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A busy year ahead with plenty of Paris 2024 berths up for grabs

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The Indian shooters’ meteoric rise on the global stage can only be matched by their catastrophic slump at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Such has been the magnitude of their downfall at the Games that one shudders to think about the sports’ future in the new season and, more importantly, in Paris 2024 when expectations will again soar and the shooters will be expected to bring home a bagful of medals.

New season brings new aspirations and one hopes the people who govern the sport in the country would have learnt their lesson from the debacles at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Tokyo 2020 five years later.

India sent its largest contingent, comprising 15 shooters, to Tokyo and while the eyes firmly trailed the marksmen, their performance left the country stunned. While half-a-dozen medals were expected from the ranges, sadly the team came back empty-handed albeit with an oversized baggage of controversies.

All this after the elite shooters were given the best opportunities to train and compete abroad, and also given a two-month stint in Croatia to perfect their skills ahead of the quadrennial games. Direct flights were arranged to get them to Tokyo and expectations soared when images of them training at the venue in earnest were relayed back from the Japanese capital.

It seemed Indian shooters meant business, what with a motley group that included the young pistol shooters, such as Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker, exuding the confidence of battle-hardened pros. But one after the other, they started succumbing to pressure and controversies started to pile up when only a few days back camaraderie and buoyancy ruled.

The national governing body for the sport soon promised several wide-ranging changes, including a complete overhaul of the coaching structure, but even as days turned to months, no creditable initiative seems to have come forward.

It is in this backdrop that the shooters will begin preparations for a very busy 2022, which is dotted will World Cups, Grands Prix and above all the Asian Games in Hangzhou (China) and the World Championships in Shotgun (Osijek, Croatia) and Rifle/Pistol (Cairo, Egypt).

While action starts immediately in the New Year, the most crucial period will be September-October 2022 when the Asian Games and the World Championships are scheduled.

Indian shooters may have bagged a bucketful of medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, but with the continental showpiece happening in China this time around it’s anybody’s guess how tough it would be to win medals there.

The Asian Games will be followed by the two World Championships — Shotgun (September 27-October 10) and rifle/pistol (October 12-25) — which will be the qualification events for Paris 2024. With the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) planning to do away with qualification through the World Cup route, the Indians will have to really up their game to qualify for Paris.

The ISSF recently issued a circular on quota places for Paris, saying, “The holders of four quota places will be determined in each of the individual event included to the Olympic program at the 2022 World Championship Shotgun in Osijek, Croatia, and the 2022 World Championship Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, Egypt. The same number of quota places will be allocated in each individual Olympic event at the 53rd World Championship in 2023, which will be held in the Russian Federation.”

The new qualification norms leave no room for complacency as the Indians will have to rub shoulders with the best in the business to make the Olympic grade, where earlier they had the advantage of competing in World Cups held several times in a year to qualify for the quadrennial showpiece.

Besides, the key weakness one noticed among Indian shooters in Tokyo 2020 was the lack of mental strength for a stage like the Olympics. Somewhere down the line, the sport’s national governing body has not given enough attention to the mental aspect of the game, which many blame for the woeful Tokyo 2020 performance in pressure-cooker situations.

While the Tokyo scars will take time to heal, the lessons learnt are invaluable — those which can herald a new era in Indian shooting. It’s time to take stock quickly and mend the shattered image.

Key events in 2022:

February: World Cup (Shotgun) Morocco; World Cup (Rifle/pistol) Cairo.

March: World Cup (Shotgun) Cyprus; World Cup (Shotgun) Peru.

April: World Cup (Rifle/pistol) Brazil; World Cup (Shotgun) Italy.

May: World Cup (Rifle/pistol/shotgun) Azerbaijan.

July: World Cup (Rifle/pistol/shotgun) Korea.

September: Asian Games, Hangzhou (China); World Championship (Croatia).

October: World Championship (Rifle/pistol) Egypt.

November: Asian Airgun Championship (Korea).

International

₹136 Crore Per Year To Luxury Suite At Training Ground: All About Kylian Mbappe’s Bumper Deal At Real Madrid

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In a move that has captivated football enthusiasts worldwide, Kylian Mbappe has officially transferred from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid as of Tuesday.

This long-anticipated switch concludes months of speculation and excitement among fans.

Real Madrid’s Exciting Acquisition

Real Madrid announced on Monday that they had secured a deal with the French superstar for the next five seasons, merging one of football’s brightest talents with its most illustrious club.

This deal follows years of interest from Madrid, eager to bring in the player seen as the heir to Lionel Messi’s throne in the sport.

Financial Details of Mbappe’s Move

The 25-year-old Parisian will reportedly earn 15 million Euros net per season at Real Madrid, translating to over ₹136 crores annually. This figure breaks down to an impressive ₹2.6 crore per week.

While this is a significant reduction from the €75 million net per year he received at PSG, the shortfall will be offset by a massive signing bonus. The bonus, around €150 million, will be disbursed over the course of his contract.

Perks and Anticipated Debuts

Aside from his substantial salary, Mbappe will enjoy a private luxury suite at Real Madrid’s training facility and will sport the iconic No.9 jersey, previously worn by legendary striker Karim Benzema.

His anticipated debut for Real Madrid will occur during the preseason, with their first friendly against AC Milan at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 31.

His competitive debut is expected in the UEFA Super Cup, where Real Madrid will take on Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland, on August 14.

Mbappe’s Stellar PSG Legacy

Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco in 2017 for €180 million and has since become the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Throughout his seven-year tenure in Paris, he consistently demonstrated his scoring prowess, netting at least 30 goals in six of those seasons. His move to Real Madrid marks the next chapter in an already illustrious career, as he aims to further his legacy at one of the world’s most storied football clubs.

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International

ENG vs ESP, Euro 2024 Final: Spain Become The 1st Four-Time Champions Of Europe After Beating England 2-1 In Berlin

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Match Result:

Spain triumphed over England with a 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 final, held in Berlin, becoming the first team to win the championship four times.

The match saw a tense first half ending goalless, but Spain took the lead shortly after the break. Williams Jr. netted the opener in the 47th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by England.

England fought back, with Palmer leveling the score in the 73rd minute, igniting hopes for the Three Lions. However, Spain maintained their pressure, and in the 86th minute, Oyarzabal clinched the winner with a decisive strike.

This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.

This historic win cements Spain’s status as Europe’s most successful team, while England’s wait for a major international trophy continues. The final was a showcase of high-quality football and strategic mastery, ultimately seeing Spain emerge as deserved champions.

Preview of Euro 2024 Cup final:

A strong Spanish outfit will meet a pesky England side in the final of Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Spain battled France and defeated them by 2-1 in the semi-final, while England overcame the Netherlands by the same margin.

However, it wasn’t without a contentious penalty call that went in England’s favour. Despite not starting the contest as favourites, England’s ability to hang in there could work against Spain, who are seeking a 4th Euro title. By contrast, England are yet to lift the trophy.

A crucial stat which is in favour of England is the head to head battle, which the former lead by 13-10 against Spain in 27 outings.

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International

Violent Clash Erupts Between Rival Supporters During Argentina vs Brazil 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has been marred in controversy as the match between Brazil and Argentina saw violent clashes between rival supporters before the start of it. The high-profile fixture had to be delayed by 30 minutes as the Marcana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro witnessed ugly scenes, with disturbing visuals emerging on social media.

With the Brazilian and Argentinian players lining up for national anthems, the camera turned towards the stands as a section of rival fans exchanged blows. The local police officials could be seen beating up a section of Argentinian fans with batons and it did not go well with the tourists. By pointing at the violent scenes, Messi and co. decided to walk off the pitch.

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