Indian archer Sahil Jadhav, preparing for the Asian Games, has found valuable insights into managing pressure and staying focused from former Australian cricketer Shane Watson's self-help book, 'The Winner's Mindset'.
Indian shooter Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the Asian Games, overcoming pain, exhaustion, and five shoot-offs. Her remarkable resilience and fighting spirit were highlighted in a dramatic final, making it India's only individual shooting medal on the day. The article also details the disappointing performances of Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat, including a costly mishap for Sarnobat.
Mohammad Yunus Khan, a renowned athletics coach who mentored star long-distance runners like Gulveer Singh and Kartik Kumar, has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for alleged 'complicity' in an anti-doping rule violation. Khan, a coach at the Army Sports Institute, faces charges under Article 2.9 of NADA rules, though the exact nature of his offence remains undisclosed. The suspension highlights ongoing efforts against doping in Indian sports, with several other athletes also recently provisionally suspended.
India's hockey coach Craig Fulton and captain Harmanpreet Singh discuss their approach to the FIH Hockey World Cup opener against Wales. They emphasise respecting opponents, maintaining focus, and the importance of a strong start, especially on Independence Day. The team has prepared extensively, focusing on defence and consistent performance across all quarters.
The Sports Ministry has granted provisional recognition to the Indian Unisports Federation (IUSF) for university sports development, relaxing affiliation conditions. This move casts doubt on the future of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), which has faced criticism and a show-cause notice for administrative lapses, including issues at the World University Games last year.
India is set to begin its Asian Games shooting campaign in Nagoya with a formidable 30-member squad, featuring Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and other world-class performers. The team aims to build on its previous success, with strong prospects in rifle, pistol, and shotgun events, facing a significant challenge from China.
Ankush Panghal secured a gold medal in boxing at the Asian Games, contributing to India's best-ever gold medal performance in boxing at the event, alongside Lovlina Borgohain and Parveen Hooda. This achievement follows a strong showing at the recent Commonwealth Games.
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar believes India's women pugilists are a stronger bet for an Olympic medal than their male counterparts and should be prioritised in the overall planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, following their record-shattering Commonwealth Games performance.
Lakshya Sen faced an early exit from the China Masters after a straight-games defeat to Canada's Victor Lai, marking his third loss to the Canadian. Meanwhile, Kidambi Srikanth secured his spot in the second round by defeating Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei. India's mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also advanced.
India overcame a two-goal deficit to eke out a 3-2 win over Argentina and finish with the bronze medal in the Champions Challenge hockey tournament in Salta, Argentina.
Li Wenwen secured +86kg Asian Games gold with 310kg and two Games records, then revealed her unusual floor-sleeping routine remains unchanged as she targets future Olympic success.
Teenage swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo made history by winning seven gold medals at the Asian Games, surpassing previous records and cementing China's dominance in the pool. The Games also saw other notable performances, including a second gymnastics gold for Carlos Yulo and an upset in men's table tennis where Japan defeated China.
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the women's 10m air pistol at the Asian Games, an emotionally charged event for her following the recent death of her mentor and legendary coach Jaspal Rana. Bhaker broke down while recalling Rana's profound life and career advice, particularly his emphasis on process over outcome, which she tried to apply during her challenging performance.
Indian women boxers dominated the Asian Boxing Championships, securing four gold, two silver, and four bronze medals. Minakshi Hooda, Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas, and Arundhati Choudhary all won gold in their respective weight categories.
Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal in the women's 49kg category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, completing her collection of major international medals. Her chief coach, Vijay Sharma, revealed that a meticulously designed training programme focused on injury prevention was crucial to her success, especially after previous Asian Games disappointments due to injury. Chanu lifted a combined 198kg, adding this prestigious medal to her Olympic silver, Commonwealth Games golds, and World Championships title.
Indian shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan reached the women's 10m air rifle final at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
India concluded its campaign at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships with a total of 16 medals, including two gold medals won by javelin thrower Anand Singh and the women's 4x400m relay team. Anand Singh achieved a personal best throw of 80.57m, while other Indian athletes secured multiple silver and bronze medals across various events.
Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has expressed deep concern over the devastating floods in her home state of Assam, stating it has affected her focus at the Commonwealth Games. She appealed to the public for help, highlighting the loss of lives and homes, and the urgent need for food, water, and clothing for the affected population.
Veteran Indian hockey midfielder Manpreet Singh, despite numerous accolades including Olympic medals, is determined to win a World Cup medal before concluding his illustrious career after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India's Greco-Roman wrestlers had a successful start at the U23 Asian Championships, securing five medals, including two silver and three bronze, on the opening day of the competition.
Indian boxer Sumit Kundu secured a unanimous 5-0 victory over Thailand's Bunjong Sinsiri in the 70kg opening round of the Asian Games. Kundu, who previously missed a medal at the Commonwealth Games, now advances to the pre-quarterfinals and aims for a gold medal.
Indian ultra runners achieved remarkable success at the IAU 24H Asia and Oceania Championship in Japan, securing gold in the men's team event and a bronze in the women's team event. Amar Singh Devanda won gold in the men's individual event, setting a new national record.
Aakriti Dahiya and Anjum Moudgil secured silver and bronze respectively in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event at the Asian Shooting Championship, while Kazakhstan's Sofiya Shulzhenko set a new world record. India's Prachi Gaikwad also won gold in the junior women's 3P final.
Former national badminton coach Prakash Padukone expressed disappointment over India's performance at the recent Asian Games, where the country secured only a team bronze.
Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal in the women's 49kg weightlifting category at the Asian Games in Nagoya, ending her 12-year pursuit for this elusive honour. This marks India's first Asian Games weightlifting medal since 1998. Chanu expressed immense relief and joy, calling it a dream fulfilled and her life complete. She also discussed her future plans regarding the 2028 Olympics' 53kg category.
Indian boxer Parveen Hooda is set to compete in the Asian Games, aiming to win a medal after her previous bronze was revoked due to a WADA suspension for whereabouts failures. Her comeback journey has been marked by significant challenges, including changing weight categories multiple times, overcoming injuries, and adapting her training to a new division. Hooda is determined to prove herself and achieve a podium finish, viewing it as unfinished business.
India's Dhiraj Bommadevara has set a new Asian Games men's recurve qualification record with 698 points, topping the standings in Okazaki City, Japan, and securing a bye into the second round of the individual elimination draw. This performance follows his recent World Cup Final triumph.
Indian boxer Sumit Kundu secured a unanimous 5-0 victory over Thailand's Bunjong Sinsiri in the 70kg opening round of the Asian Games, advancing to the pre-quarterfinals. This marks a positive start for India's 11-member boxing contingent, which aims to improve upon its previous Asian Games performance of four medals.
India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.
The Asian Games, a major multi-sport event, has a long history of controversies extending beyond the sporting arena. From diplomatic disputes and selection rows to doping scandals and disputed decisions, these incidents have often highlighted the intersection of politics, national interests, and sports.
Himanshu Dhillon, on his 21st birthday, won the silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle at the Asian Games.
Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh stormed to victory in the mixed team 10m air pistol competition to claim India's second gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games on Friday.
Top-ranked 25m pistol shooter Esha Singh discusses her preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, highlighting her unique approach of competing against herself rather than others. She reflects on her recent World Cup gold and world record, emphasizing the importance of mental freshness and focusing on basics.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday
Tajinderpal Singh Toor secured a silver medal in shot put at the Asian Games, marking his third consecutive medal at the event. Despite aiming for gold and a new personal best, Toor faced challenging wet conditions and minor injuries, finishing behind Iran's Mohammadreza Tayebise who set a new Games record. Toor expressed disappointment but acknowledged the significance of winning a medal for India.
Former India international and coach Soumyadeep Roy is set to join the national table tennis squad for the upcoming Asian Games as a personal coach, five years after being embroiled in a match-fixing controversy at the Tokyo Olympics. Despite the past issues and the suspension of the TTFI, Roy aims to guide his players and contribute to India's medal prospects.
Ishan Kishan's explosive unbeaten 80 and Jasprit Bumrah's two wicket burst were instrumental in guiding India to a 124-run win over Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal on Thursday.
Harjinder Kaur finished ninth in the women's 69kg weightlifting event at the Asian Games, marking a disappointing end to India's campaign. Her combined effort was 204kg, significantly behind gold medallist Song Kuk-hyang who set new world records. India concluded the weightlifting events with one silver medal won by Mirabai Chanu.
Indian shooters continued their domination at the 25th Deaflympics here Tuesday, securing a double-podium finish by winning both the gold and bronze medals in the 10m air rifle mixed team event.
India's U-17 girls boxing team had a successful day at the Asian Championships, with eight boxers advancing to the finals. Rakhi, Khushi Chand, Navya, Diya, Himanshi, Jyoti, Vanshika, and Gurseerat Kaur secured their spots in the finals, while Mamta Murlidhar, Manjunath Lamani, Ishika, and Harnoor Kaur settled for bronze medals after losing their semi-final bouts.
