In a sporting ecosystem still adjusting to structural change, Mumbai Indians continue to lead quietly but decisively. One of the most striking aspects of their WPL setup is not tactical or technical but cultural: an all-female coaching group operating at the highest level of franchise cricket. Head coach Lisa Keightley addressed the significance of this…
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has quietly carried out one of the most far-reaching regulatory overhauls in modern chess with the ratification of the 2026–27 World Championship cycle rules. While the changes may appear technical on the surface, their implications are profound. Together, they fundamentally reshape how players qualify for the Candidates Tournament, how tournaments…
PV Sindhu began her 2026 season on a positive note, storming into the Round of 16 at the BWF Super 1000 Malaysia Open with a hard-fought straight-games victory over Chinese Taipei’s Sung Shuo Yun. The former world champion prevailed 21-13, 22-20 in a match that tested both her physical readiness and mental resolve, especially in…
The merger of I-League 2 and I-League 3 into a single, 40-team zonal competition for the 2025–26 season marks one of the most consequential structural decisions in Indian football in recent years. Born out of administrative necessity rather than long-term planning, the move nevertheless offers a rare opportunity to stabilise and rethink the country’s fragile…
The 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, scheduled from January 15 to 29, 2026 in Kuwait, represents a defining moment for Indian handball. Beyond its status as Asia’s premier men’s competition, the tournament doubles as the continental qualification pathway for the 2027 IHF Men’s Handball World Championship in Germany, raising the competitive and strategic stakes for…
The Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz 2026 marks another defining chapter in India’s rise as a global powerhouse in elite chess. Scheduled from January 7 to 11 at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata, the eighth edition of the tournament brings together a rare blend of legacy, youth, and international excellence, reinforcing its…
Over the last decade, Odisha has quietly rewritten the script on how sport is imagined, funded, and governed in India. What began as an ambitious effort to host international events has evolved into a long-term, athlete-first sports model that is now being cited as a blueprint not just nationally, but globally. Today, Odisha is no…
The emergence of Inter Kashi FC has already altered the footballing map of India. Now, with the announcement of a ₹60 crore AFC-compliant stadium project in Varanasi, the club is taking a decisive step from being a travelling professional outfit to becoming a deeply rooted institutional force. More than just a construction project, this stadium…
The global chess circuit has increasingly become a high-stakes professional ecosystem, where elite performance is now rewarded not just with prestige, but with significant prize money, while Gukesh Dommaraju was placed at 17th. A look at the latest prize earnings table from major events over the season offers a telling snapshot of where the world’s…
Indian women’s tennis received a timely boost at the ITF $60,000 Nonthaburi tournament, where India No.1 Sahaja Yamalapalli produced one of the most significant wins of her professional career. Fighting back from a set and a break down, Yamalapalli defeated former world No.96 Chloe Paquet of France 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 in the first round, announcing…
Indian badminton witnessed one of its most eye-catching moments of the early 2026 season as 20-year-old Ayush Shetty pulled off a stunning first-round victory over Olympic bronze medallist and home favourite Lee Zii Jia at the Malaysia Open Super 1000. Playing with remarkable composure on one of the sport’s biggest stages, Shetty defeated the Malaysian…
The Petronas Malaysia Open 2026 is more than just the first tournament of the BWF World Tour calendar. As a Super 1000 event, it sets the competitive tone for the season, tests off-season preparation, and immediately exposes gaps between ambition and readiness. For India, the Kuala Lumpur opener represents a delicate balance between rebuilding momentum,…
The return of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) in 2026 marks a significant reset for professional wrestling in India. After a gap of six years following the 2019 season, the league has been reintroduced with a revised structure, new ownership groups, and a sharper focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term spectacle. Operating under a…
The rise of Neeraj Chopra from a promising teenager in Haryana to an Olympic and world champion is often narrated as an individual sporting miracle. In reality, it is equally the story of a carefully built, long-term partnership with JSW Sports one that has fundamentally reshaped how elite Olympic athletes are supported in India. Since…
Indian athletics reached a quiet but defining inflection point in January 2026 when Neeraj Chopra formally ended his decade-long professional association with JSW Sports and transitioned into an athlete-managed model through the launch of Vel Sports. While the headlines may frame it as the end of a partnership, in reality, it marks the next phase…
In the Hockey India League (HIL), this symbolism has been especially powerful. From its launch in 2013 to its revival in the mid-2020s, the identity of the league’s first goal-scorers has mirrored the league’s institutional health, tactical evolution, and broader ambitions for Indian hockey. In every sporting league, the first goal of a season carries…
Borja Herrera did not leave Indian football quietly. When the FC Goa captain described the situation around the Indian Super League (ISL) as “untenable,” it was not the language of a disgruntled footballer chasing a better contract. It was the verdict of a seasoned professional who had spent years buying into the league’s promise and…
Indian women’s hockey is in the middle of a generational transition, and few players embody that shift as clearly as Sakshi Rana. Still in her teens, the forward from Sonipat, Haryana has already moved seamlessly from age-group dominance to senior international impact, carving out a reputation as one of the most exciting attacking prospects in…
The first day of the Hockey India League (HIL) men’s competition should have been a celebration. The league once seen as the commercial and cultural heartbeat of Indian hockey was expected to rekindle memories, revive fan interest, and remind the country of a sport that has given it Olympic glory and global respect. Instead, the…
Fresh off a strong showing at the 68th National Shooting Championships in Bhopal, Indian shooter Niraj Kumar believes Indian shooting is entering a phase that Shooting League of India could redefine how the sport is perceived, followed, and supported in the country. The World Cup gold medallist clinched the silver medal in the men’s 50m…
When Tata Steel Chess India confirmed that reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju would not feature in the 2026 Rapid and Blitz event in Kolkata, the announcement landed like a quiet shock. Just weeks earlier, the tournament had been framed around a historic narrative: the first official India-based clash between Viswanathan Anand and the youngest world…
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Saturday that the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season will be conducted, bringing a measure of clarity to a competition that has been clouded by uncertainty for months. The federation also stated that the official dates for the season will be announced next week, with a proposed…
The Pro Wrestling League 2026 auction unfolded as a marathon spectacle on January 3, delivering everything fans and franchises expect from Indian wrestling’s premier franchise league record-breaking bids, intense last-minute bidding wars, tactical errors, surprise bargains and a clear statement of intent from teams looking to dominate the upcoming season. By the time Akash was…
The WTT Youth Contender 2026 in Vadodara delivered a morning of high drama and youthful resilience as Vivaan Dave and Naisha Rewaskar produced a remarkable comeback to defeat top seeds Aditya Das and Ankolika Chakraborty, booking their place in the U-15 mixed doubles final at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex on Saturday. In a contest…
The Pro Wrestling League auction on January 3, 2026, delivered another defining moment when Antim Panghal, India’s young Olympic wrestler in the 53kg category, entered the fray. What followed was a dramatic bidding war that underlined her growing stature in Indian wrestling and reaffirmed her position as one of the most valuable female athletes in…
The Pro Wrestling League initial auction on January 3, 2026, revolved around one name more than any other Aman Sehrawat. When the Olympic bronze medallist in the 57 kg category entered the bidding arena, the tone of the auction shifted instantly. What followed was a fierce bidding war that underlined not just Aman’s growing stature…
The trajectory of the Indian women’s hockey team since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021, has been one of sharp highs, deep uncertainty, and repeated structural resets. What began as a historic breakthrough a fourth-place finish that redefined global perceptions of Indian women’s hockey soon evolved into a five-year period marked by coaching…
The Global Athletics ecosystem in 2026 marks a decisive shift in how elite competition is structured, marketed, and sustained. Traditionally viewed as an “interim” year between the Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships, 2026 has been reimagined by World Athletics as a high-impact season designed to maintain visibility, athlete earnings, and competitive relevance. At the…
The fourth season of the Women’s Premier League in 2026 represents a defining moment for the UP Warriorz franchise. What began as an ambitious entrant in the inaugural 2023 season has, over the next two campaigns, struggled to establish consistency or a clear identity. After finishing fourth in 2024 and bottom of the table in…
After months of anticipation, the stage is finally set for the return of elite domestic hockey as the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) begins on Saturday, January 3, at the iconic Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Egmore, Chennai. The second edition of the revived league promises nearly a month of high-intensity action, global stars,…
The second edition of the WTT Youth Contenders in India got off to a dramatic start at the SAMA Indoor Stadium on Friday, with Vatsal Duklan and Hansini Mathan producing the biggest upsets of the opening day to storm into the quarterfinals of the U-17 boys’ and girls’ singles events respectively. In a competition that…
Indian football enters 2026 in a state of deep uncertainty, shaped less by on-field failures and more by an administrative vacuum that has left professional players fighting for career survival. With the Indian Super League (ISL) stalled, contracts expiring, and no clarity from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the message for Indian footballers has…
Pickleball’s rise in India is no longer a lifestyle trend; it is fast becoming a structured commercial opportunity reshaping the country’s recreational sports infrastructure. What began as a niche racquet sport has evolved into one of the fastest-growing asset classes within the pay-and-play ecosystem, driven by low entry barriers, high utilization potential, and strong urban…
Indian sports ambitions have never been more clearly articulated. With a stated goal of becoming a top-ten sporting nation by 2036 and a serious push to host the Olympic Games, the country has invested heavily in infrastructure, athlete support systems, and high-performance programmes. Yet beneath the surface of this progress lies a structural weakness that…
The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and Women’s Candidates Tournament, scheduled from March 28 to April 16, 2026 in Cyprus, mark a defining moment in the modern evolution of world chess. More than just a qualification event, the Candidates now stand as a ruthless test of form, endurance, and adaptability, shaped by structural reforms that have…
Indian women’s tennis received a timely shot of optimism at the ITF W15 Ahmedabad as 15-year-old Parthsarthi Arun Mundhe produced a standout run to reach the quarter-finals, navigating her way through the qualifying draw and upsetting established names in the main draw. Competing against older, more experienced professionals on hard courts, Mundhe’s campaign underlined both…
As Indian football drifts through one of its most uncertain phases in recent memory, a fundamental question refuses to go away: why are Indian footballers still waiting at home when football is being played elsewhere? With the Indian Super League (ISL) stuck in administrative limbo and no guaranteed domestic calendar, the professional risk of inactivity…
The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is set to return in 2026 with a renewed sense of ambition, and the quality of foreign wrestlers entering the upcoming athlete auction underlines the league’s intent to re-establish itself as a truly global competition. With Olympic champions, world champions, and continental dominators from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas…
Adrián Luna’s temporary departure from Kerala Blasters is more than just a routine loan move. It is a moment that captures the unease gripping Indian football in the 2025–26 season, where administrative paralysis and commercial uncertainty have begun to directly shape footballing decisions. When the Blasters confirmed on January 1, 2026 that their captain would…
India’s steady rise in competitive sailing is set to gain fresh momentum with the 11th edition of the India International Regatta, now rebranded as the SDAT India International Youth Sailing Championship, scheduled to be held in Chennai from January 4 to 10, 2026. More than just a standalone regatta, the event has become a critical…
Indian football is facing one of the most serious crises in its modern history, with the 2025–26 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) hanging in limbo amid governance deadlock, commercial collapse, and growing player unrest. What began as a delay caused by contractual uncertainty has now evolved into a systemic breakdown that threatens the…
Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat has emerged as the headline domestic name ahead of the upcoming Pro Wrestling League, PWL auction, entering the pool with a base price of Rs. 18 lakh the highest among Indian wrestlers this season. The auction is scheduled for January 3, with the league set to run from January…
Indian badminton’s gradual shift towards doubles specialization in the mid-2020s produced several experimental partnerships, but few were as intriguing or as instructive as the mixed doubles pairing of Sathish-Aadya. Their separation at the end of the 2025 season was not abrupt, emotional, or controversial. Instead, it was the outcome of a season-long strategic divergence that…
SG Pipers continued their impressive start to the Women’s Hero Hockey India League with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over JSW Soorma Hockey Club on Wednesday, as captain Navneet Kaur’s early goal proved decisive in a contest defined by defensive discipline and game management. The result marked the Pipers’ second consecutive win and kept them firmly…
Indian women’s badminton has rarely produced prodigies who combine early results with structural backing and tactical clarity. Between 2024 and 2026, Tanvi Sharma has emerged as an exception not as a fleeting junior sensation, but as a carefully evolved high-performance athlete whose trajectory signals a deeper shift in how Indian badminton develops elite talent. At…
Indian athletics has entered a decisive phase in its high-performance journey. The latest TOPS Core Group and Development Group selections underline a clear shift in philosophy from broad inclusion to sharply defined excellence. With the road to the 2026 Asian Games and Los Angeles 2028 firmly in sight, the Athletics Federation of India and the…
January Sports Calendar 2026: A Week-by-Week Guide to One of the Busiest Months in Global Sport January has traditionally been seen as a warm-up month in the global sporting calendar. In 2026, that perception no longer holds. From Grand Slams and continental championships to national leagues and ranking-defining international tours, the first month of the…
On December 30, 2025, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Deepti Sharma quietly rewrote the history books. By dismissing Sri Lanka’s Nilakshika Silva during the fifth T20I, the Indian all-rounder became the highest wicket-taker in the history of Women’s T20 Internationals, moving past Australia’s Megan Schutt. The milestone, achieved during a 5–0 series sweep,…
Roundglass Hockey Academy underlined its status as the benchmark for junior hockey development in the country by successfully defending its title at the 3rd Hockey India Junior Men Academy Championship. Playing the final in Surat on December 30, 2025, the academy produced a controlled and clinical performance to defeat SGPC Hockey Academy 4–0, completing a…
As the Men’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) gears up for the 2025–26 season, last year’s finalists defending champions Shrachi Bengal Tigers and runners-up Hyderabad Toofans enter the new campaign with renewed ambition and carefully assembled squads. With a blend of international pedigree, domestic experience and emerging talent, both teams are positioning themselves to hit…
