Carrying Poles in Trains Controversy Pushes Railways to Draft Sports Equipment Policy
The Indian Railways announced it will draft a dedicated sports‑equipment transport policy after a series of confrontations with pole‑vault athletes, most notably the Rajahmundry incident where five athletes had to jump from a moving train and lost poles valued at about ₹1 lakh (~$1,200) each. Railway officials have instructed ticket‑checking staff to treat athletes and their bulky gear with courtesy, and are working with the Ministry of Sports to define permissible dimensions such as 5.2‑metre poles, archery arrows and rowing equipment. The move follows earlier fines on athletes like Dev Meena and growing pressure from the Athletics Federation of India. The policy aims to formalise handling procedures and prevent future disruptions.
Athletes Jump Off Moving Train to Save Poles, Get Stranded for 12 Hours
Five Indian athletes – three pole vaulters and two heptathletes – were stranded for 12 hours after Railway Police cut the ropes securing eight poles, each worth over a lakh rupees (≈ $1,200), at Rajahmundry station. To prevent the poles from...
‘BCCI Control the ICC’: Simon Harmer on SA’s WTC Final Win and Global Cricket Balance
South Africa captured the World Test Championship title at Lord’s in 2025, beating Australia by five wickets and ending a 35‑year red‑ball title drought since readmission. Off‑spinner Simon Harmer used the victory to highlight India’s BCCI dominance, arguing its commercial...
Why RCB, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at the IPL Make a Difference to Merch Vendors
Merchandise vendors outside IPL stadiums rely on the draw of marquee teams such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. They purchase jerseys in Mumbai for roughly ₹160 (about $2) and resell them for ₹200‑₹250 ($2.5‑$3), earning...
Gukesh vs Sindarov Chess World Championship Match: Prize Fund of USD 2.5 Million, Budget of USD 8.5 Million as FIDE...
FIDE has opened the bidding process for the 2026 World Chess Championship between India’s D Gukesh and Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov. The match is provisionally set for Nov 23‑Dec 17, 2026, spanning 25 days, with an $8.5 million budget and a minimum $2.5 million prize fund. Bidders...
Kartik Karkera, One of India’s Top Marathoners, on the Advantage of a Super Shoe
Kartik Karkera, one of India’s top marathoners, explains how carbon‑plated “Super Shoes” give elite runners a measurable speed boost and why he lacks access to prototype models reserved for globally‑sponsored athletes. He cites his personal best of 2:13:10 at the...
What Is ‘Temple’, the Wearable Tech on Sindhu’s Side Forehead at the Uber Cup?
PV Sindhu debuted a new wearable called the Temple during her Uber Cup opener, a stick‑on device that monitors real‑time brain blood flow and cognitive load. Built by a team led by Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal, the beta‑stage tracker also...
ENC 2026: India Confirm Coaching Staff for Esports Nations Cup Debut in Riyadh
India has confirmed a nine‑coach lineup covering DOTA 2, BGMI, VALORANT, League of Legends, PUBG, Rocket League and other titles for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) in Riyadh. The competition runs from 2 to 29 November 2026 and features a $20 million prize pool backed...
Inside Coach Shako’s Plan for Indian Wrestlers: ‘Everyone Goes Uthak-Baithak and Gym… Want to Make Them Gladiators’
Georgian coach Shako Bentinidis has been named head coach of India’s men’s freestyle wrestling team, joining a historic all‑foreign coaching lineup that also includes Japanese, Russian and American experts. Bentinidis, who guided Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia to success, says his priority...
Why Magnus Carlsen Cannot Promote His Own App Take Take Take as It Enters ‘Play and Learn’ Sectors
Magnus Carlsen’s Take Take Take app has partnered with Lichess to add "play and learn" features, moving beyond its original watch‑only model. The expansion puts the app in direct competition with Chess.com, where Carlsen serves as a brand ambassador. Because...
AIFF Brings Clubs Into Evaluation Process for Long-Term Commercial Partner, KPMG to Scrutinise Feasibility of Bids
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will let clubs directly engage with three bidders for the long‑term commercial rights of Indian club football, while audit firm KPMG prepares detailed feasibility tables. Genius Sports submitted the highest offer – INR 2,129 crore (≈ $255 million)...
The Homecoming Scenes of History-Making Grandmaster Mayank Chakraborty Say so Much About the Pursuit of Success
Sixteen‑year‑old Mayank Chakraborty became India’s 94th grandmaster and the first from Northeast India, sparking a viral homecoming at Guwahati airport. His mother, a former government gynecologist, left her career to act as his full‑time chaperone, financing travel through modest tournament...
‘He Is Like a Teacher to Me’: How Bumrah Bhaiyya Guided Mayank Yadav Through Career-Threatening Injury Comeback
Indian pacer Mayank Yadav, who suffered a series of back injuries that sidelined him in IPL 2024 and 2025, has completed rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Veteran fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who underwent the same surgery,...
Slip of Spurs: How Relegation From Premier League Would Wreck Tottenham Hotspur’s Stature and Finances
Tottenham Hotspur, the ninth‑richest football club globally, sit 17th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone after a 0‑3 loss to Nottingham Forest. Relegation would slash broadcast, commercial and ticket revenues, potentially costing the club around...
‘What Is Cricket Australia Even Doing?’: Ex-India Cricketer Slams CA’s Workload Management Plan as Starc, Cummins & Hazlewood Set to...
Cricket Australia has placed Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood on a workload‑management program, meaning they will miss the opening matches of IPL 2026. The decision, aimed at preserving the pacers for an intensive Test schedule, sparked criticism from former...