D Gukesh vs R Praggnanandhaa (Photo by Michal Walusza for Norway Chess) NEW DELHI: Alireza Firouzja. Magnus Carlsen. Dommaraju Gukesh. These were the names of the opponents Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa faced, or, more accurately, outsmarted, over his last three rounds. Three consecutive wins, each in the classical format, have put the 20-year-old right in the running…
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (BCCI/IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: With his ability to clear boundaries from ball one and turn matches on their head in a matter of overs, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as the biggest talking point of IPL 2026. The 15-year-old batting sensation left bowlers searching for answers and earned admiration from opponents and teammates alike.Sooryavanshi’s numbers…
Marta Kostyuk-Mirra Andreeva semi-final sparks controversy (Screengrab) There was no handshake between Marta Kostyuk and Mirra Andreeva after their French Open semifinal, a scene that has become common whenever the Ukrainian player faces Russian opponents. The decision was expected, as Kostyuk has consistently refused post-match handshakes with Russian and Belarusian players since Russia’s invasion of…
India and Pakistan flags (PTI Photo) Pakistan will not send its fencing team to the Asian Senior Fencing Championships in New Delhi later this month, despite receiving an official invitation from the organisers. India is hosting the continental event for the first time, with athletes from more than 30 countries across Asia and Oceania expected…
Ritshi Choden’s dismissal Bhutan cricketer Ritshi Choden made history for an unfortunate reason after becoming the first woman batter to be timed out in international cricket. The incident happened during Bhutan’s run chase against Nepal in the ACC Premier Cup in Malaysia.After opener Ngawang Choden was dismissed on the very first ball, Ritshi Choden took…
Serena Williams (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: After nearly four years away from professional tennis, Serena Williams is set to return to the court. The 44-year-old tennis legend will compete in doubles at the Queen’s Club tournament in London next week, partnering with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko, who is 19 years old, 25 years younger than…
India’s KS Bharat (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar) Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a career that saw him play seven Test matches for the country. The 32-year-old shared an emotional message on social media, reflecting on the sacrifices, support and determination that helped him achieve his…
Kuldeep Yadav (Photo by @BCCI on X) NEW DELHI: India spinner Kuldeep Yadav says his attention is firmly on Test cricket as he prepares to spearhead the team’s spin attack in the one-off Test against Afghanistan.Despite a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign with Delhi Capitals, where he picked up only 10 wickets and the team missed…
Suryakumar Yadav (ANI Photo) Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim believes India’s T20 setup could undergo another major transition ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup, with incumbent captain Suryakumar Yadav among the players whose place in the side could come under scrutiny.Suryakumar has struggled to replicate the consistency that once made him one…
The 2026 FIFA World Cup (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: The ever-present description of football as a “game of two halves” is set for a new narrative as FIFA, the governing body of the game, has included a three-minute hydration break midway through each half of every match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, make it…