QUICKREADS

Nassourdine Imavov: A sniper from France with Dagestan in his DNA

French-Dagestani UFC middleweight Nassourdine Imavov aims to impress in Paris, targeting a title shot after defeating top contenders. Confident and strategic, he seeks the championship belt, potentially facing friend Khamzat Chimaev, blending striking and wrestling skills.

Barcelona faces home game challenges with injuries and stadium issues

Barcelona faces off against Valencia in its first home game of La Liga at the 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff due to delays in reopening the renovated Camp Nou. The team will miss several injured players, including Frenkie de Jong. Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao aim to maintain their winning streaks as the season progresses.

Davis Cup: Bold move by India, captain Rajpal fields Dhakshineshwar against Switzerland

India has included young Dhakishneshwar Suresh and Sumit Nagal in their team for the Davis Cup Qualifiers against Switzerland. Captain Rohit Rajpal highlighted Suresh's strong performance in training, while Nagal seeks to regain form after a recent slump. The absence of top doubles player Yuki Bhambri due to injury poses a challenge for India.

Athletics-Dominant Duplantis excited as worlds offers Tokyo a chance to cheer

The 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo will showcase top athletes like Mondo Duplantis and Faith Kipyegon, both aiming for their fifth consecutive titles. High temperatures have led to schedule adjustments, including earlier start times for races. Additionally, gene testing for women's events will be implemented for the first time, with athletes expressing support for the initiative.

Magnus Carlsen abuses FIDE, calls Hikaru Nakamura ‘shameless’ in 2026 Candidates qualification controversy

Magnus Carlsen criticizes Hikaru Nakamura's strategic approach to qualifying for the 2026 Candidates tournament, calling his tactics "shameless" while acknowledging the pragmatic nature of playing lower-rated tournaments to meet FIDE's rating and game requirements.

Bayer Leverkusen starts again with a new coach after two games under Ten Hag

Kasper Hjulmand faces a challenging debut as Bayer Leverkusen's coach against Eintracht Frankfurt, amid turbulence at Bayern Munich following Uli Hoeneß's comments about board member Max Eberl. Hjulmand must unite a fractured team after Erik ten Hag's brief tenure. Meanwhile, Hamburger SV seeks its first top-tier goal since 2018 against Bayern, while other Bundesliga teams prepare for weekend matches.

I am a big fan of Ronaldo, says Indian men's hockey team striker Abhishek

Indian hockey striker Abhishek draws inspiration from football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, admiring his scoring and positioning skills. Recently shining in the Asia Cup with six goals, Abhishek aims to end India's 50-year World Cup title drought. The bronze medalist from the Paris Olympics emphasizes the need for consistency and improved defense as the team prepares for the upcoming World Cup.

Archery World Championships: Deepika crashes out again; 15-year-old Gatha in prequarters

India's top archer Deepika Kumari suffered another early exit at the World Championships, losing in the round of 32 to Indonesia's Diananda Choirunisa. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Gatha Khadake advanced to the pre-quarterfinals, becoming India's last hope in recurve archery. Gatha's impressive performance showcased her potential, contrasting with Deepika's ongoing struggles at major competitions.

BWF to test time-clock system to ensure fast, continuous badminton games

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) plans to test a 25-second time-clock system at select World Tour tournaments starting in 2026 to enhance match pace. Players must be ready to play within this timeframe after rallies, with umpires retaining discretion for extensions in special circumstances. Trials will expand throughout 2026, following preliminary tests and stakeholder feedback collection.

Rays look to bounce back, take series from White Sox

The Tampa Bay Rays lost 6-5 to the Chicago White Sox, stranding seven runners and dropping to 5.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the AL wild-card spot. Despite strong performances from Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero, the Rays aim to regroup in Thursday's series finale. The White Sox, led by Andrew Benintendi's home run, continue to improve.

Australia Davis Cup captain Hewitt to appeal ban, hits out at timing

Lleyton Hewitt, Australia’s Davis Cup captain, plans to appeal a two-week suspension and Aus$30,000 fine for shoving a doping control official. The sanction follows a January incident after a Davis Cup match. Hewitt, who denies the charge, will continue to captain the team against Belgium despite the suspension starting September 24.

MLB roundup: Tigers use 5-run inning to pound Yankees again

The Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees 11-1, powered by two homers from Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter. Jack Flaherty pitched five scoreless innings. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, and other teams also secured victories in their respective games. The Dodgers completed a sweep against the Rockies, while the Mariners won in 13 innings against the Cardinals.

D Gukesh gets new challenge from Indian-origin American GM: 'I'm not inferior, at par with the world's best'

Abhimanyu Mishra defeated D Gukesh in a historic chess match at the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, becoming the youngest player to beat a reigning world champion. He expressed confidence in his abilities, believing he's on par with top players.

Leo Rivas' 13th-inning homer lifts Mariners over Cardinals

Leo Rivas' two-run homer in the 13th inning led the Seattle Mariners to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, keeping them competitive in the AL playoff race. Emerson Hancock secured the win with two scoreless innings of relief. The Mariners, now on a five-game winning streak, remain one game behind the Houston Astros in the AL West.

Edmed in among 4 changes for Australia for 2nd Rugby Championship test against Argentina

Joe Schmidt has made four changes to the Wallabies lineup for their Rugby Championship match against Argentina, including Tane Edmed's first test start due to injury. Australia has won two of three tests, while Argentina aims to rebound after recent losses. Both teams prepare for a competitive clash at Sydney Football Stadium.

Defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon take perfect records into 4th round

Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon lead Ligue 1 with perfect starts, while Lille remains unbeaten and tops the scoring charts. Marseille faces pressure after two losses, and player disputes have unsettled the club. Injuries sideline PSG's key forwards, as the league progresses into the fourth round of matches amid financial challenges and team changes.