The Times of India

Paris Olympics double medallist Manu Bhaker is showing a more flexible approach as she prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. After coach Jaspal Ranas sudden death, Bhaker has adapted to Serbian coach Jelena Arunovics methods, spending over eight hours training daily. Jelena says Bhakers openness to new ideas reflects her hunger to improve, with the 24-year-old focused on becoming better and more consistent.

PV Sindhu lost her World Championships pre-quarterfinal match to Wang Zhi Yi. The Indian player questioned if her opponent's late cramps were tactical. Wang Zhi Yi insisted her cramps were genuine and rejected any tactical suggestions. Sindhu felt she should have been more patient during crucial points. The defeat ended Sindhu's unbeaten record against Chinese players at the event.

PV Sindhu's World Championships campaign ended in controversy as Wang Zhi Yi overcame cramps, a hostile Delhi crowd and the five-time medallist to snap her unbeaten record against Chinese shuttlers at the Worlds. Ayush Shetty also bowed out, while Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Satwik-Chirag marched into the quarter-finals.

Joe Root achieved a significant milestone by equaling Sachin Tendulkar's record for most Test half-centuries. He scored his 68th fifty during England's first Test against Pakistan at Headingley. Root and Cox built a crucial partnership to give England a first-innings lead. England's pace bowlers, Robinson and Tongue, took five wickets each to dismiss Pakistan. The team secured a first-innings lead after bowling Pakistan out for 171.

The 2026/27 Premier League season begins with Arsenal defending their title and three promoted clubs returning to the top flight. With nine English clubs competing in Europe, another fiercely contested title race and battles for European qualification and survival expected, the new campaign promises plenty of drama. Heres everything you need to know, including key statistics, players, managers and opening fixtures.

The 2026 US Open will offer a record $108 million in player compensation. Singles champions will each receive $5.5 million, a significant increase from previous years. Even first-round losers will earn a record $140,000, reflecting broader prize money hikes. A new player support program and a Grand Slam Player Council were also announced. This initiative aims to strengthen financial support and player involvement in tournament decisions.

BWF General Secretary Thomas Lund discusses the World Championships, India Open and badmintons proposed 15-point format.

India advanced to the second round of the Women's Hockey World Cup after a tense draw. They held England to a 0-0 score, securing second place in their group. China topped Pool D with seven points, while England was eliminated from the competition. India's goalkeeper Bichu Devi made a crucial save in the final seconds. The team progressed with an unbeaten record of two draws and one win.

A Rs 20,000 Sher-e-Punjab T20 contract could prove to be a life-changing opportunity for Kirandeep Singh, a youngster from village Cholta Kalan in Mohali. But his journey to Fazilka Falcons began earlier, when Shubman Gill spotted his bowling and urged him to leave tennis-ball cricket behind.

BWF secretary general Thomas Lund defends the India Open's February scheduling despite Delhi's pollution concerns, urges players to support the calendar and outlines the sport's plans for a 15-point scoring system, greater technology use and synthetic shuttlecocks.

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured a World Championships quarterfinal spot. The unseeded Indian pair defeated Japan's seventh seeds in straight games. Treesa's aggressive play and Gayatri's structural support proved decisive. This victory marks a significant step in their comeback after Treesa's injury. A medal is now guaranteed with one more win at the event.

After India defeated England by 118 runs in a T20 match at Lord's on August 19, India's players took off their shirts and waved them in the air, recalling Ganguly's famous celebration after India's NatWest Trophy final win over England at the same venue in 2002.

Udaipurs Chandrajeet Singh Rajawat turned a difficult childhood passion for chess into a successful career. He left home as a teenager, faced financial struggles, slept at railway stations and stadiums, and kept playing despite setbacks. His persistence eventually brought recognition, coaching opportunities and his own academy, Kingdom of Chess, which now operates across around 30 countries.

The rain may have tested Galle, but its groundstaff never blinked. Meet the 130-member groundstaff, who raced against the weather, mastered the art of covering the ground and ensured precious playing time was not lost during the first Test between India vs Sri Test played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

In a dramatic turn of events, Delhi Police have arrested Amit Sheoran, a former national-level wrestler, after he spent three years on the run from charges of opium smuggling. Sheoran's claims that fellow wrestlers resort to opium to enhance training efforts have stirred controversy. His identification as a key figure by another arrested supplier highlights the ongoing battle against organised crime in the region.

In a nail-biting showdown at the Hockey World Cup, India triumphed over Pakistan, much to the delight of fans. Captain Harmanpreet Singh highlighted essential defensive weaknesses that need addressing for the challenges ahead. With praises from the coach regarding the team's attacking strategy and chances created, India now look forward to battle in the next round, where the competition will only intensify.

American teenager Garret Tan stunned Lakshya Sen, the 14th seed and the 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, in a thrilling three-set match at the Delhi World Championships. Overcoming crowd pressure, a head injury and Sens aggressive play, Tan triumphed 19-21, 21-19, 21-17, marking the biggest win of his career.

In a thrilling Pool D showdown, India triumphed over Pakistan with a score of 5-3. With Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek each netting two goals, India showcased their strength. Pakistan's Hannan Shahid and Sufyan Khan put up a valiant effort by scoring, yet India held their ground during the nail-biting final quarter, securing their advancement to the next stage of the World Cup.

Ayush Shetty and PV Sindhu advanced to the BWF World Championships pre-quarterfinals with straight-game wins. Shetty beat Dumindu Abeywickrama and will face Alwi Farhan next, while Sindhu defeated Wen Yu Zhang. Lakshya Sen suffered a three-game upset against Garret Tan, and Unnati Hooda lost a close battle to Michelle Li. India also progressed in mixed and mens doubles.

Lakshya Sen opens up after a hard-fought three-game defeat, discussing his opponents solid performance, exhaustion, missed opportunities and the challenges he faced during the match.

India produced a dominant performance in Galle to secure an emphatic win over Sri Lanka in the first Test. From Manav Suthars breakthrough to Indias spin attack, batting performances and key tactical calls, here are the biggest takeaways from the match.