Rediff

Abhishek Verma, India's top compound archer, is determined to return to the national team after missing the Asian Games. He aims for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India, despite India securing an Olympic quota in compound archery. Verma also shares insights on India's medal prospects and the importance of mixed team selection.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games, emphasising India's commitment to placing sport at the core of nation-building through significant investment in infrastructure and grassroots development. He highlighted India's indigenous sports like Mallakhamb, Yogasana, and Kalaripayattu, and discussed the country's ambition to host major international events, including the 2036 Olympic Games.

P V Sindhu and Lakshya Sen lead India's challenge at the Denmark Open Super 750, facing tough opening-round opponents. Sindhu is up against world No.1 An Se-young, while Sen takes on third seed Chou Tien Chen. Other Indian players like Kidambi Srikanth, Ayush Shetty, and doubles pairs also feature in the tournament, aiming for strong performances.

Manchester City silenced hostile Anfield with a 3-0 win over 10-man Liverpool, as Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored to extend their perfect league start.

The Indian women's football team suffered a heavy 0-8 defeat against Russia in their second international friendly in Kolkata. Russia displayed clinical finishing and exploited India's defensive weaknesses, scoring five goals in the first half and adding three more after the break, with multiple players bagging braces.

Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari after missing a crucial pit entry during a Virtual Safety Car period at the Singapore Grand Prix, which prevented the team from securing a double podium. His decision to stay out led to significant tyre degradation and a drop to sixth place, costing valuable points. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur confirmed there was no miscommunication and acknowledged the missed opportunity.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured a commanding victory at the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position, marking his second consecutive win of the season. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished second, while Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli took third, significantly extending his championship lead and potentially clinching the title in the next round. The race saw strategic battles and tyre struggles, particularly for Lewis Hamilton, who dropped to sixth place by the end.

Churchill Brothers SC kicked off their Indian Super League 2026-27 campaign with a 2-1 victory against Mumbai City FC in their first home game. Gaurav Bora scored the club's inaugural ISL goal, followed by Sebastian Gutierrez, securing a significant win despite a late penalty from Sergio Llamas for Mumbai City.

Ankita shattered a decade-old meet record in the women's 3000m steeplechase, securing gold at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships. Jishnu Prasad also set a new meet record in the men's 200m, highlighting a day of impressive athletic achievements.

The UN Human Rights office has condemned the online racist abuse directed at American tennis player Coco Gauff following a replayed point at the China Open. Gauff revealed she received significant racist messages, prompting the WTA to offer support and monitor the abuse. The UN called for unity against racial and sexist abuse in sports.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen defeated French Open winner Mirra Andreeva 7-5 6-4 on Sunday to become the first Chinese player to win the China Open. This victory marks Zheng's first WTA 1000 title and her first trophy of the year, following a recovery from an elbow injury.

Chero Archers, led by veteran Atanu Das and featuring world No. 1 Mathias Fullerton, secured a dominant 6-0 victory over Kakatiya Knights in the Archery Premier League on Sunday. This win marks their third in four matches, showcasing their strong performance in the second season of the league.

Liverpool fans staged a vocal protest against Manchester City at Anfield following the verdict of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules. Supporters displayed banners, chanted, and booed, while police were on alert for potential bus targeting, though City's team took an alternate route.

Ritvik Gupta of Delhi and Ananya Muralidharan of Tamil Nadu have won the U-17 boys' and girls' titles, respectively, at the National Ranking Table Tennis Championships held in Panchkula on Sunday. Gupta secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory, while Muralidharan claimed her title with a 3-1 win.

Kerala Blasters FC defeated Inter Kashi 2-0 in their Indian Super League season opener on Sunday. Goals from Vibin Mohanan in the 18th minute and Andre Green in stoppage time secured the victory for the Blasters.

Sunil Gavaskar launched Sanjay Jagdale: Rag-Rag Mein Cricket, a book detailing the life and contributions of former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale. Gavaskar praised Jagdale's dedication to cricket, highlighting his roles as player, coach, and administrator, and expressed hope that the book would inspire young cricketers.

Odisha secured a dominant 9-0 victory over Kerala in the Hockey India Senior Men National Championship, marking their second consecutive win. Other teams like Uttarakhand, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Jharkhand, and Himachal also registered wins in their respective Pool B matches.

Sikkim has hosted the inaugural leg of the 2026 Zabarvan Extreme Legends Series, an international downhill mountain biking competition. The event, featuring riders from eight countries, aims to bolster the state's adventure tourism profile. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang flagged off the competition and highlighted plans for infrastructure development to support tourism in the region.

India's Udhayveer Sidhu secured a gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Cairo.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is seeking urgent intervention from the US Embassy after four U23 World Championships-bound women grapplers were denied visas.

US Open finalist Ben Shelton was 'outplayed' by France's Arthur Gea, suffering a shock defeat in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.

Udhayveer Sidhu, representing India, secured a gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Cairo on Sunday.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis has emphasised the importance of victory in their Indian Super League opener against NorthEast United FC. He highlighted the team's productive pre-season, tactical flexibility, and the need for greater aggression and intensity as they aim for a strong start to the season.

Barcelona secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Getafe, extending their perfect LaLiga start and maintaining a five-point lead. Real Madrid also won 1-0 against Villarreal, despite Vinicius Jr receiving a red card, keeping them six points behind their arch-rivals.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr has apologised to his teammates and fans after receiving a red card for pulling an opponent's hair during their 1-0 win over Villarreal, potentially ruling him out of the upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona.

Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen, a veteran of Formula 1 since 1985, shares insights into his four-decade career, the sport's evolution from a niche interest to a global powerhouse, and the roles of Bernie Ecclestone and Liberty Media in its growth. He also discusses the potential return of the Indian Grand Prix, highlighting India's significant F1 fanbase.

The Premier League resumed after the international break with Arsenal securing a 2-1 comeback victory over Leeds United. Chelsea thrashed Bournemouth 5-1, while Tottenham salvaged a late draw against Manchester United. The return of the league was overshadowed by Manchester City's alleged financial breaches, which the club denies.

FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC played out a 1-1 draw in the second match of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season on Saturday. Irfan Yadwad gave Chennaiyin the lead in the 64th minute, but Chiki's headed equaliser in the 75th minute secured a point for FC Goa after both teams had chances, including hitting the woodwork.

Arsenal came from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1, with Riccardo Calafiori equalising before substitute Bruno Guimaraes struck the winner to lift the Gunners to second in the Premier League.

The Mighty Marathas secured their first victory in the second season of the Archery Premier League, defeating Chola Chiefs 6-0 on Saturday. Led by Mike Schloesser and Dhiraj Bommadevara, the Marathas showcased strong performances, bouncing back after two initial losses. The Chiefs, despite tactical efforts, couldn't match the Marathas' precision, suffering their second defeat in three matches.

Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma won the Rs 2 crore Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship by six strokes in Greater Noida on Saturday, securing his second DP World PGTI victory this season. His dominant performance, highlighted by a crucial eagle on the 12th hole, provides a significant boost ahead of the upcoming DP World India Championship.

Teenage hammer thrower Anushka Yadav broke the meet record at the 65th National Open Athletics Championships in New Delhi on Saturday with a throw of 66.53m, surpassing the previous record held by Manju Bala. She dominated the event, with her closest competitor significantly behind.

The 16th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship began on Saturday with dominant performances from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, who secured large-margin victories. Other teams like Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Hockey Arunachal, Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Hockey Rajasthan, and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir also registered wins across different divisions.

The Kabaddi Champions League (KCL) has officially approved the renaming of the Jind Jaguars franchise to Jhajjar Jaguars. This change, requested by the team management, aims to strengthen the team's association with the Jhajjar region for KCL Season 2, without impacting existing rights or obligations.

Bengaluru FC secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Sporting Club Delhi in their Indian Super League season opener on Saturday. After falling behind 2-1 at halftime, debutant Borja Martinez scored his second goal to equalise, and Menno Koch redeemed an earlier own goal by scoring the winner in the 89th minute.

India concluded the Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships with an impressive haul of 13 medals, including three gold, five silver, and five bronze. Indian athletes excelled across various disciplines like men's snooker, women's English Billiards, and men's English Billiards, securing top honours and demonstrating strong performances against international competitors.

Cristiano Ronaldo was provisionally suspended after Portugal's football federation opened urgent disciplinary proceedings over his camp departure following a reported rift with coach Jorge Jesus, despite his subsequent apology.

Divyanshu defeated Sharad Kumar 3-2 in a closely contested final to win the East Zone title at the Raja Randhir Singh Memorial 49th Delhi State Senior Snooker (15 Red) Championship. The match saw Divyanshu take an early lead, Sharad stage a comeback, and Divyanshu ultimately secure victory in the deciding fifth frame.

Mirra Andreeva crushed Nikola Bartunkova 6-2, 6-2 to reach the China Open final, setting up a title showdown with home favourite and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

Former national golf champion Amandeep Johl has been elected captain of the Delhi Golf Club. He will lead a new committee featuring accomplished sportspersons and experienced administrators, aiming to combine sporting expertise with sound governance to nurture future golf champions.

Himon Kumar Mondal from West Bengal and Tanishka Kalbhairav from Karnataka secured victories in the U-15 boys' and girls' categories, respectively, at the second National Ranking Table Tennis Championships held in Panchkula on Saturday. Mondal won a thrilling final against Rishaan Chattopadhyay, while Kalbhairav defeated Aarya Redkar.

The Kerala child rights panel has directed the state government to include rugby in the upcoming annual state school sports meet, following a High Court directive. The panel also ordered the General Education Department to make arrangements for competitions and ensure children can participate in national events, and to amend the state school sports meet manual to include rugby in the 2026-27 National School Games.

Churchill Brothers, a dominant force in Indian football in the 90s, are making their Indian Super League debut against Mumbai City FC. Head coach Dimitris Dimitriou aims to establish a distinct football culture and competitive style of play for the club, despite a fast-forward pre-season.

Max Verstappen won Singapore's chaotic, rain-delayed sprint ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, as nine cars retired, George Russell crashed out and McLaren teammates collided on the final lap.

Former Indian tennis greats Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza, and Rohan Bopanna, along with other prominent sportspersons, have applied for Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) positions within the All India Tennis Association (AITA). This move aligns with new national sports governance rules aimed at increasing sportsperson representation in federations. The AITA received 26 applications, and the selection process for SOM representatives is expected to conclude on November 5, with AITA election

Vaidehee Chaudhari secured her third Fenesta Open women's singles title, defeating Shruti Ahlawat in a tough final. Maan Kesharwani claimed his maiden men's singles title, overcoming Nitin Sinha. Ribhav Saroha and Parthsarthi Mundhe also won the boys' and girls' U-18 singles titles respectively at the national tennis championship in New Delhi.

Churchill Brothers are set to begin their new Indian Super League campaign against Mumbai City FC on Sunday. Head Coach Dimitris Dimitriou aims to establish a distinct footballing identity, while the team returns to the ISL after a season away, following a turbulent period in Indian football.

The Indian Olympic Association has announced that its new Executive Council will be elected on December 5, just before the current committee's term concludes. The process began with the appointment of Sanjay Kumar Srivastava as the returning officer. IOA President PT Usha highlighted this as a step towards strengthening good governance and transparency within the organisation.

The India U17 Women's football team is set for a decisive AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup qualifier against hosts Malaysia on Sunday. With both teams tied on points, India holds a significant goal difference advantage, meaning a draw will secure their qualification. Coach Joakim Alexandersson's Young Tigresses are aiming for a win to make history with back-to-back Asian Cup appearances.

Mumbai's Anish Bhujle and Muradabad's Vikas Mahajan clinched the Category A and B titles respectively at the 16th BMW Golf Cup 2026 national final in Gurugram. They will now represent India at the BMW Golf Cup World Final in South Africa in March next year, competing against leading amateur golfers from participating nations. The national final featured 40 top amateur golfers selected from 2,300 participants this season.