The last time the Indian men’s hockey team faced China, it won by a solitary goal. That Asian Champions Trophy final last year was played soon after the Paris Olympics and more than half of the Indian side comprised youngsters trying to impress the coach in a new cycle. On Friday, it will be a…
The Asia Cup, while being important as a qualifying event for the World Cup, is also crucial for teams to prepare their programmes for the next 18 months, and India coach Craig Fulton admits that winning here would ease a lot of pressure on the side. “Of course, if we qualify from here, we already…
FIH Pro League 2025-26 season is set to feature two fixtures between arch-rivals India and Pakistan as the latter has accepted the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) invitation to replace New Zealand. New Zealand had qualified for the next season of the Pro League after beating Pakistan in the final of the FIH Nations Cup earlier…
PARA-ATHLETICS Team India jersey for World Para Athletics Championships unveiled in New Delhi With one month to go for the World Para Athletics Championships, the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) unveiled the official Team India jersey at a ceremony held at The Lalit, New Delhi, on Wednesday. The announcement also highlighted the 73-strong Indian contingent…
A tattoo etched on his torso reads: “For those I love, I will sacrifice.” A single glance at Suraj Karkera’s career shows this is more than a motto. It is the very essence of the national hockey goalkeeper. After eight years of battling on the fringes, he has finally secured his place in the Indian…
As India’s men’s hockey team gears up for the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, all eyes are on one man: skipper Harmanpreet Singh. After a year plagued by injuries, the upcoming tournament will be the ultimate test of his physical resilience. The last 12 months have been a difficult period for the team’s talisman, who’s…
The Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh men’s hockey teams landed here on Wednesday, completing the eight-team lineup for the upcoming Hero Asia Cup with the players exuding confidence of competitive performances in the continental showpiece event. The event is set to commence on Friday with three-time winner India and defending champion South Korea likely favourites to…
The Indian men’s hockey team stumbled in its first attempt to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, dropping to seventh in the world after a dismal European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25. One win from eight matches and a record seven-game losing streak — the longest in India’s history — turned…
My first meeting with Doc was in 1981, on the eve of the Calcutta (now Kolkata) match during the India-Pakistan Test series. He had come over to our team hotel with his little son to wish us the best. In the middle of our banter and conversation, Doc realised he had to visit some of…
WRESTLING Kajal crowner under-20 World Champion in 72 kg category Showing superb consistency through age groups, Kajal, a World under-17 champion in 69kg last year and a silver medallist in 73kg last month, defeated China’s Yuqi Liu 8-6 in a hard-fought summit clash to emerge as the 72kg champion at the World under-20 wrestling championships…
