Greece secured a surprising 1-0 victory over hosts Germany in their Nations League Group A2 match, with Dimitris Kourbelis scoring the decisive goal. This defeat marks a difficult start for new German coach Juergen Klopp, who has now failed to win either of his first two matches in charge. The win puts Greece atop their group, while Germany remains on one point.
The Indian women's hockey team suffered a 2-0 defeat against the formidable Netherlands in their FIH World Cup Pool E encounter, with goals from Yibbi Jansen and Frederique Matla, both from penalty corners. This loss puts India in a precarious position, requiring a victory against Australia to keep their semi-final aspirations alive.
Indian hockey drag-flicker Deepika has made headlines at the Asian Games with a record-breaking 20 goals across three matches, including nine in a single game. The 23-year-old attributes her success not just to her wrestling family's athletic genes but to years of dedicated training and the guidance of coaches Azad Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, and Taeke Taekema. Despite a career-threatening injury last year, Deepika has made a strong comeback, focusing on skill, consistency, and discipline, with an eye on Olympic qualification.
Manchester City secured their position at the top of the Premier League table with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Sunderland. Despite a hat-trick from Sunderland's Brian Brobbey, City maintained their 100% start to the season, with Antoine Semenyo scoring a double and Erling Haaland sealing the win late on. Elsewhere, Liverpool secured a 1-0 win against Bournemouth, while Leeds United drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace.
Former England winger Raheem Sterling pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after being seen inhaling 'laughing gas' before crashing his Lamborghini. The incident occurred on the M25 and M3 motorways, with witnesses reporting erratic driving. Sterling also admitted possession of nitrous oxide and failing to provide a blood specimen. The case has been adjourned for a pre-sentence report, and he has been disqualified from driving.
European football stakeholders, including UEFA, European Football Clubs, Football Supporters Europe, and European League, have collectively backed curbs on blanket away-fan bans, arguing that such measures should target individuals responsible for misconduct rather than entire groups of supporters.
This week's OTT releases offer a diverse selection, from Suriya's family drama Vishwanath & Sons and Nikkhil Advani's historical series The Revolutionaries to thrillers like Ghamasaan and international mysteries.
The second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) is set to commence on October 8 in Hyderabad, featuring a strong lineup of India's top archers, including Olympians Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das, alongside 12 international stars like world number one Marcus D'Almeida. The league will showcase 36 Indian archers competing in both recurve and compound categories, with a unique 15-second shot clock designed to enhance competition.
Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has called for a complete 60-minute performance from his squad in their "do-or-die" FIH World Cup match against Olympic champions Netherlands. Both Harmanpreet and coach Craig Fulton believe India can upset the hosts by playing smartly, maintaining impeccable defense, and capitalising on their underdog status.
'Members of Indian family businesses have considered it their birthright to work there and responsibility to take care of it.'
India faces a critical challenge against co-hosts and reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands in their Hockey World Cup second-round opener.
Lalremsiami Hmarzote, Mizoram's first female Olympian and Asian Games medallist, is now India's offensive lynchpin, aiming for a first Asian Games hockey gold since 1982, after overcoming initial family resistance and training on dirt pitches.
Former England winger Raheem Sterling has been charged by Hampshire Police with dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen following a motorway crash involving his Lamborghini on the M3 in May. No other vehicles were involved, and no injuries were reported.
Indian women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne discusses the team's preparations and strategy for the upcoming Asian Games. He highlights the different challenge posed by lower-ranked opponents compared to the World Cup, emphasising the need for effective scoring and maintaining focus. Marijne also stresses using the World Cup disappointment as motivation for gold and the importance of humility and unity within the team.
Dutch hockey legend Taeke Taekema believes the Indian women's hockey team possesses the talent to replicate China's remarkable journey to an Olympic silver medal, provided they focus on fundamental skills and secure qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics.
Four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has signed a contract extension with Red Bull Racing until the end of 2030, ending speculation about his future. Despite recent performance clauses and links to other teams, Verstappen expressed his commitment to Red Bull, citing the team as a "second family."
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has invited Dutch hockey legend Floris Jan Bovelander to help strengthen hockey in the state, particularly ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy. Mann emphasised the government's commitment to restoring the sport's glory and highlighted Punjab's rich hockey legacy.
The UEFA Champions League group stage commenced with thrilling matches as holders Paris St Germain, Arsenal, and Liverpool all secured victories. Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick for PSG in their dominant 6-1 win, while Martin Odegaard's late strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 triumph over Napoli. Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, and Barcelona also started strong with a 5-1 win against Feyenoord.
The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash at the FIH Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen is a complete sell-out, with tickets having been sold online in phases since September 2025.
Indian golfer Pranavi Urs expresses confidence in the women's team for the Asian Games, emphasising consistency, strong driving, and creating birdie opportunities over chasing specific low scores. She highlights the team dynamic with Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar and discusses her preparation, international experience, and areas for improvement in her game.
The UEFA Champions League group stage commenced with contrasting fortunes for debutants Como and Sabah. Italian side Como secured a dominant 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig, celebrating their first-ever qualification in style at their upgraded home stadium. In contrast, Azerbaijani champions Sabah faced a challenging debut, suffering a 4-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
While introducing the Bigg Boss 20 contestants, host Salman Khan got candid about his breakup, his ignorance about memes and the world of social media, and was surprised to learn that ScoutOP makes Rs 30 lakh a month playing esports.
Tottenham Hotspur's club-record 237 million summer spending spree has significantly transformed the mood and ambition at the London club, according to Dutch defender Mick van de Ven, following a stressful and unacceptable previous season.
Oil prices are expected to remain elevated due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, with both the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and Rabobank International forecasting firm prices and a potential surge above $100 a barrel if disruptions worsen.
Juventus secured a 2-0 home win over Parma in Serie A, with goals from substitutes Nico Gonzalez and Teun Koopmeiners.
Indian badminton player Shaina Manimuthu won a bronze medal at the Dutch Junior International tournament, losing in the semifinals to China's Yi Qing Yin.
Pranavi Urs carded a three-under 69 to secure a spot inside the top 10 after the opening round of the KPMG Women's Irish Open. While Urs showed strong form, fellow Indian golfers Diksha Dagar and Tvesa Malik struggled, both carding 74s and facing a battle to make the cut. South African Casandra Alexander leads the tournament with a stunning nine-under 63.
Formula One world champion Lando Norris has announced a contract extension with McLaren until at least the end of 2030, expressing his desire to spend his entire career with the team.
Germany retained the Men's Hockey World Cup with a disciplined 1-0 victory over Spain, matching Pakistan's record four titles, while Argentina secured bronze by defeating the Netherlands.
Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new head coach of the Netherlands national football team, signing a contract through the 2030 World Cup. The former Barcelona manager replaces Ronald Koeman and marks his first role as a national team coach.
Indian men's hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh has taken responsibility for the team's 1-3 defeat against the Netherlands at the FIH World Cup. He attributed the loss to a "one per cent lapse" in an otherwise strong performance, highlighting how small errors proved costly in a high-stakes match. Defender Amit Rohidas also acknowledged unforced errors in the final quarter.
India's Women's Hockey team will compete against higher-ranked Germany in the fifth-place playoff at the Women's Hockey World Cup, aiming to conclude their impressive campaign with a victory and build momentum for the upcoming Asian Games.
Dev Ruparelia and Nishchal Chand secured victories in the men's singles category at the YONEX Dutch Junior International 2026, while Shaina Manimuthu advanced in the women's singles.
The Wagener Stadium, site of a historic 1973 India-Pakistan hockey World Cup semifinal, is set to host another clash between the arch-rivals. Former captain M P Ganesh recounts the intense 1-0 victory for India in 1973, highlighting the fierce competition and political undertones of the era.
Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) have jointly criticised the International Cricket Council's (ICC) significant structural changes to the Men's 50-over World Cup qualification pathway, calling it a 'setback to Associate Member cricket' and expressing disappointment over the lack of consultation.
Dutch chess Grandmaster Jan Timman, known as "the best of the West" in a time when chess was dominated by players from the Soviet Union, has died at the age of 74, the Dutch Chess Federation said on Thursday.
India's route to the semi-finals is straightforward: if the Netherlands beats China, a win over Australia would take the ninth-ranked Indian team through.
Indian shuttler Dev Ruparelia progressed to the round of 32 after defeating Pranit Somani at the Dutch Junior International. Other Indian players, including Samuel Tamang and Durga Esha Kandrapu, also advanced.
India's women's hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed satisfaction with the team's 6-1 victory over South Africa at the FIH Women's World Cup but emphasised the need for improved precision in passing and finishing. Despite topping their group, Marijne cautioned against complacency, highlighting the upcoming crucial match against England. He also praised forward Lalremsiami, who found added motivation from her Arjuna Award nomination.
The current FIH Hockey World Cup format, featuring a crossover pool system where first-round results carry forward, is causing widespread confusion among teams, fans, and media. Many stakeholders believe the complex system detracts from the game's excitement, shifts focus to mathematical calculations, and potentially favours larger teams, leading to calls for a simpler structure.
