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India's Hockey Odyssey at Paris Olympics: Schedule UnveiledThe Indian men's hockey team's path to glory at the Paris Olympics has been laid out, with the release of the official match schedule. The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists will embark on their quest for a podium finish on July 27, facing New Zealand in their opening encounter.India's Pool B campaign will continue with a clash against Argentina on July 29, followed by a showdown with Ireland on July 30. The team will then face the formidable Belgium on August 1 and conclude their group stage against Australia on August 2.Pool A features an equally competitive lineup, including the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, Great Britain, and South Africa. The top four teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for August 4. The semifinals will take place on August 6, setting the stage for the bronze-medal playoff and the grand finale on August 8.The matches will be held at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes, a historic venue that has witnessed countless sporting triumphs. Belgium, the reigning Olympic champions, will be eager to defend their title, while India will be determined to improve upon their bronze medal performance in Tokyo.The schedule announcement was made in the presence of International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach and FIH president Tayyab Ikram, underscoring the significance of the event. The Indian team will now have a clear roadmap as they prepare for the biggest stage in hockey.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has announced strict measures to ensure the integrity of the upcoming national trials for the Asian Championships and Asian Olympic Games Qualifiers. The trials, scheduled for March 10-11, will allow wrestlers to compete only from their original states, and no grappler will be permitted to participate in multiple weight categories.The WFI's decision stems from concerns raised over wrestlers representing states other than their own at the recent Senior National Championship held in Jaipur. "Several wrestlers, who actually hailed from Haryana, represented states like Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at the Nationals conducted by the ad-hoc committee in Jaipur. This is wrong and we will not allow this," a WFI source told PTI.To verify the genuineness of wrestlers' state affiliations, the WFI has instructed them to bring their WFI Licence Book, Birth Certificate, and Adhar Card to the trials. "Sikkim and Arunachal are not even affiliated state bodies. We will not stop anyone from competing, but wrestlers have to come from their original state," the source added.The trials will be crucial in selecting the Indian teams for the Asian Championships and Asian Olympic Games Qualifiers, both scheduled to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. To ensure a strong squad, the WFI has allowed wrestlers to compete in multiple weight categories over the two days of the trials."It will ensure that if a strong wrestler like Aman Sehrawat or Ravi Dahiya misses out on selection in the Olympic weight category (57kg), then he can get a chance in the non-Olympic weight category (61kg). That way, we will have a strong Indian squad," the source explained.However, Antim Panghal, the only Indian grappler to secure an Olympic quota so far, has been exempted from the March 10-11 trials. She will instead compete against the winner of the trials at a later date this month.

Stolen Ferrari Recovered After Three Decades, Belonging to Former F1 DriverIn a remarkable turn of events, British police have recovered a Ferrari F512M stolen from Austrian Formula One driver Gerhard Berger in Italy nearly three decades ago. The red sports car was one of two vehicles taken while their drivers were competing in the San Marino Grand Prix in April 1995.For years, the stolen Ferraris remained elusive. However, in January 2023, London's Metropolitan Police received a tip from Ferrari that a vehicle being sold to a U.S. buyer by a U.K. broker had been flagged as stolen.The Organized Vehicle Crime Unit swiftly launched an investigation and traced the car's journey to Britain from Japan in late 2023. Officers seized the vehicle, estimated to be worth around 350,000 pounds ($444,000)."Our inquiries were meticulous and involved reaching out to authorities worldwide," said Constable Mike Pilbeam, who led the investigation. "We collaborated closely with the National Crime Agency, Ferrari, and international car dealerships, which proved invaluable in unraveling the vehicle's history and preventing its export."While no arrests have been made, the investigation continues. The second stolen Ferrari remains missing.The Ferrari F512M, produced between 1994 and 1996, is a highly sought-after sports car. With a top speed of 315 kilometers per hour (196 miles per hour), it was one of the fastest vehicles of its time. Only 501 units of the F512M were manufactured, making it a rare and valuable collector's item.The recovery of Berger's stolen Ferrari is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of law enforcement agencies and the automotive industry. It also serves as a reminder that even the most elusive stolen vehicles can be tracked down and returned to their rightful owners.

Leon Draisaitl's overtime heroics propelled the Edmonton Oilers to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to five games.Draisaitl, who has been on a tear lately, scored his second goal of the game just 2:18 into the extra period, assisted by Connor McDavid. The Oilers' captain also had two assists, extending his point streak to 12 straight games.The Bruins, who have struggled at home this season, took the lead 4:26 into the third period when Pavel Zacha converted a one-time slap shot from Danton Heinen. However, Draisaitl tied the game with just 1:20 remaining in regulation, setting the stage for his overtime winner.Edmonton's defense was stout throughout the game, limiting Boston to just five shots in the third period and none in overtime. Stuart Skinner made 25 saves for the Oilers, while Evan Bouchard had two assists.The Bruins, who have now lost three of their last four games, were booed off the ice by their home crowd. They have a disappointing 19-7-6 record at home this season.The Oilers, on the other hand, continue to impress. They have won five straight games and are now 32-19-8 on the season. They will visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.The Bruins will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday in a battle of two Original Six teams.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been struggling this season, but they have maintained their dominance over the Columbus Blue Jackets, defeating them for the 10th time in 11 meetings on Tuesday night.The Penguins took an early lead with goals from Jesse Puljujarvi and Evgeni Malkin in the first period. Columbus tied the game in the second period with goals from Johnny Gaudreau and Andrew Peeke, but Pittsburgh regained the lead with a fluky goal from Rickard Rakell on a power play.Columbus tied the game again in the third period with a short-handed goal from Jack Roslovic, but Jeff Carter and Reilly Smith scored just over a minute apart to give the Penguins some breathing room. Tristan Jarry made 33 saves for the Penguins, while Jet Greaves made 26 saves for the Blue Jackets.The Penguins' victory snapped a three-game losing streak, but they remain in danger of missing the playoffs for a second straight season. First-year general manager Kyle Dubas is likely to be a seller before Friday's trade deadline, and star forward Jake Guentzel could be gone by the weekend.Despite the uncertainty surrounding the team's future, the Penguins played with determination and resilience against the Blue Jackets. They converted turnovers into goals in the first period and responded quickly after Columbus tied the game in the third period."We were the better team for a lot of the night," said Smith, who had a goal and two assists. "We deservedly so."The Penguins will host the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, while the Blue Jackets will host the Edmonton Oilers.

The Great White Shark, LIV Golf, has withdrawn its application for recognition by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). CEO Greg Norman informed players of the decision, citing the OWGR's unwillingness to work with LIV.LIV's initial application in July 2022 was rejected due to its unique format and lack of a path for players to qualify. The OWGR board maintained that it could not fairly compare LIV to other tours with more open tournaments.The withdrawal has significant implications for LIV players, as the world ranking is used to determine eligibility for the majors and the Olympics. Top players like Cameron Smith and Tyrrell Hatton may struggle to qualify for these prestigious events.Despite LIV's efforts to create a more open qualifying system, the players are currently far removed from the top of the rankings. Only four LIV players are in the top 50, and even if adjustments were made, it would be challenging for them to make up ground.The withdrawal also highlights the ongoing tension between LIV and the established golf ecosystem. The OWGR board, which includes representatives from the majors, has maintained that its decision was technical, not political. However, LIV has accused the board of bias and a lack of transparency.Meanwhile, Gary Woodland has been honored with the Ben Hogan Award for his return to golf following brain surgery. The former U.S. Open champion underwent a serious operation to remove a lesion pressing on his brain.In other news, Angela Stanford has received an exemption to the Chevron Championship, extending her consecutive LPGA major streak to 98. The USGA has also acquired memorabilia related to Charlie Sifford, the first Black player to win on the PGA Tour.

Red Sox Starter Lucas Giolito Faces Opening Day Uncertainty Due to Elbow DiscomfortFORT MYERS, Fla. - The Boston Red Sox have been dealt a significant setback with the news that right-handed starter Lucas Giolito is likely to miss opening day and potentially longer due to discomfort in his elbow.Manager Alex Cora confirmed the injury on Tuesday, stating that Giolito will undergo further examinations to determine the severity of the issue. "We're obviously concerned. Not a good day for us," Cora told reporters.Giolito, who signed a $38.5 million, two-year deal with the Red Sox this offseason, has made two starts in spring training. While he pitched two scoreless innings in his first outing, he struggled in his second start against Minnesota last Friday, allowing four runs and three walks in 2 1/3 innings. It was after that outing that Giolito reported the discomfort in his elbow.The injury is a major blow to the Red Sox, who were counting on Giolito to be a key part of their rotation. The 29-year-old was the first overall pick by the Washington Nationals in the 2012 draft and has established himself as a solid starter in the majors.In 2023, Giolito pitched for the White Sox, Angels, and Guardians, posting a 4.88 ERA and allowing a league-high 41 home runs. However, he has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, earning an All-Star selection in 2019 and averaging 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings from 2019-21.The Red Sox were hoping to see that version of Giolito when they signed him this winter. However, the elbow discomfort has cast a shadow over his availability for the start of the season. The team will await the results of further examinations before determining the extent of the injury and Giolito's timeline for return.

Giancarlo Stanton, the New York Yankees' slugger, is renowned for his dedication to extra work. Despite missing a significant number of games over the past five seasons due to injuries, Stanton remains committed to his rigorous training regimen.On Tuesday, Stanton spent 90 minutes at Steinbrenner Field engaged in an intense batting practice session against a pitching machine. The session began with teammate DJ LeMahieu for the first 20 minutes, after which Stanton continued solo, taking short breaks to pace around the batting cage or consult with hitting coach James Rowson."If I don't get my work in, then I'm just thinking about it all day," Stanton explained. "So, there's no point in being at home just thinking about doing this anyway."Stanton's dedication is evident in his slimmed-down physique. The 34-year-old continues to display his power, hitting opposite-field homers to right field during the final minutes of his batting practice."Whatever I need to get it to what I need to feel," Stanton said.Since joining the Yankees in 2018, Stanton has not played a full season. Injuries have plagued him, including a strained right biceps and posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee (2019), strained left hamstring (2020), strained left quadriceps (2021), right ankle inflammation and left Achilles tendinitis (2022), and strained left hamstring (2023).Despite these setbacks, Stanton remains optimistic. Over the past five years, he has hit .233 with 97 homers and 259 RBIs, a slight decline from his first nine seasons, when he averaged .265 with 302 homers and 772 RBIs.Stanton's determination and unwavering work ethic are a testament to his commitment to the game. As the Yankees prepare for the upcoming season, Stanton's presence and leadership will be invaluable.

MLB Injury Woes: Verlander, Gray, Giolito SidelinedThe MLB season is approaching, but three prominent right-handed starting pitchers are facing injuries that could delay their starts.Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will begin the season on the injured list due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder. St. Louis Cardinals' Sonny Gray has a hamstring strain, while Boston Red Sox's Lucas Giolito is experiencing discomfort in his pitching elbow.Verlander's injury is considered a setback rather than a long-term concern. The 41-year-old is expected to throw in the bullpen again on Friday but has yet to face hitters. However, a delay to the start of the season could jeopardize his $35 million option for 2025.Giolito's injury is more concerning. The 29-year-old will undergo additional exams to determine the severity of the issue. He had a disappointing 2023 season, allowing a league-high 41 home runs and posting a 4.88 ERA.Gray may have the best chance of returning for opening day, which he was scheduled to start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 28. The Cardinals are hopeful that the mild strain will allow him to recover in time.Meanwhile, Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to be ready for opening day after a thorough examination of his sore right knee revealed no serious issues.New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino is also nearing a return from a calf injury. The 31-year-old is recovering from a wrist injury that limited him to 55 games last season.