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Bajrang Punia, India’s only multiple World Championships medallist in wrestling, knows he will be a medal contender in Tokyo. But he is also aware of the stiff competition he is likely to face in the men’s 65kg freestyle weight category – the “most competitive category in the world,” in his own words.

In this issue

24-07-202127 STORIES

Miso contains a lot of helpful probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, because it’s a cultured food. It also has a high protein content, reduces cholesterol and boosts immunity.

Food For Thought

Tickle your tastebuds in Tokyo: The Japanese secret to long life

You’ve certainly heard how tasty and healthful Japanese food is – the secret to the Japanese people living longer than the rest of the world. In a day

Ryan Fernando

While the top stars of the host country were often given the honour of spreading the flame physically to the specially constructed cauldron through the preceding editions, Barcelona 1992 saw a difference as Paralympic archer Antonio Rebello signalled the start of the Games in a most spectacular fashion — firing a burning arrow from far away — leaving the world awestruck.

Sublime, iconic, crazy and bizarre – Memorable moments from the Olympics

Beyond the great athletes and their fabulous deeds, the Olympics is also about several other things.

“This was a very difficult decision to make. Medicott is a very sweet horse and is very dear to me. He has helped India win so many medals,” said Fouaad Mirza after picking Dajara 4 for the Olympics. Three days before the Games, the team switched back to Seigneur Medicott as the chosen steed.

Fouaad Mirza's road to Tokyo: Of last-minute changes and old champions

That an arduous two years spent securing quotas for the Olympics ended with a last-minute partner change just days before the Games sums up the bumpy

Lavanya Lakshmi Narayanan

Lavanya Lakshmi Narayanan

Jhilli Dalabehera, who clinched a gold medal in the 45kg category at the Senior Asian Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan recently, said her stay in the sports hostel improved her weightlifting skills as she became part of a process that ensured training under experienced coaches without any distractions.

Odisha banking on sports hostels in pursuit of excellence

Catering to rural areas and building facilities in the interior pockets of the state, Odisha’s sports and youth services department has been able to i

Lendl Simmons, another player from the late 2000, is back in action. Besides hammering a 34-ball 47 as an opener, he also took three catches against South Africa.

Sparks visible from West Indies camp to unstoppable England

The West Indies’ come-from-behind act in the fourth T20I against South Africa at home, led by Dwayne Bravo’s four-for, stamped its self-belief.

Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya

Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya

Ball badminton is a cousin of the sport played with a shuttlecock which is played internationally, but lacks its pace and refinement. The woollen ball tapped back and forth endlessly and the less athletic play failed to enthuse youngsters or attract television coverage.

An ode to a forgotten sport

Even at its peak, ball badminton was not a competitive sport so much as a social or cultural event. It was like going for a movie or attending the loc

Suresh Menon

Max Verstappen held a nine-second lead over Valtter Bottas even after an extra pit stop for new tyres 10 laps from the end, eventually taking chequered flag by 18 seconds from the Finn, with Lewis Hamilton a further 26 behind in fourth.

Austrian GP: Grand chelem for Red Bull's Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver made it two wins in two weeks at his team’s home circuit and extended his lead over Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to 32 points.

Nav Bhatia speaks at his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Nav Bhatia: From car salesman to superfan

“I am still pinching myself,” says Navdeep Bhatia, the first NBA fan to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Aashin Prasad

“You have to train well to win a medal. God can’t help you if you sit at home. One needs to work hard,” says Bajrang Punia.

Bajrang Punia: Fit and focused on Tokyo Olympics

Bajrang Punia, India’s only multiple World Championships medallist in wrestling, says he cannot afford to make a mistake on a platform like the Olympi

“The mood in the team is good and we are ready to give our best,” says the Indian captain Rani Rampal.

Rani Rampal on Indian women's hockey team's for Tokyo: We’ve improved a lot in last four years

Ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal spoke at length about her dreams and the aspirations of her side and t

Usain Bolt of Jamica beats all opposition to clinch the 100m gold in the Rio Olympics. Bolt is one of a kind, a phenomenon, probably the greatest track and field athlete of all time.

Fast, faster, fastest: The evolution of the Olympic sprint

Not many expected Usain Bolt — the greatest sprinter ever — to bring the world record to the amazing 9.58s that he did at the 2009 Worlds in Berlin. M

“We know it will be very hot and humid in Tokyo during the Games, so we are training accordingly. We train during the afternoons when the conditions are a lot similar to what it will be like in Tokyo to adjust and get used to it,” says Manpreet Singh, the Indian skipper.

Manpreet Singh on Indian men's hockey team's Tokyo Olympics preparations: We are ready

“We’ve worked on every single team and every single player, their strengths and weaknesses,” says the Indian skipper Manpreet Singh on India’s prepara

Sakshi Malik's 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medal: A dream fulfilled

“It was my first Olympics and I wanted to do well. But I surprised myself when I landed a medal,” says the first woman wrestler from the country to ea

The best part of Rio was obviously getting a medal for the country and standing on the podium.

P. V. Sindhu on her 2016 Rio Olympics medal: I won the silver, I didn’t lose the gold!

At the end of it, one player should win and one should lose. I have taken it in a very positive way.

Mary Kom (in blue) in her bout against Karolina Michalczuk of Poland.

Mary Kom on her London Olympics bronze medal and Tokyo: Second appearance, second shot

As women’s boxing made its debut at the London Games, Mary earned a podium finish in the 51kg weight category to become the first female boxer from In

Saina Nehwal won the medal by default as her opponent conceded the match due to injury after winning the first game and leading 1-0 in the second.

Saina Nehwal's 2012 London Olympics bronze medal: Hard work, belief and sacrifices

“...it was a very, very special moment in my career when I won the Olympics bronze. It was always my and my parents’ dream from the day I joined badmi

V. V. Subrahmanyam

As I looked through the hole and pulled the trigger, bang it went and hit 10.7. I knew it was a done deal!

Gagan Narang on his 2012 London Olympics bronze medal: When mind and body are aligned

For me, that happened at London 2012. I’m forever grateful for the moment.

Sushik Kumar lifts Kazakh Akzhurek Tanatarov in their semifinal bout.

Sushil Kumar's 2012 London Olympics silver medal: A unique record

Sushil Kumar may have lost in the 66kg freestyle final in London, but he became the only Indian to land individual medals in consecutive Olympic Games

Vijay Kumar on his 2012 London Olympics silver medal: I was not worried about other competitors

My coach Pavel Smirnov kept me calm, with my mind focused on technique. That helped me to shoot so well and win the silver medal in the final.

“Of the three bouts in repechage, the third one against Leonid Spiridonov (of Kazakhstan) was the toughest. I had beaten him once in the past, so I was confident,” says Sushil Kumar.

Sushil Kumar's 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medal: A miracle at the crunch moment

No one outside the wrestling fraternity really gave the Indian grapplers a chance to win a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but Sushil Kumar was qu

Vijender Singh still gets goosebumps when remembering his achievement in Beijing.

Vijender Singh's 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medal: Such changes happen only in films

“My life changed completely. I can’t explain how everything transformed,” says Vijender Singh.

I had already visualised myself on the podium with the Tricolour. I had it ready and requested for it. Such was the level of confidence.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on his 2004 Athens Olympics bronze medal: In the zone

After remaining absolutely on the edge for years, I could just let go of my muscles and my body without the stress of the next competition.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

“The first shot in the final was 10.7. I finished with a 10.8. India won the gold!” recalls Bindra.

Abhinav Bindra on his 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal: Living in the moment

Physically, I was in good shape. Mentally, it was very different. I was process-driven... No thought about the future.

The 2000 Sydney Olympics obviously stands out as the most memorable moment for me, being the only Indian to win a medal, though I was aiming for the gold.

Karnam Malleswari on her 2000 Sydney Olympics medal: A bronze worth a gold!

I won’t say I was disappointed, but I definitely take pride in winning an Olympic medal after such a long and demanding journey in the world of weight

Karnam Malleswari

Leander exults after winning his quarterfinal match against Renzo Furlan in Atlanta.

Leander Paes on his 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze: Tears of triumph and pain

My aggressive tennis mounted the pressure on Fernando Meligeni, and when his final passing shot down match point sailed over my head and beyond the ba

Kyle Jamieson raises his arms in celebration after New Zealand beat India on the sixth day of the World Test Championship final in Southampton on June 23.

Kyle Jamieson towers above the rest after WTC heroics

New Zealand seamer Jamieson picked up 46 wickets in his first eight Test matches - a new record to beat Jack Cowie, who took 41 in eight Tests.

Novak Djokovic gives the racquet with which he won the French Open to a boy in the crowd.

On The Write Line

Djoker’s art of winning hearts

Tennis players do throw towels and wristbands towards their supporters, and Andy Murray recently gave a shirt to a fan who had been encouraging him, b

Sunil Gavaskar

Archive

+ READ THIS ISSUE 09-11-2024

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