India's under-21 men's and women's hockey teams are set to begin their AHF Junior Asia Cup campaigns in Moqi, China. The men's team aims for a record-extending sixth title, while the women's team seeks a hat-trick of trophies, both having undergone extensive preparations and exposure tours.
This article provides a comprehensive schedule of Indian athletes participating in various events at the Asian Games on September 20.
Indian shuttler Rounak Chouhan successfully navigated the qualifying rounds of the Taipei Open Super 300, securing his spot in the men's singles main draw with two impressive victories. However, it was a challenging day for most other Indian participants across various categories, who faced defeats in their respective qualifying and opening matches. HS Prannoy and Unnati Hooda are set to lead the Indian contingent in the main draw.
Legendary Brazilian captain Cafu has urged India to shed its "tiny status" mindset in football and believe in its potential for growth, offering Brazil's cooperation. He responded to Bhaichung Bhutia's concerns about an India-Brazil friendly, emphasising the importance of grassroots development and international collaboration, drawing parallels with Japan and China's success. Cafu also shared his personal journey of overcoming doubts to become a football legend.
Five-times champions Brazil came back strongly from a one goal deficit to beat Japan 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash at the Houston Stadium on Monday.
Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji has addressed concerns raised by leading cricketing nations regarding accommodation and facilities for the upcoming Asian Games. Miyaji clarified that hotel stays are offered, teams can make their own arrangements, and temporary yet comfortable facilities have been prepared for players, including washrooms and dressing rooms, despite tight timelines and resource limitations.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu to win the China Masters Super 750, gaining a major boost ahead of the Asian Games gold defence.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful he will have Neymar available for more minutes in Monday's World Cup round of 32 fixture against Japan in Houston, and believes his Brazil side are ready for anything in what will be a tough knockout fixture.
India's Quimcy Dsouza experienced a double setback at the Asian Games in Nagoya, narrowly missing out on bronze medals in both women's singles and mixed doubles Teqball. Despite a valiant effort against Japan's Yuina Sakamoto in singles, losing 0-2, and a subsequent loss in mixed doubles with Mohamed Anas Beg, her performance highlighted India's growing presence in the sport.
Elena Rybakina defeated Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open, moving closer to her third Grand Slam title and potentially the world number one ranking.
Japan delivered a commanding 4-0 win over Tunisia in the World Cup's 1,000th match on Saturday to move to the brink of the knockout stages, while the North Africans were eliminated after a second successive defeat in Group F.
Former badminton coach Vimal Kumar expresses optimism about India's medal prospects at the upcoming Asian Games, suggesting they can surpass their previous tally of three. He stresses the critical need for Indian singles players, including Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty, to overcome inconsistencies and deliver under pressure. Kumar also highlights the challenges posed by the new 15-point format and the highly competitive nature of men's singles badminton.
Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al Musallam defended Japan's decision not to have a dedicated Athletes' Village for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, citing cost and sustainability. This comes amidst criticism over accommodation chaos. Musallam confirmed that future Asian Games in Doha (2030) and Riyadh (2034) will feature dedicated villages, emphasising flexibility and legacy considerations. He also supported the increasing number of athletes, highlighting the importance of sport in current global crises.
India pacer Harshit Rana is unlikely to be fit for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan due to an ongoing hamstring injury, a BCCI source confirmed.
The fifth edition of the J&K Open golf tournament, featuring a doubled prize purse of Rs 1 crore, is set to begin at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar. Defending champion Shaurya Bhattacharya will compete against top Indian professionals and international players, with the event also aiming to boost golf tourism in the region.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, experienced a significant downturn, with Sensex tanking 778 points and Nifty closing at a five-month low, driven by surging crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and fears of further interest rate hikes by major central banks.
Indian shuttlers Devika Sihag and HS Prannoy faced early exits on the opening day of the USD 2,000,000 China Masters. Devika fought hard in a three-game match, while Prannoy suffered a straight-game defeat. PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and Ayush Shetty are set to play on Wednesday.
Indian golfer Diksha Dagar was the sole Indian player to make the cut at the Women's Scottish Open, finishing tied 35th after two rounds. While Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth missed the cut, Dagar's performance keeps her in contention and is crucial for her qualification for the AIG Women's Open. Korea's Jenny Shin leads the tournament.
India is set to face Afghanistan in the second T20I, aiming to clinch the series despite ongoing concerns about a reliable fifth bowling option in the absence of Hardik Pandya. The team delivered a dominant performance in the first match, securing a seven-wicket victory.
India's bid to host the 2038 Asian Games will not be decided before 2028, as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has revealed that five other countries are also vying for the same edition.
National selectors are set to convene in New Delhi to finalise India's ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming home series against West Indies, with Rishabh Pant's potential white-ball return and Hardik Pandya's fitness being the primary discussion points.
Indian women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand have reached the quarterfinals of the World Championships, putting them one step closer to securing a medal.
Indian badminton players, including seasoned shuttler HS Prannoy and rising star Unnati Hooda, have made a strong start at the Taipei Open Super 300, advancing to the second round of their respective singles events. Several other Indian men's and women's singles players also secured victories, setting up exciting clashes in the next stage of the tournament.
The Indian women's junior hockey team, led by Khaidem Shileima Chanu and coached by Tim White, is set to compete in the AHF Women's Junior Asia Cup in Moqi, China, from September 4 to 13. The team has undergone extensive preparations, including an exposure tour to the UK and matches against an India A side, and is confident of a strong performance against top Asian rivals.
India's large contingent of 501 athletes is set to compete at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, aiming to showcase the nation's growing sporting depth and its ambition to become a global top-10 sporting power by 2036. Despite initial accommodation challenges, the focus is on building on the momentum from the record 2022 Hangzhou Games, with strong medal hopes in shooting, athletics, cricket, badminton, and hockey.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, ended marginally lower after recovering from sharp intraday losses, driven by cooling crude oil prices and buying interest in HDFC Bank and IT sector stocks.
'If he settles on something, there are fifty considerations behind it -- the pros and cons, all of it.'
Naomi Osaka, the 13th seed, secured a hard-fought victory over Elise Mertens at the US Open, winning 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to progress to the fourth round. Despite moments of frustration and a medical timeout, the two-time champion showcased her resilience to clinch the win.
Brazil's World Cup Round of 32 meeting with Japan on Monday comes with the chance for revenge for Carlo Ancelotti's squad and a test of how far he has taken his team since a Tokyo collapse early in his tenure.
The flag-hoisting ceremony for the Asian Games, involving India and five other contingents, was significantly delayed due to "miscommunication" between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the local organising committee (ANAGOC). The disruption, which lasted over an hour, initially caused confusion and speculation about political issues, but organisers later clarified it was a communication breakdown, adding to existing organisational challenges for the event.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has been seeded ninth in women's singles, while the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received the fifth seeding for the upcoming BWF World Championships. India has seeded entries in four out of five categories, including Lakshya Sen and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto. The draw for the championships, set to be held in New Delhi from August 17-23, will take place on Wednesday.
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha has advanced to her maiden BWF World Tour singles final at the Korea Masters Super 300, defeating compatriot Rakshitha Ramraj. Chaliha, returning from injury, will now face China's Han Qianxi for the title, marking a significant achievement for Indian badminton.
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha defeated compatriot Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj to reach her first-ever BWF World Tour final at the Korea Masters Super 300. Chaliha, returning from a knee injury, continued her impressive run, having previously upset the top seed.
India is grappling with significant selection dilemmas ahead of their opening T20I match against Afghanistan, particularly concerning the choice between Sanju Samson and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and the potential impact of Ishan Kishan's injury scare. The series also serves as crucial preparation for the Asian Games, with India needing to finalise their bowling attack against a strong Afghan side.
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.
Union Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy announced that the Indian government is intensifying its support for private mining entrepreneurs seeking critical mineral opportunities abroad, working with the Ministry of External Affairs and appointing mineral officers in embassies to facilitate these efforts.
Indian badminton players Tanya Hemnath and Aakarshi Kashyap were eliminated from the Canada Open after losing their respective women's singles second-round matches, marking the end of India's challenge at the Super 300 tournament.
Yash Thakur replaces injured Harshit Rana in India's T20I squad for the Afghanistan series and Asian Games. Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Reddy, and Washington Sundar have been cleared for both assignments after recovering from injuries. India's T20I series against Afghanistan begins September 13, followed by the Asian Games campaign starting September 28.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, traded flat in early deals due to elevated crude oil prices exceeding USD 100 per barrel and persistent geopolitical tensions, which subdued investor risk appetite.
'If you listen to a rowdy in a class, he will keep on bullying you.' 'India can say do whatever you want. We will not compromise on anything.'
