Indian Subcontinent

Bharti Airtel has signed up as the title sponsor of the inaugural Indian Formula One Grand Prix just days after curtailing a partnership reportedly worth US$8 million per year with the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament in the country.

Nokia is to succeed rival telecommunications firm Bharti Airtel as the new title sponsor of the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament.

A state auditor report in India has slammed preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and criticised organisers and legislators for a lack of due diligence ahead of last year’s event in Delhi.

Champions League Twenty20 organisers are searching for a new title sponsor after Bharti Airtel staged an early exit from its partnership.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has rejected the settlement reached to govern the sport in India and has threatened to strip the country of its hosting rights to the Champions Trophy and Olympic qualifying tournaments.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra has rubbished the new truce between rival bodies Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) as “a bizarre live-in relationship”.

ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has announced the launch of India’s first 24-seven, high-definition (HD) sports channels in India.

Neo Sports has purchased the Indian broadcast rights to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has penned a 10-year licensing deal with Indian real estate company Nirmal Lifestyle.

The inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League will take place next month without Indian cricketers after talks broke down with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The dispute over the governance of hockey in India was left unresolved on Tuesday as one of the two warring parties called for more time to consider a merger proposal tabled by the country’s government.

Indian Sports Minister Ajay Maken has given rival bodies Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) until Tuesday to agree to a merger or face sanctions from the Government.

Barcelona vice-president of finance Javier Faus has admitted that the Barclays Premier League’s top clubs are ahead of the Catalan giant in efforts to tap into the potentially lucrative Indian market.

The Indian Formula One Grand Prix could be shifted to a season-ending December slot if Bahrain is reinstated on the 2011 calendar, according to the Championship’s rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone.

Australia's Gold Coast and Hambantota in Sri Lanka have been confirmed as the two candidates to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games after they lodged their bid books with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) on Wednesday.

Nike will continue to supply kit to India’s national cricket team for the next five years after penning a contract extension with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).