They weren't up for a windfall even after the trophy but life was certain to get a lot better as some sponsors and state governments stepped up to lift them financially.
A delighted Indian team chief coach PR Sreejesh lavished praise on his team's lion-hearted comeback to claim the bronze medal against Argentina, in the FIH Junior Men's World Cup, in Chennai, on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour began amid chaos and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium, but for former India players Dipendu Biswas and Syed Rahim Nabi, it still turned into the moment of a lifetime in Kolkata on Saturday.
The country also mounted bids on some high-profile continental and global events, including the 2031 World Athletics Championships with Ahmedabad as the proposed venue.
While off-court battles over pay and governance rumbled on, opportunities were scarce beyond the duopoly at the top of the men's game, leaving Djokovic to provide the year's standout moments for the chasing pack.
Disheartened but not broken after the Olympic loss, Jaismine returned to the Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune after a short break. She had made up her mind to stay in the 57kg division, a category that complemented her rangy frame and natural speed.
A kabaddi player was shot dead at a tournament in Mohali, Punjab, leading to criticism of the state government's law and order situation.
Christmas Karma narrowly misses being a highway pile up, mainly because its heart is in the right place, believes Deepa Gahlot.
A Delhi family is in mourning after four of its members died in a massive fire that tore through a nightclub in Goa. The victims were part of a group of five who had traveled to Goa for a vacation.
England Head Coach Brendon McCullum revealed his team may have been victims of their own thoroughness, conducting "five to 10 training sessions" in the extended break between Tests after losing the opener in Perth inside two days.
Before Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda take us on whirlwind of love and heartache in Saiyaara, let's take a look at 10 romantic tales swathed in dard and aansu.
A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed in a residential area moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon. Many people are feared killed.
Chasing India's first-ever mixed doubles medal at the showpiece, Kapila and Crasto lost 15-21, 13-21 in 37 minutes. A win would have guaranteed them of at least a bronze.
India A crashed out of the Rising Stars Asia Cup in heartbreaking fashion on Friday, suffering a Super Over defeat to Bangladesh A in the semifinal at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.
'We consider everyone who lost someone in this tragedy as part of our family -- now and forever.'
The usually mobbed Indian cricket team likes training in a relaxed atmosphere and that was evident in their body language as the players went about their business in their only practice session at the Kent County Cricket Ground before the fourth Test in Manchester.
Deepika, Dhiraj lead India's charge in Asian Archery Championship
Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov beat China's Wei Yi to win the FIDE World Cup in Panaji on Wednesday, becoming, at 19, the youngest ever player to achieve the feat.
Indian batting icon Virat Kohli hailed the national women's team for the first-ever ICC Women's World Cup win, saying that they deserve all the applause for their historic feat, which saw "years of hard work come to life finally".
rediffGURU Kanchan Rai, a relationship coach and founder of Let Us Talk Foundation, explains how you can get over the pain by accepting failure and rejection gracefully.
At 16, when I first stepped into college, I also stepped straight into my first heartbreak. There was a boy, of course. We started talking, then dating, and my nave teenage self was convinced this was something special. My best friend, however, was never convinced. She said he wasn't right for me. I didn't listen. I was 16, dramatic, slightly delusional and completely in love (or so I thought).
All-round performances from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma were the crowning jewels for the team in the title clash.
'I'm feeling strong. I am feeling fit, and I am feeling ready to go,'
PV Sindhu's campaign at the BWF World Championships 2025 ended in the quarterfinals on Friday, as she went down to Indonesia's World No. 9 Putri Kusuma Wardani in Paris.
India's campaign was on the verge of derailment after losing back-to-back games to South Africa, Australia and England. Against England, India were cruising at 234 for 3 before failing to surpass a target of 289.
India narrowly missed out on qualifying for the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup despite a dominant 6-0 victory over Brunei Darussalam.
Gauff upset world number one Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday to win her second Grand Slam singles title.
Harmanpreet Kaur has now joined the pantheon of legends, becoming only the third Indian captain to lift an ODI World Cup trophy.
Those who have not watched earlier seasons of Stranger Things would be baffled by it, but then the finale is meant for fans who understand the themes and remember its mythology, observes Deepa Gahlot.
While heartbreak is often seen as an emotional struggle, it is also known to cause headaches, nausea and vomiting, abdominal distress, weight gain or weight loss and could lead to a heart attack, warns Dr Rahul Bajaj.
'In a world that's loud and fractured, this is my small offering of softness. Of love.'
The Indian pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand retained the women's doubles crown but Kidambi Srikanth's hopes of snapping an eight-year title drought went up in smoke as he suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final of the Syed Modi International Super 300, in Lucknow on Sunday.
'From the heartbreak of 2005 to the fight of 2017, every tear, every sacrifice, every young girl who picked up a bat believing we belong here, it all led to this moment.'
Many months into his retirement from T20I and Test format, the 38-year-old right-hander on Tuesday said he is getting used to sitting at home and watching the action unfold on television instead of being part of it.
Pratika Rawal has now received her Women's World Cup 2025 winner's medal, thanks to a personal intervention by ICC president Jay Shah, who stepped in to right the wrong.
India's World Cup-winning women's cricket team shared laughter and light moments with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence, where the PM playfully asked Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma about her now-viral Lord Hanuman tattoo.
The former World Cup-winning player further praised captain Harmanpreet Kaur for her leadership during India's historic ICC Women's World Cup triumph, saying her contribution was instrumental in the team's success.
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma's superb all-round showing powered India to a historic first-ever Women's ODI World Cup title after they outclassed South Africa by 52 runs in the final.
India joined Australia, England, and New Zealand as ICC Women's Cricket World Cup winners, and, like the latter two, achieved this feat for the first time on home soil.
Senior batter Virat Kohli's awesome genius in 50-over format was on full view during his 52nd hundred that guided India to a strong 349 for eight against South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series in Ranchi on Sunday.
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