From the electrifying victory of the Indian cricket team in the recent T20 series to the rising star power of young badminton sensations, India's sporting landscape is ablaze with action! This week alone saw record-breaking performances in the Pro Kabaddi League, showcasing the nation's unwavering passion for indigenous sports. The upcoming Asian Games are generating immense anticipation, with athletes across disciplines sharpening their skills and aiming for glory on the international stage. We delve into the crucial role of sports sponsorships in nurturing talent and boosting India's sporting infrastructure. Furthermore, debates rage on about the future of cricket's dominance in India's sporting ecosystem, with other sports like hockey and football vying for increased attention and investment. Stay updated on all the latest scores, match analyses, and exclusive interviews with your favorite athletes. Explore the dynamic world of Indian sports—from the bustling stadiums to the quiet dedication of rising stars—right here. Discover the stories that shape the nation’s sporting spirit and witness the unfolding drama of the sporting year.
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): New Delhi hosted the grand finale of Lionel Messi's "G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025" on December 15, bringing the historic four-city tour to a smooth and successful closure amid immense fan enthusiasm. Marking Messi's second visit to India, the tour was spearheaded by leading Indian sports promoter Satadru Dutta through his company, A Satadru Dutta Initiative, with a focus on inspiring young footballers and reinforcing India's emergence as a destination for global sporting events. Messi arrived in the National Capital on December 15, following successful engagements in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, and the Delhi leg culminated the tour. The on-field programme at the Arun Jaitley Stadium featured a celebrity football match between the Minerva Messi All Stars and the Celebrity Messi All Stars. Following the game, Lionel Messi stepped onto the field for a brief interaction with players from both teams. He later engaged with young footballers, sharing a few passes alongside Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, offering a memorable experience for the aspiring talents. The event culminated in a stage ceremony attended by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta and other distinguished dignitaries, including Jay Shah, Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Rohan Jaitley, President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association and former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia. During the ceremony, Jay Shah presented specially curated Indian cricket jerseys to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, followed by the presentation of a commemorative cricket bat signed by legendary Indian cricketers to Messi. During Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the Argentine football icon graced the Wankhede Stadium with his presence as a part of his 'GOAT India Tour' 2025. Messi, along with Suarez and De Paul, met Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri and the country's 'Bharat Ratna', the cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar. The event began with the anchor hyping the crowd, and chants of 'Messi', 'Messi', 'Messi' filled the air as everyone awaited the arrival of the beloved football legend. Reputed Indian DJ, DJ Chetas, started the festivities by playing a set of songs curated for the occasion, with some popular Bollywood and English numbers ringing loud in the stadium, including Ed Sheeran's 'Sapphire' and K'Naan's 'Wavin' Flag', the 2010 FIFA World Cup anthem and B Praak's 'Teri Mitti'. Following that, a friendly football match took place between Indian Stars and Mitra Stars, with the former featuring actors Tiger Shroff, Jim Sarbh, Indian footballers Nikhil Poojari, and Bala Devi. Mitra Stars also featured Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri and his Bengaluru FC teammates Rahul Bheke and Chinglensana Singh Konsham. The event concluded with the crowd chanting the names of Sachin and Messi one by one. Messi's second pit stop during the GOAT India Tour 2025 was Hyderabad. Fans who gathered at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium got to witness Argentina's FIFA World Cup-winning icon Messi in action, where he took part in a 7-on-7 exhibition football match involving the state's Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, soaked in the love from a passionate and loud audience and also met the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Messi was also seen interacting with Rahul, marking another significant crossover between Argentine football and Indian politics. CM Revanth also welcomed Messi by saying, "Messi, welcome to Telangana, Telangana is rising!" The superstar footballer also presented Rahul with his iconic number 10 Argentina jersey as the Congress leader posed for a picture with him and his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. Telangana CM also felicitated the football legend with a momento. Messi, also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, gave some children present at the venue a memory of a lifetime as he kicked the ball around the park with them for a few moments and the event ended on a memorable note. Messi's Kolkata leg, the first stop on the 'GOAT Tour 2025', ended chaotically. While the moment was supposed to be a moment of union between the World Cup-winning superstar and a football-crazy state, the presence of VIPs and politicians on the pitch with Messi sent fans into frenzy as they could barely catch a glimpse of the footballer for whom they had paid their hard-earned money. After Messi unveiled his 70-foot-long statue virtually at Lake Town, Kolkata, built by Sree Bhumi Sporting Club out of adoration and respect for the legends' heroics in international and club football, Messi, alongside his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul arrived at the Salt Lake Stadium to a thunderous ovation and was a witness to an exhibition game between Diamond Harbour and Mohun Bagan. While he did interact with a few players from both sides, clicked pictures and signed jerseys, it did not take long for VIPs and politicians also to enter the picture with their share of requests. The event was supposed to be a grand affair, but Messi left early, leaving a crowd of fans fuming. Fans voiced their anger at VIPs and politicians, including the state's Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, as they loudly booed them and threw plastic bottles and chairs onto the pitch. Some fans also entered the field, vandalising the tent and the goal post in frustration at missing a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The police used mild force to remove angry fans from the stadium, and WB governor CV Ananda Bose later revealed that the event organiser had been arrested. A wholesome moment turned into a 'criminal and political' affair, with the organiser arrested and opposition parties taking a swipe at the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for alleged mismanagement. (ANI)
IMPHAL, Nov 17: The NPP on Sunday withdrew support from the BJP-led Government in Manipur, even as violence continued to rock the state as offices of the Congress and the saffron party were ransacked in the hill district of Jiribam where an unidentified body was found earlier in the day, officials said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp A BJP MLA's ancestral house was vandalised in Imphal Valley while a building owned by Ashab Uddin, the Independent legislator of Jiribam, was ransacked, officials said. The incidents occurred a day after irate mobs set fire to the residences of ...Read More >
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 19 (ANI): With the Maharashtra elections approaching, wrestler and Congress MLA from Haryana's Julana, Vinesh Phogat, held a roadshow in Pune to support Congress candidate Datta Bahirat from the Shivajinagar Assembly constituency. She urged voters to ensure a victory for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), criticising the Mahayuti government for "injustice" by toppling the government elected by the people. "Everything is going well... If people shower their blessings on us on the 20th, we will win with a bigger margin this time. I appeal to voters to respond to ...Read More >
Brendon Kleynhans is a maths teacher at South African College School, one of the country's most prestigious alma maters. It luxuriates in the leafiness all around the most genteel part of Cape Town, with Newlands a mere long boundary away. If that brings to your mind's eye a slight, chinless, reticent, bespectacled individual sporting a combover, a pocket protector and - dread word - slacks who declines to step out of the safety of suburbia, you need that eye tested. "During camps it's half-pace," Kleynhans told Cricbuzz in the Kingsmead nets on Tuesday as the South Africans completed their ...Read More >
Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak announced the examination of the Jhansi Medical College fire report after a tragic incident claimed 10 infants' lives. Investigations point to a short circuit as the cause. Amid electoral criticism, Congress calls for reverting to ballot papers following a recent election loss. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak confirmed on Wednesday that the report regarding the devastating fire at Jhansi Medical College has been received. An investigation into the details of the report will be conducted to determine the causes of the tragic incident. ...Read More >
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan has called for the replacement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with ballot papers, citing concerns over the legitimacy of election results. Ranjan raised doubts about the EVM's accuracy, suggesting that the results may be influenced and advocating for a ballot paper system like many other countries. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also echoed similar sentiments, accusing EVMs of wasting votes from marginalized communities. This comes after the Congress' defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly election. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed a petition seeking th ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: BJP leader Amit Malviya on Tuesday accused Rahul Gandhi of being "so arrogant that he did not even greet the President" during the 75th Constitution Day event held in Parliament. This comes as the grand old party has often voiced its criticism against the saffron party for not inviting President Droupadi Murmu at the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building last year and Ram Temple consecration this year. "Rahul Gandhi is so arrogant that he did not even greet the President. Just because she comes from the tribal community, is a woman and Rahul Gandhi is the prince of ...Read More >
In this edition of Frontline Conversations, former Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare discusses how the Ladki Bahin scheme, which provided direct cash transfers to 2.35 crore women, transformed both the economic landscape and political dynamics of the State. The programme, which distributed Rs.7,500 across five instalments to women earning less than Rs. 2.5 lakh annually, not only empowered women with financial independence but also proved to be a decisive factor in Mahayuti's electoral victory, marking a shift in Maharashtra's traditionally male-dominated political ...Read More >
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive mat ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], November 18 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader and in-charge of the party's National IT Department, Amit Malviya, on Monday, criticised the Congress party's 'hypocrisy' over their stance on the Adani Group, pointing to past investments and agreements made with the corporate conglomerate by Congress-ruled states. Taking to social media platform X, Malviya referenced Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's recent "public admission of accepting money" from the Adani Group on November 10, 2024, pointing out that this acknowledgment contradicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India] November 18 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party MP K Laxman slammed Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing the Congress party of 'misleading' people. He further said that the people of Maharashtra know "how to teach a lesson" to Congress. "Revanth Reddy as a CM of Telangana and as a Congress leader is misleading the public. Maharashtra people are clever enough they know how to teach a lesson to these Congress people and Revanth Reddy you will come to know what has happened in Haryana that is going to be repeated in Maharashtra, and Jharkhand also," K Laxman ...Read More >
NEW ZEALAND: A pair of former cricket legends Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe will be honoured as New Zealand and England announced that future Test matches between the two sides will be played for the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, according to ICC. The trophy will pay tribute to New Zealand legend Martin Crowe and England great Graham Thorpe, with the winner of all future series between the two countries to be awarded the trophy. Crowe made 17 Test centuries at an average of 45.36 across a 14-year international career last century, while Thorpe almost mirrored those stats with 16 Test hundreds with a ...Read More >
Bigg Boss 18: Shilpa Shirodkar is termed 'biggest backstabber' after Vivian Dsena... Deepak Kalal fights with passenger in flight? Know the truth behind viral video Delhi court fixes Nov 28 for hearing former CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea over sanction copy in... Where will the Champions Trophy 2025 be played? ICC to take final call on THIS date Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan recalls telling Amitabh Bachchan he made 'big mistake' by... Deepinder Goyal's Zomato opens Rs 8500 crore QIP share sale, sets floor price at Rs... Delhi Capitals co-owner pens emotional fare ...Read More >
Proceedings in both houses of the Parliament came to halt on Wednesday amid protests by Oppostion members over the Adani Bribery controversy, recent violence in Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh and other issues. Lok Sabha proceedings were initially adjourned until 12 noon and later until Thursday, as Opposition members, including those from Congress, protested and sought to raise various issues at the start of the session. Some members from the Congress and Samajwadi Party were in the Well while other Opposition members stood in the aisle and shouted slogans. The Opposition members wanted to discus ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], November 29 (ANI): Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting lauded star Indian batter Virat Kohli for a century against Australia at Perth, pointing out how trusting his game during the second innings paid off well for him. After a terrible home Test season against Bangladesh and New Zealand, with horrific outings against the Kiwis in a losing cause, Virat rose above all critics, questioning and doubts with yet another magnificent ton at Perth's Optus Stadium. With this century, he shattered many records as a visiting batter and continued his love affair with playing in Aust ...Read More >
'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' (2001) is a romantic drama directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, marking the Bollywood debut of R Madhavan and Dia Mirza. At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, actor R Madhavan opened up about the emotional journey of his iconic film 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' (RHTDM), which has achieved cult status over the years. The film, initially released in 2001, marked a significant milestone in Bollywood, both for R Madhavan and his co-star Dia Mirza, as it was their debut film. Directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, the romantic drama also starred Saif ...Read More >
Get latest articles and stories on Sports at LatestLY. Kiwi batter Kane Williamson helped New Zealand seat in the driver's seat of the first Test match against England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday. Christchurch [New Zealand], November 28 (ANI): Kiwi batter Kane Williamson helped New Zealand seat in the driver's seat of the first Test match against England at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday. At Day 01 stumps, New Zealand stood at 319/8 with Glenn Phillips (41*) and Tim Southee (10*) unbeaten on the crease. Also Read | Pakistan vs Zimbabwe Live Score Updates of 3rd ODI 2 ...Read More >
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive mat ...Read More >
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, has accused two top AAP leaders of backing separate candidates for the Barnala assembly bypoll on November 20. Bajwa claimed that while one leader is supporting the official AAP candidate, the other is backing a rebel candidate. He urged the public to reject both and vote for the Congress candidate. Bajwa also took a jibe at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, suggesting he could become Punjab's "Eknath Shinde" after reportedly being in contact with the Union Home Ministry through a Punjab-based Union minister. ...Read More >
Vijayawada, Nov 26 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed the officials to formulate proposals for constructing an iconic Deep technology building in the capital city of Amaravati. Bengaluru, Nov 26 (UNI) Congress MLA HR Gaviyappa's call to reconsider some election guarantees has sparked a political storm in Karnataka, drawing sharp criticism from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and exposing potential fissures within the ruling party. Gaviyappa, representing Vijayanagara, suggested that certain guarantees were straining state finances and hindering th ...Read More >
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive mat ...Read More >
BJP leaders, including Amit Malviya, CR Kesavan, and Pradeep Bhandari, accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of arrogance after he allegedly failed to greet President Droupadi Murmu, a tribal woman, during her speech on Constitution Day. Malviya claimed that Gandhi's refusal to acknowledge the President stemmed from her tribal background, while Kesavan and Bhandari pointed to Gandhi's "dynastic entitlement" and anti-tribal sentiments. The President, addressing Parliament, highlighted the significance of India's Constitution and lauded the government's efforts in social justice and inclusive dev ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Nov 28 (UNI) The visit of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar to New Delhi has sparked fresh speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle in the state. As the two Congress leaders continue their discussions in the national capital, several party figures in the state have weighed in on the ongoing talks about changes in the Cabinet. Senior Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi commented on the ongoing talks about a possible Cabinet reshuffle, saying, "There are discussions that it could happen, although I'm not certain about the timing. There are reports ...Read More >
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive mat ...Read More >
Interim England manager Lee Carsley has left a strong impression after guiding the team to Nations League promotion, despite a home defeat to Greece. Over six games, Carsley handed senior debuts to eight players, including Curtis Jones, Lewis Hall, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, whose debut included a goal. With regulars like Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice unavailable, Carsley showcased emerging talents for Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup plans. Returning to the U21s, Carsley plans to debrief Tuchel on his findings. FA chief Mark Bullingham praised Carsley’s impact, lauding his ability to identify tal ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Singles, Doubles, and the Team Championship - the 18-year-old Chennai girl, the daughter of an auto driver from Kasimedu, left nothing for competitors from around the world at the sixth edition of the Carrom World Cup held in the US which Team India swept. The Women's Singles final was a hard-fought contest, where the 18-year-old M Khazima kept her nerves to defeat 12-time national and multiple World Cup winner Rashmi Kumari from Bihar. With this victory, Khazima became the youngest Carrom World Champion. Khazima, whose father Mehaboob Basha is an auto driver from Kasimedu, had been ...Read More >
Campaigning for the November 20 assembly bypolls to four seats in Punjab ended on Monday evening with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Opposition Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party making last-ditch efforts to mobilise support for their respective candidates. Hours before the campaign ended at 6 pm, major political outfits intensified their efforts to woo the voters. Bypolls to four assembly segments -- Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC) and Barnala -- will be held on November 20 from 7 am to 6 pm, and the results will be out on November 23. The bypolls were necessitated afte ...Read More >
Also Read: Indian Constitution at 75: Defending ideals amidst erosion "Today, we recall the tremendous contribution of the Constituent Assembly and its prolific members. We are forever indebted to their vision and wisdom," he said. Kharge said Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Rajendra Prasad, KM Munshi, Sarojini Naidu, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and several eminent personalities were not just revered national icons but inspiring personalities who became the torchbearers of hope for generations togeth ...Read More >
Defying pollsters, exit polls, and predictions, the BJP scored a hat trick in Haryana, albeit with a narrow lead in the recent Assembly election. It formed a government on its own sans any ally, and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini assumed office for a second consecutive term with relative ease. But the euphoria did not last long. In the first Assembly session convened after the new government took over, the opposition, led by the Congress and the electorally diminished Indian National Lok Dal, attacked the government on the issue of fertilizer shortages in the sowing season. The government d ...Read More >
The third sports facility of Super Kings Academy in the Western region of Tamil Nadu is coming up on the premises of NIFT TEA College of Knitwear Fashion in Tiruppur district. The other two are in Salem and Coimbatore. The academy in Coimbatore, located at the FE Sports Zone on the VK Road in Thaneer Pandal, was launched by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer Ambati Rayudu. The academy has partnered with Yali Sports Academy to develop the facility in Tiruppur with turf wickets, astro-turf wickets, matting wickets, and floodlights, college sources said. Besides conduct of coaching classes in ...Read More >
The IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah saw records shattered, with Indian players dominating the headlines. Arshdeep Singh broke Yuvraj Singh's nine-year-old auction record, fetching ₹18 crore, only for Shreyas Iyer to surpass it with ₹26.75 crore. Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player, bought for ₹27 crore by Lucknow Super Giants. However, Jitesh Sharma's IPL salary hike was the talk of the auction, as he secured ₹11 crore, a staggering 5500% increase from his previous ₹20 lakh. Royal Challengers Bengaluru picked him up as a wicketkeeper-batter to replace Dinesh Karthik. Other big earners inc ...Read More >