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The past 24 hours in sports saw the 2024 Olympics host Paris cancelling its swimming test event due to poor quality of water. In another corner of the world, HS Prannoy settled for silver at the Australian Open 2023 after coming down to China’s Weng Hong Yang. Read the article to know what took place in major sports around the globe.
Badminton
HS Prannoy loses final clash of Australian Open 2023 to China’s Weng
Indian star shuttler HS Prannoy lost the final clash of the Australian Open on August 6, Sunday. The 31-year-old got down to China’s Weng Hong Yang in the summit clash and went down 9-21, 23-21, 20-22 in a thrilling encounter that lasted for more than an hour.
Despite losing the first game by a huge margin, Prannoy came back into the game and took the second round under his name, forcing a decider. In the final game, the World Number 9 gave a neck-and-neck competition to the World Number 24 but ended up losing the round and match at game point.
Swimming
Paris cancels Olympic swimming test event due to bad water quality
Paris cancelled its swimming test event in river Seine for Olympics 2024 due to poor water quality because of heavy rainfall. However, the organisers said that they will be prepared for the upcoming event next year. Notably, the Open Water Swimming World Cup was called off on Sunday, August 6, because of poor quality of water.
According to the French Swimming Federation (FEN), “The water quality in the Seine has remained below acceptable standards for safeguarding swimmers’ health.” Meanwhile, the World Aquatics President Husain al-Musallam said, “World Aquatics remains excited at the prospect of city-centre Olympic racing for the world’s best open water swimmers next summer. However, this weekend has demonstrated that it is absolutely imperative that robust contingency plans are put in place.”
14-year-old Asian Games bound swimmer tests positive in dope test
A 14-year-old swimmer bound for the upcoming Asian Games was tested positive in dope test by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and handed provisional suspension. According to the NADA website, the young swimmer was tested for 19-nor-andresterone, which has been listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list.
Notably, the young swimmer set a record at the recently concluded Nationals in Hyderabad and was included in the India’s squad for Asian Games.
Chess
There is no sign that he is really ready to stop: Viswanathan Anand on D Gukesh overtaking him in FIDE rankings
Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand said that teenage Grandmaster D Gukesh’s achievement is historic. In a statement given to PTI, Anand said, “Obviously, it is a historic day for Indian chess, what Gukesh has achieved. Even though I have been semi-retired for a couple of years, still to lose a spot you have held for 37 years is, well it’s historic, I have to admit that.”
He added, “But maybe what is even more hopeful is that Gukesh has actually entered the top 10 independent of his crossing me. There is no sign that he is really ready to stop, that is fantastic news for us.”
Notably, 17-year-old Gukesh took down Azerbaijan’s Misratdin Iskandarov in the second round of the World Cup to overtake Anand in the FIDE rankings.
Athletics
Jeswin Aldrin wins gold in long jump at Switzerland’s CITIUS Meeting
Indian long jumper Jeswin Aldrin won gold at CITIUS Meeting in Bern, Switzerland. The world’s season leader cleared 8.22 m and produced his best performance in five months to secure the yellow metal. Earlier, the 21-year-old recorded the jump of 8.42m, which happens to be the best record till now of this season, at the National Open Jumps Competition in Bellary on March 2.
Notably, the CITIUS Meeting in Bern is a World Athletics Tour bronze level event.
