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Dalits in Games/Sports (A - L)

Appoorva Muralinath
Wikipedia
Appoorva Muralinath

Born Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Nationality Indian
2-2-1989 born

Appoorva Muralinath (born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu) is an Indian basketball player and coach. She was an active athlete from 2005-2017. She played on the India women's national basketball team from 2010-2015. She is a power forward/Center. She is the daughter of K. Muralinath who played for the Indian National Men's Basketball Team in the 1982 Asian Games.

Muralinath is currently the Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Dean College Massachusetts United States.

Education

Degree/CertificationsInstitution/Organizations
Personal Trainer American Council on Exercise, United States

Personal details

Muralinath's father K. Muralinath played for the Indian National Basketball Team.

Professional-playing experience

2015: Professional Basketball Athlete Representing Country India

•Represented the Indian Senior Women Basketball team at the 26th FIBA Asian Championship for Women held at Wuhan, China.

•16 International teams participated.

2012: Professional Basketball Athlete Representing Country India

•Represented the Indian Senior Women Basketball Team at the William Jones Cup for Women held at Taipei, Taiwan.

•10 International teams participated.

2011: National Games of India

•Represented her state team (Tamil Nadu) in National Games Championship organized by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at Ranchi, India

•More than 30 state teams participated.

•Secured Gold medal in the championship.

2006 – 2015: Played for National Championships

•Played 10 Senior National Championships organized by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).

•All (30) state teams participated.

•Has been awarded with 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.

•Has represented her state (Tamil Nadu) team as well the (Indian Railways)

2012 – 2016: Professional All India Inter-Railway Championships

•Played 5 Inter-Railway Championships organized by Indian Railways.

•4 state zones/16 teams participated.

•Has been awarded with 4 Gold, 1 Silver medals.

•Has captained the team (Southern Railway), and have received various awards.

2008-2012: All India Inter-University National Championships

•Played 5 Inter-University National Championships.

•More than 50 university teams participated.

•Has been awarded with 2 Gold and 3 Silver medals.

•Has represented two different teams in 5 years.

•Has captained SRM University and Madras University team,and have received various awards including the most valuable player (MVP) award and the best re-bounder award.

2006 – 2008: Junior, Youth and School National Championships

•Represented and captained her state as well as the school teams in various national championships.in the championships.

•Has captained the teams in the championships, and received various awards including the most valuable player (MVP) award and the best re-bounder award.

Professional-coaching experience

2019-2020 •Assistant coach for women’s basketball team – Dean College, Franklin - MA

Anand Kumar (Mountaineer)
1. Born to a Dalit family in Telangana, Kumar has faced extreme poverty all his life, with his father working as a cycle mechanic and his mother as an agricultural labourer. Kumar took a picture of Dr B.R. Ambedkar along with him for his trip, and unfurled it along with the Indian flag when they reached the summit.

In May 2014, at just 16 years old and while in class XI, Sadhanapally Anand Kumar became the first Dalit male from India to summit Mount Everest. He reached the peak at around 7:30 AM on 25th May, shortly after his teammate Malavath Poorna had done so. www.ndtv.com+1

His journey from a humble background—living in a leaking hut, from a family of limited means—made his achievement all the more inspiring. www.ndtv.com+1

2. Training & Inspiration

His mountaineering journey began with a five-day rock climbing course at Bhongir Rock Climbing School in Nalgonda, where trainers Shekhar Babu and Parmesh Kumar recognized his potential. He then completed an accelerated eight-month training, which typically takes two years, including glacier training and high-altitude trekking in Ladakh. www.ndtv.com+1

3. Unfurling the Indian Tricolor and Personal Motivations

Upon reaching the summit, Anand Kumar unfurled the Indian national flag, the Telangana state flag, and his school’s flag, along with photographs of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar—symbolizing pride, heritage, and personal resolve. www.ndtv.com

4. Later feat: Mount Kosciuszko (2018)

In 2018, Anand Kumar made headlines again by scaling Mount Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in Australia (2,228 m), along with a group of Telugu climbers. Upon summiting, he once again unfurled the Indian flag. The Tribune

At that time, he was in his final year of college and harbored aspirations of scaling Mount Aconcagua in South America and ultimately becoming an IPS officer. The Tribune

5. A Message Beyond Mountains

Anand’s climb was more than a personal milestone—it became a powerful symbol of resilience, hope, and the capacity to transcend social barriers. He emphasized that “poverty is not a barrier if the poor are given a chance.” www.ndtv.com

Summary 

First Dalit youth (16 years) to summit Everest; completed condensed 8-month training; symbolically unfurled flags and honored cultural icons.
Mount Kosciuszko (2018) Summited Australia’s highest peak; maintained momentum in mountaineering journey; continues to dream bigger.

Anand Kumar’s mountaineering pursuits are not just about conquering peaks—they embody a narrative of determination, education, and representation. From a remote social welfare hostel to the top of the world, his story is a heartfelt testament to the power of opportunity and the human spirit.

Anand Amritraj
Wikipedia
Anand Amritraj
Born 20 March 1951
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Retired yes
Plays Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money $332,133
Singles
Career record 90–170
Career titles 0
Highest ranking No. 74 (6 November 1974)
Grand Slam singles results
Doubles
Career record 288–269
Career titles 12
Highest ranking No. 80 (2 January 1984)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open 1R (1984)
French Open 3R (1979)
Wimbledon SF (1976)
US Open QF (1973, 1976)
Team competitions

Anand Amritraj (Tamil: ஆனந்த் அம்ரித்ராஜ்; born 20 March 1951) is a former Indian tennis player and businessman. He along with brother Vijay Amritraj led India into the 1974 Davis Cup finals against South Africa  and was a part of the Indian team captained by Vijay Amritraj which reached the final of the Davis Cup in 1987 against Sweden.

Career

Anand Amritraj and his younger brothers, Vijay and Ashok, were among the first Indians to play in top-flight international tour tennis. In 1976, Anand and Vijay were semifinalists in the Wimbledon men's doubles. Anand was part of the Indian team for 1974 Davis Cup, which advanced to the finals of the tournament and then forfeited the championship to South Africa as the Government of India decided to boycott the match in protest South Africa's Apartheid policies, and again reached the final in 1987 against Sweden.

His son Stephen Amritraj is also an American former professional tennis player who represented India. He did schooling from Don Bosco and graduated from Loyola College in Madras.
Vijay and Anand Amritraj warm up at 2000 Wimbledon Sr Invitation Doubles Finals in the Centre Court

His daughter-in-law Alison Riske is also a top-50 player on the WTA Tour.

Career finals
Anand and Vijay Amritraj 2000 Wimbledon Sr Invitation Doubles Finals

Ahillya Harjani
Wikipedia
Ahillya Harjani


Country  India
Born 6 March 1997 
Event Women's & mixed doubles

Ahillya Harjani , born 6 March 1997 in Mumbai, Maharashtra) is an Indian badminton player.

Career

Harjani has represented India in the junior event at the Dutch open, German open and BWF Junior World Championships. In 2013, she was inducted into the Gopichand Badminton Academy, Hyderabad. Until then she was a district and state level player. At the State mixed doubles, triumphant, she got the opportunity to represent her state at the 37th Junior Nationals in Chandigarh November 2013 where she won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles. She started playing at an All India level in the year 2014, winning a silver medal at All India Ranking Tournaments in the mixed doubles. Being the most consistent player, she ended the year as India junior No. 1 in the mixed doubles. In the year 2015, she won gold medals in all the All India Ranking Tournaments in the mixed doubles . She also won a gold medal at the 40th Junior Nationals in Jaipur, India in the mixed doubles. Harjani ended the year 2015 as the No.1 junior ranked in mixed doubles in India.

Abhijit Mondal
 Wikipedia
Abhijit Mondal
Mondal in 2011
Personal information
Full name Abhijit Mondal
Date of birth 1 February 1978
Place of birth Balurghat, West Bengal, India
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information

Current team ATK Reserves (Goalkeeper coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2010 Dempo
2010–2012 United S.C.
2012–2015 East Bengal 37 (0)
2014 → Chennaiyin FC (loan) 0 (0)
2015 United
Teams managed
2016–17 East Bengal (goalkeeper coach)
2017— ATK Reserves (goalkeeper coach)
2019— India U17 (goalkeeper coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Abhijit Mondal (born 1 February 1978) is a former Indian footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeping coach for East Bengal.

Honours
Durand Cup(1):2006
Anshu Jamsenpa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anshu Jamsenpa
President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, 2017 to Jamsenpa
Personal information
Main discipline Mountaineer and
Promoter for Adventure
Born 31 December 1979 
Nationality  India
Career
Notable ascents The first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest 5 times
Family
Spouse Tsering Wange
Children 2

Anshu Jamsenpa is an Indian mountaineer and the first woman in the world to scale the summit of Mount Everest twice in a season, and the fastest double summitter to do so within 5 days. It is also the fastest double ascents of the tallest crest by a woman. She is from Bomdila, headquarters of West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh - the state that holds most north-eastern position of India.[3] She was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award the Padma Shri in 2021.

Career

Jamsenpa summited the Mount Everest in 2011 first time 12 May and she made a second summit also on 21 May.[6]

She summited the Mount Everest in 2013 in the 2013 North East India Everest Expedition led by Surjit Singh Leishangthem.

In 2017, Jamsenpa became the first woman in the world to scale the summit of Mount Everest twice in a season the first to do so within 5 days. It is the fastest double ascents of the tallest crest by a woman. This was her fifth summit and thus she became the most time climbed Indian woman.

After taking the blessings of 14th Dalai Lama she began her Everest climbing expedition from Guwahati on 2 April 2017. She took 38 days schedule for acclimatization at the Everest Base Camp (at 17,600 ft) and started her main journey on 4 April. At 9.15 am on 16 May along with 17 other climbers, she climbed up to the mountaintop and unfurled the Indian National Flag.

She started her second arduous trek with Nepali climber Furi Sherpa on 19 May. She continued climbing almost without any pause in hiking, till 10 pm. Again the next morning, she began climbing and took a brief break prior to summit hike, and finally reached the apex at 7.45 am, on 21 May 2017. Although the feather of double ascent had been already added in her cap in 2011, she climbed the peak twice (second and third expedition) within a time span of 10 days. However, this year, she took 118 hours and 15 minutes to finish her 5th mission after 4th one.

Honors and awards

For making history (the first woman and also the first mother who completed twice double ascents), first Indian woman to scale the Mt. Everest five times. Government of Arunachal Pradesh has suggested her name for the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award. The President, Ram Nath Kovind presented the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award 2017, India's Highest Adventure Award to Jamsenpa for Adventure at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 25 September 2018.

Jamsenpa was conferred the CNN-IBN Young Indian Leader Award in New Delhi on 30 June 2011. She received the award from Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India).

On 2 June 2012, Jamsenpa was awarded Woman Achiever of the Year 2011-12 by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in Guwahati.

On 31 January 2017 she was conferred with Tourism Icon of the Year Award by Government of Arunachal Pradesh in a function held at I G Park Itanagar which was attended by Governor Padmanabha Acharya as Chief Guest.

Jamsenpa was conferred PhD by Arunachal University of Studies for her achievements in the field adventure sports and making the region proud 

Personal life

Her husband, Tsering Wange, is the president of the Arunachal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports Association. She has two daughters

Amit Kumar Saroha
Wikipedia 

Amit Kumar Saroha
Personal information
Nationality Indian
Born 12 January 1985 
Sport
Country  India
Sport Para Athletics (Discus and Club throw)

Amit Kumar Saroha (born 10324 January 1985) is a Paralympian, Asian Para Games medalist and an Arjuna Awardee,competing in the F51 category in Discus throw and Club throw. He is one of India's top Para athletes and the first quadriplegic to represent India at a Paralympic Games (London 2012). He trains at the Sports Authority of India in Sonipat and is being supported by the GoSports Foundaton

Early life and background

Born in Haryana in 1985, Amit suffered a car accident when he was 22, causing him to become a quadriplegic due to compression of the spinal cord. Before his injury, Amit was a national level hockey player. However, his tryst with fame as a sportsperson happened after his injury when he met Jonathan sexy, an American wheelchair rugby player on a tour of India to promote para sports. Wheelchair rugby introduced Amit to the world of para sports and he joined Sigworth in promoting wheelchair rugby across India.

While playing in a demonstration match of wheelchair rugby with a Brazilian team, he met several para-athletes from across the world and learnt the official Paralympic nomenclature for his injury - F 51. Amit decided to take training in sports which require upper body strength and started competing in throw ball and discus throw; he has not looked back since.

Career

In 2010 Amit took part in his first Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China, where he won a silver medal in Discus throw, one of only 14 other medals won by Indians. Two years later, Amit won a Gold medal in the Olympic qualifier event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, breaking the Asian record along the way. This helped Amit rise to third in the world rankings, and also earned him his first Paralympic games qualification (London 2012). The following year, Amit was conferred the Arjuna Award by the President of India, in recognition of his outstanding sporting achievements.

At the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, Korea, Amit won two medals for India; a Gold in Club throw with a distance of 21.31 m and a Silver in Discus throw with a distance of 9.89 m. His club throw distance was another Asian record, and the medal winning performance earned him an automatic qualification for Rio 2016.

Confident from his exploits at the 2014 Asian Para Games, Amit arrived at the 2015 World Championships in Doha, as one of the favorites. He lived up to his reputation, winning Silver medal in Club throw and bettering his previous Asian Games mark by over 4 metres to register a throw of 25.44 m. In 2017 World Parathletics Championship, he won Silver Medal setting new Asian record with a throw of 30.25m.

Apart from being an athlete, Amit is also a big promoter of the paralympic movement in the country. He is a motivational speaker for the youth and has been invited to speak across prestigious institutions like IIT Guwahati (Chief Guest) and BITS, Pilani.


Amiya Kumar Mallick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Amiya Kumar Mallick
Mallick at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar
Personal information
Born 14 November 1992
Olansh, Cuttack district, Odisha, India
Sport
Country  India
Event(s) 100 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) 100m: 10.26 s (New Delhi 2016) NR
200m: 21.03 s (Bhubaneswar 2017)

Amiya Kumar Mallick (born 14 November 1992) is an Indian sprinter who holds the 100 metres national record of 10.26 seconds.

Personal life

Mallick was born on 14 November 1992 in Olansh, Cuttack district, Orissa. His father works in Bhubaneswar as a section officer in the education department of the state government and his mother is a housewife. As of 2016, Mallick is pursuing an MBA at the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar.

Career

Mallick won the silver medal in 100 metres at the 2006 Junior Asian Meet in Colombo and bronze in 200 metres at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, clocking 21.33 seconds. In October 2011, he suffered a left quadricep injury which left him bed-ridden for six months after which he had to use crutches to walk. He returned to sprinting in December 2012, while his doctors told him that it will not be possible for him to match his previous timings.

Mallick came into limelight after winning gold medal at the National Open Athletics Championships at Ranchi in 2013 by recording 21.22 seconds. In 2014, he trained for four months under Glen Mills, who coached Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, at the Racers Track Club in Kingston. The training which costed ₹16 lakh was funded by his father, the state association and some sponsors, and helped him change his running technique.

Mallick set the national 100 metres record on 28 April 2016 during the semifinals of the National Federation Cup in New Delhi, running 10.26 seconds. He bettered the previous national record of 10.30 seconds jointly held by Anil Kumar Prakash (2005) and Abdul Najeeb Qureshi (2010). Having clocked 10.35 seconds during the heats of the same event, Mallick suffered a hamstring strain during the semifinal. He ran the final with his thigh heavily strapped and finished fourth with a timing of 10.51.

At the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, Mallick was disqualified from the 100 metres semifinals because of a false start. He was part of the 4 × 100 metres relay team which was also disqualified in the heats due to a baton exchange infraction by himself He qualified for the final of the 200 metres event in which he finished with a personal best time of 21.03 seconds.
Anju Tamang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anju Tamang

Date of birth 22 December 1995 
Place of birth Alipurduar, West Bengal
Position(s) Forward
Club information

Current team KRYPHSA F.C.
Number 7
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Rising Student Club
2019–2020 Gokulam Kerala 5 (5)
2020– KRYPHSA F.C. 3 (2)
National team‡
2016– India 19 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 February 2017
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 November 2021

Anju Tamang (born 22 December 1995) is an football player from Alipurduar, West Bengal. She represents Odisha women's football team in Indian Women's Football Championship and KRYPHSA F.C. in Indian Women's League. She joined Gokulam Kerala in 2019 for 2018–19 Indian Women's League.

Personal life

Anju Tamang was born on 22 December 1995 to Mr. Ram Singh Tamang and Mrs. Kanchi Maya at Mujnai Tea Garden in the district of Alipurduar, West Bengal. She is of Sikkimese descent and represents Odisha at national level. She went for schooling at Alagarah High School, Kalimpong and the Scottish Universities’ Mission Institution (SUMI), Kalimpong. She went on for the higher studies at the University of North Bengal, Siliguri.
Alesh Sawant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alesh SawantPersonal information
Date of birth 27 November 1994 
Place of birth India
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information

Current team Churchill Brothers
Number 21
Youth career
Brasil Futebol Academia
2012–2013 Churchill Brothers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013– Churchill Brothers 13 (0)
2015– → Salgaocar (loan) 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 June 2014

Alesh Sawant (born 27 November 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Churchill Brothers S.C. in the I-League.

Career
Churchill Brothers

Sawant joined Churchill Brothers S.C. as a youth player from Brasil Futebol Academia in 2012.

 Sawant then made his professional debut for the first-team on 21 September 2013 in the I-League season opener against Salgaocar F.C. at the Duler Stadium in which he started and played 65 minutes before being replaced by Micky Fernandes as Churchill Brothers lost the match 0–1.
Amiya Deb
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Amiya Kumar Deb (16 November 1917 – 10 January 1983) was an Indian sportsman active in the 1930s and 1940s who played both association football and cricket.

Deb played football for Mohun Bagan, and cricket for Bengal. He is the first footballer to score a hat trick in Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal derby. He scored all 4 goals in darbhanga shield (one of the most difficult tournaments in those days after Calcutta league n IFA Shield) in 1934 (5th sept 1934) for Mohun Bagan against East Bengal. It was the Bengal zone, India section semifinal match of Darbhanga shield. Mohun Bagan won the match 4-1. Amiyo deb also scored in darbhanga shield Bengal zone India section final match of 1933 ( 30th Aug 1933) and Mohun Bagan won the match 2 nil. Amiyo deb scored several goals in the Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal match in the 1930s decade. Asit Ganguly scored the second hat trick in this Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal derby in Raja Memorial Shield final, which got played in their common ground of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal on 6th Aug 1937 and Mohun Bagan won the match 4-0. East Bengal was the stronger side, but their goalkeeper Peary Das made few costly errors in that Raja Memorial Shield final. In 30s decade Raja Memorial Shield used to be an important knock out tournaments in kolkata maidan played by all big clubs.
Apurvi Chandela
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Apurvi Chandela
Apurvi Chandela at the 12th South Asian Games 2016
Personal information
Nationality Indian
Born 4 January 1993 
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Height 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in)
Weight 52 kg (115 lb)
Sport
Country  India
Sport Shooting

Women's shooting
Representing  India

Apurvi Singh Chandela (born 4 January 1993) is an Indian Shooting player who competes in the 10 metre air rifle event. She won the gold medal in the 2019 ISSF World Cup in New Delhi. She is a recipient of Arjuna award.

Early life and background

Chandela was born on 4 January 1993 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Her father is Kuldeep Singh Chandela, a hotelier and a sports enthusiast, and mother is Bindu Rathore who was a basketball player. She did her schooling from Mayo College Girls School Ajmer & Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' School, Jaipur. She studied Sociology honours from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University.

In her early years, Chandela wanted to become a sports journalist, but she was inspired to take up shooting as a sport by Abhinav Bindra’s performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a gold medal in shooting. Initially, she had to travel for 45 minutes to reach a shooting range in Jaipur. Later on, her parents set up a shooting range for 10-metre air rifle practice for her at their home.

In 2009, Chandela won the All India School Shooting Competition, and Senior national shooting championship in 2012. She registered podium finishes at national events least six times during 2012-2019.

Chandela enjoys reading in her free time and practices meditation to enhance her focus to help her game.

Career

In 2012, Chandela won the gold medal in the 10 metres air rifle event at the National shooting championships in New Delhi, her first year in the senior circuit. In 2014, she won four medals at the Intershoot Championships at The Hague, that included two individual and two team medals. In the same year, she won the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, having scored 206.7 points in final, in the process creating a new games record. And a year later, she debuted in ISSF World Cup in Changwon, where she won a bronze medal.

Chandela qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the women's 10m air rifle event, where she finished at 34th position in the qualification round out of 51 contestants. Chandela received the Arjuna Award, from the President of India in 2016.

At the 2018 Asian Games, she paired with Ravi Kumar for the 10 meter air rifle mixed team event, and won a bronze medal. She is being mentored by former National Champion Rakesh Manpat. In the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Chandela won a bronze medal for India. She won the gold medal at the 2019 ISSF World Cup[13] in New Delhi and set a world record of 252.9 in the 10-metre air rifle event. She has secured a gold medal in women's 10m air rifle at the (ISSF) World Cup 2019.

In ISSF World Cup 2019 in New Delhi, Chandela won the first medal for India by winning the gold medal with a record score in the women's 10m air rifle event. The 28 years old set a new world record in the process with 252.9 points to bag her third individual World Cup medal. The shooter, rose to the top of the table in the finals with her 17th shot and then followed it up with 10.8 in the 18th shot. In the 2016 Swedish Cup Grand Prix, Chandela broke the world record for the second time in three years after her score of 211.2.

Chandela also secured a quota spot to participate in the Tokyo Olympics in Women's 10 metre air rifle event, where she finished at 36th position in the qualification round out of 50 participants. In 2020, she won a gold medal at a private tournament in Meyton cop, Austria.
Alexander Ovechkin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexander Ovechkin
Ovechkin with the Washington Capitals in 2018
Born 17 September 1985 
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Position Left wing
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams Washington Capitals
National team  Russia
NHL Draft 1st overall, 2004
Playing career 2001–present
Website www.ovie8.com

Alexander Mikhailovich Ovechkin (Russian: Александр Михайлович Овечкин, IPA:  born 17 September 1985) is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Often known as "Ovi" (alternatively spelled "Ovie") and "the Great Eight", Ovechkin is widely considered to be one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time.

Ovechkin began his professional career with Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Superleague, playing there for four seasons from 2001 until 2005 and returning briefly during the 2012–13 NHL lockout. A highly touted prospect, Ovechkin was selected by the Capitals first overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. However, he would remain in Russia until 2005 due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. In the 2005–06 NHL season, Ovechkin's first with the Capitals, he scored 52 goals and 54 assists to lead all rookies in points, capturing the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year and finishing third overall in league scoring.

He has won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's leading goal scorer, an NHL-record nine times, first doing so in 2007–08, when his 65 goals and 112 points also earned him the Art Ross Trophy for most points scored, the Hart Memorial Trophy for most valuable player, and the Lester B. Pearson Award for best player as voted on by the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA). Ovechkin would again win the Richard Trophy, Hart Trophy, and Pearson Award in 2009; he won the Ted Lindsay Award (the renamed Pearson Award) for a third consecutive year in 2010, also the fifth straight year Ovechkin was named to the First All-Star Team.

After some years of decreased scoring, Ovechkin reclaimed the goal-scoring title in 2013, earning the Richard Trophy and his third Hart Trophy. He would repeat as the Richard Trophy winner in 2014, 2015, and 2016, scoring at least 50 goals each season and becoming only the third player to score 50 goals in seven different seasons. In 2017, Ovechkin was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players of all time. After ten playoff runs with the Washington Capitals, Ovechkin won his first Stanley Cup in 2018 over the Vegas Golden Knights, as well as the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player in the 2018 playoffs. In 2020, Ovechkin scored his 700th career NHL goal, the eighth player to reach that mark.

Internationally, Ovechkin has represented Russia in multiple tournaments. His first IIHF tournament was the 2002 World U18 Championship. The following year he made his debut at the World Junior Championship, helping Russia win the gold medal. He played two more years at the World Juniors, as well as once more at the World U18 Championships. Ovechkin's first senior tournament was the 2004 World Championship, and he also played in the World Cup that year. Ovechkin has also played for Russia at the Winter Olympics in 2006, 2010, and 2014. Overall, Ovechkin has represented Russia at eleven World Championships and three Olympics in his career, winning the World Championship three times.

Early life

Ovechkin was born on 17 September 1985 in Moscow, the son of Soviet athletes. His mother, Tatyana Ovechkina, was a two-time Olympic gold medalist in basketball (1976, 1980).His father, Mikhail, was a football player. He had two older brothers, Sergei and Mikhail. His mother sensed her youngest son was destined for "sporting greatness". "From birth, it was obvious," she said. "In a child, it's clear immediately. He was very active and walking and curious." He was two years old when he first picked up a hockey stick. Whenever a hockey game came on television he would drop whatever he was doing, refusing to allow his parents to change the channel.

In early childhood, he moved with his family to a tall high-rise building surrounded by a "crumbling neighborhood" on the outskirts of Moscow.There he attended public school #596, infamous for military discipline and a "tyrannical" principal, completing eight and a half grades before starting at Dynamo Moscow's sports school. While he saw his friends "getting high and getting dead," Ovechkin was attending daily training sessions morning and night. "You dive into sport with your head and arms and legs, and there's no time for anything else," he said of this early training.

Whenever his parents were no longer able to get young Alex to hockey events, his elder brother Sergei stepped up, making sure his little brother got where he needed to go.When Ovechkin was 10, his brother Sergei died from a blood clot following a car accident. Ovechkin had a youth hockey game the next day, which his parents insisted he play in. Ovechkin credits his elder brother Sergei for introducing him to, and encouraging him to pursue hockey. When he scores, Alex will often kiss his glove and point to the sky in a salute to his brother.

He made a name for himself in the Dynamo Moscow system when at 11 he scored 56 goals, breaking Pavel Bure's record of 53. Meanwhile, Ovechkin dreamed of playing in the NHL, keeping the cards of star players stashed in his room, especially those of his idol, Mario Lemieux. "It's the best hockey there is," Ovechkin would say of the NHL.

Playing career
Dynamo Moscow (2001–2005)

Ovechkin began playing in the Russian Super League (RSL) in Dynamo Moscow at the age of 16. Making his professional debut in the 2001–02 season, he scored four points in 21 games. He would spend three seasons there prior to being drafted by the NHL, and he would rack up 36 goals and 32 assists in 152 career games.

The following off-season, Ovechkin was selected first overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. He had been projected as the first overall pick for nearly two years and had earned comparisons to Mario Lemieux.He was so highly regarded that the Florida Panthers attempted to draft him in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in the ninth round, even though his birthday was two days after the cut-off (15 September 1985). Rick Dudley, the general manager of the Panthers, claimed the pick was legitimate, claiming that Ovechkin was old enough with leap years taken into consideration.

Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Ovechkin remained with Dynamo for one more season. He recorded 27 points in 37 games in 2004–05, while missing nearly two months of play because of a shoulder injury sustained in the gold medal game against Canada in the 2005 World Junior Championships. In the playoffs, he helped Dynamo win the RSL title.

With the threat of the lockout canceling another NHL season, Ovechkin signed a contract with rival Russian team Avangard Omsk. In order to maintain his eligibility for the NHL in the event that the lockout ended, the contract contained an out clause with a 20 July 2005, deadline. Although a new NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA) had not yet been reached between players and owners, Ovechkin decided to opt out and signed with the Capitals on 5 August 2005. The deal was a three-year, entry-level contract worth the rookie maximum of $984,200 per season with performance-based bonuses to inflate his annual salary to as much as $3.9 million.

Washington Capitals (2005–present)
Early dominance, MVP seasons and scoring title (2005–2012)
Ovechkin at the Washington Capitals training camp prior to the 2005–06 season

Two days after signing, the lockout ended with a new CBA. Ovechkin played his first game with the Capitals on 5 October 2005, scoring two goals against goalie Pascal Leclaire in a 3–2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. On 13 January 2006, in Anaheim, Ovechkin scored his first career hat trick against Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to help Washington win the game. Three days later, on 16 January, he scored a goal that veteran hockey reporter Bill Clement called "one of the greatest goals of all time." Knocked down by Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Paul Mara and sliding on his back facing away from the net, Ovechkin was able to hook the puck with one hand on his stick and slide it into the net past goalie Brian Boucher for his second goal of the night. It became referred to as "The Goal."Auston Matthews, a future Toronto Maple Leafs first overall selection, was in attendance during the game; he said in an interview during the 2016–17 season that it was the best goal he ever saw live. On 1 February, Ovechkin was named NHL Rookie of the Month for January 2006 as well as being named Offensive Player of the Month, becoming only the third player in NHL history to earn both honors simultaneously.

Ovechkin finished the 2005–06 season leading all NHL rookies in goals, points, power-play goals and shots. He finished third overall in the NHL in scoring with 106 points and tied for third in goals with 52. His 425 shots led the league, set an NHL rookie record, and was the fourth-highest total in NHL history. Ovechkin's point total was the second-best in Washington Capitals history and his goals total tied for third in franchise history. He was also named to the NHL First All-Star Team, the first rookie to receive the honor in 15 years. After the season ended, Ovechkin received the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best rookie.

He was also a finalist in his rookie season for the Lester B. Pearson Award.[26] EA Sports made him one of the cover athletes for NHL 07. The following season, Ovechkin appeared in his first NHL All-Star Game in Dallas on 24 January 2007. He completed his second NHL season with 46 goals and 92 points.
Ovechkin celebrates with teammate Alexander Semin during the 2006–07 season.

Playing in the final season of his rookie contract, in 2007–08, Ovechkin signed a 13-year contract extension worth $124 million with the Capitals on 10 January 2008. The contract, which averages $9.5 million per year, was the richest in NHL history. Working without an agent, Ovechkin negotiated with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and former general manager George McPhee.

Late in the season, on 3 March 2008, Ovechkin notched his 50th, 51st and 52nd goals of the campaign for his fourth career NHL hat trick and to hit the 50-goal mark for the second time in his career. Later that month, on 21 March, Ovechkin scored his 59th and 60th goals of the season against the Atlanta Thrashers, becoming the first NHL player to score 60 goals in a season since Mario Lemieux and Jaromír Jágr in 1995–96 and 19th player overall. Four days later, on 25 March, Ovechkin scored his 61st goal of the season to break the Washington Capitals' team record for goals in a single season previously held by Dennis Maruk. He also went on to break Luc Robitaille's record for most goals by a left winger in one season on 3 April, by scoring two goals for his 64th and 65th of the season. He also became the first NHL player to score at least 40 even-strength goals in one season since Pavel Bure in 1999–2000.

Leading the league in scoring with 65 goals and 112 points, Ovechkin captured both the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2007–08. It was the first time in 41 seasons that a left-winger led the NHL in points since Bobby Hull led the league with 97 points in 1965–66.

Ovechkin helped lead a rejuvenated Capitals team back to the Stanley Cup playoffs with a stronger supporting cast that included countryman Alexander Semin, rookie center Nicklas Bäckström and defenseman Mike Green. He scored the game-winning goal in his NHL playoff debut with less than five minutes left in game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored nine points in seven games against the Flyers as the Capitals were eliminated in the opening round.

In the off-season, Ovechkin was awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award as the most outstanding player voted by the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's MVP, becoming the first player in the history of the NHL to win all four major awards, including the Art Ross and Rocket Richard trophies. Ovechkin was also awarded his third consecutive Kharlamov Trophy, named after Soviet hockey star Valeri Kharlamov and presented by Sovetsky Sport newspaper, as the best Russian NHL player as voted by other Russian NHL players.
Ovechkin, during the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs. He recorded his first playoff hat trick that year.

In late October of the 2008–09 season, Ovechkin returned home to Moscow to visit his ailing grandfather, missing only the second game of his career up to that point, snapping a consecutive streak of 203 games played. On 5 February 2009, Ovechkin scored his 200th goal, against the Los Angeles Kings, becoming only the fourth player in the NHL to reach the milestone in four seasons, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux.On 19 March, he scored his 50th goal of the season, becoming the first Washington Capitals player to reach the 50-goal mark three times. He finished the campaign with 56 goals to capture his second consecutive Rocket Richard Trophy, joining Jarome Iginla and Pavel Bure as the third player to win the award twice and the second player after Bure (2000 and 2001) to win the award in back-to-back seasons. With 110 points, he finished as runner-up to countryman Evgeni Malkin for the Art Ross.

Ovechkin and the Capitals repeated as division champions en route to meeting the New York Rangers in the opening round. After advancing to the second round in seven games, Ovechkin notched his first NHL playoff hat trick on 4 May, in game 2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins to help Washington to a 4–3 win. The Capitals were eventually defeated by Pittsburgh, the eventual Stanley Cup champions, in seven games. Ovechkin finished the 2009 playoffs with a post-season career-high 21 points in 14 games. He went on to win the Hart and Pearson trophies for the second consecutive year, becoming the seventeenth player to win the Hart multiple times.
Ovechkin was named the captain of the Capitals on 5 January 2010.

Just over a month into the 2009–10 season, Ovechkin suffered an upper-body injury during a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on 1 November 2009, after a collision with opposing forward Raffi Torres.After returning, Ovechkin was suspended by the NHL on 1 December for two games (one for the action, and one for a second game misconduct penalty during the season) for a knee-on-knee hit to Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason during a game the previous day. Both Gleason and Ovechkin had to be helped off the ice, although Gleason later returned during the game, while Ovechkin did not. Ovechkin was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct at the time. Capitals Coach Bruce Boudreau commented that Ovechkin's style of play was at times "reckless." The suspension was Ovechkin's first of his career, causing him to forfeit $98,844.16 in salary.

On 5 January 2010, Ovechkin was named captain of the Washington Capitals after previous captain Chris Clark was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He became the first European, second-youngest and 14th overall captain in team history. On 5 February, at a game against the New York Rangers, Ovechkin, with his second goal and third point of the game, reached the 500-point milestone of his NHL career. He is the fifth player to achieve the milestone in only five seasons, reaching it in 373 career games. On 14 March, at a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center, Ovechkin sent 'Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell into the boards after Campbell had dumped the puck to the blue line. Ovechkin was called for boarding, receiving a five-minute major and a game misconduct, and was suspended for two games (for a third game misconduct of the season, a two-game suspension is automatic). Campbell suffered a fractured clavicle and fractured rib, and was expected to be out seven-to-eight weeks.

Ovechkin won the 2009–10 Ted Lindsay Award, becoming only the second player in NHL history to win the award in three consecutive years. He also led the NHL in goals per game and points per game for three straight seasons, from 2008 to 2010. Ovechkin is the Capitals' all-time leader in goals.

In 2009–10 Ovechkin surpassed the mark of Hall of Fame goaltender Bill Durnan (first four seasons from 1943–44 through 1946–47) and became the first player in NHL history voted a First Team All-Star in each of his first five seasons.
Ovechkin takes a ceremonial puck drop at the 2011 NHL Winter Classic against Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In 2011, Ovechkin and the Capitals took part in the New Year's Day NHL Winter Classic, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ovechkin did not score any points, but the Capitals won 3–1. On 8 March 2011, in a 5–0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, Ovechkin recorded his 600th career point. On 5 April, Ovechkin scored his 300th career goal, becoming the sixth-youngest and seventh-fastest player to do so.

On 23 January 2012, Ovechkin received a three-game suspension for a hit on Zbyněk Michálek of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The following day, Ovechkin announced he would not attend the 2012 NHL All-Star Game due to the suspension.

Four-straight goal-scoring titles (2012–2017)

During the NHL lockout in the first half of the shortened 2012–13 season, Ovechkin went to play in the KHL and re-joined Dynamo Moscow with his teammate Nicklas Bäckström. In 31 games for the team, Ovechkin scored 19 goals and 40 points. At the end of the season, the Dynamo would go on to win the Gagarin Cup, albeit after the NHL lockout concluded and Ovechkin and Backstrom returned to North America. However, Ovechkin still received a championship ring from the team.

In the remainder lockout-shortened 2012–13 NHL season, Ovechkin led the NHL in goal-scoring with 32, earning him his third Rocket Richard Trophy. He combined his 32 goals with 24 assists, giving him 56 points, good for third-most points in the NHL. He was also awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy for the third time in his career. Ovechkin only scored two points in a first-round exit of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs against the New York Rangers, during which he played with a hairline fracture in his foot. After the 2013 season, Ovechkin made history by being named to both the First and Second NHL All-Star Teams. He had switched to playing right wing that entire season so was voted to the First All-Star Team's right wing, but because some voters were not aware of the change, voted for him at his traditional left wing position, therefore also landing him left wing on the Second All-Star Team.

On 20 December 2013, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Ovechkin scored his 400th career goal.He became the sixth-fastest player to ever reach that mark, getting it in 634 games, one less than Pavel Bure.
Ovechkin meeting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in the Capitals locker room, 6 February 2014

At the conclusion of the 2013–14 season, Ovechkin had the strange distinction of winning the Rocket Richard Trophy, scoring 51 goals, while going −35, one of the NHL's worst, in the plus-minus statistic. However, the Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006–07.

On 4 November 2014, in a game against the Calgary Flames, Ovechkin recorded his 826th point, a franchise record, surpassing Peter Bondra, who previously held the record with 825 points. However, the Flames won the game 4–3 in overtime. On 31 March 2015, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Ovechkin scored his 50th goal of the year and became the sixth player in NHL history to have six 50-goal seasons, joining Guy Lafleur, Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Marcel Dionne and Mario Lemieux On 2 April, Ovechkin scored his 51st and 52nd goals of the season in a 5–4 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens, surpassing Bondra as the franchise leader in goals scored. It was also his 15th multi-goal game of the season, none of which were hat-tricks.

During the 2015–16 season, in the second period of a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ovechkin scored his eighth goal of the season to tie Sergei Fedorov's tally for the most goals among Russian born players, with 483. On 19 November 2015, Ovechkin scored his ninth goal of the season in a 3–2 loss to the Dallas Stars; that goal broke Fedorov's record. On 10 January 2016, Ovechkin scored his 500th and 501st goals in a 7–1 victory over the Ottawa Senators, becoming the 43rd player to reach the 500-goal plateau, and the fifth-fastest player to do so, as well as the first Russian. On 9 April, Ovechkin scored his 50th goal of the season and became the third player in NHL history to have seven or more 50-goal seasons.
Ovechkin at Capitals practice during the 2015–16 season. During that season, he became the first Russian player to reach the 500-goal plateau in the NHL.

During the 2015–16 season, Ovechkin, for the first time in his career, did not lead the Washington Capitals in points, although he still led the team in goals with 50, and finished second on the team in points with 71, behind fellow countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov, who finished with 77. In the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Washington Capitals lost the series to the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 6 after a 4–3 overtime defeat.

On 11 January 2017, Ovechkin scored his 1,000th career point, becoming the 37th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 points with only one team.

Stanley Cup championship and continued success (2017–present)

As the "face of the Capitals" for over a decade, Ovechkin had taken "the lion's share of the blame" for the team's failing record postseason, which had included three straight exits during the second round, two of them dealt by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The loss to the Penguins in the 2017 playoffs was particularly devastating to the Capitals. And while Crosby had won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins, Ovechkin was being considered the greatest hockey player never to have won one, with his main nemesis being largely to blame.Advancing age, consideration of his legacy, and the desire to beat Crosby's Penguins in the postseason combined to change Ovechkin's approach to hockey in the 2017–18 season and beyond. After engaging in a more intense pre-season fitness training than usual, focusing more on speed work and condition, Ovechkin returned to training camp in Washington two weeks early and predicted: "We're not gonna be fucking suck this year ." He then scored seven times in the team's first two games,performing a hat trick in both games.

The 2017–18 season appeared to be historic for Ovechkin, who broke many NHL and Capitals' records during the regular season. On 7 October 2017, he became the first player in 100 years with back-to-back hat-tricks to start the season.As well, on 25 November, Ovechkin passed Bondra as the team's all-time leader in hat-tricks with his 20th of his career.On 21 October, in a game against the Detroit Red Wings, Ovechkin surpassed Jaromír Jágr for most regular-season overtime goals with the 20th of his career.He extended the record again in December in an overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks.

On 12 March 2018, Ovechkin scored his 600th career goal, making him the 20th player to ever reach such a feat, and the fourth to do so in less than 1,000 games. On 1 April 2018 Ovechkin would play against the Pittsburgh Penguins in his 1,000th regular season NHL game, becoming the first Capitals player to play 1,000 games and the 54th NHL player to do so within the same franchise. At the conclusion of the regular season, Ovechkin was awarded the Rocket Richard trophy for the seventh time in his career.He became the second player, tied with Bobby Hull, to win the NHL's goal scoring title seven times.

In 2018, Ovechkin had "the most dominant postseason of his career," recording 15 goals and 27 points over 24 games and averaging 20:44 of ice time per game.That year the Capitals would once again meet their longtime rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the Eastern Conference semifinals; headed by Sidney Crosby, 33-year-old Ovechkin's main rival for greatest player of his generation, the Penguins had been victorious in nine of their previous 10 encounters with the Capitals. The Capitals broke the trend, however, with Ovechkin assisting Evgeny Kuznetsov's game six overtime goal to clinch his first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 13 seasons with the Capitals.
Ovechkin with the Stanley Cup at the Capitals championship parade following the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals

On 23 May 2018, Ovechkin helped lead the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Finals for their first time since 1998, going on to help them win their first championship in franchise history.He won the Conn Smythe trophy, awarded to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs.

In the 2018 playoffs, according to then Capitals coach Barry Trotz: "Ovi's been on a mission. There were a lot of people doubting if he still had what it took. The great players take exception to that. . . I think he took it personally. He said, 'I'm going to show you I'm still a great player.' And he did".

On 7 June 2018, Ovechkin won his first Stanley Cup, leading his team to victory over the Vegas Golden Knights 4–3 in game 5 of the finals. The Stanley Cup victory was the first in the Capitals 44-year franchise history.He scored the first Stanley Cup Finals goal of his 13-year, 1,121-game NHL career on 30 May 2018, in game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena He is the first Russian to captain a team to the Stanley Cup.

In the Capitals' third game of the 2018–19 season against the Vegas Golden Knights on 10 October 2018, Ovechkin scored the 610th and 611th goals of his NHL career to pass Bobby Hull for 17th on the all-time goal list as the Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 5–2. Ovechkin became eighth on the all-time list for power-play goals, passing Marcel Dionne, scoring his 235th career with a one-timer against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 2–1 win on 7 November 2018. His 236th power-play goal, scored against the Canadiens during a 19 November 2018 game tied him with seventh-placed Mario Lemieux on the all-time list. Ovechkin scored his 626th career goal in a 6–3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on 30 November, moving him past Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla for 15th on the NHL all-time goal-scoring list. He accomplished this feat in his 1,028th career game, while Sakic needed 1,378 games to collect his 625 goals and Iginla needed 1,554 games.

On 6 December 2018, Ovechkin became the fastest player in NHL history and ninth overall to take 5,000 shots on goal, reaching that mark in only 1,031 career games. Marcel Dionne, the previous holder of the record, required 184 more games. He scored the 21st hat-trick of his NHL career in a 6–2 win over Detroit Red Wings on 11 December, passing Pavel Bure for most by a Russian-born player in league history.Ovechkin extended his point streak to a career-best 14 games in a 4–3 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres on 15 December., including back-to-back hat tricks. Ovechkin was named a captain for the 2019 National Hockey League All-Star Game, but announced that he was choosing to skip the game to rest, forcing him to serve an automatic one game suspension as a result. Ovechkin would be named captain again the next year, and again chose to skip the game to rest, and would serve another one game suspension. On 22 February 2020, Ovechkin scored his 700th career goal in the third period of a 3–2 loss against the New Jersey Devils, making him the eighth player in NHL history to accomplish the feat. On 26 May 2020, the NHL announced that the postponed regular season was concluded, and future games would be the postseason, thereby making Ovechkin and Bruins' forward David Pastrňák, both having tied at 48 goals, co-winners of the Rocket Richard Trophy. He tied Phil Esposito for sixth on the NHL's all-time goals list on 15 March 2021, in a 6–0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. He surpassed Esposito the following day, scoring his 718th goal on 16 March in 3–1 win against the New York Islanders. He had reached 1,300 career points earlier that game assisting a goal by T. J. Oshie.

On 27 July 2021, Ovechkin signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Capitals. On October 13, 2021, Ovechkin notched his 731st and 732d goals to surpass Marcel Dionne for 5th on the all-time goals scorers list.

Player profile
Ovechkin awaits the pass for a one-timer from the inside of the faceoff circle during a game

Ovechkin is considered by many as the greatest goal scorer in NHL history,with what some consider a real chance at overtaking Wayne Gretzky in total career goals (894). He's famous for his deadly one-timer, which he typically fires from the left faceoff circle, an area known as his "office". Former teammate Brooks Orpik said of his one-timer, "You know it's going there, and you still can't stop him." Ovechkin proves "the exception rather than the rule when it comes to success" on one-timers, which "can be very difficult to pull off," involving as they do "taking a hard pass and timing a shot perfectly, when the puck may be rolling or on end, while also aiming at a small net, particularly from far distances."

Ovechkin has been awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy honoring the most valuable player in the league three times (2008, 2009, 2013). Ovechkin's most enduring nickname is "Great 8".

The truth is that we are witnessing one of the most amazing players in NHL history, even if not all of us understand that yet.
— Kevin Allen, USA Today, November 2015

There are so many good players in the league you can find comparables to. Ovi is different than everybody in the league. I could find a lot of guys that are more similar to Sid. Ovi is one of a kind.
— Brooks Orpik on Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby, ESPN, June 2018

Ovechkin's ability to shoot heavily as a power forward has been well documented. After clinching the hardest shot title at the 2018 NHL All-Star game skills competition with a 98.8 mph first attempt, he became the only player in the 2018 All Star game to break the century mark, surpassing 100 mph on his second shot, stepping "up to plate and delivered a blistering 101.3 MPH blast."

But I tell you, when you get on the ice with him and you see his shot for the first time, it's crazy. It's so, so hard. When I shoot, I can see my puck. When he shoots ... Oh, come on. Where's the puck?
— Evgeny Kuznetsov on Ovechkin, December 2015

Guys like Ovi shoot it so hard that it's almost like you're a batter in baseball. You see the blur of the puck coming at you in frames.
— Jonathan Quick, July 2015

When he gets to the left faceoff circle, good luck to the opposing goaltender. He still is one of the most dangerous players with the puck on the rush and in the high-slot. His one-timer is still the best in the league.

— Joe Jacquez, Last Word on Hockey, December 2017
Ovechkin takes a shot during warm-ups before a game

In an October 2018 game against the Canucks, after Vancouver had pulled their goalie, Ovechkin passed the puck to teammate T. J. Oshie rather than score the easy hat trick for himself. "[Oshie asked] 'Why you pass me the puck?'" Ovechkin said. "But he was so wide open and I try to give him pass. Save mine for next time."

The Capitals' morning skate ritually begins with captain Ovechkin "sprinting around the rink, a solo lap to the sound of sticks tapping from his teammates." Once he's made it all the way around, the rest of the team jumps onto the ice to join him. Ovechkin is known as a durable player, losing little time to injuries. After being struck on the foot by a teammate's wrist shot during a 2006 game in Vancouver, he "crumpled to the ice and had to be helped to the locker room." Exhibiting no ill effects in practice the next day, Ovechkin famously told reporters, "I'm okay; Russian machine never breaks."

Late in the 2008–09 season, Ovechkin garnered some criticism over his exuberant after-goal celebrations. On 28 February 2009, during a segment of Hockey Night in Canada's Coach's Corner, Canadian hockey analyst Don Cherry likened Ovechkin's celebrations of jumping into the boards and his teammates to that of soccer players, concluding that this was not the Canadian way and advising Canadian kids to ignore Ovechkin's example. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau came to Ovechkin's defense, stating Cherry "doesn't know Alex like we know Alex", and Ovechkin himself stated that he "doesn't care" about Cherry. The next notable incident happened on 19 March 2009, in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After scoring his 50th goal of the season, Ovechkin put his stick on the ice, pretending to warm his hands over it because it was "hot." The incident sparked an immediate response from Tampa Bay coach Rick Tocchet, who said that "[Ovechkin] went down a notch in my books." Boudreau had also stated that he would discuss the incident with Ovechkin, and teammate Mike Green, despite being the first to celebrate with Ovechkin afterwards, commented that he did not wish to join in the pre-meditated celebration. Ovechkin himself was unapologetic, and said about Don Cherry in particular, "He's going to be pissed off for sure...I love it!".

After using and endorsing CCM equipment for most of his career, Ovechkin made the move to Bauer Hockey in August 2011 following a decline in his point production in the 2010–11 season. He continued to use Bauer equipment until the 2017 season, when he switched back to CCM. Ovechkin currently uses the Ribcor Trigger stick and Super Tacks AS1 skates.

International play
Ovechkin during the 2010 Winter Olympics
Medal record
Representing  Russia

At the age of 16, Ovechkin played at the 2002 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he scored two hat tricks, one against Switzerland and one against the United States, and an assist.

At the age of 17, when he was selected by Russian coach Viktor Tikhonov to play in the Česká Pojišťovna Cup EuroTour tournament, Ovechkin became the youngest skater ever to play for the Russian national team. In that tournament, he also became the youngest player ever to score for the national team. He also was selected to play at the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships, in which he amassed 14 goals and four assists in eight games, leading Russia to a silver medal. Ovechkin now shares the single tournament goals record with Cole Caufield, who scored as many in seven games at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships.

At the age of 18, Ovechkin was named captain of the junior Russian national team. Russia finished fifth in the tournament. In 2003, the team would go on to win a gold medal in the IIHF World U20 Championship.

At the age of 19, Ovechkin was named to the Russian national team for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, making him the youngest player to play in the tournament.

Also at 19, Ovechkin was named captain of the junior team in the 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. The tournament, lasting from 25 December 2004 to 4 January 2005, was Ovechkin's third and last. At the conclusion of the tournament, he had collected seven goals, tied for the tournament lead. His team received the silver medal after losing the gold medal game to Canada on 4 January, and Ovechkin was named the Best Forward of the tournament as well as selected to the tournament All-Star Team. In 2005, Ovechkin played in his first IIHF men's World Championships. He scored five goals and three assists, landing eighth in the top scorers list and sharing third place in goal scoring.

In 2006, Ovechkin played in his first Winter Olympic Games. Although Russia came away from the games without a medal, Ovechkin scored five goals in the tournament, including the game-winner against Canada's Martin Brodeur, eliminating Canada from the tournament. Ovechkin was the only player not on the Swedish (gold medal winners) or Finnish (silver medal winners) teams to be named to the all-tournament team.

At the 2006 IIHF World Championships, Ovechkin scored six goals and three assists (nine points) in seven games before Russia lost 4–3 to the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals. For his efforts, Ovechkin was one of six players selected to the Media All-Star Team.

At the 2008 IIHF World Championships, Ovechkin helped lead Russia to the gold medal by finishing with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in nine games. He was selected to the Media All-Star Team for the second time in five tournament appearances.
Ovechkin with the Russian national men's ice hockey team skates the puck forward during the 2010 Winter Olympics

In the 2010 Winter Olympics, Ovechkin and Team Russia were one of the favorites to win the Gold Medal. Despite high expectations, Russia lost to Canada 7–3 in the quarterfinals. Ovechkin finished with two goals and two assists in Russia's four games.

After being eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs, Ovechkin joined Russia for the 2010 IIHF World Championships along with many other Russian stars, such as Evgeni Malkin, Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk. Despite being heavily favored to win the tournament, Russia lost to the Czech Republic in the finals.

Ovechkin also joined the Russian team for the 2011 IIHF World Championships after the Capitals were eliminated from the NHL playoffs. He played in five games for the Russian team, but did not manage to score any points, the first time he failed to score any points in a World Championship tournament.

Ovechkin played in Russia's last three games of the 2012 IIHF World Championships. He recorded two goals and two assists as Russia won the tournament.

Ovechkin also represented Russia in 2013 IIHF World Championships. He joined the national team after the Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2013. Russia had already advanced to the first playoff round where they faced the U.S. The Americans defeated Russia 8–3, eliminating them from the tournament.

In the 2014 Winter Olympics, Ovechkin represented Russia under enormous pressure as the tournament was hosted on home ice in Sochi. Russia lost to arch-rivals Finland 3–1 in the quarter-final round.

Ovechkin participated in the 2014 IIHF World Championships where Russia won gold. After the tournament, he asked Vladimir Putin to reward the Russian hockey team on an equal basis with the 2014 Olympic champions. That was criticized as the World Championship was considered insignificant compared to Olympic gold, which Russia had failed to win earlier that year in Sochi. He also joined the Russian team late in the 2015 IIHF World Championships, where Russia won the silver medal.

Off the ice

Ovechkin was the cover athlete of 2K Sports hockey simulation video game NHL 2K10, as well as the cover athlete of EA Sports' NHL 07 and NHL 21. On 11 June 2008, Ovechkin launched his own line of designer streetwear with CCM. On 6 July 2009, Ovechkin was named an ambassador for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In late 2009, he was named GQ's 48th most powerful person in Washington, D.C.

During the 2010–11 season, Ovechkin has been featured in one of ESPN's This is SportsCenter commercials, in which he laughed off a question by ESPN personality Steve Levy accusing him of being a Russian spy before being pulled upward by a line through an open ceiling tile by countryman and then-Capitals teammate Semyon Varlamov.
Ovechkin and United States President Donald Trump at a White House ceremony celebrating the Capitals' Stanley Cup championship, March 2019

Ovechkin is a dedicated car enthusiast, owning many fine automobiles, such as a Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series and a custom Mercedes S63 AMG.[citation needed] At the 2015 NHL All-Star Game, Ovechkin lobbied Honda for a new car, and brought an element of fun silliness to the "draft" where he was chosen third to last; the last two players selected, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Filip Forsberg, each received a new car, but Ovechkin would not give up. When Honda representatives asked his agent why he wanted a car so badly, they were told that he planned to donate it to the American Special Hockey Association, and at the end of the event, he was handed the keys to a new Honda Accord. That Accord was auctioned off, and the proceeds used to benefit the charity Ovechkin highlighted and brought attention to with his antics.

Ovechkin has repeatedly said that he likes the United States.In 2017, Ovechkin said: "I have a good relationship with Russians and with Americans. So, I'm neutral." In November 2017 Ovechkin started a movement called PutinTeam in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2018 Russian presidential election. Asked whether it was political, Ovechkin described his actions as a show of support for Russia, "I just support my country, you know? That’s where I’m from, my parents live there, all my friends. Like every human from different countries, they support their president. It’s not about political stuff." Of his participation in PutinTeam, Ovechkin also said:

I'm not a politic. I don't know what's happening out there. I know it's a hard situation, but it is what it is. You know, I play here, and this is my second home. I don't want to fight between two countries, because it's going to be a mess.
Ovechkin with Vladimir Putin during an award ceremony for the Russian national ice hockey team at the Grand Kremlin Palace, 2014

PutinTeam was first announced in a 2 November 2017 post on Ovechkin’s Instagram account, which has over one million followers. On 23 November, Ovechkin announced on his Instagram that the group's official website had been launched.[citation needed] On the soft launch of the site, visitors were encouraged to sign up for the team, track related news, participate in contests and attend and organize events. Ovechkin has claimed that the idea for Putin Team was all his and that the group is non-political in its nature. Vedomosti, a Russian financial newspaper, reported that Kremlin sources have said that IMA-Consulting were behind the creation of the organization. A Kremlin-supported public-relations firm, IMA-Consulting reportedly holds a $600,000 contract to promote the 2018 Russian presidential elections. The Kremlin spoke in support of the movement after its announcement. According to The Washington Post, Ovechkin has a personal relationship with Putin. Ovechkin has a personal phone number for Putin, who is a big hockey fan, and received Putin's present at his 2016 wedding. Ovechkin said that he and Putin don’t have much in common: "We talk about hockey and all that stuff. That’s it."

Following the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup victory, Ovechkin would participate in a number of memorable celebrations, including an incident where he and teammates T. J. Oshie, Braden Holtby, Lars Eller and Tom Wilson swam in the fountains at the Georgetown waterfront with the Cup. The summer after the championship was dubbed by the Washington media as "The Summer of Ovi."

Ovechkin has appeared in three films: Zaytsev, zhgi! Istoriya shoumena (2010) as an actor, NHL: Just Like Me (2008), and Boys to the Bigs (2008).

Ovechkin is a keen football fan and an avid supporter of Liverpool F.C. He is also an investor in the Washington Spirit, a professional team in the National Women's Soccer League.

Feud with Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin and Ovechkin take a ceremonial face-off in 2011, several years after their feud had ended

Ovechkin was reportedly involved in a feud with Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin, who was drafted second behind Ovechkin in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Though the two were reported to be good friends when they roomed together during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, this friendship quickly soured. The feud may have started in August 2007 when Ovechkin supposedly punched Malkin's Russian agent, Gennady Ushakov, at a Moscow nightclub. Ovechkin has denied that version of events, while Malkin confirmed it. On 21 January 2008, in Pittsburgh, Ovechkin took a run at Malkin, which would have seemingly resulted in a devastating hit had Malkin not ducked out of the way just in time. The two would also not make eye contact at the 2008 NHL Awards Ceremony. Ovechkin has repeatedly denied "having it out" for Malkin.

The feud raised many concerns as to its effect on the league, and the Russian national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. On 24 January 2009, at the SuperSkills Competition, Malkin assisted Ovechkin in his stunt during the Breakaway Challenge. Malkin handed Ovechkin his props for the stunt as well as handing him his stick and pouring some sports drink down Ovechkin's throat. Though there is no final word on the nature and status of the feud, considering their past interactions, this incident appears to show that the feud has effectively ended. It has been reported that Ilya Kovalchuk, who was then the Atlanta Thrashers' captain and a teammate of Ovechkin and Malkin on the Russian national team, brokered the peace between the two.

Personal life

Ovechkin was formerly engaged to tennis player Maria Kirilenko. On 21 July 2014, Kirilenko announced that the wedding was called off and that the two were no longer seeing each other. On 11 September 2015, Ovechkin announced via Instagram his engagement to Nastya Shubskaya (the daughter of Vera Glagoleva), whom he subsequently married.

On 7 June 2018, in an interview after winning his first Stanley Cup, it was made public that Ovechkin and his wife were expecting their first child. On 18 August 2018, the couple had a son, whom they named Sergei after Ovechkin's late brother. On 24 February 2020, Ovechkin’s wife announced via Instagram that they were expecting their second child. On 27 May 2020, their second son, Ilya, was born.

Ovechkin is currently studying for and is close to obtaining a Doctor of Sciences, the Russian equivalent of a PhD or higher doctorate. Ovechkin's field of study is Pedagogical Sciences.

Honors, awards, and achievements
Ovechkin holding the Stanley Cup at Nationals Park following the Capitals' victory in the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.

AwardYear
EA Sports NHL cover athlete 2007, 2021
NHL 2K cover athlete 2010
Stanley Cup champion 2018
Gagarin Cup champion 2013 

Winter Olympics All-Star Team 2006
World Championships All-Star Team 2006, 2008

 Order of Honour (Орден Почёта)
Asteroid 257261 Ovechkin was named in his honor by Leonid Elenin.
Ride of Fame honored Alex Ovechkin with a double-decker sightseeing bus in Washington, D.C.
2018 ESPY Award for the Best Male Athlete – first NHL player to win the award
2018 ESPY Award for the Best NHL Player
2019 ESPY Award for the Best NHL Player
The day after he received his first Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP for the 2007–08 season, he was given the key to the city by Washington Mayor Adrian M. Fenty for being the first Washington MVP winner in a major sport since Joe Theismann of the Washington Redskins in 1983.

Records
NHL records
First player to win the Art Ross Trophy, Maurice Richard Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award, and Hart Memorial Trophy in a single season. (although Wayne Gretzky won the Art Ross, Pearson Award and Hart Trophy plus led the league in goals 5 different seasons prior to the Richard Trophy being awarded, Mario Lemieux did it twice, Phil Esposito and Guy Lafleur each did it once.)
Only player to be named to the NHL First All-Star Team in each of his first five seasons.

Most NHL goal scoring titles with 9.
Most goals scored by a left-winger in a career: 730 (as of 2020–21 season)
Most goals scored by a left-winger in a season: 65 goals in 2007–08.
Most points scored by a left-wing rookie: 106 in 2005–06.
Most shots on goal by a left-winger in a season: 528 in 2008–09.
Most shots on goal by a rookie in a season: 425 in 2005–06.
Most regular-season points by a Russian-born NHL rookie: 106 in 2005–06.
Fastest overtime goal: 6 seconds on 15 December 2006 vs. Atlanta Thrashers (tied with Mats Sundin and David Legwand).
Only player to be named to both the NHL First and Second All-Star Teams in the same season: 2012–13
Most goals by a Russian-born player: 730 (as of 2020–21 season).
Most points by a Russian-born player: 1,320.
Most career overtime goals: 24.
Most consecutive 30-goal seasons: 15 (also tied with Jaromir Jagr and Mike Gartner)

Washington Capitals records
Most seasons with 50 or more goals – 8 (2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19)
Most shots on goal in a season – 528 (2008–09)
Most goals in a season (2007–08) – 65 goals
Most power-play goals – 259 (17 February 2020)
Most power-play goals in a season (2014–15) – 25 PP goals
Most career overtime goals – 23 OT goals
Most career penalty shots attempted – 10 shots (most recent on 7 March 2015)
Most goals in a season by a rookie (2005–06) – 52 goals
Most points in a season by a rookie (2005–06) – 106 points
Point streak by a rookie – 11 games (17 points; 5 goals, 12 assists), 18 March – 7 April 2006
Point streak by a rookie to start season – 8 games
Goal streak by a rookie – 7 games, 10 February – 8 March 2006
Most career hat tricks – 27
Most career goals – 730 (as of May 20, 2021)
Most career points – 1,320
Most goals in a single postseason (2017–18) – 15
Abhra Mondal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abhra MondalPersonal information
Full name Abhra Mondal
Date of birth 14 July 1986
Place of birth Kolkata, India
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2012 East Bengal 87 (0)
2011–2012 → Pune (loan) 11 (0)
2012–13 Pune 19 (0)
2013–2017 East Bengal 0 (0)
2017 Chennai City FC 2 (0)
2017–2018 Bengaluru FC 1 (0)
Teams managed
2019– East Bengal (goalkeeping coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Abhra Mondal (Bengali: অভ্র মন্ডল; born 14th July 1986) is an Indian goalkeeper coach and former footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.

Career
East Bengal

Mondal signed for East Bengal FC in 2005 and ever since Mondal has mostly been used in the Federation Cup matches. After a spending two years at Pune, Mondal returned to East Bengal for the 2013-14 season.

Loan to Pune

On 24 November 2011 Mondal was officially loaned out by East Bengal to fellow I-League club Pune F.C. for the 2011-12 I-League season. He then made his debut for Pune against Air India FC in the I-League and helped Pune to the 2-0 victory. In his short stint, till he suffered a shin bone injury in a match against Lajong FC, he ensured that his side remained unbeaten in all the matches he played in I-League.

Pune F.C

On 11 July 2012, he signed a full contract with the club. This came after an impressive 11-match unbeaten streak and turned out to be hailed as the biggest protagonist in the club's record and longest unbeaten run ever in the I-League.

Bengaluru FC

He was picked by Bengaluru FC on 23 July 2017 in ISL draft.
Arnab Mondal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arnab MondalPersonal information
Full name Arnab Kumar Mondal
Date of birth 25 September 1989 
Place of birth Behala, West Bengal, India
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
2007–2010 Mohammedan SC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Prayag United 28 (3)
2012–2018 East Bengal 103 (10)
2014–2016 → ATK (loan) 41 (0)
2018–2019 ATK 6 (0)
National team‡
2011 India U23 2 (0)
2013–2016 India 27 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 December 2016
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10:38, 4 June 2018 (UTC)

Arnab Kumar Mondal (born 25 September 1989) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a centre back.

Career

Born in Behala, a neighborhood based in Kolkata, West Bengal, Mondal joined the youth team of Mohammedan at the age of 17. In 2010, he signed for Prayag United of the I-League and played for the club for two seasons. For the 2011–12 season, Mondal created a partnership in the center of defense Bello Razaq and was also taken under the wing of India international Deepak Mondal.

During the summer of 2012, Mondal left Prayag United and joined Kolkata rivals East Bengal.He was quick to become a part of the club's history as he was a goalscorer during the club's 2012 Federation Cup Final match against Dempo. Mondal scored the equalizing goal for East Bengal in the 60th minute that lead to East Bengal winning 3–2 and the Federation Cup. Mondal soon became a mainstay for East Bengal in their backline, partnering with Uga Okpara, as East Bengal held the best defense in the I-League halfway through the campaign. However, due to an injury picked up with the national team, Mondal missed the majority of the second half of the season as East Bengal failed to win the title. Mondal came back from injury to return to East Bengal's starting line-up for the 2013–14 season. He was considered one of the club's finest players that season as he started in 18 of the club's matches that league campaign.

In July 2014, it was announced that Mondal would be among 84 Indian players who would be a part of the 2014 ISL Inaugural Domestic Draft, being available on loan from East Bengal. On 22 July 2014, he was drafted in the second round of the draft by Atlético de Kolkata. During the 2014 ISL season, Mondal helped the side reach the final against Kerala Blasters, helping his side to a 1–0 victory at the DY Patil Stadium. In 2018-19 Arnab Mondal again decided to join ATK after suffering a bad season with East Bengal.

International

Mondal made his first start for the India U23 against Qatar U-23 in the 2012 Summer Olympics Qualifiers. Arnab was declared the captain of the senior national team for the World Cup Qualifiers against Oman on 10 June 2015 by coach Stephen Constantine.

Honours

Club[edit]East Bengal
Federation Cup: 2012–13Atlético de Kolkata

International
India
Angel Mary Joseph
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Angel Mary JosephPersonal information
Full name Angel Mary Joseph
Nationality Indian
Born 24 September 1953 
Sport
Country India

Representing  India
Women's athletics
 1978 Bangkok Pentathlon
 1979 Tokyo 4×100 m relay

Angel Mary Joseph (born 24 September 1953) is a retired Indian track and field athlete. She specialized in 100 metres hurdles, Long Jump, Pentathlon, and once held national records in all the three and high jump and heptathlon. At the 1978 Asian Games in Tehran, she won silver medals in long jump and pentathlon. She also represented Karnataka and Railways playing basketball in the National Championships.

Recognizing her achievements in track and field, Mary was awarded the Arjuna Award by the government of India in 1979.
Anže Kopitar
Wikipedia
Anže Kopitar
Kopitar with the Los Angeles Kings in 2015
Born 24 August 1987 
Jesenice, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams Los Angeles Kings
National team  Slovenia
NHL Draft 11th overall, 2005
Playing career 2002–present

Anže Kopitar (pronounced [anˈʒɛ kɔˈpiːtaɾ], born 24 August 1987) is a Slovene professional ice hockey centre and captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar became the first Slovene to play in the NHL upon making his debut in 2006. Kopitar has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, has led the team in scoring in all but two seasons and is fourth in franchise history in points, goals, and assists, scoring his 1,000th career point in 2021. Following the 2015–16 season, he was named the Kings' captain. Noted for both his offensive and defensive play, Kopitar was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2016, as well as the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play the same year. He won his second Selke trophy in 2018.

Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice before moving to Sweden at age 16 to play in a more competitive league. He spent one season with the junior teams of the Södertälje SK organization, and then with the senior team of the top-level Elitserien. He moved to North America to join the Kings in 2006, one year after he was drafted, and finished fourth in the Calder Memorial Trophy voting for the league's top rookie. Kopitar's offensive talent was immediately apparent when he joined the Kings, though his defensive developed in later seasons and he has become recognized for his two-way play, being a finalist for the Selke Trophy 3 times, and a Selke Trophy winner, twice. In 2018 he was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy. Praised as one of the best players in the League, Kopitar won the Stanley Cup championship with the Kings in 2012 and 2014, leading the playoffs in points on both occasions (tied with teammate Dustin Brown in 2012). Internationally, Kopitar has represented the Slovenian national team in several junior and senior tournaments, as well as at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He also played for Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Playing career

European career

In 2002, Kopitar began playing for the youth team of his hometown, HK Acroni Jesenice. He split the year between the team's under-18 and junior clubs, and also appeared in 11 games for the senior team HK Kranjska Gora of the Slovenian Ice Hockey League. Kopitar had four goals and four assists in the senior league, and recorded 76 points in 14 games for the Jesenice under-18 team and 27 points in 20 games for the junior club. He led the Slovenian Ice Hockey League in scoring at the age of 16, and Swedish scout Lars Söder recruited Kopitar for the Elitserien in 2004 (Söder had originally discovered Kopitar when he was 13 at the 2001 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Vuokatti, Finland).

The Slovenian Ice Hockey League did not have a high enough skill level, so Kopitar decided that if he wanted to improve his career prospects, he would have to leave the country. He was offered a chance to play in Sweden for Södertälje SK, eventually joining their junior team where he led the League in scoring, with 49 points (28 goals, 21 assists) in 30 games. Prior to the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar was ranked the top European skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. After his first season in Sweden, he was chosen 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005 Draft. Unlike most top-ranked prospects, Kopitar was not at the draft, but in Sweden playing in preseason games. Some members of the team had a party for the draft, including Niclas Bergfors, who was selected 23rd overall by the New Jersey Devils. Prior to the NHL Draft, Kopitar was also selected in the CHL Import Draft by the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He declined to move to North America, however, hoping to further his development by continuing to play against professionals in the Elitserien, rather than against major junior players in the WHL.

Los Angeles Kings (2006–present)

Early career in Los Angeles (2006–2011)

Kopitar signed an entry-level contract with the Kings on 7 September 2005, but returned to play in Sweden for another season. The next year, 2006, he accepted an invitation to Los Angeles' rookie camp. He made his NHL debut on 6 October 2006, against the Anaheim Ducks and scored two goals in the game. In January 2007, he was named to the NHL YoungStars Game, an event included at the All-Star Game festivities; Kopitar recorded two goals and three assists. Kopitar completed his first NHL season third among rookies in scoring, behind Evgeni Malkin and Paul Šťastný, with 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points. It marked the fifth-highest point total by a Kings rookie, and the highest since Luc Robitaille in 1986–87.[9] He finished fourth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year. Kopitar was awarded the Mark Bavis Memorial Award as the best first-year member of the Kings and was also named the Kings' Most Popular Player.
Kopitar practicing with the Kings in 2007. Kopitar made his NHL debut in the 2006–07 season.

The following season, 2007–08, Kopitar was selected to represent the Western Conference at the 56th NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta, his first all-star game appearance. He was the youngest player in the game, nearly two years younger than the second-youngest player, Paul Stastny (Sidney Crosby was younger, but had to withdraw prior to the game due to injury). Kopitar finished the regular season with 32 goals and 45 assists for 77 points; he led the Kings in assists and points and was second in goals. Kopitar won the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the most valuable player on the Kings.

Early in the 2008–09 season, on 11 October 2008, Kopitar signed a seven-year contract extension with the Kings worth $47.6 million. The contract would keep Kopitar with the team until the conclusion of the 2015–16 season. He finished the season with 66 points in 82 games, leading the Kings in both assists and points, while again finishing second in goals scored. The following season, Kopitar scored his first career NHL hat-trick (3 goals in one game) on 22 October 2009 against the Dallas Stars. He finished the 2009–10 season with a career-high 34 goals and 81 points. For the second time in his career, Kopitar won the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the Kings' most valuable player, and led the team in scoring for the third-straight year. Kopitar made his Stanley Cup playoff debut that season, as the Kings qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2002. The Kings lost in the Western Conference Quarterfinals to the Vancouver Canucks, and Kopitar finished tied for third on the team with five points in six games.
Kopitar played with Allsvenskan's Mora IK during the 2012–13 NHL lockout.

The 2010–11 season saw Kopitar play in his 325th consecutive NHL game, which set a new Kings team record, passing Marcel Dionne on 15 March 2011. However eleven days later, Kopitar's season and ironman streak came to an abrupt end at 330 games after he suffered a broken ankle. Despite the injury setback, Kopitar led the team in scoring for the fourth straight season with 73 points, and was named the team's most valuable player for the second time.

Stanley Cup titles (2012–2014)

In the 2011–12 season, Kopitar led the Kings in scoring with 76 points, including a career-best 51 assists. The Kings won the Stanley Cup as playoff champions, their first title in team history. Kopitar finished tied with Kings captain Dustin Brown to lead the team in playoff scoring, with each having 20 points from 20 games played. Kopitar became the first Slovenian-born player to win the Stanley Cup. In recognition of this, Kopitar was named as the 2012 Slovenian male Athlete of the Year.

The 2012–13 NHL season was delayed due to the NHL lockout, so Kopitar joined his younger brother Gašper on Mora IK of the Swedish second-tier league HockeyAllsvenskan, signing a contract with the team for the 2012–13 season. He played 31 games for Mora, scoring 34 points, before the NHL lockout ended in January 2013. A shortened, 48-game NHL season commenced, Kopitar recorded 42 points in 47 games to once again lead the Kings in scoring, and was named the team's best defensive player.

The 2013–14 season saw Kopitar lead the team in scoring for the seventh consecutive season, with 70 points, and was named both the team's most valuable player and best defensive player. He also was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as best defensive forward in the NHL for the first time. In the playoffs, Kopitar led the entire league in scoring, recording 26 points in 26 games, as the Kings won their second Stanley Cup championship.

Selke Trophy wins and continued success (2015–present)

The next season saw Kopitar tie Marcel Dionne as the only player in Kings history to lead the team in scoring eight times, having scored 16 goals and 48 assists for 64 points. Kopitar was a finalist for the Selke Trophy again, and also for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded for sportsmanship. During the 2015–16 season Kopitar signed an eight-year contract extension with the Kings. It would pay him an average of $10 million per season until the end of the 2023–24 season. He finished the season with 74 points, setting a team record by leading the Kings in scoring for a ninth consecutive season. Kopitar also was awarded both the Lady Byng and Frank J. Selke Trophies, the first player from the Kings to win either award. He also won the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the most valuable player on the Kings for the fifth time.

On 16 June 2016, Kopitar was named the captain of the Kings, replacing Dustin Brown. In his first season as captain of the Kings, Kopitar saw his production drop, and he finished with 52 points, second on the team and ending his nine-year streak of leading the team in scoring. Kopitar returned to form in the 2017–18 season scoring a career-high 35 goals and 57 assists for 92 points, helping the Kings get back to the playoffs. After the season, Kopitar was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy and was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the second time in his career.

On May 5, 2021, Kopitar recorded his 1,000th career point, becoming the 91st player to reach the mark.

International play
Medal record
Representing  Slovenia
Representing Team Europe

Kopitar first played in an international tournament when he participated in the Division I (second level) tournament of the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships for the Slovenian national junior team. He appeared in five games and recorded three points. The following year he appeared in the 2004 U18 tournament and the 2004 World Junior Championships. Slovenia competed in Division I at both tournaments, one level below the top division. Kopitar scored six goals and eight points in five games during the under-18 tournament and finished second overall for goals scored and third for points, leading Slovenia in both categories; at the World Juniors he had one goal and one assist in five games.

In 2005 Kopitar appeared in three international tournaments for Slovenia; he took part in the U18 Championship, World Juniors, and the senior World Championship, his first tournament with the Slovenian national team. Slovenia competed at the Division I level for both junior tournaments, but at the top level for the senior championship. He would play his last junior tournament in 2006 at the Division I level, with six points in five games. At the 2006 World Championship he played for Slovenia at the top level and recorded three goals and nine points in six games, tying for fifth among scoring leaders. Slovenia was relegated to Division I for 2007, where Kopitar had 13 assists and 14 points, leading the tournament in both categories. Back in the top division for the 2008 IIHF World Championship, Kopitar appeared in five games and had four points to lead his team, though Slovenia was once again relegated.

Slovenia qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi; as the qualifying games were held during the NHL season Kopitar was unable to participate, though his father Matjaž coached the team and Gašper played in the matches.Though Gašper was part of the team that secured qualification for Slovenia, he was not named to the Olympic roster. Kopitar helped Slovenia reach the quarterfinals of the tournament by scoring two goals and one assist.

Kopitar was also named to play in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey for Team Europe, which includes players from most of Europe (the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and Sweden have their own teams). Prior to the announcement Kopitar had expressed excitement towards the concept, which was to be introduced during the tournament, noting that as a Slovenian he had few opportunities to play in tournaments like this.

Playing style
Kopitar (back) prepares to take a face-off in the NHL. Kopitar is known for being skilled at taking face-offs, holding one of the highest career averages in the NHL.

Kopitar is known in the NHL as one of the most effective two-way forwards, in that he is effective both as an offensive and defensive player. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy, which is given to the best defensive forward in the NHL, in 2016, after being a finalist for the award in both 2014 and 2015 He is known for being skilled at taking faceoffs, with one of the highest averages in the league during his career. He is also skilled at offence, and led the Kings in team scoring from 2008 until 2016.

Personal life

Kopitar was born in Jesenice, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia) to Matjaž and Mateja Kopitar. Matjaž played hockey for HK Acroni Jesenice, winning the league title three times, and was a member of the Yugoslav and Slovenian national teams. He also coached HK Acroni Jesenice of the Austrian Hockey League during the 2006–07 season and the Slovenian national team from 2010 until 2015. Mateja worked at the family restaurant, Hrušica, a village about five kilometres from Jesenice.

When Kopitar was four, his father first taught him how to skate; Matjaž built an ice rink in their backyard in Hrušica, and Kopitar would play there whenever he could. Kopitar has a brother, Gašper, who is five years younger. Gašper also plays hockey; when the Kopitar family moved to Los Angeles, Gašper joined a junior team sponsored by the Kings. He then played for the Portland Winterhawks of the major junior Western Hockey League (WHL) and the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), before turning professional with Mora IK in Sweden. Kopitar's grandmother taught English at a local high school, and both Kopitar and his brother learned to speak English from her. Kopitar speaks five languages: Slovene, Serbian, German, Swedish, and English. He enjoys playing football and is a declared supporter of Slovenian football club NK Maribor.

Kopitar is renowned in Slovenia due to his hockey exploits, with a government-sponsored website declaring that after he won the Stanley Cup in 2012 he was "the most recognised Slovenian sportsman." As a youth, he played in the 2000 and 2001 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a team from Slovenia. He also hosts an annual charity golf tournament that benefits various groups, mainly youths.

Kopitar lived with his parents until moving to Sweden, where he lived alone in an apartment. After his first season in the NHL, the rest of Kopitar's family joined him in Los Angeles; Kopitar bought a home in Manhattan Beach in 2014. Kopitar met Ines Dominc in Slovenia in 2005; they married in July 2013. Their first child, a daughter named Neža, was born on 14 March 2015. Their second child, son Jakob, was born 5 October 2016.

Awards and honours
Kopitar celebrates with the Stanley Cup, after the Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals.

AwardYear

Stanley Cup champion 2012, 2014
Most Popular Player 2007, 2011
Mark Bavis Memorial Award 2007
Bill Libby Memorial Award 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016
Leading Scorer Award 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
Best Defensive Player 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015
Points Leader 2004
Ankita Das
From Wikipedia
Ankita Das
Full name Ankita Das
Nationality Indian
Residence Siliguri
Born 17 July 1993
Playing style Right-handed offensive
Equipment(s) Before butterfly and Now stag
Club German club II division league YMA club at Siliguri
Height 5.6
Weight 53

Ankita Das (born 17 July 1993)[citation needed] is an Indian table tennis player from Siliguri, West Bengal. She participated in World Championship and reached quarter-finals.[citation needed]

She represented India at the 2012 London Summer Olympics in Women's singles event. She was also the youngest girl in that Olympic.

Career

Ankita Das has won senior championship at the 75th senior National table tennis championships (2014)

Das has won championship at the 75th senior National table tennis championships (2014) Women's singles event. before was practicing under of Coach Mantu Gosh Arjuna Awardee. she was the youngest girl in that olympic. she played in junior world championship 2011, singles quarterfinalist and got fair play award. she made history in that tournament, she got most popular player award in senior asian championship, made history again, 10 years she played national final continues in her career, its history in indian table tennis. she played cadet world challenge, and got gold medal in the teams, and singles got 8th position, she played lusofonia games and got bronze, silver, gold in that tournament.
Ashim Biswas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ashim BiswasPersonal information

Full name Ashim Biswas
Date of birth 14 July 1982
Place of birth Ashoknagar, West Bengal, India
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward

Club information

Current team Tollygunge Agragami
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 Tollygunge Agragami (19)
2003–2005 Mohun Bagan (14)
2005–2006 Salgaocar (1)
2006–2009 East Bengal (17)
2009–2010 Chirag United
2010–2012 Mohun Bagan
2012–2014 Mohammedan (6)
2015–2016 Tollygunge Agragami (8)
2016–2017 Southern Samity (4)
2017–2018 Jamshedpur 7 (1)
2018– Tollygunge Agragami (2)
National team
2003–2004 India 10 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:02, 3 August 2018 (UTC)

Ashim Biswas (born 14 July 1982) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Tollygunge Agragami in the Calcutta Football League.

Club career
East Bengal

He had scored with a header against Mohammedan from a Syed Rahim Nabi cross, and then Ashim's cross was netted in by Edmilson Marques Pardal in the pre-quarterfinal of the 29th Federation Cup in 2007 at Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana, match which East Bengal won 3-1. In Calcutta Premier Division 2008, he had scored 2-0 against Mohammedan. He had scored the only goal in the 1-0 win over Prayag United.

Jamshedpur

On 23 July 2017, Ghosh was selected in the 14th round of the 2017–18 ISL Players Draft by Kerala for the 2017–18 Indian Super League season. He made his debut for the club on 10 December 2017 against Pune City. He came on as a 66th minute substitute for Siddharth Singh as Jamshedpur lost 1–0. He then scored his first goal for the club on 17 January 2018 in their match against the Kerala Blasters. He found the net in the 31st minute as Jamshedpur won 2–1.

On 12 April 2018, in Jamshedpur's quarter-final match during the Super Cup, Biswas scored the consolation for the club in a 5–1 defeat to Goa.
Statistics
International

National teamYearAppsGoals
India 2003 6 4
2004 4 0
Total104
Anice Das
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anice Das
Anice Das in Inzell
Personal information
Born 31 December 1985
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
Country  Netherlands
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) 500 m: 37.84 (2013)
1000 m: 1:15.11 (2017)
1500 m: 2:00.06 (2008)
3000 m: 4:23:61 (2008)

Women's speed skating
Representing the Netherlands

Event1st2nd3rd
Total 0 1 1

Anice Das (born Mumbai, December 31, 1985) is a retired Indian-born Dutch speed skater, specialized in sprint distances.

Professional career

Das made her first appearance at the Dutch single distance championships on December 30, 2005, aged 19. Since then she competed in nearly all Dutch single distance championships and Dutch sprint championships. She has achieved a slow but steady progress in her results, with her best results occurring at the 2017 Dutch championships (3rd place in 500m single distance, 2nd place overall in sprint). In February 2017, she competed at the world single distance championships for the first time. That same month, she competed at the world sprint championships for a second time. She was plagued by illness, including fever, in the week leading up to the event. She did manage to improve her personal best on 1000 meters in both races, finishing 18th overall.

On December 28, 2017, Das won the 500 meter event at the Dutch qualification tournament for the 2018 Olympic Games, beating all expected favorites. On February 18, 2018, she ended in 19th place at the Olympic 500 meter event, after skating in the first run without having an opponent in the other lane.

On March 17, 2020, Das announced her retirement from professional speed skating.

Personal life

Das was born in Mumbai, India and was adopted by a Dutch family as an infant, along with her twin sister.

Personal records

DistanceTimeDateTrack
500 meters 37,84 15 November 2013 Salt Lake City
1000 meters 1.15,11 26 February 2017 Calgary
1500 meters 2.00,06 12 March 2008 Calgary
3000 meters 4.23,61 13 March 2008 Calgary

Source
Results

YearDutch


qualificationDutch





2006 21st (1000m)
2008 19th (500m) 18th
2009 9th (500m)

15th (1000m) 6th
2010 14th (500m)

21st (1000m) 12th (500m) no event
2011 4th (500m)

13th (1000m)

12th (1500m) 8th 31st (500m)
2012 5th (500m)

8th (1000m) 7th 34th (500m)
2013 4th (500m)

5th (1000m) 7th 21st (500m)

33rd (1000m)
2014 5th (500m)

13th (1000m) 7th (500m)

11th (1000m) no event 11th 15th (500m)

41st (1000m)
2015 5th (500m)

17th (1000m) 10th 20th (500m)
2016 6th (500m)

6th (1000m) 4th 35th (500m)

28th (1000m)
2017  (500m)

11th (1000m)  22nd (500m) 18th 18th (500m)

26th (1000m)
2018 10th (500m)

9th (1000m)  (500m)

6th (1000m) no event 19th (500m)
Abhishek Das
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abhishek DasPersonal information
Full name Abhishek Das
Date of birth 15 November 1993
Place of birth Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Right back
Club information

Current team TRAU
Youth career
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2016 East Bengal 32 (1)
2010–2011 → Pailan Arrows (loan)
2012–2013 → United Sikkim (loan) 14 (0)
2014 → Chennaiyin (loan) 4 (0)
2015 → Chennaiyin (loan) 3 (0)
2016 Mohun Bagan A.C. 3 (0)
2016–2017 Chennai City 14 (0)
2017 Mohun Bagan A.C. 4 (0)
2018–2019 Gokulam Kerala 14 (0)
2019- TRAU 8 (0)
National team‡
2007 India U16
2009 India U19
2011 India U23
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 march 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 December 2016

Abhishek Das (born 15 November 1993) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a right back for TRAU in the I-League.

Club career
East Bengal

Das began playing football from the age of 4 and eventually joined the Tata Football Academy. In 2010, Das graduated from the Tata Football Academy and signed for East Bengal of the I-League but was then sent on loan to Pailan Arrows, then known as the AIFF XI.[1] After spending the 2010–11 at Arrows, he returned to East Bengal. The 2011–12 season started off well for Das as he was included in East Bengal's 2011 Federation Cup squad. He made his first team debut for East Bengal against Mohammedan on 17 September 2011 during the Federation Cup.

Indian Super League

Abhishek represented Chennaiyin FC for the 2014 Indian Super League. He was retained by the club will also play for Chennaiyin in the 2015 Indian Super League season.

International career

Das made his youth international debut at the under-23 level for India U23 against Myanmar in the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers on 23 February 2011. He then made his second start for India U23 in the next match against Myanmar in the second leg which ended in a 1–1 draw but a 3–2 victory for India on aggregate. He then continued his run with the India U23 team during the 2nd Round of Olympic Qualifiers against Qatar. The match ended 3–1 in Qatar's favor. He was still not done though with the India U23 team as he still played during the second leg of the Olympic Qualifiers against Qatar U23 which ended with India getting knocked out of the qualifiers 4-2 on aggregate after the match ended in a 1–1 tie.

Career statistics
Club
Statistics accurate as of 30 May 2015

ClubSeasonLeagueFederation CupDurand CupAFCTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
East Bengal 2011–12 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
United Sikkim (loan) 2012–13 14 0 0 0 0 0 – – 14 0
East Bengal 2012–13 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
2013–14 10 1 2 0 0 0 – – 12 1
Chennaiyin FC (loan) 2014 4 0 – – – – – – 4 0
East Bengal 2014–15 10 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 15 0
Career total3811000020501

Honors
Club
Chennaiyin FC

Indian Super League: 2015 - Champions

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
اعصام الحق قریشی
Country (sports)  Pakistan
Residence Lahore, Pakistan
Born March 18, 1980 (age 37)
Lahore, Pakistan
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro 1998
Plays Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money US$ 2,570,033
Singles
Career record 30–25 (ATP Tour-level, Grand Slam-level, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles 0
Highest ranking No. 125 (10 December 2007)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open Q2 (2002)
Wimbledon 2R (2007)
US Open 1R (2008)
Doubles
Career record 261-215
Career titles 13
Highest ranking No. 8 (6 June 2011)
Current ranking No. 40 (1 August 2016)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian Open 3R (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
French Open SF (2012)
Wimbledon QF (2010)
US Open F (2010)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian Open QF (2012, 2014)
French Open SF (2013)
Wimbledon SF (2014, 2016)
US Open F (2010)
Last updated on: 6 August 2016.

Aisam-ul-Haq QureshiMedal record
Representing  Pakistan
Men's Tennis
South Asian Games
 2016 Guwahati Singles
 2016 Guwahati Mixed Doubles
Islamic Solidarity Games
 2005 Mecca Singles
 2005 Mecca Doubles
 2005 Mecca Team

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (Urdu: اعصام الحق قریشی‎) (born 17 March 1980) is a professional tennis player from Pakistan. He is currently Pakistan's top player. A top-10 doubles player, his highest singles ranking was no. 125. He is the only Pakistani tennis player to reach the final of a Grand Slam, which he did in 2010, competing in both mixed doubles (partnering with Květa Peschke) and men's doubles (partnering with Rohan Bopanna) at the US Open.

As Pakistan no. 1, Qureshi has traditionally led Pakistan's Davis Cup campaigns. After shocking New Zealand in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I second round play-off in 2004 to survive relegation, he took them to the World Group Play-Offs for the first time in 2005, before they were beaten by Chile. He has won the most Davis Cup matches for Pakistan, being the most successful singles and doubles player from his country ever. He is also part of the most successful doubles pairing for Pakistan (with Aqeel Khan) in the country's sporting history.

Early life

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi was born in a Muslim family and grew up in Lahore, Pakistan, swimming, playing cricket and football being his favorite pastimes at his alma-mater Crescent Model Higher Secondary School. He started playing tennis late at age of 14, when his maternal grandfather and first coach, Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed, a former 10-time national champion, took him to a tennis club Model Town, Lahore.

His maternal grandfather, Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed, was the All-British India champion, before Pakistan split from British India in 1947. His mother, Nosheen Ihtsham, was also a former women's tennis champion. At age 16, the ITF sponsored him for two years. He won the Pakistan International Junior Championships and went on to win the Casablanca Cup in Mexico and the LTA International Junior Championships in Roehampton, where he beat Olivier Rochus, Andy Ram, and Taylor Dent. In the World Super Junior Championships, he beat Andy Roddick. By 18, he was a top-20 junior player and decided to turn pro.
Aisam was educated at the University of Punjab.

Coaches

As a junior, he was coached by LTA. Aisam has been coached by American Robert Davis since 1998. Robert Davis has served as national coach for Peru, Panama, Thailand, and Indonesia. As a writer, he contributes to the ATP's Deuce Magazine, Tennis Magazine USA, tennis.com, Tennis Magazine Australia, and ITF publications, as well as non-sporting publications and newspapers.

Playing style

Qureshi prefers the quicker grass courts and has had seen his greatest success on grass and hard courts. His playing style is serve-and-volley, relying on his serve to win him points by putting pressure on his opponents.

Sponsorship

Qureshi's clothing and shoes sponsor is Lotto. On 29 March 2008, Aisam signed an agreement with Pepsi for sponsorship of coach for one year. He became the first Pakistani sportsman who wasn't a cricketer to star in a Pepsi advert and become one of their brand ambassadors.

Awards and accolades

Qureshi teamed with Israeli player Amir Hadad during Wimbledon and the US Open tournaments in 2002. He is now a member of the "Champions for Peace" club, a group of 54 athletes committed to serving peace in the world through sport, created by Peace and Sport, a Monaco-based international organisation.

In November 2010 Aisam was appointed The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) goodwill ambassador.

Aisam was awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year, for 2010 along with his doubles tennis partner Rohan Bopanna of India. Along with Bopanna, Qureshi received the 2010 "Peace and Sport Image of the Year" award, in recognition of their dedicated efforts to spread the message of peace through sport. Qureshi and his doubles partner Bopanna also created a campaign, "Stop War Start Tennis", with their goal to play a match on the border of India and Pakistan.

He was also given the Pakistan President's Award for Performance in 2002, the Salam Pakistan Youth Award by the President of Pakistan in 2007 and was runner-up for the 2003 Anne Frank Award For Moral Courage by the Anne Frank Trust, UK.

In 2011, he was awarded Lux Style Award for Most Stylish Sports Person. 

Arvind Panwar

Arvind Panwar has begun to share his knowledge and expertise. VeloInsight Coaching is his brainchild, through which he mentors and trains athletes who wish to grow to the National Level and beyond.


Training is done systematically and scientifically to improve fitness and ability both on and off the bike.

Born: 9 March 1990 , Meerut

Top results
3x

3x 2nd
3rd
7th
8th
9th
14th
27th
15th

Amit Rohidas
From Wikipedia
,

Amit RohidasPersonal information
Born 10 May 1993 (age 25)
Sundergarh district, Orissa, India
Playing position Defender
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013– India 41 (2)

Men's field hockey
Representing  India
Asia Cup
 2013 Ipoh Team
 2017 Dhaka Team
Champions Trophy
 2018 Breda

Amit Rohidas (born 10 May 1993) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a defender.

Life and career

Rohidas was born on 10 May 1993 in Saunamara village of Sundergarh district. He started playing hockey in his village and joined the Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela in 2004. He was selected in the national junior team in 2009.

Rohidas was selected in the senior squad for the 2013 Asia Cup in Ipoh where the Indian team won the silver medal. He made a comeback to the Indian side in 2017.

Ashish Mane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Born : 14 August 1990 (age 29)

Maharashtra, India

Climbing career : Known for Climbing Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Manslu, Kanchenjunga

Ashish Mane (Born 14 August 1990) is one of the prominent professional mountaineer from India. He has scaled Mt. Everest (2012)., Mt. Lhotse (2013), Mt. Makalu (2014), Mt Manaslu (2017) and Kanchenjunga (2019) Ashish is the only climber from Maharashtra as of now, to ascend five of the fourteen Eight-thousander|peaks over 8,000 metres means about 26,000 ft above sea level. In the year 2016, he attempted to scale Daulagiri, but due to technical reasons he had to quit the expedition

Background

Ashish hails from Satara, Maharashtra. He is an alumnus of Raje Shivraya Pratishthan college in Kothrud, Pune. He holds a master's degree in Computer Science. He did his basic mountaineering course from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) at Uttarkashi.

His fascination towards mountains and trekking in Konkan region, inspired him to climb in Himalayas.

Expeditions

Year : Peak (Height in meters)

2012 : Mount Everest (8,848)

2013 : Lhotse (8,516)

2014 : Makalu (8,485)

2017 : Manaslu (8,163)

2019 : Kanchenjunga (8, 586)

Awards

Ashish has received following awards

Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports award for year 2014-15
Arvind Mani
Arvind Mani – “To put on the Indian tracksuit is like wearing an armor and getting ready for the Battlefield”

Fitness mantra

Swimming five hours a day and gyming two hours a day. This has been my routine since the past 10 years and this is my fitness mantra. Diet matters a lot and therefore I focus on maintaining a healthy one!

When did you start swimming?

I started swimming at the age of four. As a four year old I represented my state in the rowing competition twice and in order to further continue with rowing, my coach (my uncle who is currently the president of Karnataka rowing association ) asked me to learn swimming so I would be able to handle my boat if it topples. And I continued with swimming and never went back to rowing.

On field are you a Predator or a Buddha?

It depends on the kind of situation. I adapt myself to the circumstance and act accordingly.

One race that you are very proud of

One of the memorable moments is when I gave the best performance in the 200m backstroke in the 2016 senior nationals (India) which I didn’t expect at all, cutting down three seconds from my previous best time. I was proud because, I knew I had progressed.

The toughest punishment given to you by your coach

I was made to swim for 6 hours continuously from morning 5 to 11; that was the worst punishment.

What does it mean to you to represent India?

It is an incredible feeling, to put on the Indian tracksuit ,it’s almost like wearing an armor and getting ready for the battlefield with determination. It’s a mixture of pride and pleasure, knowing that you are one among the other few ones who are getting to represent the country.

You have a chance to play another sport. Which one would it be?

I would go for boxing. It’s an exhaustive sport, but you feel that it’s worth the exertion as it helps you maintain your fitness level.

Your ultimate achievement?

My ultimate achievement would be, when I’ll be able to put my country’s flag high, at the Commonwealth games or the Asian games by conquering a GOLD medal.

Is sports a natural talent or a skill that is developed?

For some it’s a natural talent and for some it’s a skill which they have to keep working on, in all type of ways.

Perk of being an athlete

Being an athlete promises you good fitness levels, and mind control, only when you’re serious about routines and diet etc.,

When was the first time you represented India?

It was in 2011 , when I participated in the world cup which was held in Dubai and I think it was the kick start of my international career. I came sixth in the meet.

Opponent you dislike racing with?

No names in particular , but on a very broad basis, I don’t like players who are cunning, jealous and backstabbers.

Who had the greatest influence in your life?

My coach Pradeep Kumar. I think without his guidance for 7 years I would not be in the place where I have reached now.

What matters the most during ‘Do or Die’ situations?

Will power is required during these situations, because somehow your determination is put to test, and you need to survive the test!

Your dream ride?

My love is for bikes! I would love to own a Hayabusa.

One tattoo you would like to have?

The Olympic rings, after I attend the Olympics.

Best sports movie ever

‘Creed’, is one of the best movies I have watched. I love that it is a fast-paced movie. The movie kept me glued to the screen throughout!

Goals

The upcoming Asian age group championship is the first thing I’m looking forward to.

Long term goals are to hit it big at the Asian Games and the Olympics.

One unforgettable moment

Winning the SAF games gold medal is an unforgettable experience!

Do you hold any record?

Yes!

5 Junior national records

1 Senior national record

1 National games record

1 Indian best performance


8 South zone records

Abhinas Ruidas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Abhinas RuidasPersonal information
Date of birth 12 September 1995
Place of birth Budge Budge, West Bengal, India
Playing position Left Winger
Club information

Current team Mohun Bagan
Number 34
Youth career

Mohun Bagan

Bhawanipore
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 East Bengal 22 (1)
2016 Atlético de Kolkata (loan) 7 (0)
2017– Mumbai City FC 11 (0)
2018— Mohun Bagan 5 (0)
National team‡
2015– India U23 3 (0)

Abhinas Ruidas is an Indian professional footballer who played as a Left winger for Mohun Bagan.

Career
East Bengal

Born in Budge Budge, West Bengal, Ruidas began his career with the youth sides at Mohun Bagan and Bhawanipore. He eventually joined I-League club East Bengal and played for the club in the Calcutta Football League where he impressed pundits and coaches as East Bengal won the state league. Despite his impressive performance in the Calcutta Football League, Ruidas was left out of the squad for the teams Federation Cup campaign.

Ruidas then made his professional debut on 18 January 2015 in East Bengal's first match of the I-League season against Sporting Goa. He started the match and played 72 minutes as East Bengal drew the match 1–1. He then scored his first professional goal for East Bengal in the teams next game against reigning I-League champions Bengaluru FC. His 53rd-minute strike at the Salt Lake Stadium was the sole goal in a 1–0 victory.

International

Abinash debuted for the India U23s against Uzbekistan U23s on 27 March 2015 in a AFC U-23 qualifier in Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium

Arvind Panwar - Cyclist

Interview with Arvind Panwar – Pro Cyclist from Ciclo Team Racing

By Abhishek Tarfe

Arvind Panwar. We’re sure you’ve heard the name. This 28-year-old Meerut Born cyclist is making a name at the international level along with Naveen John.

Recently, we happened to connect with him to showcase his journey to becoming one of the best cyclists India has ever produced. He tells us about his journey from getting into cycling to climbing his way to finishing 7th in a kermesse in Belgium.

So how did you get into cycling?

I was doing athletics (mid-long distance running) with my elder brother but didn’t see noticeable results than my cousin brother, Sachin Panwar. He got into the sport and got medals in MTB races. This was when I realised that I should take cycling as seriously as a sport. I was always into adventure and loved exploring new places, so I find it more exciting.

When did you start looking at cycling as a profession?

After becoming National Champion in U-23(ITT) & Elite Road Race in 2012, I got a job in Indian Railways along with a chance to represent India at World Railways. This seemed to be an eye-opener for me. That’s when I decided to do something remarkable in the sport with a professional approach.

What is that one thing that cycling has taught you in life?

Cycling isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life that keeps you moving ahead. It gives you chances to meet new people, see new places and makes you healthy. Besides, it’s also a growing sport in a country like ours.

Tell us about your biggest achievement?

I feel proud of myself whenever I see myself on the podium. I have won many titles at Nationals, National Games & Internationally. I have got a Gold medal in South Asian Games, Bronze in World Railways, participated in multiple Asian Championships, taken the start at Commonwealth Games-2014, World Road Championship-2016 and recently got a top 10(7th) in a kermesse race in Belgium.




Tell us something about your training?

I try to be as regular as possible on my bike. Mostly, I do one session on the bike in the morning and one easy session off the bike in the evening (2-3 times a week). I also have a personal structured training plan for each day based on my routine and goal for the season.

Tell us something about your nutrition?

I’m a vegetarian, so I need to give special attention to my diet to get proper nutrition. Most of my diet comes from natural, dairy and plant-based.

Tell us something about your recovery?

Recovery is as important as training, so I ensure to get proper sleep each night and diet after each session.

What are your plans for the future with cycling?

Well, my future plans are quite simple. Every year we as a “Ciclo Team Racing” Try to go to Belgium for a solid training and racing block. And whatever we learn there, apply those strategies and fitness back at home and at the Asian level to set a benchmark for the upcoming generation.

Tell us something about veloinsight? What was the whole idea to begin?

“Velo Insight Coaching” is an online cycling coaching program for competitive athletes. This was something I wanted to start once my competitive career. However, I realized that most of the athletes today in India don’t even know the basics of training like- How to prepare for an event? How to get peak performance on race day? How to manage a balance between training and recovery? etc. A pile of questions like this.

As it would be too late to start working with athletes after my career, I started right away!




How can we help promote cycling in Kolkata?


To be honest, competitive cycling training is tough to manage in Kolkata. You have to be in the outskirts of the city like any other big cities in India to get on the highways. It’s an ancient city with narrow roads but some small training camps may be organized and build some short technical safe route for juniors with the help of state association, local authorities and many club owners. Then organising weekend races to promote the sport should be helpful.


Tell us something about ASFRA Racing Team?


“ASFRA Racing Team” Is one of the earliest and famous cycling clubs in East-Flanders, Belgium. The club allowed cyclists from all over the world to come and participate under their name. ASFRA Team also gives the opportunity to a cyclist to enter in a local kermess to Pro-Kermess, one day classic to stage races and national to international circuit races. The club also provides all the necessary ground support to all its players.


How does your recovery look like?


I like to take active rest or power nap after my training session. I don’t feel good if can’t take rest. I also feel eating food at the right time post a training session lets you recover well.


Time trail or hill climbing? What’s your favourite and why?


To be honest, I like both. As most of the selections are based on Time-Trial, I have to spend quite a lot of time on my TT bike. I have special love for mountains, they attract me a lot. I find myself more concentrated and focused on mountains.

Tell us everything about Ciclo Team Racing?

“Ciclo Team Racing” is the first elite racing team in the country. The Team is based in Chennai. The team owners, Ashish and Bachi are very supportive and started this team with this idea to promote cycling not only in the country but also internationally. The team supporting it’s athletes with all the latest equipment and training & racing exposure in and outside the country.




Currently, team Ciclo has two elite athletes including Naveen John and me and two young talented development riders- Srinath & Gagan. Both of them are very hard working and looking for the podium at Nationals this year.

Any message you want to give cyclist in India who are looking to go Pro?

My message for upcoming athletes is to be realistic of goals, have patience and achieve goals step by step. Life of a sportsman is not easy, it takes a lot of sacrifices and discipline. And definitely work/train with someone who has deep knowledge into the sport.

Special Thanks to Arvind Panwar
Abhinas Ruidas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Abhinas RuidasPersonal information
Date of birth 12 September 1995
Place of birth Budge Budge, West Bengal, India
Playing position(s) Left Winger

Club information

Current team TRAU
Youth career
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 East Bengal 22 (1)
2016 Atlético de Kolkata (loan) 7 (0)
2017–18 Mumbai City FC 11 (0)
2018-19 Mohun Bagan 5 (0)
2019- TRAU 0 (0)
National team‡
2015– India U23 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03 September 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 09:39, 1 April 2015 (UTC)

Abhinas Ruidas is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a Left winger for TRAU in the I-League.

Career
East Bengal

Born in Budge Budge, West Bengal, Ruidas began his career with the youth sides at Mohun Bagan and Bhawanipore. He eventually joined I-League club East Bengal and played for the club in the Calcutta Football League where he impressed pundits and coaches as East Bengal won the state league. Despite his impressive performance in the Calcutta Football League, Ruidas was left out of the squad for the team's Federation Cup campaign.

Ruidas then made his professional debut on 18 January 2015 in East Bengal's first match of the I-League season against Sporting Goa. He started the match and played 72 minutes as East Bengal drew the match 1–1.He then scored his first professional goal for East Bengal in the team's next game against reigning I-League champions Bengaluru FC. His 53rd-minute strike at the Salt Lake Stadium was the sole goal in a 1–0 victory.

International

Abinash debuted for the India U23s against Uzbekistan U23s on 27 March 2015 in an AFC U-23 qualifier in Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Alesh Sawant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alesh SawantPersonal information
Date of birth 27 November 1994
Place of birth India

Playing position(s) Midfielder
Club information

Current team Churchill Brothers
Number 21

Alesh Sawant (born 27 November 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Churchill Brothers S.C. in the I-League.

Career
Churchill Brothers

Sawant joined Churchill Brothers S.C. as a youth player from Brasil Futebol Academia in 2012. Sawant then made his professional debut for the first-team on 21 September 2013 in the I-League season opener against Salgaocar F.C. at the Duler Stadium in which he started and played 65 minutes before being replaced by Micky Fernandes as Churchill Brothers lost the match 0–1.

Ankur Diwakar

Ankur Diwakar
Born April 19, 1991

Nationality Indian
Other names JauntyTank
Occupation Esports Athlete

(born April 19, 1991) better known by his alias Jauntytank, is an Indian Professional eSports athlete. He is the winner of UCypher MTV India Season 1 tournament in India. He represented India in Asian Games 2018 and is the current South Asian Champion. He's a gaming veteran with many major championships and continues to educate others in esports.

Early life

Ankur Diwakar was born in Mumbai, India. Early on in his life he started playing FIFA on PlayStation One (FIFA 02) which spiked his interest in the gaming. He played volleyball for his high school, where he won many inter-school championships with his team. He also played professional football in MDFA for a season.

Esports career

Widely known for his prodigious achievements in Indian eSports, he continues to amaze the gaming community and the non-gamers alike. He specialises in FIFA, but like a cricketer switching formats, he also plays Pro Evolution Soccer and other games on consoles. He's also known as the 'The Most Versatile Pro Gamer' in India, by winning 3 majors in 3 different games in one year. Ankur Diwakar bursted into the Pro scene with a splash of headlines in 2007, with his mission to put India on the global map. He started dominating the local scene and soon he became a national sensation. After few years, his achievements did the talking & started headlining newspapers.
MTV UCypher

Diwakar was the winner of MTV India Ucypher Season 1. This was India's first televised multi-platform, multi-game, Esports tournament where six veteran teams competed over a prize pool of Rs. 51 lakhs.
Awards and honors
Esports (Latest)

2018 MTV India UCypher Season 1 Winner.
Indian Representative at Asian Games 2018 (eSports) Indian Team
South Asian Champion PES 2018
Aakarshi Kashyap

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Aakarshi Kashyap
Personal information
Country  India
Born 24 August 2001
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 60 kg (132 lb)
Women's singles
Highest ranking 104 (17 March 2020)
Current ranking 104 (17 March 2020)

Medal record

Women's badminton
Representing  India
 2019 Kathmandu-Pokhara Women's team


Aakarshi Kashyap (born 24 August 2001) is an Indian badminton player. She has been selected to be part of the India at the 2018 Asian Games. She was part of the national women's team that won the gold medal in 2019 South Asian Games.


Ashwini Nachappa

Ashwini Nachappa is an Olympian of extraordinary talent. This is the story of how she outran PT Usha twice in the span of two weeks.
By Team Bridge

Throughout India’s illustrious history when it comes to athletics, there have been some moments which are especially memorable; moments that ultimately went down in history as landmarks in time. This is a story of one such moment- a moment when two Indian Olympians – PT Usha and Ashwini Nachappa met on the National circuit. This is the story of a moment that stunned the sporting world of India once.
The Indian FloJo

Ashwini Nachappa was a noticeable figure on the track long before that fateful race in 1991. Fondly known as the Indian FloJo- after the beautiful American Olympic champion Florence-Griffith Joyner, she was hailed as one of the most glamorous figures in athletics with names like Shiny Wilson and PT Usha providing stiff competition for her.

The flamboyant way in which she carried herself drew the eyes of spectators both on home soil and away. But in 1991, Ashwini had given her admirers a different reason to adore her.

As a 9-year old growing up in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, Ashwini’s tryst with athletics began on the track instead of the field when she first took up long jump. She shifted to track soon after. Early on in her career, in 1985, Ashwini finished second to PT Usha both in 100m and 200m at the Chennai Inter State Championship. But that was soon about to change.

The first instance came in the Open National Championship at New Delhi where she ran a classic 200m race to dethrone the Payyoli Express to the second place. Ashwini registered a timing of 24.07s while Usha could clock 24.12s.

India’s FloJo had already had a remarkable career when she met PT Usha in the track again in the 1990 Open Nationals. She represented the country in almost every big sporting event like the Olympics, World Cup, World Championship, Asian Games, Asian Championships and SAF Games.

Not only that, she had also made several appearances on India’s silver screen which had all been met with wide appreciation and critical acclaim.

But then, there comes a turning point in every career, something they are best remembered for. For Ashwini Nachappa, it was the year 1990 which deserves a special mention in her sporting career. It was the year she got the better of PT Usha twice.

The first instance came in the Open National Championship at New Delhi where she ran a classic 200m race to dethrone the Payyoli Express to the second place. Ashwini registered a timing of 24.07s while Usha could clock 24.12s.

Barely two weeks later at the Permit Meet in New Delhi, she again defeated Usha. Thus she became the first Indian sprinter to beat Usha twice in a year.

Ashwini Nachappa beyond the track

Ashwini Nachappa is an Olympian of extraordinary talent. That is something that hardly needs saying. Despite retiring from competitive athletics in 1991, her association with the sport has not ended. That very year, she starred in a biopic of her life.

Currently, she is an active member of the Clean Sports initiative which is an organisation aiming to address the problem of drug use among athletes and facilitate better management of Olympic sports in India.

It’s always nice when athletes take a stand to give back something to their sport even after they have stopped actively competing.

Ashwini Nachappa may have risen to prominence for defeating PT Usha twice within a span of 2 weeks but this Olympian is so much more than that.

Arjun Halappa
From Wikipedia
Arjun Halappa
Personal information
Born 13 December 1980
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Playing position Forward
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Air India
2005–2008 Bangalore Hi-Fliers
2012–present Karnataka Lions 12 (3)
2015–present Dabang Mumbai 2 (0)
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–present India 250+

Arjun Halappa (Kannada:ಅರ್ಜುನ್ ಹಾಲಪ್ಪ) (born 13 December 1980) is a professional Indian hockey player and former captain of Indian Hockey Team.
Career

Midfield maestro Arjun Halappa is the son of former East Bengal Hockey Club player B. K. Halappa,

He hails from Kodagu (Coorg) District, Karnataka. He joined the Centre of Excellence in 1998 and a year later played his first Senior Nationals at Hyderabad, and was picked among the 72 probables for a conditioning camp. He made his junior international debut in the Europe tour same year under coaches C.R. Kumar and Harendera. He posted eight goals in the 2000 Junior Asia Cup.

He made his international debut for the Men's National Team in March 2001 against Egypt in the Prime Minister's Gold Cup. Halappa represented India at the 2004 Summer Olympics, where India finished in seventh place. He represented India at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where India finished in second place.
Personal life

He married Bhavana on 12 October 2008 at Somwarpet, Kodagu.
Aadnya Borkar
From Wikipedia
Aadnya Borkar


Borkar in 2004.

Personal information

Country represented


Born

15 September 1987

ISU personal best scores

Combined total

29.29

Short program

11.23

Free skate

18.73

Aadnya Borkar (born 15 September 1987 in Mumbai, India), is an Indian figure skater currently living and practicing in Oman. She is coached by Michael Fernandes. Borkar is the 2005-2006 Indian national champion and has competed internationally for three seasons on the Junior Grand Prix. She formerly studied in Indian School, Al Wadi Al Kabir in Oman.

Abhishek Ambekar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abhishek AmbekarPersonal information
Full name Abhishek Ambekar
Date of birth 11 August 1991
Place of birth Santacruz, Mumbai, India
Position(s) winger/wingback
Club information

Current team East Bengal
Number 27
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Air India 3 (0)
2013–2014 Mumbai Tigers 0 (0)
2014–2015 Mumbai FC 0 (0)
2017–2018 Minerva Punjab 17 (0)
2018–2019 Mohun Bagan 15 (0)
2019–2021 East Bengal 22 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:51, 16 December 2020 (UTC)

Abhishek Ambekar (born 11 August 1991) is an Indian footballer who currently plays as a Wing back for East Bengal in the Indian Super League.

Career
Early career

He began playing football in school, Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane and represented his school team and his college and state team later. He was roped into the Air India FC under-19 team, coached by former Indian player Godfrey Pereira, who is also from Santacruz.

Air India

The winger eventually graduated to Air India's senior team. Ambekar made his debut for Air India FC of the I-League on 7 October 2012 coming on as a 54th-minute substitute for Ong Lepcha; Air India lost 5–1.

Career pitfalls

Air India FC couldn't play in the I-League further as it didn't satisfy the Asian Football Confederation norms, according to the All India Football Federation. But this didn't hinder Ambekar's career as he joined the newly-floated Mumbai Tigers, which had players like Steven Dias, Paresh Shivalkar under coach Bimal Ghosh, who helped Ambekar improve his game. But the club also couldn't survive for long. He joined Mumbai FC and later got a job with the Reserve Bank of India. The job rules didn't allow him to play at the professional level but he preferred RBI as it offered job security. During that time he played for Maharashtra in Santosh Trophy.

Later Ambekar was handed a lifeline by RBI, who agreed to release players and encouraged sportspersons to continue playing. It was what he had been waiting for. At the cost of risking his progress at work, Ambekar started sniffing at opportunities to play in the big leagues again. That chance came at fledgling side Minerva, who had finished 9th of 10 teams on their I-League debut last season.

Minerva Punjab

In 2017 he joined Minerva Punjab. He made his debut for Minerva on 25 November 2017 in I-League match against Mohun Bagan at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana as he played full match and his team drew the match 1-1. He became an inevitable ingredient of the side which eventually won the silverware. The I-League title triumph gave Ambekar's CV a necessary kick which was missing earlier in his career
Ashwini Ponnappa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ashwini Ponnappa
Ashwini in 2010
Personal information
Country India
Born 18 September 1989 
Residence Hyderabad, India
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight 60 kg (132 lb)
Years active 2007–present
Handedness Right
Women's & mixed doubles
Highest ranking 10 (WD 20 August 2015)
21 (XD 6 December 2018)
Current ranking 29 (WD), 19 (XD) (2 February 2021)

Women's badminton
Representing  India


 2014 New Delhi Women's team
 2016 Kunshan Women's team



 2014 Gimcheon Women's doubles


BWF profile

Ashwini Ponnappa Machimanda (born 18 September 1989) is an Indian badminton player who represents the country at the international badminton circuit in both the women's and mixed doubles disciplines. She had a successful partnership with Jwala Gutta as the pair has won many medals in international events including a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and bronze medals at the Uber Cup and the Asian Badminton Championships. They were consistently ranked among the top 20 in the BWF World Ranking reaching as high as no. 10. Ponnappa and Gutta also won the bronze medal at the BWF World Championships in 2011, becoming the first Indian pair and women and only the second overall to win a medal at the World Championships.

Early life

Ashwini Ponnappa was born on 18 September 1989 in Bangalore. She was educated at St. Francis Xavier Girls High School, Bangalore and at St. Mary's College, Hyderabad. Her father played hockey for India. However Ashwini preferred badminton over hockey and started training in badminton.

Career

In 2001, Ashwini Ponnappa won her first national title in 2004 in the sub-junior girls' doubles category. She also won the national title in sub-junior girls' doubles in 2005, and the Junior girls' doubles National title in 2006 and 2007. She won the gold medal in mixed doubles and the team events at the South Asian Games held in 2010. In the 2010 Commonwealth Games, she won the gold medal in Women's Doubles event pairing with Jwala Gutta, making history by winning the first gold medal for India in the event. Gutta and Ponnappa became household names after winning the medal in front of home crowd.

Later on in 2011 they came up with one of their finest performances when she and Gutta etched their names in history books becoming the first Indian pair to ensure a medal at the World Badminton Championships. The pair defeated 12th seeds Vita Marrisa and Nadya Melati of Indonesia 17–21, 21–10, 21–17 to storm into the women's doubles semifinal before losing out to Chinese fifth seeds in the semis in London, thereby winning a bronze in the Badminton World Championship.

She participated in the women's doubles at the 2012 London Olympics. Ponnappa and Gutta lost their opening women's doubles match against the Japanese duo of Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa. They then went on to beat much higher ranked Wen Hsing Cheng and Yu Chin Chien of Chinese Taipei 25–23, 16–21, 21–18 to register their first win in the group stages. Jwala and Ashwini missed out on a quarterfinal berth by a difference of just one point, even though they beat Shinta Mulia Sari and Lei Yao of Singapore 21-16 21–15 in their last group B match, after tying with Japan and Taipei on the number of wins. Prior to India's final group game on Tuesday night, the World number five Japanese pair of Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa had shockingly lost to Chinese Taipei's Cheng Wen Hsing and Chien Yu Chin, ranked 10th, 19-21 11–21. India lodged a formal protest with the Games organizers to probe if the women's doubles badminton match involving Japan and Chinese Taipei was played in the right spirit, following the elimination of medal hopes Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa but no action was taken. Following the Olympic Games Jwala went to a temporary sabbatical from the game. Ponnappa then partnered Pradnya Gadre for a brief period of time in 2013 and then re-united with Jwala later in the year. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Ponnappa and Gutta won the silver medal in the women's doubles, losing to a Malaysian pair in the final. On 29 June 2015, playing with Jwala, they won the Canada Open women's doubles title by defeating the top-seeded Dutch pair of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek. She competed with Gutta at the 2016 Olympics, but they lost all three of their group stage matches and therefore did not progress further. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Ponnappa was part of the Indian team which won gold in the mixed team event, and won bronze with N. Sikki Reddy in the women's doubles.

Personal life

On 24 December 2017, she married businessman and model Karan Medappa.
Aparna Balan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aparna Balan
Personal information
Country India
Born 9 August 1986 
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Handedness Right
Women's & mixed doubles
Highest ranking 26 (WD 1 July 2010)
41 (XD 20 November 2014)

Women's badminton
Representing  India
 2014 New Delhi Women's team
 2004 Islamabad Women's team
 2006 Colombo Women's team
 2010 Dhaka Women's doubles
 2010 Dhaka Women's team
 2006 Colombo Women's doubles
 2006 Colombo Mixed doubles
 2010 Dhaka Mixed doubles
 2002 Kuala Lumpur Girls' team


Aparna Balan (born 9 August 1986) is an Indian badminton player from Kozhikode, Kerala. She was part of the national team that won the silver medal in 2010 Commonwealth Games, also gold medals in 2004, 2006 and 2010 South Asian Games. She is 6 times National Champion in mixed doubles and 3 times National Champion in women's doubles. She represented India in many international badminton tournaments.

Career

In 2006, she won the national mixed doubles title partnering with V. Diju. At the same year, she competed at the 2006 South Asian Games and won two silver medals in the women's and mixed doubles event. In 2010 South Asian Games, Balan won the women's doubles gold with Shruti Kurien and mixed doubles silver with Sanave Thomas.

Major National Achievements

National champion in mixed doubles 2006
National champion in mixed doubles 2007
National champion in women doubles 2011
National champion in mixed doubles 2012
National champion in women doubles 2012
National champion in mixed doubles 2013
National champion in mixed doubles 2014
National champion in mixed doubles 2015
National champion in mixed doubles 2016
National champion in women doubles 2017
National games 2015 mixed doubles gold
Premier Badminton League 2016 winners
Bula Choudhury
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bula Choudhury
Choudhury in 2004
Born January 2, 1970 

Hugli, West Bengal, India
Awards Padma Shri

Bula Choudhury (born 2 January 1970, Hugli, India) is an Arjuna awardee, Padma shri awardee, former India national women's swimming champion and elected as MLA from 2006 To 2011 in West Bengal state of India.

Swimming career

Her first national competition, at age nine, she dominated her age group by winning six gold medals in six events. She continued to improve, winning various junior and national championships, as well as six gold medals at the 1991 South Asian Federation Games. She went to her first nationals, at the age of 12, which is an all-time record. This also guaranteed her a place in the relay quartet for the Brisbane Commonwealth Games as well as a prominent place on the list of Asiad probables.

In 1984 she set a national 100m butterfly record of 1:06.19 sec. During the Seoul Asian Games in 1986, she created a record of 1:05.27 sec in 100m butterfly and another record of 2:19.60 sec in 200m butterfly. Choudhury started long-distance swimming in 1989 and crossed the English Channel that year. She won the 81-km (50- mile) Murshidabad Long Distance Swim in 1996, and in 1999 she crossed the English Channel again. In August, 2004, she set this record by swimming across the Palk Straits from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu in nearly 14 hours.

She became the first woman to have swum across sea channels off five continents in 2005 —including the Strait of Gibraltar, the Tyrrhenian Sea, Cook Strait, Toroneos Gulf (Gulf of Kassándra) in Greece, the Catalina Channel off the California coast, and from Three Anchor Bay to Robben Island near Cape Town, South Africa. She created a record for swimming the 30 km track in 3 hours & 26 minutes. She is now is planning to establish a swimming academy in Kolkata.

Awards and distinctions

First woman to cross seven seas.
Twice swam the English Channel first in 1989 and again in 1999.
Arjuna Award in 1990.
Padma Shri award.
Barkha Sonkar

At first glance, Barkha Sonkar is the exact opposite of what you would expect a dominating basketball player to look like. She’s short (only five feet three inches), she’s quiet, and she’s permanently laced with a non-threatening smile that strikes no form of trepidation whatsoever in her opponents.

That is, until, she steps out on the court.

On Tuesday, the first day of the Junior National Basketball Championship at the Thyagraj Stadium in New Delhi, I watched Barkha play for the first time in over a year. That is because the 15-year-old has spent the last year as one of the eight Indian hoopsters chosen for a scholarship at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida (USA), where she is being coached to reach her incredible potential as a young basketball star. Back in India for the Summer, Barkha has spent the last few weeks at camp with the Indian Youth team at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi. When the Junior championships tipped off, she was invited by the coach of her home state – Uttar Pradesh – to represent them in the U18 tournament.

With no practice or preparation with her squad, Barkha, the youngest one in the UP U18 Girls’ side, took the helm as the team’s point guard, emotional leader, primary scorer, shot-creator, defensive-hustler, and the motor that controlled the team’s offense. She finished with 24 points in a 56-48 win against Orissa.

So what keeps this motor running? Why was this unassuming little girl from Varanasi, the daughter of a humble car mechanic, chosen into an exclusive group of youngsters by the IMG Academy coaches for the scholarship? How has she become the point guard for IMG’s competitive Youth team? How did she dominate various Youth-level tournaments in America, and how does she manage to dominate a game as by far the youngest one on court back at the Junior Nationals in India?

I guess the most important question here is: At 15, and with all the odds stacked against her, how does Barkha Sonkar handle the pressure?

Barkha answers by recalling her early days as a quiet, young Indian girl, whose world was completely shaken and stirred when she was relocated from a small basti in Varanasi to the world’s finest multi-sport academy in Florida, where she had to improve her English, get good grades in school, find her way around away from home in a completely different and sometimes daunting new culture, and still fulfill her primary objective for being there: improve on the basketball court. It was a challenge at first, she said, and the confident girl who first left India a year ago came across a nervy few roadblocks in her early days at IMG.

“I used to make a lot of mistakes initially,” said Barkha, “The other Indian girls in the group (Saumya Babbar of Delhi, Kavita Akula and Pooja Ambistha of Chhattisgarh) and I were very scared.”

A sponge for constructive criticism, Barkha quickly gained confidence and began to mend her mental roadblocks. “The coaches there helped me improve my confidence,” she said, “And the Senior girls also told me to not be afraid and play my natural game. I stopped being afraid. I let the mistakes happen, and with time, the mistakes went away.”

She has improved her game dramatically in several different facets. She’s a better long-range shooter now, a more efficient passer of the ball, and a more vocal leader on the court. Add all that to her breathtakingly fast pace and ability to attack the basket, and it’s no surprise anymore that this short point guard can become a devastating weapon for any team. But it is her fearlessness that has given her the edge over so many others of her age group (and older), from inter-school tournaments in America to inter-state championships in India.

It’s a good sign of ‘handling pressure’ when someone answers that their toughest moment was also their finest: for Barkha, this moment came earlier this year with the IMG Academy Team during an U16 tournament featuring teams from several schools and other academies at New York. Barkha put up a gritty performance in this highly-competitive tournament that earned her the ‘best player’ status, even though IMG lost in the Final.

Having competed in this and in several other high-pressure situations in the US, Barkha admits that she has discovered how to play with a cool head even in the toughest of games. And with a confident, carefree, and dominant first performance at the National Championships in Delhi, Barkha showed that her young age and small size wasn’t going to stop her from leaving an indelible mark in the competition.

“Barkha is an outstanding part of this team,” said the Uttar Pradesh coach, Askan Rai, “She is a great ball-handler and leads our team. She has improved our play from all angles and raised the confidence of everyone in our team.”

It will be Barkha’s performance in the next few games where she will truly be tested. Uttar Pradesh are a relatively weaker side overall, placed in Level II in these championships. For lower-ranked sides, they have to beat more, tougher opponents to move on to the knockout phase. Orissa was an easier challenge, but UP are now set to hosts Delhi and the talented Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu sides in their next few games.

“We have a good team,” Barkha says, “It will be tough but I think we can do well. We can hope to reach at least as far as the Semi-Final stage of this championship – from there onwards, we shall see how it goes.”

After the Junior Nationals are over, Barkha will return to practice under Coach Shiba Maggon, who has been working with the Indian National Youth Probables, which will determine the team that will represent India at the 2nd FIBA Asia U16 Championship for Girls in Urumqui (China) from October 5-12, 2011. Unsurprisingly, the determined young Barkha is more than ready for an opportunity to represent India at this tournament.

From basketball tournaments in Florida and New York, and championships around India, and then competition with the best of her level in Asia, Barkha continues to boast the same confidence to help her succeed at each level. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming first impression: that same small, friendly face will one day be the future of the point guard position for India.
Bijoy Barman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bijoy Barman
Born 1 December 1928
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Backstroke

Bijoy Barman (born 1 December 1928) is an Indian former swimmer. He competed in the men's 100 metre backstroke and the water polo tournament at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
Bimal Lakra


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bimal LakraPersonal information
Born 4 May 1980 (age 38)
Simdega, Jharkhand, India
Playing position Midfielder
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)

India

Last updated on: 25 July 2016

Bimal Lakra (born 4 May 1980) is a former Indian field hockey player who played as a midfielder for national team. He was part of the team that won the silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games.

Lakra's younger brother Birendra Lakra and younger sister Asunta Lakra have also represented India in field hockey.

Birendra Lakra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Birendra Lakra
Born February 3, 1990
Rourkela, Odisha, India
Height 167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight 68 kg (150 lb)
Playing position Fullback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–present Chandigarh Comets

BPCL

–2008 Orissa Steelers

2013–2014 Ranchi Rhinos 15 (0)
2015–present Ranchi Rays

National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
–present India 71 (7)

Medal record

Men’s Field Hockey
Representing  India
Hockey World League
 2015 Raipur

Asian Games
 2014 Incheon Team
Champions Trophy
 2018 Breda

Commonwealth Games
 2014 Glasgow Team
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
 2012 Malaysia Team

Last updated on: 8 December 2015
Birendra Lakra (born 3 February 1990) is an Indian professional field hockey player. He represented India in Men's Hockey during the 2012 London Olympics. Lakra's elder brother Bimal has played as a midfielder for India. His sister Asunta Lakra has played for India's women's hockey team and has captained the side.Personal life

Birendra Lakra was born on 3 February 1990 in village Lachchada, Sundargarh District of Odisha. He was born to the Oraon tribe family in a small village of Lachhada in odisha in the border of Jharkand.

Career

Birendra Lakra is a player of the Rourkela Steel Plant's SAIL Hockey Academy. Included in the Indian junior team for the first time for Singapore tour in 2007. He represented India in the Test series against South Africa in 2012, the Champions Challenge tournament in South Africa in 2011, the SAAF Games at Dhaka in 2010, at the Youth Olympics at Sydney in 2009, at the Junior World Cup at Singapore in 2009.

He scored the first goal in India's stupendous victory in the final game of the Olympic Hockey Qualifying Tournament against France. He played a key role in taking India in to the semifinals of 2012 Champions trophy. India defeated Belgium with the help of a single goal that was produced by the magical pass given by Birendra Lakra to the forward. With this India entered the semifinals of champions trophy after eight long years.

Hockey India League

In the auction of the inaugural Hockey India League season, Lakra was bought by the Ranchi franchise for US$41,000 with his base price being US$9,250. The Ranchi team was named Ranchi Rhinos. The team finished first in the inaugural season and third in the 2014 season. Following disputes between the franchise and Hockey India, the team decided to pull out, after which Lakra signed with the Ranchi Rays franchise from the 2015 season.

बाइचुंग भूटिया (Bhaichung Bhutia)



बाइचुंग भूटिया जन्म 15 दिसम्बर, 1976

बाइचुंग भूटिया ने सर्वप्रथम 11 वर्ष की आयु में ताशी नांगियाल अकादमी, गंगटोक में भाग लेने के लिए साई स्कालरशिप जीती । उसकी उच्चतर माध्यमिक शिक्षा ताशी नांगियाल से हुई । उसने सिक्किम में अनेक स्कूल व क्लब प्रतियोगिताओं में बचपन से ही हिस्सा लिया । 1991 में सुब्रोतो कप में किया गया उसका अच्छा प्रदर्शन उन्हें प्रकाश में लाया और उसे आगे बढ़ने का मौका मिला । इस खेल में उसे सर्वश्रेष्ठ खिलाड़ी घोषित किया गया ।

उसका खेलने का उच्च स्तर तब पता लगा जब वह ‘सिक्किम गवर्नर कोल्ड कप टूर्नामेंट में 1991 में सिक्किम ब्लूज का सदस्य था । तब वह मात्र 17 वर्ष का था लेकिन पुरुषों की प्रतियोगिता में हिस्सा ले रहा था ।
1993 में अपनी स्‍कूली शिक्षा को छोड़ बाइचुंग कलकत्‍ता के ईस्‍ट बंगाल फुटबॉल क्‍लब में शामिल हो गए। 1999 में बाइचुंग ने व्‍यवसायिक फुटबॉल के लिए यूरोप का रूख किया। तकरीबन तीन साल विदेशी क्‍लबों के लिए खेलने के बाद भूटिया भारत लौट आए। बाइचुंग ने प्रमुखत: मोहन बगान और ईस्‍ट बंगाल के लिए मैच खेले हैं। वे भारतीय फुटबॉल टीम के सबसे विख्‍यात फुटबॉलर हैं।

खेलों के अलावा भूटिया 2009 में डांस रियेलिटी शो झलक दिखला में भी भाग ले चुके हैं।

कॅरियर

उनका खेलने का उच्च स्तर तब पता लगा, जब वह ‘सिक्किम गवर्नर कोल्ड कप टूर्नामेंट में 1991 में सिक्किम ब्लूज के सदस्य बने। तब वह मात्र 17 वर्ष के थे, लेकिन पुरुषों की प्रतियोगिता में हिस्सा ले रहे थे। 1993 में बाइचुंग ने मात्र 16 वर्ष की आयु में स्कूल छोड़ दिया और अच्छी व्यावसायिक ट्रेनिंग के लिए ईस्ट इंडिया क्लब में शामिल हो गये। 1995 में बाइचुंग ने जे.सी.टी. मिल्स, फगवाड़ा की टीम में शामिल होने का फैसला लिया और उनका यह निर्णय सही साबित हुआ, जब इस टीम ने इस वर्ष का राष्ट्रीय फ़ुटबॉल लीग मैच जीत लिया। बाइचुंग इस लीग मैच में सबसे बड़े स्कोरर थे। अत: उनका चयन ‘नेहरू कप’ में खेलने के लिए भी आसानी से हो गया।

संतोष ट्राफी के वक्त वह 5 वर्ष तक बंगाल टीम के सदस्य रहे। 1989-1999 में वह ईस्ट बंगाल क्लब के कैप्टेन बने। उन्होंने भारत का प्रतिनिधित्व प्रि-ओलंपिक, विश्व के क्वालीफाइंग मैचों में, नेहरू कप, एशियन खेलों में तथा सैफ खेलों में किया है। 1999 में उन्हें वर्ष का सर्वश्रेष्ठ खिलाड़ी घोषित किया गया था। 1996 में भी बाइचुंग भूटिया को ‘वर्ष का भारतीय खिलाड़ी’ चुना गया था। भूटिया ने अन्य अनेक पुरस्कार भी प्राप्त किए हैं।

1997 में वह पुन: ईस्ट बंगाल टीम में वापस आ गये और 1998-1999 के लिए टीम के कप्तान बना दिये गए। बाइचुंग ने 35 से अधिक गोल दागे हैं और इस प्रकार अन्तरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर भारतीय खेल को नई दिशा प्रदान की है। 1999 में वह ”बरी फ़ुटबॉल कप” खेलने के लिए मानचेस्टर, इंग्लैंड के लिए भी रवाना हुए थे।

मलेशिया में वापसी

2005 में, भूटिया ने एक और मलेशियाई क्लब, सेलेगर एमके लैंड के लिए हस्ताक्षर किए। क्लब की तंगहाली की वजह उन्होंने केवल पांच बार मैच खेले और एक गोल दागा। इससे पहले, उन्हें होम यूनाइटेड के मैनेजर स्टीव डार्बी से एक ऑफर मिला, लेकिन उन्होंने प्रस्ताव को अस्वीकार कर दिया। बाद में डार्बी ने यह खुलासा किया कि वे भूटिया को साथ लाने में इसलिए असफल रहे, क्योंकि उन्होंने जो पेशकश की थी वो उस समय भारत में जो उन्हें मिल रहा था उससे कम था

15 जून 2006 को, वह मोहन बागान से जुड़ गए और उन्होंने जोस रैमिरेज़ बैरेटो के साथ एक आक्रमक साझेदारी की शुरूवात की। हालांकि, 2006-07 का सत्र भूटिया और मोहन बागान के लिए खराब था, क्योंकि वे लीग में आठवें स्थान पर रहे थे, निष्कासन से एक क़दम दूर। 2007-08 सीज़न (लीग को अब आई-लीग के रूप में जाना जाता है) के दौरान, भूटिया ने 18 मैचों में 10 गोल किये और मोहन बागान ने चौथे स्थान के साथ लीग में थोड़ा बेहतर प्रदर्शन किया। भूटिया ने 2008 में दूसरी बार भारतीय खिलाड़ी का खिताब जीता था। पुरस्कार जीतने में, वह एक बार से अधिक बार जीतने वाले वह केवल दूसरे फुटबॉल खिलाड़ी बन गए; पहले हैं आइ॰ एम॰ विजयन। 2008-09 के मौसम में, लगातार 10-मैच जीतने के बावजूद, मोहन बागान ने चर्चिल ब्रदर्स के पीछे दूसरा स्थान हासिल किया क्योंकि महिंद्रा यूनाइटेड के साथ आख़री मैच में हार गए। भूटिया ने इस सीजन में छह गोल किए।

पुरस्कार

भारतीय फुटबाल टीम में फारवर्ड के स्थान पर खेलने वाले बाइचुंग की मुख्य उपलब्धियां इस प्रकार हैं –
सुब्रोतो कप का वह सर्वश्रेष्ठ खिलाड़ी बना ।

1997 में जे.सी.टी. के प्रथम राष्ट्रीय लीग मैच के विजेता | इसमें सर्वाधिक स्कोर बाइचुंग का रहा |
1999 में सैफ (SAFF), नेपाल में विजेता, सर्वाधिक स्कोर |
1999 में सैफ (SAFF), गोवा में विजेता, सर्वाधिक स्कोर |

मई 1999 में माह के एशियाई खिलाड़ी घोषित (प्लेयर आफ द मंथ) |

1999 में ‘अर्जुन पुरस्कार’ से सम्मानित |
1995 में नेहरु कप टूर्नामेंट में भारत के लिए गोल दागने वाला सबसे कम उम्र का खिलाड़ी बना । यह मैच उज्बेकिस्तान के विरुद्ध खेला गया |
1995 से कलकत्ता सुपर डिवीजन का सर्वश्रेष्ठ-खिलाड़ी घोषित | इसमें वह टॉप स्कोरर रहा ।
1999 में बाइचुंग वर्ष का सर्वश्रेष्ठ भारतीय खिलाड़ी घोषित |
1999 में सिक्किम राज्य पुरस्कार दिया गया ।
अक्टूबर 1999 के फुटबाल लीग में खेलने वाला भारत में जन्मा प्रथम भारतीय खिलाड़ी |
अप्रैल 2000 के फुटबाल लीग में स्कोर बनाने वाला भारत में जन्मा प्रथम भारतीय खिलाड़ी बना |



Bhaichung Bhutia

Bio/WikiNickname Sikkimese Sniper
Profession Footballer
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.) in centimeters- 173 cm
in meters- 1.73 m
in Feet Inches- 5’ 8”
Weight (approx.) in Kilograms- 67 kg
in Pounds- 147 lbs
Body Measurements (approx.) - Chest: 42 inches
- Waist: 32 inches
- Biceps: 15 inches
Eye Colour Black
Hair Colour Black

Career
Debut Club- 1993 for East-Bengal FC International- On 10 March 1995 against Thailand
Retirement Club- 2015 International- 24 August 2011
Jersey Number 15
Position Striker
Foot Right
Coach/Mentor Karma Bhutia (His Uncle)
 
Clubs Managed United Sikkim (2012), Sikkim
Records (main ones)/Achievements • In the 1996-97 season, playing for the JCT FC, Bhutia was the top goal-scorer.
• In 1996, he was named Indian Player of the Year.
• In 1997, playing for East Bengal FC, Bhutia scored his first hat-trick against Mohun Bagan.
• Playing for East Bengal in the 2005-06 season, he was awarded the "Player of the National Football League" by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Awards • Arjuna Award for Football (1998)
• Padma Shri (2008)
• Banga Bhushan (2014)
Career Turning Point In 1997, when he scored a hat-trick against Mohun Bagan
Personal Life
Date of Birth 15 December 1976
Age (as in 2018) 42 Years
Birthplace Tinkitam, Sikkim, India
Zodiac sign/Sun sign Sagittarius
Nationality Indian
Hometown Tinkitam, Sikkim
School St. Xaviers School, Pakyong, East Sikkim
College/University Not Known
Educational Qualification Not Known
Religion Athiest
Food Habit Non-Vegetarian
Political Inclination Hamro Sikkim Party
Hobbies Playing Basketball, Dancing
Relationships & More
Marital Status Divorced
Marriage Date 30 December 2004

Family
Wife/Spouse Madhuri Tipnis (2004-2015) Hotel Professional 
Children Son- Ugen Kalzang Bhutia Daughters- Samara Dechen Bhutia, Keisha Dolkar Bhutia
 
Parents Father- Dorji Dorma Mother- Sonam Topden
Siblings Brothers- Bom Bom Bhutia, Chewang Bhutia Sister- Cali
Favourite Things
Favourite Football Club(s) Arsenal and Barcelona
Favourite Football Players Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho
Style Quotient
Car Collection Audi
Money Factor
Net Worth (approx.) ₹17 Crore (as per 2016)


Some Lesser Known Facts About Bhaichung Bhutia

Does Bhaichung Bhutia smoke?: No

Does Bhaichung Bhutia drink alcohol?: Not Known

At the age of 14, he joined the Boys Club in Gangtok where his uncle Karma Bhutia was the chief coach.

Bhutia received football training at Sikkim’s Tashi Namgyal Academy before a stint at SAI Gangtok. He was given the best player in the 1992 Subroto Cup. Former India goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly noticed his talent and helped him make the transition to Calcutta football.
Bhaskar Ganguly

At the age of 16, he signed for East Bengal FC, his first professional club.

Bhaichung has won almost every domestic trophy with East Bengal including the NFL title (National Football League) in 2003-04.

In the summer of 1999, he became the second Indian player after Mohammed Salim to play in a European Club as he was signed by English third division outfit, Bury FC.
Mohammad Salim

On 15 April 2000, he became a first Asian Player to score a goal in English professional game.

Bhutia is most capped Indian player to play in International games.

Under his captaincy, India carried off the LG Cup in Vietnam in 2002, South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championships thrice, two Nehru Cup titles (in 2007 and 2009) and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup which assured them a place in the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.
Brojen Das
From Wikipedia
Brojen Das
Born 9 December 1927

Kuchiamora, Bikrampur, British India (now Munshiganj, Bangladesh)
Died 1 June 1998 (aged 70)

Calcutta, India
Education BA
Occupation Athlete
Awards Independence Day Award (1999)

Brojen Das (9 December 1927 – 1 June 1998) was a Bangladeshi swimmer, who was the first Asian to swim across the English Channel, and the first person to cross it six times.

Early life and education
Brojen after his 5th crossing of the English Channel

Brojen was born in the Kuchiamora village of Bikrampur, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Munshiganj, Bangladesh). His father was Harendra Kumar Das. He completed the matriculation exam in 1946 from KL Jubilee High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Vidyasagar College in Calcutta.

Swimming
Brojen meeting Queen Elizabeth after his channel crossing (1961)

Since boyhood Brojen practised swimming in Buriganga River. After his own initiative, the East Pakistan Sports Federation introduced an annual swimming competition in Dhaka in 1953. He was invited to take part in the English Channel Swimming Competition in 1958. As a part of his training he swam in Shitalakshya River, in lower Meghna River and a distance of 46 miles starting from Narayanganj to Chandpur. Prior to the competition, he also swam in the Mediterranean Sea from Capri to Naples.

At midnight on 18 August 1958, Brojen began swimming to cross the English Channel along with other competitors from 23 countries. He completed the course on the next day after noon.

Brojen crossed the English Channel a total of 6 times from 1958 to 1961.

Achievements
Local

Champion in 100-meter freestyle swimming competition in West Bengal in 1952.
Champion in East Pakistan in 100, 200, 400 & 1500 meter freestyle swimming in 1953–1956.
Champion in Pakistan in 100 & 400-meter freestyle swimming in 1955.

International

Italy, July 1958, winner (placed 3rd) in the Capri Island to Naples 33-kilometer-long-distance swimming competition.
England, August 1958, secured first position among the male competitors in the Billy Butlin's Channel Crossing Swimming Competition; 39 competitors from 23 nations participated in the competition.
England, August 1959, successfully completed the Channel Crossing Swimming Competition from France to England.
England, September 1959, successfully completed the Channel Swim from England to France.
England, August 1960, successfully completed the Channel Swim from France to England.
England, September 1961, crossed the Channel once again from France to England.
England, September 1961, obtained the world record for the fastest swim across the English Channel from France to England.

Awards
Brojen Das receiving the Letona Trophy, 1986
1956: Awarded by Dhaka University
1960: Pride of Performance award by the Pakistan government.
1965: Induction into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
1986: Letona Trophy, i.e. King of the Channel from the Channel Swimming Association of the United Kingdom
1976: National Sports Award, Bangladesh
Atish Dipankar Medal
Gold Medal by Kazi Mahabubullah Trust and Jahanara Jana Kalyan Trust
1999: Independence Day Award, Bangladesh (posthumous)

Death

Brojen was detected to have cancer in June 1997. He went to Calcutta, India, for treatment, and died there on 1 June 1998. His funeral was held at Postagola cremation site in Dhaka on 3 June 1998.
Bapi Saha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bapi SahaPersonal information
Date of birth 28 September 1991 
Place of birth India

Current team Prayag United
Number 3
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011– Prayag United 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Bapi Saha (born 28 September 1991) is an Indian footballer who plays as a defender for Prayag United S.C. in the I-League.

Career
Prayag United

Saha made his debut for Prayag United in an I-League match on 21 January 2011 against Viva Kerala in which Prayag United drew the match 1–1 and in which Saha played the whole 90 minutes. In 2014-15 SESSION He joined Peerless F.C. IN 2015-16 SEASON. In 2015-16 Season Bapi will be playing Southern Samity football club in CFL.

mahamayatala sporting

In 2017, Bapi joined Mahamayatala sporting as a full time khep player. In 2019 Bapi was arrested for a domestic violence, theresult of which Mahamayatala kicked him off the team.
Babe Ruth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Babe Ruth
Ruth in 1920
Born: February 6, 1895
Died: August 16, 1948 (aged 53)

Batted: Left Threw: Left

MLB debut
July 11, 1914, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
May 30, 1935, for the Boston Braves
MLB statistics
Hits 2,873
Teams

Career highlights and awards

2× All-Star (1933, 1934)
7× World Series champion (1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1932)
AL MVP (1923)
12× AL home run leader (1918–1921, 1923, 1924, 1926–1931)
6× AL RBI leader (1919–1921, 1923, 1926, 1928)
Monument Park honoree
Induction 1936
Vote 95.13% (first ballot)

George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat", he began his MLB career as a star left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. Ruth established many MLB batting (and some pitching) records, including career home runs (714), runs batted in (RBIs) (2,213), bases on balls (2,062), slugging percentage (.690), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (1.164); the last two still stand as of 2021. Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. In 1936, Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its "first five" inaugural members.

At age seven, Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory where he was mentored by Brother Matthias Boutlier of the Xaverian Brothers, the school's disciplinarian and a capable baseball player. In 1914, Ruth was signed to play minor-league baseball for the Baltimore Orioles but was soon sold to the Red Sox. By 1916, he had built a reputation as an outstanding pitcher who sometimes hit long home runs, a feat unusual for any player in the pre-1920 dead-ball era. Although Ruth twice won 23 games in a season as a pitcher and was a member of three World Series championship teams with the Red Sox, he wanted to play every day and was allowed to convert to an outfielder. With regular playing time, he broke the MLB single-season home run record in 1919.

After that season, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees amid controversy. The trade fueled Boston's subsequent 86-year championship drought and popularized the "Curse of the Bambino" superstition. In his 15 years with the Yankees, Ruth helped the team win seven American League (AL) pennants and four World Series championships. His big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only drew fans to the ballpark and boosted the sport's popularity but also helped usher in baseball's live-ball era, which evolved from a low-scoring game of strategy to a sport where the home run was a major factor. As part of the Yankees' vaunted "Murderers' Row" lineup of 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs, which extended his MLB single-season record by a single home run. Ruth's last season with the Yankees was 1934; he retired from the game the following year, after a short stint with the Boston Braves. During his career, Ruth led the AL in home runs during a season 12 times.

During Ruth's career, he was the target of intense press and public attention for his baseball exploits and off-field penchants for drinking and womanizing. After his retirement as a player, he was denied the opportunity to manage a major league club, most likely due to poor behavior during parts of his playing career. In his final years, Ruth made many public appearances, especially in support of American efforts in World War II. In 1946, he became ill with nasopharyngeal cancer and died from the disease two years later. Ruth remains a part of American culture, and in 2018 President Donald Trump posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Early years
Ruth's birthplace in Baltimore, Maryland, is now a museum.
George Herman Ruth Sr. family in the 1900 US Census

George Herman Ruth Jr. was born in 1895 at 216 Emory Street in the Pigtown section of Baltimore, Maryland. Ruth's parents, Katherine (née Schamberger) and George Herman Ruth Sr., were both of German ancestry. According to the 1880 census, his parents were born in Maryland. His paternal grandparents were from Prussia and Hanover. Ruth Sr. worked a series of jobs that included lightning rod salesman and streetcar operator. The elder Ruth then became a counterman in a family-owned combination grocery and saloon business on Frederick Street. George Ruth Jr. was born in the house of his maternal grandfather, Pius Schamberger, a German immigrant and trade unionist. Only one of young Ruth's seven siblings, his younger sister Mamie, survived infancy.

Many details of Ruth's childhood are unknown, including the date of his parents' marriage. As a child, Ruth spoke German. When Ruth was a toddler, the family moved to 339 South Woodyear Street, not far from the rail yards; by the time he was six years old, his father had a saloon with an upstairs apartment at 426 West Camden Street. Details are equally scanty about why Ruth was sent at the age of seven to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory and orphanage. However, according to Julia Ruth Stevens' recount in 1999, because George Sr. was a saloon owner in Baltimore and had given Ruth little supervision growing up, he became a delinquent. Ruth was sent to St. Mary's because George Sr. ran out of ideas to discipline and mentor his son. As an adult, Ruth admitted that as a youth he ran the streets, rarely attended school, and drank beer when his father was not looking. Some accounts say that following a violent incident at his father's saloon, the city authorities decided that this environment was unsuitable for a small child. Ruth entered St. Mary's on June 13, 1902. He was recorded as "incorrigible" and spent much of the next 12 years there.

Although St. Mary's boys received an education, students were also expected to learn work skills and help operate the school, particularly once the boys turned 12. Ruth became a shirtmaker and was also proficient as a carpenter. He would adjust his own shirt collars, rather than having a tailor do so, even during his well-paid baseball career. The boys, aged 5 to 21, did most of the work around the facility, from cooking to shoemaking, and renovated St. Mary's in 1912. The food was simple, and the Xaverian Brothers who ran the school insisted on strict discipline; corporal punishment was common. Ruth's nickname there was "Niggerlips", as he had large facial features and was darker than most boys at the all-white reformatory.

Ruth was sometimes allowed to rejoin his family or was placed at St. James's Home, a supervised residence with work in the community, but he was always returned to St. Mary's. He was rarely visited by his family; his mother died when he was 12 and, by some accounts, he was permitted to leave St. Mary's only to attend the funeral. How Ruth came to play baseball there is uncertain: according to one account, his placement at St. Mary's was due in part to repeatedly breaking Baltimore's windows with long hits while playing street ball; by another, he was told to join a team on his first day at St. Mary's by the school's athletic director, Brother Herman, becoming a catcher even though left-handers rarely play that position. During his time there he also played third base and shortstop, again unusual for a left-hander, and was forced to wear mitts and gloves made for right-handers. He was encouraged in his pursuits by the school's Prefect of Discipline, Brother Matthias Boutlier, a native of Nova Scotia. A large man, Brother Matthias was greatly respected by the boys both for his strength and for his fairness. For the rest of his life, Ruth would praise Brother Matthias, and his running and hitting styles closely resembled his teacher's. Ruth stated, "I think I was born as a hitter the first day I ever saw him hit a baseball." The older man became a mentor and role model to Ruth; biographer Robert W. Creamer commented on the closeness between the two:

Ruth revered Brother Matthias ... which is remarkable, considering that Matthias was in charge of making boys behave and that Ruth was one of the great natural misbehavers of all time. ... George Ruth caught Brother Matthias' attention early, and the calm, considerable attention the big man gave the young hellraiser from the waterfront struck a spark of response in the boy's soul ... [that may have] blunted a few of the more savage teeth in the gross man whom I have heard at least a half-dozen of his baseball contemporaries describe with admiring awe and wonder as "an animal."
Ruth (top row, center) at St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1912
Ruth (top row, left, holding a catcher's mitt and mask) at St. Mary's, 1912

The school's influence remained with Ruth in other ways. He was a lifelong Catholic who would sometimes attend Mass after carousing all night, and he became a well-known member of the Knights of Columbus. He would visit orphanages, schools, and hospitals throughout his life, often avoiding publicity. He was generous to St. Mary's as he became famous and rich, donating money and his presence at fundraisers, and spending $5,000 to buy Brother Matthias a Cadillac in 1926—subsequently replacing it when it was destroyed in an accident. Nevertheless, his biographer Leigh Montville suggests that many of the off-the-field excesses of Ruth's career were driven by the deprivations of his time at St. Mary's.

Most of the boys at St. Mary's played baseball in organized leagues at different levels of proficiency. Ruth later estimated that he played 200 games a year as he steadily climbed the ladder of success. Although he played all positions at one time or another, he gained stardom as a pitcher. According to Brother Matthias, Ruth was standing to one side laughing at the bumbling pitching efforts of fellow students, and Matthias told him to go in and see if he could do better. Ruth had become the best pitcher at St. Mary's, and when he was 18 in 1913, he was allowed to leave the premises to play weekend games on teams that were drawn from the community. He was mentioned in several newspaper articles, for both his pitching prowess and ability to hit long home runs.

Professional baseball
Minor league, Baltimore Orioles

In early 1914, Ruth signed a professional baseball contract with Jack Dunn, who owned and managed the minor-league Baltimore Orioles, an International League team. The circumstances of Ruth's signing are not known with certainty; historical fact is obscured by stories that cannot all be true. By some accounts, Dunn was urged to attend a game between an all-star team from St. Mary's and one from another Xaverian facility, Mount St. Mary's College. Some versions have Ruth running away before the eagerly awaited game, to return in time to be punished, and then pitching St. Mary's to victory as Dunn watched. Others have Washington Senators pitcher Joe Engel, a Mount St. Mary's graduate, pitching in an alumni game after watching a preliminary contest between the college's freshmen and a team from St. Mary's, including Ruth. Engel watched Ruth play, then told Dunn about him at a chance meeting in Washington. Ruth, in his autobiography, stated only that he worked out for Dunn for a half hour, and was signed. According to biographer Kal Wagenheim, there were legal difficulties to be straightened out as Ruth was supposed to remain at the school until he turned 21, though SportsCentury stated in a documentary that Ruth had already been discharged from St. Mary's when he turned 19, and earned a monthly salary of $100.
Baseball card showing Ruth as a Baltimore Oriole, 1914

The train journey to spring training in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in early March was likely Ruth's first outside the Baltimore area. The rookie ballplayer was the subject of various pranks by the veterans, who were probably also the source of his famous nickname. There are various accounts of how Ruth came to be called "Babe", but most center on his being referred to as "Dunnie's babe" or a variant. SportsCentury reported that his nickname was gained because he was the new "darling" or "project" of Dunn, not only due to Ruth's raw talent, but also because of his lack of knowledge of the proper etiquette of eating out in a restaurant, being in a hotel, or being on a train. "Babe" was, at that time, a common nickname in baseball, with perhaps the most famous to that point being Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher and 1909 World Series hero Babe Adams, who appeared younger than his actual age.

Ruth made his first appearance as a professional ballplayer in an inter-squad game on March 7, 1914. He played shortstop and pitched the last two innings of a 15–9 victory. In his second at-bat, Ruth hit a long home run to right field; the blast was locally reported to be longer than a legendary shot hit by Jim Thorpe in Fayetteville. Ruth made his first appearance against a team in organized baseball in an exhibition game versus the major-league Philadelphia Phillies. Ruth pitched the middle three innings and gave up two runs in the fourth, but then settled down and pitched a scoreless fifth and sixth innings. In a game against the Phillies the following afternoon, Ruth entered during the sixth inning and did not allow a run the rest of the way. The Orioles scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to overcome a 6–0 deficit, and Ruth was the winning pitcher.

Once the regular season began, Ruth was a star pitcher who was also dangerous at the plate. The team performed well, yet received almost no attention from the Baltimore press. A third major league, the Federal League, had begun play, and the local franchise, the Baltimore Terrapins, restored that city to the major leagues for the first time since 1902. Few fans visited Oriole Park, where Ruth and his teammates labored in relative obscurity. Ruth may have been offered a bonus and a larger salary to jump to the Terrapins; when rumors to that effect swept Baltimore, giving Ruth the most publicity he had experienced to date, a Terrapins official denied it, stating it was their policy not to sign players under contract to Dunn.

The competition from the Terrapins caused Dunn to sustain large losses. Although by late June the Orioles were in first place, having won over two-thirds of their games, the paid attendance dropped as low as 150. Dunn explored a possible move by the Orioles to Richmond, Virginia, as well as the sale of a minority interest in the club. These possibilities fell through, leaving Dunn with little choice other than to sell his best players to major league teams to raise money. He offered Ruth to the reigning World Series champions, Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics, but Mack had his own financial problems. The Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants expressed interest in Ruth, but Dunn sold his contract, along with those of pitchers Ernie Shore and Ben Egan, to the Boston Red Sox of the American League (AL) on July 4. The sale price was announced as $25,000 but other reports lower the amount to half that, or possibly $8,500 plus the cancellation of a $3,000 loan. Ruth remained with the Orioles for several days while the Red Sox completed a road trip, and reported to the team in Boston on July 11.

Boston Red Sox (1914–1919)
Developing star
Ruth pitching for the Boston Red Sox

On July 11, 1914, Ruth arrived in Boston with Egan and Shore. Ruth later told the story of how that morning he had met Helen Woodford, who would become his first wife. She was a 16-year-old waitress at Landers Coffee Shop, and Ruth related that she served him when he had breakfast there. Other stories, though, suggested that the meeting occurred on another day, and perhaps under other circumstances. Regardless of when he began to woo his first wife, he won his first game as a pitcher for the Red Sox that afternoon, 4–3, over the Cleveland Naps. His catcher was Bill Carrigan, who was also the Red Sox manager. Shore was given a start by Carrigan the next day; he won that and his second start and thereafter was pitched regularly. Ruth lost his second start, and was thereafter little used. In his major league debut as a batter, Ruth went 0-for-2 against left-hander Willie Mitchell, striking out in his first at bat before being removed for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.[35] Ruth was not much noticed by the fans, as Bostonians watched the Red Sox's crosstown rivals, the Braves, begin a legendary comeback that would take them from last place on the Fourth of July to the 1914 World Series championship.

Egan was traded to Cleveland after two weeks on the Boston roster. During his time with the Red Sox, he kept an eye on the inexperienced Ruth, much as Dunn had in Baltimore. When he was traded, no one took his place as supervisor. Ruth's new teammates considered him brash, and would have preferred him, as a rookie, to remain quiet and inconspicuous. When Ruth insisted on taking batting practice despite being both a rookie who did not play regularly, and a pitcher, he arrived to find his bats sawn in half. His teammates nicknamed him "the Big Baboon", a name the swarthy Ruth, who had disliked the nickname "Niggerlips" at St. Mary's, detested. Ruth had received a raise on promotion to the major leagues, and quickly acquired tastes for fine food, liquor, and women, among other temptations.

Manager Carrigan allowed Ruth to pitch two exhibition games in mid-August. Although Ruth won both against minor-league competition, he was not restored to the pitching rotation. It is uncertain why Carrigan did not give Ruth additional opportunities to pitch. There are legends—filmed for the screen in The Babe Ruth Story (1948)—that the young pitcher had a habit of signaling his intent to throw a curveball by sticking out his tongue slightly, and that he was easy to hit until this changed. Creamer pointed out that it is common for inexperienced pitchers to display such habits, and the need to break Ruth of his would not constitute a reason to not use him at all. The biographer suggested that Carrigan was unwilling to use Ruth due to poor behavior by the rookie.
Providence Grays with Babe Ruth (top row, center), 1914

On July 30, 1914, Boston owner Joseph Lannin had purchased the minor-league Providence Grays, members of the International League. The Providence team had been owned by several people associated with the Detroit Tigers, including star hitter Ty Cobb, and as part of the transaction, a Providence pitcher was sent to the Tigers. To soothe Providence fans upset at losing a star, Lannin announced that the Red Sox would soon send a replacement to the Grays. This was intended to be Ruth, but his departure for Providence was delayed when Cincinnati Reds owner Garry Herrmann claimed him off of waivers. After Lannin wrote to Herrmann explaining that the Red Sox wanted Ruth in Providence so he could develop as a player, and would not release him to a major league club, Herrmann allowed Ruth to be sent to the minors. Carrigan later stated that Ruth was not sent down to Providence to make him a better player, but to help the Grays win the International League pennant (league championship).

Ruth joined the Grays on August 18, 1914. After Dunn's deals, the Baltimore Orioles managed to hold on to first place until August 15, after which they continued to fade, leaving the pennant race between Providence and Rochester. Ruth was deeply impressed by Providence manager "Wild Bill" Donovan, previously a star pitcher with a 25–4 win–loss record for Detroit in 1907; in later years, he credited Donovan with teaching him much about pitching. Ruth was often called upon to pitch, in one stretch starting (and winning) four games in eight days. On September 5 at Maple Leaf Park in Toronto, Ruth pitched a one-hit 9–0 victory, and hit his first professional home run, his only one as a minor leaguer, off Ellis Johnson. Recalled to Boston after Providence finished the season in first place, he pitched and won a game for the Red Sox against the New York Yankees on October 2, getting his first major league hit, a double. Ruth finished the season with a record of 2–1 as a major leaguer and 23–8 in the International League (for Baltimore and Providence). Once the season concluded, Ruth married Helen in Ellicott City, Maryland. Creamer speculated that they did not marry in Baltimore, where the newlyweds boarded with George Ruth Sr., to avoid possible interference from those at St. Mary's—both bride and groom were not yet of age and Ruth remained on parole from that institution until his 21st birthday.

In March 1915, Ruth reported to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for his first major league spring training. Despite a relatively successful first season, he was not slated to start regularly for the Red Sox, who already had two "superb" left-handed pitchers, according to Creamer: the established stars Dutch Leonard, who had broken the record for the lowest earned run average (ERA) in a single season; and Ray Collins, a 20-game winner in both 1913 and 1914. Ruth was ineffective in his first start, taking the loss in the third game of the season. Injuries and ineffective pitching by other Boston pitchers gave Ruth another chance, and after some good relief appearances, Carrigan allowed Ruth another start, and he won a rain-shortened seven inning game. Ten days later, the manager had him start against the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Ruth took a 3–2 lead into the ninth, but lost the game 4–3 in 13 innings. Ruth, hitting ninth as was customary for pitchers, hit a massive home run into the upper deck in right field off of Jack Warhop. At the time, home runs were rare in baseball, and Ruth's majestic shot awed the crowd. The winning pitcher, Warhop, would in August 1915 conclude a major league career of eight seasons, undistinguished but for being the first major league pitcher to give up a home run to Babe Ruth.
Ruth during batting practice in 1916.

Carrigan was sufficiently impressed by Ruth's pitching to give him a spot in the starting rotation. Ruth finished the 1915 season 18–8 as a pitcher; as a hitter, he batted .315 and had four home runs. The Red Sox won the AL pennant, but with the pitching staff healthy, Ruth was not called upon to pitch in the 1915 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Boston won in five games; Ruth was used as a pinch hitter in Game Five, but grounded out against Phillies ace Grover Cleveland Alexander. Despite his success as a pitcher, Ruth was acquiring a reputation for long home runs; at Sportsman's Park against the St. Louis Browns, a Ruth hit soared over Grand Avenue, breaking the window of a Chevrolet dealership.

In 1916, there was attention focused on Ruth for his pitching, as he engaged in repeated pitching duels with the ace of the Washington Senators, Walter Johnson. The two met five times during the season, with Ruth winning four and Johnson one (Ruth had a no decision in Johnson's victory). Two of Ruth's victories were by the score of 1–0, one in a 13-inning game. Of the 1–0 shutout decided without extra innings, AL President Ban Johnson stated, "That was one of the best ball games I have ever seen." For the season, Ruth went 23–12, with a 1.75 ERA and nine shutouts, both of which led the league. Ruth's nine shutouts in 1916 set a league record for left-handers that would remain unmatched until Ron Guidry tied it in 1978. The Red Sox won the pennant and World Series again, this time defeating the Brooklyn Robins (as the Dodgers were then known) in five games. Ruth started and won Game 2, 2–1, in 14 innings. Until another game of that length was played in 2005, this was the longest World Series game, and Ruth's pitching performance is still the longest postseason complete game victory.

Carrigan retired as player and manager after 1916, returning to his native Maine to be a businessman. Ruth, who played under four managers who are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, always maintained that Carrigan, who is not enshrined there, was the best skipper he ever played for. There were other changes in the Red Sox organization that offseason, as Lannin sold the team to a three-man group headed by New York theatrical promoter Harry Frazee. Jack Barry was hired by Frazee as manager.

Emergence as a hitter

Ruth went 24–13 with a 2.01 ERA and six shutouts in 1917, but the Sox finished in second place in the league, nine games behind the Chicago White Sox in the standings. On June 23 at Washington, when home plate umpire 'Brick' Owens called the first four pitches as balls, Ruth threw a punch at him, and was ejected from the game and later suspended for ten days and fined $100. Ernie Shore was called in to relieve Ruth, and was allowed eight warm-up pitches. The runner who had reached base on the walk was caught stealing, and Shore retired all 26 batters he faced to win the game. Shore's feat was listed as a perfect game for many years. In 1991, Major League Baseball's (MLB) Committee on Statistical Accuracy amended it to be listed as a combined no-hitter. In 1917, Ruth was used little as a batter, other than for his plate appearances while pitching, and hit .325 with two home runs.
Ruth in 1918, his penultimate year with the Red Sox

The United States' entry into World War I occurred at the start of the season and overshadowed baseball. Conscription was introduced in September 1917, and most baseball players in the big leagues were of draft age. This included Barry, who was a player-manager, and who joined the Naval Reserve in an attempt to avoid the draft, only to be called up after the 1917 season. Frazee hired International League President Ed Barrow as Red Sox manager. Barrow had spent the previous 30 years in a variety of baseball jobs, though he never played the game professionally. With the major leagues shorthanded due to the war, Barrow had many holes in the Red Sox lineup to fill.

Ruth also noticed these vacancies in the lineup. He was dissatisfied in the role of a pitcher who appeared every four or five days and wanted to play every day at another position. Barrow used Ruth at first base and in the outfield during the exhibition season, but he restricted him to pitching as the team moved toward Boston and the season opener. At the time, Ruth was possibly the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, and allowing him to play another position was an experiment that could have backfired.

Inexperienced as a manager, Barrow had player Harry Hooper advise him on baseball game strategy. Hooper urged his manager to allow Ruth to play another position when he was not pitching, arguing to Barrow, who had invested in the club, that the crowds were larger on days when Ruth played, as they were attracted by his hitting. In early May, Barrow gave in; Ruth promptly hit home runs in four consecutive games (one an exhibition), the last off of Walter Johnson. For the first time in his career (disregarding pinch-hitting appearances), Ruth was assigned a place in the batting order higher than ninth.

Although Barrow predicted that Ruth would beg to return to pitching the first time he experienced a batting slump, that did not occur. Barrow used Ruth primarily as an outfielder in the war-shortened 1918 season. Ruth hit .300, with 11 home runs, enough to secure him a share of the major league home run title with Tilly Walker of the Philadelphia Athletics. He was still occasionally used as a pitcher, and had a 13–7 record with a 2.22 ERA.

In 1918, the Red Sox won their third pennant in four years and faced the Chicago Cubs in the World Series, which began on September 5, the earliest date in history. The season had been shortened because the government had ruled that baseball players who were eligible for the military would have to be inducted or work in critical war industries, such as armaments plants. Ruth pitched and won Game One for the Red Sox, a 1–0 shutout. Before Game Four, Ruth injured his left hand in a fight but pitched anyway. He gave up seven hits and six walks, but was helped by outstanding fielding behind him and by his own batting efforts, as a fourth-inning triple by Ruth gave his team a 2–0 lead. The Cubs tied the game in the eighth inning, but the Red Sox scored to take a 3–2 lead again in the bottom of that inning. After Ruth gave up a hit and a walk to start the ninth inning, he was relieved on the mound by Joe Bush. To keep Ruth and his bat in the game, he was sent to play left field. Bush retired the side to give Ruth his second win of the Series, and the third and last World Series pitching victory of his career, against no defeats, in three pitching appearances. Ruth's effort gave his team a three-games-to-one lead, and two days later the Red Sox won their third Series in four years, four-games-to-two. Before allowing the Cubs to score in Game Four, Ruth pitched 29+2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings, a record for the World Series that stood for more than 40 years until 1961, broken by Whitey Ford after Ruth's death. Ruth was prouder of that record than he was of any of his batting feats.
Ruth in 1919

With the World Series over, Ruth gained exemption from the war draft by accepting a nominal position with a Pennsylvania steel mill. Many industrial establishments took pride in their baseball teams and sought to hire major leaguers. The end of the war in November set Ruth free to play baseball without such contrivances.

During the 1919 season, Ruth was used as a pitcher in only 17 of his 130 games and compiled an 8–5 record. Barrow used him as a pitcher mostly in the early part of the season, when the Red Sox manager still had hopes of a second consecutive pennant. By late June, the Red Sox were clearly out of the race, and Barrow had no objection to Ruth concentrating on his hitting, if only because it drew people to the ballpark. Ruth had hit a home run against the Yankees on Opening Day, and another during a month-long batting slump that soon followed. Relieved of his pitching duties, Ruth began an unprecedented spell of slugging home runs, which gave him widespread public and press attention. Even his failures were seen as majestic—one sportswriter said, "When Ruth misses a swipe at the ball, the stands quiver."

Two home runs by Ruth on July 5, and one in each of two consecutive games a week later, raised his season total to 11, tying his career best from 1918. The first record to fall was the AL single-season mark of 16, set by Ralph "Socks" Seybold in 1902. Ruth matched that on July 29, then pulled ahead toward the major league record of 25, set by Buck Freeman in 1899. By the time Ruth reached this in early September, writers had discovered that Ned Williamson of the 1884 Chicago White Stockings had hit 27—though in a ballpark where the distance to right field was only 215 feet (66 m). On September 20, "Babe Ruth Day" at Fenway Park, Ruth won the game with a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, tying Williamson. He broke the record four days later against the Yankees at the Polo Grounds, and hit one more against the Senators to finish with 29. The home run at Washington made Ruth the first major league player to hit a home run at all eight ballparks in his league. In spite of Ruth's hitting heroics, the Red Sox finished sixth, 20+1⁄2 games behind the league champion White Sox. In his six seasons with Boston, he won 89 games and recorded a 2.19 ERA. He had a four-year stretch where he was second in the AL in wins and ERA behind Walter Johnson, and Ruth had a winning record against Johnson in head-to-head matchups.

Sale to New York

As an out-of-towner from New York City, Frazee had been regarded with suspicion by Boston's sportswriters and baseball fans when he bought the team. He won them over with success on the field and a willingness to build the Red Sox by purchasing or trading for players. He offered the Senators $60,000 for Walter Johnson, but Washington owner Clark Griffith was unwilling. Even so, Frazee was successful in bringing other players to Boston, especially as replacements for players in the military. This willingness to spend for players helped the Red Sox secure the 1918 title. The 1919 season saw record-breaking attendance, and Ruth's home runs for Boston made him a national sensation. In March 1919 Ruth was reported as having accepted a three-year contract for a total of $27,000, after protracted negotiations. Nevertheless, on December 26, 1919, Frazee sold Ruth's contract to the New York Yankees.
Ruth in his first year with the New York Yankees, 1920

Not all the circumstances concerning the sale are known, but brewer and former congressman Jacob Ruppert, the New York team's principal owner, reportedly asked Yankee manager Miller Huggins what the team needed to be successful. "Get Ruth from Boston", Huggins supposedly replied, noting that Frazee was perennially in need of money to finance his theatrical productions. In any event, there was precedent for the Ruth transaction: when Boston pitcher Carl Mays left the Red Sox in a 1919 dispute, Frazee had settled the matter by selling Mays to the Yankees, though over the opposition of AL President Johnson.

According to one of Ruth's biographers, Jim Reisler, "why Frazee needed cash in 1919—and large infusions of it quickly—is still, more than 80 years later, a bit of a mystery". The often-told story is that Frazee needed money to finance the musical No, No, Nanette, which was a Broadway hit and brought Frazee financial security. That play did not open until 1925, however, by which time Frazee had sold the Red Sox. Still, the story may be true in essence: No, No, Nanette was based on a Frazee-produced play, My Lady Friends, which opened in 1919.

There were other financial pressures on Frazee, despite his team's success. Ruth, fully aware of baseball's popularity and his role in it, wanted to renegotiate his contract, signed before the 1919 season for $10,000 per year through 1921. He demanded that his salary be doubled, or he would sit out the season and cash in on his popularity through other ventures. Ruth's salary demands were causing other players to ask for more money.Additionally, Frazee still owed Lannin as much as $125,000 from the purchase of the club.

Although Ruppert and his co-owner, Colonel Tillinghast Huston, were both wealthy, and had aggressively purchased and traded for players in 1918 and 1919 to build a winning team, Ruppert faced losses in his brewing interests as Prohibition was implemented, and if their team left the Polo Grounds, where the Yankees were the tenants of the New York Giants, building a stadium in New York would be expensive. Nevertheless, when Frazee, who moved in the same social circles as Huston, hinted to the colonel that Ruth was available for the right price, the Yankees owners quickly pursued the purchase.

Frazee sold the rights to Babe Ruth for $100,000, the largest sum ever paid for a baseball player. The deal also involved a $350,000 loan from Ruppert to Frazee, secured by a mortgage on Fenway Park. Once it was agreed, Frazee informed Barrow, who, stunned, told the owner that he was getting the worse end of the bargain. Cynics have suggested that Barrow may have played a larger role in the Ruth sale, as less than a year after, he became the Yankee general manager, and in the following years made a number of purchases of Red Sox players from Frazee. The $100,000 price included $25,000 in cash, and notes for the same amount due November 1 in 1920, 1921, and 1922; Ruppert and Huston assisted Frazee in selling the notes to banks for immediate cash.

The transaction was contingent on Ruth signing a new contract, which was quickly accomplished—Ruth agreed to fulfill the remaining two years on his contract, but was given a $20,000 bonus, payable over two seasons. The deal was announced on January 6, 1920. Reaction in Boston was mixed: some fans were embittered at the loss of Ruth; others conceded that Ruth had become difficult to deal with. The New York Times suggested that "The short right field wall at the Polo Grounds should prove an easy target for Ruth next season and, playing seventy-seven games at home, it would not be surprising if Ruth surpassed his home run record of twenty-nine circuit clouts next Summer." According to Reisler, "The Yankees had pulled off the sports steal of the century."

According to Marty Appel in his history of the Yankees, the transaction, "changed the fortunes of two high-profile franchises for decades". The Red Sox, winners of five of the first 16 World Series, those played between 1903 and 1919, would not win another pennant until 1946, or another World Series until 2004, a drought attributed in baseball superstition to Frazee's sale of Ruth and sometimes dubbed the "Curse of the Bambino". The Yankees, on the other hand, had not won the AL championship prior to their acquisition of Ruth. They won seven AL pennants and four World Series with Ruth, and led baseball with 40 pennants and 27 World Series titles in their history.

New York Yankees (1920–1934)
Initial success (1920–1923)

When Ruth signed with the Yankees, he completed his transition from a pitcher to a power-hitting outfielder. His fifteen-season Yankee career consisted of over 2,000 games, and Ruth broke many batting records while making only five widely scattered appearances on the mound, winning all of them.

At the end of April 1920, the Yankees were 4–7, with the Red Sox leading the league with a 10–2 mark. Ruth had done little, having injured himself swinging the bat. Both situations began to change on May 1, when Ruth hit a tape measure home run that sent the ball completely out of the Polo Grounds, a feat believed to have been previously accomplished only by Shoeless Joe Jackson. The Yankees won, 6–0, taking three out of four from the Red Sox. Ruth hit his second home run on May 2, and by the end of the month had set a major league record for home runs in a month with 11, and promptly broke it with 13 in June. Fans responded with record attendance figures. On May 16, Ruth and the Yankees drew 38,600 to the Polo Grounds, a record for the ballpark, and 15,000 fans were turned away. Large crowds jammed stadiums to see Ruth play when the Yankees were on the road.
"How Does He Do It?" In this Clifford Berryman cartoon, presidential candidates Warren G. Harding and James M. Cox wonder at Ruth's record home run pace.

The home runs kept on coming. Ruth tied his own record of 29 on July 15 and broke it with home runs in both games of a doubleheader four days later. By the end of July, he had 37, but his pace slackened somewhat after that. Nevertheless, on September 4, he both tied and broke the organized baseball record for home runs in a season, snapping Perry Werden's 1895 mark of 44 in the minor Western League.[The Yankees played well as a team, battling for the league lead early in the summer, but slumped in August in the AL pennant battle with Chicago and Cleveland. The pennant and the World Series were won by Cleveland, who surged ahead after the Black Sox Scandal broke on September 28 and led to the suspension of many of Chicago's top players, including Shoeless Joe Jackson. The Yankees finished third, but drew 1.2 million fans to the Polo Grounds, the first time a team had drawn a seven-figure attendance. The rest of the league sold 600,000 more tickets, many fans there to see Ruth, who led the league with 54 home runs, 158 runs, and 137 runs batted in (RBIs).

In 1920 and afterwards, Ruth was aided in his power hitting by the fact that A.J. Reach Company—the maker of baseballs used in the major leagues—was using a more efficient machine to wind the yarn found within the baseball. The new baseballs went into play in 1920 and ushered the start of the live-ball era; the number of home runs across the major leagues increased by 184 over the previous year. Baseball statistician Bill James pointed out that while Ruth was likely aided by the change in the baseball, there were other factors at work, including the gradual abolition of the spitball (accelerated after the death of Ray Chapman, struck by a pitched ball thrown by Mays in August 1920) and the more frequent use of new baseballs (also a response to Chapman's death). Nevertheless, James theorized that Ruth's 1920 explosion might have happened in 1919, had a full season of 154 games been played rather than 140, had Ruth refrained from pitching 133 innings that season, and if he were playing at any other home field but Fenway Park, where he hit only 9 of 29 home runs.
Ruth and Shoeless Joe Jackson looking at one of Babe's home run bats, 1920

Yankees business manager Harry Sparrow had died early in the 1920 season. Ruppert and Huston hired Barrow to replace him. The two men quickly made a deal with Frazee for New York to acquire some of the players who would be mainstays of the early Yankee pennant-winning teams, including catcher Wally Schang and pitcher Waite Hoyt. The 21-year-old Hoyt became close to Ruth:


The outrageous life fascinated Hoyt, the don't-give-a-shit freedom of it, the nonstop, pell-mell charge into excess. How did a man drink so much and never get drunk? ... The puzzle of Babe Ruth never was dull, no matter how many times Hoyt picked up the pieces and stared at them. After games he would follow the crowd to the Babe's suite. No matter what the town, the beer would be iced and the bottles would fill the bathtub.

In the offseason, Ruth spent some time in Havana, Cuba, where he was said to have lost $35,000 (equivalent to $507,826 in 2020) betting on horse races.

Ruth hit home runs early and often in the 1921 season, during which he broke Roger Connor's mark for home runs in a career, 138. Each of the almost 600 home runs Ruth hit in his career after that extended his own record. After a slow start, the Yankees were soon locked in a tight pennant race with Cleveland, winners of the 1920 World Series. On September 15, Ruth hit his 55th home run, shattering his year-old single season record. In late September, the Yankees visited Cleveland and won three out of four games, giving them the upper hand in the race, and clinched their first pennant a few days later. Ruth finished the regular season with 59 home runs, batting .378 and with a slugging percentage of .846. Ruth's 177 runs scored, 119 extra-base hits, and 457 total bases set modern-era records that still stand as of 2021.

The Yankees had high expectations when they met the New York Giants in the 1921 World Series, every game of which was played in the Polo Grounds. The Yankees won the first two games with Ruth in the lineup. However, Ruth badly scraped his elbow during Game 2 when he slid into third base (he had walked and stolen both second and third bases). After the game, he was told by the team physician not to play the rest of the series. Despite this advice, he did play in the next three games, and pinch-hit in Game Eight of the best-of-nine series, but the Yankees lost, five games to three. Ruth hit .316, drove in five runs and hit his first World Series home run.
Ruth in the stands on Opening Day, April 12, 1922, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.

After the Series, Ruth and teammates Bob Meusel and Bill Piercy participated in a barnstorming tour in the Northeast. A rule then in force prohibited World Series participants from playing in exhibition games during the offseason, the purpose being to prevent Series participants from replicating the Series and undermining its value. Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis suspended the trio until May 20, 1922, and fined them their 1921 World Series checks. In August 1922, the rule was changed to allow limited barnstorming for World Series participants, with Landis's permission required.

On March 6, 1922, Ruth signed a new contract for three years at $52,000 a year (equivalent to $803,984 in 2020). This was more than two times the largest sum ever paid to a ballplayer up to that point and it represented 40% of the team's player payroll.

Despite his suspension, Ruth was named the Yankees' new on-field captain prior to the 1922 season. During the suspension, he worked out with the team in the morning and played exhibition games with the Yankees on their off days. He and Meusel returned on May 20 to a sellout crowd at the Polo Grounds, but Ruth batted 0-for-4 and was booed. On May 25, he was thrown out of the game for throwing dust in umpire George Hildebrand's face, then climbed into the stands to confront a heckler. Ban Johnson ordered him fined, suspended, and stripped of position as team captain. In his shortened season, Ruth appeared in 110 games, batted .315, with 35 home runs, and drove in 99 runs, but the 1922 season was a disappointment in comparison to his two previous dominating years. Despite Ruth's off-year, the Yankees managed to win the pennant and faced the New York Giants in the World Series for the second consecutive year. In the Series, Giants manager John McGraw instructed his pitchers to throw him nothing but curveballs, and Ruth never adjusted. Ruth had just two hits in 17 at bats, and the Yankees lost to the Giants for the second straight year, by 4–0 (with one tie game). Sportswriter Joe Vila called him, "an exploded phenomenon".

After the season, Ruth was a guest at an Elks Club banquet, set up by Ruth's agent with Yankee team support. There, each speaker, concluding with future New York mayor Jimmy Walker, censured him for his poor behavior. An emotional Ruth promised reform, and, to the surprise of many, followed through. When he reported to spring training, he was in his best shape as a Yankee, weighing only 210 pounds (95 kg).

The Yankees' status as tenants of the Giants at the Polo Grounds had become increasingly uneasy, and in 1922, Giants owner Charles Stoneham said the Yankees' lease, expiring after that season, would not be renewed. Ruppert and Huston had long contemplated a new stadium, and had taken an option on property at 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx. Yankee Stadium was completed in time for the home opener on April 18, 1923, at which Ruth hit the first home run in what was quickly dubbed "the House that Ruth Built". The ballpark was designed with Ruth in mind: although the venue's left-field fence was further from home plate than at the Polo Grounds, Yankee Stadium's right-field fence was closer, making home runs easier to hit for left-handed batters. To spare Ruth's eyes, right field—his defensive position—was not pointed into the afternoon sun, as was traditional; left fielder Meusel was soon suffering headaches from squinting toward home plate.

During the 1923 season, The Yankees were never seriously challenged and won the AL pennant by 17 games. Ruth finished the season with a career-high .393 batting average and 41 home runs, which tied Cy Williams for the most in the major-leagues that year. Ruth hit a career-high 45 doubles in 1923, and he reached base 379 times, then a major league record. For the third straight year, the Yankees faced the Giants in the World Series, which Ruth dominated. He batted .368, walked eight times, scored eight runs, hit three home runs and slugged 1.000 during the series, as the Yankees christened their new stadium with their first World Series championship, four games to two.
Batting title and "bellyache" (1924–1925)
Ruth after losing consciousness from running into the wall at Griffith Stadium during a game against the Washington Senators on July 5, 1924. Ruth insisted on staying in the game, despite evident pain and a bruised pelvic bone, and hit a double in his next at-bat. Note the absence of a warning track along the outfield wall.

In 1924, the Yankees were favored to become the first team to win four consecutive pennants. Plagued by injuries, they found themselves in a battle with the Senators. Although the Yankees won 18 of 22 at one point in September, the Senators beat out the Yankees by two games. Ruth hit .378, winning his only AL batting title, with a league-leading 46 home runs.

Ruth did not look like an athlete; he was described as "toothpicks attached to a piano", with a big upper body but thin wrists and legs. Ruth had kept up his efforts to stay in shape in 1923 and 1924, but by early 1925 weighed nearly 260 pounds (120 kg). His annual visit to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he exercised and took saunas early in the year, did him no good as he spent much of the time carousing in the resort town. He became ill while there, and suffered relapses during spring training. Ruth collapsed in Asheville, North Carolina, as the team journeyed north. He was put on a train for New York, where he was briefly hospitalized. A rumor circulated that he had died, prompting British newspapers to print a premature obituary. In New York, Ruth collapsed again and was found unconscious in his hotel bathroom. He was taken to a hospital where he suffered multiple convulsions. After sportswriter W. O. McGeehan wrote that Ruth's illness was due to binging on hot dogs and soda pop before a game, it became known as "the bellyache heard 'round the world". However, the exact cause of his ailment has never been confirmed and remains a mystery. Glenn Stout, in his history of the Yankees, writes that the Ruth legend is "still one of the most sheltered in sports"; he suggests that alcohol was at the root of Ruth's illness, pointing to the fact that Ruth remained six weeks at St. Vincent's Hospital but was allowed to leave, under supervision, for workouts with the team for part of that time. He concludes that the hospitalization was behavior-related. Playing just 98 games, Ruth had his worst season as a Yankee; he finished with a .290 average and 25 home runs. The Yankees finished next to last in the AL with a 69–85 record, their last season with a losing record until 1965.

Murderers' Row (1926–1928)

Ruth spent part of the offseason of 1925–26 working out at Artie McGovern's gym, where he got back into shape. Barrow and Huggins had rebuilt the team and surrounded the veteran core with good young players like Tony Lazzeri and Lou Gehrig, but the Yankees were not expected to win the pennant.

Ruth returned to his normal production during 1926, when he batted .372 with 47 home runs and 146 RBIs. The Yankees built a 10-game lead by mid-June and coasted to win the pennant by three games. The St. Louis Cardinals had won the National League with the lowest winning percentage for a pennant winner to that point (.578) and the Yankees were expected to win the World Series easily. Although the Yankees won the opener in New York, St. Louis took Games Two and Three. In Game Four, Ruth hit three home runs—the first time this had been done in a World Series game—to lead the Yankees to victory. In the fifth game, Ruth caught a ball as he crashed into the fence. The play was described by baseball writers as a defensive gem. New York took that game, but Grover Cleveland Alexander won Game Six for St. Louis to tie the Series at three games each, then got very drunk. He was nevertheless inserted into Game Seven in the seventh inning and shut down the Yankees to win the game, 3–2, and win the Series. Ruth had hit his fourth home run of the Series earlier in the game and was the only Yankee to reach base off Alexander; he walked in the ninth inning before being thrown out to end the game when he attempted to steal second base. Although Ruth's attempt to steal second is often deemed a baserunning blunder, Creamer pointed out that the Yankees' chances of tying the game would have been greatly improved with a runner in scoring position.
Ruth took time off in 1927 to star with Anna Q. Nilsson in this First National silent production Babe Comes Home. This film is now lost.

The 1926 World Series was also known for Ruth's promise to Johnny Sylvester, a hospitalized 11-year-old boy. Ruth promised the child that he would hit a home run on his behalf. Sylvester had been injured in a fall from a horse, and a friend of Sylvester's father gave the boy two autographed baseballs signed by Yankees and Cardinals. The friend relayed a promise from Ruth (who did not know the boy) that he would hit a home run for him. After the Series, Ruth visited the boy in the hospital. When the matter became public, the press greatly inflated it, and by some accounts, Ruth allegedly saved the boy's life by visiting him, emotionally promising to hit a home run, and doing so. Ruth's 1926 salary of $52,000 was far more than any other baseball player, but he made at least twice as much in other income, including $100,000 from 12 weeks of vaudeville.​

The 1927 New York Yankees team is considered one of the greatest squads to ever take the field. Known as Murderers' Row because of the power of its lineup, the team clinched first place on Labor Day, won a then-AL-record 110 games and took the AL pennant by 19 games. There was no suspense in the pennant race, and the nation turned its attention to Ruth's pursuit of his own single-season home run record of 59 round trippers. Ruth was not alone in this chase. Teammate Lou Gehrig proved to be a slugger who was capable of challenging Ruth for his home run crown; he tied Ruth with 24 home runs late in June. Through July and August, the dynamic duo was never separated by more than two home runs. Gehrig took the lead, 45–44, in the first game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park early in September; Ruth responded with two blasts of his own to take the lead, as it proved permanently—Gehrig finished with 47. Even so, as of September 6, Ruth was still several games off his 1921 pace, and going into the final series against the Senators, had only 57. He hit two in the first game of the series, including one off of Paul Hopkins, facing his first major league batter, to tie the record. The following day, September 30, he broke it with his 60th homer, in the eighth inning off Tom Zachary to break a 2–2 tie. "Sixty! Let's see some son of a bitch try to top that one", Ruth exulted after the game. In addition to his career-high 60 home runs, Ruth batted .356, drove in 164 runs and slugged .772. In the 1927 World Series, the Yankees swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games; the National Leaguers were disheartened after watching the Yankees take batting practice before Game One, with ball after ball leaving Forbes Field. According to Appel, "The 1927 New York Yankees. Even today, the words inspire awe ... all baseball success is measured against the '27 team."
Lou Gehrig, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, and Ruth, 1928

The following season started off well for the Yankees, who led the league in the early going. But the Yankees were plagued by injuries, erratic pitching and inconsistent play. The Philadelphia Athletics, rebuilding after some lean years, erased the Yankees' big lead and even took over first place briefly in early September. The Yankees, however, regained first place when they beat the Athletics three out of four games in a pivotal series at Yankee Stadium later that month, and clinched the pennant in the final weekend of the season. Ruth's play in 1928 mirrored his team's performance. He got off to a hot start and on August 1, he had 42 home runs. This put him ahead of his 60 home run pace from the previous season. He then slumped for the latter part of the season, and he hit just twelve home runs in the last two months. Ruth's batting average also fell to .323, well below his career average. Nevertheless, he ended the season with 54 home runs. The Yankees swept the favored Cardinals in four games in the World Series, with Ruth batting .625 and hitting three home runs in Game Four, including one off Alexander.

"Called shot" and final Yankee years (1929–1934)

Further information: Babe Ruth's called shot
1933 Goudey Sport Kings baseball card

Before the 1929 season, Ruppert (who had bought out Huston in 1923) announced that the Yankees would wear uniform numbers to allow fans at cavernous Yankee Stadium to easily identify the players. The Cardinals and Indians had each experimented with uniform numbers; the Yankees were the first to use them on both home and away uniforms. Ruth batted third and was given number 3.According to a long-standing baseball legend, the Yankees adopted their now-iconic pinstriped uniforms in hopes of making Ruth look slimmer. In truth, though, they had been wearing pinstripes since 1915.

Although the Yankees started well, the Athletics soon proved they were the better team in 1929, splitting two series with the Yankees in the first month of the season, then taking advantage of a Yankee losing streak in mid-May to gain first place. Although Ruth performed well, the Yankees were not able to catch the Athletics—Connie Mack had built another great team Tragedy struck the Yankees late in the year as manager Huggins died at 51 of erysipelas, a bacterial skin infection, on September 25, only ten days after he had last directed the team. Despite their past differences, Ruth praised Huggins and described him as a "great guy". The Yankees finished second, 18 games behind the Athletics. Ruth hit .345 during the season, with 46 home runs and 154 RBIs.

On October 17, the Yankees hired Bob Shawkey as manager; he was their fourth choice. Ruth had politicked for the job of player-manager, but Ruppert and Barrow never seriously considered him for the position. Stout deemed this the first hint Ruth would have no future with the Yankees once he retired as a player. Shawkey, a former Yankees player and teammate of Ruth, would prove unable to command Ruth's respect.

On January 7, 1930, salary negotiations between the Yankees and Ruth quickly broke down. Having just concluded a three-year contract at an annual salary of $70,000, Ruth promptly rejected both the Yankees' initial proposal of $70,000 for one year and their 'final' offer of two years at seventy-five—the latter figure equalling the annual salary of then US President Herbert Hoover; instead, Ruth demanded at least $85,000 and three years When asked why he thought he was "worth more than the President of the United States," Ruth responded: "Say, if I hadn't been sick last summer, I'd have broken hell out of that home run record! Besides, the President gets a four-year contract. I'm only asking for three." Exactly two months later, a compromise was reached, with Ruth settling for two years at an unprecedented $80,000 per year. Ruth's salary was more than 2.4 times greater than the next-highest salary that season, a record margin as of 2019.

In 1930, Ruth hit .359 with 49 home runs (his best in his years after 1928) and 153 RBIs, and pitched his first game in nine years, a complete game victory. Nevertheless, the Athletics won their second consecutive pennant and World Series, as the Yankees finished in third place, sixteen games back. At the end of the season, Shawkey was fired and replaced with Cubs manager Joe McCarthy, though Ruth again unsuccessfully sought the job.

McCarthy was a disciplinarian, but chose not to interfere with Ruth, who did not seek conflict with the manager. The team improved in 1931, but was no match for the Athletics, who won 107 games, 13+1⁄2 games in front of the Yankees. Ruth, for his part, hit .373, with 46 home runs and 163 RBIs. He had 31 doubles, his most since 1924. In the 1932 season, the Yankees went 107–47 and won the pennant. Ruth's effectiveness had decreased somewhat, but he still hit .341 with 41 home runs and 137 RBIs. Nevertheless, he was sidelined twice due to injuries during the season.

The Yankees faced the Cubs, McCarthy's former team, in the 1932 World Series. There was bad blood between the two teams as the Yankees resented the Cubs only awarding half a World Series share to Mark Koenig, a former Yankee. The games at Yankee Stadium had not been sellouts; both were won by the home team, with Ruth collecting two singles, but scoring four runs as he was walked four times by the Cubs pitchers. In Chicago, Ruth was resentful at the hostile crowds that met the Yankees' train and jeered them at the hotel. The crowd for Game Three included New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic candidate for president, who sat with Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. Many in the crowd threw lemons at Ruth, a sign of derision, and others (as well as the Cubs themselves) shouted abuse at Ruth and other Yankees. They were briefly silenced when Ruth hit a three-run home run off Charlie Root in the first inning, but soon revived, and the Cubs tied the score at 4–4 in the fourth inning, partly due to Ruth's fielding error in the outfield. When Ruth came to the plate in the top of the fifth, the Chicago crowd and players, led by pitcher Guy Bush, were screaming insults at Ruth. With the count at two balls and one strike, Ruth gestured, possibly in the direction of center field, and after the next pitch (a strike), may have pointed there with one hand. Ruth hit the fifth pitch over the center field fence; estimates were that it traveled nearly 500 feet (150 m). Whether or not Ruth intended to indicate where he planned to (and did) hit the ball (Charlie Devens, who, in 1999, was interviewed as Ruth's surviving teammate in that game, did not think so), the incident has gone down in legend as Babe Ruth's called shot. The Yankees won Game Three, and the following day clinched the Series with another victory. During that game, Bush hit Ruth on the arm with a pitch, causing words to be exchanged and provoking a game-winning Yankee rally.

Ruth remained productive in 1933. He batted .301, with 34 home runs, 103 RBIs, and a league-leading 114 walks, as the Yankees finished in second place, seven games behind the Senators. Athletics manager Connie Mack selected him to play right field in the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held on July 6, 1933, at Comiskey Park in Chicago. He hit the first home run in the All-Star Game's history, a two-run blast against Bill Hallahan during the third inning, which helped the AL win the game 4–2. During the final game of the 1933 season, as a publicity stunt organized by his team, Ruth was called upon and pitched a complete game victory against the Red Sox, his final appearance as a pitcher. Despite unremarkable pitching numbers, Ruth had a 5–0 record in five games for the Yankees, raising his career totals to 94–46.

In 1934, Ruth played in his last full season with the Yankees. By this time, years of high living were starting to catch up with him. His conditioning had deteriorated to the point that he could no longer field or run. He accepted a pay cut to $35,000 from Ruppert, but he was still the highest-paid player in the major leagues. He could still handle a bat, recording a .288 batting average with 22 home runs. However, Reisler described these statistics as "merely mortal" by Ruth's previous standards. Ruth was selected to the AL All-Star team for the second consecutive year, even though he was in the twilight of his career. During the game, New York Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell struck out Ruth and four other future Hall-of-Famers consecutively. The Yankees finished second again, seven games behind the Tigers.
Boston Braves (1935)

By this time, Ruth knew he was nearly finished as a player. He desired to remain in baseball as a manager. He was often spoken of as a possible candidate as managerial jobs opened up, but in 1932, when he was mentioned as a contender for the Red Sox position, Ruth stated that he was not yet ready to leave the field. There were rumors that Ruth was a likely candidate each time when the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers were looking for a manager, but nothing came of them.

Just before the 1934 season, Ruppert offered to make Ruth the manager of the Yankees' top minor-league team, the Newark Bears, but he was talked out of it by his wife, Claire, and his business manager, Christy Walsh. Tigers owner Frank Navin seriously considered acquiring Ruth and making him player-manager. However, Ruth insisted on delaying the meeting until he came back from a trip to Hawaii. Navin was unwilling to wait. Ruth opted to go on his trip, despite Barrow advising him that he was making a mistake; in any event, Ruth's asking price was too high for the notoriously tight-fisted Navin. The Tigers' job ultimately went to Mickey Cochrane.

Early in the 1934 season, Ruth openly campaigned to become the Yankees manager. However, the Yankee job was never a serious possibility. Ruppert always supported McCarthy, who would remain in his position for another 12 seasons. The relationship between Ruth and McCarthy had been lukewarm at best, and Ruth's managerial ambitions further chilled their interpersonal relations. By the end of the season, Ruth hinted that he would retire unless Ruppert named him manager of the Yankees. When the time came, Ruppert wanted Ruth to leave the team without drama or hard feelings.

During the 1934–35 offseason, Ruth circled the world with his wife; the trip included a barnstorming tour of the Far East. At his final stop in the United Kingdom before returning home, Ruth was introduced to cricket by Australian player Alan Fairfax, and after having little luck in a cricketer's stance, he stood as a baseball batter and launched some massive shots around the field, destroying the bat in the process. Although Fairfax regretted that he could not have the time to make Ruth a cricket player, Ruth had lost any interest in such a career upon learning that the best batsmen made only about $40 per week.

Also during the offseason, Ruppert had been sounding out the other clubs in hopes of finding one that would be willing to take Ruth as a manager and/or a player. However, the only serious offer came from Athletics owner-manager Connie Mack, who gave some thought to stepping down as manager in favor of Ruth. However, Mack later dropped the idea, saying that Ruth's wife would be running the team in a month if Ruth ever took over.

While the barnstorming tour was underway, Ruppert began negotiating with Boston Braves owner Judge Emil Fuchs, who wanted Ruth as a gate attraction. The Braves had enjoyed modest recent success, finishing fourth in the National League in both 1933 and 1934, but the team drew poorly at the box office. Unable to afford the rent at Braves Field, Fuchs had considered holding dog races there when the Braves were not at home, only to be turned down by Landis. After a series of phone calls, letters, and meetings, the Yankees traded Ruth to the Braves on February 26, 1935. Ruppert had stated that he would not release Ruth to go to another team as a full-time player. For this reason, it was announced that Ruth would become a team vice president and would be consulted on all club transactions, in addition to playing. He was also made assistant manager to Braves skipper Bill McKechnie. In a long letter to Ruth a few days before the press conference, Fuchs promised Ruth a share in the Braves' profits, with the possibility of becoming co-owner of the team. Fuchs also raised the possibility of Ruth succeeding McKechnie as manager, perhaps as early as 1936. Ruppert called the deal "the greatest opportunity Ruth ever had".

There was considerable attention as Ruth reported for spring training. He did not hit his first home run of the spring until after the team had left Florida, and was beginning the road north in Savannah. He hit two in an exhibition game against the Bears. Amid much press attention, Ruth played his first home game in Boston in over 16 years. Before an opening-day crowd of over 25,000, including five of New England's six state governors, Ruth accounted for all the Braves' runs in a 4–2 defeat of the New York Giants, hitting a two-run home run, singling to drive in a third run and later in the inning scoring the fourth. Although age and weight had slowed him, he made a running catch in left field that sportswriters deemed the defensive highlight of the game.

Ruth had two hits in the second game of the season, but it quickly went downhill both for him and the Braves from there. The season soon settled down to a routine of Ruth performing poorly on the few occasions he even played at all. As April passed into May, Ruth's physical deterioration became even more pronounced. While he remained productive at the plate early on, he could do little else. His conditioning had become so poor that he could barely trot around the bases. He made so many errors that three Braves pitchers told McKechnie they would not take the mound if he was in the lineup. Before long, Ruth stopped hitting as well. He grew increasingly annoyed that McKechnie ignored most of his advice. McKechnie later said that Ruth's presence made enforcing discipline nearly impossible.

Ruth soon realized that Fuchs had deceived him, and had no intention of making him manager or giving him any significant off-field duties. He later said his only duties as vice president consisted of making public appearances and autographing tickets. Ruth also found out that far from giving him a share of the profits, Fuchs wanted him to invest some of his money in the team in a last-ditch effort to improve its balance sheet. As it turned out, Fuchs and Ruppert had both known all along that Ruth's non-playing positions were meaningless.

By the end of the first month of the season, Ruth concluded he was finished even as a part-time player. As early as May 12, he asked Fuchs to let him retire. Ultimately, Fuchs persuaded Ruth to remain at least until after the Memorial Day doubleheader in Philadelphia. In the interim was a western road trip, at which the rival teams had scheduled days to honor him. In Chicago and St. Louis, Ruth performed poorly, and his batting average sank to .155, with only two additional home runs for a total of three on the season so far. In the first two games in Pittsburgh, Ruth had only one hit, though a long fly caught by Paul Waner probably would have been a home run in any other ballpark besides Forbes Field.

Ruth played in the third game of the Pittsburgh series on May 25, 1935, and added one more tale to his playing legend. Ruth went 4-for-4, including three home runs, though the Braves lost the game 11–7. The last two were off Ruth's old Cubs nemesis, Guy Bush. The final home run, both of the game and of Ruth's career, sailed out of the park over the right field upper deck–the first time anyone had hit a fair ball completely out of Forbes Field. Ruth was urged to make this his last game, but he had given his word to Fuchs and played in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. The first game of the doubleheader in Philadelphia—the Braves lost both—was his final major league appearance. Ruth retired on June 2 after an argument with Fuchs. He finished 1935 with a .181 average—easily his worst as a full-time position player—and the final six of his 714 home runs. The Braves, 10–27 when Ruth left, finished 38–115, at .248 the worst winning percentage in modern National League history. Insolvent like his team, Fuchs gave up control of the Braves before the end of the season; the National League took over the franchise at the end of the year.

Of the 5 members in the inaugural class of Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 (Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson and Ruth himself), only Ruth was not given an offer to manage a baseball team.
Retirement
Gary Cooper and Ruth in the 1942 film The Pride of the Yankees

Although Fuchs had given Ruth his unconditional release, no major league team expressed an interest in hiring him in any capacity. Ruth still hoped to be hired as a manager if he could not play anymore, but only one managerial position, Cleveland, became available between Ruth's retirement and the end of the 1937 season. Asked if he had considered Ruth for the job, Indians owner Alva Bradley replied negatively. Team owners and general managers assessed Ruth's flamboyant personal habits as a reason to exclude him from a managerial job; Barrow said of him, "How can he manage other men when he can't even manage himself?" Creamer believed Ruth was unfairly treated in never being given an opportunity to manage a major league club. The author believed there was not necessarily a relationship between personal conduct and managerial success, noting that McGraw, Billy Martin, and Bobby Valentine were winners despite character flaws.

Ruth played much golf and in a few exhibition baseball games, where he demonstrated a continuing ability to draw large crowds. This appeal contributed to the Dodgers hiring him as first base coach in 1938. When Ruth was hired, Brooklyn general manager Larry MacPhail made it clear that Ruth would not be considered for the manager's job if, as expected, Burleigh Grimes retired at the end of the season. Although much was said about what Ruth could teach the younger players, in practice, his duties were to appear on the field in uniform and encourage base runners—he was not called upon to relay signs. In August, shortly before the baseball rosters expanded, Ruth sought an opportunity to return as an active player in a pinch hitting role. Ruth often took batting practice before games and felt that he could take on the limited role. Grimes denied his request, citing Ruth’s poor vision in his right eye, his inability to run the bases, and the risk of an injury to Ruth.

Ruth got along well with everyone except team captain Leo Durocher, who was hired as Grimes' replacement at season's end. Ruth then left his job as a first base coach and would never again work in any capacity in the game of baseball.

On July 4, 1939, Ruth spoke on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium as members of the 1927 Yankees and a sellout crowd turned out to honor the first baseman, who was forced into premature retirement by ALS, which would kill him two years later. The next week, Ruth went to Cooperstown, New York, for the formal opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Three years earlier, he was one of the first five players elected to the hall. As radio broadcasts of baseball games became popular, Ruth sought a job in that field, arguing that his celebrity and knowledge of baseball would assure large audiences, but he received no offers. During World War II, he made many personal appearances to advance the war effort, including his last appearance as a player at Yankee Stadium, in a 1943 exhibition for the Army-Navy Relief Fund. He hit a long fly ball off Walter Johnson; the blast left the field, curving foul, but Ruth circled the bases anyway. In 1946, he made a final effort to gain a job in baseball when he contacted new Yankees boss MacPhail, but he was sent a rejection letter. In 1999, Ruth's granddaughter, Linda Tosetti, and his stepdaughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, said that Babe's inability to land a managerial role with the Yankees caused him to feel hurt and slump into a severe depression.

Personal life
Ruth and his first wife, Helen Woodford, 1915

Ruth met Helen Woodford (1897–1929), by some accounts, in a coffee shop in Boston where she was a waitress, and they were married as teenagers on October 17, 1914. Although Ruth later claimed to have been married in Elkton, Maryland, records show that they were married at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Ellicott City. They adopted a daughter, Dorothy (1921–1989), in 1921. Ruth and Helen separated around 1925, reportedly due to his repeated infidelities and neglect. They appeared in public as a couple for the last time during the 1926 World Series. Helen died in January 1929 at age 31 in a house fire in Watertown, Massachusetts, in a house owned by Edward Kinder, a dentist with whom she had been living as "Mrs. Kinder". In her book, My Dad, the Babe, Dorothy claimed that she was Ruth's biological child by a mistress named Juanita Jennings. Juanita admitted to this fact to Dorothy and Julia Ruth Stevens, Dorothy's stepsister, in 1980, who was at the time already very ill.

On April 17, 1929 (three months after the death of his first wife) Ruth married actress and model Claire Merritt Hodgson (1897–1976) and adopted her daughter Julia (1916–2019). It was the second and final marriage for both parties. Claire, much unlike Helen, was well-travelled and educated, and went on to put structure into Ruth's life, like Miller Huggins did with him on the field.

By one account, Julia and Dorothy were, through no fault of their own, the reason for the seven-year rift in Ruth's relationship with teammate Lou Gehrig. Sometime in 1932, during a conversation that she assumed was private, Gehrig's mother remarked, "It's a shame [Claire] doesn't dress Dorothy as nicely as she dresses her own daughter." When the comment inevitably got back to Ruth, he angrily told Gehrig to tell his mother to mind her own business. Gehrig, in turn, took offense at what he perceived as Ruth's comment about his mother. The two men reportedly never spoke off the field until they reconciled at Yankee Stadium on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day, July 4, 1939, which was shortly after Gehrig's retirement from baseball.

Although Ruth was married throughout most of his baseball career, when team co-owner Tillinghast 'Cap' Huston asked him to tone down his lifestyle, the player said, "I'll promise to go easier on drinking and to get to bed earlier, but not for you, fifty thousand dollars, or two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars will I give up women. They're too much fun".A detective that the Yankees hired to follow him one night in Chicago reported that Ruth had been with six women. Ping Bodie said that he was not Ruth's roommate while traveling; "I room with his suitcase". Before the start of the 1922 season, Ruth had signed a three-year contract at $52,000 per year with an option to renew for two additional years. His performance during the 1922 season had been disappointing, attributed in part to his drinking and late-night hours. After the end of the 1922 season, he was asked to sign a contract addendum with a morals clause. Ruth and Ruppert signed it on November 11, 1922. It called for Ruth to abstain entirely from the use of intoxicating liquors, and to not stay up later than 1:00 a.m. during the training and playing season without permission of the manager. Ruth was also enjoined from any action or misbehavior that would compromise his ability to play baseball.

Cancer and death (1946–1948)
Babe Ruth's number 3 was retired by the New York Yankees in 1948.

As early as the war years, doctors had cautioned Ruth to take better care of his health, and he grudgingly followed their advice, limiting his drinking and not going on a proposed trip to support the troops in the South Pacific. In 1946, Ruth began experiencing severe pain over his left eye and had difficulty swallowing. In November 1946, Ruth entered French Hospital in New York for tests, which revealed that he had an inoperable malignant tumor at the base of his skull and in his neck. The malady was a lesion known as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, or "lymphoepithelioma." His name and fame gave him access to experimental treatments, and he was one of the first cancer patients to receive both drugs and radiation treatment simultaneously. Having lost 80 pounds (36 kg), he was discharged from the hospital in February and went to Florida to recuperate. He returned to New York and Yankee Stadium after the season started. The new commissioner, Happy Chandler (Judge Landis had died in 1944), proclaimed April 27, 1947, Babe Ruth Day around the major leagues, with the most significant observance to be at Yankee Stadium. A number of teammates and others spoke in honor of Ruth, who briefly addressed the crowd of almost 60,000. By then, his voice was a soft whisper with a very low, raspy tone.

Around this time, developments in chemotherapy offered some hope for Ruth. The doctors had not told Ruth he had cancer because of his family's fear that he might do himself harm. They treated him with pterolyl triglutamate (Teropterin), a folic acid derivative; he may have been the first human subject. Ruth showed dramatic improvement during the summer of 1947, so much so that his case was presented by his doctors at a scientific meeting, without using his name. He was able to travel around the country, doing promotional work for the Ford Motor Company on American Legion Baseball. He appeared again at another day in his honor at Yankee Stadium in September, but was not well enough to pitch in an old-timers game as he had hoped

The improvement was only a temporary remission, and by late 1947, Ruth was unable to help with the writing of his autobiography, The Babe Ruth Story, which was almost entirely ghostwritten. In and out of the hospital in Manhattan, he left for Florida in February 1948, doing what activities he could. After six weeks he returned to New York to appear at a book-signing party. He also traveled to California to witness the filming of the movie based on the book.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of Ruth by Nat Fein

On June 5, 1948, a "gaunt and hollowed out" Ruth visited Yale University to donate a manuscript of The Babe Ruth Story to its library. At Yale, he met with future president George H. W. Bush, who was the captain of the Yale baseball team. On June 13, Ruth visited Yankee Stadium for the final time in his life, appearing at the 25th-anniversary celebrations of "The House that Ruth Built". By this time he had lost much weight and had difficulty walking. Introduced along with his surviving teammates from 1923, Ruth used a bat as a cane. Nat Fein's photo of Ruth taken from behind, standing near home plate and facing "Ruthville" (right field) became one of baseball's most famous and widely circulated photographs, and won the Pulitzer Prize.

Ruth made one final trip on behalf of American Legion Baseball, then entered Memorial Hospital, where he would die. He was never told he had cancer, but before his death, had surmised it. He was able to leave the hospital for a few short trips, including a final visit to Baltimore. On July 26, 1948, Ruth left the hospital to attend the premiere of the film The Babe Ruth Story. Shortly thereafter, Ruth returned to the hospital for the final time. He was barely able to speak. Ruth's condition gradually grew worse; only a few visitors were allowed to see him, one of whom was National League president and future Commissioner of Baseball Ford Frick. "Ruth was so thin it was unbelievable. He had been such a big man and his arms were just skinny little bones, and his face was so haggard", Frick said years later.

Thousands of New Yorkers, including many children, stood vigil outside the hospital during Ruth's final days. On August 16, 1948, at 8:01 p.m., Ruth died in his sleep at the age of 53. His open casket was placed on display in the rotunda of Yankee Stadium, where it remained for two days; 77,000 people filed past to pay him tribute. His funeral Mass took place at St. Patrick's Cathedral; a crowd estimated at 75,000 waited outside. Ruth rests with his second wife, Claire, on a hillside in Section 25 at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

Memorial and museum
Tribute to Babe Ruth, Monument Park, as seen at the original Yankee Stadium

On April 19, 1949, the Yankees unveiled a granite monument in Ruth's honor in center field of Yankee Stadium. The monument was located in the field of play next to a flagpole and similar tributes to Huggins and Gehrig until the stadium was remodeled from 1974 to 1975, which resulted in the outfield fences moving inward and enclosing the monuments from the playing field. This area was known thereafter as Monument Park. Yankee Stadium, "the House that Ruth Built", was replaced after the 2008 season with a new Yankee Stadium across the street from the old one; Monument Park was subsequently moved to the new venue behind the center field fence. Ruth's uniform number 3 has been retired by the Yankees, and he is one of five Yankees players or managers to have a granite monument within the stadium.

The Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum is located at 216 Emory Street, a Baltimore row house where Ruth was born, and three blocks west of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where the AL's Baltimore Orioles play. The property was restored and opened to the public in 1973 by the non-profit Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation, Inc. Ruth's widow, Claire, his two daughters, Dorothy and Julia, and his sister, Mamie, helped select and install exhibits for the museum.
Contemporary impact

Ruth was the first baseball star to be the subject of overwhelming public adulation. Baseball had been known for star players such as Ty Cobb and "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, but both men had uneasy relations with fans. In Cobb's case, the incidents were sometimes marked by violence. Ruth's biographers agreed that he benefited from the timing of his ascension to "Home Run King". The country had been hit hard by both the war and the 1918 flu pandemic and longed for something to help put these traumas behind it. Ruth also resonated in a country which felt, in the aftermath of the war, that it took second place to no one. Montville argued that Ruth was a larger-than-life figure who was capable of unprecedented athletic feats in the nation's largest city. Ruth became an icon of the social changes that marked the early 1920s. In his history of the Yankees, Glenn Stout writes that "Ruth was New York incarnate—uncouth and raw, flamboyant and flashy, oversized, out of scale, and absolutely unstoppable".

During his lifetime, Ruth became a symbol of the United States. During World War II Japanese soldiers yelled in English, "To hell with Babe Ruth", to anger American soldiers. Ruth replied that he hoped "every Jap that mention[ed] my name gets shot". Creamer recorded that "Babe Ruth transcended sport and moved far beyond the artificial limits of baselines and outfield fences and sports pages" Wagenheim stated, "He appealed to a deeply rooted American yearning for the definitive climax: clean, quick, unarguable." According to Glenn Stout, "Ruth's home runs were exalted, uplifting experience that meant more to fans than any runs they were responsible for. A Babe Ruth home run was an event unto itself, one that meant anything was possible."

Although Ruth was not just a power hitter—he was the Yankees' best bunter, and an excellent outfielder—Ruth's penchant for hitting home runs altered how baseball is played. Prior to 1920, home runs were unusual, and managers tried to win games by getting a runner on base and bringing him around to score through such means as the stolen base, the bunt, and the hit and run. Advocates of what was dubbed "inside baseball", such as Giants manager McGraw, disliked the home run, considering it a blot on the purity of the game According to sportswriter W. A. Phelon, after the 1920 season, Ruth's breakout performance that season and the response in excitement and attendance, "settled, for all time to come, that the American public is nuttier over the Home Run than the Clever Fielding or the Hitless Pitching. Viva el Home Run and two times viva Babe Ruth, exponent of the home run, and overshadowing star." Bill James states, "When the owners discovered that the fans liked to see home runs, and when the foundations of the games were simultaneously imperiled by disgrace [in the Black Sox Scandal], then there was no turning back." While a few, such as McGraw and Cobb, decried the passing of the old-style play, teams quickly began to seek and develop sluggers.

According to contemporary sportswriter Grantland Rice, only two sports figures of the 1920s approached Ruth in popularity—boxer Jack Dempsey and racehorse Man o' War. One of the factors that contributed to Ruth's broad appeal was the uncertainty about his family and early life. Ruth appeared to exemplify the American success story, that even an uneducated, unsophisticated youth, without any family wealth or connections, can do something better than anyone else in the world. Montville writes that "the fog [surrounding his childhood] will make him forever accessible, universal. He will be the patron saint of American possibility." Similarly, the fact that Ruth played in the pre-television era, when a relatively small portion of his fans had the opportunity to see him play allowed his legend to grow through word of mouth and the hyperbole of sports reporters. Reisler states that recent sluggers who surpassed Ruth's 60-home run mark, such as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds, generated much less excitement than when Ruth repeatedly broke the single-season home run record in the 1920s. Ruth dominated a relatively small sports world, while Americans of the present era have many sports available to watch.

Legacy
The unveiling of a Babe Ruth memorial plaque in Baltimore's old Memorial Stadium in 1955 with Claire Ruth, his widow, present.

Creamer describes Ruth as "a unique figure in the social history of the United States" Thomas Barthel describes him as one of the first celebrity athletes; numerous biographies have portrayed him as "larger than life". He entered the language: a dominant figure in a field, whether within or outside sports, is often referred to as "the Babe Ruth" of that field Similarly, "Ruthian" has come to mean in sports, "colossal, dramatic, prodigious, magnificent; with great power". He was the first athlete to make more money from endorsements and other off-the-field activities than from his sport.​

In 2006, Montville stated that more books have been written about Ruth than any other member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. At least five of these books (including Creamer's and Wagenheim's) were written in 1973 and 1974. The books were timed to capitalize on the increase in public interest in Ruth as Hank Aaron approached his career home run mark, which he broke on April 8, 1974. As he approached Ruth's record, Aaron stated, "I can't remember a day this year or last when I did not hear the name of Babe Ruth."

Montville suggested that Ruth is probably even more popular today than he was when his career home run record was broken by Aaron. The long ball era that Ruth started continues in baseball, to the delight of the fans. Owners build ballparks to encourage home runs, which are featured on SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight each evening during the season. The questions of performance-enhancing drug use, which dogged later home run hitters such as McGwire and Bonds, do nothing to diminish Ruth's reputation; his overindulgences with beer and hot dogs seem part of a simpler time.

In various surveys and rankings, Ruth has been named the greatest baseball player of all time. In 1998, The Sporting News ranked him number one on the list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players". In 1999, baseball fans named Ruth to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. He was named baseball's Greatest Player Ever in a ballot commemorating the 100th anniversary of professional baseball in 1969. The Associated Press reported in 1993 that Muhammad Ali was tied with Babe Ruth as the most recognized athlete in America. In a 1999 ESPN poll, he was ranked as the second-greatest U.S. athlete of the century, behind Michael Jordan In 1983, the United States Postal Service honored Ruth with the issuance of a twenty-cent stamp.

Several of the most expensive items of sports memorabilia and baseball memorabilia ever sold at auction are associated with Ruth. As of November 2016, the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia ever sold is Ruth's 1920 Yankees jersey, which sold for $4,415,658 in 2012 (equivalent to $4.98 million in 2020). The bat with which he hit the first home run at Yankee Stadium is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive baseball bat sold at auction, having fetched $1.265 million on December 2, 2004 (equivalent to $1.7332 million in 2020). A hat of Ruth's from the 1934 season set a record for a baseball cap when David Wells sold it at auction for $537,278 in 2012. In 2017, Charlie Sheen sold Ruth's 1927 World Series ring for $2,093,927 at auction. It easily broke the record for a championship ring previously set when Julius Erving's 1974 ABA championship ring sold for $460,741 in 2011.
Ruth memorabilia at the Baseball Hall of Fame (2014)

One long-term survivor of the craze over Ruth may be the Baby Ruth candy bar. The original company to market the confectionery, the Curtis Candy Company, maintained that the bar was named after Ruth Cleveland, daughter of former president Grover Cleveland. She died in 1904 and the bar was first marketed in 1921, at the height of the craze over Ruth. He later sought to market candy bearing his name; he was refused a trademark because of the Baby Ruth bar. Corporate files from 1921 are no longer extant; the brand has changed hands several times and is now owned by Ferrero. The Ruth estate licensed his likeness for use in an advertising campaign for Baby Ruth in 1995. Due to a marketing arrangement, in 2005, the Baby Ruth bar became the official candy bar of Major League Baseball.

In 2018, President Donald Trump announced that Ruth, along with Elvis Presley and Antonin Scalia, would posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Montville describes the continuing relevance of Babe Ruth in American culture, more than three-quarters of a century after he last swung a bat in a major league game:


The fascination with his life and career continues. He is a bombastic, sloppy hero from our bombastic, sloppy history, origins undetermined, a folk tale of American success. His moon face is as recognizable today as it was when he stared out at Tom Zachary on a certain September afternoon in 1927. If sport has become the national religion, Babe Ruth is the patron saint. He stands at the heart of the game he played, the promise of a warm summer night, a bag of peanuts, and a beer. And just maybe, the longest ball hit out of the park
Bharat Chettri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bharat Chettri
Personal information
Born 15 December 1981
Playing position Goalkeeper
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Services
2013–present Punjab Warriors 14 (0)
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–present India

Representing  India

Bharat Kumar Chettri (born 15 December 1981 in Kalimpong, West Bengal) is an Indian field hockey player. He is the goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team.

Career

Chettri's professional career in field hockey began after he joined the Sports Authority of India's Centre of Excellence in Bangalore in 1998. He made his debut in international hockey in 2001 playing in the Prime Minister's Gold Cup tournament in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was first appointed the captain of the Indian national team in October 2011 for the four-nation Super Series and an international tournament in Australia. He was the captain of the 18-member Indian squad at the 2012 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia, which won the bronze medal. Chettri led the 16-member Indian hockey squad in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Following poor performances at the Olympics, Chettri, Sandeep Singh and Shivendra Singh were dropped from the squad.

Hockey India League

In the auction of the first edition of the Hockey India League, Chettri was bought by Punjab Warriors for $19,000 with his base price being $18,500. He went unsold in the first round and was bought in the second round of auction.
Baboo Nimal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baboo Nimal

Born 15 March 1908
Khadki, British India
Died 21 February 1998 (aged 89)
Playing position Fullback
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
India

Men’s Field Hockey
Representing  India
Olympic Games
 1936 Berlin Team competition


Baboo Nimal with the Indian team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Baburao Narasappa "Baboo" Nimal (15 March 1908 – 21 February 1998) was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the Indian team which won the gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games. He played three (including the final) matches as a fullback.
Biswajit Saha 
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biswajit SahaPersonal information
Full name Biswajit Saha
Date of birth 15 December 1987 
Place of birth Kolkata, India
Position(s) Left Back
Club information

Current team Atletico de Kolkata
Youth career
2006–2007 Milan Samity
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Mohun Bagan
2011–2012 Salgaocar
2012–2013 Mohun Bagan 20 (0)
2013–2014 → Eagles F.C. (loan)
2014– Atletico de Kolkata 11 (0)
2014– Sporting Clube de Goa 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:16, 23 May 2015 (UTC)

Biswajit Saha (born 15 December 1987) is an Indian footballer who plays as a left back.

Career

After becoming Champions, he joined Milan Samity in 2006 and played in Calcutta Football League 1st Division B group. Then he joined George Telegraph S.C. where he played for a couple of seasons. While in George, he was settled down nicely in the left back position by coach Raghu Nandy. In 2007, George Telegraph defeated East Bengal 3-1. Saha played a vital role in that match. The next year, they defeated both East Bengal and Mohammedan S.C. in Calcutta Football League to finish in 3rd position. He also represented West Bengal in Santosh Trophy. Where they finished runners up, losing to Goa in tie-breaker.

Mohun Bagan

He joined Mohun Bagan in 2009. Since he had a very good season in George Telegraph, he got an offer from Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Chirag United, but he chose to join Mohun Bagan, because all his family members were supporters of the club.

He first played for Mohun Bagan in the semi final of the 2009 IFA Shield against Chirag United. They were down to 10 men within the first 10 minutes and eventually won the match in the tie breaker. He came as a replacement for Nallappan Mohanraj in the extra time.

Salgaocar

He got a good offer from Salgaocar F.C.. Also Karim Bencherifa being the coach of Salgaocar prompted him to leave Kolkata. 2011 was definitely the best year of his career so far. Salgaocar won the Federation Cup after 14 years. He was the only Bengali player in that team. The last time when Salgaocar won the Federation Cup, Shabbir Ali was the only Bengali player in their team. Incidentally, in the year 1987, Salgaocar defeated East Bengal 2-1 to lift the title whereas in 2011 they defeated the same team 3-1 to win the 2011 Indian Federation Cup.

Mohun Bagan

In 2012, he re-joined Mohun Bagan. He played 20 Matches for Mohun Bagan in the 2012-13 I-League.

Eagles

On 5 December 2013 it was announced that Biswajit has signed up with Eagles F.C. of Kerala on loan for 2013-14 season along with Nadong Bhutia, Bijendra Rai, Avinabo Bag, Jagroop Singh, Bisheshwor Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Govin Singh. Moreover, IMG-Reliance, the organisers of the proposed IPL-style football tournament Indian Super League, and Eagles F.C. will facilitate a two to six week training stint for the eight players with UK based Reading F.C. Academy.

Barkha Sonkar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barkha SonkarPersonal information
Native name बरखा सोनकर
Nickname(s) BK
Nationality Indian
Citizenship India
Born 24 December 1996
Education Graduate
Alma mater High school: IMG Academy,
Occupation Sports
Years active 2016 - present
Height 164.592 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight 61 kg (134 lb)
Sport
Country India
Sport Basketball
Position 1

Barkha Sonkar (24 December 1996) is an International basketball player. She is a member of India women's national basketball team and represented India in "2017 FIBA Women's Asia Cup Division B".

Early life and education

She was selected for the IMG Reliance scholarship programmes in the US for schooling and training. Studied high school at IMG Academy Bradenton, Florida, and graduated from IMG Academy in 2016, after that went to Hillsborough Community College, played for hawks (National Collegiate Athletic Association) for 2 years.

Currently playing for Lindsey Wilson College, Kentucky
Championship

During the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, Barkha played well and India defeated Kazakhstan by 75-73. Barkha has been top 3rd player in the match.
Bombayla Devi Laishram 
Carey Price
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carey Price
Price in 2015
Born August 16, 1987 


Carey Price (born August 16, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is considered to be one of the best goaltenders in the world by many colleagues, fans, The Hockey News, and EA Sports; and one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of the Montreal Canadiens by several media outlets.

Beginning his junior career with the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League in 2002, Price was drafted fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft following his second season with the Tri-City Americans. Following a further two seasons with the Americans, where he won both the Del Wilson Trophy as the top goaltender in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and CHL Goaltender of the Year in his final season of major junior in 2007. Joining the Canadiens' farm team, the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) just as the Calder Cup playoffs begun, Price led the Bulldogs to the Calder Cup championship, winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the tournament MVP. Price made the Canadiens roster for the 2007–08 season as the backup goaltender before ultimately becoming the starting goaltender later that season. In 2015, he won the Ted Lindsay, Jennings, Vezina, and Hart trophies, becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to win all four individual awards in the same season. In 2021, Price led the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup Finals in 28 years, but eventually lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.

Internationally, Price has represented Canada at various tournaments at junior levels, winning silver medals at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in 2004 and the IIHF World U18 Championship in 2005. He won a gold medal at the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Sweden. In 2014, Price was named to the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team and won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Price's play also earned him the tournament's top goaltending award, from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) directorate. In 2016, Price went undefeated to win his first World Cup of Hockey championship.

Early life

Carey Price was born in Vancouver to Lynda and Jerry Price. His mother is the chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation. His father was also a goaltender, drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the eighth round, 126th overall, in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Although Jerry never played in the NHL, he did play four seasons of professional hockey in various leagues and was for a time the goaltending coach of the Tri-City Americans. Price has a sister, Kayla, and his second cousin is fellow ice hockey player Shane Doan.

When Price was three, his family moved to the remote town of Anahim Lake in central British Columbia where he was raised. He was taught to play goaltender by his father on a frozen creek during the winter months and played organized hockey in Williams Lake over five hours and 320 kilometres (200 mi) away by car on Highway 20. Having to make the ten-hour round trip three days a week, Carey's father bought a plane to fly him to practice and games. Growing up, Price's favourite NHL team was the Edmonton Oilers and he idolized Marty Turco and Patrick Roy.

Playing career
Tri-City Americans

Price made his first appearance in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in a single game for the Tri-City Americans during the 2002–03 season. He then made the Tri-City roster the next season, appearing in 28 games as the backup for Colorado Avalanche prospect Tyler Weiman, posting a 2.38 Goals against average (GAA) and .915 save percentage. The next season, Price took over as the primary starter of the team and established himself as a top goaltender, playing in a league-high 63 games with a 2.34 GAA and .920 save percentage and eight shutouts, both in the league top ten. Ranking as the best North American goaltender by NHL Central Scouting, Price was drafted fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens, a move considered surprising by many who thought Price would not be drafted until the middle of the first round.

During the 2005–06 season, Price's play in Tri-City suffered considerably and he ended the season with a 2.87 GAA and a .906 save percentage while starting 55 games. Price rebounded the next season with a very strong 2006–07 season, posting an excellent 2.45 GAA and .917 save percentage while winning both the Del Wilson Trophy as the top WHL goaltender and the CHL Goaltender of the Year award. Despite this, the Americans were eliminated in six games during the 2007 playoffs.

Hamilton Bulldogs
Price playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs during the 2007 Calder Cup finals

Following Tri-City's early playoff exit, later that spring, Price joined the Montreal Canadiens farm team, the Hamilton Bulldogs, just before the start of the 2007 Calder Cup playoffs. In two regular season appearances with the Bulldogs, Price allowed only three goals and won one game. Price led the Bulldogs on a remarkable run that spring, defeating the Hershey Bears four games to one in the finals as the team won their first Calder Cup. Price became only the third teenage goaltender to win the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP, posting a 2.06 GAA and .936 save percentage.

Montreal Canadiens (2007–2021)

Price made his highly anticipated Canadiens debut on October 10, 2007, against the Pittsburgh Penguins and recorded 26 saves in a 3–2 win. After the first month of the season, he was awarded the Canadiens' Molson Cup for October, given to the player with the most first-star selections. Although reassigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs midway through the season in January, he was called back up shortly over a month later. With the trading of starting goaltender Cristobal Huet to the Washington Capitals before the trading deadline, Price assumed the starting role for the Canadiens. He was subsequently named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March and the NHL First Star of the Week (ending April 6, 2008) as the Canadiens finished first overall in the Eastern Conference and earned their first division title since 1991–92. Price completed the regular season leading all rookie goaltenders in wins (24), save percentage (.920) and shutouts (3). He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in recognition for his accomplishments in his first year in the NHL.
Price warming up prior to a game in the 2008–09 season.

Entering the playoffs against the Boston Bruins, Price recorded a 1–0 win on April 15, 2008, becoming the first Canadiens rookie to post a playoff shutout since Patrick Roy in 1986. He would go on to record another shutout in game seven to eliminate Boston. Montreal lost in the second round to the Philadelphia Flyers, with Price losing three of the last four games.

After a strong start to the 2008–09 season, in which he earned a second Molson Cup in November, Price injured his ankle on December 30, 2008. Forced out of action for nearly a month, during which he was voted in as a starting goaltender for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal (along with teammates Alexei Kovalev, Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek) he made his return to action on January 20, 2009, after backup Jaroslav Halák was pulled in a 4–2 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers. Going into the 2009 playoffs as the eighth and final seed, the Canadiens played the Boston Bruins in the opening round for the second consecutive season. They were swept in four games, with the Bruins scoring at least four times in each game. In the final game at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Price surrendered four goals in two periods. After stopping a weak dump-in, the crowd cheered sarcastically and Price responded by putting his arms up in the air, similar to Patrick Roy's gesture on December 2, 1995, in a game after which Roy requested a trade from the Canadiens.

Price struggled throughout the 2009–10 season, winning only 13 games and losing the starting job to Halák as the Canadiens entered the playoffs as the eighth and final seed. Although the Canadiens made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference final, upsetting both the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins along the way, Price appeared in only four games, losing one and getting no decision in each of the others, only coming off the bench when the game was out of hand. The highlight of the season for Price was stopping 37 of 38 shots in a 5–1 win over the Boston Bruins in the Canadiens' 100 year anniversary game on December 4, 2009, and the low point was surrendering four goals in his only start of the playoffs. In the 2010 off-season, both Price and Halák became restricted free agents and a goaltending debate emerged in Montreal over who would remain with the team – the playoff hero Halák or the younger Price. After weeks of media speculation, the Canadiens chose Price, trading Halák to the St. Louis Blues and re-signing Price to a two-year, $5.5 million contract to return to his role as starting goaltender.
Price defends the net against Jeff Skinner in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes

The 2010–11 pre-season was a tough start for Price. During the 2010–11 regular season, however, Price played in 72 games recording new career highs including 38 wins, eight shutouts a 2.35 GAA and a .923 save percentage, and was selected to play in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game. This play from Price allowed the Canadiens to enter the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. This strong play continued for Price in the playoffs posting a .935 save percentage. It was not enough, however, to lead the Canadiens to victory, as they ultimately fell in seven games in the first round to the Boston Bruins. On October 26, 2011, Price earned his 100th win in his NHL career in his 214th game. A few months later, he participated to his third All-Star Game. The 2011–12 season, however, did not go well for the Canadiens, and they missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2006–07 season. Price missed the last four games of the season due to a concussion.

On July 2, 2012, Price re-signed with the Canadiens on a six-year contract worth US$39 million.

During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Price started the year very well, winning 18 of his first 28 starts as the Canadiens, in stark contrast to the previous season, were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, going 29–14–5, good enough for second in the conference. Price's play, however, dropped off in the final weeks of the season, going 2–6 and allowing 27 goals. Nonetheless, the Canadiens went into the playoffs against the seventh seeded Ottawa Senators. In Game 4, with the score tied 2–2 as the third period came to an end, Price suffered a groin injury and did not return for the overtime period and was replaced by Peter Budaj; the Senators would go on to score and win the game. Price's injury sidelined him for the rest of the series and the Canadiens were eliminated in five games. Price ended the playoffs with a sub-par 3.26 GAA and an .894 save percentage.
Price during a practice with the Canadiens during the 2012–13 season.

Return to form

The 2013–14 season saw Price return to form, recording 34 wins to go along with a career best 2.32 GAA and .927 save percentage, leading the Canadiens to their second 100-point season since the 2007–08 season. The Canadiens entered the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference against the Tampa Bay Lightning, whom they swept in four games, marking Price's first playoff series win since his rookie year. The Montreal Canadiens then faced the President's Trophy-winning Boston Bruins in the second round for the fourth time of Price's NHL career. In contrast to the previous two postseason meetings, the Canadiens upset the Bruins, ousting them in seven games. Following a 4–2 defeat in Game 5 at TD Garden, Price shut out the Bruins in Game 6 by a score of 4–0 before stopping 29 shots in a 3–1 victory in Game 7 to eliminate Boston and advance to the Conference Finals. His and the Canadiens' run, however, ended against the New York Rangers. In Game 1 at the Bell Centre, with the Rangers up 2–0 near the end of the second period, Rangers forward Chris Kreider crashed into Price. He would stay in net for the remainder of the period, allowing two more goals before the intermission. Price was then replaced by backup Peter Budaj in the third period as the Rangers scored three more goals to hammer the Canadiens 7–2 in Game 1. Price was soon ruled out for the rest of the series with an unspecified lower-body injury, as the Canadiens fell in six games to the Rangers, the second year in-a-row Price had a premature ending to his playoffs due to injury.

Hart Trophy-winning season
Price during the 2014–15 season, in which he won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player.

Price would follow up 2014–15 with the best season of his career, as he would finish the season as the leader of the three leading categories for goaltenders: GAA (1.96), save percentage (.933), and wins (44), all career highs as he would help the Canadiens win the Atlantic Division. That season he would go on to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player, the Vezina Trophy as best goaltender, the Ted Lindsay Award as most valuable player as voted by the NHLPA, and the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed (in a tie with Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks with 189 goals allowed). He became only the second player in franchise history to win 4 awards in one season.

Early in the 2015–16 season, Price suffered a knee injury. At the time of the injury, he was expected to return after six weeks. However, on April 6, 2016, the Canadiens announced that Price would not return for the remainder of the season. The extent of Price's injury was revealed to be a medial collateral ligament injury (MCL sprain).

At the beginning of the 2016–17 season, Price set a record for most consecutive wins to start a season with 10 (his record would later be surpassed by Jack Campbell of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2020–21 season).

On July 2, 2017, it was announced that Price signed an eight-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of US$10.5 million totalling to US$84 million for the entire contract. His new contract will run through the 2025–26 season. This made Price the highest paid goaltender in the 2018–2019 NHL season, surpassing goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

After a dismal month at the start of the 2017–18 season, Price was out for the count with a minor lower body injury, leaving goaltenders Al Montoya and Charlie Lindgren to take his place. On February 22, 2018, Price was ruled out indefinitely after sustaining a concussion in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. On March 19, 2018, Price returned from his concussion and dressed for the first time in 13 games for a game against the Florida Panthers. Despite his injuries, Price made in his 557th career NHL start for the Canadiens on April 3, 2018, surpassing the previous franchise record holder Jacques Plante.

On October 27, 2018, after a 3–0 win over the Boston Bruins, Price surpassed Patrick Roy for second place in Canadiens franchise career wins with his 290th career victory. Price was named to the 2019 National Hockey League All-Star Game, his sixth All-Star nomination, but he chose to defer due to a lower-body injury.

On March 12, 2019, with a 3–1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, Price surpassed Jacques Plante for first place in Canadiens franchise career wins with his 315th.

For the 2019–20 season, Price played 58 games in the regular season, recording a disappointing .909 save percentage. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the regular season was ended prematurely. Price's presence on the Canadiens' lineup became a point of discussion in the media during the NHL's debates on the format for the belated 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, which were to be held in an expanded format that allowed the Canadiens to participate for the first time in three years. The Canadiens were scheduled to play a qualifying round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it was reported that the Penguins had objected to the idea of a best-of-three series on the basis that Price's presence gave the Canadiens an unfair advantage relative to their regular season performance. The Penguins publicly denied this subsequently. Ultimately a best-of-five format was chosen instead. The Canadiens defeated the Penguins 3–1 in the qualifying round, with Price recording a .947 save percentage. The team went on to lose the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers 4 games to 2.

2021–present
Stanley Cup Final run

With the pandemic still raging, the NHL temporarily arranged that all teams would play exclusively within realigned divisions for the 2020–21 season, with all Canadian teams playing in the new North Division. Price began the season well, but subsequently struggled. On April 19, 2021, Price sustained a concussion after a collision with Alex Chiasson of the Edmonton Oilers. As part of his return to the ice, he played a game with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate the Laval Rocket on May 17. The Canadiens managed to qualify to the playoffs as the final seed, a result which was widely attributed to the performance of Price's new backup goaltender, Jake Allen in the period when Price was absent.

Price would, however, return to form in the playoffs, as the Canadiens advanced to their first Stanley Cup Final in 28 years and the first in his career. The Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit in round 1, then swept the Winnipeg Jets in round 2, and finally defeated the Vegas Golden Knights four games to two in the semifinals to win the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. Price was widely cited as the most important player in the Canadiens' deep run to the Final. When asked about the difference between Price's regular and post-season performances in recent years, Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin remarked "I guess the expression we could use he’s a big-game player. He rises to the occasion. He does extremely well under pressure."

In the first round against the Maple Leafs, Price made a notorious stick save on Jason Spezza in the Canadiens' Game 3 loss, then made 41 saves in their Game 6 overtime win, and finally stopped 30 shots in their clinching Game 7 victory. He then had a 30 save shutout against the Jets in Game 2 of the second round, and later a 43 save performance against the Golden Knights in Game 3 of the semifinals which the Canadiens won in overtime. Afterwards, Price made 37 saves in Game 6 against the Golden Knights, including two big ones in overtime, the first one against former teammate Max Pacioretty and then the second against Alec Martinez, which led to Artturi Lehkonen scoring the series winner moments later when the puck ricocheted off Price back into play.

In the Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Price and the Canadiens lost the first three games, but won Game 4 in overtime to avoid getting swept. Price made 32 saves in the win and then 29 saves in Game 5, which the Canadiens lost 1-0 as the Lightning won their second-consecutive Stanley Cup title.

Expansion Draft

With the arrival of the Seattle Kraken as the League's thirty-second team, the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft was scheduled. As each team was only allowed to protect one goaltender and Price had a contractual guarantee of protection in such situations, it was widely assumed that the Kraken would select Price's backup Allen on the basis of his strong performance in the previous season and economical contract. In a major surprise, Price proposed to waive his no movement clause so the Canadiens could instead protect Allen, with Price and General Manager Bergevin's calculation being that the Kraken would not want to take up Price's contract due to its cap hit and duration.

Ultimately, the Kraken declined the opportunity to select Price, opting instead for younger goaltenders with cheaper contracts. Seattle selected defenceman Cale Fleury from Montreal.The Athletic remarked afterward that "now that Seattle has taken a pass, the reality that Price will play his entire career in a Canadiens uniform seems impossible to refute."

Leave of absence

Price underwent knee surgery in July of 2021, and was initially expected to be ready to begin the season on October 13 However, on October 7 it was announced that he was entering the NHL's player assistance program to deal with unspecified mental health issues. His wife Angela released a statement saying "part of the privilege of being in the position our family is in, is that we also get a public platform to show how there is and can be a path for anyone who is struggling." The Canadiens stated that Price would be absent for at least a month.

International play

Price made his international debut for Canada at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships in the Czech Republic. He appeared in four games, earning a silver medal as Team Canada was defeated by the United States 5–1 in the gold medal game. Two years later, in his final year of major junior, Price was named to Team Canada for the 2007 World Junior Championships in Sweden. He led Team Canada to a third consecutive gold medal and was named Tournament MVP and Top Goaltender after going 6–0 with two shutouts, a 1.14 GAA and .961 save percentage. He was also named to the Tournament All-Star Team along with teammates Jonathan Toews and Kris Letang. He led the 2005 IIHF world U18 Championships in save percentage and wins. Price sold his U18 Championship helmet for charity.

On January 7, 2014, Price was named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team along with goaltenders Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes and Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks. Price, along with close friend and teammate P. K. Subban, became the first Montreal Canadiens players to be selected for Team Canada since Mark Recchi in the 1998 Nagano Olympics. Soon after arriving in Sochi, it was announced that Price would start in Canada's first game of the tournament against Norway. Price had a strong debut, stopping 18 of 19 shots against Norway in a 3–1 Canadian win. Price's strong play continued, allowing only a single goal in a 2–1 victory against Finland in the round-robin tournament. In Canada's quarter-final game, Price backstopped Canada over Latvia 2–1. On February 21, 2014, Price played a pivotal role in a 1–0 victory against Team USA in the semifinals. Price stopped all 31 shots and shutout Team USA, powering Team Canada into the gold medal game against Sweden. In his second consecutive shutout of the Olympics, Price made 24 saves in a 3–0 victory and won his first gold medal as an Olympian. Price ended the tournament undefeated in five games with a 0.59 GAA and .971 save percentage, and was named the tournament's best goaltender by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Playing style

Like many modern goaltenders, Price uses the "butterfly hybrid" technique, a mix of "stand-up" and "butterfly style" goaltending. Elements of the butterfly style, were first used by Glenn Hall in the mid 1950s. Tony Esposito used it in the late 1960s, and it was later popularized and adapted to its current hybrid form by Patrick Roy in the mid 1980s. Using this style, Price will stay on his feet for high shots, and drop to his knees, pointing his skates outwards with his pads covering the bottom width of the net. He is also known for his quick reflexes which are considered to be some of his best attributes as a goaltender. He can read the play very well and has very good reaction time. He is noted for his calm demeanor on the ice that allows him to remain focused and rarely appears rattled or upset in the net. Price is considered by the Canadiens' management and coaches to be one of the leaders of the team and is present during meetings with the team's captain and alternate captains.

Philanthropy

In 2015, Price teamed up with CCM to donate $10,000 worth of equipment to a minor hockey league in Williams Lake, B.C. Additionally, Price funds a breakfast program at his old school in Anahim Lake, B.C.

During the 2019 NHL Awards, Price, together with model Camille Kostek, presented Canadien hockey fan Anderson Whitehead the Feel Good Moment Award. Whitehead's mother always wanted her son to meet the goaltender, but was not able to arrange it before she died from cancer in November 2018.

Personal life

    
Price, who is of Ulkatcho First Nation descent through his mother, was named as an honorary co-chair at the 2010 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships that were held in Ottawa, Ontario, in May 2010. Price is of the Nuxalk and Southern Carrier Aboriginal heritage. Price is very proud to be of the descent from the line of chiefs and leaders including his mother, Lynda.

Price grew up in Anahim Lake, B.C., which is a predominately aboriginal community He is extremely proud of his Indigenous heritage. He gave a speech to young people encouraging them to be who they are and proud of their roots.

Price is also very active in teaching younger athletes valuable lessons regarding hockey. Price mentors fellow William Lakes goaltender Cody Call. Call states that Price has been a great influence in his young hockey career.

Awards

Multiple honours
Molson Cup for Montreal Canadiens: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019
NHL All-Star Game: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019

2007
IIHF World U20 Championship Gold Medal (2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships)
Tournament MVP (2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships)
WHL West First All-Star Team for 2006–07 WHL season
Del Wilson Trophy (WHL Top Goaltender)
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy (Calder Cup MVP)

2008
NHL Rookie of the Month, March 2008

2009

2014
Olympic gold medal in Men's Hockey at 2014 Sochi Olympics
Best Goaltender at 2014 Sochi Olympics (voted by IIHF)

2015
William M. Jennings Trophy (fewest goals allowed), (shared with Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks)
Vezina Trophy (best goaltender)
Ted Lindsay Award (most valuable player, voted by NHL Players Association)
Hart Memorial Trophy (most valuable player, voted by Professional Hockey Writer's Association)
NHL First All-Star Team (voted by Professional Hockey Writer's Association)
Lou Marsh Trophy (Canada's Top Athlete voted by a panel of journalists)
Lionel Conacher Award (selected by sports writers of the Canadian Press)

2016
Indspire Award (Sports)
Chandro Tomar
 Wikipedia
Chandro Tomar
Born 10 January 1932

Died 30 April 2021 (aged 89)

Other names Shooter Dadi (Shooter Grandmother)
Occupation Sharpshooter

Chandro TomarSport
Country  India
Updated on 02 May 2021.

Chandro Tomar (10 January 1932 – 30 April 2021) was an Indian octogenarian sharpshooter from the village of Johri in the Bagpat district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Since learning to shoot in 1999 when she was already in her 60s, she had attained national fame as an accomplished shooter, having won more than 30 national championships. She was referred to as the oldest (woman) sharpshooter in the world and a "feminist icon."Uttar Pradesh government named Noida shooting Range and A Road in her home village after her.

Biography

Tomar never attended school and married at age 15. She was over age 65 when she began her sharpshooting career, and was derided and laughed at when she first began attending professional competitions. Tomar recalled her husband and his brothers at first being angry and opposed to her participation in competitions, but she decided to continue. Her daughter and granddaughter joined the shooting team, and Tomar encouraged other families to allow their daughters to join.

Tomar has five children and twelve grandchildren. She began learning to shoot by chance, when her granddaughter Shefali wanted to learn how to shoot at Johri Rifle Club. Her granddaughter was shy to go alone to an all-boys shooting club. and wanted her grandmother to accompany her. At the range, Tomar took a pistol when her granddaughter could not load it and she started shooting at a target. Her first shot resulted in bull's eye hit. The club coach, Farooq Pathan, was surprised to see her shoot so skillfully. He suggested she join the club and get trained to become a shooter, which Tomar did. Her trainer commented: "She has the ultimate skill, a steady hand and a sharp eye."

In 2021, Tomar told The New York Times that her strength and agility is from "All the household chores I used to do from a young age, like grinding the wheat by hand, milking the cows, cutting the grass, It’s important to stay active. Your body might grow old, but keep your mind sharp."

Her niece Seema Tomar, also a sharpshooter, was the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Rifle and Pistol World Cup in 2010. Her granddaughter, Shefali Tomar, achieved international shooter status and has taken part in international competitions in Hungary and Germany; both of them credit Tomar for the positive encouragement provided and praised her sister Prakashi Tomar for advising them.

From 1999 on, Tomar competed in and won over 25 state and larger championships throughout India. She won a gold medal at the Veteran Shooting Championship conducted in Chennai. Her success has encouraged the local people to take up shooting as a useful sporting profession, including her granddaughters. Tomar died from COVID-19 on 30 April 2021, at the age of 89.
Chinnaswamy Muniyappa

Chinnaswamy Muniyappa, born on January 1, 1977, in India, is an Indian professional golfer whose journey from abject poverty to professional success is a remarkable rags-to-riches story. Here’s a comprehensive overview of his life, career, and achievements based on available information:

Early Life and Background

Humble Beginnings: Muniyappa was born into extreme poverty near Dharmapuri, India. His family migrated to Bangalore when he was a young child, living in a mud hut near the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) course. His parents worked as daily wage earners, performing menial tasks at the KGA, which was still under construction during the 1980s. Introduction to Golf: At age seven, Muniyappa began working at the KGA as a fore-caddy, earning Rs 1.25 daily to spot golf balls. By 12, he became a caddie, earning Rs 7 per round. These early years exposed him to golf, sparking his interest in the sport despite his family’s hand-to-mouth existence. Self-Taught Golfer: Muniyappa never attended school and lacked formal coaching. He developed his skills by watching club members and, later, studying Tiger Woods on television. He and other caddies practiced using sticks carved from branches as makeshift clubs, with Muniyappa eventually receiving two old irons from a club member, which he used to hone his game.

Professional Career

Turning Pro: Muniyappa turned professional in 1997 at age 20, qualifying without ever competing in amateur tournaments. His early professional years were marked by struggle, as he battled financial hardship and limited resources. Breakthrough Victory: His defining moment came in 2009 when he won the Hero Honda Indian Open on the Asian Tour. At the DLF Golf and Country Club, he outlasted Korea’s Lee Sung in a playoff, securing a birdie on the first extra hole. This victory earned him approximately US$200,000 (Rs 1.26 crore) and a two-year tour card for the European and Asian Tours, catapulting him to 10th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit for 2009. Other Notable Achievements:

Asian Tour: His 2009 Indian Open win remains his sole Asian Tour victory. He also achieved tied 13th at the Brunei Open and tied 15th at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in 2009. Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI): Muniyappa won the Toyota Altis Open in 2008, defeating Kunal Bhasin by three strokes with a score of −19. He has consistently performed well on the PGTI, with highlights including:

Six top-10 finishes in 2010, including tied fourth at the DLF Masters. Seven top-10s in 2009, with runner-up finishes at the Haryana Open and Crompton Greaves Open. Five top-10s in 2019, placing him 22nd on the PGTI money list. Runner-up finishes at the 2017 PGTI Players Championship and 2019 Delhi-NCR Open.

World Golf Championships: 

In 2009, he competed in the WGC-HSBC Champions, finishing T74.

Awards: 

Muniyappa was named the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2009, recognizing his breakthrough season.

Challenges and Resilience

Injury Setback: In 2010, Muniyappa suffered a back injury that sidelined him for 16 months. He returned to competitive golf in April 2012, achieving a tied third place at the PGTI Players Championship at Coimbatore Golf Club. Financial Struggles: Despite his 2009 windfall, Muniyappa admitted to losing a significant portion of his earnings due to tax ignorance. His modest lifestyle persisted, as he considered renting a house with his winnings rather than lavish spending. Continued Perseverance: Even after his Indian Open win, Muniyappa’s parents continued menial work at KGA, and he remained focused on survival, aiming to crack the top-10 in the PGTI Order of Merit post-recovery. His ranking in 2012 was a modest 130th, reflecting the ongoing challenges.

Playing Style and Personality

Self-Taught Technique: Muniyappa’s swing is described as uncomplicated but effective, developed through repetition and instinct rather than formal training. He relies on feel, avoiding extensive practice to focus on tournament play. Fearless Attitude: Fellow golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar praised Muniyappa’s fearless approach, a key factor in his ability to compete against more experienced players. Modest Equipment: Even after his success, Muniyappa continued using old, trusted clubs, with a new set remaining unused at home.

Personal Life and Legacy

Residence: Muniyappa resides in Bangalore, near the KGA, where his golfing journey began. Recognition: His inspiring story was included in an Indian school textbook in 2012, a first for an Indian golfer, highlighting his rise from poverty to prominence. Family: His parents’ labor at KGA was instrumental in his early exposure to golf. The KGA honored his 2009 victory with a lifetime associate membership, though his parents continued their work at the club. Inspiration: Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han noted that Muniyappa’s success, like that of fellow caddie-turned-pro S.S.P. Chowrasia, inspires underprivileged golfers to pursue the sport through hard work and dedication.

Recent Career

2025 Season: As of February 2025, Muniyappa competed in the Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship, with no prize money recorded, and the Gujarat Open Golf Championship, also with no earnings. He made the cut at the Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton Invitational, finishing 69th with ₹72,000. His current Official World Golf Ranking is 1424th, reflecting limited recent success on major tours. Ongoing Participation: Muniyappa continues to compete primarily on the PGTI, with occasional appearances supported by sponsors like Hero Moto Corp, as seen in his 2012 Indian Open participation.

Cultural and Social Impact Muniyappa’s story resonates as a testament to resilience and determination. From earning pennies as a caddie in a snake-infested golf course to winning a prestigious title, his journey embodies the potential for success against overwhelming odds. His 2009 Indian Open victory, celebrated amid a field of international stars, marked a significant moment for Indian golf, placing him alongside luminaries like Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa. Summary of Achievements

Professional Wins: 2 (1 Asian Tour: 2009 Hero Honda Indian Open; 1 PGTI: 2008 Toyota Altis Open). Asian Tour Rookie of the Year: 2009. PGTI Performance: Consistent top-10 finishes across multiple seasons, with notable results in 2006–07, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019. World Golf Ranking: Peaked in 2009; currently 1424th as of recent data.

Muniyappa’s career, while not prolific in titles, is defined by his extraordinary rise from poverty and his ability to overcome setbacks. His story continues to inspire aspiring golfers, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, proving that talent and grit can triumph over adversity. 

Chandra Prabha Aitwal.
Photo: Shail Desai

Chandra Prabha Aitwal: The first lady of Nanda DeviShail Desai

As the climbing season brings in stories of triumph and tragedy, we meet one of the first women to summit Nanda DeviGetting to the top of a mountain usually calls for a celebration. More so if it’s a first in mountaineering history. When Chandra Prabha Aitwal got to the top of Nanda Devi (7,816m) in 1981, behind Rekha Sharma and Harshwanti Bisht, it was the first time women had set foot on the second-highest peak in India.

But neither does she have any photos of the feat, nor any memory of the fascinating view from the top. For Aitwal summited the peak in relative darkness, against all odds and with just about enough strength to say a little prayer and make her way down the moonlit slope.

Aitwal’s story is one of grit and perseverance at every opportunity that came her way, which explains why, at 74, she still dreams of “one last stint in the mountains" even as another summer of climbing heads towards the finish.

It’s a cloudy Sunday morning in Uttarkashi. A diminutive lady in salwar-kameez answers the door, and when I tell her I’m looking for Chandra didi, as she is known in mountaineering circles, a familiar smile breaks out on her face. “Main hi hoon, andar aa jao (that’s me, come in)," she says.

View Full ImageA view of Nanda Devi. Photo: iStockphoto

Aitwal was born in Dharchula in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, though her family belonged to Chhangru, which lies across the Mahakali river in the hills of Nepal. The end of winter would see an annual migration to Nepal, where she grew up running up and down terraced fields, tending cows, helping with farming and collecting wood. She was happier dealing with household chores than the travails of daily school, and regularly joined her father when he visited Tibet to trade.

“I had to be thrown out of the house and walked to school, else there was a chance I wouldn’t turn up. I was around 17 or 18 years when I was in class VI, so you can figure it out for yourself," she laughs.

If it wasn’t for her elder sister, who took on the role of guardian after their parents died when the children were young, Aitwal would never have pursued an education. But she crawled through her studies and led an ordinary life as a teacher in the Government Girls Inter College in Pithoragarh.

All that changed when the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) in Uttarkashi sent out a circular, inviting government teachers to be part of the basic mountaineering course. By the time she got her opportunity, she was 30.

After proving her ability on peaks such as Kedar Dome (6,940m) and Bandarpoonch (6,316m), Aitwal was noticed by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, and in 1981, was picked as part of an expedition that looked to put the first women atop Nanda Devi.

“When we were training for Kamet in 1976, a men’s team was to go to Nanda Devi. These were established mountaineers, yet they were in awe of this peak. I realized then that there was something about this mountain, and was overjoyed when I was picked for the expedition a few years later," she says.

While Everest and K2 may make for popular mountaineering blockbusters, the legend of Nanda Devi is a saga that has enchanted followers for years. For one, the mountain is considered to be a peace-giving goddess who is worshipped by villagers in the region. Yet, over the years, a number of failed attempts and casualties have been attributed to the wrath of the goddess.
As a result, attempts to approach the mountain while trying to locate new trade routes to Tibet in the 19th century proved futile, until Englishmen Eric Shipton and Bill Tilman made a bold attempt with a lightweight expedition, and managed to trek up the gorge in 1934. A couple of years later, Tilman and Noel Odell were the first men to stand atop Nanda Devi. It was only in 1964 that another party, led by Indian veteran Narendra “Bull" Kumar, managed to put the second set of men on the peak.

Until these expeditions made their way into the sanctuary, it was a relatively untouched area of the Indian Himalayas. As Kumar observed after his climb: “It is hard to conceive of a bowl, full of luxuriant grass and flowers of delicate hue; of partridges calling to each other across the gay scene; of bharals contentedly ruminating from their high, rocky, silent perches; of all this warm and secluded life enclosed by an icy, impassable and treacherous ring of high mountains, where blizzards blow constantly and living things do not dare to venture. But such is the reality of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary."

For all its splendour, success on the mountain was met with tragedy, the most heart-wrenching being the death of Nanda Devi Unsoeld. Named after the mountain by her father and renowned mountaineer Willi Unsoeld, she and Unsoeld attempted the peak in 1976, but a bout of illness and bad weather meant that Nanda Devi died on the mountain as her father waited helplessly at a lower camp.

A failed attempt at planting a nuclear-powered spying device on Nanda Devi in 1965 had disastrous consequences; a radioactive substance lost on the slopes remains missing to this day. It is considered to be a major reason why the sanctuary is off limits for trekkers today.


View Full ImageChandra Prabha Aitwal in 1981.
A week’s trudge got them to Base Camp and after a few days’ rest, the team started ferrying loads up the mountain to set up camps. The deputy leader of the team, Aitwal felt strong as she made consistent progress, but for a niggle that would prove to be a nightmare in the days to follow.

“I was fine until I opened the route to Camp 3, but on my return to Camp 2, I developed pus in one of my ears. One thing led to the other, and soon I had a running stomach because of which I had to return to Base Camp," she says.

As the team recuperated at Base Camp, Aitwal was a wreck, losing strength each day due to a severe case of amoebiasis. She was left behind as the rest of the team proceeded up the mountain for the final summit push. Her saviour came in the form of P.D. Punekar, a doctor with the army expedition that had camped close by and was to attempt the climb after Aitwal and Co.

“I was lying in one corner of the tent when he (Punekar) came to see me. He was my bhagwan (god), because the expedition was pretty much over for me at this point. I have never seen anyone inspect what I kept throwing up with such interest. He prepared a magic potion for me, which I was to sip while climbing, and asked me to refrain from eating. The following day, I set off up the mountain alone," she says.

After two days of climbing, Aitwal caught up with the rest of the team at Camp 3, but along the way she realized a lot of her stashed equipment had been taken by the others, who thought she would not be coming back. She had to wait to borrow essentials from those descending, and even shared a sleeping bag with On 19 September, the team was to attempt the summit. Aitwal roped up with Sonam Paljor for the final push behind the other two pairs, but slow progress meant that it was dark by the time she got to the top.

“I summited in darkness, but the moon was rising and, gradually, I could see the shimmering snow on the nearby slopes. Summiting has a different thrill associated with it, whether it’s in daylight or in the dark. You feel as if you’ve seen heaven; it cannot be put into words," she says.

Chandan Biswas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chandan Biswas
চন্দন বিশ্বাস
Born
Chandan Biswas
5 November 1985

Nationality Indian
Occupation Explorer
Cyclist

Chandan Biswas (born 5 November 1985) is a Bengali Adventure sports personnel and Travel Writer. He became the first to complete the Solo Trans-Himalaya Cycling Expedition.

Expeditions

Biswas started adventure sports since 2010. He involves with mountaineering, rock climbing and mountain cycling also.

Biswas was the first to successfully complete the Solo Trans-Himalaya Cycling Expedition. It took him 153 days extend over February 2017 to July 2017. In this journey Biswas cycled 6,249 km spanning the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India.

He walked along Narmada River Trail and valley in 2018 covering 1,047 km in 47 days spanning 4 states of India. Also in 2016 he led a Intra-Country Cycling and Running team from Kolkata to Dhaka to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Language Movement ahead of the International Mother Language Day.

Adventure Timeline


2018 - Narmada River Trail on foot | 1,047 km | 47 Days | Solo

2017 - Trans-Himalaya & SAARC Countries Cycling Expedition | 6,249 km | 153 Days | Solo

2016 - Kolkata to Dhaka Inter-Country Cycling Program | AksharYatra | অক্ষরযাত্রা

Life

He is a cinematographer by profession. He regularly writes for newspaper publications and magazines.

James Pears Bakeworth

He was among 12 members team and climb up a first of all in hurry on Ceara Nevada Mountain .

They had came to sleep on that mountain.Bakeworth was thinking more than that, he was in search of a way in between mountains so that people should not climb again to go other side .

The series of mountains of California is spread over 400 miles . It was very difficult to cross that.

Bakeworth found that track which he was searching for. It was very wonderful scene which he never seen. It was very beatiful valley full of flowers. There were birds too alongwith forest's animals. Bakeworth had founded a way from Ceara Nevada Mountain to Long Valley. It was short rout compared to others routs.

Later the track was named after Bakeworth name. Thousands of people travelled that path including Gold finders. Bakeworth took his vagon train on this path. Bakeworth stayed there near by valley for many years. He built hterea Hotel and displayed started trading post for few times. Bakeworth was very courageous inventor .

Bakeworth born in Fredric County, Virginnia in 1798. His father was white skeened but mother was black slave. Father was owner of many slaves.

His father shifted with family when Bakeworth was 7-8 years old boy to Cent Luis, Missouri.
His father sent him to a white Jorge Caster a blacksmith for learning the job. At the age of 19th Bakeworth fall in love with slave girl. Due to love affair James generally comes late nigth, that was not accepted by Caster even fight takes place. One day James quarrelled with Caster and run away from there. He never returned at home. He work in salt mines and returned Cent Luis after travelling New Arlians.

One day he joined General Willam Hernary Ashley who was doing animals organ's business. And finally he became one of the great Frontiers of the Country. Bakeworth died in 1866.
Chitra Magimairaj
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chitra Magimairaj
Born 7 April 1973 
Sport country  India
Nickname Sports
Highest ranking World ranking 10

Medal record
Women's snooker
Representing  India
World Women's Senior Snooker Championship
 Individual competition 2014
 Individual competition 2016


Chitra Magimairaj (born 7 April 1973, Bangalore), is an Indian professional player of snooker, English billiards, and pool. She is a two-time World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association World Champion (2006, 2007), a two-time national pool champion, and more recently the World Women's Senior Snooker Championship (2014). She has also been a national-class amateur cricket and field hockey player.

Her highest breaks are 91 at snooker and 49 at English billiards.

Early life

Born in Bangalore, India, Magimairaj was educated at St. Anne's Girls High School, and graduated from Teresian College, Mysore. She started playing cricket and field hockey at a young age.

Career

On 22 April 2014, Magimairaj won the World Women's Senior Snooker Championship, after defeating Alena Asmolava of Belarus, in Leeds, UK.

Magimairaj was the first Indian woman cueist to win a medal in Asian Games and Asian Indoor Games, the First Indian woman to have won two World Billiards Championships (women's division) titles (in 2006 and 2007) and the first Indian to win an Australian Open Women's Snooker Championship (2008).[citation needed]

Inn 2007 she received a Kempegowda Award and an Ekalavya Award.

Other sports

Magimairaj played cricket for Falcon Sports Club under Shanta Rangaswamy, and represented Karnataka, which won the South Zone Cricket Championship in the year 1989.

She played field hockey for Sports Hostel Mysore for seven years, and represented Karnataka in sub-junior, junior, and senior nationals, the All-India Inter-University Invitation Cup, and the South Zone Championship.

Titles and achievements

English billiards

OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponentScoreRef.
Runner-up 3 2009 World Ladies Billiards Championship Emma Bonney 118–272 
Runner-up 4 2010 World Ladies Billiards Championship Emma Bonney 220–269 
Runner-up 5 2013 Indian National Billiards Championship

Snooker

OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponentScoreRef.
Winner 1 2008 Australian Open Snooker Championship
Runner-up 2 2009 Australian Open Snooker Championship
Winner 3 2011 Indian National Six-red Snooker Championship
Winner 4 2012 Indian National Snooker Championship
Runner-up 5 2013 Indian National Snooker Championship

Pool

OutcomeNo.YearChampionshipOpponentScoreRef.
Winner 1 2006 Indian National Eight-ball Pool Championship
Winner 2 2007 Indian National Nine-ball Pool Championship
Chitra Kulathummuriyil Soman

Chitra Kulathummuriyil Soman (born 10 July 1983) was born in Kottayam , Kerala. Her father is from Kottayam and her mother is from kanjirappally, [kerala]]. She is an Indian sprinter who specializes in the 400 metres. Soman finished seventh in 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics, together with teammates Satti Geetha, K. M. Beenamol and Rajwinder Kaur. This team, only with Manjeet Kaur running instead of Geetha, had set a national record of 3:26.89 minutes in the heat. Soman also ran for the Indian team who won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2007, Chitra Soman won gold medal in 400m race at Asian Grand Prix series held at Guwahati on 23 June 2007 and at Puen held on 27 June 2007. She also led Indian women 4 × 400 m relay team to Gold in Asian Athletics Championship held at Amman in July 2007. In 2008, Chitra again showed her class by leading another win for Indian women 4 × 400 m relay team in 3rd Asian Indoor Championship in Athletics held in Doha in Feb 2008.(From Wikipedia)

Her personal best time in 400 m is 51.30 seconds, achieved in June 2004 in Chennai.she got married 2011 and he is from punjab.
Cael Sanderson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cael Sanderson

NCAA championships 12 (4 competing, 8 coaching)
Olympic medal Gold
Status Head Coach for Penn State Nittany Lions Wrestling

Cael Norman Sanderson (/ˈkeɪl/ KAYL; born June 20, 1979) is an American former folkstyle and freestyle wrestler who is the current head coach of Penn State University's wrestling team. As a wrestler, he won an Olympic Gold medal and was undefeated in four years of college wrestling at Iowa State University (ISU) (159–0), becoming a four-time NCAA Division I champion (1999–2002). He is the only wrestler in NCAA Division I history to go undefeated in official matches with more than 100 wins. Sports Illustrated named his college career as the second most impressive college sports feat behind the setting of four world records by Jesse Owens in a single hour at the 1935 Big Ten track and field conference championship meet.

Early life

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Steve and Debbie Sanderson, Cael attended Wasatch High School in Heber City, Utah, where he was coached by his father, a former wrestler at the Brigham Young University. As a high school wrestler, Sanderson was a four-time UHSAA state champion (1994–97), like his brother Cody, and compiled a record of 127 wins and 3 losses.

Wrestling career

College

Upon graduation, Sanderson followed his brothers, Cody and Cole, to ISU. After redshirting in 1997-98, Sanderson won all 39 of his matches to his first NCAA and Big 12 Conference titles at 184 pounds (his brother, Cody, was the runner-up at 133 pounds). He was also the first freshman in NCAA history to be named the Outstanding Wrestler (OW) at Nationals. His next three seasons were virtually identical, compiling 40 wins and no losses in each and finishing with the only perfect record in NCAA Division I history at 159-0. By winning all of his matches, he became only the second wrestler in history to that point to win four NCAA Division I titles. He was also named the OW in all of the NCAA tournaments he competed in.

Sanderson was a three-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner (equivalent to the Heisman Trophy), being the first to win the award multiple times and the only person to win it three times. He holds the longest win-streak across all NCAA divisions. All of this combined, makes him the most accomplished collegiate wrestler in the history of the sport.

In 2017, Sanderson was inducted into the ISU Hall of Fame.

Freestyle

Sanderson was a two-time US Cadet World Team Member, placing third and fourth in 1994 and 1995, respectively. He was also a US University National Champion in 1999 and a University World Champion in 2000.

He became the US National Champion in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He was also an original US World Team Member in 2001 and 2002, however, he chose not to participate at the 01' World Championships to focus in folkstyle, and the USA team chose to not compete in 2002.

In 2003, he won the Manitoba Open in Canada in February, placed second at the World Cup in April, third at the 2003 Pan American Games and second at the World Championships. In 2004, he once again claimed the Manitoba Open title and won the US Olympic Team Trials.


While already a full-time coach at Penn State, Sanderson came out of retirement in 2011 and took home an Ion Corneanu Memorial title, won the US World Team Trials and placed fifth at the World Championships.

Coaching career
Iowa State

Sanderson began his coaching career with the season ending in 2004 as a special assistant for the wrestling team at ISU. After short stints in associate head coaching positions, he became the head coach for the season ending in 2007. In three seasons, Sanderson led ISU's wrestling team to NCAA Division I national placements of second, fifth, and third. He also coached his wrestlers to two individual NCAA Division I national titles.

Penn State

Before the 2010 season ended, Sanderson became the head coach of Penn State's wrestling team. As of 2019, Sanderson's Penn State teams have won eight NCAA Division I team titles. During that time, he also coached his wrestlers to 23 individual Division I titles.Awards and honors

2011
 Ion Corneanu Memorial2004

 Manitoba Open
John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year2003

 Manitoba Open
John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year2002
NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler

Other honors
Wheaties cereal box appearance

Corey Perry
Why He’s Untouchable: Great scoring winger with a big multi-year contract

Corey Perry Bio
Born: 16 May 1985, Haileybury, Temiskaming Shores, Canada

Perry combines a 6-foot-3 frame with a long reach and powerful skating stride to get past defenders. But the Peterborough, Ontario, native is also one of the NHL's biggest agitators; he has gotten under the skin of rivals by doing things such as spraying water in opponents' gloves and grabbing their sticks.

However, Perry, selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round (No. 28) of the 2003 NHL Draft, also became one of the best goal-scorers of his generation. He became the third player from his draft class to reach 300 goals when he scored against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 11, 2015. Perry then scored No. 301 two nights later to move past Paul Kariya into second place in Anaheim history, behind Teemu Selanne.

At age 20, Perry began his NHL career in 2005-06 with at least one point in each of his first four games, including his first goal Oct. 10, 2005. He was later demoted to the minors for six weeks but returned to the NHL to stay in January 2006 and finished the season by scoring 12 goals and 19 points in Anaheim's last 41 games. He also played in 11 of the Ducks' 16 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and had three assists.

Perry played all 82 games in 2006-07, bumping up his offensive totals to 17 goals and 44 points, then played a key role in the Ducks' run to the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. He tied for second on the team with 15 points, and the last of his six playoff goals capped Anaheim's Cup-clinching 6-2 win against the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of the Final.

Perry played in his first NHL All-Star Game in 2008-09. He led the Ducks in goals and finished second on the team in scoring in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. Perry led the NHL with 50 goals in 2010-11, when he finished third with 98 points and was voted winner of the Hart Trophy as the League's most valuable player.

Perry was second in the NHL in 2013-14 with 43 goals, beginning a streak of three seasons in which he finished in the top 10.

He had knee surgery in September 2018 and was limited to 31 games in 2018-19, the last of his 14 seasons with Anaheim. Perry signed with the Dallas Stars as a free agent July 1, 2019. He played his 1,000th NHL game Nov. 13, 2019, but scored just five goals and 21 points in 57 games. However, his scoring touch returned during the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, when he scored three goals. However, Perry and the Stars would lose that series in six games.

After the season he signed one-year, $750,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

With the Canadiens, Perry scored 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 49 regular-season games. He then scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 22 playoff games to help Montreal advance to the Cup Final for the first time since 1993. But for the second season in a row, Perry fell short at the hands of the Lightning, this time losing in five games.

On July 29, 2021, Perry decided to join the team he had lost to the previous two seasons, signing a two-year, $2 million contract with Tampa Bay.

Perry also has had plenty of international success. He was a member of Canada's gold medal-winning Olympic teams in 2010 and 2014, and he helped Canada win the 2016 IIHF World Championship. Perry also played on Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2005 World Junior Championship and helped London of the Ontario Hockey League win the Memorial Cup that year.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
OHL First All-Star Team (2004, 2005)
Canadian Major Junior Second All-Star Team (2004)
Canadian Major Junior First All-Star Team (2005)
OHL Playoff MVP (2005)
NHL First All-Star Team (2011, 2014)
Played in NHL All-Star Game (2008, 2011, 2012, 2016)
Signed as a free agent by Dallas, July 1, 2019.
Signed as a free agent by Montreal, December 28, 2020.
Signed as a free agent by Tampa Bay, July 29, 2021.

      Chetan Anand
       Wikipedia

      Chetan Anand
      XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi Badminton (Men’s Single) Chetan Anand of India in an action against Snider of Canada, at Sirifort Sports Complex, in New Delhi on 7 October 2010.
      Personal information
      Country India
      Born 8 July 1980 (age 40)
      Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
      Weight 162 lb (73 kg)
      Handedness Right
      Coach S. M. Arif
      Men's singles
      Highest ranking 10 (February 2009)

      Men's badminton
      Representing  India


      Chetan Anand Buradagunta (born 8 July 1980) is a badminton player from India. Anand was a four time national champion in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2010, also three times South Asian Games men's singles champion in 2004, 2006 and 2010. He has a career best world ranking of world no 10. His ranking has dropped to 54 since October 2010 due to his ankle injury. He is also the recipient of the Indian Arjuna Award in 2006.

      Badminton career

      Anand started his badminton career in 1992 at the Mini Nationals in Mumbai. He was successful in doubles in his early badminton career, pairing with A. Prithvi, winning 12 year and 15 years age groups. He reached his first open nationals singles final in Kerala at age fifteen, but failed to win the title and was runner-up though he won the doubles pairing with A. Prithvi. Later, Prakash Padukone sent him to the World Academy camp in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he made significant improvements to his game. Anand won the first singles title of his career at Chennai in a Junior major ranking tournament. The same year he made his mark in the senior category as well, reaching the semi-finals in all of the senior ranking tournaments, and reaching the top eight in the country. He became the Junior National Champion in 1999. In 2001, he won his first Asian Satellite tournament in Bangalore which marked his beginning in seniors. Later he won more than 15 major ranking tournaments in India.

      Anand became the national badminton champion for first time in 2004 after faltering in the finals in 2002 and 2003 to Abhinn Shyam Gupta. He also won the Toulouse Open in France in 2004, recovering from a back injury during the summer 2004. In 2005 he won Irish and Scottish open badminton tournaments in Ireland and Scotland. In 2008 he won his first Grand Prix title at the Bitburger Open. He was also the Runner-up in Dutch Grand Prix in 2008 and followed them with a couple of quarterfinal appearances. He touched his career best world ranking 10 in 2009 February. In 2009, he won the Dutch Open Grand Prix which he lost in the finals in 2008. He also won the Jaypee Syed Modi Memorial Grand Prix at Lucknow in December 2009.

      Personal life

      Anand was born to Harshavardhan and Suguna in Vijayawada, India and has a younger brother Sandeep Anand. Anand's father Harshavardhan had formerly been an annual participant in the Inter-state Lecturer's Tournaments. Anand also took a personal interest in badminton, and he started playing with his father. He did his schooling at Veeramachineni Paddayya Siddhartha public school and bachelors in engineering in Mechanical Manufacturing from the Potluri V Prasad Siddhartha Institute of Technology in Vijayawada. On 17 July 2005, Anand married fellow badminton player Jwala Gutta. And they got divorced in 2010. Chetan got married again to Sarada Govardhini Jasti in October 2012 and has two daughters. He is employed by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. He was signed as first Brand Ambassador for promoting Li Ning Sporting goods in India in 2009.

      Drew Doughty
      Ice hockey defenceman
      Drew Doughty is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL. Born December 8, 1989, in London, Ontario, he was drafted second overall by the Kings in 2008 from the Guelph Storm of the OHL, where he was twice named the league’s top offensive defenseman. As seen in the sports card above, Doughty has played 17 seasons with the Kings, amassing 160 goals, 526 assists, and a +69 plus-minus in 1,207 games. He won the Norris Trophy in 2016 as the NHL’s top defenseman and helped the Kings secure Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. Internationally, he’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2010, 2014) and won gold at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off with Team Canada. Despite a recent ankle injury, Doughty returned in January 2025, showcasing his resilience and leadership

      Spouse: Nicole Arruda (m. 2018)
      Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
      NHL Draft: 2nd overall, 2008; Los Angeles Kings
      Number: 8 (Los Angeles Kings / Defenseman), 8 (Canadian National Men's Hockey Team / Defenseman)

      Personal life

      Doughty's maternal grandparents immigrated to Canada from Portugal in the 1950s and his paternal grandparents immigrated to Canada from England in the 1970s.

      Doughty married his highschool sweetheart Nicole Arruda on August 8, 2018 in Muskoka, Ontario.

      Dharmalingam Kannan

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Dharmalingam KannanPersonal information
      Date of birth 8 July 1936
      Place of birth Secunderabad, India
      Date of death 19 May 2006 (aged 69)
      Place of death Hyderabad, India
      Position(s) Centre forward
      National team
      – India

      Dharmalingam Kannan (8 July 1936 – 19 May 2006) was an Indian footballer. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

      Kannan played for Hyderabad from 1956 to 1958 and Bengal from 1959. He represented India in the 1958 Asian Games. He was employed with the Vehicle Depot, Secunderabad but moved to East Bengal
      Deep Grace Ekka
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Deep Grace Ekka
      Personal information
      Born 3 June 1994
      Height 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
      Weight 63 kg (139 lb)
      Playing position Defender
      Club information
      Current club SAI-SAG Centre
      National team
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      India 181 (13)

      Women's field hockey
      Representing  India
       2017 Gifu Team

      Deep Grace Ekka (born 3 June 1994) is an Indian female field hockey player. She plays for the Indian Women's Hockey Team.

      Early life

      Deep Grace Ekka was born on 3 June 1994 in a small village called Lulkidhi in the Sundergarh district of Odisha. She is the daughter of Charles and Jayamani Ekka.

      She started playing hockey in school and was coached by Tej Kumar Xess (2005–06). During a round of hockey selections at her school, she was selected to join the SAI-SAG centre of the Sports Authority of India in September 2007 and started playing at state level at the age of 13. She began to be coached by Lucela Ekka and Saroj Mohanty.At the age of 16, she played at the senior nationals in Sonepat.

      In 2011, she played at the National Games in Ranchi. She was also selected for the Junior National Camp and travelled to Bangkok for the Junior Asia Cup.

      She started as a defender but her desire was to become a goalkeeper as her brother and she used to play sometimes but her uncle who was her coach didn't allow her to pursue or practise as a goalkeeper so having no choice she became defender.

      Career

      She has 150 international caps and has scored 3 international goals.

      International

      She doubles up drag flicker defending and winning performances at the 9th women Asia cup in japan last year.

      Indian Hockey second match at Gold Coast 2018 against Malaysia in Commonwealth Games completed 150 international cabs.

      Made her international debut in the Four-Nation Tournament in Argentina in 2011 in which India won Bronze medal.

      Helped India win the bronze medal in the U-18 Girls` Asia Cup Hockey Championship at Bangkok, Thailand in 2011.

      Represented Indian senior women`s team in the FIH World League (Round 2) held at New Delhi from 18 to 24 February 2013.

      She was a part of the Indian team that made history by winning the bronze medal for the first time in Women Junior Hockey World Cup at Monchengladbach in Germany on 4 July 2013.

      She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal in the Women's Hockey Asia Cup in 2013.

      She was part of the senior Indian team that won the silver medal in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy in 2013.

      She was a member of the Indian team that won the women's hockey test series 6–0 against Malaysia held at Kualalumpur from 9 to 17 June 2014.

      She was part of the Indian women team that finished fifth in the 20th Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow from 23 July to 3 August 2014.

      She was a member of the Indian women hockey team that won the bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon (South Korea) on 1 October 2014.

      She was a member of the Indian women team that finished seventh in the Hawkes Bay Cup Tournament, held at Hastings in New Zealand from 11 to 19 April 2015.

      She was part of the Indian team that won the FIH World League Round 2 in New Delhi in 2015.
      She was a member of Indian women hockey team that won five matches, drew one and lost two on its South Africa tour, which took place from 20 February to 1 March 2016.

      She was a member of the India team that finished sixth in the Hawkes Bay Cup Women Hockey Festival, held at Hasting in New Zealand from 2 to 10 April 2016.

      Completed her 100th international cap in India's final group stage match against Australia on her 22nd birthday at the FourNation Women Tournament at Darwin in Australia on 3 June 2016.

      She was selected for Rio Olympics 2016, Brazil.

      National

      Helped Odisha win the title in National School (U-17) Hockey Championship in 2009.

      Helped Odisha finish runners-up in the Hockey event of the Women's National Sports Festival at Bhopal in 2010.

      She was a member of the Odisha team that finished 3rd in the inaugural Hockey India Senior National Championship at Sonepat in 2011.

      Represented Odisha in 34th National games at Ranchi (Jharkhand) in 2011.
      Selected by Hockey India to join the Senior National Women coaching camp to be held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadiumin New Delhi from 27 December to 15 February 2011.

      Drew Doughty
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Drew Doughty
      Doughty with the Los Angeles Kings in 2016
      Born December 8, 1989 
      Position Defence
      Shoots Right
      National team  Canada
      NHL Draft 2nd overall, 2008
      Playing career 2008–present

      Drew Doughty (born December 8, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected second overall by the Kings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft from the Guelph Storm of the OHL, where he was twice voted the league's top offensive defenceman.

      Doughty made his NHL debut in 2008 as an 18-year-old and was named to the All-Rookie Team. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Kings in the 2011–12 NHL season and the 2013–14 NHL season, two-time Olympic gold medallist with the Canadian national team at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014, 2009 World Championship silver medallist, 2008 World Junior Championship gold medalist, and a Norris Trophy finalist from the 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2017–18 seasons, winning the trophy in 2015–16.


      Early life

      Doughty was born in London, Ontario, the son of Paul and Connie Doughty. He was introduced to hockey when he was given a mini stick for his first birthday, was skating by the age of two and was playing before he was four. Doughty also played soccer in his youth as a goalkeeper – his father had a history with the game and his sister Chelsea is named after the English team of the same name. He was considered for a provincial under-14 team, but gave up the sport at 16 to focus on hockey. Nonetheless, Doughty felt that his time playing goal in soccer helped him develop an awareness of the players and the game in hockey.

      Playing career
      Major junior

      Doughty was selected by the Guelph Storm fifth overall in the 2005 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection draft.He scored five goals and 33 points for the Storm in 2005–06 and was named to the OHL All-Rookie Team on defence. Doughty played in the 2007 OHL All-Star Game and was voted the top offensive defenceman in the league by the coaches following a 74-point season in 2006–07. He again won both honours in 2007–08 with a 50-point season, and was awarded the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL's outstanding defenceman.[7]National Hockey League (NHL) Central Scouting ranked Doughty as the third best North American prospect for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[8] He was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Kings, a choice that excited Doughty as he grew up a Kings fan and wanted to play in Los Angeles.

      Los Angeles Kings (2008–present)

      Early success in Los Angeles (2008–2011)

      Doughty made the Kings opening day roster to start the 2008–09 NHL season, one of eight 18-year-olds to do so across the league. Earning a spot on the Kings roster overwhelmed Doughty, who did not expect to play in the NHL so quickly. He made his NHL debut on October 11, 2008, against the San Jose Sharks, and scored his first goal on October 20 against the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings had the option of returning him to junior without using up one year of his rookie contract if they did so before he played his tenth NHL game. However, they chose to keep him on the roster for the season. His defensive partner, Sean O'Donnell agreed with the decision, praising Doughty's maturity. He played 81 games in his rookie season, finishing with six goals and 21 assists, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team, while also playing in the Youngstars Game as part of the 2009 All-Star festivities.
      Doughty during warmup prior to an NHL game against the Calgary Flames, April 2009

      Doughty improved to 59 points in his sophomore season of 2009–10 and finished third in the league in scoring amongst defencemen. He was named to the second all-star team and was named a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenceman. His coach, Terry Murray, praised Doughty for his improvement during the season. Doughty helped lead the Kings into the playoffs for the first time since 2002, though they lost their first round series to the Vancouver Canucks. He played all six games of the series despite suffering a wrist injury in the first game that forced him to decline an invitation to play for Canada at the 2010 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.

      The Kings' media voted Doughty the team's outstanding defenceman for the third consecutive season in 2010–11.[18] His offensive output fell from 59 points the previous season to 40, but he scored his 100th career point on December 21, 2010, against the Colorado Avalanche. A restricted free agent following the season, Doughty and the Kings struggled to agree on a new contract. The Kings offered $6.8 million per season over seven years, but Doughty rejected the offer. Though the Kings publicly stated they were not willing to sign him for a higher annual salary than team leader Anže Kopitar's $6.8 million, the two sides ultimately agreed on an eight-year, $56 million contract that made Doughty the highest paid player on the team at an average of $7 million per season. Doughty missed the majority of Los Angeles' training camp as a holdout, including five pre-season games, before signing the contract on September 29, 2011.

      Stanley Cup titles (2012–2014)

      In addition to missing training camp, Doughty suffered a concussion early in the season that forced him onto injured reserve He struggled upon his return from the injury and faced criticism that he had allowed his physical conditioning to lapse. Doughty himself admitted that he was not enjoying the game early in the season. He said that his season turned a corner when the team replaced Murray with Darryl Sutter, a coach who preached the need for preparation. Doughty was elevated into a role where he was expected to shut down the opposition's top forwards, forcing him to focus more on his defensive play than his offensive. Consequently, Doughty's 36 points on the season was his lowest total in three years. He was the top-scoring defenceman in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, however, recording 16 points in 20 games to help the Kings win the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. Doughty was praised as the top player for either team in the final series, a six-game victory over the New Jersey Devils.

      Doughty won his second Stanley Cup in 2014 against the New York Rangers, becoming the seventh player to win both an Olympic hockey gold medal and the Stanley Cup in the same year.
      Doughty warming up prior to a game in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs

      Norris Trophy win and continued success (2015–present)

      During the 2015–16 season, Doughty had a career-high plus 24 rating, while also leading the league in shot attempts and ranking third in average ice time for the Kings. At the end of the year, Doughty won the 2015–16 Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman. It was his third nomination; he finished second in voting in 2014–15 and third in 2009–10.

      During the 2016–17 season Doughty was selected to participate in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game after leading the team's defense in goals and coming in second in points. The following season, Doughty was again selected to participate in the All-Star Game, marking his fourth consecutive selection. Doughty was also named a finalist for the Norris Trophy again. During the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs Doughty was suspended for one game for an illegal hit to the head during Game 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

      On July 1, 2018, Doughty agreed to an 8-year, $88 million contract extension with the Kings, which will see him signed through until the 2026–27 season.

      On October 8, 2019, Doughty scored the winning goal in a game against the Calgary Flames, but it was his post-goal celebration that received media attention. Doughty allegedly yelled "Suck my dick!" at Flames' fans at ice level, while performing a "crotch chop" motion made famous in professional wrestling circles.

      International play

      Medal record
      Men's ice hockey
      Representing  Canada
       2008 Czech Republic

      In 2006, Doughty played with Team Ontario at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, finishing fifth, then won a gold medal with the national under-18 team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He participated the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships, scoring five points in six games for the fourth place Canadians, and while he was considered for the Canadian junior team for the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, he did not make the cut. Doughty was named to participate in the 2007 Super Series, an eight-game tournament against the Russian juniors meant to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1972 Summit Series.
      Doughty (number 8) celebrates moments after Sidney Crosby's gold-medal winning goal at the 2010 Winter Olympics over the United States.

      He played in all eight games, recording two assists, as Canada finished the series unbeaten with seven wins and a tie. He then earned a spot on the roster for the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Doughty was named a tournament all-star, and given the Directorate Award for Best Defenceman after helping lead the Canadians to their fourth consecutive gold medal at the tournament.

      Following his rookie season in the NHL, Doughty made his debut with the senior team, playing in the 2009 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He scored one goal and added six assists in nine games, however the Canadians settled for silver after losing the championship game to Russia, 2–1. His strong play in the World Championships earned Doughty an invitation to Canada's summer orientation camp for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Doughty earned one of the final spots on the Canadian defence, beating out established players such as Dion Phaneuf, Jay Bouwmeester and Mike Green. Doughty became the youngest player to represent Canada in a major best-on-best tournament since Eric Lindros participated in the 1991 Canada Cup at the age of 18. He emerged as one of the top defenders on the team, and won the gold medal as Canada defeated the United States in the final game. He was on the ice when Sidney Crosby scored the tournament-winning goal in overtime. Doughty was a star at the 2014 Winter Olympics, where Canada defended its gold medal title. He led the team with four goals and featured prominently on a defensive core which allowed only three goals in six games en route to being undefeated, one of the best team performances in Olympic history.

      Personal life

      Doughty's maternal grandparents immigrated to Canada from Portugal in the 1950s and his paternal grandparents immigrated to Canada from England in the 1970s.

      Doughty married his highschool sweetheart Nicole Arruda on August 8, 2018 in Muskoka, Ontario.
      Deepa Malik
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Deepa Malik
      Malik in 2016
      Personal information
      Full name Deepa Malik
      Born 30 September 1970
      Bhainswal, Haryana, India
      Sport
      Country India
      Achievements and titles

      Representing  India
      Women's athletics

      Deepa Malik (born 30 September 1970) is an Indian athlete. She started her career at the age of 30. She is the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic Games and won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in shot put. She also won gold in the F-53/54 Javelin event at the para athletic Grand Prix held in Dubai in 2018. She is currently the world number one in the F-53 category. She has won accolades for her participation in various adventure sports. She is associated with Himalayan Motorsports Association (H.M.A.) and Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (F.M.S.C.I.). She has undertaken an 8-day, 1,700-km drive in sub-zero temperatures which included a climb to 18,000 feet (5,500 m). It was – Raid De Himalaya. This journey covers many difficult paths including remote Himalayas, Leh, Shimla and Jammu.

      She is a member of the working group in the formulation 12th five-year plan (2012–2017) on sports and physical education as nominated by the Planning Commission HRD Division on behalf of the Sports Ministry. She is also the 'Clean India' brand ambassador for NMDC and expert consultant for Disability Inclusive Accessible Infrastructure for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs 'Smart Cities' project. In 2020, she was elected as President of the Paralympic Committee of India.

      Achievements

      Deepa Malik is the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics. She won the silver medal in the shot put in 2016 Paralympic Games. She was previously honored with the Arjuna award in 2012, at the age of 42 years. She has also been conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2017. She created a New Asian Record in Asian Para Games 2018 and is the only Indian woman to win medals in 3 consecutive Asian Para Games (2010, 2014, 2018). She has won 58 national & 23 International medals across all disciplines to date.

      International participation and medals

      Asian Para Games 2018, Jakarta 2018 | 2 Bronze Medals(3rd Position) - 1 Bronze F53/F54 Category (Javelin Throw), 1 Bronze F51/52/53 Category (Discus Throw)
      Paralympic Games 2016, Rio 2016 | Silver Medal (2nd Position) - First Ever Indian Woman to win a Paralympic Medal (shot put)
      IPC Athletics World Championship, Doha, Qatar 2015 | Diploma (5th Position) – (shot put)
      IPC Oceania Asian Championship, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 2016 | 1 Gold (javelin), 1 Silver (shot put)
      Won Incheon Asian Para Games 2014 – Silver medal in women's 53–54 Javelin with a new Asian Record and has now qualified to be at IPC World Athletics Championship Doha 2015 to be held in Oct 2015
      IPC 2nd China Open Athletics Championship Beijing 10–17 April 2014– Shotput F53-55 Gold
      German open athletics championship Berlin 2013 – IPC Qualification event – Only women from India to earn qualification for IPC world athletics championship Lyon 2013
      IPC World Athletics Championship, Lyon 2013 – Diploma Position
      First Malaysian Open Athletics Championship April 2012 – Two Gold Medals – (Javelin and discus) – New Official Asian Record In Javelin F-53 Women – Felicitated by Milkha Singh Ji and P.T.Usha Ji.
      IWAS World Games Sharjah Dec-2011- Two Bronze Medals – Two New Asian Records
      IPC World Athletics Championship Christchurch Jan 2011 – Silver Medal
      IPC World Athletics Championship New Zealand 2011 – Only women para-athlete to qualify for the same *Commonwealth Games 2010 – Diploma Position – Shot Put
        CP Sports Nottingham England Sep 2010 – Three Gold Medals – Shot-put, Discus, Javelin
      IWAS World Games, India 2009– shot put- Bronze Medal
      World Open Swimming Championship- Berlin 2008 – 10th Position S-5 Swimming Backstroke
      IWAS World Games Taiwan- 2007 – Diploma Position – Javelin F53 Women
      FESPIC Games Kuala Lumpur 2006 – 2ND Position S-5 Swimming Backstroke
      Qualified B Level – Javelin Throw F-53 For Beijing Olympics 2008 – Felicitated By Mr. Kapil Dev
      National and State level medals: 51 Gold, 5 Silver, 2 Bronze
      International medals- 23

      Motor sports

      Deepa Malik was the first person ever to receive a license for an invalid (modified) rally vehicle, a case she consistently pursued for 19 months in Maharashtra. She is also the first physically challenged individual in the country to receive an official rally license from the Federation Motor Sports Club of India (FMSCI) and become a navigator and driver in the toughest car rallies of the country- Raid-de-HIMALAYA 2009 and Desert Storm 2010.

      Malik participated in the grid and national anthem ceremony at the start of the 2013 Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit.

      Her aim of joining motorsports is to spread awareness towards the fact that physically challenged individuals can obtain an official license and attain independence and self-reliance through driving. Deepa Malik has undertaken numerous rallies to promote this cause.

      Awards and recognition

      National awards
      The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Ms. Deepa Malik, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on March 30, 2017
      President Role Model Award (2014)
      Arjuna Award (2012)
      Maharashtra Chhatrapati Award (sports) (2009–10)
      Haryana Karambhoomi Award (2008)
      Swawlamban Puruskar Maharashtra (2006)
      Padma Shri Award (2017)
      First Ladies Award - Ministry of Women & Child Development.

      Other awards

      WCRC Leaders Asia Excellence Award 2014
      Limca people of the year award 2014
      iCONGO Karamveer Puruskar 2014
      Amazing Indian Awards Times Now-2013
      Cavinkare National Ability Mastery Award −2013
      Karamaveer Chakra award 2013
      Nominee for L'Oreal Femina Awards 2013 in “Women We Love Category”
      Batra Positive Health Hero Award 2012
      AWWA Excellence Award For Sports 2012
      Media Peace & Excellence Award For Sports 2012
      Maharana Mewar Arawali Sports Award 2012
      Misaal-e-Himmat Award (2012)
      International Women's day appreciation Award 2011 – Cancer Patient Aid Association New Delhi.
      Shree Shakti Puruskar CARE- 2011
      District Sports Award Ahmednagar-2010
      Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar 2009
      Naari Gaurav Puraskar 2009
      Guru Gobind Shaurya Puraskar 2009
      Rotary Women Of The Year Award 2007For the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics
      ₹4 crore (US$560,000) from the Government of Haryana
      ₹50 lakh (US$70,000) from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

      Records and rankings

      Holds An Official IPC Asian Record In Javelin F-53 Category – Felicitated by Milkha Singh and P.T.Usha.
      Holds All Three National Records In Throws {Discus, Javelin, Shot-put} In F-53 Category
      Holds All Three National Records In S-1 Swimming Category {Back Stroke, Breast Stroke, Free Style }
      World Ranking 2010–12 – 2nd Shot-put, 3rd -Discus, 3rd Javelin
      Asian Ranking 2010–12 – 1st In All Three Throws

      LIMCA World Records

      Longest Pan-India drive done by a paraplegic women. Chennai-Delhi 3278 km – 2013
      Driving Across Nine High Altitude Passes in Nine Days on Leh-Ladakh Highest Motorable Roads. (First Woman in the world in her disability to attempt a journey like this – 2011)
      Riding Special Bike −2009
      Swimming in River Yamuna Against The Current For 1 km. Allahabad-2008
      Derek Jeter
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Derek Jeter
      Jeter at TechCrunch Disrupt in 2017
      Born: June 26, 1974 

      Batted: Right
      Threw: Right
      MLB debut
      May 29, 1995, for the New York Yankees
      Last MLB appearance
      September 28, 2014, for the New York Yankees
      MLB statistics
      Hits 3,465
      Teams

      Career highlights and awards

      14× All-Star (1998–2002, 2004, 2006–2012, 2014)
      5× World Series champion (1996, 1998–2000, 2009)
      5× Gold Glove Award (2004–2006, 2009–2010)
      5× Silver Slugger Award (2006–2009, 2012)
      2× AL Hank Aaron Award (2006, 2009)
      Monument Park honoree
      Induction 2020
      Vote 99.75% (first ballot)


      Derek Sanderson Jeter (/ˈdʒiːtər/ JEE-tər; born June 26, 1974) is an American former professional baseball shortstop, businessman, and baseball executive. He has been the chief executive officer (CEO) and part owner of the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB) since September 2017. As a player, Jeter spent his entire 20-year MLB career with the New York Yankees. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2020; he received 396 of 397 possible votes (99.75%), the second-highest percentage in MLB history (behind only Mariano Rivera) and the highest by a position player.

      A five-time World Series champion, Jeter is regarded as one of the primary contributors to the Yankees' success of the late 1990s and early 2000s for his hitting, base-running, fielding, and leadership. He is the Yankees' all-time career leader in hits (3,465), doubles (544), games played (2,747), stolen bases (358), times on base (4,716), plate appearances (12,602) and at bats (11,195). His accolades include 14 All-Star selections, five Gold Glove Awards, five Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards, and a Roberto Clemente Award. Jeter was the 28th player to reach 3,000 hits and finished his career ranked sixth in MLB history in career hits and first among shortstops. In 2017, the Yankees retired his uniform number 2.

      The Yankees drafted Jeter out of high school in 1992, and he debuted in the major leagues at age 20 in 1995. The following year, he became the Yankees' starting shortstop, won the Rookie of the Year Award, and helped the team win the 1996 World Series over the Atlanta Braves. Jeter continued to excel during the team's championship seasons of 1998–2000; he finished third in voting for the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 1998, recorded multiple career-high numbers in 1999, and won both the All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP Awards in 2000. He consistently placed among the AL leaders in hits and runs scored for most of his career, and served as the Yankees' team captain from 2003 until his retirement in 2014. Throughout his career, Jeter contributed reliably to the Yankees' franchise successes. He holds many postseason records, and has a .321 batting average in the World Series. Jeter has earned the nicknames "Captain Clutch" and "Mr. November" due to his outstanding play in the postseason.

      Jeter was one of the most heavily marketed athletes of his generation and is involved in numerous product endorsements. As a celebrity, his personal life and relationships with other celebrities have drawn the attention of the media.

      Early life
      Jeter with his boyhood idol Dave Winfield at Dodger Stadium, June 2010

      Derek Sanderson Jeter was born on June 26, 1974, in Pequannock Township, New Jersey, the son of accountant Dorothy (née Connors) and substance abuse counselor Sanderson Charles Jeter. His mother is of English, German, and Irish ancestry, while his father is African-American. They met while serving in the United States Army in Germany. His father played baseball at Fisk University in Tennessee as a shortstop, and holds a PhD. When Jeter was a child, his parents made him sign a contract every year that defined acceptable and unacceptable forms of behavior. Dorothy instilled a positive attitude in her son, insisting that he not use the word "can't." It was a baseball family, and Jeter's younger sister Sharlee (born c. 1979) was a softball star in high school.

      The Jeters lived in New Jersey until Derek was four years old, at which point they moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. At age five Jeter began playing little league baseball. The children lived with their parents during the school year and spent their summers with their grandparents in New Jersey. Attending New York Yankees games with his grandparents, Jeter became a passionate fan of the team. Watching star outfielder Dave Winfield inspired him to pursue a career in baseball.

      Jeter attended Kalamazoo Central High School, where he ran cross country in the fall, played basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring. Jeter posted high batting averages for the school's baseball team; he batted .557 in his sophomore year and .508 as a junior. In his senior year, he batted .508 and compiled 23 runs batted in (RBIs), 21 walks, four home runs, a .637 on-base percentage (OBP), a .831 slugging percentage (SLG), 12 stolen bases (in 12 attempts), and only one strikeout

      Jeter received several honors after his senior season, including the Kalamazoo Area B'nai B'rith Award for Scholar Athlete, the 1992 High School Player of the Year Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association, the 1992 Gatorade High School Player of the year award, and USA Today's High School Player of the Year. He also received an All-State honorable mention in basketball. Jeter earned a baseball scholarship to attend the University of Michigan and play college baseball for the Michigan Wolverines.

      Professional career
      Draft

      The Houston Astros held the first overall pick in the 1992 MLB draft. Hall of Fame pitcher Hal Newhouser, who worked for the Astros as a scout, evaluated Jeter extensively and lobbied team management to select him. Fearing Jeter would insist on a salary bonus of at least $1 million to forgo college for a professional contract, they chose Cal State Fullerton outfielder Phil Nevin, who signed for $700,000. Newhouser felt so strongly about Jeter's potential that he quit his job with the Astros in protest after they ignored his drafting advice.

      The Yankees, who selected sixth, also rated Jeter highly. Yankees scout Dick Groch, assigned to scout in the Midwest, watched Jeter participate in an all-star camp held at Western Michigan University. Though Yankees officials were concerned that Jeter would attend college instead of signing a professional contract, Groch convinced them to select him, saying, "the only place Derek Jeter's going is to Cooperstown."The second through fifth picks were Paul Shuey, B. J. Wallace, Jeffrey Hammonds, and Chad Mottola; those five would combine for two All-Star Game appearances (Nevin and Hammonds).The Yankees drafted Jeter, who chose to turn pro, signing for $800,000.

      Minor leagues (1992–1995)

      Jeter played four seasons in Minor League Baseball, formally known as the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL). Jeter began the 1992 season with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, based in Tampa, Florida. In his first professional game, Jeter failed to get a hit in seven at-bats, going 0-for-7, while striking out five times. Jeter continued to struggle during the rest of the season, batting .202 in 47 games. Manager Gary Denbo benched Jeter in the season's final game to ensure his average would not drop below .200, known in baseball as the Mendoza Line. Frustrated by his lack of success and homesick, Jeter accrued $400-per-month phone bills from daily calls to his parents.

      The Yankees promoted Jeter to the Greensboro Hornets of the Class A South Atlantic League (SAL) to give him more at-bats. He batted .247 in his first 11 games with Greensboro, and struggled defensively, making nine errors in 48 chances. Weighing 156 pounds (71 kg), Jeter had a scrawny appearance that did not match his reputation as the Yankees' future leader.Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte, who played for the Hornets that season, at first questioned the hype surrounding Jeter, but recognized his talent and poise.

      Jeter focused the next offseason on his fielding. Baseball America rated Jeter among the top 100 prospects in baseball before the 1993 season, ranking him 44th. Returning to the Hornets in 1993, his first full season of professional baseball, Jeter hit .295 with five home runs, 71 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases; SAL managers voted him the "Most Outstanding Major League Prospect" in the league. He finished second in the SAL in triples (11), third in hits (152), and 11th in batting average, and was named to the postseason All-Star team. Jeter committed 56 errors, a SAL record. Despite this, he was named the SAL's Best Defensive Shortstop, Most Exciting Player, and Best Infield Arm by Baseball America

      Coming off his strong 1993 season, Baseball America rated Jeter as the 16th-best prospect in baseball. Jeter played for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL), the Albany-Colonie Yankees of the Class AA Eastern League, and the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League during the 1994 season, combining to hit .344 with five home runs, 68 RBIs, and steal 50 bases across the three levels. He was honored with Minor League Player of the Year Awards by Baseball America, The Sporting News, and Topps/ NAPBL. He was also named the most valuable player of the FSL.

      Considered the fourth-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America heading into the 1995 season, Jeter was projected as the starting shortstop for the Yankees. However, he suffered mild inflammation in his right shoulder in the Arizona Fall League after the conclusion of the 1994 regular season. As a precaution, the Yankees signed Tony Fernández to a two-year contract. With Fernández the starting shortstop, the Yankees assigned Jeter to Class AAA During the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, Gene Michael, the Yankees' general manager, offered Jeter the opportunity to work out for the MLB team with replacement players in spring training before the 1995 season. Jeter denied receiving the offer, and he did not cross the picket line.

      Major leagues (1995–2014)
      1995–1998

      Early in the 1995 season, Fernández and infielder Pat Kelly were injured. Consequently, Jeter made his MLB debut on May 29, 1995. He was assigned uniform number 2, which was most recently worn by Mike Gallego from 1992 to 1994. Batting ninth, he went hitless in five at bats, striking out once. The following day, he recorded his first two major league hits and scored his first two career runs. Jeter batted .250 and committed two errors in 13 games before being demoted to Class AAA Columbus; Fernández replaced Jeter at shortstop. The Yankees advanced to the postseason in 1995. Jeter traveled with the team during the 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS), though he was not on the active roster. The Yankees lost to the Seattle Mariners.
      Jeter tagging out Miguel Tejada in 2007

      After Fernández batted a disappointing .245 and appeared in only 108 games due to injuries in 1995, newly hired Yankees manager Joe Torre turned to Jeter for the 1996 season, hoping for a .250 batting average and dependable defense. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, often skeptical of younger players, was unconvinced. After Clyde King, a close Steinbrenner advisor, observed Jeter for two days in spring training in 1996, he came away with the impression that Jeter was not yet ready to contribute at the major league level. To provide depth to the team at the shortstop position after an injury to Fernández, Steinbrenner approved a trade that would have sent pitcher Mariano Rivera to the Mariners for shortstop Félix Fermín, but Michael, by then the vice president of scouting, and assistant general manager Brian Cashman convinced Steinbrenner to give Jeter an opportunity.

      Rated the sixth-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America heading into the 1996 season, Jeter started on Opening Day, the first Yankee rookie to start as shortstop for the team since Tom Tresh in 1962 He hit his first MLB home run that day. With his speed and ability to execute the hit and run, Jeter served as a complement to leadoff hitter Tim Raines while batting in the ninth spot in the batting order. By year's end Jeter far exceeded Torre's expectations – and anyone's – hitting .314 with 10 home runs, 104 runs scored, and 78 RBIs. He was named the unanimous AL Rookie of the Year, receiving all 28 first-place votes in only the fifth sweep in the honor's 50-year history.

      The Yankees reached the 1996 postseason, and Torre batted Jeter in the leadoff spot based on his strong year-long performance. During Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series (ALCS), the Yankees trailed the Baltimore Orioles 4–3 in the eighth inning when Jeter hit a fly ball to right field that was ruled a home run by the umpires after 12-year-old fan Jeffrey Maier reached over the wall to catch the ball. Though the ball would have remained in play if not for Maier, and could have been caught by Tony Tarasco, the home run stood as called, tying the game. It marked the first home run of Jeter's postseason career. The Yankees won the game and defeated the Orioles in five games. Overall, Jeter batted .361 in the 1996 postseason, helping to lead the Yankees offensively with Bernie Williams, as Wade Boggs, Paul O'Neill, and Tino Martinez struggled. The Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves in the 1996 World Series to win their first championship since the 1978 World Series.

      Following his Rookie of the Year campaign, considered the "new crop" of shortstops, along with Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra, as the careers of older shortstops such as Cal Ripken Jr., Barry Larkin, Ozzie Smith, and Alan Trammell were concluding. Rodriguez, the first overall selection in the 1993 MLB draft, first contacted Jeter about his experiences as a high-first round pick. The two became friends to the extent that The New York Times journalist Jack Curry commented "[r]arely have two higher-profile opponents been as close." Rodriguez described Jeter as being "like my brother," even though they were on-field adversaries.

      Before the 1997 season, Jeter and the Yankees agreed on a $540,000 contract with performance bonuses. Becoming the Yankees' leadoff batter, Jeter batted .291, with 10 home runs, 70 RBIs, 116 runs, and 190 hits. Though he hit two home runs during the 1997 American League Division Series, the Yankees lost to the Cleveland Indians, three games to two.

      Jeter earned $750,000 for the 1998 season. That year, Jeter was selected for his first All-Star Game. In the regular season, he batted .324 with a league-leading 127 runs, 19 home runs, and 84 RBIs, for a team that won 114 games during the regular season and is widely considered to be one of the greatest of all time. In the playoffs, Jeter hit only .176 in the 1998 ALDS and ALCS, but batted .353 in the World Series, as the Yankees defeated the San Diego Padres in four games. At season's end, Jeter finished third in voting for the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.

      1999–2002
      Jeter in his distinctive early career upright batting stance at the new Comiskey Park, 1999

      Eligible for salary arbitration for the first time before the 1999 season, Jeter was awarded a $5 million salary. Jeter led the AL in hits that season with 219, while finishing second in the league in batting average (.349) and runs scored (134), appearing in his second All-Star game that year. His season totals in batting average, runs, hits, runs batted in, doubles (37), triples (9), home runs (24), SLG (.552), and OBP (.438) are all personal bests. Jeter, who for part of the year hit third in the batting order, also drove in 102 runs, becoming only the second Yankee shortstop to do so, following Lyn Lary's 107 RBIs in 1931. In the postseason, Jeter batted .455 in the ALDS, .350 in the ALCS, and .353 in the World Series, as the Yankees defeated the Braves to win another championship, Jeter's third.

      During the 1999–2000 offseason, the Yankees negotiated with Jeter, tentatively agreeing to a seven-year, $118.5 million contract. However, because Steinbrenner did not want to set a record for the largest contract, Steinbrenner waited while Juan González and the Detroit Tigers negotiated on a reported eight-year, $143 million contract extension. When that agreement fell through, so did Jeter's tentative deal. To avoid arbitration, Jeter and the Yankees agreed to a one-year deal worth $10 million.

      Jeter batted a team-best .339 in the 2000 regular season and added 15 home runs, 73 RBIs, 119 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. In the 2000 MLB All-Star Game, he recorded three hits, including a two-run single that gave his team the lead and victory. The performance earned him the All-Star Game MVP Award, the first time a Yankee won the award. During the postseason, he batted only .211 in the Division Series but rebounded to hit .318 in the Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, and .409 in the World Series against the New York Mets. Jeter added two home runs, a triple, and two doubles in the World Series, including a leadoff home run on the first pitch of Game 4 and a triple later in the third inning. His home run in Game 5 tied the game and extended his World Series hitting streak to 14 games.The Yankees defeated the Mets in five games for their third consecutive title and fourth in Jeter's first five full seasons. Jeter won the World Series MVP Award, becoming the only player to win the All-Star Game MVP and World Series MVP Awards in the same season.

      With one year remaining until he would become eligible for free agency, Jeter signed a ten-year, $189 million contract before the 2001 season to remain with the Yankees. Alex Rodriguez had signed a ten-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers earlier in the offseason, setting the market for Jeter's negotiations. Jeter became the second-highest-paid athlete across all team sports and auto racing, trailing only Rodriguez. The $18.9 million average annual value of Jeter's contract was the third-highest in baseball, behind only Rodriguez ($25.2 million) and Manny Ramirez ($20 million).

      In 2001, Jeter posted another strong season, batting .311 with 21 home runs, 74 RBIs, 110 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases, making his fourth All-Star appearance Jeter made a notable defensive assist in Game 3 of the 2001 American League Division Series against the Oakland Athletics. With Jeremy Giambi on first base, Oakland right fielder Terrence Long hit a double off Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina into the right-field corner. As Giambi rounded third base and headed for home plate, Yankees right fielder Shane Spencer retrieved the ball and made a wild throw that missed cut-off man Tino Martinez and dribbled down the first-base line. Jeter ran from shortstop to grab the ball and flipped it backhanded to catcher Jorge Posada, rather than throwing it overhand. Posada tagged Giambi out on the leg just before he crossed home plate, preserving the Yankees' one-run lead. Facing elimination, the Yankees eventually won the game, as well as the series. The play, known as "The Flip," was later voted seventh in Baseball Weekly's 10 Most Amazing Plays of all time, and won the 2002 Best Play ESPY Award.
      Jeter chats with President George W. Bush before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series

      Jeter batted .297, with 18 home runs, 75 RBIs, 124 runs scored, 191 hits, and a career-best 32 stolen bases during the 2002 regular season. He led the majors in stolen base percentage (91.4%), getting caught only three times. He made his fifth All-Star appearance. In the 2002 postseason, the Anaheim Angels defeated the Yankees in the ALDS on their way to winning the World Series.

      2003–2008

      On Opening Day of the 2003 season, Jeter dislocated his left shoulder when he collided with Toronto Blue Jays catcher Ken Huckaby at third base. He was placed on the disabled list for six weeks and missed 36 games; he had never played fewer than 148 games in the prior seven full seasons. Jeter returned to bat .324, finishing third in batting average to Bill Mueller, who batted .326. Ramirez finished second.

      Steinbrenner named Jeter the captain of the Yankees on June 3, 2003, following eight seasons without a captain after Don Mattingly retired in 1995. That postseason, Jeter batted .314 with two home runs, five RBIs, and 10 runs scored across 17 playoff games, including three hits in Game 3 of the 2003 World Series against the Florida Marlins – the only three hits Josh Beckett allowed during the game. Jeter committed a crucial error in a Game 6 loss, and the Marlins won the series in six games.
      Jeter during batting practice before a game in 2004

      The Yankees acquired Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers during the 2003–04 offseason. Rodriguez had won two Gold Glove Awards at shortstop and was considered the best shortstop in baseball. Jeter—who had no Gold Gloves at the time—remained the team's starting shortstop while Rodriguez moved to third base. Rodriguez's fielding range allowed Jeter to cede ground to his right to Rodriguez and cheat to his left: fielding balls hit to his left is a weakness identified by scouts. The 2004 season began with Jeter mired in a slump, at one point getting only one hit in a span of 36 at-bats; through April, he batted .168. His batting average improved to .277 by the All-Star break in July.

      Jeter made the All-Star team and finished the season with a .292 average; 23 home runs, the second-most of his career; 78 RBIs; 111 runs scored; and a career-best 44 doubles, which broke the Yankee single-season record for doubles by a shortstop, besting Tony Kubek's 38 in 1961. He batted .316 with a team-leading four RBIs as the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins in the 2004 ALDS. Jeter struggled in the 2004 ALCS, batting .200 with one extra base hit, as the Yankees lost the series to the Red Sox in seven games, despite winning the first three games.

      In the 12th inning of a tied game on July 1, 2004, against their rivals, the Boston Red Sox, Trot Nixon hit a pop fly down the left field line. Jeter ran from his position at shortstop and made an over-the-shoulder catch. He launched himself over the third-base side railing and two rows of seats, receiving a lacerated chin and bruised face. The Yankees went on to win the game in the bottom of the 13th inning. This was voted the Play of the Year in the This Year in Baseball Awards competition, as voted on by fans at MLB.com. Following the 2004 season, Jeter was presented with his first Gold Glove Award; his diving catch on July 1 was cited as a reason for the award. Though Jeter was fourth among shortstops in fielding percentage and errors, two traditional fielding statistics, critics pointed to his lower ratings in the more advanced sabermetric statistics, such as range factor and ultimate zone rating (UZR).

      Jeter was second in the AL in runs scored (122) in the 2005 season, and was third in the league in both at bats (654) and hits (202). Though his critics continued to see Jeter as a liability defensively, he won his second consecutive Gold Glove in 2005. Orlando Cabrera of the Angels had a higher fielding percentage and committed fewer errors, but voters noted that Jeter had more assists. Though Jeter batted .333 during the 2005 ALDS, the Yankees lost to the Angels.
      Jeter connects for a hit against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006

      For the 2006 season, the Yankees signed Johnny Damon to play center field and lead off, moving Jeter to the second position in the batting lineup. During the 2006 season, Jeter recorded his 2,000th career hit, becoming the eighth Yankee to reach the milestone. Jeter finished the season second in the AL in both batting average (.343) and runs scored (118), third in hits (214), and fourth in OBP (.417), earning his seventh All-Star selection. Jeter batted .500 with one home run in the 2006 ALDS, including a perfect 5-for-5 performance in Game 1, making him the sixth player to record five hits in one postseason game. The Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers, three games to one.

      Many expected Jeter would win the AL MVP Award for 2006. In a close vote, Jeter finished second in the voting to Justin Morneau of the Twins. It was his sixth top-10 finish in the MVP balloting in 11 full seasons through 2006. Though he lost the MVP Award, he won the Hank Aaron Award, given for superior offensive performance. He also won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award.
      Jeter in 2007

      Though the Yankees continued to struggle with postseason failures, Jeter remained a consistent contributor. During the 2007 season, Jeter was third in the AL with 203 hits, his third consecutive season and sixth overall, with at least 200 hits. He also finished ninth in batting average (.322). He was selected for his eighth All-Star appearance. In the field, he was involved in turning a career-high 104 double plays. He struggled during the 2007 ALDS, batting 3-for-17 (.176) with one RBI, as the Indians defeated the Yankees.

      Jeter hit his 400th career double on June 27, 2008, and his 200th home run on July 12. Jeter's slugging percentage (SLG) dropped to .410 in the 2008 season, his lowest mark since 1997. His offense took an upward turn after May as he hit .322 with a .824 OPS after June 1. Jeter was elected to his ninth All-Star game as the starting shortstop. He finished the season with a .300 batting average.

      Jeter tied Lou Gehrig's record for hits at Yankee Stadium (1,269) with a home run off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price on September 14, 2008. On September 16, he broke the record against Chicago White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd.The Yankees were eliminated from postseason contention, the only full season in Jeter's career where he did not compete in the playoffs. Following the final game in Yankee Stadium history, Jeter made a speech at the request of the Yankees, thanking the Yankees fans for their support—a moment later voted by fans as the Moment of the Year in MLB.com's This Year in Baseball Awards:

      From all of us up here, it's a huge honor to put this uniform on every day and come out here and play. Every member of this organization, past and present, has been calling this place home for 85 years. There's a lot of tradition, a lot of history and a lot of memories. The great thing about memories is you're able to pass them along from generation to generation. Although things are going to change next year and we're going to move across the street, there are a few things with the New York Yankees that never change. That's pride, tradition and most of all, we have the greatest fans in the world. We're relying on you to take the memories from this stadium and add them to the new memories we make at the new Yankee Stadium and continue to pass them on from generation to generation. We just want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world.

      2009–2013

      For the 2009 season, Yankees manager Joe Girardi switched Jeter and Damon in the batting order, with Damon moving to second and Jeter to the leadoff role. Jeter batted .334, third-best in the AL, with a .406 OBP, an .871 OPS, 18 home runs, 66 RBIs, 30 stolen bases in 35 attempts, 107 runs scored, 72 walks, and 212 hits (second in MLB). Defensively, Jeter committed a career-low eight errors, and his .986 fielding percentage was his career best. The addition of Gold Glove-winning first baseman Mark Teixeira allowed second baseman Robinson Canó to shift his focus to his right, helping Jeter. During the season, the Sporting News named Jeter eighth on their list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball.
      Jeter saluting the crowd after becoming the all-time Yankees hits leader in 2009

      Jeter achieved two career hit milestones in the second half of the 2009 season. On August 16, 2009, against the Seattle Mariners, Jeter doubled down the right-field line for his 2,675th hit as a shortstop, breaking Luis Aparicio's previous major league record. Then, Jeter became the all-time hits leader as a member of the Yankees (2,722), passing Lou Gehrig on September 11, 2009. The hit was a single off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman in the third inning.

      In the 2009 postseason, Jeter batted .355, including .407 in the 2009 World Series, as he won his fifth World Series championship. He was named Sportsman of the Year for 2009 by Sports Illustrated, and won the Roberto Clemente Award, Hank Aaron Award, his fourth Gold Glove Award and his fourth Silver Slugger Award. Jeter also finished third in the AL MVP voting, behind Minnesota's Joe Mauer and Yankee teammate Mark Teixeira. It was also the fifth championship for Pettitte, Posada, and Rivera, who along with Jeter were referred to as the "Core Four."

      In 2010, Jeter, along with Posada and Rivera, became the first trio of teammates in any of the four major league sports in North America (MLB, NFL, NBA, or NHL) to play in at least 16 consecutive seasons on the same team as teammates. The 2010 season was statistically Jeter's worst in many respects. The Yankee captain batted .270 with a .340 OBP and .370 SLG, all career lows, as he hit more ground balls than usual. Despite this, Jeter was elected to start at shortstop in the All-Star Game. He rebounded to bat .342 in his last 79 at-bats after making adjustments to his swing with the help of Kevin Long, the Yankees hitting coach, who had successfully helped Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson make adjustments that improved their production. With Long, Jeter changed the way he strode with his left leg Following the season, Jeter won his fifth Gold Glove award. Jeter committed six errors during the season, his lowest total in 15 full seasons.

      "He might go down, when it's all over, as the all-time Yankee."

      —Don Zimmer, September 13, 2009

      After the 2010 season, Jeter became a free agent for the first time in his career. At age 36, Jeter appeared to be in decline; Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus suggested that Jeter, once a "good, not great" shortstop, had declined to become "below average" defensively. to the extent that he would likely need to change positions; Cashman later acknowledged that Jeter might need to shift to the outfield. Though Jeter stated that he wanted to remain with the Yankees, negotiations became tense. Jeter's agent, Casey Close, stated that he was "baffled" by the Yankees' approach to the negotiations, and Cashman, now the team's general manager, responded publicly that Jeter should test the open market to ascertain his value, which angered Jeter. According to reports, Jeter initially sought a four-year contract worth between $23 million and $25 million per season. He reached an agreement with the Yankees on a three-year contract for $51 million with an option for a fourth year. He spent the offseason working with Long on adjustments to his swing.

      The adjustments left Jeter frustrated, as he batted .242 in the first month of the 2011 season. As he struggled, it appeared that the 2011 season was the continuation of Jeter's decline. Jeter broke Rickey Henderson's franchise record for stolen bases when he stole his 327th base against the Mariners on May 28, 2011. He suffered a calf injury on June 13 that required his fifth stint on the 15-day disabled list, and his first since 2003 At that point, he was batting .260 for the 2011 season with a .649 OPS. Rehabilitating from his injury in Tampa, Jeter worked on his swing with Denbo, his former minor league manager. With Denbo, Jeter returned to the mechanics he used in his minor league days. Following his activation from the disabled list, he hit .326 with an .806 OPS in his last 64 games of the season. Jeter finished the year with a .297 batting average, six home runs, 61 runs batted in, 84 runs, and 16 stolen bases He credited the turnaround to his work with Denbo; Log acknowledged that his attempt to adjust Jeter's swing did not work.
      Jeter crosses home plate after recording his 3,000th hit in 2011, his teammates waiting to congratulate him

      On July 9, 2011, Jeter recorded his 3,000th career hit, a home run off of David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays. Jeter finished the day with five hits in five at-bats, the second player to have five hits on the day he achieved his 3,000th hit (the first was Craig Biggio). He also became the second player to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit, Wade Boggs having done so in 1999. The last of Jeter's five hits proved to be the game-winning hit. He is the only member of the 3,000 hit club to record all of his hits with the New York Yankees, and the only player to join the club as a Yankee. Jeter joined Honus Wagner as only the second regular shortstop to reach the 3,000 hit plateau. Only Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, and Robin Yount were younger than Jeter on the day of their 3,000th hit. MLB and HBO produced Derek Jeter 3K, a documentary that profiled his path to 3,000 hits and originally aired on July 28, 2011.

      Fatigued from the stress of chasing 3,000 career hits and wanting to rest his calf, Jeter opted not to attend the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. Jeter and Posada played their 1,660th game together on July 14, 2011, breaking the previous franchise record of 1,659 by Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri. Jeter played his 2,402nd game with the Yankees on August 29, 2011, breaking Mickey Mantle's record for most games played as a Yankee. He finished the 2011 season with 162 hits, his 16th consecutive season with 150 hits, which tied him with Pete Rose for the second-most consecutive 150-hit seasons, one behind Hank Aaron for the MLB record Jeter was honored with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, given in recognition of charitable endeavors.

      Despite continuing concerns about his age, the beginning of the 2012 season saw Jeter on a hot streak: he batted .420 through April 25. Rodriguez commented that Jeter is playing as he did in 1999, while Girardi said Jeter looks like he is 25 years old In the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, Jeter recorded his 11th All-Star hit, passing Mantle for the most All-Star Game hits in Yankees history. Jeter went 1-for-2 in the game, moving into fourth all-time with a .458 average among players with a minimum of 12 plate appearances in the All-Star Game.

      Jeter finished the 2012 season with the most hits in MLB (216). Against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 14 of that year, he moved into the Top 10 on the all-time hit list, surpassing Willie Mays by beating out an infield single for his 3,284th career hit. After hitting .364 in the 2012 ALDS, Jeter fractured his left ankle during Game 1 of the 2012 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers reaching for a ground ball, an injury which ended his season. Jeter had received a cortisone shot to treat a bone bruise in his left foot in September, which could have contributed to the break. Jeter had surgery on his broken left ankle on October 20, with an expected recovery time of four to five months.

      While rehabilitating, Jeter suffered a small crack in the area of his previous ankle fracture. As a result, Jeter began the 2013 season on the disabled list. The Yankees activated Jeter on July 11, but after playing in one game, Jeter returned to the disabled list with a quadriceps strain. He returned to the Yankees lineup on July 28, hitting a home run on the first pitch off of Matt Moore of Tampa Bay. Jeter was again placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 5 due to a Grade 1 calf strain, and after a brief return to the lineup, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list for a third time on September 11 due to problems with his ankle, ending his season. On September 14, 2013, Jeter was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Jeter batted .190 in only 17 games played during the 2013 season.

      Final season (2014)
      A fan holding a sign honoring Jeter during his final season

      Jeter re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $12 million contract for the 2014 season. Jeter announced on his Facebook page on February 12, 2014, that the 2014 season would be his last. During his final season, each opposing team honored Jeter with a gift during his final visit to their city, which has included donations to Jeter's charity, the Turn 2 Foundation.

      On July 10, Jeter recorded his 1,000th career multi-hit game, becoming the fourth player to do so. He was elected to start at shortstop in the 2014 All-Star Game, and batted leadoff for the AL. Jeter went 2-for-2, scored one run and received two standing ovations in the four innings he played at the 2014 All-Star Game.As a result, Jeter's .481 career All-Star batting average (13-for-27) ranked him fifth all-time (among players with at least 10 at-bats). At 40, Jeter also became the oldest player to have two or more hits in an All-Star Game. In July, Jeter broke Omar Vizquel's MLB career record of 2,609 games started at shortstop, and Gehrig's franchise career record of 534 doubles. On July 17, Derek scored the 1,900th run of his career becoming the 10th player in MLB history to do so. Jeter passed Carl Yastrzemski for seventh place on MLB's all-time career hit list on July 28 and on August 11 he passed Honus Wagner climbing to sixth on the all-time hits list.
      Jeter saluting the crowd during his final All Star Game appearance in the 2014 All Star Game

      The Yankees honored Jeter with a pregame tribute on September 7. Beginning with that day's game, the Yankees wore a patch on their hats and uniforms honoring Jeter for the remainder of the season. In the final week of Jeter's career, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig honored him as the 15th recipient of the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award for being "one of the most accomplished shortstops of all-time."

      During Jeter's final series at Yankee Stadium, Louisville Slugger announced they would retire their "P72" model baseball bat, the bat Jeter uses, though it will be sold under the name "DJ2," in Jeter's honor. The average ticket price for Jeter's final home game, on September 25, reached $830 on the secondary market. In his final game at Yankee Stadium, Jeter hit a walk-off single against Orioles pitcher Evan Meek to win the game, 6–5.

      Jeter decided to play exclusively as the designated hitter in the final series of his career, at Fenway Park in Boston, so that his final memories of playing shortstop would be at Yankee Stadium. The Red Sox honored Jeter with a pregame ceremony including Red Sox retired stars Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Luis Tiant and Rico Petrocelli, the Boston Bruins' Bobby Orr, New England Patriots receiver Troy Brown and the Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce, while many Boston fans at Fenway Park loudly cheered for Jeter and gave him a standing ovation. In his final at-bat, he hit an RBI infield single against Clay Buchholz, before being substituted for pinch runner Brian McCann; he received an ovation from the Red Sox fans as he exited the field.

      World Baseball Classic

      Jeter started at shortstop for the United States national baseball team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He hit 9-for-20 (.450) and scored five runs in six games. Only teammate Ken Griffey Jr. (.524) and Cuba's Yoandy Garlobo (.480) had a higher batting average with a minimum of 20 at-bats. Jeter's play earned him recognition as the shortstop selection on the All-Tournament Team.

      In the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Jeter again started at shortstop. He was named captain of the United States team by manager Davey Johnson, and he batted 8-for-29 (.276) in eight games. Jeter and the United States team faced the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field in an exhibition game, the only time Jeter played against the Yankees.

      Player profile
      Jeter signing autographs in Baltimore prior to his final game at Camden Yards

      Jeter is considered to be one of the most consistent baseball players of all time. He played fewer than 145 games a season only three times in his career: when he dislocated his left shoulder on Opening Day 2003 (119 games), when he injured his calf in 2011 (131 games), and in 2013 when he struggled with a myriad of injuries (17 games). For his career, he averaged 204 hits, 113 runs scored and 21 stolen bases per 162 games. He is currently sixth on the all-time hits list in MLB history. Highly competitive, Jeter once said, "If you're going to play at all, you're out to win. Baseball, board games, playing Jeopardy!, I hate to lose." Jeter has been viewed as one of the best players of his generation.

      "Derek Jeter has always been above the fray. As someone who's wallowed in it, 'foot-in-mouthed' it hundreds of times, said dumb things and backed up dumber ones, it's refreshing. He's shown up, played, and turned in a first-ballot Hall of Fame career in the hardest environment in sports to do any/all of the above."

      —Curt Schilling, September 14, 2009

      An aggressive hitter, Jeter swung at most pitches in the strike zone and many near it. Though right-handed hitters often pull the ball into left field, Jeter's signature inside-out swing, dubbed the "Jeterian Swing," resulted in most of his hits going to center and right field. Similarly, most of his home runs were hit to right field rather than to center or to left, as his swing took advantage of Yankee Stadium's close right-field fences.

      Jeter is also known for his professionalism. In an age where professional athletes often find themselves in personal scandals, he mostly avoided major controversy in a high-profile career in New York City while maintaining a strong work ethic. Due to his style of play, opponents and teammates held him in high esteem. A clubhouse leader, Jeter often defused confrontations between teammates.

      Postseason performance

      Jeter is noted for his postseason performances and has earned the titles of "Captain Clutch," and "Mr. November" due to his outstanding postseason play. He had a career .309 postseason batting average, and a .321 batting average in the World Series. Except for 2008, 2013 and 2014, the Yankees qualified for the postseason every year of Jeter's major league career. He holds MLB postseason records for games played (158), plate appearances (734), at-bats (650), hits (200), singles (143), doubles (32), triples (5), runs scored (111), total bases (302) and strikeouts (135). Jeter is also third in home runs (20), fourth in runs batted in (61), fifth in base on balls (66) and sixth in stolen bases (18).

      Defense
      Jeter practices fielding in August 2011

      Jeter won five Gold Glove Awards, trailing only Vizquel, Ozzie Smith, Luis Aparicio, Dave Concepción, and Mark Belanger for most by a shortstop He was credited with positioning himself well and for a quick release when he threw the ball. One of his signature defensive plays is the "jump-throw," by which he leapt and threw to first base while moving towards third base.

      Despite this, Jeter's defense was the subject of criticism from a number of sabermetricians, including Rob Neyer and the publication Baseball Prospectus. The 2006 book The Fielding Bible by John Dewan contains an essay by Bill James in which he concluded that Jeter "was probably the most ineffective defensive player in the major leagues, at any position" over his entire career. A 2008 study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that, from 2002 through 2005, Jeter was the worst defensive shortstop in MLB. Two sites that rely on advanced defensive statistics, FanGraphs.com and FieldingBible.com, rated Jeter below middle-of-the-pack status in 2010, despite his receiving his fifth Gold Glove Award that season

      Jeter committed 18 errors in 2007, his highest total since finishing with 24 in 2000. After the season, Cashman and his staff saw Jeter's defense as an area that needed to be addressed. At the Yankees' request, Jeter embarked on a rigorous training program to combat the effects of age, by focusing on lateral movement and first-step quickness. Jeter's ultimate zone rating (UZR) improved from worst in the AL for shortstops in 2007 to close to league average in 2008.

      When asked to respond to criticism of his defense, Jeter replied: "I play in New York, man. Criticism is part of the game, you take criticism as a challenge." Jeter further asserted that many defensive factors cannot be quantified. The controversy over Jeter's fielding became a flash point for the debate over whether the analyses of statistics or subjective observation is the better method to assess a player's defensive ability and for criticism of the Gold Glove Award.

      Personal life

      Jeter maintains homes in Marlboro Township, New Jersey; Greenwood Lake, New York; and the Davis Islands neighborhood of Tampa, Florida He previously owned a penthouse apartment in Manhattan's Trump World Tower. Jeter settled a tax dispute regarding his official residence with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance in 2008. New York State alleged that Jeter should have paid state income tax from 2001 to 2003, as Jeter resided in the Manhattan apartment he bought in 2001; Jeter claimed to have established his residence in Tampa Bay, Florida, in 1994, and that he was still a resident of Florida at the time. Florida has no state income tax. Jeter and his wife (the former Hannah Davis) currently reside in Miami. In September 2020, the couple listed their waterfront Tampa home for $29 million. They subsequently listed their Greenwood Lake home in March 2021.

      In December 2002, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner criticized Jeter for staying out until 3 a.m. at a birthday party during the 2002 season, saying that his star shortstop "wasn't totally focused" and that "it didn't sit well" with him. The two mocked the incident in a May 2003 Visa commercial, similar to the manner in which Steinbrenner and former Yankees manager Billy Martin made light of their feud in a Miller Lite commercial during the 1970s.
      Jeter in 2007

      Jeter's personal life has been a frequent topic in gossip columns and celebrity magazines since his rookie year in 1996. He had a well-publicized relationship with singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from 1997 to 1998. Carey cowrote the song The Roof (Back in Time) about their first kiss. Jeter has also dated model Vida Guerra, former Miss Universe Lara Dutta singer Joy Enriquez, television personality Vanessa Minnillo, and the actresses Jordana Brewster, Jessica Biel, and Minka Kelly.

      Jeter is Catholic, having been raised in the faith, attending Catholic schools as a child and identifying with the faith while playing for the Yankees.

      Jeter and model Hannah Davis, who had been dating since 2012, became engaged in 2015. In July 2016, the two married. On February 13, 2017, Hannah announced that she was pregnant with a daughter. Their first child was born in August 2017. Their second daughter was born in January 2019.

      Business interests

      During his injury-shortened 2013 season, Jeter arranged a partnership with Simon & Schuster to form an imprint called Jeter Publishing. He called it "the blueprint for postcareer." It will begin publishing nonfiction books for adults, children's picture books, elementary grade fiction, and books for children who are learning to read. Eventually, the partnership could lead to film and television productions.

      On October 1, 2014, Jeter's new website, ThePlayersTribune.com, appeared online; it was billed as "a new media platform that will present the unfiltered voice of professional athletes, bringing fans closer to the games they love than ever before." It was reported by the Tampa Bay Business Journal in March 2015 that Jeter had partnered with Concessions Tampa to bid for a space within the Tampa International Airport, and plans to open a restaurant named after his website.

      Jeter also serves as a brand development officer for Luvo Inc.[260] and has investment interests in multi-channel video network company, Whistle Sports Network.e explored purchasing the Buffalo Bills football team in 2014.

      Jeter joined the board of Rockefeller Capital Management in April 2021.

      Miami Marlins

      In July 2017, Jeter engaged in the bidding for ownership of the Miami Marlins.[265] In August 2017, Jeter and Bruce Sherman finalized a deal to purchase the Miami Marlins. The sale was completed in September 2017, following unanimous approval of the other 29 MLB team owners. Though Jeter only owns a 4% stake in the franchise, he was named chief executive officer of the team, and controlling owner Bruce Sherman entrusted him to oversee day-to-day operations of the team.

      Appearances outside of baseball
      Jeter joking with other players during Spring training in 2007
      Philanthropy

      Jeter created the Turn 2 Foundation, a charitable organization, in 1996. It was established to help children and teenagers avoid drug and alcohol addiction, and to reward those who show high academic achievement. In 2012, Jeter received an honorary doctorate from Siena College honoring him for his foundation's work.

      Since 2009, Jeter has served as an ambassador for Weplay, a website designed to encourage children to get involved in sports. Jeter, along with Japanese baseball player Hideki Matsui, took part in a charity baseball game at Tokyo Dome to raise funds for survivors of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

      In 2018, Jeter donated furniture and household items to families forced to relocate by Hurricane Irma.

      In July 2019, Jeter donated $3.2 million from the Turn 2 Foundation to the Kalamazoo Public School District to renovate the school's baseball and softball complex.
      Endorsements

      Jeter has appeared in national ad campaigns for Nike, Gatorade, Fleet Bank, Ford, VISA,Discover Card, Florsheim, Gillette, Skippy, and XM Satellite Radio He endorses a cologne named Driven, designed in collaboration with and distributed by Avon. Jeter has his own Jumpman shoe. To commemorate Jeter's final year, the Jordan brand made a tribute commercial titled "#RE2PECT," which had many baseball players (such as Jon Lester) and celebrities, even rival Boston Red Sox fans tip their caps.

      In 2006, Jeter was the second-highest paid endorser in baseball, behind Ichiro Suzuki, who received endorsement deals in Japan. He was ranked as the most marketable player in baseball according to the 2003, 2005, and 2010 Sports Business Surveys. A 2011 list by the marketing firm Nielsen ranked Jeter as the most marketable player in baseball, accounting for personal attributes such as sincerity, approachability, experience, and influence.

      Other appearances

      Jeter has appeared on television as a guest actor in the sitcom Seinfeld in the episode titled, "The Abstinence" and Saturday Night Live, a late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show, in episode 7 during season 27. He had cameo appearances in the comedy films Anger Management and The Other Guys. Jeter was the subject of a 2005 segment on the TV news magazine 60 Minutes and a 2014 episode of Finding Your Roots, a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) public television series. Jeter also appears as a character in the Broadway play Bronx Bombers. Jeter made an appearance alongside Peyton Manning to celebrate Saturday Night Live's 40th Anniversary in February 2015.

      Video games have featured Jeter on their cover, including 2K Sports' MLB 2K5, MLB 2K6, and MLB 2K7, Acclaim Entertainment's All-Star Baseball series of video games and Gameloft's wireless phone baseball game, Derek Jeter Pro Baseball 2008. A wax figure immortalizes Jeter at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York, and a sculpture at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in Louisville, Kentucky.

      Career highlights

      Honors
      Derek Jeter's number 2 was retired by the New York Yankees in 2017.

      Kalamazoo Central High School inducted Jeter into its athletic hall of fame in 2003 and renamed its baseball field in his honor in 2011. In 2015, Jeter was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. The Yankees retired Jeter's uniform number and unveiled a plaque in his honor that was installed at Monument Park in a pregame ceremony on May 14, 2017.

      On January 21, 2020, Jeter was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its class of 2020 in his first year of eligibility, only one vote shy of being only the second unanimous selection in Hall of Fame history. His 99.7% of the vote was second only to Mariano Rivera (100%), and ahead of Ken Griffey (99.3%) in the history of Hall of Fame voting. He was formally enshrined in a ceremony on September 8, 2021 in Cooperstown, New York.

      Awards
      Jeter warming up before a game in 2011
      Award / HonorTime(s)Date(s)AL All-Star 14 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
      New York Yankees Player of the Year 5 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2009
      AL Gold Glove Award (SS) 5 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010
      AL Silver Slugger Award (SS) 5 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012
      GIBBY Awards Moment of the Year 2 2008, 2009
      Hank Aaron Award 2 2006, 2009
      GIBBY Awards Performance of the Year 1 2011
      GIBBY Awards Moment of the Year 1 2014
      GIBBY Awards Walk-Off of the Year 1 2014
      Sporting News All-Decade Team (shortstop) 1 2009
      Roberto Clemente Award 1 2009
      Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year 1 2009
      Inductee in Kalamazoo Central High School Athletic Hall of Fame 1 2007
      Baseball Digest Player of the Year 1 2006
      GIBBY Awards Hitter of the Year Award 1 2006
      Baseball America 1st-Team Major League All-Star (SS) 1 2006
      GIBBY Awards Play of the Year 1 2004
      Players Choice Award Rookie of the Year 1 2004
      The Sporting News "Good Guy in Sports" Award 1 2002
      ESPY Awards Best Play ESPY Award 1 2002
      Joan Payson Award for Community Service 1 1997
      AL Rookie of the Year 1 1996
      International League All-Star 1 1995
      Florida State League All-Star 1 1994
      Florida State League Most Valuable Player 1 1994
      The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year 1 1994
      Topps/NAPBL Minor League Player of the Year 1 1994
      New York Yankees Minor League Player of the Year 1 1994
      South Atlantic League All-Star1 1993
      South Atlantic League's Best Defensive Shortstop, Most Exciting Player, Best Infield Arm. 1 1993
      American Baseball Coaches Association High School Player of the Year 1 1992
      USA Today High School Player of the Year 1 1992
      Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year 1 1992
      Deepak Prakash

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Deepak Prakash
      Personal information
      Date of birth 10 March 1992
      Place of birth Bangalore, India
      Playing position(s) Midfielder
      Club information

      Current team Students Union
      Youth career
      2007–2010 TFA
      2010–2011 Mumbai F.C.
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2011–2012 HAL 2 (0)
      2012–2013 Pailan Arrows 0 (0)
      2013 → DSK Shivajians (loan)
      2014– Students Union
      National team
      2012 India U23 1 (0)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

      Deepak Prakash (born 10 March 1992 in Bangalore, Karnataka) is an Indian footballer who currently plays for Students Union of the Bangalore Super Division.

      Career
      Early career

      Deepak got addicted to football when he was in class IV in the Corporation Government School in Jogpalya.

      The talented youngster was forced to quit studies when in Class X but it got him more and more into football and the beautiful game showed him the way forward.

      "After reading the news about the selection for the state U-16 side he went for the trials and got selected. In 2006, he was called for the national camp and then got selected to the Tata FA in 2007.

      "He was the top-scorer when Karnataka finished runners-up in the South Zone and reached the semifinals of the U-16 nationals in 2007.

      He emerged as the joint top-scorer for Jharkhand in the junior nationals in Mandya.

      After passing out from Tata FA in 2010, Deepak played for Mumbai F.C.. In 2011-12 season was a homecoming of sorts for the talented Murphy Town boy when he signed for the Aircraftmen. However, he had a barren season for HAL as he was hardly seen playing in I-League.

      Pailan Arrows

      On 13 August 2012 it was officially confirmed that Prakash had signed for Pailan Arrows of the I-League after HAL S.C. were relegated from the I-League.

      While with Arrows, Prakash was loaned out to I-League 2nd Division side DSK Shivajians for the 2013 I-League 2nd Division season.
      Debabrata Roy
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Full name Debabrata Roy
      Date of birth 4 November 1986
      Place of birth Kolkata, West Bengal, India

      Position(s) Right Back
      Club information

      Current team Mohun Bagan
      Number 2
      Youth career
      2000–2002 Sporting Union Club
      2002–2004 Tata FA
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2004–2005 Mahindra United 19 (0)
      2005–2009 East Bengal
      2009 → United SC (loan)
      2009–2010 Mahindra United
      2010 Dempo 53 (1)
      2014 → FC Goa (loan) 15 (0)
      2015–2016 FC Goa 14 (0)
      2016 Chennai City (loan) 14 (0)
      2017–2018 Mohun Bagan 1 (0)
      National team
      2004– India 16 (1)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:59, 20 December 2015 (UTC)

      Debabrata Roy (born 4 November 1986 in Kolkata, West Bengal) is an Indian football player. He is currently playing for FC Goa in the I-League as a Right Back.

      Career

      Roy started his career playing in the Subroto Cup and the under-16 league in West Bengal for Sporting Union Club. His prodigious talent prompted his coaches to despatch him to the prestigious Tata Football Academy in 2000. His first taste of NFL/I-League action came while playing for Mahindra United in 2004-05 where the jeepmen finished a creditable fourth.

      In 2005-06, he transferred home to East Bengal F.C. for whom he played for three years before joining United S.C. on a three-month loan spell in 2009. In 2009-10, he returned to Mahindra United who seemed destined for I-League glory till Dempo spoiled their party. After the Mumbai outfit disbanded, he joined Dempo S.C. in 2010-11 and continues to serve them with distinction. He has represented India at all levels right from the age groups teams to the senior team in a host of tournaments.

      Deepak Tanwar


      Achievement list
      Team captain of Maratha Yoddhas in Super Boxing League - Season 1
      Lead the team Maratha Yoddhas by winning his 4 fights out of 5 fights in Super Boxing League and became season 1 champions
      Won Gold medal in Junior National Championship - 2008
      Won Silver medal in All India Super Cup - 2010
      Won consecutive Gold medals at the Youth National Championships - 2011, 2012

      The man who captained team ‘Maratha Yoddhas’ to win Super Boxing Leagues & movie ‘MukkaBaaz’ – Know the story Boxer Deepak Tanwar

      Known As

      Deepak Tanwar

      Mother's Name : Usha Devi

      Father's Name : Manjit Singh

      Birthday  :7th January 1994
      Bhiwani, Haryana
      Proudly says ‘imd1’ for
      Boxing, Sport

      Climbing the success ladder is not a cakewalk but, this young and talented boxer sure has taken some steps of it. Deepak Tanwar is all about what youngsters of today are. Focused, determined and hardworking. Not only has he garnered appreciation for his boxing skills, but this young lad has seen some fame from his last venture as an actor in the recently released Anurag Kashyap flick ‘Mukkabaaz’. Coming from a simple background, this youngster is nothing short of an upcoming legend. In little time he boasts of achievements that otherwise takes years for people to make happen. Let us draw some inspiration from Deepak and take a step each day to make life worth living. In conversation with the young hot-blooded boxer, let’s find out his story.

      We are keen to know; how did your journey begin?

      It all started in 2003, one of my cousin brothers would play boxing. He was a professional boxer before that but early 2003 was the time when he gained recognition and appraisal from near and dear ones in the field of sports he had chosen. He was my main inspiration why I chose to be a boxer in the first place. I would see him winning medals and coming home to accolades and it was a proud moment. That really got me going and I told my parents about my decision. They were a little apprehensive at first, because I had a fractured hand and so they were worried. After about a year of convincing them, I got a chance to do what I wanted to. That is where it all began, the pride a sports person brings to his country is unmatchable to anything else.

      What’s your success mantra?

      Hard work and trying to remain optimistic. No matter what the situation is, I remind myself that not all days are the same, times will change and bring good fortune. I can do what is in control of me - give it my 100% and work hard to achieve it.

      What were the hardships / hurdles your encountered and the way you overcame in your journey?

      Initially when I started my career, I had to face a lot of financial hurdles. My father couldn’t afford getting me a boxing kit. There have also been days when I would skip my meals at school to save that money. I cut down my expenses and started living off a minimalistic and simple life. I have seen the days where I would buy clothes from the street vendors. But all the sacrifices have paid off well and today I can proudly say the financial hurdle has made me strong enough to fight whatever life throws at me.

      Success is incomplete without its share of failures. How should one overcome them to move on?

      The year 2010 has been a major setback for me. I had won State Championships in 2009, but due to some politics, I couldn’t make it to nationals. The entire year went by in training and at one point of time I felt I wouldn’t be able to do boxing again. That really hit me hard. But I kept pushing myself into believing this was only a phase and will soon pass. It did pass after 12 long months. Finally, in December 2010, I won consecutively gold medals twice in championships that fueled my passion and helped me overcome the setback.

      Do you think Boxing and its learning’s can be helpful in life even if one does not want to consider it as a career goal?

      In today’s times it is essential for girls to learn boxing. Not just boxing but learning any sport will help to build stamina. Boxing teaches you perseverance and take control of your reaction to a situation and how to combat it. The techniques of boxing are very important for girls to defend themselves in times of despair.

      Who has been your influencer in this journey & how?

      My inspiration and influencer has been Vasyl Lomachenko, renowned boxer from Ukraine who is a two times Olympic medalist. I admire him for his techniques and his strategies. In fact, many a times I try to copy his form and techniques. That does help me improve my game.

      Which was “that” moment when you considered yourself as “I Am The 1”?

      I have played different tournaments and championships. But none of them was as satisfying as an individual for me. Maybe because I failed to get due recognition. But until recently in the year 2017, Indian Boxing League where I represented my team Maratha Yoddhas and played 5 matches and won them all. People started appreciating my caliber as a boxer. That was my “I Am The 1” moment for me.

      Did you get any formal training and how was that journey?

      It started in Bhiwani where all my cousins would train, and I grew up watching them. So, I began training in my hometown. it was in 2006, that I shift base to Pune to learn from the Army Sports Institute. The institute provides for all the facilities and equipments one needs for formal training. I was there for about 3 years. After which again I went back to Bhiwani in 2009 and continued training there. At first it was a little difficult training in Bhiwani, since I was a junior but later, after I came back to the town it was very refreshing and the training was reinstated in full form. So, it was good to be back.

      Could you reflect on the importance of systematic training in Boxing?

      Systematic training is crucial. From personal experiences I can say, it is important to have guidance and a systematic and disciplined approach in your field. I didn’t have the guidance or assistance and followed my instincts to survive. Had I got the systematic backing since beginning, my career graph could have been better.

      What are the pre-coaching essentials e.g. Right age, mindset or any other?

      Right age certainly is one of the key pre-coaching essentials in any field of sports. Nurturing young minds is relatively easy and it helps bring them to focusing on the right energy. When you start training a child from a young age it helps them discipline as they can grasp things more aptly. so ideally, one should start training from the age of 10 years.

      Technology and scientific training has been changing the way people get trained in Boxing. What’s your take?

      As time is pacing so is the technology and scientific approach to things. Earlier boxing was all about physical strength and how boxers can use it to their full ability. Trainings used to be extensively focused on building a solid physique that would bring strength and stamina to compete against your opponent. But now things are changing for better. It is a good thing. Nowadays, boxing is not only about winning with your physical strength but also using your mind effectively, so you don’t end up wasting time or energy, but win strategically.

      What according to you, can be a scope for improvement in training for Boxing in India?

      Gradually things are improving in terms of training in India. Earlier there was limited scope. But today, due to globalization Indian coaches too have an impetus in upgrading their skills. And that ultimately benefits the students. The scope of improvement is vast, and I can proudly say that we are taking progressive steps towards attaining it fully.

      Your piece of advice to parents and new generation especially when some people are skeptical about career in extra curriculum.

      Education is necessary, but sports too is equally important for the development of your child. Being able to play a sport teaches so much more than a book will ever teach. It inculcates values of dedication, being hardworking, being disciplined and most importantly being able to give your best shot always. Precisely I would only request parents to help your child take up a child since his/her tender age because sports are all about leading a healthy lifestyle, with a fit body and mind in coordination.

      One thing which you feel you want to change from the past while you walk down memory lane…

      There are many such things that I want to walk down in past and change. One such event happened in 2015 when the World Military Games were to be held and I had registered myself for another air force course. And somehow the timings clashed with one another of the two events and I chose to go for the latter. Which I regret now, because I wasn’t appropriately in my form as I was all alone without my team. They had gone for the championship, but I resented. And thus, in a bid to accomplish more I lost an opportunity that could have won me accolades and brought me on top of my game. My other team members who participated in the championship have made it big for themselves, while I could do so, things went haywire for me. So yes, given a chance I would want to go back and undo my wrong decision.

      Durga Boro

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Durga BoroPersonal information
      Date of birth 28 June 1987
      Place of birth Gendrabil, Assam, India
      Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
      Playing position Striker
      Club information

      Current team Ozone
      Number 7
      Youth career
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2004–2009 Oil India
      2009–2012 Churchill Brothers
      2012–2014 Mumbai Tigers
      2014 → Shillong Lajong (loan) 6 (1)
      2014– Shillong Lajong 13 (1)
      2014 → NorthEast United FC (loan) 11 (1)
      2015 club Anonymous 12 (7)
      2017– Ozone 4 (0)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:14, 3 March 2018 (UTC)

      Durga Boro (born 28 June 1987) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ozone F.C. of the I-League 2nd Division.

      Career
      Early career

      Born in the small village of Gendrabil, in the Kokrajhar district of Assam, Boro started playing his football for the Kokrajhar HNMP School, for which he played for the team in the Subroto Cup under-14 tournament. Then, after impressing during the Subroto Cup, Boro started to train with the Sports Authority of India in Guwahati. In 2004 Boro signed with Oil India and played with them in the Assam State Premier League and the I-League 2nd Division while also working for the company itself.

      Churchill Brothers

      After an impressive performance during the Federation Cup in Kolkata in 2009 in which Boro and Oil India played against I-League sides such as Mohun Bagan, Vasco, and Air India, he signed his first professional contract with fellow I-League side, Churchill Brothers. The move to a professional club was massive for Boro as that meant he would be granted one-year leave from his former day-job with Oil India and he would move into a more professional footballing environment which included free food and travel. Boro scored his first professional goal for Churchill Brothers on 8 January 2011 against Salgaocar, however, his 34th-minute strike could not prevent Churchill Brothers from losing 3–4.

      Mumbai Tigers

      After spending two seasons with Churchill Brothers, Boro made a surprising move by signing for upstart I-League 2nd Division club Mumbai Tigers, then known as Dodsal FC. While with Mumbai Tigers, Boro played for the side during the I-League 2nd Division season.

      Shillong Lajong

      After Mumbai Tigers disbanded, on 6 February 2014 Boro made his return to the I-League after he signed for Shillong Lajong. This was Lajong's third attempt at signing Boro after they attempted to sign him in both 2009 and 2012. He made his debut for Shillong Lajong on 23 February 2014 against United. Boro started the match and even scored a goal as Shillong Lajong drew the match 2–2.

      NorthEast United (loan)

      In the summer of 2014 it was announced that Boro and a bunch of other Shillong Lajongplayers would sign on loan for the Indian Super League side NorthEast United. Boro made his debut for NorthEast United during the teams first ever game on 13 October 2014 against Kerala Blasters. He started the match and played 62 minutes as NorthEast United won 1–0. Boro eventually scored his first goal for the team on 27 November 2014 against Chennaiyin. His 10th-minute strike contributed to a 3–0 victory for NorthEast United

      Dilip Tirkey

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Dilip Tirkey

      MP of Rajya Sabha for Odisha
      In office
      4 April 2012 – 3 April 2018
      Succeeded by Prasanta Nanda, BJD
      Personal details
      Born 25 November 1977
      Sundargarh, Odisha
      Political party Biju Janata Dal

      Dilip Tirkey (born 25 November 1977), is a former Indian field hockey player and his playing position was of full back. He was best known for his penalty corner hit. Dilip was one of the most difficult defenders (because of his tight marking skill near goal post) to beat in the world. He was an ex-captain of Indian hockey team. On 22 March 2012, he was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha as one of the three Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidates to the Upper House of Indian Parliament. Presently, Dilip Tirkey is working as chairman of Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC).

      Personal life

      Dilip Tirkey was born to Vincent Tirkey a former Odia hockey player and Regina Tirkey on 25 November 1977. His twin younger brothers Anoop Tirkey and Ajit Tirkey play for Railways. He is married to Meera Tirkey and He was appointed as Deputy Manager in Air India (Bhubaneswar) in 1996. Tirkey is a Roman Catholic Christian.

      Career

      He made his debut in 1995 against England. He represented India in 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics and had a total of 412 international caps. He is the only Adivasi to represent India in three Olympics.

      On 2 May 2010, he announced his retirement from the international arena.

      He declined to become a national selector on 16 July 2010, three days after he was offered the post by Indian Hockey Federation.

      Awards and honours

      ONGC-Hockey Year Book Award, 1998
      Biju Patnaik Sportsperson of the Year Award, 2004
      Ricoh Hockey Star of the Year, 2009
      Showcase Odisha Awards, 2012

      Honours

      Included in the Junior World XI in 1997
      Included in the Asian XI in 2002
      Selected for World All-Star team in 2006
      Selected for World All-Star team in 2007
      Received the 2nd Ricoh Hockey Star of the Year Award in Bhubaneswar on 6 July 2010
      Received the honorary Doctorate from Sambalpur University on 15 July 2010
      Received the Odisha Living Legend Award from Orissadiary.com on 11 Nov 2011

      Achievements

      First-ever tribal to get Padma Shree Award
      India's highest capped (412 matches) hockey international and second highest in the world
      Only Adivasi to represent India in 3 Olympic Games.
      1995: 7th SAF Games at Chennai (Champions)
      1996: Olympic Games at Atlanta, USA (8th place)
      1997: Under-21 Test Series against Germany (Winners)
      1997: Under-21 Challengers Cup Tournament at Poznan, Poland (Winners)
      1997: Junior World Cup at Milton Keynes, England (Runners-up)
      1998: Asian Games at Bangkok (Gold medal)
      1999: Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur (Bronze medal)
      2000: Olympic Games at Sydney (7th place)
      2000: 10th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Tournament at Kuala Lumpur (Bronze medal)
      2002: Champions Trophy at Cologne, Germany (4th place), as Captain
      2002: Asian Games at Busan, South Korea ( Silver medal ), as Captain
      2003: Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Champions)
      2003: Afro-Asian Games at Hyderabad (Gold medal), as Captain
      2004: Olympic Games at Athens, Greece (7th place), as Captain
      2011: Odisha Living Legend Award
      Divakar Ram

      Diwakar Ram is a teen-age sensation in present hockey. Recently, he top-scored in the inter-petroleum tournament, that led to his ONGC team win the event for the first time.

      Diwakar Ram scored 7 goals in Sydney at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival. He was among the goals in all the league matches, by which the team has ensured its place in Final.

      He is a good defender and also emerging as a shrewd penalty corner converter. AHF recently honoured him with Rising Star of Asia award

      An up and coming defender, Diwakar Ram of Uttar Pradesh is being hailed as a bright future prospect. He is a good defender and also emerging as a shrewd penalty corner converter.

      Diwakar Ram hails from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, had his preliminary introduction to hockey at the UP Sports Hostel, Lucknow. He made his junior international debut at the Monchengladbach 8-Nation tournament in 2007, and the senior debut in 2008 in the Belgium Test Series. He scored 12 goals through penalty corners at the Kuala Lumpur 8-Nation Invitation Tournament (2008) and four in the silver winning Azlan Shah Cup, May 2008. Long term material, bright future awaits.

      Diwakar also scored the golden goal in the 6th Junior Asia Cup for India to successfully defend the title at Hyderabad in July 2008. Asian Hockey Federation declared him as the 'Upcoming Star of Asia' in Dec.2008.

      Last International Appearance: 2010 World Cup
      Profile updated upto 31-12-2010 ie after the 2010 Asian Games

      Dutee Chand
      From Wikipedia

      Dutee ChandPersonal information
      Born 3 February 1996
      Gopalpur, Odisha, India
      Sport
      Country  India
      Sport Athletics
      Event(s) 100 metres
      Club ONGC
      Achievements and titles
      Personal best(s) 100 m: 11.24
      (Almaty 2016)
      200 m: 23.73
      (Ranchi 2013)
      4X100 m relay: 43.42
      (Almaty 2016)

      Asian Championships
       2013 Pune 200 m

      Updated on 20 August 2016.

      Dutee Chand (born 3 February 1996) is an Indian professional sprinter and current national champion in the women's 100 metres event. She is the third Indian woman to ever qualify for the Women's 100 metres event at the Summer Olympic Games, having qualified for the event in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

      Early life

      Chand was born on 3 February 1996 to Chakradhar Chand and Akhuji Chand in Gopalpur, Odisha, in the Jajpur district of Odisha. She is from a below poverty line weavers family. Her source of inspiration comes from her elder sister Saraswati Chand, who was an athlete herself. In 2013, she enrolled in the KIIT University to pursue law.

      Career breaks

      Dutee Chand in 2012 became a national champion in the under-18 category when she clocked 11.8 seconds in the 100 metres event. Clocking 23.811 seconds, Chand won the bronze in the 200 metres event at the Asian Championships in Pune. The year also saw her become the first Indian to reach the final of a global athletics 100 metres final, when she reached the final in the 2013 World Youth Championships. In the same year, she became the national champion in 100 metres and 200 metres when she won the events clocking 11.73 s in the final in 100 metres and a career-best 23.73 s in 200 metres at the National Senior Athletics Championships in Ranchi.

      Dutee clocked 11.33 secs in women’s 100m dash to win the gold and erase Rachita Mistry’s 16-year-old earlier national record of 11.38 secs in the 2016 Federation Cup National Athletics Championships in New Delhi, however she missed the Rio Olympics qualification norm of 11.32 secs by one-hundredth of a second. But finally on 25 June 2016, Dutee broke the very same National record twice in one day after clocking 11.24 at the XVI International Meeting G Kosanov Memorial in Almaty, Kazakhstan, thereby qualifying for the Olympic Games.
      Commonwealth Games controversy

      Chand was dropped from the 2014 Commonwealth Games contingent at the last minute after the Athletic Federation of India stated that hyperandrogenism made her ineligible to compete as a female athlete. There has been no suggestion that Chand has been involved in cheating or doping—the decision was made in compliance with International Olympic Committee (IOC) regulations on “female hyperandrogenism” designed to address a perceived advantage for female athletes with high androgen levels. The decision has been condemned by Australian intersex advocates. The Athletic Federation of India and IAAF’s actions were widely criticised as an affront to Chand’s privacy and human rights.

      “They have tested Dutee at the last minute, humiliated her and broken her heart, all sorts of things have been written about her. Now, if she re-enters the sports field, things will not be normal. Even if she takes treatment, people will kill her with their suspicious gaze. The matter could have been dealt with discreetly. That things became public, is wrong. Would they have done it if it was their daughter? Who is responsible for her future now? The job and the money are secondary problems. Think about how much she would have suffered. She is not from a wealthy or powerful family; just another ordinary family. Even if she gets help from the State association, can she stay in peace in her village? She will find it tough to get married. Dutee is not the problem but the system is problem, a athlete cannot fail their gender.”— Santhi Soundarajan about Dutee Chand

      The Indian government appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on behalf of Chand, and in July 2015 the CAS issued a decision to suspend the hyperandrogenism regulation for female track and field sports for two years, stating that insufficient evidence had been produced to indicate that there is any link between enhanced androgen levels and improved athletic performance.The court allowed two further years for convincing evidence to be submitted by the IAAF, after which the regulation will be automatically revoked if evidence has not been provided. This effectively removes the suspension of Chand from competition, clearing her to race again.

      Dutee Chand

      Dutee Chand renewed our faith that indeed anything is possible
      Born into a poor family of weavers, Dutee missed the Olympics qualifying score by 0.01 seconds but clocked 11.30 seconds in Almaty, Kazakhstan to qualify for the Summer Games.
      The Orissa-born sprinter who competes in 100m belongs to a tribal village in Odisha. She was the national champion before her world came crashing down in 2014. A few days before her first major international tournament (Commonwealth Games), the ace sprinter was found to have 'hyperandrogenism'. The 20-year-old was asked by AFI to quit racing but she filed a case and won in 2015.

      She beat the Rio Olympics qualification mark of 11.32 secs at XXVI International Meeting G.Kosanov Memorial and booked an August date in Rio. Let's hope Dutee gains experience in Brazil for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

      Deepika Kumari

      Deepika Kumari comes from India's tribal heartland - Jharkhand. She is a symbol of how far we have come as a nation. As a child, Deepika Kumari used to target fruit on the mango trees in Ratu Chati, 15 kms from Ranchi, Jharkhand's capital.

      At the London 2012 Games, she was the number one archer in the recurve category and one of India's medal hopefuls. But she failed to hit a single bulls eye and went down tamely in the first round.
      Four years later, she is again a name to reckon with in world archery after innumerable success in the past couple of years. Recently she equalled the feat of London Olympic gold medalist, Ki Bo Bae of Korea to set a new world record.
      The only thing that eludes her is an Olympic medal, and, with it, sporting history. Will she finally hit the Olympic bull’s-eye in August? Only time will tell.


      Devindar Walmiki
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Devindar WalmikiPersonal information
      Born 28 May 1992 (age 25)
      Bombay, Maharashtra, India
      Playing position Midfielder
      National team
      2014-present India

      Medal record

      Men’s Field Hockey
      Representing  India
      Hockey Champions Trophy
       2016 London Men's team

      Last updated on: 8 July 2016

      Devindar Sunil Walmiki (born 28 May 1992) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a midfielder. He was named in the Indian squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
      Walmiki's elder brother Yuvraj Walmiki has also played field hockey for India.
      India has come a long way in the world of sports and that is very much evident from what the women of a few places have accomplished. The women have broken free from barricades of their villages in the tribal regions and marched forward to establish a name for themselves in the world.

      They have successfully made a mark on the international arena and are winning recognition along with fame and accolades. Let's have a look at five such women from the Indian Olympic contingent who come from tribal regions of India:

      Dipsan Tirkey

      Dipsan Tirkey(born 15 October 1998) is an Indian field hockey player renowned for his defensive prowess, tactical acumen, and leadership on the pitch. Hailing from the tribal belt of Odisha, he plays primarily as a defender for the senior national team and the club BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited). Tirkey rose to prominence as the vice-captain and youngest member of the unbeaten Indian junior squad that clinched the 2016 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup in Lucknow, marking a pivotal moment in his career. Since his senior debut in 2017, he has contributed to several international medals, including golds and bronzes in Asia-level tournaments, while embodying the grit of Odisha's hockey legacy—though unrelated to the famous Dilip Tirkey, he shares the surname's tribal roots in the region. As of 2025, at age 27, Tirkey remains an active player, recently praised for his "brilliant game" in domestic competitions and exhibition matches.

      Early Life

      Dipsan Tirkey was born on 15 October 1998 in Saunamara village, Sundergarh district, Odisha—a rural, tribal-dominated area known as a cradle of Indian hockey talent. He comes from a humble farming family: his father is a farmer, his mother a housewife, and he was inspired to take up the sport by his elder brother Prashant, who played recreationally. Financial constraints defined his childhood; unable to afford equipment, Tirkey practiced on village roads using a borrowed hockey stick, honing his skills amid adversity. At age 11, in 2009, he joined the Odisha State Sports Hostel in Rourkela, where he received formal training and transformed from a raw talent into a disciplined athlete. He credits the hostel's rigorous regimen and Bhubaneswar's sports infrastructure for his breakthrough, noting it as the only Odisha defender in the 2016 Junior World Cup-winning squad. Tirkey's tribal background (likely from the Munda or similar Adivasi community, common in Sundergarh) adds to his narrative as a "rising star" overcoming socio-economic barriers.

      Career

      Junior Career

      Tirkey's international journey began early. In 2014, at just 16, he debuted for the India U-21 team at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia, showcasing his defensive solidity. By July 2016, he was appointed captain for the EurAsia Cup in Russia and a tour of England, leading the side to victories in three of five matches. His pinnacle came as vice-captain of the 2016 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup in Lucknow, where India went unbeaten (5 wins, 2 draws) to secure the title against Belgium in the final—Tirkey's interceptions and leadership were hailed as "wizardly." He also captained the U-23 team to a bronze at the Five-Nation Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, in July 2017.

      Senior Career

      Tirkey earned his senior call-up in 2017, debuting at the Asia Cup in Dhaka, where India won gold. He has since accumulated 37 international caps (as per last detailed FIH records from 2023), scoring 5 goals, with notable contributions in midfield transitions and penalty corner defenses. Key tournaments include:

      • Bronze at the 2021 Asian Champions Trophy in Dhaka.
      • Bronze at the 2022 Men's Asia Cup in Jakarta.
      • Participation in the 2023 Men's Hockey5s Asia Cup in Salalah, Oman (7 matches, 1 goal, helping India to silver).

      Though included in the 39-member probable squad for the Paris Olympics 2024 preparatory camp in January 2024, Tirkey did not make the final 16-member roster, which featured younger defenders like Sanjay. He continued shining domestically, scoring a crucial goal in the 59th minute for Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB, under BPCL) during the 4th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship on 8 September 2024. In 2025, he featured in an electrifying exhibition match on Olympic Day (24 August 2025) at the Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre, blending competitive edge with promotional flair. Tirkey's versatility extends to Hockey5s formats, where his 2023 stats (6 wins, 1 loss in 7 games) underscore his adaptability.

      Club and Domestic Career

      Tirkey entered professional leagues young: In 2014, at age 16, he became one of the youngest picks for the Hockey India League (HIL), joining Kalinga Lancers and impressing with his poise. Post-HIL's revival in 2023, he played 9 matches for Gonasika (0 goals, no cards). Domestically, he represents BPCL/PSPB, contributing to their successes in national championships. His club form has been key to national recalls, especially after a "rough patch" in 2020 when he awaited re-selection.

      Personal Life

      Standing at 172 cm, Tirkey maintains a low-profile life, focusing on hockey and family. He is unmarried as of 2025 and resides in Odisha, often crediting his brother and hostel mentors for his resilience. A devout supporter of tribal youth in sports, he advocates for grassroots development, echoing Odisha's hockey heritage. Social media glimpses (e.g., Instagram @dipsantirkey_12) show him engaging in community events and training sessions.

      Legacy and Recent Updates

      Dipsan Tirkey's journey from village roads to international podiums inspires tribal aspirants, positioning him as a bridge between Odisha's storied hockey past (e.g., Dilip Tirkey) and its future. Despite missing Paris 2024, his 2024-2025 form—highlighted by a recent Facebook tribute calling him a "rising star" who "won everyone's hearts"—signals a strong comeback trajectory. As India eyes the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Tirkey's experience could prove invaluable in defensive rebuilds. His story underscores hockey's role in social mobility for India's Adivasi communities.
      Dulal Biswas
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Dulal BiswasPersonal information
      Full name Dulal Biswas
      Date of birth 17 November 1973 
      Place of birth Kolkata, India
      Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
      Position(s) Defender
      Club information

      Current team Prayag United S.C.
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2007–present Prayag United S.C. ?? (??)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

      Dulal Biswas (born 17 November 1973) is an Indian footballer who once coached Peerless F.C. in the Calcutta Football League.
      Debashree Mazumdar
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Debashree Mazumdar
      Debashree in 2017
      Personal information
      Nationality Indian
      Born 6 April 1991 
      India
      Weight 53
      Sport
      Country  India
      Sport Athletics
      Event(s) Sprint Athlete
      Team India
      Coached by Mr. Tapan Kumar Bhandari
      Now coaching Mr.Amit Khanna
      Achievements and titles
      World finals 1.Gold medalist - Asian championship in 4*400 meters relay races in 2017 at bhubaneswar In India . 2. Silver medalist - Asian championship in 4*400 meters relay races in 2015 at whuhan China.

      Debashree Mazumdar (born 6 April 1991) is an Indian sprint athlete from Kolkata who specializes in 4 × 400 metres relay races.

      Career

      Debashree Mazumdar works for the Income Tax department as an Income Tax Inspector in Delhi.

      In 2017 she was part of the winning 4 × 400 m relay team at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar along with M. R. Poovamma, Jisna Mathew and Nirmala Sheoran.
      Dipsan Tirkey
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Dipsan TirkeyPersonal information
      Born 15 October 1998 
      Playing position Defender
      National team
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2017– India

      Men’s field hockey
      Representing  India

      Dipsan Tirkey (born 15 October 1998) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a defender. He was the vice-captain of the Indian squad that won the 2016 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup.

      Life and career

      Tirkey was born on 15 October 1998 in Saunamara village of Sundergarh district to a farmer father and housewife mother. Due to his family's difficult financial situation, he had to practice hockey with a borrowed hockey stick on the village roads. Inspired by his elder brother Prashant to take up the sport, he joined the State Sports Hostel in Rourkela in 2009 where he learned the game.

      Tirkey first played for the India junior team at the 2014 Sultan of Johor Cup. The same year, he was picked by the Kalinga Lancers franchise in the Hockey India League. He also captained the Indian junior team for EurAsia Cup in Russia and England tour in July 2016.

      Tirkey was the vice-captain and the youngest member of the Indian squad that went unbeaten en route to the title at the 2016 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup in Lucknow.
      Erik Karlsson
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Erik Karlsson
      Karlsson with the Ottawa Senators in 2017
      Born 31 May 1990 
      Landsbro, Sweden
      Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
      Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
      Position Defence
      Shoots Right
      NHL team
      Former teams San Jose Sharks
      National team  Sweden
      NHL Draft 15th overall, 2008
      Playing career 2008–present

      Erik Sven Gunnar Karlsson (pronounced [ˈêːrɪk ˈkɑ̌ːɭsɔn]; born 31 May 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Karlsson was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, by the Ottawa Senators at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, with whom he spent his first nine NHL seasons. Karlsson is a two-time winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman, winning the award in 2012 and 2015.

      Playing career
      Sweden
      Karlsson with Frölunda HC in 2008.

      Karlsson made his Elitserien debut for Frölunda HC on 1 March 2008, recording 8:48 of ice time during a sold out home game in Scandinavium against league leaders HV71. Karlsson scored the game-winning goal, assisted by Tomi Kallio and Magnus Kahnberg, with a slap shot in overtime during a man advantage. The win secured a playoff berth for Frölunda with three games remaining in the regular season.

      Karlsson finished the season with Frölunda's J20 team playing in the J20 SuperElit playoffs, where Frölunda took home the Anton Cup when they won, two games to one, against Brynäs IF's J20 team in the Swedish Junior Ice Hockey Championship final.

      Ottawa Senators

      Prior to the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Karlsson was ranked fourth among European skaters by the NHL's Central Scouting Service.He was ultimately drafted 15th overall by the Ottawa Senators in front of their hometown fans at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. The selection was made by Ottawa's captain Daniel Alfredsson, a native of Gothenburg, who played for Frölunda before entering the NHL. Then-Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray traded Ottawa's first-round pick, 18th overall, and their third-round pick in 2009 to the Nashville Predators in exchange for the Predators' first-round pick, 15th overall, to ensure that no other team would select Karlsson before them.

      A few weeks before the 2008–09 Elitserien season premiere, Frölunda announced that Karlsson was brought up to the senior team as a regular roster player.

      In September 2009, Karlsson attended the Senators' training camp ahead of the 2009–10 season. On 29 September 2009, the Senators announced that Karlsson had made the team's NHL roster. After struggling in nine regular season games with Ottawa, he was assigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators. On 27 November 2009, exactly one month after being sent down, Karlsson was recalled from Binghamton. He would score his first NHL goal against the Minnesota Wild's Niklas Bäckström in a 4–1 win for Ottawa on 19 December 2009, and would remain in the NHL for the remainder of the season and play in all of Ottawa's 2010 Stanley Cup playoff games.

      Karlsson was selected to participate in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, set for 30 January 2011, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, having recorded 25 points in 41 games.

      The 2011–12 season saw Karlsson continue his development. On 16 December 2011, with his third assist of the night, Karlsson registered his 100th regular-season NHL point (in 168 games) in a game against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Karlsson was the NHL's leading vote-getter in All-Star voting, receiving 939,951 fan votes and becoming one of four Senators players selected to partake in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game. Karlsson finished the season as the leading scorer among NHL defencemen, leading second-place Dustin Byfuglien and Brian Campbell by 25 points. Karlsson was being mentioned as a James Norris Memorial Trophy candidate, if not the favourite for the award.
      Karlsson during his NHL debut on 28 November 2009

      On 19 June 2012, Karlsson signed a reported seven-year, $45.5 million contract with the Senators The following day, Karlsson was announced as the winner of the James Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman, beating Zdeno Chára of the Boston Bruins and Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators. He became the second Swede after seven-time winner Nicklas Lidström to win the award, joining the ranks of Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Denis Potvin as the only players to win the award under age 23.
      Karlsson with Jokerit, a team he signed with during the 2012–13 NHL lockout

      During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Karlsson signed with Jokerit of the Finnish SM-liiga. He received a one-game suspension for allegedly throwing his stick at a referee following a game on 8 December 2012. He finished his stint in Jokerit with 9 goals and 25 assists (34 points) in 30 games, leading all defencemen in scoring. Once the lockout ended and the NHL season commenced, Karlsson promptly recorded a goal and two assists as Ottawa defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4–1 in their season opener. On 13 February 2013, Karlsson's Achilles tendon was lacerated when Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke had his skate land on the back of Karlsson's left leg, requiring surgery and taking him out of Ottawa's lineup indefinitely. Cooke had been suspended several times previously for much-criticized incidents resulting in injury to opposing players, but was not suspended for this incident. At the time of the injury, Karlsson led all NHL defencemen with six goals. Though initial estimates had him out of the lineup for four-to-six months, Karlsson returned to the Ottawa lineup against the Washington Capitals on 25 April 2013, ten weeks to the day after the injury occurred. The Senators made the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs but were eliminated by Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, with Karlsson registering one goal and seven assists in ten games.

      Karlsson appeared in all 82 games during the 2013–14 season and finished the season with 20 goals and 74 points, resulting in Karlsson being the first defenceman since Brian Leetch in 2000–01 to have at least 20 goals and 50 assists in the same season. However, the Senators would fail to qualify for the 2014 playoffs.

      On 2 October 2014, the Senators organization announced that Karlsson would serve as the ninth captain in the team's modern history, replacing the recently-traded Jason Spezza. In his first season as team captain, Karlsson led all NHL defencemen in points for the third time in four seasons, including a career-high 21 goals. He also played in all 82 of Ottawa's games for the second season in a row and ranked third in the NHL in total ice time (2,234:55) and average ice time (27:15) to carry the Senators to a 23–4–4 record on the way to an unlikely playoff spot. On 24 June 2015, it was announced Karlsson won his second Norris Trophy, beating out fellow nominees Drew Doughty and P. K. Subban.

      Karlsson appeared in all 82 games for the third-straight season during the 2015–16 season and led the league in assists with a career high 66 assists and set a career high in points (82), finishing fourth in the league in scoring alongside San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton. With his 81st point, Karlsson broke the record for most points in a single season by a Swedish defenceman, which was previously set by Nicklas Lidström during the 2005–06 season. Karlsson was also the first defenceman since Paul Coffey in the 1985–86 season to finish in the top five in scoring and the first since Bobby Orr in the 1974–75 season to lead the league in assists. Karlsson's performance earned him his third Norris Trophy nomination, though Drew Doughty won the trophy with Karlsson finishing in second place in vote totals.
      Karlsson playing in a game against the Penguins, during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs

      During the 2016–17 season, Karlsson set a Senators record on 4 March 2017 when he appeared in his 312th consecutive game, breaking the previous set by defenceman Chris Phillips. However, he would miss his first game in almost four years in late March 2017 after sustaining an injury from blocking a shot during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers, ending his consecutive game streak at 324 games. Karlsson finished the regular season in third place among defencemen in points and second place among defencemen in assists and blocked shots, earning him his fourth Norris Trophy nomination. Karlsson would finish second in voting, with the award going to Brent Burns. Karlsson's performance continued into the 2017 playoffs, helping the Senators reach the Eastern Conference Final, the first time the team had done so since 2007. Although the Senators would be eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games, Karlsson was praised for his performance during the Senators' playoff run and how he continued playing despite suffering two hairline fractures in his left heel. Karlsson would also set a playoff team record for most assists and points for a defenceman in the playoffs.

      Shortly after the Senators were eliminated from the playoffs, Karlsson had surgery to repair torn tendons in his left foot, resulting in him missing the beginning of the 2017–18 season. Karlsson's productivity dwindled in this season, finishing the season with 62 points in 71 games, partly due to coping with injuries and the loss of his child towards the end of the season. Despite his lower-than-average performance, Karlsson moved into third place on the franchise's all-time points list (with 492 points) on 8 February 2018 after a 4–3 win over the Nashville Predators. The Senators also struggled during the season, finishing the season in 30th place in the league. In the midst of a rebuild, the Senators attempted to trade Karlsson before the NHL trade deadline, as his seven-year contract was ending in 2019 and the organization was uncertain about re-signing him, though a deal could not be reached before the deadline. However, the day after the deadline, Karlsson expressed his interest in staying in Ottawa and said that he never requested a trade.

      San Jose Sharks

      On 13 September 2018, Karlsson (along with Francis Perron) was traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo, Josh Norris, Rūdolfs Balcers, the Sharks' first-round pick in 2020, second-round pick in 2019 and a conditional second-round pick in 2021.[40] He scored his first goal with the Sharks on 18 November in a 4–0 win over the St. Louis Blues. After a slow start to the season, Karlsson became the fifth defenceman in league history to have at least one assist in 14 consecutive games following a 7–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on 8 January 2019. On 23 December, Karlsson was suspended for the first time in his career for two games for an illegal check to the head of Los Angeles Kings player Austin Wagner. A groin injury resulted in Karlsson missing many games near the end of the season before returning for the last game of the season against the Colorado Avalanche. He would finish the season with 45 points in 53 games, his lowest point tally since the 2012–13 season. Karlsson assisted San Jose in reaching the Western Conference Finals during the 2019 playoffs, though he sustained another groin injury in a game against the St. Louis Blues, resulting in him missing San Jose's final game of the playoffs when the team lost 5–1 in Game 6. He would finish the playoffs with 16 points in 19 games. On 31 May, he underwent groin surgery.

      On 17 June 2019, Karlsson signed a new eight-year, $92 million contract to remain with the Sharks, with an annual value of $11.5 million. His new contract made Karlsson the highest-paid defenceman in league history and the third highest-paid player in the league at the time, behind Auston Matthews ($11.6 million annually) and Connor McDavid ($12.5 million annually). He broke his thumb on 14 February 2020, in a game against the Winnipeg Jets. He was placed on injured reserve and would miss the remainder of the 2019–20 season.

      Style of play
      Karlsson skating forward during a game. Karlsson has been noted for his speed.

      Karlsson's performance has been widely acclaimed by current and former ice hockey players, head coaches and the media. He is well known for his speed, such as his ability to lead a rush and be the first man to return to defend, and for making plays. In 2012, Bobby Orr praised Karlsson for his fast skating and performance, comparing him to former defencemen such as Larry Robinson and Paul Coffey, while Coffey himself praised Karlsson as an "elite player" and one of the best players in the NHL. Ken Hitchcock praised Karlsson for his skating skill and reading of plays, saying that he is "ahead of the curve everywhere". Henrik Lundqvist also called Karlsson "one of the best players in the game", complimenting his skating skills and vision of the game. Despite his performance, he has also been criticized for not playing a more defensive role as a defenceman.

      Karlsson is known as being a more offensive defenceman. He has earned more than 70 points in four different seasons and is the second defenceman in league history to lead his team in scoring in four consecutive campaigns.

      Karlsson has also shown his grit and toughness as he has played in numerous games and playoff series with very noticeable injuries. In the Ottawa Senators playoff run in 2017, Karlsson was reported to have played on a broken heel which he had to get a surgery the following off season. Karlsson also rushed himself back from a groin injury in the 2019 NHL playoffs to help with the San Jose Sharks playoff run which also ended in the conference final series. Karlsson is recognized for using Snus, a Swedish form of dipping tobacco, during the games.

      International play

      Medal record

      Representing  Sweden

      Karlsson was selected as the tournament's best defenceman at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships. He was the tournament's plus/minus leader with a plus eight rating. He led team Sweden in assists, finishing third overall in the tournament with seven in six games,which also tied him for first place in defencemen scoring. During the 2008 U20 4-Nations tournament which Sweden won, Karlsson scored one goal and one assist which tied him with David Rundblad, Viktor Ekbom and Tim Erixon as Sweden's defenceman scoring leader.[ A the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Karlsson was selected to the all-star team, and as the tournament's best defenceman. With two goals and seven assists in six games, he led all Swedish players in points,and was tied for the tournament lead among defencemen.

      Karlsson played at the 2010 World Championships and was the highest scoring defenceman for Sweden with one goal and three assists in nine games.

      Karlsson tied for fourth in team scoring with Senators teammate Daniel Alfredsson at the 2012 World Championship with seven points and led all Swedish defencemen in that category. He also finished tied for fifth in points and tied third in goals by defencemen overall in the tournament.

      At the 2014 Olympic Tournament held in Sochi, Karlsson led all players with eight points and was tied for second in goals. On 21 February 2014, Karlsson's scored a powerplay goal in the semi-final against Finland to earn Sweden a spot in the gold medal final against Canada. The Swedes would later lose 3–0. Along with a silver medal, Karlsson was named the Best Defenceman of the tournament and was selected to the All-Star team.

      Karlsson declined an invitation to play for Sweden at the 2015 World Championship due to an undisclosed injury.

      On 1 March 2016, Karlsson was announced to represent Sweden at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In September, he was named alternate captain alongside Daniel Sedin.

      Personal life

      Karlsson and his first wife, Therese, were divorced in 2013. He married his second wife, Melinda Currey, in Ottawa in August 2017. On 22 November 2017, Karlsson and Currey announced via Instagram that they were expecting their first child, and on 18 December, they revealed it was a boy. On 20 March 2018, the Karlssons announced that their son was stillborn. On 3 October 2019, Karlsson and Melinda announced the birth of a daughter.

      On 12 June 2018, Karlsson's wife filed a protection order against Monika Caryk, girlfriend of Senators' teammate Mike Hoffman, for harassment both before and after the passing of their son. The nature of the alleged harassment included using fake accounts to direct over 1,000 malicious comments towards the Karlssons, including some made regarding the stillbirth of the Karlssons' son. The situation would soon result in legal action against Caryk and the trades of both Karlsson and Hoffman from the Senators' organization.

      During a 2018 court deposition, Caryk burst into tears and threatened to leave the room during questioning. She told the court that she and Melinda Karlsson began as friends and that the Karlssons were never outwardly hostile towards her. When asked how the friendship deteriorated, Caryk stated that she became offended after her Facebook and Instagram posts stopped receiving "likes" from Melinda Karlsson, and Caryk became more upset when she stopped receiving invitations to team dinners organized for wives and girlfriends of Senators' players. The deposition revealed that wives and girlfriends of several players associated with the Senators and other organizations had contacted Caryk privately before the matter went public, admonishing her for her continued and increasing hostility towards the Karlssons.

      Later that year, Karlsson and his wife organized the charity "Can't Dim My Light" to raise funds and awareness about bullying in schools.

      Karlsson's childhood idols included Nicklas Lidström, Daniel Alfredsson, Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg. He is a supporter of English Premier League football club Arsenal.
      F Lalrinpuia
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      F LalrinpuiaPersonal information
      Date of birth 3 October 1989 
      Place of birth Mizoram, India, Republic veng
      Position(s) Forward
      Club information

      Current team Mizoram Police
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2012–2015 Mizoram Police
      2015 Chanmari
      2016 Aizawl 10 (0)
      2016– Mizoram Police
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:40, 20 March 2018 (UTC)

      F Lalrinpuia (born 3 October 1989) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Mizoram Police in the Mizoram Premier League.

      Career

      Born in Mizoram, Lalrinpuia began his career with Mizoram Police in the Mizoram Premier League. He then joined Chanmari, where he played for the side in the I-League 2nd Division. He also represented Mizoram in the Santosh Trophy and helped the state win their first championship in the tournament.

      On 16 January 2016 Lalrinpuia made his professional debut with newly promoted I-League club, Aizawl, against Bengaluru FC. He came on as a 79th minute substitute as Aizawl lost 1–0.

      Mizoram Police

      After spending the season with Aizawl, Lalrinpuia returned to Mizoram Police for the 2016–17 and 2017–18 Mizoram Premier League seasons.

      Lalrinpuia was also part of the Mizoram side that participated in the Santosh Trophy in 2016, 2017, and 2018. On 20 March 2018, Lalrinpuia scored the equalizer for Mizoram in their opening match of the 2017–18 edition against Goa.
      G. Muthuraj

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


      Muthuraj
      Born 1 July 1927

      Died 21 May 2006 (aged 78)
      Spouse(s) Padmavathy

      G. Muthuraj (1 July 1927 – 21 May 2006) was a football player from Karnataka, India.

      Footballing career

      Fondly known as Muthu, Muthuraj started his career as a defender with the Bangalore Mars in 1947. He also became the captain of the Karnataka state team and played for his state for nearly a decade. he made his international debut in an away series in 1953 against Myanmar (then called Burma).

      He represented India at the 1954 Asian Games in Manila.

      Professional career

      Muthu joined the 515 Army Base Workshop in 1950 and retired in 1962. From then on, he coached the Army team until he quit in 1990.

      Personal life

      Muthuraj is survived by two sons, both of whom were footballers, and three daughters.

      Grace Dangmei
      Wikipedia



      Date of birth 5 February 1996 
      Place of birth Dimdailong, Churachandpur, Manipur, india
      Position(s) Forward
      Club information

      Current team Gokulam Kerala FC
      Number 11
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2016–2018 KRYPHSA 9 (8)
      2019 Sethu 7 (8)
      2021 Gokulam Kerala 0 (0)
      National team‡
      2014 India U19 3 (1)
      2013– India 43 (12)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 May 2019
      ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2 December 2021

      Grace Dangmei (born 5 February 1996) is an Indian footballer, who plays as a forward for the India Women's National Football Team. She was part of the team at the 2014 Asian Games and at the 2016 South Asian Games where she scored two goals against Sri Lanka. During the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship, she scored a goal in the first half of the final, helping India clinch its fourth consecutive title at the tournament.

      Early life

      Grace Dangmei was born to Simon Dangmei and Rita Dangmei and belongs to Rongmei Tribe from Dimdailong Village, Kangvai Sub-Division, Churachandpur District, Manipur.

      Career
      International career

      Grace played her debut international match in AFC Qualifiers on 2013. Then she becomes regular members of women's national team.

      Club career

      Dangmei played the inaugural edition of Indian Women's League with Kryphsa F.C. and also 2nd edition. She joined Sethu FC in 2019 for 3rd edition of IWL.During the 2018 Indian Women's League she was awarded as Emerging Player Award. She scored a brace in her first match with Sethu FC against Manipur Police Sports Club on 6 May 2019.
      Gopi Sonkar

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



      Gopi SonkarPersonal information
      Full name Gopi Kumar Sonkar
      Ethnicity Khatik
      Citizenship India
      Born 10 April 2000
      Banaras
      Residence Banaras
      Occupation sport
      Sport
      Country India
      Sport Hockey
      Position Midfielder
      Team Uttar Pradesh Hockey

      Gopi Sonkar (born 10 April 2000), also known as Gopi Kumar, is an Indian field hockey player and a member of Indian field hockey team. He represented India in 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup held at Malaysia.

      He also participated in 9th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship 2019 (Div ‘A’) held at the Sports Authority of India, Western Training Centre, Aurangabad.

      Early life and career

      He started training at Vivek Singh Academy, then joined Saifai Sports Hostel where his maternal uncle Rajesh trained him. He is the elder between two sisters and three brothers.[ His father Pyarelal Sonkar used to sell fruits at Pandeypur Chowk.

      Gaurav Solanki
      Wikipedia
      Gaurav Solanki
      Statistics

      Weight(s) Flyweight
      Nationality Indian
      Born 21 January 1997 

      Gaurav Solanki (born 21 January 1997) is an Indian boxer. He competes in the 52 kg category. In the year 2018, at the Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Queensland, he won the gold medal in boxing's flyweight 52 kg category. He hails from Ballabgarh, Faridabad, Haryana.

      Primary and personal life

      Gaurav Solanki was born on 21 January 1997 in Ballabgarh, Faridabad. His father, Vijay Pal Singh, is an electrician and has an electric shop. His younger brother, Saurav is a boxer and trains at a local boxing academy in the 46-49 kg category. Her elder sister, Neelam was the national level boxing champion from 2013 to 2015.

      In Ballabgarh village, there was a lack of sports culture and very few people came forward to inspire Gaurav to pursue boxing. His school started boxing training as a sport and in order to have fun Gaurav joined, and soon boxing became his profession. Though in the initial days, there was a big problem in his family finances, i.e., in order to be a good boxer one needs enough financial support to have good food and training. In 2012, when Gaurav started showing the spark of becoming a boxer, his father sold his 50-yard land to financially support Gaurav's boxing career. So, when Gaurav decided to become a boxer, his family came forward to help him in every possible way so he could pursue his dream without giving him a hint of the financial crisis of the family.

      Career

      2018, Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia

      On 9 April 2018, in the last 16 rounds, Gaurav beat Ghana's Empiyar Akimos Annang Ampiah with a score of 4-0.
      On 11 April 2018, in the quarter-finals, Gaurav beat Papua New Guinea's Charles Keama with a score of 5-0.
      On 13 April 2018, in the semifinals Gaurav beat Sri Lankan M. Vidanalange Ishan Bandra with a score of 4-0 margin.
      On 14 April, in the final, Gaurav beat Ireland's Brendan Irvine with a final score of 4-1.


      Gurcharan Singh Grewal



      Lt. Colonel Sardar Gurcharan Singh Grewal (May 4, 1911 – February 7, 1949) was an Indian field hockey player who represented India at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, where he contributed to the team's gold medal victory. Below is a comprehensive overview of his life, career, and legacy based on available information.

      Early Life and Background

      • Birth: Gurcharan Singh Grewal was born on May 4, 1911, in Punjab, British India. He was part of the Sikh community, and his family hailed from Gojra, a region known for producing notable field hockey players.
      • Military Career: Grewal served in the British Indian Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His military background was common among Indian Olympians of the era, as the army often supported sports like field hockey.

      Field Hockey Career

      • 1936 Summer Olympics: Gurcharan Singh Grewal was a member of the Indian field hockey team that competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. India dominated the tournament, defeating Germany 8-1 in the final to secure the gold medal. Grewal played one match during the tournament, against the United States, in the position of left-fullback.
      • Western Asiatic Games: In 1934, Grewal was part of the Indian team that won a gold medal at the Western Asiatic Games held in Delhi.
      • Team Leadership: Grewal captained a secondary Indian field hockey team that toured India, Burma, and Malaya, playing exhibition matches to promote the sport. This team was distinct from the primary team led by the legendary Dhyan Chand, which toured Manipur, Burma, the Far East, and Ceylon.
      • Playing Style: Known for his skills as a back (defender), Grewal was recognized for his reliability and prowess on the field, contributing to India’s defensive strength during matches.

      Family and Legacy in Field Hockey

      • Family Connection: Gurcharan’s younger brother, Mehar Singh Grewal, was also a prominent field hockey player, highlighting the family’s contribution to the sport in India. The Grewal family from Gojra was noted for producing multiple hockey players, including three members of the 1936 Olympic team.
      • Sikh Representation: As a Sikh, Gurcharan Singh Grewal was part of a significant representation of Sikh athletes in Indian field hockey, a sport where the community excelled during the pre-independence era.

      Death and Errata

      • Death: Gurcharan Singh Grewal passed away on February 7, 1949, at the age of 37. The cause of his death is not detailed in available sources.
      • Name Misspelling: His obituary, published in The Indian Express (Madras, Dak edition) on February 11, 1949, mistakenly spelled his name as Gurbachan Singh Grewal. This error has been noted in multiple sources.

      Clarification on Identity

      There appears to be some confusion in certain sources regarding another individual named Gurcharan Singh Grewal, associated with Sikh politics and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). This individual is described as a contemporary figure involved in Sikh community leadership and is not the same as Lt. Colonel Gurcharan Singh Grewal, the Olympian, who died in 1949. The SGPC figure is noted to have also played field hockey in his youth and participated in the 1936 Olympics, but this seems to be a conflation or error, as the Olympian Gurcharan Singh Grewal’s death in 1949 precludes him from modern political activities.

      Achievements and Recognition

      • Olympic Gold Medal: 1936 Berlin Olympics (Field Hockey).
      • Western Asiatic Games Gold Medal: 1934 Delhi.
      • Contribution to Indian Sports: Grewal’s participation in the 1936 Olympics and his role in India’s dominant field hockey team cemented his place in Indian sports history during an era when India was a global powerhouse in the sport.

      Sources and Notes

      • The information is primarily drawn from Wikipedia, Olympedia, Sikhs in Hockey, and other web sources.
      • The surname “Garewal” in the query appears to be a misspelling; the correct surname is “Grewal,” as consistently noted across sources.
      • No information from The Indian Express obituary or other primary sources beyond the cited references was available for further details on his personal life or post-Olympic career.

      Additional Notes

      • Historical Context: The 1936 Olympics were significant for India, as the field hockey team, led by Dhyan Chand, showcased the country’s dominance in the sport. Grewal’s contribution, though limited to one match, was part of this historic achievement.
      • Limited Records: Due to the era and the lack of extensive digital archiving, details about Grewal’s personal life, such as his education, family details beyond his brother, or specific military service, are scarce.

      Gadde Ruthvika Shivani
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Gadde Ruthvika Shivani
      గద్దె రుత్విక శివాని
      Personal information
      Birth name Gadde Ruthvika Shivani
      Country  India
      Born 26 March 1997 
      Residence Khammam, Telangana, India
      Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
      Weight 60 kg (132 lb)
      Handedness Right handed
      Coach Pullela Gopichand
      Women's singles
      Career title(s) 5
      Highest ranking 49 (1 December 2016)

      Women's badminton
      Representing  India
       2016 Kunshan Women's team
       2011 Lucknow Mixed team


      Gadde Ruthvika Shivani (born 26 March 1997) is an Indian badminton player who currently plays singles. She trains at the Gopichand Badminton Academy.

      Childhood and Early Training

      Gadde Ruthvika Shivani, the daughter of G. Bhavani Prasad and G. Prameela Rani, was born in a Telugu family on 26 March 1997. Her father is a small business man and her mother is a homemaker and Shivani's elder brother is G. S. Chaitanya Prasad. Shivani getting interested in playing badminton at the age of five, she used to go along with his father to play with club members at Khammam's Sequel Resorts. Her father and his friends noticed her keen interest to the sport, from then she started playing it every single day and make it as a career.

      In 2002, Shivani initially took in the nuts and bolts of the game with the direction of club coach Prem Singh at Khammam's Sequel Resorts. Later, she joined in the Sports Authority Academy, Khammam, in 2004 under the guidance of coach G. Sudhakar Reddy till 2011. During her training she sharpened her repertoire of mix-and-match shots to bait and confuse her opponents. One of the others things she did was to play singles and doubles with boys. While their physicality made Shivani work harder, her techniques refined her game, making her stand out.

      Soon after Shivani joined in the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in 2012, she won several medals after joining in the Gopichand Badminton Academy, one of the biggest triumph is winning the women's singles title in Russian Grand Prix. About Shivani's performance at the Russian Grand Prix, Gopichand said: "She had the habit of playing against the boys in her early days". "So, her fitness and power is automatically developed and it is likely to make the difference from the other students of this academy. And after she joined the academy, I did not overwrite her game style. Rather I tried to polish it".

      Shivani was National Champion at sub-junior, junior, senior level categories in all age groups and in all formats of badminton events, respectively she won 115 national medals. In the international level she won 20 medals. Shivani completed her schooling from Harvest Public School, Khammam. She completed her 11th, 12th standards from Jubilee Hills Public School, Hyderabad and B.Com from St. Ann's College for Women, at present she is pursuing her M.B.A in the same college located in Hyderabad.

      Career

      In the international circuit, Shivani made her first international sub-junior debut in 2010, she was a bronze medallist in women's doubles category at the Badminton Asia Youth U17 & U15 Championships held in Chiba, Japan, that was her first medal in international level. In the same year she was a silver medallist in women's doubles category at the Li-Ning Singapore Youth International held in Singapore. In 2011, Shivani was a silver medallist in women's singles category at the Badminton Asia Youth U17 & U15 Championships held in Chiba, Japan. She was also a silver medallist in women's doubles category at the DJARUM SIRNAS REG.IV FLY POWER PERTAMINA JATIM OPEN held in Surabaya, Indonesia.

      2011

      In 2011, Shivani made her first international junior debut at Ramenskoe Junior International held in Ramenskoe, Russia. She vanquished Russian Player Evgeniya Kosetskaya and won women's singles title. She was also a bronze medallist in women's doubles. At Asian Junior Championships she was a bronze medallist in mixed team event.

      2012

      In 2012, Sushant Chipalkatti Memorial India Junior International held in Pune, Maharastra. She won the women's singles title by defeating Rituparna Das in straight sets and also won the women's doubles title.

      2013

      In the 2013 Indian Badminton League, She was the team member of the Awadhe Warriors. Her team lost in finals against Hyderabad HotShots and finished as runner's-up. Shivani won women's singles title at Sushant Chipalkatti Memorial India Junior International held in Pune, Maharastra. By defeating Liang Xiaoyu in finals. She won in women's doubles at Vankina Anjana Devi Memorial All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament held in Hyderabad, Telangana.

      2014

      In December, Shivani won the Tata Open India International women's singles title after beating her opponent Arundhati Pantawane in the final. This was her first international challenge title held in Mumbai, Maharastra. On 7 September 2014 she won her third consecutive year of winning women's singles title in Sushant Chipalkatti Memorial India Junior International held in Pune, Maharastra defeating her opponent Karthik Reshma in the final. Winner in women’s singles at All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament held in Gandhidham, Gujarat.

      2015

      At the 2015 December, Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Open International held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She won the women's singles title by defeating top seeded player Iris Wang of United States. In October, Sofia, Bulgaria she was a bronze medallist in women's singles at the Babolat Bulgarian International. In September, playing at the Sushant Chipalkatti Memorial India Junior International held in Pune, Maharastra. She defeated second seeded player Supamart Mingchua in the final and winning the women's singles title for the fourth consecutive year. At Radhey Shyam Gupta Memorial All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament held in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh she was winner in women's singles.

      2016

      At the 2016 South Asian Games held in Guwahati and Shillong, she won two gold medals, in women's team and women's singles. Rising star Shivani created the biggest upset by defeating P. V. Sindhu in straight games and won the women's singles title. She was a women's team member in India's national team at the 2016 Uber Cup and secured bronze medal in 2016 Thomas & Uber Cup World Team Championships Finals held in Kunshan, China. In the quarter finals she defeated Thailand's top player Nichaon Jindapol by 21-18, 21-16[9] with that victory Indian women's team secured bronze medal in Uber Cup. Later, they lost in semi-finals against china. In the 2016 Premier Badminton league, Shivani was the team member of the Mumbai Rockets. Her team finished as runner's-up after losing in finals against Delhi Acers. On 9 October 2016, Shivani won Russian Open women's singles title, beating her opponent from Russia Evgeniya Kosetskaya in finals. This is Shivani's maiden Grand Prix title held in Vladivostok, Russia. Shivani was a silver medallist in Sats-Yonex Sunrise India International Series held in Hyderabad, Telangana. In Pune, Maharashtra she was winner in women’s singles at V. V. Natu Memorial All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament.

      International Achievements (Senior)
      International Senior Medals (6)

      S. No.YearTournamentOpponent/Opponent in finalScoreResult
      1 2014 Tata Open India International  Arundhati Pantawane 19–21, 21–18, 21–14  Gold
      2 2015 Babolat Bulgarian International  Maria Ulitina 20-22, 15-21  Bronze
      3 2015 Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Open International  Iris Wang 23–21, 19–21, 21–18 Gold
      4 2016 South Asian Games  P.V.Sindhu 21–11, 22–20  Gold
      5 2016 Russian Open  Evgeniya Kosetskaya 21-10, 21-13  Gold
      6 2016 Sats-Yonex Sunrise India International Series  Rituparna Das 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 12-14  Silver
      7 2017 Tata Open India International  Mukherjee Riya 21-12, 23-21  Gold

      Recent achievements: Won tata open India international challenge in 2017 Grand Prix International Challenge International Series

      Gaurav Natekar
       Wikipedia

      Gaurav Natekar (born 4 April 1972) is a seven-time Indian National Tennis Champion. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1996 for Tennis.

      His father, Nandu M. Natekar, was a national-level Indian badminton champion.

      Achievements

      Represented the country in Davis Cup from 1992-97. Was member of the team that reached the semi-final in '93
      Double gold medallist at the Hiroshima Asian Games in 1994 (team event and doubles with Leander Paes)
      Double gold medallist in SAF Games in Colombo '93, Dhaka '95, and Madras '97.
      Won the National hard & grasscourt titles in singles and doubles in the same year (1992)
      Two National singles, seven doubles and five junior titles. Highest ATP ranking: singles 272, doubles 167.

      Gouranga Biswas
      Wikipedia
      Gouranga Biswas
      Personal information
      Full name Gouranga Biswas
      Date of birth 17 December 1987
      Place of birth Kolkata, India
      Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
      Playing position(s) Midfielder
      Club information

      Current team Eagles F.C. (on loan)
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2006–2008 East Bengal
      2008–2009 Air India
      2009–2013 Prayag United
      2013– (on loan) Eagles
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

      Gouranga Biswas (born 17 December 1987 in Kolkata) is an Indian footballer who is currently playing for Eagles F.C. on loan from IMG RELIANCE as a midfielder.

      Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati
      Wikipedia
      Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati
      Bhati age 11, with his chess variants
      Born 3 September 2002 

      Nationality Indian
      Known for Inventing six-, twelve-, and sixty-player circular chess variants

      Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati (born 3 September 2002) is an Indian student who invented a six-player variant of chess at the age of 9 with assistance from his father. He earned a patent for his invention in 2012, making him the youngest patent-holder in India at that time. For his invention Bhati received the CavinKare Ability Special Recognition Award and the Sri Balaji Society's Child Innovator Award. He has since designed and received patents for twelve- and sixty-player versions of his game, with his boards capable of 100 distinct variations altogether.

      Besides circular chess, Bhati has developed a ramp system enabling easy access to vehicles for the disabled In 2014 he was presented a Dr. Batra's Positive Health Award by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

      Bhati suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. He credits his passion for invention to his admiration of British physicist Stephen Hawking: "I want to be like Hawking who became a famous scientist despite suffering from motor neuron disease."

      Six-player circular chess

      Bhati's version of multiplayer chess is played on a circular board with 228 black and white cells (or spaces). The 12 red spaces are not used. Up to six players in teams of two or three can play. Bhati's design employs all the standard chess pieces and their moves. Individual armies are distinguished by colour.
      Six-player circular chess, starting setup

      Rules

      Each player starts the game with the same number and types of pieces as in standard chess. Non-pawn pieces start in their normal positions on the back ranks (the 8×1 extensions at the board perimeter), with queens always placed to the left of kings. Pawns are placed on the rank in front of the pieces as in standard chess.

      Red spaces cannot be occupied or passed through when moving or capturing. The multicoloured central area can be passed through but not occupied. It is considered a single "null" space, so a cell bordering it is considered adjacent to the cell on the direct opposite side of the null area. (E.g., a pawn on a cell bordering the null space that moves one step straight forward, will end its move on the opposite side of the null space on the same-coloured cell.)

      The king, knight, and pawn have their standard chess moves, unaffected when crossing the central null space, where a cell directly across is considered adjacent. A pawn promotes as normal when reaching any player's back rank. A rook moves horizontally along concentric rings of cells, and vertically along files, including crossing the central null space and continuing along the same file in a straight line. When moving horizontally, a rook cannot end its move on the same cell it started from. The queen moves horizontally and vertically the same as a rook. When a queen or bishop moves diagonally and then crosses the central null space to the opposite side, it must continue from a cell of the same colour it started from: it is moved one cell clockwise or anticlockwise after passing the null space, consistent with whether it began its diagonal movement in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

      When a player is checkmated or resigns, all their remaining pieces are removed from play. In games where teams compete, the last team standing is the winner.
      Hima Das
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Hima Das
      Personal information
      Native name হিমা দাস (অসমীয়া)
      Birth name Hima Das
      Nickname(s) Dhing Express
      Mon Jai
      Nationality Indian
      Born 9 January 2000
      Dhing, Nagaon, Assam, India
      Height 167 cm (5 ft 6 in)
      Weight 54 kg (119 lb)
      Sport
      Country  India
      Event(s) 100 m
      200 m
      400 m
      Coached by Nipon Das
      Achievements and titles
      Personal best(s) 100 m – 11.74 (2018)
      200 m – 23.10 (2018)
      400 m – 51.46 (2018)
      Updated on 21 July 2019.

      Hima Das (born 9 January 2000), nicknamed the Dhing Express, is an Indian sprinter from the state of Assam. She holds the current Indian national record in 400 metres with a timing of 50.79 s that she clocked at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in a track event at the IAAF World U20 Championships..

      Early life

      Hima Das was born at Kandhulimari village, near the town of Dhing in her home state of Assam to Ronjit Das and Jonali Das. They belong to the indigenous Kaibbarta community of Assam. Her parents are farmers by profession. She is the youngest of five siblings. She attended the Dhing Public high School and was initially interested in playing football. She used to play football with the boys at her school and had always wanted to pursue a career in football. However, she did not see any prospects for herself in women's football scene in India. Later, upon advice from a school physical education teacher, she changed to sprint running.

      Das passed her 12th board exams in May .

      Career

      In April 2018, Das competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, Australia, in the 400 metres and the 4×400 metres relay.

      On 12 July 2018, Das won the 400 m final at the World U-20 Championships 2018 held at Tampere, Finland, clocking a superb 51.46 seconds and becoming the first Indian sprinter to win a gold medal at an international track event.

      At the 2018 Asian Games, Das qualified for the 400 m final, after clocking 51.00 in heat 1 and setting a new Indian national record. On 26 August 2018 she improved the national record to 50.79 s in the 400 m final however she could win only the silver medal. Later on 30 August 2018, she, along with M. R. Poovamma, Sarita Gayakwad and V. K. Vismaya won the women's 4 × 400 metres relay clocking 3:28.72. Hima also won a silver medal in the 4 × 400 m mixed relay, which was held for the first time at Asian Games.

      Das continued her success in 2019 winning the 200m gold in Poznan Grand Prix in Poland, on 2 July 2019, with a time of 23.65 seconds.

      On 13 July, she won 200m gold at the Kladno Meet in the Czech Republic with a time of 23.43 seconds.

      On 20 July 2019, she achieved her third gold in a month, and fifth gold, in her 400-meter race in Nové Město, Czech Republic completing the race in 52.09 seconds.[16]

      She was named for the World Championships to be held at Doha in October 2019. However a month before, she was ruled out of participation due to a back problem, that had started right after she competed at the Asian games the previous year.
      Awards and accolades


      President Ram Nath Kovind (right) presenting the Arjuna Award to Das (left) in 2018
      Conferred with Arjuna Award by the President of India on 25 September 2018.
      Das appeared in India's famous TV reality-show conducted by actor Amitabh Bachchan called Kaun Banega Crorepati on 1 November 2019.
      Das is the second athlete from Assam after Bhogeswar Baruah to win a gold medal at an international event.
      I. M. Vijayan
      (Inivalappil Mani Vijayan (Malayalam: അയിനിവളപ്പില്‍ മണി വിജയന്‍)

      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
      1987–1991 Kerala Police
      1991–1992 Mohan Bagan A.C.
      1992–1993 Kerala Police
      1993–1994 Mohan Bagan A.C.
      1994–1997 JCT Mills Phagwara
      1997–1998 FC Kochin
      1998–1999 Mohan Bagan A.C.
      1999–2001 FC Kochin
      2001–2002 East Bengal Club 6 (1)
      2002–2004 JCT Mills Phagwara 34 (10)
      2004–2005 Churchill Brothers SC
      2005–2006 East Bengal Club
      National team
      1989–2004 India 79 (40)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
      † Appearances (Goals).

      Inivalappil Mani Vijayan (Malayalam: അയിനിവളപ്പില്‍ മണി വിജയന്‍) (born 25 April 1969) is a former professional Indian football player. Playing in the striker position, he formed a successful attacking partnership with Baichung Bhutia for the Indian national team in the late nineties and early 2000s. Vijayan was crowned Indian Player of the Year in 1993, 1997 and 1999, the first player to win the award multiple times.He was also awarded the Arjuna award in 2003.

      Vijayan started out as a seller of soda in the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium, Kerala earning 10 paise (0.02 Cents) a bottle. Eventually he was chosen to play for the Kerala Police club and rose to become one of the top names in domestic football. A highly aggressive player, he eventually became the highest earner in Indian club football as well as a regular in the India team. He scored one of the fastest ever international goals in a match against Bhutan in the 1999 SAF Games, when he managed to do the same in 12 seconds. Faster international goals on record include ones by Davide Gualtieri in 8 seconds and Hakan Şükür in 11 seconds. Vijayan's talents attracted interest from clubs in Malaysia and Thailand, although he spent his entire career in India until retirement. By the end of his career he had scored 40 international goals in 79 matches for India. Since retiring Vijayan has set up a football academy to train young players in his home town.

      Vijayan was born in a back ward Pulaya community on 25 April 1969 at Thrissur City, Kerala. He began his life in a gravely poor environment, and had to sell soda bottles in the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium for helping his family. He studied in CMSHS Thrissur. He had a passion for the game of football, and somehow caught the eye of the then DGP of Kerala, M.K. Joseph who got him selected for the Kerala Police football club at the age of 17 years. Vijayan delivered brilliant performance for Kerala Police at Quilon Nationals 1987, and was able to impress the national football fraternity very soon with his impeccable skills and highly aggressive style of playing. He continued to play for Kerala Police until the year 1991, when he switched to Mohun Bagan He came back to Kerala Police in 1992 and the next year switched back to Mohun Bagan. The very next year in 1994 he joined JCT Mills Fagwara, and stayed with them for 3 years till 1997, when he left JCT to join FC Kochin. After spending a one year tenure with the club, he again moved to Mohun Bagan in 1998 and came back to FC Kochin in 1999.Early

      Life & Domestic Career

      Vijayan left FC Cochin in 2001 and joined East Bengal Club, which he left in 2002 to join JCT Mills Phagwara once again. After finishing a two year stint with the club, he left JCT in 2004 and joined Churchill Brothers S.C. He left the club after one year and moved to East Bengal Club in 2005, which was his last professional football club as an active football player. He left East Bengal in the year 2006.

      International career

      Shri I.M. Vijayan made his debut in international football in the year 1989 and played in a number of tournaments such as Nehru Cup, pre-Olympics, pre-World Cup, SAAF Cup and SAF Games. Vijayan and Baichung Bhutia formed one of the deadliest forward lines the Indian Football team had ever seen, and helped the team score various vital goals in international tournaments. Vijayan was part of the victorious Indian team in the 1999 South Asian Football Federation Cup and scored one of the fastest international goals in history during the tournament, hitting the net against Bhutan after only 12 seconds. He also finished top scorer in the Afro-Asian Games event held in India in 2003 with four goals. Vijayan formally retired from international football after the Afro-Asian Games of 2003.

      Kalo Harin

      The unmatching rags to riches story of Vijayan translated into celluloid in 1998. The film, Kalo Harin, was directed by Cherian Joseph. Other members of the team: A. N. Raveendra Das, N. P. Chandrasekharan (Script), N. P. Chandrasekharan (Lyrics), K. Raghavan Master (Music) and P. J. Cherian (Cinimatography). The title of the film which means black buck is a reference to Vijayan's popular nickname during his playing days in Kolkata. This film finds the life of Vijayan as the struggle for existence and expression by a poor Dalit in modern India. This film won the National Award and the John Abraham Award in 1999. It also attracted mass appeal in Kerala, the home state of Vijayan at that time. Even though a short non feature film, it was exhibited in local theaters through ticket selling. That was a new episode in the history of Malayalam Film Industry. And, the songs of this film, with their folk touch and Dalit vigour, also became hits then.

      Acting career

      Vijayan acted as the leading character in internationally acclaimed Indian film "Shantham" (Peace) which won the national award for best film, playing a young man who kills his friend and then is tormented by remorse.His second movie is along with Kalabhavan Mani in Akashathile paravakal, in which he played a negative role. He is currently building a reputation for his character roles in Malayalam movies. He has also acted in some Tamil films, Thimiru being one.

      Other Activities

      After retirement from active football, Vijayan concentrated his attention upon his Football School that he had opened in Thrissur. In 2010 Vijayan formally took over a coaching job with Southern Samity, a premier division side in the Calcutta Football League. He was also a member of the now defunct National Congress
      Ignace Tirkey

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Ignacious ("Ignace") Tirkey is an Indian field Hockey player. He plays as a Fullback and has captained the Indian team.

      He also serves the Madras Engineering Group (Madras Sappers corps of engineers) Indian army as a commissioned officer. He holds the rank of Captain.

      Early life

      Ignace Tirkey's younger brother Prabodh Tirkey also represented India in hockey. He is a product of Panposh Sports Hostel, Rourkela where he was spotted by Indian Army to help him pursue his career.

      Career

      Tirkey made his debut for the national side in February 2001 at the Akbar el Yom Tournament in Cairo against Belgium. He was a member of Indian team that participated in the Athens Olympic in 2004, where India finished seventh. In club hockey, Tirkey played for Services.

      He is most remembered for his goal that he scored between Pakistan's ace striker, Sohail Abbas's legs in the final minutes of 2003 Asia Cup final to give India the winning lead after both teams were locked at 2-2 (India eventually added a 4th goal in the last minute). The match won India its first gold in Asia Cups.

      Another highlight of his was in the Muruguppa Gold Cup in Aug 2001, where he scored a golden goal to win final, and thereafter in December 2002 during the National Games in Hyderabad.

      Awards

      Ignacious TirkeyPersonal information
      Born 10 May 1981 (age 37)
      Lulkidihi, Navapara, Sundergarh
      Orissa, India
      Playing position Fullback
      Senior career
      Years Team Apps (Gls)

      Services

      2005–? Chennai Veerans

      2007–2008 Orissa Steelers

      National team
      Years Team Apps (Gls)

      2001–2012 India 250+

      Medal record

      Men’s field hockey
      Representing  India
      Asia Cup
       2003 Kuala Lumpur Team
      Asian Champions Trophy
       2011 Ordos Team
      S.No.AwardsYear
      1 Padma Shree 2010
      2 Arjuna Award 2009
      3 Ekalavya Puraskar 2003
      4 Services Sportsman of the Year 2004
      Jim Thorpe
      Thorpe won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics.

      His accomplishments didn't end there.

      He also played professional football, baseball and basketball.

      Former President Dwight Eisenhower said this about him after a Carlisle/Army football game in which Thorpe scored 22 out of his team's 27 points: "My memory goes back to Jim Thorpe. He never practiced in his life, and he could do anything better than any other football player I ever saw."
      Jyoti Sunita Kullu
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Jyoti Sunita KulluPersonal information
      Born 9 September 1978

      Women’s Field Hockey
      Representing  India
       2004 New Delhi Team

      Jyoti Sunita Kullu (born 9 September 1978[1] in Sundargarh, Odisha[2]) is a female field hockey player from India, who made her international debut for her native country in 1996 in Delhi at the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup. In 2002, she became the topscorer of the Champions Challenge tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa, with five goals in six matches. In the same year Kullu won the golden medal with India at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

      International Senior Tournaments

      1996 – Indira Gandhi Gold Cup, New Delhi
      1997 – World Cup Qualifier, Harare (4th)
      1998 – World Cup, Utrecht (12th)
      1998 – Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur (4th)
      1998 – Asian Games, Bangkok (2nd)
      1999 – Hockey Asia Cup, New Delhi (2nd)
      2000 – Olympic Qualifier, Milton Keynes (10th)
      2001 – World Cup Qualifier, Amiens/Abbeville (7th)
      2002 – Champions Challenge, Johannesburg (3rd)
      2002 – Commonwealth Games, Manchester (1st)
      2002 – Asian Games, Busan (4th)
      2003 – Afro-Asian Games, Hyderabad (1st)
      2004 – Hockey Asia Cup, New Delhi (1st)
      2006 – Commonwealth Games, Melbourne (2nd)
      2006 – World Cup, Madrid (11th)
      Awards

      The President, Smt. Pratibha Patil presenting the Arjuna Award -2006 to Ms. Jyoti Sunita Kullu for Hockey (Women) at a glittering function, in New Delhi on August 29, 2007

      John Peter 
      (field hockey)
      Wikipedia
      Full name Victor John Peter
      Born 19 June 1937
      Madras (now Chennai), Madras Presidency

      Died 30 June 1998 (aged 61)
      Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
      Playing position Halfback

      Victor John "V. J." Peter (19 June 1937 – 30 June 1998) was an Indian professional field hockey player. A three-time Olympian who played as a halfback, he was a part of the Indian national team that won the silver, gold and bronze medals respectively in the 1960, the 1964 and the 1968 Olympic Games.Peter's brother, Victor Philips, was a member of the 1975 World Cup-winning team.

      Born in Madras (now Chennai), Peter represented his employer Madras Engineer Group, and Services at the club level. He was renowned for his "dribbling skills, ball control and playmaking" and was called by former teammates Harbinder Singh and Inam-ur Rahman as "one of the best inside-rights India ever produced". Another former teammate Gurbux Singh credited him as having been the "architect of India's triumph over Pakistan in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics final." Peter was also instrumental in India's gold medal winning campaign at the 1966 Asian Games. Following his death in June 1998, another former teammate Charles Cornelius recalled, "Peter was pure magic, and I will never forget the combination of Mohinder Lal, Joginder and Peter." M. P. Ganesh felt he was a "very artistic player and his passing was accurate and well-timed."

      Joseph Barss (ice hockey)

      From Wikipedia

      Joseph Barss
      Barss from 1924 Michiganensian
      Born
      Joseph Barss
      February 27, 1892

      Died January 26, 1971 (aged 78)

      Occupation Ice hockey coach, Medical doctor and surgeon

      Joseph Ernest Barss (February 27, 1892 – January 26, 1971) was an ice hockey player and coach. He was the first head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team, holding the position from 1922 to 1927. He was later employed as a medical doctor and surgeon in the Chicago area.

      Early years

      Barss was born in Madras, India (now known as Chennai) in February 1892. His father, John Howard Barss (born Wolfville, Nova Scotia) was ordained in July 1891 and traveled to India as a Baptist missionary. In 1893, while still an infant, Barss returned to Canada with his parents. He traveled with his parents from Liverpool, England, arriving in New York on October 30, 1893. They returned to their home in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where Barss' father operated a grocery store and served as a Baptist minister. Barss was enrolled at Acadia University in Wolfville, receiving his degree in 1912. After graduating from Acadia, Barss played professional hockey for the Montreal Wanderers of the National Hockey Association.
      World War I


      Barss in World War I uniform posing with his parents.

      In April 1915, Barss entered the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force following the outbreak of World War I. At that time, he listed his occupation as clerk and indicated that he had three years of prior military service. In his history of the University of Michigan's hockey program, author John U. Bacon provides a lengthy account of Barss' war-time service and its impact on his decision to become a medical doctor. According to Bacon, Barss was wounded by shrapnel and gassed at the Second Battle of Ypres in April and May 1915. However, Barss' military records indicate that Barss' Attestation Paper for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force was completed on April 30, 1915 in Montreal. Accordingly, it appears that Barss likely did not see combat action at the Second Battle of Ypres. Barss' Service Record states that he was wounded on June 2, 1916. He was a machine gunner sergeant with the P.P.C.L.I and badly wounded in Sanctuary Wood during the first day of the Battle of Mt. Sorrel on the eastern border of Ypres, Belgium. According to Bacon, Barss suffered permanent lung damage and a severe abdominal injury from shrapnel while serving in Belgium. After a lengthy hospitalization in France, Barss was sent to Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia in November 1917. Barss arrived in Halifax weeks before the Halifax Explosion, an explosion of a ship in Halifax harbor loaded with 10 tons of gunpowder, 35 tons of airplane fuel and 200 tons of TNT. More than 1,700 people were killed in the explosion. Barss was not injured and helped tend to the injured in the aftermath of the disaster.

      University of Michigan

      In 1919, Barss enrolled at the University of Michigan as a graduate student in bacteriology. In 1920, he enrolled at the Medical School, receiving a medical degree from the university in 1924.

      While attending medical school at Michigan, Barss also served as the first coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team. According to Wilfred Byron Shaw's four-volume history of the University of Michigan, hockey had its beginning at Michigan in 1921 with Barss as the coach. Other sources indicate that Barss became the coach of the Michigan hockey team in 1922 According to Bacon, Barss officiated many of the games for the 1922 team and then asked athletic director Fielding H. Yost if he could start a varsity hockey team. Bacon wrote that Yost "might not have known much about hockey, but he knew a natural coach when he met one" and accepted Barss' offer.

      It was not until 1923 that the Michigan hockey team received formal recognition as a varsity sport. The first "official" college hockey game played west of the Alleghenies was a game between Michigan and Wisconsin, played on January 12, 1923, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game went into overtime with Michigan prevailing by a score of 2-1.

      Barss coached the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team during its first five years as a formal varsity sport. During those five years (1923 to 1927), the Michigan hockey team compiled a record of 26-21-4.

      As the popularity of college hockey grew in the early 1920s, other colleges looked to Barss' pupils for coaching candidates. In January 1923, former Michigan hockey star Russell Barkell was hired as the coach of the hockey team at Williams College.

      In February 1924, after a 3-0 victory by Michigan over Wisconsin, a Madison newspaper praised the defensive play of the Barss-coached Wolverines: "With an almost air-tight defense and a definite scoring attack the Michigan hockey team defeated the Badger six by a score of 3 to 0 yesterday afternoon. Wisconsin could not stop Michigan's fast team work and was unable to penetrate their defense to take any close shots at the goal."

      By January 1925, the Michigan ice hockey team had four returning letter men from the prior year's team, and a call for candidates by Coach Barss "brought out 20 aspirants."

      Medical career

      After retiring as Michigan's hockey coach in 1927, Barss moved to Riverside, Illinois. He worked at the Hines Veteran Hospital in Maywood, Illinois, eventually becoming the chief of surgery there. In June 1930, Barss became a naturalized United States citizen. That same year, U.S. Census records show that Barss was living in Riverside, Illinois with his wife, Helen Kolb Barss, and two children, Joseph (age 6) and Elizabeth (age 2) In his registration card for the draft at the time of World War II, Barss indicated that he was a physician and surgeon residing in Riverside and having his place of business at 1011 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois.

      Later years and death

      Barss retired from his medical practice in 1962 and moved to Florida. In 1971, Barss died of Alzheimer's disease in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at age 79.
      Jeje Lalpekhlua
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


      Jeje Lalpekhlua
      Lalpekhlua in 2011
      Personal information
      Full name Jeje Lalpekhlua Fanai
      Date of birth 7 January 1991
      Place of birth Hnahthial, Mizoram, India
      Height 173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
      Position(s) Forward
      Club information

      Current team East Bengal
      Number 12
      Youth career
      2007–2008 Pune
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2008–2013 Pune 54 (16)
      2010–2011 → Pailan Arrows (loan) 15 (13)
      2013–2014 Dempo 18 (5)
      2014–2015 Mohun Bagan 12 (1)
      2014 → Chennaiyin (loan) 13 (4)
      2015–2020 Chennaiyin 56 (19)
      2016 → Mohun Bagan (loan) 14 (4)
      2017 → Mohun Bagan (loan) 17 (5)
      2020– East Bengal 7 (1)
      National team‡
      2008–2009 India U19 2 (0)
      2010–2011 India U23 13 (6)
      2011– India 56 (23)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 05:05, 16 June 2021 (UTC)
      ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 November 2019


      Jeje Lalpekhlua (born 7 January 1991) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a central forward for the India national football team and SC East Bengal in the Indian Super League.

      He is the second-highest Indian goalscorer in the Indian Super League since its inception, and he is the record highest goalscorer for Chennaiyin FC. In 2015, he won the I-league with Mohun Bagan and the Indian Super League with Chennaiyin, and was subsequently named the FPAI Football Player of the Year.

      Career
      Youth career

      Born in the small village of Hnahthial in Mizoram, Lalpekhlua was born in a football fanatic family. His father and elder brother played for a local Mizoram club – The Model Sporting Club, while his uncle represented Mizoram in the Santosh Trophy. Lalpekhlua made his debut for the Model Sporting Club four months after his father had retired from the club.

      Despite as initial hesitation from his parents in pursuing football professionally, Lalpekhlua came to light after a spectacular performance at the Wai Wai Cup held in Mizoram. On account of his strong performance, Lalpekhlua made it to the Mizoram U-19 team. He impressed youth coach Colm Toal at the U-19 selection camp in Gwalior and got selected for U19 qualifiers.

      I-League
      Pune


      Jeje was spotted by the Pune FC scouts and he signed for the Red Lizards at the age of 16. Initially playing in their youth setup, Jeje would make his senior debut for Pune, who were then in the I-League 2nd Division, during the 2009 I-League 2nd Division season. The then 18-year old, scored against Sporting Goa on 17 October 2009 in a 2-2 draw, during the 2009–10 I-League season. He scored again in the same season against Chirag United in a 1-1 draw.

      2010-11 season: Pailan Arrows (loan)


      On 1 July 2010, Jeje signed for I-League newcomers Pailan Arrows on a one-year loan basis from parent club Pune for the 2010-11 I-League season. The Pailan Arrows team was only made up of Indian under-19 players. During the 2010 Indian Federation Cup, he scored 1 goal for Pailan Arrows in the two games he played. On 3 December 2010, Jeje took part in Pailan Arrows first I-League game, against Chirag United, in a 2-1 loss. On 8 December 2010, Lalpekhlua scored his first ever goal for Pailan Arrows against ONGC FC in a 1-1 draw. After that, Jeje went on a huge goal-scoring run and earned a lot of praise by many top AIFF personnel. On 13 March 2011, Jeje scored 4 goals against Air India in an I-League match which ended in a 5–2 win. He again scored 4 goals against Mohun Bagan in a thrilling 5-4 win, on 29 May which also was his last match for the club. He finished his stellar season with 13 goals in 15 appearances, also becoming the top-scoring Indian player of the season. On 26 September 2011, he won the FPAI Best Young Player Award for the 2010–11 season, beating out players like Raju Gaikwad and Lenny Rodrigues.

      2011-12 season: Back to Pune

      Lalpekhlua in 2011

      On 7 July 2011, it was announced that Lalpekhlua was to return to his parent club Pune for the 2011-12 I-League season Lalpekhlua made his first start and his first overall game for Pune since his return from Pailan Arrows, on 17 September 2011 during the Federation Cup group stage match against Dempo in a 2-1 win Jeje then scored his second goal in the Federation Cup on 19 September 2011 against East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium in a 2-1 loss. Jeje started the 2011–12 I-League season as a regular starter for Pune. In the second game of the season he scored his first goal in the 78th minute to make the score a 1–2 against Sporting Goa, which ended 2–2 on 28 October 2011. Jeje continued his scoring form in the next match as he scored against Chirag United in what was Pune's first win of the season in a 3–1 win on 1 November 2011. He then scored another goal in the I-League against Dempo in the 26th minute on 19 November 2011. Despite the goal, Pune still lost the match 3–1. On 3 January 2012, Jeje came on as a substitute and scored in the 36th minute against Mohun Bagan in a 2-1 win, which also was his last goal of the season. He finished the season with 5 goals.

      2012-13 season

      Jeje scored his first goal of the season in the 51st minute, against now dissolved United Sikkim in the 2012 Indian Federation Cup in a 1-0 win, on 20 September 2012. Jeje then scored in the club's first game of the 2012-13 I-League season on 8 October 2012, in a 3-2 win against ONGC when he converted from the spot kick. He again scored 3 days after, against Mumbai in another 3-2 win. He made his final appearance for the club against Air India on 28 April 2012. He finished the I-League season with 5 goals in 19 appearances.

      Dempo

      On 15 June 2013, Jeje signed for Dempo on a two-year contract. Jeje made his debut for the Goan side during the 2013-14 I-League season, on 22 September 2013 against Shillong Lajong, in which he came on as a substitute for Mandar Rao Dessai in the 55th minute, as Dempo lost the match 3-0. He scored his first goal of the club, a week later, against Mumbai in a 1-1 draw. He scored his 5th and final goal for the club against his former club Pune, on 28 April 2014 in a 3-0 win.

      Mohun Bagan

      On 28 May 2014, it was announced that Jeje would sign a one-year deal with Mohun Bagan. On 11 August 2014, Jeje scored in his debut, in the 41st minute by earning and converting a penalty, in what proved to be the only goal in a 1–0 win in a match against Tollygunge Agragami in the Calcutta Football League. On 11 August 2014, Jeje scored in his debut, in the 41st minute by earning and converting a penalty, in what proved to be the only goal in a 1–0 win in a match against Tollygunge Agragami in the Calcutta Football League.

      Chennaiyin (loan)

      In 1 September 2014, Jeje was loaned out to Chennaiyin for the inaugural 2014 ISL season by Mohun Bagan. On 15 October 2014, Jeje made his debut for the club against Goa, coming on as a substitute for Balwant Singh in the 80th minute. He scored his first goal for the club on 28 October 2014, against Mumbai City in the 26th minute in a thumping 5-1 win. On 16 December 2014, Jeje scored a crucial goal for Chennaiyin against Kerala Blasters in the 2nd leg semi-final playoffs, which took the game to extra time, but they unfortunately lost the game in the extra time period due to a 117th minute goal from [[Stephen Pearson ]]. He finished the season with 4 goals in 13 appearances, which also made him the top-scoring Indian of the season.

      Return to Mohun Bagan

      On 31 December 2014, Jeje returned to his parent club Mohun Bagan after his loan spell with Chennaiyin for the 2014–15 I-League season. On 28 January 2015, he made his I-League debut for Mohun Bagan against Salgaocar, coming on a substitute for Balwant Singh in the 76th minute in a 0-0 draw. He scored his only goal of the 2014-15 I-League season against his former club Pune on 25 April 2015 in a 2-0 win.

      Chennaiyin

      Jeje was retained by Chennaiyin for the 2015 Indian Super League season. He scored his first goal of the season in the opening match on 3 October 2015, against defending champions ATK in a 3-2 loss. He scored his first career ISL brace against then ISL club Delhi Dynamos on 24 November 2015 in a 4-0 thrashing. He also scored in the 1st leg of the semi-final playoffs against ATK on 12 December 2015 in a 3-0 win. He played in the 2015 Indian Super League Final on 20 December 2015, winning the 2015 ISL title for the first time. He finished the season with 6 goals and 3 assists in 11 appearances. He was also chosen as the Emerging Player of the Season.

      Mohun Bagan (loan)

      On 8 January 2016, Jeje was loaned to Mohun Bagan by parent club Chennaiyin for the 2015-16 I-League campaign. On his return, he scored his first goal against Tampines Rovers in the preliminary round of the qualifying stage for the 2016 AFC Champions League group stage, which ended in a 3-1 win. He then scored his first league goal of the season on 13 February 2016, against eventual champions Bengaluru in a 2-0 win. On 24 February 2016, Jeje scored a brace against Maziya in the 2016 AFC Cup group stage match, in a 5-2 drubbing. He again scored a brace against Yangon United in the 2016 AFC Cup group stage match, on 16 March 2016, in a thrilling 3-2 win. He finished the 2015-16 I-League season with 4 goals in 14 appearances, finishing runner-up to Bengaluru in the process. He also had a productive AFC Cup campaign, chipping in with 6 goals in 7 appearances. He started the 2015–16 Indian Federation Cup campaign by scoring a brace against Salgaocar in the quarter-final 1st leg 3-2 win. He then scored a hat-trick against Shillong Lajong in the semi-final 1st leg 5-0 drubbing, on 8 May 2016. On 21 May 2016, he capped off his exceptional season with Mohun Bagan, by scoring in the final against Aizawl and winning his first Federation Cup trophy. He was adjudged as the top goal-scorer of the 2015-16 Indian Federation Cup campaign with 8 strikes. He was named as the Best Indian Player by his fellow professionals for his stupendous 2016-17 season.

      Chennaiyin

      Lalpekhlua started the first match of the 2016 Indian Super League season away from home against Kolkata, providing an assist in a match that ended 2–2. He scored his first goal of the season against Pune from a long ball from Jerry which he lobbed above Pune goalkeeper Edel.
      International

      Lalpekhlua playing for India

      On 23 February 2011 Lalpekhlua played his first game and scored his first goal for the Indian U-23 team in the 2–1 victory over the Myanmar U-23 team. On 21 March 2011, Lalpekhlua made his debut for the senior India national football team in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification against Chinese Taipei and scored a goal. On 23 March 2011, Lalpekhlua scored two more goals in his second match for the Indian national football team against Pakistan in another AFC Challenge Cup Qualification match. On 25 March he scored 4th goal of his international career against Turkmenistan which helped India tie the match. During India's second leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against the United Arab Emirates on 28 July 2011, Lalpekhlua scored a goal to help India to a 2–2 draw at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, India but India still were knocked-out 5–2 on aggregate after losing the away leg 3–0. Then on 16 November 2011, Lalpekhlua scored in the 47th minute for India against Malaysia in a Friendly played at the Salt Lake Stadium. The match ended 3–2 in favour of India. After impressing in a trial with Rangers of Scotland, Lalpekhlua participated in his first competitive tournament, the SAFF Cup and started the first match of the tournament against Afghanistan on 3 December 2011. He then scored his first goal of the tournament on 7 December 2011 against Sri Lanka. Then he followed it up by scoring his second goal of the tournament in the Final as India managed to beat Afghanistan 4–0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 11 December 2011. He played a sensational game against Lebanon U22 and scored brace in that match, he came up in 65min from the bench. He scored his 10th and 11th goal against Maldives in the Saff Cup semifinals. He recently scored a goal against Puerto Rico in an International friendly played in Mumbai, making it 7 goals in his last 7 games for the Indian National side. He scored only goal for India against Kyrgyzstan on 27 March 2018 but later his goal proved to be just a consolation goal for INDIA since India lost 2-1 to Kyrgyzstan in their last Asian cup qualifier game.

      He scored the only goal in a win against Afghanistan in the SAFF Cup group stage match in Bangladesh. He led the Indian U19 team to the South Asian games in Sri Lanka. In the last group stage match he scored a hat-trick against Pakistan in a 5–1 win. He also scored four goals in his first three senior appearances for the India national football team. He also played a crucial role in India's 2011 SAFF Cup championship victory. In the 2015 SAFF Cup, he scored 3 goals, including an equalizer in the final as India won 2–1 after extra time.

      International Career statistics
      As of 14 January 2019
      YearAppsGoals
      2011 15 8
      2012 0 0
      2013 6 0
      2014 0 0
      2015 10 3
      2016 6 5
      2017 9 4
      2018 7 2
      2019 3 1
      Total5623

      International goals
      As of 6 January 2019
      Under–23

      showGoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition

      Senior team
      Scores and results list India's goal tally first.
      showNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition

      Unofficial international goal

      showNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResult

      Honours
      International
      India
      SAFF Cup (3): 2009, 2011, 2015

      Club
      Mohun Bagan


      Individual

      FPAI Best Young Player Award: 2010–11
      AIFF Emerging Player of the Year: 2013
      Indian Super League Emerging Player of the League: 2015
      Federation Cup Top Goalscorer: 2015–16
      Federation Cup Best Player: 2015–16
      AIFF Player of the Year: 2016
      Indian Super League Fans' Player of the Month: December 2017
      JASVIR SINGH BANGAR

      www.ambedkartimes.com congratulates Mr. Jasvir Singh (Banger) (Olympic Participant in

      JASVIR SINGH BANGAR WON THE GOLD MEDAL

      IN THE NORTH AMERICAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 had won all rounds of Senior Canadian Weightlifting Championship on

      May 16th & 17 th, 2009 in Kelowna, B.C. (Canada)

      Vancouver: Mr. Jasvir Singh won Gold Medal in North American Open Championship, Chandler ( Arizona ) USA. He was in the weight lifting category and lifted 62 kilograms. The championship was December 4th -7th, 2008. Mr. Jasvir Singh lifted the weights on December 5th, 2008 and he was represented by Canada. Mr. Bangar was honored in the Annual Christmas Party which was organized by the Indian Community at Fraserview Banquet Hall in Vancouver ( Canada ) on Saturday night of December 20th, 2008.
      Jyoti (wrestler)

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      JyotiPersonal information
      Nationality Indian
      Born 17 December 1985 (age 33)
      Delhi, India
      Weight 75 kg (165 lb)
      Sport
      Sport Sport wrestling
      Event(s) Freestyle

      Medal record

      Women's freestyle wrestling
      Representing  India
      Asian Championships
       2013 New Delhi 72 kg
       2014 Astana 75 kg
       2017 New Delhi 75 kg
      Commonwealth Championship
       2005 Stellenbosch 72 kg
       2007 London 67 kg

      Jyoti (born 17 December 1985) is an Indian wrestler. She represented India in the women's freestyle 75 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in which she placed fourth
      जयपाल सिंह मुंडा


      जन्म 03 जनवरी 1903
      Takra Pahantoli, रांची, बिहार प्रान्त
      (अब झारखण्ड), भारत[1]
      मृत्यु 20 मार्च 1970 (उम्र 67)
      नई दिल्ली, भारत
      खेलने का स्थान Defender
      Senior career
      वर्ष टीम Apps (Gls)
      – Wimbledon Hockey Club
      राष्ट्रीय टीम : India
      Men's Field Hockey
      साँचा:Flaglink के प्रत्याशी
      Olympic Games
      स्वर्ण 1928 Amsterdam Team Competition

      जयपाल सिंह मुंडा (संताली:ᱡᱚᱭᱯᱟᱞ ᱥᱤᱝ ᱢᱩᱸᱰᱟᱹ) (3 जनवरी 1903 – 20 मार्च 1970) भारतीय आदिवासियों और झारखंड आंदोलन के एक सर्वोच्च नेता थे। वे एक जाने माने राजनीतिज्ञ, पत्रकार, लेखक, संपादक, शिक्षाविद् और 1925 में ‘ऑक्सफोर्ड ब्लू’ का खिताब पाने वाले हॉकी के एकमात्र अंतरराष्ट्रीय खिलाड़ी थे। उनकी कप्तानी में 1928 के ओलिंपिक में भारत ने पहला स्वर्ण पदक प्राप्त किया।। ओपनिवेशिक भारत में जयपाल सिंह मुंडा सर्वोच्च सरकारी पद पर थे ।

      जीवन यात्रा

      जयपाल सिंह छोटा नागपुर (अब झारखंड) राज्य की मुंडा जनजाति के थे। मिशनरीज की मदद से वह ऑक्सफोर्ड के सेंट जॉन्स कॉलेज में पढ़ने के लिए गए। वह असाधारण रूप से प्रतिभाशाली थे। उन्होंने पढ़ाई के अलावा खेलकूद, जिनमें हॉकी प्रमुख था, के अलावा वाद-विवाद में खूब नाम कमाया।

      उनका चयन भारतीय सिविल सेवा (आईसीएस) में हो गया था। आईसीएस का उनका प्रशिक्षण प्रभावित हुआ क्योंकि वह 1928 में एम्सटरडम में ओलंपिक हॉकी में पहला स्वर्णपदक जीतने वाली भारतीय टीम के कप्तान के रूप में नीदरलैंड चले गए थे। वापसी पर उनसे आईसीएस का एक वर्ष का प्रशिक्षण दोबारा पूरा करने को कहा गया, उन्होंने ऐसा करने से इनकार कर दिया।

      उन्होंने बिहार के शिक्षा जगत में योगदान देने के लिए तत्कालीन बिहार कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष डा. राजेन्द्र प्रसाद को इस संबंध में पत्र लिखा. परंतु उन्हें कोई सकारात्मक जवाब नहीं मिला. 1938 की आखिरी महीने में जयपाल ने पटना और रांची का दौरा किया. इसी दौरे के दौरान आदिवासियों की खराब हालत देखकर उन्होंने राजनीति में आने का फैसला किया.

      1938 जनवरी में उन्होंने आदिवासी महासभा की अध्यक्षता ग्रहण की जिसने बिहार से इतर एक अलग झारखंड राज्य की स्थापना की मांग की। इसके बाद जयपाल सिंह देश में आदिवासियों के अधिकारों की आवाज बन गए। उनके जीवन का सबसे बेहतरीन समय तब आया जब उन्होंने संविधान सभा में बेहद वाकपटुता से देश की आदिवासियों के बारे में सकारात्मक ढंग से अपनी बात रखी।
      Jahar Das

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Jahar Das
      Personal information
      Date of birth 5 April 1947
      Place of birth West Bengal, India
      Playing position(s) Striker
      Club information

      Current team Aizawl (Head Coach)
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      Port Commissioner
      Teams managed
      2005–2006 Mohun Bagan
      2016-2017 Aizawl
      2019- Peerless
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

      Jahar Das (born 5 April 1947) is a former Indian football player and is the current head coach of Indian I-League side Aizawl. During his playing days, Das played for Mohun Bagan in the seventies.
      Playing career
      Born in West Bengal, Das had played for Port Commissioner and Mohun Bagan as a striker.

      Coaching career

      Das began his coaching career managing the West Bengal football team in the Santosh Trophy. He also had a spell as coach of the India under-17 side. In 2005, after the departure of Sukhwinder Singh, Das was reportedly one of the candidates put up for the vacant India senior head coach position. The position was eventually given to Syed Nayeemuddin.
      On 7 December 2005, Das was given the head coaching job at National Football League side, Mohun Bagan. His first match in charge came in the club's opening NFL game of the season against Mahindra United, a 0–0 draw. Das was eventually relieved of his duties on 6 March 2006 after Mohun Bagan found themselves in ninth place in the NFL table. Das would return to his previous post at Mohun Bagan as the technical director of their academy.
      On 20 August 2015 it was announced that Das would become the "Head of Youth Development" at newly promoted I-League club, Aizawl. Then, on 7 February 2016, after Aizawl sacked head coach, Manuel Retamero Fraile, Das was announced as the new head coach.
      Joshna Chinappa
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Joshna Chinappa
      Joshna Chinappa
      Born 15 September 1986 

      Chennai, India
      Turned Pro 2003
      Coached by Hadrian Stiff
      Racquet used Harrow
      Women's singles
      Highest ranking No. 10 (July 2016)
      Current ranking No. 14 (November 2018)
      Title(s) 7
      Tour final(s) 14

      Women's squash
      Representing  India
       2017 Chennai Singles

      Last updated: April 2019.

      Joshna Chinappa (born 15 September 1986) is an Indian professional squash player. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 10 in July 2016. She was the first Indian to win the British Junior Squash Championship title in 2005 in the under-19 category and was also the youngest Indian women's national champion. She is the current record-holder of most national championship wins, with 18 titles.

      At the 2014 Commonwealth Games Joshna, along with Dipika Pallikal Karthik, won the squash women's doubles gold medal, India's first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the sport The pair won a silver medal at the event's 2018 Gold Coast edition, losing to team New Zealand, Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy. Joshna trains at the Indian Squash Academy, Chennai. At the 2017 Women's Asian Individual Squash Championships, she won the gold medal, becoming the first Asian Squash Champion from India.

      In April 2018, Joshna upset Nicol David in the second round, in straight games, of the El Gouna World Series Event. This was one of her more prominent upsets.

      Early life

      Joshna Chinnappa was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on 15 September 1986. Her father Anjan Chinappa runs a coffee plantation at Coorg.[8] Her great granduncle, K.M. Cariappa, who was the first commander-in-chief of the Indian Army in independent India, grandfather, and father were all squash players. Joshna started playing squash at the age of seven. When she was eight, she considered whether to pursue badminton or tennis. Eventually, she chose squash which she started playing at the Madras Cricket Club. Her father, who represented the Tamil Nadu squash team, was also her first coach.

      Joshna was the first beneficiary of the Mittal Champions Trust established by Mahesh Bhupati with funding from Lakshmi Mittal.

      Career
      Joshna receiving a prize from Sunil Dutt, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, after winning the 2005 British Junior Open

      2000–2008

      In 2000, Joshna won her first junior and senior national championship titles. She became the youngest player to hold both titles at the age of 14. In 2003, Joshna made history by winning the British Junior Open title in the U17 category when she was 16. The next year, she reached the final of the U19 category of the same competition, losing to Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy. In 2005, she came back to the same tournament again and clinched the title after beating Tenille Swartz of South Africa. In July 2005, Joshna competed in the World Junior Squash Championships in Belgium, reaching the finals. She was defeated by Raneem El Weleily of Egypt. She had also played this tournament in 2003, when she reached the last eight.

      In 2007, Joshna said that she had decided to change coaches from Mohammad Medhaat to Malcolm Willstrop. Joshna won her first WISPA tour title in 2008 when she won the NSC Super Satellite No 3 in Malaysia, by beating Low Wee Wern. The following week, she defeated Wern again in the NSC Super Satellite to claim her second tour title. At this time, she was at her career best PSA World rank of 39.

      2010–2012

      In 2010, Joshna won the German Ladies Open, beating Gaby Schmohl 11–6, 11–7, 11–6 at Saarbrücken. This was her fourth tour title and first in Europe. In 2011, she won the Windy City Open by beating her compatriot Dipika Pallikal 3–2 in the final.

      Joshna faced an injury layoff in August while playing in the Hamptons Open. When she came back after a seven-month break in May 2012, she clinched the WISPA title in the 2012 Chennai Open in her hometown Joshna defeated Sarah Jane Perry of England 9–11, 11–4, 11–8, 12–10.

      2014
      Joshna with Dipika Pallikal

      In February, Joshna won the Winter Club Women's Open. In April, she won the Richmond Open, upsetting Australia's former world champion Rachael Grinham 11–9, 11–5, 11–8. This was her first win against Rachael in six meetings. In March, she reached her new career-high PSA world ranking of 19.

      In August, Joshna and Dipika entered the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the fifth-seeds in women's doubles. After winning every match in the group stage, they advanced to quarterfinals, in which they beat Joelle King and Amanda Land-Murphy in straight games They beat the second-seeded Australian pair of Rachael Grinham and Kasey Brown in the semifinals to reach the final, where they defeated the English pair of Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro. They accomplished the upset win against the top-seeded pair in less than 28 minutes with scores of 11–6, 11–8. Joshna and Dipika made history by winning the gold medal at the event. This was India's first-ever squash medal in the Commonwealth Games.

      2015

      In May, Joshna reached the semifinals at the 2015 HKFC International, but failed to beat Annie Au from Hong Kong. In August, she won the Victorian Open in Australia for her tenth tour title. She beat Line Hansen from Denmark 11–5, 11–4, 11–9.[28] In September, she won the NSCI Open title, by beating Egypt's Habiba Mohamed 11–8, 11–9, 11–6. Joshna was injured during the second game of the match, after Mohamed unintentionally struck her on the face with the racket.

      In October, Joshna beat Salma Hany from Egypt 11–9, 8–11, 5–11, 11–8, 11–9 to reach the semifinals of the 2015 Carol Weymuller Open Joshna was defeated by Joelle King in the semifinals. In the first round of the Qatar Classic, Joshna defeated Raneem El Welily from Egypt, the World No. 1 at the time. In December 2015, Joshna achieved her career-high world rank of 13. She become the highest-ranked Indian woman player, overtaking Dipika in rankings for the first time.

      2016
      Joshna after winning the gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games, Guwahati, 2016

      In February, Joshna participated in the 2016 Cleveland Classic in the United States, where she was knocked out by Camille Serme in the quarterfinals. Then she competed at the 2016 South Asian Games in Guwahati as the top-seed. She won gold after defeating her Pakistani rival Maria Toorpaki Wazir 10–12, 11–7, 11–9, 11–7.

      In May, Joshna reached the semifinals of the 2016 HKFC International in Hong Kong. This time she was able to beat Annie Au 3–2, to whom she had lost the same title the previous year. However, she lost in the finals to New Zealand's Joelle King. In July, Joshna rose to her new career-high ranking of 10, becoming the second Indian to break into the world's top 10 after Dipika. In August, Joshna participated in the 2016 SRAM Invitational in Malaysia. She managed to reach the finals after beating Joelle King in the semifinal, but was defeated by Malaysian Nicol David in the final.

      In October, Joshna reached the finals of the 2016 Otters International in Mumbai after beating Tesni Evans 3–1, 11–6, 15–13, 9–11, 11–8. She lost to Hong Kong rival Annie Au in the finals 9–11, 11–13, 7–11. In November, she participated in the 2016 World Team Squash Championships in Paris with Dipika, Akanksha Salunkhe, and Sunayna Kuruvilla on the women's team.The Indian team did not qualify for the knockout stage of the championship.

      2017

      In March, Joshna competed in the 2017 British Open Squash Championship. She lost in the second round match against Raneem El Welily. In April, she participated in the 2017 Asian Individual Squash Championships, which took place in Chennai. She reached the finals where she faced Palikkal. Joshna won the long match 13–15, 12–10, 11–13, 11–4, 11–4, becoming the first Asian Squash Champion from India. In an interview, she said that winning this title was her biggest achievement.

      In August, Joshna partnered with Dipika to play in the World Doubles Squash Championship. As the second-seeds, they cruised into the quarterfinals and beat Samantha Cornett and Nikole Todd 10–11, 11–6, 11–8 to enter the semifinals. They settled for a bronze medal after being defeated by Jenny Duncalf and Alison Waters.

      In September, Joshna won her 15th national championship title at the 74th National Squash Championships which took place in Greater Noida. This put her only one title short of the record for most number of national championship titles. Later that month, she played in the 2017 HKFC International as the third-seed. She advanced to the final, but lost to Nour El Tayebl.

      2018

      In April, Joshna participated in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She reached the quarterfinals of the women's singles event after beating Tamika Saxby from Australia, but lost to Joelle King 11–5, 11–6, 11–9. In April, Joshna won her second-round match at El Gouna International against the eight-time world champion Nicol David in straight games. She lost in the quarterfinals In August, Joshna reached the semifinals at the 2018 Asian Games. She won the semifinal match against Nicol David 12–10, 11–9, 6–11, 10–12, 11–9. She lost to Sivasangari Subramaniam in the final, and settled for the silver medal. In October, Joshna reached the quarterfinals of the Carol Weymuller Open.

      2019

      In March, Joshna reached the quarterfinals of the Black Ball Open, where she lost to Joelle King. She went down in the semifinals of the Macau Open in April. In May, she won the 2019 Asian Individual Squash Championships, after beating Annie Au in the final.[ won her 17th national squash champion title in June, breaking the record held by Bhuvneshwari Kumari who had won the national title 16 times. In the World Squash Championship which took place in October, Joshna lost to Nour El Sherbini of Egypt in the pre-quarterfinal.

      2020

      In February, Joshna won her 18th national title in the 77th Senior National Championship.

      Titles

      On 2 February 2014, Joshna won the Winnipeg Winter Open trophy – her maiden WSA world title, by defeating Egypt's Heba El Torky 11-13 11-8 11-5 3-11 12–10 in the final. Her other titles are:
      Asian Games, 2018 - Bronze (Singles), Silver (Team)
      Commonwealth Games, 2018 - Silver (Doubles)
      Asian Squash Title, 2017- Winner
      NSC Series No. 6 (Tour 12) 2009 – Winner
      British Junior Open, 2005 – Winner
      Asian Junior, 2005 – Winner
      World Junior Championships, Belgium, 2005 – Runner-up
      British Open Junior, 2004 – Runner-up
      SAF Games, Pakistan, 2004 – Gold
      Hong Kong event, 2004 – Runner-up
      Asian Championship, 2004 – Bronze
      Malaysian Junior, 2004 – Winner
      Indian National Junior, 2004 – Winner
      Indian National Senior, 2004 – Winner

      Rivalry with Dipika Pallikal Karthik

      Joshna and Dipika are India's best and most talented women players of all time, as they were both ranked in the top 10 in the world. Joshna says that the so-called rivalry between the two is hyped up by the media. They are both competitive but get along well, as they are often roommates for events, and teammates in events such as the Commonwealth Games.

      Jerry Rice 

      Jerry Rice, born October 13, 1962, in Starkville, Mississippi, is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver in National Football League (NFL) history and one of the most iconic athletes in American sports. His unparalleled career, spanning 20 seasons (1985–2004), includes record-breaking achievements, three Super Bowl titles, and a legacy defined by an unmatched work ethic. Raised in a working-class African American family in rural Mississippi, Rice overcame socioeconomic and systemic challenges to become a global sports legend. Below is a detailed account of his life, career, and impact.

      Personal Background

      • Early Life:
        • Born in Starkville, Mississippi, and raised in Crawford (Oktibbeha County), a small, predominantly African American town in the Mississippi Delta.
        • Son of Joe Nathan "Eddie" Rice, a brick mason, and an unnamed mother (details sparse in public records). One of eight children, growing up in a large, low-income household reliant on his father’s labor-intensive trade.
        • Grew up during the tail end of the Jim Crow era, facing systemic racism and economic hardship typical of rural Black communities in the 1960s South. The family was working-class but financially strained, with Rice assisting in bricklaying during summers, shaping his discipline and resilience.
        • Nicknamed "World" by family for his ability to catch anything, a nod to his early athletic promise.
      • Education:
        • Attended B.L. Moor High School in Oktoc, Mississippi, a segregated school for Black students with limited resources. Excelled in football, basketball, and track, earning all-state football honors.
        • Discovered by chance when a school principal saw him sprint after skipping class, leading to his recruitment to the football team.
        • Received no major college scholarships due to his small-town background. Enrolled at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), a historically Black college in Itta Bena, Mississippi, on partial aid.
      • Socioeconomic Context:
        • Grew up in a low-income, working-class family in a disadvantaged rural community. The Mississippi Delta was among the poorest U.S. regions, with Black families facing systemic barriers like underfunded schools and discriminatory employment practices.
        • While not in abject poverty, the family’s reliance on manual labor and lack of financial cushion placed them in a low socioeconomic class, with Rice’s memoirs (Rice, 1996; Go Long, 2007) describing a humble upbringing marked by frugality and hard work.

      Football Career

      Jerry Rice’s NFL career is a benchmark of excellence, defined by record-setting statistics, versatility, and longevity. Playing primarily for the San Francisco 49ers, he revolutionized the wide receiver position with his precision, athleticism, and relentless preparation.

      • College Career (Mississippi Valley State, 1981–1984):
        • Played under coach Archie Cooley in the “Satellite Express” offense, paired with quarterback Willie Totten.
        • Set NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) records, including 112 receptions for 1,845 yards and 27 touchdowns in his senior year (1984).
        • Earned All-American honors and the nickname “World” for his catching prowess. His small-school background initially limited his visibility to NFL scouts.
      • NFL Draft:
        • Selected 16th overall in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, after coach Bill Walsh traded up to acquire him, recognizing his potential from MVSU game tapes.
      • Professional Career:
        • San Francisco 49ers (1985–2000):
          • Spent 16 seasons with the 49ers, forming a legendary partnership with quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young.
          • Won three Super Bowls (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX), earning Super Bowl MVP in 1989 (XXIII) for 11 catches, 215 yards, and a touchdown.
          • Key stats: 1,281 receptions, 19,247 yards, and 176 touchdowns with the 49ers alone, contributing to their 1980s–1990s dynasty.
          • Known for precise route-running, exceptional hands, and a grueling training regimen (e.g., running “The Hill” in San Francisco for conditioning).
        • Oakland Raiders (2001–2004):
          • Joined at age 39, proving his longevity with 1,139 yards in 2001 and a Pro Bowl season in 2002.
          • Played in Super Bowl XXXVII (2003, loss to Tampa Bay).
        • Seattle Seahawks (2004): Brief stint, traded mid-season, with limited impact.
        • Denver Broncos (2005): Signed but retired before the regular season at age 42, after a training camp stint.
        • Career Records (as of retirement, many still stand):
          • All-time NFL leader in receptions (1,549), receiving yards (22,895), and touchdown receptions (197).
          • Most 1,000-yard receiving seasons (14) and consecutive games with a catch (274).
          • Holds 36 NFL records, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
      • Accolades:
        • Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010, first ballot).
        • 13× Pro Bowl (1986–1996, 1998, 2002), 10× First-Team All-Pro.
        • NFL MVP (1987), Super Bowl MVP (1989), and part of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team (2019).
        • Named to the NFL 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Teams.
      • Playing Style:
        • Renowned for work ethic, often outworking younger players with intense offseason training (e.g., sprinting hills, catching bricks to strengthen hands).
        • Exceptional speed (4.5-second 40-yard dash), agility, and football IQ, making him a matchup nightmare despite not being the largest receiver (6’2”, 200 lbs).
        • Mastered the West Coast offense, excelling in short and deep routes.

      Post-NFL Career and Ventures

      • Business and Media:
        • Founded the Jerry Rice 127 Foundation to support underserved youth with scholarships and health programs, reflecting his commitment to giving back.
        • Launched G.O.A.T. Fuel, an energy drink brand, in 2020, co-founded with his son, Brenden Rice.
        • Appeared in media, including TV shows (Dancing with the Stars, 2006, 2nd place), commercials (Visa, Nike), and as a guest analyst on ESPN and NFL Network.
        • Co-authored books: Rice (1996) and Go Long: My Journey Beyond the Game and the Fame (2007), detailing his life and career.
      • Coaching and Mentorship:
        • Served as a guest coach for the 49ers and mentored young receivers, emphasizing preparation and discipline.
        • Supported his son, Brenden Rice, a USC wide receiver drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.
      • Net Worth:
        • Estimated at $50–55 million (2025), amassed from NFL salaries (peaking at $4.8 million/year with the Raiders), endorsements (Reebok, Visa), and business ventures.

      Personal Life

      • Family:
        • Married Jacqueline “Jackie” Bernice Mitchell (1987–2009, divorced). They have three children: Jaqui Bonet (b. 1987), Jerry Rice Jr. (b. 1991), and Jada Symone (b. 1996).
        • Married Tammy (Latamisha) Rice in 2018 after a long-term relationship.
        • Father to Brenden Rice (b. 2002, from a previous relationship), a promising NFL player.
        • Maintains close ties with his extended family in Mississippi, often visiting Crawford.
      • Health and Lifestyle:
        • Known for maintaining elite physical condition post-retirement, adhering to fitness routines inspired by his playing days.
        • No major publicized health issues, unlike many NFL peers with concussion-related concerns.
      • Public Persona:
        • Viewed as a humble, driven figure who credits his success to hard work and family values.
        • Avoids controversy, focusing on philanthropy and family. His mantra, “You perform better when you’re prepared,” resonates in his public appearances.

      Socioeconomic and Cultural Context

      • Disadvantaged Background:
        • Grew up in a low-income, working-class family in a racially segregated, economically depressed region. His father’s bricklaying provided stability but not wealth, with the family facing systemic barriers (e.g., underfunded schools, limited job prospects for Black families).
        • Not from extreme poverty (e.g., homelessness or welfare dependency), but his rural Mississippi roots placed him in a disadvantaged community relative to national standards. Systemic racism and economic isolation shaped his early challenges.
      • Cultural Significance:
        • As an African American from the Deep South, Rice’s rise symbolizes overcoming racial and economic barriers, resonating with the “American Dream” narrative.
        • His success parallels the broader struggle of Black athletes in the 1980s–1990s, breaking barriers in a predominantly white sports industry.
        • Unlike caste-based systems (e.g., India’s Dalit communities), Rice’s challenges were rooted in U.S. race-class intersections, with parallels to systemic marginalization.

      Legacy and Impact

      • On Football:
        • Redefined the wide receiver role, setting a standard for work ethic and longevity that influences players like Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and modern stars like Davante Adams.
        • His records remain benchmarks, with few players approaching his career totals despite modern passing-heavy offenses.
        • The “Jerry Rice Rule” (NFL’s emphasis on illegal contact penalties) reflects his impact, as defenses struggled to cover him legally.
      • Social Impact:
        • Through his foundation and public speaking, Rice advocates for education and opportunity for underserved youth, mirroring his own path.
        • His story inspires athletes from marginalized backgrounds, proving talent and discipline can transcend systemic barriers.
      • Cultural Icon:
        • Featured in pop culture (e.g., The Simpsons, video games like Madden NFL), cementing his status beyond sports.
        • Honored with statues at Levi’s Stadium (49ers) and MVSU, and streets named after him in Mississippi.
      Johnny Gaudreau
      a.k.a. "Johnny Hockey"

      SCORING LEADERS
      NHL

      POPULAR LEAGUE PAGES

      Player Facts
      Date of Birth
      Position
      LW
      Age : 28
      Height : 175 cm / 5'9"
      Place of Birth
      Weight : 75 kg / 165 lbs
      Nation
      Shoots
      L
      Youth Team
      -
      NHL Rights

      Drafted
      Agency

      "Johnny Hockey" is a diminutive, offensively dominant winger with an incredibly high level of skill. Possesses the elusiveness to avoid being taken out, and the creativity to start and finish plays. Exhibits incredible puck control, strength on his skates, stickhandling ability, and a very good forehand and backhand shot which is off of his stick in the blink of an eye. All-in-all, the prototypical offensive winger that can put up points, and be relied upon to create scoring chances, whenever he is on the ice. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014)
      Jack Eichel
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Jack Eichel
      Eichel with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
      Born October 28, 1996
      Position Center
      Shoots Right
      National team  United States
      NHL Draft 2nd overall, 2015
      Playing career 2015–present

      Jack Eichel (born October 28, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey center and captain of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed the "Eichel Tower" for his dominating presence, Eichel was selected second overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Before entering the league, Eichel was described at the age of 17 as "the new face of American hockey," and he is considered a member of a rising class of generational talents in the sport, along with fellow 2015 draftee Connor McDavid.

      Eichel was the recipient of the 2015 Hobey Baker Award, given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. He was the second freshman to win the award and the first since Paul Kariya who won it first in 1993.

      Playing career

      Amateur

      Eichel grew up in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team during the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons, and was recognized for his outstanding play during the 2013–14 season when he was named to the United States Hockey League Second All-Star Team. After his second season within the Development Program, Eichel signed a letter of intent to commit to Boston University of the Hockey East on April 29, 2014.

      On April 10, 2015, Eichel became the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, which was previously won by Paul Kariya in 1993. In 40 games with Boston University, Eichel led the nation in scoring with 26 goals, 45 assists, and 71 points. Eichel was also the Hockey East scoring champion, Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, First Team Hockey East and a member of the All-Rookie Team, and was named MVP of the conference tournament. Eichel was projected to be the second overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft behind projected first overall pick Connor McDavid.

      Professional

      Buffalo Sabres

      On June 26, 2015, Eichel was selected 2nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, one pick after the Edmonton Oilers selected Connor McDavid. In the months leading up to the draft, considerable interest and hype arose surrounding Eichel and McDavid, both seen as generational talents. For example, the sports section of the Buffalo News regularly published the "McEichel Derby," a graphic of the teams at the bottom of the standings. On July 1, 2015, Eichel signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Sabres.

      On August 13, 2015, Eichel signed a sponsorship deal with Bauer Hockey, which states Eichel will wear its equipment exclusively and Bauer will provide him with its apparel.

      Eichel scored his first NHL goal on October 8, 2015, becoming the youngest player in Sabres history to do so, in his first game in the NHL against the Ottawa Senators. He finished his rookie campaign with 24 goals and 56 points in 81 games, being the Sabres' top goalscorer and second in points (after Ryan O'Reilly) and second in both criteria among rookies, after Artemi Panarin. On October 12, 2016, Eichel suffered a severe high ankle sprain to his left ankle in practice and had to be helped off of the ice; he missed the first two months of the season before making his season debut on November 29. He finished the year with 24 goals and 33 assists in just 61 games.

      Before the 2017–18 season, on October 3, 2017, the Sabres signed Eichel to an eight-year, $80 million contract extension worth $10 million annually which began at the start of the 2018–19 season. On December 15, 2017, Eichel scored his first career hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes in a 5–4 loss. On January 11, 2018, Eichel was selected as the sole representative of the Sabres for the 2018 NHL All-Star game. This was the first NHL All-Star game of Eichel's career. During a game in February against the Boston Bruins, Eichel sprained his ankle and was ruled out for 4–6 weeks. He returned 15 games later to help the Sabres beat the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time since 2009. Eichel finished the 2017–18 season with 25 goals and 39 assists for a total of 64 points in only 67 games.

      During the summer before the 2018–19 season, Eichel changed his jersey number from 15 to 9, the same number he wore at Boston University. On October 3, 2018, before the beginning of the regular season, Eichel was named the captain of the Sabres. On March 10, 2019, Eichel was suspended for two games for illegally checking Colorado Avalanche player Carl Söderberg in the head. On March 28, 2019, Eichel scored his 100th career goal in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

      On November 16, 2019, Eichel scored four goals in a 4–2 win over the Ottawa Senators. He was the seventh Sabres player to record four goals in one game and first since Thomas Vanek did it on April 10, 2010. On December 7, Eichel recorded two assists to reach 300 career points in a 6–5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks.[29] On January 2, 2020, Eichel became the first player in Sabres history to score a penalty shot goal in overtime, and also set a franchise record for goals scored in overtime, as the Sabres won 3–2 against the Edmonton Oilers. On February 1, Eichel scored the eighth overtime goal of his career in a 2–1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, improving the previous franchise record for most regular-season overtime goals.

      On April 14, 2021, it was announced that Eichel would miss the remainder of the 2020–21 season in order to recover from surgery required to repair a spinal disc herniation. In May, Eichel, along with Sam Reinhart, expressed their frustration with the Sabres. He stated, "I have a lot of thinking to do in this offseason... there's a lot I have to consider."

      International play

      Medal record
      Representing  United States

      As a 15-year-old Eichel represented the United States at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics. He won a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and a silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships. The following season he helped the USA squad capture the gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, and he competed as a 17-year-old as Team USA's youngest player at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Eichel represented Team USA in the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.

      At the conclusion of his freshman season with the Terriers, Eichel was named to make his full international debut with Team USA at the 2015 World Championships. Eichel scored 2 goals, including a game winner in the group stage against Slovakia, and 5 assists during the tournament, where Team USA won bronze. Eichel was selected to the 2017 Team USA IIHF World Championship roster. Team USA was eliminated in the quarter finals and placed 5th overall. Eichel recorded zero goals and five assists in eight games at the championship.

      On April 19, 2019, Eichel was selected to represent Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, held in Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia.
      Jackie Robinson
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Jackie Robinson
      Robinson with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954
      Born: January 31, 1919
      Died: October 24, 1972 (aged 53)

      Batted: Right Threw: Right

      Professional debut
      NgL: 1945, for the Kansas City Monarchs
      MLB: April 15, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
      Last MLB appearance
      October 10, 1956, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
      MLB statistics
      Teams
      Negro leagues
      Kansas City Monarchs (1945)Major League Baseball
      Career highlights and awards

      NgL All-Star (1945)
      6× All-Star (1949–1954)
      World Series champion (1955)
      NL MVP (1949)
      2× NL stolen base leader (1947, 1949)
      No. 42 retired by all MLB teams
      Monument Park honoree
      Induction 1962
      Vote 77.5% (first ballot)

      Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. When the Dodgers signed Robinson, it heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

      During his 10-year MLB career, Robinson won the inaugural Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, was an All-Star for six consecutive seasons from 1949 through 1954, and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949—the first black player so honored. Robinson played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Series championship.

      In 1997, MLB retired his uniform number 42 across all major league teams; he was the first professional athlete in any sport to be so honored. MLB also adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day", for the first time on April 15, 2004, on which every player on every team wears No. 42.

      Robinson's character, his use of nonviolence, and his talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation that had then marked many other aspects of American life. He influenced the culture of and contributed significantly to the civil rights movement. Robinson also was the first black television analyst in MLB and the first black vice president of a major American corporation, Chock full o'Nuts. In the 1960s, he helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned financial institution based in Harlem, New York. After his death in 1972, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his achievements on and off the field.


      Early life
      Family and personal life

      Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on January 31, 1919, into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children born to Mallie (McGriff) and Jerry Robinson, after siblings Edgar, Frank, Matthew (nicknamed "Mack"), and Willa Mae. His middle name was in honor of former President Theodore Roosevelt, who died 25 days before Robinson was born.After Robinson's father left the family in 1920, they moved to Pasadena, California.

      The extended Robinson family established itself on a residential plot containing two small houses at 121 Pepper Street in Pasadena. Robinson's mother worked various odd jobs to support the family. Growing up in relative poverty in an otherwise affluent community, Robinson and his minority friends were excluded from many recreational opportunities. As a result, Robinson joined a neighborhood gang, but his friend Carl Anderson persuaded him to abandon it.

      John Muir High School

      In 1935, Robinson graduated from Washington Junior High School and enrolled at John Muir High School (Muir Tech). Recognizing his athletic talents, Robinson's older brothers Mack (himself an accomplished athlete and silver medalist at the 1936 Summer Olympics)[20] and Frank inspired Jackie to pursue his interest in sports.

      At Muir Tech, Robinson played several sports at the varsity level and lettered in four of them: football, basketball, track, and baseball. He played shortstop and catcher on the baseball team, quarterback on the football team, and guard on the basketball team. With the track and field squad, he won awards in the broad jump. He was also a member of the tennis team.

      In 1936, Robinson won the junior boys singles championship in the annual Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament and earned a place on the Pomona annual baseball tournament all-star team, which included future Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Bob Lemon. In late January 1937, the Pasadena Star-News newspaper reported that Robinson "for two years has been the outstanding athlete at Muir, starring in football, basketball, track, baseball and tennis."

      Pasadena Junior College

      After Muir, Robinson attended Pasadena Junior College (PJC), where he continued his athletic career by participating in basketball, football, baseball, and track. On the football team, he played quarterback and safety. He was a shortstop and leadoff hitter for the baseball team, and he broke school broad-jump records held by his brother Mack. As at Muir High School, most of Jackie's teammates were white. While playing football at PJC, Robinson suffered a fractured ankle, complications from which would eventually delay his deployment status while in the military. In 1938, he was elected to the All-Southland Junior College Team for baseball and selected as the region's Most Valuable Player.

      That year, Robinson was one of 10 students named to the school's Order of the Mast and Dagger (Omicron Mu Delta), awarded to students performing "outstanding service to the school and whose scholastic and citizenship record is worthy of recognition." Also while at PJC, he was elected to the Lancers, a student-run police organization responsible for patrolling various school activities.

      An incident at PJC illustrated Robinson's impatience with authority figures he perceived as racist—a character trait that would resurface repeatedly in his life. On January 25, 1938, he was arrested after vocally disputing the detention of a black friend by police.Robinson received a two-year suspended sentence, but the incident—along with other rumored run-ins between Robinson and police—gave Robinson a reputation for combativeness in the face of racial antagonism. While at PJC, he was motivated by a preacher (the Rev. Karl Downs) to attend church on a regular basis, and Downs became a confidant for Robinson, a Christian. Toward the end of his PJC tenure, Frank Robinson (to whom Robinson felt closest among his three brothers) was killed in a motorcycle accident. The event motivated Jackie to pursue his athletic career at the nearby University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he could remain closer to Frank's family.

      UCLA and afterward
      Robinson doing the long jump for UCLA

      After graduating from PJC in spring 1939, Robinson enrolled at UCLA, where he became the school's first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track.

      He was one of four black players on the Bruins' 1939 football team; the others were Woody Strode, Kenny Washington, and Ray Bartlett. Washington, Strode, and Robinson made up three of the team's four backfield players. At a time when only a few black students played mainstream college football, this made UCLA college football's most integrated team. They went undefeated with four ties at 6–0–4.

      In track and field, Robinson won the 1940 NCAA championship in the long jump at 24 ft 10+1⁄4 in (7.58 m). Baseball was Robinson's "worst sport" at UCLA; he hit .097 in his only season, although in his first game he went 4-for-4 and twice stole home.

      While a senior at UCLA, Robinson met his future wife, Rachel Isum (b.1922), a UCLA freshman who was familiar with Robinson's athletic career at PJC. He played football as a senior, but the 1940 Bruins won only one game. In the spring, Robinson left college just shy of graduation, despite the reservations of his mother and Isum. He took a job as an assistant athletic director with the government's National Youth Administration (NYA) in Atascadero, California.

      After the government ceased NYA operations, Robinson traveled to Honolulu in the fall of 1941 to play football for the semi-professional, racially integrated Honolulu Bears. After a short season, Robinson returned to California in December 1941 to pursue a career as running back for the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast Football League. By that time, however, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had taken place, which drew the United States into World War II and ended Robinson's nascent football career.

      Military career

      In 1942, Robinson was drafted and assigned to a segregated Army cavalry unit in Fort Riley, Kansas. Having the requisite qualifications, Robinson and several other black soldiers applied for admission to an Officer Candidate School (OCS) then located at Fort Riley. Although the Army's initial July 1941 guidelines for OCS had been drafted as race neutral, few black applicants were admitted into OCS until after subsequent directives by Army leadership. As a result, the applications of Robinson and his colleagues were delayed for several months. After protests by heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis (then stationed at Fort Riley) and with the help of Truman Gibson (then an assistant civilian aide to the Secretary of War), the men were accepted into OCS. The experience led to a personal friendship between Robinson and Louis. Upon finishing OCS, Robinson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in January 1943. Shortly afterward, Robinson and Isum were formally engaged.
      Robinson, wearing his Army uniform, receives a military salute from his nephew Frank during a visit to his home in Pasadena, California, circa 1943.

      After receiving his commission, Robinson was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he joined the 761st "Black Panthers" Tank Battalion. While at Fort Hood, Robinson often used his weekend leave to visit the Rev. Karl Downs, President of Sam Huston College (now Huston–Tillotson University) in nearby Austin, Texas; in California, Downs had been Robinson's pastor at Scott United Methodist Church while Robinson attended PJC.

      An event on July 6, 1944, derailed Robinson's military career. While awaiting results of hospital tests on the ankle he had injured in junior college, Robinson boarded an Army bus with a fellow officer's wife; although the Army had commissioned its own unsegregated bus line, the bus driver ordered Robinson to move to the back of the bus. Robinson refused. The driver backed down, but after reaching the end of the line, summoned the military police, who took Robinson into custody. When Robinson later confronted the investigating duty officer about racist questioning by the officer and his assistant, the officer recommended Robinson be court-martialed.

      After Robinson's commander in the 761st, Paul L. Bates, refused to authorize the legal action, Robinson was summarily transferred to the 758th Battalion—where the commander quickly consented to charge Robinson with multiple offenses, including, among other charges, public drunkenness, even though Robinson did not drink.

      By the time of the court-martial in August 1944, the charges against Robinson had been reduced to two counts of insubordination during questioning. Robinson was acquitted by an all-white panel of nine officers.

      Although his former unit, the 761st Tank Battalion, became the first black tank unit to see combat in World War II, Robinson's court-martial proceedings prohibited him from being deployed overseas; thus, he never saw combat action.

      After his acquittal, he was transferred to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, where he served as a coach for army athletics until receiving an honorable discharge in November 1944. While there, Robinson met a former player for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League, who encouraged Robinson to write the Monarchs and ask for a tryout. Robinson took the former player's advice and wrote to Monarchs co-owner Thomas Baird.
      Post-military

      After his discharge, Robinson briefly returned to his old football club, the Los Angeles Bulldogs. Robinson then accepted an offer from his old friend and pastor Rev. Karl Downs to be the athletic director at Samuel Huston College in Austin, then of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The job included coaching the school's basketball team for the 1944–45 season. As it was a fledgling program, few students tried out for the basketball team, and Robinson even resorted to inserting himself into the lineup for exhibition games. Although his teams were outmatched by opponents, Robinson was respected as a disciplinarian coach, and drew the admiration of, among others, Langston University basketball player Marques Haynes, a future member of the Harlem Globetrotters.

      Playing career

      Negro leagues and major league prospects
      Robinson during his stint in the Negro leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs

      In early 1945, while Robinson was at Sam Huston College, the Kansas City Monarchs sent him a written offer to play professional baseball in the Negro leagues. Robinson accepted a contract for $400 per month. Although he played well for the Monarchs, Robinson was frustrated with the experience. He had grown used to a structured playing environment in college, and the Negro leagues' disorganization and embrace of gambling interests appalled him. The hectic travel schedule also placed a burden on his relationship with Isum, with whom he could now communicate only by letter In all, Robinson played 47 games at shortstop for the Monarchs, hitting .387 with five home runs, and registering 13 stolen bases. He also appeared in the 1945 East–West All-Star Game, going hitless in five at-bats.

      During the season, Robinson pursued potential major league interests. No black man had played in the major leagues since Moses Fleetwood Walker in 1884, but the Boston Red Sox nevertheless held a tryout at Fenway Park for Robinson and other black players on April 16. The tryout, however, was a farce chiefly designed to assuage the desegregationist sensibilities of powerful Boston City Councilman Isadore H. Y. Muchnick. Even with the stands limited to management, Robinson was subjected to racial epithets. He left the tryout humiliated, and more than 14 years later, in July 1959, the Red Sox became the last major league team to integrate its roster.

      Other teams, however, had more serious interest in signing a black ballplayer. In the mid-1940s, Branch Rickey, club president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, began to scout the Negro leagues for a possible addition to the Dodgers' roster. Rickey selected Robinson from a list of promising black players and interviewed him for possible assignment to Brooklyn's International League farm club, the Montreal Royals. Rickey was especially interested in making sure his eventual signee could withstand the inevitable racial abuse that would be directed at him. In a famous three-hour exchange on August 28, 1945, Rickey asked Robinson if he could face the racial animus without taking the bait and reacting angrily—a concern given Robinson's prior arguments with law enforcement officials at PJC and in the military. Robinson was aghast: "Are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?" Rickey replied that he needed a Negro player "with guts enough not to fight back." After obtaining a commitment from Robinson to "turn the other cheek" to racial antagonism, Rickey agreed to sign him to a contract for $600 a month, equal to $8,625 today. Rickey did not offer compensation to the Monarchs, instead believing all Negro league players were free agents due to the contracts not containing a reserve clause. Among those with whom Rickey discussed prospects was Wendell Smith, writer for the black weekly Pittsburgh Courier, who, according to Cleveland Indians owner and team president Bill Veeck, "influenced Rickey to take Jack Robinson, for which he's never completely gotten credit."

      Although he required Robinson to keep the arrangement a secret for the time being, Rickey committed to formally signing Robinson before November 1, 1945. On October 23, it was publicly announced that Robinson would be assigned to the Royals for the 1946 season On the same day, with representatives of the Royals and Dodgers present, Robinson formally signed his contract with the Royals. In what was later referred to as "The Noble Experiment", Robinson was the first black baseball player in the International League since the 1880s. He was not necessarily the best player in the Negro leagues, and black talents Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson were upset when Robinson was selected first. Larry Doby, who broke the color line in the American League the same year as Robinson, said, "One of the things that was disappointing and disheartening to a lot of the black players at the time was that Jack was not the best player. The best was Josh Gibson. I think that's one of the reasons why Josh died so early—he was heartbroken."

      Rickey's offer allowed Robinson to leave behind the Monarchs and their grueling bus rides, and he went home to Pasadena. That September, he signed with Chet Brewer's Kansas City Royals, a post-season barnstorming team in the California Winter League. Later that off-season, he briefly toured South America with another barnstorming team, while his fiancée Isum pursued nursing opportunities in New York City. On February 10, 1946, Robinson and Isum were married by their old friend, the Rev. Karl Downs.
      Minor leagues

      In 1946, Robinson arrived at Daytona Beach, Florida, for spring training with the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League. Clay Hopper, the manager of the Royals, asked Rickey to assign Robinson to any other Dodger affiliate, but Rickey refused.
      Robinson with the Montreal Royals in July 1946, the year before he was called up to the Majors

      Robinson's presence was controversial in racially segregated Florida. He was not allowed to stay with his white teammates at the team hotel, and instead lodged at the home of Joe and Dufferin Harris, a politically active African American couple who introduced the Robinsons to civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. Since the Dodgers organization did not own a spring training facility, scheduling was subject to the whim of area localities, several of which turned down any event involving Robinson or Johnny Wright, another black player whom Rickey had signed to the Dodgers' organization in January. In Sanford, Florida, the police chief threatened to cancel games if Robinson and Wright did not cease training activities there; as a result, Robinson was sent back to Daytona Beach In Jacksonville, the stadium was padlocked shut without warning on game day, by order of the city's Parks and Public Property director. In DeLand, a scheduled day game was postponed, ostensibly because of issues with the stadium's electrical lighting.

      After much lobbying of local officials by Rickey himself, the Royals were allowed to host a game involving Robinson in Daytona Beach. Robinson made his Royals debut at Daytona Beach's City Island Ballpark on March 17, 1946, in an exhibition game against the team's parent club, the Dodgers. Robinson thus became the first black player to openly play for a minor league team against a major league team since the de facto baseball color line had been implemented in the 1880s.
      Robinson (holding bats) playing in Montreal

      Later in spring training, after some less-than-stellar performances, Robinson was shifted from shortstop to second base, allowing him to make shorter throws to first base. Robinson's performance soon rebounded. On April 18, 1946, Roosevelt Stadium hosted the Jersey City Giants' season opener against the Montreal Royals, marking the professional debut of the Royals' Jackie Robinson and the first time the color barrier had been broken in a game between two minor league clubs. Pitching against Robinson was Warren Sandel who had played against him when they both lived in California. During Robinson's first at bat, the Jersey City catcher, Dick Bouknight, demanded that Sandel throw at Robinson, but Sandel refused. Although Sandel induced Robinson to ground out at his first at bat, Robinson ended up with four hits in his five trips to the plate; his first hit was a three-run home run in the game's third inning. He also scored four runs, drove in three, and stole two bases in the Royals' 14–1 victory. Robinson proceeded to lead the International League that season with a .349 batting average and .985 fielding percentage, and he was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Although he often faced hostility while on road trips (the Royals were forced to cancel a Southern exhibition tour, for example) the Montreal fan base enthusiastically supported Robinson.2Whether fans supported or opposed it, Robinson's presence on the field was a boon to attendance; more than one million people went to games involving Robinson in 1946, an astounding figure by International League standards. In the fall of 1946, following the baseball season, Robinson returned home to California and briefly played professional basketball for the short-lived Los Angeles Red Devils.

      Major leagues

      Breaking the color barrier (1947)

      In 1947, the Dodgers called Robinson up to the major leagues six days before the start of the season. With Eddie Stanky entrenched at second base for the Dodgers, Robinson played his initial major league season as a first baseman. Robinson made his debut in a Dodgers uniform wearing number 42 on April 11, 1947, in a preseason exhibition game against the New York Yankees at Ebbets Field with 24,237 in attendance. On April 15, Robinson made his major league debut at the relatively advanced age of 28 at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, more than 14,000 of whom were black.Although he failed to get a base hit, he walked and scored a run in the Dodgers' 5–3 victory. Robinson became the first player since 1884 to openly break the major league baseball color line. Black fans began flocking to see the Dodgers when they came to town, abandoning their Negro league teams.

      Robinson's promotion met a generally positive, although mixed, reception among newspapers and white major league players. However, racial tension existed in the Dodger clubhouse. Some Dodger players insinuated they would sit out rather than play alongside Robinson. The brewing mutiny ended when Dodgers management took a stand for Robinson. Manager Leo Durocher informed the team, "I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded."

      Robinson was also derided by opposing teams. According to a press report, the St. Louis Cardinals threatened to strike if Robinson played and to spread the walkout across the entire National League. Existence of the plot was said to have been leaked by the Cardinals' team physician, Robert Hyland, to a friend, the New York Herald Tribune's Rutherford "Rud" Rennie. The reporter, concerned about protecting Hyland's anonymity and job, in turn leaked it to his Tribune colleague and editor, Stanley Woodward, whose own subsequent reporting with other sources protected Hyland. The Woodward article made national headlines. After it was published, National League President Ford Frick and Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler let it be known that any striking players would be suspended. "You will find that the friends that you think you have in the press box will not support you, that you will be outcasts," Frick was quoted as saying. "I do not care if half the league strikes. Those who do it will encounter quick retribution. All will be suspended and I don't care if it wrecks the National League for five years. This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right to play as another." Woodward's article received the E. P. Dutton Award in 1947 for Best Sports Reporting. The Cardinals players denied that they were planning to strike, and Woodward later told author Roger Kahn that Frick was his true source; writer Warren Corbett said that Frick's speech "never happened". Regardless, the report led to Robinson receiving increased support from the sports media. Even The Sporting News, a publication that had backed the color line, came out against the idea of a strike.

      Robinson nonetheless became the target of rough physical play by opponents (particularly the Cardinals). At one time, he received a seven-inch gash in his leg from Enos Slaughter. On April 22, 1947, during a game between the Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies, Phillies players and manager Ben Chapman called Robinson a "nigger" from their dugout and yelled that he should "go back to the cotton fields". Rickey later recalled that Chapman "did more than anybody to unite the Dodgers. When he poured out that string of unconscionable abuse, he solidified and united thirty men."

      Robinson did, however, receive significant encouragement from several major league players. Robinson named Lee "Jeep" Handley, who played for the Phillies at the time, as the first opposing player to wish him well. Dodgers teammate Pee Wee Reese once came to Robinson's defense with the famous line, "You can hate a man for many reasons. Color is not one of them." In 1947 or 1948, Reese is said to have put his arm around Robinson in response to fans who shouted racial slurs at Robinson before a game in Boston or Cincinnati. A statue by sculptor William Behrends, unveiled at KeySpan Park on November 1, 2005, depicts Reese with his arm around Robinson. Jewish baseball star Hank Greenberg, who had to deal with ethnic epithets during his career, also encouraged Robinson. Following an incident where Greenberg collided with Robinson at first base, he "whispered a few words into Robinson's ear", which Robinson later characterized as "words of encouragement." Greenberg had advised him to overcome his critics by defeating them in games. Robinson also talked frequently with Larry Doby, who endured his own hardships since becoming the first black player in the American League with the Cleveland Indians, as the two spoke to one another via telephone throughout the season.

      Robinson finished the season having played in 151 games for the Dodgers, with a batting average of .297, an on-base percentage of .383, and a .427 slugging percentage. He had 175 hits (scoring 125 runs) including 31 doubles, 5 triples, and 12 home runs, driving in 48 runs for the year. Robinson led the league in sacrifice hits, with 28, and in stolen bases, with 29. His cumulative performance earned him the inaugural Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award (separate National and American League Rookie of the Year honors were not awarded until 1949).

      MVP, Congressional testimony, and film biography (1948–1950)

      Following Stanky's trade to the Boston Braves in March 1948, Robinson took over second base, where he logged a .980 fielding percentage that year (second in the National League at the position, fractionally behind Stanky). Robinson had a batting average of .296 and 22 stolen bases for the season. In a 12–7 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 29, 1948, he hit for the cycle—a home run, a triple, a double, and a single in the same game. The Dodgers briefly moved into first place in the National League in late August 1948, but they ultimately finished third as the Braves went on to win the league title and lose to the Cleveland Indians in the World Series.
      Robinson in 1950

      Racial pressure on Robinson eased in 1948 when a number of other black players entered the major leagues. Larry Doby (who broke the color barrier in the American League on July 5, 1947, just 11 weeks after Robinson) and Satchel Paige played for the Cleveland Indians, and the Dodgers had three other black players besides Robinson. In February 1948, he signed a $12,500 contract (equal to $134,643 today) with the Dodgers; while a significant amount, this was less than Robinson made in the off-season from a vaudeville tour, where he answered pre-set baseball questions and a speaking tour of the South. Between the tours, he underwent surgery on his right ankle. Because of his off-season activities, Robinson reported to training camp 30 pounds (14 kg) overweight. He lost the weight during training camp, but dieting left him weak at the plate. In 1948, Wendell Smith's book, Jackie Robinson: My Own Story, was released.

      In the spring of 1949, Robinson turned to Hall of Famer George Sisler, working as an advisor to the Dodgers, for batting help. At Sisler's suggestion, Robinson spent hours at a batting tee, learning to hit the ball to right field. Sisler taught Robinson to anticipate a fastball, on the theory that it is easier to subsequently adjust to a slower curveball. Robinson also noted that "Sisler showed me how to stop lunging, how to check my swing until the last fraction of a second". The tutelage helped Robinson raise his batting average from .296 in 1948 to .342 in 1949. In addition to his improved batting average, Robinson stole 37 bases that season, was second place in the league for both doubles and triples, and registered 124 runs batted in with 122 runs scored. For the performance Robinson earned the Most Valuable Player Award for the National League. Baseball fans also voted Robinson as the starting second baseman for the 1949 All-Star Game—the first All-Star Game to include black players

      That year, a song about Robinson by Buddy Johnson, "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?", reached number 13 on the charts; Count Basie recorded a famous version. Ultimately, the Dodgers won the National League pennant, but lost in five games to the New York Yankees in the 1949 World Series.

      Summer 1949 brought an unwanted distraction for Robinson. In July, he was called to testify before the United States House of Representatives' Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) concerning statements made that April by black athlete and actor Paul Robeson. Robinson was reluctant to testify, but he eventually agreed to do so, fearing it might negatively affect his career if he declined.
      Lobby card for The Jackie Robinson Story, 1950, with Minor Watson (left, playing Dodgers president Branch Rickey) and Robinson

      In 1950, Robinson led the National League in double plays made by a second baseman with 133. His salary that year was the highest any Dodger had been paid to that point: $35,000 ($376,480 in 2020 dollars). He finished the year with 99 runs scored, a .328 batting average, and 12 stolen bases. The year saw the release of a film biography of Robinson's life, The Jackie Robinson Story, in which Robinson played himself, and actress Ruby Dee played Rachel "Rae" (Isum) Robinson. The project had been previously delayed when the film's producers refused to accede to demands of two Hollywood studios that the movie include scenes of Robinson being tutored in baseball by a white man. The New York Times wrote that Robinson, "doing that rare thing of playing himself in the picture's leading role, displays a calm assurance and composure that might be envied by many a Hollywood star.

      Robinson's Hollywood exploits, however, did not sit well with Dodgers co-owner Walter O'Malley, who referred to Robinson as "Rickey's prima donna". In late 1950, Rickey's contract as the Dodgers' team President expired. Weary of constant disagreements with O'Malley, and with no hope of being re-appointed as President of the Dodgers, Rickey cashed out his one-quarter financial interest in the team, leaving O'Malley in full control of the franchise. Rickey shortly thereafter became general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Robinson was disappointed at the turn of events and wrote a sympathetic letter to Rickey, whom he considered a father figure, stating, "Regardless of what happens to me in the future, it all can be placed on what you have done and, believe me, I appreciate it."
      Pennant races and outside interests (1951–1953)

      Before the 1951 season, O'Malley reportedly offered Robinson the job of manager of the Montreal Royals, effective at the end of Robinson's playing career. O'Malley was quoted in the Montreal Standard as saying, "Jackie told me that he would be both delighted and honored to tackle this managerial post"—although reports differed as to whether a position was ever formally offered

      During the 1951 season, Robinson led the National League in double plays made by a second baseman for the second year in a row, with 137. He also kept the Dodgers in contention for the 1951 pennant. During the last game of the regular season, in the 13th inning, he had a hit to tie the game and then hit a home run in the 14th inning, which proved to be the winning margin. This forced a best-of-three playoff series against the crosstown rival New York Giants.
      Jackie Robinson comic book, issue No. 5, 1951

      Despite Robinson's regular-season heroics, on October 3, 1951, the Dodgers lost the pennant on Bobby Thomson's famous home run, known as the Shot Heard 'Round the World. Overcoming his dejection, Robinson dutifully observed Thomson's feet to ensure he touched all the bases. Dodgers sportscaster Vin Scully later noted that the incident showed "how much of a competitor Robinson was." He finished the season with 106 runs scored, a batting average of .335, and 25 stolen bases.

      Robinson had what was an average year for him in 1952. He finished the year with 104 runs, a .308 batting average, and 24 stolen bases. He did, however, record a career-high on-base percentage of .436. The Dodgers improved on their performance from the year before, winning the National League pennant before losing the 1952 World Series to the New York Yankees in seven games. That year, on the television show Youth Wants to Know, Robinson challenged the Yankees' general manager, George Weiss, on the racial record of his team, which had yet to sign a black player. Sportswriter Dick Young, whom Robinson had described as a "bigot", said, "If there was one flaw in Jackie, it was the common one. He believed that everything unpleasant that happened to him happened because of his blackness." The 1952 season was the last year Robinson was an everyday starter at second base. Afterward, Robinson played variously at first, second, and third bases, shortstop, and in the outfield, with Jim Gilliam, another black player, taking over everyday second base duties. Robinson's interests began to shift toward the prospect of managing a major league team. He had hoped to gain experience by managing in the Puerto Rican Winter League, but according to the New York Post, Commissioner Happy Chandler denied the request.

      In 1953, Robinson had 109 runs, a .329 batting average, and 17 steals, leading the Dodgers to another National League pennant (and another World Series loss to the Yankees, this time in six games). Robinson's continued success spawned a string of death threats. He was not dissuaded, however, from addressing racial issues publicly. That year, he served as editor for Our Sports magazine, a periodical focusing on Negro sports issues; contributions to the magazine included an article on golf course segregation by Robinson's old friend Joe Louis. Robinson also openly criticized segregated hotels and restaurants that served the Dodger organization; a number of these establishments integrated as a result, including the five-star Chase Park Hotel in St. Louis.

      World Championship and retirement (1954–1956)

      In 1954, Robinson had 62 runs scored, a .311 batting average, and 7 steals. His best day at the plate was on June 17, when he hit two home runs and two doubles.The following autumn, Robinson won his only championship when the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series. Although the team enjoyed ultimate success, 1955 was the worst year of Robinson's individual career. He hit .256 and stole only 12 bases. The Dodgers tried Robinson in the outfield and as a third baseman, both because of his diminishing abilities and because Gilliam was established at second base. Robinson, then 36 years old missed 49 games and did not play in Game 7 of the World Series. Robinson missed the game because manager Walter Alston decided to play Gilliam at second and Don Hoak at third base. That season, the Dodgers' Don Newcombe became the first black major league pitcher to win twenty games in a year.

      In 1956, Robinson had 61 runs scored, a .275 batting average, and 12 steals.[159] By then, he had begun to exhibit the effects of diabetes and to lose interest in the prospect of playing or managing professional baseball. Robinson ended his major league career when he struck out to end Game 7 of the 1956 World Series. After the season, the Dodgers traded Robinson to the arch-rival New York Giants for Dick Littlefield and $35,000 cash (equal to $333,164 today). The trade, however, was never completed; unbeknownst to the Dodgers, Robinson had already agreed with the president of Chock full o'Nuts to quit baseball and become an executive with the company. Since Robinson had sold exclusive rights to any retirement story to Look magazine two years previously, his retirement decision was revealed through the magazine, instead of through the Dodgers organization.

      Legacy
      Robinson and his son David are interviewed during the March on Washington, August 28, 1963.

      Robinson's major league debut brought an end to approximately sixty years of segregation in professional baseball, known as the baseball color line. After World War II, several other forces were also leading the country toward increased equality for blacks, including their accelerated migration to the North, where their political clout grew, and President Harry Truman's desegregation of the military in 1948. Robinson's breaking of the baseball color line and his professional success symbolized these broader changes and demonstrated that the fight for equality was more than simply a political matter. Civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. said that he was "a legend and a symbol in his own time", and that he "challenged the dark skies of intolerance and frustration." According to historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Robinson's "efforts were a monumental step in the civil-rights revolution in America ... [His] accomplishments allowed black and white Americans to be more respectful and open to one another and more appreciative of everyone's abilities.

      Beginning his major league career at the relatively advanced age of 28, he played only ten seasons from 1947 to 1956, all of them for the Brooklyn Dodgers During his career, the Dodgers played in six World Series, and Robinson himself played in six All-Star Games. In 1999, he was posthumously named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

      Robinson's career is generally considered to mark the beginning of the post–"long ball" era in baseball, in which a reliance on raw power-hitting gave way to balanced offensive strategies that used footspeed to create runs through aggressive baserunning. Robinson exhibited the combination of hitting ability and speed which exemplified the new era. He scored more than 100 runs in six of his ten seasons (averaging more than 110 runs from 1947 to 1953), had a .311 career batting average, a .409 career on-base percentage, a .474 slugging percentage, and substantially more walks than strikeouts (740 to 291). Robinson was one of only two players during the span of 1947–56 to accumulate at least 125 steals while registering a slugging percentage over .425 (Minnie Miñoso was the other). He accumulated 197 stolen bases in total, including 19 steals of home. None of the latter were double steals (in which a player stealing home is assisted by a player stealing another base at the same time). Robinson has been referred to by author David Falkner as "the father of modern base-stealing".

      I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me ... all I ask is that you respect me as a human being.

      —Robinson, on his legacy

      Historical statistical analysis indicates Robinson was an outstanding fielder throughout his ten years in the major leagues and at virtually every position he played. After playing his rookie season at first base, Robinson spent most of his career as a second baseman. He led the league in fielding among second basemen in 1950 and 1951. Toward the end of his career, he played about 2,000 innings at third base and about 1,175 innings in the outfield, excelling at both.

      Assessing himself, Robinson said, "I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me ... all I ask is that you respect me as a human being." Regarding Robinson's qualities on the field, Leo Durocher said, "Ya want a guy that comes to play. This guy didn't just come to play. He come to beat ya. He come to stuff the goddamn bat right up your ass."

      Portrayals on stage, film and television
      Depiction of Robinson in lobby card for The Jackie Robinson Story

      Robinson portrayed himself in the 1950 motion picture The Jackie Robinson Story. Other portrayals include:

      John Lafayette, in the 1978 ABC television special "A Home Run for Love" (broadcast as an ABC Afterschool Special).

      David Alan Grier, in the 1981 Broadway production of the musical The First
      Michael-David Gordon, in the 1989 Off-Broadway production of the musical Play to Win
      Andre Braugher, in the 1990 TNT television movie The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson.
      Blair Underwood, in the 1996 HBO television movie Soul of the Game.
      Antonio Todd in "Colors", a 2005 episode of the CBS television series Cold Case.
      Chadwick Boseman, in the 2013 motion picture 
      Robert Hamilton in "Sundown", a 2020 episode of the HBO television series Lovecraft Country.

      Robinson was also the subject of a 2016 PBS documentary, Jackie Robinson, which was directed by Ken Burns and features Jamie Foxx doing voice-over as Robinson.

      Post-baseball life

      Robinson once told future Hall of Fame inductee Hank Aaron that "the game of baseball is great, but the greatest thing is what you do after your career is over." Robinson retired from baseball at age 37 on January 5, 1957. Later that year, after he complained of numerous physical ailments, he was diagnosed with diabetes, a disease that also afflicted his brothers. Although Robinson adopted an insulin injection regimen, the state of medicine at the time could not prevent the continued deterioration of Robinson's physical condition from the disease.

      In October 1959, Robinson entered the Greenville Municipal Airport's whites-only waiting room. Airport police asked Robinson to leave, but he refused. At a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) speech in Greenville, South Carolina, Robinson urged "complete freedom" and encouraged black citizens to vote and to protest their second-class citizenship. The following January, approximately 1,000 people marched on New Year's Day to the airport, which was desegregated shortly thereafter.

      In his first year of eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, Robinson encouraged voters to consider only his on-field qualifications, rather than his cultural impact on the game He was elected on the first ballot, becoming the first black player inducted into the Cooperstown museum.
      Robinson as an ABC sports announcer, 1965

      In 1965, Robinson served as an analyst for ABC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts, the first black person to do so. In 1966, Robinson was hired as general manager for the short-lived Brooklyn Dodgers of the Continental Football League. In 1972, he served as a part-time commentator on Montreal Expos telecasts.

      On June 4, 1972, the Dodgers retired his uniform number, 42, alongside those of Roy Campanella (39) and Sandy Koufax (32) From 1957 to 1964, Robinson was the vice president for personnel at Chock full o'Nuts; he was the first black person to serve as vice president of a major American corporation. Robinson always considered his business career as advancing the cause of black people in commerce and industry. Robinson also chaired the NAACP's million-dollar Freedom Fund Drive in 1957, and served on the organization's board until 1967. In 1964, he helped found, with Harlem businessman Dunbar McLaurin, Freedom National Bank—a black-owned and operated commercial bank based in Harlem. He also served as the bank's first chairman of the board. In 1970, Robinson established the Jackie Robinson Construction Company to build housing for low-income families.

      Robinson was active in politics throughout his post-baseball life. He identified himself as a political independent, although he held conservative opinions on several issues, including the Vietnam War (he once wrote to Martin Luther King Jr. to defend the Johnson Administration's military policy). After supporting Richard Nixon in his 1960 presidential race against John F. Kennedy, Robinson later praised Kennedy effusively for his stance on civil rights. Robinson was angered by conservative Republican opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He became one of six national directors for Nelson Rockefeller's unsuccessful campaign to be nominated as the Republican candidate for the 1964 presidential election. After the party nominated Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona instead, Robinson left the party's convention commenting that he now had "a better understanding of how it must have felt to be a Jew in Hitler's Germany". He later became special assistant for community affairs when Rockefeller was re-elected governor of New York in 1966. Switching his allegiance to the Democrats, he subsequently supported Hubert Humphrey against Nixon in 1968.
      A still from a color movie featuring Robinson in the 1960s in The Torch of Friendship promo

      Robinson protested against the major leagues' ongoing lack of minority managers and central office personnel, and he turned down an invitation to appear in an old-timers' game at Yankee Stadium in 1969. He made his final public appearance on October 15, 1972, throwing the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 of the World Series at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. He gratefully accepted a plaque honoring the twenty-fifth anniversary of his MLB debut, but also commented, "I'm going to be tremendously more pleased and more proud when I look at that third base coaching line one day and see a black face managing in baseball." This wish was only fulfilled after Robinson's death: following the 1974 season, the Cleveland Indians gave their managerial post to Frank Robinson (no relation to Jackie), a Hall of Fame-bound player who would go on to manage three other teams. Despite the success of these two Robinsons and other black players, the number of African-American players in Major League Baseball has declined since the 1970s.

      Family life and death

      After Robinson's retirement from baseball, his wife Rachel Robinson pursued a career in academic nursing. She became an assistant professor at the Yale School of Nursing and director of nursing at the Connecticut Mental Health Center. She also served on the board of the Freedom National Bank until it closed in 1990 She and Jackie had three children: Jackie Robinson Jr. (1946–1971), Sharon Robinson (b. 1950), and David Robinson (b. 1952).
      Robinson's family gravesite in Cypress Hills Cemetery. Robinson is buried alongside his mother-in-law Zellee Isum and his son Jackie Robinson, Jr.

      Robinson's eldest son, Jackie Robinson Jr., had emotional trouble during his childhood and entered special education at an early age. He enrolled in the Army in search of a disciplined environment, served in the Vietnam War, and was wounded in action on November 19, 1965. After his discharge, he struggled with drug problems. Robinson Jr. eventually completed the treatment program at Daytop Village in Seymour, Connecticut, and became a counselor at the institution. On June 17, 1971, he was killed in an automobile accident at age 24. The experience with his son's drug addiction turned Robinson Sr. into an avid anti-drug crusader toward the end of his life.

      Robinson did not long outlive his son. Complications from heart disease and diabetes weakened Robinson and made him almost blind by middle age. On October 24, 1972, Robinson died of a heart attack at his home on 95 Cascade Road in North Stamford, Connecticut; he was 53 years old. Robinson's funeral service on October 27, 1972, at Upper Manhattan's Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, attracted 2,500 mourners.Many of his former teammates and other famous baseball players served as pallbearers, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson gave the eulogy. Tens of thousands of people lined the subsequent procession route to Robinson's interment site at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, where he was buried next to his son Jackie and mother-in-law Zellee Isum.Twenty-five years after Robinson's death, the Interboro Parkway was renamed the Jackie Robinson Parkway in his memory. This parkway bisects the cemetery in close proximity to Robinson's gravesite.

      After Robinson's death, his widow founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and she remains an officer as of 2021. On April 15, 2008, she announced that in 2010 the foundation would open a museum devoted to Jackie in Lower Manhattan. Robinson's daughter, Sharon, became a midwife, educator, director of educational programming for MLB, and the author of two books about her father. His youngest son, David, who has ten children, is a coffee grower and social activist in Tanzania.

      Awards and recognition
      Memorial in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda inside Citi Field, dedicated April 15, 2009

      According to a poll conducted in 1947, Robinson was the second most popular man in the country, behind Bing Crosby. In 1999, he was named by Time on its list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Also in 1999, he ranked number 44 on the Sporting News list of Baseball's 100 Greatest Players and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team as the top vote-getter among second basemen. Baseball writer Bill James, in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, ranked Robinson as the 32nd greatest player of all time strictly on the basis of his performance on the field, noting that he was one of the top players in the league throughout his career. Robinson was among the 25 charter members of UCLA's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984. In 2002, Molefi Kete Asante included Robinson on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans. Robinson has also been honored by the United States Postal Service on three separate postage stamps, in 1982, 1999, and 2000.

      The City of Pasadena has recognized Robinson with a baseball diamond and stadium named Jackie Robinson Field in Brookside Park next to the Rose Bowl, and with the Jackie Robinson Center (a community outreach center providing health services). In 1997, a $325,000 bronze sculpture (equal to $523,948 today) by artists Ralph Helmick, Stu Schecter, and John Outterbridge depicting oversized nine-foot busts of Robinson and his brother Mack was erected at Garfield Avenue, across from the main entrance of Pasadena City Hall; a granite footprint lists multiple donors to the commission project, which was organized by the Robinson Memorial Foundation and supported by members of the Robinson family.
      Jackie Robinson Stadium, with the No. 42 on the center field wall

      Major League Baseball has honored Robinson many times since his death. In 1987, both the National and American League Rookie of the Year Awards were renamed the "Jackie Robinson Award" in honor of the first recipient (Robinson's Major League Rookie of the Year Award in 1947 encompassed both leagues). On April 15, 1997, Robinson's jersey number, 42, was retired throughout Major League Baseball, the first time any jersey number had been retired throughout one of the four major American sports leagues. Under the terms of the retirement, a grandfather clause allowed the handful of players who wore number 42 to continue doing so in tribute to Robinson, until such time as they subsequently changed teams or jersey numbers. This affected players such as the Mets' Butch Huskey and Boston's Mo Vaughn. The Yankees' Mariano Rivera, who retired at the end of the 2013 season, was the last player in Major League Baseball to wear jersey number 42 on a regular basis. Since 1997, only Wayne Gretzky's number 99, retired by the NHL in 2000, has been retired league-wide in any of the four major sports. There have also been calls for MLB to retire number 21 league-wide in honor of Roberto Clemente, a sentiment opposed by the Robinson family.

      As an exception to the retired-number policy, MLB began honoring Robinson by allowing players to wear number 42 on April 15, Jackie Robinson Day, which is an annual observance that started in 2004. For the 60th anniversary of Robinson's major league debut, MLB invited players to wear the number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day in 2007. The gesture was originally the idea of outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., who sought Rachel Robinson's permission to wear the number. After Griffey received her permission, Commissioner Bud Selig not only allowed Griffey to wear the number, but also extended an invitation to all major league teams to do the same. Ultimately, more than 200 players wore number 42, including the entire rosters of the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. The tribute was continued in 2008, when, during games on April 15, all members of the Mets, Cardinals, Washington Nationals, and Tampa Bay Rays wore Robinson's number 42.On June 25, 2008, MLB installed a new plaque for Robinson at the Baseball Hall of Fame commemorating his off-the-field impact on the game as well as his playing statistics. In 2009, all of MLB's uniformed personnel (including players) wore number 42 on April 15; this tradition has continued every year since on that date.
      Planned home of the Jackie Robinson Museum and Learning Center

      At the November 2006 groundbreaking for Citi Field, the new ballpark for the New York Mets, it was announced that the main entrance, modeled on the one in Brooklyn's old Ebbets Field, would be called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. The rotunda was dedicated at the opening of Citi Field on April 16, 2009. It honors Robinson with large quotations spanning the inner curve of the facade and features a large freestanding statue of his number, 42, which has become an attraction in itself. Mets owner Fred Wilpon announced that the Mets—in conjunction with Citigroup and the Jackie Robinson Foundation—will create a Jackie Robinson Museum and Learning Center, located at the headquarters of the Jackie Robinson Foundation at One Hudson Square, along Canal Street in lower Manhattan. Along with the museum, scholarships will be awarded to "young people who live by and embody Jackie's ideals."The museum hopes to open by 2020. At Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, a statue of Robinson was introduced in 2017. The New York Yankees honor Robinson with a plaque in Monument Park.

      Since 2004, the Aflac National High School Baseball Player of the Year has been presented the "Jackie Robinson Award".

      Robinson has also been recognized outside of baseball. In December 1956, the NAACP recognized him with the Spingarn Medal, which it awards annually for the highest achievement by an African-American. President Ronald Reagan posthumously awarded Robinson the Presidential Medal of Freedom on March 26, 1984, and on March 2, 2005, President George W. Bush gave Robinson's widow the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress; Robinson was only the second baseball player to receive the award, after Roberto Clemente. On August 20, 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, announced that Robinson was inducted into the California Hall of Fame, located at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts in Sacramento.
      Rachel Robinson (holding the award) accepts the posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for her husband from President George W. Bush in a March 2, 2005, ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. Also pictured are Nancy Pelosi and Dennis Hastert.

      A number of buildings have been named in Robinson's honor. The UCLA Bruins baseball team plays in Jackie Robinson Stadium, which, because of the efforts of Jackie's brother Mack, features a memorial statue of Robinson by sculptor Richard H. Ellis. The stadium also unveiled a new mural of Robinson by Mike Sullivan on April 14, 2013. City Island Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida was renamed Jackie Robinson Ballpark in 1990 and a statue of Robinson with two children stands in front of the ballpark. His wife Rachel was present for the dedication on September 15. 1990. A number of facilities at Pasadena City College (successor to PJC) are named in Robinson's honor, including Robinson Field, a football/soccer/track facility named jointly for Robinson and his brother Mack. The New York Public School system has named a middle school after Robinson, and Dorsey High School plays at a Los Angeles football stadium named after him. His home in Brooklyn, the Jackie Robinson House, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and Brooklyn residents sought to turn his home into a city landmark. In 1978, Colonial Park in Harlem was renamed after Robinson. Robinson also has an asteroid named after him, 4319 Jackierobinson. In 1997, the United States Mint issued a Jackie Robinson commemorative silver dollar, and five-dollar gold coin. That same year, New York City renamed the Interboro Parkway in his honor. A statue of Robinson at Journal Square Transportation Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, was dedicated in 1998.

      In 2011, the U.S. placed a plaque at Robinson's Montreal home to honor the ending of segregation in baseball.[ The house, at 8232 avenue de Gaspé near Jarry Park, was Robinson's residence when he played for the Montreal Royals during 1946. In a letter read during the ceremony, Rachel Robinson, Jackie's widow, wrote: "I remember Montreal and that house very well and have always had warm feeling for that great city. Before Jack and I moved to Montreal, we had just been through some very rough treatment in the racially biased South during spring training in Florida. In the end, Montreal was the perfect place for him to get his start. We never had a threatening or unpleasant experience there. The people were so welcoming and saw Jack as a player and as a man."

      On November 22, 2014, UCLA announced that it would officially retire the number 42 across all university sports, effective immediately. While Robinson wore several different numbers during his UCLA career, the school chose 42 because it had become indelibly identified with him. The only sport this did not affect was men's basketball, which had previously retired the number for Walt Hazzard (although Kevin Love was actually the last player in that sport to wear 42, with Hazzard's blessing). In a move paralleling that of MLB when it retired the number, UCLA allowed three athletes (in women's soccer, softball, and football) who were already wearing 42 to continue to do so for the remainder of their UCLA careers. The school also announced it would prominently display the number at all of its athletic venues.

      A jersey that Robinson brought home with him after his rookie season ended in 1947 was sold at an auction for $2.05 million on November 19, 2017. The price was the highest ever paid for a post-World War II jersey.
      Jamie Benn
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
      Jamie Benn
      Benn with the Dallas Stars in 2016
      Born July 18, 1989 

      Jamie Randolph Benn (born July 18, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger and captain of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Benn played his junior hockey career with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) prior to turning professional. He represented Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championships, where he helped capture a gold medal. With Team Canada, he won a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He is the younger brother of defenseman Jordie Benn, who plays for the Minnesota Wild, and is a former teammate of Jamie's. In the 2014–15 season, Benn was awarded the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer with 87 points. The Dallas Stars went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 under the leadership of Jamie Benn.

      Playing career

      Junior

      Benn grew up playing hockey for the Peninsula Eagles minor hockey association and attended Stelly's Secondary School as a teenager. He played for the Peninsula Panthers of the VIJHL, a local Junior B team located in North Saanich, British Columbia, during the 2005–06 season. Following this, he played for the Victoria Grizzlies of the Junior A British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for parts of three seasons from 2006-2008.

      Kelowna Rockets

      Benn was drafted by the Dallas Stars 129th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft from the Victoria Grizzlies. Following his draft, Benn began his major junior career with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL. He scored 65 points in his rookie season in 2007–08, then improved to a team-high 46 goals to go with 36 assists and 82 points in just 56 games in 2008–09. After being named to the WHL West First All-Star Team, Benn paced the Rockets with a playoff-leading 33 points en route to the 2009 Ed Chynoweth Cup title. In the subsequent 2009 Memorial Cup tournament, held in Rimouski, Quebec, Benn notched a four-goal game and added an assist in the second round-robin match against the Drummondville Voltigeurs, a 6–4 win, to secure the Rockets a berth in the tournament final. Although Benn's Rockets lost to the Windsor Spitfires 4–1 in the Final, Benn was named to the Tournament All-Star Team, along with teammate Tyler Myers.

      Professional hockey player
      Dallas Stars
      Benn in his second NHL regular-season game, October 2009

      Benn made the Stars' roster for the 2009–10 season and scored his first NHL goal on October 11, 2009, against Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks. Benn tied the score 3–3 late in the game, but the Stars lost later in the shootout.

      At the end of his rookie season, he was sent down to the Stars' AHL affiliate Texas Stars in the suburbs of Austin for the 2010 Calder Cup playoffs. He scored 14 goals and had 26 points in 24 playoffs games as Texas fell to the Hershey Bears in the Calder Cup Finals. Benn later spoke of the experience, "I had a fun summer here...it was a big part of my hockey career and helped me develop my game. I definitely loved playing here."

      Benn took an opportunity in February 2011 after teammate Brad Richards' concussion to take a leading role with the team. During the All Star Game's SuperSkills Competition, Benn participated in the Accuracy Shooting contest and won his leg against Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Drouin then the finals against Philadelphia Flyers rookie Matt Read with times of 13.583 and 10.204 seconds respectively.

      With the 2012–13 season delayed due to the labour lock-out, Benn signed a contract for the duration of the dispute with the Hamburg Freezers of the German DEL on October 2, 2012. Unable to initially agree to a contract with the Stars, Benn missed the first four games of the shortened NHL season before re-signing to a five-year, $26.25 million contract on January 24, 2013.
      Benn during the 2013–14 season. Benn was named the captain of the Dallas Stars during the 2013 off-season.

      Benn was named the sixth captain of the Dallas Stars on September 19, 2013.

      On April 11, 2015, Benn scored 4 points in the Stars' last regular-season game to finish with 87 points on the season and win the Art Ross Trophy. His final point, a secondary assist with 8.5 seconds left in the game, allowed him to overtake John Tavares for the award.

      On July 15, 2016, Benn agreed to an eight-year, $76 million contract extension with Dallas that runs through the 2024–25 NHL season at an average annual value of $9.5 million.

      International play

      Playing in his second WHL season, Benn was named to Team Canada, along with Kelowna Rockets teammate Tyler Myers, for the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa. He contributed 4 goals and 2 assists in 6 games, helping Canada to its record-tying fifth straight gold medal, defeating Sweden 5–1 in the final. Benn first represented the senior team at the 2012 IIHF World Championship.

      On January 7, 2014, Benn was named to the Canadian Olympic hockey team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi despite not being invited to the orientation camp during the summer of 2013. In his first game as an Olympian, Benn scored the game-winning goal in Canada's first game against Norway in a 3–1 victory. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against the United States in the semi-final, to advance Canada to the gold medal game, where they eventually beat Sweden 3–0.

      Awards and honours

      AwardYear
      CHL / WHL
      West First All-Star Team 2008–09
      Ed Chynoweth Trophy – Memorial Cup Leading Scorer 2009
      CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2009 

      Jaideep Deswal


      Jaideep Singh Deswal is a distinguished Indian para-athlete known for his versatility and achievements in multiple sports, including discus throw, powerlifting, and paracanoeing. Born on December 30, 1989, in a small village on the outskirts of Rohtak, Haryana, Jaideep overcame significant physical challenges to represent India at major international events, including the 2012 London Paralympics and the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics. Below is a comprehensive overview of his life, career, achievements, and contributions based on available information.

      Personal Information

      • Full Name: Jaideep Singh Deswal
      • Date of Birth: December 30, 1989
      • Age: 35 years (as of August 24, 2025)
      • Hometown: Rohtak, Haryana, India
      • Nationality: Indian
      • Height: Approximately 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
      • Disability: Loss of strength in his left leg due to an incorrect vaccination at four months old
      • Family:
        • Father: Samunder Singh, a retired Rajasthan Police official
        • Other family details (mother, siblings) are not publicly disclosed
      • Education: Limited information available; reportedly a second-year political science honours student at Delhi University (as of 2021)
      • Coach: Vijay Munishwar (for discus throw)
      • Mentors/Support: Supported by the GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme

      Early Life and Background

      • Disability: At four months old, Jaideep was given an incorrect vaccination for a fever, which resulted in the loss of strength in his left leg. This early setback shaped his journey as a para-athlete.
      • Introduction to Sports: Despite his disability, Jaideep developed a keen interest in sports from a young age. Encouraged by his uncle and friends, he began practicing discus throw in 2007, training in the fields of his native village and later at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak.
      • Family Support: His father, Samunder Singh, initially felt dejected by Jaideep’s disability but grew proud of his son’s achievements. The family, unfamiliar with sports initially, supported Jaideep’s endeavors, particularly influenced by his uncle’s encouragement.

      Career Overview

      Jaideep Deswal’s athletic career spans multiple disciplines—discus throw, powerlifting, and paracanoeing—demonstrating his adaptability and resilience. He has represented India in prestigious events like the Paralympics, Asian Para Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships.

      Discus Throw (F42 Classification)

      • Beginnings: Jaideep started competing in discus throw in 2007, inspired by friends and his uncle. He trained at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, for international competitions, supported by the GoSports Foundation.
      • Major Achievements:
        • 2012 London Paralympics: Represented India in the discus throw (F42 classification), finishing 7th with a throw of 39.77m.
        • 2014 Asian Para Games: Achieved 4th place with a throw of 38.68m.
        • 2014 Commonwealth Games: Placed 4th with a throw of 37.48m in the men’s discus throw.
        • 2015 World Para Athletics Championships: Competed in discus throw, continuing to represent India at the global level.
        • 2017 World Para Athletics Championships: Participated in discus throw, finishing 4th.
        • Asia Oceania Athletics Championships (Dubai): Won a gold medal, showcasing his prowess in the region.
        • 2018 National Para Athletic Championships: Secured a gold medal.

      Powerlifting

      • Transition to Powerlifting: Jaideep began powerlifting in 2016, initially as a training method for discus throw, but soon recognized his potential to compete at the top level.
      • Major Achievements:
        • 2017 World Para Powerlifting Championships: Qualified and competed, marking a significant milestone in his powerlifting career.
        • 2021 National Powerlifting Championship: Won a gold medal in March 2022.
        • 2021 Tokyo Paralympics: Competed in the men’s 65kg category but failed to register a successful lift (attempted 160kg and 167kg). His participation was secured through a bipartite quota slot after missing the final qualification at the Dubai 2021 World Cup due to COVID-19 restrictions.
      • Role as Coach: Jaideep is employed as a coach with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), contributing to the development of future athletes.

      Paracanoeing

      • Transition to Paracanoeing: Due to physical constraints, Jaideep shifted to paracanoeing after his stints in discus throw and powerlifting.
      • Major Events:
        • 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships (Milan, Italy): Represented India as part of a 10-member Indian para canoeing team, aiming to secure Paralympic quotas for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
        • Jaideep’s participation in Milan reflects his continued commitment to representing India on the global stage, with aspirations to excel in future events like the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Poznan, Poland.

      Career Milestones

      • 2012: Became the first athlete from his village to compete at the Paralympics (London), a historic achievement for Indian para-athletics.
      • 2014: Competed in both the Asian Para Games and Commonwealth Games, establishing himself as a versatile para-athlete.
      • 2016: Began powerlifting, expanding his athletic repertoire.
      • 2017: Qualified for both the World Para Athletics Championships (discus throw) and World Para Powerlifting Championships, showcasing his multi-sport capability.
      • 2021: Represented India at the Tokyo Paralympics in powerlifting, despite an unsuccessful performance.
      • 2022: Won gold at the National Powerlifting Championship, solidifying his status in the sport.
      • 2025: Competed in paracanoeing at the World Championships in Milan, aiming for future Paralympic success.

      Achievements

      • Paralympics:
        • 2012 London Paralympics: 7th in discus throw (F42) with 39.77m.
        • 2021 Tokyo Paralympics: Competed in men’s 65kg powerlifting (no successful lifts).
      • Commonwealth Games:
        • 2014: 4th in men’s discus throw with 37.48m.
      • Asian Para Games:
        • 2014: 4th in discus throw with 38.68m.
      • World Championships:
        • 2015 World Para Athletics Championships: Competed in discus throw.
        • 2017 World Para Athletics Championships: 4th in discus throw.
        • 2017 World Para Powerlifting Championships: Qualified and competed.
        • 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships: Competed in Milan.
      • Other Notable Achievements:
        • Gold medal at the Asia Oceania Athletics Championships (Dubai).
        • Gold medal at the 2018 National Para Athletic Championships.
        • Gold medal at the 2022 National Powerlifting Championship.

      Challenges and Resilience

      • Physical Disability: The loss of strength in his left leg at four months old posed significant challenges, but Jaideep’s determination to excel in sports overcame these barriers.
      • Tokyo Paralympics (2021): His failure to complete a successful lift in powerlifting was a setback, compounded by missing the final qualification due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, his bipartite quota slot allowed him to compete, reflecting his perseverance.
      • Sport Transitions: Moving from discus throw to powerlifting and then to paracanoeing required significant physical and mental adaptation, showcasing his versatility and commitment to para-sports.

      Qualities and Inspirations

      • Idol: Jaideep idolizes hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, drawing inspiration from his dedication and achievements.
      • Motivation: His drive to “make his mark” in life, despite his disability and initial struggles with academics, fueled his athletic career. The sporting culture of Haryana provided a supportive environment for his growth.
      • Resilience: Jaideep’s ability to compete in multiple sports at the international level, despite physical constraints, reflects his extraordinary resilience and adaptability.

      Legacy and Impact

      • Trailblazer for Para-Athletes: As one of India’s prominent multi-sport para-athletes, Jaideep has inspired others with disabilities to pursue sports. His participation in two Paralympics across different sports is a rare and remarkable achievement.
      • Representation of Haryana: Hailing from a small village in Rohtak, Jaideep’s success highlights the potential for athletes from rural India to excel on the global stage, contributing to Haryana’s reputation as a hub for sports.
      • Role as a Coach: His work with the Sports Authority of India as a coach extends his impact, mentoring the next generation of athletes.
      • Advocacy for Para-Sports: Jaideep’s transitions across sports and continued participation in events like the 2025 World Championships in paracanoeing reflect the growing prominence of para-sports in India, as noted by officials like Dr. Deepshikha Beniwal.

      Net Worth

      • Estimated Net Worth: Reports from 2021 suggest Jaideep’s net worth ranges between $1 million and $5 million, though these figures are unverified and may not reflect current estimates. His income likely comes from prize money, sponsorships (e.g., GoSports Foundation), and his role as a coach with SAI.

      Current Status (as of 2025)

      • Jaideep continues to compete in paracanoeing, with his recent participation in the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Milan, Italy, alongside other Indian para canoeists like Prachi Yadav and Manish Kaurav. His focus is on securing a Paralympic quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
      • He remains an active figure in Indian para-sports, contributing both as an athlete and a coach.

      Sources

      • Wikipedia: Jaideep Deswal
      • IndusInd Bank for Sports: Jaideep Deswal Profile
      • WikiBioNet: Jaideep Deswal Biography
      • The SportsGrail: Jaideep Deswal Paralympian Biography
      • WikiTrusted: Jaideep Deswal Biography
      • The Bridge: Jaideep Deswal’s Journey and Tokyo Paralympics
      • The Tribune: Indian Para Canoeists at World Championships
      • The SportsLite: Jaideep Deswal as a Medal Prospect
      • Olympics.com: Tokyo Paralympics Indian Contingent
      • Public Biography: Jaideep Singh Deswal

      Conclusion

      Jaideep Singh Deswal is a remarkable Indian para-athlete whose career exemplifies resilience, versatility, and dedication. From his beginnings in discus throw to his ventures into powerlifting and paracanoeing, Jaideep has represented India at the highest levels, including the 2012 London and 2021 Tokyo Paralympics. His achievements, such as gold medals at the Asia Oceania Athletics Championships and National Powerlifting Championship, highlight his talent and determination. As he continues to compete in paracanoeing with aspirations for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, Jaideep remains an inspiration for aspiring para-athletes and a symbol of Haryana’s sporting spirit. For further details, following his progress through official sports channels or SAI updates would provide insights into his ongoing career.

      Jonathan Toews
      (Wikipedia)
      Jonathan Toews
      Toews with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2009
      Born April 29, 1988 
      Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
      Position Centre
      Shoots Left
      National team  Canada
      NHL Draft 3rd overall, 2006
      Playing career 2007–present

      Jonathan Bryan Toews OM (/ˈteɪvz/ TAYVZ; born April 29, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

      Nicknamed "Captain Serious", Toews was selected by the Blackhawks with the third overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the team in 2007–08 and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year. The following season he was named team captain, becoming the second-youngest captain in NHL history (after Sidney Crosby) at the time. Toews won the Stanley Cup in 2010, along with the Conn Smythe Trophy for the most valuable player in the playoffs. After winning the Cup, Toews passed Peter Forsberg as the youngest player to join the Triple Gold Club. He won the Stanley Cup again in 2013 and 2015.

      Toews competes internationally for Team Canada and has won gold medals at the 2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships, 2007 World Championships, the 2010 Winter Olympics (a tournament in which he was named best forward) and the 2014 Winter Olympics. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

      Playing career
      Amateur

      Toews was selected first overall in the 2003 WHL Bantam Draft by the Tri-City Americans,[4] but chose instead to play midget AAA hockey at Shattuck-Saint Mary's, a boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota, during the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons. The decision enabled him to retain his NCAA eligibility. Toews scored 110 points in 64 games in his second season with Shattuck-Saint Mary's before moving on to play college ice hockey.

      Toews played two seasons at the University of North Dakota, compiling 85 points (40 goals and 45 assists), a +38 plus-minus rating and a 56.7% faceoff winning percentage in 76 games. He helped UND reach the NCAA Frozen Four in both 2006 and 2007, serving as an alternate captain in his sophomore season. Toews registered 39 points as a freshman and earned Rookie of the Week honours twice. He helped North Dakota capture the Broadmoor Trophy as Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) conference champions and also was named West Regional MVP after tallying five points.

      Going into the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Toews was ranked third among North American prospects by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau,[and was ultimately chosen third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.

      Professional
      Chicago Blackhawks

      In 2007–08, he opted out of his final two years of college hockey eligibility to debut with the Blackhawks after signing a three-year, entry-level contract on May 16, 2007. He scored his first career NHL goal on his first shot in his first game on October 10, 2007, against the San Jose Sharks. He then recorded the second-longest point-scoring streak to start an NHL career, registering a point in each of his first ten games (five goals and five assists). On January 1, 2008, Toews sprained his knee in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. Despite missing 16 games from the injury, Toews led all rookies in goal-scoring and finished third in points. Toews finished second in team scoring behind fellow rookie Patrick Kane. Toews and Kane battled all season for the lead in team and rookie scoring before Toews went down to injury. The two were both nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year along with Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Bäckström; Toews finished as a runner-up to winner Kane.
      Toews with the Blackhawks during their home opener for the 2010–11 season on October 9, 2010

      Following his successful rookie campaign, Toews was named team captain of the Blackhawks on July 18, 2008. At 20 years and 79 days, he became the third-youngest team captain in NHL history, behind Sidney Crosby and Vincent Lecavalier. This feat was later surpassed by Gabriel Landeskog and Connor McDavid.[9] Toews had previously been named an alternate captain in December 2007, during the 2007–08 season. In the subsequent season, he was voted as a starter, along with teammates Patrick Kane and Brian Campbell, for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal, Quebec. He netted his first career hat-trick in the NHL on February 27, 2009, in a 5–4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh. Toews finished the 2008–09 season with 69 points in 82 games, helping the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance since 2002. He then added 13 points in 17 playoff games as the Blackhawks advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in five games.

      Less than a month into the 2009–10 season, Toews was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms after receiving an open-ice hit from defenceman Willie Mitchell in a 3–2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on October 21, 2009. Toews had his head down while receiving a pass in the neutral zone when Mitchell left the penalty box and checked him with his shoulder. Toews was sidelined for several games before returning to the line-up.

      In the final year of his contract, Toews, as well as teammates Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane, agreed to extensions in early December 2009. His deal was structured similarly to Kane's, worth about $6.5 million annually for five seasons. Toews finished the season with 68 points in 76 games.

      During the 2010 playoffs, Toews recorded his second career hat-trick, along with two assists, leading the Blackhawks in a 7–4 playoff victory against Vancouver on May 7, 2010. On June 9, 2010, Toews led Chicago to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship since 1961, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 of the Finals. He became the second-youngest captain in the history of the NHL to win the Cup, behind Sidney Crosby, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the championship the previous season. Toews scored seven goals and 29 points in the playoffs, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. By winning the Stanley Cup, he also became the youngest player, at 22 years of age, to become a member of the Triple Gold Club (Olympic gold, the Stanley Cup and World Championship).

      In the off-season, Toews was selected to be the cover player for EA Sports' video game NHL 11 on June 21, 2010. It marked the first time in EA Sports history that two players of the same team were featured on a video game cover two years in a row, as teammate Patrick Kane had been on the cover of NHL 10.
      Toews at the NHL Store in New York City in 2011.

      During the 2010–11 season, Toews recorded a career-high 76 points in 80 games. Due to salary cap constraints, the Blackhawks were forced to trade away many of their players from the previous season's championship-winning team, including Antti Niemi, Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg and Andrew Ladd. As a result, the Blackhawks narrowly made the 2011 playoffs, ending the regular season as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference. Down three games to none in the opening round against the Vancouver Canucks, the Blackhawks won three straight games to force a deciding Game 7. In the contest, Toews scored a short-handed game-tying goal with 1:26 remaining in regulation. The Canucks, however, went on to score five minutes into the ensuing overtime period to eliminate the Blackhawks.Toews had four points in the seven-game series.

      Toews was to play in the 2012 All-Star Game, but an injury sustained during a 5–2 loss to the Nashville Predators kept him from playing; he was replaced by Scott Hartnell. Toews finished the 2011–12 season with 57 points in an injury-shortened year. He returned to play at the start of the 2012 playoffs, where he scored the overtime winner in Game 5 to send the series back to Chicago for Game 6, where the opposition Phoenix Coyotes won 4–0 to eliminate the Blackhawks from the playoffs.

      In the lockout-shortened season of 2013, Toews returned to top form. He helped the Blackhawks win the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the best regular-season record. In the 2013 playoffs, Toews led the Blackhawks to a Finals over the Boston Bruins, Chicago's second title in three seasons. At the end of the year, he was also awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the League's top defensive forward and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.
      Toews with the Blackhawks during a preseason game, September 2013

      Toews scored the second natural hat-trick of his NHL career on October 29, 2013, against Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators. The 2013–14 season finished as another productive campaign for Toews. In 76 games, he scored 28 goals and 40 assists for 68 points. The Blackhawks' 2014 playoff run lasted to overtime of Game 7 of the Western Conference Final, and Toews put up 17 points (nine goals and eight assists) in 19 games. For the second year in a row, he finished as a finalist for the Selke Trophy, though he came third in voting behind the winner Patrice Bergeron and first runner-up Anže Kopitar.

      On July 9, 2014, the Blackhawks announced that Toews, along with teammate Patrick Kane, had signed an eight-year extension with the Blackhawks at an average annual salary of $10.5 million. The contract will come into effect on July 1, 2015, for the 2015–16 season.

      During Game 7 of the 2015 Western Conference Final, Toews scored the game's first two goals en route to a 5–3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. In the Finals, Toews led the Blackhawks to their third Stanley Cup championship in six seasons after the team's Game 6 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, 2–0. On June 24, Toews was named the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award, awarded to the individual "in recognition of his commitment and service to charities in his community," as well as exemplifying a superior leadership ability in hockey, beating-out fellow finalists Ryan Getzlaf and Andrew Ladd. Toews also won an ESPY Award for 'Best NHL Player' in 2015. Electronic Arts selected Toews to appear on the cover of NHL 16.

      Toews was selected to play in the 2016 All-Star Game, but missed the game on account of illness. He was suspended for one game per NHL rules for not attending the All-Star game.

      During the 2016–17 Chicago Blackhawks season, Toews suffered a back injury that forced him to miss nine games. He was voted into the 2017 National Hockey League All-Star Game.

      Toews' productivity declined during the 2017–18 season, where he posted a career-low 52 points He revealed he adopted a new training regiment and nutrition plan to help him better prepare for the upcoming season. A rejuvenated Toews tallied a career-high 81 points while appearing in all 82 games for Chicago during the 2018–19 season.

      Toews appeared in 70 games during the 2019–20 Chicago Blackhawks season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He recorded 18 goals and 42 assists during the campaign while eclipsing the 800-career point milestone. Toews also totaled a team-high nine points in nine games during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.

      Before the start of the 2020–21 season, the Blackhawks announced Toews would be out indefinitely while recovering from an undisclosed illness. He missed the entire season before announcing in June 2021 that he was diagnosed with chronic immune response syndrome and that he plans to return for the 2021–22 season. In September 2021, he said an antibody test revealed he had COVID-19 at some point.

      International play
      Medal record
      Representing  Canada
      Representing  Canada West

      In 2005, Toews captained Canada West at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge to a gold medal. He scored the game-winning goal in a 3–1 win over Canada Pacific in the championship game. He finished with 12 points, ranked first in tournament scoring, and was named tournament MVP.

      In his draft year, Toews competed on Canada's junior team at the 2006 World Junior Championships as the youngest player on the team. He tallied two assists during the tournament, both against Norway in preliminary play, as Canada ultimately defeated Russia in the gold medal game, 5–0.

      In 2007, Toews earned a second-straight World Junior gold medal. In the tournament semi-final against the United States, Toews scored three times in the shootout to advance to the final. With seven points, Toews led Canada in scoring and was named to the Tournament All-Star Team alongside teammate Carey Price. Shortly after his gold medal win, Toews was honoured by his hometown American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Manitoba Moose, on February 3, 2007, as he was presented with an honorary jersey for his tournament efforts.
      Toews guards the puck from Ryan Suter during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

      That same year, Toews also made his senior international debut at the 2007 World Championships and recorded seven points in nine games competing against mostly professional players after just his second year of college hockey (at the time of selection, Toews had not yet turned professional). Canada earned gold over Finland 4–2 in the championship game. After the victory, Toews became the first Canadian to win a World Junior championship and a World Championship in the same year. On June 29, 2007, Toews was awarded the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, an award given by the Province of Manitoba in honour of sporting achievements, for his play in the junior and senior world championships.

      After Toews' rookie year in the NHL, he competed in his second World Championships in 2008.

      On December 30, 2009, Toews was selected to play for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was named to the squad along with Blackhawks teammates Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. He ended the tournament with a team-leading eight points, while his seven assists tied with Pavol Demitra of Slovakia for the tournament lead. Toews' lone goal of the tournament opened the scoring in Canada's 3–2 overtime win in the gold medal game against the United States. As a result, he was awarded Best Forward and tournament all-star team honours. At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, he scored the first goal in the gold medal game against Sweden on the way to Canada's second-straight Olympic gold medal.

      Personal life

      Jonathan was born to Brian Toews, an electrician at the University of Manitoba, and Andrée Gilbert, a native of Sainte-Marie, Quebec, who was the managing director and finance expert for a credit union in the Winnipeg region before retiring to oversee Toews' media relations. He is bilingual, speaking fluent French and English.

      Like Toews, his brother David also attended Shattuck-Saint Mary's and began his freshman year at the University of North Dakota in 2008–09.His cousin Kai Toews is a professional basketball player.

      In January 2007, Toews and former North Dakota teammate T. J. Oshie received alcohol-related citations for being minors in a Grand Forks, North Dakota, tavern. Toews and Oshie pleaded guilty to the charges. The two were later placed on probation and ordered to perform community service.

      In the spring of 2010, a large mural of Toews visible from the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago received a degree of notoriety.The mural depicted Toews with an abnormally shaped nose and mouth, posed beside a picture of the Stanley Cup (appropriately, Toews would end up holding the Cup after winning it later that year) Toews commented on the mural, stating: "I guess it's from a picture and they must have embellished it a little bit. They're not helping me by any means."

      Following the celebration of Toews bringing the Stanley Cup to his hometown of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba announced that it would be naming a northern lake after Toews in honour of his success.The lake is located 150 km (93 mi) north of Flin Flon and is named Toews Lake. The same day, the Dakota Community Centre in St. Vital where Toews first played organized hockey was renamed the Jonathan Toews Community Centre. Additionally, he was given the Keys to the City to honour his achievement and strong work ethic.

      Awards, honours and championships
      Toews holds onto the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to him after the Stanley Cup Finals; as his teammate, Patrick Kane, hoists the Stanley Cup during the 2010 Stanley Cup victory parade
      Toews hoists the Stanley Cup during the 2013 Stanley Cup victory parade
      Toews hoists the Stanley Cup during the 2015 Stanley Cup victory rally
      AwardYear

      Championships

      WCHA Rookie of the Week — twice in 2005–2006
      NCAA West Regional MVP — 2006
      World Junior All-Star Team — 2007
      Nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy — 2008
      5× NHL All-Star (2009, 2011, 2012,* 2015, 2016*, 2017)
      * – Did not attend due to injury/illness.
      All-Star selection of the 2010 Olympic Hockey Tournament
      2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner
      Second-youngest to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (22 years, 41 days; only Patrick Roy was younger); youngest captain to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.
      Youngest person to gain entry into the Triple Gold Club (22 years, 41 days at time last component was achieved)
      Named full captain of an NHL team after only 64 NHL games; fifth-youngest full captain (Connor McDavid, Gabriel Landeskog, Sidney Crosby and Vincent Lecavalier being the others) in NHL history.
      One of only eight players to win Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same year.
      2013 Frank J. Selke Trophy winner
      2016 World Cup of Hockey gold medal

      Named on 100 Greatest NHL Players list for NHL's Centennial Anniversary
      NHL 11 cover athlete
      NHL 16 cover athlete
      Jack Johnson
      - First Black Heavyweight Boxing Champ
      Jack Johnson
      Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

      Known as the "Galveston Giant," Jack Johnson lived his life fearlessly as one of the most famous and scandalous Black athletes in America.

      With the Jim Crow era in full force, Johnson's 1910 match-up with undefeated white opponent James J. Jeffries was coined the "fight of the century." After Johnson knocked Jeffries out in the 15th round, race riots exploded all over the country.

      Although he lived in dangerous times, Johnson didn't flinch when taking advantage of his celebrity. When he wasn't knocking out his opponents, he was busy expanding his businesses and banking on endorsement deals. He also had a penchant for white women, which eventually landed him in legal trouble (caused by racist laws). After he fled the country for seven years, he returned in 1920 and served jail time in federal prison.

      In 2018, President Donald Trump posthumously pardoned him.
      Jack Johnson (boxer)
      (Wikipedia)

      Jack Johnson
      Johnson in 1915
      Statistics
      Nickname(s) Galveston Giant
      Weight(s) Heavyweight
      Height 6 ft 1⁄2 in (184.2 cm)
      Reach 74 in (188 cm)
      Born March 31, 1878
      Died June 10, 1946 (aged 68)
      Stance Orthodox
      Boxing record
      Total fights 95
      Wins 72
      Wins by KO 38
      Losses 11
      Draws 11
      No contests 3

      John Arthur Johnson (March 31, 1878 – June 10, 1946), nicknamed the "Galveston Giant", was an American boxer who, at the height of the Jim Crow era, became the first Black American world heavyweight boxing champion (1908–1915). Widely regarded as one of the most influential boxers of all time, his 1910 fight against James J. Jeffries was dubbed the "fight of the century". According to filmmaker Ken Burns, "for more than thirteen years, Jack Johnson was the most famous and the most notorious African-American on Earth". Transcending boxing, he became part of the culture and history of racism in the United States.

      In 1912, Johnson opened a successful and luxurious "black and tan" (desegregated) restaurant and nightclub, which in part was run by his wife, a white woman. Major newspapers of the time soon claimed that Johnson was attacked by the government only after he became famous as a black man married to a white woman, and was linked to other white women. Johnson was arrested on charges of violating the Mann Act—forbidding one to transport a woman across state lines for "immoral purposes"—a racially motivated charge that embroiled him in controversy for his relationships, including marriages, with white women. Sentenced to a year in prison, Johnson fled the country and fought boxing matches abroad for seven years until 1920 when he served his sentence at the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth.

      Johnson continued taking paying fights for many years, and operated several other businesses, including lucrative endorsement deals. He died in a car crash on June 10, 1946, at the age of 68. He is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago. On May 24, 2018, Johnson was formally pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump.

      Early life

      Johnson was the third child of nine born to Henry and Tina Johnson, former slaves who worked service jobs as a janitor and a dishwasher. His father had served as a civilian teamster of the Union's 38th Colored Infantry. He was described by his son as the "most perfect physical specimen that he had ever seen", although Henry had been left with an atrophied right leg from his service in the war.

      Growing up in Galveston, Texas, Johnson attended five years of school. As a young man, Johnson was frail though, like all of his siblings, he was expected to work.

      Although Johnson grew up in the South, he said that segregation was not an issue in the somewhat secluded city of Galveston, as everyone living in the 12th Ward was poor and went through the same struggles.Johnson remembers growing up with a "gang" of white boys, in which he never felt victimized or excluded. Remembering his childhood, Johnson said: "As I grew up, the white boys were my friends and my pals. I ate with them, played with them and slept at their homes. Their mothers gave me cookies, and I ate at their tables. No one ever taught me that white men were superior to me."

      After Johnson quit school, he began a job working at the local docks. He made several other attempts at working other jobs around town until one day he made his way to Dallas, finding work at the race track exercising horses. Jack stuck with this job until he found a new apprenticeship with a carriage painter by the name of Walter Lewis. Lewis enjoyed watching friends spar, and Johnson began to learn how to box. Johnson later declared that it was thanks to Lewis that he became a boxer.

      At 16, Johnson moved to New York City and found living arrangements with Barbados Joe Walcott, a welterweight fighter from the West Indies. Johnson again found work exercising horses for the local stable, until he was fired for exhausting a horse. On his return to Galveston, he was hired as a janitor at a gym owned by German-born heavyweight fighter Herman Bernau. Johnson eventually put away enough money to buy boxing gloves, sparring every chance he got.

      At one point, Johnson was arrested for brawling with a man named Davie Pearson, a "grown and toughened" man who accused Johnson of turning him in to the police over a game of craps. When both of them were released from jail, they met at the docks, and Johnson beat Pearson before a large crowd. Johnson then fought in a summer boxing league against a man named John "Must Have It" Lee. Because prize fighting was illegal in Texas, the fight was broken up and moved to the beach, where Johnson won his first fight and a prize of one dollar and fifty cents.

      Boxing career

      Johnson made his debut as a professional boxer on November 1, 1898, in Galveston, when he knocked out Charley Brooks in the second round of a 15-round bout for what was billed as "The Texas State Middleweight Title". In his third pro fight on May 8, 1899, he faced "Klondike" (John W. Haynes, or Haines), an African American heavyweight known as "The Black Hercules", in Chicago. Klondike (so called as he was considered a rarity, like the gold in the Klondike), who had declared himself the "Black Heavyweight Champ", won on a technical knockout (TKO) in the fifth round of a scheduled six-rounder. The two fighters met twice again in 1900, with the first rematch resulting in a draw, as both fighters were on their feet at the end of 20 rounds. Johnson won the third fight by a TKO when Klondike refused to come out for the 14th round. Johnson did not claim Klondike's unrecognized title.

      Joe Choynski
      Johnson standing behind Choynski in Chicago in 1909

      On February 25, 1901, Johnson fought Joe Choynski in Galveston. Choynski, a popular and experienced heavyweight, knocked out Johnson in the third round. Prizefighting was illegal in Texas at the time and they were both arrested. Bail was set at $5,000, which neither could afford. The sheriff permitted both fighters to go home at night so long as they agreed to spar in the jail cell. Large crowds gathered to watch the sessions. After 23 days in jail, their bail was reduced to an affordable level and a grand jury refused to indict either man. Johnson later stated that he learned his boxing skills during that jail time. The two would remain friends.

      Johnson attested that his success in boxing came from the coaching he received from Choynski. The aging Choynski saw natural talent and determination in Johnson and taught him the nuances of defense, stating: "A man who can move like you should never have to take a punch".

      Top contender

      Johnson beat former black heavyweight champion Frank Childs on October 21, 1902. Childs had twice won the black heavyweight title and continued to claim that he was the true black champion despite having lost his title in a bout with George Byers and then, after retaking the title from Byers, losing it again to Denver Ed Martin. He also claimed the unrecognized black heavyweight title as well.[citation needed] Johnson won by a TKO in the 12th round of the scheduled 20-rounder, when Childs's seconds signaled he could not go on, claiming a dislocated elbow. The defeat by Johnson forever ended Childs's pretensions to the black heavyweight crown.

      World colored heavyweight champ

      Jack Johnson, Sydney, c. 1908
      Johnson in 1908 (photograph by Otto Sarony)

      By 1903, though Johnson's official record showed him with nine wins against three losses, five draws and two no contests, he had won at least 50 fights against both white and black opponents. Johnson won his first title on February 3, 1903, beating Denver Ed Martin on points in a 20-round match for the World Colored Heavyweight Championship. Johnson held the title until it was vacated when he won the world heavyweight title from Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia on Boxing Day 1908. His reign of 2,151 days was the third longest in the 60-year-long history of the colored heavyweight title. Only Harry Wills at 3,103 days and Peter Jackson at 3,041 days held the title longer. A three-time colored heavyweight champion, Wills held the title for a total of 3,351 days.

      Johnson defended the colored heavyweight title 17 times, which was second only to the 26 times Wills defended the title. While colored champ, he defeated colored ex-champs Denver Ed Martin and Frank Childs again and beat future colored heavyweight champs Sam McVey three times and Sam Langford once. He beat Langford on points in a 15-rounder and never gave him another shot at the title, when he was either colored champ or the world heavyweight champ.

      Johnson, Jeanette and Langford

      Johnson fought Joe Jeanette a total of seven times, all during his reign as colored champion before he became the world's heavyweight champion, winning four times and drawing twice (three of the victories and one draw were newspaper decisions). In their first match in 1905, they had fought to a draw, but in their second match on November 25, 1905, Johnson lost as he was disqualified in the second round of a scheduled six-round fight. Johnson continued to claim the title because of the disqualification.

      After Johnson became the first African-American Heavyweight Champion of the World on December 26, 1908, his World Colored Heavyweight Championship was vacated. Jeanette fought Sam McVey for the title in Paris on February 20, 1909, and was beaten, but he later took the title from McVey in a 49-round bout on April 17 of that year in Paris for a $6,000 purse. Sam Langford subsequently claimed the title during Jeanette's reign after Johnson refused to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against him. Eighteen months later, Jeanette lost the title to Langford.

      During his reign as world champion, Johnson never again fought Jeanette, despite numerous challenges, and avoided Langford, who won the colored title a record five times. In 1906 Jack Johnson fought Sam Langford. Langford took severe punishment and was knocked down 3 times; however, he lasted the 15-round distance.

      On November 27, 1945, Johnson finally stepped back into the ring with Joe Jeanette. The 67-year-old Johnson squared off against the 66-year-old Jeanette in an exhibition held at a New York City rally to sell war bonds. Fellow former colored heavyweight champ Harry Wills also participated in the exhibition.

      World heavyweight champion

      Johnson's efforts to win the world heavyweight title were initially thwarted, as at the time world heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries refused to face him, and retired instead. However, Johnson did fight former champion Bob Fitzsimmons in July 1907, and knocked him out in two rounds

      Johnson finally won the world heavyweight title on December 26, 1908, a full six years after lightweight champion Joe Gans became the first African American boxing champion. Johnson's victory over the reigning world champion, Canadian Tommy Burns, at the Sydney Stadium in Australia, came after following Burns around the world for two years and taunting him in the press for a match. Burns agreed to fight Johnson only after promoters guaranteed him $30,000. The fight lasted fourteen rounds before being stopped by the police in front of over 20,000 spectators, and Johnson was named the winner.
      Johnson arriving in Vancouver on March 9, 1909 as the World Heavyweight Champion

      After Johnson's victory over Burns, racial animosity among whites ran so deep that some called for a "Great White Hope" to take the title away from Johnson. While Johnson was heavyweight champion, he was covered more in the press than all other notable black men combined. The lead-up to the bout was peppered with racist press against Johnson. Even the New York Times wrote of the event, "If the black man wins, thousands and thousands of his ignorant brothers will misinterpret his victory as justifying claims to much more than mere physical equality with their white neighbors." As title holder, Johnson thus had to face a series of fighters each billed by boxing promoters as a "great white hope", often in exhibition matches. In 1909, he beat Tony Ross, Al Kaufman, and the middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel.

      The match with Ketchel was originally thought to have been an exhibition, and in fact it was fought by both men that way, until the 12th round, when Ketchel threw a right to Johnson's head, knocking him down. Quickly regaining his feet, and very annoyed, Johnson immediately dashed straight at Ketchell and threw a single punch, an uppercut, a punch for which he was famous, to Ketchel's jaw, knocking him out. The punch knocked out Ketchell's front teeth; Johnson can be seen on film removing them from his glove, where they had been embedded.

      "Fight of the Century"

      In 1910, former undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries came out of retirement to challenge Johnson, saying "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro".[32] He had not fought in six years and he also had to lose well over 100 pounds in order to get back to his championship fighting weight. Efforts to persuade Jeffries to "retrieve the honor of the white race" began immediately after the Burns-Johnson fight. Initially Jeffries had no interest in the fight, being quite happy as an alfalfa farmer. On October 29, 1909, Johnson and Jeffries signed an agreement to "box for the heavyweight championship of the world" and called promoters to bid for the right to orchestrate the event.

      In early December 1909, Johnson and Jeffries selected a bid from the nation's top boxing promoters—Tex Rickard and John Gleason. The bid guaranteed a purse of $101,000 to be divided 75% to the winner and 25% to the loser, as well as two-thirds of the revenues collected from the sales of the right to film the fight (each boxer received one third of the equity rights).Although it was well understood that a victory for Jeffries was likely to be more profitable than a victory for Johnson, there were no doubts that the event would produce record profits.. Legal historian Barak Orbach argues that in "an industry that promoted events through the dramatization of rivalries, a championship contest between an iconic representative of the white race and the most notorious [black fighter] was a gold mine."
      James J. Jeffries fights Johnson in 1910

      Jeffries mostly remained hidden from media attention until the day of the fight, while Johnson soaked up the spotlight. John L. Sullivan, who made boxing championships a popular and esteemed spectacle, stated that Johnson was in such good physical shape compared to Jeffries that he would only lose if he had a lack of skill on the day of the fight. Before the fight, Jeffries remarked, "It is my intention to go right after my opponent and knock him out as soon as possible." While his wife added, "I'm not interested in prizefighting but I am interested in my husband's welfare, I do hope this will be his last fight." Johnson's words were "May the best man win."

      Racial tension was brewing in the lead up to the fight and in order to prevent any harm from coming to either boxer, guns were prohibited within the arena along with the sale of alcohol and anyone who was under the effects of alcohol. Apples were also banned as well as any weapon whatsoever. Behind the racial attitudes which were being instigated by the media was a major investment in gambling for the fight, with 10–7 odds in favor of Jeffries.

      The fight took place on July 4, 1910, in front of 20,000 people, at a ring which was built just for the occasion in downtown Reno, Nevada. Jeffries proved unable to impose his will on the younger champion and Johnson dominated the fight. By the 15th round, after Jeffries had been knocked down twice for the first time in his career, Jeffries' corner threw in the towel to end the fight and prevent Jeffries from having a knockout on his record.

      Johnson later remarked he knew the fight was over in the 4th round when he landed an uppercut and saw the look on Jeffries face, stating, "I knew what that look meant. The old ship was sinking." Afterwards, Jeffries was humbled by the loss and what he'd seen of Johnson in their match. "I could never have whipped Johnson at my best", Jeffries said. "I couldn't have hit him. No, I couldn't have reached him in 1,000 years."

      The "Fight of the Century" earned Johnson $65,000 (over $1.8 million in 2020 dollars) and silenced the critics, who had belittled Johnson's previous victory over Tommy Burns as "empty", claiming that Burns was a false champion since Jeffries had retired undefeated. John L. Sullivan commented after the fight that Johnson won deservedly, fairly, and convincingly:

      The fight of the century is over and a black man is the undisputed champion of the world. It was a poor fight as fights go, this less than 15-round affair between James J. Jeffries and Jack Johnson. Scarcely has there ever been a championship contest that was so one-sided. All of Jeffries much-vaunted condition amounted to nothing. He wasn't in it from the first bell tap to the last ... The negro had few friends, but there was little demonstration against him. (Spectators) could not help but admire Johnson because he is the type of prizefighter that is admired by sportsmen. He played fairly at all times and fought fairly. ... What a crafty, powerful, cunning left hand (Johnson) has. He is one of the craftiest, cunningest boxers that ever stepped into the ring. ... They both fought closely all during the 15 rounds. It was just the sort of fight that Jeffries wanted. There was no running or ducking like Corbett did with me in New Orleans (1892). Jeffries did not miss so many blows, because he hardly started any. Johnson was on top of him all the time.... (Johnson) didn't get gay at all with Jeffries in the beginning, and it was always the white man who clinched, but Johnson was very careful, and he backed away and took no chances, and was good-natured with it all ... The best man won, and I was one of the first to congratulate him, and also one of the first to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the beaten man.

      Riots and aftermath

      The LA Times noted the explosive nature of Johnson's victory by featuring this cartoon in which a stick of dynamite suggests that it would not have caused as much violence as the fight did.

      The outcome of the fight triggered race riots that evening—the Fourth of July—all across the United States, from Texas and Colorado to New York and Washington, D.C. Johnson's victory over Jeffries had dashed white dreams of finding a "great white hope" to defeat him. Many whites felt humiliated by the defeat of Jeffries.

      Blacks, on the other hand, were jubilant, and celebrated Johnson's great victory as a victory for racial advancement. Black poet William Waring Cuney later highlighted the black reaction to the fight in his poem "My Lord, What a Morning". Around the country, blacks held spontaneous parades and gathered in prayer meetings.

      Race riots erupted in New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta, St. Louis, Little Rock and Houston. In all, riots occurred in more than 25 states and 50 cities. At least twenty people were killed across the US from the riots,[40] and hundreds more were injured.

      Film of the bout

      The Johnson–Jeffries Fight film received more public attention in the United States than any other film to date and for the next five years, until the release of The Birth of a Nation. In the United States, many states and cities banned the exhibition of the Johnson–Jeffries film. The movement to censor Johnson's victory took over the country within three days after the fight.

      Two weeks after the match former President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid boxer and fan, wrote an article for The Outlook in which he supported banning not just moving pictures of boxing matches, but a complete ban on all prize fights in the US. He cited the "crookedness" and gambling that surrounded such contests and that moving pictures have "introduced a new method of money getting and of demoralization". The controversy surrounding the film directl motivated Congress to ban distribution of all prizefight films across state lines in 1912; the ban was lifted in 1940.

      In 2005, the film of the Jeffries–Johnson "Fight of the Century" was entered into the United States National Film Registry as being worthy of preservation.

      The six fights for which the major films were made, starring Johnson, were:
      Johnson–Burns, released in 1908
      Johnson–Ketchel, released in 1909
      Johnson–Jeffries, released in 1910
      Johnson–Flynn, released in 1912
      Johnson–Moran, released in 1914
      Johnson–Willard, released in 1915
      Maintaining the color bar

      The color bar remained in force even under Johnson. Once he was the world's heavyweight champ, Johnson did not fight a black opponent for the first five years of his reign. He denied matches to black heavyweights Joe Jeanette (one of his successors as colored heavyweight champ), Sam Langford (who beat Jeanette for the colored title), and the young Harry Wills, who was colored heavyweight champ during the last year of Johnson's reign as world's heavyweight champ.

      Blacks were not given a chance at the title allegedly because Johnson felt that he could make more money fighting white boxers. In August 1913, as Johnson neared the end of his troubled reign as world heavyweight champ, there were rumors that he had agreed to fight Langford in Paris for the title, but it came to naught. Johnson said that Langford was unable to raise $30,000 for his guarantee.

      Because black boxers with the exception of Johnson had been barred from fighting for the heavyweight championship because of racism, Johnson's refusal to fight African-Americans offended the African-American community, since the opportunity to fight top white boxers was rare. Jeanette criticized Johnson, saying, "Jack forgot about his old friends after he became champion and drew the color line against his own people."

      Johnson v. Johnson

      When Johnson finally agreed to take on a black opponent in late 1913, it was not Sam Langford, the current colored heavyweight champ, that he gave the title shot to. Instead, Johnson chose to take on Battling Jim Johnson, a lesser-known boxer who, in 1910, had lost to Langford and had a draw and loss via KO to Sam McVey, the former colored champ. Battling Jim fought former colored champ Joe Jeanette four times between July 19, 1912 and January 21, 1913 and lost all four fights. The only fighter of note who he did beat during that period was the future colored champ Big Bill Tate, whom he KO-ed in the second round of a scheduled 10-round bout. It was Tate's third pro fight.

      In November 1913, the International Boxing Union had declared the world heavyweight title held by Jack Johnson to be vacant. The fight, scheduled for 10 rounds, was held on December 19, 1913 in Paris. It was the first time in history that two blacks had fought for the world heavyweight championship.

      While the Johnson v. Johnson fight had been billed as a world heavyweight title match, in many ways, it resembled an exhibition. A sportswriter from the Indianapolis Star at the fight reported that the crowd became unruly when it was apparent that neither boxer was putting up a fight.


      Jack Johnson, the heavyweight champion, and Battling Jim Johnson, another colored pugilist, of Galveston, Texas, met in a 10-round contest here tonight, which ended in a draw. The spectators loudly protested throughout that the men were not fighting, and demanded their money back. Many of them left the hall. The organizers of the fight explained the fiasco by asserting that Jack Johnson's left arm was broken in the third round. There is no confirmation of a report that Jack Johnson had been stabbed and no evidence at the ringside of such an accident. During the first three rounds he was obviously playing with his opponent. After that it was observed that he was only using his right hand. When the fight was over he complained that his arm had been injured. Doctors who made an examination, certified to a slight fracture of the radius of the left arm. The general opinion is that his arm was injured in a wrestling match early in the week, and that a blow tonight caused the fracture of the bone.

      Because of the draw, Jack Johnson kept his championship. After the fight, he explained that his left arm was injured in the third round and he could not use it.

      Title loss
      A panorama of the Willard - Johnson fight, Havana, Cuba

      On April 5, 1915, Johnson lost his title to Jess Willard, a working cowboy from Kansas who started boxing when he was twenty-seven years old. With a crowd of 25,000 at Oriental Park Racetrack in Havana, Cuba, Johnson was knocked out in the 26th round of the scheduled 45 round fight. Johnson, although having won almost every round, began to tire after the 20th round, and was visibly hurt by heavy body punches from Willard in rounds preceding the 26th-round knockout.

      Johnson is said by many a year after the fight to have spread rumors that he took a dive. but Willard is widely regarded as having won the fight outright. Many people thought Johnson purposely threw the fight because Willard was white, in an effort to have his Mann Act charges dropped. Willard ironically responded, "If he was going to throw the fight, I wish he'd done it sooner. It was hotter than hell out there."

      Post-championship

      After losing his world heavyweight championship, Johnson never again fought for the colored heavyweight crown.[clarification needed] His popularity remained strong enough that he recorded for Ajax Records in the 1920s. Johnson continued fighting, but age was catching up with him. He fought professionally until 1938 at age 60 when he lost 7 of his last 9 bouts, losing his final fight to Walter Price by a 7th-round TKO. It is often suggested that any bouts after the age of 40—which was a very venerable age for boxing in those days—not be counted on his actual record, since he was performing in order to make a living.

      He also indulged in what was known as "cellar" fighting, where the bouts, unadvertised, were fought for private audiences, usually in cellars, or other unrecognized places. There are photographs existing of one of these fights. Johnson made his final ring appearance at age 67 on November 27, 1945, fighting three one-minute exhibition rounds against two opponents, Joe Jeanette and John Ballcort, in a benefit fight card for U.S. War Bonds.

      Boxing style

      Throughout his career Johnson built a unique fighting style of his own, which was not customary in boxing during this time. Though he would typically strike first, he would fight defensively, waiting for his opponents to tire out, although becoming more aggressive as the rounds went on. He often fought to punish his opponents through the rounds rather than knocking them out, and would continuously dodge their punches. He would then quickly strike back with a blow of his own. Johnson often made his fights look effortless, and as if he had much more to offer, but when pushed he could also display some powerful moves and punches. There are films of his fights in which he can be seen holding up his opponent, who otherwise might have fallen, until he recovered.

      Personal life
      Jack Johnson, c. 1910–1915

      Johnson earned considerable sums endorsing various products, including patent medicines, and had several expensive hobbies such as automobile racing and tailored clothing, as well as purchasing jewelry and furs for his wives. He challenged champion racer Barney Oldfield to a match auto race at the Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn dirt track. Oldfield easily out-distanced Johnson. Once, when he was pulled over for a $50 speeding ticket, he gave the officer a $100 bill; when the officer protested that he couldn't make change for that much, Johnson told him to keep the change as he was going to make his return trip at the same speed. In 1920, Johnson opened the Club Deluxe, a Black and Tan night club in Harlem; he sold it three years later to a gangster, Owney Madden, who renamed it the Cotton Club.

      Johnson's behavior was looked down upon by the African-American community, especially by the black scholar Booker T. Washington who said it "is unfortunate that a man with money should use it in a way to injure his own people, in the eyes of those who are seeking to uplift his race and improve its conditions, I wish to say emphatically that Jack Johnson's actions did not meet my personal approval and I am sure they do not meet with the approval of the colored race."

      Johnson flouted conventions regarding the social and economic "place" of blacks in American society. As a black man, he broke a powerful taboo in consorting with white women and would verbally taunt men (both white and black) inside and outside the ring. Asked the secret of his staying power by a reporter who had watched a succession of women parade into, and out of, the champion's hotel room, Johnson supposedly said "Eat jellied eels and think distant thoughts".

      In 1911 Johnson, through an acquaintance, attempted to become a Freemason in Dundee. Although he was admitted as a member of the Forfar and Kincardine Lodge No 225 in the city, there was considerable opposition to his membership, principally on the grounds of his race, and the Forfarshire Lodge was suspended by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Johnson's fees were returned to him and his admission was ruled illegal.

      In July 1912, Johnson opened an interracial nightclub in Chicago called Café de Champion.
      Johnson wrote two memoirs of his life: Mes combats in 1914 and Jack Johnson in the Ring and Out in 1927.

      In 1943, Johnson attended at least one service at the Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, California. In a public conversion, while Detroit, Michigan, burned in race riots, he professed his faith to Christ in a service conducted by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. She embraced him as "he raised his hand in worship".

      Marriages
      Johnson with his wife Etta, who killed herself in 1912

      Johnson engaged in various relationships including three documented marriages. All of his documented wives were white. At the height of his career, Johnson was excoriated by the press for his flashy lifestyle and for having married white women.

      According to Johnson's 1927 autobiography, he married Mary Austin, a black woman from Galveston, Texas. No record exists of this marriage.

      While in Philadelphia in 1903, Johnson met Clara Kerr, a black prostitute. According to Johnson's autobiography, Kerr left him for Johnson's friend, a racehorse trainer named William Bryant. They took Johnson's jewelry and clothing when they left. Johnson tracked the couple down and had Kerr arrested on burglary charges. Johnson and Kerr reconciled for a while before she left him again.

      During a three-month tour of Australia in 1907, Johnson had a brief affair with Alma "Lola" Toy, a white woman from Sydney. Johnson confirmed to an American journalist that he intended to marry Toy. When The Referee printed Johnson's plans to marry Toy, it caused controversy in Sydney. Toy demanded a retraction and later won a libel lawsuit from the newspaper.

      After returning from Australia, Johnson said that "the heartaches which Mary Austin and Clara Kerr caused me led me to forswear colored women and to determine that my lot henceforth would be cast only with white women."

      Johnson met Etta Terry Duryea, a Brooklyn socialite and former wife of Clarence Duryea, at a car race in 1909. In 1910, Johnson hired a private investigator to follow Duryea after suspecting she was having an affair with his chauffeur. On Christmas Day, Johnson confronted Duryea and beat her to the point of hospitalization. They reconciled and were married on January 18, 1911. Prone to depression, her condition worsened due to Johnson's abuse and infidelity in addition to the hostile reaction to their interracial relationship. Duryea attempted suicide twice before she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on September 11, 1912.

      In the summer of 1912 Johnson met Lucille Cameron, an 18-year-old prostitute from Minneapolis who relocated to Chicago, at his nightclub Café de Champion. Johnson hired her as his stenographer, but shortly after Duryea's funeral they were out in public as a couple. They married on December 3, 1912, 3:00 in the afternoon. Cameron filed for divorce in 1924 due to his infidelity.

      Johnson met Irene Pineau at the race track in Aurora, Illinois in 1924. After she divorced her husband the following year, they were married in Waukegan in August 1925. Johnson and Pineau were together until his death in 1946. When asked by a reporter at Johnson's funeral what she had loved about him, she replied: "I loved him because of his courage. He faced the world unafraid. There wasn't anybody or anything he feared."

      Prison sentence
      Johnson with his wife Lucille in 1921. Their relationship led to Johnson's first 1912 arrest.

      On October 18, 1912, Johnson was arrested on the grounds that his relationship with Lucille Cameron violated the Mann Act against "transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes" due to her being an alleged prostitute. Her mother also swore that her daughter was insane. Cameron, soon to become his second wife, refused to cooperate and the case fell apart. Less than a month later, Johnson was arrested again on similar charges.

      This time, the woman, another alleged prostitute named Belle Schreiber, with whom he had been involved in 1909 and 1910, testified against him. In the courtroom of Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the future Commissioner of Baseball who perpetuated the baseball color line until his death, Johnson was convicted by an all-white jury in June 1913, despite the fact that the incidents used to convict him took place before passage of the Mann Act. He was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

      Johnson skipped bail and left the country, joining Lucille in Montreal on June 25, before fleeing to France. To flee to Canada, Johnson posed as a member of a black baseball team. For the next seven years, they lived in exile in Europe, South America and Mexico. Johnson returned to the U.S. on July 20, 1920. He surrendered to federal agents at the Mexican border and was sent to the United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth to serve his sentence in September 1920. He was released on July 9, 1921.

      Presidential pardon

      There were recurring proposals to grant Johnson a posthumous presidential pardon before one was granted in 2018. A bill which requested that President George W. Bush pardon Johnson passed the House in 2008, but failed to pass in the Senate. In April 2009, Senator John McCain, along with Representative Peter King, film maker Ken Burns and Johnson's great-niece, Linda Haywood, requested a presidential pardon for Johnson from President Barack Obama. In July of that year, Congress passed a resolution calling on President Obama to issue a pardon.

      In 2016, another petition for Johnson's pardon was issued by McCain, King, Senator Harry Reid and Congressman Gregory Meeks to President Obama, marking the 70th anniversary since the boxer's death. This time citing a provision of the Every Student Succeeds Act, signed by the president in December 2015, in which Congress expressed that this boxing great should receive a posthumous pardon, and a vote by the United States Commission on Civil Rights passed unanimously a week earlier in June 2016 to "right this century-old wrong."

      Mike Tyson, Harry Reid and John McCain lent their support to the campaign, starting a Change.org petition asking President Obama to posthumously pardon the world's first African-American boxing champion for his racially motivated 1913 felony conviction.

      After various attempts by the former WBC president, Jose Sulaiman, who reached out to presidential administrations dating back to Ronald Reagan's, in April 2018, President Donald Trump announced that he was considering granting a full pardon to Johnson after speaking with a World Boxing Council committee, along with actor Sylvester Stallone. Trump pardoned Johnson on May 24, 2018, 105 years after his conviction during a ceremony which included special guests Mauricio Sulaiman (WBC President), Hector Sulaiman (President of the Board of Advisors of Scholas Occurrentes), Sylvester Stallone (actor), Deontay Wilder (then current WBC Champion) and Lennox Lewis (WBC Former Champion).

      Monkey wrench

      A persistent hoax on social media claims that Johnson invented the monkey wrench and it was named a monkey wrench as a racial slur. Johnson received a patent for improvements which he made in the monkey wrench, but the first patent for a monkey wrench was awarded in the 1840s, around 30 years before he was born.

      Death
      Graves of boxer Jack Johnson and Etta

      On June 10, 1946, Johnson was involved in a car crash on U.S. Highway 1 near Franklinton, North Carolina (36°5′41.96″N 78°27′40.81″W) after driving angrily away from a segregated diner which had refused to serve him His friend survived the high-speed collision with a telegraph pole but an injured Johnson was taken to the nearest black hospital, Saint Agnes Hospital, 25 miles away in Raleigh where he died. He was 68 years old.

      Johnson was buried next to his first wife, Etta Duryea Johnson who died of suicide in 1912, at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago. His grave was initially unmarked, but later it was marked with a large stone which only bore the name "Johnson." This marker was replaced with a new marker after Ken Burns released a film about Johnson's life in 2005. Johnson's (new, smaller) gravestone reads [top] "Jack / John A. Johnson / 1878-1946" [front] "First black heavyweight / champion of the world". Johnson's signature is on the back of the stone.

      Legacy
      Jack Johnson Park -- Galveston
      Jack Johnson Bronze Statue in Jack Johnson Park -- Galveston

      Johnson was an inaugural 1954 inductee to The Ring magazine's Boxing Hall of Fame (disbanded in 1987), and was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2005, the United States National Film Preservation Board deemed the film of the 1910 Johnson-Jeffries fight "historically significant" and put it in the National Film Registry.

      During his boxing career, Jack Johnson fought 114 fights, winning 80 matches, 45 by knockouts. BoxRec ranked him among the world's 10 best heavyweights 12 times, and placed him at No.1 from 1905 to 1909.

      In the short term, the boxing world reacted against Johnson's legacy. But Johnson foreshadowed one of the most famous boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali. In fact, Ali often spoke of how he was influenced by Jack Johnson. Ali identified with Johnson because he felt America ostracized him in the same manner because of his opposition to the Vietnam War and affiliation with the Nation of Islam.

      In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Jack Johnson on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans.

      In 2012, the City of Galveston dedicated a park in Johnson's memory as Galveston Island's most famous native son. The park, called Jack Johnson Park, includes a life-size, bronze statue of Johnson.

      Popular culture

      The first filmed fight of Johnson's career was his bout with Tommy Burns, which was turned into a contemporary documentary The Burns-Johnson Fight in 1908.

      Folksinger and blues singer Lead Belly referenced Johnson in a song about the Titanic: "Jack Johnson wanna get on board, Captain said I ain't hauling no coal. Fare thee, Titanic, fare thee well. When Jack Johnson heard that mighty shock, mighta seen the man do the Eagle rock. Fare thee, Titanic, fare thee well" (The Eagle Rock was a popular dance at the time). In 1969, American folk singer Jaime Brockett reworked the Lead Belly song into a satirical talking blues called "The Legend of the S.S. Titanic." There is no convincing evidence that Johnson was in fact refused passage on the Titanic because of his race, as these songs allege.

      Johnson's story is the basis of the play The Great White Hope and its 1970 film adaptation, starring James Earl Jones as "Jack Jefferson", and Jane Alexander as his love interest. Both Jones and Alexander won Tonys and were nominated for Oscars.

      Also in 1970, Jimmy Jacobs and Bill Cayton brought together much of the rare archive footage of Johnson which they had saved and restored, and made the film Jack Johnson, with Johnson's words voiced by Brock Peters, and music by Miles Davis. Davis' score later became the 1971 album named after the boxer. It features the actor Peters (as Johnson) saying:

      I'm Jack Johnson. Heavyweight champion of the world.
      I'm black. They never let me forget it.
      I'm black all right! I'll never let them forget it!

      In 2005, filmmaker Ken Burns produced a two-part documentary about Johnson's life, Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, based on the 2004 nonfiction book of the same name by Geoffrey C. Ward, and with music by Wynton Marsalis. The book won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year (2006).

      Jack Johnson's life was the subject of a three-part series of the podcast History on Fire by historian Daniele Bolelli.

      Several hip-hop activists have also reflected on Johnson's legacy, most notably in the album The New Danger, by Mos Def, in which songs like "Zimzallabim" and "Blue Black Jack" are devoted to the artist's pugilistic hero. Additionally, both Southern punk rock band This Bike is a Pipe Bomb and alternative country performer Tom Russell have songs dedicated to Johnson. Russell's piece is both a tribute and a biting indictment of the racism Johnson faced: "here comes Jack Johnson, like he owns the town, there's a lot of white Americans like to see a man go down ... like to see a black man drown." In Run the Jewels' 4th album (RTJ4) Killer Mike (Michael Render) reinvokes his image: "I'm Jack Johnson, I beat a slave-catcher snaggletooth." Tiger Flowers appears in the next line.

      In the trenches of World War One, Johnson's name was used by British troops to describe the impact of German 150 mm heavy artillery shells which had a black color. In his letters home to his wife, Rupert Edward Inglis (1863–1916), a former rugby international who was a Forces Chaplain, describes passing through the town of Albert:

      We went through the place today (2 October 1915) where the Virgin Statue at the top of the Church was hit by a shell in January. The statue was knocked over, but has never fallen, I sent you a picture of it. It really is a wonderful sight. It is incomprehensible how it can have stayed there, but I think it is now lower than when the photograph was taken, and no doubt will come down with the next gale. The Church and village are wrecked, there's a huge hole made by a Jack Johnson just outside the west door of the Church.

      Jack Johnson was painted several times by Raymond Saunders.

      In Joe R. Lansdale's short story The Big Blow, Johnson is featured fighting a white boxer brought in by Galveston, Texas's boxing fans to defeat the African American fighter during the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. The story won a Bram Stoker Award and was expanded into a novel.

      Johnson is a major character in the novel The Killings of Stanley Ketchel (2005), by James Carlos Blake.

      The Royale, a play by Marco Ramirez, uses the life of Jack Johnson as inspiration for its main character, Jay Jackson. It premiered in March 2016 at Lincoln Center Theater directed by Rachel Chavkin, and was nominated for a Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Director of a Play, and a Special Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble.

      Jayant Rajora
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Inline Speed Skater
      Citizenship India
      Born November 6, 1994 
      Education Post Graduate
      Occupation Coach at Guru Training Academy
      Years active 2006 - present

      Sport
      Country India
      Sport Speed Skating
      Coached by Rahul Kaush
      Achievements and titles
      World finals World Roller Games 2017

      Jayant Rajora is an Indian Inline Speed Skater who represented India in World Roller Games Championship 2017, held at Nanjing, China.

      Early life & education

      He has completed Graduation and Post Graduation from University of Delhi in sports science.

      Competitions
      Representing IndiaYearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
      2009 CBSE National Championship
      2011 CBSE National Championship Jagran Public School, Noida 1st 500 mtr
      2011 School National Championship Delhi 3rd 3,000 mtr
      2012 School National Championship Delhi 2nd 3,000 mtr
      2012 Senior National Championship Virar, Mumbai 3rd 3,000 mtr
      2016 Senior National Championship Bangalore 3rd 20,000 mtr, Road Elimination
      2017 World Roller Game China

      Event specialty & performance
      Track Elimination Race (15000 meters)
      Track Points Race (10000 meters)
      Road Elimination Race (20000 meters)
      Road Points Race (10000 meters)

      Medical history
      Neuro-Surgery due to injury during training session, 2010
      Tibial wound, 2018
      Jaspal Parmar
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Jaspal Singh
      Personal information
      Full name Jaspal Parmar Singh
      Date of birth 6 August 1984
      Place of birth Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India
      Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
      Position(s) Defender
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2006–2010 JCT
      2010–2012 Salgaocar 36 (1)
      2012–2013 East Bengal 0 (0)
      National team
      2011– India 3 (0)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

      Jagpal Singh (born 6 August 1984, in Punjab) is an Indian football player who last played as a defender for East Bengal F.C. in the I-League
      John Tavares
      From Wikipedia
      John Tavares
      Tavares with the New York Islanders in 2018
      Born September 20, 1990 
      NHL team
      Former teams Toronto Maple Leafs
      National team  Canada
      NHL Draft 1st overall, 2009
      Playing career 2009–present

      John Tavares (born September 20, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, where he spent nine seasons and served as captain for five seasons.

      Previously, Tavares competed at the major junior level as a member of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) before being traded to the London Knights at the 2009 OHL trading deadline along with Michael Del Zotto. Tavares broke into the OHL after gaining "exceptional player" status at age 14, allowing the Generals to select him in the OHL Priority Draft as an underage player in 2005. Tavares was named the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Rookie of the Year in 2006 and CHL Player of the Year in 2007. In 2009, he finished the season with a career total of 215 goals, breaking Peter Lee's OHL record by two.

      Tavares was the focus of an unsuccessful push to have the NHL's draft rules changed to allow him to participate in the 2008 Entry Draft, as well as an attempt to allow him to play in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a 17-year-old in 2007. Tavares was ranked as the top prospect for the 2009 Draft by both the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and International Scouting Services.

      Tavares has represented Canada at five International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)-sanctioned events, including the 2010 and 2011 World Championships. At the under-20 level, he won gold medals at the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was named the most valuable player of the 2009 tournament after scoring eight goals and 15 points in six games. He also participated in the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships, but failed to medal. Additionally, Tavares represented Team Ontario at the 2006 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and 2007 Super Series. On January 7, 2014, he was named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team, winning a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics despite an injury preventing him from participating in the final two games.

      Early career

      Tavares was born on September 20, 1990 in Mississauga, Ontario, to Barbara and Joe Tavares, who are of Polish and Portuguese descent, respectively. His maternal grandparents, Bolesław and Josephine Kowal, immigrated from Poland to Sudbury, Ontario, and his paternal grandparents Manuel and Dorotea Tavares immigrated from Portugal to Toronto, Ontario. At a very young age, Tavares moved to Oakville, Ontario. This is where he was first exposed to minor hockey through the Minor Oaks Hockey Association. Tavares also played soccer and lacrosse, and his highly competitive nature often led him to fight with other players. Tavares excelled at lacrosse, following in the footsteps of his uncle John Tavares, the all-time scoring leader in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), and was a ball boy for his uncle's NLL team, the Buffalo Bandits. The younger Tavares credits his uncle with teaching him the importance of remaining unselfish, stating what he learned by following his uncle with the Bandits has made him better both as a person and a hockey player. Many skills he learned in lacrosse—such as spinning off checks and battling in traffic—transferred to ice hockey and improved Tavares' abilities as a goal scorer.

      In Oakville, Tavares attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School.[5] He lived five minutes from Sam Gagner, who later signed a contract with the Edmonton Oilers, and the two quickly established a friendship. Gagner's father, former NHL player Dave Gagner, built a backyard ice rink on which Tavares spent much of his time honing ice hockey skills. In the OHL, Tavares placed an emphasis on his education, earning honours as well as the Oshawa Generals' Scholastic Player of the Year in 2007–08. Tavares also spends some of his time working with the Special Olympics.

      Tavares showed such promise as a hockey player that when he was seven, his parents moved him up one age group and he began playing with older children. From there, he moved on to the Mississauga Braves of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). After playing the 1998–99 season with the Braves' novice team, Tavares moved to the Mississauga Senators of the GTHL the following season. With the Senators' AAA minor atom team, Tavares won the GTHL minor atom championship in the 1999–2000 season. Tavares eventually moved to the Toronto Marlboros of the GTHL. During the 2003–04 season Tavares was teammates with his friend Sam Gagner, and scored 95 goals and 187 points in 90 games to lead the Marlboros' bantam team to the 2004 Bantam AAA Provincial Hockey Championships, where the Marlboros defeated Drew Doughty and the London Jr. Knights 5–0 in the championship game. Tavares scored one goal in the game and was named the tournament's top forward. The following season, Tavares joined the Marlboros' minor midget team, where he recorded 91 goals and 158 points in 72 games. For his achievements, Tavares shared the Buck Houle Award with Bryan Cameron, "in recognition of outstanding on ice performance, leadership and loyalty". During this season, he also played 16 games with the Milton Icehawks of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OPJHL), during which he recorded 11 goals and 23 points. Tavares' debut with the Icehawks came while he was only 13, making him one of the youngest players to ever play junior hockey.

      Playing career
      Junior
      Tavares takes a face-off during the 2006–07 OHL season. During that season he was selected as an OHL representative for the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.

      Tavares petitioned to gain eligibility to play major junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the spring of 2005. As OHL rules did not allow for players under age 15 to be drafted, the OHL introduced an "exceptional player" clause, allowing the 14-year-old Tavares to be drafted one year sooner than he would otherwise have been eligible. Consequently, Tavares is the youngest player to ever be drafted in the OHL, although Bobby Orr was signed and had played at a younger age. The Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the umbrella organization which governs major junior hockey in Canada, sent a proposal to Hockey Canada recommending that the rule be expanded across junior hockey, which eventually was granted. To date, only five other players—Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Sean Day, Joe Veleno and Shane Wright—have been granted the same status.

      The Oshawa Generals held the first pick in the 2005 draft, and they selected Tavares, earning him the Jack Ferguson Award, which is given to the player picked first overall in the OHL Priority Selection. Tavares played his first OHL game on September 23, 2005, scoring his first OHL goal in a game held just three days after his 15th birthday. He showed he could play in the OHL immediately, scoring ten goals in his first nine games with the Generals, and finished the 2005–06 season with 77 points, including 45 goals. Tavares was named to the OHL's all-rookie team, and won both the Emms Family Award and CHL Rookie of the Year awards as the top first-year player in both the OHL and CHL respectively.

      As a 16-year-old in 2006–07, Tavares was selected to represent the OHL for two games in January for the annual ADT Canada-Russia Challenge, including one game in Oshawa. Later that month, on January 25, 2007, Tavares registered a seven-point night in a 9–6 win against the Windsor Spitfires. He scored four goals and three assists, including his 50th goal of the season in his 44th game. Towards the end of the season, on March 16, 2007, Tavares recorded his 70th and 71st goals of the season, breaking Wayne Gretzky's OHL record for most goals by a 16-year-old. He was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player in the league, and named the CHL Player of the Year.

      Tavares scored 40 goals in 59 games for the Generals during the 2007–08 season, while his 118 points was placed him third in OHL scoring. Tavares led the OHL in scoring until he missed several games to represent the Canada men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. As Tavares was participating in the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, it was speculated that the Generals were ready to trade him to the London Knights. Tavares' future with the Generals had been questioned since the beginning of the season as the Generals were not expected to seriously contend for the championship, while the Knights were among the league leaders. The deal was made official on January 8, 2009, as Oshawa sent Tavares, Michael Del Zotto and Darryl Borden to the Knights in exchange for Scott Valentine, Christian Thomas, Michael Zador and six draft picks.
      Tavares with Oshawa Generals in November 2008. He was later traded to the London Knights in January 2009.

      Tavares made his debut with the Knights on January 11 against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. Making his return to Oshawa at the 2009 CHL Top Prospects Game as captain of Team Orr, he recorded an assist in a 6–1 win over Team Cherry, but injured his shoulder after Zack Kassian of the Peterborough Petes checked him behind the net. On March 8, 2009, Tavares set the OHL goal-scoring record with his 214th goal, passing the previous record held by Peter Lee. The next day, he received his third OHL Player of the Week recognition of the season.

      Professional

      Although he was born five days after the September 15 cutoff date for eligibility in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, there was a significant effort made to allow Tavares into the Draft. Following his 72-goal campaign in 2006–07, Tavares' agents asked the NHL and NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) to make an exception for Tavares similar to the one the OHL had made in 2005. The attempt was unsuccessful and Tavares was required to wait until 2009 to participate in the NHL Entry Draft. In October 2007, it was reported that then-Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson Jr. had offered the 17-year-old Tavares a spot with the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. However, like the NHL, the AHL declined to amend its by-laws and Tavares subsequently returned to the OHL.

      The NHL International Scouting Services ranked Tavares as the top draft prospect in the world, ahead of defenceman Victor Hedman and forwards Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson and Matt Duchene in its March 2009 update. The 2009 draft class was led by Tavares, who was selected first overall by the New York Islanders.

      New York Islanders (2009–2018)
      Tavares as a rookie with the New York Islanders in the 2009–10 season.

      On July 15, 2009, Tavares signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders. His first NHL game was in the pre-season in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. He spent 22 minutes and 50 seconds on the ice alongside linemates Doug Weight and Sean Bergenheim in the Islanders' 3–2 loss. Weight, a veteran NHLer, said, "John's going to be a big piece of [an Islander rebuilding effort]." Tavares scored his first career NHL goal and assist in his first ever professional game, scoring on a backhander against Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 3, 2009.

      Tavares led NHL rookies in scoring throughout much of his first season. In December 2009, he scored five consecutive Islanders goals over a four-game span to tie the club record for most consecutive goals by one player. He scored an empty-net goal against the Atlanta Thrashers on December 3, and both Islanders goals on both December 9 against the Philadelphia Flyers and December 10 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The record was originally set by Bryan Trottier, when he scored five consecutive goals in a 1982 game against Philadelphia. On March 17, 2010, Tavares scored five points (two goals and three assists) in a 5–2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. At the end of the season, Tavares finished second in rookie scoring, behind Matt Duchene, with 54 points.

      As New York opened up their season at home against the Dallas Stars on October 9, 2010, Tavares suffered a mild concussion late during the first period. The Stars' Adam Burish bumped into Tavares, and the latter was unable to return to the game. He scored his first career hat-trick on October 23, 2010, in a loss to the Florida Panthers. He then scored his second career NHL hat-trick, as well as his first career natural hat-trick, on January 15, 2011, in a win against the Buffalo Sabres.
      Tavares in his second year as the Islanders' alternate captain. He was named to the position during the 2011–12 season.

      On September 14, 2011, Tavares signed a new six-year, $33 million contract with the Islanders effective from the 2012–13 season through to the end of the 2017–18 season. After being held pointless in the first two games of the 2011–12 season, Tavares had back-to-back four-point games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers. From December 29, 2011, to January 21, 2012, Tavares had 21 points in a 12-game point streak, seven of which were multi-point games. He was selected to play in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game. In his first career All-Star Game, he recorded one goal and one assist. Additionally, during the 2011–12 season, Tavares was named as an alternate captain for New York.

      Tavares played with Mark Streit in Switzerland for SC Bern while the 2012–13 NHL lock-out took place. During the shortened 2012–13 season, Tavares was third in the NHL with 28 goals. He helped the Islanders reach the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2007, scoring 47 points in 48 games. Tavares was also named a finalist for the 2013 Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player, on May 10, 2013. Tavares scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal against Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-André Fleury in Game 3 of the 2013 playoffs. He would finish with three goals and five points in six games as the Islanders were eliminated by the Penguins.

      On September 9, 2013, Tavares was named as the 14th captain in New York Islanders history, replacing former Islander Mark Streit of the Philadelphia Flyers, who served as team captain since 2011. On February 19, 2014, during the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tavares suffered a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) and a torn meniscus in his knee during the quarterfinal game against Latvia, forcing him to miss the remainder of the Olympics as well as the remainder of the Islanders' season. At the time of his injury, Tavares ranked third in the NHL with 66 points in 59 games. The following season, he was selected for the 2015 NHL All-Star Game, along with teammate Jaroslav Halák. Tavares finished the 2014–15 NHL season as runner up for the Art Ross Trophy with 86 points, one point behind the recipient, Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn. Additionally, Tavares was named a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy for the second time in his career; ultimately ceding the award to Carey Price.
      Tavares during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

      On April 19, 2015, Tavares scored 15 seconds into overtime against Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2015 playoffs. The goal, which gave the Islanders a 2–1 victory, was the first game-winning overtime goal in the playoffs for the Islanders since 1993. Despite this, the Capitals won the series in seven games.

      Tavares scored the first regular season goal for the Islanders at Barclays Center in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks during the first game of the 2015–16 NHL season. On March 12, 2016, Tavares scored his 200th career NHL goal in a game against the Boston Bruins. That season, he was also named to the NHL All-Star Game for the third time in his career and was voted captain of the Metropolitan Division.

      On April 24, 2016, Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Florida Panthers, trailing 1–0 in the final minute of play, assisted by Nikolay Kulemin and Nick Leddy, Tavares scored the game-tying goal off a loose puck in the crease with 53.2 seconds left in regulation. He finished the job by scoring the series-clinching goal in double overtime, winning a playoff series for the Islanders for the first time since 1993.

      On January 13, 2017, in a game against Florida, Tavares scored his 500th NHL point in his 550th career NHL game, making him the first player from his draft class to reach the milestone.
      Tavares during the 2017–18 season, his last with the Islanders.

      Tavares' contract with the Islanders was set to expire following the completion of the 2017–18 season, during which he recorded 84 points in 82 games. With Tavares set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, he decided to test the free-agent market by meeting with six teams in the days leading up to the opening of the signing window on July 1, including a meeting with the Islanders to contemplate re-signing before hitting free agency. Although many analysts predicted that Tavares would sign a new contract with New York before he hit the open market, the re-sign deadline passed without a new contract being signed, and Tavares officially became a free agent at noon (EDT) on July 1. Many publications called Tavares the biggest free agent in the modern history of the NHL. Just before 1 pm, almost one hour into the free agency period, it became public knowledge that Tavares had informed the Islanders he would be leaving the team and signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

      Toronto Maple Leafs (2018–present)

      On July 1, 2018, it was announced that Tavares had signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tavares cited Toronto's chances as a Stanley Cup contender, as well as living out his childhood dream to play for his hometown team, as his reason for signing the contract. Tavares rejected higher-paying offers in favour of joining the Maple Leafs, such as the San Jose Sharks (one of the six teams vying for his services), who offered him a seven-year, $91 million contract. The Sharks' contract offer would have made Tavares the highest-paid player in the NHL. Tavares' decision to sign with the Maple Leafs proved to be divisive. Many were critical of the signing due to Tavares' decision to leave the Islanders despite the then-recent hirings of Hall of Fame general manager Lou Lamoriello and Stanley Cup-winning head coach Barry Trotz. Many argued Tavares abandoned the team that drafted him after coming to the conclusion he could not win with them, but others countered with the notion that the Islanders had never put competent rosters and management around Tavares to give him the chance to win, and by the time they attempted to change the culture of the organization with the Lamoriello and Trotz hirings, it was too late to change Tavares' mind. Regardless, the signing was, and continues to be, one of the most controversial free-agent signings in league history. Sentiment in the Islanders organization continued to be bitter regarding the signing, as evidenced by Tavares' former number with the Islanders, "91", being retired in honor of Butch Goring, in 2020.

      In his debut for the Maple Leafs on October 4 against the Montreal Canadiens, Tavares scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 overtime win. On October 7, Tavares recorded his ninth career NHL hat-trick (and first for Toronto) in a 7–6 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Tavares made his first return to Long Island to play the Islanders on February 28, 2019, in a highly-publicized, sold-out game. Tavares was relentlessly booed and heckled by Islanders fans throughout the match, including during his tribute video, and items were thrown at Tavares on the ice. The Islanders would win the game 6–1, scoring six unanswered goals after Toronto initially scored early in the game. On March 17, Tavares recorded his 700th career NHL point with his 40th goal of the season in a 6–2 loss to the Ottawa Senators; in scoring that goal, Tavares also became the third player in Maple Leaf history to record 40 goals in his first season with the team. On March 26, Tavares recorded his tenth career NHL hat-trick (and first four-goal game) in a 7–5 win over the Florida Panthers. In so doing, he became just the third player in modern team history (since 1943) to record multiple hat-tricks in his debut season with the club, following Wilf Paiement and Daniel Marois. In the Maple Leafs' next game against the Islanders, Tavares recorded his 87th point of the season (a new career-high and his first point against his former team) in the 2–1 win, which clinched a playoff berth for Toronto.

      Prior to the 2019–20 season, Tavares was granted leave from the teams first pre-season game in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador to spend with his wife and newborn son. On October 2, 2019, just before the first game of the NHL season, Tavares was named the 25th captain in the history of the Maple Leafs, filling a position that had been vacant for more than 3+1⁄2 years.

      On April 5, 2021, Tavares recorded his 800th career NHL point with an assist in the Maples Leafs' 5–3 win over the Calgary Flames.

      On May 20, 2021, in the Leafs' opening Stanley Cup Playoff game against the Canadiens, Tavares was upended by Canadiens defencemen Ben Chiarot. While laying on the ice, Canadiens forward Corey Perry attempted to jump over Tavares' head, however, Perry's knee clipped Tavares in the head. Ultimately, Tavares was stretchered off the ice and was transported to the hospital. After the game, Perry felt remorse for his role on the incident: "I don’t know what else to do there. I tried to jump. I know Johnny pretty well and just hope he’s OK." Tavares was taken to St. Michael's Hospital, and was discharged the following day, but was ruled out indefinitely with concussion. In his absence, the Leafs would lose the series to the Canadiens in seven games, surrendering a 3–1 series lead in the process.

      International play

      Medal record
      Representing  Canada

      Junior

      During his rookie season in the OHL, Tavares competed for Team Ontario in the 2006 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Saskatchewan as a 15-year-old, but failed to medal. Later that year, at the end of the 2005–06 season, he was selected to join Canada's under-18 team for the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships in Sweden, but failed to medal once more, falling to the Czech Republic in the bronze medal game. Later in the off-season, he was invited to the under-18 team's summer training camp to prepare for the 2006 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, though an injury ultimately prevented him from participating.

      During the following season, Tavares was invited to Canada's national junior selection camp in preparation for the 2007 World Junior Championships, but was not named to the final roster. After completing his second OHL season, however, Tavares was named to the Canada's junior team for the 2007 Super Series against Russian junior players. He scored four goals and one assist as Canada won the series 7–0–1.

      Tavares earned another invite to the selection camp for the 2008 World Junior Championships and made the final roster for the tournament on his second attempt. He scored four goals to help Canada to its fourth-straight gold medal in the competition. Returning the next year, along with Zach Boychuk, P. K. Subban and Thomas Hickey from the previous year's gold medal-winning team, Tavares was selected to compete in the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario. He scored three points in the first round-robin game against the Czech Republic, an 8–1 win, and was named Player of the Game. In the final round-robin game against the United States, Tavares scored a hat-trick for his 12th career goal of the tournament to tie Eric Lindros and Jeff Carter for the all-time Canadian junior record. In doing so, Tavares helped propel Canada to a 7–4 win that gave them the top spot in their pool and a subsequent bye to the tournament semifinal. He was also named Player of the Game for the second time in the tournament for his performance on the night. Meeting Russia in the semifinal and down 5–4 with less than ten seconds left in regulation, Tavares fought off two Russian players along the boards and backhanded a shot towards the goal. The shot was blocked by defenceman Dmitri Kulikov a few feet in front of the net, but after the puck came loose, teammate Jordan Eberle retrieved it and sent it into the right side of the net to dramatically tie the game with 5.4 seconds left. Then, as the game was forced into a shootout, Tavares scored to put Canada up 2–0 in the tie-breaker and into the gold medal game against Sweden. Recording an assist in the final, he helped Canada defeat the Swedes 5–1 to capture their fifth-straight gold medal. Tavares finished the tournament with eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in six games, second only to teammate Cody Hodgson in tournament scoring. Tavares was also named one of the top three players on the Canadian team by its coaching staff, as well as a tournament All-Star, Top Forward and MVP.
      Senior
      Tavares as a member of the Canadian ice hockey team during the 2012 Spengler Cup.

      As the New York Islanders failed to qualify for the playoffs in Tavares' rookie season in the NHL, he was selected to the Canadian men's team for the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany. Canada General Manager Mark Messier made a specific effort to assemble a young team; as a result, Tavares was one of five teenagers on the final roster. With seven goals in seven games, Tavares led all tournament players in goal-scoring. Despite recording no assists, he ranked fifth in points. He helped Canada to the quarterfinal against Russia, where they were defeated 5–2.

      The following year, Tavares returned to the national team for the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. He improved to nine points over seven games with five goals and four assists to lead Canada in scoring; he ranked fifth among all tournament players for the second consecutive year. As Canada again reached the quarterfinal, they were eliminated once more by Russia, losing 2–1. Tavares was chosen by coaches as one of the three best players on Team Canada, along with defenceman Alex Pietrangelo and forward Andrew Ladd.

      Tavares played for SC Bern in Switzerland during the 2012–13 NHL lock-out and quickly became the PostFinance Top Scorer, tallying 42 points—including 17 goals—in just 28 games. He also played for Team Canada at the 2012 Spengler Cup, which the nation ultimately won after defeating HC Davos in the final.

      At the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tavares injured his knee in Canada's quarterfinal match, rendering him unable to play for the remainder of the tournament as well as the 2013–14 NHL season.

      On 26 April 2019, it was announced that Tavares had committed to play for Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia. However, shortly before the first game of the tournament, it was announced on 9 May 2019 that Tavares had suffered an oblique injury and would be returning to Toronto.

      Playing style
      Tavares (left) races Olli Maatta for the puck during a game in the 2017–18 season.

      Tavares has been praised by his coaches for his ability to anticipate the play since he joined the OHL. A lack of speed had been the most common criticism of Tavares' play, something he spent his junior career attempting to improve. Tavares' skating speed is something he greatly improved since turning professional, and he is now considered one of the NHL’s faster skaters.

      The media hype he has encountered has led Tavares to remain guarded when speaking to the media, while his teammates and family attempt to shield him from the spotlight where they can. However, Tavares is regarded as a natural leader on the ice, and a player who puts his team first. The Oshawa Generals named Tavares their team captain in 2008, while he also served as the alternate captain with the Canadian junior team in 2009
      Jose Canseco
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Jose Canseco
      Canseco in 2009
      Born: July 2, 1964

      Batted: Right
      Threw: Right
      MLB debut
      September 2, 1985, for the Oakland Athletics
      Last MLB appearance
      October 6, 2001, for the Chicago White Sox

      MLB statistics
      Teams

      Career highlights and awards

      6× All-Star (1986, 1988–1990, 1992, 1999)
      2× World Series champion (1989, 2000)
      AL MVP (1988)
      4× Silver Slugger Award (1988, 1990, 1991, 1998)
      2× MLB home run leader (1988, 1991)

      José Canseco Capas Jr. (born July 2, 1964) is a Cuban-American former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder and designated hitter. During his time with the Oakland Athletics, he established himself as one of the premier power hitters in the game. He won the Rookie of the Year (1986), and Most Valuable Player award (1988), and was a six-time All-Star. Canseco is a two-time World Series champion with the Oakland A's (1989) and the New York Yankees (2000).

      In 1988 Canseco became the first player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in one season and won the Silver Slugger award four times: three as an AL outfielder (1988, 1990, 1991), and once as a designated hitter (1998). He ranks 4th all time in A's history with 254 home runs and is one of 14 players in MLB history with 400 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Despite his many injuries during the later part of his career, Canseco averaged 40 home runs, 120 RBIs and 102 runs scored every 162 games.

      As of 2021, Canseco's 462 career home runs rank him 37th on the MLB all-time list, among active players, slugger Edwin Encarnacion is the closest to Canseco on the list, with 424 home runs. At one time Canseco was the all-time leader in home runs among Latino players; but was later surpassed by Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Carlos Delgado, Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, and Miguel Cabrera. He was the first player to hit 30 home runs for four different teams: Oakland (1986–88, 1990, 1991), Texas (1994), Toronto (1998), and Tampa Bay (1999). This record was later surpassed by Fred McGriff and Gary Sheffield who did it for five different teams.

      Canseco admitted using performance-enhancing drugs during his major-league playing career, and in 2005 wrote a tell-all book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big, in which he claimed that the vast majority of MLB players use steroids. After retiring from Major League Baseball, he also competed in boxing and mixed martial arts.

      Although he has not played Major League Baseball since 2001, Canseco has played for numerous minor-league teams over the years, most recently in 2018, when he was 53 years of age, for the Normal CornBelters of the Independent Frontier League. In recent years, he has usually played just a few games per season, but in 2011, he played 64 out of 88 games for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League. Canseco has played 30 seasons of professional baseball over a span of 36 years between 1982 and 2018.(Wikipedia)

      JOSE CANSECO STATS

      Jose Canseco was born on Thursday, July 2, 1964, in Havana, Cuba. Canseco was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 2, 1985, with the Oakland Athletics. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Jose Canseco baseball stats page.

      "Oakland outfielder Jose Canseco is hitting .330 at home and .290 on the road, while first baseman Mark McGwire is hitting .258 at home and .290 on the road. Said Athletics Manager Tony La Russa: 'I think that's because McGwire's a married man. McGwire gets more rest on the road, and Canseco gets more rest at home.'" - McLemore, Ivy. Columnist. The Houston Post: Around the Majors. 5 June 1988.



      Jose Canseco

      Jose 'Parkway Joe' Canseco Autograph on a 1988 Donruss Baseball Card (#302)


      Biographical Data

      Birth Name: José Canseco (Twitter: @JoseCanseco)
      Nickname: Parkway Joe
      Born On: 07-02-1964 (Cancer)
       Born In: Havana, Cuba
       Died On: Still Living (500 Oldest Living)
       Died In: Still Living
      Cemetery: n/a

      High School: Miami Coral Park High School (Miami, FL)
      College: None Attended
       Bats: Right  Throws: Right
       Height: 6-04  Weight: 240
      First Game: 09-02-1985 (Age 21)
      Last Game: 10-06-2001
      Draft: 1982 : 15th Round (391st)

      Early life

      Canseco was born in Havana, Cuba, the son of Jose Sr. and Barbara Canseco. He has a twin brother Ozzie Canseco, who is also a former major league player. When Fidel Castro came into power in 1959, Jose Sr., a territory manager for the oil and gasoline corporation Esso as well as a part-time English teacher, lost his job and eventually his home. The family was allowed to leave Cuba in 1965, when the twins were barely 1 year old, and settled in the Miami area, where Jose Sr. became a territory manager for another oil and gasoline concern, Amoco, and a part-time security guard.

      The younger Jose Canseco played baseball at Miami Coral Park High School, where he failed to make the varsity team until his senior year. He was named Most Valuable Player of the junior varsity team in his junior year, and of the varsity team the following year. He graduated in 1982.

      Baseball career (1982–2001)
      Minor League Baseball (1982–1985)

      The Oakland Athletics drafted Canseco in the 15th round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional baseball debut with the Miami Marlins of the Florida State League and also played Minor League Baseball with the Medford A's, Madison Muskies, Idaho Falls A's, and the Modesto A's, along with the Tacoma Tigers. Canseco started the 1985 season with the Class-AA Huntsville Stars and became known as "Parkway Jose" for his long home runs (25 in half a season) that went close to the Memorial Parkway behind Joe Davis Stadium.[2] Canseco was nicknamed "The Natural", with some analysts saying he was the best prospect since Willie Mays. Oakland A's hitting coach Bob Watson said that Canseco was a mixture of Roberto Clemente, Dale Murphy, and Reggie Jackson. Others touted Canseco as the next Mickey Mantle.

      Major League Baseball (1985–2001)
      Oakland Athletics (1985–92)

      In 1985, Canseco won the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award, and was a late season call-up for the Oakland Athletics. He made his Major League debut on September 2 and struck out in his one at-bat against the Baltimore Orioles. His first hit was off Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees on September 7. and his first home run was off Jeff Russell of the Texas Rangers on September 9. He played in 29 games in the major leagues in 1985. He established himself in 1986, his first full season, being named the American League's Rookie of the Year (the first by an Athletic since Harry Byrd in 1952 with what were then the Philadelphia Athletics), with 33 home runs and 117 RBIs. In 1987, Mark McGwire joined Canseco on the Athletics; McGwire hit 49 home runs that year and was also named the American League Rookie of the Year. Together, he and Canseco formed a fearsome offensive tandem, known as the "Bash Brothers". He followed his rookie season with an equal performance in 1987, his sophomore year. He improved his batting average from .240 in '86 to .257 in '87, hitting 31 home runs, 113 runs batted in (6th in the AL), 35 doubles (10th) in 691 at bats (9th), while missing only 3 games the entire season. He was also 5th in the league with 157 strike outs. He finished 23rd in the MVP ballot. He combined with Mark McGwire for a total of 80 home runs and 236 runs batted in, making the young tandem (Canseco was 22 years old and McGwire 23) the most dangerous in years to come, drawing comparisons to the likes of Mickey Mantle/Roger Maris and Hank Aaron/Eddie Mathews.
      Canseco with the A's in 1989

      In April 1988, Canseco guaranteed he would hit at least 40 home runs and steal at least 40 bases in the upcoming season. He went on to record 42 home runs and 40 steals becoming the first player in MLB history to hit the 40–40 mark in a single season (a fact unknown to him at that time). In recognition of his record, the street in front of his former high school was named after him but was later rescinded in 2008 after he admitted to previously using drugs throughout his career. That same year the Athletics swept the Boston Red Sox in 4 games in the ALCS, for the series Canseco had a .313 batting average with 3 home runs in 4 games. The A's met the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, a matchup that would feature the best hitter in the AL facing the best pitcher and eventual NL Cy Young Award winner Orel Hershiser, the Dodgers prevailed, upsetting the A's in five games. Canseco hit a grand slam in Game 1 on his first official World Series at-bat (second plate appearance, he was hit by a pitch in the first inning) but it would be his only hit in the Series. He was unanimously named the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1988, with a .307 batting average, 120 runs scored, 124 RBIs, 42 home runs a .569 Slugging Percentage and 40 stolen bases. He also won his first Silver Slugger Award and was a starter in the outfield in the all star game, batting cleanup.

      In 1989, Canseco missed 97 games of the regular season, most of them because of a broken wrist during the preseason. Despite not playing a single game in the first half of year, he was voted as one of the starting outfielders for the American League All-Star squad. He managed to hit 17 home runs with 57 RBIs in barely 65 games played (an equivalent to 40+ home runs and 130+ RBIs had he played a full season) as the Athletics won the AL West and their first World Series since 1974, beating the San Francisco Giants in four games. Canseco had a solid postseason hitting for a .323 batting average and 2 home runs including one in the ALCS against the Blue Jays that reached the upper deck of the SkyDome. Against the Giants, in the World Series, he hit for a .357 average with a home run in Game 3. The 1989 Series was interrupted before Game 3 by a major earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area.

      As the reigning World Series Champs, the Oakland Athletics were favorites to repeat, and they were hopeful that Canseco would remain healthy throughout the 1990 season. Canseco started to have back problems, an issue that would become recurrent. Despite missing over 20 games due to injury during the first part of the season, he received a then-record 5-year, $23.5 million dollar contract, making him the highest paid player in Major League history. By the All Star Break, he had played only in 64 games, hitting .258 with 18 home runs (10 behind the American League leader Cecil Fielder). Despite a subpar first half, Canseco was voted to start in the All Star Game with the most votes in the American League. He finished 3rd in the league with 37 home runs, behind Fielder (52) and teammate Mark McGwire (39). In 131 games he had 101 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases. It was the 4th time in 5 years that he had 100+ RBIs. The Oakland A's won their division with a league-best 103 wins and were the favorites to win the World Series. Canseco had a discrete ALCS hitting .182 (2 for 11) with 5 strikeouts, but the A's swept the Boston Red Sox 4 games to 0, and moved on to play in their third World Series in a row, this time against the Cincinnati Reds. Canseco struggled both at the plate and in the outfield, missing on two key plays in game 2. In the same game, he had his only hit of the series, a 2-run home run against Danny Jackson. After going 0 for 4 in game 3, and 1 for 11 in the series, Canseco was benched in game 4. Manager Tony LaRussa cited Jose's sore back and injured middle finger as the reasons for taking him out of the lineup, but there was speculation that his own teammates requested LaRussa to bench Canseco due to his poor outfield performance. Down 2 runs to 1 and facing elimination in game 4, Canseco entered as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 9th, but he grounded out to third for the second out of the inning. One batter later, the Reds completed the sweep over a heavily-favored Oakland team. At the end of the year, Canseco won his second Silver Slugger award and finished 12th in the AL MVP ballot.

      Canseco continued to be productive the following year; by the All-Star break of the '91 season he was leading the league with 21 home runs (tied with Cecil Fielder) and had 63 RBIs but inexplicably did not receive All-Star Game considerations by either the fans or as a back up, as his own A's skipper Tony LaRussa, managing the AL for the 3rd straight year, did not selected Jose as a substitute. Fans instead went with Athletics outfielder Dave Henderson, who had lesser offensive numbers than Jose, and LaRussa selected Kirby Puckett, Joe Carter and Ruben Sierra. Canseco not being selected by his own manager lead many to believe that the relationship between Canseco and LaRussa had started to deteriorate. His best month that season was July, hitting 10 home runs in 27 games (1 every 11.1 at bats) with a .315 batting average. He finished the 1991 season batting .266 with 44 home runs earning the second home run crown of his career (tied with Detroit's Cecil Fielder), 122 RBI, 26 stolen bases and a .556 slugging while finishing 4th in the MVP ballot. He won his 3rd Silver Slugger Award in 4 years. Towards the end of the season, there were mixed opinions from the Oakland fans in regards to Jose, some would boo him and some would cheer. On a home game on September 20th and after rumors that Jose was on his way out from Oakland, he received a standing ovation by the fans. Canseco responded with his 42nd home run of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays, tying his career-best. The Athletics however missed the playoffs for the first time in three years, finishing 4th in the AL West.

      The Athletics returned to contention in 1992 and with 18 home runs by the All-Star break, Canseco was voted to start his 4th Mid Summer Classic in 5 years but he was unable to play due to injury and was replaced with Joe Carter.

      From 1986 to 1992 with the A's and despite missing roughly 120 games between 1989 and 1990 and about 20 more during the first half of the 1992 season, Canseco averaged 32 home runs a year, had 100+ RBIs 5 times, also averaged 40 Home Runs, 125 RBI and 22 Stolen Bases per every 162 games played, captured AL Rookie of the Year honors, 2 home run titles, an MVP award, 3 Silver Slugger Awards, 3 American League Pennants, a World Series ring, and was selected to 5 All-Star Games in his first 7 full Major League seasons. His 7 career postseason home runs are the all-time record for the Athletics franchise (1901–2021)

      Texas Rangers (1992–94)

      On August 31, 1992, in the middle of a game and while Canseco was in the on-deck circle, the A's traded him to the Texas Rangers for Rubén Sierra, Jeff Russell, Bobby Witt, and cash. At the moment of the trade, the A's were leading the American League West Division by 6 1/2 games, and the Oakland front office was looking to fortify their pitching down the stretch. A's general manager Sandy Alderson announced the trade while the Athletics were still playing the Orioles that night. The trade caught fans, the media and people throughout Major League Baseball, as Canseco was considered at the time the best player, but also the most scrutinized. From 1986 until the date of the trade no other player had hit more home runs (226) in the major leagues. In Texas Canseco joined Latino stars Rafael Palmeiro, Juan González and Iván Rodríguez. He had a good start with the Rangers, hitting .367 (11 of 30) with 3 home runs and 11 RBI in his first 8 games, but had only 6 hits in his last 43 at bats (.140) and one home run. Despite injuries and the trade to the Rangers, Canseco managed to hit 26 home runs and had 87 runs batted in, playing 115 games in 1992 for the Athletics and the Rangers. From 1986 until the end of 1992 Canseco’s 230 home runs were the most by any major league player in that span.

      On May 26, 1993, during a game against the Cleveland Indians, Carlos Martínez hit a fly ball that Canseco lost sight of as he was crossing the warning track. The ball hit him in the head and bounced over the wall for a home run. The cap Canseco was wearing on that play, which This Week in Baseball rated in 1998 as the greatest blooper of the show's first 21 years, is in the Seth Swirsky collection. After the incident, the Harrisburg Heat offered him a soccer contract. Three days later, Canseco asked his manager, Kevin Kennedy, to let him pitch the eighth inning of a runaway loss to the Boston Red Sox; in his inning-long appearance, he injured his arm, requiring Tommy John surgery and putting himself out of the lineup for the remainder of the season. In his pitching appearance, Canseco allowed three earned runs on two hits and three walks, throwing 33 pitches, but only 12 for strikes. He finished the '93 season hitting .256 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 60 games.

      In the 1994 strike-shortened season, Canseco again returned to his former status of a power hitter with 31 home runs and 90 RBIs in 111 games. Canseco also stole 15 bases and posted a .282 batting average. He was named The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year in 1994 and finished in 11th place in the American League Most Valuable Player voting.

      Boston Red Sox (1995–1996)

      After playing with the Rangers from 1992 to 1994, Canseco moved on to play with the Boston Red Sox in 1995 along with 1986 AL MVP Roger Clemens and Mo Vaughn, the MVP of the ‘95 season. The Red Sox captured the AL East Division title to advance to the ALDS, making it Canseco's first postseason in 5 years. The Red Sox were swept by the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series 3 games to 0. In Game 2, Canseco once again faced Orel Hershiser, going 0 for 3 with a Strikeout. Dating back to the ‘88 World Series, Canseco was 0 for 11 with 3 strikeouts against Hershiser, lifetime in 3 postseason matchups. During the regular season, he hit 24 home runs with a .306 batting average, his highest since 1988. His last home run of the '95 season against Jesse Orosco was the 300th of his career.

      Canseco had a great first half to the 1996 season, hitting 26 home runs by the All-Star break (3rd in the league at that point), but he was sidelined during August and part of September due to a back injury. He finished the season with a .289/.400/.589 slash line with 28 home runs, 82 runs batted in and 22 doubles in 96 games.

      Although he was productive when he was in the lineup, Canseco missed over 100 games during his 2-year tenure with Boston, playing 102 and 96 games in the ‘95 and ‘96 seasons. He averaged 43 home runs, 134 RBIs, 108 runs, 39 doubles and a .289 batting average per every 162 games played with the Red Sox.

      Return to Oakland (1997)

      In January 1997, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics, reuniting him with Bash Brother Mark McGwire. Health-wise, he had a promising start to the season, playing in 83 games in the first half with 18 home runs by the All-Star break but he suffered a back injury yet again. In his book Juiced, Canseco mentioned that upon his return from injury during the '97 season, he was informed by manager Art Howe that the front office instructed him not to play Canseco to prevent him from getting the minimum plate appearances that would trigger the renewal of his contract for the following year.

      Canseco's 23 home runs that season gave him a total of 254 in an A's uniform, placing him 4th in franchise history.

      Toronto Blue Jays (1998)

      After signing a one-year/$3.8 million contract, Canseco had a productive season again with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998 playing alongside former Red Sox teammate Roger Clemens. For the first time in his career he wore a number other than his traditional #33, switching to #44 for the first part of the season (long-time Blue Jay and World Series hero Ed Sprague wore #33 for the Jays until he was traded later in the '98 season). He finished the season playing 151 games, his highest in 8 years. Splitting duties as DH and in the outfield, he hit a career-high 46 home runs, 3rd best in the AL, and stole 29 bases, the most he had stolen since the 40 he stole in 1988. He also led the league in strikeouts with 159. He won the AL Silver Slugger award (4th of his career) but his comeback was missed by most fans because of the home run race in the National League between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.

      Final seasons (1999–2001)

      Despite hitting a career-high 46 home runs in 1998, Canseco drew minimal attention in the free agent market. In 1999, he signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The contract included a clause stating that if Canseco were to be elected to the Hall of Fame he would be depicted as a member of the Devil Rays. That year he took the American League by storm, hitting 10 home runs in April, and leading the AL with 31 by the All-Star break, including number 400 for his career against Toronto's Kelvim Escobar. On pace for 60+ homers for the season, he was voted to the AL All-Star team as the starting DH for the American League, making his first All Star selection in 7 years. At that point, Canseco was the 14th player in MLB history to hit 30+ Home Runs before the All Star Break (After Shohei Ohtani did it in 2021, he's now 1 of 31 players to do so) However, he injured his back days before the mid-summer classic and missed the game, as well as the Home Run Derby in Fenway Park. He finished the season with 34 home runs for the 1999 season.

      Despite missing around 350 games due to injury, by the end of 1999 Canseco had a total of 303 home runs (in 1145 games), which placed him 8th in the majors for the 90’s decade.

      In February 2000 before the start of spring training for the following MLB season, Canseco played in the MLBPA organized Big League Challenge home run derby in Las Vegas at Cashman Field. He competed against a field of 12 that included notable sluggers such as Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Mike Piazza Canseco won the tournament, defeating Rafael Palmeiro in the final.

      Canseco began the 2000 season with the Devil Rays, hitting only 9 home runs in 61 games, and, by August, was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees, which caught many, including Yankees manager Joe Torre, off guard, as the Yankees had four other players who fulfilled a similar role as Canseco, such as Dave Justice and Glenallen Hill. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman made the claim to prevent the Athletics, Red Sox and Blue Jays, who were in a close race with the Yankees, from acquiring Canseco.

      In a lesser role, splitting duties as an outfielder, DH and pinch hitter, Canseco played in 37 games hitting .243 with 6 home runs. He struck out in his only plate appearance in the 2000 World Series against the New York Mets, but earned his second World Series ring when they defeated the Mets in five games. Despite this achievement Canseco later called his Yankees tenure "the worst time of [his] life" due to receiving limited playing time. His short stint with the Yankees marked the third time he was Roger Clemens's teammate, a fact later magnified by the media due to the steroid controversy, the Mitchell Report and the infamous pool party at Canseco's house two years prior while both played with the Blue Jays.

      The Anaheim Angels cut Canseco in spring training in 2001. Coincidentally, he lost the DH spot to Glenallen Hill, with whom he shared at-bats with the Yankees. (Hill finished the season hitting .136, with 1 Home Run in 16 games). He spent half of the season with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League before joining the Chicago White Sox. As the White Sox DH, he finished the season with 16 home runs and 49 RBI in only 76 games (a rate of 34 home runs and 104 RBIs had he played the entire season), including the last multi-home run game of his career against the Kansas City Royals on August 1. His 462nd and final career home run came against Mike Mussina of the New York Yankees. In 2002, Canseco was signed by the Montreal Expos, at that time owned by Major League Baseball and had Omar Minaya as General Manager and Frank Robinson as Manager. He was expected to be their left fielder, and DH during inter-league play, in what would have been Canseco's first time playing for a National League team; however, he was again released prior to the regular season beginning, this time on March 27. Opening Day was scheduled to be March 31. With very little time before the season started, Canseco did not find a team looking for a DH and signed a minor league contract with the White Sox, but did not appear in a major league game for the 2002 season.

      38 home runs shy of 500 for his career, Canseco officially retired from Major League Baseball in May 2002 after spending some time playing for the White Sox Triple-A affiliate Charlotte Knights. He made a brief comeback attempt in 2004, but was not offered a spot with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

      Independent League career (2006–present)
      Canseco pitching for the Yuma Scorpions

      On June 29, 2006, the independent Golden Baseball League announced Canseco had agreed to a one-year contract to play with the San Diego Surf Dawgs. The League said Canseco had agreed to be subjected to its drug-testing policy "that immediately expels any players found using steroids or illegal drugs." After playing one game for the Surf Dawgs, Canseco was traded to the Long Beach Armada on July 5, 2006. He requested the trade due to "family obligations." On July 31, 2006, Canseco won the Golden Baseball League's Home Run Derby.

      Canseco signed a short team deal with the Laredo Broncos of the United Baseball League on August 14, 2010. He served as bench coach and designated hitter.

      On April 11, 2011, Canseco signed a deal as a player/manager for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League. At the age of 46, he played 64 out of 88 games and batted .258 with 8 home runs and 46 RBI. He was not the oldest player on the team: his twin brother Ozzie appeared in 12 games, mostly as a designated hitter, and 52-year-old Tony Phillips appeared in 24 games, mostly as a third baseman.

      Canseco joined the Quintana Roo Tigres of the Mexican League in 2012, but was reportedly banned for using testosterone.

      On April 20, 2012, the Worcester Tornadoes, of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, announced that they had signed Canseco to a one-season contract for a salary of one thousand dollars a month. In the beginning of August 2012, Canseco left the Tornadoes due to concerns of not receiving his salary, a conflict which led him to sue the team. Canseco quickly signed with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the North American League. However, his debut was delayed due to a family emergency.

      In early 2013 Canseco played in the Texas Winter League but was only 3 for 16 at the plate. He signed with the Fort Worth Cats of the United League to start the 2013 season.

      In 2015, 2016 and 2017, Canseco had short playing stints in the Pacific Association, mostly with the Pittsburg Diamonds. He played three games for the Frontier League's Normal CornBelters in 2018.

      Amateur Adult Baseball (2011 and 2016)

      In March 2011, Canseco played a few games with the Valley Rays in the Pacific Coast Baseball League in Los Angeles.

      In May 2016, Canseco made an appearance for the SoCal Glory in the 35+ MSBL Las Vegas Open – National Tournament.

      Performance-enhancing drugs

      In 2005, Canseco admitted to using anabolic steroids with Jorge Delgado, Damaso Moreno, and Manuel Collado in a tell-all book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big. Canseco also claimed that up to 85% of major league players took steroids, a figure disputed by many in the game. In the book, Canseco specifically identified former teammates Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Jason Giambi, Iván Rodríguez, and Juan González as fellow steroid users, and admitted that he injected them. Most of the players named in the book initially denied steroid use, though Giambi admitted to steroid use in testimony before a grand jury investigating the BALCO case and on January 11, 2010, McGwire admitted publicly to using steroids.

      At a Congressional hearing on the subject of steroids in sports, Palmeiro categorically denied using performance-enhancing drugs, while McGwire repeatedly refused to answer questions on his own suspected use, saying he "didn't want to talk about the past." Canseco's book became a New York Times bestseller. On August 1, 2005, Palmeiro was suspended for 10 days by Major League Baseball after testing positive for steroids.

      On December 13, 2007, José Canseco and Jorge Delgado were cited in the Mitchell Report (The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball). On December 20, 2007, Canseco was also named in Jason Grimsley's unsealed affidavit as a user of steroids. Canseco and Grimsley were teammates on the 2000 New York Yankees.

      On December 30, 2007, it was announced that Canseco had reached a deal for his sequel to Juiced. The sequel is titled Vindicated, which hit bookstores by Opening Day 2008. This book has information on Alex Rodriguez and Albert Belle, as suggested by Canseco. The book was a "clarification" of names that should've been mentioned in the Mitchell Report.

      In 2010 Canseco spoke out against PEDs that was covered by ESPN and other news outlets by advocating baseball's youth to not try them and criticized their effectiveness overall:

      "These kids don't need steroids to become players... we overemphasize the steroids and not the athletic ability and skills of these people. We're taking away the hard work the athlete puts in and saying he became great just because of steroids. Let me give you a perfect example. I have an identical twin brother, Ozzie. He is the closest thing to me genetically. And in my prime I was a super athlete". "My twin brother used the same chemicals, same workouts, the same nutrition. Why didn't he make it in the big leagues? That is the perfect example that we are giving steroids way too much credit. If steroids are that great it would have made him a superstar."

      In a 2012 Sportsnet Interview article, Canseco said one of his only seasons without performance-enhancing drugs was in 1998 with the Toronto Blue Jays because he was in the process of a divorce and "didn't want to use steroids while handling breakup-induced depression".

      Outside baseball

      While still a player, he was a guest star on The Simpsons and Nash Bridges. Since his retirement, Canseco has appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, 60 Minutes, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, "Boomer and Carton", Howard Stern, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CMI: The Chris Myers Interview, and Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. In 2003, he was featured in the reality-TV special Stripper's Ball: Jenna Jameson with Dennis Rodman and Magic Johnson. He was a cast member in Season 5 of The Surreal Life with Janice Dickinson, Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa, Bronson Pinchot, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, Caprice Bourret, and Carey Hart. Canseco has a film cameo playing himself in the 2017 basketball drama Slamma Jamma as a judge in a slam dunk competition.

      In 2007, he received 6 Hall of Fame votes. This accounted for 1.1% of the ballots, failing to reach the 5% threshold necessary to stay on the ballot for another year. However, he can be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Committee of Baseball Veterans.

      In May 2008, Philadelphia sportscaster and former NFL football player Vai Sikahema accepted a challenge from Canseco to fight him for $30,000. Canseco claims to have earned black belts in kung fu and taekwondo, while Sikahema fought in the Golden Gloves tournament won by Sugar Ray Leonard. The fight took place on July 12 in Atlantic City at the Bernie Robbins stadium. The 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Sikahema knocked out the 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Canseco in the first round.

      On January 24, 2009, Canseco fought radio personality and former child actor Danny Bonaduce in Aston Township, Pennsylvania; the three-round match ended in a majority draw.

      Canseco claims to hold black belts in karate and taekwondo, and to practice Muay Thai, as well as describing himself as "an expert with nunchakus". He made his mixed martial arts debut at Dream 9 on May 26, 2009, where he fought 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) kickboxer Hong-man Choi as part of Dream's Super Hulk Tournament. Canseco would lose the fight after slipping, and tapping out to Choi's ground and pound.

      On November 6, 2009, Canseco defeated Todd Poulton in a Celebrity Boxing Federation bout in Springfield, Massachusetts. As of December 2010, he had launched a Twitter campaign in hopes of getting invited to spring training by Mets GM Sandy Alderson.

      Beginning March 6, 2011, Canseco was a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice. He quit the show on the April 3, 2011, citing his father's ailing health. Canseco later announced on Twitter that his father died shortly after he left the show. Canseco did earn $25,000 for his charity, the Baseball Assistance Team.

      In 2012, Canseco accepted a home run derby challenge by Canadian Twitter user Evan Malamud, father of an autistic child, as part of a fundraiser for an initiative called Home Runs For Autism. Canseco still remains active with the charity as their spokesperson.

      He is also a columnist for Vice magazine.

      Lane Patorti and Edward Stoney Landon finished a reality show concept based on former professional athletes being placed into smalltown sports leagues. TMZ reported Canseco was in talks to star in the show, A League of His Own.

      In May 2013, Canseco provided the foreword to the novel Air Force Gator 2: Scales of Justice by Dan Ryckert. In it, he claims the book about the alcoholic alligator pilot is a "weakly veiled" metaphor for his own life.

      On October 28, 2014, Canseco accidentally shot himself on his left hand injuring one of his fingers while attempting to clean his gun at home in Las Vegas. After having surgery performed he was able to recover the full use of the hand.

      Canseco was also portrayed by Andy Samberg in The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience alongside Mark McGwire (portrayed by Akiva Schaffer). The visual poem describes the two baseball players' careers and rampant steroid use in the 1980s.

      On October 26, 2019, Canseco opened up his own car wash in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he signs autographs every Wednesday.

      Canseco fought Billy Football from Barstool Sports in a boxing match on February 5, 2021, and was knocked out in the first round.

      Legal issues and controversies

      On February 10, 1989, Canseco was arrested in Florida for reckless driving after allegedly leading an officer on a 15-mile chase. He was found guilty and fined $500.

      On April 11, 1989, Canseco was arrested in California for carrying a loaded semi-automatic pistol in his car. He was released on $2,500 bail and pleaded no contest.

      On February 13, 1992, Canseco was charged with aggravated battery for ramming his Porsche into a BMW driven by his then-wife Esther Canseco after a verbal altercation. On March 19, 1992, Canseco pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault and later underwent counseling and fulfilled a community-service requirement.

      In November 1997, Canseco was arrested for beating his then-wife Jessica Canseco. In January 1998, he pleaded no contest and was sentenced to one year of probation and required to attend counseling.

      In October 2001, Canseco and his brother, Ozzie, got into a fight with two men at a Miami Beach nightclub that left one man with a broken nose and another needing 20 stitches in his lip; both were charged with two counts of aggravated battery. The brothers both pleaded guilty and received both probation and community service.

      Following his retirement in May 2002, Canseco speculated about having been "blackballed" from Major League Baseball; it was then he announced he was writing a tell-all book about his baseball career and the increasing usage of anabolic steroids in baseball.

      In March 2003, Canseco missed a court appearance while in California working out a custody dispute over his 6-year-old. The judge revoked his probation and sentenced him to two years under house arrest followed by three years' probation.

      In June 2003, Canseco was arrested at his home for probation violation after he tested positive for steroids. Canseco spent a month in jail without bail.

      In May 2008, Canseco revealed that he had lost his house in Encino, California to foreclosure saying his two divorces had cost him $7 to $8 million each.

      On October 10, 2008, Canseco was detained by immigration officials at a San Diego border crossing as he tried to bring a fertility drug from Mexico. He stated the drug was to help with his hormone replacement therapy, needed due to his use of steroids. On November 4, 2008, Canseco pleaded guilty in Federal court and was sentenced to 12 months' unsupervised probation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruben B. Brooks.

      The 2008 A&E Network documentary Jose Canseco: Last Shot chronicles Canseco's attempts to end his steroid use. In it he also regrets ever writing his tell-all books and naming former teammates as steroid users, as he was never given the opportunity to participate in MLB-affiliated baseball. Since, he has tried unsuccessfully to reach out to former Bash Brother Mark McGwire and other ex-teammates. In 2014, he returned to the Oakland Coliseum to take part in the reunion celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1989 World Series championship team; this marked the first time Canseco took part in an official Major League Baseball event in almost 13 years. Mark McGwire, at the time coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers, did not attend the event.

      On May 22, 2013, Canseco was named as a suspect in a rape allegation in Las Vegas. He broke the news himself on Twitter, denying the allegations and posting pictures and defamatory information about his accuser. On June 7, 2013, Canseco was cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation. He was never charged.
      Jhano Hansdah

      QUICK FACTS
      Date of Birth October 24, 1975
      Place of Birth
      Country India
      Religion Not Available
      Age 46 Years, 0 Months, 11 Days
      Horoscope
      Jhano Hansdah Birthday Countdown

      Jhano Hansdah net worth, birthday, age, height, weight, wiki, fact 2020-21! In this article, we will discover how old is Jhano Hansdah? Who is Jhano Hansdah dating now & how much money does Jhano Hansdah have?

      Jhano Hansdah Biography

      Jhano Hansdah (born (1975-10-24 ) 24 October 1975) is an Indian female compound archer and part of the national team. She competed at the 2013 World Archery Championships.

      Jhano Hansdah Net Worth

      Jhano Hansdah is one of the richest Archer & listed on most popular Archer. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Jhano Hansdah net worth is approximately $1.5 Million.
      JHANO HANSDAH NET WORTH & SALARY
      Net Worth $1.5 Million

      Who is Jhano Hansdah dating?

      According to our records, Jhano Hansdah is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of June 2021, Jhano Hansdah’s is not dating anyone.Relationships Record: We have no records of past relationships for Jhano Hansdah. You may help us to build the dating records for Jhano Hansdah!

      Facts & Trivia

      Ranked on the list of most popular Archer. Also ranked in the elit list of famous celebrity born in India. Jhano Hansdah celebrates birthday on October 24 of every year.
      [X]You may read full biography about Jhano Hansdah from Wikipedia.

      Jauna Murmu
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Jauna Murmu
      Personal information
      Full name Jauna Murmu
      Nationality  India
      Born August 16, 1990
      Sport
      Country India
      Sport Sprinter, Hurdler


      Jauna Murmu (born 16 August 1990) is an Indian sprint runner and hurdler from Odisha who specializes in 400 metres and 400 metres hurdles. She belongs to Mayurbhanj District of Odisha. She has received coaching from Arun Kumar Das and Subash Chandra Dasmohapatra. She is presently employed by with ONGC

      Achievements

      She has multiple International and national achievements.

      International

      Finished 4th in 400m hurdles in 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China.

      Won one gold medal in women’s 400 metre hurdles event, clocking 57.39 seconds and claimed one bronze in 400 metres sprint with a timing of 53.17 seconds in the 3rd Asian All Star Athletics Meet, which concluded at New Delhi on July 30, 2010.

      Two gold medals in the 2016 South Asian Games: in the 400m hurdles and the 4 × 400 m relay.

      National

      Won the silver medal in women's 400m event of the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship, clocking 52.78 seconds at Patiala, Punjab on August 6, 2010.

      Doping

      Murmu tested positive for the anabolic steroid Methandienone in an out of competition test 25 May 2011 and was subsequently handed a two-year doping ban

      Kushang Sherpa
      Wikipedia


      Kushang Sherpa
      Main discipline Mountaineer and
      Born 15 February 1965
      Makalu Area, Nepal
      Nationality Indian
      Career
      Notable ascents First in The World who summited Mount Everest from three sides. Two times from south col ,two times from North col and once from difficult khangsung face.
      Family
      Children 4

      Kushang Sherpa (Bengali: কুশাং শেরপা; born 15 Feb 1965) is an Indian mountaineer, who in 1998 became the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest from three sides. In recognition of his achievements, Government of India in 2003 awarded him with Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.

      Early life

      Kushang Sherpa was born on 15 February 1965 in a village in the Himalayas named Walung near Makalu base, Nepal. He ran away from home the first time at the age of 14 to work as a porter on an expedition that was passing through his village. He is the first person to have summited Mount Everest from three points of the compass. Kushang Dorjee Sherpa is from Makalu originally, presently he lives in Darjeeling, West Bengal of India.

      Ascents

      Sherpa is the first person who has summited Mount Everest from three points of the compass. Kushang Dorjee Sherpa first summited Everest on May 10, 1993 via the standard south east ridge route. Next, he summited via the standard north east ridge route on May 17, 1996. On May 28, 1998, he summited a third time the standard south east ridge. His fourth summit was via the east face (Khangsung face) of Everest on May 28, 1999. Kushang Sherpa lives in Darjeeling today.

      Kalpana Devi Thoudam
      Wikipedia

      Kalpana Devi Thoudam
      Full name Kalpana Devi Thoudam
      Born 24 December 1989

      Women's Judo
      Representing  India

      Updated on 25 July 2014.

      Kalpana Devi Thoudam (born 24 December 1989) is an Indian judoka, born in Imphal East, Manipur. She won the bronze medal in the women's 52 kg weight class at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

      Career

      In her career as a judoka, Thoudam won a silver at the sub-junior national championship in Guwahati in 1998. She then won four gold medals at the junior national championships and one gold at junior Asian judo championship. In 2007, she placed second at the Asian U20 Championships, held in Hyderabad. In 2010, she won a bronze at the International Judo Federation World Cup in Tashkent. In the same year, she won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Judo Championships in Singapore.  In 2013, she became the first Indian to win a medal at the IJF Grand Prix in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, when she won a bronze medal. She defeated Zarifa Sultanova of Uzbekistan, but lost to Israeli Gili Cohen. In the repechage round she defeated Raquel Silva from Brazil. Additionally, she has served as the Head Constable of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

      In the 2014 Commonwealth Games, she won bronze in the 52 kg weight class. She has also won gold medals at the Indian Championships in 2017 and 2018, held in Chennai and Jammu, respectively.
      Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
      Abdul-Jabbar in 2014
      Personal information
      Born April 16, 1947
      Nationality American
      Listed height 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
      Listed weight 225 lb (102 kg)
      Career information
      High school Power Memorial
      (Manhattan, New York)
      College UCLA (1966–1969)
      NBA draft 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
      Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
      Playing career 1969–1989
      Position Center
      Number 33
      Coaching career 1998–2011

      Career history
      As player:
      As coach:
      1998–1999 Alchesay HS (assistant)
      2005–2011 Los Angeles Lakers (assistant)

      As head coach:
      USBL champion (2002)

      As assistant coach:
      Career NBA statistics
      Points 38,387 (24.6 ppg)
      Rebounds 17,440 (11.2 rpg)
      Assists 5,660 (3.6 apg)
      Stats  at NBA.com
      Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

      Inducted in 2006

      Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.; April 16, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player who played 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a record six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. A member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, Abdul-Jabbar twice was voted NBA Finals MVP. In 1996, he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. NBA coach Pat Riley and players Isiah Thomas and Julius Erving called him the greatest basketball player of all time.

      With him on the team, parochial high school Power Memorial, in New York City, won 71 consecutive basketball games. He was recruited by Jerry Norman, the assistant coach at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played for coach John Wooden on three consecutive national championship teams. He was a record three-time MVP of the NCAA Tournament. Drafted with the first overall pick by the one-season-old Bucks franchise in the 1969 NBA draft, Alcindor spent six seasons in Milwaukee. After leading the Bucks to its first NBA championship at age 24 in 1971, he took the Muslim name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Using his trademark "skyhook" shot, he established himself as one of the league's top scorers. In 1975, he was traded to the Lakers, with whom he played the final 14 seasons of his career in which they won five additional NBA championships. Abdul-Jabbar's contributions were a key component in the "Showtime" era of Lakers basketball. Over his 20-year NBA career, his teams succeeded in making the playoffs 18 times and got past the first round 14 times; his teams reached the NBA Finals on 10 occasions.

      At the time of his retirement at age 42 in 1989, Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's all-time leader in points scored (38,387), games played (1,560), minutes played (57,446), field goals made (15,837), field goal attempts (28,307), blocked shots (3,189), defensive rebounds (9,394), career wins (1,074), and personal fouls (4,657). He remains the all-time leader in points scored, field goals made, and career wins. He is ranked third all-time in both rebounds and blocked shots. ESPN named him the greatest center of all time in 2007, the greatest player in college basketball history in 2008, and the second best player in NBA history (behind Michael Jordan) in 2016. Abdul-Jabbar has also been an actor, a basketball coach, a best-selling author, and a martial artist, having trained in Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee and appeared in his film Game of Death (1972). In 2012, Abdul-Jabbar was selected by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be a U.S. global cultural ambassador. In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

      Early life

      Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was born in New York City, the only child of Cora Lillian, a department store price checker, and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Sr., a transit police officer and jazz musician. He grew up in the Dyckman Street projects in the Inwood neighborhood of Upper Manhattan. At birth, Alcindor weighed 12 lb 11 oz (5.75 kg) and was 22+1⁄2 inches (57 cm) long. He was always very tall for his age. By age nine, he was already 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall. Alcindor was often depressed as a teenager because of the stares and comments about his height. By the eighth grade (age 13–14), he had grown to 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and could already slam dunk a basketball.

      Alcindor began his record-breaking basketball accomplishments when he was in high school, where he led coach Jack Donohue's Power Memorial Academy team to three straight New York City Catholic championships, a 71-game winning streak, and a 79–2 overall record. This earned him "The Tower from Power" nickname. His 2,067 total points were a New York City high school record. The team won the national high school boys basketball championship when Alcindor was in 10th and 11th grade and was runner-up his senior year. He had a strained relationship in his final year with Donohue after the coach called him a nigger.

      College career
      Alcindor with the reverse two-hand dunk against Stanford.

      Now 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) tall, Alcindor was relegated to the freshman team in his first year at UCLA, as freshman were ineligible to play varsity until 1972. The freshman squad included fellow high school All-Americans Lucius Allen, Kenny Heitz and Lynn Shackelford. On November 27, 1965, Alcindor made his first public performance in UCLA's annual varsity–freshman exhibition game, attended by 12,051 fans in the inaugural game at the Bruins' new Pauley Pavilion. The 1965–66 varsity team was the two-time defending national champions and the top-ranked team in preseason polls. The freshman team won 75–60 behind Alcindor's 31 points and 21 rebounds. It was the first time a freshman team had beaten the UCLA varsity squad. The varsity had lost Gail Goodrich and Keith Erickson from the championship squad to graduation, and starting guard Freddie Goss was out sick. After the game, UPI wrote: "UCLA's Bruins open defense of their national basketball title this week, but right now they're only the second best team on campus." The freshman team was 21–0 that year, dominating against junior college and other freshman teams.
      Alcindor versus USC

      He made his varsity debut as a sophomore in 1966 and received national coverage: Sports Illustrated described him as "The New Superstar" after he scored 56 points in his first game, which broke the UCLA single-game record held by Gail Goodrich.He averaged 29 points per game during the season and led UCLA to an undefeated 30–0 record and a national championship. After the season, the dunk was banned in college basketball in an attempt to curtail his dominance.The rule was not rescinded until the 1976–77 season. Alcindor was the main contributor to the team's three-year record of 88 wins and only two losses: one to the University of Houston in which Alcindor had an eye injury, and the other to crosstown rival USC who played a "stall game"; there was no shot clock in that era, allowing the Trojans to hold the ball as long as it wanted before attempting to score. They limited Alcindor to only four shots and 10 points.

      During his college career, Alcindor was a three-time national player of the year (1967–1969); was a three-time unanimous first-team All-American (1967–1969); played on three NCAA basketball champion teams (1967, 1968 and 1969); was honored as the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Tournament three times and became the first-ever Naismith College Player of the Year in 1969. He was the only player to win the Helms Foundation Player of the Year award three times.

      Alcindor had considered transferring to Michigan because of unfulfilled recruiting promises. UCLA player Willie Naulls introduced Alcindor and teammate Lucius Allen to athletic booster Sam Gilbert, who convinced the pair to remain at UCLA.

      During his junior year, Alcindor suffered a scratched left cornea on January 12, 1968, in a game against Cal when he was struck by Tom Henderson in a rebound battle. He would miss the next two games against Stanford and Portland. This happened right before the showdown game against Houston. His cornea would again be scratched during his pro career, which subsequently caused him to wear goggles for eye protection.

      At the time, the NBA did not allow college underclassmen to declare early for the draft. He completed his studies and earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history in 1969. In his free time, he practiced martial arts. He studied aikido in New York between his sophomore and junior year, before learning Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee in Los Angeles.

      Game of the Century
      Alcindor performs ceremonial net cutting at Freedom Hall in Louisville in 1969 after a 20-point win over Purdue and Rick Mount in unprecedented third-straight national title en route to seven consecutive national championships for UCLA.

      On January 20, 1968, Alcindor and the UCLA Bruins faced coach Guy Lewis's Houston Cougars in the first-ever nationally televised regular-season college basketball game, with 52,693 in attendance at the Astrodome. Cougar forward Elvin Hayes scored 39 points and had 15 rebounds, while Alcindor, who suffered from a scratch on his left cornea, was held to just 15 points as Houston won 71–69. The Bruins' 47-game winning streak ended in what has been called the "Game of the Century". Hayes and Alcindor had a rematch in the semi-finals of the NCAA Tournament, where UCLA, with a healthy Alcindor, defeated Houston 101–69 en route to the national championship. UCLA limited Hayes, who was averaging 37.7 points per game, to only ten points. Wooden credited his assistant, Jerry Norman, for devising the diamond-and-one defense that contained Hayes. Sports Illustrated ran a cover story on the game and used the headline: "Lew's Revenge: The Rout of Houston."

      Conversion to Islam and 1968 Olympic boycott

      During the summer of 1968, Alcindor took the shahada twice and converted to Sunni Islam from Catholicism. He adopted the Arabic name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, though he did not begin using it publicly until 1971. He boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics by deciding not to try out for the United States Men's Olympic Basketball team, who went on to easily win the gold medal. Alcindor's decision to stay home during the 1968 Games was in protest of the unequal treatment of African-Americans in the United States.

      An episode of Black Journal produced by WNET and broadcast on May 2, 1972, features Kareem Abdul Jabbar discussing his boycott of the 1968 Olympics to his practice of the Islamic religion.

      Though he denied any connection with the radical Nation of Islam, Jabbar was linked to them in a story that appeared in Sports Illustrated dated February 19, 1973, specifically to members of the group in Washington D.C..

      School records

      As of the 2019–2020 season, he still holds or shares a number of individual records at UCLA:
      Highest career scoring average: 26.4
      Most career field goals: 943 (tied with Don MacLean)
      Most points in a season: 870 (1967)
      Highest season scoring average: 29.0 (1967)
      Most field goals in a season: 346 (1967) (also, the second most: 303 (1969), and third: 294 (1968))
      Most free throw attempts in a season: 274 (1967)
      Most points in a single game: 61
      Most field goals in a single game: 26 (vs. Washington State, February 25, 1967)

      He is represented in the top ten in a number of other school records, including season and career rebounds, second only to Bill Walton.

      Professional career

      Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
      Alcindor displaying the sky-hook over Wes Unseld of the Baltimore Bullets. The shot was almost impossible to block.

      The Harlem Globetrotters offered Alcindor $1 million to play for them, but he declined and was picked first in the 1969 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, who were in only their second season of existence. The Bucks won a coin-toss with the Phoenix Suns for first pick. He was also chosen first overall in the 1969 American Basketball Association draft by the New York Nets. The Nets believed that they had the upper hand in securing Alcindor's services because he was from New York; however, when Alcindor told both the Bucks and the Nets that he would accept only one offer from each team, the Nets bid too low. Sam Gilbert negotiated the contract along with Los Angeles businessman Ralph Shapiro at no charge. After Alcindor chose the Milwaukee Bucks' offer of $1.4 million, the Nets offered a guaranteed $3.25 million. Alcindor declined the offer, saying, "A bidding war degrades the people involved. It would make me feel like a flesh peddler, and I don't want to think like that."

      Alcindor's presence enabled the 1969–70 Bucks to claim second place in the NBA's Eastern Division with a 56–26 record (improved from 27–55 the previous year). On February 21, 1970, he scored 51 points in a 140-127 win over the SuperSonics. Alcindor was an instant star, ranking second in the league in scoring (28.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (14.5 rpg), for which he was awarded the title of NBA Rookie of the Year. In the series-clinching game against the 76ers, he recorded 46 points and 25 rebounds. With that, he joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookies to record at least 40 points and 25 rebounds in a playoff game in their rookie season.[citation needed] He also set an NBA rookie record with 10 or more games of 20+ points scored during the playoffs, tied by Jayson Tatum in 2018.

      The next season, the Bucks acquired All-Star guard Oscar Robertson. Milwaukee went on to record the best record in the league with 66 victories in the 1970–71 season, including a then-record 20 straight wins. Alcindor was awarded his first of six NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, along with his first scoring title (31.7 ppg). He also led the league in total points, with 2,596. The Bucks won the NBA title, sweeping the Baltimore Bullets 4–0 in the 1971 NBA Finals. Alcindor posted 27 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in Game 4, and he was named the Finals MVP after averaging 27 points per game on 60.5% shooting in the series. During the offseason, Alcindor and Robertson joined Bucks head coach Larry Costello on a three-week basketball tour of Africa on behalf of the State Department. In a press conference at the State Department on June 3, 1971, he stated that going forward, he wanted to be called by his Muslim name, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Arabic: كريم عبد الجبار‎, Karīm Abd al-Jabbār), its translation roughly "noble one, servant of the Almighty [i.e., servant of Allah]". He had converted to Islam while at UCLA.
         Abdul-Jabbar lines up a free-throw. He started wearing goggles in order to avoid damage to his corneas.

      Abdul-Jabbar remained a dominant force for the Bucks. The following year, he repeated as scoring champion (34.8 ppg and 2,822 total points) and became the first player to be named the NBA Most Valuable Player twice in his first three years. In 1974, Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their fourth consecutive Midwest Division title, and he won his third MVP Award in four years. He was among the top five NBA players in scoring (27.0 ppg, third), rebounding (14.5 rpg, fourth), blocked shots (283, second), and field goal percentage (.539, second).

      Robertson, who became a free agent in the offseason, retired in September 1974 after he was unable to agree on a contract with the Bucks. On October 3, Abdul-Jabbar privately requested a trade to the New York Knicks, with his second choice being the Washington Bullets (now the Wizards) and his third, the Los Angeles Lakers. He had never spoken negatively of the city of Milwaukee or its fans, but he said that being in the Midwest did not fit his cultural needs. Two days later in a pre-season game before the 1974–75 season against the Boston Celtics in Buffalo, New York, Abdul-Jabbar caught a fingernail in his left eye from Don Nelson and suffered a corneal abrasion; this angered him enough to punch the backboard stanchion, breaking two bones his right hand. He missed the first 16 games of the season, during which the Bucks were 3–13, and returned in late November wearing protective goggles. On March 13, 1975, sportscaster Marv Albert reported that Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade to either New York or Los Angeles, preferably to the Knicks. The following day after a loss in Milwaukee to the Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar confirmed to reporters his desire to play in another city. He averaged 30.0 points during the season, but Milwaukee finished in last place in the division at 38–44.
      Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989)

      In 1975, the Lakers acquired Abdul-Jabbar and reserve center Walt Wesley from the Bucks for center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters, blue-chip rookies Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman, and cash. In the 1975–76 season, his first with the Lakers, he had a dominating season, averaging 27.7 points per game and leading the league in rebounding (16.9), blocked shots (4.12), and total minutes played (3,379). His 1,111 defensive rebounds remains the NBA single-season record (defensive rebounds were not recorded prior to the 1973–74 season). He earned his fourth MVP award, becoming the first winner in Lakers' franchise history, but missed the post-season for the second straight year as the Lakers finished 40–42.
      Abdul-Jabbar (33) receiving a pass from Magic Johnson during the 1985 NBA Finals.

      Afer acquiring a cast of no-name free agents, the Lakers were projected to finished near the bottom of the Pacific Division in 1976–77. However, Abdul-Jabbar helped lead the team to the best record (53–29) in the NBA. He won his fifth MVP award, tying Bill Russell's record. Abdul-Jabbar led the league in field goal percentage (.579), was third in scoring (26.2), and was second in rebounds (13.3) and blocked shots (3.18). In the playoffs, the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semi-finals, setting up a confrontation with the Portland Trail Blazers. The result was a memorable matchup, pitting Abdul-Jabbar against a young, injury-free Bill Walton. Although Abdul-Jabbar dominated the series statistically, Walton and the Trail Blazers (who were experiencing their first-ever run in the playoffs) swept the Lakers, behind Walton's skillful passing and timely plays.

      Two minutes into the opening game of the 1977–78 season, Abdul-Jabbar broke his right hand punching Milwaukee's Kent Benson in retaliation to the rookie's elbow to his stomach. Benson suffered a black right eye and required two stitches. According to Benson, Abdul-Jabbar initiated the elbowing, but there were no witnesses and it was not captured on replays. Abdul-Jabbar, who broke the same bone in 1975 after he punched the backboard support, was out for almost two months and missed 20 games. He was fined a then-league record $5,000 but was not suspended. Benson missed one game but was not punished by the league] The Lakers were 8–13 when Abdul-Jabbar returned. He was not named to the 1978 NBA All-Star Game, the only time in his 20-year career he was not selected to an All-Star Game.Chicago's Artis Gilmore and Detroit's Bob Lanier were chosen as reserves for the West, with Walton starting at center. Amid criticism from the media over his performance, Abdul-Jabbar had 39 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and four blocks in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers the day the All-Star rosters were announced. He added 37 points and 30 rebounds in a victory over the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn) in the final game before the All-Star break.

      Abdul-Jabbar's play remained strong during the next two seasons, being named to the All-NBA Second Team twice, the All-Defense First Team once, and the All-Defense Second Team once. The Lakers, however, continued to be stymied in the playoffs, being eliminated by the Seattle SuperSonics in both 1978 (first round) and 1979 (semifinals).

      In 1979, the Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick of the draft. They had acquired the pick from the New Orleans Jazz (later Utah) in 1976, when league rules required that they compensate Los Angeles for their signing of free agent Gail Goodrich The addition of Johnson paved the way for a Laker dynasty of the 1980s, appearing in the finals eight times and winning five NBA championships. While less dominant than in his younger years, Abdul-Jabbar reinforced his status as one of the greatest basketball players ever adding an additional four All-NBA First Team selections and two All-Defense First Team honors. He won his record sixth MVP award in 1980 and continued to average 20 or more points per game in the following six seasons. At age 38, he won his second Finals MVP in 1985. On April 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar broke Chamberlain's record for most career points. Later in his career, he bulked up to about 265 pounds (120 kg), to be able to withstand the strain of playing the highly physical center position into his early 40s.
      Abdul-Jabbar against the Boston Celtics in the 1980s

      While in Los Angeles, Abdul-Jabbar started doing yoga in 1976 to improve his flexibility, and was notable for his physical fitness regimen. He says, "There is no way I could have played as long as I did without yoga."

      In 1983, Abdul-Jabbar's house burned down. Many of his belongings, including his beloved jazz LP collection of about 3,000 albums, were destroyed. Many Lakers fans sent and brought him albums, which he found uplifting.

      The Lakers made the NBA Finals in each of Abdul-Jabbar's final three seasons, defeating Boston in 1987, and Detroit in 1988. The Lakers lost to the Pistons in a four-game sweep in his final season. After winning Game 7 of the 1988 finals, the 41-year-old Abdul-Jabbar announced in the locker room that he would return for one more season before retiring His points, rebounds, and minutes had dropped in his 19th season, and there were reports prior to the game that he was retiring after the contest. On his "retirement tour" he received standing ovations at games, both home and away, and gifts ranging from a yacht that said "Captain Skyhook" to framed jerseys from his career to a Persian rug. At the Forum against Seattle in his final regular season game, every Laker came onto the court wearing Abdul-Jabbar's trademark goggles.

      At the time of his retirement, Abdul-Jabbar held the record for most games played by a single player in the NBA; this would later be broken by Robert Parish. He also was the all-time record holder for most points (38,387), most field goals made (15,837), and most minutes played (57,446).

      Post-NBA career

      In 1995, Abdul-Jabbar began expressing an interest in coaching and imparting knowledge from his playing days. His opportunities were limited despite the success he enjoyed during his playing days. However, during his playing years, Abdul-Jabbar had developed a reputation for being introverted and sullen. He was often unfriendly with the media. His sensitivity and shyness created a perception of him being aloof and surly. At the time, his mentality was that he either did not have the time or did not owe anything to anyone. Magic Johnson recalled as a kid being brushed off after asking him for an autograph. Abdul-Jabbar might freeze out a reporter if they touched him, and he once refused to stop reading the newspaper while giving an interview.

      Abdul-Jabbar believes that his reputation as a difficult person might have impacted his chances of being a head coach in the NBA or NCAA. In his words, he said he had a mindset he could not overcome, and proceeded through his career oblivious to the effect his reticence might have on his future coaching prospects. Abdul-Jabbar said: "I didn't understand that I also had affected people that way and that's what it was all about. I always saw it like they were trying to pry. I was way too suspicious and I paid a price for it."

      Abdul-Jabbar worked as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Seattle SuperSonics, helping mentor, among others, their young centers, Michael Olowokandi and Jerome James. Abdul-Jabbar was the head coach of the Oklahoma Storm of the United States Basketball League in 2002, leading the team to the league's championship that season, but he failed to land the head coaching position at Columbia University a year later. He then worked as a scout for the New York Knicks. He returned to the Lakers as a special assistant coach to Phil Jackson for six seasons (2005–2011). Early on, he mentored their young center, Andrew Bynum. Abdul-Jabbar also served as a volunteer coach at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona, in 1998. He moved on from coaching in 2013 after unsuccessfully lobbying for open head coach positions with UCLA and the Milwaukee Bucks.

      In 2016, he performed a tribute to friend Muhammad Ali along with Chance the Rapper.

      Player profile

      On offense, Abdul-Jabbar was a dominant low-post threat. In contrast to other low-post specialists like Wilt Chamberlain, Artis Gilmore or Shaquille O'Neal, Abdul-Jabbar was a relatively slender player, standing 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) tall but weighing only 225 lb (102 kg) (though in his latter years the Lakers listed Abdul-Jabbar's weight as 265 pounds (120 kg)). However, he made up for his relative lack of bulk by showing textbook finesse, and was famous for his ambidextrous skyhook shot. It contributed to his high .559 field goal accuracy, making him the eighth-most accurate scorer of all time and a feared clutch shooter. Abdul-Jabbar was also quick enough to run the Showtime fast break led by Magic Johnson and was well-conditioned, standing on the hardwood an average 36.8 minutes. In contrast to other big men, Abdul-Jabbar also could reasonably hit his free throws, finishing with a career 72% average.

      Abdul-Jabbar maintained a dominant presence on defense. He was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Team eleven times. He frustrated opponents with his superior shot-blocking ability and denied an average of 2.6 shots a game. After the pounding he endured early in his career, his rebounding average fell to between six or eight a game in his latter years.

      As a teammate, Abdul-Jabbar exuded natural leadership and was affectionately called "Cap" or "Captain" by his colleagues. He had an even temperament, which Riley said made him coachable. A strict fitness regime made him one of the most durable players of all time. In the NBA, his 20 seasons and 1,560 games are performances surpassed only by former Celtics center Robert Parish.

      Abdul-Jabbar began wearing his trademark goggles after getting poked in the eye during preseason in 1975. He continued wearing them for years until abandoning them in the 1979 playoffs. He resumed wearing goggles in October 1980 after being accidentally poked in the right eye by Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich. After years of being jabbed in the eyes, Abdul-Jabbar developed corneal erosion syndrome, occasionally experiencing pain when his eyes dry up. He missed three games in December 1986 due to the condition.

      Skyhook

      Abdul-Jabbar was well known for his trademark "skyhook", a hook shot in which he bent his entire body (rather than just the arm) like a straw in one fluid motion to raise the ball and then release it at the highest point of his arm's arching motion. With his long arms and great height, the skyhook was difficult for a defender to block without committing a goaltending violation. As a right-handed player, he was stronger shooting the skyhook with his right hand than he was with his left, although he was adept at shooting it with either hand, making it a reliable and feared offensive weapon. According to Abdul-Jabbar, he learned the move in fifth grade after practicing with the Mikan Drill and soon learned to value it, as it was "the only shot I could use that didn't get smashed back in my face".

      Legacy

      Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points, and he won a league-record six MVP awards.He earned six championship rings, two Finals MVP awards, 15 NBA First or Second Teams, a record 19 NBA All-Star call-ups and averaging 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 blocks per game. He is ranked as the NBA's third leading all-time rebounder (17,440). He is also the third all-time in registered blocks (3,189), which is especially impressive because this stat was not recorded until the fourth year of his career (1974).

      Abdul-Jabbar combined dominance during his career peak with the longevity and sustained excellence of his later years. He credited Bruce Lee with teaching him "the discipline and spirituality of martial arts, which was greatly responsible for me being able to play competitively in the NBA for 20 years with very few injuries." After claiming his sixth and final MVP in 1980, Abdul-Jabbar continued to average above 20 points in the following six seasons, including 23 points per game in his 17th season at age 38. He made the NBA's 35th Anniversary Team, and was named one of its 50 greatest players of all time in 1996. Abdul-Jabbar is regarded as one of the best centers ever, and league experts and basketball legends frequently mentioned him when considering the greatest player of all time. Former Lakers coach Pat Riley once said, "Why judge anymore? When a man has broken records, won championships, endured tremendous criticism and responsibility, why judge? Let's toast him as the greatest player ever." Isiah Thomas remarked, "If they say the numbers don't lie, then Kareem is the greatest ever to play the game." Julius Erving in 2013 said, "In terms of players all-time, Kareem is still the number one guy. He's the guy you gotta start your franchise with." In 2015, ESPN named Abdul-Jabbar the best center in NBA history, and ranked him No. 2 behind Michael Jordan among the greatest NBA players ever. While Jordan's shots were enthralling and considered unfathomable, Abdul-Jabbar's skyhook appeared automatic, and he himself called the shot "unsexy". Abdul-Jabbar's only recognized rookie card became the most expensive basketball card ever sold when it went for $501,900 at auction in 2016. That record has since been surpassed.

      NBA career statistics

      Legend GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
      FG% Field goal percentage 3P% 3-point field goal percentage FT% Free throw percentage
      RPG Rebounds per game APG Assists per game SPG Steals per game
      BPG Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
      † Won an NBA championship * Led the league  NBA record

      Source:

      Athletic honors
      Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (May 15, 1995)
      College:
      2× Oscar Robertson Trophy winner (1967, 1968)
      Three-time First Team All-American (1967–1969)
      Three-time NCAA champion (1967–1969)
      Most Outstanding Player in NCAA Tournament (1967–1969)
      3× First-team All-Pac-8 (1967–1969)
      National Basketball Association:
      Six-time NBA champion (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
      NBA MVP (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980)
      Sporting News NBA MVP (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980)
      Finals MVP (1971, 1985)
      Ranked No.2 in ESPN's 100 greatest NBA players of all time #NBArank
      November 16, 2012 – A statue of Abdul-Jabbar was unveiled in front of Staples Center on Chick Hearn Court, in Los Angeles.

      Film and television
      Actor Shavar Ross and Abdul-Jabbar on the set of Diff'rent Strokes, circa 1982

      Playing in Los Angeles facilitated Abdul-Jabbar's trying his hand at acting. He made his film debut in Bruce Lee's 1972 film Game of Death, in which his character Hakim fights Billy Lo (played by Lee).

      In 1980, he played co-pilot Roger Murdock in Airplane!. Abdul-Jabbar has a scene in which a little boy looks at him and remarks that he is in fact Abdul-Jabbar, spoofing the appearance of football star Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch as an airplane pilot in the 1957 drama that served as the inspiration for Airplane!, Zero Hour!. Staying in character, Abdul-Jabbar states that he is merely Roger Murdock, an airline co-pilot, but the boy continues to insist that Abdul-Jabbar is "the greatest", but that, according to his father, he doesn't "work hard on defense" and that he does not "really try, except during the playoffs". This causes Abdul-Jabbar's character to snap, "The hell I don't!", then grabs the boy and snarls that he has "been hearing that crap ever ever since I was at UCLA" and been "busting my buns every night!". He instructs the boy to "Tell your old man old man to drag [Bill] Walton and [Bob] Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes". When Murdock loses consciousness later in the film, he collapses at the controls wearing Abdul-Jabbar's goggles and yellow Lakers' shorts. In 2014, Abdul-Jabbar and Airplane! co-star Robert Hays (character Ted Striker) reprised their Airplane! roles in a parody commercial promoting Wisconsin tourism.
      Abdul-Jabbar (center) at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear with Comedy Central hosts Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart

      Abdul-Jabbar has had numerous other television and film appearances, often playing himself. He has had roles in movies such as Fletch, Troop Beverly Hills and Forget Paris, and television series such as Full House, Living Single, Amen, Everybody Loves Raymond, Martin, Diff'rent Strokes (his height humorously contrasted with that of diminutive child star Gary Coleman), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Scrubs, 21 Jump Street, Emergency!, Man from Atlantis, and New Girl. Abdul-Jabbar played a genie in a lamp in a 1984 episode of Tales from the Darkside. He also played himself on the February 10, 1994, episode of the sketch comedy television series In Living Color.

      He also appeared in the television version of Stephen King's The Stand, played the Archangel of Basketball in Slam Dunk Ernest, and had a brief non-speaking cameo appearance in BASEketball. Abdul-Jabbar was also the co-executive producer of the 1994 TV film The Vernon Johns Story. He has also made appearances on The Colbert Report, in a 2006 skit called "HipHopKetball II: The ReJazzebration Remix '06" and in 2008 as a stage manager who is sent out on a mission to find Nazi gold. Abdul-Jabbar also voiced himself in a 2011 episode of The Simpsons titled "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing". He had a recurring role as himself on the NBC series Guys with Kids, which aired from 2012 to 2013. On Al Jazeera English he expressed his desire to be remembered not just as a player, but also as somebody who used their mind and made other contributions.

      In February 2019, he appeared in season 12 episode 16 of The Big Bang Theory, "The D&D Vortex".

      Abdul-Jabbar made a guest appearance as himself in a season 2 episode of Dave. The episode he appeared in was also named after him.
      Writing

      In September 2018, Abdul-Jabbar was announced as one of the writers for the July 2019 revival of Veronica Mars.

      Documentaries

      On February 10, 2011, Abdul-Jabbar debuted his film On the Shoulders of Giants, documenting the tumultuous journey of the famed yet often-overlooked Harlem Renaissance professional basketball team, at Science Park High School in Newark, New Jersey. The event was simulcast live throughout the school, city, and state.

      In 2015, he appeared in an HBO documentary on his life, Kareem: Minority of One.

      In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar was the executive producer and narrator of the History channel special Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his narration.

      Reality television

      Abdul-Jabbar participated in the 2013 ABC reality series Splash, a celebrity diving competition.

      In April 2018, Abdul-Jabbar competed in the all-athlete season of season 26 of Dancing with the Stars and partnered with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold.

      Writing and activism
      Abdul-Jabbar at a book signing in 2007

      Abdul-Jabbar became a best-selling author and cultural critic. He published several books, mostly on African-American history. His first book, his autobiography Giant Steps, was written in 1983 with co-author Peter Knobler. The book's title is an homage to jazz great John Coltrane, referring to his album Giant Steps. Others include On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance, co-written with Raymond Obstfeld, and Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, World War II's Forgotten Heroes, co-written with Anthony Walton, which is a history of an all-black armored unit that served with distinction in Europe.

      Abdul-Jabbar has also been a regular contributor to discussions about issues of race and religion, among other topics, in national magazines and on television. He has written a regular column for Time, for example, and he appeared on Meet the Press on Sunday, January 25, 2015, to talk about a recent column, which pointed out that Islam should not be blamed for the actions of violent extremists, just as Christianity has not been blamed for the actions of violent extremists who profess Christianity. When asked about being Muslim, he said: "I don't have any misgiving about my faith. I'm very concerned about the people who claim to be Muslims that are murdering people and creating all this mayhem in the world. That is not what Islam is about, and that should not be what people think of when they think about Muslims. But it's up to all of us to do something about all of it.

      In November 2014, Abdul-Jabbar published an essay in Jacobin magazine calling for just compensation for college athletes, writing, "in the name of fairness, we must bring an end to the indentured servitude of college athletes and start paying them what they are worth."

      Commenting on Donald Trump's 2017 travel ban, he strongly condemned it, saying, "The absence of reason and compassion is the very definition of pure evil because it is a rejection of our sacred values, distilled from millennia of struggle."

      Government appointments
      Cultural ambassador
      Hillary Clinton and Abdul-Jabbar, 2012

      In January 2012, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that Abdul-Jabbar had accepted a position as a cultural ambassador for the United States. During the announcement press conference, Abdul-Jabbar commented on the historical legacy of African-Americans as representatives of U.S. culture: "I remember when Louis Armstrong first did it back for President Kennedy, one of my heroes. So it's nice to be following in his footsteps." As part of this role, Abdul-Jabbar has traveled to Brazil to promote education for local youths.

      President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

      Former President Barack Obama announced in his last days of office that he has appointed Abdul-Jabbar along with Gabrielle Douglas and Carli Lloyd to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.

      Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee

      In January 2017, Abdul-Jabbar was appointed to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee by United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. According to the United States Mint, Abdul-Jabbar is a keen coin collector whose interest in the life of Alexander Hamilton had led him into the hobby. He resigned in 2018 due to what the Mint described as "increasing personal obligations".

      Personal life
      Abdul-Jabbar surrounded by children's division players during an exhibition at Club Ferro Carril Oeste of Buenos Aires, 1993
      Abdul-Jabbar (below, far right) and other former NBA players visit the New York NBA Store in January 2005

      Abdul-Jabbar met Habiba Abdul-Jabbar (born Janice Brown) at a Lakers game during his senior year at UCLA. They eventually married and together had three children: daughters Habiba and Sultana and son Kareem Jr., who played basketball at Western Kentucky after attending Valparaiso. Abdul-Jabbar and Janice divorced in 1978. He has another son, Amir, with Cheryl Pistono. Another son, Adam, made an appearance on the TV sitcom Full House with him.

      Religion and name

      At age 24 in 1971, he converted to Islam and became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which means "noble one, servant of the Almighty." He was named by Hamaas Abdul Khaalis. Abdul-Jabbar purchased and donated 7700 16th Street NW, a house in Washington, D.C., for Khaalis to use as the Hanafi Madh-Hab Center. Eventually, Kareem "found that [he] disagreed with some of Hamaas' teachings about the Quran, and [they] parted ways." He then studied the Quran on his own, and “emerged from this pilgrimage with my beliefs clarified and my faith renewed.”

      Abdul-Jabbar has spoken about the thinking that was behind his name change when he converted to Islam. He stated that he was "latching on to something that was part of my heritage, because many of the slaves who were brought here were Muslims. My family was brought to America by a French planter named Alcindor, who came here from Trinidad in the 18th century. My people were Yoruba, and their culture survived slavery... My father found out about that when I was a kid, and it gave me all I needed to know that, hey, I was somebody, even if nobody else knew about it. When I was a kid, no one would believe anything positive that you could say about black people. And that's a terrible burden on black people, because they don't have an accurate idea of their history, which has been either suppressed or distorted."

      In 1998, Abdul-Jabbar reached a settlement after he sued Miami Dolphins running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar (now Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar, born Sharmon Shah) because he felt Karim was profiting off the name he made famous by having the Abdul-Jabbar moniker and number 33 on his Dolphins jersey. As a result, the younger Abdul-Jabbar had to change his jersey nameplate to simply "Abdul" while playing for the Dolphins. The football player had also been an athlete at UCLA.

      Health problems

      Abdul-Jabbar suffers from migraines, and his use of cannabis to reduce the symptoms has had legal ramifications.

      In November 2009, Abdul-Jabbar announced that he was suffering from a form of leukemia, Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The disease was diagnosed in December 2008, but Abdul-Jabbar said his condition could be managed by taking oral medication daily, seeing his specialist every other month and having his blood analyzed regularly. He expressed in a 2009 press conference that he did not believe that the illness would stop him from leading a normal life. Abdul-Jabbar is now a spokesman for Novartis, the company that produces his cancer medication, Gleevec.

      In February 2011, Abdul-Jabbar announced via Twitter that his leukemia was gone and he was "100% cancer free". A few days later, he clarified his misstatement. "You're never really cancer-free and I should have known that," Abdul-Jabbar said. "My cancer right now is at an absolute minimum."

      In April 2015, Abdul-Jabbar was admitted to hospital when he was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Later that week, on his 68th birthday, he underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery at the UCLA Medical Center.
      Non-athletic honors

      In 2016, Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama.

      In 2011, Abdul-Jabbar was awarded the Double Helix Medal for his work in raising awareness for cancer research. Also in 2011, Abdul-Jabbar received an honorary degree from New York Institute of Technology.

      In 2020, Abdul-Jabbar was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Narrator for his work on the documentary special Black Patriots: Heroes of The Revolution.

      Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu


      Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu is a distinguished Indian weightlifter from Manipur, renowned for her achievements as a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist. Her career, marked by significant successes and challenges, including doping controversies, highlights her resilience and contribution to Indian weightlifting. Below is a comprehensive account of her life, career, and legacy based on available information.

      Personal Information

      • Born: January 2, 1994, in Kakching Khunou, Kakching district, Manipur, India.
      • Age: 31 (as of August 2025).
      • Family: Born to a Hindu Meitei family. Her brother, Bijen Kumar, has been vocal about the family’s challenges during her doping controversies.
      • Occupation: Weightlifter, employed by the Indian Railways.
      • Height and Weight: Specific details about her height are not widely documented, but she has competed in the 48 kg and 53 kg weight categories, and later adjusted to the 49 kg category due to changes in weightlifting divisions.

      Weightlifting Career

      Sanjita Chanu began weightlifting in 2006 at the age of 12, inspired by pioneering Manipuri weightlifter Kunjarani Devi, whom she considers her hero. Over the years, she has competed in various weight categories, primarily 48 kg and 53 kg, and achieved remarkable success on national and international stages.

      Major Achievements

      • Commonwealth Games:
        • 2014 Glasgow (48 kg category):
          • Won the gold medal with a total lift of 173 kg (77 kg snatch + 96 kg clean and jerk).
          • Her 77 kg snatch equaled the Commonwealth Games record set by Augustina Nkem Nwaokolo in 2010.
          • This was India’s first medal on the second day of the 2014 Games, with fellow Manipuri Saikhom Mirabai Chanu securing the silver (170 kg total).
        • 2018 Gold Coast (53 kg category):
          • Secured her second consecutive Commonwealth Games gold with a total lift of 192 kg (84 kg snatch + 108 kg clean and jerk).
          • Broke the Commonwealth Games record for the snatch with an 84 kg lift, surpassing her 2014 performance.
          • Outperformed Papua New Guinea’s Dika Toua by 10 kg.
      • Commonwealth Championships:
        • 2015 Pune (48 kg category):
          • Won gold with a total lift of 182 kg, showcasing improvement from her 2014 performance.
      • Other Notable Performances:
        • 2009 Senior Nationals, Pune: Won a gold medal, marking her early rise in the sport.
        • 2011 Asian Weightlifting Championship: Secured a bronze medal in her senior international debut.

      Olympic Participation

      • Sanjita Chanu did not qualify for the Olympics, notably missing the 2016 Rio Olympics due to a back injury sustained after her 2014 Commonwealth Games success. Her doping suspensions further impacted her ability to participate in Olympic qualification cycles.

      Doping Controversies

      Sanjita’s career has been marred by two significant doping controversies, which affected her reputation and competitive opportunities.

      1. 2017-2018 Doping Case:
        • Incident: In November 2017, Sanjita tested positive for testosterone (an anabolic steroid) in an out-of-competition test conducted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency before the 2017 World Championships in Las Vegas.
        • Provisional Suspension: The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) provisionally suspended her on May 30, 2018, after her ‘A’ sample tested positive. Her ‘B’ sample, tested in September 2018, also returned positive.
        • Administrative Error: The IWF admitted to an “administrative goof-up” involving discrepancies in sample numbers (1599000 and 1599176), strengthening Sanjita’s claim of innocence. She challenged the timelines and processes, seeking a probe into the handling of her sample.
        • Clearance: On June 10, 2020, the IWF dropped the charges due to “non-conformities” in sample handling, following a recommendation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Sanjita was cleared, but the ordeal caused significant mental and financial strain, costing her family over ₹25 lakh in legal and travel expenses.
        • Impact: The suspension prevented her from competing in IWF-sanctioned events, including the 2018 Asian Games and Olympic qualification events for Tokyo 2020. She demanded an apology and compensation for the mental trauma and lost opportunities, but no such resolution was reported.
      2. 2022 Doping Case:
        • Incident: Sanjita tested positive for drostanolone, an anabolic steroid, during an in-competition test at the National Games in Gujarat (September 28–October 5, 2022), where she won a silver medal in the 49 kg category.
        • Suspension and Ban: The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) provisionally suspended her, and on April 4, 2023, she was handed a four-year ban by NADA’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel. As a result, her silver medal from the National Games was stripped.
        • Context: This was her second doping violation, leading to significant scrutiny. Sanjita maintained her innocence, but no further appeals or clearances have been documented in the provided sources.

      Challenges and Injuries

      • Back Injury (2014): After her 2014 Commonwealth Games gold, Sanjita suffered a back injury that forced her to miss the 2014 Asian Games and World Championships, impacting her early career momentum.
      • Weight Category Changes: The IWF’s decision to eliminate the 53 kg category forced Sanjita to adjust to either the 49 kg or 55 kg category, adding challenges to her training and competitive strategy post-2020.

      Awards and Recognition

      • Arjuna Award Application: After being cleared of doping charges in 2020, Sanjita expressed intent to apply for the Arjuna Award, leveraging the extended submission deadline (June 22, 2020). However, earlier sources note her disappointment at not being included in the final list of Arjuna awardees, suggesting she may not have received this honor.
      • Commonwealth Games Record: Holds the Commonwealth Games record for the snatch in the 53 kg category (84 kg, set in 2018).

      Personal and Professional Life

      • Inspiration: Sanjita credits Kunjarani Devi, a veteran Manipuri weightlifter, for inspiring her to take up the sport. Kunjarani also served as her coach during the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
      • Railway Employment: As an employee of the Indian Railways, Sanjita has balanced her professional career with her athletic pursuits.
      • Training: Trained under the guidance of Kunjarani Devi and other coaches at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centers in Manipur, which have been instrumental in nurturing talent from the region.
      • Healthy Competition: Sanjita has maintained a friendly rivalry with fellow Manipuri weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, noting in a 2015 interview that their competition pushes both to excel. In 2014, they secured gold and silver, respectively, in the 48 kg category at the Commonwealth Games.

      Significance and Legacy

      • Pioneer for Manipur: Sanjita is part of Manipur’s rich legacy of producing world-class weightlifters, alongside Mirabai Chanu, Kunjarani Devi, and others. Her achievements have spotlighted Manipur as a hub for weightlifting talent in India.
      • Trailblazer for Women: As a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, Sanjita has inspired female athletes, particularly from marginalized regions, to pursue weightlifting despite societal and logistical challenges.
      • Resilience Amid Controversy: Despite facing doping allegations, Sanjita’s clearance in 2020 and her continued determination to compete reflect her resilience. However, the 2023 ban has cast a shadow over her legacy, raising questions about her career’s trajectory.

      Clarifications and Notes

      • Doping Controversies: The 2017-2018 case highlighted administrative errors by the IWF, lending credibility to Sanjita’s claims of innocence. However, the 2022 doping violation, confirmed by NADA, has not been overturned, suggesting a more complex narrative around her career.
      • Olympic Absence: Unlike Mirabai Chanu, who won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Sanjita’s injuries and doping suspensions prevented her from competing at the Olympic level, limiting her international exposure.
      • Data Gaps: Specific details about her early life, education, or personal life beyond her family’s Hindu Meitei background are limited in the sources. Further information from the Indian Weightlifting Federation or SAI archives could provide additional context.

      Conclusion

      Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu is a celebrated Indian weightlifter whose two Commonwealth Games gold medals (2014 and 2018) and Commonwealth Games snatch record (84 kg, 53 kg category) mark her as a significant figure in Indian sports. Her achievements, particularly as a woman from Manipur, have contributed to the state’s reputation as a sporting powerhouse. However, her career has been overshadowed by doping controversies, with a clearance in 2020 followed by a four-year ban in 2023, impacting her legacy. Her resilience, inspired by Kunjarani Devi and fueled by healthy competition with Mirabai Chanu, underscores her dedication to weightlifting. For further details, records from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) or NADA could provide additional insights into her competitive history and doping cases.


      Kelly Slater
      Wikipedia
      Kelly Slater
      Slater in 2017
      Personal information
      Born Robert Kelly Slater
      February 11, 1972 
      Residence California, U.S.
      Hawaii, U.S.
      Los Angeles, California U.S.
      Height 5'8 ft (173cm)
      Weight 160 lb (73 kg)
      Surfing career
      Years active 1989–present
      Best year Ranked 1st on the World Surf League: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
      Career earnings $4,071,360 (as of 4th January 2018)
      Surfing specifications
      Favorite maneuvers Barrels

      Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972) is an American professional surfer, best known for his unprecedented 11 world surfing championship wins. He is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time.

      Early years and personal life

      Slater grew up in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he still lives. He is the son of Judy Moriarity and Stephen Slater. He has two brothers, Sean and Stephen, and a daughter, Taylor, born in 1996.

      The son of a bait-store proprietor, Slater grew up near the water, and he began surfing at age five. By age 10 he was winning age-division events up and down the Atlantic coast, and in 1984 he won his first age-division United States championship title. Two years later he finished third in the junior division at the world amateur championships in England, and he won the Pacific Cup junior championship in Australia the following year.

      After turning professional in 1990, Slater struggled during his first two years on the professional tour, finishing 90th and 43rd in the world rankings those years. In 1992 he secured podium (top-three) finishes in three of his first five events before winning his first professional tour event, the Rip Curl Pro, in France. His win in that year's prestigious Pipeline Masters in Hawaii secured his first world title, and at age 20 he became the youngest surfing world champion ever. Slater finished sixth in the 1993 rankings but came back in 1994 to win the world tour during 1994–1998, during which time televised surfing events had become increasingly popular. He then took a break from competitive surfing at the end of 1998, before returning to the world pro tour in 2002.

      Accomplishments
      Surfing

      Slater, having grown up in Florida, was never truly comfortable in waves of consequence until a trip to Oahu in 1987. A giant northwest swell was pounding the coast, closing out breaks from Waimea to Sunset. He drove to Makaha, where he was greeted with 40' (Hawaiian scale) waves breaking across the bay. Slater parked and saw charger[clarification needed] Brandon "Big Wave" Davis waxing up his 11' board. Big Wave Davis simply gave Slater a wink and they paddled out, trading waves all afternoon. Slater credits Davis in his biography stating "Brandon's knowledge and poise in large surf had a huge impact on my career. Anytime I'm dropping in a big wave, I think back to that wink in the Makaha parking lot and I push myself over the ledge."
      Slater at Trestles, San Clemente State Beach, California

      Some of his favorite surf spots include Mondos in Ventura, California, Pipeline in Hawaii, Kirra in Australia, Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, Minis in Ireland, Taghazout in Morocco, Veiny's in New Zealand, Soup Bowls in Barbados, and Sebastian Inlet near his home in Florida.

      Musical appearances and collaborations

      Slater plays guitar and ukulele, and has performed with Jack Johnson and Angus Stone. Kelly Slater joined Rob Machado and Peter King in a band called The Surfers.

      Slater performed a song with Ben Harper during Harper's concert in Santa Barbara on August 1, 2006. He also performed Rockin' in the Free World with grunge band Pearl Jam on July 7, 2006 in San Diego.

      In 1999, he appeared alongside Garbage singer Shirley Manson in the promotional video for the band's single "You Look So Fine". He played a man washed up on a seashore, then rescued by Manson.

      Mixed media

      Slater played the recurring character Jimmy Slade on twenty-seven episodes of the popular TV show Baywatch in the early 1990s. He appeared in an episode of the reality show The Girls Next Door, and has starred in many surf films during his career.

      In the late 1990s Slater, with friends and fellow pro surfers Rob Machado and Peter King, formed a band called The Surfers. The trio released an album in 1998 titled Songs from the Pipe, a reference to the famous surf spot Pipeline on Oahu, Hawaii. Slater toured Australia with his band, performing in venues such as the Opera House and parliament house.

      A video game named Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer by Treyarch and published by Activision was released in 2002. Slater also appeared as a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 prior to this, complete with a surfboard.

      In addition to the ASP tour, Slater competed in the X-Games in 2003 and 2004 winning back to back Gold Medals.

      Environmentalism and philanthropy

      Slater is an advocate of a sustainable and clean living lifestyle. Slater is also a fundraiser and spokesperson for suicide prevention awareness. He has surfed in celebrity events for Surfers Against Suicide, telling sports website 'Athletes Talk': "I've lost a couple of friends myself to suicide and it's just a horrible thing that can be prevented. People get in this dark place and they don't know what to do so it's always nice to see a non-profit that isn't turning into anything else other than just trying to help people."

      Slater is passionate about preserving oceans globally and protecting temperate reefs in California through his relationship with Reef Check.

      In February 2017, Slater and fellow competitive surfer Jérémy Florès called for a daily cull of bull sharks by French authorities on Réunion following eight shark-related fatalities over the preceding six years. Environmentalists criticized the proposal, with Dr. Ken Collins of the University of Southampton describing it as “insane”.

      On May 8, 2010, the United States House of Representatives honored Slater in H. Res. 792 for his "outstanding and unprecedented achievements in the world of surfing and for being an ambassador of the sport and excellent role model." This resolution, sponsored by Florida representative Bill Posey and sponsored by 10 representatives, passed without objection by a voice vote.

      Slater is on the Board of Advisors (the Ocean Advocacy Advisory Board) of ocean conservation organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

      Professional development

      Slater historically and exclusively rode Channel Islands Surfboards equipped with his own signature series of FCS fins. As the media hype grew around Slater's lack of board stickers in 2015, Slater had been seen riding unlabelled Firewire surfboards, acquiring the company in 2014. In 2016 Slater released his own line of boards. As of August 2017 there are four Slater Designs models in the Firewire range: the Gamma, Cymatic, Omni and Sci-fi.

      Since 1990 Slater had been sponsored primarily by surfwear industry giant Quiksilver until his departure on April 1, 2014 to collaborate with fashion brand conglomerate Kering. In a statement released on his social media accounts, Slater states "For years I've dreamt of developing a brand that combines my love of clean living, responsibility and style. The inspiration for this brand comes from the people and cultures I encounter in my constant global travels and this is my opportunity to build something the way I have always wanted to." After Leaving Quiksilver, Slater, in collaboration with Kering, established the eco-friendly and sustainable apparel company 'Outerknown'.

      Slater also established the beverage company Purps, and became a brand ambassador for The Chia Co.

      Wave Pool

      Wave Pool was a ten-year 'experiment' to create the perfect inland wave situated in inland California. Kelly modeled the wave after a combination of Lower Trestles, California, a tubing wave on Oahu, Hawaii, and a secret right in Micronesia in the Marshall Islands. The project was a success and the surfing world was abuzz with the possibilities, mostly due to the wave's perfect shape and speed. In 2016 the World Surf League (WSL) acquired a majority stake in the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC) for an undisclosed sum. The WSL held a test event for professional surfers, including Filipe Toledo, Mick Fanning, Kanoa Igarashi, Gabriel Medina and others, at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. The Surf Ranch also hosted the WSL Founders Cup on May 5–6, 2018. The contest featured five teams - US, Brazil, Australia, Europe and World - made up of men's and women's surfers from the WSL Championship Tour. The WSL Surf Ranch was constructed outside of Lemoore, California and has remained private and exclusive.

      There is speculation he is developing Surf Ranch Florida, a man-made surfing lake in Palm Beach County. County commissioners unanimously approved plans for the county to evaluate the proposed surf facility in 2017. Brian Waxman, project leader for Surf Ranch Florida, said the World Surf League is considering bringing the wave lake to the Sunshine State for its weather and heritage of world-class surfers. It would encompass an 80-acre industrial lot east of Jupiter Farms, near the Pine Glades natural area.

      Coral Mountain is a proposed $200-million complex on 400 acres (160 ha) in La Quinta, California that would include a hotel and housing built around a surfing basin created by Kelly Slater Wave Co.

      Competitive achievements

      Slater with fellow pro surfers Rob Machado and Christiaan Bailey

      Slater has been crowned World Surf League Champion a record 11 times, including five consecutive titles in 1994–98. He is the youngest (at age 20) and the oldest (at age 39) to win the WSL men's title. Upon winning his fifth world title in 1997, Slater passed Australian surfer Mark Richards to become the most successful male champion in the history of the sport. In 2007 he also became the all-time leader in career event wins by winning the Boost Mobile Pro event at Lower Trestles near San Clemente, California. The previous record was held by Slater's childhood hero, three-time world champion Tom Curren. After earlier being awarded the title prematurely as a result of a miscalculation by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), on November 6, 2011 Slater officially won his eleventh ASP world title at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco, by winning his 4th round heat.

      Slater competing at the US Open at Huntington Beach, 2011

      In May 2005, in the final heat of the Billabong Tahiti Pro contest at Teahupo'o, Slater became the first surfer ever to be awarded two perfect scores for a total 20 out of 20 points under the ASP two-wave scoring system (fellow American Shane Beschen made the first perfect score under the previous three-wave system in 1996).

      Slater did it again in June 2013 at the quarter finals at the Volcom Fiji Pro with two perfect ten waves, only the fourth person in history to do so.

      Slater is also the oldest surfer to perform a 10 point ride in World Surf League competition at the age of 47 at the 2019 Billabong Pipe Masters.

      2013 stats and results

      World ranking: 1st
      Points: 54,150

      Event results in 2013 Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia): 1st
      Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia): 13th
      Volcom Fiji Pro (Tavarua/Namotu, Fiji): 1st
      Oakley Pro Bali (Keramas, Bali, Indonesia): 9th
      Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Taiarapu, French Polynesia): 2nd

      Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 1st

      He also won many other surfing titles.

      2012 stats and results

      World ranking: 2nd
      Points: 55,450

      Event results in 2012

      Quiksilver Pro presented by Land Rover (Gold Coast, Snapper Rocks, Australia): 5th
      Rip Curl Pro presented by Ford Ranger (Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia): 2nd
      Billabong Rio Pro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): INJ
      Volcom Fiji Pro (Tavarua/Namotu, Fiji): 1st
      Billabong Pro Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 13th
      Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California): 1st
      Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor-Landes, France): 1st
      Rip Curl Pro (Peniche, Portugal): 13th
      O'Neill Coldwater Classic Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, California): 9th
      Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd

      2011 stats and results

      World ranking: 2011 Champion
      Points: 68,100

      Event results in 2011
      Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st
      Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach, (Victoria, Australia): 5th
      Billabong Rio Pro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): 13th
      Nike Pro US Open (Huntington Beach, California, US): 1st
      Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 1st
      Quiksilver Pro New York (Long Beach, New York, US): 2nd
      Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California, US): 1st
      Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 5th
      Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche, Portugal): 2nd
      Rip Curl Search (Ocean Beach, San Francisco, US): 5th
      Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd

      2010 stats and results

      World ranking: 2010 Champion
      Points: 69000

      Event results in 2010
      Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 9th
      Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 1st
      Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): 2nd
      Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 17th
      Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 3rd
      Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California): 1st
      Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 2nd
      Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche, Portugal): 1st
      Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 (Middles Beach, Isabela, Puerto Rico): 1st
      Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd

      2009 stats and results
      World ranking: 6th.

      Event results in 2009
      Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 17th
      Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 17th
      Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 17th
      Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): 1st
      Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 9th
      Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California): 3rd
      Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 5th
      Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain): 3rd
      Rip Curl Search (Peniche, Portugal): 17th
      Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 2nd

      2008 stats and results

      World ranking: 2008 Champion
      Points: 8832

      Event results
      Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st
      Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 1st
      Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 17th
      Globe Pro, Fiji (Tavarua, Fiji): 1st
      Billabong Pro, J-Bay (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 1st
      Rip Curl Search (Bali, Indonesia): 17th
      Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California): 1st
      Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 2nd
      Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain): 9th
      Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): DNS
      Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 1st

      History of wins

      2019
      Triple Crown of Surfing (Specialty-Hawaii)

      2016
      Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti) - WT

      2014
      Volcom Pipe Pro (Pipeline, Hawaii) - QS 5-Stars

      2013
      Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia) - WT
      Volcom Fiji Pro (Tavarua/Namotu, Fiji) - WT
      Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Hawaii) - WT

      2012
      Volcom Fiji Pro (Tavarua, Fiji) - WT
      Hurley Pro (Trestles, California) - WT
      Quiksilver Pro France (South West Coast, France) - WT

      2011
      Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia) - WT
      Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti) - WT
      Hurley Pro (Trestles, California) - WT
      Nike US Open of Surfing (Huntington Beach, California) - QS Prime

      2010
      Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia) - WT
      Hurley Pro (Trestles, California) - WT
      Rip Curl Pro (Peniche, Portugal) - WT
      Rip Curl Search (Middles, Isabela, Puerto Rico) - WT

      2009
      Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil) - WT

      2008
      Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia) - WT
      Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia) - WT
      Globe Pro (Tavarua, Fiji) - WT
      Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa) - WT
      Boost Mobile Pro (Trestles, California) - WT
      Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Hawaii) - WT

      2007
      Boost Mobile Pro (Trestles, California) - WT

      2006
      Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia) - WT
      Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia) - WT

      2005
      Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti) - WT
      Globe Pro Fiji (Tavarua, Fiji) - WT
      Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa) - WT
      Boost Mobile Pro (Trestles, California) - WT

      2004
      X-Games SRF The Game
      Snickers Australian Open - QS
      Energy Australia Open - QS

      2003
      X-Games SRF The Game
      Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti) - WT
      Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa) - WT
      Billabong Pro (Mundaka, Spain) - WT
      Nova Schin Festival (Santa Catarina, Brazil) - WT

      2002
      Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau (Specialty-Hawaii)

      2000
      Gotcha Pro Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti) - WT

      1999
      Mountain Dew Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Hawaii) - WT

      1998
      Billabong Pro (Gold Coast, Australia) - WT
      Triple Crown of Surfing (Specialty-Hawaii)

      1997
      Coke Surf Classic (Manly Beach, Australia) - QS 6-Stars
      Billabong Pro (Gold Coast, Australia) - WT
      Tokushima Pro (Tokushima, Japan) - WT
      Marui Pro (Chiba, Japan) - WT
      Kaiser Summer Surf (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - WT
      Grand Slam (Specialty-Australia)
      Typhoon Lagoon Surf Challenge (Specialty-US)

      1996
      Coke Surf Classic (Narrabeen, Australia)
      Rip Curl Pro Saint Leu (Saint Leu, Reunion Island)
      CSI presents Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa)
      U.S. Open of Surfing (Huntington Beach, California)
      Rip Curl Pro Hossegor (Hossegor, France)
      Quiksilver Surfmasters (Biarritz, France)
      Chiemsee Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters (Pipeline, Hawaii)
      Sud Ouest Trophee (Specialty-France)
      Da Hui Backdoor Shootout (Specialty-Hawaii)

      1995
      Quiksilver Pro (Grajagan, Indonesia)
      Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Pipeline, Hawaii)
      Triple Crown of Surfing (Specialty-Hawaii)

      1994
      Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)
      Gotcha Lacanau Pro (Lacanau, France)
      Chiemsee Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters (Pipeline, Hawaii)
      Bud Surf Tour Seaside Reef (WQS-US)
      Bud Surf Tour Huntington (WQS-US)
      Sud Ouest Trophee (Specialty-France)

      1993
      Marui Pro (Chiba, Japan)

      1992
      Rip Curl Pro Landes (Hossegor, France)
      Marui Pipe Masters (Pipeline, Hawaii)

      1990
      Body Glove Surfbout (Trestles, California)

      Personal life

      Slater is an avid golfer and practices the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

      His surfing inspirations are said to be Andy Irons, Shane Dorian, Josh Kerr, and Dane Reynolds, Andrew Bloom, Drew Phelps, Ken Wells, and Hunter Collins.

      Filmography

      Films
      Surfers – The Movie (1990)
      Kelly Slater in Black and White (1991)
      Momentum 1 (1992)
      Focus (1994)
      Factory Seconds (1995)
      Momentum 2 (1996)
      Good Times (1996)
      Kelly Slater In Kolor (1997)
      The Show (1997) gas
      Loose Change (1999)
      Hit & Run (2000)
      Campaign 1 (2003)
      Doped Youth 'Groovy Avalon' (2004)
      Young Guns 1, 2 & 3 (2004–2008)
      Campaign 2 (2005)
      Burn (2005)
      Letting Go (2006)
      Surf's Up (2007)
      Down the Barrel (2007)
      One Track Mind (2008)
      Kelly Slater Letting Go (2008)
      Waveriders (2008)
      The Ocean (2008)
      A Fly in the Champagne (2009) (featuring Kelly Slater and Andy Irons)
      Cloud 9 (2009)
      Keep Surfing (2009)
      Ultimate Wave Tahiti (2010)
      Wave Warriors 3
      View from a Blue Moon (2015)
      Momentum Generation (2018)

      Cameo appearances
      "You Look So Fine" - Garbage music video (1999)
      "Surf's Up" (2007)

      Television
      Baywatch, 27 episodes (1992–1996)
      The Jersey, surfing episode 18 (2001)
      The Girls Next Door, "Surf's Up" 1 episode

      Kenchappa Varadaraj

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Kenchappa VaradarajPersonal information
      Date of birth 7 May 1924
      Date of death 20 December 2011 (aged 87)
      Place of death Rajajinagar, India
      Position(s) Goalkeeper

      K. V. Varadaraj (7 May 1924 – 20 December 2011) was an Indian footballer. He competed for India at the 1948 Summer Olympics.

      Kavita Devi 
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Kavita Devi
      Devi in April 2018
      Birth name Kavita Dalal
      Born 20 September 1986 
      Malvi, Jind District, Haryana, India
      Ring name(s) Hard KD
      Kavita
      Kavita Devi
      Billed height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
      Billed from Haryana, India
      Trained by The Great Khali
      Debut 2016

      Kavita Dalal (born 20 September 1986) is an Indian professional wrestler who performed in the WWE under the ring name Kavita Devi, on their developmental territory NXT between 2017 and 2021. Devi is the first female professional wrestler of Indian nationality to wrestle in WWE. Devi previously wrestled on the independent circuit under the ring names Kavita and Hard KD, most notably for Continental Wrestling Entertainment.

      Personal life

      Kavita Devi Dalal, one of the five siblings, was born in Malvi village of Julana tehsil of Jind district[5] of Haryana state of India. She got married in 2009 and gave birth to a child in 2010, after which she wanted to quit sports but inspired by her husband she continued playing.

      Weightlifting and powerlifting career

      Kavita Dalal

      Women's Weightlifting
      Representing  India
       2016 Guwahati and Shillong Freestyle (– 75 kg)

      Devi has represented India in international competition, she won gold in the 75 kg category at the 2016 South Asian Games.

      Awards

      12th South Asian Games
      Gold in women's weightlifting 75 kg

      Professional wrestling career
      Continental Wrestling Entertainment (2016–2017)

      On 24 February 2016, Kavita Dalal entered the promotion of The Great Khali named Continental Wrestling Entertainment, to begin her training as a professional wrestler. Devi made her debut for the promotion in June 2016, under the ring name Kavita, accepting the "Open Challenge" of B. B. Bull Bull before attacking her. On 25 June, she appeared with a new ring name, Hard KD, teaming with Sahil Sangwan in a losing effort against B. B. Bull Bull and Super Khalsa in the first mixed tag team match in promotion. Kavita cites her trainer The Great Khali as her main inspiration to become a professional wrestler.

      WWE (2017–2021)

      On 13 July, she was announced as one of the participants for the Mae Young Classic tournament. On 28 August, Kavita was eliminated in the first round by Dakota Kai.

      On 15 October 2017, WWE announced that Devi had signed a contract, and will start training at their Performance Center in January 2018. On 8 April 2018, Devi made her first appearance as part of the company while also making her WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania 34 competing during the inaugural WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal in which she was eliminated by Sarah Logan. On 19 April, Devi made her NXT Live event debut as a heel, teaming with Aliyah against Dakota Kai and Steffanie Newell in a losing effort. She participated in the Mae Young Classic 2018 but lost in the first round against a returning Kaitlyn. On 19 May 2021, it was announced that Devi was released from WWE.

      Business ventures

      In January 2019, she started trials for selecting players to launch a WWE Super League in India.
      Kunzang Bhutia

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Kunzang BhutiaPersonal information
      Full name Kunzang Bhutia
      Date of birth 3 January 1994
      Place of birth Lachung, Sikkim, India
      Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
      Playing position(s) Goalkeeper

      Kunzang Bhutia (born 3 January 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League.

      Career

      Born in Lachung, Sikkim, Bhutia was inspired by his uncle and aunt to play football. He started playing the game as a defender before being converted into a goalkeeper. He led the Sikkim under-16 side during the junior nationals in Goa. He then joined the Sports Authority of India and played matches for the academy in Delhi before joining the youth side at Royal Wahingdoh. Bhutia then represented his state of Sikkim in the 2010 Santosh Trophy at the age of 17. He then joined Shillong Lajong in 2013.

      Despite not playing a single match in the I-League for Shillong Lajong, Bhutia was signed on loan by NorthEast United of the Indian Super League. After returning from loan, Bhutia made his professional debut for Shillong Lajong in the I-League on 28 March 2015 against Sporting Goa. He came on in the 52nd minute for forward, David Ngaihte, after Shillong's starting goalkeeper, Vishal Kaith, was sent off. Bhutia went on to play the rest of the match and not concede as Shillong Lajong drew the match 1–1. After the season, Bhutia went out on loan again in the Indian Super League, this time to Atlético de Kolkata. After returning from loan and playing the 2015–16 season with Shillong Lajong, Bhutia signed with Calcutta Football League side Tollygunge Agragami.

      In November 2016, Bhutia signed with I-League 2nd Division side Fateh Hyderabad. He made his debut for the side in their season opener against Pride Sports on 21 January 2017. He started the match and kept the clean sheet as Fateh Hyderabad won 2–0.

      In July 2017, Bhutia was drafted by Indian Super League franchise ATK.
      Career statistics

      As of 22 April 2018
      ClubSeasonLeagueLeague CupDomestic CupContinentalTotal
      DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
      Shillong Lajong 2014–15 I-League 5 0 — — — — — — 5 0
      2015–15 I-League 1 0 — — — — — — 1 0
      Total6000000060
      NorthEast United (loan) 2014 Indian Super League 0 0 — — — — — — 0 0
      Atlético de Kolkata (loan) 2015 Indian Super League 0 0 — — — — — — 0 0
      Fateh Hyderabad 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division 5 0 — — — — — — 5 0
      ATK 2017–18 Indian Super League 0 0 — — — — — — 0 0
      Career total110000000110
      Kishan Tadvi

      Kishan Tadvi capped off the Maharashtra State Athletic Championships with his third gold medal - this time in the cross-country event (5000m) - at the Sports Authority of India's Kandivli campus

      Tadvi, who finished with a timing of 15:17.9 seconds yesterday, had clinched the gold medals in the boys U-17 1500m and 3000m events as well.u00a0In fact, Tadvi broke his own national record of 4:08.1 with a time of 04:05.6 in the 1500m on Thursday.

      “It was a special feeling to break my own record and that too at a state meet. I hope I am able to do well in the nationals,” Tadvi told MiD DAY.

      The Class X student, who belongs to the Tadvi Bhil tribe in Akkalkuwa (Nandurbar), added that he was grateful to the state government’s scholarship scheme devised to give free education to bright students from tribal belt.

      “I was studying in Janta School (in Dindori village of Nashik district) till Class V. For me, life was about going to school and living with my parents, who are farmers, in a village near Akkalkuwa. As I was good in studies, I was one of the 40 students selected under the state’s tribal scholarship scheme in 2008 and was admitted to the Bhonsala Military School in Nashik. Since then my life has changed for good.”

      Kishan narrated how the family was sometimes forced to starve during his childhood. “My father has some land on a hill-top. Agriculture depends on rains and there have been times when, due to scanty rainfall, we haven’t consumed food for many days.

      “I don’t starve in Nashik. Sports gave a new meaning to my life. I want to win an Olympic medal for my country some day and make my parents proud,” said Kishan.

      He explained how training with 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kavita Raut’s coach, Vijender Singh, gave his life a new direction.

      “I was always a good student. But I was lonely staying at the hostel away from my parents. I used to see Vijender sir train other kids at school. That’s when I approached him to train me. Today, with his help, I am confident that I can be a good athlete and win laurels for the country.”

      Athletics - Kisan Narshi Tadvi (born 10 January 1998
      Lalrindika Ralte

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Lalrindika Ralte
      Dika with East Bengal FC in 2019
      Personal information
      Full name Lalrindika Ralte
      Date of birth 7 September 1992
      Place of birth Lunglei, Mizoram, India
      Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)

      Club information

      Current team Real Kashmir
      Number 20
      Youth career
      2004-2009 IFA Academy
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2009–2012 Churchill Brothers 18 (7)
      2010–2011 → Pailan Arrows (loan) 7 (3)
      2012–2017 East Bengal 93 (18)
      2014 → Mumbai City (loan) 14 (1)
      2015 → Mumbai City (loan) 0 (0)
      2016 → Atlético Kolkata (loan) 13 (1)
      2017–2018 NorthEast United 12 (0)
      2018–2020 East Bengal 42 (4)
      2021- Real Kashmir 10 (1)
      National team‡
      2007–2008 India U16 7 (3)
      2009 India U19 5 (2)
      2011 India U23 9 (1)
      2011– India 16 (0)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 March 2021
      ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:49, 17 March 2015 (UTC)

      Lalrindika Ralte (born 7 September 1992 in Lunglei, Mizoram) popularly known as Dika, is an Indian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Real Kashmir in the I-League.

      Career

      Churchill Brothers and Pailan Arrows

      Ralte started his career at Churchill Brothers in 2009 and scored his first professional goal for the club on 1 April 2010 against JCT in the I-League in a 6–0 win. Ralte signed for Pailan Arrows on a season-long loan for the 2010–11 season. He scored his first goal for the Arrows on 3 December 2010 against Prayag United in Arrows' first ever professional match in the I-League. Ralte then scored a brace for the Arrows on 7 May 2011 against Mumbai to help Arrows win 2–1.

      Ralte moved back to Churchill for the 2011-12 I-League after his year-long loan and on 1 November 2011, scored his first goal since his return against Prayag United at the Fatorda Stadium to help Churchill draw the match 1–1 in the I-League. He then scored again on 17 December 2011 against Shillong Lajong in the I-League to help Churchill to a 6–0 win. He would then score on 15 January 2012 against Mohun Bagan in the I-League in a 2–3 loss. while he continued to play regular football and impressed, he did not score again until 1 April 2012, when he scored against Prayag United at the Fatorda Stadium again in a 5–2 victory. He scored his 5th goal of the season 15 days later on 15 April 2012 against Pune in a 2–0 away victory. He then scored his last goal of the season on 6 May 2012 against his former club, Pailan Arrows, in the 50th minute in a match that ended 3–2 in favor of his team.

      East Bengal

      Dika's signed for East Bengal in May 2012 and made his debut for the club on 21 September 2012 against Sporting Goa in the first match of the 2012 Federation Cup, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute for Ishfaq Ahmed. It did not take him long to make a huge contribution to the team as he scored the solitary goal in the semi-final of the Federation Cup on 27 September 2012 against his former team, Churchill Brothers, in the 111th minute of extra-time to send them into the final, which East Bengal would eventually go onto win 3–2 over Dempo in Siliguri. He then scored his first I-League goal for East Bengal in the second match of the season on 11 October 2012 against United Sikkim at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok from an 82nd-minute free kick in a 1–0 win. He scored his second goal for the club on 24 November 2012 against ONGC at the Salt Lake Stadium in a convincing 5–0 win. On 27 February 2013, he scored his first goal in continental competitions in the 2013 AFC Cup against Selangor FA in a 1–0 home win for East Bengal; a left footed striker from outside the box, beating the Malaysian goalkeeper Norazlan Razali on the 43rd minute. On 9 April 2013, he scored a 25-yard long curling left-footer on the 86th minute to secure a 2–1 home win over Tampines Rovers FC in the AFC Cup group stage. Ralte then would score his fourth goal of the AFC Cup against Kuwait SC on 1 October 2013 in the away leg of the 2013 AFC Cup semi-final match with a right-footed shot from the left of the box. With the goal against Kuwait SC, he became the joint highest Indian scorer of the tournament with Bhaichung Bhutia.

      Mumbai City(loan)

      Ralte was picked up by Mumbai City on loan for the 2014 Indian Super League as one of the most expensive signings. He started in Mumbai City FC's first ever game against Atletico de Kolkata. He assisted teammate Andre Moritz twice in a 5–0 win over derby rivals FC Pune City. Dika scored his first goal for Mumbai City on 7 December 2014 against Atletico de Kolkata in a 2–1 win.

      International

      Ralte has played for India at the under-16, under-19, under-23, and senior levels. He made his under-16 debut on 27 October 2007 during the 2008 AFC U-16 qualifiers against Sri Lanka in which India's under-16s won 6–0. He then scored his first goal at that level on 4 November 2007 during the qualifiers against Saudi Arabia in the 65th minute to provide India's under-16s a 3–0 win. Ralte then scored a brace for the India under-16s on 4 October 2008 against South Korea in the opening match of the 2008 AFC U-16 Championship but he could not stop India losing in the end 5–2. Ralte then made his under-19 debut on 5 November 2009 against Iraq during the 2010 AFC U-19 Qualifiers in which India's under-19s lost 5–0. Ralte then scored a brace for India's under-19s on 10 November 2009 against Oman in the U19 qualifiers in which Ralte scored in the 15th and 19th minute but could not stop India losing 4–3 in the end. Then on 23 February 2011 Ralte made his debut for the under-23 side against Myanmar in the 2012 Olympic qualifiers in which India U23s won 2–1. Ralte then scored his first goal at the under-23 level on 30 June 2012 during the 2013 AFC U-22 Asian Cup qualifiers against Turkmenistan in which Ralte scored from a 36th-minute penalty to give India U23s a 4–1 victory.

      Ralte made his debut for the senior side on 10 July 2011 against Maldives in a friendly in which he came on as a sub for Syed Nabi; India drew the match 1–1. Ralte then made his tournament debut for India during the opening match of the 2011 SAFF Championship on 3 December 2011 against Afghanistan at the Nehru Stadium in Delhi; India drew 1–1 in that match.

      Career statistics
      National team statistics

      Statistics accurate as of 17 March 2015
      YearAppsGoals
      2011 9 0
      2012 1 0
      2013 2 0
      2015 2 0
      Total140

      Honours

      I-League Runners-up (2): 2013-14, 2018-19
      ISL (1): 2015
      Len Aiyappa

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Len Aiyappa
      Personal information
      Full name Len Aiyappa Ballachanda Madappa
      Born 31 March 1979
      Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
      Playing position Fullback
      Senior career
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2005 Telekom Malaysia HC
      2005 - 2008 Bangalore Hi-Fliers
      2012 - present Karnataka Lions

      National team
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      ? - 2005 India
      Last updated on: 17 January 2013

      Len Aiyappa (born 31 March 1979) is an Indian professional field hockey player. He remained one of India's best drag-flickers until he retired from the national team following a fallout with the Indian Hockey Federation in 2006. He last played for India during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2005.

      Career

      Aiyappa, playing for Karnataka Lions in the inaugural season of the World Series Hockey, became the top scorer for the team and third overall by scoring 13 goals in 12 games. He joined the team on the insistence of Dhanraj Pillay and the coach of Karnataka Lions, Jude Felix and scored a hat-trick in the game against Chandigarh Comets.

      Personal life

      He is married.
      Lalthuammawia Ralte
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

      Lalthuammawia RaltePersonal information
      Full name Lalthuammawia Ralte
      Date of birth 28 November 1992 
      Place of birth Champhai,[1] Mizoram, India
      Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
      Position(s) Goalkeeper
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2011–2014 Shillong Lajong 40 (0)
      2014–2018 Bengaluru FC 28 (0)
      2015 → NorthEast United (loan) 0 (0)
      2018–2020 FC Goa 0 (0)
      2018-2019 → Kerala Blasters(loan) 0 (0)
      2019 → East Bengal (loan) 9 (0)
      2020—2021 Bengaluru FC 1 (0)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:14, 29 February 2020 (UTC)

      Lalthuammawia Ralte (born 28 November 1992), known as Mawia, is an Indian footballer who plays as the goalkeeper for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League.

      Shillong Lajong

      In the summer of 2011 Ralte signed with newly promoted club Shillong Lajong to play in the I-League. He then made his debut for the club against Churchill Brothers on 17 September 2011 in the 2011 Indian Federation Cup. The match ended 3-1 to Churchill. He helped the club then reach the semi-finals of the Federation Cup against Salgaocar where Lajong would lose 1-0 on 25 September 2011 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

      Bengaluru FC

      In the summer of 2014 Ralte joined defending I-League champions, Bengaluru FC. On 17 January 2015, Mawia made his debut for Bengaluru FC against Dempo at Bangalore Football Stadium in which he was able to kept his first clean sheet. In his debut season with Bengaluru, he has made 20 appearances and has helped them to win I-League. On 4 February 2015, Mawia made his AFC Champions League debut against Johor Darul Ta'zim at Larkin Stadium Malaysia. He signed a two-year contract with Bengaluru at the end of the season, which would keep him at the club until the end of the 2016-17 I-League season.

      NorthEast United FC (loan)

      In July 2015 Ralte was drafted to play for NorthEast United FC in the 2015 Indian Super League.

      FC Goa

      In January after zero games plays with FC Goa, he was loaned to Kerala Blasters FC.

      Kerala Blasters FC

      Ralte was signed in into the Blasters courtesy of swapping deal midway through the 2018-19 Indian Super League season by FC Goa and them. Ralte was sent on loan to Blasters while then Kerala Blasters goalkeeper Naveen Kumar was sent on loan to FC Goa from Blasters. Still Ralte didn't feature in a single game for the club and returned to Goa after the loan period.

      East Bengal FC (loan)

      In June 2019 Ralte is drafted to play for East Bengal in the 2019-20 I-League season.

      Bengaluru FC

      In the summer of 2020 Ralte joined his former club and 2018-19 Indian Super League champions, Bengaluru FC
      Laldanmawia Ralte
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Laldanmawia Ralte
      Ralte with East Bengal in 2019
      Personal information
      Full name Laldanmawia Ralte
      Date of birth 19 December 1992 
      Place of birth Mizoram, India

      Position(s) Winger
      Club information

      Current team NorthEast United
      Number 17
      Youth career
      2012–2014 Dinthar Football Club
      2014–2015 Chanmari Football Club
      2015 Chanmari West
      2016 Madras Sporting Union
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      2016–2017 Aizawl 15 (3)
      2017–2019 East Bengal 52 (17)
      2019–2021 Hyderabad 7 (0)
      2021– NorthEast United 4 (1)
      National team‡
      2018– India 5 (0)

      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:30, 13 December 2021 (UTC)

      ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 November 2018

      Laldanmawia Ralte (born 19 December 1992) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club NorthEast United.

      Career

      Born in Mizoram, Laldanmawia began his career in the Mizoram Premier League with Dinthar where he won the Best Midfielder of the Season award and was tied for the top goalscorer in the league's first season. While playing club football, Laldanmawia also represented the Mizoram football team in various competitions. He is an important player of the Mizoram, Santosh Trophy champion team.

      In early 2016, Laldanmawia left Mizoram to play in Tamil Nadu for MSU in the Chennai Super Division. After the season, he returned to Mizoram to sign with Chenmari West in the Mizoram Premier League.

      In December 2016 it was revealed that Laldanmawia had signed with I-League side Aizawl for the 2016–17 season. He made his professional debut for the side in the league on 13 January 2017 against Minerva Punjab. He came on as a 62nd-minute substitute for Albert Zohmingmawia as Aizawl came out as 1–0 winners.

      NorthEast United

      On 3 September 2021, NorthEast United announced that they had completed the signing of Danmawia on a two-year deal. He made his debut for the club on 20 November against Bengaluru FC in a 4–2 loss. He scored his first goal on 13 December in a 1–5 lost against Hyderabad FC.

      International career

      In June 2018, he was called up to the national team for the Intercontinental Cup (India), where he made his debut in the final against Kenya in a 2–0 win for his team.

      Lako Phuti Bhutia

      Lako Phuti Bhutia (born October 20, 1994, in Sribadam, West Sikkim, India) is an Indian professional women's footballer known for her tenacity as a defender. At 31 years old (as of 2025), she stands as a symbol of resilience from one of India's most remote regions, emerging from a humble background to represent the nation on international stages. Hailing from the Bhutia community—a Scheduled Tribe (ST) ethnic group indigenous to Sikkim—she is the daughter of Mikchen Bhutia (father) and the late Pema Lhamu Bhutia (mother). Her sister, Nima Lhamu Bhutia, is also a footballer, making theirs a sporting family duo that has inspired many in Sikkim. Lako completed her schooling up to Class 12 and credits her early motivation to football's role in her life, viewing it as a pathway out of economic hardship. She is unmarried, with no public details on personal relationships, and maintains a low-profile life focused on her career. As a product of grassroots development, Bhutia embodies the "pay-it-forward" spirit, often stating in interviews that every sacrifice was worth wearing the national jersey. Her net worth is estimated modestly under ₹50 lakhs (as of 2023), primarily from club salaries and endorsements, reflecting the challenges in women's football.

      Early Life and Entry into Football

      Born in the isolated village of Sribadam in West Sikkim—a region with limited infrastructure—Lako grew up amid mountainous terrain that honed her physical endurance. Football entered her life as a child, influenced by local games and her sister's involvement. At age 14, she joined the Mangalbari Women’s Football Academy in Gangtok, Sikkim, where she trained under coach Palden Bhutia. This academy, a key hub for northeastern talents, provided her first structured exposure, emphasizing defense and stamina—skills vital for Sikkim's hilly pitches.

      Her breakthrough came in 2012 at 18, when she was selected for the India U-19 Women's National Team for the 2013 AFC U-19 Women's Championship qualifiers in Malaysia. As the fourth Sikkimese woman after Pushpa Chetri, Anuradha Chetri, and her sister Nima, this call-up marked her as a rising star. She described the moment as life-changing, fueling her dream to turn professional and encourage girls from remote areas.

      Professional Career

      Lako plays primarily as a right-back defender, known for her aggressive tackling, speed, and crossing ability. Her career spans domestic leagues, international stints, and national duty:

      • Club Career:
        • 2014: Pioneered abroad by joining Maldives' New Radiant S.C., becoming one of the few Indian women to play professionally overseas. This exposure refined her tactical awareness.
        • 2017–18: Joined Gokulam Kerala FC for the inaugural Indian Women's League (IWL), contributing to their title win and earning praise for defensive solidity.
        • 2018: Competed with Sunrise WFC in the Bhutan Women's National Championship, showcasing versatility in South Asian circuits.
        • 2023–Present: Currently with Shillong Lajong FC (some sources list Shirsh Bihar United, possibly a prior or affiliate club), where she continues in the IWL, focusing on youth integration and regional development.

      Her domestic stats are limited due to women's football's nascent data tracking, but she has over 50 club appearances, with strengths in interceptions and assists.

      • International Career:
        • Debuted for the senior India Women's National Team in 2012 during AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Palestine.
        • Selected alongside her sister for a 2013 national camp for Asian Cup qualifiers (Nima withdrew for personal reasons).
        • Has earned 8 caps with 1 goal, debuting at 17— a milestone for Sikkim.
        • Key tournaments: AFC U-19 Championship (2012–13, Malaysia/Vietnam); SAFF Women's Championship (2014, Islamabad—gold medal); AFC Senior Championship (2015, Palestine).

      In a 2014 interview post-SAFF win, she said, "It is a matter of great pride... every drop of sweat was worth it," highlighting her role in India's 4-0 final victory over Bangladesh.

      Achievements and Recognition

      Lako's accolades underscore her impact on Indian women's football, particularly from the Northeast:

      Event/TournamentYearAchievementDetails
      AFC U-19 Women's Championship Qualifiers2012–13ParticipantRepresented India in Malaysia and Vietnam; 4th Sikkimese woman in nationals.
      SAFF Women's Championship2014Gold MedalKey defender in India's title win in Islamabad, Pakistan; her 2nd senior outing.
      AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers2013–15ParticipantCamp selection and play in Palestine; contributed to regional qualification efforts.
      Indian Women's League (IWL)2017–18Champion (with Gokulam Kerala)Defensive anchor in league debut season.
      Bhutan Women's National Championship2018ParticipantWith Sunrise WFC; cross-border experience.
      • Awards: No major individual honors like Arjuna Award (as of 2025), but recognized in Sikkim state awards for sports excellence (2015). Featured in "Dalits in Games/Sports" compilations as an ST icon.
      • Milestones: First Sikkimese woman in Maldives pro league; inspired "Bright Future for Indian Women's Football" headlines (2014). Her story has motivated academies in Sikkim, with over 200 girls citing her as influence.

      Personal Life and Legacy

      Beyond the pitch, Lako is a fitness advocate, sharing training tips on social media (though her X/Instagram presence is minimal; search yields no active verified handle as of 2025). She aims to "make a career out of football and encourage more girls," often visiting Sribadam schools for clinics. Challenges include funding shortages in women's sports and Sikkim's isolation, but she credits her late mother's sacrifices for her drive.

      As of October 2025—her 31st birthday—Lako remains active, potentially eyeing coaching post-retirement. Her journey from remote hills to national glory parallels Sikkim's football surge, alongside legends like Bhaichung Bhutia (no direct relation). She symbolizes empowerment for ST women, proving remote origins don't limit dreams. For latest updates, follow AIFF announcements, as women's football gains traction with IWL expansions.

      Laishram Sarita Devi

      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Laishram SaritaPersonal information
      Full name Sarita Devi
      Nationality Indian
      Born 1 March 1982
      Thoubal khunou, Thoubal, Manipur, India
      Height 168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
      Weight 60 kg (132 lb)
      Sport
      Sport Boxing
      Club All India Police

      show
      Medal record

      Laishram Sarita Devi (born 1 March 1982) is an Indian boxer from Manipur. She is a national champion and a former world champion in the lightweight class. In 2009, she was awarded Arjuna award by the government of India for her achievement.

      Early life

      Sarita Devi was born in Thoubal Khunou Thoubal into an agricultural family as the sixth of eight siblings. She used to spend her time helping her parents in collecting firewood and in the fields, which helped her build the stamina she has today. Sarita completed her high school in Waithou Mapal High School till the eighth standard and then went to Bal Baidya Mandir, Thoubal to complete her matriculation. She then went to an open-school to complete her twelfth standard to cope with her busy boxing schedule.

      Career

      Devi turned professional in boxing in 2000, inspired by the achievements of Muhammad Ali. The following year, she represented India at the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok, and won a silver medal in her weight class. Following this victory, she won medals in various tournaments, including a gold at the 2006 World Championships in New Delhi. In 2005, she was offered the post of Sub-Inspector (SI) by the police department of Manipur, for winning a bronze medal in the 3rd World Women Boxing Championship, Russia and was promoted to the rank of DSP in February, 2010. She also won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

      She failed to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics, after losing to Victoria Torres, with a score of 0–3. In 2018, she won Silver Medal at Indian Open International Championships, New Delhi and bagged a Gold Medal at Sr. National Boxing Championships, Rohtak. She also won in Women's World Boxing Championship with a split 4-0 verdict against Sandra Diana.

      2014 Asian Games controversy

      Devi entered the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, competing in the lightweight category. With a win margin of 3–0 both in the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals, she entered the semifinals to face South Korea's Park Ji-Na on 30 September. After the match, she was handed a 0–3 defeat verdict by the judges of the match, which turned out to be hugely controversial, considering that Devi had knocked Park out in the third round and also a convincing fourth round, before having rained heavy blows on Park throughout the first two rounds. Following this, the Indian team lodged a protest against the decision, which was rejected by the AIBA's technical committee. At the medal awarding ceremony, Devi refused to accept her bronze medal and handed it over to the silver medallist, Park. However, she accepted the medal later. This was followed by provisional suspension of her coaches by the AIBA. She was handed a one-year ban by the AIBA.
      Lance Armstrong
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Lance Armstrong
      Armstrong before the 2009 Tour Down Under
      Personal information
      Full name Lance Edward Armstrong
      Nickname Le Boss
      Big Tex
      Born Lance Edward Gunderson
      September 18, 1971
      Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
      Weight 75 kg (165 lb)
      Team information
      Discipline Road
      Role Rider
      Rider type All-rounder
      Amateur teams
      1990–1991 Subaru–Montgomery
      Professional teams
      1992–1996 Motorola
      1997 Cofidis
      1998–2005 U.S. Postal Service
      2009 Astana
      2010–2011 Team RadioShack
      Major wins
      Grand TourTour de France2 individual stages (1993, 1995)



      Lance Edward Armstrong (né Gunderson; born September 18, 1971) is an American former professional road racing cyclist. Armstrong was stripped of his seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005 after a doping investigation and his admission to using performance enhancing drugs.

      At age 16, Armstrong began competing as a triathlete and was a national sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990. In 1992, he began his career as a professional cyclist with the Motorola team. He had success between 1993 and 1996 with the World Championship in 1993, the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1995, Tour DuPont in 1995 and 1996, and a handful of stage victories in Europe, including stage 8 of the 1993 Tour de France and stage 18 of the 1995 Tour de France. In 1996, he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal metastatic testicular cancer. After his recovery, he founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation (now the Livestrong Foundation) to assist other cancer survivors.

      Returning to cycling in 1998, Armstrong was a member of the US Postal/Discovery team between 1998 and 2005 when he won his seven Tour de France titles. Armstrong retired from racing at the end of the 2005 Tour de France, but returned to competitive cycling with the Astana team in January 2009, finishing third in the 2009 Tour de France later that year. Between 2010 and 2011, he raced with Team Radio Shack, and retired for a second time in 2011. These wins and titles would be later stripped after the doping investigations.

      Armstrong became the subject of doping allegations after he won the 1999 Tour de France. For years, he denied involvement in doping. In 2012, a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation concluded that Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs over the course of his career and named him as the ringleader of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen". While maintaining his innocence, Armstrong chose not to contest the charges, citing the potential toll on his family. He received a lifetime ban from all sports that follow the World Anti-Doping Code, ending his competitive cycling career. The International Cycling Union (UCI) upheld USADA's decision and decided that his stripped wins would not be allocated to other riders. In January 2013, Armstrong publicly admitted his involvement in doping. In April 2018, Armstrong settled a civil lawsuit with the United States Department of Justice and agreed to pay US$5 million to the U.S. government after whistleblower proceedings were commenced by Floyd Landis, a former team member.

      Early life

      Armstrong was born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971, at Methodist Hospital in Richardson, Texas, the son of Linda Gayle (née Mooneyham), a secretary, and Eddie Charles Gunderson (died 2012),[citation needed] a route manager for The Dallas Morning News. He is of Canadian, Dutch, and Norwegian descent  He was named after Lance Rentzel, a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. His parents divorced in 1973 when Lance was two. The next year, his mother married Terry Keith Armstrong, a wholesale salesman, who adopted Lance that year.

      Career
      Early career
      Armstrong (center left) during the amateur race at the 1990 UCI Road World Championships

      At the age of 12, Armstrong started his sporting career as a swimmer at the City of Plano Swim Club and finished fourth in Texas state 1,500-meter freestyle. He stopped swimming-only races after seeing a poster for a junior triathlon, called the Iron Kids Triathlon, which he won at age 13.

      In the 1987–1988 Tri-Fed/Texas ("Tri-Fed" was the former name of USA Triathlon), Armstrong was ranked the number-one triathlete in the 19-and-under group; second place was Chann McRae, who became a US Postal Service cycling teammate and the 2002 USPRO national champion. Armstrong's total points in 1987 as an amateur were better than those of five professionals ranked higher than he was that year. At 16, Lance Armstrong became a professional triathlete and became national sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990 at 18 and 19, respectively.

      Motorola: 1992–96

      In 1992, Armstrong turned professional with the Motorola Cycling Team, the successor of 7-Eleven team. In 1993, Armstrong won 10 one-day events and stage races, but his breakthrough victory was the World Road Race Championship held in Norway. Before his World Championships win, he took his first win at the Tour de France, in the stage from Châlons-sur-Marne to Verdun. He was 97th in the general classification when he retired after stage 12. He collected the Thrift Drug Triple Crown of Cycling: the Thrift Drug Classic in Pittsburgh, the K-Mart West Virginia Classic, and the CoreStates USPRO national championship in Philadelphia. He is alleged by another cyclist competing in the CoreStates Road Race to have bribed that cyclist so that he would not compete with Armstrong for the win.

      In 1994, he again won the Thrift Drug Classic and came second in the Tour DuPont in the United States. His successes in Europe occurred when he placed second in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the Clásica de San Sebastián, where just two years before, he had finished in last place at his first all-pro event in Europe. He finished the year strongly at the World Championships in Agrigento, finishing in 7th place less than a minute behind winner Luc Leblanc.

      In a 2016 speech to University of Colorado, Boulder professor Roger A. Pielke, Jr.'s Introduction to Sports Governance class, Armstrong stated he began doping in "late Spring of 1995".

      He won the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1995, followed by an overall victory in the penultimate Tour DuPont and a handful of stage victories in Europe, including the stage to Limoges in the Tour de France, three days after the death of his teammate Fabio Casartelli, who crashed on the descent of the Col de Portet d'Aspet on the 15th stage. After winning the stage, Armstrong pointed to the sky in honor of Casartelli.

      Armstrong's successes were much the same in 1996. He became the first American to win the La Flèche Wallonne and again won the Tour DuPont. However, he was able to compete for only five days in the Tour de France. In the 1996 Olympic Games, he finished 6th in the time trial and 12th in the road race. In August 1996 following the Leeds Classic, Armstrong signed a 2-year, $2 million deal with the French Cofidis Cycling Team. Joining him in signing contracts with the French team were teammates Frankie Andreu and Laurent Madouas. Two months later, in October 1996, he was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer.

      Cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery

      On October 2, 1996, at the age of 25, Armstrong was diagnosed with stage three (advanced) testicular cancer (embryonal carcinoma). The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, lungs, brain, and abdomen. He visited urologist Jim Reeves in Austin, Texas for diagnosis of his symptoms, including a headache, blurred vision, coughing up blood and a swollen testicle. On October 3, Armstrong had an orchiectomy to remove the diseased testicle. When Reeves was asked in a later interview what he thought Armstrong's chances of survival were, he said, "Almost none. We told Lance initially 20 to 50% chance, mainly to give him hope. But with the kind of cancer he had, with the x-rays, the blood tests, almost no hope."

      After receiving a letter from Steven Wolff, an oncologist at Vanderbilt University, Armstrong went to the Indiana University medical center in Indianapolis  and decided to receive the rest of his treatment there. The standard treatment for Armstrong's cancer was a "cocktail" of the drugs bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (or Platinol) (BEP). The first chemotherapy cycle that Armstrong underwent included BEP, but for the three remaining cycles, he was given an alternative, vinblastine etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VIP), to avoid lung toxicity associated with bleomycin.[28] Armstrong credited this with saving his cycling career. At Indiana University, Lawrence Einhorn had pioneered the use of cisplatin to treat testicular cancer. Armstrong's primary oncologist there was Craig Nichols. On October 25 his brain lesions, which were found to contain extensive necrosis, were surgically removed by Scott A. Shapiro, a professor of neurosurgery at Indiana University.

      Armstrong's final chemotherapy treatment took place on December 13, 1996. In January 1997, Armstrong unexpectedly appeared at the first training camp of the Cofidis team at Lille, riding 100 km (62 mi) with his new teammates before returning to the United States. In February 1997, he was declared cancer-free. In October, Cofidis announced that his contract would not be extended, after negotiations broke down over a new deal. A former boss at Subaru Montgomery offered him a contract with the US Postal team at a salary of $200,000 a year. By January 1998, Armstrong was engaged in serious training for racing, moving to Europe with the team.

      US Postal/Discovery: 1998–2005

      Before his cancer treatment, Armstrong had participated in four Tour de France races, winning two stages. In 1993, he won the eighth stage and in 1995; he took stage 18 which he dedicated to teammate Fabio Casartelli who had crashed and died on stage 15. Armstrong dropped out of the 1996 Tour after the fifth stage after becoming ill, a few months before his diagnosis.[citation needed]
      Armstrong finishing third in Sète, taking over the Yellow Jersey at Grand Prix Midi Libre.

      Armstrong's cycling comeback began in 1998 when he finished fourth in the Vuelta a España. In 1999 he won the Tour de France, including four stages. He beat the second place rider, Alex Zülle, by 7 minutes 37 seconds. However, the absence of Jan Ullrich (injury) and Marco Pantani (drug allegations) meant Armstrong had not yet proven himself against the biggest names in the sport. Stage wins included the prologue, stage eight, an individual time trial in Metz, an Alpine stage on stage nine, and the second individual time trial on stage 19.

      In 2000, Ullrich and Pantani returned to challenge Armstrong. The race began a six-year rivalry between Ullrich and Armstrong and ended in victory for Armstrong by 6 minutes 2 seconds over Ullrich. Armstrong took one stage in the 2000 Tour, the second individual time trial on stage 19. In 2001, Armstrong again took top honors, beating Ullrich by 6 minutes 44 seconds. In 2002, Ullrich did not participate due to suspension, and Armstrong won by seven minutes over Joseba Beloki.
      Armstrong riding the prologue of the 2004 Tour de France

      The pattern returned in 2003, Armstrong taking first place and Ullrich second. Only a minute and a second separated the two at the end of the final day in Paris. U.S. Postal won the team time trial on stage four, while Armstrong took stage 15, despite having been knocked off on the ascent to Luz Ardiden, the final climb, when a spectator's bag caught his right handlebar. Ullrich waited for him, which brought Ullrich fair-play honors.

      In 2004, Armstrong finished first, 6 minutes 19 seconds ahead of German Andreas Klöden. Ullrich was fourth, a further 2 minutes 31 seconds behind. Armstrong won a personal-best five individual stages, plus the team time trial. He became the first biker since Gino Bartali in 1948 to win three consecutive mountain stages; 15, 16, and 17. The individual time trial on stage 16 up Alpe d'Huez was won in style by Armstrong as he passed Ivan Basso on the way despite having set out two minutes after the Italian. He won sprint finishes from Basso in stages 13 and 15 and made up a significant gap in the last 250 m to nip Klöden at the line in stage 17. He won the final individual time trial, stage 19, to complete his personal record of stage wins.
      Armstrong wearing the yellow jersey at the 2005 Tour de France

      In 2005, Armstrong was beaten by American David Zabriskie in the stage 1 time trial by two seconds, despite having passed Ullrich on the road. His Discovery Channel team won the team time trial, while Armstrong won the final individual time trial. In the mountain stages, Armstrong's lead was attacked multiple times mostly by Ivan Basso, but also by T-mobile leaders Jan Ullrich, Andreas Kloden and Alexandre Vinokourov and former teammate Levi Leipheimer. But still, the American champion handled them well, maintained his lead and, on some occasions, increased it. To complete his record-breaking feat, he crossed the line on the Champs-Élysées on July 24 to win his seventh consecutive Tour, finishing 4 m 40s ahead of Basso, with Ullrich third. Another record achieved that year was that Armstrong completed the tour at the highest pace in the race's history: his average speed over the whole tour was 41.7 km/h (26 mph). In 2005, Armstrong announced he would retire after the 2005 Tour de France, citing his desire to spend more time with his family and his foundation. During his retirement he was unaware of professional cycling but whilst at a conference, in 2008, he saw Carlos Sastre's win on Alpe d'Huez and "felt a pang".

      Comeback

      Astana Pro Team: 2009

      Armstrong announced on September 9, 2008, that he would return to pro cycling with the express goal of participating in the 2009 Tour de France. VeloNews reported that Armstrong would race for no salary or bonuses and would post his internally tested blood results online.
      Armstrong riding for Astana on Stage 17 of the 2009 Tour de France

      Australian ABC radio reported on September 24, 2008, that Armstrong would compete in the UCI Tour Down Under through Adelaide and surrounding areas in January 2009. UCI rules say a cyclist has to be in an anti-doping program for six months before an event, but UCI allowed Armstrong to compete. He had to retire from the 2009 Vuelta a Castilla y León during the first stage after crashing in a rider pileup in Baltanás, Spain, and breaking his collarbone.[46] Armstrong flew back to Austin, Texas, for corrective surgery, which was successful, and was back training on a bicycle within four days of his operation.

      On April 10, 2009, a controversy emerged between the French anti-doping agency AFLD and Armstrong and his team manager, Johan Bruyneel, stemming from a March 17, 2009, encounter with an AFLD anti-doping official who visited Armstrong after a training ride in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. When the official arrived, Armstrong claims he asked—and was granted—permission to take a shower while Bruyneel checked the official's credentials. In late April, the AFLD cleared Armstrong of any wrongdoing. Armstrong returned to racing after his collarbone injury at the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico on April 29.

      On July 7, in the fourth stage of the 2009 Tour de France, Armstrong narrowly failed to win the yellow jersey after his Astana team won the team time trial. His Astana team won the 39 km lap of Montpellier but Armstrong ended up just over two tenths of a second (0.22) outside Fabian Cancellara's overall lead. Armstrong finished the 2009 Tour de France in third place overall, 5:24 behind the overall winner, his Astana teammate Alberto Contador.

      Team RadioShack: 2010–11
      Armstong riding in the 2010 Tour de France in his RadioShack jersey

      On July 21, 2009, Armstrong announced that he would return to the Tour de France in 2010. RadioShack was named as the main sponsor for Armstrong's 2010 team, named Team RadioShack. Armstrong made his 2010 season debut at the Tour Down Under where he finished 25th out of the 127 riders who completed the race. He made his European season debut at the 2010 Vuelta a Murcia finishing in seventh place overall. Armstrong was also set to compete in several classics such as the Milan–San Remo, Amstel Gold Race, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Tour of Flanders, but bouts with gastroenteritis forced his withdrawal from three of the four races.

      Armstrong returned to the United States in mid-April to compete in the Tour of Gila and May's Tour of California, both as preparation for the Tour de France. However, he crashed outside Visalia early in stage 5 of the Tour of California and had to withdraw from the race. He showed fine shape after recovering from the Tour of California crash, placing second in the Tour of Switzerland and third in the Tour of Luxembourg.

      On June 28, Armstrong announced via Twitter that the 2010 edition would be his final Tour de France. Armstrong put in an impressive performance in the Tour's prologue time trial, finishing fourth, but was plagued by crashes in later stages that put him out of general classification contention, especially a serious crash in stage 8. He rallied for the brutal Pyrenean stage 16, working as a key player in a successful break that included teammate Chris Horner. He finished his last tour in 23rd place, 39 minutes 20 seconds behind former winner Alberto Contador. He was also a key rider in helping Team RadioShack win the team competition, beating Caisse d'Epargne by 9 minutes, 15 seconds. In October, he announced the end of his international career after the Tour Down Under in January 2011. He stated that after January 2011, he will race only in the U.S. with the Radioshack domestic team.

      Armstrong announced his retirement from competitive cycling 'for good' on February 16, 2011, while still facing a US federal investigation into doping allegations.

      Collaboration of sponsors

      Armstrong improved the support behind his well-funded teams, asking sponsors and suppliers to contribute and act as part of the team. For example, rather than having the frame, handlebars, and tires designed and developed by separate companies with little interaction, his teams adopted a Formula One relationship with sponsors and suppliers named "F-One", taking full advantage of the combined resources of several organizations working in close communication. The team, Trek, Nike, AMD, Bontrager (a Trek company), Shimano, Sram, Giro and Oakley, collaborated for an array of products.

      Doping allegations, investigation and confession

      For much of his career, Armstrong faced persistent allegations of doping. Armstrong denied all such allegations until January 2013, often claiming that he never had any positive test in the drug tests he has taken over his cycling career.

      Armstrong has been criticized for his disagreements with outspoken opponents of doping such as Paul Kimmage and Christophe Bassons. Bassons was a rider for Festina at the time of the Festina affair and was widely reported by teammates as being the only rider on the team not to be taking performance-enhancing drugs. Bassons wrote a number of articles for a French newspaper during the 1999 Tour de France which made references to doping in the peloton. Subsequently, Armstrong had an altercation with Bassons during the 1999 Tour de France where Bassons said Armstrong rode up alongside on the Alpe d'Huez stage to tell him "it was a mistake to speak out the way I (Bassons) do and he (Armstrong) asked why I was doing it. I told him that I'm thinking of the next generation of riders. Then he said 'Why don't you leave, then?'"

      Armstrong confirmed the story. On the main evening news on TF1, a national television station, Armstrong said, "His accusations aren't good for cycling, for his team, for me, for anybody. If he thinks cycling works like that, he's wrong and he would be better off going home". Kimmage, a professional cyclist in the 1980s who later became a sports journalist, referred to Armstrong as a "cancer in cycling". He also asked Armstrong questions in relation to his "admiration for dopers" at a press conference at the Tour of California in 2009, provoking a scathing reaction from Armstrong. This spat continued and is exemplified by Kimmage's articles in The Irish Independent.

      Armstrong continued to deny the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs for four more years, describing himself as the most tested athlete in the world. From his return to cycling in the fall of 2008 through March 2009, Armstrong claimed to have submitted to 24 unannounced drug tests by various anti-doping authorities.

      Working with Michele Ferrari

      Armstrong was criticized for working with controversial trainer Michele Ferrari. Ferrari claimed that he was introduced to Lance by Eddy Merckx in 1995. Greg LeMond described himself as "devastated" on hearing of them working together, while Tour de France organizer Jean-Marie Leblanc said, "I am not happy the two names are mixed." Following Ferrari's later-overturned conviction for "sporting fraud" and "abuse of the medical profession", Armstrong claimed he suspended his professional relationship with him, saying that he had "zero tolerance for anyone convicted of using or facilitating the use of performance-enhancing drugs" and denying that Ferrari had ever "suggested, prescribed or provided me with any performance-enhancing drugs."

      Though Ferrari was banned from practicing medicine with cyclists by the Italian Cycling Federation, according to Italian law enforcement authorities, Armstrong met with Ferrari as late as 2010 in a country outside Italy. According to Cycling News, "USADA reveals an intimate role played by Dr. Michele Ferrari in masterminding Armstrong's Tour de France success". According to the USADA report, Armstrong paid Ferrari over a million dollars from 1996 to 2006, countering Armstrong's claim that he severed his professional relationship with Ferrari in 2004. The report also includes numerous eyewitness accounts of Ferrari injecting Armstrong with EPO on a number of occasions.

      L.A. Confidentiel: 2004

      In 2004, reporters Pierre Ballester and David Walsh published a book alleging Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs (L.A. Confidentiel – Les secrets de Lance Armstrong). Another figure in the book, Steve Swart, claims he and other riders, including Armstrong, began using drugs in 1995 while members of the Motorola team, a claim denied by other team members.

      Among the allegations in the book were claims by Armstrong's former soigneur Emma O'Reilly that a backdated prescription for cortisone had been produced in 1999 to avoid a positive test. A 1999 urine sample at the Tour de France showed traces of corticosteroid. A medical certificate showed he used an approved cream for saddle sores which contained the substance. O'Reilly said she heard team officials worrying about Armstrong's positive test for steroids during the Tour. She said: "They were in a panic, saying: 'What are we going to do? What are we going to do?'"

      According to O'Reilly, the solution was to get one of their compliant doctors to issue a pre-dated prescription for a steroid-based ointment to combat saddle sores. He said she would have known if Armstrong had saddle sores as she would have administered any treatment for it. O'Reilly said that Armstrong told her: "Now, Emma, you know enough to bring me down." O'Reilly said on other occasions she was asked to dispose of used syringes for Armstrong and pick up strange parcels for the team.

      Allegations in the book were reprinted in The Sunday Times (UK) by deputy sports editor Alan English in June 2004. Armstrong sued for libel, and the paper settled out of court after a High Court judge in a pre-trial ruling stated that the article "meant accusation of guilt and not simply reasonable grounds to suspect." The newspaper's lawyers issued the statement: "The Sunday Times has confirmed to Mr. Armstrong that it never intended to accuse him of being guilty of taking any performance-enhancing drugs and sincerely apologized for any such impression." The same authors (Pierre Ballester and David Walsh) subsequently published L.A. Official and Le Sale Tour (The Dirty Trick), further pressing their claims that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.

      On March 31, 2005, Mike Anderson filed a brief in Travis County District Court in Texas, as part of a legal battle following his termination in November 2004 as an employee of Armstrong. Anderson worked for Armstrong for two years as a personal assistant. In the brief, Anderson claimed that he discovered a box of androstenone while cleaning a bathroom in Armstrong's apartment in Girona, Spain. Androstenone is not on the list of banned drugs. Anderson stated in a subsequent deposition that he had no direct knowledge of Armstrong using a banned substance. Armstrong denied the claim and issued a counter-suit. The two men reached an out-of-court settlement in November 2005; the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

      In November 2012, Times Newspapers republished all of Walsh's articles as well as the original "LA Confidential" article by Alan English in Lanced: The shaming of Lance Armstrong. The Times is said to be considering taking action to recoup money from Armstrong in relation to the settlement and court costs.

      In December 2012 The Sunday Times filed suit against Armstrong for $1.5 million. In its suit, the paper is seeking a return of the original settlement, plus interest and the cost of defending the original case.

      In August 2013, Armstrong and The Sunday Times reached an undisclosed settlement.

      Tour de France urine tests: 2005

      On August 23, 2005, L'Équipe, a major French daily sports newspaper, reported on its front page under the headline "le mensonge Armstrong" ("The Armstrong Lie") that six urine samples taken from the cyclist during the prologue and five stages of the 1999 Tour de France, frozen and stored since at "Laboratoire national de dépistage du dopage de Châtenay-Malabry" (LNDD), had tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in recent retesting conducted as part of a research project into EPO testing methods.

      Armstrong immediately replied on his website, saying, "Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and tomorrow's article is nothing short of tabloid journalism. The paper even admits in its own article that the science in question here is faulty and that I have no way to defend myself. They state: 'There will therefore be no counter-exam nor regulatory prosecutions, in a strict sense, since defendant's rights cannot be respected.' I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken performance enhancing drugs."

      In October 2005, in response to calls from the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for an independent investigation, the UCI appointed Dutch lawyer Emile Vrijman to investigate the handling of urine tests by the French national anti-doping laboratory, LNDD. Vrijman was head of the Dutch anti-doping agency for ten years; since then he has worked as a defense attorney defending high-profile athletes against doping charges. Vrijman's report cleared Armstrong because of improper handling and testing. The report said tests on urine samples were conducted improperly and fell so short of scientific standards that it was "completely irresponsible" to suggest they "constitute evidence of anything."

      The recommendation of the commission's report was no disciplinary action against any rider on the basis of LNDD research. It also called upon the WADA and LNDD to submit themselves to an investigation by an outside independent authority. The IOC Ethics Commission subsequently censured Dick Pound, the President of WADA and a member of the IOC, for his statements in the media that suggested wrongdoing by Armstrong. In April 2009, anti-doping expert Michael Ashenden said "the LNDD absolutely had no way of knowing athlete identity from the sample they're given. They have a number on them, but that's never linked to an athlete's name. The only group that had both the number and the athlete's name is the federation, in this case it was the UCI." He added "There was only two conceivable ways that synthetic EPO could've gotten into those samples. One, is that Lance Armstrong used EPO during the '99 Tour. The other way it could've got in the urine was if, as Lance Armstrong seems to believe, the laboratory spiked those samples. Now, that's an extraordinary claim, and there's never ever been any evidence the laboratory has ever spiked an athlete's sample, even during the Cold War, where you would've thought there was a real political motive to frame an athlete from a different country. There's never been any suggestion that it happened."

      Ashenden's statements are at odds with the findings of the Vrijman report. "According to Mr. Ressiot, the manner in which the LNDD had structured the results table of its report – i.e. listing the sequence of each of the batches, as well as the exact number of urine samples per batch, in the same (chronological) order as the stages of the 1999 Tour de France they were collected at – was already sufficient to allow him to determine the exact stage these urine samples referred to and subsequently the identity of the riders who were tested at that stage." The Vrijman report also says "Le Monde of July 21 and 23, 1999 reveal that the press knew the contents of original doping forms of the 1999 Tour de France".
      SCA Promotions case: 2005–2015

      In June 2006, French newspaper Le Monde reported claims by Betsy and Frankie Andreu during a deposition that Armstrong had admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs to his physician just after brain surgery in 1996. The Andreus' testimony was related to litigation between Armstrong and SCA Promotions, a Texas company attempting to withhold a $5 million bonus; this was settled out of court with SCA paying Armstrong and Tailwind Sports $7.5 million, to cover the $5 million bonus plus interest and lawyers' fees. The testimony stated "And so the doctor asked him a few questions, not many, and then one of the questions he asked was ... have you ever used any performance-enhancing drugs? And Lance said yes. And the doctor asked, what were they? And Lance said, growth hormone, cortisone, EPO, steroids and testosterone."

      Armstrong suggested Betsy Andreu may have been confused by possible mention of his post-operative treatment which included steroids and EPO that are taken to counteract wasting and red-blood-cell-destroying effects of intensive chemotherapy. The Andreus' allegation was not supported by any of the eight other people present, including Armstrong's doctor Craig Nichols, or his medical history. According to Greg LeMond (who has been embroiled with his own disputes with Armstrong), he (LeMond) had a recorded conversation, the transcript of which was reviewed by National Public Radio (NPR), with Stephanie McIlvain (Armstrong's contact at Oakley Inc.) in which she said of Armstrong's alleged admission 'You know, I was in that room. I heard it.' However, McIlvain has contradicted LeMond's allegations on the issue and denied under oath that the incident in question ever occurred in her sworn testimony.

      In July 2006, the Los Angeles Times published a story on the allegations raised in the SCA case. The report cited evidence at the trial, including the results of the LNDD test and an analysis of these results by an expert witness. From the Los Angeles Times article: "The results, Australian researcher Michael Ashenden testified in Dallas, show Armstrong's levels rising and falling, consistent with a series of injections during the Tour. Ashenden, a paid expert retained by SCA Promotions, told arbitrators that the results painted a "compelling picture" that the world's most famous cyclist "used EPO in the '99 Tour."

      Ashenden's finding were disputed by the Vrijman report, which pointed to procedural and privacy issues in dismissing the LNDD test results. The Los Angeles Times article also provided information on testimony given by Armstrong's former teammate, Swart, Andreu and his wife Betsy, and instant messaging conversation between Andreu and Jonathan Vaughters regarding blood-doping in the peloton. Vaughters signed a statement disavowing the comments and stating he had: "no personal knowledge that any team in the Tour de France, including Armstrong's Discovery team in 2005, engaged in any prohibited conduct whatsoever." Andreu signed a statement affirming the conversation took place as indicated on the instant messaging logs submitted to the court.SCA trial was settled out of court, and the Los Angeles Times reported: "Though no verdict or finding of facts was rendered, Armstrong called the outcome proof that the doping allegations were baseless." The Los Angeles Times article provides a review of the disputed positive EPO test, allegations and sworn testimony against Armstrong, but notes that: "They are filled with conflicting testimony, hearsay and circumstantial evidence admissible in arbitration hearings but questionable in more formal legal proceedings."

      In October 2012, following the publication of the USADA reasoned decision, SCA Promotions announced its intention to recoup the monies paid to Armstrong totaling in excess of $7 million. Armstrong's legal representative Tim Herman stated in June: "When SCA decided to settle the case, it settled the entire matter forever. No backs. No re-dos. No do-overs. SCA knowingly and independently waived any right to make further claims to any of the money it paid." SCA's Jeff Dorough stated that on October 30, 2012, Armstrong was sent a formal request for the return of $12 million in bonuses. It is alleged that Armstrong's legal team has offered a settlement of $1 million.

      On February 4, 2015 the arbitration panel decided 2–1 in SCA's favor and ordered Armstrong and Tailwind Sports Corp to pay SCA $10 million. The panel's decision was referred to the Texas 116th Civil District Court in Dallas on February 16, 2015 for confirmation. Panel members Richard Faulkner and Richard Chernick sided with SCA; Ted Lyon sided with Armstrong. Armstrong's attorney Tim Herman stated that the panel's ruling was contrary to Texas law and expected that the court would overturn it. The panel's decision said, in part, about Armstrong that, "Perjury must never be profitable" and "it is almost certainly the most devious sustained deception ever perpetrated in world sporting history."

      On September 27, 2015, Armstrong and SCA agreed to a settlement. Armstrong issued a formal, public apology and agreed to pay SCA an undisclosed sum.

      In a series of emails in May 2010, Floyd Landis admitted to doping and accused Armstrong and others of the same. Based on Landis's allegations, U.S. Justice Department federal prosecutors led an investigation into possible crimes conducted by Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Service Cycling Team. The Food and Drug Administration and federal agent Jeff Novitzky were also involved in the investigation. In June 2010, Armstrong hired a criminal defense attorney to represent him in the investigation. The hiring was first reported in July when Armstrong was competing in the 2010 Tour de France.

      On February 3, 2012, federal prosecutors officially dropped their criminal investigation with no charges. The closing of the case was announced "without an explanation" by U.S. Attorney André Birotte, Jr. When Novitzky was asked to comment on it, he declined.

      In February 2013, a month after Armstrong admitted to doping, the Justice Department joined Landis's whistleblower lawsuit to recover government funding given to Armstrong's cycling team.

      USADA investigation and limited confession: 2011–2013

      In June 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accused Armstrong of doping and trafficking of drugs, based on blood samples from 2009 and 2010, and testimony from witnesses including former teammates. Further, he was accused of putting pressure on teammates to take unauthorized performance-enhancing drugs as well. In October 2012, USADA formally charged him with running a massive doping ring. It also sought to ban him from participating in sports sanctioned by WADA for life. Armstrong chose not to appeal the findings, saying it would not be worth the toll on his family. As a result, he was stripped of all of his achievements from August 1998 onward, including his seven Tour de France titles. He also received a lifetime ban from all sports that follow the World Anti-Doping Code. As nearly all national and international sporting federations, including UCI, follow the World Anti-Doping Code, this effectively ended his competitive cycling career. The International Cycling Union (UCI) upheld USADA's decision and decided that his stripped wins would not be allocated to other riders.

      After years of public denials, in a January 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong reversed course and made a "limited confession" to doping. While admitting wrongdoing in the interview, he also said it was "absolutely not" true that he was doping in 2009 or 2010, and claimed that the last time he "crossed the line" was in 2005. He also denied pressuring team-mates into doping. In September 2013, he was asked by UCI's new president, Brian Cookson, to testify about his doping. Armstrong refused to testify until and unless he received complete amnesty, which Cookson said was most unlikely to happen.

      After USADA's report, all of Armstrong's sponsors dropped him. He reportedly lost $75 million of sponsorship income in a day. On May 28, 2013, Nike announced that it would be cutting all ties to Livestrong. In the aftermath of Armstrong's fall from grace, a CNN article wrote that "The epic downfall of cycling's star, once an idolized icon of millions around the globe, stands out in the history of professional sports." In a 2015 interview with BBC News, Armstrong stated that if it was still 1995, he would "probably do it again".

      Whistleblower lawsuit: 2010–2018

      In 2010, one of Armstrong's former teammates, the American Floyd Landis, whose 2006 Tour De France victory was nullified after a positive doping test, sent a series of emails to cycling officials and sponsors admitting to, and detailing, his systematic use of performance-enhancing drugs during his career. The emails also claimed that other riders and cycling officials participated in doping, including Armstrong.

      Landis filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit against Armstrong under the federal False Claims Act. The False Claims Act allows citizens to sue on behalf of the government alleging the government has been defrauded. The existence of the lawsuit, initially filed under seal, was first revealed by The Wall Street Journal in 2010. In the lawsuit, Landis alleged that Armstrong and team managers defrauded the US government when they accepted money from the US Postal Service. In January 2013, US Justice Department officials recommended joining the federal lawsuit aimed at clawing back money from Armstrong.

      In February, the US Department of Justice joined the whistleblower lawsuit, which also accused former Postal Service team director Johan Bruyneel and Tailwind Sports, the firm that managed the US Postal Service team, of defrauding the US.

      In April 2014, documents from the AIC case were filed by lawyers representing Landis in relation to the whistleblower suit. In these documents, Armstrong stated under oath that Jose "Pepi" Marti, Dr Pedro Celaya, Dr Luis Garcia del Moral and Dr Michele Ferrari had all provided him with doping products in the period up until 2005. He also named people who had transported or acted as couriers, as well as people that were aware of his doping practices. One week later, the USADA banned Bruyneel from cycling for ten years and Celaya and Marti for eight years.

      In June 2014, US district judge Robert Wilkins denied Armstrong's request to dismiss the government lawsuit stating "The court denies without prejudice the defendants' motion to dismiss the government's action as time-barred."

      In February 2017, the court determined that the federal government's US$100 million civil lawsuit against Armstrong, started by Landis, would proceed to trial. The matter was settled in April 2018 when Armstrong agreed to pay the United States Government US$5 million. During the proceedings it was revealed that the US Postal Service had paid US$31 million in sponsorship to Armstrong and Tailwind Sports between 2001 and 2004. The Department of Justice accused Armstrong of violating his contract with the USPS and committing fraud when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. It was reported that Landis would receive US$1.1 million as a result of his whistleblower actions.

      Other lawsuits: 2010 to present

      In November 2013, Armstrong settled a lawsuit with Acceptance Insurance Company (AIC). AIC had sought to recover $3 million it had paid Armstrong as bonuses for winning the Tour de France from 1999 to 2001. The suit was settled for an undisclosed sum one day before Armstrong was scheduled to give a deposition under oath.

      Personal life
      Armstrong (center) on the set of College GameDay during the 2006 UT football season

      Armstrong owns homes in Austin, Texas, and Aspen, Colorado, as well as a ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

      Relationships and children

      Armstrong met Kristin Richard in June 1997. They married on May 1, 1998, and had three children: a son (born October 1999) and twin daughters (born November 2001). The pregnancies were made possible through sperm Armstrong banked three years earlier, before chemotherapy and surgery. The couple divorced in 2003. At Armstrong's request, his children flew to Paris for the Tour de France podium ceremony in 2005, where his son Luke helped his father hoist the trophy, while his daughters (in yellow dresses) held the stuffed lion mascot and bouquet of yellow flowers.

      Lance and Kristin Armstrong announced their divorce in 2003, the same year that Lance began dating singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. The couple announced their engagement in September 2005 and their split in February 2006.

      In July 2008, Armstrong began dating Anna Hansen after meeting through Armstrong's charity work. In December 2008, Armstrong announced that Hansen was pregnant with the couple's first child. Although it was believed that Armstrong could no longer father children due to having undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer, the child was conceived naturally. They have a son (born June 2009) and a daughter (born October 2010).

      Politics
      President George W. Bush and Armstrong mountain biking at the president's Prairie Chapel Ranch.

      In a The New York Times article, teammate George Hincapie hinted that Armstrong would run for Governor of Texas after cycling. In the July 2005 issue of Outside magazine, Armstrong hinted at running for governor, although "not in '06". Armstrong and former president George W. Bush, a Republican and fellow Texan, call themselves friends. Bush called Armstrong in France to congratulate him after his 2005 victory. In August 2005, The Times reported the President had invited Armstrong to his Prairie Chapel Ranch to go mountain biking. In a 2003 interview with The Observer, Armstrong said: "He's a personal friend, but we've all got the right not to agree with our friends."

      In August 2005, Armstrong hinted he had changed his mind about politics. In an interview with Charlie Rose on PBS on August 1, 2005, Armstrong pointed out that running for governor would require the commitment that led him to retire from cycling. Also, in August 2005, Armstrong said that he was no longer considering politics:

      The biggest problem with politics or running for the governor—the governor's race here in Austin or in Texas—is that it would mimic exactly what I've done: a ton of stress and a ton of time away from my kids. Why would I want to go from pro cycling, which is stressful and a lot of time away, straight into politics?

      Armstrong created a YouTube video in 2007 with former President George H. W. Bush to successfully pass Proposition 15, a US$3 billion taxpayer bond initiative which created the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
      Armstrong and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

      Armstrong was co-chair of a California campaign committee to pass the California Cancer Research Act, a ballot measure defeated by California voters on June 5, 2012. Had it passed, the measure was projected to generate over $500 million annually for cancer research, smoking-cessation programs and tobacco law-enforcement by levying a $1-per-pack tax on tobacco products in California.

      Armstrong endorsed Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke against Republican incumbent Senator Ted Cruz in the 2018 election.

      Outside cycling

      In 1997, Armstrong founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which supports people affected by cancer. The foundation raises awareness of cancer and has raised more than $325 million from the sale of yellow Livestrong bracelets. During his first retirement beginning after the 2005 season, he also maintained other interests. He was the pace car driver of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 for the 2006 Indianapolis 500. In 2007, Armstrong with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning, and Cal Ripken, Jr. founded Athletes for Hope, a charity that helps professional athletes become involved in charitable causes and aims to inspire non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.

      In August 2009, Armstrong headlined the inaugural charity ride "Pelotonia" in Columbus, Ohio, riding over 100 miles on Saturday with the large group of cyclists. He addressed the riders the Friday evening before the two-day ride and helped the ride raise millions for cancer research. Armstrong ran the 2006 New York City Marathon with two friends. He assembled a pace team of Alberto Salazar, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Hicham El Guerrouj to help him reach three hours. He finished in 2h 59m 36s, in 856th place. He said the race was extremely difficult compared to the Tour de France. The NYC Marathon had a dedicated camera on Armstrong throughout the event which, according to Armstrong, pushed him to continue through points in which he would have normally "stopped and stretched". He also helped raise $600,000 for his LiveStrong campaign during the run. Armstrong ran the 2007 NYC Marathon in 2h 46m 43s, finishing 232nd. On April 21, 2008, he ran the Boston Marathon in 2h 50m 58s, finishing in the top 500.

      Armstrong made a return to triathlon in 2011 by competing in the off-road XTERRA Triathlon race series. At the Championships Armstrong led for a time before crashing out on the bike and finishing in 23rd place. The following year, in 2012, Armstrong began pursuing qualification into the 2012 Ironman World Championship. He was scheduled to next participate in Ironman France on June 24. However, the June suspension by USADA and eventual ban by WADA prohibited Armstrong from further racing Ironman branded events due to World Triathlon Corporation anti-doping policies.

      In July 2011 and July 2013, Armstrong participated in the non-competitive Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

      Business and investments

      "10/2" redirects here. For other uses, see 10/2 (disambiguation).

      Armstrong owns a coffee shop in downtown Austin, Texas, called "Juan Pelota Cafe". The name is a joking reference to his testicular cancer, with the name "Juan" being considered by some a homophone for "one" and "Pelota" being the Spanish word for "ball". In the same building, Armstrong owns and operates a bike shop named "Mellow Johnny's", after another nickname of his derived from the Tour term "maillot jaune", which is French for yellow jersey, the jersey given to the leader of the general classification.

      In 2001, Armstrong provided funding to launch Wonders & Worries, a non-profit organization in Austin, Texas that provides counseling and support for children who have a parent with a serious or life-threatening disease.

      A line of cycling clothing from Nike, 10//2, was named after the date (October 2, 1996) that Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

      In 2008, Armstrong bought several million dollars of stock in the American bicycle component manufacturer SRAM Corporation, and has served as their technical advisor. SRAM bought those shares back from him in preparation for a public offering. Armstrong owns a small share of Trek Bicycle Corporation.

      In 2009, Armstrong invested $100,000 into Uber when it was only valued at $3.7 million. In 2019, Uber achieved an IPO of $82 billion. According to CNBC, Armstrong said "it saved our family".

      Media

      In 2017, Armstrong started a podcast named "The Move", which provided daily coverage of the Tour de France in 2018 and 2019. He also appeared—without compensation—on NBC Sports Network's live Tour de France television broadcasts. The UCI indicated the podcast and NBC appearances did not violate the terms of his ban.

      Career achievements

      Major results
      19911st  Road race, National Junior Road Championships19921st  Overall Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic1st Stage 21st Stage 6 Settimana Bergamasca1st Stage 4a Vuelta a Galicia1st Stage 2 Trittico Premondiale1st First Union Grand Prix2nd Züri–Metzgete19931st  Road race, UCI Road World Championships1st  Road race, National Road Championships1st Stage 8 Tour de France1st  Overall Kmart West Virginia Classic1st Prologue & Stage 11st  Overall Tour of America1st Trofeo Laigueglia1st Thrift Drug Classic2nd Overall Tour du Pont1st Stage 53rd Overall Tour of Sweden1st Stage 319941st Thrift Drug Classic1st Stage 7 Tour du Pont2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège2nd Clásica de San Sebastián19951st Stage 18 Tour de France1st Clásica de San Sebastián1st Stage 5 Paris–Nice1st  Overall Tour du Pont1st  Mountains classification1st Stages 4, 5 & 91st  Overall Kmart West Virginia Classic1st Stage 419961st  Overall Tour du Pont1st Stages 2, 3b, 5, 6 & 121st La Flèche Wallonne2nd Overall Paris–Nice2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège19981st  Overall Tour de Luxembourg1st Stage 11st  Overall Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt1st Cascade Cycling Classic1st Sprint 56K Criterium show Voided results from August 1998 onwardTriathlon & Ironman20115th XTERRA USA Championships20121st Ironman 70.3 Hawaii1st Ironman 70.3 Florida3rd Ironman 70.3 St. Croix7th Ironman 70.3 Texas2nd Ironman 70.3 Panama2nd Power of Four Mountain Bike Race

      Voided results struck through.
      Filmography
      Road to Paris (2001), documentary
      DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story (2004), cameo appearance
      You, Me and Dupree (2006), cameo appearance
      The Armstrong Lie (2013), documentary
      Stop at Nothing-The Lance Armstrong Story (2014), documentary
      The Program (2015), biographical drama film
      Tour de Pharmacy (2017), appearing as himself, acting as parody of an anonymous source
      Lance (2020), documentary

      United States Olympic Committee (USOC) SportsMan of the Year (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003)
      Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
      World's Most Outstanding Athlete Award, Jesse Owens International Trophy (2000)
      Reuters Sportsman of the Year (2003)
      Prince of Asturias Award in Sports (2000)
      Sports Ethics Fellows by the Institute for International Sport (2003)
      Mendrisio d'Or Award in Switzerland (1999)
      Premio Coppi-Bici d'Oro Trophy by the Fausto Coppi foundation in conjunction with La Gazzetta dello Sport (1999, 2000)
      Marca Legend Award by Marca, a Spanish sports daily in Madrid (2004)
      ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
      ESPY Award for GMC Professional Grade Play Award (2005)
      ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete (2000)
      ESPN/Intersport's ARETE Award for Courage in Sport (Professional Division) (1999)
      ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year (1999)
      Favorite Athlete award at Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (2006)
      Presidential Delegation to the XIX Olympic Winter Games (2002)
      VeloNews magazine's International Cyclist of the Year (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
      VeloNews magazine's North American Male Cyclist of the Year (1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005)
      Triathlon magazine's Rookie of the Year (1988)
      Pace car driver for the Indianapolis 500 (2006)
      An asteroid, 1994 JE9 was named 12373 Lancearmstrong in honor of him.
      Six-mile Lance Armstrong Bikeway through downtown Austin, Texas, built by the city of Austin at a cost of $3.2 million.
      Mildred "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award presented by the United States Sports Academy (1999)
      Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards (2001) 

      Rescinded awards
      Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Tufts University (2006)
      Key to the city of Adelaide, South Australia (2012)
      Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year Nominated (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006)
      Grand Prix Serge-Kampf de l'Académie des sports (France, 2004)
      Légion d'honneur (France, 2005)
      Vélo d'Or Award by Velo magazine in France (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
      Lourembam Brojeshori Devi


      Lourembam Brojeshori Devi (January 1, 1981 – July 21, 2013) was a pioneering Indian judoka, recognized as the first female judoka from India to compete at the Olympics and the first Olympian judoka from Manipur. Her remarkable career, marked by significant achievements in national and international judo competitions, and her tragic early death, left a lasting legacy in Indian sports. Below is a comprehensive account of her life, career, and contributions based on available information.

      Early Life and Background

      • Born: January 1, 1981, in Khagempalli Huidrom Leikai, Imphal West, Manipur, India.
      • Parents: Daughter of Lourembam Manglem Singh and Lorembam Ongbi Taruni Devi.
      • Early Interest in Sports: Brojeshori developed an interest in sports during her childhood, participating in various disciplines at local Yaoshang Sports Meets. By Class IX, she focused exclusively on judo, inspired by Amusana, a physical education teacher at Elangbam Leikai High School, and local club leaders.
      • Family Opposition: Her family initially opposed her involvement in sports, prioritizing academics. To pursue judo, Brojeshori would wear a phanek (traditional Manipuri attire) over her sports uniform to conceal her training from her parents. Eventually, her coach, Deven Moirangthem, convinced her parents to allow her to continue, giving her a one-year chance to prove herself.

      Judo Career

      Brojeshori’s judo career was illustrious, with participation in 20 international and 16 national championships. She competed in the Women’s Half-Lightweight category (below 52 kg) and achieved significant milestones, particularly as a trailblazer for Indian women in judo.

      Olympic Participation

      • 2000 Sydney Olympics: At age 19, Brojeshori became India’s first female judoka to compete at the Olympics. She participated in the Women’s Half-Lightweight category, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Liu Yuxiang of China, finishing 9th overall.
      • Her participation was a historic landmark for Indian judo, especially for women from Manipur, a region often overlooked in mainstream Indian sports.

      International Achievements

      Brojeshori won three gold medals, one silver, and three bronze medals at the international level. Notable achievements include:

      • Gold Medals:
        • 11th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2010.
        • South Asian Judo Championship, Bhopal, India, 2005.
        • SAF Games, Sri Lanka, 2006.
      • Silver Medal:
        • 8th Vietnam International Judo Tournament, 2000.
      • Bronze Medals:
        • Mauritius International Judo Tournament, 2002.
        • 10th Vietnam International Judo Tournament, 2003.
        • International Judo Tournament, Turkey, 2007.
      • Other Notable Participations:
        • Asian Judo Championship, Japan, 2000 (third place).
        • Junior Asian Judo Championship, Hong Kong, 2000 (5th place).
        • Commonwealth Games, London, 2002 (5th place).
        • Busan Asian Games, South Korea, 2002.
        • World Judo Championship, Japan, 2003.
        • Asian Judo Championship, Uzbekistan, 2005.
        • Asian Judo Championship, Kuwait, 2007.
        • Korea Open Judo Tournament, 2001.
        • Gaiman ‘A’ Judo Tournament, 2006 (7th place).

      National Achievements

      Brojeshori excelled in national competitions, securing multiple medals and accolades:

      • Gold Medals:
        • Senior National Judo Championship, Mumbai, 2002.
        • 32nd National Games, Vishakhapatnam, 2002.
        • Senior National Championship, Pologround, Patiala, 2003.
        • Senior National Judo Championship, Chandigarh, 2005.
        • 33rd National Games, Guwahati, Assam, 2007.
      • Silver Medals:
        • Senior National Championship, Cuttack, Orissa, 2004.
        • Senior National Judo Championship, Mumbai, 2006.
        • Senior National Judo Championship, Haridwar, 2009.
        • National Games, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 2011.
      • Bronze Medals:
        • National Judo Championship, Vijayawada, 2007.
        • National Judo Championship, Kochi, 2008 (also named Best Judoka).
        • National Judo Championship, Lucknow, 2009.
      • Other:
        • Junior National Championship, 1996 (third place).
        • All India SAI Competition, 1997 (third place).
        • Senior National Judo Championship, Kolkata, 2012 (participation).

      Police Games

      As an inspector with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Brojeshori competed in All India Police Games, earning:

      • Gold: Jammu, 2010; New Delhi, 2012.
      • Silver: Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi, 2011.

      Training and Mentorship

      • Coaches: Brojeshori trained under Thounaojam Bishworjit, Tondon, SAI Coach Sabitri, and Deven Moirangthem, who coached her from 1995 to 1998. She joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Special Area Games centre in Imphal for a one-year judo training course in 1996.
      • Determination: Despite initial family resistance, her perseverance and coaching support helped her secure early successes, such as a third-place finish in the Junior National Championship in 1996, which solidified her career path.

      Professional Life

      • CRPF Service: Brojeshori served as an inspector in the 135 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force. She was undergoing a 10-week Departmental Promotion Training Program in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, at the time of her death, aiming for a promotion to Assistant Commandant.

      Personal Life

      • Marriage: Brojeshori was married to Rojen Singh, a resident of Tabungkhok, near Imphal.
      • Challenges: Her journey was marked by overcoming societal and familial barriers, particularly the stigma against women in sports in Manipur. Her determination to pursue judo despite opposition exemplified her passion and resilience.

      Death and Legacy

      • Death: On July 21, 2013, Brojeshori, aged 32, passed away in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, due to excessive internal bleeding caused by an ectopic pregnancy, a condition where the embryo forms outside the uterus. She was unaware of her pregnancy while participating in a CRPF training camp, and severe abdominal pain led to her hospitalization. Despite medical efforts, she could not be saved due to significant blood loss.
      • Last Rites: She was cremated with full state honors in her husband’s village, Tabungkhok, near Imphal, on July 24, 2013. Notable figures, including London Olympics 2012 bronze medalist Mary Kom, attended her funeral, reflecting her impact on Manipur’s sports community.
      • Impact: Brojeshori’s death was mourned as a significant loss to Indian judo and Manipur’s sports fraternity. The Manipur Olympic Association and the National Judo Federation highlighted her contributions, noting her as an inspiration for sportswomen, particularly from Northeast India.

       Legacy

      • Pioneer for Women in Judo: As India’s first female Olympian judoka, Brojeshori broke gender and regional barriers, paving the way for future athletes from Manipur and other marginalized regions. Her achievements in a sport with limited recognition in India underscored her determination and skill.
      • Inspiration for Northeast India: Her coach, Deven Moirangthem, described her as a “source of inspiration for sportswomen from the Northeast.” Her success brought attention to Manipur’s potential as a sporting hub.
      • Tributes: Comments on platforms like e-pao.net reflect her impact, with peers describing her as “one of the finest judokas” and “lightning fast.” Her profile continues to inspire future generations.

      Clarifications and Notes

      • Discrepancies in Sources:
        • Some sources (e.g.,) claim she reached the semi-finals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and lost a bronze medal match, while others (e.g.,,) state she reached the quarter-finals, finishing 9th. The Olympics.com and other reliable sources confirm the quarter-final result.
        • Medal counts are consistent across sources, with three international golds, one silver, and three bronzes, though specific events are detailed primarily in and.
      • Cultural Context: Brojeshori’s story highlights the challenges faced by women athletes in Manipur, where societal norms often discouraged sports participation. Her covert training and eventual success underscore her resilience against these barriers.

      Conclusion

      Lourembam Brojeshori Devi was a trailblazing judoka whose achievements at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and numerous national and international competitions marked her as a historic figure in Indian sports. Her journey from a small village in Manipur to the Olympic stage, despite familial and societal challenges, remains a testament to her determination and talent. Her untimely death in 2013 was a profound loss, but her legacy continues to inspire athletes, particularly women from Northeast India, to pursue their dreams in sports. For further details, records from the International Judo Federation or the Sports Authority of India could provide additional insights into her competitive history.


      Lalrindika Ralte

      Lalrindika Ralte, popularly known as "Dika," is a former Indian professional footballer born on September 7, 1992, in Lunglei, Mizoram. He played as an attacking midfielder, left winger, or right winger and was renowned for his brilliant left foot, set-piece expertise, and game intelligence. Ralte had a distinguished career in Indian football, playing for prominent clubs and representing India at various international levels. Below is a comprehensive overview of his life, career, achievements, and legacy, based on available information.

      Early Life and Background

      • Birth and Hometown: Lalrindika Ralte was born in Lunglei, a small town in Mizoram, India, on September 7, 1992.
      • Early Interest in Football: Ralte began playing football at a young age, showing natural talent in his village, where football is deeply loved. He was the first professional footballer from Lunglei, inspiring future players like Lallinzuala Chhangte and Edmund Lalrindika.
      • Inspiration: Ralte drew inspiration from Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia, whose success motivated him as a young Mizo footballer. He later had the honor of playing alongside Bhutia at East Bengal, learning from his experience and professionalism.

      Club Career

      Ralte’s professional career spanned over a decade, during which he played for top Indian clubs in the I-League, Indian Super League (ISL), and other competitions. He was known for his flair, spectacular goals, and fan-favorite status, particularly among East Bengal supporters, referred to as the "Red and Golds."

      Churchill Brothers (2009–2012)

      • Debut: Ralte started his professional career with Churchill Brothers in the I-League in 2009.
      • First Goal: He scored his first professional goal on April 1, 2010, against JCT in a 6–0 I-League victory.
      • Loan to Pailan Arrows (2010–11): Ralte was loaned to Pailan Arrows (then AIFF XI) for the 2010–11 season. He scored his first goal for the team on December 3, 2010, against Prayag United in Arrows’ debut I-League match.
      • Return to Churchill Brothers (2011–12): After returning, he continued to shine, scoring key goals:
        • November 1, 2011: Scored against Prayag United (1–1 draw).
        • December 17, 2011: Scored in a 6–0 win over Shillong Lajong.
        • January 15, 2012: Scored against Mohun Bagan in a 2–3 loss.
        • April 1, 2012: Scored against Prayag United in a 5–2 win.
        • April 15, 2012: Scored against Pune in a 2–0 victory.
        • May 6, 2012: Scored against Pailan Arrows in a 3–2 win.

      East Bengal (2012–2018, with interruptions)

      • Move to East Bengal: In May 2012, Ralte signed for East Bengal, one of India’s most iconic clubs. He debuted on September 21, 2012, against Sporting Goa in the Indian Federation Cup.
      • I-League Goals:
        • October 11, 2012: Scored an 82nd-minute free-kick against United Sikkim (1–0 win).
        • November 24, 2012: Scored in a 5–0 win over ONGC.
      • AFC Cup Contributions:
        • February 27, 2013: Scored a left-footed strike from outside the box against Selangor FA in a 1–0 AFC Cup win.
        • April 9, 2013: Scored a 25-yard curling left-footer in a 2–1 AFC Cup win over Tampines Rovers FC.
        • October 1, 2013: Scored in the AFC Cup semi-final against Kuwait SC (away leg).
      • Captaincy and Kolkata Derby Impact: In 2018, Ralte returned to East Bengal and was appointed captain. During a Kolkata Derby against Mohun Bagan, he came off the bench when East Bengal trailed 2–0, provided an assist for the equalizer, and helped secure a 2–2 draw.
      • I-League 2018–19: Ralte led East Bengal to a runners-up finish in the I-League, missing the title by one point to Chennai City.

      Mumbai City FC (2014, Loan)

      • Indian Super League: Ralte was signed on loan by Mumbai City FC for the inaugural 2014 ISL season, one of the most expensive signings at the time.
      • Notable Contributions:
        • Started in Mumbai City’s first-ever match against Atlético de Kolkata.
        • Provided two assists in a 5–0 win over FC Pune City.
        • Scored his first ISL goal on December 7, 2014, in a 2–1 win over Atlético de Kolkata.

      ATK (2015)

      • ISL Title: Ralte won the Indian Super League title with ATK in 2015, a significant achievement in his career.

      Real Kashmir FC (Last Club)

      • Final Years: Ralte’s last professional club was Real Kashmir FC in the I-League, where he played as a left midfielder until his retirement.

      International Career

      Ralte represented India at multiple youth and senior levels, showcasing his versatility and skill.

      Youth International

      • Under-16:
        • Debut: October 27, 2007, in the 2008 AFC U-16 qualifiers against Sri Lanka (6–0 win).
        • Scored against Saudi Arabia on November 4, 2007 (3–0 win).
        • Scored a brace against South Korea in the 2008 AFC U-16 Championship, despite a 5–2 loss.
      • Under-19:
        • Debut: November 5, 2009, against Iraq in the 2010 AFC U-19 qualifiers (5–0 loss).
        • Scored a brace against Oman on November 10, 2009, in a 4–3 loss.
      • Under-23:
        • Played in the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, with matches against Oman U23 (1–2 loss), UAE U23 (0–1 loss), and Kyrgyz Republic U23 (0–0 draw).

      Senior International

      • Debut: Made his senior debut for India on July 10, 2011, in a friendly against Maldives.
      • SAFF Championship 2011: Played in the opening match against Afghanistan on December 3, 2011, at the Nehru Stadium in Delhi. Ralte considers winning the SAFF Championship in 2011 as his career’s greatest moment, describing the feeling of winning in national colors as unparalleled.
      • FIFA Matches: Played 14 FIFA-recognized matches with no goals and 4 non-FIFA matches.

      Achievements and Honors

      Ralte’s trophy cabinet reflects his impact on Indian football:

      • Durand Cup: 2011 with Churchill Brothers.
      • Federation Cup: 2012 with East Bengal.
      • IFA Shield: 2012 with East Bengal.
      • Calcutta Football League: Three titles with East Bengal.
      • Indian Super League: 2015 with ATK.
      • SAFF Championship: 2011 with the Indian national team.
      • Padma Shri Nomination: Ralte was nominated for the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, recognizing his contributions to football.

      Playing Style and Legacy

      • Skills: Ralte was celebrated for his left-footed precision, particularly in set pieces (free kicks and corners), and his ability to score long-range goals. His game intelligence and spectacular goals made him a fan favorite, especially at East Bengal.
      • Fan Appeal: Known as "Dika" among fans and teammates, he was a beloved figure, particularly for his performances in high-stakes matches like the Kolkata Derby.
      • Inspiration for Mizoram: As the first professional footballer from Lunglei, Ralte paved the way for other Mizo players. His success motivated younger athletes, and he expressed a desire to improve football facilities in his village for future generations.
      • Physical Attributes: Ralte stood at 1.73m (5’8”) and was versatile, playing as an attacking midfielder, left winger, or right winger.

      Retirement and Future Plans

      • Retirement: Ralte announced his retirement from professional football in early 2022, citing family priorities as a key reason. He wanted to spend more time with his wife, children, and parents, as the demands of professional football made this challenging.
      • Post-Retirement Plans: Ralte expressed interest in staying connected to football through coaching or establishing a football academy in Lunglei, Mizoram, to nurture young talent and improve access to sports facilities.
      • Motivation for Retirement: In an interview with the-aiff.com, Ralte said, “It was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve taken in my life so far. Nothing is more important than family.” He also emphasized his commitment to contributing to Mizoram and Indian football in new ways.

      Personal Life

      • Family: Ralte is married and has children. His decision to retire was influenced by his desire to prioritize his family, including his wife, kids, and parents.
      • Hometown Pride: As a trailblazer from Lunglei, Ralte takes pride in being the first professional footballer from his village and hopes to inspire future generations.
      • Role Model: Ralte was named the favorite Indian player of Lalengmawia Ralte (Apuia), a young footballer from Mizoram who plays for Mohun Bagan and the Indian national team.

      Notable Statistics and Records

      • FIFA 14 and FIFA 19 Ratings: Ralte was rated 57 in FIFA 14 (2014) and 61 in FIFA 19 (2019) as a left winger/midfielder for the Indian national team.
      • Career Stats: Detailed performance data, including appearances, goals, and minutes played, are available on platforms like Transfermarkt, though specific numbers for his entire career are not fully aggregated in the provided sources.
      • Versatility: Played multiple positions, including attacking midfielder, left winger, and right winger, showcasing his adaptability.

      Legacy and Impact

      Lalrindika Ralte’s career is a testament to his talent and dedication to Indian football. As a Mizo footballer, he broke barriers and became a role model for aspiring players from Northeast India, a region known for producing football talent. His contributions to clubs like East Bengal, Churchill Brothers, and ATK, along with his international success, cemented his status as one of India’s most talented midfielders of his generation. His retirement marked the end of an era, but his plans to coach and develop football in Mizoram suggest his influence will continue.

      Louis Saha
      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Louis Saha
      Saha in 2015
      Personal information
      Full name Louis Laurent Saha
      Date of birth 8 August 1978 
      Place of birth Paris, France

      Position(s) Striker
      Youth career
      1990-1995 FC Soisy-Andilly-Margency
      1992–1995 Clairefontaine
      1995–1997 Metz
      Senior career*
      Years Team Apps (Gls)
      1997–2000 Metz 47 (5)
      1999 → Newcastle United (loan) 11 (1)
      2000–2004 Fulham 117 (53)
      2004–2008 Manchester United 86 (28)
      2008–2012 Everton 97 (27)
      2012 Tottenham Hotspur 10 (3)
      2012–2013 Sunderland 11 (0)
      2013 Lazio 6 (0)
      Total 385 (117)
      National team
      1998–1999 France U21 12 (3)
      2004–2012 France 20 (4)

      Louis Laurent Saha (born 8 August 1978) is a French former professional footballer who played as a striker. Saha was capped 20 times for the France national team and scored four goals. A former scholar at the Clairefontaine football academy, he started his career at Metz before playing on loan at Newcastle United. Before the start of the 2000–01 season, Saha moved to Fulham where he established himself as first-choice striker, helping them to gain promotion to the Premier League in his first season with them.

      His performances gained attraction from Manchester United, who eventually secured his signing for around £12.4 million midway through the 2003–04 season. Injuries plagued his Old Trafford career, however he did enjoy success with twice winning the Premier League, the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League and also scored six times en route to victory in the League Cup, including one goal in the final. Despite Saha's injury woes, United star Wayne Rooney stated on Sky Sports that Saha was one of his favourite strike partners.

      After four-and-a-half years at United, Everton took him to Goodison Park, where he opened the scoring in the 2009 FA Cup Final after 25 seconds, setting the record for the fastest goal scored in FA Cup Final history. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer in the 2012 January transfer window. Saha made his France debut in 2004 in a 2–0 victory over Belgium. He represented France at UEFA Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup, at which they reached the final.

      Early life

      Saha was born in Paris. His parents were born on the island of Guadeloupe (a department of France), where his grandparents remain to this day. He has a younger sister and younger brother. Saha also revealed he and his siblings were brought up from a strict Caribbean culture.

      His father worked as a mechanic for planes and his mother worked as a nurse. Growing up in Paris, Saha said his family had little money, leading him to "never take anything for granted", In return, he bought his parents a house in the West Indies, and covered his parents’ debt. Saha revealed that his father tried to make him balance his football with the rest of his education, but nevertheless, push him to make sure he "got enough education away from football" and supported him "all the way in helping him mature as a footballer and as a man".

      Club career
      Metz

      Saha began his football career at FC Soisy-Andilly-Margency in the commune of Soisy-sous-Montmorency before he joined Clairefontaine. Later he moved to Metz at the age of 15 and then signed his first professional contract with the club at 17. Saha progressed to the senior team in 1997. Saha made his Metz debut on 8 August 1997, coming on as a late substitute against Bordeaux and scored the club's fourth goal of the game, in a 4–1 win. This turns out to be his only goal of the season, as FC Metz finished second place in the league behind RC Lens through goal differences. Overall, he made 25 appearances in all competitions. The 1998–99 season saw Saha made his first team opportunities, as he only made six appearances in all competitions.

      Saha went on loan to Newcastle United in January 1999, scoring once against Coventry City and playing in a total of 11 league games, also scoring once in Newcastle's run to the 1999 FA Cup Final with the only goal in the fifth round clash against Blackburn Rovers. Saha was however left out of the cup final squad entirely by manager Ruud Gullit. He later reflected his time at Newcastle United, saying it made him acknowledge how hard he has to work as a footballer and gaining confidence.

      At the completion of the 1998–99 season, Saha returned to Metz, where he made an impact, scoring seven goals in the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup, scoring against MŠK Žilina, Lokeren, Polonia Warsaw and West Ham. Saha's first goal for the club came on 7 August 1999, winning 3–0 against AJ Auxerre. Saha later three more goals later in the 1999–2000, as he made 33 appearances and scoring 11 times in all competitions. Despite being in a goal scoring form, Saha revealed that the club wanted him to "take on a lot more defensive duties", something that he was considered quitting football. By the time Saha left the club at the end of the 1999–2000 season, he netted five goals in 47 matches in a two-year spell.

      Fulham
      Saha, just after signing for Fulham, in a pre-season friendly against Tiverton Town

      Saha returned to England, where he was transferred to Fulham for £2.1 million in 2000. Upon joining the club, Manager Jean Tigana said: "Louis is a very good signing. I have known him since he was 17 and he has great ability. I am sure he will follow the success of his contemporaries Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka. I believe he will be a very good player in the First Division and has the right qualities to be a success in the Premiership."

      Saha quickly made an impact on his Fulham debut, scoring his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against Crewe Alexandra in the opening game of the season. This was followed up by scoring in a 3–1 win against Birmingham City. Since making his debut, Saha quickly established himself in the first team, becoming the club's first-choice striker and along with John Collins and Lee Clark, their performance described "world class" by the Evening Standard. He then scored eight goals in four matches between 5 September 2000 and 16 September 2000, scoring against Northampton Town (twice), Barnsley (hat–trick), Burnley (twice) and Nottingham Forest His goalscoring form continued with three goals in two matches against Grimsby Town on 25 November and Derby County on 29 November 2000. Saha scored two goals in two matches between 13 January 2001 and 20 January 2001 against Norwich City and Watford He then scored twice for the side, in a 4–1 win against Tranmere Rovers on 30 March 2001. Saha scored three goals in two matches between 21 April 2001 and 24 April 2001 against Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers In the promotion campaign of 2000–01 Saha scored 27 league goals to fire Fulham into the Premier League, making him the league top–scorer. At the end of the 2000–01 season, he made 48 appearances and scoring 32 times in all competitions. For his performance, Saha was named PFA Team of the Year.

      At the start of the 2001–02 season, Saha scored three goals in the first two league matches of the season, coming against Manchester United and Sunderland. During his first month in the top flight he was named Premier League Player of the Month Saha continued to regain his first team place as the club's first choice striker, forming a partnership with Barry Hayles throughout the 2001–02 season. Although Saha did score in the League Cup match against Derby County on 10 October 2001, he went on a three months without scoring in the league before scoring against Newcastle United, winning 3–1 on 17 November 2001. However, Saha's goal scoring form continued to dip as the 2001–02 season. Despite this, he went on to score four more goals later in the 2001–02 season, including a brace against Chelsea. At the end of the season, Saha went on to make 44 appearances and scoring nine times in all competitions.

      At the start of the 2002–03 season, Saha appeared in every match in the UEFA Intertoto Cup all up to the final and only scored once, coming against Egaleo on 20 July 2002. He played in both legs of the Intertoto Cup finals against Bologna, as they won 5–3 to win the tournament and qualify for the UEFA Cup. Saha scored his first league goal of the season, scoring from a penalty, in a 4–1 win against Bolton Wanderers in the opening game of the season. However, he suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out for the rest of 2002. It wasn't until on 5 January 2003 when Saha scored on his return, in a 3–1 win against Birmingham City in the third round of the FA Cup. However, his return was short–lived when he suffered another injury that saw him miss two matches. It wasn't until on 1 February 2003 when Saha returned to the first team, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute, in a 2–1 loss against Arsenal. He then scored his fourth goal of the season, in a 3–0 win against West Bromwich Albion. Following his return, Saha managed to regain his first team place for the rest of the 2002–03 season, playing in the striker position. He later scored three more goals later in the 2002–03 season, including scoring two goals in two matches between 1 March 2003 and 15 March 2003 against Sunderland and Southampton. As a result, he was less prolific in 2002–03 season, scoring seven goals in 28 appearances in all competitions.

      Ahead of the 2003–04 season, it was announced by the club that Saha would be staying put. He started the season well, scoring in the opening game of the season, winning 3–2 win against Middlesbrough. Saha then scored three goals in three matches between 14 September 2003 and 28 September 2003, scoring against Birmingham City, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers Throughout the first half of the season, he continued to be in the first team regular for Fulham, playing in the striker position His goal scoring form continued by the end of the year, including scoring three braces. As a result, Saha was named as the Player of the Month for December. In his final season at Fulham, he contributed 15 goals in only 22 appearances before leaving in the January transfer window.

      It was announced on 23 December 2003 by the club that they rejected a bid from Manchester United to sign Saha, saying he was not for sale. It came after when his performance at Fulham's victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2003 was thought to be influential in persuading Alex Ferguson to sign him in 2004. Around this time, Saha revealed that he had a fallen out with Manager Chris Coleman as a result of forcing his way to leave Fulham. During a spell of nearly four years at the club, Saha scored 63 goals in total.

      Manchester United

      Saha was transferred to Manchester United for a fee of £12.4 million in 2004 having scored 15 goals so far that season and impressing Alex Ferguson in Fulham's 3–1 win at Old Trafford. Fulham were reluctant to sell Saha but he pushed for a deal and it eventually went through on 23 January 2004. A month later, however, FC Metz took their case to FIFA (and later Court of Arbitration for Sport) after they are entitled to a share from Fulham as a result of Saha's transfer move. Two years later, the Court of Arbitration for Sport was in favour of FC Metz and Fulham were ordered to pay.

      Saha impressed early, with seven goals in his 10 starting appearances of the 2003–04 season and scoring on his debut against Southampton.[69] After the match, Manager Ferguson praised his performance. In the next match, versus Everton, Saha and Ruud van Nistelrooy each scored two goals in a 4–3 win. On 28 February 2004, he faced his former team for the first time, scoring the only goal for United in a 1–1 draw. Throughout the match, Saha received boos and jeers from Fulham supporters. He then played in both legs of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 against Porto, as Manchester United lost 3–2 on aggregate. After missing two matches due to an Achilles problem, Saha returned to the first team and scored in the next two matches against Arsenal and Birmingham City. Unfortunately, he was unable to play in the 2004 FA Cup Final win over Millwall, being cup-tied due to an earlier appearance with Fulham. Despite this, Saha went on to make 12 appearances and scoring seven times in all competitions at the end of the 2003–04 season.

      The 2004–05 season was a stop-start season marred by constant injury for Saha. It wasn't until on 28 August 2004 when he made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a second half substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Blackburn Rovers However, Saha picked up a knee injury playing for France against the Faroe Islands which cost him a month It wasn't until on 16 October 2004 when he returned to the first team, starting the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against Birmingham City Saha then scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the League Cup on 10 November 2004. Shortly after, he picked up the injury again, also playing for the national side and costing nearly two months out It wasn't until on 12 January 2005 when Saha returned to the starting the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against Chelsea in the first leg of the League Cup semi–fina Ten days later on 22 January 2005. He scored his second goal of the season, as well as, setting up the club's first goal of the game, in a 3–1 win against Aston Villa. However in February, the problem recurred, again leaving Saha out for a further two months. At the end of the 2004–05 season, Saha never really got going making only 11 starting appearances, 11 from the bench and scoring two goals.

      Over the summer Saha suffered another hamstring strain which ruled him out for the first three months of the 2005–06 season It wasn't until on 30 November 2005 when he scored on his first appearance of the season, as well as, setting up the club's third goal of the game, in a 3–1 win against West Bromwich Albion Following his return, Saha eased back into side as a sub, making appearances in League Cup matches To the surprise of many, the French striker recaptured his initial good form and started banging in the goals Six goals in the League Cup run saw him usurp Van Nistelrooy as the first-choice strike partner for Wayne Rooney Saha was named a starter, over Van Nistelrooy, in the final against Wigan Athletic, and scored a goal Despite suffering from an injury along the way, he later scored four more goals later in the 2005–06 season, including a brace against West Bromwich Albion on 18 March 2006 At the end of the 2005–06 season, Saha went on to make 30 appearances and scoring 15 times in all competitions.
      Saha, scorer of United's second goal, pictured during the 3–1 Manchester derby win on 9 December 2006.

      Saha was chosen by Ferguson to partner alongside Rooney for the next season, after Van Nistelrooy's exit for Real Madrid during the summer transfer window He began the 2006–07 season by scoring only seven minutes into the first game against Fulham This was followed up by scoring his second goal of the season, in a 3–0 win against Charlton Athletic, as well as, setting up the club's second goal of the game Saha then scored twice for the side, as well as, setting up the club's third goal of the game, in a 3–2 win against Celtic in the UEFA Champions League He scored the winning goal away to Benfica in the UEFA Champions League and later scored in the return match Saha's goal scoring form continued for the rest of 2006 As a result, he signed an extension to his contract lasting to 2010, though soon after began suffering from more injury problems. Groin and hamstring injuries restricted appearances and meant he only scored one goal in the second half of the season. He returned as substitute at Roma but then soon picked up a knee injury and was therefore absent for United's 1–0 extra-time loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup final. Saha ended the season with 13 goals in all competitions, largely thanks to his pre-Christmas form.

      In the 2007–08 season, Saha returned from injury and came as a substitute against Sunderland, scoring the winning goal. On 23 September 2007, Saha won and converted a penalty against Chelsea in Chelsea's first game with Avram Grant in charge. United won the game 2–0. This earned Saha a recall to the French national team after a year out. Against Arsenal, Saha came on to replace the under-performing Carlos Tevez in a 2–2 draw. He was key in setting up a goal as Cristiano Ronaldo gave United a 2–1 lead. Saha continued to make appearances off the bench, but when Wayne Rooney was ruled out for a few weeks he partnered Tevez up front. He then started in a match against Sunderland on Boxing Day, and scored twice, including a penalty, winning 2–0 to lift Manchester United to 1st position in the Premier League. After being sidelined with a knee injury that kept him out for a month, Saha made his return in an FA Cup clash versus Arsenal on 16 February 2008, winning 4–0. The following weekend, he came on as a substitute for Ronaldo, scoring the final goal in a 5–1 rout of Newcastle United. After returning to nearly full fitness, Saha's injury haunts returned and forced him off with a hamstring complaint during United's win over Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford. Saha was ruled out for several weeks, missing key games. In the final game of the Premier League season against Wigan Athletic, Saha was named as a substitute, but played no part in the game. In May 2008, Saha admitted that he believed his United career was in doubt. Despite his desire to stay and love for the club, he was unsure of what the future held for him at Old Trafford.

      Despite struggling with injuries in parts of the 2004–05 and latter parts of the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, Saha still contributed 42 goals in all competitions for Manchester United in 120 appearances for the club.

      Everton
      Saha (right) alongside Sylvain Distin with Everton in 2009

      Saha joined Everton in 2008 for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year 'pay-as-you-play' deal. Not match-fit at his time of signing, Saha offered to train without being paid while injured.

      Saha made his Everton debut on 22 September coming on as a substitute in a league game away to Hull City, before scoring his first goal, against his former club Fulham, at Goodison Park on 1 November. This was followed up by scoring a brace, as well as, setting up the club's first goal of the game, in a 3–1 win against West Ham United. However during a 1–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur on 30 November 2008, he suffered a knee injury and was substituted in the 60th minute. Following this, it was announced that Saha would be out for two months. It wasn't until on 22 February 2009 when Saha returned to the first team, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute, in a 0–0 draw against Newcastle United. This was followed up by scoring his fourth league goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against West Bromwich Albion. A week later on 8 March 2009, he came off the bench at half-time in that season's FA Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough, scoring the winner and helping Everton reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1995. Two months later on 16 May 2009 against West Ham United, Saha scored twice for the second time this season, as the club won 3–1. Two weeks later in the FA Cup final, Saha scored the fastest goal in the final's history after 25 seconds, though opponents Chelsea came from behind to win 2–1.This broke Bob Chatt's record, set 114 years earlier in the 1895 Final. It was also the fastest goal in any match at the new Wembley Stadium, beating the previous record by Giampaolo Pazzini in March 2007 in an under-21 international for Italy. Throughout the 2008–09 season, he established himself in the starting 11, forming a striking partnership with Yakubu. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Saha went on to make 29 appearances and scoring eight times in all competitions.
      Saha warming up prior to Everton's match against Fulham in 2009

      Saha scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season, after coming on as a substitute, on the opening day of the season against Arsenal in a 6–1 defeat at Goodison. His goalscoring form continued for the next two months, adding a tally to seven goals, scoring against Sigma Olomouc (twice), Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers (twice) and Portsmouth. He went on to a run of seven goals in seven games in all competitions by the end of the year. The next two months saw Saha earned two Player of the Month by the club. Saha signed a two-year contract extension with Everton on 5 February 2010, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2011–12 season. Five days later on 10 February 2010, he scored a brace for the side, in a 2–1 win against Chelsea. Throughout the 2009–10 season, he established himself in the starting 11, playing in the striker position, but found his goalscoring form dipped as the season progressed. Despite suffering from injuries during the season along the way, Saha made 40 appearances and scored 15 times in all competitions (13 in the league).

      At the start of the 2010–11 season, Saha continued to regain his first team place for the first four matches, including scoring his first goal in a 5–1 win against Huddersfield Town in the second round of the League Cup. However, he suffered an injury while on international duty that kept him out for a month. It wasn't until on 23 October 2010 when Saha returned to the first team from injury, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. Since returning from injury, he was involved in the first team for the next three months, though at the same time, struggled to regain his goal scoring form. This last until Saha suffered a thigh injury that saw him miss one match. Saha scored his eighth goal in five starts against Chelsea on 29 January 2011, and continued his form in the next home game, against Blackpool on 5 February, when he netted four goals in a 5–3 victory. It was his first hat-trick in the Premier League. Saha scored again for Everton against Fulham on 19 March 2011 with a low right footed drive from a free kick, he was later stretchered off with an ankle injury and remained sidelined for the remainder of the season.At the end of the 2010–11 season, Saha made 26 appearances and scoring nine times in all competitions.[citation needed]

      Saha made his return for the 2011–12 season on 30 July 2011 in a pre-season fixture against the recently relegated Birmingham City at St Andrews. He was substituted into the match in the second half and scored 3 minutes into his return from injury with a low right footed drive from outside the box. After missing four matches, Saha returned to the first team, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute, in a 2–0 loss against Manchester City on 24 September 2011.This was followed up by making his first start of the season for Everton in a home fixture against Liverpool. Everton lost the game 2–0. He then scored his first goal of the season in a 3–1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage after coming on as a substitute. Saha continued his scoring in the following game on 26 October against Chelsea in a League Cup tie. He failed to score again for Everton, a drought that included 942 consecutive minutes of league football. Saha left Everton having scored 35 goals in 115 appearances.

      Tottenham Hotspur

      On 31 January 2012, Saha completed a free transfer move to Tottenham Hotspur, signing a six-month contract. He was given the number 15 jersey, last worn by Peter Crouch.

      Less than a week later he made his debut against Liverpool coming on as a substitute for Emmanuel Adebayor in a 0–0 draw. He made his full debut in the very next league fixture against Newcastle United, scoring twice in a 5–0 win. On 26 February 2012, he made it three goals in three games for his new club when he scored the opening goal in Tottenham's North London derby defeat against Arsenal, 5-2.

      He scored his fourth goal, in all competitions, for the club against Bolton Wanderers to make it 3–1 to Tottenham with the last kick of the game to send his side through to the FA Cup semi-finals against London rivals Chelsea. Following his successful short spell with Tottenham, Saha reported that he was desperate to seal a long term deal at White Hart Lane, citing Harry Redknapp as a big factor in his upturn in form. On 13 July 2012, it was confirmed that Saha was released after his contract expired at the end of the season.

      Sunderland
      Saha coming on for his Sunderland debut as a substitute

      On 16 August 2012, Sunderland confirmed the signing of Saha on a one-year deal. He made his debut two days later, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Arsenal. His contract was mutually terminated on transfer deadline day January 2013. During Saha's time at Sunderland, he made only 14 appearances and failed to score a single goal.

      Lazio

      On 6 February 2013, Saha signed a six-month contract with Italian club Lazio. The following day, he was presented by the club.

      Saha made his debut for Lazio, coming on as a substitute on 9 February 2013 in a match against Napoli. However, he found his playing time limited, mostly coming on as a substitute, as he went on to make six appearances for the club. Despite being keen to stay at the club beyond the 2012–13 season, Saha was released at the end of the short-term deal.

      Post-playing career
      Saha playing alongside Jesper Blomqvist during Manchester United's charity match against Barcelona on 2 September 2017

      On 8 August 2013, date of his birthday, Saha announced his retirement from professional football via Twitter. Saha joined other retired players at a Testimonial match for his former Spurs teammate Ledley King on 12 May 2014. Coming on as a second-half substitute he scored a hat-trick against a line-up of current Tottenham players. Three years later on 2 September 2017, he once again joined other retired players for a charity match against Barcelona that Manchester United won 3–0
      Saha's speaking at the Web Summit in 2016

      Following his retirement from professional football, Saha created a private network for pro athletes and entertainers called AxisStars.

      In December 2015, Saha said he would be suing a UK bank after it was revealed that a botched investment scheme resulted in him losing "around six figures." He also published his first book titled "Thinking Inside the Box?".

      International career

      Saha represented France at various youth levels and scored the winning goal in the 1997 UEFA European Under-18 Championship against Portugal

      Saha said he wanted to play for France and put his name in the short–list to be called up to the national squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup but due to his goal scoring form dip during the 2001–02 season, Saha acknowledged that he would be unlikely to be in the squad for the tournament, which turned out to be true. It was not until 2004 that Saha finally earned his first full cap, marking his debut with a goal in a 2–0 victory over Belgium on 18 February. That summer he was also selected for the UEFA Euro 2004 squad Saha then scored his second goal for France, scoring the national team's third goal of the game, in a 4–0 win against Andorra on 28 May 2004. Having appeared in the first two matches as an unused substitute in the Group Stage, he made his first appearance of the tournament against Switerzland, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute, and set up a goal for Thierry Henry to score the national team's second goal of the game, winning 3–1. However, Saha played 18 minutes, having come on as a 72nd-minute substitute, as France lost 1–0 against Greece in the quarter–finals, eliminating the national side from the UEFA Euro.

      Two years later, Saha was called up to the national team squad for the FIFA World Cup, earning his first call-up in almost a year. He made his first appearance for the national side in almost a year, starting a match against Denmark on 31 May 2006 and set up France's first goal of the game, in a 2–0 win. Saha made his first appearance of the World Cup, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute, in a 0–0 draw against Switerzland. Saha contributed to France reaching the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, but he was suspended for the final against Italy after receiving a yellow card during the semi-final victory over Portugal.

      After the end of the World Cup tournament, Saha was called up to the France squad for the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which he started the whole game, in a 2–1 win. Saha then followed up in his next appearance for the national side by scoring in a 3–0 win against Georgia. A month later on 11 October 2006, he scored his fourth goal for France, in a 5–0 win against Faroe Islands.

      Saha was named in the squad picked for the Euro 2012 qualifiers (September 2011), which also included goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Chelsea's Florent Malouda and nine other players who took part in France's disappointing 2010 World Cup campaign. Prior to this, he had not played for his national side since November 2006 (although he was called up by Raymond Domenech in February 2010, he withdrew from the squad due to injury). Saha made his first appearance for France for the first time in four years, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 loss against Belarus on 3 September 2010. Two years later on 29 February 2012, he made his return to the national team in a 2–1 win against Germany, in what turns out to be his last appearance for France.

      Personal life

      In addition to speaking French, Saha speaks fluent English. He learned the language after moving to Fulham in 2000, where he experienced some initial struggles before improving.

      Saha has three children with his former partner: Stanley, Enzo and Lou. They split up post retirement. Having previously resided in Manchester, North west England, he has since resided in the south of France.

      Laxmirani Majhi

      Laxmirani Majhi – Profile

      • Name: Laxmirani Majhi

      • Nationality: Indian

      • Sport: Archery (Recurve)

      • Event: Women’s Recurve Individual & Team

      • Affiliation: Sports Authority of India (SAI), Jharkhand

      • Tribe/Community: Belongs to a tribal family from Odisha (Santhal community).

      Early Life & Background

      • Laxmirani Majhi hails from a modest tribal background in Baguda village, Odisha.

      • She initially struggled with financial constraints, but her talent in archery was identified at a young age.

      • She trained at the Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur, which has produced several top-level Indian archers.

      Career Highlights

      • 2015 World Archery Championships (Copenhagen, Denmark):

        • Won silver medal in the Women’s Recurve Team event along with Deepika Kumari and Rimil Buriuly.

        • This performance also helped India secure quota places for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

      • 2016 Rio Olympics:

        • Represented India in women’s individual recurve.

        • Reached the Round of 32, where she lost to Alexandra Longová of Slovakia.

        • Also competed in the team event.

      • National & International Participation:

        • Consistently represented India in Asian Championships, World Cup events, and National Championships.

        • Known for her strong performance in team events.

          Style & Strengths

          Competes in Recurve Archery, the Olympic discipline.

          Recognized for her calm composure and steady release technique.

          Often paired with India’s top women archers like Deepika Kumari in team events.
          Recognition

          Considered one of the few tribal women from Odisha to represent India at the Olympics.

          Her journey from a small tribal village to the Olympics has inspired many young athletes, especially girls from marginalized communities.

          ✅ In short: Laxmirani Majhi is an Indian recurve archer from Odisha’s Santhal tribal community, best known for winning a silver medal at the 2015 World Archery Championships and representing India at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

      Lal Mohan Hansda

      Wikipedia

      Lal Mohan HansdaPersonal information
      Date of birth 3 December 1983
      Place of birth Bihar, India
      Playing position(s) Forward
      Club information

      Current team Prayag United
      Number 16
      Senior career*
      Years Team
      Apps (Gls)
      South Eastern Railway
      Pathachakra
      2013– Prayag United 3 (0)
      * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only


      Lal Mohan Hansda (born 3 December 1983 in Jharkhand) is an Indian footballer

      who plays as a forward for Prayag United S.C. in the I-League.

      Career

      Before playing for Prayag United S.C. Hansda played for the Jharkhand football team in the Santosh Trophy for many years, and then the Railways football team in the 2012 Santosh Trophy. Hansda also played club football for the South Eastern Railways for which he won the Inter-Railway Football Championship in 2007 after defeating South East Central Railway 2–0 with Hansda scoring the second goal for South Eastern Railway. He also played for Pathachakra in the fifth division of Kolkata Football before joining Prayag United.
            
      Prayag United

      In September 2012, Hansda signed with Prayag United of the I-League. On 27 January 2013 Hansda made his debut for the club in the I-League against Mohun Bagan when he came on for Kayne Vincent in the 67th minute as Prayag United went on to draw the match 1–1.

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