International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Tayyab Ikram has commended India's professional approach to hockey, urging other Asian nations to adopt similar strategies to improve their global standing. He highlighted India's journey from past Olympic glory to recent bronze medals, positioning it as a model for development in the sport.
Indian para swimmers Ravi Budigina, Himanshu Nandal, and Rohit Kumar have secured multiple medals at the Asian Para Games. Budigina won a silver in the men's 100m backstroke S13, his second silver of the current edition. Nandal clinched his second bronze in the men's 100m breaststroke S11, while Rohit Kumar added another bronze in the men's 100m breaststroke SB4 event.
The Indian women's football team suffered a heavy 0-8 defeat against Russia in their second international friendly in Kolkata. Russia displayed clinical finishing and exploited India's defensive weaknesses, scoring five goals in the first half and adding three more after the break, with multiple players bagging braces.
A former Vadodara corporator has requested land for Indian spinner Radha Yadav to establish a cricket academy, following the Gujarat government's proposal to allocate a civic plot to former cricketer Yusuf Pathan. The request for Yadav aims to promote cricket and develop Vadodara as a sports city, contrasting with Pathan's decade-long dispute over a residential plot.
Indian table tennis mixed doubles pair Diya Chitale and Manush Shah secured a coveted Asian Games medal, overcoming a recent slump in form and the personal tragedy of Diya's coach Peter Engel's death. Their triumph is seen as a fitting tribute to Engel and fuels India's hopes for an Olympic medal in the future.
Vikash Dhorasoo, the first Indian-origin player in a FIFA World Cup, expresses strong belief in India's potential to reach football's biggest stage. Visiting India for a friendly match against Brazil, Dhorasoo highlights the importance of method, clear objectives, and leveraging players of Indian origin to elevate the national team's level. He also offers his coaching expertise to help develop young talent in India.
Legendary Indian hockey player Harbinder Singh reminisces about India's historic first Asian Games gold medal in 1966, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan. He shares insights into the team's motivation, the challenging final match played with 10 men, and the evolution of hockey over the decades, including concerns about declining domestic spectator interest and India's prospects for future Asian Games.
Pune, India, has been selected to host the 2032 UCI Cycling Road World Championships, marking a historic first for the country in hosting such a prestigious international cycling event.
14-year-old Jensi Kanabar, a wildcard entry, made a significant impact at the WTA 250 Chennai Open, pushing a higher-ranked opponent to three sets. Her inspiring journey is largely due to the unwavering dedication of her father, Dipakbhai Kanabar, who sacrificed his career to support her tennis dreams, building a network of support and even arranging practice facilities. Her achievements have been recognised in her hometown, with a tennis court named in her honour.
India is set to host five-time world champions Brazil in a historic invitational football friendly in Kolkata. The match, while offering invaluable exposure for the Indian team, has also drawn criticism over its cost and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The event carries political significance and marks a key step in Brazil's rebuilding process.
Indian wrestlers Tanu Sharma and Neelam Sirohi, who secured bronze and silver respectively at the Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, share their experiences, challenges, and future aspirations. Tanu discusses overcoming injuries and her dream of representing India, while Neelam reflects on years of perseverance and her goal for Olympic qualification. Both athletes were warmly welcomed upon their return to India.
Spanish golfer Eugenio Chacarra won the DP World India Championship by two shots at the Delhi Golf Club, marking his third DP World Tour title of the season and moving him to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings. Anirban Lahiri was the best Indian finisher at tied 23rd, attributing his performance to a lack of competitive golf. Yuvraj Sandhu finished tied 34th, reflecting on his maturing season.
India faces a challenging Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a significantly smaller contingent of 168 athletes, down from 303. While aiming to build on its record 111-medal haul from the last Games, selection disputes in para-shooting and para-cycling, coupled with reduced athlete numbers in key disciplines like para-athletics, pose hurdles. Despite these challenges, star athletes across para-athletics, archery, para-badminton, shooting, and table tennis are expected to lead India's medal charge.
Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak secured historic silver medals for India at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana on Wednesday, marking the first time two Indian women reached the finals in the same edition. Neelam faced a formidable opponent in five-time world champion Yui Susaki, while Kajal narrowly lost a hard-fought bout against three-time European champion Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. Despite the disappointment of missing gold, these achievements represent a significant milestone for Indian women's wrestling. Other Indian wrestlers, including Rajnita, Nishu, Srishti, Neha Sangwan, and Tanu Sharma, faced defeats in earlier rounds.
Rohan Bopanna, India's former world number one doubles player, has been excluded from the AITA's Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) roster. This exclusion is due to his failure to meet the mandatory one-year retirement criterion, as he announced his professional retirement on November 1, 2025, just shy of the October 16, 2026, deadline for the roster. Despite inquiring about his eligibility and receiving initial assurance, his continued participation on the Pro ATP tour until October 2025 meant he was still considered active.
India achieved a respectable fourth-place finish in the Asian Games medals tally, securing 85 medals including 21 gold, driven by a significant late surge in boxing, archery, wrestling, and hockey, despite initial setbacks in shooting and athletics.
Veteran Indian shuttler H S Prannoy discusses his likely final Asian Games appearance and his long-term Olympic aspirations for LA 2028. Doubles specialist Chirag Shetty urges the Indian men's badminton team to go for gold, reflecting on their previous silver medal and the team's strong cohesion.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has invited India, Germany, Qatar, and Turkiye, among others, to present their bids for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games to its Future Host Commission next month. Ahmedabad is India's preferred city for the mega-event, with negotiations led by the Indian Olympic Association in collaboration with the Gujarat government and Union Sports Ministry. The host will be announced in mid-2029, following a streamlined selection process focusing on venue master-plan, funding, public support, and athlete experience.
The second round of the DP World India Championship was suspended on Friday due to weather delays, leaving several Indian golfers, including Anirban Lahiri, Saptak Talwar, and Om Prakash Chauhan, in contention to make the cut. Angel Hidalgo, Joost Luiten, and Adrian Meronk share the clubhouse lead, with many players yet to complete their rounds. The cut is expected to be decided on Saturday afternoon as the tournament plays catch-up.
Kajal Dhochak secured a silver medal in the women's 76kg category at the World Wrestling Championships after a close final loss to Anastasiya Alpyeyeva on Wednesday. This marked India's second silver of the day, with Neelam Sirohi also finishing second in the 50kg category, making it a historic day for Indian women's wrestling.
Indian professional boxer Neeraj Goyat is set to face former UFC lightweight world champion Anthony Pettis in a six-round super welterweight contest on January 23 next year. Three Indian cities are being considered to host the high-profile bout, which marks a significant moment for Indian boxing as Goyat fights a major international name on home ground.
A football friendly match between India and Brazil, featuring star player Vinicius Jr, saw a surprisingly low attendance at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. High ticket prices and the ongoing Durga Puja festival are cited as the primary reasons for the subdued response, contrasting sharply with the usual fan frenzy for local derbies and past international events.
Indian shuttler Tanvi Patri, 15, is set to compete at the Dakar Youth Olympics, balancing rising expectations after her Asian Under-17 title and maiden senior international win. She aims to stay focused on her game, drawing on her diverse international experience and recent successes, including becoming the first Indian to win both Asian U-15 and U-17 titles.
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 cricket captain Shubman Gill and star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma met New Zealand rugby legend Keven Mealamu before the first ODI against New Zealand, receiving personalised jerseys from the All Blacks great.
Eugenio Chacarra of Spain holds a two-shot lead at the DP World India Championship after a strong third round was suspended due to fading light at the Delhi Golf Club on Saturday. Chacarra reached 14-under par, with compatriots Angel Hidalgo and Joost Luiten trailing at 12-under. The tournament has faced schedule disruptions due to earlier weather delays, setting up a demanding final day for players, including top contenders like Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy, and Indian golfers led by Om Prakash Chouhan.
Om Prakash Chouhan is the best-placed Indian golfer, tied fifth, after carding a four-under 68 on the rain-affected opening day of the USD 4 million DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club. Play was suspended due to darkness, with Denmark's Niklas Nrgaard leading.
Sikkim has hosted the inaugural leg of the 2026 Zabarvan Extreme Legends Series, an international downhill mountain biking competition. The event, featuring riders from eight countries, aims to bolster the state's adventure tourism profile. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang flagged off the competition and highlighted plans for infrastructure development to support tourism in the region.
Indian cricket fans travelled thousands of kilometres, paying exorbitant prices for tickets and travel, to witness the India-Pakistan men's cricket final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a stadium back home.
Indian athletes are set for a packed day of competition at the Asian Games, participating in various sports including athletics, boxing, canoe sprint, hockey, kabaddi, rowing, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, and wushu. Several medal events are scheduled in rowing and shooting, with key matches in team sports like hockey and kabaddi.
The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya with a high-tech opening ceremony. India's 501-member contingent is led by flag bearers Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat, with some events already underway, including India's women's cricket team reaching the semifinals and a teqball bronze medal opportunity.
The opening day of the WTA 250 Chennai Open was completely washed out on Monday due to persistent heavy rain, exacerbated by an active northeast monsoon and a cyclonic weather system over the Bay of Bengal. Organisers have rescheduled all 16 first-round singles matches for Tuesday, with play set to begin at 11 am, as they grapple with the challenging weather conditions that also affected last year's event.
Four senior Indian hockey players Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, and Nilakanta Sharma are reportedly set to play their final matches for the country at the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy. This decision by Hockey India aims to bring in fresh talent and groom younger players for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, ensuring a smooth transition for the national team.
Para archer Sheetal Devi concluded her Asian Para Games campaign with two gold medals and a silver, including defending her individual compound title.
Archery emerged as one of India's biggest success stories at the 2026 Asian Games, bringing in as many as five gold medals led by 17-year-old sensation Kumkum Mohod leading the way.
Indian athletes are set for a busy day at the Asian Games on September 27, competing across a wide array of sports including athletics, archery, shooting, boxing, and squash.
Veteran India defender Amit Rohidas has refuted recent reports suggesting his retirement after the Asian Champions Trophy, stating he intends to continue playing as long as his form and fitness allow. He emphasised focusing on current tournaments and consistent performance rather than looking too far ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Seven para-cyclists, recommended by the national federation for the Asian Para Games, were largely omitted by the Sports Ministry, with only one receiving approval. The excluded athletes are planning a protest, alleging discrimination, while the Sports Authority of India (SAI) maintains selections were based strictly on performance criteria.
Asian Games champions India will commence their Asian Champions Trophy Hockey campaign against Bangladesh on October 27 in Jalandhar. The tournament, featuring six top Asian teams, will run from October 27 to November 5 across Jalandhar and Mohali, Punjab. India, five-time ACT winners, aim to continue their strong record as hosts.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams marched into the Asian Games finals with comfortable semifinal wins over Thailand and Nepal respectively on Friday, keeping their hopes of defending their gold medals alive.
