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A FIFA vice-president has withdrawn his support for world football body president Gianni Infantino, saying the “unexpected dismissal” of Kevin Lamour was the “final straw”.Frenchman Lamour was FIFA’s chief operating officer, but his position became difficult after he criticised Infantino last month and spoke out against his now-rejected plan to allow private investment in World Cups.&nbsp;In a letter sent to Infantino on Tuesday, FIFA vice-president and council member Sandor Csanyi of Hungary said Infantino had “lost the confidence I previously placed in you”.&nbsp;Csanyi, a billionaire businessman, banker and head of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), said, “My conviction that you are capable of continuing to lead FIFA successfully and effectively in accordance with the shared values that previously formed the basis of our cooperation has been undermined.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-wins-second-european-golden-shoe-award-and-has-no-itch-to-return-to-premier-league-1787212858836">Harry Kane wins second European Golden Shoe award and has 'no itch' to return to Premier League</a>&nbsp;The letter also mentioned “a number of controversial decisions” related to this year’s World Cup. Csanyi said Infantino had been working “on plans to outsource FIFA competitions and place them in the hands of external parties”.&nbsp;“The final straw was the unexpected dismissal of Kevin Lamour,” the letter said, adding that it “points to serious shortcomings in professional judgement, ethical standards and leadership”.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-ashwin-says-jadeja-not-attacking-anymore-as-suthar-steps-up-1787200098549">IND vs SL: Ashwin says 'Jadeja not attacking anymore' as Suthar steps up</a>&nbsp;On Tuesday, UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister also criticised FIFA’s decision to dismiss Lamour, saying it sent a “deeply troubling message to all of us seeking change”.

Support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino is weakening, with more national football federations and FIFA officials turning against him following COO Kevin Lamour’s departure, described by one FIFA vice-president as the “final straw.”

A FIFA vice-president has withdrawn his support for world football body president Gianni Infantino, saying the “unexpected dismissal” of Kevin Lamour was the “final straw”. Frenchman Lamour was FIFA’s chief operating officer, but his position became difficult after he criticised Infantino last month and spoke out against his now-rejected plan to allow private investment in World Cups. In a letter sent to Infantino on Tuesday, FIFA vice-president and council member Sandor Csanyi of Hungary said Infantino had “lost the confidence I previously placed in you”. Csanyi, a billionaire businessman, banker and head of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), said, “My conviction that you are capable of continuing to lead FIFA successfully and effectively in accordance with the shared values that previously formed the basis of our cooperation has been undermined.” Also Read - Harry Kane wins second European Golden Shoe award and has 'no itch' to return to Premier League The letter also mentioned “a number of controversial decisions” related to this year’s World Cup. Csanyi said Infantino had been working “on plans to outsource FIFA competitions and place them in the hands of external parties”. “The final straw was the unexpected dismissal of Kevin Lamour,” the letter said, adding that it “points to serious shortcomings in professional judgement, ethical standards and leadership”. Also Read - IND vs SL: Ashwin says 'Jadeja not attacking anymore' as Suthar steps up On Tuesday, UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister also criticised FIFA’s decision to dismiss Lamour, saying it sent a “deeply troubling message to all of us seeking change”.

Support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino is weakening, with more national football federations and FIFA officials turning against him following COO Kevin Lamour’s departure, described by one FIFA vice-president as the “final straw.”

Infantino faces fresh setback as senior FIFA official pulls support

England skipper Harry Kane, who left Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for German Bundesliga's Bayern Munich in 2023, has won the European Golden Shoe award for most goals for second time in three seasons. He scored 36 goals for Bayern Munich, accumulating 72 points to win his second European Golden Shoe award. He had previously won the award in 2023/24 season, scoring the same number of goals for the same side. Last year, Kylian Mbappe had won the European Golden Shoe for 31 goals for Real Madrid in La Liga.<h2>Will Kane be back in Premier League?</h2>Ever since Kane left the Premier League for Bayern in 2023, the speculation about him coming back has been constant. The England striker himself admitted wanting to come back at some point but said that there's no 'itch' anymore.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-pakistan-fih-hockey-world-cup-5-3-result-1787151650355">India outclass Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for second round at FIH World Cup</a>"When I first left (Spurs), for sure it was something that I thought I’d definitely be coming back," Kane told FourFourTwo magazine after receiving the European Golden Shoe on Wednesday (Aug 19).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🥇 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🥇 Huge congrats, <a href="https://x.com/HKane?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HKane</a>! No one deserves this more than you! ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/Cg14rKbQZb">pic.twitter.com/Cg14rKbQZb</a>&mdash; FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) <a href="https://x.com/FCBayern/status/2090086923662414310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"That itch isn’t there as much anymore. I’m extremely happy here in Munich. It’s opened my eyes to a totally different world of football outside of England. I never say never but, for now, I’m concentrating on Bayern Munich, and we’ll see what the future holds."<h2>Kane in Bundesliga vs Premier League</h2>The striker has scored 98 goals for Bayern Munich in Bundesliga, three in Club World Cup, 11 in German Cup, one in German Super Cup, and 33 in UEFA Champions League. In Premier League, Kane has scored 213 goals for Spurs, 47 less than Alan Shearer's league record of 260 goals.Kane's contract with the German side has 12 months left but the striker revealed earlier this week that "both sides are relaxed" about a possible extension."We obviously said we wanted to talk after the World Cup and after my holiday. So I'm not sure exactly when, but they'll start this week, next week ... we'll start those talks. Like I've said before, we're calm, I think they're calm with the situation."

Harry Kane won his second European Golden Shoe with 36 Bayern Munich goals. Despite being 47 goals off Alan Shearer's Premier League record, Kane lacks the "itch" to return and is eyeing a contract extension.

England skipper Harry Kane, who left Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for German Bundesliga's Bayern Munich in 2023, has won the European Golden Shoe award for most goals for second time in three seasons. He scored 36 goals for Bayern Munich, accumulating 72 points to win his second European Golden Shoe award. He had previously won the award in 2023/24 season, scoring the same number of goals for the same side. Last year, Kylian Mbappe had won the European Golden Shoe for 31 goals for Real Madrid in La Liga. Will Kane be back in Premier League? Ever since Kane left the Premier League for Bayern in 2023, the speculation about him coming back has been constant. The England striker himself admitted wanting to come back at some point but said that there's no 'itch' anymore. Also Read - India outclass Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for second round at FIH World Cup "When I first left (Spurs), for sure it was something that I thought I’d definitely be coming back," Kane told FourFourTwo magazine after receiving the European Golden Shoe on Wednesday (Aug 19).

Harry Kane won his second European Golden Shoe with 36 Bayern Munich goals. Despite being 47 goals off Alan Shearer's Premier League record, Kane lacks the "itch" to return and is eyeing a contract extension.

Harry Kane wins second European Golden Shoe award and has 'no itch' to return to Premier League

The day 1 (Aug 19) of the England vs Pakistan first Test in Headingley, Leeds saw host pacers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue dismantling the visitors with precision. Both the pacers took five wickets each as <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/matches/264906/england-vs-pakistan">Pakistan were bowled out for 171</a> in the first innings. While the instance of two bowlers taking a five-wicket haul in same Test innings is very rare, what happened after was even more unique. Traditionally, the bowler who takes a five-wicket haul, keeps the match ball as a memory, but this time the ball was cut into half to give both, Robinson and Tongue one piece each to mark the occasion.<h2>Robinson, Tongue share ball after five-wicket haul vs Pakistan</h2>Robinson and Tongue became the first England pair to take five-wickets each in the same innings of a Test since Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar did so in 2006, also against Pakistan in Manchester. After the match, the ground staff split the ball in two exact halves to ensure both bowlers get to keep a piece of history with them.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson have had the ball split in half so they can both have a momento from their five-wicket hauls 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏏 Brilliant picture by <a href="https://x.com/dudleyplatypus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dudleyplatypus</a> 📸<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/a5yUZIvuMx">pic.twitter.com/a5yUZIvuMx</a>&mdash; England&#39;s Barmy Army 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) <a href="https://x.com/TheBarmyArmy/status/2090160218004959739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Robbo said we can split the ball in half," Tongue told Test Match Special. "The groundstaff have kindly done that. It’s the first time I’ve seen that happen. I’m sure I’ll be putting that up somewhere."Also read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-ashwin-says-jadeja-not-attacking-anymore-as-suthar-steps-up-1787200098549">IND vs SL: Ashwin says 'Jadeja not attacking anymore' as Suthar steps up</a>"Josh said it and I said: 'We actually should do that, it would be quite cool.' You don’t really have too many halves of a cricket ball, so it would be something that we never forget," Robinson added."Wayne Bentley, the team manager, took it down to the groundstaff. I said: 'Do you reckon they will be able to do it? Within five minutes he brought it back up and it was done. It’s really nice," Robinson added.<h2>England in driver seat of opening Test</h2>Robinson (5/51) and Tongue (5/46) helped England bowl Pakistan cheaply despite Imam-ul-haq (42) and Abdullah Shafique (61) adding 91 runs for the third wicket. In reply, England openers Ben Duckett (15) and Emilio Gay (33) added 36 runs for the first wicket before both of them were back in the dressing room for 48 runs. Jordan Cox (23 not out) and skipper Joe Root (37 not out) were at the crease at the close of play with England at 112/2, 59 runs behind Pakistan's first innings total.

Robinson and Tongue became the first England pair to take five-wickets each in the same innings of a Test since Steve Harminson and Monty Panesar did so in 2006, also against Pakistan in Manchester.

The day 1 (Aug 19) of the England vs Pakistan first Test in Headingley, Leeds saw host pacers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue dismantling the visitors with precision. Both the pacers took five wickets each as Pakistan were bowled out for 171 in the first innings. While the instance of two bowlers taking a five-wicket haul in same Test innings is very rare, what happened after was even more unique. Traditionally, the bowler who takes a five-wicket haul, keeps the match ball as a memory, but this time the ball was cut into half to give both, Robinson and Tongue one piece each to mark the occasion. Robinson, Tongue share ball after five-wicket haul vs Pakistan Robinson and Tongue became the first England pair to take five-wickets each in the same innings of a Test since Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar did so in 2006, also against Pakistan in Manchester. After the match, the ground staff split the ball in two exact halves to ensure both bowlers get to keep a piece of history with them.

Robinson and Tongue became the first England pair to take five-wickets each in the same innings of a Test since Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar did so in 2006, also against Pakistan in Manchester.

ENG vs PAK, 1st Test: Robinson, Tongue split Pakistan and 'match ball' in half after day 1 heroics

Former India spinner Ravi Ashwin thinks that his long-time spin partner Ravindra Jadeja is 'no longer an attacking spinner,' but has transitioned into a solid middle-order batter with added experience with the ball. Ashwin's comments came after India's 165-run win against Sri Lanka in the first of two Tests at Galle on Wednesday (Aug 19). Jadeja did take four wickets in the match but the spotlight was on 24-year-old Manav Suthar, who took a 10-for in only his second Test match - making him <a href="Galle Jackpot: Manav Suthar becomes youngest Indian to pick 10-for in away Test">the youngest Indian</a> spinner to do so away from home.<h2>Ashwin says Jadeja no longer 'attacking'</h2>Jadeja has long been one of the mainstays of Indian spinner with other being Ashwin. The left-arm all-rounder, however, is now 90-Test old and has 352 wickets to his name, making him the most experienced active bowler in India. The 37-year-old, however, has taken a back seat to offer support in the middle overs rather leading the attack.Also Watch - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jaiswal-dickwella-ipl-deal-sledge-galle-test-wicket-1787141583916">'I’ll Take You to IPL" — How Jaiswal’s mind games trapped Dickwella</a>“Jadeja and Suthar are completely different bowlers. Suthar’s strength is the ball rotation in his hands. Jadeja will bowl to the wickets and give you control with his stock balls. I feel Jadeja is not that attacking spinner anymore. He is a batter who will give experience with the ball and I feel he has transitioned to that role, which is not such a bad thing,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.<h2>Jadeja still remains India's prime spinner in WTC 2025-27</h2>Despite growing age and new spinners coming into the Indian team, Jadeja remains <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/stats">India's best spinner in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle</a>. He has played 10 matches in the ongoing cycle, taking 29 wickets, joint-second best for India among all bowlers, tying with Jasprit Bumrah and only second to Mohammed Siraj's 41 wickets in 10 matches.Overall, Jadeja has 160 wickets in 49 WTC Tests - making him the third best Indian bowler behind Ravi Ashwin (195 wickets) and Jasprit Bumrah (185 wickets).

Ravichandran Ashwin believes Ravindra Jadeja has shifted from an attacking spinner to a solid middle-order batter who offers control and experience with the ball, despite remaining a key WTC performer.

Former India spinner Ravi Ashwin thinks that his long-time spin partner Ravindra Jadeja is 'no longer an attacking spinner,' but has transitioned into a solid middle-order batter with added experience with the ball. Ashwin's comments came after India's 165-run win against Sri Lanka in the first of two Tests at Galle on Wednesday (Aug 19). Jadeja did take four wickets in the match but the spotlight was on 24-year-old Manav Suthar, who took a 10-for in only his second Test match - making him the youngest Indian spinner to do so away from home. Ashwin says Jadeja no longer 'attacking' Jadeja has long been one of the mainstays of Indian spinner with other being Ashwin. The left-arm all-rounder, however, is now 90-Test old and has 352 wickets to his name, making him the most experienced active bowler in India. The 37-year-old, however, has taken a back seat to offer support in the middle overs rather leading the attack. Also Watch - 'I’ll Take You to IPL" — How Jaiswal’s mind games trapped Dickwella “Jadeja and Suthar are completely different bowlers. Suthar’s strength is the ball rotation in his hands. Jadeja will bowl to the wickets and give you control with his stock balls. I feel Jadeja is not that attacking spinner anymore. He is a batter who will give experience with the ball and I feel he has transitioned to that role, which is not such a bad thing,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel. Jadeja still remains India's prime spinner in WTC 2025-27 Despite growing age and new spinners coming into the Indian team, Jadeja remains India's best spinner in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. He has played 10 matches in the ongoing cycle, taking 29 wickets, joint-second best for India among all bowlers, tying with Jasprit Bumrah and only second to Mohammed Siraj's 41 wickets in 10 matches. Overall, Jadeja has 160 wickets in 49 WTC Tests - making him the third best Indian bowler behind Ravi Ashwin (195 wickets) and Jasprit Bumrah (185 wickets).

Ravichandran Ashwin believes Ravindra Jadeja has shifted from an attacking spinner to a solid middle-order batter who offers control and experience with the ball, despite remaining a key WTC performer.

IND vs SL: Ashwin says 'Jadeja not attacking anymore' as Suthar steps up

England's Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue shared both the wickets and the match ball as they joined forces to bowl out Pakistan on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley on Wednesday (Aug 19). The two paceman took five wickets each as Pakistan were dismissed for a meagre 171 on the first day of England's post-Bazball era, with Joe Root starting his second stint as full-time England captain following the shock international retirement of former skipper Ben Stokes.Also Watch - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jaiswal-dickwella-ipl-deal-sledge-galle-test-wicket-1787141583916">'I’ll Take You to IPL" — How Jaiswal’s mind games trapped Dickwella</a>Root rounded off a fine day on his Yorkshire home ground reaching 37 not out at stumps, with England 112-2 -- a deficit of just 59 runs.Robinson took a wicket with the very first ball of the match and dismissed four top-order batsmen in a haul of 5-51.Tongue followed up the Sussex seamer's initial burst with 5-46.Normally when a bowler takes five wickets in a Test innings, he keeps the ball for a souvenir.But with both Robinson and Tongue performing the feat on Wednesday they asked a member of the groundstaff to saw it in half.Robinson, showing off the newly-sliced ball at his post-match press conference, told reporters: "As we were walking off Tonguey said, 'I think we should split it'. I was like, 'yeah, we should actually do that, I think it'd be quite cool'."I said 'do you reckon they'll be able to do it?' and within five minutes they brought it back up and it was done."It’s one of those things that you don't really have too many halves of….half a cricket ball. It's something we'll never forget really and it's not too often two guys get five in the same innings, so it’s a nice gesture and something to remember."Robinson took a career-best seven wickets in an innings during England's first Test of their home season, against New Zealand in June.That was his first appearance for England in over two-and-a-half years, with team management long concerned about Robinson's fitness rather than his skill.The 32-year-old seamer then suffered a knee problem that meant he missed the second Test against New Zealand, with Robinson overlooked for the series finale at Trent Bridge -- a loss that ended in Stokes's dramatic exit from international duty."It was frustrating not to be able to play at the Oval, it was just a bit of a freak training injury and then I was available for Trent Bridge but not selected," said Robinson."I was ready to go but I suppose that's part of professional sport, isn't it? I've just worked really hard on a bit more fitness and a bit more skill, so it's nice when it comes off on days like today."Robinson, who recently became a father for the second time, added: "We had the newborn last Thursday at 2:00 am so I've been catching up on my sleep since I got to the hotel in Leeds."But it was a really special week last week having another baby and it almost makes today even sweeter."

The two paceman took five wickets each as Pakistan were dismissed for a meagre 171 on the first day of England's post-Bazball era, with Joe Root starting his second stint as full-time England captain.

England's Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue shared both the wickets and the match ball as they joined forces to bowl out Pakistan on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley on Wednesday (Aug 19). The two paceman took five wickets each as Pakistan were dismissed for a meagre 171 on the first day of England's post-Bazball era, with Joe Root starting his second stint as full-time England captain following the shock international retirement of former skipper Ben Stokes. Also Watch - 'I’ll Take You to IPL" — How Jaiswal’s mind games trapped Dickwella Root rounded off a fine day on his Yorkshire home ground reaching 37 not out at stumps, with England 112-2 -- a deficit of just 59 runs. Robinson took a wicket with the very first ball of the match and dismissed four top-order batsmen in a haul of 5-51. Tongue followed up the Sussex seamer's initial burst with 5-46. Normally when a bowler takes five wickets in a Test innings, he keeps the ball for a souvenir. But with both Robinson and Tongue performing the feat on Wednesday they asked a member of the groundstaff to saw it in half. Robinson, showing off the newly-sliced ball at his post-match press conference, told reporters: "As we were walking off Tonguey said, 'I think we should split it'. I was like, 'yeah, we should actually do that, I think it'd be quite cool'. "I said 'do you reckon they'll be able to do it?' and within five minutes they brought it back up and it was done. "It’s one of those things that you don't really have too many halves of….half a cricket ball. It's something we'll never forget really and it's not too often two guys get five in the same innings, so it’s a nice gesture and something to remember." Robinson took a career-best seven wickets in an innings during England's first Test of their home season, against New Zealand in June. That was his first appearance for England in over two-and-a-half years, with team management long concerned about Robinson's fitness rather than his skill. The 32-year-old seamer then suffered a knee problem that meant he missed the second Test against New Zealand, with Robinson overlooked for the series finale at Trent Bridge -- a loss that ended in Stokes's dramatic exit from international duty. "It was frustrating not to be able to play at the Oval, it was just a bit of a freak training injury and then I was available for Trent Bridge but not selected," said Robinson. "I was ready to go but I suppose that's part of professional sport, isn't it? I've just worked really hard on a bit more fitness and a bit more skill, so it's nice when it comes off on days like today." Robinson, who recently became a father for the second time, added: "We had the newborn last Thursday at 2:00 am so I've been catching up on my sleep since I got to the hotel in Leeds. "But it was a really special week last week having another baby and it almost makes today even sweeter."

The two paceman took five wickets each as Pakistan were dismissed for a meagre 171 on the first day of England's post-Bazball era, with Joe Root starting his second stint as full-time England captain.

ENG vs PAK, 1st Test: Robinson, Tounge take five wickets each as England take honours on day 1

Former world champion PV Sindhu knows she will have little room for error when she takes on familiar opponent Wang Zi Ying of China in the third round of the BWF World Championships 2026, but the Indian star is ready for the challenge. Sindhu, seeded ninth, moved into the third round with a 21-16, 21-17 win over Canada's Zhang Wen Yu on Wednesday. She will now face Wang, an opponent she has played several times before, with both players well aware of each other's game.&nbsp;“It will be difficult, obviously. There won't be any easy matches. When we are playing with top athletes, we can't expect easy matches or easy points,” Sindhu said after her second-round win. “We have to be prepared for long matches. I am ready for it. I have played against Wang Zi a lot of times. Of course, I have played against her. We know each other's game. I need to give my best and play my game.”&nbsp;Sindhu, who also reflected on her experience of playing at the World Championships, said she is hoping to produce another strong result but knows she will have to remain switched on throughout the contest. “I am hoping for a good result this time as well. I need to be prepared for everything. When you are playing against a top athlete, you can't expect easy points. You need to be prepared for those long rallies and long games,” she said. “You need to be consistent every single time. Every point matters. You can't give easy points away. I hope I give my best and be on the winning side.”&nbsp;The Indian did acknowledge that she made some unforced errors against Zhang, but felt she was able to rectify the problems during the match. She also pointed to the changing court conditions as a factor. “Today, I felt the court was different from the first day. According to my understanding, there were some unforced errors where I was hitting side outs. That's what I felt. But then I rectified and came back after 11 points in the second set as well,” Sindhu said. “I maintained it and consistently I was getting points. Going into tomorrow's match, I need to focus on playing my best, playing a safe game and being consistent.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/every-guy-needs-motherly-coaching-the-lady-luck-behind-garret-tan-s-stunning-lakshya-sen-upset-1787158651755">‘Every guy needs motherly coaching’: The lady luck behind Garret Tan’s stunning Lakshya Sen upset</a>&nbsp;For the 31-year-old, managing her body and recovery has become an increasingly important part of competing at the highest level. Sindhu believes athletes need to understand that their bodies may not always match what their minds are demanding from them. “I think recovery plays a very major role. Back then, when you were in your 20s, you could play and come back. You could keep going on and on. But after a certain time, you also need to understand. You are not 20 or 19 anymore. You need to understand your body and accordingly, smartly make those changes,” she said.&nbsp;“Today, you might play 80% tomorrow. The next day, you might play 50%. That is okay. It depends on your body. Your mind might say, I can do it. But your body might not be able to support you that way.” Sindhu stressed that sports science has become an important part of managing the demands of a long season, particularly when players have to recover quickly between gruelling matches. “That is when you accordingly make sure you see how your strain is, how your energy levels are and accordingly keep changing. That is when I feel sports science comes into picture,” she said.&nbsp;“I think that is very important for an athlete because you need to be able to manage. We have a number of tournaments. To pick and choose smartly what needs to be done. Immediately after those long matches, how do you recover faster for the next match? These are the aspects we need to focus on and be prepared.”&nbsp;&nbsp;For Sindhu, the key will be to leave mistakes behind and immediately shift focus to the next point. “It is completely okay if you make mistakes. Coming back immediately to the next point or knowing what your mistake is and accordingly discussing with your coach and coming back and focusing on the next point is important,” she said. “Because what has gone, has gone. You need to focus on what is next.”&nbsp;Sindhu also clarified her observation about the court conditions, saying the drift appeared to have changed compared to her opening-round match on Monday. “On Monday, I think the drift was on the other side is what I felt. Today, it was a little bit on the other side. That is what I felt personally. That is my personal opinion.”

PV Sindhu discusses her tough Wang Zi Ying challenge, long rallies, recovery, court conditions and India's emerging badminton stars at the 2026 World Championships

Former world champion PV Sindhu knows she will have little room for error when she takes on familiar opponent Wang Zi Ying of China in the third round of the BWF World Championships 2026, but the Indian star is ready for the challenge. Sindhu, seeded ninth, moved into the third round with a 21-16, 21-17 win over Canada's Zhang Wen Yu on Wednesday. She will now face Wang, an opponent she has played several times before, with both players well aware of each other's game. “It will be difficult, obviously. There won't be any easy matches. When we are playing with top athletes, we can't expect easy matches or easy points,” Sindhu said after her second-round win. “We have to be prepared for long matches. I am ready for it. I have played against Wang Zi a lot of times. Of course, I have played against her. We know each other's game. I need to give my best and play my game.” Sindhu, who also reflected on her experience of playing at the World Championships, said she is hoping to produce another strong result but knows she will have to remain switched on throughout the contest. “I am hoping for a good result this time as well. I need to be prepared for everything. When you are playing against a top athlete, you can't expect easy points. You need to be prepared for those long rallies and long games,” she said. “You need to be consistent every single time. Every point matters. You can't give easy points away. I hope I give my best and be on the winning side.” The Indian did acknowledge that she made some unforced errors against Zhang, but felt she was able to rectify the problems during the match. She also pointed to the changing court conditions as a factor. “Today, I felt the court was different from the first day. According to my understanding, there were some unforced errors where I was hitting side outs. That's what I felt. But then I rectified and came back after 11 points in the second set as well,” Sindhu said. “I maintained it and consistently I was getting points. Going into tomorrow's match, I need to focus on playing my best, playing a safe game and being consistent.” Also Read: ‘Every guy needs motherly coaching’: The lady luck behind Garret Tan’s stunning Lakshya Sen upset For the 31-year-old, managing her body and recovery has become an increasingly important part of competing at the highest level. Sindhu believes athletes need to understand that their bodies may not always match what their minds are demanding from them. “I think recovery plays a very major role. Back then, when you were in your 20s, you could play and come back. You could keep going on and on. But after a certain time, you also need to understand. You are not 20 or 19 anymore. You need to understand your body and accordingly, smartly make those changes,” she said. “Today, you might play 80% tomorrow. The next day, you might play 50%. That is okay. It depends on your body. Your mind might say, I can do it. But your body might not be able to support you that way.” Sindhu stressed that sports science has become an important part of managing the demands of a long season, particularly when players have to recover quickly between gruelling matches. “That is when you accordingly make sure you see how your strain is, how your energy levels are and accordingly keep changing. That is when I feel sports science comes into picture,” she said. “I think that is very important for an athlete because you need to be able to manage. We have a number of tournaments. To pick and choose smartly what needs to be done. Immediately after those long matches, how do you recover faster for the next match? These are the aspects we need to focus on and be prepared.” For Sindhu, the key will be to leave mistakes behind and immediately shift focus to the next point. “It is completely okay if you make mistakes. Coming back immediately to the next point or knowing what your mistake is and accordingly discussing with your coach and coming back and focusing on the next point is important,” she said. “Because what has gone, has gone. You need to focus on what is next.” Sindhu also clarified her observation about the court conditions, saying the drift appeared to have changed compared to her opening-round match on Monday. “On Monday, I think the drift was on the other side is what I felt. Today, it was a little bit on the other side. That is what I felt personally. That is my personal opinion.”

PV Sindhu expects a tough battle against familiar foe Wang Zi Ying and says consistency, adaptability and recovery will be key at the World Championships

BWF World Championships 2026: Familiar foe, fresh battle: PV Sindhu braces for Wang Zi Ying showdown, says 'you can’t expect easy points'

Playing only his second Test match, the left-arm orthodox spinner Manav Suthar etched his name into the history books with his maiden 10-wicket haul in Galle. Suthar picked up four wickets in the first innings and six in the final one to help India win the series opener by 165 runs. &nbsp;He spun his way through Sri Lanka’s tail, and at 24 years and 16 days, became the youngest Indian and seventh spinner from the country to unlock this milestone on away soil. He joined the elite company of Ravichandran Ashwin, Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Significantly, Suthar is the only spinner from this list to pick a 10-for away from home before turning 28.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lanka-injury-crisis-chandimal-mendis-nissanka-ruled-out-2nd-test-1787145024684">Injury crisis hits Sri Lanka as Chandimal, Mendis and Nissanka ruled out of 2nd Test</a> &nbsp;His second-innings five-for also saw him become the fifth Indian bowler to collect five wickets in an innings more than once in his first two Tests. After doing so against Afghanistan on his Test debut in Mullanpur, Suthar picked his second (6/55) in the final innings – the best figures by an Indian bowler in this match. The first four are: Narendra Hirwani (three), Axar Patel (three), Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (two) and Mohammad Nissar (two). &nbsp;Suthar’s match-winning performance also saw him become only the fourth Indian to pick a 10-wicket haul within his first two Tests, alongside Hirwani – who was the quickest, picking up 16 wickets on debut against the West Indies in Chennai in 1988, while Sivaramakrishnan and Axar Patel are the other two. &nbsp;Besides this, his feat puts him in the same category as Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin amongst the Indian spinners to pick 10 wickets in a match against Sri Lanka. Interestingly, three of those four feats have been recorded in Galle. &nbsp;Indian Test captain Gill also praised him, saying, "He's been bowling magnificently, even in the first match that he played in India (vs Afghanistan), and in this match. He looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a very long time.” &nbsp;Meanwhile, India will play Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo starting Sunday (Aug 23).

Manav Suthar picked a maiden 10-wicket haul in Galle to fire India to a 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the 1st Test, becoming the youngest Indian spinner to achieve the feat on away soil.

Playing only his second Test match, the left-arm orthodox spinner Manav Suthar etched his name into the history books with his maiden 10-wicket haul in Galle. Suthar picked up four wickets in the first innings and six in the final one to help India win the series opener by 165 runs. He spun his way through Sri Lanka’s tail, and at 24 years and 16 days, became the youngest Indian and seventh spinner from the country to unlock this milestone on away soil. He joined the elite company of Ravichandran Ashwin, Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Significantly, Suthar is the only spinner from this list to pick a 10-for away from home before turning 28. Also read| Injury crisis hits Sri Lanka as Chandimal, Mendis and Nissanka ruled out of 2nd Test His second-innings five-for also saw him become the fifth Indian bowler to collect five wickets in an innings more than once in his first two Tests. After doing so against Afghanistan on his Test debut in Mullanpur, Suthar picked his second (6/55) in the final innings – the best figures by an Indian bowler in this match. The first four are: Narendra Hirwani (three), Axar Patel (three), Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (two) and Mohammad Nissar (two). Suthar’s match-winning performance also saw him become only the fourth Indian to pick a 10-wicket haul within his first two Tests, alongside Hirwani – who was the quickest, picking up 16 wickets on debut against the West Indies in Chennai in 1988, while Sivaramakrishnan and Axar Patel are the other two. Besides this, his feat puts him in the same category as Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin amongst the Indian spinners to pick 10 wickets in a match against Sri Lanka. Interestingly, three of those four feats have been recorded in Galle. Indian Test captain Gill also praised him, saying, "He's been bowling magnificently, even in the first match that he played in India (vs Afghanistan), and in this match. He looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a very long time.” Meanwhile, India will play Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo starting Sunday (Aug 23).

Manav Suthar picked a maiden 10-wicket haul in Galle to fire India to a 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the 1st Test, becoming the youngest Indian spinner to achieve the feat on away soil.

Galle Jackpot: Manav Suthar becomes youngest Indian to pick 10-wicket haul in away Test

Garret Tan may have produced one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships 2026, but he did not do it alone. As the 18-year-old American battled past India’s Lakshya Sen in a dramatic contest at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, two women sitting courtside became his pillars of support, coaches Lauren Lam and Cao Hok Paula Lynn, who helped the teenager navigate the pressure, the crowd, the drift and the crucial moments that threatened to swing the match. And, perhaps fittingly, Tan's biggest win on the biggest stage came with what his coach jokingly described as a little bit of ‘lady luck’.&nbsp;“Every guy, I think, needs motherly coaching and a support, a big sister support,” Paula Lynn said after Tan’s victory. “His mom was also there, so it was that. He's obviously tough as a player, as a boy or a man, but he needs those, you know, like, the lady talk.” It was more than just a light-hearted observation. For Tan, who is playing his first World Championships at just 18, the presence of Lam, Paula Lynn and his mother offered a calming influence during a match that demanded far more than badminton skills. Lakshya, backed by a passionate home crowd, was the vastly more experienced player and carried the weight of Indian expectations. Tan, meanwhile, had to deal with the occasion, the hostile atmosphere and the peculiar conditions inside the arena.&nbsp;His coaches had prepared him for precisely that. “We've already expected that obviously it's a home advantage,” Paula Lynn explained. “We've talked about it and don't, of course, the yelling of the crowd that's cheering, just more like we prepare mentally that it's going to happen no matter what.” The message was simple: control what you can control. That meant ignoring the crowd. It meant adapting to the drift. It meant staying patient against Lakshya’s attacking game. And, above all, it meant remaining composed when the match entered its most delicate phase.&nbsp;Lam, who described Tan as her “little brother”, was particularly impressed by the teenager's temperament. “I think for me I was actually impressed,” she said. “He's like my little brother and that's why we were sitting behind him. It's really impressive that he can maintain that focus and handle that pressure.” Tan's composure became even more impressive after he appeared to hit his head while diving during the match. The teenager experienced dizziness, but instead of allowing the incident to derail him, he managed to reset and continue fighting. Lam's advice was straightforward. “I told him to just keep his composure, keep focus and just focus on the current point that's happening,” she said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-2026-sindhu-ayush-march-on-as-lakshya-unnati-bow-out-1787157947251">BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Ayush march on as Lakshya, Unnati bow out</a>&nbsp;That ability to reset may have been one of the defining characteristics of Tan's performance. The coaches were not simply offering emotional support from the stands. They were also dissecting Lakshya's tactics and feeding Tan information between points. Their approach was a combination of calming the teenager down and helping him identify tactical opportunities. One of those instructions was to keep Lakshya away from the forecourt. “We noticed Lakshya is very good at putting a lot of pressure on Garret in front,” Paula Lynn said. “That's why we wanted to keep him away from the front.”&nbsp;The American also had to contend with Lakshya's ability to neutralise his greatest weapon, his power. Tan is tall, athletic and capable of generating considerable pace, particularly with his jump smash. But Lakshya countered intelligently with angles and half-smashes rather than simply engaging in a battle of power. “His specialty is he's a power-controlled and power player,” Paula Lynn said. “If you could see when he's tall, he could jump really high, very powerful.”&nbsp;Yet Tan showed that there was more to his game than brute force. His coaches had worked with him on controlling Lakshya's attacks, understanding the drift and making tactical adjustments depending on which side of the court he was on. And behind that tactical preparation is a relationship that stretches back years. Paula Lynn has coached Tan since he was a little boy. She has watched him grow not only physically, he is already remarkably tall and athletic for his age, but mentally. “He's always curious. ‘Coach, how will I do well on this? What should I work on? Do I do this?’” she said.&nbsp;That curiosity, according to his coach, has gradually developed into one of Tan's biggest strengths: his willingness to listen. For Paula Lynn, the best quality a young player can possess is not necessarily a particular shot or physical attribute. “It’s more of like, as a player, you should be coachable,” she said. “You should be coachable because different coaches can give different opinions and even advice from different players.”&nbsp;Tan, she believes, has embraced that philosophy. He trains in Southern California and also spends time training in Taiwan, giving him exposure to different environments as he continues his rapid development. And while his ranking is still climbing, the dream is already clear, for Tan to eventually share the biggest tournaments with the very coaches who have helped guide him there. “Right now he's still climbing in the rankings,” Lam said. “But hopefully we'll be playing the same tournaments soon.”&nbsp;For now, though, Tan has already announced himself on one of badminton's biggest stages. He walked into the World Championships as an 18-year-old playing his first edition of the tournament. He walked out having beaten a former World Championships medallist on home soil, with thousands of Indian fans roaring against him. And behind him, throughout the battle, were two coaches offering tactical instructions, calming words and the kind of support that goes beyond badminton.&nbsp;Maybe there was some Lady Luck involved. But the bigger story is that Garret Tan had a team around him that made sure he was ready to seize the moment.

Garret Tan stunned Lakshya Sen at the BWF World Championships 2026, with coaches Lauren Lam and Paula Lynn playing a key role in the 18-year-old’s giant-killing win

Garret Tan may have produced one of the biggest upsets of the BWF World Championships 2026, but he did not do it alone. As the 18-year-old American battled past India’s Lakshya Sen in a dramatic contest at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, two women sitting courtside became his pillars of support, coaches Lauren Lam and Cao Hok Paula Lynn, who helped the teenager navigate the pressure, the crowd, the drift and the crucial moments that threatened to swing the match. And, perhaps fittingly, Tan's biggest win on the biggest stage came with what his coach jokingly described as a little bit of ‘lady luck’. “Every guy, I think, needs motherly coaching and a support, a big sister support,” Paula Lynn said after Tan’s victory. “His mom was also there, so it was that. He's obviously tough as a player, as a boy or a man, but he needs those, you know, like, the lady talk.” It was more than just a light-hearted observation. For Tan, who is playing his first World Championships at just 18, the presence of Lam, Paula Lynn and his mother offered a calming influence during a match that demanded far more than badminton skills. Lakshya, backed by a passionate home crowd, was the vastly more experienced player and carried the weight of Indian expectations. Tan, meanwhile, had to deal with the occasion, the hostile atmosphere and the peculiar conditions inside the arena. His coaches had prepared him for precisely that. “We've already expected that obviously it's a home advantage,” Paula Lynn explained. “We've talked about it and don't, of course, the yelling of the crowd that's cheering, just more like we prepare mentally that it's going to happen no matter what.” The message was simple: control what you can control. That meant ignoring the crowd. It meant adapting to the drift. It meant staying patient against Lakshya’s attacking game. And, above all, it meant remaining composed when the match entered its most delicate phase. Lam, who described Tan as her “little brother”, was particularly impressed by the teenager's temperament. “I think for me I was actually impressed,” she said. “He's like my little brother and that's why we were sitting behind him. It's really impressive that he can maintain that focus and handle that pressure.” Tan's composure became even more impressive after he appeared to hit his head while diving during the match. The teenager experienced dizziness, but instead of allowing the incident to derail him, he managed to reset and continue fighting. Lam's advice was straightforward. “I told him to just keep his composure, keep focus and just focus on the current point that's happening,” she said. Also Read: BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Ayush march on as Lakshya, Unnati bow out That ability to reset may have been one of the defining characteristics of Tan's performance. The coaches were not simply offering emotional support from the stands. They were also dissecting Lakshya's tactics and feeding Tan information between points. Their approach was a combination of calming the teenager down and helping him identify tactical opportunities. One of those instructions was to keep Lakshya away from the forecourt. “We noticed Lakshya is very good at putting a lot of pressure on Garret in front,” Paula Lynn said. “That's why we wanted to keep him away from the front.” The American also had to contend with Lakshya's ability to neutralise his greatest weapon, his power. Tan is tall, athletic and capable of generating considerable pace, particularly with his jump smash. But Lakshya countered intelligently with angles and half-smashes rather than simply engaging in a battle of power. “His specialty is he's a power-controlled and power player,” Paula Lynn said. “If you could see when he's tall, he could jump really high, very powerful.” Yet Tan showed that there was more to his game than brute force. His coaches had worked with him on controlling Lakshya's attacks, understanding the drift and making tactical adjustments depending on which side of the court he was on. And behind that tactical preparation is a relationship that stretches back years. Paula Lynn has coached Tan since he was a little boy. She has watched him grow not only physically, he is already remarkably tall and athletic for his age, but mentally. “He's always curious. ‘Coach, how will I do well on this? What should I work on? Do I do this?’” she said. That curiosity, according to his coach, has gradually developed into one of Tan's biggest strengths: his willingness to listen. For Paula Lynn, the best quality a young player can possess is not necessarily a particular shot or physical attribute. “It’s more of like, as a player, you should be coachable,” she said. “You should be coachable because different coaches can give different opinions and even advice from different players.” Tan, she believes, has embraced that philosophy. He trains in Southern California and also spends time training in Taiwan, giving him exposure to different environments as he continues his rapid development. And while his ranking is still climbing, the dream is already clear, for Tan to eventually share the biggest tournaments with the very coaches who have helped guide him there. “Right now he's still climbing in the rankings,” Lam said. “But hopefully we'll be playing the same tournaments soon.” For now, though, Tan has already announced himself on one of badminton's biggest stages. He walked into the World Championships as an 18-year-old playing his first edition of the tournament. He walked out having beaten a former World Championships medallist on home soil, with thousands of Indian fans roaring against him. And behind him, throughout the battle, were two coaches offering tactical instructions, calming words and the kind of support that goes beyond badminton. Maybe there was some Lady Luck involved. But the bigger story is that Garret Tan had a team around him that made sure he was ready to seize the moment.

Garret Tan stunned Lakshya Sen at the BWF World Championships, with coaches Lauren Lam and Paula Lynn providing the support behind his giant-killing win

‘Every guy needs motherly coaching’: The lady luck behind Garret Tan’s stunning Lakshya Sen upset

Former champion PV Sindhu and giant-killer Ayush Shetty marched into the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2026 with comfortable victories, but it was a day of contrasting fortunes for the Indian hosts at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Wednesday (August 19). Ninth seed Sindhu made light work of Canada's Zhang Wen Yu, winning 21-16, 21-17 in the women's singles second round. The two-time Olympic medallist will next face a stern challenge from third seed Wang Zi Yi of China, who defeated Malaysia's Karuoathevan Letshanaa 21-16, 21-9.&nbsp;Ayush was equally dominant in the men's singles, needing only 26 minutes to dispatch Sri Lanka's Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-8, 21-10. The 2023 world junior champion will face Indonesia's 11th seed Alwi Farhan in the round of 16 after Farhan defeated Finland's Joakim Oldorff 21-12, 21-9. There was also good news in men's doubles for India as two-time world championships bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed to the pre-quarterfinals without hitting a single shot.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their Scottish opponents, Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall, conceded a walkover after Dunn suffered an injury. However, India's campaign suffered two major setbacks as Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda crashed out.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-pakistan-fih-hockey-world-cup-5-3-result-1787151650355">India outclass Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for second round at FIH World Cup</a><h2>Lakshya Sen, Unnati Hooda knocked out</h2>14th seed Lakshya was stunned by 18-year-old American Garret Tan in a bruising battle, going down 19-21, 21-19, 21-17 after one hour and 13 minutes. Lakshya took the opening game but Tan refused to back down, repeatedly troubling the Indian with his powerful smashes. The American then claimed the second game despite Lakshya saving four game points to force a decider.&nbsp;Tan surged 11-4 ahead in the final game before Lakshya mounted a spirited comeback to close the gap to 16-17. But a couple of errors from the Indian, combined with Tan's aggressive play, ended Lakshya's hopes of completing the comeback. Unnati, meanwhile, came agonisingly close to a major upset on her World Championships debut against 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada. The Indian lost the opening game 11-21 but fought back brilliantly to take the second 21-9. In a tense decider, Unnati earned two match points but could not convert either opportunity, with her pushes going wide on both occasions.&nbsp;Li seized the opening and eventually closed out the contest 11-21, 21-9, 23-21 with a down-the-line smash. With Sindhu, Ayush and the Satwik-Chirag pair safely through, India will now look to build momentum in the knockout rounds, while Lakshya and Unnati are left to rue missed opportunities on a mixed day for the hosts.<h2>Important results:</h2>Men's Singles: Ayush Shetty (IND) bt Dumindu Abeywickrama (SL) 21-8, 21-10; Gareth Tan (USA) bt 14-Lakshya Sen (IND) 19-21, 21-19, 21-17; 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) bt Jia Heng Teh (SIN) 19-21, 21-19, 21-11; Rasmus Gemme (DEN) bt Lin Chun-Yi (TPE) 13-21, 21-17, 21-11;Women's Singles: 9-PV Sindhu (IND) bt Zhang Wen Yu 21-16, 21-17 ; 13-Michelle Li (CAN) bt Unnati Hood (IND) 11-21, 21-9, 23-21Mixed Doubles: 15-Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (IND) bt Leong Lok Chong/Ng Weng Chi (MAC) 21-11, 21-11

BWF World Championships 2026: PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty advance to the pre-quarters, while Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda bow out in Delhi

Former champion PV Sindhu and giant-killer Ayush Shetty marched into the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships 2026 with comfortable victories, but it was a day of contrasting fortunes for the Indian hosts at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Wednesday (August 19). Ninth seed Sindhu made light work of Canada's Zhang Wen Yu, winning 21-16, 21-17 in the women's singles second round. The two-time Olympic medallist will next face a stern challenge from third seed Wang Zi Yi of China, who defeated Malaysia's Karuoathevan Letshanaa 21-16, 21-9. Ayush was equally dominant in the men's singles, needing only 26 minutes to dispatch Sri Lanka's Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-8, 21-10. The 2023 world junior champion will face Indonesia's 11th seed Alwi Farhan in the round of 16 after Farhan defeated Finland's Joakim Oldorff 21-12, 21-9. There was also good news in men's doubles for India as two-time world championships bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty progressed to the pre-quarterfinals without hitting a single shot. Their Scottish opponents, Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall, conceded a walkover after Dunn suffered an injury. However, India's campaign suffered two major setbacks as Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda crashed out. Also Read: India outclass Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for second round at FIH World Cup Lakshya Sen, Unnati Hooda knocked out 14th seed Lakshya was stunned by 18-year-old American Garret Tan in a bruising battle, going down 19-21, 21-19, 21-17 after one hour and 13 minutes. Lakshya took the opening game but Tan refused to back down, repeatedly troubling the Indian with his powerful smashes. The American then claimed the second game despite Lakshya saving four game points to force a decider. Tan surged 11-4 ahead in the final game before Lakshya mounted a spirited comeback to close the gap to 16-17. But a couple of errors from the Indian, combined with Tan's aggressive play, ended Lakshya's hopes of completing the comeback. Unnati, meanwhile, came agonisingly close to a major upset on her World Championships debut against 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada. The Indian lost the opening game 11-21 but fought back brilliantly to take the second 21-9. In a tense decider, Unnati earned two match points but could not convert either opportunity, with her pushes going wide on both occasions. Li seized the opening and eventually closed out the contest 11-21, 21-9, 23-21 with a down-the-line smash. With Sindhu, Ayush and the Satwik-Chirag pair safely through, India will now look to build momentum in the knockout rounds, while Lakshya and Unnati are left to rue missed opportunities on a mixed day for the hosts. Important results: Men's Singles: Ayush Shetty (IND) bt Dumindu Abeywickrama (SL) 21-8, 21-10; Gareth Tan (USA) bt 14-Lakshya Sen (IND) 19-21, 21-19, 21-17; 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) bt Jia Heng Teh (SIN) 19-21, 21-19, 21-11; Rasmus Gemme (DEN) bt Lin Chun-Yi (TPE) 13-21, 21-17, 21-11; Women's Singles: 9-PV Sindhu (IND) bt Zhang Wen Yu 21-16, 21-17 ; 13-Michelle Li (CAN) bt Unnati Hood (IND) 11-21, 21-9, 23-21 Mixed Doubles: 15-Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (IND) bt Leong Lok Chong/Ng Weng Chi (MAC) 21-11, 21-11

PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty advanced to the BWF World Championships pre-quarters, while Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda suffered heartbreaking exits

BWF World Championships 2026: Sindhu, Ayush march on as Lakshya, Unnati bow out

India outclassed arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for round two of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup on Wednesday (Aug 19). Led by goals from drag-flick specialist Harmanpreet Singh, Abhishek and Hardik Singh, India completed a comprehensive win over Pakistan in front of a packed crowd at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen. For the Men in Green, Hannan Shahid scored a brace, and Sufyan Khan netted one, but all in vain. While this was India’s second win in their third match in this competition, Pakistan lost twice and drew once. &nbsp;Earlier in the day, England smashed Wales 8-2 to comprehensively top the group. With that result, England advanced to the second round, with India joining them. The hosts, the Netherlands and one of Belgium or Argentina will cruise through to the next round from Group A.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-womens-hockey-team-crush-south-africa-6-1-fih-world-cup-pool-d-1787065791366">India thrash South Africa 6-1 to secure first win at Women's Hockey World Cup</a> &nbsp;Coming back to this marquee India vs Pakistan match, veteran Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring for his country by converting a penalty corner into a goal in the fifth minute, handing India an early lead. Abhishek made it 2-0 for India six minutes later (in the 11th minute) with a superb play down the inside left. With two goals up inside the first quarter, India looked poised to sit in the driver’s seat throughout the game. &nbsp; &nbsp;Harmanpreet didn’t take long before making it 3-0 in India’s favour by converting another PC into a clinical goal. He tried a cheeky pass off the corner before it returned to Harmanpreet, only for him to smash one from close range. &nbsp;A minute later, Hannan Shahid scored a brilliant field goal, making it 3-1. In the 24th minute, India and Pakistan scored a goal each. While Abhishek netted one following another sensational dribble in the goalmouth, Sufyan smashed home a drag-flick from Pakistan’s first PC to make it 4-2. Two quick goals from Pakistan dragged the momentum in their favour heading into halftime. &nbsp;Later in the third quarter, which India owned, Hardik Singh’s penalty stroke gave India a 5-2 lead before another field goal from Hannan Shahid, his second of the day, saw Pakistan net their third and final goal. Pakistan pressed and created chances in the final quarter, but it was too late; they lost the match and got knocked out of the tournament.&nbsp;

India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in their Pool D clash to qualify for the second round of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen. 

India outclassed arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for round two of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup on Wednesday (Aug 19). Led by goals from drag-flick specialist Harmanpreet Singh, Abhishek and Hardik Singh, India completed a comprehensive win over Pakistan in front of a packed crowd at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen. For the Men in Green, Hannan Shahid scored a brace, and Sufyan Khan netted one, but all in vain. While this was India’s second win in their third match in this competition, Pakistan lost twice and drew once. Earlier in the day, England smashed Wales 8-2 to comprehensively top the group. With that result, England advanced to the second round, with India joining them. The hosts, the Netherlands and one of Belgium or Argentina will cruise through to the next round from Group A. Also read | India thrash South Africa 6-1 to secure first win at Women's Hockey World Cup Coming back to this marquee India vs Pakistan match, veteran Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring for his country by converting a penalty corner into a goal in the fifth minute, handing India an early lead. Abhishek made it 2-0 for India six minutes later (in the 11th minute) with a superb play down the inside left. With two goals up inside the first quarter, India looked poised to sit in the driver’s seat throughout the game. Harmanpreet didn’t take long before making it 3-0 in India’s favour by converting another PC into a clinical goal. He tried a cheeky pass off the corner before it returned to Harmanpreet, only for him to smash one from close range. A minute later, Hannan Shahid scored a brilliant field goal, making it 3-1. In the 24th minute, India and Pakistan scored a goal each. While Abhishek netted one following another sensational dribble in the goalmouth, Sufyan smashed home a drag-flick from Pakistan’s first PC to make it 4-2. Two quick goals from Pakistan dragged the momentum in their favour heading into halftime. Later in the third quarter, which India owned, Hardik Singh’s penalty stroke gave India a 5-2 lead before another field goal from Hannan Shahid, his second of the day, saw Pakistan net their third and final goal. Pakistan pressed and created chances in the final quarter, but it was too late; they lost the match and got knocked out of the tournament.

India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-3 in their Pool D clash to qualify for the second round of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen.&nbsp;

India outclass Pakistan 5-3 to qualify for second round at FIH World Cup

The ODI tri-series is back. Pakistan on Wednesday (Aug 19) announced the schedule of multi-format matches at home involving Sri Lanka and England in October. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a press release that Pakistan will host Sri Lanka for three T20Is followed by a one-day tri-series, involving England. The two Asian teams will face off in a two-match Test series in November. &nbsp;While the T20I series will take place from October 9 to 13 in Rawalpindi, the ODI series will get underway on October 18, with the final scheduled on October 31. Lahore and Rawalpindi will host the One-Day matches.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sri-lanka-injury-crisis-chandimal-mendis-nissanka-ruled-out-2nd-test-1787145024684">Injury crisis hits Sri Lanka as Chandimal, Mendis and Nissanka ruled out of 2nd Test</a> &nbsp;"Sri Lanka will arrive on 4 October to feature in a three-match T20I series, which will be played in Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 October," the PCB said. "England will join Pakistan and Sri Lanka to take part in an ODI tri-series, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from 18 to 31 October.” &nbsp;The tri-series gets underway with Pakistan hosting Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on October 18. The Men in Green will face England in the second match two days later at the same venue before England and Sri Lanka face off in the third game at the Rawalpindi Stadium on October 22. &nbsp;The three teams will move to Lahore next, where Pakistan and England will go one-on-one in the fourth One-Dayer on October 25. The Gaddafi Stadium will then host Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the fifth ODI two days later. The final group game will take place between Sri Lanka and England on October 29 in Lahore. &nbsp;The top two teams will meet in the tri-series final on October 31. &nbsp;Following the tri-series, Sri Lanka will feature in a three-day match in Islamabad from November 4 to 6 before the Test series, which falls under the current WTC cycle, begins in Rawalpindi on November 9. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host the second Test from November 17 to 21.<h3>ODI Tri-Series 2026 Schedule –</h3><ul><li>1st ODI – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi – October 18</li><li>2nd ODI – Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi – October 20</li><li>3rd ODI – England vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi – October 22</li><li>4th ODI – Pakistan vs England, Lahore – October 25</li><li>5th ODI – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore – October 27</li><li>6th ODI – England vs Sri Lanka, Lahore – October 29</li><li>Final – TBD vs TBD, Lahore – October 31</li></ul>

Pakistan will host Sri Lanka and England for an ODI tri-series in October 2026. Check out the complete match schedule, venues, and fixtures.

The ODI tri-series is back. Pakistan on Wednesday (Aug 19) announced the schedule of multi-format matches at home involving Sri Lanka and England in October. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a press release that Pakistan will host Sri Lanka for three T20Is followed by a one-day tri-series, involving England. The two Asian teams will face off in a two-match Test series in November. While the T20I series will take place from October 9 to 13 in Rawalpindi, the ODI series will get underway on October 18, with the final scheduled on October 31. Lahore and Rawalpindi will host the One-Day matches. Also read| Injury crisis hits Sri Lanka as Chandimal, Mendis and Nissanka ruled out of 2nd Test "Sri Lanka will arrive on 4 October to feature in a three-match T20I series, which will be played in Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 October," the PCB said. "England will join Pakistan and Sri Lanka to take part in an ODI tri-series, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from 18 to 31 October.” The tri-series gets underway with Pakistan hosting Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on October 18. The Men in Green will face England in the second match two days later at the same venue before England and Sri Lanka face off in the third game at the Rawalpindi Stadium on October 22. The three teams will move to Lahore next, where Pakistan and England will go one-on-one in the fourth One-Dayer on October 25. The Gaddafi Stadium will then host Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the fifth ODI two days later. The final group game will take place between Sri Lanka and England on October 29 in Lahore. The top two teams will meet in the tri-series final on October 31. Following the tri-series, Sri Lanka will feature in a three-day match in Islamabad from November 4 to 6 before the Test series, which falls under the current WTC cycle, begins in Rawalpindi on November 9. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host the second Test from November 17 to 21. ODI Tri-Series 2026 Schedule – 1st ODI – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi – October 18 2nd ODI – Pakistan vs England, Rawalpindi – October 20 3rd ODI – England vs Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi – October 22 4th ODI – Pakistan vs England, Lahore – October 25 5th ODI – Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore – October 27 6th ODI – England vs Sri Lanka, Lahore – October 29 Final – TBD vs TBD, Lahore – October 31

Pakistan will host Sri Lanka and England for an ODI tri-series in October 2026. Check out the complete match schedule, venues, and fixtures.

ODI Tri-Series is Back: Pakistan to host Sri Lanka and England in October; check schedule

Sri Lankan cricket has been hit by injuries to three first-team players: Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal, with all three ruled out of the second Test against India in Colombo starting Sunday (Aug 23). While Nissanka and Mendis were already ruled out of the first Test with respective injuries, Chandimal suffered a concussion while attempting to save a boundary during the concluded fixture in Galle. Trailing 1-0 in this two-match series, Sri Lanka would need a humongous effort from a rather inexperienced squad in the second Test to make a comeback against India. &nbsp;Mendis has been absent from the cricket scene since busting his hamstring during the Lankan Premier League this season, and was replaced by Niroshan Dickwella in the XI for the first Test. Besides making headlines for his viral chatter with Jaiswal on the final day, which later led to his wicket, Dickwella impressed all with his gritty 80 in the first innings. The left-hander will likely retain his place in the side for the deciding Test.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jaiswal-dickwella-ipl-deal-sledge-galle-test-wicket-1787141583916">'Hit a Six, I’ll Take You to IPL" — How Jaiswal’s mind games trapped Dickwella on day 5 | WATCH</a><h2>ICC Concussion Rules</h2>On the other hand, Chandimal, who was replaced for concussion on the fourth day of the Test, will miss the game in Colombo due to an ICC rule.&nbsp; &nbsp;Under the ICC guidelines, players substituted as concussion replacements cannot feature in a competitive match for seven days. With the next Test starting in four days, Chandimal remains ineligible for selection. His replacement, debutant Pasindu Sooriyabandara, was dismissed for a duck in Sri Lanka's second innings, but is also likely to retain his place for the next match. &nbsp;Nissanka, meanwhile, continues to recover from the wrist surgery undergone in June. The latest reports suggest that he is closer than Mendis to being match fit, but continues to experience discomfort while batting.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Kusal Mendis has a proper hamstring injury, and will not be available for a while," Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten said after the first Test.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Dinesh is also not available for the next Test. So we're missing a few guys from that perspective, but it creates a good opportunity for young players to come in and stake their claim. There are players who have got really good first-class records in this country. It's a good opportunity for them,” he continued. &nbsp;Sri Lanka hasn’t named the squad for the second Test yet.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka suffers a major blow as Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, and Pathum Nissanka are ruled out of the 2nd Test against India in Colombo.

Sri Lankan cricket has been hit by injuries to three first-team players: Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal, with all three ruled out of the second Test against India in Colombo starting Sunday (Aug 23). While Nissanka and Mendis were already ruled out of the first Test with respective injuries, Chandimal suffered a concussion while attempting to save a boundary during the concluded fixture in Galle. Trailing 1-0 in this two-match series, Sri Lanka would need a humongous effort from a rather inexperienced squad in the second Test to make a comeback against India. Mendis has been absent from the cricket scene since busting his hamstring during the Lankan Premier League this season, and was replaced by Niroshan Dickwella in the XI for the first Test. Besides making headlines for his viral chatter with Jaiswal on the final day, which later led to his wicket, Dickwella impressed all with his gritty 80 in the first innings. The left-hander will likely retain his place in the side for the deciding Test. Also read| 'Hit a Six, I’ll Take You to IPL" — How Jaiswal’s mind games trapped Dickwella on day 5 | WATCH ICC Concussion Rules On the other hand, Chandimal, who was replaced for concussion on the fourth day of the Test, will miss the game in Colombo due to an ICC rule. Under the ICC guidelines, players substituted as concussion replacements cannot feature in a competitive match for seven days. With the next Test starting in four days, Chandimal remains ineligible for selection. His replacement, debutant Pasindu Sooriyabandara, was dismissed for a duck in Sri Lanka's second innings, but is also likely to retain his place for the next match. Nissanka, meanwhile, continues to recover from the wrist surgery undergone in June. The latest reports suggest that he is closer than Mendis to being match fit, but continues to experience discomfort while batting. "Kusal Mendis has a proper hamstring injury, and will not be available for a while," Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten said after the first Test. "Dinesh is also not available for the next Test. So we're missing a few guys from that perspective, but it creates a good opportunity for young players to come in and stake their claim. There are players who have got really good first-class records in this country. It's a good opportunity for them,” he continued. Sri Lanka hasn’t named the squad for the second Test yet.

Sri Lanka suffers a major blow as Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, and Pathum Nissanka are ruled out of the 2nd Test against India in Colombo.

Injury crisis hits Sri Lanka as Chandimal, Mendis and Nissanka ruled out of 2nd Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal plays as a batter in the Test team, and although he rolls his arms a bit, he still doesn’t bowl often; however, he was crucial in Sri Lankan keeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella’s dismissal on day five of the concluded Test in Galle. On Wednesday (Aug 19), on-field chatter between the two around grabbing an IPL deal led to Dickwella’s dismissal, and credit must be given to Jaiswal. The instance took place in the 60th over of Sri Lanka’s second innings, and although the banter itself was good-natured, the two were in each other’s faces throughout it. &nbsp;The Indian opener, who was trying to get under Dickwella’s skin and wanting him to push for a hook shot despite knowing it wasn’t his strongest shot, began the banter, saying, "There wasn't a lot of shots in the first innings. I need to see something,” to which Dickwella responded with ‘okay’.&nbsp; Jaiswal then pointed towards the deep square leg area and said to him, "Hit him there, I need to see something."&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-manav-suthar-10-for-in-only-second-match-helps-india-win-by-165-runs-1787127046951">IND vs SL, 1st Test: Manav Suthar's 10-for in only second match helps India win by 165 runs</a> &nbsp;"No, I'm not Jaiswal," Dickwella, who returned to the Test side for the first time in three years, replied. The Sri Lankan keeper, however, kept the conversation going by quipping that he would do it ‘if you would take me to IPL’, to which Jaiswal responded, “Come on, hit him a six, I'll take you to the IPL.”<h2>The Dismissal</h2>Two balls later, Dickwella found himself walking back to the pavilion. He cut the very next ball to deep point for two before the exchange continued, with Jaiswal saying, "If you hit him there [into the stand], I will definitely tell Sanga." Apparently, Kumar Sangakkara is Rajasthan Royals’ head coach and director of cricket, the IPL franchise for which Jaiswal plays.&nbsp;WATCH VIDEO -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The art of on-field sledging, decoded! 🗣️🔥 Ajay Jadeja breaks down Yashasvi Jaiswal’s hilarious yet effective mind games that led directly to a crucial breakthrough! 🎯 Watch <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SLvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SLvIND</a> 2nd Test, starting 23rd August 9 AM onwards, LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony… <a href="https://t.co/dpTjsar1Qz">pic.twitter.com/dpTjsar1Qz</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2090016620450312354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ironically, Sangakkara and Dickwella also have another thing in common besides nationality and wicketkeeping duties: both are products of the same school - Trinity College, Kandy. &nbsp;The moment came on the next ball -- when instead of hooking a short-pitched delivery off Prasidh Krishna -- Dickwella gave himself room to hit it over third man, and top-edged it to the keeper. The Indian camp erupted in joy as the last-recognised batting partnership was broken, and more so for Jaiswal triggering Dickwella’s wicket, with several Indian players celebrating with Jaiswal.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's viral "IPL deal" banter with Niroshan Dickwella sparked a key wicket on Day 5 in Galle. Watch the hilarious on-field exchange here.

Yashasvi Jaiswal plays as a batter in the Test team, and although he rolls his arms a bit, he still doesn’t bowl often; however, he was crucial in Sri Lankan keeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella’s dismissal on day five of the concluded Test in Galle. On Wednesday (Aug 19), on-field chatter between the two around grabbing an IPL deal led to Dickwella’s dismissal, and credit must be given to Jaiswal. The instance took place in the 60th over of Sri Lanka’s second innings, and although the banter itself was good-natured, the two were in each other’s faces throughout it. The Indian opener, who was trying to get under Dickwella’s skin and wanting him to push for a hook shot despite knowing it wasn’t his strongest shot, began the banter, saying, "There wasn't a lot of shots in the first innings. I need to see something,” to which Dickwella responded with ‘okay’. Jaiswal then pointed towards the deep square leg area and said to him, "Hit him there, I need to see something." Also read| IND vs SL, 1st Test: Manav Suthar's 10-for in only second match helps India win by 165 runs "No, I'm not Jaiswal," Dickwella, who returned to the Test side for the first time in three years, replied. The Sri Lankan keeper, however, kept the conversation going by quipping that he would do it ‘if you would take me to IPL’, to which Jaiswal responded, “Come on, hit him a six, I'll take you to the IPL.” The Dismissal Two balls later, Dickwella found himself walking back to the pavilion. He cut the very next ball to deep point for two before the exchange continued, with Jaiswal saying, "If you hit him there [into the stand], I will definitely tell Sanga." Apparently, Kumar Sangakkara is Rajasthan Royals’ head coach and director of cricket, the IPL franchise for which Jaiswal plays. WATCH VIDEO -

Yashasvi Jaiswal's viral "IPL deal" banter with Niroshan Dickwella sparked a key wicket on Day 5 in Galle. Watch the hilarious on-field exchange here.

'Hit a Six, I’ll Take You to IPL" — How Jaiswal’s mind games trapped Dickwella on day 5 | WATCH

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios was provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine, admitting he made a 'huge mistake'. Kyrgios, 31, who last made a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2022, failed a dope test during an ATP event in Mallorca on June 22. "On 17 July 2026, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine," the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said. &nbsp;In an Instagram post, Kyrgios took ‘full responsibility’ for his actions that led to his suspension. &nbsp;"I made a huge mistake," he wrote. "I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. &nbsp;"Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me. &nbsp;“I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself.”<h2>A talent too good to be wasted</h2>A suspect temperament and serious injuries have marred Kyrgios throughout his career, although he has won seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and rose to a high of 13 in 2016. His best at the Slams, however, came during Wimbledon 2022, where he reached the championship match, going down in four sets to Novak Djokovic.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-2026-gayatri-treesa-lakshya-sen-and-unnati-hooda-shine-1787065544331">BWF World Championships 2026: Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda shine</a> &nbsp;Despite achieving the unique feat of recording tour-level wins over the "Big Four" of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, Kyrgios is now ranked 919 in the world and hasn’t played competitive tennis in a long time. His slide down the rankings has been largely driven by severe injuries, including that to his right elbow, left wrist, hip, knees, shoulders and collarbone. &nbsp;On Wednesday (Aug 19), Kyrgios said that the injuries had taken ‘a huge toll on him both physically and mentally’. &nbsp;"None of that excuses what I did," Kyrgios said of his failed test. “However, the good news is that this has given me a wake-up call." &nbsp;"I'm sorry, I'll do the work and come back better,” he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the ITIA said that the suspension had been in place since August 4, adding, "While suspended, Kyrgios is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association."

Nick Kyrgios is provisionally suspended by the ITIA after testing positive for cocaine in Mallorca. Read his apology for his "huge mistake."

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios was provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine, admitting he made a 'huge mistake'. Kyrgios, 31, who last made a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon 2022, failed a dope test during an ATP event in Mallorca on June 22. "On 17 July 2026, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine," the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said. In an Instagram post, Kyrgios took ‘full responsibility’ for his actions that led to his suspension. "I made a huge mistake," he wrote. "I'm sorry to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me. "Above all, I'm sorry to the kids who follow me. “I know the example this sets and I'm deeply disappointed in myself.” A talent too good to be wasted A suspect temperament and serious injuries have marred Kyrgios throughout his career, although he has won seven singles titles on the ATP Tour and rose to a high of 13 in 2016. His best at the Slams, however, came during Wimbledon 2022, where he reached the championship match, going down in four sets to Novak Djokovic. Also read| BWF World Championships 2026: Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda shine Despite achieving the unique feat of recording tour-level wins over the "Big Four" of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, Kyrgios is now ranked 919 in the world and hasn’t played competitive tennis in a long time. His slide down the rankings has been largely driven by severe injuries, including that to his right elbow, left wrist, hip, knees, shoulders and collarbone. On Wednesday (Aug 19), Kyrgios said that the injuries had taken ‘a huge toll on him both physically and mentally’. "None of that excuses what I did," Kyrgios said of his failed test. “However, the good news is that this has given me a wake-up call." "I'm sorry, I'll do the work and come back better,” he added. Meanwhile, the ITIA said that the suspension had been in place since August 4, adding, "While suspended, Kyrgios is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by World Tennis, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national association."

Nick Kyrgios is provisionally suspended by the ITIA after testing positive for cocaine in Mallorca. Read his apology for his "huge mistake."

Suspended Nick Kyrgios admits 'huge mistake' after failing cocaine test

India have <a href="https://www.bcci.tv/matches/9492698a-0cbe-4faa-ab47-44c1048dc8d0/sri-lanka-vs-india">beaten Sri Lanka in the first of two Tests</a> of the ongoing series by 165 runs on Wednesday (Aug 19). Chasing 372, Sri Lanka started the day at 84/4 and were bowled out for 206 shortly after lunch. For India, Manav Suthar picked 6/55 in the second innings and finished with a 10-for in his second ever Test only. For Sri Lanka, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (59) and Sonal Dinusha (84) tried their best but it was not enough to change the inevitable in the end.<h2>How India orchestrated win in their 600th Test</h2>Sri Lanka began the day at 84/4 with skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (31 not out) and Sonal Dinusha (25 not out) having already added 37 runs for the fifth wicket. The duo went on add 95 runs before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed de Silva (59) to break the partnership. Niroshan Dickwella was next to go 14 runs later, thanks to Prasidh Krishna. Suthar then picked up rest of the four wickets to complete his six-for in addition to 4/76 taken in the first innings.Also Watch - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-watch-suthar-jurel-combine-for-contentious-dismissal-in-1st-test-1787115695176">IND vs SL: Manav Suthar, Dhruv Jurel combine for contentious dismissal in 1st Test</a>This was India's <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings">fifth win in 10 matches in World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle</a>, as they improved their percentage of 53.33 while staying put on the fifth place.<h2>India skipper Gill praises Padikkal and Suthar for impressive performance</h2>Devdutt Padikkal, who came in the side in place of injured Sai Sudharsan, was named Player of the Match for 167 in the first innings and 44 in the second innings. Skipper Gill was full praise for the batter as well as Suthar for his 10-wicket haul."He was magnificent to watch. Important to get hundreds but even after getting a hundred…he got a big one. Being in a competitive match and in a comfortable position…the way he batted and dominated in the second innings, was great to watch," Gill about Padikkal."He has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time," he added about Suthar.

India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test in Galle on day 5 (Wednesday, Aug 19). For India, Manav Suthar picked up 6/55 in the second innings and finished with a 10-wicket haul.

India have beaten Sri Lanka in the first of two Tests of the ongoing series by 165 runs on Wednesday (Aug 19). Chasing 372, Sri Lanka started the day at 84/4 and were bowled out for 206 shortly after lunch. For India, Manav Suthar picked 6/55 in the second innings and finished with a 10-for in his second ever Test only. For Sri Lanka, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (59) and Sonal Dinusha (84) tried their best but it was not enough to change the inevitable in the end. How India orchestrated win in their 600th Test Sri Lanka began the day at 84/4 with skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (31 not out) and Sonal Dinusha (25 not out) having already added 37 runs for the fifth wicket. The duo went on add 95 runs before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed de Silva (59) to break the partnership. Niroshan Dickwella was next to go 14 runs later, thanks to Prasidh Krishna. Suthar then picked up rest of the four wickets to complete his six-for in addition to 4/76 taken in the first innings. Also Watch - IND vs SL: Manav Suthar, Dhruv Jurel combine for contentious dismissal in 1st Test This was India's fifth win in 10 matches in World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, as they improved their percentage of 53.33 while staying put on the fifth place. India skipper Gill praises Padikkal and Suthar for impressive performance Devdutt Padikkal, who came in the side in place of injured Sai Sudharsan, was named Player of the Match for 167 in the first innings and 44 in the second innings. Skipper Gill was full praise for the batter as well as Suthar for his 10-wicket haul. "He was magnificent to watch. Important to get hundreds but even after getting a hundred…he got a big one. Being in a competitive match and in a comfortable position…the way he batted and dominated in the second innings, was great to watch," Gill about Padikkal. "He has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time," he added about Suthar.

Match Summary: IND 462 &amp; 193; SL 284 &amp; 206India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test in Galle on day 5 (Wednesday, Aug 19). For India, Manav Suthar picked up 6/55 in the second innings and finished with a 10-wicket haul.

IND vs SL, 1st Test: Manav Suthar's 10-for in only second match helps India win by 165 runs

The first Test between India vs Sri Lanka moved with a rapid pace on Day 4 (Aug 18) in Galle as the visitors took long strides for a victory. Sri Lanka were set a target of 372 runs to win but lost four wickets before even putting 50 runs on the board, and th fourth of those wicket became embroiled in controversy. It was Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Udara, who was dismissed by India spinner Manav Suthar in the 22nd over of Sri Lanka's second innings, but the catch taken by Dhruv Jurel in the slips created controversy.<h2>IND-SL Test sees contentious decision of TV umpire</h2>The moment came on the fourth ball of the 22nd over, when Suthar drew Udara forward, but only for him to edge the ball which was caught by Jurel in the slips. India appealed, but the on-field umpire wasn't fully sure if the ball had carried and referred the decision to the TV umpire.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pr-sreejesh-downplays-india-pakistan-rivalry-hockey-world-cup-1787068206362">Hockey WC: ‘Pakistan matches are no longer tough' - Sreejesh downplays rivalry</a>Upon a couple of reviews, Udara, much to his dismay, was given out despite the ball seemingly touching the ground as Jurel tried to get his fingers underneath it. Have a look at the video of the moment below:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Manav Suthar draws the edge, and Dhruv Jurel clings on to a sensational low catch in the slips! 🏏 Sri Lanka are now four down! Watch <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SLvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SLvIND</a>, 1st Test | Day 4, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/BeautifulGameOfTestCricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeautifulGameOfTestCricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/U7mpHGJHH7">pic.twitter.com/U7mpHGJHH7</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2089696221766328323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"It's been pushed along the ground for a bit. The ball was pushed along the ground. You can see, it was pushed along. When you look at that slow-motion replay, it seems that the fingers were pushed back and the front of the ball was touching the ground," former SL batter Russel Arnold said on air about the decision. "For me, the ball is on the ground there. The fingers are behind the ball," he added.<h2>India in driver's seat in Galle</h2>The visitors first dismissed Sri Lanka for 284 in the first innings to take a lead of 178 runs before scoring 193 runs in the second innings. Rishabh Pant was India's highest run scorer with 66, during which he also became the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-fastest-to-100-test-sixes-galle-test-1787050459534">fastest player to hit 100 Test sixes</a>. Pant also took over India skipper Shubman Gill has India's best batter in World Test Championship (WTC) Tests.Batting fourth, Sri Lanka had a horrible start as they lost first wicket for just 13 runs, second at 14 runs, and third at 21 runs. Just as things started to settle down a bit, Suthar dismissed Udara to bring SL at 47/4. Skipper Dananjaya de Silva (31 not out) and Sonal Dinusha (25 not out), then added 37 runs for the fifth wicket and avoided any further loss. On day 5 (Aug 19), Sri Lanka need 288 runs to win while India need six wickets.&nbsp;

Controversy struck Day 4 of the Galle Test as Sri Lanka fell to 84/4 chasing 372 against India. TV umpire's decision to give Lahiru Udara out off Manav Suthar sparked debate over a low catch.

The first Test between India vs Sri Lanka moved with a rapid pace on Day 4 (Aug 18) in Galle as the visitors took long strides for a victory. Sri Lanka were set a target of 372 runs to win but lost four wickets before even putting 50 runs on the board, and th fourth of those wicket became embroiled in controversy. It was Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Udara, who was dismissed by India spinner Manav Suthar in the 22nd over of Sri Lanka's second innings, but the catch taken by Dhruv Jurel in the slips created controversy. IND-SL Test sees contentious decision of TV umpire The moment came on the fourth ball of the 22nd over, when Suthar drew Udara forward, but only for him to edge the ball which was caught by Jurel in the slips. India appealed, but the on-field umpire wasn't fully sure if the ball had carried and referred the decision to the TV umpire. Also Read - Hockey WC: ‘Pakistan matches are no longer tough' - Sreejesh downplays rivalry Upon a couple of reviews, Udara, much to his dismay, was given out despite the ball seemingly touching the ground as Jurel tried to get his fingers underneath it. Have a look at the video of the moment below:

Controversy struck Day 4 of the Galle Test as Sri Lanka fell to 84/4 chasing 372 against India. TV umpire's decision to give Lahiru Udara out off Manav Suthar sparked debate over a low catch.

IND vs SL: Manav Suthar, Dhruv Jurel combine for contentious dismissal in 1st Test - WATCH

United States' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is continuing the crackdown on 'illegal immigrants' in the country and the latest person to be detained is San Diego Padres' minor-league coach. Oswaldo Pirela, who works as catching coordinator of Padres Triple-A affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas, was detained by the ICE early Sunday (Aug 17) at El Paso Airport in Texas while returning from the work trip. Pirela had arrived in the USA from Venezuela and applied for the asylum. As of Tuesday (Aug 18), he continues to be in detention. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under which ICE operates, says that Pirela does not have legal status to be in the country and will face removal proceedings.<h2>Why Pirela was detained by ICE despite having work permit?</h2>As reported by ESPN, Pirela's brother said that he was not in possession of his temporary work-permit card at the time of detention. His wife Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic, that the family has applied for the asylum and carry temporary identification cards in meanwhile.“We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas,” the Padres said in a statement. “We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.”Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-set-to-extend-bayern-munich-contract-beyond-2027-1787058658611">Harry Kane set for extended Bayern Munich stay as contract negotiations begin</a>According to a DHS spokesperson telling CNN, "Work authorization or a pending application do not confer legal status in the United States."The officials also confirmed that Pirela entered the US in 2014 and was granted permission to stay till February 2018 which he has exceeded.<h2>Who is Oswaldo Pirela?</h2>Pirela lives outside Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Kemberly and two US-born daughters and had joined the Padres staff in 2024. He was returning home from a work trip when he was detained. Previously, he had been part of the Texas Rangers' minor-league system as a catcher.While the DHS says that Pirela will face the removal proceedings, it remains unclear when he will face the immigration court next.&nbsp;

San Diego Padres minor-league coach Oswaldo Pirela was detained by ICE at El Paso Airport over an expired stay and lack of legal status, despite having work authorization and a pending asylum request.

United States' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is continuing the crackdown on 'illegal immigrants' in the country and the latest person to be detained is San Diego Padres' minor-league coach. Oswaldo Pirela, who works as catching coordinator of Padres Triple-A affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas, was detained by the ICE early Sunday (Aug 17) at El Paso Airport in Texas while returning from the work trip. Pirela had arrived in the USA from Venezuela and applied for the asylum. As of Tuesday (Aug 18), he continues to be in detention. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under which ICE operates, says that Pirela does not have legal status to be in the country and will face removal proceedings. Why Pirela was detained by ICE despite having work permit? As reported by ESPN, Pirela's brother said that he was not in possession of his temporary work-permit card at the time of detention. His wife Kemberly Avila, told The Athletic, that the family has applied for the asylum and carry temporary identification cards in meanwhile. “We recently became aware of the detainment of minor league catching coordinator Oswaldo Pirela in El Paso, Texas,” the Padres said in a statement. “We are working to gather additional information and will not have any further comment at this time.” Also Read - Harry Kane set for extended Bayern Munich stay as contract negotiations begin According to a DHS spokesperson telling CNN, "Work authorization or a pending application do not confer legal status in the United States." The officials also confirmed that Pirela entered the US in 2014 and was granted permission to stay till February 2018 which he has exceeded. Who is Oswaldo Pirela? Pirela lives outside Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Kemberly and two US-born daughters and had joined the Padres staff in 2024. He was returning home from a work trip when he was detained. Previously, he had been part of the Texas Rangers' minor-league system as a catcher. While the DHS says that Pirela will face the removal proceedings, it remains unclear when he will face the immigration court next.

San Diego Padres minor-league coach Oswaldo Pirela was detained by ICE at El Paso Airport over an expired stay and lack of legal status, despite having work authorization and a pending asylum request.

US ICE detains Padres minor-league coach Oswaldo Pirela despite work authorization

Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala said he is suffering from a neurological disorder after a second on-field collapse in three days on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Germany international fell to the turf just minutes after coming on late in a pre-season friendly at Heidenheim. A similar incident took place on Saturday in Bayern's home win over RB Leipzig. On Tuesday in Heidenheim, Musiala appeared dazed as he received medical treatment and was helped off the pitch.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-set-to-extend-bayern-munich-contract-beyond-2027-1787058658611">Harry Kane set for extended Bayern Munich stay as contract negotiations begin</a>Musiala later revealed on social media that he had a disorder which could lead to "temporary but treatable seizures"."I have been diagnosed with brief, temporary episodes of absence that are easily treatable and are caused by a neurological dysfunction," Musiala said."These can lead to the moments that have occurred recently, such as against Leipzig and now in Heidenheim."I know that they may seem scary at first glance - but for me, they are currently simply part of my everyday life."Musiala added that he was "incredibly grateful for all your messages and your support"."I am receiving the best possible medical care in this regard, and I am very optimistic."After the match, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said Musiala would comment on the situation soon."Jamal will speak about this in the near future. We knew about it and we are aware of the situation," Eberl said."Jamal will speak out."On Saturday, Musiala collapsed on the pitch against Leipzig and required medical attention in hot conditions in the Bavarian capital, with temperatures well over 30C.Musiala missed the first six months of last season due to a broken ankle sustained at the Club World Cup, but he returned in the second half of the campaign and played for Germany at the 2026 World Cup.

The 23-year-old Germany international fell to the turf just minutes after coming on late in a pre-season friendly at Heidenheim. A similar incident took place on Saturday in Bayern's home win over RB Leipzig.

Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala said he is suffering from a neurological disorder after a second on-field collapse in three days on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Germany international fell to the turf just minutes after coming on late in a pre-season friendly at Heidenheim. A similar incident took place on Saturday in Bayern's home win over RB Leipzig. On Tuesday in Heidenheim, Musiala appeared dazed as he received medical treatment and was helped off the pitch. Also Read - Harry Kane set for extended Bayern Munich stay as contract negotiations begin Musiala later revealed on social media that he had a disorder which could lead to "temporary but treatable seizures". "I have been diagnosed with brief, temporary episodes of absence that are easily treatable and are caused by a neurological dysfunction," Musiala said. "These can lead to the moments that have occurred recently, such as against Leipzig and now in Heidenheim. "I know that they may seem scary at first glance - but for me, they are currently simply part of my everyday life." Musiala added that he was "incredibly grateful for all your messages and your support". "I am receiving the best possible medical care in this regard, and I am very optimistic." After the match, Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said Musiala would comment on the situation soon. "Jamal will speak about this in the near future. We knew about it and we are aware of the situation," Eberl said. "Jamal will speak out." On Saturday, Musiala collapsed on the pitch against Leipzig and required medical attention in hot conditions in the Bavarian capital, with temperatures well over 30C. Musiala missed the first six months of last season due to a broken ankle sustained at the Club World Cup, but he returned in the second half of the campaign and played for Germany at the 2026 World Cup.

The 23-year-old Germany international fell to the turf just minutes after coming on late in a pre-season friendly at Heidenheim. A similar incident took place on Saturday in Bayern's home win over RB Leipzig.

Bayern Munich's Musiala reveals suffering from neurological disorder

Indian men’s hockey veteran and ace goalie, PR Sreejesh, feels the upcoming contest between India and Pakistan at the FIH Hockey World Cup will lack zeal, only because Pakistan hasn’t been the opposition it used to be, with the Men in Blue miles ahead. While the two-time reigning Olympic bronze medalists India have taken significant strides in fitness, strength, game awareness and decision-making, Pakistan has lagged in these aspects. Sreejesh said that unlike old times, when restricting Pakistan from scoring late was a regular challenge for India, the current squad would tear through their defence for fun. &nbsp;“Matches against Pakistan are not as tough as they used to be. Conceding goals in the last quarter or final minutes used to be a problem for us, but that is no longer the case. Now, we are the ones scoring late to win matches,” Sreejesh said on JioHotstar ahead of the India-Pakistan Hockey World Cup match on Wednesday (Aug 19).&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-womens-hockey-team-crush-south-africa-6-1-fih-world-cup-pool-d-1787065791366">India thrash South Africa 6-1 to secure first win at Women's Hockey World Cup</a> &nbsp;“Earlier, during the 35-minute halves, we used to make mistakes due to fitness or poor decision-making and let in goals. But since the four-quarter system came in, and even before that, we made big improvements in our fitness, strength, game awareness, and decision-making,” the former Indian captain continued.&nbsp; &nbsp;“The Indian men’s hockey team has been playing a new formation for the past year and a half. That formation mostly forces us into defence, but in the recent Pro League, we pushed up and pressed hard in many matches,” Sreejesh noted India’s formation and style of play at the World Cup.<h2>High Demand at Amstelveen</h2>India-Pakistan matches across sports garner unparalleled attention, and this occasion is no different. The Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, which has a seating capacity of 10,000, will be packed for this high-octane clash. The latest reports suggest that the tickets for this match were sold in phases last year.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Tickets were sold online from September 2025. We have sold them in phases, with the first phase in September and the next one in March this year,” Tamara Bouwmans, communication officer of the Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB), told PTI.

PR Sreejesh downplays the India-Pakistan rivalry ahead of their FIH Hockey World Cup clash, stating the Men in Blue have moved far ahead of their regional rivals.

Indian men’s hockey veteran and ace goalie, PR Sreejesh, feels the upcoming contest between India and Pakistan at the FIH Hockey World Cup will lack zeal, only because Pakistan hasn’t been the opposition it used to be, with the Men in Blue miles ahead. While the two-time reigning Olympic bronze medalists India have taken significant strides in fitness, strength, game awareness and decision-making, Pakistan has lagged in these aspects. Sreejesh said that unlike old times, when restricting Pakistan from scoring late was a regular challenge for India, the current squad would tear through their defence for fun. “Matches against Pakistan are not as tough as they used to be. Conceding goals in the last quarter or final minutes used to be a problem for us, but that is no longer the case. Now, we are the ones scoring late to win matches,” Sreejesh said on JioHotstar ahead of the India-Pakistan Hockey World Cup match on Wednesday (Aug 19). Also read| India thrash South Africa 6-1 to secure first win at Women's Hockey World Cup “Earlier, during the 35-minute halves, we used to make mistakes due to fitness or poor decision-making and let in goals. But since the four-quarter system came in, and even before that, we made big improvements in our fitness, strength, game awareness, and decision-making,” the former Indian captain continued. “The Indian men’s hockey team has been playing a new formation for the past year and a half. That formation mostly forces us into defence, but in the recent Pro League, we pushed up and pressed hard in many matches,” Sreejesh noted India’s formation and style of play at the World Cup. High Demand at Amstelveen India-Pakistan matches across sports garner unparalleled attention, and this occasion is no different. The Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, which has a seating capacity of 10,000, will be packed for this high-octane clash. The latest reports suggest that the tickets for this match were sold in phases last year. “Tickets were sold online from September 2025. We have sold them in phases, with the first phase in September and the next one in March this year,” Tamara Bouwmans, communication officer of the Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB), told PTI.

PR Sreejesh downplays the India-Pakistan rivalry ahead of their FIH Hockey World Cup clash, stating the Men in Blue have moved far ahead of their regional rivals.

‘Pakistan matches are no longer tough’: Sreejesh downplays rivalry ahead of Hockey World Cup clash

India's top women's doubles pair, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, continued their impressive run at the BWF World Badminton Championships 2026, stunning 16th seeds Allison Lee and Lauren Lam on the second day of the tournament at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. In singles, 2021 bronze medallist Lakshya Sen and debutant Unnati Hooda also secured their places in the second round with contrasting victories.&nbsp;World no. 39 Gayatri and Treesa produced another composed performance to defeat the American combination of Lee and Lam 21-15, 21-12 in 39 minutes and book their place in the pre-quarterfinals. The Indian duo combined their strengths brilliantly throughout the contest. Gayatri dominated proceedings at the net, while Treesa impressed with a combination of delicate drops and powerful smashes that repeatedly troubled the Americans.&nbsp;After a closely contested opening phase, the home pair pulled away by winning four consecutive points to establish a 6-2 advantage. They maintained control for the remainder of the game and took the opening set. Gayatri and Treesa continued their dominance in the second game. From 5-4, they rattled off seven points in a row to move 12-4 ahead. Although Lee and Lam produced a few impressive rallies, they were unable to mount a serious comeback as the Indians completed a convincing straight-game victory.<h2>Unnati Hooda sets up Michelle Li clash</h2>In the women's singles, Unnati Hooda had to fight hard before overcoming Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar 22-20, 21-16. The Indian found it difficult to adapt to the conditions and was trailing 13-16 in the opening game. She responded strongly when it mattered most, edging the game 22-20 before taking control of the second to seal her progress. Unnati will next face 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada. Li also had to work hard in the opening game before defeating Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-Chian 22-20, 21-12.<h2>Lakshya Sen makes winning comeback</h2>Fourteenth seed Lakshya Sen also advanced, overcoming Austria's Collins Filimon 16-21, 21-8, 21-4. Sen struggled to find his rhythm in the opening game as Filimon, using his height effectively, dictated rallies and relied on his powerful smashes. The Indian was also tentative with his lifts while playing from the more difficult side of the court.&nbsp;The match changed dramatically in the second game. Once Sen settled into the conditions, he produced a superb spell, winning 11 consecutive points from 10-8 to level the contest. Sen carried that momentum into the decider, racing to an 11-1 lead before closing out the match with controlled aggression. "I was a bit tentative in the first game because I was playing from the difficult side and was struggling to get used to the conditions. But in the second game, I knew that I will be playing from the better side and once I found the range of my shots it was quite easy," said Sen, who will now face Garret Tan of USA in the second round.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-fastest-100-sixes-record-india-vs-sri-lanka-galle-test-1787064435852">Galle Test, Day 4: Rishabh Pant's sixes milestone and Suthar's magic put India on brink of victory</a><h2>Popov crashes out, Okuhara and Chen Yufei advance</h2>Elsewhere, fifth seed Christo Popov of France suffered a second-round setback after Japan's Kenta Nishimoto defeated him 21-17, 21-19 in the men's singles. Former world champion Nozomi Okuhara produced a comeback victory in the women's singles, recovering from a game down to beat Turkey's Ozge Bayrak 18-21, 21-16, 21-9. Fourth seed Chen Yufei of China also progressed after overcoming a slow start against Hong Kong's Lo Sin Yan Happy. Chen eventually prevailed 18-21, 21-8, 21-11.<h2>Heartbreak for Ashith Surya-Amrutha Pramuthesh</h2>India's mixed doubles pair Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh endured a heartbreaking exit on their World Championships debut. The Indian combination squandered nine match points across the second and third games before losing a marathon contest to Turkey's Emre Sonmez and Yasemen Bektas 16-21, 30-29, 24-22. Despite the disappointment, Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda ensured a strong day for the Indian contingent at the home World Championships, with all three advancing to the next stage of their respective events.<h2>Important results:</h2>Men's Singles: 14-Lakshya Sen (IND) bt Collins Filimon (AUT) 16-21, 21-8, 21-4; Kenta Nishimoto (JPN) bt 5-Christo Popov (FRA) 21-17, 21-19; 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) bt Matthias Kicklitz (GER) 21-15, 21-14Women's Singles: Unnati Hood (IND) bt Thet Htar Thuzar (MYA) 22-20, 21-16; 4-Chen Yufei (CHN) bt Lo Sin Yan Happy (HKG) 18-21, 21-8, 21-11; 11-Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) bt Ozge Bayrak (TUR) 18-21, 21-16, 21-9Men's Doubles: 4-Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) bt Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (THA) 15-21, 21-11, 21-18Women's Doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand (IND) bt Lauren Lam/Allison Lee (USA) 21-15, 21-12; Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (BUL) bt Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi (IND) 21-7, 21-14Mixed Doubles: Jonathan Lai/Crystal Lai (CAN) bt Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde (IND) 20-22, 21-19, 21-17, Emre Sonmez/Yasemen Bektas (TUR) bt Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh (IND) 16-21, 30-29, 24-22

Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly upset 16th seeds at the BWF World Championships as Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda advance

India's top women's doubles pair, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, continued their impressive run at the BWF World Badminton Championships 2026, stunning 16th seeds Allison Lee and Lauren Lam on the second day of the tournament at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. In singles, 2021 bronze medallist Lakshya Sen and debutant Unnati Hooda also secured their places in the second round with contrasting victories. World no. 39 Gayatri and Treesa produced another composed performance to defeat the American combination of Lee and Lam 21-15, 21-12 in 39 minutes and book their place in the pre-quarterfinals. The Indian duo combined their strengths brilliantly throughout the contest. Gayatri dominated proceedings at the net, while Treesa impressed with a combination of delicate drops and powerful smashes that repeatedly troubled the Americans. After a closely contested opening phase, the home pair pulled away by winning four consecutive points to establish a 6-2 advantage. They maintained control for the remainder of the game and took the opening set. Gayatri and Treesa continued their dominance in the second game. From 5-4, they rattled off seven points in a row to move 12-4 ahead. Although Lee and Lam produced a few impressive rallies, they were unable to mount a serious comeback as the Indians completed a convincing straight-game victory. Unnati Hooda sets up Michelle Li clash In the women's singles, Unnati Hooda had to fight hard before overcoming Myanmar's Thet Htar Thuzar 22-20, 21-16. The Indian found it difficult to adapt to the conditions and was trailing 13-16 in the opening game. She responded strongly when it mattered most, edging the game 22-20 before taking control of the second to seal her progress. Unnati will next face 13th seed Michelle Li of Canada. Li also had to work hard in the opening game before defeating Chinese Taipei's Chiu Pin-Chian 22-20, 21-12. Lakshya Sen makes winning comeback Fourteenth seed Lakshya Sen also advanced, overcoming Austria's Collins Filimon 16-21, 21-8, 21-4. Sen struggled to find his rhythm in the opening game as Filimon, using his height effectively, dictated rallies and relied on his powerful smashes. The Indian was also tentative with his lifts while playing from the more difficult side of the court. The match changed dramatically in the second game. Once Sen settled into the conditions, he produced a superb spell, winning 11 consecutive points from 10-8 to level the contest. Sen carried that momentum into the decider, racing to an 11-1 lead before closing out the match with controlled aggression. "I was a bit tentative in the first game because I was playing from the difficult side and was struggling to get used to the conditions. But in the second game, I knew that I will be playing from the better side and once I found the range of my shots it was quite easy," said Sen, who will now face Garret Tan of USA in the second round. Also Read: Galle Test, Day 4: Rishabh Pant's sixes milestone and Suthar's magic put India on brink of victory Popov crashes out, Okuhara and Chen Yufei advance Elsewhere, fifth seed Christo Popov of France suffered a second-round setback after Japan's Kenta Nishimoto defeated him 21-17, 21-19 in the men's singles. Former world champion Nozomi Okuhara produced a comeback victory in the women's singles, recovering from a game down to beat Turkey's Ozge Bayrak 18-21, 21-16, 21-9. Fourth seed Chen Yufei of China also progressed after overcoming a slow start against Hong Kong's Lo Sin Yan Happy. Chen eventually prevailed 18-21, 21-8, 21-11. Heartbreak for Ashith Surya-Amrutha Pramuthesh India's mixed doubles pair Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh endured a heartbreaking exit on their World Championships debut. The Indian combination squandered nine match points across the second and third games before losing a marathon contest to Turkey's Emre Sonmez and Yasemen Bektas 16-21, 30-29, 24-22. Despite the disappointment, Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda ensured a strong day for the Indian contingent at the home World Championships, with all three advancing to the next stage of their respective events. Important results: Men's Singles: 14-Lakshya Sen (IND) bt Collins Filimon (AUT) 16-21, 21-8, 21-4; Kenta Nishimoto (JPN) bt 5-Christo Popov (FRA) 21-17, 21-19; 3-Jonatan Christie (INA) bt Matthias Kicklitz (GER) 21-15, 21-14 Women's Singles: Unnati Hood (IND) bt Thet Htar Thuzar (MYA) 22-20, 21-16; 4-Chen Yufei (CHN) bt Lo Sin Yan Happy (HKG) 18-21, 21-8, 21-11; 11-Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) bt Ozge Bayrak (TUR) 18-21, 21-16, 21-9 Men's Doubles: 4-Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (MAS) bt Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (THA) 15-21, 21-11, 21-18 Women's Doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand (IND) bt Lauren Lam/Allison Lee (USA) 21-15, 21-12; Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (BUL) bt Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi (IND) 21-7, 21-14 Mixed Doubles: Jonathan Lai/Crystal Lai (CAN) bt Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde (IND) 20-22, 21-19, 21-17, Emre Sonmez/Yasemen Bektas (TUR) bt Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh (IND) 16-21, 30-29, 24-22

Gayatri-Treesa duo stun 16th seeds at the ongoing BWF World Championships 2026, while Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda advance to the singles second round

BWF World Championships 2026: Gayatri-Treesa, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda shine

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team strengthened their position at the top of Pool D at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium &amp; Netherlands 2026 with a commanding 6-1 victory over South Africa at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen on Tuesday. The emphatic win keeps India unbeaten in the tournament, having earlier drawn 2-2 against 2024 Olympic silver medallists China, taking their tally to four points from two matches, with India currently leading the pool on goal difference.&nbsp;India, who had played out a 2-2 draw against 2024 Olympic silver medallists China in their opening match, came into the contest determined to secure all three points. They made their attacking intent clear from the opening minutes, combining quick passing with incisive runs into the circle.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-hockey-world-cup-qualification-how-can-harmanpreet-and-co-still-advance-after-2-4-defeat-to-england-1786984919320">India Hockey World Cup qualification: How can Harmanpreet and Co. still advance after 2-4 defeat to England?</a>&nbsp;South Africa created the first major opening of the match when Kayla de Waal found herself through on goal in the fourth minute, but Bichu Devi Kharibam stood tall to make an important save and keep India level. India responded immediately, with Salima Tete driving forward on the right before finding Sunelita Toppo, whose effort was saved by South African goalkeeper Marlise van Tonder.&nbsp;India continued to build pressure and earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute after Baljeet Kaur's work down the left flank resulted in a foot inside the circle. Deepika stepped up to take the set piece, but van Tonder produced a full-length save to deny the Indian drag-flick.&nbsp;The sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 11th minute. India worked the ball patiently around the South African circle before an attempt from Sakshi Rana found its way towards the far post, where Sunelita Toppo was alert to finish and give India the lead.&nbsp;India were briefly reduced to 10 players after Ishika Chaudhary received a green card in the 15th minute, but India maintained their composure and continued to dictate the tempo. At the start of the second quarter, Savita took over in goal for India, and the team continued to push forward.&nbsp;India doubled their advantage in the 17th minute through a well-executed penalty corner routine. Navneet Kaur changed the angle before unleashing a low, powerful slap hit that found the backboard to make it 2-0.&nbsp;The Indian attack continued to threaten in waves, with Navneet, Neha and Deepika combining effectively around the circle. India earned another penalty corner in the 24th minute after Navneet found space inside the circle, and the resulting move led to another set piece.&nbsp;India extended their lead in the 25th minute. Deepika's drag-flick took a deflection off the first rusher and fell kindly for Sushila Chanu, who managed to get the decisive touch and put India 3-0 ahead.&nbsp;South Africa continued to search for a way back into the contest, but India went into the half-time interval with a commanding three-goal advantage after controlling large portions of the opening 30 minutes.&nbsp;India resumed the second half with the same attacking intent. They moved the ball quickly through the midfield and repeatedly found openings in the South African defence. Salima and the Indian forwards continued to stretch the opposition defence, while the backline remained alert to South Africa's attempts to counter.&nbsp;In the 38th minute, India added a fourth goal through a superb attacking move. Navneet exchanged passes with Baljeet on the left before the ball was cut back to Deepika. She controlled the ball on her backhand and unleashed a powerful tomahawk into the bottom far corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.&nbsp;The third quarter turned into a dominant period for India as they continued to attack with pace and purpose. Two goals in the space of two minutes further strengthened India's grip on the match.&nbsp;In the 44th minute, Lalremsiami received an aerial ball from Neha inside the circle, cut onto her reverse and fired towards the far post. The effort found its way past the goalkeeper to make it 5-0.&nbsp;India then struck again in the 45th minute. Salima carried the ball forward on the right before finding Ishika, whose effort struck the post. Sakshi Rana reacted quickest to the rebound and sent a powerful reverse hit into the top corner to complete India's sixth goal of the evening.&nbsp;India entered the final quarter with a 6-0 advantage and six different players on the scoresheet, underlining the depth and variety of their attacking threat.&nbsp;South Africa continued to fight until the end and were rewarded in the 55th minute when Kayla de Waal converted a penalty corner. A drag-flick from Pearce took a deflection off the first Indian rusher before de Waal reacted quickest at the far post to reduce the deficit to 1-6.&nbsp;India, however, remained composed in the closing stages and saw out the remainder of the contest to secure a comprehensive 6-1 victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;The result gives India a valuable three points in Pool D and a significant boost in their bid to progress to the next stage of the World Cup. India will conclude their Pool D campaign against England on 20 August, with the team now looking to carry the momentum from this commanding performance into their final pool match.

India thrashed South Africa 6-1 at the 2026 FIH Women's Hockey World Cup to move to the top of Pool D, powered by six different goal scorers in Amstelveen.

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team strengthened their position at the top of Pool D at the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026 with a commanding 6-1 victory over South Africa at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen on Tuesday. The emphatic win keeps India unbeaten in the tournament, having earlier drawn 2-2 against 2024 Olympic silver medallists China, taking their tally to four points from two matches, with India currently leading the pool on goal difference. India, who had played out a 2-2 draw against 2024 Olympic silver medallists China in their opening match, came into the contest determined to secure all three points. They made their attacking intent clear from the opening minutes, combining quick passing with incisive runs into the circle. Also read| India Hockey World Cup qualification: How can Harmanpreet and Co. still advance after 2-4 defeat to England? South Africa created the first major opening of the match when Kayla de Waal found herself through on goal in the fourth minute, but Bichu Devi Kharibam stood tall to make an important save and keep India level. India responded immediately, with Salima Tete driving forward on the right before finding Sunelita Toppo, whose effort was saved by South African goalkeeper Marlise van Tonder. India continued to build pressure and earned their first penalty corner in the seventh minute after Baljeet Kaur's work down the left flank resulted in a foot inside the circle. Deepika stepped up to take the set piece, but van Tonder produced a full-length save to deny the Indian drag-flick. The sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 11th minute. India worked the ball patiently around the South African circle before an attempt from Sakshi Rana found its way towards the far post, where Sunelita Toppo was alert to finish and give India the lead. India were briefly reduced to 10 players after Ishika Chaudhary received a green card in the 15th minute, but India maintained their composure and continued to dictate the tempo. At the start of the second quarter, Savita took over in goal for India, and the team continued to push forward. India doubled their advantage in the 17th minute through a well-executed penalty corner routine. Navneet Kaur changed the angle before unleashing a low, powerful slap hit that found the backboard to make it 2-0. The Indian attack continued to threaten in waves, with Navneet, Neha and Deepika combining effectively around the circle. India earned another penalty corner in the 24th minute after Navneet found space inside the circle, and the resulting move led to another set piece. India extended their lead in the 25th minute. Deepika's drag-flick took a deflection off the first rusher and fell kindly for Sushila Chanu, who managed to get the decisive touch and put India 3-0 ahead. South Africa continued to search for a way back into the contest, but India went into the half-time interval with a commanding three-goal advantage after controlling large portions of the opening 30 minutes. India resumed the second half with the same attacking intent. They moved the ball quickly through the midfield and repeatedly found openings in the South African defence. Salima and the Indian forwards continued to stretch the opposition defence, while the backline remained alert to South Africa's attempts to counter. In the 38th minute, India added a fourth goal through a superb attacking move. Navneet exchanged passes with Baljeet on the left before the ball was cut back to Deepika. She controlled the ball on her backhand and unleashed a powerful tomahawk into the bottom far corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. The third quarter turned into a dominant period for India as they continued to attack with pace and purpose. Two goals in the space of two minutes further strengthened India's grip on the match. In the 44th minute, Lalremsiami received an aerial ball from Neha inside the circle, cut onto her reverse and fired towards the far post. The effort found its way past the goalkeeper to make it 5-0. India then struck again in the 45th minute. Salima carried the ball forward on the right before finding Ishika, whose effort struck the post. Sakshi Rana reacted quickest to the rebound and sent a powerful reverse hit into the top corner to complete India's sixth goal of the evening. India entered the final quarter with a 6-0 advantage and six different players on the scoresheet, underlining the depth and variety of their attacking threat. South Africa continued to fight until the end and were rewarded in the 55th minute when Kayla de Waal converted a penalty corner. A drag-flick from Pearce took a deflection off the first Indian rusher before de Waal reacted quickest at the far post to reduce the deficit to 1-6. India, however, remained composed in the closing stages and saw out the remainder of the contest to secure a comprehensive 6-1 victory. The result gives India a valuable three points in Pool D and a significant boost in their bid to progress to the next stage of the World Cup. India will conclude their Pool D campaign against England on 20 August, with the team now looking to carry the momentum from this commanding performance into their final pool match.

India thrashed South Africa 6-1 at the 2026 FIH Women's Hockey World Cup to move to the top of Pool D, powered by six different goal scorers in Amstelveen.

India thrash South Africa 6-1 to secure first win at Women's Hockey World Cup

India has inched closer to victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, with the visitors needing just six wickets to land an early punch in this two-match series. Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking 66 in the second innings set the tone, while two wickets for Manav Suthar in Sri Lanka’s daunting 372-run chase have reduced the hosts to 84 for four at stumps on day four. The left-arm spinner rattled Sri Lanka’s top order, leaving Sonal Dinusha, captain Dhananjaya de Silva and the tail with 288 runs to win the match. &nbsp;Earlier, India was bowled out for 193 at tea after Rishabh Pant became the first player from India to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. Pant, who also began his Test career with a second-ball six, is now the quickest to achieve this feat. He surpassed former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist in terms of innings and balls faced. While Pant took 89 innings to complete 100 sixes in the red-ball format, Gilchrist, who was the first to unlock this milestone, completed 100 Test sixes in his 130th innings.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-fastest-to-100-test-sixes-galle-test-1787050459534">Rishabh Pant becomes first Indian and quickest to hit 100 Test sixes; check top four</a> &nbsp;Sri Lanka slipped to 47-4 before skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, unbeaten on 31, and Sonal Dinusha, 25 not out, put on a stubborn stand to steer their team to stumps. &nbsp;"In Galle, if you look at the history, spin plays a big part in the last couple of days, and batting gets tough," said Sri Lanka's pace bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk. "As a bowling group we have tried to improve and continue to find ways to get wickets. A team like India will continue to take the initiative." &nbsp;Sri Lankan opener Nishan Madushka was the first to depart in the chase, top-edging a hook off Mohammed Siraj straight to fine leg to be dismissed for six. Pasindu Sooriyabandara, debuting as a concussion substitute for veteran Dinesh Chandimal, who hurt himself while fielding, was trapped LBW by Suthar for a golden duck. &nbsp;"The wicket was playing well," said Suthar. "Even when we were bowling in the second innings, we were getting only a little turn. Maybe tomorrow there will be more turn." &nbsp;Indian seamer Prasidh Krishna then had Kamindu Mendis caught at the first slip for two. &nbsp;Soon after, De Silva survived being caught at slip off a no-ball by Ravindra Jadeja when he was on seven. But Lahiru Udara fell to Suthar after close-in fielder Dhruv Jurel completed a low catch, which the TV umpire gave out after several replays. The Sri Lankan camp was, however, disappointed with the decision, as the ball looked to have hit the turf before settling into Jurel's hands. &nbsp;Meanwhile, De Silva and first-innings centurion Dinusha took Sri Lanka to safety without further drama, but the hosts have more than 90 overs ahead of them to draw or win the match.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Rishabh Pant broke Adam Gilchrist's record to become the fastest to 100 Test sixes before Manav Suthar put India on the brink of victory on Day 4 of the Galle Test.

India has inched closer to victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, with the visitors needing just six wickets to land an early punch in this two-match series. Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking 66 in the second innings set the tone, while two wickets for Manav Suthar in Sri Lanka’s daunting 372-run chase have reduced the hosts to 84 for four at stumps on day four. The left-arm spinner rattled Sri Lanka’s top order, leaving Sonal Dinusha, captain Dhananjaya de Silva and the tail with 288 runs to win the match. Earlier, India was bowled out for 193 at tea after Rishabh Pant became the first player from India to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. Pant, who also began his Test career with a second-ball six, is now the quickest to achieve this feat. He surpassed former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist in terms of innings and balls faced. While Pant took 89 innings to complete 100 sixes in the red-ball format, Gilchrist, who was the first to unlock this milestone, completed 100 Test sixes in his 130th innings. Also read| Rishabh Pant becomes first Indian and quickest to hit 100 Test sixes; check top four Sri Lanka slipped to 47-4 before skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, unbeaten on 31, and Sonal Dinusha, 25 not out, put on a stubborn stand to steer their team to stumps. "In Galle, if you look at the history, spin plays a big part in the last couple of days, and batting gets tough," said Sri Lanka's pace bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk. "As a bowling group we have tried to improve and continue to find ways to get wickets. A team like India will continue to take the initiative." Sri Lankan opener Nishan Madushka was the first to depart in the chase, top-edging a hook off Mohammed Siraj straight to fine leg to be dismissed for six. Pasindu Sooriyabandara, debuting as a concussion substitute for veteran Dinesh Chandimal, who hurt himself while fielding, was trapped LBW by Suthar for a golden duck. "The wicket was playing well," said Suthar. "Even when we were bowling in the second innings, we were getting only a little turn. Maybe tomorrow there will be more turn." Indian seamer Prasidh Krishna then had Kamindu Mendis caught at the first slip for two. Soon after, De Silva survived being caught at slip off a no-ball by Ravindra Jadeja when he was on seven. But Lahiru Udara fell to Suthar after close-in fielder Dhruv Jurel completed a low catch, which the TV umpire gave out after several replays. The Sri Lankan camp was, however, disappointed with the decision, as the ball looked to have hit the turf before settling into Jurel's hands. Meanwhile, De Silva and first-innings centurion Dinusha took Sri Lanka to safety without further drama, but the hosts have more than 90 overs ahead of them to draw or win the match. (With inputs from AFP)

Rishabh Pant broke Adam Gilchrist's record to become the fastest to 100 Test sixes before Manav Suthar put India on the brink of victory on Day 4 of the Galle Test.

Galle Test, Day 4: Rishabh Pant's sixes milestone and Suthar's magic put India on brink of victory

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is ruled out of the first Test against England starting on Wednesday (Aug 19) at Headingley due to a hand injury he suffered in the side’s scheduled warm-up fixture in Beckenham. Unfortunately for the country’s talismanic batter, he was hit on the same hand that suffered a blow during the West Indies tour earlier this month. White-ball skipper Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan in the series opener in Babar’s absence. &nbsp;"Pakistan captain Babar Azam is unavailable for the first Test match," Pakistan coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said. "Salman Agha will be the captain for the first Test." &nbsp;The coach detailed the extent of Babar’s absence, confirming that it’s confined to the first Test only, as he has not suffered a fracture on his middle finger of the right hand.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-vs-bangladesh-2nd-test-squad-weatherald-dropped-renshaw-1787052535124">Australia drop opener Jake Weatherald for 2nd Test vs Bangladesh; Matt Renshaw recalled</a> &nbsp;"The medical team is assessing Babar. He has quite a bit of pain in the finger," Sarfaraz said. "There are still a few days to go before the second Test. Hopefully, he will recover by then." &nbsp;Babar’s absence comes at a time for Pakistan when they looked to build on the momentum created following their rare away win in the second Test in the Caribbean, where Babar was the highest run-scorer for his team across two Tests. Just after he again assumed captaincy duties on the West Indies tour, Babar roared back to form, hitting two fifties in four innings, registering 88 in the second Test. &nbsp;During the warm-up game, Babar got hit on the same hand and did not participate in the remainder of the match, which Pakistan won. The team was, however, pessimistic about his chances for the series opener, and much to their disappointment, the worst happened: Babar was ruled out of the first Test. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Agha, amongst the few regulars across formats, has never captained Pakistan in Tests despite being an integral part of the team’s leadership group. The right-hander will enter this Test series on the back of a disappointing tour of the Caribbean, where he scored just 20 runs in three innings.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Our practice match gave us a lot of confidence. Whatever bases we needed to cover with bat and ball, we did. We believe we'll do very well here,” the coach added while detailing the possible XI for the first Test. &nbsp;Former captain Shan Masood has also recovered from a fractured finger and is ready to start for Pakistan.&nbsp;

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the 1st Test against England at Headingley due to a hand injury. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will lead the side in his absence. 

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is ruled out of the first Test against England starting on Wednesday (Aug 19) at Headingley due to a hand injury he suffered in the side’s scheduled warm-up fixture in Beckenham. Unfortunately for the country’s talismanic batter, he was hit on the same hand that suffered a blow during the West Indies tour earlier this month. White-ball skipper Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan in the series opener in Babar’s absence. "Pakistan captain Babar Azam is unavailable for the first Test match," Pakistan coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said. "Salman Agha will be the captain for the first Test." The coach detailed the extent of Babar’s absence, confirming that it’s confined to the first Test only, as he has not suffered a fracture on his middle finger of the right hand. Also read| Australia drop opener Jake Weatherald for 2nd Test vs Bangladesh; Matt Renshaw recalled "The medical team is assessing Babar. He has quite a bit of pain in the finger," Sarfaraz said. "There are still a few days to go before the second Test. Hopefully, he will recover by then." Babar’s absence comes at a time for Pakistan when they looked to build on the momentum created following their rare away win in the second Test in the Caribbean, where Babar was the highest run-scorer for his team across two Tests. Just after he again assumed captaincy duties on the West Indies tour, Babar roared back to form, hitting two fifties in four innings, registering 88 in the second Test. During the warm-up game, Babar got hit on the same hand and did not participate in the remainder of the match, which Pakistan won. The team was, however, pessimistic about his chances for the series opener, and much to their disappointment, the worst happened: Babar was ruled out of the first Test. Meanwhile, Agha, amongst the few regulars across formats, has never captained Pakistan in Tests despite being an integral part of the team’s leadership group. The right-hander will enter this Test series on the back of a disappointing tour of the Caribbean, where he scored just 20 runs in three innings. "Our practice match gave us a lot of confidence. Whatever bases we needed to cover with bat and ball, we did. We believe we'll do very well here,” the coach added while detailing the possible XI for the first Test. Former captain Shan Masood has also recovered from a fractured finger and is ready to start for Pakistan.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been ruled out of the 1st Test against England at Headingley due to a hand injury. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha will lead the side in his absence.&nbsp;

Pakistan captain Babar Azam ruled out of 1st Test against England; Salman Agha to lead

England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane looks poised to extend his stay with the Bundesliga giants beyond 2027 as the contract negotiations are set to begin soon. Kane, 33, confirmed to local media on Monday (Aug 17) that discussions were paused for his post-World Cup break but are now imminent in the coming days. &nbsp;"I'm not sure exactly when, but they'll start this week or next week," Kane said of the extension talks.&nbsp;&nbsp;"We're calm; they're calm with the situation. “Obviously now's the time to start talking, because with only a year left it's important. But both sides are relaxed, and I'm pretty sure there'll be talks this week or next week,” he continued.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/barcelona-sign-rodri-manchester-city-transfer-1786935323662">World Cup winner Rodri set for Barcelona move in €76.5m Manchester City transfer</a> &nbsp;After spending 11 seasons with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, Kane arrived at Bayern Munich on a four-year deal in 2023. Since then, he has won two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup, while making the Champions League semifinals in two of the three seasons. The English striker has scored a remarkable 146 goals in 147 games in all competitions for his new club. &nbsp;Bayern Munich, however, has expressed keenness in extending Kane's deal, calling the former Spurs striker their ‘best transfer ever’ at the end of last season. &nbsp;Meanwhile, German media reported Kane's new deal would run until at least 2029.<h2>German Legend Backs Kane for Ballon d'Or</h2>On Tuesday (Aug 18), German World Cup winner and a Ballon d’Or Awardee, Lothar Matthaeus, said Kane should be the favourite for the prestigious French award for individual brilliance throughout the season. Matthaeus, who won the award in 1991, said Kane ‘deserves’ it more than any other player after a stellar season, in which he scored a whopping 61 goals in 51 games. &nbsp;"(Kane) delivered outstanding performances and, in my opinion, didn't have a single weak spell," Matthaeus wrote in a column for Sky Germany. &nbsp;Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will play at Borussia Dortmund in the season-opening Supercup on Saturday (Aug 22).&nbsp;

England captain Harry Kane has confirmed contract extension talks with Bayern Munich are set to begin, as Lothar Matthäus backs the striker for the Ballon d'Or.

England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane looks poised to extend his stay with the Bundesliga giants beyond 2027 as the contract negotiations are set to begin soon. Kane, 33, confirmed to local media on Monday (Aug 17) that discussions were paused for his post-World Cup break but are now imminent in the coming days. "I'm not sure exactly when, but they'll start this week or next week," Kane said of the extension talks. "We're calm; they're calm with the situation. “Obviously now's the time to start talking, because with only a year left it's important. But both sides are relaxed, and I'm pretty sure there'll be talks this week or next week,” he continued. Also read| World Cup winner Rodri set for Barcelona move in €76.5m Manchester City transfer After spending 11 seasons with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, Kane arrived at Bayern Munich on a four-year deal in 2023. Since then, he has won two Bundesliga titles and a German Cup, while making the Champions League semifinals in two of the three seasons. The English striker has scored a remarkable 146 goals in 147 games in all competitions for his new club. Bayern Munich, however, has expressed keenness in extending Kane's deal, calling the former Spurs striker their ‘best transfer ever’ at the end of last season. Meanwhile, German media reported Kane's new deal would run until at least 2029. German Legend Backs Kane for Ballon d'Or On Tuesday (Aug 18), German World Cup winner and a Ballon d’Or Awardee, Lothar Matthaeus, said Kane should be the favourite for the prestigious French award for individual brilliance throughout the season. Matthaeus, who won the award in 1991, said Kane ‘deserves’ it more than any other player after a stellar season, in which he scored a whopping 61 goals in 51 games. "(Kane) delivered outstanding performances and, in my opinion, didn't have a single weak spell," Matthaeus wrote in a column for Sky Germany. Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will play at Borussia Dortmund in the season-opening Supercup on Saturday (Aug 22).

England captain Harry Kane has confirmed contract extension talks with Bayern Munich are set to begin, as Lothar Matthäus backs the striker for the Ballon d'Or.

Harry Kane set for extended Bayern Munich stay as contract negotiations begin

The Sports Ministry has not named any athlete for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, but announced 17 sportspersons for the Arjuna Award on Tuesday (Aug 18). India’s highest sporting honour, instituted in 1991/92, will have no recipient for 2025 – only for the third time in history and the first since 2014. The National Sports Awards selection committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd) Arun Kumar Mishra, cleared the recommendations, and later forwarded them to sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya for final assent. &nbsp;The development comes after three names- compound archer Jyothi Surekha and the Indian women's cricket team captain and her deputy, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, respectively- were considered for the Khel Ratna, with the committee discussing those names at its meeting in New Delhi in December last year.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bwf-world-championships-2026-ayush-shetty-upsets-reigning-world-champion-shi-yuqi-in-opening-match-pv-sindhu-wins-1786975359842">BWF World Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty upsets reigning world champion Shi Yuqi in opening match; PV Sindhu wins</a> &nbsp;Although a Times of India (TOI) report claims that the names of the two women’s cricketers were discussed at length, the absence of a specific point-based system to assess cricket performances became a hindrance. Usually in such cases, the committee relies on the BCCI’s nominations, and the Indian Cricket Board made no nominations for this award last year. &nbsp;Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was the last cricketer to be conferred with the prestigious Khel Ratna Award, which carries a cash prize of INR 25 lakh, a medallion and a citation, in 2023.&nbsp; &nbsp;While there was no name for the top prize, the sports ministry named 17 athletes from different disciplines for the Arjuna Award for their excellence in their respective events last year.<h3>Here is the full list of 17 Arjuna Award winners –</h3><ol><li>Tejaswin Shankar (Athletics)</li><li>Muhammed Ajmal V (Athletics)&nbsp;</li><li>Priyanka Goswami (Athletics)</li><li>Treesa Jolly (Badminton)</li><li>Pullela Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton)&nbsp;</li><li>Narender (Boxing)&nbsp;</li><li>Vidit Santosh Gujarathi (Chess)</li><li>Divya Jitendra Deshmukh (Chess)</li><li>Dhanush Srikanth (Deaf Shooter)</li><li>Lalremsiami (Hockey)&nbsp;</li><li>Rajkumar Pal (Hockey)&nbsp;</li><li>Surjeet (Kabaddi)&nbsp;</li><li>Pooja (Kabaddi)</li><li>Rudransh Khandelwal (Para Shooting)</li><li>Ekta Bhyan (Para-Athlete)&nbsp;</li><li>Arvind Singh (Rowing)</li><li>Akhil Sheoran (Shooting)</li></ol>

Moreover, the sports ministry also conferred one Arjuna Award in the lifetime category on footballer I Arumainayagam. &nbsp;On the other hand, the names of the coaches recommended for the Dronacharya Awards included Parveer Singh (Athletics), Chhote Lal Yadav (Boxing) and shooting coach Neha Nandkumar Chavan.&nbsp; &nbsp;The lifetime category honours went to coaches Dharmendra Singh Yadav (Boxing) and Virender Kumar (Wrestling). &nbsp;Besides, the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for sports promotion and development has been awarded to Army Paralympic Node, Pune.

The Sports Ministry has announced the National Sports Awards 2025, leaving the Khel Ratna vacant while naming 17 athletes, including Tejaswin Shankar and Divya Deshmukh, for the Arjuna Award.

The Sports Ministry has not named any athlete for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, but announced 17 sportspersons for the Arjuna Award on Tuesday (Aug 18). India’s highest sporting honour, instituted in 1991/92, will have no recipient for 2025 – only for the third time in history and the first since 2014. The National Sports Awards selection committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd) Arun Kumar Mishra, cleared the recommendations, and later forwarded them to sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya for final assent. The development comes after three names- compound archer Jyothi Surekha and the Indian women's cricket team captain and her deputy, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, respectively- were considered for the Khel Ratna, with the committee discussing those names at its meeting in New Delhi in December last year. Also read| BWF World Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty upsets reigning world champion Shi Yuqi in opening match; PV Sindhu wins Although a Times of India (TOI) report claims that the names of the two women’s cricketers were discussed at length, the absence of a specific point-based system to assess cricket performances became a hindrance. Usually in such cases, the committee relies on the BCCI’s nominations, and the Indian Cricket Board made no nominations for this award last year. Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was the last cricketer to be conferred with the prestigious Khel Ratna Award, which carries a cash prize of INR 25 lakh, a medallion and a citation, in 2023. While there was no name for the top prize, the sports ministry named 17 athletes from different disciplines for the Arjuna Award for their excellence in their respective events last year. Here is the full list of 17 Arjuna Award winners – Tejaswin Shankar (Athletics) Muhammed Ajmal V (Athletics) Priyanka Goswami (Athletics) Treesa Jolly (Badminton) Pullela Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton) Narender (Boxing) Vidit Santosh Gujarathi (Chess) Divya Jitendra Deshmukh (Chess) Dhanush Srikanth (Deaf Shooter) Lalremsiami (Hockey) Rajkumar Pal (Hockey) Surjeet (Kabaddi) Pooja (Kabaddi) Rudransh Khandelwal (Para Shooting) Ekta Bhyan (Para-Athlete) Arvind Singh (Rowing) Akhil Sheoran (Shooting)

The Sports Ministry has announced the National Sports Awards 2025, leaving the Khel Ratna vacant while naming 17 athletes, including Tejaswin Shankar and Divya Deshmukh, for the Arjuna Award.

No Khel Ratna winner for 2025 as Sports Ministry approves 17 Arjuna awardees

The inevitable has happened as Australia made a change to their squad for the second and deciding Test against Bangladesh, starting on Saturday (Aug 22) in Mackay. After the hosts suffered a shocking nine-wicket defeat in the series opener in Darwin, Australia dropped under-fire opener Jake Weatherald, replacing him with Matthew Renshaw. It is the only change Australia made to their 13-man squad for the second Bangladesh Test. &nbsp;Since making his Test debut at the home Ashes last year, Weatherald scored 224 runs at 20.36, including 23 and a duck in his last outing in Darwin. His manner of dismissal across both innings raised questions about his tweaked technique, which he worked on during the off-season playing in English county cricket, but he failed to execute it properly. While he edged one to the keeper off Hasan Mahmud in the first innings, the left-hander dragged one onto the stumps to the same bowler in the next.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/david-warner-convicted-in-drink-driving-case-sydney-thunder-captaincy-hangs-in-balance-1787048188112">David Warner convicted in drink-driving case; Sydney Thunder captaincy hangs in balance</a> &nbsp;"Yeah, there was some change to Jake in terms of where he lined up and his movement patterns," Australia head coach McDonald said of Weatherald’s technique after the Darwin Test.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It's always hard to critique small sample sizes, whether it holds up. Drag one on, drove at one in the first innings and was dismissed. So it's probably harder with that smaller sample size to say, yep, that's going to hold up under pressure,” he continued.&nbsp; &nbsp;Renshaw returns after Weatherald's technique misfires &nbsp;The left-hander Matt Renshaw is set to feature in his 15th Test and the first since 2023 after being recalled to the side for the next game. However, he had been on standby for this series after training with the squad in Brisbane earlier. Renshaw averaged close to 50 (49.90) in the Sheffield Shield last season, hitting three hundreds. His form forced the selectors to pick him as a replacement for all-rounder Matt Short for the 2026 T20 World Cup. &nbsp;Overall in Tests, Renshaw averages 29.31, with a best of 187 against Pakistan in 2017.<h3>Australia squad for second Bangladesh Test –</h3>Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis and Scott Boland

Australia drop Jake Weatherald and recall Matt Renshaw for the must-win 2nd Test against Bangladesh in Mackay. Check out the updated 13-man squad. 

The inevitable has happened as Australia made a change to their squad for the second and deciding Test against Bangladesh, starting on Saturday (Aug 22) in Mackay. After the hosts suffered a shocking nine-wicket defeat in the series opener in Darwin, Australia dropped under-fire opener Jake Weatherald, replacing him with Matthew Renshaw. It is the only change Australia made to their 13-man squad for the second Bangladesh Test. Since making his Test debut at the home Ashes last year, Weatherald scored 224 runs at 20.36, including 23 and a duck in his last outing in Darwin. His manner of dismissal across both innings raised questions about his tweaked technique, which he worked on during the off-season playing in English county cricket, but he failed to execute it properly. While he edged one to the keeper off Hasan Mahmud in the first innings, the left-hander dragged one onto the stumps to the same bowler in the next. Also read| David Warner convicted in drink-driving case; Sydney Thunder captaincy hangs in balance "Yeah, there was some change to Jake in terms of where he lined up and his movement patterns," Australia head coach McDonald said of Weatherald’s technique after the Darwin Test. "It's always hard to critique small sample sizes, whether it holds up. Drag one on, drove at one in the first innings and was dismissed. So it's probably harder with that smaller sample size to say, yep, that's going to hold up under pressure,” he continued. Renshaw returns after Weatherald's technique misfires The left-hander Matt Renshaw is set to feature in his 15th Test and the first since 2023 after being recalled to the side for the next game. However, he had been on standby for this series after training with the squad in Brisbane earlier. Renshaw averaged close to 50 (49.90) in the Sheffield Shield last season, hitting three hundreds. His form forced the selectors to pick him as a replacement for all-rounder Matt Short for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Overall in Tests, Renshaw averages 29.31, with a best of 187 against Pakistan in 2017. Australia squad for second Bangladesh Test – Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis and Scott Boland

Australia drop Jake Weatherald and recall Matt Renshaw for the must-win 2nd Test against Bangladesh in Mackay. Check out the updated 13-man squad.&nbsp;

Australia drop opener Jake Weatherald for 2nd Test vs Bangladesh; Matt Renshaw recalled

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No Khel Ratna winner for 2025 as Sports Ministry approves 17 Arjuna awardees

Australia drop Jake Weatherald for 2nd Test vs Bangladesh; Matt Renshaw recalled