The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
Sprinter Simran Sharma has been named India's new flag bearer for the Para Asian Games opening ceremony, replacing table tennis player Bhavina Patel. The change was made to ensure Patel gets adequate rest ahead of her crucial quarter-final match on October 19, as the journey to the venue is physically demanding.
The Sports Ministry conducted a review of India's Asian Games performance, scrutinising the lower-than-expected medal haul in athletics and badminton. Chaired by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the meeting addressed issues like injured athletes and future planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with a strong emphasis on federations delivering results and nurturing young talent.
India's teenage tennis sensation Maaya Rajeshwaran has made a significant mark on the professional circuit by winning the W35 Lagos tournament in Portugal, becoming the youngest Indian to achieve a pro singles title since Sania Mirza. The 17-year-old, who also secured the doubles crown, views this as just the beginning of her professional journey, aiming to compete in more senior events and improve her world ranking. She recently moved her training base to France and plans to focus on physical and technical improvements in the coming months.
India's track and field contingent delivered a stellar performance at the Asian Para Games, securing 22 medals, including five gold, and propelling the nation to fifth in the overall standings. Sprinter Simran, high-jumper Praveen Kumar, and shot-putter Sachin Khilari notably set new Games records, contributing significantly to India's medal tally across various para-sports.
Left-arm spinner Tanmay Baloda claimed six wickets for 32 runs, helping India Under-19 dismiss Australia for 174 on the opening day of the second Youth Test in Ahmedabad. India, however, lost both openers and ended the day at 38 for two, trailing by 136 runs, setting up an intriguing contest.
Indian kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat, known as the 'High Flyer' for his six-foot jumps, shared the origin of his nickname and his journey in the sport. He also expressed pride in being a flag bearer and India's ambition to defend its Asian Games gold medal in kabaddi.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India this week underscores the complex dynamics of global energy policy, as Washington re-evaluates sanctions on Russian oil buyers amidst India's continued reliance on Russian crude.
Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the Indian batting unit for their lack of responsibility in chasing targets, specifically after their loss to West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Despite Sanju Samson's fifty, India failed to chase 247. Gavaskar also commented on individual performances and defended the inexperienced bowlers, while Cheteshwar Pujara praised West Indies skipper Shai Hope's balanced batting approach.
Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc likens winning upcoming away Test series in South Africa, India, and England, plus retaining the ODI World Cup, to Rory McIlroy's golf Grand Slam, acknowledging the team's ageing profile and the immense challenge ahead.
Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir, 11, has signed with Kart Republic (KR), a prestigious team led by Dino Chiesa, known for nurturing Formula 1 champions like Lewis Hamilton. This move provides Mir a significant platform to advance her career in the OKJ category, with Chiesa praising her raw speed and potential to achieve great things for India.
Shreyas Iyer-led India, unbeaten in their last two T20 series in New Zealand, will rely on their formidable batting lineup to overcome the relatively inexperienced New Zealand side in the upcoming five-match T20I series, despite having minimal time to acclimatise.
Lalremsiami Hmarzote, Mizoram's first female Olympian and Asian Games medallist, is now India's offensive lynchpin, aiming for a first Asian Games hockey gold since 1982, after overcoming initial family resistance and training on dirt pitches.
Indian squash players Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh both secured silver medals at the Asian Games after losing their respective singles finals to Malaysian opponents.
Bollywood actor Imran Khan has launched a legal challenge in the Bombay high court against a police notice ordering him to leave India by October 28, following his participation in a political protest and a concurrent review of his OCI status.
India is set to field a strong contingent at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with key athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain leading the charge to defend titles in cricket, kabaddi, and men's hockey.
Spanish golfer Eugenio Chacarra won the DP World India Championship by two shots at the Delhi Golf Club, marking his third DP World Tour title of the season and moving him to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings. Anirban Lahiri was the best Indian finisher at tied 23rd, attributing his performance to a lack of competitive golf. Yuvraj Sandhu finished tied 34th, reflecting on his maturing season.
Indian golfers Gaganjeet Bhullar, Karandep Kochhar, and Shiv Kapur are set to compete against a formidable international field, including Major champions Rory McIlroy and Ryan Fox, at the DP World India Championship in New Delhi. The tournament, featuring seven Major champions, will test the Indian contingent's recent form and experience on home turf.
Kumkum Mohod from Amravati, Maharashtra, has won India's first-ever women's individual recurve archery gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Her family and community are overjoyed, and her father expresses confidence in her future Olympic aspirations.
India A faces Australia A in the second unofficial One-Day International, aiming to bounce back after a significant loss in the opener. Key players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, and Sai Sudharsan are under pressure to perform, while Suryansh Shedge emerged as a promising all-rounder for India A.
India is set to host five-time world champions Brazil in a historic invitational football friendly in Kolkata. The match, while offering invaluable exposure for the Indian team, has also drawn criticism over its cost and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The event carries political significance and marks a key step in Brazil's rebuilding process.
Indian cricketers Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sree Charani, and Shafali Verma have been shortlisted for the ICC Men's and Women's Player of the Month awards for September, recognising their exceptional performances in recent international matches.
Five-time world champions Brazil have arrived in Kolkata for a high-profile friendly match against India.
'My comeback to films has nothing to do with the fact that I wanted money. I came back because of my kids, Rahul and Akshaye.'
Indian wushu player Roshibina Devi secured her second consecutive Asian Games silver medal, defeating Zhang Xiaoyu of China in the women's 60kg final. This achievement comes amidst controversy surrounding her inclusion in the squad, following accusations of unfair selection by omitted player Divyanshi Choudhary. Roshibina dismissed the allegations, attributing the decision to the federation, and expressed happiness with her medal despite the pre-Games disturbances. She also highlighted the need for Indian wushu players to improve their mental fortitude to compete with dominant Chinese athletes.
Two-time world champions Uruguay have arrived in Kolkata for their FIFA International Friendly against India on October 6, setting the stage for a week of exciting international football that also features a match between India and five-time world champions Brazil.
Seasoned kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat has been named India's male flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony, replacing shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor. Toor was unable to attend due to not receiving his ceremonial kit in time, a logistical issue stemming from the athletics team's acclimatisation camp near Tokyo.
Veer Ganapathy, son of renowned golfer Rahul Ganapathy, is set to represent Bengaluru Stallions in the AM Green IGPL 2026. The team, also featuring Trishul Chinnappa, Sunhit Bishnoi, and Sudhir Sharma, was unveiled for the second season of India's first franchise-based professional golf league. The IGPL aims to promote golf beyond elite circles and provide exposure to young talent.
An international friendly football match between India and Uruguay in Kolkata was halted for 34 minutes due to lightning and thunder. The score was 1-1 when play was suspended, with Anirudh Thapa scoring for India and Darwin Nunez for Uruguay.
The Mizoram government has announced a cash reward of Rs 40 lakh each for hockey players Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi, who were part of the Indian women's team that won gold at the Asian Games. Chief Minister Lalduhoma felicitated the athletes, highlighting their historic achievement for the state and the government's commitment to promoting hockey through schemes and infrastructure development.
Spain's Eugenio Chacarra holds a one-shot lead at the DP World India Championship after the second round, with six Indian golfers successfully making the cut. Om Prakash Chouhan is the best-placed Indian, while Yuvraj Sandhu made a remarkable comeback. Several major champions also qualified, but some prominent Indian names missed the cut, leaving a tightly packed leaderboard.
Four senior Indian hockey players Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, and Nilakanta Sharma are reportedly set to play their final matches for the country at the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy. This decision by Hockey India aims to bring in fresh talent and groom younger players for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, ensuring a smooth transition for the national team.
Mohammed Shami claimed a four-wicket haul and Ravindra Jadeja scored an unbeaten half-century, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were dismissed cheaply for a duck and four runs respectively on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season.
Manasi Joshi and Thulasimathi Murugesan secured India's first medal at the Asian Para Games by reaching the women's doubles SL3-SU5 semifinals. Tokyo Paralympics champion Krishna Nagar also advanced to the quarterfinals in men's singles SH6, alongside numerous other Indian victories in various singles and doubles categories, despite some setbacks.
India's Para Asian Games contingent received a formal send-off in New Delhi, with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launching the new Team India jersey. Prominent para-athletes, including flag bearer Pramod Bhagat, attended the ceremony. Mandaviya encouraged the athletes to win medals, assuring them of government support. Head coach Satyanarayana expressed confidence in medal prospects despite a reduced quota, while athletes like Suvarna Raj and Pramod Bhagat voiced their determination to secure medals.
World champions India, featuring a strong line-up of T20 stars, are set to face Pakistan in the men's gold-medal cricket clash at the Asian Games, a match where a silver medal would be considered a 'royal embarrassment' for India.
Australian golf sensation Min Woo Lee, a winner on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, is set to make his debut at the DP World India Championship in October. He will join an impressive lineup of international stars, including Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, and Ryan Fox, at the Delhi Golf Club for the USD 4 million tournament, which also features top Indian golfers.
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has clarified his controversial "can't feel that peace in India" remarks made on the Shekhar Tonite show, stating they were part of a scripted, humorous conversation and not intended to offend. He explained his comments were in the spirit of 'Gandhigiri' from his 'Munna Bhai' films, promoting love and togetherness.
Indian cricketers Manav Suthar, Auqib Nabi, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mayank Agarwal showcased strong performances in the English County Championship, with Suthar's seven-wicket haul leading Warwickshire to an innings victory.
Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and young Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha secured their spots in the women's singles quarterfinals of the French Open badminton tournament on Thursday. While Chaliha upset world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi, Sindhu defeated Riko Gunji. However, Ayush Shetty and Tanvi Sharma exited the tournament in their respective pre-quarterfinal matches.
