Argentina battled their way into the semis after edging Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and coming from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has reached her first final in over two years at the Japan Open after her opponent, Tokyo Olympics champion Chen Yufei, retired due to injury during their women's singles semifinal. Sindhu was leading the match when Chen pulled out, setting up a final clash against either Akane Yamaguchi or Putri Kusuma Wardani.
'That's not just a football victory -- that's the heartbeat of an entire nation'
Sharmila Dhankar, overcoming polio and an abusive marriage, made history by winning India's first para-athletics gold medal in 20 years at the Commonwealth Games in the women's shot put F57 event. Her compatriot Shilpa Shyla also secured a bronze after a protest. Dhankar's inspiring journey from Haryana to international success, supported by her family and second husband, highlights her remarkable resilience and dedication to para-athletics.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni lauded his team's ability to perform under pressure, stating they 'play its best football when it's under pressure' after their dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against England secured a spot in the World Cup final.
France captain Kylian Mbappe sustained a minor ankle injury during the World Cup quarter-final win against Morocco but is expected to play in Tuesday's semi-final against Spain, with coach Didier Deschamps confirming he is 'fine'.
French Olympian Prithika Pavade delivered a stellar performance, including a crucial win over two-time UTT MVP Yangzi Liu, to lead PBG Pune Jaguars to a 9-6 victory against UP Prometheans in Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7. The match saw several closely contested battles and dramatic finishes.
French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja defeated reigning world champion D Gukesh in a 69-move battle at the Chennai Grand Masters 2026, taking the sole lead after the second round. Indian players M Pranesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nihal Sarin all secured draws against their respective opponents in the prestigious tournament.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has emerged as a prominent youth leader, transforming a satirical movement into a powerful force that led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Dipke views this as just the beginning, advocating for issue-based politics over identity politics and demanding further reforms in the examination system.
Spinners Adam Zampa and Joel Davies picked up three wickets each as Australia defeated Bangladesh by four wickets in the first T20 International of the three-match series in Chattogram on Wednesday.
The Congress-led UDF has swept back to power in Kerala, sparking celebrations and discussions about forming the new government. Senior leaders are vying for the Chief Minister's post, while the defeated CPI(M)-led LDF grapples with the reasons for their loss after 10 years in power.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu delivered a stellar performance at the Japan Open Super 750, defeating world No. 5 Han Yue of China in straight games to secure her spot in the quarterfinals. Sindhu, India's sole remaining representative, will now face Nozomi Okuhara.
Indian pugilists Ambekar Meetei, Aditya, Sikander, and Devendra Choudhary delivered strong performances on day 3 of the Asian U-19 & U-23 Boxing Championships in Jakarta, securing impressive victories. Ambekar and Devendra won by RSC, while Aditya and Sikander achieved convincing 5:0 wins, highlighting India's continued success in the tournament.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes secured his sixth victory of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix, extending his Formula One championship lead over Lewis Hamilton. The race saw incidents including a collision between George Russell and Hamilton, and Hamilton later faced investigation for an unsafe pitstop release. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen completed the podium.
Indian boxers, including Asian champion Vishvanath Suresh, Ganga, Hitesh, and Tanu, delivered strong performances on day 2 of the U-23 Asian Boxing Championships in Jakarta, securing unanimous decision victories. Sagar Jakhar faced a setback with a disqualification.
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, renowned for his success with Chennai Super Kings, has been appointed England's new Test head coach, with Joe Root returning as captain after a comprehensive recruitment process by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Top-seed Indian Abhijeet Gupta secured a crucial victory in the eighth round of the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin Chess Tournament, maintaining his lead. Fellow Indian International Masters Aswath S and Kushagra Mohan also won, positioning themselves strongly for the title in the final round, with Aswath eyeing a Grandmaster title and Kushagra a Grandmaster norm.
For India, the guiding principle should remain clear: Engage Bangladesh as a sovereign nation and society rather than through the prism of any individual leader or political party, suggests Manoj Mohanka.
Sharmila Dhankar, a polio-afflicted survivor of domestic abuse, clinched a gold medal in the women's F57 seated shot put at the Commonwealth Games, marking a triumph of resilience and athletic prowess.
Argentina's dark blue away jersey holds significant historical and superstitious value for the team, particularly in World Cup encounters against England. The team will wear this kit in their upcoming semi-final, hoping to replicate past successes from 1986 and 1998, where the blue jersey was worn during famous victories over England. Both coaches acknowledge the role of superstition in high-level sports, though Argentina's coach downplays the specific jersey choice. The jersey also features cultural motifs.
P V Sindhu clinched her maiden Super 750 title at the Japan Open, defeating local favourite Akane Yamaguchi in a dominant performance that showcased her return to top form, ending a nearly two-year title drought and rekindling hopes for a record sixth World Championships medal.
'Saransh is a very keen observer, he wants to keep learning.' 'He has the skills to be a top off-spinner, the way he releases the ball that is very good.' 'He is also mentally tough because he has played so much of domestic cricket.'
Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta secured the championship at the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin Chess Tournament. International Master Aswath S finished as runner-up, achieving his final Grandmaster norm to become India's 98th Grandmaster. Kushagra Mohan took third place, while Advik Agarwal earned his second International Master norm.
'The truth is Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey ultimately isn't about ancient Greece. It's about us. We all carry a Trojan Horse. We all imagine an Ithaca. We all fight monsters. We all battle invisible demons. And eventually, we all discover that arriving somewhere is never the end of becoming someone,' points out Deep Malhotra.
India's sub-junior men's and women's hockey teams secured impressive victories at the FIH Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, extending their unbeaten runs. The women's team thrashed Kazakhstan 10-0, while the men's team defeated Bangladesh 8-3, showcasing strong performances in the tournament which serves as a World Cup qualifier.
Indian hurdler Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan is heading to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with high confidence, following impressive performances at the Paris Olympics and Asian Athletics Championships. He attributes his success to consistent training at the Inspire Institute of Sport and is focused on delivering his best performance while representing India.
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey masterfully reinterprets the legendary figure of Odysseus, presenting him as a multifaceted hero grappling with the horrors of war, the responsibilities of leadership, and an enduring longing for home.
Four champions were crowned during the second week of the Esports World Cup in Paris. LYON won the Free Fire title, Team Vitality secured the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's International crown, Dplus KIA emerged victorious in League of Legends, and PVISION triumphed in Dota 2, with several teams also making strides in the Club Championship standings.
India had a stellar Day 7 at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with Murali Sreeshankar securing his second consecutive long jump silver medal and Indian boxers assuring the country of 10 medals by reaching the semi-finals in various categories. Para athletes also made history with a one-two finish in the men's 100m T47 event.
The Hitman still probably hurts over missing World Cup glory in 2011 and his stellar career rightfully deserves one last hurrah at the ODI World Cup.
Joe Root's unbeaten 99 not out guided England to a four-wicket victory over India in the second ODI in Cardiff, levelling the series 1-1. Despite falling one run short of a century, Root's selfless approach, prioritising the team's win over his personal milestone, earned widespread praise.
Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat won a gold medal in the men's 57kg freestyle category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos and Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. Deepak also secured a bronze in the 61kg category, with two more Indian wrestlers vying for podium finishes.
Argentina will wear their navy-and-black away kit for the World Cup semi-final against England, a decision that has sparked fan interest due to the kit's association with past victories against England, including the 1986 'Hand of God' match and the 1998 penalty shootout win. The team hopes this alternate strip brings them continued success.
India's U-23 women boxers showcased a dominant performance at the Asian U-19 and U-23 Boxing Championships, with nine pugilists successfully advancing to the semifinals, thereby assuring a minimum of nine medals for the country. Several boxers secured convincing victories in their quarterfinal bouts.
'I was fortunate enough to be associated with two of the most important battles fought by the Indian Army, the Battle of Tololing and Battle of Tiger Hill.' 'Sometimes, I think how I survived those battles on Tololing and on Tiger Hill.'
Indian weightlifter Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam's bronze medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in the 58kg category came as a pleasant surprise for her family, who had not anticipated a podium finish after her move up in weight class, her mother told ANI.
Spain defender Marc Cucurella is set to get a tattoo of coach Luis de la Fuente's face after Spain won the World Cup, fulfilling a promise made before the tournament. Coach De la Fuente humorously acknowledged the promise, noting his players are men of their word.
The Supreme Court has allowed former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and others to file fresh applications regarding their claim that victory margins in 31 constituencies in the recent assembly polls were less than the deletion of votes during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
United States President Donald Trump has praised England captain Harry Kane as a 'GREAT player' following his pivotal role in England's 3-2 FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 victory over co-hosts Mexico, where Kane scored his sixth goal of the tournament.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente attributes his team's commanding 2-0 victory over France and progression to the World Cup final to a revived "spirit of 2010" and strong team unity. He praised the squad's commitment, solidarity, and talent, highlighting their collective goal-oriented approach and humility. Spain has now equalled Italy's unbeaten record and looks forward to the final, with De la Fuente emphasising the team's continuous potential for growth.
