Speed skater Shruti Kotwal aims to qualify for 2026 Winter Olympics
NEW DELHI, Jan 20: India’s first professional woman speed skater Shruti Kotwal, who will be leading India’s charge in the Asian Winter Games (AWG) in Harbin, China from February 7-14, has her eyes set on qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics.The AWG will be a big opportunity for Shruti to test herself against the best skaters in the world and qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics. “I’m focusing on the 500m and 1000m events for Olympic qualification. The timing requirements are incredibly challenging — sub-40 seconds for the 500m and under 1:20 for the 1000m. My Indian national record is 41.97 seconds and I need to skate under 40 seconds to qualify,” said Shruti.The sports ministry has cleared a squad of 41 athletes for AWG. These include speed skaters and their support staff. For Shruti, this will be her second appearance in the AWG after 2017, when the Asian meet was last held in Japan.Shruti is currently training at the Utah Olympic Oval in the US Training at this indoor speed skating centre, which was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, has played a major role in her career.This will be the first time in China that India will be represented by such a large contingent of skaters. In 2017, there were just three athletes, all skaters. Several Indian speed skaters are training in Korea for Harbin 2025. At least 24 nations will take part in AWG. (IANS)
Lewis Hamilton arrives in Maranello for his 1st day at Ferrari
MARANELLO, (Italy) Jan 20: Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton arrived at Ferrari’s headquarters on Monday to get down to work with his new team.First up was a short visit to the Fiorano track followed by a meeting with Piero Ferrari and then “a day-long total immersion program,” the team said.“There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Scuderia Ferrari HP driver, is one of those days,” Hamilton said. “I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to realize that dream today.” The 40-year-old Hamilton is expected to drive a 2022 or 2023 Ferrari car over the next few days at Fiorano.Hamilton announced last year that he was leaving Mercedes for Ferrari. (PTI)
Warner endorses Head as Aussie Test captain for Sri Lanka tour
SYDNEY, Jan 20: Former opener David Warner has backed Travis Head to be Australia’s new Test captain if Steve Smith isn’t fit for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka due to an elbow injury suffered in the Big Bash League (BBL). Smith was named as Australia’s Test captain for the Sri Lanka tour after Pat Cummins was unavailable due to left ankle soreness and the birth of his second child. But Cricket Australia (CA) said on Sunday that Smith sustained an injury to his right elbow whilst throwing in the field for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League on Friday.Smith, who was spotted wearing an elbow brace, is yet to join the Australian pre-tour camp at the ICC Academy in Dubai after seeing a specialist. But if he isn’t fit for the first Test in Galle, then Warner expects for Head, named as vice-captain for the Sri Lanka tour, to become Australia’s 48th Test skipper.Australia’s two-match Test series against Sri Lanka will begin on January 29 in Galle, followed by the second game beginning on February 6 at the same venue. It is followed by two ODIs in Colombo on February 12 and 14, respectively. (IANS)