As the U.S. Open approaches, several top players are vying for the men's singles title, with Arthur Fils emerging as a strong contender after his Cincinnati Open victory, while Taylor Fritz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, and rising star Rafael Jodar also pose significant threats.
Former Pakistan hockey players have expressed deep concern over the national team's poor performance at the World Cup, advocating for an immediate injection of fresh talent and a focus on the upcoming Asian Games. They attribute the sport's decline to cricket's dominance and a failure to adapt to modern hockey, urging the federation to prioritise competitive success to regain public interest.
India's Women's T20 Asia Cup campaign begins against Thailand, with the team facing questions about their recent form and consistency. Despite a strong historical record in the tournament, recent losses and individual player form, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur, raise concerns. The team aims to overcome fielding issues and batting inconsistencies, relying on key players like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Deepti Sharma, as they prepare for both the Asia Cup and upcoming Asian Games.
Devdutt Padikkal reflects on his Player of the Series performance in Sri Lanka, his preparation against spin and turning domestic form into Test success.
Indian batter Devdutt Padikkal, after scoring a magnificent maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in Galle, discussed the "slowish" nature of the wicket. He noted that the pitch aided left-handed batters against left-arm spinners and started turning significantly after the third day, contributing to India's 165-run victory.
Savita Punia's journey from a shy youngster dependent on her mother to a confident veteran goalkeeper and mentor reflects hockey's profound impact on her life.
Delhi Police have dismantled an alleged Pakistan ISI-backed espionage module, arresting a couple, Md Sahil and Sameera, for procuring Indian SIM cards and sending them to Pakistan. The couple allegedly recruited individuals for reconnaissance of cantonment areas and facilitated communication for Pakistani handlers through social media.
Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima have both secured their spots in the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, setting up an all-American showdown.
India's Dhakshineswar Suresh, a TAGG athlete, secured his first-ever ATP Tour main-draw victory by defeating World No. 77 Marcos Giron 6-3, 7-5 at the Winston-Salem Open, becoming only the second Indian man to achieve this feat in the tournament's history.
Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic defeated Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli to secure the US Open mixed doubles title, marking their first Grand Slam victory as a team.
Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka face challenging US Open draws, with Alcaraz sharing a loaded half with Djokovic and Sabalenka pursuing a historic three-peat.
India's vice-captain KL Rahul expressed his delight at the team's comprehensive 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle, stating that the team 'ticked most of the boxes' they had discussed prior to the match and gained significant confidence for future spin-dominated assignments.
Several prominent Bollywood and television personalities, including Salman Khan, Bipasha Basu, Alia Bhatt, and Nia Sharma, celebrate Raksha Bandhan with industry colleagues, proving that strong sibling-like connections can form beyond biological ties.
The KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 tournament is set to host a strong field of India's leading junior players and international youngsters in Bengaluru, offering them a crucial platform to earn ITF Junior ranking points and gain international experience.
Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen secured a hard-fought victory against Collins Valentine Filimon in the opening round of the BWF World Championships, attributing his win to crucial tactical adjustments after losing the first game. He will now face Garret Tan of the USA.
The Duleep Trophy reaches its semifinal stage with defending champions Central Zone and last year's runners-up South Zone receiving direct entry. They will face East Zone and North Zone, respectively, who advanced after winning their quarterfinal matches. The upcoming clashes promise intense competition as teams battle for a spot in the final.
Angad Cheema shot a seven-under 65 to retain his two-shot lead after the third round of the Telangana Open, moving to 20-under 196. Delhi's Rashid Khan matched Cheema's 65 to stay in second place, while Jairaj Singh Sandhu made a significant climb to third.
The Wagener Stadium, site of a historic 1973 India-Pakistan hockey World Cup semifinal, is set to host another clash between the arch-rivals. Former captain M P Ganesh recounts the intense 1-0 victory for India in 1973, highlighting the fierce competition and political undertones of the era.
Veteran striker Navneet Kaur believes the Indian women's hockey team is inspired by the cricket team's ODI World Cup triumph and aims to script a similar title-winning story at the FIH Women's World Cup.
'I've 'de-sold' myself to a few films.'
Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Russel Arnold believes the hosts will struggle to add another frontline spinner to their playing XI for the second Test against India without upsetting the team's overall balance, especially given their batting struggles.
Former India selector Sarandeep Singh has advocated for the inclusion of 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the Indian playing eleven for the upcoming T20 series opener against England. Singh believes Sooryavanshi, who was in stellar form in the IPL and for India A, should be given an opportunity to debut, potentially becoming India's youngest cricketer.
India's campaign in the FIH Women's World Cup concluded after a goalless draw against Australia in their final second-round match.
Standing at square leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal kept urging Niroshan Dickwella to play his shots, reminding him of the aggressive 80 he had scored in the first innings.
The India U20 men's football team played a 0-0 draw against Yemen in the first of two friendly matches in Bengaluru, as part of their preparation for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
Shubman Gill remains hopeful of India reaching the WTC final, but the team must win at least six of their remaining seven Tests.
Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, dismisses criticism over recent poor results, stating his sole focus is on winning trophies for the country.
South Africa all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has publicly criticised Cricket Australia's decision to offer a pathway back into competitive cricket for transgender athlete Anaya Bangar, stating, "Absolutely ridiculous. This should not be allowed."
Gujarat Police have arrested 13 additional individuals, including a man from Madhya Pradesh identified as Anand Chhandi, for their involvement in the Bhavnagar hooch tragedy that claimed 13 lives. Chhandi is accused of playing a significant role in manufacturing the methanol-laced spurious liquor and procuring chemicals, bringing the total arrests to 27.
Santos captain Neymar was the first player in Brazil's Serie A to be temporarily removed from the field under a new trial rule designed to combat time-wasting by goalkeepers.
Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott has been convicted of sexually abusing two children several decades ago following a trial in a Scottish court, with sentencing scheduled for next month.
Young table tennis players Syndrela Das and Payas Jain have been inducted into the Sports Ministry's TOPS Development group, while Manika Batra's international event funding request has also been approved, aiming to strengthen India's table tennis presence on the global stage.
India vice-captain KL Rahul said Manav Suthar's impressive ability to vary his speed without noticeable change in action, and unerring accuracy make the young left-arm spinner a massive threat across the conditions.
The India Under-20 men's football team secured a 1-0 victory over Yemen in their second friendly match in Bengaluru. Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam scored the decisive goal. This win comes as the Blue Colts prepare for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers in Uzbekistan, scheduled from August 31 to September 6.
Every family has that one sister who has her life completely together, the one who falls in love with everything, the one who refuses to follow the rules and, of course, the one who believes more is always more.
On National Sports Day, political leaders including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and several Chief Ministers paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and lauded Indian sportspersons for their contributions to the country.
The Indian women's hockey team secured qualification for the second round of the Women's Hockey World Cup by drawing goalless against England in their final Pool D match. This result placed India second in their pool, behind China, with five points.
The current FIH Hockey World Cup format, featuring a crossover pool system where first-round results carry forward, is causing widespread confusion among teams, fans, and media. Many stakeholders believe the complex system detracts from the game's excitement, shifts focus to mathematical calculations, and potentially favours larger teams, leading to calls for a simpler structure.
With Kuldeep Yadav looking ineffective, India could look towards including off-spinner Saransh Jain in the playing XI in the second Test in Colombo, especially looking at three left-handers in the Sri Lankan top seven.
Novak Djokovic is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, but recent physical struggles, particularly in high heat and humidity, raise questions about his ability to endure the demanding tournament. Despite his experience, the 39-year-old faces a challenging field and needs to manage his energy carefully to achieve his historic goal.
