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Greek long jump sensation Miltiadis Tentoglou has vehemently opposed World Athletics' (WA) proposed experiment with the take-off board, expressing his concerns shortly after claiming the world indoor title in Glasgow.Tentoglou, who now holds the Olympic, outdoor world, and indoor world titles, erupted when questioned about the proposed change. The experiment involves moving the take-off board 5 centimeters closer to the pit, a move that has drawn criticism from many athletes."It's a stupid idea," Tentoglou declared. "It's going to ruin the sport. It's going to make it easier for people to jump far, but it's not going to make it fairer."Tentoglou believes that the proposed change will favor athletes with greater speed and power, while disadvantaging those with better technique. He argues that the current take-off board distance has been established for decades and should not be altered."The take-off board is a sacred thing in long jump," Tentoglou said. "It's been the same for years, and it's been fair for everyone. Why change it now?"WA has defended the experiment, claiming that it will increase the excitement and unpredictability of the event. However, Tentoglou and other athletes remain skeptical."It's not going to make the sport more exciting," Tentoglou said. "It's just going to make it more random. It's going to be a lottery."The proposed experiment is set to begin in May at the Diamond League meeting in Doha. It will be closely monitored by WA, and a decision on whether to implement the change permanently will be made after the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

The Ministry of Sports has lifted the suspension imposed on the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) after the body initiated the process for its long-pending elections. The elections, which were initially scheduled for January 31, 2024, were postponed to March 28 due to the impending Para Shooting World Cup.The PCI has now proposed March 9 as the new date for the elections and has begun the process of nominations. Most of the top posts are set to be filled without any contest, including the position of President, which will be held by multiple-time Paralympic medallist Devendra Jhajharia.The Ministry of Sports stated that the "main ground for suspension of government recognition" has been addressed. The ministry also noted that the PCI is hosting the 2024 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup from March 6-15 in New Delhi, which was a factor in the decision to revoke the suspension.The Para Shooting World Cup offers 24 Paris Paralympic quota places, and over 500 shooters from 52 countries are expected to participate in the event. Jhajharia, who has won gold medals in the 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio Paralympics, is the only candidate who filed nomination papers for the PCI chief's post.Other key positions that will be filled unopposed include Secretary General (Jayawant Hammanawar), Vice-Presidents (R Chandrashekhar and Satya Prakash Sangwan), Treasurer (Sunil Pradhan), and Joint Secretaries (Lalit Thakur and T Diwakara).The PCI had received support from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after the suspension. The IPC had stated that it would continue to recognize the PCI as the only body for para sports in India.

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has emerged as a strong contender for the top honors at the Prague Masters chess tournament in Prague. In a crucial sixth-round encounter, Praggnanandhaa defeated overnight sole leader Nodirbek Abdusattarov of Uzbekistan, bringing him within striking distance of the top spot.Praggnanandhaa, playing with the black pieces, displayed exceptional skill and strategy. He countered Abdusattarov's Ruy Lopez opening with deft maneuvers, gradually gaining an advantage on all sides of the board. As the game progressed, Abdusattarov found himself under increasing pressure and eventually succumbed to Praggnanandhaa's relentless attack.This victory propelled Praggnanandhaa to second place in the standings, with 3.5 points, just half a point behind Abdusattarov. The tournament, a ten-player round-robin event, still has three rounds remaining, and Praggnanandhaa is well-positioned to challenge for the title.Meanwhile, other Indian players faced mixed fortunes. D Gukesh suffered a setback, losing to Mateusz Bartel of Poland. Vidit Gujrathi also experienced a disappointing result, going down to Vincent Keymer of Germany.In the other matches of the sixth round, Nguyen Thai Dai Van of the Czech Republic defeated Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran, while David Navara of the Czech Republic drew with Richard Rapport of Romania.With three rounds remaining, the Prague Masters tournament remains highly competitive. Praggnanandhaa's victory over Abdusattarov has injected excitement into the race for the top spot, and the Indian prodigy will be determined to maintain his momentum and secure a podium finish.

Reigning national champion Lakshya Chahar's Olympic dream suffered a setback as he became the fourth Indian boxer to bow out in the opening round of the first World Olympic Boxing Qualifier in Busto Arsizio, Italy.Chahar, competing in the men's 80kg event, faced a formidable opponent in 2021 Asian Championships silver medallist Gheshlaghi Meysam of Iran. Despite a valiant effort, Chahar was knocked out in the third round, ending his hopes of securing an Olympic quota.The Indian contingent has faced a disappointing start to the qualifier, with all four boxers who have taken the ring failing to advance to the second round. World Championships bronze medallist Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (92kg), and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine Lamboria (60kg) all suffered first-round defeats.However, five Indian boxers remain in contention for Paris Olympic quotas: world championships bronze medallist Mohammed Hussamudin and six-time Asian Championships medal winner Shiva Thapa. A semifinal finish will guarantee them a quota.India has already secured four 2024 Olympic quotas through Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), who clinched their entry at the Asian Games last year.Boxers who fail to earn quotas in Italy will have a final chance to qualify for the Paris Games at the second World Olympic Boxing Qualifier, scheduled for May 23 to June 3 in Bangkok.

College Rivals, India's largest Esports talent hunt, concluded with a grand finale that saw 28 college students from across the nation triumph and share a generous INR 50 lakh prize pool. The event, organized by Ampverse and DMI Finance, featured a total prize pool of INR 50 lakh and attracted over 5,000 attendees.In the BGMI title, Divyansh Vashisht of Delhi School of Professional Studies, Palampur, emerged victorious with a 2-1 victory against Sahil Nagpal of APJ in the final match, securing the top prize of INR 4 lakh. Sahil secured INR 2 lakh, while Swayam Jain of IIPS and Deepak Mishra of DSNV were rewarded with INR 1 lakh each for finishing in third and fourth place respectively.The finale also provided a dream come true opportunity to one of the Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) players by offering a professional Esports contract with Rivals Pro Esports.In addition to BGMI, the College Rivals grand finale showcased intense competition across other titles, including FIFA 23, Road to Valor, Valorant, Tekken 7, and Counter Strike-2, each boasting a prize pool of INR 5 lakhs. Winners in each category received a substantial INR 2.5 lakh prize, while the runner-up secured INR 1.5 lakh.Karman Singh Tikka of Delhi Institute of Management, Gurugram, demonstrated his expertise in FIFA 23 by defeating Danish Khan of DGMC with a 2-0 scoreline. Similarly, in Tekken 7, Vayam Bhatt of MVSIT, New Delhi, clinched victory with an identical 2-0 scoreline against Gurashish Singh of Jagannath University.Arnav Manoj of SRM University, Mumbai, displayed exceptional skill and determination in the Road to Valor title by securing victory in the final with an impressive 2-0 scoreline. In Valorant, Vinit Mane of DY Patil Arts and Commerce College, Pune, dominated the competition with a 2-0 victory, while another talented student from Pune, Samyak Magare of Ajeenkya DY Patil University, prevailed in Counter-Strike 2 with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph.Beyond the Esports competitions, the College Rivals finale provided attendees with a plethora of activities, including live performances from stand-up comedian Samay Raina and renowned music artists Seedhe Maut, Muhfaad, and Char Diwaari. Gaming enthusiasts also had the unique opportunity to interact with renowned Esports personalities such as Naman Mathur (Mortal), Payal Dhare (PayalGaming), Tanmay Singh (ScoutOP), and Yash Thakker (lolzzzgaming), who engaged in a BGMI match.The one-of-a-kind experiential LAN event also featured cosplay competitions, arcade gaming zones, racing simulators, VR cricket, AI live generation art, and a variety of food and beverages, creating an immersive and memorable experience for all attendees.The journey of College Rivals began in August with city qualifiers, where teams competed in bracket-based matches organized by city. Each city qualifier was conducted at the end of the City Tour by the College Rivals Truck which visited 25 colleges across five cities, including New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai, and attracted a total of 92,000 participants across the nation.

Pakistani Boxer Vanishes in Italy After Stealing from TeammateA Pakistani boxer, Zohaib Rasheed, has disappeared in Italy after allegedly stealing money from a teammate's bag, casting a shadow over the country's Olympic aspirations.Rasheed, a rising star in Pakistan's boxing scene, had traveled to Italy as part of a five-member squad for an Olympic qualifying tournament. However, his actions have brought shame upon the Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation (PABF) and the nation.According to PABF secretary Colonel Nasir Ahmed, Rasheed took advantage of his teammate Laura Ikram's absence during training to steal foreign currency from her purse. He then vanished from the hotel, leaving his team and officials in shock."It is most embarrassing for the federation and country the way Zohaib Rasheed has behaved," Ahmed said. "He had gone there as part of a squad to take part in an Olympic qualifying tournament."Rasheed's disappearance is not an isolated incident. In the past, Pakistani athletes have used international competitions as an opportunity to seek a better future abroad.The PABF has notified the Pakistan Embassy in Italy and filed a police report. Authorities are actively searching for Rasheed, but he remains out of contact.Rasheed's actions have not only tarnished Pakistan's reputation but also raised questions about the integrity of the national boxing program. The PABF is now facing scrutiny over its selection process and the measures in place to prevent such incidents.The incident has cast a pall over Pakistan's Olympic hopes. Rasheed was considered a potential medal contender, and his absence will be a significant blow to the team's chances of qualifying for the Tokyo Games.

The Chicago Bulls staged a remarkable comeback to defeat the Sacramento Kings 113-109 on Monday night, snapping a four-game losing streak against their Western Conference rivals.Coby White led the Bulls' charge with a career-high 37 points, adding seven assists and five rebounds. DeMar DeRozan, who had a quiet first half, exploded for 19 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 33. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 20 points, while Nikola Vucevic chipped in with 10 points and 13 rebounds.The Kings, who were led by De'Aaron Fox's 20 points and 10 assists, built a commanding 22-point lead in the third quarter. However, the Bulls refused to go away, outscoring Sacramento 36-18 in the final period.White's layup with 47.1 seconds remaining gave Chicago a 111-109 lead, and DeRozan sealed the victory with two free throws with 3.5 seconds left.The Bulls' comeback was fueled by their ability to force turnovers and capitalize on them. They forced 18 turnovers while committing only 10, leading to a 24-12 advantage in points off turnovers."I thought we were really active with our hands," said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. "Us being able to force turnovers certainly helps us get out in transition and it helps you generate some easy baskets."Despite being outrebounded 51-32, the Bulls' defense held strong in the fourth quarter, limiting the Kings to just 18 points."Obviously, everybody's down because it was a winnable game," said Kings coach Mike Brown. "Even though we feel like we didn't play well, we still felt it was a winnable game. We felt like we let this one slip through our fingers, and so it's tough right now."The Bulls will next face the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, while the Kings will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers.

In a thrilling encounter at the Vivint Arena, the Utah Jazz emerged victorious over the Washington Wizards, snapping their eight-game losing streak. Jordan Clarkson led the charge for the Jazz, erupting for a season-high 38 points, including a decisive 12-0 run down the stretch.Clarkson's scoring outburst was complemented by Collin Sexton's 29 points and John Collins' double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds. The Jazz, despite missing key players Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, showcased their resilience and determination.The Wizards, who have now lost 15 consecutive games, were led by Jordan Poole's 32 points. Kyle Kuzma added 23 points, surpassing 8,000 career points. However, Washington's efforts were ultimately undone by their inability to convert in the clutch.The game featured a high-scoring affair, with both teams shooting efficiently from beyond the arc. The Jazz and Wizards combined for 41% shooting from three-point range.Despite Washington's advantage in fast break points, the Jazz's superior execution in the final minutes proved decisive. Clarkson's late surge, which included five made shots in six attempts, propelled the Jazz to a 127-115 victory.The Wizards' losing streak now stands at 15, one shy of their franchise record set in 2010. The team will look to end their skid when they host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.Meanwhile, the Jazz will aim to build on their momentum when they welcome the Chicago Bulls to Salt Lake City on Wednesday.

The Minnesota Timberwolves extended their dominance over the Portland Trail Blazers, completing a four-game season sweep with a 119-114 victory on Monday night. Rudy Gobert led the charge with a double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds, his 43rd of the season. Michael Conley contributed 19 points and seven assists, while Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and Naz Reid also made significant contributions.The Timberwolves' victory propelled them into a tie for first place in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their impressive 30-9 record against Western Conference opponents and 23-8 home record highlight their dominance.Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-106. Bobby Portis stepped up in Antetokounmpo's stead, scoring 28 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and grabbing 16 rebounds. Damian Lillard led the Clippers with 41 points, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Bucks from extending their winning streak to six games.In New York, the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 106-102. Luke Kennard led the Grizzlies with a season-high 25 points, while Jake LaRavia added 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Grizzlies' strong rebounding performance and second-chance points proved crucial in overcoming the Nets' offensive struggles.