Apart from cricket,India has long been seen as an underachiever on the international sporting stage, as demonstrated by a 71st ranking in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, a surge in the participation of women in a wide range of sports could help change this.
The number of registered women football players in India grew from 8,683 in 2016 to 37,829 last year. Participation in national javelin championships rose from 31 juniors in 2019 to 137, while in shooting, the number of female competitors jumped from 1,033 to 2,181 over the same period. At the Asian Games, women won just 36% of India’s medals in 2002; by 2023, that share had climbed to 43%.
Taruka Srivastava, who represented India in tennis at the 2010 Asian Games, has witnessed these changes first hand.
“If you look at the Paris Olympics and the athletes that emerged in their sports, you will see more women than men,” she told DW.
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“When I look at the state of Uttar Pradesh where I come from, most of the top athletes are women.”
Role models
As well as the cricket team that won the 2025 ICC World Cup and became household names, there are footballer Manisha Kalyan, and Olympic medallists such as Manu Bhaker (shooting), Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting), P.V. Sindhu (badminton) and Lovlina Borgohain (boxing) for aspiring athletes to look up to.
Manisha Kalyan (right) is one of India’s most famous footballersImage: Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images
Annesha Ghosh, a Mumbai-based sports documentary-maker believes that Indian women are now benefiting from groundbreakers from an earlier generation.
“Women and athleticism were never part of a same sentence by default because the subcontinent has largely been run on patriarchal lines, but the arrival of female role models has made a difference,” Ghosh told DW.
Ghosh added that even the cricket World Cup winners have cited badminton legend Saina Nehwal, who won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, as an inspiration. There was also tennis star Sania Mirza, who won six major titles in a decade-long professional career.
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“From a visual perspective, Mirza was breaking so many stereotypes, a woman – a Muslim woman – playing a sport and wearing a skirt. If you belong to certain communities, you are especially perceived a certain way, and Mirza had to contend with judgment on that front too,” added Ghosh.
“She lived on her own terms on and off the court. She was a real badass. When I was growing up, I thought, ‘who is this woman, dominating the court and taking on rubbish questions from journalists.’”
Media and perception
Stars like Mirza helped to change perceptions in the country.
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“This is especially important in rural areas as most of the women who started their athletic journeys are from villages or small towns, not the major cities,” Srivastava said.
Sania Mirza won six major titles in women’s doubles and mixed doublesImage: picture alliance/ZUMA Press
“When these women saw other women winning medals and saw their stories in the media, it changed the mindset of many. Families saw that girls could take up sports as a potential career.”
Public Support
According to Ghosh and Srivastava, there are now more women in boardrooms and involved in policymaking, including former athletes such as Mary Kom. The ex-boxer, who won bronze at the 2012 Olympics, was a member of parliament from 2016 to 2022.
The government has also encouraged the private sector to get involved while at the same time providing direct support.
According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s website, his government has distributed sports equipment to over 11,000 youth clubs and conducted over 180,000 early talent assessments, through various programs.
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ASMITA. launched in 2021 by the sports ministry, stands for “Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action” and is aimed at empowering women in sports by creating more leagues, opportunities, and platforms for female athletes across India – especially those that are underprivileged.
India’s World Cup-winning cricket team have described badminton legend Nehwal Saina as a role modelImage: Lu Binghui/Imaginechina/imago images
In 2025, 852 league competitions across 15 sports disciplines took place through ASMITA, involving 70,000 female athletes, a rise of 17,000 from 2024.
“It’s about breaking barriers,” Raksha Khadse, minister of state for youth affairs and sports said of ASMITA.
“It is a powerful step towards affirmative action, bringing aspiring women players, including those from tribal and minority communities, right into the spotlight.”
Srivastava is among those who credit the initiative with removing practical barriers.
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“In the past, state tournaments were sometimes far away and hard to travel to, she said.
“There are now more tournaments for athletes to compete and more events in which to compete nearer to home.”
One example from the world of entertainment has also been a factor. The 2016 movie “Dangal” told the story of the wrestling sisters Geeta and Babita Phogat. Geeta won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth games and Babita took silver. At the time, it was the highest-grossing film in Bollywood‘s history.
“Dangal was a huge success and played a big part in pushing women’s sport into the mainstream, to become part of popular culture,” said Ghosh.
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Lovlina Borgohain won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021Image: Themba Hadebe/picture alliance/AP
“Story-telling is important and there were stories being told by Bollywood, which is huge in India.”
2036 Olympic bid
Now the challenge for India is to maintain this momentum, according to Baljit Rihal, sports agent and founder of players agency Inventive Sports.
“The foundation is there,” Rihal told DW.
“The key now is scale. If India wants this to become a lasting legacy rather than a moment in time, investment needs to increase significantly, particularly in facilities, coaching, long-term development and safeguarding.”
The city of Ahmedabad is to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Prime Minister Modi hopes the capital of his home state of Gujarat will win the right to host the Summer Olympics six years later – something that would stand to benefit female athletes, not only through the construction of new facilities.
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“You have to uphold Olympic values, do justice to what the Games stand for and the IOC (International Olympic Committee is big on gender equality,” said Ghosh, before noting that the journey is long from over.
“Sport can be a soft power to the world and India is standing on a goldmine of potential talents.”
Nov 13, 2025; Madrid, Spain; Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz at press conference at Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Free agent tight end Zach Ertz intends to play in 2026 and is expected to be cleared from his rehab following a torn ACL around the season opener, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.
Ertz, 35, is two months into his rehab after injuring his right knee during the Washington Commanders’ 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 7.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Ertz posted 50 receptions for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (all starts) last season while playing on a one-year contract with the Commanders.
Ertz won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2017 season.
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His 825 career receptions are fifth all-time among tight ends, while his 8,592 yards rank eighth at the position.
Ertz has 57 touchdowns in 181 regular-season games (143 starts) with the Eagles (2013-21), Arizona Cardinals (2021-23) and Commanders.
Raducanu announced as UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador
Emma Raducanu has officially been unveiled as UNIQLO’s newest Global Brand Ambassador.
“Introducing Emma Raducanu, our newest Global Brand Ambassador and Britain’s top-ranked female tennis player. Emma will champion UNIQLO’s LifeWear philosophy, which is committed to pursuing excellence, making meaningful contributions to society, and empowering the next generation,” the brand shared on Instagram.
Raducanu rose to global prominence in 2021 when she made history by winning the US Open as a qualifier, becoming the first player in the Open Era to claim a Grand Slam singles title after coming through qualifying.
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In terms of titles, Raducanu has won:
1 Grand Slam singles title (US Open 2021)
Multiple ITF titles earlier in her career during her rise through the professional ranks
Despite injuries that have interrupted parts of her career since her breakthrough, she remains one of the most recognisable figures in women’s tennis and continues to attract major global partnerships.
The UNIQLO announcement adds another major brand to her portfolio as she continues her return to the top level of the tour.
This fairytale run to the knockouts will have felt unlikely for Bodo after failing to win their first six league phase games, meaning they were left needing results against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to qualify for the play-offs.
And, against the odds, they provided them.
A 3-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s men brought deserved attention and acclaim, but it was no one-off as Bodo overcame Atleti 2-1 in Madrid to claim a play-off spot.
Knutsen’s side lost to Spurs in the Europa League semi-finals last season, having become the first Norwegian side to reach the last four of a major European competition.
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Key to their success has often been their ability to make their home games as tough as possible.
In the north of Norway, Bodo can often be bitterly cold, snowy and windy during the long winter months, with temperatures deep into minus figures.
The difficult weather conditions mean the team play on an artificial pitch made of plastic, something many sides used to playing on grass find difficult to deal with.
Those aspects, coupled with the players’ determination and strong belief in their ability, means many have left Bodo defeated.
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They famously thrashed Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 at home in the Europa Conference League five years ago, while Celtic, Besiktas, Porto and Lazio have also been victims in recent years.
Manchester City won’t relish another meeting in the last 16 if they are drawn together, with Bodo buoyant after proving they have nothing to fear against Europe’s top sides.
“It’s amazing,” captain Patrick Berg told Canal+.
“For the club and city it’s unbelievable. I don’t think people thought we could beat Manchester City, Atletico and now Inter two times.
Inter signed Ronaldo and Vieri for world-record fees in the late 1990s, when Serie A was the envy of world football, blessed with the game’s most talented stars.
AC Milan then beat Juventus to win the Champions League in 2003, losing to Liverpool on penalties in the final two years later, before defeating the Reds to become European champions again in 2007.
While there have been more recent successes in Europe’s other competitions – Atalanta won the Europa League in 2024, Roma won the Conference League in 2021 – Jose Mourinho’s Inter were the last Italian side to win the Champions League in 2010.
Inter’s European exit comes despite being 10 points clear of rivals AC Milan in Serie A and a further four ahead of defending champions Napoli, who failed to make it out of the Champions League’s league phase.
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“It is a piece of history,” said journalist Vincenzo Credendino. “Speaking about Italy and Inter, this is one of the worst pieces.
“Inter are the best in Italy, but maybe it is time to think not about what can happen in one or two years, but about 10 or 15 years – and on that side we can see generally Italian football is not on the same level of top European leagues.”
The national team must also win through a play-off in March to avoid missing out on a third successive World Cup this summer, having last lifted the trophy in 2006.
“It is a difficult time for Italian football and this shows it,” added European football expert Julien Laurens on BBC Radio 5 Live.
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“Today, Inter Milan put pressure on but it was not enough from them. They have been the best team in Italy for the last few years. And Napoli as well, they haven’t even come close.
“It’s terrible for Italian football at the moment.”
Inter won five of their opening eight league phase games in Europe to finish 10th, with Juventus 13th and Atalanta 15th.
Yet in the play-offs, all have come unstuck against sides who finished lower in the table but play a more intense brand of football.
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“What does it say about Italian football? That something needs to be changed,” added Verri.
“The level of Italian football is poor. It is a structural issue. We play very slow football. You can ask any manager in Italy and they will all say the same.
“I was talking to Claudio Ranieri the other day and he said: ‘Look, when I was in England at Leicester… people don’t train more than in Italy. They just do it with another intensity, and then they keep up that intensity during the games.’
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider spoke publicly about their 2026 plans for the first time at the NFL Scouting Combine today.
You can watch his entire 19-minute press conference on seahawks.com. Here’s the link.
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He gave rare in-depth insight into the team’s process for evaluating players and making personnel decisions. Most of the chatter you’ll find on the internet thus far is around him mentioning Kenneth Walker III, but there’s much more interesting quotes on team-building strategy that describes the “why” behind their recent success.
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He mentions Walker once, saying he’d love to have him back, Zach Charbonnet once, praising his work ethic, and Sam Darnold by saying he matched up as a better choice for the organization than any college quarterbacks last offseason. But perhaps the most interesting thing Schneider mentions is the single name he refers to twice in the press conference- which isn’t a player at all, but is possibly the single most important person he’ll work with at the Combine each year.
That name is Aaron Hineline, the Seahawks’ Director of College Scouting. There’s less information on scouts than any member of the coaching staff, but they play as vital a role as any in shaping the roster. He’s a Woodinville High School and Central Washington University graduate who’s been with the Seahawks for 20 years, working his way up from intern to assistant director of college scouting before being promoted to his current position in 2023.
While the coaches have been working to win games the entire season, Hineline has headed Seattle’s mission to scout the 1,000s of eligible players for the 2026 NFL Draft, managing the area scouts and collecting intel at a clip fans can only imagine. Despite being relatively unknown to the masses, he’s as good of a person to thank as any for the Seahawks finding gems in the draft, from Grey Zabel to Ty Okada and in between. When thinking of the NFL Combine this week, imagine Hineline as Schneider’s right-hand man as they watch 319 prospects test and interview, knowing more than any media member could dream of.
NEW DELHI: Fourteen-year-old cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to make headlines with his record-breaking performances and growing list of rewards. After a sensational IPL 2025 season, he was gifted a brand-new car for winning the “Striker of the Season” award. The top model of the car costs over Rs 22 lakh in Delhi.
A loss against England in Kandy will end Pakistan’s hope for the semifinals | T20 World Cup
Vaibhav has recently been honoured for his performances at the ICC U19 World Cup, where India became champions. He met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and received Rs 50 lakh as a special reward for his achievements. Meanwhile, the BCCI also announced a Rs 7.50 crore reward for the Indian Under-19 team after they won the 2026 U19 World Cup.In the World Cup final against England, Vaibhav played a match-winning knock of 175 runs off just 80 balls, helping India win their sixth U-19 World Cup title. Watch Sooryavanshi receiving the car: He hit 15 fours and 15 sixes and reached his century in just 55 balls, one of the fastest in tournament history. He finished the tournament with 439 runs and was named Player of the Match in the final and Player of the Tournament.He first grabbed global attention in IPL 2025 when he smashed a 35-ball century, the fastest by an Indian and the second-fastest in IPL history. He also became the youngest centurion and debutant in IPL history. Rajasthan Royals signed him for Rs 1.1 crore, making him the youngest player ever bought in the league.Vaibhav is already India’s leading U-19 ODI run-scorer and has broken several youth cricket records with his aggressive batting style. He is now preparing for the 2026 IPL season and is expected to be one of Rajasthan Royals’ key players.
Leaping into action after a ball kicked by Istanbul Yurdum Spor’s goalkeeper knocked a low-flying seagull to the ground, team captain Gani Catan successfully revived the battered bird with rudimentary CPR. The seagull was subsequently taken away by medical staff for further treatment.
Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt reached the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday after a 2-1 win at Inter Milan secured a 5-2 aggregate victory, sealing the biggest result in the club’s history and setting up a tie with either Manchester City or Sporting Portugal.
An outstanding six-year run for left tackle Trent Williams with the San Francisco 49ers could be in danger of coming to an end. With Williams set to carry a $39 million cap number in 2026, he and the 49ers are engaged in talks but are struggling to find a contractual solution to the sizable impact he will have on the team’s payroll next season, according to ESPN. If the sides cannot find a middle ground, Williams could become a free agent this offseason.
The 49ers want to keep their star tackle in town despite the reported stalemate, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. John Lynch, the team’s general manager, effectively said as much Tuesday at the NFL Combine.
“In recent weeks, I’ve met with both Trent and with his agent, Vincent Taylor, and had really good, productive and substantive meetings,” Lynch said. “Here’s what I know. Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner. It’s up to us to figure that out and to thread that needle.
“There’s some unique circumstances in that we all know what Trent is as a player and how great of a player he’s been. He’s gonna be 38 years old, so there’s some things that go into that. But I think we’re all on the same page and feel very positively about where that’s going.”
A release before June 1 would save the 49ers $4.7 million in cap space. If they were to release him after that date, they would save $15.5 million this year — though that would require them to split his dead cap hit across the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Williams, a five-time All-Pro honoree and 12-time Pro Bowler, would be among the most highly sought-after players of the 2026 free agent class. Even entering his age-38 season, the veteran tackle remains a premier blind-side protector with potentially multiple more years left in the tank. He said last offseason that he would “love to play until I’m 40.”
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The 49ers and Williams agreed in September 2024 to a restructured three-year deal that made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman that season.
One of the few accolades that Williams has left to add to his résumé is Super Bowl champion. Remaining with the 49ers should allow him to achieve that goal, but his significant cap hit could also limit San Francisco’s ability to surround him with enough talent to contend in a loaded NFC West. The 49ers secured a wild-card berth in 2025 despite finishing third in the division at 12-5. With two Super Bowl appearances and a pair of conference championship game berths since 2019, the 49ers are knocking on the door of a title. Losing one of the NFL’s best tackles without getting anything in return would be a significant blow in that quest.
Williams joined the 49ers in 2020 via a trade with the Washington Commanders. The former No. 4 overall pick spent the first decade of his career in Washington and was a perennial Pro Bowler. He took his game to the next level upon arriving on the West Coast, securing three consecutive first-team All-Pro honors and a second-team selection in 2025.
