As the country gets set to celebrate its 74th Independence Day on Saturday, India football team goalkeeper and Arjuna awardee Gurpreet Singh Sandhu wished fans across the world and stated that playing for the country "is a feeling like no other".
Shaping strategies to suit different oppositions and venues will be key for every team during the World Cup and New Zealand have an Indian, who is familiar with conditions and owns the data to assist them -- Saurabh Walkar, their performance analyst.
AFC Cup tie moved to neutral venue after Australia denies Myanmar club visas
Under Manpreet's captaincy, the Indian team has achieved important milestones,
Indian defender Surender Kumar will not play any role in the ongoing fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament after being suspended for two matches following a deliberate foul during the game against Malaysia.
Here are some of the other events -- in pictures -- that made news last week.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Soundly thrashed by Australia in their last match, India will look to sort out their defensive woes when they take on Malaysia in their quarter-final match of the Hockey World League Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium, on Wednesday.
World champion Dafne Schippers proved she will be the sprinter to beat over 200 metres at next year's Rio Games with victory over Olympic champion Allyson Felix at the Diamond League athletics finale in Brussels on Friday.
Rohit Sharma led team won't travel to Pakistan, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed on Wednesday.
Former European champion and an experienced Australian boxer Kerry Hope dared India's knockout king Vijender Singh ahead of their WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight championship title to be held in New Delhi on July 16.
For Indian hockey, 2016 was a year in which much was promised and achieved as well. It was also a year where India made significant and visible advancements but deep down somewhere the pain of missing out on an Olympic medal will remain for four more years.
Olympics-bound runner Sudha Singh, who created a national record in women's 3000m steeplechase at the IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai.
Doan equalised in the 75th minute before Asano showed lovely control and smashed the winner in from a tight angle -- causing an explosion of joy among the Japan bench and head shaking among German fans used to watching both players ply their trade in the Bundesliga.
European champions Real will play host side Al Ain FC in Saturday's final in Abu Dhabi as they bid to win the title for the third year in a row.
Indian women's squash team ended their successful Asian Team squash Championship with a silver medal as they lost to Malaysia by 0-2 margin in the final, in Taipei, on Sunday.
Adani Sportsline shelled out a massive Rs 1289 crore for the Ahmedabad team, which emerged the most expensive franchise.
This and more from the happenings in the world of footbal.
India swept the International Hockey Federation's annual awards on Wednesday, claiming all the top honours, based on a voting system which was lambasted as a "failure" by men's Olympic champions Belgium, prompting the FIH to say that it would try to figure why some associations did not cast their ballot.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said India can win a World Cup medal this time after a hiatus of 48 years but for that the home side needs to make use of penalty corners.
India captain Sardar Singh asserted that they have a lot to play for in the ongoing Hockey World League Semifinals.
The title encounter seemed headed for the penalty shootout after Australia's two successive penalty corners in the last 25 seconds, the second of which Ciriello finally found the target by placing the shot wide of the Belgian goalkeeper's reach.
Asian champions India have never won the Champions Trophy in its last 36 editions but will be hoping to claim the feat in the tournament's last edition.
Xavi's agent has declined to comment on reports the Barcelona midfielder is set to leave the La Liga leaders at the end of the season and sign a lucrative contract with Qatari side Al Sadd.
Former India captain Dhanraj Pillay on Monday batted for participation of Pakistan's players in the Hockey India League (HIL) tournament and urged Hockey India to take up the issue with politicians to ensure their presence in the future editions of the franchise-based league.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Hamad Al Montashari won the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year award after prominent players from Japan, South Korea and Iran were deemed ineligible.
India and Pakistan to renew football rivalry after five years, clubbed in same group in next month's SAFF Cup
Ace Indian discus thrower Vikas Gowda got a morale booster ahead of the upcoming Asian Games as he finished overall fourth in the prestigious IAAF Diamond League Series to pocket $ 3,000 prize money.
Though many outsiders expect Qatar to be soundly drubbed in all three games, home fans know forwards Akram Afif and Almoez Ali have both talent and experience and pray they can penetrate an Ecuador team themselves struggling to score of late.
Iran ended seven-time champions India's unchallenged kabaddi domination in the Asian Games since the sport was first introduced in 1990.
Spain cannot repeat mistakes from Japan collapse, says Rodri
Hockey India president Narinder Batra on Monday ruled out Pakistani players participation in future editions of Hockey India League saying they will not be considered until they apologise for their 'unacceptable behaviour' during last year's Champions Trophy.
Chopra threw a personal best 89.30m at last month's Paavo Nurmi Games before improving it to 89.94m at the Stockholm Diamond League.
India's shooting ace Apurvi Chandela attained the World No 1 position in the women's 10m air rifle event while compatriot Anjum Moudgil rose to second.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Reports this weekend have claimed Bale will put pen to paper on a three-year deal with Jiangsu and earn a staggering one million pound per week as he leaves Real Madrid following a six-season stint during which the winger has won four UEFA Champions League titles and the 2017 La Liga crown.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Kushal Das feels their model could be used as a case study for institutions and international sports federations which have seen their bio-bubble being breached
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
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