The 59-year-old Batra is one of the few sports administrators to head a national Olympic committee while heading an important international sports federation.
'Rising from humble beginnings in a small town, you burst onto the national scene, made a name for yourself and most importantly, made India proud'
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, in a virtual meet with representatives of various National Sports Federations (NSFs) last week, said competitive sporting events can start without spectators from August.
Amid the controversy over Indian Olympic Association's suspension, government suggested to the International Olympic Committee that an "ad-hoc" committee comprising only eminent sportspersons -- be formed to look after the affairs of the national sports body.
Rediff.com takes a look at a sportspersons whose careers had a fairy-tale finish.
The former India opener said Kaneria has played 60-55 Tests for his country. If despite that he's being made to face such torture, "this is really shameful".
A massive awareness needed to be created among sportspersons, coaches and even doctors to deal with the menace of doping in sports, said Dr P S M Chandran, president of Indian Federation of Sports Medicine.
Olympic medallists Vijay Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt will be jointly conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award -- the country's highest sporting honour -- while an unprecedented 25 sportspersons will be bestowed upon the Arjuna awards this year.
'I would say cut down another 0.5 seconds and it's possible in this case and that will take me 1:55:8, something that will surely get me into the semi-finals, and maybe towards the final as well.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the Indian athletes who will represent the country at the forthcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Test your filmi gyaan, right here!
The Prime Minister sought the athletes' support to raise awareness about the need for social distancing and personal hygiene at a time when the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in India has crossed 2,000. Hima Das expressed sadness at incidents of attacks on police personnel and doctors trying to discharge their duties during the country-wide lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rohit Sharma, who is the vice-captain of the Indian ODI team, has donated Rs 45 lakh and Rs 25 lakh to the and CM's Relief Fund (Maharashtra) respectively. He has given Rs 5 lakh to 'Zomato Feeding India', which is helping families affected by the ongoing national lockdown, and another Rs 5 lakh to help aid the welfare of stray dogs.
It would only be 'fair' for rivals Liverpool to be awarded the English Premier League trophy if the season cannot be completed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
'I want everyone to get their right. They are fighting for their rights for 40 years. If you treat people unfairly, more instances will come up. Everyone needs to think about Kashmir and find a solution'
Till the time I play sport, I'll train like a maniac, the Indian cricket captain tells national football skipper Sunil Chhetri in an Instagram Live chat, credits trainer Shanker Basu for his physical transformation.
West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite believes sportspersons taking a knee to protest against racism in sport is "cosmetic" and a change in law is needed to fight racial discrimination. Taking a knee has become a popular symbol to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement which gained momentum following the killing of George Floyd by police in the United States of America.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said the academic training at the National Centre of Excellence and Sports Auhtority of India Training Centres will also be suspended.
'I don't have any complication, so I was given a green signal to go ahead and do my running. Even my physiotherapist, who has been with me for the past three years, encouraged me to do a slow run because it's really healthy for me, and the baby as well.'
The families of Sunandini and Shraddha alleged that they were murdered. On the basis of the complaint lodged by the family members, an FIR has been registered under IPC section 302 (murder) against unidentified persons, the officer said.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara will retire from first-class cricket in September at the end of England's county championship season.
'My darker side is super dark and I'm not afraid of it.'
PV Sindhu while addressing the newly-appointed Assistant Directors of the Sports Authority of India through an online session, stressed on the importance of parents, coaches, administrators working as a team to build up a champion.
Amid the coronavirus scare, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the Khelo India's first Winter Games chapter in Jammu and Kashmir's Gulmarg town on Saturday. This comes amid calls from Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu seeking cancellation of the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, felicitated the medal winners from the recently-concluded Asian Games over a breakfast meeting at his residence and said sportspersons do as much for the country as political leaders.
Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Anurag Thakur, who is also a Lok Sabha MP, has introduced three private member bills including a significant 'National Sports Ethics Commission' bill which recommends '10 years of jail term' for any sportsperson indulging in match-fixing.
Leander Paes's Wimbledon mixed doubles winning racquets and India's limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's keeping gloves and pads fetched Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively during a charity event.
On August 29, India celebrates National Sports Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.
'He has two small children, think of the impact on them.' Mixed emotions in Indian sports fraternity after Sushil's arrest in murder case.
According to the daily flood report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, one person was killed at Sissibargaon in Dhemaji district on Saturday.
'You could not look like Ranveer Singh and act like Kapil Dev, so performing like Kapil Dev was double the challenge.'
Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar said it would have been a "disappointing and wrong decision" on the part of the government if the Home Ministry officials had their way in not awarding the India's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna to sportspersons.
They were speaking at a function to mark the release of 'Defying the Paradigm,' a coffee table book on Srinivasan's 50-year journey with India Cements.
The IPL has been postponed till April 15 in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and with the country scheduled to go for another two week extension of the lockdown, it is but natural that the cash-rich league can't be held during its dedicated April-May window.
It is understood that he was confirmed positive for coronavirus on Thursday night.
The Karnataka high court brought a stay on the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna to be conferred on tennis ace Sania Mirza on Wednesday following paralympian H Girisha's plea against it. The court also issued notice to the Centre on the development.
India's pistol shooter Heena Sidhu pulled out of the Asian Airgun Shooting Championship in Iran due to the compulsory hijab rule for all women athletes.
Arthi said she even sent an email to the Centre and State government, requesting them for reward and appreciation.
'She never gave up on tennis despite her injury and that connects me to a great sportsperson like Sania'
Haryana government has directed sportspersons employed with it to deposit one-third of their earnings from commercial and professional commitments to the state sports council
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