I spent a sleepless night arguing with myself and losing.I woke up early and decided to take the job. A year or two, I told myself. I can always walk out later. That was the plan. Ten years is a strange way of keeping a one-year promise to yourself.
Indian Greco Roman wrestler Sunil Kumar made a strong start at the Asian Games, advancing to the men's 87kg semifinals with a dominant technical superiority victory.
Uruguay defeated India 6-1 in an international friendly, marking another heavy loss for the Indian team against a two-time world champion. Despite an early equalizer from Anirudh Thapa, Uruguay dominated the second half with goals from Maximiliano Araujo, Rodrigo Zalazar, Juan Manuel Sanabria, and Rodrigo Aguirre, following an initial penalty by Darwin Nunez. This defeat concludes a challenging international window for India, which also included a 0-4 loss to Brazil.
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.
Novak Djokovic began his China Open comeback with a 6-3, 7-6(2) win over Nuno Borges, extending his perfect Beijing record to 30 victories as he targets a seventh title.
The Czech Republic secured their 12th Billie Jean King Cup title by defeating Ukraine 2-0 in the final. Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova delivered dominant singles victories, with Muchova sweeping Anhelina Kalinina and Noskova overcoming Elina Svitolina. This victory marks the Czechs' first title since 2018, solidifying their position as the second-most successful nation in the competition's history.
Bodoland FC secured a convincing 3-0 victory over FC1 in the Durand Cup, bouncing back from an earlier defeat. Goals from Robinson Rendon, Rituraj Mohan, and Aron Thapa sealed the win, significantly boosting their position in Group F. Separately, Langsning FC staged a comeback to draw 2-2 with Nongkseh SS&CC in the Shillong Derby.
India face West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad, needing one more win to seal the series as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan lead the batting charge.
Woman Fide Master Pratitee Bordoloi and Grandmaster-elect Mayank Chakraborty have emerged as sole leaders in their respective categories at the Asian Junior Girls Classical Chess Championship and Open Championship in Mumbai after seven rounds. Both players secured crucial results to maintain their half-point advantage over their nearest rivals as the tournament progresses to its decisive stage.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir made an impressive start to their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A campaign, dismissing Madhya Pradesh for 196 on the opening day. Medium pacer Rohit Sharma led the attack with a five-wicket haul, while Sunil Kumar added four wickets. J&K were 3/1 at stumps, trailing by 193 runs.
Australia need six wickets on final day to win first Test as South Africa were reduced to 102 for 4 at stumps on day four in Durban.
Indian men's and women's compound archery teams have successfully advanced to the semi-finals at the Asian Games after comfortable victories in their respective round of 16 and quarter-final matches. Both teams are set to face South Korea in the semi-finals on September 30, aiming to continue India's strong legacy in compound archery, following their clean sweep of gold medals at the previous Asian Games.
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.
Asian Games champions India will commence their Asian Champions Trophy Hockey campaign against Bangladesh on October 27 in Jalandhar. The tournament, featuring six top Asian teams, will run from October 27 to November 5 across Jalandhar and Mohali, Punjab. India, five-time ACT winners, aim to continue their strong record as hosts.
The Reserve Bank of India's recent measures, including a dedicated dollar window for state-run oil marketing companies and tightened foreign exchange derivative rules, are expected to provide near-term relief to the rupee's depreciation, but market participants believe global factors and balance of payment dynamics will continue to exert pressure in the medium term.
France secured a late 1-0 victory over Belgium in the Nations League thanks to a goal from substitute Michael Olise, marking a winning start for coach Zinedine Zidane. Meanwhile, Italy bounced back from an earlier defeat to thrash Turkey 4-1, with goals from Bastoni, Frattesi, Kayode, and Esposito. Other Nations League results saw Bosnia beat Romania and Sweden overcome Poland.
The Indian men's kabaddi team secured a dominant 63-31 victory over South Korea in a Group A clash at the Asian Games, marking their second consecutive win and placing them atop the group.
Australia A, powered by Sam Harper's century and effective spin bowling from Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli, gained a significant advantage over India A on Day 2 of their second four-day match in Puducherry, leaving India A trailing by 236 runs.
Archer Kumkum Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal have been named the first recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award, respectively, by the Indian Olympic Association. These awards recognise their exceptional performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where Mohod secured two archery golds and Kalkal won gold in wrestling.
Former India chief selector Chetan Sharma has lauded his successor Ajit Agarkar for a highly successful three-year tenure, which saw India win three ICC trophies and achieve significant white-ball cricket dominance.
The Indian women's compound archery team, comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi, and Prithika Pradeep, won the gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating China 238-234 in the final. The team also equalled a world record score, marking a sensational performance and successfully retaining their title.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition amidst ongoing protests for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and scrapping of SIR. Shah predicted a "crushing defeat" for the Congress in the 2029 general elections, citing the BJP's and NDA's strong public support and the Congress's dismal performance in recent bypolls and local body elections across several states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tripura. He urged the Congress to introspect instead of engaging in "negative politics" and "fabricated media events."
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warned of increased global turbulence from tech disruptions, AI, and financial risks in the coming years. He stated that India is strengthening its economic and technological resilience to protect its growth from external shocks. India is focusing on domestic manufacturing and design in critical tech areas while maintaining global integration, with trust becoming as crucial as cost in supply chains.
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.
Kumkum Mohod, a 17-year-old archer from Amravati, has achieved significant success at the Asian Games, securing a gold and a silver medal. Her father and coach highlight her journey from a bamboo bow to international competitions, overcoming financial challenges, and her ultimate dream of representing India at the Olympics. Her performance, particularly against South Korea, has brought pride to her family, hometown, and the nation.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams continued their winning streak at the Asian Games, securing comprehensive victories against Bangladesh and Iran respectively. The women's team defeated 2018 gold medallist Iran 37-23, while the men's team beat Bangladesh 48-25, showcasing their strong performance and aiming for gold.
India posted a formidable total of 211 for six against Pakistan in the men's cricket final at the Asian Games, driven by explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (61 off 28 balls) and Tilak Varma (unbeaten 51 off 22 balls).
Indian equities, particularly the Nifty 50, have significantly underperformed their Asian and global counterparts over the past year, with the index down 10.6 per cent. This lag is attributed to factors like rising global oil prices, rupee depreciation, and a lack of participation in the global chipmaker rally that boosted markets like South Korea and Taiwan.
Mirra Andreeva survived Ekaterina Alexandrova in two tight tiebreaks to reach her first China Open semi-final, where rising Czech star Nikola Bartunkova awaits after crushing Karolina Muchova in Beijing showdown.
Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant commenced their IFA Shield campaign with a resounding 6-0 victory over Sreenidi Deccan. Lalengmawia Chhangte scored a hat-trick, leading the Mariners to a dominant performance despite missing key players.
Former Supreme Court Justice Abhay Oka warned that major cities might be forced to adopt mandatory face mask usage within 20-25 years due to environmental degradation. He stressed that protecting the environment is a fundamental constitutional duty, countering the misconception that humans own the Earth. Justice Oka also encouraged students to study law and use AI responsibly.
Left-arm spinner Tanmay Baloda claimed six wickets for 32 runs, helping India Under-19 dismiss Australia for 174 on the opening day of the second Youth Test in Ahmedabad. India, however, lost both openers and ended the day at 38 for two, trailing by 136 runs, setting up an intriguing contest.
England delivered a stunning 7-0 victory over Croatia, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scoring twice, while Spain maintained their perfect record in the Nations League with a 3-1 win against the Czech Republic. Both teams showcased dominant performances in their respective matches.
Lovlina Borgohain has secured India's first women's boxing gold at the Asian Games in 12 years, defeating China's Ziyi Bao in the 75kg final.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the second round of the Arctic Open Super 500 tournament in Finland. While Sindhu secured a comfortable win, other Indian shuttlers like Unnati Hooda, Ashmita Chaliha, and Malvika Bansod faced defeats, marking a mixed day for the contingent. Tharun Mannepalli and Rounak Chouhan, however, successfully entered the men's singles main draw.
They had bought Rs 29,631 crore worth of shares in August.
India's women's kabaddi team secured their record-extending fourth Asian Games gold medal by defeating Iran 37-34 in a thrilling final.
Chola Chiefs and Prithviraaj Yodhas secured their inaugural victories in Archery Premier League Season 2 on Friday, while Chero Archers maintained their perfect record with a second consecutive win. Key performances from international archers like Alejandra Usquiano and Atanu Das highlighted the day's intense competition.
Title holders Portugal defeated Norway 2-1 in the Nations League, securing their place in the March quarter-finals with a perfect record. Goncalo Ramos scored the winning goal, further highlighting the team's success despite Cristiano Ronaldo's recent departure from the squad. Other Nations League results included Denmark beating Wales, the Netherlands overcoming Serbia, and Greece drawing with Germany.
Alok's IV, led by Alok Daga, secured the top position in the eight-round Swiss League of the East Zone Bridge Championships in Kolkata, advancing to the pre-quarterfinals. Several other teams also qualified, with initial pre-quarterfinal leads established by Bangur Cement, Tornatae, Conquerors, and Deepadhar, among others.