The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Thursday confirmed that its entire contingent bound for the Olympics will be vaccinated against Covid-19 before the Tokyo Games. The IOA has also said its entire contingent has at least received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, while some have been fully vaccinated as well.

“The Indian Olympic Association therefore is confirming to IOC and Tokyo Organising Committee its commitment and pledge to follow all necessary precautions and guidelines, ensuring that all the participants through the Indian Olympic Association for the Tokyo Olympics including athletes, technical officials and delegate members will follow all precautions and will be vaccinated before leaving for Japan, presently each of the above has had the first vaccination and 2nd will happen as per vaccination protocols,” the IOA said in an official statement. “We thank the Government of India for their support in securing vaccinations for each of the contingent members and any representatives from India,” it added.

Further talking about ensuring safety of athletes at the Games, IOA said: “The safety of everyone involved at the Tokyo Olympics is the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) highest priority and the IOA will do everything possible to ensure that all the personnel part of the Indian contingent clear the necessary steps as provided in the playbook before boarding their respective flights for Tokyo.”

“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) along with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee have been carrying out fabulous work to ensure that the Olympic Games are held in a completely safe and secure environment for the betterment of the athletes as well as the public of Japan. We at IOA do not want to leave any stone unturned and are here to support the IOC and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee in every possible manner and aspect,” it added.

On May 22, the IOA had informed that 19 Olympic-bound athletes had received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and hence they were fully vaccinated against the virus.

131 athletes and 13 para athletes had received first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine while 17 athletes and 2 para athletes had received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as of May 20. 23 members of the coaching staff had received both doses of the vaccine while 87 members had taken first dose of the vaccine.

Former French World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane has decided to leave Real Madrid, the LaLiga club announced on Thursday.

Last week, after failing to win the LaLiga title for the 2020-21 season, Zidane had said he was gutted and would be talking to the club about his future later on. “Real Madrid C. F. announces that Zinedine Zidane has decided to bring an end to his current spell as head coach of our club,” the club said in an official statement.

“We must now respect his decision and express our gratitude for his professionalism, dedication and passion over the years and what he means to Real Madrid,” the statement further read.

Real Madrid hailed former boss for the contribution he made for the LaLiga club during his stint with the side.

“Zidane is one of Real Madrid’s great icons and his legacy extends beyond what he has achieved as a coach and player at our club,” the club said.

“He is aware that he has a place in the hearts of the Real Madrid fans and that he will always have a home at Real Madrid,” it added.

Last season, Real Madrid had won LaLiga, but this time they failed to secure the title. Real Madrid won 2-1 against Villarreal and as a result, the side finished at the second spot with 84 points.

India opener Mayank Agarwal is extensively preparing for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand in Southampton and is pretty much excited for the summit clash.

Mayank on Thursday shared a picture in Team India’s new training jersey. The right-handed batsman can be seen smiling as he poses for the picture. “Preparations are going strong and the excitement is building up,” Mayank captioned the post on his Instagram story.

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja shared pictures of his quarantine routine and also posted a picture in the new training kit.

Mayank and Jadeja are gearing up for the WTC final and are quarantined as Team India prepares to leave for the UK tour.

After completing the two-week quarantine in Mumbai, the team will undergo another 10-day quarantine in the UK. The second period will see them first undergo a hard quarantine before they take the field to train for the WTC final against New Zealand in Southampton, starting June 18.

The BCCI has ensured that the cricketers will get their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines in England under the guidance of the UK health department.

The BCCI has made a foolproof plan for the national team before they depart for the UK and arrangements were made for all the players to undergo three RT-PCR tests before assembling in Mumbai on May 19.

It is indeed a glorious feat for all Indians that Late Khashaba Jadhav amongst all odds became the first Indian to have clinched India’s first individual Olympic medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Taking in to consideration the above fact Central Government in 2010 named a wrestling stadium of almost 200 crores as KD Jadhav wrestling stadium which is a big achievement for all Maharashtrians. The wrestling arena sanctioned on 21st June 2009 which was initially 1 crore gradually increased due to delay in work to almost 5 crores. It is currently under construction in a very low pace, further, there had been many changes in the construction plan prior, now that the plan is approved, funds of 4.50 crores are sanctioned, out of which 1.58 crores were transferred way back in 2011, then what is the reason to revise the plan from G +3 to just the ground floor. In other states players who have brought laurels for their states are worshipped, honored.

Khashaba Jadhav not only bought laurels for Maharashtra but added feathers for India. He has always been met with injustice while alive, now post demise also the wrestling arena is amidst unlimited odds. You are an able officer, I request you to look into the matter, also request you to do needful so as to continue with G +2 plan.

If the capital city is proud to name an International wrestling stadium in Delhi as K D Jadhav Hall, inside the Indira Gandhi Stadium campus, then why are we lagging behind. Hoping for a positive reply from another side. But we are very frustrated.

We would further like to bring to your notice that electric wires are passing overhead from the plot where actual construction is going on, so it is commendable that we request to MSEB for shifting of poles & electric wires from the plot where actual construction of wrestling arena has to be done. Your visit at the site area would be an added benefit.

The writer is a son of India’s first Olympic medalist, Khashaba Jadhav.

Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom (51kg) and Sakshi (54kg) stormed into the Asian Boxing Championship finals after notching up stupendous victories in their last-four stage bouts here on Thursday. While Mary Kom prevailed 4-1 over Mongolia’’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg, two-time youth world champion Sakshi upstaged top-seeded Kazakh Dina Zholaman 3-2.

However, Monika (48kg) settled for a bronze medal after going down 0-5 to second seeded Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan. The top-seeded Mary Kom dug from her huge reservoir of experience to outwit the sprightly Altantsetseg.

The veteran’’s right hooks were particularly impressive in a compelling performance. She fought with a perilously low guard despite the aggressive intent shown by her rival and relied on her sharp reflexes to score on counter-attacks. The 38-year-old will now be gunning for her sixth gold medal at the continental showpiece. She will be up against Kazakhstan’’s Nazym Kyzaibay, a two-time world champion. Sakshi also endured a tough one against Zholaman but came out trumps, riding on her grit.

Earlier, in an intense contest, Monika just could not keep pace with Balkibekova, who craftily dodged the Indian’’s attacks and connected some eye-catching combination punches to dominate the proceedings. On Wednesday night, the Olympic-bound Ashish Kumar (75kg) lost 2-3 to Asian Games silver-medallist Abilkhan Amankul of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinal.

Also going down in the quarters was Narender (+91kg). He lost 0-5 to Kazakhstan’’s Kamshibek Kunkabayev. On Friday, five Indian men — Amit Panghal (52kg), Varinder Singh (60kg), Shiva Thapa (64kg), Vikas krishan (69kg) and Sanjeet (91kg) — will fight it out in the semifinals.

Of these, Panghal and Krishan are bound for Tokyo Olympics. India have secured an unprecedented 15 medals in the tournament.

Former Australia captain reckons that the Tim Paine-led side would not be physically drained out before the Ashes as the side would not be playing not many Tests before that.

England and Australia are set to lock horns in Ashes, beginning December 8 this year. Before that, Australia would play just one Test match against Afghanistan in November. “I honestly don’t think it matters that much. If they get a bit of first-class cricket in and they get that one Test match in against Afghanistan, are you better off going into the Ashes series with not a lot or going in with a lot of Tests,” cricket.com.au quoted Ponting as saying.

“Ashes series are so physically and mentally draining; you might be better off going in with less. But it doesn’t matter what you’re going in with, it’s about what you do in those big moments, as we saw with the India series,” he added.

Ponting also believes that Travis Head has it in him to make a comeback into the Australian Test side and he believes that the left-handed batsman could play a vital role in the Ashes.

“He went back to Shield cricket and really started filling his boots and making big scores – that’s what you want to see from those guys, the hunger to get themselves back in the Australian team. I think Travis will play some more Test cricket. I think that’s probably his slot in the middle order now, so let’s hope he can make the most of it,” said Ponting.

“But Marcus Harris is someone who can bat there as well, I don’t think he needs to open. If he shows that he’s good enough and scores enough runs in domestic cricket as an opener, then I think he can bat in the middle order quite easily. I think they’ve just got to work on who their best player is and if it’s Harris, if it’s Head, if it’s Henriques – work out who it is and give them a chance there,” he added.

Talking about Will Pucovski and Cameron Green, Ponting said: “To have Pucovski and Green come in and start challenging what some of the more experienced guys are doing is great for the team. You can have the same sort of conversation with a Riley Meredith and a Jhye Richardson, they are both a chance of playing some Test cricket in that Ashes series and that might just spark the bowling group on a little bit as well.”

“I like the fact that those younger blokes are there. I liked seeing Pucovski just for that one Test match and I love what Green’s done when he’s gone back to state cricket. He just seems really hungry to score lots of runs there – they are the things that you love seeing,” he added.