Cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a strategic move by Olympic leaders to tap into India's massive fan base and commercial power, aiming to attract billions of new viewers and strengthen the Games' appeal in key markets.
I was armed with two dictaphones -- and a bottle of whisky that the editor had paid for, to lubricate the conversation.
Seasoned shuttler HS Prannoy and rising star Unnati Hooda will lead the Indian contingent at the Taipei Open Super 300 badminton tournament. Both players are looking for consistent performances, with Prannoy facing Japan's Minoru Koga and Unnati taking on a qualifier. Several other Indian players, including Tharun Mannepalli, M Manjunath, S Dayanand, Kiran George, Devika Sihag, Tasnim Mir, and others in doubles, are also set to compete.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi attended the Wimbledon men's singles final, sharing the experience with Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, marking his first visit to the iconic tournament.
Defending champions U Mumba TT, led by Captain Manush Shah and Anna Hursey, secured a commanding 8-3 victory over Kolkata ThunderBlades in the Ultimate Table Tennis semi-final. This win sets up a title clash against Dempo Goa Challengers, marking U Mumba TT's second successive UTT final appearance.
Indian badminton star P V Sindhu was defeated by local favourite Chen Yufei in a gruelling three-game match at the China Open second round. Sindhu, who recently won the Japan Open, lost 21-16, 20-22, 18-21 in a closely contested encounter that lasted nearly 90 minutes.
Several high-profile football players are facing injuries ahead of the World Cup, raising concerns about their participation in the tournament. Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and other stars are among those sidelined, while the packed playing schedule is drawing criticism.
Sunny Deol makes a stylish appearance at the Ikka screening.
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua survived a first-round knockdown to defeat Kristian Prenga by knockout, clearing the path for his highly anticipated fight against fellow Briton Tyson Fury. Joshua, fighting for the first time since a personal tragedy, showed resilience to secure the win after being floored twice in the opening round.
Legendary cricketer MS Dhoni and Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon were spotted in the stands during the India vs England ODI at Edgbaston, drawing significant attention from fans and cameras.
'Being World No. 2 will give us good confidence when we compete at the Asian Games.'
Age is just a number for uncapped off-spin allrounder Saransh Jain who at 33 years has earned his maiden Test call-up for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour on the back of consistent performances in the domestic circuit and India A.
Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have paid heartfelt tributes to the late West Indies icon Sir Garfield Sobers, remembering his unparalleled legacy and personal interactions. Both stars expressed their sorrow and highlighted Sobers' immense contribution to the sport, inspiring generations of cricketers.
Hitaashee Bakshi, after playing on the Ladies European Tour, is set to make her first domestic appearance of the season at the 9th leg of the Women's Professional Golf Tour in Hosur. She will compete against top players like Vani Kapoor, Ridhima Dilawari, and Amandeep Drall, as well as emerging young talent, in a strong field of 58 players vying for a purse of Rs. 17 lakhs.
Indian shuttlers Devika Sihag and HS Prannoy faced early exits on the opening day of the USD 2,000,000 China Masters. Devika fought hard in a three-game match, while Prannoy suffered a straight-game defeat. PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and Ayush Shetty are set to play on Wednesday.
Indian boxers Preeti Pawar and Jadumani Singh have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Commonwealth Games. Preeti, an Asian Games bronze medallist, secured a dominant win in the women's 54kg category, while Jadumani defeated his Pakistani opponent in the men's 55kg. Both are now one victory away from securing a medal for India.
On the latest episode of The Rediff Podcast, actor-singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi explains why she admires GenZ's courage and sensitivity.
Indian badminton ace P V Sindhu was eliminated from the China Open after a tough three-game loss to local favourite and world number four Chen Yufei in the second round. Despite winning the first game, Sindhu couldn't maintain her lead, eventually losing 21-16, 20-22, 18-21 in a match lasting nearly 90 minutes.
Dempo Goa Challengers have secured their spot in the Ultimate Table Tennis final after a dominant 8-2 victory over former champions Dabang Delhi TTC. Olympian Alvaro Robles was instrumental, starring in both men's singles and mixed doubles, extending Goa's unbeaten run in the tournament.
From supporting young talents financially to earning global recognition, Indian chess is making its presence felt like never before.
It's a rainy July, and the best way to enjoy it is to curl up on your couch and watch the telly.
'They become heroes because of their actions.'
Dabang Delhi TTC defeated PBG Pune Jaguars 10-5 to secure the final semifinal spot in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) tournament. Maria Xiao and captain Sathiyan Gnanasekaran were key performers, leading Delhi to a clash against unbeaten Dempo Goa Challengers.
Zinedine Zidane, the 1998 World Cup hero and former Real Madrid manager, has been appointed to lead the France national team, with the primary goal of converting recent near-misses into major trophies, starting with the 2028 European Championship.
Veteran Indian hockey midfielder Manpreet Singh, despite numerous accolades including Olympic medals, is determined to win a World Cup medal before concluding his illustrious career after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and Norway striker Erling Haaland have been named in the fan-voted FIFA World Cup dream team, with both rewarded for standout performances during unexpected runs by their teams.
Despite a debilitating knee injury derailing his own campaign, Tejaswin Shankar selflessly coached compatriot Sarvesh Kushare, providing crucial technical advice that helped Kushare secure a silver medal in the men's high jump at the Commonwealth Games.
P V Sindhu secured the Japan Open women's singles title, defeating Akane Yamaguchi in straight games.
Pacer Ashok Sharma will make his debut against Zimbabwe in the T20I series opener in Harare on Thursday.
Temasek is exploring investment opportunities in India's booming IPL cricket league, a senior executive told Reuters, making the Singapore state investor the latest player to target one of the world's richest sports tournaments.
Former Manchester City and Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has turned down the opportunity to coach the Italy national team, a source familiar with the discussions said on Friday, confirming media reports.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has lauded teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him an "unbelievable" talent for his fearless approach to cricket. Harbhajan highlighted Sooryavanshi's confidence, recalling an instance where the young batsman declared he would smash the first ball of his IPL career, and then proceeded to hit a six.
West Indies head coach Darren Sammy has revealed that pacer Alzarri Joseph declined selection for the upcoming two-Test home series against Pakistan, despite being chosen.
Indian athletes delivered a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games, securing multiple medals. Weightlifter Harjinder Kaur and long-distance runner Gulveer Singh both clinched silver medals, with Harjinder setting new Games records and Gulveer making history in the 10,000m event. Additionally, three Indian boxers advanced to the semifinals, guaranteeing at least bronze medals for the country.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final saw a galaxy of stars on the field and off it.
Not every Indian superhero movie lands, but these seven prove the genre has plenty of potential.
India secured their three-match Twenty20 international series against Zimbabwe with a dominant 90-run victory in the second match at Harare Sports Club, marking new T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer's first series win.
Spain's Rodri claimed the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, Unai Simon won the Golden Glove, and Pau Cubarsi was named the Best Young Player, leaving Lionel Messi without another personal honour despite his impressive World Cup performance.
Almost five decades after Pele ignited Kolkata's romance with Brazilian football, the iconic yellow jersey is set to return to the City of Joy, with the record five-time World Cup champions Brazil scheduled to face India in a landmark international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium on October 3.
