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Tag: india olympics

  • Our instantaneous priority is to win Asiad gold and qualify for Olympics, says mid-fielder Sumit

    Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist hockey midfielder Sumit on Saturday talked about profitable gold at this 12 months’s Hangzhou Asian Games stays their excessive priority as it will possibly hand them a direct ticket to 2024 Paris Olympics.

    “We want to win a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, which will ensure our direct qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics,” talked about Sumit, who carried out a key place in India profitable a historic bronze medal in Tokyo.

    The midfielder feels the upcoming matches of the FIH Pro League in Europe will perform a super platform for them to rearrange for needed tournaments lined up, along with the Asian Champions Trophy, to be held in Chennai from August 3 to 12.

    Sumit is a member of the 39-core attainable, who’re presently sweating it out on the nationwide camp in Bengaluru ahead of the Europe tour, the place they will deal with Belgium, Great Britain, Netherlands, and Argentina inside the remaining season of the Pro League.

    “We are confident of giving our best performance in the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League games in Europe as they will be crucial for our preparations for important tournaments like Hero Asian Champions Trophy and the upcoming Asian Games,” the Sonipat-born participant talked about in a Hockey India launch.

    “FIH Men’s Hockey Pro League 2022/23 in Europe will help us fine-tune our team structure and strengthen bonds among players. It will also help us reckon the aspects of our game which need to be improved.” Sumit, nonetheless, was out of movement for some time after the Olympics as he was not famous of India’s squad for the World Cup, collectively held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela earlier this 12 months.

    But he didn’t lose hope and put up an outstanding current inside the Rourkela leg of the Pro League as India defeated the mighty Australians and world champions Germany twice.

    “I played as a defensive midfielder in all the games in Rourkela, which helped me in doing better because it provided me with a clarity of thought that was missing earlier as I used to play at multiple positions,” Sumit talked about.

    “Moreover, as I was returning to the team after quite some time, I was eager to put my best foot forward and make the most of this opportunity.”

  • Russia says ‘happy to help’ India bid for 2036 Olympics

    WHILE IT continues to be ostracised from world sport following the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has supplied to assist India in internet hosting the 2036 Olympics if the bid receives backing from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

    Russia’s Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin mentioned his nation’s “specialists will be happy to help in organising the Olympic Games in India”.

    Although no concrete official transfer has been made, India has repeatedly expressed curiosity to host the 2036 Games with Ahmedabad because the central metropolis.

    Last 12 months, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra proposed a novel multi-city bid that will likely be centred round Ahmedabad as the important thing vacation spot. Two months in the past, Gujarat’s Advocate General Kamal Trivedi informed the Gujarat High Court that “we are preparing for the Olympics of 2036” and that the “Olympic Committee will visit in 2025”.

    On Wednesday, throughout his go to to India, Matytsin informed RIA Sport that Russia was “very happy” that India is hoping to host the Games.

    “If such a dream as hosting the Olympic Games comes true, then this will be another criterion for the stable development of the country. We are always open to interaction and ready to share our experience of hosting the Olympic Games, and we have done this many times, so if a decision is made, then Russian specialists will be happy to help in organising the Olympic Games in India,” Matytsin was quoted as saying.

    Russian state media additionally reported that Matytsin put ahead the proposal of a pleasant soccer match between Russia, ranked 35 on this planet, and 104-ranked India if the latter expressed curiosity.

    ExplainedReaching out

    At this early stage, Russia’s supply is generally symbolic. But it signifies its eagerness to bolster bilateral ties — particularly with India rising as a serious purchaser of Russia’s oil amid sanctions.

    The Minister is main a Russian delegation to the International Convention Against Doping in Sport in New Delhi and held a gathering with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday. Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov was additionally current on the assembly.

    Sports Ministry sources mentioned the ministers explored areas of cooperation in sports activities, together with the alternate of technical data between gamers and coaches.

    Former Croatia president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic heads the IOC fee that can choose the host metropolis for the 2036 Games, with a call to be taken between 2025 and 2029.

    Incidentally, Russia was one of many international locations that confirmed curiosity in internet hosting the 2036 Olympics. However, after its invasion of Ukraine, the nation has been shunned by the world’s sporting our bodies.

    Matytsin informed RIA Sports that “as of May 25, international sports organisations cancelled/ postponed 186 international sporting events planned in Russia in 2022-2023, including 36 major international sporting events”.

    In May, London Mayor Sadiq Khan was quoted as saying by Daily Mail that he was in talks with the International Olympic Committee to deliver the Olympics again to the British capital in 2036 or 2040. Other cities within the fray are Istanbul, Doha, Jakarta, and Cairo, other than a possible joint bid from Berlin and Tel Aviv.

    India had twice thrown its hat within the ring to host the Olympics — for 2024 and 2032 — however couldn’t put collectively a bid. With the hosts for the following three Olympics already determined — Paris in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032 — the following alternative will solely are available 2036.

    Ahmedabad has already began investing in infrastructure. In February, through the inauguration of the Narendra Modi stadium, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had mentioned the complicated is able to internet hosting the Olympics.

  • We have turn into fearless since Tokyo Olympics: Gurjit Kaur

    Indian ladies’s hockey group drag-flick specialist Gurjit Kaur says the gamers have turn into fearless since their historic fourth-place end on the Tokyo Olympics.
    Gurjit was one of many architects of the group’s effective run to the semifinals in Tokyo and has been nominated for the FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award 2020-21.
    The 25-year-old defender scored the all-important objective within the beautiful 1-0 win over fancied Australia within the quarterfinals.
    “Even though we missed out on winning the medal by a whisker, there are a lot of positives to take from this dream campaign,” she was quoted as saying by Hockey India.
    “People have began watching us, and I’m positive our efficiency will encourage younger ladies to take up hockey. The Tokyo Olympics 2020 marks the start of a brand new period of Indian hockey.
    “We have gained a lot of confidence, we have become fearless, and going forward it will certainly help us perform well in major tournaments. I also hope we get the same amount of love and respect going forward.”
    Speaking on her nomination for FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award, Gurjit stated it was a reward for her onerous work and sacrifice.
    “It’s an enormous achievement for me to be nominated for the FIH Women’s Player of the Year Award 2020-2021.
    “For an athlete, it’s one of the best moments when all your hard work and sacrifices get recognised at a world level, and I am really happy to see my name on that list. It will give me extra motivation to do even better for the team.”
    The group missed out on a podium by a whisker, shedding to Great Britain within the bronze medal play-off match.
    When requested about that decisive objective in opposition to Australia, which helped the group script historical past on the Olympics, Gurjit stated, “I believe that’s my job, and I simply did it. My job is to drag-flick, and I received an opportunity, which I transformed.
    “No doubt, there’s my identify on the scoresheet, however that doesn’t imply it was mine alone, it was a group objective.
    “Each one of us contributed to it, from the defence line to midfielders, to strikers, who created the penalty corner, and eventually, it was my responsibility to convert it.”

  • India thinking about internet hosting 2036, 2040 Olympics: IOC President Thomas Bach

    India is amongst a bunch of nations who’re thinking about internet hosting the Olympic Games in 2036, 2040 and even past, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has stated.
    The IOC lately introduced that town of Brisbane will host the 2032 Summer Games.
    Even after Brisbane, Australia, was chosen final month to host the 2032 Summer Games, the IOC enjoys a queue of suitors to host the Olympics in 2036, 2040 and even past, Bach stated in a report within the ‘Wall Street Journal’.
    Those aspiring hosts embrace Indonesia, India, Germany and Qatar, the report added.
    “And this is just the ones which come to my mind. So we are really in a very good long-term position,” Bach was quoted as saying by the WSJ.
    Bach’s feedback have come at a time when escalating prices, operating into tens of millions of {dollars}, of staging the Games has sparked debates. The recently-held Tokyo Games additionally confronted protest for the amount of cash spent in internet hosting the Olympics.
    Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Secretary General Rajeev Mehta confirmed to PTI that they certainly had proven curiosity in internet hosting the showpiece occasion.
    “In a meeting of an IOC Commission via video conference before Tokyo Olympics, IOA had expressed interest in hosting Olympics in 2036 and beyond,” Mehta stated.
    Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had, in March this 12 months, stated they’d make each effort and improve the infrastructure to efficiently bid for the 2048 Games, to mark 100 years of independence.
    India had additionally confirmed curiosity in internet hosting the 2032 Olympics as a part of a long-term internet hosting technique that additionally included the 2030 Asian Games and the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
    The 2030 and 2034 Asian Games have been awarded to Qatar and Riyadh, respectively, in December.

  • Three-year Olympic cycle will probably be tough: Abhinav Bindra

    India’s first particular person Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Thursday stated the street to the 2024 Paris Games will probably be troublesome and “tricky” given the shorter three-year cycle.
    The taking pictures ace additionally lauded the nation’s efficiency on the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics.
    “It was a historic performance with the best-ever seven medals. There were moments of great triumph and heartbreaks, but that is what sport is all about. We have a good momentum now going forward,” Bindra stated.
    He added, “I see the next Olympics cycle will be tricky, primarily because of the shorter cycle. Normally athletes get a year post Olympics that allows them to rest and recover, but this time around they need to get back pretty quickly.”
    He was talking at a webinar organised by ELMS Sports Foundation.
    Earlier, the Tokyo Games had been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic by a 12 months and the Olympics cycle was diminished to 3 years, from the standard 4, going into the 2024 Paris Games.

    The athletes will now be left with a problem of getting much less qualification occasions and quotas.
    In Tokyo, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra handed the nation solely its second Olympics gold in particular person occasions.
    The celebrated shooter believes that bringing in scientific strategies and making a high-performance surroundings on the grassroots stage will probably be important going ahead.
    “We speak about high leaderships however I feel we have to get extra high quality within the second-level of management. We have to empower these individuals with data of tips on how to set a high-performance surroundings.

    “Incorporating science, technology, engineering, analytics and medicine to athletes’ training and development not just at elite level but basing it right at the grassroots level is important,” the 2008 Beijing Olympic champion stated.
    The 38-year-old additionally felt the nation’s school stage sporting system just isn’t developed successfully sufficient and must be performed in a way more significant method going ahead because it loses plenty of expertise within the transition from junior to elite stage.

  • Tokyo Olympics Day 9 India Schedule: Satish Kumar, PV Sindhu in motion

    After a disappointing loss within the semi-final to Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, India’s star shuttler and reigning World Champion PV Sindhu could have her eyes on the bronze medal when she takes on her Chinese opponent, He Bingjiao. If Sindhu emerges victorious, this might be her second Olympic medal after the silver medal in Rio Olympics the place she misplaced to Carolina Marin within the remaining.
    There might be two quarter-final occasions as nicely. Boxer Satish Kumar will lock horns with Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov in males’s tremendous heavy class. Also, Manpreet Singh-led India will look to proceed their successful run within the event with a win over Great Britain within the quarter-final. India confronted just one defeat within the group stage towards Australia. Equestrian Fouaad Mirza might be seen in motion once more within the Eventing Cross Country staff and particular person occasion.
    Following is India’s schedule on the ninth day of the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday.
    Golf: Anirban Lahiri and Udayan Mane in Men’s Individual Stroke Play Round 4: 04:00 AM.
    Equestrian: Fouaad Mirza in Eventing Cross Country Team and Individual: 04:15 AM.
    Boxing: Satish Kumar vs Bakhodir Jalolov (Uzbekistan) in males’s tremendous heavy (+91kg) quarterfinals: 9:36 AM.
    Badminton: PV Sindhu vs He Bing Jiao (China) in ladies’s singles bronze medal play-off match: 5 PM.
    Hockey: India vs Great Britain in Men’s quarterfinal: 5:30 PM.

  • First batch of Olympic-bound India athletes to depart on July 14: IOA

    Indian Olympic Association Secretary General Rajeev Mehta on Saturday mentioned first batch of the nation’s Tokyo-bound Olympic athletes will go away by an Air India chartered flight on July 14.
    Mehta additional knowledgeable that the remainder of the contingent will journey between July 16 and 19.
    Upon reaching Tokyo, all athletes and officers must serve three days of quarantine.
    “We will have three days of quarantine. The day of arrival is termed as the zero day. After quarantine, we can move around,” the IOA official mentioned at an occasion organised by the YOUTHINK Foundation and Sunshine Senior Secondary School right here to felicitate among the Indian athletes, who’ve certified for the Tokyo Olympics.
    “The first batch of the Indian contingent, comprising athletes and officials, for the Olympics will leave in an Air India chartered flight on July 14. The rest of the officials will travel between July 16 and 19,” Mehta was quoted as saying in a press launch.
    The Tokyo Olympics might be held from July 23 to August 8.
    Mehta conceded that the COVID-19 pandemic has to some extent affected Indian athletes’ preparation for the Games.
    “…(but) Team India is all set for the Games, with 115 athletes achieving qualification so far in 18 sports, including a historical first in fencing,” he mentioned.
    Tamil Nadu’s C A Bhavani Devi has turn into the first-ever fencer from India to seal a spot within the Olympics.
    Table tennis participant G Sathiyan, who has certified for his maiden Olympics, mentioned that it could be difficult to play within the absence of followers however their help from dwelling would nonetheless assist them to remain motivated.
    During the occasion, Bhavani Devi mentioned being a lady she confronted quite a lot of challenges to attain success in her sport.The occasion was additionally attended by ace paddler A sharath Kamal and sprinter Dutee Chand.

  • Tokyo Olympics: Equestrian Mirza selects ‘Dajara 4’ for the Games

    Indian equestrian Fouaad Mirza has resolved the choice dilemma he had been grappling with forward of his maiden Olympics, deciding to go together with the “very pretty” mare ‘Dajara 4’ for the Games in Tokyo this month.
    Mirza is simply the third Indian equestrian after Indrajit Lamba and Imtiaz Anees to safe a person spot in Eventing on the Olympic Games. Anees was the final to make the lower for the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a wildcard.
    “…the horse I have selected to represent India in Tokyo would be ‘Dajara 4’ and we are preparing well and we are keen to give a good performance out there in Tokyo,” Mirza mentioned at a digital press convention on Thursday.
    “We are on the route of making historical past and he or she is a horse that’s going to assist us get there and I’m trying ahead to take part within the Games together with her.
    “She (Dajara 4) is a very nice and pretty horse and I am sure, she will bring this sport enough attention and hopefully encourage the younger generation to take up the sport,” he added.
    READ | Blood horse Mickey vs anxious-traveller Dajara: Fouaad Mirza’s choice headache
    Mirza mentioned it was a tough resolution to decide on ‘Dajara 4’ over his different skilled horse ‘Seigneur Medicott’. He had ended India’s 36-year-old medal drought on the Asian Games by profitable a silver at Jakarta 2018 astride Medicott, who later sustained an harm.
    “Look, it was a really, very tough resolution, I need to say. Both horses are excellent horses and I’m very fortunate to have them each.
    “So, at the Olympics, we have two rounds of show-jumping after cross-country, this is probably Medicott’s weaker link and so, that was basically the main reason why we decided to take ”Dajara” over ”Seigneur Medicott”.
    “But I must say, it was very difficult and at this moment, still is…Dajara is definitely now the right horse, so we go out there and give out a very good performance,” he elaborated.
    The Arjuna awardee additionally mentioned that they’d put together as they do for another present.
    “Dajara competed final weekend within the Nation’s Cup in Poland, the place she completed second. She goes to have every week off now, simply to recuperate from that competitors after which we’re going to decide her up steadily and never change an excessive amount of.
    “What would be slightly different is that both horses would go into quarantine on the 11th of July, that is at a different location, that is at Aachen in Germany… but over there we are allowed to use all the facilities as you would at home, so there are no restrictions on training times or where and how you can train,” he defined.
    Mirza rode Dajara for the primary time in 2019.
    The Bengaluru-based rider expressed his gratitude in the direction of the ”Embassy Group”, which had helped him obtain his dream.
    “I would like to thank the Embassy Group and Jitu Virwani for sponsoring me and helping me achieve this dream, my parents, my coaches and most of all the horses that have been given to me by the Embassy Group,” he signed off.
    The Tokyo Olympics might be held from July 23 to August 8.

  • Judoka Sushila Devi qualifies for Olympics through continental quota

    Ace Indian judoka Sushila Devi has certified for the Tokyo Olympics by way of the continental quota, the game’s worldwide federation confirmed on Friday.
    Sushila, who competes within the 48kg class, has 989 factors which places her at seventh spot within the Asian checklist, the International Judo Federation stated.
    The continental quotas are allotted primarily based on a judoka’s rating within the area. Asia has 10 quota slots.
    This would be the 26-year-old’s first participation on the Olympics. Only one athlete per NOC (National Olympic Committee) per division can qualify. Each NOC is entitled to just one spot by way of the continental quota.
    Avtar Singh (90kg) was the lone Indian judoka to compete on the 2016 Rio Olympics.

  • Daily exams, isolation add to Indian athletes’ Tokyo Olympics tribulation

    In a transfer that can impression athletes and officers travelling from India and those that will compete at Wimbledon in addition to the Diamond League in London, the Tokyo Olympics organisers have imposed stricter restrictions on travellers from nations the place totally different variants of Covid-19 have been recognized.
    According to an advisory issued on Friday, athletes travelling from India have been instructed ‘not to interact or train with athlete(s) from another country’ for the primary three days upon reaching the Japanese capital. Moreover, they should get themselves examined for Covid-19 each day for the seven days instantly earlier than departure, and each day after arriving in Tokyo. This signifies that some athletes, like hockey gamers, should endure Covid exams for at the very least 21 consecutive days earlier than and in the course of the Games.
    In addition to the big selection of guidelines already in place, the Tokyo Olympics organisers have imposed extra, stricter laws on athletes and different Games contributors travelling from 11 nations, together with India, United Kingdom and Malaysia. The advisory famous that the brand new guidelines shall be relevant to all travellers – together with athletes, their coaches and assist employees – who’ve resided in these nations inside 14 days of their arrival in Tokyo.
    No socialising
    These guidelines are topic to alter based mostly on the Japanese authorities’s coverage. “For three days after your (athletes and officials) arrival in Japan, you will not be able to physically interact with anyone from another team, delegation or country. For example, across all sports, you will not be able to interact or train with athlete(s) from another country during that period,” the notice mentioned.
    “While all the regulations must be followed, those in place regarding physical distancing from other teams, delegations or countries, are of particular importance upon arrival…” the advisory added. “By following these important regulations, you will, as a Games participant, be allowed to go to the locations on the list of permitted destinations as of your arrival in Japan.”
    So far, 100 Indian athletes have certified for the Games, which start on July 23, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is anticipating a dozen or so extra sportspersons to make the reduce earlier than the qualifying interval concludes on the finish of this month.
    While many of the medal contenders – together with the capturing group, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, and wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia – have already shifted their base exterior India, many couldn’t handle that due to the pandemic-related journey restrictions.

    Training impression
    The men and women’s hockey groups, boxers, desk tennis gamers and monitor and area athletes are among the athletes who’re scheduled to journey to Tokyo from their respective bases in India.
    The hockey groups, for example, had been scheduled to depart for Tokyo on July 17 and play a few apply matches earlier than opening their campaigns on the Olympics. Now, except they advance their journey dates, they should forego the apply video games, which is able to come as an enormous blow to each groups provided that they’ve already been starved of aggressive matches.
    However, travelling to Tokyo early may additionally pose a problem since groups have been advised to verify into the Games Village not more than 5 days earlier than their competitors begins. So, alternate lodging should be found out in the event that they attain early.
    The boxers, in the meantime, are set to journey to Italy this month earlier than returning to India after which flying out for the Games.
    Recently, the Sports Authority of India had suggested all Indian athletes to journey to Tokyo straight from the nation the place they’re presently coaching or are planning to go.
    The IOA, it’s learnt, is in talks with the organisers to know how the brand new guidelines shall be carried out. “It isn’t a hard quarantine but the advisory says we cannot come in touch with athletes or delegates from others countries. So how and where will an athlete eat her or his meal? Similarly, where will they train given that the training areas will have athletes from other countries? Do they expect our athletes to train in isolation in the middle of the night?” an official mentioned. “The IOA is in talks with the organisers and will try to work out a solution that is in the best interests of the country’s athletes.”
    The new guidelines may additionally impression some tennis gamers who will participate in Wimbledon, which ends on July 12, and monitor and area stars who will compete within the Diamond League on July 13. Those travelling from the UK should get examined for Covid-19 each day for 3 days previous to their departure. The distancing guidelines for them, although, will stay the identical as travellers from India.
    ****
    Additional restrictions
    In an advisory issued on Friday, the Olympics organisers imposed extra restrictions on athletes and officers from nations with Covid-19 variants. They had been divided into two teams:
    Group 1: Afghanistan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
    Testing: Every day, for seven days, previous to departure for Japan; each day on the Games
    Distancing: For three days after arrival in Japan, no bodily interplay with athletes and officers from different nations, together with coaching periods with them.
    Group 2: Bangladesh, Egypt, Malaysia, United Kingdom and Vietnam
    Testing: Every day, for 3 days, previous to departure; each day on the Games
    Distancing: For three days after arrival in Japan, no bodily interplay with athletes and officers from different nations, together with coaching periods with them.