Anand Mahindra, the esteemed Indian business tycoon, has once again displayed his admiration for India's first armless archer, Sheetal Devi, by gifting her a customized Mahindra Scorpio-N. At only sixteen years old, Sheetal has made history by winning a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics last year and has continued to impress at various competitions, including the Asian Para Games. Mahindra was struck by her extraordinary skill and determination, and was moved to gift her with a symbol of her identity as an archer. This act of kindness has once again brought attention to Sheetal's inspiring journey and serves as a reminder of the power of resilience and determination.
In a display of remarkable strength and skill, Lovely Professional University (LPU) emerged as the champions in both the Men's and Women's categories at the All India Inter University Weightlifting Championships. With a total of 630 athletes from across the nation vying for the top spot, LPU dominated the competition by securing an impressive 6 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals, and 1 Bronze Medal. This victory not only solidified LPU's position as a sporting powerhouse, but also paved the way for 10 of their weightlifting athletes to participate in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025.
In an intense competition at the National Shooting Championship, veteran shooter Bhavya Tripathi successfully defended her women's trap title while Shardul Vihan clinched his first men's title. Both shooters had to fight tough shoot-offs to secure their wins, with Bhavya and Sabeera Haris going head to head in a thrilling 18-shot showdown. Meanwhile, in the men's final, Shardul outshone defending champion Lakshay Sheoran to claim the gold. The day also saw Madhya Pradesh's Shreshtha Sisodiya emerging as the junior women's trap champion, with a bronze medal win in the women's event as well.
Paris Olympics bronze-winning rifle shooter Swapnil Kusale reveals his determination to upgrade his medal to gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, citing his coach Deepali Deshpande's imparted mindset as a crucial factor in his success. Deshpande, who received the Dronacharya Award on the same day as Kusale's Arjuna Award, also emphasizes the importance of a clear mindset in winning medals at major events. The duo's strong coach-athlete bond and shared national recognition serve as a celebratory moment for their "family" in shooting sports.
The Indian sports community is in celebration as shooter Manu Bhaker, chess world champion D Gukesh, men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar have been selected as recipients of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Bhaker's historic double-medal win at the Olympics, along with Harmanpreet's leadership in securing a second consecutive bronze for the Indian hockey team, were highlights of their achievements. Gukesh's victory as the youngest ever chess world champion and helping India win the gold in Chess Olympiad, and Praveen's T64 championship win in Paralympics, have also earned them the prestigious award. The award ceremony will take place on January 17, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the awardees will receive this recognition from the President of India.
Amidst the highly competitive and intense atmosphere of the Olympic Games, a crucial mistake by head coach Cecile Landi resulted in gymnast Jordan Chiles losing her chance at a medal. With seconds to spare in the final moments of the competition, Landi missed the submission deadline for an inquiry, leading to a score change that ultimately cost the team a bronze medal. As the gymnastics community grapples with the aftermath of this incident, it serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges and pressure faced by elite athletes in their pursuit for Olympic glory.
In her new book 'Witness', Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik reveals that Babita Phogat's true intention in the protest against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was to replace him and become the head of the wrestling body. Sakshi also claims that Babita, a BJP politician now, was selfish and had greed driven motives despite portraying herself as a supporter of the protest. The accusation adds a new twist to the ongoing sexual harassment case against Singh, where the three prominent faces of the protest - Sakshi, Babita, and Vinesh Phogat - were initially united. However, greed started to creep into their minds, leading to a rift and ultimately affecting their performance at the 2023 Asian Games trials.
This October, the Forest Department's Annual Sports Festival in Raipur will see the participation of big names like Olympic 2024 bronze medalist Manu Bhaker and Indian T20 cricket captain Surya Kumar Yadav in its opening and closing ceremonies. With a goal to promote sports and build team spirit among employees, notable dignitaries like Union Forest Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Director General of Forests Jitendra Kumar will be present at the event. The competition will adhere to all sports regulations and will include guidance from experts to ensure fairness and transparency.
Vancouver Canucks extend the contract of young star Nils Höglander, recognizing his hard work and potential for growth on and off the ice. The 23-year-old winger made his NHL playoff debut last season and has already accumulated an impressive 36 points in 80 games. Höglander has also represented Sweden in international tournaments, earning gold and bronze medals.
The Indian junior shooting team continues to dominate at the ISSF Junior World Championship, with the latest victory coming in the 25m rapid-fire pistol team competition. Mukesh Nelavalli, Raajwardan Patil, and Harsimar Singh Rattha led the way to secure the team gold, with Mukesh also adding another individual gold to his impressive medal tally of four. With 16 medals in total, including a silver and four bronze, India remains on top of the medal tally. China trails behind with three gold and one silver. Despite not reaching the individual final, both Mukesh and Raajwardan put up strong performances in the RFP event.