Elena Rybakina defeated defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the 2026 US Open women’s singles final to claim her first title at Flushing Meadows. The Kazakh player secured her third Grand Slam crown after previously winning Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier this year. Rybakina’s victory also confirmed her rise to the world No. 1 ranking, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top. Sabalenka had been seeking a historic third consecutive US Open title, but Rybakina’s powerful serving, composure and consistent baseline play proved decisive in the closely contested final. (PC: Getty)

England batter Joe Root surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most half-centuries in Test cricket during England’s eight-wicket win over Pakistan at Edgbaston on Saturday. Root remained unbeaten on 62 off 39 balls, taking his Test fifties tally to 69, one ahead of Tendulkar’s 68. His knock helped England chase down 130 and complete a 3-0 series sweep against Pakistan. Root also became the first batter to score more than 1,000 Test runs at Edgbaston. He is only the third player, after Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting, to cross 1,000 Test runs at four different venues. (PC: NDTV)

Pakistan crashed out of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup after failing to defend 131 against defending champions Sri Lanka. Chamari Athapaththu’s side completed the chase in 18.4 overs with four wickets in hand. Sri Lanka struggled early, losing Athapaththu, Sanjana Kavindi and Hasini Perera cheaply, before Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari revived the innings with a 67-run fifth-wicket partnership. Samarawickrama scored 36 off 31 balls, while Dilhari made 33. Nilakshika Silva remained unbeaten on 18 off 10. Kaushani Nuthyangana hit a six in the 19th over after scoring 10 off four. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana took four wickets and also scored an unbeaten 47, but her all-round effort went in vain. (PC: SLC)

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reached her fourth consecutive US Open women’s singles final after defeating American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinal. Sabalenka produced a powerful performance, hitting 29 winners and seven aces to overcome the No. 3 seed. She is now one victory away from winning her third consecutive US Open title, a feat achieved only by Serena Williams in the Open Era. Sabalenka will face Elena Rybakina in the final after the Kazakh player defeated Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Rybakina has also become the new world No. 1. (PC: AFP)

India reached the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 final after defeating Bangladesh by 40 runs in the semifinal. Batting first, India posted 149/5, with Shafali Verma producing a crucial 64 off 40 balls, including three sixes. Despite a difficult pitch and Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling, Shafali’s aggressive innings gave India a competitive total. Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 24, while Richa Ghosh contributed 21. Bangladesh struggled during the chase and finished at 109/7 in 20 overs. Deepti Sharma led India’s bowling with three wickets, helping seal a comfortable victory. India will face the winner of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the final. (PC: IANS)

Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team was mistakenly identified as a group of asylum seekers after anti-immigration protesters gathered outside their hotel in Portsmouth, England. Around 40–50 protesters reportedly assembled near the Marriott hotel following social-media claims about foreign nationals staying there. The group was actually Pakistan’s youth cricket squad, visiting England for a tour. Reform UK councillor George Madgwick contacted the hotel, confirmed the team’s identity and informed the protesters, who then dispersed peacefully. The England and Wales Cricket Board subsequently contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the players’ welfare and said it would review security arrangements. 

Pakistan’s U-19 cricket team was mistakenly identified as asylum seekers by protesters outside the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth, where the squad is staying for a four-match youth ODI series in England. Around 30-40 people gathered after rumours spread that foreign nationals had arrived at the hotel. Police intervened and explained that the group was Pakistan’s youth cricket team. The situation was calmed after Reform councillor George Madgwick contacted the hotel and spoke with Pakistan’s head coach. Madgwick then informed protesters they had mistaken the group, calling the episode unfortunate. The crowd left within minutes and the incident ended peacefully, after the misunderstanding was cleared. The misunderstanding cleared quickly, ending the protest. (PC: X)

Lamine Yamal became the youngest captain in Barcelona’s history as the Spanish giants began their Champions League campaign with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord at Camp Nou. The 18-year-old wore the captain’s armband and also found the net, scoring Barcelona’s fourth goal with a free-kick. Raphinha scored twice, while Karim Adeyemi and Gabriel Jesus also found the net as Barcelona dominated the match. Sem Steijn scored Feyenoord’s only goal. The victory continued Barcelona’s perfect start to the season, with Hansi Flick’s side winning all five of their matches across competitions. Yamal’s landmark night added another achievement to his remarkable rise. (PC: NDTV)

Indian hockey teams will return to the iconic blue jerseys at the 2026 Asian Games after wearing saffron and white at both World Cups. Hockey India’s president Dilip Tirkey said the saffron jersey was never permanent and confirmed blue for the Asian Games. The colour change had drawn criticism from hockey enthusiasts and former players, including ex-captain Viren Rasquinha, who said blue represented the team’s legacy and identity. Hockey India said saffron could improve player identification on blue turf and claimed players were consulted, but five players told The Indian Express they were not consulted. Tirkey also said he was kept uninformed. The women finished fifth, while the men finished eighth. (PC: AP & Hockey India)

Hockey India has reversed its decision to make saffron the primary colour of the national team’s jersey. For the 2026 Asian Games, blue will be the main colour, while saffron will be used as the secondary colour. Hockey India treasurer Shekar Manoharan confirmed that the choice was shared with the Indian Olympic Association. The earlier saffron jersey had sparked criticism from former players and political leaders. Hockey India had said the change was based on player feedback about visibility on blue turf. India’s teams will now focus on the Asian Games and qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.