India's Minerva Academy FC has been crowned the World Youth Cup 2026 Champions, defeating Brazil's RS Sports 2-1 in the Under-12 final in Gothenburg, Sweden, marking their third youth world title and becoming the first Indian academy to achieve this feat.
India's U-19 boys' table tennis team defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in the Asian Youth Championships quarterfinals, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal and a direct qualification for the 2027 World Youth Table Tennis Championships. The team will now face top seeds China in the semifinals. In contrast, the Indian U-19 girls' team lost to Hong Kong and will need to qualify through a separate process, while the U-15 teams also faced defeats in their respective quarterfinal matches.
Weightlifter Priteesmita Bhoi broke the world youth record in clean & jerk on way to clinching gold in the girls' 44kg category at the Youth Asian Games in Manama, Bahrain, on Sunday.
India has strongly rejected a report by a UN human rights expert, Gina Romero, which claimed that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice. India's First Secretary Anuj Swarup labelled the report as "hearsay" based on "anonymous and unverified claims," asserting that it does a disservice to the expert's mandate. Swarup highlighted India's constitutional freedoms, independent judiciary, and government's proactive engagement with youth, citing examples like the amendment to the Public Examinations Act and the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
Union minister Chirag Paswan criticised the Opposition for playing politics with protests against the Election Commission, particularly regarding the Cockroach Janata Party's planned demonstrations and the resulting train cancellations. He asserted that such disruptions cannot deter India's youth and urged the Opposition to seek solutions rather than merely protesting.
India U-15 head coach Bibiano Fernandes shares his philosophy for the upcoming FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan. He emphasises developing a strong footballing foundation, tactical flexibility, and good character among his young players, as they prepare to face teams like Laos, Bahrain, and Senegal starting October 24.
India has strongly asserted that human rights should not be weaponised for political pressure or selective targeting of nations, pushing back against attempts to negatively characterise the world's largest democracy based on unverified allegations and incomplete statistics.
Indian bridge players Sagnik Roy and Sayantan Kushari secured a gold medal in the Under-31 Pairs category at the 9th World Youth Transnational Championships held in Hefei, China, outperforming 34 other pairs.
MY Bharat, the flagship youth engagement platform of the Department of Youth Affairs, has been awarded a Guinness World Record for the 'Most Users to Take an Online Quiz in One Week' through its Viksit Bharat Young Leaders' Dialogue Quiz, engaging over 390,000 participants.
Minerva Academy FC, a Punjab-based football club, is set to participate in the Helsinki Cup in Finland and the Gothia Cup in Sweden this month. This marks their second consecutive year in these prestigious European youth tournaments, having previously won the Gothia Cup in the U-14 category and reached the Helsinki Cup final.
Indian para-athlete Suvarna Raj won the gold medal in the women's F54 discus throw at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, achieving a best effort of 15.66m.
India's spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has indicated that Ravindra Jadeja's prospects for the 2027 ODI World Cup are strong, with his all-round skills being a crucial factor. The team is actively assessing various spin options, including Axar Patel, and using current series to experiment with combinations and fine-tune the squad for the upcoming showpiece event in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
In a remarkable feat, Punjab's Minerva Academy FC on Saturday became the champions of Gothia Cup, touted as the World Youth Cup, in the boys under-14 category in Gothenburg, Sweden, two years after winning the U-13 title.
Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO, and PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl express strong confidence in India's potential to become a global golf powerhouse within the next decade. Kant specifically predicts a woman golfer will achieve a breakthrough moment for the country. They highlight India's demographic advantage, rising youth participation, and the need for university-level talent development and private investment in infrastructure to achieve this goal.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to comment on recent protests against India's Election Commission, labelling it an "internal political matter." During his visit to India, Rubio also dismissed UN experts' criticism of the protests, stating that the US would not interfere in India's domestic affairs, despite UN concerns over police response to demonstrations.
Former Pakistan captain Shan Masood is racing against time to recover from a calf muscle injury ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. His place in the playing XI is uncertain, especially with selectors and coach Mike Hesson looking to introduce younger players into the Test squad for the next World Test Championship cycle. Masood, who had an unsuccessful run as Test captain, fears his injury might be used as a reason to sideline him.
Following astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's historic visit to the International Space Station, a significant surge in interest for space science careers is observed among Indian students. Srimathy Kesan of Space Kidz India highlights this shift from traditional fields like engineering and medicine, while Nobel laureate Didier Queloz emphasises the crucial role of curious young scientists in shaping the future.
Vikash Dhorasoo, the first Indian-origin player in a FIFA World Cup, expresses strong belief in India's potential to reach football's biggest stage. Visiting India for a friendly match against Brazil, Dhorasoo highlights the importance of method, clear objectives, and leveraging players of Indian origin to elevate the national team's level. He also offers his coaching expertise to help develop young talent in India.
India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global conflicts, stating, "war can never be the answer to war," while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
El Clasico returns to Camp Nou with 14 potential debutants, Barcelona chasing a nine-point lead, Real Madrid seeking revival, and Jose Mourinho's return intensifying football's fiercest rivalry.
India's para track and field athletes delivered a stellar performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, securing six medals, including three gold, on the opening day of athletics competitions. Long jumper Nishad Kumar, javelin thrower Rinku Hooda, and visually impaired middle-distance runner Soumya each won gold in their respective events, contributing to India's strong start.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a spot in the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup despite finishing as runner-up in the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, losing 2-4 to China in the final. The team had previously defeated Kazakhstan 8-1 in the semi-final.
India's sub-junior men's and women's hockey teams secured impressive victories at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, extending their unbeaten runs. The women's team thrashed Kazakhstan 10-0, while the men's team defeated Bangladesh 8-3, showcasing strong performances in the tournament which serves as a World Cup qualifier.
Telangana IT Minister D Sridhar Babu stated that Gen Z will be the driving force behind the next wave of AI and green innovation. He urged young innovators to use their skills to solve real-world challenges, particularly in sustainability. The launch of the Green Skills and Applied AI Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad, a partnership between Telangana's IT Ministry, Microsoft, 1M1B, and MeitY Startup Hub, aims to equip graduates with industry-relevant skills in AI, green pharma, solar energy, EVs, and wind energy, with 100 job offers already announced.
The Indian sub-junior boys' hockey team secured dominant victories against arch-rivals Pakistan (7-3) and hosts Oman (10-1) at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship. Meanwhile, the Indian sub-junior girls' team fought hard but lost 3-6 to China in their Elite Pool match. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
Indian para-athlete Rinku Hooda won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw F46 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. Despite being deeply affected by his mother's passing in August and battling a shoulder injury, Hooda dedicated his victory to her. He aims to secure a Paralympics medal next, having previously won medals at various international championships.
By the time she finished her term as SBI chairman, she was overseeing over two lakh employees, 24,000 domestic branches, 100 international ones and a bank that had stepped into the technological age and become youth-friendly. Meet Arundhati Bhattacharya, the first woman chairman of the State Bank of India and president and CEO, Salesforce, South Asia.
Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has launched the Bhaichung Bhutia Football School (BBFS) in Indore, marking its first centre in Madhya Pradesh. The academy aims to provide world-class training to local talent, addressing challenges in Indian football development, such as providing proper platforms and fostering a football culture, especially among the youth.
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.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games, emphasising India's commitment to placing sport at the core of nation-building through significant investment in infrastructure and grassroots development. He highlighted India's indigenous sports like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu, and discussed the country's ambition to host major international events, including the 2036 Olympic Games.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach (60kg), Ankush (80kg), and Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective categories at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Sachin secured a 4-1 victory, while Ankush and Sakshi both won their bouts by unanimous 5-0 decisions, bringing them one win closer to securing a medal.
The Indian sub-junior men's hockey team secured the gold medal at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1. This victory also ensured their qualification for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup. The Indian women's team also earned a silver medal, and Hockey India announced cash rewards for both squads.
Sagnik Roy and Sayantan Kushari, fresh from their gold medal win at the World Youth Transnational Championships, will lead a strong field at the fifth East Zone Open Bridge Championship in Kolkata. The three-day event, organised by the West Bengal Bridge Association, features a Rs 6 lakh prize fund and will host top bridge players from the Eastern Zone and beyond.
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.
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show returned to the spotlight in Los Angeles on October 18, bringing together some of the world's biggest models and music stars for a night of high-octane glamour.
Quimcy D'Souza, a self-funded and self-coached Indian teqball player, competed at the Asian Games with the aim of popularising the sport in India. Despite narrowly missing out on two bronze medals, D'Souza views her journey as a crucial first step towards establishing teqball in the country and inspiring more athletes.
Four Indian players in the ICC ODI top 10 highlight India's remarkable depth, giving the team a strong pool of match-winners ahead of major ODI assignments.
Young Indian compound archer Chikitha Taniparthi clinched two gold medals at her Asian Games debut, fulfilling her father's long-held dream for her to pursue sports. Her journey involved significant financial sacrifices from her family and dedicated training, overcoming initial interest in karate to become a world youth champion and now a double Asian Games gold medallist.
The World Archery Youth Championships 2025 is the 19th edition of the biennial meet that has been held since 1991. A total of 570 top youth archers from 63 countries around the world are vying for medals in Winnipeg, as per Olympics.com.
