Sports

On 22 October 2025, Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army during a ceremony in New Delhi, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.

Mr. Singh praised Neeraj as a symbol of perseverance, patriotism, and excellence, inspiring both the sporting community and the Armed Forces.

Neeraj joined the Indian Army in 2016 as a Naib Subedar, later rising to Subedar Major. His accolades include the Arjuna Award (2018), Khel Ratna (2021), Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2022), and Padma Shri (2022), following his historic Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal.

India will host the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 at Resort Rio, Arpora (Goa) from October 31 to November 17, marking the tournament’s return to India after 23 years. The event will feature elite players from 82 countries, including Viswanathan Anand, Gukesh D, and Faustino Oro.

Inaugurated by Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, the tournament’s logo and anthem celebrate Goan culture and India’s chess heritage. Conducted in a knockout format, the World Cup aims to boost tourism, sports infrastructure, and reinforce India’s growing prominence in global chess. The pleasant Goan climate and scenic venue make it an ideal international sporting destination.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant clinched the 125th Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield by defeating East Bengal FC 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in a thrilling Kolkata Derby final at Salt Lake Stadium on October 18, 2025.

• Goals: Hamid Ahadad (East Bengal, 36’) and Lalengmawia Ralte “Apuia” (Mohun Bagan, 45’).
• Result: Mohun Bagan won on penalties (5–4), securing their 21st IFA Shield title and first since 2003.

🏅 About the IFA Shield:
Founded in 1893, the IFA Shield is the fourth-oldest football tournament in the world (after the FA Cup, Scottish Cup, and Durand Cup). The 2025 edition marked its return after a three-year gap, last held in 2021, when Real Kashmir FC were champions.

On 17 October 2025, India defeated Malaysia 2-1 in the final pool match of the Sultan of Johor Cup Men’s Hockey in Johor, Malaysia. The first quarter ended 0-0. Gurjot Singh scored for India in the 22nd minute to give a 1-0 lead at half-time. Malaysia equalized in the 43rd minute through Naaveenesh Panicker. Five minutes later, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha converted a penalty corner to secure India’s win.

With this victory, India entered the final and will face Australia.

On October 15, 2025, the Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport recommended Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with final approval due on November 26, 2025, in Glasgow.

Backed by the Government of India, Gujarat, and the Commonwealth Games Association of India, the bid highlights Ahmedabad’s world-class infrastructure like the Narendra Modi Stadium. The 2030 Games will mark the centenary of the Commonwealth Games and be India’s second time hosting after 2010.

The event will boost India’s global sporting image, tourism, and development, reflecting initiatives like Khelo India. India’s bid won over Nigeria, and leaders called it a proud moment for the nation.

On 10 October 2025, the Indian junior badminton team secured a historic bronze medal in the Mixed Team event at the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships, held in Guwahati, Assam. This marks India’s first-ever podium finish in this category.

India defeated South Korea in the quarterfinals and put up a strong fight against Indonesia in the semifinals before settling for bronze. Strategic player changes and standout performances from athletes like Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu contributed to the team’s success.

On 4 October 2025, Shubman Gill was officially appointed as India’s new ODI captain, succeeding Rohit Sharma, for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia. This will be Gill’s first ODI series as captain, after previously leading India in Test and T20I formats.

So far, Gill has played 55 ODIs, scoring 2,775 runs with eight centuries, marking him as one of India’s most promising young leaders.

India’s ODI Squad vs Australia (October 2025)

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal.

India achieved its best-ever performance at the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, held for the first time in India at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The Indian team won a record 22 medals — 6 gold, 9 silver, and 7 bronze, surpassing the previous record of 17 medals from 2024 (Kobe, Japan).

Top performances included Sumit Antil’s gold in javelin throw (71.37 m), Shailesh Kumar’s gold and Asian record in high jump T63, and Simran Sharma’s sprint double (gold in 100m T12, silver in 200m T12). Other notable medalists were Preeti Pal, Rinku Hooda, Sandip Sanjay Sargar, Nishad Kumar, Soman Rana, and Ekta Bhyan.

India hosted its largest-ever contingent of 73 athletes (54 men and 19 women). Government programs like TOPS and Khelo India played a vital role, with 37 medalists emerging from them. The nation also achieved a top-10 finish in the overall medal tally, marking a new era in Indian para sports and strengthening India’s bid to host future global events, including the Paralympic Games.