The James Bond actor spent months in India shooting for another film, but his connection to India goes much deeper than that.
As Britain's track cyclists left Rio's velodrome on Tuesday with their saddle bags laden with gold, their rivals were left scratching their heads wondering just how they managed to keep peaking at the Olympics.
World number one Naomi Osaka was beaten in her opening match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday, losing to France's Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 6-3 on her return to competitive action after winning last month's Australian Open.
Japan Warriors did not have to break much sweat in getting past Philippine Marvericks 29-15 but it was a tough day out for UAE Royals, who edged out hosts Singapore Slammers 27-23 in their IPTL match, riding on Roger Federer's win in the deciding men's singles, in Singapore on Friday.
World number one Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Indian Premier Tennis League (IPTL), commencing from Wednesday, citing fatigue, and he has been replaced by Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka in his team- OUE Singapore Slammers.
Here are some of the best moments from the 2019 Australian Open.
Former world number one Novak Djokovic showed signs of a return to form with an impressive 7-5, 6-4 victory over Japan's Kei Nishikori in the opening round of the Madrid Open on Monday.
Twice Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova and 14th seed Elena Vesnina posted hard-fought, straight-set wins in Friday's semi-finals to set up an all-Russian final in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
The courts are not the same as they used to be in the past are not in good condition.
Playing tennis professionally can be difficult physically, mentally and emotionally. But the tennis courts have often been the venue for for blossoming romance as love-struck couples decide it is game, set and match.
Fabio Capello has signed a new four-year contract to extend his stay as Russia coach until after the end the 2018 World Cup, the Russian Football Union said on Friday.
Sania Mirza's unimpressive campaign at Wimbledon ended on Thursday as she and her Romanian partner Horia Tecau lost to eight seeds Daniel Nestor of Canada and Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets in the mixed doubles quarter-finals.
Eugenie Bouchard arrives in Eastbourne, her final grass-court warm-up, having lost nine of her last 10 matches.
Indian men's hockey captain P R Sreejesh has been named as one of the candidates for 2016 Goalkeeper of the Year award of the FIH while Harmanpreet Singh made the grade as one of the 2016 Rising Men Star of the Year nominees. The nominees for the 2016 Hockey Stars Awards, the annual prizes recognising the best players, goalkeepers, rising stars, coaches and umpires in a given calendar year were announced during the Hockey Revolution Part 2 Conference of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) which is currently taking place in Dubai.
At one stage Yuki was a break up, serving for the opening set but lost his serve and eventually the set. After drawing parity, Yuki twice lost his serve to fall behind 0-3 in the decisive set and never recovered.
The 33-year-old Swiss, ranked 261 in the world after two knee surgeries, served solidly throughout a one-sided contest on the slick centre court, easing past an opponent who struggled to cope with Wawrinka's power.
Images from Day 2 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday
Russia's Elena Vesnina ousted German second seed Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California on Tuesday.
Indian Acres' Rafael Nadal beat UAE Royals' Roger Federer to win the last set 6-5 through a shoot-out to help the Indian team win the Delhi leg of the Indian Premier Tennis League in New Delhi on Saturday.
"I think she will win a Grand Slam. Which one and when I don't know, but definitely clay is a good surface for her."
Being the reigning Wimbledon champion and former French Open winner has its perks for Garbine Muguruza, like being invited to walk the red carpet at this year's Oscars in Hollywood.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka crashed out of the French Open in the first round losing 5-7, 5-7 to Katerina Siniakova on Monday, playing only her fifth tournament of the year after a legal battle over the custody of her son.
Fifth seed Ana Ivanovic was knocked out of the Australian Open first round on Monday when she was upset by doubles specialist Lucie Hradecka 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom entered the final in the 48 kg classs at the Commonwealth Games, beating Sri Lanka's Anusha Dilrukshi , on Wednesday.
Djokovic, the ninth seed, was originally scheduled to play Australian Open semi-finalist Chung Hyeon but the 22-year-old South Korean withdrew with a back injury about an hour before the match was due to start.
Russian tennis ace Maria Sharapova was reportedly tormented on Saturday with the inaugural International Premier Tennis League tournament's shot-clock, saying that she feels like pressing the snooze all the time.
Tennis player Prarthana Thombare, who will partner India ace Sania Mirza in the Olympics, says she is not scared of facing the big names at Rio Games as she has the World No. 1 beside her.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Top seeds Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis entered the final at the Madrid Open after a crushing 6-2, 6-0 victory over Vania King and Alla Kudryavtseva on Friday. It is the second successive final for the Indo-Swiss pair following the runners-up finish in Stuttgart.
Inspirational men's team captain P R Sreejesh and fast-rising drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh are the two Indians in contention for different honours at the FIH annual awards which will be given away in a formal ceremony for the first time, in Chandigarh on February 23.
World number one Rafael Nadal recorded his 20th straight win on clay as he began his quest for a sixth title in Madrid, defeating Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-1.
Images from Day 4 of the French Open matches played at Roland Garros in Paris on Wednesday
The latest tennis rankings have been announced by the ATP and WTA
Indian veteran Leander Paes and his doubles partner Hugues Herbert turned it around remarkably for the Japan Warriors, who beat UAE Royals 24-21 to record their first win of the tournament in the opening match of the International Premier Tennis League's India leg in New Delhi.
Sania Mirza and her Romanian partner Horia Tecau waltzed into the mixed doubles final of the Australian Open after beating Australian duo Jarmila Gajdosova and Matthew Ebden 2-6, 6-3, 10-2 at Melbourne Park on Friday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
World's numero uno women's doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis continued their rampaging form and extended their monster winning streak to 20 matches in a row after reaching the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Singapore.
US tennis powerhouse Serena Williams dispatched France's Alize Cornet in two sets on Monday, ending a streak of weak family performances that saw older sister Venus eliminated from singles on Saturday and the pair knocked out in doubles on Sunday.
World number five Alexander Zverev continued his poor recent form as he crashed out of the Italian Open in the second round while Serena Williams had to pull out of the women's draw with a recurring knee injury.
Madison Keys beat fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe for the second time in eight days with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory on Monday to reach the second round of the Cincinnati Open.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances