Sri Lankan all-rounder Sonal Dinusha, who averaged 140 in the recent Test series against India, found solace and success in cricket as an escape from financial hardship. His journey, marked by dedication and a relentless work ethic, saw him rise from a child without a bat to a national hero, with coaches highlighting his unwavering commitment to the game.
Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom believes Indian pugilists will secure a 'reasonably good medal haul' at the Commonwealth Games, though gold might be elusive, while expressing less certainty for the Asian Games. She also criticised the Boxing Federation of India's functioning and selection policies.
Ahead of their crucial Hockey World Cup 2026 clash, the traditional India-Pakistan hockey rivalry faces an unusual question: will the teams shake hands? This comes after a similar debate in cricket. While the historical record is close, India has dominated recent encounters, winning decisively in the 2023 Asian Games and Pro League.
Defending champions PSG will face Barcelona and Manchester City in the Champions League league phase, while Real Madrid meet Inter Milan and Arsenal in marquee clashes.
At 22, Ariha Pangambam from Manipur created history by winning the first ever individual gold for India in aerobic gymnastics at the Asian championships.
Avishka Gunawardene acknowledged India's dominance but hailed Sonal Dinusha's breakthrough, with the young batter scoring 420 runs, including three centuries, as a major positive for Sri Lanka.
Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka face challenging US Open draws, with Alcaraz sharing a loaded half with Djokovic and Sabalenka pursuing a historic three-peat.
Ace Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is gearing up for an 'Olympic-level' competition at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she expects to face the strongest lifters from China, North Korea, and Thailand, making it her toughest challenge yet.
India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand staged a remarkable comeback victory in the women's doubles quarter-finals at the BWF World Championships 2026, defeating China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian to secure a semi-final spot and guarantee India a medal.
Anushka Sharma will captain India A in T20s, while Yastika Bhatia leads the One-Day and multi-day teams against Australia A across three venues.
Angad Cheema shot a seven-under 65 to retain his two-shot lead after the third round of the Telangana Open, moving to 20-under 196. Delhi's Rashid Khan matched Cheema's 65 to stay in second place, while Jairaj Singh Sandhu made a significant climb to third.
The Mumbai Cricket Association has established the Ajinkya Rahane Scholarship Fund, backed by Sharad Pawar, to support grassroots cricketers and develop Mumbai's Maidans.
India's top men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, were eliminated from the BWF World Championships after a quarterfinal loss. However, the women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured at least a bronze medal by advancing to the semi-finals.
Indian women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed satisfaction with the team's fifth-place finish at the World Cup, their best in 52 years, after defeating Germany 3-1. He highlighted the achievement as a significant confidence boost for the upcoming Asian Games, emphasising the young team's potential and the need for continued focus on their own game and consistency.
Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket team underwent an intense net session in Colombo.
Prateek Tulsani of Maharashtra clinched the U-15 boys' title, while Tanishka Kalbhairav of Karnataka secured the U-11 girls' title at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships. Tulsani delivered a commanding performance, whereas Kalbhairav showed remarkable resilience to win her final.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has accused opponents and supporters of 'bullying' Vinicius Jr, citing rough treatment in their 2-1 LaLiga win against Espanyol and calling it a 'pattern that repeats itself'.
JK Tyre has signed 11-year-old racing sensation Atiqa Mir, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing young talent in Indian motorsport. Atiqa, who has already achieved significant international success, joins an elite list of drivers supported by the company, including F1 legends Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok. Her journey also highlights the increasing presence of women in motorsport.
At the 16th Hockey Junior Women National Championship in Pune, Chandigarh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh secured decisive wins, while Manipur narrowly defeated Maharashtra in a thrilling Division A encounter. Key players delivered strong performances, including hat-tricks, contributing to high-scoring matches and close finishes.
The current FIH Hockey World Cup format, featuring a crossover pool system where first-round results carry forward, is causing widespread confusion among teams, fans, and media. Many stakeholders believe the complex system detracts from the game's excitement, shifts focus to mathematical calculations, and potentially favours larger teams, leading to calls for a simpler structure.
Sri Lanka's Sonal Dinusha scored an unbeaten 133, his second century of the match, to help the hosts salvage a draw against India in the second Test, denying them a series sweep.
England seized total control at Lord's after bowling Pakistan out for 110, building a 261-run lead as Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer dismantled their batting.
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.
The Junior Women's National Hockey Championship saw Haryana, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh secure victories in Division A pool matches, while Uttar Pradesh and Manipur drew. Division B also commenced with Delhi and Uttarakhand winning their respective games.
The Sports Ministry is set to commence the nomination process for the National Sports Awards next month, following a delayed announcement of the 2025 awards. The delay was due to a re-evaluation process aimed at preserving the integrity of the honours, which resulted in no Khel Ratna awardee for 2025 and fewer Arjuna awardees than recommended. The article also details the criteria for these prestigious awards and highlights some of the notable Arjuna awardees for 2025.
Arsenal commenced their Premier League title defence with a commanding 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Coventry City. Goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard secured the win, showcasing Arsenal's intent for the season.
JK Tyre has signed 11-year-old racing sensation Atiqa Mir, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing young talent in Indian motorsport. Mir, who has already achieved significant success on the international karting circuit, including podium finishes and victories in Europe, is the first Indian supported by the F1 Academy and the highest-ranked female in her category. This sponsorship highlights her potential as an emerging talent and JK Tyre's legacy in supporting top Indian drivers.
Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has called for a complete 60-minute performance from his squad in their "do-or-die" FIH World Cup match against Olympic champions Netherlands. Both Harmanpreet and coach Craig Fulton believe India can upset the hosts by playing smartly, maintaining impeccable defense, and capitalising on their underdog status.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has issued a strict anti-doping advisory after several Indian wrestlers, including two Asian Games selections, were implicated in doping and whereabouts violations. The cases, involving substances like Mephentermine and Stanozolol, have led to exclusions from major competitions and highlight a lack of awareness among athletes regarding anti-doping rules and personal responsibility.
India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra secured second place at the Lausanne Diamond League with an impressive throw of 88.05m, narrowly missing the top spot to Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage.
Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek advanced to the Cincinnati Open women's semi-finals, with Pegula overcoming Amanda Anisimova in a tough three-setter and Swiatek progressing after Elena Rybakina retired due to injury. In the men's draw, Flavio Cobolli reached his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, defeating Tommy Paul, and will face Arthur Fils.
Indian women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have reached the quarterfinals of the World Championships, putting them one step closer to securing a medal.
Sri Lankan cricket officials are considering a balanced pitch for the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), moving away from a spin-friendly track. This decision aims to provide equal opportunities for both batters and bowlers, similar to the Galle pitch, and support their young batting lineup. The SSC pitch character has evolved over the years, with less home advantage since the retirement of legendary players.
Lakshya Sen suffered a shock second-round exit at the BWF World Championships after losing to USA's 18-year-old Garret Tan in a thrilling three-game contest in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Hyderabad Black Hawks U21 have won the inaugural Guardians Trophy, defeating hosts Goa Guardians U21 3-1 in the final. The tournament provided a crucial platform for emerging Indian volleyball talent, with individual awards and prize money distributed to top performers.
Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is embroiled in a controversy with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for travelling to South Africa for training without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC). This unapproved travel could impact his participation in upcoming international competitions like the World Ultimate Athletics Championship and the Asian Games.
The Indian men's hockey team lost 1-3 to Olympic champions the Netherlands in a critical second-round match of the FIH World Cup in Amstelveen. The Netherlands scored three field goals in the second half, while India's sole goal came from a Harmanpreet Singh penalty corner.
Bangladesh achieved a historic nine-wicket victory over top-ranked Australia in the first Test in Darwin, marking their first Test win in Australia. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto credited the team's focus on pace bowling for this significant upset, highlighting a shift in mindset among young fast bowlers. Hasan Mahmud was named Player of the Match for his nine wickets, including 6-55 in the first innings.
Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen secured a hard-fought victory against Collins Valentine Filimon in the opening round of the BWF World Championships, attributing his win to crucial tactical adjustments after losing the first game. He will now face Garret Tan of the USA.
