The Delhi Billiards & Snooker Association, in collaboration with NSCI, is organising the NSCI Open 8-Ball Pool Tournament from September 26 to October 5 in New Delhi. The event will feature top players like Sourav Kothari, Sundeep Gulati, Kamal Chawla, Vidya Pillai, and Chitra Magimairaj, competing for a prize purse of Rs five lakh.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen made a stunning comeback from Achilles surgery to win the men's 5,000 metres at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, securing a $150,000 prize. Fellow star Mondo Duplantis also claimed a pole vault title, narrowly missing a world record. The new championship format aims to attract new fans with its high-stakes fields and glitzy production.
The 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships are set to begin in Goa, featuring nearly 300 players from 16 countries. Defending champions India will compete across various categories, facing strong contenders like Hong Kong and Indonesia. The event, described as the "Asian Games of bridge," highlights India's growing role in the sport.
Dave Cousins, India's new national compound archery head coach, believes a historic first Olympic medal for India is inevitable. He is preparing the team for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and has long-term plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, noting the changing Asian archery landscape and the impressive work ethic of Indian archers.
At 17, Dipanshi is set to make her Asian Games debut in wrestling, bringing a unique life philosophy that prioritises being a good person over just athletic success. Despite lacking senior-level experience, the three-time Asian championship gold medallist is embracing the challenge with curiosity, learning from top competitors and Japanese coaching, while aiming to forge her own identity in the sport.
Jay Meena secured India's first-ever soft tennis medal at the Asian Games, winning a bronze after a hard-fought semifinal loss to Japan's Takuya Kurosaka. Meena, playing in his third Asian Games, showed resilience but ultimately settled for bronze.
Panama's coach, Thomas Christiansen, suggests India can learn from Panama's football growth despite baseball's dominance, highlighting the need for league improvement, better facilities, and attracting top players to boost football's popularity and global standing. Midfielder Carlos Harvey also advocates for bringing in star players to increase visibility.
Jay Meena, once a mischievous schoolboy rusticated for a prank, has made history by winning India's first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis. His journey from a troubled youth to a bronze medallist at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is a testament to destiny and the guidance of his coach. Meena hopes his achievement will boost the sport's profile in India and pave the way for its inclusion in future events like the Commonwealth Games.
India's Asian Games athletics team has been trimmed to 74 members, with prominent athletes like javelin thrower Annu Rani, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, and sprinter Nithya Gandhe dropped due to performance or medical reasons. The decision followed a confirmatory event, while some injured national record holders were cleared to participate.
Indian boxers, including Asian champion Vishvanath Suresh, Ganga, Hitesh, and Tanu, delivered strong performances on day 2 of the U-23 Asian Boxing Championships in Jakarta, securing unanimous decision victories. Sagar Jakhar faced a setback with a disqualification.
Harjai Milkha Singh and Krish Chawla led India to victory in the boy's team event at the APGC Junior Golf Championship in Colombo, finishing one shot ahead of South Korea and Thailand. Harjai also secured a runner-up finish in the individual category.
The National Ice Hockey Championship has commenced in Dehradun, introducing Under-12 and Under-15 categories for boys and girls for the first time. The month-long event, organised by IHAI, aims to identify and develop young talent, inspired by the Indian women's team's recent success.
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has expressed his strong desire to play Test cricket, aiming for a spot in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, as the team grapples with significant struggles in its pace department.
The Delhi government has signed a tripartite MoU with the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) to host international school badminton and wrestling events in 2027. This initiative aims to strengthen Delhi's sports ecosystem, provide young athletes with international exposure, and bolster India's global sporting identity.
India showcased a dominant performance at the Asian Boxing Championships, with nine U-19 boxers advancing to the finals and six securing bronze medals. Additionally, eight U-23 boxers had previously reached their respective finals, highlighting India's strong presence across multiple categories.
Indian shooter Rudrankksh Patil secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games in the men's 10m air rifle event, expressing mixed feelings about his performance and a long-standing frustration over not receiving the Arjuna Award despite his world champion status and multiple achievements. He also reflected on past setbacks and the mental challenges of elite sport.
Frenchman Samai Reboul, coach of the Indian national surfing team, views India's Asian Games debut as a crucial step towards qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team, comprising two men and two women, is preparing in Mahabalipuram for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where surfing makes its continental debut and offers Olympic quota places.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu has hailed India's upcoming hosting of the BWF World Championships as a "landmark moment" for the sport in the country.
The second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) is set to commence on October 8 in Hyderabad, featuring a strong lineup of India's top archers, including Olympians Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das, alongside 12 international stars like world number one Marcus D'Almeida. The league will showcase 36 Indian archers competing in both recurve and compound categories, with a unique 15-second shot clock designed to enhance competition.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir indicated that top batters might be rested from white-ball cricket to prepare for Tests during the upcoming New Zealand tour. He emphasised the importance of Test cricket, the challenge of multi-format players, and discussed preparations for the 2027 World Cup, highlighting the crucial roles of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, and praising Shubman Gill's captaincy.
Seventeen-year-old table tennis sensation Syndrela Das has been called up to the senior women's side for the Asian Games. Ranked 99th globally, she aims for gold at the event and a rapid ascent into the top 50, attributing her success to rigorous training and a positive approach to pressure.
Joga Purty and Deepu Mallesh, India's speed climbing representatives, are set to make their Asian Games debut. The athletes, who discovered the sport through different paths, discuss their journeys, the challenges of pursuing a niche sport, and their excitement for the upcoming competition, where India aims for its first climbing medal. They also highlight the need for better support and exposure for the sport in India.
Gianni Infantino's position as FIFA president is deemed 'untenable' by the head of Europe's professional football leagues following his failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup's commercial rights, a move that triggered widespread protest and a loss of confidence from regional confederations.
Prachiti Nagpurkar, a former chartered accountant, has made history as the first Indian to referee a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout at the Asian Games in Nagoya. She left her lucrative profession to pursue her passion for MMA, where she also owns a gym and trains fighters. Nagpurkar advocates for women in male-dominated sports, expressing pride in her role as a female official in the cage.
Indian cricketers Manav Suthar, Auqib Nabi, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mayank Agarwal showcased strong performances in the English County Championship, with Suthar's seven-wicket haul leading Warwickshire to an innings victory.
Gurindervir Singh set a national record in the 60m sprint at the National Indoor Athletics Championships after Animesh Kujur's disqualification.
India is sending a strong contingent of U-19 and U-23 boxers, including Asian Champion Vishvanath Suresh and World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari, to the Asian Boxing Championships in Jakarta. The championships will provide a crucial platform for young Indian talent to compete against the best in Asia.
Quimcy Dsouza has taken an unusual route to the Asian Games, moving from athletics and football to becoming one of India's leading Teqball players.
Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt expressed amusement rather than frustration upon learning that a robot in China had broken his 100-metres world record by almost a second, stating, 'It just made me smile.'
Indian skeet shooter Anantjeet Singh Naruka has positioned himself strongly for the Asian Games final, tying for the lead after four qualification rounds. While other Indian male shooters struggled, Naruka's performance offers hope. In women's skeet, Raiza Dhillon and Parinaaz Dhaliwal are also in contention for individual medals, and the women's team holds a bronze medal position, though facing tough competition. The final qualification rounds are crucial for India's medal aspirations.
Belgium have appointed former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel as their new head coach on a two-year contract running until the 2028 European Championship.
India's top surfers and stand-up paddlers will compete in the inaugural Little Andaman Pro 2026 National Surf and SUP Championship, held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from April 9 to 12. The event, organised by the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), aims to provide crucial competition experience ahead of the Asian Games.
Prachiti Nagpurkar, a former chartered accountant, has made history as the first Indian to referee a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout at the Asian Games in Nagoya. She left her lucrative profession to pursue her passion for MMA, where she also owns a gym and trains fighters. Nagpurkar advocates for women in male-dominated sports, expressing pride in her role as a female official in the cage.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has called for an independent review of the National Rifle Association of India's (NRAI) coaching appointments, citing concerns about transparency, eligibility criteria, and potential conflicts of interest. The NRAI, however, asserts that appointments are merit-based and views Kumar's concerns as 'sour grapes' after his own non-selection.
Kerala's Ancy Sojan clinched the women's long jump title at the Indian Athletics Series Final, expressing strong confidence for the upcoming Asian Games where she aims to win gold and experience the national anthem on the podium.
India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has reached the women's singles semifinals in Teqball at the Asian Games, securing a chance for the country's first-ever medal in the sport. She defeated top-seeded Yuina Sakamoto and Cambodia's Koemyean DY to top her group, and a win in the semifinals will guarantee a historic medal.
The first-ever World Yogasana Championships 2026 are set to begin in Ahmedabad, featuring over 400 athletes from more than 60 countries.
Tanvi Patri overcame compatriot Shaina Manimuthu in a three-game final to clinch the Asian U-17 title, adding another major trophy to her breakthrough 2026 season.
Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale highlights the growing respect and "fear factor" Indian shooters command internationally due to their consistent performances. He expresses confidence in the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games, despite some notable absences, and discusses challenges like range maintenance.
India's skeet shooting teams secured two bronze medals at the Asian Games, with both the men's and women's teams reaching the podium. This achievement provided a much-needed boost to India's shooting campaign, despite individual shooters Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Raiza Dhillon narrowly missing out on individual medals, finishing fourth in their respective events.
