Legendary Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, now coaching Uruguay, believes India can significantly improve its football standing despite cricket's dominance. He emphasizes the importance of grassroots development, strong domestic leagues, and consistent exposure to high-level international competition to nurture young talent and elevate the sport in the country. Forlan also shared his positive experiences with Indian football passion during his ISL stint.
India's Isharani Baruah, Malvika Bansod, and Unnati Hooda have progressed to the women's singles pre-quarterfinals of the Hylo Open Super 500 tournament in Germany after winning their respective round of 32 matches on Wednesday. Aakarshi Kashyap, however, was eliminated.
Kimi Antonelli can become Formula One's youngest world champion in Mexico City with a top-nine finish, while Sergio Perez celebrates his 300th start before home fans.
Nafees and Akanksha Gupta have both reached their second consecutive U-19 boys and girls finals, respectively, at the Sub-Junior and Junior National Squash Championship in Jaipur. Nafees will face Purav Rambhia, while Akanksha will compete against Unnati Tripathi for the title. Other notable results include upsets in the U-17 and U-15 categories.
Indian golfer Pranavi Urs, fresh from strong performances including a top-four finish at the Hero Women's Indian Open and an Asian Games gold, is set to compete in the USD 1.2 million Wistron Ladies Open in Chinese Taipei. She will face an experienced international field, including defending champion Yani Tseng and recent Indian Open winner Pornanong Phatlum.
On the sixth day of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad, Kenya defeated Canada 49-20, and Bangladesh triumphed over Australia 69-30, boosting their semifinal chances. Sri Lanka's men also secured a semifinal spot by beating England 50-22 and will face India next. Other winners included Malaysia, Uganda (men and women), and Bangladesh (women), with notable performances from key players across various matches.
Olympians Srihari Nataraj and Sajan Prakash are set to compete in the Nettakallappa Swimming Championship in Bengaluru from October 31 to November 1. The event features a Rs 1.5 million prize pool, a thrilling SKINS event, and a new Most Valuable Swimmers award with a Rs 2,00,000 prize purse.
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu is set to compete in the women's 53kg category at the IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China, marking her debut in this weight class. This move is strategic as her preferred 48kg/49kg categories will not feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While not expected to medal in this initial outing, the event serves as a crucial step in her Olympic qualification journey. Other Indian lifters, including Gyaneshwari Yadav and Lovepreet Singh, are also participating, aiming to improve their personal bests and earn ranking points for the upcoming Games.
India's U15 football team, the Blue Colts, lost 1-2 to Honduras in a Round of 32 Tier C match of the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival on Wednesday. Despite equalising in the second half, Honduras reclaimed the lead, pushing India into the lower bracket to compete for positions 81 to 96. India will next face Trinidad and Tobago.
Real Madrid has issued an apology to the Chinese people after French forward Kylian Mbappe referred to late Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a 'Chinese dictator' in a podcast, leading to a fierce backlash and Chinese brands ceasing cooperation with the player.
A 14-member Indian boxing contingent, including Commonwealth Games gold medallists Jaismine and Arundhati Choudhary, will participate in the 46th International Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland. The tournament, running from October 28 to November 2, aims to provide international exposure and build depth in Olympic weight categories for Indian pugilists.
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.
Indian squash player Anahat Singh has withdrawn from the Canadian Women's Open quarterfinal due to an unspecified injury. The 18-year-old, who has had a successful year on the PSA Tour, was set to face top seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir.
Romano Floriani Mussolini, great-grandson of former Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, scored his first Serie A goal for Lazio in a 6-2 victory over Sassuolo, marking a significant milestone in his football career.
Churchill Brothers are set to begin their new Indian Super League campaign against Mumbai City FC on Sunday. Head Coach Dimitris Dimitriou aims to establish a distinct footballing identity, while the team returns to the ISL after a season away, following a turbulent period in Indian football.
Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak secured historic silver medals for India at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana on Wednesday, marking the first time two Indian women reached the finals in the same edition. Neelam faced a formidable opponent in five-time world champion Yui Susaki, while Kajal narrowly lost a hard-fought bout against three-time European champion Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. Despite the disappointment of missing gold, these achievements represent a significant milestone for Indian women's wrestling. Other Indian wrestlers, including Rajnita, Nishu, Srishti, Neha Sangwan, and Tanu Sharma, faced defeats in earlier rounds.
Three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist Neeraj Yadav has died by suicide after consuming poison at his residence, with a postmortem examination underway at a Delhi hospital on Wednesday.
Hyderabad police detained three persons for alleged deer hunting in a Karnataka forest area. A .30-06 sporting rifle, ammunition, and night-vision equipment were seized from their vehicle. The suspects reportedly confessed to the hunting, and authorities are investigating the misuse of a licensed firearm and potential destruction of electronic evidence.
Indian para track and field athletes delivered a spectacular performance at the Asian Para Games, securing 22 medals, including five gold, on Wednesday. Sprinter Simran Sharma was a standout, clinching her second gold medal in the women's 100m T12 event, making her only the fourth Indian to win two golds in the same edition. Other gold medallists included Dilip Gavit, Praveen Kumar, Ayush Verma, and Sachin Khilari, contributing to India's total of 42 para-athletics medals.
Five-time champions India, fresh off a dominant win against Bangladesh, are set to face a youthful and unfamiliar Chinese side in their second Asian Champions Trophy round-robin match on Thursday. Coach Craig Fulton acknowledges the challenge of playing an unknown opponent, while veteran striker Mandeep Singh's hat-trick against Bangladesh signals his return to form.
The Indian Racing Festival is bringing FIA-level F4 Indian Championship and Indian Racing League races to the Buddh International Circuit on October 31 and November 1, marking the return of major motorsport to the venue after 13 years. The event will feature intense competition, including the F4 title battle where Luviwe Sambudla currently leads, and the second round of the IRL.
The Indian Racing Festival is set to make a grand return to the Buddh International Circuit after a 13-year hiatus, featuring the F4 Indian Championship and Indian Racing League on October 31 and November 1. The event will host crucial rounds for both championships, with the F4 title race intensifying and a new youngest winner emerging.
Luxury car buyers in India are spending lakhs -- and sometimes crores -- to make their cars truly their own, turning personalisation into a growing business opportunity for automakers.
Barcelona has been fined a modest 602 by the Spanish FA following a complaint from Atletico Madrid regarding their approach to striker Julian Alvarez without prior written notification.
Fourth-tier Fleetwood Town secured a stunning upset victory over 10-man Arsenal in the League Cup last 16, winning 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Aaron Loupalo-Bi put Fleetwood ahead, and despite Viktor Gyokeres levelling for Arsenal, a red card for Max Dowman hampered the Gunners. Fleetwood's goalkeeper Lynch was the hero, making crucial saves and denying Guimaraes in the shootout.
Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra congratulated Indian athletes for their Asian Games performance but stressed the critical need to enhance the country's high-performance sports ecosystem. He highlighted the urgency required for preparations, with the Los Angeles Olympics less than two years away, advocating for robust systems that support athletes from early stages to build resilience and ensure timely expert intervention.
India fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury. He is undergoing recovery and fitness tests, with the team management prioritising his readiness for Test cricket.
The Delhi Golf Club is set to host the star-studded DP World India Championship from October 15 to 18, featuring top golfers like Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, and other Major winners. The USD 4 million event, held at the historic venue, aims to boost golf's profile in India and offer young Indian players a chance to learn from the best.
Kylian Mbappe apologised to China after a Mao Zedong meme sparked backlash and commercial fallout, contrasting with his previous outspoken stance against extremism, racism and police violence.
Five-time champions India began their Asian Champions Trophy hockey campaign with a dominant 13-0 victory over Bangladesh. Mandeep Singh scored a hat-trick, while Harmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, and Hardik Singh each netted a brace, showcasing India's strong title defence.
Indian boxer Aditya secured a gold medal in the men's 55kg category at the World Boxing U-19 Championships in Budva, Montenegro, defeating Russia's Islam Magomedov. India concluded the championships with one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, despite Megha Sheokand's loss in her final bout.
The Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI) is advocating for increased government support and improved grassroots infrastructure to make golf more accessible to young players in India. WGAI president Kavita Singh and Hero MotoCorp executive vice-president Sanjay Bhan challenged the perception of golf as an elitist sport, highlighting the need for public facilities and resources to foster talent and change mindsets. They stressed that government intervention is crucial for developing the sport and creating career opportunities beyond playing.
Tamil Nadu's Neil Samraj R shattered the men's U18 200m national record at the National Junior Athletics Championships in Chennai on Tuesday, clocking 21.03 seconds. He also secured gold in the 100m with another national record and was named the best athlete in his category. The state of Tamil Nadu emerged as the overall team champions, with Bhavana G also setting a new meet record in the U20 women's 200m.
Shiven Agarwal and Riyansika Verma secured hard-fought victories in the quarterfinals of the Sub-Junior & Junior National Squash Championship in Jaipur on Tuesday. Agarwal won in five games in the U-17 category, while Verma also came from behind to win her U-17 match. Subhash Choudhary caused an upset in the U-19 boys' category, advancing to the semifinals.
Three Indian amateur golfers, Arkesh Bhatia, Anshul Mishra, and Ribhav Verma, are set to compete in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Te Arai, New Zealand, from October 29 to November 1. The prestigious tournament offers the winner invitations to the Masters Tournament and The Open, providing a significant opportunity for the region's top amateur talent.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma finished tied 11th at the Genesis Championship in South Korea with a score of 9-under par, improving his Race to Dubai rankings and securing conditional status on the DP World Tour. Japan's Yuto Katsuragawa won the tournament.
LIV Golf is facing an uncertain future, operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy with significantly reduced funding and prize money. Many prominent players are seeking to leave or have already left, while the PGA Tour and European Tour grapple with how to reintegrate defectors, leading to ongoing tension and debate over player loyalty and the future of professional golf.
Irish golf star Rory McIlroy met and applauded India's Asian Games gold-winning golfer Pranavi Urs for her "tremendous resilience and character" during her recent victory. McIlroy, in India for the DP World India Championships, praised Urs's ability to overcome a triple bogey to secure gold and her contribution to India's team silver.
India's Anahat Singh secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Women's Open squash tournament after defeating England's Saran Nghiem.
Indian women's wrestling achieved a historic milestone at the World Championships as Kajal Dhochak (76kg) and Neelam Sirohi (50kg) both reached their respective gold medal bouts.
