
Rs 9,999 tickets to lowering spice levels for international athletes — how Neeraj the organiser spent the last few weeks ahead of NC Classic
"I never thought such an event would take place. I am at peace... I'm able to give something back to India."
There's also the question of legacy and competitions like these go a long way in securing it. While this event has the blessings of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) — a pre-requisite — and WA were quickly on board, Chopra's name will provide an added legitimacy to it. 2016 Olympic champ, Thomas Rohler, and 2015 World Champ, Julius Yego, may have come even otherwise but a personal invitation from Chopra sealed it.
When one of the sport's big personalities calls you, you pack your bags to compete in a land you have never competed in before. That's also true for some of the companies who have sponsored the event. There's a learning partner (Duolingo), a content partner (Snapchat) as well as an outdoor partner (Mera Hoarding). It reflects the kind of trust firms have in the Chopra name that they have all come on board to sponsor an inaugural tournament.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
NBA Trade Rumors: Golden State Warriors could acquire $52.6 million Los Angeles Lakers superstar to form BIG 3 with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler and improve title odds
LeBron James and Stephen Curry (Image via Getty) The Golden State Warriors could be finalizing a massive seven-team trade that ships out Kevin Durant —but this may only be the beginning. This move signals a bold new direction for the franchise. And now, rumors are swirling that their next target could be the biggest name in basketball: LeBron James . With Durant gone and the Warriors clearly in roster-flipping mode, all eyes are on whether they'll make an audacious push to pair Stephen Curry with the Lakers' four-time MVP. The financials mysteriously align, the trade frameworks exist, and the Warriors have the assets to pull it off. But is trading for a 39-year-old LeBron the right move for a team torn between contending now and planning for the future? The Seven-Team Trade: What It Means for the Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors ' involvement in the seven-team deal marks a significant shift in their roster strategy. Though the trade primarily sends Durant elsewhere, Golden State's front office appears to be laying the groundwork for another major move. The Golden State Warriors were part of a massive seven-team trade that saw them send Kevin Durant elsewhere in exchange for young prospects Alex Toohey and Jamai Mahshack. This trade marks a significant roster shake-up for the Warriors, signaling a shift toward developing future talent while parting ways with one of the league's most prolific scorers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo While the immediate return seems modest, the Warriors' flexibility and future assets could set the stage for a bigger acquisition. Lakers Star LeBron James Emerges as a Target LeBron James at the Playoffs against the Timberwolves (Image via Imagn). According to Golden State of Mind's Brady Klopfer, the Warriors could pivot toward a trade for Lakers forward LeBron James . The financials align surprisingly well, making this more than just a pipe dream. Klopfer noted: 'Any James trade would almost certainly be centered around a swap with Jimmy Butler III. In fact, LeBron and his son Bronny James have a combined salary that's less than $500,000 off of what Butler's salary is, so the finances work fairly seamlessly.' (H/t: Sporting News) Here's how a potential trade could break down: - Warriors receive: LeBron James and Bronny James - Lakers receive: Jimmy Butler and two first-round picks The inclusion of Bronny adds another layer, as teams have shown interest in drafting him to potentially lure LeBron. Why the Golden State Warriors Might Pull the Trigger Golden State has several reasons to consider this move: 1. Championship Window: With Stephen Curry still playing at an elite level, adding LeBron could extend their title contention. 2. Olympic Chemistry: James and Curry thrived together in the 2024 Olympics, where LeBron nearly averaged a triple-double and Curry lit up France with eight three-pointers in the gold medal game. 3. Veteran Leadership: Both players bring unmatched experience, with eight combined NBA championships. However, there are risks: - Butler has already proven to fit the Golden State Warriors' system. - LeBron's age (39) and long-term durability remain questions. LeBron's Future: What's Next? LeBron James recently opted into his $52.6 million player option, but his agent, Rich Paul, hinted that the Lakers are open to moves that benefit LeBron's career at this stage. This has fueled speculation about potential trades. Curry previously dismissed the idea of teaming up with LeBron James in the NBA, saying in 2022, 'I'm good right now.' But after failing to win a title since 2022, the Warriors' superstar may reconsider. Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Milwaukee Bucks could send $186 million superstar to the San Antonio Spurs and form deadly duo with Victor Wembanyama The Warriors' front office is clearly thinking big. Swapping Butler for LeBron would be a gamble, but the upside—a Curry-James duo in the West—could redefine the NBA landscape. As Klopfer pointed out, the financials work. Now, it's about whether Golden State believes the reward outweighs the risk. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Varun eyes senior team return through Europe tour with India 'A'
Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist defender Varun Kumar is eyeing a comeback to the Indian men's hockey team with some good performances with the India 'A' squad in the upcoming tour of Europe. Varun, a potent defender, failed to make the Paris Olympics squad, and has been out of the the senior side for over a year. He was last seen in India colours during the friendly match against Germany in New Delhi in June last year. The dragflicker has set his sights on next month's Asia Cup to be held in Rajgir to make his comeback, and is aware that a good outing in the Europe tour will help his case. "Certainly, my personal goal is to return to the senior team. But more important for me right now is to improve my game. Not having played a proper tour in over one-and-a-half years, it is a long time and the game is constantly changing. The structure has changed and it has also become much faster. The way I am looking at it, is to start fresh," said Varun. "Missing out on the Paris Olympics was painful. I know I was in the reckoning to make the squad but now, I have left the past behind and ready to start fresh with this opportunity to play for India 'A'," added the dragflicker, who was also part of India's junior World Cup-winning team in 2016. "Playing the European teams, who are preparing for the Euro Cup will be quite exciting and challenging. It will be a learning experience for me and I know a good show here will count, especially with the Asia Cup coming up in India." The India 'A' team led by Sanjay will play two matches each against Ireland, France, and the Netherlands along with a match each against England and Belgium starting July 8. The matches will be held in Eindhoven and Amstelveen in the Netherlands and the match against Belgium will be played in Antwerp. "Personally, for me, it has been a tough road back into the core probable group. Last 7-8 months I have worked a lot on my fitness and also mentally, it has been extremely challenging," Varun said. "Returning to form has not been easy but I am really grateful to my family, teammates and coaching staff who have stood with me in tough times and constantly kept motivating me." The India 'A' team will leave for Amsterdam on Friday night from here.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian youngsters bag handful of medals
Kolkata: Indian chess looks to be in good hands as the country's youngsters shone brightly at different world age-group meets this week. While India clinched seven including three gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the World Cadet Chess Cup that concluded in Batumi, Georgia, they ended the Asian Junior and Girls meet in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, with a haul of six medals across classical, rapid and blitz formats in open and girls sections. India got a new World champion when Sarbartho Mani won gold in the U-10 open section in Batumi. India swept the category as Oishik Mondal and Kapil Aarit came second and third respectively. It has been a phenomenal rise for Mani who had previously won gold in Commonwealth and Asian age-group chess too. Mani (1847) recently played alongside his idol Viswanathan Anand, Anna Muzychuk and others to win bronze in rapid for Team Freedom at the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in London. The Kolkata boy drew both his classical games against Mondal (1857) in Stage 2 and then went on to win the next two rapid games (15'+2") each to top the podium while Mondal settled for silver. CM Aarit Kapil (2078), who recently came close to defeating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen before settling for a draw in the 'Early Titled Tuesday' online chess tournament, defeated Iman Nabiyev (Kaz, 1716) twice to bag the bronze medal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure your family's future! ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata WCM Divi Bijesh (1872) defeated WCM Zhihan Chen (Chn, 1785) in both U-10 classical games to clinch the gold while WCM Sharvaanica AS (1884) picked bronze in the section. WCM Pratitee Bordoloi (1971) fetched the third gold in the U-12 girl's category and Aadya secured the silver. In Sri Lanka, FM Sourath Biswas finished with 7.5 points out of nine to clinch the gold in the open section. IM Kashish Manoj Jain finished with seven points to secure the bronze. In the girl's section, WIM Velpula Sarayu bagged seven points out of nine to end up with a bronze medal.