Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, and nearly 170 towns in Gujarat were declared Open Defection Free on the birth anniversary of the 'Father of the Nation'.
Outgoing president Sepp Blatter hit back at Chung Mong-joon, one of the candidates to replace him, for labelling FIFA a 'corrupt organisation' on Monday and said the South Korean's remarks were 'disturbing'.
India may scrap their tour of West Indies in 2016 after the Caribbean team's abrupt pullout on Friday, said an angry Indian cricket board (BCCI) which is also considering legal actions and seeking intervention of the game's world governing body.
The BCCI said that forming a working group is aimed at finding the procedures to implement the order and should not be seen as a delaying tactic.
Expressing disappointment with government's response to their demand, students of the FTII decided to continue their strike which entered the 24th day today till TV actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as its chairman is cancelled.
Russian swimmers Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev have launched an appeal against the ruling banning them from next month's Rio Olympic Games even though they have never failed a doping test.
'The casting of a popular hero Ranveer as Bhansali's Khilji sends out an erroneous and contradictory missive to the lay public; a message that tends to equate a leading light with a notorious and treacherous player of medieval history,' notes Vivek Gumaste.
Madhuri praised him in Sinhalese, saying, 'Gondhak hundai (Very good)', which instantly made Sanath smile.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Qatar said on Wednesday there was no way it would be stripped of the right to host the World Cup despite the corruption scandal surrounding FIFA, dismissing a 'bashing campaign' of criticism of its 2022 bid as anti-Arab prejudice.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
The Swiss lawyer heading up a committee charged with reforming the structure and management of world soccer body FIFA says major changes to the organization's voting structure and imposing term limits on executive committee members will be difficult to achieve in the short term.
An FTII students' body representative said they will not sacrifice academics anymore for a government that is "deaf and a bully".
Harvard, age and experience have changed Ekta Kapoor in ways that will stand her in good stead as she attempts the biggest transformation Balaji Telefilms has seen.
Defending Nagal, who has been dropped from the team for the upcoming New Zealand tie due to serious breach of discipline, and criticising AITA for publicly humiliating the player, Devvarman wrote in an open letter in the Indian Express that AITA could have dealt with the player privately.
A much-changed Real Madrid ground out a 2-0 victory at third-tier Fuenlabrada in their King's Cup last-32 first leg on Thursday, needing two dubious penalties to break down their stubborn hosts as both sides finished with 10 men.
'SC and ST entrepreneurs are showing promise in starting and running businesses'.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
China's Li Na, Asia's only grand slam singles champion, announced her retirement from tennis on Friday, citing the effect of long-term injuries, especially her knees.
On his first official visit to a member country after assuming office in August, world athletics chief Sebastian Coe urged India to promote track and field at the school level if it wants to excel on the international stage.
The International Cricket Council announced on Wednesday that teams will be allowed two additional reviews after 80 overs in an innings in Test matches where the Decision Review System is used from October 1.
At least 27 people were reported dead on Friday after Malian commandos stormed the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako with at least 170 people inside, many of them foreigners, that had been seized by Islamist gunmen.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday.
BCCI President Anurag Thakur on Sunday made it clear that unlike his predecessor Shashank Manohar, he is not "interested" in any ICC post and his sole focus at present is to protect the rights of Indian cricket. Hinting at Manohar, Thakur said, "One who had to go to ICC have already gone long back. I have no interest and I am happy here with BCCI and nothing is more important for me than India. We have to protect the rights of India. If you don't think about India then it will be difficult to think about any other country. "Today there is India, so world cricket is growing," Thakur said.
Yet another round of talks on Tuesday failed to end the standoff between the government and FTII students over the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as its Chairman, with the students alleging "unwillingness or inability" of the authorities to act upon their core concerns.
India must change approach and have better access to networks to fulfil its digitisation dream.
Nike Inc and some other big international companies face a grilling over their powerful role in Brazilian soccer.
The Delhi high court has told the Delhi and District Cricket Association it "cannot control" what the International Cricket Council is saying over the issue of lack of completion certificate for the old clubhouse of the Ferozshah Kotla ground, which could lead to shifting of the World T20 semi-final from Delhi.
The United States Soccer Federation said in a statement on the new charges that its hosting of the 2016 Copa America Centenario tournament would go ahead as planned.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention for repealing the measure. He said the Centre's decision amounts to an "intrusion" to the rights of the states in the country's federal structure.
Dave complained of uneasiness at his home on Thursday morning and was rushed to AIIMS.
Ponting shrugged off Australia's injury worries and the idea of there being risk in rushing Smith and Warner into the team.
'The government says it is trying to improve the institute, but its latest appointments say otherwise.'
Indian cricket, it seems, pays overwhelming obeisance to a vapid, old adage: The more it changes, the more it remains the same.
Modi also invited suggestions from the people for inclusion in his Independence Day speech.
Crisis-hit world football governing body FIFA faces one of the most important days in its 112-year history when it elects a new leader on Friday hoping to usher in a fresh era after decades of tawdry controversy.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Friday its Independent Commission will urgently launch an investigation into widespread doping allegations against international athletics.
