News for 'India First'

India make history with back-to-back badminton Asian Games medals

India make history with back-to-back badminton Asian Games medals

Rediff.com23 Sep 2026

The Indian men's badminton team secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games after losing 1-3 to China in the semifinals. Despite strong performances, including a win by Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India could not overcome their rivals, marking their first back-to-back team medals in 40 years.

First in Indian Cricket! Vande Mataram Before National Anthem

First in Indian Cricket! Vande Mataram Before National Anthem

Rediff.com13 Sep 2026

For the first time in an Indian men's cricket match, the national song Vande Mataram was played before the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, during the India vs Afghanistan T20I in Delhi, sparking widespread reaction among fans.

Asian Games: Ganesh misses gold but fires India to archery bronze

Asian Games: Ganesh misses gold but fires India to archery bronze

Rediff.com1 Oct 2026

Indian compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru clinched the men's individual bronze medal at the Asian Games, defeating Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang. This follows his gold medal win with the men's team. Thirumuru expressed pride in securing India's first individual compound medal at the event and reflected on his performance and future aspirations.

Shai Hope's 102 Powers West Indies to Record Chase Against India

Shai Hope's 102 Powers West Indies to Record Chase Against India

Rediff.com9 Oct 2026

Shai Hope's explosive 45-ball century led the West Indies to a six-wicket win over India after they chased down 250 in 18.3 overs to level the five-match T20I series 1-1.

4th T20I: Hope, Paul run riot as West Indies trump India to level series 2-2

4th T20I: Hope, Paul run riot as West Indies trump India to level series 2-2

Rediff.com3 days ago

Keemo Paul's exceptional five-wicket haul led the West Indies to a 24-run victory over India in the fourth T20 International in Hyderabad. This win, built on Shai Hope's unbeaten century, levels the five-match series at 2-2, setting up a decider in Bengaluru. India's chase, despite a strong start from Sanju Samson, faltered against Paul's decisive bowling.

Elon Musk: Starlink services in India must be affordable, slams 'de facto monopoly'

Elon Musk: Starlink services in India must be affordable, slams 'de facto monopoly'

Rediff.com5 days ago

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, stated that Starlink's services in India must be affordable for widespread adoption and that competition would benefit consumers, despite potentially reducing Reliance Jio's profits. He criticised Reliance Jio as a 'de facto monopoly' in India, alleging that certain business conglomerates were blocking Starlink's entry.

INDIA leaders meet at Rahul Gandhi's home, 'vow to reclaim' Jantar Mantar

INDIA leaders meet at Rahul Gandhi's home, 'vow to reclaim' Jantar Mantar

Rediff.com4 days ago

The INDIA bloc, comprising 17 opposition parties and civil society members, met at Rahul Gandhi's residence to strategize against alleged "vote chori" and the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site. Leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Tejashwi Yadav, vowed to continue their united political and people's resistance, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and asserting that those responsible for undermining democracy would be held accountable.

Sports Ministry To Review India's Asian Games Performance, TOPS Funding

Sports Ministry To Review India's Asian Games Performance, TOPS Funding

Rediff.com8 Oct 2026

The Sports Ministry is set to review India's performance at the recent Asian Games on October 13. The focus will be on the underwhelming results of experienced athletes in sports like badminton, shooting, and athletics.

Adani Group's F1 Ambitions: What Pranav Adani's Singapore GP Visit Means For India

Adani Group's F1 Ambitions: What Pranav Adani's Singapore GP Visit Means For India

Rediff.com5 days ago

Pranav Adani's visit to the Singapore Grand Prix has intensified speculation about Formula 1's return to India. The Adani Group, which owns the Buddh International Circuit, is actively pursuing the revival of the Indian Grand Prix, with support from the Indian government. However, significant financial and logistical challenges, including tax clarity and substantial upgrade costs, must be overcome amidst increasing global competition for hosting races.

Anantjeet-Parinaaz clinch historic skeet mixed team bronze for India

Anantjeet-Parinaaz clinch historic skeet mixed team bronze for India

Rediff.com24 Sep 2026

The Indian men's 10m air pistol team finished fourth at the Asian Games, narrowly missing a bronze medal, while the mixed skeet team of Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka successfully qualified for their event's final.

Asian Games: India's Medal Dip And Emerging Sporting Strengths

Asian Games: India's Medal Dip And Emerging Sporting Strengths

Rediff.com4 Oct 2026

India finished fourth at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 85 medals, a significant dip from the previous edition's record haul. While traditional strongholds like shooting and athletics underperformed, breakthroughs in archery, wrestling, golf, boxing, hockey, and cricket showcased a broadening sporting base. The performance serves as a reality check on sustaining progress towards top global rankings and highlights areas for improvement in mental conditioning and preparation.

Manush Shah And Diya Chitale Secure Historic Table Tennis Medal For India At Asian Games

Manush Shah And Diya Chitale Secure Historic Table Tennis Medal For India At Asian Games

Rediff.com25 Sep 2026

Indian table tennis players Manush Shah and Diya Chitale defeated Hong Kong's World No. 4 pair Doo Hoi Kem and Wong Chun Ting in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games mixed doubles event, assuring India of a medal. This marks India's first table tennis medal at the current edition and only the second mixed doubles medal in Asian Games history. They are set to face China in the semifinals.

The pressure is off us now: India's archers after golden run in Asian Games

The pressure is off us now: India's archers after golden run in Asian Games

Rediff.com5 Oct 2026

Indian archers returned from the Asian Games with a historic haul of 5 gold medals, 2 Olympic quotas, and other medals, celebrating their success and triumphs over global powerhouse South Korea. Coaches and athletes expressed elation, crediting rigorous training, teamwork, and a supportive ecosystem for their unprecedented performance.

India Unveils 'Rising Together' Vision For 2036 Olympic Games Bid

India Unveils 'Rising Together' Vision For 2036 Olympic Games Bid

Rediff.com7 Oct 2026

India has officially announced its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, centered around the theme "Rising Together."

Rower Satnam Singh: 'This medal is for 1.4 billion people'

Rower Satnam Singh: 'This medal is for 1.4 billion people'

Rediff.com9 Oct 2026

Rower Satnam Singh, who clinched a historic bronze medal in the men's double sculls at the 2026 Asian Games, stated the achievement belonged not just to him but to India's 1.4 billion people, marking the country's first medal in the event since 1951.

Jyothi Vennam Reflects On Asian Games Archery Success

Jyothi Vennam Reflects On Asian Games Archery Success

Rediff.com4 days ago

Jyothi Surekha Vennam, despite an unexpected early exit from the individual compound event at the Asian Games, led India to a women's team gold. She reflected on the overall successful archery campaign, which saw India top the medal standings with nine medals, including a historic individual recurve gold. Neeraj Chauhan also secured a bronze in men's individual recurve.

India Must Prioritise Child Safety In AI Education: WEF Expert

India Must Prioritise Child Safety In AI Education: WEF Expert

Rediff.com7 days ago

Cathy Li, Head of the Centre for AI Excellence at the World Economic Forum, advocates for integrating AI literacy into India's education curriculum and incentivising AI companies to prioritise child safety. She stresses the need for localised solutions that account for India's linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as varying levels of connectivity and digital literacy, to ensure AI systems are safe and beneficial for children.

Vaibhav's return? India face Samson selection dilemma

Vaibhav's return? India face Samson selection dilemma

Rediff.com8 Oct 2026

India's team management is considering pairing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with Abhishek Sharma for the second T20I against West Indies due to Sanju Samson's poor form. While the middle-order has performed well, Samson's consistent low scores are a concern. The article also discusses potential changes in the pace bowling combination and the West Indies' need for a higher total.

Asian Games: How India Turned Last-Minute Change Into Shooting Gold

Asian Games: How India Turned Last-Minute Change Into Shooting Gold

Rediff.com25 Sep 2026

India's last-minute change in the 10m air pistol mixed team pairing ended with gold as Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won the title on Friday.

India bounce back to beat Windies, take 2-1 series lead

India bounce back to beat Windies, take 2-1 series lead

Rediff.com6 days ago

India beat West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.

Numbers that define an era: Harmanpreet Kaur's historic India captaincy legacy

Numbers that define an era: Harmanpreet Kaur's historic India captaincy legacy

Rediff.com6 Oct 2026

Harmanpreet Kaur ended her India captaincy after a historic nine-year tenure, highlighted by the 2025 Women's World Cup triumph, two Asian Games gold medals and record 155 T20I appearances.

Star Golfers Descend On Delhi For DP World India Championship

Star Golfers Descend On Delhi For DP World India Championship

Rediff.com9 Oct 2026

The Delhi Golf Club is set to host the star-studded DP World India Championship from October 15 to 18, featuring top golfers like Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, and other Major winners. The USD 4 million event, held at the historic venue, aims to boost golf's profile in India and offer young Indian players a chance to learn from the best.

India, Germany, Qatar among 7 nations vying for 2036 Summer Olympics

India, Germany, Qatar among 7 nations vying for 2036 Summer Olympics

Rediff.com6 Oct 2026

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.

India to release AI regulation consultation paper within 30 days, says Vaishnaw

India to release AI regulation consultation paper within 30 days, says Vaishnaw

Rediff.com9 Oct 2026

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Indian government will release a draft consultation paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulations within the next 30 days, focusing on safety, a human-first approach, skilling, inclusivity, and harm restriction.

Suhas Yathiraj, Krishna Nagar Lead India's Strong Start At Asian Para Games

Suhas Yathiraj, Krishna Nagar Lead India's Strong Start At Asian Para Games

Rediff.com2 days ago

Indian para-badminton players, including Paralympics medallists Suhas Yathiraj and Krishna Nagar, have made a strong start at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. Suhas Yathiraj secured a straight-game victory in men's singles SL4, while Krishna Nagar also won his opening SH6 match. Other Indian shuttlers also registered wins across various categories, though some pairs faced defeats.

Patidar's fifty in vain as Australia A beat India A again

Patidar's fifty in vain as Australia A beat India A again

Rediff.com9 Oct 2026

Australia A defeated India A by 69 runs in the second one-day match in Puducherry, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Aggressive half-centuries from Josh Philippe and Sam Konstas, along with crucial wickets from pacer Spencer Johnson, led Australia A to victory, while India A's top order struggled.

India's Men's Hockey Team Dominates Malaysia For Asian Games Gold

India's Men's Hockey Team Dominates Malaysia For Asian Games Gold

Rediff.com3 Oct 2026

India's men's hockey team secured their fifth Asian Games gold medal, and second consecutive, by defeating Malaysia 5-1. This victory also guarantees them a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The women's team also achieved gold, marking a double triumph for Indian hockey.

'Rotate Strike': How West Indies Plan To Counter India's Spin Threat

'Rotate Strike': How West Indies Plan To Counter India's Spin Threat

Rediff.com8 Oct 2026

West Indies bowling coach Ravi Rampaul urged his batters to "rotate the strike" and rely on their better players of spin to "counter" India's three-pronged spin-bowling attack.

India defend Asian Games men's hockey gold, qualify for LA Olympics

India defend Asian Games men's hockey gold, qualify for LA Olympics

Rediff.com3 Oct 2026

India's men's hockey team successfully defended their Asian Games gold medal by defeating Malaysia 5-1, securing a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

RSS affliliate BKS to hold first-ever women's conclave on Sep 30

RSS affliliate BKS to hold first-ever women's conclave on Sep 30

Rediff.com28 Sep 2026

The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) is set to host its inaugural women's conclave in New Delhi, aiming to advocate for increased representation of women farmers in agricultural policymaking. The event will bring together 7,000 women farmers to discuss their significant contributions to farming, livestock, and fisheries, and to push for policy changes, including a shift from MSP to MRP for produce.

How India's Women's Hockey Team Secured Olympic Berth

How India's Women's Hockey Team Secured Olympic Berth

Rediff.com2 Oct 2026

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.

Indore's batting paradise set for another India-West Indies T20I run-fest

Indore's batting paradise set for another India-West Indies T20I run-fest

Rediff.com10 Oct 2026

The third T20 International between India and West Indies in Indore is anticipated to be another high-scoring affair, with the Holkar Stadium's flat pitch and short boundaries favouring batters, putting immense pressure on bowlers after a 501-run fest in the previous match.

Rory McIlroy Applauds Pranavi Urs' Asian Games Gold Medal Win

Rory McIlroy Applauds Pranavi Urs' Asian Games Gold Medal Win

Rediff.com4 days ago

Irish golf star Rory McIlroy met and applauded India's Asian Games gold-winning golfer Pranavi Urs for her "tremendous resilience and character" during her recent victory. McIlroy, in India for the DP World India Championships, praised Urs's ability to overcome a triple bogey to secure gold and her contribution to India's team silver.

India's late gold rush: Kumkum, Pranavi script Asian Games history

India's late gold rush: Kumkum, Pranavi script Asian Games history

Rediff.com3 Oct 2026

India concluded its Asian Games campaign in Nagoya with a creditable fourth place, securing 85 medals, including 21 golds. The final days saw a surge in gold medals, notably from the cricket and hockey teams, and historic individual wins by 17-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod and golfer Pranavi Urs.

Football Friendly PIX: Brazil thump India 4-0 in Kolkata

Football Friendly PIX: Brazil thump India 4-0 in Kolkata

Rediff.com3 Oct 2026

Brazil's star-studded line-up, including Vinicius Jr and Marquinhos, is set to face India in a friendly match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, with veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu captaining the Indian side.

India Shines At Asian Games With Rare Silvers, Cricket And Hockey In Finals

India Shines At Asian Games With Rare Silvers, Cricket And Hockey In Finals

Rediff.com1 Oct 2026

India's medal tally at the Asian Games surged to 65, highlighted by rare silver medals in men's skiff sailing and Greco-Roman wrestling. The men's cricket and hockey teams secured their spots in the finals with impressive victories, while squash teams and compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru contributed bronze medals. Indian golfers are also in contention, and sepaktakraw guaranteed at least a bronze, showcasing a diverse sporting performance.

When Students Spill Onto Streets: France and India

When Students Spill Onto Streets: France and India

Rediff.com10 Oct 2026

The scenes are same; placards, viral videos, riot, police but the grievances could hardly be more different, notes Abhay Jere, ex-Vice Chairman, AICTE.

Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti Commends India's Organised Play

Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti Commends India's Organised Play

Rediff.com4 Oct 2026

Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised India's defensive organisation and counter-attacking efforts despite his team's 4-0 victory in a friendly match in Kolkata. Ancelotti highlighted India's ability to create difficult moments for Brazil and used the match as an opportunity to assess young Brazilian talent, expressing satisfaction with their performance during the international window.

Rahul, Jaiswal feature in India A squad for New Zealand series

Rahul, Jaiswal feature in India A squad for New Zealand series

Rediff.com6 Oct 2026

The BCCI has announced a 15-member India A squad for three unofficial Tests against New Zealand A, starting October 24. The squad includes senior players like KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, and Rishabh Pant (subject to fitness), raising questions about their availability for all 'A' matches due to overlapping ODI commitments.

Asian Games: Suchika Makes History, Assures India MMA Medal

Asian Games: Suchika Makes History, Assures India MMA Medal

Rediff.com20 Sep 2026

Suchika Tariyal has secured India's first-ever medal in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by reaching the semifinals of the women's 60kg event. The veteran multi-discipline combat athlete defeated Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 and will compete in the semifinals on Monday, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal as MMA makes its Asian Games debut.