New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) Demonstrating that true champions make an impact both inside and outside the sporting arena, world champion powerlifter Mahant Gaurav Sharma celebrated his birthday by distributing air coolers to underprivileged families amid the scorching summer heat in the national capital.The social welfare initiative was organised in Chandni Chowk and witnessed enthusiastic participation from local residents and devotees.With Delhi experiencing an intense heatwave, Mahant Gaurav Shar…

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) Indian squash player Anahat Singh says competing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA28) is “every athlete’s dream”. The teenage sensation is making a quick ascent in world squash, hoping to win an Olympic medal for India.At just 18, the Delhi-based prodigy has already reached World No. 20 in the PSA women’s rankings. She has established herself as one of the brightest young stars in Indian sport. With squash about to debut at LA28, Anahat shared that the Games m…

Lucknow, May 29 (IANS) Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has stepped down from captaincy duties with immediate effect, and the same has been accepted by the franchise after the side had a tenth‑place finish in IPL 2026. After leaving Delhi Capitals, a side he led before in the IPL, Pant took over as LSG’s skipper after the franchise roped him in for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore in the mega auction held in 2024. But under him, LSG endured ba…

Mumbai, May 29 (IANS) U Mumba TT made rising paddler Ahona Ray — winner of the girls’ singles title at the WTT Youth Contender Doha 2026 and a medallist across national and continental competitions — the first overall pick in the UTT Juniors Season 2 Draft, as all seven franchises finalised their squads for the upcoming grassroots competition, set to be held from July 8 to 19 alongside UTT Season 7 in Goa.Returning for its second edition, UTT Juniors will once again integrate India’s bri…

New Chandigarh, May 29 (IANS) Gujarat Titans left-handed opener B Sai Sudharsan said the team is treating their IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 clash against Rajasthan Royals as ‘just another game’ and expressed confidence in the side crossing the line and enter the title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.GT are coming off a 92-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala. “No, I think we’re not looking at it like a big day. It’s just another d…

Singapore, May 29 (IANS) India’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty, Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto advanced to the semifinals of the Singapore Open 2026 on Friday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.Fourth-seeded Satwik-Chirag fought back from a game down to defeat Malaysia’s Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai 19-21,21-17, 21-13 in a 65-minute battle. The Indians then fought through a neck-and-neck second game before forcing a decider and dominating the third to secure their …

New Chandigarh, May 29 (IANS) Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Donovan Ferreira said the side has switched into ‘autopilot mode’ as they prepare to take on Gujarat Titans in the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026. RR arrive in Qualifier 2 after beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the Eliminator, thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s astonishing 97.“Like you said, we’ve had three must‑win games, but every game is different. You can’t carry one over to the next; today is a big game for us. I can’t…

Mumbai, May 29 (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has strictly prohibited the possession and use of ‘Smart Goggles’ or sunglasses within the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA). The directive comes after it was brought to the attention of the anti-corruption watchdog that certain companies have been marketing and selling high-tech smart eyewear to players and team support staff, which are equipped with advanced communication features.A…

Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 29 (IANS) Top surfers of the country took the spotlight and the waves as the seventh edition of the Indian Open of Surfing, India’s premier surfing competition, got underway at the Blue Bay Tannirbhavi Eco Beach in Mangaluru on Friday.Serving as a key stop in the National Championship Series and an important event in India’s Asian Games selection cycle, the championship began under excellent surfing conditions, with clean waves and favourable weather providing the …

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) Australia coach Shelley Nitschke thinks Annabel Sutherland is ready to take on a finishing role at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. She believes the all-rounder’s versatility could be a significant asset for the defending runners-up in England.Australia will start their World Cup preparations with three warm-up matches against South Africa in Arundel beginning Sunday. They will also play practice games against England and the West Indies before their tournament …