Gold medallist Arshaf Nadeem brings Pakistan's first medal home to hero's welcome
Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra shattered his own national record by clearing a distance of 87.43m en route finishing fourth in a star-studded field in the season opening Diamond League series meeting, in Doha, on Friday.
Paralympic gold-winners Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil, Pramod Bhagat, Krishna Nagar, Manish Narwal were also given the Khel Ratna at a dazzling awards ceremony on Saturday.
'There was no pressure and I was taking it (Olympics) just like any other event. It was like I have played against these athletes before and there's no reason to worry. I was able to focus on my performance. That has helped me win gold.'
Led by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, India will seek to showcase its ascendency as a sporting power at the Asian Games, which opens formally on Saturday after an unprecedented one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
'Our brothers and sisters are headed to Paris, hungry for medals. A billion of us will be watching them nervous and excited as our athletes set foot in the tracks and fields and courts and rings.'
Sebastian Coe, frontrunner for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency, has hailed the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, stating it will open up new markets, crucial for the Olympic movement's growth. He emphasized the sport's extensive support base beyond South Asia, particularly in major cities with large South Asian communities.
Neeraj Chopra, who added a silver to his Olympic medal tally in Paris following a historic gold in the Tokyo Games, will be aiming to end his season on a high.
Tokyo 2020 silver medalist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will be in action in the women's 49 kg category competition scheduled for August 7.
The Diamond League will increase its prize money to more than $9 million in 2025, the highest in the history of the series, the organisers said on Wednesday.
Athletes on the hunt for Olympic gold will also be chasing likes and follows on social media in Paris, as a battle for a coveted piece of viral fame kicks off at the Games.
Just being able to compete again is bigger relief for Neeraj Chopra than booking an Olympic berth, and the star javelin thrower says his comeback after a lengthy injury lay-off has given him hope that the hard times are well and truly over. Chopra qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.86m at the ACNE League meeting at Potchefstroom on Tuesday, after missing the entire 2019 season following a surgery on his elbow.
'Didn't realise was flanked by Chinese and Pakistani athletes on victory podium'
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe met Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Primer Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday and discussed India's intent to host the 2036 Olympics and development of athletics in the country.
Jena found it difficult to get the big throws in and thought of quitting the sport in July last year just before the World Championships.
Sebastian Coe, a contender for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president's post, believes India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games is a "strong case" but acknowledges that the competition will be intense with several other countries vying for the honor. Coe, considered a frontrunner in the race to succeed Thomas Bach as IOC president, expressed his support for India's commitment to global sport and the Olympic movement.
Neeraj ran in fast, did the crossover. The javelin flew out of his hands and he did not look towards the sector. He just knew he had bettered the first attempt. The moment the javelin left his hand, he knew he had done it.
World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe is quite aware that cricket is nothing short of "religion" in India but he feels it shouldn't be viewed as a "roadblock" for other sports
'It is a beautiful portrait of Ek Bharat, Sreshth Bharat.'
Except for shooting, a major Olympic sport, most of the top stars in other disciplines will give the National Games a miss.
Sagoo was the lone candidate left in fray after incumbent senior vice president Anju Bobby George opted out of the race for the position.
Neeraj Chopra, who won India's maiden athletic Gold on his Olympic debut, was awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 Crore by the BCCI
The 18-year-old Gukesh's triumph was celebrated far and wide across the country with the PM joining the sports fraternity and others in lauding his incredible achievement.
The AFI chief also feels Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra's propensity to live in the moment and the remarkable consistency in his throws make him stand out among some of the best javelin exponents in the world.
Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian javelin thrower to win an Asian Games gold medal as he shattered his own national record by clearing a distance of 88.06m, in Jakarta, on Monday.
Paris Olympics hero P R Sreejesh made a stylish statement on Sunday.
Nikita Sahay, a former captain in the Indian Army who has worked with Rohit Bal, shares fond memories of the legendary designer who passed away into the ages on November 1, 2024.
'90 is not impossible because if I am getting close, I can go beyond 90, maybe 92 or 93.' 'My main focus will be to first cross the 90 mark and then stay consistent in that score.'
A medal prospect at the upcoming Paris Olympics, the men's doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty say they are well equipped to handle the pressure of expectations.
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is considering participating in the World Championships later this year after it emerged that he has qualified for the showpiece event.
In the Diamond League Final, he will face the world's best in the event, including Olympic champion Thomas Roehler of Germany and last year's winner, Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic.
Several Indian athletes secured their spots for the upcoming Paris Olympics, with Jyothi Yarraji becoming the country's first female 100m hurdler to qualify.
Audi plans to focus the Indian market, including deepening market penetration and increasing sales volume.
What is it like watching all the Olympian action and drama unfold from the spectators' galleries at the Stade de France?
Nadeem had no major sponsorships and months before the Paris Games, he turned to social media to help replace his old javelin for training.
Neeraj Chopra's soaring javelin did not just earn India their first Olympic gold in athletics on Saturday, it also meant that the contingent will return from Tokyo with seven medals, their biggest Games haul ever.
Here are the highlights from the world athletics showpiece...
Disappointed but not disheartened to miss out on a Rio Olympic berth, sensational javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, on Wednesday, said he is looking to put in the hard yards to earn India a medal at 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Indian contingent which returned from the Paris Olympics with six medals.
'Otherwise, how will India become a sporting nation and how will we compete to beat China to win 60 Olympic medals?'
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