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India's historic triumph at the Chess Olympiad, with both the men's and women's teams securing their first-ever titles, has sparked a wave of excitement and optimism for the future of chess in the country. However, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand cautions that while this is a promising start, there is still much work to be done, particularly in promoting women's chess.Anand, who has been a mentor and inspiration to the current generation of Indian chess prodigies, believes that the Olympiad victory will inspire more girls to take up the game. "It's a very good beginning, but we must continuously keep progressing," he said. "We need to get more and more girls to play, and this result will hopefully inspire them."While the men's game has witnessed a surge in popularity in recent years, with young talents like R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh making waves on the world stage, the women's game has lagged behind. Anand emphasizes the importance of supporting players at all levels and creating opportunities for them to compete."We need to grow the game and increase the base of the pyramid," he said. "Events like the Global Chess League play a big part in that because they give a lot of people opportunities. Unexpectedly, you might play a much bigger role than you expected. Teams victory, all these things will boost."Anand also warns that other countries will be analyzing India's performance and returning stronger. "Every country goes back and learns lessons," he said. "The other teams will take their disappointment, they'll go back and they'll come back stronger."To maintain India's recent success in chess, Anand believes that it is crucial to tap into the talent at the grassroots level. "We want many more things like this to happen," he said. "We need to support players at all levels and create opportunities for them to compete."

The Indian Grand Prix, a highly anticipated event on the MotoGP calendar, has been postponed to 2026 due to operational challenges. The race, initially scheduled for September 2023, was first deferred to March 2025. However, unforeseen circumstances have necessitated a further delay.The postponement was announced by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA), and Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP. In a statement, they cited "operational circumstances" as the reason for the delay.The Indian Grand Prix was set to be held at the Buddh International Circuit, which hosted the inaugural race in 2023. Over 50,000 fans witnessed the thrilling event, making it the largest motorsports spectacle in India since the last Formula 1 race in 2013.However, the Indian Grand Prix has faced several challenges in recent years. Formula 1, which had a brief three-year stint in India, was discontinued due to financial and taxation issues. The MotoGP race has also encountered similar obstacles.In July 2023, Dorna signed a new three-year contract with InvestUP, the Uttar Pradesh government's agency, to keep the Indian GP on the calendar from 2025 to 2027. However, the operational challenges have forced a postponement to 2026.Despite the setback, both MotoGP and InvestUP remain committed to bringing the race back to India. They are working diligently to ensure a world-class event that will showcase India as a destination for global sporting events.The Uttar Pradesh government has issued a fresh tender to find a new co-promoter to execute the mega event, which is estimated to cost around 160 crores. Approximately 100 crores of this amount will be reserved for Dorna, the rights holder.The postponement of the Indian Grand Prix is a disappointment for fans and organizers alike. However, it is important to address the operational challenges to ensure a successful and memorable event in the future. MotoGP looks forward to returning to India and racing in front of its passionate fans as soon as possible.

Defending champions Indian Railways secured a thrilling 5-4 victory over former champions BPCL in the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament on Wednesday. The hard-fought match was filled with twists and turns, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats.Railways dominated the early stages of the game, taking a 4-2 lead going into the fourth quarter. However, BPCL refused to go down without a fight, forcing three consecutive penalty corners at the start of the quarter. Railways' defense held firm, but BPCL's relentless attack paid off as former international Devender Walmiki scored a brace within three minutes to equalize.Just when it seemed like BPCL would snatch a draw, Railways' Darshan Gawkar delivered the decisive blow in the dying minutes of the match. The goal sent shockwaves through the BPCL camp and secured Railways' place in the semifinals.In the other Pool-A match, Indian Army defeated Maharashtra 2-1 to join Railways in the last four. Cyril Lugun and Akshay Dubey scored for Army, while Venkatesh Kenche netted a consolation goal for Maharashtra.The semifinalists from Pool-B are IOC and Odisha. IOC defeated Central Secretariat 6-1, while Odisha beat Karnataka 6-4.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India's historic triumph at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where both the men's and women's teams clinched their maiden gold medals.India's men's team, comprising D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa, defeated Slovenia in the final round, while the women's team, led by R Vaishali, D Harika, and Tania Sachdev, triumphed over Azerbaijan.Gukesh, the star of the tournament, won 10 out of 11 rounds in the Open category, playing a pivotal role in India's victory. Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa also secured decisive wins in the final round.The women's team secured their gold by defeating Azerbaijan. Vaishali, Harika, and Sachdev displayed exceptional skills and determination throughout the tournament.In a video shared on social media, Modi interacted with the chess champions, who presented him with a chessboard. Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi played a quick game of chess, leaving Modi spellbound.The Indian men's team finished with an impressive 21 out of 22 possible points, conceding only one draw against Uzbekistan. The women's team also performed remarkably, securing 18.5 points out of 22.India's historic achievement at the Chess Olympiad is a testament to the growing popularity and talent in the sport. The gold medals are a source of pride for the nation and will inspire future generations of chess players.

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has issued a notice to wrestler Vinesh Phogat for whereabouts failure. The notice, served on Wednesday, seeks an explanation from Phogat within 14 days.As a member of NADA's Registered Testing Pool (RTP), Phogat is required to provide details of her availability for dope tests. If she fails to provide accurate information or is not present at the specified location and time, it is considered a whereabouts failure.According to the notice, Phogat was not available for a dope test on September 9 at her residence in Kharkhoda village, Sonepat. The NADA notice states, "You are hereby given a formal notice to notify you about apparent failure to comply with the whereabouts requirements of the ADR, and to invite you to make any comments before we come to a final decision on the matter."Phogat has the option to accept the failure or provide evidence that she was present at the specified location for approximately 60 minutes. It is important to note that a single whereabouts failure does not constitute an anti-doping rule violation. However, three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period can lead to charges against an athlete.Phogat's whereabouts failure comes at a time when she is actively involved in politics. She recently joined the Congress party and is contesting the upcoming Haryana Assembly election from Julana constituency.

Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, fresh from his triumph at the Chess Olympiad, has decided to forgo defending his title at the Vugar Gashimov Memorial Chess Super Tournament in Azerbaijan to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Gujrathi, who won the Azerbaijan event last year, was part of the historic Indian men's team that clinched the Chess Olympiad gold in the Open category.Upon learning about the felicitation function, Gujrathi expressed his joy and gratitude on social media. "I reached Baku and I got to know our Hon'ble PM wants to felicitate the Indian team. I was overjoyed when I heard this and I wanted to be a part of it. It's amazing at how such short notice he is taking out time for us," he wrote.Gujrathi, 29, has been replaced by Aravindh Chithambaram for the event to be held from September 25-30. "I contacted Sarkhan Gashimov (organiser) and he understood my sentiments. Big thanks to him! Wishing Aravindh the best to play against top players in this prestigious event," Gujrathi added.After India's historic Chess Olympiad victory, Gujrathi remarked that the golden era of chess has just begun for his country. "We can call it a golden era for Indian chess, as gold has been won. The same team competed in the Asian Games, but I think everyone has stepped up their game over the past year. We were winning by significant margins, and it was a dominant performance," he said.Gujrathi also addressed the incident where he missed shaking hands with his opponent, Levon Aronian. "I have a routine of meditating before every match, which helps me stay focused and perform better. I was busy with that, which is why I missed shaking hands with him. When I opened my eyes, I then shook hands with him," he explained.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is set for a contentious executive council meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, with members adding several contentious items to the agenda. The meeting comes amid escalating tensions between IOA president PT Usha and treasurer Sahdev Yadav.One of the key issues on the agenda is the alleged "threatening letters" issued by Usha to executive committee members. The council will also discuss the scope of Usha's powers under the IOA Constitution and consider reporting her conduct to the IOA Ethics Commission.The meeting will also address issues related to the recent Paris Olympics, including sponsorship details, additional expenses incurred, and the accreditation process. The selection of Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) in November 2022 and their participation in IOA elections will also be discussed.The meeting was called by 12 council members, including senior vice president Ajay Patel, vice-president Rajalaxmi Singh Deo, and former Olympic medallist Gagan Narang. Notably, boxer M C Mary Kom and table tennis player A Sharath Kamal, who are on the IOA athletes commission, did not sign the document.The growing tensions between Usha and Yadav stem from a show cause notice issued by Usha to Yadav, challenging his eligibility to hold the post of treasurer. Yadav has threatened legal action against Usha for "defaming" his image.The IOA meeting is expected to be heated, with members likely to express their concerns and seek clarification on various issues. The outcome of the meeting could have significant implications for the future of the IOA and its leadership.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the former champion of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament, has secured its place in the semifinals after a 3-1 victory over Odisha in a Pool-B contest. With this win, IOC has assured itself of a spot in the knock-out stage.IOC, studded with Olympians and Internationals, has played hard and ticked all the boxes in this year's tournament. The team has scripted its third successive win, leaving nothing to chance. Odisha, from Pool-B, is the other team that has made it to the last four.In Pool-A, Indian Army tamed Tamil Nadu 3-1 with a delectable mix of aggression and caution. However, the picture in Pool-A is still unclear as to who will reach the semifinals. Tamil Nadu, after its wonderful win over Maharashtra, flattered to deceive against a strong Army unit.Army was the better side throughout the match, be it in attack, defense, or midfield. Tamil Nadu will rue its chances in the fourth quarter. Trailing 1-3 in the fourth quarter, the host had four back-to-back penalty corners but wasted each one of them.

India's historic triumph at the Chess Olympiad 2024 has etched their name in the annals of the sport. Both the men's and women's teams scripted history by claiming their maiden gold medals, a testament to their exceptional talent and unwavering determination.The men's team, led by the prodigious D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa, faced a formidable challenge in their final round match against Slovenia. However, the trio displayed their mettle, securing crucial victories in their respective matches to seal the gold.The women's team, featuring the impressive Vantika Agrawal, also rose to the occasion in their final match against Azerbaijan. Their collective brilliance and unwavering spirit propelled them to victory, securing the coveted gold medal.Vantika Agrawal, a key member of the Indian team, expressed her immense pride and joy in an interview with NDTV. "We are so proud to be playing for India and we are very happy," she exclaimed.Agrawal revealed that the team had meticulously planned their celebration, including a special dance and dinner. She also acknowledged the immense pressure they faced as the top seeds, but their determination and resilience prevailed."There was a lot of pressure from the start to the end," Agrawal said. "But I was not thinking about anything and I just knew that I was playing for India."Agrawal's inspiration, she revealed, is the legendary Viswanathan Anand, a five-time world champion. She also expressed her admiration for multiple-time world champion Magnus Carlsen.India's double gold triumph at the Chess Olympiad 2024 is a testament to the country's growing prowess in the sport. It is a moment of immense pride and celebration for the nation, and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring chess players across the globe.