The 23rd FIFA World Cup, to be staged across the Americas from June 11 to July 19, has once again ignited excitement across the globe. India, despite its national football team languishing at 139th in the FIFA rankings, has been swept up in the tournament's magic.
Renowned Indian shooting coach and former Asian Games gold medallist Jaspal Rana has passed away at 49 after a medical procedure following illness during a flight from the ISSF World Cup.
India's national football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu discusses the immense mental pressure of his position, the importance of resilience, and his admiration for Argentina's Emiliano Martinez. He also shares his predictions for the FIFA World Cup 2026, backing traditional powerhouses and hoping for an Asian team's strong performance.
Germany, aiming to repair its international reputation after two consecutive first-round exits, begins its World Cup campaign against minnows Curacao.
Four promising Indian tennis players, including Manas Dhamne and Vaishnavi Adkar, have been inducted into the Government of India's Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme, which provides comprehensive support for high-performance athletes. This move, welcomed by AITA, aims to strengthen India's presence in international tennis.
The family and coach of Indian sprinter Gurindervir Singh celebrate his record-breaking 100m sprint at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, where he became the first Indian to run below 10.10 seconds.
The BCCI will cover the expenses for 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents to accompany him on India's upcoming T20I tour of Ireland and England, following his inclusion in the national squad.
Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain clinched the women's 75kg gold at the National Games in Dehradun.
Mexico will kick off their home World Cup campaign against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, carrying the pressure of fan expectations and a strong unbeaten run.
The International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) has invited bids from India and other countries to host the next edition of the World Mind Games, scheduled for later this year or early 2027, capitalising on the growing popularity of chess and other mind sports in India.
Pochettino expects a "very tough game" against Paraguay, praising their aggression and discipline.
Mexico celebrated a historic 2-0 victory over South Africa in the opening match of the World Cup at the Azteca stadium, breaking a seven-game opening day curse.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has urged Indian shooters to support the country's goal of becoming a top-10 global sporting power within a decade. The NRAI marked its 75th anniversary with a plan to introduce shooting to 7.5 lakh youth through grassroots outreach.
Luka Modric scored to put Croatia ahead before they edged Slovenia 2-1 in the international friendly before the World Cup.
The Cricket Association of Nepal apologised after its players got a Bhutan batter 'timed out' in Thursday's ACC Women's Premier Cup match, saying the dismissal was within the laws but did not reflect the spirit of the game it wanted to uphold.
With hot weather due and memories fresh of the scorching 2025 Club World Cup, FIFA has for the first time mandated three-minute hydration breaks in each half for all 104 matches of the World Cup starting this week in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Indian shot putter Krishna Jayasankar is aiming to break the national outdoor record after setting a national indoor record in the USA. She is training to qualify for the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
India fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has emerged as one of the country's promising pace prospects after a steady rise through college cricket and domestic performances, earning a call-up to the national setup ahead of India A's upcoming tour.
Qatar's resilience against Switzerland owed much to goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, whose key saves kept them in the game, a remarkable comeback for a player once close to retirement due to a serious back injury.
Indian Navy congratulated Gurindervir Singh after he became the first Indian to run 100m in under 10.10 seconds.
Sourav Ganguly advised against placing excessive expectations on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the youngster should be given time to settle into international cricket.
Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) President Devendra Jhajharia has urged Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to initiate a CBI probe into the murder of para-athlete Chirag Tyagi, whose death has deeply affected the para-sports community. Police have detained another para-athlete, Yash Khatik, in connection with the case, citing revenge as a possible motive, while the Sports Ministry maintains law and order is a state subject.
Spain winger Lamine Yamal has been appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, becoming one of the youngest footballers to take on the global role ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's first outing for India A in one-day cricket ended with a muted 14 but his team hung in there till the end against a self-destructing Sri Lanka A to pull off an eight-run win in the tri-series opener in Dambulla on Tuesday.
Yogasana, the ancient Indian practice, is aiming to become a global sport and secure a place in the 2036 Olympics, with India hoping to host the Games in Ahmedabad. The sport has already been included in this year's Asian Games as a demonstration sport and is eyeing the 2030 Commonwealth Games. World Yogasana is working to meet the IOC's requirements for recognition, focusing on expanding its global reach and adhering to anti-doping standards.
The 35-year-old finishes as New Zealand's all-time leading international run-scorer with 19,346 runs, including 48 centuries and six double-centuries. Williamson's retirement means he will play no further part in the BlackCaps current Test series in England, with a replacement player to be confirmed in due course.
Teenaged high jump star Pooja Singh shattered the national senior record en route winning the gold medal to lead a strong Indian show on the second day of the Asian U20 Athletics Championships here on Friday.
Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh secured victories in their respective quarterfinal matches at the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior National Championship in Rajgir.
Indian triple jumper Abdulla Aboobacker is aiming for a second successive medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after an inconsistent season.
On current form, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa can be considered one of the most dangerous opponents in world chess, even more dangerous than world No. 1 Carlsen, says Pravind Thipsay.
Luka Modric is expected to lead Croatia at what could be his final World Cup as Zlatko Dalic's side aim to continue their remarkable record of success on football's biggest stage despite fitness concerns over their captain.
>Mexican star Raul Jimenez delivered a powerful and emotional performance in the 2026 World Cup opener, scoring a crucial goal against South Africa.
Hussain stuck his neck out and suggested six-time champions Australia, tournament hosts England, reigning ICC Women's Cricket World Cup winners India and reigning title holders New Zealand would be the four teams most likely to reach the knockout stages.
Indian archer Deepika Kumari is prioritising mental conditioning as she prepares for the Asian Games, aiming to overcome past Olympic disappointments and secure a podium finish.
India's top surfers and stand-up paddlers will compete in the inaugural Little Andaman Pro 2026 National Surf and SUP Championship, held in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from April 9 to 12. The event, organised by the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), aims to provide crucial competition experience ahead of the Asian Games.
India have rested Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya from the Ireland and England tours as selectors prioritise the pacer's role in the World Test Championship and Pandya's importance to India's ODI World Cup plans.
Kapil Dev has urged patience with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his historic India call-up, while Madan Lal backed the teenage batting sensation to carry his IPL form onto the international stage.
Long-serving rowing coach Ismail Baig, a Dronacharya awardee, is no longer part of the national setup, a development he describes as 'shocking'. The Rowing Federation of India president Balaji Maradapa confirmed that Baig is not part of the coaching setup for the Asian Games.
Rebel Trinamool Congress MP Arup Chakraborty on Monday said the breakaway faction is trying to "rectify" the party, and would fight for the control of its election symbol, even as the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit termed the move illegal under the anti-defection law.
Pakistan's star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi is expected to miss upcoming Test series against West Indies and England due to workload management, a decision he is reportedly unhappy about. This move aims to focus him on white-ball cricket and provide opportunities for other pacers.
