West Indies captain Shai Hope attributed his team's eight-wicket loss to India in the first T20I to a "chaotic" batting approach and a failure to properly assess conditions. Hope highlighted the need for ruthlessness against a quality side like India and acknowledged India's superior spin bowling and Shreyas Iyer's match-winning century.
Thailand's Puripol Boonson made history by winning the 200 metres gold, completing an Asian Games sprint double and matching the Asian record, while China's 18-year-old javelin sensation Yan Ziyi defeated an Olympic champion for her first gold.
India's medal tally at the Asian Games surged to 65, highlighted by rare silver medals in men's skiff sailing and Greco-Roman wrestling. The men's cricket and hockey teams secured their spots in the finals with impressive victories, while squash teams and compound archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru contributed bronze medals. Indian golfers are also in contention, and sepaktakraw guaranteed at least a bronze, showcasing a diverse sporting performance.
Baththa turns a school toilet into the setting for an unlikely redemption story, turning itself into one of 2026's warmest feel-good entertainers.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the Asian Games after dominant performances in their respective Group A fixtures. The men's team defeated Chinese Taipei 37-21, marking their fourth consecutive win, while the women's team topped their group by beating hosts Japan 50-25, remaining unbeaten. Both teams showcased strong offensive and defensive play, continuing India's legacy of dominance in Asian Games kabaddi.
India's men's cricket team is set to begin its Asian Games campaign against Afghanistan, but heavy rain is forecast, potentially leading to a washout. If the match is abandoned, India would advance to the semifinals due to higher seeding. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, features a strong contingent of international players aiming for a gold medal, following the women's team's recent victory.
West Indies batter Shai Hope credited former India captain MS Dhoni's advice for helping him stay patient and break down a massive 352-run chase against India, leading to his unbeaten 162 and a stunning five-wicket victory.
Dhiraj Bommadevara, India's top recurve archer, expresses no regrets despite missing an individual medal at his second Asian Games. He highlights his Games-record qualification score and team silver medals, viewing the experience as crucial for his preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Bommadevara emphasizes learning from past failures, the importance of a positive team environment, and the need to focus on improvement rather than dwelling on mistakes.
NEROCA FC defeated nine-man FC Raengdai 3-1 in the IndianOil Durand Cup, coming from behind with late goals after Raengdai had two players sent off. This win concluded NEROCA's Group D campaign, while Raengdai, despite the loss, had already qualified for the quarterfinals.
Shilpa Shetty danced to dhol beats during Ganpati visarjan with her family in Mumbai.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating China 1-0, also earning a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Captain Salima Tete and other team members expressed immense pride and confidence in their victory, which ended a 44-year wait for gold. Four players from Jharkhand received a grand welcome, highlighting the personal journeys and struggles behind their national achievement.
India finished fourth at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 85 medals, a significant dip from the previous edition's record haul. While traditional strongholds like shooting and athletics underperformed, breakthroughs in archery, wrestling, golf, boxing, hockey, and cricket showcased a broadening sporting base. The performance serves as a reality check on sustaining progress towards top global rankings and highlights areas for improvement in mental conditioning and preparation.
Defending champions India secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asian Games hockey semifinal, thanks to a last-minute goal by Abhishek. India initially led 3-0 but allowed Pakistan to stage a comeback, scoring three goals to level the score before Abhishek's decisive strike with just 45 seconds remaining. The win sends India to the final, though their second-half performance raised questions.
Opposition INDIA bloc leaders staged a sit-in at Rajghat, alleging a 'criminal conspiracy of vote chori' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding Kumar's resignation and seeking a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu.
Defending champion Jyothi Surekha Vennam was eliminated from the Asian Games individual compound archery competition by 14-year-old Korean Kang Yeonseo. Despite this setback, Indian debutants Chikitha Taniparthi and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru successfully advanced to the quarterfinals in their respective women's and men's events, showcasing strong performances including a shoot-off victory and an all-Indian clash.
Indian archer Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru defeated compatriot Sahil Jadhav in a close 149-148 contest at the Asian Games men's compound event, securing his spot in the quarterfinals. Both archers had previously overcome their initial opponents, with Thirumuru now set to face Chinese Taipei's Chieh-lun Chen.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated archers Chikitha Taniparthi, Vennam Jyothi Surekha, and Prithika Pradeep for winning a gold medal in the women's compound archery team event at the Asian Games 2026. He also extended wishes to all Indian athletes and highlighted the inspiring nature of their achievements, which also included a mixed team gold and an Olympic quota for the 2028 Olympics.
The Czech Republic secured their 12th Billie Jean King Cup title by defeating Ukraine 2-0 in the final. Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova delivered dominant singles victories, with Muchova sweeping Anhelina Kalinina and Noskova overcoming Elina Svitolina. This victory marks the Czechs' first title since 2018, solidifying their position as the second-most successful nation in the competition's history.
Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as the captain of the Indian women's cricket team across all formats, a decision acknowledged by the BCCI which lauded her leadership, particularly the 2025 Women's World Cup victory and Asian Games gold medals. Kaur expressed her commitment to continue playing for India, contributing as a senior player.
Despite significant efforts including slashed ticket prices and complimentary passes, Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium saw a disappointingly low turnout for India's friendly matches against Brazil and Uruguay, raising concerns about fan engagement in Indian football, even with legendary players like Diego Forlan present.
Indian tennis players Dhakshineswar Suresh and Sumit Nagal have made winning starts to their men's singles campaigns at the Asian Games, securing places in the pre-quarterfinals.
Indian men's and women's compound archery teams have successfully advanced to the semi-finals at the Asian Games after comfortable victories in their respective round of 16 and quarter-final matches. Both teams are set to face South Korea in the semi-finals on September 30, aiming to continue India's strong legacy in compound archery, following their clean sweep of gold medals at the previous Asian Games.
Ankush Panghal secured a gold medal in boxing at the Asian Games, contributing to India's best-ever gold medal performance in boxing at the event, alongside Lovlina Borgohain and Parveen Hooda. This achievement follows a strong showing at the recent Commonwealth Games.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal has progressed to the men's singles quarterfinals at the Asian Games after defeating Sergey Fomin. However, fellow Indian Dhakshineswar Suresh was eliminated in the third round. In men's doubles, the pair of N Sriram Balaji and Anirudh Chandrasekar lost their quarterfinal match, while another Indian duo is yet to play.
Punjab FC's IFA Shield campaign concluded after a narrow 3-4 defeat on penalties to defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the semi-final. The match remained goalless after 120 minutes of competitive play, with both teams creating chances before the shootout decided the winner.
India secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series against West Indies, largely due to Shubman Gill's record-breaking fastest double century and Rohit Sharma's significant milestones, including his 35th hundred and reaching 12,000 ODI runs. The match also saw the West Indies post their highest-ever ODI total and became the third highest aggregating match in ODI history.
India's national football team suffered a 6-1 defeat against two-time former world champions Uruguay in an international friendly in Kolkata.
India concluded its Asian Games campaign in Nagoya with a creditable fourth place, securing 85 medals, including 21 golds. The final days saw a surge in gold medals, notably from the cricket and hockey teams, and historic individual wins by 17-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod and golfer Pranavi Urs.
Tejaswin Shankar, India's national record holder in decathlon, secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games but expressed significant disappointment, stating he "lost the silver" rather than "won a bronze." He revealed his competitive drive, particularly against Japan's Yuma Muruyama, whom he beat in the final 1500m race. Shankar also discussed his demanding competition schedule and his strategy to achieve 8300 points for World Championships qualification, alongside his duties as a teaching assistant in the USA.
India overcame early setbacks in shooting and athletics to achieve a strong fourth-place finish at the Asian Games, matching its previous edition's ranking. A late surge in boxing, archery, wrestling, and hockey, alongside historic wins in golf and cricket, contributed significantly to the medal tally, despite a lower overall medal count compared to the 2022 edition.
Lionel Messi's final appearance for Argentina marks the end of a two-decade international career. Initially unknown to Argentine football authorities and facing skepticism, Messi's bond with his home country strengthened over time, culminating in World Cup glory. This retrospective explores his challenging journey from a Barcelona prodigy to an undisputed national icon.
The Indian men's chess team defeated Italy 3-1, with Nihal Sarin and D Gukesh securing key wins. The women's team also achieved a dominant 3.5-0.5 victory against Greece, maintaining their strong position in the 46th Chess Olympiad.
India face West Indies in the T20 opener as Gautam Gambhir weighs a key selection call between Sanju Samson and teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala's quest for an Asian Games gold medal and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification was thwarted by China's Wang Xiyu, who rallied to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory, consigning Eala to a second singles bronze.
Team Europe established a 3-1 lead over defending champions Team World on the opening day of the Laver Cup. Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik secured a crucial doubles victory, while Casper Ruud and Rafael Jodar also contributed wins for Europe. Brandon Nakashima secured Team World's only point. The competition continues with points increasing in value each day.
India's head coach Khalid Jamil took full responsibility for the national football team's heavy 1-6 defeat to Uruguay, refusing to blame the weather interruption or player concentration lapses. This loss, following a 0-4 defeat to Brazil, concluded India's FIFA international window with two significant losses. Jamil acknowledged his own mistakes and stressed the need for greater concentration and immediate problem-solving, while Uruguay coach Diego Forlan praised his team's adaptation and India's initial pressing.
India achieved a respectable fourth-place finish in the Asian Games medals tally, securing 85 medals including 21 gold, driven by a significant late surge in boxing, archery, wrestling, and hockey, despite initial setbacks in shooting and athletics.
Ishan Kishan's explosive unbeaten 80 and Jasprit Bumrah's two wicket burst were instrumental in guiding India to a 124-run win over Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's cricket semifinal on Thursday.
Indian badminton players Unnati Hooda and the mixed doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila secured comfortable first-round victories at the Asian Games. This positive start follows mixed results in the team events, where the men's team won bronze and the women's team did not medal.
The Indian men's volleyball team secured its second consecutive victory at the Asian Games, defeating Hong Kong, China 3-0 in a Pool C preliminary round match.
