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Indian wrestlers Akash Dahiya and Anirudh Kumar have advanced to the bronze medal matches at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. However, three of their teammates have been eliminated from the tournament.Dahiya, competing in the non-Olympic 61kg category, started with a narrow 10-8 victory over Uzbekistan's Sardor Ruzimov. He then defeated Korea's Sanghyeon Son 7-3 in the quarterfinal. However, Kazakhstan's Assyl Aitakyn proved too strong for Dahiya in the semifinal, winning by technical superiority. Dahiya will now face Mongolia's Enkhbold Enkhbat for the bronze medal.Anirudh Kumar, competing in the 125kg category, began with a 3-0 win over Pakistan's Zaman Anwar. However, he was outplayed by Iran's Amir Hossein Abbas Zare in the quarterfinal, losing by technical superiority. Since Zare reached the final, Kumar remains in contention for bronze and will face Bahrain's Shamil Magomed A Sharipov.Yash Tushir (74kg), Sandeep Singh Maan (86kg), and Vinay (92kg) were all eliminated from the tournament after losing in their respective categories.India had won three medals on Thursday through Udit (57kg, silver), Abhimanyou (70kg, bronze), and Vicky (97kg, bronze). The men's free-style competition will conclude today, while the women's bouts will begin on Saturday.

Six-time world champion boxer M C Mary Kom has resigned as India's Chef-de-Mission for the upcoming Paris Olympics, citing personal reasons. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha announced Mary Kom's decision in a statement on Friday.In a letter to Usha, Mary Kom expressed her regret for stepping down from the prestigious role. "I consider it an honor to serve my country in every way possible, and I was mentally prepared for it. However, I regret that I will not be able to uphold the prestigious responsibility and would like to resign, owing to personal reasons," she wrote.Mary Kom, who is also a bronze medalist from the 2012 London Olympics, was appointed as Chef-de-Mission on March 21. She was tasked with overseeing the logistical arrangements for the Indian contingent at the Paris Games, scheduled for July 26-August 11.IOA President Usha expressed sadness over Mary Kom's decision but respected her privacy. "We are sad that Olympic medal-winning boxer and Chairperson of the IOA Athletes Commission Mary Kom has stepped down citing personal reasons. We respect her decision and her privacy," Usha said.Usha added that she had a conversation with Mary Kom after receiving her letter. "I completely understand her request and respect her decision. I have also conveyed to her that she will always have my own support and that of IOA. I also request everyone to respect the legendary boxer's privacy," she said.The IOA will now begin the process of finding a replacement for Mary Kom. Usha said she would make an announcement about the new Chef-de-Mission soon.Mary Kom's resignation comes as a setback for the Indian contingent preparing for the Paris Olympics. However, the IOA is confident that it will find a suitable replacement who can lead the team to success.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has accused the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) of attempting to hinder her participation in the Olympic Qualifiers by creating logistical obstacles for her support staff. Phogat, a 29-year-old bronze medalist in the 53kg category at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships, also expressed concerns about being implicated in a doping case.The WFI, however, has denied these allegations, stating that Phogat's request for accreditation of her coach and physio came after the deadline for entry submissions had expired. The federation claims to have sent the entries of players, coaches, and medical staff to the world governing body UWW on March 15, after UWW extended the deadline slightly.Phogat, who is aiming for an Olympic quota in the 50kg category at the Asian qualifying tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, has alleged that WFI President Brij Bhushan and his associates are trying to prevent her from competing. She expressed fears that her water could be tampered with during her match, leading to a potential doping violation.The WFI has clarified that it has no objection to Phogat traveling with her personal coach and physio but that she must obtain accreditation from UWW herself. The federation maintains that it has already registered the support staff and did not receive any instructions from the Ministry or SAI to add Phogat's coach to the list.Phogat's allegations come amidst ongoing tensions between her and the WFI. She was one of the three wrestlers who led a protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment. Singh was granted bail in July after a case was filed against him by Delhi Police.Phogat has questioned whether the difficulties she is facing are a result of her involvement in the protest. She has expressed hope that justice will be served before she represents India at the Olympic Qualifiers.

Buffalo's Sabres emerged victorious in their final home game of the season, defeating the Washington Capitals 4-2 on Thursday night. The win served as a spoiler for the Capitals' playoff hopes, as they dropped to 1-5-2 in their last seven games.Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was a key factor in the Sabres' victory, stopping 22 shots. Alex Tuch, Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, and Dylan Cozens scored for Buffalo, while Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson found the net for Washington.The Sabres took an early lead when Benson deflected in Jeff Skinner's shot with just over a minute remaining in the first period. Tuch extended the lead in the second period, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by the Capitals.McMichael responded for Washington, but Quinn restored the Sabres' two-goal advantage with a creative move to get around Nick Jensen and score from the slot. Wilson brought the Capitals within one with a goal late in the third period, but Cozens sealed the victory with an empty-netter.The Capitals' struggles continued, as they failed to score three or more goals for the eighth consecutive game. Charlie Lindgren allowed three goals on 16 shots, while Luukkonen's strong performance helped the Sabres secure the win.The Sabres will close out their season with games at Florida on Saturday and Tampa Bay on Monday. The Capitals have three games remaining, starting with a home matchup against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

The Kansas City Royals extended their winning streak to seven games with a dominant 13-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep. The Royals' offensive explosion was led by Bobby Witt Jr., who had four hits, including two home runs and five RBIs.The Royals wasted no time in taking control of the game, scoring nine runs in the first inning. Vinnie Pasquantino, who had been struggling at the plate, contributed three hits and three RBIs to the rally. The Royals sent 15 batters to the plate in the inning, tying a club record with 11 hits.Brady Singer pitched five solid innings for the Royals, allowing only one run on five hits. The Astros' Hunter Brown struggled mightily, giving up nine runs and 11 hits in just two-thirds of an inning.The Astros managed to get on base throughout the game but could only muster a solo home run from Yainer Diaz in the fourth inning and two runs in the sixth. The Royals' bullpen, which had been lights-out in recent games, allowed two runs in the sixth, snapping a 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak.The Royals' perfect seven-game homestand against the White Sox and Astros marked only the third time in franchise history that they have played at least seven games on a homestand without a loss. The other two instances occurred in 1988 and 1985, the year they won their first World Series.

In the intense battle for the Candidates Tournament, India's D Gukesh suffered a heartbreaking loss to Alireza Firouzja in Round 7, knocking him out of the shared lead. The result propelled Ian Nepomniachtchi, who drew his game with Hikaru Nakamura, back into sole possession of first place.Gukesh, playing with White, faced an unbalanced position created by Firouzja's London System. Despite Firouzja's struggles in the tournament, he found inspiration in an online blitz session on the morning of the game. With time running out, Firouzja executed a brilliant Nd7! move, forcing Gukesh into a time scramble.Under immense pressure, Gukesh made a crucial mistake with Kh7, allowing Firouzja to deliver checkmate with 37…Rf3. The blitz session may have provided Firouzja with the spark he needed to pursue a mating attack, while Gukesh's first defeat in seven rounds dealt a significant blow to his title hopes.Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa continued his impressive run with an ambitious French Defense against world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana. Despite Caruana's previous successes against the French Defense, Praggnanandhaa's deep knowledge of the line forced a draw in 41 moves.Praggnanandhaa expressed satisfaction with his tournament performance, highlighting the quality of his games and his ability to recall lines at the board. He credited his support system for helping him overcome tough moments.As the players enter a rest day before the final seven rounds, the standings remain tight. Nepomniachtchi leads with 4.5 points, followed by Caruana and Praggnanandhaa with 4 points each. Gukesh is tied with Nakamura and Abasov at 3.5 points.

Tiger Woods, the legendary golfer, faces a historic opportunity at the 88th Masters Tournament. Despite enduring severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash, Woods aims to break the record for consecutive Masters appearances, currently held by Gary Player and Fred Couples.Woods began his first round on Thursday, completing 13 holes before darkness halted play. He stands at one-under par, sharing 17th place. To make the cut, Woods must complete the remaining five holes of round one and endure 18 more in round two.The Augusta National course presents a significant physical challenge, with its hilly terrain and long distances. Woods acknowledged the strain on his body, stating, "It's certainly one of the more hillier walks we have on tour."Despite the challenges, Woods remains determined. He sank a birdie putt at the first hole, recovered from a bogey at the fourth, and made another birdie at the eighth. He parred the next five holes before play was suspended.Woods's return to competition has been marked by uncertainty regarding his physical condition. He admitted, "Things just flare up. Some days I just feel really good, and other days, not so much."The brisk and swirling winds on Thursday added to the difficulty of the course. Woods described it as "one of the most tricky days I've ever been a part of."Woods's quest to make history will be a testament to his resilience and determination. If he can overcome the physical challenges and make the cut, he will have the chance to chase his 16th major championship.

The Candidates Tournament, a prestigious chess event that determines the challenger for the World Championship, has reached its halfway point with an Indian teenager, Gukesh D, sharing the lead. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the transformative impact of Viswanathan Anand, India's first chess superstar.Thirty-three years ago, Anand's victory in the Candidates match against Soviet player Alexsey Dreev shattered the notion that an Indian could break into the elite chess world. His success inspired a generation of Indian players, including Dibyendu Barua, who became India's second Grandmaster.In 1994-95, India hosted the Candidates quarterfinals and semifinals in Sanghinagar, Hyderabad. Anand faced Soviet-born American GM Kamsky in the quarterfinals and held a comfortable lead. However, Kamsky staged a remarkable comeback, winning the next two games and the two rapid playoff games to defeat Anand.Despite this setback, Anand's journey continued. He avenged his defeat against Kamsky in the PCA Candidates tournament final and qualified for his first World Championship against Garry Kasparov in 1995. His first World Championship title arrived in 2000, and he went on to become world champion four more times.Anand's success has inspired a new generation of Indian chess players, including Gukesh D, Vidit Gujrathi, and Praggnanandhaa R. These young players are now making their mark on the world stage, sharing the lead in the Candidates Tournament and dreaming of following in Anand's footsteps.

Rory McIlroy, the 34-year-old Northern Irish golfer, continues his pursuit of a first Masters Green Jacket, which would complete his career grand slam. Despite 12 cuts and seven top-10s in 15 starts at Augusta National Golf Club, McIlroy has yet to sustain his brilliance over four rounds.Since 2014, the Masters has become an elusive goal for McIlroy. He has experimented with various approaches, including playing fewer tournaments and seeking psychological guidance. However, his efforts have not yielded the desired results.In 2022, McIlroy finished second to Scottie Scheffler, his best Masters finish. This year, he has made changes to his preparation, including a trip to Las Vegas to work with Butch Harmon, Tiger Woods' former coach.McIlroy believes that maintaining normalcy and staying relaxed is crucial for his success. He has also focused on improving his weaknesses, such as putting, and elevating his strengths.One key factor that has hindered McIlroy at the Masters is his inability to start strong. Since 2009, he has had only two sub-70 Thursday rounds. This year, with the opening round expected to be completed on Friday morning due to weather disruptions, a hot start will be essential.McIlroy will play his first two rounds alongside world No. 1 Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. He is determined to overcome his past struggles and finally claim the elusive Green Jacket.