France achieved a historic double victory at the World Championships, with Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue winning mixed doubles and Alex Lanier securing the men's singles title. This unprecedented success is attributed to decades of strategic investment in a national badminton system, including national and regional centres, coach education, and a focus on holistic player development, aiming to elevate France among traditional Asian powerhouses in the sport.
French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja secured the only decisive victory on the opening day of the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament, defeating Indian GM M Pranesh in a lengthy 79-move game. Other prominent matches saw world champion D Gukesh draw with Nihal Sarin, Arjun Erigaisi draw with Dmitry Andreikin, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov draw with Hans Niemann, as eight grandmasters compete for a significant prize purse and FIDE Circuit points.
Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Wimbledon title, crediting intensive training after a surprising early exit from the French Open. He defeated Alexander Zverev in the final, marking his fifth major title and highlighting his dedication and resilience.
Former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova defeated fifth seed Mirra Andreeva in a hard-fought three-set match, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the third round of the All England Club.
Several explosions were reported in Damascus, Syria, on Tuesday, with two occurring near a hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to stay during his first official visit to the country. The blasts caused plumes of smoke but no immediate casualties were reported. This incident follows a recent bomb blast in central Damascus on July 3 that killed five people.
Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue have made history by becoming France's first-ever badminton World Champions in mixed doubles, defeating the world No. 1 Chinese pair. Their victory marks a significant milestone for French badminton, with another French player, Alex Lanier, also vying for a men's singles world title.
French badminton players Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, in mixed doubles, and Alex Lanier, in men's singles, have made history by becoming the country's first world champions in the sport. Gicquel and Delrue defeated the world No. 1 Chinese pair, while Lanier dominated his Japanese opponent in their respective finals.
Alexander Zverev arrives at the U.S. Open as the top seed, aiming for his second Grand Slam title. With Jannik Sinner's absence due to injury and Carlos Alcaraz's limited match practice, Zverev has a clear path to capitalise on his recent French Open success. Despite a mixed record at Flushing Meadows, his powerful game and new world number two ranking position him as a strong contender.
Brazilian tennis sensation Joao Fonseca has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming US Open due to an abdominal injury.
"I hope it was correct," Macron said after delivering the lines in Hindi.
Astronauts Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot successfully completed a spacewalk to install a replacement Ku-band communications antenna on the International Space Station. This critical task, which they had previously attempted, restores communications redundancy for the orbital laboratory. Menon, on his third spacewalk, and Adenot, on her second, were assisted by fellow NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir.
Indian para-badminton players, including Tokyo Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar, delivered an outstanding performance at the French Para Badminton International, securing multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals across various categories.
Carlos Alcaraz is set to defend his U.S. Open title after a nearly five-month injury layoff, with expectations high despite limited match practice as he aims for a third New York crown.
Ten-man Lens secured their first Trophee des Champions title, defeating Paris St Germain 1-0 at the Bollaert-Delelis Stadium, 28 years after their last appearance in the season-opening fixture.
Carlos Alcaraz returns at the US Open after a four-month wrist injury layoff, aiming to defend his title and reignite his Grand Slam campaign.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner heads to Wimbledon under scrutiny after his French Open disappointment, but coaches and experts believe the world No. 1 remains the favourite to retain his title despite fitness concerns.
Tennis icon Roger Federer made an emotional return to Arthur Ashe Stadium for an exhibition event, marking his first appearance since 2019. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who retired without a formal farewell in New York, delighted fans in singles and doubles matches alongside fellow legends.
Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka has been granted a wildcard entry into the U.S. Open men's singles draw, following public demand after his initial exclusion. The 2016 champion, who had previously expressed his farewell to the tournament, will now compete in the year's final major.
Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori overcame a first-set deficit to defeat Evan King and Gabriela Dabrowski in a closely contested French Open mixed doubles final.
Ananya Panday delights fans by sharing stunning photographs from her French vacation with sister Rysa Panday, celebrating Rysa's graduation and showcasing memorable moments together.
Manchester United have officially signed midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion on a contract until 2031, with an option for an additional year. The deal is reportedly worth an initial 60 million, plus add-ons, for the Cameroon international.
Novak Djokovic is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, but recent physical struggles, particularly in high heat and humidity, raise questions about his ability to endure the demanding tournament. Despite his experience, the 39-year-old faces a challenging field and needs to manage his energy carefully to achieve his historic goal.
Novak Djokovic expresses uncertainty about his future participation in the French Open after a surprising defeat to Joao Fonseca, raising questions about his continued presence at Roland Garros.
Indian tennis player N Sriram Balaji and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner saw their impressive French Open men's doubles campaign end in the quarterfinals after a straight-sets defeat to the second-seeded pair of Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
Cook up one of the most elegant desserts of France at home -- it's a cinch to make.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos successfully defended their French Open men's doubles title, defeating Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in straight sets to secure their third Grand Slam crown together.
Iga Swiatek's French Open campaign ended in a stunning defeat to Marta Kostyuk, adding to the series of upsets at Roland Garros.
Anna Kalinskaya reached her maiden French Open quarterfinal with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7) win over 28th seed Anastasia Potapova on Monday, marking only the second time the Russian has entered that stage of a Grand Slam.
Indian tennis players N Sriram Balaji and Yuki Bhambri secured victories in the first round of the French Open men's doubles, advancing to the next stage with their respective partners.
India's Yuki Bhambri and his partner Michael Venus of New Zealand were defeated by the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the men's doubles second round of the French Open.
Astronauts Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot encountered unexpected delays during a spacewalk to replace a critical space-to-ground antenna on the International Space Station. Despite successfully removing the failed antenna, they ran out of time to install the replacement, rescheduling the task for a future spacewalk. Menon, of Indian origin, and Adenot, the first French woman to spacewalk, faced challenges with tight connectors and bolting during the six-hour mission.
Marta Kostyuk defeated Elina Svitolina in an emotional all-Ukrainian match at the French Open, dedicating her victory to the Ukrainian people.
India's N Sriram Balaji and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner secured a second-round victory in the men's doubles at the French Open, while Yuki Bhambri and his partner Michael Venus were defeated.
Mirra Andreeva, a Russian teenager, secured her spot in the French Open semi-finals with a decisive victory over Sorana Cirstea, continuing her impressive run in a tournament that has seen several top players eliminated.
In many ways, 17th century India occupied a position in the global economy comparable to that of the United States today. Just as millions of people now look towards America because of its economic opportunities, merchants, adventurers and trading companies once looked towards India.
Russia's Mirra Andreeva became the youngest Roland Garros women's singles winner since Monica Seles in 1992, to claim the French Open title and her maiden Grand Slam crown.
Mirra Andreeva and qualifier Maja Chwalinska have both reached the French Open women's singles final, ensuring a new Grand Slam champion will be crowned. Andreeva defeated Marta Kostyuk, while Chwalinska overcame Diana Shnaider. The tournament has seen early exits for top seeds, paving the way for these new contenders. Additionally, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori successfully defended their mixed doubles title.
Indian government sources revealed that a 'cautious approach' was adopted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June talks with then-US President Donald Trump due to concerns over Trump's 'unpredictable behaviour' with foreign leaders, leading to a preference against a joint media interaction.
Paris St Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 to retain the UEFA Super Cup, with goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue. Despite Brian Madjo's equaliser for Villa, PSG secured their victory, marking another trophy for manager Luis Enrique and highlighting their continued dominance in European football.
Paris St Germain players presented their Champions League trophies to the French Open crowd on Monday, two days after winning Europe's premium club competition for the second time in a row.
