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The Indian women's hockey team's failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics has sparked a call for a major overhaul. With 16 fewer athletes set to travel to the Games, experts believe it's time to rebuild the team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Former coach Neil Hawgood emphasizes the need to identify players who will be available in 2028 and start a new project involving junior team players. He suggests using the Pro League as a platform for their growth. Sjoerd Marijne, the team's coach for the Tokyo Olympics, agrees, stressing the importance of choosing players who will play for India for a long time.India's next major tournaments will be in 2026, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Cup. The Asian Games hold particular significance as a gold medal would secure a direct qualification for the LA Olympics. Hawgood believes India should use the Pro League as an exposure and experimental tournament to inject young blood and build a solid bench strength.Former captain Pritam Rani Siwach echoes this sentiment, calling for a mix of juniors and seniors to create a core group that can play until LA. She also advocates for a development camp to identify and promote talented players.One crucial area that needs improvement is penalty corner conversion. Marijne emphasizes the need to work on converting chances into goals. Another key aspect is the exposure given to the second goalkeeper. The reliance on Savita Punia has been overwhelming, and the team could face problems when she retires.Finally, the search for a new coach is underway. Hawgood believes it's time for a local coach with a foreign advisor to develop a solid link between senior and junior teams.

Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik has announced her permanent retirement from competitive wrestling, citing the ongoing protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment. Malik, along with fellow Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, has been leading the protest for over a year, demanding Singh's removal and arrest.Malik's decision to retire stems from the mental anguish she has endured during the protest. "It's been more than a year, there is so much mental pressure and we have been trying to fight in every possible way to make this protest a success, so I'll not be able to continue wrestling," she said.Despite her retirement, Malik remains committed to the cause of women's empowerment in sports. "I got (Olympic) bronze for India and I want my juniors to get silver and gold. I would love to see each and every girl in India pursuing her dreams," she added.Malik, Punia, and Phogat have continued their protest even after Singh's removal as WFI head, alleging that the new president, Sanjay Singh, is merely a figurehead and that Singh still wields significant influence. Malik's refusal to come out of retirement rules her out of this month's national trials for the Olympic qualifiers.The WFI was recently granted a reprieve when the provisional suspension on it was lifted by United World Wrestling (UWW) on the condition that the protesting wrestlers would be invited for all trials and there would be no discrimination. However, Malik remains skeptical, stating, "Many people have told me to continue but I don't want to wrestle among people like Brij Bhushan. It feels bad when you see him walking around freely. It seems he is still in control."Malik has personally experienced harassment and is determined to prevent others from facing similar experiences. "I have not just heard about these incidents, I have personally experienced the harassment. I have given up wrestling but youngsters are hoping that our movement will boot out people like Brij Bhushan. We have done everything we could."She appealed to the government to ensure that individuals associated with Singh are not allowed into wrestling's administration. "I am once again pleading with the government to ensure that people related to him are not allowed into wrestling's administration. I will always stay positive and I am hoping for a positive outcome," she said.

The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Central government and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in response to a petition filed by renowned wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and her husband Satyawart Kadian. The petition challenges the legality of the WFI elections held in December 2023 and seeks their nullification.The wrestlers, represented by senior advocate Rahul Mehra, allege that the elections violated the Sports Code and were conducted in a manner that undermines the integrity of the sport. They contend that the WFI has engaged in various wrongdoings, including sexual harassment and attempts to silence and sideline wrestlers who have spoken out against these abuses.The petition specifically targets the election of Sanjay Kumar Singh, a close associate of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as the new president. The wrestlers argue that this election was orchestrated to maintain the influence of Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven women grapplers.The wrestlers also accuse the WFI of defying directives from the Sports Ministry and the ad-hoc committee appointed to oversee the federation's affairs. They claim that the WFI has continued to conduct selection trials and other activities in violation of these directives, adversely affecting the career prospects of Indian wrestlers.The petition requests the court to declare the WFI elections void and to direct the federation to cease all activities related to wrestling. It also seeks the appointment of a retired Supreme Court judge as an administrator to take over the management of the WFI.The court has granted time to the Central government and the WFI to respond to the petition and has scheduled a further hearing for March 7. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the future of wrestling in India and the accountability of sports federations.

Indian table tennis has reached unprecedented heights as both the men's and women's teams have secured historic Olympic berths for the first time based on their world rankings. This remarkable achievement marks a watershed moment for the sport in India.After the conclusion of the World Team Championships Finals in Busan, South Korea, which served as the final qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics, seven spots in the team events remained. These spots were awarded to the highest-ranked teams not yet qualified, and India emerged victorious in both the men's and women's categories.In the women's event, India, ranked 13th in the world, secured its passage to Paris alongside Poland (12th), Sweden (15th), and Thailand. The men's team, ranked 15th, also booked its ticket to the Olympics, along with Croatia (12th) and Slovenia (11th).This historic qualification is a testament to the unwavering determination and exceptional talent of the Indian table tennis players. Veteran Sharath Kamal, who will be making his fifth Olympic appearance, expressed his elation on Twitter, stating, "Finally!!!! India qualifies for the team event at the Olympics! Something I have wanted for a long long time! This one is truly special, despite it being my fifth appearance at the Olympics! Kudos to our Women's Team who also secure a historical quota!"The Indian teams had narrowly missed out on Olympic berths at the World Team Championships Finals, with the men's team losing 0-3 to South Korea and the women's team falling 1-3 to Chinese Taipei in the pre-quarterfinals. However, their impressive world rankings have now earned them a place on the Olympic stage.This achievement is a significant milestone for Indian table tennis history, as it will be the first time the nation competes in the team event at the Olympics since its inception at the Beijing 2008 Games. The Indian teams will now have the opportunity to showcase their skills against the world's best and strive for Olympic glory.

LeBron James, the iconic NBA superstar, has etched his name in basketball history by becoming the first player to reach the remarkable milestone of 40,000 career points. This historic achievement was accomplished during the Los Angeles Lakers' home game against the Denver Nuggets, where James showcased his exceptional skills and determination.Prior to the game, James was just nine points shy of the coveted milestone. With the sold-out crowd eagerly anticipating the moment, he took matters into his own hands. Using a spin move to create space from Denver's Michael Porter Jr., James drove to the basket and executed a scoop layoff off the glass, sending the crowd into a frenzy.The roar of the crowd was deafening as James reached the historic mark, and they gave him a standing ovation when he went to the bench at the next break. The achievement was a testament to James' longevity, consistency, and unwavering commitment to the sport.Just over a year ago, James surpassed Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Now, at 39 years old and in his 21st season, he continues to defy expectations and average around 25 points per game.Throughout his illustrious career, James has amassed an impressive collection of accolades, including four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and four Finals MVP awards. He has also led Team USA to victory in the 2012 Olympics and is expected to participate in this year's event in Paris.Despite the historic milestone, James expressed disappointment that it couldn't prevent a defeat for the Lakers. "For me, the main thing is always to win, so I hate that it happened in defeat," he said. "Bittersweet, but I enjoyed every moment tonight on the floor."James acknowledged the significance of the achievement, stating, "No one has ever done it. For me to be in this position at this point and time in my career, I think it's pretty cool." He emphasized that while it may not be the pinnacle of his accomplishments, it holds a special place in his heart.James also recognized the importance of longevity and good health in achieving such milestones. "You have to play the game quite a while, and have some good luck as far as injuries and that nature," he said. "Records are always meant to be broken, but you can never say never."

The Los Angeles Kings extended their winning streak to eight games under interim coach Jim Hiller with a dominant 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. Phillip Danault led the charge with a hat trick, while Kevin Fiala contributed a goal and two assists.The Devils took an early lead just 15 seconds into the game when Timo Meier capitalized on a deflection off the stanchion. However, the Kings responded swiftly, with Danault tying the score on a breakaway set up by Fiala's stretch pass. Alex Laferriere, a New Jersey native, gave the Kings the lead with a goal late in the first period.The Kings continued to dominate in the second period, with Danault scoring into an open net and Fiala adding a power-play goal to chase Devils goalie Nico Daws from the game. Danault completed his hat trick with an empty-netter in the third period.Cam Talbot made 30 saves for the Kings, while Akira Schmid stopped eight shots in relief for the Devils. The Kings have now won eight of their last 12 games under Hiller, who replaced Todd McLellan on February 2.The Devils, on the other hand, have lost five of their last seven games. They will look to bounce back when they host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. The Kings will also be in action on Tuesday, hosting the Vancouver Canucks.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' formidable batting lineup, featuring Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman, showcased their prowess in a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies. Betts and Ohtani each collected three hits, while Freeman drove in two runs. Betts has been impressive this spring, batting .412 with seven hits in 17 at-bats, while Ohtani has also been in fine form, hitting .714 with five hits in seven at-bats.Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers in December on a $700 million contract, displayed his versatility by singling, tripling, and driving in a run. Despite undergoing major elbow surgery and not pitching this season, Ohtani's offensive skills remain sharp.Meanwhile, Chris Sale, the veteran left-hander acquired by the Atlanta Braves in a trade with Boston, made a strong impression in his first spring training outing. Sale struck out five batters in 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and walking two. The 34-year-old Sale has been plagued by injuries in recent years, but he appears to be regaining his form.Detroit Tigers pitchers Matt Manning and Casey Mize also made encouraging comebacks from injuries in a game against the New York Yankees. Manning, who suffered a broken foot last season, allowed only one hit in three innings, while Mize, who underwent Tommy John and back surgeries, gave up one hit and walked two in two scoreless innings.

Loic Meillard of Switzerland capped off a remarkable weekend in Aspen by claiming victory in the World Cup slalom, adding to his podium finishes in the giant slalom races.After finishing second in consecutive giant slalom events, Meillard overcame a first-run deficit to triumph on Sunday with a combined time of 1 minute, 42.73 seconds. He edged out Linus Strasser of Germany by 0.89 seconds, while Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen secured third place.France's Clement Noel, who led after the opening run, faltered on the challenging course in his final attempt and failed to finish. "A long weekend," Meillard remarked, "but very happy with how it went."Manuel Feller of Austria climbed to fifth position in the final run, solidifying his substantial lead in the season-long World Cup slalom standings. He holds a 169-point advantage over Strasser heading into the final two races in the discipline.Three Americans, including Jett Seymour in 25th place, qualified for the second run. Seymour finished four seconds behind Meillard's winning time.This marked Meillard's third career World Cup victory and his first in slalom. "It took some time in slalom. I was always there but never quite in front," Meillard said. "It's amazing to do it and definitely in a tough race."The Swiss team enjoyed a successful weekend, with Marco Odermatt winning both giant slalom races and holding off Meillard. Odermatt has already secured the season-long GS crown and a third consecutive overall World Cup title.Meillard joins an illustrious group of skiers who have triumphed in the slalom in Aspen during a men's World Cup event, including Billy Kidd, Ingemar Stenmark, and Andre Myhrer.Snowy conditions on Sunday presented a formidable challenge in the first run, with 25 competitors failing to complete the treacherous course and one being disqualified. Meillard was the only racer to finish within one second of Noel's opening run.The men's World Cup circuit now moves to Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, for giant slalom and slalom events next weekend.

The 2024 Candidates chess tournament, scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, from April 3 to 23, faces an uncertain future due to unresolved visa issues for players and participants. The tournament, which determines the challengers for the world champion title in both the open and women's categories, is at risk of being moved out of Canada if the visa problems are not resolved by Friday.Vladimir Drkulec, president of the Chess Federation of Canada, expressed concern over the situation, stating that "if we cannot resolve these issues by Friday, the tournament will be moved to Spain." He emphasized the need for "political will" to address the issue and expressed cautious optimism that a resolution could be reached before the deadline.The tournament faces uncertainty as many players, including India's teen sensation R Praggnanandhaa, have not received their visas. As many as 40 participants, including 16 players, are yet to secure visas. Vidit Gujrathi, Gukesh D, and Vaishali Rameshbabu, Praggnanandhaa's sister, are among those who have not been issued visas.The International Chess Federation (FIDE) made an urgent appeal last Friday, expressing concern about the lack of visa updates for players who submitted their applications months ago. The appeal, posted on social media, tagged Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, and his department.Drkulec stated that the federation has contacted multiple members of parliament and government ministers, receiving positive responses from their staff. FIDE director general Emil Sutovsky emphasized that the tournament will not be postponed or players replaced due to visa issues.This will be the first time the nearly 70-year-old tournament is being held in North America and will feature 16 of the world's best players. The tournament is a significant event in the chess world, and its relocation would be a major disappointment for the Canadian chess community and fans worldwide.