The International Cricket Council (ICC) is actively pursuing a strategy to expand cricket in China, leveraging the sport's recent inclusion in the Olympics. Plans include establishing a Centre of Excellence, supporting a Tier 2 event, and promoting women's cricket, with significant investment and collaboration with the Chinese Cricket Association to embed the sport deeper into the country's sporting system.
India achieved a remarkable six-gold haul on the penultimate day of the Asian Games, surging to fifth place with 76 medals. Key victories included the women's hockey team securing gold and Olympic qualification, historic boxing golds from Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal, a wrestling gold by Sujeet Kalkal, and maiden recurve archery gold. This strong finish significantly bolstered India's overall campaign.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad, emphasising the role of traditional sports in reflecting cultural identity and fostering international cooperation. The one-day event, hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, brought together delegations from BRICS and partner countries to showcase indigenous sporting practices like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India, alongside Wushu from China and Sambo from Russia. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also highlighted India's rich sporting heritage and proposed initiatives for global promotion and preservation of traditional sports.
Lovlina Borgohain has secured India's first women's boxing gold at the Asian Games in 12 years, defeating China's Ziyi Bao in the 75kg final.
The National Jute Board has developed a jute-viscose blended apparel for Indian athletes participating in the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, marking the first time jute-based attire will be featured at an international multi-sport event, promoting sustainable textiles and India's jute industry.
Indian hockey stars Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh shared their thoughts on the recent Asian Games gold medal win, which also secured their qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics. They discussed their dietary plans, coach Craig Fulton's positive influence, and the team's belief in their attacking prowess.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam to discuss strengthening cooperation, developing aquatic sports in India, and exploring India's readiness to host Asian-level championships. India is also targeting to host the 2038 Asian Games and 2036 Olympics.
Suresh Raina said Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the national squad the reward of hard work, discipline and consistent performances in domestic cricket.
Defending champions India are set to face lower-ranked Sri Lanka in their second Pool A match of the Asian Games men's hockey competition.
India added significantly to its Asian Games medal tally with strong performances across athletics, squash, and boxing. Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare secured silver medals in long jump and high jump respectively, while Parul Chaudhary and Harita Bhadra earned bronzes. Despite high hopes, Indian squash players missed out on Olympic berths, settling for silvers. Boxing saw three athletes advance to semifinals, assuring more medals, though individual badminton campaigns concluded without a medal.
Yashvir threw the javelin to a distance of 85.72 m, his personal best.
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal at the Asian Games, completing her medal hunt across major tournaments. She attributes this success to intense training, a strong focus on injury prevention, and rehabilitation, especially after narrowly missing a medal at the Paris Olympics. Chanu is now preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, planning to change her weight category and improve her snatch technique.
Cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a strategic move by Olympic leaders to tap into India's massive fan base and commercial power, aiming to attract billions of new viewers and strengthen the Games' appeal in key markets.
Jantar Mantar, a historic protest site in New Delhi, is facing de-notification by Delhi Police, raising concerns about its future as a space for public dissent. The site has been central to numerous significant movements, from Anna Hazare's anti-corruption fast and the Nirbhaya protests to recent agitations over NEET paper leaks and wrestlers' grievances. Its proximity to power centres made it a crucial platform for citizens to voice concerns and demand accountability, a role now threatened by its potential loss of status.
If India's medal tally ultimately falls significantly short of Hangzhou, the conversation should not stop with the athletes or coaches. It should extend to a much more uncomfortable institutional question: After years of increased investment, programmes, infrastructure and policy attention, where exactly is the system failing to convert that investment into medals, champions and depth across sports? asks Jaydeep Ray.
India's women's hockey team is set to face defending champions China in the Asian Games final, aiming to secure their first gold medal in 44 years and a direct qualification for the LA Olympics. The team, buoyed by recent successes like the FIH Nations Cup win and a strong World Cup performance, is confident but acknowledges China's strength. Both teams had unbeaten runs to the final, setting up a high-stakes clash.
Indian quarter-miler MR Poovamma, 36, secured her third Asian Games 4x400m relay gold, marking a triumphant return after a two-year doping ban. She expressed immense satisfaction in proving her critics wrong and credited her family and husband for their unwavering support during her challenging comeback journey.
Harmanjot Singh and Lili Das will lead a 42-strong Indian elite field at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on October 18. Singh, a strong contender with the fastest personal best in the Indian elite field, will make his debut. Lili Das, a former champion, will lead the women's charge alongside Kavita Yadav, facing competition from Ankita Dhyani. The event offers significant prize money and incentives for new Indian Elite records.
Following the Indian men's hockey team's historic Asian Games gold and direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Head Coach Craig Fulton revealed plans to 'build a new team afresh' after the Hockey India League, emphasising the need for meticulous planning for the upcoming Games.
Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker shared her emotional experience as India's flag-bearer at the Asian Games opening ceremony, deeply missing her late coach Jaspal Rana. Rana, who passed away recently, was instrumental in her career and had a unique philosophy about attending opening ceremonies, making Bhaker's flag-bearing role particularly poignant.
India's Special Olympics Bharat football team is heading to Sweden to compete in the Gothia Cup 2026, aiming for their third consecutive title in the Special Olympics Trophy. The team, comprising players with intellectual disabilities, received a send-off from Sweden's ambassador, highlighting their role as national ambassadors. Their coach detailed the unique training methods involving actions and sign language.
India's para shot putter Soman Rana won the gold gold medal in the men's F57 event para shot put event at the Commonwealth Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has officially approved the qualification system for cricket at the LA Olympic 2028, marking the sport's return after 128 years. The event will feature men's and women's T20 competitions with six teams each.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony featuring a dazzling light and musical show, celebrating Japan's culture and hospitality. The event saw over 350 records broken, including 50 world records, and marked the official handover to Doha for the 2030 Games. India finished fourth in the medal tally with 85 medals.
Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting has won a gold medal in the women's 60kg boxing category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, two years after facing a gender-eligibility dispute at the Paris Olympics. Lin was cleared to compete earlier this year and defeated China's Yang Chengyu. The article also highlights India's Lovlina Borgohain winning gold in the 75kg category.
Indian shooter Esha Singh, who won a silver medal at the Asian Games in the women's 25m pistol event, shared her experience of the "nerve-racking" five shoot-offs in the final. She expressed no regret over missing gold, attributing her performance to years of experience and crediting her extensive support system. Singh is now focused on upcoming World Championships and Olympic quota events.
Indian men's hockey coach Craig Fulton revealed that the tough semifinal victory against Pakistan was crucial in preparing the team for their dominant 5-1 win over Malaysia in the Asian Games final. This victory secured India's gold medal and a direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics. Senior player Hardik Singh also expressed relief and pride in the team's performance after a disappointing World Cup.
Vithya Ramraj broke PT Usha's 42-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles at the Asian Games on Monday, prompting a gracious message from the Indian track legend.
Indian wrestler Aman Sehrawat won the men's 57kg gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating North Korea's world champion Chong Song Han in the final.
India-Pakistan clashes in cricket and hockey drew big audiences at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, helping fuel stronger viewership and a 20% revenue rise.
Vithya Ramraj, after breaking PT Usha's 400m hurdles record, anchored the Indian women's 4x400m relay team to a gold medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya. This marked her third medal of the Games, with strong performances from Kiran Pahal, M R Poovamma, and Prachi.
Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal in the women's 49kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, completing her collection of major international medals. Her chief coach, Vijay Sharma, revealed that a meticulously designed training programme focused on injury prevention was crucial to her success, especially after previous Asian Games disappointments due to injury. Chanu lifted a combined 198kg, adding this prestigious medal to her Olympic silver, Commonwealth Games golds, and World Championships title.
India's first-ever Mixed Martial Arts medallist, Suchika Tariyal, has alleged that "weird weight rules" at the Asian Games robbed her of a deserving gold medal. She claims she was clearly winning her semifinal bout but the outcome was declared a draw, leading to her bronze medal instead of a potential gold.
The Indian women's recurve archery team secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating 10-time Olympic champions South Korea. The team, comprising Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma, and Kumkum Mohod, displayed exceptional nerve in challenging conditions.
India's shooters Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai clinched the gold medal in the trap mixed team event at the Asian Games on Wednesday.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Tayyab Ikram has commended India's professional approach to hockey, urging other Asian nations to adopt similar strategies to improve their global standing. He highlighted India's journey from past Olympic glory to recent bronze medals, positioning it as a model for development in the sport.
The Indian women's cricket team has secured a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games as the top-ranked Asian team in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The men's team will need to be the continental leaders in world rankings by the end of 2026 to qualify directly. Cricket is making its return to the Olympics after a century, featuring six teams in both men's and women's competitions, with qualification criteria unveiled by the ICC.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the qualification criteria for cricket's return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028. The Indian men's team needs to be Asia's highest-ranked in T20Is by end of 2026, while women's teams will qualify based on continental performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a dominant 17-1 victory over Indonesia in their second Pool B match at the Asian Games.
The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
