The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, easing restrictions on Russian athletes. This move, welcomed by the Kremlin, allows Olympic sports bodies to consider reintegrating Russian athletes as neutrals, though some sports like track and field are not following suit.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent review of the world football body's decision-making framework.
Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker shared her emotional experience as India's flag-bearer at the Asian Games opening ceremony, deeply missing her late coach Jaspal Rana. Rana, who passed away recently, was instrumental in her career and had a unique philosophy about attending opening ceremonies, making Bhaker's flag-bearing role particularly poignant.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has appointed Prashant Singh, a former Khelo India Scheme official with over a decade of experience, as the Regional Director for its Gandhinagar centre. He will also oversee operations across Gujarat and Rajasthan, with a focus on developing Para Sports.
India's men's 10m air pistol team, comprising Kamaljeet, Aakash Bhardwaj, and Kedarling Uchaganve, failed to secure a medal at the Asian Games. Kamaljeet narrowly missed the final, while Kedarling's poor performance led to Japan clinching the bronze medal. This marks another disappointing day for Indian shooting, which has yet to win a gold medal after five days of competition, raising concerns about their performance at the event.
Indian squash players Joshna Chinappa, Velavan Senthilkumar, Anahat Singh, and Abhay Singh have secured at least three medals at the Asian Games by advancing to the semifinals in mixed doubles and singles events. Joshna Chinappa, playing in her record seventh Asian Games, and Senthilkumar dominated their mixed doubles quarterfinal. Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh also delivered strong performances in their respective singles quarterfinals, with Anahat aiming for an Olympic berth.
The Delhi High Court has refused to grant wrestler Vinesh Phogat an interim exemption to participate in the women's selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships. The court stated that eligibility criteria apply uniformly to all athletes and granting an interim relief to Phogat, who recently returned from maternity leave, would lead to unequal treatment without a full adjudication of the policy's validity. Phogat had sought to challenge the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) circular on eligibility, arguing it unfairly excludes athletes returning from maternity.
India's Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra discusses the emotional and physical challenges of missing the Asian Games due to a ligament injury. He shares his process of accepting the setback, focusing on rehabilitation, and preparing for future competitions, while also offering advice to fellow athletes and aspiring javelin throwers.
The BCCI has significantly revised the pay structure for umpires and match referees after a decade, introducing new categories and substantially increasing per-day fees. A merit-based promotion and relegation system has also been implemented to ensure high standards in domestic cricket officiating. Additionally, the board addressed its stance on the National Sports Governance Act, updated age-fraud policies, and called for support for physically challenged cricketers.
The Indian men's cricket team will compete against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games semi-finals after rain forced the abandonment of several quarter-final matches, with Sri Lanka advancing due to their higher ranking.
Elavenil Valarivan's family celebrated her historic Asian Games silver medals, saying 12 years of dedication, sacrifice and support from coaches and authorities finally brought her long-awaited success.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has scheduled a Special General Body Meeting (SGM) for October 4 in Kolkata. The primary agenda includes appointing an electoral officer from the Sports Ministry's panel and passing a resolution to conduct elections for its executive committee. Additionally, the SGM will elect sportspersons of outstanding merit to the federation's general body, with current executive committee members not holding voting rights.
Vidarsa K Vinod has become the first female sportsperson from Keralam to win a medal in a shooting event, securing a silver in the women's 10 meter air rifle team event at the 20th Asian Games. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the state and for Vinod, who began shooting in 2018.
India continued to add to its medal tally at the Asian Games, primarily through shooting, but a gold medal remained elusive. Suchika Tariyal secured India's first-ever MMA medal, a bronze, despite a heartbreaking weigh-in technicality. Other sports like badminton, hockey, and table tennis saw strong performances, while swimming faced disappointment.
Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal was forced to withdraw from the Asian Games after blacking out during a solo weight-cutting session, citing a lack of support staff. He expressed disappointment but also pride in the team's overall medal performance despite logistical challenges and his late inclusion in the squad.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted India's growing global sporting stature, evidenced by the increasing number of international events the country is hosting. He announced that India is set to host 36 international events between January 2025 and June 2026, along with 9 events this year and 19 in 2027-2028. Mandaviya also spoke about government support for athletes, transparent selection processes for major events like the Commonwealth Games, and improved domestic athletic performances, citing 26 national records broken in Indian athletics recently.
India will take on Pakistan in the table tennis men's and women's team event at the Asian Games on Monday.
The traditional flag hoisting ceremony at the Asian Games in Nagoya was delayed and then abruptly halted due to unspecified "trouble," leaving multiple countries, including India, awaiting clarity. This incident adds to growing criticism against organisers for logistical chaos, including complaints about delayed and cramped container-style lodging facilities provided to athletes to cut costs.
The Indian women's cricket team, fresh from their T20 Asia Cup victory, has arrived in Japan for the Asian Games, aiming to defend their gold medal. Coach Amol Muzumdar emphasised the importance of embracing the multi-sport event atmosphere, while key player Shree Charani's strong form boosts the team's prospects ahead of their quarterfinal match against Japan on September 18.
Aston Villa secured their first Premier League victory of the season with a 3-2 win against Tottenham Hotspur, who remain in the relegation zone after another disappointing performance.
Manipuri rower Tendenthoi Devi Haobijam expresses newfound confidence ahead of her second Asian Games appearance, attributing it to consistent team training, international exposure in Australia and Europe, and mentorship from her coach. She will lead India's challenge in the women's coxless four, aiming for a significant performance.
Fariba Hashimi, who disguised herself as a man and faced attacks while cycling in Afghanistan, fled to Italy and now uses her Asian Games journey to inspire women.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. Both athletes have significant achievements, with Bhaker making history at the Paris Olympics and Toor winning gold in previous Asian Games editions. Their selection highlights the importance of shooting and athletics to India's medal tally.
India is set to field a strong contingent at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with key athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain leading the charge to defend titles in cricket, kabaddi, and men's hockey.
The Kabaddi Champions League (KCL) is expanding to 10 teams for its second season with the addition of two new franchises, Jind Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights. KCL chairman Balwan Singh stated this expansion will create more opportunities for players and strengthen the league's ecosystem, focusing on talent development.
Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has become the first woman cricketer to reach 11,000 international runs, achieving the milestone during the Asian Games final against Sri Lanka.
On National Sports Day, political leaders including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and several Chief Ministers paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and lauded Indian sportspersons for their contributions to the country.
Researchers from Goa Institute of Management (GIM) and Goa Business School conducted a study analysing over 1.31 lakh posts on social media platform X using machine learning models. They found that indirect aggression is most common during major social, financial, sporting, and political events in India. The study classified aggression into overt, covert, and non-aggressive forms, noting that overt aggression remained relatively low but peaked during events like India's T20 World Cup loss. The findings have significant implications for online moderation and communication policies.
Indian tennis icon Leander Paes is poised to contest the presidency of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), backed by the Bengal Tennis Association. This sets up a potential three-way battle against current Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal and interim president Chintan Parikh, pending Paes's success in the Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election.
Naib Subedar Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve, a 27-year-old from a farming village in Karnataka, is set to represent India at the Asian Games in shooting, a sport he discovered only after joining the Indian Army in 2018 with no prior sporting ambition.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is poised to approve significant constitutional amendments to comply with the National Sports Governance Act 2025. These changes, already endorsed by the executive committee, will be formalised at a Special General Body Meeting. Key areas of reform include age and tenure guidelines for office bearers, which differ from the existing IOA rules, and a potential reduction in the Executive Committee's size. The General House will also discuss the upcoming December elections.
This article provides a comprehensive schedule of Indian athletes participating in various events at the Asian Games on September 20.
India's top-ranked Under-16 tennis player, Tavish Pahwa, will captain the national team at the Junior Davis Cup Finals in Cairo, scheduled for November 2-8. The team also includes Ribhav Saroha and Hruthik Katakam, with Rana Banerjee as coach.
The Delhi High Court has urged the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to establish clear guidelines and timelines for female athletes returning to competitive sports after maternity leave. The court's observations came during a hearing for grappler Vinesh Phogat, who is seeking permission to participate in selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships after her maternity break. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma highlighted the unfairness faced by women athletes post-childbirth and criticised the WFI's current policies, hinting at the need for a balanced framework.
India's Under-16 tennis star Ribhav Saroha will captain the national team at the upcoming junior Davis Cup Finals in Cairo, Egypt. The team, also featuring Hruthik Katakam and Tavish Pahwa, will compete against top international sides from November 2 to 8.
Indian esports athletes are rigorously training for the Asian Games in Nagoya, aiming for medals and challenging the traditional perception of gaming as merely a leisure activity. With professional support and coaching, players are balancing academics and intense practice, hoping to elevate esports to mainstream sporting status in India.
Irish boxing legend Katie Taylor has retired from professional boxing after a stellar career, concluding with a unanimous decision victory over Flora Pili at Croke Park. Before a massive 83,000-strong home crowd, Taylor, an undisputed world super-lightweight champion, celebrated her final fight, reflecting on her journey from Olympic gold to professional dominance.
Heavy rain in Nagoya led to the brief evacuation of around 400 athletes and officials and caused flooding and venue leaks, but the city's mayor, Ichiro Hirosawa, has confirmed that the Asian Games will proceed as planned without disruption.
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the women's 10m air pistol at the Asian Games, an emotionally charged event for her following the recent death of her mentor and legendary coach Jaspal Rana. Bhaker broke down while recalling Rana's profound life and career advice, particularly his emphasis on process over outcome, which she tried to apply during her challenging performance.
The UEFA Champions League group stage commenced with thrilling matches as holders Paris St Germain, Arsenal, and Liverpool all secured victories. Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick for PSG in their dominant 6-1 win, while Martin Odegaard's late strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 triumph over Napoli. Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, and Barcelona also started strong with a 5-1 win against Feyenoord.
