The India women's hockey team ended a 44-year wait for gold at the Asian Games as they defeated hosts China 1-0 in the final on Friday (Oct 2). India had last won the women's hockey gold at the 1982 Asian Games. The sole goal of the match came in the first quarter when Lalremsiami scored from a penalty corner. China could not break through India's defense for the remainder of the match as the Indian women came out victorious to bag the gold. Thanks to this victory, India also secured direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.<h2>India end 44-year wait for women's hockey gold at Asian Games</h2>After winning gold in the 1982 edition, the India women's hockey team won bronze at the 1986 Asian Games in South Korea, silver in 1998 in Thailand, bronze in 2006 in Qatar, bronze in 2014 in South Korea, silver in 2018 in Indonesia, and bronze in 2023 in China before clinching gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Hockey India has also announced ca cash prize of INR 11 lakh to each player and INR 5.5 lakh to each support staff.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-women-s-recurve-archery-team-and-boxers-lovlina-parveen-win-gold-1790933922645">Asian Games: Women's recurve archery team and boxers Lovlina, Parveen win gold</a>The final started an hour late after the team buses were stuck in traffic caused by an unrelated accident, but the Indian team didn't let the delay affect their focus and went on to win the match.Thanks to this hockey gold, India climbed to 5th spot on the medal tally with 16 gold, 25 silver, and 35 bronze medals.<h2>Boxers and archery recurve team secure gold as well</h2>Earlier in the day, the India women's recurve archery team also won their maiden Asiad gold by defeating South Korea. Apart from them, boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal also won gold medals in the women's 75 kg, women's 66 kg, and men's 80 kg categories, respectively.

India women's hockey team won their first Asian Games gold in 44 years with a 1-0 win over China, securing LA 2028 entry. Archery and boxing stars also won gold as India moved to 5th in medal tally.

The India women's hockey team ended a 44-year wait for gold at the Asian Games as they defeated hosts China 1-0 in the final on Friday (Oct 2). India had last won the women's hockey gold at the 1982 Asian Games. The sole goal of the match came in the first quarter when Lalremsiami scored from a penalty corner. China could not break through India's defense for the remainder of the match as the Indian women came out victorious to bag the gold. Thanks to this victory, India also secured direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. India end 44-year wait for women's hockey gold at Asian Games After winning gold in the 1982 edition, the India women's hockey team won bronze at the 1986 Asian Games in South Korea, silver in 1998 in Thailand, bronze in 2006 in Qatar, bronze in 2014 in South Korea, silver in 2018 in Indonesia, and bronze in 2023 in China before clinching gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Hockey India has also announced ca cash prize of INR 11 lakh to each player and INR 5.5 lakh to each support staff. Also Read - Asian Games: Women's recurve archery team and boxers Lovlina, Parveen win gold The final started an hour late after the team buses were stuck in traffic caused by an unrelated accident, but the Indian team didn't let the delay affect their focus and went on to win the match. Thanks to this hockey gold, India climbed to 5th spot on the medal tally with 16 gold, 25 silver, and 35 bronze medals. Boxers and archery recurve team secure gold as well Earlier in the day, the India women's recurve archery team also won their maiden Asiad gold by defeating South Korea. Apart from them, boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal also won gold medals in the women's 75 kg, women's 66 kg, and men's 80 kg categories, respectively.

India women's hockey team won their first Asian Games gold in 44 years with a 1-0 win over China, securing LA 2028 entry. Archery and boxing stars also won gold as India moved to 5th in medal tally.

Asian Games 2026: India women's hockey team ends 44-year wait for gold

The India women recurve archery team scripted history by winning their maiden gold medal in Asian Games history on Friday (Oct 2). Boxer Lovlina Borgohain also upgraded her silver to gold in the women's 75 kg category, becoming only the second Indian woman boxer after Mary Kom in 2014 to win an Asian Games gold medal. In recurve archery, the trio of Ankita Bhakat, Kirti, and Kumkum Anil Mohod beat traditional powerhouse South Korea for the gold, while Lovlina beat China’s Bao Ziyi - the reigning Asian Championships gold medalist - with a perfect 5-0 score.<h2>How India won recurve women's team gold in archery</h2>In the final, the Indian women's team shot 54 despite an 8 on Kirti's shot (later upgraded to a 9 after review) in the first series to stay equal with the Korean score and split the set points 1-1. In the second series, both teams shot 56 points each to again split two set points 1-1. In the third series, the Indian trio shot 55 against South Korea's 51 to gain a 4-2 lead. In the final series, the scores once again were tied at 54 each, and the Indian team took the gold by a 5-3 margin.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/odi-world-cup-2027-check-india-s-full-group-stage-schedule-1790916902835">ODI World Cup 2027: Check India's full group stage schedule</a><h2>Lovlina wins boxing gold</h2>Lovlina gave herself the best birthday present as she clinched her maiden Asiad gold with a unanimous 5-0 win over her Chinese counterpart. Before that, Lovlina had beaten South Korea's Seong Suyeon in the quarter-finals, also 5-0, and won a thrilling semi-final against Kazakhstan’s reigning World Champion Natalya Bogdanova 3-2 via split decision. The boxer has won Olympic, World Championship, Asian Games, and Asian Championship medals, and this Asiad gold cements her place as one of India's finest boxers.Apart from her, Parveen Hooda also won gold in the women's 65 kg category, beating Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei 3-2 in a split decision.

India's women's recurve archery team won a historic maiden Asian Games gold vs South Korea, while boxers Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and Parveen Hooda (65kg) both clinched gold in their categories.

The India women recurve archery team scripted history by winning their maiden gold medal in Asian Games history on Friday (Oct 2). Boxer Lovlina Borgohain also upgraded her silver to gold in the women's 75 kg category, becoming only the second Indian woman boxer after Mary Kom in 2014 to win an Asian Games gold medal. In recurve archery, the trio of Ankita Bhakat, Kirti, and Kumkum Anil Mohod beat traditional powerhouse South Korea for the gold, while Lovlina beat China’s Bao Ziyi - the reigning Asian Championships gold medalist - with a perfect 5-0 score. How India won recurve women's team gold in archery In the final, the Indian women's team shot 54 despite an 8 on Kirti's shot (later upgraded to a 9 after review) in the first series to stay equal with the Korean score and split the set points 1-1. In the second series, both teams shot 56 points each to again split two set points 1-1. In the third series, the Indian trio shot 55 against South Korea's 51 to gain a 4-2 lead. In the final series, the scores once again were tied at 54 each, and the Indian team took the gold by a 5-3 margin. Also Read - ODI World Cup 2027: Check India's full group stage schedule Lovlina wins boxing gold Lovlina gave herself the best birthday present as she clinched her maiden Asiad gold with a unanimous 5-0 win over her Chinese counterpart. Before that, Lovlina had beaten South Korea's Seong Suyeon in the quarter-finals, also 5-0, and won a thrilling semi-final against Kazakhstan’s reigning World Champion Natalya Bogdanova 3-2 via split decision. The boxer has won Olympic, World Championship, Asian Games, and Asian Championship medals, and this Asiad gold cements her place as one of India's finest boxers. Apart from her, Parveen Hooda also won gold in the women's 65 kg category, beating Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei 3-2 in a split decision.

India's women's recurve archery team won a historic maiden Asian Games gold vs South Korea, while boxers Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and Parveen Hooda (65kg) both clinched gold in their categories.

Asian Games 2026: Women's recurve archery team and boxers Lovlina, Parveen win gold

India survived a huge scare from Pakistan to enter the men's hockey final at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday (Oct 1). India were 3-0 ahead after the first half-hour of the game before Pakistan struck back and erased the deficit completely. India, however, held their nerve to score a late winner in the 60th minute to book a berth in the gold medal match. India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Malaysia and Korea for the hockey gold.<h2>India Survive Pak Scare to Enter Men's Hockey Final</h2>India started the match against their arch-rivals well as Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal from a penalty corner in the 5th minute. India doubled their lead within eight minutes as Harmanpreet again scored from a penalty corner. Sukhjeet Singh then scored 10 minutes later, in the 23rd minute, to put India 3-0 ahead.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-batter-rohit-sharma-shares-immediate-goal-ahead-of-odi-world-cup-2027-chances-1790852665024">India batter Rohit Sharma shares 'immediate goal' ahead of ODI World Cup 2027 chances</a>Pakistan, who were out of the match until that point, then struck back with three goals of their own. Ammad Butt scored in the 38th minute, and Hanan Shahid in the 45th minute, before Waheed Rana scored the equaliser in the 49th minute.Abhishek then scored the winner in the 60th minute as India survived a scare and won the thriller 4-3.<h2>IND vs PAK in meen's cricket gold match</h2>India fought their way into the final of the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket event after crushing Sri Lanka. India bowled out the Islanders for a paltry score of 45 runs to win the match by 124 runs at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday (Oct 1). In the final, defending gold medallists India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster contest. The gold medal match is scheduled for Saturday (Oct 3).

India edged Pakistan 4-3 to reach the Asian Games 2026 hockey final. India squandered a 3-0 lead as Pakistan leveled 3-3, before Abhishek netted a dramatic 60th-minute winner to seal the victory.

India survived a huge scare from Pakistan to enter the men's hockey final at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday (Oct 1). India were 3-0 ahead after the first half-hour of the game before Pakistan struck back and erased the deficit completely. India, however, held their nerve to score a late winner in the 60th minute to book a berth in the gold medal match. India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Malaysia and Korea for the hockey gold. India Survive Pak Scare to Enter Men's Hockey Final India started the match against their arch-rivals well as Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal from a penalty corner in the 5th minute. India doubled their lead within eight minutes as Harmanpreet again scored from a penalty corner. Sukhjeet Singh then scored 10 minutes later, in the 23rd minute, to put India 3-0 ahead. Also Read - India batter Rohit Sharma shares 'immediate goal' ahead of ODI World Cup 2027 chances Pakistan, who were out of the match until that point, then struck back with three goals of their own. Ammad Butt scored in the 38th minute, and Hanan Shahid in the 45th minute, before Waheed Rana scored the equaliser in the 49th minute. Abhishek then scored the winner in the 60th minute as India survived a scare and won the thriller 4-3. IND vs PAK in meen's cricket gold match India fought their way into the final of the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket event after crushing Sri Lanka. India bowled out the Islanders for a paltry score of 45 runs to win the match by 124 runs at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday (Oct 1). In the final, defending gold medallists India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster contest. The gold medal match is scheduled for Saturday (Oct 3).

India edged Pakistan 4-3 to reach the Asian Games 2026 hockey final. India squandered a 3-0 lead as Pakistan leveled 3-3, before Abhishek netted a dramatic 60th-minute winner to seal the victory.

Asian Games 2026: India survive Pakistan fightback for place in gold medal match of men's hockey

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets on Thursday (Oct 1) at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin to enter the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket final. Chasing a 112-run target in a rain-shortened match, Pakistan took 11.3 overs to score the runs for the loss of four wickets. They were in trouble at one point with four wickets down for 53 runs in 6.3 overs, but Hasan Nawaz (27 not out) and Abdul Samad (30 not out off 15) added the remaining 59 runs in just 32 balls to take them home. Pakistan will now face the winner of the India vs Sri Lanka semi-final in the gold medal match on Saturday (Oct 3).<h2>Pakistan Enter Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Final</h2>Batting first, Bangladesh had a rocky start in the match as they lost three wickets - Tanzid Hasan (7), skipper Litton Das (2), and Parvez Hossain Emon (1) - for 31 runs in 3.2 overs. Saif Hassan (19) tried to build a partnership with Towhid Hridoy for a bit before getting out with the team score at 45. Hridoy's 42, however, pushed Bangladesh to the 100-run mark as they finished at 111/7 in 13 overs.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-2nd-odi-gambhir-not-amused-with-india-s-record-chase-calls-it-not-fair-1790825702697">IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Gambhir not amused with India's record chase, calls it ‘not fair’</a>Chasing the target, Pakistan skipper Sahibzada Farhan (1) was dismissed on the last ball of the first over before his opening partner Maaz Sadaqat (15) was dismissed five balls later. Saim Ayub (21) was next to go as Pakistan fell to 38/3 in four overs, and Usman Khan's (14) wicket made it 53/4 before Nawaz and Samad won it for the Men in Green.<h2>What Was the Turning Point?</h2>Bangladesh were ahead until the ninth-over mark of the chase, with Pakistan needing 36 runs off 24 balls. Samad, however, then smashed 23 runs off Mustafizur Rahman's over - the 10th of the innings - to tilt the equation in Pakistan's favor. Needing 13 off the last 18 balls, Pakistan scored the remaining runs in nine balls to win the match.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a 13-over Asian Games semi-final. Chasing 112, Pakistan recovered from 53/4 as Samad (30*) and Nawaz (27*) powered them to victory to reach the gold medal match.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets on Thursday (Oct 1) at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin to enter the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket final. Chasing a 112-run target in a rain-shortened match, Pakistan took 11.3 overs to score the runs for the loss of four wickets. They were in trouble at one point with four wickets down for 53 runs in 6.3 overs, but Hasan Nawaz (27 not out) and Abdul Samad (30 not out off 15) added the remaining 59 runs in just 32 balls to take them home. Pakistan will now face the winner of the India vs Sri Lanka semi-final in the gold medal match on Saturday (Oct 3). Pakistan Enter Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Final Batting first, Bangladesh had a rocky start in the match as they lost three wickets - Tanzid Hasan (7), skipper Litton Das (2), and Parvez Hossain Emon (1) - for 31 runs in 3.2 overs. Saif Hassan (19) tried to build a partnership with Towhid Hridoy for a bit before getting out with the team score at 45. Hridoy's 42, however, pushed Bangladesh to the 100-run mark as they finished at 111/7 in 13 overs. Also Read - IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Gambhir not amused with India's record chase, calls it ‘not fair’ Chasing the target, Pakistan skipper Sahibzada Farhan (1) was dismissed on the last ball of the first over before his opening partner Maaz Sadaqat (15) was dismissed five balls later. Saim Ayub (21) was next to go as Pakistan fell to 38/3 in four overs, and Usman Khan's (14) wicket made it 53/4 before Nawaz and Samad won it for the Men in Green. What Was the Turning Point? Bangladesh were ahead until the ninth-over mark of the chase, with Pakistan needing 36 runs off 24 balls. Samad, however, then smashed 23 runs off Mustafizur Rahman's over - the 10th of the innings - to tilt the equation in Pakistan's favor. Needing 13 off the last 18 balls, Pakistan scored the remaining runs in nine balls to win the match.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a 13-over Asian Games semi-final. Chasing 112, Pakistan recovered from 53/4 as Samad (30*) and Nawaz (27*) powered them to victory to reach the gold medal match.

Asian Games 2026: Pakistan beat Bangladesh to enter men's cricket final

India finally has a gold medal in the Asian Games 2026 shooting events, and that too in some style. The Haryana-based duo of Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet, on Friday (Sept. 25), won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event and set a new Asian Games record in the process. This is also India's second gold in the continental games, following the Indian women's cricket team's gold. Before this maiden gold, Indian shooters had won five silver and three bronze medals across events. Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic medallist from Paris 2024, was expected to win gold but failed to clinch any medal in a disappointing campaign.<h2>How Suruchi and Kamaljeet won India's first shooting gold at the Asian Games</h2>First, Suruchi and Kamaljeet equalled the Asian Record in qualification by shooting a total of 587, matching the milestone set by Indian pair Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary at the ISSF World Cup in 2021. They fell short of the Qualification World Record of 591, held by China, by just four points. The Indian pair shot 196, 195, and 196 across the three series to equal the record.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-seema-breaks-16-year-drought-for-india-in-women-s-10-000m-with-historic-bronze-1790260746130">Seema breaks 16-year drought for India in women’s 10,000m with historic bronze</a>In the final event, which saw competition between the top four pairs, the Haryana duo shot 103.0, 99.4, 101.1, 61.2, 60.2, and 59.7 to win the gold with a total of 484.6 — setting an Asian Games Record. South Korea won the silver in the event with a total of 478.0, while the bronze went to Iran with a total of 415.8.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">GOLD, WITH A RECORD TO MATCH! 🥇 Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet seal the gold for India with a new Asian Record of 484.6! 🤩 Watch the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AsianGames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianGames</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AichiNagoya2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AichiNagoya2026</a>… <a href="https://t.co/lvEtHemMAO">pic.twitter.com/lvEtHemMAO</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2103343609173213537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Speaking on the achievement, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Shri Kalikesh Singh Deo said, “This is a remarkable achievement by Suruchi and Kamaljeet. To deliver under pressure, win gold and rewrite the Asian Games Record on the Asian Games stage speaks volumes about their talent, preparation and composure. Their performance is a proud moment for Indian shooting, and I congratulate both shooters on this outstanding achievement.”

Haryana duo Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won India's second Asian Games 2026 gold in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event with an Asian-record score of 484.6, following the women's cricket team's gold.

India finally has a gold medal in the Asian Games 2026 shooting events, and that too in some style. The Haryana-based duo of Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet, on Friday (Sept. 25), won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event and set a new Asian Games record in the process. This is also India's second gold in the continental games, following the Indian women's cricket team's gold. Before this maiden gold, Indian shooters had won five silver and three bronze medals across events. Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic medallist from Paris 2024, was expected to win gold but failed to clinch any medal in a disappointing campaign. How Suruchi and Kamaljeet won India's first shooting gold at the Asian Games First, Suruchi and Kamaljeet equalled the Asian Record in qualification by shooting a total of 587, matching the milestone set by Indian pair Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary at the ISSF World Cup in 2021. They fell short of the Qualification World Record of 591, held by China, by just four points. The Indian pair shot 196, 195, and 196 across the three series to equal the record. Also Read - Seema breaks 16-year drought for India in women’s 10,000m with historic bronze In the final event, which saw competition between the top four pairs, the Haryana duo shot 103.0, 99.4, 101.1, 61.2, 60.2, and 59.7 to win the gold with a total of 484.6 — setting an Asian Games Record. South Korea won the silver in the event with a total of 478.0, while the bronze went to Iran with a total of 415.8.

Haryana duo Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won India's second Asian Games 2026 gold in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event with an Asian-record score of 484.6, following the women's cricket team's gold.

Asian Games 2026: How Suruchi and Kamaljeet ended India's wait for shooting gold

Fariba Hashimi, A female cyclist from Afghanistan,  who previously disguised herself as a man to escape the Taliban, has won a silver medal at the Asian Games.


Afghan woman cyclist who disguised herself as a boy to escape Taliban, wins Asian Games medal

India's women's cricket team delivered a dominant performance to claim the country's first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, crushing Sri Lanka by 147 runs. After Harmanpreet Kaur chose to bat first, India posted a record 216/3, powered by Smriti Mandhana's blistering 79, which also made her the first woman cricketer to reach 11,000 international runs. Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 69. The win, India's biggest-ever margin in women's T20Is, defends the gold they won at Hangzhou 2023.


Asian Games 2026: India women's cricket team beats Sri Lanka by 147 runs for first gold 

China's 13-year-old Yu Zidi keeps rewriting the record books. After winning 200m butterfly gold with an Asian Games record on Sunday, she smashed another one Monday, clocking 2:06.10 in the 200m individual medley, an Asian and world-junior record, just 0.4 seconds off Summer McIntosh's world record. Last year, aged just 12, Yu became swimming's youngest-ever World Championships medallist. With the 400m IM still to come on Wednesday, this teen phenom shows no signs of slowing down.


13-year-old Yu Zidi smashes another Asian Games record, now closing in on world record

India’s women’s badminton team began its Asian Games 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Kazakhstan in the Round of 16 at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Sunday (Sep 20). PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma all won their respective singles matches in straight games, giving India an unassailable lead and booking their place in the quarter-finals without losing a game.&nbsp;Since India had already secured the tie, the two scheduled doubles matches were cancelled.<h3>Sindhu, Hooda and Tanvi shine</h3>Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu gave India the perfect start against Kamila Smagulova and completed a comfortable 21-7, 21-9 victory in just 24 minutes. Sindhu controlled the match from the beginning and never allowed her opponent to settle.&nbsp;Unnati Hooda then extended India’s lead by defeating Alissa Kuleshova 21-7, 21-10 in 22 minutes.&nbsp;Tanvi Sharma sealed the tie in the third singles match against Diana Namenova and produced another dominant performance, winning 21-5, 21-10 in only 19 minutes.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-want-to-harry-brook-reveals-reason-for-avoiding-franchise-cricket-1789900332385">‘I want to…’: Harry Brook reveals reason for avoiding franchise cricket</a>&nbsp;Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi were scheduled to play Nargiza Rakhmetullayeva and Aisha Zhumabek, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela were set to face Kuleshova and Namenova. However, both matches were called off after India secured the required three wins.&nbsp;India have never won gold in the women’s team event at the Asian Games. Their best results are bronze medals from the 1982 New Delhi Games and the 2014 Incheon Games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-elavenil-valarivan-silver-women-10m-air-rifle-1789888255969">Asian Games: India's Elavenil Valarivan bags silver in women's 10m air rifle</a>&nbsp;India will next face hosts Japan in the quarter-finals on Sept 22, with the tie scheduled to begin at 6:00 am IST.&nbsp;The Indian men’s badminton team will begin its campaign against Bangladesh on Sep 21 at 11:30 am IST and the squad includes Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila.

PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma secured singles victories as India swept Kazakhstan 3-0 in the women's team round of 16 at the Asian Games 2026. India now face Japan in the quarter-finals, with a place in the medal rounds on the line.

India’s women’s badminton team began its Asian Games 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Kazakhstan in the Round of 16 at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Sunday (Sep 20). PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma all won their respective singles matches in straight games, giving India an unassailable lead and booking their place in the quarter-finals without losing a game. Since India had already secured the tie, the two scheduled doubles matches were cancelled. Sindhu, Hooda and Tanvi shine Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu gave India the perfect start against Kamila Smagulova and completed a comfortable 21-7, 21-9 victory in just 24 minutes. Sindhu controlled the match from the beginning and never allowed her opponent to settle. Unnati Hooda then extended India’s lead by defeating Alissa Kuleshova 21-7, 21-10 in 22 minutes. Tanvi Sharma sealed the tie in the third singles match against Diana Namenova and produced another dominant performance, winning 21-5, 21-10 in only 19 minutes. Also Read - ‘I want to…’: Harry Brook reveals reason for avoiding franchise cricket Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi were scheduled to play Nargiza Rakhmetullayeva and Aisha Zhumabek, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela were set to face Kuleshova and Namenova. However, both matches were called off after India secured the required three wins. India have never won gold in the women’s team event at the Asian Games. Their best results are bronze medals from the 1982 New Delhi Games and the 2014 Incheon Games. Also Read - Asian Games: India's Elavenil Valarivan bags silver in women's 10m air rifle India will next face hosts Japan in the quarter-finals on Sept 22, with the tie scheduled to begin at 6:00 am IST. The Indian men’s badminton team will begin its campaign against Bangladesh on Sep 21 at 11:30 am IST and the squad includes Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila.

PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma secured singles victories as India swept Kazakhstan 3-0 in the women's team round of 16 at the Asian Games 2026. India now face Japan in the quarter-finals, with a place in the medal rounds on the line.

Asian Games: PV Sindhu shines as India crush Kazakhstan to reach quarterfinals

The Asian Games 2026, which officially start on Saturday (September 19) in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, have already hit chaos and mismanagement. Athletes from multiple countries, including India, have dealt with issues like accommodation, transportation, and more even before the games started. The reputation of Japan being impeccable about things including planning and preparation is also being questioned after the Asian Games 2026 mismanagement.<h2>What are the issues athletes are facing at the Asian Games 2026?</h2>The Indian shooting contingent has been offered accommodation nearly 50-60 kilometres away from the practice location, making it a logistical nightmare for them to commute to and from the venue."The hotels are about 50-60 kms away from the range. The bus could accommodate only 50 persons. The first bus came late, and the second bus too was late," The Indian Express reported, citing one of the members of the Indian shooting contingent. "It took us close to two hours to reach the range. It took less time on return. But such delays can be frustrating for shooters sometimes," it added.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-athlete-who-soiled-herself-during-hyrox-race-aplogises-for-continuing-1789698729259">Athlete, who soiled herself during Hyrox race, apologises for continuing</a>As for South Korea, their football team, which had a match against Qatar, was taken to a baseball arena. The bus eventually arrived at the correct location 30 minutes later."Based on my experience, this is the worst it has ever been," Jung Jae-Yong, vice president of the Korea Basketball Association, told news agency AFP.The Indian athletes, which included a wushu practitioner, two Indian coaches and a masseur, had to wait six hours before being allotted a room on the hotel, which is essentially an Italian cruise ship, Costa Serena. "While the wushu players had to wait for some time before they were sent to the cruise ship, we, coaches and the masseur, had to wait for more than six hours at the assembly area," said a coach.Varun Sanyal, India's MMA athlete, also posted a video on social media, which has now been deleted, about the issues and said: "I can confirm this is true. I’m currently on 7 hours and counting."Japan’s deputy chef de mission Hisashi Mizutori, meanwhile, has admitted the shortcomings and said to the Japan Times, "We are currently working to coordinate and negotiate adjustments wherever possible. For cases where that proves too difficult, we are considering using the backup accommodations that Team Japan prepared in advance as alternatives."

The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, opened with widespread chaos as athletes faced severe transport delays, distant hotel arrangements on a cruise ship, and misdirected team buses.

The Asian Games 2026, which officially start on Saturday (September 19) in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, have already hit chaos and mismanagement. Athletes from multiple countries, including India, have dealt with issues like accommodation, transportation, and more even before the games started. The reputation of Japan being impeccable about things including planning and preparation is also being questioned after the Asian Games 2026 mismanagement. What are the issues athletes are facing at the Asian Games 2026? The Indian shooting contingent has been offered accommodation nearly 50-60 kilometres away from the practice location, making it a logistical nightmare for them to commute to and from the venue. "The hotels are about 50-60 kms away from the range. The bus could accommodate only 50 persons. The first bus came late, and the second bus too was late," The Indian Express reported, citing one of the members of the Indian shooting contingent. "It took us close to two hours to reach the range. It took less time on return. But such delays can be frustrating for shooters sometimes," it added. Also Read - Athlete, who soiled herself during Hyrox race, apologises for continuing As for South Korea, their football team, which had a match against Qatar, was taken to a baseball arena. The bus eventually arrived at the correct location 30 minutes later. "Based on my experience, this is the worst it has ever been," Jung Jae-Yong, vice president of the Korea Basketball Association, told news agency AFP. The Indian athletes, which included a wushu practitioner, two Indian coaches and a masseur, had to wait six hours before being allotted a room on the hotel, which is essentially an Italian cruise ship, Costa Serena. "While the wushu players had to wait for some time before they were sent to the cruise ship, we, coaches and the masseur, had to wait for more than six hours at the assembly area," said a coach. Varun Sanyal, India's MMA athlete, also posted a video on social media, which has now been deleted, about the issues and said: "I can confirm this is true. I’m currently on 7 hours and counting." Japan’s deputy chef de mission Hisashi Mizutori, meanwhile, has admitted the shortcomings and said to the Japan Times, "We are currently working to coordinate and negotiate adjustments wherever possible. For cases where that proves too difficult, we are considering using the backup accommodations that Team Japan prepared in advance as alternatives."

The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, opened with widespread chaos as athletes faced severe transport delays, distant hotel arrangements on a cruise ship, and misdirected team buses.

Asian Games 2026: From transport to accommodation- Athletes face multiple issues at Aichi-Nagoya

Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the 2026 Asian Games after suffering an ankle ligament tear. The Indian javelin star said his focus is now on recovery and returning stronger as he begins his rehabilitation.

Neeraj Chopra ruled out of 2026 Asian Games after ankle ligament tear 

India recently won 39 medals in the Commonwealth Games 2026, finishing fourth on the medal tally despite multiple games being dropped in the edition for the shortened version. The countries, which finished ahead of India were Canada (63 medals), England (110 medals), and Australia (171 medals) - all of them combined have less population than India but each has more medals. To make sure India realises its potential in the world sports, the things which need to be made top class are - infrastructure, facilities, coaches, nutrition, and opportunities to help the budding athletes grow.Aazaz Khan, who serves as Director of Mumbai-based Somaiya Sports Academy is doing his part to ensure all that at the Somaiya Vidyavihar University. WION recently spoke to Khan about his inspiration, plans, and strategy to help make India a global power in sports apart from cricket and he emphasised on "providing top class infra and facilities to students, identifying talent, and nurturing" them as the things to focus upon for his goal.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pondicherry-u-19-coach-venkataraman-faces-fir-in-alleged-attack-on-players-1786433585300">Pondicherry U-19 coach Venkataraman faces FIR in alleged attack on players</a>"I was just an accidental sportsman in school but when I joined Grassroot Development of Youngsters community program during my stay in the UK, I realised that the matches at such starting level also get treated like international matches and that is my aim to reprise in India," Khan noted.Khan is helping build the structure with top class coaches as well who, as the said, are "not PE teachers but understand the science behind the sports as well."On things apart from coaches required to build an ecosystm, Khan said: "Data collection is very important so we made sure that every coach, every sport should have their own station. That's how it happenes in US and Europe also. We make sure that the data is maintained that tomorrow it should not be a case where somebody comes up with the certificate for lying or not."The Somaiya Sports Academy, under Khan as director, also focusses upon nuturing children in all aspects and keep them pressure free. For this, the Academy, as Khan says, "involves parents as they are required to provide the support of sending them (athletes) every day. They are the one who support athletes when required, in case of an injury, diet plan, etc."Currently, Somaiya has 70 coaches across sports and has given multiple athletes to India including Suraj Chand in squash who will be representing India in Asian Games as well. Somaiya is also building universities and schools around Mumbai including in Nashik to help identify talent from every area and “offer underprivileged kids means to succeed.”

Aazaz Khan, Sports Director at Somaiya Sports Academy, aims to make India a global sports power. Inspired by UK grassroots programs, he builds science-backed coaching, top infra, and data systems.

India recently won 39 medals in the Commonwealth Games 2026, finishing fourth on the medal tally despite multiple games being dropped in the edition for the shortened version. The countries, which finished ahead of India were Canada (63 medals), England (110 medals), and Australia (171 medals) - all of them combined have less population than India but each has more medals. To make sure India realises its potential in the world sports, the things which need to be made top class are - infrastructure, facilities, coaches, nutrition, and opportunities to help the budding athletes grow. Aazaz Khan, who serves as Director of Mumbai-based Somaiya Sports Academy is doing his part to ensure all that at the Somaiya Vidyavihar University. WION recently spoke to Khan about his inspiration, plans, and strategy to help make India a global power in sports apart from cricket and he emphasised on "providing top class infra and facilities to students, identifying talent, and nurturing" them as the things to focus upon for his goal. Also Read - Pondicherry U-19 coach Venkataraman faces FIR in alleged attack on players "I was just an accidental sportsman in school but when I joined Grassroot Development of Youngsters community program during my stay in the UK, I realised that the matches at such starting level also get treated like international matches and that is my aim to reprise in India," Khan noted. Khan is helping build the structure with top class coaches as well who, as the said, are "not PE teachers but understand the science behind the sports as well." On things apart from coaches required to build an ecosystm, Khan said: "Data collection is very important so we made sure that every coach, every sport should have their own station. That's how it happenes in US and Europe also. We make sure that the data is maintained that tomorrow it should not be a case where somebody comes up with the certificate for lying or not." The Somaiya Sports Academy, under Khan as director, also focusses upon nuturing children in all aspects and keep them pressure free. For this, the Academy, as Khan says, "involves parents as they are required to provide the support of sending them (athletes) every day. They are the one who support athletes when required, in case of an injury, diet plan, etc." Currently, Somaiya has 70 coaches across sports and has given multiple athletes to India including Suraj Chand in squash who will be representing India in Asian Games as well. Somaiya is also building universities and schools around Mumbai including in Nashik to help identify talent from every area and “offer underprivileged kids means to succeed.”

Aazaz Khan, Director, Somaiya Sports Academy, aims to make India a global sports power. Inspired by UK grassroots programs, he builds science-backed coaching, top infra, and data systems.

World-class infra, science-backed coaching, and data: Blueprint for making India sports powerhouse

India has cricket as its biggest sports which is played by millions of student athletes across the country. There are, however, many other who choose to pursue other sports and one such game is acrobat gymnastic. Atharva Janskar's is one such student who chose to play acrobat gymnastic since the age of 11 and now aims to play in World Cup for India. He currently is a student of the Somaiya Vidyavihar University in Mumbai where he practices the sport and nurtures the dream of becoming of the best in the sport.WION recently spoke to him about his journey, inspiration and goals and the training he does for achieving his dreams.Also Read - '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/multiple-injuries-rebuilding-body-neeraj-chopra-shares-journey-behind-commonwealth-silver-1785915752551">Multiple injuries, rebuilding body': Chopra shares journey behind CWG silver</a>"My uncle Kunal Kote, he recently got the Chhatrapati Puraskar and I got the inspiration from him," says Atharva about the initial push to start the sport. "My whole family used to play sports. My uncle also pushed me and I have been playing the game since 2010 and 2011."What inspired him to continue was an "international tournament (Asian Championships 2025) in Goa," where he "won three silver medals" and has set the next goal already which is "to be the first in the national games which are schedule in January."Atharva also spoke about what made him continue to push himself to be better after the initial inspiration and take the seriously and revealed "the inclusion of acrobat gymnastic in national games in 2024 was the turning point for him."Speaking about the routine, he said that he "trains near home in morning between 4 to 9 o'clock and then evening 6 to 10 o'clock."Atharva also talked about how the Somaiya Sports Academy, where he trains, helps him achieving the goals, he said: One of my teachers, Mr. Dhanush, helps me a lot, especially when I was part of the national team in Uttarakhand." Along with the coaches, the facilities also help him to improve his skills for his next goal which is "World Cup where he "wants to see myself in the first round."For the World Cup, the student athlete is preparing "one hour extra apart from the regular practice" and he and his team wants to try a "balance act which nobody in the country hasn't done yet."As for the technical part Atharva points to being "relaxed a lot and one shouldn't get too angry and that one needs to stay stable and balanced."&nbsp;

Atharva Janskar, an acrobat gymnast from Somaiya Vidyavihar Academy, was inspired by his uncle to take up the sport and now targets National Games success as well as aims to make history at the World Cup.

India has cricket as its biggest sports which is played by millions of student athletes across the country. There are, however, many other who choose to pursue other sports and one such game is acrobat gymnastic. Atharva Janskar's is one such student who chose to play acrobat gymnastic since the age of 11 and now aims to play in World Cup for India. He currently is a student of the Somaiya Vidyavihar University in Mumbai where he practices the sport and nurtures the dream of becoming of the best in the sport. WION recently spoke to him about his journey, inspiration and goals and the training he does for achieving his dreams. Also Read - 'Multiple injuries, rebuilding body': Chopra shares journey behind CWG silver "My uncle Kunal Kote, he recently got the Chhatrapati Puraskar and I got the inspiration from him," says Atharva about the initial push to start the sport. "My whole family used to play sports. My uncle also pushed me and I have been playing the game since 2010 and 2011." What inspired him to continue was an "international tournament (Asian Championships 2025) in Goa," where he "won three silver medals" and has set the next goal already which is "to be the first in the national games which are schedule in January." Atharva also spoke about what made him continue to push himself to be better after the initial inspiration and take the seriously and revealed "the inclusion of acrobat gymnastic in national games in 2024 was the turning point for him." Speaking about the routine, he said that he "trains near home in morning between 4 to 9 o'clock and then evening 6 to 10 o'clock." Atharva also talked about how the Somaiya Sports Academy, where he trains, helps him achieving the goals, he said: One of my teachers, Mr. Dhanush, helps me a lot, especially when I was part of the national team in Uttarakhand." Along with the coaches, the facilities also help him to improve his skills for his next goal which is "World Cup where he "wants to see myself in the first round." For the World Cup, the student athlete is preparing "one hour extra apart from the regular practice" and he and his team wants to try a "balance act which nobody in the country hasn't done yet." As for the technical part Atharva points to being "relaxed a lot and one shouldn't get too angry and that one needs to stay stable and balanced."

Atharva Janskar, an acrobat gymnast from Somaiya Vidyavihar University, was inspired by his uncle to take up the sport and now targets National Games success as well as aims to make history at the World Cup.

Inspired by family, acrobat gymnast Atharva Janskar sets sights on World Cup glory

India's star athlete Neeraj Chopra recently won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 which were held in Glasgow, Scotland. The medal came, as Neeraj described in an Instagram post, after fighting through a lot of injuries in the last 10 months. The athlete described his comeback in a long post, thanking multiple people for his journey, and being cautious about taking 'one step at a time.'<h2>Neeraj explains the journey behind Commonwealth Games 2026 silver</h2>Chopra won the silver in men's javelin throw with a distance of 85.83m - his best in the season and only second to Sri Lankan sensation Rumesh Pathirage's 89.75m.Detailing his comeback, Neeraj wrote in a post: "There are throws that travel far, and then there are moments that carry the weight of an entire journey. This one means so much more than the distance.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-pak-players-face-two-year-ban-from-pcb-for-participating-in-unsanctioned-asian-legends-league-1785908353922">Ex-Pak players face two-year ban from PCB for participating in unsanctioned Asian Legends League</a>"The past 10 months have tested me in ways I never expected. Recovering from multiple injuries, rebuilding my body, finding my rhythm again, and learning to be patient when all I wanted was to compete. I was training every day without knowing if I would even have a season to compete this year," he added."To be back competing at this level feels good. None of this would have been possible on my own. I’m deeply grateful for the people who never stopped believing in me. My physio, Ishaan ji, who has been by my side every step of the recovery, helping me get back to doing what I love. My coach, Jai, who has been with me since the very first time I picked up a javelin. My family, who always stand strong with me no matter what the circumstances are."<h2>What next for Neeraj Chopra?</h2>With the Commonwealth Games done, the next stop for the Indian athlete is the Asian Games which will be hosted in Japan in September-October. Before that, Neeraj will also participate in Lausanne Diamond League as well.

Chopra won the silver in men's javelin throw with a distance of 85.83m - his best in the season and only second to Sri Lankan sensation Rumesh Pathirage's 89.75m.

India's star athlete Neeraj Chopra recently won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 which were held in Glasgow, Scotland. The medal came, as Neeraj described in an Instagram post, after fighting through a lot of injuries in the last 10 months. The athlete described his comeback in a long post, thanking multiple people for his journey, and being cautious about taking 'one step at a time.' Neeraj explains the journey behind Commonwealth Games 2026 silver Chopra won the silver in men's javelin throw with a distance of 85.83m - his best in the season and only second to Sri Lankan sensation Rumesh Pathirage's 89.75m. Detailing his comeback, Neeraj wrote in a post: "There are throws that travel far, and then there are moments that carry the weight of an entire journey. This one means so much more than the distance. Also Read - Ex-Pak players face two-year ban from PCB for participating in unsanctioned Asian Legends League "The past 10 months have tested me in ways I never expected. Recovering from multiple injuries, rebuilding my body, finding my rhythm again, and learning to be patient when all I wanted was to compete. I was training every day without knowing if I would even have a season to compete this year," he added. "To be back competing at this level feels good. None of this would have been possible on my own. I’m deeply grateful for the people who never stopped believing in me. My physio, Ishaan ji, who has been by my side every step of the recovery, helping me get back to doing what I love. My coach, Jai, who has been with me since the very first time I picked up a javelin. My family, who always stand strong with me no matter what the circumstances are." What next for Neeraj Chopra? With the Commonwealth Games done, the next stop for the Indian athlete is the Asian Games which will be hosted in Japan in September-October. Before that, Neeraj will also participate in Lausanne Diamond League as well.

Chopra won the silver in men's javelin throw with a distance of 85.83m - his best in the season and only second to Sri Lankan sensation Rumesh Pathirage's 89.75m.

'Multiple injuries, rebuilding body': Neeraj Chopra shares journey behind Commonwealth silver

India is currently hosting the FISU Squash Championship 2026 at Somaiya Vidyavihar University in Mumbai where university students from across the globe are participating. India are the bronze medal winners of the last edition and are led by Suraj Chand, who is in the quarterfinal of the singles event at FISU and has qualified for the India squad that will go to Asian Games in September-October in Japan later this year. WION recently spoke with Suraj about his journey in squash, his training, goals for FISU as well as the Asian Games.<h2>Could you walk us through your journey in squash so far?</h2>I started playing squash like when I was 11 or 12 years old at Jindal Squash Academy under Lakshman Joshi, our coach. I used to play for fun and after playing for 2-3 years, the first tournament I played, I still remember, I lost in the first round. I went back and I was crying losing the first round. What kept me motivated was travelling to different place for the tournaments and after getting into higher categories, I started winning medals as well. So the motivation continues the turning point came during COVID years when I first time wore the Indian jersey and played for India at the Asian Championships. It really motivated me, this pressure of wearing Indian jersey which, at the same time was really proud moment for me. I kept on playing and went on to represent India at the World University in 2024 South Africa where we got two medals - one was team event bronze and second was my individual bronze medal.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mirabai-chanu-reveals-challenges-faced-to-win-historic-third-consecutive-weightlifting-gold-in-commonwealth-games-1785819616309">Mirabai Chanu reveals challenges faced to win historic third consecutive weightlifting gold in Commonwealth Games</a><h2>How physically demanding this sport is?</h2>A lot. If you see at the world top 50 players, &nbsp;the level of fitness they have, the European players, they are really, really fit. One has to really work on the fitness because you can't just be depending on your skills at that level. You have to be good with fitness and skills both.<h2>For FISU, you talked about being the home team and having the pressure of winning the Gold this year. So what has been your strategy and plan?</h2>Talking about the training part, definitely we have an edge over the other teams as we are playing on our home court as we are used to playing these courts and that's a big positive for us. We're focusing more on fitness as we might have to play longer matches as the players from European countries and other countries are really fit. &nbsp;I'm making my strategy by working on things on and off court, including tactical things, technical things.<h2>Where do you think that India stands apart among the other countries which are coming into the FISU?</h2>As compared to the other countries, we have almost same players in other countries and the same players in Indian team as well so we pretty well know the game of almost every player. I think we have a really good chance of getting a better medal from last time as our team looks strong. We have the same team, we have good bonding in the team. It's especially important to get the medal, I think, in the team event where 2 boys and 2 girls play.<h2>You'll also be going to the Asian Games to represent India in a couple of months' time. How do you think this tournament is going to help you prepare or is there anything different that you're doing for the Asian Games as well?</h2>I'll be playing the Asian Games in the month of September and before that, the schedule is pretty packed. I'll be playing 2-3 tournaments and 2-3 training camps, and I think that should be more than enough to prepare for Asian Games. And this tournament, the FISU World University, will definitely help me as I get international exposure. I might be playing few of the players who might represent their country at the Asian Games. I think it's a good tournament for me to get the exposure.<h2>What chances do you see for yourself as far as the medals are concerned in the Asian Games?</h2>I'll be playing in the men's team event and the mixed doubles event, as top 2 players play individuals and the 3rd and 4th play mixed doubles. So I think last time India got a gold medal in the men's team, and this time we have like pretty good chance of getting the gold again. And talking about the mixed doubles, I've recently started playing doubles as well, and I'll be really happy if I can get a medal in the doubles as well.<h2>Talking about your training, how much you emphasize on the mental aspect of the training?</h2>The mental part is more important when you are playing at such big events because every player does the training and every player pushes hard. But one thing that's different between the top player and the rest others is the mental thing that's off-court. I really have to work a lot on my mental thing, preparing myself mentally for the tournament and matches. Even after losing or winning the match, I go back and analyze my match, think about the match, and plan for the next match.<h2>How do you maintain the composure to come back during the matches?</h2>Earlier it used to be difficult for me, but now, playing so many tournaments, traveling, It helped me a lot to gain experience. And as I have gained the experience, I've got that thing, after playing tough matches where I just go back, look at the match, analyze, and really try to plan for next time when I play the same opponent. It's all about the experience and after playing so many matches and tournaments, I've got that experience. It's not really difficult for me now to get that mentally strong aspect.

Suraj Chand, who is in quarterfinal of singles event at FISU and has qualified for the India squad that will go to Asian Games in September-October in Japan later this year.

India is currently hosting the FISU Squash Championship 2026 at Somaiya Vidyavihar University in Mumbai where university students from across the globe are participating. India are the bronze medal winners of the last edition and are led by Suraj Chand, who is in the quarterfinal of the singles event at FISU and has qualified for the India squad that will go to Asian Games in September-October in Japan later this year. WION recently spoke with Suraj about his journey in squash, his training, goals for FISU as well as the Asian Games. Could you walk us through your journey in squash so far? I started playing squash like when I was 11 or 12 years old at Jindal Squash Academy under Lakshman Joshi, our coach. I used to play for fun and after playing for 2-3 years, the first tournament I played, I still remember, I lost in the first round. I went back and I was crying losing the first round. What kept me motivated was travelling to different place for the tournaments and after getting into higher categories, I started winning medals as well. So the motivation continues the turning point came during COVID years when I first time wore the Indian jersey and played for India at the Asian Championships. It really motivated me, this pressure of wearing Indian jersey which, at the same time was really proud moment for me. I kept on playing and went on to represent India at the World University in 2024 South Africa where we got two medals - one was team event bronze and second was my individual bronze medal. Also Read - Mirabai Chanu reveals challenges faced to win historic third consecutive weightlifting gold in Commonwealth Games How physically demanding this sport is? A lot. If you see at the world top 50 players, the level of fitness they have, the European players, they are really, really fit. One has to really work on the fitness because you can't just be depending on your skills at that level. You have to be good with fitness and skills both. For FISU, you talked about being the home team and having the pressure of winning the Gold this year. So what has been your strategy and plan? Talking about the training part, definitely we have an edge over the other teams as we are playing on our home court as we are used to playing these courts and that's a big positive for us. We're focusing more on fitness as we might have to play longer matches as the players from European countries and other countries are really fit. I'm making my strategy by working on things on and off court, including tactical things, technical things. Where do you think that India stands apart among the other countries which are coming into the FISU? As compared to the other countries, we have almost same players in other countries and the same players in Indian team as well so we pretty well know the game of almost every player. I think we have a really good chance of getting a better medal from last time as our team looks strong. We have the same team, we have good bonding in the team. It's especially important to get the medal, I think, in the team event where 2 boys and 2 girls play. You'll also be going to the Asian Games to represent India in a couple of months' time. How do you think this tournament is going to help you prepare or is there anything different that you're doing for the Asian Games as well? I'll be playing the Asian Games in the month of September and before that, the schedule is pretty packed. I'll be playing 2-3 tournaments and 2-3 training camps, and I think that should be more than enough to prepare for Asian Games. And this tournament, the FISU World University, will definitely help me as I get international exposure. I might be playing few of the players who might represent their country at the Asian Games. I think it's a good tournament for me to get the exposure. What chances do you see for yourself as far as the medals are concerned in the Asian Games? I'll be playing in the men's team event and the mixed doubles event, as top 2 players play individuals and the 3rd and 4th play mixed doubles. So I think last time India got a gold medal in the men's team, and this time we have like pretty good chance of getting the gold again. And talking about the mixed doubles, I've recently started playing doubles as well, and I'll be really happy if I can get a medal in the doubles as well. Talking about your training, how much you emphasize on the mental aspect of the training? The mental part is more important when you are playing at such big events because every player does the training and every player pushes hard. But one thing that's different between the top player and the rest others is the mental thing that's off-court. I really have to work a lot on my mental thing, preparing myself mentally for the tournament and matches. Even after losing or winning the match, I go back and analyze my match, think about the match, and plan for the next match. How do you maintain the composure to come back during the matches? Earlier it used to be difficult for me, but now, playing so many tournaments, traveling, It helped me a lot to gain experience. And as I have gained the experience, I've got that thing, after playing tough matches where I just go back, look at the match, analyze, and really try to plan for next time when I play the same opponent. It's all about the experience and after playing so many matches and tournaments, I've got that experience. It's not really difficult for me now to get that mentally strong aspect.

Suraj Chand, who is in quarterfinal of singles event at FISU and has qualified for the India squad that will go to Asian Games in September-October in Japan later this year.

'It is all about experience': Asian Games-bound India squash star Suraj Chand eyes home gold in FISU 2026

The Asian Games 2026, set to be held in Japan in September-October later this year, has announced the teams for men's and women's cricket competition. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have been given a direct place in men's knockout round while six other teams will fight for the remaining four places in the quarter-finals. The men's team will have a total 10 teams while the women's team will feature eight teams with games directly starting from quarter-finals. India had won the gold medal in both men's and women's event of the sport in the 2023 Asian Games when it was included in the continental event for the first time.<h2>Which cricket teams are participating in Asian Games 2026?</h2>Apart from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which have been give direct entry in the knockout round of men's event, there are six more teams which will play in round 1. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Oman have been divided in two groups of three teams each and top two teams will advance to join the rest four teams in knockouts.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-s-never-been-the-most-consistent-ab-de-villiers-on-rohit-s-chances-to-play-for-india-in-2027-odi-world-cup-1784882562774">'He’s never been the most consistent,' AB de Villiers on Rohit's chances to play for India in 2027 ODI World Cup</a>Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal in Group A and Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman in Group B will play the first round of men's event which is set to take place from September 24 to October 1.As for women's event, eight teams start directly from quarter-final which are India, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand. The QF match line-ups are: India vs Japan, Bangladesh vs China, Sri Lanka vs Malaysia and Pakistan vs Thailand. The women's tournament will be held from September 17 to 22.All the matches will be played in T20 format in Nagoya.<h2>Who won the last time?</h2>India won the gold medal in both men's and women's cricket event in Asian Games 2023. The men's team played Afghanistan but the match was washed out and India got the gold medal on basis of being higher seed team. As for the women's team, they beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the final to win the gold.

The men's team will have a total 10 teams while the women's team will feature eight teams with games directly starting from quarter-finals. India had won the gold medal in both men's and women's event of the sport in the 2023 Asian Games.

The Asian Games 2026, set to be held in Japan in September-October later this year, has announced the teams for men's and women's cricket competition. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have been given a direct place in men's knockout round while six other teams will fight for the remaining four places in the quarter-finals. The men's team will have a total 10 teams while the women's team will feature eight teams with games directly starting from quarter-finals. India had won the gold medal in both men's and women's event of the sport in the 2023 Asian Games when it was included in the continental event for the first time. Which cricket teams are participating in Asian Games 2026? Apart from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which have been give direct entry in the knockout round of men's event, there are six more teams which will play in round 1. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Oman have been divided in two groups of three teams each and top two teams will advance to join the rest four teams in knockouts. Also Read - 'He’s never been the most consistent,' AB de Villiers on Rohit's chances to play for India in 2027 ODI World Cup Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal in Group A and Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman in Group B will play the first round of men's event which is set to take place from September 24 to October 1. As for women's event, eight teams start directly from quarter-final which are India, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand. The QF match line-ups are: India vs Japan, Bangladesh vs China, Sri Lanka vs Malaysia and Pakistan vs Thailand. The women's tournament will be held from September 17 to 22. All the matches will be played in T20 format in Nagoya. Who won the last time? India won the gold medal in both men's and women's cricket event in Asian Games 2023. The men's team played Afghanistan but the match was washed out and India got the gold medal on basis of being higher seed team. As for the women's team, they beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the final to win the gold.

The men's team will have a total 10 teams while the women's team will feature eight teams with games directly starting from quarter-finals. India had won the gold medal in both men's and women's event of the sport in the 2023 Asian Games.

Asian Games 2026: Direct QF byes for defending champions India in men's cricket event; women's knockout fixtures announced

The Women’s Selection Committee has announced India’s squad for the Asian Games 2026, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in September. India will head into the competition as the defending champions after clinching the gold medal at the previous edition in Hangzhou, China. Harmanpreet Kaur has been retained as captain, while Smriti Mandhana will serve as vice-captain. The squad combines experienced campaigners with emerging talent, featuring Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. G. Kamalini has also been named as an additional wicketkeeping option.&nbsp;India’s bowling attack includes Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav and Bharti Fulmali, while Sree Charani, Shreyanka Patil and Nandni Sharma provide further depth and strengthen the bowling unit, although Patil’s inclusion is subject to fitness clearance, according to the board.<h2>India's squad for the Asian Games 2026</h2>Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G. Kamalini (WK), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil*, Radha Yadav and Nandni Sharma.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Australia advanced to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating India by six wickets at Lord’s, ending India’s campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-will-lead-england-in-tests-after-ben-stokes-departing-captain-handpicks-his-successor-harry-brook-joe-root-1782754907585">Who will lead England in Tests after Stokes? Departing captain picks successor</a>&nbsp;Chasing a target of 171, Australia recovered from 72/3 to reach 172/4 in the 19th over, thanks to unbeaten fifties from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-morocco-beat-netherlands-in-penalty-shootout-to-book-r16-berth-1782792851496">FIFA 2026 | Morocco beat Netherlands in penalty shootout to book R16 berth</a>&nbsp;Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur’s blistering 56 off 27 deliveries, supported by valuable knocks from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, helped India post 170/4, but the total was ultimately not enough, as Australia easily seal the win.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India at the Asian Games 2026 after BCCI backs her following the T20 World Cup disappointment, with Smriti Mandhana and other key players set to defend the team's gold medal.

The Women’s Selection Committee has announced India’s squad for the Asian Games 2026, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in September. India will head into the competition as the defending champions after clinching the gold medal at the previous edition in Hangzhou, China. Harmanpreet Kaur has been retained as captain, while Smriti Mandhana will serve as vice-captain. The squad combines experienced campaigners with emerging talent, featuring Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. G. Kamalini has also been named as an additional wicketkeeping option. India’s bowling attack includes Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav and Bharti Fulmali, while Sree Charani, Shreyanka Patil and Nandni Sharma provide further depth and strengthen the bowling unit, although Patil’s inclusion is subject to fitness clearance, according to the board. India's squad for the Asian Games 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G. Kamalini (WK), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil*, Radha Yadav and Nandni Sharma. Meanwhile, Australia advanced to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating India by six wickets at Lord’s, ending India’s campaign. Also Read - Who will lead England in Tests after Stokes? Departing captain picks successor Chasing a target of 171, Australia recovered from 72/3 to reach 172/4 in the 19th over, thanks to unbeaten fifties from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | Morocco beat Netherlands in penalty shootout to book R16 berth Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur’s blistering 56 off 27 deliveries, supported by valuable knocks from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, helped India post 170/4, but the total was ultimately not enough, as Australia easily seal the win. With inputs from agencies

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India at the Asian Games 2026 after BCCI backs her following the T20 World Cup disappointment, with Smriti Mandhana and other key players set to defend the team's gold medal.

Asian Games 2026: India name squad with Harmanpreet Kaur as captain

India is stepping up its global sporting ambitions, with the Indian Olympic Association aiming to host the Asian Games in 2038. The IOA has formally submitted an expression of interest to the Olympic Council of Asia, marking a key step after its push to host the 2036 Olympics. The move highlights India’s long-term vision to become a global sports hub, with cities like Ahmedabad emerging as potential hosts.


IOA Aims to Host The Asian Games in 2038; After Olympics, India Eyes Asian Games

Athletes at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, will enjoy a novel floating athletes' village on a cruise ship, earning widespread praise for innovation.



2026 Asian Games: Cruise Ship Athlete Village Debuts

Former world number one and Olympian Ronjan Sodhi, a name synonymous with Indian shooting’s golden era, has welcomed the launch of the Shooting League of India (SLI), calling it a landmark moment for the sport. As one of India’s most decorated trap shooters—with accolades including a World Cup gold with a world record, two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games, and an Asian Games gold—Sodhi believes the league format will fuel the sport’s popularity and inspire future generations.&nbsp;“The league format is something we have been discussing for a long time. With the kind of depth we now have in Indian shooting, this is the right step forward,” Sodhi said. “It’s going to be exciting for the fans, great for the young shooters, and much-needed for the sport.”&nbsp;The Shooting League of India, scheduled to be held between November 20 and December 2, 2025, will feature eight franchise teams in a fast-paced mixed-team format. Events will include 10M and 25M Pistol, 10M and 50M Rifle (3P), and Shotgun (Trap &amp; Skeet). Teams will compete in a two-pool league stage, with player selection strategically tiered into Elite Champions, World Elite, National Champions, and Junior &amp; Youth Champions to create competitive balance.&nbsp;Drawing parallels with other major Indian sporting successes, Sodhi emphasised the role of visibility and accessibility. “Kids have to see the sport to be inspired. Neeraj Chopra winning gold caused javelins to sell out across the country overnight. That’s the power of visibility,” he said. “When international stars and Indian Olympians shoot together in a televised, high-energy league, it becomes a spectacle people will want to follow—and join.”&nbsp;While praising government support through schemes like Khelo India and the National Centres of Excellence, Sodhi made a strong pitch for corporate involvement. “You can’t expect only the government to fund sport. Shooting has delivered medals consistently—at the Olympics, World Cups, and Asian Games. It is time to give back. Sponsors should see it as a national contribution, not just an investment.”&nbsp;Sodhi believes the franchise model can create financial sustainability for athletes. “Shooting is a long-term sport—athletes can stay competitive for 20+ years. If we support them early with the right structure, they can build stable careers, just like in cricket or kabaddi.”&nbsp;Shedding light on the psychological side of the sport, Sodhi highlighted the mental resilience shooting demands. “In shooting, you hold a gun—you cannot show emotions. You cannot kick the turf or break your bat. You have to internalise everything. That’s what makes it the most mentally demanding sport.” He also advocated for innovative broadcast elements, like cameras capturing facial expressions. “At the 2012 Olympics, they zoomed in on our faces. Viewers could see me talking to myself between shots. That kind of intimacy builds emotional connection with the audience.”&nbsp;While not every registered shooter may get a team spot this season, Sodhi sees the league as a movement that will evolve. “In the beginning, pick your favourite franchise, wear the jersey, cheer for your shooters. That is how fan bases grow. Give it time—it will happen.”&nbsp;As the Shooting League of India prepares to host top-tier international and Indian athletes, Ronjan Sodhi’s words serve as both a reality check and a rallying cry—for fans, brands, and institutions alike. “This league has the potential to transform Indian shooting. It’s not just about medals anymore. It’s about building a culture,” Sodhi signed off.

‘You cannot love a sport you don’t see’: Former Olympian Ranjan Sodhi on why Shooting League of India matters

Former world number one and Olympian Ronjan Sodhi, a name synonymous with Indian shooting’s golden era, has welcomed the launch of the Shooting League of India (SLI), calling it a landmark moment for the sport. As one of India’s most decorated trap shooters—with accolades including a World Cup gold with a world record, two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games, and an Asian Games gold—Sodhi believes the league format will fuel the sport’s popularity and inspire future generations. “The league format is something we have been discussing for a long time. With the kind of depth we now have in Indian shooting, this is the right step forward,” Sodhi said. “It’s going to be exciting for the fans, great for the young shooters, and much-needed for the sport.” The Shooting League of India, scheduled to be held between November 20 and December 2, 2025, will feature eight franchise teams in a fast-paced mixed-team format. Events will include 10M and 25M Pistol, 10M and 50M Rifle (3P), and Shotgun (Trap & Skeet). Teams will compete in a two-pool league stage, with player selection strategically tiered into Elite Champions, World Elite, National Champions, and Junior & Youth Champions to create competitive balance. Drawing parallels with other major Indian sporting successes, Sodhi emphasised the role of visibility and accessibility. “Kids have to see the sport to be inspired. Neeraj Chopra winning gold caused javelins to sell out across the country overnight. That’s the power of visibility,” he said. “When international stars and Indian Olympians shoot together in a televised, high-energy league, it becomes a spectacle people will want to follow—and join.” While praising government support through schemes like Khelo India and the National Centres of Excellence, Sodhi made a strong pitch for corporate involvement. “You can’t expect only the government to fund sport. Shooting has delivered medals consistently—at the Olympics, World Cups, and Asian Games. It is time to give back. Sponsors should see it as a national contribution, not just an investment.” Sodhi believes the franchise model can create financial sustainability for athletes. “Shooting is a long-term sport—athletes can stay competitive for 20+ years. If we support them early with the right structure, they can build stable careers, just like in cricket or kabaddi.” Shedding light on the psychological side of the sport, Sodhi highlighted the mental resilience shooting demands. “In shooting, you hold a gun—you cannot show emotions. You cannot kick the turf or break your bat. You have to internalise everything. That’s what makes it the most mentally demanding sport.” He also advocated for innovative broadcast elements, like cameras capturing facial expressions. “At the 2012 Olympics, they zoomed in on our faces. Viewers could see me talking to myself between shots. That kind of intimacy builds emotional connection with the audience.” While not every registered shooter may get a team spot this season, Sodhi sees the league as a movement that will evolve. “In the beginning, pick your favourite franchise, wear the jersey, cheer for your shooters. That is how fan bases grow. Give it time—it will happen.” As the Shooting League of India prepares to host top-tier international and Indian athletes, Ronjan Sodhi’s words serve as both a reality check and a rallying cry—for fans, brands, and institutions alike. “This league has the potential to transform Indian shooting. It’s not just about medals anymore. It’s about building a culture,” Sodhi signed off.

As one of India’s most decorated trap shooters—with accolades including a World Cup gold with a world record, two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games, and an Asian Games gold—Sodhi believes the league format will fuel the sport’s popularity and inspire future generations

The Delhi government has announced cash incentives and government job placements for athletes from Delhi, who win medals in Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, and other big sporting events, as a step towards bolstering the sporting environment within the city. Delhi minister Ashish Sood presented the plan on Tuesday (July 22), announcing that Delhi Olympic gold and silver medalists will be appointed to government Group A posts, and bronze medalists will be appointed to Group B posts. Meanwhile, Paralympic medallists will be given Group B posts. &nbsp;“To boost the sports ecosystem in Delhi, players winning a gold, silver, or bronze medal in the Olympics and Paralympics will be awarded Rs 7 crore, Rs 5 crore, and Rs 3 crore, respectively. For Asian Games and Asian Para Games, the prize money has been increased to Rs 3 crore, Rs 2 crore, and Rs 1 crore for gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively. In the Commonwealth Games, Rs 2 crore, Rs 1.5 crore, and Rs 1 crore will be awarded, and for the National Games, Rs 11 lakh will be awarded for every medal winner,” he was quoted saying to news agency ANI.&nbsp;"Delhi players who secure a gold or silver medal in the Olympics will be offered a government job in the Group A category, while bronze medal winners will be offered a job in Group B. Every medal winner in the Paralympics will be given a Group B job. For the Asian Games, gold medal winners will be awarded a government job in the Group A category, while silver and bronze medal winners will receive jobs in the Group B category. For the Asian Para Games, gold medal winners will be awarded a government job in the Group B category, while silver and bronze medal winners will be assigned to jobs in the Group C category," he added.&nbsp;The minister also talked about the grants and initiative for the Commonwealth medal winners. He said, “In the Commonwealth, gold and silver medal winners will be assigned to the Group B category, while bronze medal winners will be assigned to the Group C category. Every medal winner in the Para Commonwealth Games will be given a job in the Group C category.”

In a bid to boost sports, Delhi government announces up to $800K, jobs for medal winners

The Delhi government has announced cash incentives and government job placements for athletes from Delhi, who win medals in Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, and other big sporting events, as a step towards bolstering the sporting environment within the city. Delhi minister Ashish Sood presented the plan on Tuesday (July 22), announcing that Delhi Olympic gold and silver medalists will be appointed to government Group A posts, and bronze medalists will be appointed to Group B posts. Meanwhile, Paralympic medallists will be given Group B posts. “To boost the sports ecosystem in Delhi, players winning a gold, silver, or bronze medal in the Olympics and Paralympics will be awarded Rs 7 crore, Rs 5 crore, and Rs 3 crore, respectively. For Asian Games and Asian Para Games, the prize money has been increased to Rs 3 crore, Rs 2 crore, and Rs 1 crore for gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively. In the Commonwealth Games, Rs 2 crore, Rs 1.5 crore, and Rs 1 crore will be awarded, and for the National Games, Rs 11 lakh will be awarded for every medal winner,” he was quoted saying to news agency ANI. "Delhi players who secure a gold or silver medal in the Olympics will be offered a government job in the Group A category, while bronze medal winners will be offered a job in Group B. Every medal winner in the Paralympics will be given a Group B job. For the Asian Games, gold medal winners will be awarded a government job in the Group A category, while silver and bronze medal winners will receive jobs in the Group B category. For the Asian Para Games, gold medal winners will be awarded a government job in the Group B category, while silver and bronze medal winners will be assigned to jobs in the Group C category," he added. The minister also talked about the grants and initiative for the Commonwealth medal winners. He said, “In the Commonwealth, gold and silver medal winners will be assigned to the Group B category, while bronze medal winners will be assigned to the Group C category. Every medal winner in the Para Commonwealth Games will be given a job in the Group C category.”

Olympic gold and silver medalists from Delhi will be offered Group A government jobs, while bronze medalists will be given Group B posts. All Paralympic medal winners will receive Group B jobs

When Kumar Nitesh first picked up a badminton racquet during his time in IIT Mandi in 2014, it was just a way to relax after class. A decade later, he’s a decorated international para-athlete with multiple medals, a role model for countless aspiring sportspersons, and living proof that tragedy doesn’t have to end your story — it can start a new one.&nbsp;Nitesh’s journey into professional badminton started with curiosity and recreation. He had no idea that what started in a college hall would take him to the podium of international tournaments. “I started playing badminton for recreation when I joined IIT Mandi. Back then, I didn’t even know about para-sports,” he said in an exclusive interview with WION. “But I loved the game so much, I started training seriously. Eventually, I won my first bronze in a para tournament, and that changed everything." he added.&nbsp;Nitesh continued to train, improved steadily, and began making waves in national and international tournaments. But success wasn’t linear. There were phases where the results didn’t come, and motivation waned. Yet, he never gave up.&nbsp;Balancing sports and academics is no easy task. For Nitesh, the dream of reaching the Tokyo Paralympics collided with the realities of being an IIT student. “There was a tough time when I had to manage both. I think I missed Tokyo because of that. But after that, things went back on track and I went on to win a gold medal in tournaments.”&nbsp;Despite the setback, Nitesh stayed grounded. Every tournament, he says, was a learning curve.“I always analysed what went wrong, what could’ve been better — diet, training, mindset. That helped me grow.”&nbsp;The Tokyo Olympic cycle was particularly brutal. Nitesh battled one setback after another — food poisoning, hospitalisation, surgery for appendicitis, and persistent knee issues. “There were days when I couldn’t even perform basic physical tasks. But I never gave up. And when I went to Paris for the Olympics, I was injury-free and playing better than ever — defeating someone I had never beaten before.”&nbsp;Even in heartbreak, he found redemption. After losing a closely fought final at the 2023 Asian Games, he bounced back just an hour later to win gold in the men's doubles category.&nbsp;Nitesh Kumar’s life took an unexpected turn after a train accident in 2009 led to amputation of his left leg. “It was sudden. Everything I imagined for myself ended that day,” he recalled. “I was bedridden for months. But my father always motivated me. Slowly, I started walking again.”&nbsp;This marked a turning point. With support from his family, he refocused on education — preparing for the IIT entrance exam, and eventually securing admission into one of India’s premier engineering institutions. “I wasn’t the best student initially, but when I saw my first competitive exam results, I realised I could do it if I prepared seriously.”&nbsp;In 2019, Nitesh took up the role of a senior badminton coach with the Haryana Sports Department, all while continuing his own career. “When I became a coach, I hadn’t reached my peak as a player. But I always felt that my experience could help others. Even now, when juniors talk to me, I try to pass on everything I’ve learned.”&nbsp;The department, he says, has been instrumental in supporting his journey — especially in the lead-up to major tournaments like 2024 Paris Olympics.&nbsp;Nitesh’s trophy cabinet is nearly full — but he has his sights set on what’s missing. “I’ve won silvers and a bronze at the World Championships, but no gold yet. That’s the target for 2026,” he says. “I also don’t have an individual Asian Games gold yet. The list keeps growing — and that’s a good thing. I’m happy to keep chasing better.”&nbsp;As someone who rebuilt his life after a life-altering accident, Nitesh’s message to others in similar situations is clear and powerful. “Life doesn’t end because of one unfortunate incident. Keep pushing your limits — physically and mentally. Even if not in sports, doing something sincerely will give you confidence to face life.” “I used to be dependent on others. Now, I face the world with strength. That’s what I want others to believe too — this is not the end," he signed off with a smile.

WION Exclusive This is not the end How Kumar Nitesh turned pain into power

When Kumar Nitesh first picked up a badminton racquet during his time in IIT Mandi in 2014, it was just a way to relax after class. A decade later, he’s a decorated international para-athlete with multiple medals, a role model for countless aspiring sportspersons, and living proof that tragedy doesn’t have to end your story — it can start a new one. Nitesh’s journey into professional badminton started with curiosity and recreation. He had no idea that what started in a college hall would take him to the podium of international tournaments. “I started playing badminton for recreation when I joined IIT Mandi. Back then, I didn’t even know about para-sports,” he said in an exclusive interview with WION. “But I loved the game so much, I started training seriously. Eventually, I won my first bronze in a para tournament, and that changed everything." he added. Nitesh continued to train, improved steadily, and began making waves in national and international tournaments. But success wasn’t linear. There were phases where the results didn’t come, and motivation waned. Yet, he never gave up. Balancing sports and academics is no easy task. For Nitesh, the dream of reaching the Tokyo Paralympics collided with the realities of being an IIT student. “There was a tough time when I had to manage both. I think I missed Tokyo because of that. But after that, things went back on track and I went on to win a gold medal in tournaments.” Despite the setback, Nitesh stayed grounded. Every tournament, he says, was a learning curve. “I always analysed what went wrong, what could’ve been better — diet, training, mindset. That helped me grow.” The Tokyo Olympic cycle was particularly brutal. Nitesh battled one setback after another — food poisoning, hospitalisation, surgery for appendicitis, and persistent knee issues. “There were days when I couldn’t even perform basic physical tasks. But I never gave up. And when I went to Paris for the Olympics, I was injury-free and playing better than ever — defeating someone I had never beaten before.” Even in heartbreak, he found redemption. After losing a closely fought final at the 2023 Asian Games, he bounced back just an hour later to win gold in the men's doubles category. Nitesh Kumar’s life took an unexpected turn after a train accident in 2009 led to amputation of his left leg. “It was sudden. Everything I imagined for myself ended that day,” he recalled. “I was bedridden for months. But my father always motivated me. Slowly, I started walking again.” This marked a turning point. With support from his family, he refocused on education — preparing for the IIT entrance exam, and eventually securing admission into one of India’s premier engineering institutions. “I wasn’t the best student initially, but when I saw my first competitive exam results, I realised I could do it if I prepared seriously.” In 2019, Nitesh took up the role of a senior badminton coach with the Haryana Sports Department, all while continuing his own career. “When I became a coach, I hadn’t reached my peak as a player. But I always felt that my experience could help others. Even now, when juniors talk to me, I try to pass on everything I’ve learned.” The department, he says, has been instrumental in supporting his journey — especially in the lead-up to major tournaments like 2024 Paris Olympics. Nitesh’s trophy cabinet is nearly full — but he has his sights set on what’s missing. “I’ve won silvers and a bronze at the World Championships, but no gold yet. That’s the target for 2026,” he says. “I also don’t have an individual Asian Games gold yet. The list keeps growing — and that’s a good thing. I’m happy to keep chasing better.” As someone who rebuilt his life after a life-altering accident, Nitesh’s message to others in similar situations is clear and powerful. “Life doesn’t end because of one unfortunate incident. Keep pushing your limits — physically and mentally. Even if not in sports, doing something sincerely will give you confidence to face life.” “I used to be dependent on others. Now, I face the world with strength. That’s what I want others to believe too — this is not the end," he signed off with a smile.

Indian para-badminton player Kumar Nitesh has a gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in the men's singles SL3 category. He has also won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the Asian Para Games over the years

WION Exclusive | 'This is not the end': How Kumar Nitesh turned pain into power

Athletes at next year's Asian Games in Japan will stay on a "floating village" cruise ship and in converted shipping containers, an organising official told AFP, defending the cost-cutting move.&nbsp;The plan will see 4,600 athletes and officials housed on the ship for the duration of the Games, which are being held in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4, 2026.&nbsp;Organisers will lease a luxury cruise liner that will be docked at Nagoya's port.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-scores-winner-against-germany-as-portugal-reach-nations-league-final-1749095076349">Ronaldo scores winner against Germany as Portugal reach Nations League final</a>&nbsp;A further 2,400 people will stay in temporary shelters made from shipping containers a short bus ride away, with the two locations accommodating about half of the 15,000 athletes and officials expected at the Games.&nbsp;The rest will be in other accommodation, including in Tokyo where the swimming competition will take place.&nbsp;&nbsp;Local organisers were keen to avoid the cost of building a traditional athletes' village, but Asian Olympic chiefs&nbsp;warned that any alternative must make sure athletes can meet and mingle together.&nbsp;Kazuhiro Yagi, vice-secretary general of the Aichi-Nagoya Games organising committee, told AFP that they had listened to athletes' opinions and wanted to "provide a service that satisfies them".&nbsp;"The cruise ship and container houses are in different locations, but they are only about 10 minutes apart by shuttle bus," he said. "I don't think it will be a problem at all with regards to being able to interact with other athletes.&nbsp;"There is an aquarium and various other entertainment facilities in the area. I think they'll be able to take a break, relax and come together."&nbsp;The 2023 Games in China's Hangzhou had about 12,000 athletes, making it the biggest Asian Games in history, with more competitors than the Olympics.<h2>Lack of recognition</h2>&nbsp;The Asian Games are back in Japan for the first time since Hiroshima in 1994.&nbsp;The country has held several major sports events since then including the pandemic-delayed Olympics in 2021,&nbsp;football's World Cup in 2002 and the Rugby World Cup in 2019.&nbsp;Yagi admits that there "still isn't enough awareness" that the Aichi-Nagoya Games are happening, and says more needs to be done to spread the word.&nbsp;"I don't think there is anyone in Japan who hasn't heard of the Olympics or Paralympics, but my personal feeling is that maybe only half the population knows the Asian Games," he said. "Young people weren't born when it was last held here 32 years ago, so I'd like them to find out that it's a great event."&nbsp;The Asian Games feature an eclectic mix of events, with bridge, kabaddi and dragon boat racing rubbing shoulders with traditional Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics and&nbsp;football.<h3>eSports for elderly</h3>&nbsp;The Aichi-Nagoya Games has added mixed martial arts to the programme and Yagi hopes its debut will showcase Asia's diverse martial arts traditions and attract new fans.&nbsp;"We want to appeal to the needs of young people, so including new events is essential," he said. "We want to include mixed martial arts so that we can get the younger generation interested in sport."&nbsp;Esports proved a huge hit on its full Asian Games debut in Hangzhou, with fans packing into the futuristic 4,500-seat arena to watch star gamers like South Korea's Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok.&nbsp;Aichi-Nagoya will be the first time Japan has hosted an eSports competition on such a large scale, and Yagi thinks its benefits will be felt by more than just young people.&nbsp;"Esports can help elderly people who don't get a chance to exercise much," he said. "You use your fingers and make detailed movements, which I have heard is good for combating dementia.&nbsp;“I think this is a good chance for people of a wide range of ages to find out more about eSports.”&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Japan floating village to house thousands of Asian Games athletes

Athletes at next year's Asian Games in Japan will stay on a "floating village" cruise ship and in converted shipping containers, an organising official told AFP, defending the cost-cutting move. The plan will see 4,600 athletes and officials housed on the ship for the duration of the Games, which are being held in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4, 2026. Organisers will lease a luxury cruise liner that will be docked at Nagoya's port. Also read | Ronaldo scores winner against Germany as Portugal reach Nations League final A further 2,400 people will stay in temporary shelters made from shipping containers a short bus ride away, with the two locations accommodating about half of the 15,000 athletes and officials expected at the Games. The rest will be in other accommodation, including in Tokyo where the swimming competition will take place. Local organisers were keen to avoid the cost of building a traditional athletes' village, but Asian Olympic chiefs warned that any alternative must make sure athletes can meet and mingle together. Kazuhiro Yagi, vice-secretary general of the Aichi-Nagoya Games organising committee, told AFP that they had listened to athletes' opinions and wanted to "provide a service that satisfies them". "The cruise ship and container houses are in different locations, but they are only about 10 minutes apart by shuttle bus," he said. "I don't think it will be a problem at all with regards to being able to interact with other athletes. "There is an aquarium and various other entertainment facilities in the area. I think they'll be able to take a break, relax and come together." The 2023 Games in China's Hangzhou had about 12,000 athletes, making it the biggest Asian Games in history, with more competitors than the Olympics. Lack of recognition The Asian Games are back in Japan for the first time since Hiroshima in 1994. The country has held several major sports events since then including the pandemic-delayed Olympics in 2021, football's World Cup in 2002 and the Rugby World Cup in 2019. Yagi admits that there "still isn't enough awareness" that the Aichi-Nagoya Games are happening, and says more needs to be done to spread the word. "I don't think there is anyone in Japan who hasn't heard of the Olympics or Paralympics, but my personal feeling is that maybe only half the population knows the Asian Games," he said. "Young people weren't born when it was last held here 32 years ago, so I'd like them to find out that it's a great event." The Asian Games feature an eclectic mix of events, with bridge, kabaddi and dragon boat racing rubbing shoulders with traditional Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics and football. eSports for elderly The Aichi-Nagoya Games has added mixed martial arts to the programme and Yagi hopes its debut will showcase Asia's diverse martial arts traditions and attract new fans. "We want to appeal to the needs of young people, so including new events is essential," he said. "We want to include mixed martial arts so that we can get the younger generation interested in sport." Esports proved a huge hit on its full Asian Games debut in Hangzhou, with fans packing into the futuristic 4,500-seat arena to watch star gamers like South Korea's Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok. Aichi-Nagoya will be the first time Japan has hosted an eSports competition on such a large scale, and Yagi thinks its benefits will be felt by more than just young people. "Esports can help elderly people who don't get a chance to exercise much," he said. "You use your fingers and make detailed movements, which I have heard is good for combating dementia. “I think this is a good chance for people of a wide range of ages to find out more about eSports.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The plan will see 4,600 athletes and officials housed on the ship for the duration of the Games, which are being held in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

Japan’s ‘floating village' to house thousands of Asian Games athletes

Cricket and Mixed Martial arts (MMA) will be included in the 2026 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/asian-games">Asian Games</a> in Japan, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced in a statement, giving both sports a lift ahead of the 2028 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/la-olympics">Los Angeles Olympics</a>. MMA will make its debut at the Asian Games, while cricket returns in the T20 format
The decision was finalised during the 41st meeting of the Asian Games 2026 Organizing Committee (AINAGOC) Board of Directors at Nagoya City Hall on April 28, the OCA said in a statement.
Cricket will make its fourth appearance at the Asian Games, having last been included in 2010, 2014, and 2022.&nbsp;The inclusion comes as the sport gains global momentum ahead of its return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, marking its first Olympic appearance since 1900.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ipl-2025-rinku-kuldeep-claim-only-love-in-new-dc-video-after-slap-row-watch-9018351">IPL 2025 | Rinku, Kuldeep claim 'only love' in new DC video after slap row - WATCH</a>
"The location of the cricket venue will be in Aichi Prefecture, but the specific site has not been determined," the OCA said in a statement.
"The latest development in the compilation of the sports programme came at the 41st meeting of the AINAGOC Board of Directors at Nagoya City Hall on Monday, April 28, when cricket and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mixed-martial-arts">Mixed Martial Arts</a> were both formally approved," the OCA said in its statement.
<h2>MMA to make debut in Asian Games</h2>
The OCA approved that MMA will have six medal events on its Asian Games debut and be classified as a discipline under combat sports, as well as kurash and jujitsu.
Notably, India won gold medals in both the men's and women's category at Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games. Afghanistan and Sri Lanka clinched silver in the men's and women's category, respectively, and Bangladesh took bronze in both categories.
In previous Asian Games appearances, cricket produced strong South Asian rivalries. Bangladesh won men&rsquo;s gold in 2010, Sri Lanka in 2014, and India in 2022, when it fielded several T20 stars including Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Afghanistan earned silver medals in all three editions.
India also won gold in women&rsquo;s cricket in 2022, while Pakistan topped the women&rsquo;s podium in both 2010 and 2014.
The 2026 Asian Games will be held in September&ndash;October in Japan&rsquo;s Aichi-Nagoya region.

World, Sports: The decision was taken by the OCA during 41st meeting of the AINAGOC Board of Directors. MMA was also approved to be included in the Asian Games next year

Cricket and Mixed Martial arts (MMA) will be included in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced in a statement, giving both sports a lift ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. MMA will make its debut at the Asian Games, while cricket returns in the T20 format The decision was finalised during the 41st meeting of the Asian Games 2026 Organizing Committee (AINAGOC) Board of Directors at Nagoya City Hall on April 28, the OCA said in a statement. Cricket will make its fourth appearance at the Asian Games, having last been included in 2010, 2014, and 2022. The inclusion comes as the sport gains global momentum ahead of its return to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, marking its first Olympic appearance since 1900. Also Read: IPL 2025 | Rinku, Kuldeep claim 'only love' in new DC video after slap row - WATCH "The location of the cricket venue will be in Aichi Prefecture, but the specific site has not been determined," the OCA said in a statement. "The latest development in the compilation of the sports programme came at the 41st meeting of the AINAGOC Board of Directors at Nagoya City Hall on Monday, April 28, when cricket and Mixed Martial Arts were both formally approved," the OCA said in its statement. MMA to make debut in Asian Games The OCA approved that MMA will have six medal events on its Asian Games debut and be classified as a discipline under combat sports, as well as kurash and jujitsu. Notably, India won gold medals in both the men's and women's category at Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games. Afghanistan and Sri Lanka clinched silver in the men's and women's category, respectively, and Bangladesh took bronze in both categories. In previous Asian Games appearances, cricket produced strong South Asian rivalries. Bangladesh won men’s gold in 2010, Sri Lanka in 2014, and India in 2022, when it fielded several T20 stars including Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Afghanistan earned silver medals in all three editions. India also won gold in women’s cricket in 2022, while Pakistan topped the women’s podium in both 2010 and 2014. The 2026 Asian Games will be held in September–October in Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya region.

Cricket set to be retained, while MMA to make debut at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan

India is all set to make its debut in a new and unique sport as athletes will compete in surfing at the Asian Games 2026. The Games, which will be held in Japan, will be an opportunity for Indian surfers to showcase their talent. While the focus is on the 2026 Asian Games, the surfers in India got much-needed attention in Chennai’s Kovalam, a small town in India’s South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In an event hosted in sponsorship with Red Bull, popular Irish surfer Conor Maguire helped train 17 surfers while he was in the town for a surfing festival.

<h2>Conor in awe of the Indian coastline</h2>

“India has one of the longest coastlines and has an archipelago on both coasts, so the potential for waves here is awesome. I've noticed surfing hotspots on both coasts, clearly, India is an amazing place to come and surf. Travelling surfers bring a lot to the table. Those from Australia and Hawaii, they do really well,” Conor said while speaking to WION.

Red Bull has put in efforts towards strengthening the surfing ecosystem in India and mentoring young Indian surfers. He also reckoned the current facilities and hunger for success have got them going and helped them qualify for the Asian Games.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/icc-rankings-bumrah-gains-top-spot-in-test-bowlers-jaiswal-goes-third-in-batters-after-bangladesh-win-763871">ICC Rankings: Bumrah gains top spot among Test bowlers, Jaiswal third in batting after Bangladesh win</a>

“Our end goal is to select an Indian surfer that Red Bull can support and sponsor. There's one girl who started as young as 3, her younger brother started as young as 7 months," Conor said about the Indian surfers he's been training at Kovalam.

The waves in Chennai are perfect for training as they are small and consistent. According to Conor, surfing is all about practice and repetition, contests usually take place in wave conditions like these.

While India prepares for the 2026 Asian Games, for now, the focus stays on the next crop of surfers as the long-term target remains the Olympic Games.

India is all set to make its debut in a new and unique sport as athletes will compete in surfing at the Asian Games 2026. The Games, which will be held in Japan, will be an opportunity for Indian surfers to showcase their talent.

India is all set to make its debut in a new and unique sport as athletes will compete in surfing at the Asian Games 2026. The Games, which will be held in Japan, will be an opportunity for Indian surfers to showcase their talent. While the focus is on the 2026 Asian Games, the surfers in India got much-needed attention in Chennai’s Kovalam, a small town in India’s South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In an event hosted in sponsorship with Red Bull, popular Irish surfer Conor Maguire helped train 17 surfers while he was in the town for a surfing festival. Conor in awe of the Indian coastline “India has one of the longest coastlines and has an archipelago on both coasts, so the potential for waves here is awesome. I've noticed surfing hotspots on both coasts, clearly, India is an amazing place to come and surf. Travelling surfers bring a lot to the table. Those from Australia and Hawaii, they do really well,” Conor said while speaking to WION. Red Bull has put in efforts towards strengthening the surfing ecosystem in India and mentoring young Indian surfers. He also reckoned the current facilities and hunger for success have got them going and helped them qualify for the Asian Games. ALSO READ | ICC Rankings: Bumrah gains top spot among Test bowlers, Jaiswal third in batting after Bangladesh win “Our end goal is to select an Indian surfer that Red Bull can support and sponsor. There's one girl who started as young as 3, her younger brother started as young as 7 months," Conor said about the Indian surfers he's been training at Kovalam. The waves in Chennai are perfect for training as they are small and consistent. According to Conor, surfing is all about practice and repetition, contests usually take place in wave conditions like these. While India prepares for the 2026 Asian Games, for now, the focus stays on the next crop of surfers as the long-term target remains the Olympic Games.

'India is an amazing place for surfing': Conor Maguire praises conditions

Indian spiritual guru Sadhguru has expressed his disappointment over Yoga entering as a “sport” in the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.&nbsp;

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), announced on Sunday (Sep 8) that Yogasana will now be a part of the Asian Games calendar as a demonstration sport. The decision was made after the resolution for the same was passed unanimously at the 44th General Assembly of OCA. The sports organisation also elected India’s Randhir Singh as the OCA president for a term of four years from 2024 to 2028.

"Yoga will be a demonstration sport in Nagoya as the calendar for the 2026 Asian Games has already been made and approved," said Randhir.

"In 10 days time we have managed to convince all members and include yoga, which is being promoted by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

This will be the first time that yoga, which originated in India, will be performed on an international stage as a big sporting event. The promotion of yoga at the global level was one of the Modi administration’s special agendas. In September 2014, PM Modi suggested that&nbsp;June 21 be celebrated as International Yoga Day, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/one-photo-was-clicked-without-informing-politics-happened-vinesh-phogat-rips-apart-ioa-president-pt-usha-757728">One photo was clicked without informing, politics happened: Vinesh Phogat RIPS APART IOA President PT Usha</a>

Meanwhile, Sadhguru, the founder of Isha Foundation based in Coimbatore, is of the opinion that yoga is not meant to be a competitive sport but a method of self-discovery and self-evolution.

"It is deeply disturbing and disappointing that #Yoga is entering an arena which is essentially a competitive sport arena. Yoga cannot be a competition," said Sadhguru on X.

“Yoga is a powerful tool &amp; mechanism for self-evolution- to raise a human being from limited possibilities to unlimited perception and experience of life. This should not be done in competition with somebody else.”

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It is deeply disturbing and disappointing that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yoga?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yoga</a> is entering an arena which is essentially a competitive sport arena. Yoga cannot be a competition. Yoga is a powerful tool &amp; mechanism for self-evolution- to raise a human being from limited possibilities to unlimited… <a href="https://t.co/uhlfUJ7VfS">pic.twitter.com/uhlfUJ7VfS</a>
— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) <a href="https://twitter.com/SadhguruJV/status/1833479455417004098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Sadhguru, who talks about the benefits of yoga and also teaches yoga and mindfulness to people online and through various platforms, says the science of yoga should not be reduced to circus-like activity.&nbsp;

"The fundamental of Yoga is about consciousness, not about comparison and competition," he said further.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-court-rules-married-adults-in-live-in-can-be-given-protection-excludes-minors-in-similar-relationships-757775">India: Court rules married adults in live-in can be given protection, excludes minors in similar relationships</a>

On the other hand, the OCA president is of the opinion that yoga will need to make its impact in the Nagoya Games to be included as a medal event in the 2030 Asian Games.

"We have to tell other nations about the benefits of yogasana. We need to send instructors and teach other nations and make it popular," said Randhir.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian spiritual guru Sadhguru has expressed his disappointment over Yoga entering as a “sport” in the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Indian spiritual guru Sadhguru has expressed his disappointment over Yoga entering as a “sport” in the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), announced on Sunday (Sep 8) that Yogasana will now be a part of the Asian Games calendar as a demonstration sport. The decision was made after the resolution for the same was passed unanimously at the 44th General Assembly of OCA. The sports organisation also elected India’s Randhir Singh as the OCA president for a term of four years from 2024 to 2028. "Yoga will be a demonstration sport in Nagoya as the calendar for the 2026 Asian Games has already been made and approved," said Randhir. "In 10 days time we have managed to convince all members and include yoga, which is being promoted by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” This will be the first time that yoga, which originated in India, will be performed on an international stage as a big sporting event. The promotion of yoga at the global level was one of the Modi administration’s special agendas. In September 2014, PM Modi suggested that June 21 be celebrated as International Yoga Day, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Also Read | One photo was clicked without informing, politics happened: Vinesh Phogat RIPS APART IOA President PT Usha Meanwhile, Sadhguru, the founder of Isha Foundation based in Coimbatore, is of the opinion that yoga is not meant to be a competitive sport but a method of self-discovery and self-evolution. "It is deeply disturbing and disappointing that #Yoga is entering an arena which is essentially a competitive sport arena. Yoga cannot be a competition," said Sadhguru on X. “Yoga is a powerful tool & mechanism for self-evolution- to raise a human being from limited possibilities to unlimited perception and experience of life. This should not be done in competition with somebody else.” It is deeply disturbing and disappointing that #Yoga is entering an arena which is essentially a competitive sport arena. Yoga cannot be a competition. Yoga is a powerful tool & mechanism for self-evolution- to raise a human being from limited possibilities to unlimited… pic.twitter.com/uhlfUJ7VfS — Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) September 10, 2024 × Sadhguru, who talks about the benefits of yoga and also teaches yoga and mindfulness to people online and through various platforms, says the science of yoga should not be reduced to circus-like activity. "The fundamental of Yoga is about consciousness, not about comparison and competition," he said further. Also Read | India: Court rules married adults in live-in can be given protection, excludes minors in similar relationships On the other hand, the OCA president is of the opinion that yoga will need to make its impact in the Nagoya Games to be included as a medal event in the 2030 Asian Games. "We have to tell other nations about the benefits of yogasana. We need to send instructors and teach other nations and make it popular," said Randhir. (With inputs from agencies)

'Reducing Yoga to circus': Sadhguru reacts to Yoga entering as sport in 2026 Asian Games

On Tuesday (Feb 20), the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) confirmed that Anush Agarwalla, who secured a bronze&nbsp;medal&nbsp;at the Asian Games last year, has fetched a Paris Olympics quota for the country in the dressage discipline. The 24-year-old earned the quota after an impressive run in the four FEI events: Wroclaw, Poland (73.485%), Kronenberg, Netherlands (74.4%), Frankfurt, Germany (72.9%), and Mechelen, Belgium (74.2%).

It is to be noted that the quota is allocated to the nation, hence, the EFI will now conduct&nbsp;a final trial to determine the Indian representative for&nbsp;the much-awaited Paris 2024 event&nbsp;later this year.

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𝗢𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗮! ✅ 
 
Anush Agarwalla earns a place for Team India in Equestrian (Individual Dressage) at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> 🏇 
 
Congratulations!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToParis2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToParis2024</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympicQualifiers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympicQualifiers</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/WeAreTeamIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WeAreTeamIndia</a>
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After his latest feat, Agarwalla said in a release, "I am very proud and grateful to have been successful for securing a berth for India at the Paris Olympic Games. Competing in the Olympics has always been a childhood dream for me and I'm proud to be part of this historical moment for the nation."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-clears-air-on-missing-inter-miamis-friendly-in-china-says-no-political-reasons-watch-691862">Lionel Messi clears air on missing Inter Miami friendly, says 'no political reasons' - WATCH</a>

"I will continue doing what I have always been doing: staying focused, being disciplined, working hard, setting goals and achieving them. I am confident that I will be selected to represent India at this prestigious stage," Agarwalla further added.

With his latest achievement, Agarwalla has given himself a solid chance to represent India in the star-studded mega event in Paris this year. His stocks have risen since ending with a historic individual bronze medal in equestrian at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.&nbsp;Thus, he will now look to go a step ahead from his Asian Games performance in the forthcoming Olympics if given a chance.

On Tuesday (Feb 20), the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) confirmed that Anush Agarwalla, who secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games last year, has fetched a Paris Olympics quota for the country in the dressage discipline.

On Tuesday (Feb 20), the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) confirmed that Anush Agarwalla, who secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games last year, has fetched a Paris Olympics quota for the country in the dressage discipline. The 24-year-old earned the quota after an impressive run in the four FEI events: Wroclaw, Poland (73.485%), Kronenberg, Netherlands (74.4%), Frankfurt, Germany (72.9%), and Mechelen, Belgium (74.2%). It is to be noted that the quota is allocated to the nation, hence, the EFI will now conduct a final trial to determine the Indian representative for the much-awaited Paris 2024 event later this year. 𝗢𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗮! ✅ Anush Agarwalla earns a place for Team India in Equestrian (Individual Dressage) at #Paris2024 🏇 Congratulations!#RoadToParis2024 | #OlympicQualifiers | @WeAreTeamIndia — Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) February 19, 2024 × After his latest feat, Agarwalla said in a release, "I am very proud and grateful to have been successful for securing a berth for India at the Paris Olympic Games. Competing in the Olympics has always been a childhood dream for me and I'm proud to be part of this historical moment for the nation." Also read: Lionel Messi clears air on missing Inter Miami friendly, says 'no political reasons' - WATCH "I will continue doing what I have always been doing: staying focused, being disciplined, working hard, setting goals and achieving them. I am confident that I will be selected to represent India at this prestigious stage," Agarwalla further added. With his latest achievement, Agarwalla has given himself a solid chance to represent India in the star-studded mega event in Paris this year. His stocks have risen since ending with a historic individual bronze medal in equestrian at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Thus, he will now look to go a step ahead from his Asian Games performance in the forthcoming Olympics if given a chance.

Asian Games bronze medallist Anush Agarwalla secures India's Paris Olympics quota in equestrian

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has lauded Indian cricket for a successful run in the just-concluded 2023. Talking about the Indian cricket's achievements, the senior men's team won the Asia Cup and ended as runners-up in the home ODI World Cup and WTC final whereas the Harmanpreet Kaur-led women's team clinched gold in Asian Games and ended the year with a Test win each over England and Australia, in Mumbai, in December.

In addition,&nbsp;the Shafali Varma-led Indian team won the U-19 Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa. Thus, Gavaskar heaped praise on Indian cricket's magnificent run but rued Rohit Sharma &amp; Co.'s ODI WC final loss to Australia in Ahmedabad on Nov 19.

Speaking on Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues', Gavaskar spoke highly of the women's team and said, "I think it's been a fantastic year for both the men's and the women's team, particularly the way the women's team has performed. Those two Test wins towards the year-end, one against England and one against Australia, both teams against whom the Indian women's team have had tough times earlier on."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahul-had-a-great-2023-in-odis-ex-india-pacer-venkatesh-prasad-wants-batter-to-realise-true-potential-675478">KL Rahul had great run in 2023 ODIs: Ex-India pacer Venkatesh Prasad wants batter to 'realise true potential'</a>

He shifted his focus to the ODI WC at home as well. He added, "That's been the most exciting aspect of cricket apart from, of course, what we saw in the World Cup. The 10 straight wins, and, then, just that one bad day, which sadly happened to be the finals of the World Cup. So really some exciting times in 2023."

Harman-led Indian eves won their first Test over Australia&nbsp;since their first meeting back in 1977. Apart from this, the just-concluded year also saw the advent of the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India.&nbsp;

Talking about the senior men's team, they dominated at home, won their eighth Asia Cup title in September but lost two big finals to Australia, i.e. during the WTC 2021-23 cycle's finale&nbsp;and ODI WC.

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has lauded Indian cricket for a successful run in the just-concluded 2023. Talking about the Indian cricket's achievements, the senior men's team won the Asia Cup and ended as runners-up in the home ODI World Cup and WTC final whereas the Harmanpreet Kaur-led women's team clinched gold in Asian Games and ended the year with a Test win each over England and Australia, in Mumbai, in December.

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has lauded Indian cricket for a successful run in the just-concluded 2023. Talking about the Indian cricket's achievements, the senior men's team won the Asia Cup and ended as runners-up in the home ODI World Cup and WTC final whereas the Harmanpreet Kaur-led women's team clinched gold in Asian Games and ended the year with a Test win each over England and Australia, in Mumbai, in December. In addition, the Shafali Varma-led Indian team won the U-19 Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa. Thus, Gavaskar heaped praise on Indian cricket's magnificent run but rued Rohit Sharma & Co.'s ODI WC final loss to Australia in Ahmedabad on Nov 19. Speaking on Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues', Gavaskar spoke highly of the women's team and said, "I think it's been a fantastic year for both the men's and the women's team, particularly the way the women's team has performed. Those two Test wins towards the year-end, one against England and one against Australia, both teams against whom the Indian women's team have had tough times earlier on." Also read: KL Rahul had great run in 2023 ODIs: Ex-India pacer Venkatesh Prasad wants batter to 'realise true potential' He shifted his focus to the ODI WC at home as well. He added, "That's been the most exciting aspect of cricket apart from, of course, what we saw in the World Cup. The 10 straight wins, and, then, just that one bad day, which sadly happened to be the finals of the World Cup. So really some exciting times in 2023." Harman-led Indian eves won their first Test over Australia since their first meeting back in 1977. Apart from this, the just-concluded year also saw the advent of the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India. Talking about the senior men's team, they dominated at home, won their eighth Asia Cup title in September but lost two big finals to Australia, i.e. during the WTC 2021-23 cycle's finale and ODI WC.

Sunil Gavaskar LAUDS Indian cricket for successful 2023 barring ‘just one bad day’ in ODI World Cup final

Chinese basketball great Yao Ming says that criticism of the men's national team has gone too far after some players were abused online following a series of disappointing results. Basketball is hugely popular in China, but the team has consistently failed to live up to high expectations, with the latest letdown a loss to the Philippines in the semi-finals of the Asian Games on home soil last month.

China beat Taiwan to win bronze but the campaign was regarded as a failure and came weeks after they finished 29th of 32 teams at the World Cup, missing out on next year's Paris Olympics. Fan anger has failed to dissipate, and national players have been targeted online in recent weeks, including Zhang Zhenlin of Liaoning Flying Leopards.

"Here I represent the association to make a statement," Yao, an eight-time NBA All-Star and now president of the Chinese Basketball Association, said Thursday at a Chinese basketball Hall of Fame event in Beijing. "No matter if we play well or badly on the basketball court, we will face up to the result," state media quoted him as saying.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/global-warming-threatens-winter-olympics-future-organisers-soften-demand-in-order-to-retain-potential-hosts-664681">Global warming threatens Winter Olympics future, organisers soften demand in order to retain potential hosts</a>

"Some criticism on technique and tactics is welcome, but some things have gone beyond basketball and we don't agree with that. "We will always support our players to defend their rights and interests, and in this regard (online abuse), we will provide all the necessary support."

Following the 77-76 defeat to the Philippines -- who went on to win Asian Games gold in Hangzhou -- fed-up Chinese fans piled in online to berate and mock their team. "Watching you play basketball is a form of pain, isn't it?" one popular meme asked. The 43-year-old Yao had labelled the China players "slackers" and warned there was a "huge gap" between them and the world's best teams.

Chinese basketball great Yao Ming says that criticism of the men's national team has gone too far after some players were abused online following a series of disappointing results.

Chinese basketball great Yao Ming says that criticism of the men's national team has gone too far after some players were abused online following a series of disappointing results. Basketball is hugely popular in China, but the team has consistently failed to live up to high expectations, with the latest letdown a loss to the Philippines in the semi-finals of the Asian Games on home soil last month. China beat Taiwan to win bronze but the campaign was regarded as a failure and came weeks after they finished 29th of 32 teams at the World Cup, missing out on next year's Paris Olympics. Fan anger has failed to dissipate, and national players have been targeted online in recent weeks, including Zhang Zhenlin of Liaoning Flying Leopards. "Here I represent the association to make a statement," Yao, an eight-time NBA All-Star and now president of the Chinese Basketball Association, said Thursday at a Chinese basketball Hall of Fame event in Beijing. "No matter if we play well or badly on the basketball court, we will face up to the result," state media quoted him as saying. Also Read: Global warming threatens Winter Olympics future, organisers soften demand in order to retain potential hosts "Some criticism on technique and tactics is welcome, but some things have gone beyond basketball and we don't agree with that. "We will always support our players to defend their rights and interests, and in this regard (online abuse), we will provide all the necessary support." Following the 77-76 defeat to the Philippines -- who went on to win Asian Games gold in Hangzhou -- fed-up Chinese fans piled in online to berate and mock their team. "Watching you play basketball is a form of pain, isn't it?" one popular meme asked. The 43-year-old Yao had labelled the China players "slackers" and warned there was a "huge gap" between them and the world's best teams.

Fans target basketball players of China after disappointing results, Yao Ming says criticism gone too far

India’s ace hurdler Jyothi Yarraji finished her season in style with a hat-trick of medals at the National Games. The icing on the cake was the fact that Jyothi rewrote the meet record in the women’s 100m hurdles event, winning gold by clocking a time of 13.22s. Jyothi also won gold in the 4x100m relay event with Andhra Pradesh. Her third medal came in the 200m event, where she won bronze with a time of 23.95s in the final.

Tejas Shirse lived up to his billing of pre-tournament favourite by clinching gold in style in the men’s 110m hurdles event. In a dominant display, Tejas rewrote the meet record in the event by crossing the finish line in 13.71s.

RF athletes made a big splash at the National Games, Goa 2023, winning a total of 30 medals in seven different sports. The final medal tally comprised 15 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze medals in a splendid and medal-laden display from start to finish. Over 40 athletes from RF took part in seven sports at the prestigious competition.

Speaking about the fine display, James Hillier, Athletics Director at RF, said, “We are really pleased with the results at the National Games. For many of our athletes, it was the last competition of the year in a very long season. They started in April, so to sustain that level of excellence for seven months is a very impressive feat.

“It was pleasing to not just see the medals but our athletes also registered their personal bests. It has been a good end to a very successful season for us. It gives us the perfect springboard for next season. The next year is a big year with the Olympics, we are excited and looking forward to it. We’ll be looking to get our best athletes into the Paris Olympics squad.”

Asian Games medalist Gulveer Singh won gold in the 5000m event in a time of 14:13.03s. Gulveer backed up his Gold with a bronze in the men’s 10000m event to complete a long distance double. Sprinter Elakkkiyadasan won a brace of medals, winning gold in both the men’s 100m and men’s 4x100m relay.

Javelin thrower Kishore Kumar Jena, who has already sealed a spot at the Paris Olympics next year, won bronze with a best throw of 78.47m. Pole vaulter Baranica Elangovan also finished her season on a high with gold by clearing a height of 3.90m.

The other individual medalists from RF in athletics were Swadhin Majhi (bronze, men’s high jump), Graceson Jeeva (silver, men’s 110m hurdles), Moumita Mondal (bronze, women’s long jump), Dhanvir Singh (silver, men’s shot put) and Animesh Kujur (bronze, men’s 200m).

Anupama Upadhyaya and Palak Gulia continue rapid rise; Reetika arrives in style

Anupama Upadhyaya delivered the first gold even before the opening ceremony by winning the women’s singles event. The 18-year-old is now the reigning national champion as well as National Games Champion.

Fresh off scripting history at the Asian Games, Palak Gulia struck double gold, winning the yellow metal in the women’s 10m air pistol and mixed 10m air pistol events.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-wasnt-keen-to-succeed-kohli-as-india-captain-says-ganguly-reveals-how-he-convinced-hitman-657277">Rohit wasn't keen to succeed Kohli as India captain, says Ganguly, reveals how he convinced Hitman</a>

Niraj Kumar and Nancy added to the medal haul in shooting by winning silver in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions and women’s 10m air rifle events respectively.

There were three medals in archery as well with Mrinal Chauhan winning Gold in the men’s team event and silver in the mixed team event in the recurve category. Ridhi also won gold in the women’s team event in the recurve category.

Ridhi was delighted with her efforts: "It was a proud moment for me to compete in my first National Games. It was my childhood dream to win a medal in the National Games. It gives me a lot of confidence for upcoming tournaments. It's one of the biggest medals of my career and a much-needed confidence boost. As my experience is increasing, so are my targets. When I was young, I would get a chocolate for hitting a ten. My ultimate goal is to win gold for India at the Olympics," she said.

One of the biggest moments of the Games featured Reetika Hooda, the young wrestler from Haryana, fresh from her world Under 23 Championship victory, the first ever for India, defeated Olympian Divya Kakran 10-0 in the finals to clinch the National Games gold in a breathtaking display.

The gold rush continued with boxer Ankushita Boro and judoka Himanshi Tokas also finishing on top of the podium.

India’s ace hurdler Jyothi Yarraji finished her season in style with a hat-trick of medals at the National Games. The icing on the cake was the fact that Jyothi rewrote the meet record in the women’s 100m hurdles event, winning gold by clocking a time of 13.

India’s ace hurdler Jyothi Yarraji finished her season in style with a hat-trick of medals at the National Games. The icing on the cake was the fact that Jyothi rewrote the meet record in the women’s 100m hurdles event, winning gold by clocking a time of 13.22s. Jyothi also won gold in the 4x100m relay event with Andhra Pradesh. Her third medal came in the 200m event, where she won bronze with a time of 23.95s in the final. Tejas Shirse lived up to his billing of pre-tournament favourite by clinching gold in style in the men’s 110m hurdles event. In a dominant display, Tejas rewrote the meet record in the event by crossing the finish line in 13.71s. RF athletes made a big splash at the National Games, Goa 2023, winning a total of 30 medals in seven different sports. The final medal tally comprised 15 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze medals in a splendid and medal-laden display from start to finish. Over 40 athletes from RF took part in seven sports at the prestigious competition. Speaking about the fine display, James Hillier, Athletics Director at RF, said, “We are really pleased with the results at the National Games. For many of our athletes, it was the last competition of the year in a very long season. They started in April, so to sustain that level of excellence for seven months is a very impressive feat. “It was pleasing to not just see the medals but our athletes also registered their personal bests. It has been a good end to a very successful season for us. It gives us the perfect springboard for next season. The next year is a big year with the Olympics, we are excited and looking forward to it. We’ll be looking to get our best athletes into the Paris Olympics squad.” Asian Games medalist Gulveer Singh won gold in the 5000m event in a time of 14:13.03s. Gulveer backed up his Gold with a bronze in the men’s 10000m event to complete a long distance double. Sprinter Elakkkiyadasan won a brace of medals, winning gold in both the men’s 100m and men’s 4x100m relay. Javelin thrower Kishore Kumar Jena, who has already sealed a spot at the Paris Olympics next year, won bronze with a best throw of 78.47m. Pole vaulter Baranica Elangovan also finished her season on a high with gold by clearing a height of 3.90m. The other individual medalists from RF in athletics were Swadhin Majhi (bronze, men’s high jump), Graceson Jeeva (silver, men’s 110m hurdles), Moumita Mondal (bronze, women’s long jump), Dhanvir Singh (silver, men’s shot put) and Animesh Kujur (bronze, men’s 200m). Anupama Upadhyaya and Palak Gulia continue rapid rise; Reetika arrives in style Anupama Upadhyaya delivered the first gold even before the opening ceremony by winning the women’s singles event. The 18-year-old is now the reigning national champion as well as National Games Champion. Fresh off scripting history at the Asian Games, Palak Gulia struck double gold, winning the yellow metal in the women’s 10m air pistol and mixed 10m air pistol events. ALSO READ | Rohit wasn't keen to succeed Kohli as India captain, says Ganguly, reveals how he convinced Hitman Niraj Kumar and Nancy added to the medal haul in shooting by winning silver in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions and women’s 10m air rifle events respectively. There were three medals in archery as well with Mrinal Chauhan winning Gold in the men’s team event and silver in the mixed team event in the recurve category. Ridhi also won gold in the women’s team event in the recurve category. Ridhi was delighted with her efforts: "It was a proud moment for me to compete in my first National Games. It was my childhood dream to win a medal in the National Games. It gives me a lot of confidence for upcoming tournaments. It's one of the biggest medals of my career and a much-needed confidence boost. As my experience is increasing, so are my targets. When I was young, I would get a chocolate for hitting a ten. My ultimate goal is to win gold for India at the Olympics," she said. One of the biggest moments of the Games featured Reetika Hooda, the young wrestler from Haryana, fresh from her world Under 23 Championship victory, the first ever for India, defeated Olympian Divya Kakran 10-0 in the finals to clinch the National Games gold in a breathtaking display. The gold rush continued with boxer Ankushita Boro and judoka Himanshi Tokas also finishing on top of the podium.

Asian Games star Jyothi Yarraji continues impressive showing at National Games; Tejas shatters meet record

After the immense success and closely fought battles in the first four seasons of the Tennis Premier League (TPL), India’s premier tennis tournament is set for a fifth season, which is slated to begin on Tuesday (Dec 12), with a grand finale taking place five days later. Top Indian tennis talents such as Sumit Nagal, will play for the Gujarat Panthers after the current AITA Number 1 was made the most expensive player at the auction by the franchise.

Alongside Nagal, Hangzhou Asian Games silver medal-winning duo Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni will also feature in season 5 of TPL, as they will play for Bengaluru SG Mavericks and Hyderabad Strikers respectively. While Asian Games 2023 Gold Medallist, Rutuja Bhosale will don the colours of Pune Jaguars in season 5 of the TPL.

Pune Jaguars, Mumbai Leon Army, Delhi Binny's Brigade, Gujarat Panthers, Punjab Tigers, Bengal Wizards, Hyderabad Strikers and Bengaluru Spartans are the teams in the fray, with prominent personalities such as Taapsee Pannu, Sonu Sood, Sonali Bendre, Rakul Preet Singh, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza associated with them.

Along with them, foreign tennis athletes like former World No. 10 Ernests Gulbis and former World No. 26 Lukas Rosol, will feature for Mumbai Leon Army and Pune Jaguars respectively in the upcoming season. Additionally, current World No. 125 Maria Timofeeva was snapped up by Leander Paes-backed Bengal Wizards at the auction and the highest-ranked Austrian Tennis player in the world Dennis Novak will lead the charge for Delhi Binny’s Brigade in season 5 of the league.

“The Tennis Premier League has engaged audiences over the last four seasons with its fast-paced format. For tennis fans, the addition of India No. 1 Sumit Nagal, and 2023 Asian Games medallists Ramkumar Ramanathan, Saketh Myneni, and Rutuja Bhosale will be another reason to attract audiences for the fifth season of the league,” Rajesh Kaul said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/odi-world-cup-2023-blow-to-india-hardik-pandya-not-expected-to-return-before-this-match-report-653872">ODI World Cup 2023: Blow to India! Hardik Pandya not expected to return before THIS match - Report</a>

“The fifth season of the TPL is being graced by some very entertaining tennis stars, who have walked the talk consistently at the highest level. The likes of Sumit Nagal, Ernests Gulbis, Ramkumar Ramanathan, and Karman Kaur Thandi will be a big attraction for the fans, and we are confident that the trend of high-octane clashes will not be disturbed,” said Kunal Thakkur, Co-Founder, TPL.

“Over the past few years, the TPL with its healthy mix of high-quality sport and entertainment, has become one of the most awaited tournaments in India. And the fact that the tournament will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, the home of the Australian Open and US Open, makes it even more special for us. May the best team win,” said Mrunal Jain, Co-Founder, of TPL.

All the franchises will play a total of 5 matches to qualify for the semi-finals as the league’s revolutionary format captures the imagination of tennis fans. All matches between the two franchises will comprise Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Mixed Doubles and Men's Doubles. There will be 80 points at stake in each tie between two franchises, where each category would be worth 20 points. Each team will play a total of 400 points (80 points x 5 matches) at the league stage. All games of the TPL will be played in the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.

After the immense success and closely fought battles in the first four seasons of the Tennis Premier League (TPL), India’s premier tennis tournament is set for a fifth season, which is slated to begin on Tuesday (Dec 12), with a grand finale taking place five days later.

After the immense success and closely fought battles in the first four seasons of the Tennis Premier League (TPL), India’s premier tennis tournament is set for a fifth season, which is slated to begin on Tuesday (Dec 12), with a grand finale taking place five days later. Top Indian tennis talents such as Sumit Nagal, will play for the Gujarat Panthers after the current AITA Number 1 was made the most expensive player at the auction by the franchise. Alongside Nagal, Hangzhou Asian Games silver medal-winning duo Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni will also feature in season 5 of TPL, as they will play for Bengaluru SG Mavericks and Hyderabad Strikers respectively. While Asian Games 2023 Gold Medallist, Rutuja Bhosale will don the colours of Pune Jaguars in season 5 of the TPL. Pune Jaguars, Mumbai Leon Army, Delhi Binny's Brigade, Gujarat Panthers, Punjab Tigers, Bengal Wizards, Hyderabad Strikers and Bengaluru Spartans are the teams in the fray, with prominent personalities such as Taapsee Pannu, Sonu Sood, Sonali Bendre, Rakul Preet Singh, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza associated with them. Along with them, foreign tennis athletes like former World No. 10 Ernests Gulbis and former World No. 26 Lukas Rosol, will feature for Mumbai Leon Army and Pune Jaguars respectively in the upcoming season. Additionally, current World No. 125 Maria Timofeeva was snapped up by Leander Paes-backed Bengal Wizards at the auction and the highest-ranked Austrian Tennis player in the world Dennis Novak will lead the charge for Delhi Binny’s Brigade in season 5 of the league. “The Tennis Premier League has engaged audiences over the last four seasons with its fast-paced format. For tennis fans, the addition of India No. 1 Sumit Nagal, and 2023 Asian Games medallists Ramkumar Ramanathan, Saketh Myneni, and Rutuja Bhosale will be another reason to attract audiences for the fifth season of the league,” Rajesh Kaul said. ALSO READ | ODI World Cup 2023: Blow to India! Hardik Pandya not expected to return before THIS match - Report “The fifth season of the TPL is being graced by some very entertaining tennis stars, who have walked the talk consistently at the highest level. The likes of Sumit Nagal, Ernests Gulbis, Ramkumar Ramanathan, and Karman Kaur Thandi will be a big attraction for the fans, and we are confident that the trend of high-octane clashes will not be disturbed,” said Kunal Thakkur, Co-Founder, TPL. “Over the past few years, the TPL with its healthy mix of high-quality sport and entertainment, has become one of the most awaited tournaments in India. And the fact that the tournament will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, the home of the Australian Open and US Open, makes it even more special for us. May the best team win,” said Mrunal Jain, Co-Founder, of TPL. All the franchises will play a total of 5 matches to qualify for the semi-finals as the league’s revolutionary format captures the imagination of tennis fans. All matches between the two franchises will comprise Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Mixed Doubles and Men's Doubles. There will be 80 points at stake in each tie between two franchises, where each category would be worth 20 points. Each team will play a total of 400 points (80 points x 5 matches) at the league stage. All games of the TPL will be played in the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.

TPL 2023: Asian Games stars Rutuja Bhosale, Sumit Nagal to compete in season 5 starting on December 12

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