The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 delivered its first true test of endurance and tactical nous on Tuesday as Stage 1, the Mulshi–Maval Miles, unfolded across an unforgiving 87.2-kilometre route beginning at TCS Circle near Hinjewadi. What followed was a high-speed examination of nerve, positioning and teamwork, ending with a thrilling sprint finish that underlined…
National champions delivered under pressure as India’s top shooters kicked off the National Shooting Trials with high-quality performances at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi on January 20. Tilottama Sen and Niraj Kumar emerged victorious in the women’s and men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3P) T1 events respectively, while Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu…
Punjab Royals produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the Pro Wrestling League 2026, storming back from a 3–1 deficit to defeat Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals 6–3 in a gripping Day 6 contest at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Tuesday night. What began as a dominant display from the Tiigers rapidly transformed into a…
Indian table tennis had encouraging moments at the WTT Contender Muscat 2026 as Manush Shah and Ayhika Mukherjee successfully negotiated the qualification rounds to enter the main draw, underlining India’s growing depth in international competition. While not all qualifiers ended in success for the Indian contingent, the overall showing reflected steady progress and valuable exposure…
Lucknow witnessed the culmination of a unique city-wide sporting initiative on January 18, 2026, as the finale of The Warriorz League brought together students, professionals, administrators, and cricket enthusiasts at the YOLO Sports Arena, Harmony Park. Conceptualised and delivered by UP Warriorz, one of the five franchises of the Women’s Premier League, the tournament marked…
JSW Soorma Hockey Club produced one of the standout results of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 season, defeating table-toppers Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 2–1 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. In their final league-stage outing, the Lancers suffered their first loss of the campaign, while Soorma claimed three vital points…
With the Women’s Premier League, WPL 2026 entering its decisive phase, Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants find themselves firmly in the playoff conversation, despite a mixed start to the season. Sitting on two wins and three losses after five matches, the Giants remain well aware that the margin for error is slim but equally conscious that…
With their campaign hanging in the balance, Hyderabad Toofans delivered a composed and resilient performance to secure a crucial 3–2 victory over HIL GC in their final league-stage fixture of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025–26 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. The narrow win not only kept the Toofans’ playoff…
The Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 delivered its first true test of endurance and tactical nous on Tuesday as Stage 1, the Mulshi–Maval Miles, unfolded across an unforgiving 87.2-kilometre route beginning at TCS Circle near Hinjewadi. What followed was a high-speed examination of nerve, positioning and teamwork, ending with a thrilling sprint finish that underlined…
The 2026 Women’s Premier League, WPL 2026 has reached a decisive phase, where squad depth and adaptability are proving just as important as star power. For defending champions Mumbai Indians, that reality has come sharply into focus with the injury-enforced exit of teenage wicketkeeper-batter G. Kamalini and the subsequent induction of left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma….
Defending champions Bihar, last year’s runners-up Rajasthan, bronze medallists Maharashtra and hosts Odisha made emphatic statements on the opening day of the Boys’ Under-15 competition at the 10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship. As the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar witnessed a relentless display of attacking rugby and ruthless efficiency from India’s top age-group sides. Across…
Indian basketball is standing at the threshold of its most significant structural transformation in decades. The coordinated rollout of Under-14 and Under-18 franchise-based leagues across Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi and Telangana marks a decisive shift away from the traditional, short-format, federation-centric model towards a decentralised, league-driven ecosystem designed for sustained talent development. For a sport long…
When Mahendra Singh Dhoni was announced as the Goodwill Ambassador of the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026, the decision immediately sparked attention beyond cycling circles. In a country where sporting narratives are still overwhelmingly dominated by cricket, Dhoni’s association with India’s first UCI 2.2 multi-stage road race was not merely a celebrity endorsement. It represented…
Indian cycling marked a significant milestone on Monday as the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 officially got underway with a high-speed Prologue through the streets of Pune. The opening stage of India’s first-ever UCI 2.2 category multi-stage men’s road race brought together 160 riders from 35 countries, offering Indian cyclists a rare opportunity to measure…
In one of the most dramatic encounters of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025–26 season, Ranchi Royals held their nerve to defeat HIL GC 4–1 in a penalty shootout after the teams were locked at 4–4 at the end of regulation time at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Monday. The contest ebbed and flowed…
UP Dominators produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds of Pro Wrestling League 2026, clawing their way back from a 4–1 deficit to defeat Delhi Dangal Warriors 5–4 in Match 7 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Sunday. What initially appeared to be a comfortable outing for Delhi transformed into a gripping contest of momentum…
Indian road cycling entered a new era on Monday afternoon as the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 burst into life with a high-speed Prologue through the heart of Pune. Flagged off from Goodluck Chowk near Deccan Gymkhana, the opening stage set the tone for a landmark five-day competition that marks India’s first-ever Continental multi-stage road…
The 2026 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) marks a decisive shift in how women’s cricket is perceived, valued, and monetised in India. No longer positioned as an experimental or CSR-driven property, the league has entered a phase of commercial consolidation, with sponsorship spending estimated to have crossed ₹130 crore more than three times…
The L&T Mumbai Open is set to make a welcome return in 2026, with the fifth edition of the WTA 125K Series event scheduled to be held at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) courts in Mumbai. The qualifying rounds will be played from January 30 to February 1, followed by the main draw…
The global story of women’s football is often narrated through dominant federations and powerhouse nations, but its real evolution has been shaped by individuals who navigated its most unstable phases. Few careers reflect this transition better than that of Pamela Conti. Born in Palermo in 1982, Conti’s journey from a teenage prodigy in southern Italy…
The Bihar girls’ Under-15 team delivered one of the most dominant campaigns in the history of Indian age-group rugby, storming to the national title at the Sub Junior (U15) National Rugby Sevens Championship with a series of emphatic victories that underlined their complete superiority over the rest of the field. From the opening match to…
Assam has taken a decisive step towards strengthening India’s Olympic ambitions in Taekwondo, as two-time Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones of Great Britain leads a high-performance talent identification and development camp in Guwahati. The five-day programme, launched on Sunday at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium, is being conducted by the Department of Sports…
Manisha Bhanvala delivered a statement performance to spearhead Maharashtra Kesari’s emphatic 6–3 victory over Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals in Match 6 of the Pro Wrestling League 2026. Her explosive win by fall in the women’s 57kg category proved to be the defining moment of the contest, as Maharashtra registered their first win of the season…
Vedanta Kalinga Lancers extended their unbeaten run in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025–26 with a hard-fought 4–1 victory in a penalty shootout against Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons after the contest ended 1–1 in regulation time at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Sunday. The result marked the Lancers’ sixth successive win of the season…
Pune is set to step firmly onto the global sporting map as the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026, India’s first-ever UCI 2.2 category multi-stage road race, announces an expansive international broadcast partnership with JioStar and Warner Bros. Discovery. The landmark collaboration ensures live coverage of the five-day race across more than 80 territories, underlining the…
The Tata Steel Masters in Wijk Aan Zee, widely regarded as the world’s oldest running super tournament, got off to a dramatic and absorbing start despite a delayed opening caused by an environmental activists’ protest. Once play finally began, the first round delivered high-quality chess and decisive results, with Indian players firmly in the spotlight….
Pune is set to witness a landmark moment in Indian sport as the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026 flags off on January 19, marking the country’s first-ever UCI 2.2 category multi-stage continental road race for men. Classified under the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) framework, the event represents India’s official entry into the global professional cycling…
A stunning late burst of goals powered Shrachi Bengal Tigers to a dramatic 3–2 comeback victory over SG Pipers in their final pool-stage match of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Saturday. Trailing 0–2 deep into the third quarter, the Tigers struck three times in a frenetic four-minute spell…
Indian women football team endured a difficult start to their European training camp, going down 0–2 to Metalist 1925 Kharkiv in an international friendly played behind closed doors in Turkiye on Sunday. While the scoreline suggests a competitive contest for much of the match, the overall performance raised serious concerns, particularly in defence, as India…
Indian boxing icon Vijender Singh has been appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council, marking a significant milestone in his transition from elite athlete to international sports administrator. The appointment further strengthens India’s representation within continental boxing governance and highlights the growing influence of former athletes in shaping the sport’s future. Vijender Singh,…
Indian hurdler Madhvendra Shekhawat has opened his 2026 athletics season on a positive note, clocking 7.84 seconds in the 60m hurdles to finish second at the Corky Classic. While indoor season openers are rarely about peak performance, the timing and context of this run make it an important marker for an athlete entering a crucial…
Vedanta Kalinga Lancers continued their dominant run in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025–26, securing qualification for the playoffs with a commanding 6–1 victory over SG Pipers at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Saturday. The emphatic win extended the Lancers’ unbeaten streak to five matches and consolidated their position at the top of the…
Indian tennis will have a notable presence in the men’s doubles draw at the 2026 Australian Open, with two pairs representing the country under very different circumstances. From a Grand Slam debut for an Indo-Thai wildcard duo to a seeded Indian pair navigating a tricky opening-round test, the draw presents both opportunity and challenge for…
Lovely Professional University’s Pooja, already an Asian champion, emerged as the centre of attention with a performance that combined dominance, confidence, and a clear statement of intent for the season ahead. In a women’s high jump competition that thinned rapidly, Pooja was left standing alone after the rest of the field bowed out at 1.72m….
The domestic athletics season is still in its early stages, but Chandigarh University’s Tanya Chaudhary has already delivered one of the standout performances of the year. Competing at the 85th National Inter-University Athletics Championship at the Swarajya Stadium in Moodubidiri on Friday, the 23-year-old hammer thrower produced a massive effort of 65.60m to win gold…
Indian cyclists will compete for vital Olympic qualification points when the country hosts its first-ever UCI 2.2 multi-stage road race, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour, beginning on Monday. The five-day event, which runs until January 23, represents a landmark moment for Indian cycling, both in terms of international exposure and the strategic pursuit of qualification…
Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh has been appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Athletes Commission, marking a significant step in India’s growing presence within the governance structure of Asian boxing. The appointment was confirmed on January 18 following a meeting of the Board of Directors of Asian Boxing, held in accordance with…
Bihar emerged champions at the 10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship, defeating defending champions Maharashtra in a repeat of last year’s final, while host state Odisha claimed the bronze medal after a strong finish at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The two-day tournament concluded on Saturday, showcasing India’s best Under-15 girls’ rugby talent in a…
The opening leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour (HWPGT) 2026 has provided an early indication of both form and intent, with Jasmine Shekar producing another composed performance to extend her lead at the top of the leaderboard. A steady even-par 70 in the second round was enough for Shekar to move two shots…
In a major boost to Assam’s sporting ecosystem, a high-performance training camp for athletes and coaches across seven disciplines has been launched in Guwahati under the initiative of the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam, in collaboration with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS). The programme marks a significant step towards building…
Mumbai is set to wake up to one of its most iconic sporting spectacles as the 21st edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon is flagged off from the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on January 18. A World Athletics Gold Label Race, the 2026 edition promises to be the largest and most ambitious in…
Hyderabad Toofans delivered a commanding performance to begin the Bhubaneswar leg of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26, registering a comprehensive 6–0 victory over Shrachi Bengal Tigers at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Saturday. In a display of attacking efficiency and defensive control, Zachary Wallace and Tim Brand scored hat-tricks to underline Hyderabad’s…
Vedanta Kalinga Lancers continued their commanding run in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 with a comprehensive 6–1 victory over SG Pipers at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Saturday. Opening the Bhubaneswar leg in emphatic fashion, the table-toppers stretched their winning streak to five matches and once again underlined why they have emerged…
UP Dominators delivered a commanding response in the Pro Wrestling League 2026, registering an emphatic 7–2 victory over Tiigers of Mumbai Dangals in Match 4 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Saturday evening. The win marked a strong comeback performance, built on tactical discipline, depth across weight categories, and standout individual displays. Two-time U20 World…
In a significant step toward strengthening grassroots ice hockey in the Indian Himalayas, Royal Enfield Social Mission supported the inaugural Himalayan Pond Hockey Championship, held at the frozen Gupuks Pond near Leh from January 9 to 16, 2026. Organised in partnership with Thin Ice Adventure, the initiative adopted a community-first approach aimed at expanding access…
Indian men’s doubles tennis enjoyed a strong week on the ATP Challenger Tour as Sriram Balaji clinched the doubles title at the Nonthaburi 2 Challenger, while fellow Indian Anirudh Chandrasekar also featured prominently, underlining the growing depth in India’s doubles contingent. At the Nonthaburi 2 ATP Challenger, the top-seeded pair of Balaji and Austria’s Neil…
The 2025–26 season of Indian football stands as one of the most turbulent yet defining periods in the sport’s modern history. Long before a ball is kicked, the campaign has already become a case study in governance under crisis, shaped by commercial collapse, legal intervention, and an urgent need to keep the professional pyramid alive….
Ranchi Royals signed off their home leg of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 in emphatic fashion, registering their third consecutive victory with a commanding 4–1 win over JSW Soorma Hockey Club at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium on Friday. The result propelled the Royals to third place on…
The Indian challenge at the ITF M25 Winston-Salem, USA, got off to a disappointing start as Aryan Shah and Dhakshineswar Suresh both suffered first-round exits in the men’s singles draw on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Entering the tournament with contrasting expectations, neither player was able to find rhythm or momentum against their respective opponents, underlining…
The Indian government’s continued commitment to elite sport was underlined this week as the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports approved ₹11.80 lakh for Neeraj Chopra’s overseas training program, reinforcing a highly individualized approach to preparing India’s biggest Olympic star for a demanding 2026 season. The funding, cleared through the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) under…
