New Delhi, Aug 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) At 58, Rohtak-based runner Bimla Banwala is preparing to add another chapter to a remarkable endurance journey as she lines up for the Delhi Half Marathon, having already completed more than 100 races since taking up running during the pandemic in 2020.

What began as an effort to remain active has grown into a lasting passion for Bimla, who has completed more than 50 half marathons, five full marathons, 10Ks, and several other long-distance races. She now participates in around 10 events every year, with the joy of running rather than the numbers driving her commitment.

“I started running in 2020, and since then it has become a very important part of my life. I enjoy running in marathon races, and after running, I feel good and have positive energy; my mind remains fresh,” says Bimla.

Her running journey has taken her to some of India's biggest road races. A regular participant in Procam International’s marquee events, Bimla has completed the Procam Slam, besides featuring in the Delhi Half Marathon, Tata Mumbai Marathon, Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata and TCS World 10K Bengaluru.

But running has also become a family affair.

Bimla's husband, Chandrapal Banwala, has joined her on the road, with the couple travelling together to participate in races across the country. Their shared commitment to running has earned them the affectionate tag of a “power couple” within their running community.

For Chandrapal, a former Army man who joined the forces in 1987, sport has long been part of his life. He was introduced to disciplines such as wrestling during his service years, while running became a major pursuit after the pandemic. Since then, he has completed numerous marathons and ultra-marathons and has also registered several podium finishes.

“I have become so passionate about running that I don’t see anything else. Running has become such an integral part of my life, and I truly believe there is nothing better for one’s health,” says Chandrapal.

Together, the Banwalas have travelled to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru for races, turning what started as an individual fitness pursuit into a shared experience. Their participation has also made running an important part of their routine and a source of companionship.

For Bimla, the significance of the journey extends well beyond completing a race. Five years after she first took up running, the sport has become a source of fitness, positivity and mental freshness.

Now, as the Delhi Half Marathon brings runners back to the capital's streets, Bimla will return to the start line with more than a century of races behind her. At 58, she continues to embrace each event not as a destination, but as another opportunity to run, stay active and discover where the next stretch of the journey can take her.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Aug 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Africa’s Tshepo Jason Tyantini and India's Abinaya Rajarajan emerged as the fastest male and female athletes in the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Level Meeting at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa’s Tshepo Jason Tyantini won the fastest male athlete title by winning the men's 100m race on Saturday. Tshepo Jason Tyantini, 21, won gold with a time of 10.11 seconds.

Home favourite Animesh Kumar finished sixth, and national record holder in the men’s 100m dash, Gurindervir Singh, representing Punjab, finished ninth.

Animesh Kujur, representing Odisha, clocked 10.32 seconds to finish outside the medal bracket. India’s star sprinter Gurindervir Singh finished ninth with a time of 10.39 seconds.

Tamil Nadu’s promising sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan took home the women’s 100m title with a time of 11.34 seconds. Harita Bhadra of Maharashtra finished second in 11.46 seconds, while S. Sathyanarayan of Karnataka claimed the bronze in 11.56 seconds.

Results:

Men:

100m: Tshepo Jason Tyantini (South Africa) 10.11 seconds, Ali Al Balushi (Oman) 10.16 seconds, Dineth Induwara W (Sri Lanka) 10.27 seconds. 6th Animesh Kujur (Odisha) 10.32 seconds, 9th Gurindervir Singh (Punjab) 10.39 seconds.

400m: Justice Oratile (Botswana) 45.35 secs, Leendert Koekemoer (South Africa) 45.40 secs, Kalinga H (Sri Lanka) 45.61 secs. 5th Manu TS (Kerala) 45.94 secs.

800m: Molifi Mohlomi (South Africa) 1:47.45 seconds, Krishan Kumar (Haryana) 1:47.69 seconds, Prakash Balu (Maharashtra) 1:48.03 seconds.

110m hurdles: Franco Le Roux (South Africa) 13.47 secs, Antonio Alkana (South Africa) 13.54 secs, Eduardo Rodrigues (Brazil) 13.64 secs.

Shot put: Chukwuebuka Enekwe (Nigeria) 20.78m, Weir Zane (Italy) 20.47m, Karanveer Singh (Punjab) 20.06m, Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Punjab) 20.03m.

High jump: Aadarsh Ram (Tamil Nadu) 2.22m, Fatak Bait Jaboob (Oman) 2.19m, Abdul Raman Omar (Iraq) 2.15m.

Javelin throw: Rohit Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) 87.68m. Yashvir Singh (Rajasthan) 82.94m, Sumedha R (Sri Lanka) 80.29m.

Long jump: M Sreeshankar (Kerala) 8.07m, Divan Manuel (South Africa) 8.03m, David P (Tamil Nadu) 7.78m.

Women:

100m: Abinaya Rajarajan (Tamil Nadu) 11.34 seconds, Harita Bhadra (Maharashtra) 11.46 seconds, S Sathyanarayan (Karnataka) 11.56 seconds.

400m: Vithya Ramraj (Tamil Nadu) 51.96 secs, Prachi (Uttar Pradesh) 52.57 secs. Poovamma MR (Karnataka) 52.78 secs.

1500m: Pooja (Haryana) 4:17.24 seconds, Lili Das (Uttarakhand) 4:18.32 seconds, Shanika Kahawalage (Sri Lanka) 4:27.22 seconds.

5,000m: Diana Wanza (Kenya) 15:16.11 secs, Bharti (Haryana) 15:46.45 secs, Santoshi S (Nepal) 17:31,75 secs.

100m hurdles: Charisma Taylor (Bahamas) 12.96 seconds, Yumi Tanaka (Japan) 13.04 seconds, Jyothi Yarraji (Andhra Pradesh) 13.24 seconds.

Long jump: Ancy Sojan (Kerala) 6.71m, Shaili Singh (Uttar Pradesh) 6.56m, Mubssina Mohammed (Lakshadweep) 6.31m.

High jump: Supriya (Karnataka) 1.75m, Manshi (Uttar Pradesh) 1.75m, Reet Rathore (Uttar Pradesh) 1.75m.

Discus throw: Andressa De Morais (Brazil) 58.66m, Samantha Hall (Jamaica) 58.43m, Subenrat Insaeng (Thailand) 58.33m. 4th Seema Kaliramana (Haryana) 57.44m.

Javelin throw: Jucilene Sales De Lima (Brazil) 59.13m, Dilhani Lekamge (Sri Lanka) 58.98m, Annu Rani (Uttar Pradesh) 56.96m.

Source: IANS

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Lausanne, Aug 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Neeraj Chopra produced his best throw of the 2026 season but once again came up short against Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage, finishing second at the Lausanne Diamond League on Saturday.

Chopra briefly took the lead in the rankings with a remarkable throw of 88.05 metres on his second attempt, but Pathirage regained the lead and went on to win the competition by throwing 88.14 metres on his third attempt.

Anderson Peters of Grenada came third, throwing a best distance of 86.69 metres.

Chopra started his campaign with a throw of 83.54 metres, which at first put him in second place behind Pathirage; the Indian then gave his best performance of the evening on his second attempt, throwing the javelin 88.05 metres and thus taking the lead.

But Pathirage at once raised the standard by throwing 88.14 metres on his third attempt, while Chopra was only able to throw 83.72 metres with his next throw before committing a fault on his fourth.

The athlete who had won two Olympic medals skipped his fifth try, and Pathirage also missed his shot, which left the Indian with only one more chance to catch up with his competitor.

However, Chopra was unable to achieve the necessary distance in his last throw, managing only a throw of just over 82 metres while Pathirage secured victory.

This was the third instance during the 2026 season that Pathirage had finished above Chopra; the Sri Lankan had previously defeated the Indian with a throw of 88.68 metres before winning the gold medal ahead of Chopra, who took silver at the Commonwealth Games.

Although he didn't win the match, Chopra's throw of 88.05 metres was a considerable advantage since it was his longest throw of the season.

The Lausanne meeting was likewise significant for Chopra's attempt to qualify for the Diamond League Final at the end of the season; automatically qualified are only the top six athletes in the men's javelin ranking, with extra spots being available via national or global wildcards.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) After his silver-winning show at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is all set to participate in the Lausanne Diamond League, also known as Athletissima Friday.

The battle for a place in the 2026 Diamond League Final continues on Friday as a host of Olympic, world and newly crowned European champions descend on Lausanne for Athletissima.

South Asia’s two biggest stars will go head-to-head in the men’s javelin as India’s Neeraj Chopra takes on Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage.

After winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games last month, the Indian javelin throw ace will look to take the top spot at the Lausanne Diamond League 2026 at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Switzerland on Friday.

The upcoming athletics meet, also known as Athletissima, will mark Chopra's fourth appearance in Lausanne. The Lausanne Diamond League will also be Chopra’s third competitive outing of the 2026 athletics season.

The Sri Lankan’s 92.62m world lead in Rome in June has helped propel him to the top of the world rankings this season, and he has already booked his place in the final in Brussels.

Former Olympic and Diamond League champion Chopra, by contrast, is lagging behind in the standings and needs a big performance in Lausanne Meet, which is important in India's bid to climb the season-ending Diamond League Finals standings.

Neeraj will be competing in a stacked field similar to the Commonwealth Games 2026 along with European stars. The five javelin superstars who have claimed the last four Olympic and World Championship titles will all be at Athletissima on August 21 for a competition of exceptional quality.

The exceptional field highlights how the centre of gravity in world javelin has shifted towards the Indian subcontinent, with reigning Olympic champion Pakistan’s ArshadNadeem, India’s Chopra and Sri Lanka’s Pathirage, and towards the Caribbean, represented by Trinidad and Tobago’s Walcott and Grenada’s Peters.

The Lausanne crowd will have the opportunity to witness different schools of throwing and contrasting styles. Peters’ meeting record of 90.61m will be under serious threat.

Switzerland’s Simon Wieland, who continues to make impressive progress, has also been confirmed, along with the last two European champions, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Czechia’s Jakub Vadlejch and Germany’s Julian Weber. World number two American Curtis Thompson will also be in contention for victory.

Five of these throwers, Neeraj, Arshad, Pathirage, Peters, and Walcott, competed in the CWG 2026 javelin final, with Pathirage winning the title with a massive throw of 89.75m in tough windy conditions.

Lausanne is the 12th leg of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League, which began in Shanghai/Keqiao on May 16 and ends at the two-day series final in Brussels on September 4-5.

As it stands ahead of Lausanne, a total of 72 athletes have already done enough to secure a place in the 2026 Wanda Diamond League Final. They include a number of Olympic and world champions, world record holders and reigning Diamond League champions.

When is Neeraj Chopra’s javelin throw match at Lausanne Diamond League 2026

Neeraj Chopra’s javelin throw match at the Lausanne Diamond League 2026 is scheduled to start at 11:52 PM IST.

Where to watch Lausanne Diamond League 2026 live in India

The Lausanne Diamond League 2026 will be available to watch on live streaming in India on the Diamond League’s official YouTube channel.

Indian viewers can watch the Lausanne Diamond League on Sports18, while live streaming has been available through JioCinema in India.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Aug 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Inspired by Neeraj Chopra's historic Olympic triumph, Jharkhand's teenage javelin thrower Shilpa Kumari has set her sights on winning an Olympic medal and emerging as one of India's leading stars in the sport.

Hailing from a family of farmers in a remote village in Gumla district, Shilpa is the current national record holder in the women's U-17 javelin category and has emerged as one of the country's most promising young talents.

For Shilpa, it was Chopra's gold medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympics that sparked her interest in javelin. She watched the historic moment on television alongside villagers at her village 'chaupal'.

"I watched Neeraj Chopra win gold at the Olympics. That inspired me to take up javelin. I want to emulate Neeraj sir and win an Olympic medal," Shilpa said during an interaction with SAI Media.

"As I watched the people in my village celebrate Neeraj Chopra's triumph, I decided that winning an Olympic medal in javelin would be the target of my life from then on," she added.

Her Olympic dream received a major boost when she attended an athletics trial at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Ranchi, where coach Binod Singh spotted her natural ability.

"When I first spotted her three years ago during a trial at our SAI centre, I was impressed by her sheer natural talent. At that time, she was a total novice. But I selected her due to the fact that she displayed an extremely strong throwing ability," Singh recalled.

"I could see the potential and realised that she was a very good prospect for the future. Once I inducted her into training at the SAI centre in Ranchi, Shilpa showed excellent progress. She quickly improved and is now the brightest upcoming prospect for India in women's javelin," he added.

Singh also highlighted the role played by SAI in supporting Shilpa's development, given her family's financial limitations.

"Her parents are farmers and do not have the means to provide the required support for Shilpa's sports career. It is the facilities, training, equipment, diet, etc provided by SAI which has helped me to transform an uncut gem into a shining diamond," he said.

Shilpa made her mark at the national level in 2025 when she recorded a throw of 55.62m at the 69th National School Games to set a new women's U-17 mark.

Her effort was also better than India's U-18 national record of 55.19m, set by Haryana's Deepika in 2023. However, Shilpa's 55.62m effort was not officially recognised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) as the competition was not sanctioned by World Athletics.

Her official personal best came at the 2025 Junior Nationals, where she finished fifth with a throw of 45.90m, representing an improvement of nearly 10 metres.

"As an athlete, my only focus is to do my best. If the federation has not officially registered my throw, I will try to produce an even better attempt at my next official competition," Shilpa said.

Singh remains confident that the teenager can reproduce and surpass her unofficial record as she progresses to the senior level.

"Shilpa is not concerned whether her best throw is officially recognised or not. We know what she can do. She will achieve that mark again," he said.

For now, Shilpa's immediate target is the Summer Youth Olympics, scheduled to be held in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026.

"My first goal right now is to finish on the podium at the Youth Olympics. But my ultimate goal is an Olympic medal. I will dedicate my Olympic medal to Neeraj sir," the teenager said.

Source: IANS

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Eugene, Aug 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) National senior record holder Pooja Singh finished a disappointing seventh in the women’s high jump final as India wrapped up their World Athletics U20 Championships campaign with three medals.

The 19-year-old Pooja entered the competition as one of the top contenders after setting a national senior record of 1.93m earlier this year. However, she could only clear 1.84m in the final. She then failed all three attempts at 1.87m and had to exit the competition.

Australia’s Izobelle Louison-Roe won the gold medal with a clearance of 1.92m. Hungary’s Lilianna Batori and Spain’s Aitana Alonso took silver and bronze, respectively, after both cleared 1.90m.

Earlier this season, Pooja had a great run, winning gold at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in May with her record-breaking 1.93m clearance. She is also the current champion at the Senior Asian Athletics Championships.

India’s women’s 4x400m relay team faced challenges, finishing ninth and last in the final with a time of 3:45.28. The Indian team included Bhoomika Nehate, Tahura Khatun, Tanu Chaudhary, and Thiya Arumugam.

The United States won the gold medal in 3:29.15, with Australia taking silver in 3:31.39 and Great Britain claiming bronze in 3:32.08.

India finished the championships with two silver medals and one bronze, matching their overall medal tally from the 2021 and 2022 editions.

Ashish Yadav started India’s medal count with silver in the men’s javelin throw. Basant Kumar Meghwal added another silver in the men’s high jump, while Shahnavaz Khan secured bronze in the men’s long jump.

India’s growing presence at the World Athletics U20 Championships is a significant change from its past record. Between 2002 and 2018, the country won only four medals, which included gold medals for Neeraj Chopra in the men’s javelin throw in 2016 and Hima Das in the women’s 400m in 2018.

Seema Antil won India’s first-ever medal at the championships when she took silver in the women’s discus throw at the 2002 edition in Jamaica. Navjeet Kaur Dhillon later won bronze in the same event in 2014 in the USA.

India further increased its medal tally at the 2021 edition, where Amit won silver in the men’s 10,000m race walk, and Shaili Singh claimed silver in the women’s long jump. The mixed 4x400m relay team also won bronze.

At the 2022 championships, Selva Prabhu Thirumaran won silver in the men’s triple jump, while the mixed 4x400m relay team finished second. Rupal Chaudhary added a bronze in the women’s 400m.

India managed just one medal at the 2024 edition, with Aarti winning bronze in the women’s 10,000m race walk.

Source: IANS

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Eugene, Aug 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Basant won silver in the men's high jump at the U20 Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, equalling his personal best jump of 2.21m. The 19-year-old from Ganganagar, Rajasthan, became the first Indian to win a high jump medal at any world-level event.

Basant first sailed over 2.06m, followed by 2.12m and 2.17m; then a huge 2.21m was enough to place him firmly on the podium. The top three men shared that 2.21m height, but Basant's clutch clearances held strong on countback to secure silver. Alegeria's Younes Ayachi took the gold while Britain's Otis Poole pocketed the bronze.

Meanwhile, Shahnavaz Khan bagged the bronze in the men's long jump with a best jump of 7.84m to win the first world-level medal by an Indian men's long jumper.

Trailing early, Shahnavaz dug deep with a monster 7.84m in round 3, then backed it up with 7.83m in round 5 to hold his nerve and his podium place against the world's best.

Italy's Inzoli, with a best effort of 7.97m, clinched the gold, while the silver went to Australia's McGroder (7.96m).

This is now India’s third medal of the ongoing championship, following Ashish Yadav’s silver in the javelin throw on Friday.

"With this, the Indians matched their best-ever performance at the U20 World Athletics Championships in 2021 with a total of three medals, and can register their best-ever medal haul with one day to go before the event concludes."

Earlier, India's women's 4×400m quartet of Bhoomika Nehate, Tahura Khatun, Tanu Chaudhary and Thiya Arumugam made it to the final after finising in top three of their heat, clocking 3:39.53, behind USA (3:32.66) and Australia (3:33.68 season's best).

Bhoomika set the tone with a fearless lead-off (55.81). Tahura kept India in the fight (54.54) while Tanu unleashed a blistering third leg to power the charge (53.87) and Thiya Arumugam brought it home under pressure (55.31).

On Saturday, Ashish opened India's medal account, winning a silver medal in javelin throw event. The 19-year-old Ashish Yadav from Uttar Pradesh became the first thrower to bag a U20 World medal since Neeraj Chopra did it in 2016.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has congratulated fellow Indian javelin thrower Ashish Yadav after his silver-medal finish at the World U20 Athletics Championships, calling the achievement particularly special from the perspective of a javelin thrower.

Ashish secured the second spot in the men's javelin final with a best effort of 74.09 metres, which came in his third attempt. His performance earned India a podium finish at the global junior event.

Chopra, who recently won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, took to X to applaud the teenager and backed him to achieve greater success in the future.

"Always a great feeling to see Indian athletes competing and winning at the International level; this one is a little more special for me as a javelin thrower. Super proud of you, Ashish, on your Silver at the U-20 Worlds; this is just the start!" Chopra wrote on X.

South Africa's Heymans claimed the gold medal after producing a winning throw of 80.50 metres, while Dominica's James finished third with 73.89 metres.

India had another representative in the javelin competition, with T. Dharanidharan ending the event in sixth position. His best effort measured 72.35 metres.

Ashish's silver adds to India's growing presence in javelin at the junior level, a discipline that has been transformed by Chopra's achievements over the past decade.

Chopra himself created history at the 2016 World U20 Championships by winning the javelin gold with a then-world junior record of 86.48 metres. He has since gone on to become India's most decorated track and field athlete, winning Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024. He will now compete at the Lausanne Diamond League later this year. Neeraj will face stern competition from Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, with a throw of 89.75 meters.

Source: IANS

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Eugene, Aug 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian thrower Amanat Kamboj made it to the women's discus throw final at the U20 World Athletics Championships final with a season's best throw on Thursday.

Amanat, who won the Asian U20 gold in discus with a best effort of 52.24 in May this year, recorded the throw of 52.58 to finish sixth among the world's best U20 throwers in the qualifications.

She became the third Indian to enter their respective finals after Ashish Yadav and T. Dharanidharan made it through to the men's javelin final.

Ashish topped his group with a best throw of 69.87m, while Dharanidharan recorded 68.07m to finish in his group to make the final. Overall, Ashish finished second in the qualification, while Dharanidharan placed 12th.

South African U20 javelin champion Jan-Hendrik Heymans started off hot in Eugene, hitting the automatic qualifying mark on his first throw with 76.02m. That was more than six metres farther than the next best throw, and the sole attempt beyond 70 metres.

Behind Heymans, three athletes surpassed 69 metres, including India’s Ashish (69.87m), Poland’s Aleksander Wojna (69.80m) and China’s Yang Zhaoyi (69.80m), setting the stage for a final that could feature a tight medal fight. USA's Nolan Carey, who set a personal best of 74.72m in May and won the US U20 title in Eugene in July, did not advance.

The women's dicuss throw final is scheduled for Saturday, while the men's javelin will be held

In the men's 800m, Mogali Venkatram clocked 1:52.81 to finish third in his heat and booked a spot in the semifinal, while Uwin Anand ran a quicker 1:52.37 but was edged out in a faster heat.

The mixed 4×400m relay team Piyush Raj, Tahura Khatun, Sayed Sabeer and Thiya Arumugam clocked the season-best 3:22.85 but could not make it to the final as they finished outside the best nine.

A 36-member Indian track and field contingent is competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026, running from August 5 to 9 at Hayward Field in Oregon.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) After his silver-winning show at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is set to participate in the Lausanne Diamond League, also known as Athletissima, on August 21.

Neeraj will be competing in a stacked field similar to the Commonwealth Games 2026 along with European stars. The five javelin superstars who have claimed the last four Olympic and World Championship titles will all be at Athletissima on August 21 for a competition of exceptional quality.

The exceptional field highlights how the centre of gravity in world javelin has shifted towards the Indian subcontinent, with reigning Olympic champion Pakistan’s ArshadNadeem, India’s Chopra and Sri Lanka’s Pathirage, and towards the Caribbean, represented by Trinidad and Tobago’s Walcott and Grenada’s Peters.

The Lausanne crowd will have the opportunity to witness different schools of throwing and contrasting styles. Peters’ meeting record of 90.61m will be under serious threat.

Switzerland’s Simon Wieland, who continues to make impressive progress, has also been confirmed, along with the last two European champions, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Czechia’s Jakub Vadlejch and Germany’s Julian Weber. World number two American Curtis Thompson will also be in contention for victory.

Five of these throwers, Neeraj, Arshad, Pathirage, Peters, and Walcott, competed in the CWG 2026 javelin final, with Pathirage winning the title with a massive throw of 89.75m in tough windy conditions.

Neeraj produced a season-best throw of 85.83m to finish at the second spot. Arshad, who was also the defending champion from Birmingham, failed to make a mark and finished ninth with a below-par performance of 77.41. Peters finished fourth with 83.88m.

In the Diamond League standings, the 2022 champion Neeraj currently sits seventh with fove points while Pathirage and Peters have already qualified for the finals with 23 points each.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two key mentors of Pakistan's Olympics gold medalist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem have blamed lack of training and negligence for his flop show in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, urging the Olympic champion to work extremely hard for a comeback.

Nadeem, who shattered records at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 92.97 meter throw, looked completely off-colour as he finished ninth in the 12-man final, leaving fans and coaching staff shell-shocked

Arshad's campaign was off to a sluggish qualification throw of 78.63 metres as he barely qualified for the final.

His 77.41 metre throw was not enough for a medal contention in the competition won by Sri Lanka's rising star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage with a brilliant 89.75 metre throw.

India's Neeraj Chopra, a close rival of Nadeem for the last four years, took the silver while another Indian Yash Vir Singh clinched the bronze.

Akram Sahi, the first official to help Nadeem rise in early 2018, blamed certain characters who highjacked him. "Since Nadeem's Olympic gold medal a coterie highjacked him and never let him come to me," Sahi, a former president of Pakistan Athletics Federation, told Telecom Asia Sport.

"This result in Glasgow is hugely disappointing for someone who has risen to new heights but the signs were imminent for the last several months as there was negligence and lack of training."

Another mentor who doesn't want to be named agreed with Sahi. "Arshad Nadeem had become complacent and what we noticed was lack of training and after he was busy in Haj this year he did not do proper training," he added.

"He won the Olympics after he got extensive training from his South African coach Terseus Liebenberg. His training stints at Northwest University Potchefstroom also helped him clinched an Olympic gold.

"Now he waited for Federation and government to send him to South Africa for training. He has got good money in rewards after the Paris show so he should have invested on himself rather than waiting for someone to send him,"he added.

The mentor blamed lack of proper coach for Nadeem. "Salman Butt, the current coach with Nadeem has nothing to do with javelin throw, he was an ordinary discus throw athlete with no achievements but he has been with Nadeem like a shadow and that has affected his performance.

"Since getting some good cash rewards to the tune of 300 million PKR, Nadeem is more into business ventures and is building a marriage hall and restaurant in his hometown Mian Channu which takes his time and attention. An athlete doesn't need such diversions."

Sahi, also chairman of South Asian Athletics Federation, showed delight at the emergence of Pathirage and Vir Singh. "This is a welcome sign the medals remained in South Asia with a Sri Lankan emerging after some real hard work."

Fans also showed disappointment over Nadeem's lackluster show. "He (Nadeem) was pampered by people who matters," said Ahsan Muneeb who has followed Games as an analyst. "Instead of giving him millions that pampered him, the government and sports authorities should have arranged a high quality foreign coach and settled him in places like Germany, South Africa or England so that he could have got better training and would have been better acclimatized.

"It will be near impossible for him to stage a come back."

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, Aug 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Exactly four years ago, on August 1, 2020, Shubham Juyal was lying in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), grappling with the reality of an above-knee amputation. Hopeless, aimless, and watching his lifelong dream of becoming an Indian Army officer slip away just days before his interview, life seemed to have come to a devastating halt.

Fast forward four years to August 1, 2026, and Juyal is standing tall on the podium at the Commonwealth Games, holding a silver medal around his neck as he refuses to surrender his spirit.

"This is a big achievement because just four years ago, on August 1st, I was in the ICU. I had an above-knee amputation and at that time I was completely hopeless and aimless," Juyal told IANS, reflecting on his incredible journey. "I never thought that after four years I would compete in the Commonwealth Games, let alone win a silver medal."

Before the life-altering accident, Juyal's sole focus was serving in Indian Army. Having already cleared his written examinations, he was merely a week away from his interview when tragedy struck.

Juyal was 26 when he cleared the written exam for the Army Cadet College entry scheme and was on his way to his SSB interview when a serious motorcycle accident changed the course of his life.

"Four years ago, my aim was to become an Army officer," he recalled. "I didn't know what I would do in life after the accident."

The turning point came in 2023 when Juyal entered the Army Paralympic Node. It was there that he met with Subedar Major RK Singh Rawat, the man who would help rewrite his destiny. At the time, Juyal had no background in para-athletics.

"I didn't even know the zero of shot put," Juyal admitted. "But my coach motivated me and taught me everything. The Indian Army, my family, and my friends supported me immensely through it all."

For the newly crowned CWG silver medallist, Glasgow silver is the launchpad for greater glories ahead as he is eyeing clinching a gold at the 2028 Paralympics.

"It's a big journey, but I think it has just started," Juyal added. "There are many more medals to come. And my aim is to win the 2028 LA Paralympics gold medal," he said.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, Aug 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian triple jumper Praveen Chithravel admitted that though he won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026, he is a little disappointed with his performance, and now he is targeting a gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi, Nagoya, Japan.

Competing in cool and challenging conditions, the 25-year-old triple jumper, who missed the medal by the narrowest of margins in the Birmingham Games, produced a best leap of 16.58m to finish second behind Jamaica's Jordan Scott in Glasgow.

Addressing the heartbreak of finishing just three centimetres short of a podium in 2022, Chithravel told IANS, "Winning a medal at a major competition is very important to me, so I’m glad to have secured one. I am happy to win the silver, especially after finishing fourth last time, though performance-wise, I’m still a little disappointed."

Chitravel dedicated his medal to his family. "I would like to dedicate this silver medal to my family, my coaches, and my friends. My father is my biggest inspiration to do well; he has always encouraged me and reminded me of my potential."

The national record holder, who failed to progress beyond the qualification round At the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo with a best jump of 16.74, soared 16.92m to win the title at the inter-state athletics championships in June and booked his berth for the upcoming Asian Games.

'Next, my focus is on the Asian Games. I won a bronze last time, but this time I’m targeting the gold. Supported by the AFI and SAI, I am heading to the Czech Republic tomorrow for a two-week training camp. After that, we’ll return to India before heading to Japan for the Asian Games," he said.

Chithravel holds the Indian men's triple jump national record of 17.37m, first set in Cuba in 2023. He equalled the mark at the Federation Cup in Kochi last year.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, Aug 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's top male distance runner Gulveer Singh won a bronze medal in the Men's 5000m, becoming the first Indian to win two medals in track and field competitions in a single edition of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Saturday.

Gulveer clocked 13:24.95 in the final to secure a bronze medal in the Men's 5000m. He had earlier won a silver medal in the Men's 10,000m with a timing of 27:49.78, achieving a historic first for the country in the Commonwealth Games 2026.

In the 5000m final on Saturday, Gulveer finished behind Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang of Kenya, who won gold in 13:23.61, and Australia's Ky Robinson, who claimed the silver medal in 13:24.70.

Gulveer ran a tactical race, racing to the finish line with a brilliant kick in the final lap, moving from equal-fifth position to third and claiming the bronze medal in 13:24.95.

Gulveer, the 28-year-old Armyman from Atrauli in Uttar Pradesh, remained tucked in the eighth position at the end of the first lap (400m), covering the distance in 1:10.6. He picked up a bit of speed in the second 400m, completing it in 1:06.4, moving to the fourth position at the 1000m mark.

He fell back to seventh as he covered 2400m, nearing the halfway stage. He was fifth going into the final lap and then produced a nice sprint to eventually finish third in 13 minutes 24.95 seconds.

The 2022 Asian Games bronze medallist in 10,000m, Gulveer has won a double in the 2025 Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea.

Gulveer's running journey began on village roads and farmland trails in his native village as he prepared for recruitment into the Indian Army. After joining The Grenadiers Regiment in 2018, he steadily rose through the ranks of Indian athletics to become the country's premier distance runner.

Gulveer made his international breakthrough with a bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships and followed it up with a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games.

He established himself as Asia's leading long-distance runner in 2025 by winning double gold medals in the 5000m and 10,000m at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.

A prolific record-breaker, Gulveer holds the Indian national records in the 5000m, 10,000m, one mile, and half marathon. In 2025, he became the first Indian to run a sub-4-minute mile, clocking 3:55.63, and the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under 60 minutes with a time of 59:42.

He also made history by clocking 12:59.77 for 5000m indoors, becoming the first Asian athlete to break the 13-minute barrier and setting a new Asian record. Training regularly at the high-performance centre in Colorado Springs, Gulveer has emerged as a trailblazer for Indian distance running. His achievements have elevated India's presence on the global distance-running stage and established him as one of the country's strongest medal prospects at major international championships.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, Aug 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) With a bronze medal in his bag after achieving a double podium for India with compatriot Praveen Chithravel, triple jumper Selva Prabhu Thirumaran is looking forward to more international success with the Asian Games and Olympics as his target.

National record holder Praveen Chithravel clinched the silver medal while rising star Selva Prabhu Thirumaran secured bronze in a high-quality final in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Saturday.

Praveen, who had narrowly missed a medal by just three centimetres at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, finally earned his long-awaited podium finish with a best leap of 16.58m, while Selva produced a season's best effort of 16.52m to ensure two Indian flags were raised during the medal ceremony.

Speaking after his son Selva Prabhu won the bronze medal, his father, Thirumaran, said he had expected his son to cross the 17-metre mark in the triple jump final on Saturday. "I am extremely happy that my son has won the bronze medal. I was expecting him to win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. But the conditions there were very difficult, so he couldn't perform to his full potential.

"This morning, when I spoke to him, I told him he would cross 17 metres. But the changing weather conditions affected his performance. Still, we are very happy with this medal. Our entire family and relatives are overjoyed. I can't even describe how happy we are," Thirumaran said.

With bronze in his bag, Selva Prabhu and his family are looking forward to the upcoming Asian Games in Japan next month.

Speaking about the upcoming Asian competition, Thirumaran said: "He's only 21 years old and has a bright future ahead. If both the Central and State Governments continue to support him well, he can definitely win an Olympic medal. He will also win the gold medal at the upcoming Asian competition. It's just two months away, and he has already been selected for it. The event will be held in Japan, and I'm confident he'll win gold there."

On the support he has received, he added: "He has received good training and strong support from both the Central and State Governments. Even when he was studying in school, the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) supported him well. He stayed in the hostel and studied there until Class 12."

Thirumaran further said, "He is currently studying at the University of Kansas in the United States, where he also trains. He is also associated with JSW, where he continues his training. The government has been supporting him well."

When asked about both the silver and bronze medals in the men's triple jump being won by athletes from Tamil Nadu, he responded: "It is a matter of immense pride. I'm very happy! Both athletes are training under JSW."

Highlighting his son's achievements, Thirumaran said: "He has now won two international medals. Overall, he has won six international medals. In the NCAA championships held in the United States, he has won four medals in total. Most recently, he won the outdoor gold medal there with a jump of over 17.5 metres."

Speaking about his son's journey, he said: "He has been doing triple jump since the age of 11. He is now 21 years old. He has been passionate about the sport since childhood.

"We come from a farming family, and farming is all we could do to support him. Going forward, we need continued support from the Tamil Nadu Government and the Central Government. If they continue to support him with sports nutrition, accommodation, training, and everything else he needs, he will bring great honour to the Tamil Nadu Government. The government has supported him well so far, and if that support continues to grow, he will achieve even greater success," he said.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, Aug 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) India created history in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games 2026 as Soman Rana clinched the country's first-ever gold medal in the Men's Shot Put F57 event, while compatriot Shubham Juyal completed a memorable one-two by claiming silver on Saturday.

It was India's maiden gold medal in the Men's Shot Put F57 at the Commonwealth Games and also the country's first-ever double podium finish in the event.

Soman produced the winning throw of 13.40m on his second attempt, a mark that none of his rivals could surpass during the remainder of the competition. Shubham, meanwhile, saved his best for last, launching the shot to 13.28m with his sixth and final attempt to move into the silver-medal position. Cameroon's Cedric Idriss Lekezo Azamdzi settled for the bronze medal with a best effort of 12.57m.

Soman made an impressive start to the competition with an opening throw of 13.38m before improving to the gold medal-winning 13.40m in his second attempt. His third effort was a foul, while his remaining throws measured 13.14m, 13.17m and 13.11m. Although he could not better his second-round effort, it proved more than enough to secure the top spot on the podium.

Shubham displayed remarkable consistency throughout the final. He opened with 13.08m, followed by 12.42m, before improving to 13.27m in the third round. He then managed 13.16m and 12.88m, before delivering his finest throw of 13.28m on the final attempt to seal the silver medal.

The gold marked another major achievement for Soman Rana, who overcame a career-threatening mine blast injury suffered while serving with the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006.

After undergoing rehabilitation and taking up para athletics, the two-time Paralympian has emerged as one of India's leading F57 shot putters, winning medals at the Asian Para Games, World Para Athletics Championships and national competitions before adding a historic Commonwealth Games gold to his resume.

For Shubham, the silver medal capped a remarkable journey. The Roorkee-born athlete saw his dream of becoming an Army officer shattered after losing a leg in a motorcycle accident in 2022. Choosing para sport during rehabilitation, he joined the Army's Paralympic Sports Node and rapidly progressed in the F57 category, earning medals at the National Para Athletics Championships, Khelo India Para Games and Indian Open Para Athletics before making his breakthrough on the Commonwealth Games stage.

Source: IANS

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London, Aug 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage winning a historic gold medal in men’s Javelin Throw at the 2026 Commonwealth Games here has led to an incredible and proud day for his nation to rejoice.

Pathirage, 23, became only the fifth Sri Lankan to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal, after landing a decisive throw of 89.75 metres on his second attempt at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.

Despite registering five fouls across the final, that single legal throw proved sufficient for Pathirage to clinch the gold medal ahead of India’s star javelin thrower and Tokyo Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra, claimed the silver medal with a best effort of 85.83m, while India’s Yash Vir Singh secured bronze medal with a personal-best 85.41m.

“Incredible and proud day for Sri Lanka," Sangakkara wrote on his ‘X’ account on Saturday. Pathirage, a former fast bowler who once clocked 134 kph at the Under-18 level, switched to athletics under coach Tony Prasanna, whom he credits for his transformation.

Pathirage's gold ended a 20-year wait for Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games, marking the nation's first gold medal since weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage topped the podium at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada narrowly missed out on a medal by finishing fourth with an 83.88m throw. Meanwhile, reigning Olympic champion, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, finished a distant ninth with a best effort of 77.41m.

Though he fell short of the automatic qualification mark of 84m during the qualifiers on Thursday, Pathirage still topped the field with a best throw of 82.84m. Now, one can truly say that Sri Lankan cricket’s loss has clearly turned out to be athletics' gain, and a moment of immense national pride for the island nation.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Neeraj Chopra and Yashvir Singh after the Indian duo delivered a memorable double podium finish in the men's javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026, praising their achievements as an inspiration for the country's young athletes.

Congratulating Yashvir on his bronze medal, the Prime Minister wrote, "Congratulations to Yash Vir Singh for winning the Bronze in the Men’s Javelin event! He produced an impressive throw, reflecting his zeal and dedication. His achievement will inspire many young athletes. All the best to him for the endeavours ahead."

Modi also lauded Neeraj Chopra after the Olympic champion secured the silver medal, saying, "An outstanding Silver for Neeraj Chopra in the Men’s Javelin event at Glasgow! He has once again demonstrated remarkable consistency, composure and spirit. His successes make every Indian proud. My best wishes to him for the endeavours ahead."

Neeraj won silver with a season-best throw of 85.83m, but it wasn't enough to maintain his Commonwealth title. Sri Lanka's R.T. Pathirage delivered a remarkable Games record throw of 89.75m to take home the gold medal.

The Indian athlete started with a throw of 80.97m and then improved to 85.83m in his second attempt, which was his best effort in the competition. His other valid throws measured 81.29m and 80.73m, while his last two attempts were fouls.

India had a great showing in this important athletics event. Yashvir Singh secured the bronze medal with a personal best of 85.41m, finishing just 42cm behind Neeraj in a closely fought contest.

Pathirage's impressive 89.75m throw was unbeatable. He delivered the best performance of his career, surprising a strong field and grabbing the Commonwealth title.

Grenada's Anderson Peters came in fourth with 83.88m, followed by South Africa's Douw Smit with 82.88m and Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott at 82.55m.

Even though Neeraj could not defend his title, India's dual podium finish, with the Olympic champion earning silver and Yashvir taking bronze, marked a successful outing in one of the Games' top athletics events. Pathirage's record-breaking performance was one of the biggest surprises of Glasgow 2026.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, Aug 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra clinched the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after producing his season's best effort of 85.83m. However, the mark wasn’t enough to regain the title as Sri Lanka’s R.T. Pathirage delivered a sensational 89.75m throw to claim gold.

It was a maiden Commonwealth Games medal for Yashvir Singh while Chopra grabbed his second medal after the gold at Gold Coast in 2018. He missed the 2022 edition with an injury.

Neeraj opened with 80.97m before improving to 85.83m in his second attempt, which eventually stood as his best throw of the competition. His remaining valid throws measured 81.29m and 80.73m, while his final two attempts were fouls.

India celebrated a double podium finish with Yashvir Singh securing the bronze medal. Yashvir registered a personal best of 85.41m, finishing just 42cm behind Neeraj in a closely fought contest.

Pathirage’s outstanding 89.75m effort proved unbeatable as the Sri Lankan thrower produced the performance of his career to take the Commonwealth title.

With the first two spots sealed by Pathirage and Chopra after the second round, Yashvir Singh upset the rankings by producing his personal best throw of 85.41 in the sixth and final round to jump into medal contention.

But his medal was not sealed yet as former World Champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Douw Smit of South Africa had an opportunity to overtake him in their final throws. But both failed to come anywhere close to Yashvir's effort.

Anderson Peters finished fourth with 83.88m, followed by Douw Smit (82.88m) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (82.55m).

Paris Olympics gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, who was also the defending champion from Birmingham, failed to make a mark and finished ninth with a below-par performance of 77.41. Nadeem holds the Games record of 90.13m set at Birmingham in 2022.

Rohit Yadav, the third Indian in the javelin throw final, finished seventh with a best throw of 81.56m.

Despite missing out on gold, Neeraj’s silver and Yashvir’s bronze ensured India finished with two medals in one of the marquee events of the athletics programme, while Pathirage’s stunning display emerged as one of the biggest upsets of the Games.

The two medals in javelin throw took India's overall tally to 23 with five gold, 12 silver and six bronze medals. They occupy the 10th spot in the medals table but will definitely move up in the rankings with a big haul expected in the boxing rings as 10 Indian pugilists made it to the finals on Friday.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, Aug 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tejaswin Shankar made history for India in athletics and the Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Indian to win a medal in Men's Decathlon in a major international multi-sport event at Glasgow on Friday.

The high jumper-turned decathlete, Tejaswin Shankar, also got his name into the record books by becoming the first Indian athlete to win medals in two different disciplines in the Commonwealth Games. He won a bronze medal in men's high jump in the 2022 edition in Birmingham.

The first Indian decathlete to cross the 8,000-point mark, Tejaswin won bronze in Glasgow with 7,976 points in the most gruelling event in the track and field competition.

The reigning Asian Champion in both heptathlon and decathlon, Tejaswin finished behind Victor Lindon of Granada, who ended with a season-best 8096 points, while Canada's Damian Warner took the silver medal with 8036 points.

In the competition spread over many days, the 27-year-old Tejaswin finished 7th in the 100m with a timing of 10.96 seconds (870 pts), cleared 7.82m in the long jump to claim 1015 points and moved to overall third in the standings. He gained 673 points in shot put, soared to 2.15m in high jump for 944 points and bagged 837 points by finishing fifth in the 400m race for a combined total of 4339 at the end of five events and was placed second in the standings.

Tejaswin got 922 points in the 110m hurdles, a modest 674 in discus throw and 704 in pole vault, after which he slipped to fourth in the overall standings. A good performance in the javelin throw pushed him back into the medals bracket, moving him to third, and he confirmed his medal by bagging 704 points in the 1500m race, for a total of 7976 points.

Tejaswin is the Indian national record holder in the decathlon and a graduate of Kansas State University, where he won two NCAA Division I titles in the high jump. Over the course of his career, he has competed successfully in both high jump and combined events at the national and international levels. Tejaswin gained prominence in the high jump after setting the Indian record of 2.29m in 2018. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, he won bronze, becoming the first Indian male high jumper to win a medal at the Games. Later, he transitioned his focus to combined events and secured the silver medal in the decathlon at the 2022 Asian Games.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s national record holder Praveen Chithravel says he is focused on executing every phase of his jump and trusting his preparation rather than thinking about the outcome as he gears up for the men’s triple jump final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Chithravel, who qualified for Saturday’s final after producing a best effort of 16.41 metres in the qualification round, enters the medal event with unfinished business, having missed the podium by just three centimetres at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games four years ago.

Reflecting on that disappointment, the Asian Games bronze medallist said the experience helped shape his growth as an athlete.

“Missing the medal in Birmingham by such a small margin taught me a lot. Since then, every season has been about becoming a better athlete technically, physically and mentally. I don’t want to think too much about results before the competition. My job is to execute every phase of my jump well, stay calm and trust the work I’ve put in. If I can do that, I know the performance will come,” said Chithravel.

The 23-year-old, who trains at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in Ballari under Cuban coach Yoandri Betanzos, credited the high-performance environment for helping him improve the finer aspects of his event.

“Triple jump is an event where the smallest details make a big difference. At IIS, I have the opportunity to work on those details every single day. Whether it’s technical feedback after a session, strength work, recovery or nutrition, everything comes together in one place. Living on campus means I can stay fully focused on training, and that consistency has really helped me improve as an athlete,” he said.

Looking ahead to the final, Chithravel said his priority remains continuous improvement.

“I’m always trying to improve, whether it’s by a few centimetres or by becoming a better athlete overall. Every competition teaches you something new, and every season is a chance to move closer to the level I want to reach. Right now, my focus is on giving my best in Glasgow, enjoying the competition and making every jump count,” he said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Swapna Barman, India's first heptathlete to win a gold medal at the Asian Games, announced her retirement from athletics on Friday, citing the run of injuries.

The 29-year-old Arjuna awardee won the historic gold at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games. Competing with a jaw injury, she became the first Indian to win an Asian Games heptathlon gold.

"This is one of the most difficult decisions of my life. Athletics has been more than just a sport for me-it has been my identity, my passion, my dream, and a journey filled with countless sacrifices, struggles, tears, and unforgettable memories," she wrote in an lengthy Instagram post.

“Over the years, I have faced many injuries, including a slipped disc and knee injuries. I tried to fight through the pain and keep going, but now my body is no longer supporting me the way it once did,” Barman noted in her retirement message.

Injuries and setbacks followed in the years after, but Barman kept fighting back and secured silver medals at the 2019 and 2023 Asian Championships. She also bagged a pentathlon silver at the 2023 Asian Indoor Championships.

Swapna Barman narrowly missed out on a podium at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, finishing fourth - just four points short of compatriot Nandini Agasara, who claimed bronze.

“This is one of the most difficult decisions of my life. Athletics has been more than just a sport for me - it has been my identity, my passion, my dream.

"Walking away from something you have loved your entire life is never easy. My heart still wants to compete, to jump, and to chase my dreams, but I have to accept that this chapter of my life has come to an end. I am forever grateful to everyone who stood by me throughout this incredible journey," she wrote.

Swapna Barman first announced herself as a force in Indian athletics in 2017 when she claimed the heptathlon gold at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar.

Her last competitive outing was at the 2025 National Open Athletics Championships in Bengaluru, where she secured third place.

"I leave athletics with a heart full of gratitude and memories that I will cherish forever. Being an Asian Games gold medallist and an Arjuna Awardee is an honour that I will always carry with immense pride," Swapana signed off.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Seema Kaliramna, a daughter of a former basketball player and javelin thrower in the Indian Army, won the bronze medal in women’s discus throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Thursday, taking India’s tally in athletics up to four.

The 27-year-old athlete had only two valid throws in six rounds as she repeatedly had the disc entangled in the side netting. The podium marked the first major international medal for Seema, who is also a PhD aspirant and a mother of a four-year-old boy Rudra.

Motherhood, in fact, has coincided with Seema’s growth into a top athlete. Before her son Rudra was born in 2022, her personal best was 48.08m. She returned to competitive discus throw after 11 months break in 2024 and improved it to 57.19m before hitting 59.73m at the Indian Championships in Bhubaneshwar earlier this year.

Seema, who is coached by her husband Ravinder Kaliramna, who is one of India's leading discus throw athletes and had won gold medals in the discus throw at the Indian U-18 and U-20 championships, is pursuing a Ph.D. in Physical Education at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University (CBLU), Bhiwani, alongside her sporting career.

Her athletic career faced a major setback when a serious knee injury sidelined her for more than three years. Through extensive rehabilitation and perseverance, Seema made a successful return to competition and re-established herself among the country's top discus throwers.

She won the gold medal at the 2025 National Games and later claimed the national title. Her comeback was highlighted by winning the gold medal at the 2026 South Asian Athletics Championships and delivering a series of strong performances on the national circuit.

In 2026, Seema achieved a personal best throw of 59.73m, emerging as one of India's top performers in the event and securing qualification for the 2026 Asian Games as well as selection to India's Commonwealth Games squad.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Seema Kaliramna won a bronze medal for India in Women's Discus Throw with a best effort of 58.65m in the Commonwealth Games 2026 at Glasgow on Thursday night.

Seema had only two valid throws in six rounds as she repeatedly had the disc entangled in the side netting on the wild night. After starting with a foul, Seema reached 57.32m and then threw to 58.65 before ending her campaign with three foul throws. But the 58.65m was enough to earn her a bronze medal.

Another Indian, Nidhi Rani, ended fourth with a distance of 57.10m as Samantha Hall of Jamaica made history by winning the maiden gold medal for her country in discus throw. Julia Tunks of Canada took the silver medal with a throw of 60.67m.

Meanwhile, there were setbacks for India in track and field competitions with two-time Asian Games gold medallist Tajinderpal Singh Toor failing to medal in the men's shot put event and finishing fifth on Thursday night.

Toor, who won gold medals in the 2018 Jakarta and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, managed to produce a best throw of 20.27m in the third round and could not better it in the last three rounds and had to be satisfied with a fifth-place finish.

The 31-year-old Toor, who has a personal best of 21.77m, opened with a throw of 20.06m. After reaching 19.98m in the second round, Tajinderpal Singh heaved the iron ball to 20.27m. In the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, he made throws of 19.93m, 20-26m and 19.79m to eventually end without a medal.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi of Nigeria secured the shot put title with a throw of 21.07m while New Zealand's Tom Walsh got silver and Scott Lincoln of England bagged the bronze.

Meanwhile, in the Women's 5000m, India's Asian Games gold medallist Parul Chaudhary finished 13th with a timing of 15 minutes 08.56 seconds.

Australia's Rose Davies won the gold medal, finishing the race first with a timing of 14:44.53, with her compatriot Jessica Hull taking the silver medal in 14:45.01. Megan Keith of Scotland took the bronze medal by finishing third in 14:49.10. All three of the medallists produced season-best efforts to take the three spots on the podium.

The 19-year-old Sheriauna Haas of Canada thundered to victory in the Women's 100m T47 race, with compatriot Chloe Dunbar just behind. The pair powered past favourite Anna Grimaldi of New Zealand, who had to settle for bronze.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, July 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan called M. Sreeshankar telephonically to congratulate him on scripting history by winning the silver medal in the Men's long jump at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, describing the achievement as a landmark moment for both Kerala and Indian athletics.

Sreeshankar's latest feat makes him the first Indian long jumper to win back-to-back medals at the Commonwealth Games, having also secured a silver medal at the previous edition.

The achievement cements his status as one of India's finest track and field athletes and adds another glorious chapter to Kerala's rich sporting legacy.

Congratulating the star athlete, the Chief Minister said on Thursday that Sreeshankar had once again made the entire nation proud through his exceptional consistency on the international stage.

He noted that winning medals in successive Commonwealth Games was a rare accomplishment that reflected years of dedication, discipline and relentless hard work.

"The entire State is proud of your achievement. You have once again elevated Kerala's sporting reputation before the world," Satheesan told the athlete during the telephone conversation.

Sreeshankar, in turn, thanked the Chief Minister for the wishes and used the opportunity to urge the state government to further strengthen Kerala's sports ecosystem.

Stressing the need for greater institutional support, the star athlete requested that the state invest more in sports infrastructure, scientific training facilities and athlete development programmes so that more youngsters could emulate international achievers.

Responding positively, Chief Minister Satheesan assured the Olympian that the state government would accord the highest priority to the growth and development of sports in Kerala.

He said the state government remained committed to creating world class infrastructure, expanding coaching facilities and providing talented athletes with the support required to excel on the global stage.

Satheesan reiterated that Kerala has consistently produced some of the country's finest athletes and that the state government would intensify efforts to nurture sporting talent from the grassroots level.

He said Sreeshankar's historic achievement should serve as an inspiration to thousands of young sportspersons across the state to dream big and strive for excellence.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) After booking his place in the Men’s Javelin Throw final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 with a best effort of 79 metres, India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra admitted the cold and swirling winds made the competition challenging but expressed satisfaction with the outcome, while also looking ahead to what he expects will be a high-quality final featuring many of the world's leading throwers.

Having done enough to secure qualification, Chopra said his primary objective had always been to progress to the medal round rather than chase a massive throw.

“It was really cold and windy, but the throw was okay, the 79m throw. The goal was to go in the final and give my best in the final, so I'm happy with the throw,” he said after the qualifying round where he finished fifth.

The Indian star explained that the unpredictable wind made it extremely difficult for athletes to judge their approach and release during qualification, with no competitor managing to achieve the automatic qualifying standard.

“Conditions are not best for javelin throwers. Not only cold, but it's really windy. The wind was also not in the front; sometimes it's from the side. It's really hard to process where we have to throw. Sometimes we think, ‘Okay, we'll throw there’, but then the wind comes from the other side. And lots of throwers are struggling today. Nobody touched the automatic qualification mark. It was tough conditions, but we are happy that all three Indians are in the final,” Chopra added.

All three Indian javelin throwers advanced to the final, giving the country multiple medal hopes heading into the title-deciding contest.

Looking ahead to the final, Chopra acknowledged the strength of the field, which includes several of the world's best athletes and fellow medallists from the Paris Olympics, saying, “Yeah, it's a crazy field. For an event like Javelin Throw, that will be a really good final. Hope conditions will be okay tomorrow. Everyone looks in good shape. Let's see tomorrow.”

Chopra also praised Sri Lanka's rising talent Rumesh, saying the youngster's emergence reflects the growing standard of javelin throwing across South Asia.

“He's the new kid on the block, the rising star. He throws really well. He's a good friend of mine. This year he has thrown really well. It's good that Javelin is growing in our neighbourhood. It feels good that he did something great for Sri Lanka,” he said.

The Olympic champion believes the sport has undergone a dramatic transformation in the region, with greater awareness, improved coaching resources and wider access to information encouraging more youngsters to take up javelin.

“Javelin is really popular in South Asia now. There are lots of Javelin throwers. There are lots of athletes, and they are training for Javelin. So there is a better chance that so many good athletes will come. Earlier, Javelin as a sport was not that famous. But in the last few years, people support javelin and people know about the sport. So they know there is a future, and they really push themselves.

“We have good facilities now, and we know about javelin. Because when I started, I didn't know how we had to plan for Javelin training and how we had to train. But right now, because of the internet, you can know about Javelin training. So it's really good that people know about Javelin now. That's why people recognise Javelin throw, and they try to give their best,” he added.

Reflecting on the impact of his own success, Chopra said his historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics sparked a surge of interest in the discipline, resulting in a new generation of elite Indian throwers.

“Earlier, there were lots of other really good athletes that provided a boost to other sports. But after my Tokyo Olympics gold, there was an immense boost in Javelin. I'm happy we have really good throwers now. I think we have around 20 80m throwers, so it’s really good for India,” Chopra concluded.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) When Indian long jumper M. Sreeshankar suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in 2024, his father and personal coach, S. Murali, stopped dreaming of medals. His only prayer was that his son would one day walk normally again. Less than two years later, Sreeshankar scripted one of Indian athletics’ most remarkable comeback stories, clinching the silver medal in the men’s long jump at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“I never thought about medals after the injury. Being his father and personal coach, I only wished that he would walk like a normal person again. But he has done a miracle—for us and for the country. I am extremely proud of him,” an emotional Murali told IANS after his son’s historic achievement.

Calling it a moment of immense pride for the family, Murali said Sreeshankar’s comeback was powered by unwavering determination after a career-threatening injury.

“It is a very, very proud moment for me and my family because he is coming back after a huge injury—a ruptured patellar tendon. This is actually his second life. We never imagined he would return and jump like this. I am so happy that he has become a double Commonwealth Games medallist in the long jump,” he said.

Murali revealed that the rehabilitation process began immediately after the devastating injury. The very next day, Sreeshankar travelled to Mumbai to consult renowned sports surgeon Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala before undergoing surgery in Doha.

Following the operation, he spent nearly seven months at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in Ballari, where he underwent intensive rehabilitation.

“Only because of his determination and dedication could he make such a comeback. He worked relentlessly during those six to seven months at IIS,” Murali said.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the injury, Sreeshankar never allowed self-doubt to creep in. According to his father, the athlete remained remarkably calm and confident throughout his recovery.

“He kept telling me, ‘I’ll come back. I’ll jump again. Don’t worry about me.’ He was calm, composed and completely confident that he would return. I think he may be one of the very few athletes to come back at this level after a ruptured patellar tendon injury,” Murali recalled.

The emotional journey extended beyond the training ground. While Murali focused on his son’s recovery as coach and father, Sreeshankar’s mother turned to faith, praying every day for his successful return.

“My wife was always visiting temples and offering prayers for his recovery. Wherever our national camps were held, she made sure to visit temples and perform puja every single day,” he said.

Sreeshankar’s silver medal is not just another podium finish for India—it is a testament to resilience, relentless hard work and a family’s unwavering belief that transformed heartbreak into one of the greatest comeback stories of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 30 (SocialNews.XYZ)Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh, all three Indians, qualified for the men's javelin final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games here on Thursday. Competing in windy conditions, no athlete cleared the automatic qualifying mark of 84.00 m; the Indian trio advanced as the 12 best performers for Friday's final.

Neeraj, who returned to the Games after missing the Birmingham edition due to injury, opted against taking his final attempt after securing qualification in fifth place with a best throw of 79.61m on his second attempt. Rohit also chose not to take his final throw and finished ninth with 78.37m, while Yash Vir Singh was 10th with 78.36m.

A lower back injury has been troubling Neeraj since September 2025. The Olympic and world championships gold medallist sustained a lower back problem shortly before the World Athletics Championships in September last year, where he finished eighth. He made a delayed start to the season and had competed only once in the 2026 season, when he featured in the Doha Diamond League in June, finishing fourth with a throw of 85.69m.

Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage, who holds the world lead of 92.62m this season, topped the qualification standings with a superb throw of 82.84m, adapting best to the challenging weather conditions. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada finished second with 81.29m, while South Africa's Douw Smit was third after registering 80.64m.

England's Ben East (80.38m) claimed fourth place ahead of Neeraj, while Australia's Cameron McEntyre (78.91m) was sixth, reigning Olympic champion Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem (78.63m) registered his season best with 78.63m, which he could not better, and qualified for the final with a seventh-place finish in the qualification.

The Bahamas' Keyshawn Strachan (78.60m), Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott (78.26m) and Nigeria's Chinecherem Nnamdi (75.27m) also progressed.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) On a superb evening in which Murali Sreeshankar, Dilip Gavit and Mohammed Basil won medals for India, the country's leading female shot-putter Manpreet Kaur narrowly missed the bronze medal in the women's shot put final in the Commonwealth Games 2026.

There was another setback for the country as top distance racer Parul Chaudhary, the Asian Games medallist, managed to finish fifth in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase.

It was Manpreet who suffered a heartbreak as she was in bronze position till the last round of throws, with Canada's Sarah Mitton establishing an early lead with a throw of 18.50m in his first throw.

Manpreet started with 15.92 and improved to 17.49m with his best throw in the fifth round, which put her in third position. However, Jamaica's Lloydricia Cameron upstaged her with a throw of 17.87m on her final turn. The throw put Cameron on par with Nigeria's Jessica Oji on 17.87m. She lost out on the silver medal on countback as Oji had produced her best throw in the third round.

Manpreet had a chance of upstaging them on her final throw, but she fouled out and missed the medal. Sarah Mitton won the gold medal by nearly two metres with a best throw of 19.88m.

In the women's 3000m Steeplechase, Parul Chaudhary clocked 9:26.75 and finished fifth as Faith Cherotich of Kenya won the gold medal in a Games Record time of 9:01.76. Elise Thorner of England produced her personal best as she surged past Uganda's Persuth Chemutai to take the silver medal with a time of 9:05.45.

Parul was in the lead group early on but fell behind through the middle stages. She did try to produce a kick in the final lap, but the gap was too big to bridge.

Overall, it was a good day for India as Murali Sreeshankar won silver in the men's long jump while Dilip Mahadu Gavit clinched the gold medal with a Games Record in the men’s 100m T47, while compatriot Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi secured the silver medal to complete a dominant Indian one-two.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) India scripted a memorable finish in the para athletics competition at the Commonwealth Games 2026 as Dilip Mahadu Gavit clinched the gold medal with a Games Record in the men’s 100m T47, while compatriot Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi secured the silver medal to complete a dominant Indian one-two.

Gavit clocked 10.71 seconds, producing a blistering run to shatter the previous Games record and stand atop the podium. Basil followed closely with a season-best 10.83 seconds, ensuring India celebrated both the gold and silver medals in one of the fastest races of the competition.

This is India's third gold medal in the competition, with Gavit joining weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and Sharmila in Women's Shot Put F57.

England’s Kevin Santos took the bronze medal in 10.85 seconds, narrowly edging Australia’s Jaydon Page, who finished fourth in 10.97 seconds.

The remarkable result underlined India’s growing dominance in para athletics, with the two Indian sprinters delivering outstanding performances on the Glasgow track. Gavit’s Games record highlighted his exceptional form, while Basil’s silver added another significant medal to India’s tally.

The historic one-two finish is expected to provide a major boost to India’s medal haul and further reinforce the country’s emergence as a powerhouse in para athletics at the Commonwealth Games.

The grand 1-2 in the Men's 100m T47 took India's medal count to 15 in this edition -- 3 gold, 9 silver and 3 bronze medals so far.

Born in the small village of Toran Dongari near Nashik, Maharashtra, Dilip Gavit grew up in a humble farming family. His life took a major turn when, at five to six years of age, he suffered a tragic fall from a tree, thus severely injuring his right arm. Due to the lack of timely medical treatment, the injury turned into gangrene, leading to the amputation of his arm below the elbow. Despite the huge setback, Gavit refused to let his disability define his future, fulfilling his passion for running with a career in para-athletics. Practising on the dusty roads of his village, his talent was later recognised by coach Vaijnath Kale, who guided him into professional para-athletics.

He had earlier won gold in the men’s 400m T47 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games, securing India’s historic 100th medal at the Games. He further made the nation proud by reaching the final of the men’s 400m T47 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Murali Sreeshankar delivered another memorable performance on the Commonwealth Games stage, clinching the silver medal in the men’s long jump with a best effort of 8.09m in a high-quality final on Wednesday night.

Sreeshankar, who hails from Pallakad in Kerala and is coached by his father S. Murali, produced his best jump in the second round, recording 8.09m after opening with 8.03m. Despite two foul attempts later in the competition, the Indian athlete remained in medal contention throughout and held on to second place. He ended his campaign with 7.94m and 7.97m in his last two jumps.

The 27-year-old Sreeshankar had won a silver medal in the Birmingham edition in 2022 with a jump of 8.08 metres and became the first male long jumper from India to win a silver medal at the Games.

The medal took India's tally to 13 with two gold, eight silver and three bronze medals. In athletics and para-athletics, India have so far won five medals -- one gold, three silver and one bronze.

Jamaica’s 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle secured the gold medal with a winning leap of 8.15m, while Scotland’s Stephen Mackenzie claimed bronze with 8.08m, finishing just one centimetre behind Sreeshankar in a thrilling contest.

India also had another finalist in the event, with Lokesh Sathyanathan finishing fifth after registering a best jump of 7.97m, adding to India’s strong showing in the discipline.

The final witnessed intense competition, with four athletes crossing the eight-metre mark. Sreeshankar’s 8.09m ultimately proved enough to secure India’s latest athletics medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The silver further strengthens India’s athletics campaign and adds another significant achievement to Sreeshankar’s impressive international resume, as he once again showcased his consistency on the big stage.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, July 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Asian Games medallist and India's leading female distance runner, Parul Chaudhary, is carrying confidence gained from recent performances in international and domestic competitions to the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, hoping to achieve success in women's 5000m and the 3000m steeplechase.

Over the last few years, Parul has emerged as one of India's leading distance runners, consistently raising the bar in both of her favourite disciplines by banking on her strong performances and valuable international experience.

An Asian Games champion, multiple-time national record holder and Olympian, Parul remains focused on one thing-executing her race well.

"Every race is different, so I don't think too much about the result beforehand. My job is to stick to the race plan, stay patient and give my best in every lap. If I execute well, the result will follow," she said.

Distance running is a sport that demands years of consistent work, and Parul believes that strong support systems play an important role in helping athletes sustain that journey.

"For athletes, support from institutions like the Inspire Institute of Sport is very important. It allows athletes to focus on training and gives them access to the right people and the right guidance whenever they need it. The stronger these support systems become, the more they help Indian athletes compete consistently at the highest level," she was quoted as saying in a release.

Having steadily improved with every season, Parul says there is always something to learn from every race. "I always look at what I can do better. Sometimes it's the pace, sometimes it's the finish, and sometimes it's just making better decisions during the race. Small improvements make a big difference over longer distances, so the focus is always on becoming better than the last race."

As she prepares for her Commonwealth Games campaign, Parul will look to carry her consistency onto another major international stage and add another memorable chapter to an already impressive career.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, July 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Four-time national champion Rohit Yadav believes consistency rather than producing one extraordinary throw is the key to success in javelin as he gears up for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The 25-year-old, who has a personal best of 87.05m and reached the final of the World Athletics Championships, said his focus has been on repeatedly delivering his best performances instead of chasing one standout effort.

“Over the last few seasons, I’ve understood that success in javelin isn’t about producing one big throw. It’s about being able to reproduce your best throws consistently. That’s been my biggest focus in training. I’ve worked a lot on my run-up, rhythm and release, because when those come together naturally, the distances take care of themselves. Glasgow is another opportunity to test myself against a strong field, and I’m excited to see where my preparation stands,” Rohit said.

Having finished among the top eight at the previous Commonwealth Games, Rohit has established himself as one of India’s most reliable javelin throwers on the international circuit. As he prepares for Glasgow, he believes fine-tuning the technical aspects of his event will be crucial.

Rohit also highlighted the importance of recovery in a physically demanding discipline and credited the support system at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) for helping him stay competitive.

“In javelin, staying healthy is just as important as throwing far. The team at the Inspire Institute of Sport has supported me during different phases of my journey, particularly with recovery and sports science. That kind of support helps you return with confidence and continue competing at your best,” he said.

Drawing on his experience of competing at the highest level, Rohit said he no longer lets target distances occupy his mind before stepping onto the runway.

“I’ve learned not to think too much about the distance before I throw. The moment you start chasing a mark, you can lose your rhythm. My focus is always on attacking the runway with confidence, staying relaxed and executing each throw the way I’ve practised. If I can do that consistently, I know the results will follow,” he added.

Rohit will be among India’s leading medal hopes along side Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra in the men’s javelin competition as the country aims for another strong athletics campaign at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Glasgow’s unpredictable weather has become as much a talking point as the medals themselves at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. As rain lashed the athletics arena yet again, many spectators were left asking the same questions: Why are the events continuing? What if an athlete gets injured? Why can’t the schedule be changed or a reserve day be kept?

The concerns are understandable. Watching sprinters explode out of wet starting blocks and long jumpers land on slippery runways naturally raises fears about safety. Yet athletics, unlike many other sports, has long learned to coexist with the elements.

Why doesn’t athletics stop because of rain?

The simple answer is that rain alone is not considered dangerous enough to halt competition.

World Athletics regulations allow competitions to continue in wet weather as long as the venue remains safe and there is no immediate threat from severe weather. Also, modern synthetic tracks are designed with advanced drainage systems that prevent water from accumulating, allowing athletes to maintain grip even during heavy showers.

Officials constantly monitor conditions throughout the session. If the surface becomes unsafe or visibility is significantly affected, they have the authority to delay or suspend competition.

What about the risk of injury?

There is no denying that rain increases the challenge.

Sprint starts become trickier, throwing circles and runways require extra attention, and athletes must adjust their techniques to avoid slipping. However, elite athletes train in varying weather conditions throughout the year and are expected to adapt.

Organisers also take several precautions: Ground staff regularly dry-throw circles and jump runways. Officials inspect the track before each event. Athletes are allowed additional warm-up measures when necessary. Equipment is checked to ensure it remains competition-ready.

Why aren’t reserve days kept?

This is perhaps the biggest misconception among fans.

Athletics competitions involve dozens of events spread across morning and evening sessions over several days. Hundreds of athletes compete in heats, semifinals and finals, many of whom are also entered in multiple disciplines.

Introducing reserve days would create a domino effect: Television broadcast schedules would be disrupted. Medal ceremonies would have to be rescheduled. Athletes competing in multiple events could face clashes. Travel and accommodation plans for thousands of athletes, officials and volunteers would be affected.

Unlike cricket or tennis, where one match can simply move to another day, athletics operates as a tightly packed timetable with very little flexibility.

Could the rules change in future?

Climate change has led to more frequent extreme weather events, prompting discussions across international sport about weather protocols. However, reserve days for major athletics championships remain highly unlikely because of the sheer scale of scheduling challenges.

Instead, organisers are investing in better drainage systems, improved weather forecasting and stronger safety protocols rather than rewriting the competition calendar.

Fans’ concern is valid

Many spectators at Glasgow 2026 believe athlete safety should come before schedules.

“If the rain is this heavy, why risk injuries?” was a question repeatedly heard around the stadium. Others wondered why organisers could not simply postpone events by a day.

Their concerns reflect genuine care for athletes, but under current international regulations, rain itself is considered part of outdoor competition. Only when weather poses a serious threat to safety do officials intervene.

Source: IANS

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Glasgow, July 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Gulveer Singh produced a sensational late kick and surged to a silver medal in the men's 10,000m, adding the Commonwealth Games medal to the Asian Games bronze and twin gold medals in the Asian Championships he has won so far.

India's top long-distance runner came up with a fine performance, pulling off a brilliant 'kick' in the final lap and sprinting to the finish line in 27:49.78 to secure his maiden Commonwealth Games medal in Glasgow on Tuesday night.

With this medal, Gulveer made history, becoming the first Indian to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games.

Starting with a slow first 400m, Gulveer stayed in the leading pack for most of the race before producing a devastating surge in the last lap to finish behind Australia's Ky Robinson (27:48.93) and ahead of Isle of Man's David Mullarkey, who claimed the bronze in 27:50.28. Edwin Kurgat of Kenya ended a close fourth in 27:50.98, which was his season's best time.

The 28-year-old Gulveer started the race in 2nd position and remained in the top three positions till just before the halfway mark, when he slipped to the sixth rank. He went further down to 9th position as the pace picked up past the 5600m before picking up pace in the final 1000m of the race. He moved up to third position going into the final lap and produced a tremendous kick to eventually finish second.

This is a slower time and does not come close to his personal best of 27:00.22, the national record that he set in 2025,

Gulveer Singh, who is one of India's greatest-ever long-distance runners, holds national records in 3000m and 5000m besides the 10,000m. A serving Naib Subedar in the Grenadiers Regiment of the Indian Army, Gulveer was born in Sirsa village of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh. He started his running journey on village roads and farmland trails as he prepared for recruitment into the Indian Army.

Gulveer made his international breakthrough with a bronze medal in the 5000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships and followed it with a bronze medal in the 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games.

He reached new heights in 2025 by winning double gold medals in the 5000m and 10,00m at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, establishing himself as Asia's leading long-distance runner.

Source: IANS

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