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Articles by Nihit Sachdeva
In Ferenc Puskas’ shadow, Hungary awaits its next generation of football greats
Twenty years after the death of Ferenc Puskas, who led Hungary’s Magical Magyars to Olympic gold in 1952 and the World Cup final two years later, I went looking for his legacy on the streets of Budapest. A hotel employee knew little about him. And a volunteer at the event I was covering offered much the same response. Whether this reflected limited knowledge or simply a reluctance to talk was difficult to tell.
Plowing through the red tape: Inside Ambati Rayudu’s mission to fix Hyderabad cricket
Hyderabad cricket has heard many speeches, but few came with a tractor. In the six months since Ambati Rayudu promised to change the culture, the former India batter has been seen at pitch-side at dawn, at the soil vendor’s door in the rain and, by his own count, five to seven kilos lighter. The initial results suggest the effort is paying off.
SMAT 2026: After father’s demise, Sayan Ghosh returns to Bengal to honour his wish
Sayan Ghosh had travelled to Mumbai with the Bengal squad on Wednesday, looking ahead to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign. But the tournament quickly took a back seat when news arrived during the early hours of Thursday that his father, who had been battling lung cancer for some time, had passed away. The Bengal pacer immediately rushed back to Kolkata to be with his family and attend the last rites.
Chennai Open 2026 — A tournament of promise ends damply as India prepares for future without Tour-level tennis
One can’t expect a smooth ride when the road itself is bumpy. The only way forward is to exercise caution and damage limitation. From the moment the third edition of the WTA 250 Chennai Open was announced to be held from November 2 to 8 at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam, the monsoon and the festive season could both be seen as potential hurdles in the efficient conduct of the tournament. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise that the proceedings went along expected lines.
Sri Lanka coach wants anyone but India to win SAFF Championship 2026
Sri Lanka men’s football head coach Abdullah Al Mutairi said that he wants anyone but India to win the ongoing SAFF Championship 2026. The Kuwaiti coach said these comments following his side’s 0-4 loss against host Bangladesh on Wednesday, which resulted in its elimination from the tournament. India entered the tournament as defending champion and is fielding a second-string squad led by Under-23 coach Naushad Moosa as it searches for a record-extending 10th title.
Lakshya Sen beats Yushi Tanaka to reach Japan Masters 2026 semifinals
Lakshya Sen continued his impressive run at the Japan Masters, defeating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in straight games to book his place in the men’s singles semifinals on Friday. Sen will face Indonesia’ Alwi Farhan next. The eighth-seeded Indian secured a 21-16, 21-15 victory in 40 minutes, negotiating a tricky challenge from the home shuttler. Sen led 11-8 at the interval in the opening game.
Japan Masters: Kidambi Srikanth stuns fifth seed Kodai Naraoka to reach quarterfinals
India’s Kidambi Srikanth registered his first victory over Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in five meetings, knocking out the home favourite and fifth seed 21-15, 11-21, 21-18 in an hour-long encounter to enter the quarterfinals of the Japan Masters on Thursday. The former World No. 1 produced another battling performance to overcome Naraoka in a gripping three-game contest, following his dramatic comeback victory over Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in the previous round.
Niraj Kumar wins bronze at shooting World Championships, confirms 50m rifle 3P quota for India at LA2028 Olympics
Niraj Kumar sealed a quota for India in the men’s 50m rifle 3-position at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics during the ISSF World Championship (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) in Doha on Wednesday. Niraj looked on track to finish in the top two, but a 9.7 on his final shot meant he settled for third, taking home a bronze medal for India.
Hardik Pandya joins Punjab Kings in blockbuster IPL 2027 trade; Arshdeep Singh moves to Mumbai Indians
Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Wednesday officially acquired Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya in a blockbuster trade ahead of IPL 2027, with India pacer Arshdeep Singh moving in the opposite direction. Hardik joins PBKS for Rs. 18 crore, an increase from his existing fee of Rs. 16.35 crore, while Arshdeep moves to MI at his existing fee of Rs. 18 crore.
Starc reacts to Khawaja’s claims about Sandpapergate — Australia pacer denies allegations
“My recollection hasn’t changed,” said Mitchell Starc as he rejected former teammate Usman Khawaja’s assertions that the entire Australian team was a part of the 2018 Sandpapergate conspiracy even though only three players ended up being punished for the scandal.
Linette defeats Tjen in three-set thriller to claim Chennai Open 2026, dedicates win to victims of Kraków mass shooting
Magda Linette wasn’t too keen on playing at the WTA 250 Chennai Open after a round-of-16 loss in Guangzhou. But the decision had already been made by her team. Linette, the third-seeded Pole, didn’t have much to complain about in the end as she beat reigning champion Janice Tjen 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 in a thrilling final on Monday to claim her fourth Tour-level title and first since Prague (2024).
Chennai Open 2026 organisers under scanner after Diwali-related weather issues cause singles final postponement
The postponement of the WTA 250 Chennai Open singles final due to rain and firework-induced air pollution on Sunday evening has raised questions regarding the tournament’s scheduling and the organisers’ preparedness for such a situation. The contest, which happened to fall on Diwali, was likely to be affected by the air pollution caused by the fireworks and yet, the lack of a clear contingency plan came to the fore. The final, set for a 6:30 p.m. start, was delayed thrice due to rain.
Mushfiqur Rahim becomes first Bangladesh batter to score 7000 Test runs
Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladeshi batter to score 7000 Test runs on Monday. Mushfiqur crossed the landmark in the second Test against West Indies in Sylhet. Mushfiqur is one of Bangladesh’s most prolific run-scorers. In Tests, he averages 39.11, and has scored 14 hundreds and 30 half-centuries, including four double hundreds. Mushfiqur was the first wicket-keeper to score two double centuries in Tests, and is the only Bangladeshi batter to score more than 5000 Test runs.
India hockey squad for New Zealand tour — Full list of players, Sanjay named captain
Olympic bronze medallist Sanjay will lead a young Indian men’s hockey team on a three-match tour of New Zealand from November 15 to 23, marking 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries. India will take on the host on November 19, 21 and 22 at the Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland. The tour commemorates the historic 1926 visit of an Indian Army hockey team, featuring the legendary Major Dhyan Chand, which became the first Indian team from any sport to tour New Zealand.
WTA Chennai Open: Vaishnavi and Rutuja settle for runners-up finish against Swiss duo
The dream run of Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale ended in a runner-up finish at the WTA 250 Chennai Open on Sunday (November 8, 2026) as the home favourites went down 2-6, 0-6 to the Swiss duo of Simona Waltert and Naima Karamoko in the final. Vaishnavi, 21, and Rutuja, 30, had already created history by becoming the first-ever all-Indian pair to reach the final of a WTA Tour event.
Chennai Open 2026 singles final postponed by a day due to rain and poor air quality
The singles final at the WTA 250 Chennai Open between Indonesia’s Janice Tjen and Poland’s Magda Linette was postponed due to rain and poor air quality on Sunday. The contest will now be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, the reserve day for the tournament. The summit clash was to take place after the doubles final and scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start on Sunday. While the doubles fixture finished without any interruption, the singles final was delayed thrice due to rain.
Chennai Open 2026 singles final postponed by a day due to rain and poor air quality
The singles final at the WTA 250 Chennai Open between Indonesia’s Janice Tjen and Poland’s Magda Linette was postponed due to rain and poor air quality on Sunday. The contest will now be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, the reserve day for the tournament. The summit clash was to take place after the doubles final and scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start on Sunday. While the doubles fixture finished without any interruption, the singles final was delayed thrice due to rain.
Chennai Open 2026: Rutuja-Vaishnavi’s dream run ends with runner-up finish
The dream run of Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale ended in a runner-up finish at the WTA 250 Chennai Open on Sunday as the home favourites went down 2-6, 0-6 to the Swiss duo of Simona Waltert and Naima Karamoko in the final. Vaishnavi, 21, and Rutuja, 30, had already created history by becoming the first-ever all-Indian pair to reach the final of a WTA Tour event. They were looking to join former World No. 1 Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina on the list of Indian titlists at this level.
Chennai Open 2026: Tjen, Linette complete contrasting wins to setup singles final
Janice Tjen continued her winning streak while Magda Linette pulled off yet another comeback to set up an interesting singles final at the WTA 250 Chennai Open on Saturday. World No. 75 Tjen, who clinched her maiden Tour-level title here last year, was largely untroubled during her 6-3, 6-4 victory over USA’s Robin Montgomery as the top-seeded Indonesian notched up her ninth straight win at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam.
Chennai Open 2026: Maaya loses to Robin in quarterfinals; defending champion Janice advances
Robin Montgomery overcame an early setback to defeat wild card Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals, ending the Indian challenge in singles at the WTA 250 Chennai Open on Friday. Maaya - the first Indian woman to feature in the last-eight stage of a Tour-level event since Sania Mirza in Pattaya City in 2012 - was particularly impressive in the early stages.
Chennai Open 2026: Janice Tjen reflects on rise, higher expectations and partnership with Venus Williams
“Booking tennis courts (in Indonesia) is a bit tough now.” Without elaborating, Janice Tjen said it all. Indonesia, a country that lives and breathes badminton, is once again warming up to the sport with the heavier racquet. Tjen’s rise is a major reason behind that. She had started the 2025 season outside the Top 400 in the WTA Rankings but by the end, she was World No. 56.
Asian Para Games 2026: Meet the Indian gold medallists
Mona Agarwal Para Shooting | R2 – Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing (SH1); R8 – Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (SH1) Mona Agarwal. | Photo Credit: SAI Mona Agarwal. | Photo Credit: SAI Mona Agarwal (centre) signed off from the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya with gold medals in both her events. Winning multiple gold medals is an achievement in itself, but the manner in which the 38-year-old Paralympic bronze medallist clinched both titles was equally remarkable.
Chennai Open 2026: Vaishnavi bows out after second-round loss to Anastasia; Linette advances
Vaishnavi Adkar fought admirably for the first set before being blown away in the second as she lost 6-3, 6-0 to Anastasia Zakharova in the second round of the WTA 250 Chennai Open on Thursday.
WTA250 Chennai Open: Panna Udvardy opens up on joining OnlyFans and the dark side of social media
In an attempt to connect with her fans in a different way, Hungarian tennis player Panna Udvardy made an interesting choice in late March. She started an OnlyFans account. OnlyFans is a subscription-based social media platform where content creators can earn directly from those who subscribe to their profile. World No. 86 Udvardy is not the first tennis player to take this approach.
WTA Chennai Open: Maaya Rajeshwaran makes last eight, first Indian woman in a Tour quarterfinal since Sania Mirza
Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi took down Polish qualifier Weronika Falkowska 6-4, 6-3 in a topsy-turvy encounter to reach the WTA 250 Chennai Open quarterfinals on Wednesday, ending a wait of almost 15 years for Indian tennis. With her win over World No. 277 Falkowska, the 17-year-old Maaya became the first Indian woman to make it to the last-eight stage of a Tour-level event since Sania Mirza’s quarterfinal finish in Pattaya City back in 2012.
Robin Montgomery uses lessons from being raised by a single mother to power her tennis ascension
Resilience is a big part of Robin Montgomery’s game. Recording three-set wins over a flat hitter in Hungarian Panna Udvardy (6-4, 1-6, 6-1) by mixing things up and rising Belgian teenager Jeline Vandroome (6-4, 3-6, 7-5) in an absorbing three-hour contest under hot and humid conditions, the 22-year-old left-handed American, currently World No. 161, has shown that fighting spirit over the last two days at the WTA 250 Chennai Open to reach the quarterfinals.
Together we fall, together we rise: At Chennai Open, Maaya and Vaishnavi lay down markers for Indian women’s tennis
From the ordinary defeats during the day to the special wins under the floodlights, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Vaishnavi Adkar have now experienced both the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs at the WTA 250 Chennai Open in the last 12 months. The period between the second and third edition of India’s only Tour-level event comprises the career graphs, showing significant growth of two youngsters who may very well be the future of women’s tennis in India.
Maaya Rajeshwaran, Vaishnavi Adkar notch maiden Tour-level wins at Chennai Open
Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Vaishnavi Adkar added another highlight to their breakout seasons as the Indian wild cards recorded their maiden Tour-level wins at the Chennai Open on Tuesday. World No. 669 Maaya, the 17-year-old girl from Coimbatore who recently claimed her first-ever senior title, came back from 2-5 in the decider to upset Polish World No. 115 Katarzyna Kawa 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5) late in the night at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam.
Maaya Rajeshwaran, Vaishnavi Adkar notch maiden Tour-level wins at Chennai Open
Pakistan Army 3 hours ago Asim Munir flags growing Hindu-Jewish ties threat to Pakistan and Muslim world, reveals Iran Times of India • 3h Iran's senior security official Mohsen Rezaei has claimed that Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir warned of growing ties between Hindus and Jews, … Black Community 4 hours ago Dua Lipa Reveals November Book Club Pick, Calling It 'An Unforgettable Experience' PureWow - Danielle Long • 4h A new month means a fresh start, a new set of goals and, in the case of...
WTA Chennai Open: New year, same damp squib as Cyclone Murasu washes out day 1
Rains brought in by cyclone Murasu led to a complete washout on the opening day of the WTA 250 Chennai Open at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam. The intermittent drizzle, along with a brief downpour, forced the tournament organisers to eventually call the day off around 6:40 p.m. soon after they had issued a revised order of play which featured just five singles matches.
WTA Chennai Open 2026: Indians eye crucial ranking points amid a depleted field
In the last week of a long and hectic tennis season, most players are usually running on fumes and already thinking about either off-season training or planning their vacation. The flip side, however, is that some view it as that time of the year where they can collect crucial ranking points and set themselves up for the next season.
Jensi Kanabar’s leap of faith shows Chennai tennis crowd a glimpse of the future
For the qualifying round of the WTA 250 Chennai Open, the two Indian wild cards had already been announced — Diya Ramesh and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty. But the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association had promised Dipakbhai Kanabar that Shrivalli’s wild card will be reallocated to Jensi, his 14-year-old daughter, provided they were on-site in case Shrivalli made the cut based on her ranking after a few withdrawals. Dipakbhai and Jensi took a leap of faith.
WTA Chennai Open 2026: Indian trio eyes strong showing as withdrawals weaken main draw
For Indian tennis players, appearances in the main draws of Tour-level events come at a premium. Therefore, when a rare window of opportunity eventually opens up, it is important to cash in. When the main draw of the third edition of the WTA 250 Chennai Open begins at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam on Monday, Vaishnavi Adkar, Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Sahaja Yamalapalli will look to make the most of the wild cards awarded to them.
Vijay Amritraj in conversation with N. Ram: Power has replaced grace in modern tennis
When Vijay Amritraj retired from professional tennis in 1993 after a career lasting over two decades, the sport was in a completely different space. Since then, the nature of the surfaces, the equipment, the playing styles, pay parity, player earnings and multiple other aspects have transformed in a significant way. But while these changes were taking place, former World No. 16 Amritraj was still very much involved in the sport in various capacities.
India looking to host four WTA 125 events in early 2028: Vijay Amritraj
While India is set to lose its only Tour-level event next year, there is still hope for the country’s tennis fans to witness some big-time tennis live in the future. The WTA 250 Chennai Open is set to be held at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam from November 2 to 8. As it stands, this will be the third and final edition.
From junior promise to senior success: Maaya Rajeshwaran finds breakthrough with title in Portugal
Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi is in that phase of her career where the complete transition from the junior to the senior circuit is imminent. At this stage, a deep run at the Junior Grand Slams can be quite encouraging, but doing well at a senior professional tournament is a serious shot in the arm.
Asian Games 2026: Why India’s squash campaign was a mixed bag despite five medals
The Indian squash contingent grabbed medals in all five events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, something it could not achieve in Hangzhou. But was it a better performance than 2023? The answer is in the details. With the sport set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Summer Games in 2028, the Asiad in Japan became the first qualifying event to guarantee spots for the singles gold medallists.
Asian Games 2026: Why India’s badminton campaign failed to meet expectations
For Indian badminton, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was anything but a pleasant experience. With the team and individual events packed into 10 days at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium, it was an intense schedule. The team events were held first, with both the Indian men and women beginning with easy 3-0 wins over Bangladesh and Kazakhstan, respectively, in the round of 16. Their next opponent was host Japan.
How inspiration from her idol McIlroy steered Pranavi Urs to a historic Asian Games gold
Inspiration from her favourite golfer. A crucial decision on the final hole. A little bit of well-earned luck. And just like that, Pranavi Urs clinched a historic first-ever gold in the women’s competition for India at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Heading into the final round, the 23-year-old Pranavi had a three-shot lead over Singapore’s Shannon Xuan Yin Tan with China’s Ruoning Yin in third, trailing by one more shot. But the Indian didn’t have the start she would have hoped for on the last day.
Asian Games 2026 Live Updates Day 15: India's Kumkum in action in recurve archery quarterfinals; Pranavi Urs leads in golf; cricket score and wrestling results
Asian Games 2026 India: Follow live updates, scores, results, medal tally, and highlights from Day 15 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Updated : Oct 03, 2026 05:20 IST India's Kumkum Mohod will be in action in women's recurve individual archery at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Saturday. | Photo Credit: REUTERS India's Kumkum Mohod will be in action in women's recurve individual archery at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Saturday.
Asian Games 2026 Live Updates Day 15: India's Kumkum wins historic gold in recurve individual archery; Deepak Punia reaches 97kg wrestling semifinals; Pranavi Urs sole leader in golf
What's the next archery event? There’s one final archery event yet to be completed at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan - the men’s individual recurve. Two Indians - Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan - were in the field and both have made it to the quarterfinals. Dhiraj will face Uzbekistan’s Amirkhon Sadikov at 9:30 a.m. IST in the first quarterfinal. Neeraj will be up against Bhutan’s Lam Dorji in the fourth quarterfinal.
Asian Games 2026 Live Updates Day 14: Indian recurve archery teams in action; wrestling, sepaktakraw and golf results
Asian Games 2026 India: Find live updates, scores, results, medal tally, and highlights from Day 14 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Updated : Oct 02, 2026 05:26 IST India's Dhiraj Bommadevara will be in action in men's recurve archery team events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan on Friday. | Photo Credit: REUTERS India's Dhiraj Bommadevara will be in action in men's recurve archery team events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan on Friday.
WTA 250 to be relocated from Chennai to Manila next year
The ‘Alexandra Eala effect’ may have finally struck India but not in the way the country’s tennis fans would have hoped for. WTA 250 Chennai Open, the country’s only top-tier tennis tournament, will be held from November 2 to 8 at the SDAT Stadium in Nungambakkam.
Asian Games 2026 Live Updates Day 13: Chikitha, Ganesh in compound archery quarterfinals; India vs Pakistan in volleyball; shooting scores
Asian Games 2026 India: Find live updates, scores, results, medal tally, and highlights from Day 13 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Updated : Oct 01, 2026 05:19 IST India's Chikitha Taniparthi, will look to add another medal to her collection as she competes in the women's individual compound quarterfinals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Thursday.
One-handed backhand’s long decline: How tennis’ most elegant shot became a rarity
With Stefanos Tsitsipas’ loss to Ben Shelton in the round of 16 at the 2026 US Open earlier this month, one of tennis’ most enduring streaks came to an end. For 149 years, at least one player with a one-handed backhand had made it to a Grand Slam semifinal every year, a legacy stretching back to the inaugural Wimbledon in 1877. The US Open this year marked the end of that run, which, truth be told, feels like it had been coming for some time.
Asian Games 2026 Day 11 Live Updates: Indian recurve archers in action; Kishore Kumar in surfing quarterfinals; shooting scores
Surfing: Kishore Kumar Anbarasu in action men's shortboard quarterfinals Surfing is making its Asian Games debut and India’s Kishore Kumar Anbarasu is just two wins away from confirming a medal. At the moment, he is competing against Toby Espejon in the quarterfinals and has some work to do as he is trailing the surfer from the Philippines. Konnichiwa! Hello and good morning! Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of Day 11 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.
Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: Indian compound archers in action; Sivaraj Babu eliminated in surfing; shooting scores
Asian Games 2026 India: Get the latest updates, medal tally, results, schedule, and highlights from the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Updated : Sep 28, 2026 05:11 IST FILE PHOTO: India’s Sahil Jadhav is in action in the men's individual compound event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. | Photo Credit: Sahil Jadhav/Instagram FILE PHOTO: India’s Sahil Jadhav is in action in the men's individual compound event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.
Asian Games 2026, Squash Finals Live Score: India's Anahat, Abhay eye gold medals, historic Olympic qualification
Asian Games Live: Catch the latest scores, updates, medals, and commentary for the men's and women's singles squash finals featuring India's Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Monday, September 28. Updated : Sep 27, 2026 12:14 IST India's Abhay Singh (left) and Anahat Singh (right) will compete in the gold medal matches in singles in squash at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Sunday.
Asian Games 2026 Live Updates, Day 8: India's Sawan Barwal, Kartik Karkera in men's marathon final; shooters in women's 50m rifle 3P qualification soon, badminton scores
Asian Games 2026 India: Get the latest updates, medal tally, results, schedule, and highlights from the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Updated : Sep 26, 2026 05:15 IST FILE PHOTO: India's Ashi Chouksey will be in action in women's 50m rifle 3 positions qualification round at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Saturday.
Asian Games 2026 LIVE, Day 8: India completes kabaddi golden double; Anahat, Abhay enter finals; Barwal wins historic silver, Tajinderpal wins silver
Athletics: Tajinderpal wins shot put silver Toor wins silver in Asian Games 2026 shot put, as Tayebi breaks the Games record for gold. Athletics: Triple Jump final, Praveen Chithravel exits after injury National record holder Praveen Chithravel has retired and won’t take part in further proceedings of the Triple Jump final. Earlier, Chithravel appeared to be in discomfort in his calf or lower leg before walking away from the runway.
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