Double Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shericka Jackson secured smooth victories in their respective heats at the Jamaican Olympic athletics trials, setting the stage for a potential showdown in the finals. Meanwhile, surprise world champion Antonio Watson withdrew from the 400m competition due to injury.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has invited eight top Russian tennis players, along with Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka from Belarus, to compete as neutral athletes at the Paris Olympics. However, some athletes have already declined the offer, citing reasons such as scheduling conflicts and health concerns. The invitation comes as part of the IOC’s vetting process to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in individual Olympic sports while excluding them from team sports due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Kiran Pahal, a 24-year-old athlete from Haryana, has qualified for the Paris Olympics in the women’s 400m race. She achieved this feat by clocking a time of 50.92 seconds in the semifinals at the National Inter-state Athletics Championships. This makes her the second fastest Indian woman in the 400m, behind Hima Das.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is hoping for a last-minute Paris Olympics qualification in the mixed 4x400m relay event. They have invited Sri Lanka and Maldives to the National Inter-State Championships to help the Indian team break the national record and secure a spot in Paris. The Indian team needs to clock a time under 3:11.87 to qualify. Other notable news includes Tajinderpal Singh Toor’s possible participation in the championships despite injury and Neeraj Chopra’s absence due to the Paris Diamond League.
Alex Morgan, a three-time Olympian and two-time Women’s World Cup champion, surprisingly missed the cut for the U.S. Olympic team. Coach Emma Hayes opted for a younger roster, signaling a shift towards the 2027 World Cup. This move sparks debate and questions about Morgan’s future with the national team.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced the hiring process for high-performance managers and coaches for the next Olympic cycle, beginning after the Paris Games in August. This move comes as India aims to break the medal drought in shooting at the Olympics. All current experts, including HPD Pierre Beauchamp and foreign coaches Munkhbayar Dorjsuren and Thomas Farnik, are eligible to apply. The NRAI will consider all applications based on merit and the performance of the Indian shooting team in Paris.
Tulika Maan, a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, has secured a continental quota for the Paris Olympics in the +78 kg category. Despite facing an injury in 2022, she fought her way back to qualify and is now aiming for at least a bronze medal, with her eyes set on the gold.
Hockey India has selected a 16-member men’s hockey team for the Paris 2024 Olympics, featuring a mix of experienced players and exciting debutants. Led by Harmanpreet Singh and vice-captain Hardik Singh, the team aims to add to India’s impressive Olympic medal haul in the sport.
Alex de Minaur will finally make his Olympic debut in Paris after missing the Tokyo Games due to COVID-19. He is joined by other Australian tennis stars, including Ajla Tomljanovic, Alexei Popyrin, Chris O’Connell, and Rinky Hijikata. The Australian Olympic tennis team is set to compete in both singles and doubles events, with the men’s team led by Lleyton Hewitt and the women’s team led by Sam Stosur. The Paris Olympics will mark the first time since 1992 that the tennis tournament will be played on clay.
American Olympic athletes, including Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt, have expressed deep concern over the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) handling of a doping scandal involving 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics. The athletes fear that WADA’s lack of transparency and questionable decisions have undermined the integrity of international sports and their right to fair competition.
