Alpine skier Mohammad Arif Khan was already in the news when he became the first Indian to win a quota in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. He is now the first Indian to qualify for two events in the winter Olympics. He now has qualified for the giant slalom event in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
The Jammu and Kashmir based skier first qualified in the alpine skiing slalom category. He ranked ninth, 10th and twice finished 11th in the four slalom rounds in the Dubai event.
Image - facebook/JSWSports
There are five events in Alpine skiing - downhill, super G, slalom, giant slalom and combined. Arif Khan now has qualified in slalom and giant slalom events.
Arif already has represented India in more than 100 events. Now, he will have the opportunity to participate in two events in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
His promoter JSW Sports confirmed the news for every Indian to know about it.
"JSW-supported Alpine skier Arif Khan, who had earlier earned a provisional quota for the slalom event at the 2022 Winter Olympics, has now qualified for the giant slalom event as well."
JSW Sports confirmed the news of the historic moment
The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will take place from February 4 to 20. The men's slalom event will be held on February 16.
India had two representatives in the 2018 Winter Games -Jagdish Singh (cross country skiing) and Shiva Keshavan (luge). However, Arif Khan is the only person to have qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics so far.
After bidding goodbye to an eventful 2024, an exciting 2025 awaits sports fans as far as India are concerned. India will host several big competitions across sports this year. Here’s the complete list of major sports events in India 2025.
The year 2025 is going to be exciting for Indian sports fans as it promises an action-packed calendar. This includes world events in hockey, squash, boxing, badminton, shooting and cricket, alongside the National Games and Khelo India competitions. The country is set to witness a wide range of sporting events this year.
After bidding goodbye to an eventful 2024, an exciting 2025 awaits sports fans as far as India are concerned. India will host several big competitions across sports this year, including the Women’s ODI World Cup and the Para World Athletics Championships.
Apart from hosting competitions, India will also take part in several multi-nation tournaments internationally, including the ICCChampions Trophy which will be held in a hybrid model with matches taking place in Pakistan and UAE.
Several Indian athletes and teams, including the likes of Neeraj Chopra and Manu Bhaker, will be in action this year. The India women’s cricket team will hope to end a long wait to possibly clinch the Women’s ODI World Cup.
Here’s the complete list of major sports events in India 2025.
Major sports events in India 2025
Event
Sport
Location
Dates
Ireland Women tour of India
Cricket
Various
January 10-15
Kho Kho World Cup
Kho Kho
New Delhi
January 13-19
India Open
Badminton
New Delhi
January 14-19
Mumbai Marathon
Athletics
Mumbai
January 19
Khelo India Winter Games
Multiple
Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir
January 23 - February 25
England tour of India
Cricket
Various
January 22 - February 12
National Games
Multiple
Uttarakhand
January 28 - February 14
Davis Cup World Group I play-offs
Tennis
New Delhi
February 1-2
Chennai Open
Tennis
Chennai
February 3-9
Delhi Open
Tennis
New Delhi
February 10-16
FIH Pro League
Hockey
Bhubaneswar
February 15-25
Pune Challenger
Tennis
Pune
February 17-23
Women’s Premier League
Cricket
Various
February 21 - March 16
Bengaluru Open
Tennis
Bengaluru
February 24 - March 2
WTT Youth Contender Vadodara
Table Tennis
Vadodara
February 26 - March 1
World Para Athletics Grand Prix
Athletics
New Delhi
March 11-13
Indian Premier League
Cricket
Various
March 14 - May 25
Indian Open
Golf
New Delhi
March 27-30
Khelo India Youth Games and Para Games
Multiple
Bihar
April
First Indian Open World Athletics Bronze Level Continental Tour
Happy Raksha Bandhan: Top 4 brother-sister duo of Indian sports
On the auspicious evening of Happy Raksha Bandhan 2024, we present you the top four brother-sister duos of Indian sports who made India proud with national and international success.
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In the realm of sports, the journey of Indian badminton has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the years, the nation has witnessed the rise of several talented players who have conquered the international stage with their finesse and skill. Among these athletes, there are some who not only share a passion for badminton but have also found love in each other's company. These couples have not only excelled together on the court but have also built enduring partnerships off it. Let's delve into the stories of some of the most notable Indian badminton players who married each other.
Indian badminton players who married each other
Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap
Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap come at the first in that loveable list of Indian badminton players who married each other. Image- ESPN
Saina Nehwal, a former world number one and an Olympic bronze medalist, and Parupalli Kashyap, an accomplished badminton player himself, met during their training sessions at the Gopichand Academy. Their friendship blossomed into love, and they eventually tied the knot in 14 December 2018. Both have represented India in numerous international tournaments and have been a source of inspiration for aspiring shuttlers.
Everyone referred to this sensational couple as 'a match made in heaven' on social media. That is why they come at the first in that loveable list of Indian badminton players who married each other.
Sikki Reddy and B. Sumeeth Reddy come at the second in that loveable list of Indian badminton players who married each other. Image- Sportskeeda
Sikki Reddy, known for her prowess in doubles badminton, found her match in B. Sumeeth Reddy, a seasoned doubles player himself. They first met in 2001 at a badminton summer camp. Their partnership blossomed into love, and they eventually exchanged vows on 23 February 2019 in Hyderabad. Together, they navigate the highs and lows of professional badminton, drawing strength from each other's presence and unwavering support.
Pullela Gopichand and PVV Lakshmi
Pullela Gopichand and PVV Lakshmi. Image-Book of Achievers
Other badminton players who married each other are Pullela Gopichand and PVV Lakshmi. In the annals of Indian badminton, few names resonate as profoundly as Pullela Gopichand, the iconic coach who has sculpted champions, and PVV Lakshmi, his steadfast partner who has stood by his side through triumphs and tribulations. Theirs is a tale of love, dedication, and shared passion for the sport that has defined their lives and united their hearts.
Gopichand married fellow badminton player PVV Lakshmi on 5 June 2002. They have two children, a daughter named Gayathri a son named Vishnu. Their daughter Gayathri w won the 2015 U-13 National Badminton Champion.
Arun Vishnu and Arundhati Pantawane
Arun Vishnu and Arundhati Pantawane. Image- The Fan Garage
The fourth love birds who come at the fourth position in the list of Indian badminton players who married each other are Arun Vishnu and Arundhati Pantawane. Ranchi National Games gold medalist Arundhati of Nagpur and multiple national games double champion, Vishnu from Kerala tied the knot in Nagpur in 2017 after dating for five long years. They train at the Gopichand Academy and have represented India in a few tournaments. Arun Vishnu has coached the Chennai Smashers in PBL 2027 and is now a full time coach of Indian Badminton team.
Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Pradnya Gadre
Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Pradnya Gadre. Image- Sportswire
The last but not least, Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Pradnya Gadre are the another couple who come in the list of Indian badminton players who married each other. Pranaav and Pradnya married on 13 December 2017. They met on a badminton court, became friends and later went on to play mixed doubles together at various national and international tournaments.
Pranaav proposed Pradnya on the court with a shuttlecock and she readily accepted it. Now Pranaav continues to play mix doubles pairing Sikki Reddy whereas Pradnya is now a doubles coach at the Gopichand Academy.
Love, both on and off the field, has its own magic, and as we celebrate Valentine's Day, what better way to revel in the spirit of romance than by exploring the heartwarming tales of Indian sports couples? Beyond the victories and defeats, these athletes have found love in each other, creating a symphony of passion and companionship. In this special feature, we dive into the lives of the Top 8 Indian Sports Couples, unravelling their unique stories that go beyond the sports arena.
Top 10 Indian Sports Couples and their stories
Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap
Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap tied knot in 2018.
The Indian badminton stars are one of the most prominent Indian Sports Couples. Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap met each other through badminton in 1997. But they started meeting each other in 2002 when they trained together in Hyderabad. They started dating in 2004 when they started training under Pullela Gopichand. Though at first, they decided to keep it a secret and appeared in public just as close friends. Finally, they broke out as a couple and got married in 2018.
"We dated for a long, long time. It was childish that we hid it from all our friends. We would be very secretive about it. We were shy and scared," Kashyap said about their early dating life. Both the badminton stars have been a motivating force for their partners through tough times with injuries and forms. Since mid-2018, Kashyap started coaching Saina as well.
Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal are one of Indian Sports Couples who do not belong to the same sports. Dinesh Karthik, a prominent name in Indian cricket and Dipika Pallikal, one of the best squash players in the country met each other in a gym. Dipika, who did not use to like cricketers due to their popularity, cleared his misconceptions about Indian Cricketers when she started having a friendship with Dinesh. Soon, they started going out and the friendship turned into love.
On 15 November 2013, the couple made their relationship official with an engagement ceremony and later married in 2015 in Chennai. The couple now are blessed with two twin baby boys.
Milkha Singh and Nimrla Kuar got married in 1962. Image | Hindustan Times
Milkha Singha and Nirmal Kaur were probably the first-ever Indian Sports Couple. Mikha Singh, a sensational track and field athlete met Nirmal Kaur, the then captain of the Indian Volleyball Women's team during a tour in Sri Lanka. "It was in 1957 during the Indo-Ceylon sports meet that I met Nirmal for the first time," Milkha Singh had told The Tribuneduring an interview.
In 1962, Milkha Singh and Nirmal Kaur got married and they had three daughters and a son. India's golf sensation Jeev Milkha Singh is their son. Both Milkha Singh and Nirmal Kaur passed away in a difference of five days in 2021 due to Covid-19.
Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari met eachother in 2008 at Tata Academy. Image | Getty Images
The biggest names of Indian Archery, Atanu Das and Deepika Kumari first met each other in 2008 at Tata Academy in Jamshedpur. The early days of their relationship were filled with misunderstandings, communication gaps, and two big egos. Since Atanu was not very good with his Hindi, he never used to talk with Deepika in their early days. "He didn't know Hindi then, so he wouldn't talk to me," Deepika told Indian Express in an interview.
Though they used to fight over small things during their time in training, the duo started liking each other during the 2017 World Championships and started going out shopping together. They got engaged the following year and tied the knot on 30 June 2020.
Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat got married in November 2020. Image | DNA India
One of the biggest names in Indian Wrestling Bajrang Punia and Sangeet Phogat found their love in their profession. Both wrestlers first met each other at a wrestling camp in Sonepat and started liking each other. Bajrang would send his phone number to Sangeeta expecting to get a reply from her. However, Sangeeta did not reply to her. But, the next day they met each other in training and expressed liking for each other. The wrestlers got married in November 2020.
Pullela Gopichand and PVV Lakshmi
Pullela Gopichand married PVV Lakshmi in 2002
Pullela Gopichand, the backbone of the Indian badminton revolution found his love in the Badminton court itself. PVV Lakshmi, the 8-time national champion married Gopichand on June 5 2002. Gopichand rose to fame after winning the All England Badminton Championships in 2001 and won the Arjuna Award that year as well. Meanwhile, PVV Lakshmi was the first-ever Indian women shuttler to qualify for the Olympics. She featured in the 1992 & 1996 Olympics.
PVV Lakshmi stood as a pillar of strength for Gopichand when he started building the Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. Lakshmi would help Pullela with some monetary help during their early days of building the academy. They even went on to mortgage their family home to raise money for the academy. They have two children, a daughter named Gayathri and a son named Vishnu. Gayathri is already a rising name in World Badminton.
Anju Bobby George and Robert Bobby George
Anju and Robert have two kids together. Image | Onmanorama
The queen of Indian Athletics Anju Bobby George and former triple jump National champion come at number seven in our list of Indian Sports Couples. Anju Bobby George was the first Indian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships when she won the bronze in the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris. At that time Robert used to be her coach and after her historic medal in 2003, Robert won the Dronacharya award in 2004 as well.
Sakshi Malik and Satyawart Kadian
Sakshi and Satyawart got married in 2017. Image | India.com
It looks like wrestlers find their love in their sport more than often. Sakshi Malik, the Rio Olympic Bronze Medal winner and Satyawart Kadian, a silver medalist in the 2014 Commonwealth Games used to go to the same school as teenagers.
Though Satyawart used to be a heavyweight champion since his early days, she used to always shy away from Sakshi Malik, the star of his school. However, the two started bonding with time and supported each other in tough times. Satyawart missed the Rio Olympics berth by one second but kept on supporting Sakshi even though he was having a tough time personally. They both tied the knot in 2017 after Sakshi's historical medal in 2016.
The 2024 Super Cup (known as the Kalinga Super Cup 2024) is the 4th edition of the Super Cup and the 42nd season of the national knockout football competition in India. Odisha were the defending champions after defeating Bengaluru in the 2023 final at the EMS Stadium in Kozhikode. East Bengal FC are the newly crowned champions after beating Odisha 3-2 in the Final and they have been directly qualified for the 2024â25AFC Champions League2 preliminary stage.
The 2024 edition of the competition was an exciting one and we witnessed some of the brilliant players giving their all for their respective sides. So, It's time we look at the Top Goal Scorers of the Kalinga Super Cup 2024.
The 36-year-old Brazilian centre forward, Cleiton Silva finished at the top of the list with 5 goals to his name. He joined East Bengal FC last season on a free transfer and since joining, he has been the club captain and the most crucial part of the club's attacking line.
Daniel Chima Chukwu, the 32-year-old Nigerian striker is second on this list alongside Diego Mauricio,Ahmed Jahouh, Dimitrios Diamantakos, Carlos Martinez, Nestor Albiach, and the Indian youngster, Ayush Chhikara. These seven forwards have scored 3 goals each for their respective sides. Diego Mauricio and Ahmed Jahouh led their side Odisha FC to the FInal of the tournament but it was Cleiton Silva who scored the Extra Time winner for East Bengal to lift the title.
Nandha Kumar and Saul Crespo have been influential for the Red & Gold Brigade. They also scored the first two goals in the final against The Kalinga Warriors. It was Nandha who scored the equaliser and Saul then provided his side with the lead. It is very much evident that, not only East Bengal won the title but they pretty puch dominated the tournament completely. They had to beat the defending Champions Odisha FC and ultimately they did beat them in an intense and exciting finale at the Kalinga Stadium.
Kalinga Super Cup 2024 Top Goalscorer List ( Top 10)
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