Cricket India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav Jan 4-8: The Ashes: Australia v England, 5th Test at SydneyJan 11-18: India vs New Zealand, ODI seriesJan 21-31: India vs New Zealand, T20I seriesJan 15-Feb 6: ICC U-19 World Cup, Zimbabwe and NamibiaFeb 7-Mar 8: ICC T20 World Cup, India and Sri LankaMar-May: Indian Premier LeagueJune 12-July 5: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, EnglandJuly 1-11: England vs India, T20I seriesJuly 14-19: England vs India, T20I series Football Argentina captain Lionel Messi March 22: League Cup final, LondonMay 16: FA Cup final — Wembley, LondonMay 20: UEFA Europa League Final - Istanbul, TurkeyMay 27: UEFA Europa Conference League final — Leipzig, GermanyMay 30: UEFA Champions League final — Budapest, HungaryJun 11-Jul 19: FIFA World Cup — USA, Canada, Mexico Tennis World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz Jan 18-Feb 1: Australian Open, MelbourneMay 24-Jun 7: French Open, ParisJun 29-Jul 12: Wimbledon, LondonAug 30-Sept 13: US Open, New YorkSept 25-27: Laver CupNov 24-29: Davis Cup final Formula One World champion Lando Norris March 8: Australian Grand PrixMarch 15: Chinese GPMarch 29: Japanese GPApril 12: Bahrain GPApril 19: Saudi Arabian GPMay 3: Miami GPMay 24: Canadian GPJune 7: Monaco GPJune 14: Barcelona-Catalunya GPJune 28: Austrian GPJuly 5: British GPJuly 19: Belgian GPJuly 26: Hungarian GPAugust 23: Dutch GPSeptember 6: Italian GPSeptember 13: Spanish GPSeptember 26: Azerbaijan GPOctober 11: Singapore GPOctober 25: US GPNovember 1: Mexico City GPNovember 8: Sao Paulo GPNovember 21: Las Vegas GPNovember 29: Qatar GPDecember 6: Abu Dhabi GP Badminton Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (left) and Chirag Shetty Jan 6-11: Malaysia Open — Kuala LumpurJan 13-18: India Open — New DelhiMar 3–8: All England Open Badminton — BirminghamMar 10–15: Swiss Open — BaselNov 17–22: Hong Kong OpenNov 24-29: Syed Modi India International — LucknowDec 9–13: BWF World Tour Finals — Hangzhou, China Other major sports Hockey skipper Harmanpreet Singh May 8: Athletics — Doha Diamond LeagueJun 18–21: US Open golf — New YorkJul 4–26: Cycling — Tour de FranceJune 26: Athletics — Paris Diamond LeagueJul 23–Aug 2: Commonwealth Games — Glasgow, Scotland Aug 15–30: Hockey World Cup (men and women) — Belgium & NetherlandsSept 19–Oct 4: Asian Games — Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
01 January,2026 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentAn Abhinav Bindra-led Task Force set up by the Sports Ministry has pointed out “systemic deficits” in India’s sports administration, including “inadequate and ill-equipped” athletes for governance roles, and recommended the setting up of an autonomous statutory body to train a specialised cadre that would also feature IAS officers. In-depth report The 170-page report has been submitted to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who on Tuesday said “all its recommendations will be implemented,”To address the current “gaps” that ail the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the state departments, the committee has recommended that a National Council for Sports Education and Capacity Building (NCSECB) be set up under the Ministry “to regulate, accredit, and certify sports administration training.” The nine-member Task Force was set up in August this year and featured, among others Adille Sumariwala and former Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s CEO Cdr Rajesh Rajagopalan. “This report is both diagnostic and prescriptive. It identifies the structural, functional, and systemic gaps that currently constrain sports governance, but more importantly, it charts a roadmap for transformation,” said Bindra in its preface. The Task Force was entrusted with a wide-ranging mandate and it included evaluation of the current administrative framework across institutions such as SAI, NSFs and state associations. The SAI came in for some heavy scrutiny from the Task Force along with the state sports departments. “Neither SAI nor state departments have a dedicated sports administration service. Instead, roles are filled by generalist civil servants or contractual staff, often lacking sector-specific expertise. This has resulted in ad-hoc decision-making, weak institutional continuity, and an absence of long-term professionalisation.” The panel then mentioned the “poor coordination” between SAI, NSFs, and state departments, calling it “fragmented.” “Overlapping roles, duplication of functions, and unclear accountability frameworks reduce efficiency and create systemic bottlenecks,” it said. No system for training The panel also noted that while the soon-to-be-implemented National Sports Governance Act makes athlete representation in NSF Executive Committees mandatory, there is no system in place to train them for the job. “India does not yet have a structured Dual Athlete Career Pathway integrated with the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model, which supports athletes in combining elite performance with education, leadership, and governance skills,” it said. Over-centralisation of authority in NSFs was cited as a major governance concern. “In many NSFs, the president exercises disproportionate control over operations, finance, and appointments. This contrasts sharply with global norms, where governance and execution are clearly separated. The panel also recommended that IAS and state cadre officers must be trained in structured sports governance given their central role in implementation. “Civil service academies should integrate sports governance training to sensitise future bureaucrats.” Task Force’s key recommendations . Setting up of an autonomous statutory body — National Council for Sports Education and Capacity Building (NCSECB) — to train a specialised cadre that would also feature IAS officers . Civil service academies should integrate sports governance training to sensitise future bureaucrats . Improve coordination between Sports Authority of India (SAI) , National Sports Federations (NSFs), and state departments for clearer accountability . Reduce amount of presidential control in the functioning of NSFs. Governance and execution need to be separated . India requires a Dual Athlete Career Pathway to be integrated into the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model to train retired athletes in administration, leadership, and governance This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
31 December,2025 10:02 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIYouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul was among the first to react to the harrowing news regarding two-time former heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua’s car crash in Nigeria that killed two people on Monday. Paul was Joshua’s most recent opponent in a high-octane bout on December 19, which the latter won. “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident,” Paul said on Monday. Joshua is currently in a stable condition. “The patient is stable and does not require any emergency medical intervention,” a joint statement by Lagos and Ogun state governments said This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
31 December,2025 09:47 AM IST | Lagos (Nigeria) | AgenciesOlympic swimmer Adam Peaty, who married British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly, has added ‘Ramsay’ to his name in a bid to disassociate himself with his family due to an ongoing feud. Peaty, who has won three Olympic gold medals and an equal number of silver medals for Great Britain, now goes by the name Adam Ramsay Peaty which ye has posted on Instagram. The 31-year-old breaststroke specialist uninvited his parents from the wedding. However, Adam’s sister Beth was a bridesmaid at the wedding. Peaty tied the knot with social media influencer and model Holly, 25, at Bath Abbey in England followed by a reception at the Kin House, reported The Daily Mail. Holly will be the stepmother to Adam’s five-year-old son, George, whom he shares with his ex-girlfriend, Eirianedd Munro. Meanwhile, Gordon, 59, who owns multiple restaurants across the world, took a sly jab at Peaty’s parents during his speech at the wedding by saying his wife Tana “will be a good mum to them both.” The couple announced their relationship in June 2023 on Instagram and later revealed the engagement in September 2024.
30 December,2025 09:29 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentNick Kyrgios won the latest version of the “Battle of the Sexes” in tennis, beating top-ranked women’s player Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match that represented light entertainment rather than another landmark moment for gender equality. There was laughing and joking between the players, some under-arm serves, and even some dancing from Sabalenka during a timeout at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. “This is a great stepping stone for the sport of tennis,” the Australian said. Sabalenka said she would like to play Kyrgios again to exact revenge. “Really enjoyed the show,” she said, “and I feel like next time I play him I’m going to know the tactics, his strengths and his weaknesses, and it’s going to be a better match, for sure.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 December,2025 09:25 AM IST | Dubai | AP | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Indian Grandmasters Humpy Koneru and Arjun Erigaisi for winning bronze in the open section of the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, held in Doha. Erigaisi claimed a historic bronze medal at the FIDE World Rapid Championship in Doha, scoring 9.5 points —just one point behind world champion Magnus Carlsen. With his bronze medal, he became only the second Indian male player, after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, to secure a podium finish at a World Rapid Championship. “Proud of Arjun Erigaisi for winning the bronze medal in the open section at the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha. His grit is noteworthy. Wishing him the very best for his future endeavours,” PM Modi shared on X. In the women’s section, Humpy claimed bronze, in addition to the gold medal she won twice in 2019 and 2024. “Congratulations to Koneru Humpy, who finished strongly at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha, securing the Bronze medal in the women’s section. Her dedication towards the game is commendable. Best wishes for the endeavours ahead,” PM Modi said in another X post. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 December,2025 09:09 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday commended Indian chess stalwart Koneru Humpy for winning the bronze medal in the women's category of the FIDE World Rapid Championships in Doha, lauding her dedication and hard work behind the success. Humpy, who had entered the event as the defending champion, was done in by the international chess federation's (FIDE) tie-break rules on Sunday despite being the joint leader on 8.5 points with two other Grandmasters after the final round. "Congratulations to Koneru Humpy, who finished strongly at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha, securing the Bronze medal in the women's section. Her dedication towards the game is commendable. Best wishes for the endeavours ahead. humpy_koneru," wrote PM Modi on 'X'. Congratulations to Koneru Humpy, who finished strongly at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha, securing the Bronze medal in the women’s section. Her dedication towards the game is commendable. Best wishes for the endeavours ahead.@humpy_koneru — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 29, 2025 The Prime Minister often makes it a point to acknowledge the achievements of India's athletes and para athletes, personally meeting many of them across sports disciplines. Had Humpy won the title on Sunday, it would have made her only the first woman chess player to win three World Rapid crowns -- her previous title-winning efforts came in 2019 and 2024. She would have also become only the second woman player after China's Ju Wenjun to clinch back-to-back titles. But it was heartbreak for the 38-year-old player, whose illustrious career has spanned over two decades. FIDE's tie-breaker rule to rank players with the same score was applied and Humpy fell behind China's Zhu Jiner and Russian Grandmaster Aleksandra Goryachkina, who too were on 8.5 points after the 11th and final round. Goryachkina went on to win her maiden world rapid title and a cheque of 40,000 Euros. In the 'Open' section, Arjun Erigaisi took the bronze behind world No.1 Magnus Carlsen and Russian GM Vladislav Artemiev. Humpy will get a chance to stake claim to the World Blitz title when the event commences in Doha later on Monday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 December,2025 04:29 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIReigning champion Koneru Humpy displayed her trademark composure and tenacity to remain in joint lead in the women’s section while Indian star players D. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi also remained in the hunt in the ‘Open’ category on Day 2 of the FIDE World Rapid Championships here. With three more rounds to go in the women’s section on Sunday, Humpy shared the lead with China’s Zhu Jiner on 6.5 points out of eight. Gukesh and Erigaisi were on 6.5 points in a cluster of 13 players after nine rounds with just a point separating the India duo from joint leaders Vladislav Artemiev and Hans Niemann (7.5 points each). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2025 09:52 AM IST | Doha | PTISpirited SG Pipers defeated Ranchi Royals 2-0 in the opening match of the Women’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 Season at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday. Captain Navneet Kaur (27’) and Teresa Viana (46’) scored the goals for SG Pipers. The first quarter of the match was extremely tight with end-to-end action. Defences were on top as not a single penalty corner was given away in the opening minutes. Hannah Cotter of Ranchi Royals was creating problems for her opponents on the left flank while the attacking duo of Navneet Kaur and Deepika were making the majority of circle entries for the SG Pipers in the first half. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2025 09:50 AM IST | Ranchi | AgenciesAmerican professional boxer, influencer and actor Jake Paul has announced that he is keen to have kids and start a family with his Olympian fiancee Jutta Leerdam. Jake, 28, who started off as a content creator on YouTube, recently suffered a broken jaw during a sixth-round knockout defeat to boxing superstar Anthony Joshua. Jake has said that he will now take some time off the sport to support Leerdam, who is a Dutch speed skater and is preparing for the Winter Olympics in 2026. During an appearance on the Impaulsive podcast, hosted by his brother Logan, who is a professional wrestler and boxer, Jake said: “I’m going to take some time off to go support Jutta [Leerdam] at the Olympics. Then she’s going to move to Puerto Rico. Move her here. Maybe go snowboarding or something.” When Logan said that his children would like to have some cousins, Jake agreed: “Yeah that part. I feel ready, bro. I have such baby fever. Like I want kids so bad.” Jake and Leerdam got together in 2023 as reported by The Sun, and announced their engagement earlier this year in March. Leerdam is an accomplished Winter Olympian and has won the 2022 World Sprint Champion in the 500 and 1000 metres combined. In the 1000 metres, she is the 2020 and 2023 World Single Distance Champion. She also won a silver medal in the 1000 metres at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
28 December,2025 09:11 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe kind of turn of foot Psychic Star displayed on this track when winning the AC Ardeshir Trophy was simply awesome, and with that kind of proof of fitness, it is difficult to look beyond her in the Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy (Gr 3), the feature event of Sunday's eight-race card. African Gold, with an incredible mock race under his belt before leaving Bangalore, seems to be the only horse who may go close to her. Psychic Star is tipped to win the feature event. First race at 1.30 pm.Selections: PA d'Avoine Trophy (Class III; 1200m)Bee Magical 1, Joondalup 2, Azure 3. Topspin Plate (For 2y, Maidens; 1000m)Elevate 1, Tempo 2, Inheritance 3. Karl Umrigar Salver (Class I; 1400m)Christophany 1, Market King 2, Chagall 3. Lt Col Govind Singh (VRC) Trophy (For 2y, Maidens; 1400m)Alexios 1, Buckingham 2, Ghost Of Victory 3. Dr IC Nagree Trophy (For 3y, Maidens, Class IV; 1200m)Charlie Brown 1, Don Julion 2, Santana Row 3. Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy - Gr 3 (For 3y&o; 1800m)Psychic Star 1, African Gold 2, Odysseus 3. DW Reid Plate (For 4y&o, Class V; 1600m)Jagger 1, Exotic Star 2, Baleno 3. Ram Zodge Plate (Class IV; 1400m)Starseed 1, Zafferano 2, Timeless Fortune 3. RecommendationsBest bet: Jagger (7-3)Upsets: Ardakan (3-6), D'Artagnan (4-4) & Surrealist (8-6) Today's poolsSuper jackpot pool: 3,4,5,6,7,8Jackpot pool: 4,5,6,7,8Treble pools: I - 2,3,4; II - 5,6,7Tanala pool: All races.
28 December,2025 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Prakash GosaviADVERTISEMENT
