India's probable football team for next season has many players returning from injury.
Pinki Rani replaced an injured M C Mary Kom, while Priyanka Choudhary came in for the suspended Sarita Dev in the Indian squad announced for the Women's World Boxing Championships to be held at Jeju, South Korea from November 13 to 25.
The committee also picked 19 sportspersons for the Arjuna Award, including the likes of cricketers Ravindra Jadeja and Poonam Yadav, track and field stars Tejinder Pal Singh Toor, Mohammed Anas and Swapna Barman.
The Railway player has been named captain of the Indian women;s hockey team for the Test series against Russia.
Mountaineer Bachendri Pal was, on Friday, conferred with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, while Gautam Gambhir, BajranG Punia and Sunil Chhetri, among others, received the Padma Shri.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Sunday said the government will launch a 'Khelo India' programme at a cost of Rs 1,756 crore for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20.
The Tokyo Paralympics slated to begin on August 24, will be Jhajharia's third Paralympics.
14-year-old squash player Anahat Singh was too good for Jada Ross of St Vincent and the Grenadines in an 11-5, 11-2, 11-0 victory in the Round of 64 women's singles competition in Birmingham on Friday.
Conspicuous by their absence in the men's team are T Muthu, Vicky Bhatta and Sendhil Kumar.
Asian Games gold-medallist Saurabh Chaudhary shattered the world record to claim the junior 10m air pistol gold at the ISSF World Championships
Former captain Dhanraj Pillay said the Indian hockey team was lacking on all fronts.
Commonwealth Games silver-medallist L Devendro Singh (49kg) and Asian Games bronze-medallist Vikas Krishan (75kg) will spearhead a nine-strong Indian team at the AIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, starting June 16, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The ace midfielder rubbished reports that he was dropped from the Asian Games squad for lack of fitness.
In a letter to the Minister, Amit Panghal, who became India's first male boxer to win a world championship silver last year, said that athletes should not have to plead their case for an award by nominating themselves.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
With an aim to avoid controversy on giving away sports awards, the government decided to grant 90 per cent weightage to medal winners of Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games and World Cup/World Championships held once in four years for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand awards.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday
The 28-year-old is the first women's hockey player to be appointed as the Indian contingent's flag bearer at the Asian Games.
The Indian men's 4x100m relay team was withdrawn from the Asian Games contingent on Thursday after it failed to impress in trials.
India's boxers Nitu Ghanghas won the women's 48kg Commonwealth Games title before Amit Panghal stormed to the gold medal in the men's 51kg, in Birmingham, on Sunday.
Former captain Sardar Singh has been included in a 13-member Hockey India selection committee, to be headed by B P Govinda, a member of the 1975 World Cup winning team.
Both won their semi-final matches in the selection tournament.
Neeraj will be competing in his first Olympics and he has already qualified for the Tokyo Games early last year before the COVID-19 pandemic began
The Sports Ministry has earmarked Rs 100 crore for the funding of athletes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for their preparations for 2020 Olympics.
Lakshya Sen said the win against reigning All England Champion Li Shi Feng gives him confidence and belief in the Olympic qualification year.
In a big blow to India, Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat was, on Sunday, ruled out of the World championship after suffering an elbow injury during practice in Lucknow.
Yesterday, women's coach Harendra Singh was made in-charge of the men's side, while men's coach Sjoerd Marijne was re-designated the women's coach in a rejigging of roles by the Hockey India following the medalless show of the teams at last month's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Neeraj is currently ranked fourth in the new rankings of the international federation.
According to a source in Sports Authority of India (SAI), Rana also had to pay the price for disciplinary issues after not being present during Manu's 25m pistol final at the Munich World Cup in May this year.
Rifle shooter Ravi Kumar is the second athlete after boxer Sumit Sangwan whose dope test results have come positive on Tuesday. Ravi accepted the results and is expecting the punishment, to be meted out by NADA, in a few days' time.
Players' security is important said Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
Veteran star Leander Paes is set to combine with Rohan Bopanna for the doubles rubber during the Davis Cup tie against Serbia, Indian captain Anand Amritraj confirmed today but he says nothing has been decided on the Asian Games squad as yet.
"Now captaincy on the field can be a different thing. To read moments, win moments and strategize, you have to be sharp, and I think Hardik has all ingredients to be a good captain.
'Today's result has changed them, not just people in our community but for entire India, it's an inspiration. For a girl of Muslim community to do so well, it gives others, not just our community, confidence that our girls can also do this.'
Aiming to secure berths in the world championship squad, close to 400 boxers, including the likes of five-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa and former world bronze-winner Gaurav Bidhuri, will be competing in the National Men's Championships starting in Bellary on Wednesday.
Double Asian Games gold-medallist Ashwini Akkunji was on Saturday named in the Indian women's 4x400m relay squad for next month's World Championships in Moscow just days after completing a two-year ban for a dope offence.
Vijender Singh (75kg) made a return to the Indian boxing team along with Thokchom Nanao Singh (49kg) as the selectors picked the team for the World Championships after a two-day trial in Patiala, on Wednesday.
This past week, the Indian hockey team recorded a rare Test series win against world champions Australia. It was a significant achievement by the men in blue - hockey, not cricket - as it was for the first time in four years that India had beaten Australia.
