How The Science Of Sleep Determines Athlete Performance
It is during the big stages like the Olympic Games and the World Cups that athletes compete in a field full of high-stress situations, where sleep makes all the difference. Be it a javelin thrower trying to make that one big throw of his or her life or a shooter attempting a crucial final shot, sleep disturbances can drastically hinder reaction times, decision-making processes and overall performance when Olympics are at stake. Sleep disruptions common among athletes Sleep disturbances are not an unknown commodity for athletes, particularly in events like the Olympics. Jet lag, pre-competition nerves, novel sleeping environments and the overall buzz within an Olympic Athletes’ Village housing more than 10,000 competitors can disrupt sleep. Now, say hello to the ‘Sleep Advisor’ Given the magnitude of these issues, a new concept was sought for the Indian contingent in the 2024 Paris Olympics: the ‘sleep advisor.’ Helping high-performance athletes optimize their sleep patterns helped to overcome potential hurdles toward winning performance. The Relevance of Sleep Training Sleep training’ was, therefore, a matter of paramount concern, and the guidance was well in advance of the games. This helped them adapt sleep habits in order to reduce effects related to time zones and stresses brought about by competitions. Hence, they can put up with disturbances and still regain good sleep patterns despite frequent travels and strenuous schedules. Remaining Competitive Sleep is a modality that should be in constant application with a view to gaining and sustaining a competitive edge. It helps athletes recover their bodies and minds to be prepared for any challenge that may come before them. This approach emphasizes the increasingly vital role that sleep optimization plays in the field of sports science for athletes desiring success at the highest levels of competition. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Steve Smith Keen On Representing Australia At LA 2028 Olympics
With the inclusion of cricket in the LA Olympics 2028, cricketers have been buzzing to be a part of the mega event. One of such cricketers is Australia’s Steve Smith. In a recent interaction with the media Smith revealed his intentions to feature in the Los Angeles Olympics which is to be held in 2028. Smith seems to be ready to prepare himself and walk in the Road To LA28 as he states to play the T20 format for a longer period of time. “I could still be playing T20 cricket in four years, so you never know. It’s a format I can see myself playing probably for a lot longer than some of the others, especially with the franchise stuff around the world. I’ve signed on here for three years so it’s only another year after that. It would be cool to be part of an Olympics,” Smith said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “I don’t have any plans. I’m just enjoying playing at the moment, I’m pretty relaxed and looking forward to this summer,” he added further. Steve Smith’s exclusion from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 came as a surprise to many, as Australia bowed out of the tournament in the Super 8 stage. Despite this setback, the Australian remains active in the Big Bash League, where he continues to represent the Sydney Sixers. Smith recently secured a three-year contract with the franchise, fueling his ambition to return to Australia’s T20I team ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles—a milestone event as cricket makes its Olympic debut. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Why Countries Vie for Summer Olympics: A Peep into the Motives Behind the Bid
With the road to LA28 being paved, cities around the world finalize their bids, which are driven by motives stretching beyond the sporting spectacle itself. The idea is that hosting the Olympics is an honor of great potential benefit associated with it, despite its being extremely expensive. Pride and National Image One major reason countries would want to host the Olympics is to develop national pride and enhance their image on the international platform. Take the instance of the Paris Olympics 2024, which emphasized the active culture and resilience amid political unrest France is facing. This was the opportunity to be part of French people under one same pride that united citizens during that moment, which echoes the bigger picture effect that hosting the Games adds to national morale. Similarly, past host cities, like Barcelona and Tokyo, used the Olympics to regain their position on the world stage and generate infrastructure that would endure for generations. Economic Development and Infrastructure The financial cost of hosting the Olympics can be crippling in the short term, as the costs almost always end up being far higher than the projected budgets. Still, the potential for long-term economic benefit is too high to ignore. New infrastructure, such as transportation systems and sports venues, can induce further development. For instance, it was Tokyo’s 1964 Games that paved the way for extensive improvements in transport infrastructure through the construction of the Bullet Train. In contrast, costs can be heavy. Greece slipped into a financial crisis as it struggled to pay off billions of dollars in debts run up hosting the 2004 Olympics. Rio de Janeiro missed the 2016 financial targets for its Olympics. Tourism and Trade This can also help in improving tourism and trade. The 1992 Olympics in Barcelona gave the tourist profile a drastic makeover, turning the city into one of the top destinations in Europe. Similarly, the 2008 Olympics in China helped facilitate entry into the World Trade Organization, opening up new trade opportunities. These long-term gains thus show how hosts could cash in through their exposure to the world. The Road to LA28 With the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 in the future, it remains banked on the exploitation of existing infrastructure to avoid falling into the financial pitfalls of previous host cities. As LA keeps this balance between cost and opportunity, it can set a precedent for future hosts. As nations like India weigh their bids for 2036, they shall look at the successes and challenges of past hosts to help navigate the complex decision of whether to embrace this global event. Although the task of hosting the Summer Olympics is both extremely expensive and a logistical nightmare, potential returns in citizens’ pride and global image, together with long-term economic benefits, make the Olympic opportunity quite attractive to many countries around the world. As the Road to LA28 unfolds, future hosts will be watching closely to get a feel for what the ultimate return on their investment is. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Cricketers with Family Members Who Took the Olympic Stage
Cricket is all set for a grand comeback at the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 after an absence of 124 years from the world’s biggest sporting stage. While athletes from across the world shone brightly in the Paris Olympics 2024, it is of importance to note that despite its gigantic following, cricket has never been included since 1900. Then, it was only 24 players who participated in a two-day Test match between Great Britain and France; gold went to the former. Fast-forward to 2028, and cricket will again feature but in a much more modern format: T20 International. Though cricket itself has spent over a century out of the way, some family members of cricketing legends have enjoyed their share of limelight at the Olympics. So, here is a brief look at three cricketers whose relatives have graced the grand Olympic stage: 1. Mitchell Starc’s Brother, Brandon Starc, at Paris 2024 The Starc family indeed does have sport running through its veins. While Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has had success in cricket’s biggest tournaments with his lethal bowling and record-breaking IPL deals, it is his younger brother who represents the family name in the Olympics. Brandon is an Australian high jumper who has been persistent at the Games since Rio 2016, moving on to Tokyo 2020, and recently Paris 2024. His experience includes a silver medal in the 2010 Youth Olympics and gold in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Olympic podium hasn’t seen Brandon yet. 2. Keith Thomson’s Brother, William Thomson, at Mexico 1968 New Zealand’s Keith Thomson was known for his brief career as a test cricketer, playing one test match against India in 1968, before moving to become an umpire. However, it was his brother William Thomson who made the news in another sport. William was a member of the New Zealand men’s hockey team during the 1968 Mexico Olympics. What was expected to be a straightforward victory for the Kiwis did what no one had thought they would–defeat reigning champions India in the opening match. Unfortunately, New Zealand couldn’t sustain that momentum, finishing third in their group and out of the semifinals despite a solid record of three wins and four draws. 3. Winston Benjamin’s Son, Rai Benjamin, at Paris 2024 Son of the former West Indies pace bowler Winston Benjamin, Rai Benjamin, made a name for himself in athletics and captured gold at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the 400m hurdles. Rai’s time of 46.46 seconds secured him a top spot at Stade de France, building on his already distinguished list of accolades including a silver medal at Tokyo 2020 and a raft of awards won at the World Championships. His victory in Paris was extra special for his family but also offered a glimpse into the future of sporting greatness. These stories remind us that while cricket as a game was not present, the fighting spirit of the loved ones of cricket stars never went out of existence as we prepare ourselves for cricket’s comeback in the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. Now, the whole world will wait for 2028—cricketers are going to get their chance to blaze the Olympic podium again. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: Cash Prizes for Indian Medal Winners Revealed
The Indian contingent performed decently at the Paris Olympics 2024 and secured six medals. Here’s a breakdown of the recognition and cash prizes awarded to the athletes: Men’s Hockey Team Each member of the men’s hockey team got Rs 15 lakh, declared by Hockey India.– The support staff received Rs 7.5 lakh each.– Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Manjhi announced an award of Rs 4 crore to defender Amit Rohidas, and Rs 10 lakh for each support staff member and Rs 15 lakh for each player.– Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared a cash award of Rs 1 crore for each squad member from Punjab. Neeraj Chopra No official announcement has come as of now about the cash prize for Neeraj Chopra. He was given Rs 6 crore by the Haryana government after he won gold in the Tokyo Olympics. Manu Bhaker Manu Bhaker got Rs 30 lakh from the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. She was also given the responsibility of flag bearer for India at the closing ceremony. Sarabjot Singh The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports awarded Sarabjot Singh Rs 22.5 lakh for his bronze winning performance in the mixed team shooting event along with Manu Bhaker. Aman Sehrawat Aman Sehrawat is entitled to a cash prize for his bronze in wrestling, but the amount is yet to be declared. Swapnil Kusale Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced a reward of Rs 1 crore to Swapnil Kusale, who won the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. The Bottom Line The Paris Olympics 2024 turned out to be quite glorious for the Indian athletes, who walked away with six medals and wide recognition in the form of cash rewards. This was a shade lower than the seven medals won in the Tokyo Olympics. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Things You Didn’t Know About The Indian Golfer, Diksha Dagar
Indian golfer, Diksha Dagar will participate in the Women’s Individual Stroke Play (Round 4) at the Paris Olympics 2024. Dagar is one of the last hopes for India to clinch a medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. She would be accompanied by another Indian, Aditi Ashok during the event. Read who is Aditi Ashok and why is she rated so high here. Coming back to Diksha Dagar, she is a rising star in the sport of golf and has been making waves recently. Here is a fact file which might help you know Diksha Dagar more. FACT FILE – DIKSHA DAGAR SR. NO FACT 1 Born deaf; began wearing hearing aids at age 6; later had a cochlear implant fitted 2 Started playing golf at age 7, alongside her brother Yogesh Dagar, who is also profoundly deaf 3 Initially coached by her father, Colonel Narinder Dagar, a former scratch golfer and Indian Army officer 4 Inspirational role models: Novak Djokovic and Tiger Woods 5 Represented India at the Espirito Santo Trophy in 2016 and 2018 6 At 17, won her first professional event at the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour in 2018; also won the Singapore Ladies Amateur Open 7 Won a silver medal at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics; first Indian to win a Deaflympic medal in golf; won gold at the 2021 Deaflympics 8 Competed for India at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia 9 Turned professional in early 2019 10 At 18, became the second Indian woman to win on the Ladies European Tour; won the 2019 South African Open 11 Member of the winning team in the 2021 Aramco Team Series – London, alongside Olivia Cowan, Sarina Schmidt, and Andrew Kelsey 12 Olympic appearances: Tokyo 2020 (due to South African Paula Reto’s withdrawal) and Paris 2024 13 Nominated for the Arjuna Award in 2023, India’s second-highest sporting honor India would be banking Diksha Dagar as she sets her target to bag a medal and make India proud. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: Neeraj Chopra Brings Home A Sliver For India
In a thrilling men’s javelin throw at the Paris Olympics 2024, on Thursday, Neeraj Chopra, the reigning champion from Tokyo 2020, claimed silver, taking his second-best throw ever. Surely to put up a good fight, Neeraj’s performance was just overshadowed by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who took gold with a truly jaw-dropping record of 92.97m for the Olympic record. Struggles with Form and Technique Neeraj Chopra, who managed just one valid throw of 89.45 meters in his six attempts, spoke with some disappointment after the event. “It was a good throw but I’m not that happy with my performance today,” he admitted. “My technique and runway were not that good. (I managed) only one throw, the rest I fouled.” Injury Concerns and Challenges in Preparation Speaking reflectively on his struggles during the final, Neeraj Chopra said, “(For my) second throw I believed in myself to think I can also throw that far. But in javelin, if your run is not so good, you can’t throw very far.” That silver-medal-winning throw came on his second attempt, and it was patently obvious that he was not at his best. Impact of Persistent Injuries The 26-year-old Indian ace also admitted that he was not doing well in the past two-three years and acknowledged that this was pulling him back once more. “I am always getting injured. I really tried hard, but I have to work upon my injury and technique,” he added. Adductor Muscle Issues Neeraj Chopra’s preparations for Paris 2024 had been marred by problems with his adductor muscles, which even forced him to pull out of several crucial meets, including the Ostrava Golden Spike. He had earlier disclosed that the problems with these adductors were dragging on intermittently for almost the past two years. He had added that he would seek further medical consultation for the same after the Olympics. “I’m not doing much throwing in training because of my groin (injury). But I will work hard in future,” he promised his fans. Gracious Congrats to Nadeem Despite his own challenges, Neeraj Chopra gracefully congratulated his competitor and friend, Arshad Nadeem, for his performance. “Today’s competition was really great. Arshad Nadeem threw really well. Congratulations to him and his country,” he said. Historic Gold for Pakistan Arshad Nadeem brought a lot of history to Pakistan with his gold medal, being the first-ever individual Olympic gold won by any Pakistani athlete and the country’s first Olympic medal since the Barcelona 1992 Games. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: India’s 13th Olympic Hockey Medal; The Most Any Country Has
The Indian hockey team earned its first Olympic medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, where they scored 29 goals across five matches to secure the gold medal. Dhyan Chand, renowned for his extraordinary skill, scored 14 of those goals, including a hat-trick in the final against the Netherlands. In the Paris Olympics 2024, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian men’s team claimed their 13th Olympic hockey medal by defeating Spain in the bronze medal match. Read this to know how the Indian Hockey Team bagged a bronze at Paris 2024. Here is a complete list of all the medals won by India in hockey at the Olympic Games. INDIAN HOCKEY TEAM’S DREAM RUN AT OLYMPICS OVER THE YEARS MEDAL EDITION Gold Amsterdam 1928 Gold Los Angeles 1932 Gold Berlin 1936 Gold London 1948 Gold Helsinki 1952 Gold Melbourne 1956 Silver Rome 1960 Gold Tokyo 1964 Bronze Mexico City 1968 Bronze Munich 1972 Gold Moscow 1980 Bronze Tokyo 2020 Bronze Paris 2024 India has a rich tradition in men’s hockey, winning as many as eight gold medals. The last time India won gold, though, was in 1980. Other than these eight golds, India has won a silver medal in 1960 and three bronzes in 1968, 1972, 2020 and most recently at the Paris Olympics 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Paris 2024: Neeraj Chopra Turns Custodian Of Hope As India Dreams For Gold
As Neeraj Chopra gets ready to beat the odds once more and compete for Olympic gold for a second time, the stakes couldn’t get any higher. Victory will make him the most decorated Indian athlete at the Olympics in any individual sport. Currently, shuttler PV Sindhu – with one silver and one bronze, wrestler Sushil Kumar – with one silver and one bronze, and shooter Manu Bhaker – with two bronzes hold two Olympic medals each, all post independence. Enthrown in a fantastic throw, which is the second-best of his career performance-wise, Chopra has thus silenced the biggest question that people had going into the Games: his fitness. The athlete had confessed to carrying an adductor niggle into the Games. Of course, his personal best remains an impressive 89.94 meters, achieved in 2022. This 89.34 meters he recorded is not only sealing his place as one among the top contenders but has also revived the hopes of millions of Indian fans who are awaiting the day—Thursday—when perhaps Chopra would cross the elusive 90-meter mark. Noteworthy is the fact that this effort stands as the second-best throw in the qualifying rounds at the Olympics, only after the legendary Jan Zelezny’s 89.39 meters during the 2000 Sydney Games. But right before Neeraj Chopra enters the fray to defend that gold, just so dear, let us take a moment to recollect those world-beating achievements that have defined this illustrious career. Year Competition Venue / Country Medal 2016 Asian U20 Championships Vietnam Silver 2016 World U20 Championships Bydgoszcz, Poland Gold 2017 Asian Championships Bhubaneshwar, India Gold 2018 Commonwealth Games Australia Gold 2018 Asian Games Jakarta, Indonesia Gold 2021 Tokyo Olympics 2020 Japan Gold 2022 World Championships United States Silver 2022 Diamond League Zurich Gold 2023 Diamond League Doha Gold 2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary Gold 2023 Asian Games Hangzhou, China Gold 2024 Diamond League Doha Silver Neeraj Chopra once again has found himself as the custodian of dreams as India would be banking on him for that elusive Olympic gold medal at Paris Olympics 2024. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
List Of Accolades Vinesh Phogat Won Over Her Wrestling Career
Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from the sport after a glorious campaign spanning over a decade. The 29-year-old declared it on social media after she exited the Paris Olympics 2024 due to disqualification for missing weight before the gold medal bout. But even with that Olympic heartbreak of 2016, Vinesh leaves you with a series of scintillating achievements under her name. She is now considered one of the greatest-ever wrestlers produced by India: the first Indian woman to fight in three Olympics, the first to make an Olympic final, and the first to win gold at the Asian Games. She is also India’s only female wrestler with more than one world championship medal. Olympics 2024 Paris Olympics – Final (50kg) Vinesh’s campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics was nothing short of dramatic. She made it to the final following a thrilling 3-2 win over reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan making it her first loss after a streak of 84 consecutive matches. She then beat both Oksana Livach and Yusneylys Guzman to become the first-ever Indian woman to make the final of an Olympic wrestling event. But on the day of the final, she was disqualified for failing to make the weight. 2020 Tokyo Olympics – Quarterfinal (53kg) Vinesh Phogat was seeded as the world number one for the Tokyo Olympics but fell to a bitter defeat in the quarterfinal at the hands of Belarus’ Vanesa Kaladzinskaya, a two-time world champion who later took bronze. 2016 Rio Olympics – Quarterfinal: 48kg Vinesh Phogat made her Olympic debut in Rio at 21 years of age. She was participating in the 48kg category, and during the quarterfinal match against China’s Sun Yanan, she suffered an ACL tear that forced her to withdraw from the event. She got the prestigious Arjuna Award later that year. World Championships 2022 Belgrade Worlds – BRONZE (53kg) Vinesh Phogat won a bronze at the World Championships in 2022 after losing the semifinal to eventual silver medal winner Batkhuyagiin Khulan of Mongolia in the first round. She won the repechage clearing two-time European champion Jonna Malmgren of Sweden. 2019 Nur-Sultan Worlds – BRONZE (53kg) Her 2019 World Championships bronze came after a defeat to Japan’s Mayu Mukaida, herself a three-time world champion and Tokyo gold medallist. Vinesh Phogat sealed her place on the podium by beating Paris gold medallist Sarah Hildebrandt and three-time worlds medallist Maria Prevolaraki of Greece in the repechage. Asian Games 2018 Jakarta – GOLD (50kg) It was also at the 2018 Asian Games where Vinesh Phogat avenged her Rio Olympics loss by defeating Sun Yanan in the Round of 16. She went on to win gold after defeating two-time Asian champion Yuki Irie, thus becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold at the Asian Games. 2014 Incheon – BRONZE (48kg) At just 20 years old, Vinesh Phogat bagged a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games and became the third Indian woman to do so. She won the bronze through the repechage route after having lost to the three-time world champion and reigning Rio Olympics gold medallist Eri Tosaka of Japan. Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham – GOLD (53kg) From the heartbreak of Tokyo and a subsequent fall-out with the Wrestling Federation of India, to Vinesh Phogat bouncing back at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, becoming the first Indian woman to win three CWG golds. 2018 Gold Coast – GOLD (50kg) Phogat was making a stunning comeback from her Rio injury after winning all her bouts, bring home gold in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. 2014 Glasgow – GOLD (48kg) Vinesh Phogat’s first big win on the international circuit came at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she won gold a month shy of her 20th birthday. Brilliant Asian Championship Performances Vinesh Phogat has been a consistent performer at the Asian Wrestling Championships and won medals in every edition that she participated. Her personal medals include four bronze medals (2014, 2016, 2019, 2020), three silver medals (2015, 2017, 2018) and a gold medal in 2021. Personal Accolades and Legacy Phogat is widely recognized for her contributions in the field of wrestling. In 2019, she became the first Indian to be nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award and for the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year in 2022. Vinesh was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2016 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2020. She returned both these awards in 2023 during the wrestler protests. With the retirement of Vinesh Phogat, one great career in Indian wrestling finally comes to an end. Her journey was one of resilience, perseverance, and unparalleled success. The type of legacy she will leave behind will motivate generations of wrestlers when she steps away from the sport. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye