The Indian men's and women's chess teams delivered strong performances in the seventh round of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. The men's team defeated England, with R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh securing crucial wins. The women's team dominated Germany with a 3.5-0.5 victory, highlighted by wins from Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and Savitha Shri.
Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has become the first woman cricketer to reach 11,000 international runs, achieving the milestone during the Asian Games final against Sri Lanka.
India's Asian Games gold medalists in kabaddi and shooting received a grand welcome at the IGI Airport.
Indian athlete Vithya Ramraj expressed immense happiness after winning the bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 and breaking legendary PT Usha's national record, clocking a personal best of 54.75 seconds.
Hockey India is embroiled in a significant internal dispute between President Dilip Tirkey and Secretary Bhola Nath Singh, primarily over a controversial jersey colour change and the authority to call emergent meetings. An upcoming Executive Board meeting aims to address these differences, discuss the future of the Hockey India League (HIL) including its restructuring into a joint venture, finalise election dates, and deliberate on hosting Asian Champions Trophy events.
India opener Shafali Verma acknowledged the team's batting unit needs to address its shortcomings on turning pitches, despite securing a 94-run victory against Thailand in the Women's Asia Cup opener. Verma, who scored a brisk 64, noted that while the new ball came on well, the older ball gripped and turned, causing difficulties for the middle order. She emphasised the need for adaptation and praised Thailand's improving performance.
The ceremonial torch for the Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, was handed over by FIDE Interim President Viswanathan Anand and AICF president Nitin Narang to Uzbek player Javokhir Sindarov. This event marks the official countdown to the prestigious team competition, continuing a tradition started by FIDE in 2022 to build excitement for the global chess event.
Indian opener Shafali Verma has risen to fourth in the ICC Women's T20I Batting Rankings following her maiden T20I century at the Asian Games. Other Indian players like Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma maintain top bowling positions, while Kranti Gaud and Nandani Sharma also achieved career-best rankings. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur hold positions in the top 10 batting rankings.
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.
Indian squash players Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, and Tanvi Khanna secured their spots in the round of 16 at the Asian Games. Abhay Singh and Tanvi Khanna won their opening matches convincingly, while Veer Chotrani also advanced. Anahat Singh is set to begin her campaign, with the ultimate prize for winners being direct entry to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India women's hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne addressed concerns regarding his pre-World Cup leave, asserting his continuous involvement in the team's preparations. He reflected on the team's creditable fifth-place finish at the World Cup, emphasising the need for sustained hunger and improvement. Marijne also discussed the advantages of his second stint, his focus on team discipline, and the positive impact of the Women's Hockey India League on player development.
Suresh Raina backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's experience and trophy-winning pedigree, saying their presence gives India a "90 per cent chance" of winning the World Cup.
India is hosting its first international para archery event, the third stage of the 2026 Hyundai World Archery Para Series, in Ahmedabad. The competition features 109 archers from 19 countries and serves as a crucial build-up to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games. World number one Sheetal Devi, along with other top Indian and international archers, will be competing for titles and world ranking points.
The Indian women's table tennis team was defeated 0-3 by North Korea in the Asian Games quarterfinals, while the men's team exited in the round of 16, marking a disappointing performance for both squads.
The Indian women's cricket team secured a gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating Sri Lanka in the final. Opener Shafali Verma played a crucial all-round role, scoring 48 runs and taking two wickets. Verma expressed immense pride in representing the nation and celebrating the victory.
Indian-origin chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, aged 11, has been crowned the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM) while representing England at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. This achievement adds to her growing list of records, including being the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport. She is now one step closer to becoming an International Master.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and young shuttler Ayush Shetty notched up straight-game wins to progress to the singles pre-quarterfinals.
Indian quarter-miler MR Poovamma, 36, secured her third Asian Games 4x400m relay gold, marking a triumphant return after a two-year doping ban. She expressed immense satisfaction in proving her critics wrong and credited her family and husband for their unwavering support during her challenging comeback journey.
The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has demanded accountability from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta following the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in Aastha Kunj Park. The incident has sparked concerns over women's safety in Delhi and led Lady Shri Ram College to shift classes online. NSUI is calling for immediate legal action, an impartial investigation, and improved security measures around student-frequented areas.
India secured a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay and a historic bronze in the women's 10,000m at the Asian Games. The relay team successfully defended their previous medal, while Seema Kumari's bronze marks India's first medal in the event in 16 years, highlighting strong performances in athletics.
India's women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed satisfaction with the team's 6-1 victory over South Africa at the FIH Women's World Cup but emphasised the need for improved precision in passing and finishing. Despite topping their group, Marijne cautioned against complacency, highlighting the upcoming crucial match against England. He also praised forward Lalremsiami, who found added motivation from her Arjuna Award nomination.
The 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 is set to begin in Pune, featuring 30 teams across three divisions. The tournament, running until August 23, will determine national champions and facilitate promotion and relegation between divisions, offering a crucial platform for young talent.
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh clinched silver medals at the Asian Games, showcasing their potential despite falling short of gold against formidable Malaysian opponents and missing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Pacer Tess Flintoff's exceptional four-wicket haul dismantled India A's batting line-up, leading Australia A to a comfortable six-wicket victory in the opening match of the women's unofficial T20I series.
Indian head coach Amol Muzumdar acknowledged the absence of 'clutch player' Jemimah Rodrigues due to injury for the Women's Asia Cup but emphasised the team's strong hunger for success in upcoming tournaments, including the Asia Cup and Asian Games.
Angela Aumonier, who has been crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2026, made her India appearance more than a picture-perfect pageant moment.
Neetal Narang has been appointed as India's first Safeguarding Officer for the upcoming Asian Games, a role mandated by the Olympic Council of Asia.
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak secured the sixth position in the eight-woman vault final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, scoring an aggregate of 13.100. She was the sole Indian gymnast participating in the event.
India's top national surfers, Kamali Prakash and Sugar Shanti Gayen, had their Asian Games debut postponed due to adverse weather and surfing conditions at Long Beach, Tahara. They were scheduled to compete in the women's shortboard Round 2, marking surfing's debut at the Asian Games.
Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal in the women's 49kg event at the Asian Games, marking India's first weightlifting medal at the event since 1998. This achievement adds to her impressive collection of Olympic, World Championship, and Commonwealth Games medals.
Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured two silver medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, winning an individual silver in the women's 10m air rifle event and contributing to a team silver. Her individual performance saw her finish closely behind Japan's Hinata Taichi, who set a new Asian Games record.
Indian shooting contingent members, including Elavenil Valarivan, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Anantjit Singh Naruka, and Raiza Dhillon, received a warm welcome upon their return to Delhi after winning medals at the Asian Games. Elavenil expressed confidence despite missing gold, highlighting her win against world and Olympic champions.
Joakim Alexandersson has been reappointed as the head coach of the India U-17 women's national football team, less than a year after his previous departure. He will lead the squad in preparations for the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers in October, where India is grouped with Malaysia, Syria, and Iraq. The team aims to build on its historic quarter-final achievement in the previous Asian Cup.
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.
A comprehensive schedule detailing the events and timings for Indian athletes participating in various sports at the Asian Games, including badminton, boxing, canoeing, equestrian, fencing, hockey, kabaddi, rowing, soft tennis, sepaktakraw, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, and wushu.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Mithun Manhas and secretary Devajit Saikia have lauded the Indian women's cricket team for their historic 270-run Test victory over England at Lord's. Key performances from Kranti Gaud and Yastika Bhatia contributed to this significant achievement, which is seen as a testament to the team's belief and sustained investment in women's cricket.
The Indian men's and women's hockey teams are set to compete at the Asian Games in Kakamigahara, Japan, with the primary goal of winning gold to secure direct qualification for the Paris Olympics. The men's team aims to defend its title and overcome recent World Cup disappointment, while the women's team, buoyed by a strong World Cup performance, seeks only its second Asian Games gold. Both teams face tough competition, with the men needing to prove their dominance against regional rivals and the women confronting a strong Chinese side.
Indian boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Priya Ghanghas, and Kapil Pokhariya have advanced to the semifinals of the Asian Games, ensuring at least bronze medals for the country. Lovlina, a Tokyo Olympics medallist, secured her second consecutive Asian Games podium finish, while Priya made a strong comeback, and Kapil also reached the last four. This brings the total number of assured boxing medals for India to six.
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.
India's teenage squash sensation Anahat Singh staged a remarkable comeback from two games down to defeat Japan's Satomi Watanabe and reach the Asian Games women's singles final. Her victory puts her one step closer to securing a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Olympics, a thought that motivated her throughout the challenging semifinal match.
