The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
Despite a pre-event declaration by Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey that the teams would revert to blue uniforms, both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams played their opening Asian Games matches in saffron kits, reigniting a controversy over kit colour.
India's men's hockey team suffered a 4-2 defeat against England in their second Hockey World Cup pool match, with head coach Craig Fulton and player Manpreet Singh attributing the loss to defensive lapses, particularly in the third quarter. The team now faces a crucial match against arch-rivals Pakistan, needing to improve their defensive discipline and penalty corner conversion.
Indian women's hockey team captain Savita Punia believes their recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to challenge top teams and secure a podium finish at the upcoming World Cup.
Afghanistan has secured automatic qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup after defeating Ireland, while the West Indies, ranked 10th, will once again have to navigate qualifiers for the third consecutive edition of the tournament.
Lionel Messi has achieved a new World Cup milestone, becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive matches.
Eighteen-year-old Indian shooter Parth Mane secured a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games, marking his senior continental debut.
Indian shooter Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the Asian Games, overcoming pain, exhaustion, and five shoot-offs. Her remarkable resilience and fighting spirit were highlighted in a dramatic final, making it India's only individual shooting medal on the day. The article also details the disappointing performances of Manu Bhaker and Rahi Sarnobat, including a costly mishap for Sarnobat.
'I don't think the government will sacrifice such a fine institution for monetary gains.'
Indian long-distance runner Seema won a bronze medal in the women's 10,000m race at the Asian Games. She revealed that she kept her participation a secret from her 78-year-old mother, who suffers from high blood pressure and worries excessively when Seema travels. Seema, from Himachal Pradesh, is only the third Indian woman to medal in this event at the Asian Games and plans to compete in the 5000m race to try for a different medal. She credits her training under Scott Simon for her success.
'Credit to the Japan team for taking on the challenge and putting up a fight.'
Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane secured second place in the 10m air rifle mixed team qualification at the Asian Games 2026, positioning them for a medal contention. China set a new world record in the same event. Separately, Aadhya Tiwari faced a defeat in her opening soft tennis match but aims to recover in her next game.
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.
Indian teqball player Quimcy Dsouza lost a hard-fought bronze medal match to Japan's Yuina Sakamoto at the Asian Games in Nagoya. Dsouza showed a strong comeback, taking both sets to a narrow 11-12 finish, but ultimately fell short.
India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne attributed his side's goalless draw against Australia, which led to their World Cup semi-final exit, to nerves and an inability to convert opportunities, despite calling the fifth-sixth place playoff a 'significant achievement'.
Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are on the cusp of achieving significant career milestones in the upcoming One-Day International series against West Indies, with Kohli nearing 15,000 ODI runs and Rohit approaching 12,000 ODI runs and 10,000 runs as an opener.
Indian squash players Joshna Chinappa, Velavan Senthilkumar, Anahat Singh, and Abhay Singh have secured at least three medals at the Asian Games by advancing to the semifinals in mixed doubles and singles events. Joshna Chinappa, playing in her record seventh Asian Games, and Senthilkumar dominated their mixed doubles quarterfinal. Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh also delivered strong performances in their respective singles quarterfinals, with Anahat aiming for an Olympic berth.
Avengers: Endgame Encore adds four crucial scenes that connect the old MCU to Avengers: Doomsday, from Loki's shocking return to Doctor Doom's sinister plans for the multiverse.
This is not the first time Erdogan has spoken about the Kashmir issue during his UNGA address. Last year in September, he had called for a resolution on the issue of Kashmir at UNGA.
India's Asian Games gold medalists in kabaddi and shooting received a grand welcome at the IGI Airport.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Arjuna Awardee Roopa Unnikrishnan gives away the rifles that shaped her brilliant shooting career, hoping they will inspire a new generation of Indian shooters.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot and Pedro Porro added another goal as Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday.
Former chief selector Ajit Agarkar's departure from the BCCI was primarily driven by disagreements over Rohit Sharma's future in white-ball cricket and policy differences with Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman, culminating in his absence from a crucial review meeting.
Iga Swiatek fought back from a break down in the deciding set to defeat Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 at the Canadian Open.
Indian wushu athletes Suraj Singh Mayanglambam, Aparna Dahiya, and Vikrant Baliyan faced mixed fortunes at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Indian athletes Basant Kumar Meghwal and Shahnavaz Khan have made history at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2026 in Eugene, Oregon, winning silver in men's high jump and bronze in men's long jump, respectively, bringing India's medal tally to three.
George Russell secured pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a dominant performance, setting a lap time significantly faster than his rivals. His Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli crashed out during qualifying, paving the way for Russell's 12th career pole. Other top contenders like Max Verstappen faced issues, while several drivers incurred grid penalties, setting the stage for a potentially unpredictable race on the challenging Baku street circuit.
The West Indies have announced their ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming series against India, with John Campbell returning to the ODI side and Kamil Pooran earning his maiden T20I call-up.
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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his three-day visit to the US, stating that his discussions with President Donald Trump had injected "new substance" into the China-US relationship. Both leaders expressed optimism for future cooperation, with agreements reached on certain trade goods and discussions held on AI capabilities.
The number 10 shirt worn by Brazil's Pele in the 1958 World Cup final, where he scored twice against Sweden, has been sold for $4.9 million at a Sotheby's auction, making it the most valuable piece of memorabilia linked to the football legend.
Quimcy Dsouza has taken an unusual route to the Asian Games, moving from athletics and football to becoming one of India's leading Teqball players.
India's shooting campaign at the Asian Games faced a setback as Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team final, extending the country's wait for a gold medal. Despite strong qualification, the Indian pair struggled in the final, while China secured gold with a world record. This follows other near-misses for India, highlighting the intense competition and the need to convert strong starts into medals. The focus now shifts to upcoming events, including Manu Bhaker's participation.
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.
Australian golf sensation Min Woo Lee, a winner on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, is set to make his debut at the DP World India Championship in October. He will join an impressive lineup of international stars, including Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, and Ryan Fox, at the Delhi Golf Club for the USD 4 million tournament, which also features top Indian golfers.
Mizoram has emerged as champions in the North East Regional Muaythai Championship, with Meghalaya and Tripura securing runner-up positions. Chief Minister Lalduhoma lauded the sport's potential for livelihood and honour, citing Mizo fighter Nazareth Lalthazuala's success in ONE Championship.
The Indian women's table tennis team was defeated 0-3 by North Korea in the Asian Games quarterfinals, while the men's team exited in the round of 16, marking a disappointing performance for both squads.
The Indian men's hockey team secured a dominant 16-1 victory over Sri Lanka in their second Pool A match at the Asian Games, with Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, and Dilpreet Singh each scoring hat-tricks. This win follows an earlier 13-1 triumph against Indonesia, as the team prepares for tougher challenges against South Korea and Japan.
Indian squash player Anahat Singh was defeated by Belgium's Tinne Gilis in a hard-fought five-game match during the second round of the Qatar Classic.
India faces a tough challenge against world No. 3 England in a crucial FIH Men's Hockey World Cup Pool D match. India, coming off a win against Wales, needs to improve its open play finishing and overcome a 32-year World Cup jinx against England. The outcome will significantly impact their path to the knockout stages.
