File photo of Yashtika Acharya© X/Twitter

Representative image.© SAI

YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia is under intense scrutiny over his controversial remarks on comedian Samay Raina’s popular roast show, ‘India’s Got Latent’. During his appearance on the show, Ranveer, also known as ‘BeerBiceps’ asked a contestant: “Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it forever?” Amid nationwide outrage over his comments, former WWE wrestler Sanga, also known as Saurav Gurjar, has fired a direct warning to Ranveer.

Speaking in a video uploaded on his X handle, Gurjar warned Ranveer that even his security won’t be able to save him if they ever cross paths. Gurjar suggested that Ranveer should not be forgiven for his below the belt remarks, and urged the authorities to take strict action against him, in order to set a precedence.

“Whatever he did on the show, he cannot be forgiven for that. If we do not take action against him for his behavior, then more people like him will say similar things. People like him have crossed all the limit. We should take legal action against people like him who are spoiling our society and religion by saying such things, so that the next generation can be saved. The kind of things he has said, I demand the government to take strict action against him. I am very angry right now. I don’t want to use foul language. If I meet him anywhere, no one can save him from me for what he said on the show.,” Gurjar said.

@BeerBicepsGuy

@Dev_Fadnavis @mieknathshinde @DGPMaharashtra @CPMumbaiPolice @AmitShah @PMOIndia @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/X8k6WE4GTi

— Saurav Gurjar (@Thesauravgurjar) February 11, 2025

Police complaints have been made against Ranveer, Samay Raina, Apoorva Makhija and others associated with that ‘India’s Got Latent’ episode. Mumbai and Guwahati police went looking for him, but he was not to be found at his Mumbai residence; the apartment was locked. 

A police officer told news agency PTI that Mumbai law enforcement had initiated an inquiry and went to the apartment, in the city’s Versova neighbourhood, to question him.

On Thursday, Allahbadia had been asked to report to the police station in Mumbai’s Khar to record his statement. However, he later requested that this be done at his home.

Meanwhile, Saurav Gurjar worked as a full-time wrestler with WWE between 2018-2024, mostly appearing on their talent development show, WWE NXT.

He made his final WWE appearance last year, appearing in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, where he was eliminated by the Creed Brothers.

In April 2024, he was released by the WWE.

File image of a baseball player© AFP

File image of Vince McMahon.© X (formerly Twitter)

The government’s flagship Khelo India programme to scout and nurture athletes at the grassroots level was the biggest beneficiary as the allocation for sports and youth affairs was hiked substantially by Rs 351.98 crore in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday. The ambitious scheme has been allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the financial year 2025-26. This is Rs 200 crore more than the grant of Rs 800 crore in 2024-25. Overall, the Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports was designated Rs 3,794.30 crore.

“This will further strengthen sports infra, boost Khelo India and expand youth-centric development initiatives, empowering the next generation of athletes and leaders,” sports and youth affairs minister Mansukh Mandaviya posted on X, lauding the allocation for his ministry.

The increase is substantial considering there is no major sporting event like the Olympics, Commonwealth or Asian Games lined up in the next one year.

The assigned amount for assistance to National Sports Federations has also been hiked marginally from Rs 340 crore to Rs 400 crore.

India is currently pushing through with an ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games for which a letter of intent has been submitted to the International Olympic Committee.

The allocation for Sports Authority of India (SAI), the nodal body for the conduct of national camps and logistical arrangements for athletes’ training, was enhanced from Rs 815 crore to Rs 830 crore.

SAI is also responsible for maintaining and utilising stadia across the country.

A similar hike was announced for the National Dope Testing Laboratory, which will receive Rs 23 crore this financial year. It had been given Rs 18.70 crore in 2024-25.

The National Anti-Doping Agency’s budget was increased from Rs 20.30 crore to 24.30 crore.

The contribution to the National Sports Development Fund, which was created in 1998, will continue to be Rs 18 crore for a second successive year, while the government has decided to cut the grant for incentive to sportspersons from Rs 42.65 crore to Rs 37 crore this year.

Cuts were also announced to the funding for National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development and Youth Hostels. However, the contribution for multilateral bodies and youth exchange programmes has been raised from Rs 11.70 crore to Rs 55 crore.

A Rs 20 crore fund has been approved for the enhancement of sports facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, which is Rs 14 crore more than the previous year.

A massive chunk of the increased budget will be going to the National Service Scheme which will receive Rs 450 crore, a hike of Rs 200 crore from the previous year.

The National Service Scheme (NSS) aims to “develop character and personality of youth in schools and colleges.” It’s a scheme that works towards shaping youngsters through social work and community service.

Kabaddi players from Tamil Nadu, participating in an Inter-University competition in Bathinda, Punjab, were assaulted on Friday, according to reports. The fight broke out after the players were unhappy with a decision of the match referee, the reports claimed. The student-athletes from various universities such as Mother Teresa University, Periyar University, Alagappa University and Bharathiar University were competing in the North Zone Inter University & All India Inter University Kabaddi (Women) Championship 2024-25 

According to a report in India Today, the athletes were allegedly first attacked by players of a rival team. The report added that a ‘foul attack’ called against Mother Teresa University during the game with Darbhanga University resulted in an altercation. The referee of the kabaddi match attacked a member of the Mother Teresa team after argument broke out following an appeal. 

In a video which has gone viral on social media, players can be seen clashing with few men. It is not clear from the video, whether they were officials or spectators. Chairs were also hurled by both parties.  

It is shocking that Tamil Nadu women players who went to play Kabaddi in Punjab were attacked. The attack took place during a Kabadi match between Punjab and Tamil Nadu. I urge the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ji to take appropriate enquiry and action on attackers.… pic.twitter.com/vIZrG0EsVn

— Devakumaar (@DevakumaarOffcl) January 24, 2025

Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said that the girls were safe and will return to the state soon.

“There was a small incident today morning. I have spoken to the Physical Education Director, Mr Kalaiarasi. Now everything is under control. No major injuries or anything. First aid was given to the students. They will return to Delhi and they will be made to stay at Delhi House (Tamil Nadu House in Delhi) tonight. They are leaving from Delhi in the night the day after tomorrow. They will be reaching Chennai very shortly,” he said.

#WATCH | Chennai: On Kabaddi players from the state attacked in Punjab, Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin says, “There was a small incident today morning. I have spoken to the Physical Education Director, Kalaiarasi. Now everything is under control. There are no major… pic.twitter.com/C24kRLLGlI

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2025

The year is coming to an end but the heartbreaks India witnessed in the Paris Olympics 2024 continue to haunt. It’s been months since an excruciating campaign for India came to an end in Paris, fetching the Indian contingent a total of 6 medals. After the golden glory in the Olympics back in the Tokyo Games, India failed to fetch a single yellow metal in the Paris Games, with ‘Golden Boy’ Neeraj Chopra also settling for a silver medal. If one is to sum up the country’s 2024 Paris Olympics campaign, it wouldn’t conclude without highlighting the ‘near-misses’ the country witnessed.

India’s marquee shooter Manu Bhaker did manage to fetch two medals in the Paris Games, a record for an athlete from the country, but it could’ve been a hat-trick of medals for her. Here we take a look at some similar ‘near-misses’ for India in the 2024 Paris Olympics:

Arjun Babuta: Shooting remained India’s most promising sport in the Paris Games and Arjun Babuta could’ve earned India more glory in the men’s 10m air rifle event. He stood second after the 12th shot in the final, but a few unexpected errors in the final stages pushed him to fourth place, hence missing out on a bronze.

Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka: In what was another near-miss for India in shooting, the pair of Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka lost to China in the bronze medal match. The difference between the two duos at the end was just one point.

Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat: Archery has been one of India’s biggest pain points in the  Olympics. This year was no different The duo of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat delivered India’s best-ever Olympic performance in the event, yet they fell short in the bronze medal match.

Mirabai Chanu: A legend in the country’s sporting spectrum, Mirabai Chanu was expected to fight for gold in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event but ended up empty-handed. She finished in fourth place with a final score of 199 kg to her name.

Lakshya Sen: In what was a shocking year for India in badminton, Lakshya Sen emerged as India’s biggest medal hope. He ought valiantly through the rounds but eventually only finished 4th, hence missing out on a podium spot.

Manu Bhaker: Despite earning two bronze medals, Manu Bhaker would always rue the opportunity to miss out on her hat-trick of medals. She came 4th best in the women’s 25m pistol final, losing to Hungary’s Veronika Major in a shoot-off.

Vinesh Phogat: In unarguably the biggest heart-breaking moment for India from the Paris Games, Vinesh was disqualified from the 50kg women’s freestyle wrestling final. She was found 100 grams overweight in the mandator weigh-in ahead of the title match and was deemed ineligible for the bout.

Pralympians Ease India’s Olympics Pain

While the Paris Olympics Games was largely a disappointment, India did make up for the heartbreak in the following Paris Paralympics. Securing its best-ever 18th spot in the medals tally, India fetched a total of 29 medals at the event – 7 gold, 9 silver and 13 bronze. In the Tokyo Games, India had only claimed 19 medals.

India enjoyed a never-seen-before golden rush in the Paris Paralympics. The list of standout performers included the names of Avani Lekhara, Nitesh Kumar, Sumit Antil, Harvinder Singh, Dharambir, Praveen Kumar and Navdeep Singh. They all bagged the top podium spots in their respective events.

The record haul helped India cross the 50-medal mark cumulatively in its Paralympics history.

The Indian Sports Honours (ISH) is back with its fifth edition, aiming to spotlight India’s finest athletes and their remarkable performances from October 2023 to September 2024. Conceptualized by Cornerstone Sport, the honours celebrate achievements across a broad range of sports, including Olympic sports, Paralympic sports, the Asian Games, and the Commonwealth Games, along with Cricket, Squash, and Chess. This year’s event follows a detailed selection process, set to culminate in a grand honours ceremony where winners will be revealed live on stage at the JW Marriot Hotel Juhu in Mumbai on 9th November. 

Indian Sports Honours has partnered with Ernst & Young LLP (EY) acting as the Process Advisors to oversee and validate the entire selection and jury process with inputs from Sportskeeda.

The jury for this esteemed event features a distinguished panel of sports icons, led by Abhinav Bindra, a member of the IOC and India’s first individual Olympic medal, as a chairperson. Alongside him will be legendary Indian athlete and President of the IOA, P.T. Usha, former World Number One shooter, Anjali Bhagwat, and Sanjog Gupta, Head of Sports at Disney+ Star. The jury will also include Boxing Olympic Bronze medalist in 2008 Vijender Singh, Wrestling Bronze medalist in 2012, Yogeshwar Dutt, and former Indian hockey captain and player, Sardar Singh, as they all bring their combined expertise and insight into the selection process.

In a comprehensive and transparent evaluation, nominations will be shortlisted for ten prestigious Jury Honours and four Popular Choice Honours. The Jury Honours include categories such as Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, and Team of the Year, while the Popular Choice Honours allow fans to participate in recognizing their favorite athletes through online polls currently live on Twitter.

Jury Honours: Sportsman of the Year (Individual), Sportswoman of the Year (Individual), Para-Athlete of the Year (Male), Para-Athlete of the Year (Female), Coach of the Year (Male), Coach of the Year (Female), Team of the Year (Male), Team of the Year (Female), Sportsman of the Year (Team), and Sportswoman of the Year (Team).

Popular Choice Honours: Breakthrough Performance of the Year (Male), Breakthrough Performance of the Year (Female), Fan Club of the Year, and Club of the Year.

In addition to the established categories, there will also be a Lifetime Achievement Honour, and a new Grassroots Initiative of the Year Honour that has been introduced this year. This honour seeks to facilitate organizations and individuals making significant contributions to the development of sports at the grassroots level. By focusing on the promotion and nurturing of young talent, this initiative aims to inspire a culture of sportsmanship from the ground up. The honour will recognize those who have successfully implemented programs that engage, educate, and empower aspiring athletes, creating pathways for future sports stars. The recognition of these programs will motivate others to follow the same path, laying down a definite pathway for future athletes.

Bunty Sajdeh, CEO Cornerstone Sport said, “We’re thrilled to return with the fifth edition of Indian Sports Honours. This platform allows us to celebrate India’s finest sporting talent and share their journeys with a larger audience. Their journeys, combined with the support from fans, inspires us to make the event bigger and better every year.”

The Indian Sports Honours is a prestigious event that brings together India’s sports community and entertainment icons to celebrate our nation’s athletes. This powerful convergence of sportsmanship and entertainment shines a spotlight on the dedication, talent, and spirit of our athletes, making it an unforgettable celebration of excellence.

Hours after the messed up state of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium following a two-day concert by singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh triggered outrage, its owner, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), said that the iconic venue has been cleaned up and is ready to host its next sporting engagement on October 31. Widespread littering at the end of Dosanjh’s ‘Dil-Luminati’ concert on Saturday and Sunday, that drew nearly 40,000 fans each night, led to sharp criticism from Delhi-based athletes who regularly train at the stadium.

It wasn’t the first time that such an event was held at the venue, which has hosted concerts by top international stars such as Bryan Adams (2004) and Ricky Martin (1998) in the past. But the after-effects of Dosanjh’s gig were heavily criticised by the athletes.

SAI sprung into action once the criticism went viral across social media and issued a statement to say that the competition area and its surroundings have been restored.

“The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Main Arena will be in top shape to host the Indian Super League (ISL) football match between Punjab FC and Chennaiyin FC on October 31, 2024 (Thursday). The turf has been restored to match playing condition before the Diwali game,” the SAI stated along with pictures of the restored venue.

Earlier, Delhi’s middle-distance runner Beant Singh posted images and a video of the stadium’s track and field area which was littered with garbage, alcohol containers and damaged athletics equipment.

“This is where athletes train, but here people had alcohol, danced and partied. Because of these kind of things, the stadium will remain close for 10-10 days. The athletics equipment like the hurdles have been broken and thrown here and there,” he wrote on the Instagram.

“This is the situation of sport, sportspersons and stadium in India…medals do not come in the Olympics because there is no respect and support for sportspersons in this country.” The 25-year-old Singh had won a silver and a bronze in the 2014 and 2018 National Open Championships respectively.

The SAI, on its part, said that its contract with the concert organisers was very clear — the stadium would be returned to the body in the “same condition that it was handed over to them.” “The organisers of Diljit Dosanjh’s concert had booked the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium till October 28, 2024 for cleaning at full rental charges,” it stated.

A Delhi coach told PTI that some athletes have written to the SAI, requesting for compensation as their hurdles and boxes containing starting blocks and other equipment such as shot put, discus and medicine balls have been damaged.

“Each hurdle costs Rs 3000-4000 and you need 10 hurdles for 400m hurdles, or 100m hurdles or 110m hurdles race. These young athletes have arranged money to buy these equipment and it is not easy for them.

“The locks of the boxes containing starting blocks and other equipment such as shot put, discus and medicine balls have been damaged and broken. So, some equipment have been damaged,” the coach said on condition of anonymity.

“So, the athletes have written to the SAI for compensation and let us see what happens.” He said the athletes have been told not to train inside the stadium till October 31.

“They will not been able to train inside the stadium tracks for 10 days till October 31. We are doing training at the outside track but the condition is not good there.

“It has disturbed the training schedule of the athletes. We have the National Junior Championships and national school competition coming up.” This is not the first time that the JLN Stadium has been left in such a messy condition after public functions attended by large crowds.

“Athletes who train here have voiced their disappointment in the past also but nothing has changed,” said a track and field athlete from Delhi on conditions of anonymity.

Currently, the stadium is not hosting any national camp. It is, however, part of the ‘Come and Play’ scheme of SAI, which allows children and beginners to use the stadium’s facilities free of cost for training purposes.

The venue was constructed to hold the athletics competitions of the 1982 Asian Games. It was renovated for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and both the opening and closing ceremonies of that showpiece were held here.