Australian cricket legend Ellyse Perry has lauded Indian superstars Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, highlighting Mandhana's "incredible willpower" and "super-strong mind," and Kaur's "tenacity." Perry also expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming ICC Women's Champions Trophy and reflected on the evolving landscape of women's cricket.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma ended his streak of missed cuts by making the weekend rounds at the Nexo Championship in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His second round was highlighted by a spectacular hole-in-one on the sixth hole, contributing to his even-par 72 and a tied 22nd position. This performance offers Sharma a crucial opportunity to regain momentum on the DP World Tour.
Australia secured an innings and 51-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test, but the performance highlighted persistent issues with their top-order batting, particularly for Marnus Labuschagne, raising questions ahead of their South Africa tour.
Widespread fear amongst autorickshaw and taxi drivers over rumoured steep fines linked to a state government Marathi proficiency drive erupted into street protests in parts of Mumbai on Monday, forcing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to step in and address the panic. During protests, some drivers tried to prevent other members from transporting passengers, inconveniencing common people in the morning hours.
Indian chess players Vignesh Vermula and Saranya Devi secured gold medals in the Open and Girls blitz sections respectively at the Asian Junior Chess Championship, marking a strong start for the nation. Vermula, a 23rd seed, won on tie-breaks, while Saranya, seeded ninth, displayed tactical precision to claim her title.
Manika Batra's dominant performance, securing a straight-games victory over Prithika Pavade, propelled Ahmedabad APL Pipers to the top of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) table with a decisive 10-5 win against PBG Pune Jaguars. The Pipers showcased strong individual and mixed doubles performances to clinch the comprehensive victory.
Every little girl has imagined being Cinderella at least once, and these lehengas come pretty close.
Indian boxer Jadumani Singh secured a dominant unanimous decision victory against Scotland's Aaron Cullen in the men's 55kg category at the Commonwealth Games. Unburdened by previous weight-shedding struggles, Singh showcased superior technique and confidence, advancing to the pre-quarters.
Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 in a crucial Group H match, with Alex Baena scoring the decisive goal. This victory secured Spain's top spot in the group and a place in the World Cup knockout stage, while Uruguay, managed by Marcelo Bielsa, was eliminated from the tournament. Cape Verde also advanced from the group.
A Kanwariya, Golu Kumar (25), was shot dead in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, while on his way to offer water at the Baba Garibnath Temple. The incident occurred near Brahmapur Khakhan village. Police are investigating the murder, noting the victim had received a death threat earlier.
Tennis legend Serena Williams made a victorious return to the U.S. Open, partnering with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles to defeat Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool. This marked her first appearance at Arthur Ashe Stadium since her 2022 farewell, delighting fans. While Williams and Alcaraz advanced, top seeds Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were surprisingly eliminated in the revamped mixed doubles format, which aims to attract more singles stars and fans.
Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has found himself at the centre of a controversy after he was seen walking away while the national anthem was played at an event in Unnao, drawing flak from the opposition. Mahana, however, claimed that the anthem was not played where he was given the guard of honour.
If an OTT series can make a young person curious about the armed forces, make a family understand the sacrifices made by those in uniform, or simply make someone walk up to a veteran and say, "Thank you for your service," then it has achieved something far more important than merely getting its history right, notes Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
We raid restaurants for cockroaches but never raid the roadside. Public hygiene runs entirely on faith and fumes. Even after so many years of being a free nation, points out Binu Alex.
The MV Ocean Winner sank within about eight minutes with 24 crew aboard; experts say excess moisture in its iron ore fines cargo may have caused liquefaction.
Australia secured a thumping innings and 51-run victory over Bangladesh in Mackay, levelling the two-match series 1-1. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were instrumental, with Starc taking 10-51 in the match.
Digvesh Rathi recreated his viral 'notebook' celebration after dismissing Priyansh Arya in the Delhi Premier League, but the act led to a 30% pre cent match fee penalty and two demerit points for breaching the Code of Conduct. The match saw Outer Delhi Warriors defeat Purani Dilli 6 in a high-scoring encounter, with Rathi being the standout bowler for his team despite the loss.
India's campaign in the FIH Women's World Cup concluded after a goalless draw against Australia in their final second-round match.
India secured a comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test, improving their World Test Championship points percentage. However, despite the win, their path to the WTC final has become significantly more challenging, requiring them to win almost all their remaining matches due to a tightly packed table and other teams' results.
Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi have successfully navigated the lower bracket of the Esports World Cup chess tournament in Paris, securing their spots in the quarter-finals. The duo will now compete in the knockout stage, aiming for the US$1.5 million prize pool.
The Indian men's hockey team was eliminated from the FIH World Cup semifinal race after a 3-5 loss to Argentina in a crucial pool match. India needed to win by at least two goals but struggled to find form against a strong Argentine side.
Sri Lankan cricket officials are considering a balanced pitch for the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), moving away from a spin-friendly track. This decision aims to provide equal opportunities for both batters and bowlers, similar to the Galle pitch, and support their young batting lineup. The SSC pitch character has evolved over the years, with less home advantage since the retirement of legendary players.
Indian bridge players Sagnik Roy and Sayantan Kushari secured a gold medal in the Under-31 Pairs category at the 9th World Youth Transnational Championships held in Hefei, China, outperforming 34 other pairs.
Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek advanced to the Cincinnati Open women's semi-finals, with Pegula overcoming Amanda Anisimova in a tough three-setter and Swiatek progressing after Elena Rybakina retired due to injury. In the men's draw, Flavio Cobolli reached his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, defeating Tommy Paul, and will face Arthur Fils.
India's route to the semi-finals is straightforward: if the Netherlands beats China, a win over Australia would take the ninth-ranked Indian team through.
India's chances of reaching the Hockey World Cup semi-finals are slim, requiring a significant victory against Argentina and favourable results from the Netherlands-England match. The team must overcome their finishing struggles and defensive concerns to keep their hopes alive.
India's Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa finished second in the Sinquefield Cup after losing to American Wesley So in the Armageddon game, but secured his spot in the Grand Chess Tour finale later this year.
Pakistan's Olympic gold-medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem will skip the upcoming Diamond League meet in Lausanne to concentrate on his preparation for the Asian Games and another international event. He will undergo a training camp in South Africa under coach Terseus Liebenberg, aiming to improve his performance after recent struggles.
As India prepares for their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15, the team management faces critical decisions regarding their playing XI to bolster their World Test Championship 2027 final aspirations.
Maa Mansa Devi, revered as the Hindu goddess of serpents, is worshipped for protection from snakebites, fertility and prosperity. She is also popularly known as the wish-fulfilling goddess. In Hindu mythology, Mansa is associated with sage Kashyapa and is regarded as the sister of Vasuki, the serpent king.
US intelligence agencies intercepted information indicating Iran had precise details of President Donald Trump's location in Ankara during a NATO summit, prompting a secretive departure due to a specific surface-to-air missile threat and the presence of a shoulder-fired missile near the summit.
A special court in Mumbai has sentenced a 32-year-old man to six months rigorous imprisonment for making derogatory remarks against Dr B R Ambedkar and hurling casteist slurs at an advocate. The court rejected the defence's argument about lack of independent witnesses, noting the incident occurred in public view.
Meghalaya is experiencing escalating tensions marked by arson and petrol bomb attacks on government properties, following violence during a Khasi Students' Union rally. The incidents are linked to an inter-state taxi standoff with Assam, leading to deployment of central forces and calls for peace from chief ministers.
A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Pune district for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering a nine-year-old girl from his neighbourhood. The incident occurred in Pimpalwadi village, Junnar tehsil, after the accused lured the victim away.
Inter Milan and Napoli secured victories in their Serie A openers, while Racing Lens and Olympique Lyonnais also began their Ligue 1 campaigns with wins, setting an early pace in their respective leagues.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated NorthEast United 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw in the Durand Cup semi-final. Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith was the hero, making two crucial saves to send Mohun Bagan into the final, where they will face arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the Kolkata Derby.
A devastating fire in a five-storey building housing multiple hotels in central Kolkata resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, including a child, and injured six others. Firefighters rescued 80 individuals, but dense smoke hampered operations. Authorities suspect a short circuit and allege significant safety and construction norm violations by the building management. The owner is currently absconding, and police have initiated legal proceedings and raids.
R Praggnanandhaa delivered a statement performance in St. Louis, powering his way to his maiden Rapid & Blitz title with a round to spare.
India faces a critical challenge against co-hosts and reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands in their Hockey World Cup second-round opener.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa suffered a defeat against Germany's Vincent Keymer in the Sinquefield Cup, part of the Grand Chess Tour, causing him to slip to joint fourth spot. Meanwhile, Wesley So of the United States emerged as the sole leader after a significant victory over Fabiano Caruana.
