Author: Boria Majumdar

From one medal in London in 2012, to four at Rio 2016, and an exponential jump to 19 in Tokyo in 2021, India’s Paralympic story in recent years is one of serious achievement. And if Gursharan Singh, the Secretary General of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), is to be believed, the number could go up to 35 or even more in Paris. “In Tokyo, I had predicted 15 medals,” he said. “I was absolutely sure we would do better. In Paris, I am telling you we will get 35 or more. And it is not that I am just…

26,000 people chanting Bande Mataram together. It has happened in Indian stadiums before. But in football? Nah. And that’s what we witnessed at the “Fortress” last night in Bengaluru. As Sunil Chhetri started walking towards the gallery in celebration after winning the SAFF Championship, all of 26,000 fans joined in the chorus in a collective. Hundreds of these fans had travelled to Bengaluru for the game. Some had even come from the North East. May be that’s why Sunil had said, “The crowd was fantastic. And a large number of our fans travelled to watch us play spending time, energy…

With Emiliano Martinez now in Kolkata, there are continuous references to two of the greatest footballers the world has seen – Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. I have had the privilege of meeting both. In the case of Maradona, it was up close and personal, while with Messi, it was a rather strange encounter. With Martinez still in the city, it is time to look back and remember my meeting with Maradona. December 2017. He had just about settled down in his chair for the interview when I decided to spice things up a little. “Cristiano Ronaldo claims he is…

Is Neeraj Chopra the greatest Indian athlete ever? Is it premature to say so? Can he be compared to the likes of Abhinav Bindra, Sachin Tendulkar, PV Sindhu, Vishwanathan Anand, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Mary Kom or, even, Major Dhyan Chand? Is such a comparison fair? His sheer consistency makes Neeraj a potential candidate for the mantle of the best. He has won gold at the Asian Games and the Olympics, has won silver at the World Championships, won multiple Diamond League titles and is expected to win many more. If he does win a second Olympic medal in Paris,…

India didn’t play in the World Cup. But they won it (30 June 2002) on the streets of Kolkata. ‘Bra..aazil’- some sang, others shouted and still others hugged friends in delight. One man- a wizard called Ronaldo- had made their day. Kolkata celebrated Brazil’s record-breaking fifth World Cup victory as if there was no tomorrow, living up to its reputation of being a true soccer-crazy city. Their faces painted yellow and green, men and women danced in the aisles and on the streets in unmitigated glee. From Netaji Indoor stadium, where thousands watched the match on a giant screen to…

“I just hated it when in Australia, a few years back, there were two West Indian teams playing at the same time,” said Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and former Director of the West Indies Cricket Board, when we spoke four years ago. “One was a conglomerate of players plying their trade in the Big Bash League and entertaining a world audience with their skill. The second was the West Indian national team that was getting hammered in the Test series. “We had to do something.” Beckles devised a ‘secret’ plan with the University…

On the field, Indian football has had its best three weeks in a long time. From winning the Intercontinental Cup, beating Lebanon 2-0 in the final, to making the summit clash of the SAFF Championship, it has been great going for Sunil Chhetri and his team. The Igor Stimac setback notwithstanding, a victory in the final of the SAFF Cup would mean India getting a double-digit FIFA world ranking and a comparatively favourable draw in the World Cup qualifiers. Off the field, however, the going hasn’t been smooth. While the SAFF Championships have been successful from an organisational point of…

How good is Ben Stokes, and is there anything that he can’t do? Be it the Ashes, the World Cup or the IPL, Stokes has had maximum impact on most competitions he has played in it. An extraordinary athlete, Stokes is always in the game. What you get from him is 100 percent commitment each time he steps out for his team. Blessed with incredible talent, Stokes has honed his skills over the years and is now in that zone where he can hardly put a foot wrong on a day he gets going. And more important is his clarity…

“Fan experience is at the heart of everything at the Global Chess League. With each initiative we have tried to make the experience wholesome for the fans. Whether it was the Metaverse platform for GCL or bringing in a commentary panel of chess experts and social influencers who could break down the chess for the general public, we have always believed in keeping fans at the centre of action. Even on-ground, we had various events to ensure the fans – who are coming to watch the players – are going back with happy memories of watching the stars in action…

He will forever go down as one of the greatest that played the sport. And at the moment he is clearly the biggest brand that chess has. Not alien to controversy either, Magus Carlsen very rarely opens up for a long conversation. Currently leading the SG Alpine Warriors in the Global Chess League in Dubai, he took time out for a long conversation on his career, the new league, issues of sexual discrimination in chess, and most importantly on how it is to play and train with the new generation of Indian talent in Gukesh, Pragnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigasi. Extracts…