I M Vijayan is amazed at Indian football's leap from amateurism to professionalism.
Yuki Bhambri and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus registered a straight sets victory on their Grand Slam debut, but Divij Sharan's Australian Open campaign ended in the first round, in Melbourne, on Wednesday.
Brazil's goalless draw to Colombia in their World Cup qualifier brought a predictably angry reaction from the media on Thursday, although they stopped short of calling for the head of coach Dunga. The match was almost a replica of the previous month's stalemate with Bolivia, with Brazil lacking the ideas to break down defensive but unambitious opponents.
Brazil were jeered off the field after being held to their second successive home goalless draw in the World Cup qualifiers.
Pop star Shakira will perform before the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro on July 13, headlining a closing ceremony that includes guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana and rapper Wyclef Jean.
Brazil beat Chile 3-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after their dramatic last-16 match in Belo Horizonte ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.
A round-up of our favourite photographs from the week gone by
Neymar should return to Spain with renewed enthusiasm after leading Brazil to their first soccer gold medal at an Olympic Games, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said. Neymar, who has scored 85 goals in 141 games in his three seasons at Barcelona, was given permission to stay in Brazil until after international games early next month. "I think it's a good decision to grant him (Neymar) that," Pique told El Mundo Deportivo. "He has earned it.
Laggards in international rankings, India finally made their presence felt by pulling off an impressive under-17 World Cup that drew all-round praise even though the country was eliminated in the very first round.
The 41-year-old former Soviet Air Force pilot dubbed the 'merchant of death', is accused of supplying weapons to rebels in Colombia and warring sides in several countries reeling under civil conflict in Africa and Central Asia, using the cover of his air cargo business.
Brazil gave beleaguered coach Dunga some respite on Wednesday by thumping Portugal 6-2 in a friendly, helped by a hat-trick from striker Luis Fabiano. The five-times world champions had been held to 0-0 draws in their last three home games, against Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia, and had not scored in front of their own fans since last November.
Arsenal trio Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky will miss next week's Premier League Asia Trophy.
The International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced that Nita Ambani, has been elected as an individual member of the IOC, and will become India's first woman to join the prestigious body.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Rafael Nadal to play for Spain in new Davis Cup Finals while World No 1 Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, have already said they would support the ATP Cup -- seen as a rival team event to the Davis Cup -- when it begins in Australia just a few weeks after the ITF's flagship event.
Here is a look at some of the key head-to-head duels which could prove decisive.
A round-up of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers played on Thursday
Belgium go into Monday's World Cup last 16 match against Japan full of confidence but wary that relying on individual talent against similarly well-organised but less fancied teams has cost them dear in the past.
The Indian ace overcame an injury scare and a spirited challenge from unseeded Catalina Castano of Colombia in her opening match at Wimbledon.
Panama and Tunisia have been the fall-guys in the two top-scoring matches of World Cup 2018, but both teams will hope to show they have learnt some lessons from their efforts in Russia before they head home after their Group G match on Thursday.
Arch-rivals Brazil and Argentina drew 0-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday but moved closer to leaders Paraguay who lost 4-2 in Bolivia. The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa in 2010 and the fifth plays off against the fourth team from the CONCACAF region.
Indian boxer Sumit Sangwan (81kg) advanced to the pre-quarterfinal of the AIBA World Olympic qualification tournament after notching up a hard-fought win over eighth seed Juan Carlos Carrillo of Colombia in Baku.
England and Belgium face a World Cup conundrum ahead of Thursday's crunch in Kaliningrad
It was perhaps fitting that the World Cup match between Senegal and Japan - whose fans have received international acclaim for their cleanliness in the stadium - ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday in Yekaterinburg.
Japan twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Senegal in their World Cup Group H encounter on Sunday.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said he believes Lionel Messi will sign a new contract with the Spanish champions despite reports the five times World Player of the Year is stalling over a new deal.
Peru's entertaining team and their colourful army of joyous fans will be sorely missed at the World Cup after the South Americans fell victim to their old failing in front of goal.
Atletico Madrid's faint hopes of chasing down runaway Liga leaders Barcelona suffered a fresh blow on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Girona, meaning they could fall 11 points behind the Catalans by the end of the weekend.
IMAGES from Day 7 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, on Saturday.
Rediff.com's Norma Godinho captures classic moments from the planet's greatest sports competition: The FIFA World Cup.
Meena Barot, an Indian businesswoman has been chosen among eight foreigners to carry the Olympic torch on Chinese soil in August next year.
Canada beat USA to enter quarters, Argentina overpower Chile in opening tie
The nomination of Patterson will have to be approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee headed by Joseph Biden.
World champions Germany survived a late scare to see off Saudi Arabia 2-1 on Friday and claim a first victory this year, putting a five-game winless run behind them as they finalised their World Cup preparations.
There was no place for AC Milan's Ronaldo in the team for the South American World Cup qualifiers next month.
The 21-year-old is the latest youngster to join Atletico who have also brought in Argentine forward Luciano Vietto from Villarreal since the end of last season.
Brazil was officially named the only bidder to stage the 2014 World Cup after handing over a bidding agreement form at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich on Friday
Driver line-ups and race numbers for the 2006 season after the governing International\nAutomobile Federation issued the official entry list.
