The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya with a high-tech opening ceremony. India's 501-member contingent is led by flag bearers Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat, with some events already underway, including India's women's cricket team reaching the semifinals and a teqball bronze medal opportunity.
The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya with a high-tech Opening Ceremony. India's 503-member contingent is being led by Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat. Early events have seen India's women's cricket team reach the semifinals and a medal opportunity in debutant sport teqball, building on India's record performance at the previous Games.
Thank you, Dear Readers, for sharing your pictures of Lord Ganesha.
Teqball has made its Asian Games debut in Nagoya, bringing together football skills, acrobatics and the fast-paced rallies of table tennis.
Indian boxer Sumit Kundu secured a unanimous 5-0 victory over Thailand's Bunjong Sinsiri in the 70kg opening round of the Asian Games. Kundu, who previously missed a medal at the Commonwealth Games, now advances to the pre-quarterfinals and aims for a gold medal.
Families from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Noida, Nagpur, and even Magdeburg in Germany share their Ganeshotsav 2026 celebrations with unique decorations, heartfelt prayers, and festive devotion.
Thank you, Dear Readers, for sharing your pictures of Lord Ganesha.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that dropping Sanju Samson from the England tour was his toughest decision, despite Samson being the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Gambhir explained that while Samson was temporarily replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the team prioritised returning to their established World Cup-winning combination. He also addressed the issue of player injuries and the challenge of Shubman Gill not having a full-strength team, emphasising the importance of long-term performance and providing opportunities for new talent.
An electrocution incident near a Ganapati pandal in Mumbai's Lalbaug area resulted in the deaths of an eight-year-old girl and another woman, with several others sustaining injuries. The tragedy occurred early Sunday amidst massive crowds during the ongoing Ganapati festival, prompting a swift response from emergency services.
Cricket giants India are set to play a historic one-off T20 International against Japan in Sano, a match seen as a pivotal moment for the sport's growth in the baseball-dominated country, coinciding with celebrations of 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
Jos Buttler's unbeaten half-century led England to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, completing a 3-0 T20 series whitewash and elevating England to the top of the T20 world rankings.
As India A face Australia A in a crucial four-day match, attention centers on left-handers Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan competing for top-order positions ahead of major Test series.
Quimcy Dsouza, a former Maharashtra footballer, made an unconventional journey to the Asian Games teqball semifinals after discovering the sport through Ronaldinho. Despite a defeat, she expressed pride in her performance and her role in pioneering teqball in India, highlighting the challenges of limited funding and her dedication to growing the sport.
India's Davis Cup team is set for a high-stakes Qualifier Round 2 clash against South Korea in Seoul, with players like Dhakshineswar Suresh and Sumit Nagal aiming to secure a historic Final 8 berth under the current format.
Suriya and Jyotika marked their 20th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in a touching ceremony.
Khalin Joshi retained his one-shot lead after the third round of the inaugural Nava Raipur Open, despite a challenging day on the course. Heavy rain forced the tournament to be played over the back nine, with Angad Cheema emerging as his closest competitor.
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus has identified key areas for improvement in the team's white-ball game following their T20I series loss to India. He stressed the need for better quality pitches at home to develop players and called for a significant increase in the team's strike rate and a reduction in dot balls, especially during the Powerplay.
Legendary Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has provided crucial insights into India's preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, advocating for squad continuity and consistent game time for players. He stressed the importance of avoiding last-minute changes and building belief within the chosen squad, drawing lessons from past tournament performances. Yuvraj also highlighted the need for a balanced team with match-winners, adaptable to various conditions, echoing Australia's successful World Cup strategy.
Shafali Verma produced a stunning 15-ball blitz as India crushed Japan by eight wickets with 15 overs to spare and stormed into the Asian Games semi-finals.
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has expressed his strong desire to play Test cricket, aiming for a spot in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, as the team grapples with significant struggles in its pace department.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced that the state government has allotted 30 acres of land to the Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) for establishing a modern cricket academy. This initiative aims to provide advanced training facilities for budding cricketers, complemented by the appointment of spotters to identify talent at the village level and the development of all-weather practice grounds.
Thank you, Dear Readers, for sharing your pictures of Lord Ganesha.
World junior champion Anahat Singh, now 18, is returning to the Asian Games with significantly higher stakes, as the women's singles gold medal offers direct Olympic qualification. Ranked world number 20, she is a strong medal contender and is embracing the pressure of competing for her country. Anahat faces formidable opponents like Satomi Watanbe and Sivasangari Subramaniam but is focused on refining her game and physical strength to achieve her goals.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has clarified that young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will need to wait for his T20I debut, prioritising consistent performers like Sanju Samson. Gambhir also addressed the impact of the Asian Games on the ODI squad selection for the upcoming West Indies series, highlighting opportunities for new talent.
India's women's cricket team is set to face Sri Lanka in the Asian Games final, aiming to secure a gold medal and extend their continental dominance. While India enters as favourites with strong performances, Sri Lanka, led by Chamari Athapaththu, will look to challenge their supremacy in what promises to be an exciting clash.
Asian Games debutant Kartik Karkera, an orthopaedic doctor, expresses confidence in securing a podium finish in the men's marathon despite facing faster international competitors. He believes the challenging heat and humidity will make it a tactical race, playing to his strengths, and prioritises a medal over a personal best. Karkera also highlights the advantage of his 1500m background and medical knowledge in his training.
Indian women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva is confident the team can secure an elusive gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games, building on their strong performance at the Commonwealth Games. Despite facing tough competition from powerhouses like China and Kazakhstan, Nieva believes the current squad is the best the country has seen and is capable of overcoming challenges, including previous struggles against Chinese opponents, by focusing on controlling bouts.
Defending champions India are set to face lower-ranked Sri Lanka in their second Pool A match of the Asian Games men's hockey competition.
The ceremonial torch for the Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, was handed over by FIDE Interim President Viswanathan Anand and AICF president Nitin Narang to Uzbek player Javokhir Sindarov. This event marks the official countdown to the prestigious team competition, continuing a tradition started by FIDE in 2022 to build excitement for the global chess event.
Veteran Indian shuttler H S Prannoy discusses his likely final Asian Games appearance and his long-term Olympic aspirations for LA 2028. Doubles specialist Chirag Shetty urges the Indian men's badminton team to go for gold, reflecting on their previous silver medal and the team's strong cohesion.
Quimcy D'Souza, a self-funded and self-coached Indian teqball player, competed at the Asian Games with the aim of popularising the sport in India. Despite narrowly missing out on two bronze medals, D'Souza views her journey as a crucial first step towards establishing teqball in the country and inspiring more athletes.
Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw and his fiance Akriti Agarwal have announced their separation just months after their engagement, citing 'different goals and circumstances' for their future.
Indian teqball player Quimcy D'Souza narrowly missed out on two bronze medals in women's singles and mixed doubles at a recent tournament in Nagoya. Despite suffering a back spasm and gluteus muscle strain, D'Souza displayed immense grit, pushing her opponents to the limit in back-to-back matches. Her performance, though unrewarded with a medal, highlights India's growing presence in the nascent sport of teqball.
The Sports Ministry has invested over Rs 702 crore in the last three years to prepare Indian athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, featuring 310 debutants.
'The FFI jury said Gondhal is the best film in terms of overall quality -- the sound, background music and cinematography.' 'In every aspect, I don't think this film can be compared to other Indian films. This may sound like overconfidence, but we know what we have done.'
Former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar has urged the government to maintain zero-fee UPI transactions for several more years, arguing that the benefits of UPI as a public good outweigh the costs. This comes amidst the government's recent decision to introduce a 0.4% fee on person-to-merchant UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, a move that has drawn criticism.
India's Davis Cup campaign ended in a 1-3 defeat against Korea, with Sumit Nagal attributing his loss to physical disadvantage against Kwon Soonwoo. Despite winning opening sets in initial singles matches, India failed to convert, leading to an insurmountable 0-2 deficit. Captain Rohit Rajpal emphasized collective responsibility and the impact of home advantage, while Nagal expressed his best effort despite the outcome.
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.
India needs to move beyond ease and cost of doing business and focus on the "speed of doing business" as the next leg of reforms to sustain economic growth and private investment, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President R Mukundan said.
Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav is determined to secure a podium finish at the upcoming Asian Games, stepping in after Neeraj Chopra's withdrawal due to injury. Yadav, who recently achieved a personal best of 87.68m, is focused on his rhythm and mindset to deliver his best performance and make the nation proud.
