Sports

D Gukesh has become India’s new No. 1 chess player after a thrilling victory against Vincent Keymer in Round 5 of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. The 72-move game, which turned out to be the longest of the round, saw Gukesh bounce back from early errors to outmaneuver Keymer, securing a crucial win. This result propelled Gukesh’s live rating to 2784, overtaking Arjun Erigaisi, who has been struggling with poor form in the tournament. Gukesh is currently unbeaten, with two wins and three draws, while Erigaisi's rating has dropped to 2779. The live ratings remain fluid, with eight rounds to go, leaving room for further shifts at the top.

Mohammed Shami’s much-anticipated return to the Indian team has been delayed as he was excluded from the playing XI for the first T20I against England, raising questions about his fitness. Despite bowling intensively at the nets, Shami’s left knee, which has been consistently strapped, continues to cause concern. While Shami has shown determination by playing in domestic cricket, his inclusion in the ongoing series is seen as a critical step in his comeback, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh is set to marry Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj, following discussions between their families. The couple, who have known each other for over a year, received mutual consent for the marriage. While no pre-wedding ceremonies have taken place yet, the engagement is planned for Lucknow after the ongoing Parliament session. Rinku, currently a part of India’s T20I squad, will ensure his cricket schedule remains unaffected by the wedding functions. Priya Saroj, elected to the Lok Sabha in 2024, is a former Supreme Court lawyer and active SP member.

Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker and world chess champion D. Gukesh were conferred with the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award by President Droupadi Murmu on 17 January at the National Sports Day ceremony in New Delhi. Bhaker, who made history with two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, and Gukesh, the youngest World Chess Champion, were among the four athletes to receive the highest sporting honor this year. The ceremony also saw the presentation of the Arjuna Award to 32 athletes, including Olympic medalists Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale. Despite initial controversies over her nomination, Bhaker expressed that the issue was due to a possible oversight in the application process.

Newly-crowned World Chess Champion D. Gukesh is excited about the possibility of chess being included in the Olympics, believing it would elevate the sport globally, especially in India. Speaking at a function organized by the All India Chess Federation, Gukesh expressed his desire to see chess become part of the Olympic curriculum, citing its growing popularity and support. The 18-year-old, who recently defeated Ding Liren to claim the World Championship title, is now looking ahead to his next tournament at the Tata Steel Chess in Wijk Aan Zee. He also shared his honor in receiving the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, becoming only the second Indian chess player after Viswanathan Anand to earn this prestigious recognition.