Soldier-athletes of the Indian Army will play a significant role in India’s campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with 20 Army athletes earning places in the country’s 126-member contingent. Representing various disciplines, the soldier-athletes are expected to be among India’s key medal contenders as the nation aims for a strong performance at the Games. Their selection reflects the Indian Army’s sustained contribution to Indian sports through rigorous training, world-class coaching and high-performance support. With the Commonwealth Games set to bring together top athletes from across the Commonwealth, the Army contingent heads to Glasgow with a singular objective—reaching the…
Author: Pratyusha Mukherjee
Pratyusha Mukherjee
Ms Pratyusha Mukherjee, an Independent Sr. Broadcast Journalist working for British media with 25 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence, Sports & Current Affairs. In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and National media awards for Journalism.
A Final That Changed Indian Football Forever: On a winter afternoon in 1940, Delhi witnessed a football match that became a landmark moment in Indian sporting history.Long before kick-off at the Irwin Amphitheatre, supporters had begun arriving from across the city and beyond. They came by train, tonga and on foot to witness the Durand Cup final between Mohammedan Sporting Club of Calcutta and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. By the time the teams stepped onto the field, nearly 100,000 spectators had filled the venue, creating one of the biggest sporting gatherings of pre-Independence India. Kolkata’s very own Mohammedan Sporting’s 2–1…
The iconic trophies of the 135th Durand Cup arrived in Guwahati today, marking the official commencement of the tournament’s Trophy Tour in Assam. The ceremonial display was held at a city hotel, signalling the countdown to India’s most prestigious and Asia’s oldest football tournament. The arrival of the three historic trophies celebrates the rich legacy of the Durand Cup while highlighting Assam’s growing stature as one of the country’s leading football hubs. The Trophy Display Ceremony was attended by Assam’s Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare, Shri Biswajit Daimary, as the chief guest. Other dignitaries present included Shri Kausar Jamil…
Defending champions Argentina will face European champions Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday, setting up a blockbuster showdown between two of international football’s most accomplished teams. The title decider at New York New Jersey Stadium will pit Lionel Scaloni’s reigning world champions against Luis de la Fuente’s in-form Spain in a contest featuring contrasting styles, elite talent and two nations chasing football history. Argentina booked their place in a second consecutive World Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in the semi-finals. Trailing after Anthony Gordon’s second-half opener, the South Americans turned the…
Defending champions Argentina produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final at Atlanta Stadium yesterday, booking their place in Sunday’s final against Spain. England appeared on course for their first World Cup final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon gave Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead early in the second half. However, Argentina responded with two late goals from Enzo Fernández and substitute Lautaro Martínez, both created by Lionel Messi, to overturn the deficit in the closing stages. The match began cautiously, with both teams struggling to create clear opportunities in a tightly contested…
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth has undertaken a comprehensive review of the operational preparedness and prevailing security situation of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, reaffirming the Army’s focus on combat readiness, force modernisation and technological advancement. As part of his two-day visit on July 14-15, the Army Chief visited the Trishakti Corps, where he was briefed by the General Officer Commanding on operational deployments, surveillance architecture and the evolving security environment along the Eastern theatre. General Seth also reviewed ongoing initiatives aimed at technology absorption, capability enhancement and force modernisation to strengthen operational effectiveness. Today, the…
The Indian men’s national football team will tour New Zealand for two international friendly matches during the FIFA International Match Window in November 2026.The Blue Tigers will face the hosts on November 12 at Go Media Stadium in Auckland before taking on New Zealand again on November 15 at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch. The fixtures were announced during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand and form part of the commemorative programme marking ‘100 Years of Unity Through Sport’ between the two countries. The upcoming tour will be India’s first-ever visit to New Zealand and their…
The Trophy Tour of the 135th Durand Cup received a grand welcome in Imphal today as Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri Yumnam Khemchand Singh, led the celebrations marking the arrival of the tournament’s three iconic trophies in the football-loving state. The ceremonial function at the City Convention Centre, Imphal, was attended by Lieutenant General Gambhir Singh, UYSM AVSM YSM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command; Dr Puneet Kumar Goel, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur; Shri Kuldiep Singh, IPS (Retd), Security Adviser, Government of Manipur; Shri Mukesh Singh, IPS, Director General of…
A purported declaration announcing the independence of Balochistan from Pakistan has sparked widespread debate after circulating extensively across social media platforms. The document, issued in the name of the “Republic of Balochistan,” claims that the region has formally declared independence and established itself as a sovereign state. It further asserts that authorities representing the self-declared republic have adopted a national anthem, “Ma Chukain Balochani,” introduced a national flag, established a national currency known as the “Balochi Falus,” and now exercise control over approximately 85 percent of the territory of Balochistan. According to the statement, these developments justify international recognition of…
Spain produced a disciplined and clinical performance to defeat France 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday, booking their place in the tournament final. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro secured a deserved victory for La Roja, who frustrated France with a strong defensive display while making the most of their opportunities in attack. Spain took the lead after Lamine Yamal was brought down inside the penalty area, earning a spot-kick after getting ahead of Lucas Digne. Oyarzabal calmly converted the penalty past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan to give Spain the advantage. The…