India's Deepu Mallesh has advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's speed climbing event at the Asian Games, clocking a best time of 5.09 seconds. This marks his debut at the Games. Meanwhile, Joga Purty, who also qualified for the women's quarterfinals, was eliminated due to a false start. Sport climbing is a relatively new event at both the Asian Games and the Olympics.
Indian teenager Joga Purty has qualified for the quarterfinals of the Asian Games women's speed climbing event, finishing ninth in the qualification round.
Joga Purty and Deepu Mallesh, India's speed climbing representatives, are set to make their Asian Games debut. The athletes, who discovered the sport through different paths, discuss their journeys, the challenges of pursuing a niche sport, and their excitement for the upcoming competition, where India aims for its first climbing medal. They also highlight the need for better support and exposure for the sport in India.
This article provides a comprehensive schedule for Indian athletes participating in various disciplines at the Asian Games on October 1, including archery, cricket, hockey, wrestling, and more, detailing their qualification rounds, semi-finals, and potential medal matches.
Indian athletes are set for a busy day at the Asian Games on September 30, with competitions across various disciplines including archery, boxing, cycling, golf, judo, sailing, shooting, squash, tennis, and wrestling. Several medal opportunities and crucial semifinal matches await the contingent.
Mona Agarwal staged a remarkable comeback to win the gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle (SH1) event at the Asian Para Games, narrowly defeating compatriot Avani Lekhara who secured silver. This one-two finish marked India's opening medal account and secured a second quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
Legendary Indian cueist Pankaj Advani secured his 29th career world title by winning the WBL World Billiards Championship in Birmingham. He overcame England's Rob Hall in a gruelling five-hour final, staging a remarkable comeback with a mammoth 587-break to clinch the victory.
Bournemouth thrashed Manchester United 3-0 to intensify pressure on Michael Carrick, while Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 to claim their first home league win and climb to fourth.
Tottenham Hotspur secured a rare 2-0 Premier League victory over fourth-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with goals from an own goal by Mike Penders and a late strike by Mathys Tel, while Chelsea's Cole Palmer was sent off.
India's cue sports icon Pankaj Advani has secured his 21st World Billiards Championship title, triumphing over England's Robert Hall with a score of 1906-1206 in Great Wyrley, England.
The 13th MTB Himalaya Shimla mountain bike race commenced on Friday, drawing over 80 participants from 20 cities for a three-day event. Riders will tackle 130 km and 3,800m of climbing, predominantly off-road, with gravel bikes allowed for the first time. Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary KK Pant underscored the government's support for cycling development.
Aston Villa secured a significant 2-1 home victory over Manchester City, bringing an end to City's perfect Premier League run. Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for Villa, capitalising on defensive errors, while Erling Haaland netted for City. The win marks Villa's first league victory at Villa Park this season and their third successive league win over City.
Arya Singh of Dark Don Racing won the LGB Formula 4 race at the opening of the 2026 CTR-JK Tyre FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship in Coimbatore. The event saw multiple close finishes and red-flag interruptions, with other categories like Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, Levitas Cup, Super Saloon, and F1300 Novice Cup also crowning winners.
Sikkim has hosted the inaugural leg of the 2026 Zabarvan Extreme Legends Series, an international downhill mountain biking competition. The event, featuring riders from eight countries, aims to bolster the state's adventure tourism profile. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang flagged off the competition and highlighted plans for infrastructure development to support tourism in the region.
As India's festive season approaches, passenger vehicle dealers are seeing a notable increase in inventories, yet discounts remain surprisingly moderate compared to previous years, signalling a tighter demand-supply balance in the automotive market.
Brighton thrashed Crystal Palace 5-0, inspired by Diego Gomez's spectacular halfway-line strike, while Manchester United drew 1-1 with Leeds and Bournemouth beat Sunderland 2-0 in Premier League action.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina rallied from a set down to defeat Rafael Jodar in three sets, capture his biggest career title at Shanghai and secure a projected career-high ranking.
Egypt's Amina Orfi is set to become the youngest-ever women's world number one in squash at 19 years and two months old, breaking a 40-year record after winning the Qatar Classic.
India commenced its Asian Para Games campaign with a spectacular performance, securing 11 medals, including four gold, across various sports on Monday. Notable victories came from shooter Mona Agarwal, long jumper Nishad Kumar, middle-distance runner Soumya, and javelin thrower Rinku, with archer Sheetal Devi also setting world records. The medal haul places India fourth in the overall standings.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has lauded the state's athletes for their stellar performance at the Commonwealth Games, where India secured 16 medals on a single day, climbing to fourth in the overall standings.
Eugenio Chacarra of Spain holds a two-shot lead at the DP World India Championship after a strong third round was suspended due to fading light at the Delhi Golf Club on Saturday. Chacarra reached 14-under par, with compatriots Angel Hidalgo and Joost Luiten trailing at 12-under. The tournament has faced schedule disruptions due to earlier weather delays, setting up a demanding final day for players, including top contenders like Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy, and Indian golfers led by Om Prakash Chouhan.
Arsenal came from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1, with Riccardo Calafiori equalising before substitute Bruno Guimaraes struck the winner to lift the Gunners to second in the Premier League.
Shubhankar Sharma fired a seven-under 65 in the second round of the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship, establishing a four-shot lead. The Chandigarh golfer reached 11-under 133, with Brashwarpal Singh in second place and overnight leader Shaurya Bhattacharya slipping to third.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals to lead Real Madrid to a convincing 4-1 victory over Sevilla, narrowing the gap on LaLiga leaders Barcelona to six points ahead of their crucial upcoming encounter.
The Premier League resumed after the international break with Arsenal securing a 2-1 comeback victory over Leeds United. Chelsea thrashed Bournemouth 5-1, while Tottenham salvaged a late draw against Manchester United. The return of the league was overshadowed by Manchester City's alleged financial breaches, which the club denies.
India is set to field a strong contingent at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with key athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain leading the charge to defend titles in cricket, kabaddi, and men's hockey.
Indian squash player Anahat Singh, after securing a historic silver medal at the Asian Games, expresses mixed feelings of disappointment and encouragement. She is now focused on improving her PSA rankings to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, acknowledging the challenges of continuous high-level competition.
Shubhankar Sharma retained a two-shot lead after the third round of the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship on Friday, despite an even-par 72. Bengaluru's Manoj S and Italy's Michele Ortolani are his closest challengers heading into the final round.
South Korean male professional tennis players face a unique challenge: mandatory military service, which interrupts their careers for 18 months. This article explores how players like Seong-chan Hong, Hyeon Chung, and Soonwoo Kwon adapt to this obligation, with some earning exemptions through sporting achievements while others navigate a return to the professional circuit after their service.
India's Asian Games campaign looked bleak in Nagoya. A slow medal start saw the country slip to around 12th, before a late surge took India back to fourth with 85 medals.
Spain's Eugenio Chacarra holds a one-shot lead at the DP World India Championship after the second round, with six Indian golfers successfully making the cut. Om Prakash Chouhan is the best-placed Indian, while Yuvraj Sandhu made a remarkable comeback. Several major champions also qualified, but some prominent Indian names missed the cut, leaving a tightly packed leaderboard.
Kakatiya Knights and Mighty Marathas secured victories in the Archery Premier League Season 2, maintaining their top positions. Prithviraaj Yodhas also climbed to third place, while Chola Chiefs continued their losing streak. Key archers like Gatha Anandrao Khadake, Neeraj Chauhan, and Simranjeet Kaur delivered stellar performances.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma won the Rs 2 crore Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship by six strokes in Greater Noida on Saturday, securing his second DP World PGTI victory this season. His dominant performance, highlighted by a crucial eagle on the 12th hole, provides a significant boost ahead of the upcoming DP World India Championship.
Barcelona continued their formidable LaLiga campaign with a commanding triumph over Real Betis with Lamine Yamal delivering another standout performance.
Borussia Dortmund squandered a two-goal lead in the final minutes against former player Niclas Fullkrug's Werder Bremen, drawing 2-2 and dropping points for the first time this Bundesliga season. Meanwhile, RC Lens secured a much-needed 2-1 home victory over Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1, despite a late red card.
Khalin Joshi maintained a three-shot lead after the third round of the Bengaluru Open, despite a challenging day. Manu Gandas shot the lowest score of the day, an eight-under 64, to move into second place and reduce Joshi's advantage. The tournament is heading into its final round with a prize purse of Rs 1 crore.
Aston Villa secured their first Premier League victory of the season with a 3-2 win against Tottenham Hotspur, who remain in the relegation zone after another disappointing performance.
India's sedan market is experiencing a notable divergence: affordable entry-level sedans are gaining market share, while midsize sedans are seeing a significant decline as buyers increasingly opt for SUVs in higher price brackets.
World junior champion Anahat Singh, now 18, is returning to the Asian Games with significantly higher stakes, as the women's singles gold medal offers direct Olympic qualification. Ranked world number 20, she is a strong medal contender and is embracing the pressure of competing for her country. Anahat faces formidable opponents like Satomi Watanbe and Sivasangari Subramaniam but is focused on refining her game and physical strength to achieve her goals.
India experienced a mixed day at the Asian Games, with skeet shooters and rowers adding to the medal tally, and wushu player Roshibina Devi securing a silver. While kabaddi and hockey teams continued their winning streaks, boxing, gymnastics, and fencing saw disappointments. The overall medal count reached 15, with only one gold so far.
