The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the new season of the Indian Women's League (IWL) will commence in October, alongside IWL 2. The federation also revealed significant changes including higher coaching licence requirements, revised disciplinary rules, and an ambitious long-term expansion strategy aiming for 12 teams by 2032 to professionalise women's football in India.
Eleven-year-old Indian racer Atiqa Mir, fresh from her success in Greece, met Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who pledged full support for her journey to Formula 1. Atiqa, the first Indian supported by F1 Academy, recently swept Round 2.2 of the Champions of the Future Academy championship.
The Indian women's hockey team has departed for the Asian Games in Japan, aiming to win the gold medal and secure a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The Indian Racketlon team, captained by Vikramaditya Chaufla, is set to defend its title at the Racketlon World Championships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The six-member squad, including last year's champions, will compete in the Challenge Cup, aiming to showcase India's growing prowess in the unique multi-racket sport.
The Indian Army celebrated the exceptional performance of its athletes at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, where a contingent of 20 Army athletes secured 16 medals, including eight gold. This achievement highlights the Army's dedication to fostering world-class sporting talent and advancing India's athletic ambitions, particularly through initiatives like Mission Olympics 2036.
The Indian Olympic Association has established a four-member independent inquiry committee, led by retired High Court judge Deepa Sharma, to investigate allegations of harassment and intimidation against Hockey India secretary Bhola Nath Singh. These accusations were made by former women's team captain Asunta Lakra, who claims she was threatened after raising concerns about alleged sexual harassment of girls in Jharkhand. The Sports Ministry directed the formation of this panel, while Hockey India faces a separate inquiry against Lakra for allegedly threatening a young player.
India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, hosted both the Indian and Sri Lankan men's cricket teams at the India House in Colombo, emphasising cricket's role in strengthening bilateral ties ahead of their second Test match.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) CEO Raghuram Iyer announced a massive nationwide talent hunt targeting children aged 5 to 15 to identify and nurture future athletes, aiming for 30-40 medals at the 2036 Olympics.
Lingam Ravindra Rao, 72, and his 17-year-old grandson, Anuraag Pokuri, have successfully scaled Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak. Rao is now the oldest Indian to achieve this feat, while Anuraag is the youngest Indian-origin person to climb both the West and East peaks back-to-back. This remarkable expedition highlights their shared passion for mountaineering and their ambition to complete the Seven Summits.
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season has been postponed to after October 6 due to the FIFA international match window, and will proceed with 13 teams after Diamond Harbour FC failed to meet payment deadlines. Concurrently, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has condemned "unverified claims" regarding its finances and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup, asserting that the prioritisation of a friendly match against Brazil was a strategic move for Indian football.
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.
Young Indian cyclist Harshita Jakhar has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to participate in the Tour de France Femmes. The 19-year-old led a pack of international cyclists during a ceremonial start at Stage 2 of the prestigious race, an opportunity provided by the UCI World Cycling Talent programme. Jakhar, who aims for medals in future Asian Games, expressed her gratitude for the chance to ride in her dream event.
India's junior pickleball team finished fourth, and the kids' team secured a silver medal at the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam. The Open and Masters teams reached the quarter-finals, while Purvansh Patel won gold and Veer Shah won bronze in individual singles categories.
Indian-American golfer Akshay Bhatia has qualified for the season-ending TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club, joining an elite 30-man field. Having previously competed in the event, Bhatia aims to leverage his experience and consistent performance, including a strong showing at the BMW Championship, to challenge top contenders like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy for the FedExCup title and a share of the USD 40 million purse.
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.
The Sports Ministry has directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an independent inquiry panel to investigate sexual harassment allegations made by former hockey player Asunta Lakra. This decision came after Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed concerns about the impartiality of an internal probe, as the allegations involve HI office bearers.
'Our biggest opportunity lies with the younger age-group teams.' 'If you look at the senior national team, our chances are about 50-50.' 'The gap becomes smaller as you move down the age groups.' 'At the Under-20 level, it's closer to 60-40.' 'By the Under-17 level, it's around 80-20. That's where I feel we have our best chance.'
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the Indian men's volleyball team for winning the country's first-ever medal at the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup. India secured a bronze medal by defeating Bahrain, marking a historic achievement and reflecting the sport's growth in the nation. This success is expected to inspire young athletes and boost volleyball's development.
Nishchal Chand and Gatha Suryawanshi have advanced to the finals of the Indian Junior International badminton Grand Prix in Pune. Chand, a 16th seed, upset second seed Jagsher Singh Khangurra in the men's singles, while Suryawanshi defeated Thailand's Pattanun Thiannaparpornchok in the women's singles.
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.
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.
India's under-21 men's and women's hockey teams are set to begin their AHF Junior Asia Cup campaigns in Moqi, China. The men's team aims for a record-extending sixth title, while the women's team seeks a hat-trick of trophies, both having undergone extensive preparations and exposure tours.
India's para sports athletes scripted history at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as they equalled the haul of all the previous editions put together, winning seven medals, including one gold and silver on Saturday.
Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav has written to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, recommending Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu for the Arjuna Award. Despite having received higher honours like the Khel Ratna and Padma Shri, Chanu's childhood dream of the Arjuna Award remains unfulfilled, and Jadhav believes it would be a fitting recognition of her contributions to Indian sport.
Indian table tennis player Ankur Bhattacharjee achieved a significant milestone by winning his first WTT men's singles title and a doubles gold with Akash Pal at the WTT Feeder Olomouc tournament. Bhattacharjee defeated Slovenian Deni Kozul in the singles final and, alongside Pal, secured the doubles title against Hungarian and Polish opponents.
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar believes India's women pugilists are a stronger bet for an Olympic medal than their male counterparts and should be prioritised in the overall planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, following their record-shattering Commonwealth Games performance.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced the establishment of a world-class Tamil Nadu Olympic City in Chennai, featuring advanced sports arenas, training centres, and accommodation.
India's Arjun Reddy Aluguvelli caused an upset by defeating eighth seed Adithya Kiran from the UAE at the Indian Junior International Grand Prix badminton tournament. Other Indian players, Jagsher Singh Khangurra and Vaibhav Singh, also secured hard-fought victories.
Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M secured a significant victory at the Kanizsa Open in Hungary, defeating Germany's Vadim Petrovskiy in the final round. The 19-year-old, currently ranked 44th globally, finished with seven points, earning congratulations from the Indian Embassy for his performance on the international chess stage.
Unseeded players caused significant upsets at the Indian Junior International badminton Grand Prix, with Vijaya Lakshmi Boddu defeating top seed Lakshya Rajesh. In the boys' pre-quarterfinals, three unseeded players also advanced by overcoming higher-ranked opponents, highlighting a competitive tournament.
Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha expressed immense pride in India's Commonwealth Games performance, particularly highlighting the boxers' mental strength and the overall medal tally, attributing success to government support.
Indian fencers continued their strong performance at the U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, securing seven additional medals on the second day. This haul included one gold, two silver, and four bronze, bringing India's total medal count to 24. Notable winners include Tanishka Khatri (gold in Women's Epee), Aakhari (silver in Women's Sabre), and Tejas Patil (bronze in Men's Foil).
Veteran sports administrator and India's first shooting gold-medallist in Asian Games, Randhir Singh, died on Wednesday after battling age-related ailments. He was 79.
Lots to look forward to in Indian sports as packed 2026 calender awaits
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.
Indian powerlifter Keyaa Kunal Banerji has spoken out about the severe online harassment and sexualisation she endured following her silver medal win at the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships.
"Excited to bring world's biggest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences": Zee CEO Punit Goenka after securing FIFA broadcasting rights till 2034
Indian para-athletes achieved a remarkable feat at the ITTF World Para Future Lahti tournament in Finland, securing a total of 16 medals, including six gold, four silver, and six bronze, showcasing their dominance in both singles and doubles events.
Indian kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary has been stripped of his silver medal from the Asian Beach Games after testing positive for a prohibited diuretic. The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed the anti-doping rule violation, which Choudhary has accepted.
The Sports Ministry has directed Hockey India to investigate allegations of intimidation and sexual harassment made by former India captain Asunta Lakra. Lakra accused HI general secretary Bhola Nath Singh and highlighted institutional protection for alleged misconduct, urging an independent inquiry and stronger safeguards for women athletes.
