Young paddlers showcased remarkable resilience at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships in Panchkula, with several U-11 players securing main-draw berths through hard-fought comeback victories in the qualifiers.
Indian teen archer Kumkum Mohod, 17, made history at the Asian Games by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold, alongside a team gold and mixed silver.
Indian wushu player Roshibina Devi secured her second consecutive Asian Games silver medal, defeating Zhang Xiaoyu of China in the women's 60kg final. This achievement comes amidst controversy surrounding her inclusion in the squad, following accusations of unfair selection by omitted player Divyanshi Choudhary. Roshibina dismissed the allegations, attributing the decision to the federation, and expressed happiness with her medal despite the pre-Games disturbances. She also highlighted the need for Indian wushu players to improve their mental fortitude to compete with dominant Chinese athletes.
Avinash Arun's Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam emerges as a rare honest film in contemporary Bollywood, skillfully navigating the sensitive narrative of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab without succumbing to propaganda, observes Prasanna D Zore.
World champion Lando Norris says he would love to race in India as the government pushes to bring Formula 1 back to the country after a 13-year absence.
Anvay Dravid, son of cricket legend Rahul Dravid, has been appointed captain of the Karnataka U-19 team for the upcoming Vinoo Mankad Trophy. The wicketkeeper-batter recently played for India U-19 and will lead his state in the one-day tournament in Visakhapatnam, scheduled from October 8-16.
Anas Khan and Ayesha Gupta have established significant leads in their respective categories at the NCR Cup Junior Golf Tournament. Khan leads the Boys' Category A by eight strokes, while Gupta holds a six-stroke advantage in the Girls' Category A. Other categories also saw strong performances, with Chaitanya Pandey, Mohd Rehan, Aaradhya Rawat, and Unnati Singh leading their divisions.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris has expressed a strong desire to race in India, acknowledging the country's massive Formula 1 fan base. This comes as the Indian government and Adani Group are exploring options to bring F1 back to the Buddh Circuit, despite significant financial and logistical hurdles. Norris, who has a close friend in Indian driver Jehan Daruvala, believes racing in India would be great for the sport.
Barcelona secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Getafe, extending their perfect LaLiga start and maintaining a five-point lead. Real Madrid also won 1-0 against Villarreal, despite Vinicius Jr receiving a red card, keeping them six points behind their arch-rivals.
Indian wushu player Roshibina Devi won a silver medal at the Asian Games, her second consecutive silver and third overall medal at the continental event. She addressed the controversy surrounding her inclusion in the squad, stating it was the federation's decision and not her fault, while also highlighting the need for Indian players to improve mental fortitude against Chinese dominance.
India's junior women's hockey team is set to embark on a tour of the United Kingdom from July 5 to 14, playing seven matches against various international U-21 teams and Scotland's senior side. This tour, led by new coach Tim White, is crucial for the team's preparation for future competitions and aims to provide valuable international exposure.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a series of changes to its Playing Conditions, effective from October 1, 2024, aimed at improving game pace, standardising ball specifications, and clarifying fielding rules. These updates include penalties for time-wasting batters, tighter ball tolerances for women's cricket, and a trial for pink balls in daytime Test matches.
The US Kids Golf India Series is back for its sixth season, featuring over 50 young golfers competing in Gurugram. This series serves as a crucial pathway for Indian junior golfers to gain Priority Status, enabling them to participate in prestigious international championships like the US Kids European and World Championships, where Indian participants have recently achieved notable success. The program's expansion across Asia further solidifies its role in developing future golfing talent.
Ajit Agarkar has informed the BCCI he will not continue as chief selector, prompting the board to begin searching for his successor as his contract ends October 4.
Indian men's hockey coach Craig Fulton discusses the team's recent successes, including defending the Asian Games gold and securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He surprisingly rates the Paris Olympics bronze medal as his most satisfying achievement, highlighting the team's strategic planning and resilience. Fulton also outlines the team's future transition plans, focusing on upcoming tournaments and developing new talent for LA 2028.
At 17, Dipanshi is set to make her Asian Games debut in wrestling, bringing a unique life philosophy that prioritises being a good person over just athletic success. Despite lacking senior-level experience, the three-time Asian championship gold medallist is embracing the challenge with curiosity, learning from top competitors and Japanese coaching, while aiming to forge her own identity in the sport.
Brazil has announced its 26-member squad, featuring stars like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, and Marquinhos, for a historic first-ever football match against India on October 3 in Kolkata. This landmark fixture follows Brazil's Australia tour and promises a grand spectacle for Indian football fans.
Former world No. 1 Rohan Bopanna and Australian Open winner Rinky Hijikata have been announced as marquee players for the upcoming Tennis Premier League (TPL). The league, featuring a mix of international and Indian talent, will hold its player auction on October 12, with matches scheduled from December 8-13. Other notable international players include Roman Burruchaga, Terence Atmane, Dalibor Svrcina, Dino Prizmic, Adam Walton, and Alexandre Muller.
Hissi Besra, a promising young golfer, secured the US Kids India (North) title in the Girls 11-12 section with an outstanding round of 5-under 67. The tournament also saw strong performances from other junior golfers like Nihal Cheema, Rayirth Jain, and Drona Singh Dhull, showcasing emerging talent in Indian junior golf.
In a shocking incident from Gujarat's Surendranagar, a woman was forced by her husband and others to undergo a 'punishment-cum-purification ritual' involving sexual assault by her live-in partner. Police revealed the husband had previously chained her to prevent her from fleeing. Ten people, including the husband and the woman's stepson who uploaded a video of the incident, have been arrested. The accused claimed this was a 'common practice' in their community for eloping women.
Sonam Maskar, a silver medallist in the women's 10m air rifle team event, has expressed her ambition to secure a quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at the upcoming ISSF World Championship in Doha. She also reflected on her journey, highlighting financial struggles and her father's support. The article also features kabaddi player Raj Rani, who won a gold medal at the Asian Games, sharing her joy and acknowledging her father's role in her success.
Suraj Prabodh, an unseeded player, caused a major upset at the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship by defeating second seed Aditya Balsekar in a thrilling three-set match. The tournament also saw other upsets in men's singles and doubles, while top seeds advanced in women's and junior categories.
Pranav Karthik caused a significant upset at the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship in New Delhi on Wednesday, defeating fourth seed Udit Kamboj after rallying from a set down. Other top seeds like Manish Sureshkumar and several women's and junior players also advanced, though the Boys U-18 draw saw its top seed eliminated.
Veteran wushu player Roshibina Devi on Thursday said she would ignore the accusations of mental harassment made against her by fellow player Divyanshi Choudhary in the selection controversy just ahead of the Asian Games.
'No point in looking for excuses': Coach Ashutosh Singh on India's Asiad tennis flop.
'In India, an MBA from a top college would have better opportunities as compared to an MTech from top colleges,' says rediffGURU Patrick D'souza.
Indian tennis prodigy Manas Dhamne, 18, discusses his journey as a professional, highlighting the need to regain his instinct for closing out tight matches and achieving consistent performance. Despite recent challenges, Dhamne believes his game is strong and focuses on mental consistency and continuous improvement rather than major technical changes or specific ranking targets.
Tanvi Patri overcame compatriot Shaina Manimuthu in a three-game final to clinch the Asian U-17 title, adding another major trophy to her breakthrough 2026 season.
The second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) is set to begin in Hyderabad on Thursday, featuring Olympic medallists and recent Asian Games stars. The six-team franchise competition will host leading recurve and compound archers from India and abroad, running from October 8 to 18 with a unique faster shooting format.
Brazil has announced a 26-member squad, featuring stars like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, and Marquinhos, for their historic first-ever football match against India on October 3 in Kolkata. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is overseeing a significant rebuild, integrating young talent with experienced players, with an eye on future tournaments like the 2028 Olympics and 2030 World Cup. The squad includes several debutants and a focus on current form, marking a new strategic direction for the Selecao.
Indian squash players Anahat Singh and Ramit Tandon secured victories in their respective first-round matches at the London Squash Classic, a PSA Gold event.
Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who has a British Indian mother, is increasingly vocal about his strong Indian roots, a heritage he has always been proud of.
Hockey India has announced a 15-member sub-junior men's squad for a national coaching camp in Chandigarh. The camp, led by Sardar Singh, will prepare the team for the inaugural Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, Oman, focusing on the new format's tactical and technical demands.
Eighteen-year-old Indian shooter Parth Mane secured a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games, marking his senior continental debut.
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.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) and Jadumani Singh (55kg) have both advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Games. Chaudhary secured an upset victory over Paris Olympics bronze-medallist Aira Villegas, while Singh dominated his opponent, Chandra Bahadur Thapa, to move into the next round.
Zoho cofounder Sridhar Vembu dismisses exaggerated fears about AI's catastrophic potential and global development pauses. He advocates for India to adopt an independent AI strategy, fostering partnerships while avoiding entanglement in US-China tech rivalry. Vembu stresses extensive investment in foundational R&D across sectors, distinguishing it from costly frontier AI model development. He also highlights concerns about AI's impact on human judgment, skill erosion, and job disruption, particularly in software engineering, while remaining optimistic about new economic opportunities.
Sanjeev Sonwane, the 65-year-old founder of a prominent educational institute in Latur and nephew of a former Maharashtra minister, allegedly died by suicide by shooting himself, prompting a police investigation.
Indian squash player Anahat Singh was defeated by Belgium's Tinne Gilis in a hard-fought five-game match during the second round of the Qatar Classic.
Dhiraj Bommadevara, India's top recurve archer, expresses no regrets despite missing an individual medal at his second Asian Games. He highlights his Games-record qualification score and team silver medals, viewing the experience as crucial for his preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Bommadevara emphasizes learning from past failures, the importance of a positive team environment, and the need to focus on improvement rather than dwelling on mistakes.
