The Times of India

India's women's 25m pistol team faced disappointment at the Asian Games 2026 due to a critical error. Rahi Sarnobat missed a crucial shot in the fourth series, which resulted in zero points and affected the overall performance. India finished fifth overall, missing medal positions by a narrow margin of points. Despite the setback, Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the individual event after an intense competition.

At the Asian Games, Pincky Balhara clinched a bronze medal in the women's -78kg kurash category, following her silver medal achievement from 2018's Jakarta Games. She advanced to the semifinals with a solid 3-0 victory against Garam Lim of South Korea. However, Balhara was bested by Sumin Mo in the semifinals, resulting in a score of 5-0.

After Neeraj Chopras injury opened the door to his Asian Games opportunity, the Indian athlete received a call from the star javelin thrower, who encouraged him to make the chance count. From motivating him before the competition to speaking ahead of his final throw, Chopra remained a source of support. Having worked extensively on his technique and fitness, the athlete now heads into the Asian Games dreaming of delivering his best performance.

India captain Shubman Gill believes the best way to get the most out of Virat Kohli is to simply let the star batter be himself. Kohli smashed an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium on Sunday. Gill also scored 110 as the two shared a 151-run partnership.

Prasidh Krishna opens up on Virat Kohlis stunning knock, Indias fast-bowling competition, the challenge of bowling hard lengths and his bond with Gujarat Titans teammate Gurnoor Brar.

Virat Kohli became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to complete 15,000 ODI runs. He also hit his record-extending 55th ODI century as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the first ODI. Kohli said his priority has always been to understand the situation and do what the team needs.

The century was Virat Kohli's 55th in ODI cricket. It was also his 86th international hundred. His international centuries include 30 in Tests, 55 in ODIs and one in T20Is. Kohli has now scored 55 ODI hundreds, extending his lead among active players in the format.

Virat Kohli reached 15,002 runs from 315 matches and 303 innings. He has scored 54 centuries and 80 fifties in ODIs, with a highest score of 183. His ODI batting average stands at 58.83, while his strike rate is more than 94.

India showcased a stellar performance at the Asian Games 2026, clinching a total of seven medals, predominantly in athletics and squash. Parul Chaudhary shone brightly, securing a bronze in the womens 3000m steeplechase. Silver medals were added by Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare in their respective disciplines. The boxing team also excelled, confirming three medals through successful semifinal performances.

India added seven medals on Day 8 of the Asian Games, including two silver medals in squash and five in athletics. Parul Chaudhary achieved a new national record in the women's 3000m steeplechase, winning bronze. However, India did not win any gold medals, leading to a drop in its overall standings. Boxers Parveen Hooda, Ankush Panghal, and Narender secured medals by reaching the semifinals.

Kushare cleared 2.25m to finish second. Chinese Taipei's Chao-hsuan Fu also cleared 2.25m but won gold, while South Korea's Sanghyeok Woo took bronze with a best effort of 2.22m. He cleared 2.10m, 2.14m, 2.18m, 2.22m and 2.25m before failing to clear 2.28m in all three attempts.

India secured a memorable double podium at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. Savitha Shris resilient 83-move draw sealed bronze for the women, while Arjun Erigaisis dramatic late victory helped the open team win silver on tiebreak. Uzbekistan took open gold and China won womens gold. India also claimed the Gaprindashvili Cup for the best combined performance.

In an impressive display of athleticism, Tejaswin Shankar clinched the decathlon bronze medal at the Asian Games by triumphing in the 1500m race. With a remarkable total of 7,934 points, he secured a podium position, while Japan's Yuma Maruyama took the gold. Meanwhile, Ancy Sojan finished just shy of gold in the women's long jump, placing second behind China's Yingying Huang.

In a nail-biting finish at the Asian Games 2026, Ancy Sojan just fell short of clinching the gold medal in the women's long jump, achieving a stellar jump of 6.53m, only to be bested by China's Yingying Huang at 6.55m. Shaili Singh, meanwhile, faced disappointment, slipping to fourth place with a last jump that pushed her down after Mengyi Tan's leap.

In a thrilling finish, Harita Bhadra grabbed a bronze in the womens 200m race, recording 23.20 seconds. Just 0.01 seconds later, Japans Abigeirufuka Ido crossed the line. Gold went to Indonesia's Shanti Pereira and silver to China's Yujie Chen. With nine athletics medals amassed at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, Indias team is set to pursue more victories as the competition continues to heat up.

PV Sindhu played twice on Saturday, with her third-round match finishing after midnight. She was back on court on Sunday afternoon for her quarterfinal against China's Chen Yufei, which she lost.

At the Asian Games 2026, Abhay Singh proudly claimed the silver medal in mens singles squash, although he fell short against Malaysias Ng Eain Yow in the finals. The match showcased Abhay's skill initially, but Ngs superior performance and control resulted in a straight-set victory of 119, 115, 115. All eyes are now eagerly awaiting the thrilling women's singles final featuring Anahat Singh versus Sivasangari Subramaniam.

Indian athletes competing at the 2026 Asian Games are poised to gain financial rewards for their medal achievements. Gold, silver, and bronze medal winners might receive cash awards of up to Rs 30 lakh. Awards for team events will be distributed based on team size, while individual athletes winning multiple medals could also earn higher amounts.

Virat Kohli recalls the heartbreak of the 2019 World Cup semifinal loss against New Zealand, which deeply affected him. He also describes the strong team atmosphere during the 2023 World Cup campaign, despite the loss to Australia in the final. Kohli acknowledges that he still has unfinished business in World Cups, looking forward to the upcoming 2027 tournament.

At the Asian Games 2026, India's badminton team concluded with just one medal. Both PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda exited in the women's singles quarterfinals after fierce competition. The womens doubles team fell to a strong Malaysian pair, and mixed doubles suffered a narrow defeat. A demanding tournament schedule took its toll on performance, highlighting a stark decline from their previous edition's achievements.

One point short of Indias 2018 Asian Games selection, Trap shooter Ahvar Rizvi spent the next seven years rebuilding his career after Double Trap was removed from the international programme. The 2018 junior world champion struggled with the transition, briefly quit shooting and later competed with teammate Lakshya Sheorans gun. Now, Rizvi has made his first Asian Games team and is preparing to represent India in Trap at Nagoya.

Class topper Shapath Bharadwaj fell in love with shooting at nine after watching his elder brother train. His father, S Raju, supported the dream, even getting a carpenter to make a wooden dummy gun for dry training. Four times a week, Shapath travelled from Meerut to the Karni Shooting Range in a Nano, studying in the back seat. Years later, that passion has taken him to the Asian Games, where he will represent India in trap shooting.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at only 15, has quickly become a rising star in Indian cricket. With exceptional skills and standout performances, he has captured the interest of cricket enthusiasts on a global scale. Dhruv Jurel, who competes alongside him, acknowledges the singular nature of Sooryavanshi's abilities. Although Jurel has found success in recent games, he believes comparisons to Sooryavanshi are unwarranted, as the young talent's impact resonates profoundly in the sport.

With 10 minutes left, India moved five points ahead after Arjun got past Iran captain Fazel Atrachali and helped India inflict an All-Out. Sumit then made an important tackle on Amirmohammad Zafar Danesh, while Rahul Sethpal also made a key defensive contribution late in the match. The win completed India's unbeaten campaign and gave them their ninth Asian Games gold medal in men's kabaddi.

India climbed back into the top 10 of the Asian Games medal tally after a successful Saturday. The country secured a total of seven medals, including two golds in kabaddi competitions. Sawan Barwal earned a historic silver in the marathon, while Prachi Choudhary took bronze in the women's 400m event. Additionally, Tilottama Sen and teammates won silver in shooting, contributing to India's overall count.