It was meant to be emerging India's showcase event for the world -- the coming out party the Olympics had been for Beijing. But preparations for next month's Commonwealth Games are down to the wire and the event risks descending into farce.
Top Indian athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, Neeru Dhanda, and Harmanpreet Singh have been nominated by their respective National Sports Federations to the electoral college for the Indian Olympic Association's Athletes Commission polls on November 3. The article details the nomination process, eligibility criteria, and the composition of the new Athletes Commission, noting the absence of some federations and the exclusion of outgoing members like Mary Kom.
Australia's Gold Coast has been chosen to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the event's governing body said in St Kitts and Nevis on Friday. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) opted for Gold Coast by a 43-27 margin over its only rival, the Sri Lankan city of Hambantota.
'There are no formal guidelines for security. The Commonwealth Games Federation, London, oversees the preparations. The idea is to ensure that the games go on smoothly. It should not be a fortress,' says A Vasudevan, additional director general, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.
The IOA will push for tennis, archery, rowing, canoeing and kayaking, basketball and judo at the general body meeting of the federation in Melbourne next month.
Pakistan's Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem faced criticism after a disappointing ninth-place finish at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
National record holder Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu have successfully qualified for the men's triple jump final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing second and third respectively in the qualification round.
Star Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar underwent minor ligament reconstruction surgery on his right ankle in London following an injury sustained at the Asian Games last month. This marks his second major surgery, having previously missed the Paris Olympics due to a left knee injury in 2024. Sreeshankar is now targeting a return to competition next season, with his sights set on the 2027 World Championships and the LA 2028 Olympics.
The national record in the men's 100m race was broken twice within minutes at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition. Ancy Sojan won the women's long jump with a meet record, and Seema achieved the Commonwealth Games qualification mark in the women's discus throw.
India experienced a mixed day at the Asian Games, with skeet shooters and rowers adding to the medal tally, and wushu player Roshibina Devi securing a silver. While kabaddi and hockey teams continued their winning streaks, boxing, gymnastics, and fencing saw disappointments. The overall medal count reached 15, with only one gold so far.
The Commonwealth Games Federation's general assembly in St. Kitts and Nevis has agreed to include three weight categories of women's boxing for the future editions of the Commonwealth Games.
Tero Entertainment Public Co. Ltd. has launched Quest India 2026, marking the official introduction of 3x3 basketball to the country. This fast-paced, urban Olympic sport, backed by BFI and FIBA, will feature its inaugural event in September 2026, blending elite competition with street culture.
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen faced a surprising defeat at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games trials, coinciding with widespread support among boxers for the reinstatement of the trial-based selection system.
Gurindervir Singh failed to live up to expectations at the Commonwealth Games, crashing out of the men's 100m event after his underwhelming timing of 10.39 seconds left him 28th overall in the heats.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) will apply for the inclusion of women's cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, South Africa, the governing body has said.
India's Asian Games campaign saw its medal tally rise to 17 with strong performances in athletics, wushu, kabaddi, and hockey, despite some disappointments in shooting, boxing, and gymnastics. The mixed 4x400m relay team secured silver, while Seema won bronze in 10,000m. Wushu player Roshibina Devi claimed silver, and rowers added a bronze. Kabaddi and men's hockey teams continued their unbeaten runs, advancing to later stages.
Following a hugely popular debut at the London Olympics in August, women's boxing has been included in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the sports organisers said.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
The Federation Cup National Senior Athletics Competition in Ranchi will serve as the selection trial for the Asian U23 Athletics Championships. Athletes aged 20-22 are eligible, and the event also serves as a qualifier for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
India's weightlifting contingent for the Commonwealth Games has seen its quota reduced from 16 to 11 lifters, leading to the withdrawal of Dilbagh Singh. This reduction is a direct consequence of multiple Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) by Indian lifters during the qualification period, highlighting ongoing doping issues within the sport.
The opening ceremony has been created by British screenwriter Steven Knight, who had produced the famous crime drama 'Peaky Blinders'.
Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav admitted that his 'overconfidence' and attempt to outdo both Sri Lankan gold winner Rumesh Pathirage and compatriot Neeraj Chopra during the Commonwealth Games final led to his seventh-place finish, stating he should have curbed his ambition.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra stated he is not 'obsessed' with consistently breaching the 90-metre mark in javelin, emphasising that winning major titles and maintaining consistency in challenging conditions are more important than chasing a specific distance.
India's national record holder in shot put, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, is determined to breach the 22m mark, aiming to elevate the standard for future generations of Indian shot putters, drawing inspiration from Neeraj Chopra's impact on javelin throw. Despite a history of injuries, including a recent calf tear at the Commonwealth Games, Toor is now fit and focused on achieving a hat-trick of gold medals at the upcoming continental event.
India scrambled against the clock to save the Commonwealth Games after big ticket athletes quit the showcase event and nations threatened to stay home unless authorities cleaned venues 'unfit for human habitation'.
Indian sprinter Animesh Kujur achieved the fastest 100m time by an Indian on foreign soil, clocking 10.14 seconds at the Fast Arms Fast Legs meet in Germany. This personal best places him second all-time among Indian sprinters and highlights his form ahead of his Commonwealth Games debut.
India's fastest man, Gurindervir Singh, failed to advance in the men's 100m event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Despite holding the national record, his timing of 10.39 seconds placed him 28th overall in the heats, far from his personal best and the qualification mark.
IOA has now got confirmation from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Birmingham CWG organisers about acceptance of his entry after a Delegate Registration Meeting (DRM).
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Selva Prabhu attributes his failure to secure a gold medal in Glasgow to food poisoning, stating that a performance near his personal best would have been sufficient for the top spot. He is now focused on qualifying for the upcoming Asian Games.
Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has expressed deep concern over the devastating floods in her home state of Assam, stating it has affected her focus at the Commonwealth Games. She appealed to the public for help, highlighting the loss of lives and homes, and the urgent need for food, water, and clothing for the affected population.
Athletics Federation of India's selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla has dismissed concerns over Neeraj Chopra's recent silver medal, stating that the "country's greatest athlete" should not be scrutinised for an occasional silver after consistently delivering gold for a decade.
Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual Olympic gold medallist, reflected on the 18th anniversary of his historic win at the Beijing Olympics, stating, 'Life since has taught me that the spaces between the peaks matter just as much.'
India has announced a calendar of 29 international sporting events over the next two years, aiming to bolster its credentials as a host nation. This strategic move is part of its larger goal to secure bids for the 2036 Olympic Games, the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the 2038 Asian Games, showcasing its capacity to host large-scale multi-sport spectacles.
The Indian Olympic Association intervened to ensure para cyclist Lisha Das, the youngest member of India's Commonwealth Games contingent, has a female support staff member accompanying her to Glasgow. This decision came after the 16-year-old raised concerns about the initial lack of a female physiotherapist, which goes against Sports Authority of India guidelines. The IOA has now accredited a physiotherapist and Lisha's personal coach, with efforts underway for a technician.
Top-seeded India enters the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships as strong favourites for the men's team title, featuring seasoned players like G. Sathiyan. While facing tough competition from Australia and England in the men's event, and Singapore in the women's, India's women's team will compete without star player Manika Batra. The tournament, hosted in New Delhi, includes 23 men's and 18 women's teams, offering a record prize money of USD 110,000.
Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom believes Indian pugilists will secure a 'reasonably good medal haul' at the Commonwealth Games, though gold might be elusive, while expressing less certainty for the Asian Games. She also criticised the Boxing Federation of India's functioning and selection policies.
The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has clarified that Manika Batra's exclusion from India's Asian Games squad was due to strict adherence to existing selection criteria. Despite her name being considered, Batra did not meet the requirements, primarily lacking a national ranking and not being in the top 50 of international rankings at the time of selection. The decision was a collective one by the selection committee, based on a comprehensive assessment.
Indian javelin ace Neeraj Chopra is set to renew his rivalry with Sri Lankan star Rumesh Pathirage at the Lausanne Diamond League, with both athletes vying for a spot in the prestigious DL grand finale in Brussels.
Indian Olympic medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain noticed an inaccurate map of India, missing the Northeast region, displayed at a popular Indian restaurant in Glasgow during a celebratory dinner. Following her observation, Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh confirmed that the restaurant management acknowledged the error and assured the Indian contingent that the map would be corrected.
Gulveer Singh, the reigning Asian champion and national record holder, failed to meet the Asian Games qualifying standard in the men's 5000m race at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships.
