The Times of India

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.

Sehrawat was named Indias co-flag-bearer alongside double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker after a late change. Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who was earlier named as a flag-bearer, was ruled out due to technical issues. The 2022 Asian Games gold-medal-winning captain said the honour made him so excited that he stayed awake through the night.

Thaduthuvila Chandapillai Yohannan had etched his name in history with an astounding long jump record achieved in Tehran in 1974. Battling through pain and injuries, he has showcased remarkable athletic prowess, a journey nurtured by his father's unwavering support and encouragement. Yohannan's story is one of dedication and resilience, inspiring him to eagerly support the next generation of athletes aiming for greatness.

Neeraj Chopra shared his regret about being sidelined from the Asian Games due to an ankle injury, a significant barrier preventing him from defending his javelin throw title in Nagoya. He highlighted the essential role of support systems during his recovery and expressed gratitude for friends who help distract him from the challenges of his athletic career.

Koneru Humpy avenged her recent Global Chess League setbacks against Greeces Stavroula Tsolakidou, helping Indias women extend their unbeaten run at the Chess Olympiad. In the open section, Gukesh returned to winning ways against Italys Sabino Brunello after slipping below 2700. India won the open tie 3-1, while both teams continued their strong starts to the tournament.

Derbyshire Police have concluded their investigation into Brydon Carse's alleged assault, resulting in no charges being filed against the England fast bowler. Previously removed from the England squad for the Pakistan series, Carse faced prior arrest for drunkenness. With the legal proceedings now settled, Carse can move forward without the weight of uncertainty hanging over him.

Pawan Sehrawat has been chosen as the flag-bearer for India's opening ceremony at the Asian Games, stepping in for Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who faced delays with his official kit. Toor mentioned that his kit would arrive too late to participate in the event. Additionally, the athletics team is still waiting for their uniforms. Sehrawat will accompany Manu Bhaker in carrying the Indian flag.

For the karate contingent, reigning Asian champion Alisha Choudharys repeated pleas to sports authorities and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials for accreditation for her coach, Vikas Panchal, have gone unheard.

Saikia insisted that the BCCI has faith in the local organisation committee to provide satisfactory on-ground facilities at the match venue despite reports of other Asian cricket boards raising objections about the quality of the ground