Sport

Hyderabad Black Hawks have selected four Telugu volleyball players for their Under-21 squad after trials in Vijayawada. The team also began its Goa Guardians Trophy campaign with a straight-set victory over Bengaluru, as 10 PVL franchises compete in the tournament

The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 begins in Belgium and the Netherlands with India’s men’s and women’s teams aiming for historic achievements. The men look to end a five-decade title drought, while the women chase their maiden World Cup crown

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva defended Niroshan Dickwella’s recall for the Galle Test against India, saying wicketkeeping skills were crucial on the challenging pitch. He also backed fast bowler Lahiru Kumara despite his recent injury setbacks

India captain Shubman Gill said reaching the World Test Championship final next year remains the team’s primary target. Ahead of the Sri Lanka Test series, Gill backed India’s preparation, pacers and young players while stressing the importance of adapting to conditions

The 2026 Hockey World Cup introduces a new format, replacing the traditional quarterfinals with a second pool stage. The top two teams from each initial pool advance, carry forward points and battle for semifinal berths in Belgium and the Netherlands.

India captain Shubman Gill hinted that Prasidh Krishna could partner Mohammed Siraj with the new ball against Sri Lanka. Gill praised rookie Gurnoor Brar but said selecting between the two pacers would be difficult ahead of the opening Test in Galle

Ben Shelton beat fellow American Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6 (4) to successfully defend his Canadian Open title. Shelton became the first man since Rafael Nadal in 2019 to win consecutive Canada titles and claimed his fourth trophy of the season.

Tanzid Hasan scored his maiden Test century as Bangladesh reached 351-6 at stumps on Day 2 against Australia in Darwin. Strong partnerships with Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto helped Bangladesh secure a 153-run lead in the opening Test

Kerala BJP has demanded a CBI probe into alleged procedural and financial irregularities in the previous LDF government's plan to bring Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team to the State, alleging fraud, GST evasion and misuse of government name

India all-rounder Deepti Sharma is using her stint with Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred to sharpen her batting, bowling and fielding ahead of the Women’s Asia Cup. Deepti, joint second-highest wicket-taker, says she is relishing the challenge.

Jharkhand teenager Shilpa Kumari, India’s U-17 women’s javelin record holder, draws inspiration from Neeraj Chopra and dreams of Olympic glory. After emerging from a remote village, she now targets a podium finish at the 2026 Youth Olympics.

Indian hockey midfielder Manpreet Singh says the 2026 FIH World Cup could be his last, as India target their first World Cup medal after back-to-back Olympic successes. He backs the squad’s balance, preparation and confidence ahead of the tournament.

Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim created history by becoming the first Bangladeshi batter to score a Test century in Australia. His 101-run knock in Darwin, his maiden Test hundred, helped Bangladesh take control after Hasan Mahmud’s six-wicket haul

Iga Swiatek defeated Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 to win the National Bank Open in Toronto, claiming her first WTA Tour title of the year and 26th overall. Swiatek controlled the match with consistent attacking tennis and few errors

Punjab Kings assistant coach Trevor Gonsalves says there is no real off-season in modern cricket, with camps helping players stay fit and prepared. He also praises Shreyas Iyer's positive leadership, Ricky Ponting's experience and PBKS' growing reliance on data

SGUTTA’s Srisai Shiva Advik and Yashasree Sil won the boys’ and girls’ Under-13 titles respectively at the sixth Gujarati Seva Mandal Telangana State-ranking table tennis tournament in Hyderabad. Shubham Dey and Adhira Chetan finished runners-up in their respective finals.

Germany’s Tobias Bongers stunned defending champion Gareth Potts in the second round of the WPA Heyball World Championships in Pune. Pankaj Advani and Shivam Arora stayed alive in the men’s competition, while several Indian women advanced in the winners’ and losers’ brackets.

The Centre has assured Telangana of full cooperation to host the Khelo India Youth Games 2026. Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari met Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and sought permission to conduct the Games from December 11 to 23 across venues in the State.

Wafi Kachchhi smashed an unbeaten 218 and Tarun Rajan scored 148 as Union Bank of India posted 461/7 in the HCA A-Division two-day league. Several other batters also struck centuries, including Hrishikesh Simha, Jasrith Reddy and Aryan Krishna.

Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club will host the first National Qualifier of the 2026 season from August 12 to 14. The event, featuring Dressage and Show Jumping, has drawn 81 entries and will qualify riders for the Junior National Equestrian Championships.

The Table Tennis Federation of India has acknowledged the Sports Ministry’s suspension of its recognition and proposed interim administration, while stressing the autonomy of National Sports Federations. TTFI President Meghna Ahlawat said the federation remains committed to cooperation and good governance.

PV Sindhu is eyeing a medal, preferably gold, at the World Championships in Delhi, saying winning at home would be special. The five-time medallist said her confidence is back after the Japan Open win and stressed resilience, preparation and consistency.

Former India batter WV Raman says Sri Lanka will pose a strong challenge in spin-friendly conditions but believes turning tracks also offer scoring opportunities. Raman backed Rishabh Pant’s aggressive approach and urged Indian batters to be proactive during the Test series

Punjab Kings spinner Harpreet Brar opens up about his journey from repeated selection setbacks to IPL success, recalling how he chose cricket over joining the Punjab Police. Brar credits his parents’ support and says playing Test cricket remains his ultimate dream