In a significant development for Indian badminton, the world number three men's doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, are India's sole representatives at the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals 2025, which commenced on Wednesday in Hangzhou, China. The pair, often dubbed 'Sat-Chi', faces a challenging "Group of Death" in their quest for the title, having been drawn against formidable opponents including China's Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, and Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
Indian para-athletes demonstrated exceptional prowess at the recently concluded Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, securing a rich haul of 56 medals, including 19 gold. The para-shuttlers were particularly outstanding, contributing 8 gold, 3 silver, and 6 bronze medals in para-badminton events. Jatin Azad emerged as a double gold medalist in the SU5 category, winning both men's singles and men's doubles with Shivam Yadav. In para-table tennis, Baby Sahana Ravi clinched a gold medal in the Class SF-9 (Under-23) category, while Vishwa Vijay Tambe earned a silver in the Class SM-10 category.
The chess world in India is buzzing with activity as the Global Chess League (GCL) 2025 is underway in Mumbai. Indian grandmasters have experienced a mixed start, with five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand suffering two consecutive defeats, including a loss to protégé D Gukesh. Other top Indian players like D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Koneru Humpy have also faced early challenges, while Dronavalli Harika and Raunak Sadhwani recorded wins. Separately, in a local event, Anamika Gupta and Agrima Patel claimed titles in the second Mrs Kanak Vishnoi Memorial Women Chess Championship held in Kanpur. On the international front, Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has successfully secured the eighth and final spot in the prestigious Candidates tournament set for next spring, a crucial step towards challenging for the World Championship title.
Football enthusiasts across India witnessed the conclusion of Lionel Messi's highly anticipated "GOAT India Tour 2025." The Argentine superstar's whirlwind tour covered four major cities – Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi – drawing massive crowds and generating immense excitement. The tour concluded with a star-studded finale in Jamnagar, following his visit to the Vantara wildlife rescue and conservation facility. Despite the fanfare, the tour also sparked discussions regarding VIP access and the broader state of Indian football.
Looking ahead, India is set to host the inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship in 2026. This announcement follows the successful organization of the Kho Kho World Cup in New Delhi in 2025, further solidifying India's commitment to promoting indigenous sports on the international stage.