Page 2 - Athletes

India tops list of doping offenders in 2022: WADA anti-doping report

South Africa follows India as countries with the highest number of athletes testing positive for banned substances

Paris Olympics: IOC excludes Russian and Belarusian from opening ceremony

Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to take part in the traditional parade at the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics, the IOC said on Tuesday. The opening ceremony on July 26 will see thousands of athletes travel on boats down the River Seine for several kilometres toward the Eiffel Tower, instead of the normal parade of teams inside a stadium. The IOC said athletes from Russia and Belarus who are approved to compete at the Olympics as neutrals will have a chance only to experience the event likely watching from near the river. The IOC has laid out a vetting procedure for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be granted neutral status, with requirements including that they must not have publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine, or be affiliated with military or state security agencies. The IOC said it expects about 36 neutral athletes with Russian passports and 22 with Belarus passports to qualify for the Paris Games. A decision on whether those athletes will b

India 'big priority' for Decathlon, among top five mkts in world: Official

India is a "big priority" market for Decathlon, and the French sports retailer expects the country to be among its top five global markets within the next five years, helped by expansion of store network and increased local sourcing, according to a top company official. Decathlon, as part of its growth plans, will add 10 new stores every year in India, while accelerating online sales and also increasing local sourcing to over 90 per cent in the next five years from the current average of 60 per cent, its Chief Retail & Countries Officer Steve Dykes said. This move would help Decathlon become more competitive in the fast-growing Indian sports and athleisure segment and increase exports to global markets from its Indian manufacturing facility, he said. India "is a top priority for us. We have five countries, which we call as leapfrog jump countries and one of them is India," Dykes said, while speaking at a Decathlon global event here. For Decathlon, India is already among the top ...

Registered athletes to be issued digital certificates: Anurag Thakur

Sports minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday announced that the government will issue digital certificates to registered athletes across the country, a move which would ensure a transparent account of their participation and performance. The digital certificate will have dates of the athletes' participation in competitions and serve as proof of their achievements. "With athletes at the heart of our progressing and growing sporting ecosystem, the sports ministry has made a crucial decision to promote the 'issuance of digital certificates to athletes'," wrote Thakur on 'X'. The minister had first announced his plan to simplify things for athletes and National Sports Federations (NSFs) during the National Sports Day on August 29 last year. On the occasion, the NSF portal was launched for ensuring ease of business and good governance. It is a unified single window for processing annual renewals and elections in NSFs. On Thursday, the minister said, "Keeping up with our policy of ...

Fine wine: Elite athletes defy age with science, nutrition, mental strength

Athletes are taking elaborate measure. Biohacking, which is a combination of ice bath, sleep therapy, and strict diet and supplements, is a popular method

Nike to cut about 2% of total workforce to lower costs as demand weakens

Nike had in December outlined a $2 billion savings plan over the next three years, which included tightening the supply of some products and reducing management layers

Russian athletes can compete at Paris Olympics with approved neutral status

Some Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the IOC said Friday, in a decision that removed the option of a blanket ban over the invasion of Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee's decision confirms moves it started one year ago to reintegrate Russia and its military ally Belarus into global sports, and nine months after it urged sports governing bodies to look at ways to let individual athletes compete. It is up to each Olympic sport's governing body to assess and enforce neutral status for individual athletes who have not actively supported the war and are not contracted to military or state security agencies. Those who are given neutral status must compete without national identity of flag, anthem or colours. Russia remains banned from team sports. The IOC said eight Russians and three from Belarus are among 4,600 athletes worldwide who have so far qualified for the Summer Games, which open in July. Russia sent 335 athletes to the Tokyo .

Hammer thrower Rachna Kumari fails dope test by int'l federation's AIU

India's Hangzhou Asian Games participant hammer thrower Rachna Kumari has returned positive in a dope test conducted by international federation's Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) just before the continental showpiece and has been handed provisional suspension. The 30-year-old Kumari's dope sample, taken out-of-competition, was found to contain steroids Stanozolol, Metandienone and Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT). A notice of allegation has been issued to her, the AIU said on its website, without giving further details. When contacted, Kumari said she had given urine samples to officials working for a foreign dope testing agency in Patiala on September 24. "I have not got any information that I have failed dope test, though I had given my urine sample on September 24 in Patiala," she told PTI from her home in Uttar Pradesh. An official of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) also confirmed that Kumari has failed a dope test but refused to give details as it relates to the

Neeraj Chopra shortlisted for 'Men's World Athlete of the Year' award

The five athletes, who represent four countries from four area associations, have achieved sensational performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2023

PM Modi to interact with Asian Para Games contingent in felicitation event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with India's Asian Para Games contingent on Wednesday at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here. The PMO said the programme, during which Modi will also address the athletes, is an attempt on his part to congratulate them for their outstanding achievement at the Asian Para Games and to motivate them for future competitions. India won a total of 111 medals including 29 gold in the Asian para Games 2022. The medals tally at the Asian Para Games 2022 witnessed a 54 per cent increase over the previous best performance (in 2018); and the 29 gold medals won are almost twice as won in 2018. The programme will be attended by the athletes, their coaches, officials from the Paralympic Committee of India & Indian Olympic Association, representatives from National Sports Federations, and officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the statement said.

Their unwavering drive to excel truly inspirational: PM Modi hails athletes

PM Modi took to X to congratulate Asian Para Games medalists for their stunning displays of talent

Rs 5 lakh to Rs 5 crore: JSW Sports eyes golden deals for athletes

According to sources with inside knowledge, Neeraj Chopra has signed brand sponsorships with Under Armour, Gillette, Noise, Tata AIA Life Insurance, Swiss Tourism, and Limca Sportz

Death of Indian-origin athlete in Singapore: Coach failed to check health

An investigation into the death of a 14-year-old Indian-origin student-athlete at the Singapore Sports School, has revealed there was a safety lapse as his badminton coach failed to check on his well-being before leaving the track. The coach has been served a notice of dismissal, according to a Channel News Asia report on Saturday. Pranav Madhaik, who was part of the school's badminton academy and had aspired to be an Olympic champion, felt unwell following a 400-metre fitness time trial on October 5. Pranav was taken to the National University Hospital and he died on Wednesday (October 11). In a press release on Saturday, the Singapore Sports School laid out the timeline of events leading to the boy's death and the findings of the investigation. After completing his time trial session on October 5 at about 6:26 p.m., Pranav reported to the badminton coach that he felt unwell. Time trials and conditioning sessions are a regular part of student-athletes' training plans, according

Neeraj Chopra among 11 nominees for men's World Athlete of Year

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was on Thursday named as one of the 11 nominees for the 2023 men's World Athlete of the Year award. The 11 nominees were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics. The nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, one-day meeting circuits, Label road races and other events around the world, the international governing body of the sport said. The other nominees are shot putter Ryan Crouser of USA, pole vaulters Mondo Duplantis of Sweden, 3000m steeplechaser Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway (1500m/5000m), marathoner Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya, decathlete Pierce LePage of Canada, sprinter Noah Lyles of USA, race walker Alvaro Martin of Spain, long jumper Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece and 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm of Norway. A three-way voting ..

PM Modi lauds Indian athletes for winning record 107 medals at Asian Games

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed as "historic achievement" Indian athletes winning the highest-ever total of 107 medals at the Asian Games, and said the unwavering determination and hard work of the players have made the nation proud. Indian athletes touched the magical figure of 107 medals at the Asian Games with their blood, sweat and toil over the last fortnight. In a post on X, Modi said, "What a historic achievement for India at the Asian Games! The entire nation is overjoyed that our incredible athletes have brought home the highest ever total of 107 medals, the best ever performance in the last 60 years." The unwavering determination, relentless spirit and hard work of our players have made the nation proud, he said. "Their victories have given us moments to remember, inspired us all and have reaffirmed our commitment to excellence," Modi said. With India concluding its engagements at the Games on Saturday, the tally of 107 medals will remain etched in the collective mem

Asian Games: Annu Rani secures India's 15th gold in women's javelin final

Krishan Kumar was the other Indian participating in the race but was disqualified for jostling/obstruction

This 100-metre race in Delhi saw only one athlete turn up. Here is why

The number of athletes fell by half after doping control officers of NADA reached the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Thakur slams China for denying visas to 3 Indian athletes for Asian Games

Thakur labelled this action as "discriminatory" and emphasised that it goes against the Olympic Charter, a stance deemed "unacceptable" by India

Patnaik announces Rs 10 lakh cash support for Asian Game qualified athletes

Ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced a financial support for the state's athletes who are set to participate in the upcoming sports event. Each Asian Games-bound athlete will receive Rs 10 lakh each, to support their training, preparation, and participation in the prestigious sporting event, an official release issued by the chief minister's office said. The Asian Games, known for bringing together elite athletes from across the continent, offer a platform to showcase the dedication and talent of athletes. The Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in China, to be held from September 23 to October 8, this year. Thirteen athletes from Odisha will participate in the Asian Games. They include Kishore Jena in athletics; Anshika Bharati, Ritu Kaudi and Sonali Swain in rowing; Anupama Swain in Ju-Jitsu; Neha Devi Leichondam in Kayaking and Canoeing; Pyari Xaxa in football; Deep Grace Ekka and Amit Rohidas in hockey and Dumuni Marndi,

Men's 4x400m relay: India breaks Asian record, qualifies for Worlds final

The Indian men's 4x400m relay team shattered Asian record, clocking 2 minute 59.05 seconds to qualify for its maiden final round of the World Championships here on Saturday. The Indian quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi and Rajesh Ramesh ran a stunning race to finish second in heat number one behind USA (2:58.47) to make it to the final to be held on Sunday. The earlier Asian record of 2:59.51 was in the name of Japanese team. The top three finishers in each of the two heats and the next two fastest qualify for the final.