Rediff

Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri is participating in the FIFA Player Impact Programme, an initiative designed to empower footballers to drive positive social change. Chhetri, the first male participant, aims to apply lessons learned to address causes like education, mental health, and equitable access to sport, with participants set to present their projects in December.

World Athletics has raised LA 2028 Olympic entry standards across athletics events, making qualification tougher while increasing reliance on world rankings from 50 percent at Paris to 60 percent.

Sachin Baisoya is set to face Gaganjeet Bhullar again at the Phoenix Invitational 2026 in Hyderabad, seeking redemption after losing to Bhullar in a play-off at the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational. The tournament also features Baisoya's Phoenix Hyderabad teammates and an innovative X-golf competition.

Chennai is on the verge of being confirmed as the host city for the 2029 Asian Athletics Championships, pending the submission of state government guarantees. This decision was made during the Asian Athletics Association council meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday, marking India's third time hosting the event.

Indian boxer Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei has secured a medal for the country at the Youth Olympic Games by advancing to the semifinals of the men's 50kg category after defeating Abraham Kalenga of Namibia. He will compete in the semifinal on Wednesday.

Jannik Sinner targets an Australian Open return after a knee injury layoff but insists on following recovery protocols without rushing, while welcoming Magnus Norman into his coaching team.

The India U17 football team is set to commence its AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group E campaign against Singapore on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, aiming for consecutive appearances in the continental tournament. The team, under new coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo, has undergone extensive preparation, including friendly matches in Myanmar and UAE.

Jaypal Malviya, a 31-year-old farmer and idol-maker from Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, has become the first Indian shooter to secure an Olympic quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. His journey is remarkable, starting from a casual interest in shooting at village fairs to winning a silver medal at the ISSF World Championships in Doha with a second-hand pistol. Despite financial challenges and a lack of formal coaching, Malviya's dedication has led him to this significant achievement, though his pl

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Anuj Shrivatri on becoming India's 100th Grandmaster, highlighting the country's exceptional achievement in chess. Shrivatri secured the title after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines on Sunday, marking a significant milestone for Indian chess.

France captain Kylian Mbappe had put a difficult period behind him and is focused on helping his team ahead of Nations League fixtures against Italy and Turkey, defender Ibrahima Konate said.

Defending champions India need only a draw against Maldives in their final group match of the SAFF Championships on Wednesday to secure a spot in the semifinals. Despite using a second-string squad, India aims for a comprehensive victory and improvement in team coordination, following their opening win against Pakistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Anuj Shrivatri on becoming India's 100th chess Grandmaster, hailing it as a significant milestone that showcases the nation's burgeoning talent and the sport's increasing appeal among young people.

Esha Singh led India to a gold medal in the women's 25m pistol team event at the ISSF World Championships in Doha.

The Indian women's hockey squad for the Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal has been announced, featuring significant changes including the resting of veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia, who is replaced by Bansari Solanki. Head coach Sjoerd Marijne has also shuffled player roles, with Salima Tete continuing as captain for the tournament, which begins on November 19. India, as defending champions, will face Malaysia in their opening match.

Team Spain White, led by Ismael Fahssi, secured the Cup of Nations title at the global simulator racing championship in Mumbai. They won all four races in the Grand Final, outperforming Team Netherlands Red and Team Hungary Red in a competition featuring 40 top sim racing drivers.

Indian women's doubles pair Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, along with men's doubles pair Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun, advanced to the next round of the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 badminton tournament. However, the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Radhika Sharma exited in the qualifying round.

The Indian men's national football team, known as the Blue Tigers, has arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, for two international friendly matches. This marks their first visit to the country. Head coach Khalid Jamil expressed the team's readiness and appealed to the Indian community for support, highlighting the challenge of playing away from home against a strong opponent.

World number two Aryna Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva both secured victories in their opening matches at the WTA Finals. Sabalenka battled past Karolina Muchova in a tough two-set encounter, while Andreeva delivered a dominant performance against Elina Svitolina, winning in straight sets.

Lionel Messi earned a record-extending 18th FIFPRO Men's World 11 selection, while Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane was surprisingly omitted despite a prolific season for Bayern Munich and England.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced the electoral college for its executive council elections on December 5. Thirty National Sports Federations (NSFs) will nominate two representatives each, forming a significant portion of the 71 total voters. Notably, the national governing body for boxing, along with the Table Tennis Federation of India and the Indian Golf Union, have been excluded from participating in the polls. The notification also outlines the eligibility criteria for the

Indian badminton sensation Tanvi Patri, 15, is focused on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, despite battling multiple injuries. Fresh from a Youth Olympics silver, she also aims for Asian and World Junior Championships titles and a top-30 world ranking, drawing inspiration from her Chinese training roots and badminton idols.

Police in Faridabad have arrested a mother and daughter who allegedly used a dating app to lure financially well-off individuals, drug them, commit theft, and then extort money by threatening false rape charges. The duo reportedly operated in Andaman, Surat, and Delhi-NCR regions as well.

Indian chess grandmasters R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Vaishali are set to compete in the Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot in Budapest, facing top players including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. The tournament features a unique format combining Fast Classic, rapid, and blitz games to identify the most complete player, serving as a test run for a full global season.

PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, failed to secure a spot as a Sportsperson of Merit (SOM) in a recent controversial election, while Saina Nehwal and other prominent athletes were elected. This outcome impacts Usha's eligibility for the upcoming IOA Executive Council polls on December 5, as complaints of alleged Model Code of Conduct violations have also surfaced.

The Tennis Premier League (TPL) is launching a grassroots initiative to support 36 promising junior players with scholarships worth Rs 75,000 each. This programme also offers two under-14 champions a chance to attend the 2027 Australian Open. The initiative includes regional Race to Gold Masters events in November and is supported by Kia India.

A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death and his mother seriously injured in Bhopal following a dispute over bursting firecrackers on Diwali night. Police have registered a murder case and detained suspects in connection with the incident.

Two brothers in Odisha's Ganjam district have been arrested for allegedly murdering an 80-year-old man whom they suspected of practising witchcraft against their family. The incident occurred on November 4 in Badangi village.

Indian men's hockey chief coach Craig Fulton emphasizes continental dominance as a crucial step towards global success, despite the team's disappointing World Cup record. Under his leadership since May 2023, India has secured back-to-back Asian Games gold medals and three successive Asian Champions Trophy titles, laying a strong foundation. Fulton aims to leverage early qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to systematically plan and expose younger players to international competition,

India's Gatha Khadake advanced to the women's individual recurve quarterfinals at the Youth Olympics, defeating Bulgaria's Neda Kendarova 6-0. She will compete in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final later on Monday.

11-year-old Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir made an impressive debut at the FIA Karting World Championship in La Conca, Italy. Despite a qualifying setback that placed her 83rd, she showcased exceptional overtaking skills, gaining 16 places in Race 1 to finish sixth and an overall 43 places throughout the weekend, ranking 40th out of 87 drivers.

Badminton star PV Sindhu celebrated Diwali with cricketer Hardik Pandya and his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma, sharing a festive photograph on Instagram.

Magda Linette, winner of the Chennai Open singles title, supported the decision to postpone Sunday's final due to unhealthy air quality caused by firecracker pollution. She emphasised the health risks for players, ball kids, and spectators. While glad for the postponement, Linette suggested organisers could plan better for festive periods. Her victory marked her first title in over two years, ending a difficult run and boosting her confidence for upcoming tournaments.

A stadium accident disrupted Norway's fiercest football rivalry as several Bodo/Glimt fans fell through the away stand, leaving one supporter with fractured ribs before Bodo secured a 2-0 victory.

Anuj Shrivatri became India's 100th Grandmaster and Madhya Pradesh's first after winning the ASEAN Plus Championship, earning congratulations from Viswanathan Anand, who hailed the milestone as a 'cracker of a 100'.

Indian shuttlers, including Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Malvika Bansod, and the doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, are set to compete at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500. Lakshya Sen aims to secure a spot in the BWF World Tour Finals, currently ranking 10th, while Satwik and Chirag seek to regain form after recent exits, also eyeing qualification for the season-ending tournament.

The eighth Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Hyderabad from December 11, featuring 27 competitive sports and a sailing demonstration. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the details, highlighting the inclusion of softball as a competitive sport and rowing replacing rugby. The event aims to promote a wider range of sports, aligning with PM Modi's vision for Olympic participation.

The article explores the growing fascination with American football among Indian Americans, from first to third generations. It highlights how immigrants, initially unfamiliar with the sport, are embracing its strategic depth and social aspects, drawing parallels to cricket's popularity in India. The piece features personal anecdotes, explains the sport's structure, and touches upon its cultural significance and economic scale.

President Donald Trump says he was joking when he suggested UFC CEO Dana White could become White House press secretary. His social media post had also proposed bringing UFC fighters on board as assistants to help defend his administration against the political left.

Coco Gauff defeated compatriot Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 in a hard-fought match on the opening day of the WTA Finals at Indian Wells, showcasing superb versatility in the round-robin clash.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team has clinched their ninth constructors' world championship at the wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where McLaren's Lando Norris secured his second consecutive win from pole position. This victory marks Mercedes' first team crown since 2021, complementing Kimi Antonelli's recent drivers' championship.

Manchester United, despite being in the Premier League relegation zone, salvaged a chaotic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa, scoring twice in stoppage time. This dramatic comeback, following a similar midweek Champions League recovery, showcased the team's fighting spirit under manager Michael Carrick, even as they remain 18th in the league.

Indian sprinter Shourya Ambure secured a historic bronze medal in the women's 100m hurdles at the Youth Olympics in Dakar, clocking a personal best of 13.59 seconds. The 17-year-old from Maharashtra was India's sole track and field representative at the Games and has now won multiple international medals.

Liverpool ended a two-match losing streak with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace, thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak. The result pushes Crystal Palace to the bottom of the Premier League table, intensifying pressure on manager Pierre Sage.

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-5 to win the Paris Masters, securing his ninth ATP 1000 title and avenging his US Open quarter-final loss to the American.

Brighton and Hove Albion have climbed to second in the Premier League table after a convincing 2-0 home victory against 10-man Brentford. Goals from Diego Gomez and Pascal Gross secured the win, marking the club's best-ever start to a top-flight season.

International Master Anuj Shrivatri from Madhya Pradesh has become India's 100th Grandmaster in chess after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Sinacaban, Philippines, on Sunday. The 22-year-old achieved this milestone by scoring seven out of eight points.

A significant rift has emerged between foreign rifle coach Thomas Farnik and national coach Deepali Deshpande following India's poor performance in air rifle events at the ISSF World Championship in Doha. Farnik reportedly feels sidelined by the domestic coaching staff, leading to friction and a heated exchange where both coaches blamed each other for the team's disappointing results.

German football club FC Bayern Munich has partnered with Indian artist Abhay Sehgal to create a unique, non-commercial Diwali-themed jersey, blending traditional Indian craftsmanship with football to celebrate the festival of lights and the dreams of young footballers.

Spanish golfer Ana Pelaez Trevino secured her second Ladies European Tour victory at the 2026 Aramco China Championship, firing a flawless final round of 64 which included a spectacular hole-in-one. Indian golfer Pranavi Urs finished the week at Par, recording rounds of 73-72-73-74.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha has filed a complaint against former archer Dola Banerjee, alleging a violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections. Usha's complaint centres on a WhatsApp message circulated by Banerjee, which she claims solicited votes for a specific panel, breaching election rules.