Neeraj Chopra conferred honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Territorial Army
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, the Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday, 14 May. The appointment came into effect on 16 April, according to an official statement."In No 3 (E) dated 9 May 2025, in exercise of the powers conferred by Para 31 of the Territorial Army Regulations, 1948, the President is pleased to confer the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army on Ex-Sub Maj Neeraj Chopra, PVSM, Padma Shri, VSM, Village & Post Office Khandra, Panipat, Haryana, with effect from 16 April 2025," the statement from the Ministry of Defence read.advertisementNeeraj Chopra previously held the rank of Subedar in the Indian Army. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal by the 4 Rajputana Rifles in January 2022 for his distinguished service, months after he won the historic gold medal in the men's javelin event at the Tokyo Olympics.
Neeraj Chopra was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2022, months after receiving the country's highest sporting accolade — the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.Neeraj has continued to bring laurels to the country. The 27-year-old won his second Olympic medal — a silver at the Paris Olympics last year. He is the first Indian athlete to win medals in track and field events at the Olympics.The decorated athlete from Panipat, Haryana, has also claimed the prestigious Diamond League Trophy and the World Championships gold for India.advertisementNeeraj began his season at an invitational meet in Potchefstroom in South Africa in April, winning the gold with a best effort of 84.52m. The Olympic silver medalist will next compete in the Doha Diamond League on Friday, May 16.Neeraj was set to host and compete in the first-ever NC Classic, a one-day javelin event approved by World Athletics, on May 24 in Bengaluru.However, the event was postponed due to ongoing cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. Neeraj had been preparing to welcome some of the world's top javelin throwers, including former world champion Anderson Peters.Neeraj, who started training under legendary javelin coach Jan Zelezny, is aiming to surpass his personal best of 89.94 metres. With his sights firmly set on the elusive 90-metre mark, the javelin star is preparing to give himself the best possible chance of reclaiming the World Championship gold later this year.
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Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Olympian Simone Biles slams anti-trans activist Riley Gaines: Here's why they are clashing over transwomen in sports
The Minnesota State High School Softball Championship became a national flashpoint when Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender girl and star pitcher for Champlin Park High School, led her team to a dominant 6–0 win in the Class 4A title game. Her standout performance, which included seven shutout innings and two doubles, reignited the national debate surrounding transgender participation in women's sports. Minnesota's 2015 policy allowing transgender athletes to play in alignment with their gender identity has long been controversial. But Rothenberger's success in a high-profile championship, just months after a federal executive order sought to ban transgender girls from girls' and women's sports, brought the issue to national attention. The victory set off a social media firestorm, culminating in a bitter and highly public feud between former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles . Minnesota's policy: Transgender's participation under fire Marissa Rothenberger began transitioning at age nine and was cleared to play under the Minnesota State High School League's guidelines. These rules allow transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity after undergoing a review process. Her teammates and coaches praised her performance and resilience, but her participation quickly became a focal point for critics of transgender inclusion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo A lawsuit filed in May 2025 by the advocacy group Female Athletes United argues that Rothenberger's inclusion violates Title IX, which bars sex-based discrimination in federally funded education. Plaintiffs in the case allege that cisgender female athletes lost opportunities due to Rothenberger's presence, including one who reportedly missed a chance to advance to the state tournament and another who suffered an injury from a fast pitch. Riley Gaines responds: 'When your star player is a boy' you win Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who has become one of the most vocal critics of transgender participation in women's sports, responded swiftly to Champlin Park High School's state championship win. She framed the outcome as yet another example of biological males dominating girls' sports, arguing that the inclusion of Marissa Rothenberger compromised the fairness of the competition. Gaines also took aim at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for supporting the state's transgender inclusion policy, accusing him of failing to protect the rights and opportunities of cisgender female athletes. She further criticized the team for turning off public comments on their championship post, implying it was an attempt to silence backlash over Rothenberger's gender identity. In a widely circulated comment, Gaines remarked, 'Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,' underscoring her stance that allowing transgender athletes in girls' sports undermines integrity and transparency. Her activism is deeply rooted in her personal experience at the 2022 NCAA Championships, where she tied with Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle. While both finished with identical times, Thomas was awarded the fifth-place trophy, a decision Gaines has since cited as symbolic of what she sees as the disadvantages faced by female athletes in the current landscape. Simone Biles defends inclusivity Simone Biles responded strongly to Gaines's remarks, condemning her for using past trauma for political arguments. Biles accused Gaines of being a sore loser and suggested that her campaign against transgender athletes was rooted more in personal resentment than genuine concern. Biles called for more inclusive solutions, such as developing new categories or structures that could allow transgender athletes to compete fairly and safely. Biles emphasized that the well-being and mental health of all athletes should be prioritized and argued that inclusivity and fairness do not need to be mutually exclusive. Her stance, shaped by her own experience of abuse and advocacy for athlete protection, emphasized creating safe and respectful environments for everyone in sports. The Nassar Controversy The controversy escalated when Gaines drew a comparison between transgender inclusion and the sexual abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. She referenced Simone Biles's advocacy for inclusion and contrasted it with Biles's history as a survivor of Nassar's abuse. Gaines suggested that Biles's support for policies allowing transgender women in locker rooms conflicted with her previous efforts to speak out against sexual exploitation in sports. Riley Gaines shared a video of Simone Biles testifying about surviving Larry Nassar's sexual abuse alongside Biles' recent tweet criticizing Gaines, with the text "Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men," suggesting inconsistency in Biles' stance on athlete safety regarding transgender inclusion. The post, with over 1 million views, drew mixed reactions, with critics like @NebsGoodTakes calling it "evil" for exploiting Biles' trauma, while supporters like @ValentinaForUSA found Biles' support for transgender inclusion "astonishing" given her Nassar experience. 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The Minnesota softball championship has become a defining moment in the escalating debate over gender identity and fairness in school sports. At the core of the controversy is a growing concern among female athletes and advocates like Riley Gaines, who argue that the integrity of girls' sports is being compromised. For them, allowing biologically male athletes to compete in female categories threatens the level playing field Title IX was meant to protect. Gaines and others are calling for clear boundaries to ensure that cisgender girls retain equal opportunities, scholarships, and safety in competition. As Marissa Rothenberger's dominant performance reignites national attention, many believe it is time to prioritize fairness over ideology and protect the spaces originally created for women and girls.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Jonathan Owens' wife Simone Biles and Riley Gaines engage in fierce debate over transgender athletes
Simone Biles and Riley Gaines go head-to-head online over transgender rights in female athletics (Getty Images) Gymnastics legend Simone Biles publicly criticized former NCAA swimmer and conservative commentator Riley Gaines for her relentless campaign against transgender inclusion in women's sports. The Olympic champion took to social media Friday after Gaines targeted a Minnesota high school softball team that recently secured a state championship, led by a transgender pitcher, Marissa Rothenberger. Heated war of words erupts between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines over transgender athletes in women's sports Riley Gaines, who has built a controversial media presence since tying for fifth place with trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships, quote-tweeted a celebratory post from the Minnesota State High School League. The league had shared a photo of Champlin Park High School's victorious softball team on X (formerly Twitter), but comments had been disabled. Gaines sarcastically remarked, 'Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.' That jab didn't sit well with Biles. The seven-time Olympic medalist and longtime advocate for athlete mental health and safety didn't mince words. 'You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,' Biles wrote in a direct quote tweet aimed at Gaines. 'Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive or creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Instead… you bully them. One thing's for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!' Biles' message struck a chord with many, reinforcing the stark contrast between the two athletes—not just in terms of achievements but also in how they choose to use their platforms. While Gaines has positioned herself as a central figure in the conservative battle against transgender inclusion, Biles has spent years advocating for safer and more supportive environments in sports, especially for women and marginalized groups. Gaines didn't back down. She fired back, calling Biles a 'male-apologist at the expense of young girls' dreams,' and went on to suggest that the gymnastics icon should compete in men's events if she supports transgender athletes. 'Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028,' Gaines quipped. In another post, Biles added, "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male." "This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest," Gaines responded. Gaines' transformation from a competitive swimmer to a full-time activist has been marked by a steady rise in right-wing media circles. Despite achieving only modest success as an athlete, she has testified before Congress, aligned with political figures like Donald Trump, and founded an advocacy center that claims to fight for fairness in women's sports. Her rhetoric, however, increasingly targets not just elite trans athletes but also children and teens who participate in girls' sports. To many observers, this shift has taken her beyond advocacy and into the realm of bullying—a point Biles made loud and clear. Simone Biles, meanwhile, continues to exemplify what it means to use fame responsibly. Following her headline-making withdrawal from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics due to 'The Twisties,' Biles brought much-needed attention to mental health in elite athletics. Her voice carries weight, especially as a survivor of the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal involving Larry Nassar—a trauma she's used to push for systemic change and accountability. The clash between Biles and Gaines underscores a larger cultural battle within sports today: one between inclusion and exclusion, between empathy and hostility. Where Gaines seeks to build walls, Biles continues to champion bridges, insisting on compassion and fairness for all athletes, regardless of gender identity. Meanwhile, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens have officially moved into their stunning $3 million custom-built lakefront mansion in Spring, Texas—a dream home they began building together in early 2023. Also Read: Is Xavier Legette's steamy kiss with GloRilla a PR stunt or a real love story in the making?
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Aakash Chopra's captaincy advice to Shubman Gill: ‘You can take inspiration from Virat Kohli's success, his hunger for runs, his leadership'
When Virat Kohli took over the Test captaincy in 2014 in Adelaide, the side was filled with youngsters. It was a period of transition and required someone to come in and give the identity for the next decade with grooming players at disposal, and that's exactly what Kohli did and succeeded. Statistically, he is the best Indian captain in the format, and through his tenure, India has won some remarkable series both home and away. However, 11 years later, the side is in a similar conundrum with the retirement of veterans Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill has been given the responsibility to create his mark on the team for the next few years with a lot of youngsters. 'You can take inspiration from Virat Kohli's success, his hunger for runs, his leadership—but not necessarily his batting number,' said Aakash Chopra, speaking on JioStar. With Kohli not present, who will take the number four slot is up for debate. 'That's a very individual choice. Similarly, Shubman should play where he contributes best,' said Chopra after few experts rooting for Shubman to take the number four slot for the future. 'Batting position isn't about copying someone—it's about where you fit in the team and how it benefits the side. Learn from Kohli's mindset, play with an extra bowler if needed. That's what leaders do—make sacrifices for the team,' Chopra further stated. Chopra also suggested that India should form a leadership group. 'Form a leadership group—bring 4–5 players together and build a core. Include Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Create a pack of wolves. These are the guys who'll be with you today, in six months, and five years down the line.' 'With a young team, it's important that the captain grows with the group. Seniors and juniors often have different routines and circles—but with this new-look team, you have a chance to build a collective culture. It's a rare opportunity to create a bond and a story that the entire nation will be proud of,' he added.
