Gulveer Singh betters own 3000m national record
NEW DELHI, Aug 13: India’s Gulveer Singh bettered his own national record in non-Olympic event of men’s 3000m race while finishing fifth at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial – Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix in Budapest.He clocked 7 minute 34.49 seconds on Tuesday night to eclipse his own previous national record time of 7.38.26 set at the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational meet in February this year.The 27-year-old Singh was competing in his first track race in Europe.The meet in Budapest is a World Athletics Continental Tour gold level event, the highest in the class.Kipsang Mathew Kipchumba of Kenya won the race with a time of 7:33.23, while Eduardo Herrera (7:33.58) of Mexico, Oscar Chelimo (7:33.93) of Uganda and Valentin Soca (7:34.28) of Uruguay were second, third and fourth respectively.Singh also owns national records in men’s 5000m (12:59.77) and 10,000m (27:00.22), a stupendous achievement for an Indian.He has already qualified for the men’s 5000m race in the World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. (PTI)
Online platform to launch Indian Chess League
NEW DELHI, Aug 13: An online chess platform has partnered with a sports promotion foundation to launch the Indian Chess League and strengthen the sport’s ecosystem in the country with a slew of initiatives, including identifying and nurturing the underprivileged young talents.The country’s chess landscape is undergoing substantial growth in recent years both in terms of the number of grandmasters and the performance of Indian players on the global stage.“T9L QUBE incubated startup RookTook partners with STAIRS Foundation to foster chess development with an ambition to nurture young Indian talent,” a press release stated.RookTook is a chess platform that allows individuals to participate in daily tournaments and earn rewards.STAIRS stands for Society for Transformation, Inclusion & Recognition through Sports and it is an initiative focussed on grassroots sports and youth development. (PTI)
Tennis star Venus Williams to get new Barbie doll
NEW YORK, Aug 13: Venus Williams has a new Barbie, this one part of the dollmaker’s Inspiring Women collection.Williams’ doll, to be released Friday, will celebrate the tennis great and pay equity champion with a doll wearing the uniform she wore while winning Wimbledon in 2007.Williams’ win for the fifth of her seven grand slam titles was the first time a woman received equal prize money as the men at a top-level tournament.The doll, suggested to retail for $38, will feature Williams in all white with a green gem necklace, wristband, racket and tennis ball.Williams also had a Barbie doll released in May 2024 that highlighted nine trailblazing female athletes as part of Barbie’s 65th anniversary celebration. (PTI)