Lionel Messi, who captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022 and the final in 2026, is retiring from international football, he said on Monday.
Naomi Osaka showcased a distinctive Allen Iverson-inspired outfit with a billowing tulle train at the U.S. Open, continuing her trend of bold Grand Slam fashion statements, before securing a hard-fought victory.
Nagarmal Bajoria, a 97-year-old Bihar businessman known as "dharti pakad" for contesting nearly 300 elections, has passed away. A Partition refugee, Bajoria challenged prominent leaders including Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, aiming to raise public awareness about the electoral process rather than seeking power. His unique campaign style and unwavering spirit left a lasting impression.
As the U.S. Open approaches, the women's draw is packed with Grand Slam winners, rising stars, and hungry contenders, including Naomi Osaka, Elena Rybakina, Linda Noskova, Amanda Anisimova, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, and Marta Kostyuk, all vying for a deep run in New York.
The FIDE elections will see three Indians, including chess legend Viswanathan Anand, vying for crucial leadership positions amidst a complex electoral landscape and a high-stakes three-way presidential battle.
Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick to lead Manchester United to a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town, securing their first Premier League win of the season. The captain's performance underscored his dual role as a prolific goalscorer and elite playmaker, reaffirming his indispensable value to Michael Carrick's side.
East Bengal's women's team secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Rajshahi Stars FC of Bangladesh in their AFC Women's Champions League Preliminary Round opener, with Olivia Anokye scoring a brace and India internationals Astam Oraon and Soumya Guguloth adding to the tally.
VVS Laxman, BCCI's Centre of Excellence chief, will coach the Indian men's cricket team at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He will be assisted by Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, and Subhadeep Ghosh. Gautam Gambhir, the regular head coach, will be with the senior team for the West Indies ODI series. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach for the Indian women's team, who will also defend their title.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja has issued a stark warning that the national team's consistent poor performances are causing a significant decline in its fan base. He emphasised that while fans don't expect wins every time, they demand a fighting spirit and competitive attitude, which the team is currently lacking, leading to growing disinterest among supporters.
Liverpool survived a Nottingham Forest scare with Victor Munoz's late equaliser, but Andoni Iraola remains without a Premier League win after two games in charge.
American youngster Learner Tien defeated French veteran Gael Monfils in straight sets at the U.S. Open, marking the likely end of Monfils' Grand Slam career. The match, a clash of generations, saw 20-year-old Tien dominate the retiring showman.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Seema Kaliramna is leveraging her doctoral research on imagery and positive self-talk to gain a competitive advantage in discus throwing. Her academic pursuits at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University are directly applied to her training and mental preparation, helping her achieve success like her recent Glasgow CWG medal and focus on the upcoming Asian Games.
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.
Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the senior men's selection committee, was notably absent from a BCCI review meeting discussing India's recent limited-overs tour performances against Ireland and England, citing travel issues. The meeting, attended by captains and coaches, did not address his contract extension, which is due to expire soon.
Kashi Rudras captain Karan Sharma revealed that a conversation with KL Rahul during his Lucknow Super Giants stint profoundly influenced his cricketing philosophy, with Rahul's advice to prioritise the process over results helping him navigate challenging phases and slumps.
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.
The KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 Bengaluru tournament saw strong performances from young Indian players on its opening day. Top seed Riya Gangamma Pudiyokkada advanced, while several unseeded players caused significant upsets in both the boys' and girls' categories, highlighting emerging talent.
Jessica Pegula cruised into the US Open second round with a straight-sets win, while 27th seed Barbora Krejcikova became the first seeded casualty despite saving six match points.
Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration with Ferrari's strategy at the Dutch Grand Prix, believing that a delayed pit stop for teammate Charles Leclerc cost him a podium finish. Hamilton, who finished fourth, stated that the time lost behind Leclerc ultimately made the difference in his pursuit of a top-three spot.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal was defeated in straight sets by top seed Arthur Gea in the opening round of the US Open qualifying tournament, extending his streak of not reaching a Grand Slam main draw to seven events. Nagal will now focus on the upcoming Davis Cup clash.
Ravichandran Ashwin crowned Sachin Tendulkar India's greatest cricketer in his all-time bracket, while making surprise calls by choosing Sehwag over Dhoni and Bumrah over Virat Kohli.
American Sofia Kenin defeated compatriot Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6(6) in a US Open first-round match that started at 12:13 am on Monday, marking the latest start in women's tournament history.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy felicitated badminton players Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly for their bronze medal win at the World Championships. The meeting also included national coach Pullela Gopichand and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu.
India has made a confident start to their Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow, with Putul Sonowal stunning 2023 world champion Ryan Bester in the Men's Singles Lawn Bowls. Additionally, the Indian Women's Pairs team, comprising Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh, secured a hard-fought victory against Malta. These early wins highlight India's strong presence in the Lawn Bowls competition.
After securing her first title of the season at the Cincinnati Open, American tennis star Coco Gauff is brimming with confidence and aiming for a championship run at the US Open, seeking her third Grand Slam crown.
Celtic suffered a devastating exit from the Champions League after squandering a four-goal aggregate lead against Austrian side LASK, losing 5-4 overall.
England football icon David Beckham has paid tribute to Lionel Messi, calling him a 'credit to himself' and an 'inspiration for millions' after the Argentina legend announced his retirement from international football.
East Bengal FC has been drawn into Group B of the AFC Women's Champions League, alongside strong teams from South Korea, Vietnam, and North Korea. Kolkata will host this group stage in November 2026, marking a significant milestone for Indian football.
Barcelona have signed Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal on a three-year deal, strengthening their attack while speculation continues over Julian Alvarez amid Atletico Madrid's reluctance to sell.
Deep Dasgupta said Sourav Ganguly's "I am the king" mindset transformed India's response to sledging, encouraging teammates to openly give back instead of silently channelling their anger.
The Indian women's wrestling contingent achieved significant success at the U-20 World Wrestling Championship in Bratislava, securing three medals. Mansi Lather earned a silver medal in the 68kg category, while Tanvi Magdum (57kg) and Komal (59kg) each contributed with bronze medals, showcasing India's growing prowess in junior wrestling.
Ukrainian tennis players Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina both secured dominant victories in their opening matches at the U.S. Open, with Kostyuk defeating Storm Hunter and Svitolina overcoming Solana Sierra.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma carded an even-par 72 in the third round of the Husqvarna British Masters, causing him to drop from T-13 to T-33. Marco Penge and Daniel Hillier are currently sharing the lead heading into the final round, with weather disruptions having affected the tournament earlier in the week.
Jose Mourinho praised Kylian Mbappe's relentless hunger to make history at Real Madrid after his hat-trick inspired a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad at Santiago Bernabeu.
Anthony Andrews, the highly successful coach of East Bengal FC, has been appointed as the assistant coach for the India Under-17 women's national team. He joins the team in Tashkent for friendly matches ahead of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, bringing his extensive experience and winning record, including four IWL titles and continental success with East Bengal.
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.
A world-class Test team can't afford to have a bowling attack that allows batters to feel comfortable. To be the world's best Test team, all departments of the game should be strong and striking.
Emami Group has officially concluded its role as an investor and manager in East Bengal Football Club, transferring all shares and voting rights back to the club. The group will, however, continue its association with East Bengal FC as a sponsor, reaffirming its commitment to Indian football. This transition follows a successful period for the club under Emami's ownership, marked by significant victories for both men's and women's teams.
Leeds United defeated Nottingham Forest 2-0 to advance to the third round of the League Cup, marking their second victory over Forest in four days.
India's top men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, fought hard to defeat Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, securing their spot in the China Masters Super 750 semifinals. This victory continues their strong performance following recent successes. Meanwhile, veteran Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth's journey in the men's singles quarter-finals concluded after a straight-games loss to Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu.
