Amol Muzumdar wants India's young team to embrace aggressive cricket at the T20 Asia Cup, despite inconsistent form, as they prepare for a crucial six-month campaign ahead.
Young adults show alarming NCD trends, with high rates of obesity, prediabetes, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
The third edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) has commenced with a quiz contest, leading to a national finale in January 2027 where young leaders will present their ideas for a developed India to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The multi-stage event includes essay challenges, district championships, and state-level dialogues, aiming to foster youth participation in nation-building across various thematic areas.
The Indian Under-17 Women's football team played two goalless draws against Uzbekistan in friendly matches held in Tashkent. These matches served as preparation for the upcoming AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi, and Kavipriya Selvam are set to make their BWF World Championships debut as India hosts the prestigious badminton event after 17 years, offering a significant platform for these rising stars.
The India U17 women's football team will play two friendly matches against the Philippines in Goa in late September as part of their preparations for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. These matches will serve as the final warm-up before their qualification campaign in Malaysia in October, where they aim for a second consecutive appearance in the Asian Cup.
Savita Punia's journey from a shy youngster dependent on her mother to a confident veteran goalkeeper and mentor reflects hockey's profound impact on her life.
Long jumper Shahnavaz Khan and high jumper Basant Kumar Meghwal, both recent World Athletics U20 Championships medalists, are now setting their sights on podium finishes at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, aiming to improve their personal bests.
The KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 Bengaluru is set to begin with qualifying rounds, offering promising young Indian tennis players a chance to compete for main draw berths. The event, hosted by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association, will feature both boys' and girls' qualifying draws, with wildcards providing local talent an opportunity to gain international experience and ITF Junior ranking points.
The Mumbai Cricket Association has established the Ajinkya Rahane Scholarship Fund, backed by Sharad Pawar, to support grassroots cricketers and develop Mumbai's Maidans.
'It could be in IT, it could be in administration, it could be in legal, it could be in technical services, but entry level jobs are rapidly disappearing because AI is taking them over.' 'So, the big question what would happen if the bottom rung of the ladder is removed?'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the 'Khelo India Dialogue' to engage with youth on India's sporting journey, national development, and Olympic aspirations. The virtual event, structured around five key themes including sports ecosystem improvement, youth leadership, and a 'Nasha Mukt Yuva' movement, aims to gather ideas for a stronger, youth-led 'Viksit Bharat' and nurture talent for the 2036 Olympics.
India's sporting landscape is grappling with a pervasive age fraud issue, as evidenced by hundreds of disqualifications in recent championships. Experts highlight the systemic nature of the problem, driven by a chaotic birth registration system and the allure of early career advantages. While the BCCI has implemented bone density tests, limitations persist, prompting calls for stricter measures, including criminal deterrence and a comprehensive national database, to safeguard the integrity of youth sports.
Former Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy V Subramanian outlines India's strategy to become a USD 55 trillion economy by 2047. The plan hinges on leveraging its young demographic in AI, dominating sunrise sectors like space and defence tech, attracting FDI, and achieving sustained 8% GDP growth.
On National Sports Day, political leaders including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and several Chief Ministers paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and lauded Indian sportspersons for their contributions to the country.
The BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting, organised by India's Sports Ministry, successfully concluded in Visakhapatnam. Presided over by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the meeting built upon previous youth engagements, focusing on developing young leaders and promoting youth cooperation among BRICS nations.
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri expressed a mix of excitement and 'a little jealousy' about the national team's unprecedented opportunity to play against football giants Brazil and Uruguay in October 2026, an experience he never had in his two-decade career.
Senior Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma expressed confidence ahead of India's Women's Asia Cup match against Pakistan, highlighting India's consistent performance against their rivals. She emphasised the team's balanced batting and bowling units and their focus on playing good cricket. Deepti also praised young spinners Shree Charani and Prema Rawat for their talent and contributions.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, aims to secure an unassailable lead against Zimbabwe in the second T20I after a convincing seven-wicket victory in the opener. Young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Mayank Yadav were instrumental in the first match, showcasing strong batting and pace bowling performances.
At 22, Ariha Pangambam from Manipur created history by winning the first ever individual gold for India in aerobic gymnastics at the Asian championships.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has disbursed Rs 42.3 lakh in quarterly stipends to 42 promising young chess players across India. This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens, support coaching and travel, and nurture future champions, aligning with a vision to strengthen grassroots chess development.
Indian football icon I M Vijayan has voiced his enthusiasm for the upcoming India-Brazil international friendly in Kolkata on October 3. He believes the visit by the five-time World Cup champions will provide invaluable experience and lasting memories for young Indian players, significantly boosting the sport's profile and attracting global attention to Indian football.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded young Indian innovators for the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1, which made India the third nation with private orbital launch capabilities. While praising the 28-year-old average age of the Skyroot team, Modi made a veiled remark about a "56-year-old young man," widely understood to be a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently turned 56.
India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne discusses the team's preparations for the upcoming Asian Games, focusing on improved defence and sharpening goal-scoring skills. Skipper Salima Tete and senior player Savita Punia also share insights on the team's changed mindset and strategies, highlighting lessons learned from the recent Hockey World Cup.
A world-class Test team can't afford to have a bowling attack that allows batters to feel comfortable. To be the world's best Test team, all departments of the game should be strong and striking.
'Every batter has a shortcoming somewhere. You need to find where the shortcoming is.'
The Indian men's football team, led by head coach Khalid Jamil, will play high-profile friendlies against Panama, five-time world champions Brazil, and two-time world champions Uruguay in September and October.
A four-member Indian golf team, comprising Harjai Milkha Singh, Ishnidh Singh Virdi, Guntas Kaur Sandhu, and Rashi Mishra, is set to compete in the prestigious R&A Amateur golf championship across two courses in Scotland. The tournament features both boys' and girls' categories, attracting top junior talent globally, with winners earning significant exemptions into major championships.
Anthony Andrews, the highly successful coach of East Bengal FC, has been appointed as the assistant coach for the India Under-17 women's national team. He joins the team in Tashkent for friendly matches ahead of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, bringing his extensive experience and winning record, including four IWL titles and continental success with East Bengal.
As New Delhi prepares to host the BWF World Championships from August 17-23, 2026, five young talents - Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Alwi Farhan, Tomoka Miyazaki, and Kalyana Nalbantova - are identified as potential breakout stars capable of challenging the sport's biggest names and redefining their careers.
'I moved out of my house at the age of 17 to pursue this dream. Since then, I've been doing everything by myself, managing everything by myself for this one dream of Miss Universe.'
India is hosting its first international para archery event, the third stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series, in Ahmedabad. The competition features 109 archers from 19 countries and serves as a crucial build-up to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games. World number one Sheetal Devi, along with other top Indian and international archers, will be competing for titles and world ranking points.
India's burgeoning franchise volleyball ecosystem, particularly with dedicated Under-21 tournaments like the Guardians Trophy, is creating a structured pathway for young players. This initiative aims to develop talent from the grassroots to professional levels, fostering cultural adaptation and skill enhancement, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the senior national team and achieving Olympic qualification.
Former India captain Sunil Chhetri admitted to feeling "a little jealous" about the current national team getting the chance to play against footballing powerhouses Brazil and Uruguay, an opportunity he never had during his extensive international career. He expressed excitement for the team while also backing the coach's selection decisions and encouraging the young talent.
'... to see that young people are gainfully employed. After that, it will become very difficult as we will start ageing much more rapidly.' 'We have a huge proportion of Gen Z. After 2030, every year, we will start seeing a gradual shift towards a slightly older society.'
India's promising young golfers, including Rakshit Dahiya, Yogya Bhalla, and Ranveer Mitroo, are participating in the DGC Junior/Sub-Junior Golf Tournament in New Delhi. The three-day event, presented by Usha, features 162 golfers aged 7 to 21, with a focus on inclusivity by supporting underprivileged players.
The Iran national women's kabaddi team conducted a six-day practice camp at the Sports Authority of India's Sonepat centre, engaging in matches against the Indian team and local sides.
India has secured six medals in the U-19 men's category at the Asian U-19 and U-23 Boxing Championships in Jakarta. Six Indian boxers advanced to the semifinals after impressive quarterfinal victories, showcasing the nation's emerging talent in the sport.
Krunal Pandya kept his India comeback hopes alive after missing the Afghanistan T20I squad, following a strong IPL season where he impressed with bat and ball.
Former head coach Rahul Dravid believes India have 'fallen behind' in the World Test Championship final qualification race, highlighting the upcoming New Zealand series as a significant challenge for the young team.
