China's counter-surveillance industry booms amid heightened espionage fears | Gravitas

Navratri 2026: 9 days, 9 forms of Goddess Durga and 9 colours- Check the complete list

Trump accuses Houthis of driving up oil prices before US midterms, warns of consequences

Russian woman and Bihar boy's love story goes viral after she reaches India to marry him

Arijit Singh 9-city India stadium tour to start from January: Check venue and ticket prices

US Midterms 2026: In Alaska, cost-of-living anxiety meets strangest ballot in high-stakes Senate race

F1 set to return to Africa for first time since 1993 

'Don't ever mess with nature!': Trump’s tiger attack post triggers social media backlash as victim's family issues heartbreaking tribute

CMs Vijay-Naidu meet in Vijayawada, discuss water sharing, river-linking

Air India Flight from Frankfurt diverted to Jaipur after hijack alert, probe on

1,500 drones illuminate Mumbai sky as Cordelia Cruises unveils second ship, Cordelia Sky

Delhi Police arrest Cockroach Janta Party's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde in Jantar Mantar case, to be produced before court

‘Rise up, young patriots!’: American singer Mary Millben says US donors funding CJP, backs Modi govt

Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay calls on US to 'get back to' being defender of human rights

France accuses Musk of ‘online harassment’ of European leaders, warns of poll interference

'Turn approver, resign, we'll forgive you': Rahul Gandhi claims receiving messages from CEC Gyanesh Kumar

MI5 chief warns Russia is UK’s ‘aggressor number one’ as Iran and AI threats grow

Trump reconsidering calling off Nidal Hasan's execution livestream. Here's why

‘My president, I mean my husband’: Trump's new press secretary Katie Zacharia's first briefing goes off the rails in 14 minutes

‘How many people did she illegally bring from Somalia?’ Trump targets Ilhan Omar, questions her net worth

Marco Rubio to visit India next week, focus on energy cooperation and strategic ties

US politicians mistakenly use Indian, Russian warship images for Navy's birthday posts

'Ouch!!! That must hurt': Kangana Ranaut hails Kamal Haasan's sharp reply to Elon Musk over Starlink row

Girl 'dead' for 8 hours wakes up at her own funeral, dad insists she wasn't breathing

Sidhu Moose Wala’s younger brother wins hearts by recreating late singer’s signature move at Toronto Hologram Show

UK school ditches technology, shifts from screen to pen and paper for learning

Durga Puja 2026: Kolkata roads get a splash of colours

New OTT releases this week (October 12-18, 2026): Sacrifice, Koffee with Karan S9, Roadies Rebirth- 6 titles coming on Netflix, JioHotstar and more

Inside Aneet Padda's 24th birthday bash with rumoured boyfriend Ahaan Panday and Alia Bhatt

New Cold War: Why is China buying more gold? Explained

Netanyahu wants to join Saudi's war on Houthis, but Crown Prince denies: Report

Anupam Kher joins Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana as Jatayu, new poster unveiled

Measles kills again: 6 dead in Pennsylvania as America faces its worst outbreak in decades | Gravitas

Cornell University suspends fraternity parties over 2024 gang rape allegations

Indian discus thrower Seema Kaliramna won the bronze medal in the women’s discus throw at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a best effort of 58.65m, managing only two valid throws from her six attempts. She began with a foul, followed by throws of 57.32m and 58.65m, before recording three consecutive fouls. Her 58.65m effort was enough to secure the bronze medal.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jamaica’s Samantha Hall won gold with a record throw of 61.66m, while Canada’s Julia Tunks took silver with 60.67m.<h2>Who is Seema Kaliramna?</h2>Seema is one of India’s leading discus throwers and hails from Haryana. Alongside her athletics career, she is pursuing a PhD in Physical Education at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University (CBLU) in Bhiwani.&nbsp;She was introduced to sports by her father, who served in the Indian Army and competed in basketball and javelin. Seema is currently coached by her husband, Ravinder Kaliramna, popularly known as Monu Kaliramna, a former national-level discus thrower.&nbsp;After giving birth to her son, Rudra, Seema stepped away from athletics for a while. She returned to competition just 11 months later, managing her training while balancing motherhood and her PhD studies.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-games-2026-day-9-india-s-full-schedule-medal-events-and-match-timings-1785469600152">Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings</a>&nbsp;She won gold at the 2025 National Games and later became the national champion. At the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, she registered a personal best throw of 59.73m to qualify for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.&nbsp;Seema has represented India at several international competitions, including the Youth Asian Championships. She also won gold at the inaugural Khelo India University Games in 2020.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwg-2026-day-8-lovepreet-seema-win-medals-neeraj-storms-into-javelin-final-1785468097779">CWG 2026 Day 8: Lovepreet, Seema win medals, Neeraj storms into Javelin final</a><h2>Dedicates CWG medal to husband</h2>After winning the bronze medal, Seema thanked her husband and coach Ravinder for standing by her throughout her journey.&nbsp;“I am very happy. This was my first Commonwealth Games, and winning a bronze medal makes it even more special. I did not face any major difficulties during the competition. The only challenge was the cold weather, because I had to keep warming up repeatedly. Overall, it was a very good competition,” Seema said.&nbsp;“My husband arrived just two days ago. He [her son] was telling me to take him along, but this is a very emotional moment. My situation is such that I cannot bring my son with me. It is extremely difficult and painful. You can call it a sacrifice."&nbsp;“AFI has supported me tremendously, and SAI has also played a big role in my journey. Whenever I needed anything else, my family was always there to support me. I would like to dedicate this medal to my husband. All the hard work and sacrifices behind this achievement have been possible because of his constant support,” Seema added.

Competing against top throwers including Samantha Hall of Jamaica and Julia Tunks of Canada, Seema managed only two legal throws but secured third place to win bronze.

Indian discus thrower Seema Kaliramna won the bronze medal in the women’s discus throw at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a best effort of 58.65m, managing only two valid throws from her six attempts. She began with a foul, followed by throws of 57.32m and 58.65m, before recording three consecutive fouls. Her 58.65m effort was enough to secure the bronze medal. Jamaica’s Samantha Hall won gold with a record throw of 61.66m, while Canada’s Julia Tunks took silver with 60.67m. Who is Seema Kaliramna? Seema is one of India’s leading discus throwers and hails from Haryana. Alongside her athletics career, she is pursuing a PhD in Physical Education at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University (CBLU) in Bhiwani. She was introduced to sports by her father, who served in the Indian Army and competed in basketball and javelin. Seema is currently coached by her husband, Ravinder Kaliramna, popularly known as Monu Kaliramna, a former national-level discus thrower. After giving birth to her son, Rudra, Seema stepped away from athletics for a while. She returned to competition just 11 months later, managing her training while balancing motherhood and her PhD studies. Also Read - Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings She won gold at the 2025 National Games and later became the national champion. At the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, she registered a personal best throw of 59.73m to qualify for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Seema has represented India at several international competitions, including the Youth Asian Championships. She also won gold at the inaugural Khelo India University Games in 2020. Also Read - CWG 2026 Day 8: Lovepreet, Seema win medals, Neeraj storms into Javelin final Dedicates CWG medal to husband After winning the bronze medal, Seema thanked her husband and coach Ravinder for standing by her throughout her journey. “I am very happy. This was my first Commonwealth Games, and winning a bronze medal makes it even more special. I did not face any major difficulties during the competition. The only challenge was the cold weather, because I had to keep warming up repeatedly. Overall, it was a very good competition,” Seema said. “My husband arrived just two days ago. He [her son] was telling me to take him along, but this is a very emotional moment. My situation is such that I cannot bring my son with me. It is extremely difficult and painful. You can call it a sacrifice." “AFI has supported me tremendously, and SAI has also played a big role in my journey. Whenever I needed anything else, my family was always there to support me. I would like to dedicate this medal to my husband. All the hard work and sacrifices behind this achievement have been possible because of his constant support,” Seema added.

Competing against top throwers including Samantha Hall of Jamaica and Julia Tunks of Canada, Seema managed only two legal throws but secured third place to win bronze.

Who is Seema Kaliramna? The mother and PhD scholar who clinched CWG 2026 bronze

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced the 12 venues that will host matches during the ODI World Cup 2027, which will be jointly organised by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. South Africa will host games at eight venues - Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), Centurion (Tshwane), Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town), Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban), St George’s Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Boland Park (Paarl) and Buffalo Park (KuGompo City).&nbsp;Zimbabwe will host matches at three venues - Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) and Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium (Victoria Falls). Namibia will host games at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, marking the country’s first time hosting a senior ICC tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;South Africa last co-hosted the men’s ODI World Cup in 2003 and has since welcomed several major ICC events, including the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023 and the Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cups in 2020 and 2024.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-games-2026-day-9-india-s-full-schedule-medal-events-and-match-timings-1785469600152">Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings</a>&nbsp;Zimbabwe was also a co-host of the 2003 ODI World Cup, while Namibia will make its debut as a host for a senior ICC event. Earlier this year, Zimbabwe and Namibia jointly hosted the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. &nbsp;The 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup will feature 57 matches and a new tournament format.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-tribute-ajinkya-rahane-retirement-favourite-batting-partner-1785422674763">‘My Favourite Test Batting Partner’: Kohli pays emotional tribute to Rahane</a>&nbsp;A Super Series involving the teams ranked 12th to 14th will decide the final team to qualify for the tournament. That team will join 11 others in the league stage, where the 12 teams will be split into two groups of six. Each team will play every other team in its group once, making a total of 30 league matches.&nbsp;The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-ranked team across both groups, will advance to the Super 7 stage. The Super 7 will feature 21 round-robin matches, after which the top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals.&nbsp;&nbsp;The first-placed team will face the fourth-placed side, while the second and third-placed teams will meet in the other semi-final, with the winners advancing to the final.

The 2027 ODI World Cup will be played across eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced the 12 venues that will host matches during the ODI World Cup 2027, which will be jointly organised by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. South Africa will host games at eight venues - Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), Centurion (Tshwane), Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town), Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban), St George’s Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Boland Park (Paarl) and Buffalo Park (KuGompo City). Zimbabwe will host matches at three venues - Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) and Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium (Victoria Falls). Namibia will host games at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, marking the country’s first time hosting a senior ICC tournament. South Africa last co-hosted the men’s ODI World Cup in 2003 and has since welcomed several major ICC events, including the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023 and the Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cups in 2020 and 2024. Also Read - Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings Zimbabwe was also a co-host of the 2003 ODI World Cup, while Namibia will make its debut as a host for a senior ICC event. Earlier this year, Zimbabwe and Namibia jointly hosted the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. The 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup will feature 57 matches and a new tournament format. Also Read - ‘My Favourite Test Batting Partner’: Kohli pays emotional tribute to Rahane A Super Series involving the teams ranked 12th to 14th will decide the final team to qualify for the tournament. That team will join 11 others in the league stage, where the 12 teams will be split into two groups of six. Each team will play every other team in its group once, making a total of 30 league matches. The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-ranked team across both groups, will advance to the Super 7 stage. The Super 7 will feature 21 round-robin matches, after which the top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals. The first-placed team will face the fourth-placed side, while the second and third-placed teams will meet in the other semi-final, with the winners advancing to the final.

The 2027 ODI World Cup will be played across eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia.

ICC announces 12 host venues for 2027 ODI World Cup

The 2026 Commonwealth Games, being held in Glasgow from Jul 23 to Aug 2, have entered Day 9, with Indian athletes set to compete on Friday (Jul 31) across athletics, boxing, track cycling, judo and bowls.&nbsp;Here is the full schedule of Indian events on Day 9 (all timings in IST):<h3>Athletics</h3><ul><li>2:35 pm - Men’s Decathlon 110m Hurdles: Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>3:20 pm - Men’s Decathlon Discus Throw: Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>4:05 pm - Mixed 4x400m Relay (Round 1, Heat 2): Vishal TK, Rajesh Ramesh, Rashdeep Kaur, Ansa Babu, Neeru Pathak</li><li>5:00 pm - Men’s Decathlon Pole Vault: Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>11:30 pm - Men’s Decathlon Javelin Throw: Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>&nbsp;12:45 am (Aug 1) - Men’s Javelin Throw final (Medal Event): Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Yash Vir Singh</li><li>1:05 am (Aug 1) – Men’s Decathlon 1500m (Final Event): Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>1:30 am (Aug 1) – Men’s 400m Hurdles final (Medal Event): Yashas Palaksha, Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan</li></ul><h3>Boxing</h3><ul><li>3:15 pm - Women’s 54kg semifinal: Preeti Pawar vs Catherine Mwape (Zambia)</li><li>4:30 pm - Men’s 80kg semifinal: Ankush Panghal vs Joshua Ofori (Canada)</li><li>7:15 pm - Women’s 57kg semifinal: Jaismine Lamboria vs Rapelang Maselela (Lesotho)</li><li>7:30 pm - Women’s 70kg semifinal: Arundhati Choudhary vs Rosie Eccles (Wales)</li><li>8:15 pm - Men’s 55kg semifinal: Jadumani Singh Mandengbam vs Philip Haoseb (Namibia)</li><li>11:30 pm - Women’s 51kg semifinal: Sakshi Chaudhary vs Amber-Jane Wall (Canada)</li><li>12:15 am (Aug 1) - Women’s 60kg semifinal: Priya Ghanghas vs Lucy Kings-Wheatley (England)</li><li>12:45 am (Aug 1) - Women’s 75kg semifinal: Lovlina Borgohain vs Tarona Taafaki (Tuvalu)</li><li>1:00 am (Aug 1) - Men’s 60kg semifinal: Sachin Siwach vs Owain Harris-Allan (Wales)</li><li>1:30 am (Aug 1) - Men’s +90kg semifinal: Narender Berwal vs Nigel Paul (Trinidad and Tobago)</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-double-gold-commonwealth-table-tennis-championships-2026-1785428328638">Commonwealth Table Tennis finals: Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold</a><h3>Judo</h3>3:30 pm onwards<ul><li>Men’s -60kg Round of 16: Harsh Singh vs Chikondi Kathewera (Malawi)</li><li>Women’s -52kg Round of 16: Shraddha Chopade vs Jane Massaquoi (Sierra Leone)</li><li>Men’s -66kg Round of 16: Rohit Majgul vs Samuel Ribeiro (Mozambique)</li><li>Women’s -48kg Quarterfinal: Asmita Dey vs Eva Ewing (Scotland)</li><li>Women’s -57kg Quarterfinal: Yamini Mourya vs TBD</li><li>8:30 pm onwards (subject to qualification)</li><li>Women’s -48kg Medal Rounds: Asmita Dey</li><li>Men’s -60kg Medal Rounds: Harsh Singh</li><li>Women’s -52kg Medal Rounds: Shraddha Chopade</li><li>Men’s -66kg Medal Rounds: Rohit Majgul</li><li>Women’s -57kg Medal Rounds: Yamini Mourya</li></ul><h3>Bowls</h3><ul><li>5:15 pm - Men’s Pairs Section B, Round 4: Dinesh Kumar/Navneet Singh vs Ian Barnes/Oliver Thompson (Falkland Islands)</li><li>10:20 pm - Women’s Singles Section C, Round 4: Nayanmoni Saikia vs Mildred Mkandawire (Zambia)</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwg-2026-day-8-lovepreet-seema-win-medals-neeraj-storms-into-javelin-final-1785468097779">CWG 2026 Day 8: Lovepreet, Seema win medals, Neeraj storms into Javelin final</a><h3>Track Cycling</h3><ul><li>4:59 pm - Men’s 4000m Individual Pursuit Qualification: Dinesh Kumar, Harshveer Singh Sekhon</li><li>8:30 pm - Men’s Keirin First Round: Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo, Jemsh Keithellakpam</li><li>9:17 pm - Men’s Keirin Repechage (if qualified)</li><li>10:46 pm - Men’s 4000m Individual Pursuit Bronze final (if qualified)</li><li>&nbsp;10:53 pm - Men’s 4000m Individual Pursuit Gold final (if qualified)</li><li>11:01 pm - Men’s Keirin Second Round (if qualified)</li><li>11:43 pm - Men’s Keirin finals (Places 7–12) (if qualified)</li><li>11:48 pm - Men’s Keirin finals (Places 1-6) (if qualified)</li><li>11:53 pm - Men’s Elimination Race final (Medal Event): Harshveer Singh Sekhon</li></ul>

Here's a look at the full schedule and event timings for Indian athletes competing on Day 9 of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games, being held in Glasgow from Jul 23 to Aug 2, have entered Day 9, with Indian athletes set to compete on Friday (Jul 31) across athletics, boxing, track cycling, judo and bowls. Here is the full schedule of Indian events on Day 9 (all timings in IST): Athletics 2:35 pm - Men’s Decathlon 110m Hurdles: Tejaswin Shankar 3:20 pm - Men’s Decathlon Discus Throw: Tejaswin Shankar 4:05 pm - Mixed 4x400m Relay (Round 1, Heat 2): Vishal TK, Rajesh Ramesh, Rashdeep Kaur, Ansa Babu, Neeru Pathak 5:00 pm - Men’s Decathlon Pole Vault: Tejaswin Shankar 11:30 pm - Men’s Decathlon Javelin Throw: Tejaswin Shankar 12:45 am (Aug 1) - Men’s Javelin Throw final (Medal Event): Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Yash Vir Singh 1:05 am (Aug 1) – Men’s Decathlon 1500m (Final Event): Tejaswin Shankar 1:30 am (Aug 1) – Men’s 400m Hurdles final (Medal Event): Yashas Palaksha, Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan Boxing 3:15 pm - Women’s 54kg semifinal: Preeti Pawar vs Catherine Mwape (Zambia) 4:30 pm - Men’s 80kg semifinal: Ankush Panghal vs Joshua Ofori (Canada) 7:15 pm - Women’s 57kg semifinal: Jaismine Lamboria vs Rapelang Maselela (Lesotho) 7:30 pm - Women’s 70kg semifinal: Arundhati Choudhary vs Rosie Eccles (Wales) 8:15 pm - Men’s 55kg semifinal: Jadumani Singh Mandengbam vs Philip Haoseb (Namibia) 11:30 pm - Women’s 51kg semifinal: Sakshi Chaudhary vs Amber-Jane Wall (Canada) 12:15 am (Aug 1) - Women’s 60kg semifinal: Priya Ghanghas vs Lucy Kings-Wheatley (England) 12:45 am (Aug 1) - Women’s 75kg semifinal: Lovlina Borgohain vs Tarona Taafaki (Tuvalu) 1:00 am (Aug 1) - Men’s 60kg semifinal: Sachin Siwach vs Owain Harris-Allan (Wales) 1:30 am (Aug 1) - Men’s +90kg semifinal: Narender Berwal vs Nigel Paul (Trinidad and Tobago) Also Read - Commonwealth Table Tennis finals: Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold Judo 3:30 pm onwards Men’s -60kg Round of 16: Harsh Singh vs Chikondi Kathewera (Malawi) Women’s -52kg Round of 16: Shraddha Chopade vs Jane Massaquoi (Sierra Leone) Men’s -66kg Round of 16: Rohit Majgul vs Samuel Ribeiro (Mozambique) Women’s -48kg Quarterfinal: Asmita Dey vs Eva Ewing (Scotland) Women’s -57kg Quarterfinal: Yamini Mourya vs TBD 8:30 pm onwards (subject to qualification) Women’s -48kg Medal Rounds: Asmita Dey Men’s -60kg Medal Rounds: Harsh Singh Women’s -52kg Medal Rounds: Shraddha Chopade Men’s -66kg Medal Rounds: Rohit Majgul Women’s -57kg Medal Rounds: Yamini Mourya Bowls 5:15 pm - Men’s Pairs Section B, Round 4: Dinesh Kumar/Navneet Singh vs Ian Barnes/Oliver Thompson (Falkland Islands) 10:20 pm - Women’s Singles Section C, Round 4: Nayanmoni Saikia vs Mildred Mkandawire (Zambia) Also Read - CWG 2026 Day 8: Lovepreet, Seema win medals, Neeraj storms into Javelin final Track Cycling 4:59 pm - Men’s 4000m Individual Pursuit Qualification: Dinesh Kumar, Harshveer Singh Sekhon 8:30 pm - Men’s Keirin First Round: Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo, Jemsh Keithellakpam 9:17 pm - Men’s Keirin Repechage (if qualified) 10:46 pm - Men’s 4000m Individual Pursuit Bronze final (if qualified) 10:53 pm - Men’s 4000m Individual Pursuit Gold final (if qualified) 11:01 pm - Men’s Keirin Second Round (if qualified) 11:43 pm - Men’s Keirin finals (Places 7–12) (if qualified) 11:48 pm - Men’s Keirin finals (Places 1-6) (if qualified) 11:53 pm - Men’s Elimination Race final (Medal Event): Harshveer Singh Sekhon

Here's a look at the full schedule and event timings for Indian athletes competing on Day 9 of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.

Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings

India added two more medals on Day 8 of the 2026 Commonwealth Games as weightlifter Lovepreet Singh claimed silver and discus thrower Seema Kaliramna secured bronze. The medals took India’s overall tally to 17 (three gold, 10 silver and four bronze), with the country staying 10th in the standings. Lovepreet delivered the best performance of his career in the men's +110kg weightlifting event, setting a new Commonwealth Games record with a 176kg lift before finishing with a total of 388kg (176kg snatch + 212kg).&nbsp;He entered the clean and jerk with a 10kg advantage, but New Zealand’s David Andrew Liti produced a record lift of 223kg in his final attempt to win gold by just one kilogram. Lovepreet’s silver also helped India finish its weightlifting campaign with eight medals.&nbsp;Seema added India's second medal of the day by winning bronze in the women's discus throw with a best effort of 58.65m, despite fouling her final three attempts.&nbsp;India also enjoyed a strong day in athletics, as Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh qualified for Friday’s men’s javelin throw final despite challenging windy conditions.&nbsp;In the men’s triple jump, national record holders Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu booked their places in the final after finishing second and third in qualification.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-double-gold-commonwealth-table-tennis-championships-2026-1785428328638">Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold in men’s and women’s Commonwealth Table Tennis finals</a>&nbsp;Tejaswin Shankar remained in the hunt for a medal, as he cleared 2.15m in the high jump, earning 944 points and ended the day second overall with 4,339 points, just 14 behind Canada’s Damian Warner after five events.&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-tribute-ajinkya-rahane-retirement-favourite-batting-partner-1785422674763">‘My Favourite Test Batting Partner’: Kohli pays emotional tribute to Rahane</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor finished fifth in the men’s shot put final, while Samardeep Singh Gill came seventh.&nbsp;Sprinters Animesh Kujur (200m) and Vishal TK (400m) were knocked out in the semifinals and Parul Chaudhary finished 13th in the women’s 5000m final.&nbsp;In lawn bowls, Navneet Singh and Dinesh Kumar remained unbeaten after defeating Botswana in a tie-break to improve their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Lovepreet Singh won silver in weightlifting, while Seema Kaliramna claimed bronze in the women's discus throw as India added two more medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

India added two more medals on Day 8 of the 2026 Commonwealth Games as weightlifter Lovepreet Singh claimed silver and discus thrower Seema Kaliramna secured bronze. The medals took India’s overall tally to 17 (three gold, 10 silver and four bronze), with the country staying 10th in the standings. Lovepreet delivered the best performance of his career in the men's +110kg weightlifting event, setting a new Commonwealth Games record with a 176kg lift before finishing with a total of 388kg (176kg snatch + 212kg). He entered the clean and jerk with a 10kg advantage, but New Zealand’s David Andrew Liti produced a record lift of 223kg in his final attempt to win gold by just one kilogram. Lovepreet’s silver also helped India finish its weightlifting campaign with eight medals. Seema added India's second medal of the day by winning bronze in the women's discus throw with a best effort of 58.65m, despite fouling her final three attempts. India also enjoyed a strong day in athletics, as Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh qualified for Friday’s men’s javelin throw final despite challenging windy conditions. In the men’s triple jump, national record holders Praveen Chithravel and Selva Prabhu booked their places in the final after finishing second and third in qualification. Also Read - Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold in men’s and women’s Commonwealth Table Tennis finals Tejaswin Shankar remained in the hunt for a medal, as he cleared 2.15m in the high jump, earning 944 points and ended the day second overall with 4,339 points, just 14 behind Canada’s Damian Warner after five events. Also Read -‘My Favourite Test Batting Partner’: Kohli pays emotional tribute to Rahane Meanwhile, Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor finished fifth in the men’s shot put final, while Samardeep Singh Gill came seventh. Sprinters Animesh Kujur (200m) and Vishal TK (400m) were knocked out in the semifinals and Parul Chaudhary finished 13th in the women’s 5000m final. In lawn bowls, Navneet Singh and Dinesh Kumar remained unbeaten after defeating Botswana in a tie-break to improve their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Lovepreet Singh won silver in weightlifting, while Seema Kaliramna claimed bronze in the women's discus throw as India added two more medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

CWG 2026 Day 8: Lovepreet, Seema win medals, Neeraj storms into Javelin final

The hosts, India, won gold medals in both men’s and women’s team finals at the ongoing 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships at New Delhi's Thyagaraj Sports Complex on Thursday (Jul 30). While the Indian men’s TT team beat spirited Malaysia 3-2, the women’s team produced a clinical 3-0 win over their Asian counterparts to stand tall in the end, winning a gold medal at the tournament. The win also helped India avenge the league-stage defeat to Malaysia on the opening day, with Manush Shah leading the victories in both his singles matches.&nbsp;Earlier, the Sreeja Akula-led Indian women’s team beat the surprise finalist, Malaysia, 3-0. The fight, however, was far from the scoreline, "reflecting the women's team's undefeated tournament run. Karen Anak pushed the Indian star to the limit, only to lose to her in the five-set thriller (9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-3).&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-tt-championship-2026-india-vs-england-semifinal-results-1785410543585">Indian men's team blitz England 3-0 to reach Commonwealth TT Championship final</a> &nbsp;On the other hand, Swastika Ghosh, who opened the proceedings, beat Ai Xin Tee in four games (11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 11-9), before Yashaswini Ghorpade thrashed her opponent Alice Lee Sian Chang 7-11, 11-3, 17-15, 11-5, to complete a comprehensive gold medal win for the Indian women’s team. The men’s final, however, was the showstopper of the night, with Manush Shah inspiring a stunning comeback to help India beat Malaysia and complete the double.&nbsp; &nbsp;It all began with Manav Thakkar beating Javen Choong 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5 before Shah put down Qi Shen Wong in a thriller of the night (11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 2-11, 11-7). Malaysia made a comeback with back-to-back wins, including G. Sathiyan's loss to Tey Hong Yu (7-11, 8-11, 10-12) and Manav suffering a shock defeat to Wong (11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 1-11), leaving Manush Shah with the deciding match. &nbsp;The deciding game ended with Manush beating Choong in straight games (11-7, 11-4, 11-4), helping India beat Malaysia 3-2 and win the coveted gold medal.<h3>Check full results –&nbsp;</h3>Women’s Final - India beat Malaysia 3-0 (Swastika Ghosh beat Ai Xin Tee 11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 11-9; Sreeja Akula beat Karen Lyne Anak Dick 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-3; Yashaswini Ghorpade beat Alice Lee Sian Chang 7-11, 11-3, 17-15, 11-5) &nbsp;Men’s Final - India beat Malaysia 3-2 (Manav Thakkar beat Javen Choong 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5; Manush Shah beat Qi Shen Wong 11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 2-11, 11-7; G. Sathiyan lost to Tey Hong Yu 7-11, 8-11, 10-12; Manav lost to Wong 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 1-11; Manush beat Choong 11-7, 11-4, 11-4)

Hosts India clinched double gold in the men’s and women’s team events at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in New Delhi, defeating Malaysia in both finals.

The hosts, India, won gold medals in both men’s and women’s team finals at the ongoing 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships at New Delhi's Thyagaraj Sports Complex on Thursday (Jul 30). While the Indian men’s TT team beat spirited Malaysia 3-2, the women’s team produced a clinical 3-0 win over their Asian counterparts to stand tall in the end, winning a gold medal at the tournament. The win also helped India avenge the league-stage defeat to Malaysia on the opening day, with Manush Shah leading the victories in both his singles matches. Earlier, the Sreeja Akula-led Indian women’s team beat the surprise finalist, Malaysia, 3-0. The fight, however, was far from the scoreline, "reflecting the women's team's undefeated tournament run. Karen Anak pushed the Indian star to the limit, only to lose to her in the five-set thriller (9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-3). Also read| Indian men's team blitz England 3-0 to reach Commonwealth TT Championship final On the other hand, Swastika Ghosh, who opened the proceedings, beat Ai Xin Tee in four games (11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 11-9), before Yashaswini Ghorpade thrashed her opponent Alice Lee Sian Chang 7-11, 11-3, 17-15, 11-5, to complete a comprehensive gold medal win for the Indian women’s team. The men’s final, however, was the showstopper of the night, with Manush Shah inspiring a stunning comeback to help India beat Malaysia and complete the double. It all began with Manav Thakkar beating Javen Choong 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5 before Shah put down Qi Shen Wong in a thriller of the night (11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 2-11, 11-7). Malaysia made a comeback with back-to-back wins, including G. Sathiyan's loss to Tey Hong Yu (7-11, 8-11, 10-12) and Manav suffering a shock defeat to Wong (11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 1-11), leaving Manush Shah with the deciding match. The deciding game ended with Manush beating Choong in straight games (11-7, 11-4, 11-4), helping India beat Malaysia 3-2 and win the coveted gold medal. Check full results – Women’s Final - India beat Malaysia 3-0 (Swastika Ghosh beat Ai Xin Tee 11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 11-9; Sreeja Akula beat Karen Lyne Anak Dick 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-3; Yashaswini Ghorpade beat Alice Lee Sian Chang 7-11, 11-3, 17-15, 11-5) Men’s Final - India beat Malaysia 3-2 (Manav Thakkar beat Javen Choong 12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5; Manush Shah beat Qi Shen Wong 11-13, 11-9, 11-7, 2-11, 11-7; G. Sathiyan lost to Tey Hong Yu 7-11, 8-11, 10-12; Manav lost to Wong 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 1-11; Manush beat Choong 11-7, 11-4, 11-4)

Hosts India clinched double gold in the men’s and women’s team events at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in New Delhi, defeating Malaysia in both finals.

Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold in men’s and women’s Commonwealth Table Tennis finals

IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is without a captain for the next season following Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement on Thursday (Jul 30). Unless KKR, the three-time IPL winners, acquire a new captain at the mini-auction later this year or via a trade, team vice-captain Rinku Singh will lead the race to replace Rahane as the side’s new skipper. While Rahane led the franchise for two years after Shreyas Iyer’s departure -- a season after he led his team to its third IPL crown, KKR appointed Rinku as his deputy ahead of the 2026 edition.&nbsp;"Over the years, we've seen Rinku Singh evolve not only as a cricketer but also as a leader," KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar had said in the lead-up to IPL 2026.&nbsp; &nbsp;"For the past couple of years, while his performances have spoken for themselves, I think off the field, without saying a lot, he is someone that the team looks forward to [hearing]. &nbsp;"We wanted a little more responsibility for Rinku to shoulder, and I feel it's the perfect time, after being a World Cup champion, to come in, take on that responsibility and help Ajinkya Rahane take the reins over,” he added.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-tribute-ajinkya-rahane-retirement-favourite-batting-partner-1785422674763">‘My Favourite Test Batting Partner’: Kohli pays emotional tribute to Ajinkya Rahane on retirement</a> &nbsp;Should KKR appoint him as the new captain for IPL 2027, Rinku will enter the leadership fray with limited captaincy experience, although his records speak for itself. Rinku had led Meerut Mavericks to the UPT20 title in 2024 before they finished runners-up in 2025, winning 13 of their 18 matches across the two seasons. Besides, he also captained his state team, Uttar Pradesh, in List A cricket since replacing pace great Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy.<h2>Narine and Powell in the Fray</h2>If not Rinku, KKR could look at their seasoned performer and their best player for over a decade, spinner Sunil Narine. The longest-serving KKR player since making his franchise debut in 2012, Narine has been part of all three title-winning campaigns. With the ocean of T20 experience and IPL, to be precise, picking him as the next skipper wouldn’t be a step backwards. &nbsp;Moreover, his fellow countryman, Rovman Powell, also stays in contention for the vacant role at KKR. His experience leading the national team would work in his favour, as KKR aims to build a team around the new captain. &nbsp;Should the franchise decide against picking any of these three as their next captain, the December auction would decide KKR's fate in IPL 2027.

With Ajinkya Rahane announcing his retirement, who will lead Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2027? Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, and Rovman Powell emerge as top skipper candidates.

IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is without a captain for the next season following Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement on Thursday (Jul 30). Unless KKR, the three-time IPL winners, acquire a new captain at the mini-auction later this year or via a trade, team vice-captain Rinku Singh will lead the race to replace Rahane as the side’s new skipper. While Rahane led the franchise for two years after Shreyas Iyer’s departure -- a season after he led his team to its third IPL crown, KKR appointed Rinku as his deputy ahead of the 2026 edition. "Over the years, we've seen Rinku Singh evolve not only as a cricketer but also as a leader," KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar had said in the lead-up to IPL 2026. "For the past couple of years, while his performances have spoken for themselves, I think off the field, without saying a lot, he is someone that the team looks forward to [hearing]. "We wanted a little more responsibility for Rinku to shoulder, and I feel it's the perfect time, after being a World Cup champion, to come in, take on that responsibility and help Ajinkya Rahane take the reins over,” he added. Also read| ‘My Favourite Test Batting Partner’: Kohli pays emotional tribute to Ajinkya Rahane on retirement Should KKR appoint him as the new captain for IPL 2027, Rinku will enter the leadership fray with limited captaincy experience, although his records speak for itself. Rinku had led Meerut Mavericks to the UPT20 title in 2024 before they finished runners-up in 2025, winning 13 of their 18 matches across the two seasons. Besides, he also captained his state team, Uttar Pradesh, in List A cricket since replacing pace great Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Narine and Powell in the Fray If not Rinku, KKR could look at their seasoned performer and their best player for over a decade, spinner Sunil Narine. The longest-serving KKR player since making his franchise debut in 2012, Narine has been part of all three title-winning campaigns. With the ocean of T20 experience and IPL, to be precise, picking him as the next skipper wouldn’t be a step backwards. Moreover, his fellow countryman, Rovman Powell, also stays in contention for the vacant role at KKR. His experience leading the national team would work in his favour, as KKR aims to build a team around the new captain. Should the franchise decide against picking any of these three as their next captain, the December auction would decide KKR's fate in IPL 2027.

With Ajinkya Rahane announcing his retirement, who will lead Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2027? Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, and Rovman Powell emerge as top skipper candidates.

Who leads KKR after Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement? Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, or someone new?

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli penned an emotional note for his Test deputy Ajinkya Rahane, who announced his retirement from all forms of the game on Thursday (Jul 30), calling him the safest hands in the slips and his favourite Test batting partner. Kohli and Rahane have stitched several famous partnerships on home and away tours, mainly in Australia, helping India stand tall on almost all occasions. A perfect stand-in captain, Rahane led India to a famous 2-1 Test series win in Australia during the 2020-21 away tour, after Kohli left following the conclusion of the first Test in Adelaide, which India lost by 10 wickets.&nbsp;With an inexperienced squad at the helm and a lack of leadership, Rahane’s guidance helped India sail through the turbulence Down Under. Under his leadership, India made history by becoming the first team to beat Australia in Australia on back-to-back Test tours.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ajinkya-rahane-s-greatest-test-innings-5-knocks-that-defined-his-overseas-legacy-1785396862240">Ajinkya Rahane’s greatest Test innings: 5 knocks that defined his overseas legacy</a> &nbsp;Taking to his social media handles, Rahane’s former India teammate and captain, Kohli, shared a wholesome note for the Mumbai opener, writing, “Jinks, congratulations on a great career, buddy. You’ve done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be very proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favourite Test batting partner. Wishing you well always. God bless. 🤝🇮🇳 @ajinkyarahane88.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jinks, congratulations on a great career, buddy. You’ve done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be very proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favourite Test batting partner. Wishing you well always. God bless. 🤝🇮🇳<a href="https://x.com/ajinkyarahane88?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ajinkyarahane88</a> <a href="https://t.co/bHGaas41gO">pic.twitter.com/bHGaas41gO</a>&mdash; Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://x.com/imVkohli/status/2082813935510835212?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rahane made his India debut on the away England tour in 2011 during the white-ball series, showcasing his talent, class and timing in the challenging conditions. After VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s Test retirements in 2012, Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara became regulars in the whites, with Rahane sealing the number five spot for close to a decade. &nbsp;Rahane featured in the 2014 T20 World Cup, 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, after which he lost his place in the ODI and T20I teams but remained the cornerstone of India’s Test side. &nbsp;He played 195 matches for India across formats, scoring 8378 runs, including 15 hundreds and 51 fifties. Considered amongst the safest hands in the inner circle and even on the boundaries, as Kohli also mentioned, Rahane picked up 166 catches in total. His best score of 188 came against New Zealand during a home Test in 2016. &nbsp;Known for his composure, stylish technique and unique ability to deliver better in challenging conditions, Rahane played several memorable knocks in South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia and even the West Indies. Good against pace and better against spin, the right-hander also scored over 14,000 first-class runs, averaging close to 45.

Virat Kohli pays an emotional tribute to former Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane following his retirement, calling him his favourite Test batting partner and safest slip fielder.

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli penned an emotional note for his Test deputy Ajinkya Rahane, who announced his retirement from all forms of the game on Thursday (Jul 30), calling him the safest hands in the slips and his favourite Test batting partner. Kohli and Rahane have stitched several famous partnerships on home and away tours, mainly in Australia, helping India stand tall on almost all occasions. A perfect stand-in captain, Rahane led India to a famous 2-1 Test series win in Australia during the 2020-21 away tour, after Kohli left following the conclusion of the first Test in Adelaide, which India lost by 10 wickets. With an inexperienced squad at the helm and a lack of leadership, Rahane’s guidance helped India sail through the turbulence Down Under. Under his leadership, India made history by becoming the first team to beat Australia in Australia on back-to-back Test tours. Also read| Ajinkya Rahane’s greatest Test innings: 5 knocks that defined his overseas legacy Taking to his social media handles, Rahane’s former India teammate and captain, Kohli, shared a wholesome note for the Mumbai opener, writing, “Jinks, congratulations on a great career, buddy. You’ve done wonders for Indian cricket, and you can be very proud of your journey. The safest pair of hands in the slips and my favourite Test batting partner. Wishing you well always. God bless. 🤝🇮🇳 @ajinkyarahane88.”

Virat Kohli pays an emotional tribute to former Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane following his retirement, calling him his favourite Test batting partner and safest slip fielder.

‘My Favourite Test Batting Partner’: Kohli pays emotional tribute to Ajinkya Rahane on retirement

Australia’s ace pacer Josh Hazlewood is closing in on the end of his Test career, with recurrent injuries and tight competition for spots in the playing XI limiting his opportunities.&nbsp;Instead of feeling insecure about returning to the side for the first time in over a year, with Bangladesh Tests looming, Hazlewood looks forward to playing more with Scott Boland, who poses an outright threat to the lanky seamer.&nbsp; &nbsp;Australia is scheduled to play at least 20 Tests before the next WTC final in 2027, including away tours of India (early 2027) and England (mid-2027), and Hazlewood is keen to make himself available for all matches. However, he has some unfinished business left before considering Test retirement - a series win in England, India and South Africa.&nbsp;"This group's been together for quite a long time now, the majority of it, anyway," Hazlewood said during a training camp in Brisbane on Thursday (Jul 30). "The big series are obviously England and India. I haven't won in South Africa either, so there's three that are coming up that are a few boxes to tick off there for not just me but from this whole playing group.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/stephen-fleming-replaces-mccullum-england-test-coach-joe-root-returns-captain-1785411931349">Fleming In, McCullum Out: England name new Test head coach as Joe Root returns as captain</a> &nbsp;Hazlewood also reflected on the misfortune of missing eight of Australia’s last 14 Tests, with his last appearance coming against the West Indies in Jamaica last year, when Australia played four quicks. However, with Nathan Lyon returning from injury and likely to start against Bangladesh in the first Test starting August 13 in Darwin, either Hazlewood or Boland would have to sit out.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I'd love to play more with Scotty," Hazlewood said. "We're obviously a little bit similar, but I think there’s still a lot of difference in our bowling. Every time he's come in, he's done unbelievably well. His career just keeps getting better and better the older he gets. &nbsp;"I think there's enough opportunities in the next 12 months, 18 months for us to play a lot of cricket hopefully together; that'd be a nice one to tick off. But I think as four quicks, we've got Ness [Michael Neser] and Doggy [Brendan Doggett] there as well. So I think we'll have to lean on all six at some point in the next sort of 18 months,” he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, away from the international circuit, Hazlewood was part of RCB’s title-winning campaign this season, which also saw it <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-first-cricket-franchise-cross-300-million-brand-value-ipl-2026-1785349675469">become the first cricket franchise to cross $300 million</a> in brand value.

Josh Hazlewood targets away series wins in England, India, and South Africa before considering Test retirement, as competition with Scott Boland heats up ahead of the Bangladesh series.

Australia’s ace pacer Josh Hazlewood is closing in on the end of his Test career, with recurrent injuries and tight competition for spots in the playing XI limiting his opportunities. Instead of feeling insecure about returning to the side for the first time in over a year, with Bangladesh Tests looming, Hazlewood looks forward to playing more with Scott Boland, who poses an outright threat to the lanky seamer. Australia is scheduled to play at least 20 Tests before the next WTC final in 2027, including away tours of India (early 2027) and England (mid-2027), and Hazlewood is keen to make himself available for all matches. However, he has some unfinished business left before considering Test retirement - a series win in England, India and South Africa. "This group's been together for quite a long time now, the majority of it, anyway," Hazlewood said during a training camp in Brisbane on Thursday (Jul 30). "The big series are obviously England and India. I haven't won in South Africa either, so there's three that are coming up that are a few boxes to tick off there for not just me but from this whole playing group.” Also read| Fleming In, McCullum Out: England name new Test head coach as Joe Root returns as captain Hazlewood also reflected on the misfortune of missing eight of Australia’s last 14 Tests, with his last appearance coming against the West Indies in Jamaica last year, when Australia played four quicks. However, with Nathan Lyon returning from injury and likely to start against Bangladesh in the first Test starting August 13 in Darwin, either Hazlewood or Boland would have to sit out. "I'd love to play more with Scotty," Hazlewood said. "We're obviously a little bit similar, but I think there’s still a lot of difference in our bowling. Every time he's come in, he's done unbelievably well. His career just keeps getting better and better the older he gets. "I think there's enough opportunities in the next 12 months, 18 months for us to play a lot of cricket hopefully together; that'd be a nice one to tick off. But I think as four quicks, we've got Ness [Michael Neser] and Doggy [Brendan Doggett] there as well. So I think we'll have to lean on all six at some point in the next sort of 18 months,” he added. Meanwhile, away from the international circuit, Hazlewood was part of RCB’s title-winning campaign this season, which also saw it become the first cricket franchise to cross $300 million in brand value.

Josh Hazlewood targets away series wins in England, India, and South Africa before considering Test retirement, as competition with Scott Boland heats up ahead of the Bangladesh series.

Unfinished Business: Hazlewood eyes series wins in England and India before considering Test retirement

Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra is one sleep away from competing for a medal at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after finishing fifth in the qualification with a best of 79.61m throw. He qualified for the medal round on Thursday (Jul 30) within two attempts, securing his spot with his second one. His first throw, however, recorded a distance of 76.28m. Besides him, two other Indians also punched their qualification for the medal round – Yashvir Singh (74.45m) and Rohit Yadav (78.37m). Both recorded respective distances of 73.89m and 77.04m in their first attempts.&nbsp;All three Indians have successfully qualified for the 12-man final set for Friday (Jul 31), with Rohit and Yashvir finishing 9th and 10th, respectively. Neeraj finished fifth in the qualifications.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hockey-india-president-dilip-tirkey-breaks-silence-on-team-s-jersey-colour-change-from-blue-to-saffron-1785410379921">Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey breaks silence on team's jersey colour change from blue to saffron</a> &nbsp;While the reigning Olympic champion from Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem, secured the qualification with a 78.63m throw, finishing seventh and two spots below India’s Neeraj, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage secured the top spot in the qualification with an 80m-plus throw (82.84m).<h2>Lower back injury restricting Chopra</h2>India’s brightest sporting talent, Chopra, has endured lower back pain since September 2025, which has visibly restricted his performance since. Owing to that, he also made a delayed start to the season at the Doha Diamond League on June 19, finishing fourth with his best throw of 85.69m. Following rehabilitation at his training base in Bienne, Switzerland, for nearly a month after that, Neeraj is ready to repeat his 2018 Gold Coast gold-medal-winning performance at this year’s CWG. &nbsp;After winning the gold with an 86.47m throw, Neeraj missed the 2022 CWG due to an injury. &nbsp; &nbsp;Although USA’s Curtis Thompson and Germany’s Julian Weber are missing this edition, Chopra would have enough top stars challenging him for the coveted gold medal. Besides Neeraj and Pathirage, Chopra would need to beat the reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and 2022 CWG silver winner Anderson Peters of Grenada in the final. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Pathirage remains the number one contender for the gold medal, having crossed the 90 m mark and being the only one amongst all finalists to do so during the Rome Diamond League title. The 23-year-old has recorded another three 88m-plus throws and two DL titles this season.&nbsp;

Neeraj Chopra seals a spot in the CWG 2026 javelin final alongside Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh. Get the qualification results, distances, and injury updates.

Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra is one sleep away from competing for a medal at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after finishing fifth in the qualification with a best of 79.61m throw. He qualified for the medal round on Thursday (Jul 30) within two attempts, securing his spot with his second one. His first throw, however, recorded a distance of 76.28m. Besides him, two other Indians also punched their qualification for the medal round – Yashvir Singh (74.45m) and Rohit Yadav (78.37m). Both recorded respective distances of 73.89m and 77.04m in their first attempts. All three Indians have successfully qualified for the 12-man final set for Friday (Jul 31), with Rohit and Yashvir finishing 9th and 10th, respectively. Neeraj finished fifth in the qualifications. Also read| Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey breaks silence on team's jersey colour change from blue to saffron While the reigning Olympic champion from Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem, secured the qualification with a 78.63m throw, finishing seventh and two spots below India’s Neeraj, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage secured the top spot in the qualification with an 80m-plus throw (82.84m). Lower back injury restricting Chopra India’s brightest sporting talent, Chopra, has endured lower back pain since September 2025, which has visibly restricted his performance since. Owing to that, he also made a delayed start to the season at the Doha Diamond League on June 19, finishing fourth with his best throw of 85.69m. Following rehabilitation at his training base in Bienne, Switzerland, for nearly a month after that, Neeraj is ready to repeat his 2018 Gold Coast gold-medal-winning performance at this year’s CWG. After winning the gold with an 86.47m throw, Neeraj missed the 2022 CWG due to an injury. Although USA’s Curtis Thompson and Germany’s Julian Weber are missing this edition, Chopra would have enough top stars challenging him for the coveted gold medal. Besides Neeraj and Pathirage, Chopra would need to beat the reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and 2022 CWG silver winner Anderson Peters of Grenada in the final. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Pathirage remains the number one contender for the gold medal, having crossed the 90 m mark and being the only one amongst all finalists to do so during the Rome Diamond League title. The 23-year-old has recorded another three 88m-plus throws and two DL titles this season.

Neeraj Chopra seals a spot in the CWG 2026 javelin final alongside Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh. Get the qualification results, distances, and injury updates.

CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra finishes 5th in qualification, seals javelin final spot

Former Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming has replaced his compatriot Brendon McCullum as England’s new Test head coach, as veteran batter Joe Root is also reappointed as the Test skipper ahead of Harry Brook. The announcement follows the sacking of Brendon McCullum as Test coach and the retirement of former captain Ben Stokes earlier this month. The two, who were cornerstones of the famous ‘Bazball’ concept in English cricket, left their respective roles after England’s home Test series loss to New Zealand.&nbsp;Root returned to captaining England in the whites, having earlier led them in 64 Tests from 2017 to 2022 before returning to work as the stand-in captain during the second Test against New Zealand in Stokes’ absence, who was out amid a pending investigation over the London nightclub incident.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ajinkya-rahane-retires-from-international-cricket-1785388583556">Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket</a> &nbsp;"It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England men's Test captain again," said Root. "The Test captaincy is a difficult but hugely rewarding job and, after enjoying a brief taste of it again working with Baz McCullum last month, I am excited to lead this next generation of players forward." &nbsp;Root, who is only second to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for most Test runs, hailed Fleming as an "exceptional leader with a great knowledge of the game". England’s next Test assignment is a three-match series against Pakistan starting August 19, with Marcus Trescothick acting as interim head coach ahead of Fleming's arrival later this year. &nbsp;The ECB said Fleming, who coached IPL franchise CSK to five league titles, was one of the "most highly regarded coaches in world cricket". &nbsp;"The ambition is always to win now," said Fleming. "But equally, it's about ensuring the team is well placed for the medium and long-term future."&nbsp; &nbsp;"I'm particularly looking forward to working with Joe Root as captain -- a generational talent who has achieved so much already. &nbsp;"There is still plenty more to come from him, and I'm excited to support him so he can enjoy and thrive in the role in what is a different context to his first stint,” he added. &nbsp;Managing director of England men's cricket Rob Key also hailed Fleming as one of the most highly respected figures in cricket. &nbsp;"I believe he is the best person to guide a team stacked full of potential and turn that talent into a world-class outfit that can not only achieve success but sustain it," Key said. &nbsp;Meanwhile, McCullum remains in charge as England's limited-overs coach.

Stephen Fleming replaces Brendon McCullum as England’s Test head coach, while Joe Root returns as Test captain. Get details on the major leadership revamp.

Former Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming has replaced his compatriot Brendon McCullum as England’s new Test head coach, as veteran batter Joe Root is also reappointed as the Test skipper ahead of Harry Brook. The announcement follows the sacking of Brendon McCullum as Test coach and the retirement of former captain Ben Stokes earlier this month. The two, who were cornerstones of the famous ‘Bazball’ concept in English cricket, left their respective roles after England’s home Test series loss to New Zealand. Root returned to captaining England in the whites, having earlier led them in 64 Tests from 2017 to 2022 before returning to work as the stand-in captain during the second Test against New Zealand in Stokes’ absence, who was out amid a pending investigation over the London nightclub incident. Also read| Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket "It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to be England men's Test captain again," said Root. "The Test captaincy is a difficult but hugely rewarding job and, after enjoying a brief taste of it again working with Baz McCullum last month, I am excited to lead this next generation of players forward." Root, who is only second to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for most Test runs, hailed Fleming as an "exceptional leader with a great knowledge of the game". England’s next Test assignment is a three-match series against Pakistan starting August 19, with Marcus Trescothick acting as interim head coach ahead of Fleming's arrival later this year. The ECB said Fleming, who coached IPL franchise CSK to five league titles, was one of the "most highly regarded coaches in world cricket". "The ambition is always to win now," said Fleming. "But equally, it's about ensuring the team is well placed for the medium and long-term future." "I'm particularly looking forward to working with Joe Root as captain -- a generational talent who has achieved so much already. "There is still plenty more to come from him, and I'm excited to support him so he can enjoy and thrive in the role in what is a different context to his first stint,” he added. Managing director of England men's cricket Rob Key also hailed Fleming as one of the most highly respected figures in cricket. "I believe he is the best person to guide a team stacked full of potential and turn that talent into a world-class outfit that can not only achieve success but sustain it," Key said. Meanwhile, McCullum remains in charge as England's limited-overs coach.

Stephen Fleming replaces Brendon McCullum as England’s Test head coach, while Joe Root returns as Test captain. Get details on the major leadership revamp.

Fleming In, McCullum Out: England name new Test head coach as Joe Root returns as captain

Hockey India President Dilip Kumar Tirkey on Thursday (Jul 30) defended the decision to change the Indian men's and women's hockey teams' primary blue jerseys to orange, saying the move was based on feedback from players, coaches and support staff over visibility issues on blue turf, which made it harder for players to see each other during matches.&nbsp;The new jersey has sparked debate, with former India captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha questioning the decision, while Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticised the change.&nbsp;Speaking to ANI, Tirkey said that the new jerseys were unveiled ahead of the FIH Men’s and Women’s Hockey World Cups, which begin on Aug 14 and 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium.&nbsp;“So this time, the orange colour has been chosen. And yes, I accept that for many years, there was a legacy where Team India used to wear blue. We have played many tournaments, many important tournaments wearing blue… even I played wearing blue. But the change that has been made this time–and this is not the first time; in 2014 as well, I think the team wore yellow, and in 2018 too, light blue was used–a suggestion came directly from our coaches, supporting staff, players, and team captains,” Tirkey told ANI.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-tt-championship-2026-india-vs-england-semifinal-results-1785410543585">Indian men's team blitz England 3-0 to reach Commonwealth TT Championship final</a>&nbsp;Explaining the reason behind the change, Tirkey said players and coaches felt the blue jersey reduced visibility because it matched the colour of the turf.&nbsp;“Their suggestion was that on the field, the hockey turf is blue, and the players’ playing kit was also blue. So technical visibility during play was affected because of that overlap. Somewhere, they were feeling that issue,” he said.&nbsp;He added that the team suggested two colours , yellow and orange, and orange was chosen because it is one of the colours in the Indian national flag.&nbsp;“They suggested two colour options: yellow and orange. It was noted that orange is also one of our national colours from the Indian flag. So orange was chosen and designed accordingly. If after the tournament or in the future the players feel otherwise, we can work again on improving the kit colour,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ajinkya-rahane-s-greatest-test-innings-5-knocks-that-defined-his-overseas-legacy-1785396862240">Rahane’s greatest Test innings: 5 knocks that defined his overseas legacy</a>&nbsp;Tirkey said Hockey India would be open to changing the jersey again if players were not comfortable with the orange kit in the future.&nbsp;“If after or during the World Cup, the team or players do not feel comfortable with the orange colour–which was introduced based on their own request–we can definitely change it in the future to a colour that the team prefers,” he said.&nbsp;He further stressed that the decision was driven by technical reasons and player feedback.&nbsp;“There was a specific request from players and coaches. On blue hockey turf, wearing blue jerseys created visual overlap during fast gameplay, reducing contrast and clarity. Secondly, Orange is represented in our national flag. Out of the two options requested by the squad (orange and yellow), orange was selected,” he said.&nbsp;“For this World Cup, the orange kit is designated as the primary jersey, with white as the secondary kit. If required later, adjustments can always be made,” Tirkey added.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said the switch from blue to orange jerseys was made on the recommendation of players and coaches due to visibility issues on blue turf.

Hockey India President Dilip Kumar Tirkey on Thursday (Jul 30) defended the decision to change the Indian men's and women's hockey teams' primary blue jerseys to orange, saying the move was based on feedback from players, coaches and support staff over visibility issues on blue turf, which made it harder for players to see each other during matches. The new jersey has sparked debate, with former India captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha questioning the decision, while Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticised the change. Speaking to ANI, Tirkey said that the new jerseys were unveiled ahead of the FIH Men’s and Women’s Hockey World Cups, which begin on Aug 14 and 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium. “So this time, the orange colour has been chosen. And yes, I accept that for many years, there was a legacy where Team India used to wear blue. We have played many tournaments, many important tournaments wearing blue… even I played wearing blue. But the change that has been made this time–and this is not the first time; in 2014 as well, I think the team wore yellow, and in 2018 too, light blue was used–a suggestion came directly from our coaches, supporting staff, players, and team captains,” Tirkey told ANI. Also Read - Indian men's team blitz England 3-0 to reach Commonwealth TT Championship final Explaining the reason behind the change, Tirkey said players and coaches felt the blue jersey reduced visibility because it matched the colour of the turf. “Their suggestion was that on the field, the hockey turf is blue, and the players’ playing kit was also blue. So technical visibility during play was affected because of that overlap. Somewhere, they were feeling that issue,” he said. He added that the team suggested two colours , yellow and orange, and orange was chosen because it is one of the colours in the Indian national flag. “They suggested two colour options: yellow and orange. It was noted that orange is also one of our national colours from the Indian flag. So orange was chosen and designed accordingly. If after the tournament or in the future the players feel otherwise, we can work again on improving the kit colour,” he said. Also Read - Rahane’s greatest Test innings: 5 knocks that defined his overseas legacy Tirkey said Hockey India would be open to changing the jersey again if players were not comfortable with the orange kit in the future. “If after or during the World Cup, the team or players do not feel comfortable with the orange colour–which was introduced based on their own request–we can definitely change it in the future to a colour that the team prefers,” he said. He further stressed that the decision was driven by technical reasons and player feedback. “There was a specific request from players and coaches. On blue hockey turf, wearing blue jerseys created visual overlap during fast gameplay, reducing contrast and clarity. Secondly, Orange is represented in our national flag. Out of the two options requested by the squad (orange and yellow), orange was selected,” he said. “For this World Cup, the orange kit is designated as the primary jersey, with white as the secondary kit. If required later, adjustments can always be made,” Tirkey added. With inputs from agencies

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said the switch from blue to orange jerseys was made on the recommendation of players and coaches due to visibility issues on blue turf.

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey breaks silence on team's jersey colour change from blue to saffron

The Indian men’s table tennis team crushed England 3-0 to qualify for the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026 in New Delhi. The men’s team, which hasn’t dropped a match yet in the lead-up to the final, beat their English counterparts convincingly to punch their ticket for the summit clash. Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai were all on song during the semifinal late on Wednesday (Jul 29) to help India confirm a medal spot.<h2>Dominant Run Continues against England</h2>Against England in the knockout match on Table 1, Manush Shah opened the proceedings against Connor Green. The Indian TT star won all three games but faced a tough challenge from his opponent, who pushed him to the brink in the first two games before conceding a defeat in the final one. Manush beat Green 11-9, 11-9 and 11-6 to complete a comprehensive win and help India take an early lead in the semifinal.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-tt-championship-2026-indian-women-sweep-canada-3-0-day-3-1785331213470">Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Day 3 belongs to Indian women after 3-0 sweep of Canada</a> &nbsp;Next up was Manav Thakkar, facing Joseph Hunter in the second singles match. While Green did give some hope to the English fans with his gritty performance, Hunter was the pale shadow of himself in this crucial match. He couldn’t put his Indian opponent under any pressure, losing the three games 11-8, 11-4 and 11-5 to surrender. A clinical show from Manav helped India take a decisive 2-0 lead in this knockout fixture. &nbsp;Harmeet Desai was the standout performer for India, beating his opponent Benjamin Piggott convincingly in all three games. He won all the games with an 11-5 margin, stamping India’s authority in the men’s division in this competition. &nbsp;Currently, the Indian men’s team is playing Malaysia for the gold medal match in the home competition.

India’s men’s table tennis team swept England 3-0 in the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026 semifinals. Read match highlights for Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar, and Harmeet Desai.

The Indian men’s table tennis team crushed England 3-0 to qualify for the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026 in New Delhi. The men’s team, which hasn’t dropped a match yet in the lead-up to the final, beat their English counterparts convincingly to punch their ticket for the summit clash. Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai were all on song during the semifinal late on Wednesday (Jul 29) to help India confirm a medal spot. Dominant Run Continues against England Against England in the knockout match on Table 1, Manush Shah opened the proceedings against Connor Green. The Indian TT star won all three games but faced a tough challenge from his opponent, who pushed him to the brink in the first two games before conceding a defeat in the final one. Manush beat Green 11-9, 11-9 and 11-6 to complete a comprehensive win and help India take an early lead in the semifinal. Also read| Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Day 3 belongs to Indian women after 3-0 sweep of Canada Next up was Manav Thakkar, facing Joseph Hunter in the second singles match. While Green did give some hope to the English fans with his gritty performance, Hunter was the pale shadow of himself in this crucial match. He couldn’t put his Indian opponent under any pressure, losing the three games 11-8, 11-4 and 11-5 to surrender. A clinical show from Manav helped India take a decisive 2-0 lead in this knockout fixture. Harmeet Desai was the standout performer for India, beating his opponent Benjamin Piggott convincingly in all three games. He won all the games with an 11-5 margin, stamping India’s authority in the men’s division in this competition. Currently, the Indian men’s team is playing Malaysia for the gold medal match in the home competition.

India’s men’s table tennis team swept England 3-0 in the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026 semifinals. Read match highlights for Manush Shah, Manav Thakkar, and Harmeet Desai.

Indian men's team blitz England 3-0 to reach Commonwealth TT Championship final

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday (Jul 30) announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career that lasted almost two decades. The 38-year-old shared the news through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he believed it was the right time to step away from international cricket.&nbsp;“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said.&nbsp;“Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ajinkya-rahane-retires-from-international-cricket-1785388583556">Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket</a><h3>From overseas heroics to match-winning displays, here are Ajinkya Rahane’s top five Test innings</h3><ul><li>96 vs South Africa, Durban (2013) In only his second Test, Rahane scored a brave 96 on a difficult pitch against Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel. Though he missed a century, he showed he could succeed in overseas conditions.</li><li>118 vs New Zealand, Wellington (2014) Batting at No. 7, Rahane scored his maiden Test century with 118 on a challenging pitch. His knock helped India save the match and highlighted his ability to perform under pressure.</li><li>147 vs Australia, Melbourne (2014) Rahane’s stylish 147 against a strong Australian attack helped India fight back after Australia scored 530. It remains one of his finest overseas innings.</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-logic-of-orange-former-hockey-captain-viren-rasquinha-questions-new-india-jersey-1785391545741">'What is logic of orange?': Former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha questions new India jersey</a><ul><li>103 vs England, Lord’s (2014) Rahane’s calm 103 on a green Lord’s pitch came after India were struggling at 145/7 and his century played a key role in India’s first Test win at Lord’s in 28 years.</li><li>112 vs Australia, Melbourne (2020) Leading India after the Adelaide collapse and Virat Kohli’s absence, Rahane scored a match-winning 112. His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja guided India to victory in the Boxing Day Test and helped set up their famous series win in Australia.</li></ul>

Ajinkya Rahane’s memorable Test career featured several overseas masterclasses, with his Lord’s century and MCG hundred among his finest performances.

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday (Jul 30) announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career that lasted almost two decades. The 38-year-old shared the news through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he believed it was the right time to step away from international cricket. “The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said. “Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added. Also Read - Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket From overseas heroics to match-winning displays, here are Ajinkya Rahane’s top five Test innings 96 vs South Africa, Durban (2013) In only his second Test, Rahane scored a brave 96 on a difficult pitch against Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel. Though he missed a century, he showed he could succeed in overseas conditions. 118 vs New Zealand, Wellington (2014) Batting at No. 7, Rahane scored his maiden Test century with 118 on a challenging pitch. His knock helped India save the match and highlighted his ability to perform under pressure. 147 vs Australia, Melbourne (2014) Rahane’s stylish 147 against a strong Australian attack helped India fight back after Australia scored 530. It remains one of his finest overseas innings. Also Read - 'What is logic of orange?': Former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha questions new India jersey 103 vs England, Lord’s (2014) Rahane’s calm 103 on a green Lord’s pitch came after India were struggling at 145/7 and his century played a key role in India’s first Test win at Lord’s in 28 years. 112 vs Australia, Melbourne (2020) Leading India after the Adelaide collapse and Virat Kohli’s absence, Rahane scored a match-winning 112. His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja guided India to victory in the Boxing Day Test and helped set up their famous series win in Australia.

Ajinkya Rahane’s memorable Test career featured several overseas masterclasses, with his Lord’s century and MCG hundred among his finest performances.

Ajinkya Rahane’s greatest Test innings: 5 knocks that defined his overseas legacy

Former India hockey captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha has criticised Hockey India’s decision to introduce an orange jersey for the national team, saying India’s hockey identity has always been linked with the colour blue. His comments came after Hockey India unveiled the new jerseys for the senior men’s and women’s teams on Jul 27 ahead of the upcoming FIH Men’s and Women’s Hockey World Cups.&nbsp;The men’s World Cup will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from Aug 14 to 30, while the women’s tournament is scheduled from Aug 15 to 30.&nbsp;Sharing his views on X, Viren wrote, “I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for (hockey emotes). But this is embarrassing. The legacy &amp; identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of orange?”&nbsp;India have been placed in Pool D alongside England, Wales and arch-rivals Pakistan. The team won its only Hockey World Cup title in 1975 after defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final, but has not lifted the trophy since.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ajinkya-rahane-retires-from-international-cricket-1785388583556">Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket</a>&nbsp;After finishing ninth at the 2023 World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India will look to improve its performance this year. The team heads into the tournament with confidence after winning back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, the Asia Cup title and two Asian Champions Trophy crowns.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-set-to-appoint-stephen-fleming-as-test-head-coach-1785384520578">England set to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test head coach</a>&nbsp;The Indian women’s team will begin its campaign against China on Aug 16 before taking on South Africa and England in Pool D.&nbsp;Before the team’s departure, captain Salima Tete expressed confidence in the squad’s preparations.&nbsp;“The entire squad is looking forward to the challenge ahead. We’ve had a good training block, and now it’s about carrying that momentum into the practice matches and then the World Cup. Facing China in our opening game will be an important test, and we want to start the tournament on a positive note. As a team, we are determined to give our best and make the country proud.”&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Former India hockey skipper Viren Rasquinha has criticised the colour change in India's new jersey for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, terming the move "embarrassing".

Former India hockey captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha has criticised Hockey India’s decision to introduce an orange jersey for the national team, saying India’s hockey identity has always been linked with the colour blue. His comments came after Hockey India unveiled the new jerseys for the senior men’s and women’s teams on Jul 27 ahead of the upcoming FIH Men’s and Women’s Hockey World Cups. The men’s World Cup will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from Aug 14 to 30, while the women’s tournament is scheduled from Aug 15 to 30. Sharing his views on X, Viren wrote, “I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for (hockey emotes). But this is embarrassing. The legacy & identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of orange?” India have been placed in Pool D alongside England, Wales and arch-rivals Pakistan. The team won its only Hockey World Cup title in 1975 after defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final, but has not lifted the trophy since. Also Read - Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket After finishing ninth at the 2023 World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India will look to improve its performance this year. The team heads into the tournament with confidence after winning back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, the Asia Cup title and two Asian Champions Trophy crowns. Also Read - England set to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test head coach The Indian women’s team will begin its campaign against China on Aug 16 before taking on South Africa and England in Pool D. Before the team’s departure, captain Salima Tete expressed confidence in the squad’s preparations. “The entire squad is looking forward to the challenge ahead. We’ve had a good training block, and now it’s about carrying that momentum into the practice matches and then the World Cup. Facing China in our opening game will be an important test, and we want to start the tournament on a positive note. As a team, we are determined to give our best and make the country proud.” With inputs from agencies

Former India hockey skipper Viren Rasquinha has criticised the colour change in India's new jersey for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, terming the move "embarrassing".

'What is logic of orange?': Former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha questions new India jersey

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday (Jul 30) announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career that lasted almost two decades. The 38-year-old shared the news through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he believed it was the right time to step away from international cricket.&nbsp;“The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said.&nbsp;“Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rahane further said that he always put India and the team before himself and played the sport with complete honesty.&nbsp;“I lived by one simple rule. Always put my country and my team ahead of myself. I played this game with complete honesty and I have always believed that if your intent is right, the game will always take care of you,” the veteran cricketer said.&nbsp;Looking back on his journey, Rahane said that Indian cricket had changed since his first-class debut and that he was proud to have contributed to its growth over the last 20 years.&nbsp;“Since the time I made my debut as a first-class cricketer, Indian cricket has grown tremendously and I feel so proud to have been a part of it over the last 20 years. While my chapter as an Indian cricketer comes to an end, my journey with the game doesn’t. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values this sport has taught me and giving back to the game that has given me everything,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-set-to-appoint-stephen-fleming-as-test-head-coach-1785384520578">England set to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test head coach</a>&nbsp;The 38-year-old also thanked the BCCI, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), his teammates, coaches, IPL franchises, family, friends and fans for standing by him throughout his career.&nbsp;“And a very special thank you to all the cricket fans who supported me through every high and low. Ajinkya means unbeatable, but cricket has shown me defeat many times. As cricketers, we fail more often than we succeed. My team has lost matches. I have made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated. And that was in your hearts. Thank you for your love, your faith and your support. Cap number 278, signing off,” Rahane concluded.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-games-2026-day-8-india-s-full-schedule-medal-events-and-match-timings-1785381180176">Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings</a>&nbsp;Rahane represented India in 85 Test matches, scoring 5,077 runs in 144 innings at an average of 38.46. His tally also includes 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries, with a strike rate of 49.50.&nbsp;In ODIs, he played 90 matches and scored 2,962 runs in 87 innings at an average of 35.26 and registered three centuries and 24 fifties, while maintaining a strike rate of 78.63.&nbsp;Rahane also featured in 20 T20Is, scoring 375 runs at an average of 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29, with one half-century to his name.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket after representing India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is.

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane on Thursday (Jul 30) announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career that lasted almost two decades. The 38-year-old shared the news through an emotional video on Instagram, saying he believed it was the right time to step away from international cricket. “The reality of life is that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. When the time comes, you simply have to respect it and move forward. I have always relied on timing in my batting and have always understood its importance,” Rahane said. “Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats. From those early days, travelling as a young boy just to practice, I gave this game everything I had. Every single day, every innings, every opportunity I got to bat, the dream was always to wear the India cap,” he added. Rahane further said that he always put India and the team before himself and played the sport with complete honesty. “I lived by one simple rule. Always put my country and my team ahead of myself. I played this game with complete honesty and I have always believed that if your intent is right, the game will always take care of you,” the veteran cricketer said. Looking back on his journey, Rahane said that Indian cricket had changed since his first-class debut and that he was proud to have contributed to its growth over the last 20 years. “Since the time I made my debut as a first-class cricketer, Indian cricket has grown tremendously and I feel so proud to have been a part of it over the last 20 years. While my chapter as an Indian cricketer comes to an end, my journey with the game doesn’t. I look forward to helping the next generation, sharing the values this sport has taught me and giving back to the game that has given me everything,” he said. Also Read - England set to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test head coach The 38-year-old also thanked the BCCI, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), his teammates, coaches, IPL franchises, family, friends and fans for standing by him throughout his career. “And a very special thank you to all the cricket fans who supported me through every high and low. Ajinkya means unbeatable, but cricket has shown me defeat many times. As cricketers, we fail more often than we succeed. My team has lost matches. I have made mistakes, but there is one place where I was never defeated. And that was in your hearts. Thank you for your love, your faith and your support. Cap number 278, signing off,” Rahane concluded. Also Read - Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings Rahane represented India in 85 Test matches, scoring 5,077 runs in 144 innings at an average of 38.46. His tally also includes 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries, with a strike rate of 49.50. In ODIs, he played 90 matches and scored 2,962 runs in 87 innings at an average of 35.26 and registered three centuries and 24 fifties, while maintaining a strike rate of 78.63. Rahane also featured in 20 T20Is, scoring 375 runs at an average of 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29, with one half-century to his name. With inputs from agencies

Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket after representing India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is.

Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is set to become England’s new Test head coach, according to a report by The Telegraph on Wednesday (July 29). The former left-handed batter, who recently stepped down as Chennai Super Kings’ head coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected to replace Brendon McCullum.&nbsp;&nbsp;McCullum, who took over as England’s Test coach in May 2022, was removed from the role earlier this month.&nbsp;According to the Daily Mail, Fleming was preferred over Richard Dawson and Jonathan Trott during the selection process for the position.&nbsp;The 52-year-old is expected to begin his tenure in Dec 2026 when England travel to South Africa for a three-Test series.&nbsp;Before Fleming takes charge, England will play a three-match Test series against Pakistan in Aug-Sep 2026, with former opener Marcus Trescothick serving as the interim head coach.&nbsp;Fleming, New Zealand’s most successful Test captain, has never coached an international team but has built an impressive coaching career in franchise cricket.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-games-2026-day-8-india-s-full-schedule-medal-events-and-match-timings-1785381180176">Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings</a>&nbsp;After playing for Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, he became the team’s head coach in 2009 and remained in the role until 2026. He also coached Rising Pune Super Giants during the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons when CSK were suspended.&nbsp;He has also led CSK’s sister franchises, Joburg Super Kings in SA20 and Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket (MLC).&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwg-2026-day-7-india-shines-as-dilip-wins-gold-sreeshankar-takes-silver-1785380142384">CWG 2026 Day 7: India shines as Dilip wins gold, Sreeshankar takes silver</a>&nbsp;Fleming is no stranger to English cricket, as during his playing career, he captained Nottinghamshire to a County Championship title and also represented Yorkshire.&nbsp;As a coach, he guided Southern Brave to the knockout stage of the Men’s Hundred in both 2023 and 2024.&nbsp;Once appointed, Fleming will become the fifth overseas coach of England’s Test team, following Duncan Fletcher (1997-2000), Andy Flower (2009-2014), Trevor Bayliss (2015-2019) and Brendon McCullum (2022-2026).

Stephen Fleming, who recently stepped down as Chennai Super Kings head coach in the IPL, is set to replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test head coach. 

Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is set to become England’s new Test head coach, according to a report by The Telegraph on Wednesday (July 29). The former left-handed batter, who recently stepped down as Chennai Super Kings’ head coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected to replace Brendon McCullum. McCullum, who took over as England’s Test coach in May 2022, was removed from the role earlier this month. According to the Daily Mail, Fleming was preferred over Richard Dawson and Jonathan Trott during the selection process for the position. The 52-year-old is expected to begin his tenure in Dec 2026 when England travel to South Africa for a three-Test series. Before Fleming takes charge, England will play a three-match Test series against Pakistan in Aug-Sep 2026, with former opener Marcus Trescothick serving as the interim head coach. Fleming, New Zealand’s most successful Test captain, has never coached an international team but has built an impressive coaching career in franchise cricket. Also Read - Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings After playing for Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural IPL season in 2008, he became the team’s head coach in 2009 and remained in the role until 2026. He also coached Rising Pune Super Giants during the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons when CSK were suspended. He has also led CSK’s sister franchises, Joburg Super Kings in SA20 and Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket (MLC). Also Read - CWG 2026 Day 7: India shines as Dilip wins gold, Sreeshankar takes silver Fleming is no stranger to English cricket, as during his playing career, he captained Nottinghamshire to a County Championship title and also represented Yorkshire. As a coach, he guided Southern Brave to the knockout stage of the Men’s Hundred in both 2023 and 2024. Once appointed, Fleming will become the fifth overseas coach of England’s Test team, following Duncan Fletcher (1997-2000), Andy Flower (2009-2014), Trevor Bayliss (2015-2019) and Brendon McCullum (2022-2026).

Stephen Fleming, who recently stepped down as Chennai Super Kings head coach in the IPL, is set to replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test head coach.&nbsp;

England set to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test head coach

The 2026 Commonwealth Games, being held in Glasgow from Jul 23 to Aug 2, have entered Day 8, with Indian athletes set to compete on Thursday (Jul 30) across athletics, weightlifting, track cycling, para track cycling and bowls.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here is the full schedule of Indian events on Day 8 (all timings in IST):<h3>Athletics &amp; Para Athletics</h3><ul><li>2:40 pm: Men's Decathlon 100m - Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>2:55 pm: Men's Javelin Throw qualification - Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Yash Vir Singh</li><li>3:20 pm: Men's Decathlon Long Jump - Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>4:55 pm: Men's Triple Jump qualification - Selva Prabhu Thirumaran, Praveen Chithravel</li><li>5:10 pm: Men's Decathlon Shot Put - Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>5:40 pm: Men's 400m semifinal - Vishal TK</li><li>11:30 pm: Men's Shot Put final (Medal Event) - Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Samardeep Singh Gill</li><li>11:37 pm: Men's 200m semifinal - Animesh Kujur</li><li>11:38 pm: Men's Decathlon High Jump - Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>1:10 am (Jul 31): Women's Discus Throw final (Medal Event) - Nidhi Rani, Seema</li><li>1:30 am (Jul 31): Men's Decathlon 400m - Tejaswin Shankar</li><li>1:48 am (Jul 31): Women's 5000m final (Medal Event) - Parul Chaudhary</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwg-2026-day-7-india-shines-as-dilip-wins-gold-sreeshankar-takes-silver-1785380142384">CWG 2026 Day 7: India shines as Dilip wins gold, Sreeshankar takes silver</a><h3>Track Cycling &amp; Para Track Cycling</h3><ul><li>4:06 pm: Women's C4-C5 4000m Individual Pursuit qualification - Lisha Das</li><li>5:07 pm: Men's Team Sprint qualification - India (David Beckham Elkatohchoongo, Rojit Singh Yanglem, Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam)</li><li>9:44 pm: Women's C4-C5 4000m Individual Pursuit Bronze Medal Race - Lisha Das* (Subject to qualification)</li><li>9:51 pm: Women's C4-C5 4000m Individual Pursuit Gold Medal Race - Lisha Das*</li><li>10:50 pm: Men's Team Sprint Bronze Medal Race - India* (Subject to qualification)</li><li>10:55 pm: Men's Team Sprint Gold Medal Race - India* (Subject to qualification)</li></ul><h3>Weightlifting</h3><ul><li>6:30 pm: Women's +86kg final (Medal Event) - Martina Devi Maibam</li><li>11:00 pm: Men's +110kg final (Medal Event) - Lovepreet Singh</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2027-ben-stokes-fairytale-comeback-australia-coach-andrew-mcdonald-1785351828761">Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback</a><h3>Bowls</h3><ul><li>7:30 pm: Men's Pairs, Section B Round 3 - India (Navneet Singh/Dinesh Kumar) vs Botswana (Kaizer Geche/Charles Diteko)</li><li>8:55 pm: Women's Singles, Section C Round 3 - Nayanmoni Saikia vs Emma Firyana Saroji (Malaysia)</li></ul>

Here's a look at the full schedule and event timings for Indian athletes competing on Day 8 of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games, being held in Glasgow from Jul 23 to Aug 2, have entered Day 8, with Indian athletes set to compete on Thursday (Jul 30) across athletics, weightlifting, track cycling, para track cycling and bowls. Here is the full schedule of Indian events on Day 8 (all timings in IST): Athletics & Para Athletics 2:40 pm: Men's Decathlon 100m - Tejaswin Shankar 2:55 pm: Men's Javelin Throw qualification - Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Yash Vir Singh 3:20 pm: Men's Decathlon Long Jump - Tejaswin Shankar 4:55 pm: Men's Triple Jump qualification - Selva Prabhu Thirumaran, Praveen Chithravel 5:10 pm: Men's Decathlon Shot Put - Tejaswin Shankar 5:40 pm: Men's 400m semifinal - Vishal TK 11:30 pm: Men's Shot Put final (Medal Event) - Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Samardeep Singh Gill 11:37 pm: Men's 200m semifinal - Animesh Kujur 11:38 pm: Men's Decathlon High Jump - Tejaswin Shankar 1:10 am (Jul 31): Women's Discus Throw final (Medal Event) - Nidhi Rani, Seema 1:30 am (Jul 31): Men's Decathlon 400m - Tejaswin Shankar 1:48 am (Jul 31): Women's 5000m final (Medal Event) - Parul Chaudhary Also Read - CWG 2026 Day 7: India shines as Dilip wins gold, Sreeshankar takes silver Track Cycling & Para Track Cycling 4:06 pm: Women's C4-C5 4000m Individual Pursuit qualification - Lisha Das 5:07 pm: Men's Team Sprint qualification - India (David Beckham Elkatohchoongo, Rojit Singh Yanglem, Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam) 9:44 pm: Women's C4-C5 4000m Individual Pursuit Bronze Medal Race - Lisha Das* (Subject to qualification) 9:51 pm: Women's C4-C5 4000m Individual Pursuit Gold Medal Race - Lisha Das* 10:50 pm: Men's Team Sprint Bronze Medal Race - India* (Subject to qualification) 10:55 pm: Men's Team Sprint Gold Medal Race - India* (Subject to qualification) Weightlifting 6:30 pm: Women's +86kg final (Medal Event) - Martina Devi Maibam 11:00 pm: Men's +110kg final (Medal Event) - Lovepreet Singh Also Read - Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback Bowls 7:30 pm: Men's Pairs, Section B Round 3 - India (Navneet Singh/Dinesh Kumar) vs Botswana (Kaizer Geche/Charles Diteko) 8:55 pm: Women's Singles, Section C Round 3 - Nayanmoni Saikia vs Emma Firyana Saroji (Malaysia)

Here's a look at the full schedule and event timings for Indian athletes competing on Day 8 of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.

Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings

Murali Sreeshankar won his second straight Commonwealth Games silver medal in the men’s long jump with a best effort of 8.09m, while India’s boxers continued their impressive campaign by securing at least 10 medals at the Glasgow Games on Wednesday (Jul 29). It was another memorable day for India, with Sreeshankar becoming the first Indian long jumper to win medals at two consecutive Commonwealth Games. After claiming silver in Birmingham in 2022, he repeated the feat in Glasgow.&nbsp;Soon after Sreeshankar’s success, India celebrated a historic result in para athletics with a one-two finish in the men’s 100m T47 event for athletes with upper-limb impairments.&nbsp;Dilip Mahadu Gavit won the gold medal after finishing in 10.71 seconds, while Mohammed Basil took silver with a time of 10.83 seconds.&nbsp;Dilip’s victory gave India its third gold medal of the Games, following Mirabai Chanu’s triumph in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event and Sharmila Dhankar’s gold in the women’s F57 shot put.&nbsp;&nbsp;India now have 15 medals in Glasgow, three gold, nine silver and three bronze and are eighth in the medal standings.<h3>Sreeshankar wins another silver</h3>Sreeshankar opened with a jump of 8.03m, placing him third behind Scotland’s Stephen McKenzie and Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, who both cleared 8.08m.&nbsp;The Indian briefly moved into first place with an 8.09m jump, but Gayle responded with a winning leap of 8.15m to claim gold.&nbsp;McKenzie settled for bronze with 8.08m, while India’s Lokesh Sathyanathan finished fifth with a best jump of 7.97m.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2027-ben-stokes-fairytale-comeback-australia-coach-andrew-mcdonald-1785351828761">Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback</a><h3>Boxers guarantee 10 medals</h3>Before Sreeshankar’s silver and India’s historic para athletics achievement, the country’s boxers stole the show by reaching the semifinals across multiple weight categories, ensuring at least 10 medals.&nbsp;Sakshi Chaudhary, Arundhati Choudhary, Sachin Siwach, Ankush Panghal, Narender Berwal and Jaismine Lamboria joined Lovlina Borgohain, Priya Ghanghas, Preeti Pawar and Jadumani Singh in the last four of their respective events.&nbsp;In the final boxing match of the day, Birmingham bronze medallist Jaismine defeated England’s Elise Glynn 4-1 in the women’s 57kg quarterfinal.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-first-cricket-franchise-cross-300-million-brand-value-ipl-2026-1785349675469">IPL 2026 champions RCB become first cricket franchise to cross $300M brand value</a>&nbsp;With six quarterfinal wins on Wednesday, India now have 10 semifinalists, surpassing their total boxing medal count from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where they won seven medals (three gold, one silver and three bronze).&nbsp;The team is already assured of at least 10 bronze medals in Glasgow.<h3>Hurdlers reach final</h3>India also had success on the track as Yashas Palaksha and Santhosh K Tamilarasan qualified for the men’s 400m hurdles final as the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers.&nbsp;Santhosh finished third in Heat 2 with a time of 49.51 seconds, while Yashas came third in Heat 1 in 49.65 seconds.&nbsp;Their timings placed them seventh and eighth overall, earning the final two spots in the championship race.<h3>Disappointment in weightlifting and swimming</h3>There was disappointment in weightlifting as Sanjana failed to finish the women’s 77kg competition.&nbsp;India’s swimmers also missed out on the finals in the men’s 200m freestyle. Sajan Prakash finished fifth in his heat and 20th overall with a time of 1:51.99, while debutant Aneesh S Gowda ended 18th overall after clocking 1:51.64.

Dilip Mahadu Gavit and Mohammed Basil scripted a historic Indian one-two in the men's 100m T47, while Murali Sreeshankar clinched silver in the long jump at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Murali Sreeshankar won his second straight Commonwealth Games silver medal in the men’s long jump with a best effort of 8.09m, while India’s boxers continued their impressive campaign by securing at least 10 medals at the Glasgow Games on Wednesday (Jul 29). It was another memorable day for India, with Sreeshankar becoming the first Indian long jumper to win medals at two consecutive Commonwealth Games. After claiming silver in Birmingham in 2022, he repeated the feat in Glasgow. Soon after Sreeshankar’s success, India celebrated a historic result in para athletics with a one-two finish in the men’s 100m T47 event for athletes with upper-limb impairments. Dilip Mahadu Gavit won the gold medal after finishing in 10.71 seconds, while Mohammed Basil took silver with a time of 10.83 seconds. Dilip’s victory gave India its third gold medal of the Games, following Mirabai Chanu’s triumph in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event and Sharmila Dhankar’s gold in the women’s F57 shot put. India now have 15 medals in Glasgow, three gold, nine silver and three bronze and are eighth in the medal standings. Sreeshankar wins another silver Sreeshankar opened with a jump of 8.03m, placing him third behind Scotland’s Stephen McKenzie and Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle, who both cleared 8.08m. The Indian briefly moved into first place with an 8.09m jump, but Gayle responded with a winning leap of 8.15m to claim gold. McKenzie settled for bronze with 8.08m, while India’s Lokesh Sathyanathan finished fifth with a best jump of 7.97m. Also Read - Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback Boxers guarantee 10 medals Before Sreeshankar’s silver and India’s historic para athletics achievement, the country’s boxers stole the show by reaching the semifinals across multiple weight categories, ensuring at least 10 medals. Sakshi Chaudhary, Arundhati Choudhary, Sachin Siwach, Ankush Panghal, Narender Berwal and Jaismine Lamboria joined Lovlina Borgohain, Priya Ghanghas, Preeti Pawar and Jadumani Singh in the last four of their respective events. In the final boxing match of the day, Birmingham bronze medallist Jaismine defeated England’s Elise Glynn 4-1 in the women’s 57kg quarterfinal. Also Read - IPL 2026 champions RCB become first cricket franchise to cross $300M brand value With six quarterfinal wins on Wednesday, India now have 10 semifinalists, surpassing their total boxing medal count from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where they won seven medals (three gold, one silver and three bronze). The team is already assured of at least 10 bronze medals in Glasgow. Hurdlers reach final India also had success on the track as Yashas Palaksha and Santhosh K Tamilarasan qualified for the men’s 400m hurdles final as the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers. Santhosh finished third in Heat 2 with a time of 49.51 seconds, while Yashas came third in Heat 1 in 49.65 seconds. Their timings placed them seventh and eighth overall, earning the final two spots in the championship race. Disappointment in weightlifting and swimming There was disappointment in weightlifting as Sanjana failed to finish the women’s 77kg competition. India’s swimmers also missed out on the finals in the men’s 200m freestyle. Sajan Prakash finished fifth in his heat and 20th overall with a time of 1:51.99, while debutant Aneesh S Gowda ended 18th overall after clocking 1:51.64.

Dilip Mahadu Gavit and Mohammed Basil scripted a historic Indian one-two in the men's 100m T47, while Murali Sreeshankar clinched silver in the long jump at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

CWG 2026 Day 7: India shines as Dilip wins gold, Sreeshankar takes silver

Ben Stokes retired from international cricket following the last Test against New Zealand this summer. But the Australian head coach Andrew McDonald feels it would be a ‘fairytale’ for him to come out of retirement for the home Ashes next year. After the London nightclub incident that put Stokes and Gus Atkinson in a bad light, his relationship with the ECB broke, leading to his shock retirement from international cricket. McDonald, however, feels that, with the next Ashes less than a year away, Stokes could come back for his final hurrah in the whites.&nbsp;"I think the fairytale would be that he comes back out of retirement and takes on one more Ashes, and builds a lot of hype on the way in," Australia's coach said in a chat with the radio station SEN on Wednesday (July 29). "If you're looking at promoting that series, that's probably the angle that you would want, that he comes out of retirement."&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-first-cricket-franchise-cross-300-million-brand-value-ipl-2026-1785349675469">IPL 2026 champions RCB become first cricket franchise to cross $300M brand value</a> &nbsp;Stokes led England to a 115-run win over New Zealand in the series-opener at Lord’s, after which he and Atkinson went out partying in Chelsea. A brawl unfolded, leading to the ECB and the Cricket Regulator suspending the two involved ahead of the second Test, which England lost dearly, conceding the lead. While the two were asked to represent their respective County sides in the Championship, Joe Root led the Test team in Stokes’ absence. &nbsp;Following a detailed investigation into the matter, the two were let go with formal warnings and returned to the Test squad for the third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge. Midway through the fourth day of the final match, the ECB publicly announced Stokes’ shocking decision to relinquish the Test captaincy and hang up his boots from international cricket. &nbsp;Stokes enjoyed his last outing in the whites, having opened with Ben Duckett in England’s final innings of the match. He got out on a quickfire 30 late on day four as England lost the final Test on the fifth day to lose the home series 2-1. &nbsp;McDonald feels Stokes, 35, has plenty of cricket left in him, and hopes that the new coach holds that conversation with Stokes over a potential comeback to the Test side for the final home Ashes. &nbsp;"To me, he's still got a lot of good cricket left in him," McDonald opined. "It'll be a fascinating watch. I think that whoever the new head coach that comes in potentially has a conversation with him. We don't know why Ben left; I don't think there's been anything on the record around the definitive reason as to why. He may have just called it a day on Test cricket, and that's it, so there might be a full stop there."

Australia coach Andrew McDonald believes a 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback for Ashes 2027 would be the ultimate storyline following his shock Test retirement.

Ben Stokes retired from international cricket following the last Test against New Zealand this summer. But the Australian head coach Andrew McDonald feels it would be a ‘fairytale’ for him to come out of retirement for the home Ashes next year. After the London nightclub incident that put Stokes and Gus Atkinson in a bad light, his relationship with the ECB broke, leading to his shock retirement from international cricket. McDonald, however, feels that, with the next Ashes less than a year away, Stokes could come back for his final hurrah in the whites. "I think the fairytale would be that he comes back out of retirement and takes on one more Ashes, and builds a lot of hype on the way in," Australia's coach said in a chat with the radio station SEN on Wednesday (July 29). "If you're looking at promoting that series, that's probably the angle that you would want, that he comes out of retirement." Also read| IPL 2026 champions RCB become first cricket franchise to cross $300M brand value Stokes led England to a 115-run win over New Zealand in the series-opener at Lord’s, after which he and Atkinson went out partying in Chelsea. A brawl unfolded, leading to the ECB and the Cricket Regulator suspending the two involved ahead of the second Test, which England lost dearly, conceding the lead. While the two were asked to represent their respective County sides in the Championship, Joe Root led the Test team in Stokes’ absence. Following a detailed investigation into the matter, the two were let go with formal warnings and returned to the Test squad for the third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge. Midway through the fourth day of the final match, the ECB publicly announced Stokes’ shocking decision to relinquish the Test captaincy and hang up his boots from international cricket. Stokes enjoyed his last outing in the whites, having opened with Ben Duckett in England’s final innings of the match. He got out on a quickfire 30 late on day four as England lost the final Test on the fifth day to lose the home series 2-1. McDonald feels Stokes, 35, has plenty of cricket left in him, and hopes that the new coach holds that conversation with Stokes over a potential comeback to the Test side for the final home Ashes. "To me, he's still got a lot of good cricket left in him," McDonald opined. "It'll be a fascinating watch. I think that whoever the new head coach that comes in potentially has a conversation with him. We don't know why Ben left; I don't think there's been anything on the record around the definitive reason as to why. He may have just called it a day on Test cricket, and that's it, so there might be a full stop there."

Australia coach Andrew McDonald believes a 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback for Ashes 2027 would be the ultimate storyline following his shock Test retirement.

Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback

IPL 2026 winner, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has become the first-ever cricket franchise to cross $300 million to reach $312 million in brand value, with the league’s business value rising by 11.4 per cent from US$18.5 billion to US$20.6 billion in the past 12 months.&nbsp;A report by US-based global investment bank Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE: HLI) claims that the two-time IPL champions have recorded a 16 per cent rise in their brand value from last year’s $269 million. &nbsp;“Cricket’s evolution into a globally owned, institutionally backed asset class has accelerated further in 2026, with the IPL continuing to redefine the global sports landscape,” says Harsh Talikoti, director in Houlihan Lokey’s Financial and Valuation Advisory business. &nbsp;After undergoing an ownership change four months ago following a consortium comprising Blackstone, Bolt Ventures, the Aditya Birla Group and the Times of India Group that acquired the franchise at a valuation of $1.78 billion, RCB topped heavyweights like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the highest brand value. &nbsp;MI has a brand value of $264 million (up 9.1 per cent from $242 million in 2025) and is second on the list, while three-time IPL winners KKR is placed third with a brand value of $245 million, a 7.9 per cent increase from $227 million last year. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the five-time IPL champions, is fourth on the list with a brand value of $244 million, representing year-on-year growth of 3.8 per cent.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/duleep-trophy-2026-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-east-zone-vice-captain-ishan-kishan-1785339634348">Duleep Trophy: 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named East Zone vice-captain; Kishan to lead</a> &nbsp;“We were actively engaged in the processes for both the RCB and Rajasthan Royals, and both are great assets,” says Satyan Gajwani, co-owner of RCB and chairman at Times Internet.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Across the league, however, RCB’s fanbase intensity and connection are unparalleled, which made this a special opportunity. Overall, we are strong believers in the growth potential of cricket as a global sport, and exposure at both the media level and the IP level fits that thesis,” he added. &nbsp;2016 IPL champions SunRisers Hyderabad has occupied the fifth spot with a brand value of US$168 million -- a 9.1 per cent increase, while Rajasthan Royals -- acquired by the Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla at a reported valuation of $1.65 billion -- are ranked sixth with a brand value of $161 million, up 10.3 per cent from last year. Meanwhile, Ness Wadia’s Punjab Kings is ranked seventh with a brand value of $158 million, up 12.1 per cent year-on-year. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Gujarat Titans are ranked eighth with a brand value of $157 million, up 10.6 per cent, followed by Delhi Capitals in ninth place at $156 million, representing a 2.6 per cent increase. Lucknow Super Giants is ranked 10th with a brand value of $122 million, unchanged from last year.

IPL 2026 champions RCB have made history by becoming the first cricket franchise to cross $300 million in brand value, topping Houlihan Lokey's valuation report ahead of MI and KKR.

IPL 2026 winner, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has become the first-ever cricket franchise to cross $300 million to reach $312 million in brand value, with the league’s business value rising by 11.4 per cent from US$18.5 billion to US$20.6 billion in the past 12 months. A report by US-based global investment bank Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE: HLI) claims that the two-time IPL champions have recorded a 16 per cent rise in their brand value from last year’s $269 million. “Cricket’s evolution into a globally owned, institutionally backed asset class has accelerated further in 2026, with the IPL continuing to redefine the global sports landscape,” says Harsh Talikoti, director in Houlihan Lokey’s Financial and Valuation Advisory business. After undergoing an ownership change four months ago following a consortium comprising Blackstone, Bolt Ventures, the Aditya Birla Group and the Times of India Group that acquired the franchise at a valuation of $1.78 billion, RCB topped heavyweights like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the highest brand value. MI has a brand value of $264 million (up 9.1 per cent from $242 million in 2025) and is second on the list, while three-time IPL winners KKR is placed third with a brand value of $245 million, a 7.9 per cent increase from $227 million last year. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the five-time IPL champions, is fourth on the list with a brand value of $244 million, representing year-on-year growth of 3.8 per cent. Also read| Duleep Trophy: 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named East Zone vice-captain; Kishan to lead “We were actively engaged in the processes for both the RCB and Rajasthan Royals, and both are great assets,” says Satyan Gajwani, co-owner of RCB and chairman at Times Internet. “Across the league, however, RCB’s fanbase intensity and connection are unparalleled, which made this a special opportunity. Overall, we are strong believers in the growth potential of cricket as a global sport, and exposure at both the media level and the IP level fits that thesis,” he added. 2016 IPL champions SunRisers Hyderabad has occupied the fifth spot with a brand value of US$168 million -- a 9.1 per cent increase, while Rajasthan Royals -- acquired by the Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla at a reported valuation of $1.65 billion -- are ranked sixth with a brand value of $161 million, up 10.3 per cent from last year. Meanwhile, Ness Wadia’s Punjab Kings is ranked seventh with a brand value of $158 million, up 12.1 per cent year-on-year. Gujarat Titans are ranked eighth with a brand value of $157 million, up 10.6 per cent, followed by Delhi Capitals in ninth place at $156 million, representing a 2.6 per cent increase. Lucknow Super Giants is ranked 10th with a brand value of $122 million, unchanged from last year.

IPL 2026 champions RCB have made history by becoming the first cricket franchise to cross $300 million in brand value, topping Houlihan Lokey's valuation report ahead of MI and KKR.

IPL 2026 champions RCB become first cricket franchise to cross $300M brand value

In a massive upgrade for the teen batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is just a month into his international career, he is named as the vice-captain of the East Zone in the Duleep Trophy – a squad led by his India teammate Ishan Kishan. East Zone squad also comprises two India quicks, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar. Riyan Parag and Akash Deep failed to make the cut as they continue to recover from surgeries and are still in the rehab phase. While the seamer is recuperating from back surgery, Parag continues to recover from the right shoulder surgery he underwent after IPL 2026.<h2>East Zone Squad in Duleep Trophy –</h2>Ishan Kishan (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (vice-captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Gharami, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Jaiswal, Virat Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan, Subranshu Senapati, Abhijit Sarkar, Anukul Roy and Denish Das<h3>Sooryavanshi's career on a rise</h3>The left-handed opener, who made his India debut during the England T20Is, will open alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, who aims to make amends after losing his India-A spot early this year. With 113 first-class caps, Easwaran is the most experienced player in the squad. Shikhar Mohan, Jharkhand’s top scorer in his maiden Ranji Trophy season, is picked as the backup opener.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shubman-gill-reclaims-no-1-icc-odi-rankings-test-movers-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-1785324550858">ICC ODI Rankings: Shubman Gill claims top spot, Kohli and Rohit in top 5</a> &nbsp;Captain Ishan Kishan will continue to keep wickets, with the selectors picking his fellow Jharkhand gloveman, Kumar Kushagra, as his backup. Anukul Roy and Virat Singh, the two players from Jharkhand, also made it to the final squad. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi, who made headlines for his exploits for India’s Under-19 side that won the ODI World Cup early this year and Rajasthan Royals in only his second IPL season, has mediocre numbers in just eight first-class appearances. Known for his fearless approach, Vaibhav has scored just 207 runs in 12 innings and averages just above 17. His last first-class outing was during a Plate league Ranji Trophy fixture for Bihar against Meghalaya last year.&nbsp; &nbsp;On the other hand, India Test veteran Shami, who picked up 37 wickets in the previous Ranji Trophy season in seven outings, will lead what appears to be an all-Bengal attack, including Mukesh and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal. The slow left-arm, Shahbaz Ahmed, also from Bengal, is the spin all-rounder.

15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been appointed vice-captain of the East Zone squad led by Ishan Kishan. Check out the full 15-member team and key player updates.

In a massive upgrade for the teen batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is just a month into his international career, he is named as the vice-captain of the East Zone in the Duleep Trophy – a squad led by his India teammate Ishan Kishan. East Zone squad also comprises two India quicks, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar. Riyan Parag and Akash Deep failed to make the cut as they continue to recover from surgeries and are still in the rehab phase. While the seamer is recuperating from back surgery, Parag continues to recover from the right shoulder surgery he underwent after IPL 2026. East Zone Squad in Duleep Trophy – Ishan Kishan (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (vice-captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Gharami, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Jaiswal, Virat Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan, Subranshu Senapati, Abhijit Sarkar, Anukul Roy and Denish Das Sooryavanshi's career on a rise The left-handed opener, who made his India debut during the England T20Is, will open alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, who aims to make amends after losing his India-A spot early this year. With 113 first-class caps, Easwaran is the most experienced player in the squad. Shikhar Mohan, Jharkhand’s top scorer in his maiden Ranji Trophy season, is picked as the backup opener. Also read| ICC ODI Rankings: Shubman Gill claims top spot, Kohli and Rohit in top 5 Captain Ishan Kishan will continue to keep wickets, with the selectors picking his fellow Jharkhand gloveman, Kumar Kushagra, as his backup. Anukul Roy and Virat Singh, the two players from Jharkhand, also made it to the final squad. Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi, who made headlines for his exploits for India’s Under-19 side that won the ODI World Cup early this year and Rajasthan Royals in only his second IPL season, has mediocre numbers in just eight first-class appearances. Known for his fearless approach, Vaibhav has scored just 207 runs in 12 innings and averages just above 17. His last first-class outing was during a Plate league Ranji Trophy fixture for Bihar against Meghalaya last year. On the other hand, India Test veteran Shami, who picked up 37 wickets in the previous Ranji Trophy season in seven outings, will lead what appears to be an all-Bengal attack, including Mukesh and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal. The slow left-arm, Shahbaz Ahmed, also from Bengal, is the spin all-rounder.

15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been appointed vice-captain of the East Zone squad led by Ishan Kishan. Check out the full 15-member team and key player updates.

Duleep Trophy: 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named East Zone vice-captain; Kishan to lead

Brazil’s all-time top goal scorer Neymar has confirmed his international retirement, tearfully declaring that he was done playing for the national side following their exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Brazil's 2-1 Round of 16 defeat, where Neymar scored a stoppage-time penalty, also happened to be his last goal for Brazil.&nbsp;&nbsp;The former Barcelona winger said he "gave his blood, his life" to Brazil but doesn’t want it anymore. &nbsp;"My time with the national team is over. I made history, I was very happy, I gave my blood and my life... but now I don't want it anymore," Neymar told journalists after his club Santos defeated Venezuela's UCV 4-2 in the Copa Sudamericana on Tuesday.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-private-investors-backlash-uefa-infantino-proposal-1785335733935">Plan 'crossed the line': FIFA faces backlash over proposal to sell part of World Cup business</a>&nbsp;Having not played for Brazil for almost three years, Neymar was shockingly included in the final squad for the showpiece event, and played only 37 minutes across two appearances in his final World Cup. &nbsp;However, Neymar remains under contract with Santos -- fighting to avoid relegation -- until the end of the year. He scored twice in his first match upon his return, responding to his critics with a tongue-in-cheek goal celebration. Neymar also celebrated with a card-dealing gesture after facing criticism for taking part in a poker tournament while his team-mates were playing a Copa Sudamericana match in Venezuela. &nbsp;The attacking winger started on the bench on Tuesday for the return game against the same team, as Santos comfortably sealed a spot in the last 16.<h2>‘More legends say goodbye’</h2>The recently concluded FIFA World Cup in North America marked the end of several A-Listers, who announced their retirement from international football. While Neymar leads the way – being amongst the most decorated of all -- Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, the Netherlands’ captain Virgil Van Dijk, Egyptian legend Mohamed Salah and Germany’s 2014 World Cup winner Manuel Neuer are among those who stepped aside from international football. &nbsp;While rumours around Cristiano Ronaldo’s run with Portugal coming to an end also made headlines, CR7 is yet to confirm his international retirement. Lionel Messi, Neymar’s close pal at Barcelona, also hasn’t made any announcement around hanging up his boots with Argentina following the heartbreaking loss to Spain in the final.&nbsp;

Brazil's all-time top scorer confirms his retirement from the Seleção following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read his emotional reaction and full career highlights.

Brazil’s all-time top goal scorer Neymar has confirmed his international retirement, tearfully declaring that he was done playing for the national side following their exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Brazil's 2-1 Round of 16 defeat, where Neymar scored a stoppage-time penalty, also happened to be his last goal for Brazil. The former Barcelona winger said he "gave his blood, his life" to Brazil but doesn’t want it anymore. "My time with the national team is over. I made history, I was very happy, I gave my blood and my life... but now I don't want it anymore," Neymar told journalists after his club Santos defeated Venezuela's UCV 4-2 in the Copa Sudamericana on Tuesday. Also read| Plan 'crossed the line': FIFA faces backlash over proposal to sell part of World Cup business Having not played for Brazil for almost three years, Neymar was shockingly included in the final squad for the showpiece event, and played only 37 minutes across two appearances in his final World Cup. However, Neymar remains under contract with Santos -- fighting to avoid relegation -- until the end of the year. He scored twice in his first match upon his return, responding to his critics with a tongue-in-cheek goal celebration. Neymar also celebrated with a card-dealing gesture after facing criticism for taking part in a poker tournament while his team-mates were playing a Copa Sudamericana match in Venezuela. The attacking winger started on the bench on Tuesday for the return game against the same team, as Santos comfortably sealed a spot in the last 16. ‘More legends say goodbye’ The recently concluded FIFA World Cup in North America marked the end of several A-Listers, who announced their retirement from international football. While Neymar leads the way – being amongst the most decorated of all -- Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, the Netherlands’ captain Virgil Van Dijk, Egyptian legend Mohamed Salah and Germany’s 2014 World Cup winner Manuel Neuer are among those who stepped aside from international football. While rumours around Cristiano Ronaldo’s run with Portugal coming to an end also made headlines, CR7 is yet to confirm his international retirement. Lionel Messi, Neymar’s close pal at Barcelona, also hasn’t made any announcement around hanging up his boots with Argentina following the heartbreaking loss to Spain in the final.

Brazil's all-time top scorer confirms his retirement from the Seleção following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read his emotional reaction and full career highlights.

'Gave my blood, my life': Brazil's all-time top scorer Neymar confirms international retirement

FIFA has received massive backlash over its latest proposal to sell off part of its World Cup business to private investors, with UEFA, AFC and the English FA coming down hard on football’s governing body. On Tuesday, FIFA said it would retain a majority share in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) but hoped to raise $4.2 billion later this year by 'carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests'. Several reports suggest that the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, also sent a letter to all associations, saying that they will pocket $40 million for backing this plan, but must sign up by September 19.&nbsp;"In total for the upcoming cycle starting as of January 1, 2027, each member association will have the possibility of access up to $40 million per member association under this proposal," said Infantino. &nbsp;The Times, which broke the story first on Tuesday, said the sources opposed the plan and labelled it ‘pure bribery’. While UEFA issued a blunt statement regarding this proposed plan and was due to hold an emergency meeting later on Wednesday, the English FA and Asian football body condemned this idea, fearing the worst for the most-loved global sport.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bayern-munich-ceo-dreesen-dismisses-olise-diaz-transfer-rumors-kane-update-1785251283549">Look Away Real Madrid Fans: Bayern CEO dismisses Olise transfer, brands Diaz sale ‘Foolish’</a> &nbsp;"Many in European football see FIFA's plans as an outright attack on football. I share this view. A line has been crossed here," Hans-Joachim Watzke, a vice-president of UEFA's executive committee, told Germany's Kicker.<h2>‘None of Us Are Owners of Football’</h2>UEFA, which has regularly criticised Infantino, said the plan "crosses a line". &nbsp;"The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade -- especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell." &nbsp;The European Union made no bones about its disdain for the plan. &nbsp;"Hands off our game," Glenn Micallef, the EU commissioner for Sport, posted on X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This isn’t baseball. The <a href="https://x.com/FIFAcom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAcom</a> World Cup remains the greatest sporting tournament on the planet, despite FIFA exploiting every commercial opportunity. But enough is enough. The relentless commercialisation of football has become corrosive. It’s threatening the things that…&mdash; Glenn Micallef (@GlennMicallef) <a href="https://x.com/GlennMicallef/status/2082388125960094017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

On the other hand, CONCACAF, which governs North and Central American football, said it was "deeply concerned by the lack of due process". The Asian Football Confederation also said it was "disappointed" it had not been consulted.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Concacaf Statement Regarding the Proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise &quot;Concacaf was only made aware of this matter through media reports and, subsequently, via a media release. We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process. We share the disappointment of many within our…&mdash; Concacaf Media (@ConcacafMedia) <a href="https://x.com/ConcacafMedia/status/2082375612732166168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, the plan would still have to be approved by the 38-member FIFA Council and the majority of its 211 member associations (MAs). FIFA said it intends to present the plans to the council soon.

UEFA, the English FA, and global football bodies condemn FIFA’s controversial proposal to sell a stake in its World Cup commercial operations to private investors. Read full details and reactions.

FIFA has received massive backlash over its latest proposal to sell off part of its World Cup business to private investors, with UEFA, AFC and the English FA coming down hard on football’s governing body. On Tuesday, FIFA said it would retain a majority share in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) but hoped to raise $4.2 billion later this year by 'carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests'. Several reports suggest that the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, also sent a letter to all associations, saying that they will pocket $40 million for backing this plan, but must sign up by September 19. "In total for the upcoming cycle starting as of January 1, 2027, each member association will have the possibility of access up to $40 million per member association under this proposal," said Infantino. The Times, which broke the story first on Tuesday, said the sources opposed the plan and labelled it ‘pure bribery’. While UEFA issued a blunt statement regarding this proposed plan and was due to hold an emergency meeting later on Wednesday, the English FA and Asian football body condemned this idea, fearing the worst for the most-loved global sport. Also read| Look Away Real Madrid Fans: Bayern CEO dismisses Olise transfer, brands Diaz sale ‘Foolish’ "Many in European football see FIFA's plans as an outright attack on football. I share this view. A line has been crossed here," Hans-Joachim Watzke, a vice-president of UEFA's executive committee, told Germany's Kicker. ‘None of Us Are Owners of Football’ UEFA, which has regularly criticised Infantino, said the plan "crosses a line". "The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade -- especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA's to sell." The European Union made no bones about its disdain for the plan. "Hands off our game," Glenn Micallef, the EU commissioner for Sport, posted on X.

UEFA, the English FA, and global football bodies condemn FIFA’s controversial proposal to sell a stake in its World Cup commercial operations to private investors. Read full details and reactions.

Plan 'crossed the line': FIFA faces backlash over proposal to sell part of World Cup business

After the men’s trio dominated New Zealand with a 3-0 win on the third day of the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026 in New Delhi, the women’s team capped off a brilliant day with a hard-fought win over Canada. The Indian women’s team of Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das and Swastika Ghosh, two of whom were part of the trio that outclassed Sri Lanka on day two at the Thyagaraj Stadium on Tuesday (Jul 28), won their respective singles matches on Wednesday (Jul 29), completing a clean sweep of Canada.<h3>How did the Indian women’s team perform on Day 3 of the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026?</h3>The men’s team laid the foundation with a clean sweep of New Zealand in Group F, with the women’s team extending India’s unbeaten run in this competition with a comprehensive win over Canada. Starting with the first singles match between Sutirtha Mukherjee and Olivia Huang, the Indian table tennis star continued from where she had left off on day two. Mukherjee appeared to be in ominous touch against Olivia and beat her in three games to make it 1-0 up for India.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-tt-championship-2026-india-men-vs-new-zealand-day-3-results-1785327668373">Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian men’s team dominates New Zealand on day 3 | Full Results Here</a> &nbsp;The next match between Syndrela Das and Fiona Iayi Nie belonged to the Indian TT player, who maintained her composure and showed great skill to beat her Canadian opponent and help India take a 2-0 lead in this three-match series. Her win ensured that India’s TT teams, across the men’s and women’s divisions, haven’t lost a single game thus far in this competition. &nbsp;Swastika Ghosh, who impressed all on day two with her standout performance against Sri Lanka, was no short of confidence in the final match for India against Crystal Liu, whom she defeated across three games to maintain a powerful streak for India. &nbsp;With that, both the men's and the women's teams finished at the top on the third day of this competition.

Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian women’s team crushes Canada 3-0 on Day 3 with straight-games wins from Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das, and Swastika Ghosh. Read full results.

After the men’s trio dominated New Zealand with a 3-0 win on the third day of the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026 in New Delhi, the women’s team capped off a brilliant day with a hard-fought win over Canada. The Indian women’s team of Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das and Swastika Ghosh, two of whom were part of the trio that outclassed Sri Lanka on day two at the Thyagaraj Stadium on Tuesday (Jul 28), won their respective singles matches on Wednesday (Jul 29), completing a clean sweep of Canada. How did the Indian women’s team perform on Day 3 of the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026? The men’s team laid the foundation with a clean sweep of New Zealand in Group F, with the women’s team extending India’s unbeaten run in this competition with a comprehensive win over Canada. Starting with the first singles match between Sutirtha Mukherjee and Olivia Huang, the Indian table tennis star continued from where she had left off on day two. Mukherjee appeared to be in ominous touch against Olivia and beat her in three games to make it 1-0 up for India. Also read| Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian men’s team dominates New Zealand on day 3 | Full Results Here The next match between Syndrela Das and Fiona Iayi Nie belonged to the Indian TT player, who maintained her composure and showed great skill to beat her Canadian opponent and help India take a 2-0 lead in this three-match series. Her win ensured that India’s TT teams, across the men’s and women’s divisions, haven’t lost a single game thus far in this competition. Swastika Ghosh, who impressed all on day two with her standout performance against Sri Lanka, was no short of confidence in the final match for India against Crystal Liu, whom she defeated across three games to maintain a powerful streak for India. With that, both the men's and the women's teams finished at the top on the third day of this competition.

Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian women’s team crushes Canada 3-0 on Day 3 with straight-games wins from Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das, and Swastika Ghosh. Read full results.

Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Day 3 belongs to Indian women after 3-0 sweep of Canada

The hosts, India, continue to make headlines at the ongoing Commonwealth TT Championship 2026 at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi. The third day of the competition again belonged to India, whose men’s and women’s teams swept past their opponents. While the men’s team consisting of Harmeet Desai, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Payas Jain convincingly beat their Kiwi counterparts across singles competition, the women’s team tasted success against Canada in their category. Earlier, on the opening day, the Indian men’s team beat Zimbabwe 3-0 to stamp their authority among all challengers in this competition.<h3>How did the Indian men’s team perform on Day 3 of the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026?</h3>The Indian men’s team began proceedings on the third day of this home tournament, with Harmeet Desai facing August Xiao in the first singles contest between the two countries. Even though Xiao, the upcoming global star, challenged Desai across the three games, he failed to win any as the Indian table tennis hope won all three games to land the winning punch.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/commonwealth-tt-championship-2026-day-2-india-women-vs-sri-lanka-1785236755855">Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian women outclass Sri Lanka on Day 2</a> &nbsp;The second match, however, involved Sathiyan Gnanasekaran from India and Payas Jajal, an India-origin New Zealander in this tournament. Desai’s win laid the foundation on which Gnanasekaran carried the winning streak and kept India’s nose in front. Jajal was a tough challenge for Gnanasekaran, with his pace and agility keeping the Indian TT player on the back foot. Gnanasekaran, however, kept his composure and won crucial points to stay ahead and eventually win the game, helping India take a 2-0 lead against New Zealand. &nbsp;Payas Jain sealed the sweep with a convincing win over Eli Ho to complete a clean sweep for India over New Zealand. The Indian men's team performance was the perfect start to the day, with the women's team continuing the winning streak later in the afternoon.

Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian men’s team dominates New Zealand 3-0 on Day 3 with standout wins from Harmeet Desai, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, and Payas Jain. Read full results.

The hosts, India, continue to make headlines at the ongoing Commonwealth TT Championship 2026 at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi. The third day of the competition again belonged to India, whose men’s and women’s teams swept past their opponents. While the men’s team consisting of Harmeet Desai, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Payas Jain convincingly beat their Kiwi counterparts across singles competition, the women’s team tasted success against Canada in their category. Earlier, on the opening day, the Indian men’s team beat Zimbabwe 3-0 to stamp their authority among all challengers in this competition. How did the Indian men’s team perform on Day 3 of the Commonwealth TT Championship 2026? The Indian men’s team began proceedings on the third day of this home tournament, with Harmeet Desai facing August Xiao in the first singles contest between the two countries. Even though Xiao, the upcoming global star, challenged Desai across the three games, he failed to win any as the Indian table tennis hope won all three games to land the winning punch. Also read| Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian women outclass Sri Lanka on Day 2 The second match, however, involved Sathiyan Gnanasekaran from India and Payas Jajal, an India-origin New Zealander in this tournament. Desai’s win laid the foundation on which Gnanasekaran carried the winning streak and kept India’s nose in front. Jajal was a tough challenge for Gnanasekaran, with his pace and agility keeping the Indian TT player on the back foot. Gnanasekaran, however, kept his composure and won crucial points to stay ahead and eventually win the game, helping India take a 2-0 lead against New Zealand. Payas Jain sealed the sweep with a convincing win over Eli Ho to complete a clean sweep for India over New Zealand. The Indian men's team performance was the perfect start to the day, with the women's team continuing the winning streak later in the afternoon.

Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian men’s team dominates New Zealand 3-0 on Day 3 with standout wins from Harmeet Desai, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, and Payas Jain. Read full results.

Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian men’s team dominates New Zealand on day 3 | Full Results Here

Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill has reclaimed the number one ranking in the One-Dayers for batters following his exploits against England in the recently concluded series, which India lost 2-1. Gill returned to the top of the ODI rankings for the third time in his brief career, having scored 188 runs in three matches, coupled with Daryl Mitchell’s absence from the final two ODIs against the West Indies. On the other hand, Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retained their places in the top five, with Kohli at three and Rohit following him at four. Mitchell slips to second place.&nbsp;Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran sits in the elite company of top batters by claiming the fifth spot. At the same time, Pakistan’s poster boy Babar Azam is sixth on the updated ICC ODI rankings for batters. The remaining four spots belong to Ireland’s Harry Tector (seventh), Joe Root from England (eighth), West Indies’ Shai Hope at ninth and Sri Lankan middle-order batter Charith Asalanka at the 10th spot.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-t20i-rankings-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-jumps-230-places-ishan-kishan-stays-no-1-1785318977627">ICC T20I Rankings: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi jumps 230 places, Ishan Kishan stays No. 1</a><h2>Test Ranking Updates</h2>Among those who gained positions and points in the updated ICC Test Rankings are the West Indian pair of Justin Greaves, who jumped 21 places to the 48th spot following a seven-wicket haul in the first Test, and Jayden Seales, who sits on 24. Meanwhile, the pacers dominated the concluded Test, with 40 wickets falling to fast bowling. &nbsp;Pakistani quick Mohammad Abbas, who returned with match figures of eight for 85, also gained places, entering the top 20 for the first time since 2021. He is currently ranked 17th.&nbsp; &nbsp;Among the batters, Babar was Pakistan’s best batter in their final innings, scoring a gritty fifty but failing to guide his team home as Pakistan lost the series opener by 90 runs. His unbeaten 58 in the last innings helped him jump four places to 15th. Shan Masood, who scored 109 in the first innings, is now placed at 36th position. Hope, however, went from 51 to No 39 in the first innings.

Discover the latest ICC Rankings update: Shubman Gill reclaims the No. 1 ODI batting spot, while Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain in the top 5. Plus, big movers in Test cricket.

Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill has reclaimed the number one ranking in the One-Dayers for batters following his exploits against England in the recently concluded series, which India lost 2-1. Gill returned to the top of the ODI rankings for the third time in his brief career, having scored 188 runs in three matches, coupled with Daryl Mitchell’s absence from the final two ODIs against the West Indies. On the other hand, Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retained their places in the top five, with Kohli at three and Rohit following him at four. Mitchell slips to second place. Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran sits in the elite company of top batters by claiming the fifth spot. At the same time, Pakistan’s poster boy Babar Azam is sixth on the updated ICC ODI rankings for batters. The remaining four spots belong to Ireland’s Harry Tector (seventh), Joe Root from England (eighth), West Indies’ Shai Hope at ninth and Sri Lankan middle-order batter Charith Asalanka at the 10th spot. Also read| ICC T20I Rankings: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi jumps 230 places, Ishan Kishan stays No. 1 Test Ranking Updates Among those who gained positions and points in the updated ICC Test Rankings are the West Indian pair of Justin Greaves, who jumped 21 places to the 48th spot following a seven-wicket haul in the first Test, and Jayden Seales, who sits on 24. Meanwhile, the pacers dominated the concluded Test, with 40 wickets falling to fast bowling. Pakistani quick Mohammad Abbas, who returned with match figures of eight for 85, also gained places, entering the top 20 for the first time since 2021. He is currently ranked 17th. Among the batters, Babar was Pakistan’s best batter in their final innings, scoring a gritty fifty but failing to guide his team home as Pakistan lost the series opener by 90 runs. His unbeaten 58 in the last innings helped him jump four places to 15th. Shan Masood, who scored 109 in the first innings, is now placed at 36th position. Hope, however, went from 51 to No 39 in the first innings.

Discover the latest ICC Rankings update: Shubman Gill reclaims the No. 1 ODI batting spot, while Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain in the top 5. Plus, big movers in Test cricket.

ICC ODI Rankings: Shubman Gill claims top spot, Kohli and Rohit in top 5

sports

Sports, News on Sports, stories on Sports, articles on Sports, Sports stories at Wion, Sports news, Sports latest news

sports

Who is Seema Kaliramna? The mother and PhD scholar who clinched CWG 2026 bronze

ICC announces 12 host venues for 2027 ODI World Cup

CWG 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings

CWG 2026 Day 8: Lovepreet, Seema win medals, Neeraj storms into Javelin final

Commonwealth Table Tennis finals: Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold

Who leads KKR after Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement? Rinku, Narine, or someone new?

‘My Favourite Test Batting Partner’: Kohli pays emotional tribute to Rahane

Unfinished Business: Hazlewood eyes series wins in ENG, IND before retirement

CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra finishes 5th in qualification, seals javelin final spot

England name Fleming as new Test head coach as Joe Root returns as captain

Dilip Tirkey breaks silence on team's jersey colour change from blue to saffron

Indian men's team blitz England 3-0 to reach Commonwealth TT Championship final

Rahane’s greatest Test innings: 5 knocks that defined his overseas legacy

'What is logic of orange?': Former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha questions new India jersey

Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricket

England set to appoint Stephen Fleming as Test head coach

CWG 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings

CWG 2026 Day 7: India shines as Dilip wins gold, Sreeshankar takes silver

Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback

IPL 2026 champions RCB become first cricket franchise to cross $300M brand value

Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named East Zone vice-captain; Kishan to lead

'Gave my blood, my life': Brazil's Neymar confirms international retirement

FIFA faces backlash over proposal to sell part of World Cup business

Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian women sweep Canada 3-0

Commonwealth TT Championship 2026: Indian men’s team dominates NZ on day 3

ICC ODI Rankings: Shubman Gill claims top spot, Kohli and Rohit in top 5