PM Modi hails Anandkumar Velkumar’s historic feat
New Delhi, Sep 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Anandkumar Velkumar for securing India’s first-ever world championship gold in speed skating. In a post on X, PM Modi extended his greetings to Anandkumar Velkumar for winning gold in the Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint at the Speed Skating World Championships 2025, a landmark moment for Indian sports. “Proud of Anandkumar Velkumar for winning the Gold at the Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint in the Speed Skating World Championships 2025. His grit, speed and spirit have made him India’s first World Champion in skating. His accomplishment will inspire countless youngsters. Congratulations to him and best wishes for all future endeavours,” PM Modi said. Anandkumar Velkumar secured India’s first-ever gold medal at the Speed Skating World Championships held in China. The 22-year-old speedster clocked 1:24.924 in the senior men’s 1000m sprint to emerge victorious, becoming India’s first world champion in the sport. (IANS)
Gulveer, Abhishek Pal, Lili Das to compete in Delhi Half Marathon
New Delhi, Sep 16: Some of India’s leading middle and long-distance runners, including multiple national record holder Gulveer Singh, will compete in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon next month. Gulveer, the Asian Championships double gold medallist in men’s 5,000m and 10,000m and national record holder in both the events, has confirmed his participation in the October 12 event and will vie for honours in the ‘elite Indian category’ alongside in-form Abhishek Pal, the double gold medallist at the National Inter-state Senior Athletics Championships this year, among others. The women’s section will see reigning Delhi Half Marathon champion Lili Das compete for the honours along side Sanjivani Jadhav – the TCS World 10K Bengaluru gold medallist and silver medal winner in 5000m at the recently concluded Senior National Championship in Bengaluru – and 2023 DHM winner Kavita Yadav, among others in the ‘elite Indian category’. More than 40,000 runners from across the world, including defending champion in the ‘elite international category’ Alemaddis Eyayu and compatriot Jemal Mekonen will headline the 20th edition of the event, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.Kenya’s Paris Marathon champion Benard Biwott, Olympic 5000m silver medallist Ronald Kwemoi, who will be making his half-marathon debut, and Isaac Kipkemboi are also in the men’s line-up. (PTI)
Italian skier Franzoso dies after crash in training in Chile
Milan, Sep 16: Italian skier Matteo Franzoso has died following a crash in preseason training in Chile, the Italian Winter Sports Federation announced on Monday. He was 25. He’s the second elite Italian skier to die in less than a year, after Matilde Lorenzi in October 2024. Franzoso suffered “a major head injury” on Saturday and was being treated at a hospital in Santiago. The federation, FISI, said it was informed by medical officials in Chile of the skier’s death, adding he did not survive “cranial trauma” and a consequent swelling of his brain. Franzoso won a super-G race on the second-tier Europa Cup circuit in 2021, having finished fourth in the downhill at the world junior championships in 2020. (AP)