Rubina Francis secured a bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol SH1 event, bringing India's medal tally to five at the Paris Paralympics. Sukant Kadam advanced to the men's singles SL4 semifinals, ensuring another medal. Meanwhile, Indian athletes in archery, cycling, and rowing encountered difficulties, failing to progress in their events.
In the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's, England established a strong lead with Joe Root’s 34th Test century, scoring 103 in the second innings. Setting a target of 483, Sri Lanka concluded the third day at 53-2. The match sees Sri Lanka facing a significant challenge to avoid defeat.
Frances Tiafoe triumphed over Ben Shelton in a thrilling five-set match to advance to the US Open quarterfinals. The match lasted four hours and was a display of exceptional skills from both players. Tiafoe’s next opponent will be determined between Alexei Popyrin and Novak Djokovic. Taylor Fritz also progressed, raising American hopes in the event.
Indian para shooter Avani Lekhara wins gold in the women's 10m air rifle final at the Paris Paralympics. Her journey is praised by double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker. Adding to India's accolades, Mona Agarwal won bronze in the same event, and Manish Narwal and Preeti Pal secured medals in men's 10m air pistol and 100-meter T35 events respectively.
Avani Lekhara won her second consecutive gold in women's 10m air rifle at the Paralympics while Preethi Pal secured a historic first track medal for India, winning bronze in the 100m T35 event. Manish Narwal and Mona Agarwal also contributed with silver and bronze medals in shooting, marking a historic day for India.
England led by 256 runs at Lord's after bowling Sri Lanka out for 196 on Day 2 of the second Test. Gus Atkinson's maiden century ensured a commanding position. Despite Kamindu Mendis scoring 74, Sri Lanka remained in trouble in their first essay. England decided not to enforce follow-on and ended the day at 25 for 1 in their second innings.
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka's comeback at the US Open was cut short in the second round, where she lost 6-3, 7-6 to Karolina Muchova. Osaka, who had missed the previous year's tournament due to childbirth, has struggled to advance past the third round in Grand Slams since 2022. Muchova proved a formidable opponent with her past semifinalist experience.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is not playing in the second Test in Rawalpindi against Bangladesh to spend time with his family. Pakistan lost the first Test, and former batsman Ahmad Shahzad criticized the decision, calling for accountability from all players. Coach Jason Gillespie supported changes, including bringing back spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Joe Root's 33rd Test century bolstered England to 358 for 7 on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. Root, alongside Gus Atkinson's unbeaten 74, helped recover from early dismissals, giving England a strong start as they strive for a series lead.
Divine Iheme, a 14-year-old sprinting prodigy from Great Britain, has set a new world 100m record for his age group with a time of 10.30 seconds. Nicknamed 'Lightning Divine,' he currently ranks third on the European under-18 all-time list. His performance has sparked comparisons to Usain Bolt, and he continues to make waves in the athletics world.
A viral deepfake video falsely shows Virat Kohli criticizing Shubman Gill's potential. The AI-manipulated clip mimics Kohli's voice and expressions, questioning Gill's ability to become a legend. This incident is the second deepfake targeting Kohli this year. Kohli and Gill share a good rapport. Kohli is returning for the Test series against Bangladesh next month.
Just weeks after hosting the Olympics, Paris began the final chapter of its summer of sports Wednesday with the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
The Paris Paralympic Games were officially inaugurated with a grand opening ceremony at the iconic Avenue des Champs-Elysees and then on the Place de la Concorde, marking the beginning of an exciting chapter in Paralympic sports history.
Pakistan cricket faces backlash after their historic loss to Bangladesh, drawing criticism toward captain Shan Masood. Cricketer Ahmad Shehzad questioned Masood's leadership and decision-making. Fans are losing interest, and Shehzad stressed the importance of strategic thinking and knowledge in Test cricket, urging the need for better guidance and management.
The West Indies secured an eight-wicket victory over South Africa, completing a 3-0 T20 International series sweep in a rain-affected third match at the Brian Lara Stadium. Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran guided the chase to reach the revised target of 116 runs in 13 overs, achieving it in just 9.2 overs with an aggressive batting strategy.
Zheng Qinwen, the Paris Olympics champion, highlighted her mental strength with a comeback victory over Amanda Anisimova in the US Open first round. Zheng, overcoming an early setback, triumphed 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. She expressed satisfaction in leveraging her Olympic momentum and maintaining focus to avoid post-success complacency, viewing the tough match as mental progress.
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar endorsed Jay Shah for the next ICC president, citing his impact on Indian cricket. Gavaskar highlighted Shah's potential to benefit global cricket, addressing critics of current chairman Greg Barclay's decision not to seek another term. Gavaskar praised the strong collaboration within BCCI for Indian cricket's success.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed frustration over the lack of quality backup players after Pakistan's 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the first Test. This defeat, Pakistan's first in 14 Tests against Bangladesh, highlights ongoing struggles. Naqvi identified systemic issues in player development and selection, emphasizing the need for structural changes within Pakistan cricket.
Pakistan's road to the World Test Championship final became nearly impossible following their defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Currently eighth on the points table with just two wins in six matches, Pakistan now need to win all their remaining eight Tests to advance. India and Australia remain the top contenders for the final.
South Africa collapsed from a seemingly winning position to lose to West Indies by 30 runs, allowing the Caribbean side to secure a 2-0 series lead. Chasing 180, South Africa were at 129 for 3 but lost their last seven wickets for just 20 runs. Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph's stellar bowling ensured West Indies' victory.
Cricketer Ahmed Shehzad criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board's strategy and selection policies following Pakistan's historic 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test. Shehzad blamed the PCB for making short-term decisions that led to the decline of Pakistan cricket, equating the situation to the downfall of Pakistani hockey. He called for introspection and changes within the PCB.
Second-half goals by Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey earned Arsenal earn a hard-fought 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Saturday as Mikel Arteta's side continued their perfect start to the Premier League season. Villa did the double over Arsenal last season, defeats that ultimately cost the Gunners the title, and had plenty of chances to make it three successive wins at Villa Park, striker Ollie Watkins missing two gilt-edged openings.
A controlled 64-run partnership between Joe Root and Jamie Smith guided England to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test at Old Trafford on Saturday. Root dug in after England had made a shaky start to chasing a modest victory target of 205, reaching his half-century off 108 balls. The second Test starts at Lord's on Thursday.
Shaheen Shah Afridi got engaged to Ansha, the second-eldest daughter of former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, in 2021. Their nikah took place in a private ceremony in February last year, followed by a week of wedding celebrations and Ansha's rukhsati in September 2023. Afridi is expected to rejoin his team ahead of the second Test, scheduled to begin in Rawalpindi on August 30.
Former Indian hockey goalkeeper P R Sreejesh, now the junior Indian team's coach, emphasized the importance of challenging players rather than pampering them. Reflecting on India's recent performance, Sreejesh expressed disappointment over not securing gold in Paris despite the team's calibre. He remained firm on his retirement decision, citing a fulfilling career with significant achievements, including two Olympic bronze medals.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, celebrated for his unflappable composure during cricket matches, harbors an intense affection for motorcycles that rivals his dedication to the sport. His enthusiasm for two-wheeled machines is common knowledge among his supporters and cricketing peers. Dhoni's impressive motorcycle collection spans from vintage classics to cutting-edge superbikes, reflecting his diverse tastes.
Jamie Smith's latest Test fifty took England into a narrow first-innings lead in their series opener against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford on Thursday. England were 259-6 in reply to Sri Lanka's 236, a slender advantage of 23 runs, when a combination of bad light and rain forced an early close to the second day of the three-Test series. Smith, promoted up the order to No 6 in the absence of injured captain Ben Stokes, was 72 not out -- the 24-year-old wicketkeeper's third fifty in his four Tests.
Rohit Sharma, as a captain, strikes a balance between granting autonomy and demanding responsibility from his team members during matches. His composed manner allows him to encourage players to express themselves freely on the field while establishing well-defined standards of performance. When the situation calls for it, Rohit offers helpful critique to his teammates. If an individual fails to meet the required standards, Rohit's understated but expressive responses convey his thoughts effectively without the need for verbal communication.
Putting up a dominant show, all four Indian women wrestlers in action, including Aditi Kumari, Neha and Pulkit, got themselves in title contention at the Under-17 World Championships, here on Wednesday. Aditi Kumari put up an impressive show against Ukraine's Karolina Shperyk (10-0) and Marriem Mohamed Abdelaal (4-2) to set up the 43kg semifinal against Aleksandra Berezovskaia.She carried forward her terrific run with a 8-2 win in the semifinals to set up the 43kg final with Maria Louiza Gkika from Greece.
The tribunal, organized by Sport Resolutions, accepted Sinner's explanation that the anabolic agent clostebol entered his system through massages and sports therapy administered by a member of his support team.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's impressive start to his international career is yet to earn him an ODI cap, and according to Dinesh Karthik, the 22-year-old youngster will remain a "back-up opener" for India as far as the 2025 Champions Trophy is concerned, where Shubman Gill is likely to continue opening with skipper Rohit Sharma.
Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami, sustained the injury during the Copa America final in the United States last month. He is presently undergoing recovery at his club.
Rooted to his grounded nature, Dhoni has always made himself available to his close friends and even the fans whenever he is approached for a selfie or an autograph despite keeping largely quiet in his private life with family after retiring from international cricket in 2020. He continues to play the IPL, but the 43-year-old icon's availability for the next season is unsure.
Top-seeded Jannik Sinner and the second-ranked women's player Ayrna Sabalenka both secured respective victories in straight sets during the Cincinnati Open finals on Monday. This marks the first time either player has won the title at the prestigious tournament.
Karun Nair turned back the clock in the most entertaining fashion for the Indian cricket fans on Monday with his unbeaten knock of 124 in just 48 balls for the Mysore Warriors against the Mangalore Dragons in the Maharaj Trophy T20 tournament at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Warriors won the rain-shortened match by 27 runs (VJD method).Honor has been spreading its wings in India with a slew of launches. The company recently introduced the Honor 200 series in the country to expand its portfolio in the mid-range and premium segments. Although the Honor 200 Pro caters for the premium segment, it is the Honor 200 that will face the real heat in the Indian smartphone landscape. The latest smartphone from the company is priced at Rs 34,999 for 8GB + 256GB and Rs 39,999 for the 12GB + 512GB option.
The Honor 200 offers some interesting features and a premium design. This time, the special focus is on the cameras, which are co-engineered with Studio Harcourt, a photography studio known for its portraits. That said, is it enough to entice users to bypass the competition and go for this one? Let's find out in this review.
Honor was one of the few brands that took the designing of the phones quite seriously, even when they were previously active in India before the ban fiasco. Fast forward to today, and you will see the fragments of the same design philosophy in Honor 200. The smartphone looks unique and stylish in this price segment. I got the Moonlight White colour option for the review, and right off the bat, it looks elegant, which is a rarity in this price segment.
The Honor 200 is available in two colour options: Moonlight White and Black.
The wave design pattern at the rear panel looks quite attractive, and the oval-shaped camera module adds some cherry to the top. However, the camera module also makes it wobble on flat surfaces. The in-hand feel is quite comfortable, though the frame is made of plastic, which is a bummer.
The handset is slim with 7.7mm thickness and weighs 187 grams, which is at par with the competition. The only downside of the design is it is quite slippery, so you will need a case with it, especially as it does not come with any official Gorilla Glass protection. Also, you don't get any official IP rating, which is kind of a deal breaker for me at this price point.
The latest handset from Honor comes loaded with a quad-curved display and offers crisp and colourful visuals. Moreover, you get 4,000nits of peak brightness, making it a bright display for use in outdoor conditions.
The Honor 200 features an AMOLED display that delivers vibrant colours.
The phone offers a 120Hz screen refresh rate, making the whole scrolling experience fluid. The quad-curved screen looks like a premium design while minimising accidental touches. Coming to content consumption, you will surely love this device. While watching ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' on Apple TV+, the colour saturation was on point and faced no problem for the darker part of the show.
The phone also supports Widevine L1 support along with HDR10+, meaning that you can comfortably watch HDR content on Netflix on this device. You can get two different modes, Normal and Vivid, to meet your desired taste. However, I would suggest to keep it at Vivid mode to get the best output.
The handset offers different options to customise the display settings.
Another interesting thing here is the Always-On display. The phone comes with two options for this mode: Full screen and Partial screen. The full-screen mode dims the version of the lock screen, and you get a full-screen AoD, which is a fun feature.
The handset also comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor that works well, though the position is a bit lower than my liking. However, you can choose between animations, which are always fun to use.
The Honor 200 comes loaded with MagicOS 8.0, based on the Android 14 operating system. The user interface is easy to get used to and offers some good levels of customisations and features. The company claims to have added some AI features like Magic Capsule, Magic Portal, Magic Ring, and more. Some of these features are useful, while some look more like a gimmick.
The Magic Portal is one useful feature. The feature basically allows you to drag and drop text, photos, and videos from one app to the other. For example, you can copy the text you like on Instagram by simply long-pressing the text until you see a blue hue in the corner. Now, simply drag the content to Notes or other apps like Gmail, WhatsApp, Notes, and more. You also have a Favourite Space that allows you to store all the screenshots and videos and access them anytime.
On the other hand, the Magic Capsule seems to be more of a gimmick here. The company has drawn its inspiration from Apple's Dynamic Island but forgot to be inspired by all the features it offers. At the time, you can also see the music playback and timer. Hopefully, the brand will add more features in the future.
Apart from this, the user interface offers a good level of customisation. On the downside, the issue of bloatware persists. So, you have double apps for Email, Gallery, app market, calculator, docs, and so on. Thankfully, you don't get spammy notifications from these apps, which is a blessing in disguise.
The Honor 200 packs decent hardware at this price point. The handset comes loaded with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor in Vivo V30, OnePlus Nord CE4, Motorola Edge 50 Pro, and more. However, considering the competition at this price point, the phone's performance is slightly sub-par, and you can check it out in this synthetic benchmark comparisons:
| Benchmark | Honor 200 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro | Oppo Reno 12 Pro | Realme GT 6T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single Core | 1145 | 1142 | 1013 | 1843 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi Core | 3304 | 3124 | 2938 | 4756 |
| AnTuTu v10 | 821,670 | 818,387 | 619,149 | 1,462,980 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 12,723 | 13,730 | 12,806 | 19,517 |
| 3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | 5180 | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Slingshot | Maxed Out | 8393 | 6606 | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Wild Life | 5917 | 5394 | 3170 | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Wild Life Unlimited | 6043 | 5457 | 3162 | 11481 |
| GFXBench T-Rex | 60 | 116 | 59 | 60 |
| GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 | 59 | 61 | 49 | 60 |
| GFXBench Car Chase | 38 | 32 | 29 | 60 |
In day-to-day use, you will not face any problems or lag. Even with demanding tasks, the phone doesn't throttle much, which is a good thing.
As far as gaming is concerned, you can do most of the usual gaming on this device without much stress. While playing Call of Duty: Mobile with default settings at High and Very High graphics and frame rates, respectively. Even with Very High Quality and maximum frame rate, I didn't notice any frame drop. However, the phone got slightly warm around the camera module. But it was not at an alarming level.
The cameras are perhaps its biggest strong suit. The Honor 200 features an interesting camera setup that packs everything you need in a good camera-centric smartphone.
Honor 200 2x daylight (top), ultra-wide (middle), and normal (bottom) camera samples. (Tap to Expand)
During daylight conditions, the phone captures excellent shots with good dynamic range and vibrant colours. The photos were crisp and full of details, though the colours were slightly oversaturated in some cases. However, the ultra-wide angle lens was a miss, as the quality was often not at par. You can see some loss of detail in the corners in daylight shots.
Honor 200 portrait camera sample using Harcourt Colour (bottom), Harcourt Vibrant (Middle), and Harcourt Classic (Top). (Tap to expand image)
However, the star of the show is the portrait sensor. The phone has a Sony IMX856 2.5x portrait sensor that captures really good photos in different conditions. The skin tone was natural, and the bokeh effect worked well. You also get three different Harcourt portrait modes: Harcourt Vibrant, Harcourt Colour, and Harcourt Classic. My favourite was the Classic mode, which delivered some really good output in different lighting conditions.
Honor 200 low-light camera samples. (Tap image to expand)
Coming to the low light performance of Honor 200, the primary sensor does a good job again. The noises are kept to a minimum, and the phone is able to preserve the colours when the light is low. The ultra-wide angle was again not up to the mark as the photos came out to be less detailed and full of noises.
The Honor 200 is one of the few smartphones in the market that offers a silicon-carbon battery. The silicon-carbon batteries tend to hold higher energy density and take less space as compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. This results in a slimmer form factor while still maintaining high battery backup, which is the case with this device.
The Honor 200 features a 5,200mAh battery with 100W fast charging support.
Under normal usage, the phone easily lasted one full day with an average screen time of 6 hours. The phone lasted 28 hours and 27 minutes in our battery loop test, which was quite impressive. It also supports 100W fast charging support. However, you need to buy the charger separately. We tested the charging speed with a 68W fast charger. The phone was charged 37 percent in 15 minutes, 70 percent in 30 minutes, and fully charged in 49 minutes.
The Honor 200 is a good package if you are inclined towards a premium camera phone at a mid-range price segment. The phone features a sleek and lightweight design that looks unique. The display is crisp and is deal for content consumption. However, the camera takes centre stage here and delivers some good results with its primary sensor and portrait camera, though the same cannot be said for the wide-angle sensor. The performance is decent, and you will not face any problems during day-to-day usage.
However, the phone faces stiff competition with the likes of Realme GT 6T, Motorola Edge 50 Pro, OnePlus Nord 4, Oppo Reno 12 Pro, and more. So, if you are considering buying a camera-centric smartphone that delivers consistent performance, then you can consider the Honor 200 device.
