The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has officially approved the qualification system for cricket at the LA Olympic 2028, marking the sport's return after 128 years. The event will feature men's and women's T20 competitions with six teams each.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the qualification criteria for cricket's return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028. The Indian men's team needs to be Asia's highest-ranked in T20Is by end of 2026, while women's teams will qualify based on continental performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
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.
The Indian women's cricket team has secured a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games as the top-ranked Asian team in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The men's team will need to be the continental leaders in world rankings by the end of 2026 to qualify directly. Cricket is making its return to the Olympics after a century, featuring six teams in both men's and women's competitions, with qualification criteria unveiled by the ICC.
Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.
Newly-crowned junior squash World champion Anahat Singh has decided to defer her admission to Harvard University to fully dedicate herself to preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming for a medal in squash's Olympic debut.
Reigning world champions India, Britain, South Africa and hosts United States are set to feature in the men's Twenty20 competition when cricket returns to the Olympics at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles following a qualification pathway approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed India's commitment to hosting the 2036 Olympic Games and unveiled a comprehensive nationwide talent hunt programme aimed at identifying and nurturing sporting talent among children aged five to 15 years.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed confidence that Indian fencers will secure medals at the upcoming Asian Games and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He emphasized the need to popularize fencing in India, highlighting its potential to capture the youth's imagination and its significant medal opportunities at the Olympics. Rijiju also commented on the government's non-interference policy regarding sports federations' internal affairs, specifically addressing the Manika Batra selection issue.
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.
Manika Batra was knocked out of the World Singles Olympic Qualification Tournament after she suffered a 1-4 defeat to Monaco's Xiaoxin Yang in the women's singles stage-I semi-final match in Doha on Monday.
Facing criticism for packing 22 tournaments in five months in its revised calendar, the Badminton World Federation on Wednesday said the disrupted Olympic qualification process will restart only next year with players having the benefit of holding on to the ranking points they have already secured.
The double Olympic medallist is looking forward to better results following her first round exit from the Malaysian Open.
Former Pakistan captain Salman Akbar attributes his country's hockey decline to the absence of a robust domestic structure, contrasting it with India's strategic investment in grassroots and domestic ecosystems after failing to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. He highlights India's subsequent success and calls for similar foundational changes in Pakistan.
Neeraj Chopra has been included in India's 32-member Commonwealth Games athletics squad, subject to achieving the AFI qualification mark after recovering from a back injury. The Olympic champion is expected to return to competition within days.
Asian Games gold-medallist Indian heptathlete Swapna Burman said she will leave no stone unturned to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but achieving the qualification standard will be a tough task.
With three of the four Indian paddlers already through to the next stage of the final World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Doha, national coach Bhawini Muhherji says his wards are "motivated enough" to make it to the Olympics.
Shuttlers in the singles competition have to be inside top-16 of world rankings to qualify for the Olympics. The cut-off for doubles is also top-16.
Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne indicated that the Indian women's hockey team will likely use the upcoming World Cup as preparation for the more crucial Asian Games, which serves as a direct qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team plans to field a consistent core group for both events, scheduled just 20 days apart. Dutch dragflick specialist Taeke Taekema will join the team for both tournaments, and skipper Salima Tete praised Deepika's strong return from injury, highlighting her importance as a dragflicker.
Defending Commonwealth Games javelin champion Arshad Nadeem is prepared for the qualification round despite a challenging build-up due to adverse weather in Switzerland. His coach, Salman Butt, confirmed his readiness for the event in Glasgow, where he will face a strong field including India's Neeraj Chopra.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Wednesday said it might freeze the world rankings for a while as it works on a "fair solution" to the Olympic qualification process after the coronavirus pandemic forced a postponement of the Tokyo Games to 2021. There have been growing calls to freeze the world rankings after cancellations and postponements wrecked the sport's calendar. Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal, B Sai Praneeth, Parupalli Kashyap and H S Prannoy have been leading the way in expressing concerns.
India has announced its 20-member women's hockey squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Led by Salima Tete, the team aims to secure a gold medal, which would qualify them for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The squad features a mix of experienced players and promising juniors, with minor changes from the recent FIH Nations Cup-winning team.
India's Women's Hockey team, buoyed by a draw against China, is set to face South Africa in their second World Cup match. A win is crucial for their qualification hopes for the second round. Coach Sjoerd Marijne acknowledges areas for improvement, particularly in ball possession, despite strong performances from key players like Deepika and Navneet Kaur.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, along with Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh, have successfully qualified for the men's javelin throw final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, ensuring a full Indian contingent in the medal round.
Indian javelin throwers Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, and Yash Vir Singh have successfully qualified for the men's javelin final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, overcoming challenging windy conditions.
Mike McCabe, COO and Deputy CEO of the Esports Foundation, believes India has "more potential than any country on the planet" for esports, citing its enormous fan base, improving competitive ecosystem, and evolving policy environment as key drivers for rapid acceleration in the sport.
Promising sprinter Dutee Chand bagged her second gold medal, winning the women's 200 metres, in a clean sweep of medals by Indians at the Taiwan Open Athletics Championships, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, on Friday.
Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra is set to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, aiming to secure his second gold medal after missing the 2022 edition due to injury.
Indian middle and long-distance runner Ankita Dhyani achieved a personal best time of 4:06.75s in the women's 1500m race at the Stumptown Twilight event in Portland, USA, finishing second. This performance is the fastest by an Indian this season and the fourth fastest ever, highlighting her consistent improvement and strong form.
Indian long jumper M Sreeshankar has successfully qualified for the Commonwealth Games final, achieving the 8.01m standard in his first attempt. He aims to better his 2022 silver medal performance.
Ashish Yadav clinched a silver medal in the men's javelin throw, marking India's first medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships. Pooja Singh also advanced to the women's high jump final, while other Indian athletes competed in various events, including the men's 400m and long jump, showcasing promising talent.
Indian men's hockey team chief coach Craig Fulton is focused on ending the 51-year World Cup medal drought, aiming for consistency and a strong performance at the upcoming tournament in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Indian long jumpers M Sreeshankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan have successfully qualified for the men's long jump final at the Commonwealth Games. Sreeshankar achieved direct qualification by surpassing the 8m standard, while Sathyanathan advanced as one of the top-12 performers. Sreeshankar, recovering from a career-threatening injury, expressed excitement despite challenging conditions.
World Boxing has lifted restrictions on Russian boxers, allowing them to compete under their national flag in international events, moving away from the previous neutral status requirement. This decision aligns with a broader trend by the International Olympic Committee to reintegrate Russian athletes into global sports, particularly ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The governing body will, however, monitor their conduct and anti-doping compliance.
The Indian men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, is determined to end a 51-year World Cup drought, beginning their campaign against Wales with genuine optimism following recent Olympic bronze medals and an Asia Cup title.
Neeraj Chopra's personal coach, Jaiveer Chaudhary, travelled to the Commonwealth Games at his own expense to support the javelin thrower, despite not being part of the official Indian contingent. Chopra, along with Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh, successfully qualified for the men's javelin throw final.
Commonwealth Games gold-winning boxer Arundhati Chaudhary received an overwhelming welcome in her hometown of Kota, Rajasthan, after her stellar performance in Glasgow, where she defeated world championship bronze-winner Chantelle Reid and defending champion Rosie Eccles.
Indian athletes delivered a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games, with weightlifters Gyaneshwari Yadav and Bindyarani Devi securing silver and bronze medals respectively. Several athletes, including long jumpers M Sreeshankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan, boxers Sachin Siwach and Ankush, and swimmers Sajan Prakash, Aryan Nehra, and Swatik Patel, also advanced to their respective finals or quarter-finals, showcasing India's diverse talent across multiple disciplines.
Indian athletes delivered a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games, with weightlifters Gyaneshwari Yadav and Bindyarani Devi securing silver and bronze medals respectively. Several athletes, including long jumpers M Sreeshankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan, boxers Sachin Siwach and Ankush, and swimmers Sajan Prakash, Aryan Nehra, and Swatik Patel, also advanced to their respective finals or quarter-finals, showcasing India's diverse talent across multiple disciplines.
Indian shooter Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, outperforming Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker, who secured the bronze.
