Indian squash player Abhay Singh expressed disappointment despite winning two medals at the Asian Games, particularly with the men's team bronze, feeling it was a missed opportunity for gold. He also aims for gold in individual events and is now focused on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India commenced its Asian Para Games campaign with a spectacular performance, securing 11 medals, including four gold, across various sports on Monday. Notable victories came from shooter Mona Agarwal, long jumper Nishad Kumar, middle-distance runner Soumya, and javelin thrower Rinku, with archer Sheetal Devi also setting world records. The medal haul places India fourth in the overall standings.
The Sports Ministry has removed para-shooting coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal from India's Para Asian Games contingent following allegations of kickbacks and protests from athletes. The contingent of 166 athletes and 109 support staff is set to compete in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, starting October 18, with several prominent Paralympians included despite selection controversies.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating China 1-0, also earning a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Captain Salima Tete and other team members expressed immense pride and confidence in their victory, which ended a 44-year wait for gold. Four players from Jharkhand received a grand welcome, highlighting the personal journeys and struggles behind their national achievement.
India, Germany, Qatar, Hungary, Turkey, South Africa, and South Korea are in preliminary talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, with a shortlist expected by March next year.
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala's quest for an Asian Games gold medal and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification was thwarted by China's Wang Xiyu, who rallied to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory, consigning Eala to a second singles bronze.
Indian Hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, known as the 'Wall of Indian hockey', expressed her desire for Priyanka Chopra Jonas to portray her in a biographical film. Punia, who recently led India to significant achievements, shared her inspiration from Priyanka's journey and her own life story, including early responsibilities and personal interests.
Kumkum Mohod, 17, made history by becoming the first Indian to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, also securing an Olympic quota for LA 2028. Her victory over South Korea's Oh Yejin in a tense shoot-off has boosted India's confidence to challenge the long-standing Korean dominance in recurve archery. Mohod attributes her success to mental preparation, visualisation, and family sacrifices, and is now focused on securing her individual spot for the 2028 Olympics.
Following a successful campaign at the 2026 Asian Games, India women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva is prioritising securing as many Olympic quotas as possible at the earliest for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, starting with the World Championships 2027 in Kazakhstan.
The Indian women's hockey team defeated defending champions China 1-0 to win their first Asian Games gold medal in 44 years, securing a direct berth for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Lalremsiami scored the winning goal, and goalkeeper Savita Punia made crucial saves.
Asian Games gold medallist Sujeet Kalkal is focusing on improving his ground game, identified by coaches as a crucial area for his 2028 Los Angeles Olympics aspirations.
Indian squash player Anahat Singh, after securing a historic silver medal at the Asian Games, expresses mixed feelings of disappointment and encouragement. She is now focused on improving her PSA rankings to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, acknowledging the challenges of continuous high-level competition.
Kumkum Mohod from Amravati, Maharashtra, has won India's first-ever women's individual recurve archery gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Her family and community are overjoyed, and her father expresses confidence in her future Olympic aspirations.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a historic Asian Games gold medal, defeating China 1-0, which also guaranteed direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Goalkeeper Savita Punia highlighted the team's focus on Olympic qualification and credited the new coaching staff for fostering unity and belief, transforming the team's performance and mindset over the past 10 months.
Teenager Kumkum Mohod clinched a historic gold medal in the women's individual recurve event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, defeating South Korea's Oh Yejin in a thrilling shoot-out.
The Indian women's hockey team defeated defending champions China 1-0 in the Asian Games final, securing a gold medal and an automatic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Coach Sjoerd Marijne credited the team's disciplined defence, tireless running, and collective effort for the historic victory.
Following the Indian men's hockey team's historic Asian Games gold and direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Head Coach Craig Fulton revealed plans to 'build a new team afresh' after the Hockey India League, emphasising the need for meticulous planning for the upcoming Games.
The Indian men's hockey squad for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy, to be held in Punjab from October 27 to November 5, has been announced. Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak returns to the team, while the core of the Asian Games gold-winning lineup, led by Harmanpreet Singh, has been retained. The tournament marks the return of international hockey to Punjab, with matches in Jalandhar and Mohali.
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh clinched silver medals at the Asian Games, showcasing their potential despite falling short of gold against formidable Malaysian opponents and missing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, received a flood of tributes from teammates, former colleagues like Neymar, and tearful fans ahead of his final international appearance for Argentina against Benin. The farewell was marked by immense gratitude for his contributions to football and his country, with many acknowledging his impact beyond the sport.
India's Asian Para Games campaign saw a remarkable performance, particularly in athletics, securing five gold medals on Tuesday. Nishad Kumar and Deepthi Jeevanji were standout performers, both setting new Games records and clinching multiple golds. The nation's overall medal tally reached 35 by the end of day two, with significant contributions from shooting, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, archery, and badminton, promising further success.
Eugenio Chacarra of Spain holds a two-shot lead at the DP World India Championship after a strong third round was suspended due to fading light at the Delhi Golf Club on Saturday. Chacarra reached 14-under par, with compatriots Angel Hidalgo and Joost Luiten trailing at 12-under. The tournament has faced schedule disruptions due to earlier weather delays, setting up a demanding final day for players, including top contenders like Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy, and Indian golfers led by Om Prakash Chouhan.
Indian men's hockey coach Craig Fulton discusses the team's recent successes, including defending the Asian Games gold and securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He surprisingly rates the Paris Olympics bronze medal as his most satisfying achievement, highlighting the team's strategic planning and resilience. Fulton also outlines the team's future transition plans, focusing on upcoming tournaments and developing new talent for LA 2028.
India's women's hockey team secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating defending champions China 1-0. This victory, marked by Lalremsiami's early goal and a resilient defensive performance led by goalkeeper Bichu Devi, also earned India direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, ending a 44-year wait for the title.
Spain's Eugenio Chacarra holds a one-shot lead at the DP World India Championship after the second round, with six Indian golfers successfully making the cut. Om Prakash Chouhan is the best-placed Indian, while Yuvraj Sandhu made a remarkable comeback. Several major champions also qualified, but some prominent Indian names missed the cut, leaving a tightly packed leaderboard.
Indian squash players Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, and Tanvi Khanna secured their spots in the round of 16 at the Asian Games. Abhay Singh and Tanvi Khanna won their opening matches convincingly, while Veer Chotrani also advanced. Anahat Singh is set to begin her campaign, with the ultimate prize for winners being direct entry to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Spanish golfer Eugenio Chacarra won the DP World India Championship by two shots at the Delhi Golf Club, marking his third DP World Tour title of the season and moving him to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings. Anirban Lahiri was the best Indian finisher at tied 23rd, attributing his performance to a lack of competitive golf. Yuvraj Sandhu finished tied 34th, reflecting on his maturing season.
Four senior Indian hockey players, including Mandeep Singh and Amit Rohidas, have expressed surprise and disappointment over reports that they are set to retire after the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy. The players, who recently won gold at the Asian Games, stated they were not consulted and are keen to continue playing, with eyes on the 2028 Olympics.
Indian squash players Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh both secured silver medals at the Asian Games after losing their respective singles finals to Malaysian opponents.
Vithya Ramraj broke P T Usha's 42-year-old national record in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games, clocking 54.75 seconds to win a bronze medal. Usha expressed pride, stating that records are meant to inspire the next generation.
Vithya Ramraj broke PT Usha's 42-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles at the Asian Games on Monday, prompting a gracious message from the Indian track legend.
India faces a challenging Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a significantly smaller contingent of 168 athletes, down from 303. While aiming to build on its record 111-medal haul from the last Games, selection disputes in para-shooting and para-cycling, coupled with reduced athlete numbers in key disciplines like para-athletics, pose hurdles. Despite these challenges, star athletes across para-athletics, archery, para-badminton, shooting, and table tennis are expected to lead India's medal charge.
Archer Kumkum Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal have been named the first recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award, respectively, by the Indian Olympic Association. These awards recognise their exceptional performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where Mohod secured two archery golds and Kalkal won gold in wrestling.
Indian golfer Pranavi Urs, fresh from winning a maiden Asian Games gold, has set her sights on an Olympic medal and a Major title.
Indian athlete Vithya Ramraj expressed immense happiness after winning the bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 and breaking legendary PT Usha's national record, clocking a personal best of 54.75 seconds.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has announced its comprehensive selection policy for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The policy outlines a four-stage qualification pathway, with medallists from the 2026 Asian Games directly qualifying for the 2027 World Boxing Championships, which serves as the first Olympic qualifier.
US Olympic sprinter Kenny Bednarek has expressed strong support for India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Citing his personal connection through his Indian girlfriend, golfer Sharmila Nicollet, and his admiration for the country's diverse culture, Bednarek believes India would be an ideal host, offering a unique experience for athletes and visitors. India is among seven nations vying for the 2036 Games, also planning bids for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2038 Asian Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India's Asian Games medal-winners, including the gold-winning cricket teams, on Thursday. He praised their achievements, highlighting India's growing strength in sports and its ambition to become a credible host for major international events, including a bid for the 2036 Olympics. Modi also emphasised the government's support for athletes and urged medallists to mentor the next generation.
Star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana discusses the team's future aspirations after securing a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal. She emphasises the need for continuous improvement over the next two years to prepare for the tougher competition expected at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, highlighting the unique pride of contributing to India's overall medal tally.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the qualification criteria for cricket's return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028. The Indian men's team needs to be Asia's highest-ranked in T20Is by end of 2026, while women's teams will qualify based on continental performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup.