Page 19 - Asian Games

Sports ministry okays wrestlers Bajrang and Deepak's foreign training

The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has cleared wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Deeepak Punia's proposals to miss the World Championships trials and train abroad till the Asian Games, after receiving desired fitness certificates from the two athletes. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) wanted Olympic-medallist wrestler Bajrang to attend the trials for the World Championships or provide fitness certificate, if he wants exemption from this week's exercise in Patiala. Bajrang wanted to skip the trials for the World Championships on August 25 and 26 and train at a foreign location to prepare for the Asian Games in Hangzhou beginning September 23. Bajrang, one of the six wrestlers to sit in protest at the Jantar Mantar against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and Commonwealth Games gold-medal winner Deepak Punia (86kg), are not keen to compete in the World Championships in Belgrade from September 16, and instead want to undergo long training stints to prepare of th

Asian Games: Ruturaj Gaikwad to lean on lessons from captain cool MS Dhoni

Ruturaj Gaikwad feels leading a side is a complicated affair but he will try to make it simple like his Chennai Super Kings skipper M S Dhoni when he captains India at the Asian Games next month. Gaikwad will captain a side full of youngsters in Hangzhou with the main team busy with World Cup preparations at the same time. "Leadership role is a very complicated thing to be honest. What Mahi bhai (Dhoni) always says is to take it one game at a time, don't worry about the future. "Everyone creates hype and whatever it is. I am not the kind of person who tracks social media and hear things about what anyone is saying about me. "I think this is one of the traits that I have learned at CSK. I am pretty much clear about giving my best in the field, coming back home, chilling with my friends," he told reporters after India's 33-run win over Ireland in the second T20 on Sunday. The right-hander, who warmed up the bench for the major part of the West Indies tour, is getting to open in the

Sprinter, Asian Games medallist Dutee Chand faces four-year ban for doping

Dutee Chand was tested for selective androgen receptor modulators in December last year. Her ban period will be effective from January 3, 2023. This means she will be out of action till Jan 3, 2027

Difficult to focus on wrestling when sports' future is at stake: Bajrang

After calling off the protest, we wanted to give 100 per cent to training, but how is that possible when we got to know Brijbhushan's people could run the federation again, says Bajrang Punia

Vinesh Phogat out of Asian Games: Timeline of her injuries and achievements

Vinesh's wrestling career has been marred by controversy and injuries.

Asian Games 2023, India wrestling squad: Full list of wrestlers for Asiad

A total of 18 wrestlers were selected for the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, with six wrestlers each in Greco-Roman, men's freestyle and women's freestyle.

Asian Games: Wrestler Vinesh pulls out; clears way for Antim's inclusion

Vinesh Phogat, who was given direct entry to the Asian Games, on Tuesday announced that she won't be able to compete at the quadrennial extravaganza in Hangzhou because of a knee injury that will require a surgery. The exemption from the Asian Games trials given to Vinesh and Bajrang Punia had created a huge controversy as the wrestling fraternity criticised the decision made by the ad-hoc panel. However, as luck would have it, Vinesh would not be part of the sporting action in Hangzhou, starting September 23. Vinesh revealed her injury in a statement issued on X, formerly twitter. "I wanted to share an extremely sad piece of news. A couple of days ago on 13th August 2023, I injured my left knee in training. After doing the scans and examinations, the doctor has said that unfortunately, surgery is the only option for me to recover," she wrote. "I will be undergoing surgery on 17th August in Mumbai. It was my dream to retain my Asian Games gold medal for India which I won in 2018 i

India Men's hockey coach Fulton calls ACT triumph big boost for Asian Games

The Asian Champions Trophy title triumph will "really count" as India set sights on Asian Games gold in order to secure automatic qualification to 2024 Paris Olympics, said head coach Craig Fulton. The India hockey team fought back from two goals down to eke out a 4-3 win over Malaysia in the final to claim their fourth ACT title here on Saturday. With the Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled to commence on September 23, Fulton was asked whether a thrilling final like this will help the side in the continental showpiece event. "Finals are cagier; they never go smooth. It comes down to a moment or shootouts. So, it's important to have a game like this because it really counts. "At the same time, it's (ACT) not the Asian Games. So, our feet are firmly on the ground. But, if you said to me to win the Asian Games and lose this final, I would obviously vouch for winning the Games," added Fulton. Fulton said the comeback story of the team had begun two months back. "Two months ago," Fulton t

Asian Games: Rani Rampal not picked in probable list of women's hockey team

Just a couple of days after Hockey India appointed her as the coach of Indian U-17 women's team, former captain Rani Rampal found herself out of the 34-strong probables list for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, starting September 23. Rampal had on Thursday lashed out at the national head coach Janneke Schopman demanding an answer as to why she was being ignored despite her fair performances lately. While she accepted the HI offer to coach the junior side, she also was categorical about not retiring from competitive sport. "I am not retiring since I know I still have more to give to the sport as a player. I have this thing in me to not give up. If I had to, I'd have given up after the Olympics," Rampal had said during a HI event earlier this week. "We have showcased in our recent competitions that we are growing as a team and are constantly learning. The upcoming camp is an important one for us as we are spearheading our preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games, which could be our road

Asian Games 2023: Was a bit shocked at my exclusion - Shikhar Dhawan

Senior India batter Shikhar Dhawan was a "bit shocked" at his exclusion from India's Asian Games squad but remains determined to make a national comeback in the near future. With the first-choice players busy with preparation for the ODI World Cup at home, the BCCI named a squad full of youngsters for the Hangzhou Asian Games in September-October. The 37-year-old left-hander was tipped to lead the second-string India team in China, a role he performed until 10 months ago, but the selectors did not pick him and named Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain. "When my name was not there (for Asian Games), I was a bit shocked. But, then, I was like they have a different thought process, you just have to accept it. Happy that Rutu (Gaikwad) will lead the side. All the young boys are there, I am sure they will do well," Dhawan told PTI on Thursday. With Shubman Gill joining Rohit Sharma at the top, it seems the Indian team has moved on from Dhawan, who had become a one-format player until he was drop

Rani Rampal named coach of sub-junior team, but says she isn't retiring

It remains to be seen whether she will find a place in India's squad for the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Asian Games 2023: Spinner Gayakwad sure of India winning Gold in Asiad

Having missed out on the gold at the Commonwealth Games, left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad is confident the Indian women's team can go the distance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China next month. The Indian team came close to winning the coveted gold on women's cricket's Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham last year but went down to Australia in the summit clash. It was the side's third defeat in a big final in recent years. The 'Women in Blue' have got a direct qualification to the quarterfinals at the Asian Games based on their ICC T20I rankings. "Definitely, we will get the gold medal in the Asian Games," Gayakwad told PTI in an exclusive interview. "We have played against all major opponents in the past, but not to dwell on that much, we have the trust in our team that we are capable of winning and clinching the gold medal," she added. Gayakwad was not part of India's last assignment -- the tour of Bangladesh where they won the T20I series 2-1 but had to settle for a 1

I'll see how things happen after Asiad: Sreejesh opens up on his retirement

Veteran Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is taking one tournament at a time as far as his future is concerned and says he will "see how things happen" after the Asian Games in China in September-October. The 35-year-old goalkeeping legend is nearing 300 international matches after making his India debut in 2006. He is currently sharing the goalkeeping duties for India with Krishan Bahadur Pathak in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) here. "At this age, better don't ask me about the next two years. It's all about the next one. I am at the Asian Games, and after that, I'll see how things happen. I will take it one tournament at a time," Sreejesh told PTI when asked about the possibility of him featuring in another ACT. The ACT is a biennial tournament, but the venue and dates of the next edition is yet to be announced. "As (Novac) Djokovic said, '35 is the new 25'. So, I'm definitely there," Sreejesh said after India thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan 4-0 on Wednesday. Sreejesh

Asiad: Uncertainty over selection of gymnasts causing confusion - GFI chief

Gymnastic Federation of India (GFI) president Sudhir Mital on Tuesday said the uncertainty over the participation of Indian gymnasts in the upcoming Asian Games is causing confusion and having a "psychological" impact on the athletes. GFI had written to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Sports Ministry, regarding the selection of nine gymnasts, including Dipa Karmakar, Rakesh Patra, and Yogeshwar Singh, for the Asian Games as per the criteria specified by the Ministry. However, during the meeting on July 19, "SAI officials informed that only 2 gymnasts are eligible as per the selection criteria," following which GFI wrote to the Sports Ministry and SAI but still hasn't got any response. "We haven't received any communication, we have written thrice to SAI and Ministry saying that at least nine gymnasts -- two women and five men in artistic and two in trampoline -- are eligible as per the criteria set out by Ministry but what criteria SAI is using now, we don't know," Mital

Paddler Manika Batra loses her kit bag, seeks Jyotiraditya Scindia's help

She was returning from the WTT Contender competition, where she reached the Round of 32 in the women's singles event, in Lima, Peru.

Asian Games 2023: Selection policy 'fair and transparent' - BFI tells HC

The Boxing Federation of India on Monday told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that its selection policy was totally "fair and transparent", responding to a petition filed by three boxers, including Amit Panghal, over their non-selection for the upcoming Asian Games. The national federation added that the new selection criteria formulated in February, were "akin to the policy adopted by many leading boxing nations of the world". "The selection process adopted by BFI is totally fair and transparent and is based upon the assessment of various parameters. Due to the various parameters laid down for the selection of the athlete there is zero chance of biasness," the BFI said in its reply. World Championships silver medallist Panghal, Rohit Mor and Commonwealth Games silver winner Sagar Ahlawat had moved the high court against the BFI after they were left out of the Indian squad for the Asian Games to be held from September 23 to October 8 in China. They had petitioned against BFI's ..

Asian Games 2023: Dipa Karmakar likely to be considered for Indian team

Star Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar is likely to be picked in the Indian contingent for the Asian Games following a request to the Sports Ministry by the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) to consider her case despite not fitting the selection criteria set by the government. Dipa, who brought Indian gymnastics into the spotlight by finishing a creditable fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was dropped from the final list of women gymnastics squad for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games from September 23 for failing to fulfil the ministry's selection criteria. The Sports Ministry's selection criteria states that, "In individual events during the last 12 months prior to the commencement of the event (Asian Games), the performance of the sportspersons should not be less than the performance achieved by eighth position holder of the 2018 Asian Games in measurable sports." Dipa, however, topped the trials held in Bhubaneswar on July 11 and 12 and was part of the initial squad sent to the Asia

Indian FIFA star Charanjot Singh dominates Asian Games 2022 seeding event

India's Charanjot Singh secured the top-seeding in South Asia at next month's Asian Games in Hangzhou after producing overwhelming performances against Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in seeding event for FIFA e-sport. One of India's best FIFAe player, Charanjot's gameplay was based on precision and strategy, as he proved too good for the three opponents. While he outclassed Sameer Gurung of Nepal and Dishan Sheruban Nithianathan of Sri Lanka 2-1 respectively, Charanjot defeated Oytijjho Al Aff Tajwar Majumder of Bangladesh 2-0 to stay unbeaten in the event and gain a favourable seeding. "Reflecting on the results, I feel proud to have got the opportunity to showcase my skills and gain a favourable seeding for India," said the Chandigarh-born Charanjot in a media release. "I had put in long hours of practice and strategising in order to prepare for my opponents, and I am glad that it all worked to perfection. "The level of competition at the Asian Games will be fierce, but I have

Hockey India president says Indian team will travel to Pakistan if needed

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey has said that the national men's team will travel to Pakistan for qualifiers in case it fails to directly qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning gold at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, starting September 23. The team winning the continental event gold shall receive direct berth in the quadrennial extravaganza as per rule but other nations need to play the qualifiers and this time venues identified are Pakistan and Spain. "We will be trying to get the job done in Hangzhou. But, if for some reason, we fail to qualify, then there are a couple of venues that have been identified for the qualifiers - Pakistan and Spain. So, wherever it happens, we will definitely go," he said during a media interaction on the eve of the tournament on Wednesday. Travelling to Pakistan requires government clearance and it is there to be seen what will be the centre's stance in case situation demands that national hockey team is needed to travel to Pakistan to

Hockey Asian Champions Trophy: Why are coaches complaining about schedule?

Visiting teams, Malaysia and Korea did not like the timing of the tournament. It has been scheduled only five weeks ahead of the all-important Asian Games which has an Olympic berth at stake