Ambitious India out to match Hangzhou benchmark in Nagoya.
Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan cyclist, made history by becoming the first Afghan woman to medal in an Asian Games cycling event, clinching silver in the road race. Her journey involved defying societal norms in Afghanistan, training in disguise, and eventually fleeing the country after the Taliban's return. Now based in Italy, Hashimi's medal symbolises hope and a fight for women's rights, aiming to inspire other Afghan women to pursue their dreams freely.
Hansika Lamba won a silver medal in the women's 55kg category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos & Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. Her performance, along with two bronze medals from Vishal Kaliraman and Rajat Ruhal, increased India's total medal count to five, following earlier wins by Aman Sehrawat and Deepak.
Lewis Hamilton celebrated his strongest performance yet in Ferrari red after finishing second at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, crediting behind-the-scenes changes and a fresh approach to car setup for finally unlocking his potential with the Italian team.
Indian rowers Balraj Panwar and Babu Lal Yadav are confident of winning gold medals at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, aiming to improve upon their previous performances and end India's wait for a rowing gold at the event.
Kerala's Ancy Sojan clinched the women's long jump title at the Indian Athletics Series Final, expressing strong confidence for the upcoming Asian Games where she aims to win gold and experience the national anthem on the podium.
The AFI chief also feels Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra's propensity to live in the moment and the remarkable consistency in his throws make him stand out among some of the best javelin exponents in the world.
India's Greco-Roman wrestlers had a successful start at the U23 Asian Championships, securing five medals, including two silver and three bronze, on the opening day of the competition.
Having done all the hard work with spectacular results, Indian players would look to hold their nerves in the final dash to finish at the podium in the World Women Chess Team Championships, in Mardin, Turkey.
The Asian Games, a major multi-sport event, has a long history of controversies extending beyond the sporting arena. From diplomatic disputes and selection rows to doping scandals and disputed decisions, these incidents have often highlighted the intersection of politics, national interests, and sports.
India's national record holder in shot put, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, is determined to breach the 22m mark, aiming to elevate the standard for future generations of Indian shot putters, drawing inspiration from Neeraj Chopra's impact on javelin throw. Despite a history of injuries, including a recent calf tear at the Commonwealth Games, Toor is now fit and focused on achieving a hat-trick of gold medals at the upcoming continental event.
Indian shooter Rudrankksh Patil secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games in the men's 10m air rifle event, expressing mixed feelings about his performance and a long-standing frustration over not receiving the Arjuna Award despite his world champion status and multiple achievements. He also reflected on past setbacks and the mental challenges of elite sport.
Indian driver Kush Maini secured his third podium of the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season, finishing second in the Feature Race at Hungaroring, Hungary. Despite starting from pole and building a significant lead, an ill-timed Virtual Safety Car during the pit sequence cost him the victory. Maini expressed satisfaction with his performance and aims for a win in Monza. He currently stands sixth in the drivers' standings.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the Indian men's volleyball team for winning the country's first-ever medal at the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup. India secured a bronze medal by defeating Bahrain, marking a historic achievement and reflecting the sport's growth in the nation. This success is expected to inspire young athletes and boost volleyball's development.
Force India reached the giddy heights of second place in the Formula One constructors' championship on Sunday after Mexican Sergio Perez secured only the second podium finish in the team's history.
India's top men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, fought hard to defeat Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, securing their spot in the China Masters Super 750 semifinals. This victory continues their strong performance following recent successes. Meanwhile, veteran Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth's journey in the men's singles quarter-finals concluded after a straight-games loss to Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu.
'To play my first World Cup match in front of a packed home ground against Pakistan felt like a dream. I can still feel the atmosphere, how the stadium was, how people reacted and how we won that match. That was the best moment for me as a youngster.'
Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Samrat Rana won a silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. The duo scored 483.6 in the final, finishing behind China's Qianxun Yao and Kai Hu.
Former world champion Fernando Alonso doubts he will make it onto the Formula One podium this season after also enduring his worst points tally last year, but has no immediate plans to retire.
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.
Mirabai Chanu will miss the Asian Championships due to a shoulder injury sustained during the National Championships. Komal Kohar is expected to replace her in the Indian team.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will not attempt the coveted 90kg snatch at the Commonwealth Games, instead prioritising the upcoming Asian Games where she aims to secure her first medal in the competition.
Ajith Narayana secured bronze medals in clean & jerk and overall at the Asian Senior Weightlifting Championships, marking another milestone for Indian weightlifting.
The Indian women's U18 hockey team secured the bronze medal at the Asia Cup, defeating Korea 3-0.
Indian para-badminton players, including Tokyo Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar, delivered an outstanding performance at the French Para Badminton International, securing multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals across various categories.
Mahindra Racing has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Formula E, extending its participation until at least the Gen4 era in 2030, despite other major manufacturers exiting the championship. CEO Frederic Bertrand highlights this as a continuation of Mahindra's strategy to use electric racing as a technology laboratory, focusing on software, hardware, and human capital development that feeds into its wider automotive business and showcases Indian manufacturing prowess on a global stage.
Mahindra Racing has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Formula E, extending its participation until at least the Gen4 era in 2030, despite other major manufacturers exiting the championship. CEO Frederic Bertrand highlights this as a continuation of Mahindra's strategy to use electric racing as a technology laboratory, focusing on software, hardware, and human capital development that feeds into its wider automotive business and showcases Indian manufacturing prowess on a global stage.
Froome had been the favourite to retain his title but he paid the price for the efforts he made to win the Giro d'Italia in May as he just failed to become the first man in 20 years to achieve the Giro-Tour double.
'We definitely have a lot of positives to take. Finishing second in the first race of the year is a good start. I think we had the pace to fight for the win.'
Ariha Pangambam has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in the senior women's individual event at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships. She secured the top spot with a score of 19.100, marking India's maiden gold in this event.
Sanjana secured a bronze medal in the women's 77kg category at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, adding to India's medal tally. She lifted a total of 220kg. China and North Korea secured gold and silver respectively.
Indian track and field athletes, including Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary, are using a specialised 'smart track' at SAI NCOE Bengaluru to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming Asian Games.
India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne discusses the team's preparations for the upcoming Asian Games, focusing on improved defence and sharpening goal-scoring skills. Skipper Salima Tete and senior player Savita Punia also share insights on the team's changed mindset and strategies, highlighting lessons learned from the recent Hockey World Cup.
India delivered a commanding performance at the World Boxing Cup 2026 (Stage 2) in Guiyang, China, securing six medals after a strong showing in the quarterfinals. Prachi (57kg), Minakshi (51kg), Deepak (70kg), and Nikhil (55kg) were among the Indian boxers who advanced to the semifinals, guaranteeing podium finishes.
French badminton players Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, in mixed doubles, and Alex Lanier, in men's singles, have made history by becoming the country's first world champions in the sport. Gicquel and Delrue defeated the world No. 1 Chinese pair, while Lanier dominated his Japanese opponent in their respective finals.
The Indian Golf Union has announced a six-member team for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, featuring experienced players like Aditi Ashok and Yuvraj Sandhu, with high hopes for podium finishes given India's strong history in the sport at the Games.
With this podium finish in the triple jump event, Indian athlete Selva Prabhu qualifies for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and the World Indoor Championships.
French Formula One driver Pierre Gasly secured his first career pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, driving for Alpine. He upset favourites like George Russell and Max Verstappen with a stunning final lap, marking a significant achievement for both Gasly and his team at the historic Monza circuit.
Indian swimmers Sajan Prakash and Aryan Nehra finished eighth in their respective finals at the Commonwealth Games, while para swimmer Swatik Patil secured fifth place in his event. Prakash competed in the men's 200m butterfly, Nehra in the men's 800m freestyle, and Patil in the men's 100m breaststroke SB9.
India's women's hockey team faces a challenging opening match against Olympic silver medallists China in the FIH Hockey World Cup. The crucial Pool D encounter in Amstelveen will set the tone for India's campaign, with both teams also set to meet at the upcoming Asian Games. India, buoyed by recent strong performances and an experienced squad, aims to improve on past World Cup finishes and secure a positive start against a formidable Chinese side.
