India opened its medal account at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after Jhandu Kumar won bronze in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting event in Glasgow. The medal was confirmed after Nigeria's Riluwan Idris failed to lift 212kg on his final attempt. Jhandu finished with 130.9 points to secure third place. Idris won gold, while England's Matthew Harding took silver. Fellow Indian Sudhir finished sixth with 114.1 points. Jhandu, who is from Bihar, switched from para athletics to powerlifting and has enjoyed strong success in recent years. His bronze gives India its first medal of the Games. (PC: AP, Getty Images)

India's Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has guaranteed the country's first boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games after receiving a direct entry into the women's 75kg semifinals. The 28-year-old said the unexpected bye removed the pressure of securing a podium finish, allowing her to focus solely on winning gold. Reflecting on her journey, Lovlina said she rebuilt confidence after the Paris Olympics through continuous competition, including the World Championships, and consistent training. She credited a successful training camp in Belfast and praised head coach Santiago Nieva for boosting her preparations. Lovlina is likely to face Australia's Emma-Sue Greentree in the final and believes confidence will be the key to victory. (PC: Reuters)

Football icon Lionel Messi has reportedly decided to retire from international football in the coming months following Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. According to reports, the 39-year-old captain has no plans to participate in another World Cup and will soon bring his illustrious international career to an end. While Messi has not officially confirmed the decision, sources indicate he will continue with Argentina for a short period before announcing his retirement. His legendary international career includes the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cup appearances, two Copa América titles, and numerous records with Argentina. (PC: Getty Images)

Ahmedabad’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games received a major boost after Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadleir praised the city’s world-class sporting infrastructure. She said Ahmedabad’s modern venues and readiness were key factors in strengthening India’s hosting proposal. Sadleir highlighted the city’s ability to stage a multi-sport event of global scale, reinforcing confidence in its candidature. Her endorsement comes as India pushes to bring the Commonwealth Games back to the country, with Ahmedabad positioned as the proposed host city. The remarks are expected to bolster India’s campaign, showcasing its expanding sports ecosystem and commitment to delivering a successful international sporting event if awarded the 2030 Games. (PC: The Straits Times)

Spain World Cup hero Ferran Torres, whose decisive goal secured the title, is equally committed to protecting animals and the environment. Inspired by his childhood dog Rex, whose name is tattooed on his arm, Torres has built a life around animal welfare, adopting rescue dogs Minnie and Lluna and creating dedicated spaces for their comfort. Since 2021, he has served as the first Champion Ambassador for the Wild at Heart Foundation, supporting awareness campaigns, fundraising, sterilization projects, responsible adoption, and rehoming initiatives to help an estimated 600 million stray dogs worldwide. Torres also backs the Kick Out Plastic initiative, promoting sustainability while finding balance through nature, hiking, and beach walks wi th his dogs. (PC: Instagram/@ferrantorres)

An online petition calling for Argentina to be banned from future FIFA World Cups has collected more than 23 million signatures, falling just short of the Guinness World Record for the world's most-signed petition. Titled "Argentina Out", the campaign gained momentum after controversy surrounding Argentina's run to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, including allegations of refereeing bias and heated on-field incidents. According to reports, the petition attracted 23,316,108 signatures from around 170 countries before closing. Argentina lost the final 1-0 to Spain, and organisers ended the campaign by thanking the new world champions for defeating the South American side. (PC: NDTV)

Zinedine Zidane is set to become the new head coach of the France men's football team, replacing Didier Deschamps after his 14-year spell in charge. French media reports say the French Football Federation is expected to officially announce Zidane's appointment soon. Deschamps stepped down after leading France through a successful period that included the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and the 2021 UEFA Nations League trophy. Zidane, who has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid, is expected to begin a new era for Les Bleus as the team prepares for upcoming international competitions. (PC: X)

A Change.org petition demanding a replay of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final has gained more than 67,500 signatures after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0. The campaign, started by an Argentina supporter, claims several refereeing decisions by Slovenian official Slavko Vinčić influenced the result and calls on FIFA to review the match. However, FIFA rules do not allow online petitions to overturn official results or order replays. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed claims of unfair officiating, saying Spain deserved the victory. The petition has sparked debate online but is unlikely to affect the tournament's official outcome.

Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has secured at least a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after receiving a direct entry into the women’s 75kg semifinals in Glasgow. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist advanced without competing because the event features only five boxers, with three receiving first-round byes. Lovlina will face Tuvalu’s Tarona Khanum Badi Pasoni Taafaki in the semifinal on July 31, with the winner progressing to the gold medal match. This guarantees Lovlina her first Commonwealth Games medal, completing a collection that already includes honours from the Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games and Asian Championships.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has strongly criticised FIFA over discussions to expand the 2030 FIFA World Cup to 64 teams, accusing the governing body of damaging football. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tebas said FIFA was making “irresponsible” decisions that threaten domestic leagues, which he described as the foundation of the sport. He also said FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s time was “over” and criticised the organisation’s leadership structure. FIFA has not responded to the remarks. The proposed expansion is being discussed as part of the tournament’s centenary celebrations in 2030. (PC: X)