Kazakhstan's decision to support foreign-born tennis players like Elena Rybakina and Alexander Bublik has been a successful investment, according to 26-year-old Zhebik Kulambayeva. Their success has significantly boosted tennis culture in the country, inspiring a new generation of players. Kulambayeva, currently competing at the Chennai Open, also shares her experiences on the professional circuit and her affinity for playing in India.
The Indian women's rugby team secured a sixth-place finish at the Asian Games after a significant loss to Kazakhstan in their classification match. Earlier, they defeated Singapore to reach this stage, marking the end of their campaign.
India's women's chess team, led by B Savitha Shri, secured a 2-2 draw against Kazakhstan at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. The men's team also drew 2-2 against Azerbaijan. These results keep both Indian teams in contention, though defending the title appears challenging with China leading the women's section and Germany joining Uzbekistan at the top in the open section.
India's women's badminton team, led by PV Sindhu, secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. This win propels them into a challenging quarterfinal match against hosts Japan, a team boasting several top-ranked players.
India's U15 football team, led by Victor Lalawmpuia's four goals, staged a remarkable comeback from a 0-3 deficit to draw 5-5 against Kazakhstan in the FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Tier C semi-final. Despite the heroic effort, India ultimately lost 4-5 in a penalty shootout for positions 85 to 88.
Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala has advanced to the women's 59kg final at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana. She secured her spot with a dominant win by fall over Kazakhstan's Altyn Shagayeva, leading 10-0 before the pin. Manisha is now the third Indian to reach a gold medal bout at this edition, aiming to end India's wait for a world champion. She will compete against Pan American champion Abigail Elizabeth Nette in the final.
Top seed Aliona Falei and Zhibek Kulambayeva secured their spots in the singles main draw of the WTA 250 Chennai Open after winning their final-round qualifying matches on Sunday. Weronika Falkowska and Kyoka Okamura also advanced.
Team India secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan in their opening Group C match at the Badminton Asia Junior Mixed Team Championships in Yatsushiro, Tokyo, sealing their spot in the quarterfinals. The Indian team showcased strong performances in both sets, preparing for their upcoming clash against Chinese Taipei.
Elena Rybakina secured her first year-end world No. 1 ranking after beating Yulia Putintseva in Tokyo, capping a season featuring Australian Open and US Open triumphs.
Indian wrestler Neelam Sirohi won a silver medal in the women's 50kg final at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, losing to Japanese legend Yui Susaki. This achievement makes her only the second Indian woman, after Anshu Malik, to secure a silver at the global event. Neelam's journey to the final included a dominant win in the semifinals, and her performance marks a significant milestone for Indian women's wrestling.
Indian athlete Ayush Verma clinched a gold medal in the men's shot put F53 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Wednesday, marking his second medal at the competition.
India's Ravi Karthik Budigina secured a silver medal in the men's 100m freestyle S13 event at the Asian Para Games on Monday, clocking 56.68 seconds. Uzbekistan's Egor Bolotov won gold, and Kazakhstan's Viktor Volkov took bronze in the event for vision-impaired athletes.
India's U15 football team concluded their FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival campaign with a 6-4 victory over Cuba. The Blue Colts finished 87th among 189 nations, securing five wins, four defeats, and one draw in the tournament.
India's Amruta Pujari has stormed into the women's 72kg final at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships, while Komal secured a bronze medal in the 59kg category. Sweety and Vaishnavi Patil are also in contention for bronze through repechage, adding to Vishvajit More's earlier silver medal.
India's U15 football team suffered a 1-2 defeat against Afghanistan in the quarter-finals for positions 81 to 88 in the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival. Despite creating early opportunities, India conceded two goals before Nibas Meetei Wahengbam scored to reduce the deficit. The Blue Colts were unable to find an equaliser and will now face Kazakhstan in the semi-finals for positions 85 to 88.
Indian Greco-Roman wrestler Lalit failed to secure a bronze medal at the World Championships in Astana, losing by technical superiority to Kazakhstan's Iskhar Kurbayev. Three other Indian wrestlers, including Asian Games silver medallist Nitesh Siwach, also exited early from the competition.
Pakistan is currently deliberating its participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Civilisational Dialogue Forum, scheduled to be held in India later this month. The invitation from India is significant given the historically strained bilateral relations, particularly after recent military confrontations and India's consistent concerns about cross-border terrorism.
Asian Games medallists Aman Sehrawat and Antim Panghal have withdrawn from the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. Sujeet Kalkal, an Asian Games gold medallist, will lead the Indian contingent. The article also details the full Indian squads across men's freestyle, women's freestyle, and Greco-Roman categories, alongside a controversy regarding a selection bout.
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football after a 23-year career with Portugal. Tributes have poured in from fellow footballers like Neymar Jr., Vinicius Jr., Bruno Fernandes, and Pepe, as well as clubs like Al Nassr and Manchester United, celebrating his immense legacy and impact on the sport.
Kajal Dhochak secured a silver medal in the women's 76kg category at the World Wrestling Championships after a close final loss to Anastasiya Alpyeyeva on Wednesday. This marked India's second silver of the day, with Neelam Sirohi also finishing second in the 50kg category, making it a historic day for Indian women's wrestling.
India's top-ranked tennis player, Vaishnavi Adkar, was defeated by Russia's Anastasia Zakharova in the second round of the Chennai Open singles. Adkar lost 3-6, 0-6, struggling against Zakharova's consistent play and powerful backhand. Meanwhile, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi advanced to the doubles quarterfinals with her partner Shirvalli Bhamdipati, making her the sole Indian remaining in the singles draw.
Indian wrestlers Tanu Sharma and Neelam Sirohi, who secured bronze and silver respectively at the Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, share their experiences, challenges, and future aspirations. Tanu discusses overcoming injuries and her dream of representing India, while Neelam reflects on years of perseverance and her goal for Olympic qualification. Both athletes were warmly welcomed upon their return to India.
Indian women's wrestling achieved a historic milestone at the World Championships as Kajal Dhochak (76kg) and Neelam Sirohi (50kg) both reached their respective gold medal bouts.
Indian wrestler Manisha Bhanwala, fresh off her historic senior World Championships gold, is now focused on winning a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She attributes her strength and determination to the enduring memory and guidance of her late father, who introduced her to wrestling.
Elena Rybakina crushed Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 to retain the Ningbo Open crown, claim her first title as world number one and strengthen her year-end ranking bid.
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his international retirement after more than two decades representing Portugal, a career marked by record-breaking achievements including 234 appearances and 146 goals. His farewell, delivered via social media, follows a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus over his place in the team. Ronaldo led Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016 and two Nations League trophies, but the World Cup remained elusive. His departure contrasts sharply with Lionel Messi's recent international embrace, leaving a melancholic end to an unparalleled career.
Manisha Bhanwala has made history by becoming India's first woman World Champion in wrestling, securing a gold medal in the women's 59kg final at the World Championships. She achieved a remarkable comeback, overcoming a six-point deficit against American Abigail Nette to win 8-6 on Friday. This triumph marks a significant milestone for Indian wrestling, following only legendary Sushil Kumar's feat in 2010.
World number one Elena Rybakina successfully defended her Ningbo Open title on Sunday, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-2. This victory marks her fourth title of the year and 15th overall, building significant momentum as she prepares for the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week and the upcoming WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
India's top doubles player Yuki Bhambri, partnering American Ryan Seggerman, secured his first ATP Tour title of the 2026 season by winning the Almaty Open. This victory marks Bhambri's fifth career ATP doubles title, achieved after a thrilling final against top seeds Lucas Miedler and Neil Oberleitner. The win comes after a mixed season for Bhambri, including a medal-less Asian Games and a runner-up finish at the Geneva Open.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will inaugurate the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games 2026 in Ahmedabad on Monday. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Gujarat government, the event on 12 October 2026, under India's BRICS Chairmanship, will feature traditional sports like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu from India. The non-competitive Games aim to foster cultural exchange and knowledge-sharing among BRICS and partner countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Africa, and the UAE.
Indian students pursuing medical degrees in Georgia face uncertainty over their eligibility to practise in India following a recent clarification by the National Medical Commission on the country's junior doctor status.
India has invited all 10 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member nations, including Pakistan, to the inaugural Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi from November 20 to 22. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had announced this initiative earlier, aiming to strengthen cultural ties and mutual understanding among SCO countries. The forum will also address the collective fight against terrorism, a key concern for India.
China continues to lead the Asian Games medals tally after Day 13, with Japan and South Korea following. India is currently in fifth position with 76 medals.
Indian paddler Shikha Chouhan finished seventh in the women's kayak singles canoe slalom final at the Asian Games, clocking 193.31 seconds. She had qualified for the final after finishing 10th in the semifinals.
Following a successful campaign at the 2026 Asian Games, India women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva is prioritising securing as many Olympic quotas as possible at the earliest for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, starting with the World Championships 2027 in Kazakhstan.
The first-ever BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games concluded in Ahmedabad, featuring nearly 160 participants from 10 member nations. India prominently showcased yogasana and mallakhamb, alongside other traditional sports like kalaripayattu. The event also saw demonstrations of wushu from China, togyzkumalak from Kazakhstan, and Jiu-Jitsu from Brazil. Participants from South Africa, China, and Russia praised India's hospitality and the cultural exchange.
Indian tennis players, including top seed Dhakshineswar Suresh, Arnav Paparkar, and Sidharth Rawat, have successfully advanced to the second round of the men's singles at the Mumbai Open ITF M25 event. Several other Indian and international players also secured wins in both singles and doubles matches on Wednesday.
China leads the Asian Games medal tally after Day 10 with 143 gold medals, followed by Japan and South Korea. India is currently in 10th position with 6 gold, 21 silver, and 25 bronze medals.
Indian athlete Parul Chaudhary secured a bronze medal in the women's 3000m steeplechase at the Asian Games, clocking a personal best time.
The third and final edition of the Chennai Open WTA 250 tournament begins, offering Indian wild card entrants Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalapalli, and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi a crucial last opportunity to earn ranking points on home soil. The tournament marks India's exit from the WTA main Tour calendar, making it a significant event for the local players to test their skills against an international field, despite a depleted draw due to withdrawals.
