1. GM Karthik Venkataraman Wins National Chess Championship 2024
Tags: Sports
Grandmaster (GM) Karthik Venkataraman from Andhra Pradesh (AP) won the National Chess Championship 2024.
An Overview of the News
National Chess Championship 2024 was the 61st edition of the annual national chess championship of India.
The event took place at Rao Pahlad Singh (RPS) International School, located in Sector 89, Gurugram, Haryana.
Organised by the Haryana Chess Association under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation (AICF).
A total of 341 players from across India participated in the championship.
Top 3 Winners:
GM Karthik Venkataraman – Winner (Andhra Pradesh)
GM Ganguly Surya Shekhar – 2nd Place (Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, PSPB)
IM Neelash Saha – 3rd Place (Railway Sports Promotion Board, RSPB)
Prize Money:
Karthik Venkataraman: Trophy + Rs 6 Lakhs
Ganguly Surya Shekhar: Rs 5 Lakhs
Neelash Saha: Rs 4 Lakhs
Total prize fund: Rs 30 Lakhs
About Karthik Venkataraman:
This is his 2nd National Chess Championship victory. He previously won the 59th National Chess Championship in 2022, held in New Delhi.
With this win, Karthik qualifies for the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025.
Became a Grandmaster at the age of 18 in 2018.
Currently ranked 282 in the world with a FIDE rating of 2568.
2. NorthEast United FC Clinch First-Ever Durand Cup Title
Tags: Sports
NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) won their first-ever Durand Cup title by defeating Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) in the final.
An Overview of the News
NEUFC triumphed with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory after the match ended in a stalemate.
The 133rd Durand Cup final took place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Prize Money:
Winners (NEUFC): Awarded Rs 60 lakhs.
Runners-up (MBSG): Awarded Rs 30 lakhs.
Individual Awards:
Golden Boot Award (Top Scorer):
Noah Sadaoui (Kerala Blasters FC) won the award with 6 goals.
He received a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
Golden Glove Award (Best Goalkeeper):
Gurmeet Singh (NEUFC) won the award for his performance, including 3 clean sheets in 4 matches and 2 key penalty saves in the final.
He received a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
Golden Ball Award (Best Player):
Jithin MS (NEUFC) was awarded the Golden Ball for his contribution of 4 goals and 3 assists.
He received a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
Durand Cup:
An annual domestic football competition in India.
Founded: 1888 in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Hosted by:Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Significance:Oldest existing club football tournament in Asia; 5th oldest national football competition globally.
Current Champions: NorthEast United (1st title).
Most Successful Team: Mohun Bagan (17 titles).
Sponsorship: IndianOil Durand Cup, Powered by Coal India Limited.
3. Praveen Kumar Wins Gold and Sets Asian Record at Paris 2024 Paralympics
Tags: Sports
Praveen Kumar won the gold medal in the men's high jump T64 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
An Overview of the News
Praveen cleared 2.08m, setting a new Asian record and winning India's sixth gold at the Games.
Paris 2024 Performance
Praveen cleared all heights from 1.89m to 2.08m on his first attempts.
He attempted 2.10m but couldn't clear it.
USA’s Derek Loccident won silver (2.06m) and Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov took bronze (2.03m).
Previous Achievements
Praveen had previously won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics with a jump of 2.07m, an Asian record at the time.
In 2022, he won gold at the Asian Para Games and bronze at the World Para Athletics Championship 2023.
India’s Medal Tally
India now has a total of 26 medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, including 6 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze.
Praveen's gold medal elevated India to the 14th position in the overall medal standings.
4. Kapil Parmar Wins India’s First Paralympic Judo Medal at Paris 2024
Tags: Sports
Kapil Parmar clinched India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in Judo at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
An Overview of the News
Kapil won the bronze medal in the Para Judo Men's J1-660 kg event.
Kapil defeated Elielton de Oliveira of Brazil 10-0 via Ippon to secure the medal.
This marks a significant milestone as the first Indian to win a Paralympic medal in judo.
India's Paralympic Medal Tally
India has now secured a total of 25 medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
The current tally includes 5 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze medals.
India is ranked 16th in the overall medal standings at the event.
Paris 2024: Summer Paralympics
The 2024 Summer Paralympics, also known as the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, is the 17th edition of the Summer Paralympic Games.
These games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee.
The event is being held in Paris, France, from 28 August to 8 September 2024.
This is the first time Paris is hosting the Summer Paralympics.
It is the second time France is hosting the Paralympic Games, with the first being the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Tignes and Albertville.
5. Jyoti Berwal Wins Gold at U20 World Wrestling Championships
Tags: Sports
Jyoti Berwal won the gold medal in the women's 76 kg freestyle category at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
An Overview of the News
Jyoti defeated Ukraine's Mariia Orlevych in the final without allowing her opponent to score any points.
On her journey to the final, Jyoti defeated Mongolia, China, and Turkey's competitors.
This victory marks India's second consecutive world U20 title in the 76 kg category, following Priya Malik's win in 2023.
Indian Medalists at U20 World Wrestling Championships 2024
Jyoti Berwal: Gold medal in Women’s 76kg
Nitika: Silver medal in Women’s 62kg
Neha: Bronze medal in Women’s 57kg
Komal: Bronze medal in Women’s 59kg
Srishti: Bronze medal in Women’s 68kg
6. Harvinder Singh Makes History as First Indian Archer to Win Paralympic Gold
Tags: Sports
Harvinder Singh became the first-ever Indian archer to win a Paralympic gold medal.
An Overview of the News
Harvinder triumphed in the men’s archery individual recurve open final at Paris Paralympics 2024.
Harvinder is the only Indian archer to win a gold at either the Paralympics or the Olympics.
Club Throw F51
Dharambir won gold in the Men’s Club Throw F51 Final, setting a new Asian record with a throw of 34.92 meters.
Pranav Soorma secured silver in the same event with a throw of 34.59 meters.
Shot Put
Sachin Sarjerao Khilari claimed silver in the men’s shot put F46 category with an Asian record throw of 16.32 meters.
NOTE:- Team India is currently ranked 13th, with 5 gold, 9 silver, and 10 bronze medals.
Paris 2024: Summer Paralympics
The 2024 Summer Paralympics, also known as the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, is the 17th edition of the Summer Paralympic Games.
These games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee.
The event is being held in Paris, France, from 28 August to 8 September 2024.
This is the first time Paris is hosting the Summer Paralympics.
It is the second time France is hosting the Paralympic Games, with the first being the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Tignes and Albertville.
7. India Secures 8 Medals in One Day at Paris Paralympics 2024: Sumit Antil and Nitesh Kumar Strike Gold
Tags: Sports
India shone at the Paris Paralympics on September 2, as Sumit Antil and Nitesh Kumar secured gold medals, contributing to a total haul of 8 medals for the day.
An Overview of the News
Gold Medals
Javelin: Sumit Antil defended his gold medal with a record-breaking throw of 70.59 meters in his second attempt.
Para-Badminton Badminton (Men's Singles SL3): Nitesh Kumar won gold in the Men’s Singles SL3 event.
Shooting Para Sport: Avani Lekhara (R2 - Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1)
Silver Medals
Para Athletics:
Nishad Kumar (Men's High Jump - T47)
Sharad Kumar (Men's High Jump - T63)
Sachin Sarjerao Khilari (Men's Shot Put - F46)
Yogesh Kathuniya (Men's Discus Throw - F56)
Ajeet Singh (Men's Javelin Throw - F46)
Para-Badminton: Suhas L.Y. (Men's Singles SL4), Thulasimathi MURUGESAN (Women's Singles SU5)
Shooting Para Sport: Manish Narwal (P1 - Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1)
Bronze Medals
Para Athletics:
Mariyappan Thangavelu (Men's High Jump - T63)
Sundar Singh Gurjar (Men's Javelin Throw - F46)
Preethi Pal (Women's 100m - T35)
Preethi Pal (Women's 200m - T35)
Deepthi Jeevanji (Women's 400m - T20)
Para-Badminton:
Manisha Ramadass (Women's Singles SU5)
Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (Women's Singles SH6)
Shooting Para Sport:
Rubina Francis (P2 - Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1)
Mona Agarwal (R2 - Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1)
Para Archery (Mixed Team Compound Event): Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar won the bronze medal.
8. India’s Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar Win Bronze at Paris 2024 Paralympics
Tags: Sports
Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar secured a bronze medal in the Mixed Team Compound Open Archery event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
An Overview of the News
They equalled the Paralympic record with 156 points, showing exceptional skill and composure.
Sheetal Devi's Journey
Born with Phocomelia, a rare congenital disorder without arms on January 10, 2007, in Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir.
The world’s first and only active female archer to compete without arms.
Currently ranked first in the world in the compound open women’s category.
Discovered by the Indian Army in 2019 and mentored by coach Kuldeep Vedwan.
Achievements include gold medals at the 2023 Asian Para Games and silver at the 2023 World Archery Para Championship.
Received the Arjuna Award 2023 from President Droupadi Murmu.
From a small village with a farming background; first encountered a bow and arrow at 15.
Rakesh Kumar's Path
Born on January 13, 1985, in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, and paralysed from the waist down after a 2010 accident.
Took up archery in 2017 at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex, mentored by coach Kuldeep Kumar.
Notable wins include a gold medal in the Mixed Team event at the 2023 World Archery Para Championship.
9. Suhas L. Yathiraj Clinches Silver at Paris 2024 Paralympics
Tags: Sports
Suhas Yathiraj won the silver medal in the Men’s Singles SL4 category at the 17th Summer Paralympic Games.
An Overview of the News
SL4 category is for athletes with impairment in one or both lower limbs and minimal impairment in walking or running balance.
Performance in Final
Suhas competed against France’s Lucas Mazur in a fiercely contested final.
This marks Suhas’s second consecutive silver medal following his performance at Tokyo 2020.
Historical Significance
Suhas is the only Indian shuttler to win a medal at both the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics.
His achievement further cements his legacy in para-badminton.
Balancing Public Service and Sports
Current Ranking
Suhas is ranked World No. 1 in Men’s Singles SL4 category (as of September 3, 2024).
Professional Background
Suhas is an IAS officer of the 2007 batch from the Uttar Pradesh cadre and has served as the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Suhas has been honored with the Arjuna Award for his exceptional achievements in para-badminton.
List of medals of Suhas L. Yathiraj
Asian Para-Badminton Championships 2016 - Gold medal in Men’s Singles
Asian Para Games 2018 - Bronze medal
Tokyo 2020 Paralympics - Silver medal in Men’s Singles
Asian Para Games 2022 - Gold medal
2024 World Championships - Gold medal in Men’s Singles
Paris 2024 Paralympics - Silver medal
10. Preethi Pal Becomes First Indian Woman with Two Paralympic Medals
Tags: Sports
Preethi Pal has become the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals in track and field events.
An Overview of the News
At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, she won a bronze medal in the women’s 200m T35 class with a personal best time of 30.01 seconds.
Earlier in the same Paralympics, she secured a bronze in the women’s 100m T35 class, marking India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in a track event.
Event Results and Background
Xia Zhou of China won the gold medal in the 200m event with a time of 28.15 seconds, and Guo Qianqian won the silver with a personal best of 29.09 seconds.
Xia Zhou and Guo Qianqian also claimed the top two spots in the 100m sprint, surpassing Preethi Pal.
The T35 class is designated for athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.
Preethi Pal qualified for the Paralympics by winning a bronze medal in the women’s 200m T35 event at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, earlier this year.
India’s Medals at Paris Paralympics 2024:
Sumit Antil: Gold in men’s javelin throw F64 with a Paralympic record of 70.59m.
Nitesh Kumar: Gold in para badminton men’s singles SL3.
Thulasimathi Murugesan: Silver in women’s singles SU5.
Manisha Ramadass: Bronzein women’s singles SU5.
Nithya Sre: Bronze in women’s singles SH6.
Yogesh Kathuniya: Silver in men’s discus F56 final.
Suhas Yathiraj: Silver in men’s singles SL4.
Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar: Bronze in para archery mixed team.
Nishad Kumar: Silver in men’s high jump T47.
Preethi Pal: Bronze in women’s 200m T35.
Shooting:
Avani Lekhara: Gold in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1.
Mona Agarwal: Bronze in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1.
Manish Narwal: Silver in men’s 10m air pistol SH1.
Rubina Francis: Bronze in women’s 10m air pistol SH1.
