Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, saw gains in early trade, driven by a notable drop in crude oil prices and renewed buying interest from Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs).
Over centuries, the beloved deity travelled across Asia, acquiring new names, forms and traditions along the way.
The Sports Ministry has invested over Rs 702 crore in the last three years to prepare Indian athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, featuring 310 debutants.
Indian athletes are set for a busy day at the Asian Games on September 27, competing across a wide array of sports including athletics, archery, shooting, boxing, and squash.
A national shotgun coach, involved in India's Asian Games preparations, is under scrutiny by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for alleged conflict of interest. The complaint, filed by an unsuccessful bidder, concerns the coach reportedly seeking a contract to build a shooting range in Chennai. This probe could impact the coach's participation in the upcoming Asian Games, while the NRAI states it has no knowledge of such activities.
India's shooting campaign at the Asian Games faced a setback as Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team final, extending the country's wait for a gold medal. Despite strong qualification, the Indian pair struggled in the final, while China secured gold with a world record. This follows other near-misses for India, highlighting the intense competition and the need to convert strong starts into medals. The focus now shifts to upcoming events, including Manu Bhaker's participation.
India's medal tally at the Asian Games surged to 65, highlighted by rare silver medals in men's skiff sailing and Greco-Roman wrestling. The men's cricket and hockey teams secured their spots in the finals with impressive victories, while squash teams and compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru contributed bronze medals. Indian golfers are also in contention, and sepaktakraw guaranteed at least a bronze, showcasing a diverse sporting performance.
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.
India experienced a day of mixed results at the Asian Games, securing a shooting gold medal through Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet, and a silver in 10,000m for Gulveer Singh. However, the unexpected early exit of top badminton men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty came as a significant setback, while other sports like Kabaddi, Squash, and Table Tennis saw Indian athletes advance or win medals.
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.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey has lodged a police complaint against several HI officials, including the former Executive Director, accusing them of "criminal breach of trust, theft, endangerment of life and wrongful abandonment." The complaint stems from an incident where Tirkey's personal belongings, including medicines, were allegedly withheld after an official vehicle was recalled. This incident highlights an ongoing power struggle between Tirkey and HI Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh, exacerbated by past controversies like the saffron jersey fiasco and disputes over board meetings.
Air India secured the 57th spot worldwide, marking a notable rise from its 84th position in 2025. IndiGo, meanwhile, slipped to 61st, compared with 39th place a year earlier.
India's Dhiraj Bommadevara has set a new Asian Games men's recurve qualification record with 698 points, topping the standings in Okazaki City, Japan, and securing a bye into the second round of the individual elimination draw. This performance follows his recent World Cup Final triumph.
Almost all of India's Asian Games-bound track and field athletes, including star steeplechaser Avinash Sable and javelin thrower Yashvir Singh, will participate in the Indian Athletics Series Final. This invitational event, featuring a total prize fund of Rs 65 lakh, serves as a crucial tune-up for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, with most of the 77-member squad competing.
World junior champion Anahat Singh, now 18, is returning to the Asian Games with significantly higher stakes, as the women's singles gold medal offers direct Olympic qualification. Ranked world number 20, she is a strong medal contender and is embracing the pressure of competing for her country. Anahat faces formidable opponents like Satomi Watanbe and Sivasangari Subramaniam but is focused on refining her game and physical strength to achieve her goals.
India's spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has indicated that Ravindra Jadeja's prospects for the 2027 ODI World Cup are strong, with his all-round skills being a crucial factor. The team is actively assessing various spin options, including Axar Patel, and using current series to experiment with combinations and fine-tune the squad for the upcoming showpiece event in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha announced the institution of two new memorial awards: the Raja Randhir Singh Trophy for the best male athlete and the Jaspal Rana Trophy for the best female athlete at the Asian Games. These awards honour the significant contributions of the late sports administrator Raja Randhir Singh and renowned pistol coach Jaspal Rana to Indian sports. Usha also addressed accommodation concerns for Indian athletes at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda secured a historic gold medal in the women's trap event at the Asian Games, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve this feat. Her victory came despite a severe illness that hospitalised her just 10 days before the competition, and challenging weather conditions during the final. Coach Peter Wilson praised her dedication and focus, highlighting her ability to overcome adversity.
India is set to field a strong contingent at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with key athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain leading the charge to defend titles in cricket, kabaddi, and men's hockey.
Pharma major Lupin is significantly increasing its focus on biosimilars, aiming for a turnover of nearly $500 million from this segment over the next five years, driven by new product launches and expanded presence in key global markets like the US, Europe, and Japan.
The Indian women's cricket team declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi, a decision confirmed by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla as a 'collective' stance. This follows a precedent set by the men's team after a terror attack, with the BCCI having communicated its position to the ACC in advance.
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak, the sole representative from India, is set to compete in her fourth Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, aiming for her first medal.
Legendary Indian hockey player Harbinder Singh reminisces about India's historic first Asian Games gold medal in 1966, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan. He shares insights into the team's motivation, the challenging final match played with 10 men, and the evolution of hockey over the decades, including concerns about declining domestic spectator interest and India's prospects for future Asian Games.
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.
Jay Meena, once a mischievous schoolboy rusticated for a prank, has made history by winning India's first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis. His journey from a troubled youth to a bronze medallist at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is a testament to destiny and the guidance of his coach. Meena hopes his achievement will boost the sport's profile in India and pave the way for its inclusion in future events like the Commonwealth Games.
Sawan Barwal ran a stunning marathon race to hand India an unexpected silver medal in the Asian Games -- shattering his own national record in the process in Nagoya on Saturday.
Satwik-Chirag face a 10-day Asian Games grind as the defending champions focus on fitness, injury prevention and workload management.
Indian badminton players Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Unnati Hooda were eliminated from the Japan Open Super 750 tournament on Wednesday.
Indian athletes at the Asian Games in Nagoya are facing significant accommodation challenges, including cramped rooms on a cruise ship and long waits for check-in. The host nation's athletes are also affected, with complaints about shared rooms and general mismanagement. Organisers have opted against a traditional Athletes Village, leading to athletes travelling long distances for training, further exacerbating the logistical issues ahead of the mega-event.
Asian Games double gold medallist Parul Chaudhary and Olympian race-walker Priyanka Goswami are intensely preparing for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. Chaudhary will compete in three events, including the new 1500m, while Goswami transitions to the marathon race walk, both expressing confidence in their adaptive training and aiming for medals.
Star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana discusses the team's future aspirations after securing a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal. She emphasises the need for continuous improvement over the next two years to prepare for the tougher competition expected at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, highlighting the unique pride of contributing to India's overall medal tally.
There are only bad and worse options before him, points out Aakar Patel.
Rinku Singh is making the most of his break in the UK, swapping cricket for football and basketball.
India secured a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay, successfully defending their previous win, and Seema Kumari earned a historic bronze in the women's 10,000m, marking India's first medal in the event in 16 years and only the third ever.
India's athletics campaign at the Asian Games started successfully with the mixed 4x400m relay team securing a silver medal, their third consecutive in the event. Additionally, Seema earned a surprise bronze in the women's 10,000m race, marking India's first medal in the event after many years. Other Indian athletes also showed promising performances in various heats.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, experienced a sharp decline, with the Sensex tumbling 1,247.71 points and the Nifty settling below 23,100, primarily driven by a significant spike in crude oil prices and weak global market trends.
Khalin Joshi, fresh off a win, shot a career-low 11-under 61 to take a four-shot lead at the Bengaluru Open 2026. The local golfer's bogey-free round included an eagle and nine birdies. Teenager Manoj S is in second place, while the tournament is crucial for players to retain their playing rights on the DP World PGTI tour.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam to discuss strengthening cooperation, developing aquatic sports in India, and exploring India's readiness to host Asian-level championships. India is also targeting to host the 2038 Asian Games and 2036 Olympics.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful he will have Neymar available for more minutes in Monday's World Cup round of 32 fixture against Japan in Houston, and believes his Brazil side are ready for anything in what will be a tough knockout fixture.
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.
