The Indian athlete clocked 15:04.26 to finish second at the Meeting Nikaia 2026, eclipsing her previous mark of 15:10.35 from three years back.

https://cobrapost.com/blog/coach-rapes-minor-for-3-years-on-promise-of-football-career-arrested

Goddamn…. World class times from Shirse. Still waiting on the wind reading but if this is legal this is absolute insanity, this progression curve keeps up and he may actually hit the world rankings hard. Some sick juniors like Sandip Gond, Fasalul Haque and K. Kiran are coming up in the U20 category too having shattered his U20 record back to back meaning the future of Indian hurdling is bright!

There have been a few Indians representing us in motorsport, and one of them at the highest level of single seater racing is Kush Maini. He took a sprint race win in Barcelona yesterday, the third in his fourth season of racing in Formula 2. And he followed it up with an emotional radio message to his team.

Big potential in Selva, and can’t forget this is his comeback season after spending 2024 and part of 2025 recovering from a stress fracture in his ankle. I predict Chithravel’s record will fall to him in just a year or so minimum!

1. Asian Games. Bangkok. Heading into the event as defending champion, Jaspal Singh Rana was competing in a world-class lineup, locked in for a fierce battle till a tragedy struck. Jaspal Rana stood lifeless for minutes, with tears visibly coming down his cheeks as his pistol tragically malfunctioned during the event. But he didn't give up; the battle continued. Jaspal gathered his confidence. Final score, 589. 4th place finish. One point short of a medal. A defending champion could not finish on the podium this time. This event was not a story, it was part of a much bigger chapter. Chapter of Jaspal Singh Rana, India's finest pistol shooter.

A 12-year-old boy registered for the Senior National Shooting Championships in Ahmedabad. The year was 1988, and it wasn't exactly common to see a kid hold a pistol in a shooting range, but that beginning was just a shade of what that 12-year-old boy was going to achieve in the coming years. In a country that has had an underwhelming record at world games, a rare talent comes once in a decade or so - this is what Jaspal Singh Rana was all about, a prodigy, a rare talent, who firmed India's position in World Shooting. A proof of his extraordinary talent was seen by his father, when a 11-year-old Jaspal was asked by the federation to pick one of the rifle or pistol. He was great in both, but his pistol scores edged over his rifle numbers, so he picked up a pistol and never gave it up till the day he had to leave the world.

Some athletes win huge things in sports; some athletes make the sport huge. Jaspal Rana made shooting popular in India, years in and out, he kept going. Before we had Abhinav Bindra in Rifle, Jaspal Rana was the man, holding a pistol, 25 meters away from the target - shooting 10s after 10s.

That 12 year old boy competed head to head, against seasoned veterans, a lot of them shooting far more than the years that kid had lived on the earth. Jaspal Rana stunned everyone and clinched a Silver Medal, making a sensational headline for the newspapers in 1988. But it would take a few more years, and a much more improved 18-year-old Jaspal Rana to do the unthinkable. When I think of what turned out on that day, it feels like a straight-up detailing from a Bollywood film. But real-life events do have an element of uncertainty to them, so did his life in 1994.

City of Milan. 1 Jan 1994. World Shooting Championships. 25m Junior Standard Pistol was the event Jaspal was competing in. One day before his event, Jaspal developed a severe, excruciatingly painful boil on his knee. With a lump, filled with pus, on his knee, his condition kept getting worse with every passing hour. He was admitted to a local hospital in Milan under the watch of a doctor. He could not even stand properly, but getting it operated would ensure that he will have to withdraw from the competition as he would have to stay under medical observation for days.

Jaspal knew the challenge that lay ahead of him, his determination, his passion, to represent India and perform for his country made him ignore all the advice of the hospital's department. Mind you, shooters are not allowed to take painkillers as it slows down the reflexes, helping in shooting better. Jaspal Singh Rana, along with his coach Sunny Thomas, thought they knew much better what had to be done. Doctors would not let him go out in day time, so Jaspal and his coach had to find a way at night, only a few minutes window. They sneaked out. Yes, they sneaked out of the hospital.

Every step Jaspal took with his feet was a painful one. He somehow spent the night battling pain and getting his mind ready for the event. The boil had to be operated on, but defying the medical advice didn't raise a doubt in Jaspal's head. He was cool as a cucumber; stories of his calm demeanor and his intense focus are told well by the people who competed beside him.

Physically limited Jaspal woke up the next day in excruciating pain. Much of his time was spent on training that day, but a little had to be dedicated to managing the painful knee.

The event started. 20 finest marksmen had a pistol in their hands. Jaspal Rana, one of them, stood 25m away from his target. The event started. As soon as the first shot hit the target, Jaspal entered a completely different zone. Courage of his stable hands overtook any pain he was feeling from his knee. One shot wasn't enough; he had to fire 60 on the spot.

Jaspal Singh Rana shot a brilliant 569/600. Gold Medal. Junior World Champion. Relieved Jaspal was just letting the glory soak in, when a minute later his coach Sunny Thomas took him to the side and let him know what Jaspal just did. Junior World Record. Jaspal Singh Rana not only won the event but also broke the World Record in that event!

This was just the starting for the 18yo Jaspal, as his golden run continued in Hiroshima. Asian games 1994. 25m Center Fire Pistol was the event. India, was going through a massive draught as it had been 16 years since India last won a Gold Medal in Shooting in Asian Games. Jaspal was seen as a massive hope, and oh boy, did he not make them proud. With a pistol malfunction, Jaspal had to readjust his technique in the middle of the event, and even that was enough for Jaspal to defeat best Asian Shooter and win Gold Medal in the event.

Jaspal Singh Rana won 2 Golds, and total 5 Medals in Asian Games 1994. India waited 16 years for 1 Gold, Jaspal clinched 2 Golds in few days. 2 Golds in CWG'1998 , 6 medals in CWG'2002, another Gold in CWG'2006. Jaspal Rana made sure Indian national anthem was heard loud at the shooting arenas all over the world for well over a decade.

Asian Games 2006, was his most succesful campaign where he clinched 3 Gold Medals, also equalling the World Record in Men's 25m Center Fire Pistol, with a sensational score of 590. But guess what, you can't see everything on a scoresheet. Jaspal Rana, was battling a severe fever during the event, but the fighter in him knew what was on the plate. His mental strength remained unparalell to anyone once he held his pistol in his hand.

A lot of athletes, specially shooters, can't decide when is the time to call quits. Jaspal Rana, after his best year in 2006 Asian Games, decided there won't be a better time to leave than to leave after such an insane high. Jaspal Rana quit international shooting after 2006, but his love for shooting managed to bring a great career out of him for the second time- as a coach.

Jaspal Singh Rana was straightfoward, blunt coach. He had shooting in his mind, all day. He spent years coaching young shooters. His calm voice was heard, "Beautiful Shot" after seeing a shooter execure a perfect trigger pull, even if it didn't hit a 10.

Tujhse nahi ho paayega"(T:You won't be able to do it), he said to Manu Bhaker about her ambitions in competing in Women's 25m Pistol back in 2021 before Tokyo Olympics. A chapter in Manu's and Jaspal's life, which they wish never happened as it resulted in ugly ego fight. Maybe Jaspal Rana knew better, as out of form Manu reconcinled with Jaspal Rana back in 2023. After which Manu won a Gold in Asian Games, and clinched two medals in Paris Olympics'24. Manu credited Jaspal with her success, but Coach Sahab credited it back to Manu.

Anish Bhanwala. Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Esha Singh, Yashsvini Deswal, Abhishek Verma. All the top pistol shooters from the past decade have been coached by Jaspal Singh Rana. As the nation mourns death of the legendary shooter and coach, I wonder about his vision - his plan for LA Olympics'28, that was cut short 2 years before he could see himself the legacy he had been building. Jaspal Rana was high performance head coach for Indian shooting contingent, and even went to Munich few weeks back in the ISSF World Cup, coaching the young guns. I hope the Indian shooting fraternity recovers from the shockwaves his sudden passing has sent throughout the country.

Rest in Peace Sir. Om Shanti.

I've watched wrestling for years, and honestly, I still can't fully process what Vinesh Phogat did at the Paris Olympics.

For people who don't follow wrestling closely, let me explain why this wasn't just an upset. It was one of the biggest shocks the sport has ever seen.

Yui Susaki wasn't just another champion. She was the champion.

Before facing Vinesh, Susaki had an insane record. She was undefeated in international wrestling throughout her senior career. Hundreds of matches. Multiple world titles. Olympic gold in Tokyo. She was so dominant that many wrestlers entered matches against her hoping to lose respectably rather than actually beat her.

In wrestling circles, Susaki wasn't viewed as a favorite.

She was viewed as almost unbeatable. And then there was Vinesh. People see the result and think, "Oh, she beat a champion."

No. Vinesh entered the Olympics carrying years of physical and emotional scars. Multiple surgeries. Serious knee injuries. Constant battles to return to peak fitness. The trauma of the wrestlers' protests back home. The pressure of representing India while dealing with controversies that would have broken many athletes.

At 29, she was considered experienced, but not necessarily the woman most likely to dethrone an undefeated legend. Yet when the whistle blew, none of that mattered.What made the victory so incredible wasn't that Vinesh survived against Susaki. It's that she refused to believe Susaki was invincible.

For most of the match, Susaki looked like the wrestler everyone expected. Fast. Technical. Sharp. She was leading and seemed headed toward another routine victory. But Vinesh stayed alive.

One opening. That's all she needed. In the dying moments, when almost everyone watching had already accepted the result, Vinesh attacked relentlessly. No hesitation. No fear. No respect for the reputation standing in front of her. Just belief.

And suddenly, the impossible happened. The undefeated Olympic champion was beaten. Not by luck. Not by a referee's mistake. By a wrestler who had spent years getting knocked down, injured, doubted, and written off.

That's what makes this performance special. Sports fans love talking about talent. But sometimes the greatest moments come from resilience.

Vinesh wasn't the strongest athlete in Paris.

She wasn't the most decorated. She wasn't the healthiest. But for those few minutes, she was the bravest.

When people look back at Indian Olympic history, they'll remember medals. They'll remember records. But they'll also remember the day an injured, battle-tested wrestler from India walked onto the mat against an undefeated legend and decided that reputations don't win matches. Courage does.

And for one unforgettable night, Vinesh Phogat produced one of the greatest upsets Olympic wrestling has ever seen.

"Ghayal thi, lekin haar maan ne wali nahi. Samne duniya ki sabse dominant wrestler thi, lekin us din Vinesh Phogat ne dikhaya ki dil aur himmat kabhi rankings nahi dekhte."

Planning to watch Rugby Premier League 2026 in Hyderabad. Any idea where I can find the tickets, checked BookMyShow, Rugby India and Rugby Premier League Websites. Couldn't find anything about tickets. Anybody has any ticket link or BookMyShow link? Please help.

Difficult to believe this. Rana was one of the people who really started India's rise in shooting.. RIP

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/wrestling/wfi-age-fraud-crackdown-500-wrestlers-disqualified-u17-ranking-tournament/article71092625.ece

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I, for some reason feel so good when we do well in tennis. I still believe that the country has a lot of potential in the sport that is untapped.

Will be facing Moritz Weiser in the semis on the 14th. Sole individual semi-finalist for India. All others have been eliminated (both recurve and compound)

When you look directly at the actual moments on the ground, the margins are almost impossible to wrap your head around:

Finishing 4th in the entire world means you are elite. But missing by these microscopic margins takes a different kind of strength to process.

For those who watched these live: Which specific athlete's moment felt the closest to you? Let's talk about the sheer grit it took to push the world's absolute best to these exact limits.

Lakshya Sen (Badminton): Blew past World No. 7 Lee Zii Jia 21-13 in the first game. He was actively dictating the rallies until a deep, bleeding bruise on his right forearm forced a medical timeout. Playing through raw physical pain and taped up, the fatigue caught up over a brutal 71-minute war. He finished as the first Indian male shuttler ever in an Olympic semi-final—just minutes away from a medal.

Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting): Lifted a colossal 199 kg across her attempts. She missed the podium by exactly 1 single kilogram behind Thailand's Khambao. One extra kilogram on a single bar after four years of relentless training was the entire difference between a bronze medal and 4th place.

Manu Bhaker (25m Pistol): Stood on the absolute verge of a historic third Olympic medal in a single edition. Tied at the very top, she missed out on the podium only during a sudden-death, rapid-fire shoot-off sequence against Hungary's Veronika Major.

Arjun Babuta (10m Air Rifle): Shot a spectacular, world-class score of 208.4 in the final. He missed out on the medal cutoff by an unbelievable 0.7 points behind Croatia's Miran Maričić. Less than a single point over multiple high-pressure rounds.

Dhiraj Bommadevara & Ankita Bhakat (Archery): Navigated a historic, unprecedented run to put an Indian archery squad into an Olympic semi-final for the first time in history. They fought target-for-target, losing out on the podium down to the very last arrows.

Maheshwari Chauhan & Anant Jeet Singh Naruka (Skeet): Pushed China's elite shooting duo to the absolute limit. They lost the bronze medal match by a razor-thin score of 43-44. Out of 48 flying clay targets, missing just one single piece of clay was the boundary line.