The modest home of an agricultural daily wage worker in Settisathiram here erupted in celebration as Indian athlete Praveen Chithravel secured the silver medal in the men’s triple jump at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Praveen’s father, Chithravel, expressed immense pride in his son’s international achievement while reflecting on the family’s humble beginnings.

“I am an agricultural daily wage worker,” he told PTI Videos.

“We educated our children and supported their dreams with the income I earned through daily wage work,” he said.

Recalling the early days of Praveen’s athletic journey, he said, “Wherever I went, I took him on my bicycle. I showed him the world little by little, and step by step, he improved and went on to compete at the international level.” 
Praveen clinched the silver medal on Saturday with a best leap of 16.58 metres in freezing conditions, narrowly missing the gold medal.

Acknowledging the close finish, his father said the family had hoped for gold but was immensely proud of his achievement.

“He missed it by a hair’s breadth, but that’s okay,” he said, adding, “Next time, my son will certainly win the gold medal and bring greater pride to India and Tamil Nadu.” 
The father, whose daughter works as a teacher and whose two sons are athletes, credited the entire community for Praveen’s success.

“The youth of this village encouraged him as though he were their own child,” he said.

“Teachers, relatives, and the entire village guided me in ways I did not know and helped my son progress to the next level,” Chithravel added.

He also expressed gratitude to the authorities.

“I am deeply indebted to both the State and Central governments for extending all the assistance and support we needed,” he said.

The family and villagers watched the event unfold on television, celebrating Praveen’s latest international medal.

The athlete had earlier won a bronze medal at the Asian Games.

Looking ahead, Praveen’s father said he hoped his son’s achievements would inspire the next generation.

“I pray that my son wins the gold medal next time,” he said.

“More importantly, I hope his success brings immense pride to this village and inspires at least ten more youngsters from here to take up sports and excel,” he added.

Manu Bhaker (Image credit: Instagram)

NEW DELHI: Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has urged young people to avoid using abusive language, saying that “using bad language is not cool” and that the words people use reflect their personality.The 23-year-old shooter, who won two medals at the Paris Olympics, shared a long message on X on Sunday. She did not mention any particular incident but spoke about the increasing use of abusive language in everyday conversations.

‘Choose your words wisely’

Bhaker said people should be careful about the words they use because they shape a person’s character over time.“The language we choose reflects our personality and the kind of person we are. Choose your words wisely, because over time, you become what you think, what you speak, and what you practice.”“Using bad language is not cool. Abusing is not cool,” she said.Bhaker also said that being “cool” has nothing to do with abusive language.“Let’s keep the definition of cool simple: being hardworking, kind, respectful towards others and yourself, striving to be successful through honesty, and making your parents and your country proud. That’s cool,” the Indian shooter said.Bhaker later explained why she decided to speak about the issue. She said abusive language has slowly become normalised, especially among youngsters.

“I’m speaking about this because, over the past few years, the way we perceive abusive language has changed. For many, using such words has become so normal that it’s even considered ‘cool’. Without realising it, people casually use degrading and disrespectful language in everyday conversations,” Bhaker said.Manu created history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-Independence era to win two medals at a single Olympic Games. She won bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.

Sigrid Haugset of Norway won stage three of the Tour de France Femmes on Monday, seizing the overall lead and the yellow jersey from Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes in the Jura region.

Haugset, of the Uno-X Mobility team, launched a gutsy solo attack less than halfway into the hilly 156.6km route between Geneva and Poligny, and held off Belgium‘s Lotte Kopecky.

Kopecky dropped back in the closing stages after failing to reel in Haugset, crossing the line 1 minute 24 seconds behind as the Norwegian became the first rider from her country to win a Tour stage and wear the yellow jersey.

“I haven’t been thinking about it because I never thought it was possible. So standing here, it’s unreal,” said Haugset, who built her her win by attacking on the third of the day’s four climbs, the Côte de la Savine.

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“When I went, it wasn’t many seconds and I thought she (Kopecky) would catch me. Then I thought I should just drop down to her … Second is good. But I kept on. The team car was amazing, pushing me.

“I was thinking about all my team-mates, everyone cheering from home and so I had to give it my all. I can’t believe that Lotte didn’t catch me. All done in the Norwegian jersey too, it’s fantastic.”

The main favourites for overall victory on August 9 in Nice, such as reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Demi Vollering, all finished together, almost three minutes behind Haugset.

Wiebes, who won the opening two stages, was dropped as soon as the road began to rise on the Col de la Faucille early in the race. She ended more than 20 minutes off the pace.

Tuesday’s fourth stage should provide a first real shake-up among the overall contenders, with a 21km time trial between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento has died at age 34, the UFC announced Monday.

Nascimento was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep, according to a statement released by the organization.

Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene, the UFC said.

In a post shared on X, the UFC said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan’s family, friends, teammates, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Ryan Garcia has insisted that he will never rematch Devin Haney, unless his welterweight rival agrees to make an unlikely admission.

The pair squared off in April 2024, back when Garcia weighed 3lbs above the super-lightweight limit and edged a majority decision after scoring three knockdowns.

That result was then ruled a no-contest after it emerged that ‘King Ry’ had tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, before producing one of his standout performances.

Since then, the 27-year-old has served a year-long ban but maintains his innocence, albeit with wild accusations of an ‘inside job’ orchestrated by Team Haney and the late Victor Conte.

Such baseless allegations were made under the suspicion that Conte, a former doping facilitator, had used his relationship with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association to tamper with Garcia’s samples.

The boxer then attempted to strengthen his claim by highlighting Conte’s partnership with Haney, who continues to work with the doping expert’s SNAC Nutrition.

In response, the former steroid distributor-turned-anti-doping advocate dismissed Garcia’s assessment as nothing more than a conspiracy theory, yet the American continues to suggest that he was sabotaged by Team Haney.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, the WBC welterweight champion said he would not rematch Haney unless he admits to this alleged wrongdoing.

“Until [Haney] admits that they [his team] f**ked with my s**t, or something was going on, I’m never going to fight him.

“His little brother supposedly knew I was going to get caught with steroids. Why would his little brother go on his [social media] story and say ‘Ryan Garcia is going to get caught for steroids’?

“How the f**k did you know? I tested for four months straight [and every result came back] clean.”

While his previous results may have come back negative, the fact of the matter is that Garcia did test positive for a banned substance.

Nigerian forward Flourish Sebastine has completed her move to Portuguese champions Benfica, signing a three-year deal with the club.

The 21-year-old joins Benfica after a successful spell with Turkish side Fenerbahçe, where she helped the club win the Turkish Women’s Super League title last season.

Sebastine started her career with Bayelsa Queens and won three domestic titles before moving to Europe. She later played for Stade de Reims in France, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe in Turkey.

Her journey with the Nigerian national teams also started at youth level. She represented Nigeria at the 2022 and 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups.

One of her biggest moments came at the 2022 tournament when she scored the winning goal against France.

Her performances eventually earned her a place in the Super Falcons, and she made her senior debut against Japan in October 2022.

Now, Sebastine begins a new chapter in Portugal after saying goodbye to Fenerbahçe.

Known for her pace, movement and finishing, the forward is expected to add more attacking strength to Benfica as they compete for domestic honours and in European competitions.

Her move also means she will reunite with fellow Nigerian Janet Akekoromowei at Benfica, continuing the club’s growing connection with Nigerian women’s football.

For Sebastine, the move provides another chance to develop her game at one of Europe’s leading women’s clubs.

It also gives the Super Falcons forward an opportunity to gain more experience at the highest level as she continues to establish herself in European football.

India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was on Monday named in the North Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy, while Jammu and Kashmir wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan was appointed captain of the 15-member team.Arshdeep, who is a regular in India’s white-ball teams, was part of the Test squad during the 2025 tour of England but did not make his Test debut because of injury and team combination issues.Another player who returned to the squad is Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj, who was also included in the North Zone side for the tournament starting on August 23.Fresh from Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy title-winning campaign, six players from the side earned places in the squad. Along with Wadhawan, opener Qamran Iqbal, all-rounder Abdul Samad, left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, pacer Sunil Kumar and fast bowler Yudhvir Singh were selected.Delhi batter Ayush Badoni was named vice-captain.Veteran Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra, 41, was not picked as the Duleep Trophy is seen as a platform for players looking to push for national selection.Pacer Auqib Nabi was unavailable as he is on national duty.Delhi had the second-highest representation after Jammu and Kashmir. Opener Sanat Sangwan, former captain Yash Dhull, middle-order batter Ayush Doseja and Badoni were all included in the squad.India A regular Nishant Sindhu, along with Abid Mushtaq and Arjun Sharma, will provide the spin and all-round options.North Zone squad: Kanhaiya Wadhawan (Captain), Ayush Badoni (Vice-Captain), Sanat Sangwan, Qamran Iqbal, Yash Dhull, Ayush Doseja, Abdul Samad, Nishant Sindhu, Arjun Sharma, Abid Mushtaq, Arshdeep Singh, Sunil Kumar, Anshul Kamboj, Yudhvir Singh, Nikhil Kashyap.

Richard and Will Freedman have launched the 2026/27 Sydney racing season on a high note, with Horizons completing a stable double at Rosehill. This early success places the training partnership at the top of the premiership standings.

After Attractiveness secured victory in the initial race of the program, Horizons delivered another tenacious performance to claim the Congratulations Siena Grima Handicap (2000m).

“I’ve dreamed of this moment,” a jovial Will Freedman stated after the win.

Freedman praised the toughness of Horizons, who had completed a demanding preparation before digging deep when it mattered most.

“Horizons has been game all preparation and she was again today,” Freedman confirmed. “It’s always a query when you have had some tough runs to come and back that up again. But I think the benefit of those tough runs has really hardened her for today’s race.”

Sent out as a $6.50 chance, Horizons fought tenaciously in the straight to defeat Cheval De Bois ($5.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Anythink Goes ($8.50) finishing a close third.

Star jockey Zac Lloyd also achieved a riding double, having earlier triumphed aboard Gatwick, putting him in contention for the Sydney jockeys’ premiership lead.

“It was a nice performance from her today, she was very determined,” Lloyd commented. “To the first turn, we probably did a bit more than I would have liked but then she relaxed well during the run and then found plenty under pressure.”

The five-year-old mare, a daughter of The Autumn Sun, has now amassed four wins from 21 starts, boosting her career earnings to nearly $300,000.

Freedman indicated that Horizons had earned a spell following her latest brave effort.

“We will see how she pulls up but I would think she has done her job for now,” Freedman concluded.

Get the best racing odds for upcoming events.

Gervonta Davis is likely to have no shortage of options if he keeps himself out of trouble and in the gym, ready for a ring return in 2027.

The 31-year-old has not fought since his controversial draw with Lamont Roach, who was wrongfully denied a 10-8 round that would have clinched victory in March 2025.

Davis was then accused of domestic violence later that year, which extended his inactivity following the cancellation of an exhibition match with Jake Paul.

According to long-time advisor Al Haymon, though, the American is now eyeing a return to action in the first half of next year.

Someone who would gladly welcome him back to the sport is Ryan Garcia, who suffered a seventh-round stoppage defeat when they collided in 2023.

Yet that result, he claims, was caused by a rehydration clause in their contact, with Garcia having since moved up to 147lbs and become the WBC world champion.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, ‘King Ry’ insisted that a rematch with Davis is more commercially viable than a second encounter with one of his other former rivals.

“I feel like the Tank rematch is bigger [than a Devin Haney rematch]. He has to come up to 147[lbs].

“If he’s a man, he’d [come up to welterweight]. And then, when I beat him, we can have a trilogy.”

Garcia edged a majority decision against Haney in April 2024, only for the result to be ruled a no-contest on account of him testing positive for ostarine.

Since then, the 27-year-old has lost and won unanimous decisions against Rolando Romero and Mario Barrios, respectively, and will defend his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn on September 12.