The Olympic Council of Asia’s Executive Board has agreed to include yoga in the Asian Games, paving the way for its inclusion as a competitive sport. IOA president PT Usha expressed her delight with the decision, which was made following India’s request. The inclusion will be officially confirmed by the OCA General Assembly, and the details of its status as a medal sport or demonstration sport will be decided at that time.
At just ten years old, Mazel Paris Alegado is making waves in the skateboarding world. Representing the Philippines in international competitions, she’s a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. From her early days on the board to her aspirations for the Olympics and X Games, Mazel’s story inspires us all to embrace challenges and chase our dreams.
Kartik Karkera, a doctor by profession, is making waves in the Indian athletics scene. Balancing a demanding medical career with his passion for running, Karkera is on a mission to become India’s top middle-distance runner. His story highlights the extraordinary lengths athletes go to pursue their dreams.
Veronica Shanti Pereira’s journey as an athlete is one of resilience and determination. At 18, she made history as the first Singaporean to win a gold medal in the 200m sprint at the SEA Games. But in 2018, a crushing hamstring injury threatened to derail her career. Despite losing her scholarships and struggling with her mental health, Pereira bounced back to become her country’s first Asian Games athletics champion since 1974. Now, she has her sights set on the Paris Olympics and is determined to create a more supportive sporting culture in Singapore.
Pakistan’s former captain, Bismah Maroof, has announced her retirement from all forms of cricket effective immediately. The decision comes after the team’s disappointing performance in the ODI series against the West Indies. Maroof made her international debut in 2006 and represented Pakistan in 276 matches across all formats, becoming the most-capped player in the history of Pakistan women’s cricket. She scored over 6,000 runs and took 80 wickets during her career. Maroof was also part of the Pakistan team that won gold medals in the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014. She captained Pakistan in 96 international matches, including the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand. In T20Is, she led Pakistan in eight editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup, including the 2020 and 2023 tournaments.
Saurav Ghosal, a two-time Asian Games gold medalist, has announced his retirement from professional squash. The 37-year-old Kolkata-born player, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 10 in April 2019, has lifted 10 PSA titles and won 281 of his 511 matches on the PSA Tour. Ghosal is also a three-time medal winner at the Commonwealth Games and won gold at the 2022 World Doubles Championships in mixed doubles in Glasgow. While he is retiring from the professional circuit, Ghosal plans to continue playing for India and hopes to represent the country at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where squash will make its debut.
Saurav Ghosal, who has won two Asian Games gold medals in squash, announced his retirement from the professional circuit on Monday. Ghosal, who has been playing on the PSA World Tour for 22 years, said that retiring was an emotional decision for him. However, he added that he hopes to continue playing for India in the future.
