Indian chess teams, both Open and Women's, face a significant challenge to defend their Chess Olympiad titles in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, after crucial losses and a historical 'winner's curse' where no Open section champion has successfully defended their title in the last five editions.
Spain's World Cup-winning defender Marcos Llorente, 31, has announced his retirement from international football after 27 caps, citing a deeply personal decision despite his young age and continued good form.
'Being the defending champions certainly gives us confidence, but every Olympiad is a new event and starts from scratch.'
Indian golf stars Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri will spearhead a 27-member Indian contingent at the USD four million DP World India Championship. They will compete against a formidable international field, including seven Major winners like Rory McIlroy, at the Delhi Golf Club, starting on Thursday.
Kenya's Charles Matata broke the course record to win the men's elite race at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, clocking 58 minutes and 52 seconds. Ethiopia's Wudinesh Alemu secured the women's elite title. Indian elite races were won by Shailesh Kushwaha and Ankita Dhyani, with significant prize money awarded across categories.
Punjab FC secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Odisha FC in their Indian Super League campaign opener. Messi Bouli scored a stoppage-time winner after both teams were level at 1-1 at half-time, giving Punjab FC an early lead and then the decisive goal.
The 15th NMDC Hyderabad Marathon saw over 12,000 participants, including 8,500 in the half marathon and 3,500 in the full marathon. Ethiopian runners Emane Seifu and Seboka Negusse won the Women's and Men's Elite categories respectively. A notable aspect was the participation of 184 tribal runners from Bastar, Chhattisgarh, supported by NMDC. The event also included 5K and Inclusive Runs with 6,500 participants.
Elite international and Indian runners are gearing up for the Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, with many targeting personal bests and sub-60 minute finishes. Two-time winner Birhanu Legese and 2023 runner-up Charles Mbatha Matata are among the top contenders, alongside Indian hopefuls Kartik Karkera and Kiran Matre. In the women's field, 2022 winner Irine Cheptai and India's Lili Das are also aiming for strong performances.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina stunned top seed Alexander Zverev in three sets to reach his second Masters 1000 final, where he will face Medvedev or Jodar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India's Asian Games medal-winners, including the gold-winning cricket teams, on Thursday. He praised their achievements, highlighting India's growing strength in sports and its ambition to become a credible host for major international events, including a bid for the 2036 Olympics. Modi also emphasised the government's support for athletes and urged medallists to mentor the next generation.
NorthEast United FC and Kerala Blasters FC, both coming off opening-match victories, are set to clash in a highly anticipated Indian Super League fixture in Guwahati on Sunday. Coaches Juan Pedro Benali and Ashley Westwood shared their strategies and expectations, with both teams aiming to build early-season momentum.
Shubhankar Sharma fired a seven-under 65 in the second round of the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship, establishing a four-shot lead. The Chandigarh golfer reached 11-under 133, with Brashwarpal Singh in second place and overnight leader Shaurya Bhattacharya slipping to third.
Chola Chiefs ended their five-match losing streak by defeating Prithviraaj Yodhas in a thrilling Archery Premier League Season 2 match decided by a shoot-off. The victory, secured by Alejandra Usquiano and Yuktha Sri Kondapavuluri, keeps their top-four playoff hopes alive.
Arsenal came from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1, with Riccardo Calafiori equalising before substitute Bruno Guimaraes struck the winner to lift the Gunners to second in the Premier League.
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.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty traded lower in early sessions due to profit-taking and significant foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, despite strong performance from IT stocks like Tech Mahindra. Track Sensex, Nifty on October 16.
The Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship has launched an Rs 11 lakh Player Development Scholarship. This initiative, supported by DCM Shriram Foundation, aims to nurture talent by providing financial aid to winners and runners-up across five singles categories, supplementing the existing prize money.
Manchester City began the post-Pep Guardiola era with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Bournemouth, sealed by Josko Gvardiol's stoppage-time VAR-approved winner.
Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique has stated that Manchester City deserve to keep their trophies, despite the Premier League club facing potential sanctions for alleged financial rule breaches. Enrique emphasised respecting the ongoing process but highlighted City's on-pitch performance.
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen defeated French Open winner Mirra Andreeva 7-5 6-4 on Sunday to become the first Chinese player to win the China Open. This victory marks Zheng's first WTA 1000 title and her first trophy of the year, following a recovery from an elbow injury.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened higher, extending their previous session's rally, driven by a decline in global oil prices, despite continued selling by Foreign Institutional Investors.
Maja Chwalinska overcame early nerves and a first-set deficit to defeat Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, capturing her maiden WTA Tour title at Wuhan.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty saw an early rebound, driven by strong performances from blue-chip HDFC Bank and major IT firms like HCL Tech, which reported a significant rise in net profit. Track Sensex, Nifty on October 13.
NorthEast United FC secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their Indian Super League season opener. Substitute Jithin M S scored in the 90+2nd minute, clinching all three points for the Highlanders in a closely fought home encounter against the defending champions.
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.
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon has announced a revised route for this year's edition, scheduled for Sunday. The change is due to ongoing protests near Rail Bhawan, Sansad Marg, and Patel Chowk, which were part of the traditional course. Organisers have communicated the new route to participants, while elite race timings and other run categories remain largely unaffected.
Test Twenty, cricket's new format, debuts in Colombo on November 14, with 160 young cricketers and boys' and girls' scores combining to decide one winner.
India's men's hockey team is the most successful in the Asian Champions Trophy, having won five titles since 2011. The article details each of their victories, including dramatic shootouts, a joint win, and recent comebacks, highlighting their consistent performance in the tournament.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty saw a sharp rebound in early trade, driven primarily by a rally in IT stocks and a decline in crude oil prices, even as global markets faced selling pressure due to US inflation concerns. Track Sensex and Nifty on
Former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new coach of the Netherlands national football team, signing a four-year deal. He has pledged to implement an attractive, dominant style of play while instilling a strong desire to win. Xavi aims to build a cohesive team from talented players and is ready to face the pressure of his new role, starting with a Nations League match against Germany.
The Krishna Punjab Raptors, spearheaded by Karandeep Kochhar, are set to compete in another round of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) in Hyderabad. The team, featuring a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, aims to make a significant impact as the competition intensifies. The article highlights the depth of the IGPL, showcasing various winners and promising young professionals.
Shaurya Bhattacharya opened with a sizzling six-under 66 to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship in Greater Noida. The 23-year-old, a three-time winner on the DP World PGTI, made seven birdies and one bogey. Shubhankar Sharma is in second place, while other golfers like Jamal Hossain, Dhruv Sheoran, and Manoj S share third. The tournament features a unique Pro-Am format.
An 18-member Indian boxing team has departed for Budva, Montenegro, to compete in the World U-19 Championships starting on October 18. The team includes medallists from the Asian U-19 Championships and aims to improve upon India's previous performance of 17 medals in the inaugural edition.
FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC played out a 1-1 draw in the second match of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season on Saturday. Irfan Yadwad gave Chennaiyin the lead in the 64th minute, but Chiki's headed equaliser in the 75th minute secured a point for FC Goa after both teams had chances, including hitting the woodwork.
Jasprit Bumrah ranked third in Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad's top 10 bowlers of the 21st century, ahead of Glenn McGrath and Muttiah Muralitharan, behind Warne and Anderson.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher for the second consecutive day, primarily driven by robust buying in IT stocks following strong quarterly results and positive global trends. Tech Mahindra notably surged over 8% after reporting a significant jump in net profit.
The DP World India Championship, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and DP World PGTI, is set to begin at the Delhi Golf Club on Thursday. The event features top international golfers like Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, alongside a strong Indian contingent including Saptak Talwar, Khalin Joshi, and Veer Ahlawat, who are vying for the DP World PGTI Order of Merit title and a spot on the DP World Tour.
Tejasswi Prakash brought a dose of boardroom attitude to the runway on October 15, turning showstopper for NIF Global's The Runway presentation at Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI 2026 in New Delhi.
Daniil Medvedev defeated Tommy Paul 6-3 1-6 6-3 to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, while Rafael Jodar made history by becoming the youngest semi-finalist after beating Casper Ruud 4-6 6-4 6-3. Medvedev will face Jodar next, with Alexander Zverev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina contesting the other semi-final.
The Sports Ministry has removed para-shooting coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal from India's Para Asian Games contingent following allegations of kickbacks and protests from athletes. The contingent of 166 athletes and 109 support staff is set to compete in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, starting October 18, with several prominent Paralympians included despite selection controversies.
