As India celebrates its 14th National Sports Day, it recognizes the incredible contributions of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. Born to a soldier in the British Indian Army, Chand's skill and passion for hockey helped put India on the global sporting map. Despite not receiving the highest civilian honor of Bharat Ratna, Chand's legacy continues to inspire future generations and he remains one of the greatest sportspersons to emerge from India. Through anecdotes of his barefoot playing, rejected offers of citizenship, and even accusations of using a magnet in his stick, Chand's celebrated career leaves a lasting impression on Indian hockey.
Indian badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay, kabaddi star Pardeep Narwal, and Rajasthan Royals player Vaibhav Suryavanshi will come together to launch Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League on National Sports Day. The event celebrates India's indigenous sport and honors the country's sporting legacy. The new season will also feature exciting new competitive formats, including a 'play-in' stage between the league and playoffs. Pro Kabaddi League kicks off on National Sports Day On the occasion of National Sports Day, sporting legends from various disciplines will come together to launch the 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League. The event celebrates India's indigenous sport and will feature top players such as Pullela Gopichand, Dhanraj Pillay, and Pardeep Narwal. The new season will also introduce new competitive formats to ensure every match produces a result. Fans can catch all the action live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
Top Indian shuttler PV Sindhu's aspiration for a historic sixth World Championships medal was shattered as she suffered a close defeat against Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani in three intense games on Day 5 of BWF World Championships. With her masterful performance, Wardani outshone Sindhu's excellent net game, ultimately sealing the match in 64 minutes. Later on in the day, the Indian men's doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also secured a quarterfinal spot, ending their previous four defeats against China. Although disappointed, Sindhu's contribution to making badminton exciting and her never-give-up spirit has not gone unnoticed.
Despite his immense contribution to Indian sports, Major Dhyan Chand, often referred to as the ‘Hockey Wizard’, continues to be denied the country’s highest civilian honour - the Bharat Ratna. A movement led by Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey demanding the recognition of Dhyan Chand’s achievements was made at Jantar Mantar in 2016 and also brought to the attention of Parliament. But, even after major sports awards and stadiums being named after him, the Government has yet to accede to the public sentiment.
The summer transfer window is coming to a close and Arsenal is making moves to strengthen their squad. They have reportedly agreed to personal terms with defender Piero Hincapie and are in negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen for his transfer. In other news, Crystal Palace is looking to sign Arsenal's Reiss Nelson, while Porto is close to securing a loan deal for Jakub Kiwior. Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has commented on the Gunners' playing style and potential signings.
Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has finally revealed the infamous 2008 ‘slap-gate’ incident from a Mumbai Indians-Kings XI Punjab match in IPL 2008, where Harbhajan Singh had hit S Sreesanth. In a podcast with Michael Clarke, Modi spoke about the incident, the aftermath, and the reasons behind the suspension handed out to Harbhajan.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his message on the occasion of National Sports Day, paid tribute to legendary hockey icon Major Dhyan Chand and reflected on India's vibrant sporting ecosystem. He reaffirmed the government's dedication to supporting athletes, improving infrastructure, and making India a global hub for sporting excellence. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tributes to the hockey legend on this significant day.
The ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is set to launch a nationwide sports and fitness movement from August 29 to 31, 2025, on the occasion of India’s National Sports Day. This year, the day commemorates the birth anniversary of Indian field hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, also known as the “Wizard of Hockey”. In addition to honoring Dhyan Chand's contributions to the national sport, the day also promotes the importance of physical activity in preventing lifestyle diseases. With the Fit India Mission leading the events, the day also recognizes the Olympic ideals of Excellence, Friendship, and Respect, and the Paralympic principles of Courage, Determination, Inspiration, and Equality.
Speculations about Andre Onana's exit from Manchester United have resurfaced, with reports linking the Cameroon international with a loan move to West Ham. However, according to Fabrizio Romano, there are currently no talks between the two clubs. With Ruben Amorim favoring Altay Bayindir as the No.1 keeper and with United pursuing a deal for Senne Lammens, Onana's future at the club remains uncertain. Stay updated on the latest developments with The Sporting News on WhatsApp.
After a surprise promotion to the third tier of German football last season, Wehen Wiesbaden face the ultimate challenge as they prepare to welcome reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich to their stadium in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Despite their disadvantage, Wehen Wiesbaden will hope to capitalize on any complacency from Bayern Munich, who come into the game with high confidence following their 6-0 victory over RB Leipzig in their league opener. With some key players missing from both sides, it remains to be seen if Wehen Wiesbaden can pull off a monumental upset against the mighty Bayern Munich.