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Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan's celebrated javelin thrower, has become a national icon after his historic gold medal victory at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. His record-breaking throw of 92.97m ended Pakistan's long wait for an Olympic gold medal.Upon his return to Pakistan, Nadeem has been showered with accolades and rewards. The Punjab government recently honored him with a cash prize of 10 million Pakistani rupees and a brand-new car. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz personally visited Nadeem's village to present him with the awards."Arshad deserves everything he gets because he has brought so much joy and pride to the nation," Nawaz said.However, the celebrations have been marred by controversy. Former hockey player Rao Saleem Nazim alleged that the Pakistan government withdrew invitations to several Olympians for the gala dinner hosted in Nadeem's honor.Nazim, who heads the former Pakistan hockey players forum, claimed that the PM House had initially sent invitations to hockey stalwarts but later withdrew them due to guest management issues."Is this how you show respect to players who have brought not one but several Olympic medals in hockey for the country?" Nazim questioned.Pakistan's last Olympic gold medal came in 1983 in hockey, and the last time the country won any medal in the Summer Games was also through hockey in 1992. The Pakistan hockey team has not qualified for the last three Olympic Games.Despite the controversy, Nadeem's achievement has brought immense joy and pride to Pakistan. His victory has inspired a new generation of athletes and has reignited the nation's passion for sports.

PR Sreejesh's retirement from international hockey after the Paris Olympics has left a void in the Indian team's goalkeeping department. Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Sreejesh's deputy for the past three years, is the frontrunner to succeed him.Pathak, 27, has 125 caps and has shown maturity and temperament in several matches, including the Asian Games and World Cup. India's goalkeeping consultant, Dennis van de Pol, believes Pathak is ready to fill Sreejesh's shoes."Now is Pathak's time. He has already shown that he can be on Sreejesh's level," van de Pol said. "During the 2023 World Cup, it didn't matter whether we put Pathak or Sreejesh in the goal as both played equally well."However, Pathak has never been the No. 1 goalkeeper for India. He has always been Sreejesh's deputy, and his only appearances in the Olympics and other major tournaments have been as a standby."It was of course a hard time for him, going to two Olympics and not getting any medal when the team is winning medals," van de Pol said. "But he also knows now it is his time."With Pathak taking over as the No. 1 goalkeeper, the question is who will be his deputy. Van de Pol believes there are several talented young goalkeepers who could fill that role, including Suraj Karkera, Pawan Malik, and Mohit."Luckily, there are loads of guys who have proven themselves," van de Pol said. "We will see who takes the second spot, but that is all up to their form."The first test for Pathak and Co will come at the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir City, China from September 8 to 17.

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, fell short of retaining his gold medal at the recently concluded Paris Olympics, settling for silver with a best throw of 89.45 meters. In a virtual press briefing, Chopra expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that he lacked the physical sharpness to push himself to his limits."Mentally, I was ready, but physically, I was retraining myself," Chopra said. "My legwork on the runway was not how it should have been. My efforts were going in vain."Chopra's silver medal came behind Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters. Grenada's Anderson Peters secured bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters.Chopra's performance was particularly disappointing given his previous dominance over Nadeem, whom he had defeated in all nine of their previous head-to-head matchups. However, Nadeem's throw of 90.18 meters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games had surpassed Chopra's top effort.Chopra admitted that the last two to three years have been challenging for him in terms of fitness. "I am always injured," he said. "I really tried hard, but I have to work on my injury (staying injury-free) and technique."Despite the setback, Chopra remains determined to improve and regain his status as the world's top javelin thrower. He has already announced his participation in the Lausanne Diamond League, which begins on August 22.Chopra's silver medal is a reminder that even the greatest athletes can face setbacks. However, his determination to overcome adversity and return to the top is a testament to his resilience and unwavering spirit.

The heinous rape-murder of a young doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has sparked outrage and protests across the nation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation under the orders of the Calcutta High Court.CBI officials have identified at least 30 suspects and are actively questioning them. Former India cricket captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has strongly condemned the incident, calling for severe punishment for the perpetrators.Ganguly clarified his earlier statement, which was misinterpreted as downplaying the incident. He emphasized that the crime was "terrible" and "shameful." He expressed hope that the CBI investigation would lead to the apprehension of the culprits and the imposition of strict penalties.The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a nationwide strike to protest the gruesome incident. Routine OPD services and elective surgeries will be suspended, while emergency services will remain operational. The IMA has demanded an overhaul of working conditions for resident doctors, including shorter shifts and safe resting places. They have also called for a central law to prevent violence against medical professionals.The Health Ministry has appealed to the protesting doctors to resume their duties in the public interest. The ministry has assured them that a committee will be formed to address their concerns and ensure the safety of healthcare workers. Representatives from state governments and other stakeholders have been invited to provide input to the committee.The incident has highlighted the urgent need to address the safety and well-being of healthcare professionals in India. The government and medical authorities must work together to implement effective measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu extended heartfelt sympathy to Jordan Chiles as she received her Olympic bronze medal for the floor exercise on Friday. The medal ceremony in Bucharest, Romania, followed a controversial ruling that stripped Chiles of the medal she had initially been awarded.Bărbosu acknowledged the emotional turmoil faced by Chiles and her Romanian teammate Sabrina Voinea, emphasizing that none of the athletes had acted improperly during the competition. "I can't help but think about Sabrina and Jordan right now," Bărbosu said. "It's a difficult situation for us, with so many uncertainties and overwhelming emotions. I hope everyone understands that we have not done anything wrong at the Olympics."The medal reallocation stemmed from a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that an inquiry to increase Chiles' score, which had initially secured her the bronze, was submitted too late and should not have been accepted. Consequently, Chiles' score was lowered, dropping her to fifth place and elevating Bărbosu to third. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the reallocation, leading to the ceremony where Bărbosu received the bronze medal.Chiles had initially received the bronze after her coach, Cecile Landi, successfully challenged her original score during the floor exercise final in Paris. The challenge slightly increased Chiles' difficulty score, placing her ahead of the Romanian gymnasts. However, the Romanian Olympic Committee contested the challenge, and the CAS upheld their appeal.Following the reversal, Chiles expressed her disappointment on social media, describing the decision as unjust and highlighting the emotional toll it had taken on her. "I have no words. This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey," Chiles said. "To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful."Bărbosu's gesture of empathy underscores the spirit of sportsmanship and the importance of recognizing the challenges faced by all athletes. The medal reallocation highlights the complexities of judging in gymnastics and the need for clear and consistent guidelines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent interactions with Indian Olympic medalists have been marked by lighthearted moments and a shared love for traditional Indian delicacies. After his playful "choorma banter" with javelin star Neeraj Chopra, PM Modi engaged in another heartwarming exchange with Paris Olympics bronze medal-winning wrestler Aman Sehrawat.During a meeting with the Indian Olympic contingent at his residence, PM Modi congratulated Sehrawat on becoming India's youngest Olympic medalist. With a broad smile, the Prime Minister inquired if Sehrawat had indulged in any of his favorite foods upon returning from Paris. The 21-year-old Haryana native replied with a smile, "I haven't gone home yet, sir."PM Modi quipped, "You should've told us; we could've made something for you!" Sehrawat, in his typical Haryanvi accent, responded with simplicity, "Once I'm home, I'll definitely have choorma."Sehrawat, who lost his parents at a tender age of 10, trains and resides at New Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium. He defeated Puerto Rico's Darian Toi Cruz 13-5 to win the bronze medal at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, extending India's wrestling medal streak at the Olympics since the Beijing Games in 2008.Earlier, PM Modi had a candid moment with silver medalist Neeraj Chopra during an interaction with athletes ahead of their departure for the Paris Games. In a humorous exchange, PM Modi joked, "I haven't received my churma yet," sparking laughter all around.With a shy smile, Chopra replied, "This time I will treat you with churma from Haryana; last time we had the sugary one from Delhi." The Prime Minister eagerly expressed his craving for homemade churma, saying, "I want to savor churma made by your mother."Later, Chopra's mother, Saroj Devi, promised PM Modi that she would send a special 'choorma' for him.

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic silver medalist in javelin throw, expressed his confidence in competing against Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem and his belief that he could have broken the gold medalist's Olympic record.Chopra, who entered the final as the favorite with an impressive 89.34m in the qualifying round, threw the javelin to 89.45m, his second-best effort ever, surpassing the 87.58m that earned him gold in Tokyo.However, it was not enough to overcome Nadeem, who set a new Olympic record with a massive 92.97m throw. "Nadeem is a very hardworking player, and competing against him is always positive," Chopra said. "I was confident that we would have a good fight. After he set the Olympic record in his second attempt, it put pressure on everyone, but I was sure I could break it after my second attempt, which was close to 90. But somehow, my body didn't allow it."Chopra began the final with a foul on his first attempt, while Nadeem also fouled his first throw. Trinidad's Keshorn Walcott took the early lead with an 86.16m throw, followed by Anderson Peter at 84.70m. Chopra's only legal throw of the night, 89.45m, came on his second attempt.Despite not winning gold, Chopra made history by becoming the second Indian male and third overall to win back-to-back Olympic medals. He joins wrestler Sushil Kumar, who won bronze and silver in 2008 and 2012, and PV Sindhu, who won silver in 2016 and bronze in 2020."It's never easy to perform in the Olympics, especially when you're defending your medal," Chopra said. "I knew I could break the Olympic record after my second throw, but I wasn't able to. I'm happy to have won a silver medal for the country. I'll work on the things I need to recover well."Chopra, who is training in Switzerland with his coach and physio, announced his participation in the Lausanne Diamond League, which begins on August 22.

Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat's return to India after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed her appeal for a joint silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics has sparked a wave of empathy and support on social media.Phogat, 29, was disqualified from the women's 53kg freestyle final for missing the prescribed weight limit by 100 grams. The news came to light the night before her final match, prompting her to undergo extreme weight-cutting measures for five hours.According to her coach, Woller Akos, Phogat "did everything possible" to make the cut, including drawing blood, limiting her food and water intake, and even cutting her hair.Despite her efforts, Phogat was unable to shed the excess weight and was disqualified. The decision has been met with widespread criticism, with many calling it "inhumane."The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has slammed the regulations as "inhumane" and has said it is "exploring further legal options."Phogat's emotional breakdown at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi has sparked a wave of empathy and support on social media. Thousands have taken to Twitter to express solidarity with the wrestler, hailing her as a "legend" and a symbol of resilience."You are and always will be a legend," posted one Twitter user. Another person added, "Welcome back, Vinesh Phogat champ." A third commented, "A smile emerges amidst the tears and struggle. Vinesh Phogat returns home."Phogat was welcomed by medal-winning athletes, including Rio Games medallist Sakshi Malik and Tokyo Olympics medallist Bajrang Punia. Her family, well-wishers, and political leaders were also present at the airport for her welcome party.Phogat's disqualification has raised questions about the weight-cutting practices in wrestling. Many experts have called for changes to the regulations to prevent wrestlers from resorting to extreme measures to make weight.

Vinesh Phogat's Olympic journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in a heartbreaking disqualification and subsequent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Despite the setbacks, Phogat's resilience and determination have shone through, earning her the admiration and support of the nation.Upon her arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, Phogat was greeted by a throng of cheering fans and a thick security cover. Overcome with emotion, she broke down in tears, consoled by teammates Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.Phogat's disqualification stemmed from being found 100 grams overweight on the day of her historic gold medal bout in the women's 50kg wrestling. Despite her impressive victories in the previous rounds, including a triumph over four-time world champion Yui Susaki of Japan, her podium finish was nullified.Undeterred, Phogat and her team appealed to CAS for a joint silver medal. However, after several deferrals, CAS ultimately ruled against her plea. In an emotional social media post, Phogat expressed her disappointment and the hardships she had faced throughout her journey.Despite the setback, Phogat has hinted at a possible return to wrestling. "Maybe under different circumstances, I could see myself playing till 2032," she wrote. "I can't predict what the future holds for me, but I am sure that I will continue to fight always for what I believe in."Phogat's unwavering spirit and the outpouring of support she has received serve as a testament to her indomitable character. While her Olympic dream may have been cut short, her legacy as a champion and an inspiration to countless young athletes remains intact.