1. Manu Bhaker to Lead India as Flag Bearer at Paris 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony
Tags: Sports News
Manu Bhaker has been chosen as India’s flag bearer for the Paris 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony on August 11.
An Overview of the News
The 23-year-old Manu Bhaker confirmed the news on her social media page and thanked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the honor.
Performance and Achievements at Paris 2024
Paris 2024 marks Manu Bhaker's second appearance at the Summer Games.
Bhaker won India’s first medal in shooting since London 2012 at Paris 2024.
She became the first Indian woman to win a medal in shooting and the third Indian post-independence to win two Olympic medals, after Sushil Kumar and PV Sindhu.
Bhaker opened India’s medal tally with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and won another bronze alongside Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed event.
She narrowly missed a podium finish in the 25m pistol event, finishing fourth.
Other Indian Athletes and Historical Context
Wrestler Bajrang Punia was India’s flag-bearer for the Closing Ceremony at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
For the Opening Ceremony in Paris, PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal carried India’s flag during the Parade of Nations on the Seine river.
All three of India’s medals so far at the Paris 2024 Olympics have come from the shooting contingent.
Swapnil Kusale won a bronze medal in the men’s 50m three-position rifle event.
2. Manu Bhaker Wins Bronze at Paris Olympics
Tags: Sports Sports News
Manu Bhaker has won a bronze medal in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol final at the Paris Olympics.
An Overview of the News
Bhaker is the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympicmedal. Bhaker scored 221.7 in the final event.
This bronze medal isIndia’s first medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics.
She showcased exceptional skill and composure against Korean shooters Kim Yeji and Oh Yeh Jin.
In tennis:
Indian table tennis player Sreeja Akula advanced to the next round.
She achieved a resounding victory over Sweden’s Christina Kallberg in the Round of 64 in the women’s singles event on 28 July.
Summer Olympics 2024
The 2024 Summer Olympics are officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad.
Branded as Paris 2024, the event is scheduled to take place from 24 July to 11 August 2024.
The opening ceremony occurred on 26 July 2024.
Paris is the main host city.
Events will be held in 16 additional cities across Metropolitan France.
There will also be one competition venue in Tahiti, French Polynesia.
3. Nita Ambani Re-elected as International Olympic Committee Member in Paris
Tags: Person in news Sports News
Nita Ambani has been unanimously re-elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from India at the 142nd IOC session in Paris.
An Overview of the News
Nita Ambani was first elected to the IOC in 2016during the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Pioneering Role: As the first Indian woman to join the IOC, she has significantly contributed to promoting India's Olympic vision.
Contributions and Achievements
Hosting IOC Session: Played a pivotal role in India hosting its first IOC session in Mumbai in over 40 years, highlighting India's global sporting ambitions.
Future Ambitions: India is planning to bid for hosting the 2036 Olympics.
Reliance Foundation and Sports Initiatives
Foundation Leadership: As the founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani focuses on empowering Indians through sports, education, health, art, and culture.
Impact: Reliance Foundation’s sports programs have reached over 22.9 million children and youth in India.
India House at Paris 2024
India House Initiative: Reliance Foundation is opening India House at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Purpose: India House will act as a "home away from home" for athletes, celebrate their achievements, and share India’s Olympic journey with the world.
International Olympic Day
International Olympic Day is celebrated annually on June 23.
The themefor Olympic Day 2024is 'Let's Move and Celebrate'.
This theme aims to inspire people worldwide to engage in daily physical activity and embrace the joy of movement.
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Non-governmental sports organization
Based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Governs National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
Oversees the worldwide Olympic Movement.
Formation - 23 June 1894
Founders - Pierre de Coubertin, Demetrios Vikelas
Headquarters - Olympic House, Lausanne, Switzerland
President - Thomas Bach
4. Suryakumar Yadav Named India’s T20I Captain
Tags: Sports Sports News
Suryakumar Yadav will captain the Indian T20 team in the three-match series against Sri Lanka, starting on the 27th of July.
An Overview of the News
ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma will continue as ODI captain, with Virat Kohli also included in the squad for the 50-over series against Sri Lanka next month.
Vice-Captain: Shubman Gill has been named vice-captain for both T20 and ODI formats.
T20I Squad
Batsmen: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson
All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube
Bowlers: Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd Siraj
ODI Squad
New Faces: Riyan Parag, Harshit Rana
Established Players: Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed
5. Argentina Tops FIFA Rankings as India Holds Steady at 124th Position
Tags: Sports Sports News
India has retained its 124th spot in the latest FIFA rankings.
An Overview of the News
The team did not drop any places, following a previous decline of three spots in June due to a challenging 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
India is ranked 22nd in Asia, behind Syria, Palestine, and Vietnam.
Top 10 Performers
Argentina: Maintained the top spot in the rankings, solidifying their position with an unbeaten run to win the continental title.
France: Remained in the second spot after reaching the semifinals of Euro 2024.
Spain: Moved up five places to third following their victory as European champions.
England: Advanced one place to fourth, surpassing Brazil.
Brazil: Dropped to fifth place.
Belgium: Fell three places to sixth, dropping out of the top five.
Netherlands: Remained in seventh place.
Portugal: Dropped two places to eighth.
Colombia: Climbed three places to ninth despite a narrow loss to Argentina in the Copa America final, marking its return to the top 10.
Italy Maintains Steady Position at 10th
FIFA Men's World Ranking
FIFA Men's World Ranking: Ranks men's national football teams, with Argentina leading as of July 2024; introduced in December 1992.
Top Teams: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain; Brazil has held the top spot longest.
Points System: Teams are awarded points based on results of FIFA-recognized matches.
Current System: Uses Elo rating system (adapted from chess and Go) since 16 August 2018.
Sponsorship: Sponsored by Coca-Cola, hence the name FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.
6. India won 43 medals in the Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships
Tags: Sports News
The Indian boxing team clinched a remarkable 43 medals at the Asian U-22 and Youth Boxing Championships 2024, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from April 25 to May 8.
An Overview of the News
Among these medals, there were 12 gold, 14 silver, and 17 bronze, demonstrating India's prowess in both youth and U-22 categories.
India secured the second position in the overall medal tally, trailing behind the host nation, Kazakhstan, which amassed a total of 48 medals.
The U-22 Indian squad contributed significantly, earning a total of 21 medals, comprising seven gold, five silver, and nine bronze.
Additionally, the youth category added to India's medal haul with 22 medals, including five gold, nine silver, and eight bronze.
The championship was organized by the Asian Boxing Federation, showcasing the rising talent and competitive spirit within the Asian boxing community.
Tournament Highlights:
Men's Category
Youth Category:
Brijesh secures India's first gold medal in the 48kg category by defeating Tajikistan's Muminov Muinkhodzha in the final.
Aryan continues India's success by winning gold in the 51kg category, defeating Kyrgyzstan's Kamilov Zafarbek.
U-22 Category:
Vishvanath Suresh claims India's first gold in the U-22 category (48kg) by defeating Kazakhstan's Karap Yernar.
Akash Gorkha secures India's third gold in the U-22 category (60kg) by defeating Kazakhstan's Ruslan Kuzeubayev.
Women's Category:
U-22 Category:
Olympic boxer Preeti clinches gold in the 54kg category by defeating Kazakhstan's Bazarova Elina.
Muskan secures gold in the 75kg category by defeating Uzbekistan's Zokirova Aziza, contributing to India's seventh U-22 gold medal.
7. Bindyarani Devi wins bronze medal at IWF World Cup 2024
Tags: Sports News
Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 silver medalist Bindyarani Devi won bronze at the IWF World Cup 2024.
An Overview of the News
The IWF World Cup 2024 took place in Phuket, Thailand from March 31 to April 11, 2024.
Both male and female weightlifters participated in the World Cup.
Exclusive Indian Representation:
Bindyarani Devi and Mirabai Chanu were the only two Indian weightlifters to compete at the IWF World Cup 2024.
Bindyarani Devi's bronze medal performance:
Category and Lift: Bindyarani Devi, 25, competed in the women's 55 kg category and achieved a lift of 196 kg.
Lift Breakdown: Her lifts included 83 kg in the snatch and 113 kg in the clean and jerk.
Comparison with previous achievements: While his lifts at the World Cup fell short of his performance at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, where he lifted 203 kg to clinch the silver medal.
Mirabai Chanu's qualification for Paris Olympics 2024:
Finished 12th in the 49kg category at the IWF World Cup 2024.
Despite not winning a medal in the World Cup, she qualified for the Paris Olympics.
The only Indian weightlifter to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Currently ranked second in the Olympic qualification rankings for the 49 kg category.
Paris Olympics 2024 Qualification Details:
The IWF World Cup in Phuket served as the final qualifying event for weightlifting at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The top 10 ranked lifters in the Olympic qualification rankings for each weight category earn quota spots.
Bindyarani Devi is currently ranked 29th in the Olympic qualification rankings for the women's 59 kg category.
Background of Mirabai Chanu:
Silver medalist in 49 kg category at Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Gold medalist at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, USA.
Three-time gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games (2014, 2018 and 2022).
Considered one of the great players of Indian weightlifting.
IWF World Cup 2024 Overview:
Organized by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
Held in Phuket, Thailand from March 31 to April 11, 2024.
Both male and female weightlifters from different countries were showcased.
North Korea's Kang Hyeon Gyeong won the gold medal in the women's 55 kg category.
Mihaela Cambei of Romania won the silver medal in the same category.
International Weightlifting Federation (IWF):
Established in 1905
The governing body for men's and women's weightlifting worldwide.
Recognized by the International Olympic Association.
It includes 193 member countries.
The headquarters is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Chairman: Mohammed Hassan Jaloud.
8. Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden Secure Miami Open Men's Doubles Title 2024.
Tags: Sports News
The men's doubles championship at the 2024 Miami Open Tennis tournament was won by Australian Matthew Ebden and 44-year-old Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna.
An Overview of the News:
The tournament held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, United States, on March 31, 2024.
Despite losing the opening set, they defeated Croatia's Ivan Dodig and the USA's Austin Krajicek.
With their triumph, Bopanna and Ebden were able to take back the top spot in the ATP men's doubles rankings.
Bopanna became the fourth Indian to win the Miami Open, following in the footsteps of Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupati, and Sania Mirza.
Danielle Collins Triumphs in Women's Singles:
Danielle Collins, an American tennis player, defeated Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the championship match to win the women's singles title.
Men's Singles Champion Jannik Sinner Wins:
In the men's singles division, Jannik Sinner of Italy triumphed against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the championship match.
Additional Insights on the Miami Open:
The inaugural competition took place at the Lavers International Tennis Resort in Florida in February 1985.
Named after the Miami Gardens, Florida, USA, professional tennis tournament, it is held there once a year.
Hard Rock Stadium is home to outdoor hard courts where competitions are held.
These events usually take place in late March or early April.
Important Tennis Grand Slams:
The Australian Open kicks off the tennis calendar in mid-January.
The French Open, commonly referred to as Roland Garros, usually graces the tennis scene in late May.
Wimbledon, renowned for its grass courts, captivates audiences towards the end of June.
The US Open, a significant event concluding the Grand Slam calendar, unfolds at the close of August.
9. Arjun Erigaisi becomes India's number 1 chess player, reaches world top 10
Tags: Sports News
Arjun Erigaisi is the new top-ranked Indian chess player in the latest FIDE rankings released by chess's world governing body on April 1, ranking 9th globally with a standard rating of 2756.
An Overview of the News
Erigaisi's stellar performances at events such as the 5th Shenzhen Chess Masters and the Bundesliga saw him break into the top 10 for the first time.
Indian Chess Contingent: Notable Rankings
Viswanathan Anand, a five-time world champion, follows Erigaisi as the second-ranked Indian with a rating of 2751, securing the 11th position globally.
Young talents like Praggnanandhaa R (14th), Gukesh D (16th), and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (25th) also hold impressive spots in the FIDE rankings.
World Chess Elite: Top Contenders and Ratings
Magnus Carlsen continues to lead the global rankings with a rating of 2830.
Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, both Americans, are seen as favorites to win the Candidates tournament, with ratings of 2803 and 2789 respectively.
Chinese star Ding Liren holds the 5th position with a rating of 2762.
Other strong contenders for the Candidates tournament include Alireza Firouzja from France (6th) and Ian Nepomniachtchi from Russia (7th).
The International Chess Federation (FIDE)
FIDE, also known by its French abbreviation, is an international organization headquartered in Switzerland.
It serves as the governing body for international chess competitions.
FIDE facilitates connections between different national chess federations worldwide.
Its primary role is to oversee and regulate international chess competitions.
Formation - July 20, 1924
President - Arkady Dvorkovich
Headquarters - Lausanne, Switzerland
10. MS Dhoni became the first wicketkeeper in the world to take 300 wickets in T20 cricket
Tags: Sports News
Indian cricket icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni achieved a significant feat in T20 cricket at the Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, becoming the first wicketkeeper in the world to take 300 wickets in the format.
An Overview of the News:
Dhoni took the catch of Prithvi Shaw during the match against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, which was his 300th wicket behind the stumps in T20 cricket.
Ahead of IPL 2024, Dhoni left his captaincy role at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and handed over the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Dhoni's tally includes 213 catches and 87 stumpings, taking him to a total of 300 wickets in his illustrious T20 career.
After Dhoni, former Pakistani keeper Kamran Akmal is at the second position with 274 dismissals (172 catches and 102 stumpings), while Dinesh Karthik is at the third position with 274 dismissals (207 catches and 67 stumpings).
Top five keepers: Quinton de Kock is fourth with 270 dismissals (221 catches and 49 stumpings), while Jos Buttler is fifth with 209 dismissals (168 catches and 41 stumpings).
