Viswanathan Anand continues to defy age, logic, and expectation at Tata Steel Chess. At 56, the five-time world champion once again demonstrated why he remains one of the sharpest minds in world chess, bouncing back from a painful defeat to share the lead in the Rapid section of Tata Steel Chess India 2026 alongside young…
As the floodlights illuminate Navi Mumbai for the fourth season of the Women’s Premier League, the conversation around WPL 2026 captains has begun to shift. Squad depth and star power still matter, but increasingly, the focus is on leadership the decisions made in tense moments, the ability to manage pressure, and the temperament to inspire…
As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) returns for its fourth season on January 9, 2026, with matches across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, the focus extends beyond established internationals and title contenders. One of the league’s most enduring strengths has been its ability to fast-track talent, bridging the gap between domestic cricket and the global stage….
The landscape of women’s cricket in 2026 is no longer defined solely by established icons such as Ellyse Perry or Smriti Mandhana. While those names continue to set elite benchmarks, the sport is undergoing a visible shift. A new generation of cricketers hardened by professional leagues like the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the Women’s…
In 2026, the roar of packed crowds at women’s cricket matches is no longer an exception; it is the norm. What was once framed as a secondary version of the men’s game has evolved into a commercially powerful, globally expanding sport in its own right. Attendance records are being broken, broadcast numbers are surging, and…
Since its launch in 2023, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has transformed the landscape of women’s cricket in India. Backed by strong broadcast numbers, packed stadiums at selected venues, and world-class players, the league has proven its commercial and sporting value. However, one question continues to surface every season: why doesn’t the WPL follow a…
India’s elite boxers continued to underline their pedigree at the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships as several top names, led by two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen, produced commanding performances to advance into the quarterfinals at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. With the championships entering a decisive phase, the gap in experience and quality…
The Women’s Premier League has transformed Indian women’s cricket in ways few could have predicted. What began as a long-awaited platform has, within three seasons, become the most effective talent accelerator in the country. Nowhere is this more evident than within the Mumbai Indians setup. At the WPL 2026 press conference, MI’s leadership repeatedly returned…
The Mumbai Indians do not treat success as an outcome; they treat it as a process. Across leagues and formats, the franchise has built a reputation for sustained excellence, and as the 2026 Women’s Premier League approaches, that philosophy remains firmly intact. Speaking at the pre-season press conference, MI’s leadership made it clear that this…
The 2026 British Junior Open (BJO) in Birmingham was never going to be an ordinary tournament. Marking the centenary edition of one of junior squash’s most prestigious events, it brought together over 750 players from across the globe, showcasing how the sport has evolved from an elite British school competition into a truly global, professionalized…
As women’s cricket steps into 2026, one name towers above the rest in Indian conversations: Smriti Mandhana. For much of her career, Mandhana was celebrated as the sport’s stylist, an opener defined by balance, timing, and a cover drive that belonged in coaching manuals. Elegance, however, has given way to authority. As of January 2026,…
UP Warriorz on Tuesday revealed their new playing jersey for the upcoming Women’s Premier League 2026, unveiling a design that blends performance sport with deep-rooted cultural storytelling. Created in collaboration with Ekaya Banaras, the team’s official design partner, the new kit draws inspiration from the rich textile heritage of Banaras, translating traditional artistry into a…
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…
The introduction of the Total Chess World Championship Tour marks one of the most ambitious structural reforms in elite chess in decades. Approved by FIDE in partnership with Norway Chess, the Tour seeks to move beyond the long-standing separation of classical, rapid, and blitz formats by identifying a single “Total Chess” champion a player who…
If 2025 was the year Indian esports earned legitimacy, 2026 is shaping up to be the year that legitimacy translates into lasting structure. With the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA) moving from policy intent to on-ground implementation, the ecosystem is entering a phase defined less by validation and more by execution. Competitive…
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…
With the euphoria of India’s landmark 2025 ODI World Cup triumph still fresh, the spotlight now shifts decisively to the shortest and most volatile format of the game. The fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), beginning on January 9, 2026, arrives at a moment when women’s cricket is undergoing rapid tactical and leadership…
For decades, women’s cricket in India thrived on individual brilliance rather than a robust system. Icons such as Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur carried the sport forward through sheer excellence, but the pathway beneath them was often fragmented. Talent existed in abundance, yet the journey from a local ground to the national cap resembled an…
Royal Challengers Bangalore have always been a franchise built on belief, star power, and fearless cricket. In the Women’s Premier League, that belief finally turned into silverware when RCB lifted the WPL title, with Ellyse Perry playing a pivotal role throughout the campaign. Perry was not just another overseas signing; she was the backbone of…
The Women’s Premier League WPL 2026 , scheduled from January 9 to February 5, is not merely another domestic season on the calendar. Instead, it shapes up as a carefully timed, high-intensity launchpad for India’s T20 World Cup campaign in England this June. Fresh off their historic first-ever ODI World Cup triumph in late 2025,…
Established stars asserted their pedigree while several challengers ensured the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships remained fiercely competitive, as action continued at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. World Championship bronze medallist Pooja Rani and India international Jadumani Singh registered commanding wins, but Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain and seasoned campaigner Amit Panghal…
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 squash continues its remarkable ascent on the global junior stage, and once again, Anahat Singh stands at the heart of it. The teenage prodigy from India booked her place in the Girls’ Under-19 final of the prestigious British Junior Open 2026, delivering a composed and commanding 3–0 win over Egypt’s Malika Elkarasky in the…
With the Women’s Premier League, WPL 2026 just days away, the Gujarat Giants have begun their final phase of preparation by grounding themselves in belief and balance. On Monday morning, the Adani Sportsline-owned franchise visited Mumbai’s revered Siddhivinayak Temple, seeking blessings as they prepare to embark on a season that carries both expectation and opportunity….
India’s leading boxers began their campaigns on a confident note at the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships, with world champions Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi, Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, and Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal all progressing with convincing victories at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. The ongoing championships mark a…
As the Women’s Premier League, WPL 2026 enters its fourth season in 2026, it does so not as an emerging experiment but as the most influential franchise competition in global women’s cricket. Scheduled from January 9 to February 5, the season reflects a league that has moved decisively into its consolidation phase, marked by a…
Mumbai Indians (MI), the defending champions, enter the new WPL season with high expectations, strong squad depth, and a proven winning culture. Defending a championship in any T20 league is one of the toughest challenges in cricket, and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is no exception. But with other teams improving rapidly, the big question…
Amid Egypt’s continuing dominance, India has emerged as one of the most compelling challengers, led by the composed brilliance of Anahat Singh and the growing resilience of Aryaveer Dewan. The 100th edition of the British Junior Open (BJO) in Birmingham has reaffirmed its reputation as the most definitive proving ground in world junior squash. Celebrating…
Since its inception in 2023, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has emerged as one of the fastest-growing tournaments in world cricket. More than just a franchise competition, the WPL has played a transformative role in women’s cricket by offering elite players a global stage, financial security, and a highly competitive environment that mirrors the intensity…
Since its launch in 2023, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has rapidly transformed the landscape of women’s cricket. Designed as a high-intensity, franchise-based tournament on the lines of elite men’s leagues, the WPL has not only elevated standards but also provided a global platform for the best women cricketers to test themselves under pressure. Across…
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium buzzed with energy as Day 1 of the 75th Senior National Basketball Championship tipped off, serving up a packed schedule of intense contests across both the men’s and women’s divisions. Teams from across the country took the floor in groups A through H, producing dominant victories, edge-of-the-seat finishes, and a few…
The UP Warriorz have made a decisive leadership call ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, appointing Australian great Meg Lanning as captain of the franchise. Owned by Capri Sports, the Warriorz confirmed the move on Saturday, entrusting one of the most decorated leaders in women’s cricket with guiding the team through the upcoming…
Former Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal and Haryana heavyweight Sagar began their respective campaigns on a positive note at the Elite Men and Women Senior National Boxing Championships, currently underway at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. Competing against a strong national field, both boxers showcased grit and class to advance in their weight categories,…
Indian Taekwondo has rarely occupied global conversations, often overshadowed by more medal-heavy combat sports. That narrative has now shifted decisively with Rupa Bayor climbing to World Rank 6 and Asia Rank 1 in Recognized Poomsae (Female Under 30), becoming the first Indian ever to break into the global top 10 of any World Taekwondo discipline….
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…
Indian boxing is set for a defining week as the country’s top male and female boxers prepare to battle for national supremacy at the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships, scheduled to be held from January 4 to 10 at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. The championships promise not just intense competition but also…
As the professional chess circuit accelerates into 2026, few events capture the sport’s transformation as clearly as the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz, scheduled from January 7 to 11 in Kolkata. Now in its seventh edition, the tournament has evolved from a high-profile invitational into Asia’s premier fast-chess event, firmly embedded within 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…
The defending champions Mumbai Indians, have officially pulled back the curtain on their new jersey for the upcoming Women’s Premier League season, unveiling the kit on 2 January 2026. While jerseys are often seen as exercises in branding, the 2026 Mumbai Indians design goes a step further, offering a poetic tribute to the city at…
In a significant move to bolster the fitness levels of the national squad, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to appoint Nicholas Lee as the new Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach for the Indian women’s cricket team. As per the announcement on 1st January, 2026, the Englishman is expected to…
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…
Women’s cricket has undergone a visible shift over the last year, with new champions emerging and traditional hierarchies being challenged. Yet, if Ashleigh Gardner is to be believed, the balance of power at the top has not truly changed. Despite Australia currently holding none of the major white-ball world titles, the star all-rounder insists the…
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…
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…
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,…
The latest ICC Women’s T20I rankings update at the end of 2025 tells a story far deeper than routine number shuffles. It reflects a decisive shift in the balance of power in women’s cricket, driven by India’s historic year across formats and capped by a commanding 5–0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in December. What stands…
The 2025 Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) season will be remembered as a watershed moment for Indian golf, a year in which domestic excellence, financial growth and international pathways aligned like never before. At the centre of this transformation stood Yuvraj Sandhu, whose record-breaking campaign redefined what was possible on the Indian circuit and…
The Mumbai Indians’ decision to appoint former Australian leg-spinner Kristen Beams as spin-bowling coach ahead of the 2026 Women’s Premier League season is a clear reflection of how far the league and the franchise has evolved. What began as a short-format tournament designed to kickstart professional women’s cricket in India has now entered a phase…
With the fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League fast approaching, Delhi Capitals have wasted little time in shifting into preparation mode. The JSW and GMR co-owned franchise has begun its pre-season build-up with an intensive training camp in Goa, setting the tone for another campaign in which expectations remain high after three consecutive appearances…
