Mohammed Afsal breaks 800m national record in UAE event
Afsal had won a silver in 800m at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games with a time of 1:48.43s.
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Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
India's first-ever professional basketball league announced
India's first-ever professional basketball league has been launched. The competition will feature a structured competitive league in 5x5 and 3x3 formats for both men and women, establishing a comprehensive professional ecosystem that will allow athletes across the country to pursue basketball as a viable career. This league, launched on Friday, is a collaboration between the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and ACG Sports Private Limited. Designed to redefine how basketball is played, experienced, and supported in India, it aims to shift basketball from a niche discipline into a mainstream pursuit. Jeremy Loeliger, Former CEO and Commissioner of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) has been appointed Director of ACG Sports to guide the league's global strategy and operations. In his new role, Loeliger will lead the development of the league's blueprint, bringing international standards of governance, competition, and commercial innovation to the Indian shores, as per a press release from BFI and ACG. "Basketball represents more than just a sport - it is a vehicle for building character, leadership, and opportunity," said Karan Singh, Managing Director of ACG. He further added, "Our vision for this professional basketball league is to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem where every child with passion and talent can see a viable future in basketball in India. We are grateful for the partnership with BFI in making this dream a reality. While this is a commendable first step, we know that building a thriving basketball ecosystem will require sustained effort and collective support to reach its full potential." As part of its long-term strategy, ACG will launch India's first fully residential high-performance centre within the year. The academy will feature world-class facilities, attract top coaching talent from the U.S. and Australia, and offer comprehensive training programmes for players, coaches, and referees. Nutrition, mental wellness, and academic balance will be integral to the curriculum - ensuring the holistic development of future stars. Aadhav Arjuna, President of the Basketball Federation of India, stated: "This partnership with ACG is unlike anything we've seen before. It is driven by vision, structured for long-term impact, and rooted in a clear understanding of what Indian basketball truly needs. We're building not just visibility, but real momentum and global credibility. Our vision is to win medals at the Asian Games and Olympics" Kulvinder Singh Gill, Secretary General of the Basketball Federation of India, stated: "This league will unlock new opportunities for young Indian talent to grow, compete professionally, and gain invaluable exposure alongside international players and coaches." The complete league framework, including team structures, competition formats, player eligibility, and governance models, is currently in development with input from global basketball experts and key industry stakeholders. Detailed announcements on participation guidelines, venue requirements, and operational protocols will follow in a phased rollout. In the coming months, the newly formed League Council will begin overseeing standards and operations, while nationwide scouting initiatives, customised athlete development tracks, and dynamic fan engagement programs will begin laying the foundation for a vibrant, inclusive, and commercially sustainable basketball culture in India.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Shiny Wilson bids farewell to FCI
Shiny Wilson, who was the first woman flag bearer at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the first Indian woman athlete to reach the women's 800 m semifinals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, retired from service after four decades. The four-time Olympian was serving as general manager Food Corporation of India (FCI) located in Nungambakkam. The farewell function was an emotional event for Shiny. It was attended by Ashutosh Agnihotri, chairman and managing director FCI; and Jacintha Lazarus, executive director (south), FCI. Her husband, Wilson Cherian, an international swimmer, who retired from ICF after 43 years of service, was also present. Known for her simplicity and reticent nature, Shiny was held in high esteem at FCI, and her farewell function proved why she is a respected personality. At her acceptance speech, Shiny recalled her childhood days and her Olympics experience. Shiny has taken part in three Asian Games, six Asian championships and seven SAF Games. She reminisced about her 41 years and three months of service in FCI. 'I am thankful to have put a long and satisfying service at FCI,' she said while praising FCI's sports scholarship given to sportspersons and its consistency in recruiting sportspersons. Shiny's love, passion and commitment to athletics is astonishing. After a few months after giving birth to her first daughter in October 1990, she started to train in Bengaluru. 'When my daughter was nine months old, I became a National champion in 800m and within a year, I won the Asian championships 400m gold and 800m silver,' said Shiny, a resident of Gill Nagar in Choolaimedu. Shiny came to Chennai from Kerala in 1992-93 and went to represent Tamil Nadu in numerous National competitions. After she joined FCI in 1984, she was one of those instrumental in fast-tracking the scholarships initiative of the organisation that has still today helped promising sportspersons get the much-needed stipend. Shiny continued to perform and shine in global and Asian events while being an employee of FCI. So much so that she even used to take part in all athletics events organised by FCI at the peak of her athletic prowess. With her time at FCI coming to an end, Shiny will definitely enjoy her free time while putting her heart and soul into her many roles which includes selector of the Indian team and a nominated member of the Asian Athletic Commission.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Indonesia Open: Chou to meet Antonsen in final as top two seeds exit
Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan beat world number one Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-16, 23-21 in the Indonesia Open in Jakarta on Saturday to set up a final against Anders Antonsen, who defeated defending champion Shi Yuqi. Second seed Vitidsarn shot out of the blocks in both games and racked up 5-1 leads, but the 35-year-old Chou showed great resilience, fighting back to secure a spot in his first final since last month's Taipei Open. China's Shi began his semifinal strongly, taking the first game 21-9, while third-seeded Antonsen was much more competitive in the second game and pounced on a string of errors from the top seed to wrest control of the match. ALSO READ: I'm on right track, not really far away from my best: Sindhu Shi had the lead early in the tight third game, but Antonsen rose to the challenge to win 9-21, 21-18, 21-19 -- his first victory over the two-time Asian Games gold medallist since January 2024. In the women's draw, top seed An Se-young of South Korea faced third-seeded Akane Yamaguchi, the second time the pair had met in the semifinals of a Super 1000 tournament this year. Much like their meeting at the All England Open in March, reigning Olympic champion An held off her Japanese opponent to win 21-18, 21-17 and secure a spot in the Indonesia Open final for a third time in her career. An will come up against Wang Zhiyi in Sunday's final after the Chinese world number two beat compatriot Han Yue 21-12, 21-13 in 39 minutes.
