Firoz Mirza

CHENNAI: Wrestler Mukul Dahiya's sample, which returned positive for a stimulant (Mephentermine) leading to his ouster from the 2026 Asian Games, was taken during the selection trials held to pick the national squad for the quadrennial event. The trials were held at the SAI centre in Lucknow on May 31. Dahiya competes in the 86kg weight category and stood first in the trials.

CHENNAI: In another embarrassing turn of events in wrestling, days after two wrestlers missed the flight to Asian Games due to failed dope tests, two more grapplers, this time from the U23 age-group, were provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency for various anti-doping offences. Apart from them, a senior wrestler, who won a gold medal in the U23 World Championships in 2024 was also served a notice for three whereabouts failures and staring at a ban for Anti Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).

CHENNAI: The rising number of dope offences in its ranks has forced the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to issue an advisory asking wrestlers to exercise the highest degree of caution and personal responsibility in matters relating to anti-doping compliance. As many as four wrestlers, including two grapplers who were initially supposed to travel to the Asian Games, failed dope tests of late. Deepanshu (130kg Greco-Roman) and Mukul Dahiya (86kg freestyle) won the selection trials in their respective weight categories but failed the tests. With no replacement allowed for dope-tainted athletes at the quadrennial event, India will now go unrepresented in these weight categories in Japan.

CHENNAI: Their country has been ravaged by flash floods, which has killed more than 500 people so far. A warning of a second wave has sent shockwaves among the Nepal residents, especially those living near the China-Tibet border. Amidst the gloom, a Nepali wrestling contingent, comprising four men freestyle and two women wrestlers along with their coach, is currently training at Nandini Nagar Mahavidyalaya in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

CHENNAI: India's ace weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has every medal in her trophy cabinet except a podium finish at the Asian Games. It's more than a decade since s

CHENNAI: Taking a cue from the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI's) book, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has instructed its affiliated members to review history of players' Aadhar updates for the past one year before their registration. The BCCI's mandate meant the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has declared 62 players, including a current and a former India U19 player, ineligible for registration or transfer for any tournaments during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. There were discrepancies in their documents including the age certificates. It was learnt that the BCCI made it mandatory before registration of U19 and U23 players.

CHENNAI: For the first time in their cricketing history, the Indian players will occupy the visitors' dressing room at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the second-oldest functional international cricket stadium in the country, for their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) are the hosts for the series and as per protocol, its players will get the home team's dressing room named after former India cricketer Raman Lamba.

CHENNAI: In a big embarrassment for the country ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, yet another wrestler failed dope thus reducing the country's participation in the quadrennial event by one. Deepak, who competes in the 67kg of the Greco-Roman wrestling, has now been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

CHENNAI: They have always been among medals that's why wrestlers are expected to finish on podium whenever they represent the country in marquee events like the Olympics and Asian Games. With most wrestling heavyweights hailing from the Asian continent, competitions remain tough in the multi-disciplinary meet. But over the years, India have established themselves as one of the powerhouses.

CHENNAI: While hearing a petition filed by wrestler Vinesh Phogat wherein she requested her inclusion in eligibility pool and permit her to take part in the women's selection trials for the upcoming World Championships, the Delhi High Court on Thursday said it is not inclined to grant the interim relief sought by the petitioner at this stage.