The Indian men's and women's hockey teams are set to compete at the Asian Games in Kakamigahara, Japan, with the primary goal of winning gold to secure direct qualification for the Paris Olympics. The men's team aims to defend its title and overcome recent World Cup disappointment, while the women's team, buoyed by a strong World Cup performance, seeks only its second Asian Games gold. Both teams face tough competition, with the men needing to prove their dominance against regional rivals and the women confronting a strong Chinese side.
HCL Group, a USD 14.8 billion conglomerate, has announced a new partnership with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). This collaboration aims to leverage technology and innovation to strengthen India's professional golf ecosystem, broaden the sport's reach, and enhance experiences for players, fans, and partners.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have developed an innovative, low-cost device capable of screening for anaemia and sickle cell disease using just a single drop of blood. This point-of-care approach measures blood smear length to detect differences in viscosity, which are indicative of these conditions. The patented device is designed for cost-effective manufacturing and ease of use, making it ideal for areas with limited access to conventional diagnostic laboratories. The technology is currently licensed to an IIT Bombay startup and is moving towards regulatory approval.
Indian telecom gear maker Signaltron and semiconductor firm Signalchip have partnered with Indonesia's sovereign research body PRT BRIN to develop and deploy advanced telecom technologies, including 4G, 5G, and future 6G, specifically tailored for Indonesia's unique archipelagic geography to connect underserved regions.
Himon Kumar Mondal from West Bengal and Tanishka Kalbhairav from Karnataka secured victories in the U-15 boys' and girls' categories, respectively, at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships held in Panchkula on Saturday. Mondal won a thrilling final against Rishaan Chattopadhyay, while Kalbhairav defeated Aarya Redkar.
The Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) will hold a sitting on October 29 to hear affected persons and record evidence regarding alleged violence, including pellet gun use and harassment of female protesters, during the July Jantar Mantar protests. The five-member panel, chaired by Justice R Subhash Reddy, was formed after petitions alleged police excesses and counter-allegations of violence against police. An online portal is also available for submissions.
A video showing a senior woman IPS officer, Ankita Sharma, firing an AK-47 during a traditional Shastra Puja on Dussehra in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, has gone viral. The incident has ignited a debate over weapon handling protocols and safety, with some defending her actions as tradition while others, including military experts, criticised the perceived recklessness.
Indian mixed doubles pair Manush Shah and Diya Chitale made history by becoming the first from the country to reach a WTT Grand Smash semifinal in China, defeating a Romanian duo 3-0. This victory avenged a previous defeat. However, other Indian players, Manav Thakkar and the women's doubles pair of Chitale and Yashaswini Ghorpade, exited their respective events.
India's Pranav Soorma secured a gold medal with an Asian record in the men's discus throw combined F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Tuesday. Compatriot Ram Ratan Singh also earned a silver medal in the same event. The placings were determined using the Raza Point System, which accounts for different classifications among athletes.
Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale highlights the growing respect and "fear factor" Indian shooters command internationally due to their consistent performances. He expresses confidence in the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games, despite some notable absences, and discusses challenges like range maintenance.
An 18-member Indian boxing team has departed for Budva, Montenegro, to compete in the World U-19 Championships starting on October 18. The team includes medallists from the Asian U-19 Championships and aims to improve upon India's previous performance of 17 medals in the inaugural edition.
Fifteen-year-old Indian shuttler Tanvi Patri defeated compatriot Shaina Manimuthu to win the girls' singles U17 title at the Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships in Chengdu, China, marking her second continental title this year.
Indian kabaddi player Brijendra Singh Choudhary has been stripped of his silver medal from the Asian Beach Games after failing an in-competition dope test. He tested positive for the prohibited diuretic brinzolamide and has accepted the sanction, leading to the disqualification of his results.
A special CBI court in Mumbai has ordered the issuance of proclamation against billionaire jeweller Jatin Mehta, his wife, and another individual in a Rs 146.35 crore bank fraud case involving Canara Bank. The court allowed the CBI's plea to secure the presence of the absconding accused but declined the immediate attachment of their properties, citing lack of material evidence. The accused are reportedly residing in the United Kingdom.
Indian athletes at the Asian Games in Nagoya are facing significant accommodation challenges, including cramped rooms on a cruise ship and long waits for check-in. The host nation's athletes are also affected, with complaints about shared rooms and general mismanagement. Organisers have opted against a traditional Athletes Village, leading to athletes travelling long distances for training, further exacerbating the logistical issues ahead of the mega-event.
Former US President Donald Trump revealed he considered renaming the Atlantic Ocean but was dissuaded by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who warned of international repercussions. Trump also mentioned renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake of America" and toyed with renaming rivers, while recently advocating for New Mexico to be renamed.
Saptak Talwar has topped the PGTI Order of Merit, securing a DP World Tour card for next season. His consistent performances, including a victory and eight top-10 finishes, along with lessons from senior pros and Asian Games experience, contributed to this significant career step. Talwar aims to build on his learnings and believes a major international breakthrough is crucial for Indian golf.
Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Mirabai Chanu are among 12 prominent sportspersons vying for a spot on the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) Athletes Commission. The elections, scheduled for November 3, will select 10 members for the 2026-2030 term. The article also details the electoral process, eligibility criteria, and mentions the upcoming election for eight Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs).
India's athletics campaign at the Asian Games is set to begin, with star shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor aiming for a historic third consecutive gold. Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar and long-distance runner Gulveer Singh are also looking to upgrade their previous medals. Despite Neeraj Chopra's absence, the 75-member Indian team targets 25-30 medals across various events, including steeplechase, javelin, and high jump, facing strong competition from other Asian athletes.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh stated on Sunday that the Indian Air Force's Operation Sindoor demonstrated its capability to strike targets across the Western front, serving as a warning to adversaries. He highlighted the operation's validation of the IAF's capability-centric approach, indigenous weapon systems, and commitment to zero collateral damage, while also outlining the force's long-term vision for 2047 to become a multi-domain aerospace power.
The Indian men's badminton team secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games after a 1-3 defeat to China in the semifinals. Despite a strong performance from Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who won their doubles match, singles players Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty were unable to overcome their higher-ranked Chinese opponents. This marks India's first back-to-back Asian Games team medals in 40 years.
The Indian senior women's rugby sevens team is undergoing a national camp in Kolkata to prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya. Coach Terence Joseph and Captain Shikha Yadav emphasise execution, consistency, and building on recent form against strong Pool B opponents like China and Hong Kong China.
The Indian women's rugby team secured a sixth-place finish at the Asian Games after a significant loss to Kazakhstan in their classification match. Earlier, they defeated Singapore to reach this stage, marking the end of their campaign.
India's medal tally at the Asian Para Games reached 88, with armless archer Sheetal Devi securing two gold medals. The para-athletics contingent was the largest contributor, while medals also came from swimming, badminton, and table tennis, showcasing a strong performance across multiple disciplines.
Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha has called for a stronger, athlete-centric sporting ecosystem, emphasising the need for robust federations, committed coaches, quality infrastructure, and effective sports science support. She highlighted that sporting excellence requires institutions that prioritise athletes and provide fair opportunities, while also congratulating recent Asian Games gold medallists.
Microsoft has inaugurated its India South Central data centre region in Telangana, marking its fourth cloud region in the country and significantly expanding its cloud and AI infrastructure. This strategic investment supports Telangana's ambitious goal of achieving 5 GW of data centre capacity by 2029 and attracting USD 30 billion in digital infrastructure investments, further solidifying Hyderabad's role as a global technology hub.
Microsoft has inaugurated its India South Central data centre region in Telangana, marking its fourth cloud region in the country and significantly expanding its cloud and AI infrastructure. This strategic investment supports Telangana's ambitious goal of achieving 5 GW of data centre capacity by 2029 and attracting USD 30 billion in digital infrastructure investments, further solidifying Hyderabad's role as a global technology hub.
The Delhi High Court on Monday turned down the Enforcement Directorate's plea to maintain a status quo on properties attached in the National Herald money laundering case involving Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Justice Sachin Datta stated he would not pass an interim order and would decide the agency's petition challenging a trial court's refusal to take cognisance of its chargesheet. The ED argues that the accused are using the trial court order to release properties, while the Gandhis contend the ED's plea is an "abuse of process of law."
The Indian Olympic Association has formed a five-member Games Technical Conduct Committee to oversee the technical aspects and sports programme of the 39th National Games, scheduled for Meghalaya in 2027. The committee, chaired by Sunaina Kumari, will ensure technical compliance and athlete-centred preparation for the event.
Nirbhay Choudhary and Haqikat Grewal set new meet records in hammer throw at the Indian Open U23 Athletics Competition in Jaipur. Other records were also broken in men's 400m hurdles and 10,000m track race on the concluding day of the three-day event.
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.
India's Amruta Pujari has stormed into the women's 72kg final at the Under-23 World Wrestling Championships, while Komal secured a bronze medal in the 59kg category. Sweety and Vaishnavi Patil are also in contention for bronze through repechage, adding to Vishvajit More's earlier silver medal.
Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual Olympic gold-medallist, emphasised the importance of athletes questioning their coaches, methods, and systems for growth and sporting excellence, stating that free speech and curiosity are vital, even if perceived as indiscipline.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Arctic Open Super 500 tournament after defeating Japan's Riko Gunji. However, it was a disappointing day for Indian men's singles players, with Tharun Mannepalli, Tanvi Sharma, and Kidambi Srikanth all bowing out of the competition.
Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO, and PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl express strong confidence in India's potential to become a global golf powerhouse within the next decade. Kant specifically predicts a woman golfer will achieve a breakthrough moment for the country. They highlight India's demographic advantage, rising youth participation, and the need for university-level talent development and private investment in infrastructure to achieve this goal.
Indian lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, currently in London on sexual assault charges, now faces accusations of rape and facilitating exploitation. His assistant and another individual are also implicated. Aggarwal, known for representing Mehul Choksi, was denied bail due to flight risk and concerns over a "sinister recruiting campaign." The trial is scheduled for March 2027.
A Mumbai court has sentenced a domestic help and her male accomplice to life imprisonment for the 2018 robbery and murder of an elderly couple in Bandra. The court found the duo guilty of robbing and then killing Nanak Gopaldas Makhijani (85) and Daya Makhijani (81), but rejected the prosecution's plea for capital punishment due to the circumstantial nature of the evidence.
Indian para archers, led by Paralympic champion Harvinder Singh, showcased a dominant performance at the World Archery Para Series in Ahmedabad. Four Indian archers each in the men's and women's recurve sections qualified directly for the pre-quarterfinals. Additionally, India secured top seedings in both men's and women's doubles events, with pairs advancing directly to the semifinals, and a strong third seeding in mixed doubles.
Paralympic champion Navdeep Singh is appealing for the inclusion of men's F41 javelin throw in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics. Faced with uncertainty, he has also taken up shot put, winning a national gold, and is now training for both events to keep his options open. He expresses disappointment over the potential exclusion of javelin but embraces the challenge of learning a new discipline while maintaining his consistency in performance.
A fast-track court in Nashik, Maharashtra, has sentenced Vijay Sanjay Khairnar to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl late last year. The court termed the gruesome crime "rarest of the rare" and also ordered Rs 10 lakh financial assistance for the victim's family. The prosecution, led by Ujwal Nikam, relied on circumstantial evidence and witness testimonies to secure the conviction.
