Lionel Messi had another outstanding performance, scoring two goals and shattering numerous records to lead defending champions Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria in a Group J encounter and advance to the knock-out stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Dallas Stadium in Dallas on Monday.

Messi set a record by scoring his 17th and 18th World Cup goals, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

Just two days before his 39th birthday, the Argentine talisman overcame an early first-half penalty miss to give his team the lead in the 38th minute, then doubled it seconds before the end of the game to secure a memorable victory for the reigning champions.

Argentina qualified for the round of 32 after winning their second match in Group J. If Jordan don’t defeat Algeria later today, they’ll be declared group winners.

As he scored his first goal of the day in the 38th minute, setting the record for the most individual goals scored by any player in the history of the event, Messi took the day. Messi scored his fourth goal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing his total to 17.

In addition to surpassing the tournament’s scoring record, Messi became the third player, after Just Fontaine of France and Jairzinho of Brazil, to score in six straight World Cup matches. Messi has scored his fourth goal of the competition and 17th World Cup goal. Toward the conclusion of the game, he scored his fifth goal for the 2026 edition.

Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 goals was surpassed by Messi. Messi is now in the lead with 17 goals, followed by Klose with 16 goals and Ronaldo (Brazil) with 15 goals. With 14 goals, Germany’s Gerd Müller and France’s Kylian Mbappe are ranked second and third, respectively.

After that, he increased his record with an opportune goal in the fifth minute of added time (90+5) to put Argentina ahead 2-0.

Messi scored a magnificent goal to guide Argentina, the defending champions, to a fantastic recovery after overcoming several hard obstacles from Austria. He seized the ball and threw it to Thiago Almada. Messi received a pass from Almada and sent it back to him. Messi then took a strong shot that defeated Austria’s Alexander Schlager. He missed a penalty and could have broken the record a few minutes sooner.

Argentina was leading Austria 1-0 at halftime in the game held in Dallas’s Dallas Stadium.

Argentina quickly made a comeback and adopted an offensive playing approach. Messi’s penalty miss caused them to lose control of the game after they dominated the first few minutes but were unable to take the lead.

Austria controlled the following few minutes of play, pressing high and stopping the opponent’s build-up to take charge of the game. They continued the game even for the next 15 minutes by playing fiercely. They were totally useless, though, because they were unable to score with their superiority.

After that, Messi started a play in the midfield, giving Argentina back the lead. To establish a 1-0 lead for Argentina and break the record for the most individual goals scored by a player, he connected effectively with Thiago Almada to produce a good chance before converting it.

Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, has strongly warned against the increasing centralization of power in the artificial intelligence sector, arguing that a small number of businesses shouldn’t control the course of a technology that is altering societies, workplaces, and economies.

Nadella described a strategy for the upcoming stage of the AI explosion in an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, focusing on cheaper models, increased user control, and wider access to the technology.

According to Nadella, “you can’t say, hey, all white-collar occupations are gone, and this may even be a weapon, and we’ll use all the power to build data centres. ”

He maintained that the populace would not consent to a future in which a limited number of enterprises governed the education, application, and advantages of artificial intelligence. Instead, he urged for a strategy that gains the public’s confidence and wins what he referred to as the industry’s “social permission. ”

Nadella is at the front of an increasing controversy over the direction of the AI race because of the comments. He attacked a model in which a small number of businesses capture the majority of the value from AI without identifying any particular competitors, but he also warned about safety concerns, job losses, and the necessity for significant resources to continue expanding their systems.

The decision of whether to host DeepSeek, a Chinese AI business whose low-cost models have drawn international notice, is among the most closely observed ones for Microsoft. Such a shift might considerably increase the Chinese company’s reach while putting more strain on big AI developers who are already facing increased competition and lower pricing.

According to Nadella, AI’s future should be more democratic and less reliant on a select group of cutting-edge model developers. According to him, technological advancement should prioritize reorganizing work over removing positions.

He asked, “No, why don’t we consider reorganizing the positions? ” while discussing the consequences of AI on the workplace.

Although he conceded that the change would bring about disruption, he insisted that businesses create concrete ways for staff members to adjust. “Yes, there’s a lot of change management, a lot of displacement, but there’s a way,” he added.

Nadella said that AI serves as a “knowledge engine” that assists businesses in using their resources (employees, data, and technology) more efficiently. He envisioned businesses using various models with varying capabilities and price points rather than depending on a single source.

Moreover, he emphasized that restoring public faith would necessitate more than just messaging. Because of where we are right now, we must kind of walk the walk, he added. “No amount of mere narrative will accomplish it. ” “We must now work hard to earn social consent. ”

At a moment when discussions about the effects of AI on employment, financial strength, and national rivalry are heating up throughout the United States and other large countries, the statements have been made. In AI infrastructure, data centres, and sophisticated computing systems, technology businesses are investing hundreds of billions of dollars.

Microsoft continues to be one of the most powerful companies in the industry thanks to its investments and collaborations with top AI companies.

Kunal Shah, the founder of CRED, would be named Meta’s next worldwide CEO of WhatsApp, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Monday. Additionally, Meta is putting roughly $900 million (or almost Rs 8,550 crore) into the financial technology company CRED.

In his role as founder of Cred, Kunal Shah will take over as global chief executive officer of WhatsApp.

“Team CRED, I’ll still expect you to be 10x as good as you were. I’ll be joining Meta to head WhatsApp globally, myself. CRED has Meta as a minority investor. Shah declared, “No access to member data. ”

“I look forward to working with Mark, Chris, and Meta’s leadership for WhatsApp’s next phase. “Thank you, Will, for gently scaling something the world relies on and for making this transition go smoothly,” he stated in a press release.

Shah announced on X that Miten Sampat would take over as CRED’s interim CEO.

“Meta will welcome Kunal Shah as WhatsApp’s newest CEO. “Kunal developed CRED into one of India’s most significant tech firms, and he possesses the kind of builder mentality and international outlook that will be beneficial to him in running the world’s largest messaging app,” said Zuckerberg.

“I’m eager to continue collaborating with Kunal to make WhatsApp the ideal service for billions of people and millions of businesses,” he said.

Shah succeeds Will Cathcart, the current head of WhatsApp, who is retiring after seven years in the position.

“One of Meta’s most significant and successful leaders, Will has helped to promote privacy for our community and brought WhatsApp to more than 3 billion users. Zuckerberg continued, “Will is moving to a different position at Meta where he’ll create brand-new goods from scratch. ”

Shah commented on X, “I launched Cred in 2018 based on the idea that creditworthiness merits a prize. Within eight years, this idea has developed into a fresh category with millions of members, Rs 3,200 crore ($325 million) in income, profitability, a comprehensive set of licenses, and a recognizable brand. CRED is ready to become an enduring institution for decades to come thanks to this foundation, extra funding, and a highly skilled staff. I’m stepping aside with gratitude and a strong belief that the team will continue to improve.

Four cargo ships are currently en route to Indian ports from the Persian Gulf carrying important cargoes of urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), and sulphur after successfully navigating the Strait of Hormuz last week.

These ships are now traveling toward their assigned destination ports—Krishnapatnam, Kakinada, Paradeep, and Mundra—in the face of ongoing worldwide trade difficulties. Upon arrival, the fresh imports will be offloaded right away to bolster the country’s present fertiliser buffer and guarantee that agriculture can continue to operate, according to the release.

According to statistics from June 22nd, India’s total fertilizer stock position is at 196. 08 lakh tons, a healthy increase from the 168. 67 lakh tons reported at the same time last year. The statement said that this strong inventory backup includes 81. 44 lakh tons of urea, 20. 92 lakh tons of DAP, 55. 91 lakh tons of NPK, 12. 68 lakh tons of MOP, and 25. 13 lakh tons of SSP.

Following the Middle East crisis, total fertilizer sales from March 1, 2026, to June 21, 2026, increased by 13. 2 lakh tonnes, reaching 153. 4 lakh tonnes, demonstrating the high agricultural momentum compared to the 140. 2 lakh tonnes sold during the same period last year.

The government boosted domestic manufacturing capabilities in tandem with targeted import deliveries in order to safeguard Indian farmers from unanticipated global market shocks. In order to reach an amazing 133. 12 LMT, domestic output increased considerably after the crisis. According to the report, this robust local base has been closely matched by complete import arrivals reaching 43. 69 LMT at Indian ports during this period, striking a perfect balance between local output and international procurement.

According to its most recent global tender analysis, India has effectively signed contracts for 17. 70 LMT of urea. India has now safely purchased more than 90 LMT of Urea and P&K fertilisers from the global market, specifically for the current kharif season, thanks to this most recent addition.

According to the release, this big-scale purchase plan was made possible by active diplomatic collaboration with 28 Indian Missions overseas, which established a variety of import channels across numerous international routes.

Oman, Malaysia, Vietnam, Georgia, Nigeria, Russia, Finland, Egypt, Algeria, Turkey, and the Netherlands have all provided urea.

The Red Sea shipping route from Russia, Morocco, Egypt, the USA, Jordan, South Korea, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia has secured the DAP and NPK streams, the statement continued.

One of the best innings in Women’s T20 World Cup history was played by veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp on Sunday at Old Trafford, when she slammed an undefeated 81 off 45 balls to give South Africa a six-wicket victory over India in a Group A thriller.

South Africa was chasing 159 in front of 11,712 spectators and struggled in the powerplay, scoring only 25 runs before Marizanne’s brilliance turned the game around. Marizanne hit seven fours and four sixes through square of the wicket and downtown with her powerful blows while sharing a 97-run partnership with Tazmin Brits (40), which included adding 66 runs from overs 10–15, even as N Sree Charani took three scalps, including off a double-wicket maiden over.

Marizanne was relieved after Chloe Tryon’s thick edge brought the winning runs, dropping to her knees in relief as South Africa gave India their first loss of the competition. Radha Yadav had twice saved her. Previously, Harmanpreet Kaur made history by being the first cricket player to appear in her 200th T20I match.

However, Marizanne and Shabnim each took two wickets as a disciplined South African bowling assault restricted India to 158/7. Highlighting the tenacity of the South African attack, India’s best partnership was the 33-run partnership between Harmanpreet and Deepti. Marizanne once more showed why she is still one of the top all-rounders in women’s cricket by the conclusion of the game.

Shafali Verma started India’s innings by clipping Marizanne off her pads for four and then driving Shabnim Ismail through cover. Driving Shabnim on the up and pulling her for back-to-back boundaries, Smriti Mandhana joined in. Smriti, after hitting Marizanne wide of mid-on, attempted an audacious scoop, but she misjudged the length, saw her stumps shattered, and watched as the all-rounder celebrated with enthusiasm.

Runs followed with the advent of Chloe Tryon In a 17-run over, Shafali walked down to smash over cover, swept hard, and hit a 74-meter six. Shafali was out for 31 when Shabnim’s aggressive bumper caught her glove with a feather edge off the 122. 5 kmph pitch.

Ayabonga Khaka bowled Yastika Bhatia for 15, after she had hit some excellent boundaries. Jemimah Rodrigues came next, shutting her bat face too late and being caught-and-bowled for 12 by Nadine de Klerk’s diving catch. Before Shabnim bowled Harmanpreet for 24 runs, Harmanpreet and Deepti steadied India’s innings with a 33-run partnership.

Even though Richa Ghosh and Deepti each hit three boundaries in seven balls, India’s pace never improved. Deepti, who was confident with the sweep, was caught off guard by Nonkululeko Mlaba’s slower floater and miscue to short fine leg for 29 runs.

Marizanne took out Richa, who was having trouble finding her rhythm, with a slower ball after she top-edged a sweep to short fine. India’s innings concluded two runs shy of 160 after newcomers Prema Rawat and Arundhati Reddy contributed a couple of runs.

South Africa’s chase began cautiously against Shafali’s off-spin. Laura Wolvaardt drove past point off Nandni Sharma for four, then pulled Arundhati Reddy for six and thumped Shafali for another boundary, despite India keeping things tight.

But Charani’s left-arm spin allowed India to recover, as she tempted Laura into a high drive and took a catch on the rebound. Annerie Dercksen was removed by Charani following a dot ball, as the spinner’s double-wicket maiden over left South Africa in disarray at 25/2. Dercksen was bowled for a duck after swiping across the line.

Marizanne and Tazmin attempted to resume their partnership, and the latter did so by reverse-sweeping Deepti for four. Marizanne initially had trouble, mistiming her pushes and sweeps, but she eventually got into a groove. Marizanne took on Prema’s leg-spin, first by hitting a shot over the covers for four, and then by top-edging a sweep that Nandni palmed over for six.

The collaboration became more confident as Marizanne scooped Nandni over fine leg for four and Brits lofted Deepti over long-on. Brits also survived an lbw review thanks to an under-edge.

After Radha, a substitute fielder, put Marizanne down at long-on off Charani’s bowling, Marizanne displayed her full flow, lofting and sweeping her for boundaries before sweeping Arundhati on consecutive deliveries to reach her fifty in 34 balls and crunching a full toss from Deepti through cover for four.

Despite Marizanne’s straight drive to deep square leg off Shafali, she was saved once more when Radha dropped a sitter at long-on. South Africa moved closer to completing the chase despite the fact that Chloe had hit four runs through cover and Nadine had been castled by Charani following a hard drive over extra cover for four.

Prior to smashing another six over mid-wicket, Marizanne impressed everyone by slog-sweeping Deepti for six. Chloe completed the chase in elegance by pushing Nandni through the slip cordon for an outstanding win for South Africa.

Brief Scores:
India 158/7 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 31, Deepti Sharma 29; Marizanne Kapp 2-27, Shabnim Ismail 2-28)
South Africa 161/4 in 19.1 overs (Marizanne Kapp 81 not out, Tazmin Brits 40; Sree Charani 3-24, Shafali Verma 1-22)

With teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stunning 94 off 29 balls laying the groundwork for a spectacular victory, India A won the Tri-Series championship in style on Sunday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium by defeating Sri Lanka A by 66 runs in the final.

Despite several spirited contributions from their middle and lower orders, Sri Lanka A battled hard but was ultimately bowled out for 311 in 47. 1 overs in pursuit of a challenging goal of 378. After falling to three wickets for 75 runs, the hosts were immediately under pressure and had a lot of work to do against a well-managed Indian bowling attack.

With a well-compiled 52 and a 53-run fourth wicket partnership with captain Sahan Arachchige, who made 38, Sadeera Samarawickrama made an attempt to resuscitate the chase. But Sri Lanka A was unable to create the continuous momentum needed to complete a chase of this size due to regular wickets.

The situation grew more challenging for the hosts when they were reduced to 177/6. Vanuja Sahan then launched a valiant counterattack, scoring 62 runs and forming a critical 77-run seventh-wicket partnership with Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, who scored 39. India A was always in command since the needed rate continued to increase, despite the fact that their position temporarily raised hopes of a late comeback and helped lower the margin of defeat.

Yash Thakur and Vipraj Nigam consistently made crucial blows to disrupt Sri Lanka’s pursuit, leading India’s bowling effort with three wickets apiece. India A won the title by closing out the innings thanks to Anukul Roy’s two wickets, Ashok Sharma’s one, and captain Tilak Varma’s one.

Prior to this, India A put on a batting masterclass to score an incredible 377/9 in their 50 overs after losing the toss and being invited to bat first.

The 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who once again demonstrated why he is considered one of the most promising young players in Indian cricket, took the innings. From the beginning, the left-handed batsman launched into the Sri Lankan assault, reaching a half-century in just 11 deliveries, which is also the quickest half-century in List A cricket.

Sooryavanshi hit 10 fours and eight sixes in his outstanding 29-ball innings, falling just six runs short of a century. He combined forces with Priyansh Arya to give India A a dream start, with the opening pair putting up 132 runs in just 53 balls and putting the opposition on the back foot right away.

Before his departure, Arya contributed a rapid 39, but the stage for a large total had already been set. Then, Captain Tilak Varma took control of the middle innings, hitting a calm 67 runs off of 90 balls. To maintain the scoreboard moving, he first formed an 84-run combination with Ruturaj Gaikwad (who scored 40 runs) before adding another 63 runs with Kumar Kushagra (36).

Nishant Sindhu (16), Vipraj Nigam (27), and Anukul Roy, who added the finishing touches to India’s innings with his 39-run effort, all made additional worthwhile contributions. India A were able to keep their aggressive attitude throughout and score an amazing 377/9 thanks to their efforts.

Although Kugathas Mathulan, Ravindu Fernando, and Vanuja Sahan all took two wickets for Sri Lanka A, the bowlers had trouble holding back India’s strong batting order.

Brief Scores:
India A 377/9 in 50 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 94, Tilak Varma 67, Ruturaj Gaikwad 40; Wanuja Sahan 2-39, Ravindu Fernando 2-72)
Sri Lanka A all out for 311 runs in 47.1 overs (Wanuja Sahan 62, Sadeera Samarawickrama 52; Yash Thakur 3-45, Vipraj Nigam 3-60)

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday that India and the United States will have ministerial-level trade discussions this week as they both work to finalize the framework for the first phase of the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) before a crucial tariff deadline next month.

Here for a two-day visit, Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, is expected to meet Goyal.

My colleague is visiting Delhi tomorrow to discuss the trade deal with the United States, the minister informed reporters.

Rajesh Agrawal, the Secretary of Commerce, had previously stated that the talks between the two ministers are likely to concentrate on putting the finishing touches on the framework agreement while simultaneously furthering negotiations on the broader bilateral trade pact.

Earlier this month, Goyal stated that India and the United States were nearing the end of their interim trade deal’s unresolved issues and voiced optimism that the BTA’s first phase might be finished by the middle of the next month.

Because the United States’ 10% temporary tariff on all of its trading partners will expire on July 24, the approaching conversations take on importance.

The United States administration announced in February that the interim charge will be applied on top of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty rates. Once the 150-day period has passed, Washington is anticipated to implement a new tariff system.

After chief negotiator-level meetings between the two nations were conducted in the nation’s capital from June 2 to June 4 to move negotiations forward on the suggested pact, the meeting takes place.

In addition, the U. S. Trade Act of 1974’s Section 301 is the subject of ongoing investigations by the Office of the U. S. Trade Representative (USTR) against a number of countries, including India, concerning issues with excessive industrial capacity and labor practices in international supply chains.

In June, the USTR recommended imposing new tariffs on goods from a number of countries, including India, due to worries about forced labor in supply chains. The proposal is still being discussed and has not yet been accepted.

The ministerial engagement this week is anticipated to give trade negotiations new impetus and aid in bringing the two sides closer to completing the proposed agreement’s first tranche.

Political figures, yoga professionals, diplomats, and regular citizens are all actively preparing for International Yoga Day, which is scheduled for tomorrow. They are coming together to commemorate the ancient Indian practice that has developed into a global wellness trend.

Under the subject “Yoga for Healthy Aging,” this year’s International Day of Yoga is being celebrated with a focus on yoga’s role in helping individuals live more active, satisfying, and healthier lives.

Before the national celebrations on June 21, Saturday saw the organization of large-scale yoga events and awareness campaigns throughout the nation, from Kolkata and Hyderabad to Jodhpur and New Delhi.

Nationally, 778 districts in all States and Union Territories are now covered by the initiative.

According to ministry statistics, over 3. 22 lakh government agencies, approximately two lakh educational institutions, over 16,000 private enterprises, more than 5,000 non-governmental organisations, and around 44,000 entities from other categories have registered on the site.

Rajasthan, with approximately 1. 50 lakh registrations, and West Bengal, with more than 2. 76 lakh registered organizations, have the highest levels of involvement among the states.

Professor Kashinath Samagandi, Director of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would do yoga with thousands of participants in Kolkata, the location of the primary International Yoga Day event.

Sitting with the general public, the Prime Minister will practice yoga. In addition, the governor, the chief minister, and the Minister of Union Ayush will attend. According to him, the event will be attended by MPs, MLAs, municipal government representatives, and a number of other notables.

The event, according to Prof. Samagandi, would adhere to the Common Yoga Protocol, which has been regularly observed for the previous twelve years. The show will run from 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM and include nine yoga asanas, five pranayama sessions, and meditation sessions, according to him.

In Hyderabad, BJP official Prakash Reddy stressed the global recognition of yoga and said that Prime Minister Modi’s vision was crucial in gaining support for Yoga Day at the United Nations.

Yoga is a universal treatment for many diseases, according to Prime Minister Modi, who stated this twelve years ago. He stated that in line with this vision, India proposed International Yoga Day to the United Nations, where member countries offered overwhelming backing, resulting in the adoption of a global resolution.

In Mumbai, BJP Minority Morcha President Wasim Khan conveyed an important message of inclusivity, stating that yoga had overcome obstacles related to religion, caste, and community.

Yoga has been elevated to a global health movement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. No one community or faith is exclusive to yoga. Khan stated that it has now spread to every household and is practiced year-round for physical and mental health.

To participate in Yoga Day celebrations in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu accompanied well-known yoga instructor Baba Ramdev at Amaravati’s Undavalli Caves.

In Jaipur, at his official home, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma did yoga and said that yoga is the cornerstone of a balanced lifestyle, mental calm, and physical power. In addition, he urged the populace to take part in the Yoga Day events being organized all throughout the state.

According to Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Hyderabad has maintained the custom of holding a 24-hour countdown event before International Yoga Day for the past seven years, attracting distinguished people and yoga fans.

Under the direction of Rajya Sabha MP Rajendra Gehlot, Jodhpur also had a big turnout for a yoga session held at Gaushala Ground. Different yoga exercises were practiced by public officials, members of the government, police personnel, and locals. Gehlot stated that yoga, formerly considered India’s historic legacy, is currently being adopted throughout the globe with exceptional eagerness.

Additionally, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Delhi collaborated with Life Yoga to host a special yoga session, adding an international element to the festivities.

The gathering brought together community members and diplomats to advocate for wellness and deepen the cultural links and interpersonal relationships between India and Russia.

Neeraj Chopra and Parul Chaudhary received the Best Athlete Awards in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards. Pooja and Shahnavaz Khan received the Best Emerging Athlete honors during an impressive ceremony.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, presented the prizes established by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

Among the many notable people who came to commemorate distinction throughout the Indian athletics ecology were Mohamed Tholal, Sports Commissioner of the Maldives; Korottage Bimal Prasanna, President of Sri Lanka Athletics; and Adille J. Sumariwalla, World Athletics Vice President.

“Indian athletics has seen incredible growth over the past ten years, with our competitors producing world-class performances at the most prominent events. The Indian Athletics Awards are a deserving homage to the individuals and organizations responsible for this development. These honors will strengthen India’s sports environment even more,” Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stated.

Awards for Lifetime Achievement were presented to some of the most influential figures in Indian athletics during the Indian Athletics Awards night. P. T. Usha, Anju Bobby George, and Bahadur Singh Chauhan were among the illustrious athletes who received tributes for their exceptional contributions to Indian athletics throughout the years.

According to Bahadur Singh Sagoo, President of the AFI, the Indian Athletics Awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the people who help Indian athletics succeed. Every stakeholder has an important part to play on our path, from athletes and trainers to technical personnel. “These medals will be a distinguished distinction in Indian athletics,” he stated.

This is a really special honor to be recognized among such outstanding athletes from our nation, Neeraj Chopra stated. “Indian athletics is growing quickly, and we are witnessing fresh talent emerge and compete on the international stage every year. This prize encourages me to aim for greatness and give back to the sport,” he stated.

Parul Chaudhary stated that she greatly appreciates the acknowledgment. “Athletics requires daily patience, discipline, and perseverance. I want to thank my family, support staff, and coaches for their ongoing encouragement. I hope my path encourages more young girls to pursue their aspirations and enter the world of athletics, she remarked.

Shahnawaz Khan expressed his pride. “This is a proud occasion and serves as a major inspiration. It pushes me to work harder and keep getting better as an athlete. “I want to thank my family, my coaches, and everyone else who has helped me throughout this trip,” he stated.

Pooja said this acknowledgement gives her hope and pushes her to set higher goals. “It’s really encouraging to be recognized on a national level like this. In the years to come, I will keep striving to make the nation proud. ”

PT Usha, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, expressed her profound humility and stated that athletics has given her everything in life. She said, “I have seen the great development of Indian Athletics over the years, and I am happy to witness young athletes succeeding at the highest levels.”

Anju Bobby George, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, said that Indian Athletics had advanced significantly. “It is encouraging to witness the sport receiving the respect it merits. ” On behalf of everyone who has helped me along the way, I would like to receive this honor. I hope the next generation will keep dreaming big. “I think our players are good enough to play against the top in the world,” she commented.

Coaches and administrators, as well as some of India’s biggest athletics icons, such as Sriram Singh, Charles Borromeo, Chand Ram, and Kamaljit Sandhu, gathered at the awards event to honor outstanding performers from the 2025 season as well as those who have flown the flag for Indian athletics in the past.

Each of Neeraj Chopra and Parul Chaudhary received Rs. 10 lakh, while each of Shahnawaz Khan and Pooja received Rs. 2. 50 lakh. Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award each received Rs. 5 lakh.

Additionally, AFI gave out prizes in several other categories, such as Best Technical Official of the Year, Best Coach of the Year, Best State Association of the Year, Best State Supporting Athletics, Organization Supporting Athletics, and Partner Supporting Athletics.

The winners of the awards include:

• Best Male Athlete of the Year (2025) – Neeraj Chopra (Rs. 10,00,000)
• Parul Chaudhary (Rs. 10,00,000) will be named Best Female Athlete of the Year 2025.
• Shahnawaz Khan (Rs. 2,50,000) was named the Best Emerging Male Athlete in 2025.
• Pooja (Rs. 2,50,000) – Best Emerging Female Athlete 2025
• P T Usha, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Athletics Award, will get Rs. 5,00,000.
• Gurbachan Singh Randhawa (Rs. 5,00,000) will receive the Lifetime Achievement Athletics Award.
• Anju Bobby George receives the Lifetime Achievement Athletics Award (Rs. 5,00,000).
• Bahadur Singh Chauhan (Rs. 5,00,000) – Lifetime Achievement Athletics Award