Madhura thought of quitting archery! Drushti Academy takes her back to the limelight with three medals
Amravati had a revelation-day on Saturday after Madhura Dhamangaonkar stunned the world archery with a dream comeback. But Friday was a day of nerves in the Dhamangaonkar house. Shailendra Dhamangaonkar, Madhura’s father, revealed while speaking to New Indian Express, “We had tuned in this morning, and all we had was ‘dhak dhak dhak!’ (loud heartbeats),” he said, adding that being a father to someone who has all three medals for the nation in the same day is of “immense pride. As Madhura won three medals in the World Cup in Shanghai, seeing the Indian flag rise high was a special feeling.” Hailing from Amravati, Madhura was earlier under the tutelage of Ganesh Vishwakarma and Pawan Tambade for the past seven years. Sawant first knew Madhura through archer Prathamesh Fuge, with whom the latter trained at Sonipat. “This is where she joined the Drushti Archery Academy in 2023,” he recalled. But things did not go well at all. Even she thought of quitting archery! Cut to May 2025, the compound archer has a gold medal around her neck after winning the final of the Women’s compound event against Carson Krahe of the United States at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai on Saturday. Her coach, Pravin Sawant, felt that it was her ‘gold wala mind’ that propelled her to victory. “Since she’s been with me, she’s always had it in her mind to win gold for the nation,” he told this daily. Madhura is someone who can grasp quickly from her tutors. “That is her biggest strength. She does what she thinks of. She does what she sets her mind on,” he added. Madhura’s story has destiny playing a pivotal part in making her who she is today. Her father, Shailendra, reminisced about the train travel from Kolkata after her sister took part in an Asian level swimming competition in Dhaka back in 2011. At the time, Madhura had taken gymnastics. “We were travelling (back to Nagpur) and when the train stopped at Chandrapur, we happened to see a woman who won a silver medal in the national games. She was a compound archer, we learnt. This was where Madhura shared her aspirations to be an archer with me,” he recalled. The archer was Jayalakshmi Sarikonda, who is now a sports officer. Little did she know that her medal inspired another to go on and clinch gold at the discipline’s premier tournament. Shailendra credited the sporting background of the family for her daughter’s success.” Her sister took part in swimming, and I was also a Kabaddi player in my day. That was conducive and it fed her confidence,” he opined. Three years ago, Madhura made it to the Indian team for the Archery World Cup Stage 4, where she lost in the second round in individual and in the quarterfinal in the women’s team event, where she paired up with Pragati and Shrishti Singh.
India’s men compound team clinch gold in Archery World Cup Stage-2
India’s men’s compound team won gold in the archery stage World Cup stage-2 in Shanghai on Saturday. India’s men’d team comprising Abhishek Verma, Ojas Deotale and young promising archer Rishabh Yadav delivered a perfect performance, defeating Mexico with a score of 232- 228 to ensure the gold medal in a thrilling encounter. In the women’s compound category Indian women, despite exhibiting a spirited show lost to Mexico and had to be content with a silver finally. Meanwhile Indian mixed team despite losing the match for reaching final, bounced back and secured a bronze medal trouncing Malaysia to make a podium finish. India have already won four medals in the Archery stage-1 world cup..
Deepika, Parth reach recurve individual semifinals in World Cup Stage-2
Deepika Kumari and Parth Salunkhe booked their spots in the semifinals of the individual recurve events at the Archery World Cup Stage-2 in Shanghai on Friday. Parth stunned former Olympic and World Champion Mete Gazoz of Turkiye in a shoot-off in the first round. The Indian also defeated Korea’s Kim Je Deok, a three-time Olympic gold medallist in team events, in the third round. His semifinal will be against reigning Olympic Champion Kim Woojin, another Korean, on Sunday. Olympian Deepika took down China’s Li Jiaman, silver medallist in the team event at the Paris Olympics, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Like Parth, Deepika will also face reigning Olympic Champion – Lim Sihyeon of Korea – in Sunday’s final-four battle. In the compound mixed team event, India’s Abhishek Verma and Madhura Dhamangaonkar went down 156-158 to Great Britain in the semifinals. Abhishek and Madhura will play against Malaysia’s Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh and Mohd. Juwaidi Mazuki in Saturday’s bronze medal match. The Indian men’s and women’s compound teams will face Mexico in their respective finals.
Sujata Kujur’s gain from the Australia series: Advice from her idol Sushila Chanu and appreciation from Savita Punia
Sudeep Pakrashi: Sujata Kujur added a feather to Bengal’s hockey legacy, becoming the first female field hockey player from the state to have represented the senior Indian team. The 22-year-old midfielder made her debut in one match only against the Australia-A team in the five-test series held from 26 April to 4 May. Three tests were played against Australia’s senior women’s squad. Previously, the midfielder had represented the country in the Junior Asian Cup in Japan in 2023, in Four-Nation junior tournament and in Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile in 2023. Sujata is now at her home in Sundargarh, Odisha. She has been given only a four-day rest before joining the women’s national preparatory camp in Bangalore for the national team’s European Leg of FIH Pro-League this year, set to be held in June. But the midfielder who originally played as a defender did not sound much elated, speaking over the phone from her home. She also smilingly disclosed that some of her neighbours and local friends were even aware that Sujata Kujur, the first India international from her village, returned home! When asked about the gain from her maiden international competition, she stated, “I have always idolized Indian international Sushila Chanu, and I was fortunate to have her with me on the trip. She gave me crucial advice and motivated me also before the match.” Sujata continued, “Secondly, I should mention Savita Punia’s name. Initially, I was slightly nervous after being selected for the team. But during the training period, Savita inspired me a lot, telling me, ‘enjoy the match’. More importantly, after the match, she appreciated my performance. Appreciation from such an experienced and renowned player will work as motivation for me.” When asked about the lesson she got on the field, Sujata explained, “I need to improve my speed and sense of positioning.” Sujata’s hockey journey, however, wasn’t an easy one. Growing up in Sundargarh, she looked up to Deep Grace Ekka and began playing hockey at the age of 10. Despite financial constraints, her determination never wavered. “I started playing in my hometown’s academy when I was quite young. At first, I didn’t even have my hockey stick or shoes, so I would borrow from my teammates. There were times I had to play barefoot because my shoes were torn, but I never stopped playing,” she recalled. The youngest of three siblings, Sujata says that support from her family has always been unwavering. “My parents have always stood by me. Not once did they say that I shouldn’t play hockey. They always encouraged me to give my best and work hard,” she said. Sujata, who expressed thankfulness to her SAI coach Mohanty for having nurtured her for the last nine years, is now eyeing a berth in the senior Indian squad for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Fijian Olympic medalist Raisuqe killed after car hit by train
Fijian wing Josaia Raisuqe, who won Olympic rugby sevens silver in Paris last year, has died after the 30-year-old’s car was hit by a train on Thursday, his Top 14 club Castres said. Raisuqe was on his way to training when the train collided with his car on a level crossing. None of the passengers nor the driver or conductor was injured, although they were suffering from shock, according to the firemen who attended the scene in southwest France. “Castres Olympique is grieving,” Raisuqe said in a statement. “He was a wonderful team-mate, appreciated by everyone, and Castres’ supporters who had taken him to their hearts.” Raisuqe had played seven times this season for Castres, his last appearance in the 52-6 thrashing by Toulouse on April 27. Raisuqe, who was fired by Stade Francais in 2017 for gross misconduct, was set to play for tier-two side Brive for the next two seasons. “He was a shining light of a boy on and off the pitch,” said Castres owner Pierre-Yves Revol. “He was a pillar of the Fijian community, which we have at the club (there are three other Fijians) and to whom we are very attached. “It is difficult also at this time not to evoke the faith of all the players and Josaia. “That, aside from the grief, will help them in this very difficult time for everyone.”
Los Angeles Olympics 2028: Venues revealed for opening, closing ceremonies
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will serve as the venues for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, LA28 announced on Thursday. The July 14, 2028, opening ceremony will be shared between the historic Coliseum, which will become the first venue to host events for three Olympic Games, and the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium, in an unprecedented dual-venue celebration. “The venues selected for the 2028 opening and closing ceremonies will highlight Los Angeles’s rich sporting history and cutting-edge future, showcasing the very best that L.A. has to offer on the world stage,” LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman said in a statement. “These two extraordinary venues will create an unforgettable experience, welcoming fans from across the globe to an Olympic and Paralympic Games like never before and concluding what will go down as one of the most incredible Games in history.”
Aditi Ashok shoots 66, rises to tied 20th at Black Desert
India’s Aditi Ashok shot one of her best rounds of the season as she landed seven birdies against one bogey in a round of 6-under 66 that carried her up to the tied 20th place in the Black Desert Championship in Ivins, USA. With rounds of 69-71-66, she is 10-under and eight shots behind the leader, Haeran Ryu of Korea, who has shot 63-67-68 to be 18-under. Starting from the first, Aditi began with three pars and then birdied four times between the fourth and the ninth to turn in 4-under. On the back nine Aditi birdied 11th and the 12th and dropped a shot on the 14th and finished with a birdie on the 18th. Aditi, who has been finding the fairways and the green regularly, needed 27 putts as against 31 on the second day. Ryu regained control of the Black Desert Championship by holing out for an eagle on the 11th hole. Her 68 helped her maintain her two-shot lead in the LPGA Tour’s return to Utah for the first time in more than 60 years. Ryu is trying to win a tournament for the seventh straight year, dating to when she was an 18-year-old on the Korea LPGA. Ryu shared the 54-hole lead at a major last week in the Chevron Championship before closing with a 76. Her biggest rival will be Ruoning Yin, the former Women’s PGA champion who ran off 10 birdies for a 62, the best score of the tournament and enough to get within two shots. Esther Henseleit of Germany had a 68 and left her three shots behind.
Nine Olympic gold medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky recreates her own world record in 800 freestyle
American swimmer Katie Ledecky has shattered her own 800m freestyle world record on Saturday. She clocked 8 minutes 4.12 seconds at the Tyr Pro Series meet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to better her previous mark of 8:04.79 which she set at the 2016 Rio Olympics. It was a tactical race from Ledecky who paced it masterfully surfing ahead through 400m. She ceded her lead at the 450m and 500m but was back in the lead by 550m and a powerful final leg saw her break the world record. The record-breaking swim capped an extraordinary series of performances for Ledecky, who posted her second-fa 400m freestyle time on Thursday. This was her best timing in nine years – and the second-fastest 1500m freestyle time in history on Wednesday. Ledecky’s most recent world record before this was in the 1500m in May 2018 in a 50m pool came into the 1500m freestyle. The 28-year-old holds 15 world records in the 50m pool. At the age of 28, Katie Ledecky is one of the most decorated swimmers in the World and US history. She has won a total of nine Olympic gold medals and 21 World Championship medals. Ledecky is the fifth-most decorated athlete in the Olympic history. Ledecky was one of the surprising stories from the 2012 London Olympics as then 15-year-old surprised everyone by winning the gold medal in the 800m freestyle. Ledecky became the first American female swimmer to win an individual event in three straight Olympics at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and emerged as the most decorated U.S. female athlete.
The Quartet of male sprinters shatter 15-year-old men’s national 4x100m relay record in India Open
India currently boast of an excellent bunch of male sprinters. Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar and Amlan Borgohain have run sub-10.30 secs in the 100m. On Wednesday, the quartet representing Reliance shattered a 15-year-old national record in the 4x100m relay, clocking 38.69s to win the India Open relay competition at Chandigarh. The previous national mark of 38.89s came while winning bronze at the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games. The quartet has been in excellent form this season and came together to set a fresh bench-mark at Chandigarh’s Sector 7 Sports Complex. Gurindervir, who set the 100m national record (10.20s) this year, ran the first leg, and Animesh, the 200m national record holder with a 100m best of 10.27s, the second. Manikanta (100m best 10.22s) extended the lead with a brilliant bend run. Amlan, known for his powerful dash down the straight crossed the finish unchallenged. The Tamil Nadu quartet was second (39.83s) and the Army third (41.40s). For perspective, the Asian record set by Japan in 2019 is 37.43secs. At the 2023 Asian Championships, Thailand won gold at 38.55s, ahead of China (38.87 secs) and South Korea (38.99secs), which should raise Indian hopes of a podium finish at the coming continental meet. “We just believed in each other and our speed,” said Amlan. They will be part of India’s 4x100m relay team at the Asian Championships in South Korea in May. Federation Cup winner Pranav Gurav is also part of the relay squad. In women’s 4x400m relay, Sneha K, Rupal Chaudhary, Jisna Mathew, and Subha Venkatesan won clocking 3:32.64s. All four national campers are in the Asian Championships squad. Tamil Nadu’s Dhesikha V, N Mariea, Akshya Baskar, and Vithya Ramraj were second (3:40.85s).
