Organisers of the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya and the Aichi region are seeking to reduce the number of participants after registrations for athletes and officials significantly exceeded the projected 15,000, raising concerns about accommodation capacity.
The OCA has asked India and other national Olympic bodies not to seek late additions to their Asian Games contingents as Japan struggles to accommodate more than 15,000 participants.
Chhattisgarh is rapidly emerging as a significant sports destination in India, driven by state government initiatives to host major events and develop infrastructure. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai highlighted the state's commitment to sports, exemplified by the DP World PGTI Nava Raipur Open 2026 golf championship, inaugurated with cricket legend Kapil Dev. These efforts aim to foster talent, promote sports tourism, and transform the state's image, including positive changes in regions like Bastar.
Pakistan is set to participate in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirming the union government's policy allows multi-lateral engagements despite bilateral tensions. The tournament, featuring six nations including India and Pakistan, will be held from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali, with free entry for all matches.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has confirmed Pakistan's participation in the upcoming Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India. The event, scheduled from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali, will feature six nations, with India hosting its arch-rivals under the central government's policy allowing multi-lateral sports engagements.
Suraj Meena, a non-Ladakhi runner, achieved a significant feat by finishing second in the 122km Silk Route Ultra Ladakh Marathon, clocking 12 hours and 35 minutes. He highlighted the extreme difficulty of high-altitude running for outsiders and shared his unique training and travel methods, including cycling to the event.
Lalremsiami Hmarzote, Mizoram's first female Olympian and Asian Games medallist, is now India's offensive lynchpin, aiming for a first Asian Games hockey gold since 1982, after overcoming initial family resistance and training on dirt pitches.
India is set to face South Korea in the second round of the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers in Seoul, aiming to secure a spot in the Final 8 for the first time under the current format. The team, featuring top players like Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri, seeks to end a long wait for a maiden title, building on the legacy of Indian tennis legends.
Veteran Indian shuttler HS Prannoy, along with compatriots Sanskar Saraswat, Tanvi Sharma, Malvika Bansod, Isharani Baruah, Mansi Singh, Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, and the mixed doubles pair of Vimalraj Annadurai and Shreya Balaji, have all advanced to the quarterfinals of the Vietnam Open Super 100 badminton tournament. Notable wins include Prannoy's three-game victory and Tanvi Sharma setting up an all-Indian clash with Malvika Bansod.
Chhote Lal Yadav, the recipient of the prestigious Dronacharya Award, has been instrumental in extending the career of boxing legend MC Mary Kom and transforming Jaismine Lamboria into a world champion, attributing his success to a personalised coaching philosophy.
India's Women's Hockey team will compete against higher-ranked Germany in the fifth-place playoff at the Women's Hockey World Cup, aiming to conclude their impressive campaign with a victory and build momentum for the upcoming Asian Games.
Kerala's Ancy Sojan clinched the women's long jump title at the Indian Athletics Series Final, expressing strong confidence for the upcoming Asian Games where she aims to win gold and experience the national anthem on the podium.
Pakistan is set to host the 14th South Asian Games in April next year across Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar, after a six-year delay. While the South Asia Olympic Council has approved the dates and venues, India's participation remains uncertain due to political tensions, despite its representative attending the planning meeting.
Alexander Zverev's recent US Open victory is a testament to his family's unwavering support, particularly his mother Irina, who ensured his type 1 diabetes never hindered his tennis ambitions, transforming him from a 'nearly man' to a two-time major champion.
Indian women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne discusses the team's preparations and strategy for the upcoming Asian Games. He highlights the different challenge posed by lower-ranked opponents compared to the World Cup, emphasising the need for effective scoring and maintaining focus. Marijne also stresses using the World Cup disappointment as motivation for gold and the importance of humility and unity within the team.
The Sports Ministry has approved a 492-member Indian contingent, comprising 265 male and 227 female athletes, for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Athletics forms the largest group with 73 participants, including star athletes like Neeraj Chopra and Jyothi Yarraji. Other prominent sports like shooting, weightlifting, badminton, boxing, and wrestling also feature strong teams, with some adjustments made due to doping violations.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that Pakistan will participate in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, scheduled from October 27 to November 5. This participation aligns with the Indian government's policy allowing multi-lateral sporting engagements with Pakistan, despite a ban on bilateral series. The tournament will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali, featuring six nations including India and Pakistan, with a highly anticipated India-Pakistan match on November 1.
Japanese ice-skating champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as 'Riku-Ryu', have announced their engagement, becoming partners off as well as on the ice after winning Olympic gold.
Tero Entertainment Public Co. Ltd. has launched Quest India 2026, marking the official introduction of 3x3 basketball to the country. This fast-paced, urban Olympic sport, backed by BFI and FIBA, will feature its inaugural event in September 2026, blending elite competition with street culture.
Legendary athlete Anju Bobby George believes it's just a matter of time before Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra delivers for the country at the big stage -- the Asian Games and 2028 Los Angles Olympic Games.
For Ukrainian shuttlers Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr, competing at the ongoing World Championships in New Delhi is a way to showcase the resilience of a country battling the invasion by Russia.
India's Sports Ministry has announced the formation of a 20-member National Sports Election Panel (NSEP), including two former Chief Election Commissioners, to oversee fair elections in national sports bodies. This panel, mandated by the National Sports Governance Act 2025, aims to streamline electoral processes. Additionally, the deadline for applications to the National Sports Tribunal (NST), which will handle sports disputes, has been extended.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Akbar attributes his country's hockey decline to the absence of a robust domestic structure, contrasting it with India's strategic investment in grassroots and domestic ecosystems after failing to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. He highlights India's subsequent success and calls for similar foundational changes in Pakistan.
India may have a vast coastline and a strategic location, but it will become a true maritime nation only when its people understand, value and actively participate in the maritime ecosystem, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
Indian shooter Esha Singh credits her mental fortitude, developed after the Paris Olympics, for her recent success, including a world-record gold at the ISSF World Cup in Munich.
Indian kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary has been stripped of his silver medal from the Asian Beach Games after testing positive for a prohibited diuretic. The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed the anti-doping rule violation, which Choudhary has accepted.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a commendable fifth-place finish at the FIH World Cup by defeating Germany 3-1 in a classification match, with Navneet Kaur scoring two goals.
Indian hockey fans, including a significant diaspora presence and supporters from abroad, created a vibrant, festive atmosphere in Amstelveen for the World Cup opener against Wales on Independence Day, driven by increased expectations following recent Olympic successes.
Former Asian Games gold-winning heptathlete Swapna Barman has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) after testing positive for the banned anabolic-androgenic steroid Boldenone. Barman, who recently announced her retirement, won gold at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and represented India in the 2016 Olympics.
Double Olympic pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis has released "Gold," the official anthem for World Athletics' inaugural Ultimate Championship. The track, written and performed by Duplantis, is now available on major streaming platforms and will be the signature soundtrack for the event in Budapest, featuring top athletes competing for a $10 million prize fund.
Tejaswin Shankar, a two-time Commonwealth Games medalist, is targeting an Asian Games decathlon gold with a personal best, while building towards Olympic-level performances and longevity.
Legendary Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh expressed strong frustration over India's poor performance at the FIH World Cup, criticising the team's 'underwhelming showing' and demanding accountability. He questioned the 'learning experience' narrative and highlighted issues in both men's and women's team management, urging a focus on winning rather than just playing good hockey.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said Yogasana would be pushed for inclusion in the future Olympic Games roster keeping in mind India's bid to host the 2036 Games.
Indian tennis icon Leander Paes is poised to contest the presidency of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), backed by the Bengal Tennis Association. This sets up a potential three-way battle against current Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal and interim president Chintan Parikh, pending Paes's success in the Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election.
Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has called for a complete 60-minute performance from his squad in their "do-or-die" FIH World Cup match against Olympic champions Netherlands. Both Harmanpreet and coach Craig Fulton believe India can upset the hosts by playing smartly, maintaining impeccable defense, and capitalising on their underdog status.
The Sports Ministry is set to commence the nomination process for the National Sports Awards next month, following a delayed announcement of the 2025 awards. The delay was due to a re-evaluation process aimed at preserving the integrity of the honours, which resulted in no Khel Ratna awardee for 2025 and fewer Arjuna awardees than recommended. The article also details the criteria for these prestigious awards and highlights some of the notable Arjuna awardees for 2025.
The Indian athletics team for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan has undergone significant changes, with Commonwealth Games medallist Yashvir Singh replacing an injured Neeraj Chopra.
Indian javelin ace Neeraj Chopra is set to renew his rivalry with Sri Lankan star Rumesh Pathirage at the Lausanne Diamond League, with both athletes vying for a spot in the prestigious DL grand finale in Brussels.
A Chinese humanoid robot, Tiangong Ultra, achieved a remarkable feat by running the 100 metres in 8.64 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's human world record. This achievement occurred at the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, showcasing significant advancements in robot mobility and embodied artificial intelligence. The event highlighted the rapid progress in robotics, with spectators noting improved capabilities and developers seeing it as a crucial test bed for future applications.
Wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary has alleged physical and mental harassment by the national federation after being dropped from the Asian Games squad on medical grounds. Choudhary claims she was replaced despite doctor's clearance, while the Wushu Association of India maintains she had an ACL tear. The athlete, who defeated her replacement in trials, expressed distress and even threatened self-harm in a video.
