Skip to content
 
Search

Latest Stories

India's oldest football team forced into merger

Sarwar Alam
By Sarwar AlamJan 16, 2020
Sarwar Alam
See Full Bio

India's oldest and most successful football club merged on Thursday with a rival Kolkata side after years of financial trouble, giving a shot in the arm to one of two leagues fighting for dominance in the sport.

The deal between the 130-year-old Mohun Bagan club and far younger ATK is a boost for the Indian Super League (ISL) in its battle with the rival I-League.

Bagan has been a key I-League team, but the yet-to-be-named merged side will play in the ISL from next season.

The ISL, which has now grown to 10 teams, has in six years outstripped the older I-League and its 11 teams in broadcast ratings.

The All-India Football Federation wants to make the ISL the top national contest in place of the I-League.

Bagan have won four national titles and are in contention for this year's I-League crown.

Atletico Madrid were once part owners of ATK, whose original name was Atletico de Kolkata. Set up as one of the ISL launch teams in 2014, they have won that league's title once.

Officials said the name of the merged club will have elements of each side when launched in June.

In 1911 Mohun Bagan became the first Indian-only side to win the national title in a competition that had been dominated by British colonial clubs.

It still has a special place in the hearts of Indian fans, but attendances have fallen in recent years and sponsors difficult to find.

"As much as we want the romance of the maroon and green jersey and it's 130-year-old tradition to continue, there comes a time when romance almost invariably requires a partner named practicality," said Mohun chairman Swapan Sadhan Bose.

He said it was a "harsh" reality that modern football clubs need "bigger investments and a corporate force to take it forward".

ATK has Indian cricket board boss and former national captain Sourav Ganguly among its owners.

Already, the winners of this season's ISL title will get direct entry into the AFC Champions League, a first for an Indian club.

Related News

Norman Tebbit
UK

What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

Pedro Pascal
Entertainment

Pedro Pascal hits back at At Marvel fans questioning his 'Fantastic Four' casting at 50

Kangana Ranaut
Entertainment

Kangana Ranaut calls equality a delusion, says it created a "generation of morons"

Sinner-Getty
Tennis

Sinner thrashes Djokovic to reach first Wimbledon final

More For You

bella thorne Charlie Puth

Bella Thorne says Charlie Puth launched a hate train after she refused to sleep with him

Getty Images

Bella Thorne says Charlie Puth launched a hate train after she refused to sleep with him

Highlights:

  • Bella Thorne accuses Charlie Puth of sparking a ‘hate train’ after she turned him down.
  • She claims he publicly misled fans about their brief romance in 2016.
  • Puth had previously implied she cheated on her ex Tyler Posey with him.
  • Thorne is now engaged to Mark Emms; Puth married Brooke Sansone in 2024.

Actor Bella Thorne has reignited a years-old controversy with singer Charlie Puth, accusing him of turning public opinion against her in 2016 after she refused to sleep with him. The former Disney star made the claims in an Instagram comment responding to singer Jade Thirlwall’s recent remarks about never wanting to work with Puth.

 bella thorne Charlie Puth Actress Bella Thorne and Charlie Puth attend the Y100's Jingle Ball 2016Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Manisha Koirala

An Audience with Manisha Koirala

Manisha Koirala: Courage, Cinema, Community

This July, the iconic Shaw Theatre in London will host an afternoon of inspiration, culture and connection as Bollywood star and cancer survivor Manisha Koirala takes the stage for a very special event. ‘An Audience with Manisha Koirala’, taking place on Sunday 13 July from 12.30 to 4.00pm, promises to be an unforgettable afternoon celebrating not only a glittering film career but also an extraordinary story of survival and strength.

Organised by Ovacome, the UK’s ovarian cancer support charity, this one-of-a-kind event offers fans and supporters the rare chance to see Manisha in person and hear her story in her own words. Interviewed by Dr Amir Khan, NHS GP and TV personality, and Fatima Patel, Managing Editor of Asian Standard, Manisha will reflect on her journey through the highs of stardom, her battle with ovarian cancer, and the resilience that carried her forward. She will also treat the audience to an exclusive reading from her acclaimed book Healed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Archer-Getty

Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. (Photo: Getty Images)

Bumrah claims five at Lord’s as Archer strikes early on Test return

JOFRA ARCHER made an early breakthrough on his return to Test cricket at Lord’s on Friday, while India captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a low score on the second day of the third Test.

Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. Later, Gill, who had scored 585 runs in four innings in the series including three centuries, was caught behind for 16.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Alcaraz

Alcaraz has won 35 of his 38 matches on grass, including 20 in a row at Wimbledon since losing to Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

Getty Images

Alcaraz beats Fritz to enter third straight Wimbledon final

 

Highlights:

 
     
  • Carlos Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz in four sets to reach his third Wimbledon final in a row.
    •  
  • The match was played in extreme heat, with on-court temperatures nearing 32 degrees Celsius.
    •  
  • Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 24 matches, the longest of his career.
    •  
  • He is aiming to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three straight Wimbledon titles.

CARLOS Alcaraz reached his third consecutive Wimbledon final on Friday with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) win over American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
    •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
    •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
    •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025 Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd & Asian Media Group USA Inc