India's women's hockey team secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating defending champions China 1-0. This victory, marked by Lalremsiami's early goal and a resilient defensive performance led by goalkeeper Bichu Devi, also earned India direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, ending a 44-year wait for the title.
India continued its strong performance at the Asian Games, securing gold medals in both men's and women's Kabaddi, a historic silver in marathon by Sawan Barwal, and advancing to squash finals. The day also saw mixed results in shooting, athletics, and badminton, contributing to India's growing medal tally.
Indian men's and women's lacrosse teams, fresh off their gold-winning performance at the Asian Lacrosse Games, have been felicitated by the Sports Minister and urged to focus on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India concluded its Asian Games campaign in Nagoya with a creditable fourth place, securing 85 medals, including 21 golds. The final days saw a surge in gold medals, notably from the cricket and hockey teams, and historic individual wins by 17-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod and golfer Pranavi Urs.
Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan cyclist, made history by becoming the first Afghan woman to medal in an Asian Games cycling event, clinching silver in the road race. Her journey involved defying societal norms in Afghanistan, training in disguise, and eventually fleeing the country after the Taliban's return. Now based in Italy, Hashimi's medal symbolises hope and a fight for women's rights, aiming to inspire other Afghan women to pursue their dreams freely.
South African swimmer Chad le Clos has surpassed Emma McKeon to become the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history, securing his 21st medal with a bronze in the men's 4x100 medley relay. This achievement adds to his impressive tally of seven golds, five silvers, and nine bronzes across five Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India's Asian Games medal-winners, including the gold-winning cricket teams, on Thursday. He praised their achievements, highlighting India's growing strength in sports and its ambition to become a credible host for major international events, including a bid for the 2036 Olympics. Modi also emphasised the government's support for athletes and urged medallists to mentor the next generation.
The ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta marked the ground breaking of the cricket venue for the 2028 Olympics as a historic moment, fulfilling a 128-year promise to bring cricket back to the global stage. The venue, also home to the Los Angeles Knight Riders, signifies cricket's growing global appeal and its integration into the Olympic movement.
India faces a challenging Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a significantly smaller contingent of 168 athletes, down from 303. While aiming to build on its record 111-medal haul from the last Games, selection disputes in para-shooting and para-cycling, coupled with reduced athlete numbers in key disciplines like para-athletics, pose hurdles. Despite these challenges, star athletes across para-athletics, archery, para-badminton, shooting, and table tennis are expected to lead India's medal charge.
India's Asian Para Games campaign saw a remarkable performance, particularly in athletics, securing five gold medals on Tuesday. Nishad Kumar and Deepthi Jeevanji were standout performers, both setting new Games records and clinching multiple golds. The nation's overall medal tally reached 35 by the end of day two, with significant contributions from shooting, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, archery, and badminton, promising further success.
The Indian men's hockey team is set to face Malaysia in the Asian Games final, aiming to defend their gold medal and secure a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. After a challenging semifinal win against Pakistan, India will need to tighten their defence against an unbeaten Malaysian side. The match holds significant personal milestones for Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh and veteran Manpreet Singh, with high stakes for both nations.
India achieved a remarkable six-gold haul on the penultimate day of the Asian Games, surging to fifth place with 76 medals. Key victories included the women's hockey team securing gold and Olympic qualification, historic boxing golds from Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal, a wrestling gold by Sujeet Kalkal, and maiden recurve archery gold. This strong finish significantly bolstered India's overall campaign.
Eighteen-year-old Indian shooter Parth Mane secured a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games, marking his senior continental debut.
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."
Former India captain Viren Rasquinha warns that an Asian Games gold could paper over deeper problems in Indian men's hockey after their disappointing World Cup campaign.
The Indian women's hockey team secured its second consecutive Pool B victory at the Asian Games, defeating Indonesia 17-1. Deepika Sehrawat, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, and Navneet Kaur each scored a hat-trick, contributing to the dominant performance. Coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed satisfaction but highlighted the upcoming match against Japan as the real challenge for topping the pool and securing direct Olympic qualification.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta hailed the ground breaking of the cricket venue for the 2028 Olympics as a historic moment, fulfilling a long-awaited promise to bring the sport to the global stage.
Indian teen archer Kumkum Mohod, 17, made history at the Asian Games by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold, alongside a team gold and mixed silver.
The Indian hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games, reversing a controversial decision to switch to a saffron-coloured kit. The previous change had led to widespread criticism, internal discord within Hockey India, and even political debate, despite claims of visibility issues on blue turf.
Indian hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys for the Asian Games after a controversial shift to saffron kits sparked widespread criticism and internal discord within Hockey India. The decision to revert to blue was confirmed by HI president Dilip Tirkey, who had previously questioned the saffron kit's adoption without proper approval.
US Olympic sprinter Kenny Bednarek has expressed strong support for India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Citing his personal connection through his Indian girlfriend, golfer Sharmila Nicollet, and his admiration for the country's diverse culture, Bednarek believes India would be an ideal host, offering a unique experience for athletes and visitors. India is among seven nations vying for the 2036 Games, also planning bids for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2038 Asian Games.
Hollywood's biggest names brought their A-game to the sixth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on October 17, turning the red carpet into a masterclass in high-fashion.
Iran's World Cup campaign has left many Iranian-Americans torn between supporting Team Melli and opposing the country's leadership, highlighting deep divisions within Los Angeles' influential Iranian diaspora.
Indian World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav led his New York Yankees team to victory in a unique three-on-three tournament in Mumbai, blending cricket and baseball with ex-Major League Baseball players.
Tero Entertainment Public Co. Ltd. has launched Quest India 2026, marking the official introduction of 3x3 basketball to the country. This fast-paced, urban Olympic sport, backed by BFI and FIBA, will feature its inaugural event in September 2026, blending elite competition with street culture.
Thirteen-year-old Yu Zidi's three golds and MVP award provided a golden highlight as the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games closed after a fortnight of logistical problems.
Cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a strategic move by Olympic leaders to tap into India's massive fan base and commercial power, aiming to attract billions of new viewers and strengthen the Games' appeal in key markets.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Gyaneshwari Yadav is preparing for the Asian Games, aiming to surpass her personal best of 199kg. She plans to leverage her CWG experience despite facing tough international competition from powerhouses like China and South Korea. Yadav also acknowledges the upcoming domestic challenge from Mirabai Chanu and Bindyarani Devi in the 53kg category but remains confident and inspired by Chanu.
India's Rudrankksh Patil, Himanshu Dhillon, and Parth Mane secured a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games. The young trio displayed composure, with debutant Parth Mane's performance being particularly noteworthy, contributing to India's growing medal tally in shooting.
Thailand's Puripol Boonson made history by winning the 200 metres gold, completing an Asian Games sprint double and matching the Asian record, while China's 18-year-old javelin sensation Yan Ziyi defeated an Olympic champion for her first gold.
Young Indian shooters Himanshu Dhillon and Rudrankksh Patil secured individual silver and bronze medals respectively in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Asian Games. They also combined with Parth Mane to win a team silver, contributing significantly to India's medal tally in shooting.
Iran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the US on the days of its three FIFA World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament.
Newly-crowned junior squash World champion Anahat Singh has decided to defer her admission to Harvard University to fully dedicate herself to preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming for a medal in squash's Olympic debut.
The Indian men's hockey squad for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy, to be held in Punjab from October 27 to November 5, has been announced. Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak returns to the team, while the core of the Asian Games gold-winning lineup, led by Harmanpreet Singh, has been retained. The tournament marks the return of international hockey to Punjab, with matches in Jalandhar and Mohali.
Indian Hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, known as the 'Wall of Indian hockey', expressed her desire for Priyanka Chopra Jonas to portray her in a biographical film. Punia, who recently led India to significant achievements, shared her inspiration from Priyanka's journey and her own life story, including early responsibilities and personal interests.
Despite not winning a medal at the recently-concluded Asian Senior Fencing Championships, India's men's foil team secured direct qualification for the upcoming Asian Games, marking a significant step forward for the sport in the country. The event, hosted in India for the first time, provided valuable experience and highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian fencers against top Asian nations.
Kumkum Mohod, a 17-year-old from Amravati, has won India's first-ever women's individual recurve archery gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Her victory sparked celebrations in her hometown, with her family expressing immense pride and her father hoping for an Olympic gold. Kumkum also secured two other medals at the games.
Canadian voice actor Peter Cullen, best known for giving life to the heroic Optimus Prime across the Transformers films, has passed away at 85.
India continued its strong performance at the Asian Games, securing more medals across various disciplines. Shooter Esha Singh won a hard-fought silver in the women's 25m pistol, while Gulveer Singh added another silver in the men's 1500m. Other notable achievements include Kurash player Picky Balhara's bronze, Vithya Ramraj breaking a national record for bronze in hurdles, and several boxers, the men's cricket team, and squash teams advancing. However, some defending champions faced early exits.
Iran footballers faces cheers and jeers in their come-from-behind 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their FIFA World Cup final opener in Los Angeles on Monday.
