India's Diya Chitale and Manush Shah secured a medal in table tennis at the Asian Games after beating Hong Kong's Doo Hoi Kem and Wong Chun Ting in the mixed doubles quarterfinals on Friday. The Indian pair produced a strong performance to win 3-1 (11-6, 13-15, 11-9, 11-5) and book their place in the semifinals.
Akash Deep has seen it all. Rejection, loss, sacrifice, fame and success—but the darkest chapter of his life came when his elder sister was diagnosed with cancer last year. Then he suffered a lower-stress fracture, which kept him out of action for seven months. The Indian pacer is now back, reflecting on the people and moments that shaped him, the risks he took for Bengal and his hunger to return to India colours.
India encountered significant hurdles during the Asian Games as their eFootball match against Mongolia was forfeited due to Mongolia's late arrival. This incident has raised alarms for the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) regarding its potential impact on India's qualification. Further complicating matters were technical disruptions and scheduling issues. The federation is now advocating for greater transparency in match regulations to ensure fairness for all teams involved.
Naorem Roshibina Devi was initially not selected for the Asian Games but received a late opportunity. After Divyanshi Choudhary was injured, Roshibina took her place in the team. She has performed well, securing at least a bronze medal after defeating her opponents. This achievement follows her previous successes in Jakarta and Hangzhou, where she earned a bronze and a silver medal. Roshibina aims for gold in the ongoing competition.
Pranati Nayak has officially qualified for the vault final at the Asian Games, scoring an impressive 12.916. Her routine featured a challenging Tsukahara back 360-degree turn and a handspring pike forward somersault. Coach Ashok Mishra set this benchmark ahead of the event, and now Pranati looks forward to Thursday's final to improve upon her last outing at the Commonwealth Games.
Zaheer Khan has stepped in as the new head coach for the Chennai Super Kings, a move significantly influenced by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. As a former left-arm pacer, Zaheer brings a wealth of experience to the franchise that has recently struggled. Honored by this opportunity, he eagerly anticipates playing a role in preserving and enhancing the team's illustrious legacy.
The Asian Games equestrian eventing competition faced a delay due to Typhoon Dujuan, necessitating the rescheduling of the dressage and cross-country events to Tuesday. In light of safety protocols, Indian riders have been instructed to stay indoors. Concerns about communication from the chef-de-equipe were raised, as India strives to uphold its dressage gold medal amid this tumultuous situation.
In an impressive display of skill, India clinched a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event, thanks to the efforts of Rudrankksh Patil, Himanshu Dhillon, and Parth Mane who secured second place in qualification. China took home gold while breaking the event's world record. Notably, Rudrankksh and Himanshu also advanced to the individual final, showcasing India's strong performance in shooting competitions at the Games.
As Mairaj Ahmad Khan prepares for his fourth Asian Games, the Olympic gold that has stayed out of reach for more than two decades remains his biggest motivation. From cricket fields in Bulandshahr to becoming India's first Olympic skeet shooter and the country's first men's skeet World Cup champion, the 50-year-old reflects on Rio, COVID, personal loss, Cairo, and the philosophy that continues to define him: one target at a time. Pasted markdown
Quimcy Dsouza's quest for an Asian Games teqball bronze medal ended in a narrow defeat to Japan's Yuina Sakamoto. The match was tightly contested, with Dsouza having a set point in the opening game and maintaining a lead in the second before ultimately falling short. This loss concluded her first appearance at the Asian Games in a dramatic fashion.
At auction, Tom Brady's 2019 New England Patriots jersey sold for an astonishing $273,107, marking a significant moment when he overtook Peyton Manning on the all-time passing yards leaderboard. The auction attracted intense competition with twenty-four bids, driven by the item's authentication and photo-matching details, demonstrating the high value placed on memorabilia from Brady's illustrious career.
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.
Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal’s Olympic dream was shattered before he could even step on the mat at the Paris qualifiers. Stranded at Dubai airport for three days, he arrived in Kyrgyzstan after the weigh-in had ended. Now, the 23-year-old is looking at the Asian Games as a fresh start. Representing India in the competitive 65kg category, Sujeet is determined to win gold and keep his Olympic dream alive.
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.
Abhishek Sharma made the most of that freedom on Thursday, smashing a record 30-ball century against Afghanistan in the third and final T20I in Delhi. His 108 off 34 balls, which included 11 sixes, helped India post 221/7 and complete a 3-0 series sweep with a 127-run win.
India will have another busy day at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Friday, September 18. The Indian women's cricket team will be the main attraction as the defending champions begin their title defence against Japan in the quarter-finals. The match is scheduled for 10:30 AM IST.