Commonwealth Games Federation now called Commonwealth Sport
London, March 10: The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) on Monday changed its name to Commonwealth Sport, saying it was a transition from being a governing body to becoming a “movement”. The decision to change its name was announced on the occasion of Commonwealth Day – March 10. “From Commonwealth Day 2025 onwards, the Commonwealth Games Federation will be known as Commonwealth Sport,” the governing body of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games said in a media release. “The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is changing its public brand name to Commonwealth Sport. This brand development signifies the organisation’s transition from a ‘Sports Federation’ to a ‘Sports Movement’,” it added. (PTI)
Hockey India announces record prize pool for annual awards
New Delhi, March 10: Hockey India has announced a record prize pool of Rs 12 crore for its seventh Annual Awards for which 32 players have been nominated across eight categories. The event is scheduled to be held on Saturday here, to celebrate the finest performances of the 2024 season. One of the key highlights is the coveted Balbir Singh Sr Award for Player of the Year, which will honour the best male and female players. Young players have also been given the spotlight, with Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Men) and the Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women). In addition, individual excellence across various positions will be recognised through awards such as Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year, Pargat Singh Award for Defender of the Year, Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year, and Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year. This year’s awards will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Indian men’s team’s historic World Cup victory on the same date in 1975 – the country’s first and only world title to date. Adding to the significance, 2025 marks 100 years of Indian hockey, as the country became affiliated with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on November 7, 1925. (PTI)
Nitin Gupta improves national youth 5,000m race walk record
Patna, March 10: Nitin Gupta of Uttar Pradesh hogged the limelight as he broke the national youth record in 5,000m race walk event on the opening day of the National Youth Athletics Championship here on Monday. On his way to winning gold in boys’ 5,000m event, the 17-year-old clocked 19:24.48 seconds to improve his own national record of 20:01.64 set last year in Bhubaneswar. The 5000m race walk event is not normally in the roster at the senior level. The girls 3,000m race walk title went to Haryana’s Yogita whose winning time was 13:55.50. In the women’s 100m final, Haryana sprinters Aarti and Prisha Mishra were neck-and-neck, but it was the former who stole the show with a time of 12.23 seconds. Prisha clocked 12.24 seconds to win the silver. Shourya Ambure from Maharashtra took the bronze with a time of 12.40 seconds. The boy’s 100m gold went to Karnataka’s Chiranth P who clocked 10.89 seconds. (PTI)
Advani fights back to seal hat-trick of CCI snooker crown
Mumbai, March 10: Star cueist Pankaj Advani pulled off a stunning comeback to complete a hat-trick of titles at the Rs 13.5 lakh CCI Snooker classic tournament with a 8-6 win over Ishpreet Chadha in the best-of-15-frame final here. Advani, the reigning National and Asian snooker champion, triumphed 15-57, 26-101, 18-75, 100-25, 36-93, 118-0, 59-68, 45-77, 64-47, 93-72, 70 -60, 75-32, 73-32, 75-47 in a hard-fought final played over three gruelling sessions late Sunday night. Advani will now look to defend his World Billiards Championship title in Ireland next month. Chadha, on the other hand, heads to the UK to resume his WST season. (PTI)
Sukant, Nitesh win gold medals at Spanish Para Badminton tourney
New Delhi, March 10: Paris Paralympics champion Kumar Nitesh and Sukant Kadam secured gold medals in SL3 and SL4 categories respectively, leading India’s charge at the Spanish Para Badminton International 2025 – II in Vitoria, Spain. Nitesh registered a 21-19, 21-19 win over Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in the final of the SL3 category, while Sukant defeated fellow Indian Tarun 21-13, 21-10 in the SL4 category on Sunday. In SH6 category, Nithyashre emerged victorious, defeating Poland’s Szmigiel in the final to claim a top podium finish. In men’s doubles, Nitesh Kumar and Tarun edged past India’s Jagadesh Dilli and Naveen Sivakumar 21-14, 23-25, 22-20. The mixed doubles events also saw a strong Indian presence. Krishna Nagar and Nithyashre triumphed over England’s Shephard and Choong with a dominant 21-14, 21-11 victory to clinch gold in the SH6 category. Nitesh Kumar, pairing with Manisha Ramadass, added another gold to India’s tally in the SL3-SU5 category, defeating Sweden’s Rickad Nillson and Denmark’s Hello Sofie Sagoy with a convincing score of 21-9 and 21-15. Meanwhile, Alphia James lost the women’s singles final to Switzerland’s Ilaria Olgiati. (PTI)