The Adani Ahmedabad Marathon has been included in the World Athletics Global Calendar, making it an internationally recognised event where performances can contribute to World Athletics Rankings. This milestone highlights the marathon's growth and adherence to global standards, further boosting Ahmedabad's sporting profile ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
The third edition of the Kashmir Marathon in Srinagar saw hundreds of participants, including inspiring figures like a double amputee and a 10-year-old.
Union Minister Suresh Gopi announced that the Centre and the Sports Ministry are fully supporting Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar's urgent surgery in London. Sreeshankar, who won a silver at the Asian Games, sustained an injury and will undergo ligament reconstruction on October 13, with the Centre covering all costs for his treatment and rehabilitation.
Indian para track and field athletes delivered a spectacular performance at the Asian Para Games, securing 22 medals, including five gold, on Wednesday. Sprinter Simran Sharma was a standout, clinching her second gold medal in the women's 100m T12 event, making her only the fourth Indian to win two golds in the same edition. Other gold medallists included Dilip Gavit, Praveen Kumar, Ayush Verma, and Sachin Khilari, contributing to India's total of 42 para-athletics medals.
Erik ten Hag blamed Cristiano Ronaldo's poor fitness and preparation for his Manchester United struggles, saying the superstar let the team down before their acrimonious split in November 2022.
India's Krishna Nagar and Sivarajan Solaimalai secured a silver medal in the Men's Doubles SH6 badminton event at the Asian Para Games. This achievement comes as India also assured three more medals in the men's singles SL4 category, with Suhas LY, Naveen Sivakumar, and Abhijeet Sakhuja advancing to the semifinals.
India faces a challenging Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a significantly smaller contingent of 168 athletes, down from 303. While aiming to build on its record 111-medal haul from the last Games, selection disputes in para-shooting and para-cycling, coupled with reduced athlete numbers in key disciplines like para-athletics, pose hurdles. Despite these challenges, star athletes across para-athletics, archery, para-badminton, shooting, and table tennis are expected to lead India's medal charge.
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.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced that its new Executive Council will be elected on December 5, with Sanjay Kumar Srivastava appointed as the returning officer. The electoral process, which includes elections for the Athletes' Commission on November 3 and selection of Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs), will adhere to national sports governance acts and the amended IOA Constitution. The new council will serve a four-year term (2026-2030), with current President PT Usha highlighting the importance of good governance as India eyes hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
An Indian delegation, led by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, is undergoing training in Glasgow to learn about staging a multi-sport event. This is part of Ahmedabad's preparations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, marking the event's return to India after two decades. The training covers various aspects of Games operations, including venues, transport, accreditation, and athlete accommodation, and includes sports diplomacy sessions.
India concluded its badminton campaign at the Asian Para Games with an impressive haul of three gold, five silver, and eight bronze medals, totalling 16. Nitesh Kumar, Naveen Sivakumar, and the pair of Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi secured the gold medals, showcasing India's growing prowess in para-badminton.
Indian Revenue Service officer Ekta Vishnoi, currently Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology, has won three gold medals at the World Masters Classic and Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Nevada, USA.
India's Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar secured gold medals in men's singles SL3 and SL4 badminton events, respectively, at the Asian Para Games. Nitesh defeated compatriot Pramod Bhagat, while debutant Naveen overcame Indonesia's Fredy Setiawan. India also secured silver medals through Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan and Pramod Bhagat, with Thulasimathi Murugesan still in contention for two more golds.
State-run power major NTPC has partnered with the Mizoram government to establish an archery academy in Lengpui, Mamit district, at an estimated cost of Rs 13.28 crore. The project, part of NTPC's CSR initiatives, aims to provide professional training and infrastructure for aspiring archers over three years, with the Mizoram State Sports Council responsible for its operation.
All Indian track and field athletes selected for the Asian Games will compete in the final leg of the Indian Athletics Series on September 10. The schedule for other legs of the series has also been revised, while a group of athletes has departed for Europe to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.
The Indian Olympic Association has formed a five-member Games Technical Conduct Committee to oversee the technical aspects and sports programme of the 39th National Games, scheduled for Meghalaya in 2027. The committee, chaired by Sunaina Kumari, will ensure technical compliance and athlete-centred preparation for the event.
Japanese Olympic Committee chief Seiko Hashimoto acknowledged "many problems" at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, particularly regarding accommodation, but emphasized that criticism doesn't reflect the full experience. She highlighted innovative solutions like cruise ship lodging as potential models for future cost-effective international competitions and stressed the importance of learning from challenges, including weather disruptions. Hashimoto also celebrated Japan's record medal haul at the Games.
India finished fourth at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 85 medals, a significant dip from the previous edition's record haul. While traditional strongholds like shooting and athletics underperformed, breakthroughs in archery, wrestling, golf, boxing, hockey, and cricket showcased a broadening sporting base. The performance serves as a reality check on sustaining progress towards top global rankings and highlights areas for improvement in mental conditioning and preparation.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi awarded shooter Elavenil Valarivan Rs 1.33 crore under the Khel Pratibha Puraskar Yojana for her two silver medals at the Asian Games 2026. The state government highlighted its commitment to nurturing sporting talent through various schemes and acknowledged the role of parents in athletes' success. Valarivan, an Arjuna Award recipient, has been associated with the Shaktidoot Scheme since 2017-18 and has represented India at multiple Olympics and won gold at the ISSF World Cup.
Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has announced a multi-year partnership with global logistics company DP World. The collaboration will see DP World transport McIlroy's personalised fitness and recovery facilities across his PGA Tour and DP World Tour schedules, ensuring consistent training environments worldwide. This initiative highlights DP World's expertise in complex logistics and makes McIlroy a global ambassador for the company.
World No. 4 recurve archer Dhiraj Bommadevara has advocated for a mix of daytime and night matches in the Archery Premier League (APL) to better prepare Indian archers for diverse international competition conditions. He highlighted the importance of adapting to varying factors like wind, especially with the APL's shift to Hyderabad, and praised the league for fostering stronger relationships and learning opportunities with international archers.
Abhishek Verma, India's top compound archer, is determined to return to the national team after missing the Asian Games. He aims for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India, despite India securing an Olympic quota in compound archery. Verma also shares insights on India's medal prospects and the importance of mixed team selection.
Indian long jumper M Sreeshankar secured a silver medal at the Asian Games despite an injury during his fourth attempt. He expressed confidence that this fourth career silver would lead to a major gold, specifically targeting the 2028 Olympics. Sreeshankar highlighted the challenging weather conditions and the close competition, acknowledging luck played a role in his medal win.
Indian shooters bound for the Asian Games will participate in preparatory camps in Delhi and Bhopal this month. These camps, focusing on mental conditioning and technical refinement, are crucial for the athletes to achieve peak performance at the quadrennial event in Japan, which begins on September 19. The article also lists the full shooting squad.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony featuring a dazzling light and musical show, celebrating Japan's culture and hospitality. The event saw over 350 records broken, including 50 world records, and marked the official handover to Doha for the 2030 Games. India finished fourth in the medal tally with 85 medals.
Pakistan volleyball captain Murad Jehan expressed frustration over logistical mismanagement at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after his team was taken to the wrong venue, leaving them short on warm-up time and forcing players to change on the bus.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed optimism about the state securing hosting rights for the World Athletics Championship 2031 after meeting a delegation from the international governing body. The delegation is assessing Gujarat's sports infrastructure and readiness for both the 2028 U20 Championships and the 2031 senior championships, highlighting the state's growing ambition to host major global sporting events.
The Sports Ministry has invested over Rs 702 crore in the last three years to prepare Indian athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, featuring 310 debutants.
Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana sponsored a rifle for Asian Championship gold medallist Meghana Sajjanar, enabling her to access world-class equipment and achieve success. Sajjanar, who recently won gold and bronze medals, credited Khurrana's support for her improved performance, highlighting his selfless act to promote Indian athletes on the global stage.
Seven para-cyclists, recommended by the national federation for the Asian Para Games, were largely omitted by the Sports Ministry, with only one receiving approval. The excluded athletes are planning a protest, alleging discrimination, while the Sports Authority of India (SAI) maintains selections were based strictly on performance criteria.
An ad-hoc committee overseeing Indian table tennis has removed official ranking points from national tournaments, including the upcoming Panchkula edition, causing significant anxiety among players like Ankur Bhattacharya. The committee, formed after the Table Tennis Federation of India's suspension, states its mandate is to protect athletes but will only award points once an official calendar is finalised, impacting team selections.
Indian judokas arriving for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow found their luggage missing, including essential training gear and uniforms. This incident follows a similar problem faced by the Indian boxing contingent just days prior, prompting the Indian Olympic Association to intervene.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis has emphasised the importance of victory in their Indian Super League opener against NorthEast United FC. He highlighted the team's productive pre-season, tactical flexibility, and the need for greater aggression and intensity as they aim for a strong start to the season.
'I didn't know whether I simply loved acting, whether I was good at it or whether I wanted to pursue it professionally. So, about 10 years ago, I started auditioning just to see how far I could go.'
Para athlete Dilip Gavit, fresh off a Commonwealth Games gold in the 100m, is now focused on breaking world records in both the 100m and 400m events at the upcoming Para Asian Games in Japan. Gavit, who competes in the T47 category, also shared insights into his training, his past achievements in able-bodied events, and the crucial role of his coach, Vaijanath Kale, in his journey.
India is preparing its athletes for the unique accommodation arrangements at the upcoming Asian Games, which will feature repurposed shipping containers as housing units.
Vithya Ramraj won three medals at the Asian Games and broke P T Usha's 42-year-old record. Her twin Nithya, an international athlete herself, ruled out of the Games by an injury, looks back at their journey from a rented home to a podium finish.
Indian long-distance runner Gulveer Singh clinched a silver medal in the men's 10,000m at the Asian Games, clocking 28:29.38 minutes. This achievement marks an upgrade from his previous bronze and adds to his impressive tally of international medals, including a silver at the Commonwealth Games. Gulveer attributed his success to a strategic race plan and dedicated support team.
Indian archers returned from the Asian Games with a historic haul of 5 gold medals, 2 Olympic quotas, and other medals, celebrating their success and triumphs over global powerhouse South Korea. Coaches and athletes expressed elation, crediting rigorous training, teamwork, and a supportive ecosystem for their unprecedented performance.
FIFA has transformed its referee preparation for the World Cup, treating officials like elite athletes. This rigorous training includes physical assessments, game-like simulations, and advanced data tracking to ensure referees can perform optimally under challenging conditions like extreme humidity and high altitude, minimising errors due to fatigue.
