<p>Ethiopian Olympic gold medallist and national hero Haile Gebrselassie pledged on Wednesday to join the fight against rebellious forces in his country, after the prime minister said he had gone to direct the war from the front lines.</p>

<p>The 48-year-old retired champion, who set 27 long-distance running records, told Reuters that he felt compelled to join up because Ethiopia's existence was under threat.</p>

<p>Haile, his lithe, athletic frame dressed in business attire, said he believed sport was about "peace and love". But he defended his decision to join the fight against rebellious Tigrayan forces and their allies, who last month threatened to march on the capital Addis Ababa.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-mulling-diplomatic-boycott-of-beijing-2022-winter-olympics-431788">Australia mulling diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics</a></strong></p>

<p>"What would you do when the existence of a country is at stake? You just put down everything. Alas, nothing will bind you. I am sorry!"</p>

<p>The year-long conflict has killed thousands of people, forced more than 2 million more from their homes and left 400,000 people in Tigray facing famine. It escalated sharply after the threat by rebellious forces to march on the capital, leading to international efforts to broke a ceasefire.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, state-affiliated media reported that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had gone to direct the war from the front lines.</p>

<p>Haile cast the conflict as a battle in which the threat to Ethiopia was a threat to all of Africa.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/relieved-ioc-president-thomas-bach-interacts-with-chinese-tennis-star-peng-shuai-in-a-video-call-431047"><strong>'Relieved' IOC president Thomas Bach interacts with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai in a video call</strong></a></p>

<p>"Ethiopia is a country that contributed a lot to Africa and the entire continent," he said. "Yes, it is an exemplary country. Kneeling Ethiopia is indirectly kneeling the rest. This is impossible."</p>

<p>In an interview in his office in the capital, where he runs more than a dozen companies engaged in hospitality, real estate, agriculture and education, Haile spoke of the role he was willing to play in the war.</p>

<p>"You expect me to say until death? Yes, that is the ultimate price in a war," he said. "There is no way that I can sit here due to fear because it will come to my door. It will come to my house. We wouldn't know when it comes. We wouldn't know who will do what."</p>


Ethiopian Olympic gold medallist and national hero Haile Gebrselassie pledged on Wednesday to join the fight against rebellious forces in his country, after the prime minister said he had gone to direct the war from the front lines.

Ethiopian Olympic gold medallist and national hero Haile Gebrselassie pledged on Wednesday to join the fight against rebellious forces in his country, after the prime minister said he had gone to direct the war from the front lines. The 48-year-old retired champion, who set 27 long-distance running records, told Reuters that he felt compelled to join up because Ethiopia's existence was under threat. Haile, his lithe, athletic frame dressed in business attire, said he believed sport was about "peace and love". But he defended his decision to join the fight against rebellious Tigrayan forces and their allies, who last month threatened to march on the capital Addis Ababa. ALSO READ | Australia mulling diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics "What would you do when the existence of a country is at stake? You just put down everything. Alas, nothing will bind you. I am sorry!" The year-long conflict has killed thousands of people, forced more than 2 million more from their homes and left 400,000 people in Tigray facing famine. It escalated sharply after the threat by rebellious forces to march on the capital, leading to international efforts to broke a ceasefire. On Wednesday, state-affiliated media reported that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had gone to direct the war from the front lines. Haile cast the conflict as a battle in which the threat to Ethiopia was a threat to all of Africa. ALSO READ | 'Relieved' IOC president Thomas Bach interacts with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai in a video call "Ethiopia is a country that contributed a lot to Africa and the entire continent," he said. "Yes, it is an exemplary country. Kneeling Ethiopia is indirectly kneeling the rest. This is impossible." In an interview in his office in the capital, where he runs more than a dozen companies engaged in hospitality, real estate, agriculture and education, Haile spoke of the role he was willing to play in the war. "You expect me to say until death? Yes, that is the ultimate price in a war," he said. "There is no way that I can sit here due to fear because it will come to my door. It will come to my house. We wouldn't know when it comes. We wouldn't know who will do what."

'No way I can sit due to fear': Ethiopian Olympic gold medallist to join war, ready to pay 'ultimate price'

<p>Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday said that he is honoured to be chosen for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.</p>

<p>"Very honoured to be awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna alongside some outstanding sportspersons. Aap sabhi ke sahyog aur support ke liye tahe dil se dhanyavad. Koshish ye hi rahegi ki aise hi apne performances se desh ke liya aur success haasil kar paun! Jai Hind," tweeted Neeraj Chopra.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Very honoured to be awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna alongside some outstanding sportspersons. Aap sabhi ke sahyog aur support ke liye tahe dil se dhanyavad.🙏🏼<br />
<br />
Koshish ye hi rahegi ki aise hi apne performances se desh ke liya aur success haasil kar paun! Jai Hind.🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/VpfNmaJnAN">pic.twitter.com/VpfNmaJnAN</a></p>
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Neeraj_chopra1/status/1455803192709574664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier this year, Neeraj Chopra had bagged a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and the javelin thrower brought India its first medal in athletics at the mega event. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Tuesday announced the list for National Sports Awards 2021. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 13.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/neeraj-chopra-ravi-dahiya-mithali-raj-likely-to-be-conferred-with-major-dhyan-chand-khel-ratna-award-424487">Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Dahiya, Mithali Raj likely to be conferred with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award</a></strong></p>

<p>Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award will be given to 12 sportspersons including Neeraj Chopra (Athletics), Ravi Kumar (Wrestling), Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), Sreejesh P.R (Hockey), Avani Lekhara (Para Shooting), Sumit Antil (Para-Athletics), Pramod Bhagat (Para Badminton), Krishna Nagar (Para Badminton), Manish Narwal (Para Shooting), Mithali Raj (Cricket), Sunil Chhetri (Football), and Manpreet Singh (Hockey).</p>

<p>All men`s Hockey India team who has won the historic bronze medal in Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been awarded Arjun Award with the exceptions of PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh.</p>

<p>The full list of athletes who will receive the Arjuna Award are Arpinder Singh, Simranjit Kaur, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhavani Devi, Monika, Vandana Katariya, Sandeep Narwal, Hiimani Uttam Parab, Abhishek Verma, Ankita Raina, Deepak Punia, Dilpreet Singh, Harman Preet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Surender Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Birendra Lakra, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Varun Kumar, Simranjeet Singh, Yogesh Kathuniya, Nishad Kumar, Praveen Kumar, SuhashYathiraj, Singhraj Adhana, Bhavina Patel, Harvinder Singh, and Sharad Kumar.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-major-dhyan-chand-khel-ratna-wrestling-federation-wants-arjuna-award-for-ravi-dahiya-425040">Not Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna! Wrestling Federation wants Arjuna Award for Ravi Dahiya</a></strong></p>

<p>Dronacharya Award in the Life-Time Category went to T. P. Ouseph, Sarkar Talwar, Sarpal Singh, Ashan Kumar, and Tapan Kumar Panigrahi. Dronacharya Award in the regular category is awarded to Radhakrishnan Nair P, Sandhya Gurung, Pritam Siwach, Jai Prakash Nautiyal, and Subramanian Raman.</p>

<p>Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement went to Lekha KC, Abhijeet Kunte, Davinder Singh Garcha, Vikas Kumar, and Sajjan Singh. Punjab University (Chandigarh) will receive the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy for 2021.</p>


Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday said that he is honoured to be chosen for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. "Very honoured to be awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna alongside some outstanding sportspersons.

Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday said that he is honoured to be chosen for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award. "Very honoured to be awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna alongside some outstanding sportspersons. Aap sabhi ke sahyog aur support ke liye tahe dil se dhanyavad. Koshish ye hi rahegi ki aise hi apne performances se desh ke liya aur success haasil kar paun! Jai Hind," tweeted Neeraj Chopra. Very honoured to be awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna alongside some outstanding sportspersons. Aap sabhi ke sahyog aur support ke liye tahe dil se dhanyavad.🙏🏼 Koshish ye hi rahegi ki aise hi apne performances se desh ke liya aur success haasil kar paun! Jai Hind.🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/VpfNmaJnAN — Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) November 3, 2021 × Earlier this year, Neeraj Chopra had bagged a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and the javelin thrower brought India its first medal in athletics at the mega event. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Tuesday announced the list for National Sports Awards 2021. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 13. ALSO READ: Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Dahiya, Mithali Raj likely to be conferred with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award will be given to 12 sportspersons including Neeraj Chopra (Athletics), Ravi Kumar (Wrestling), Lovlina Borgohain (Boxing), Sreejesh P.R (Hockey), Avani Lekhara (Para Shooting), Sumit Antil (Para-Athletics), Pramod Bhagat (Para Badminton), Krishna Nagar (Para Badminton), Manish Narwal (Para Shooting), Mithali Raj (Cricket), Sunil Chhetri (Football), and Manpreet Singh (Hockey). All men`s Hockey India team who has won the historic bronze medal in Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been awarded Arjun Award with the exceptions of PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh. The full list of athletes who will receive the Arjuna Award are Arpinder Singh, Simranjit Kaur, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhavani Devi, Monika, Vandana Katariya, Sandeep Narwal, Hiimani Uttam Parab, Abhishek Verma, Ankita Raina, Deepak Punia, Dilpreet Singh, Harman Preet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Surender Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Birendra Lakra, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamsher Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Varun Kumar, Simranjeet Singh, Yogesh Kathuniya, Nishad Kumar, Praveen Kumar, SuhashYathiraj, Singhraj Adhana, Bhavina Patel, Harvinder Singh, and Sharad Kumar. ALSO READ: Not Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna! Wrestling Federation wants Arjuna Award for Ravi Dahiya Dronacharya Award in the Life-Time Category went to T. P. Ouseph, Sarkar Talwar, Sarpal Singh, Ashan Kumar, and Tapan Kumar Panigrahi. Dronacharya Award in the regular category is awarded to Radhakrishnan Nair P, Sandhya Gurung, Pritam Siwach, Jai Prakash Nautiyal, and Subramanian Raman. Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime achievement went to Lekha KC, Abhijeet Kunte, Davinder Singh Garcha, Vikas Kumar, and Sajjan Singh. Punjab University (Chandigarh) will receive the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy for 2021.

Honoured to be awarded Khel Ratna Award, says golden boy Neeraj Chopra

<p>Japan's three-times Olympic wrestling champion Saori Yoshida announced her retirement on Tuesday at the age of 36.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yoshida, who also won silver at Rio 2016, made the announcement on Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have decided to end the 33 years of being a wrestler," she said. "Thanks to all your encouragement and support."</p>

<p>The freestyle wrestler is a 13-times world champion, most recently winning the 53kg category in Las Vegas in 2015.</p>

<p>Yoshida had dominated the sport ever since her first world championship in 2002 until she was defeated by American Helen Maroulis in the Rio final for her only loss at an Olympic Games.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="ja">いつも吉田沙保里を応援していただきありがとうございます。<br />
この度、33年間のレスリング選手生活に区切りをつけることを決断いたしました。<br />
ここまで長い間、現役選手として頑張ってこれたのも沢山の方々の応援とサポートのおかげです。<br />
みなさん、本当にありがとうございました。 <a href="https://t.co/atDfQRlXBv">pic.twitter.com/atDfQRlXBv</a></p>
— 吉田沙保里 (@sao_sao53) <a href="https://twitter.com/sao_sao53/status/1082530505394769923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="ja">また後日、改めてみなさんの前で引退のご報告と感謝の気持ちをお伝えしたいと思います。</p>
— 吉田沙保里 (@sao_sao53) <a href="https://twitter.com/sao_sao53/status/1082530688765546496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>She was also part of the Japanese lobbying team that persuaded the International Olympic Committee to retain wrestling at the Tokyo 2020 Games and has been coaching the Japanese national team in the build-up to their home Olympics next year.</p>

<p>Her decision to retire so close to Tokyo 2020 surprised many of her fans on Twitter.</p>

<p>"Such a shame as I was looking forward to seeing you on the Tokyo 2020 wrestling mat," one user commented on her post.</p>

<p>"I was moved and encouraged many, many times by your fighting sprit," another said.</p>


Japan's three-times Olympic wrestling champion Saori Yoshida announced her retirement on Tuesday at the age of 36. Yoshida, who also won silver at Rio 2016, made the announcement on Twitter.

Japan's three-times Olympic wrestling champion Saori Yoshida announced her retirement on Tuesday at the age of 36. Yoshida, who also won silver at Rio 2016, made the announcement on Twitter. "I have decided to end the 33 years of being a wrestler," she said. "Thanks to all your encouragement and support." The freestyle wrestler is a 13-times world champion, most recently winning the 53kg category in Las Vegas in 2015. Yoshida had dominated the sport ever since her first world championship in 2002 until she was defeated by American Helen Maroulis in the Rio final for her only loss at an Olympic Games. いつも吉田沙保里を応援していただきありがとうございます。 この度、33年間のレスリング選手生活に区切りをつけることを決断いたしました。 ここまで長い間、現役選手として頑張ってこれたのも沢山の方々の応援とサポートのおかげです。 みなさん、本当にありがとうございました。 pic.twitter.com/atDfQRlXBv — 吉田沙保里 (@sao_sao53) January 8, 2019 × また後日、改めてみなさんの前で引退のご報告と感謝の気持ちをお伝えしたいと思います。 — 吉田沙保里 (@sao_sao53) January 8, 2019 × She was also part of the Japanese lobbying team that persuaded the International Olympic Committee to retain wrestling at the Tokyo 2020 Games and has been coaching the Japanese national team in the build-up to their home Olympics next year. Her decision to retire so close to Tokyo 2020 surprised many of her fans on Twitter. "Such a shame as I was looking forward to seeing you on the Tokyo 2020 wrestling mat," one user commented on her post. "I was moved and encouraged many, many times by your fighting sprit," another said.

Triple Olympic gold medallist wrestler Saori Yoshida retires

<p>Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Friday resigned as the&nbsp;National Observer for shooting as well as Chairman of the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme&#39;s Identification Committee.</p>

<p>The shooting legend took this decision to avoid any potential &#39;conflict of interest&#39; charge arising out of his association with private sports projects.</p>

<p>Bindra took to his Twitter account to announce his decision and also posted the letter he wrote to Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">New years come with exciting new prospects. Will be looking to expand and run <a href="https://twitter.com/abhinavbindratp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abhinavbindratp</a> centres across the country and make them accessible to our athletes. Will be resigning public posts of Govt Observer shooting and</p>
&mdash; Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abhinav_Bindra/status/944201504700825601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chairman TOP Scheme Athlete Identification Committee with immediate effect. I thank the <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaSports</a> for the opportunity provided to serve. I will always remain accessible to any fellow athlete and look forward to what 2018 holds.</p>
&mdash; Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abhinav_Bindra/status/944201508182044672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>In his letter, Bindra informed he would be deeply associating himself with private projects while expanding his own &#39;Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance&#39; (ABTP) centres across India.</p>

<p>He added it would be prudent on his part to disassociate himself from the two government positions. The Indian shooter further asked the minister to relieve him so that the sanctity of these two posts is retained.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/wpKtWYR5Rj">pic.twitter.com/wpKtWYR5Rj</a></p>
&mdash; Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abhinav_Bindra/status/944201530042806273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Bindra&#39;s resignation has brought down the number of national observers to 9 from the originally appointed 12 Olympians.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Bindra took this decision to avoid any 'conflict of interest' charge arising out of his association with private sports projects

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on Friday resigned as the National Observer for shooting as well as Chairman of the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme's Identification Committee. The shooting legend took this decision to avoid any potential 'conflict of interest' charge arising out of his association with private sports projects. Bindra took to his Twitter account to announce his decision and also posted the letter he wrote to Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. New years come with exciting new prospects. Will be looking to expand and run @abhinavbindratp centres across the country and make them accessible to our athletes. Will be resigning public posts of Govt Observer shooting and — Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) December 22, 2017 × Chairman TOP Scheme Athlete Identification Committee with immediate effect. I thank the @IndiaSports for the opportunity provided to serve. I will always remain accessible to any fellow athlete and look forward to what 2018 holds. — Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) December 22, 2017 × In his letter, Bindra informed he would be deeply associating himself with private projects while expanding his own 'Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance' (ABTP) centres across India. He added it would be prudent on his part to disassociate himself from the two government positions. The Indian shooter further asked the minister to relieve him so that the sanctity of these two posts is retained. pic.twitter.com/wpKtWYR5Rj — Abhinav Bindra (@Abhinav_Bindra) December 22, 2017 × Bindra's resignation has brought down the number of national observers to 9 from the originally appointed 12 Olympians.

Abhinav Bindra resigns from two 'govt posts' to focus on 'private projects'