Gujarat's Aryan Nehra and Maharashtra's Saanvi Deshwal were named 'Best Swimmer' at the 79th Senior National Aquatic Championships, where Karnataka secured the overall championship. The event saw 22 new records and 17 Indian Best Performances, highlighting the promising future of Indian swimming.
National record holder Jyothi Yarraji made a remarkable return to competition after a year-long injury lay-off, breaching the Asian Games qualifying standard in the 100m hurdles at the National Inter-State Championships. She achieved the feat with a time of 13.14 seconds, well within the AFI's requirement.
Star Indian high jumper Sarvesh Kushare has set a new national record by clearing 2.31m at the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar, becoming the first Indian to breach the 2.30m mark.
A senior US official has warned against the weaponisation of digital and artificial intelligence sovereignty by political voices, urging nations to avoid costly re-invention of existing technology. The official highlighted the economic dangers of rebuilding entire tech stacks and emphasised India's crucial role as an indispensable partner in global technological leadership due to its engineering talent and innovation ecosystem.
Experts highlight India's significant market potential for assistive technologies, estimated at Rs 75,000-95,000 crore by 2030. They advocate for a National Assistive Technology Policy to address current gaps in access and service delivery, fostering inclusion, independence, and economic participation for persons with disabilities and the elderly.
Olympic medallist Gagan Narang and weightlifting great N Kunjarani Devi have been appointed to a five-member search-cum-selection committee for the National Sports Board. Chaired by Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan, the committee will recommend names for the Board's Chairperson and Members. The National Sports Board is tasked with recognising National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards under the new National Sports Governance Act.
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a national holiday after the country's football team secured a spot in the World Cup knockout phase with a surprising 2-1 victory over Germany. This marks only the second time Ecuador has reached this stage, sparking widespread celebrations.
Indian drag-flicker Deepika Sehrawat discusses her challenging journey back to hockey after a serious hamstring injury, her emotional struggles during rehabilitation, and her triumphant return as the joint top scorer in India's FIH Nations Cup victory.
Karnataka's G Sindhushree, an unheralded pole vaulter, achieved a new national record of 4.25m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. This performance not only secured her a gold medal but also a spot in the Asian Games. Overcoming personal hardships, Sindhushree dedicated her achievement to her late father. The event also saw other athletes like Animesh Kujur, Harshita Bhadra, Manpreet Kaur, Gowthami Jayaraman, Mohammed Afsal, and N Thowfeeq qualify for the Asian Games in various disciplines.
Parliament has passed The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making any insult to the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence, punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine.
Vande Mataram, the national song that has stirred passions and political controversies for more than a century, received legal protection on Thursday with Parliament passing a bill making any insult to it a punishable offence, rekindling the long-running debate over its place in India's history and identity.
Gulveer Singh, the reigning Asian champion and national record holder, failed to meet the Asian Games qualifying standard in the men's 5000m race at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed strong "anguish" over the Indian hockey team's decision to change its traditional blue jersey to saffron for the upcoming FIH World Cup. Patnaik, whose state government previously sponsored the team, criticised the move as "petty politics" and an attempt to erase sporting legacy, alleging pressure from the BJP government in Odisha. Hockey India stated the saffron colour symbolises courage, sacrifice, and new beginnings, inspired by the national flag.
Security agencies in Jaisalmer have detained a man named Mushtaq Ali on suspicion of involvement in anti-national activities. He was apprehended from the Khariya border area based on intelligence inputs and is currently being questioned by intelligence agencies. Additional security has been deployed in the Nachna area as a precautionary measure.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence. The bill, which also covers other national symbols, was passed amidst protests from opposition parties regarding the NEET paper leak. Union Minister Nityanand Rai criticised the opposition's stance, emphasising the song's historical significance and its role in national unity.
G Sindhushree lacked the funds to buy proper equipment after her father's death in 2022, forcing her to compete with shorter poles until she borrowed a longer one just two weeks before the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar.
Gujarat's "Operation Delta Hunt" has led to the apprehension of over 600 undocumented Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, across various districts. The state-wide drive, which began on June 3, uses technical surveillance and human intelligence to identify and detain illegal immigrants, with authorities also investigating those who provide them accommodation or employment without verification.
India's Parul Chaudhary has set a new national record in the women's 5000m event, clocking 15:04.26 to finish second at the Meeting Nikaia 2026. This performance also secured her qualification for the Asian Games 2026.
The Indian women's hockey team, led by coach Sjoerd Marijne, won the Nations Cup in Auckland, defeating New Zealand 2-0 in the final. This victory secures their promotion back to the FIH Pro League. Despite the win, Marijne emphasised the need to improve field-goal conversion, while captain Salima Tete highlighted the team's strong mindset and the confidence boost ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
A high-level meeting of Union ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, S Jaishankar, and Nirmala Sitharaman, along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, was held at the Prime Minister's Office in Parliament to discuss crucial matters.
The Indian Women's Hockey team secured their second FIH Women's Nations Cup title by defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final.
National record holder Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu have successfully qualified for the men's triple jump final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing second and third respectively in the qualification round.
Indian national record holder Animesh Kujur has qualified for the 200m semifinals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, clocking his season-best time of 20.46 seconds. He won his heat and finished seventh overall among the qualifiers.
FIFA's proposal to create a $20 billion subsidiary for the World Cup highlights the intricate balance of power in global football, where the governing body's authority is often challenged by the significant commercial strength of UEFA, particularly in Europe.
What makes the tiger the undisputed king of the jungle?
Roberto Mancini has returned for a second spell as Italy coach, vowing to revive the Azzurri's fortunes after the nation missed the last three World Cups and failed to win a major trophy since Euro 2020 under his previous leadership.
Lieutenant Sheetal Melhan is among the first batch of women officers to graduate from the Indian Military Academy. Her parents speak about how her extraordinary achievement is a culmination of their family's dreams.
Hyderabad police apprehended seven Bangladeshi nationals, including four women, for illegally residing in India without valid documents. The individuals, some living in India for years, were found in a rented house in Jeedimetla and were working petty jobs. Their deportation process has been initiated.
National record holder Vishal TK has qualified for the men's 400m semifinals at the Commonwealth Games, keeping India's medal aspirations alive. His compatriot Rajesh Ramesh, however, narrowly missed out on qualification. Vishal, who holds the national record of 44.98 seconds, finished second in his heat and will compete in the semifinals on July 30.
Hockey India has defended its decision to change the national men's and women's hockey teams' jerseys to saffron for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing technical feedback and the symbolic value of the colour.
In a bizarre incident, Tamil Nadu's R Harshitha was made to re-run the women's 400m hurdles alone on Saturday due to a goof-up by race officials, and she eventually failed to qualify for the finals at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) received an email threatening bomb blasts at its mayor's office, Vidhan Bhavan, and the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. The threat, attributed to the Khalistan National Army, led to the evacuation of the PMC building and a comprehensive search operation by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a breathtaking 29-ball 94 to fire India A to the tri-nation title, following a thumping 66-run victory against Sri Lanka A in the final on Sunday.
Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash did not qualify for the men's 50m butterfly semifinals, finishing 28th overall. This follows his last-place finish in the 200m butterfly final, with both performances significantly below his personal bests and national records.
The Indian women's hockey team defeated Japan 2-1 in the FIH Nations Cup, with goals from captain Salima Tete and Lalremsiami, securing their place in the semifinals and qualifying for next year's FIH Pro League.
Almost five decades after Pele ignited Kolkata's romance with Brazilian football, the iconic yellow jersey is set to return to the City of Joy, with the record five-time World Cup champions Brazil scheduled to face India in a landmark international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium on October 3.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar congratulated para-athlete Shilpa K Shyla for winning a bronze medal in Shot Put at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, highlighting her achievement as a source of pride and inspiration for the state and nation.
The Korean national hockey team has arrived in Pakistan for a historic four-match series, marking their first visit in 20 years. This series is crucial for Pakistan's preparation for the upcoming World Cup, especially after their poor performance in the recent FIH Pro League.
Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash failed to qualify for the men's 200m freestyle finals at the Commonwealth Games, finishing fifth in his heat and 20th overall. This marks a disappointing run for the two-time Olympian, who also missed out on the 50m and 200m butterfly semifinals and has not been able to match his personal bests or national records.
India secured the third position at the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open, with golfers Ceerat Kang and Guntas Kaur Sandhu finishing in a tied sixth place. The event featured 54 golfers from 11 countries, and the title was won by Malaysia's Foong Zi Yu.
