The World #1 became the leader of the Grand Chess Tour 2024 season and took home $40,000 first prize."