India's chess team, comprising Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, is set to compete at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. The team, considered India's strongest ever, aims to win the gold medal. India has previously won a shared gold at the 2020 Online Chess Olympiad and bronze medals in 2014 and 2022. The 2024 Olympiad offers a chance for India to claim its first solo gold medal. With a talented lineup, the team is well-positioned to achieve this goal at the prestigious international competition.

The inaugural Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand was abandoned on the first day due to unfavorable conditions at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex. Persistent rain in the lead-up to the match, coupled with inadequate drainage and facilities, rendered the outfield unplayable. Despite no rain on Monday, the ground staff's efforts were insufficient, prompting six umpire inspections. New Zealand players, including captain Tim Southee, assessed the conditions, but the mid-on and mid-wicket areas remained concerning. The match will resume on day two if conditions improve.

During a Nations League match in Hungary, a group of around 50 Italy fans, dressed in black, turned their backs during Israel's national anthem in protest. The fans also held up an Italian flag with the word "Liberta" (Freedom) and displayed banners with black slashes. The game was relocated to Hungary due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The same group also chanted against Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis during the match. Italy is set to host Israel in Udine on October 14, amid growing tensions and scheduled protests.

India concluded the Paris Paralympics 2024 with a record 29 medals—seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. The final event saw Navdeep Singh winning gold in men's javelin throw F41 classification after a disqualification elevated him from silver. India’s performance secured 18th place overall, surpassing nations like Switzerland and Belgium. In track-and-field alone, India earned 17 medals, including four gold. Simran also added a bronze in the women's 200m (T12) event. China's dominance with 208 medals highlights India’s significant progress, and hopes are high for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

For the first time in 22 years, none of the "Big Three" in men's tennis—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, or Roger Federer—have won a Grand Slam in a calendar year. Djokovic's early exit at the US Open, following Nadal's injury absence and Federer's retirement, marks the end of an era that has dominated tennis since 2003. The last time this happened was in 2002 when players like Pete Sampras and Lleyton Hewitt were among the champions. With the rise of new talents like Carlos Alcaraz, men's tennis is set for a new generation of champions.

The Paris Paralympics 2024 concluded with a vibrant closing ceremony at Stade de France, featuring a spectacular performance by top DJs. India celebrated a historic achievement, securing a record 29 medals, including 7 golds, 9 silvers, and 13 bronzes. Flagbearers Harvinder Singh and Preethi Pal led the parade, symbolizing India's outstanding performance. Singh, the first Indian archer to win Paralympic gold, and Pal, who won two bronze medals, highlighted India’s success. The Games, which faced challenging weather, saw the Paralympic Flame passed to Los Angeles for the 2028 Games.

Mahavir Phogat, uncle of wrestler Vinesh Phogat, expressed disappointment over his niece's decision to join politics instead of focusing on the 2028 Olympics. Vinesh, recently fielded by Congress for the Julana Assembly seat in Haryana, had earlier retired from wrestling after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics. Mahavir, a former wrestler and Dronacharya awardee, shared that he had hoped Vinesh would pursue another Olympic gold. He emphasized that her decision to enter politics was independent of her participation in the wrestlers' protest against Brij Bhushan Singh. Mahavir’s daughter, Babita Phogat, had joined BJP in 2019.

India’s para athletes delivered an outstanding performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, achieving their best-ever medal tally. Notably, several athletes won medals in their maiden Paralympic appearance. Nitesh Kumar secured gold in men’s badminton (SL3), while Preethi Pal clinched two bronze medals in women’s athletics (100m and 200m T35). Other debut medalists included Mona Agarwal (bronze, shooting), Thulasimathi Murugesan (silver, badminton), Manisha Ramadass (bronze, badminton), and more. India's impressive haul at the Games included seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals, marking a historic achievement for the nation.

Indian athlete Navdeep Singh clinched gold in the men's javelin throw F41 final at the Paris Paralympics after Iranian athlete Sadegh Beit Sayah was disqualified for displaying a controversial flag. Initially winning silver, Navdeep's medal was upgraded after the disqualification, marking India's 7th gold in the Paralympic Games. Emotional over the Iranian's disqualification and seeing him in tears, Navdeep hugged and consoled his opponent. Reflecting on his achievement, Navdeep expressed pride in making India proud, revealing his surprise at throwing a personal best of 47.32 meters, significantly exceeding his training distances.

A heartwarming video of a 13-year-old girl from Loidhar village, Jammu & Kashmir, training in archery has gone viral. The young archer, who has no arms and legs, is training under the same coach, Kuldeep Vedwan, who trained India’s Paralympics 2024 star Sheetal Devi. Inspired by Sheetal’s success, the determined teenager uses a specially designed prosthetic bow for para-archery. Sheetal Devi, who won a bronze medal in the mixed team compound event at the Paris Paralympics, has become a beacon of hope for the young archer and others across India.