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A Tale of Dedication and Resilience India’s most celebrated table tennis star, Manika Batra, has an interesting arsenal of secrets fueling her potential Olympic success: a hefty motivational book, a strategic racquet switch, and unwavering emotional support from her mother. India’s top table tennis player Manika Batra used the long pimpled rubber to finish on the podium at the Commonwealth Games six years ago.  Over the past decade, Manika has developed a deep admiration for cricket superstar Virat Kohli, drawn to his passionate and relentless approach to the game. “It’s because of how he handles everything that happens to him, and how passionate he’s about winning through all that. And how he enjoys playing cricket,” she shares. The Power of a Motivational Tome Before every match, Manika delves into a motivational book that she describes as “Ek moti-si kitaab hai” — a thick book of 280 pages that works like magic for her. The title escapes her, but the essence of its wisdom remain...

In a recent interaction with athletes headed to the Paris Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India’s aspiration to host the 2036 Olympics. Modi emphasized the importance of gaining valuable insights from the athletes’ experiences in Paris to bolster India’s bid. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha poses for a group photo with the Indian contingent heading for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Seeking Insights from Paris During the session, which was held both in person and online, PM Modi highlighted the significant role these athletes could play in preparing India for hosting the Olympics. He encouraged them to observe the arrangements and provide feedback that could enhance India’s preparations. “We are hoping to host the Olympics in 2036. It will help in creating a sporting atmosphere. Work is in progress to prepare infrastructure for it,” said Modi. He emphasized tha...