Indian boxers are set to compete at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, aiming for medals and direct qualification for major multi-sport events later in the year, including the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Akbar attributes his country's hockey decline to the absence of a robust domestic structure, contrasting it with India's strategic investment in grassroots and domestic ecosystems after failing to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. He highlights India's subsequent success and calls for similar foundational changes in Pakistan.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah surprised attendees at the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) tournament in Srinagar by spontaneously singing the iconic Lata Mangeshkar song "Lag ja gale". His impromptu performance drew significant applause. Later, Abdullah addressed the audience, commending golfers and urging youth to work hard and avoid alcohol to achieve sporting excellence. He also mentioned government support for improving the Royal Springs Golf Course.
Indian boxers are set to compete at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, aiming for medals and direct qualification for major multi-sport events later in the year.
India spinner Sai Kishore has signed a six-match deal with English county side Gloucestershire for the remainder of the season.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has launched the 'Shaktidoot 2.0' statewide sports scheme, significantly increasing financial assistance for athletes up to Rs 50 lakh. The initiative also focuses on identifying grassroots talent, supporting differently-abled players, and inaugurating sports complexes and libraries worth over Rs 388 crore. The scheme introduces a transparent, performance-based selection process and immediate aid for exceptional non-scheme players.
Kishore finished third in Heat 2 of the semi-final with a score of 8.26, behind China's Chengzheng Wang, who scored 10.00 to take the second place, while Taro Takai of Japan claimed the first sport with a score of 14.50.
Harshit's fitness, Varun's longevity under scanner post hamstring injuries
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will present cash awards totalling Rs 20.59 crore to 198 medal-winning athletes and international participants at a state-level function in Panchkula. The awards aim to recognise athletes who have excelled in international and national competitions, with funds directly transferred to beneficiaries' bank accounts.
Asian Games medallist Vishal Uppal has advised against creating excessive hype around young Indian tennis sensation Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, urging the fraternity to let her develop naturally rather than pressuring her to emulate Sania Mirza. Uppal believes Maaya, a top 20 junior player, has the potential to break into the top 100 in professional tennis if she maintains her hard work and hunger. He also highlighted the challenges of professional tennis and praised another prospect, Dakshineshwar Suresh.
India's Swapna Barman on Thursday tendered an "unconditional apology" for her sensational allegations that she lost out on a bronze medal in the women's heptathlon competition of the ongoing Asian Games to a "transgender" athlete.
National record holder Tejas Shirse made history by becoming the first Indian to qualify for the men's 110m hurdles final at the Commonwealth Games.
Jaspal Rana, a renowned Indian shooting coach and former Asian Games gold medallist, has passed away at the age of 49. He died in a Delhi hospital after undergoing a medical procedure for an illness that occurred during a flight from the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Rana was serving as the high-performance coach for Indian pistol shooters.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Tuesday announced that the India Open Competitions in July will be named in honour of legendary shooters Jaspal Rana and Raja Randhir Singh, who died recently, leaving the fraternity shocked.
India's top-seeded U-19 mixed doubles pair, P.B. Abhinandh and Divyanshi Bhowmick, secured a bronze medal at the Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships by reaching the semifinals after defeating a Chinese combination. They are now set to face Thailand in the next round.
Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu clinched India's first gold medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the women's 48kg category. She achieved a record total lift of 190kg, including new Commonwealth and Games records in snatch (85kg) and clean and jerk (105kg). This marks her third consecutive gold at the CWG, following her wins in 2018 and 2022, and she also secured a silver in 2014.
Hockey India has announced a 15-member sub-junior men's squad for a national coaching camp in Chandigarh. The camp, led by Sardar Singh, will prepare the team for the inaugural Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, Oman, focusing on the new format's tactical and technical demands.
Sutirtha Mukherjee's dominant performance in women's singles secured a crucial 3-2 victory for Dabang Delhi TTC against Kolkata ThunderBlades in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league. Despite Ankur Bhattacharjee's upset win over G Sathiyan, Mukherjee's clean sweep in the final match sealed the tie for Delhi.
India's first Olympic boxing medallist, Vijender Singh, expresses deep concern over the future of male pugilists, citing a lack of competitions and a selection system he claims promotes 'sycophancy'. He argues that women boxers are currently outperforming men and are brighter medal prospects for the 2028 Olympics. Singh is highly critical of the new grading system, advocating for a return to the traditional trials-based selection process.
Former captain and star striker Bala Devi returned to the Indian women's football team after a hiatus of four years as the 22-member national squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2023 was announced in New Delhi on Friday.
The Prime Volleyball League auction saw Shameemudheen become the biggest Indian buy at Rs 20 lakh, with other players like Muhammad Nihal C K, Shon T John, and Jasjodh Singh also securing significant bids. The auction also highlighted the growing importance of grassroots talent, with several U-21 players earning spots in PVL franchises, underscoring the league's commitment to nurturing future stars.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed that cricket will be included in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Basant Kumar Meghwal and Shahnavaz Khan became the first Indians to win a medal each in high jump and long jump at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.
President Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences on the passing of Asian Games gold medallist shooter Jaspal Rana, highlighting his significant contributions to Indian sports as both an athlete and a mentor.
Former Indian boxing coach Mohammed Ali Qamar believes the country's women's boxing squad for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games is one of its best ever, with each of the seven members capable of securing a medal, though he cautioned that draws would be crucial.
Seventy two years ago, a newly independent India ventured to hold the the first Asian Games in Delhi with meager resources.
The 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships are set to begin in Goa, featuring nearly 300 players from 16 countries. Defending champions India will compete across various categories, facing strong contenders like Hong Kong and Indonesia. The event, described as the "Asian Games of bridge," highlights India's growing role in the sport.
India's top-seeded squash pair, Abhay Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar, secured their third consecutive men's doubles title at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships in Sarawak, Malaysia. They defeated Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman in a thrilling final. India also earned bronze medals in women's and mixed doubles through Joshna Chinappa.
The Indian men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, is determined to end a 51-year World Cup drought, beginning their campaign against Wales with genuine optimism following recent Olympic bronze medals and an Asia Cup title.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on the passing of Asian Games gold medallist shooter Jaspal Rana, highlighting his significant contributions to Indian sports as both an athlete and a mentor.
The Indian men's hockey team, currently in the Dutch leg of the FIH Pro League, aims to conclude their campaign on a high note against hosts Netherlands. This tournament serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup and Asian Games, with coach Craig Fulton focusing on testing resources and addressing issues like conceding late goals. The team also looks forward to significant matches against England and arch-rivals Pakistan in London.
Gulveer Singh has become the first Indian to win a medal in the men's 10,000m event at the Commonwealth Games, securing a silver medal at the 2026 edition and marking a significant achievement for Indian athletics.
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.
The National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships concluded with star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar and javelin thrower Rohit Yadav delivering top-class performances.
A High Performance national coach for rifle shooters, Manoj Kumar, is under inquiry by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for allegedly conducting private coaching at a government facility and discriminating against non-attendees. Complaints from shooters and guardians detail pressure to name him as their official coach and unequal distribution of ammunition. The National Rifles Association of India (NRAI) secretary general has refuted the charges.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has reversed its decision and allowed Vinesh Phogat to compete in the 53kg category at the Asian Games selection trials.
India is relying heavily on its boxing, weightlifting, and athletics contingents to maintain its two-decade streak of top-five finishes at the Commonwealth Games, which opens in Glasgow.
Pakistan hockey captain Abu Bakar Mahmood expressed confidence in his team's ability to defeat arch-rivals India at the upcoming FIH World Cup, stating that "rankings don't matter" in such high-stakes encounters and performance on the day is key.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted India's growing global sporting stature, evidenced by the increasing number of international events the country is hosting. He announced that India is set to host 36 international events between January 2025 and June 2026, along with 9 events this year and 19 in 2027-2028. Mandaviya also spoke about government support for athletes, transparent selection processes for major events like the Commonwealth Games, and improved domestic athletic performances, citing 26 national records broken in Indian athletics recently.
India's long wait for a maiden Commonwealth Games medal in men's shot put continued as Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Samardeep Singh Gill finished fifth and seventh respectively in the final in Glasgow on Thursday.
