UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF have jointly criticised FIFA President Gianni Infantino over a plan to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup. The plan was later dropped after strong opposition. The three football bodies said the issue was not just poor communication but a serious failure of judgement. They accused FIFA of pushing the proposal without proper consultation. They also said the process broke trust with football’s governing bodies. The groups called for an independent review of the issue. The statement increases pressure on Infantino ahead of the FIFA presidential election in March. His chances of winning another term could now face a challenge. (PC: AP)

Boxer Sakshi Chaudhary’s decision to move from 54kg to 51kg has helped her win Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow. She made the change after Preeti Pawar secured India’s 54kg spot. Sakshi trained at the Army Sports Institute in Pune and lost around 3kg through a strict diet and training plan. She later beat two world champions at the selection trials. Sakshi defeated Nikhat Zareen 4-1 in the semi-final and Minakshi 5-0 in the final. Coaches praised her speed, footwork and strength. She now faces tougher competition at the Asian Games and hopes to continue improving ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. (PC: PTI)

Delhi has brought in “monkey whisperers” and new anti-bird measures ahead of the BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. A four-member team will keep monkeys away by copying langur warning calls. Organisers are also working to stop pigeons from entering the stadium. Vents and other entry points have been sealed. A non-toxic gel used by the Railways has been applied to stop birds from nesting. Ten machines that produce predator bird sounds have also been installed. The stadium has also upgraded 80 toilets and refurbished locker rooms. The tournament will begin on January 17.

Indian heavyweight boxer Narender Berwal shared a humorous anecdote with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with India’s 2026 Commonwealth Games medal winners. Berwal recalled defeating a Pakistani boxer at the 2015 World Military Games, after which his opponent reportedly joked that Berwal, his coach and India’s Prime Minister all had similar names. The boxer then said he had “started hating the name Narendra.” Modi reportedly burst into laughter while hearing the story. Berwal won a silver medal in the men’s 90kg boxing category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The interaction highlighted the lighter side of sporting rivalry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised boxer Lovlina Borgohain for objecting to a distorted map of India displayed at a restaurant in Glasgow during the 2026 Commonwealth Games. During a meeting with Indian Commonwealth champions, Modi highlighted Borgohain’s decision to speak up despite being in a celebratory mood after her silver-medal victory in the 75kg category. Borgohain said she politely pointed out the incorrect depiction and the restaurant subsequently made corrections. The Assam-born boxer’s action drew attention to the importance of accurately representing India’s territory. Modi called her response thoughtful and praised her awareness in raising the issue. (PC: PTI)

Carnatic vocalist and public intellectual T.M. Krishna has criticised the Indian hockey team’s decision to replace its traditional blue shirts with saffron kits, calling the move “deeply problematic”. Speaking at the Alipore Jail Museum in Calcutta, Krishna said blue symbolises resistance to oppression, citing the Indigo Revolt, Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran satyagraha and B.R. Ambedkar’s association with the colour. He argued that removing blue alienates Dalits, queer people and other marginalised communities. Hockey India has cited visibility issues on blue turf and saffron’s national significance for the change ahead of the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15. Former players, administrators and Opposition leaders have criticised the move. (PC: Barbican)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India’s medallists from the 2026 Commonwealth Games and shared a reel with them, using the message, “Jo Khelega Vo Khilega.” The Games were held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 1, with India finishing fourth on the medal tally behind Australia, England and Scotland. India won 39 medals, comprising 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze. Despite several sports that have traditionally contributed significantly to India’s medal haul being absent from this edition, the country produced a strong performance. Athletics contributed 16 medals, including three gold, seven silver and three bronze. Boxing delivered 10 medals, while weightlifting won eight and powerlifting added one.

Indian badminton player Ashmita Chaliha created history by becoming the first Indian to win the Korea Masters women’s singles title. The 26-year-old defeated China’s fourth-seeded Han Qian Xi 14-21, 21-14, 21-14 in the final. Ashmita lost the first game but made a strong comeback in the next two games. She had struggled with the court conditions early in the match. Ashmita returned to competition in May after a three-month injury break. She had also reached the quarterfinals at the China Masters and Malaysia Masters. The win is expected to take her into the world’s top 40.  

Sarfaraz Khan has been added to India’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan has been ruled out after failing to recover from a stress reaction in his right toe, sustained during India A’s tour of Sri Lanka. Sarfaraz’s selection marks his return to the Indian Test side after more than a year. The Mumbai batter now has an opportunity to strengthen India’s middle order ahead of the series opener in Galle on August 15. His inclusion also adds experience as India prepares for a challenging overseas Test assignment. (PC: X)

India pacer Mohammed Siraj surprised everyone with a powerful batting display against Sri Lanka in a warm-up match. India needed 16 runs from the final over to reach the target of 207. Siraj hit three straight sixes in the last over to finish the game. He had already hit one six in the previous over. India had reached 191/4 before the final over. Although the match was technically over after Siraj’s three sixes, both teams continued playing as warm-up rules allowed it. Siraj remained unbeaten on 32 runs from 15 balls. His performance showed his growing confidence with the bat.