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In a thrilling UTT 2024 encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, rising star Diya Chitale stunned World No. 26 Manika Batra, leading Dabang Delhi TTC to a remarkable 8-7 victory over table toppers PBG Bengaluru Smashers.Despite trailing 7-1, Dabang Delhi TTC staged a stunning comeback, winning seven consecutive games. Chitale's 3-0 (11-6, 11-10, 11-8) triumph over Batra proved pivotal.Earlier, PBG Bengaluru Smashers had dominated, with Alvaro Robles and Lily Zhang securing victories in the first men's and women's singles, respectively. However, Orawan Paranang and G Sathiyan sparked the Delhi-based franchise's resurgence with a 2-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-8) mixed doubles win over Manika and Robles.Sathiyan then blanked Jeet Chandra 3-0 (11-10, 11-6, 11-5), setting the stage for Chitale's heroics. The youngster's impressive performance against Batra showcased her immense potential.In another exciting clash, Puneri Paltan Table Tennis defeated debutants Jaipur Patriots 9-6. Ankur Bhattacharjee, Suthasini Sawettabut, Natalia Bajor, Anirban Ghosh, Joao Monteiro, and Bajor contributed to the victory.PBG Bengaluru Smashers remain atop the standings with 48 points, while Dabang Delhi TTC sits second with 41 points. Puneri Paltan Table Tennis is fourth with 28 points, and Jaipur Patriots is fifth with 25 points.

Charles Leclerc's triumph at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday marked a resounding victory for Ferrari and a significant moment in the Formula One championship race. The Monegasque driver's second win of the season, following his victory in Monaco, ignited the cheers of the passionate Ferrari faithful at Monza.Leclerc's victory was hard-fought, as he held off a determined challenge from McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The race was marked by strategic pit stops, with Leclerc opting for a single stop while his rivals pitted twice. Leclerc's ability to maintain his tire performance proved crucial, allowing him to stay ahead and secure a comfortable victory.Piastri, who had taken the lead early in the race, expressed disappointment with his second-place finish. However, Norris's third-place result was a positive step for McLaren, as he reduced Max Verstappen's championship lead to 62 points.Verstappen's struggles continued at Monza, as he finished a distant sixth, nearly 38 seconds behind Leclerc. The Dutch driver's recent poor form has raised questions about Red Bull's dominance in F1. McLaren, on the other hand, is now only eight points behind Red Bull in the constructor's standings and is a strong contender for the title.In other news, Franco Colapinto made an impressive debut for Williams, finishing 12th in his first F1 race. Leonardo Fornaroli became the first Italian to win the F3 title, while Gabriel Bortoleto won the F2 race in dramatic fashion.

India is poised to make history as the Indian Racing Festival presented by Kingfisher Soda gears up for its second round on the streets of Chennai. This groundbreaking spectacle will witness formula cars roaring through the iconic Island Grounds, setting a new benchmark for motorsport in the country.The street night circuit, spanning 3.5 kilometers, will host over 40 drivers competing in a thrilling display of speed and skill. The unique layout, featuring technical bends and high-speed straights, promises an unforgettable finale.Drivers took a "track walk" on Saturday, familiarizing themselves with the challenges ahead. They praised the track's design, highlighting its technicality and excitement."We are grateful to the Tamil Nadu Government for their support in ensuring the safety and security of the circuit," said Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director of Racing Promotions Private Limited. "We are ready to make history on the streets of Chennai this Sunday."For many drivers, this will be their first night race, adding an extra layer of challenge. However, the practice session on Saturday provided them with valuable experience.Ruhaan Alva, a teenager from Bengaluru representing Sharchi Rarh Bengal Tigers, said, "The track looks super challenging, with high speed and chicanes. The night race is new for me, but I'm excited. We need to manage tire degradation and low grip."Jon Lancaster, the winner of Race-1 last week, believes his street racing experience will be an advantage. "The track is technical and challenging, but it looks great fun," he said. "The high-quality lighting will help, but we need to adapt quickly to the changing conditions."Gabriela Jilkova of Goa Aces by JA Racing, who finished on the podium last weekend, is also excited about the street circuit. "This is my second street track ever," she said. "The varying characteristics will make it challenging. The night race will be an extra challenge, but I think our car will look beautiful under the lights."JK Tyre, a key performance sponsor of the festival, has played a crucial role in enhancing the competitive edge across all categories. Their involvement, along with other sponsors like Kingfisher Soda and Mobil 1, has contributed to the thrilling races that have captivated fans throughout the event.

Indian para-rowers Narayana Konganapalle and Anita, who won a silver medal at the Asian Para Games, finished eighth overall in the PR3 mixed double sculls rowing event at the Paris Paralympics on Sunday.Making their Paralympic debut, the duo secured a timing of 8:16.96 seconds to finish second in Final B of their repechage event, which determined their final standings. Saige Happer and Todd Vogt of the USA topped the Final B race with a timing of 7:48.38s, while Mexico's Miguel Angel Nieto Carpio and Angeles Britani Gutierrez Vieyra came behind the Indians (8:28.23s).The Indian pair had to compete in the Final B classification race for 7th to 12th spot after finishing third in their heat on Saturday. They had finished the race with a timing of 7:54.33s, behind Ukraine (7:29.24s) and Great Britain (7:20.53s).Konganapalle, an Army sepoy, lost his left leg below the knee after stepping on a landmine while guarding the Indian borders in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2015. Anita lost her leg in a road accident when she was 18.The PR-3 category is meant for para-rowers with residual leg function that allows them to slide the seat during the rowing motion.Despite their valiant efforts, Konganapalle and Anita were unable to secure a medal at the Paralympics. However, their performance is a testament to their determination and resilience, and they will undoubtedly continue to inspire other para-athletes in India.

India's Ravi Rongali showcased an impressive performance in the men's F40 shot put final at the Paris Paralympics, securing a commendable fifth place. Rongali, who had previously earned a silver medal at the Asian Para Games in China, achieved a personal best of 10.63m. However, this was not sufficient to secure a podium finish in a highly competitive field.Portugal's Miguel Montero, the world record holder, claimed the gold medal with a throw of 11.21m. Mongolia's Battulga Tsegmid (11.09m) and Iraq's Garrah Tnaiash (11.03m) secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Russian Denis Gnezdilov, the reigning world para athletics champion, finished fourth with a throw of 10.80m.In the women's 1500m T11 race, India's Rakshita Raju faced disappointment in the opening round heats. Raju, 23, finished last out of four runners in Heat 3 with a timing of 5:29.92s. Only the top two runners from each heat qualified for the final.The T11 category is designated for athletes with visual impairments, including complete loss of vision or limited ability to perceive light. These athletes often run with guides.On Friday, Preethi Pal had made history by winning India's first athletics medal in a Paralympics track event. Pal secured a bronze medal in the women's T35 100m event with a personal best time of 14.21 seconds. The T35 classification is for athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.

Boxing's Olympic future remains uncertain after the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) voted against joining the rival World Boxing (WB) association. The vote, held via secret ballot, saw 21 countries opt to continue with the suspended International Boxing Association (IBA), while 14 favored joining WB.The IOC has repeatedly threatened to exclude boxing from the 2028 Olympics if national federations continue to align with the IBA, which has been suspended due to governance and financial concerns. WB, a breakaway body, aims to gain IOC recognition and has 42 members, while the IBA has over 100 affiliated units.The ASBC's decision leaves the Olympic future of boxing hanging in the balance. However, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh remains optimistic that WB will reach the 50-member mark required for provisional IOC recognition by year-end."India is taking all possible steps to ensure that boxing remains a part of the Olympic movement," Singh said. "It is clear that the IOC will not accept IBA as the international parent body for boxing."Despite the ASBC's vote, Singh believes that 14 Asian countries that voted in favor of joining WB will soon submit their applications. IBA, meanwhile, has criticized WB, claiming it lacks the resources and expertise to organize major events and support its members."World Boxing has no finances, expertise, and support to organize any proper major events, no means to support their members, and no intention to develop boxing," IBA said in a statement.IBA also urged national federations to reconsider leaving, warning that it could lead to a dead end. However, WB welcomed the support from the Asian body, stating that it reflects the IBA's hard work in boxing development worldwide.

Indian shooters Avani Lekhara and Sidhartha Babu faced a setback at the Paralympic Games in Chateauroux on Sunday, failing to qualify for the final of the mixed 10m air rifle prone (SH1) event.Lekhara, who had made history by winning a gold medal in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, struggled to replicate her form in this unfamiliar event. Despite a strong start, she finished with a total score of 632.8, placing 11th overall. Babu, on the other hand, ended in 28th position with a score of 628.3.Lekhara's sequence of scores included 105.7, 106.0, 104.1, 106.0, 104.8, and 106.2. Babu's scores were 104.6, 103.8, 105.7, 104.9, 103.6, and 105.7.The SH1 classification allows athletes to hold their gun without difficulty and shoot from a standing or sitting position. Lekhara, who had become the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic gold medals, had defended her title in the women's 10m air rifle (SH1) event with a world record score on Friday.Despite their disappointment in the mixed 10m air rifle prone event, Lekhara and Babu remain hopeful for success in their upcoming events. Lekhara will compete in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event, while Babu will participate in the men's 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.

India's archery campaign at the Paris Paralympics 2024 suffered a setback on Saturday as Sarita Kumari's impressive run ended in the quarterfinals, while Sheetal Devi, known for her remarkable feat of drawing arrows with her toes, bowed out in the last-16 of the compound women's open category.Sarita, the ninth seed from Faridabad, had displayed dominance in the first and second rounds. However, her dream run was halted by top-seed Oznur Cure Girdi of Korea in the last eight. Girdi, who had shattered the world record in the qualifying round with a score of 704 out of a maximum 720 points, showcased her prowess by shooting three perfect 10s in the second end, securing a five-point lead.Despite Sarita's efforts to match Girdi's 30 in the third end and a perfect fourth end, the Turkish archer maintained her lead, ultimately wrapping up the match with a 29 in the fifth end.Sheetal, who had also surpassed the previous world record of 698 by shooting 703, endured a setback in the second end, where she shot a 7-point red ring. This allowed Tokyo silver medalist Mariana Zuniga of Chile to gain an advantage, eventually defeating Sheetal 137-138 in the pre-quarters.Despite Sheetal's early elimination, Sarita had earlier showcased her dominance by defeating Italy's Eleonora Sarti 141-135 in a one-sided pre-quarterfinal match. Sarita, who had won a team silver medal at the Asian Para Games last year, dropped just one point in the first end, securing a four-point lead. She maintained her control throughout the match, sealing the victory with two solid ends.In the open class, archers shoot from a sitting position at a distance of 50m at an 80cm five-ring target made up of the 10-6 point bands.

Jonnie Peacock's journey to Paralympic stardom is a testament to resilience and the unwavering support of his mother, Linda. Diagnosed with meningitis at age five, Peacock faced the possibility of losing his life. However, thanks to the quick thinking of his mother and the skill of surgeon Per Hall, he survived, albeit with the amputation of his lower right leg.Initially, Peacock struggled to accept his new reality, blaming his mother for his amputation. But with time, their bond grew stronger, and Linda became an integral part of his recovery and athletic pursuits. She ferried him to countless events and training sessions, instilling in him the resilience that would fuel his Paralympic success.Peacock's Paralympic debut in London 2012 was a triumph, as he claimed the 100m title at just 19 years old. He repeated the feat in Rio four years later, but a bronze medal in Tokyo 2021 left him hungry for more.Now, at 31, Peacock is determined to reclaim his 100m crown in Paris. He believes his experience and the pressure of competing in a packed stadium will give him an edge over his rivals.Peacock's success extends beyond the track. He is a role model for countless young people, promoting the Tackle Meningitis campaign and raising awareness about the devastating effects of the disease. He credits his mother for his positive outlook and the unwavering support that has shaped his life.