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Hans India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain set to launch her boxing academy in Guwahati
After bringing laurels to the country in the sport of boxing, Tokyo 2020 Olympics medallist Lovlina Borgohain is all set to embark on a new chapter. To prepare a future generation of medal-winning boxers, Borgohain is establishing her own academy in Guwahati, the Lovlina Boxing Academy, which will open its doors on June 3. The inauguration ceremony will be graced by the presence of the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain. While sharing her vision for the academy, Lovlina said, "This academy is more than just a training facility; it's a dream realised and a promise kept to myself and to the countless young boys and girls in Assam who dream of stepping into the ring. With the Lovlina Boxing Academy, my deepest desire is to create a nurturing environment where aspiring athletes not only learn the art of boxing but also develop the resilience, discipline, and unwavering spirit needed to succeed.' The academy is a testament to Lovlina's commitment to nurturing raw talent and providing them with world-class training and infrastructure. It also marks a historic step in the development of sports and sporting infrastructure in the Northeast region of India. Lovlina is eyeing her third straight summer Olympics but will take it one step at a time from here on. Lovlina, who returned empty-handed from Paris 2024, had said the Los Angeles 2028 was very much in her plans. 'Tokyo was during Covid times. Paris was a real learning curve. I did my best and have no regrets that I could not win a medal. For every athlete, there are lessons to be learnt and I want to be wiser leading into LA,' Lovlina had told SAI Media earlier this year.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
25th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle to be commemorated as special Tiranga Rally
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): A landmark 25th edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative, termed Tiranga Rally, is set for Sunday, across the nation. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya will lead this special edition in the national capital, scheduled at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium. With World Bicycle Day scheduled for Sunday's event will not only reinforce the message of cycling's big role in fitness but also serve as a collective tribute to India's armed forces. A footfall of over 1,200 cyclists in the national capital is expected and simultaneously, over 2,000 locations across the nation will lend hand in organising events this Sunday, according to a press release from SAI Media. As part of the event, the Governor of Odisha, Hari Babu Kambhampati, will flag off the Bhubaneswar edition of the Tiranga Rally, further signifying the pan-India importance of the initiative. Joining the Delhi leg of the rally alongside Mansukh Mandaviya will be prominent personalities from sports and entertainment, including Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, international wrestler Sarita Mor, Bollywood actor Sharvari, and former cricketer and selector Saba Karim. A host of activities, which include some significant project launches, are planned in the presence of Mandaviya. The Tiranga Rally will mark a high point in the Fit India movement's efforts to make fitness accessible, inclusive, and patriotic. With roads across the nation turning into open-air cycling tracks and families, students, influencers, and senior citizens joining in, the initiative is building a culture of health that spreads over various demographics and scenic locations in the country. Since its inception in December 2024, the Sundays on Cycle initiative has witnessed phenomenal reach--having touched over 5,500 locations and seeing participation from more than 3 lakh citizens. The movement has also garnered over 3.44 billion digital impressions, with support pouring in from icons like Sania Mirza, Milind Soman, Emraan Hashmi, John Abraham, Imtiaz Ali, Shankar Mahadevan, and the legendary Dara Singh, among others. Several Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres as well as Khelo India Centres (KICs) feature community-focused fitness activities such as zumba, rope-skipping, guided yoga sessions, and free health check-ups by experts from the National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR) during the Sundays on Cycle events. (ANI)
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Nottwil World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025: Sumit Antil strikes gold in Men's Javelin F64 category
Nottwil [Switzerland], May 27 (ANI): India's ace javelin star and double Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil added another accolade to his name by taking the top spot in the Men's Javelin F64 category in the Nottwil World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025. Sumit sent the javelin to a distance of 72.35m to take the gold and stand at the top of the podium. Sumit, who defended his gold in the Paris Paralympics 2024, delivered his best in the fifth round. 'Double #Paralympics Gold medallist Sumit Antil picked top spot in Men's Javelin F64 category with a throw of 72.35m at Nottwil World #ParaAthletics Grand Prix 2025. Super proud of you Sumit!' SAI Media wrote on X on Tuesday. He kicked off the contest with a foul throw in the first and followed it up with a 67.80m throw in his second. He breached the 70m mark for the first time in the contest with a 71.29m attempt. The fixture continued, and he dropped the gold medal-winning throw in the penultimate round. Before Sumit's heroics, Gurjar Mahendra shattered the world record in the Javelin F42 category with a sensational throw of 61.17 meters, claiming gold and etching his name in para-sporting history. India's Pingane Mina Vilas secured a treble in the F57 category, clinching gold medals in discus (16.13m), shot put (4.29m), and javelin (10.56m)--a rare and commendable sweep across all her events. Among the standout performers was Bhuvi Agarwal, who struck gold in both the long jump T20 with a leap of 4.15m and the 400m T20, clocking an impressive 1:12.23s. Her athleticism and composure under pressure continued to mark her as a rising star in Indian para-athletics. Multi-event talent Perumalsamy Santhanakumar added to India's medal tally with gold in the long jump T46 (5.71m) and the 400 meters T46 (57.44 seconds), along with a silver in the 100 meters T46, showcasing his versatility on both track and field. In the same sprint category, Moorthy Pragadeeshwara Raja earned a silver in the 400-meter T11 (1:01.59) and a bronze in the 100-meter T11, demonstrating consistency and determination. Veteran thrower Ravi Rangoli brought home double gold in the F40 category, excelling in both shot put (9.78m) and javelin (34.58m). Reflecting on the historic campaign, Devendra Jhajharia, Chairperson of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), expressed his pride in the team's achievements. 'Breaking a world record is a monumental feat, and to see our athletes achieve this on the international stage fills us with immense pride. The performance in Nottwil showcases the exceptional depth and potential of Indian para-athletics. These athletes are not just winning medals--they're inspiring a nation and redefining what's possible,' Jhajharia said as quoted from PCI. (ANI)
Mint
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Khelo India Beach Games 2025: Open water swimming makes debut, brings back memories of nation's storied legacy
Open water swimming emerged as one of the most interesting sporting acts at the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025 in Ghoghla Beach, Diu. Young swimmers braved jellyfish stings and strong tides with determination before emerging out of the pristine Arabian Sea and sprinting towards the finish line. Maharashtra and Karnataka swimmers dominated the sea in the 5km and 10km events at the KIBG, offering further hope that India's long coastline offers the perfect natural environment to groom open water swimmers. 'Maharashtra as well as beaches in Goa are safe. Karnataka, Kerala, and parts of Gujarat are also good. Bengal also has places like the Ganga jetty to practice sea swimming,' mentioned Rahul Chiplonkar, KIBG Competition Manager for Sea Swimming. Sea swimming has a storied legacy in the country. Pioneers like Mihir Sen, who became the first Asian to swim across the English Channel in 1958, and later Arati Saha, Taranath Shenoy, Rohan More and more, brought global attention to India's capabilities in endurance swimming. 'Maharashtra is the most prominent state—it has a 40-year legacy in sea swimming. Then Karnataka and Kerala follow, due to their coastal geography. West Bengal also has a strong legacy. We've had legends like Mihir Sen and Bula Chowdhury, who were the first to cross the English Channel. Bula Chowdhury is still active—she swam in Mumbai last year,' added Chiplonkar, who made open water swimming an integral part of his life since 2005. Crossing the English Channel is one of the prime targets open water swimmers have. KIBG medallist from West Bengal, Pratyay Bhattacharya, wants to cross it too but with a new intent. 'I want to become the fastest Indian to cross the English Channel next year, if I get sponsors,' said the 25-year-old, who won silver at the 10km event in Diu. 'People swim for 11-12 hours to cross the English Channel, but that won't make me happy. I want to target below nine and possibly stay close to the 8-hour 15 minute-mark,' Bhattacharya told SAI Media. Bhattacharya, who started off open water training 10 years back at SAI Kolkata and later moved to SAI Tripura under coach Biswajit Dey Chowdhury, has competed at the Asian Championships in 2019 and 2022, making a 10th finish in both editions. 'In Uzbekistan in 2022, I was the only Asian in the entire subcontinent to finish under time limit. And I stood 10th,' continued Bhattacharya, who tried making a record in 2024 swimming the Palk Strait, from Sri Lanka to India. 'I was at a record pace. Unfortunately, there were two relay teams who started along with me and one person died in the sea from stroke. So, the full expedition was cancelled. I was pulled up 7-8 hours before, and thus I couldn't make the record,' the 25-year-old said. Pratyay Bhattacharya, however, has already triumphed the world's longest open water competition for two-straight years – a stretch of 81kms – from Ahiran Ghat of the Bhagirathi River in Jangipur, Murshidabad to Gorabazar Ghat in Berhampur. 'This is an international event organised by the Murshidabad District Swimming Association, in association with Swimming Federation of India. I participated twice in 2023 and 2024 and became the champion both times, beating swimmers from Spain as well,' he said. Open water swimming does bring up attractive records but the practical challenges are enormous and unpredictable. 'The weather and natural conditions plays a major role in open sea water swimming and the water and currents within the sea are completely different. The swimmers have to get a proper hang of low tide and the high tide,' said Neha Sapte, who swam a 33 km stretch from Dharamtar Jetty to the Gateway of India at the age of nine in 2001. However, taking challenges head-on is something that has always intrigued Indians. 'In the sea, there are tides, saltiness, dehydration risk, marine life like jellyfish, low visibility and muscle injuries. Safety is also a major concern when catering to 40 or 100 swimmers. But the youth of India is ready to take that challenge head-on. That's the great part,' added Chiplonkar. 'Definitely it's an adventure sport and we are dealing with the sea, so there is a lot of risk that we have to take care of. Youngsters today love to take challenges, come out of their fears, and explore new things.' The future, as per him, looks promising. 'Open water swimming is a budding sport in India as well as a competitive sport. 5km and 10km are Olympic distances, but it has a huge adventure element too,' said Chiplonkar, who swam from Mumbai to Mangalore – distance of 1031 kilometres in 13 days, in 2016. In the first edition of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the swimming competition was held in open water. In 2000, the Olympic Games first included a triathlon with a 1500 m swim leg, and in 2008, a 10 km open water swim. Open water swimming has now been included in the Olympic Games since 2008. With the sport now being recognised in Khelo India Beach Games, Neha Sapte, also the team manager of Maharashtra swimming team at KIBG 2025, sounds hopeful. 'The government's effort to include open sea swimming in national events is a huge boost. It adds legitimacy to what was once considered just a passion sport,' Neha told SAI Media. "Open water sea swimming may not yet be mainstream," she added, "but it is exactly the kind of sport that builds courage, resilience, and national pride—one stroke at a time."
Mint
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Khelo India Beach Games 2025 in Diu becomes an anti-doping awareness centre, hundreds of athletes set to benefit
The National Anti-Doping Agency in India (NADA) is doing its work to good effect. The 2025 Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) are underway in Diu since May 19, and Dr Usha Subhash Nikumbh, who is the Lead Dope Control Officer (LDCO) at NADA, is spreading the anti-doing message at the scenic Ghoghla Beach, the venue for the Beach Games, with the help of a score of volunteers. On Friday, they went to every sporting event on the beach and distributed informative colourful pamphlets in Hindi and English on the dos and don'ts for athletes. "We started this initiative in 2018. The idea was to make athletes aware of what all they needed to do to stay clean," Dr Nikumbh informed SAI Media. "We go from event to event, from national championship to even academies and institutes. We were also at the recently concluded Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) in Bihar. "And since we have started this program, there is better awareness among athletes than before and fewer cases of breach too," she added. Dr Usha and her volunteers distributed four loose pamphlets, titled: All About Whereabouts, Be A Fair Play Ambassador, Keep the Best Food Forward and It Is Your Call. The "All About Whereabouts" sheds light on what athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) need to do first and foremost about their whereabouts. Like they need to submit their whereabouts information like the home address, email id, phone number, overnight accommodation address, where they are and doing what all through their day along with locations and time, their competition schedules as well as a 60-minute time slot for each day where they will be available and accessible for testing. Under "Be A Fair Play Ambassador", there is information in regard to what athletes, coaches and parents need to do. For athletes, it is "train and compete clean", "refrain from prohibited substances and methods", "submit your samples in time", and "speak up if you come across Anting Doping Rule Violations (ADRV)". For coaches, it's "educate your athletes about prohibited substances and methods", "explain the importance of the doping control process", "stay away from people serving a sanction", and "speak up if you come across ADRV'. For parents, it's "inculcate the virtues of competing clean", "educate your children about ADRV", "Encourage them to stay away from prohibited sentences", and 'speak up if you come across ADRV.' Under "It Is Your Call," the NADA stresses the importance of collective responsibility in order to do away with doping breaches, including calling out dishonourable acts and the offenders. In the fourth pamphlet "Keep the Best Food Forward", the NADA tries to dissuade athletes from taking supplements; for, they may have banned substances with the labels not showing them besides the side effects. Basically, the message is: don't rely on supplements, go natural and eat and sleep well and stay hydrated. Close to 1000 athletes from 31 states and Union Territories in India participated in the Khelo India Beach Games 2025 across six sports - pencak silat, beach soccer, beach volleyball, sepak takraw, open water swimming and beach kabaddi besides mallakhamb and tug of war as demonstration sport.
