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Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo Journey: A Tale of Grace, Greatness, and Unwavering DeterminationNeeraj Chopra's journey to Olympic success wasn't a mere dream; it was the result of three years of relentless dedication and consistent performance. At just 26 years old, Chopra has delivered remarkable results at two World Championships, an Asian Games, and now, at the Tokyo Olympics, Indians are beginning to realize just how fortunate they are to witness such an extraordinary talent.The 2024 Olympics have exposed India's shortcomings in sports, with only four bronze medals across two disciplines and a series of heartbreaking 4th place finishes in the first ten days in Paris. The thought of a silver or gold medal seemed almost impossible, especially after the tragic turn of events with Vinesh Phogat. Yet, amidst the gloom and doubt, Neeraj Chopra emerged, delivering a silver medal on a day when Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem threw an Olympic record of 92.97m to win his country's first-ever individual gold medal.With an almost surreal confidence, India began to entertain the possibility of gold. This newfound ambition, the calm assurance, and the ease with which people now consider the idea of contending for gold, marks a significant shift in a nation that has long been self-conscious about its meager Olympic medal count.However, there were no guarantees—this was the Olympics, after all. But in these Games, India experienced both the best and worst of times, with Neeraj Chopra ensuring the former. In the wake of the Vinesh Phogat shock and with few medals outside of Chateauroux, Chopra became the nation's only beacon of hope for gold.India's golden era in hockey is a distant memory, and with just two individual golds in nearly a century of Olympic participation, there was little reason for India to dream of gold. Yet, Chopra's Tokyo journey was no fluke. It took three years of consistent brilliance for Indians to start believing in the exceptional talent they have in Neeraj Chopra—a true force in the world of track and field.Chopra is not one to indulge in the national pastime of underperforming on the global stage. His success stands in stark contrast to the self-criticism that often follows India's sports failures. Unaccustomed to such elite greatness, Indians are still getting used to the idea of seeing one of their own consistently on the podium, though they haven't yet developed an entitlement to gold every time—thankfully.The humble and unfazed Chopra has established a unique, toxicity-free bond with his countrymen. They watch him chase gold without overwhelming him with unrealistic expectations, while Chopra, in turn, consistently delivers performances that leave the nation in awe. He's managed to keep the often-criticized Indian sports fans grounded and content, even as the prospect of a 90+ meter throw in Paris looms.Unlike cricket, where millions of young Indians aspire to follow in the footsteps of their heroes, javelin isn't a sport that sees thousands flocking to replicate Chopra's success. Yet, there is a growing realization that we are witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime global phenomenon. Chopra carries no airs, preferring to spend his time training with athletes from various disciplines and devoting months to honing his craft in quiet isolation abroad.Chopra remains immune to controversies—political or personal—because he approaches them with sincerity and decency, snuffing out any attempts at creating mischief. This approach may be a bit dull for the sensationalism-driven Indian media, but it works spectacularly for Chopra.His love for javelin is unwavering, and he dedicates entire seasons to perfecting his technique, undistracted by fame or arrogance. He makes the occasional appearance in TV commercials, meets people with genuine warmth, supports friends like Vinesh Phogat in their times of need, and pursues excellence without succumbing to the trappings of celebrity.Make no mistake, Neeraj Chopra is aware of his unique position. He knows that he is adored as long as he continues to bring home medals. But he is not beholden to anyone's expectations. He doesn't flaunt false humility or bow down to those in power. Instead, he quietly goes about his business, delivering on the big stage time and time again.At the age of 20, Chopra said, "If you think about the big numbers and names, you're competing only against the others. To me, what's important is that I compete against the best I have within me and try to beat that. Everything else will fall in place." Within himself, Chopra found his ambition, and in Chopra, India found its symbol of graceful greatness.FAQs About Neeraj Chopra and His JourneyWhat made Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo journey special?Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo journey was the culmination of three years of relentless dedication and consistent performance, leading to a historic silver medal at the Olympics.How has Neeraj Chopra impacted Indian sports?Neeraj Chopra has changed the narrative around Indian sports, instilling belief in a nation that has long struggled with Olympic success.What was Neeraj Chopra's biggest achievement in Tokyo?Neeraj Chopra secured a silver medal in the javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics, reaffirming his status as one of India's greatest athletes.How does Neeraj Chopra handle pressure and expectations?Chopra remains calm and focused, avoiding unnecessary distractions and controversies, and dedicating himself entirely to his sport.What is Neeraj Chopra's approach to training?Chopra is known for his rigorous training regimen, often spending months abroad to perfect his technique and maintain consistency.Why is Neeraj Chopra's success significant for India?Chopra's success is significant because it represents a shift in India's mindset, from accepting mediocrity to believing in the possibility of Olympic greatness.How has Neeraj Chopra remained humble despite his fame?Chopra stays grounded by focusing on his love for javelin and avoiding the trappings of celebrity life, maintaining genuine relationships with those around him.What challenges did Neeraj Chopra face on his journey?Chopra faced the usual challenges of elite sports, including injuries and intense competition, but his determination and focus helped him overcome them.What advice has Neeraj Chopra given to aspiring athletes?Chopra emphasizes the importance of competing against oneself, striving to improve with each performance rather than focusing solely on beating others.What is Neeraj Chopra's legacy in Indian sports?Neeraj Chopra's legacy is that of a trailblazer who has redefined Indian sports, showing that consistent hard work and dedication can lead to global greatness.
Picking a player as the greatest of all time, in any sport, is a very subjective task with various unquantifiable facets coming into the picture. However, with the number of goals he has scored and having won every possible trophy he could, Lionel Messi is considered the greatest football player of all time. He finally attained the undisputed GOAT status after Argentina won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after a frantic final against France. The fact that Messi won the Golden Ball by scoring seven goals and assisting three more in the competition, adds to his argument as the greatest footballer ever.Top 5 football players of all timeRank PlayerGoals Trophies1Lionel Messi802422Pele767263Diego Maradona353124Cristiano Ronaldo819345Johan Cruyff433226Zinedine Zidane156157Gerd Muller 718168Ronaldo Nazario414199Alfredo di Stefano5092710Michel Platini 35312Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 802 goals, 42 trophiesEmerging from Barcelona’s academy La Masia, Lionel Messi quickly became one of the best players in football, winning his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 at the age of 22. He went on to win seven of them. He won the coveted treble twice with Barcelona and finally ended his wait for a major international trophy with the Copa America 2021 and then added the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy to his haul, which also includes an Olympic gold medal from Beijing 2008. He is also the only player in history to win two Golden Balls in World Cups (2014 and 2022).Now in the twilight of his career, the Argentinian legend is now playing in the United States with Inter Miami. In his short time in Miami, he has made an impact by helping the franchise win the Leagues Cup which is the first ever in the history of the franchise.While the Miami outfit is yet to establish itself as a powerhouse in the MLS, many fans of the team and neutrals alike are confident that it is only a matter of time until the team starts competing for the MLS title with the addition of Messi to the squad.The belief is so widespread in Miami that many fans are already touring them as a contender next term. A lot of fans are not stopping at tagging them as possible champions in the next couple of years, many are backing their claim by betting on the team to become champions next term.Of course, the odds are quite good and it guarantees a handsome reward if it pays off. However, there are other incentives like betting bonuses for signing up and placing a bet on a betting site.It is a common practice for Sportsbook to reward new customers with a betting bonus when they sign up and make a deposit.Football Legends and Their Remarkable AchievementsPele (Brazil) - 767 goals, 26 trophiesPele, a three-time World Cup winner, made a sensational debut on the global stage with six goals in the 1958 World Cup. Known as the "Black Pearl," Pele scored over 700 goals for club and country, achieving numerous titles with the Brazilian club Santos. He is celebrated as the first modern football superstar.Diego Maradona (Argentina) - 353 goals, 12 trophiesDiego Maradona is regarded as one of the greatest attacking players in football history. His incredible ball control and skill inspired generations. Maradona led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, scoring twice in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals. He also drove Napoli to their only two league titles.Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 819 goals, 34 trophiesCristiano Ronaldo is the highest goal-scorer in football history, winning league titles in England, Spain, and Italy. He has five Champions League titles, four of which were won with Real Madrid. A five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Ronaldo also scored four goals in Portugal’s first major trophy win at UEFA Euro 2012.Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) - 433 goals, 22 trophiesJohan Cruyff, the pioneer of "Total Football," is considered one of the most influential figures in football. He won three consecutive European Cup titles with Ajax and three Ballon d'Or awards. Cruyff also led the Netherlands to the World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978.Zinedine Zidane (France) - 156 goals, 16 trophiesZinedine Zidane is one of football's all-time greats, known for his exceptional control and technique. Starting his career with Cannes, he gained fame at Bordeaux and later won multiple titles with Juventus and Real Madrid. Zidane helped France win the 1998 World Cup and reached the finals again in 2006. He was named the best player in the world in 1998, 2000, and 2003.Also Read: TOP 5 RICHEST FOOTBALLERS IN THE WORLD 2024: NET WORTH, CAREER, SALARY AND MORE
Indian hockey touched a new peak on Wednesday, making a virtual clean sweep of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) awards, with drag-flick sensation Harmanpreet Singh being crowned the 'FIH Player of the Year' in the men's category, PR Sreejesh winning the 'Goalkeeper of the Year' award and the men's hockey chief coach Graham Reid getting the 'FIH Coach of the Year' award. Former Indian women's hockey chief coach Sjoerd Marijne got the 'FIH Coach of the Year' award in the women's category. The voting-based annual awards had six Indian players and two coaches in men's and women's categories. This is the first time that all nominees from India have won the prestigious awards in their respective categories. Drag-flick sensation Harmanpreet Singh was the top scorer in India's bronze medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games. He was nominated for the award along with Belgium's Arthur Van Doren and Alexander Hendrickx as well as Australia's Jake Whetton, Tim Brand and Aran Zalewski. Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur won the 'FIH Player of The Year' award in the women's category. She was nominated alongside Argentina's Agustina Gorzelany and Agustina Albertarrio. The other nominees for the award were Netherlands' Eva De Goede, Frederique Matla and Maria Verschoor. Sreejesh, who won the 'Goalkeeper of the Year' award, had come up with a career-best performance at the Olympic Games. The other nominees in this category were Belgium's Vincent Vanasch and Australia's Andrew Charter. Goalkeeper Savita won the award for the best goalkeeper in the female category. Savita, who was also the joint-vice captain of the women's team at the Olympics, was outstanding in guarding India's post and played an instrumental role in the team finishing fourth in Tokyo. The other nominees in this category were Great Britain's Maddie Hinch and Argentina's Belen Succi. 2020-21 FIH #HockeyStarsAwards results announced! Olympic Success Wave continues for India with @TheHockeyIndia winning big.A record number of almost 300’000 fans casted their votes for this year's Awards.CONGRATULATIONS to all winners and nominees!— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) October 6, 2021In the FIH 'Rising Star of the Year' category for men, Vivek Sagar Prasad won the award for the second consecutive time. He was nominated along with South Africa's Mustaphaa Cassiem and Australia's Sean Findlay. In the 'FIH Rising Star of the Year' category for women, Sharmila Devi won the award with maximum votes ahead of Great Britain's Fiona Crackles and Argentina's Valentina Raposo. Graham Reid got the 'FIH Coach of the Year' award. He was nominated along with Australia's Colin Batch and Belgium's Shane McLeod. Congratulating the award winners, Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam said, "This is a great moment for Indian hockey as all our Indian nominees for the FIH Stars Awards have been announced winners. After the historic performances in Tokyo by both the Indian men`s and women`s hockey teams, the support from Indian fans from across the globe has been overwhelming. We thank everyone who supported the nominees by voting for them. "This is a big moment for us and these awards will definitely inspire future generations to take up the sport professionally. On behalf of Hockey India, I congratulate all the award winners and wish them success in their future endeavours."Also Read- Sagar Rana murder case: Delhi court denies bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar
The 17-year-old edged past compatriot Arjun Erigaisi on tie-breaks after both Indians finished on 4.5 points after the completion of the seventh and final roundIndian Grandmaster D Gukesh took a significant step towards earning a spot in the prestigious Candidates tournament next year by winning the Chennai Grand Masters 2023 chess tournament in Chennai on Thursday.Local boy Gukesh, 17, edged past compatriot Arjun Erigaisi on tie-breaks after both Indians finished on 4.5 points after the completion of the seventh and final round. Another Indian Grandmaster P Harikrishna, whom Gukesh drew with in the final round on Thursday, finished third on the leaderboard with 4 points.Going into the final round of the eight-player tournament, Gukesh needed only a draw in his clash with Harikrishna with black pieces. Erigaisi made things rather interesting by defeating Russian-born Hungarian Grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov in the final round. Gukesh and Erigaisi were equal on points and on par in terms of head-to-head but the former came out triumphant on the basis of a superior tie-break score.The tournament victory gives Gukesh — who in September this year had surpassed Viswanathan Anand as the top-ranked Indian player in the FIDE charts — a great chance of booking a seat in next year's Candidates tournament in Toronto in April through the FIDE Circuit route.With six of the eight spots already taken (including those by Indians R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi), two remain up for grabs via the 2023 FIDE Circuit (for one player who achieves the highest results during the eligible tournaments in 2023) and the FIDE rating route. By winning the tournament in Chennai, Gukesh has put himself on top of the FIDE Circuit leaderboard and will be in a battle with Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri to finish on top with one more tournament to go.The FIDE Circuit ends with the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from December 26-30. Gukesh, though, was quoted as saying by chess.com after his tournament win that he was still "50-50" about participating in the World Rapid and Blitz.Gukesh remained unbeaten through the seven rounds in Chennai, notching up wins against Russian-born Serbian Grandmaster Alexandr Predke and Sjugirov in the fourth and fifth round, respectively, to go with the five draws. The win over Sjugirov with black pieces on Tuesday had put Gukesh in the sole lead."It was really good. I finally managed to enjoy myself in a tournament," Gukesh told chess.com. "Obviously, the last few months have been very stressful."Erigaisi had an impressively strong finish to the tournament (with three wins overall). He defeated Sjugirov on Thursday and Parham Maghsoodloo, the Iranian GM who was the top seed in Chennai, with black in the penultimate round. However, his opening-round defeat to compatriot Harikrishna proved to be the difference in the end. The 20-year-old Grandmaster needed to win this tournament to stand a chance of qualifying for the Candidates via FIDE Circuit.Harikrishna, the 37-year-old from Guntur, meanwhile also remained unbeaten with six draws that followed the win over Erigaisi. Top-seeded Maghsoodloo, another competitor who was in contention for the Candidates through a triumph in Chennai, could not quite live up to his billing and finished sixth with 3.5 points and a couple of defeats.ASlso Read: European Court of Justice rules FIFA, UEFA breached EU Law over Super League ban
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday announced cash awards of Rs 75 lakh to the gold medallists, Rs 50 lakh for the silver winners and Rs 30 lakh for the Indian athletes who have won bronze in the just-concluded Paralympic Games in Paris. Those excelling in mixed teams events, like archer Sheetal Devi, will get richer by Rs 22.5 lakh. The minister announced this during an event organised to felicitate the medallists at the mega-event.Mandaviya also pledged full support and facilities for para-athletes to aim for more medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics."The country is rising in Paralympics and para sports. From 4 medals in 2016, India have won 19 medals in Tokyo and 29 in Paris with 18th place finish," Mandaviya said."We will provide all the facilities to all of our para-athletes so that we can win more medals and gold medals in 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics." India concluded their historic Paris Paralympics campaign with 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals, marking the country's best performance in the competition's history.India also crossed the 50-medal mark in Paralympic Games history with their excellent performance.Swarmed by hundreds of supporters, India's Paralympic medal-winners returned to a jubilant welcome on Tuesday after securing the unprecedented haul in the French capital.The men's javelin throw F41 final in the Paris Paralympic Games earned India its 29th and final medal of the campaign, as well as the 7th gold medal, thanks to Navdeep Singh. Though the event ended on a controversial note, with Navdeep's initial silver being upgraded due to Iranian athlete's disqualification over the display of a flag, the India star was elated to put the Tokyo Paralympics ghosts to bed. After making history for India, earning first-ever medal in the F41 category of the Paralympics, Naval drew comparisons with India's Olympics star Neeraj Chopra.Neeraj had famously earned a gold medal for India in the Tokyo Olympics, before adding as silver to his trophy cabinet in the Paris Olympics. Seeing Navdeep bag a the yellow metal in Paris Para Games, his coach Naval Singh claimed that his ward's technique is even better than Neeraj's."I knew Navdeep was going to make me and India proud. He has done a lot of hard work. Navdeep ki technique Neeraj Chopra se bhi behtar hai (Navdeep's technique is even better than Neeraj Chopra's). If he were in able-bodied athletics, he would have done wonders. But we are all proud of Navdeep. This is just the start for him-he is going to break several records," Navdeep's coach told Times of India.Navdeep also lauded his coach for the work the two put together over the years, finally reaping the rewards in Paris Paralympics."My coach, Naval Singh, has worked a lot with me. He has trained me for almost seven years. He has played a big role in my career. Whatever I am today, it's because of him. He has made me an international-level javelin thrower. All the credit for my technique and foundation goes to him," Navdeep said.Also Read: Check out five significant types of swimming styles!
The capital of Maharashtra, Mumbai, hosts the next National Games (NBA Games) in India, which will begin on September 8th. There will be two pre-season games between the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers.Mumbai will host the next NBA Games starting September 28th. As the celebrations begin, it will be the first game, also a pre-season game, between Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers. The game will be played in front of 3,000 children in 70 schools in Mumbai. It will also be the first match of the NBA in India, scheduled for October 4. Then there will be another game on October 5th, which will be open to the public.Celebrations will begin tomorrow, beginning with The Gateway of India, followed by the first floating Bandra-Worli Naval Court, which will lead to community events highlighting NBA values.In addition, graffiti artists such as NME and Minzo will promote events through street art, while Indian hip hop artists such as Shah Rule and Brodha V will do so through original compositions. For matches also, Geo Safin chose playlists in Hindi, English, and Tamil.Gateway of India lights up for historic NBAIndia GamesBarnes added that Indian fans will have the opportunity to understand what basketball is at the 2019 Indian Games in Mumbai.An important event is expected when the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings will play two games before the 2019 NBA season in Mumbai for the first time on Friday, October 4, 2019, and Saturday, October 5, 2019. To celebrate the arrival of En Los, basketball games and India Gate illuminated on Saturday. The news agency also shared photos of the illuminated memorial.Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings and Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlad Devak, and Indiana Pacers Doug McDermott and Basketball Operations Manager Pritchard shared their enthusiasm for the visit in India with the country's media. During a teleconference organized by the National Basketball Association.It will be a very exciting time for us, as a team, for the league, to be part of the first game of the NBA Games India 2019 in India. I talked to my teammates and they are very happy to see the culture. The most important thing in India is that the culture is beautiful. I was there earlier this year and I want to give my teammates the opportunity to walk around town, eat Indian food and watch the Taj Mahal, as well as work with children who are NBA members. Academy in India. It's a beautiful experience. "From a basketball standpoint, I want to see how passionate fans are," Barnes said.Barnes added that Indian fans will have the opportunity to understand what basketball is at the 2018 NBA India Games in Mumbai.I think watching the game on TV is one thing, but the power to watch it closely will give Indian fans an idea of its content. Feeling passion and experience is what I feel everyone wants to promote. I was very moved by the kids when I traveled to India this summer and they have a lot of talent. To see how difficult their job and diligence for the details. "There is no doubt that the game will develop and more players will come out of India," said Barnes.Kevin Pritchard, general manager of the Indiana Pacers, said the two teams were pioneers in the transfer of the NBA from the United States to India."We are very happy to arrive in India, we talk a lot about it internally and we feel like pioneers because it's the first basketball game in the country." I think the players are excited and want to be ready to do a good show, "Pritchard said.
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