International and Indian elite runners brace to battle for honours at Mumbai Marathon

IANS | January 16, 2026 9:00 PM

Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS) Sunday's running of the Mumbai Marathon is set to witness a high-quality clash of global pedigree and domestic excellence as elite athletes from across the world, including Ethiopia, Uganda, and Eritrea, line up alongside India’s most accomplished distance runners for the upcoming edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race.

Pune Grand Tour 2026: Indian riders gear up for Olympic Pathway Challenge

IANS | January 16, 2026 8:26 PM

Pune, Jan 16 (IANS) The upcoming Pune Grand Tour 2026, the first UCI 2.2 Continental Cycling Road Race of the country, is a key event not only for Indian riders but also for Indian cycling, as both will benefit from this mega event, said Maxat Ayazabayev, Chief Coach of the national cycling team, on Friday.

WPL 2026: Shivani handed debut as GG elect to bowl first against unbeaten RCB

IANS | January 16, 2026 7:31 PM

Navi Mumbai, Jan 16 (IANS) Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Shivani Singh has been handed her debut in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 as Gujarat Giants (GG) won the toss and elected to bowl first against the unbeaten Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a clash at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday.

Past few days in India have been tougher; it's difficult to see how World C'ships could be held here: Mia Blitchfeldt

IANS | January 16, 2026 6:17 PM

New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) A day after her Round of 16 exit from the BWF India Open badminton tournament, Danish woman shuttler Mia Blitchfeldt once again expressed her disappointment over hygiene conditions at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, stating that before coming to India she had mentally prepared herself for “the worst” and added it is "very difficult to see how a World Championship could be held here."

Cycling: Global peloton assembles in Pune as international teams begin arriving ahead of Grand Tour event

IANS | January 16, 2026 4:55 PM

Pune, Jan 16 (IANS) The countdown for the start of the historic Pune Grand Tour 2026, India’s first UCI 2.2 multi-stage road race, is well underway, as Pune welcomed international teams from across Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania. The arrival of overseas contingents marks another milestone in the build-up to the race, scheduled from January 19 to 23 over four stages and spanning 437 km across the diverse terrain of Pune District.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape's culture key to their success in SA20: Boucher

IANS | January 16, 2026 4:41 PM

New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) The remarkable team culture, instilled by coach Adrian Birrell, has been instrumental in Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) becoming the first team to reach the playoffs of the ongoing SA20, said former South Africa captain and coach Mark Boucher.