Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu progressed to the men's and women's singles second round with straight game wins in a mixed day for India at the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament.
Lakshya Sen defeated Victor Lai to reach the final of the All England Open Badminton Championships, marking his second final appearance in the prestigious tournament.
Japan's Masaru Yamada and Sano Yui clinched gold medals in men's epee and women's sabre respectively at the Senior Asian Fencing Championships. Hosts India, including Olympian C. A. Bhavani Devi, had a disappointing outing with fencers finishing in lower ranks across both events.
Saina Nehwal thrashed Indonesia's Pia Zebadiah Bernadet to enter the women's singles final in the Yonex Chinese Taipei Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament on Saturday. The world No 14-ranked Indian, who became the first Indian woman to win a four-star badminton tournament at the Philippines Open in 2006, won the semi-final 21-7, 21-11.
India concluded the third day of the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships with a total of 11 medals, adding three more on Saturday. Distance runner Shivaji Parashuram secured his second silver medal in the men's 10,000m, while Priya won bronze in discus throw and Shravani Sangle claimed bronze in the 400m hurdles.
The India U-17 women's team achieved a historic milestone by qualifying for the quarterfinals of the AFC Under-17 Women's Asian Cup for the first time, following a dominant 4-0 victory over Lebanon. Pritika Barman scored twice, while Alva Devi Senjam and Joya added to the scoreline, securing India's place in the next round.
Kidambi Srikanth edged out Japan's Yudai Okimoto in a three-game thriller to progress to the men's singles final of the US Open Super 300 badminton championships in Fuller, United States.
India's young boxers showcased their talent at the Asian Boxing U15 and U17 Championships in Tashkent, securing several victories across different weight categories.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach and Vishvanath Suresh have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
India's senior bridge teams, both A and B, have made an impressive start at the fifth Asia Cup Bridge Championship in Goa, positioning themselves among the top contenders after the opening day. While the senior teams excelled, the women's teams faced a challenging start.
India's U-15 girls delivered commanding performances in the semifinals at the Asian Boxing U15 and U17 Championships, with nine boxers advancing to the finals across weight categories.
Indian Seniors have taken the lead in their section at the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championship in Panaji, while China has shown strong dominance across other categories. India's "A" and "B" teams are also in contention for a podium finish, with the tournament progressing towards the semifinal rounds.
Indian badminton players Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Unnati Hooda were eliminated from the Japan Open Super 750 tournament on Wednesday.
Harjai Milkha Singh and Krish Chawla led India to victory in the boy's team event at the APGC Junior Golf Championship in Colombo, finishing one shot ahead of South Korea and Thailand. Harjai also secured a runner-up finish in the individual category.
India delivered a commanding performance at the World Boxing Cup 2026 (Stage 2) in Guiyang, China, securing six medals after a strong showing in the quarterfinals. Prachi (57kg), Minakshi (51kg), Deepak (70kg), and Nikhil (55kg) were among the Indian boxers who advanced to the semifinals, guaranteeing podium finishes.
Indian women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the second round of the US Open Super 300 badminton tournament. Rounak Chouhan also secured a spot in the men's singles main draw, while other Indian players like Kidambi Srikanth and several women's singles participants are set to compete.
Goa is set to host the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championship from June 21 to 27, attracting 350 players from 16 Asia-Oceania countries. India, having previously hosted in 2018, will field strong 'A' and 'B' teams across various categories, including Asian Games medallists, aiming to add to its 20 previous medals.
India's top badminton players experienced a mixed day at the Japan Open. While PV Sindhu secured a comfortable win in her women's singles opener, the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were forced to retire due to Rankireddy's recurring shoulder injury, impacting their preparations for the upcoming World Championships.
Young badminton players Ayush Shetty and Tanvi Sharma will lead the Indian contingent at the Orleans Masters Super 300 tournament after HS Prannoy's withdrawal due to a shoulder injury.
Lakshya Sen's remarkable comeback and Satwik-Chirag's gritty doubles win propelled India to a 2-0 lead against Chinese Taipei in the Thomas Cup quarterfinals.
Aakarshi Kashyap of India successfully navigated the qualifying rounds of the Orleans Masters Super 300 badminton tournament, securing her place in the women's singles main draw. Meanwhile, other Indian players faced setbacks in their respective categories.
Malvika Bansod, Ashmita Chaliha, and Devika Sihag progressed to the second round of the Malaysia Masters Super 500, while Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy faced early exits.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday.
India's women's football team suffered a heavy 0-11 defeat against Japan in their second group match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup. Despite the loss, India still has a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat Chinese Taipei in their final group match.
Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu will lead India's challenge at the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament, following the country's bronze-medal finish at the Thomas Cup Finals.
Lakshya Sen's quest for the All England Open title ended in a final defeat to Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi, extending India's wait for a champion in the prestigious tournament.
India's Under-17 Women's team secured a 4-0 victory against Lebanon in the AFC Under-17 Women's Asian Cup, boosting their chances of reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in 21 years.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand's Swiss Open campaign ends prematurely due to injury. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty set to begin their campaign.
PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen progressed to the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament with straight-set victories. Other Indian players also had mixed results in the competition.
The 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships are set to begin in Goa, featuring nearly 300 players from 16 countries. Defending champions India will compete across various categories, facing strong contenders like Hong Kong and Indonesia. The event, described as the "Asian Games of bridge," highlights India's growing role in the sport.
India's prominent table tennis player, Manika Batra, has been excluded from the national squad for the upcoming Asian Games due to her absence from domestic events, which impacted her national ranking. The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) cited adherence to its selection criteria, which prioritises both national and world rankings.
India's U20 women's football team faced a tough start in the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup, suffering a 6-0 defeat against Japan. Despite a promising start, Japan's dominance, particularly in the second half, proved too much for the Young Tigresses.
Lakshya Sen's swollen elbow forces him to miss India's Thomas Cup semifinal against France, with Kidambi Shrikant stepping in. India aims for a spot in the final after a strong quarterfinal win.
Indian badminton players Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun advanced in men's doubles, while Aakarshi Kashyap qualified for the women's singles main draw at the Orleans Masters Super 300 tournament.
The top two sides from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals.
Esha Singh fought off challenges from two Chinese Taipei shooters as well as compatriot Suruchi Singh, to claim her second individual senior Asian Championship gold, even as Samrat Rana bagged bronze.
H S Prannoy believes Lakshya Sen's injury significantly impacted India's chances at the Thomas Cup, while Chirag Shetty expressed disappointment at the muted reception following their bronze medal win.
Lakshya Sen's quest for the All England title ended in a narrow defeat to Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi in a thrilling final marked by high-intensity rallies and attacking play.
Young Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty secured a dramatic comeback victory to reach the pre-quarterfinals of the Indonesia Open, a Super 1000 tournament. However, star men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were forced to retire due to injury, while HS Prannoy exited in the first round. Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde advanced in mixed doubles.
Joakim Alexandersson, the head coach of the Indian U20 women's team, has announced the 23-member squad for the AFC U20 Asian Cup Thailand 2026. India will face Japan, Australia, and Chinese Taipei in the group stage, aiming for a quarter-final spot and a chance to qualify for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup Poland 2026.
