Indian boxer Ankush Panghal secured the country's first medal at the ongoing Asian Games by defeating Tajikistan's Nekruz Salimov 5-0 in the men's 80kg quarter-final, guaranteeing at least a bronze.
Indian shooters Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai won the Asian Games trap mixed team gold, setting a new continental record. This victory marks a significant achievement for India's shooting campaign, with Dhanda also securing an individual gold earlier. The pair's success contributes to India's growing medal tally in shooting at the Games.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has confirmed Pakistan's participation in the upcoming Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India. The event, scheduled from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali, will feature six nations, with India hosting its arch-rivals under the central government's policy allowing multi-lateral sports engagements.
India's first-ever Mixed Martial Arts medallist, Suchika Tariyal, has alleged that "weird weight rules" at the Asian Games robbed her of a deserving gold medal. She claims she was clearly winning her semifinal bout but the outcome was declared a draw, leading to her bronze medal instead of a potential gold.
Indian chess teams, both Open and Women's, face a significant challenge to defend their Chess Olympiad titles in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, after crucial losses and a historical 'winner's curse' where no Open section champion has successfully defended their title in the last five editions.
India's equestrian team experienced a disappointing start at the Asian Games, finishing seventh in the eventing team dressage and being eliminated from the team jumping competition. Individual performances also saw Indian riders placed lower down the ranks.
Infantino appears to have enough global support to secure re-election, forcing opponents without a credible challenger to consider shifting from defeating him to curbing presidential powers.
The Belgian football federation (RBFA) will not support Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president unless it receives satisfactory answers regarding the handling of the Folarin Balogun red-card case at the World Cup and other governance concerns.
India's eFootball team concluded its Asian Games campaign after failing to qualify for the quarterfinals, despite securing a draw against Uzbekistan and a walkover from Mongolia. Uzbekistan advanced from Group F due to their win against Mongolia.
Football administrator Ranjit Bajaj has filed a writ petition in court, seeking directions for the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to immediately schedule and complete elections for its Executive Committee. Bajaj argues that the AIFF has already adopted a compliant constitution, making further deferment unjustified.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has renewed its partnership with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) for another three years, extending their collaboration until March 2029. This agreement will see IIS continue to support WFI's national wrestling programmes across all levels, focusing on high-performance training, sports science, and athlete development.
India's foreign trap shooting coach, Peter Wilson, has voiced his disappointment over the exclusion of World Championship bronze medallist Zorawar Singh from the Asian Games squad. Wilson highlighted Zorawar's calibre and the "great shame" of his omission, attributing it largely to the National Rifle Association of India's (NRAI) selection policy which prioritises domestic trials over international results. He also addressed the Indian shotgun team's recent poor World Cup performances and discussed the need for systemic changes to improve access to shotgun shooting in India.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at 15 locations connected to former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen and others, probing alleged financial irregularities in Durga Puja preview shows organised by massArt, an organisation headed by Sen's wife. The investigation under PMLA focuses on the alleged collection and diversion of Rs 50-60 crore and potential links to a private art gallery.
As India's festive season approaches, passenger vehicle dealers are seeing a notable increase in inventories, yet discounts remain surprisingly moderate compared to previous years, signalling a tighter demand-supply balance in the automotive market.
Hockey India is embroiled in a significant internal dispute between President Dilip Tirkey and Secretary Bhola Nath Singh, primarily stemming from an unauthorised jersey colour change. An emergent Executive Board meeting has been called to address this conflict, discuss the restructuring of the Hockey India League (HIL) into a joint venture with franchises, finalise election dates, and deliberate on hosting Asian Champions Trophy events. The meeting also aims to address a show-cause notice issued to the Director General.
Despite a pre-event declaration by Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey that the teams would revert to blue uniforms, both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams played their opening Asian Games matches in saffron kits, reigniting a controversy over kit colour.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led a large protest in Mumbai, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke announced a further protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not step down, citing alleged voter deletions and irregularities in recent elections. The protest, which saw participation from various activists and public figures, also called for freezing voter lists and abolishing the 2023 law on Election Commissioner appointments.
The Sports Ministry has invested over Rs 702 crore in the last three years to prepare Indian athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, featuring 310 debutants.
The Brazil national football team's training session in Kolkata drew an unprecedented media turnout, resembling a World Cup event, ahead of their friendly match against India. Despite the excitement, the event was marred by significant accreditation chaos for journalists. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad is building towards the 2028 Copa America, with the India match serving as a crucial assessment opportunity.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced a 77-member squad, comprising 34 men and 43 women, to represent India at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary leading the women's contingent.
The Indian men's kabaddi team commenced its Asian Games title defence with a decisive 49-24 victory over hosts Japan in their opening Group A fixture.
Chinese President Xi Jinping began his second state visit to the US, meeting President Donald Trump at the White House. Both leaders expressed a desire for a better future for their nations, with Xi emphasising cooperation over confrontation and the avoidance of the "Thucydides Trap." Discussions also touched upon artificial intelligence governance and the extension of a trade truce. The visit was notably marked by a media boycott of White House coverage due to a dispute over press access.
Sreeshankar's injury left his mother in tears, but his silver medal soon sparked celebrations at home with laddoos and family joy.
Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secured a silver medal at the Asian Games despite suffering an injury during his fourth attempt. His family in Palakkad, Keralam, experienced a mix of anxiety and joy as they watched him compete, celebrating his remarkable comeback from a previous career-threatening injury.
FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a 'misinformation campaign' and attempting to influence its upcoming presidential election, urging a US court to reject a discovery request related to a controversial, now-abandoned investment proposal for World Cup commercial rights.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who allegedly died by suicide, are continuing their hunger strike, demanding the arrest of Professor Suryanarayana Doolla and institute director Shireesh B Kedare. They allege caste discrimination and abetment to suicide, while police investigate the case, recording statements and analyzing electronic devices.
Indian tennis experienced a significant disappointment at the recent Asian Games, failing to secure any medals for the first time since 1986. The campaign concluded with Sumit Nagal's quarterfinal exit in men's singles, alongside early exits for key doubles pairs. Coaches and officials acknowledge the high level of competition and the need for better support and development of the next generation of players to avoid similar outcomes in future tournaments.
Wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary, dropped from the Asian Games squad due to an alleged ACL tear, has accused the national federation of physical and mental harassment, claiming she was medically cleared to compete. The Wushu Association of India maintains she was replaced due to a high-grade ACL tear confirmed by MRI, while Divyanshi alleges foul play to favour another athlete.
Indian squash prodigy Anahat Singh, 18, achieved a career-defining victory by defeating world number 6 Satomi Watanabe of Japan in a thrilling five-game semi-final at the Asian Games.
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.
The Indian hockey teams are reverting to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games after facing significant criticism for a previous shift to saffron. This decision follows internal discord within Hockey India, with its president, Dilip Tirkey, stating the saffron kit change was not permanent and lacked proper federation approval. The Asian Games are crucial for Olympic qualification.
A small contingent of the 74-member Indian athletics team is still awaiting visa clearance for Japan, potentially impacting their acclimatisation camp ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. AFI officials are working to resolve the issue, which stems from VFS requirements regarding application locations.
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.
Five-time world champions Brazil are set to play India in an invitational friendly at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, marking their first-ever international meeting. The match, while a spectacle for Indian fans, has drawn criticism regarding its cost and impact on Indian football development, with former captain Bhaichung Bhutia questioning its value over long-term investment. For Brazil, it's part of a rebuilding process, while India aims to gain invaluable experience against a top-tier team.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is set to meet Hockey India League (HIL) franchise owners and federation officials to address the league's financial and administrative crisis. The HIL is struggling with unpaid player dues, rising costs, and franchise withdrawals, prompting the ministry to seek solutions for its survival, especially given its importance for Indian hockey development.
Pakistan is set to participate in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirming the union government's policy allows multi-lateral engagements despite bilateral tensions. The tournament, featuring six nations including India and Pakistan, will be held from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali, with free entry for all matches.
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have withdrawn Rs 20,974 crore from Indian equities in September, driven by global uncertainties, higher US interest rates and bond yields, elevated crude oil prices, and a weakening rupee.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor secured a silver medal in shot put at the Asian Games, marking his third consecutive medal at the event. Despite aiming for gold and a new personal best, Toor faced challenging wet conditions and minor injuries, finishing behind Iran's Mohammadreza Tayebise who set a new Games record. Toor expressed disappointment but acknowledged the significance of winning a medal for India.
'We expect the Indian delegation to flag New Delhi's worries and elaborate on its standpoint on the Russia-linked tariff as well as the Section 301 investigation into overcapacity.'
The state-run Pakistan Sports Board is only funding a fraction of the country's 248-member Asian Games contingent, with many athletes and officials relying on federations, the POA, or self-financing. The Pakistan Olympic Association secretary, Khalid Mahmood, confirmed that self-funded medal winners would be compensated and highlighted Pakistan's medal hopes across various disciplines.
