Defending champions PSG will face Barcelona and Manchester City in the Champions League league phase, while Real Madrid meet Inter Milan and Arsenal in marquee clashes.
East Bengal FC has been drawn into Group B of the AFC Women's Champions League, alongside strong teams from South Korea, Vietnam, and North Korea. Kolkata will host this group stage in November 2026, marking a significant milestone for Indian football.
If winning the National Championship does not help a player make the national team, what exactly is the value of becoming India's national champion?
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz secured a dominant 6-3 6-4 6-1 victory over China's Wu Yibing at the U.S. Open, advancing to the fourth round. This win extends his Grand Slam match-winning streak to 17 and keeps his bid for a third Flushing Meadows title alive. Despite a brief challenge from Wu, Alcaraz reasserted his authority, showcasing his speed and accuracy.
Celtic suffered a devastating exit from the Champions League after squandering a four-goal aggregate lead against Austrian side LASK, losing 5-4 overall.
The International Cricket Council has announced that India will host the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy from February 14 to 28, with matches scheduled in Mumbai and Vadodara. Sri Lanka was originally slated to host but was replaced due to ongoing governance issues in its cricket board. Six top women's teams will compete in this landmark tournament.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has withdrawn Sri Lanka's hosting rights for the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027, citing government interference in Sri Lanka Cricket's administration. This decision, stemming from the presence of a government-appointed Transformation Committee, could also jeopardise the Sri Lankan women's team's participation and will have financial implications for the board.
American tennis star Frances Tiafoe defeated Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto in straight sets (6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5) to secure his spot in the third round of the U.S. Open. Tiafoe, a leading American contender, is aiming to end a 23-year drought for a home men's champion at the tournament, feeding off the energy of the partisan crowd.
Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, secured his spot in the US Open quarter-finals by defeating American Tommy Paul in straight sets. Alcaraz showcased a dominant performance, extending his major match-winning streak and expressing confidence in his return to top form after a wrist injury.
Sri Lanka's interim cricket board is committed to fundamental reforms to ensure the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027 remains in the country. This comes amidst speculation that the ICC might relocate the event due to government interference in the sport's administration, with the ICC having previously indicated a search for alternative venues.
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova enters the US Open with a low-key mindset, insisting her breakthrough Grand Slam victory has not changed her approach or added pressure.
Aryna Sabalenka began her quest for a third successive US Open title with a dominant win against Colombia's Camila Osorio.
Veteran skeet shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan expresses strong optimism about the future of Indian shooting, attributing the potential rise to government-backed initiatives like Khelo India. He is preparing for his third Asian Games appearance and believes India will have the best team across all shooting disciplines in the next four years, thanks to enhanced grassroots development and support systems.
Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott has been convicted of sexually abusing two children several decades ago following a trial in a Scottish court, with sentencing scheduled for next month.
The Indian men's hockey team lost 1-3 to Olympic champions the Netherlands in a critical second-round match of the FIH World Cup in Amstelveen. The Netherlands scored three field goals in the second half, while India's sole goal came from a Harmanpreet Singh penalty corner.
World champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden defeated Olympic gold medallist Julien Alfred in the women's 100 metres, while Oblique Seville secured victory in the men's sprint at the Silesia Diamond League.
East Bengal FC's women's team defeated Sabah FA 2-0 to secure their place in the AFC Women's Champions League Group Stage for the second consecutive time, a historic first for an Indian club. Goals from Olivia Anokye and Soumya Guguloth sealed their victory, topping Group A with a perfect record.
Former world boxing champion Zolani "Last Born" Tete was tragically shot dead outside his home in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.
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.
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.
Japanese ice-skating champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as 'Riku-Ryu', have announced their engagement, becoming partners off as well as on the ice after winning Olympic gold.
Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen is set to participate in the world's biggest go-kart race at Silverstone, where he will attempt to chase down 100 competitors.
Linda Noskova eased to a straight sets win over Thailand's Lanlana Tararudee on Wednesday to reach the US Open third round.
East Bengal FC's women's team achieved a historic 12-0 victory over Rovers FC (Guam) in the AFC Women's Champions League preliminary stage, marking the biggest win by an Indian club in any Asian competition. This dominant performance puts them one step closer to the group stage.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded armed forces athletes for their medal-winning performance at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, calling them a 'perfect blend of a soldier and a champion'. He highlighted their strong willpower and the inspiration they provide to the nation, especially the youth. Indian Army athletes secured 16 medals, including 8 gold, contributing significantly to India's overall tally.
East Bengal, fresh from their AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-off victory, are set to face a formidable Indian Army Football Team in the Durand Cup quarterfinals. The match, crucial for a spot in the semi-finals, will test East Bengal's momentum against the Army's disciplined play. Another quarterfinal features unbeaten SC Delhi against debutants FC Raengdai.
India faces a critical challenge against co-hosts and reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands in their Hockey World Cup second-round opener.
Reigning Indian Super League champions East Bengal are set to face Kuwaiti league runners-up Al Arabi SC in a critical AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage knockout fixture. The single-leg qualifier will determine a spot in the group stage, with East Bengal navigating squad challenges under new coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
East Bengal's women's team secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Rajshahi Stars FC of Bangladesh in their AFC Women's Champions League Preliminary Round opener, with Olivia Anokye scoring a brace and India internationals Astam Oraon and Soumya Guguloth adding to the tally.
Fifteen-year-old Chilean Jaime 'Craime' Bustos has become the youngest-ever Esports World Cup champion, winning the Street Fighter 6 title. Representing Team Falcons, Craime defeated Japan's Hibiki in the final, securing USD 250,000 and a spot in Capcom Cup 13. Other championships were also decided, with Team Falcons maintaining their lead in the Club Championship standings.
FC Goa's AFC Champions League Two campaign concluded with a 0-3 loss to Turkmenistan's FC Arkadag, relegating the Indian club to the AFC Challenge League, the third tier of Asian club football.
East Bengal staged a stunning comeback from 0-1 down to beat Al Arabi SC 4-1 in extra time and seal their place in the AFC Champions League Two group
GM M Pranesh secured a significant victory over world champion D Gukesh, while GM Nihal Sarin defeated Arjun Erigaisi in the penultimate round of the Chennai Grand Masters. These results allowed French GM Alireza Firouzja to take the sole lead in the tournament.
Anahat Singh has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the world junior squash championship, defeating Egypt's Ruqayya Salem in the final. This victory follows her bronze medal performance last year.
TVS Motor Company has launched the TVS Apache Junior Programme, a new initiative to identify and train young racing talent aged 10-14 years. The programme, conducted at the Madras International Karting Arena, provides structured training using purpose-built TVS Apache RR 200 Mini motorcycles, aiming to create a clear pathway for aspiring riders into professional motorsport.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has entered next month's Cincinnati Open as he targets a return from a wrist injury, tournament organisers said.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has won the All-India Police Judo cluster tournament, which featured around 1,600 athletes from 36 police organisations. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) secured the runner-up position, with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) coming in third.
The Global Chess League commenced with defending champions Alpine APL Pipers securing a 10-8 victory over Mumba Masters, spearheaded by Magnus Carlsen.
Defending champions U Mumba TT, led by Captain Manush Shah and Anna Hursey, secured a commanding 8-3 victory over Kolkata ThunderBlades in the Ultimate Table Tennis semi-final. This win sets up a title clash against Dempo Goa Challengers, marking U Mumba TT's second successive UTT final appearance.
Defending champion and world number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals without dropping a set. Sabalenka overcame a challenging start to dominate the second set, securing her spot in the last eight.
