The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is undertaking a significant restructuring of its national hockey programme following a dismal performance in the FIH Pro League, where the team failed to win any matches, including two losses to India. The PHF plans to hire foreign coaches and trainers from countries like Australia, Netherlands, or Germany to develop players at all levels and modernise the sport in Pakistan.
World champion D Gukesh and Indian star R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete in the Zagreb Rapid and Blitz Tournament, part of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour. Despite Gukesh's sabbatical from classical chess, he joins a strong field including recent Norway Chess winner Praggnanandhaa, promising an exciting week of high-stakes chess.
Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand was awarded the Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) medal, joining a distinguished list of Indian sports legends. Anand expressed pride in being a catalyst for chess growth in India, receiving the honour from former India cricket captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
National record holder Jyothi Yarraji made a remarkable return to competition after a year-long injury lay-off, breaching the Asian Games qualifying standard in the 100m hurdles at the National Inter-State Championships. She achieved the feat with a time of 13.14 seconds, well within the AFI's requirement.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal secured his seventh ATP Challenger singles title, defeating Felix Balshaw in the Intaro Open final in Targu Mures, Romania. This victory marks his first Challenger title in over two years, ending a significant drought and earning him 75 ATP ranking points, expected to boost his world ranking to around No. 219.
Indian golfer Saptak Talwar has moved up to tied fifth position at the Blot Play9 tournament in France, following an impressive second-round score of 3-under 67. He is currently three shots behind the joint leaders, Pablo Ereno and John Gough.
A senior US official has warned against the weaponisation of digital and artificial intelligence sovereignty by political voices, urging nations to avoid costly re-invention of existing technology. The official highlighted the economic dangers of rebuilding entire tech stacks and emphasised India's crucial role as an indispensable partner in global technological leadership due to its engineering talent and innovation ecosystem.
Investigators have revealed that the pilot of a small plane that crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper, the CITIC Tower, suffered from long-term anxiety and had expressed suicidal thoughts in his diaries. The incident, which killed the pilot and injured 13 others, has raised significant security concerns in the highly sensitive Chinese capital, especially given strict airspace regulations.
Dell Technologies is significantly expanding its domestic manufacturing in India, with a majority of its servers now produced locally, driven by data sovereignty and AI adoption. The company also launched new AI infrastructure solutions, including PowerStore Elite, designed for secure on-premises data management and AI workflows, while asserting that AI creates more jobs.
Delhi Police have arrested a 24-year-old man named Rohit for allegedly burgling a Hanuman temple in Burari, north Delhi. Stolen idols and religious articles were recovered, and the accused was apprehended based on CCTV footage and technical surveillance while attempting to sell the stolen goods.
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India's VALORANT esports team has successfully qualified for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 main event in Riyadh, emerging as one of two teams from the Asia regional qualifiers. The team, led by Sagnik Roy, overcame tough competition, including a crucial victory against Hong Kong, to secure their spot in the global tournament featuring a USD 1.5 million prize pool.
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Indian golfer Saptak Talwar is currently tied for 12th place at the Blot Play9 tournament in France after an even par third round. Talwar, a leader on the DP World PGTI Tour, is aiming for a top-10 finish, which could secure him a spot on the prestigious DP World Tour. He is also well-positioned in the Hotel Planner rankings, known as the Road to Mallorca.
Indian badminton stars Tanvi Sharma and Kidambi Srikanth, along with other compatriots, secured comfortable victories in their opening matches at the US Open badminton tournament. The wins mark a strong start for the Indian contingent in both singles and mixed doubles categories.
Indian researchers from ICMR-National Institute for Research on Women's Health and IIT Bombay have developed an indigenous "placenta-on-chip" platform. This microphysiological system mimics the human placental barrier, reproducing essential functions like hormone production and nutrient transfer. It offers a simple, scalable tool for studying placental biology, pregnancy complications, and drug effects, aiming to reduce reliance on animal experimentation.
Ace Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash is set for his final season, targeting a podium finish and a personal best at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Having qualified for both the CWG and Asian Games, Prakash is undergoing intensive training, focusing on recovery and strategic preparation with new coach Sandeep Sejwal, as he aims to make a significant impact in his last major international appearances.
The Sports Ministry, led by Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced stringent selection criteria for the upcoming Asian Games, capping the contingent at 600 athletes. The policy prioritises medal prospects, stating that the Games are not for "exposure tours" or securing jobs. This includes a "realistic chance of winning a medal" and being in the top six continental rankings. The ministry will scrutinise recommendations from National Sports Federations, with specific cases like equestrian Anush Agarwalla and table tennis player Manika Batra highlighting the new approach.
Donald Trump took the first flight on the newly refurbished Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8i previously owned by Qatar and gifted to the US presidential fleet. The jet features a new red, white, and navy blue livery, replacing the older robin's egg blue. Trump expressed excitement about the advanced security and features, noting it will serve as a "bridge" until new planes are delivered by 2028.
Indian companies LTM and Mastek announced new international partnerships for cloud, AI, and digital transformation. Jio BlackRock AMC launched a new hybrid fund. NMIMS partnered with Coursera for AI-enabled learning, and MakeMyTrip Foundation rebuilt a flood-damaged school in Manali.
India is adopting a two-pronged strategy for artificial intelligence development, focusing on open-source models and indigenous innovation to counter global access restrictions on advanced AI technologies. The government aims to support local developers and ensure AI creates tangible economic impact across various sectors, rather than being solely driven by market speculation.
India's Diksha Dagar secured a tied 12th finish at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, continuing her strong performance on the Ladies European Tour. Pranavi Urs also delivered an impressive round, while Finland's Noora Komulainen clinched her maiden LET title after a three-way playoff.
Researchers have found that brainwave synchrony between individuals can be used to guide and improve social interactions, potentially "engineering" social connectedness. Studies involving thousands of participants, including collaborations with musicians and artists, demonstrated that being "on the same wavelength" is linked to healthy social relationships and can be boosted through interventions. This phenomenon, termed 'social synchrony', aligns brain, body, and language rhythms, playing a crucial role in social cohesion and learning.
India's U-19 boys' table tennis team defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in the Asian Youth Championships quarterfinals, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal and a direct qualification for the 2027 World Youth Table Tennis Championships. The team will now face top seeds China in the semifinals. In contrast, the Indian U-19 girls' team lost to Hong Kong and will need to qualify through a separate process, while the U-15 teams also faced defeats in their respective quarterfinal matches.
The Delhi government has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with the School Games Federation of India and the International School Sport Federation to host international school badminton and wrestling events next year, aiming to boost the city's sports ecosystem and provide international exposure to young athletes.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced its World Tour Calendar for 2027 and 2028, featuring a 35-tournament global circuit. The India Open Super 750 will see its dates shifted to February 2027 and January 2028, while the Syed Modi India International has been downgraded to a Super 100 event. The new calendar also introduces a 3x15 scoring system and extended competition windows to enhance player welfare and global reach.
Young Indian shuttler Rounak Chouhan, ranked 80th, caused a significant upset at the US Open by defeating world number six and top seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in straight games. Other Indian players, including Tanvi Sharma, Rakshitha Sree, Devika Sihag, and Kidambi Srikanth, also advanced to the quarter-finals.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced its World Tour Calendar for 2027 and 2028, featuring a 35-tournament global circuit. The India Open Super 750 will see its dates shifted to February 2027 and January 2028, while the Syed Modi India International has been downgraded to a Super 100 event. The new calendar also introduces a 3x15 scoring system and extended competition windows to enhance player welfare and global reach.
A new Accenture report reveals that nearly half of all global cybersecurity positions remain vacant, primarily due to a critical shortage of professionals with both technical expertise and essential business acumen. The report highlights a significant gap between the skills required for modern cybersecurity and what the labour market currently offers, exacerbated by poor retention and underinvestment in upskilling.
A new study projects that by 2100, only 38% of the world's population will reside in large cities, a significant reduction from previous estimates. This revised projection is based on a newly discovered urban life cycle, where the growth rate of large cities slows down as countries become more urbanised, contrasting with the rapid growth seen in less urbanised regions. The research highlights the importance of understanding these dynamics for future infrastructure and climate adaptation planning.
Indian-origin American golfer Akshay Bhatia delivered a flawless eight-under 62 at the Travelers Championship, moving into a tie for third place. His bogey-free round places him four shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler, highlighting his strong contention for the title. Other Indian-origin players, Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala, also made progress in the tournament.
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India's junior men's artistic gymnastics team achieved a historic bronze medal at the Asian Championships held in Zunyi, China. The team, comprising Harschit Damodaran, Nishad Narvane, SK Nabigh Ali, Akshat Bajaj, and Mohammed Zaid Ansari, scored 224.493 points, finishing behind gold medallists China and silver medallists Japan.
Two-time Commonwealth Games champion Mirabai Chanu will lead India's weightlifting contingent at the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which also features other medal winners and debutants, as India aims to continue its strong performance in the sport.
India secured a hard-fought 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory against England in the return leg of the Hockey Pro League after a goalless draw. Key contributions from goalkeepers Mohith Shashikumar and Sanjay Karkera, along with successful shoot-out conversions by Abhishek, Shilanand Lakra, and Hardik Singh, ensured India avenged their previous defeat and earned a crucial bonus point.
Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala is T-2 after the third round of the 2026 US Open, carding an even-par 70. He shares second place with Scottie Scheffler, Tom Kim, and Sam Stevens, positioning himself as a strong contender for the final round, though leader Wyndham Clark holds a six-shot lead.
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India secured a 4-3 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-stakes FIH Pro League match in London, extending their decade-long unbeaten run. Despite Pakistan taking an early lead, India fought back to establish a significant advantage before Pakistan's late surge fell short.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda has launched the Unified Health Interface (UHI), an interoperable digital network under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). UHI aims to connect patients and healthcare providers across various digital platforms, addressing fragmentation in India's digital health ecosystem and improving access to verified services, especially in rural areas.
IIT Madras, in partnership with Herbalife International India, has inaugurated India's first Centre of Excellence for plant cell fermentation technology. This new facility aims to be a national hub for sustainable innovation, research, and development, focusing on producing herbal biomass, enriched extracts, and high-value phytochemicals, while bridging the gap between lab research and industrial applications.
