Former world No. 1 shuttler Saina Nehwal has stated that India's true measure as a 'sporting nation' will be its position in the global medals tally, not just hosting major tournaments. She highlighted the significant progress made by women in sports but emphasised the need for better financial backing, sponsorships, and comprehensive support systems including psychologists and proper coaching from an early age to nurture more champions.
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.
Star Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar underwent minor ligament reconstruction surgery on his right ankle in London following an injury sustained at the Asian Games last month. This marks his second major surgery, having previously missed the Paris Olympics due to a left knee injury in 2024. Sreeshankar is now targeting a return to competition next season, with his sights set on the 2027 World Championships and the LA 2028 Olympics.
Indian table tennis players had a strong showing at the Asian Games, with two women's doubles pairs, Sreeja Akula-Syndrela Das and Yashaswini Ghorpade-Diya Chitale, reaching the pre-quarterfinals. In men's singles, Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar also advanced to the next rounds.
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.
Brazil has announced a 26-member squad, featuring stars like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, and Marquinhos, for their historic first-ever football match against India on October 3 in Kolkata. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is overseeing a significant rebuild, integrating young talent with experienced players, with an eye on future tournaments like the 2028 Olympics and 2030 World Cup. The squad includes several debutants and a focus on current form, marking a new strategic direction for the Selecao.
The Mighty Marathas have won Archery Premier League Season 2, defeating Kakatiya Knights 6-2 in the grand final. Led by exceptional performances from Dhiraj Bommadevara and Mike Schloesser, the Marathas showcased resilience and strategic substitutions to claim the championship after bouncing back from an earlier qualifier loss.
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.
Kakatiya Knights secured a decisive 6-0 victory over Mighty Marathas in their final round-robin match of the Archery Premier League. This win serves as a strong precursor to their upcoming clash in the first qualifier on Sunday, where both teams will vie for a spot in the final. The Knights' compound archers were particularly impressive, maintaining perfect scores despite challenging conditions.
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 Thulasimathi Murugesan clinched a silver medal in the women's singles SU5 final at the Asian Para Games, losing to China's Yang Qiuxia. The Paris Paralympics silver medallist is also set to compete in two other finals, including mixed doubles and women's doubles.
Promising Indian golfer Arjun Prasad has officially joined the AM Green Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) ahead of its second half of the season, set to begin in late September. Prasad, 27, brings a strong performance record, including a recent professional title win and multiple top-10 finishes, making him a significant addition to the league's roster alongside other notable players.
Asian Games gold medalist wrestler Sujeet Kalkal's father, Dayanand, shared insights into his son's remarkable journey, highlighting his transition from football to wrestling, his academic excellence as a non-medical science topper, and his recent triumph at the Asian Games.
India's Anahat Singh, the reigning world junior champion, was defeated by Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam in the semifinals of the Silicon Valley squash tournament. This marks Anahat's third loss to Subramaniam, despite a strong performance earlier in the tournament where she beat world No. 3 Nour El Sherbini.
Shooter Mona Agarwal and jumps specialist Nishad Kumar, both double gold medallists, have been chosen as India's flag bearers for the closing ceremony of the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. Agarwal set Games and world records in shooting, while Kumar secured golds in high jump and long jump.
PGTI president Kapil Dev has called on authorities to facilitate fan access to the D P World India Championship amidst ongoing protests in Delhi. He also urged Gen Z to listen to others while acknowledging their intelligence, and advocated for shorter golf formats and improved infrastructure to boost the sport's popularity in India.
The Indian men's chess team secured a dominant 3.5-0.5 victory over Uzbekistan-2, placing them in sole second position at the 46th Chess Olympiad. The Indian women's team drew 2-2 with leaders China, maintaining their third-place standing. Both teams are well-positioned for medals as the tournament approaches its final stages.
Indian tennis players Sumit Nagal and Dhakshineswar Suresh have received challenging draws in the Asian Games men's singles competition, with both facing tough opponents early on. While India has no representation in women's singles, strong doubles pairings offer better medal prospects, with coaches expressing optimism.
The Delhi Billiards & Snooker Association, in collaboration with NSCI, is organising the NSCI Open 8-Ball Pool Tournament from September 26 to October 5 in New Delhi. The event will feature top players like Sourav Kothari, Sundeep Gulati, Kamal Chawla, Vidya Pillai, and Chitra Magimairaj, competing for a prize purse of Rs five lakh.
Nihal Cheema, Aadya Kaushal, and Aahana Shrivastava delivered stellar performances at the third leg of the US Kids Golf New Delhi Tour in Gurugram. Nihal won the Boys 9 category with a bogey-free 66, Aadya claimed the Girls 11-12 title with a 69, and Aahana secured the Girls 9-10 section with a 71, showcasing promising talent in junior golf.
Gautam Gambhir criticised the batting-friendly Guwahati pitch after India chased West Indies' 405, saying bowlers need more help in ODIs.
Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri has carded a five-under 66 to share the third-round lead at the Link Hong Kong Open. He is now in contention for his first worldwide title since 2015, joining three other golfers at 14-under ahead of Sunday's final round.
Vithya Ramraj won three medals at the Asian Games and broke P T Usha's 42-year-old record. Her twin Nithya, an international athlete herself, ruled out of the Games by an injury, looks back at their journey from a rented home to a podium finish.
The new Champions League season kicked off with star performances from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, securing wins for Real Madrid and Manchester City, respectively. Jose Mourinho's Madrid overcame Inter Milan, while City defeated Porto. Other matches saw Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Aston Villa, and AEK Athens also claim victories.
Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman shot a three-under 69 to lead the first round of the PGTI Qualifying School in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. Four Indian golfers are tied for second place. The tournament will see the top 48 players earn full cards for the 2026-27 PGTI season after four rounds.
Indian chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who turned 21, has already amassed a remarkable list of achievements, including becoming a Grandmaster at 12, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 4, and recently winning the Grand Chess Tour St Louis Rapid and Blitz title.
Golf star Rory McIlroy has voiced strong support for the DP World Tour's recent decisions concerning players involved with LIV Golf. He backed the Tour's move to restrict LIV players from its 2027 season and its right to protect business interests, while also highlighting the Tour's opportunity to showcase international golf during less crowded periods in the PGA Tour schedule. McIlroy, a DP World global ambassador, expressed his commitment to the Tour and shared his thoughts on returning to the Delhi Golf Club.
Indian para-badminton players, including Paralympics medallists Suhas Yathiraj and Krishna Nagar, have made a strong start at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. Suhas Yathiraj secured a straight-game victory in men's singles SL4, while Krishna Nagar also won his opening SH6 match. Other Indian shuttlers also registered wins across various categories, though some pairs faced defeats.
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.
Indian badminton players experienced a mixed day at the French Open. While Asmita Chaliha and Tanvi Sharma secured victories in their women's singles matches, the men's doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with the women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, were eliminated in their respective round of 32 contests.
India's Pranav Soorma secured a gold medal in the discus throw at the Asian Para Games, setting a new Asian record in his debut major competition for the event. Compatriot Ram Ratan Singh won silver, ensuring a 1-2 finish for India in the combined F51/52/53 event. Soorma, who previously won gold in club throw, highlighted the technical challenges of adapting to discus throw and the extensive practice involved.
The popular Australian Open 1 Point Slam event will feature top tennis stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff, and Naomi Osaka competing against amateur players for a million-dollar prize ahead of the Grand Slam. The unique knockout contest, where a single point decides progression, has gained significant fan interest since its introduction.
Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra Eala defeated Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the third round of the U.S. Open. Eala, who previously lost to Oliynykova, showcased a dominant performance, particularly in the first set, and attributed her win to patience and consistent focus. Her victory was celebrated by a strong Filipino contingent in New York.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has withdrawn from the Ningbo Open in China due to a thigh injury, effectively ending her chances of qualifying for the season-ending WTA Finals.
India's P V Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, overcame a strong challenge from Thailand's Supanida Katethong in a three-game thriller at the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament on Wednesday. Sindhu won 21-14, 8-21, 23-21, admitting it was not her best performance but expressing relief at advancing. In other matches, Unnati Hooda exited, while Ayush Shetty defeated Kidambi Srikanth, and Lakshya Sen gave a walkover.
McLaren Racing is selling five fully-functioning Formula One cars, including those driven by champions Lewis Hamilton and Ayrton Senna, and one tested by Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, with prices expected to reach tens of millions of dollars.
Indian shooters, including Asian Games gold medallists Neeru Dhanda and Suruchi Singh, are attending a preparatory camp in New Delhi for the upcoming ISSF World Championship in Doha. This championship is crucial as it marks the beginning of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification cycle.
Panama's coach, Thomas Christiansen, suggests India can learn from Panama's football growth despite baseball's dominance, highlighting the need for league improvement, better facilities, and attracting top players to boost football's popularity and global standing. Midfielder Carlos Harvey also advocates for bringing in star players to increase visibility.
Archer Kumkum Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal have been named the first recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award, respectively, by the Indian Olympic Association. These awards recognise their exceptional performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where Mohod secured two archery golds and Kalkal won gold in wrestling.
Seventeen-year-old table tennis sensation Syndrela Das has been called up to the senior women's side for the Asian Games. Ranked 99th globally, she aims for gold at the event and a rapid ascent into the top 50, attributing her success to rigorous training and a positive approach to pressure.
