Alexander Zverev's recent US Open victory is a testament to his family's unwavering support, particularly his mother Irina, who ensured his type 1 diabetes never hindered his tennis ambitions, transforming him from a 'nearly man' to a two-time major champion.
Having missed out on qualifying for the Rio Games in 2016, C A Bhavani Devi said she had put too much pressure on herself before realising the importance of staying in the moment.
India's Neeraj Chopra will face reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage in a highly anticipated men's javelin clash at the Commonwealth Games, as India aims to surpass its previous medal tally in athletics.
Olympic silver medallist wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Paralympic bronze medallist high jumper Sharad Kumar have obtained interim relief from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in their petitions for regularisation of their ad-hoc services with the Delhi government. Both athletes, who resigned from previous stable positions, have been serving in temporary roles within the Directorate of Education for several years without regularisation.
Here are five boxers to watch when the Games kick off
Athletes will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken less than 72 hours before arriving in Japan for the Olympics and will be tested "every 96-120 hours" during the Games, according to a report published by organisers.
Deepika shot 668 out of a possible 720 points at the 72-arrow 70-metre round to qualify for the knock-out round while Atanu Das was ranked 19th in the men's section.
India is relying heavily on its boxing, weightlifting, and athletics contingents to maintain its two-decade streak of top-five finishes at the Commonwealth Games, which opens in Glasgow.
The eight disciplines comprised archery, badminton, table tennis, hockey, judo, gymnastics, swimming and weightlifting.
Captain Manpreet Singh and goalkeeper P R Sreejesh are among a few senior India players rested for next month's Olympic hockey test event in Tokyo. Besides Manpreet and Sreejesh, defender Surender Kumar was also rested.
In awe of the sensational Saurabh Chaudhary, former World championship silver-medallist shooter Jitu Rai feels the reticent youngster has it in him to humble one of the sport's all-time greats, South Korean Jin Jong-Oh, at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Well aware of their preparations and formative years, Modi's conversations touched upon the making of their success stories and also some fun queries like the one posed to world champion P V Sindhu.
The medal tally at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Ace Indian sprinter Dutee Chand said the Arjuna Award will motivate her to win a prestigious Olympic medal at the Tokyo Games next year.
Indian wrestlers have been highly impressive at the global level in run up to the Tokyo Olympics and at least three of them are genuine medal contenders at the Games.
Legendary athlete Anju Bobby George believes it's just a matter of time before Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra delivers for the country at the big stage -- the Asian Games and 2028 Los Angles Olympic Games.
Indians will enter the upcoming Olympics with heightened expectations
Here are hockey players to watch when the Games formally kick off on July 23:
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said for the first time on Monday that the Tokyo Olympic Games may need to be postponed if the event cannot be held in its 'complete form' due to the coronavirus pandemic. Abe said that while cancelling the Games was not an option, a delay was now on the cards if that was the only way to hold the event in its complete form.
Former India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has advised the current national team to manage World Cup pressure by trusting their preparation and enjoying the occasion. He expressed optimism about India's chances, aiming for a top-four finish in the upcoming FIH World Cup.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia this week will be staged without spectators as organisers protect the event from the coronavirus, Greece's Olympic Committee said on Monday. The Olympic torch will be lit in Olympia at a scaled-down ceremony on March 12 before a seven-day relay that will culminate with a handover ceremony in Greece on March 19.
Drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and defender Birendra Lakra, who played starring roles in the Indian hockey team's historic bronze medal-winning Tokyo Olympics campaign, on Thursday announced their international retirements.
'This also weighed on us, it weighed on me. But in order to arrive at this day today we had to give confidence, had to show a way out of this crisis'.
Indian skeet shooters Bhavtegh Singh Gill and Mairaj Ahmad performed strongly on the opening day of the ISSF World Cup (Shotgun) in Lonato, Italy, finishing joint 14th. Parinaaz Dhaliwal also impressed in the women's section, placing tied-11th. The performances offer hope for India's first medal of the season and serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, despite other Olympians facing challenges.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated badminton star PV Sindhu on her maiden Super 750 title win at the Japan Open in Tokyo. Sindhu defeated Akane Yamaguchi in straight games, marking a significant achievement for Indian sports and inspiring youth.
The survey showed 39.2 per cent want the Games scrapped, while 32.8 per cent favour another delay
Several countries, including Israel and Denmark, said they would vaccinate their athletes and staff against COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, amid global debate over whether athletes should be given priority access in the rollout.
Reigning Olympic champion shuttler Carolina Marin on Friday suffered a freak knee injury during training, leaving her doubtful for the Tokyo Games, which starts on July 23.
South African swimmer Chad le Clos has surpassed Emma McKeon to become the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history, securing his 21st medal with a bronze in the men's 4x100 medley relay. This achievement adds to his impressive tally of seven golds, five silvers, and nine bronzes across five Games.
International medal-winning Indian woman boxer Neeraj (57kg), who was among the probables for 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has been provisionally suspended after failing a dope test.
Parul Chaudhary, the national record holder, finished seventh in the 3000m steeplechase at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting, clocking her second career-best time.
Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has expressed deep concern over the devastating floods in her home state of Assam, stating it has affected her focus at the Commonwealth Games. She appealed to the public for help, highlighting the loss of lives and homes, and the urgent need for food, water, and clothing for the affected population.
India's shooting legend Abhinav Bindra believes the International Olympic Committee was "prompt" in postponing the Tokyo Olympic Games, even as some other top athletes and national associations slammed the IOC for "delaying" the announcement. In an unprecedented move, the 2020 Tokyo Games was on Tuesday pushed to next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the world.
A historic bronze-winning show by the men's team and an outstanding fourth place finish for the women's team infused fresh life into the game which was in danger of slipping into oblivion.
While the debate over the political, financial and health implications of holding the Tokyo Olympics in July rages around the world, triple jump gold medal hopeful Will Claye believes a crucial voice is not always being heard - that of the athlete.
The four-month event has been hit by several high-profile runner cancellations as celebrities have pulled out, citing late notice and worries about drawing crowds during the pandemic.
First lady Jill Biden cheered her countrywomen to an upset victory over the French in the debut of 3x3 basketball at the Olympics as President Emmanuel Macron watched on from the sidelines.
The Indian athletics team for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan has undergone significant changes. Commonwealth Games medallist Yashvir Singh replaces an injured Neeraj Chopra, while long-distance runner Abhishek Pal has been dropped due to an alleged doping offence. Tejas Shirse is also out due to injury. The final team comprises 77 members, with six new additions. The Athletics Federation of India is aiming for 25-30 medals.
Tokyo 2020 organisers said on Friday that work on the Aquatics Centre was finished in February meaning that all the venues built for this year's Olympics have been completed on time. The Aquatics Centre, which will host swimming and diving events at Tokyo 2020, was one of eight new venues built for the Summer Olympics, in addition to the athletes' village.
'Olympics is once in four years, and athletes have only one shot at glory, and it's important to have a holistic approach, use science, use medicine, use technology and engineering in training and that will make a difference'
