The badminton World championships will begin here on Monday, with the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium already buzzing with activity as players sweated it out in their final practice sessions.

The tournament, which runs until August 23, marks the return of the event to India for the first time since 2009.

World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi said: “I feel like the drift… the weather, everything is very well maintained and very good as compared to last time.” She added that the focus over the last few days had been on training rather than obsessing over opponents.

Former Olympic champion Chen Yufei was still not fully fit after retiring injured against P.V. Sindhu at the Japan Open, allowing Sindhu to reach her first final in more than two years.

“It’s better than the last match but I think it’s not 100%,” she said.

Chen played down preparing for any one rival, saying she would focus on each match. That approach could be tested later in the tournament against An Se-young, with whom she has a 14-14 record dating back to 2018. Sindhu has also proved a particularly difficult opponent for Chinese players at the World championships.

Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang are still chasing their first crown, having won bronze in 2023. They spoke of the importance of playing together as a pair, saying they “motivate each other” and quickly move on after mistakes.

Their history with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty makes the potential quarterfinal intriguing. The Liang-Wang duo had won four straight against them before the Indians finally won in Paris last year, only for the Chinese pair to respond with a win at the World Tour Finals.

On the practice courts, the intensity was evident. Sat-Chi sparred with M.R. Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan while Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila trained alongside Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde. Sindhu and Ayush Shetty traded attacking exchanges, with coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama watching on.

The Chinese aura is diminishing.

For a formidable machine that churned out winners like clockwork and has had an incredible 72 champions, Shi Yuqi is the only one who will go into the upcoming badminton World championships looking to defend his title.

Shi’s win in Paris last year ended a 10-year barren streak, the previous winner being Chen Long in 2015.

Among the women, the drought has been much longer. Yihan Wang was the last Chinese to win the title way back in 2011. No wonder, most of the queries to the ones here revolved around the pressure of expectations.

“The players of China are very good and large in number. We don’t have pressure of performance as such; it is more about learning from each other and it benefits everyone,” World No. 9 Li Shifeng said on Saturday.

It’s a recurrent theme — the power of numbers, the insistence on lack of pressure and self-belief. But there is no denying the fact that the rest of the world has successfully ended the Chinese chokehold on the sport.

Consider this: China has three women in the top 10 but only two more in top 100. The men fare better, numerically; six in top 50 and eight in top 100.

Chen Yufei has come the closest to breaking the jinx, reaching the World championships finals in two of the last three editions but going down to Akane Yamaguchi both times, including last year. Her most recent outing, at the China Open, again ended in a straight games loss to Yamaguchi.

“I think it is more about ourselves, how we prepare. There is no pressure, only an expectation to do our best. You just need to have faith in yourself and not care about anything else. My biggest obstacle is myself and if I can conquer that, I believe I can win gold,” Yufei said about the missing title in her cabinet.

The red shirts on court are always intimidating. For now, though, the pressure is on them.

In a serious breach of anti-corruption regulations, a player in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League has come under the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit scanner.

He was found to be in possession of a mobile phone in the restricted Players and Match Officials Area during his team’s match.

Players are prohibited from using any communication devices and have to deposit their gadgets with the team manager before entering the PMOAs.

Only the team manager is permitted to carry a mobile in the PMOA, and should use it only for cricket operations.

The incident occurred at the NPR College ground in Natham, Dindigul, earlier this week, where the TNPL has been happening since August 4.

The Anti-Corruption Unit has made a formal communication to the TNCA regarding the incident.

“Yes, we have received a letter about this incident. We have instructed the concerned team owners not to consider him for selection until the enquiry is over. We are investigating the matter and will take appropriate action,” said TNCA secretary U. Bhagawandas Rao in a statement.

Earlier this year in the IPL, Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder was fined ₹1 lakh and given a warning for using a phone in the dugout during the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Managers are allowed to use mobiles only in the dressing room and not in the dugouts.

Football fever gripped Hyderabad well past midnight as hundreds of fans gathered at People’s Plaza in Necklace Road despite intermittent rain, to watch Spain defeat Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final on a giant screen in the early hours of Monday (July 20, 2026). The open-air screening turned into a carnival of football, with cheers, fireworks and emotional celebrations keeping the fans in the city awake until dawn nearly.

People began arriving at the venue on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, with the crowd steadily swelling as kick-off approached. Organisers had set up a large LED screen at the plaza, while a heavy police presence was deployed to manage the gathering and ensure smooth movement of traffic.

By the time the match began at 12.30 a.m., the ground was filled with supporters wearing football jerseys, waving flags and chanting for their favourite teams. Even persistent drizzle failed to deter fans, many of whom came prepared with raincoats and umbrellas. Others improvised, covering their heads with plastic sheets, while several who had arrived on two-wheelers simply kept their helmets on to shield themselves from the rain.

Football fans at the screening of FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, at People’s Plaza in Hyderabad on Monday.
| Photo Credit:
RAMAKRISHNA G

“We were planning to watch the match at our friend’s place, but then we saw on Instagram that there was a live screening at People’s Plaza, so we decided to come here,” said Mohd Abdul, an IT professional.

The atmosphere remained electric throughout the contest. With neither side finding the breakthrough during regulation time, every attacking move was met with loud cheers and collective gasps from the crowd. As the match entered extra time, tension among supporters was palpable.

Football fans watching the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, at a pub in Hyderabad on Monday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

The deadlock was finally broken at around 3.15 a.m. when Spain found the back of the net in extra time, triggering celebrations among Spanish supporters. Fireworks illuminated the sky as fans erupted in joy, while Argentina supporters were left visibly disappointed.

Football fans watching the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, at a pub in Hyderabad on Monday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

When the final whistle confirmed Spain’s victory shortly before 3.30 a.m., celebrations intensified. Hundreds of fans pulled out their mobile phones to capture the historic moment as another round of fireworks lit up the night sky. Many stayed back to watch the post-match trophy presentation, while others began making their way home.

“We wanted Argentina to win, so the result hurts. But watching a World Cup final with hundreds of fans, despite the rain, was an unforgettable experience. If this is Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, I’m glad I witnessed it like this,” said Shashank Reddy, a college student.

The simultaneous departure of hundreds of spectators led to brief traffic congestion around People’s Plaza and Necklace Road, though police personnel quickly cleared the bottlenecks and restored normal traffic flow.

The football celebrations were not confined to People’s Plaza. Across Hyderabad, several licensed bars, clubs and microbreweries hosted live screenings after the State government permitted extended operating hours for establishments for the FIFA World Cup final. Licensed outlets were allowed to remain open until 3 a.m., enabling fans to watch the title clash late into the night.

Football fans at a screening of FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, at People’s plaza in Hyderabad on Monday (July 20, 2026(
| Video Credit:
RAMAKRISHNA G

The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 has once again lived up to its reputation of giving youngsters the platform to showcase their potential and they have grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

At the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium here, it has been these young paddlers who have injected the league with energy, fearlessness and fresh ambition. Time and again, they have delivered much-needed breakthroughs for their franchises, swung the momentum with fearless performances, thrown the rankings out of the window, and in the process, propelled their teams ahead in the race for crucial points.

They have served up memorable contests for the modest gathering at the stadium and the OTT audience by producing performances rich in skill, composure and daring that fans are likely to cherish for a long time.

It was P.B. Abhinandh of Dempo Goa Challengers who opened the floodgates for Gen Z. The 18-year-old matched 25-year-old Frenchman Lilian Bardet in both attack and defence by displaying maturity that belied his age.

It was refreshing to see him with such freedom, composure and nonchalance, and his victory unleashed a wave that continued through to 20-year-old Sayali Wani of UP Prometheans defeating Ahmedabad APL Pipers’ Manika Batra on Tuesday.

The paddler who has borne the brunt of the ‘youth aggression’ has been Manika, a three-time Olympian and multiple Commonwealth Games medallist. The 31-year-old has lost all her singles matches so far. While her defeat to Anna Hursey could perhaps be dismissed as an off day against an accomplished international, her losses to 16-year-old Syndrela Das and 20-year-old Sayali cannot be viewed in the same light.

The manner in which Syndrela dismantled Manika was a lesson in fearless, attacking table tennis. The teenager had an answer to every variation Manika’s racquet could conjure up and her backhand down-the-line and crosscourt winners repeatedly left the veteran stranded.

Equally impressive was HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades’ Ankur Bhattacharjee’s victory over 33-year-old G. Sathiyan. A powerhouse of talent, the 19-year-old produced a masterclass in aggressive play, refusing to yield an inch, as he relentlessly attacked and broke through Sathiyan’s famed defence. His celebration of standing atop the table after the victory, however, was not in the spirit of the game.

Taneesha Kotecha’s win over Diya Chitale, Payas Jain’s victory against Manush Shah, and the high-quality contests featuring Abhinandh against Ankur and Payas illustrated how far the country’s young paddlers have progressed. Their shot-making, tactical awareness and ability to absorb pressure reflected a generation that is no longer content merely to compete with established names.

At the same time, there remains considerable room for improvement. Syndrela, for instance, struggled against the anti-spin rubber used by Kolkata’s Ayhika Mukherjee, highlighting the need to adapt better to different styles and equipment.

Mixed doubles remains an area in which the youngsters can improve. Barring UP’s Swastika Ghosh, who has shown the ability to adapt, the rest have quite a long way to go.

This season has demonstrated that Indian table tennis has a vibrant pipeline of talent and that a new generation is keen to take the sport to greater heights.

Indian shuttler Rithvik Sanjeevi, who scored a hard-fought 17-21, 23-21, 21-16 win over Croatia’s Aria Dinata to clinch the title at the 2026 Valence Alpes International in France recently, attributed his success to an improvement in his net game, which he had long identified as a weakness.

“My net game improved from match to match. I was able to read the shuttle earlier and create openings to finish the rally. My net play and attack were on point throughout the tournament,” said Rithvik.

The title run was built on consistency and composure. Rithvik eased past France’s Arthur Chardain 21-19, 21-8 and Amaury Lièvre 21-12, 21-15 before overcoming Israel’s Daniil Dubovenko 21-17, 14-21, 21-10 in the quarterfinals. He then edged Denmark’s William Bogebjerg 21-14, 18-21, 21-17 in the semifinals to set up a title clash that tested both his tactical awareness and resilience.

Despite dropping the opening game in the final, Rithvik never felt the contest was slipping away.

“I always think that I can catch up from anywhere. It doesn’t matter what the score is. If every player has that mindset, I guess they can achieve anything,” he said.

The Indian revealed that he had studied Dinata’s game beforehand but deliberately kept his own attacking instincts in check early in the match. “I initially kept the shuttle in play. I didn’t want to use all my strengths at the start because I wanted to understand his game better. Dinata played a very clean first game, so it took me a while to recalibrate. After changing my game plan in the second game, I played the third with confidence,” said Rithvik, who is now 77th in the BWF rankings.

The triumph marks another significant milestone for the Chennai-born shuttler, whose career has been interrupted by injuries, including a meniscus tear that required surgery during the Covid lockdown and Grade 3 ankle ligament injuries in 2023 and 2024.

With the confidence of an international title behind him, Rithvik has now set his sights on breaking into the world’s top 50, while keeping his longer-term dream of winning an Olympic gold medal firmly in view.

Seasoned long jumper M. Sreeshankar values his second-best career effort of 8.38m, achieved despite a wet track and rotating wind at the National inter-State athletics at the Kalinga Stadium here.

Sreeshankar emphasised that this was his best performance since undergoing a knee surgery in April 2024. Despite a swollen knee and a troublesome ankle, he has shown strong consistency, clearing 8m in all five competitions since April this season.

Retaining the enthusiasm

The 27-year-old retains the enthusiasm he had eight years ago when he first crossed the 8m mark as a teenager. “I was just counting. This was my 60th jump above 8m. The kind of consistency I’ve put in, especially after the career-threatening injury I had in 2024, I was eagerly awaiting a good jump,” said Sreeshankar, whose personal best stands at 8.41m.

“After being told that I won’t be able to jump again, it really feels special. I’m grateful for whatever I’m doing.

“Still, my knees are not 100%, they’re swollen. There are three ankle screws. I need to ice it regularly, do a soft tissue massage and work on my mechanics. I’ve gotten used to the new kind of training schedules.”

He thanked his father-cum-coach S. Murali and strength-and-conditioning coach Wayne Lombard for their solid support.

Sreeshankar is delighted with the depth in Indian long jump. “Before we left our room today, I told my dad that the competition is going to be above 8.30m for sure,” revealed Sreeshankar, who is now seventh among the world’s leading jumpers this season.

Shahnavaz Khan backed Sreeshankar’s prediction, leaping 8.30m to place second and move to 11th in the world. “There’re at least three-four people who are capable of that kind of jump. India has a wild start right now. We’ve four jumpers above 8.20m (in 2026).”

Inspiration

Aware of the challenges the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will present, Sreeshankar looks to elite global athletes for inspiration.

“We need to replicate what we do here, just there. Miltiadis Tentoglou and others, irrespective of the conditions, don’t complain. Adaptation is something that we’re missing. Once that comes, LA 2028 should be really interesting,” said Sreeshankar.

India’s Yuki Bhambri entered his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal as he and his Swedish partner Andre Goransson defeated Alexander Erler and Andrea Vavassori in straight sets in Indian Wells.

The 33-year-old Indian had previously reached the doubles quarter-finals at the Masters 1000 level twice, including at Indian Wells last year.

Also Read | Indian Wells: Defending champion Draper rallies to beat Djokovic to reach quarterfinals

Bhambri and Goransson defeated the Austrian-Italian pair 6-3 7-6 in the quarterfinals that lasted over one hour 30 minutes.

The Indo-Swedish duo dominated on their first serve, winning 83 per cent of the points (29/35), which proved crucial in taking the second-set tie-break and closing out the match.

They will take on France’s Arthur Rinderknech and Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot in the semifinals on Friday.

Rinderknech and Vacherot defeated the Russian duo of Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-4 in their quarterfinal.