Cracking the whip on dope offenders, Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Saturday handed life bans on three lifters, including 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Vicky Bhatta (56 kg), for their second dope offences.
Chanu ended India's over two-decade-long wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics.
Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain will look to find their footing in new weight categories with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games approaching.
Training has been suspended across Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres since mid-March to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Mirabai Chanu, on Monday, requested Sports Minster Kiren Rijiju to allow resumption of training at the earliest. Weigtlifting national coach Vijay Sharma said social distancing can be ensured at the training hall in Patiala.
Repeat offenders Shailaja Pujari and Vicky Butta were slapped with life bans, while four others were barred for four years as the International Weightlifting Federation cracked the whip on Indian dope cheats.
Competing in his first Olympics, Chopra took just a few seconds to make to the final round, to be held on Saturday, sending the spear well past the qualifying mark of 83.50 metres during the Group A qualifications.
Services' wrestler Satender Malik launched a physical assault on referee Jagbir Singh after losing the 125kg final during the trials for the Commonwealth Games, prompting the national federation to impose a life ban on him, in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Australian track and field athletes are having a second thought about participating in next month's Commonwealth Games after receiving an e-mail from the national federation, warning them of 'a high risk of terrorist attack' on the mega-event in Delhi.
Hitting the target with monotonous regularity, Indian shooters' dominance in a phenomenal 2019, at times, made world events look like domestic tourneys. Indian shooting's best show at the Olympics remains the two medals won at London in 2012, but if the shooters' exploits in recent months are anything to go by, the country can easily emulate or better that in Tokyo.
South Korea will make its Formula One debut in October next year while Canada will return to the calendar subject to contract negotiations, the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Monday. The season, expanded to a record-equalling 19 races for the first time since 2005, will start at Bahrain's Sakhir circuit on March 14.
The product aims at capitalising on the interest generated in the health and wellness market and the run-up to the Commonwealth Games to be held here this October.
India would be looking for at least half a dozen medals in the July 28 to August 8 Games.
Nikhat Zareen punched her way to a second successive gold title at the Women's World Boxing Championship in New Delhi.
Top Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar will return to competition after a long lay-off of nearly two years due to injury as she features in the upcoming FIG World Cup to be held at Mersin, Turkey from July 6-8.
The Indian athletics team probables for the Commonwealth will be sent for advanced training to the two cities
If Sumit Malik's B sample also returns positive, he can be banned from the sport.
Seema Punia would once again be one of India's strongest bets for a medal when she hurls the discus one last time at the Commonwealth Games next month.
The ranges are bursting at the seams with young talent and Indian shooting's present state could be a harbinger of hope for a perfect future.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) put in place 14 high-level expert committees, which have been mandated to identify the country's medal prospects and provide them with specialised training in the run up to the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to be held later this year.
Now, boxer Gaurav Bidhuri cries foul at exclusion from Olympic qualifiers' trial.
Chanu has consistently improved in the section to stay in contention for medals at top events.
Parul Chaudhary became only the second Indian female athlete to qualify for the final of a track event at the World Athletics Championships.
He pulled out of the Birmingham CWG (July 28-August 8) just two days before the start of the multi-sport event as he was advised a four-week rest by his medical team. He then underwent rehabilitation in Germany.
Besides, the BAI also recommended renowned National Institute of Sports (NIS)-certified coaches -- S Murlidharan and Bhaskar Babu -- for the Dronacharya Award.
Aiming to secure berths in the world championship squad, close to 400 boxers, including the likes of five-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa and former world bronze-winner Gaurav Bidhuri, will be competing in the National Men's Championships starting in Bellary on Wednesday.
The International Weightlifting Federation dropped the doping charge against Indian weightlifter K Sanjita Chanu due to "non-conformities" in the handling of her sample but the Commonwealth Games gold-medallist has demanded an apology and compensation for the "trauma" she has endured. The IWF made the decision based on the recommendation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The 26-year-old, who claimed innocence since the beginning, was informed about the final verdict via an e-mail, signed by IWF's legal counsel Lilla Sagi.
The Manipur girl will captain the women's hockey team for the Afro-Asian Games and Asia Cup.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) too, is going big on popularising e-Sport with Singapore being confirmed to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in June next year.
India's badminton doubles specialist N Sikki Reddy on Saturday heaved a sigh of relief after returning negative for COVID-19 barely two days after testing positive for the contagious disease, saying she was "shocked" by the not-so-kind reactions her initial result attracted.
The Railway player has been named captain of the Indian women;s hockey team for the Test series against Russia.
Competing in his maiden world championship, Negi, a former national champion, lost 1-4 to the sixth seed.
Both tested positive for banned substances at the Commonwealth Games.
'I would like to thank the Government, the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and most importantly, my family, who has been there for me and motivated me along this journey'
Commonwealth Games medal prospect B Premeelavalli cited family problems for her late withdrawal from the team.
Former badminton World No 1 Lee Chong Wei has been nominated for Malaysia's 2014 sportsman of the year award.
Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur, Viren Rasquinha and Prabhjot Singh were dropped from the Indian squad for the upcoming Pakistan series and Commonwealth Games.
Maharashtra quarter-miler Aishwarya Mishra is giving a torrid time to authorities as she has "disappeared" after winning a gold in the Federation Cup National Championships, last month.
The 25-year-old, who shot to fame by becoming the second Indian to win an ITTF event -- the Belgium Open in 2016, is a strong medal hope in the Gold Coast Games starting April 4. He has also won a gold in the ITTF Challenge -- Spanish Open last year in the men's singles category.
He pointed out that the BFI was mandated by the Delhi High Court to conduct elections for its office-bearers before December 31 to continue as a national sports federation and to enjoy grants and other privileges extended to it by the government.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances