New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) After six Indian grapplers secured Olympic quotas, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh has said that the federation will decide which wrestler will be participating at the 2024 Paris Games, “not the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)”

He said that the fresh trials will be conducted to pick the final squad for the showpiece event.

“Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will decide which wrestler will participate in the Paris Olympics, not IOA, and there will be fresh trials as well, WFI president Sanjay Singh told IANS.

Earlier, there were reports that IOA will take a final call on wrestlers but the WFI has cleared, “we have got approval/authority/recognition from the UWW (United World Wrestling). And it will be our duty to pick the team. How can IOA take that call.”

In the recently concluded World Qualifiers in Istanbul, which was the final Paris Olympics qualifying event for wrestlers, Aman Sehrawat and Nisha Dahiya took India’s number of quotas to six in wrestling.

Antim Panghal (53kg) earned India’s first quota from the 2023 World Wrestling Championships while Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Reetika Hooda (76kg) added further quotas at the Asian Qualifiers held in Bishkek last month.

–IANS

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Charlotte (US), May 13 (IANS) Rory McIlroy overturned a two-shot deficit as he played his final 11 holes in six-under to win the Wells Fargo Championships by a whopping five shots despite a closing double bogey.

The 35-year-old Northern Irishman produced a stunning burst of golf by landing two eagles and four birdies over an eight-hole stretch from Hole No. 8 to breeze to his second win of the season. He also won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour and was third at the Texas Open.

Korea’s Byeong Hun An (66) was third at 9 under, and Jason Day (70) and Sungjae Im tied for fourth a 6-under.

Indian-Americans Sahith Theegala (72) at 8-over was T-52 and Akshay Bhatia (74) was 5-over and 42nd. Both will head to the PGA Championships at Valhalla next.

McIlroy won the Wells Fargo for a record fourth time even as no other player has won the event more than twice. It was his second straight PGA Tour event after partnering Shane Lowry to take the Zurich Classic two weeks ago in New Orleans. It was also his 26th PGA Tour win.

The two wins in two starts should give McIlroy ideal momentum heading to Kentucky for the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, the site of his last major win 10 years ago.

“I really got some confidence,” McIlroy said. “My golf swing feels a lot more comfortable than it has. So going to a venue next week where I’ve won, it feels like the stars are a lining a little bit. But I’ve got a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to try to beat next week. Going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself.”

McIlroy has often called Quail Hollow one of his favourite courses because it allows for him to take advantage of his length off the tee. But it was his putting that won him the 26th career PGA TOUR title Sunday. He needed just 25 putts, making five longer than 10 feet.

Schauffele finished second for the second straight year and saw his winless drought stretch to 39 tournaments, a streak dating to 2022. He led by four shots after 36 holes.

An set himself up for a strong showing at the upcoming PGA Championship, the year’s second major. The 32-year-old An hit an impressive seven birdies against two bogeys at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina to post his career best score in the US$20 million tournament even though he finished a distant eight shots back of runaway winner, Rory McIlroy

It was his fifth top-10 of the season, and second in successive weeks after a T4 in The CJ Cup Byron Nelson last weekend.

An is also a strong contender to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games in August and make the International Team for the Presidents Cup against the U.S in September.

As An finished third, his Korean compatriot Sunjgae Im, who started the final round four shots off the lead, endured a tough front nine 39 before salvaging his day with birdies on 11 and 12 for a 73 to finish tied fourth alongside Australian Jason Day. It was his second top-10 of the season after a tied fifth at the season-opening The Sentry in Hawaii, and moved him up to 27th place in the FedExCup rankings.

Si Woo Kim closed with a 70 for a share of 16th place while Tom Kim came home in 76 to settle for T47

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) India’s Ramit Tandon was forced to retire due to an injury in his second-round match against world No 7 Mohamed ElShorbagy at the Squash World Championships in Cairo, Egypt.

World No 36 Tandon was trailing 3-4 in the second game when he sustained a calf injury following an inspiring performance in the opening game which former world champion ElShorbagy won 11-8.

It was Tandon’s first meeting with the former Egyptian-English world No 1.

World No. 36 Indian, who gained a direct entry into the tournament, registered a comfortable win over World No. 57, Faraz Khan of the United States, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3 in the first round.

–IANS

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Paris, May 13 (IANS) Kylian Mbappe played his final game at the Parc De Princes on Sunday Night. Although Paris Saint-Germain ended up losing 1-3 at home against Toulouse.

Mbappe opened the scoring in the eighth minute giving PSG an early lead in his last home game for the Parisian club.

“This defeat spoils the party a bit. It’s always frustrating, even if you’re champion, to lose like that in front of your home crowd. We need to rethink things after a defeat and not lose like that at home, even if we are champion,” said Ousmane Dembele to French TV channel Canal.

Mbappe’s time with PSG is not yet over as the 2022 FIFA World Cup top scorer is yet to play two away games in the league against Nice and Metz before facing Olympique Lyon in the final of the French Cup, which is due to be played on May 26.

“He gave so much to the club, he did so much. We’re happy with everything he’s done, he’s grown up well at PSG, he’s achieved so much, he’s a PSG legend. We’re proud of him,” added Dembele whilst talking about Kylian Mbappe’s exit from the club.

The 25 year old is said to have already decided to sign with Real Madrid and the official announcement will be made before the Euros that are set to be played in Germany from July 14.

Real Madrid have a very special announcement planned for one of the biggest stars in world football and it is likely that the club will only make their announcement after the Champions League final where Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund at the Wembley Stadium on June 1 (June 2 as per IST)

–IANS

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Rome, May 13 (IANS) Juventus secured a Champions League spot for next season despite being held to a 1-1 draw by already-relegated Salernitana. This outcome was aided by Atalanta’s 2-1 victory over Roma.

Juventus, in a slump, had managed only one win in their last nine Serie A matches prior to Sunday, contrasting with Salernitana’s early relegation from Europe’s top five leagues.

Despite dominating possession, Juve fell behind in the 27th minute when Niccolo Pierozzi connected with Junior Sambia’s corner for a twisting header.

The Bianconeri hit the woodwork three times but only found an equalizer in stoppage time when Manuel Locatelli flicked on a corner for Adrien Rabiot to score at the back post.

This draw left Juventus and Bologna both on 67 points. With two rounds remaining and five Italian teams set to participate in next season’s Champions League, both clubs have secured their spots, sitting seven points clear of sixth-placed Roma.

In another key match impacting Champions League qualification, Atalanta took a crucial 2-1 win against Roma, thanks to Charles De Ketelaere’s quick brace.

Despite Lorenzo Pellegrini’s penalty for Roma, Atalanta held on to win, placing them three points ahead of Roma with a game in hand.

Elsewhere, Lazio solidified their seventh position with a 2-0 win over Empoli. Genoa overturned a deficit to defeat Sassuolo 2-1, and Torino secured a 2-1 victory at Hellas Verona.

–IANS

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