Spain returned to winning form with a strong 3-0 victory over Austria, as Lamine Yamal's return from injury proved key in lifting Luis de la Fuente's side back to their best.
Nagalakshmi, mother of Indian Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, shares insights into her son's success following his Norway Chess 2026 triumph, emphasising hard work and enjoying the process. She also discusses the siblings' journey into chess, their mutual support, and the significant influence of Viswanathan Anand.
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa began his Zagreb Grand Chess Tour campaign with an aggressive victory over top seed Vincent Keymer, showcasing a masterclass performance. While Praggnanandhaa holds a strong position, World Champion D Gukesh experienced mixed results, and Firouzja Alireza currently leads the tournament.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured the All India Football Federation of full government support to host India's biggest-ever international football fixture against five-time World Cup champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. This historic match will be India's first against a top-five FIFA-ranked nation, offering crucial exposure to the national team despite initial concerns over crowd management.
Indian batter Rohit Sharma lauded former fielding coach T Dilip for his significant contributions, including two T20 World Cup wins and the Champions Trophy, calling him a 'legend' and a 'workhorse' who 'created magic within the group.' Dilip, who served from 2021 until recently, expressed gratitude for his tenure, especially cherishing the popular fielding medal ceremony.
Indian wushu player Aparna won a gold medal in the women's 52kg category at the 11th Sanda World Cup in Macau, defeating Vietnam's Thi Phuong Nga Ngo in the final.
India's young shooters added five more medals to their kitty, including two gold on Friday taking the tally to 21 medals to remain at the top of the standings -- 13 gold, two silver and six bronze.
The Indian men's table tennis team began their World Team Table Tennis Championships campaign with a 3-0 victory over Tunisia, while the women's team received a walkover.
Indian boxers have made significant strides in the latest World Boxing rankings, with Jaismine Lamboria reaching the top spot in the women's 57kg category. Several other Indian athletes, including Priya Ghanghas and Vishvanath Suresh, have broken into the top three, showcasing India's growing strength in both men's and women's boxing globally.
Australia is set to host Bangladesh in a two-match Test series in the country's tropical north, marking the first time since 2003.
Yogesh Kathuniya won yet another silver medal in the men's F56 discus throw event at the World Para Athletics Championships.
World champion boxer Jaismine Lamboria clinched a gold medal in the women's 57kg category at the Commonwealth Games, overcoming a severe illness that included high fever, concussion, and hospitalisation just weeks before the event. Her victory marks a remarkable comeback, improving on her previous bronze medal, and highlights her resilience despite disrupted training and mental challenges.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Soman Rana has highlighted the critical need for increased corporate support and permanent jobs for Indian para-athletes. He stressed that financial security is vital for athletes to focus on training and achieve consistent international success, including at events like the Paralympics and Para Asian Games. His views were echoed by PCI president Devendra Jhajharia and M3M Foundation chairperson Payal Kanodia, who noted the growing recognition and support for the Paralympic movement in India.
TVS Motor Company has launched the TVS Apache Junior Programme, a new initiative to identify and train young racing talent aged 10-14 years. The programme, conducted at the Madras International Karting Arena, provides structured training using purpose-built TVS Apache RR 200 Mini motorcycles, aiming to create a clear pathway for aspiring riders into professional motorsport.
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, renowned for his success with Chennai Super Kings, has been appointed England's new Test head coach, with Joe Root returning as captain after a comprehensive recruitment process by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Malaysia's Sepang circuit will host the rescheduled 'Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia' on October 4, Formula One announced, stepping in after the original April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to the Iran war and Middle East situation.
Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala began the Cadillac Championship with a 3-under 69, placing him in the top 10, while Cameron Young leads the field with an impressive 64.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted India's growing global sporting stature, evidenced by the increasing number of international events the country is hosting. He announced that India is set to host 36 international events between January 2025 and June 2026, along with 9 events this year and 19 in 2027-2028. Mandaviya also spoke about government support for athletes, transparent selection processes for major events like the Commonwealth Games, and improved domestic athletic performances, citing 26 national records broken in Indian athletics recently.
Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen will lead the Indian contingent at the Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia.
Sharmila Dhankar, overcoming polio and an abusive marriage, made history by winning India's first para-athletics gold medal in 20 years at the Commonwealth Games in the women's shot put F57 event. Her compatriot Shilpa Shyla also secured a bronze after a protest. Dhankar's inspiring journey from Haryana to international success, supported by her family and second husband, highlights her remarkable resilience and dedication to para-athletics.
Reigning world champion D Gukesh is not ruffled by the barrage of criticism that has come his way in the past 18 months as the young Indian Grandmaster believes all of it is justified given his underwhelming form.
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.
Indian golfer Aditi Ashok finished tied for 51st at the JM Eagle LA Championship after struggling with a four-over 76 in the final round, marred by an early triple bogey. Hannah Green won the championship after a comeback victory.
Trap shooter Zoravar Singh, buoyed by his World Championships bronze, is now focused on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, emphasising relentless training and tactical analysis.
HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen secured impressive victories to advance to the second round of the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton tournament, while other Indian players faced setbacks.
Defending champion Sarah Chelangat and Harbert Kibet aim for Ugandan victories in the TCS World 10K, a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race. Chelangat is fit and seeks to improve her time, while Kibet's impressive form makes him a favourite. Challengers include Brenda Jepchirchir and Fantaye Belayneh in the women's race, and Rodrigue Kwizera and Gemechu Dida in the men's race.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has disbursed Rs 42.3 lakh in quarterly stipends to 42 promising young chess players across India. This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to alleviate financial burdens, support coaching and travel, and nurture future champions, aligning with a vision to strengthen grassroots chess development.
Neeraj Chopra has been included in India's 32-member Commonwealth Games athletics squad, subject to achieving the AFI qualification mark after recovering from a back injury. The Olympic champion is expected to return to competition within days.
All India junior ranking medallists Tanvi Patri and Abhinav Garg will spearhead the Indian contingent at the Badminton Asia Junior (U-19) championships in Yatsushiro, Japan, from June 26 to July 5. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is confident of a strong performance and multiple medals from the squad, which includes direct selections and players chosen through trials.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed confidence that Indian fencers will secure medals at the upcoming Asian Games and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He emphasized the need to popularize fencing in India, highlighting its potential to capture the youth's imagination and its significant medal opportunities at the Olympics. Rijiju also commented on the government's non-interference policy regarding sports federations' internal affairs, specifically addressing the Manika Batra selection issue.
Former Manchester City and Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has turned down the opportunity to coach the Italy national team, a source familiar with the discussions said on Friday, confirming media reports.
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room made 15 saves in the 0-0 draw with Ecuador -- the most in a 90-minute match in the World Cup history.
Indian wrestlers delivered a strong performance at the Budapest Ranking Series, securing a total of 12 medals.
Cameron Young leads the Cadillac Championship, while Indian golfers Akshay Bhatia and Sudarshan Yellamaraju faced challenges in the second round.
Already, the knives are out for Gautam Gambhir because of his poor record as coach in Test matches, and a potential defeat in Sri Lanka could prove to be the killer blow.
Indian trap shooters are aiming for a better performance at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier after a disappointing showing from the skeet team. Key athletes like Bhowneesh Mendiratta, Prithviraj Tondaiman, and Kynan Chenai are set to compete.
'We're going to play in a lot of different conditions over the next 12 months. It's going to require different efforts. It may not look like the traditional thing all the time.'
Manav Thakkar and Yashaswini Ghorpade secured their first senior national table tennis titles at the championships held in Indore, while Ankur Bhattacharjee and Suhana Saini won the mixed doubles final, and Divyanshi Bhowmick received the D Vishwa Trophy.
Seven-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez secured a commanding victory at the German Grand Prix, completing a Sachsenring double and significantly strengthening his position in the championship battle, now sitting third in the standings.
Bangladesh's Test squad for the upcoming series against Australia faces significant challenges with pace spearhead Ebadot Hossain unavailable due to personal reasons and Nahid Rana's participation uncertain due to injury. Despite these setbacks, the team remains optimistic about Litton Das's recovery and the batting unit's ability to perform, as they prepare with an early arrival and warm-up match in Darwin.
