As boxer Nikhat Zareen prepares to head to her first World Championships in the 51 kg category, she feels she has plenty in her armoury to go the distance.
'I was determined to return with a medal from the World Championships.'
'I never imagined that a doll would be made on me. It feels great to be recognised by Barbie,' says the World Para-badminton champion who was also honoured by Time magazine.
'The judges won't be giving me points for my looks or height.' 'All I know is my punches are important and I just go about throwing them at my opponent.'
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com picks the five best matches of the final round.
And what an exciting week it has been, with players returning to packed stadiums, some memorable individual and team performances and a medical incident which had the world on edge.
This 23-year-old footballer exhibits glamour and style. Prathamesh Maulingkar, says Laxmi Negi, made heads turn at the recent India Fashion Week.
The most impressive players at the FIFA World Cup 2022 after Round One.
'Something like this was never taken up by the women's hockey team before and I am very proud we used our time during the lockdown for a good cause.'
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com picks the very best players from what has been an outstanding tournament.
Laxmi Negi picks her All Stars XI after the IPL 2020 league games.
Each Round of 16 game was entertaining. Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com picks the games to remember.
'They came out with an attitude that they had nothing to lose.' 'That's what stands out about this team.'
'For years we train for the Olympics and when we are this close, how can we stop training?'
Prajnesh, India's top-ranked singles player at 122, downed the local wild card Jason Kubler 7-5, 6-3 in the first round
'They need to see Bolt compete and struggle and come back from losses,' says Edwin Moses, athletics legend.
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com lists the five talking points from the Indian Super League match between Mumbai City FC and Chennaiyin FC at the DY Patil stadium
Mumbai teenager Aashi Hanspal is a rising star in motorsport.
'I ran with the Indian flag throughout and, believe me, it is a fantastic feeling.'
Javier Ceppi, Tournament Director of the 2017 Under-17 football World Cup, which India will host, says the success of the event depends on the country's fans. Laxmi Negi reports.
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com explains how Dhoni's victory can help you at the workplace.
Atkinson, at the grand old age of 73, exclusively tells Laxmi Negi/rediff.com that his heart would love Manny to win, but his head says 'Moneybags' has all the skills to pull it off.
P R Sreejesh produced a brilliant display under the bar as two-time champions India stunned title holders South Korea 2-0 in a Pool B match to breeze into the semi-finals of the Asia Cup hockey tournament.
'I want to win the MMA World championship.'
Pargat Singh played a key role in Michael Nobbs' appointment as India's chief hockey coach but the former captain now says it is high time the under-performing Australian is given the "marching orders".
A summary of Ranji Trophy matches played on Thursday.
Manish Kaushik has announced his arrival on the senior scene in grand fashion.
Moments to remember from the quarter-finals.
'Sarita is the most abused and unsupported Indian boxer of all time.'
'I play in the present without thinking about the buzz in the background,' says Vivek Sagar Prasad, who has just won the FIH Rising Star of the Year award.
He ran past beautiful villages, stunning deserts, verdant fields... running 4,400 km in 64 days on the Spirit of India run.
'She has not forgotten where she comes from.' 'It is unfortunate that we do not celebrate her boxing career, but she says she has learned to be happy.' 'All the rejections and corruption has given her courage.'
Gurcharan Singh tells Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com why he deserted the Indian team and the reason for wanting to return to the country after 15 years.
'These youngsters have proved there is money in sports today, not just cricket!' 'They are youth icons and people look up to them.' 'Our athletes are not scared. Like a child knows no fear, they are youngsters without fear.'
'I have defied critics who suggested that I should retire,' Magnificent Mary tells Rediff.com's Laxmi Negi.
In an exclusive chat with rediff.com Materazzi throws light on his team's rise in the ISL and the camaraderie among his players.
'Most of our elite athletes are in national camps so they are safer.' 'They don't have to go out to buy vegetables or groceries; they are not as exposed as we are.' 'Most of them work for government organisations, they get salaries and stipends.'
Mirabai Chanu talks about training in lockdown and her plans to return to her old fitness regime.
'When we talk about social distancing, it almost impossible to maintain this in slums.' 'So we had to talk to the people about cleanliness.' 'It was a task because everybody uses public toilets. So our volunteers targeted those spots to spread awareness.'
Mary Kom is a victory for its protagonist Priyanka Chopra, scriptwriter Saiwyn Quadras, and director Omung Kumar, says Laxmi Negi.
