Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Wales have questioned Infantino's reform pledge, arguing that FIFA needs deeper governance changes, stronger accountability and broader leadership reforms to restore trust.
Virat Kohli has expressed strong confidence in Shubman Gill's leadership potential, stating that Gill possesses the right perspective and intensity to captain India for a long time.
India's eFootball team concluded its Asian Games campaign after failing to qualify for the quarterfinals, despite securing a draw against Uzbekistan and a walkover from Mongolia. Uzbekistan advanced from Group F due to their win against Mongolia.
The second half of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) kicks off with the AM Green IGPL Invitational 2026 in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, featuring top Indian golfers like Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shiv Kapur, and Udayan Mane. The event, starting September 25, marks another international stop for the growing league before it returns to India.
Pakistan is set to host the 14th South Asian Games in April next year across Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar, after a six-year delay. While the South Asia Olympic Council has approved the dates and venues, India's participation remains uncertain due to political tensions, despite its representative attending the planning meeting.
The Indian men's hockey team secured a dominant 16-1 victory over Sri Lanka in their second Pool A match at the Asian Games, with Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, and Dilpreet Singh each scoring hat-tricks. This win follows an earlier 13-1 triumph against Indonesia, as the team prepares for tougher challenges against South Korea and Japan.
China has established a significant lead in the Aich-Nagoya Asian Games medal tally after the third official day, securing 53 medals including 32 golds. Japan and Korea follow in second and third place respectively, while India is currently positioned eighth with 7 medals.
Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana sponsored a rifle for Asian Championship gold medallist Meghana Sajjanar, enabling her to access world-class equipment and achieve success. Sajjanar, who recently won gold and bronze medals, credited Khurrana's support for her improved performance, highlighting his selfless act to promote Indian athletes on the global stage.
The 13th Leg of the Women's Pro Golf Tour in Gurugram features a record 60 players, serving as a crucial warm-up for the upcoming Hero Women's Indian Open. Top Indian golfers, including Diksha Dagar and Gaurika Bishnoi, are participating to familiarise themselves with the challenging DLF Golf & Country Club course, which will host both events.
India's equestrian team experienced a disappointing start at the Asian Games, finishing seventh in the eventing team dressage and being eliminated from the team jumping competition. Individual performances also saw Indian riders placed lower down the ranks.
Khalin Joshi, fresh off a win, shot a career-low 11-under 61 to take a four-shot lead at the Bengaluru Open 2026. The local golfer's bogey-free round included an eagle and nine birdies. Teenager Manoj S is in second place, while the tournament is crucial for players to retain their playing rights on the DP World PGTI tour.
Barcelona captain Raphinha scored two goals, leading his side to a resounding 5-1 victory over Feyenoord in their opening Champions League fixture. Meanwhile, Ermedin Demirovic's hat-trick secured a 3-1 win for VfB Stuttgart against Viking Stavanger.
The Indian women's table tennis team was defeated 0-3 by North Korea in the Asian Games quarterfinals, while the men's team exited in the round of 16, marking a disappointing performance for both squads.
The Indian men's hockey team delivered a commanding performance at the Asian Games, defeating Sri Lanka 16-1 in their second Pool A match. Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, and Dilpreet Singh each scored hat-tricks, contributing to India's overwhelming victory.
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.
India's sole gymnast, Pranati Nayak, has successfully qualified for the vault finals at the Asian Games, finishing seventh among 19 competitors in the artistic gymnastics event.
India's eFootball team, featuring Danial Patel and Chinmay Sahoo, commenced their Asian Games campaign with a walkover against Mongolia and a goalless draw against Uzbekistan in Group F matches, marking a positive start to the competition.
India's men's 4x100m medley relay team finished last in the final at the Asian Games, clocking 3:44.26. Earlier, Aryan Nehra placed fourth in the 1500m freestyle Final B.
Chess legend Magnus Carlsen expresses his enjoyment in the game's evolution and new formats but acknowledges his time at the top is "limited." He advises organisers not to tailor the future of chess solely to his preferences, despite his continued participation in events like the Global Chess League. Grandmaster Levon Aronian also weighs in on the sport's growing online popularity and the need for continued innovation to attract wider audiences.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated the Indian women's cricket team for winning the gold medal at the Asian Games. Shah praised their "bedazzling" performance and "unmatched cricketing prowess" after they defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final held in Japan.
India's Jay Meena has advanced to the quarterfinals of the soft tennis event at the Asian Games after defeating Pakistan's Arain Hussain. Other Indian players, Aryan Thakur and Aadhya Tiwari, also saw mixed results in their respective matches.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary and Jadumani Singh have made a remarkable start at the Asian Games, securing their spots in the pre-quarterfinals with impressive victories, including a significant upset by Chaudhary over an Olympic medallist.
The Indian men's badminton team defeated hosts Japan in the Asian Games quarterfinals, securing a medal.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) and Jadumani Singh (55kg) have both advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Games. Chaudhary secured an upset victory over Paris Olympics bronze-medallist Aira Villegas, while Singh dominated his opponent, Chandra Bahadur Thapa, to move into the next round.
The Indian women's table tennis team secured a hard-fought victory over Thailand to advance to the quarterfinals of the Asian Games. However, the men's team faced an early exit after a 0-3 defeat against South Korea in the round of 16.
The Indian men's badminton team secured a medal at the Asian Games by defeating Japan 3-0 in the quarterfinals, highlighted by Lakshya Sen's incredible comeback victory. While the men celebrated, the women's team exited the tournament after a 1-3 loss to Japan.
Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the Asian Games, missing out on a medal. Valarivan cited struggles with her position, while Mane focused on consistency. Both expressed determination to learn from the experience.
The Indian women's table tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals at the Asian Games after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Thailand. However, the Indian men's team faced an early exit, losing 0-3 to South Korea in the round of 16, marking their second defeat in the group stage.
The Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya will undergo orientation sessions focusing on empathy and mutual respect. For the first time, a Safeguarding Officer will accompany the 768-strong team to provide support, counsel distressed athletes, and enforce a code of conduct, ensuring a safe and conducive environment for performance. The officer's role, mandated by the Olympic Council of Asia, includes confidential reporting and potential accreditation suspension for serious violations.
Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is set to compete in the Asian Games, aiming to secure her first medal at the event. Despite an Olympic silver and world title, an Asian Games medal remains the only major honour missing from her collection, making this a crucial competition for her.
Star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana discusses the team's future aspirations after securing a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal. She emphasises the need for continuous improvement over the next two years to prepare for the tougher competition expected at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, highlighting the unique pride of contributing to India's overall medal tally.
India's title defence at the Chess Olympiad suffered a setback after a loss to hosts Uzbekistan, leaving them two points behind the leaders.
The Indian women's badminton team was eliminated from the Asian Games after a 1-3 loss to Japan in the quarterfinals. While the doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured a win, singles players PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, and Tanvi Sharma were defeated by their Japanese counterparts, leading to India's exit from the tournament.
The Indian men's kabaddi team secured a dominant 63-31 victory over South Korea in a Group A clash at the Asian Games, marking their second consecutive win and placing them atop the group.
Indian karateka Chetan Bhatt narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Asian Games, losing to Chinese Taipei's Meng-yu Chung by Senshu in the men's Kumite 84kg playoff after the bout ended 1-1.
Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane secured second place in the 10m air rifle mixed team qualification at the Asian Games 2026, positioning them for a medal contention. China set a new world record in the same event. Separately, Aadhya Tiwari faced a defeat in her opening soft tennis match but aims to recover in her next game.
Indian shooting duo Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team final at the Asian Games, unable to convert a strong qualification performance into a medal. China won gold with a world record, while South Korea and Japan secured silver and bronze respectively.
Indian fencers Hemash Sanasam and Sachin have successfully advanced to the round of 32 in the men's foil individual event at the Asian Games, despite a mixed performance in their respective pools. They will now face Kazakh opponents in the next stage.
Indian karateka Chetan Bhatt narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Asian Games, losing to Chinese Taipei's Meng-yu Chung by Senshu in the men's Kumite 84kg playoff after the bout ended 1-1. The Senshu rule, which awards victory to the athlete scoring the first point when a match is tied, decided the outcome.
Former Brazil captain Cafu discussed India's upcoming friendly against Brazil, highlighting the learning opportunity despite ranking differences. He also suggested India popularise football among children for growth, commented on Brazil's World Cup drought, and reflected on the evolving role of fullbacks in modern football.
