Alpine APL Pipers secured the top position in the Global Chess League after defeating PBG Alaskan Knights. However, Ganges Grandmasters and FYERS American Gambits are close contenders. Ganges Grandmasters also had a strong win against the Pipers, while CheQ Mumba Masters kept their final hopes alive with a decisive victory over Triveni Continental Kings, featuring wins from top players like Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian.
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal believes his World Cup success with Spain and LaLiga title with Barcelona should give him the advantage over Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe in the race for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.
Elena Rybakina overpowered Coco Gauff in a fierce US Open semi-final on Thursday to secure a title showdown with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Emma Navarro, the 26th seed, achieved her third top-10 victory of the year by defeating seventh seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5 at the U.S. Open. Navarro's strong baseline play and Muchova's struggles with unforced errors contributed to the upset, propelling Navarro into the fourth round.
Opening batter Abhishek Sharma blasted a record-shattering 30-ball century, powering India to a massive 221-7 and sparking a total bowling collapse that sealed a 127-run series sweep against Afghanistan.
Kerala's Mijo Chacko Kurian secured a gold medal in the men's 400m event and a silver in the 200m at the 15th leg of the Indian Athletics Series in Meerut. The event also saw other athletes like Adesh Garsa, Sandeep Singh, Avantika Narale, Harita Bhadra, and Priya Mohan clinch top honours across various track and field disciplines, showcasing a strong performance from national athletes.
Indian shooter Rudrankksh Patil secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games in the men's 10m air rifle event, expressing mixed feelings about his performance and a long-standing frustration over not receiving the Arjuna Award despite his world champion status and multiple achievements. He also reflected on past setbacks and the mental challenges of elite sport.
Amsterdam Flames successfully chased down a challenging target of 177 runs, defeating Rotterdam Dockers by eight wickets in Match 17 of the European T20 Premier League. Bas de Leede and Tim David led the charge with unbeaten half-centuries.
Shubman Gill's quickfire 40 helped Fazilka Falcons secure a thrilling one-run victory over Ludhiana Lions in their Sher-e-Punjab T20 League match.
China's Zheng Qinwen achieved a remarkable comeback victory against American Madison Keys in the U.S. Open third round, recovering from a 5-0 deficit in the deciding set. This win marks a significant moment for Zheng, who has been battling a chronic right elbow injury and underwent surgery last year, forcing her to go through qualifying.
Tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams played what was likely their final U.S. Open doubles match, losing to Maya Joint and Chan Hao-ching in a thrilling three-set encounter. Despite the defeat, the match was a celebration of their illustrious careers, drawing 23,000 adoring fans to Arthur Ashe Stadium who cheered every point of the iconic sisters.
India's national security adviser was in Dhaka for roughly three-quarters of the day on Thursday to prepare the ground for Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to New Delhi.
The BRICS New Delhi Declaration condemned the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, advocating for zero tolerance towards state-sponsored cross-border terrorism. The declaration also addressed global terror, illegal financial flows, cyber fraud, and emphasised accountability for those involved in terror activities.
Bukayo Saka's second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory for Arsenal against Aston Villa, marking their second consecutive win in the Premier League season.
American tennis star Taylor Fritz was unexpectedly defeated by Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo in a five-set thriller during the third round of the U.S. Open, marking Fritz's earliest exit from his home major in four years. Cerundolo's improved play in the latter sets secured his first-ever spot in the U.S. Open fourth round.
A Kottayam Vigilance Court has sentenced former Kerala DGP Tomin J Thachankary to four years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30.84 lakh in a disproportionate assets case. This marks the first time a DGP-rank officer in Kerala has been convicted for such an offence, with the court finding him guilty of amassing wealth 135.80 per cent in excess of his known income between 2003 and 2007.
Ganges Grandmasters, led by Ian Nepomniachtchi, defeated defending champions Alpine APL Pipers to win their first Global Chess League title. Nepomniachtchi's crucial win against Magnus Carlsen in the final, coupled with Stavroula Tsolakidou's performance, sealed the victory. FYERS American Gambits secured third place in the tournament.
Chinese lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete caused a major upset at the U.S. Open, defeating 12th seed Rafael Jodar in straight sets. Jodar, a former junior champion, struggled with unforced errors, allowing Bu to secure his first-ever Grand Slam main-draw victory after entering the tournament as a last-minute replacement.
Veteran spinner Imran Tahir, at 47, attributes his continued success and record-breaking five-wicket haul in the Caribbean Premier League to the motivation provided by his son, who encourages him to play 'one more year'.
Frances Tiafoe mounted a stunning comeback at the U.S. Open, recovering from two sets and a break down to defeat fellow American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling five-set match, securing his spot in the semi-finals.
India is set to face Afghanistan in the second T20I, aiming to clinch the series despite ongoing concerns about a reliable fifth bowling option in the absence of Hardik Pandya. The team delivered a dominant performance in the first match, securing a seven-wicket victory.
UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Fenerbahce players Matteo Guendouzi and Mason Greenwood for allegedly making provocative gestures towards Olympique Lyonnais supporters during a Champions League playoff match, which led to a brawl.
England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum has issued a strong message to pacer Brydon Carse, urging him to address his off-field conduct and make responsible decisions if he wishes to return to the national squad. Carse was recently stood down from the Test squad after an arrest and has faced previous disciplinary action for betting regulation breaches.
Ben Shelton achieved a career-defining victory by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling five-set match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Shelton overcame losing the first set to win in a super tiebreak, ending Alcaraz's title defence in a dramatic upset.
American tennis star Frances Tiafoe defeated Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto in straight sets (6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5) to secure his spot in the third round of the U.S. Open. Tiafoe, a leading American contender, is aiming to end a 23-year drought for a home men's champion at the tournament, feeding off the energy of the partisan crowd.
Erling Haaland scored a VAR-approved goal to give 10-man Manchester City a 1-0 victory over rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite Phil Foden's red card, City secured the win, moving them to second in the Premier League table.
Home favourite Coco Gauff successfully began her U.S. Open title defence, defeating Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez 6-3 6-4 in the first round. Gauff, fresh from her Cincinnati Open victory, displayed strong form, overcoming a brief challenge from Sonmez to secure a comfortable win under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa for becoming the first Indian to win the Grand Chess Tour title. Praggnanandhaa achieved this historic victory by defeating Fabiano Caruana in the grand finale in St Louis, USA, inspiring many across the nation.
During the Asia Cup final on Sunday, the cameras panned to the guest box at the Dubai international stadium and showed BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia in conversation with Asian Cricket Council Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The Indian women's cricket team declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi, a decision confirmed by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla as a 'collective' stance. This follows a precedent set by the men's team after a terror attack, with the BCCI having communicated its position to the ACC in advance.
The Indian men's and women's hockey teams commence their Asian Games campaign in Japan, with both aiming for a gold medal to secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics. The men's team seeks to recover from a recent World Cup slump, while the women's team looks to build on their strong World Cup performance, facing significant challenges from opponents like China.
Indian squash sensation Anahat Singh, ranked 20th globally, secured a significant victory over world No. 11 Nele Gilis to reach the quarterfinals of the London Squash Classic. This marks a major achievement for the reigning world junior champion in the USD 144,000 PSA Gold event.
Michael Carrick faces his biggest test as Manchester United's permanent manager when rising expectations, an indifferent league start and last season's revival meet Manchester City in Sunday's derby.
Second seed Elena Rybakina ended Chinese qualifier Zheng Qinwen's stirring US Open run with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory on Wednesday, advancing to the semi-finals and securing the world number one ranking for the first time.
Following East Zone's Duleep Trophy victory, Captain Ishan Kishan lauded Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, praising his positive influence on and off the field.
Rahul Baitha and Rathika Suthanthira Seelan secured the men's and women's titles, respectively, at the 49th Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open Squash Tournament. Baitha overcame top seed Om Semwal in a hard-fought men's final, while Rathika dominated Akanksha Salunkhe in the women's summit clash. Junior titles were also decided, with Akanksha Gupta winning the girls' U-19 and Purav Rambhia taking the boys' U-19.
India's Shafali Verma has become the fastest and youngest player to reach 3,000 runs in Women's T20 International cricket during a match against Pakistan in Dubai.
Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, fresh off their China Masters victory, reveal their "no Plan B" philosophy, focusing on strengths and tactical adjustments. They attribute their success to improved physical condition post-World Championships and meticulous reviews, which helped them secure their 10th BWF World Tour title and boost confidence for the upcoming Asian Games.
The Indian men's and women's hockey teams are set to compete at the Asian Games in Kakamigahara, Japan, with the primary goal of winning gold to secure direct qualification for the Paris Olympics. The men's team aims to defend its title and overcome recent World Cup disappointment, while the women's team, buoyed by a strong World Cup performance, seeks only its second Asian Games gold. Both teams face tough competition, with the men needing to prove their dominance against regional rivals and the women confronting a strong Chinese side.
American tennis player Ben Shelton secured a hard-fought victory against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in the U.S. Open third round. Shelton, an eighth seed, was buoyed by a supportive home crowd in New York as he overcame a challenging match, winning 6-3 5-7 7-6(3) 7-5. This win keeps his hopes alive for ending a long U.S. men's major title drought.
