Olympic weightlifter Mirabai Chanu brought her star power to the 19th National Speed & Figure Skating Championships, adding a touch of excitement to the event. Chanu, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, awarded medals to the winners on day two of the championships and expressed her admiration for the sport.
“This is my first time attending an ice skating event, and I am very happy and excited to be here and see so many girls participating in the championship,” Chanu said. “I think every state should have an ice skating rink so that skaters can practice easily and hone their skills. I believe that with such facilities available across the country, more talented skaters will emerge, participate in the Winter Olympics, and help us perform better on the global stage.”
The championship saw intense competition across various categories. In the pre-juvenile boys free skating category, Vir Chugh took home the gold medal, followed by Yashavi Singh and Suryaa E.S. In the senior men short program, Priyam Tated secured the top spot, with Vishal Anand Mutyala and Manit Singh taking the second and third positions respectively.
The final day of the championship, scheduled for August 17, 2024, promises to be a thrilling conclusion with all final events, including the highly anticipated 500-meter and 333-meter races. The presence of renowned athletes like Yogeshwar Dutt, PV Sindhu, and Harmanpreet Singh is expected to add to the excitement.
Meanwhile, on the golf front, India’s Om Prakash Chouhan had a challenging start at the 2024 D+D REAL Czech Masters, shooting a 2-over 74 on the first day, putting him in danger of missing the cut. With two birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey, Chouhan was tied for 129th place. The projected cut was 3-under, and as many as 117 players finished the day under par.
Aditi Ashok, another Indian golfer, had a disappointing opening round at the Women’s Scottish Open, shooting a 9-over 81, leaving her tied for 128th place. With seven bogeys, a double bogey, and no birdies, she faced a difficult uphill battle to make the cut, projected at 2-over. India’s other Olympic star, Diksha Dagar, withdrew from the event to recover from an injury and take some rest.
