Indian football’s ongoing structural churn took another decisive turn this week as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) rejected Sporting Club Bengaluru’s request to participate in the 2025–26 I-League season. The decision, taken during the Executive Committee meeting on February 12, reinforces the federation’s firm stance on enforcing promotion and relegation even at the cost…
At 41 years and 196 days, Sunil Chhetri rewrote another chapter of Indian football history. When the Bengaluru FC captain came off the bench in the 78th minute against Sporting Club Delhi in the Indian Super League 2025–26 opener, few would have predicted that he was about to set a new benchmark for longevity in…
The Rourkela leg of the 2025–26 Men’s FIH Pro League was meant to be India’s launchpad for the new Olympic cycle. Instead, it turned into a sobering reality check. Playing at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium between February 11 and 15, India lost all four matches against Belgium and Argentina, finishing the home leg…
India’s Sahaja Yamalapalli delivered a composed yet resilient performance to book her place in the Round of 16 at the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open W100 Bengaluru 2026, while Ankita Raina and her Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho advanced comfortably in the doubles draw with a commanding straight-sets win. On a day that saw fluctuating…
India’s No.1 Sumit Nagal gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about as he advanced to the second round of the ATP Delhi Open 2026, while the tournament witnessed its biggest upset yet with top seed Dane Sweeny suffering a shock first-round exit at the DLTA Complex on Tuesday. The ATP Challenger 75 event, now…
India’s Karan Singh bowed out after a spirited three-set contest against seventh seed Daniel Michalski of Poland in the opening round of the ATP Delhi Open 2026 main draw at the DLTA Complex on Monday. While Singh exited, compatriot Manish Sureshkumar ensured continued Indian presence in singles by fighting his way through qualifying to reach…
East Bengal FC made a commanding start to their Indian Super League 2025–26 home campaign, defeating NorthEast United FC 3-0 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. A quick-fire double from Youssef Ezzejjari midway through the second half, followed by an injury-time strike from Miguel Ferreira, ensured the Red and Gold Brigade secured all three points…
Hockey India has named a 24-member Indian men’s squad for the Hobart leg of the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025–26, scheduled to be held from February 20 to 25 at the Tasmania Hockey Centre in Australia. The team, led by Hardik Singh, will face Spain and hosts Australia as they look to regroup after a…
The opening week of the Indian Super League 2025–26 season concludes at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) on Monday evening, where East Bengal FC begin their campaign against NorthEast United FC in what promises to be an early test of intent for both sides. Recent meetings between the two clubs have been evenly balanced….
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has confirmed that the 2025–26 season of the Indian Football League (IFL) will commence on February 27, 2026, marking a new chapter for India’s rebranded second-tier competition. Formerly known as the I-League, the IFL enters the upcoming campaign with structural changes aimed at enhancing competitiveness and sustaining interest across…
Alternate entrant M Sureshkumar produced the standout performance on Day 1 of qualifying at the ATP Delhi Open 2026, overturning a first-set deficit to defeat fifth seed Lorenzo Carboni of Italy at the DLTA Complex. The 26-year-old Chennai-based professional, who secured his place in the draw at the eleventh hour, rallied to win 4-6, 6-2,…
The India U17 men’s team secured a morale-boosting 4–2 victory over Russian club side FC Spartak Moscow in a closed-door friendly at the Fanatic Tour Serik Sport Center in Antalya, Türkiye, on Sunday. The result marked the Blue Colts’ first win of their ongoing exposure tour, offering timely encouragement ahead of the AFC U-17 Asian…
Bengaluru FC began their Indian Super League 2025-26 campaign with a composed 2–0 victory over Sporting Club Delhi at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Sunday evening. Goals from N. Sivasakthi on the stroke of half-time and a stoppage-time strike from Sunil Chhetri ensured the Blues joined Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Jamshedpur FC as opening-weekend…
Jamshedpur FC opened their Indian Super League 2025–26 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Sunday, riding on an early strike from Madih Talal to secure all three points. In a contest that was settled inside the opening ten minutes, Talal’s ninth-minute effort proved decisive…
The Indian National Weightlifting Championships rarely produce a performance that alters the narrative of an entire weight category, in Modinagar, 20-year-old Maibam Martina Devi did precisely that. Competing in the women’s +86kg (super-heavyweight) division, Martina delivered what many are calling the standout performance of the championships. She lifted a staggering 249kg total (109kg snatch + 140kg…
For Amandeep Lakra, the walk onto the turf at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Saturday was more than just another matchday routine. It marked the culmination of a journey that began over a decade ago at the Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela. The young defender earned his senior international debut for India in the…
Belgium completed a clean sweep over India in the Rourkela leg of the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025–26 with a 4-2 victory at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Saturday. Having won the earlier encounter 3-1, the visitors once again imposed themselves early, with Alexander Hendrickx scoring twice (14’, 17’), while Hugo Labouchere (11’) and…
Bengaluru FC laid down a clear marker ahead of the new Indian Super League campaign, addressing the media at their Season Opener Press Conference held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. With the league set to begin on February 15 against Sporting Club Delhi, the club used the platform to outline its competitive priorities,…
Humas Warriors produced a clinical final-period comeback to defeat Purig Warriors 3–1 and lift the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 3 men’s title at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh on Friday. In a contest that remained finely balanced through two periods, goals from Mohd Issa, Ghulam Nabi Tak and Waseem Bilal…
Top seeds Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro underlined their growing chemistry on the ATP Challenger circuit by capturing the doubles title at the Chennai Open ATP Challenger 2026 at the SDAT Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam, on Saturday. The Indo-Thai pairing defeated Great Britain’s Jay Clarke and India’s Mukund Sasikumar 6-4, 6-4 in a composed final…
With the 2025–26 Indian Super League season underway, Sunday brings a compelling double-header as Jamshedpur FC host Mohammedan Sporting Club at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, while Bengaluru FC welcome Sporting Club Delhi to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Both fixtures will be streamed live on FanCode and televised on Sony Sports 2, setting the stage…
Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant began their Indian Super League 2025–26 campaign with a composed 2–0 victory over Kerala Blasters FC at a packed Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday. Goals from Jamie Maclaren in the first half and Tom Aldred deep into stoppage time ensured a winning start for Sergio Lobera in his…
India’s campaign at the WTT Star Contender Chennai gathered momentum on Saturday as Harmeet Desai and Yashaswini Ghorpade powered into the mixed doubles final, while G Sathiyan produced a gritty comeback to enter the men’s singles quarterfinals for the first time at this level. With the business end of the tournament unfolding at the Tamil…
The Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) has awarded main draw wildcards to Davis Cupper Karan Singh and teenage prodigy Manas Dhamne for the upcoming Delhi Open, set to begin on February 16 at the DLTA Complex. Digvijay Pratap Singh has also been granted a main draw wildcard, underlining a clear emphasis on rewarding recent national…
As the Indian Super League makes its long-awaited return to Jamshedpur after nearly a year, Jamshedpur FC have unveiled a 28-member squad for the upcoming campaign, signalling renewed ambition under returning head coach Owen Coyle. With nine crucial home fixtures lined up at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, the Men of Steel will begin their…
Day three of the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026 produced some of the most dramatic moments of the tournament so far, as India’s Snehit Suravajjula and qualifier Nithya Mani stunned higher-ranked opponents to storm into the singles pre-quarterfinals at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University. Co-hosted by Ultimate Table Tennis, Sharath Kamal Academy…
On February 12, 2026, Indian hockey was forced to confront a painful statistic. For the first time in 15 years, the national men’s team conceded eight goals in a single international match, going down 0–8 to Argentina in the FIH Pro League at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. The last time such a…
Snehit Suravajjula produced one of the most dramatic wins of the tournament so far, saving six match points to upset Japan’s 13th seed Mizuki Oikawa and storm into the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals of the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026. The tournament, co-hosted by Ultimate Table Tennis, Sharath Kamal Academy and Stupa Sports AI with the…
The singles challenge for India suffered a setback at the Chennai Open ATP Challenger Men’s International Tennis Championship 2026 as Sumit Nagal bowed out in the second round, but there was strong representation in the doubles draw with the top-seeded pair of Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Pruchya Isaro advancing to the semi-finals at the SDAT…
The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) Season 3 has reached its decisive phase, with the semi-finals at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh producing two compelling title match-ups. On February 13, Shakar Chiktan Queens will take on Sham Eagles in the women’s final, while Humas Warriors will face Purig Warriors in the…
India delivered a commanding performance in the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026, with Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar edging out teammate Niraj Kumar in a dramatic finish to secure gold and complete a podium sweep at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi on Thursday. In a…
Belgium produced a clinical final-quarter performance to defeat India 3–1 in their opening match of the Rourkela leg of the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025–26 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Wednesday. Goals from Nelson Onana (23’), Thomas Crols (53’) and Arno Van Dessel (57’) secured all three points for the visitors, while Shilanand…
Chennai witnessed a major upset on Wednesday as singles top seed Jay Clarke crashed out in the opening round of the Chennai Open ATP Challenger Men’s International Tennis Championship 2026 at the SDAT Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam. While the singles draw threw up surprises, the doubles event provided strong encouragement for Indian tennis, with the top…
Punjab FC have officially unveiled their 27-member squad for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season, as the Shers prepare for their third campaign in India’s top-flight competition. With a blend of continuity, youth development and targeted reinforcements, the Chandigarh-based club has once again leaned into its long-term philosophy of building sustainably while remaining…
What began as a brilliant snatch session turned into a tactical duel, and in the end, it was young Assamese lifter Bedabrat Bharali who emerged national champion with a personal-best total of 329kg. The men’s 79kg category at the Indian Weightlifting Federation Nationals delivered exactly what the sport promises at its highest level razor-thin margins,…
India’s emerging table tennis talent made a strong early statement at the WTT Star Contender Chennai 2026, with teenagers Tanishka Kalbhairav and Naisha Rewaskar producing confident wins to reach the final qualifying round in women’s singles action on Tuesday. The tournament, co-hosted by Ultimate Table Tennis, Sharath Kamal Academy, and Stupa Sports AI with the…
Indian tennis enjoyed another encouraging day at the Coromandel Chennai Open ATP Challenger Men’s International Tennis Championship 2026, with eighth seed Sumit Nagal and Mukund Sasikumar advancing to the second round, while wildcard Sidharth Rawat delivered the biggest upset of the tournament so far at the SDAT Tennis Stadium, Nungambakkam. The loudest cheer of the…
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will launch its FIH Men’s Pro League 2025–26 campaign on home soil in Rourkela, with high-stakes encounters against Belgium and Argentina lined up from February 10 to 15 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. After an eighth-place finish in the previous edition, India will look to set the tone early…
The FIH Men’s Hockey Pro League 2025–26 Rourkela leg is set to begin on Tuesday, 10 February, at the iconic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, bringing together three of the world’s elite men’s hockey nations India, Belgium and Argentina for six days of high-intensity international competition. This leg of the FIH Pro League marks a crucial…
For 22-year-old forward Araijeet Singh Hundal, the upcoming FIH Men’s Pro League 2025–26 matches in Rourkela represent more than just another international assignment they mark a defining opportunity to reaffirm his place in India’s senior setup after an emotionally and physically demanding comeback from injury. India will begin their Pro League campaign at the Birsa…
Indian boxing moved into a new phase this week as the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) officially launched India Knockout Nights (IKN) a dedicated professional boxing platform aimed at providing Indian fighters with consistent opportunities, structured competition, and meaningful visibility. The unveiling of IKN brought together athletes, administrators, and members of India’s expanding combat sports…
The 2026 Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club delivered contrasting narratives for Indian golf and global competition. While Shubhankar Sharma and Yuvraj Sandhu exited early after missing the halfway cut, Patrick Reed continued his dominant Middle East swing, taking a one-shot lead into the weekend in commanding fashion. It was a disappointing outing for India’s…
The title race in the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 3 tightened further on Day Eleven at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium, Leh, as Humas Warriors delivered the season’s biggest win an emphatic 11-0 clean-sheet victory to consolidate their position at the top of the table. Organised in partnership with the UT Administration…
India’s mixed doubles pair of Sathwik Reddy Kanapuram and Radhika Sharma captured the title at the Azerbaijan International Challenge, surviving a tense three-game final to defeat Serbia’s Mihajlo Tomic and Andjela Vitman 24-22, 10-21, 24-22. The victory capped a demanding week in which the Indian duo navigated multiple tight contests to lift the trophy. The…
Indian players made an emphatic start to the Coromandel Chennai Open ATP Challenger Men’s International Tennis Championship 2026, with nine home contenders winning their opening-round qualifying matches at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Nungambakkam on Sunday. The strong showing has set up four all-Indian clashes in the final round of qualifying on Monday, ensuring a…
India concluded a commanding campaign at the BOXAM Elite International 2026, clinching nine gold medals on the final day to finish as the most successful nation of the tournament. Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and former Youth World Champion Arundhati Choudhary headlined a flawless run in the women’s finals, as India converted all seven of its…
India’s top seed Manas Dhamne capped a dominant week at the ITF M15 Zahra in Kuwait with a composed 7-5, 6-3 victory over Monaco’s Rocco Piatti in the men’s singles final on Center Court. The 1-hour, 41-minute contest was a study in control under pressure, as Dhamne absorbed momentum swings and closed out both sets…
Captain Urgain Samstan and Chamba Tsetan stole the spotlight on Day 10 of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 3, striking hat-tricks to power Changthang Shans to an emphatic 11–3 victory at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh. Organised in partnership with the UT Administration of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association…
India’s women boxers delivered a commanding performance at the BOXAM Elite International in Spain, with Manju Rani, Nitu Ghanghas, Priya and Poonam clinching gold medals across four weight categories. The quartet headlined a strong Indian campaign that saw multiple finalists and a deep medal haul in one of Europe’s most competitive elite tournaments. Competing against…
Olympian Elavenil Valarivan delivered under pressure to clinch gold in the women’s 10m air rifle event, while Shambhavi Kshirsagar shattered the Asian Junior Finals Record en route to topping the junior podium at the ongoing Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. With another commanding day across categories, India’s medal tally surged…
