The Asian Games, a major multi-sport event, has a long history of controversies extending beyond the sporting arena. From diplomatic disputes and selection rows to doping scandals and disputed decisions, these incidents have often highlighted the intersection of politics, national interests, and sports.
Teenage swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo made history by winning seven gold medals at the Asian Games, surpassing previous records and cementing China's dominance in the pool. The Games also saw other notable performances, including a second gymnastics gold for Carlos Yulo and an upset in men's table tennis where Japan defeated China.
Indian table tennis mixed doubles pair Diya Chitale and Manush Shah secured a coveted Asian Games medal, overcoming a recent slump in form and the personal tragedy of Diya's coach Peter Engel's death. Their triumph is seen as a fitting tribute to Engel and fuels India's hopes for an Olympic medal in the future.
Indian athletes secured five medals, including two silvers, at the ongoing Asian Games in Nagoya. Long jumper Ancy Sojan and high jumper Sarvesh Kushare each won silver, while decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, 3000m steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary, and 200m runner Harita Bhadra clinched bronze medals, contributing to India's growing tally.
Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, engaged in violent protests, vandalising property and clashing with police over unverified claims of a female student being raped on campus. The unrest led to the suspension of classes and postponement of exams, while police registered a rape case and formed an SIT, despite the university denying the allegations as 'rumours'.
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.
'Everyone has a surname, and I think everyone has an equal responsibility to live up to that name.'
Pakistan's women cricketers found themselves in an unexpected Virat Kohli connection during the Women's Asia Cup. Several players were spotted wearing footwear from the Indian star's sportswear brand, sparking plenty of chatter on social media.
India's women's cricket team secured a spot in the Women's T20 Asia Cup final after a comprehensive 40-run victory over Bangladesh in the first semi-final, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur praising the team's all-round performance.
Police in Jamui, Bihar, have arrested two main accused in the molestation of a minor girl, bringing the total arrests to five. The arrests followed an encounter where the accused were injured. The incident, captured in a viral video, has ignited a fierce political debate between the ruling NDA and opposition parties over law and order in the state.
Manipuri rower Tendenthoi Devi Haobijam expresses newfound confidence ahead of her second Asian Games appearance, attributing it to consistent team training, international exposure in Australia and Europe, and mentorship from her coach. She will lead India's challenge in the women's coxless four, aiming for a significant performance.
Indonesian hockey players, particularly Ferdian Fathur Rahman and Firdaus Muhammad, are deeply inspired by the Bollywood film "Chak De! India" as they prepare to face India at the Asian Games.
Eiffel Tower employees launched a strike, leading to the iconic landmark's closure, after allegations surfaced that female staff were asked to vacate their posts during a visit by the Hindu religious organisation BAPS.
The Indian Olympic Association has formed a four-member independent inquiry committee, led by retired High Court judge Deepa Sharma, to investigate sexual harassment allegations against Hockey India secretary Bhola Nath Singh. The probe follows a complaint by former women's team captain Asunta Lakra, who accused Singh of threats after she raised concerns about alleged harassment of girls in Jharkhand.
Smriti Mandhana's explosive 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong in the Women's T20 Asia Cup saw her surpass Mithali Raj and Meg Lanning to become the leading run-scorer and century-maker in women's international cricket, drawing widespread praise from the cricket community.
India's Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first cricketer, male or female, to captain a team in 150 T20 Internationals.
Following the horrific Jamui molestation case, new incidents of harassment have been reported in Bihar's Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts, leading to five arrests and prompting strong criticism from opposition leaders against the BJP-led NDA government over the state's law and order situation.
Gurugram police have escalated charges to attempt to murder against Kalyan Bainsla after woman biker Shivani Chauhan (Sia) released a new video alleging deliberate targeting in a hit-and-run incident, raising serious road safety concerns.
Reigning world champion Sheetal Devi has secured a medal for India by reaching the women's compound individual final at the World Archery Para Series.
World champion D Gukesh's live rating has slipped below 2700 after the first two rounds of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Indian men's team, defending champions, had an average start with two unconvincing wins, while the Indian women's team performed better against weaker opposition. Gukesh's rating drop comes ahead of his world title challenge against Javokhir Sindarov in November.
Indian shooting duo Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team final at the Asian Games, unable to convert a strong qualification performance into a medal. China won gold with a world record, while South Korea and Japan secured silver and bronze respectively.
Takumi Hojo secured Japan's first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoa Asian Games, winning the men's individual triathlon. Hojo, who previously won mixed relay gold, overcame early positions to dominate the run segment, finishing nine seconds ahead of China's Zhang Xirui. His victory has boosted the Japanese team's morale.
Bank of Baroda has launched 'bob World 2.0', an AI-powered mobile banking app featuring voice-command capabilities for payments and navigation. The updated app also includes a personal finance management module and a persona-based customer experience, aiming to offer intuitive, secure, and personalised banking services.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are grappling with significant accommodation issues, including male and female athletes being allocated shared rooms and long waiting times for credential activation, forcing even the host Japan team to seek alternative arrangements.
Sri Lanka Cricket is set to lose an estimated USD 20 million in revenue after the ICC stripped it of the hosting rights for the 2027 Women's Champions Trophy.
A 70-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Dibang Valley district. The accused, Kangge Pertin, has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The incident has drawn condemnation from the Arunachal Pradesh Women's Welfare Society.
Defending champions India faced significant organisational issues upon arrival in Samarkand for the Chess Olympiad, experiencing a five-hour delay in hotel room allotment. Players and coaches, including Grandmasters Srinath Narayanan and Vidit Gujrathi, expressed frustration over the poor arrangements for the prestigious FIDE tournament.
The Delhi High Court has refused to grant wrestler Vinesh Phogat an interim exemption to participate in the women's selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships. The court stated that eligibility criteria apply uniformly to all athletes and granting an interim relief to Phogat, who recently returned from maternity leave, would lead to unequal treatment without a full adjudication of the policy's validity. Phogat had sought to challenge the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) circular on eligibility, arguing it unfairly excludes athletes returning from maternity.
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.
The 11th Leg of the Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour is set to begin in Hosur, featuring all previous winners and a strong field of 53 players, including top amateurs and seasoned professionals. The tournament at Clover Greens Golf Course will see Vidhatri Urs, Vani Kapoor, Tvesa Malik, and others compete for honours.
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.
India's wheelchair women's 3x3 basketball team suffered a significant 1-16 defeat against Wales in their opening Group B match at the Commonwealth Games, struggling to match their opponents' intensity and scoring efficiency.
Suchika Tariyal secured India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, winning a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event. Despite a fiercely contested bout that ended in a draw, she lost the semifinal to Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo due to a lesser weight rule. Tariyal expressed disappointment with the decision but was proud of her historic achievement for the country.
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.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary and Jadumani Singh have made a remarkable start at the Asian Games, securing their spots in the pre-quarterfinals with impressive victories, including a significant upset by Chaudhary over an Olympic medallist.
The BCCI's member units have authorised office-bearers to make a decision regarding the extension of chief selector Ajit Agarkar's contract, which is set to expire early next month, and to fill vacancies in the junior selection committee.
Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt was a huge draw at the final and hounded for selfies throughout the US Open final.
India's Shafali Verma has become the fastest and youngest player to reach 3,000 runs in Women's T20 International cricket during a match against Pakistan in Dubai.
Frenchman Samai Reboul, coach of the Indian national surfing team, views India's Asian Games debut as a crucial step towards qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team, comprising two men and two women, is preparing in Mahabalipuram for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where surfing makes its continental debut and offers Olympic quota places.
Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has surpassed Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across all formats, achieving this milestone with a sensational 124-run innings against Hong Kong in the Women's Asia Cup 2026. Mithali Raj congratulated Mandhana on her achievement.
