Latest news with #NationalCentreofExcellence
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Sneha's positive dope test a big wake up call for AFI, SAI
CHENNAI: In what could be another embarrassing episode for Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Sneha K tested positive for banned substance and is undergoing provisional suspension. It was on Sunday, Sneha's name started doing the rounds for returning positive. Interestingly, the 400m athlete was part of the training camp at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Thiruvananthapuram. Sneha was also part of the Asian Athletics Championships underway in Gumi, South Korea and had to be withdrawn because of this. She was tested by the World Athletics' anti-doping watchdog Athletics Integrity Unit and tested positive for stanozolol. According to the AIU website, she has been served notice of charge. Stanozolol is an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) and a performance enhancing drugs. It is banned at all times. This comes days after ace javelin thrower Shivpal Singh tested positive for banned substance and chief national coach of the junior India team, Ramesh Nagpuri, was penalised by National Anti-Doping Agency for reportedly 'aiding' evasion. Shivpal was training at the NCOE Patiala. The urine sample was collected during out-of-competition. The AFI had started an audacious plan this year of decentralising the national camps. Athletes testing positive in camps should give a wake-up call to not just the AFI but also the Sports Authority of India (SAI), who is in-charge of the NCOEs. India has already started bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games and is keen to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030. But such unsavoury instances will bring in disrepute to the country. Sneha had represented India at the World Relays on May 10 and 11. She won bronze at the Federation Athletics Championships in April where she clocked her personal best of 53.00s. She also ran at the Indian Grand Prix 2 at Thiruvananthapuram.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
17-yr-old Assam lifter Aisengfa breaks youth natl record
Assam's clinched the 55kg gold with an overall lift of 183kg at the ongoing Bihar in Rajgir on Sunday, and with it broke the in the category. The 17-year-old, who trains at 's National Centre of Excellence in Lucknow since 2023 under coach Rahul Sharma, shattered the youth national record with an overall lift of 182kg created by Koyel Bar of West Bengal at the 2024 Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar, last who had missed out on a medal in the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai last year, began her campaign with a 75kg lift in snatch followed by clean lifts of 79kg and route, Aisengfa equalled the snatch record of Mina Santa of Odisha at 81kg which she had created at the World Youth Championship in Suva, Fiji, last year. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In Rajgir, on Sunday, Mina settled for a silver medal with a total lift of 177kg (80+97) and Andhra Pradesh's Hema Sri Karangi took home the bronze medal with an overall lift of 164kg (72+92).A Khelo India athlete since 2023, Aisengfa had secured the bronze medal at the IWLF National Weightlifting Championships last year in Himachal Pradesh. She had also won a silver in the ASMITA Weightlifting Zonal League in Bhubaneswar last year with a total lift of 167kg (73+94)."This is my first gold in Khelo India, so I want to thank my coach, parents and especially SAI NCOE Lucknow for helping me improve my skills and technique. I have been training at the Lucknow centre since last two years," she said after the win. Earlier, Sunil Singh of Punjab clinched the boys 61kg gold by lifting a total of 238kg (108+130), 6 kg higher than his nearest rival Anik Modi of West Bengal (97+135). Tamil Nadu's Jayanovaraj J. took the bronze with a total lift of 231kg (104+127).In boys' 67kg, Yash Khandagale of Maharashtra lifted overall 267kg (122+145) to capture the gold medal with a 16kg margin over closest competitor Abhinob Gogoi of Assam (116+135). Haryana's Samir Khan, another NCOE Lucknow athlete, clinched the bronze medal with total lift of 241kg (109+132).
Hans India
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
KIYG 2025: NCOE Lucknow's Aisengfa Gogoi breaks youth national record, clinches 55kg weightlifting gold
Assam's Aisengfa Gogoi clinched the 55kg weightlifting gold with an overall lift of 183kg in the ongoing Khelo India Youth Games at the Rajgir Sports Complex here on Sunday. The 17-year-old, who trains at Sports Authority of India's (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Lucknow since 2023 under coach Rahul Sharma, shattered the youth national record for overall lift of 182kg created by Koyel Bar of West Bengal at the 2024 Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar, last December. Aisengfa, who had missed out on a medal in the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai last year, began her campaign with a 75kg lift in snatch followed by clean lifts of 79kg and 81kg. En route, Aisengfa equalled the snatch record of Mina Santa of Odisha at 81kg which she had created at the World Youth Championship in Suva, Fiji, last year. In Rajgir on Sunday, Mina settled for a silver medal with total lift of 177kg (80+97) and Andhra Pradesh's Hema Sri Karangi took home the bronze medal with overall lift of 164kg (72+92). A Khelo India athlete since 2023, Aisengfa Gogoi had secured the bronze medal at the IWLF National Weightlifting Championships last year in Nagrota Bagwan, Himachal Pradesh. She had also won a silver in the ASMITA Weightlifting Zonal League in Bhubaneswar last year with total lift of 167kg (73+94). 'This is my first gold in Khelo India, so I want to thank my coach, parents and especially SAI NCOE Lucknow for helping me improve my skills and technique. I have been training at the Lucknow centre since last two years. I am also a Khelo India Athlete (KIA) that offers a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000. Initiatives like Khelo India are very important for athletes like me to assess my performance and compare it with international benchmarks. I ultimately want to represent India in the Olympic Games,' Aisengfa told SAI Media. Taking cue from her father Deepjyoti Gogoi, who used to practice powerlifting, Aisengfa began lifting weights at the young age of 13 years. Deepjyoti runs a small tent house business in her hometown Karulakalia in Sibsagar district of Assam and mother Nabanita is a housewife. 'He didn't play for the state but used to do powerlifting at home. That prompted me to take up the sport. I always wanted to be strong like him. I didn't expect to win the medal as I am coming back from a small injury. My target this year is to qualify for the Commonwealth Youth Championships later this year through the selection trials,' she added. Earlier, Sunil Singh of Punjab clinched the boys 61kg gold by lifting a total of 238kg (108+130), six kilograms higher than his nearest rival Anik Modi of West Bengal (97+135). Tamil Nadu's Jayanovaraj J. took the bronze with a total lift of 231kg (104+127). In the boys 67kg, Yash Khandagale of Maharashtra lifted overall 267kg (122+145) to capture the gold medal with a 16kg margin over closest competitor Abhinob Gogoi of Assam (116+135). Haryana's Samir Khan, another NCOE Lucknow athlete, clinched the bronze medal with total lift of 241kg (109+132).
Mint
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Meet Sabina Kumari: Daily-wager's daughter, who pedals her way to three medals at Khelo India Youth Games 2025
Sabina Kumari started out on a modest track in Jharkhand's Chatra district, far from the glitz of an indoor velodrome. On May 9, 2025, the 18-year-old, daughter of a daily-wage worker and a housewife, bagged three medals in cycling at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) on debut. Sabina won double gold in the girls Keirin and Team Sprint events respectively, as well as a bronze in the 200m Sprint. 'This was my first Khelo India Youth Games and I'm very happy with my performance and the three medals. Among them, the individual Keirin was my best,' said the visibly elated National Centre of Excellence trainee. Sabina's story is one of quiet determination, focus and hard work. 'I have always been focused and have worked hard. There are many girls in rural places who want to do something in life but don't find the opportunity. I want to tell them – working hard. Chase what you want, whether it's in sports or anything else,' said Sabina, a Khelo India Athlete (KIA). Sabina's entry into sports was accidental. 'I didn't even know about sports then. My father filled out a form in 2017 under the Central Coalfields Ltd programme of the Jharkhand Government. He just wanted me to do well in life in terms of survival and education. That small act changed my life,' Sabina said. She was just 12 years old when she took to Cycling at the Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society (JSPS) Academy in Ranchi. Sabina soon came under the wings of cycling coach Ram Kapoor Bhatt. Impressed by her instincts and agility, Ram Kapoor Bhatt, a multiple medalist in cycling at the 2011 National Games, encouraged Sabina to try out sprint. 'I was 13 in 2018 when I started training under Ram sir and I never looked back,' Sabina said. By 2021, her steady improvement led to a breakthrough — a gold and bronze at her first national championship in Jaipur. "That was when I started believing that I could go far.' With her mother managing home and her father working daily-wage jobs to make ends meet, the thought of pursuing a sporting career seemed improbable. But with continuous support from Khelo India Scheme, Sabina has found an avenue to express herself. 'The Khelo India Scheme is the reason I am what I am today,' she said. In 2024, she won her first international medal as part of the Indian team that claimed sprint gold at the Asian Championships in Delhi. Sabina is also part of the SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) Indira Gandhi Stadium, training under French cycling legend Kevin Sireau and further honing her technical edge. 'He is a very good guide. My aim now is to represent India at the Olympics.' Now completing her 12th-standard studies via self-learning, Sabina balances academics with intense training. She remains grateful of her roots and coach Ram Bhatt. 'There's been so much development in cycling in Jharkhand. Around 25–30 kids are training under Ram Sir now. He wants all of us to go forward. I am so grateful to have found him at the right time,' she said.
Hans India
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
KIYG 2025: Sabina, a daily-wager's daughter, pedals her way to three medals
New Delhi: Sabina Kumari started on a modest track in Jharkhand's Chatra district, far from the assistance of an indoor velodrome. On Friday, the 18-year-old daughter of a daily-wage worker and a housewife bagged three medals in cycling on her debut in the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG). Sabina won gold medals in the girls' Keirin and Team Sprint events, respectively, as well as a bronze in the 200m Sprint. 'This is my first Khelo India Youth Games and I'm very happy with my performance and the three medals. Among them, the individual Keirin was my best,' the visibly elated National Centre of Excellence trainee told SAI Media. Sabina's story is one of quiet determination, focus and hard work. 'I have always been focused and have worked hard. There are many girls in rural places who want to do something in life but don't find the opportunity. I want to tell them to work hard. Chase what you want, whether it's in sports or anything else," said the 18-year-old, a Khelo India Athlete (KIA). Sabina's entry into sports was by accident. 'I didn't even know about sports then. My father filled out a form in 2017 under the Central Coalfields Ltd programme of the Jharkhand Government. He just wanted me to do well in life in terms of survival and education. That small act changed my life,' Sabina said. She was 12 when she took to Cycling at the Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society (JSPS) Academy in Ranchi. Sabina soon came under the wings of cycling coach Ram Kapoor Bhatt. Impressed by her instincts and agility, Bhatt, a multiple medalist in cycling at the 2011 National Games, encouraged Sabina to try out sprint. 'I was 13 in 2018 when I started training under Ram sir, and I never looked back,' Sabina said. By 2021, her steady improvement led to a breakthrough — a gold and bronze -- at her first national championship in Jaipur. "That was when I started believing that I could go far.' With her housewife mother managing the home and her father working daily-wage jobs to make ends meet, the thought of pursuing a career in sport seemed improbable. But with continuous support from the Khelo India Scheme, Sabina has found an avenue to express herself. 'The Khelo India Scheme is the reason I am what I am today,' she said. In 2024, she won her first international medal as part of the Indian team that claimed sprint gold at the Asian Championships in Delhi. Sabina is also part of the SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) IG Stadium, training under French cycling legend Kevin Sireau and further honing her technical edge. 'He is a very good guide. My aim now is to represent India at the Olympics.' Now completing her 12th-standard studies via self-learning, Sabina balances academics with intense training. She remains grateful for her roots and first coach, Ram Bhatt. "There's been so much development in cycling in Jharkhand. Around 25–30 kids are training under Ram Sir now. He wants all of us to go forward. I am so grateful to have found him at the right time," she said.
