The Indian hockey teams will revert to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games following widespread backlash over a controversial shift to a saffron coloured kit.
Hockey India (HI) faced intense criticism earlier after switching its long-standing colour to saffron, which the teams sported during the FIH World Cups in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The decision triggered internal discord when HI president Dilip Tirkey publicly questioned the move, stating it was implemented without the knowledge or approval of the federation's elected leadership and Executive Board.
"IOA asked us about our preference of colour for kit, we gave blue as primary and saffron as the second one. As I had already said before the World Cup that the colour change is not permanent," Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said on the sidelines of the Asian Games contingent send-off here on Tuesday.
Another top Hockey India official added, "The kits for Asian Games, Olympics and CWG are designed 

Indian hockey team during the 2026 World Cup (PIC: PTI)

Hockey India (HI) faced intense criticism earlier after switching its long-standing colour to saffron, which the teams sported during the FIH World Cups in the Netherlands and Belgium

Press Trust of India

England will be looking to secure a 3-0 clean sweep against a depleted Pakistani side at Edgbaston

England vs Pakistan 3rd Test playing 11

Business Standard

Last year's winner Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe are among the top contenders for the men's Ballon d'Or.
The 30 men's and 30 women's nominees were revealed by France Football magazine on Tuesday, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony in London on Oct. 26.
In the women's field, two-time winner Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay are among the favorites. Aitana Bonmati, the winner of the past three awards, did not make the cut after missing most of the season through injury. She returned at the end of Barcelona's quadruple-winning season that included another Champions League title.
Dembele and Mbappe both played for France at the World Cup, where their team lost to eventual champion Spain in the semifinals. Although it's difficult to win the accolade without a major trophy, Mbappe made history when he overtook Lionel Messi for the most all-time World Cup goals (22), in fewer games.
After claiming a second straight Champions League title with Pari

Kylian Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals

Dembele and Mbappe both played for France at the World Cup, where their team lost to eventual champion Spain in the semifinals

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are off the mark in the Champions League as Real Madrid and Manchester City kicked off their campaigns with wins on Tuesday.
Mbappe gave record 15-time champion Madrid an early lead en route to 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Haaland scored both goals as 2023 winner City beat Porto 2-0.
Madrid and City are expected to be among the main challengers to back-to-back defending champion Paris Saint-Germain this season and both will be relying on their star strikers.
Mbappe's goal after 14 minutes was his 71st in European club soccer's top competition, while Haaland took his tally to 59 in 59 appearances in the Champions League.
Borussia Dortmund beat Villarreal 3-2, and Real Betis won by the same score at Lille.
Aston Villa also won 3-2 over Club Brugge and AEK Athens sealed a 1-0 win over LASK.
PSG begin their campaign on Wednesday against Slovan Bratislava.
Villa kicks off with a win
===============
Aston Villa put its dome

Erling Haaland

Mbappe gave record 15-time champion Madrid an early lead en route to 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu

Mitchell Santner calls Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ODI masters ahead of India's New Zealand tour, discusses the Test challenge and explains the two-Test format.

Mitchell Santner

The send-off ceremony featured messages from Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and IOA president PT Usha, who urged athletes to embrace the challenge and focus on delivering their best

Indian contingent at the Asian Games 2026 send-off ceremony

Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale said on Tuesday that Indian shooters now command a degree of awe from their international rivals -- a sign, he believes, that the country has truly become a world power in the sport.
The men's 50m rifle 3-positions bronze medallist at the Paris Olympics, who is not part of India's Asian Games-bound contingent for Aichi-Nagoya, said the "fear factor" had been earned through the shooters' consistent performances on the international stage.
India's 36-member shooting squad is expected to mount a strong medal challenge at the continental showpiece after an impressive year that has included podium finishes at World Cups, World Championships and the Asian Championships.
"Well, you can see for yourself (the Indian shooters' consistency). If you see (double Olympic bronze medallist pistol shooter) Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and several others in the Indian shooting contingent, you would realise why they are held in awe," Kusale said on the sidelines of an India

Swapnil Kusale, Swapnil, Kusale

Kusale, whose remarkable composure helped him beat a formidable field to win bronze in Paris, backed the Indian team to deliver in Japan, though he stopped short of predicting a medal tally

Satwik felt the China Masters win came at the perfect time after a difficult period away from competitive badminton

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Satwiksairaj, Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Chirag

At just 20, Suruchi has put together an impressive resume, with a junior world record, an ISSF World Cup Final title and multiple World Cup gold medals to her name

Suruchi Inder Singh Phogat

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided to hold two-stage trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships, giving wrestlers selected for the Asian Games a chance to also compete for a place in the World Championships team.
According to a WFI circular, wrestlers selected to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan will not be barred from participating in the Senior World Championships selection trials.
Instead, they will have the opportunity to challenge for a World Championships berth through a "final trial".
The move is particularly significant because the Asian Games are scheduled for later in September, while the Senior World Championships will be held soon afterwards in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.
First phase on September 14 and 15
========================
WFI's first round of Senior World Championships trials will be held in the six Olympic weight categories on September 14 at IG Stadium in New Delhi while trials for the men's ..

Wrestling Federation of India

According to a WFI circular, wrestlers selected to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan will not be barred from participating in the Senior World Championships selection trials

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said any decision on India's participation in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games 2027 to be held in Pakistan is guided by the recent policy of the sports ministry.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in his response to a query at his media briefing, where he was asked about some reports related to India and the SAF Games.
"Your second question about the news about India's participation in SAF Games. India's participation in any international tournament or a multilateral championship is guided by the recent policy that has been announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
"And that policy is there in public domain, so please have a look at that. There we are guided by what directions or what the international bodies, sports bodies have to say on such matters, as also the interest of our sports people," Jaiswal said.
Pakistan will host the SAF Games from April 3 to 11 across Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar next yea

Indian football team

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in his response to a query at his media briefing, where he was asked about some reports related to India and the SAF Games

Luka Modric was named by coach Slaven Bilic in the Croatia squad on Monday for the Nations League to continue his standout international career.
When Croatia plays at Czech Republic in its opening Group A game of the Nations League on Sept. 26, Modric will earn his 203rd cap at age 41. In July he signed up for one more club season with AC Milan.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has more international games (233) for Portugal and Lionel Messi who announced his retirement from international soccer with Argentina a week ago had 207.
"I did not have to persuade him," Bilic said. "He is passionate about Croatia and the national team, so this is a win-win situation."
Croatia also faces World Cup champion Spain and England in the group as England in the 2026-27 Nations League group phase that runs from September to November.
Bilic suggested Modric won't be used in all group matches.
"He will play at a pace that suits both him and us, similar to his rhythm at Milan," he said. "We have to respect t

Luka Modric

When Croatia plays at Czech Republic in its opening Group A game of the Nations League on Sept. 26, Modric will earn his 203rd cap at age 41

US coach Mauricio Pochettino vowed to change the attitude and habits of the American national team as he starts a second term, appearing to refer to star Christian Pulisic's decision to skip the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
"It was difficult to make the roster for the Gold Cup one year before because the mindset was different," Pochettino said Monday during an online question-and-answer session with reporters. "You say, 'If I play, I have not holidays. I cannot arrive fresh for the World Cup.' ... You know now that is bull----."
Pochettino said his goal "is to change this type of idea that are not right."
Pulisic, the top American player, took himself out of consideration for the 2025 Gold Cup citing the need to rest after his season with AC Milan and the hope to be fresh for the 2026 World Cup. He didn't score in four World Cup appearances this year, missing one group-stage match because of a calf injury and leaving the Americans' round of 16 loss to Belgium on July 6 after fracturing h

US coach Mauricio Pochettino during the press conference before USA vs Belgium round of 16 match. Photo: Reuters

Pulisic, the top American player, took himself out of consideration for the 2025 Gold Cup citing the need to rest after his season with AC Milan

Lazio won for the third time in a row in Serie A while Real Sociedad beat struggling Elche 3-2 in a gripping game and Getafe and Celta Vigo drew 1-1 in La Liga.
Lazio go joint topDavide Frattesi scored for the third game in succession as Lazio came from a goal behind to beat Udinese 2-1.
Frattesi got winners for Lazio in 1-0 wins over Genoa and Bologna and he slid in to convert a low cross in the 75th minute to cancel out Jesper Karlstrom's 49th minute opener.
He was replaced by Albert Gudmundsson a few minutes later and two minutes from time the Icelander bulleted home a header on his Lazio debut.
The win took Lazio joint top with nine points from three games, alongside Roma and Inter Milan. Udinese remained in 10th.
Daniel Maldini, who was on loan from Atalanta, put Cagliari a goal up when he glanced home a header from a first half corner and although the home side was on top for most of the match it could not add to the score.
Paul Mendy saw a low shot hit the base of the post

Lazio

Davide Frattesi scored for the third game in succession as Lazio came from a goal behind to beat Udinese 2-1

The medal's design extends beyond the disc itself. The ribbon incorporates the silhouette of the kakitsubata, or Japanese iris, which is the official flower of Aichi Prefecture

Asian Games 2026 medal

Born on November 2, 1975, in Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, Mairaj Ahmad Khan is an Indian skeet shooter and two-time Olympian

Mairaj Ahmad Khan

Football administrator and entrepreneur Ranjit Bajaj has moved the court seeking directions to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to immediately notify the schedule for elections to its Executive Committee and complete the process within a time-bound period.
In his writ petition, Bajaj has sought a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate direction requiring the AIFF to conduct its elections strictly in accordance with its Constitution and the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Bajaj has also sought directions for completion of the entire electoral process, including declaration of results, within a timeframe to be fixed by the court.
The petitioner has further sought an interim restraint on the present AIFF Executive Committee from taking policy decisions or decisions having long-term, financial or otherwise irreversible consequences in relation to the federation's affairs until the elections are completed.
The petition also seeks any other order that the court may deem 

Ranjit Bajaj

Bajaj has also sought directions for completion of the entire electoral process, including declaration of results, within a timeframe to be fixed by the court

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday said that the 2026-27 Indian Football League (IFL) season will commence on October 30, after meeting with representatives of all 11 participating clubs.
The meeting reviewed the 2025-26 season, noting that viewership figures and overall broadcast performance were hugely encouraging, surging to four times higher than the 2024-25 campaign.
As part of regulatory updates for the upcoming season, the Council approved a rule permitting a maximum of three foreign players on the pitch at a time during matches. The league's footprint will also expand with the inclusion of Nagaland and Odisha as new venues.
Additionally, the IFL Charter, proposed budget, and sponsorship packages for the new season came under detailed discussion.
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan described the gathering as a very cordial meeting.
"Last season, despite being a truncated campaign, the league generated a lot of interest, and the viewership figures w

Indian Football League (IFL)

As part of regulatory updates for the upcoming season, the Council approved a rule permitting a maximum of three foreign players on the pitch at a time during matches

LIV Golf is a professional men's golf league that was launched in 2022 with financial backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund

LIV Golf

The three partnerships will begin with India's home series against the West Indies and cover the Board's home international cricket commitments until March 2028

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

A report puts the 2026 event's economic impact at Rs 602.54 crore and fundraising at Rs 60.68 crore, with spending on training, nutrition, travel and running gear extending its reach.

Milind Kamble, Head of Delivery and Operations, TCS, and Shreepad Shende, Chief Marketing Officer, IDFC FIRST Bank, present the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2027 Dream Run Bib to Smt. Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sports

Milind Kamble, Head of Delivery and Operations, TCS, and Shreepad Shende, Chief Marketing Officer, IDFC FIRST Bank, present the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2027 Dream Run Bib to Smt. Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sports

Afghanistan will host India in the three-match T20I series starting September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi

The Afghanistan vs India T20I series will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi

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