India's Chef de Mission for the Asian Games, Sahdev Yadav, said that he only learned after arriving in the city that organisers had removed around 30 to 35 Indian athletes from the accommodation list.
India's Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra discusses the emotional and physical challenges of missing the Asian Games due to a ligament injury. He shares his process of accepting the setback, focusing on rehabilitation, and preparing for future competitions, while also offering advice to fellow athletes and aspiring javelin throwers.
England's white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum has encouraged newly-appointed mentor Kevin Pietersen to actively challenge the team's approach and suggest improvements, leveraging his "incredible pedigree as a player."
Indian air rifle shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured a silver medal at the Asian Games, despite initially leading the final. She expressed contentment with the result, viewing it as a crucial learning experience focused on process over outcome. This marks her third consecutive individual silver at major Asian competitions, and she also contributed to India's team silver. The medal holds personal significance as her first at the Asian Games, achieved after eight years, and she credits her coach's guidance.
Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable made an emotional and triumphant return to competition, winning the men's 3000m steeplechase at the Indian Athletics Series Final. This victory marks his first race in the distance since suffering a career-threatening ACL and meniscus injury in July 2025, which led to surgery and a challenging recovery period. Sable, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, expressed the immense struggle he faced but is now confident of winning a medal at the upcoming Asian Games.
American tennis player Emma Navarro defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-2 to reach the US Open quarter-finals.
Malayalam filmmaker R Sarath, celebrated for his distinctive contributions to cinema including the award-winning Sayahnam, has passed away in Thiruvananthapuram.
India concluded its campaign at the World Archery Para Series Stage III with an impressive tally of 15 medals, including four gold, three silver, and eight bronze, finishing second in the overall medal standings. The event served as a crucial preparatory test for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games.
Opening batter Abhishek Sharma blasted a record-shattering 30-ball century, powering India to a massive 221-7 and sparking a total bowling collapse that sealed a 127-run series sweep against Afghanistan.
From a scene-stealing child actor to a cult-comedy favourite and a director in his own right, Kunal Kemmu has delivered plenty of memorable turns across three decades.
India's junior women's hockey team defeated China 1-0 in the AHF Junior Asia Cup final, securing their third consecutive title and qualifying for the junior women's World Cup. Sanika Chandrakant Mane scored the decisive goal in the 17th minute.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach and rising youngster Ankush have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective weight categories at the Commonwealth Games. Both athletes are now just one victory away from securing a medal for India.
Mamata Banerjee's faction of the Trinamool Congress announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll after its own candidate withdrew. This decision comes amidst a bitter dispute with the Election Commission over the freezing of TMC's traditional symbol and name, which Banerjee termed "arbitrary" and accused the BJP of trying to destroy opposition parties.
India's men's pairs team, Navneet Singh and Dinesh Kumar, secured a hard-fought victory against the Cook Islands in their opening lawn bowls match at the Commonwealth Games, winning a tie-break after being locked 1-1.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, including a penalty, as Real Madrid secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga, moving them level on points with leaders Barcelona.
Fazilka Falcons outclassed Bathinda Royals by 49 runs but despite the convincing victory failed to advance to the semi-finals of the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League in Mohali on Thursday.
Elena Rybakina overpowered Coco Gauff in a fierce US Open semi-final on Thursday to secure a title showdown with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
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.
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.
The Global Chess League commenced with defending champions Alpine APL Pipers securing a 10-8 victory over Mumba Masters, spearheaded by Magnus Carlsen.
National record holder Sarvesh Kushare achieved a historic feat by becoming the first Indian to win a silver medal in the men's high jump event at the Commonwealth Games, clearing 2.25m.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
Indian women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne discusses the team's preparations and strategy for the upcoming Asian Games. He highlights the different challenge posed by lower-ranked opponents compared to the World Cup, emphasising the need for effective scoring and maintaining focus. Marijne also stresses using the World Cup disappointment as motivation for gold and the importance of humility and unity within the team.
India's Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi was defeated in the second round of the US Open junior singles by Arina Malygina. This loss further diminished India's presence at the tournament, following earlier exits by Arnav Paparkar in both singles and doubles.
Frances Tiafoe reached the US Open semi-finals for the third time after a thrilling comeback against Alex Michelsen, but it was his gesture after the match that caught everyone's attention.
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha has won her first BWF World Tour title, defeating China's Han Qian Xi in the women's singles final of the Korea Masters Super 300 tournament.
The Indian women's cricket team secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Women's Asia Cup, bowling them out for just 55 runs. This one-sided win prompted former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan to revive his viral "Sunday" joke on social media, referencing past India-Pakistan clashes.
Ben Shelton has reached his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open, defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe. He credits his newfound consistency for this breakthrough. Shelton will face Alexander Zverev in the final, aiming to end a 23-year American drought for a men's singles Grand Slam champion and become the first Black American man to win the New York title since Arthur Ashe in 1968. He expresses excitement and a business-like approach despite the nerves.
Veer Ganapathy, son of renowned golfer Rahul Ganapathy, is set to represent Bengaluru Stallions in the AM Green IGPL 2026. The team, also featuring Trishul Chinnappa, Sunhit Bishnoi, and Sudhir Sharma, was unveiled for the second season of India's first franchise-based professional golf league. The IGPL aims to promote golf beyond elite circles and provide exposure to young talent.
Khalin Joshi has extended his lead to two shots at the inaugural Rs 1 crore Nava Raipur Open after a bogey-free four-under 30 in the second round. The Bengaluru golfer now stands at nine-under 59, showcasing consistent ball-striking despite challenging weather conditions that shortened rounds to nine holes.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has announced its comprehensive selection policy for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The policy outlines a four-stage qualification pathway, with medallists from the 2026 Asian Games directly qualifying for the 2027 World Boxing Championships, which serves as the first Olympic qualifier.
Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy emphasises the importance of focusing on the 'process' rather than 'results' to maintain consistency and mental fortitude in cricket, especially after a period of mixed performances.
Shriya Pilgaonkar has a knack for taking the most familiar desi silhouettes and giving them a wonderfully unexpected twist.
The successful hosting of the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi has provided a significant boost to the BJP, offering a timely opportunity to strengthen its narrative against the opposition ahead of crucial assembly elections next year. BJP sources highlight the BRICS grouping's strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and the consensus declaration as major diplomatic victories for the Modi government, countering criticisms of its foreign policy. The party plans to leverage these outcomes during its month-long Seva Sankalp campaign to connect with various sections of society.
Harshitha Samarawickrama's unbeaten 48 off 37 balls led Sri Lanka to a four-wicket victory over Bangladesh, securing their spot in the women's Asia Cup semi-finals.
Shares of fintech firms, particularly Paytm, saw significant movement after the Indian government introduced a 0.4 per cent fee on UPI transfers exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants, effective October 15.
Kolkata's Viraj Madappa overcame a three-shot deficit with a bogey-free 64 in the final round to win the Rs 1 crore Chennai Open golf tournament. This marks his fourth professional title, earning him Rs 15 lakh and significantly improving his standing on the DP World PGTI Order of Merit. Ajeetesh Sandhu finished runner-up, while Amardeep Malik and Rashid Khan also secured top positions.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% fee on UPI transfers above Rs 2,000 made to merchants, effective October 15, ending nearly six years of free merchant payments. This move led to initial rallies in fintech stocks like Paytm and Mobikwik, though some later pared gains. Person-to-person transactions and small payments remain free for customers, with the fee being a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR).
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has called on her team to maintain simplicity and trust their inherent strengths as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in the Women's Asia Cup final, aiming to avenge their previous defeat.
Sonal Dinusha scored a brilliant century while the tail wagged around him as Sri Lanka earned a draw on the final day of the second Test in Colombo on Thursday but India claim the series 1-0.
