News for '-world-champion'

India banks on boxing, weightlifting, athletics for top-five finish at 2026 Commonwealth Games

India banks on boxing, weightlifting, athletics for top-five finish at 2026 Commonwealth Games

Rediff.com22 Jul 2026

India is relying heavily on its boxing, weightlifting, and athletics contingents to maintain its two-decade streak of top-five finishes at the Commonwealth Games, which opens in Glasgow.

Rodri reveals Spain's secret plan to stop Messi

Rodri reveals Spain's secret plan to stop Messi

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Spain captain Rodri has expressed his team's ambition and hunger ahead of the World Cup final against Argentina. He highlighted Spain's gradual growth and well-rounded team play, while acknowledging Argentina's competitive spirit and the formidable presence of Lionel Messi. Rodri anticipates a physical battle and draws inspiration from Spain's 2010 World Cup victory.

Traffic jam delay adds to Team India's woes in Southampton

Traffic jam delay adds to Team India's woes in Southampton

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

India's challenging UK tour threw up another obstacle on Saturday when a traffic jam delayed their arrival at Southampton for the fifth and final Twenty20 International against England, which the hosts won by 56 runs.

Paraguay Declares National Holiday After Shock World Cup Win Over Germany

Paraguay Declares National Holiday After Shock World Cup Win Over Germany

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

Paraguay's President Santiago Pena declared a national holiday to celebrate the country's stunning 4-3 penalty shootout victory over four-time world champions Germany in the World Cup round of 16.

5 Young Underdogs Who Could Steal the Show At Badminton Worlds

5 Young Underdogs Who Could Steal the Show At Badminton Worlds

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

As New Delhi prepares to host the BWF World Championships from August 17-23, 2026, five young talents - Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Alwi Farhan, Tomoka Miyazaki, and Kalyana Nalbantova - are identified as potential breakout stars capable of challenging the sport's biggest names and redefining their careers.

P V Sindhu Wins Japan Open Super 750 Title, Ends Two-Year Title Drought

P V Sindhu Wins Japan Open Super 750 Title, Ends Two-Year Title Drought

Rediff.com19 Jul 2026

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu secured her maiden Super 750 title at the Japan Open, defeating local favourite Akane Yamaguchi in straight games.

FIFA World Cup: Meet Vozinha, The Goalkeeper Who Frustrated Messi

FIFA World Cup: Meet Vozinha, The Goalkeeper Who Frustrated Messi

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Cabo Verde, making their FIFA World Cup debut, delivered a memorable performance, reaching the Round of 32 and pushing defending champions Argentina to extra time. Despite a 3-2 defeat, their campaign was marked by resilience, drawing against European champions Spain and two-time world champions Uruguay, and highlighted by the exceptional goalkeeping of 40-year-old Vozinha.

'Anything is possible': Cape Verde's fairytale run continues at World Cup

'Anything is possible': Cape Verde's fairytale run continues at World Cup

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Cape Verde, a tiny island nation, has made history by advancing to the round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup.

World Champion Gukesh to Focus on Training, Reduces Tournament Appearances

World Champion Gukesh to Focus on Training, Reduces Tournament Appearances

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

World chess champion D Gukesh has decided to reduce his tournament schedule to focus on training and preparation for his upcoming title defence, following a series of disappointing performances.

Grand Chess Tour: Praggnaandhaa ends rapid section as joint-leader

Grand Chess Tour: Praggnaandhaa ends rapid section as joint-leader

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won three matches in a row on the final day to tie for the first place with Firouzja Alireza of France on 12 points as the rapid section of the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour ended in Zagreb, Croatia on Friday.

India's Japan Open hopes dwindle as Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda exit

India's Japan Open hopes dwindle as Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda exit

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Indian badminton players Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Unnati Hooda were eliminated from the Japan Open Super 750 tournament on Wednesday.

India concede two late goals to lose 1-2 to Germany in FIH Pro League

India concede two late goals to lose 1-2 to Germany in FIH Pro League

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

India inexplicably conceded two late goals to lose to reigning world champions Germany 1-2 in their FIH Pro League match in Rotterdam on Thursday.

Teen sensation Antonelli stuns Hamilton to claim Silverstone sprint victory

Teen sensation Antonelli stuns Hamilton to claim Silverstone sprint victory

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Kimi Antonelli beat Lewis Hamilton to win the British Grand Prix sprint race at Silverstone, extending his Formula One championship lead to 43 points after another impressive Mercedes display.

You can never write a champion off: Saina hails Sindhu

You can never write a champion off: Saina hails Sindhu

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

Badminton legend Saina Nehwal has lauded PV Sindhu's significantly improved attacking game, stating that her Japan Open Super 750 victory demonstrates her enduring championship quality and potential for more titles, despite recent injury challenges.

How Argentina pounced on window of opportunity gifted by England

How Argentina pounced on window of opportunity gifted by England

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

Argentina staged a dramatic comeback, scoring two late goals to defeat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final, with Lionel Messi orchestrating the turnaround after England had taken the lead.

Sindhu Advances To Japan Open Final After Chen Yufei Retirement

Sindhu Advances To Japan Open Final After Chen Yufei Retirement

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has reached her first final in over two years at the Japan Open. Her opponent, Tokyo Olympics champion Chen Yufei of China, retired midway through their women's singles semifinal due to a hamstring injury. Sindhu was leading 21-19, 15-10 when Chen was forced to pull out. Sindhu will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Japan's Akane Yamaguchi and Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani.

Praggnanandhaa holds Gukesh; joint second after opening day of Grand Chess Tour Croatia

Praggnanandhaa holds Gukesh; joint second after opening day of Grand Chess Tour Croatia

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa began his campaign in the Zagreb leg of the Grand Chess Tour with a victory over top seed Vincent Keymer of Germany before drawing his next two games.

Comeback Kings! Argentina's Great Escapes In FIFA World Cup 2026

Comeback Kings! Argentina's Great Escapes In FIFA World Cup 2026

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

Argentina battled their way into the semis after edging Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time and coming from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2.

Indian Women's Compound Team Clinches Silver At Archery World Cup

Indian Women's Compound Team Clinches Silver At Archery World Cup

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

India's women's compound archery team, comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi, secured a silver medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 after losing to Colombia in the final. Despite the team's struggle, teenager Prithika Pradeep emerged as a standout performer, and India remains in contention for more medals in both compound and recurve categories.

Marquez magic! Ducati star storms to German GP victory

Marquez magic! Ducati star storms to German GP victory

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Seven-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez secured a commanding victory at the German Grand Prix, completing a Sachsenring double and significantly strengthening his position in the championship battle, now sitting third in the standings.

Deschamps' golden France era ends in defeat, but legacy intact

Deschamps' golden France era ends in defeat, but legacy intact

Rediff.com19 Jul 2026

The end of coach Didier Deschamps' Midas-like reign turned into a Tantalus torment as France suffered a comprehensive World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain before losing 6-4 to England in a wild third-place playoff, but those disappointments will not tarnish his legacy.

Antonelli aims to extend F1 lead in Belgium amid Ferrari resurgence

Antonelli aims to extend F1 lead in Belgium amid Ferrari resurgence

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli needs a strong performance at the Belgian Grand Prix to extend his Formula One championship lead, which has shrunk to 25 points over teammate George Russell, as a resurgent Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, poses a significant threat.

Minakshi Storms Into Boxing World Cup Quarters; Assures India Of Medal

Minakshi Storms Into Boxing World Cup Quarters; Assures India Of Medal

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Indian boxer Minakshi, a former world champion, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup (Stage 2) in the 51kg category after a dominant victory.

Indian Shuttlers Ready For Japan Open Challenge

Indian Shuttlers Ready For Japan Open Challenge

Rediff.com13 Jul 2026

India's top badminton players, including the men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, singles stars Lakshya Sen, P V Sindhu, and rising talent Ayush Shetty, are set to compete at the USD 950,000 Japan Open Super 750 tournament. The event marks a crucial stage for many Indian shuttlers to make significant runs on the BWF World Tour.

FIFA World Cup: 'Anyone can beat anyone': Argentina brace for Egypt

FIFA World Cup: 'Anyone can beat anyone': Argentina brace for Egypt

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Argentina's national football team anticipates a challenging last-16 World Cup match against Egypt, following a hard-fought victory over Cape Verde. Players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina emphasised the increasing competitiveness of international football, highlighting that no easy games remain in the tournament, as they prepare for a stern test from the highly motivated Egyptian side.

Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Blames 'Unfair' Refereeing for World Cup Elimination

Egypt Coach Hossam Hassan Blames 'Unfair' Refereeing for World Cup Elimination

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Egypt's national football coach, Hossam Hassan, has vehemently blamed 'unfair' refereeing decisions and 'external factors' for his team's dramatic World Cup elimination by Argentina, stating he will no longer watch the tournament.

Rain Halts Archery World Cup Stage 4 Qualification

Rain Halts Archery World Cup Stage 4 Qualification

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

India's Sahil Jadhav was placed third in the men's compound qualification at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid before persistent rain forced the suspension of play. Other Indian archers, including Rishabh Yadav and women compound archers like Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, also competed, with their qualification rounds impacted by the weather.

Three-time world champions India remain unshaken at T20I peak

Three-time world champions India remain unshaken at T20I peak

Rediff.com5 May 2026

India retains its top position in the ICC T20I rankings, followed by England and Australia. The rankings consider matches played since May 2025 at 100 per cent and the previous two years at 50 per cent.

Cricket Doesn't Respect Reputation; It Respects Courage

Cricket Doesn't Respect Reputation; It Respects Courage

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

This is not just a historic series sweep for Ireland, but for world cricket itself. To beat India, which hasn't been beaten in 16 series over three years, is truly remarkable.

'Spain never allowed Mbappe to get into the game'

'Spain never allowed Mbappe to get into the game'

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Former India internationals analyse Spain's dominant performance and tactical discipline that led them to the FIFA World Cup final, highlighting their defensive solidity and adaptability.

'Injustice Is Clear!': Egypt's Zico Accuses FIFA Of 'Fixing' World Cup For Argentina

'Injustice Is Clear!': Egypt's Zico Accuses FIFA Of 'Fixing' World Cup For Argentina

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Egypt's players and Coach Hossam Hassan blasted FIFA and accused the governing body of blatantly 'favouring' Lionel Messi and his team.

From FIFA World Cup title dreams to heartbreak for Germany

From FIFA World Cup title dreams to heartbreak for Germany

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

Germany's World Cup campaign ended in a shocking penalty shootout loss to Paraguay, marking another early exit for the four-time champions. This defeat highlights a concerning pattern of underperformance in major tournaments since 2014, raising questions about coach Julian Nagelsmann's future and the team's overall direction.

Neeru Dhanda wins women's trap gold in Shotgun World Cup

Neeru Dhanda wins women's trap gold in Shotgun World Cup

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

Asian Championships gold medallist Neeru Dhanda has secured her first individual ISSF World Cup title in the women's trap event in Lonato, Italy.

Messi, Bellingham and history collide in Argentina-England semi-final

Messi, Bellingham and history collide in Argentina-England semi-final

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Lionel Messi's Argentina take on Jude Bellingham's England in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, reviving one of football's greatest rivalries with a place in the final on the line.

India must shed 'underachievers' tag in foreign T20 conditions, says assistant coach

India must shed 'underachievers' tag in foreign T20 conditions, says assistant coach

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has challenged the T20 team to shed its 'underachievers' tag in foreign conditions, emphasising the need for quicker adaptation to varied playing environments after recent series losses.

'It destroyed our game' Switzerland coach slams 'unacceptable' VAR rule

'It destroyed our game' Switzerland coach slams 'unacceptable' VAR rule

Rediff.com12 Jul 2026

Switzerland coach Murat Yakin blasted the rule behind Breel Embolo's controversial red card as "unacceptable" after Argentina's 3-1 extra-time victory ended the Swiss team's historic FIFA World Cup 2026 run.

This is a transition phase, we will make mistakes: Shreyas

This is a transition phase, we will make mistakes: Shreyas

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

India captain Shreyas Iyer expressed his disappointment over the team's 'utter failure in execution' across all departments after England secured the T20I series with a dominant nine-wicket victory.

FIFA World Cup: Cape Verde hero Lopes gets hero's welcome in Ireland

FIFA World Cup: Cape Verde hero Lopes gets hero's welcome in Ireland

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Dublin-born defender Roberto Lopes, who represented Cape Verde in a recent tournament, received a hero's welcome upon his return to Dublin. Cape Verde, making their debut, impressed by reaching the knockout stage and narrowly losing to reigning champions Argentina, captivating fans globally. Lopes expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from Ireland.

Home World Championships A Landmark For Indian Badminton: P V Sindhu

Home World Championships A Landmark For Indian Badminton: P V Sindhu

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu has hailed India's upcoming hosting of the BWF World Championships as a "landmark moment" for the sport in the country.

England crush South Africa; meet Australia in women's T20 World Cup final

England crush South Africa; meet Australia in women's T20 World Cup final

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

England defeated South Africa by 40 runs in the semi-final at The Oval, securing their place in the Women's T20 World Cup final against Australia. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt's 75 runs and a crucial partnership with Heather Knight were key to their victory.