Sports

Story so far: The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 23, 2025), minutes before being adjourned amid Opposition protests. The Bill, which is one of eight legislations listed for introduction in the ongoing Parliament monsoon session, seeks to regulate the various sports administrators in India. The Bill constitutes a National Sports Board (NSB) which will oversee all sports federations, including India’s richest sports body – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

“I did a series of consultations with NSFs, athletes, coaches, also got 600 inputs from the public when the draft was put online for suggestions,” said Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya ahead of the monsoon session. He added that international bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA too were involved while drafting the Bill. 

However, two sports body which have opposed the Bill are BCCI and Indian Olympic Association (IOA), citing curtailing of autonomy. 

Here’s a look at what the Bill entails and what is being opposed:

National Sports Body

Recognised sport organisations will be governed by newly established national sports bodies such as – National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, and National and Regional Sports Federations for each designated sport. Each national or regional sports federation will have international recognition by the concerned international sports governing body. 

Each of the above national sports bodies will have a General body, a 15-member Executive Committee with at least four women members, an ethics Committee, a dispute resolution committee, and an Athletes committee. Election to the executive committee for a four-year term is limited to Indian sportspersons above the age of 25 years but below 70 years. Persons between 70 and 75 years may contest elections, if permitted by bye-laws, and shall serve a full term. The government can approve government servants to seek election in the above committee.

National Sports Board (NSB)

A National Sports Board (NSB) will be established, which has the powers to recognise, suspend or cancel registrations of sports organisations. Its powers also include – (i) conducting inquiry on matters affecting welfare of sportspersons, development of sports in the country or misuse of public funds (ii) issue guidelines for Code of Ethics by sport bodies, constitute administrative bodies (iii) frame Safe Sports Policy for the protection and safety of women, minor athletes and others (iv) maintain roster of the National Sports Election panel which will oversee free and fair elections to the Executive Committees and the Athletes Committee of the National Sports Bodies. 

The NSB will also collaborate with International and national sports bodies to ensure compliance with the international standards, protection of the rights of athletes and support personnel. The board can suspend or cancel recognition of a sports body if its international recognition is suspended/cancelled, if it violates any part of this Act, if it has failed to hold elections, publish its annual audited accounts for misused, misapplied, or misappropriated any public funds. No sports organisation will be recognised unless it is a registered society, an incorporated not-for-profit company or a registered trust.

The Centre is empowered to appoint officers and employees to discharge NSB’s functions.

Election panel and tribunal

A National Sports Election Panel comprising of retired Chief/State Election Commissioner and other such electoral officers will be constituted, and every sports organisation shall appoint an electoral officer from the panel to oversee its election process. 

A three-member National Sports Tribunal will also be constituted, headed by a former judge of the High Court or Supreme Court, to ensure ‘independent, speedy and cost-efficient’ disposal of sports-related disputes. The tribunal has powers similar to a civil court and can summon anyone under oath, seek evidence, documents of discovery, and public records from any office. No civil court is allowed to hear pleas on matters in which Tribunal has jurisdiction. All cases in which National Sports Bodies are parties and are pending before a District Court or High Court will be transferred to the Tribunal on a date specified by the Centre.

However, the Tribunal cannot adjudicate on disputes during events organised by International Federations such as the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games etc. It also does not have jurisdiction on matters dealt with by the internal disputes resolution committee of a National Sports Body, other tribunals, any International Federation, or the Court of Arbitration for Sports. It cannot adjudicate on doping-related disputes and involvement of International Charters and Statutes. Its verdict can be appealed to the Supreme Court after a thirty-day deadline.

File photo of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia during their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, at Jantar Mantar, on May 28, 2023 in New Delhi.
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Other salient features

All sports organisations recognised by the NSB shall be considered as a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with respect to the exercise of its functions, duties and powers. 

Any sports organisation seeking to use the word “India” or “Indian” or “National” or any national insignia or symbols in any language in its registered name, operating name, logo, or otherwise must obtain a no-objection certification by the Centre. Upon suspension/cancellation of its registration, the sports organisation cannot use the name “India” or the name of any State or district in India, or conduct any sports trials, tournaments, or events. 

The Board will maintain accounts, records, and prepare an annual statement which shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at any interval it seems fit. 

The Centre has sweeping powers to make rules for modes of election to different sports bodies, membership to the Board, measures to ensure protection of rights and welfare of athletes, powers and functions of the Board, salary, qualification and term of various members elected to these bodies. It is also empowered to relax eligibility criteria for members, impose restrictions on participation of any national team/sportspersons of a concerned sport in international sports competitions in the interest of national security, public order and safety. 

Any action taken ‘in good faith’ by the Board or a National Sports Body or the Tribunal or any of their employee is protected from legal proceedings.

Published – July 31, 2025 09:37 am IST

Captains Shubman Gill of India and Ben Stokes of England shake hands at the end of Day Five of the 4th Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford on July 27, 2025 in Manchester, England.
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Lakshya, the Commonwealth Games champion, brushed aside Korea’s Jeon Hyeok Jin 21-8 21-14. File.
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On her arrival at 2.20pm at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Mumbai (CSMIA) airport to take a connecting flight to Nagpur, her hometown, Divya Deshmukh received a warm welcome from the airport staff. Photo: Special Araangement

Miracle Star, who has been well prepared, is expected to score in the Bangalore Summer Million (1,600m), the feature event of the races to be held here on Thursday (July 31). False rails (width about 6m from 1,600m to the winning post) will be in position.

1. OWN OPINION PLATE (Div. II), (1,400m), maiden 3-y-o only, (Terms), 1-00 p.m.: 1. Ceremonial (5) Antony 56, 2. Lots Of Luck (4) Sai Kiran 56, 3. Resplendence (1) Darshan 56, 4. Unforgettable Star (9) Suraj 56, 5. Zorawar (7) L.A. Rozario 56, 6. Goddess Of War (6) Trevor 54.5, 7. Laamika (8) G. Vivek 54.5, 8. Larissa (2) Shreyas S 54.5 and 9. Pledge (3) Akshay K 54.5.

1. GODDESS OF WAR, 2. UNFORGETTABLE STAR, 3. LAAMIKA

2. SHA TIN PLATE (1,400m), rated 00 to 25, 1-30: 1. Mega Success (7) Antony 62, 2. Chinky Pinky (2) Aleemuddin 61.5, 3. Rising Form (8) S. Sachin 61.5, 4. Satin Lass (10) Tousif 61, 5. Turkoman (3) Siddaraju P 61, 6. N R I Jetpower (5) Abhishek Mhatre 60, 7. Woman At War (1) D. Patel 60, 8. Ice Storm (6) Angad 58.5, 9. Absolute Katrina (9) J. Chinoy 58 and 10. Emeraldo (4) R. Pradeep 58.

1. N R I JETPOWER, 2. MEGA SUCCESS, 3. SATIN LASS

3. OWN OPINION PLATE (Div. I), (1,400m), maiden 3-y-o only, (Terms), 2-00: 1. Darrington (4) Arvind K 56, 2. Konkrah (2) Sandesh 56, 3. Rudra (3) Arman Khan 56, 4. Skagen (1) G. Vivek 56, 5. Agrima (5) Shreyas S 54.5, 6. Cashable (7) Siddaraju P 54.5, 7. Husanara (8) Darshan 54.5 and 8. Xanthe (6) Trevor 54.5.

1. DARRINGTON, 2. XANTHE, 3. KONKRAH

4. BARALOY PLATE (Div. II), (1,400m), rated 20 to 45, 2-30: 1. Amazing Stride (3) Trevor 60, 2. Knotty Affair (8) G. Vivek 59, 3. Noble Cause (9) Tousif 55, 4. Vibrant Queen (7) Antony 54.5, 5. Ransomware (4) Angad 54, 6. Adornment (1) Akshay K 53.5, 7. Carter (5) Jagadeesh 53, 8. Verrazzano (2) Neeraj 53 and 9. Dr. Colchester (6) Vinod Shinde 51.

1. AMAZING STRIDE, 2. VIBRANT QUEEN, 3. ADORNMENT

5. HOLDING COURT PLATE (1,600m), rated 20 to 45, 3-00: 1. Final Call (6) Ramswarup 61.5, 2. Glorious Strides (7) Suraj 60, 3. Winfield (4) Antony 59.5, 4. Star Honour (2) G. Praveen 59, 5. Bruce Almighty (8) Afsar 57.5, 6. Imperial Star (9) Siddaraju P 55.5, 7. Ksepiman (3) G. Vivek 55.5, 8. CR Seven (5) Angad 54 and 9. Supreme Success (1) Vinod Shinde 54.

1. KSEPIMAN, 2. FINAL CALL, 3. GLORIOUS STRIDES

6. B.T.C. WORKFORCE CUP (1,600m), rated 40 to 65, 3-30: 1. Armory (3) Ramswarup 61, 2. Inspire (8) Antony 58.5, 3. Forest Fragrance (5) Sandesh 57, 4. Gordon (6) A.A. Vikrant 57, 5. Disciple (9) Aleemuddin 54.5, 6. Lux Aeterna (4) Trevor 54.5, 7. Indian Jack (7) Koshi K 53, 8. Alamgir (1) Neeraj 52 and 9. Dubai Safari (2) G. Vivek 52.

1. GORDON, 2. INSPIRE, 3. ALAMGIR

7. BANGALORE SUMMER MILLION (1,600m), 3-y-o, (Terms), 4-00: 1. Ashwa Kali Bhani (1) Suraj 57, 2. Sicyon (5) Sandesh 55.5, 3. El Rey (2) Trevor 52.5, 4. Laguna Seca (3) G. Vivek 51 and 5. Miracle Star (4) Neeraj 51.

1. MIRACLE STAR, 2. SICYON

8. BARALOY PLATE (Div. I), (1,400m), rated 20 to 45, 4-30: 1. Positivity (6) M. Prabhakaran 62, 2. Monterio (4) L.A. Rozario 60.5, 3. Flight Of Fancy (3) G. Vivek 60, 4. Iron King (1) Trevor 60, 5. Perfect Attitude (7) Antony 59.5, 6. Exceed (2) J. Chinoy 59, 7. Victoriaraya (5) Girish R 57.5 and 8. DR Ash (8) Salman Khan 56.

1. FLIGHT OF FANCY, 2. EXCEED, 3. PERFECT ATTITUDE

9. CONFUCIOUS PLATE (1,400m), rated 40 to 65, 5-y-o & over, 5-00: 1. Booster Shot (8) M. Prabhakaran 62.5, 2. Crosswater (4) Aleemuddin 62.5, 3. Vyasa (9) Antony 60, 4. Zuri (7) Trevor 60, 5. Dynamic Force (6) J. Chinoy 56, 6. Baashha (3) Shreyas S 55.5, 7. Stravinsky (2) Angad 55, 8. Super Marvella (5) C.A. Brisson 54.5 and 9. Disruptor (1) Siddaraju P 51.

1. ZURI, 2. CROSSWATER, 3. STRAVINSKY

Day’s best: MIRACLE STAR

Double: GODDESS OF WAR — AMAZING STRIDE

Jkt: 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9; Tr (i): 1, 2 and 3; (ii): 4, 5 and 6; (iii): 7, 8 and 9.

Until 1845, where The Oval is now stood a market garden, with a waterworks overhanging it. Two years after The Oval came into existence, work to convert the waterworks into five gasholders began, and by 1874, they were all in place though over time, only one, called Gasholder Number One, survived.

Soon, Gasholder Number One too will pass into history. Work is already underway to redevelop it into an apartment block with a massive banner that reads ‘Iconic apartments and penthouses for sale’ proudly announcing the imminent transition. As and when these apartments are ready for occupancy, a huge slice of the past would have faded away, though it is hard to envision the gasometer being forgotten totally for a long time to come.

England, more than any other country, is proud of its investment in tradition, which is precisely why the renaming of the Pataudi Trophy as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ostensibly to contextualise the modern-day rivalry so that it resonates with younger fans came as such a surprise. The disappearance of the gasometer is in keeping with changing mindsets and attitudes, one might say.

Mindsets and attitudes have definitely changed dramatically over the last 40 days of a Test series that began with so much bonhomie but has since assumed an added edge, perhaps because India have been more competitive than England might have imagined. For the first two Tests, it was normal service — lots of pats on the back, plenty of smiles exchanged, no more than the odd banter but no deathly stares and generous use of the lip. No more, not anymore.

What’s a professional contest without any needle, you say? Of course. Sport isn’t just a bland and sanitised pursuit of excellence — perfection is overrated and its pursuit futile. It is fuelled by skills and ability, undoubtedly, but also by passion and emotion. It is inevitable that, in the heat of battle with so much on the line, tempers will fray, words will be exchanged, actions that might subsequently trigger regret will manifest themselves. It’s almost a requirement of competitive sport; maybe there is some iota of truth to the ‘nice guys don’t finish first’ school of thought.

One of the reasons, the experts have insisted, for the cricket world shrinking to a global village is the proliferation of franchise-based T20 leagues across the world that allow fierce international rivals to occupy the same dressing room. That doesn’t just facilitate exchange of cricketing ideas and viewpoints, it is also helps people get to know each other better. A drink in the evening and an occasional, accidental chat in the hotel isn’t the same as sharing space for six or eight weeks, understanding backgrounds and mindsets and cultures and vision. That’s what the Indian Premier League, and other leagues of such ilk, have catalysed. Players are more respectful of each other, they get where people come from, and the scope for misunderstanding has diminished exponentially,

But that doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be drama. That players should get on fine with each other at all times, going about their business like automatons. One isn’t advocating abuse and poor behaviour, no. But emotions can and must surface occasionally, because they are just an offshoot of the hunger, the drive, the desire, the ambition that is so important to be successful.

At the start of their home summer in May, England head coach Brendon McCullum had urged his players to ‘improve their humility’ — whatever that might mean — because of the outrage triggered by some of the comments made by his players in the media. Mark Wood, a crucial member of the England playing squad when he is not recovering from injury, conceded that they, meaning his team, could be a ‘bit dumb’ at times. Maybe McCullum’s urgings hit home, because England were slightly more ‘humble’, but only slightly more. Why else would they term India’s declaration with a lead of 608 in Birmingham ‘ridiculous?’ After, their captain had wanted to be tested by targets in excess of 500; Ben Duckett, the opener, had famously said ‘more the merrier’. It was as if India’s overseas record 336-run victory was their own fault because they had set such an impossible target; England being bowled out for 271? ‘Well, we went for it, didn’t we?’

It is little short of ironic that the first signs of the fraying of tempers expressed themselves at Lord’s, which prides itself on being the Home of Cricket. The MCC members who have exclusive access to the Long Room hadn’t covered themselves in glory two years back when they booed and abused the Australian players after Alex Carey, standing well back, ‘stumped’ a doozy Jonny Bairstow with an underarm throw off paceman Cameron Green after the batter left his ground under the mistaken impression that the ball was ‘dead’. The MCC, lest it should be forgotten, is the custodian of the Laws of Cricket and under the law, Bairstow was unquestionably out, but hey, why quibble over such minor details?

Anyway, to the present. On day three of the third Test, after India were dismissed for 387 to leave the teams dead even after their respective first innings, England had some seven minutes to negotiate before stumps. Zak Crawley and Duckett took 90 seconds longer than the norm to walk into the middle, and the former pulled out when Jasprit Bumrah was about to deliver once, before copping a blow for which he summoned the physio. That was enough for affable young captain Shubman Gill to lose his cool and urge the England opener to grow a part of his anatomy. Strike one.

The next day, on being set a target of 193, India had slumped to 58 for four. Washington Sundar’s off-spin (four for 22) was largely responsible for England losing their last six wickets for 38 runs. That evening, Washington asserted that India would ‘definitely’ win, perhaps by lunch on the final day. That was enough for McCullum to exhort his players, from the team balcony, to start chirping when Washington came out to bat on the final morning. The kid gloves were off. Strike two.

At the end of the Test, England insisted that Gill’s confrontational tactics had backfired on India. The Indian skipper clarified that while he wasn’t proud of the language he had used, what Crawley and Duckett had done wasn’t in the spirit of the game. The 25-year-old might not have intended to prick England’s ego by using the word ‘spirit’, but that was the eventual impact. Strike three.

Somehow finding their way to the moral high horse, England also dominated the cricketing exchanges in Manchester with talismanic captain Ben Stokes in the forefront. By lunch on the fourth afternoon, only one result seemed realistic; trailing by 311 in the first innings, India lost their first two wickets in the first over of the second innings without a run on the board. With 10 hours to bat out, the odds on England taking a winning 3-1 series lead weren’t that long.

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But through K.L. Rahul and their own inspirational leader, and then through Washington and the admirable Ravindra Jadeja, India saved the day. With chutzpah and spirit and character and spunk and ability and poise and control and dexterity. England threw everything at Washington and Jadeja for three and a half hours after lunch on day five, but they were met either by a brick wall or by a counter-attacking force, depending on the merit of the ball.

Mounting frustration

By tea, England’s frustration had mounted. Frustration that they couldn’t make any impression on the fifth-wicket pair, frustration that Joe Root had dropped Jadeja when the left-hander had yet to score. Frustration that the series win that appeared so imminent at Gill’s dismissal had slipped away, comprehensively. Frustration that even a day-five pitch gave their bowlers nothing to work with. That was largely why Stokes stretched his hand out for Jadeja to return the gesture at the start of the final hour, which would have formalised a stalemate.

Jadeja had battled through to 89, Washington was on 80 with a first Test ton never more deserved. India were well within their rights to ignore that outstretched right hand and bat on to individual milestones but apparently, that didn’t go down well with Stokes’ moral compass. He and some of his teammates taunted the two Indian batters, who barely looked in their direction to add to the hosts’ sense of helplessness. England’s petulance and lack of grace has since been pilloried across the board. On Wednesday morning, the eve of the final Test, Stokes appeared contrite though he said he had ’no regrets’. “Let’s just try our best not to focus too much on a 20-minute period of cricket,” he insisted. “It’s been such a good series so far.”

It sure has, though Stokes will have no say in the denouement. The all-rounder has been ruled out of the decider with a muscle tear in his right shoulder which should take between six and seven weeks to fully heal. It’s a carping shame, his absence, because on the giant metaphorical stage that this series has been, Stokes has been the principal, compelling protagonist bar none, though there have been numerous other extraordinary characters, not least the impossibly brave Rishabh Pant and Stokes’ commendable counterpart.

The final Test will be poorer for Stokes’ no-show. When he is in action, he commands attention because you never know when a piece of magic will unfold. With the ball, Stokes has bowled himself to the ground – even in Manchester on the last day, with his shoulder clearly bothering him immensely, he bowled eight successive overs – and with the bat, he was just beginning to find his bearings. In the field, he makes the impossible appear commonplace. Gasholder Number One would have loved one final glimpse of Stokes in Test cricket this summer – it isn’t in a minority – but sport doesn’t always throw up fairytales, does it?

Image for representational purposes only.
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Cledson Carvalho Disilva celebrates after scoring Namdhari’s second against South United in the Durand Cup football in Kolkata on July 30, 2025.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI

As Shubman Gill inspected the pitch on Wednesday afternoon at The Oval, chief curator Lee Fortis stood nearby and was engaged in a chat with Akash Deep and Abhimanyu Easwaran.

A few moments later, as the Indian think-tank — comprising Gill, head coach Gautam Gambhir, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and chief selector Ajit Agarkar — stood near the square, Fortis walked up to them. Following his heated exchange with Gambhir, one would have expected further fireworks.

As the cameras panned towards them, none of them spoke.

While it seemed fine from a distance, the Indian camp wasn’t quite happy with the way things panned out, and when the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy begins on Thursday, it would be all gung-ho about ending the series on a high.

With England missing out on captain Ben Stokes, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, India certainly has the edge.

While the medical team has advised against playing Jasprit Bumrah, captain Gill admitted that on a surface that could be ‘lively’, the team will take a call on fielding the ace pacer later, considering the conditions and weather forecast.

There are high chances of Bumrah eventually missing out, and the onus will fall on Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. The latter is expected to return to the side after missing out on the previous Test.

Having claimed 17 wickets between them in India’s memorable win at Edgbaston, the expectations will be high from the pace duo.

With the surface having a tinge of green on match eve, Arshdeep Singh could potentially make his red-ball debut as the third seamer. “Arshdeep has been asked to get ready,” Gill confirmed, without divulging details.

Since the beginning of 2023, seamers have claimed 617 wickets in the 22 First Class games played at the venue, whereas spinners have grabbed 79.

This statistic could weaken left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s chances of returning into the side.

India is expected to continue with B. Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, despite his duck in the second innings at Old Trafford. Dhruv Jurel will be brought in as the wicketkeeper-batter in place of Rishabh Pant, who has been ruled out due to a fractured foot.

While India’s batting looks steady, with captain Gill and K.L. Rahul among runs, consistent performances by Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar have added depth. Coming on the back of centuries, both would hope to keep the momentum going.

On the other hand, the absence of Stokes is a huge blow for England. He was not only the team’s impactful bowler in the series, but also led from the front in the trickiest of situations.

With Jacob Bethell being drafted for his first Test of the season, he is expected to take care of the spin department along with Joe Root. The host will also feel the absence of Carse and Archer in the fast-bowling department.

It would be a challenge for stand-in skipper Ollie Pope to bring the best out of Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue.

Against a depleted England, this is India’s biggest opportunity.

The teams: England (XI): Ollie Pope (Capt.), Jamie Smith (wk), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.

India: Shubman Gill (Capt.), Dhruv Jurel (wk), N. Jagadeesan (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, K.L. Rahul, B. Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj and Kuldeep Yadav.

Match starts at 3:30 p.m. IST.

Published – July 30, 2025 09:16 pm IST