India's three-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting Sunday, is a vital preparatory stage for the ICC World Cup 2027. The series will focus on giving game time to young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and assessing the form of key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who is nearing a significant ODI milestone. The development of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is also a priority. The West Indies team, grappling with recent losses and financial issues, will aim to overcome these challenges and deliver a competitive performance.
The Asian Games shooting range in Nagoya has implemented a strict dress code for photographers and TV cameramen, leading to some confusion among media personnel. While the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has long had such rules, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee has made them exceptionally clear, even requiring a video journalist to change from blue to black jeans. The rules aim to maintain a professional appearance and distinguish shooting as a sport, reflecting Japan's meticulous approach to event organisation.
Sawan Barwal secured an unexpected silver medal in the Asian Games marathon, shattering his own national record with a time of 2:11:37.
A stranded message that failed for three days over telephone lines was delivered in minutes by a MiG-21 pilot flying above the desert.
'This is what we train for: That one chance to deliver a blow so lethal that the enemy will constantly think about it when planning any misadventure.'
Indian Teqball player Quimcy Dsouza lost her Asian Games women's singles semifinal to Indonesia's Sumaya in a gruelling three-game match. Despite a strong start, Dsouza, a former state-level footballer, was overcome by Sumaya's sepak takraw background. Dsouza will now compete in the bronze medal playoff, aiming for a podium finish in Teqball's debut at the Asian Games.
India has announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming BWF World Junior Championships in Cairo, Egypt. The team, featuring Asian U-17 champion Tanvi Patri and other promising talents, was selected after trials in Guwahati. India, a bronze medallist in the previous edition, aims for a strong performance, with the tournament introducing new scoring systems for the Suhandinata Cup and individual events.
Iran's women's kabaddi team faced immense challenges during their Asian Games preparations, including frequent camp changes due to regional conflict, psychological stress on young players, and difficulties arranging international friendly matches due to sanctions.
Rohit Rajpal, India's Davis Cup captain, has hinted at stepping down from his role despite his contract running until 2026, stating that "every good thing comes to an end." He expressed readiness to ensure a smooth transition for his successor and believes a new captain could offer fresh perspectives. Rajpal also outlined his vision for Indian tennis, which includes a player-centric approach and a bid for the AITA presidency, aiming to develop talent and bring major international tournaments back to India.
India experienced a day of mixed results at the Asian Games, securing a gold medal in shooting through Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet, and a silver in men's 10,000m with Gulveer Singh. However, a major setback occurred with the unexpected early exit of top badminton men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The nation also added several bronze medals in pole vault, shot put, table tennis, and assured more in squash, pushing its total medal count to 23.
Indian teqball player Quimcy D'Souza narrowly missed out on two bronze medals in women's singles and mixed doubles at a recent tournament in Nagoya. Despite suffering a back spasm and gluteus muscle strain, D'Souza displayed immense grit, pushing her opponents to the limit in back-to-back matches. Her performance, though unrewarded with a medal, highlights India's growing presence in the nascent sport of teqball.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a dominant 17-1 victory over Indonesia in their second Pool B match at the Asian Games.
Defending champions India are set to face lower-ranked Sri Lanka in their second Pool A match of the Asian Games men's hockey competition.
India's men's 10m air pistol team, comprising Kamaljeet, Aakash Bhardwaj, and Kedarling Uchaganve, failed to secure a medal at the Asian Games. Kamaljeet narrowly missed the final, while Kedarling's poor performance led to Japan clinching the bronze medal. This marks another disappointing day for Indian shooting, which has yet to win a gold medal after five days of competition, raising concerns about their performance at the event.
Cody Gakpo scored a stoppage-time equaliser for the Netherlands, securing a 1-1 draw against Germany in their Nations League opener, spoiling Juergen Klopp's debut as Germany's coach. Other Nations League matches saw Erling Haaland lead Norway to victory over Denmark, Portugal defeat Wales, and Greece snatch a late win against Serbia.
The Indian men's badminton team defeated hosts Japan in the Asian Games quarterfinals, securing a medal.
Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan has been remanded to judicial custody in connection with old criminal cases, including murder charges from 2007. This development effectively prevents him from campaigning for the upcoming by-election. The Congress party has questioned the timing of the arrest, alleging political motives behind the revival of these long-pending cases.
The Indian women's hockey team secured its second consecutive Pool B victory at the Asian Games, defeating Indonesia 17-1. Deepika Sehrawat, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, and Navneet Kaur each scored a hat-trick, contributing to the dominant performance. Coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed satisfaction but highlighted the upcoming match against Japan as the real challenge for topping the pool and securing direct Olympic qualification.
India's Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare announced that cab aggregators have been ordered to cease advance tipping options, deeming the practice misleading and unfair. This follows the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposing a Rs 10 lakh penalty on Rapido for unfair business practices, including advance tipping and "dark patterns" that pressure users to pay more. Investigations into Uber and Ola are ongoing, with the government emphasizing that tipping should be voluntary and post-ride.
Dhakshineswar Suresh lost to South Korea's Soonwoo Kwon in a hard-fought three-set match, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 2 tie. Despite a strong start, Suresh couldn't maintain his momentum against Kwon's improved play. Sumit Nagal now faces Hyeon Chung in the second singles rubber, with India needing a win to level the tie.
Indian rowers Satnam Singh and Salman Khan secured a historic bronze medal in the men's double sculls at the Asian Games, marking India's first-ever medal in this event. Despite the achievement, both athletes expressed mixed feelings due to last-minute crew changes that they believe affected their performance. The bronze was a saving grace for the Indian team, which otherwise delivered one of its worst Asian Games rowing performances, equalling previous low tallies. The controversy surrounding team selections and the impact of weather disruptions on the competition schedule were also highlighted.
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the U.S. Open final, securing his first title at Flushing Meadows and his second Grand Slam championship of the year, following his French Open victory.
Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal overcame a challenging start to secure India's first-ever bronze medal in the Asian Games skeet mixed team event. Their remarkable comeback, fueled by mutual support and a fighting spirit, culminated in a significant achievement for Indian shooting, adding to their individual medal tallies at the Games.
Atletico Madrid defeated 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a heated LaLiga derby at the Metropolitano. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David secured the win, moving Atletico above Real in the standings. Real's Dean Huijsen was sent off, and Antonio Ruediger scored a late consolation goal.
Satnam Singh and Salman Khan secured India's first-ever men's double sculls bronze medal at the Asian Games, a significant achievement amidst an otherwise challenging performance by the Indian rowing team. The medal comes despite pre-competition controversy regarding team selections, with the duo forming their partnership just five days before the event.
Ganges Grandmasters, led by Ian Nepomniachtchi, defeated defending champions Alpine APL Pipers to win their first Global Chess League title. Nepomniachtchi's crucial win against Magnus Carlsen in the final, coupled with Stavroula Tsolakidou's performance, sealed the victory. FYERS American Gambits secured third place in the tournament.
Indian-origin golfers Rayhan Thomas and Mahanth Chirravuri successfully made the cut at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship. Both players are aiming to improve their standings in the Korn Ferry Finals Tour points race to secure full playing rights for the next season and potentially a PGA Tour card.
Prachiti Nagpurkar, a former chartered accountant, has made history as the first Indian to referee a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout at the Asian Games in Nagoya. She left her lucrative profession to pursue her passion for MMA, where she also owns a gym and trains fighters. Nagpurkar advocates for women in male-dominated sports, expressing pride in her role as a female official in the cage.
Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings have announced former India pace bowler Zaheer Khan as their new head coach for the IPL 2027 season, replacing long-serving Stephen Fleming.
88 per cent of individual traders lost money during FY26. Until we recognise gambling dressed up as option buying for what it is, we will keep treating the wrong disease, asserts Harsh Roongta.
Satnam Singh and Salman Khan secured India's first-ever men's double sculls bronze medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya, a significant achievement amidst a backdrop of internal team controversy regarding last-minute crew changes. The performance, however, highlighted one of India's worst rowing showings in Asian Games history, equalling previous low tallies.
India, having already secured the T20 series against Afghanistan, is likely to experiment with its playing XI in the third and final match in New Delhi. This provides an opportunity for players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and others on the bench to get game time before the Asian Games, while Afghanistan aims for an improved performance to boost morale.
Satnam Singh and Salman Khan secured India's first-ever men's double sculls bronze medal at the Asian Games, a significant achievement amidst an otherwise disappointing performance by the Indian rowing team. The team faced internal controversy regarding last-minute crew changes, which some rowers found disturbing. Despite the challenges, Satnam and Salman's bronze was lauded by the Prime Minister, and their individual journeys highlight their dedication to the sport.
India's deputy chef-de-mission, A Sharath Kamal, has downplayed concerns regarding the unique container room and cruise ship accommodation for athletes at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. He stated that Indian athletes have been prepared for these arrangements through mock setups at SAI centres. Kamal also expressed confidence in India's table tennis team, predicting at least one medal, specifically highlighting the men's doubles and mixed doubles pairs.
Prachiti Nagpurkar, a former chartered accountant, has made history as the first Indian to referee a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout at the Asian Games in Nagoya. She left her lucrative profession to pursue her passion for MMA, where she also owns a gym and trains fighters. Nagpurkar advocates for women in male-dominated sports, expressing pride in her role as a female official in the cage.
Former badminton coach Vimal Kumar expresses optimism about India's medal prospects at the upcoming Asian Games, suggesting they can surpass their previous tally of three. He stresses the critical need for Indian singles players, including Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty, to overcome inconsistencies and deliver under pressure. Kumar also highlights the challenges posed by the new 15-point format and the highly competitive nature of men's singles badminton.
Indian dressage rider Anush Agarwalla has voiced profound disappointment and hurt after being excluded from the upcoming Asian Games, despite being a gold medalist in the previous edition. He criticised the selection process as "unfair" and a "betrayal," stating he was never given a chance to compete, and called for a more transparent system in Indian sports.
Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam were honoured at the 72nd National Film Awards.
India's Asian Games campaign saw its medal tally rise to 17 with strong performances in athletics, wushu, kabaddi, and hockey, despite some disappointments in shooting, boxing, and gymnastics. The mixed 4x400m relay team secured silver, while Seema won bronze in 10,000m. Wushu player Roshibina Devi claimed silver, and rowers added a bronze. Kabaddi and men's hockey teams continued their unbeaten runs, advancing to later stages.
While Zakir Khan takes you through a number of emotions, both the laughter and the poignancy hit with almost the same intensity, notes Utkarsh Mishra.
