Abundantly talented but more significantly, incredibly cool in crunch situations, that's how India's 88th Grandmaster and World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh was described by her formative coach Srinath Narayanan, who feels the 19-year-old chess wizard's composure is comparable only to cricket great Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
This was Jyothi's third appearance at the World Cup Final, having earlier competed at the Tlaxcala (2022) and Hermosillo (2023) editions, where she had exited in the opening round.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya presented the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award to badminton stars Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
'It's a tough setback, but I'm determined to do the hard work and come back stronger. Thank you for all your messages of support. I'll be back faster and stronger.'
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who had pulled out of two top events -- FBK Games in the Netherlands and Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland -- due to a muscle strain he sustained last month, has started training but is yet to recover fully.
While the women scripted history, delivering India's best-ever overseas showing, the men endured a humbling low, returning without a single medal for the first time in 12 years.
Bhagyashree Jadhav: From Life on a Ventilator to Chasing Gold on Home Soil
In 2002, she became the first Indian woman to achieve the GM title, securing her place in chess history. Today, she remains India's top ranked women's player in the country.
'If you are willing to shine like the sun, you must be willing to burn like it.'
'For the next nine months to one year I would still be an active player.'
Debutant Minakshi, who out-punched Paris Olympics bronze medallist Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan in the 48kg final, for gold at the Worlds said she had set her sights on the World Cup in India in November.
Mary Kom, who is an Asian Games winner and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, will start the tournament as favourite in the women's category.
Manavaditya Rathore, son of Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore, clinched the gold medal in junior men's trap at the 4th Asian Shotgun Championships in Al Ain, Dubai on Tuesday.
'The Asia Cup cannot be compared to private tournaments like the World Championship of Legends.'
Unseeded in the draw, Nikhat overcame a scrappy women's 51kg round of 16 contest to secure a unanimous decision, though the scoreline did not reflect the stiff resistance from her 21-year-old opponent.
Young Indian women pugilists Nisha and Muskan showcased their skills by winning gold medals, while five others bagged silver in the Under-19 Asian Boxing Championships.
Pakistan, traditionally one of the biggest names in Asian hockey, will not participate, paving the way for Bangladesh to enter the competition. Oman, too, decided against participation, with Kazakhstan taking their place.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu shocked World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China to storm into the quarterfinals of the World Championships, in Paris on Thursday.
The trials were initially planned for February 27-29 but got postponed
With this, India's medal tally in the continental event swelled to six.
Indian shuttlers Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda and Rakshitha Sree Ramraj overcame some anxious moments to advance to the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Junior Championships, in Guwahati, on Wednesday.
Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh on Thursday asserted that boxers will not miss any more tournaments, with national camps set to resume soon and a new coaching setup also to be announced.
'WFI must reverse all amendments made during its suspension and ensure checks and balances in decision-making within four weeks.'
Olympian Ankita Dhyani broke the women's 2000m steeplechase national record while winning gold at the Grand Slam Jerusalem athletics meet in Israel.
A look at NADA's list of suspended athletes reveals that wrestling has the second most dope offenders among all sporting disciplines in India.
On Saturday, the Indians came out with an all-out attacking approach, backed by a solid defence, while also dominating the front court as the Malaysians -- particularly Aaron -- looked out of sorts during the 41-minute semi-final clash.
Anahat Singh finished runner-up at the NSW Squash Bega Open 2025 after an ankle injury forced the youngster to retire midway during the final on Sunday.
Abhay Singh won the men's doubles crown with Velavan Senthilkumar, while he triumphed in the mixed doubles event with Joshna Chinappa at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships.
'It was a tough field, and I was nervous going in.' 'But once I stepped onto the court, I focused only on giving my best.'
The Sports Ministry on Tuesday lifted its suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India, paving the way for the organisation of domestic tournaments.
Nishad Kumar and Simran Sharma won their maiden World Para Athletics Championships gold in high jump and 100m race respectively, as India clinched four medals to jump to fourth spot on the most productive day, in New Delhi, on Friday.
Pressure will be on Mirabai Chanu to nail the much-awaited 90kg snatch lift for a shot at that elusive Asian Games medal when the weightlifting competition gets underway in Hangzhou on Saturday.
Indian shooting ace Elavenil Valarivan settled for the bronze medal after leading for a good part of the women's 10m air rifle final on the first competition day of the ISSF World Cup in Munich on Tuesday.
While the performance of pistol shooters was creditworthy, their rifle counterparts were at a different level altogether.
Suruchi Singh claims No. 1 spot in ISSF women's 10m air pistol rankings
Ace Indian shuttler H S Prannoy came agonisingly close to pulling off a major upset before bowing out of the BWF World Championships with a gruelling second-round loss to world No. 2 Anders Antonsen of Denmark.
World boxing champion Lovlina Borgohain locked an Olympic quota for herself by advancing to the final in the women's 75kg category at the Asian Games.
Injured Mirabai Chanu's return to the weightlifting arena has been further delayed as the Olympic silver medallist is set to miss the Asian Championships in February next year.
India crowned champions despite loss to Bangladesh in SAFF U-17 Women C'ships
Elkatohchoongo was the best Indian cyclist at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, reaching to the quarter-finals.
