Sport

The WTT Youth Contender 2026 began in Vadodara with strong performances from Divyanshi Bhowmik, Syndrela Das, Miku Matsushima and Tanishka Kalbhairav in U-17 girls singles. Ritvik Gupta and Ved Panchal impressed in boys’ U-17, while Divija Paul dominated U-13 girls

Haryana’s Ameerah Arshad won gold in the 10m Air Rifle Women final, while Uttar Pradesh’s Zuhair Khan clinched the men’s trap title at the 68th National Shooting Championships. Karnataka’s Tilottama Sen secured a golden double in junior and youth women’s events

M Vinay of Karimnagar and M Mallika of Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri won the men’s and women’s titles in the 11th Telangana State cross country championship at GMC Balayogi Stadium, Hyderabad. The meet also saw strong performances across boys and girls categories

Sai Anshitha Puvvala from Telangana secured second place in the Under-9 Girls category at the 14th National School Championship held in Guwahati, Assam, from December 27 to 31, 2025.

Gowtham Model School (West Marredpally) thrashed Academic Heights Public School by 234 runs in the HCA under-14 cricket championship, with centuries from Akhileshwar and G Sai Vaibhav. Gowtham World School (Sarrornagar) also advanced after beating Pallavi Model School by seven wickets

Gowtham Model School (West Marredpally) thrashed Academic Heights Public School by 234 runs in the HCA under-14 one-day cricket championship, thanks to centuries from Akhileshwar and G Sai Vaibhav. Gowtham World School (Sarrornagar) also advanced with a seven-wicket win

World Cup gold medallist Niraj Kumar, who won silver at the 68th National Shooting Championships, said the Shooting League of India will help popularise the sport, inspire young athletes and assure parents that shooting offers a sustainable career path.

The Congress government has restricted public access to Srisailam and Jurala reservoir data ahead of an Assembly debate on the Palamuru–Rangareddy project, drawing criticism over transparency and allegations of avoiding scrutiny on irrigation and water management.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard entry into the 2026 Australian Open, marking her first appearance in Melbourne since 2021. At 45, she is set to become the oldest woman to compete in the main draw.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have ordered a preliminary enquiry after a south Kashmir cricketer wore a helmet displaying the Palestinian flag during a private cricket tournament match in Jammu, citing sensitivity and possible public order implications.

Jammu and Kashmir Police ordered a preliminary enquiry after a cricketer from south Kashmir wore a helmet bearing the Palestinian flag during a private cricket league match in Jammu. Authorities cited sensitivity and possible public order implications

Australian opener Usman Khawaja announced his retirement from international cricket after the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG, using the moment to reflect on his career and openly criticise racial stereotyping and criticism he faced as a Pakistan-born Muslim player

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open, marking her return to Melbourne Park at age 45 and making her the oldest woman to compete in the tournament’s main draw

Hindu spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya criticised Shah Rukh Khan over KKR signing Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2026, citing attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and urging the Indian government to take a firm stand.

Australia named an unchanged squad for the final Ashes Test at the SCG starting January 4. Usman Khawaja is set to play amid retirement rumours, while Beau Webster could replace Cameron Green as Australia aim to finish the series strongly

Ravichandran Ashwin has raised doubts about the survival of ODI cricket beyond the 2027 World Cup, citing the rise of T20 leagues and ICC’s frequent tournaments. He suggested limiting ODIs to the World Cup every four years to keep relevance

The National Sports Governance Act has partially come into effect, paving the way for the National Sports Board and Tribunal. The phased rollout introduces reforms in sports federations, elections, and athlete representation, with full implementation set for January 2026

Australia named an unchanged squad for the final Ashes Test at the SCG starting January 4. Usman Khawaja is set to play amid retirement rumours, while Beau Webster could replace Cameron Green as Australia look to finish the series strongly

Rishabh Pant’s ODI future looks uncertain ahead of the New Zealand series starting January 11 in Vadodara. With KL Rahul established, Ishan Kishan and Dhruv Jurel in contention, selectors face a tough call on Pant’s place in the squad

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has been diagnosed with a knee sprain, with French reports suggesting he could miss at least three weeks. The striker has scored 29 goals this season and remains key to Madrid’s La Liga campaign

Pretoria Capitals crushed MI Cape Town by 85 runs to secure their first SA20 win with a bonus point, while David Miller’s unbeaten 71 powered Paarl Royals to a five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Gqeberha

The Telangana Cricket Association announced its 12th Annual Domestic Cricket Calendar to prepare state teams for the BCCI 2026–27 season. Covering 32 districts, the calendar focuses on grassroots cricket, transparent selection, and strengthening Telangana’s representation in national tournaments

Vadodara will host the WTT Youth Contender 2026 and WTT Feeder Series 2026 at Sama Indoor Sports Complex from January 2 to 11. Over 300 players from several countries will compete, with top Indian stars leading the challenge

Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik has filed a defamation suit against FIDE in a Swiss court after criticism over his cheating allegations against players. FIDE had opened an ethics inquiry, citing harmful conduct, while Kramnik denied wrongdoing and defended his actions