Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati has reappointed her nephew Akash Anand as the party's national convenor, reversing an earlier decision to remove him. This move comes after Anand's expression of desire to return and considering party members' views, with Mayawati emphasizing the decision was made in the interest of the party and the movement.
Ariv Dutta of West Bengal and Saksya Santosh of Karnataka secured the Under-13 boys' and girls' titles, respectively, at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships held in Panchkula on Thursday. Rajvardhan Tiwari and Phalgun Gupta also won the U-11 boys' and girls' titles. The championships featured intense matches across various age categories, highlighting emerging talent in Indian table tennis.
England delivered a stunning 7-0 victory over Croatia, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scoring twice, while Spain maintained their perfect record in the Nations League with a 3-1 win against the Czech Republic. Both teams showcased dominant performances in their respective matches.
Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo and Denmark's Patrick Dorgu have both been forced to withdraw from their respective Nations League squads due to injuries sustained during recent matches, impacting their national teams' upcoming fixtures.
The 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship will feature two-time champion Vaidehee Chaudhari and defending men's champion Manish Sureshkumar leading a highly competitive field. The tournament, held from October 5 to 17, will include top national players across men's, women's, boys', and girls' categories.
Young paddlers showcased remarkable resilience at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships in Panchkula, with several U-11 players securing main-draw berths through hard-fought comeback victories in the qualifiers.
India's women's 4x400m relay team, featuring Kiran Pahal, Prachi Choudhary, MR Poovamma, and Vithya Ramraj, secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. The athletes received a grand welcome upon their return to Delhi, expressing immense pride and dedicating their victory to the nation and their supporters. Prachi and Vithya also earned individual bronze medals, and the team now aims for gold at the World Championships.
Soha Sadiq and Parth Aggarwal caused significant upsets at the Fenesta Open National Hard court championships by defeating higher-seeded players. Meanwhile, top seeds Manish Sureshkumar and Vaidehee Chaudhari began their campaigns with comfortable straight-sets victories, showcasing strong performances in their respective draws.
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Manipur secured victories in their respective pool games, while Punjab and Bengal played to a draw on the sixth day of the Hockey India Senior Men National Championship in Jhansi. Uttar Pradesh defeated Chandigarh 5-0, Madhya Pradesh beat Puducherry 4-2, and Manipur overcame Delhi 5-2.
France staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Belgium 4-1 in their Nations League Group A1 encounter, with substitutes playing a crucial role in the final minutes. Meanwhile, Italy secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over Turkey in the same group, maintaining their strong form. These results significantly impact the group standings, with France now leading.
Title holders Portugal defeated Norway 2-1 in the Nations League, securing their place in the March quarter-finals with a perfect record. Goncalo Ramos scored the winning goal, further highlighting the team's success despite Cristiano Ronaldo's recent departure from the squad. Other Nations League results included Denmark beating Wales, the Netherlands overcoming Serbia, and Greece drawing with Germany.
Prof Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, has been awarded the National Systems Gold Medal by the Systems Society of India. This prestigious award has previously been conferred upon eminent scientists like Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and Dr K Sivan, recognising significant contributions to Systems Science and Engineering.
Police in Navi Mumbai arrested a Nigerian national, Anyi Ikechukwu Darlington, and seized mephedrone and cocaine worth Rs 3.57 crore. The accused, previously arrested in a drug case, was out on bail and is now under investigation for his role in a drug distribution network.
Greece secured a surprising 1-0 victory over hosts Germany in their Nations League Group A2 match, with Dimitris Kourbelis scoring the decisive goal. This defeat marks a difficult start for new German coach Juergen Klopp, who has now failed to win either of his first two matches in charge. The win puts Greece atop their group, while Germany remains on one point.
Haryana's Under-11 table tennis players showcased a strong performance at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships in Panchkula, with Sreeja Aggarwal, Mahi Kumari, and Phalgun Gupta securing spots in the girls' semifinals. The tournament also saw competitive matches in the boys' U-11 category, with players from Maharashtra and West Bengal advancing.
India, Germany, Qatar, Hungary, Turkey, South Africa, and South Korea are in preliminary talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, with a shortlist expected by March next year.
An ad-hoc committee overseeing Indian table tennis has removed official ranking points from national tournaments, including the upcoming Panchkula edition, causing significant anxiety among players like Ankur Bhattacharya. The committee, formed after the Table Tennis Federation of India's suspension, states its mandate is to protect athletes but will only award points once an official calendar is finalised, impacting team selections.
The Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship has launched an Rs 11 lakh Player Development Scholarship. This initiative, supported by DCM Shriram Foundation, aims to nurture talent by providing financial aid to winners and runners-up across five singles categories, supplementing the existing prize money.
Five Pakistani nationals have been remanded to police custody by an Ahmedabad court in connection with a Rs 3,000 crore drug haul involving 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin seized from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea. The operation was a joint effort by the Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard.
The 72nd National Film Awards celebrated outstanding contributions to Indian cinema, with Yami Gautam, Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty, Dhanush, and Sanjay Mishra among the prominent winners.
Cody Gakpo scored a stoppage-time equaliser for the Netherlands, securing a 1-1 draw against Germany in their Nations League opener, spoiling Juergen Klopp's debut as Germany's coach. Other Nations League matches saw Erling Haaland lead Norway to victory over Denmark, Portugal defeat Wales, and Greece snatch a late win against Serbia.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has appointed Ishan Anand, Mayawati's younger nephew, as its new national coordinator. This decision follows the removal of his elder brother, Akash Anand, from all party responsibilities. The appointment was made at a national executive meeting, where Mayawati reiterated the party's commitment to avoiding dynastic politics.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has permitted the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur to host three women's international cricket matches in October. This approval comes with the condition that the stadium deposits Rs 20 lakh for groundwater recharge, addressing its previous failure to use sewage treatment plant (STP)-treated water instead of groundwater for ground maintenance.
France and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has been diagnosed with a hyperextension of his left knee after being forced off during a Nations League match against Turkey. He has returned to Real Madrid for treatment and assessment, casting doubt on his immediate playing future.
World champions Spain defeated England 3-2 in a thrilling Nations League opener at Wembley, capitalising on two significant defensive errors. Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winner after England had briefly mounted a comeback. The article also covers Croatia's 2-1 win over the Czech Republic and Scotland's 0-0 draw with Slovenia.
The internet has found its latest crush, and Tanya Mishra is clearly enjoying the attention. The model-turned-actor has been flooding social media with glamorous photoshoots, fashion moments and viral videos, with her Instagram following now crossing 1.2 million.
Spain, led by a brace from Lamine Yamal, defeated Croatia 4-1 to extend their unbeaten run and maintain a perfect start in the Nations League. Meanwhile, England secured a 2-0 victory over 10-man Czech Republic with goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane, also continuing their strong performance in the tournament.
Germany secured their first win under new coach Juergen Klopp against Serbia in the Nations League. Portugal continued their strong run despite Cristiano Ronaldo's absence, while the Netherlands staged a comeback draw against Greece. Other results included Wales beating Norway and Ireland drawing with Austria amidst protests.
Gurugram Police have arrested Eno Shedrack Wichu, a 35-year-old Cameroonian national, for possessing 14.83 grams of MDMA. Wichu, who entered India on a tourist visa in 2022, was apprehended by the Anti-Narcotics Cell and intended to supply the drug in Gurugram. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act.
The Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) has arrested a Nigerian national in Gurugram for possessing 15.04 grams of MDMA (ecstasy). The accused, Udeh Frank, was intercepted near Sai Temple, Sector 53, and a case has been registered under the NDPS Act. This arrest is part of an ongoing crackdown on synthetic drugs by the HSNCB Gurugram Unit.
A Delhi court has granted default bail to six Ukrainian nationals arrested in connection with an NIA probe into a drone-warfare training camp linked to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. The court also discharged them from Immigration and Foreigners Act charges after the FRRO compounded the offences with a fine. The NIA's UAPA probe is ongoing, with a supplementary chargesheet possible.
Iran's star striker Sardar Azmoun has been recalled to the national football team, four months after his controversial omission from the World Cup roster. His return follows a social media post that reportedly angered Iranian authorities. Azmoun expressed his joy and readiness to fight for his country as Iran prepares for the Asian Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, remains confident in his ability to contribute to the Portugal national team under new coach Jorge Jesus, targeting both the UEFA Nations League title and his 1,000th career goal. He addressed his international future post-World Cup, his motivation, and dismissed critics, asserting he is not yet ready to retire.
Five British nationals arrested on suspicion of terror charges related to an explosives threat near RAF Fairford have been released on police bail. The Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) investigation is ongoing, with stringent conditions placed on the suspects. Iran has denied any involvement, while former US President Donald Trump claimed US intelligence assisted in the arrests.
A Delhi court has permitted seven foreign nationals, including American mercenary Matthew Aaron Van Dyke and six Ukrainians, arrested in an alleged drone-warfare training camp case probed by the NIA, to travel to their home countries for a month after being granted default bail.
For the first time in an Indian men's cricket match, the national song Vande Mataram was played before the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, during the India vs Afghanistan T20I in Delhi, sparking widespread reaction among fans.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein paid rich tributes to engineers on National Engineers' Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of Sir M Visvesvaraya. They highlighted the crucial role of engineers in the state's development, infrastructure, and India's overall progress, acknowledging their contributions to nation-building and technological advancement.
New Portugal manager Jorge Jesus included 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo in his first squad for upcoming Nations League matches, emphasising that team selection will strictly depend on current performance.
10-year-old Delhi shooter Nyra Sharma has made history by becoming the youngest Indian to qualify for the National Shooting Championship in the 10m air rifle category. Her rapid rise in competitive shooting, achieving this feat in only her third competition, highlights her exceptional talent and dedication.
For the first time on foreign soil, 'Vande Mataram' was played before a cricket match, preceding the national anthem at the India vs Japan T20 International in Sano, Japan.