Ladakh has approved a four per cent reservation for outstanding sportspersons in Group 'C' government jobs, becoming the first Union Territory in India to implement such a fixed quota. This initiative aims to provide financial security and career opportunities for talented athletes, fostering an ecosystem where sporting excellence is recognised and rewarded.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) CEO Raghuram Iyer announced a massive nationwide talent hunt targeting children aged 5 to 15 to identify and nurture future athletes, aiming for 30-40 medals at the 2036 Olympics.
Ticket sales for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics have surpassed 6 million, with organizers planning the next public sale for 2027, featuring new sports like flag football and squash, and the return of cricket.
The BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting, organised by India's Sports Ministry, successfully concluded in Visakhapatnam. Presided over by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the meeting built upon previous youth engagements, focusing on developing young leaders and promoting youth cooperation among BRICS nations.
International table tennis player Swastika Ghosh, a Commonwealth gold medallist, was felicitated by the University of Mumbai for her role in India's gold-winning campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. She has also been selected for the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award and the 2026 World Table Tennis Championships.
The US Supreme Court is poised to rule on the legality of state laws in West Virginia and Idaho that ban transgender student athletes from female sports teams. This contentious issue, deeply embedded in the nation's culture wars, challenges federal anti-discrimination laws and the Constitution's equal protection clause.
The Sports Ministry, led by Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced stringent selection criteria for the upcoming Asian Games, capping the contingent at 600 athletes. The policy prioritises medal prospects, stating that the Games are not for "exposure tours" or securing jobs. This includes a "realistic chance of winning a medal" and being in the top six continental rankings. The ministry will scrutinise recommendations from National Sports Federations, with specific cases like equestrian Anush Agarwalla and table tennis player Manika Batra highlighting the new approach.
A new book, "Heroes: The Changemakers of Indian Sports" by journalist-author Thirumoy Banerjee, chronicles the inspiring journeys of 15 Indian athletes, including Manu Bhaker, C A Bhavani Devi, Nikhat Zareen, Aman Kumar Kadyan, and Sumit Antil. It highlights their determination, resilience, and triumphs over setbacks, offering insights into their paths to success and celebrating their unwavering spirit.
Olympic medallist Gagan Narang and weightlifting great N Kunjarani Devi have been appointed to a five-member search-cum-selection committee for the National Sports Board. Chaired by Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan, the committee will recommend names for the Board's Chairperson and Members. The National Sports Board is tasked with recognising National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards under the new National Sports Governance Act.
Tero Entertainment Public Co. Ltd. has launched Quest India 2026, marking the official introduction of 3x3 basketball to the country. This fast-paced, urban Olympic sport, backed by BFI and FIBA, will feature its inaugural event in September 2026, blending elite competition with street culture.
World Cup-winning Spanish footballer Gerard Pique has become a strategic shareholder in the Global Chess League franchise American Gambits. Pique, known for his illustrious football career, expressed his long-standing fascination with chess and his ambition to elevate the sport's global appeal. The fourth edition of the Global Chess League, featuring top grandmasters, is scheduled for September 3-13.
Wednesday's India-Pakistan World Cup match in Amstelveen saw players exchange handshakes, a gesture that has become contentious in India-Pakistan sporting encounters, particularly in cricket. While the Indian team dominated on the field, winning 5-3, the post-match handshakes led to mixed reactions online, highlighting the differing approaches to rivalry in hockey versus cricket.
The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has sanctioned Rs 35.46 lakh for overseas training stints for Paralympic medallists Ajeet Singh (javelin) and Pranav Soorma (club throw) to prepare them for the upcoming Asian Para-Games in Japan. Both athletes, part of the TOPS core group, will train in Germany and Czechia respectively, with Pranav also participating in multiple championships.
The world motorsport body FIA has strongly endorsed 11-year-old Indian racer Atiqa Mir, highlighting her as a rising star redefining the future of the sport. Atiqa, the first Indian backed by the F1 Academy, has achieved significant success in European karting series, including a pole position and top-10 finishes in FIA European Championship rounds.
Seventeen Indian sportspersons, including World Cup winning chess player Divya Deshmukh, decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, and shuttler Gayatri Gopichand, have been named for the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's strong bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and detailed plans for a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to ensure significant participation and success in the event. He highlighted the success of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and India's growing presence in global sports.
Former Asian Games gold medallist Ronjan Sodhi believes India's ambitious target of 30-40 medals at the 2036 Olympics is a 'distant prospect', citing significant delays in talent identification, scouting, and critical infrastructure improvements.
Promising Indian golfer Arjun Prasad has officially joined the AM Green Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) ahead of its second half of the season, set to begin in late September. Prasad, 27, brings a strong performance record, including a recent professional title win and multiple top-10 finishes, making him a significant addition to the league's roster alongside other notable players.
Ladakh has inaugurated its first international-level artificial ice hockey rink, a state-of-the-art facility costing Rs 42 crore. Equipped with a 24x7 chilling system, it allows year-round training, overcoming the previous limitation of a short natural ice season. This development is expected to boost winter sports, nurture local talent, and promote sports tourism in the region.
Indian cricketer Riyan Parag discusses his lifelong passion for football, particularly his admiration for Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo. He also speculates on which footballers could play cricket and which cricketers could play football.
Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and badminton legend Pullela Gopichand have launched the Indian School of Coaching Excellence (ISCE), an initiative designed to strengthen India's sports coaching landscape.
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.
Former world boxing champion Zolani "Last Born" Tete was tragically shot dead outside his home in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.
The India U20 men's football team played a 0-0 draw against Yemen in the first of two friendly matches in Bengaluru, as part of their preparation for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
The eighth season of the Tennis Premier League (TPL) will take place in Hyderabad from December 8 to 13, featuring eight teams and a new partnership with Kia India. The event will be held at the LB Tennis Stadium with support from the Telangana government.
Argentina's men's hockey captain, Matias Rey, draws inspiration from football legend Lionel Messi as he leads his team in his sixth World Cup. Rey, like Messi, emphasizes the "never give up" philosophy learned from the national football team's success. The team, including goalkeeper Tomas Santiago, is preparing for a tough match against India, focusing on neutralizing key players like Harmanpreet Singh, while fans show their support by wearing Messi's jersey.
A delegation from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) visited Kolkata to inspect venues and infrastructure for the upcoming international friendly against India on October 3. The inspection covered the stadium, training facilities, accommodation, and security, with West Bengal's Sports Minister assuring world-class arrangements.
A consortium, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has acquired approximately one-third minority stake in Premier League club Liverpool FC, with current owners Fenway Sports Group retaining majority control.
Veteran athletics coach Parveer Singh, who guided athletes like Seema Punia, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and Annu Rani to international medals, has been named for the prestigious Dronacharya Award. The article details his extensive career spanning over two decades, his role as a coach educator, and his academic contributions to sports coaching.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has launched the 'Shaktidoot 2.0' statewide sports scheme, significantly increasing financial assistance for athletes up to Rs 50 lakh. The initiative also focuses on identifying grassroots talent, supporting differently-abled players, and inaugurating sports complexes and libraries worth over Rs 388 crore. The scheme introduces a transparent, performance-based selection process and immediate aid for exceptional non-scheme players.
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.
Premier League club Liverpool FC has finalised a deal to sell a minority equity stake to a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia.
The India Under-20 men's football team secured a 1-0 victory over Yemen in their second friendly match in Bengaluru. Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam scored the decisive goal. This win comes as the Blue Colts prepare for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers in Uzbekistan, scheduled from August 31 to September 6.
The Sport & Rights Alliance has urged the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) to abandon its new sex-testing policy, labelling it a 'discriminatory measure' that will cause 'stigmatisation and trauma' for women and girls.
International water sports star Bilquis Mir has filed a contempt case against the Jammu and Kashmir sports department for withholding her salary for over two-and-a-half years, despite a tribunal order to release it.
Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual Olympic gold medallist, reflected on the 18th anniversary of his historic win at the Beijing Olympics, stating, 'Life since has taught me that the spaces between the peaks matter just as much.'
Manchester City began the post-Pep Guardiola era with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Bournemouth, sealed by Josko Gvardiol's stoppage-time VAR-approved winner.
Double Olympic pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis has released "Gold," the official anthem for World Athletics' inaugural Ultimate Championship. The track, written and performed by Duplantis, is now available on major streaming platforms and will be the signature soundtrack for the event in Budapest, featuring top athletes competing for a $10 million prize fund.
The Iran national women's kabaddi team conducted a six-day practice camp at the Sports Authority of India's Sonepat centre, engaging in matches against the Indian team and local sides.
Russian Athletics has filed a new claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), challenging sanctions imposed by World Athletics that prevent Russian athletes from participating in international competitions.
