The Times of India

Lost father at 3, now India's first 2026 Esports Chess WC qualifier: Aravindh Chithambaram Exclusive

India achieved a one-two finish in the men's F57 shot put event. Soman Rana secured the gold medal while Shubham Juyal earned the silver medal. Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu Thirumaran added silver and bronze in the triple jump. Soman Rana's journey highlights his resilience and dedication to para athletics. These victories mark a memorable day for Indian athletes at the games.

Ajinkya Rahane's Test career is one of Indian cricket's greatest statistical paradoxes. His average of 38.46 falls short of the elite, yet the numbers hide a batter who thrived overseas, delivered in crises and played defining roles in historic victories. This data-driven feature explores why Rahane's legacy extends far beyond conventional statistics and career aggregates.

Joe Root will lead England's Test team again. He returns with valuable leadership experience from his previous tenure. Root captained England in sixty-five Test matches previously. He is set to begin his second stint as captain soon. England will host Pakistan in the first Test match.

Jaismine Lamboria secured the women's 57kg boxing gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She defeated Michaela Walsh by a unanimous 5-0 decision in the final bout. This victory marked India's seventh gold medal at the Glasgow 2026 event. The win followed Preeti Pawar's earlier boxing gold medal success. Both boxers showed mutual respect after the memorable competition concluded.

Preeti Pawar secured the women's 54kg boxing gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She defeated Canada's Scarlett Delgado by unanimous decision in the final bout. Pawar controlled the contest from the opening bell, showcasing superior accuracy and ring craft. The Indian boxer swept all rounds, demonstrating her dominance throughout the match. This victory marked India's first boxing gold medal of the day.

Alzarri Joseph addressed head coach Daren Sammy's comments regarding his Test series absence. Joseph stated his decision stemmed from physical readiness concerns after a lengthy injury layoff. He explained his body was not prepared for another Test series after recent ODI matches. The fast bowler emphasized his commitment to representing West Indies professionally. Joseph clarified personal relationships do not impact his dedication to the team.

India's boxing contingent has secured a historic ten finalists at the Commonwealth Games. These boxers will compete for gold medals on Saturday in Glasgow. Lovlina Borgohain leads the women's charge in the 75kg category final. Four men's boxers are also vying for gold medals in their respective divisions. This marks a significant opportunity for India's most successful boxing campaign.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Indian athletes for their performances. Neeraj Chopra secured a silver medal in the men's javelin throw event. Yash Vir Singh and Yamini Maurya also won bronze and silver medals respectively. Tejaswin Shankar earned a bronze medal in the men's decathlon competition. India's medal tally at the games now stands at twenty-three.

Tejaswin Shankar secured a historic bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games decathlon. He overcame a sudden leg injury that threatened his participation in the event. Shankar focused on each moment and session to achieve his best performance. He finished the 1,500m race to seal his podium finish. This medal marks his second Commonwealth Games achievement.

East Zone selectors appointed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as vice-captain for the Duleep Trophy. This move aims to develop his leadership skills by observing the captain closely. Experienced players like Abhimanyu Easwaran were not considered for this specific role. Ishan Kishan will lead the team as captain, with Sooryavanshi as his deputy. Both players are seen as future prospects for India's cricket setup.

Gianni Infantino wanted to create a $20 billion company to manage FIFA's commercial business, including the men's and women's World Cups and Club World Cups. Under the proposal, private investors would own a 20% stake in the new company. The proposed anchor investor was a New York-based investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Rishabh Pant trains with MS Dhoni in Ranchi for the upcoming Test series. Pant is preparing for the crucial Sri Lanka series after a recent IPL season. India needs strong performances in this series for the World Test Championship. Dhoni remains away from competitive cricket due to injury concerns. He is reportedly considered for a mentorship role with Chennai Super Kings.

Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared his 2027 ODI World Cup squad selections. He categorized players into 'Yes', 'Maybe', and 'No' lists for the tournament. Ashwin included veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in his preferred squad. He believes Bhuvneshwar can perform well in South African conditions. Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson were notably absent from Ashwin's top picks.

Neeraj Chopra secured a silver medal in the javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games. He shared the podium with fellow Indian Yashvir Singh, who won bronze. Yashvir achieved a personal best throw on his final attempt to claim the medal. Chopra expressed happiness at sharing the podium with another Indian athlete. This silver medal adds to Chopra's extensive collection of career achievements.

India's top pole vaulters Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar will compete in the men's final, while Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu Thirumaran will take part in the men's triple jump final.

Asmita Dey secured India's first judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. She defeated Canada's Heidi Quach in a dramatic women's 48kg final match. This victory fulfilled a dream she feared was lost after her father's death. Her father had always supported her aspirations and encouraged her to dream big. Dey credited the support from SAI Bhopal for her continued progress.

Yashvir Singh secured a historic bronze medal with a personal best throw. Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal with his season's best performance. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage claimed the gold medal in the event. Sharing the podium with Yashvir made the achievement more special for Chopra. Both athletes achieved significant milestones during the competition.

India produced its biggest day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, winning six medals to take its tally to 23. Historic judo golds for Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh, athletics medals from Tejaswin Shankar, Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh, plus a perfect 10-for-10 boxing run into finals highlighted a memorable Day 9 in Glasgow.

India enjoyed their best day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, winning six medals to take their tally to 23. Harsh Singh and Asmita Dey claimed historic judo golds, Neeraj Chopra secured javelin silver, Yash Vir Singh won bronze, Tejaswin Shankar earned India's first decathlon medal, and Yamini Mourya added judo silver as India closed on ninth-placed Wales.

Neeraj, the 28-year-old Tokyo Olympic champion, was not at his best in difficult weather but still managed a season-best throw of 85.83m in his second attempt to finish second.

On Tuesday night, Gulveer became the first Indian to win a medal in the mens 10,000m at Commonwealth Games, claiming silver in an event traditionally dominated by African distance runners.

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey questioned the jersey colour change process. He stated the decision lacked executive board discussion and his prior knowledge. Executive director RK Srivastava defended the saffron kit based on technical and performance factors. Other board members also raised concerns about transparency and accountability. This controversy emerges amid ongoing governance scrutiny for Hockey India.

India celebrated a historic judo double gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Harsh Singh and Asmita Dey won their respective finals. Harsh defeated Australia's Joshua Katz in the men's 60kg category, while Asmita overcame Canada's Heidi Quach in Golden Score. Their victories marked India's first-ever double judo gold at a single Commonwealth Games, taking the medal tally to 19.

Asmita Dey secured India's first judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. She defeated Canada's Heidi Quach in a gripping golden score final match. This historic victory came after overcoming personal tragedy and immense dedication. Harsh Singh also won a gold medal in the men's 60kg judo event. These twin triumphs marked a significant breakthrough for Indian judo.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Tamim Iqbal is seeking government help to confirm India's tour. The board wants official communication to reassure New Delhi about hosting the series. Recent diplomatic developments have fueled optimism for the postponed cricket matches. India invited Bangladesh's Prime Minister to a summit, and relations are being reset. This progress may translate into sporting action for the subcontinent's major bilateral series.

Jamshedpur FC have confirmed they will not participate in the 202627 Indian Super League season after opting not to pay the 55 lakh participation fee under the new club-led model. The former ISL Shield winners said they will continue supporting grassroots football, while honouring existing player and staff contracts. Meanwhile, Inter Kashi paid most of their fee before the extended deadline.

India's boxing contingent achieved a flawless 5-0 record in the semifinals. Five Indian boxers have now secured spots in the gold medal bouts. Arundhati Choudhary defeated the defending champion in a significant upset victory. Jaismine Lamboria and Preeti Pawar also advanced with dominant performances. Ankush Panghal and Jadumani Singh completed the perfect sweep for India.

Asmita created history by becoming the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal after defeating Canada's Heidi Quach in the women's 48kg final.

Scotlands Melanie Woods won the Commonwealth Games womens T54 1500m gold for a second time after a controversial rerun of the final. Forced to race again following a first-lap crash and appeals, Woods delivered another dominant performance, setting a new Games record. Mauritius Noemi Alphonse took silver and Australias Eliza Ault-Connell won bronze in a dramatic conclusion.

The 32-year-old was picked in the Shubman Gill-led squad for the series, but subject to fitness clearance. Bumrah missed the third ODI against England at Lord's due to an impact injury to his left knee but looked very sharp in the two fixtures he did play.

Root's return as full-time Test captain was confirmed on Thursday, along with the appointment of Stephen Fleming as England's new Test head coach after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket and Brendon McCullum stepped down from the role.

UEFAs threat to boycott FIFA competitions has raised the possibility of an unprecedented 2030 World Cup scenario, with co-hosts Spain and Portugal potentially missing their own tournament. The standoff centres on FIFAs plan to sell a minority stake in commercial rights, which has triggered widespread opposition, internal criticism and fears the centenary World Cup could be reshaped by a historic football power struggle.

Asmita produced a strong comeback to beat Scotland's Summer Shaw by yuko in the women's 48kg semifinal and book her place in the final, where she will face Canada's Heidi Quach later on Friday.

FIFA has launched an accelerated review into expanding the mens World Cup to 64 teams as early as 2030, seeking an independent assessment before September. The move comes amid growing controversy over FIFAs separate commercial investment proposal, with critics questioning whether tournament expansion could increase the value of future rights sales as opposition from major football bodies continues to grow.

Preeti became the first Indian boxer to reach the final in Glasgow after defeating Zambia's Catherine Mwape 5-0 in the women's 54kg semifinal on Friday. She will face Canada's Scarlett Delgado in the gold medal bout after the Canadian defeated England's Lauren Mackie 4-1 in the other semifinal.

Preeti Pawar and Ankush Panghal advanced to their respective finals today. Both boxers secured commanding victories to keep gold medal hopes alive. Pawar dominated her bout, securing a unanimous decision win. Panghal also delivered a strong performance, outclassing his Canadian opponent. These wins guarantee India at least two silver medals in boxing.

FIFA has defended its controversial World Cup investment proposal, insisting obody is selling football after fierce opposition from UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC. The governing body says member associations will have the final say, but growing resistance, including the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeir, has cast serious doubt over the proposal's chances of approval.

The Asian Football Confederation opposes FIFA's plan for private investors in commercial rights. This move escalates resistance to FIFA president Gianni Infantino's ambitious commercial proposal. AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF against the plan. The continental body also called for an urgent review of FIFA's governance. FIFA defends its proposal, stating media reports distorted its intentions.

Carlos Cordeiro, one of Gianni Infantino's closest advisers, has resigned in protest over FIFA's controversial World Cup investment proposal, calling it a bad deal for football and questioning its governance. His departure adds to mounting opposition from UEFA, Concacaf and the AFC, leaving FIFA facing growing internal and external resistance ahead of a crucial member vote.

Neeraj Chopra's quote emphasises that competition results are determined on the actual day of performance. Past achievements and rankings build confidence but do not guarantee future success. Chopra's own career demonstrates how performance on the day truly matters. True preparation and present focus create confidence for athletes. This principle extends beyond sports to all areas of life.

Daniel Rodriguez returns to the UFC with a new perspective after the longest layoff of his career, heading into his first-ever main event against hometown favourite Uros Medic at UFC Belgrade. In an exclusive conversation with TimesofIndia.com, Rodriguez reflects on a renewed appreciation for the opportunity, explains why surviving the opening round is key against Medic, and reveals why he believes a showdown with Leon Edwards should be next.

In an email sent to executive board members on Friday morning, accessed by TOI, Tirkey said he had sought a written clarification from Hockey India officials regarding the basis of the decision, the process followed and the circumstances under which the change was approved and implemented.

Lovepreet Singh lifted a total of 388kg, with 176kg in the snatch and 212kg in the clean and jerk to win silver. The 28-year-old improved on his bronze medal from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham by winning silver this time. Liti claimed the gold medal with a total of 389kg (166kg in snatch and 223kg in clean and jerk), while England's Andrew Griffith took bronze with 356kg (165kg in snatch and 191kg in clean and jerk).

According to police, Aditi Chaukhande was training as a cricketer along with her elder brother, Prabal, who is also an upcoming player. On Wednesday night, after having dinner with her mother, Aditi went to her room and allegedly died by suicide. Her brother was out of town at the time of the incident.