Satwik-Chirag’s ‘sweet revenge’ of Paris Olympics in BWF against the Malaysian pair on Friday
India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty assured themselves a medal at the BWF World Championships in Paris after beating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Wooi Yik Soh in the quarterfinal. This will be the Indian pair’s second world championship medal, following a bronze in the 2022 edition. The quarterfinal win also helped Satwik-Chirag avenge their defeat to the same Malaysian pair in the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinals at the same venue. “It was a rematch of sorts from the Olympics and I think we finally got some redemption. It was the same court, same arena, a year back exactly. It’s always a pleasure playing against them. We’ve always had some really tough battles at the biggest of events and really happy we could win today,” said Chirag after the win. Satwik-Chirag outclassed their opponents in straight games, a margin which took even them by a little surprise. “In the second game, when we were leading, I was thinking for sure we would not win this easily. I was telling myself, ‘Don’t hurry for the point’. I had a belief that we were under control, no need to panic, because we only gave [away] a few points there. “They were under pressure, I sensed that. As I said before, we just want to play our A game and see where we’ll end up. That’s what we are doing from the first match. We are just focusing on ourselves, not on the opponents. We are really happy the way we played today,” added Satwik. Satwik and Chirag will now take on World No. 11 Li Yiu and Bo Yang Chen of China in their semifinal on Saturday.
Aiming for the 2036 Olympics Mizoram government set to introduce a revolutionary program, ‘Empowering Mizoram’!
Sudeep Pakrashi: The Union Sports Ministry has not yet sanctioned any financial grant for them. Still Mizoram government does not sit idle. In a bid to gift athletes of international quality to the country from their state for the 2036 Olympics, which the country is aiming to bid for hosting, Mizoram’s sports ministry has already built up a vision and is all set to introduce a deep-rooted development program named ‘Empowering Mizoram’. The state government has already sanctioned Rs 2.5 crore for the development program. State sports minister Lalnghinglova Hmar, when asked about plans revealed, “Firstly, talent scout programs across the state, in all the villages, will be conducted and potential players of respective disciplines will be categorized according to their talent. We have planned to choose such specific disciplines where the athletes have a bright chance of winning medals.” The state government has so far planned to select a few specific disciplines like badminton, boxing, judo, hockey and wrestling. From the talent-scouting programs, the highly-potential athletes from those disciplines will be trained at a place by the top coaches, and a centre of excellence will be constructed by the government for those top-class athletes who have medal-winning prospects in events like the Olympics. The state sports ministry is already in the process of discussing with the country’s top sporting organizations to build up associations with them so that it can hire top coaches. Citing the example of badminton, the sports minister said, “For example, Mizoram Badminton Association has already tied-up with Pullela Gopichand academy four years ago, and in the last four years our young promising boys and girls have been winning medals in the country’s different age-group competitions. Four of our badminton coaches are presently in Hyderabad, undergoing a coaches’ training program there. Similarly, our coaches of other chosen disciplines will also be made experts through training at the country’s top sporting organizations before they start training the potential boys and girls in our Centre of Excellence.” Even, the state sports ministry has plans to look out for the top high-performance centres outside the country and in a bid to materialize their mission the government is likely to appeal to the corporate houses, the PSUs and obviously the Union Sports ministry for their grant. However, two footballers from the constituency of state sports minister Lalengmawia Ralte and Ayush Dev Chhetri were honored by the state sports minister. Hmar said, “Today, our footballers deserve celebration not just for excelling at club level, but also for earning their place in the India national team. While many footballers rise through elite academies, these two have charted their path from Mizoram. They show others can do the same.” Apuia, who played 27 matches this season for Mohun Bagan and delivered key playoff performances, said, “Whether it’s winning the ISL or representing India, it means a lot to be honoured at home by our Sports Minister.” Reflecting on his journey, he added, “A good academy helps, but discipline and perseverance to push through challenges, even by oneself, is what matters the most.” Ayush Chhetri, who played 26 matches and scored once for FC Goa, earned his first India call-up earlier this year and debuted against the Maldives.
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.”
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.
