News for 'First World'

From Mizoram Dirt Pitches to India's Hockey Star: Lalremsiami's Golden Dream

From Mizoram Dirt Pitches to India's Hockey Star: Lalremsiami's Golden Dream

Rediff.com14 Sep 2026

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.

Pele's iconic 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9 million at auction

Pele's iconic 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9 million at auction

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

The number 10 shirt worn by Brazil's Pele in the 1958 World Cup final, where he scored twice against Sweden, has been sold for $4.9 million at a Sotheby's auction, making it the most valuable piece of memorabilia linked to the football legend.

Indian Kabaddi Teams Maintain Unbeaten Run At Asian Games

Indian Kabaddi Teams Maintain Unbeaten Run At Asian Games

Rediff.com16 hours ago

India's men's and women's kabaddi teams continued their winning streak at the Asian Games, securing comprehensive victories against Bangladesh and Iran respectively. The women's team defeated 2018 gold medallist Iran 37-23, while the men's team beat Bangladesh 48-25, showcasing their strong performance and aiming for gold.

Pratik Gandhi On Ghamasaan: 'What Attracted Me Was...'

Pratik Gandhi On Ghamasaan: 'What Attracted Me Was...'

Rediff.com15 Sep 2026

'...Aditya's intensity.' 'The film is very gritty and character-driven, and I wanted Aditya to feel like a real person rather than just a heroic cop.'

Kartik Aaryan: 'Still Numb With Excitement'

Kartik Aaryan: 'Still Numb With Excitement'

Rediff.com12 hours ago

Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam were honoured at the 72nd National Film Awards.

Kylian Mbappe leaves Nike, signs with Swiss sportswear On

Kylian Mbappe leaves Nike, signs with Swiss sportswear On

Rediff.com4 days ago

French football superstar Kylian Mbappe has ended his long-standing partnership with Nike to join the rapidly expanding Swiss sportswear brand On, a move that provides On with a high-profile figure for its entry into football and marks another significant defection for the US giant.

Indian Shooters Clinch Silver In Women's 10m Air Rifle Team Event

Indian Shooters Clinch Silver In Women's 10m Air Rifle Team Event

Rediff.com3 days ago

India's women's 10m air rifle team, comprising Sonam Uttam Maskar, Elavenil Valarivan, and Vidarsa Vinod, secured a silver medal at the Asian Games, marking the country's first medal in shooting. The trio finished second behind China, with Sonam and Elavenil also qualifying for the individual finals, raising hopes for more medals.

Independence Day Spirit Fuels Indian Hockey Fans At World Cup Opener

Independence Day Spirit Fuels Indian Hockey Fans At World Cup Opener

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

Indian hockey fans, including a significant diaspora presence and supporters from abroad, created a vibrant, festive atmosphere in Amstelveen for the World Cup opener against Wales on Independence Day, driven by increased expectations following recent Olympic successes.

Chess Olympiad: Indian Teams Have It Easy Against England, Germany

Chess Olympiad: Indian Teams Have It Easy Against England, Germany

Rediff.com5 hours ago

The Indian men's and women's chess teams delivered strong performances in the seventh round of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. The men's team defeated England, with R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh securing crucial wins. The women's team dominated Germany with a 3.5-0.5 victory, highlighted by wins from Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and Savitha Shri.

Gambhir reveals why Samson was dropped for England tour

Gambhir reveals why Samson was dropped for England tour

Rediff.com5 days ago

India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that dropping Sanju Samson from the England tour was his toughest decision, despite Samson being the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Gambhir explained that while Samson was temporarily replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the team prioritised returning to their established World Cup-winning combination. He also addressed the issue of player injuries and the challenge of Shubman Gill not having a full-strength team, emphasising the importance of long-term performance and providing opportunities for new talent.

Asian Games: Quimcy fights through pain, misses 2 bronze medals

Asian Games: Quimcy fights through pain, misses 2 bronze medals

Rediff.com3 days ago

Indian teqball player Quimcy D'Souza narrowly missed out on two bronze medals in women's singles and mixed doubles at a recent tournament in Nagoya. Despite suffering a back spasm and gluteus muscle strain, D'Souza displayed immense grit, pushing her opponents to the limit in back-to-back matches. Her performance, though unrewarded with a medal, highlights India's growing presence in the nascent sport of teqball.

'No Words Could Normalise Things': Coach on Treesa-Gayatri's Historic World Championships Medal

'No Words Could Normalise Things': Coach on Treesa-Gayatri's Historic World Championships Medal

Rediff.com21 Aug 2026

Indian doubles coach B Sumeeth Reddy discusses the emotional journey and struggles of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who secured a historic bronze medal at the Badminton World Championships. He highlights their contrasting personalities, improved rotation, and resilience in overcoming injuries to achieve this significant milestone.

STAGE Pioneers AI Filmmaking With Sir Chhotu Ram Biopic

STAGE Pioneers AI Filmmaking With Sir Chhotu Ram Biopic

Rediff.com5 days ago

Regional OTT platform STAGE is set to release India's first AI-made biopic on farmer leader Sir Chhotu Ram. The project leverages artificial intelligence for various aspects of filmmaking, from visualisation to character generation, aiming to reduce production costs and expand storytelling possibilities for underserved cultures and languages.

Canadian PM Carney Jokes About Recruiting Haaland For World Cup

Canadian PM Carney Jokes About Recruiting Haaland For World Cup

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney playfully attempted to recruit Norwegian football star Erling Haaland for Canada's World Cup squad during a NATO summit meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who humorously declined the offer.

FIH Hockey World Cup: 'Past performances don't matter in India vs Pakistan match'

FIH Hockey World Cup: 'Past performances don't matter in India vs Pakistan match'

Rediff.com16 Aug 2026

Pakistan hockey captain Abu Bakar Mahmood expressed confidence in his team's ability to defeat arch-rivals India at the upcoming FIH World Cup, stating that "rankings don't matter" in such high-stakes encounters and performance on the day is key.

JCB Hydromax sets world land speed record for hydrogen-powered vehicle

JCB Hydromax sets world land speed record for hydrogen-powered vehicle

Rediff.com12 Aug 2026

Former fighter pilot Andy Green has set a new world land speed record for a hydrogen-powered car at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, achieving a combined speed of 406.320 mph (653.909 kph) in the JCB Hydromax.

Angh: The Other Indian Film Going To The Oscars

Angh: The Other Indian Film Going To The Oscars

Rediff.com17 hours ago

'I like to make films where I am also conflicted. I don't want to make films with themes that I am sure about because then it easily becomes agenda-driven.'

Asian Games: Elavenil's silver double gives India shooting boost

Asian Games: Elavenil's silver double gives India shooting boost

Rediff.com3 days ago

India's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games commenced with a strong performance, securing two silver medals in the women's 10m air rifle event. Experienced shooter Elavenil Valarivan was instrumental, winning an individual silver and contributing to a team silver alongside Sonam Uttam Maskar and debutant Vidarsa Vinod. While Elavenil narrowly missed individual gold, her performance, coupled with the team's success, provided an encouraging start for India.

Indian Men Down Thailand In Opening Round Of Chess Olympiad

Indian Men Down Thailand In Opening Round Of Chess Olympiad

Rediff.com7 days ago

The Indian men's chess team, led by D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi, secured a 3-1 victory over Thailand in their opening match at the 46th World Chess Olympiad, despite Arjun Erigaisi's unexpected loss.

Historic India T20I match can transform cricket in Japan, says JCA chief Curr

Historic India T20I match can transform cricket in Japan, says JCA chief Curr

Rediff.com3 days ago

The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) is set to host its first-ever T20I against reigning world champions India, a landmark event expected to significantly elevate cricket's profile and drive its long-term growth in Japan, according to JCA COO Alan Curr.

India Women squander lead, split points with China in hockey World Cup opener

India Women squander lead, split points with China in hockey World Cup opener

Rediff.com16 Aug 2026

India played an impressive opening match at the Women's Hockey World Cup, securing a 2-2 draw against Olympic silver medallists China, with goals from Navneet Kaur and Deepika.

'I didn't have any support': Steve Smith Opens Up On 2018 Ball-Tampering Scandal In South Africa

'I didn't have any support': Steve Smith Opens Up On 2018 Ball-Tampering Scandal In South Africa

Rediff.com6 days ago

Former Australia captain Steve Smith has revealed he felt 'thrown to the wolves' following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, admitting he still experiences flashbacks to the media frenzy upon his return home.

Asian Games: Indian rowers upset over last-minute event changes

Asian Games: Indian rowers upset over last-minute event changes

Rediff.com2 days ago

Disquiet has emerged within India's rowing camp at the Asian Games as some players claim they have been moved from their original events, with reserves taking their places. This has caused significant distress among the affected athletes just as competitions are set to begin.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Vozinha's heroics rewarded with Dream XI berth

FIFA World Cup 2026: Vozinha's heroics rewarded with Dream XI berth

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and Norway striker Erling Haaland have been named in the fan-voted FIFA World Cup dream team, with both rewarded for standout performances during unexpected runs by their teams.

Finance Ministry to begin pre-Budget meetings from Oct 12

Finance Ministry to begin pre-Budget meetings from Oct 12

Rediff.com5 hours ago

The Finance Ministry is set to commence its pre-budget meetings on October 12, initiating preparations for the Union Budget 2027-28, which will be the fourth budget of the Modi 3.0 government and the tenth for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Dhiraj's historic gold sparks Asian Games medal hopes

Dhiraj's historic gold sparks Asian Games medal hopes

Rediff.com7 days ago

India's first Archery World Cup Final male gold-medallist, Dhiraj Bommadevara, has inspired the national team ahead of the Asian Games. Dola Banerjee, India's first World Cup Final gold-medallist, believes his triumph will boost confidence and help the team surpass its previous medal haul, despite a new-look squad.

India Eyes Historic Double Gold Defence At Chess Olympiad

India Eyes Historic Double Gold Defence At Chess Olympiad

Rediff.com15 Sep 2026

India's men's and women's chess teams are set to defend their respective Chess Olympiad titles, with strong lineups featuring world champion D Gukesh and in-form R Praggnanandhaa for the men, and Koneru Humpy leading the top-seeded women's squad.

BWF Worlds: Sindhu gets dream start, Ayush faces defending champ

BWF Worlds: Sindhu gets dream start, Ayush faces defending champ

Rediff.com5 Aug 2026

Top Indian shuttlers have received a mixed draw for the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, with PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen getting relatively favourable starts, while Asian Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty faces a formidable opening round against defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China.

Indian Squash Stars Set To Shine At World Junior Championships

Indian Squash Stars Set To Shine At World Junior Championships

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Top Indian squash players Anahat Singh and Aryaveer Dewan are leading the country's challenge at the World Squash Junior Championships in Ontario. Anahat, seeded first in the women's section, aims for her maiden world junior title, while Aryaveer, seeded 5/8, looks to continue his strong performance after winning the Asian Junior U-19 crown. Several other Indian players are also competing in the prestigious tournament.

Elavenil Valarivan Leads India To Double Silver In Asian Games Shooting

Elavenil Valarivan Leads India To Double Silver In Asian Games Shooting

Rediff.com3 days ago

India's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games commenced with a strong performance, securing two silver medals in the women's 10m air rifle event. Elavenil Valarivan was instrumental, winning an individual silver and contributing to the team silver alongside Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod. While Valarivan narrowly missed individual gold, her performance, along with the team's, provided an encouraging start for India.

Can Manush-Manav deliver Asian Games table tennis medal?

Can Manush-Manav deliver Asian Games table tennis medal?

Rediff.com4 days ago

The Indian table tennis team, featuring strong contenders like the men's doubles pair of Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar, has commenced its Asian Games campaign in Nagoya with aspirations of securing at least one medal. Both men's and women's teams are in Group F, facing Indonesia and other opponents. The team, a mix of experienced players and rising stars like Syndrela Das, is confident after acclimatising to the conditions.

Asian Games 2026: India's Gonsalves And Beg Crash Out Of Teqball

Asian Games 2026: India's Gonsalves And Beg Crash Out Of Teqball

Rediff.com6 days ago

Indian Teqball players Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg were eliminated from the men's doubles competition at the Asian Games after losing both their group matches.

Karen Khachanov makes US Open semi-finals after Alexander Blockx retires

Karen Khachanov makes US Open semi-finals after Alexander Blockx retires

Rediff.com10 Sep 2026

Karen Khachanov has advanced to the U.S. Open semi-finals after his opponent, Alexander Blockx, retired due to injury. Blockx, who was already battling a rib injury, was visibly hampered by further physical issues during the match. Khachanov expressed his happiness at reaching the semi-finals and wished Blockx a speedy recovery. This marks Khachanov's first Grand Slam semi-final appearance since the 2023 Australian Open.

WATCH: Ayushmann Sings For Sharvari

WATCH: Ayushmann Sings For Sharvari

Rediff.com2 days ago

'The groom is not a privilege, he is a responsibility. The bride is not a responsibility, she is a privilege. Yeh Prem Mol Liya revolves around this thought.'

Moises Henriques to captain Portugal in T20 World Cup qualifiers

Moises Henriques to captain Portugal in T20 World Cup qualifiers

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

Former Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques, born in Madeira, will captain Portugal in their bid to qualify for the Twenty20 World Cup for the first time, leading a 14-man squad in the Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Finland.

Asian Games Hockey: Deepika's 9-goal blitz as India crush Thailand 20-1

Asian Games Hockey: Deepika's 9-goal blitz as India crush Thailand 20-1

Rediff.com13 hours ago

India's women's hockey team secured a resounding 20-1 victory over Thailand at the Asian Games, with drag-flicker Deepika Sehrawat setting a new record by scoring nine goals in a single match. This marked India's third consecutive win in Pool B, maintaining their top position ahead of their upcoming match against hosts Japan.

Dhurandhar Director's Wish For Ranveer-Deepika's Baby

Dhurandhar Director's Wish For Ranveer-Deepika's Baby

Rediff.com2 days ago

Filmmaker Aditya Dhar, who directed Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar, Kareena Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Raveena Tandon have extended his warm wishes to Bollywood power couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on the joyous arrival of their second daughter.

Who Will Replace Ajit Agarkar As Chairman Of Selectors?

Who Will Replace Ajit Agarkar As Chairman Of Selectors?

Rediff.com5 days ago

The BCCI is set to take up an important matter at its 95th AGM in Mumbai on Friday -- the appointment of a new selector to replace outgoing chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.

Rumesh Pathirage's Asian Games Preparations Derailed By Damaged Javelins

Rumesh Pathirage's Asian Games Preparations Derailed By Damaged Javelins

Rediff.com15 Sep 2026

Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage faces a significant setback for the upcoming Asian Games after five of his "winning" javelins were damaged during air travel from Budapest. Pathirage, a favourite for gold, had used these specific javelins for his record-breaking throws and recent victories, including beating Neeraj Chopra.

10 Takeaways From 2026 FIFA World Cup

10 Takeaways From 2026 FIFA World Cup

Rediff.com20 Jul 2026

The 10 takeaways from the FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.