Sport

Season 2 of the HSBC Rugby Premier League began with exciting contests in Hyderabad as Bengaluru Bravehearts rallied to defeat Hyderabad Heroes, while Delhi Redz overcame defending champions Chennai Bulls. The opening day showcased high-intensity action at the Gachibowli Athletics Stadium

India secured a place in the semi-finals of the FIH Women’s Nations Cup after defeating Japan 2-1 in Auckland. Captain Salima Tete and Lalremsiami scored for India, who remained unbeaten in Pool A with two wins from two matches

India enjoyed a successful second day at the Boxing World Cup Stage 2 in China as Jyoti secured a medal with her semi-final berth, while Prachi and Nikhil advanced to the next rounds. Three other Indian boxers, however, exited the competition

Hyderabad E-Champions owner Brihathi Cherukuri said the franchise’s primary objective is to identify and groom young cricket talent through the TG20 League. She also highlighted the Ramoji Group’s long-standing contribution to sports development and athlete support initiatives

The absence of Telangana players in India’s squad for the 2026 AVC Volleyball Cup has raised concerns over the state's decline in volleyball. Former officials also highlighted factionalism at the national level and questioned the team’s preparations for the tournament

Film star Vijay Deverakonda has been named brand ambassador for the inaugural TG20 League, which begins on June 21. The tournament will feature eight franchises, 32 matches and live telecasts on JioStar, with the final scheduled for July 12

Zoha Qureshi progressed to the second round of the Tirumala Sreedhar ATF Under-14 (Grade A) South Asia tennis tournament after defeating Purvi Patwa in straight sets. Several other players also registered comfortable wins in the girls' singles draw

Gymkhana FC booked a place in the semifinals of the Bolarum Challenge Cup football tournament with a 2-0 victory over Bolarum Sporting. Goals from Jobin and Majid sealed the win despite a spirited effort from the young Bolarum side

Sunit Chowrasia, Mukeem Ali and Dipankar Kaushal carded three-under 67s to share the first-round lead at the inaugural Rs 25 lakh DP World PGTI NexGen – Varanasi. Only 11 players finished the day at even-par or better

Gurucharan Bhole of Raviteja High School, Narayanapet, won the Brilliant Trophy Juniors online chess tournament with 11 points from 12 rounds. Ayaan Arora and Saw Jinson Samuel finished second and third respectively with 10.5 points each

India suffered a 3-2 defeat to hosts China ‘B’ in their opening Group ‘B’ match of the World Team Snooker Championship in Guangdong. Aditya Mehta lost the deciding frame to Zhou Jinhao, leaving India needing a win against Turkey

Pakistan have been fined five per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against India in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group A match. Captain Fatima Sana accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Trudy Anderson

Austria open their World Cup 2026 campaign against debutants Jordan in Santa Clara. Both teams face injury concerns but aim for a strong start in Group J, where Argentina are favourites and the battle for second place remains open

India head into their Women’s T20 World Cup clash against Netherlands in strong form after a dominant win over Pakistan. Deepti Sharma’s spin attack and top-order batting strength make them favourites, while Netherlands seek recovery after a defeat to Bangladesh

India, after a dominant win over Pakistan, will face debutants Netherlands in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Leeds. India’s strong batting and Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul have set the tone, while Netherlands seek their first win

Lionel Messi-led Argentina begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 title defence against Algeria in Group J at Kansas City Stadium. Argentina enter as defending champions, while Algeria return after 12 years. Match details, squads and broadcast information are provided

Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar reflected on his journey to the Indian team, crediting domestic cricket, Gujarat Titans experience, Ashish Nehra and Shubman Gill for his growth. He also recalled his emotional reaction after earning maiden Test and ODI call-ups

The Men’s Selection Committee has named Ashok Sharma as replacement for injured Yudhvir Singh in the India A squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series. Yudhvir is undergoing rehabilitation for a right rotator cuff injury under the BCCI Centre of Excellence

India spinner Harsh Dubey reflected on his ODI debut against Afghanistan, discussing his initial nerves, lessons from domestic cricket, India A and the IPL, mental preparation for international cricket, and the importance of adapting plans according to match situations

Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has been named in TIME’s 2026 list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports, becoming the only Indian featured. The recognition highlights her record-breaking achievements, leadership success, and growing influence in women’s cricket globally

Sri Lanka A defeated India A in a tense Super Over thriller in Dambulla after an emotionally charged contest. Mathulan defended 16 runs in the Super Over, while India A’s fightback and controversies added drama to a closely fought tri-series match

Deepak and Poonam were the only Indian boxers to progress on the opening day of the Boxing World Cup Stage 2 in China, registering dominant victories in their respective categories. Seven other Indian boxers suffered defeats, including quarterfinal losses for Naina and Alfiya

Sweden climbed to the top of Group F with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey. Yasin Ayari scored twice, while Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Mattias Svanberg also found the net as Graham Potter praised his side's performance

Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal launched the SprintX Playmaker Accelerator in Hyderabad to support SportsTech, gaming, eSports and New Age Media startups. The programme will provide mentorship, industry access, strategic partnerships and funding support of up to Rs 25 lakh