George Russell secured a hard-fought victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, fending off a late charge from Max Verstappen after two safety car periods disrupted his comfortable lead. The win marks Russell's third of the season and significantly narrows the championship gap to teammate Kimi Antonelli. Isack Hadjar also celebrated a podium finish, while several other drivers faced incidents.
Top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend defeated American wildcards Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery to win the U.S. Open women's doubles final, completing their team career Grand Slam. This victory marks Siniakova's 12th Grand Slam doubles title and makes her the first player to achieve a career Grand Slam with two different partners.
Former champion Stan Wawrinka lost to Italy's Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the US Open, marking the end of the 41-year-old Swiss national's Grand Slam career before his retirement at the end of the season.
Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu made history by winning his maiden Grand Chess Tour Finals title in St.Louis, becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat. He staged a remarkable comeback against Fabiano Caruana, securing the title with a 15-13 score after winning rapid games and holding his ground in blitz.
Praggnanandhaa squandered a winning advantage against Vincent Keymer in the Grand Chess Tour opener, allowing the resilient German to survive and secure a hard-fought draw.
Nishchal Chand and Gatha Suryawanshi have advanced to the finals of the Indian Junior International badminton Grand Prix in Pune. Chand, a 16th seed, upset second seed Jagsher Singh Khangurra in the men's singles, while Suryawanshi defeated Thailand's Pattanun Thiannaparpornchok in the women's singles.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa for becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour title. Praggnanandhaa achieved this historic victory by defeating Fabiano Caruana in the grand finale in St Louis, USA, inspiring many across the nation.
'...his victory in securing the champion's title is a fitting recognition of his extraordinary talent and unwavering perseverance.'
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has taken a commanding 9-3 lead over Germany's Vincent Keymer, putting him just six points away from qualifying for the finals of the prestigious US$450,000 Grand Chess Tour concluding event.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has secured his spot in the finals of the Grand Chess Tour's last leg, defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer 19-9. He is set to compete against defending champion Fabiano Caruana of the USA for the title.
Dev Ruparelia and Ishita Negi clinched the boys' and girls' singles titles, respectively, at the India Junior International Badminton Grand Prix in Pune. Indian pair Pavan and Punith Suresh also secured the boys' doubles crown, showcasing strong performances from young Indian shuttlers.
The India Junior International Grand Prix badminton tournament is set to begin in Pune, featuring 304 players from nine countries, including top junior talents like Dev Ruparelia. The event, organised by the Poona District Metropolitan Badminton Association, offers a total prize money of USD 15,000 and concludes on August 30.
India's Arjun Reddy Aluguvelli caused an upset by defeating eighth seed Adithya Kiran from the UAE at the Indian Junior International Grand Prix badminton tournament. Other Indian players, Jagsher Singh Khangurra and Vaibhav Singh, also secured hard-fought victories.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has moved into a joint lead with American Wesley So at the Sinquefield Cup after a decisive victory over France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, securing his spot in the Grand Finale.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa drew his second game against Fabiano Caruana in the Grand Chess Tour final, missing a chance to level scores after a dominating performance.
French Open champion Mirra Andreeva secured a comfortable 6-2 6-2 victory over Janice Tjen in her U.S. Open first-round match, demonstrating her prowess on hard courts and advancing to the second round.
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.
Ben Shelton's victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open quarter-finals marked the first time in 149 years that no male player with a one-handed backhand reached a Grand Slam semi-final, highlighting the decline of the elegant stroke in modern tennis.
Fourth seed Coco Gauff defeated fellow American Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-4 to reach the US Open quarter-finals. Gauff, the defending champion, delivered a dominant performance and will next face Mirra Andreeva.
George Russell won the Dutch Grand Prix sprint race from pole position, extending Mercedes' strong performance.
The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya with a high-tech Opening Ceremony. India's 503-member contingent is being led by Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat. Early events have seen India's women's cricket team reach the semifinals and a medal opportunity in debutant sport teqball, building on India's record performance at the previous Games.
Novak Djokovic enters the US Open with renewed hopes of a record 25th Grand Slam, boosted by Sinner's injury and Alcaraz's uncertain return, but faces Zverev.
Indian esports teams Orangutan and GodLike Esports have successfully qualified for the PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC) Grand Finals at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris. Both teams secured their spots by finishing in the top five of their respective group stages, and will now compete for a share of the USD 3 million prize pool from August 14 to 16.
R Praggnanandhaa delivered a statement performance in St. Louis, powering his way to his maiden Rapid & Blitz title with a round to spare.
Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi are advocating for significant changes to Grand Slam scheduling, particularly to avoid late-night finishes that impact player welfare and fan attendance. Alcaraz's US Open campaign ended in a 3:33 a.m. finish, prompting his call for matches to conclude by 11 p.m. Agassi supports guaranteed downtime for players, highlighting a broader push for improved working conditions in professional tennis.
Pune, India, has been selected to host the 2032 UCI Cycling Road World Championships, marking a historic first for the country in hosting such a prestigious international cycling event.
GM M Pranesh secured a significant victory over world champion D Gukesh, while GM Nihal Sarin defeated Arjun Erigaisi in the penultimate round of the Chennai Grand Masters. These results allowed French GM Alireza Firouzja to take the sole lead in the tournament.
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.
Mumbai witnessed the emotional immersion of iconic Ganesh idols like Lalbaugcha Raja and Chinchpokhlicha Chintamani on Anant Chaturthi, marking the end of the 12-day Ganesh festival. Marathon processions, lasting over 21 hours, saw vast crowds of devotees participating, with significant security and civic arrangements in place for safe immersions and subsequent cleanup operations.
India's rich culture and shared Commonwealth values will be prominently featured during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games closing ceremony's handover segment on August 2. This event will welcome Ahmedabad as the host of the 2030 centenary edition, showcasing India's biggest music and dance stars, including a tribute to Vande Mataram, a unique sitar-pipes Jugalbandi, and a grand finale celebrating Gujarat's heritage.
Frenchman Alireza Firouzja has won the fourth edition of the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament, securing the title with a draw against Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi in the final round. Firouzja finished with 4.5 points, taking home a prize purse of Rs 25 lakh.
Four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen showcased his racing prowess by overtaking 100 competitors in just 13 laps during the 'Max vs 100' go-karting event at Silverstone.
Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has announced his return to the China Open after an 11-year absence, seeking to regain form after a surprising first-round exit at the US Open.
French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja secured the only decisive victory on the opening day of the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament, defeating Indian GM M Pranesh in a lengthy 79-move game. Other prominent matches saw world champion D Gukesh draw with Nihal Sarin, Arjun Erigaisi draw with Dmitry Andreikin, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov draw with Hans Niemann, as eight grandmasters compete for a significant prize purse and FIDE Circuit points.
Mumbai resonated with 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' chants and dhol-tasha beats as devotees immersed Ganesh idols on Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the 12-day festival. Over 430 idols were immersed by noon, with no untoward incidents reported, as elaborate arrangements by police and BMC ensured smooth proceedings.
Alexander Zverev's recent US Open victory is a testament to his family's unwavering support, particularly his mother Irina, who ensured his type 1 diabetes never hindered his tennis ambitions, transforming him from a 'nearly man' to a two-time major champion.
Bollywood's biggest names gathered at the Ambani family's Antilia residence for grand Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Alexander Zverev has made a remarkable turnaround at the U.S. Open, progressing from early struggles to reach his second final at Flushing Meadows. After being pushed to five sets in his initial matches, he has since won four consecutive matches without dropping a set, setting the stage for a potential second Grand Slam title.
McLaren's Lando Norris took pole in the qualifying race after seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton crashed his Ferrari during the final practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's challenging new circuit.
Mumbai is abuzz with Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations as Ganesha idols arrive in homes and pandals across the city. The 11-day festival, marked by devotional chants, elaborate pujas, and vibrant decorations, culminates in grand immersions on Anant Chaturdashi. The city is adorned with lights, and markets are bustling, while authorities have deployed extensive security measures to ensure safe festivities, despite recent idol collapse incidents.
