In a surprise move on Tuesday, India's women's hockey coach Harendra Singh was named chief coach of the men's team while incumbent men's in-charge Sjoerd Marijne was sent back to the women's camp -- a fallout of the poor show by Manpreet Singh and Co. in the Commonwealth Games.
With the year sprinting to a close, we bring you, in pictures, some of the best action from the sports world.
The 25-year-old, who shot to fame by becoming the second Indian to win an ITTF event -- the Belgium Open in 2016, is a strong medal hope in the Gold Coast Games starting April 4. He has also won a gold in the ITTF Challenge -- Spanish Open last year in the men's singles category.
Debutant teenager Saurabh Chaudhary clinched India's first shooting gold of the 18th Asian Games, fetching the top honours in the men's 10m air pistol event, in Palembang, on Tuesday.
Such was Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang's dominance in the 65kg competition that he won three of his four bouts inside first rounds.
Bajrang Punia had won gold medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games last year.
Sindhu expectedly faced no resistance from Uganda's Husina Kobugabe, winning 21-10, 21-9 in her pre-quarterfinal match.
The acrimonious exit of foreign coach Achraf El Karargui days before the Commonwealth Games has affected the team's preparations but medal hopefuls Pallikal, Chinappa and Saurav Ghosal remain optimistic of their chances in all three events -- singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Indian contingent would be aiming to make it all good with strong medal-winning performances when the acutely-low-on-buzz Commonwealth Games start
India's 16-year-old shooting sensation Manu Bhaker comfortably won gold in the women's 10 metres air pistol event as Heena Sidhu staged a remarkable recovery to secure silver at the 21st Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast, on Sunday.
Samoa's Don Opeloge 381kg (171kg+210kg) bettered his 2018 silver by clinching gold with a record-breaking performance.
'Hockey India will not like its hockey athletes to peak 35 days before the Asian Games 2022 and would like the athletes to peak at the right time i.e. during the Asian Games 2022.'
Earlier in the morning, race walkers Khushbir Kaur and Manish Singh finished creditable fourth and sixth respectively in the 20km race.
Manika Batra's sensational run at the Commonwealth Games fetched her another medal on Sunday. Teaming up with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran she bagged the mixed doubles bronze, thereby winning a medal in every event she competed in at the Gold Coast Games .
In the lightweight (57-60kg) division, Jasmine will feature straight in the quarter-finals after getting a first round bye.
Eldhose Paul led India's historic 1-2 finish in men's triple jump at the Commonwealth Games as he won a rare gold medal in track and field events and was followed by fellow Kerala athlete Abdulla Aboobacker in Birmingham on Sunday.
Javelin thrower Annu Rani and four-time Commonwealth Games medallist discus thrower Seema Antil Punia also have been recommended for the Arjuna Award.
Double Olympic medallist P V Sindhu stayed on course for an elusive gold medal, while Laskhya Sen entered his maiden final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Sunday.
Jaspal Rana says 'too much' is being expected from teenage prodigies like Manu Bhaker and Anish Bhanwala
The legend of M C Mary Kom (48kg) grew larger as she added the Commonwealth Games gold to her packed medal cabinet, thrashing Northern Ireland's Kristina O'Hara in the final, in Gold Coast, on Saturday.
Defending champion Sathish Sivalingam (77kg) claimed India's third gold medal at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday, emerging triumphant despite having given up podium hopes after his injured thighs made even routine things like sitting painful.
Shreyasi Singh held her nerve and produced some excellent shooting to win the women's double trap gold medal in the 21st Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast, on Wednesday.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Weightlifter Gururaja Poojary opened India's medal tally on the first day of competition at the 21st Commonwealth Games, claiming silver in the men's 56kg category, on Thursday.
Hima Das scripted history on Thursday by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championships. The 18-year-old, a pre-event favourite, won the women's 400 metres final on the third day of competition in Tempere, Finland, clocking 51.46 seconds.
The Indian mixed badminton team claimed its maiden Commonwealth Games gold medal, thrashing three-time defending champions Malaysia in the final, in Gold Coast.
Manika Batra inspired India to a historic gold medal with her stunning singles victories, fashioning an unthinkable 3-1 victory over four-time gold medallists Singapore in the final of the women's team event at the Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast, on Sunday.
After an eventful 19th Commonwealth Games in India last year, the CGF is all set to receive bids for the 2018 edition's hosting rights from Australia and Sri Lanka during a series of meetings from May 6 to 11.
India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra comfortably won the gold at the Sotteville Athletics meet in France, beating a competitive field which included 2012 London Olympics gold-medallist Keshorn Walcott.
Rediff.com introduces you to the athletes who have brought India glory in Birmingham.
With her sights firmly set for the 2018 Commonwealth and Asian Games, Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik feels that quality preparation can only happen if there are at least two extended camps in foreign countries every year. "Before Olympics, we went to Spain for a training camp and we got to practise with a lot of quality wrestlers. I believe for better performances we need more foreign exposure where we compete with the top wrestlers from other countries," Sakshi, who is face of Delhi Sultans franchise in the Pro-Wrestling League (PWL) told PTI.
The Chennai paddler feels that it's about time that he changes colour of the medal to gold during the upcoming edition in Gold Coast.
The 24-year-old Manipuri lifted 82kg in snatch and 110kg in clean and jerk to finish on top of the podium after recovering from the injury, which required extensive physiotherapy.
India have won the men's table tennis gold beating Nigeria 3-0 in the final
'Didn't realise was flanked by Chinese and Pakistani athletes on victory podium'
As we celebrate International Women's day on March 8, meet the Indian sportswomen who have made the nation proud with their superlative performances in the sporting arena.
Geeta and Babita Phogat, both Commonwealth Games medallists became household names after their life story was brought alive on the silver screen through the blockbuster 'Dangal'.
India have finished as the best-performing nation in the sport in the 1990, 2002, and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Ghosal and Pallikal hardly broke a sweat as they prevailed 11-8, 11-4 over the Australians
Delhi Police on Monday announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and nine others in connection with the murder of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Rana earlier this month.
