Grappling with unprecedented uncertainty over the fate of the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season, the AIFF on Saturday moved in to "calm" fears among its referees, assuring them that their contracts will be renewed "as per established procedure."
This will be the second FIFA tournament India will be hosting, after the Under-17 men's World Cup in 2017.
Sachin Tendulkar marvelled at India's rise in newer disciplines, while Abhinav Bindra paid tribute to all those who "silently carry the athletes forward" as the two icons offered their views on India's sporting growth on National Sports Day.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
'When the girls said they want to play football, the mothers were encouraging.' 'It was the fathers who were against the idea.'
The women's football competition at the Asian Games 2023, meanwhile, will kick off on September 21.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75, wishes poured in from across the country, with sporting icons Gautam Gambhir, R Praggnanandhaa, and Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker sending their heartfelt messages.
While there is no imminent threat to the AFC Asian Cup participation by the senior men's team in late 2023 or early 2024, some of the games slated for clubs and age-group national teams in the next few months could well be a tricky terrain.
The Indian men's team currently occupies the 18th spot among countries under the Asian Football Confederation, while the women's side is ranked 11th.
The Indian women's football team put up a spirited fight but could not avoid their second consecutive loss, going down 1-2 to Chinese Taipei in a group D encounter of the AFC Women's Asian Cup (Qualifiers) at the Faisal Al Huseni Stadium in Ramallah, West Bank.
Renowned Scottish club Rangers FC on Wednesday announced the signing of woman's national team forward Bala Devi -- a first in Indian football. This will make Bala the first Indian woman to become a professional footballer anywhere in the world and she also becomes Rangers' first Asian international footballer.
A memorandum to visiting Union Home Minister Amit A Shah, stated: 'Paramilitary forces might have been reluctant to prevent Kuki terrorists from attacking innocent civilians,' the news agency IANS reported.
The Indian women's football team continued its rampaging form to thrash Sri Lanka 7-0 and book a berth in the semi-finals of the SAFF Women's championship in Cox Bazar, Bangladesh.
'A dream moment', said the country's sports fraternity in unison as it celebrated the resurgence of Indian hockey at the Tokyo Olympics after the women's team advanced to its first ever semi-final, in Tokyo, on Monday.
The 20-year-old was the fourth Indian woman footballer to sign for an overseas club when she landed a multi-year contract with Cypriot top division winners Apollon Ladies.
A low-down on the eight runners -- four men and four women -- who finished second in their qualifying heats to make the Olympic cut.
All the results from the I-League and ISL matches played on Friday
Bembem hoped the Padma Shri will act as recognition for women's football in India.
Defending champions India fought back from a goal down to defeat Nepal 3-1 and retain the Women's SAFF Football Championship in Colombo on Sunday.
If approved, yoga could debut as a demonstration sport in the 2026 Games in Nagoya, Japan, marking a significant milestone in its journey from a spiritual practice to a recognised competitive discipline.
It all started to go from bad to worse when controversial former All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel, whose third term in office ended in December 2020, stayed in office citing a pending Supreme Court case.
The main issue with football in the country is the lack of a robust league structure.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed that cricket will be included in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Juhi Chawla added star power to the stands at Eden Gardens on May 4, passionately cheering for her team
Talisman Sunil Chhetri, senior defender Sandesh Jhingan and first-choice goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu were on Tuesday named in a 22-member Indian men's football squad for the upcoming Asian Games.
India's sports stars including badminton P V Sindhu was conferred the Padma Bhushan -- the country's third-highest civilian award, while women's football icon Bembem Devi, archer Tarundeep Rai and women's hockey captain Rani Rampal were conferred with the Padma Shri.
Bala Devi is hoping for an Indian Super League-style women's league in the near future.
Sribhumi FC secured their first win in three games with a 4-2 victory over Nita Football Academy in their Indian Women's League (IWL) match.
"It's time to change the system," declared Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia on Saturday, after world football governing body FIFA lifted the ban imposed on the All India Football Federation.
Dennerby is in charge of the women's team for FIFA U-17 World Cup which will be held in November.
The women's age group showpiece was to be held at five venues in the country --Kolkata, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad and Navi Mumbai -- from November 2-21. FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup was postponed by football's governing body due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic across the globe.
Dheeraj, whose performance under the woodwork during the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India earned him accolades, is the third player after skipper Amarjit Singh and defender Anwar Ali from that squad, to get a call in the senior team camp.
Rishabh Pant has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.
A video uploaded on ATK Mohun Bagan's Instagram page, which has since been deleted, captured the 28-year-old defender as saying, "Aurato ke saath match khel aaya hoon, aurato ke saath" (I have played a match with women, with women), as he made his way back to the dressing room, at Vasco in Goa, on Saturday.
The first edition of women's IPL is tentatively scheduled for March 2023.
Elkatohchoongo was the best Indian cyclist at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, reaching to the quarter-finals.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
World No.1 Serena Williams has held on to her top position in the latest women's tennis rankings issued by the WTA.
Nataraj and Desinghu are tipped to become the best male and female athletes of the Games.
'It's a tremendous accomplishment to have a father like Amitabh Bachchan and still be so sorted, to not taste the kind of success that he should have and yet be so balanced.'
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