With fresh violence erupting in her home state of Manipur, India's Roshibina Naorem battled worries about her family's safety to win a silver medal in the women's 60kg wushu event at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Hailing from a village near riot-hit Imphal, Roshibina stayed focused despite concerns over the ethnic unrest gripping Manipur for months. She also overcame the disappointment of three teammates being denied visas by China. In the final, Roshibina lost 0-2 to defending champion Wu Xiaowei of China after trying to go on the offensive. This was her second Asian Games medal after the 2018 bronze. Roshibina emulated Sandhyarani Devi's 2010 silver to become India's second individual wushu Asiad medalist.

On Day 5 of the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, India had a remarkable performance. In the men's 10m air pistol team event, India's Sarabjot Singh, Arjun Singh Cheema, and Shiva Narwal staged an impressive comeback to secure the gold medal. Meanwhile, Naorem Roshibina Devi clinched a silver medal in women's 60kg wushu, but she faced defeat in the gold medal bout against China's Wu Xiaowei. In other events, India's mixed skeet team finished 7th, Sarabjot Singh placed 4th in the men's 10m air pistol final, and there were mixed results in table tennis and golf. Later, India had high-voltage hockey and Dressage individual freestyle events to look forward to.

Australia ended their losing run with a 66-run victory over India in the third ODI, despite India clinching the series 2-1. Batting first, Australia posted a massive 352/7, powered by impactful knocks from Marsh (96), Smith (74), Labuschagne (72) and Warner (56). Bumrah took 3/81 for India. In response, India were restricted to 286 in 49.4 overs. Rohit Sharma (81) and Virat Kohli (56) started strongly but India fizzled out against Glenn Maxwell's off-spin. With the consolation win, Australia avoided a sweep but India won the ODI series on the back of victories in the first two matches. Though Australia won the dead rubber, India prevailed 2-1 in the closely fought series.

  In the 3rd ODI of the India vs. Australia series, Australia posted a formidable total of 352/7 in 50 overs. Their innings was characterized by a strong start led by David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, who both scored half-centuries. However, Indian bowlers made a comeback in the middle and towards the end, with Jasprit Bumrah taking three crucial wickets. Rohit Sharma's captaincy played a role in managing the bowling attack. Australia was eyeing 400 at one point, but India's efforts restricted them to 352. India now faces a challenging target of 353, the highest ever at the Rajkot ground.

The Indian women's hockey team kicked off their Asian Games 2023 campaign with a dominant 13-0 victory over Singapore in Hangzhou. Multiple players contributed to India's win, with goals from Udita, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Deepika, Navneet, Deep Grace Ekka, Neha, Sangita Kumari, Salima Tete, Vandana Katariya, and Monika. The victory propelled India to the top of Pool A, and the top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals. India's strong performance in this match showcased their determination to compete at the highest level in women's hockey at the Asian Games.

  The 3rd ODI between India and Australia is a significant encounter before the World Cup. With the return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc, the match promises star power despite India's series win. Ravichandran Ashwin's performance takes center stage, as he aims to secure a World Cup spot. India has an opportunity for its first-ever ODI clean sweep against Australia. However, key players like Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Axar Patel are absent due to various reasons, including health and fitness.

  On September 27, 2023, at the Asian Games, Indian athletes excelled in various events. The trio of Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan secured India's fourth gold medal with a total score of 1759 in the Women's 25m Pistol Team event. Additionally, the team of Ashi Chouksey, Manini Kaushik, and Sift Kaur Samra earned a silver in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Position Team event, marking India's 15th medal. This achievement brought India's total medal count to 16 at the ongoing games in Hangzhou. Furthermore, a quartet comprising Hriday Chheda, Anush Agarwalla, Sudipti Hajela, and Divyakriit Singh secured a gold medal in Dressage - Intermediate (individual), adding to India's successes.

A video of former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev being kidnapped caused concern on social media, with cricketer Gautam Gambhir questioning its authenticity. However, Gambhir later clarified that it was part of a promotional shoot for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. He praised Kapil Dev's acting skills and highlighted that the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup would be free on Disney+ Hotstar mobile. Kapil Dev had a remarkable international career, playing 131 Test matches and 225 One-Day Internationals, famously leading India to victory in the 1983 World Cup. He retired in 1994 after receiving the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards.

The Indian equestrian team achieved a historic gold medal in the Team Dressage event at the Asian Games 2023, marking India's first win in the sport since 1982. India's medal count has already reached 14, with Neha Thakur winning silver in the Girl's Dinghy - ILCA 4 category and Eabad Ali securing bronze in the men's windsurfer RS:X category. Boxer Sachin has progressed to the Round of 16, while Wushu athletes Surya Bhanu Partap Singh and Suraj Yadav are set for quarter-finals, with the potential to secure bronze. Additionally, the Indian Men's 4x100m Medley Relay Team has qualified for the final with a national record time of 3:40.84s. Judoka Tulika Maan missed out on a medal in the women's 78kg bronze-medal play-off.

India is aiming for a clean sweep of Australia in the third and final ODI ahead of the World Cup. A 3-0 win would provide India with a significant advantage over Australia when they meet for the World Cup opener. Despite the absence of key players, India has dominated the first two ODIs, showcasing their strength in depth. Shubman Gill, the only batter with over a thousand runs in the format this year, will be rested. With the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India remains a formidable team. (Image Courtesy: BCCI)