Goa is set to host the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championship from June 21 to 27, attracting 350 players from 16 Asia-Oceania countries. India, having previously hosted in 2018, will field strong 'A' and 'B' teams across various categories, including Asian Games medallists, aiming to add to its 20 previous medals.
Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.
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.
India's junior badminton team was eliminated from the Badminton Asia Junior Mixed Team Championship after a 1-2 loss to Hong Kong in the quarterfinals. Despite a strong start in the opening match, India could not maintain their lead and ultimately fell short in the decider.
India's national Pokemon UNITE team achieved a remarkable runner-up position at the AESF-sanctioned Pokemon UNITE Asia International Tournament in Bangkok, showcasing strong strategic play and resilience against 11 national teams from across Asia.
Indian badminton players, led by Dhyan Santosh's upset victory, showcased a strong performance in the first round of the Badminton Asia Junior Championships.
India is set to field its strongest-ever contingent at the Asia Cup Bridge Championships 2026 in Goa, featuring top international stars and Asian Games medallists. The tournament, organised by the Bridge Federation of India, will host 46 elite teams from Asia and Oceania, highlighting India's growing prominence in intellectual sports.
Tejas Shirse has broken his own national record in the men's 110m hurdles, clocking 13.27 seconds at the Indian Athletics Series 9. This performance also secured his qualification for the Commonwealth Games and ranks as the sixth best in Asia this season.
India's prominent table tennis player, Manika Batra, has been excluded from the national squad for the upcoming Asian Games due to her absence from domestic events, which impacted her national ranking. The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) cited adherence to its selection criteria, which prioritises both national and world rankings.
India's U-18 women's hockey team started their Asia Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Malaysia, thanks to a brace from Nousheen Naz.
Top trap shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu's exclusion from the Indian shotgun contingent for the Asian Games has sparked controversy, despite his international achievements. The NRAI defends its selection policy, while Sandhu urges a review.
The Nepal cricket team, along with Malaysia, topped Group A to make the Asian Games to be played in September 2026.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and reigning men's doubles champion Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will headline the Indian badminton squad at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
India beat Pakistan 5-3 in thrilling semi-final to enter U18 Men''s Asia Cup final
A 24-member Indian Junior women's hockey team has travelled to the United Kingdom for an exposure tour, playing matches against junior teams from England, Scotland, the United States, and Belgium, as well as the Scotland senior women's team, to prepare for upcoming international tournaments like the Junior Asia Cup.
India's VALORANT esports team has successfully qualified for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 main event in Riyadh, emerging as one of two teams from the Asia regional qualifiers. The team, led by Sagnik Roy, overcame tough competition, including a crucial victory against Hong Kong, to secure their spot in the global tournament featuring a USD 1.5 million prize pool.
Indian tennis legend Leander Paes has been appointed Player Ambassador of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF). In this role, Paes will work to promote tennis across Asia, mentor young players, support grassroots development, and represent the federation at international events, aiming to inspire the next generation of athletes.
Four-time Olympian Deepika Kumari, along with Atanu Das and Abhishek Verma, failed to secure a spot in India's archery squad for the Asian Games in Japan after a selection trial. Teenagers Kirti Sharma and Kumkum Mohod emerged as notable gainers in the women's recurve section.
Hockey India has announced a 15-member sub-junior men's squad for a national coaching camp in Chandigarh. The camp, led by Sardar Singh, will prepare the team for the inaugural Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, Oman, focusing on the new format's tactical and technical demands.
President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the Durand Cup 2026 trophy, marking the start of preparations for Asia's oldest football tournament. She highlighted the tournament's role in nurturing talent, promoting sportsmanship, and connecting people, while also drawing parallels to India's vision of becoming a developed nation.
Indian rugby player Sumit Kumar Roy highlights the critical role of international exposure and the Rugby Premier League in the team's recent success, including a silver medal in Asia's top rugby sevens competition. The team aims for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics, learning from global players and focusing on discipline. Uruguay's Diego Ardao also emphasizes the need for skilled coaches and dedicated players to develop the sport in India, acknowledging the nation's vast potential despite the long road ahead for Olympic aspirations.
Asia No. 1 trap shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu has been left out of the Indian shotgun contingent for the Asian Games, despite his World Championships bronze medal and top international scores.
The Indian U18 ice hockey team, led by Gurtej Singh Bhatti, will participate in the U18 Asia Cup in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from April 27 to May 3, according to the national federation.
The Indian U18 ice hockey team, led by Gurtej Singh Bhatti, is set to participate in the U18 Asia Cup in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from April 27 to May 3, according to the national federation.
The Indian women's cricket team has secured a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games as the top-ranked Asian team in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The men's team will need to be the continental leaders in world rankings by the end of 2026 to qualify directly. Cricket is making its return to the Olympics after a century, featuring six teams in both men's and women's competitions, with qualification criteria unveiled by the ICC.
As the sport's popularity spread across the world, it developed its own colourful language/expressions. From clever slang to bizarre nicknames, the game's changing culture has thrown up some rather unusual turn of phrase. Here are 8 of the strangest football terms ever used.
The Asian Games could shift to odd-numbered years after the 2026 edition, effectively moving to the year before the Olympics to serve as a key qualifying event across more sports, according to reports.
India defeated Macau 8-1 in the U-18 Ice Hockey Asia Cup, with captain Gurtej Singh Bhatti scoring four goals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Indian women's assistant volleyball coach Radhika Paruchuri believes that franchise-based leagues, like the upcoming Volleyball Champions League, are crucial for transforming Indian volleyball. She highlights their potential to provide much-needed match exposure for young players, strengthen the talent pipeline, and help identify and nurture new talent, ultimately raising the standard of the sport in India. Paruchuri also notes the decline in Indian women's volleyball due to a lack of international exposure and domestic competition, which these leagues aim to address.
India is set to host the Asian Senior Fencing Championships for the first time from June 19-24 in New Delhi, featuring athletes from 34 countries, including Olympic medallists. The event is a direct qualifier for the Asian Games and offers ranking points for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with Indian Olympian Bhavani Devi leading the home challenge.
India has officially submitted its expression of interest to host the 2038 Asian Games, according to a top official of the national Olympic body, marking a significant step in the country's broader strategy to become a global hub for major multi-sporting events.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak discusses the Indian cricket team's ongoing transition, highlighting the debut of young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the challenges of playing without Hardik Pandya. He emphasises the team's focus on developing new talent and improving in all departments for future World Cups.
The Indian U-21 men's hockey team is set to undertake a crucial tour of Belgium, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands in July 2026. This tour, featuring six high-intensity matches, is a vital preparation phase for the upcoming men's junior Asia Cup under new coach Frederic Soyez, aiming to build team cohesion and identity.
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty progressed to the men's singles quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Championships, while PV Sindhu was eliminated from the women's event.
The Indian junior women's hockey team, led by Khaidem Shileima Chanu, will undertake an exposure tour of the United Kingdom from July 5 to 14. Under new coach Tim White, the 24-member squad will play seven matches against teams from Scotland, the United States, England, and Belgium, aiming to fine-tune strategies for upcoming international competitions like the Junior Asia Cup.
Goa's Venkata Chigurupati has earned his maiden India Under-19 call-up for the Sri Lanka tour after a standout season of 49 wickets and 380 runs, as the fast-bowling all-rounder sets his sights on the U-19 World Cup and a future in India's Test team.
Kunal Upreti, known as Spark, has become India's sole Trackmania representative at the Esports World Cup 2026 after excelling in the Asia and Oceania qualifiers. He will compete for a significant prize pool, representing both India and S8UL on the global stage.
India is navigating a complex diplomatic landscape, attempting to balance its 'forever honeymoon' with the Israel-UAE-Bahrain axis against its historical ties with Iran, as evidenced by recent high-level visits and evolving geopolitical realignments in the Middle East, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
India's Ayush Shetty defeated world No. 7 Lin Shi Feng at the Badminton Asia Championships, while PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy also advanced. Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth exited in the opening round.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has officially approved the qualification system for cricket at the LA Olympic 2028, marking the sport's return after 128 years. The event will feature men's and women's T20 competitions with six teams each.
