News for 'Sportspersons of Merit'

National Sports Governance Act Rolled Out

National Sports Governance Act Rolled Out

Rediff.com12 Jan 2026

Sports Governance Act: Tier System for Athletes, Convicted Ineligible

National Sports Governance Bill becomes an Act

National Sports Governance Bill becomes an Act

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

The National Sports Governance Bill has become an Act after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the landmark legislation that promises to revamp India's sports administration.

Will New Sports Bill Be A Game Changer?

Will New Sports Bill Be A Game Changer?

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

Salient features of the National Sports Governance Bill that promise to overhaul several aspects of sports governance and the grievance redressal system for athletes and administrators alike in the country.

'Longstanding demand met,' Patel on Sports Bill

'Longstanding demand met,' Patel on Sports Bill

Rediff.com13 Aug 2025

Patel emphasised that one of the most important features of the bill is the establishment of a dedicated tribunal for resolving disputes, reducing the burden on the judiciary and ensuring quicker justice.

SC grants relief to shuttler Lakshya Sen in forgery case

SC grants relief to shuttler Lakshya Sen in forgery case

Rediff.com28 Jul 2025

The FIR, filed in December 2022 by M G Nagaraja, alleged that the 24-year-old Paris Olympian, along with his brother Chirag Sen, had fudged their age to get into playing age-group tournaments since 2010.

New Sports Bill: Many Positives, Some Concerns!

New Sports Bill: Many Positives, Some Concerns!

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

As the National Sports Governance Bill is set to become a law, the country's national federations and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P T Usha on Tuesday welcomed the landmark policy, calling it a step in the right direction as India gears up to bid for the 2036 Olympics.

'Olympians won't fill forms anymore'

'Olympians won't fill forms anymore'

Rediff.com24 Apr 2025

India's Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the Digilocker facility for athletes, making it mandatory for national federations to digitise certificates and other essential documents of sportspersons within the next year. The initiative, launched in the presence of representatives from 40 National Sports Federations, aims to ensure hassle-free record-keeping and prevent exploitation of athletes. The cloud-based platform, developed by Digital India Corporation (DIC), allows for storage and verification of documents. The ministry has also announced that physical certificates will no longer be considered valid after one year.

Sports Ministry's directives make IOA uneasy

Sports Ministry's directives make IOA uneasy

Rediff.com20 May 2025

The ministry said the Games Technical Conduct Committee, list of disciplines in the National Games, and eligibility criteria for participants should be communicated to it at least six months prior to the showpiece.

Rishabh Pant nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards

Rishabh Pant nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards

Rediff.com3 Mar 2025

Rishabh Pant has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.

Say goodbye to paper certificates, athletes go digital

Say goodbye to paper certificates, athletes go digital

Rediff.com29 Feb 2024

Athletes in country to be issued digital certificates, says Anurag Thakur

VOTE! India's best sportsperson in 2018

VOTE! India's best sportsperson in 2018

Rediff.com1 Jan 2019

Virat Kohli? M C Mary Kom? Neeraj Chopra?

No role in selection of athletes for Asian Games: Sports ministry

No role in selection of athletes for Asian Games: Sports ministry

Rediff.com25 Jul 2023

Responding to a petition filed by three boxers over their non-selection for the upcoming Asian Games, the Union Sports Ministry on Monday told the Punjab and Haryana High Court it has no role in the selection of athletes.

Vote: India's Sportsperson of 2015

Vote: India's Sportsperson of 2015

Rediff.com27 Dec 2015

Leander Paes... Sania Mirza... Pankaj Advani.. Saina Nehwal... Ravichandran Ashwin... Anirban Lahiri... Vijender Singh... Who is India's Sportsperson of 2015?

P T Usha to run for IOA president's post

P T Usha to run for IOA president's post

Rediff.com26 Nov 2022

The deadline to file nomination papers for the IOA elections ends on Sunday. According to IOA elections returning officer Umesh Sinha no nomination has been filed for any post so far since the process began on Friday.

Wrestlers protesting on streets tarnishing India's image: IOA chief P T Usha

Wrestlers protesting on streets tarnishing India's image: IOA chief P T Usha

Rediff.com27 Apr 2023

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P T Usha on Thursday said the grapplers protesting on the streets amounts to indiscipline and is tarnishing the country's image.

Stop all payments to all NSFs: Delhi HC

Stop all payments to all NSFs: Delhi HC

Rediff.com3 Jun 2022

'No money will go henceforth to any entity which does not comply with the Sports Code'

VOTE! The best Indian sportsperson of 2016

VOTE! The best Indian sportsperson of 2016

Rediff.com30 Dec 2016

As the year 2016 draws to a close, vote for the best Indian sportsperson of the year.

P T Usha to take over as first woman IOA president

P T Usha to take over as first woman IOA president

Rediff.com9 Dec 2022

The legendary PT Usha will be officially elected as the first woman president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) during the governing body's polls on Saturday, ushering in a new era in country's sports administration.

Historic! PT Usha set to get elected as IOA chief

Historic! PT Usha set to get elected as IOA chief

Rediff.com27 Nov 2022

PT Usha set to get elected as IOA chief, first woman occupant of top job

'Great pity that athletes lobby to receive awards'

'Great pity that athletes lobby to receive awards'

Rediff.com6 Jan 2015

Taking a jibe at pugilist Vijender Singh and badminton ace Saina Nehwal after the duo advertised their names for the Padma Bhushan, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said it's a great pity that the Indian athletes feel they have to lobby and threaten to receive awards.

HC seeks Centre's stand on plea by Manika Batra against TTFI

HC seeks Centre's stand on plea by Manika Batra against TTFI

Rediff.com20 Sep 2021

The Delhi High Court Monday sought the Centre's stand on a petition by Manika Batra, who was left out of the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Table Tennis Championships, assailing Table Tennis Federation of India's (TTFI) mandate of compulsory attendance at the National Coaching Camp in order to be selected.

What more should I do? Advani after Padma Bhushan snub

What more should I do? Advani after Padma Bhushan snub

Rediff.com26 Jan 2017

Hurt at missing out on Padma Bhushan award for the second year in a row, 16-time world champion cueist Pankaj Advani says he does not know what he needs to do more to receive the coveted civilian honour.

Controversy brews for this Olympic medallist once again

Controversy brews for this Olympic medallist once again

Rediff.com18 Nov 2017

Sushil Kumar on Saturday brushed aside the hat-tricks of walkovers en-route his gold at National Wrestling championship, stating that the situation was beyond his control.

Gambhir slams Salman's appointment as India's brand ambassador for Olympics

Gambhir slams Salman's appointment as India's brand ambassador for Olympics

Rediff.com26 Apr 2016

Former India batsman and Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir slammed the appointment of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as the 'goodwill ambassador' for the Indian contingent for the Rio Olympic Games scheduled to be held in August. "Look I believe in that as well, especially if there are no shortage of real sportsmen in this country and people have done some massive things in this country. I am for the country as well, I am for Olympic sports. I would have been more happy if someone like Abhinav Bindra or someone (sportsperson) had been made the brand ambassador," Gambhir said in Mumbai on Monday, at the launch of Sansui's new Curve 4K Ultra HD LED TV series.

3-member committee to probe Batra's match-fixing claim

3-member committee to probe Batra's match-fixing claim

Rediff.com17 Nov 2021

Justice Rekha Palli, who was hearing Batra's petition alleging that the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) was carrying out its selection processes in a non-transparent manner and targeting certain individuals such as herself, said that based on the committee's report, she would consider the issue of appointing an administrator to run the national sports body.

Tendulkar's wand is his willow, not his quill...

Tendulkar's wand is his willow, not his quill...

Rediff.com9 Nov 2014

At best, an autobiography by a megastar like Sachin Tendulkar tends to be insipid, recounting situations or experiences that have already been documented and shared ... For a person his image and unsurpassable popularity, there was virtually no upside.

Salman as India's Rio Olympics ambassador: Right or wrong?

Salman as India's Rio Olympics ambassador: Right or wrong?

Rediff.com25 Apr 2016

Do you think the IOA has done the right thing in apponting Salman as the brand ambassador which they clam is to the motivate the athletes and also increase awareness of Olympic sports in the country? Or do you think the appointment is just a gimmick?

Super-achievers Bumrah, Harmanpreet, Sidhu in Forbes 30 Under 30 list

Super-achievers Bumrah, Harmanpreet, Sidhu in Forbes 30 Under 30 list

Rediff.com5 Feb 2018

Team India's Jasprit Bumrah, India women's cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur and shooter Heena Sindhu have exceeded expectations to make the cut.

Hockey players demand Bharat Ratna for Balbir Singh Sr

Hockey players demand Bharat Ratna for Balbir Singh Sr

Rediff.com26 May 2020

'I feel both deserve to be honoured with Bharat Ratna. Why not? They are our national heroes who have been inspiring a generation of sportspersons and will continue to do so'

Why Did BCCI Mess With Kohli?

Why Did BCCI Mess With Kohli?

Rediff.com30 Dec 2021

Now we do not know if the Board bugs the dressing room or employs Pegasus in players' phones. But nothing stopped them from speaking with Kohli, points out Shekhar Gupta.

Arjuna award: 'Myneni no less deserving than Bopanna'

Arjuna award: 'Myneni no less deserving than Bopanna'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2017

Union Sports Secretary Injeti Srinivas on Saturday made it clear that Saketh Myneni is "no less deserving" than Rohan Bopanna for the prestigious Arjuna award despite questions being raised about his merit.

Sushil's Phoenix-like rise exposes Indian wrestling's sorry tale in 2017

Sushil's Phoenix-like rise exposes Indian wrestling's sorry tale in 2017

Rediff.com26 Dec 2017

The 34-year-old two-time Olympic medallist proved that class is permanent, and that the youngsters still have a long way to go, at least in his weight category -- the men's 74kg freestyle.

As ban ends... Sarita says she's now 'a better, thinking boxer'

As ban ends... Sarita says she's now 'a better, thinking boxer'

Rediff.com30 Sep 2015

As the one-year ban for the tearful outburst at the Asian Games ends on Thursday, former World champion Laishram Sarita Devi says the forced sabbatical proved a blessing in disguise and helped her become a thinking boxer and calmer person.

Soorma: The magic and miracle of Sandeep Singh

Soorma: The magic and miracle of Sandeep Singh

Rediff.com21 Mar 2018

He was blessed with celestial ability, a once-in-a-generation player destined to pull India out of its hockey inertia and lay down for it a new, exciting, path of greatness. Then he was shot and unsure if he would walk, let alone play hockey again. Dhruv Munjal hopes Soorma, the biopic on Sandeep Singh's life, will bring him back where he belongs -- in the spotlight.

Punjab polls: AAP promises 25 lakh jobs, free Wi-Fi hotspots in villages

Punjab polls: AAP promises 25 lakh jobs, free Wi-Fi hotspots in villages

Rediff.com4 Jul 2016

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal unveiled the party's manifesto for the youth. The party, which is aiming to capture power in the state, will come out with separate manifestos for different sections of society.

Sania, Saina super show dominates 2015

Sania, Saina super show dominates 2015

Rediff.com28 Dec 2015

Away from the cricket field, it was a year in which Sania Mirza was unarguably the biggest success story with her staggering 10 titles on the Tour -- two of them Grand Slams.

10 Indian sports stars who left a mark on 2015

10 Indian sports stars who left a mark on 2015

Rediff.com29 Dec 2015

What a year Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, Saina Nehwal, Vijender Singh and Anirban Lahiri had!