Sports
Praful Patel is AIFF president
MUMBAI: Union Minister Praful Patel has been elected as the president of the All India Football Federation.
Priyan Ranjan Dasmunsi held this post for two decades.
Patel, the civil aviation minister in the UPA government at the centre, was elected to the top post unopposed at the Annual General Body meeting of the AIFF at its headquarters here.
Patel was working as acting president since Dasmunsi suffered a heart attack a year back.
Patel says, “I really thank everyone for the support that you have offered to me and I hope we all will work together for the upliftment and development of the game in the country”.
Sports
Sony secures exclusive India rights for 2026 Asian Games broadcast
SPNI to air Aichi-Nagoya Games across TV and Sony LIV streaming
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 Asian Games, bringing the continental multi-sport event back to the Sony Sports Network for Indian audiences.
Scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026, the Games will be aired live across Sony’s sports channels and streamed on Sony LIV. The deal covers India and the wider Indian subcontinent, ensuring broad regional access to one of Asia’s biggest sporting spectacles.
The acquisition comes at a time when India’s interest in multi-sport events is at a high. At the previous edition, the country delivered its best-ever performance, clinching 107 medals and signalling its growing strength on the continental stage. With a mix of emerging talent and seasoned athletes, expectations for the upcoming Games are running high.
The 2026 edition will feature competition across 41 sports, including 32 Olympic disciplines, alongside additions such as mixed martial arts and surfing. For Indian viewers, cricket is expected to be a major draw, with both men’s and women’s teams aiming to reclaim top honours in Asia.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer and business head – sports and international Rajesh Kaul said, “The Asian Games represents sporting excellence and is a powerful platform for national pride.” He added that India’s 100-plus medal milestone at the last edition has sparked unprecedented interest, setting the stage for “another unforgettable chapter”.
Olympic Council of Asia director general Husain Al-Musallam said the agreement marks “the beginning of a new phase” in the distribution of the Asian Games across the Indian subcontinent.
SPNI said it plans to offer comprehensive coverage, including expert analysis and multi-language programming, aiming to bring audiences closer to the action from the opening ceremony through to the final medal events.
With the return of the Asian Games to its network and India eyeing another record haul, Sony is betting big on both sport and sentiment, hoping to turn continental competition into prime-time viewing once again.
