The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has finalized the 29-member Indian athletics squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics, including two reserves. The squad consists of 18 men and 11 women athletes. Notably, Shot Put player Abha Khatua, initially included in the squad, has been omitted from the final list by World Athletics despite qualifying via the World Rankings route.
India’s women’s cricket team began their title defense in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2024 with a resounding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan. A stellar bowling performance restricted Pakistan to a paltry 108 runs, setting up a comfortable chase for the Indian batters. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma anchored the chase with impressive half-centuries, ensuring India’s dominant start to the tournament.
Kevin Durant took a significant step towards his return to the U.S. Olympic basketball team by practicing with them on Friday, just a week before the Paris Games. He’s been sidelined with a calf injury but appears ready to join the team for its final tune-ups and the Olympics themselves.
Tadej Pogacar unleashed a powerful attack on the final climb of Stage 15, distancing himself from Jonas Vingegaard and surging towards a third Tour de France victory. With a commanding lead, Pogacar appears poised to reclaim the title from the reigning champion, Vingegaard.
Real Madrid will take over Barcelona’s football academies in India, offering 4,500 young players the opportunity to train under the renowned club’s methodologies. The move follows Barcelona’s decision to shut down its academies in the country. This partnership aims to inspire and develop young Indian football talent, with select players even getting a chance to train at Real Madrid’s facility in Spain.
Spanish forward Alvaro Morata has signed a four-year contract with AC Milan, moving from Atletico Madrid. The transfer fee reportedly triggered Morata’s release clause, estimated at around 13 million euros. The 31-year-old, fresh off leading Spain to European Championship glory, brings a wealth of experience and silverware to the Italian side.
The proposed sale of Premier League club Everton to the Friedkin Group has fallen through, leaving the club facing further uncertainty. The deal, which was announced last month, was intended to secure funding for the construction of a new stadium. Everton has struggled financially in recent years and has been battling relegation in each of the last three seasons.
George Russell believes Lewis Hamilton would have stayed with Mercedes if the team was performing well, citing the team’s strong future prospects and recent performance turnaround. Russell credits technical director James Allison for the improvement, and he is confident that Mercedes is now in a position to challenge for championships.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has declared India’s ambition to be among the top five sporting nations globally by 2047. He revealed that the roadmap for achieving this goal was crafted amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting sports as a key component in India’s vision to become a superpower. The government’s initiative includes the nationwide talent search program KIRTI, aimed at identifying and nurturing a lakh young athletes.
The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) season kicks off on August 22nd with a clash between defending champions Goa Challengers and newcomers Jaipur Patriots. The tournament features top international and Indian players competing in a franchise-based format with a slightly adjusted competition structure. The action will be broadcasted live on Sports18 and JioCinema.
