M Sudharshan

Shameena Makes Asian Games Squash Squad (Image: Facebook) CHENNAI: Shameena Riaz has followed her father Mohammed Riaz's footsteps, but in a different ball game.

Three ankle surgeries in three years. And told at one point to quit running.

CHENNAI: In 2020, financial struggles pushed middle-distance runner J Gowthami away from the track. Six years later, she is set to fulfil her long-cherished dream of representing India.

CHENNAI: It was a memorable Sunday for Tamil Nadu lifter Muthupandi Raja as he won a Commonwealth Games silver in the 65kg category in Glasgow. That one piece of silver was as much a culmination of the 26-year-old’s hard work as it was about the sacrifices of his daily wage labourer parents — Muthupandi and Pechiyammal.

Chennai: The silver medal that Tamil Nadu weightlifter Muthupandi Raja won on Sunday probably belonged as much to his parents as it did to him. Their years of back-breaking work as daily wage labourers gave their son the chance to chase a dream that found its defining moment in Glasgow.

CHENNAI: Two years ago, high jumper K Ambriesh had no dedicated coach to guide him, and he relied on YouTube videos to teach himself. Fast forward to the present, and the 18-year-old from Tamil Nadu is set to compete at the World U-20 Athletics Championships in Eugene, USA.

CHENNAI: Not too long ago, Tamil Nadu javelin thrower T Dharanidharan represented India in the U-20 World Athletics and finished a creditable sixth. B.

Chennai: Every dinner at the Riaz household came with a story. Two-time Olympian Mohammed Riaz would recount the setbacks, sacrifices and triumphs that defined his career as an India hockey player, hoping his daughter would understand the commitment required to represent the country.

CHENNAI: The road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final for India is getting tougher, with every series carrying greater significance. The task has become even more challenging after they failed to win the final Test against Sri Lanka recently.

CHENNAI: There was no dedicated coach to guide Manoj Kumar when he began his javelin journey. For the first two years after shifting from pole vault during Covid pandemic, the Tamil Nadu youngster relied on videos of javelin legends Jan Zelezny and Andreas Thorkildsen to learn the intricacies of the event.