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.
The Finance Ministry has refuted allegations that US pressure influenced the decision to levy a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI payments. It clarified that NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI to foster a domestic payment ecosystem and that the MDR introduction aims to create a sustainable revenue model for smaller domestic companies, thereby protecting India's sovereignty in digital payments.
Coco Gauff staged a remarkable comeback at the US Open, saving two match points to defeat Mirra Andreeva 2-6 7-6(7) 6-2 and secure her spot in the semi-finals. The 2023 champion overcame a poor start and a challenging tiebreak to win, setting up a clash with second seed Elena Rybakina.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz secured a dominant 6-3 6-4 6-1 victory over China's Wu Yibing at the U.S. Open, advancing to the fourth round. This win extends his Grand Slam match-winning streak to 17 and keeps his bid for a third Flushing Meadows title alive. Despite a brief challenge from Wu, Alcaraz reasserted his authority, showcasing his speed and accuracy.
India's para archers delivered a strong performance on the third day of the World Archery Para Series (Stage III) in Ahmedabad, securing multiple spots in the finals across recurve, compound, and W1 events, thereby assuring a significant medal haul. Notable performances include Tanvi Pravin Ingale's silver, Harvinder Singh and Bhawna reaching recurve finals, and world champion Sheetal Devi advancing to the women's compound individual final.
Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar is a gripping cat-and-mouse game that benefits from smart writing.
Bjorn Fortuin's four-wicket haul sparked Namibia's collapse before Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen powered South Africa's chase, sealing a commanding nine-wicket win and 3-0 ODI series sweep.
Linda Noskova eased to a straight sets win over Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee on Wednesday to reach the US Open third round.
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has heavily criticised captain Babar Azam for his 'weak' leadership during the ongoing Test series against England, where Pakistan is trailing 0-2, stating that Azam's personality is reflected in his struggling captaincy and decision-making.
Taylor Fritz delivered a commanding performance at the US Open, defeating Mattia Bellucci 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 to reach the third round without dropping a set. The ninth seed is looking to end a 23-year American wait for a men's Grand Slam singles champion and expressed confidence in his aggressive play. He will next face Francisco Cerundolo.
Top seed Alexander Zverev defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 7-6(2) 6-2 to advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open. After a dip in form during the second set, Zverev regained control to secure his victory and set up a clash with Luciano Darderi.
India women's team seamer Kranti Gaud has been fined 10 per cent of her match fee and received one demerit point by the ICC for breaching the Code of Conduct during the T20 Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. Gaud was penalised for an aggressive gesture after dismissing a batter. Separately, the Pakistan women's team was fined for a slow overrate in their semifinal match.
The Supreme Court has questioned the reliability of legislative majority as the sole determinant for political party ownership, especially when disqualification proceedings are pending against the very legislators forming that majority. This query arose during arguments concerning the Shiv Sena faction dispute between Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray.
Following a disappointing performance against Afghanistan, Sanju Samson's inconsistent form has once again put his place in India's T20I squad under intense scrutiny.
England have left Brydon Carse out of the final Pakistan Test as he remains under police investigation, while Sonny Baker retains his place after England secured a 2-0 lead.
Following East Zone's Duleep Trophy victory, Captain Ishan Kishan lauded Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, praising his positive influence on and off the field.
Indian cricketers were surprised with AI-generated 1980s avatars of themselves during a photo session before the Afghanistan T20I series, leading to humorous reactions from players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Axar Patel, and Ishan Kishan.
India is grappling with significant selection dilemmas ahead of their opening T20I match against Afghanistan, particularly concerning the choice between Sanju Samson and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and the potential impact of Ishan Kishan's injury scare. The series also serves as crucial preparation for the Asian Games, with India needing to finalise their bowling attack against a strong Afghan side.
India's junior men's hockey team successfully defended their Asia Cup title, defeating Korea 4-1 in the final in Moqi, China. This victory marks their record sixth continental crown and secures their spot in the upcoming World Cup. The team displayed a dominant performance with goals from Ajeet Yadav, Anmol Ekka, Prabhdeep Singh, and Ashu Maurya.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame a challenging start against Portugal's Jaime Faria to secure his spot in the third round of the US Open.
Organisers of the Asian Games in Nagoya are actively addressing complaints regarding athlete accommodation, including issues with bed sizes in container huts and cabin sizes on the newly docked cruise ship, Costa Serena, which will house 4,000 participants.
Julien Alfred became the third-fastest woman in 200m history with a 21.51-second win, while Emmanuel Wanyonyi broke a 27-year-old world record in the rarely contested 1,000m at the Monaco Diamond League.
Defending champions India secured their spot in the Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament semifinals with a dominant 15-0 victory over Chinese Taipei. Skipper Anmol Ikka was the star of the match, scoring an incredible six goals, all from penalty corners, as India topped Pool A.
Samantha shares pictures from her baby shower ceremony at the Isha Foundation.
Weak verbs and poor language can make even impressive achievements seem ordinary, points out Nayagam PP, a career coach and founder of EduJob360.
PAYD suits infrequent drivers who can estimate annual mileage.
Indian golfer Aditi Ashok secured a commendable third-place finish at the Hulencourt Women's Open, carding a final round of two-under 70. Fellow Indian Diksha Dagar also performed well, finishing tied seventh. Spain's Carolina Lopez Chacarra won the title, while Australia's Kelsey Bennett was runner-up.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal reflects on his challenging 2026 season, marked by injuries and mental toll. He discusses his decision to stop "playing the victim" and focus on enjoying the game rather than solely chasing results, a mental shift that has improved his performance in recent months.
Naomi Osaka, the 13th seed, secured a hard-fought victory over Elise Mertens at the US Open, winning 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to progress to the fourth round. Despite moments of frustration and a medical timeout, the two-time champion showcased her resilience to clinch the win.
Shreyas Iyer, India's T20I captain, described his initial stint as skipper as a 'tough pill to swallow' after suffering away series defeats, but emphasised the importance of maintaining 'equilibrium' following a dominant 2-0 series win over Afghanistan.
Second seed Elena Rybakina ended Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen's stirring US Open run with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory on Wednesday, advancing to the semi-finals and securing the world number one ranking for the first time.
Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen stunned six-time major champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-3 after recovering from 0-5 down, extending her remarkable US Open comeback into the quarter-finals.
J R D Tata, chairman of the Tata group from 1938 to 1991, said that whenever he had to make a difficult decision, he would ask himself, what will be good for India, and what will be good for the Tatas. If he had a doubt, he would decide in favour of India. In the long run, it would turn out well for the Tatas too, he said, points out Arun Maira.
Indian stock markets, including the Sensex and Nifty, experienced their third consecutive day of declines, driven by a global selloff, escalating tensions in West Asia, and a subsequent rise in crude oil prices.
Local golfer Vishesh Sharma, 19, secured his first professional title at the Rs one crore Telangana Golconda Masters, finishing one stroke ahead of Amardeep Malik. The victory significantly boosts his season earnings and secures his spot in the DP World India Championship.
The Sports Ministry has invested over Rs 702 crore in the last three years to prepare Indian athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, featuring 310 debutants.
The Indian junior women's hockey team played a goalless draw against China in their final elite pool match of the Junior Asia Cup. This result secured India the top spot in their pool due to a superior goal difference, setting up a quarter-final clash against Pakistan.
India's para-archers, led by Paralympics champion Harvinder Singh and world No. 1 Sheetal Devi, concluded their World Archery Para Series Stage III campaign with an impressive haul of two gold and four bronze medals. Sheetal Devi secured an individual gold in a dramatic shoot-off and a bronze in the mixed team event, while Harvinder Singh and Bhawna won gold in the recurve mixed team. India also claimed additional bronze medals in individual and mixed team categories.
The Global Chess League's halfway stage saw significant upsets and dramatic finishes, with Triveni Continental Kings defeating table-toppers Alpine APL Pipers. Ganges Grandmasters secured a crucial win against PBG Alaskan Knights due to a last-second time violation, while CheQ Mumba Masters maintained their strong performance. These results have intensified the competition for the top two positions.
Local favourite Vishesh Sharma has established a four-shot lead at the Telangana Golconda Masters golf tournament after a superb six-under 64 in the third round. The 19-year-old now stands at 20-under 190, maintaining his lead throughout the tournament at his home course. Amardeep Malik is his closest challenger, four shots behind.
