Chhattisgarh to host first Khelo India Tribal Games from today
Raipur, March 24: The first edition of the 10-day ‘Khelo India Tribal Games’ will begin here on Wednesday with around 3,800 athletes from across the country competing in nine sports disciplines, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said. Describing the games as a “milestone” in Indian sporting history, Sao said it would provide a major boost to the state’s sports ecosystem and infrastructure. The inaugural ceremony will be held at the Science College Ground in Raipur on Wednesday. Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will attend as chief guest, while Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai will preside over the function. The games will feature competitions in archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, and wrestling, while mallakhamb and kabaddi will be showcased as demonstration sports. The competitions will be held in Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja, and will conclude on April 3. A total of 106 gold medals will be contested, with athletics offering the highest number (34), followed by swimming (24), wrestling (18), weightlifting (16), and archery (10). Hockey and football, being team sports, will be held in Raipur, athletics in Jagdalpur, and wrestling in Surguja. (PTI)
Yuki and Venus lose tight first round contest in Miami Open
Miami (US), March 24: India’s Yuki Bhambri and his Kiwi partner Michael Venus made a first round exit from the Miami Open following a narrow loss to John-Patrick Smith and Sander Arends here. Yuki and Venus went down 6-4, 5-7, 13-15 in a round of 32 contest to the Australian-Dutch combine in one hour 52 minutes. There was little separating the two teams. Smith and Arends converted half of their four break points while Yuki and Venus were able to convert the couple of break points they earned in the match. Yuki and Venus made the semifinals of the US Open last year. (PTI)
Sinner breaks Djokovic’s Masters 1000 record with win at Miami Open
Miami, March 24: Jannik Sinner made ATP Masters 1000 history on at the Miami Open with his commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory against Corentin Moutet as he moved past Serbian great Novak Djokovic to win 26 consecutive sets at the Masters 1000 level. With his straightforward third-round triumph inside Hard Rock Stadium, the Italian has now won 26 consecutive sets at the Masters 1000 level, moving clear of Djokovic’s record of 24. Sinner had equalled that mark with his second-round win on Saturday in Miami before surpassing it in the third round. (IANS)
British PM Starmer helps snooker world champs stay at the Crucible
London, March 24: Helped by an intervention from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, snooker ‘s world championship is staying at its long-time home of the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield until at least 2045 amid fears it could have moved to China or Saudi Arabia. The iconic venue, which has hosted snooker’s biggest tournament since 1977, will undergo a 45 million pound ($60 million) refurbishment – most of which is being funded by national and local government. Barry Hearn, who runs snooker, described the Crucible as “no longer fit for purpose” two years ago, mainly because its 980-seat capacity meant it could not compete with potential interest from China and Saudi Arabia to stage the sport’s top event. The renovation will add up to 500 seats, bringing in greater revenue and likely raising prize money, and improve spectator facilities. (AP)
