IBA grants full membership to Indian Amateur Boxing Federation
New Delhi, Feb 10: The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) has been granted full membership of the International Boxing Association (IBA). The landmark decision was taken during the IBA Board Meeting held on February 6, 2026, and was formally communicated through an official letter issued from Lausanne, Switzerland, on February 9. Congratulating IABF on this achievement, IBA president Umar Kremlev addressed a letter to IABF chief Rakesh Mishra appreciating the federation’s commitment to the sport of boxing, its transparent governance, and its adherence to international standards. These factors, he stated, were instrumental in granting IABF full membership. With full membership status, IABF has now been formally invited to participate in upcoming international tournaments and events organised under the aegis of IBA. (IANS)
India to field 50 players for Dubai 2026 Para Athletics GP
Dubai, Feb 10: The stage is set for the season-opening 17th Fazza International Para Athletics Championships – Dubai 2026, with Paralympic and world champions ready to kick-start the year at the Dubai Club for People of Determination grounds here. The championships, which will run from February 10-13, will feature 500 athletes from 56 nations, all aiming to achieve minimum qualification standards for major events scheduled later in the year. Among the international names, India has brought its top Paralympic stars in its 50-member squad, including reigning Paris 2024 champion javelin throwers Sumit Antil (F64) and Navdeep (F41), along with two-time Paris 2024 medallist Preeti Pal and Simran, the Paralympic bronze medallist in the women’s 200m T12. Top European champions include Belgium’s Maxime Carabin, a two-time Paris 2024 Paralympic champion and five-time world champion that include three gold medals at the Kobe 2024 World Championshi. Canada’s Austin Smeenk, the Paris 2024 Paralympics gold medallist in the men’s 800m T34 and bronze medallist in the men’s 100m T34, will be another star to watch during the championships. (IANS)
Alireza Firouzja to play in Norway Chess 2026
StavAnger (NORWAY), Feb 10: Alireza Firouzja, widely regarded as one of the most dynamic and gifted chess players of his generation, will return to the elite Norway Chess tournament in 2026, adding further star power to one of the sport’s most prestigious events. Firouzja made history by becoming the youngest player ever to reach a 2800 Elo rating, a benchmark achieved by only a select group of chess players. His meteoric rise began early: he earned the grandmaster title at 14 and later became the second-youngest player to cross the 2700 rating mark, achieving it at 16. The French-Iranian star has also established himself as a consistent contender at the highest level of the game. Firouzja has qualified twice for the FIDE Candidates Tournament: first by winning the FIDE Grand Swiss in 2021 at age 18, and again through the FIDE rating list in January 2024. (IANS)
Nagal, Mukund advance; wildcard Rawat upsets 8th seed Noguchi
Chennai, Feb 10: India’s Sumit Nagal and Mukund Sasikumar registered contrasting wins to advance to the second round of the Chennai Open ATP Challenger here on Tuesday. The biggest cheer of the day, however, came from the home crowd when Indian wildcard Sidharth Rawat produced a major upset, knocking out fifth seed Rio Noguchi in three sets. The 32-year-old Rawat, ranked No. 715 in the world, recovered after losing the opening set 2-6 to win 6-3, 6-2 against Noguchi, who is ranked No. 246. In the late evening match, former champion and India No. 1 Nagal, who was part of India’s Davis Cup win over the Netherlands in Bengaluru over the weekend, recovered from a slow start to beat Britain’s Felix Gill 1-6, 6-1, 6-3. Earlier in the day, Mukund fought back from an early break down in the first set to defeat fellow Indian and close friend Nitin Kumar Sinha 7-5, 6-3. Seventh seed Florent Bax of France also bowed out of the competition after being forced to retire in the third set of his first-round clash against Denis Yevseyev. The Kazakh was leading 5-7, 6-4, 3-2 when Bax was unable to continue. Second seed Federico Agustin Gomez, third seed Oliver Crawford, fourth seed Ilia Simakin and sixth seed Frederico Ferreira Silva all progressed to the Round of 16 after recording wins over Indian players. (PTI)
F1 driver Kimi Antonelli unharmed after car crash close to his home
Brackley (England), Feb 10: Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has escaped unscathed from a road accident close to his home in San Marino. His Mercedes team said Tuesday that the Italian was unhurt with no other vehicles involved in the crash, which happened on Saturday. “We can confirm that Kimi was involved in a traffic accident on Saturday night close to his home in San Marino,” Mercedes said. (AP)
