Author: Raghav Singh

The Indian women’s hockey team powered into 2025, earning a silver medal at the Women’s Asia Cup. They overcame intense group stage competition and knockout rounds to establish themselves among Asia’s top teams, all while facing global challenges that sharpened their skills for future battles.

Strong Start of 2025

Following their impressive victory at the 2024 Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir—clinched with a close 1–0 win against China in the final—the Indian team began 2025 with strong confidence and a reputation as a leading team in Asia. However, maintaining that level of success consistently throughout the year proved difficult.

India’s year commenced with a five-match tour of Australia in late April, where the team gained vital international experience against the Hockeyroos. Although the Perth series yielded mixed outcomes—losing the first two matches 2–0 and 3–2, and then securing a 1–0 win thanks to Navneet Kaur’s 21st-minute goal—the tour was crucial for testing the squad against top-level opponents and providing playing time to new talents.

Asia Cup Performance

These experiences influenced India’s performances throughout the year, culminating in a resilient silver at the Asia Cup, which highlighted the team’s steady performance at the continental level. The 2024–25 FIH Hockey Pro League was challenging for the Indian Women’s Team on the global stage. Competing against top-ranked teams like Australia, Argentina, Belgium, and China, India struggled to maintain consistency. They finished last with 10 points from 16 matches, securing only two wins and suffering 11 defeats. A string of losses in their final eight games led to their relegation to the FIH Nations Cup.

India’s season concluded with a 3–2 loss to China in Berlin, exemplifying their campaign. The team displayed resilience and attacking prowess but suffered from defensive errors and missed opportunities during critical moments.

Emerging Talent and Tactical Growth

Despite the setbacks, victories such as the penalty shootout win over the Netherlands, along with several close matches and moments of brilliance from emerging players, underscored the team’s increasing tactical understanding and fitness. These experiences set a foundation for further improvement in essential areas.

The Nations Cup is viewed as a stepping stone for promotion, highlighting penalty-corner conversions and squad depth as key factors for securing a return to the Pro League in the 2026–27 cycle by winning the tournament.

Women’s Asia Cup Highlights

Despite the absence of their penalty corner specialist Deepika and veteran goalkeeper Savita, India showcased a strong performance at the Women’s Asia Cup in China. They dominated the group stages with decisive victories, ultimately reaching the final where they secured silver in a closely contested match against the host nation.

The team’s journey was marked by energetic play, precise attacks in the circle, and commendable efforts from a well-rounded squad that maintained a low number of goals conceded. This podium finish reinforced India’s steady presence in Asian competitions, positioning the team favorably for qualification routes to major events such as the World Cup and further tournaments.

Young players integrated seamlessly with veterans, gaining experience that accelerated their development under intense pressure. Lessons from close international competitions have fortified their mental resilience and set-piece skills, as showcased in their composure during the Asia Cup.

Looking Ahead

The focus now shifts to the FIH Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers, with concentrated camps emphasizing analytics, defence, and speed to elevate performances. India’s journey toward 2025 aims for continuous growth, blending Asian silverware experience with global insights for a confident 2026.

Indian tennis star Prajwal Dev has received a wild card for the Bengaluru Open 2026, underscoring the tournament’s commitment to supporting Indian talent on the global stage. Celebrating its 10th edition, this esteemed tournament will be held in Bengaluru from January 5th to 11th, 2026, featuring a competitive international lineup alongside top Indian players on the ATP Challenger Tour.

After winning the Men’s Singles title at the ITF World Tennis Tour M15 in Bhubaneswar last month, the wild card entry offers the 29-year-old a significant opportunity to compete against a highly talented field at one of India’s premier tennis events. Having been elevated last year to an ATP Challenger 125 level, the Bengaluru Open now boasts a prize purse exceeding USD 225,000 and awards 125 ATP ranking points to the singles champion, enhancing its appeal and competitive significance.

“It’s a proud moment for me to compete at the Bengaluru Open ATP Challenger, especially in my home state. This tournament has consistently provided us a world-class stage to test ourselves against formidable international competition, and this being the 10th edition is certainly special. I am extremely grateful for the wild card and support by KSLTA and I look forward to playing at the Bengaluru Open and giving my best. Thank you,” expressed Prajwal upon receiving the wild card.

Prajwal, a right-handed player from Mysore, has made his mark on the professional circuit. He achieved his highest ATP singles ranking of No. 595 in February 2024 and his peak doubles ranking of No. 265 in July 2025. His career highlights include winning an ATP Challenger doubles title at the 2023 President’s Cup in Kazakhstan, partnering with fellow Indian Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha. He has also represented Karnataka at the National Games and served as the flag bearer for the state in the past two editions.

Sunil Yajaman, the Tournament Director of the Bengaluru Open, commented, “Prajwal Dev has been a consistent and committed performer on the professional circuit and has contributed significantly to Indian tennis over the years. His dedication and hard work make him a deserving recipient of the wild card for the Bengaluru Open 2026. The tournament has always aimed to support Indian players by providing them opportunities at a high competitive level, and we are confident that Prajwal will make the most of this chance on home soil.”

Organised by the KSLTA in association with the All India Tennis Association (AITA), the landmark 10th edition of the Bengaluru Open will feature a robust international line-up alongside India’s leading players. With Dev stepping onto the court as a wild card entrant, the tournament reaffirms its role as a vital platform for Indian tennis, promising fans a week of world-class action.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Indian chess grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi for securing the bronze medal at the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship held in Doha.

Erigaisi’s achievement follows his bronze medal win at the FIDE Rapid Chess Championship, marking another proud moment for India in the global chess arena. He became the first Indian since Vishwanathan Anand in 2017 to secure two medals at a World Championship.

In a post on X, PM Modi shared, “India’s strides in chess continue! Congratulations to Arjun Erigaisi for winning the bronze at the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, following his bronze medal in the FIDE Rapid Chess Championship recently. His skills, patience, and passion are exemplary. His successes will continue to inspire our youth. My best wishes to him.”

The first day of the Open concluded with Arjun Erigaisi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Fabiano Caruana sharing the lead after 13 rounds, with Erigaisi topping the standings at 15 points. Magnus Carlsen, Caruana, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov also qualified for the knockouts.

In the semifinal, Erigaisi lost to Abdusattorov with a score of 2.5–0.5. Abdusattorov won both of the first two games. In the third game, playing as White, Erigaisi managed only a draw, eliminating the need for a fourth game.

India concluded the year-end tournament with a total of three bronze medals, with Koneru Humpy also securing third place in the Women’s Rapid Championship.

“This has been a memorable edition of the World Rapid & Blitz. We have watched five days of high tension at an exceptional level of play. The games played here in Doha will be studied by fans and future grandmasters alike, providing excellent material for the history of our sport,” said FIDE Vice President Vishwanathan Anand.

After a successful 2025 in which Indian sportspersons excelled across various global events, the year 2026 brings new challenges, with the 20th edition of the Asian Games set to take place in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

Indian athletes had a mixed experience in Olympic sports during 2025, achieving notable success in archery, boxing, wrestling, shooting, weightlifting, and hockey. The Indian men’s recurve team, comprising Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, and Atanu Das, secured a silver medal in the 2025 World Cup. While India dominated in the compound section, the women’s team and Jyothi Surekha Vennam also earned silver medals in both the compound team and individual events.

The 2025 Summer World University Games saw Indian athletes perform admirably, accumulating 12 medals, including two gold and five silver. However, the highlight of the sporting calendar, the Athletics World Championships, was disappointing for Neeraj Chopra, who finished without a medal after consistently placing in the top two at major events since 2018.

In badminton, performances were varied, with only the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty standing out amid strong competition, aside from a few junior and mid-level medals.

With the past behind them, the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games present Indian athletes a prime opportunity to showcase their potential. With two years leading up to the Los Angeles Olympics and four years until the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the competition will return to full scale, unlike the scaled-down version in Glasgow in 2026, which will feature only 10 sports.

The 2026 Asian Games will incorporate 32 core sports, largely aligned with those in the Olympic Games, alongside 11 additional sports, including five regional disciplines: Wushu, Sepak-takraw, Kabaddi, Kurash, and Jujitsu. Other entries like Dancesports, roller sports, surfing, cricket, Esports, Mixed Martial Arts, and Padel will also be included.

A total of 45 National Olympic Committees are expected to participate in the 2026 Games, with a unique arrangement for accommodation. Instead of a permanent Athletes Village, participants will stay on a cruise ship docked at Kinjo Pier. They will also be hosted in temporary villas constructed from repurposed shipping containers near the Port of Nagoya, with some accommodations provided in various hotels across the prefecture and surrounding cities. The venues will be spread across different locations in Aichi and Nagoya, while swimming and equestrian events will take place in Tokyo.

The 2026 Asian Games offers a significant opportunity for India, currently the fifth most successful nation in the Continental Games, with a tally of 183 gold, 238 silver, and 357 bronze medals, amounting to 778.

India enters the 20th edition of the Asian Games following its best-ever performance at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where it secured 108 medals—28 gold, 38 silver, and 40 bronze.

This sets up a challenge for the athletes to demonstrate that the substantial investment in their training over the past years was worthwhile. A strong performance and a rich medal haul would underscore the progression and growth of Indian sports, as evidenced by medal counts in recent Asian Games.

Moreover, success at the Asian Games will contribute to a positive buildup towards the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 and the Commonwealth Games in 2030, likely to be hosted in Ahmedabad, as shortlisted by the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board.

A successful outing at the Asian Games will further bolster India’s bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. With everything at stake, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games present an ideal platform for India to shine.

Former Aussie batter Damien Martyn is in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis. The 54-year-old, who played 67 Test matches between 1992 and 2006, reportedly fell ill on Friday and was rushed to the hospital.

Adam Gilchrist, Martyn’s close friend and former Australian and WA teammate, confirmed on behalf of his family that the 2003 World Cup winner is receiving treatment. “He is getting the best of treatment and (Martyn’s partner) Amanda and his family know that a lot of people are sending their prayers and best wishes,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Meningitis is an inflammation of protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, and infection can cause harmful brain swelling. Martyn’s condition is currently being closely monitored. The Sydney Morning Herald reported it is hoped Martyn could be brought out of his coma in the coming days.

“I’m saddened to hear of Damien’s illness. The best wishes of everyone at Cricket Australia and in the wider cricket community are with him at this time,” said Todd Greenberg, the governing body’s CEO, in a statement.

Martyn was the player of the series the last time Australia won an away series in India, top scoring in four of Australia’s eight innings during the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He played his final Test in Australia’s famous win at Adelaide Oval in the 2006-07 Ashes series before suddenly retiring ahead of the third Test of a 5-0 whitewash over England. Throughout his career, he scored 4,406 Test runs at an average of 46.37.

In addition, Martyn played 208 ODIs, scoring 5,346 runs at an average of 40.90, with a highest score of 144 not out. He made a famous 88 not out in the 2003 World Cup final, batting with a broken finger and sharing an epic partnership with captain Ricky Ponting as Australia defeated India.

Chelsea and AFC Bournemouth played out an enthralling 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, with all four goals scored within the opening 27 minutes.

A draw meant Chelsea missed the chance to leapfrog Liverpool into fourth place, while Bournemouth remained 15th as their winless league run extended to 10 matches, despite an impressive performance. This was the Cherries’ fourth draw in their last five matches.

Quick Fire First Half

The action unfolded quickly during a first half played at a furious pace, with plenty of chances at both ends of the pitch. The visitors struck first when David Brooks scrambled a goal in at the second attempt from a long throw-in. Chelsea soon leveled the score when Estevao Willian was clipped in the box by Antoine Semenyo, allowing Cole Palmer to slot in from the penalty spot.

Chelsea then took the lead when Enzo Fernandez fired a brilliant finish into the top corner, only for parity to be restored by Justin Kluivert from another Bournemouth long throw into the area.

Second Half Stalemate

In the second half, it was Chelsea who pushed hardest for a winning goal, as the Cherries seemed to run out of gas after their early exertions. However, despite their efforts, no further goals were scored, and the points were shared.

Contenders Clash

In another match, James Garner scored one and set up another as a depleted Everton side defied the odds to beat Nottingham Forest 2-0. Garner, who previously spent time on loan at Forest, struck with an early opener before turning provider in the 79th minute, assisting Thierno Barry for his second Everton goal.

Forest toiled in vain, with Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Dilane Bakwa coming close, but Sean Dyche’s team has now lost three straight Premier League games and sits just four points above the relegation zone.

While Forest remains 17th, Everton has moved up to eighth after snapping a three-game winless streak.

Arsenal finished the year at the top of the Premier League table, delivering an impressive second-half display to defeat third-placed Aston Villa 4-1.

This victory marked the Gunners’ fourth consecutive win, halting Villa’s 11-match winning streak across all competitions. The Villains showcased enough promise in the first half to hint at a potential club-record 12th straight win, but Arsenal turned up the heat after the break to seize control of the match.

Gabriel Magalhaes, making his first start since early November, capitalized on a goalkeeping error by Emiliano Martinez to score just three minutes into the second half. Martin Zubimendi followed suit in the 52nd minute, before Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus added stunning curling goals.

Ollie Watkins found a stoppage-time consolation for Villa, who now trail Arsenal by six points. Manchester City, currently in second place, could narrow the gap to two points when they visit Sunderland on New Year’s Day.

In another match, West Ham United ended a streak of three losses with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion. Although Nuno Espirito Santo’s side cut the gap to 17th-placed Nottingham Forest to four points, they were denied a win as Brighton equalized twice in a dramatic encounter.

Jarrod Bowen gave West Ham a 10th-minute lead, but Danny Welbeck equalized with a well-taken penalty soon after. Moments later, Welbeck had another penalty attempt that hit the crossbar. However, Lucas Paqueta converted a third penalty of the match in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Lewis Dunk was penalized for handball.

Yet, an error by Areola from a corner allowed Joel Veltman to score the equalizer for Brighton. The draw leaves West Ham in the relegation zone, sitting in 18th place, while Brighton drops to 14th after failing to secure a win in any of their December matches.

Wolverhampton Wanderers ended their 11-match losing streak in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

Ladislav Krejci’s goal canceled out Joshua Zirkzee’s opener, allowing the league’s bottom team to leave Old Trafford with a well-deserved point. Zirkzee scored his first home goal in the top flight in over a year, finding the net after 27 minutes with a deflected strike that went in courtesy of Krejci.

However, Krejci redeemed himself with a fine header just before half-time, helping Rob Edwards’ side to avoid a twelfth consecutive defeat, according to Premier League reports. Manchester United had a last-minute strike from Patrick Dorgu ruled out for offside and ended 2025 in sixth place, missing the chance to level on points with Liverpool in fourth. Wolves remain at the bottom of the table with just three points this season.

In another match, Newcastle United capped off 2025 positively, returning to winning form in the Premier League and inflicting a 3-1 defeat on Burnley at Turf Moor.

Joelinton’s quick goal was followed by Yoane Wissa, who scored his first top-flight goal for Newcastle on his first league start. Josh Laurent managed to halve the deficit with a well-placed volley in the 23rd minute. Despite pushing for an equalizer and hitting the woodwork, Laurent’s efforts were in vain as Bruno Guimaraes capitalized on a mistake from Martin Dubravka to secure all three points in the third minute of stoppage time.

The defeat leaves Burnley in 19th place, six points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, while Newcastle’s second away win this season elevated them to 10th.

After the match, Newcastle coach Eddie Howe remarked, “We needed to win because we knew we were under pressure. I thought the lads responded really well, it was a really fast start. We scored some really good goals and then, us being us at this present time, we made it difficult for ourselves. The second half was nervy to a point. But overall I thought we showed real character and resilience in the second half to get over the line.”

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur praised her teammates’ efforts and urged them to make winning a habit after the hosts completed a clean sweep against Sri Lanka, winning the fifth and final T20I by 15 runs.

Kaur, named Player of the Match for her impressive 68 off 43 deliveries, is optimistic about her team maintaining this momentum all the way to the T20 World Cup title. The 5-0 victory also marked India Women’s third clean sweep in a bilateral T20I series, following similar results against the West Indies in 2019 and Bangladesh in 2024.

Earlier in 2024, India clinched the ODI World Cup title by defeating South Africa in the final, marking their first triumph in the tournament.

“Yeah, I mean, 2025 has been really great for us. For all the hard work we have done, this year we have got the credit. Now, it is all about repeating the good habits we’ve been on, keeping winning the way we have done this year,” said Harmanpreet Kaur.

“One thing is that we have played a lot of T20 cricket together. It was about believing in ourselves that we can do that. Everyone was positive when Sir (Amol Muzumdar) spoke about the strike rates, lifting our standards. Everyone was happy, and we wanted to set those standards. Going forward, we want to look at this series and think of what we can do ahead.”

With key batters Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues absent, Kaur stepped up, scoring 68 runs when the team was struggling at 77 for 5, forming a crucial 61-run partnership with Amanjot Kaur to help the team reach a competitive total. Her innings included nine boundaries and a six.

“As a batter, it’s my responsibility to give strength to that order and contribute. Shifting to T20 from ODIs wasn’t easy, but everyone was excited to play. We fought for this and are happy with how all things came together. We wanted everyone to be available and play in this series,” said Harmanpreet.

Looking ahead, Kaur has her eyes set on the forthcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, starting from January 9, and she aims to replicate the success of the ODI World Cup.

“Next is WPL, which is important for all of us. Hopefully, we play our best cricket and enjoy ourselves over there. The next six months are important; we want to keep working hard and raising the bar for all of us. Hopefully, the way things have worked for us in ODIs, we want the same things working for us in the T20s.”

India all-rounder Deepti Sharma made history by becoming the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20 Internationals, claiming her 152nd wicket during the fifth T20I against Sri Lanka. This match took place in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

Historic Milestone

Deepti surpassed Australia’s Megan Schutt, who previously held the record with 151 wickets, by dismissing Nilakshika Silva in the 14th over. Her achievement contributed to India’s comprehensive 5–0 series sweep at home. Pakistan’s Nida Dar is in third place with 144 wickets from 152 innings.

Top Indian Bowlers

With 103 wickets in 86 innings, Radha Yadav is the second-best Indian bowler on the T20I wicket-takers list. Deepti and Radha are the only Indian bowlers to have taken more than 100 T20I wickets.

Recent Achievements

Earlier this week, the 28-year-old also became the first cricketer, male or female, to record 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in T20 Internationals. Currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC Women’s T20I all-rounder rankings, Deepti has played 133 T20Is for India and was named player of the tournament at the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, where India secured their maiden title on home soil.

Match Highlights

In the final match, India defended a total of 175 runs, winning by 15 runs to clinch the series 5-0. Deepti finished the match with figures of one for 28 from four overs. Beyond her T20I successes, she has also taken 20 wickets in Tests and 162 in ODIs.

Auction Success

Deepti emerged as one of the top draws at the Women’s Premier League auction, re-joining UP Warriorz for Rs 3.2 crore, marking the second-highest bid in league history.

Rankings Update

Deepti Sharma remains the top T20I bowler, while Hayley Matthews from the West Indies holds a strong lead among T20I all-rounders. For Sri Lanka, left-handed opener Hasini Perera has climbed 114 places to 71st in the batter rankings following impressive performances in the series, and Kavisha Dilhari has made a modest jump to reach 79th.

As India aimed for a whitewash with a commanding 4-0 lead in the five-match series, the rankings reflect their dominance, showcasing rising performances from both batters and bowlers.