Latest news with #AsianAthleticsChampionships2025
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Tejaswin headlines field at India Open athletics championship
Tejaswin Shankar is among the leading names who will compete in the Indian Open athletics meet 2025 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday. Tejaswin, who earned a decathlon silver at the Asian Athletics Championships last month, will feature in the 110m hurdles and high jump events here. Olympian Sarvesh Kushare will be among Shankar's challengers in the high jump. Asian Games silver medallist Mohammed Afsal, who broke the men's 800m national record last month, will also be seen in action. Abinaya Rajarajan, 18, who was part of the Indian women's 4x100m team which won silver at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, will look to continue her impressive run in the senior ranks. Asian Athletics Championships bronze medallist Vithya Ramraj (women's 400m hurdles), sprinter Nithya Gandhe and Jisna Mathew (women's 400m) are some of the other international athletes on the start list.
India.com
2 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
Neeraj Chopra, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem may finally face off in THIS event after Paris Olympics 2024
Neeraj Chopra (left) and Arshad Nadeem. (Photo: IANS) The world has been awaiting the much-vaunted face off between India's double Olympics medallist Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Paris Olympics 2024 gold medallist Arshad Nadeem. The two javelin stars from Asia have not faced each other in any event since the Paris Olympics. While Neeraj has been a regular in Diamond League events this season, Arshad Nadeem's only major appearance was in the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 last month which the Indian star had skipped. It is not expected that the two Asian giants will collide in the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, which is scheduled to take place from September 13 to 21 this year. Both Neeraj Chopra and reigning Olympics champion Arshad Nadeem are building up to this event. 'My focus is on the World Athletics Championships and I am working hard for that. It is very hot in Lahore. I am going to England soon and will be training there for a month,' Arshad Nadeem told reporters in Pakistan last week. Tight at the top! After 2 of 4 qualification meetings for the men's javelin throw it's India's king 👑 Neeraj Chopra & German powerhouse 💥 Julian Weber who are in control. Two more important opportunities for everyone in the standings to make it to the final in Zurich🇨🇭… — Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 26, 2025 Neeraj Chopra won Ostrava Golden Spike event Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra won the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike 2025 event earlier this week with a throw of 85.29m. It was Neeraj's second victory on the trot after winning the Paris Diamond League 2025 title last week. Neeraj defeated Germany's Julian Weber, who had beaten the Indian in the Doha Diamond League 2025 and Janusz Kusocinski Memorial event earlier this year. Even Neeraj had admitted before the Ostrava event that his goal was to win in World Championships. 'I am really happy to work with such a great athlete and coach. I've already thrown 90m this year after little bit more improvement in technique. So let's see when it comes next time but I am ready. Recently we've done a good training in Nymburk (Czech Republic) so I'll do my best here in Ostrava. Main goal for the season is obviously World Championships in Tokyo,' Neeraj said. If both athletes remain fit then fans will finally be able to witness Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem clash for the first time in more than a year. Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 to take place in Bengaluru next month The Indian is also excited about hosting the first-ever 'Neeraj Chopra Classic' event in Bengaluru on July 5. The event had to be postponed due to India-Pakistan border tensions after India's Operation Sindoor. 'This will be my first really serious competition in India with international athletes, on July 5. I still have to manage a lot of things before competition but it will be a good experience,' he said earlier this week. 'So now it would not be good if I would say no to people. And I'm happy that now in India people recognise other sports than cricket,' he added. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem had set a new Olympics javelin record with a throw of 92.97m in Paris to leave Neeraj Chopra in second place. Neeraj has finally shattered the 90m barrier earlier this year.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mansukh Mandaviya writes: The last 11 years have seen a transformation in sporting infrastructure
As we embark on our journey to become Viksit Bharat by 2047, one of the most powerful forces shaping this vision is the rise of Indian sports. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian sports is scaling new heights on the global stage. Recently, Indian athletes once again made the nation beam with pride through extraordinary performances on the global stage. At the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, the Indian contingent delivered a commanding performance, clinching 24 medals and smashing multiple national records along the way. Our women wrestlers scripted a golden chapter in history, returning from the Ulaanbaatar Open in Mongolia with a record-breaking 21 medals, their best-ever haul at a Ranking Series event. This success didn't come overnight. India won only 26 Olympic medals in the first 23 editions (including before Independence). But in the last three editions alone — 2016, 2020 and 2024 — India bagged 15 medals. In the Paralympics, from just eight medals between 1968 and 2012, India has now won 52 medals in the last three editions, including a record 29 medals in Paris 2024. These achievements are the result of a performance-driven ecosystem built over the last 11 years. PM Modi has brought a clear and focused vision that every athlete, regardless of background, deserves access to world-class training, infrastructure, financial support, athlete-centric governance, and a transparent system to thrive. At the heart of these reforms is the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014 to identify and support top athletes. What began with 75 athletes has now grown to support 213 sportspersons for the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, including 52 para-athletes and 112 athletes under the development category. New schemes have also been introduced to support athletes in disciplines that have traditionally received less attention. The Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), introduced this year, supports 40 medal prospects in 10 disciplines such as fencing, cycling, equestrian, sailing, kayaking and canoeing, judo, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, and wushu. Driving this performance is a significant financial commitment. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports budget has more than tripled in the last decade, from Rs 1,219 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3,794 crore in 2025-26. The Khelo India Scheme, launched in 2017 to develop grassroots infrastructure and promote year-round competition, has seen its budget increase to Rs 1,000 crore this year. National sports federations have also received unprecedented support. Financial assistance for hosting international tournaments and national championships has nearly doubled. Coaches' support has been revised upward by 50 per cent. Athlete dietary allowances have been increased to meet the demands of high-performance training. One of the most impactful reforms has been the emphasis on transparency. All federations must video record selection trials and publish selection criteria for major events two years in advance. This ensures fairness, builds trust among athletes, and keeps the system merit-based. Sports certificates are now issued through DigiLocker and linked to the National Sports Repository System, ensuring tamper-proof documentation. The Draft National Sports Policy 2024, along with the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, aim to strengthen the sports ecosystem and bring athlete welfare to the centre of policy making. Age fraud is being tackled through new medical checks and stricter penalties. Federations are also required to appoint Integrity Officers to ensure compliance. In addition to Olympic sports, traditional Indian sports like mallakhamb, kalaripayattu, yogasana, gatka and thang-ta are being revived and promoted through the Khelo India Games. Indigenous sports like Kabaddi and Kho-Kho are now receiving international recognition. The push for gender equity has also been significant. The ASMITA League (Achieving Sports Milestones by Inspiring Women Through Action), launched to promote women's participation in sports, has expanded rapidly: From just 840 women athletes in 2021-22, over 60,000 women across 26 sports participated in 2024–25. The ASMITA League connects these athletes to the Khelo India pathway. India's sports infrastructure has also expanded at an unprecedented scale in the last 11 years. From just 38 infrastructure projects before 2014, the number has now risen to 350. The Sports Authority of India currently runs 23 national centres of excellence, training elite athletes under TOPS and Khelo India. Additionally, 34 state centres of excellence have been established. The Khelo India Games have evolved into a national movement. Nineteen editions have been held so far —including Youth, University, Para, Winter, and Beach Games — with more than 56,000 athletes participating. The Khelo India Para Games, in particular, have been game-changing, with many athletes from these competitions going on to win medals at the Paralympics. Looking ahead, India is preparing for a potential bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games. To support this vision, new verticals under Khelo India such as the School Games, Tribal Games, Northeast Games, Water Games, Martial Arts Games, and Swadeshi Games are being launched. The upcoming Khelo India School Games will play a pivotal role in bringing fresh talent into the sporting ecosystem. PM Modi's vision is for India to be among the top 10 sporting nations when we host the Olympics in 2036 and among the top five by the time we mark 100 years of Independence in 2047. Much has been done to fulfil this vision, but a lot remains to be achieved. India's sporting revolution today is a story of vision, resolve, and inclusive growth. With our youth at the heart of this transformation, and under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, India is rising as a global sporting powerhouse. From medals to mindsets, the change is visible and the journey to Viksit Bharat is being powered by the spirit of sport. The writer is Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SECR's Pooja sprints to 2 gold medals at Taiwan open meet
Raipur: Pooja, a South East Central Railway (SECR) athlete and ticket collector-cum-commercial clerk in the Bilaspur division, clinched two gold medals at the Taiwan Open Athletics Meet 2025, dominating both the women's 1,500 m and 800 m events. Her wins included a meet-record-setting 2:02.79 in the 800 m event and an impressive 4:11.63 in the 1,500 m, marking her fourth consecutive international medal triumph. Over the span of just one week, Pooja's medal haul grew to four international awards: two golds from Taiwan, a silver in the 1,500 m at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, and a bronze in the 800 m at the same continental meet. SECR general manager Tarun Prakash extended his heartfelt congratulations for her exceptional achievements.
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Taiwan Open athletics: Men's 4x100m relay team gets it right after their DQ at Asian C'ships; Jyothi goes sub-13 once again
The men's 4*100 m relay team made up for the botched baton exchange at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in May, clocking 38.75s to win the gold medal at the Taiwan Open Athletics on Saturday as the Indian athletes had a successful day at the competition, winning six gold medals. The quartet of Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Amlan Borgohain were the favourites from the start, and they didn't disappoint, clocking the second-fastest time of the year as a team. Their best time is the current national record 38.69s, clocked earlier in April this year. At the Asian Athletics last month in Korea, the Indian team was disqualified in the heats despite clocking the best time. Pranav Gurav and Ragul Kumar – two alternate athletes in the relay contingent – fluffed the baton transfer in the heats of the tournament as they exchanged it outside the takeover zone, leading to India's immediate disqualification. In today's race, the Indian team began well with Gurindervir giving a solid start which was continued by Animesh who ran a good second leg. In the third leg, Manikanta took the lead and Animesh continued it cross the finish line and led India to the gold medal. Young sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan starred in the women's 4*100m relay race as her stunning run in the third leg powered India to another gold. The quartet of Sudeeksha Vadluri, Sneha SS, Abinaya, and Nithya Gandhe clocked 44.07 in the event. At the Asian Athletics, the same team had won a silver medal with 43.86s. Hurdler Jyothi Yarraji continued her gold medal-winning form as she clocked 12.99s in women's 100m hurdles to run her second sub-13 race of the year. After qualifying with a timing of 13.18s in the heats, Jyothi faced tough competition from Japanese hurdlers Chisato Kiyoyama and Asuka Terada. In the final, Chisato and Asuka had a brilliant start as Jyothi trailed them in the first 60m. However, a push from Jyothi in the last few meters saw her leave both Japanese hurdles behind to win her second gold in 15 days. In the men's 110m hurdles, Tejas Shirse won the gold medal clocking his season best timing of 13:52s. Earlier he had clocked 13:62s in the heats to book his final berth. The 22-year-old Pooja decimated the field in the women's 1500m to win the gold medal with a timing of 4:11.63. When Pooja crossed the finish line her closest competitor Su Gyon Jon of North Korea was not even in the camera frame. Pooja has been on a rise this year as she won two medals at the Asian Athletics last month. She won a silver in the women's 1500m clocking 4:10.83 and clocked a personal best in 800m to win the bronze medal with a timing of 2:00.42. She can add one more medal to her tally when she participates in the 800m tomorrow. Experienced triple jumper Abdulla Aboobacker was the sixth gold medalist for India as he jumped a modest 16.21m. Despite crossing the 16m mark just one time, Aboobacker won the gold as the other athletes failed to cross the 16m mark even once. The Indians in action on Sunday are Annu Rani (Javelin Throw), Shaili Singh, Ancy Sojan (Long Jump), Pooja (800m), Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw), Yashas Palaksha (400m hurdles), and the men's 4*400m relay team. KEY INDIAN RESULTS ON SATURDAY: 4*100m relay: India 38.75, Chinese Taipei A 39.11, Chinese Taipei B 39.75 110m hurdles: Tejas Shirse (India) 13:52, Yuan Kai Hsieh (Chinese Taipei) 13:72, Chen Kui-ru 13:75 Triple Jump: Abdulla Aboobacker (India) 16:21m, Yun Chen Li (Chinese Taipei) 15.92m, Zheng Jia Zhou (Chinese Taipei) 15.59m 4*100m relay: India 44.07, Vietnam 44.38, Chinese Taipei 44.53 100m hurdles: Jyothi Yarraji (India) 12.99, Asuka Terada (Japan) 13.04, Chiasato Kiyoyama (Japan) 13.10 1500m: Pooja (India) 4:11.63, Su Gyon Jon (North Korea) 4:28.03, Hiu Tung Tsang (Hong Kong) 4:34.92
