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Indian hockey has reached new heights with the recent recognition of Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh as the FIH Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year for 2024. This prestigious honor is a testament to their exceptional performances and the resurgence of Indian hockey on the global stage.Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian men's hockey team, has been a force to reckon with. His leadership and defensive prowess have been instrumental in India's recent successes. At the Paris Olympics, he led the scoring charts with 10 goals, including crucial goals in the quarterfinal, semi-final, and bronze medal match. His third FIH Player of the Year award is a fitting recognition of his consistent brilliance.PR Sreejesh, the legendary goalkeeper, has been a pillar of the Indian team for over a decade. His agility, reflexes, and leadership have made him one of the most respected goalkeepers in the world. At the Paris Olympics, he played a pivotal role in India's quarterfinal victory over Great Britain, despite playing most of the match with only 10 players. His third FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award is a testament to his unwavering excellence.The FIH awards also recognized the rising stars of hockey. Sufyan Khan of Pakistan was named the Men's Rising Star of the Year, while Zoe Diaz of Argentina won the Women's Rising Star of the Year award. These young players represent the future of hockey and their recognition is a sign of the sport's continued growth and development.The FIH awards are a celebration of the best and brightest in hockey. Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh's achievements are a source of pride for India and an inspiration to young hockey players around the world. Their success is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion that drives the sport of hockey.

Delhi SG Pipers Congratulate PR Sreejesh on Prestigious FIH Goalkeeper of the Year AwardDelhi SG Pipers, the Hockey India League franchise backed by SG Sports, Media and Entertainment, has extended its heartfelt congratulations to its Director of Hockey and Team Mentor, PR Sreejesh, on winning the prestigious FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award at the FIH (Hockey) Stars Awards.Sreejesh, a double Olympic medalist, emerged victorious over a formidable field of contenders, including Pirmin Blaak of the Netherlands, Luis Calzado of Spain, Jean-Paul Danneberg of Germany, and Tomas Santiago of Argentina. This marks Sreejesh's third FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award, having previously won the honor back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.Throughout his illustrious 18-year career, Sreejesh has made 366 appearances for India, amassing an impressive collection of accolades. In addition to his two Olympic medals, he has won two gold and one bronze medal at the Asian Games, two Champions Trophy silvers, two Commonwealth Games silver medals, an Asia Cup silver, and four Asian Champions Trophy gold and silver medals, among others.Sreejesh's exceptional performances under the post played a pivotal role in India's bronze medal-winning feats at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. His ability to adapt and transform his game in response to evolving styles and strategies has solidified his status as one of the best goalkeepers in modern hockey.Delhi SG Pipers Head Coach Graham Reid praised Sreejesh's remarkable achievements, stating, "Sreejesh stands out as a true champion who transcends the game of hockey and the era in which he played. His dedication, skill, and sportsmanship have not only inspired his teammates but have also left an indelible mark on the sport itself."Sreejesh expressed his delight at receiving the award, saying, "This award is a recognition to all my achievements and is a crowning moment for me as a player. It is going to be an inspiration for the next generation, players who played alongside me and junior team goalkeepers who are now working with me. I hope this award can be an inspiration for them."Sreejesh's unwavering commitment to excellence serves as a beacon for aspiring athletes everywhere. His achievements will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of Indian goalkeepers and leave a lasting legacy in the sport of hockey.

Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and retired goalkeeper PR Sreejesh have been honored at the 49th FIH Statutory Congress in Oman. Harmanpreet was named Player of the Year 2024, while Sreejesh received the Goalkeeper of the Year accolade.Harmanpreet's exceptional performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics earned him the top spot. He led the scoring charts with 10 goals, including crucial goals in the quarterfinal, semi-final, and bronze medal match. His leadership and contributions were instrumental in India's consecutive podium finishes at the Olympics.Sreejesh, who retired after the Paris Olympics, added a second Olympic medal and a third FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award to his illustrious career. His stellar performance in the quarterfinal win over Great Britain, where India played with 10 players for most of the match, showcased his exceptional skills.In the women's category, Yibbi Jansen of Netherlands was named Player of the Year 2024, while China's Ye Jiao won the Goalkeeper of the Year 2024 award. Zoe Diaz of Argentina and Sufyan Khan of Pakistan received the FIH Rising Stars awards.Alyson Annan (Australia) and Jeroen Delmee (Netherlands) were recognized as the FIH Coaches of the Year in the women's and men's categories, respectively. Sarah Wilson of Scotland and Steve Rogers of Australia won the FIH Umpire of the Year awards in the women's and men's categories.Harmanpreet expressed his gratitude for the honor and acknowledged the support of his teammates, Hockey India, and his family. Sreejesh thanked Hockey India and his team for their contributions to his success.The FIH awards recognize the outstanding achievements of players, coaches, and umpires in the sport of hockey. The winners are selected through a combination of votes from an Expert Panel, National Associations, fans, and media.

The Chennai Grand Masters 2024 witnessed a thrilling day of chess action, with India's Pranav V. continuing his dominance in the Challengers section and Arjun Erigaisi seizing the lead in the Masters category.Pranav, playing with black pieces, showcased his tactical prowess against Vaishali R. In a bold move, he sacrificed his Queen early on, forcing Vaishali to exchange her own. The game turned into a fierce battle, with both players exchanging heavy blows. However, Pranav's strategic maneuvering proved too strong, and he eventually forced Vaishali into a corner, securing his fourth consecutive victory.In the Masters section, Erigaisi emerged as the frontrunner after defeating Amin Tabatabaei in a clash of the leaders. Erigaisi, who recently ascended to the World No. 2 spot in Live Ratings, displayed his exceptional skills, accumulating 3.5 points from four rounds.Other notable performances in the Masters category included stalemates between Vidit Gujrathi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, as well as Aravindh Chithambaram and Levon Aronian. Parham Maghsoodloo and Alexey Sarana also played out a draw.In the Challengers category, Leon Mendonca and Abhimanyu Puranik fought to a balanced draw, while Karthikeyan Murali showcased his talent with a strong win over Harika Dronavalli. Raunak Sadhwani and Pranesh M. concluded their match with a well-contested draw but lost ground on runaway leader Pranav.The Chennai Grand Masters 2024, taking place at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai from November 5 to 11, 2024, features two categories: Masters and Challengers. The Masters category boasts a competitive field with a rating average of 2729, while the Challengers category provides a platform for emerging Indian talent.

Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in America, has traditionally been associated with tennis. However, a growing number of professional pickleball players are emerging without a tennis background.Chuck Taylor, a 41-year-old PPA Tour competitor, is one such player. Growing up near the birthplace of pickleball in Washington state, Taylor's passion for the game began in high school. Today, he remains a top-level competitor.Taylor is not alone. Approximately 10% of pro pickleball players on tour have no tennis background. Dylan Frazier, Hayden Patriquin, and Gabriel Tardio are among the highest-ranked non-tennis players.These players have diverse backgrounds. Patriquin transitioned from baseball, while Tardio picked up pickleball at age 14. Some have developed unique trick shots and nicknames, such as Mary Brascia's "Mary-Go-Round" and Callan Dawson's "high choke" paddle grip.Dawson's parents are also professional pickleball players, making them a unique family trio with a combined 40 major titles.Other non-tennis players on tour include:* Daniel Jensen: Former Division I soccer player at Ohio State* Daniel De La Rosa: Former world No. 1 racquetball player* Luke Wasson: Former semi-pro golfer and soccer player* Monica Paolicelli: Former fitness instructor and director of Dill DinkersAs pickleball continues to gain popularity, the percentage of non-tennis players on the PPA Tour is expected to increase. The next generation of athletes is discovering pickleball as an afterschool hobby, and many are choosing it over traditional sports like tennis.

India's Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra is set to embark on an off-season training stint in South Africa later this month. The 26-year-old javelin star will spend 31 days in Potchefstroom, a city known for its high-altitude training facilities.Chopra's training will be funded by the Sports Ministry, which has approved the expenditure for his lodging, boarding, and training costs. The ministry stated that Chopra will begin his training early in preparation for next year's competitions.Chopra has a history of training in Potchefstroom, having spent time there ahead of the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. He also competed in a competition there in January 2020, where he finished first with a throw of 87.86m.Despite battling an adductor muscle niggle throughout the year, Chopra managed to secure a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and compete in the Diamond League Final. He has since parted ways with his German coach, Klaus Bartonietz, and is expected to appoint a new coach before the end of the year.Chopra's primary goal for next year is to defend his World Championships gold in Tokyo and improve his technique to reach the 90m mark. He currently holds a personal best of 89.94m, just 6cm short of the coveted milestone.

Formula One drivers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the "tone and language" used by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, particularly in relation to the recent sanctions imposed on drivers for swearing at press conferences. In an open letter, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) has demanded that drivers be treated with respect and as adults.The GPDA's letter highlights the distinction between offensive swearing and casual swearing, which is often used to express frustration or describe situations. The drivers argue that the FIA president should consider his own language when addressing them, both publicly and privately.Furthermore, the GPDA has expressed its opposition to financial sanctions against drivers, calling for clarification on how these penalties are imposed and how the proceeds are used. The letter also addresses the recent controversies surrounding jewelry and underwear regulations, emphasizing that drivers should not be subjected to unnecessary instructions via the media.The GPDA's letter reflects the growing tensions between Ben Sulayem and the Formula One community. The FIA president has been accused of attempting to influence race results and derail the Las Vegas Grand Prix. While he has been cleared of these allegations by the FIA Ethics Committee, his actions have raised concerns among drivers and team bosses.The GPDA's open letter is a significant step in addressing these concerns and demanding a more respectful and professional relationship between the FIA and the drivers. It remains to be seen how Ben Sulayem will respond to the drivers' demands, but the letter has undoubtedly sent a strong message that the drivers are not willing to tolerate disrespectful treatment or arbitrary regulations.

Pickleball: A Haven for Former College Tennis StarsProfessional pickleball has become a magnet for former college tennis players, with nearly half of the over 140 players on the PPA Tour hailing from the collegiate ranks. This influx of tennis talent has significantly elevated the level of play in pickleball, with former NCAA champions, All-Americans, and doubles standouts now dominating the sport.In the men's singles rankings, six of the Top 10 players have collegiate tennis backgrounds. Tyson McGuffin, ranked No. 4, competed on the ATP tour after college, while Connor Garnett, ranked No. 3, was Novak Djokovic's long-time hitting partner. Federico Staksrud, the current No. 1, played at multiple universities, and Quang Duong, ranked No. 5, was a top-ranked ITF junior player.The men's doubles rankings are also heavily influenced by former collegiate tennis players, with half of the Top 10 and six out of ten in mixed doubles coming from that background. Staksrud, McGuffin, and Christian Alshon are all ranked in the Top 10 in all three categories.On the women's side, Catherine Parenteau has a similar story, holding Top 10 rankings in all three categories, including No. 1 in doubles with Anna Leigh Waters. Kaitlyn Christian and Lea Jansen are also in the Top 5 of the singles race.Parris Todd and Tyra Black both played professional tennis on the ITF tour before switching to pickleball in 2023. Todd is currently ranked No. 7 in the singles race, while Black is No. 8 in the doubles.Vivienne David and Tina Pisnik, two players who didn't play NCAA tennis but played and coached the sport respectively, are also in the mixed doubles race Top 10, along with four collegiate athletes.The influx of college tennis players into pickleball has not only raised the level of competition but has also helped to popularize the sport. With so many former collegiate stars now playing pickleball, the sport is gaining more attention and attracting new players.

The 14th Hockey India senior National men's hockey championship has been marred by a series of lopsided matches, raising concerns about the format of the tournament. Tamil Nadu's massive 43-0 victory over Andaman and Nicobar in a Pool-C tie exemplified this issue.The one-sided nature of the match was evident from the outset, as Tamil Nadu scored 13 goals in the first quarter alone. The second quarter saw a further 12 goals, followed by 10 in the third and 8 in the fourth. Tamil Nadu's Sundarapandi emerged as the star of the match, scoring nine goals.This result came on the heels of several other one-sided matches in the tournament. Maharashtra thrashed Gujarat 30-0, Manipur crushed Bihar 19-1, and Madhya Pradesh blanked Andaman and Nicobar 29-0.The lopsided scores have raised questions about the need to re-examine the tournament format. Critics argue that the current system allows weaker teams to be humiliated, which is detrimental to the development of the sport.One possible solution is to introduce a tiered system, where teams are divided into different divisions based on their strength. This would ensure that teams are competing against opponents of a similar level, reducing the likelihood of such lopsided results.Another option is to implement a mercy rule, which would stop the match if one team gains a significant lead. This would prevent teams from being subjected to excessive punishment.The Hockey India Federation (HIF) has acknowledged the concerns and is considering changes to the tournament format. A decision is expected to be made before the next edition of the championship.