Commonwealth Games gold medallist Soman Rana has highlighted the critical need for increased corporate support and permanent jobs for Indian para-athletes. He stressed that financial security is vital for athletes to focus on training and achieve consistent international success, including at events like the Paralympics and Para Asian Games. His views were echoed by PCI president Devendra Jhajharia and M3M Foundation chairperson Payal Kanodia, who noted the growing recognition and support for the Paralympic movement in India.
Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secured his second consecutive Commonwealth Games silver medal in Glasgow with a leap of 8.09 metres. This achievement marks an emotional comeback for the athlete, who battled a career-threatening knee injury in 2024, forcing him to miss the Paris Olympics. Despite his disappointment at not winning gold, Sreeshankar views this medal as a crucial stepping stone for the upcoming Asian Games.
Fifteen-year-old Delhi chess prodigy Vandan Alankar Sawai stuns World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz tournament.
Indian boxer Preeti Pawar advances to the final of the Asian Boxing Championships, while Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain are eliminated in the semi-finals.
Sixteen-year-old para cyclist Lisha Das from Assam has made history by becoming the youngest athlete selected to represent India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she will compete in the Para Track Cycling event.
Long-serving rowing coach Ismail Baig, a Dronacharya awardee, is no longer part of the national setup, a development he describes as 'shocking'. The Rowing Federation of India president Balaji Maradapa confirmed that Baig is not part of the coaching setup for the Asian Games.
India's Gulveer Singh secured a silver medal in the men's 10,000m race at the Commonwealth Games, finishing second with a time of 27:49.78. His strong final-lap sprint allowed him to surpass favoured runners from Kenya and Uganda.
Indian badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma, 17, secured her first BWF World Tour title by defeating Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen in straight games at the Taipei Open Super 300, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament's history.
Manu Bhaker won silver in the women's 25m pistol at the Asian Shooting Championships after losing a dramatic shoot-off, while Esha Singh claimed bronze in New Delhi.
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.
A communication from United World Wrestling's anti-doping department confirmed Vinesh Phogat's retirement intimation to the International Testing Agency (ITA) in December 2024, amidst claims and controversies surrounding her comeback and eligibility for the Asian Games.
India spinner Sai Kishore has signed a six-match deal with English county side Gloucestershire for the remainder of the season.
Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut has opened online registrations for its 2026-27 academic session, offering new undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programmes in sports, including direct admission for elite athletes and a 10% reservation for outstanding sportspersons.
Bangladesh secured a landmark nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin, marking their first-ever Test win in Australia and one of Test cricket's greatest upsets, despite a defiant century from Cameron Green.
Ayush Shetty's silver medal at the Asia Championships has positioned him as a potential men's singles contender for India, boosting the nation's badminton prospects as they prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Seasoned shuttler HS Prannoy and rising star Unnati Hooda will lead the Indian contingent at the Taipei Open Super 300 badminton tournament. Both players are looking for consistent performances, with Prannoy facing Japan's Minoru Koga and Unnati taking on a qualifier. Several other Indian players, including Tharun Mannepalli, M Manjunath, S Dayanand, Kiran George, Devika Sihag, Tasnim Mir, and others in doubles, are also set to compete.
The central government has revamped the Khelo India Scheme's funding pattern, allocating a Rs 565 crore component for states to co-share the cost of future sports infrastructure development projects over a five-year plan. This new model, part of a Rs 29,054 crore outlay, aims to increase state ownership and participation in sports development, significantly expanding the scheme's reach and athlete base.
'India should hold several high-level chess tournaments that would attract the world's top players so that the country will have a say in the game.'
Newly-crowned junior squash World champion Anahat Singh has decided to defer her admission to Harvard University to fully dedicate herself to preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming for a medal in squash's Olympic debut.
Indian shooter Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, outperforming Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker, who secured the bronze.
Indian shooters endured a second consecutive medal-less day at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, a crucial tune-up event before the Asian Games. While Vidarsa Vinod reached the women's 50m rifle three positions final, finishing sixth, other Indian participants struggled in various events, including men's and women's skeet, and men's 25m rapid fire pistol. The performance raises concerns ahead of the upcoming major competition.
The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has sanctioned Rs 35.46 lakh for overseas training stints for Paralympic medallists Ajeet Singh (javelin) and Pranav Soorma (club throw) to prepare them for the upcoming Asian Para-Games in Japan. Both athletes, part of the TOPS core group, will train in Germany and Czechia respectively, with Pranav also participating in multiple championships.
India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has provisionally suspended 24 athletes across various sports, including cricketer Bhupen Lalwani, weightlifter Ajith Narayana, wrestler Sahil Jaglan, and national record holder runner KM Deeksha, for failing dope tests. The suspensions highlight ongoing challenges with doping in Indian sports.
India will host the World Indoor Athletics Championships for the first time in 2028 in Bhubaneswar. The decision was made at the World Athletics Council meeting in Torun, Poland.
Vinesh Phogat, despite losing in the Asian Games selection trials, asserts her return to wrestling after motherhood as a victory, aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics while criticising the wrestling administration for alleged discrimination and harassment.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah surprised attendees at the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) tournament in Srinagar by spontaneously singing the iconic Lata Mangeshkar song "Lag ja gale". His impromptu performance drew significant applause. Later, Abdullah addressed the audience, commending golfers and urging youth to work hard and avoid alcohol to achieve sporting excellence. He also mentioned government support for improving the Royal Springs Golf Course.
Akshay Sharma of Chandigarh and Gurugram's Dhruv Sheoran shared the 36-hole lead at nine-under 135 after round two of the Rs 1 crore DP World Players Championship at the Classic Golf & Country Club.
Ace Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar clinched the women's vault bronze medal at the 6th Senior ART Gymnastics Asian Championships in Hiroshima, on Monday.
Kerala's Ancy Sojan created history on Saturday by breaking the long-standing national record in women's long jump at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.
The Pakistan Wrestling Federation on Tuesday claimed that its national team has been denied visa by the Indian High Commission for the upcoming Asian Championship scheduled to be held in New Delhi from May 10-14.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured the All India Football Federation of full government support to host India's biggest-ever international football fixture against five-time World Cup champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. This historic match will be India's first against a top-five FIFA-ranked nation, offering crucial exposure to the national team despite initial concerns over crowd management.
Nikhat Zareen, Priya, and Preeti Pawar have qualified for the semi-finals of the Asian Boxing Championships, guaranteeing India at least three medals.
Veteran sports administrator and India's first shooting gold-medallist in Asian Games, Randhir Singh, died after battling age-related ailments. He was 79.
Gulveer Singh has made history by becoming the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the men's 10,000m event, securing a silver on a rain-soaked track in Glasgow.
Sharmila Dhankar, overcoming polio and an abusive marriage, made history by winning India's first para-athletics gold medal in 20 years at the Commonwealth Games in the women's shot put F57 event. Her compatriot Shilpa Shyla also secured a bronze after a protest. Dhankar's inspiring journey from Haryana to international success, supported by her family and second husband, highlights her remarkable resilience and dedication to para-athletics.
FIFA's proposal to create a $20 billion subsidiary for the World Cup highlights the intricate balance of power in global football, where the governing body's authority is often challenged by the significant commercial strength of UEFA, particularly in Europe.
India's top fencer, Bhavani Devi, has issued an unconditional apology and appealed the two-month suspension she received after being shown a Black Card at the Asian Fencing Championships. The Fencing Association of India is supporting her appeal to the FIE, citing her clean disciplinary record and the upcoming World Championships.
India is set to host its first-ever National Indoor Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar, marking a significant step towards hosting the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2028. The event will feature a 200m track and various field events, providing a novel experience for Indian athletes.
'Frankly, I'm in that zone for another Olympics.'
Olympic medallists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain have been named India's flag and baton bearers for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Both athletes are celebrated for their achievements in weightlifting and boxing, respectively, and are considered strong medal contenders for India at the upcoming Games.
