Bhubaneswar, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Three-time Asian Championship medallist and Odisha gymnast Pranati Nayak secured the silver medal in the Vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Delivering an impressive performance against a strong international field, Pranati scored 13.025 in the Vault final to earn a podium finish and add another milestone to Indian gymnastics. Her achievement stands as a testament to her relentless hard work, discipline, and commitment to excellence, while also reflecting Odisha’s rising presence in the sport at the global level, the Odisha Gymnastics Association informed in a release on Saturday.

The 31-year-old Pranati, who won bronze medals in vault in the 2019, 2022, and 2025 editions of the Asian Championships, is only the third Indian woman gymnast to win an international medal after Dipa Karmakar and Aruna Reddy.

Congratulating Pranati on her success, chief coach Ashok Mishra said, “Pranati’s achievement is a proud and inspiring moment for Indian gymnastics. Her dedication and consistency continue to set an example for young athletes across the country. We are delighted to see her shine on the international stage and are confident she will achieve even greater success ahead.”

Expressing his happiness on the achievement, Ashok Sahoo, Honourary Secretary of the Odisha Gymnastics Association, said, “Pranati Nayak’s silver medal at the FIG World Challenge Cup 2026 is a historic and proud moment for Odisha as well as the entire country. Her achievement reflects the growing standard of gymnastics in Odisha and the immense potential of our athletes to excel on the world stage. On behalf of the Odisha Gymnastics Association, I congratulate Pranati for her outstanding performance and wish her continued success in future international competitions.”

The Odisha Gymnastics Association extended its heartfelt congratulations to Pranati Nayak for her outstanding accomplishment and wished her continued success in future international competitions.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Suraj Singh and Sagar Singh led the charge with silver medals as India made an impressive start to its campaign in the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships by securing five medals in the Greco-Roman category on the opening day of the competition at the Tien Son Sport Center in Da Nang, Vietnam, on Saturday.

While Suraj Singh and Sagar Singh claimed silver medals in their respective weight categories, Kumar Sachin, Rohit, and Hardeep added to the tally with bronze medals in their respective weight categories.

Suraj Singh impressed in the 60kg category with a solid run to the final before going down 0-4 against Kazakhstan’s Aibek Aitbekov in the gold medal bout to finish with silver.

In the 67kg category, Sagar Singh also produced a commendable performance throughout the tournament. However, he suffered a 0-9 defeat by technical superiority against Uzbekistan’s Aytjan Khalmakhanov in the final and settled for the silver medal.

Kumar Sachin added a bronze medal in the 77kg category despite going down 3-10 against Kazakhstan’s Alikhan Dursunov, while Rohit narrowly missed out after suffering a hard-fought 3-5 defeat against Uzbekistan’s Bekhruz Barnoev in the 97kg division. Hardeep also fell short in the 130kg bout, going down 0-4 against Kazakhstan’s Jokhar Uzarov.

Vinit (72kg) and Amit Gope (82kg) bowed out after suffering defeats by technical superiority against their respective opponents, with Vinit going down 6-9 against Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Kuchkorov and Amit losing 0-10 to Tajikistan’s Muhammad Sultanzoda.

“It is an encouraging performance by our Greco-Roman wrestlers to finish the opening day with five medals. The wrestlers showed great determination and discipline on the mat, and this performance reflects the steady progress Indian Greco-Roman wrestling has been making at the continental level. I congratulate all the medal winners and wish the remaining wrestlers the very best for the upcoming bouts,” said Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Singh.

India had won three medals in the U23 Greco-Roman category at the previous edition of the U23 & U17 Asian Wrestling Championships held in Vietnam, including a gold medal by Sumit (63kg) and bronze medals by Ankit Gulia (72kg) and Nitesh (97kg).

The country had also secured five medals in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, last month, marking India’s best performance in the category at the continental senior event in the last five years.

On Sunday, India’s Greco-Roman campaign will continue with Neeraj taking the mat in the 55kg category qualification bout while Sumit (63kg) and Rohit Bura (87kg) will also be in action, aiming for podium finishes.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Aryaveer Dewan (boys’ U-19), Shiven Agarwal (boys’ U-17), Anika Dubey (girls’ U-17), and Amarya Bajaj (boys’ U-13) advanced to the finals in their respective categories at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China, on Saturday.

Aryaveer, seeded 3/4, defeated Malaysian top seed Nickhileswar Moganasundharam in four games in the semifinals and will meet either Md Alnasafan (KSA) or Jonghyeok Lee (Kor) for the crown. Aryaveer had beaten the Malaysian for the U-17 title last year.

Meanwhile, Shiven, seeded 5/8, beat fellow Indian Squash Academy trainee Lokesh Subramani in a close four-game semifinal and will take on Pakistan’s 9/16 seed Nauman Khan for the U-17 title.

Anika, seeded 3/4 and bronze medallist in this age group last year, will battle with Malaysian top seed Harleein Tan for the U-17 crown after her semifinal opponent retired midway through their match.

Amarya, seeded 3/4 and bronze medallist in the boys’ U-13 category last year, beat Malaysian second seed Muhammad Sharhan Mohd Saiful in four close games in the semifinals. He will take on top seed Leung Ngo San of Hong Kong in the U-13 final.

Results involving Indians (semifinals):

U-19 Boys: 3/4-Aryaveer Dewan bt 1-Nickhileswar Moganasundharam (Mas) 11-6, 11-4, 3-11, 11-6.

U-17 — Boys: 5/8-Shiven Agarwal bt 5/8-Lokesh Subramani 4-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9. Girls: 3/4-Anika Dubey bt 2-Jinoreeka Ning Manivannan (Mas) 9-11, 3-2 retd.

U-13 —Boys: 1-Leung Ngo San (HK) bt 3/4-Abhyuday Arora 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4; 3/4-Amarya Bajaj bt 2-Muhammad Sharhan Mohd Saiful (Mas) 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8. Girls: 1-Kareena Sashikumar (Sgp) bt 3/4-Shanaya Parasrampuria 11-5, 11-6, 13-11; 3/4-Rio Yoshino (Jpn) bt 2-Divyanshi Jain 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 4-11, 12-10.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) India started its participation at the United World Wrestling (UWW) U23 Asian Championships in Da Nang, Vietnam, on a positive note, as Greco-Roman wrestlers Sagar Singh and Suraj moved on to their respective gold medal matches on the first day at the Tien Son Sport Centre.

Leading India’s efforts were outstanding performances in the 67kg and 60kg Greco-Roman categories, where both wrestlers demonstrated attacking spirit and calmness under pressure to earn their spots in the evening finals.

Sagar Singh delivered a strong performance in the 67kg category, demonstrating tactical discipline and consistency throughout the preliminary rounds to reach the gold medal match. He is joined in the finals by Suraj in the 60kg division, who also secured his spot in the title match after a confident campaign during the day, ensuring India at least a silver medal.

In the 77kg category, Kumar Sachin fought hard but narrowly lost in a close semifinal match against Alikhan Dursonov. Meanwhile, Indian wrestlers in the 72kg and 82kg categories couldn't advance past the early rounds due to tough continental competitors.

Praising the performances of the wrestlers on the opening day, Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh said, “I extend my heartiest congratulations to the wrestlers advancing to the finals. The level of competition here in Vietnam is extremely high, and our athletes are showing great determination and fighting spirit on the mat. We are proud of the hard work they have put in leading up to this championship and wish our finalists, along with the entire contingent competing in the upcoming days, the very best.”

India’s Greco-Roman campaign resumes tomorrow with qualification bouts across various weight classes. Neeraj starts the challenge in the 55kg category, followed by Sumit in the 63kg division and Rohit Bura in the 87kg category. All three wrestlers aim to reach the quarterfinals and keep India’s momentum going at the continental championship.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) India were assured of eight medals at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China, on Friday after Shiven Agarwal led a spirited bunch into the semifinals across categories.

Shiven, seeded 5/8, beat Singaporean Rehaan Singh in straight games in the boys’ U-17 quarterfinals and will meet fellow Indian Squash Academy trainee Lokesh Subramani in the semifinals. Lokesh, meanwhile, defeated compatriot Hridhaan Shah in the quarters.

Aryaveer Dewan, who won the boys’ U-17 crown last year, advanced to the U-19 semifinals after beating countryman Yusha Nafees in four close games.

Others to make the last-four stage were: Anika Dubey in girls’ U-17, Abhyuday Arora and Amarya Bajaj in boys’ U-13, and Shanaya Parasrampuria and Divyanshi Jain in girls’ U-13.

Earlier, India’s Hridhaan Shah took out Malaysian top seed Muhammad Haiqal Hazim Bin Syarudin 11-13, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 in the boys’ U-17 pre-quarterfinals.

Joining Hridhaan in the boys’ U-17 quarterfinals are compatriots Lokesh Subramani and Shiven Agarwal, with Hridhaan meeting Lokesh next. Aryaveer Dewan, Gurveer Singh, and Yusha Nafees advanced to the quarterfinals in the boys’ U-19 category.

Other Indians to make the last-eight stage across categories are: Abhyuday Arora, Dhairya Gogia, and Amarya Bajaj in boys’ U-13, Alia Kankaria, Shanaya Parasrampuria, and Divyanshi Jain in girls’ U-13, Shresht Iyer and Dhruv Bopana in boys’ U-15, Aadya Budhia in girls’ U-15, Anika Dubey in girls’ U-17, and Unnati Tripathi in girls’ U-19.

Indian results (quarterfinals):

U-19 — Boys: 3/4-Aryaveer Dewan bt Yusha Nafees 11-9, 12-10, 3-11, 11-9; 3/4-Md Alnasfan (KSA) bt Gurveer Singh 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3. Girls: Whitney Wilson (Mas) bt Unnati Tripathi 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-3.

U-17 — Boys: 5/8-Lokesh Subramani bt Hridhaan Shah 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6; 5/8-Shiven Agarwal bt Rehaan Singh (Sgp) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6. Girls: 3/4-Anika Dubey bt Naisha Singh (Sgp) 11-7, 11-7, 11-4.

U-15 — Boys: Md Sohail Adnan (Pak) bt 2-Shresht Iyer 11-6, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6; 3/4-Vidhurran Ruthiran (Mas) bt 5/8-Dhruv Bopana 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 11-5. Girls: Makaela Lin Cassidy (HK) bt Aadya Budhia 11-8, 12-10, 12-10.

U-13 — Boys: 3/4-Abhyuday Arora bt Md Mustafa Khan (Pak) 14-16, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4; 3/4-Amarya Bajaj bt Dhairya Gogia 11-9, 11-9, 11-4. Girls: 1-Kareena Sashikumar (Sgp) bt 5/8-Alia Kankaria 11-2, 11-8, 11-7; 3/4-Shanaya Parasrampuria bt Qingyuan Zheng (Chn) 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9; 2-Divyanshi Jain bt Nurul Nazir (Mas) 13-11, 11-8, 11-6.

Source: IANS

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Corsier-Sur-Vevy (Switzerland), May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The United World Wrestling (UWW), the governing body for the sport, has postponed the 2026 World Championships originally scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 1 in the Kingdom of Bahrain because of the prevailing geopolitical situation in the region.

"United World Wrestling (UWW), in close coordination with the Bahrain Olympic Committee and the Bahrain Wrestling Federation, announces the postponement of the 2026 World Championships originally scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 1 in the Kingdom of Bahrain," said the sport's global governing body in a statement on Friday.

This decision was taken after careful and responsible consideration of the current geopolitical situation in the region, particularly the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the pending conflict involving the Gulf region and its broader impact on regional stability and international travel, the statement said.

"While Bahrain remains fully committed to hosting world-class sporting events, all parties believe that the safety, confidence, and overall experience of athletes, officials, delegations, partners, and fans must remain the highest priority," the UWW statement said.

The UWW said it was important to make the decision early and with transparency, as it gives it sufficient time to identify a new host.

"As organisations dedicated to the growth and integrity of international sport, UWW, the Bahrain Olympic Committee, and the Bahrain Wrestling Federation believe it is important to make this decision with adequate time and transparency, rather than waiting until the final stages of preparation. Acting responsibly now allows sufficient opportunity to evaluate a potential new host nation for 2026, so the competition host can be identified and the event can be prepared in a professional and orderly manner," the statement said.

The UWW statement said that though it has taken this decision, it is still reminded that sport 'remains a universal language of peace, respect, and unity.

"Wrestling has always been more than competition. It is a bridge between nations, cultures, and people. At a time when the world faces uncertainty and division, we are reminded that sport remains a universal language of peace, respect, and unity. It is in this spirit that UWW, the Bahrain Olympic Committee, and the Bahrain Wrestling Federation issue this joint statement together," the statement said.

"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the global wrestling family -- athletes, national federations, coaches, officials, partners, and supporters around the world -- for their understanding, solidarity, and continued support. United World Wrestling works with the national members in close cooperation, trust, and shared commitment to protecting the interests of the sport and its community worldwide," the statement added, claiming that further updates regarding future dates and hosting considerations will be communicated in due course.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) With focus on stars like Chandermohan, Sachin Mor, Neha, and Kajal, the Pro Wrestling League’s (PWL) growing influence on India’s wrestling ecosystem will once again be reflected at the continental stage when India takes part in the U-17 & U-23 Asian Wrestling Championships beginning in Da Nang, Vietnam, from May 23 to 31.

Though multiple athletes from PWL 2026 are part of the Indian contingent, attention will be on the four wrestlers who featured prominently in PWL 2026, underlining the league’s emergence as a key platform in nurturing, developing, and accelerating the growth of India’s next generation of wrestling talent.

In the U-23 men’s freestyle category, reigning U-23 Asian champion Chandermohan of Punjab Royals will compete in the 79kg division, while Haryana Thunders’ Sachin Mor — part of the franchise’s title-winning campaign in PWL 2026 — will represent India in the 86kg category.

The U-23 women’s contingent will also feature strong PWL representation through Haryana Thunders wrestlers Neha (59kg) and Kajal (76kg), both of whom were integral members of the franchise’s triumphant PWL 2026 campaign.

Neha heads into the championships with a significant international pedigree, having previously secured a bronze medal at the U20 World Championships while also winning gold at the U17 Asian Championships. Kajal, meanwhile, has rapidly established herself as one of India’s brightest wrestling prospects, arriving in Da Nang as a reigning U20 World Champion, U17 World Champion, and U20 Asian Champion.

The presence of these wrestlers in India’s squad further reinforces the growing role PWL continues to play in strengthening the country’s wrestling structure beyond the confines of a franchise league competition.

One of the defining aspects of PWL has been its ability to provide young and emerging Indian wrestlers with the opportunity to share the mat, training environments, and dressing rooms with some of the biggest stars in world wrestling. That exposure to elite international standards, high-pressure match situations, and professional sporting structures has proven invaluable in building experience, confidence, and tactical maturity among India’s rising wrestlers.

Since its return, PWL has consistently positioned itself as an athlete-first ecosystem focused on bridging grassroots Indian wrestling with the global stage. Through sustained competitive exposure and interaction with world-class talent, the league has aimed to create pathways for young Indian wrestlers to prepare themselves for success at the Asian, World, and Olympic levels.

PWL CEO and Promoter Akhil Gupta has previously reiterated the league’s long-term vision of contributing meaningfully to the growth of Indian wrestling by building a sustainable professional ecosystem capable of supporting and elevating emerging talent.

The selection of multiple PWL wrestlers for the U-17 & U-23 Asian Wrestling Championships once again highlights the league’s increasing contribution towards identifying, nurturing, and showcasing India’s future wrestling stars on the international stage.

The championships in Da Nang will feature some of Asia’s top emerging wrestlers, with India aiming for a strong showing across categories over the coming days.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi High Court on Friday questioned the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) decision to declare wrestler Vinesh Phogat ineligible to participate in domestic competitions and asked the Centre to explore measures to facilitate her participation in the upcoming Asian Games selection trials.

A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, while hearing Phogat’s appeal against a single-judge order refusing interim relief, observed that the federation’s departure from its earlier selection framework required closer scrutiny, particularly in light of the wrestler’s maternity break and return to competition.

The CJ Upadhyaya-led Bench orally remarked that motherhood could not become a disadvantage for an athlete seeking to resume her sporting career and observed that Phogat was an internationally accomplished wrestler.

Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Phogat, submitted that the wrestler regained eligibility earlier this year and had completed registration formalities before being barred from participating at the last moment. He argued that the revised eligibility criteria introduced by the WFI effectively excluded Phogat by limiting participation in the Asian Games selection trials to medal winners from select national tournaments held during 2025 and 2026, a period during which she remained away from the mat because of maternity and post-partum recovery.

The Delhi High Court also expressed its reservations over portions of the WFI’s show-cause notice, which referred to Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 final after failing to make weight. It observed that the incident could not be viewed in isolation without considering the larger circumstances and questioned whether the federation’s approach advanced the interests of Indian wrestling.

During the hearing, the bench asked the Centre what steps had been taken after the issuance of the notice and whether the Union Sports Ministry had examined the WFI’s revised selection policy.

Counsel appearing for the Union government submitted that the Centre had not independently barred Phogat from participating in the trials and said relaxation provisions available under the Sports Authority of India (SAI) framework could be considered in appropriate cases. The government also said it was willing to appoint an observer from the SAI to monitor the trials and make sure the process was video-recorded.

After hearing the submissions, the Delhi High Court asked the Centre and the WFI to obtain instructions and take steps towards enabling Phogat’s participation, including by constituting an expert panel to assess her eligibility.

The latest development comes days after a single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav had declined to grant interim relief to Phogat on her plea seeking permission to participate in the May 30-31 Asian Games selection trials, observing that no direction could be passed without hearing the WFI and listing the matter for July 6.

In a 15-page show-cause notice issued earlier this month, the WFI directed the three-time Olympian to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against her, highlighting incidents ranging from the Paris 2024 Games to recent anti-doping failures.

Recently, the WFI had also introduced revised eligibility criteria for participation in the Asian Games selection trials, restricting entry to medal winners from specified national-level tournaments held during 2025 and 2026. The move effectively excluded Phogat, who has not competed in professional events since the Paris Olympics 2024. Phogat has challenged both the revised eligibility criteria and the disciplinary action initiated against her by the WFI.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Delhi Pro Volleyball League (DPVL) has announced the commencement of player trials for its inaugural season, with the first phase scheduled to take place on May 24 in Delhi.

The league informed that the trials will be conducted in multiple phases to ensure wider participation and talent identification across different regions and categories.

The Phase 1 trials of the Delhi Pro Volleyball League will be held on May 24 onwards at Laxmi Public School in Karkardooma.

Following the completion of all trial phases, shortlisted players will enter the official auction pool, where the six DPVL franchise teams will select players for the inaugural season of the league.

Speaking about the initiative, DPVL founder Neeti Rawat said, “The trials are being conducted in phases, and the response we have received during the registration process has been truly overwhelming. We are very happy to see registrations coming in from more than 20 states across the country. In just a span of few months since the formal launch of the league, it is inspiring to see DPVL taking shape and moving strongly in the direction we always envisioned.”

The trials are aimed at identifying and nurturing talented volleyball players and providing them with an opportunity to compete on a professional platform. DPVL, which was launched earlier this year with the backing of the Delhi Volleyball Association and the Delhi Olympic Association, is focused on creating a structured and sustainable ecosystem for volleyball in India.

The Delhi Pro Volleyball League is set to feature six franchise teams competing in a professional league format, with the inaugural edition scheduled to be held later this year. The league aims to elevate the profile of volleyball in India through structured competition, athlete development, and enhanced media visibility.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Hridhaan Shah took out Malaysian top seed Muhammad Haiqal Hazim Bin Syarudin 11-13, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 in the boys’ U-17 pre-quarterfinals at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China, on Thursday.

Joining Hridhaan in the boys’ U-17 quarterfinals are compatriots Lokesh Subramani and Shiven Agarwal, with Hridhaan meeting Lokesh next.

Meanwhile, Aryaveer Dewan, Gurveer Singh, and Yusha Nafees advanced to the quarterfinals in the boys’ U-19 category.

Other Indians to make the last-eight stage across categories are: Abhyuday Arora, Dhairya Gogia, and Amarya Bajaj in boys’ U-13, Alia Kankaria, Shanaya Parasrampuria, and Divyanshi Jain in girls’ U-13, Shresht Iyer and Dhruv Bopana in boys’ U-15, Aadya Budhia in girls’ U-15, Anika Dubey in girls’ U-17, and Unnati Tripathi in girls’ U-19.

Results involving Indians (pre-quarterfinals):

U-13 — Boys: Md Mustafa Khan (Pak) bt 5/8-Aaron Arambhan 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6; 3/4-Abhyuday Arora bt L Chandrasekaran (Mas) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5; Dhairya Gogia bt Li Jiaqi (Chn) 11-4, 11-4, 11-2; 3/4-Amarya Bajaj bt Kel Dameer Norifaizal (Mas) 11-8, 13-11, 11-3. Girls: 5/8-Alia Kankaria bt Sel Nuie Chew (Mas) 12-10, 11-8, 11-5; 3/4-Shanaya Parasrampuria bt Kul Arissa Sheikh (Mas) 22-24, 12-10, 11-5, 11-4; Kareena Sashikumar (SGP) bt Riyaa Dalal 11-7, 11-6, 11-7; 2-Divyanshi Jain bt Sayuri De Silva (SL) 11-3, 11-1, 11-0.

U-15 — Boys: 2-Shresht Iyer bt Junya Fujita (Jpn) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5; Md Sohail Adan (Pak) bt Dhruv Johri 11-6, 13-11, 11-3; 5/8-Dhruv Bopana bt Wayne Wilson (Mas) 11-6, 11-6, 11-7. Girls: 1-Ziyuan Yin (Chn) bt M Goushika 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 13-11; Makaela Lin Cassidy (HK) bt Vasundhara Nangare 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6; 3/4-Aadya Budhia bt Sierra Chi Cheng Cao (Mac) 6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4.

U-17 — Boys: Hridhaan Shah bt 1-Muhammad Haiqal Hazim Bin Syarudin (Mas) 11-13, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7; 5/8-Lokesh Subramani bt Jonghyun Yoon (Kor) 11-8, 11-1, 11-5; 5/8-Shiven Agarwal bt Sim Yeak Wei (Mas) 3-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-8, 11-9; 2-Muhammad Raziq Putra (Mas) bt Raghav Vashistha 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-3, 12-10. Girls: 3/4-Anika Dubey bt Tang Lok Yin (HK) 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-2; Ooi Wen Min (Mas) bt Saanvi Kalanki 7-11, 11-5, 11-1, 11-8; 3/4-Pui Yin Chloe (HK) bt Riyansika Verma 11-7, 11-7, 11-3; Yek Rui Jean (Mas) bt Diva Shah 1-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-4.

U-19 — Boys: 3/4-Aryaveer Dewan bt Lau Pak To (HK) 11-4, 11-3, 11-2; Gurveer Singh bt Sallam A Sufian (Mas) 11-4, 11-7, 11-2; Yusha Nafees bt Khairil Fariz (Mas) 11-4, 11-9, 11-4. Girls: Unnati Tripathi bt Akira Nakajima (Jpn) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5; Whitney Wilson (Mas) bt Akanksha Gupta 11-5, 11-6, 11-2; Ena Kwong (HK) bt Vyomika Khandelwal 11-3, 11-0, 11-1; 2-Helen Tang (HK) bt Eesha Shrivastava 11-5, 11-5, 11-4.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) India will mark Commonwealth Games Day with a massive nationwide fitness and sports celebration on May 24 as the 75th edition of the Fit India Movement’s ‘Sundays on Cycle’ campaign is set to unfold across more than 8,000 locations nationwide.

The landmark edition will serve as a tribute to India’s sporting ambitions ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and is expected to bring together athletes, coaches, fitness enthusiasts, youth volunteers, and citizens in one of the country’s largest community-driven sporting events.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will lead the celebrations from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront alongside Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi. The Ahmedabad event has been themed “A New Icon for a Fitter India – Pedalling to 2030” and is expected to witness large-scale participation from cyclists and sports enthusiasts.

“The entire country is buoyed at the thought of India hosting the 100th edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030. On May 24, we are going to celebrate it in a very big way to bring everybody in the sports ecosystem together – sports fans, athletes, coaches, and the entire sporting ecosystem — to celebrate India winning the CWG bid as well as preparing for it. It is about creating awareness and building a sports culture among youngsters, so this will largely be a youth-driven celebration,” Mandaviya said.

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana will add star appeal to the Ahmedabad event alongside several Commonwealth Games and Olympic medallists, including hockey players Rajani Etimarpu, Gurjit Kaur, and Sonika Tandi, shooters Ankur Mittal and Anjum Moudgil, and badminton player Trupti Murgunde.

The celebrations will extend across all States and Union Territories, with special Commonwealth Games-themed cycling drives and fitness events being organised through SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence, and Khelo India Centres.

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse will attend the event in Guwahati, while former wrestler Babita Phogat is expected in Dharamsala. Former Indian hockey player Saba Anjum, one of the inspirations behind the film ‘Chak De! India' will participate in Mumbai.

Officials said the 75th edition is being projected not merely as a cycling initiative but as a nationwide celebration of India’s emergence as a growing global sporting force. As part of the programme, special Commonwealth Games-themed exhibitions will be inaugurated in Ahmedabad and at SAI regional centres across the country, showcasing India’s sporting progress over the last decade, including achievements under the Khelo India programme, expansion of sports infrastructure, and the rise of India’s sports goods manufacturing ecosystem.

The initiative is also expected to deepen public engagement with India’s preparations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games while contributing to the country’s broader Olympic ambitions.

According to organisers, youth participation has already surged through activities conducted on the MY Bharat platform, including quiz competitions, reel-making contests, and torch design challenges, collectively attracting more than one lakh youngsters nationwide.

Launched on December 17, 2024, under the Fit India Movement envisioned by Narendra Modi, the ‘Sundays on Cycle’ initiative has rapidly expanded into one of India’s largest public fitness campaigns.

Across its first 74 editions, the programme has reportedly reached over 3.07 lakh locations, engaged more than 50 lakh cyclists, and connected with over seven crore people through physical activities, digital participation, and outreach initiatives.

Beyond cycling, the campaign has also integrated yoga, Zumba, rope skipping, recreational sports, and wellness activities to make fitness more inclusive and accessible across age groups. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly highlighted the initiative during Mann Ki Baat, promoting the message of “Fitness ka Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz” as part of a national movement for healthier lifestyles.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has placed the proposed amendments to India’s anti-doping legal framework in the public domain for consultation, seeking to introduce criminal penalties for organised doping activities while protecting athletes from criminal prosecution for standard anti-doping violations.

The proposed amendments are aimed at tackling the wider ecosystem that enables doping in sport, including traffickers, illegal suppliers, organised syndicates, and support personnel involved in the commercial distribution and administration of banned substances and methods.

According to the ministry, the proposed framework seeks to criminalise a range of activities linked to organised doping networks. These include trafficking and unauthorised sale or distribution of prohibited substances and methods, administration of banned substances to athletes for doping purposes, supply of such substances to minors, organised commercial activities related to doping, sale of prohibited substances without prescribed labelling, and advertisements or paid promotions encouraging doping practices.

The ministry clarified that athletes themselves would not face criminal prosecution merely for testing positive or committing anti-doping rule violations unless they are found directly involved in criminal offences such as trafficking or organised doping operations.

“Anti-Doping Rule violations by athletes will continue to be dealt with under the existing anti-doping framework,” the ministry stated.

The proposed changes aim to strengthen action against criminal networks operating in and around sport while ensuring that clean athletes are not unfairly targeted under criminal law provisions.

Officials said the framework has been designed to strike a balance between athlete protection, sporting integrity, public health concerns, and effective law enforcement.

The proposed amendments also include safeguards for athletes with valid Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), as well as protections for legitimate medical practitioners who administer prohibited substances in genuine emergency medical situations involving athletes.

The ministry noted that the proposed measures are aligned with India’s commitments under the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport and are consistent with the broader approach endorsed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Stakeholders, including sports federations, athletes, coaches, administrators, and members of the public, have been invited to submit feedback and suggestions on the proposed amendments as part of the consultation process. The deadline for submissions has been set for June 18.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) will conduct trials for the Indian Sub-Junior and Junior teams for the upcoming Pickleball World Cup from June 12 to 14.

The three-day trials in Ahmedabad will determine the junior squad for the third edition of the Pickleball World Cup, sanctioned by the Global Pickleball Federation, which will be held in Vietnam from August 30 to September 9.

Over 100 players from across the country, including Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Odisha, Haryana, and Gujarat, are competing for a chance to represent India in the U14 and U18 categories at the World Cup. The selection committee for the trials include Aalap Sharma, Dhiren Patel, Mohit Kumar, Atul Edward and IPA CEO, Aditya Khanna.

“The Junior squad for the Indian Pickleball contingent is extremely vital as it determines the players that will represent India on the global stage for many years to come. These are the players who will potentially one day compete at the major global events once pickleball officially enters those events as well. The World Cup is the perfect starting point for the young talent across India to showcase their skills or compete alongside the best junior talent in the world,” Suryaveer Singh Bhullar, President, Indian Pickleball Association, said in a statement.

Notable names that will be part of the trials include Arjun Singh, who recently won 3 medals at the US Open in both singles and doubles. Naomi Amalsadiwala, one of India’s rising stars in the open category as well; Panth Thakkar, who won bronze at the US Open in the doubles category, Purvansh Patel, Anoushka Chabbria, Veer Shah & Dev Shah are amongst other names will be competing for the spot in the Indian team.

Source: IANS

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Panzhihua, May 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s junior squash contingent began the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China, with a series of dominant performances, highlighted by a stunning upset from Dhairya Gogia in the boys’ U-13 category.

Gogia, unseeded, overcame Hong Kong’s 5/8 seed Tse Ka Chun in a thrilling four-game battle, prevailing 12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7 in the first round on Wednesday. His victory set the tone for an impressive day for the Indian squad across multiple age groups.

In the U-13 boys’ draw, Amarya Bajaj maintained his strong form, winning against Macau’s Chau Hyo Chon with scores of 11-1, 11-1, 11-5. Abhyuday Arora also edged out Sri Lanka’s Danuja Jayasinghe with scores of 11-5, 11-4, 11-1. On the girls’ side, Riyaa Dalal defeated Sri Lanka’s Dheerya Mithali Silva with set scores of 11-0, 11-6, 11-7. Meanwhile, the 5/8 seed Alia Kankaria beat Korea’s Eun Choi, winning 11-4, 11-6, 11-5.

Indian players also performed well in the U-15 category. Dhruv Johri comfortably defeated Sri Lanka’s Disas Subasinghe with scores of 11-3, 11-5, 11-3. Meanwhile, Vedant Agarwal narrowly lost a five-set match to Singapore’s Jackrish Kumar Sashikumar, with scores of 10-12, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-3.

In the U-17 division, Hridhaan Shah, Lokesh Subramani, Shiven Agarwal, and Raghav Vashishta achieved straight-game wins or victories in four games against competitors from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. On the girls' side, Saanvi Kalanki, Riyansika Verma, and Diva Shah upheld India’s unbeaten record with impressive wins over their respective opponents.

The U-19 girls’ category also demonstrated impressive performances. Unnati Tripathi progressed following Li Shiqi's retirement mid-match, while Akanksha Gupta, Vyomika Khandelwal, and Eesha Shrivastava all achieved straight-game victories against opponents from Japan, Korea, and China.

India’s depth across different age groups was showcased on the opening day, sending a powerful signal to their Asian competitors as the four-day event progresses.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Seasoned archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das failed to make it to the Indian men's and women's squads for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan as the Archery Association of India (AAI) opted for Dhiraj Bommadevara, Ankita Bhakat, and Jyothi Surekha Vennam as part of the strong and youthful teams.

Deepika, who led India to the gold medal in the Shanghai World Cup a few days back, and Atanu were picked for the next two World Cup Stages but could not make it to the all-important 2026 Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. Both Deepika and Atanu fopurth in the trials conducted by the federation and thus lost out on the Asian Games.

Dhiraj Bommadevara, who won a silver in the Team Championship in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, youngster Neeraj Chouhan, and Yashdeep Bhoge will comprise the Indian men's recurve team for the Asian Games. While Bommadevara is quite experienced participating in his second successive Asian Games, Chouhan is in great form, having set a new national record in the Men's Recurve event by scoring 692/720 at the National Archery Championships, surpassing Olympian Tarundeep Rai's previous record. Bhoge won gold for India at the Asian Archery Championship in 2025.

In the women's recurve section, teenager Kumkum Anil Mohod, Kirti Sharma, and Ankita Bhakat, the 27-year-old archer from Kolkata, were part of the Indian team that won a bronze medal in the Team Competition in the Hangzhou Asian Games 2022.

Kumkum and Ankita, along with Deepika, were part of the Indian team that won a historic gold medal in the women’s team competition at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai earlier this month, upsetting home favourite China in the final.

Deepika Kumari, Kumkum Anil Mohod, and Ankita Bhakat had already defeated 10-time Olympic gold-medal-winning nation Korea earlier in the week, 5-1 – the margin of victory almost as surprising as the result itself.

There were a couple of surprises in the compound archery team with the experienced Ojas Deotale and Abhishek Verma, who won gold and silver, respectively, in the Hangzhou Asian Games, missing out and opting for Sahil Jadhav, Kushal Dalal, and Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam to make up the men's team. Another major omission was defending Asian Games champion Ojas Deotale, who finished fifth in the selection trials.

World No. 3 Jyothi Surekha Vennam will spearhead the women's compound team after her triple-medal haul at the 2023 Asian Games, where she won gold in the individual, team, and mixed events. She will have Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep as her teammates at the Asian Games.

India had bagged nine medals -- five gold, two silver, and two bronze medals -- in archery at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

The selected squad will also represent India at World Cup Stages 3 and 4, scheduled in Antalya, Turkiye, in June and Madrid, Spain, in July, respectively.

Indian squad for Asian Games:

Recurve men: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, Yashdeep Bhoge.

Recurve women: Kirti Sharma, Kumkum Anil Mohod, Ankita Bhakat.

Compound men: Sahil Jadhav, Kushal Dalal, Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam.

Compound women: Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to grant immediate relief to three-time Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who had sought permission to participate in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30–31.

Phogat has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging her exclusion from the trials by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and seeking directions to allow her participation in the selection trials pending adjudication of her plea against the federation’s new eligibility criteria.

Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for Phogat, argued before a single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav that "there was something more than meets the eye" in the matter and urged the Delhi High Court to permit the wrestler to participate in the trials subject to the outcome of the case.

However, Justice Rao declined to pass any interim order without hearing the WFI’s stand, observing that no immediate relief could be granted at this stage.

"Unnecessarily, there is no point in allowing you to participate and then telling you that it was a nullity," the judge orally remarked.

The Delhi High Court said it would hear the matter after the summer vacation and listed the case for further hearing on July 6. It also permitted Phogat to file a comprehensive reply to the show-cause notice issued to her by the WFI and directed the federation to take the disciplinary proceedings to their logical conclusion by the next date of hearing.

It further said that any decision taken by the WFI should be placed on record before the Delhi High Court.

The WFI declared Phogat ineligible to participate in any sanctioned competitions until June 26, citing "grave acts of indiscipline" and violations of anti-doping and international wrestling regulations.

In a 15-page show-cause notice issued earlier this month, the WFI directed the three-time Olympian to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against her, highlighting incidents ranging from the Paris 2024 Games to recent anti-doping failures. Recently, the WFI had also introduced revised eligibility criteria for participation in the Asian Games selection trials, restricting entry to medal winners from specified national-level tournaments held during 2025 and 2026. The move effectively excluded Phogat, who has not competed in professional events since the Paris Olympics 2024.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) S8UL, a global name in esports and gaming content, has officially qualified for its third title at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 after Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram emerged victorious in the Road to EWC qualifier held at DreamHack Atlanta, becoming the first Indian player to secure qualification for the Chess main event at the prestigious tournament.

The qualifiers featured a group stage followed by playoffs, with matches featuring two games per series and Armageddon as the tiebreaker, all played at 10 minutes with no increment. The group stage consisted of two double-elimination groups, with the top four players from each group advancing to the playoffs. Aravindh advanced to the Upper Bracket (UB) semifinals from Group B after registering victories over Kyler Raines, Justin Liang, Oleksander Bortnyk, and Christopher Woo.

In the UB semifinals, Aravindh once again faced Woo and defeated him 2-1 after the opening two games ended in draws, clinching victory in the Armageddon game. He followed it up with another 2-1 win over Alexey Sarana in the UB Final to secure his place in the grand final, where he once again faced Sarana. The grand final was played in a double-match format, where a Lower Bracket (LB) win triggered a single Armageddon decider if required. After Sarana won the opening two games of the final from the LB side, Aravindh showcased immense composure under pressure, fighting back to win the Armageddon decider and come out on top in the qualifiers.

With the victory, the 26-year-old secured USD 15,000 (Rs 14 lakh) in prize money and earned a coveted place among the eight players who have officially qualified for the EWC 2026 Chess main event, set to take place from August 11 to 15 with an overall prize pool of USD 1.5 million (Rs 14 crore). The qualification also marks S8UL’s confirmed entry into its third title at EWC 2026, following successful qualification campaigns in Fortnite and Honor of Kings.

Speaking about the victory and qualification, Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram said, “Qualifying for the Esports World Cup this year is a very proud and exciting moment for me, especially with so many top players and organizations from around the world competing at the event. This particular format leaves very little room for error, as every decision matters when you are playing 10-minute games without increment against some of the strongest players in the world. I am also very grateful to the team at S8UL for their consistent support and belief in me since last year. Their approach towards chess and nurturing Indian talent has been incredibly encouraging, and I am looking forward to representing the organization and giving my best at the main event”

Alongside Aravindh, fellow S8UL Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Pranesh M also remain in contention to qualify for the EWC 2026 Chess event. A total of nine players will qualify through the Champions Chess Tour Leaderboard, where Nihal is currently in a qualifying position. Additionally, four players will secure qualification through the Last Chance Qualifiers closer to the tournament, while one final slot will be awarded through the India Rising event, scheduled to conclude on July 5.

“One of the things we’ve consistently focused on at S8UL is creating opportunities for Indian talent to compete and succeed on the biggest global stages. Aravindh Chithambaram qualifying for the Esports World Cup is a huge moment, not just for us as an organization, but for Indian chess overall. The level of competition and pressure in this format is extremely high, which makes this achievement even more special. We’ve always believed India has the talent to stand alongside the very best in the world, and seeing Aravindh become the first Indian to qualify really reinforces that belief,” commented Animesh Agarwal, co-founder and CEO, S8UL Esports.

For this year’s campaign, the organization has placed strong emphasis on Indian representation alongside proven international talent, ensuring homegrown players feature across multiple titles. This vision has already reflected in results, with S8UL’s Honor of Kings roster comprising Indian players securing qualification for the tournament and Aravindh becoming the first Indian Chess player to officially qualify for the event. The organization has also qualified in Fortnite through its international roster while remaining in contention across several other titles. S8UL narrowly missed qualification in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS and fell short in the semifinals of the MOBA Legends 5v5 qualifiers.

The EWC 2026, set to take place from July 6 to August 23, 2026, will bring together over 2,000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries competing for a record-breaking prize pool of USD 75 million (Rs 72 crore). With confirmed qualification now across three titles, S8UL will be aiming to continue waving the Indian flag high on the global stage while pushing for qualification in additional titles.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bharat Singh Chauhan will continue to lead the Commonwealth Chess Association after being unanimously re-elected as Chairman for the 2026–2030 term during the Association’s Annual General Body Meeting in Wasakaduwa, Sri Lanka.

The meeting, held at the Citrus Hotel on Sunday, also confirmed the reappointment of several key office-bearers and executive members from across the Commonwealth, while introducing a major new initiative to expand youth participation in chess.

Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidsh Sanusi was elected unopposed as Deputy Chairman, while G. Luxman Wijesuriya retained his position as General Secretary. Vicky Magu was chosen as Treasurer.

The newly elected executive panel also includes Hurrynarain Bhowany from Mauritius, Allan Herbert from Barbados, Benard Wanjala from Kenya, Craig Hall from New Zealand, and Crition Tornaritis from Cyprus.

The election proceedings were overseen by retired High Court judge Santiago Pushpa Kumara Ekaratne, who served as the Returning Officer.

Chauhan’s reappointment further extends a leadership journey spanning nearly five decades in the chess world, during which he has played a significant role in promoting and developing the game across Commonwealth countries.

In an official statement following the elections, the Association acknowledged his continued influence on the sport’s expansion.

“Chauhan’s re-election reflects the confidence and trust reposed in his visionary leadership and longstanding dedication towards strengthening and promoting chess across the Commonwealth nations,” the Commonwealth Chess Association said in a statement.

The AGM also produced a major announcement for grassroots chess development, with the CCA confirming the launch of the Commonwealth School Chess Championship. The inaugural edition of the tournament is scheduled to be held in Malaysia in October 2026.

Meanwhile, Wijesuriya’s return as General Secretary was seen as recognition of his administrative role in the organisation’s operations and long-term planning.

Luxman Wijesuriya’s re-election as General Secretary was also seen as a testament to his exceptional administrative skills and valuable contribution towards the smooth functioning and continued progress of the Commonwealth Chess Association.

Source: IANS

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Gandhinagar, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) India secured third place in the women’s team standings and fifth in the men’s team standings at the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships 2026, which concluded on Sunday at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, after six days of competition featuring leading weightlifters from across Asia.

The championship, organised by the Indian Weightlifting Federation, took place from May 11 to 17 and featured 172 athletes from 30 nations, comprising 97 men and 75 women.

The competition featured eight women’s and seven men’s bodyweight categories, with participation from more than 20 countries in the women’s section and over 15 in the men’s.

China topped both the women’s and men’s team standings. In the women’s category, China finished first with 578 points, followed by Chinese Taipei with 491 points, and India placed third with 487 points. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Korea completed the top six.

In the men’s team standings, China led with 593 points, followed by DPR Korea on 478 and Uzbekistan on 409.

Chinese Taipei finished fourth with 392 points, India fifth with 379, and Turkmenistan sixth with 344.

In the overall medal tally, China dominated with 21 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronze medals, followed by DPR Korea with 18 gold, 11 silver and 1 bronze.

Chinese Taipei finished with 3 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze medals. Bahrain, Iran, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Qatar, South Korea, India, Turkmenistan, Japan, Kazakhstan and the Philippines also featured in the medal standings.

India finished with a total of 10 medals, comprising one silver and nine bronze. The championship saw a strong number of record-breaking performances, with 27 Asian records and 25 world records set, according to the official results.

Individual honours went to Ri Suk of DPR Korea, named the women’s best lifter with 1013.191 ROBI points in the 63kg category, and HE Yueji of China, named the men’s best lifter with 1052.189 ROBI points in the 65kg category.

The final day of competition featured the women’s 86+ kg category, followed by the closing ceremony, which was attended by officials of the Asian Weightlifting Federation, international delegates, athletes, coaches and sports administrators.

Ashwani Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Weightlifting Federation, said the event demonstrated a high level of competition and strong participation.

“The successful hosting of the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships 2026 in Gandhinagar marks a proud moment for Indian weightlifting and Indian sport. The championship showcased exceptional standards, several world and Asian records and remarkable participation from the continent’s finest athletes," he said.

"We are grateful to the international technical officials, volunteers and the state government for their tremendous support in making this championship a grand success. India’s athletes also displayed tremendous fighting spirit and delivered commendable performances on home soil,” he added.

-- IANS

mys/vi/hs

Source: IANS

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Kuala Lumpur, May 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian men's team went down to hosts Malaysia in a Group C match but topped the Men's Quadrant and still managed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup being played in the Malaysian capital on Sunday.

Asian Champions India went into their final league match with two wins against South Korea and Singapore, while Malaysia had suffered a shock defeat to South Korea in the previous encounter after opening the competition with a win over Singapore. But the hosts' national quartet bounced back to win the must-win match against India by two sets to one scoreline and secured a place in the last-eight stage.

Malaysia, India and South Korea recorded two wins each and finished on the same points. But India and Malaysia advanced to the quarterfinals due to their superior overall game points tally. Overall, India finished as the group winner while Malaysia was the runner-up. India had defeated South Korea 2-1 and Singapore 2-0.

The match was played at Stadium Titiwangsa amidst a lively atmosphere with strong crowd support for the Malaysia team. However, the Indian line-up of Ram Kumar Sharma, Yunam Akash, Bobby Kumar, and Sorokhaibam Malemnganba Singh made a strong start by winning the opening set against the Malaysian team comprising Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali, Muhammad Shahalril Aiman Halim, Amirul Zazwan Amir, and Aidil Aiman Azwawi.

The Indians capitalised on a service error by Aidil early in the match, which affected the Malaysian side's momentum and claimed the first set 15-13, according to a report by local news agency Bernama.

The second set saw an intense battle as both teams traded points before Malaysia edged India 17-15 to force a deciding set, which the home side dominated to win 15-10 and sealed victory in the match.

The Malaysian captain, Amirul Zazwan, said the national squad learned from mistakes made in the opening set to bounce back strongly in the second and third sets in their mission to reach the quarterfinals.

"This was a do-or-die match for us because we had already lost to South Korea this morning, so we really wanted to win. We tried our best in the first set, but we made too many unnecessary mistakes. However, we recovered well in the second set and the tie-breaker. Alhamdulillah, tonight we managed to beat India," he said after the match.

In another Group C match, South Korea defeated Singapore 2-0.

Source: IANS

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Tashkent (Uzbekistan), May 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s senior men’s team secured the silver medal while the senior women’s team finished fourth in the inaugural CASA Rugby 7s 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, marking a positive start to the international rugby season for Rugby India.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Egypt celebrated a landmark evening in world squash as teenage prodigy Amina Orfi and World No.1 Mostafa Asal emerged victorious at the 2026 CIB Palm Hills PSA World Championships in Giza.

Competing in front of a home crowd at Golf Central Palm Hills, Orfi produced one of the most memorable performances in recent women’s squash history, while Asal delivered a dominant display to successfully defend his men’s title.

The spotlight firmly belonged to Orfi, who stunned eight-time world champion Nour ElSherbini in an epic five-game battle to become the youngest women’s world champion ever. The 18-year-old prevailed 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 14-12 in a gripping contest that stretched to 106 minutes and saw her save two championship points in the deciding game.

The triumph rewrites the record books for the Egyptian teenager, who surpasses ElSherbini as the youngest player to capture the women’s world title. Orfi’s breakthrough also prevented ElSherbini from claiming what would have been an unprecedented ninth World Championship crown. The final now stands as the longest women’s World Championship match played under the modern point-a-rally scoring system to 11 and ranks among the lengthiest women’s professional squash matches ever recorded.

Orfi’s title run was marked by resilience and endurance throughout the tournament. Before defeating ElSherbini in the final, she had already come through another marathon encounter in the semi-finals, where she outlasted World No.1 Hania El Hammamy in a 103-minute clash. The victory also places Orfi in unique company as the first female player to simultaneously hold the World Junior Championship and senior PSA World Championship titles.

In the men’s final, Asal reinforced his status as the dominant force in the sport with a clinical straight-games victory over fellow Egyptian Youssef Ibrahim. The top seed controlled the match from the outset and secured the championship 11-4, 11-1, 12-10, showcasing the pace, precision and attacking intensity that have defined his rise to the top of the men’s game.

While Ibrahim managed to produce resistance in the third game, the 27-year-old was unable to sustain pressure against the defending champion, particularly after an exhausting route to the final. Ibrahim had reached the biggest match of his career by defeating No.2 seed Paul Coll and former world champion Karim Abdel Gawad in successive rounds despite preparing to undergo shoulder surgery next week.

Asal’s successful title defence gives him a second PSA World Championship crown and extends his career tally to 29 PSA Tour titles, further cementing his position at the summit of the men’s game.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa recorded a ‘double’ each in the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships in Chennai on Saturday, clinching the mixed title together after bagging the men’s and women’s doubles crowns with their respective partners.

Senthilkumar-Joshna, the top seed, defeated second-seeded Abhay Singh-Rathika Seelan 11-7, 11-9 in a keenly-contested final at the Indian Squash Academy.

Earlier, Abhay and Senthilkumar, the top seed, won the men’s doubles crown for a third straight year, by beating second-seeded Rahul Baitha-Suraj Kumar Chand 11-8, 11-5 in the title-round.

In the day’s first match, top seed Joshna-Rathika beat Janet Vidhi-Pooja Arthi 11-8, 11-4 in the women’s doubles final.

Earlier on Friday, defending men's doubles champions Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar delivered a strong performance to reach the final. They secured a decisive 11-1, 11-6 victory over Ravi Dixit and Vikas Mehra in the semifinals.

The top-seeded pair made very few mistakes during the one-sided match. They controlled the rallies from the start, using sharp attacking shots and quick movement to overwhelm their opponents. They will face second seeds Rahul Baitha and Suraj Kumar Chand, who won against Guhan Senthilkumar and Sandhesh PR 11-8, 11-7 in the other semifinal.

Along with their success in men's doubles, both Abhay and Senthilkumar are also in contention for mixed doubles titles.

Top seeds Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa secured a spot in the mixed doubles final by defeating Rahul Baitha and Anika Dubey 11-6, 11-9 in a tight semifinal match

In the second semifinal, Abhay Singh and Rathika Seelan narrowly defeated Suraj Kumar Chand and Nirupama Dubey 12-10, 11-7 to reach the title match.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Aryaveer Dewan will lead India’s campaign at the Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China, from May 20 to 24. The country aims to build on its impressive medal haul from the last edition.

Dewan, who won the boys’ U-17 title last year, moves up to the U-19 category this season and enters the tournament as the third seed. This talented player will lead a strong 32-member Indian team competing in categories from U-11 to U-19.

India had a successful outing in the last championships, coming home with seven medals: two gold, two silver, and three bronze. With several seeded players this year, the Indian team hopes to improve on that performance in China.

In the boys’ section, India has strong medal chances in several age groups. In the U-13 category, Abhyuday Arora and Amarya Bajaj are both seeded 3/4, while Shresht Iyer is the second seed in the U-15 competition.

Joining Dewan in the U-19 boys’ category are Gurveer Singh, Yusha Nafees, and Purav Rambhia.

The girls’ team also has several promising players. Divyanshi Jain is the second seed in the U-13 category, while Shanaya Parasrampuria is seeded 3/4 in the same age group.

In the U-15 girls’ section, Aadya Budhia will carry Indian hopes as a 3/4 seed, while Anika Dubey enters the U-17 draw with the same seeding.

India’s U-19 girls’ team will include Unnati Tripathi, Eesha Shrivastava, Akanksha Gupta, and Vyomika Khandelwal.

The Indian team will have support from officials Mekhala Srivastava, Surbhi Misra, Avinash Bhavnani, and Saatvik Joshi during this continental event.

With a good mix of experienced junior internationals and rising talent, India looks to make a strong impact at one of Asia’s top junior squash competitions and continue its growth in the sport at the continental level.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s long-distance running scene has often existed away from the spotlight, tucked behind the glamour of cricket stadiums and sprint tracks. But for Sawan Barwal, the road to becoming one of the country’s most promising marathon runners began far from packed arenas, in the tranquil hills of Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh, where endurance is not built in training camps alone but in everyday life itself.

Earlier this year, Barwal scripted history by breaking India’s 48-year-old national marathon record, a feat that suddenly pushed the soft-spoken Army athlete into national prominence. Yet, in conversation, the record-breaking runner speaks less about fame and more about discipline, recovery, patience, and the people who quietly carried him through years when success was far from guaranteed.

In an exclusive interaction with IANS, Barwal reflected on growing up in the hills, overcoming injuries, family sacrifices, and why long-distance running is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one.

“There is a benefit in the mountains ‘physically’ as an athlete. If we talk about endurance running, we get a slight benefit from where we come from. It's a little challenging to go to the mountains, and there is a lot of physical activity needed. So definitely, the endurance is developed from the very beginning if you’re living there. And on top of that, you are benefited while training because you are at an altitude, which later helps competing at other places,” Barwal told IANS, in an exclusive interaction facilitated by ASICS, when asked how training in the mountains helped him shape his endurance, discipline and mindset as an athlete.

For Barwal, the mountains shaped more than his lungs and stamina. They also shaped his resilience. Training facilities were limited when he first began, and unlike athletes from bigger cities, access to professional recovery systems or nutrition support came much later.

“If I compare it to other places, training in the mountains is more difficult. There are not as many facilities here, and I did not have many facilities in my district when I first started training. I trained there and bagged a medal in the Nationals. When I moved to the city lateron and trained in the excellence centers, it was pretty easy to rain there with all facilities for recovery, nutrition, so it was easy for me to develop my body then,” he said.

Long-distance running can often feel isolating, hours of repetitive training without applause, cameras, or crowds. Yet Barwal approaches the sport with the precision of someone constantly competing against time itself.

“I have a set target in my mind for the marathon beforehand that I have to improve my timing and break the national record. I keep in mind that target and train accordingly saying ‘I want to achieve this target, I have to train like this.’ We must break the training barriers. I set the targets before training and tell myself that I have to finish running in so-and-so time. We set the target 1-2 days before for the next session. We have to practise continuously and achieve the target. That’s the motivation. As soon as we achieve the target, we feel happy. I also have teammates, so we keep motivating each other,” he stated.

Behind that discipline lies a story familiar to many Indian athletes, a family stretching its own limits so one dream could survive.

“My family has been very helpful since I started running. They provided me with a lot of things. They cut out their own things and provided me with the training essentials. My family has been very helpful. My elder brother helped me a lot. When he started his job, he supported me financially because I wasn’t financially stable, didn’t have a job in hand. He helped me with the training shoes, the spike shoes, the competition shoes that cost around 20000, I couldn’t afford it, but he provided me with those and has been a big support so that I could succeed,” Barwal expressed.

That support system, Barwal believes, extends beyond family and coaches. In a sport where progress can take years, athletes need partners willing to invest in journeys rather than instant results.

“Behind every athlete’s journey, there is always a strong support system that helps them stay focused and keep moving forward. Long-distance running involves years of disciplined training, sacrifices, recovery, and staying mentally strong through both good and difficult phases. For me, the support from my coaches, family, teammates, and partners like ASICS has played a very important role in helping me pursue my goals with confidence.

“As an athlete, knowing that a brand understands the demands of the sport and genuinely supports your journey makes a big difference. ASICS has always stood for performance, recovery, and the overall well-being of athletes, which aligns closely with what long-distance running requires – sound mind, sound body,” Barwal opened up.

Modern marathon running, he says, is no longer just about mileage and stamina. Technology, especially footwear innovation, has become central to performance.

“Today, shoes are a big part of running. Competition shoes feature carbon-fibre plates and are lightweight. If we talk about 4-5 years ago, shoes were not like that. It becomes 20-30% easier for athletes if they have access to proper training and running shoes. From providing the right footwear and apparel technology to supporting athletes through their training and racing journey, ASICS helps create an environment where athletes can focus fully on improving and performing at their best. For me personally, having that kind of backing gives a lot of motivation and confidence to keep pushing my limits and continue chasing bigger goals,” the long-distance runner stated.

But the road has not been linear. In 2023, Barwal endured one of the toughest periods of his career after a major injury kept him out for months and forced him into a battle with self-doubt.

“Every athlete goes through such phases in life. If you suffer a major injury and recovery takes a long time, thoughts start coming into your mind like maybe this will never heal properly, maybe I’m not able to do anything, or perhaps I should choose a different path altogether. So controlling those thoughts was very challenging for me when I got injured in 2023 and it took me around six to seven months to recover. That was a really difficult phase.

“Then, when athletes transition from the junior level to the senior level, it usually takes one or two years to adjust to that category. During that period, winning medals and maintaining your place in the field becomes a huge challenge. You start feeling that other athletes are better than you and ahead of you, and that your time has not yet come. At times like that, you often feel you may have chosen the wrong field and that you are not able to move forward. But if you keep those thoughts under control and continue training patiently and consistently, eventually you get to see the results of that hard work,” the national record holder said.

For someone who now holds the national marathon record, Barwal still remembers a time when long-distance running barely received attention in his home state.

“In the beginning, it was difficult. Since we are from Himachal, people there generally do not have much interest in sports, especially athletics, and very few pursue long-distance running. Most people eventually join the army instead. It was only when we travelled outside that we realised this is also a sport in which one can build a career. Six or seven years ago, there wasn’t much craze around it, but now marathons attract huge crowds. It feels good to see so many people coming and participating,” Barwal mentioned.

His advice to young runners reflects the same patience that defines his own journey.

“The journey from junior to senior level is a long one. There is a huge difference in both performance and maturity between junior and senior athletes. It usually takes four to six years for young athletes to reach that level, so it is important not to get distracted or lose focus during that phase. Many athletes quit midway because even after two or three years, they may still not see the results they expect or feel they are unable to match the senior level. But reaching that stage takes time, patience, and consistent hard work. That is why it is very important to keep practising continuously with a clear target in mind.”

Now, with the Asian Games, Asian Marathon Championships, and the Los Angeles Olympics firmly in sight, Barwal is already thinking beyond his breakthrough moment. For him, experience may be the final ingredient needed to compete at the highest level.

“This year we have the Asian Games in September and next year we have the Asian Marathon Championship. It will be a major event and next year we have the Olympics. We will have a lot of experience by the time the Olympic year is here. We didn't have that much experience in the first marathon but that won’t be the case in 2028. 40-50% is experience that matters. We didn't have that much experience last time. We will have a lot of experience in the upcoming Olympics,” he concluded.

Source: IANS

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Patiala, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and rising star Sakshi Chaudhary secured their spots on India’s boxing teams for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 and Commonwealth Games 2026 after impressive wins at the national trials in Patiala on Friday.

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist and former world champion Lovlina delivered a strong performance in the women’s 75kg final, defeating Sanamacha Chanu 5-0 to confirm her place in both major multi-sport events.

The 28-year-old narrowly missed direct qualification through the Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar last month after failing to reach the final. According to the Boxing Federation of India’s selection policy, only finalists at the continental championships earned automatic qualification for categories included in both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

Lovlina, who took silver at the 2023 Asian Games after narrowly missing a podium finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, ensured there would be no repeat disappointment as she easily claimed qualification through the trials.

The women’s 51kg category sparked significant discussion during the trials as Sakshi Chaudhary continued her impressive streak by defeating reigning 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda 5-0 in the final.

Earlier, Sakshi had stunned two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen 4-1 in the semifinals, highlighting her rise as one of India’s top boxing prospects.

Minakshi reached the final after defeating former world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nitu Ghanghas in the semifinals. Although she won gold in the 48kg category at the Asian Boxing Championships, that division is not part of the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games program, forcing her to move up to 51kg.

Several other Indian boxers had already qualified based on their performances at the Asian Championships. This included Sachin Siwach (men’s 60kg), Preeti Pawar (women’s 54kg), and Priya Ghanghas (women’s 60kg), all of whom reached the finals in Ulaanbaatar.

Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), and Aditya Pratap Singh (65kg) qualified only for the Commonwealth Games as their categories are not part of the Asian Games program.

World championship bronze medallist Parveen Hooda and Asian Games medallist Narender Berwal also secured their places by winning their respective trials.

The Commonwealth Games 2026 will take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, and the Asian Games 2026 are set for Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.

India squads:

Asian Games 2026

Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg)

Men: Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg)

Commonwealth Games 2026

Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg)

Men: Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Aditya Pratap Singh (65kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg)

Source: IANS

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Tashkent, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) India concluded its U-17 campaign at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 with a total of 17 medals, including 2 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze, with the girls’ contingent leading the charge.

The U-17 girls delivered an impressive 12-medal haul, comprising 2 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze, while the U-17 boys added 1 silver and 4 bronze medals.

India secured two gold medals in the girls’ finals. Rakhi (46kg) clinched gold with a strong RSC win in the second round against Rukhshonabonu Ahadova (UZB). Navya (57kg) added the second gold, registering a dominant 4:0 victory over Sara Kono (JPN).

In other bouts, Khushi Chand (48kg) settled for silver after a 1:4 loss to Arisa Yoshinaga (JPN). Diya (63kg) and Himanshi (70kg) both secured silver medals following 0:5 defeats against Mehrimakh Kilichova (UZB) and Karina Ilmuratova (UZB) respectively.

Jyoti (75kg) went down 1:4 against Diana Nadyrebek (KAZ), while Vanshika (80kg) lost 0:5 to Zhansaya Yerzhan (KAZ). In the 80+kg category, Gurseerat Kaur fought a close contest before losing 2:3 to Sohibakhon Khudoyberdieva (UZB).

In the boys’ finals, Lakshay Phogat (75kg) finished with a silver medal after a 0:5 loss to Marufjon Toshpulatov (UZB). The boys’ contingent concluded with 1 silver and 4 bronze medals overall.

India’s U-17 campaign showcased strong depth in the girls’ categories, adding to the country’s overall success at the championships.

On Thursday, U-15 girls spearheaded the campaign with a stellar 7 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals, while the U-15 boys contributed 2 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze medals.

In the 33kg category, Akshita put up a strong fight before settling for silver after a close 2:3 loss to Odina Yusupova (UZB).

Anzee (37kg) secured gold with a dominant 5:0 win over Nurzhanat Beknazar (KAZ), while Soniya (40kg) registered an identical 5:0 victory against Bominakhon (UZB).

In 43kg, Tanvi clinched gold after forcing an ABD in the opening round against Han-Hsi Chen (TPE). Hanshika Attri (46kg) continued the strong run with an RSC win in the second round against Sabrina Adilkhanova (KAZ), and Sunaina (58kg) followed with a first-round RSC victory over Mukaddas Zokirova (UZB).

Bhumika (61kg) added another gold with an RSC win in the second round against Aiaru Faizullayeva (KAZ)

In 64kg, Tannvi finished with silver after a 0:5 loss to Malika Ulugbekova (UZB). Angel (70kg) wrapped up the girls’ campaign on a high, securing gold with a 4:1 win over Khonzodabegim Baratova (UZB).

The U-15 boys added two gold medals to India’s tally. Yash Kumar (33kg) clinched gold with a hard-fought 3:2 victory over Sayat Rakhymberdi (KAZ). Mohd Yasser (58kg) secured the second gold with a narrow 3:2 win against Abdulloh Karimjonov (UZB).

In other finals, Sastha Vasanth Ashok Kumar (37kg) settled for silver after a 0:5 loss to Fayozbek Noraliev, while Samir Bohra (43kg) went down 1:4 to Beibarys Koishybay (KAZ). Sudarsan Vasudeva Chandak (52kg) also finished with silver following a 0:5 defeat to Javohir Nematjonov (UZB), and Ronak Parag Lokhande (67kg) secured silver after an RSC loss in the first round to Amanzhan Zhanay (KAZ).

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian MMA star and Commonwealth Heavyweight champion Sangram Singh is set to create history once again as he prepares for his fourth professional MMA bout at the Malaysia strike MMA championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In a landmark moment for Indian mixed martial arts Sangram will become the first Indian fighter to compete for the prestigious Asia Championship title.

The highly anticipated bout is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 19, where Sangram Singh will face experienced Pakistani MMA fighter Abid Ali who has already secured several victories in international MMA competitions.

Interestingly Sangram Singh began his MMA journey against another Pakistani fighter Ali Raza Nasir at the GAMMA International Fighting Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia where he secured a dominant second-round victory. Now his fourth MMA appearance will once again see him face a Pakistani opponent on the international stage.

Between these two bouts Sangram defeated Tunisian fighter Hakim Trabelsi in the Netherlands before the fight could reach the second round.

Most recently he created history in Buenos Aires Argentina by defeating French fighter Florian Caudier in just 1 minute and 45 seconds becoming the first Indian to win an MMA fight in Argentina.

Speaking about the upcoming challenge Sangram said, “I may not know much about Abid Ali’s age right now, but I know he is an experienced fighter who has won many MMA bouts. Representing India at the Malaysia Strike MMA Championship for the Asian Championship title is a matter of immense pride for me.”

Sangram further revealed that he will compete in the 83–89 kg weight category for this bout. He acknowledged the pressure surrounding an India-Pakistan sporting contest but added that the challenge excites him even more.

“Whenever India and Pakistan compete, emotions are naturally high because fans from both countries always want their side to win. There is pressure but there is also excitement. This is a huge challenge for me and I am preparing with complete focus” Sangram Singh, Indian Wrestler added.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The third National Doubles Squash Championships could see multiple players winning two titles as Abhay Singh, Velavan Senthilkumar, Joshna Chinappa, and Rathika Seelan all advanced in their categories at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai on Friday.

Defending men's doubles champions Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar delivered a strong performance to reach the final. They secured a decisive 11-1, 11-6 victory over Ravi Dixit and Vikas Mehra in the semifinals.

The top-seeded pair made very few mistakes during the one-sided match. They controlled the rallies from the start, using sharp attacking shots and quick movement to overwhelm their opponents. They will face second seeds Rahul Baitha and Suraj Kumar Chand, who won against Guhan Senthilkumar and Sandhesh PR 11-8, 11-7 in the other semifinal.

Along with their success in men's doubles, both Abhay and Senthilkumar are also in contention for mixed doubles titles.

Top seeds Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa secured a spot in the mixed doubles final by defeating Rahul Baitha and Anika Dubey 11-6, 11-9 in a tight semifinal match

In the second semifinal, Abhay Singh and Rathika Seelan narrowly defeated Suraj Kumar Chand and Nirupama Dubey 12-10, 11-7 to reach the title match.

The women's doubles competition also featured Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan continuing their strong performance. The experienced team topped Group A after beating Ananya Narayan and Anika Dubey 11-5, 11-4, securing a place in the final and keeping hopes alive for both players to win two titles.

In Group B, Janet Vidhi and Pooja Arthi triumphed in a tough match against the second seeds, Nirupama Dubey and Shameena Riaz, winning 8-11, 12-10, 11-5.

Results:

Men’s doubles (semifinals): 1-Abhay Singh/ Velavan Senthilkumar bt Ravi Dixit/ Vikas Mehra 11-1, 11-6; 2-Rahul Baitha/ Suraj Kumar Chand bt Guhan Senthilkumar/ Sandhesh PR 11-8, 11-7.

Mixed doubles (semifinals): 1-Velavan Senthilkumar/ Joshna Chinappa bt Rahul Baitha/ Anika Dubey 11-6, 11-9; 2-Abhay Singh/ Rathika Seelan bt Suraj Kumar Chand/ Nirupama Dubey 12-10, 11-7.

Women’s doubles (round-robin): Group A: 1-Joshna Chinappa/ Rathika Seelan bt Ananya Narayan/ Anika Dubey 11-5, 11-4; Group B: Janet Vidhi/ Pooja Arthi bt 2-Nirupama Dubey/ Shameena Riaz 8-11, 12-10, 11-5.

Source: IANS

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Geneva, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) United World Wrestling (UWW) has announced has allowed wrestlers from Russia and Belarus compete without restrictions at upcoming UWW competitions with immediate effect.

Under the revised participation rules, "wrestlers from the two countries will now compete under their respective national flags across all categories, including senior-level competitions. Athletes and team staff will also be permitted to display the abbreviations 'RUS' and 'BLR' on their uniforms," UWW said in a release.

"Additionally, the national anthems of Russia and Belarus will be played during medal ceremonies if their wrestlers secure gold medals or if their teams win championship titles,"it added.

UWW stated that all other competition procedures and protocols will continue to follow standard international wrestling regulations.

The latest move marks a major shift in UWW’s stance since restrictions were first imposed following the geopolitical conflict surrounding Ukraine in 2022. In March of that year, the wrestling governing body aligned with International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommendations and barred Russian and Belarusian wrestlers and officials from participating in events on the UWW calendar.

Over the past two years, however, UWW has gradually eased those restrictions. In April 2023, the federation established an independent panel to assess the eligibility of wrestlers from Russia and Belarus under IOC-recommended participation guidelines. During the same period, athletes in the U15 and U17 categories from the two nations were permitted to compete internationally as neutral athletes.

A further relaxation came in January this year when the UWW approved the participation of Russian and Belarusian wrestlers up to the U23 age-group level under their national flags. The decision followed an IOC recommendation stating that youth athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports should not face restrictions in international sporting events, including team competitions.

UWW also revised its eligibility framework in September 2024, before introducing another change in February 2025, when eligible athletes from both countries were allowed to compete under the UWW flag rather than the “Individual Neutral Athletes” designation. However, UWW did not authorise the use of national anthems or references to the flags, symbols, or coats of arms of Belarus and Russia.

With the latest policy update, those remaining limitations have now been lifted, fully restoring national representation for Russian and Belarusian wrestlers at UWW competitions worldwide.

Source: IANS

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Patiala, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Sakshi Chaudhary, who defeated two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen in the semifinal of the national boxing trials, made the cut for the Indian team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games to be held in Japan later this year.

She defeated the reigning world and Asian champion in the 48kg division, Meenakshi Hooda, who moved up to 51kg, in the final here at NIS Patiala on Friday. Sakshi, who won gold in the 54 kg category at the 2025 World Boxing Cup in Astana, dropped down to 51 kg for the trials.

The boxer who loses the final will be selected for the World Boxing Cup in Guiyang, China, from June 15 to 20, while the winner earns quotas for the two quadrennial events.

Earlier, Sakshi stunned Nikhat, who won the World Championships twice and gold in the Commonwealth Games and bronze in the Asian Games, while Meenakshi knocked out former world champion Neetu Ghanghas.

The 51kg category will have a new representative from the country top stars; Nikhat and Nitu crashed out.

Nikhat was forced to take part in the trials after she failed to secure a direct entry during last month's Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She had reached the semifinals in the continental meet but went down tamely 0-5 to China’s Wu Yu, the reigning Olympic gold medallist.

Moreover, Sachin Siwach (men's 60kg), Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg) and Priya Ghanghas (women's 60kg) qualified for both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games after reaching the finals of the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar.

Jaismine Lamboria (women's 57kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (women's 70kg) secured qualification for the Commonwealth Games only, as their weight categories are not part of the Asian Games programme.

The Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, followed by the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi/Bhopal, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Railways’ Saurabh Chaudhary and Maharashtra’s Sakshi Sunil Padekar emerged victorious in the 10m Air Pistol Men ISSF and 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women ISSF events, respectively, in the 24th Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship being held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi and the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy in Bhopal.

In the 10m Air Pistol Men ISSF event, Saurabh Chaudhary clinched the gold medal with a score of 242.8 in the final. Uttar Pradesh’s Gaurav secured the silver medal with 240.7, while Delhi’s Hardik Bansal claimed bronze with 219.3.

In qualification, Haryana’s Kamaljeet Choudhary topped the standings with a score of 585-24x. Saurabh Chaudhary qualified second with 584-25x, while Uttar Pradesh’s Gaurav secured third place with 582-20x. Delhi’s Hardik Bansal entered the final in fourth place with 581-18x.

Sakshi Padekar wins Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions

Maharashtra’s Sakshi Sunil Padekar secured the gold medal with a final score of 357.7. Punjab’s Anjum Moudgil won the silver medal after shooting 357.2, while Aakriti Dahiya of Maharashtra claimed bronze with a score of 346.3.

In qualification, Sakshi Padekar topped the standings with a score of 590-34x to equal the KSS record. Rajasthan’s Manini Kaushik qualified second with 587-37x, while Odisha’s Shriyanka Sadangi secured third place with 585-22x. Haryana’s Aakriti Dahiya finished fourth in qualification with 584-30x.

Uttar Pradesh’s Manya Mittal clinched the junior women’s title with a score of 354.8 in the final. Madhya Pradesh’s Pratha Rathod secured the silver medal with 351.9, while Haryana’s Hazel claimed bronze with 338.6. Tamil Nadu’s Melvina Angeline J finished fourth with 327.4.

In qualification, Manya Mittal topped the field with a score of 582-29x. Madhya Pradesh’s Pratha Rathod qualified second with 581-23x, while Haryana’s Hazel shot 580-22x to finish third. Madhya Pradesh’s Prarthana Sen secured fourth place, also with 580-22x.

Abhishek Saini tops 10m Air Pistol Junior Men

Rajasthan’s Abhishek Saini clinched the junior men’s title with a score of 241.1 in the final. Fellow Rajasthan shooter Yogesh Kumar secured the silver medal with the same score of 241.1, while Karnataka’s Jonathan Gavin Antony claimed bronze with 219.3. Uttar Pradesh’s Sahil finished fourth with 198.1.

Rajasthan’s Devendra Farswal emerged victorious in the youth men’s event, while Haryana’s Priyanshu Yadav secured the silver medal. Delhi’s Hardik Bansal claimed bronze and Uttarakhand’s Shubh finished fourth in the competition.

Other Results

10m Pistol Men Team

1. Army Marksmanship Unit (Kedarling Balakrishna, Ravinder Singh, Ajendra Singh) – 1744.0-59x

2. Rajasthan (Yogesh Kumar, Yogesh Kumar, Sandeep Bishnoi) – 1738.0-47x

3. Haryana (Kamaljeet Choudhary, Shiva Narwal, Kapil Bhainsla) – 1737.0-64x

10m Pistol Sub Youth Men

1. Tanish Kumar (Delhi) – 579-20x

2. Devendra Farswal (Rajasthan) – 579-18x

3. Divyaraj Gohil (Gujarat) – 577-19x

10m Pistol Master Men

1. Babu Ram (Chandigarh) – 580-18x

2. Vinod Abaji Khutade (Maharashtra) – 560-11x

3. Rajesh Kumar Pandit (Uttar Pradesh) – 557-12x

50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Team

1. Maharashtra (Sakshi Padekar, Tejaswani Sawant, Bhakti Khamkar) – 1749-84x

2. Punjab (Anjum Moudgil, Sift Kaur Samra, Gursidak Kaur Khosa) – 1736-74x

3. Rajasthan (Manini Kaushik, Kriti Raj Rathore, Monika Jakhar) – 1733-76x

50m Rifle 3 Positions Youth Women

1. Pratha Rathod (Madhya Pradesh) – 581-23x

2. Prarthana Sen (Madhya Pradesh) – 580-22x

3. Nimrat Kaur Brar (Punjab) – 575-17x

50m Rifle 3 Positions Deaf Women

1. Mahit Sandhu (Chandigarh) – 577-20x

2. Natasha Joshi (Maharashtra) – 563-15x

3. Priyesha Deshmukh (Maharashtra) – 560 -11x

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defending champions Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar made a commanding start to their campaign in the men’s doubles event at the 3rd National Doubles Squash Championships, cruising into the semifinals with a dominant straight-games victory at the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai on Thursday.

The top-seeded pair, who received a bye in the opening round, needed little time to settle into rhythm as they overpowered Shubham and Vedant Patel 11-4, 11-2 in the quarterfinals. Their sharp movement and aggressive shot-making ensured complete control throughout the contest as they continued their bid to retain the national title.

Abhay also remained in contention in the mixed doubles category, where he is partnering Rathika Seelan this year following the absence of his reigning partner, Anahat Singh. The second-seeded duo survived a stern challenge from Ravi Dixit and Janet Vidhi before advancing to the semifinals with a gritty 10-12, 11-8, 11-9 victory.

The contest proved to be one of the most competitive matches of the day, with Abhay and Rathika recovering strongly after dropping the opening game. Their composure in crucial moments of the second and third games ultimately helped them edge through.

Meanwhile, other men’s doubles quarterfinal encounters also produced impressive performances. Ravi Dixit and Vikas Mehra defeated Mathew Godwin and Navaneeth Prabhu 11-7, 10-12, 11-7 in a closely fought battle, while the Tamil Nadu pair of Guhan Senthilkumar and Sandhesh PR continued their strong run with an 11-7, 2-11, 11-8 win over Harinder Sandhu and Om Semwal.

Second seeds Rahul Baitha and Suraj Chand advanced comfortably after beating Dinesh R and Meyappan L 11-6, 11-6.

In the women’s doubles competition, the experienced top-seeded combination of Joshna Chinappa and Rathika Seelan opened their Group A campaign with a convincing 11-2, 11-7 victory over Sahana Kalaivanan and Sangamitra Shanmugham. In another Group A match, Ananya Narayan and Anika Dubey registered a dominant 11-2, 11-1 win over the same opponents.

The mixed doubles event also saw top seeds Velavan Senthilkumar and Joshna Chinappa make an emphatic start. The experienced pairing brushed aside Roshan Rajkumar and Sahana Kalaivanan 11-4, 11-5 to seal a semifinal berth.

Suraj Chand and Nirupama Dubey also progressed after edging past Navaneeth Prabhu and Pooja Arthi 11-9, 12-10 in a tightly contested match, while Rahul Baitha and Anika Dubey fought back strongly to defeat Sandhesh PR and Shameena Riaz 10-12, 11-6, 11-8.

Earlier in the tournament on Wednesday, Guhan Senthilkumar and Sandhesh PR had stormed into the men’s doubles quarterfinals with a one-sided 11-1, 11-2 victory over Naman Surana and Pranav Agarwal in the round of 16. Ravi Dixit and Janet Vidhi had also progressed in mixed doubles after overcoming Dinesh R and Ananya Narayan 4-11, 11-5, 11-8.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two-time World Championship medallist Nikhat Zareen is all set to miss the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games to be held in Japan later this year after failing to clinch her berth to the mega events via the qualifying trials in Patiala.

Nikhat, who won the World Championships twice and gold in the Commonwealth Games and bronze in the Asian Games, went down to Sakshi Chaudhary in the women's 51 kg semifinals during the national trials at the National Institute of Sports (NIS).

Nikhit Zareen went down 1-4 to Sakshi in her semifinal bout, which effectively sealed her fate as she had failed to gain a direct berth to the Asian Games.

The result is a huge setback for the 29-year-old Nikhat, who has been going through poor form and was not part of the Indian squad in recent months. The defeat means that the boxer from Telangana will not be part of the Indian squads for the upcoming international events.

The 51kg category will have a new representative from the country after another top star, Nitu Ghanghas, too crashed out, stunned by youngster Meenakshi on Thursday.

Nikhat was in top form a couple of years back when she won her second World Championship gold medal in the 2023 event held in New Delhi, defeating Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Tam by 5-0 unanimous decision in the 48-50 kg category.

Nikhat was forced to take part in the trials after she failed to secure a direct entry during last month's Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She had reached the semifinals in the Continental meet but went down tamely 0-5 to China’s Wu Yu, the reigning Olympic gold medallist. Only those who reached the finals in Mongolia were granted automatic qualification for the Asian Games.

Sachin Siwach (men's 60kg), Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg), and Priya Ghanghas (women's 60kg) had confirmed their places via the Asian Championships.

Source: IANS

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Tashkent, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) India delivered a dominant performance at the Asian Boxing U15 Championships 2026, finishing with an impressive 27 medals, including 9 gold, 6 silver, and 12 bronze, while topping the U-15 girls medal standings.

The U-15 girls spearheaded the campaign with a stellar 7 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze medals, while the U-15 boys contributed 2 gold, 4 silver, and 7 bronze medals.

In the 33kg category, Akshita put up a strong fight before settling for silver after a close 2:3 loss to Odina Yusupova (UZB).

Anzee (37kg) secured gold with a dominant 5:0 win over Nurzhanat Beknazar (KAZ), while Soniya (40kg) registered an identical 5:0 victory against Bominakhon (UZB).

In 43kg, Tanvi clinched gold after forcing an ABD in the opening round against Han-Hsi Chen (TPE). Hanshika Attri (46kg) continued the strong run with an RSC win in the second round against Sabrina Adilkhanova (KAZ), and Sunaina (58kg) followed with a first-round RSC victory over Mukaddas Zokirova (UZB).

Bhumika (61kg) added another gold with an RSC win in the second round against Aiaru Faizullayeva (KAZ).

In 64kg, Tannvi finished with silver after a 0:5 loss to Malika Ulugbekova (UZB). Angel (70kg) wrapped up the girls’ campaign on a high, securing gold with a 4:1 win over Khonzodabegim Baratova (UZB).

The U-15 boys added two gold medals to India’s tally. Yash Kumar (33kg) clinched gold with a hard-fought 3:2 victory over Sayat Rakhymberdi (KAZ). Mohd Yasser (58kg) secured the second gold with a narrow 3:2 win against Abdulloh Karimjonov (UZB).

In other finals, Sastha Vasanth Ashok Kumar (37kg) settled for silver after a 0:5 loss to Fayozbek Noraliev, while Samir Bohra (43kg) went down 1:4 to Beibarys Koishybay (KAZ). Sudarsan Vasudeva Chandak (52kg) also finished with silver following a 0:5 defeat to Javohir Nematjonov (UZB), and Ronak Parag Lokhande (67kg) secured silver after an RSC loss in the first round to Amanzhan Zhanay (KAZ).

With a total of 27 medals, including 9 gold, India capped off a highly successful campaign, showcasing depth and dominance across categories at the continental level.

Source: IANS

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