India set to host 2030 CWG
New Delhi, Oct 15: Ahmedabad was on Wednesday recommended as the proposed host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games by Commonwealth Sport’s Executive Board, paving the way for the big event’s return to India after two decades and bolstering its ambition to be an Olympic host in 2036. A final decision, which now seems a mere formality, will be taken on November 26 at the body’s General Assembly in Glasgow after the recommendation is sent to the full membership of Commonwealth Sport. India had hosted the Games for the first time back in 2010 in New Delhi. Getting the Games’ hosting rights would also be a significant milestone in India’s quest to become an Olympic host in 2036, also proposed to be conducted in Ahmedabad. India was facing competition from Nigerian city of Abuja in the 2030 bid but Commonwealth Sport has decided to “develop a strategy for supporting and accelerating” the African nation’s hosting ambitions for future Games, including consideration for 2034. “The Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport has today confirmed that it will recommend Amdavad, India, as the proposed host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games.” “Amdavad (also known as Ahmedabad, in the Indian state of Gujarat), will now be put forward to the full Commonwealth Sport membership, with the final decision taking place at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on 26 November,” it added. (PTI)
Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya enter second round of Denmark Open
Odense, Oct 15: Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty survived a scare before progressing to the men’s doubles second round with a thrilling win over Scotland’s Christopher Grimley and Matthew Grimley at the Denmark Open Super 750 tournament here on Wednesday. Satwik and Chirag, who reached back-to-back finals at the Hong Kong Open and China Masters, rallied from a game down to beat Christopher and Matthew 17-21, 21-11, 21-17 in their opening match. The sixth-seeded Indian pair, who claimed their second World Championships bronze earlier this year in Paris, will next face Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan. In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen made a winning start to his campaign with a hard-fought 10-21, 21-8, 21-18 victory over Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen. The 24-year-old from Almora, who finished fourth at the Olympics and recently reached the Hong Kong Super 500 final, will meet either second seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark or Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting in the next round. (PTI)
Norway Chess organisers launch World Championship Tour
New Delhi, Oct 15: The organisers of Norway Chess on Wednesday announced the launch of the Total Chess World Championship Tour, which will consist of four events each year and crown a combined champion across three disciplines – Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz chess. Norway Chess CEO Kjell Madland told PTI that a long-term agreement has been signed with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for the tournament, which will be an annual affair and begin in 2027. “We expect this (Total Chess World Championship Tour), to become one of the most prestigious events in the entire chess calendar,” said Madland. He said that the World Championships, which is held in the Classical format, and the newly-conceptualised Total Chess World Championship Tour will complement each other as it had been officially approved by FIDE. “The new championship will not replace or affect any existing FIDE World Championship titles,” he said. (PTI)
George Russell, Kimi Antonelli staying with Mercedes F1 team
Barckley (England), Oct 15: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will stay with Mercedes in Formula 1 next year after the team finally concluded a drawn-out contract renewal process. In a statement Wednesday, Mercedes didn’t give any details of the contracts other than that five-time F1 race winner Russell and his rookie teammate Antonelli will stay with the team in 2026. Russell won his second race of the year at the Singapore Grand Prix this month. Both he and Antonelli came through Mercedes’ development program in junior series. In June, Russell suggested one reason for a delay in contract talks might be that Mercedes was speaking to Max Verstappen, who eventually confirmed he was staying with Red Bull. “Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if. We wanted to take our time, handle the negotiations properly and make sure everyone, on all sides, was happy,” team principal and chief executive Toto Wolff said in a statement. (IANS)
in the city on October 11 and 12.
