Joga Purty and Deepu Mallesh, India's speed climbing representatives, are set to make their Asian Games debut. The athletes, who discovered the sport through different paths, discuss their journeys, the challenges of pursuing a niche sport, and their excitement for the upcoming competition, where India aims for its first climbing medal. They also highlight the need for better support and exposure for the sport in India.
India experienced a mixed day at the Asian Games, with skeet shooters and rowers adding to the medal tally, and wushu player Roshibina Devi securing a silver. While kabaddi and hockey teams continued their winning streaks, boxing, gymnastics, and fencing saw disappointments. The overall medal count reached 15, with only one gold so far.
Indian chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who turned 21, has already amassed a remarkable list of achievements, including becoming a Grandmaster at 12, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 4, and recently winning the Grand Chess Tour St Louis Rapid and Blitz title.
India's Davis Cup team is set for a high-stakes Qualifier Round 2 clash against South Korea in Seoul, with players like Dhakshineswar Suresh and Sumit Nagal aiming to secure a historic Final 8 berth under the current format.
Jamshedpur FC's withdrawal from the Indian Super League was a pre-planned strategic decision to refocus on grassroots football development, independent of the league's commercial uncertainties, according to Tata Steel Vice President D B Sundara Raman.
Yogasana, the ancient Indian practice, is aiming to become a global sport and secure a place in the 2036 Olympics, with India hoping to host the Games in Ahmedabad. The sport has already been included in this year's Asian Games as a demonstration sport and is eyeing the 2030 Commonwealth Games. World Yogasana is working to meet the IOC's requirements for recognition, focusing on expanding its global reach and adhering to anti-doping standards.
Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta maintained his sole lead in the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin chess tournament after drawing with IM Akshay Borgaonkar in the seventh round. Other Indian players, IM Kushagra Mohan and IM Ashwath S, also performed well, securing third and second places respectively.
Guided by Indian table tennis legend Sharath Kamal, the duo have established themselves among the world's elite through a series of impressive performances on the WTT circuit.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has reversed its decision and allowed Vinesh Phogat to compete in the 53kg category at the Asian Games selection trials.
Go once. You will know, even before you board the flight home, that you will return.
Vinesh Phogat's hopes of competing in the Asian Games were dashed after a defeat in the selection trials. Despite a strong start to the trials, Phogat lost to Meenakshi Goyat, ending her chances of securing a spot at the prestigious event.
Vinesh Phogat was knocked out of the Asian Games selection trials in Delhi on Saturday after losing to Meenakshi Goyat 4-6 in a tense semi-final bout of the women's 53kg event.
Vinesh Phogat overcame a tough challenge to reach the semifinals of the Asian Games trials, while Antim Panghal also progressed.
While sport climbing made its debut in the Olympics only this year, it has had a popular home in India for many years now.
Borne of a joke, speed climbing route arrives on big stage
A committee, which was constituted by the government to investigate the matter, had found the documents submitted by Yadav to be fake.
Cricket is seen as one of the favourites given the sport's wide global reach, its financial strength and broadcast appeal.
Rekabi's statement said not wearing her headscarf during the competition was unintentional, adding "there was poor scheduling and I was called to climb unpredictably".
With less than five months to go until the scheduled start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on July 24, questions have been raised as to whether the Games can go ahead. IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell discussed changes to qualification processes with various international sporting federations last week.
Host cities were allowed to propose additional sports as part of he IOC's "Agenda 2020" reforms with an aim to help host countries' most played sports gain exposure via the Olympics.
India has always been a dominant force in Kabaddi, which is part of the Asian Games.
India go down 0-1 to Hong Kong in crucial 2027 Asian Cup Qualifier match
'Paris 2024 was the first time that both the men's and women's team qualified for the team championships.' 'The women's team made it to the quarter-finals, just one short of the medal round, and the men's team also did well.' 'The mixed doubles is another event where India is doing very well.' 'So these three events are events where there is a possibility of us winning medals at the Olympics.'
Bouldering is the new favourite among India's adventure enthusiasts
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government said it plans to also open up other Olympic venues in the coming months, although that could change depending on the coronavirus situation.
Boxing and weightlifting federations were given 18 months time to set their house in order to be considered for the 2028 Games.
You don't prep for 2028 but for 2040, or even 2044. Sustained sporting excellence is based on mass support, grassroots development, and funding - and it is this trifecta India needs to work on, systematically, asserts Prem Panicker.
'The favourable rupee-dollar exchange rate, there are opportunities we can tap.'
The Paris 2024 organising committee in February proposed surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing as well as breakdancing for inclusion in the Games.
Cricket was cleared to pursue its bid to be included in future Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rubberstamped the sport's recognition on Thursday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
Three years ago, India returned from Tokyo with seven medals, and it is only natural that a double-digit performance is now desired in Paris.
She has also booked a spot at the World Athletics Finals in Monaco scheduled for September 9-10.
FIDE said in a statement that the game of chess has a "genuine global appeal" and that it has 189 national federations and 600 million people who practice chess globally.
Bowling, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, surfing and wushu were also included among the final eight, whittled down by a committee from the original 26 sports which applied for inclusion earlier this month.
Roger Federer claimed the 100th ATP title of his career by beating 20-year-old Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday.
The head of the World Squash Federation (WSF) said he was devastated for the sport's millions of followers after squash was again overlooked for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday
Former world number one Andy Murray is targeting a return to competitive tennis at the Brisbane International in January in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
