Page 30 - Olympics

Paris 2024: Afghan sprinter Kimia Yousofi ready to run at her 3rd Olympics

Afghan sprinter Kimia Yousofi is preparing to compete at her third Olympics after being selected for the Paris Games from her training base in Australia. Yousofi, Afghanistan's flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the Olympics in Tokyo, has been living in Australia since 2022. The Australian Olympic Committee on Tuesday congratulated Yousofi on her selection for the women's 100-meter sprint. It's an honor to represent the girls of my homeland once again, she said in a statement released by the Australian committee. Girls and women who have been deprived of basic rights, including education, which is the most important one. I represent the stolen dreams and aspirations of these women. Those who don't have the authority to make decisions as free human beings they don't even have the permission to enter a park. She said she's deeply grateful to all those who have stood by me on this journey and made this possible ... who helped us for every step, for coming to Australia and joini

2024 Olympics Swimming: France's Lon Marchand may emerge champion

Most of the big stars from the last Olympics will be back at the pool in Paris. Caeleb Dressel. Katie Ledecky. Ariarne Titmus. Emma McKeon. But the local favorite might just shine brightest of them all. France's Lon Marchand has drawn comparisons to the great Michael Phelps, a link that was only strengthened by Phelps' longtime coach, Bob Bowman, overseeing the 22-year-old's rise to prominence. At last summer's world championships in Fukuoka, Marchand broke Phelps' 15-year-old world record in the 400-meter individual medley, to go along with victories in the 200 IM and 200 butterfly two more of Phelps' signature events. Leon has several things that make him a great, Bowman said. He has speed and he has endurance. So he kind of has the whole package that you want, and so far he's done well under pressure, which is the other piece of that equation. He has it all really. Marchand will also have the home-pool advantage in Paris, where the swimming will be contested in a temporary ..

All Olympics-bound athletes, including Neeraj Chopra, fit: IOA CMO

Renowned sports medicine expert Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala on Sunday said that all the Indian athletes participating in the Paris Olympics, including ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, were "fit enough" to perform on the big stage when the quadrennial showpiece gets underway on July 26. Pardiwala, the chief medical officer (CMO) of the nearly 120-strong Indian contingent for the Paris Games, added that his 13-member team will render the best possible medical assistance to the contingent in the areas of injury management, sports nutrition, mental conditioning, sports massage, recovery and sleep. "All the athletes that are going for the Olympics are fit right now. Some athletes will have minor niggles here and there. I am not going to be discussing any specific injuries to any athlete that they've had in the past, but all of them who are there are there because they are going to be capable and they're gonna be fit enough to perform," he said. Pardiwala has treated some of the top athletes,

Hosting the Olympics: A Billion-Dollar Gamble– Is It Worth It?

Do you know the budget of hosting the Olympic Games? Reports suggest cost overruns are pretty common with most host cities.

'Stay calm, sleep well': PM Narendra Modi to Paris-bound athletes

Neeraj Chopra shared his fitness concerns, P V Sindhu talked about the significance of self-belief and Nikhat Zareen could barely hide her excitement about being a first-time Olympian during a light-hearted interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who advised the Paris-bound group to stay calm and sleep well for best results. The interaction, held on Thursday, also featured the men's hockey team and the 21-strong shooting contingent in person, while some others, including Chopra, Sindhu and Zareen, joined online from their respective training bases abroad. Chopra, who has been troubled by an adductor niggle for the past couple of months, said he wants to reach Paris "fully fit" to defend his Olympic gold in javelin throw. "We are now training in Germany and it is going very well. This time I am playing in less competitions because on and off I am suffering from an injury. But now it is a lot better, a few days back I played a competition in Finland and that was pretty good," .

Keep your faith in us, we will not disappoint: Hockey skipper Harmanpreet

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh understands that Indian men's hockey team will enter the Paris Games with huge expectations and promised to return from the French Capital with grand success which they would celebrate with passionate fans, just like the triumphant cricket team. Eight-time champions India had ended their 41-year-old medal drought in Tokyo by winning a bronze medal. "When we won a medal in Tokyo, it was like a tonic for hockey in India. This time our responsibility has increased and everyone knows how much love and respect we have received after that medal," Harmanpreet told PTI Bhasha. "I will only say that you (countrymen) have been with us since the first day and we have also tried to give our best. This time too, we will give our 100 per cent from first to last match. Keep your faith in us, we will not disappoint you." Just like any other Indian, Harmanpreet was brimming with pride after India ended their 17-year-old wait for another T20 World Cup title. The Indian cri

Roadmap for 2036: PM seeks athletes' inputs on conduct of Paris Olympics

Confident that India's bid to host the 2036 Olympics will be successful, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged athletes bound for this month's Paris Games to share their views on the arrangements in the French capital to help the country's ambitious push to bring the showpiece here. In an interaction with Paris-bound athletes, conducted both in person and online on Thursday, Modi said those travelling to the French capital would do the country a huge service by providing inputs from their experience. "We are hoping to host the Olympics in 2036, it will help in creating a sporting atmosphere. Work is in progress to prepare infrastructure for it," he said in the interaction, which was attended by the national men's hockey team, the shooting contingent, boxers and track-and-field stars such as Neeraj Chopra. The interaction's complete video was shared by Prime Minister's Office on Friday. "I won't ask you to do anything in the middle of your events but when you are free, I would urge

India's UPI goes live at Galeries Lafayette, eyes Paris Olympics boost

Ambassador of India to France and Principality of Monaco Jawed Ashraf launched UPI by live use

High costs, safety worries hurt Paris Olympics turnout; hotel bookings drop

Flight bookings to the French capital - an indicator of tourist activity - are expected to increase by 10 per cent year-on-year from June 6 onwards

Wrestler Bajrang Punia calls Nada arrogant, says he is being targeted

Wrestler Bajrang Punia on Monday alleged that NADA was targeting him for pointing out flaws in their system and vowed to challenge the arrogance of the National Anti-Doping Agency, which he claimed wants to end his sporting career. Bajrang was suspended by NADA for the second time on June 24 after the wrestler got relief from the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) of the agency. The ADDP had lifted the first suspension on the grounds that NADA had not officially charged him for doping by serving the wrestler a formal notice. NADA then issued the notice to the Tokyo Games medallist and suspended him again. "This shows how NADA is targeting me, they don't want me to continue wrestling at any cost," Bajrang posted on X. Bajrang was suspended for refusing to provide his sample during the selection trials held in Sonepat on March 10. He had lost the trials and thus missed out on the chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The 30-year-old multiple-time World Championship medallist

Simone Biles to return to Olympics. All details of US Gymnastics team

Simone Biles is eager for a chance to put the Tokyo Olympics firmly in her rearview mirror. Three years after she memorably pulled out of multiple finals to protect her mental health and safety a decision that came with a backlash that still litters her social media feed Biles headlines a U.S. women's gymnastics team filled with familiar faces eyeing a shot at redemption in Paris. Biles will be joined by reigning Olympic champion Sunisa Lee, 2020 floor exercise champion gold medalist Jade Carey, 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles and 16-year-old newcomer Hezly Rivera, who will find herself competing next to a couple of her idols as the Americans try to reclaim the spot atop the Olympic podium they ceded to Russia in Japan. Meet the oldest women's gymnastics team the U.S. has ever taken to the Games. Simone Biles returns for a third shot at Olympic glory: The 27-year-old Biles has long been in a class of her own. She will arrive in Paris as the most decorated women's gymna

Paris Olympics likely to impact Air France KLM ticket sales this summer

France will host the Olympic Games from July 26 to Aug. 11, which has caused some people to rethink their travel plans, the company said in a statement

Rajpal, Narang in race to replace Mary Kom as India's CDM in Paris Olympics

Olympic medallist shooter Gagan Narang and Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal have emerged as strong contenders to become Indian contingent's chef de mission in Paris Games, a position which fell vacant after MC Mary Kom withdrew due to personal reasons, IOA sources told PTI on Sunday. Six-time world champion Mary Kom had resigned from the position in April, saying she was left with no choice but to step down owing to compelling person reasons. She was named CDM by the Indian Olympic Association in March this year. "Most likely it will be Gagan or Rohit for the role of chef de mission. It's a huge responsibility and they are capable of managing it. Having said that, weightlifting federation's Sahdev Yadav's name was also being considered," an IOA source told PTI on the sidelines of the send-off ceremony for India's Olympic contingent here. It has been learnt that badminton legend Prakash Padukone was also offered the position but the former All England Champion refused to take up the ..

Paris Olympics 2024: Medal contender Anshu Malik suffers shoulder strain

Anshu Malik, who is a strong medal contender at the Paris Olympics, has suffered a shoulder strain during training, forcing the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to seek a status report from the wrestler. Anshu had won a silver medal at the recent Ranking Series event in Budapest in the women's 57kg, losing the final to China's Kexin Hong. The 22-year-old Anshu had qualified for the Games by winning a gold medal at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in April. After the Budapest event, Anshu returned to her centre -- Mirchpur academy in Haryana -- and a week back suffered a strain on left shoulder. "During a practice session, she suffered strain and as a precautionary measure, she stopped training. She also underwent an MRI and there is nothing to worry. The scan is clean. Two days back she started training again," Anshu's father and coach Dharamveer Malik told PTI. "We will leave for Japan for a training camp in a few days," added Dharamveer. WFI President Sanja

Olympics 2024: Siachen warrior Sandeep now aims for Paris glory in shooting

Indian shooter Sandeep Singh's steely resolve to fight his inner demons and come back stronger as a sports shooter came in the hostile environment of Siachen, the highest battle-field in the world, where he endured temperatures as low as -40 degrees C and stayed in a tent cooking his own food like a caveman. Sandeep, the 10m air rifle shooter, who showed great determination to hang on in the face of stiff challenge from rival shooters to win the Olympic Selection Trials and secure a Paris berth earlier this year, said that grind in the tough environment, will help him achieve success in Paris. "It's like you are alone in the snowy wilderness at -40 degrees C. The food also you have to prepare alone in the camp," Sandeep, 28, told PTI on the sidelines of the ceremonial send-off of the Paris-bound Indian athletes and the unveiling of the playing kits of the contingent here on Sunday. Sandeep, who overcame the challenge of world champion shooter Rudrankksh Patil in the trials to secure

Paris 2024: Indian mixed 4x400m relay team fails to make Olympics cut

The Indian mixed 4x400m relay team failed in its bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics despite setting a national record as it missed the target time exactly by a second on the final day of the National Inter-State Championships here on Sunday. India fielded two teams -- A and B -- in the mixed 400m relay event which also has Sri Lanka and Maldives invited by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) so that the timings are counted for world ranking purposes. Three national teams are required to make an event an international one. The Indian team's target was to clock 3:11.87 to go past Kenya (3:11.88) and take the 16th and the last spot. But the India A quartet of Muhammed Anas, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Muhammed Ajmal and Kiran Pahal clocked 3:12.87 to win the race. In the process, the Indian team erased the previous national record of 3:14.12 seconds which was recorded at the Asian Relay in Bangkok in May. Interestingly, Kiran, who won the individual 400m by breaching the Olympic ...

Paris Olympics 2024: Sports Min hopeful of India bettering its medals tally

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday expressed optimism about the Indian contingent setting a new benchmark at the upcoming Paris Olympics, emphasising that sports have been a priority area in recent years. "I am confident that this contingent will sustain India's growth trajectory in sports," said Mandaviya during the ceremonial send-off of the Paris-bound athletes and the unveiling of the playing kits of the contingent. "We saw a spurt from two medals in 2016 Rio to seven in Tokyo as India rose from 67th to 48th (position), largely due to Neeraj Chopra's javelin gold. I am hoping that our athletes will take us even higher on the medal table this time." Attended by athletes, Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, the event also highlighted the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme in supporting athletes ahead of the Games. "The government has supported athletes through various schemes such as TOPS offer

Paris Olympics: PM Modi highlights firsts of athletes during Mann Ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Paris Olympic-bound athletes have prepared with "life and soul" for the upcoming Games by participating in nearly 900 international competitions collectively as he launched a campaign to generate online support for the travelling contingent. India won a best ever haul of seven medals three years ago in the Tokyo Olympics with javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra becoming the first athlete from the country to win a gold in track and field. The Prime Minister made the remarks in his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address, the first after the general elections. The radio broadcast had taken a break in February ahead of the general elections. "Our athletes' performance in Tokyo won the hearts of every Indian. Since the Tokyo Olympics, our athletes have been preparing with all their life and soul. Combined, they have participated in around 900 international competitions," Modi said. After drawing a blank in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, all eyes would be on th

Nada instructs AFI to stop Javelin thrower Manu from competing in Olympic

Javelin thrower DP Manu has been asked to stay away from competitions by the Athletics Federation of India on the instructions of the National Anti-Doping Agency as the Olympic hopeful is suspected to have been caught in the dope net. The 24-year-old Manu, who won a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Championhsips, was more or less certain to qualify for the Olympics through world ranking quota but is set to miss the Paris bus after the latest development. He was in the initial entry list for the National Inter-State Championships which began on Thursday here. But his name has been dropped from the updated roster. AFI president Adille Sumariwalla told PTI that NADA has asked the federation to stop Manu from competitions but he did not confirm whether the athlete has committed a doping offence. "There could be something like that, but we still don't know what is the actual thing. There was a phone call to AFI office (from the NADA) yesterday that he (Manu) be stopped from competitions,"

Olympic champ Herah to miss chance at 3rd straight title in 100, 200 meters

Elaine Thompson-Herah, the two-time reigning Olympic champion at 100 and 200 meters, will miss the Paris Games because of what she said is a small tear in her Achilles tendon. Thompson-Herah went down at the New York Grand Prix this month and had to be carried off the track. She had been signed up to run in the 100 meters this week at Jamaican national championships, but posted on social media Thursday that she withdrew. Funny enough, I got back home with a strong mindset to keep pushing and prepare, she said. But the leg wouldn't allow me to. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won the Olympic 100 in 2008 and 2012, ran 10.98 seconds on Thursday in the opening round and Shericka Jackson ran 10.99. Thompson-Herah had not been signed up for the 200. Her absence leaves America's Sha'Carri Richardson, Fraser-Pryce and Jackson as the top three medal contenders in the shorter sprint in Paris. Thompson-Herah, who turns 32 on Saturday, said she plans on returning. It's a long road but I am will