The Times of India

Both teams wore saffron in their opening matches against Indonesia and Uzbekistan respectively in Kakamilgahara, Japan.

India made a striking start at the Asian Games, capturing two silver medals in shooting events. Elavenil Valarivan was a standout, winning silvers both individually and as part of the team in the 10m air rifle competition. Additionally, the women's cricket team powered through to the finals, showcasing their strength, along with commendable starts from the hockey and table tennis teams, who also secured significant victories.

The move is understood to aim at drawing a clearer line between issues that fall within the Ombudsmans jurisdiction and those that the respective state associations should address first.

India opened its medal account with two silver medals in women's 10m air rifle competition. Suchika Tariyal secured at least a bronze medal in MMA's debut event. The women's cricket team advanced to the final after a dominant semifinal win. Both men's and women's hockey teams achieved emphatic victories in their opening matches. Badminton and table tennis teams also delivered strong performances on the opening day.

Japan is set to host its first-ever men's senior international cricket match against India, marking a milestone for Japanese cricket. Growth has been steady, with rising participation and increased visibility. The match aims to win hearts, boost cricket's popularity, and showcase Japan's progress within the global cricket community.

I wont leave it until I win.For Miraj Ahmed Khan, the pursuit of Olympic gold remains unfinished business.In this episode of TOISA Spotlight, TOI Sports Editor Vineet Ramakrishnan speaks to the veteran Indian skeet shooter about a career spanning more than three decades - from his early days with cricket and shooting to two Olympic appearances, his historic Rio 2016 campaign, the disruption caused by COVID-19, the loss of his father, and the World Cup gold that gave him another push.Miraj opens

Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal withdrew from the Asian Games after a medical issue. He experienced dizziness and muscle cramps during a weight cut sauna session. Sanyal, a medal prospect, was declared medically unfit for the competition. His teammate Suchika Tariyal advanced in her event, securing a medal. MMA's debut at the Asian Games faces challenges for Indian athletes.

Eve-teased at 12, Suchika Tariyal took up judo for self-defence, beginning a journey through judo, Ju-Jitsu and MMA. At 36, the Rohtak fighter became Indias first Asian Games MMA medallist after beating Mongolias Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 to reach the -60kg semifinals. A former eight-time national judo champion, Tariyal now hopes her journey inspires more young women.

The Indian shooting team kicked off their Asian Games journey by clinching a silver medal, thanks to the impressive efforts of Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod. Both Elavenil and Sonam made it to the final of the individual 10m air rifle competition. Building on their previous success in Hangzhou, the team is eager for more medal opportunities in the upcoming events.

Suchika Tariyal secured India's first medal at the Asian Games on Sunday. She defeated Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa in the women's Traditional Mixed Martial Arts 60kg quarterfinal. Tariyal's progression into the semifinals guarantees India a medal in MMA's debut. She previously represented India in judo and kurash and became a Jiu-Jitsu world champion. Her journey includes overcoming challenges and a knee injury to reach this achievement.

India begins its campaign at Aichi-Nagoya with a 500-plus athlete contingent; 314 of them are making their first Asian Games appearance. Mirabai Chanu returns with the Asian Games medal missing from her collection, while Anahat Singh arrives as a World Junior Squash Champion. Defending champions Avinash Sable, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Parul Chaudhary, Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Satwik-Chirag will look to build on Indias 106-medal haul at Hangzhou.

Arjun Erigaisi bounced back from a difficult start to the Chess Olympiad with a convincing victory over Maksim Chigaev, helping defending champions India beat Spain 3-1 in Round 4. Gukesh continued his impressive run, while Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin drew. Indias women also remained unbeaten, beating Mongolia 3-1 as both Indian teams maintained their winning momentum in Samarkand.

England beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the third T20I at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday to complete a 3-0 series sweep. The hosts chased down Sri Lanka's 125-run target with 62 balls to spare. The win also helped England move back to the top of the T20 world rankings, replacing India.

Japans Shigenobu Murofushi and his son Koji Murofushi jointly lit the cauldron at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, bringing the torch relay to a memorable end. Both Shigenobu and Koji are former Asian Games champions in hammer throw. The duo climbed the stairs to the podium together before lighting the cauldron.

Japans Emperor Naruhito officially declared the Games open in the presence of Empress Masako, members of the Japanese imperial family, Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry. The Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4.

As Neeraj Chopra recuperates from an injury, he sends motivational vibes to Team India ahead of the Asian Games 2026. At the opening ceremony, Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat led the Indian delegation as flagbearers. The nation aspires to break its previous medal tally from the Hangzhou Games. Some events have kicked off prior to the ceremonial start amid the vibrant Aichi-Nagoya atmosphere filled with competitive spirit.

In a candid moment, former captain Rohit Sharma opened up about his comfort food during Test matches. Facing long hours of play often stirred feelings of anxiety and sleeplessness, yet his mother's baked banana wafers brought him peace. With their familiar taste, these beloved snacks accompanied Rohit throughout his illustrious Test career, grounding him amid the pressure.