Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt expressed amusement rather than frustration upon learning that a robot in China had broken his 100-metres world record by almost a second, stating, 'It just made me smile.'
The Supreme Court has directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to issue a no-objection certificate and relieving order to international water sports coach Bilquis Mir, enabling her to join the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team as chief coach for the Asian Games. This ruling came after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticised the bureaucratic hurdles faced by Mir, highlighting systemic issues within the administration.
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship saw thrilling performances on its second day, with Audrey Werro defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson in the women's 800m and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden clocking the season's fastest time in the women's 100m. Other notable winners included Kenny Bednarek in the men's 100m, Collen Kebinatshipi and Marileidy Paulino in the 400m, Haruka Kitaguchi in javelin, Klaudia Kazimierska in 1500m, Miltiadis Tentoglou in long jump, and Sandi Morris in pole vault.
Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek secured double sprint gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, each winning the 100m and 200m titles and a $300,000 jackpot. Jefferson-Wooden's 200m time of 21.47 seconds made her the third fastest woman in history, while Bednarek, known as "Kung Fu Kenny," dominated the men's 200m. The event, designed for television, drew sellout crowds and featured other star athletes like Gianmarco Tamberi and Mondo Duplantis, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe noting its potential for future Olympic and World Championship elements.
Suraj Kumar Chand has won India's first men's singles gold medal in 16 years at the FISU World University Championship Squash, defeating Hungary's Benedek Takacs in a thrilling final. Spain's Marta Dominguez Fernandez also successfully defended her women's singles title.
The Indian women's wrestling contingent achieved significant success at the U-20 World Wrestling Championship in Bratislava, securing three medals. Mansi Lather earned a silver medal in the 68kg category, while Tanvi Magdum (57kg) and Komal (59kg) each contributed with bronze medals, showcasing India's growing prowess in junior wrestling.
The Supreme Court has intervened to allow international water sports coach Bilquis Mir to join the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team for the Asian Games in Japan. Overruling a Jammu and Kashmir administration order that denied her permission due to pending inquiries, the apex court emphasised the time-sensitive nature of sports administration and directed the issuance of a No Objection Certificate by September 15, 2026.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen made a stunning comeback from Achilles surgery to win the men's 5,000 metres at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, securing a $150,000 prize. Fellow star Mondo Duplantis also claimed a pole vault title, narrowly missing a world record. The new championship format aims to attract new fans with its high-stakes fields and glitzy production.
Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is embroiled in a controversy with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for travelling to South Africa for training without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC). This unapproved travel could impact his participation in upcoming international competitions like the World Ultimate Athletics Championship and the Asian Games.
Lando Norris won a thrilling Dutch GP for McLaren's third straight Zandvoort victory, while Kimi Antonelli finished second to extend his F1 championship lead.
Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has expressed profound anguish over a devastating flash flood near the Tibet-Nepal border, stating that 77 members of an Isha Foundation Kailash pilgrimage group are unaccounted for after the disaster struck the Gyirong area in Tibet.
Formula One world champion Lando Norris has announced a contract extension with McLaren until at least the end of 2030, expressing his desire to spend his entire career with the team.
Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has announced his retirement from international football, concluding a career marked by numerous club and international accolades, including multiple Ballon d'Or awards and a World Cup title.
Liverpool secured a dramatic 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park, with Dominik Szoboszlai converting a stoppage-time penalty. The match also served as a tribute to the late Kevin Keegan, a shared hero for both clubs, with fans and former players honouring his legacy. Goals from Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock for Newcastle were cancelled out by Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai's late equaliser for Liverpool.
'Being the defending champions certainly gives us confidence, but every Olympiad is a new event and starts from scratch.'
As India's decline continued on global indices, the government first blamed methodology and then motives. This is where we remain today as we wish each other and ourselves a happy Independence Day, points out Aakar Patel.
The US Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which aims to punish Russia and its major petroleum product buyers, including China and India. The legislation allows the US President to impose 100 per cent tariffs on goods from the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, and also extends sanctions on Iran's energy sector. The bill, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, now moves to the House of Representatives for further approval.
McLaren's Lando Norris secured pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix, narrowly beating Lewis Hamilton, who is now under investigation for potentially impeding another driver during qualifying.
US Vice President JD Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone call to discuss expanding the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership, focusing on trade, defence, energy security, emerging technologies, and critical minerals. The discussion comes amidst rising tensions in West Asia and recent regional realignments, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation.
India is set to host the FISU World University Squash Championship in Mumbai from August 3, aiming for its first-ever gold medal. With home advantage and a bronze medallist from the previous edition, Suraj Chand, the team carries high expectations.
Formula One champion Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren's first victory of the season on Sunday while Mercedes's Kimi Antonelli extended his overall lead to 50 points.
A bipartisan group of US senators has introduced a comprehensive bill imposing extensive sanctions on Russia, with India identified as one of five countries that could incur tariffs for its continued purchase of Russian oil.
The bill, introduced on Thursday, was conceived by Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal and late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and has the support of over 60 lawmakers.
It is plain to see that the US senate bill's real objective is to derail India's time-tested strategic partnership with Russia, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Lionel Messi will face England for the first time in his career when Argentina meet the Three Lions in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, ending a 20-year wait for one of football's most anticipated match-ups.
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.
Brazil take on bogey team Norway in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, aiming for their first-ever victory over the Scandinavians as Erling Haaland leads Norway's bid for another historic upset.
Indian boxers, including Commonwealth Games-bound athletes, achieved a remarkable feat at the 56th Grand Prix Usti nad Labem in Czechia, securing a total of 12 medals, with eight gold, three silver, and one bronze. Both the men's and women's teams delivered commanding performances, showcasing their prowess ahead of major international competitions.
France's march into the World Cup last 16 has been built on an attacking force so relentless that comparisons with some of the greatest forward lines in football history are no longer sounding premature.
France captain Kylian Mbappe became his country's all-time leading scorer with a double against Senegal at the World Cup on Tuesday.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has alerted the Hungarian Embassy in New Delhi about forged documents submitted by individuals posing as wrestlers, raising concerns about a potential human trafficking attempt.
Packed with legendary players and remarkable milestones, these fascinating FIFA World Cup facts offer a glimpse into the tournament's rich history.
Japan v Tunisia marks 1,000th FIFA World Cup match
International water sports star Bilquis Mir has filed a contempt case against the Jammu and Kashmir sports department for withholding her salary for over two-and-a-half years, despite a tribunal order to release it.
Luis Enrique arrived in Paris in 2023 promising a cultural shift rather than instant glamour, with the Spaniard wanting a team in which collective sacrifice outweighed individual status, where the biggest names defended, pressed and suffered together. Two Champions League titles later, his players speak about him less as a coach than as an architect and people leader.
Anjali Sivaraman, daughter of playback singer Chitra Iyer, is set to portray the iconic Hungarian-Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil in Mira Nair's upcoming biopic Amri, following her breakout role in Netflix's Class and a diverse career in modelling and acting.
Paris St Germain retained the Champions League title after a penalty shootout victory over Arsenal, showcasing resilience and determination.
Indian shooters Palak and Mukesh Nelavalli won a gold medal and broke the world record in the 10m air pistol mixed team competition at the ISSF World Cup in Granada, Spain.
Johann Emmanuel, a 19-year-old from Chennai, has become the first Indian to win the Qatar Superstock 600 Championship (QSTK) after winning both races in the final round.
Veer Chotrani progresses to the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Open squash tournament, while other Indian players face defeat in the second round.
