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Former Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has resigned from her position as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with the Indian Railways, citing personal reasons. The resignation comes amid speculation that she may join the Congress party and contest the upcoming Haryana assembly elections.Phogat, 30, is a renowned wrestler who has won numerous medals at the international level, including a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships. She was disqualified from the 50kg gold medal match at the Paris Olympics for being overweight by 100 grams, a decision that she appealed against but was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.In her resignation letter, Phogat expressed her gratitude to the Indian Railways for the opportunity to serve the nation. She stated that she was unable to perform her duties as OSD due to family circumstances and personal reasons. She requested that her resignation be accepted with immediate effect and that one month's salary be deposited in lieu of her one month's notice period.Phogat's resignation has sparked speculation that she may join the Congress party and contest the Haryana assembly elections next month. She met with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi earlier this week, leading to widespread rumors of her political ambitions.If Phogat does join the Congress party, it would be a significant boost for the party's campaign in Haryana. She is a popular figure in the state and has a strong following among the youth. Her decision to enter politics could also inspire other athletes to consider a career in public service.

India's javelin throw sensation Neeraj Chopra has secured his spot in the prestigious Diamond League season finale, scheduled for September 14-15 in Brussels. Despite battling a persistent groin injury, Chopra's impressive performances throughout the season have earned him a place among the top four athletes in the overall standings.Chopra's journey to the Diamond League finale began with a second-place finish in Doha, where he threw 89.30m. He replicated this feat in Lausanne, finishing behind Grenada's Anderson Peters with a throw of 89.08m. These performances earned him 14 points, placing him fourth in the overall standings.The 26-year-old Haryana-born athlete has been grappling with a groin injury since before the Tokyo Olympics, which has hindered his pursuit of the elusive 90m mark. Despite this setback, Chopra has remained determined to overcome his physical challenges and regain his peak form.In the recently concluded Zurich meet, Peters emerged victorious with a throw of 90.61m, while German star Julian Weber finished second. Chopra opted to skip this meet to prioritize his recovery and preparation for the Diamond League finale.Chopra's participation in the Diamond League finale holds significant importance as the winner of each event is awarded a prestigious "Diamond Trophy," a cash prize of USD 30,000, and a wild card for the World Athletics Championships.The Indian javelin thrower has a strong track record in the Diamond League, having won the Lausanne leg in 2022 and 2023. He also finished second to Jakub Vadlejch in the winner-takes-all finale in Eugene, USA, last year.Chopra's immediate focus is on addressing his groin injury and regaining full fitness. He has expressed his determination to improve his technique and push the boundaries of his performance in the upcoming season.

Manu Bhaker's Olympic Triumph and KBC AppearanceIndian shooting sensation Manu Bhaker has added another feather to her cap by appearing on the popular television show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). The Olympian, who recently returned from the Paris Olympics 2024 with two bronze medals, shared her experiences and insights on the show.During her conversation with host Amitabh Bachchan, Bhaker shed light on the intricate techniques involved in shooting at the highest level. She explained that shooters take extended pauses between shots to control their breathing and heart rate. This allows them to maintain composure and focus amidst the intense pressure of competition.Bhaker emphasized the importance of a strong foundation in shooting, which involves not only physical skills but also mental and emotional preparation. She revealed that she relies heavily on yoga, Surya Namaskar, and meditation to calm her nerves and improve her concentration."Controlling anxiousness or nervousness takes time and practice," Bhaker said. "To maintain focus, I rely heavily on yoga, Surya Namaskar, and meditation. I follow this routine with strict discipline."She also shared a specific breathing technique that she uses to regulate her heart rate. "I use a breathing technique with a 4:8 ratio: inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for eight seconds," Bhaker explained. "Mastering this through practice helps normalize my heart rate."Bhaker's appearance on KBC has garnered widespread attention and appreciation. It has not only highlighted her achievements but also provided a glimpse into the challenges and techniques involved in the sport of shooting.

India's Paralympic contingent is poised to make a strong push towards its target of 30 medals at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Friday's schedule promises a flurry of medal opportunities, particularly in athletics.In the Men's Javelin Throw F54 Final, Dipesh Kumar will be a strong contender for a podium finish. Praveen Kumar will aim for glory in the Men's High Jump T64 Final, while Bhavanaben Ajabaji Chaudhary will seek a medal in the Women's Javelin Throw F46 Final. Soman Rana and Hokato Hotozhe Sema will represent India in the Men's Shot Put F57 Final.Para-powerlifting will also feature prominently on Friday, with Kasthuri Rajamani competing in the Women's 67kg Final. India has a realistic chance of finishing among the top 12 teams in the Paris Paralympics 2024 medals tally. To achieve this, the contingent needs to maintain its momentum and secure a significant number of medals in the remaining days of competition.

India's Paralympic archery campaign suffered a setback as the Mixed Team Recurve Open duo of Harvinder Singh and Pooja Jatyan narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in a shoot-off.Harvinder, the reigning Paralympic champion in the Men's Individual Recurve Open, and Pooja began strongly, winning the first set 33-30. However, they faltered in the second set, scoring only 29 points, allowing Slovenia's Ziva Lavrinc and Dejan Fabcic to level the match.The Indian pair regained the lead in the third set with a 34-38 victory, but they failed to capitalize in the fourth set, scoring only 29 points to Slovenia's 34.In the shoot-off, Harvinder and Pooja scored 17 points, while Lavrinc and Fabcic scored 19, securing the bronze medal for Slovenia.Earlier, Harvinder and Pooja had lost to eventual gold medalists Elkisabetta Mijno and Stefano Travisani of Italy in the semifinals. The Indian duo had also faced a close 5-4 win over Australia's Taymon Kenton-Smith and Amanda Jennings in the quarterfinals.Despite the disappointment, Harvinder's historic gold medal in the Men's Individual Recurve Open remains a significant achievement for India in Paralympic archery.

India's Paralympic campaign in Tokyo ended on a bittersweet note as para-athletes Simran Sharma and Ashok narrowly missed out on podium finishes.Simran Sharma, who had stormed into the women's 100m T12 final, finished last among the four finalists with a timing of 12.31s. Cuba's Omara Durand Elias, the world record-holder, claimed gold with a time of 11.81s, followed by Ukraine's Oksana Boturchuk (12.17s) and Germany's Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt (12.26s).Powerlifter Ashok, competing in the men's 65kg final, finished sixth with a best lift of 199kg. He had successfully lifted 196kg in his first attempt and 199kg in his second, but failed to lift 206kg in his third and final attempt. China's Yi Zou won gold with a lift of 215kg, while Great Britain's Mark Swan took silver with 213kg and Algeria's Hocine Bettir claimed bronze with 209kg.Despite the disappointing results for Simran and Ashok, India's para-archery team made history by winning two medals at the Paralympics for the first time. Harvinder Singh won India's first-ever gold medal in para archery with a straight-set victory over Poland's Lukasz Ciszek in the men's individual recurve open final. The Indian para archery team also won a bronze medal in the mixed team recurve open event.India's overall performance at the Tokyo Paralympics was a testament to the growing strength and determination of its para-athletes. The country's record-breaking medal tally of 19 medals, including five golds, eight silvers, and six bronzes, is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of these exceptional individuals.

Indian para-athlete Ajeet Singh Yadav has etched his name in history by securing a silver medal in the javelin throw F46 final at the Paris Paralympics 2024. His remarkable achievement is a testament to his unwavering determination and resilience in the face of adversity.Yadav's journey to the podium has been marked by both triumph and tragedy. In 2017, a life-altering accident left him with a severe injury to his left arm. However, instead of succumbing to despair, Yadav found solace in javelin throw. With unwavering focus and dedication, he transformed his misfortune into a source of inspiration.Four years after the accident, Yadav made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo, finishing eighth. Undeterred, he continued to train relentlessly, overcoming an elbow injury to claim the Para World title in Paris and a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.In 2024, Yadav's hard work culminated in a bronze medal at the world championships. His momentum carried him to the Paris Paralympics, where he delivered a stunning performance to secure a silver medal. His fifth-round throw of 65.62m surpassed that of his compatriot and world record holder Sundar Singh Gurjar.Yadav's triumph is not only a personal victory but also a symbol of hope and inspiration for countless others who have faced challenges in their lives. His story serves as a reminder that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible.

India's Deaf Shooting Team Shines at World Championship, Pranjali Dhumal Bags BronzeIndia's deaf shooting team has made a remarkable start at the 2nd World Deaf Shooting Championship 2024 in Hanover, Germany, with Pranjali Dhumal clinching a bronze medal in the Women's 25m Pistol event.Dhumal's impressive performance saw her qualify for the finals with a deaf world record and deaf world championship record of 571. In the finals, she displayed nerves of steel, hitting three out of five shots in the eighth series to edge out Lana Skeledzija by a single point and secure the bronze medal. She finished with a score of 29, behind the Ukrainian pair of Sofiia Olenych and Halyna Mosina, who secured gold and silver respectively.Anuya Prasad also put in a strong performance, finishing fifth in the finals with a score of 21 after qualifying with a score of 558. Vedika Sharma, the third Indian shooter, ended the qualification with a score of 473.The Indian team's success continued in the men's 10m Air Pistol event, where Abhinav Deshwal won silver and Shubham Vashist won bronze. The duo also teamed up with Chetan Sakpal to clinch the team silver medal.The 16-member Indian Deaf Shooting team has made a bright start to the championship, which runs until September 7, 2024. Indian shooters will compete in the Air Rifle and Air Pistol disciplines. The squad includes top shooters like Dhanush Srikanth and is accompanied by an interpreter and coaches Preeti Sharma (Pistol) and Sanjeev Rajput (Rifle).

Simran Sharma, India's reigning world champion in the women's 100m - T12, has secured her place in the final at the Paris Paralympics. Accompanied by her guide Abhay Singh, the 24-year-old finished second in semifinal 2 with a time of 12.33 seconds at the Stade de France on Thursday.Simran's journey to the final was not without its challenges. Born prematurely, she spent the first 10 weeks of her life in an incubator, where it was discovered that she had visual impairment. Despite the obstacles, Simran's determination and resilience have propelled her to the pinnacle of her sport.Coached by her husband Gajendra Singh, an Army Service Corps officer, Simran trains at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Her hard work and dedication have paid off, as she has consistently dominated the National Championship and Indian Open in both the 100m and 200m since 2022.Simran's success on the international stage is equally impressive. She won two silver medals at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year and clinched the T12 200m gold in style at the World Championships in Japan in June. Her performance at the Paris Paralympics is a testament to her unwavering spirit and the support of her team.In the semifinal, Simran finished behind Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt of Germany, who clocked 12.26 seconds. Omara Durand of Cuba topped the first semifinal with a time of 12.01 seconds. As per the rules, the first-placed runner in each semifinal and the next two fastest advanced to the final. Simran's time of 12.33 seconds was the third fastest overall, securing her a spot in the final.Simran's journey from being mocked for her visual impairment to winning gold at the World Para Athletics Championships and now reaching the Paralympics final is an inspiration to all. Her story is a reminder that with determination and support, anything is possible.