Sports

A busy medal schedule awaits India on Monday as the men’s cricket team begins its Asian Games 2026 campaign, while Avinash Sable, Lovlina Borgohain, Manu Bhaker and several other leading athletes look to add to the country’s medal tally on Day 9 of the continental event. The defending champions will face the silver medallists from Hangzhou 2023, with India seeking to continue its gold-medal run after defeating Afghanistan in the final three years ago. Athletics will offer several medal opportunities, with nine finals featuring Indian athletes scheduled during the evening session. Avinash Sable will be among the biggest attractions as he returns to the men’s 3,000m steeplechase. The Hangzhou silver medallist is making his comeback after a lengthy injury layoff and will seek a podium finish.

A woman biker, identified as Sia, was involved in an incident in Gurugram after a car allegedly struck her motorcycle and drove away. The crash occurred on Golf Course Road when she was riding her Aprilia RS 457 with friends. According to the rider, the occupants of the vehicle had been aggressively chasing her group since the start of their ride. Sia alleged that the men in the car appeared drunk and continued pursuing her even after she asked them to maintain distance. The incident culminated when the driver allegedly cut in front of her motorcycle, striking it and throwing her onto the road.

Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney is facing criticism after appearing in an advertisement campaign for Novig, a US-based sports prediction platform. The ads feature Sweeney posing nude or nearly nude while using sporting equipment, referencing various sports like basketball and football. This portrayal has sparked backlash from professional athletes who argue that the campaign reduces women’s sport to appearance and sexuality. Critics contend that this representation fails to highlight the skill, physical effort, and training involved in women's athletics. The controversy centers on how the visual language of different sports is used while leaving Sweeney largely nude.

England defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the third and final Test at Edgbaston, completing a 3-0 series sweep. The home team faced difficulties early when openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were dismissed in the opening over by Mohammad Abbas. Joe Root and Jordan Cox anchored the innings with half-centuries, helping England reach their target of 130 runs in the 25th over. This victory marked a historic whitewash for England on Pakistani soil. The series sweep included previous wins at Headingley and Lord's.

Ahead of a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi, the Indian cricket team participated in an unexpected social media trend. The players discovered AI-generated pictures of themselves dressed as 1980s stars while gathered at their hotel for a photo session. These retro portraits featured vintage hairstyles, colorful clothing, and big sunglasses. The fun moment was captured on video and shared by the official BCCI X handle. Players like Jasprit Bumrah inspected the collection of AI-generated pictures placed on a table, finding the experience amusing.

The International Skating Union (ISU) announced that Russian figure skaters Mark Kondratyuk and Kamila Valieva no longer meet the requirements to compete as individual neutral athletes. This decision was posted on the ISU's official website. TASS compiled key facts surrounding the union’s decisions regarding these two skaters. The announcement confirms that both individuals have lost their eligibility for neutral status, impacting their ability to compete internationally.

The NFL held a debut season opener outside the U.S. at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Australia. The game featured the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Rams on September 11, 2026. During the event, the Jonas Brothers performed a halftime show after striking a deal with the NFL. While some fans enjoyed the performance, many expressed disappointment and confusion regarding the musical act.

The professional men's golf tour, LIV Golf, is reportedly facing significant financial difficulties. The organization, which was owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, could soon file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and potentially become majority player-owned. Financial analysis suggests that LIV Golf’s model has unraveled following the loss of Saudi backing. These developments raise questions about the sustainability of NFL streaming costs in relation to major sports tours.

Robert Moreno, recently named the interim head coach of the men's national football team, is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Sunday. The Korea Football Association announced that upon landing at Incheon International Airport, Moreno will have a media availability. He and his five-man backroom staff were hired en masse by the KFA in September.

During the ongoing Women's Asia Cup, Pakistan women cricketers drew social media attention for their footwear during a match against Hong Kong. Several players were spotted wearing sneakers from One8, the sportswear brand co-founded by Indian cricket star Virat Kohli. The specific shoes worn were the One8 Cover Drive 18 X cricket shoes, available in three colors: Trophy Gold, Sonic Blue, and Jersey White. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu and right-handed batter Eymaan Fatima were among the players seen wearing the brand's footwear at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday. Despite the off-field buzz, Sandhu delivered a stunning performance, achieving career-best figures of 6/7 in four overs to help Pakistan secure a 72-run victory and semi-final place.

Cricket Australia has approved a new privatization model for both the Big Bash League and the Women's Big Bash League. Under this plan, the Melbourne Renegades is slated to be the first club offered to private investors. The move represents an effort by Cricket Australia to bring in private investment into the league structure. This development was reported across multiple global news platforms.

Following heavy defeats in a Test series against England, Pakistan's cricket team management implemented significant changes. The squad saw the removal of seven players and the head coach, Sarfaraz Ahmed. White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke were assigned to lead the red-ball team. Additionally, former captain Misbah-ul-Haq resigned from his selection panel role and stepped away from his batting consultant position at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. The changes occurred after Pakistan suffered losses by an innings and 103 runs, followed by a loss of 194 runs.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is planning to seek his fourth and final term in the next year's election. This ambition comes amid public scrutiny following a shelved proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Speaking at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup opening match in Katowice, Poland, Infantino avoided commenting on whether he regretted the abandoned plan. The original proposal, which valued commercial rights at $20 billion, was dropped after facing backlash and boycott threats from regional governing bodies like UEFA.

Korean badminton star An Se-young secured victory in her final tournament of the cycle leading up to the Asian Games. The win occurred on Sunday, marking a significant achievement for the South Korean shuttler. Both the Korea Herald and Yonhap News reported that she won this final competition before the upcoming major sporting event. This success highlights her continued participation and performance in international badminton circuits.

Jais [Uttar Pradesh], September 5: Three days, five sporting disciplines and an overwhelming display of enthusiasm marked the National Sports Day celebrations at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) from 28 to 30 August 2026.

A major political and legal conflict has erupted between FIFA and UEFA, centered on a scrapped multi-billion dollar commercial proposal. The dispute involves allegations of a coordinated smear campaign against Gianni Infantino and FIFA's leadership by UEFA. This feud escalated after FIFA withdrew the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan, which sought to sell a private equity stake in World Cup rights for $4.2 billion. Subsequently, UEFA filed applications in multiple U.S. courts seeking discovery documents from entities like Thrive Capital and JPMorgan. FIFA countered these actions, accusing UEFA of using legal filings merely as press releases supporting the smear campaign.

The US Open has become a focal point for discussions regarding modern tennis etiquette, particularly concerning content creators and social media influencers. Reports indicate that the behavior of these individuals has caused debate amid incidents of matches being disrupted. While one source notes Alexandra Eala's growing popularity at the tournament, another highlights the general issue of influencer presence. The increasing involvement of influencers is noted as a major talking point, suggesting tensions between celebrity appeal and traditional sporting decorum.

India's Smriti Mandhana achieved major milestones in women's international cricket during a match against Hong Kong in the Women's Asia Cup. The 30-year-old batter scored 124 runs off 64 balls, surpassing former India skipper Mithali Raj's record of 10,868 international runs to become the leading run-scorer. She also achieved her 18th international century, moving past Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt, who both had 17 hundreds. Mandhana's innings helped India score 193-5 in a victory over Hong Kong. Following the match, she commented on the unpredictability of batting.

Former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie criticized chairman of selectors Aaqib Javed on Friday, stating that the national team appears to be 'playing with fear.' Speaking to The Australian newspaper, Gillespie noted that Pakistan made several dramatic changes this week, including replacing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and pace-bowling chief Umar Gul. He also reported that seven players were sent home from England following successive Test thrashings. Gillespie criticized the selection strategy under Aaqib Javed, pointing out that Salman Ali Agha went from captaining the team in the first Test to being removed for the second and third Tests. The former coach stated that the changes suggest a lack of clear planning.

A dispute between FIFA and UEFA escalated recently, with FIFA accusing UEFA of waging a "smear campaign" against it and President Gianni Infantino. The conflict centers on an abandoned proposal to sell a stake in the world governing body’s commercial rights. According to a court filing seen by Reuters, UEFA submitted an ex parte application in the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking testimony and documents from U. S.-based entities. FIFA countered that these applications were merely "press releases" supporting the smear campaign. Furthermore, UEFA allegedly considers criminal proceedings against Infantino and other FIFA officials related to FIFA Forward Enterprise.