The entire nation erupted in joy when captain Harmanpreet Kaur completed the decisive catch to dismiss Nadine de Klerk off Deepti's bowling in the 46th over.
Morocco confirmed their progress to the World Cup last 32 but twice had to come from behind to get the better of plucky Haiti with a 4-2 win in an action-packed game on Wednesday and fell short of topping Brazil in the Group C standings.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to feature a significant generational divide, with players spanning over 25 years in age. Mexico's Gilberto Mora, 17, will be the youngest, while Scotland's Craig Gordon, 43, will be the oldest. The tournament will showcase a mix of emerging talents and seasoned veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, with nations like Panama and Ivory Coast representing the oldest and youngest average squads, respectively.
Magnus Carlsen defeated D Gukesh at the Norway Chess tournament, while R Praggnanandhaa secured second place after beating Vincent Keymer. In the women's event, Divya Deshmukh lost to Anna Muzychuk, and Koneru Humpy continued to struggle.
The 34-year-old Neymar faces two to three more weeks on the sidelines.
Lionel Messi will lead defending champions Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after coach Lionel Scaloni named a 26-man squad featuring 17 players from the 2022 title-winning team.
Hussain stuck his neck out and suggested six-time champions Australia, tournament hosts England, reigning ICC Women's Cricket World Cup winners India and reigning title holders New Zealand would be the four teams most likely to reach the knockout stages.
D Gukesh defeated R Praggnanandhaa in a classical battle at the Norway Chess tournament, while Divya Deshmukh leads the women's section after a victory over China's Zhu Jiner.
Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat-trick as France made sure of top spot in World Cup Group I with a ruthless 4-1 win on Friday over a second-string Norway who like the French had already qualified for the next round of the tournament.
With Kylian Mbappe's depth and experience, economists predict France are tipped to edge Spain to lift World Cup.
Indian shuttler HS Prannoy defeated Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in a thrilling three-game match at the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton tournament. Other results included Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto progressing, while Kidambi Srikanth and Malvika Bansod were eliminated.
Bangladesh secured a landmark series victory over a second-string Australian side with a composed chase in a rain-affected second One-Day International in Dhaka on Thursday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match contest.
'There's no pressure of the Olympics but at the same time, I am not being complacent about it.'
Pakistan women's team head coach Wahab Riaz has insisted that his side will not compromise on playing an attacking brand of cricket during the T20 World Cup in England, beginning on Friday.
Japan's coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed confidence ahead of their World Cup last-32 clash against Brazil in Houston, stating his team will not be pushovers. He cited their previous 3-2 victory over Brazil as proof of their progress and readiness to challenge the five-time champions. Japan secured their spot by finishing second in Group F after a 1-1 draw with Sweden, a result Moriyasu strategically preserved. He also highlighted the significance of Japan's advancement for Asian football and the growth of the sport in his country.
Spain winger Lamine Yamal has been appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, becoming one of the youngest footballers to take on the global role ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Former wicketkeeper-batter Syed Kirmani revealed that he was in contention for India captaincy along with Dilip Vengsarkar ahead of the 1983 World Cup before the selection panel zeroed in on legendary Kapil Dev.
Former captain Diana Edulji believes openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma finding form quickly will be imperative and crucial to India's chances of winning the Women's T20 World Cup.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu secured her spot in the women's singles semi-finals of the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament after a dominant victory over Chen Su Yu. She will now face top seed Akane Yamaguchi.
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 begins in England with Australia chasing a seventh title and India targeting a historic double. England, South Africa and New Zealand add to what promises to be the most competitive edition yet.
D Gukesh showcased his World Championship preparations by defeating his title challenger, Javokhir Sindarov, and drawing with Wesley So at the Grand Chess Tour's Super Rapid and Blitz event.
Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand was awarded the Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) medal, joining a distinguished list of Indian sports legends. Anand expressed pride in being a catalyst for chess growth in India, receiving the honour from former India cricket captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa secured important wins in Round 7 of the Norway Chess tournament, while Divya Deshmukh defeated Koneru Humpy, boosting India's chances in the competition.
Former India coach WV Raman believes the current women's team is the strongest in the country's history and has all the ingredients to win a maiden T20 World Cup, provided the pace attack delivers in key moments.
Indian shooter Sakshi Padekar finished seventh in the 10m Air Rifle women's final at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. Serbia's Andelija Stevanovic won gold, while Japan's Nobata Misaki secured silver.
South Africa will aim for their first Test victory in India in more than 15 years.
Neeru Dhanda and Vivaan Kapoor won a bronze medal in the trap mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Almaty, Kazakhstan, marking their first World Cup podium finish in the Olympic event.
Russian Diana Shnaider caused a major upset at the French Open, defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
Sakshi Chaudhary overcame a series of setbacks, including a loss at the World Championships and missing out on Asian Championships selection, to secure her place at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after a strategic shift to the 51kg category.
India's singles challenge at the World Squash Championships concluded with the defeats of Ramit Tandon and Velavan Senthilkumar. Veer Chotrani is the only Indian left in the competition.
The Indian women's recurve team, consisting of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and Kumkum Mohod, secured a gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai, defeating China in a tense shoot-off. This victory marks India's first World Cup women's team gold since 2021 and follows a stunning semi-final win against South Korea.
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen faced a surprising defeat at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games trials, coinciding with widespread support among boxers for the reinstatement of the trial-based selection system.
Serena Williams' unexpected return to Wimbledon after a four-year absence is set to be the dominant storyline of the women's singles draw. Despite her age and time away from competitive singles, her presence adds significant intrigue to a tournament already featuring top contenders like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and rising star Mirra Andreeva. Her comeback has generated immense buzz, with experts debating her potential impact on the wide-open field.
World champion D Gukesh is set to compete in the prestigious Norway Chess tournament, facing a strong field including Magnus Carlsen and R Praggnanandhaa. The event, held in Oslo, features top players in both Open and Women's sections, with India having four representatives.
Sumit Antil, a two-time Paralympic gold medallist, credits Neeraj Chopra's advice at the World Para Championship for his world record-breaking javelin throw of 74.82m at the Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship in Bengaluru.
Lovlina Borgohain and Sakshi Chaudhary secured their spots for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after winning their respective selection trials.
Suruchi Inder Singh won gold and Esha Singh won silver in the women's 10m air pistol at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, boosting India to the top of the medal tally.
The Indian trio of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat, and Kumkum Mohod secured the women's recurve team gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai, defeating China in a tense shoot-off. India finished the campaign with two medals, including a bronze in the men's individual compound section.
Indian badminton stars Tanvi Sharma and Kidambi Srikanth, along with other compatriots, secured comfortable victories in their opening matches at the US Open badminton tournament. The wins mark a strong start for the Indian contingent in both singles and mixed doubles categories.
World Cup fever in Argentina, home of the defending champions, has boosted sales of counterfeit jerseys and soccer trading cards, sparking protests from retailers who are already under pressure from President Javier Milei's market-opening policies.
