Neeru Dhanda Clinches Gold in Women’s Trap Event at National Shooting Championship
Asian Championships gold medallist Neeru Dhanda won the women’s trap event at the National Shooting Championship held at Dr. Karni Singh Range in Delhi. Delhi’s Kirti Gupta took silver, while Pragati Dubey of Madhya Pradesh won bronze. In junior men’s trap, Aryavansh Tyagi topped the field with Keshav Chauhan and Zuhair Khan taking silver and bronze, respectively. Madhya Pradesh led in women’s trap team gold, while Delhi claimed silver and Punjab bronze in team events. The competition showcased emerging shooting talents and highlighted team performances across states.
Delhi leads women’s trap team gold; state-level results noted
Event held at Dr. Karni Singh Range, Delhi
RRU to Host World Police & Fire Games 2029 Disciplines
Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in Gujarat will host eight disciplines of the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) 2029. This marks India’s debut as a WPFG host nation for the international event, which features 60+ sports and thousands of uniformed personnel. The 2025 USA edition saw India win hundreds of medals, underscoring the country’s growing strength in police and fire service sports. The eight disciplines selected by RRU include Wrist Wrestling, Bench Press, Bodybuilding, Cross Country (10 km), Push–Pull Lifting, Muster, Indoor Rowing and Darts, to be conducted on campus facilities and nearby venues.
RRU to host eight WPFG 2029 disciplines
India’s WPFG hosting debut
Event features 60+ sports and thousands of athletes
India won over 600 medals in 2025 WPFG (USA edition)
Disciplines include strength, endurance and precision events
Rural and campus facilities to support events
Bhutan's Sonam Yeshey Scripts History, Becomes First Bowler to Take 8-Wicket Haul in T20Is
Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey made history as the first bowler to claim an eight-wicket haul in a T20 International match. The left-arm spinner took eight wickets for seven runs in four overs, including a maiden over, at Gelephu against Myanmar. His remarkable 8 for 7 spell delivered a striking economy rate of 1.80 and set a new benchmark for the shortest format. The performance drew praise from teammates and cricket fans, highlighting Bhutan’s rapid improvement in international cricket and potential for future success in regional tournaments.
Sonam Yeshey records 8/7 in T20I
First bowler to achieve eight-wicket haul in T20I
Performance against Myanmar at Gelephu
Economy rate 1.80, includes a maiden over
Signals Bhutan’s rising potential in international cricket
Mumbai Indians Appoint Former Australian Kristen Beams as Spin-Bowling Coach
Mumbai Indians announced the appointment of former Australian leg-spinner Kristen Beams as spin-bowling coach for the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. Beams played for Australia in Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s and has a wealth of WBBL experience. She joins MI’s coaching staff led by head coach Lisa Keightley and former captain Jhulan Goswami, along with batting coach Devika Palshikar and fielding coach Nicole Bolton. Beams’ appointment is expected to strengthen MI’s spin options and development programs for upcoming season, aligning with the team’s long-term success strategy in women’s cricket.
Kristen Beams appointed spin-bowling coach for WPL 2026
Former Australia international with WBBL experience
Joined MI coaching team alongside Keightley and Goswami
Focus on spin development and match readiness
MI aims to strengthen performance in next WPL season
Carlsen and Goryachkina Take World Rapid Titles in Doha
In Doha, Magnus Carlsen captured his sixth World Rapid title, finishing a point ahead of rivals. In the women’s event, Aleksandra Goryachkina defeated Zhu Jiner in a blitz playoff to win the coveted World Rapid crown, marking her first title in this format. The event showcased elite rapid chess, with a mix of strategic play and speed. Commentators highlighted Carlsen’s continued dominance in rapid time controls and Goryachkina’s rise in women’s chess, signaling a competitive landscape for future World Rapid Championships.
Magnus Carlsen wins sixth World Rapid title
Aleksandra Goryachkina wins women’s World Rapid title
Opponent in women’s final: Zhu Jiner (playoff)
Event held in Doha, featured top chess players
Showcases evolving strength in rapid chess
Dec 29, 2025
Surya Charishma Tamiri Wins Women’s Singles at 87th Senior National Badminton Championship
Surya Charishma Tamiri claimed the Women’s Singles title at the 87th Senior National Badminton Championships held in Vijayawada. After dropping the opening game, Tamiri rallied to defeat Tanvi Patri with scores of 17-21, 21-12, 21-14. The event also featured prominent performances in Men’s Singles and Doubles categories, underscoring India’s depth in the sport. Tamiri’s victory adds to a sequence of strong showings by Indian women players at the national level and signals potential momentum for international competition in the coming year.
Tamiri wins Women’s Singles at 87th Senior National Championship.
Final scoreline: 17-21, 21-12, 21-14 against Tanvi Patri.
Event held in Vijayawada; national-level title impact hereafter.
Contributes to rising momentum of Indian women players.
Harmanpreet Kaur Breaks Meg Lanning’s T20I Captaincy Record
Harmanpreet Kaur set a record for the most wins as a captain in women’s Twenty20 internationals. Leading India to victory, she surpassed Meg Lanning’s 76 wins, achieving 77 wins in 130 matches as captain. This milestone places Harmanpreet at the top of the list for women’s T20I captaincy. The same match also saw Deepti Sharma reach 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in T20 internationals, a first for players across the men’s and women’s games. The results reflect India’s growing strength in women’s cricket on the global stage.
Harmanpreet Kaur becomes leading T20I captain by wins.
India’s 77th captaincy win for Harmanpreet in 130 matches.
Meg Lanning’s record surpassed in this match.
Deepti Sharma reaches 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in T20Is.
P. V. Sindhu Elected Chair of BWF Athletes Commission (2026–2029)
P. V. Sindhu has been elected Chair of the Badminton World Federation Athletes Commission for the 2026–2029 term. The appointment positions Sindhu as a key voice for players within global badminton governance and as a member of the BWF Council. The Athletes Commission aims to improve transparency, include athlete perspectives in policy decisions, and strengthen the link between players and administrators. Sindhu’s leadership role follows her international achievements and her status as a two-time Olympic medalist, reinforcing India’s influence in global badminton circles.
P. V. Sindhu elected Chair of BWF Athletes Commission (2026–2029).
She will also serve on the BWF Council.
Commission seeks athlete input in governance and policy.
Sindhu is a prominent Indian figure in global badminton.
Dec 28, 2025
Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz Team Up for USA's Title Defence of United Cup
Third-ranked Coco Gauff will be joined by sixth-ranked Taylor Fritz as the United States is set to defend its title at the United Cup next week in Australia.
United Cup is the only combined ATP and WTA team and the 2026 tennis season will take place from January 2 to 11. The tournament will be played in two cities: Perth and Sydney, with three groups playing their matches in Perth and three in Sydney.
The tournament will give several of the world's top players preparation matches ahead of the first major of the year, the Australian Open, which gets underway on 18th January in Melbourne.
Eighteen teams will be part of the tournament with each team having one ATP and WTA player each. The teams are grouped in six three-team pools that will compete in round-robin format.
Dec 27, 2025
For Inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games Logo and Mascot Unveiled in Bilaspur
The logo, theme song and mascot of the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) were formally unveiled in December 2025 at the Late B. R. Yadav Sports Stadium in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. The landmark national sporting event dedicated exclusively to tribal athletes will be held from February 14, 2026, in Chhattisgarh marking a major step towards inclusive sports development.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao as chief guests. Senior officials from the Union Sports Ministry, the Chhattisgarh government and the Sports Authority of India were also present, underlining the national importance of the Games.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya emphasised that the Khelo India Tribal Games would significantly expand India's sporting talent pool. He highlighted the need to systematically identify and nurture talent from tribal regions and integrate promising athletes into the national sports ecosystem through structured support.
A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of the official mascot, 'Morveer'. The name is rooted in Chhattisgarhi culture, with 'Mor' meaning "mine" or "our own" and 'Veer' symbolising courage and valour. The mascot represents the pride, resilience and identity of India's tribal communities and reflects the cultural ethos of the host state.
The inaugural edition will feature seven competitive disciplines—archery, athletics, football, hockey, wrestling, swimming and weightlifting—along with two demonstration sports showcasing indigenous traditions. One of the core objectives is talent identification, with selected athletes inducted as Khelo India Athletes and provided scholarships of ₹5 lakh per year for eight years. Jointly organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India, Indian Olympic Association and National Sports Federations, the Games will follow international technical standards and strengthen grassroots inclusion in Indian sports.
Dec 26, 2025
Vaibhav Suryavanshi Sets List A Century Record in 14-year-old Feat
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, aged 14 years and 272 days, became the youngest male cricketer to score a List A century. Playing for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the JSCA Oval Ground, Ranchi, on 24 December 2025, he struck 190 off 84 balls. The performance broke Zahoor Elahi’s long-standing record and highlighted the emergence of a precocious talent in Indian domestic cricket. The innings showcased aggressive stroke play and rapid scoring, drawing attention from selectors and cricket fans alike as the season progresses.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi scores List A century at 14y 272d
Scored 190 off 84 balls for Bihar vs Arunachal Pradesh (24 Dec 2025)
Youngest male List A century; breaks Zahoor Elahi’s record
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has topped the ICC Women’s Twenty20 International Bowling Rankings for the first time in her career, with the ranking released on 23 December 2025. Sharma’s performance, including a 1/20 in the opening T20I against Sri Lanka, helped her overtake Australia’s Annabel Sutherland by one rating point, raising her to 737 ranking points in bowling. This rise comes ahead of cricket’s Olympic discourse and highlights India’s growing strength in women’s cricket. The ranking underscores Sharma’s consistency in the shortest format and adds momentum for India’s ongoing home series schedule.