Tennis star Jannik Sinner’s doping case will not have a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) before the end of the year, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) told AFP. Also Read: Gukesh used that ’Bridge! “There will be nothing by the end of the year,” WADA director general Olivier Niggli said in an interview with AFP. The Italian World No. 1 twice tested positive for traces of the banned substance clostebol in March but was exonerated and allowed to carry on playing. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 09:16 AM IST | Montreal | AFPThe meteoric rise of Dommaraju Gukesh from a talented teenager to the youngest-ever world chess champion at 18 has made the sporting world to stand up and applaud. The youngster flying high and then soaring with remarkable speed and perfect accuracy towards his destination only remind one how he so innocently yet emphatically declared a few years that he would do the incredible. Natural talent and temperament were the biggest contributing factors but the wind beneath his wings was the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), spearheaded by five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. Also Read: 3rd Test: Potts, Atkinson help England fight back against NZ India’s D Gukesh with the FIDE World Chess Championship trophy in Singapore on Friday. Pic/PTI WACA is a collaboration between Anand and Bangalore-based WestBridge Capital spearheaded by Sandeep Singhal. The online academy started in 2021 to create a platform to facilitate mentorship in nurturing young chess talents in India. The speed with which the players enrolled with WACA and blossomed in the last four years promises is extraordinary. And there’s more laurels to come. Many prominent names Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, R Vaishali, Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin Raunak Sadhwani, Avantika Agrawal were the first few to propel Indian chess towards glory over the last couple of years. India’s first-ever gold medals at the Chess Olympiad in both the Open and the Women’s section had WACA players performing prominently. As for Gukesh, he has been totally coached, polished and financed by WACA with Anand taking a keen interest in his journey. Anand’s experience at the elite level be it in terms of chess preparation, strategy or choice of coaches to strengthen all aspects of his game have benefitted Gukesh immensely. It added that much-needed confidence to navigate the rough terrain smoothly. In fact, Gukesh and Pragg attended group classes initially and benefitted from them. Anand prefers to call these prodigies his “WACA kids” and understandably takes pride in their achievements. “Initially, when we started with Gukesh, we envisaged a five-year progress to an ELO 2750, but his speed has been phenomenal,” said Anand. Informal approach Things are rather informal at WACA with the enlisted players sharing their files of the games played with Anand who then goes through them and after evaluation, assigns a coach to match the playing style of the player. There are no time-frames or structured rules but proactive collaboration of the players with their coaches is given prominence when considering further assistance. Former World Championship challenger Boris Gelfand, Grzegorz Gajewski (part of former Team Anand for the World Championship) and Sandipan Chanda were the initial trainers at WACA. Now, Vishnu Prasanna (Gukesh’s previous coach) and Shyam Sundar have also been enlisted. Anand added, “WACA has been working with several new players like Savithshree, Pranav Anand, Pranesh, Aditya Samanth to name a few and established ones like Abhimanyu Puranik, Rakshita Ravi and a few more apart from the ones we initially started with. Fifteen-year-old AR Ilamparthi and Arvind Chithambaram have joined recently. We have been focusing on Leon Mendonca with extensive personalised coaching as he is set to play at Wijk Aan Zee in January.” Singhal of Westbridge Capital, added: “All chess related decisions are taken by Anand and the Academy is structured on his experience. If there is a talent and an opportunity to help, WestBridge is always ready.”
15 December,2024 09:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Manisha MohiteExcellent Lass was the best three-year-old in training in February this year when she won the Gr 1, Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million (PBMM) on the Mahalaxmi racetrack. However, her performances later suggested she had regressed a bit in form, culminating in her worst performance in the last run at Hyderabad when she flopped as a half-money favourite in the Deccan Derby (Gr 1). Interestingly, three other fillies--Psychic Star and Jade from Pesi Shroff's stables, and Emphatic from trainer Padmanabhan's yard--have scored, in the last 45 days, two sensational wins each to stake a serious claim for the first Classic of the current Mumbai season, the JSK1 Indian 1000 Guineas (Gr 1), slated as the feature event of Sunday's Mahalaxmi card. Also Read: Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Mumbai set to lock horns with Madhya Pradesh in the final Psychic Star (Vivek G up) appears to be the best of the three budding champions at the moment, but I feel Excellent Lass was perhaps too ambitious to try the ten-furlong Classics, and since she is now cutting back to a mile, she has the best chance to emerge triumphant on the strength of a good Dynamic Class factor which, interestingly, hasn't changed a bit during her losing runs. First race at 1.30 pm.Selections: Forest Flame Trophy (Class III; 1000m)Turn And Burn 1, Fast Approach 2, Malet Spring 3. Korea Racing Authority Trophy - Div I (Class IV; 1400m)Ardakan 1, Ghirardelli 2, Cordelia 3. MN Nazir Trophy (Class III; 1600m)Angelo 1, Tiepolo 2, Booster Shot 3. Mahalakshmi Sprint Million (For 3y&o; 1200m)Snowfall 1, Miss American Pie 2, Dream Seller 3. Satinello Trophy (For 2y, Maidens; 1200m)Sovereign King 1, Oliver 2, Golden Dancer 3. JSK1 Indian 1000 Guineas - Gr 1 (For 3y old fillies; 1600m)Excellent Lass 1, Psychic Star 2, Jade 3. Korea Racing Authority Trophy - Div II (Class IV; 1400m)Mansa Musa 1, Amadeo 2, Medusa 3. Gift Of Grace Trophy (For 4y&o, Class V; 2000m)Caliph 1, Marlboro Man 2, Leo The Lion 3. RecommendationsBest bet: NoneUpsets: Bezalel (5-2) & Emphatic (6-2) Today's poolsSuper jackpot pool: 3,4,5,6,7,8Jackpot pool: 4,5,6,7,8Treble pools: I - 2,3,4; II - 5,6,7Tanala pool: All races.
15 December,2024 09:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Prakash GosaviIn a landmark moment for Indian chess, D Gukesh, at just 18 years old, became the youngest World Chess Champion in history on Thursday. The Chennai-based prodigy defeated reigning champion Ding Liren in a thrilling final game to secure the prestigious title, breaking a 38-year-old record held by Russian legend Garry Kasparov, who was 22 when he first won the championship in 1985. The 2024 Chess World Championship had been a closely contested affair, with both players tied 5-5 after the first ten games. Gukesh, however, found his rhythm in the later stages of the match. From the 11th game onwards, the young Indian grandmaster won two of the next four games, sealing the title with a 7.5-6.5 victory in the final classical time control game. Also Read: World Champion D Gukesh now owes Vidit Gujrathi the treat they once agreed upon Gukesh became only the second Indian to claim the World Chess Championship title, following in the footsteps of former champion Vishwanathan Anand. Adding to the excitement was a surprising touch during the final game, where the teenage champion was seen wearing a Roger Federer-branded shirt beneath his grey suit. The iconic black RF logo, synonymous with the tennis legend, delighted both his chess and tennis fanbase, adding an unexpected but symbolic twist to his victory. 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju became yesterday the youngest world chess champion in history. At one point in the championship match, he had a 0.27% chance of winning, yet he did.And what was he wearing under his jacket?A ROGER FEDERER 'RF' SHIRT.My jaw dropped when I saw it. pic.twitter.com/tWE6RdaG6d — Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) December 13, 2024 Despite the match being headed for a draw for most of the game, he seized an opportunity to press on, winning the critical 14th game. With this victory, Gukesh not only claimed the World Championship title but also walked away with a USD 1.3 million prize from the total USD 2.5 million prize pool. Also Read: Cricket’s mental guru Upton now chess champion Gukesh’s secret weapon Reflecting on his historic achievement, Gukesh shared his emotions with the media: "I’ve been dreaming of this moment for the last 10 years, and I’m happy to have turned that dream into reality. I got a bit emotional because I wasn’t expecting to win, but when I got the chance, I pressed on."
14 December,2024 09:44 AM IST | Singapore | mid-day online correspondentD Gukesh will no doubt be drowning in a sea of honours and accolades upon landing in India, but fellow Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi will be standing by with a friendly reminder that the ‘treat’ promised during Chess Olympiad still needs to be fulfilled. Asked if he has had the chance to congratulate Gukesh on his win, Gujrathi said, “I know he is being bombarded with calls and messages right now. So, I am waiting for him to enjoy this glory for some time and then call.” “We have had a deal between ourselves, if he became the World Champion, he has to give me a treat. I think whatever I ask, I will get (laughs).” At just 18 years old, Gukesh has done what many only dream of: becoming the youngest-ever world chess champion after obliterating China’s Ding Liren. He didn’t just win the World Championship in Singapore on Thursday—he obliterated a record held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who was all of 22 when he grabbed the title in 1985. Also Read: IN PHOTOS: Unseen childhood pictures of World Champion D Gukesh show early chess genius Gukesh had already made his mark as India’s youngest-ever grandmaster at the ripe old age of 12 years, seven months, and 17 days—an accomplishment that had the chess world doing a collective double-take. To put this in perspective, Magnus Carlsen, the reigning superstar and five-time world champion, was older when he became the world’s best. Gukesh went on to prove he was exactly who everyone thought he was, after all, this is the same kid who, just six years ago, casually declared, “I want to become the youngest world chess champion.” The gravity of Thursday’s achievement was made perfectly clear the moment he secured the requisite 7.5 points to Ding’s 6.5 after clinching the 14th and final classical time control game of the match that seemed headed for a draw for the most part. Gukesh bursting into tears and embracing his father after nearly three weeks and 14 grueling games was a moment so unexpected that it could only be described as a rare slip in composure from the young man who, in public, is the living embodiment of shy and reserved, hardly ever giving anyone a glimpse of the human side. “Initially, he was very reserved, and he would not interact so much with his teammates. In tournaments, he would not even speak with others. But during Olympiad, I saw a very different side of his. He let go of that intensity, that was rare. He was hanging out with us, laughing a lot, and we cracked many jokes. He transformed himself to take that pressure off and he seemed more casual in his approach outside the setting of chess. That is a difference I saw in his personality,” remarked Gujrathi. Also Read: Cricket’s mental guru Upton now chess champion Gukesh’s secret weapon When asked if this year marked the start of India’s inevitable rise as the undisputed powerhouse of world chess, Gujrathi was certain that it would somehow magically draw legions of new players to the game. “There is a new World Champion amongst us, and also the youngest-ever. Many people said that after Ding became the World Champion, the results that followed it were not so good. But now we have someone who has had a great run this year. I think what really changes is how India is perceived now. First, the Olympiad title, and now the World Champion also an Indian. We saw revolution happening when (Viswanathan) Anand was crowned the World Champion. This too will trigger a similar response. This is the beginning, I can only see good coming out of it,” he said. India’s chess prowess today, of course, is deeply rooted in the success of its first Grandmaster, Anand, along with female chess luminary Koneru Humpy. Anand, of course, appeared out of thin air in the late 1980s to become the world’s leading player, going on to win five world championships and staying at the top for nearly 25 years. Then, of course, there was Humpy—the reigning women’s world rapid chess champion—who nonchalantly became the youngest woman to achieve the GM title back in 2002. Now, after a modest lag of a decade or two, the current generation of Grandmasters has magically emerged, propelled by the decades-long domino effect left by Anand and Humpy. The baton has now been passed to the young Gukesh, and as things stand, in Gujrathi’s words, this is really only the beginning!
14 December,2024 09:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarIndian women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand missed out on a semi-final spot at the BWF World Tour Finals after losing to Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in straight games (17-21, 13-21) in their third and final group A match here on Friday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2024 06:39 AM IST | Hangzhou | PTIIndian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna, who was part of world champion Dommaraju Gukesh’s team believes his world title will serve as a huge inspiration to youngsters and has led Indian chess into a golden era. Gukesh, 18, beat defending champion Ding Liren of China 7.5-6.5 in the 14-game championship in Singapore on Thursday to become the youngest world champion. Pentala Harikrishna “We saw Indian chess on a high when Viswanathan Anand was world champion till 2013, and after 11 years, we have Gukesh. India also won the Olympiad gold [team competition] earlier this year. This is total domination by us. This is the golden era of Indian chess,” Harikrishna, 38, told mid-day over the phone from Malaga, Spain, where most of the team was based. Apart from Harikrishna, Team Gukesh comprised four Polish Grandmasters and mental trainer Paddy Upton. “We were working remotely. There’s a seven-hour time difference between Singapore and Spain, so we worked on strategies accordingly and then presented them to Gukesh. Our team focused on the openings and helped Gukesh get more adventurous and intense in his games. I also had some intense end-game sessions with him. We held pre-match sessions and also sessions during the championship. Our preparation started around 11 months ago. Being the only Indian among the seconds was helpful. Gukesh knows all of us well, but he was a little more comfortable with me as I have been his teammate too,” added Harikrishna. The former world junior champion underlined the significance of Upton’s role: “In the past, we had never known about this [mental] aspect but Gukesh clearly felt more comfortable after his sessions with Upton. It helped him to have a nice sleep and remain calm. That’s very important in a tournament like the world championship. In fact, in any high-intensity game, holding your nerve is very crucial because one blunder, like what Ding did in Game 14, can be disastrous. Upton ensured Gukesh remained mentally strong throughout.” Gukesh’s ability to remain calm and fight back is his strength, said Harikrishna. “Gukesh went down in the first game, but won the third to equalise things. Then, seven games were drawn before he won the 11th to take the lead. He lost his concentration in Game 12 as Ding levelled the series, but then showed his mental toughness in Game 13 [draw] and Game 14. This is his biggest strength. He takes the setbacks in his stride and recovers. He fights till the end and is cool even when he loses a match. During this championship, Ding tried to close the game many times, but Gukesh did not give up and kept pushing.” TN CM announces Rs 5cr cash prize Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday announced a cash prize of R5 crore for D Gukesh for becoming the youngest World Chess Champion. Gukesh achieved the feat on Thursday.
14 December,2024 06:39 AM IST | Hyderabad | N Jagannath DasAmerican tennis great Andre Agassi believes pickleball can make it to the Olympic Games sooner than anticipated. In the city to announce the launch of the Pickleball World Rankings-DUPR India League on Friday, Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, said pickleball has made racquet sports more accessible to the masses. He said that the sport is growing by leaps and bounds in USA and has great potential to be accepted in India too as the PWR-DUPR India League gets underway next month. “Pickleball is going to add a great deal to this country, to our health, to our community, and much more. I can see it at the Olympics sooner than what we are hoping for. The game can be introduced to families to give a better quality of life to all,” said Agassi. Also Read: Playing Pickleball: The offbeat sport that's taking over the by-lanes of Mumbai “In America, I have seen some good professional players play pickleball and this includes women in their 60s indulging in a fun game. The bottomline is that everyone is having the time of their lives, and that’s what this sport brings to the table,” added Agassi, insisting that it’s a much easier sport than tennis. “There are 30 million people playing pickleball in America, and believe me, it’s still in its infancy. I will always defend tennis as the most difficult racquet sport in the world as it demands the maximum from you physically, mentally, emotionally. However, anybody can play pickleball, it’s not intimidating. You can grab the paddle and believe me; you get better every 10 minutes,” added the former World No. 1 tennis ace.
14 December,2024 06:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Tarkesh JhaThe SFA Championships 2024 Mumbai concluded with Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya, Borivali, emerging as the overall champions. The grand finale was graced by special guests, including Mumbai City FC’s Ayush Chhikara and Halen Nongtdu and former Indian hockey player and Olympian Gavin Ferreira adding a touch of inspiration to the event. The spotlight at the SFA Championships 2024 Mumbai shone brightly on the exceptional achievements of the tournament’s standout athletes. Veer Bhadu, from Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, earned the title of Golden Boy, clinching gold in both boxing and wrestling. Meanwhile, Vaishnavi Jagda, representing Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya, Borivali, claimed the Golden Girl title, securing gold medals in Wrestling, Judo, and Throwball Sports For All (SFA) continues to revolutionise grassroots sports by professionalising, organising, and monetising opportunities for young athletes. This year's championships attracted over 21,000 participants aged between 3 and 18 from 790 schools across Mumbai, marking a milestone in the event’s growth. Also Read: IN PHOTOS: "Pickleball will find its way to Olympics soon": Andre Agassi The final day of the SFA Championships 2024 Mumbai saw the Kho Kho tournament conclude in style. R.F. Naik Vidyalaya and Jr College, Kopar Khairane, dominated the field to secure gold in the U-14 category, while Vibgyor High, Malad East, claimed gold in the boys’ U-16 division. In the girls’ U-18 category, Fatima High School, Vidyavihar, clinched the gold medal with an impressive performance. Eventual winners, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishna Vidyalaya, Borivali, excelled in multiple disciplines, earning the title of Best School for Sport with stellar performances in Badminton, Throwball, Judo, and Wrestling. Meanwhile, Don Bosco High School, Matunga, was deemed the best school in Hockey and was presented the award by Ferreira, who represented India at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Their picture together, with the addition of hockey sticks, was one for the keeps. Similarly, the young student footballers were overjoyed to meet and greet the Mumbai City FC stars, lining up to take autographs and pictures with them. Oberoi International School, Goregaon, was declared the best school in Football and was presented the award by the MCFC duo. The closing ceremony was the conclusion of an exciting three-month championship journey, demonstrating the importance of sport in India and the values of community and sportsmanship. The competition began in October with thrilling games in Delhi, Uttarakhand and Hyderabad. It continued in November with games in Indore, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Pune, and concluded in December with the Championships in Jaipur and Mumbai, providing a platform to more than 150,000 students from nearly 4,700 schools across the country. The success of the SFA Championships 2024 was a collective achievement, made possible by the dedication of athletes, the guidance of coaches, the tireless support of parents, the energy of the participating schools and the various venues and federations involved, all of who understand the power of sports and how it impacts our society. This event marks just the beginning; India’s sports ecosystem needs greater participation, encouragement, and investment to unlock its full potential and create a lasting impact on future generations. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
13 December,2024 10:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentD Gukesh on December 12 achieved the feat of becoming the youngest-ever World chess champion. He scripted history by defeating China's Ding Liren in Singapore. D Gukesh won the 14th game against Liren in 58 moves, following which he was crowned as the 18th World Chess champion. Also Read: "We will give it a shot at Gabba": Pat Cummins warns Indian batters With this, the 18-year-old D Gukesh became the 18th World Chess champion. Before D Gukesh's feat, the legendary Garry Kasparov of Russia was the youngest world chess champion when he won the title at the age of 22, unseating Anatoly Karpov in 1985. Taking to X: 18th @ 18! pic.twitter.com/krXbIfewo0 — Gukesh D (@DGukesh) December 13, 2024 D Gukesh had entered the title match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. He is the second Indian to win the world chess title after the legendary Indian chess star Viswanathan Anand. “I am just living my dream,” said newly-crowned world chess champion D Gukesh on Thursday, his unassuming persona shining through even after a history-scripting performance that made him the youngest ever to achieve the triumph. “I was dreaming this moment for last 10 years. Happy I realised this dream,” Gukesh said after his incredible victory. “I got a bit emotional because I was not expecting to win. But then I got a chance to press on,” he added. “I’ve been dreaming about this and living this moment since I was 6 or 7. Every chess player wants to live this moment. I’m living my dream. I’d like to thank God from candidates till the championship.” He also praised his opponent Liren. “To me Ding is a real world champion. He fought like a true champion and I’m sorry for Ding and team. I would like to thank my opponent,” D Gukesh said. Anand was citing his 2006 victory over Veselin Topalov in a World Championship that he won after losing the first game.
13 December,2024 04:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA smiling D Gukesh saw the world championship trophy for the first time on Friday after becoming the youngest-ever to win it but said he would wait a while before laying his hands on it. The 18-year-old Grandmaster from Chennai became the youngest-ever world champion after defeating China's Ding Liren in the 14th and last game of the showdown that lasted nearly three weeks. "Seeing it up close for the first time... I don't want to touch it, I want to lift it at the closing ceremony!" Gukesh could be heard saying in a small clip posted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Also Read: Liren's 'deliberate' loss to Gukesh called into question by Russian chess head The closing ceremony is to be held here later this evening. Gukesh is the second Indian after the great Viswanathan Anand to clinch the title that the latter held five times in his illustrious career. The teenager had harboured this ambition since he was a seven-year-old and was eventually mentored by Anand in his journey towards the top. "I've been dreaming about this and living this moment since I was 6 or 7. Every chess player wants to live this moment. I am living my dream," Gukesh said after his win on Thursday. He is expected to return to India over the weekend to a rapturous welcome in his home city. The youngster has enjoyed a stellar year, starting with his win in the Candidates Tournament in Canada which made him the youngest ever challenger to the world title. He then played a crucial role in India winning the men's team gold at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 December,2024 01:20 PM IST | Singapore | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
