Hriday Chheda, a gold medallist from the 2022 Asian Games, acknowledges the increased expectations for India's dressage team at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan, emphasising the importance of staying calm and delivering a strong performance.
India concluded their campaign at the 22nd Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, securing second place with a total of 19 medals, including 10 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze.
Jhandu Kumar, an Indian para powerlifter, secured a bronze medal in the men's heavyweight category at the Commonwealth Games.
India has clarified its policy regarding participation in the 2027 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Pakistan, stating decisions will align with national sports policies and international governing bodies. While bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan remain suspended, Indian athletes are permitted to compete in multilateral events. The government also aims to simplify visa processes to position India as a global sports hosting destination.
Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom believes Indian pugilists will secure a 'reasonably good medal haul' at the Commonwealth Games, though gold might be elusive, while expressing less certainty for the Asian Games. She also criticised the Boxing Federation of India's functioning and selection policies.
India's weightlifting team, led by Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, is set to compete at the Commonwealth Games. Despite a reduced squad due to doping violations, India aims to continue its dominant performance in the sport, benefiting from the absence of strong competitors like China and North Korea. Chanu, a strong gold medal contender, plans a cautious approach with the Asian Games in mind.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Tulika Maan has been provisionally suspended by NADA for three whereabouts failures, leading to her withdrawal from the ongoing Glasgow edition. She faces a potential two-year ban, making her the second Indian judoka pulled from the Games due to anti-doping violations.
India has appointed Frederic Soyez as the chief coach of the national junior men's hockey team, replacing PR Sreejesh. Soyez brings extensive international coaching experience, including multiple Olympic Games and World Cups.
Ajith Narayana secured bronze medals in clean & jerk and overall at the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships, marking another milestone for Indian weightlifting.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has won the All-India Police Judo cluster tournament, which featured around 1,600 athletes from 36 police organisations. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) secured the runner-up position, with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) coming in third.
Indian paddlers enjoyed a rich haul of 10 medals, including four gold, at the 2026 WTT Star Youth Contender and Feeder events in Doha, highlighted by Ahona Roy's top-podium finish in the fiercely contested Under-15 girls' category.
India celebrated a remarkable day at the Commonwealth Games, securing its first-ever judo gold medals through Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh, achieving a javelin throw double podium with Neeraj Chopra and Yashvir Singh, and seeing 10 boxers advance to their respective finals.
The Sports Ministry is set to commence the nomination process for the National Sports Awards next month, following a delayed announcement of the 2025 awards. The delay was due to a re-evaluation process aimed at preserving the integrity of the honours, which resulted in no Khel Ratna awardee for 2025 and fewer Arjuna awardees than recommended. The article also details the criteria for these prestigious awards and highlights some of the notable Arjuna awardees for 2025.
Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi, and Kavipriya Selvam are set to make their BWF World Championships debut as India hosts the prestigious badminton event after 17 years, offering a significant platform for these rising stars.
India's legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar made a phone call to wrestler Sushil Kumar immediately after he won the silver medal at the London Olympics. 'Congratulations on winning the silver medal. You have made the country proud,' Tendulkar told him over the phone.
In the boys' final, Lanchenba (50kg) displayed tremendous skill and heart but narrowly missed gold, settling for silver after a tough bout against Kazakhstan's Nurmakhan Zhumagali.
Indian para badminton star Pramod Bhagat clinched the men's singles SL3 gold medal at the British & Irish International, defeating compatriot Nitesh Kumar in the final. Bhagat also secured a bronze in mixed doubles. Tokyo Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar added a silver and two bronze medals to India's tally, highlighting a strong performance by the Indian contingent in Dublin.
India's Shriya Milind Satam clinched the silver medal in the girls' 50kg Traditional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) category at the Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain, on Saturday.
Indian women boxers dominated the Asian Boxing Championships, securing four gold medals and topping the medal tally. Minakshi Hooda, Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas, and Arundhati Choudhary all won their respective finals. The team's success also secured Commonwealth and Asian Games spots for several boxers.
India finished on top of the ISSF Junior Shooting World Cup in Cairo with a total of 16 medals, including five gold, six silver, and five bronze. Hemant Burman won silver in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions, and Zuhair Khan and Addya Katyal won bronze in the trap mixed team event.
The Indian Under-11 girls' chess team, featuring Varenya Lakshmi Vaka, Aligiri Amrutha Hemal, and Maya Siddharth Narula, secured a bronze medal at the ASEAN Chess Championship in Singapore, finishing with 14.5 points.
World champion boxer Jaismine Lamboria clinched a gold medal in the women's 57kg category at the Commonwealth Games, overcoming a severe illness that included high fever, concussion, and hospitalisation just weeks before the event. Her victory marks a remarkable comeback, improving on her previous bronze medal, and highlights her resilience despite disrupted training and mental challenges.
Long jumper Shahnavaz Khan and high jumper Basant Kumar Meghwal, both recent World Athletics U20 Championships medalists, are now setting their sights on podium finishes at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, aiming to improve their personal bests.
Saurabh Chaudhary and Sakshi Sunil Padekar won titles in the men's 10m air pistol and women's 50m rifle 3 positions events respectively at the 24th Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship.
Former badminton coach Vimal Kumar expresses optimism about India's medal prospects at the upcoming Asian Games, suggesting they can surpass their previous tally of three. He stresses the critical need for Indian singles players, including Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty, to overcome inconsistencies and deliver under pressure. Kumar also highlights the challenges posed by the new 15-point format and the highly competitive nature of men's singles badminton.
Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav is determined to secure a podium finish at the upcoming Asian Games, stepping in after Neeraj Chopra's withdrawal due to injury. Yadav, who recently achieved a personal best of 87.68m, is focused on his rhythm and mindset to deliver his best performance and make the nation proud.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Arjuna Awardee Roopa Unnikrishnan gives away the rifles that shaped her brilliant shooting career, hoping they will inspire a new generation of Indian shooters.
The Indian men's and women's hockey teams are set to compete at the Asian Games in Kakamigahara, Japan, with the primary goal of winning gold to secure direct qualification for the Paris Olympics. The men's team aims to defend its title and overcome recent World Cup disappointment, while the women's team, buoyed by a strong World Cup performance, seeks only its second Asian Games gold. Both teams face tough competition, with the men needing to prove their dominance against regional rivals and the women confronting a strong Chinese side.
Rajesh Ramesh, a key figure in India's 4x400m relay teams, is set to make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, aiming to contribute to the team's success and make the nation proud.
Young marksman Shourya Saini clinched the men's 50m rifle 3-positions silver medal as India's dominance in the shooting competition of Deaflympics continued in Tokyo on Friday.
Neetal Narang has been appointed as India's first Safeguarding Officer for the upcoming Asian Games, a role mandated by the Olympic Council of Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed India's commitment to hosting the 2036 Olympic Games and unveiled a comprehensive nationwide talent hunt programme aimed at identifying and nurturing sporting talent among children aged five to 15 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lovlina Borgohain for her quick action in objecting to a distorted map of India at a Glasgow restaurant, highlighting her thoughtful gesture during a celebratory moment.
Indian badminton stars Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, and Ayush Shetty are preparing for the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. Sen, a former bronze medallist, aims for a deep run despite an inconsistent year, while the doubles pair focuses on adapting to court conditions. Rising star Ayush Shetty faces a tough opening challenge against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi, with all players expressing excitement about playing in front of a home crowd and noting improved venue conditions.
The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
Indian wrestlers showcased their talent at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships, securing multiple medals across various weight categories in both men's and women's freestyle events.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has called for an independent review of the National Rifle Association of India's (NRAI) coaching appointments, citing concerns about transparency, eligibility criteria, and potential conflicts of interest. The NRAI, however, asserts that appointments are merit-based and views Kumar's concerns as 'sour grapes' after his own non-selection.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a silver medal at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, losing 2-4 to China in the final. Despite the loss, their strong performance, including an 8-1 semi-final win against Kazakhstan, earned them a qualification spot for the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup. Hockey India also announced cash prizes for the team and support staff.
Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam finished 20th in the men's 1000m time trial, while Harshveer Singh Sekhon and Dinesh Kumar were eliminated from the men's 40km points race in the heats at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable made an emotional and triumphant return to competition, winning the men's 3000m steeplechase at the Indian Athletics Series Final. This victory marks his first race in the distance since suffering a career-threatening ACL and meniscus injury in July 2025, which led to surgery and a challenging recovery period. Sable, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, expressed the immense struggle he faced but is now confident of winning a medal at the upcoming Asian Games.
