Under constantly shifting winds and choppy waters off Girgaon Chowpatty, India’s best sailors were pushed to their limits on Day Two of the Sail India Asian Games Selection Trials II, as the race for places in the 2026 Asian Games squad gathered momentum in Mumbai. The second day of racing underlined exactly why Sail India…
When the list of Padma Awards 2026 was announced on the eve of India’s 77th Republic Day, the sports community immediately understood that this was not a routine honours list. The 2026 awards marked a structural shift in how the Indian state now defines sporting contribution. It was no longer just about medals and scorelines….
The indefinite postponement of the 2029 Asian Winter Games is more than a scheduling adjustment. It is the first major structural reset in Saudi Arabia’s sporting superpower project, and it reveals how even the most lavishly funded visions can collide with engineering, economics and climate science. The decision, formally announced by the Olympic Council of…
For decades, Narela existed on Delhi’s mental map as an unfinished promise a planned sub-city that never quite arrived. Vast housing blocks sat empty, infrastructure lagged, and the area remained isolated from the capital’s economic core. That story is now being rewritten. At the centre of Narela’s transformation is one of the most ambitious urban-sport…
For years, Indian swimming has lived in a fog of half-truths. We have spoken about potential, blamed facilities, argued about selection policies, and celebrated the occasional international medal without ever answering the most basic performance question: are Indian swimmers actually fast enough to compete at the Asian Games? Now, with the 2026 Asian Games qualification…
Indian Sport stands at a decisive moment in its sporting history. With the country preparing a bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, the ambition has shifted from participation to performance. The scale of that ambition, however, cannot be met by government funding and administrative structures alone. The current model built around schemes such as Khelo…
The Indian sports fan is no longer a passive spectator confined to a television screen. Over the last 15 years, India’s sports ecosystem has undergone a structural transformation one that has shifted the country from a cricket-dominated entertainment market into a diversified, digitally powered, multi-sport economy. Valued at roughly USD 19 billion today, the industry…
In the arena of Indian sport, the roar of the crowd and the shimmer of medals often drown out a quieter, more insidious battle. While fans celebrate the podium finishes of icons like PV Sindhu or Smriti Mandhana, a “silent opponent” continues to trail India’s elite female athletes. This adversary does not line up across…
Odisha: A State with an Inclusive Sports Ecosystem, Setting a Benchmark for Global Sports Development A decade ago, Odisha was often associated with hunger and economic sluggishness. Today, it proudly stands as the sports capital of India, driven by a clear vision backed by infrastructure, sustained investment, and steadily growing public interest. Over the years,…
Indian sports economy stands at a decisive crossroads. Over the last decade, the country has witnessed an unprecedented surge in sporting visibility, commercial interest, and fan engagement across disciplines. Yet beneath the surface of packed stadiums, headline-grabbing auctions, and viral moments lies a deeper structural question: can Indian sport move beyond being driven by isolated…
As the global sporting calendar builds towards the 20th edition of the Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan, the Indian contingent finds itself at a pivotal crossroads. Scheduled from September 19 to October 4, 2026, the Games are more than a continental multi-sport event for India. They represent a critical examination of how far the country…
“So what do you feel about India’s chances for Los Angeles 2028?” Is the question often asked When people meet a sports writer, the first question they often ask is, Closely followed by, “Will we do better in Los Angeles than we did at Paris 2024?” The answer to these questions is not something abstract…
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…
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…
A single medal does not redefine a sport overnight, but Alisha Subudhi’s bronze at the World Karate Federation (WKF) Series A in Tbilisi may well mark a turning point for Indian karate. For a discipline long pushed to the fringes of India’s sporting ecosystem, the 23-year-old’s podium finish has ignited belief that sustained institutional backing…
The Indian sports fan has evolved from a passive viewer into an active participant in a rapidly expanding ecosystem that blends culture, commerce, technology, and identity. What was once a cricket-dominated, television-led consumption pattern has transformed into a multi-sport, digital-first, data-driven economy, positioning the sports industry as one of India’s most promising growth sectors. Valued…
Guwahati is set to take a significant step toward establishing itself as a high-performance sporting center, following the announcement of a new High-Performance Satellite Sports Centre by the Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare (DSYW), Government of Assam, in partnership with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS). The initiative marks a decisive move to build…
Reliance Industries’ ₹7 lakh crore investment roadmap for Gujarat is often discussed in the context of green energy, artificial intelligence, and industrial transformation. But embedded within this sweeping economic vision is a carefully structured sporting ambition, one that could fundamentally reshape India’s high-performance ecosystem and position Gujarat as the country’s sporting capital over the next…
The Sports Ahmedabad Conclave, held in Ahmedabad on January 9, 2026, may well be remembered as a turning point in India’s sporting administration. Attended by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, the conclave was not about ceremonial speeches or broad promises. Instead, it delivered…
The Indian Olympic Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Ahmedabad on January 9, 2026, marked a significant moment in the restructuring of Indian sport. Conducted after a gap of nearly three years, the meeting was less about routine approvals and more about resetting priorities financial, administrative, and athlete-centric priorities as India charts a long-term…
India’s formal push to host the 2036 Olympic Games is no longer a symbolic aspiration. It marks a decisive shift in how the country views sport not as episodic success driven by individual brilliance, but as a long-term national project rooted in governance reform, institutional accountability, and performance science. What has emerged over the past…
Most Indian teenagers may be worried about their next exam or about how their next date is going to go, but there is an elite group of youngsters with dreams much bigger, who have worked incredibly hard for sporting glory and have their eyes on the biggest goal of them all an Olympics medal. This…
Indian sport has spent the last decade upgrading its visible infrastructure: stadiums, high-performance centers, athlete support systems, and international exposure. Yet, behind these tangible gains lies a quieter but far more consequential reform now taking shape: the professionalization of sports administration. The proposed National Multi-Level Competency and Curriculum Framework for Sports Administrators aims to address…
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…
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…
Uttar Pradesh is steadily emerging as one of India’s most active and strategically organised sports hubs, driven by proactive governance, large-scale tournament hosting, and a clearly defined pathway-based policy framework. Through 2025, the state consolidated its position by strengthening a competitive ecosystem that allows athletes to progress seamlessly from school and grassroots levels to state,…
Gujarat’s current sports policy was released on 10th March 2022 and featured a five-year roadmap. The sports policy was construed by the Sports Youth and Cultural Affairs Department and the Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG). This longitudinal plan highlights a pathway that characterizes a Long-Term Athlete Development Program. The structure emphasises improving performances at the…
Indian sports is undergoing one of the most significant structural shifts in its history. With the introduction of the National Sports Governance Act of 2025 and a gradual transition from discretionary oversight to a statutory regulatory framework, the ecosystem is moving toward professionalism, accountability, and transparency. However, while governance structures are evolving rapidly, the education…
Indian sport has entered a new phase of hard accountability and sharper prioritization with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) finalizing a major overhaul of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and introducing clearer separation between Olympic and continental ambitions through the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG). The January 2026 update is not…
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…
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…
Indian sport reached a long-overdue inflection point on December 30, 2025, when the Special Task Force on Capacity Building of Sports Administrators, chaired by Abhinav Bindra, submitted its 170-page report to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. More than just another committee document, the report functions as an implementation blueprint for the National Sports…
The year 2026 is set to mark a decisive turning point in Gujarat’s Global sports and economic trajectory. Long known as one of India’s industrial and commercial powerhouses, the state is now positioning itself as the country’s most ambitious and integrated sports hub. This transformation is not driven by a single marquee event, but by…
Sports Events in 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for Indian sport beyond the boundary ropes. From world-class badminton and elite shooting to continental weightlifting, hockey, and athletics, the country is preparing to host a calendar that reflects both sporting depth and growing organizational ambition. This is not just about volume. It…
College sports across the world are undergoing a fundamental transformation, and nowhere is this shift more visible than in the United States. What was once an amateur, education-first ecosystem has rapidly evolved into a capital-intensive, professionally managed industry. The Big 12 Conference’s proposed $500 million strategic partnership with private equity players RedBird Capital Partners and…
The global sports economy has quietly transformed from a supporting entertainment sector into a primary economic engine. Once driven largely by tradition and fandom, sport today sits at the intersection of infrastructure, technology, media, health, and geopolitics. Nowhere is this shift more visible than in Saudi Arabia and India, two nations pursuing ambitious but fundamentally…
For decades, tennis occupied the unquestioned centre of the racket sports universe. It commanded the biggest sponsorships, the most television time, and the clearest professional pathways. Yet beneath this glossy surface, a parallel ecosystem has been quietly expanding. Badminton, table tennis, squash, and newer disruptors like padel and pickleball often labelled “shadow” racket sports are…
For decades, Indian sport was defined by paradox. A nation of vast population and raw talent continued to underperform on the global stage, with international success hinging on a handful of exceptional individuals rather than a reliable system. That narrative has begun to change decisively over the past seven years. At the centre of this…
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has announced the continuation of PKSV Sagar, President of GMR Sports, as Chairperson of its Sports Committee for another term, reaffirming stability and continuity in one of the most influential platforms shaping India’s sports ecosystem. Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer at Adani Sportsline, will continue…
Madhya Pradesh has long been a quiet contributor to Indian sport producing shooters, hockey players, paddlers and athletes who often went on to shine under other state banners. With its newly articulated Viksit Madhya Pradesh @2047 vision, the state is now attempting a decisive shift: from being a talent nursery to becoming a full-spectrum sports…
The Arjuna Award has always been more than a medal and a citation. Instituted in 1961, it is India’s most consistent barometer of sustained sporting excellence. But the 2024–25 cycle of National Sports Awards, culminating in the recently finalised Arjuna Award 2025 nominations, marks a deeper shift one that reveals how India now defines success,…
For more than a century, the Mahalaxmi Racecourse has occupied a unique place in Mumbai’s geography and imagination. An expansive open tract in the heart of South Mumbai, it has been at once a sporting landmark, a colonial relic, and a rare visual relief in a city choking for space. Now, with the Mumbai Central…
When discussions turn to collegiate sport as a talent pipeline, the NCAA in the United States is often held up as the gold standard. It has produced generations of Olympic medallists, global sporting icons and professional athletes, while embedding sport deeply into the university ecosystem. India’s Khelo India University Games (KIUG), by contrast, is a…
Indian sports stands at a decisive inflection point, where long-standing governance structures are being tested against modern economic realities. The ongoing friction between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Super League (ISL) is not an isolated dispute over commercial rights or calendar control. It is a broader “BAR” test Bottlenecks, Accountability, and…
Indian sports ecosystem took a decisive step forward on December 22, 2025, when the Governing Body of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) cleared a wide-ranging set of infrastructure and technology upgrades across multiple national centers. Chaired by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, the meeting reflected a clear shift in philosophy…
Indian sport is quietly undergoing its most significant transformation since liberalization. For decades, the ecosystem outside cricket functioned largely on emotion driven by individual passion, sporadic government grants, or corporate CSR support. Leagues were launched with enthusiasm but folded just as quickly, federations struggled with governance issues, and athletes operated in uncertain professional environments. That…
Indian sport has entered a decisive phase of institutional reform, with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports formally deferring Sports elections of all National Sports Federations (NSFs) until December 31, 2026. The decision, notified on December 22, 2025, is not an administrative delay but a deliberate structural pause designed to enable the full implementation…
Long known as one of India’s most important spiritual centres, Tirupati is now charting a very different trajectory. Beyond temples and pilgrimage tourism, the city is steadily emerging as a key node in Andhra Pradesh’s long-term sports infrastructure strategy. At the heart of this shift lies an ambitious plan to build an integrated, international-standard sports…
Indian sports is often discussed through the narrow prism of medals how many were won, in which discipline, and what they mean for the next Olympic cycle. But a recent panel discussion at Jio Institute at 2nd Indian Sports Management Conference 2025 on sports pathways, governance, education, and inclusion made one thing abundantly clear, medals…
For the third consecutive year, India finished at the top of the global anti-doping charts not for excellence, but for violations. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA data for 2024, India recorded 260 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) from 7,113 samples, a positivity rate of 3.6 per cent, the highest among all major testing nations….
