FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced sharp criticism at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on October 15, 2026, after apologising for failing to consult members over his abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan. The proposal involved selling a stake in FIFA’s commercial operations to private investors. English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt questioned Infantino’s suitability to lead FIFA, while German football chief Bernd Neuendorf demanded governance reforms and greater transparency. Officials also raised concerns about the Folarin Balogun disciplinary case and FIFA’s Peace Prize for Donald Trump. Infantino’s future remains under scrutiny ahead of the March 2027 presidential election. (PC: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India’s performance at the 2026 Asian Games, where the country finished fourth in the medal tally for the second consecutive edition, winning 85 medals, including 21 golds. Addressing medal winners at New Delhi’s Dhyan Chand Stadium, Modi said India’s sporting ecosystem had developed considerably over the past 12 years. He highlighted medals in sports where India had not previously reached the podium and celebrated double golds in cricket, kabaddi and hockey. Modi particularly praised the women’s hockey team for ending a 44-year wait for gold. Both Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams won gold medals at the continental event held in Japan’s Aichi and Nagoya.

Indian wrestler Vishvajit More created history on October 14, 2026, by becoming the first Indian to reach the Greco-Roman final at the U23 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas, USA. Competing in the 55kg category, More defeated Russia’s Malik Gigiev 7–4 in the semifinals after earlier victories over Mexico’s Isaac Marin Mata and Iran’s Armin Shamsipour. A two-time U23 World Championships bronze medallist, More will face Georgia’s Koba Karumidze in the final. Victory would make him India’s first Greco-Roman gold medallist at the U23 World Championships, marking a significant milestone for Indian wrestling. (PC: X)

Indian women’s hockey captain Salima Tete has urged authorities to improve mobile connectivity and drinking water facilities in her native village, Barki Chhapar, in Jharkhand’s Simdega district. Despite leading India to a historic Asian Games gold medal on October 2, 2026, her village continues to lack basic infrastructure. Poor network coverage prevents residents from making calls, accessing the internet and receiving important messages. Tete submitted a letter to the district administration requesting urgent action. Her father has even offered land for a mobile tower, but the issue remains unresolved, highlighting rural India’s persistent digital divide. 

Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium will host an exhibition match between Real Madrid Legends and Barcelona Legends on November 25, 2026, West Bengal sports minister Indranil Khan announced. In a post on X, he confirmed the fixture at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, although the full squads for the highly anticipated Legends Faceoff are yet to be revealed. Last year, the event took place at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, where Carles Puyol led Barcelona Legends and Luis Figo captained Real Madrid Legends. Barcelona Legends previously played in Kolkata in 2018, defeating Mohun Bagan veterans 6-0. Ronaldinho’s participation remains uncertain following his appearance at Miami’s Legends Cup last week. (PC: X)

India’s Smriti Mandhana has retained the top position in the latest ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings, released on Tuesday. The Indian batter holds the No. 1 spot with 790 rating points, continuing her strong presence in international cricket.   Australia’s Ellyse Perry has returned to the top 10 after her recent performances against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and Megan Schutt have also improved their positions in the ODI bowling rankings. The latest update reflects changes following the ongoing Australia-Bangladesh series, with Australia leading 2-0. Mandhana’s continued position at the top highlights her consistency in the 50-over format. (PC: X)

Renee Noronha, 20, has made history by completing the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, becoming the youngest Indian woman to finish the prestigious event. The gruelling race covers 226.2 kilometres, including a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre cycling section and a 42.2-kilometre marathon. Noronha proudly represented India after months of preparation for one of the world's toughest endurance challenges. An IIT Madras student pursuing a BSc in Data Science and Applications, she has already completed multiple full-distance Ironman races. Her achievement highlights her determination and could inspire more young Indian women to take up endurance sports. (PC: X)

Anvay Dravid, son of former India captain Rahul Dravid, smashed 85 off 41 balls to help Karnataka U19 defeat Delhi by 198 runs in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy on Monday.   The 17-year-old struck 7 sixes and 5 boundaries while batting at No. 4, helping Karnataka post 418/4. Delhi, led by Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, could not match the target. Aaryavir scored 32 off 35 balls.   Anvay had also scored 104 off 62 balls against Chandigarh in his previous match, continuing his impressive form in the under-19 tournament. (PC: NDTV)

Indian karting talent Atiqa Mir has joined Kart Republic (KR), a team known for helping develop Formula 1 champions, including Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The 11-year-old from Srinagar secured the mid-season move after impressing team owner Dino Chiesa with her performances in European karting competitions. She will compete in the OKJ category over the next 2 years, gaining experience against international drivers. Earlier this season, Atiqa secured pole position in Italy’s Champions of the Future Academy series and swept the second round in Greece. She aims to become the first woman to reach Formula 1 since 1992.  

Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself the greatest footballer in history. In an interview with CNN Portugal, the Portugal forward said his goals and current form were not getting enough recognition. “People are not valuing the form I am in, my goals,” Ronaldo said. “The numbers speak for themselves,” he added. The 40-year-old is reportedly suspended from the national team following a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus. The disagreement came after Ronaldo warmed up but did not play in Portugal’s 4-2 win over Denmark. His long-time rival Lionel Messi has also received praise following Argentina’s World Cup success.