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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
We won't stop Pakistan hockey teams from travelling to India for the Asia Cup: Sports Ministry
Pakistan hockey teams have got the Indian government's clearance to travel for the men's Asia Cup in August and the Junior World Cup in November-December, a sports ministry source confirmed. The men's Asia Cup will be held in Rajgir, Bihar, next month while the Junior World Cup will be held in Chennai and Madurai in November-December. After Operation Sindoor and cross-border tension between the two neighbours, uncertainty loomed over the participation of Pakistan in the tournament hosted by India. 'While India won't be involved in the bilateral engagement with Pakistan, we won't be stopping them from participating in the multi-national tournaments India is hosting,' the source said. 'Stopping any nation from participating in international tournaments due to border conflicts violates the Olympic charter, and it is not a good representation of India. For instance, Russia and Ukraine are at war, but they show up at multi-national events and compete as well. We are just following the standard norm,' the source added. The violation of the Olympic Charter, by blocking any rival nation's participation, can hamper India's chances of hosting future tournaments. India is aiming to become hosts of the 2036 Olympic Games. However, in cricket, India and Pakistan don't play bilateral series and at International Cricket Council events hosted by one of the two countries, the teams play each other at a neutral venue. In the junior World Cup, Pakistan and India are in the same pool. The Men's Asia Cup also serves as a 2026 Hockey World Cup qualifier. The ministry's decision also clears the deck for Pakistan's participation in the junior World Cup of shooting, scheduled in Delhi in September, and the World Para-Athletics Championships, also in the national capital in September-October. The ministry has decided to add the Khelo India Water Sports Festival to the Khelo India Umbrella. The event will be held in Dal Lake with five events — Canoeing and Kayaking, Rowing, Water Skiing, Dragon Boat race and Shikara race. The open-age competition is expected to see 400-plus athletes from the 36 states and Union Territories in action. The nomination of athletes will be made by the National Sports Federation based on the results of their national championships or other suitable events, or as decided by the Games Technical Conduct Committee on a merit basis.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Tennis news: Sports Authority of India cracks the whip, orders tennis players to prioritise nation or lose funding
Sumit Nagal and Mukund Sasikumar are among the list of Indian's who have made themselves unavailable for certain ties (Image via X/@poznanopen) Sumit Nagal of India at the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park (Image via) Sumit Nagal and Mukund Sasikumar are among the list of Indian's who have made themselves unavailable for certain ties (Image via X/@poznanopen) Sumit Nagal of India at the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park (Image via) Sumit Nagal and Mukund Sasikumar are among the list of Indian's who have made themselves unavailable for certain ties (Image via X/@poznanopen) 1 2 The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has issued a directive emphasizing that tennis players receiving financial assistance through various government support schemes must prioritise representing the nation. According to the order, players who refuse to play for India without valid justification will face recovery of the funds granted to them. The order specifically targets athletes selected under the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), which was launched earlier this year to boost India's medal prospects at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Players benefiting from TAGG, as well as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the National Sports Federation (NSF) support, are required to submit a written undertaking confirming their commitment to represent India in prestigious international events such as the Billie Jean King Cup, Davis Cup, Asian Games, and Olympics. 'The above tennis competitions hold significant national pride. Therefore, it is important that all players benefiting from the support, provided under these schemes prioritise representing India if selected by the All India Tennis Association (AITA),' the SAI order stated. It further warns that any player who declines selection without valid reasons will have to repay the financial assistance received so far. This move comes amid several instances in recent years where top Indian players have opted out of Davis Cup ties. Notably, Sumit Nagal skipped matches against Pakistan, Sweden, and Togo, while Sasikumar Mukund and Yuki Bhambri also made themselves unavailable for certain ties. The SAI's order appears aimed at holding players accountable and ensuring stronger national team participation. Poll Do you agree with the SAI's directive that players receiving government support should prioritize representing India? Strongly Agree Disagree Among those included in TAGG are prominent names like Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, N Sriram Balaji, Saketh Myneni, and Rithvik Bollipalli on the men's side. The women's list features top-ranked players such as Shrivali Bhamidipati, Sahaja Yamlapalli, Vaidehi Chaudhary, Rutuja Bhosale, and young talent Maaya Rajeshwaran. IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant opens up on chemistry with Shubman Gill and England challenge India's Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal welcomed the directive, telling PTI, 'The government wanted the players to be accountable and there is nothing wrong in it. The government has added players names for support but it also wants them to be available for national duty when required.' Billie Jean King Cup skipper Vishal Uppal echoed this sentiment, calling it 'an excellent move.' He added, 'Representing India, our great nation is the biggest honour and should be non negotiable specially if you receive government support. ' The SAI's order reflects a broader effort to ensure that financial aid translates into national pride and commitment, reinforcing the importance of representing India on the international stage. This approach aims to strengthen India's tennis teams and encourage players to honour their responsibilities as beneficiaries of government support. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
India's icy indifference to winter sport frustrates trailblazer Keshavan
NEW DELHI - Twenty seven years since his Winter Olympics debut with a borrowed sled in Nagano, Shiva Keshavan cannot help feeling that the more things change, the more they remain the same. The former luger knows what it feels to be the only Indian in an Olympic Village - he was a one-man team in the first two of his six appearances at the Winter Games. Likewise, Alpine skier Arif Mohammad Khan was the only Indian at the 2022 Beijing Games in Beijing and could be again next year in Milan-Cortina, Italy. "Fundamentally, nothing has changed," Keshavan told Reuters from Italy, the birthplace of his mother. "Fundamentally, we are still struggling to get off the starting blocks. "Right now, (winter sport) athletes are coming up despite the system, not because of the system." The system is largely on paper. India has only a handful of ski resorts, three indoor ice rinks, one certified Alpine slope, and no culture of winter sports. "You cannot practise in a pond and hope to win an Olympic medal in swimming," Ice Hockey Association of India secretary general Harjinder Singh told Reuters. There are also luge and ski federations but none enjoy the National Sports Federation (NSF) status that would entitle them to regular government funds because not enough states participate in their sports. Keshavan often competed with borrowed sleds and hand-me-down jackets. He had to crowdfund some of his Olympic trips and had thousands of names of donors etched on his suit at the 2014 Sochi Games. The cricket-mad nation has warmed up to the Summer Olympics and is even preparing a bid for the 2036 Games but winter sports continue to languish outside public consciousness. "We are missing some very basic steps," Keshavan said. "There's no official recognition of any single winter sport and unless that changes, nothing will change." Despite being one of the world's most populous nations, it took India four decades to send their first athlete to the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck in 1964. Alpine skier Jeremy Bujakowski, who was born to Polish parents in Lithuania before moving to India, failed to finish either of his events and was 53rd and 65th when he returned to the Olympics in 1968, again alone. NO MEDAL It was to be another two decades until India was again represented with the first woman, Shailaja Kumar, among the three alpine skiers at the 1988 Games in Calgary. Keshavan made his debut at the 1998 Games and was part of the record contingent of four athletes that went to the 2006 Turin Games. In all, there have been 16 Winter Olympians from India. None has won a medal. Reuters reached out to several Indian Olympic Association officials, including president PT Usha, but none was available to comment. "Obviously, the scope for winter sports is limited to certain areas but the population of those areas will outnumber many European nations," Keshavan, 43, said. The buzz around India's 2036 Olympic bid makes him optimistic that the prevailing frost of apathy towards winter sports may have started thawing. "The world knows that India is a sleeping giant in sports," he said. "It's only now that we've really started talking in bigger terms. It's only now that we've started talking about hosting Olympics. "People now beginning to realise it's not just about winning medals, it's about creating a healthy nation." Ice hockey chief Singh is hoping a new sports bill, currently being prepared by the government, would tweak rules and grant the NSF status to the IHAI and other winter sport federations. "I was asked to give my suggestions. Hopefully something good will come out of this new bill," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
06-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
India's icy indifference to winter sport frustrates trailblazer Keshavan
NEW DELHI :Twenty seven years since his Winter Olympics debut with a borrowed sled in Nagano, Shiva Keshavan cannot help feeling that the more things change, the more they remain the same. The former luger knows what it feels to be the only Indian in an Olympic Village - he was a one-man team in the first two of his six appearances at the Winter Games. Likewise, Alpine skier Arif Mohammad Khan was the only Indian at the 2022 Beijing Games in Beijing and could be again next year in Milan-Cortina, Italy. "Fundamentally, nothing has changed," Keshavan told Reuters from Italy, the birthplace of his mother. "Fundamentally, we are still struggling to get off the starting blocks. "Right now, (winter sport) athletes are coming up despite the system, not because of the system." The system is largely on paper. India has only a handful of ski resorts, three indoor ice rinks, one certified Alpine slope, and no culture of winter sports. "You cannot practise in a pond and hope to win an Olympic medal in swimming," Ice Hockey Association of India secretary general Harjinder Singh told Reuters. There are also luge and ski federations but none enjoy the National Sports Federation (NSF) status that would entitle them to regular government funds because not enough states participate in their sports. Keshavan often competed with borrowed sleds and hand-me-down jackets. He had to crowdfund some of his Olympic trips and had thousands of names of donors etched on his suit at the 2014 Sochi Games. The cricket-mad nation has warmed up to the Summer Olympics and is even preparing a bid for the 2036 Games but winter sports continue to languish outside public consciousness. "We are missing some very basic steps," Keshavan said. "There's no official recognition of any single winter sport and unless that changes, nothing will change." Despite being one of the world's most populous nations, it took India four decades to send their first athlete to the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck in 1964. Alpine skier Jeremy Bujakowski, who was born to Polish parents in Lithuania before moving to India, failed to finish either of his events and was 53rd and 65th when he returned to the Olympics in 1968, again alone. NO MEDAL It was to be another two decades until India was again represented with the first woman, Shailaja Kumar, among the three alpine skiers at the 1988 Games in Calgary. Keshavan made his debut at the 1998 Games and was part of the record contingent of four athletes that went to the 2006 Turin Games. In all, there have been 16 Winter Olympians from India. None has won a medal. Reuters reached out to several Indian Olympic Association officials, including president PT Usha, but none was available to comment. "Obviously, the scope for winter sports is limited to certain areas but the population of those areas will outnumber many European nations," Keshavan, 43, said. The buzz around India's 2036 Olympic bid makes him optimistic that the prevailing frost of apathy towards winter sports may have started thawing. "The world knows that India is a sleeping giant in sports," he said. "It's only now that we've really started talking in bigger terms. It's only now that we've started talking about hosting Olympics. "People now beginning to realise it's not just about winning medals, it's about creating a healthy nation." Ice hockey chief Singh is hoping a new sports bill, currently being prepared by the government, would tweak rules and grant the NSF status to the IHAI and other winter sport federations.
