Shashank Nair

Shashank Nair works as a sports journalist with Indian Express.

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More From Shashank Nair

Rahim Ali scored his maiden goal for India. (Photo Credit: AIFF)

AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: Lucky Rahim Ali goal salvages 1-1 draw in Singapore as India’s hopes stay alive, just

October 09, 2025 22:18 IST

Khalid Jamil's team hardly created any chances and had to rely on a defensive blunder after Sandesh Jhingan received a yellow card

Thu, Oct 09, 2025

India vs Singapore: Can new coach Khalid Jamil pass his first big test?

October 08, 2025 22:21 IST

India need to beat Singapore twice in five days to keep the fate of Asian Cup qualification in their own hands.

Wed, Oct 08, 2025

Do the overpriced tickets for FIFA World Cup 2026 suggest it’s a tournament only for the rich?

October 07, 2025 23:07 IST

At the top end, the 2026 FIFA World Cup final tickets at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, are costing an estimated $6730 – and $25,000 on the resale market. While the cheapest group stage ticket at the World Cup is touted at $60, an extremely low number of those tickets are released, and most are in poor viewing positions at the stadium.

Tue, Oct 07, 2025

Haryana’s Himanshu who found wrestling too tough, starts finding success in shooting with Jr World Cup gold

September 29, 2025 22:29 IST

The gold medallist's family was assured that he could sell the first rifle worth ars 3 lakh for a loss of Rs 10,000 if things didn't click

Mon, Sep 29, 2025

L-R: Indian boxers Jaismine Lamboriya, Nupur Singh Sheoran and Minakshi Hooda. (Photo: World Boxing)

What’s the secret to Indian women boxers becoming world champions – their heightSubscriber Only

September 22, 2025 21:39 IST

Coaches say short boxers need to be highly skilled while tall boxers can use their height and reach to produce ‘maximum results with lesser efforts’.

Tue, Sep 23, 2025

What has set apart Minakshi’s World Championships run has been the ability to steam through three rounds without skipping a beat. (World Boxing)

World Boxing Championships: Minakshi, daughter of auto rickshaw driver, wins India’s second gold, makes up for World Cup silverSubscriber Only

September 14, 2025 21:21 IST

Minakshi's father, an auto rickshaw driver, says he will take her to the village in the three-wheeler when she returns to India.

Mon, Sep 15, 2025

Jaismine Lamboriya defeated Poland's Julia Szeremeta to win World Boxing Championship in 57kg category. (Photo: World Boxing)

How Jaismine Lamboriya added power and bite to her punches to become World Champion: Sparring with men, extra strength sessionsSubscriber Only

September 14, 2025 10:28 IST

The talented Indian defeated Poland's Julia Szeremeta at Liverpool to take the 57 kg crown after hitting the training ring, just a week past her Paris Olympics ouster.

Sun, Sep 14, 2025

Minakshi Hooda World Boxing Championships

By storming into World Championship final, Minakshi Hooda stakes claim in weight class once ruled by Mary KomSubscriber Only

September 13, 2025 19:29 IST

The intensity of the competition at this level comes from the hope that somehow, somewhere there will be an opportunity to take down Zareen.

Sat, Sep 13, 2025

World Boxing Championships: Jaismine shows the full spectrum of her skills to reach gold medal bout, Nupur also wins her semifinalSubscriber Only

September 13, 2025 00:13 IST

World Boxing Championships: Jaismine punches her way into the gold medal bout, showing the full spectrum of her skills

Sat, Sep 13, 2025

Nikhat zareen World boxing Championships

Nikhat Zareen returns empty-handed from Boxing World Championship after loss to familiar adversary in quartersSubscriber Only

September 10, 2025 23:55 IST

Nikhat was defeated by a 29-27 scoreline against Buse Naz Cakiroglu, with whom she had sparred with in Kastamonu, where the training centre was located in the middle of a Turkish jungle, last year.

Thu, Sep 11, 2025

Two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen (51 kg) in action at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool. (PHOTO: World Boxing)

Boxing World Championships: Nikhat Zareen finds a way around ‘clinching’ to advance to quarterfinalsSubscriber Only

September 10, 2025 00:07 IST

Nikhat Zareen faces two-time Olympic silver medallist Buse Naz Cakiroglu

Wed, Sep 10, 2025

Boxing World Championships: Should Lovlina Borgohain move down to the 70kg category after shock loss?Subscriber Only

September 06, 2025 21:40 IST

Lovlina Borgohain lost to Turkey's 23-year-old Busra Isildar, a junior World Champion in 2021; Hitest Gulia was dropped by unheralded Dutch boxer Finn Robert Bos; Nikhat Zareen registered a 5-0 win over American Jennifer Lozano.

Sat, Sep 06, 2025

Neeraj Phogat and Sumit Kundu Boxing world Championships

Boxing World Championships: How Sumit Kundu and Neeraj Phogat registered contrasting opening wins as India continue solid startSubscriber Only

September 05, 2025 23:40 IST

Sumit Kundu’s first World Championship bout was near-flawless. The Army boxer, who has had some decent runs domestically and in established boxing competitions internationally, registered a clear victory.

Fri, Sep 05, 2025

Pawan Bartwal remains unafraid and lands the final flurry of punches to win high octane 55kg bout against Brazilian TrinidadeSubscriber Only

September 04, 2025 23:52 IST

The 26-year-old did not back off from getting hit, but landed decisive blows in the final round.

Fri, Sep 05, 2025

CAFA Cup football: Toothless India fails to pose any threat in goalless draw against AfghanistanSubscriber Only

September 04, 2025 21:24 IST

Defensive approach and poor passing show how far they have fallen as two saves by custodian Gurpreet Singh Sandhu save Khalid Jamil's blushes

Fri, Sep 05, 2025

Boxing World Championships: India pin hope on new crop as road to Los Angeles Olympics goes through LiverpoolSubscriber Only

September 03, 2025 20:42 IST

Hitesh Gulia, Abhinash Jamwal and Sachin Siwach have form behind them while Nikhat Zareen and lovlina Borgohain return to squad

Thu, Sep 04, 2025

After his win against higher-ranked Tajikistan last week, new head coach Khalid Jamil stuck to his guns and aimed to play for a positive result, if not positive football, against the Iranians. (Photo Credit: AIFF)

CAFA Cup football: Khalid Jamil’s India park the bus but eventually fall to Iran’s mightSubscriber Only

September 01, 2025 23:42 IST

A resolute defensive performance kept team ranked inside the top 20 in the world to a one-goal lead till 89th minute before two late goals reflect the gulf the class

Tue, Sep 02, 2025

AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey in picture. (FILE)

FIFA warns India of third-party interference, threatens suspension if conditions not met by October 30Subscriber Only

August 27, 2025 01:17 IST

Giving a deadline of October 30, 2025, FIFA has asked AIFF to secure a definitive order from the Supreme Court that approves the AIFF constitution, and demands that the constitution completely aligns with FIFA and AFC statutes and regulations.

Wed, Aug 27, 2025

India Shooting League gets international support

India’s shooting league gets international federation support: ‘We are ready to receive attention’Subscriber Only

July 28, 2025 21:16 IST

Over the next four years (including 2025), India is set to host four different ISSF events.

Mon, Jul 28, 2025

Anjum Moudgil, a former World Championship medallist and staple Olympian of the Indian shooting team continues to be one of the few shooters domestically who still wear a single canvas jacket. (Photo credit: NRAI)

Shooting world shot by new rules: Single canvas jackets likely to lead to lighter rifles, loss in stability and emphasis on shooting positionSubscriber Only

July 15, 2025 21:52 IST

Near-perfect shooting scores and ‘penguin walks’ in big tournaments in double-layered jackets that allowed usage of heavier rifles has made ISSF put forward new proposals though some old timers like Anjul Moudgil say it won't affect them.

Tue, Jul 15, 2025

Divyanshi defeated three Chinese players on the way to winning India’s first gold medal in 36 years at the Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships. (Photo credit: Dream UTT Juniors)

Father’s foresight, TT robot behind Divyanshi taking down three Chinese on way to Asian titleSubscriber Only

July 02, 2025 21:27 IST

Playing senior tournaments from an early age, taking help of technology and being impatient results in India's first U15 title at Asian Youth TT Championships

Fri, Jul 04, 2025