Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 80th Independence Day address, expressed strong confidence that India will achieve developed nation status by 2047, urging citizens to embrace big dreams and unwavering resolve to realise 'Viksit Bharat'. He highlighted India's economic transformation and significant growth in various sectors, including defence production, electronic manufacturing, and mobile phone production.
Five young Indian women's hockey players - Ishika, Lalthantluangi, Sakshi Rana, Shilpi Dabas, and Sunelita Toppo - are set to make their World Cup debut, having overcome various challenges and long waits to reach this significant milestone.
Indian para swimmer Himanshu Nandal secured his third bronze medal at the Asian Para Games in the men's 100m freestyle S11 event on Friday, completing a hat-trick of podium finishes. Nandal, who is visually impaired, previously won bronze in the 400m freestyle and 100m breaststroke S11 events, and has also qualified for the Paris Paralympics.
Nushrratt Bharuccha, currently recuperating from a serious spinal injury, found a moment of joy and inspiration watching Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol's song Gerua from her hospital bed, sharing her journey of slow but steady healing with fans.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar shared his childhood dream of dismissing legendary West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers, whom he idolised as 'everybody's hero', during a conversation celebrating Sobers' life and legacy.
Sara Arjun brought fairytale vibes to Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI 2026 as she turned showstopper for designer Anushree Reddy on October 16 at the Taj Palace, New Delhi.
Leg-spin all-rounder Vipraj Nigam has been named as the replacement for senior spinner Varun Chakravarthy in India's Asian Games cricket squad. Chakravarthy was ruled out due to a side strain, marking a setback after his recent return from injury. Nigam, a Delhi Capitals player, brings IPL experience to the team.
Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum secured her fourth Hero Women's Indian Open title, conquering the Gary Player Course with an impressive 11-under 277. India's Vani Kapoor put up a strong fight, finishing second, marking her best Ladies European Tour result. Defending champion Shannon Tan finished third, while other Indian golfers also made it to the top 10.
German tennis star Alexander Zverev has secured the ATP's year-end world number one ranking, a 'dream come true' for the 29-year-old, following Carlos Alcaraz's shock defeat to Zizou Bergs at the Shanghai Masters.
Indian driver Kush Maini has extended his association with the Alpine Formula 1 team until 2027, despite not securing a race seat for the upcoming seasons. Maini, currently in his final Formula 2 season, will continue in a yet-to-be-defined role, likely involving simulator work, as Alpine values his contributions. He remains optimistic about his Formula 1 aspirations.
Mahieka Sharma penned a heartfelt note for Hardik Pandya's 33rd birthday, detailing his journey from a struggling young cricketer in Baroda to one of India's leading all-rounders, highlighting his early struggles, unexpected turn to bowling, and unwavering work ethic.
The Indian women's recurve archery team, featuring Haryana's Kirti Sharma, secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating South Korea. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini lauded their achievement, while Kirti's family in Jind expressed immense pride, sharing their struggles and hopes for an Olympic gold.
Indian Revenue Service officer Ekta Vishnoi, currently Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology, has won three gold medals at the World Masters Classic and Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Nevada, USA.
Indian men's and women's hockey players and coaches, who won gold at the Asian Games, were felicitated by the Shivtrinetra Group with cash rewards of Rs 51,000 each on Wednesday. The felicitation aims to recognise their achievements and inspire young talent.
Two-time Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo is targeting the women's 400m world record next season, motivated by motherhood and overcoming injury setbacks. She aims to reclaim her elite status and inspire other female athletes, while also serving as International Event Ambassador for the Delhi Half Marathon.
Indian teen archer Kumkum Mohod, 17, made history at the Asian Games by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold, alongside a team gold and mixed silver.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina rallied from a set down to defeat Rafael Jodar in three sets, capture his biggest career title at Shanghai and secure a projected career-high ranking.
Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal was forced to withdraw from the Asian Games after blacking out during a solo weight-cutting session, citing a lack of support staff. He expressed disappointment but also pride in the team's overall medal performance despite logistical challenges and his late inclusion in the squad.
Perhaps we spend too much time planning how to become financially free and too little asking what we want to be free for, notes Harsh Roongta.
Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan cyclist, made history by becoming the first Afghan woman to medal in an Asian Games cycling event, clinching silver in the road race. Her journey involved defying societal norms in Afghanistan, training in disguise, and eventually fleeing the country after the Taliban's return. Now based in Italy, Hashimi's medal symbolises hope and a fight for women's rights, aiming to inspire other Afghan women to pursue their dreams freely.
Asian Games gold medallist Sujeet Kalkal is focusing on improving his ground game, identified by coaches as a crucial area for his 2028 Los Angeles Olympics aspirations.
Mohammed Shami remains determined to reclaim his India place after another snub, prioritising a full domestic season, consistent performances and skill development ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Rediff Movies columnist Dinesh Raheja's second book of poems ... Unfulfilled Desires will release on August 14.
The Indian men's volleyball team's hopes of ending a 40-year medal drought at the Asian Games were crushed after a 0-3 defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan in the quarterfinals. India, despite an all-win record in the group stage, failed to secure a podium finish.
Indian judoka Pincky Balhara secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games in the -78kg event, but her mother revealed she was heartbroken, having been solely focused on winning gold, a dream she has chased for years.
Jailer 2 brings back familiar allies, adds a couple of surprise faces and sets the stage for another showdown, but not every cameo gets the moment it deserves.
India has officially announced its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, centered around the theme "Rising Together."
From Baadshah to Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, these spy comedies prove that espionage can be a laughing matter, even when promising premises go sometimes spectacularly off course.
Indian para-athlete Rinku Hooda won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw F46 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. Despite being deeply affected by his mother's passing in August and battling a shoulder injury, Hooda dedicated his victory to her. He aims to secure a Paralympics medal next, having previously won medals at various international championships.
Hurt and humiliation is skin deep in Reporting Live's truth-seeking, which is why its cynical view of a crusader's fate leaves no impact, notes Sukanya Verma.
Kumkum Mohod, a 17-year-old archer from Amravati, has achieved significant success at the Asian Games, securing a gold and a silver medal. Her father and coach highlight her journey from a bamboo bow to international competitions, overcoming financial challenges, and her ultimate dream of representing India at the Olympics. Her performance, particularly against South Korea, has brought pride to her family, hometown, and the nation.
Daniil Medvedev defeated Tommy Paul 6-3 1-6 6-3 to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, while Rafael Jodar made history by becoming the youngest semi-finalist after beating Casper Ruud 4-6 6-4 6-3. Medvedev will face Jodar next, with Alexander Zverev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina contesting the other semi-final.
Kumkum Mohod, 17, made history by becoming the first Indian to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, also securing an Olympic quota for LA 2028. Her victory over South Korea's Oh Yejin in a tense shoot-off has boosted India's confidence to challenge the long-standing Korean dominance in recurve archery. Mohod attributes her success to mental preparation, visualisation, and family sacrifices, and is now focused on securing her individual spot for the 2028 Olympics.
Indian women's cricket team top-order batter Punam Raut announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket on Thursday. The 37-year-old played four Tests, 73 ODIs, and 35 T20Is for India, highlighting her career with a record-breaking ODI partnership and participation in the 2017 Women's ODI World Cup.
Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh felicitated three state hockey players who won gold at the 20th Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The players, including Sanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu, and Kharibam Bichu Devi, discussed employment opportunities and the state's sports policy with the CM.
Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, has urged for the expanded adoption of the Account Aggregator (AA) framework to facilitate formal credit access for self-employed individuals and gig workers. He highlighted its potential to enable cash-flow-based lending by leveraging diverse data streams, moving beyond traditional asset-based lending, and fostering a more inclusive digital financial infrastructure in India.
Michael Carrick faces his biggest test as Manchester United's permanent manager when rising expectations, an indifferent league start and last season's revival meet Manchester City in Sunday's derby.
Kerala-born Nithya Raman is currently leading incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race following a recent televised debate. The two Democrats sparred over critical issues like homelessness and public safety. If elected in the November 3 polls, Raman would be the first Indian-American Mayor of Los Angeles.
Former national-level taekwondo player Sachin Chamaria, who suffered a spinal injury in 2008, has transitioned to boccia and is now competing at the Para Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He aims for a medal and hopes to raise awareness for the sport in India, having already made a winning start to his campaign.
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen defeated French Open winner Mirra Andreeva 7-5 6-4 on Sunday to become the first Chinese player to win the China Open. This victory marks Zheng's first WTA 1000 title and her first trophy of the year, following a recovery from an elbow injury.
