Five Indian tennis players were excluded from the Asian Games squad because they did not meet the Sports Ministry's stringent international ranking criteria, a decision that has drawn criticism from veteran players like Rohan Bopanna but is being upheld by authorities to maintain administrative integrity.
Indian discus thrower Seema Kaliramna secured a Commonwealth Games bronze medal after an arduous comeback journey. Post-childbirth, she battled severe arthritis, which threatened her career, but with her husband's support and a rigorous recovery, she returned to achieve a personal best and a podium finish.
Pakistan's Olympic gold-medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem will skip the upcoming Diamond League meet in Lausanne to concentrate on his preparation for the Asian Games and another international event. He will undergo a training camp in South Africa under coach Terseus Liebenberg, aiming to improve his performance after recent struggles.
The upcoming 2026 Ladakh Marathon will feature a record prize pool of Rs 1 crore, aiming to attract over 10,000 visitors globally. This high-altitude event, scheduled from September 10 to 13, is set to welcome participants from 28 Indian states, six Union Territories, and all six inhabited continents, reinforcing its growing international stature.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel formally received the Commonwealth Games flag, symbolising the official commencement of preparations for Ahmedabad to host the global sporting event in 2030.
Sharmila Dhankar of India has won a gold medal in the women's shot put F57 event at the Commonwealth Games, achieving a season-best throw of 9.81m.
Abhay Singh of Reliance won gold in the men's 200m race as national junior records continued to tumble on the final day of the 24th National U20 Athletics Federation Competition here on Sunday.
Following is the schedule of Indian athletes on the ninth day of Commonwealth Games on Friday.
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.
'Frankly, I'm in that zone for another Olympics.'
Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra achieved his season's best throw of 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League, securing second place, narrowly beaten by Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage who threw 88.14m.
A 12-member Indian squad, led by Ram Baboo and Manju Rani, will compete in the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brasilia, Brazil.
Priyanka Goswami led the Indian women's marathon team to a fifth-place finish at the World Athletics Race Walking Championships. In the men's event, India did not figure in the team rankings due to fielding only two competitors.
National record-holder Tejas Shirse competed in the Commonwealth Games men's 110m hurdles final despite sustaining a navicular stress fracture in his left foot during warm-up. He finished eighth, demonstrating immense grit and determination, becoming the first Indian to reach this final. Shirse, who holds the national record of 13.27 seconds, ran with a heavily taped foot, enduring significant pain to complete the race.
Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who has Indian ancestral roots, attributes the rise of young athletes like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi across global sports to advancements in technology and better access to information from an earlier age.
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.
The Sports Ministry has suspended the recognition of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) due to significant governance deficiencies, including delayed elections and failure to ensure athlete welfare. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been directed to form an ad-hoc committee to manage the sport until a proper governance structure is re-established.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has disbursed Rs 42.3 lakh in quarterly stipends to 42 promising young chess players across India. This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens, support coaching and travel, and nurture future champions, aligning with a vision to strengthen grassroots chess development.
Sharmila Dhankar, a para-athlete who overcame polio and personal adversity, has made history by becoming India's first para-athlete to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in the women's shot put F57 event. Her season's best throw of 9.81m ended a two-decade wait for India in para-athletics at the CWG, with compatriot Shilpa Shyla also securing a bronze.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has outlined Ahmedabad's vision for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, emphasising unparalleled accessibility for para athletes and a strong commitment to sustainability through green energy and electric transport.
National record holder Vishal TK has qualified for the men's 400m semifinals at the Commonwealth Games, keeping India's medal aspirations alive. His compatriot Rajesh Ramesh, however, narrowly missed out on qualification. Vishal, who holds the national record of 44.98 seconds, finished second in his heat and will compete in the semifinals on July 30.
India's top sprinters are set to compete in the International Invitation Relay Competition in Chandigarh, aiming to qualify for the World Athletics Relays in Botswana. Several national relay teams are hoping to secure their place at the World Relays in Gaborone.
Skiers Arif Mohammad Khan and Stanzin Lundup will be the first Indian beneficiaries of the International Olympic Committee's US$ 10,000 grant for Olympians.
Indian triple jumpers Praveen Chitravel and Selva Prabhu Thirumaran secured silver and bronze medals respectively at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, with Chitravel jumping 16.58m and Thirumaran 16.52m. Jamaica's Jordan Scott won gold, while Ramesh Shanmugam finished seventh in the para athletics segment.
India's burgeoning franchise volleyball ecosystem, particularly with dedicated Under-21 tournaments like the Guardians Trophy, is creating a structured pathway for young players. This initiative aims to develop talent from the grassroots to professional levels, fostering cultural adaptation and skill enhancement, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the senior national team and achieving Olympic qualification.
India concluded its 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign with a strong performance, securing fourth place with 39 medals despite a reduced sporting programme.
Ariha Pangambam from Manipur has made history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in the senior women's individual event at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships. The 22-year-old gymnast expressed pride in her achievement, hoping to inspire young athletes, and shared insights into the challenges faced during the competition, including adapting to a wooden floor, and her journey from artistic to aerobic gymnastics.
Former Australian hockey legend Jamie Dwyer believes the Indian team possesses the talent and infrastructure to become a dominant force in world hockey but stresses that 'they need to maintain consistency as a team' to realise their true potential.
Indian fast bowlers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar were on Friday appointed as Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) by the Bihar government under its 'Medal Lao, Naukri Pao' policy, with Akash calling it a "big responsibility" and urging students to maintain peace amid the ongoing protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
The National Inter-State Championships saw two new national records being set. Anushka Yadav broke the hammer throw record with a 67.02m effort, while Dev Meena set a new pole vault record by clearing 5.47m.
India's top women's singles players, including Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaishnavi Adkar, and Vaidehee Chaudhari, have been excluded from the Asian Games tennis squad after the Sports Ministry pruned the list, leaving the national challenge without its leading singles contenders.
Former India women's hockey captain Asunta Lakra has written to the Sports Ministry, SAI, and IOA, alleging institutional protection of sexual harassment and intimidation of women athletes within the sport. She claims she faced threats and a smear campaign after raising concerns about an individual, Sudhir Gola, and has accused Hockey India Secretary General Bholanath Singh of threatening her. Singh denies the allegations, linking them to upcoming elections, while Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey has acknowledged Lakra's concerns and promised an amicable resolution.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has assured continued government support to trap shooter Neeru Dhanda and pistol ace Esha Singh, who recently achieved historic gold medals at ISSF World Cups. Mandaviya highlighted shooting as a priority sport for India, with significant investment in athlete development programs like TOPS and Khelo India, aiming for future Olympic and Commonwealth Games success.
Indian boxer Jadumani Singh, a silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games 2026, shared his emotional victory over a Pakistani opponent on Kargil Vijay Diwas with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dedicating his 5-0 win to Indian Army heroes.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann congratulated athlete Gurindervir Singh for breaking the men's 100m national record at the Federation Cup athletics meet in Ranchi.
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.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor won the men's shot put title at the Indian Athletics Series in Sangrur, while Annu Rani finished third in the women's javelin throw. Harjit Singh and Fatema Begam were the fastest runners.
India has dispatched a formidable contingent, including Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Swapnil Kusale, to the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has called for the state to become a hub for Indian futsal, producing players capable of leading the national team to the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Speaking at a felicitation for Tlangnuam Futsal Club, he emphasised nurturing talent for international success and highlighted government investment in sports infrastructure.
Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav has written to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, recommending Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu for the Arjuna Award. Despite having received higher honours like the Khel Ratna and Padma Shri, Chanu's childhood dream of the Arjuna Award remains unfulfilled, and Jadhav believes it would be a fitting recognition of her contributions to Indian sport.
