The 2026 Hockey World Cup saw Argentina break the Netherlands' dominance in women's hockey, while Germany successfully defended their men's title. The tournament, co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium, featured simultaneous men's and women's events, highlighting shifting hierarchies and India's mixed performance with promising women's results and disappointing men's outcomes.
Indian shooter Sainyam clinched a silver medal in the women's 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, marking India's first medal at the competition.
Indian women's cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur maintained the BCCI's 'No Handshake' policy with Pakistan's Fatima Sana at the toss of their T20 World Cup match, a policy reportedly initiated after a terror attack and military operation last year.
Sjoerd Marijne said past achievements won't guarantee selection in the Indian women's hockey team, highlighting the importance of fighting for a spot and focusing on upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma struck well-timed fifties but regular strikes helped England bundle out India for 285 on the opening day of the one-off women's Test at Lord's on Friday.
Indian Teqball player Quimcy Dsouza lost her Asian Games women's singles semifinal to Indonesia's Sumaya in a gruelling three-game match. Despite a strong start, Dsouza, a former state-level footballer, was overcome by Sumaya's sepak takraw background. Dsouza will now compete in the bronze medal playoff, aiming for a podium finish in Teqball's debut at the Asian Games.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh during a two-day visit to the state. They discussed strengthening relations between the US and Manipur, with Gor also visiting local cultural sites and expressing appreciation for the focus on North East India's development.
The India vs Pakistan match in the Women's T20 World Cup created a new record as the most-attended group-stage game in the history of the ICC Women's World Cup.
Shafali Verma's aggressive 53 laid the foundation for India's five-wicket win over Bangladesh, though dropped catches and fielding lapses remained a major concern ahead of the Australia clash.
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.
Indian shooters bound for the Asian Games will participate in preparatory camps in Delhi and Bhopal this month. These camps, focusing on mental conditioning and technical refinement, are crucial for the athletes to achieve peak performance at the quadrennial event in Japan, which begins on September 19. The article also lists the full shooting squad.
Ariha Pangambam has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in the senior women's individual event at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships. She secured the top spot with a score of 19.100, marking India's maiden gold in this event.
Indian shooters endured a second consecutive medal-less day at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, a crucial tune-up event before the Asian Games. While Vidarsa Vinod reached the women's 50m rifle three positions final, finishing sixth, other Indian participants struggled in various events, including men's and women's skeet, and men's 25m rapid fire pistol. The performance raises concerns ahead of the upcoming major competition.
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.
The Indian hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games, reversing a controversial decision to switch to a saffron-coloured kit. The previous change had led to widespread criticism, internal discord within Hockey India, and even political debate, despite claims of visibility issues on blue turf.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan's Facebook post criticising Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar's alleged anti-women remarks has disappeared, with the CMO citing a technical error. The incident has sparked political criticism from CPI(M) and BJP, who question the explanation and accuse the Congress of hypocrisy.
15 states have rolled out unconditional cash transfer schemes for women, with an estimated annual outlay of around Rs 1.7 trillion covering nearly 120 million beneficiaries.
Wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary has accepted the national federation's decision to drop her from the Asian Games squad due to an ACL tear.
India's Asian Games contingent faces accommodation issues at Costa Serena, as athletes report cramped rooms and long delays amid organisational chaos.
'Giving up is very easy. But don't give up. Try out whatever you can. Something will happen.'
Savita Punia's journey from a shy youngster dependent on her mother to a confident veteran goalkeeper and mentor reflects hockey's profound impact on her life.
Indian wrestler Nisha Dahia has transformed her mindset, moving past repeated injury setbacks and frustrations to focus on her performance at the Asian Games. After years of questioning her fate, she now embraces a mature outlook, concentrating on hard work and accepting outcomes. Her training with Japanese coach Kosei Akaishi has also enhanced her technical skills, particularly in ground wrestling, making her a more complete athlete as she aims for a major medal.
Tanya Chaudhary broke the women's hammer throw national record with a distance of 68.35m at the Indian Athletics Series Final. Avinash Sable also made a strong return to the 3000m steeplechase, winning his first race in over a year. The event served as a crucial tune-up for Indian athletes heading to the Asian Games, with several other notable performances including wins by Harita Bhadra, Animesh Kujur, Rohit Yadav, and Tajinderpal Singh Toor.
Ashalata -- who has earned over 100 international caps and captained the national side on multiple occasions -- said the (senior) team has made steady progress but is still short of world-class standards.
The Indian women's hockey squad for the upcoming World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands has been announced, featuring the same 20 players selected for the Asian Games. Led by Salima Tete and coached by Sjoerd Marijne, the team is described as well-balanced, combining experienced players with promising young talent, fresh off an unbeaten victory at the FIH Nations Cup.
Avinash Sable marked his winning steeplechase comeback after 14 months away, opening up about his ACL injury, lost confidence, difficult rehabilitation and renewed focus on Asian Games gold.
Nishu has won the 53kg category at the national selection trials, setting up a final bout against Asian Games-bound Antim Panghal for a spot in the Senior World Wrestling Championships. Other wrestlers like Kajal, Simran, Neelam, Tapsya, and Srishti also secured top positions in their respective weight categories, showcasing the depth of talent in Indian wrestling.
India concluded its campaign at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships with a total of 16 medals, including two gold medals won by javelin thrower Anand Singh and the women's 4x400m relay team. Anand Singh achieved a personal best throw of 80.57m, while other Indian athletes secured multiple silver and bronze medals across various events.
President Donald Trump has advocated for stricter electoral laws in the US, praising India's election system and its requirement for photo identification. He highlighted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's questioning of the lack of voter ID in American polls and used India's high voter turnout with minimal postal ballots as an example. Trump is pushing for the SAVE America Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship and nationwide voter ID, though the bill faces division in Congress.
In 100 days in office, Chief Minister V D Satheesan has ordered five SITs. This would appear to be some kind of a record, points out Aditi Phadnis.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Development Pathway Programme for Afghan refugee women cricketers, setting an ambitious target for the team to compete in the governing body's qualification pathway by 2030.
'I want to make it absolutely clear that I did not say that Rani Padmavati was a coward, or that the other women, the queens of the palace, and the women who did Jauhar were cowards.'
Indian women's hockey captain Salima Tete believes the team's recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to compete for the top prize at the FIH Women's World Cup 2026, despite facing a challenging pool.
India's title defence in the women's team event came to a disappointing end after a 0-3 loss to a second-string China in the quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships.
Titli Maji secured a silver medal for India in the women's 45kg category at the Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, lifting a total of 145kg. Teammate Parishmita Gogoi finished fourth in the same event.
The recent Hockey Jharkhand elections have been embroiled in controversy following allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation made by former India women's captain Asunta Lakra against Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh. The Sports Ministry has directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an inquiry panel to investigate these serious claims, while Bhola Nath Singh denies all allegations.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
India's U-23 women boxers showcased a dominant performance at the Asian U-19 and U-23 Boxing Championships, with nine pugilists successfully advancing to the semifinals, thereby assuring a minimum of nine medals for the country. Several boxers secured convincing victories in their quarterfinal bouts.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale stated that opposing reservation is unconstitutional and that the policy would be given up if casteism is eliminated. He highlighted the historical context of reservations for SC/ST and OBCs, and the Modi government's EWS quota. Athawale also criticised the opposition, praised government achievements, and discussed various welfare schemes and infrastructure projects in Chhattisgarh.
From Tumbbad to Kantara, these folklore-fuelled films prove Indian cinema has plenty of strange, spooky and spectacular myths to bring to the big screen.
