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.
Srinagar's picturesque Dal Lake recently transformed into a unique open-air floating cinema for the International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir 2026, captivating audiences with Bollywood classics against a stunning natural backdrop.
Kargil War veteran Group Captain Amit Kumar Gupta was allegedly attacked with an iron rod by a parking attendant in Gurugram, sustaining a serious head injury and fractured elbow. Gupta claims the hospital's MLC report is false and police assistance has been lacking, while an FIR has been registered against unknown accused.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that dropping Sanju Samson from the England tour was his toughest decision, despite Samson being the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Gambhir explained that while Samson was temporarily replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the team prioritised returning to their established World Cup-winning combination. He also addressed the issue of player injuries and the challenge of Shubman Gill not having a full-strength team, emphasising the importance of long-term performance and providing opportunities for new talent.
Kris Srikkanth questioned whether India's star-studded Afghanistan squad was picked out of fear after recent defeats, arguing the series offered an ideal chance to blood promising youngsters.
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.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has clarified that young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will need to wait for his T20I debut, prioritising consistent performers like Sanju Samson. Gambhir also addressed the impact of the Asian Games on the ODI squad selection for the upcoming West Indies series, highlighting opportunities for new talent.
'When I was shooting the scene, I started welling up and I don't know why.'
Five-time Guinness World Records holder Sufiya Sufi is preparing to defend her Ladakh Silk Route Ultra Marathon title, aiming for a record-breaking performance. She shares her journey into ultra-running, which began in 2017 as an escape from a monotonous routine, and her ultimate dream of a 30,000-km circumnavigation run.
Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil has strongly defended his decision to drop several established players for upcoming high-profile friendlies against Brazil, Uruguay, and Panama. Jamil stated that selections were based purely on merit and performance, part of a long-term strategy to build a team for the 2027 Asian Cup qualification. He also praised former captain Sunil Chhetri but ruled out his return.
Champions Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Sunderland, maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League season and moving clear at the top. Meanwhile, title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea were held to draws against Fulham and Hull City respectively. Other notable results include Aston Villa's loss to Nottingham Forest, Ipswich's win against Crystal Palace, and Tottenham's continued struggle to score goals.
Shreyas Iyer, India's T20I captain, described his initial stint as skipper as a 'tough pill to swallow' after suffering away series defeats, but emphasised the importance of maintaining 'equilibrium' following a dominant 2-0 series win over Afghanistan.
Newly promoted Hull City secured a 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, extending their unbeaten start to the Premier League season to four matches, much to the delight of manager Sergej Jakirovic.
Weak verbs and poor language can make even impressive achievements seem ordinary, points out Nayagam PP, a career coach and founder of EduJob360.
India women's head coach Amol Muzumdar and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur view the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as crucial preparation and a 'teaser' for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where women's cricket will make its debut, aiming to carry their winning mindset into both global events.
Elena Rybakina overpowered Coco Gauff in a fierce US Open semi-final on Thursday to secure a title showdown with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
The UEFA Champions League group stage commenced with thrilling matches as holders Paris St Germain, Arsenal, and Liverpool all secured victories. Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick for PSG in their dominant 6-1 win, while Martin Odegaard's late strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 triumph over Napoli. Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, and Barcelona also started strong with a 5-1 win against Feyenoord.
Elena Rybakina defeated top-seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the US Open women's singles final, securing her third career major title and setting her to become the new WTA World No. 1. Rybakina displayed dominant form, especially in the final set, overcoming the two-time defending champion.
India's singles players Sumit Nagal and Dhakshineswar Suresh face challenging conditions in their Davis Cup Qualifier Round 2 tie against South Korea. The hosts have prepared a slow, low-bounce court with heavy balls to negate India's strengths. Captain Rohit Rajpal is confident in the team's ability to adapt and strategize, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and exposing younger players to high-pressure situations.
Emma Navarro, the 26th seed, achieved her third top-10 victory of the year by defeating seventh seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5 at the U.S. Open. Navarro's strong baseline play and Muchova's struggles with unforced errors contributed to the upset, propelling Navarro into the fourth round.
Paris St Germain, Bayern Munich, and Napoli all secured crucial victories in their respective European football leagues, with Ferran Torres, Harry Kane, and Stanislav Lobotka scoring decisive goals. Juventus, however, suffered a late defeat to Sassuolo.
Alexander Zverev has made a remarkable turnaround at the U.S. Open, progressing from early struggles to reach his second final at Flushing Meadows. After being pushed to five sets in his initial matches, he has since won four consecutive matches without dropping a set, setting the stage for a potential second Grand Slam title.
China has called for stronger global governance of artificial intelligence, advocating for international cooperation to develop the technology for humanity's benefit while preventing it from getting out of control. This comes amidst warnings from leading AI researchers in the US about potential existential risks, with China emphasizing both rapid development and robust safeguards, including its new AI Safety Governance Framework 3.0. The issue is expected to be a key topic in upcoming US-China talks.
Virat Kohli impressed Eknath Shinde with his humility during their London meeting, while the duo discussed Maharashtra's development, sports, youth talent and the cricketer's upcoming ODI milestones.
Ben Shelton has reached his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open, defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe. He credits his newfound consistency for this breakthrough. Shelton will face Alexander Zverev in the final, aiming to end a 23-year American drought for a men's singles Grand Slam champion and become the first Black American man to win the New York title since Arthur Ashe in 1968. He expresses excitement and a business-like approach despite the nerves.
'The biggest difference between our marriage and that of our parents' generation is not simply that times have changed. It is that modern marriages require two people to continuously understand, support and adapt to each other while navigating a much more demanding world,' says Rahul Kulkarni.
Barcelona secured a resounding 5-0 victory over hosts Valencia in their LaLiga clash, maintaining their perfect start to the new season. Fermin Lopez was instrumental with a goal and two assists, while Lamine Yamal scored twice, and Raphinha and Pedri also found the net. The win puts Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga table with 12 points from four games.
India is reportedly exploring an ODI series in South Africa before the 2027 World Cup, a move initiated by the team management to gain crucial exposure to conditions and fine-tune preparations for the tournament.
Indian women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne discusses the team's preparations and strategy for the upcoming Asian Games. He highlights the different challenge posed by lower-ranked opponents compared to the World Cup, emphasising the need for effective scoring and maintaining focus. Marijne also stresses using the World Cup disappointment as motivation for gold and the importance of humility and unity within the team.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
Ganges Grandmasters have secured a spot in the Global Chess League finals despite a loss to PBG Alaskan Knights. Defending champions Alpine APL Pipers, however, suffered a defeat against Triveni Continental Knights, leaving their final berth dependent on the outcome of the last league match. Key moments included Ian Nepomniachtchi's draw against Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen's first loss in the competition to Alireza Firouzja.
Mikel Arteta's deliberate disruptions, unusual psychological drills and no-excuses culture are designed to make Arsenal adaptable under pressure as they seek victory against Sunderland after last season's late setback.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is pushing thoughts of the Formula One championship to the back of his mind, despite a commanding 66-point lead over teammate George Russell, preferring to focus on winning races.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a spectacular equaliser on his Everton debut in the dying moments of the game, securing a 2-2 draw against Manchester United after Benjamin Sesko had put United ahead late on.
US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran is attempting to remove him from office, believing a Democratic administration would permit them to develop nuclear weapons. Trump vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities and stated he has no regrets about his confrontational approach, claiming he would act the same way again. He also linked the ongoing conflict to rising stock markets and oil prices, and controversially suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz.
Former India international and coach Soumyadeep Roy is set to join the national table tennis squad for the upcoming Asian Games as a personal coach, five years after being embroiled in a match-fixing controversy at the Tokyo Olympics. Despite the past issues and the suspension of the TTFI, Roy aims to guide his players and contribute to India's medal prospects.
The Global Chess League's halfway stage saw significant upsets and dramatic finishes, with Triveni Continental Kings defeating table-toppers Alpine APL Pipers. Ganges Grandmasters secured a crucial win against PBG Alaskan Knights due to a last-second time violation, while CheQ Mumba Masters maintained their strong performance. These results have intensified the competition for the top two positions.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly defends veteran pacer Mohammed Shami against claims of neglect by selectors, praising his domestic performances. Ganguly also expresses optimism about Ishan Kishan's potential return to Test cricket, highlighting his strong form in recent domestic finals.
Sachin Tendulkar remembered his father Ramesh's timeless lessons on honesty, character and avoiding shortcuts, while launching a fellowship to honour his legacy and expand opportunities for young professionals.
