分类： sports

In a display of jaw-dropping speed, Indian speed climber Deepu Mallesh can scale a vertical wall equivalent to the height of five full-sized city buses in just five seconds – a feat so quick it can easily slip past an untrained eye. Yet for Mallesh and dozens of other elite Indian climbers chasing international Olympic dreams, the biggest obstacle is not the steep rock face in front of them, but the systemic barriers that have left the sport largely unsupported in a cricket-mad nation.

Once a niche recreational activity, competitive climbing has exploded in grassroots popularity across India over the past decade. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) reports that tens of thousands of people now participate in sport climbing regularly, with more than a dozen purpose-built commercial climbing gyms opening across the country since 2014. But while recreational participation has surged, the transition to a full-time professional career has remained out of reach for most talented athletes, held back by prohibitive costs, near-zero sponsorship access, and a complete lack of official government recognition.

Today, just 3,500 climbers compete at any level across India, and only around 60 athletes earn the chance to compete in international tournaments each year. Many promising climbers have been forced to walk away from the sport entirely due to financial pressure. For those who persist, like 28-year-old Mallesh, balancing elite training with basic survival is a constant juggle. Mallesh, who has already represented India in international competition and dreams of becoming the first Indian climber to qualify for the Olympic Games, works part-time as a climbing instructor to fund his training and competition goals for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“What I like most about climbing is how raw and honest it is. It’s just you, the wall and the clock,” Mallesh explained. Despite placing outside the medals at last month’s IFSC World Climbing Championships in China, Mallesh set a new Indian national record of 5.39 seconds in the men’s speed discipline, and earned a spot to compete at the 2025 Asian Games in Tokyo this autumn. Still, his journey has been marked by financial uncertainty. For years, Mallesh relied entirely on crowdfunding to cover international competition costs, raising roughly 1 million rupees ($10,500) two years ago to attend six global events. He has missed multiple competitions over his career simply because he could not raise enough money to cover travel and entry fees. “If I get proper funding and proper support I might see my career through till the Olympics. Otherwise I will have to find something else to do,” he said.

The financial burdens facing climbers are substantial even at the basic level. A single high-quality pair of climbing shoes and safety harness costs around 10,000 rupees ($106), and a chalk bag for improving grip costs an additional 5,000 rupees. Unlike regular athletic shoes, competition climbing shoes wear out quickly, lasting just three to six months with regular training – and most athletes carry a backup pair for competition events. Nineteen-year-old 2024 Asian climbing silver medalist Joga Purty is one of the rare lucky few: she holds a sponsorship from Indian conglomerate Tata, a lifeline that has allowed her to continue competing. “If I didn’t have this I also would be one of those who quit the sport,” Purty said.

Unlike most major sports in India, competitive climbing has not earned official government recognition or support under the National Sports Governance Act. IMF representative Keerthi Pais says the organisation is currently in active negotiations to secure this designation, a change that would open up access to government funding, training infrastructure, and development programs that could transform the sport’s trajectory in India. “This recognition will help them continue their climbing career,” Pais said. For Mallesh, official status would do far more than provide symbolic validation: “It directly impacts support, funding, infrastructure and sponsorship opportunities.” Pais added that government policy to reduce barriers for building new climbing gyms would also be transformative, calling the move “the game-changer” that would unlock widespread, sustainable growth for the sport.

Commercial gym operators have already stepped into the gap left by limited government support, acting as a catalyst for grassroots growth. Mumbai-based The Indian Bouldering Company owner Shaiv Gandhi says private facilities have driven rising public awareness and provided the specialized training infrastructure that emerging athletes need to develop their skills. His gym has even launched an internal talent scouting program that allows promising young climbers to train for free, putting the onus on facility owners to nurture the next generation of elite competitors. “We already have a programme where we have told our instructors to keep an eye out for budding talent… if anyone you think has potential, let them climb. It’s on me,” Gandhi said. Since 2002, Indian climbers have already claimed nearly 70 medals across international competitions, including top finishes at Asian youth championships, proving that with systemic support, Indian athletes could compete with the best in the world on the global stage.

As the St. George Illawarra Dragons search for a permanent replacement for outgoing head coach Shane Flanagan ahead of next season, a high-profile cross-code candidate has received a glowing endorsement from one of the NRL’s most respected club leaders. \n\nTrent Robinson, the long-serving Sydney Roosters head coach, has publicly backed former dual-code international rugby union coach Michael Cheika, confirming the 59-year-old possesses every quality needed to succeed as an NRL head coach — and argued that club CEOs and chairmen simply need to take a chance on him.\n\nCheika’s name has repeatedly circulated as a candidate for NRL head coaching vacancies over the past several years, but the decorated mentor has never been given an opportunity to lead a top-flight NRL side, despite a stellar track record across global rugby union. His resume includes head coaching roles with the Australian Wallabies, Argentina’s Pumas, and the Lebanese rugby league international side, a resume that has kept him on the radar for NRL clubs seeking fresh leadership.\n\nCheika already has deep ties to the Roosters organization: he first joined the club as a consultant back in 2020, and has recently returned to the NRL premiership contenders in a specialist role working with the club’s forward pack. That working experience has given Robinson a first-hand look at what Cheika would bring to any NRL head coaching role.\n\nWhen asked whether NRL clubs would be willing to hire a coach with a primarily rugby union background, Robinson redirected the question to the decision-makers at the top of clubs, but left no doubt about Cheika’s credentials. “He’s a head coach, that’s pretty clear, and he always has been,” Robinson told reporters. “Whenever that comes up, he’ll be a head coach in the future somewhere pretty quickly, so he’ll be ready to go.”\n\nRobinson added that Cheika’s work with the Roosters forwards has been a major boost to the squad, noting that while Cheika continues to familiarize himself with the specific nuances of NRL play, his decades of elite coaching experience have already added immense value to the club. “He works with the forwards a lot and he’s worked really well with that crew. Building that mindset along with the skill set, he’s learning at the same time around the nuances of the game, but the mindset he’s had for a long time, so he’s been a good value add,” Robinson said.\n\nBeyond Cheika, Robinson also praised another product of the Roosters’ coaching pathway: club legend and former NSW captain Boyd Cordner, who recently stepped into a new role as assistant coach for the NSW Blues State of Origin side. Cordner replaced outgoing Dean Young, who stepped up to serve as the Dragons’ interim head coach following Flanagan’s departure announcement.\n\nCordner has already built a strong coaching resume through his work leading the Roosters’ SG Ball Cup youth side, and Robinson said the former premiership-winning forward has all the tools to become a top-level head coach in the future. “He is a great coach. He will be a great coach. And it’s a good step towards his future,” Robinson said. “(He’s got a) deep knowledge of rugby league, so he knows the nuances of the game. He knows how the game should be played, and then he’s got the ability to communicate that. So it’s Boydo’s choice that if he wants to go down that line, then he can, and he’s obviously doing it in part-time roles. But Boyd is and will be a very good coach.”\n\nLooking ahead to the Roosters’ upcoming Anzac Day clash against the Dragons, Robinson said his side is focused on preparing for their opponents rather than being distracted by the Dragons’ ongoing off-field coaching saga. The biggest talking point for the match is the NRL debut of Dragons rookie halfback Kade Reed, who is expected to be a primary target for the Roosters’ aggressive defensive line.\n\nRobinson confirmed that the Roosters have done their full scouting work on Reed, noting that while the young half is making his first NRL appearance, he has extensive experience through the junior and reserve grade pathways. When asked about the strategy of targeting debutant playmakers, Robinson said modern NRL requires all 13 players to step up physically, regardless of position or experience.\n\n“That’s the game, that will always be a part of it. But it won’t just be him,” Robinson said, also confirming Roosters centre Billy Smith will not return to the side for this week’s clash. “The game used to be played where years ago, they (smaller halves) used to play second line (defence) and they used to slot in on the far side of where the defensive lines were or where the ball was and move around. That’s not the case anymore. You need 13 guys aiming up and it’s a physical game.”\n\nRobinson added that the Roosters’ preparation for the match has centered on reviewing their own recent performance and locking in their game plan, rather than making drastic adjustments to target Reed. “Our most important preview for this game was our review, and that’s the things that we want to do and the things that we want to improve on,” he said. “You don’t change direction, but our style of game can double down on some of those areas that we want to attack. We’ve done our work as we do each week, no more than any other player that we face each week. But we’re really clear on the way that he plays the game and what he’ll bring to them, and then also what we need to do. He’s played a lot of footy, and we’ve watched him play a lot of footy. He just hasn’t played NRL yet. He’s played a trial, but he’s played a lot of reserve grade and he’s come through the grades, so as long as you do your work, you know the player.”

One of the National Rugby League’s most in-form players has had his dream of a State of Origin recall derailed by a significant suspension stemming from a dangerous tackle in a top-of-the-table clash. Api Koroisau, inspirational co-captain of the resurgent Wests Tigers, has been hit with a grade 2 dangerous contact charge from the NRL Match Review Committee for a hip-drop tackle on Canberra Raiders forward Noah Martin during the Tigers’ Round 8 victory on Thursday.

The incident unfolded in the 25th minute of the tight contest, which saw the Tigers climb into a share of first place on the NRL ladder alongside defending premiers Penrith Panthers. Koroisau was sin-binned immediately for the tackle, and while Martin managed to play through the initial discomfort, the Raiders forward was forced out of the game early in the second half and did not return.

The suspension carries particularly harsh consequences for the veteran dummy-half, who had emerged as a leading contender for a recall to the New South Wales Blues State of Origin squad ahead of the 2026 series opening match on May 27. Under NRL charging rules, Koroisau will serve a three-match ban if he accepts the early guilty plea, which would see him miss upcoming critical fixtures against the Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles. If he chooses to challenge the charge at the NRL Judiciary and loses, that ban will stretch to four matches. The Blues squad for the series opener will be announced just two days after the Tigers’ clash with Manly, ruling Koroisau out of contention for selection regardless of his decision.

The setback is a particularly cruel one for the Wests Tigers, who have staged a stunning early-season resurgence under new head coach Benji Marshall, with Koroisau widely cited as the locker room and on-field leader driving the team’s unexpected climb up the ladder. After the match, Marshall publicly slammed the NRL’s officiating for inconsistency, defending his star player and questioning how the tackle should have been executed under current rules.

“Yeah, look, it’s probably not a good time, but who cares?” Marshall told reporters after the win. “The inconsistency of the referees is annoying me at the moment to be honest. I know we won but some of the calls … it’s hard to understand. In Api’s case with the sin bin, I don’t know what he’s supposed to do in that situation. He’s making a cover tackle from behind, of course he’s going to land on his legs. There are heaps of things that didn’t go our way. I just think the fans deserve some consistency around the interpretations of the rules, and we’re not getting it.”

With Koroisau set to miss the next three weeks, the Tigers have already begun planning for life without their starting hooker. Reserve hooker Tristan Hope is the frontrunner to step into the starting line-up, while in-form playmaker Jock Madden – who has recently filled in for injured half Jarome Luai in the halves – is also an option to shift into the dummy-half role. Two other players from the Round 8 clash received minor penalties: the Tigers’ Fonua Pole and the Raiders’ Corey Horsburgh accepted small fines for grade 1 offenses from the match. Koroisau has a history of four appearances for the NSW Blues, last representing his state in the opening match of the 2023 State of Origin series.

The long-awaited wrongful death trial of seven medical workers connected to Diego Maradona’s 2020 passing took a jarring turn this week, when graphic video and firsthand testimony detailing the football legend’s physical state after death were presented to the court. Widely celebrated as one of the most gifted athletes to ever play soccer, Maradona died at age 60 just two weeks after undergoing emergency brain surgery to remove a blood clot, while he was completing his at-home recovery. An official post-mortem examination determined his cause of death was acute heart failure paired with pulmonary edema, a dangerous buildup of fluid in the lungs. On Thursday, emergency room physician Juan Carlos Pinto, the first medical responder to arrive at Maradona’s rented home after his death, took the stand to share his observation of the star’s body. “He had widespread edema across his body—his face was severely swollen, his limbs held excess fluid, and his abdomen was distended into a round, balloon-like shape,” Pinto told the court. Attendees were then shown a 17-minute forensic video recorded by police, which captures Maradona on his deathbed wearing athletic shorts and a t-shirt pulled up to expose his severely distended abdomen. Pinto explained the abnormal swelling stemmed from a combination of excess body fat and ascites, a buildup of abdominal fluid that is commonly tied to advanced liver cirrhosis, a condition Maradona battled for years linked to his long history of substance addiction. Maradona’s daughter Gianinna, who was in attendance for the day’s proceedings, broke down in tears during Pinto’s testimony and hid her face when the graphic video was played for the court. The seven defendants on trial include a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and a nurse, all charged with homicide with possible intent for the substandard care they provided to Maradona in his final days. If convicted, each could face between 8 and 25 years in prison. Both Pinto and a responding law enforcement officer confirmed critical gaps in medical infrastructure at the home where Maradona was recovering, noting no life-saving equipment was on hand to address a potential cardiac event. “There was no defibrillator, no oxygen supply, nothing at all,” Pinto said. “Nothing in the room indicated this patient was receiving formal at-home hospital care.” The accused have all flatly denied any wrongdoing, arguing Maradona—who publicly struggled with cocaine and alcohol addiction for decades—died from entirely natural causes unrelated to their care. This retrial comes after the first legal proceeding over Maradona’s death was thrown out last year, when it was revealed one of the presiding judges had secretly participated in a unauthorized documentary about the high-profile case. A new panel of judges was appointed to oversee the second trial, which opened last week and is projected to run for a minimum of three months as more witnesses and evidence are presented.

The Western Bulldogs have been hit with another devastating injury blow just one week after losing key young talent Sam Darcy to a season-ending ACL tear, with star spearhead Aaron Naughton carried off the field on a stretcher during Thursday night’s lopsided 66-point loss to Sydney at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.\n\nNaughton was stretchered from the ground in the third quarter after a hard landing when he jumped to take a contested mark, leaving fans and teammates unsettled as medical teams attended to him on the pitch. Speaking after the match, Bulldogs head coach Luke Beveridge confirmed that the star forward was cleared to leave the stadium with the team after the incident, and will undergo full diagnostic scans on Friday to clarify the extent of his injury.\n\nBeveridge told reporters that initial assessments point to a soft tissue strain in the side of Naughton’s neck, adding that a major positive sign from early checks is that the 24-year-old showed no signs of concussion. “He’s going to go home now and he’ll have his neck looked at tomorrow, we’ll get back to you on that,” Beveridge said. “He appears to have strained down that side of his neck from the incident. The bright side is there’s no sign of concussion but we’ll have to report in once we get something more definitive from a scan.”\n\nThe latest injury setback comes on the heels of last week’s devastating loss of Sam Darcy, who was ruled out for the rest of the AFL season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during the Bulldogs’ heavy defeat to Geelong. When asked about the string of personnel blows hitting the club, Beveridge acknowledged that the team has faced significant challenges in recent weeks, both on and off the field, during their current three-match losing streak.\n\nBeveridge pulled no punches in his assessment of Thursday’s performance, admitting that Sydney outmatched the Bulldogs across almost every area of the ground after a promising opening from his side. “We started off the game in good fashion and the things we spoke about beforehand came to the fore,” he said. “As the night went on, we probably needed our more experienced players really influencing the game, obviously Marcus Bontempelli was (influential) but we didn’t have enough elsewhere.”\n\nThe coach noted that while the club’s younger players showed glimpses of improvement as the match progressed, Sydney’s intensity, speed and spread across the ground proved too much for his undermanned side. The Swans’ pressure forced the Bulldogs into repeated uncharacteristic errors, turning the contest ugly in the final stages. “Fifteen back-half turnovers in that last quarter we gave up, that’s just extraordinary, that’s skill, that’s composure, it’s fatigue, it’s many things,” Beveridge said. “It turned really, really ugly for us. We have to work through that together and remain optimistic.”\n\nBeveridge admitted that these repeated late-game turnovers created the open opportunities that allowed Sydney key forward Charlie Curnow to boot a match-winning seven goals, adding that Curnow’s elite one-on-one performance was too much for the Bulldogs’ defensive unit to contain. “Curnow was quite exceptional one-on-one, none of our backs could stop him from taking those contested marks which is disappointing,” he said. “We think we should be better than that but he had obviously a very influential game.”\n\nWith the Bulldogs now stuck in a three-game losing skid, the side has barely a week to reset and fix their structural errors before they face a stern test next week, hosting an in-form Fremantle side that is pushing hard for a top-four position this season.