Dipa Karmakar Dominates All-Around; Railways Seize Gold in Women’s Team at Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championship 2024
Bhubaneswar, 03 January 2024: Olympian Dipa Karmakar hogged the limelight on day 2 of the Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championship 2024 as she topped the all-around performance with a total of 49.55 points. Railways emerged champions in the women’s team category with 182.60 points. Maharashtra finished in second position with 169.95, while West Bengal finished third with 166.80 points in the women’s category on the second day at the Gymnastics Centre in Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. The hosts Odisha finished fourth with 164.65 points. Sudhir Mital, President, Gymnastics Federation of India, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest of today’s medal ceremony. Dipa, who is representing Tripura, cumulated a total of 49.55. She recorded 13.40 on Vault, 10.65 on Uneven Bars, 13.10 on Balance Beam and 12.40 on Floor Exercise. Expressing her delight at topping the all-around category, Dipa stated, “I’m competing in Senior Nationals after eight years, I feel great about it, and I am really happy with my today’s performance. I’ll try to do well tomorrow as well, there will be competition on individual apparatus.” “It’s really great to see the Gymnastics Centre here, and I’m sure it will produce a lot of Olympic and Asian Games Gymnasts. I would also like to thank the Odisha Government for building this Centre and creating that sports culture for the athletes.” Railways’ Pranati Das (47.00) and Swastika Ganguly (45.30) finished second and third positions respectively in the all-around. Pranati recorded 12.80 on Vault, 10.60 on Uneven Bars, 11.50 on Balance Beam and 12.10 on Floor Exercise, while her teammate Swastika bagged 12.80 on Vault, 9.15 on Uneven Bars, 11.70 on Balance Beam and 11.65 on Floor Exercise. Individual gymnasts across both men’s and women’s categories will be in action on the final day of the Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championships on Thursday, January 04, 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk
Arjun and Reza lead Jaipur Pink Panthers to a victory against Haryana Steelers
NOIDA, 3rd January: Defending champions Jaipur Pink Panthers rode on Arjun Deshwal’s raiding brilliance as they beat Haryana Steelers 45-34 in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 match at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Wednesday. Arjun (14 raid points), Reza Mirbagheri (7 tackle points) and Ankush (5 tackle points) were the top performers for Jaipur Pink Panthers, while Chandran Ranjit (11 raid points) and Mohit Nandal (5 tackle points) were Haryana Steelers’ best players on the night. There was a surprise in both teams’ starting 7 as Haryana Steelers raider Chandran got his first game of the season, while Rahul Chaudhari was named in the Jaipur Pink Panthers squad. The two veteran raiders began the proceedings for their teams and Chandran was off to a good start as he struck in each of his initial raids. It was only a matter of time before Arjun Deshwal joined the party, and when he did, he quickly swung the momentum in Jaipur Pink Panthers’ favour. Arjun played an instrumental role in the first ALL OUT as he escaped Mohit’s ankle hold and then landed a back-kick on Mohit Nandal and then Rahul tagged Rahul Sethpal soon after to put his side ahead 17-13 with a little over 4 minutes to go. He then completed his Super 10 within the 1st half as his men went into the break with a healthy lead. Haryana Steelers got off to a superb start in the 2nd half and some solid work from Mohit and Chandran got the side within the cusp of an ALL OUT, but SUPER TACKLES from Lucky Sharma and Reza helped the Jaipur Pink Panthers stay afloat. However, Chandran produced a multi-point raid in the 29th minute to finally grab the ALL OUT. The Haryana Steelers trailed only by 1 point at 28-29 at this point and were within touching distance of a comeback, but Arjun dashed their hopes. Arjun, who was the most successful raider last season, got Mohit and Rahul first and then came back to oust Jaideep Dahiya and Vinay to lead his side to another ALL OUT. Jaipur Pink Panthers led by 9 points with 4 minutes to go and had the game in the bag. The match ended with Bhavani Rajput escaping Jaideep’s grasp as the Jaipur Pink Panthers notched up their 4th win in 5 games. The Sportz Planet Desk
Italy Women’s Hockey Team Lands in Ranchi for FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024, Aims for First Olympic Berth
Ranchi, 4th January 2024: With their sights set on their maiden Olympic berth, the Italy Women’s Hockey Team arrived in Ranchi, Jharkhand on Thursday morning for the highly-awaited FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024. The Italian team led by Co-Captains Federica Carta and Sara Puglisi will begin their campaign on 13th January 2024 against the New Zealand, which will be the first meeting between the two teams in seven years. Upon arriving in Ranchi, Captain Sara Puglisi expressed excitement for the upcoming tournament and opened up on the team’s preparations for the upcoming matches. “We have had a few months of preparations together. We have worked a lot – we have come here and we will finish our final steps of training this week and then we will start the tournament together. It is quite exciting.” Italy, which are placed 19th at the FIH World Rankings, are grouped in Pool B, will take on the USA on 14th January, and then play their final Pool game against India on 16th January. The other teams in the fray include Olympic Silver medalists Germany, former Asian Games Champions Japan, Chile and the Czech Republic in Pool A. The top 3 teams from the tournament will qualify for the Paris Olympic Games 2024. But despite facing off against higher-ranked teams in the tournament, the Italian skipper expressed confidence in her side’s abilities. “We know it will be a tough competition. But everything is open and nothing is impossible. We will do what we need to get the results in our favour.” Italy are the second team to have arrived to Ranchi, after the hosts India, and Captain Sara gave a clear reason behind the team’s early arrival. “We wanted to finish our preparations here so that we get used to the weather and the turf – hence we decided to come early.” While Italy have achieved several distinctions in Women’s Hockey over the years, including a Gold medal at the 2013 EuroHockey Nations Championship II, they are yet to earn an Olympic berth. On being asked what it would mean for the team to qualify for Paris, Sara said, “It has been a long time since we have been waiting to go to the Olympics, so if we are able to qualify, we will be over the moon. It’s a dream for everyone.” Meanwhile, Italy Women’s Hockey Team Chief Coach Andrés Mondo backed his team despite the lack of experience and explained why no one should take the team lightly. “We are a very new and young team, and you could see we are using different formations. At the moment, we are ranked at no 19. But this team, the quality of players that we have, we do not feel we are number 19,” he signed off. The Sportz Planet Desk
Jharkhand set to host FIH Hockey Olympics Qualifiers Ranchi 2024
Ranchi, 4th January 2024: Jharkhand is all set to host the FIH Hockey Olympics Qualifiers Ranchi 2024, scheduled to take place from 13 to 19 January 2024 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. This prestigious event is one of the three Olympics Qualifiers happening globally, with counterparts in Muscat, Oman (Men’s) and Valencia, Spain (Women’s and Men’s). The aforementioned event was originally slated to be held in China, but Hockey India requested FIH to shift the venue to India after China Women’s directly qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Hockey India, in a momentous occasion marked by unity and anticipation, on Thursday formally inked the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for hosting the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024 in Jharkhand. The historic event unfolded amidst the esteemed presence of eminent dignitaries, including Indian Women’s Hockey Team players, Secretary Sports Jharkhand, IAS, Shri Manoj Kumar and Director Sports, Jharkhand, IAS, Sushant Gaurav, Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh and Hockey India Treasurer Shri Sekar J Manoharan were present at the occasion. The formal signing of the MoU showcased a collective commitment and shared vision among all stakeholders involved, emphasizing the dedication to promoting and fostering the growth of hockey in India, while also showcasing the nation’s prowess on the global hockey stage. Speaking on this momentous occasion, Hockey India President Padma Shri Dr Dilip Tirkey expressed profound enthusiasm, stating, “The FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi stand as a testament to India’s commitment to the sport and our relentless pursuit of excellence. We are immensely grateful for the support extended by the Jharkhand Government. Together, we aim to deliver a memorable and successful tournament, promoting the spirit of hockey and fostering international camaraderie.” Echoing similar thoughts, Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh said, “This MoU signing for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024 marks a significant milestone in our collective journey towards promoting hockey in India. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Jharkhand Government for their unwavering support in hosting this elite tournament. Together, we aim to deliver a world-class event that will further elevate the sport’s stature in our nation.” Meanwhile, Secretary Sports Jharkhand, IAS, Shri Manoj Kumar said, “We are proud to be associated with the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024, a momentous event that resonates with the spirit of sportsmanship. Jharkhand is honoured to host this prestigious tournament and welcomes players, officials, and fans alike. This collaboration with Hockey India underscores our commitment to encourage sporting excellence and showcasing Jharkhand as a vibrant sporting destination.” The FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024 is poised to be a spectacle that will captivate audiences worldwide, showcasing the exceptional talent and passion for hockey prevalent in India. This event is expected to leave an indelible mark in the archives of international hockey, serving as a platform for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team to exhibit their prowess and compete for a coveted spot at the grand stage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. As the countdown begins for this momentous event scheduled from January 13th to 19th, 2024, all eyes turn to Ranchi, eagerly anticipating a thrilling display of skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship on the turf. On 13th January 2024, India will take on United States at 1930 hours IST. The Sportz Planet Desk
India’s Chess Revolution: Five Rising Stars Set to Shine in FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024
On 2nd April 2024, chess fans will witness the commencement of the FIDE Candidates Tournament. For those unaware, the FIDE Candidates is an eight player event, which allows the winner of the tournament to face the current World Champion in the men’s and women’s division. Since 1991, Vishwanathan Anand was the only Indian to play in this prestigious tournament. However, 2024 will see a bright change as five Indians are set to represent the nation in the FIDE Candidates. Vidit Gujrathi, R. Praggnanandhaa, R. Vaishali, Gukesh, and Humpy are the five Indian players who have qualified for the Candidates tournament. The qualification of these five youngsters is a great sign for the future of chess in India. If either man or woman is able to win the FIDE Candidates, they will gain the opportunity to face current World Champions Ding Liren and Ju Wenjun. Until now, only one Indian has managed to win the FIDE World Championship, and that man is Vishwanathan Anand. The 54-year-old chess legend has won the competition on four occasions in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011. Chess in India has seen a huge boost in the last three years. Efforts from YouTube channels like ChessBase India and popular streamers like Samay Raina have resulted to many Indians learning the game, and following its daily happenings. Hence, when Vidit, Pragg, Vaishali, Gukesh, and Humpy play at the Candidates this year, they will have the entire nation supporting them. Varun Anand Bhat | The Sportz Planet
Amidst protest from young wrestlers, ad hoc panel announces it will conduct U-15 and U-20 National Championships
On Wednesday, the ad hoc panel announced they would be organising the U-15 and U-20 National Wrestling Championships within six weeks. This announcement by the committee comes after several young wrestlers gathered at Jantar Mantar to stage a protest. The young wrestlers blamed Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat for the lack of wrestling events in the nation. In a statement, Bhupender Singh Bajwa, chairman of the three-member panel, mentioned that the committee acknowledges the issues raised by the young wrestlers and is committed to providing them with a solution. Further, the statement described the various initiatives the committee has taken since being appointed on December 27th, 2023. The ad hoc panel stated that its efforts are targeted towards the growth of wrestling in India. It also mentioned the U-15 and U-20 National Championships would take place in Gwalior in February. The committee urged wrestlers to keep their preparation on for these upcoming events. Since January 2023, there have been no national camps or junior national championships Varun Anand Bhat | The Sportz Planet
From being a milkman, to the Adani Sportsline Owned Gujarat Giants – Deepak Madhav Aims for Glory
Cuttack, 3rd January 2023: Gujarat Giants’ ace defender Deepak Madhav has been a mainstay in the sport of Kho Kho for almost a decade. Having been signed on by the Adani Sportsline-owned team for the second season of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, which began on December 24, the 27-year-old defender is ready to take his game a notch up, but the road to stardom has not been easy for the Maharashtrian Kho Kho star. Just as he was making his career, winning laurels and on the way to fame, his father suffered a serious health illness which forced him to work as a newspaper vendor as well as a milkman. Talking about his initial struggles, and why Kho Kho was the sport for him, Deepak said, “Kho Kho is a sport which does not need more than a shorts and sandal and a ground to play. Most of the other sports needed a lot of efforts which, at that moment, was not possible because my father had a heart surgery then. So, the burden was mostly on my brother so pursing any other sport was not a big possibility.“ Despite this, his aim was fixed — playing for the Railways. He worked hard towards that goal, and did not let setbacks stop him from achieving his dreams. “When I started playing Kho Kho, I was always selected for the state but was never able to break into the nationals. Always in the stand-bys. During one such U18s State Championship, I performed very well through the knockouts and won a prize as well. This led to my selections in the nationals. This paved the way to the Maharashtra team and then the Senior Nationals and eventually the Railways side, which was my eventual dream.” “It took me four attempts to break into the Railways team. In the first three tries the more senior members of the team got through so when I got selected for the Railways team, it was my breakthrough moment in the sport,” an emotional Deepak said. His hard work has paid dividends. Deepak is now a regular India international, and a gold medal winner at the South Asian Games in 2018, even missing his sister’s wedding for the same. “I have sacrificed attending my sister’s wedding in 2018, and my brother’s wedding in 2019, for Kho Kho. In 2018, I was representing India at the South Asian Games in Nepal. We won the Gold for the country at the South Asian Games and this, I considered as one of my biggest achievements in the sport. The perfect return gift for my sister, and a very proud moment for my family,” recalled the defender. And having missed out on the title in the season 1 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, Deepak is ready to go the distance with the Giants, a team that he loves for a variety of reasons. “I missed out on the trophy last time around by 5 seconds. This time, with the Gujarat Giants, I want to fulfil what I could not and secure the title for my team. We have received great support from the Adani Sportsline team, they’ve made us feel at home, kept us motivated to go for the win at all times,” he noted. With season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League turning towards the business end, the Gujarat Giants are well on their way to the final four. “I have played in a few teams over my career so far, and not just me, everyone will agree that this is one of the best team managements we could have found. They back us to the hilt and the overall feeling in the camp is also very good, and you can see it when we are playing,” the defender signed off. The Sportz Planet Desk
Adani Sportsline’s Kho Kho Captain Akshay Bhangare: Stitched for Success
Cuttack, 2nd January 2024: Injuries have derailed the careers of many sportspersons despite their best efforts but the same cannot be said for the newly-named skipper of the Adani Sportsline’s Ultimate Kho Kho League team Gujarat Giants — Akshay Bhangare. The 26-year-old Kho Kho star, who chose his path in the sport when he was just in class 5, has always had his sights on playing at the highest level of the sport. As the captain of the Gujarat Giants, Akshay is grateful for the opportunity given to him by the Adani Sportsline, who have been working hard to promote Kho Kho in the country. “The coach and the management are very supportive towards our team and my teammates and they have built a vibrant team with a good blend of young and experienced players. Under the leadership of the Adani Sportsline, I expect our side to be the team to beat in the season 2 of the Ultimate Kho Kho League.” However, Akshay’s dream of leading the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants in the Ultimate Kho Kho League was almost not meant to be. Almost 10 years back, when fighting for a spot in the Maharashtra state team, a young Akshay came close to missing out on selection for the side because of a bike accident just two hours before his semifinal clash in the District Championship that forced him to get stitches and threatened to put him on the sidelines. Recalling what was a tough moment in his budding career, Bhangare went on to reveal how he was not deterred by the multiple stitches on his legs. “I was working hard and training hard to make it to the national team. In 2012, I played in the state championship for the first time. In 2013, when I was physically and mentally ready to play in the district championship, I suffered a major bike accident at 6 am when I had to play for my team at 8 am. I had 8 stitches on my leg and was also mentally affected because of this incident. Many of my teammates were sure I would not be able to play.” Many of the biggest stars of any sport use such a moment to make their case, and much like his sporting idol Cristiano Ronaldo, who is considered an epitome of fitness, Bhangare used this moment to prove that he was the right fit for the state side, especially in front of the selection committee. “At half time, I thought, what is the most that will happen? At the most, the stitches will come off. During what we call the average time in Kho Kho, I defended that time to the best of my abilities and this impressed the selection committee, and they felt that if he could do well with this injury then he was worth giving a chance. So, they said that if I can get fit in the fitness camp, then I will be given a chance. This led to my selection for the state championships and then the national team, because of that moment.” This was the moment that brought the now-Gujarat Giants skipper to the forefront of the sport. He has since gone on to represent Maharashtra in National competitions at the Senior and Junior levels. Not only that, Bhangare has also captained the Maharashtra Senior team as well as the Indian Kho Kho team. Now as the skipper for the Gujarat Giants in his first Ultimate Kho Kho League with his side, he hopes to translate the same kind of resilience to the playing field. – The Sportz Planet Desk
Indian tennis ace Sumit Nagal faces defeat at the Canberra Challenger
The new year didn’t bring a bright start to Indian tennis. Ace player Sumit Nagal faced defeat at the Canberra Challenger in Australia. In his Round of 32 match on January 2nd, 2024, Nagal faced Italian Andre Vavassori. While Nagal clinched the first set 6-7, he proceeded to lose the next two sets 6-4 and 7-5. After the defeat to Vavassori, Nagal teamed up with Lloyd Harris in the pre-quarter finals of the men’s doubles. However, once again the Indian ace faced a setback. He and his partner lost 1-6, 3-6 to Marcelo Demoliner and Bart Stevens. After the match, Sumit Nagal shared a video of him from his singles match and spoke about his disappointing outing. The 26-year-old wrote, “Didn’t get the win today but happy to be back in Australia… Australian Open next.” Indian tennis fans will be keen to see what Nagal does at the first of the four Grand Slams that will be held this year. Varun Anand Bhat | The Sportz Planet
‘I brought Ran Singh into the game to disrupt Thalaivas’ game plan,’ says Bengaluru Bulls’ Head Coach Randhir Singh
NOIDA, 1st January 2024: The Bengaluru Bulls pulled off a thrilling 38-37 victory against Tamil Thalaivas in Noida on Sunday. Speaking about the match, Bengaluru Bulls’ Head Coach Randhir Singh said, “We should have won this game easily, but a few Super Tackles against our raiders hurt us. Our defenders played well, but the raiders couldn’t execute their plans at times.” The Head Coach further added, “Sachin Narwal won the game for us. I took a risk and asked him to go for bonus points. He attained three bonus points for the team.” When asked about why he played Ran Singh instead of Aman in the first half, Randhir Singh said, “I knew that the Thalaivas had prepared to take on Aman in the defence unit and therefore I brought Ran Singh into the game. Every raider would’ve tried to catch Aman so I put Ran Singh on the mat to disrupt their plans.” The Bengaluru Bulls have experienced an up-and-down season so far. They are currently in seventh place with 25 points in 10 games. When asked if there will be a change in their style of play in the upcoming games, Randhir Singh said, “The Bengaluru Bulls are known for fighting till the very end. We will definitely keep giving our best to win games. We have lost six games in the competition so far, but we don’t want to change our playing style at all.” Follow The Sportz Planet for more such articles