Future shines bright in Uttarakhand!
Sportstar's March 15 edition focuses on the various records and controversies as well as the new stars born at the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand. It also sheds light on the impact of the ethnic conflict in Manipur on the athletes from the Kuki-zo community.
Happy reading!
F1 75: Echoes of the past, vision for the future
The F1 75 show was the perfect curtain-raiser for another season of high-octane racing. Just weeks before the start of the 24-race calendar, all 10 F1 teams gathered at the O2 Arena in London — a venue renowned for hosting elite sporting events. Featuring a 15,000-strong crowd, a huge LED screen and a large catwalk, the show’s biggest highlight was the launch of the liveries — the paint scheme and designs of the teams. With seven minutes to impress, teams utilised all their creative energy to introduce their challengers in unique ways under the same roof. Kavita Menon with the recap.
National Games 2025 recap: Records shattered, stars born and controversies brew
The 38th National Games that concluded on February 14 should count as among the most ambitious domestic sports tournaments undertaken in India. Over 18 days, some 10,000 athletes competed in 35 disciplines spread across eight locations in Uttarakhand. The Games lived up to expectations — a high-level event, producing competitive performances with a host of new faces to watch out for. Jonathan Selvaraj with the review.
Sunil Gavaskar: Friends are your greatest wealth, and in Milind Rege’s leaving, I have become enormously poorer
'It is never easy to cope with the loss of a loved one, especially somebody you have known all your life. When Milind Rege breathed his last, I was in Dubai for the opening game of the Champions Trophy. I met him just before I left for Dubai and told him I would see him again in a few days. That wasn’t to be, as he left us the day before India’s opening game. Right till the end,?he was obsessed with Mumbai cricket,?and even in the hospital, he was glued to Mumbai’s progress in Ranji Trophy.' - Sunil Gavaskar pens an emotional tribute in his latest column.
As Manipur conflict persists, one community faces sporting exclusion
Despite the civil unrest that has ravaged Manipur for the better part of the last two years, the state has maintained its reputation as one of India’s most prodigious sources of sporting talent. At the close of the National Games, the state had won 52 medals, placing it in the top 10 of the medal tally. However, not a single player from the Kuki-Zo tribe, which comprises some 16 per cent of the state’s population, was part of the 416-member Manipur team at the 2025 National Games in Uttarakhand — although other minority groups, including Nagas and Manipuri Muslims, were. Jonathan Selvaraj talks to a few players who have been impacted by this unfortunate turn of events.
A title up for grabs
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO and president Dana White dropped a bombshell when he announced that reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will be relinquishing the title. Topuria’s decision has opened the door to an exciting match-up between former divisional champion Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes for the vacant title, making the 2025 calendar that much more engrossing. Nigamanth P brings all the UFC action.