junior national championships

Three teenage boxers from Chandigarh have earned spots in the Indian squad for the upcoming Asian U-17 Boxing Championships in Tashkent. Ranveer (65kg), Gurseerat Kaur (80+kg), and Ishika (60kg) will represent the nation, showcasing Chandigarh's growing boxing talent on the international stage.

Manipur judoka Inunganbi Takhellambam, overcoming arduous journeys and early setbacks, achieved a historic bronze at the Asian Judo Championships. This marks a significant milestone after years of dedication, with her sights now set on the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Her journey highlights resilience and the pursuit of excellence in Indian sports.

Eighteen-year-old Shahnavaz Khan shattered the junior national long jump record with an 8.23m leap, surpassing Murali Sreeshankar's mark. His coach highlights a significant mental transformation alongside physical development. Khan aims to qualify for the Asian Games and has the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as his ultimate goal, driven by intense dedication.

A 13-year-old student, Rueisha Kharsel, tragically died after being struck by a hockey ball during a school training session in Guirim. The incident occurred on the last day of school before summer vacations. She was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead, and an unnatural death case has been registered.

British sprinter CJ Ujah, a sub-10-second 100m runner and 2017 World Championship relay gold medalist, faced a significant setback after a doping violation at the Tokyo Olympics. Following a 22-month ban for a non-intentional violation linked to supplements, Ujah has returned to competition and is working to rebuild his athletic career.

After finishing his exhortations before the NHL Draft, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson confirmed Norway-born Swedish prospect Ivar Stenberg in the latest NFL trade rumors to have been highly touted. Swedish prospect Ivar Stenberg has been in plenty of news regarding trades around the NFL before Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson singled him out as being an absolutely admired prospect. Stenberg is another leading pick of the draft, along with Gavin McKenna.

Bhubaneswar gears up to host the Junior & Senior Artistic Gymnastics National Championships from April 25 to May 3, featuring over 600 gymnasts. This crucial event will shape selections for major international competitions like the Asian Championships and Asian Games. All eyes are on star gymnast Pranati Nayak as she aims for a strong comeback.

Odisha's Tapan Mohanty clinched the Senior Men's Artistic Gymnastics all-around title at the National Championship in Bhubaneswar with a commanding 73.433 score. Haryana's Yogeshwar Singh and Shreyas Choudhari secured silver and bronze respectively. The host state also advanced to the Senior MAG Team Championship Final, showcasing impressive gymnastics prowess.

The Indian Golf Union (IGU), the National Sports Federation recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and International Golf Federation (IGF), will send a three-member Indian team to compete in the prestigious Queen Sirikit Cup next month at the Sentul Highlands Golf Club in Bogor, Indonesia.

Daily wage earner's son is part of the junior Indian team to take part in Asian MTB meet

District-level teams from across Tamil Nadu will participate in the event, which is being organized with the approval of Hockey India.

Odisha sprinter Pratik Maharana is set to compete at the National Junior Athletics Federation meet. He aims to run under 21 seconds in the 200m. This event serves as a final trial for the U20 World Athletics Championships in Lima. Maharana's journey includes overcoming family support issues and the pandemic.

Piyush Raj, inspired by army recruitment training, honed his skills running on Kaimur hills and Son river banks. His dedication paid off at the U20 Federation Cup, where he secured second place in the 400m with a personal best of 46.62s, qualifying for the U20 Asian and World Championships.

Thirty-one Odisha athletes compete in the National Junior Athletics Federation Competition. Several aim for U20 World and Asian Athletics qualification. Shot putter Ommkar Prasad Nanda targets a personal best and qualification mark. Sprinter Pratik Maharana has already achieved a U20 Worlds qualifying mark. Other athletes also strive for success and medals.

Nausheen Naz, a 15-year-old hockey prodigy, trains for the Under-18 Asia Cup. Hailing from Seoni, she overcame poverty and used a broken stick to hone her skills. The MP Hockey Academy provided her with training and equipment. Naz is now India's exciting women's hockey forward prospect. Her journey highlights talent emerging from humble beginnings.

Early this week the 13-year-old girl from Pipra, Aurangabad, in Bihar, was selected for the Sub-junior Asian Boxing Championship to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from May 1-16 after coming out on top during the trials held in Patiala.

In this exclusive interview, Vincent Keymer reflected on his rise from winning the Grenke Open at 13 to claiming the Grenke Freestyle 2026 title in Karlsruhe. Germany’s No. 1 spoke about freestyle chess relying more on intuition, handling the “intimidation factor” of Magnus Carlsen, and balancing school with chess while growing up in a family of musicians. Keymer also praised coach Péter Lékó and discussed the challenges young chess players face in Germany compared to countries like India.

Fernando Mendoza’s No. 1 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft caps a journey shaped deeply by family. Raised by a physician father and a former athlete mother battling multiple sclerosis, Mendoza drew strength from both discipline and adversity. His emotional Heisman speech highlighted that bond. Alongside strong Cuban roots and a competitive upbringing with his brothers, Mendoza developed leadership qualities that defined Indiana’s historic season, making his rise as much personal as it is athletic.

Tamil Nadu's chess prowess shines as R Vaishali eyes the Women's World Championship after her Candidates victory. Young A S Sharvaanica's U12 rapid title further highlights the state's growing talent. While these successes inspire, experts note the need for greater support and sponsorship to elevate women's chess participation and achieve global dominance.