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The Sports Ministry has revoked the suspension imposed on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), ending the months of uncertainty surrounding the sport and paving the way for resumption of activities, including selection trials for the upcoming Asian Championship in Amman. The ministry had suspended the WFI on December 24, 2023 for lapses in governance and procedural integrity by the new body, which was elected on December 21. It had asked IOA to form an ad-hoc panel to run the affairs of the Federation. The Sanjay Singh-led body had announced the conduct of Under-15 and Under-20 National Championships in Nandini Nagar, Gonda the stronghold of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the choice of venue irked the government since the former BJP MP was facing charges of sexual harassment. The ministry, in its order issued on Monday, said that the WFI has taken compliant measures, so in larger interest of the sport and athletes, the ministry has decided to lift the ...
Sports technology market in India, comprising apps, devices, sensors etc, are expected to grow by 85 per cent to Rs 49,500 crore in the next four years, a joint report by fantasy games body FIFS and Deloitte said on Thursday. The report estimates that India's sports-tech market generated Rs 26,700 crore in revenue in the financial year 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13 per cent by FY'29. "India's sports technology ecosystem is at an inflection point, with the market projected to grow at a 13 per cent CAGR to Rs 49,500 crore by FY'29," Deloitte India, Partner, Prashanth Rao said. He said that the advent of digital technologies are not only providing data for enhanced athlete performance but is also creating immersive fan experiences, leading to increased multi-sport following across demographics and opening newer avenues of business and business-led collaboration "Fantasy Sports continues to be a key driver in this evolution, fostering deepe
Meghalaya will host the 39th edition of the National Games in February/March 2027, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha has informed state chief minister Conrad Sangma. As host state of the next edition, Meghalaya will be handed the IOA flag during the closing ceremony of the ongoing 38th Games in Uttarakhand. The ceremony will he held in Haldwani on Friday. "I am pleased to inform you that the IOA has decided to allocate the hosting rights of the 39th National Games to the state of Meghalaya, scheduled to be held in February/March 2027," Usha wrote in the letter to Sangma on Monday. "As Meghalaya embarks on the exciting journey, I would like to invite you to the closing ceremony of the 38th National Games in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, where the IOA flag will be ceremoniously handed over to Meghalaya," she added. Sangma reacted to the decision, saying that it was a "huge honour" that his state has been chosen as the host of the Games in 2027. "Overjoyed to share that ...
Sports can become an important pillar in India's march to become a developed nation by 2047 when it celebrates the centenary year of independence, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said here on Monday. The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports said India's commitment to host the Olympics in 2036 is a symbol of its growing power. Mandaviya spoke at the inaugural event of the 1st International Olympic Research Conference organised at Rashtriya Raksha University. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji said we have to organise the Olympics in the country in 2036. This is a symbol of India's growing power," he said. The minister said at a time when India is moving towards becoming a developed country in 2047 and celebrating the centenary year of independence, sports can become an important pillar in achieving this target. Highlighting the importance of research and innovation, Mandaviya said, "If we fail to conduct research and implement new ideas, we will lag in a continuously progressi
Double Olympic-medallist shooter Manu Bhaker and teenage chess world champion D Gukesh received a euphoric round of applause as they walked up to receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna from President Droupadi Murmu in a glittering National Sports Awards ceremony here on Friday. The other two recipients of the country's highest sporting honour were men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic gold-winning high jumper Praveen Kumar when the annual honours were bestowed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. Harmanpreet was a part of the national sides that won bronze medals in the Tokyo as well as Paris Olympics. Praveen, on the other hand, upgraded his silver at the Japanese capital to a gold last year in Paris. He was born with a short left leg. Thirty-two athletes are being honoured with the Arjuna Award out of which an unprecedented 17 are para-athletes. The athletes selected for the Arjuna award include Paris Olympics bronze medal-winning group of wrestler Aman .
Playing down concerns surrounding the autonomy of national federations and the IOA if a regulatory board comes into existence, sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya has asserted that the body is an essential step towards ensuring good governance and does not intend to interfere in day-to-day operations. The establishment of a Sports Regulatory Board is one of the key features of the draft National Sports Governance Bill, which the government intends to introduce in the Parliament soon. The regulatory body will have the authority to grant, renew, and suspend the affiliation of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and national sports federations, among others. "We don't want to interfere. That's why I did a lot of dialogue, I had a lot of consultations with the federations. I consulted with eminent sports personalities and even lawyers who are against us," Mandaviya told reporters during an interaction on Friday. "We don't want to take control, but we can't leave it unattended. It is the
The Bihar government will soon sign an MoU with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the redevelopment of the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium here. A decision to this effect was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The cabinet on Tuesday approved the state sports department proposal for signing of the MoU with the BCCI... This will transform it as an international stadium equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, where day-and-night matches along with other sporting activities will be organised, S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat), told reporters here. The agreement will be signed very soon and immediately after that construction work shall start, which will be completed in 36 months, he said. After completion of the construction, the BCCI will organise matches and other sporting activities till seven years after that period, profit will be shared with the state government on a 50-50 basis, Siddharth said. The cabine
Governance reforms, athlete welfare measures, and promotion of transparency in administration came up for deliberation as Sports Minister Manusukh Mandaviya chaired a consultation meeting with stakeholders on the Draft National Sports Governance Bill 2024 here on Thursday. Present in the meeting were Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P T Usha, representatives from National Sports Federations (NSFs), and National Sports Promotion Organisations (NSPOs). "The Draft National Sports Governance Bill 2024 Bill is a milestone in our mission to build a robust and transparent sports governance structure in India that aligns with international standards, including the Olympic and Paralympic Charter. The active involvement of various stakeholders and public is crucial for shaping policies that reflect the aspirations of our sports community," Mandaviya said. "By empowering athlete-centric federations, introducing the Safe Sports Policy, and establishing an Appellate Sports Tribunal, we
Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), Indian Oil Corporation on Thursday promised to provide monthly scholarships and medical insurance to the country's para athletes after their stupendous show at the just-concluded Paris Paralympics. The Indian contingent made history by securing 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze, marking the nation's best-ever performance at the Paralympics in Paris. Pankaj Jain, secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, expressed his admiration for the para athletes and announced that Indian Oil will be further enhancing its support by introducing monthly scholarships, medical insurance, and sports kits for para athletes. "This historic performance is a testament to the resilience and determination of our para athletes," V Satish Kumar, Chairman and Director (Marketing), IndianOil, said during a felicitation function here on Thursday. "IndianOil is proud to have supported them on this incredible journey, and we remain committed to ..
The 44th Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly, held in New Delhi on Sunday, showcased India's commitment to sports and its achievements on the international stage.Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the significant strides India has made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."Under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, the government has significantly increased the sports budget from approximately $ 143 million in 2014-2015 to around $470 million today. This has contributed to India's exceptional performance at the Asian Games with 117 medals and Asian Para Games with 111 medals...we focus on grassroots talents..." Mandaviya stated.He emphasized the government's focus on nurturing grassroots talent, a crucial aspect of India's sports development strategy.The Sports Minister underscored the transformative impact of increased funding and support for sports in India. The substantial budget increase has facilitated improved training facilities, better