Sports Governance Act: Tier System for Athletes, Convicted Ineligible
High costs, visa hurdles, and logistics for the World Cup are deterring fans, leading to a disappointing boost for US hotels, airlines, and the travel industry.
Students and water sports athletes joined Bilquees Mir for the first-ever floating yoga session on Pokhribal Lake.
India is set to field its strongest-ever contingent at the Asia Cup Bridge Championships 2026 in Goa, featuring top international stars and Asian Games medallists. The tournament, organised by the Bridge Federation of India, will host 46 elite teams from Asia and Oceania, highlighting India's growing prominence in intellectual sports.
German investigators have launched nationwide searches, including at the DFB soccer association offices, as part of a probe into suspected ticket and hospitality violations related to the 2024 European Championship. The investigation targets illegal allocation of thousands of tickets and hotel invitations to preferred guests, with one municipal employee suspected of receiving benefits worth 2,400.
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.
Despite Pakistan not qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, Karachi is buzzing with excitement as the global event begins. "WC Football" villages have been set up in areas like Malir and Lyari, known for their love of the sport, featuring large screens, decorations, and enthusiastic fans. The city's passion for football is evident, with local clubs and administration organising events for youngsters, highlighting the sport's growing influence beyond cricket.
Despite the World Cup returning to their country for the first time in four decades, many in Mexico said they feel excluded, priced out of stadiums, forced to pay for expensive TV subscriptions and constrained by strict licensing rules.
Karnataka's G Sindhushree, an unheralded pole vaulter, achieved a new national record of 4.25m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. This performance not only secured her a gold medal but also a spot in the Asian Games. Overcoming personal hardships, Sindhushree dedicated her achievement to her late father. The event also saw other athletes like Animesh Kujur, Harshita Bhadra, Manpreet Kaur, Gowthami Jayaraman, Mohammed Afsal, and N Thowfeeq qualify for the Asian Games in various disciplines.
Indian boxing is considering rewarding boxers who perform well at major international events like the Asian Games with direct entry to the Olympic qualifiers, according to women's head coach Santiago Nieva.
All Indian track and field athletes selected for the Asian Games will compete in the final leg of the Indian Athletics Series on September 10. The schedule for other legs of the series has also been revised, while a group of athletes has departed for Europe to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.
The Indian junior women's hockey team concluded a seven-match exposure tour of the UK, securing three wins and four losses against various international teams. This tour served as crucial preparation for the upcoming Under-21 Asia Cup in China, providing valuable experience and insights into areas for improvement.
With Mariachi costumes, trumpets, and a sea of dark green support, Mexico City has opened the World Cup on Thursday, as fans packed the famous Azteca stadium ahead of the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, amid a backdrop of protests around the capital.
Asian Championships gold medallist Neeru Dhanda has secured her first individual ISSF World Cup title in the women's trap event in Lonato, Italy.
The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) commenced in Chhattisgarh, providing a national stage for tribal athletes to showcase their abilities. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the event's significance in promoting sports culture and identifying talent from remote areas.
P V Sindhu clinched her maiden Super 750 title at the Japan Open, defeating local favourite Akane Yamaguchi in a dominant performance that showcased her return to top form, ending a nearly two-year title drought and rekindling hopes for a record sixth World Championships medal.
The San Jose Earthquakes, despite their strong season, are making way for the U.S. national team as California hosts World Cup knockout matches. This event is seen as a significant opportunity to showcase soccer's global appeal and accelerate its growth in the state, which already boasts a thriving football culture driven by its diverse population and numerous professional teams.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said Yogasana would be pushed for inclusion in the future Olympic Games roster keeping in mind India's bid to host the 2036 Games.
Thousands of runners participated in Jammu's first international marathon, braving incessant rain. The event featured multiple race categories, celebrity participation, and a significant prize pool, aiming to boost tourism and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Sobers excelled at many sports, including soccer and basketball, but cricket was his passion. His first memories of the sport were of playing in the road or on the beach, aged eight.
India's Tanvi Khanna, ranked 74th in the world, secured the women's title at the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour-Mumbai. She achieved a remarkable comeback from two games down to defeat Egyptian second seed Farida Walid in a thrilling five-game final. This marks Khanna's fifth PSA title. Malaysia's Mohammad Syafiq Kamal won the men's title.
India will field a 22-member shooting squad at the ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup in Munich from May 24 to 31, with double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker set to compete in two individual pistol events besides the mixed team competition.
India's top badminton players, including the men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, singles stars Lakshya Sen, P V Sindhu, and rising talent Ayush Shetty, are set to compete at the USD 950,000 Japan Open Super 750 tournament. The event marks a crucial stage for many Indian shuttlers to make significant runs on the BWF World Tour.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is expected to become India's youngest-ever international cricketer when he takes the field against Ireland in Belfast on Friday, will be provided separate changing facilities throughout the subsequent T20 series in England due to safeguarding regulations governing underage athletes.
The Indian shooting fraternity is mourning the sudden demise of legendary pistol ace and Dronacharya awardee Jaspal Rana at the age of 49 due to cardiac complications. Rana, a multiple-time Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medallist, was also a highly successful coach who mentored Olympic medallists like Manu Bhaker, leaving an indelible mark on Indian shooting.
Rohit Yadav lit up Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium with a career-best throw of 87.05m in the men's javelin throw on the concluding day of the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships.
A team of yoga athletes from the United States is heading to India to participate in the maiden World Yogasana Championship to be held in Ahmedabad from June 4 to 8.
Gaganjeet Bhullar will lead a strong Indian contingent at the International Series golf tournament, joined by other prominent Indian golfers.
Pakistan's Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem admits feeling pressure as he prepares to defend his title at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Nadeem, who will lead Pakistan's contingent, is set to renew his rivalry with India's Neeraj Chopra, who missed the last Games. Despite recent injury setbacks for both athletes, Nadeem is confident in his preparation, including an international meet in Switzerland, to regain his form and secure another gold.
Since the FIFA World Cup's inaugural tournament in 1930, 23 competitions have occurred up to 2026. Interestingly, only 8 countries have succeeded in claiming the famous trophy and on Sunday, Spain added their second title.
Viswanathan Anand will not seek re-election for a third term as Deputy President of FIDE.
Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar finished the International Series Singapore at Tied-26th after a disappointing final round. Korea's Jeongwoo Ham secured a wire-to-wire victory, earning a spot in the Open Championship.
Indian golfer Aditi Ashok, a two-time Olympian, discusses how regular competition on the LPGA Tour has elevated her game, with improving driving distance being her top priority. She is focused on achieving success at the upcoming Asian Games and other major tournaments, expressing confidence in the potential of India's women's golf team.
Egypt's national football coach, Hossam Hassan, has vehemently blamed 'unfair' refereeing decisions and 'external factors' for his team's dramatic World Cup elimination by Argentina, stating he will no longer watch the tournament.
Go once. You will know, even before you board the flight home, that you will return.
G Sindhushree lacked the funds to buy proper equipment after her father's death in 2022, forcing her to compete with shorter poles until she borrowed a longer one just two weeks before the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar.
Indian skeet shooters, including Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka, faced challenging qualification rounds at the ISSF World Cup (Shotgun) in Lonato, Italy. While Dhaliwal was the best-placed Indian woman, and Khan showed promise in the men's event, most are unlikely to reach the finals.
Human rights and sports advocacy groups are urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider reported plans for universal genetic sex testing for female athletes and a blanket ban on transgender and intersex competitors, warning of potential harm to gender equity in sports.
Teenage shooter Anvii Rathord won a bronze medal in the women's 10m air rifle at the ISSF Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany. However, India's campaign was marred by a team disqualification due to a breach of equipment stiffness standards by Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar. Despite this setback, India continues to lead the medal tally. The championship also saw another Indian shooter, Vanshika Chaudhary, miss a potential gold due to a costly error.
Early data from the World Cup indicates that sportswear giant Adidas is currently gaining a significant advantage over rival Nike in brand visibility and sales. Adidas, an official sponsor, is seeing a substantial surge in apparel spending and foot traffic, particularly driven by jersey sales. While Nike's business is also growing, it is being outpaced by Adidas, which appears to have a more resonant product offering. Nike, facing declining market share and intense competition, is relying on the World Cup for a boost, though its footwear presence remains strong.
