India's singles players Sumit Nagal and Dhakshineswar Suresh face challenging conditions in their Davis Cup Qualifier Round 2 tie against South Korea. The hosts have prepared a slow, low-bounce court with heavy balls to negate India's strengths. Captain Rohit Rajpal is confident in the team's ability to adapt and strategize, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and exposing younger players to high-pressure situations.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been selected as India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. This decision highlights the significant contributions of shooting and athletics to India's medal tally, with a 158-strong contingent participating in the event.
The Indian women's junior squash team secured a commendable fifth-place finish at the World Squash Junior Team Championships in Ontario, defeating England 2-0 in the play-off match.
Sunil Gavaskar has questioned men's T20I records involving Associate nations, proposing separate categories to account for differences in playing standards.
India's U15 men's football team has been drawn into Group K for the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026. Coached by Bibiano Fernandes, the team will play five qualification matches in Baku against Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos, and Senegal, starting October 24. The tournament features 191 national teams and an 8v8 format.
Punjab captain Uday Saharan scored an unbeaten 106 to guide his team to 269 for four against Chhattisgarh on Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy match. This came after India skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed for just one run. In another match, Manvanth Kumar's 86 not out helped Karnataka recover against Saurashtra.
The BCCI has postponed a crucial meeting with IPL stakeholders, originally set for October 15, 2026, in Mumbai, due to BCCI officials needing to attend a felicitation ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Asian Games gold medallists. The meeting, vital for the upcoming 20th IPL season, will be rescheduled.
Australia 'A' batter Nathan McSweeney attributed his success in the recent one-day series against India A to studying Virat Kohli's technique against spinners on YouTube. McSweeney was named player of the series after scoring 194 runs, helping Australia A win the series 2-1. He highlighted the importance of adapting to Indian conditions and executing strategies learned from top players.
Rohit Sharma has spoken about his long-standing bond with Virat Kohli, highlighting their strong relationship since their early international careers. He revealed they constantly help each other improve their game and share a deep camaraderie, despite changes in roles and less frequent meetings.
Assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak explained the recall of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to India's T20I squad for the New Zealand series, citing his experience and strong IPL performances. Kotak also addressed questions regarding Mohammed Shami's absence and the reported involvement of VVS Laxman in selection meetings, while discussing India's ongoing winning streak and bench strength development.
Dhiraj Bommadevara, India's top recurve archer, expresses no regrets despite missing an individual medal at his second Asian Games. He highlights his Games-record qualification score and team silver medals, viewing the experience as crucial for his preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Bommadevara emphasizes learning from past failures, the importance of a positive team environment, and the need to focus on improvement rather than dwelling on mistakes.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Chris Dehring has vehemently criticised the existing revenue model for bilateral cricket series, highlighting that the West Indies receive no financial benefit from their lucrative ongoing white-ball engagement with India.
India's men's and women's table tennis teams both secured dominant 3-0 victories over Indonesia in their opening Group F matches at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, showcasing a strong start to their campaigns.
India's women's football team, the Blue Tigresses, will play two international friendlies against 27th-ranked Russia in Kolkata. These matches serve as a crucial test for India's young squad, with an average age of 23, as they prepare for next year's AFC Women's Asian Cup. Head coach Crispin Chettri views this as an opportunity for emerging players to prove themselves against a stronger opponent.
India's national soft tennis federation is pushing for the sport's inclusion in the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, following a historic Asian Games medal. Special Advisor Harshang Khodadhara highlighted India's strong global ranking and its position as the leading Commonwealth nation in soft tennis, expressing confidence in winning gold medals if included.
Head coach V V S Laxman hailed the Indian team's 'champion's mindset' after they beat Pakistan to win the gold medal in the men's T20 cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Defending champions India began their Asian Games campaign with a dominant 13-1 victory over Indonesia in their opening Pool A match. Striker Dilpreet Singh led the charge with four goals, supported by braces from Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh. India's focus remains on securing the gold medal and a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
An Army officer's wife has been booked in Jammu for alleged espionage, accused of using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to write analytical papers on sensitive national security issues for Chinese intelligence operatives. The well-qualified freelance researcher, who had an IT internship with the UN, is cooperating with investigators after being intercepted at Jammu Tawi railway station. The probe focuses on her alleged contacts with foreign nationals and the nature of the sensitive documents found on her mobile phone.
Raipur is set to host all three matches of the India-Zimbabwe women's T20I series from October 16 to 20 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, with ticket sales opening on October 12.
Former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has voiced concerns over the country's tennis system, stating it's 'still not great' and that India loses talented players during their transition from junior to senior levels, despite an abundance of potential.
Chola Chiefs ended their five-match losing streak by defeating Prithviraaj Yodhas in a thrilling Archery Premier League Season 2 match decided by a shoot-off. The victory, secured by Alejandra Usquiano and Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri, keeps their top-four playoff hopes alive.
Indian badminton players, including P V Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, are set to compete in the French Open Super 750 tournament starting on Tuesday, aiming to overcome recent performance dips. Sindhu faces world No. 1 An Se Young, while Sen takes on Kodai Naraoka.
Four senior Indian hockey players, including Mandeep Singh and Amit Rohidas, have expressed surprise and disappointment over reports that they are set to retire after the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy. The players, who recently won gold at the Asian Games, stated they were not consulted and are keen to continue playing, with eyes on the 2028 Olympics.
A suspect in a Rs 1.53-crore gold robbery and murder case in Rajkot was shot in the leg by police after he opened fire on officers during evidence recovery. The accused, Anurag Singh Rajput, was among 10 arrested for the October 14 robbery where an employee was killed.
The India U17 men's football team secured a dominant 4-0 victory over hosts Myanmar in their second friendly match on Wednesday, concluding their tour on a high note. Captain Dallalmoun Gangte, an own goal, Kamgouhao Doungel, and Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi contributed to the scoreline, marking head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo's first win. Both teams are preparing for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
The Sports Ministry has rescheduled its review meeting with National Sports Federations to October 15 to discuss India's performance at the recently concluded Asian Games. The focus will be on the underwhelming show of experienced athletes in sports like badminton, shooting, and athletics, following a lower medal count compared to the previous edition.
Indian women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva is confident the team can secure an elusive gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games, building on their strong performance at the Commonwealth Games. Despite facing tough competition from powerhouses like China and Kazakhstan, Nieva believes the current squad is the best the country has seen and is capable of overcoming challenges, including previous struggles against Chinese opponents, by focusing on controlling bouts.
Indian 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, a silver medallist from the last edition, withdrew from her first-round heat race in Nagoya after experiencing pain during warm-up, despite having received last-minute fitness clearance for a minor knee stress.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has expressed surprise and concern over Yashasvi Jaiswal's decision to take up wicket-keeping at 24, advising the Test opener to instead focus on his primary skill of batting, especially with India's New Zealand tour approaching.
The traditional flag hoisting ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, involving India and other nations, was significantly delayed and disrupted due to unspecified "trouble" and a lack of communication between organisers.
India added significantly to its Asian Games medal tally with strong performances across athletics, squash, and boxing. Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare secured silver medals in long jump and high jump respectively, while Parul Chaudhary and Harita Bhadra earned bronzes. Despite high hopes, Indian squash players missed out on Olympic berths, settling for silvers. Boxing saw three athletes advance to semifinals, assuring more medals, though individual badminton campaigns concluded without a medal.
Former India batter Wasim Jaffer believes Virat Kohli's sudden Test retirement in May 2025 stemmed from bitterness over how the situation was handled, suggesting the star player could have continued in the format.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited applications for a position on the men's selection committee. This follows the departure of former chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, whose tenure ended on October 4. Pragyan Ojha is currently serving as the interim chairman.
'A warm meeting with Hon'ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShahji. Grateful for his time and guidance. Wishing him continued good health and well-being.'
Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has announced a multi-year partnership with global logistics company DP World. The collaboration will see DP World transport McIlroy's personalised fitness and recovery facilities across his PGA Tour and DP World Tour schedules, ensuring consistent training environments worldwide. This initiative highlights DP World's expertise in complex logistics and makes McIlroy a global ambassador for the company.
India's head coach Khalid Jamil and left-back Akash Mishra discuss the team's short recovery time and the significant challenge posed by two-time world champions Uruguay, following their 0-4 defeat to Brazil. Despite the demanding schedule, the team remains focused on performing well in the upcoming friendly, with players acknowledging the importance of competitive football.
Spain's Eugenio Chacarra won the DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club by two shots, finishing 21-under 267. His victory, achieved despite a broken toe, showcased strategic course management and precise play. This win strengthens his bid for the Race to Dubai crown against top players like Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy, marking another significant achievement in his career resurgence.
'Therefore, Beijing comes to wrong conclusions.'
Indian table tennis mixed doubles pair Diya Chitale and Manush Shah secured a coveted Asian Games medal, overcoming a recent slump in form and the personal tragedy of Diya's coach Peter Engel's death. Their triumph is seen as a fitting tribute to Engel and fuels India's hopes for an Olympic medal in the future.
India's men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed confidence in his team's ability to overcome World Cup disappointment and secure the Asian Games title, stating, "We always dominate in Asia."