India's Vivaan Vishal and Turkmenistan's Shohradova Lala won the Open and Girls sections, respectively, at the Asian Junior Rapid Chess Championship in Mumbai. Vivaan secured his title with a strong finish, while Shohradova claimed victory after a tie-break against India's Pratitee Bordoloi. The event now moves to the Classical Championship.
Indian quarter-miler Vishal TK, fresh from a historic season where he became the first Indian man to break the 45-second barrier in the 400m, is set to make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow. The 22-year-old, a four-time national champion and a key member of India's relay teams, is confident of delivering a breakthrough performance, crediting his rigorous training at Inspire Institute of Sports and the support system for his preparation. He aims to continue raising the bar for Indian athletics on the global stage.
Asian Games medallist Vishal Uppal has advised against creating excessive hype around young Indian tennis sensation Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, urging the fraternity to let her develop naturally rather than pressuring her to emulate Sania Mirza. Uppal believes Maaya, a top 20 junior player, has the potential to break into the top 100 in professional tennis if she maintains her hard work and hunger. He also highlighted the challenges of professional tennis and praised another prospect, Dakshineshwar Suresh.
The investigation into the murder of pharmaceutical trader Vineet Manocha has intensified, with his son Subrat now under police scrutiny. New evidence reveals that the alleged shooter made multiple calls to Subrat from a newly purchased SIM card. While Subrat's wife Shalu and two others are already arrested, police are examining call detail records and financial affairs to uncover Subrat's potential involvement in the conspiracy.
Kanpur police are seeking 15 days' custody of Shalu, daughter-in-law of slain pharmaceutical trader Vineet Manocha, for intensive interrogation. Shalu is alleged to be the mastermind behind Manocha's brutal murder, having reportedly hired two men for Rs 6 lakh. Her husband, Subrat, also remains under scrutiny, with police examining call records and deleted messages to uncover the full conspiracy.
India's U20 football team secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in their final AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers group match. Goals from Danny Meitei Laishram, Vishal Yadav, and Md Arbash sealed the win, bringing India's total to six points. The team's qualification for the main tournament, potentially after 20 years, now hinges on the outcome of the Syria-Uzbekistan match.
Gurindervir Singh set a new national record in the men's 100m, clocking 10.09 seconds, while Vishal TK became the first Indian to run the 400m in under 45 seconds at the National Senior Federation Competition.
The second round of the Asian Junior Open and Girls Classical Chess Championships in Mumbai saw significant upsets, with Guru Prakash defeating Asian Junior Rapid champion FM Vivaan Vishal Shah. Several other higher-rated players were also challenged or defeated, while top seeds maintained their winning streaks.
Industry leaders at an AIMA panel discussion emphasised the need for businesses to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and invest in technologies like artificial intelligence to build resilience and achieve long-term growth. They highlighted the current era of uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and rapid regulatory changes, stressing that tactical responses are as crucial as long-term strategy.
The India U-20 men's football team has concluded its preparations for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers with an unbeaten run in four friendly matches, securing three wins and a draw without conceding any goals. The team is now heading to Uzbekistan for the crucial qualifiers, aiming for a strong performance.
Tanya Chaudhary shattered the women's hammer throw national record with a distance of 68.35m at the Indian Athletics Series Final. Concurrently, Avinash Sable marked a triumphant return to the 3000m steeplechase, winning his first race in over a year. Both athletes are part of India's Asian Games contingent, with Sable also eyeing a 5000m entry. The event saw a lucrative prize fund, highlighting significant performances across various disciplines.
Tanya Chaudhary shattered the women's hammer throw national record with a 68.35m throw at the Indian Athletics Series Final, while Avinash Sable secured an emphatic win in the men's 3000m steeplechase in his first race in over a year. Both athletes, who are part of the Asian Games team, received Rs 1 lakh prize money from the lucrative event. Chaudhary expressed her long-standing pursuit of the record and her focus on technique, while Sable aims to compete in both 3000m steeplechase and 5000m at the Asian Games after recovering from an ACL surgery.
Almost all of India's Asian Games-bound track and field athletes, including star steeplechaser Avinash Sable and javelin thrower Yashvir Singh, will participate in the Indian Athletics Series Final. This invitational event, featuring a total prize fund of Rs 65 lakh, serves as a crucial tune-up for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, with most of the 77-member squad competing.
India has announced its 23-member squad for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tashkent, with eight players omitted from the initial camp. The team, led by Mahesh Gawali, will compete against Syria, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh from August 31 to September 6, aiming for qualification to the main tournament in China in 2027.
Defending champions NorthEast United FC are set to face 17-time winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the second semifinal of the Durand Cup. NorthEast United, chasing a third consecutive title, made a strong comeback in their quarterfinal, while Mohun Bagan advanced via a penalty shootout after a solid defensive campaign. Both teams are fully fit and ready for a challenging encounter.
India's top 400m runners, including Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi and Jay Kumar, view the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as a more challenging competition than the Asian Games. They believe the higher standard of competition, especially from Australia and England, will serve as an ideal proving ground to improve their performance and achieve personal bests ahead of the continental showpiece.
India's top 400m runners, including Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi and Jay Kumar, view the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as a more challenging competition than the Asian Games. They believe the higher standard of competition, especially from Australia and England, will serve as an ideal proving ground to improve their performance and achieve personal bests ahead of the continental showpiece.
Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat won a gold medal in the men's 57kg freestyle category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos and Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. Deepak also secured a bronze in the 61kg category, with two more Indian wrestlers vying for podium finishes.
Indian athletes delivered a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games, securing multiple medals. Weightlifter Harjinder Kaur and long-distance runner Gulveer Singh both clinched silver medals, with Harjinder setting new Games records and Gulveer making history in the 10,000m event. Additionally, three Indian boxers advanced to the semifinals, guaranteeing at least bronze medals for the country.
Hansika Lamba won a silver medal in the women's 55kg category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos & Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. Her performance, along with two bronze medals from Vishal Kaliraman and Rajat Ruhal, increased India's total medal count to five, following earlier wins by Aman Sehrawat and Deepak.
A 24-member Indian fencing contingent, comprising 12 men and 12 women athletes, is set to compete in the Senior World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong. The team will participate across Epee, Foil, and Sabre disciplines in both individual and team formats, aiming to make a mark on the global stage.
A 19-year-old man in Gurugram allegedly died by suicide after his family discovered he was in a live-in relationship. Vishal, who lived with a woman in a rented accommodation, reportedly experienced mental stress after the revelation. Police are investigating the incident.
A dispute among three friends in Moradabad's Khanpura village escalated into a fatal shooting, leaving one 22-year-old man dead and another seriously injured. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and are investigating the cause of the altercation.
South Korea, Japan, and China dominated the opening day of the Senior Asian Fencing Championships in New Delhi, securing all medals. Host nation India, despite fielding several fencers in both men's sabre and women's foil events, failed to secure any podium finishes, with their top performers placing 20th and 22nd respectively.
A 41-year-old man in Faridabad allegedly drowned himself in a canal after his wife stopped him from drinking alcohol. The man, reportedly an alcoholic and unemployed, had frequent fights with his wife, who supported the family by working as a teacher.
Delhi Police's Crime Branch has arrested two alleged members of the Tillu Tajpuria gang, Vishal Pandit and Deepanshu, in Outer Delhi. The arrests, which included the seizure of illegal firearms and a car, revealed their involvement in gathering intelligence on the rival Gogi gang and their connection to the ongoing gang war, intensified by Tillu Tajpuria's killing in Tihar jail.
BJP workers in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, staged a sit-in protest and recited the Hanuman Chalisa at a police station, alleging inaction in arresting accused individuals involved in the assault of a BJP leader. The protest followed an alleged attack on BJP city vice-president Jayant Singh Dharmu. Police have registered a case and assured prompt action.
rediffGURU Vishal Bisht, founder and CEO of IT services provider Marksman Technologies, recommends strategies to build a successful brand.
Haryana showcased its wrestling prowess by sweeping all three overall team titles men's freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women's wrestling at the U-23 National Wrestling Championships held in Rohtak. The host state secured top honours with significant points, while Services Sports Control Board and Maharashtra also performed strongly, with individual athletes from various states claiming gold medals across different weight categories.
A police sub-inspector in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested for allegedly running an illegal extortion racket targeting local shopkeepers and operating an unauthorised parking scheme. The officer, Shashank Kaushik, is accused of using two history-sheeters, who are now absconding, to collect "protection money" from vendors. A departmental inquiry is underway, and an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A Delhi court has convicted a 26-year-old habitual offender, Manoj alias Monu, in a mobile phone snatching case within 19 days of the trial's commencement, demonstrating a fast-tracked judicial process.
We asked readers to list their favourite films from 2025, and we got an interesting range of movies that included blockbusters, well-reviewed films and a couple of surprises.
South Korea and Japan secured gold medals in the men's sabre and women's foil team events, respectively, at the Asian Senior Fencing Championships. Indian teams, despite facing strong competition, demonstrated grit and finished 10th overall, showing promising developmental strides for the future of Indian fencing.
A 19-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend in Uttar Pradesh after she became pregnant. Her skeletal remains were found in a forest near Lucknow. The accused has been arrested and was injured in an alleged encounter while attempting to escape police custody.
Police in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, have registered a case against a man for allegedly making abusive remarks against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during an argument at a petrol pump, following a viral video of the incident.
Kushinagar police busted an international fraud syndicate that allegedly lured Nepali citizens with false promises of jobs and higher education, arresting ten members and rescuing 453 Nepali nationals.
A 25-year-old man in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly committed suicide due to pressure to marry his widowed sister-in-law. A video surfaced where the man claimed he was being coerced into the marriage, leading to mental distress.
Former World Championships silver medallist Deepak Punia secured his place in the Indian team for the Asian Games after winning the 97kg freestyle competition at the selection trials. Other winners included Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal.
Three members of a family were killed in Faridabad after being hit by a speeding truck. The victims were walking towards the highway when the incident occurred. Police have registered an FIR and are searching for the truck driver.
Indian players enjoyed a successful opening day at the SM Krishna Memorial Open, with Manish Sureshkumar's upset victory over top seed Keegan Smith headlining the action. Several other Indian players also progressed to the next round after impressive performances.
