Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar announced India's ambitious plan to rank among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and top five by 2047. He highlighted the central government's commitment to sports development through initiatives like Khelo India, increased budget allocation, and a special fund for sports equipment and technology, emphasising sports as a tool for nation-building and youth empowerment.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar announced India's ambitious plan to rank among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and top five by 2047. He highlighted the central government's commitment to sports development through initiatives like Khelo India, increased budget allocation, and a special fund for sports equipment and technology, emphasising sports as a tool for nation-building and youth empowerment.
Tanvi Sharma's bid to script history by winning a gold medal at the BWF World Junior Championships ended in heartbreak as she lost in straight games to Thailand's Anyapat Phichitpreechasak
Indian para-archers delivered a strong performance at the World Para Archery Series in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. Bhawna clinched a dramatic gold in the women's recurve, while world champion Sheetal Devi secured an individual silver, a compound mixed team gold, and a women's team bronze. Harvinder Singh also won a silver medal.
Indian badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma has secured her spot in the women's singles final of the Taipei Open Super 300 after a dominant straight-game victory. The 17-year-old will now compete for the title, continuing her impressive rise in the international badminton circuit.
The Indian athletics team for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan has undergone significant changes, with Commonwealth Games medallist Yashvir Singh replacing an injured Neeraj Chopra.
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.
After making history as the first Indian male judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold, Harsh Singh is now focused on securing a medal at the upcoming Asian Games.
Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj failed to qualify for the men's 100m backstroke final at the Commonwealth Games, finishing 12th in the semifinals. Additionally, Indian para swimmers Ravi Veera Venkata Bhavan Budigina and Ali Imam also missed out on podium finishes in the men's 50m freestyle S13 final, placing sixth and eighth respectively.
Indian badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma, 17, secured her first BWF World Tour title by winning the women's singles at the Taipei Open Super 300. She defeated Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen in straight games, showcasing her potential as a rising star in the sport.
India's Priya secured a decisive victory, while Jadumani Singh faced a narrow defeat at the Asian Boxing Championships.
India's Anish Bhanwala endured two nerve-wracking shoot-offs in a high-quality 25m rapid-fire pistol final to clinch the biggest medal in his shooting career, a silver at the ISSF World Championships (Pistol/Rifle), in Cairo on Sunday.
Indian compound archers achieved remarkable success at the Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournament Stage 1, securing gold in the mixed team event, silver in the women's team event, and a clean sweep in the men's individual category.
India is sending a 125-member contingent to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with established stars like Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain, alongside rising talents such as Aryan Nehra and Gurindervir Singh, expected to lead the nation's medal charge across 13 disciplines.
Following her Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medal win, Indian boxer Preeti Pawar reflected on the learning experience that the event gave her ahead of the Asian Games this year and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the boxing culture in her hometown Bhiwani, known as 'Mini Cuba' for producing world-class talent and the fulfillment of her baklava promise after her medal win in Glasgow.
India concluded the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships in 11th place with 11 medals, while the women's team secured third position in the rankings. China dominated the event, leading both the overall medal tally and the women's team rankings.
Mizoram's Isak Malsawmtluanga overcame the loss of his parents and a back injury to win a gold medal in weightlifting at the Khelo India Tribal Games, showcasing resilience and determination.
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty is actively working to transform his 'natural laid-back approach' into a more aggressive playing style as he prepares for his World Championship debut, where he faces current world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China in his opening match.
Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade secured the men's and women's singles titles, respectively, at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, contributing to India's near-total dominance with all but one gold medal.
Indian gymnasts Tapan Mohanty and Yogeshwar Singh have successfully qualified for the men's all-around final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. While they secured individual berths, the Indian men's team finished seventh in the overall competition, with Canada, England, and Australia taking the top three spots.
Anahat Singh, the first Indian to win the World Junior Squash Championships, discusses her historic victory and dismisses the notion of Egyptian players having a psychological advantage.
Subedar Hokato Sema lost his leg in a mine blast on the Line of Control. Today he is a champion para shot-putter and among the most decorated para soldier-athletes.
Karthik Budigina narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in the men's 100m Freestyle S13 final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Fellow Indian Imam Ali placed seventh, while Srihari Nataraj also qualified for the 50m backstroke semifinals.
India's junior men's artistic gymnastics team achieved a historic bronze medal at the Asian Championships held in Zunyi, China. The team, comprising Harschit Damodaran, Nishad Narvane, SK Nabigh Ali, Akshat Bajaj, and Mohammed Zaid Ansari, scored 224.493 points, finishing behind gold medallists China and silver medallists Japan.
Indian women wrestlers Hansika Lamba and Neha won bronze medals, while Meenakshi Goyat advanced to the final at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships.
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 weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is determined to win a medal at the Asian Games, the only major title missing from her collection. She also spoke about the importance of the Khelo India Tribal Games.
As New Delhi prepares to host the BWF World Championships from August 17-23, 2026, five young talents - Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Alwi Farhan, Tomoka Miyazaki, and Kalyana Nalbantova - are identified as potential breakout stars capable of challenging the sport's biggest names and redefining their careers.
India's Prachi Lohan and Sachin achieved top-25 finishes at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships in New Delhi. Japan's Kyosuke Matsuyama won gold in men's foil, while Kazakhstan's Irina Bakaldina secured gold in women's epee, marking a historic first for her country.
Indian para-swimmer Karthik Budigina finished a commendable fourth in the men's 100m Freestyle S13 final at the Commonwealth Games, narrowly missing a medal. Meanwhile, Olympian Srihari Nataraj failed to qualify for the men's 50m backstroke final, finishing seventh in his semifinal heat. Another Indian para-swimmer, Imam Ali, placed seventh in his final.
Top Indian shuttlers have received a mixed draw for the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, with PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen getting relatively favourable starts, while Asian Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty faces a formidable opening round against defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China.
Vikramaditya Chaufla and Sidharth Nandal emerged as top performers at the All India Racketlon Open in Mumbai, securing multiple medals. Chaufla won two golds and a silver, while Nandal bagged two golds, showcasing their prowess in the multi-racket sport.
Vidarsa K Vinod, a 27-year-old rifle shooter from Kozhikode, has secured a spot in the Indian squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Her path from an NCC introduction to elite competition was marked by financial struggles, training with borrowed equipment, and overcoming setbacks like the COVID-19 pandemic. With crucial support from her family, husband, and the National Centre of Excellence, she now aims to become the World No. 1 in her sport.
India's premier long-distance runner, Gulveer Singh, is confident of improving his bronze medal performance from the 2022 Asian Games in the upcoming edition. Holding national records in multiple events, Singh is preparing for both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, focusing on strategic training under his US-based coach and utilising advanced sportswear technology.
Rewari's Kamaljeet, a 22-year-old pistol shooter, is set to represent India at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, after an injury ended his athletics dream and he transitioned to shooting in 2019, overcoming financial struggles with strong family and institutional support.
Asian Championship: Aishwary Tomar leads India's clean sweep in 50m rifle 3-positions
Indian swimmers Sajan Prakash and Aryan Nehra finished eighth in their respective finals at the Commonwealth Games, while para swimmer Swatik Patil secured fifth place in his event. Prakash competed in the men's 200m butterfly, Nehra in the men's 800m freestyle, and Patil in the men's 100m breaststroke SB9.
Ace Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was awarded 'Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025' at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards. Chopra expressed his emotional connection to the award, given in the presence of multiple generations of athletes. The ceremony also honoured Parul Chaudhary as Best Female Athlete and P T Usha with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising significant contributions to Indian athletics.
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak is focusing on increasing her difficulty level for the Asian Championships after winning a silver medal at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Tashkent. She is balancing execution and difficulty in preparation for the Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games.
After living in India's most palatial residence for 12 years, India's first President Dr Rajendra Prasad returned to his simple hut on the banks of the Ganga. He never owned a house of his lifetime.
