Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi shares his unique experience at the Asian Games, highlighting the distinct feeling of winning medals for India compared to trophies for the BCCI. He also discusses the team's accommodation and travel, and their desire to explore other sports.
Indian boxers, including Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and Commonwealth Games champions, face challenging draws at the Asian Games.
Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has initiated the 'PV Sindhu Centre for Sports Excellence' in Visakhapatnam, with Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh performing the groundbreaking. This integrated sports and education ecosystem aims to provide world-class coaching, sports science, and academic support across seven disciplines, establishing Visakhapatnam as a national sports hub.
China has made a strong start at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with teenage swimmer Yu Zidi setting a new Games record and Olympic champion Pan Zhanle defending his title.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has called for an independent review of the National Rifle Association of India's (NRAI) coaching appointments, citing concerns about transparency, eligibility criteria, and potential conflicts of interest. The NRAI, however, asserts that appointments are merit-based and views Kumar's concerns as 'sour grapes' after his own non-selection.
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.
Three-time Olympic medallist and six-time world champion Jonny Brownlee has announced his retirement from professional triathlon, concluding a highly decorated career in the sport.
Indian kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary has been stripped of his silver medal from the Asian Beach Games after failing an in-competition dope test. He tested positive for the prohibited diuretic brinzolamide and has accepted the sanction, leading to the disqualification of his results.
Dave Cousins, India's new national compound archery head coach, believes a historic first Olympic medal for India is inevitable. He is preparing the team for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and has long-term plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, noting the changing Asian archery landscape and the impressive work ethic of Indian archers.
Sawan Barwal secured an unexpected silver medal in the Asian Games marathon, shattering his own national record with a time of 2:11:37.
India continued its strong performance at the Asian Games, securing more medals across various disciplines. Shooter Esha Singh won a hard-fought silver in the women's 25m pistol, while Gulveer Singh added another silver in the men's 1500m. Other notable achievements include Kurash player Picky Balhara's bronze, Vithya Ramraj breaking a national record for bronze in hurdles, and several boxers, the men's cricket team, and squash teams advancing. However, some defending champions faced early exits.
Legendary Indian sprinter and Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards. Other recipients included Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan, and Anju Bobby George, recognising their significant contributions to Indian athletics.
Indian women's hockey team captain Savita Punia believes their recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to challenge top teams and secure a podium finish at the upcoming World Cup.
Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable made an emotional and triumphant return to competition, winning the men's 3000m steeplechase at the Indian Athletics Series Final. This victory marks his first race in the distance since suffering a career-threatening ACL and meniscus injury in July 2025, which led to surgery and a challenging recovery period. Sable, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, expressed the immense struggle he faced but is now confident of winning a medal at the upcoming Asian Games.
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.
Suchika Tariyal secured India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, winning a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event. Despite a fiercely contested bout that ended in a draw, she lost the semifinal to Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo due to a lesser weight rule. Tariyal expressed disappointment with the decision but was proud of her historic achievement for the country.
Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi are advocating for significant changes to Grand Slam scheduling, particularly to avoid late-night finishes that impact player welfare and fan attendance. Alcaraz's US Open campaign ended in a 3:33 a.m. finish, prompting his call for matches to conclude by 11 p.m. Agassi supports guaranteed downtime for players, highlighting a broader push for improved working conditions in professional tennis.
Suchika Tariyal has made history by becoming India's first Asian Games medal winner in Mixed Martial Arts, securing a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event. The 36-year-old fighter, who hails from Haryana, expressed immense joy and dedicated her medal to her family, acknowledging the financial struggles and personal sacrifices made throughout her career. Despite initially considering retirement, her performance has inspired her to continue her professional fighting journey.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mirabai Chanu for winning Asian Games silver, praising her determination as the medal completed her major championship collection and lifted India's tally to 11.
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.
At 17, Dipanshi is set to make her Asian Games debut in wrestling, bringing a unique life philosophy that prioritises being a good person over just athletic success. Despite lacking senior-level experience, the three-time Asian championship gold medallist is embracing the challenge with curiosity, learning from top competitors and Japanese coaching, while aiming to forge her own identity in the sport.
Union Minister Raksha Khadse has encouraged sportspersons to strive for excellence, highlighting the government's focus on strengthening sports infrastructure and supporting athletes through initiatives like Khelo India.
Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her joy and hope after securing a gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating Sri Lanka. She believes this victory will inspire other Indian athletes to win more medals and highlighted the team's focus on adapting to conditions despite initial concerns about facilities in Japan. Kaur also reflected on the unique experience of winning a medal for the country compared to traditional trophies.
In a bizarre incident, Tamil Nadu's R Harshitha was made to re-run the women's 400m hurdles alone on Saturday due to a goof-up by race officials, and she eventually failed to qualify for the finals at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.
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.
Suchika Tariyal, a 36-year-old Indian athlete, has secured India's first medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by reaching the semifinals of the women's Traditional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) 60kg event. Her journey began at age 12, driven by a desire for self-defence, leading her through successful careers in judo and jiu-jitsu before transitioning to MMA. She aims to convert her assured bronze into a gold medal.
Fariba Hashimi, who disguised herself as a man and faced attacks while cycling in Afghanistan, fled to Italy and now uses her Asian Games journey to inspire women.
Indian hockey drag-flicker Deepika has made headlines at the Asian Games with a record-breaking 20 goals across three matches, including nine in a single game. The 23-year-old attributes her success not just to her wrestling family's athletic genes but to years of dedicated training and the guidance of coaches Azad Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, and Taeke Taekema. Despite a career-threatening injury last year, Deepika has made a strong comeback, focusing on skill, consistency, and discipline, with an eye on Olympic qualification.
The National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships concluded with star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar and javelin thrower Rohit Yadav delivering top-class performances.
Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is embroiled in a controversy with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for travelling to South Africa for training without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC). This unapproved travel could impact his participation in upcoming international competitions like the World Ultimate Athletics Championship and the Asian Games.
Asian Games double gold medallist Parul Chaudhary and Olympian race-walker Priyanka Goswami are intensely preparing for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. Chaudhary will compete in three events, including the new 1500m, while Goswami transitions to the marathon race walk, both expressing confidence in their adaptive training and aiming for medals.
Olympian Maheshwari Chauhan discusses the significance of India's historic women's skeet bronze medal at the Asian Games, highlighting it as a turning point for the discipline. She believes the medal, achieved with Raiza Dhillon and Parinaaz Dhaliwal, signals a new era for Indian shotgun shooting, driven by a younger generation, improved training, and a stronger foundational ecosystem.
Indian long-distance runner Seema won a bronze medal in the women's 10,000m race at the Asian Games. She revealed that she kept her participation a secret from her 78-year-old mother, who suffers from high blood pressure and worries excessively when Seema travels. Seema, from Himachal Pradesh, is only the third Indian woman to medal in this event at the Asian Games and plans to compete in the 5000m race to try for a different medal. She credits her training under Scott Simon for her success.
Subedar Hokato Sema lost his leg in a mine blast on the Line of Control. Today he is a champion para shot-putter and among the most decorated para soldier-athletes.
Rudrankksh Patil embraces pressure ahead of Asian Games 2026, saying it helps him stay focused as he targets strong performances in two events.
India is set to host its first-ever National Indoor Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar, marking a significant step towards hosting the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028. The event will feature a 200m track and various field events, providing a novel experience for Indian athletes.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced the selection criteria for the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships, which will be held in Eugene, USA. Athletes will be selected based on their performance in three domestic competitions, including the Indian Athletics Series and the National Junior Federation Competition.
A 24-member Indian fencing contingent, comprising 12 men and 12 women athletes, is set to compete in the Senior World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong. The team will participate across Epee, Foil, and Sabre disciplines in both individual and team formats, aiming to make a mark on the global stage.
Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale highlights the growing respect and "fear factor" Indian shooters command internationally due to their consistent performances. He expresses confidence in the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games, despite some notable absences, and discusses challenges like range maintenance.
A Chinese humanoid robot, Tiangong Ultra, achieved a remarkable feat by running the 100 metres in 8.64 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's human world record. This achievement occurred at the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, showcasing significant advancements in robot mobility and embodied artificial intelligence. The event highlighted the rapid progress in robotics, with spectators noting improved capabilities and developers seeing it as a crucial test bed for future applications.
