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Time of India
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Army Sports Institute to scout talent nationwide and upgrade facilities
1 2 3 Pune: Army Sports Institute (ASI) has decided to expand its search for sports talent nationwide. The institute has deployed scouting teams to identify and nurture raw talent in remote areas, bringing promising athletes to train at the institute. Colonel Mohan Rao, who assumed command two months ago, told TOI, "We need to broaden our talent pool for each sport, and to do that, we must explore different regions of the country. We can't rely solely on specific areas. For example, we scout wrestlers only from certain belts, but the best athletes might come from other regions. We want to identify and nurture this talent at an early stage." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune As part of this initiative, ASI has inducted six children, all eight years old, into its Boys Sports Company for diving. Rao said, "We need to train them at an early age. Previously, we would recruit players only after they turned 11, but for this sport, that is too late. Based on the recommendation of a new Australian coach, we brought these children from the Northeast and Jharkhand." ASI is a multidisciplinary sports establishment that trains athletes in archery, athletics, boxing, diving, wrestling, fencing, and weightlifting. The institute has been producing world-class athletes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo However, its atheletes have not yet won a medal in the Olympics since its inception in 2001. "Our experts analyse the performance of each player in every competition and work on each aspect of it. We have even roped in international coaches at the centre. Budding talents come from different regions and deliver performance during their initial period. They need to put in their best performance in global competitions, such as the world championships and the Olympics, competing against top-class players," said an official. "We are working on how we can translate the player's best performance at the global level. Then only we will be able to achieve the podium finish," he added. Additionally, the institute is in the process of upgrading its infrastructure. Plans include renovating its 400-metre athletic track and constructing a synthetic hill track. "A 400-metre running track and grass will be of the international standard. We have floated a tender, and the work is expected to begin in Sept. We aim to complete the work by March 2026," the official said. The construction of a track is a difficult task as experts would have to lay multiple layers of different materials underneath the main track. It would be done scientifically to match the global standards, said officials. The rehabilitation centre at ASI would also be equipped with advanced equipment to facilitate quick recovery of injured players. Pune: Army Sports Institute (ASI) has decided to expand its search for sports talent nationwide. The institute has deployed scouting teams to identify and nurture raw talent in remote areas, bringing promising athletes to train at the institute. Colonel Mohan Rao, who assumed command two months ago, told TOI, "We need to broaden our talent pool for each sport, and to do that, we must explore different regions of the country. We can't rely solely on specific areas. For example, we scout wrestlers only from certain belts, but the best athletes might come from other regions. We want to identify and nurture this talent at an early stage." As part of this initiative, ASI has inducted six children, all eight years old, into its Boys Sports Company for diving. Rao said, "We need to train them at an early age. Previously, we would recruit players only after they turned 11, but for this sport, that is too late. Based on the recommendation of a new Australian coach, we brought these children from the Northeast and Jharkhand." ASI is a multidisciplinary sports establishment that trains athletes in archery, athletics, boxing, diving, wrestling, fencing, and weightlifting. The institute has been producing world-class athletes. However, its atheletes have not yet won a medal in the Olympics since its inception in 2001. "Our experts analyse the performance of each player in every competition and work on each aspect of it. We have even roped in international coaches at the centre. Budding talents come from different regions and deliver performance during their initial period. They need to put in their best performance in global competitions, such as the world championships and the Olympics, competing against top-class players," said an official. "We are working on how we can translate the player's best performance at the global level. Then only we will be able to achieve the podium finish," he added. Additionally, the institute is in the process of upgrading its infrastructure. Plans include renovating its 400-metre athletic track and constructing a synthetic hill track. "A 400-metre running track and grass will be of the international standard. We have floated a tender, and the work is expected to begin in Sept. We aim to complete the work by March 2026," the official said. The construction of a track is a difficult task as experts would have to lay multiple layers of different materials underneath the main track. It would be done scientifically to match the global standards, said officials. The rehabilitation centre at ASI would also be equipped with advanced equipment to facilitate quick recovery of injured players.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Meet Shivam Lohakare, India's latest 80m thrower
New Delhi: Indian men's javelin, since Neeraj Chopra's gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, has consistently thrown up exciting talent with a sizable number of them breaching the 80m mark. While Shivpal Singh, Rohit Yadav, Manu DP, and Kishore Jena have fallen by the wayside for varying reasons, the new crop — Yashvir Singh and Sachin Yadav — have shown promise. One must add Shivam Lohakare to that list. Javelin thrower Shivam Lohakare became the latest entrant to the 80m club at the Indian Open Athletics Meet in Pune last week. (HT) The 20-year-old became the latest entrant to the 80m club at the Indian Open Athletics Meet in Pune last week. Shivam won the meet with an effort of 80.95m to become only the 16th Indian to throw the spear 80m or beyond. 'It's good to be in that club but I know I can do much better,' he said from Pune where he trains at the Army Sports Institute. Employed as a Havaldar in Mahar Regiment, Shivam took up javelin as a 13-year-old, almost on a whim. 'It just felt right. I liked the way it left my hand,' he said, recalling his first tryst with the spear. Hailing from Sonai village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar, Shivam was always an avid athlete at school, seamlessly dabbling in long jump, high jump, javelin, kabaddi, and kho kho. The decisive turn towards javelin happened in 2019 when he won a district-level meet with a throw of 45m. 'I competed in the high jump at that meet as well and finished fourth. That was the end of my other pursuits.' Shivam's steady rise through the district and division-level ranks ran the risk of indefinite derailment as Covid struck, but the youngster was determined to make do with his limited means. On one of the days when the lockdown was relaxed, he travelled 50 kilometres to Ahmednagar to buy an aluminum javelin. Next, he strapped his worn-out spikes and took the road less travelled, quite literally. 'There's a thin road leading to the fields in my village that no one visited during the lockdown. I just used it as a runway and practised for hours.' On one of those mad pursuits, he was spotted by two of his seniors from school -- Amol and Hrishikesh -- who trained in Pune's Baburao Sanas Sports Ground under coach Prasant Wagh. Convincing him to leave the comforts of home was not tough, and no sooner did the lockdown ease, Shivam packed his bags and headed for Pune. Next year, in 2022, he competed in the State U-20 meet and caught the attention of coach Kashinath Naik. A renowned ASI coach and a bronze medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Naik was impressed with Shivam's 62m effort and invited him for a trial at ASI. He logged 72m with a 700g javelin and was duly inducted in the army centre, as a civilian. Naik began to iron out his technique and within two months, he started to throw 70m regularly. He was also mentored by Manu DP, another of Naik's trainees. Manu is currently serving a four-year doping ban. 'I never had perfect technique but I was always a quick and eager learner,' said Shivam who would draw interest for his left-handed throws. Late in 2022, Shivam finished second at the Junior Nationals in Guwahati but his success was dampened by an injury to his lower back, sustained just before the competition. 'It was a muscle injury that would heal with load management, but each time I increased the training intensity, it flared up,' he said. A silver at the Junior Asian Championship (72.34m) arrived in 2023 but the youngster was far from satisfied. 'I was hoping to touch 75m there but was held back by the injury,' he rued. The same year, he hit 80m in training. It was a significant step in his nascent journey, but Shivam knew he was meant for bigger distances. 'At the domestic level, a lot of throwers were touching 80m, so it was not a big deal,' Shivam, who claims to have a 85m throw in him should he stay fit, said. It won't be easy. His 90kg, 6ft 1inch frame is already blighted with injuries. After missing much of 2024 to back troubles, Shivam felt a painful jerk in his right ankle — the block ankle — earlier this year that is still bothering him. The injury reared up just ahead of the Pune meet too, leaving him with painful swelling. Unable to jump or throw, he is building his upper body strength under a physiotherapist's supervision. 'It is frustrating. Before this injury, I was throwing between 80-82m in training and was hoping to build on that during competitions. I hope to resume throwing in another 2-3 weeks,' he said, having set his sights on this year's Inter State championships (Aug 20-24). 'If I stay fit, I'll throw 85m there.'
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Sable to recover in 1-2 weeks after suffering minor injury during Monaco DL, says coach Amrish Kumar
Seasoned Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable sustained a minor injury due to a nasty fall during the Monaco Diamond League two days back, but he will be all right in quick time, his long-time coach Amrish Kumar said on Sunday. Asian Games champion and national record holder Sable failed to finish the men's 3000m steeplechase event on Friday as he fell during the water jump early in the race. He was seen clutching his lower thigh area just at the back of the knee as he left the race. 'Sable has suffered a minor injury around the knee. He will take rest and he should be all right in one or two weeks at the maximum. It is not much to worry about,' Amrish, who is with the Army Sports Institute in Pune, told PTI. 'He (Sable) was trying to protect the runner ahead of him and who just jumped over the water barrier. While doing that, he himself fell, this kind of things happen in a race,' he added. The athlete ahead of him lost balance and went down, causing Sable to stumble as well. It was Amrish who spotted Sable after he joined the Indian Army in 2012. Amrish made Sable shift to steeplechase from cross country run in 2017 and nurtured him into a top athlete.. ALSO READ | Gulveer Singh registers third-fastest Indian time in 1500m, claims Asian lead With just one point from three DL meetings this season, it will be difficult for the 30-year-old Sable to make it to the DL Finals on August 27-28 in Zurich, Switzerland. Sable, whose national record stands at 8 minutes 09.91 seconds, finished 13th in the Xiamen DL on April 16, was eighth in Keqiao — also in China — before a DNF in Monaco on Friday. The last DL meeting which has men's 3000m steeplechase in the roster is in Brussels on August 22. On Friday, the sports ministry has approved Sable's training in Colorado Springs, USA, from July 15 to September 3 to prepare for the World Championships (September 13-21) in Tokyo, for which he has already qualified.
India Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Avinash Sable out for 2 weeks after nasty fall in Monaco Diamond League
Star Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable is out for 1–2 weeks after a nasty fall during the Monaco Diamond League. On July 11, Sable copped a big blow while participating in the competition, which forced him to retire from the Sable's coach, Amrish Kumar, told PTI in an interview that Sable's injury was a minor one and that he would be back on the track in no time. Asian Games champion and national record holder Sable failed to finish the men's 3000m steeplechase event on Friday as he fell during the water jump early in the race. He was seen clutching his lower thigh area just at the back of the knee as he left the has suffered a minor injury around the knee. He will take rest and he should be all right in one or two weeks at the maximum. It is not much to worry about," Kumar, who is with the Army Sports Institute in Pune, told PTI. "He (Sable) was trying to protect the runner ahead of him who had just jumped over the water barrier. While doing that, he himself fell - these kinds of things happen in a race," he athlete ahead of him lost balance and went down, causing Sable to stumble as Sable Eyeing RedemptionAvinash Sable is targeting the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Sable recently shook off a nagging calf injury and hoped to be back to his best in the ongoing season. The reigning Asian Games gold medalist has been steadily rebuilding his fitness, splitting his time between high-altitude training in Ooty and intense workouts at the Sports Authority of India's Southern Centre in Bengaluru. With preparations going smoothly, Sable is quietly with the stumble in the Monaco Diamond League, his preparations have taken a slight hit. With just one point from three DL meetings this season, it will be difficult for the 30-year-old Sable to make it to the DL Finals on August 27–28 in Zurich, whose national record stands at 8:09.91 seconds, finished 13th in the Xiamen DL on April 16, was eighth in Keqiao—also in China—before a DNF in Monaco on last DL meeting which has men's 3000m steeplechase on the roster is in Brussels on August Friday, the sports ministry approved Sable's training in Colorado Springs, USA, from July 15 to September 3 to prepare for the World Championships (September 13–21) in Tokyo, for which he has already qualified.- EndsMust Watch
Mint
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Sable suffers 'minor injury' during Monaco DL, will be 'fine' in 1-2 weeks: coach
New Delhi, Jul 13 (PTI) Seasoned Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable sustained a minor injury due to a nasty fall during the Monaco Diamond League two days back but he will be all right in quick time, his long-time coach Amrish Kumar said on Sunday. Asian Games champion and national record holder Sable failed to finish the men's 3000m steeplechase event on Friday as he fell down during the water jump early in the race. He was seen clutching his lower thigh area just at the back of the knee as he left the race. "Sable has suffered a minor injury around the knee. He will take rest and he should be all right in one or two weeks at the maximum. It is not much to worry about," Kumar, who is with the Army Sports Institute in Pune, told PTI. "He (Sable) was trying to protect the runner ahead of him and who just jumped over the water barrier. While doing that, he himself fell, this kind of things happen in a race," he added. The athlete ahead of him lost balance and went down, causing Sable to stumble as well. It was Kumar who spotted Sable after he joined the Indian Army in 2012. Kumar made Sable shift to steeplechase from cross country run in 2017 and nurtured him into a top athlete.. With just one point from three DL meetings this season, it will be difficult for the 30-year-old Sable to make it to the DL Finals on August 27-28 in Zurich, Switzerland. Sable, whose national record stands at 8 minute 09.91 seconds, finished 13th in the Xiamen DL on April 16, was eighth in Keqiao -- also in China -- before a DNF in Monaco on Friday. The last DL meeting which has men's 3000m steeplechase in the roster is in Brussels on August 22. On Friday, the sports ministry has approved Sable's training in Colorado Springs, USA from July 15 to September 3 to prepare for the World Championships (September 13-21) in Tokyo for which he has already qualified.
