India's star wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced her return to the spot after a break of 18 months. With an aim of clinching an Olympic gold medal, the wrestler confirmed that she has come out of retirement from professional wrestling. In the previous year, Phogat drew curtains on her wrestling career after being disqualified in the 50 kg freestyle title clash in the Paris Olympics. She advanced to the final after defeating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals. The Indian was set to compete for the gold medal against the United States' athlete Sarah Ann Hildebrandt, but was disqualified for breaching the weight limit. She shared a post on her official social media handle in which she stated, "People kept asking if Paris was the end. For a long time, I didn't have the answer. I needed to step away from the mat, from the pressure, from the expectations, even from my own ambitions. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to breathe". "I took time to understand the weight of my journey, the highs, the heartbreaks, the sacrifices, the versions of me the world never saw. And somewhere in that reflection, I found the truth, I still love this sport. I still want to compete," Phogat added. In that silence, I found something I'd forgotten 'the fire never left'. It was only buried under exhaustion and noise. The discipline, the routine, the fight... It's in my system. No matter how far I walked away, a part of me stayed on the mat. So here I am, stepping back toward LA28 with a heart that's unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow. And this time, I'm not walking alone my son is joining my team, my biggest motivation, my little cheerleader on this road to the LA Olympics," read the post. pic.twitter.com/2sQRvFju8m — Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) December 12, 2025 The 31-year-old wrestler will join the likes of Indian athletes who made their return to the sport after childbirth. Vinesh, who is married to wrestler Somvir Rathee, welcomed a baby boy in July 2025. Vinesh Phogat's career achievements In her career so far, she clinched two World Championships bronze medals (2019 and 2022), an Asian Games gold (2018) and bronze (2014) and three Commonwealth Games gold medals (2014, 2018, 2022). Vinesh also managed to claim a gold medal in the 2021 Asian Championships and has also won silver and bronze medals at the continental level. (With ANI Inputs)
12 December,2025 03:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn the closing day of the Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) annual inter-school athletics championship, Shiven Vyas of Children’s Academy (Thakur Complex) and Aradhya Sawant of Holy Family High School (Andheri) emerged as the standout performers in the boys U-16 and U-10 categories respectively, finishing with three golds at Wings Sports Centre on Wednesday. Shiven sealed his third gold in the 200m race, clocking 23.69s to beat Shreyas Kawatkar (23.94s) of Podar International School (Santacruz) and Shaurya Bairagi (24.36s) of Dhirubhai Ambani International School (Bandra). On Monday, he had clinched the 100m gold in 11.66s. On Tuesday, he won the 80m hurdles (11.27s). Meanwhile, Aradhya won the 50m sprint (7.49s), followed by Giaan Karkera (7.65s) of SVKM CNM School (Vile Parle) and Avanish Kulawade (7.83s) of Shardashram Vidyamandir (Dadar). On Monday, Aradhya secured gold in long jump (4.46m) and on Tuesday he won the 100m race (14.75s). In the boys U-14 200m race, Aarush Chavan of Thakur Public School (Kandivli) clinched gold (25.24s), ahead of Purav Bothra (25.71s) of Sanjeevani World School (Dahisar), while Aaradhya Thikrul of St Xavier’s High School (Goregaon) bagged bronze (26.18s). Other results . Girls U-14 200m: Samrudhdi Chavan (Balmohan Vidya Mandir, Dadar) 27.84s, Sanaya Arsiwalla (Bombay Scottish School, Mahim) 27.96s and Laseya Rao (Utpal Shanghvi Global School, JVPV) 28.20s. . Girls U-16 200m: Vian Mahabat of (Utpal Shanghvi Global School, JVPD) 26.84s, Srushti Sawant (Udayachal High School, Vikhroli) 27.01s and Sanah Suri (Jamnabai Narsee International School, Juhu) 27.20s. . Girls U-10 50m: Pearl Birwatkar (Vasant Vihar High School, Thane) 7.80s, Jiyana Mehta (The Somaiya School, Vidya Vihar) 7.82s and Laisha Mengi (St Gregorios High School, Chembur) 8.01s. . Boys U-8 50m: Hruditya Kavishwar (Nalanda Public School, Mulund) 8.50s, Faridun Taraporewala (SVKM JV Parekh International School, Vile Parle) 8.61s and Riyansh Pawar (Gokuldham High School and Junior College, Goregaon) 8.65s. . Girls U-8 50m: Nethra Nadar (Arya Vidya Mandir, Bandra) 8.91s, Advaita Deshmukh (Ryan International School, Malad) 8.99s and Aaria Shetty (Universal High School, Thane) 9.14s.
12 December,2025 10:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamWheelchair-bound archer Rutvi Lolge has hit bullseye! Having cleared her physical assessments by the highly credible Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), a not-for-profit company, founded by India legends Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone, for the promotion of sports and athletes, she has bagged a long-term sponsorship deal with them. Less than a month ago, mid-day had highlighted how Rutvi, a Class X student of St Anne’s HS (Malad) has battled Spina Bifida, a congenital condition of the spinal cord that causes paralysis of the lower limbs, to win medals at inter-school, district, and state-level competitions alongside able-bodied athletes. Her mother, Suvarna, a single parent, who works as a freelance nurse, had told mid-day that she has to change her daughter’s urine bag every three hours and that their modest financial condition is making it difficult for Rutvi to progress in the sport as the professional equipment costs almost R5 lakh. Besides, she will also need a new wheelchair for the sport. Viren Rasquinha After reading this story, OGQ sent across their team of officials to evaluate Rutvi’s condition and based on that feedback, OGQ’s CEO Viren Rasquinha has confirmed to mid-day that the organisation has decided to take Rutvi under their wings and sponsor her ultimate dream of winning an Olympic (Paralympic) medal for the country. OGQ’s visit and verification “After reading the mid-day story on Nov 20, OGQ’s para team, comprising Anukool Bharadwaj, head of para program and Chief Strategy Officer, Pushkar Ganoo, senior physiotherapist, and Siddhant Shipurkar, senior strength and conditioning coach, visited Rutvi at her school training base. We looked at her scores in district level tournaments, did our sports science assessments, spoke to the coaches and Rutvi’s mother. And after three weeks of research on performance benchmarking, sports science assessments and coaching set up, we are very happy to share that OGQ will be supporting Rutvi in para archery from January 1, 2026 under our Para Junior Program,” Rasquinha, a former India hockey captain, told mid-day on Thursday. Rasquinha particularly insisted that OGQ’s actions are purely on merit and not on sympathy. “Besides helping Rutvi financially and in aspects like professional equipment, wheelchair, and nutrition, we will also help get her paralympic classification. Rutvi deserves all of this purely on her merit. Our team has seen potential in her and we believe that with a long-term plan she win a medal for India at the Paralympic Games,” added Rasquinha, specifying that Rutvi will currently get a four-month deal (Jan to April 2026) after which it will be an annual contract. The benefits however, come with a crucial rider, which is absolutely understandable. “Rutvi needs to understand that this [winning a medal for India] is a long term process. When we [OGQ] picked [badminton stars] Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu, they were just 10 and 13 years old respectively, while [shooter] Manu Bhaker was just 15. So, Rutvi has to start working hard from now on and her sole focus should be on that medal for India,” concluded Rasquinha. Rutvi’s mother Suvarna broke down while speaking to mid-day. “I have a few people to thank. Firstly, Ronnie D’Souza [Malad-based restaurateur who owns UK United Sports]. He saw Rutvi in school and put us in touch with the St Anne’s Batch of 1985 and MCA’s Apex Council member Bhushan Patil, who helped us financially; St Anne’s principal Sister Leo Vinnarasi, and sports coordinator Ram Ahiwale for helping in Rutvi’s academics. And last, but by no means least, mid-day and its readers, who made generous donations. God bless you all for helping my little angel,” said Suvarna. Rutvi overwhelmed Rutvi is overwhelmed. “This is a dream come true moment for me and my mother. I love archery and promise to put in all the hard work to make my country proud,” she said.
12 December,2025 10:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Ashwin FerroThe first Classic of the Mumbai season 2025-26 will be run at the Mahalaxmi racetrack on Sunday (Dec 14). At the entries' stage there are 13 runners in the fray, but only one filly is being talked about: Fynbos. The Kingda ka - Mahali three-year-old filly bred at the Nanoli Stud was carefully folded up like an expensive accordion by trainer Pesi Shroff after her Bangalore Derby triumph in July. She chose to stay indoors during the entire Pune monsoon season, and made her first appearance on the opening day of the Mumbai season in a Class II event which she won, clocking 33.79 seconds for the final three furlongs, without working up sweat! Personally, I have never seen a lay-off horse registering that kind of a finish without really getting into the top gear. True, as I mentioned there are 13 runners at the entries' stage, including Prasanna Kumar's Ravishing Beauty and Rajesh Narredu's Indian Brocade (who both finished in photo for the Mysore 1000 Guineas), not to mention Pesi Shroff's own Kings Gambit who, ironically, was the first favourite--and only length-and-a-quarter shy at the wire--when Fynbos scored her first victory as longshot on this track last year. Kings Gambit also dazzled on the opening day of the current season, albeit winning a class III race, and the Dynamic Class difference between the two, at present, seems unbridgeable. In all probability, Fynbos will likely end up easily winning the first Classic of the season with a measure of comfort. In the 2009-10 season, Pesi Shroff trained Jacqueline, in the hands of Richard Hughes, made a clean sweep of the first four Indian Classics at Mahalaxmi: the 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, the Oaks and the Derby. The main reason was Jacqueline was far superior to the entire crop of that year--colts included! (Becket, trained by S Padmanabhan, who beat Jacqueline in the Indian St Leger, was a broken horse when the first four Classics were run). If Fynbos wins the 1000 Guineas on Sunday, as she most probably will, it will be interesting to see if she tries to emulate Jacqueline, because even among this crop, there is no colt who seems capable of taking on Fynbos.
11 December,2025 08:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Prakash GosaviIndia produced a brave-heart performance, nullifying a two-goal deficit to beat Argentina 4-2 and clinch the bronze medal in the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup here on Wednesday. India produced a valiant fightback with Ankit Pal (49th minute), Manmeet Singh (52nd) and Anmol Ekka (58th) converting penalty corners, while Sharda Tiwari scoring from the spot (57th). Argentina had earlier scored through Nicolas Rodriguez (3rd) and Santiago Fernandez (44th). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 December,2025 08:13 AM IST | Chennai | PTIFormer Bollywood actor Preeti Jhangiani, who is also the President of the People’s Armwrestling Federation India (PAFI), the Vice President of the Asian Armwrestling Federation (AAF), and Co-Founder of the Pro Panja League (PPL), was honoured with the prestigious Sports Business Leader of the Year (Female) award at the 3rd CII Sports Business Awards in New Delhi recently. Jhangiani received the award for her efforts in promoting Indian Armwrestling on the global stage. Jhangiani emphasised her mission to build a professional ecosystem that offers structure, opportunity and financial security to athletes as the PPL Season 3 is set for international expansion. “The vision for the PPL was always larger than life because this sport can transcend the difference between classes and masses. It has a low financial entry point. Also, it’s a very desi sport, but has a huge international audience. So, our initial strategy was to begin with small tournaments in front of significant monuments; like we did one tournament at Gwalior Fort, another in front of the Gateway of India, another at a Casino in Goa, and one in a tourism boat in Bhopal,” said an elated Jhangiani, who has worked in some superhit Bollywood movies like Mohabbatein (2000), Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), and LOC: Kargil (2003) among others. “PPL has athletes from Kashmir to Kerala and almost every state in between. PPL is the world’s largest and only global armwrestling league. So, this award is from CII and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs is a shot in the arm,” she added. SixNo of franchise teams in Pro Panja League (PPL) 32 lakhNo of viewers of PPL Season 1 in 2023 170 bnTotal PPL views across social media platforms
11 December,2025 08:11 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentShiven Vyas of Children’s Academy (Kandivli) emerged the fastest runner, bagging two gold medals among boys U-16 at the 131st Dream Sports MSSA annual inter-school athletics meet at Wings Sports Centre, Bandra, on Monday. Shiven dominated the 100m dash, clinching gold (11.66s), followed by Advik Adke of The Universal School (Ghatkopar) at 12.05s, and Aadit Gawtade of Dadar Parsee Youths Assembly High School (12.16s). On Tuesday, Shiven set a New Meet Record (NMR) in the 80m hurdles (11.27s), breaking Vivan Jadhav’s 2023 mark of 11.42s. Aadish Punde (11.43s) and Tanishq Jondhale (11.49s) finished in second and third place respectively. In the girls U-16 100m, Riya Ranjit of Vasant Vihar HS (Thane West) stormed to gold in 12.75s, while Vian Mahabat of Utpal Shanghvi Global School took silver (13.09s), and Asmi Joshi of Lakshdham (Goregaon) won bronze 14.01s). Other results Boys U-14 100m final: Aarush Jayant Chavan (Thakur Public School Kandivli) 12.45s, Samarth Pandya (Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School) 12.47s, Juan D’Souza (St Dominic Savio High School) 12.63s.Girls U-14 100m final: Laseya Rao (Utpal Shanghvi Global School) 13.32s, Madhavi Yadav (Mary Immaculate Girls High School) 13.43s, Samruddhi Chavan (Balmohan Vidya Mandir, Dadar) 13.50s.Girls U-12 100, final: Ariana Iyer (Lokhandwala Foundation School Kandivli) 13.62s, Krishika Bangera (St Peter’s School, Mazgaon) 13.72s, Aarohi Varal (Gokuldham High School & Junior College) 14.17s.Boys U-12 sprint final: Aryaveer Kar (Vibgyor High, Goregaon) 13.62s, Francis Sebastian Jose (Children’s Academy, Thakur Complex) 13.68s, Reyansh Sumith (Vasudev C Wadhwa Arya Vidya Mandir) 14.11s.
10 December,2025 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamAnuraj Sawant’s story is not one of limitation, but of limitless determination. The Holy Family High School (Andheri) athlete, who was born with an under-formed left arm, continues to redefine what courage looks like on the track. On Tuesday, at the 131st Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school annual athletics meet at Wings Sports Centre, Bandra, Anuraj, 13, won the gold medal in the boys U-14 800 metres with an impressive timing of 2:25.5 seconds. Anuraj Sawant’s mother Sharvari (left) ties his shoelaces at Wings Sports Centre, Bandra, on Tuesday. Pics/Satej Shinde In a tightly-contested race, Ved Pujari of Children’s Academy (Malad) took the silver (2:25.7s), while Tanishq Manjrekar of IES VN Sule Guruji English Medium School (Dadar) won bronze (2:26.0s) A day earlier, Anuraj clinched bronze in the U-14 boys 400m event, clocking 59.84 seconds. Aarush Chavan of Thakur Public School (Kandivli) won gold (57.30s), while Ved won the silver (59.43s). Coach Dayanand Shetty, who trains Anuraj at the Dominic Savio ground in Andheri, praises his ward’s sincerity. “Anuraj is a rare talent. He’s always on time for training, completes every drill sincerely, and constantly works on his stamina and endurance without complaining,” Shetty told mid-day. Anuraj’s father Shankar is a taxi driver, while mum Sharvari is a housewife, meaning their circumstances are modest. Yet, his younger brother Aradhya, nine, is also encouraged to take up sport and is excelling too. At the same meet, Aradhya has won two gold medals in the boys U-10 category (in long jump with a leap of 4.46m and in the 100m dash, clocking 14.75 seconds) Interestingly, Anuraj is crystal clear about his path ahead. “My parents and my coach have decided that when I turn 14, I will start competing in para events. My dream is to win a Paralympic medal for India,” Anuraj told mid-day. The big challenges notwithstanding however, it’s the little things that irk the teenager: “The only problem I face is in tying my shoelaces.” 2min 25.50secTiming with which Anuraj Sawant won the gold medal at the boys U-14 800m final 59.84secTiming with which Anuraj Sawant won the bronze medal in the boys U-14 400m race
10 December,2025 09:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamVed Pujari of Children’s Academy (Malad) and Madhavi Yadav of Mary Immaculate Girls High School (Borivli) lit up the arena at Priyadarshani Park (Nepean Sea Road) recently, as both athletes registered New Meet Records (NMR) in high jump and shot put respectively, during the 131st Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) annual inter-school athletics championship. Thirteen-year-old talent The 13-year-old Ved, one of the most talented jumpers of his age group, produced a stellar performance in the boys U-14 high jump final. With steely focus and remarkable technique, Ved cleared 1.73 metres, surpassing the previous meet best to enter the record books. The previous meet mark of 1.72 metres had been set in 2012 by Nikhil Shetty of St Lawrence High School (Kandivli). Ved’s achievement comes in a highly successful season. Earlier this year, at the CISC Nationals in Bengaluru, he clinched three gold medals in high jump, long jump, and the 80m hurdles events. His consistency and excellence earned him qualification for the prestigious SGFI Nationals, where he went on to secure a bronze medal in high jump with a personal best of 1.77 metres. Saturday’s performance at Priyadarshani Park reaffirmed his growing reputation as one of Mumbai’s most exciting young athletes. Stiff competition Ryley Lobo of Bombay Scottish School (Mahim) and Daksh Patel of Children’s Academy (Malad) finished joint second, both clearing 1.50 metres. Vihaan Kishore Yadav of St Francis School ICSE (Borivli) also recorded 1.50m, but was placed fourth on countback. In the girls U-14 shot put final, Madhavi produced a commanding throw of 10.89 metres, setting a new meet record while comfortably securing first place. Her powerful and technically refined effort went past the previous benchmark of 9.79 metres set by Pristal D’Souza of St Francis School (Borivli) in 2018. Kamaksha Dudhade of Thane Police School (Thane) finished second with a solid 9.61m while Leher Unadkat of Rustomjee International School (Dahisar) took the third spot with her throw of 9.47m.
09 December,2025 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamHarsh Utkar of Vasant Vihar High School (Thane) and Pranav Khedkar of Thane Police School emerged champions in the boys U-16 long jump and boys U-16 discus throw events respectively at the Dreams Sports MSSA annual athletics meet at Priyadarshani Park, Nepean Sea Road, recently. In the long jump event, Harsh leaped an impressive 5.92 metres to clinch the gold medal ahead of schoolmate Aaryan Bachhav, who settled for silver (5.76m). Swanand More of Udayachal High School (Vikhroli) claimed bronze (5.76m). In the discus throw final, Pranav Khedkar bagged gold with a throw of 29.99m. Terence Neela of Children’s Academy (Malad) won the silver medal with a throw of 28.92m, while Vivaan Poojary of Vasant Vihar High School (Thane) took the bronze thanks to his throw of 28.56m.
09 December,2025 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus Vedanayagam35 No. of different drivers who have become F1 World Champions (Giuseppe Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alberto Ascari, Mike Hawthorn, Jack Brabham, Phil Hill, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda, James Hunt, Mario Andretti, Jody Scheckter, Alan Jones, Nelson Piquet, Keke Rosberg, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Häkkinen, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris.) 11No. of World Champions from Britain (Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damn Hill, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Lando Norris.) 8No. of World Champions from McLaren (Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris) 152No. of races it took Norris to become world champion; the fourth-longest in F1 history after Jenson Button (160), Nigel Mansell (176) and Nico Rosberg (206)
09 December,2025 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentADVERTISEMENT
