In a first for women's boxing in India, former world champion and Asian Games bronze-medallist L Sarita Devi has decided to turn professional but will not give up on the amateur circuit either if the Boxing Federation of India allows her. The 31-year-old multiple-time Asian champion decided to take the plunge by signing up a two-year deal with the commercial partners of Indian Boxing Council (IBC) - a licensing body for professional boxers in the country -- Sporty Boxing Private Limited.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
'Aggression is very important.' 'In the new scoring system the judges are more impressed if you land more punches and fight more aggressively.'
The best-ever medal haul at the 2018 Asian Games is a leap forward for India sport after the Commonwealth Games medal spurt.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
Rediff.com brings you the second instalment of the Best Sports Photos of the Year!
Check out India's schedule on Day 8 of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, on Thursday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
In an unprecedented move, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country's highest sporting award, will be conferred on four athletes this year. The Sports Ministry announced on Monday that Olympic medalists P V Sindhu and Sakshi Malik will be honoured alongside trail-blazing gymnast Dipa Karmakar and ace shooter Jitu Rai.
Diwakar Prasad and Harpal Singh progressed into the semifinals of their respective boxing events.
A promotion promised six years back hasn't come through even now and the sponsors also never quite warmed up to him but Olympic-bound boxer Manoj Kumar says his stubborn streak prevented him from quitting the sport during what seemed like a never-ending dark phase.
Mary Kom is just a couple of months shy of turning 36 but said she isn't going to slow down either at home or inside the ring.
World Championships bronze medallist Simranjit Kaur (60kg) and GeeBee Boxing silver medallist Dinesh Dagar (69kg) confirmed their places in the final, while Ankush Dahiya (64kg) and Ananta Pralhad Chopade (52kg) made it to the semi-finals.
A golden dream unfulfilled for over 30 years remained just that in women's hockey but India equalled its best ever medal haul as sailors joined the assorted contributors to the country's tally at the 18th Asian Games, on Friday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday
As preparations for the Rio Olympics gather pace, India may be headed for yet another paltry medal haul.
In his most recent gesture, Yogeshwar Dutt refused dowry and took just Rs 1 as shagun for his wedding.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
'There are no drugs to be given in the first week, if you have been hospitalised.' 'If you're getting any drug, that drug is likely to be unnecessary.' 'Or the hospitalisation is unnecessary.'
Mumbai-headquartered financial services firm Edelweiss, for close to a decade now, has been aligning its brand with sporting talent of every kind except cricket. What made the company buck the trend, and has it worked?
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
"He has taken the decision to step aside. He had no idea that the IOA was going to do this yesterday and has declined any post till his name is clear," Kalmadi's lawyer Hitesh Jain told a TV channel.
P V Sindhu cemented her position as a dominant force on the world stage with an Olympic silver medal while Saina Nehwal continued to battle with injuries in a year, which saw Indian badminton take giant strides at the global platform. It turned out to be a watershed year for Sindhu, who reached the upper echelons of world badminton with a silver medal at Rio Games -- an achievement also for her mentor and chief coach Pullela Gopichand, who became the only Indian coach to produce two Olympic medallists. On the other hand, for the first part of the year, it was Saina's battle with injuries which dominated the headlines even though she was considered to be the best bet for India at Rio. The Indian ace fought against time to recover from an Achilles tendons and went on to win the Australian Super Series.
Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, on Friday, said genuine medal prospects will not face any problem in getting financial support from the government but also emphasised on the need to use the taxpayers' money judiciously.
What a year Sania Mirza, Leander Paes, Saina Nehwal, Vijender Singh and Anirban Lahiri had!
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Saturday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
Furious with the three boxers who alleged that trials for the upcoming World Championships were manipulated, Indian Boxing Federation President Abhishek Matoria, said on Friday, disciplinary action will be taken against them if they fail to prove their charges.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Top-order batsman Usman Khawaja has been drafted into the Australia squad for the ongoing ODI series against India in place of opener David Warner whose wife is expecting the couple's second child. Khawaja will join the squad in Brisbane and, at this stage, will remain for matches two and three of the five-game series, at the Gabba on January 15, and at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 17 respectively, Cricket Australia said. National selector Rod Marsh said Warner would be welcomed back into the squad when circumstances allow.
