Latest news with #UniversityofNevada
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NBA Creator Cup ignites controversy as Raye YPK and viral stars steal pro level attention
NBA Creator Cup ignites controversy as Raye YPK and viral stars steal pro level attention (Image Source : X) In the NBA Creator Cup, the spotlight shifts from pros to the internet's biggest basketball creators. This summer, the court won't be owned by NBA stars; it'll be ruled by names like SypherPK, Daydrian Harding, Raye YPK, and more. It's not your usual league matchup, but it's grabbing attention everywhere. On July 9, inside The Pavilion in Las Vegas, these creators will trade content for competition. With millions watching, they're not just showing up, they're reshaping what basketball culture looks like. NBA Creator Cup goes live as SypherPK and top creators turn content into competition On Wednesday July 9, the PlayStation NBA Creator Cup will happen at The Pavilion at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Tip-off is at 10:00 PM ET, and fans can watch live on NBA YouTube and the NBA App. Some of the biggest basketball content creators will be there. SypherPK, Daydrian Harding, Raye YPK, Cam Wilder, and Carson Roney are all playing. These creators are known for viral clips, funny posts, and street basketball. Now, they're meeting face to face on one full court. This is the first time many of these creators will play together live, with thousands watching in real time. It's not just a fun match; it's a new way the NBA is blending basketball and creator culture. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo FaZe Rug and Jesser bring courtside charisma to NBA Creator Cup live stream While the players battle it out on the court, two familiar voices will be calling every play. FaZe Rug and Jesser, both massive names in the creator world, will serve as the event hosts and commentators. They'll talk fans through the game, from crossovers to big dunks to funny moments between plays. It's not a traditional broadcast. It's meant to feel fun, relaxed, and made for the internet. Before the big day, FaZe Rug said in a preview clip, 'This game is about love for basketball. But it's also for the fans who've followed these creators for years.' The NBA Creator Cup isn't just about the final score. With internet stars taking over both the court and the commentary booth, it's really about what happens when digital culture meets real-life hoops. It's creators stepping out of their screens and into the game and the vibe is completely different. Also Read: Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander says the real key is his trust in Jalen Williams Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
New COVID variant NB.1.8.1 could be more than 1 in 3 cases, CDC projects
What to know about changes in CDC guidance for COVID-19 vaccine The new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, which was linked to a large surge of hospitalizations in parts of Asia, could now make up more than 1 in 3 cases across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projected this week. Last month, the CDC's airport surveillance program had detected cases of the variant in arriving international travelers from several countries. The agency now says that nearly half of the COVID infections detected in that program the last week of May were the NB.1.8.1 variant. The CDC cautioned that "precision in the most recent reporting period is low" for their estimates, meaning the projections carry a wide margin of error. Still, the estimated increase in prevalence in the U.S. highlights the variant's high transmissibility — something experts had warned about as soon as it began spreading in this country. "Data indicates that NB.1.8.1 does not lead to more severe illness compared to previous variants, although it appears to have a growth advantage, suggesting it may spread more easily. In other words, it is more transmissible," Subhash Verma, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, previously told CBS News. Symptoms of the variant are broadly similar to those seen in earlier strains, Verma noted. Typical symptoms include respiratory issues such as cough and sore throat, as well as systemic issues like fever and fatigue. As health officials continue monitoring the virus, the Trump administration has recently made moves to change access to vaccines for some Americans. In May, the Food and Drug Administration said it will continue approving COVID-19 vaccine updates for seniors and those with an underlying medical condition, including pregnancy or diabetes, but will require vaccine makers to conduct major new clinical trials before approving them for wider use. The decision means many people without underlying conditions may not have access to updated shots this fall. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also said last month that he would remove the CDC's recommendation for children and healthy pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Later that week, however, the CDC said that kids with no underlying health conditions "may receive" COVID-19 vaccines. "Where the parent presents with a desire for their child to be vaccinated, children 6 months and older may receive COVID-19 vaccination, informed by the clinical judgment of a healthcare provider and personal preference and circumstances," the CDC says in its new guidance. contributed to this report.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘It's a door-opener': Krishna Jayasankar set to become first Indian woman to compete in US Collegiate competition finals
Remembering to speak English slowly and enunciate words clearly during her Fox5 News TV interview was one of the briefs that Krishna Jayasankar received from her American coaches, she recalls with a chuckle. The shot putter and discus thrower is the first Indian woman to qualify for the NCAA Track & Field Championships, currently underway at Eugene. And her breathless vocal motor speed, where she belts out extremely well-thought-out answers on myriad posers at a hip hopper's clip, got coaches including sprint legend and her University of Nevada (UNLV) coach Carmelita Jeter, to offer tips on more than technique and power shifts in her throws. 'They kept telling me, 'Krish, pace yourself when speaking on TV. Talk slowly in interviews,' she says of a breakthrough season, as she worked her way up to NCAA mains qualification, and also became popular on TV networks. 'I was excited to be on TV and the Las Vegas media has always been so supportive to UNLV students. I want to change perceptions. People of my body structure (muscular, throwers) – they don't consider us beautiful. But I advocated for body positivity,' she added. American University track & field athletes tend to gather quite a bit of stardom but being invited to a local network and going national subsequently, meant Krishna gave voice to the lesser-known female throwing ilk and also spoke for athletes of Indian ethnicity. Born to international basketballers Prasanna and Jayasankar Menon in Chennai, the 23-year-old has trained variously at Vijayawada, Jamaica and the University of Texas, but transferred to Nevada, following a previous coach. She also works part-time at the Thomas & Mack Centre, an arena where Sinatra once sang and where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke Wilt Chamberlain's points record in Las Vegas. 'I'm a people person and I work customer-facing shifts at the ticketing centre, resolving issues. Vegas has massive events, so it's a lot of work, but I need to. It's challenging — a part-time job, full-time athlete and student,' she says, of what is the reality for many Indian student-athletes, even if on sports scholarships. It helps, though, that she communicates at a fast-clip English speed that boggles many Americans, she laughs. The recent chaos in student and immigration visas has also meant she hasn't returned to India or seen family since last September while working in the fall. Through it all, she navigated a very negative head-space, dealing with injuries and a rough last season, plus the uncertainty of University coaches leaving and new ones joining. 'When I came to the US, as an Indian and a girl who loved throws, the dream was to be at the NC Double A finals. But 2025 has been a worthwhile grind,' she said. Krishna went in ranked No. 45 out of 48 athletes in her division, amongst 25 Universities, and broke the school record set in 1999, on the way, rung in a personal best of 55.61m in the outdoor discus and currently holds an indoor national record in the shot put. She is still some way off the Indian outdoor national records but finished No. 7 in her division and at No. 12 on the US collegiate list. 'It's great to be the first woman out of 1.3 billion and it's a door-opener, but out there I'm out of my comfort zone and getting here took resilience. Knee cap still hurts from the injury, and I take painkillers after every throw. The ankle and calf burn unbearably,' she says. Her move from Texas to Nevada through a transfer portal was particularly rough, and when the coach got fired in 2023 it seemed like one right setback. 'I told myself this is on me, took ownership of my throwing but I was without a coach till the University hired a new one. I went into depressive mode because a lot was at stake. I was used to getting guidance so it was chaos and confusion,' she recalls. Then 'Coach Jet' and Throws coach Jordan Roach arrived. 'She has a different aura, very positive,' she says of Jetter who won the relays Olympics gold and a string of world titles and was considered the fastest American for a decade. '2024 was full of adversity but I was growing,' she says. The 2024 outdoor season was lost to a hand fracture, and her frustration and anxiety peaked. But working with a team of psychologists, lifting coaches, Roach and Jetter, brought her back on track. 'I'm on to proper recovery now. And Throws coach Jordan and strength & conditioning director Jamie Wynn helped me reach elite lifting numbers in the gym where most throws training happens for explosive strength,' she says. The key to gymming in preparation for throws isn't necessarily how heavy she lifts, but the speed – which her coaches joke should be directly proportional to how fast she speaks – very. 'The trick is bar speed, how fast you lift that translates on the field in shotput and discus,' she says. It's where she says brute and beaut converge like she tried explaining on TV.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Krishna Jayasankar goes beyond basketball lineage, set to become first Indian woman to compete in NCAA finals
It's rare for a 23-year-old to have stayed off social media for as long as she has, but a few weeks ago, Krishna Jayasankar Menon finally opened an Instagram account in her name. And, she's already receiving plenty of messages — for good reason. On June 14, with her opening throw in the women's discus at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Championships, the 23-year-old will etch her name into Indian sporting history. Representing the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), she will become the first Indian woman to compete in the final of the NCAA Track and Field Championships — the premier collegiate athletics competition in the United States and widely regarded as the highest level of college sport worldwide. Another Indian, Sharvari Parulekar, will also match Krishna's milestone by becoming the second Indian woman to compete in the NCAA finals. She will take part in the women's triple jump in Oregon, just about half an hour after Krishna's event. While the number of Indian athletes competing in the NCAA has been growing in recent years, there are still only a handful who have competed at the highest level. Krishna is just the fifth Indian track and field athlete ever to make the NCAA finals, following the likes of Mohinder Gill, Vikas Gowda, Tejaswin Shankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan. As the clock ticks down to her event, Krishn is raring to go. 'I've heard so much about Hayward Field. This is where the World Championships were held (in 2022). I want to show up and show how much work I've put in. I'm really looking forward to representing our country, India, my family and the entire UNLV University,' says Krishna, who qualified for the NCAA finals by finishing in the top 12 at the West First Rounds in Cushing, Texas on May 31 with her career-best throw of 55.61m. But while she's coming off her personal best, competition at Hayward Field will be tough. Krishna is currently the overall 12th-ranked thrower in the USA collegiate circuit. The field at the NCAA finals includes Paris Olympics qualifier Jayden Ullrich (SB 64.81m) and Caisa Marie Lindfors (59.03m), while Cierra Jackson is one of the event's favourites with a season's best of 64.38m. For now, Krishna is counting the blessings she already has. 'It's going to be a win just because I'm competing in Eugene itself. This is a win not just for me but also for the 12-year-old girl who dreamt of going to the United States, who dreamt of living this life, and is actually living this life. I want to make that 12-year-old in me proud — that she made all the sacrifices she had to, overcame all the adversities and obstacles she faced, and broke all the barriers she did to become the woman she is today,' says Krishna. Krishna Jayasankar with her family. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Growing up in Chennai, it was probably inevitable that Krishna, the daughter of Jayasankar Menon and his wife Prasanna — both of whom captained the Indian basketball team — would have potential as a sportsperson. While her father is 6'5', her mother is 5'9'. Krishna has got the best of both sides of that gene pool. Standing a statuesque 5'10', she is a powerfully-built athlete, with a 225kg quarter squat and a 100kg clean and jerk among her numbers in the weight room. Body image issues However, the physique that has made her one of India's top throwers had her dealing with bullying and body image issues during her childhood. 'I think there are a very few people who actually have the same body type as me. And because I didn't fit the perception of how an Indian woman looks, I was made fun of. I was fat-shamed by my classmates. I actually loved dancing — I was even part of the school dance team — but there were so many opportunities I was deprived of because I didn't fit the perfect realm of how an Indian woman looked,' she says. During her schooling in Chennai, Krishna was nudged into the throws event for the same reason. 'I actually started throwing the shot put when I was in fifth grade because my PT teacher thought I was the right size and shape for it. She was just trying to look out for some people who were very tall and stocky. And I fell into that category because I was taller than my entire fifth grade group. That's the perception people have — if you are tall and a little plump, you'll probably be good as a thrower,' she says. Although she hadn't organically chosen the event, Krishna would learn to love it. 'I actually started with the shot put and I became fascinated by the way it left my hand and how I was able to make it fly with so much power. I liked how strong it made me feel. That's how I fell in love with track and field,' she says. It wasn't a wrong choice. Krishna would go on to compete and win medals in the shot put at the CBSE state level and break the CBSE national record. Eventually, with the intention of developing as an athlete, Krishna enrolled in the Tenvic Academy — the sports academy founded by former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble — in Guntur. It was there that Krishna would first meet Jamaican throws coach Michael Vassell. 'Until then I'd only ever thrown the shot. But he was the first one who suggested that I had a wide enough wingspan and could throw the discus too. That's when I really started competing in the discus,' she says. Kirishna Jayashankar: I definitely want to compete at the 2028 Olympics. I'm going to start my Masters in Sports Management at UNLV, but I will be taking the time to come to India to compete next year so I can make the Indian team for the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement That wasn't the only thing Vassell suggested to Krishna. 'He was the first coach who suggested that I could consider applying for a sports scholarship to compete in the NCAA. That was the first time I learned that it was even a possibility — that I could study in the USA. That was when the dream first came to me,' says Krishna. That dream persisted even after Tenvic shut down during the pandemic, and Krishna returned to Chennai. 'At that time I was really desperate to compete in the NCAA, but I wasn't sure how that would happen. And then coach Vassell suggested I come and compete for some time in Jamaica,' she says. Krishna's parents had taken their time to agree to her training in Guntur. Jamaica was all the way across the world. But Krishna was adamant. It was a decision that changed her life. ALSO READ | Indian track stars chase the American dream at the NCAA 'Going to Jamaica gave me the kind of exposure I needed to make the move to the NCAA. Many US coaches, because of the proximity and the reputation of Jamaican track and field, are interested in working with Jamaican athletes. A lot of coaches come there personally to recruit athletes,' she says. Jamaican journey It wasn't that there were no challenges. 'Jamaica took some getting used to. I was an 18-year-old Indian girl. Jamaica is a beautiful country that I consider my second home, but there is the safety aspect I couldn't ignore. I was staying with coach Vassell at his home, and I'd travel an hour by public bus every day to go to school and train. As a kid in India, I was always pampered, and my parents were always there to help me if I had any challenges. But in Jamaica, I was almost on my own. I learned what independent life meant. I was a girl when I went to Jamaica but became a woman when I left, because I matured so much,' she says. Krishna competed in a number of national-level competitions in Jamaica and even managed to throw a then personal best of 48.27m at the Olympic Destiny Series 3 in Kingston. It was one of a number of performances in Jamaica that eventually saw Krishna scouted and earn a scholarship to the University of Texas in El Paso. But just because she had accomplished her dream of studying and competing in the NCAA didn't mean everything that followed would be smooth sailing. After her first year, she transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Just as she made the move, the then throws coach Dorian Scott — who had recruited her in the first place — was relieved of his duties. For the next year, Krishna was without a coach. Matters worsened after she picked up multiple injuries that prevented her from competing at all. '2023 was very tough for me. There was a span of several months where I had no clarity as to who's going to coach me, what's going to work. Then I ended up fracturing my hand while doing a box jump. Before that, I'd also torn my shoulder when I was leaving the University of Texas at El Paso. It was very strange,' she says. That season, says Krishna, was one of the lowest periods of her athletic career. She worked on improving her mental health and, with sport not in the picture, attempted to focus on her studies — even making the dean's list that year. While she eventually recovered from her injury and also started working with a new coach, things were slow to improve. Following a poor season, she lost part of her scholarship in 2024 and has had to take up a part-time job. Currently, Krishna works at a sports stadium to cover some of her expenses while still maintaining her grade average and training routine. There are days when Krishna admits she questions what she's doing at all. 'It's not easy. Some days I'll call my dad or my mother, my sister or my psychologist and I'll be crying. I didn't think I signed up for this. I had a really nice life in Chennai. I was safe, and my mother and father were always there to take care of me. But I always remind myself that I had to take this path. I wanted to be different. I've always felt that life really starts when you step outside your comfort zone,' she says. Turnaround season Things have begun to turn around for Krishna in 2025. She's recorded personal bests in both the shot put and the discus — the latter breaking a 26-year-old school record with a throw of 55.22m. 'What helped my technique in both events was that I actually got very strong in the gym. I'm maximising the speed at which I'm making my lifts. That has really helped me. There are also a few technical corrections that Coach Jordan and I have worked on. I'm trying to be as patient as I can when I enter the ring and rotate. I'm also focusing on how I land in the middle. I am trying to land at a particular angle. There were times I would extend myself to the left sector of the ring and foul most of my throws,' she says. Krishna Jayasankar after securing her spot in the NCAA finals. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement That improvement in strength and technique has brought about an improvement in form that's come at exactly the right time. As an NCAA athlete, she was eligible for five years of competition, meaning the NCAA national finals will be the last outdoor competition of her collegiate career. As such, she's hoping to make this final opportunity count. 'I know that I'm way more capable of breaking the school record. I also know that because this is my last discus send-off, I want to end it in style. I want to make another PB if possible in Eugene,' she says. There are longer-term goals too. 'I definitely want to compete at the 2028 Olympics. I'm going to start my Masters in Sports Management at UNLV, but I will be taking the time to come to India to compete next year so I can make the Indian team for the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games. But what I really want to do is compete at the 2028 Olympics,' she says. And while she's hopeful of performing well in Eugene, Krishna says she's grateful for all that she's achieved. While the big throws and medals are great, perhaps what she's most grateful for is the way she now perceives herself. 'When I compare myself to who I was when I was 12 or 13 years old, I can't recognise myself. That young girl would constantly seek validation from people. I'd always think, 'Oh my God, should I buy this? Would this look good on me?' Those were constant mental challenges. But ever since I've started college, I've met people who really envied the way I looked. They saw my achievements and saw my inner beauty as a person. That stood out more than just how my body looked,' she says. There are those from her past who notice her living her best life as well. 'A lot of the same people who made fun of me and spoke badly about me are now commenting on my Instagram saying how I 'made it'. They've reached out and are saying great things about me. It shouldn't matter, but I smile when I see those messages. When your haters have to talk good about you — that's a W right there,' she says. Related Topics NCAA / Krishna Jayasankar /
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
TN discus thrower Krishna Jayasankar does a first on US soil
Krishna Jayasankar (l) with her coach Jordan Roach CHENNAI: After navigating a series of challenges over the past few years, Krishna Jayasankar has started to reap the rewards of her labour. The 22-year-old Tamil Nadu athlete became the first Indian woman thrower to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She made the cut in discus throw, one of her pet events along with shot put . Following her move to the USA, Krishna was without a coach at the University of Nevada, where she is currently studying. Krishna first competed in the NCAA circuit in 2022 and had to take a break due to injuries before making a comeback last year. The return was not ideal, as she did not achieve the desired outcome. However, Krishna continued to push herself, and the results have began to show. She broke the indoor national record in shot put earlier this year and has recorded multiple personal bests in discus throw. What has made the year more special for Krishna is her qualification to the Outdoor Championships with a personal-best throw of 55.61m in discus throw. 'The reaction when I threw 55.61m was insane. This is my final year competing in the outdoors and I wanted to give it my all. I am happy to have achieved what I did. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologista recomenda: simples truque elimina o fungo facilmente Acabe com o Fungo Undo I wanted to redeem myself after what I went through last year. It takes a village to help an athlete achieve the goals and I am grateful to the coaching staff. I have had a calf injury for the past 12 months, but I am able to manage it and perform,' Krishna told TOI from the USA. 'I told myself that one bad season will not define who I am, rather it will help me develop and learn from the mistakes. If not for the challenges that I faced, I would have breached the 60m mark earlier. I am on the right path and will look to progress at a good pace.' Jordan Roach has been training Krishna for the past few years. Having missed out on qualifying for the NCAA Championships in his college days, Roach wants to see his student achieve what he could not. 'Krishna did a lot of good work in the off-season and it is starting to show now. I knew she could do it and it was just a matter of time. What she has improved is her balance while throwing and she has the capacity to reach 60m in a few years. In the final, we expect to match the personal best and if possible, go another metre further,' Roach said. Multiple Olympic and World Championships medallist Carmelita Jeter, who is the head coach at the University of Nevada, said: 'I have seen so much growth from Krishna over the past year, and I believe that her failures are what changed her attitude.'
