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Newly-crowned Olympic 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei has announced that he will not defend his 5,000m title in Paris. The Ugandan distance runner made the announcement on Instagram Tuesday, expressing his pride in his recent 10,000m victory and his decision to focus on other goals."I'm so proud of having won Olympic gold in the 10,000m," said Cheptegei, who won silver in the event in the Tokyo Games. "So proud for Uganda. After the world junior 10,000m title, three times the world 10,000m titles, the world 10,000m record, this gold medal in an Olympic record time completes my collection."Cheptegei, who holds the world record in the 10,000m, explained that after consulting with his team, they decided it was best not to compete in the 5,000m in Paris. Heats for the 5,000m are scheduled for Wednesday, with the final slated for Saturday.Cheptegei's decision to skip the 5,000m in Paris is a strategic one. The Ugandan runner is currently focused on preparing for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he will be aiming to defend his 10,000m title. He is also eyeing the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he will be looking to repeat his 10,000m gold medal performance.Cheptegei's withdrawal from the 5,000m in Paris is a blow to the event, but it is also a testament to his commitment to his long-term goals. The Ugandan runner is one of the most talented distance runners in the world, and he is sure to continue to achieve great things in the years to come.

The Paris Olympics organizing committee has set an ambitious goal of reducing single-use plastics by half compared to the 2012 London Games. However, the widespread use of plastic bottles by major sponsor Coca-Cola has raised concerns about the committee's ability to meet this target.Despite the ban on spectators bringing single-use containers to Olympic sites, Coca-Cola has been distributing Fanta, Sprite, and Coke in plastic bottles at venues. Staff have been observed emptying these bottles into reusable cups, a practice that some argue undermines the Games' pledge to be the greenest in history.Coca-Cola initially stated that nearly 10 out of 18 million refreshments served to spectators would be "without single-use plastic." However, the company has since acknowledged the use of plastics due to "technical and logistical constraints."At the swimming events, for instance, glass bottles are being emptied into red-and-white cups. Georgina Grenon, head of sustainability for the Paris Games, explained that plastic bottles are being used where glass alternatives are not feasible.Despite these challenges, the organizing committee maintains that the Paris Games will still significantly reduce plastics use compared to London 2012. Grenon estimates that the target of a 50% reduction in single-use plastics will be achieved.However, environmental protection charity France Nature Environment (FNE) has criticized Coca-Cola for "unjustified plastic pollution" and awarded the company the "gold medal for greenwashing" during the Olympics.Coca-Cola, one of the world's largest plastics producers, manufactured 134 billion plastic bottles in 2022. The company has set a goal of using fully recycled plastic for all its bottles by 2030. Of the bottles being used at the Paris Games, approximately 6.2 million are made from recycled PET plastic.

Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy of athletics, made a triumphant start to his Paris Olympics journey on August 26, 2024, which was aptly dubbed "Neeraj Chopra Day" by the official Olympics X handle. The reigning Olympic champion and India's only medalist in athletics in independent history, Chopra breezed into the men's javelin final with a season-best throw of 89.34m in the qualification round.Chopra's dominance was evident from the outset as he was the first to take his attempt in Qualification B. With his very first throw, he surpassed the automatic qualification mark of 85m, securing his place in the final. The Olympics X handle celebrated the moment, tweeting, "Happy Neeraj Chopra day, to all those who celebrate. The reigning champ is back in Olympic action for today's Men's Javelin qualifiers, could he be adding another medal to his collection soon?"The final, scheduled for Thursday at 11:55 pm IST, promises to be a thrilling affair. Speaking to JioCinema after his qualification, Chopra acknowledged the differences in conditions between Tokyo and Paris. "In Tokyo, we threw in the sunshine and here it's a bit cooler and the humidity is much lesser. Tokyo was much warmer and more humid than Paris. The big difference is that there are crowds here," he said.Despite his impressive performance in the qualification round, Chopra remained focused on the task ahead. "Final will be a cracker, the Tokyo final mark has already been surpassed by qualification. We were a little relaxed today. The burden and pressure will be much more in the final," he added.Chopra also addressed his recent injury concerns, stating, "I have had a few issues with my groin and that is why I did not take part in a lot of competitions. It is important to stay fit and reach the final."Chopra's performance in the qualification round has set the stage for a thrilling final, where he will aim to defend his Olympic title and add another chapter to India's sporting history.

Indian golfers Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar are set to embark on their Olympic journeys in Paris, carrying the hopes of their nation. Aditi, a two-time Olympian, narrowly missed out on a medal in Tokyo, finishing fourth. Determined to make amends, she will be eager to secure a podium finish this time.Diksha, on the other hand, has overcome a traumatic car accident that left her mother hospitalized. Despite the setback, the 23-year-old has remained resilient and is focused on achieving Olympic success.The women's golf competition in Paris will feature a quarter of the field who have competed in all three Games since the sport's return in 2016. Aditi and Diksha are among the experienced players, with Aditi making her third appearance and Diksha her second.Aditi will tee off alongside Gaby Lopez (Mexico) and Esther Henseleit (Germany), while Diksha will play with Wei-Ling Hsu (Chinese Taipei) and Emma Spitz (Austria). The competition runs from Wednesday to Saturday.Aditi has enjoyed success on the Ladies European Tour, winning five times, but is yet to claim a victory on the LPGA. Her breakthrough moment came in 2021 when she came within a whisker of an Olympic medal. Despite missing out, she received widespread recognition and appreciation.Diksha is a unique athlete who has competed in both the Deaflympics and the Olympics. A double medallist in the Deaflympics, she qualified for Tokyo at the last minute. This time, her consistent performances earned her a place months in advance.In Paris, Diksha faced an unexpected scare when the car she was traveling in with her family was involved in an accident. While she and her father were uninjured, her brother sustained minor injuries and her mother suffered a back injury. However, her mother is now recovering.Aditi is coming off a tie for 22nd at the LPGA Tour's Portland Classic. She has played four weeks in a row and is looking to maintain her momentum in Paris.The women's golf field in Paris is highly competitive, with 12 of the top 15 players participating. Six players who have reached World No. 1 are among the contenders, including Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Atthaya Thitikul, Lilia Vu, and Ruoning Yin.Minjee Lee of Australia will be making her third Olympic appearance, following her brother Min Woo's debut in the men's competition. The Lees are the only brother-sister combination in the Olympic golf fields.Celine Boutier is one of two French players competing in the women's golf competition, along with Perrine Delacour. Boutier had a stellar season in 2023, winning four times, including the Amundi Evian Championship in her home country.

Team MGD1, led by Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, made history by securing the silver medal at the inaugural World Blitz Team Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The tournament, organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), featured 40 teams competing in a group-cum-knockout format.Team MGD1, composed entirely of Indian players, dominated Pool B, winning all seven matches. In the knockout stage, they defeated Astana-2 and Israel's Ashdod Chess Club to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, they faced Al-Ain, the World Rapid Team Champions, and emerged victorious in a tie-breaker.The final match against Team WR Chess was a thrilling encounter. Erigaisi, India's highest-rated player in Classic Ranking, upset former World Champion Magnus Carlsen on the top board in Round 1. However, Carlsen's teammates secured victories on the other boards, giving Team WR Chess a comfortable lead. Team MGD1 fought back in the second round, holding the eventual champions to a 3:3 draw, but it was not enough to force a playoff."Beating Magnus Carlsen in any format is special," said Erigaisi. "But more than that win, it's the collective performance of the team that helped us with the silver medal. The way we bonded and fought for each other makes this medal so special."Team MGD1's success is a testament to the growing strength of Indian chess. The team's lineup included GM Srinath Narayanan, SL Narayanan, B. Adhiban, former Women's World Championships bronze medalist D. Harika, and amateur Mihir Shah."It's a very proud moment for all of us," said MGD1 co-founder Sreekar Chennapragada. "We at MGD1 are committed to the development of chess in India, and that is one of the reasons we fielded an all-Indian line-up in Astana. The players rose to the occasion."Team MGD1's silver medal is a significant achievement for Indian chess and a testament to the team's hard work and dedication.

Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan's Commonwealth Games champion javelin thrower, is a testament to the adage that it takes a village to raise a champion. Despite Pakistan's limited investment in sports beyond cricket, Nadeem's achievements have been remarkable.Nadeem's journey began in the village of Khanewal, Punjab, where his fellow villagers and relatives pooled their resources to support his training and travel expenses. His father, Muhammad Ashraf, recalls how the community rallied around their young athlete, donating money to enable him to compete in distant cities.Nadeem's rise to prominence has been marked by both triumph and adversity. He became the first Pakistani athlete since 1962 to win gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, with a massive throw of 90.18m. He also secured a silver medal at the World Championships last year.However, Nadeem's career has not been without challenges. He has faced elbow, knee, and back problems, requiring knee surgery last year. Despite these setbacks, he has persevered, becoming a beacon of hope for Pakistani sports enthusiasts.Nadeem's rivalry and camaraderie with India's Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, is well-documented. In the Tokyo Olympics, Chopra won gold while Nadeem finished fifth. However, Chopra has publicly supported Nadeem's efforts to secure a new javelin for training.On Thursday, Nadeem will face a formidable task in the javelin throw finals at the Olympics. No Pakistani athlete has ever won an Olympic gold medal in an individual competition, let alone track and field. Yet, Nadeem's determination and the unwavering support of his village and nation give him a fighting chance to make history.

Neeraj Chopra, India's reigning Olympic and world champion in javelin throw, has made a resounding start to his Paris Olympics campaign by topping the qualification round with a season's best throw of 89.34m. This is the second consecutive Olympics where Chopra has finished first in the qualification.Chopra's throw was a statement of intent, sending a clear message to his rivals that he is in top form and ready to defend his Olympic title. The qualification standard was set at 84.00m, and Chopra's throw was well above that mark.The other Indian in the fray, Kishore Jena, could not make the 12-man final, with his best attempt being 80.73m. The qualification round was highly competitive, with five of the 12 finalists posting their season's best throws.Chopra's main rivals include Czech Jakub Vadlejch, who has a personal best of 90.88m, and Germany's Julian Weber, who threw 87.76m in the qualification. Pakistan's Nadeem Arshad, who was placed in the same group as Chopra, also managed an automatic qualification with a season's best throw of 86.59m.Chopra's ability to switch gears and touch peak performance at the biggest events is what makes him truly extraordinary. He is a rare Indian athlete who is a favorite for gold in a track and field event."The mindset and situation of a qualification and final are completely different. You have to just focus on the fact that you've had a good start and now you put in your best preparation towards the final," Chopra said after the qualification.Chopra said his adductor is feeling better after he pulled out of the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in Czechia last month as a precautionary measure. He is confident that he will be fully prepared for the final, which will be held in the evening session.Chopra's friend and on-field rival Weber spoke of spending time together with the Indian at the Games Village. "We talked a lot. He's calm, and in good shape," Weber said.In Paris, Chopra is bidding to do what no Indian athlete has ever done before – win two successive Olympic gold medals. India so far has only three medals to show from this edition of the Games – all of them bronze – with curtains coming down on the Olympics in less than a week's time.

The Netherlands, the world's top-ranked men's hockey team, secured their place in the Paris Olympics final on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, with a dominant 4-0 victory over Spain. The Dutch, who had faced a tough challenge from Spain in the group stage, showcased their clinical precision and tactical prowess in this crucial match.The match began with a flurry of attacks from both sides, but it was the Netherlands who broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. Jip Janssen converted a penalty stroke after Spanish goalkeeper Luis Calzado fouled forward Tjep Hoedemakers. The goal ignited the Dutch crowd, who had turned out in force to support their team.The Netherlands continued to press forward, and their efforts were rewarded in the 20th minute when Thierry Brinkman netted the second goal. Brinkman collected a rebound off Spanish defender Ignacio Rodriguez's stick and blasted the ball into the back of the net.The third quarter saw the Dutch extend their lead further. Thijs van Dam found himself with plenty of space in the circle after two Spanish defenders collided, and he made no mistake in sinking his shot. The crowd erupted in cheers once again in the 50th minute when Duco Telgenkamp scored the team's fourth goal.Spain, despite their valiant efforts, were unable to find a way past the Dutch defense. The Netherlands goalkeeper, Maurits Visser, made several crucial saves to keep a clean sheet.The victory marks a significant milestone for the Netherlands, who are seeking their first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey since 1996. They will face the winner of the other semifinal between Australia and Germany in the final on August 8.Spain, on the other hand, will have a chance to compete for a medal in the bronze medal match. They will face the loser of the Australia-Germany semifinal.

Henry Fieldman, a British rowing icon, has etched his name in Olympic history as the first athlete to secure medals in both men's and women's events. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Fieldman steered Great Britain's Women's Eight to a bronze medal, adding to his previous bronze in the men's event at the Tokyo Olympics.Fieldman's remarkable achievement is a testament to his exceptional skill, versatility, and unwavering dedication. The path to this historic feat was paved by a rule change implemented by World Rowing after the 2016 Rio Olympics, allowing coxes of either gender to helm the eights, the only boats requiring coxes in Olympic regattas.Fieldman's rowing journey began with inspiration from a fellow rower. He earned his first Great Britain vest at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2006, competing in the coxed four. His steady progression led him through the under-23 team to the senior team and ultimately to the Olympic stage.At the 2023 European Championships in Bled, Fieldman showcased his adaptability by seamlessly transitioning between coxing the men's and women's eights. Despite limited training with the men's team, he guided them to a narrow victory over Romania. He then returned to cox the women's team to a silver medal behind the Romanian crew.Fieldman's Olympic debut came in Tokyo in 2020, where he coxed Great Britain's men's eight to a bronze medal. His impressive resume also includes two world championships in the men's coxed pair and numerous European championship medals. In 2023, he led the British men's eight to a gold medal while guiding the women's crew to silver.Fieldman's historic achievement has not only broken barriers but also inspired future generations of rowers. He hopes that his success will pave the way for more women's eights medals and greater achievements in the sport.