India is set to host 11 international sporting events in the next six months, including the Badminton World Championships. The Sports Ministry has pledged to provide top-notch facilities, addressing previous criticisms of playing conditions, and is actively preparing for future Olympic bids.
The 22nd Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, scheduled for January 2027, will feature a record-breaking prize pool of Rs 1.32 crore, making it the open tournament with the highest prize money globally. The event will have three categories, attracting FIDE-rated players, Grandmasters, and amateurs alike, with over 3,000 participants expected. This tournament has historically been crucial for developing Indian chess talent, including stars like D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, and aims to establish New Delhi as a global chess hub.
The Indian football team suffered a 1-3 defeat against higher-ranked Tajikistan in an international friendly match. Despite a late goal from Farukh Choudhary, India could not overcome Tajikistan's lead, marking their third consecutive loss in recent friendlies as they prepare for continental assignments.
Indian para-badminton players, including Tokyo Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar, delivered an outstanding performance at the French Para Badminton International, securing multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals across various categories.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has stated that 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready for international cricket, but must follow the established process for selection.
Indian rugby player Sumit Kumar Roy highlights the critical role of international exposure and the Rugby Premier League in the team's recent success, including a silver medal in Asia's top rugby sevens competition. The team aims for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics, learning from global players and focusing on discipline. Uruguay's Diego Ardao also emphasizes the need for skilled coaches and dedicated players to develop the sport in India, acknowledging the nation's vast potential despite the long road ahead for Olympic aspirations.
Jai Moondra, a left-arm medium pacer from Rajasthan, made a dream international debut for Ireland, taking a wicket with his first ball against India. His journey is remarkable, having left a secure corporate job at Intel after pursuing an MTech in Dublin to chase his cricketing dream, culminating in a historic victory for Ireland.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations from Kolkata's iconic Red Road on June 21, with over 210 Indian Missions organising events at nearly 2,500 locations worldwide under the theme 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing'.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first cricketer, male or female, to play 200 T20 Internationals, achieving this milestone during a World Cup clash against South Africa.
The Delhi government has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with the School Games Federation of India and the International School Sport Federation to host international school badminton and wrestling events next year, aiming to boost the city's sports ecosystem and provide international exposure to young athletes.
Gaganjeet Bhullar was the top-performing Indian golfer at the International Series Morocco, finishing tied 31st. While other Indian players struggled, Bhullar showcased consistency. Hong Kong's Taichi Kho won the tournament, securing his second Asian Tour victory and boosting his rankings.
Gaganjeet Bhullar was the top-performing Indian golfer at the International Series Morocco, finishing tied 31st. While other Indian players struggled, Bhullar showcased consistency. Hong Kong's Taichi Kho won the tournament, securing his second Asian Tour victory and boosting his rankings.
The Adani Group-owned Navi Mumbai International Airport is slated to commence international passenger and freighter operations from July 15. This marks a significant expansion for the airport, which began domestic services last December. Air India Express and IndiGo are expected to operate international flights, with customs readiness reviews already completed. The airport anticipates a substantial increase in daily passenger footfall and air traffic movements by the year-end.
Telangana's EAGLE Force, in coordination with Customs and NCB, has dismantled an international 'OG Ganja' smuggling ring operating between Bangkok and India. The operation led to the arrest of a woman junior artist and the seizure of 2.15 kg of cannabis, exposing a larger syndicate that exploits vulnerable women as drug carriers.
Noida International Airport has officially commenced flight operations with an IndiGo flight from Lucknow making the inaugural landing, followed by a takeoff to Lucknow, carrying 172 villagers whose land was acquired for the project.
India will celebrate International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 at 12 iconic landmarks across the country, including the Red Fort, Hampi, and Konark Sun Temple, with the main event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kolkata.
Air India has announced a reduction in international flights and temporary suspension of services on six routes, including Delhi-Chicago, due to airspace restrictions and high jet fuel prices.
The Narcotics Control Bureau has busted an international drug syndicate involved in trafficking Captagon, seizing approximately 227.7 kg of the 'jihadi drug' worth Rs 182 crore.
Adding another feather to his illustrious cap, Rohit Sharma on Saturday became only the second Indian opener after Virender Sehwag to score 16,000 international runs while opening the batting.
The India Open retained its Super 750 status despite the organisational issues this year but the Syed Modi International was downgraded from Super 300 to Super 100 as the country saw its share of events reduced from four to two in the Badminton World Federation's revamped schedule announced on Monday.
90 per cent of institutions recorded no improvement in international student metrics, despite government initiatives such as the Study in India programme, UGC regulations on internationalisation, and efforts to attract foreign students.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has praised India's "outstanding success" in its nationwide World Bicycle Day celebrations, which involved approximately 200 cities and towns across 28 States and Union Territories. UCI President David Lappartient commended the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) for its remarkable organisational efforts and also lauded the launch of the Asmita Women's League, a grassroots programme aimed at promoting gender equity in cycling.
'We may be able to wind back some of the schedule reductions we'd taken in recent months.'
India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, asserted that 'a terrorist is a terrorist' and called on the international community to collectively root out the 'murderous ideology' without seeking any justification for terrorism.
India has once again topped the Athletics Integrity Unit's global list of dope offenders with 162 names, highlighting a significant doping problem in the country's sporting landscape. This led to the Athletics Federation of India being re-categorised to 'Category A' due to high doping risk, requiring more stringent testing.
Rajasthan-born cricketer Jai Moondra, who recently starred in Ireland's T20 series win against India, has been drafted by Rotterdam Dockers in the inaugural European T20 Player League (ETPL) Draft. The draft saw six franchises select 36 players from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, with Moondra being a key acquisition for the Dockers.
The ICC board has formed a committee to assess the impact of the growing franchise cricket leagues on the international cricket calendar, aiming to strike a balance and prevent disruption.
IIT Madras, in partnership with Herbalife International India, has inaugurated India's first Centre of Excellence for plant cell fermentation technology. This new facility aims to be a national hub for sustainable innovation, research, and development, focusing on producing herbal biomass, enriched extracts, and high-value phytochemicals, while bridging the gap between lab research and industrial applications.
India and Bangladesh are seemingly moving closer to resuming bilateral cricket ties, with a six-match white-ball series in September now appearing likely after a gap of nearly a year in scheduled meetings between the two sides.
After yet another failure for Sanju Samson -- his third in a row -- 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could make his India debut in the second T20I against England on Saturday.
Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.
India continues to lead the Athletics Integrity Unit's (AIU) global list of dope offenders with 162 names, highlighting a significant problem in the country's sports. The nation has been re-categorised to 'Category A' by the AIU, indicating an "extremely high" doping risk and requiring more stringent anti-doping measures.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old cricket prodigy, joined the senior Indian team for the first T20I against Ireland but did not make his debut.
Despite international crude oil prices falling to a four-month low, retail petrol and diesel prices in India are unlikely to be cut immediately because state-run refiners are still processing costlier crude purchased during the peak of the West Asia crisis, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
India has strongly condemned Pakistan's recent air strikes on Afghan territory, which resulted in civilian casualties. The Ministry of External Affairs labelled the strikes a "blatant act of aggression" and a "direct threat" to regional peace, reiterating India's support for Afghanistan's sovereignty.
India's two-Test series against hosts Sri Lanka will be played in Galle and Colombo from August 15 to 27.
India has significantly reduced Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for international airlines by 27% due to easing global fuel benchmarks, while simultaneously increasing commercial LPG and 5-kg cylinder prices to record highs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast, highlighted India's recent achievements in self-reliance, including the maiden flight of the made-in-India C-295 aircraft and the induction of indigenous naval ships. He also lauded the global participation in International Yoga Day and India's success at the World Yoga Asana Championship, alongside Nalanda University's revival of the 'Shastrarth' tradition.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced its World Tour Calendar for 2027 and 2028, featuring a 35-tournament global circuit. The India Open Super 750 will see its dates shifted to February 2027 and January 2028, while the Syed Modi India International has been downgraded to a Super 100 event. The new calendar also introduces a 3x15 scoring system and extended competition windows to enhance player welfare and global reach.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced its World Tour Calendar for 2027 and 2028, featuring a 35-tournament global circuit. The India Open Super 750 will see its dates shifted to February 2027 and January 2028, while the Syed Modi India International has been downgraded to a Super 100 event. The new calendar also introduces a 3x15 scoring system and extended competition windows to enhance player welfare and global reach.
