Latest news with #IndianOlympic
Mint
a day ago
- Sport
- Mint
Air India plane crash: PV Sindhu ‘deeply saddened'; Vinesh Phogat, Rashid Khan, Suryakumar Yadav express condolences
Former India cricketers Yusuf Pathan and Harbhajan Singh were the first from the sporting fraternity to express condolences after an London-bound Air India passenger plane with 244 people onboard crashed Thursday in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site near the airport in Ahmedabad. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the directorate of civil aviation, told AP that Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 pm local time. There were 242 passengers and crew members onboard the flight, which had been bound for London's Gatwick Airport, Kidwai said. Harbhajan said he is deeply anguished and utterly shocked. 'I am utterly shocked and deeply anguished to learn about the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families who are enduring unimaginable pain and loss. In moments like these, words feel so inadequate, but I hope that those affected find strength, courage, and support. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by this tragedy,' Harbhajan posted on X. Yusuf, who has played alongside Harbhajan in the Indian team, also expressed his condolences. 'Very shocked to hear about the #AirIndia Ahmedabad-London flight incident near Ahmedabad airport. Praying for the safety of all passengers and crew. #PlaneCrash #Ahmedabad,' he wrote. Not only Harbhajan and Pathan, but IPL teams Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans and Indian Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat also were left shocked. 'My heart is heavy after hearing about the Air India flight incident. Praying deeply for the people on board and their families. Faith is all we have in moments like this,' wrote Phogat on X. 'We are deeply saddened by the plane crash in Ahmedabad. We pray for everyone affected and their families,' Gujarat Titans wrote on their official X. 'A heartbroken tragedy in Ahmedabad. Our thoughts are with all the passengers, crew and their families,' Punjab Kings wrote. Two-time Olympic medallist Indian badminton ace PV Sindhu also was left saddened by the tragedy. 'Deeply saddened by the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London today, June 12, 2025. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of all 242 souls on board.' 'May love surround every grieving heart and strength find those left behind,' Sindhu wrote on X. Indian squash ace Joshna Chinappa wrote, "Devastated to hear about the tragic Air India crash today. My thoughts and prayers are with the passengers , flight crew and their families.' Indian T20 captain and Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan too reacted on the incident. "Shocked to hear about the tragic plane crash of AirIndia-Ahmedabad-London flight. Thoughts and prayers to all the lives lost. Wishing for safety of every resident staying in that affected area," Suryakumar wrote on Instagram. "Really saddened to hear about the tragic crash in Ahmedabad today. My thoughts and prayers to all the victims and their families. May you have the strength to bare this loss. Also praying for strength to all the first responders," said the Gujarat Titans spinner.
India Gazette
17-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"Spectacular feat..." PM Modi hails Neeraj Chopra for crossing 90m mark
New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised two-time Indian Olympic medalist Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra after he crossed the 90-meter mark at the Doha Diamond League 2025 and said that this is the outcome of his 'relentless dedication, discipline, and passion.' 'A spectacular feat! Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for breaching the 90 m mark at Doha Diamond League 2025 and achieving his personal best throw. This is the outcome of his relentless dedication, discipline and passion. India is elated and proud,' PM Modi posted on X. Two-time Indian Olympic medalist Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had an outing to remember, as he became the first Indian to cross the 90 m mark in the sport on Friday. However, after a monstrous throw by Germany's Julian Weber at the Doha Diamond League, he could not secure the top spot on the podium this time. Neeraj had the lead till the final round, crossing the 90-m mark with a stupendous throw of 90.23 m, breaking his own national record. However, in the last set of throws, Weber registered a brilliant effort of 91.06 m, dropping Neeraj to second spot. Grenada's Anderson Peters is at number three, with a throw of 85.64 m. Neeraj had a brilliant start, kickstarting his season with a throw of 88.44 m, with Anderson Peters of Grenada in second place with 85.64 m and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago at third with 84.65 m. The superstar Indian's second throw was a foul, but he still managed to maintain his lead. Germany's Julian Weber took third place with a throw of 85.57 m. However, Neeraj's third throw, a monstrous 90.23 m, helped him touch the coveted 90-m mark, extending his lead over his other opponents. He also broke his own national record, bettering his 89.94 m throw registered during the Stockholm Diamond League 2022. Julian, however, came close, with a throw of 89.06 m. Neeraj's fourth throw was 80.56 m, and the fifth throw was a foul. However, this still kept Neeraj in the lead, with Julian in second spot and Peters in third spot. However, Neeraj was beaten in the final set of throws, with Weber throwing 91.06 m to outdo the Indian, who finished in second spot with his final throw being 88.20 m. (ANI)
News18
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
Neeraj Chopra 'Never Close Friends' With Arshad Nadeem; Vows Bond 'Won't Be Same Anymore'
Last Updated: Following the rise in military tensions, Chopra, who is currently in Doha for the Diamond League, put an end to all talk surrounding him and Nadeem by drawing a line in the sand. Indian Olympic javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra put an end to all rumours and conversations regarding his relationship with Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, stating that their bond 'won't be the same" after the recent military tensions between India and Pakistan. Nadeem, who defeated Chopra to clinch the gold medal at the Javelin Throw event in Paris 2024, recently made headlines when he declined Neeraj Chopra's invitation to compete in the NC Classic javelin event in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 24, citing other commitments, especially with the Asian Athletics Championship to commence soon. Chopra, on the other hand, who won silver at the same event, was ostracized by media and followers alike for having invited the champion Nadeem to the NC Classic, days before the Pahalgam tragedy. Following the rise in military tensions, which saw the NC Classic being postponed, Chopra, who is currently in Doha for the Diamond League, put an end to all talk surrounding him and Nadeem by drawing a line in the sand. 'First, we were never really close friends or anything. And things won't be the same after this (Indo-Pak tensions)," Chopra clarified at the Doha Diamond League's press conference on Thursday. 'But, if someone talks to me respectfully, I will reciprocate the respect," he added. The star Indian athlete came under intense scrutiny last month, after having invited Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem for his first-time event, the Neeraj Chopra Classic, as a professional courtesy. Chopra's integrity was brought into question by followers and critics alike for inviting a sportsperson from across the border, just before the tragic Pahalgam attack. 'The invitation I extended to Arshad was from one athlete to another, nothing more, nothing less. The NC Classic aimed to bring the best athletes to India and for our country to be the home of world-class sporting events," Neeraj added. Neeraj said that the invites were sent out on Monday, two days before the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, tourists, were killed. Nadeem had declined to come, citing other commitments, with the Asian Athletics Championship to commence soon. First Published: May 15, 2025, 15:07 IST
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Why are Indian fans lashing out at Neeraj Chopra after Arshad Nadeem's tweet following Operation Sindoor?
Live Events — ArshadOlympian1 (@ArshadOlympian1) Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after India conducted an overnight strike on May 7, targeting and destroying multiple terror launchpads across the border. In the wake of this operation, emotions have run high on both the heightened tensions, Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem posted a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), saying 'Pakistan Zindabad' alongside a photo of himself holding the Pakistani this prompted a wave of backlash—not towards Nadeem, but towards Indian Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra . Several Indian fans took to social media to express their anger at Chopra, referencing his past camaraderie with user wrote, 'Slap on the face of Neeraj Chopra.'Another tweeted, 'Not a single word from @Neeraj_chopra1 but his brother from another mother supports his country.'Last month, Chopra faced similar criticism for inviting Arshad Nadeem to the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a premier athletics event in India. In response to the backlash, Chopra had clarified that the invitation was extended before the tragic Pahalgam terror attack , where 26 civilians were emphasized that his invitation was strictly athlete-to-athlete and apolitical in nature. "The aim of the NC Classic was to bring the best athletes to India and make our country a hub for world-class sporting events. Please don't make us out to be anything else. We are simple people," he a heartfelt message, Chopra also confirmed that Nadeem's participation in the event was later canceled in light of the recent developments. "After all that has taken place over the last 48 hours, Arshad's presence at the NC Classic was completely out of the question. My country and its interests will always come first."He further expressed sorrow and anger over the terror attack, offering prayers to the bereaved families. Addressing the online abuse, he said: "There has been so much talk, most of it hate and abuse. They haven't even spared my family. I have carried my country with pride for so many years. It hurts that I now have to explain myself."Chopra also recalled how some of the same people now criticizing him had once praised his family. "We are simple people, please don't make us out to be anything else," he concluded.
Mint
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
‘Neeraj Chopra, you are a soldier': Yogeshwar Dutt hails Golden Boy amid backlash after Pahalgam terror attack
India's Olympic hero Yogeshwar Dutt has stood by Neeraj Chopra, India's Golden Boy, who's being trolled after the Pahalgam terror attack. Dutt won the bronze medal at the London Olympics in 2012. The champion wrestler also won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014. 'Neeraj Bhai, you neither need to prove your patriotism nor to prove yourself. It is only a sportsperson and a soldier who raise the tricolour flag on foreign soil and glorify the name of their land. And you are a soldier along with being a sportsperson,' Dutt posted on Twitter (now X). 'These people who speak nonsense are those trivial ideological people who are neither concerned about the country nor patriotism. You are a champion, you are the leader of the nation, keep moving ahead like this. The champion is always the best,' he added. Yogeshwar Dutt's comments come after Neeraj Chopra, another Indian Olympic hero, addressed the backlash over his invitation to Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic. Chopra shared that the criticism, much of it abusive, had even targeted his family. Clarifying his intent, Neeraj stated the invitation had been extended purely from one athlete to another, with no political motives. Neeraj Chopra clarified that all invitations, including Nadeem's, were sent out two days before the Pahalgam terror attacks. 'After all that has taken place over the last 48 hours, Arshad's presence at the NC Classic was completely out of the question. My country and its interests will always come first,' Neeraj said. Neeraj also spoke about people reacting differently now to his mother calling Arshad Nadeem her 'son'. 'When my mother - in her simplicity - had made an innocent comment a year ago, there was an outpouring of praise for her views. Today, the same people haven't held back from targeting her for that very same statement,' Neeraj said in his statement. First Published: 26 Apr 2025, 12:21 PM IST
