Sports
Shooting at Asian Games: Suruchi Singh’s rise from Bhiwani to world record | Asian Games 2026
India will look to improve on its tally of 107 medals from the Hangzhou Asian Games when it kick-starts its campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Shooting is expected to once again be among the country’s biggest medal contributors, having produced 22 medals in Hangzhou, or one-fifth of the total medals India won.
Among the names carrying India’s hopes in Japan will be Suruchi Inder Singh Phogat, who heads into the Games with the confidence that she has already established herself on the international stage.
At just 20, Suruchi has put together an impressive resume, with a junior world record, an ISSF World Cup Final title and multiple World Cup gold medals to her name. Her performances over the last two seasons have also propelled her into the upper tier of the women’s 10m air pistol event, making her one of India’s most promising medal prospects in Aichi-Nagoya.
Who is Suruchi Singh?
Born on April 28, 2006, in Sasroli village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, Suruchi Inder Singh Phogat is an Indian sport shooter specialising in the women’s 10m air pistol event. She began training in shooting at the age of 13 at the Guru Dronacharya Shooting Academy in Bhiwani under coach Suresh Singh.
Suruchi comes from a family with sporting connections, with her father, Havildar Inder Singh, initially encouraging her to take up wrestling. She eventually chose shooting and quickly developed into one of India’s most promising young shooters.
Her international breakthrough came in the junior ranks before she established herself on the senior ISSF circuit. She enjoyed a spectacular 2025 season, winning three consecutive individual World Cup gold medals in Buenos Aires, Munich and Lima. She also won mixed-team gold in Lima and went on to claim the ISSF World Cup Final title in Doha.
Her Doha performance produced one of the biggest milestones of her career as she shot 245.1 in the final to set the junior world record in the women’s 10m air pistol event. She also holds an Indian national record of 588 in the event.
Suruchi has continued that momentum into 2026, winning another World Cup gold in Munich and a silver medal in the mixed-team event at the Asian Championships in New Delhi. She is now ranked third in the 10m air pistol shooters’ rankings and has secured a direct berth at the 2026 ISSF World Cup Final in Rome.
Full list of medals won by Suruchi Singh:
| Competition | Event | Year | Result |
| ISSF World Cup Final | 10m Air Pistol Women | 2025 | Gold |
| ISSF World Cup | 10m Air Pistol Women, Buenos Aires | 2025 | Gold |
| ISSF World Cup | 10m Air Pistol Women, Munich | 2025 | Gold |
| ISSF World Cup | 10m Air Pistol Women, Lima | 2025 | Gold |
| ISSF World Cup | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team, Lima | 2025 | Gold |
| ISSF World Cup | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team, Buenos Aires | 2025 | Bronze |
| ISSF World Cup | 10m Air Pistol Women, Munich | 2026 | Gold |
| Asian Championships | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team | 2026 | Silver |
| Asian Championships | 10m Air Pistol Women | 2025 | Bronze |
| Asian Championships | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team | 2025 | Bronze |
| ISSF Junior World Cup | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Junior | 2023 | Bronze |
| ISSF Junior World Cup | 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Junior | 2023 | Silver |
Process in focus for Suruchi
The Asian Games will offer Suruchi an opportunity to turn her rapid rise on the global circuit into success on the continental stage. Yet, despite the expectations that come with her recent performances, the 20-year-old is determined not to become consumed by the prospect of a medal.
For Suruchi, the priority is controlling the elements within her reach. That mindset comes from an understanding of what makes shooting such a demanding sport. The stillness of the firing line can be misleading; behind every shot is a battle to control concentration, breathing and emotions while dealing with the pressure of competition.
“People look at shooting and think, ‘What is so difficult? You just have to stand and shoot.’ They don’t see what is happening inside you. Controlling your thoughts, your breathing and your emotions while every shot matters, that is the real challenge,” she said.
A rapid rise through the ranks
Suruchi’s journey in shooting began at 13, when she started training at the Guru Dronacharya Shooting Academy in Bhiwani. Her progress was initially gradual as she developed her technique and gained experience through junior competitions.
Her path was also shaped by the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. With normal training routines affected, she continued practising at a makeshift range, ensuring that her development did not come to a complete halt.
Looking back, Suruchi believes choosing an individual sport ultimately gave her the opportunity to build something of her own.
“I’m actually thankful that I came into shooting. If I had chosen another sport, especially a team sport, maybe I wouldn’t have reached this far. Shooting gave me the chance to build something on my own, and I’m happy with where that has taken me.”
That sense of individual responsibility has remained a defining part of her approach. In shooting, there is no teammate who can compensate for a poor shot, making an athlete’s ability to analyse and correct their own mistakes particularly important.
Learning from failure as much as success
In Suruchi’s words, progress has not been measured solely by the number of medals she has won.
She views every competition as an opportunity to identify what went wrong and improve before the next one. That approach has helped her deal with the inevitable setbacks that accompany a career at the highest level.
“A medal is not the only thing I take away from a competition. If I don’t win, I look for the mistake. Maybe my technique was wrong, maybe something was missing. I find it, learn from it and come back better. That is how I improve.”
The results of that approach became increasingly visible during the 2025 season.
Suruchi’s three consecutive individual World Cup victories in Buenos Aires, Munich and Lima marked a major breakthrough. She then carried that momentum into the World Cup Final in Doha, where she won the individual title and produced her junior world-record score of 245.1.
The season also included mixed-team gold in Lima and a bronze in Buenos Aires, further underlining her growing consistency across different formats.
From breakthrough to consistency
The biggest question after a breakthrough season is whether an athlete can reproduce that level of performance. Suruchi has offered a strong answer in 2026.
She won another individual 10m air pistol gold at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, qualifying with a score of 578 before scoring 242.1 in the final to secure the top spot.
She also produced a strong showing at the 2026 Asian Championships in New Delhi, winning silver in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event alongside Samrat Rana and finishing fourth in the individual women’s event.
The results have strengthened her position among the leading shooters in the world and earned her a direct place at the 2026 ISSF World Cup Final in Rome.
For a shooter still only 20, the consistency is perhaps as significant as the individual titles. Her success is no longer confined to one breakthrough tournament; she has continued to produce results across the international calendar.
The support system behind the rise
While Suruchi’s results have made her the face of her own success story, she credits the wider support structure around Indian shooting with helping her develop into a more disciplined athlete.
According to Suruchi, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), along with its coaching set-up and camps, has played an important role in her preparation for international competitions.
“NRAI has given me much more than just the opportunity to compete. The coaches and camps have changed the way I train, prepare and understand my game. I have become a much more disciplined athlete because of that support.”
For Suruchi, however, the most important aspect of that support is the understanding developed between the shooter and her coaches over time.
“The biggest advantage is that our coaches know us closely. They see us train, they understand our game and they know when something is not right. So when we reach a competition, they are not trying to understand us for the first time; they already know what we need.”
That familiarity can be crucial in a sport where the smallest technical or mental adjustment can have a significant impact on performance, she added.
Asian Games present another test
The 2026 Asian Games will be another important marker in Suruchi’s development. She will arrive in Aichi-Nagoya with significantly more international experience than she had at the start of her senior career, along with the confidence that comes from winning at World Cup level. But the young shooter is refusing to let her recent success change the way she approaches competition.
Rather than thinking about the medal before she steps onto the range, Suruchi wants to focus on executing each shot and giving herself the best possible chance of producing her best performance.
“At the Asian Games, I don’t want to think about what the result will be. I just want to fight for every shot, give my 100 per cent and leave the range knowing I gave everything I had for that medal.”
Sports
Nigeria’s Ogunsakin Claims First Grand Slam Junior Main-Draw Win at US Open
Nigeria’s teenage tennis prospect Oluwaseun Ogunsakin has recorded his first-ever Grand Slam junior main-draw victory after defeating 15th seed Kuan-Shou Chen of Chinese Taipei at the US Open Junior Tennis Championships.
The 17-year-old Aurum Tennis Academy player recovered from losing the opening set to beat the world No. 16 junior 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 in a thrilling three-set match.
The victory sends Ogunsakin into the second round and marks a major milestone in his growing career.
Ogunsakin had earlier impressed during qualifying in New York. He defeated Poland’s Tymon Litwic 6-3, 6-0 before producing a major upset against top seed Felix Roussel of Canada, winning 6-3, 6-4 to reach the 64-player main draw.
The Nigerian teenager is competing in his third straight Grand Slam junior tournament.
He started his Grand Slam campaign at the Roland Garros Junior Championships, where he reached the second round of qualifying, before making the main draw at Wimbledon.
At Wimbledon, Ogunsakin also reached the boys’ doubles semi-finals, further highlighting his progress on the international junior circuit.
His run at the US Open means he has now reached the main draw at both Wimbledon and the US Open, while also progressing through qualifying at Roland Garros.
Ogunsakin will face South Africa’s Connor Doig in the second round of the US Open Junior Championships.
He will also compete in the doubles event, where he will partner Botswana’s teenage tennis sensation Ntungamili Raguin.
Sports
KL Rahul’s Unmissable Comment As Kevin Pietersen Joins England Team As Mentor
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen returns to the national team after 12 years, taking up the role of a mentor in the white-ball side. With an eye on next year’s ODI World Cup in South Africa, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) roped in Pietersen, hoping to build a side that can challenge for the title in 2027. Pietersen, who recently worked with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) as a mentor, drew a cheeky comment from India’s KL Rahul that left the internet ROFL.
Pietersen and Rahul worked together at the Delhi Capitals for one season before the Englishman decided to move on. As Pietersen prepares for a new chapter in his career as a coach or mentor, Rahul pulled his leg, asking if his new role also comes with a trip to the Maldives.
“Is the Maldives holiday included in the package? @kevinpietersen.”Rahul commented on an Instagram post shared by England cricket.
Pietersen responded to Rahul’s post with laughing emoticons. Even Delhi Capitals joined the social media banter, asking Pietersen, “What’s a mentor?”
For the unversed, the Delhi Capitals team spent a few days in the Maldives midway through the IPL 2025 season, with Pietersen also in company.

Kevin Pietersen As England Mentor
Pietersen will join Brendon McCullum‘s white-ball coaching setup for England’s upcoming Vitality IT20 and Metro Bank ODI series against Sri Lanka later this month. The coaching team will also include Marcus Trescothick, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel and Sarah Taylor.
Pietersen will also be involved in England’s white-ball tours of Australia and South Africa this winter. He will then rejoin the team for the home series against Pakistan and New Zealand next summer before working with the squad during the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
After being appointed as specialist mentor, Pietersen said, “I am immensely proud to have been asked to help this team on their journey to win a World Cup in South Africa. Putting on the England uniform again for the first time since 2014 is a profound honour and a deeply special moment.”
“We have an incredibly talented white-ball squad, and I am excited to get in the trenches and work relentlessly hard with these players to maximise their potential. To be a part of Brendon’s think tank over the next 12 months is a fantastic opportunity, and I cannot wait to get started,” the former England cricketer said as England Cricket.
With ANI Inputs
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Sports
Football gossip: Chiesa, Sancho, Endrick, Page, Baena, Konde, Schade, Mane
Federico Chiesa’s future at Liverpool is in doubt, Jadon Sancho might return to the Premier League and Real Madrid’s Endrick is attracting interest from Italy.
Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa, 26, will look to leave the club in January if he struggles for game time when he returns from injury. (Football Insider), external
Former Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho is in talks with at least two Premier League clubs over a potential move. (Teamtalk), external
AC Milan are preparing to make a move to sign Brazil forward Endrick, 20, on loan from Real Madrid in January. (Calciomercato, external)
Manchester United remain keen to sign Leicester City midfielder Louis Page, 18, after missing out on a deadline-day move for the England youth international. (ESPN, external)
Manchester City are keeping tabs on Atletico Madrid midfielder Alex Baena but are unlikely to move for the 25-year-old in January. (Football Insider), external
Liverpool and Manchester United have made direct contact with Wolves over a move for 18-year-old winger Matheus Mane. (Ekrem Konur), external
Brentford have opened contract talks with 24 year-old German forward Kevin Schade to deter interest from Arsenal. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester United have completed a deal to sign Liverpool‘s 16-year-old midfielder Isaac Konde. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Sports
F1 leader Antonelli seals Italian GP win after epic charge from the back | Other Sports News
)
Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, despite having started 19th on the grid.
It took the Mercedes driver fewer than 17 laps to fight his way to the front.
The rest of the race was spent tussling with teammate and title rival George Russell for the lead. Antonelli passed him for the final time with three laps remaining, going on to become the first Italian to win at Monza in 60 years.
“Oh my god … it feels like a dream,” Antonelli said.
That at least gave the crowd something to cheer about after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed out of the scuderia’s home race early on. In the other Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton finished sixth.
It was Antonelli’s seventh win of the season – and his fledgling F1 career – and extended his lead in the overall standings to 66 points ahead of Russell.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Sep 07 2026 | 10:35 AM IST
Sports
Sheza Alibi set for Flemington return in 2026 Makybe Diva Stakes
Trainer Peter Moody is yet to finalise the latter part of Sheza Alibi’s spring program, but he intends to stick to the original plan for his stable star’s second-up run in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
The four-year-old mare is scheduled to make her first start in her adopted home state since winning the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) last preparation. This Saturday, she will compete in the $750,000 Group 1 event over 1600 metres at Flemington.
Her first-up run saw her finish second to Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m). Moody highlighted her decisive victory over Autumn Boy in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) as an example of her capacity for improvement between runs early in her campaign.
“She had a week down at the beach after the trip (to Sydney), had a good gallop on Tuesday morning and she’ll have another one this week,” Moody commented.
“She won the Guineas second-up at a mile last prep then won the Doncaster a month later at a mile. She doesn’t need racing to hold her fitness.”
The outcome of this weekend’s race will be instrumental in Moody and co-trainer Katherine Coleman’s decision-making process regarding her future engagements.
The daughter of Saxon Warrior is currently the firm favourite for the $10 million Golden Eagle on October 31 and is considered the primary threat to Autumn Glow in the King Charles III Stakes, held two weeks prior. However, Moody suggested that a rematch with Autumn Glow in the $5 million Group 1 race is not guaranteed.
“You’ve got the King Charles, but it’s only two weeks before the other one (Golden Eagle) and I hate the thought of two trips, because I won’t leave her there,” he stated. “If I run her two weeks before I’ll maybe even do it here, if I think she needs it.”
The only Melbourne option for Sheza Alibi on October 17 is the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes, a $300,000 set weights and penalties race for mares over 1400m. The $1 million Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) is scheduled at Caulfield seven days earlier.
Given the current ambiguity surrounding her campaign, Moody is maintaining the possibility of a Cox Plate start. The $6 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) remains an option, and although she is an unlikely participant, she will be paid up for when first acceptances are submitted on Tuesday.
Considering the strong field, exploring betting markets for the Makybe Diva Stakes on Australian betting sites could be a wise move.
Sports
Big Ten’s Top Contenders Fail to Dominate in Underwhelming Week 1
The Big 10 spent all offseason claiming to be the best in the country, and for good reason. The conference had won its third straight national title and was consistently outperforming all other power conferences in bowl season. Because of this dominance, the conference earned three preseason top-10 rankings from Ohio State, Oregon, and Indiana. All three teams moved into week two at 2-0, but it wasn’t as dominant as each team hoped.
Ohio State can’t be too upset with a 56-3 victory, but the lunatic fringe of that fan base made it seem like Ball State actually pulled off the upset of the century. That section of the Buckeye faithful might be crazy, but they weren’t 100% wrong.
The defense looked sloppy. Up front, the defensive line generated consistent pressure on Ball State (as they should), but they struggled to tackle quarterback Keldric Luster. Still, the secondary that many felt might be the best in the country looked the part, and overall it wasn’t a bad day out. A real area of concern was the offensive line.
That position group was Ohio State’s weakness last season, and they might be an issue again this year. Thankfully, Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith looked like Heisman candidates, so they should hopefully be able to make up for the weak run game they might be dealing with.
Indiana kicked off their national title defense with a bit of a slow first three quarters. The Hoosiers did pull away late, but the final score doesn’t tell the whole story. Let’s start with some positives first.
Josh Hoover looked phenomenal in his first start in crimson and played a very clean game. He might not be Fernando Mendoza, but he’s going to be just as gritty as the guy he’s replacing. Nick Marsh was quiet in his first appearance since transferring from Michigan State, but made the catch of the day on his 15-yard touchdown to start the scoring.
The passing game shined for Indiana, but Turbo Richards looked a little rough in the run game. I’m not sure he’s entirely to blame for this one, though. Across the board, Indiana seemed worse in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Last season they just crushed teams at the line of scrimmage, and I’m not sure they can do that this time around. However, I’m willing to give both Ohio State and Indiana some grace as they brush off the rust in week one.
Last but certainly not least, Oregon can finally breathe again after escaping Boise State at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks are seen as the most experienced contender coming out of the Big 10, but you wouldn’t have known that after watching them on Saturday.
Boise can be a historically tricky opponent, especially in week one, but this was still a pretty disappointing performance from Oregon. Maddux Madsen was one of my least favorite players to watch last year, and he nearly took down an Oregon defense that was supposed to be one of the best in the country.
On the bright side, just like the two other main contenders in the Big 10, Dante Moore looked like a future first-round pick when the NFL draft rolls around this spring. Five different receivers had at least three receptions, and once they got going in the second quarter, it looked like Boise had no chance of slowing down that passing attack.
A win is a win when it comes to college football, but I will be keeping a very close eye on Oregon’s defense with Oklahoma State and USC on the schedule in two out of their next three weeks.
For the conference that spent all offseason puffing out its chest like a big bully in high school, it was quite an underwhelming set of performances from the top down in the Big 10.
Sports
Will Jeremiyah Love play in Week 1? Arizona Cardinals provide update
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur was hesitant to provide injury updates on Monday, Sept. 7, as his team began its preparations for Week 1. After all, the NFL does not require teams to disclose details on injuries until their first full practice of the week, typically on a Wednesday before a Sunday game.
LaFleur did, however, provide a positive answer when asked whether he is optimistic that running back Jeremiyah Love will be ready for the Cardinals’ opener, against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 13.
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“Yeah, I feel good,” LaFleur said.
The Cardinals held a jog-through behind closed doors on Monday, and LaFleur said that Love was “out there moving around.”
Last week, Love was present but not participating during portions of practice open to media.
“We’ll see on Wednesday; I’ll have a better idea for all those (injured) guys,” LaFleur said.
That list also includes right guard Isaiah Adams (knee) and cornerback Will Johnson (ankle), neither of whom practiced last week.
LaFleur has been transparent about injuries throughout the offseason, but said that he was hesitant to provide too many details during a game week.
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“I think we know there’s a team over in California that’s listening to this too right now,” LaFleur said.
On Wednesday, though, the Cardinals will be required to publish their first full injury report of the season.
Cardinals name captains
Before breaking for their league-mandated three-day weekend, the Cardinals voted on their five captains: quarterback Jacoby Brissett, center Hjalte Froholdt, safety Budda Baker, linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. and long snapper Casey Kreiter.
Froholdt, Baker and Wilson were all captains last season, while Brissett was an expected inclusion as the starting quarterback entering Week 1.
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On special teams, Kreiter steps in for the injured Joey Blount in a leadership role, as the most reliable of the Cardinals’ three specialists. Kicker Chad Ryland has struggled over the past year, and punter Blake Gillikin has dealt with a lengthy string of injuries.
With only two captains on offense and defense — down from three a year ago — running back James Conner did not make the cut, as he begins the season on injured reserve.
“When you do get voted a captain, obviously that’s saying that your teammates, the locker room, looks up to you,” LaFleur said. “I can’t think of five better people to look up to in terms of just guys that are gonna keep it real with each other, hold people to standards, communicate with me.”
LaFleur comfortable entering Week 1
In another reality, the arrival of Week 1 could be intimidating for a first-time head coach. LaFleur has never run his own in-season schedule — building and installing a game plan under the time constraint of a looming kickoff.
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But as his first real test looms, LaFleur is comfortable in his own preparations.
“Obviously it’s gonna be new for our guys, but me personally, this is basically the same as what we did for three years in LA,” LaFleur said.
Plus, the Cardinals’ schedule this week will be the same as it was during training camp, when they held morning meetings and lifting sessions before late-afternoon practices.
“I told them today, it’s gonna feel like training camp, just not as many hours cause you’re not gonna go as long as training camp,” LaFleur said.
And on Monday, LaFleur said his players responded well, rejuvenated after the three-day break. It felt, he said, more like a continuation of training camp than the start of a game week, even as the coaching staff began installing its game plan.
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“When I really anticipate to feel it is on Wednesday,” LaFleur said. “Because that’s gonna be that first real Wednesday work day.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Will Jeremiyah Love play in Week 1? Arizona Cardinals provide update
Sports
English Open: Zhao Xintong stunned by Oliver Lines in first round
Oliver Lines stunned Zhao Xintong with a 4-2 win over the world number one in the first round of the English Open.
China’s Zhao, the 2025 world champion, made two century breaks as the tie was level at 2-2 following the first four frames.
But England’s Lines, 31, compiled breaks of 77 and 84 to win the next two frames and set up a last-32 meeting with Yuan Sijun in Brentwood.
“You know you have to raise your game,” said Lines.
“You try not to think about it, but you know if you don’t play somewhere near your best then you are going home.”
Elsewhere, world number four Neil Robertson was beaten 4-3 by China’s Luo Zetao.
But former world champion Kyren Wilson beat Poland’s Mateusz Baranowski 4-1 and China’s three-time UK Championship winner Ding Junhui sealed a 4-3 win over Michael Holt.
Sports
Blue Jays’ Santander to begin rehab assignment with Bisons
The Toronto Blue Jays‘ outfielder will begin a rehab assignment with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday, manager John Schneider shared before Monday’s game in Sacramento.
Schneider said the plan is for Santander to serve as the designated hitter in his first game before he plays in the outfield. He is expected to need several games to regain his timing before the Blue Jays activate him.
Santander, 31, has not played in 2026 after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in February. He also missed most of the 2025 season with an injury to the same shoulder.
Before becoming a Blue Jay, Santander was a dependable slugger for eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. He had his best season at the plate in 2024 when he won a Silver Slugger Award and hit a career-high 44 home runs.
The Blue Jays have been lacking power all season and enter Monday tied for the second-fewest home runs in the majors.
Meanwhile, Schneider also provided injury updates for three Blue Jays pitchers.
Trey Yesavage, who underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee last month, threw a 34-pitch bullpen in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday. The next step for him is two innings against live hitters on Thursday.
Shane Bieber, out with inflammation in the teres major, the muscle that connects the shoulder blade to the upper arm, extended his flat ground catch play to 75 feet on Monday in Sacramento.
Lastly, an MRI of Jameson Taillon’s elbow is currently being evaluated by Dr. James Meister, and the Blue Jays are waiting to hear his feedback before formulating a plan going forward.
Taillon was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation on Saturday after exiting his first game back from the injured list on Friday. Schneider has said he anticipates Taillon will be out for the remainder of 2026.
Sports
Persian Spirit ready for rescheduled Chautauqua Stakes in 2026
The postponement of Saturday’s Chautauqua Stakes, which some thought might have been a missed opportunity for Persian Spirit, was not necessarily seen that way by his trainer Symon Wilde.
The Cable Bay gelding had been backed into $2.40 after the skies opened before the 1300-metre Group 3 race, which was eventually called off due to lightning and heavy rain forcing an early end to the day’s racing.
While Persian Spirit has a prior win on a Heavy track and was considered to benefit from Saturday’s downpour, Wilde’s confidence was not as significantly boosted as the punters.
“I actually prefer him on dry ground because he’s more dynamic,” Wilde commented.
“You’d never scratch him on a wet track, but I actually think he’s at his absolute best on a (Soft) 5 or a 6.”
The Chautauqua Stakes will now be contested this Wednesday at Sandown, alongside the 1600m benchmark 84 race that was also lost on Saturday.
Persian Spirit is once again the favourite for the rescheduled running, priced at $3.20, with Tennessee Bound at $4.20 and Warnie on the third line at $5.
Sandown was rated a Heavy 8 on Monday morning, but sunny conditions are predicted for Melbourne on Monday afternoon and Tuesday, with a chance of showers on Wednesday.
The race rescheduling means two trips to Sandown from Warrnambool in five days for Persian Spirit, but Wilde indicated the first trip did not appear to have impacted him.
“We gave him a little bit of evens on the grass this morning at Warrnambool and he’s all set to go,” Wilde said on Monday morning.
“He was out in his paddock yesterday, he’ll go the beach tomorrow and he’s eating up well.
“It doesn’t look like it’s knocked him around at all.”
Wilde’s initial intention was to aim for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) the following Saturday after the Chautauqua Stakes. He mentioned that while the new timing is not ideal, he would likely proceed with the Group 1 opportunity if the horse performs well on Wednesday.
Persian Spirit commenced his campaign with a narrow second placing to Shadhavar in the Listed Regal Roller (1200m) at Caulfield on August 15.
“That was always the aim, to be third up in the Rupert Clarke,” Wilde stated.
“We planned to be first-up then three weeks then two weeks into the 1400 metres.
“It’s definitely not ideal but if he happened to win on Wednesday we’ll probably stick to that plan.”
With the Chautauqua Stakes rescheduled for Wednesday, punters can assess the racing odds at various Australian betting sites.
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