Sports

Dev Shah is the 2023 National Spelling Bee Champion

The 14-year-old won $50,000 and the coveted trophy. His winning word was “psammophile.”

Badminton’s Grand Comeback

In India, a country where cricket is a religion, the racquet sport is becoming a booming business.

Opinion: The World Cup is Over. But What About the Migrant Workers?

The international soccer tournament was supposed to prioritize worker welfare. But over 6,750 South Asians have died since Qatar won its bid in 2010.

Why Many South Asians Never Learn to Swim

South Asians account for a significant number of drowning deaths. So why aren’t more of us learning to swim?

The NBA’s Big Play for India? Ranveer Singh

The basketball league has targeted the country for years. Now, it’s investing in everything from Hindi broadcasts to a Bollywood star — but will it work?

Why Cricket May Finally Make it to the Olympics

The world’s second most popular sport has billions of fans, yet hasn’t been at the Olympics for over 100 years. A new bid might finally change that.

The Indian Olympian Turned Accused Killer

Sushil Kumar medaled in 2008 and 2012, putting Indian wrestling back on the world stage. His fall exposed the dark side of the sport, where champions become criminals.

How South Asians Fell in Love with Tennis

Though no Grand Slam singles champion has emerged from the subcontinent, the sport has created superfans in both the diaspora and the homeland.

Opinion: Eileen Gu and the Hyphenated American Dream

The Chinese American skier’s choice to represent China in the Olympics is thrillingly subversive. But is her story so different from that of our immigrant parents?

Could Carrom Make it to the Olympics?

The beloved board game in India has long faced challenges in becoming an international sporting sensation. Some players and associations are trying to change that.

India’s Siddis and the Olympic Dream

India has won only 33 Olympic medals since 1900 — none in track and field. Now, new local sports programs are working with Siddi athletes to produce Olympic glory.

How Dream11 Became India’s First Gaming Unicorn

India's fantasy sports platform has captured the attention of the country's rabid cricket fandom. Now, it wants to be India’s only answer to sports.

How India Made Chess and its Champions

The country that invented the ancient game is now producing some of the world’s biggest chess champions.

All Punch, No Pay: The Story of Pakistan's Female Boxers

Once lauded internationally, Pakistan’s best female boxers are fighting to make ends meet.

A Pommel Horse, Masala Macaroni, and an Olympic Dream

Gymnast Akash Modi — part of a “tight-knit” group of South Asian Americans in the sport — is aiming for an Olympic medal.

The Random, Solitary Path of Sumit Nagal

Pursuing a tennis singles career in India is a lonely, expensive, largely anonymous journey.

Running the World’s Largest Marathon

Ahead of this Sunday’s New York Marathon, reflections on training for a marathon as a chef and a vegan.

For the NBA, India Can’t Replace China Just Yet

The NBA’s operations in China are already $4b. Its future in India may be just as rosy — but it comes with political choices and isn't as simple as swapping a billion-plus country for another.

Yoga’s Fine Balance

Traditional yoga has a hard time competing with modern yoga.

The Female Bodybuilders of India

Bodybuilding is one of the most extreme avatars of gym culture. Despite taboos and financial constraints, female bodybuilders in India continue to compete.

Making Cricket Happen in America

Cricket could have become as popular as baseball, but it didn’t. With $1 billion in funding and a framework to go viral, cricket may soon be the next big thing in the U.S.

How Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi Loves All

Pakistan’s top tennis player, 39, is past the average retirement age. But Qureshi plays tennis for reasons beyond trophies.