The Blues returned to the field with renewed ambition and two significant new additions to the squad in Spanish midfielder Borja Martinez and Portuguese defender Sandro Embalo. The duo will join the rest of the squad in Bengaluru once their visa formalities are completed.

“It’s exciting, as it’s a full season this time, and we can truly maximise the potential of the squad. I am really looking forward to what the season holds for us,” said Bengaluru FC Head Coach Pep Muñoz, who heads into his first full season with the club. Muñoz ended the 2025-26 Indian Super League season by taking the side to fourth on the table, recording two wins, three draws and one loss.

The team is scheduled to travel to the Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary for their pre-season testing and will train at their facilities from July 27 to 30, where they will undergo a series of high-intensity tests.

Darren Caldeira, Director of Football, Bengaluru FC, gave his thoughts on the team’s pre-season: “After a short ISL campaign last season, getting back for pre-season at this stage is important for the squad. It gives the players the time they need to regroup, build fitness, and prepare properly for the challenges ahead. A strong pre-season lays the foundation for the season, allowing the team to be fully ready when the first game arrives.

His remarkable rise has also been underlined by success on the continental stage. Vishal played a pivotal role in India’s relay teams at the Asian Athletics Championships, winning gold in the mixed 4x400m relay and silver in the men’s 4x400m relay. Ranked among the top 60 men’s 400m runners in the world, the 22-year-old is now one of India’s leading hopes in the sprint events as the country looks to continue its resurgence in one-lap running.

As he prepares to don the Indian colours at one of the biggest multi-sport events in the world, Vishal says his focus remains firmly on delivering his best performance when it matters most.

“I’m entering the Commonwealth Games with a winning mindset. Months of hard work, honesty, discipline, consistency and self-belief have brought me to this stage, and I trust the process and my coach Jason Dawson completely. My focus is on performing at my highest level and making every second count on the track. I don’t set limits on what I can achieve. I believe in pushing my boundaries every time I compete. Representing India is the biggest motivation, and I’ll give everything I have to make the nation proud,” said Vishal.

Vishal credits the support system around him for helping him prepare for the demands of elite international competition, highlighting the role of the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in his journey.

“Success is never an individual effort, and I’m fortunate to have an incredible team supporting me. The Inspire Institute of Sport has provided everything an athlete needs—from world-class coaching and sports science to nutrition, recovery and mental conditioning. Their belief in me has given me the confidence to keep improving every day. Having such a strong support system allows me to focus entirely on giving my best performance,” he said.

The rise of Indian men’s 400m running has been one of the country’s biggest success stories in athletics in recent years, with Indian athletes consistently competing with the world’s best. Having already rewritten the national record books, Vishal believes he is part of a generation determined to continue raising the bar and inspire the next wave of Indian athletes.

“It’s an honour to be part of a generation that’s changing the perception of Indian athletics. We are proving that Indian athletes can compete with the best in the world, and that’s incredibly motivating. Every performance is about setting a new benchmark—not just for myself, but for the next generation of athletes who dream of wearing the Indian jersey. I hope my journey inspires many more young talents to believe that no dream is too big,” he added.

Reflecting on his preparations, Vishal said consistency has been the defining theme of his training in recent months.

“The biggest focus has been consistency—physically, mentally and technically. Every training session has been about learning how to get stronger, faster and more prepared for the biggest stages. I’ve grown not only as an athlete but also as a competitor. I’ve learned to stay composed under pressure, trust my preparation and perform with confidence when it matters the most,” he said.

With Glasgow now in sight, Vishal says representing India remains the greatest honour of his career.

“Wearing the Indian jersey is more than just representing a country. It’s carrying the dreams and hopes of millions of people. Every time I step onto the track, I compete with immense pride and responsibility. To everyone supporting us back home, thank you for believing in me. Your encouragement gives me strength, and I promise I’ll give everything I have on the track. Keep supporting Indian athletics because together we’re building something truly special.”

Having already etched his name into Indian athletics history as the current national record holder in the men’s 400m and the first Indian to run the event in under 45 seconds, Vishal now stands on the cusp of another career milestone. With four national titles, continental relay medals and a growing reputation on the international circuit already to his name, the Commonwealth Games present an opportunity to further establish himself among the world’s leading quarter-milers while strengthening India’s emergence as a force in the sprint events.

The Chennai edition continues Zydus Pinkathon & mission of making women’s health and fitness more visible and accessible while creating greater awareness around preventive healthcare. Over the years, this event has inspired close to a million women across India to embrace running as a means of building confidence, community and long-term well-being.

The press conference also introduced this year’s Chennai mascots, whose inspiring journeys reflect the spirit of courage, resilience and determination that defines Zydus Pinkathon. The event will feature Zoha Sanofer, a babywearing mother representing the 3 km category; Nandita Muralidhar, a cancer survivor leading the Lifelong 5 km category; Gaytheri M., a visually impaired runner representing the 10 km category; Geetha Manichandar, a 65-year-old runner leading the 50 km category; Deborah Sushma Lall, a working professional representing the 75 km category; and Latha Ravichander, leading the 100 km category—each representing women who continue to challenge stereotypes and inspire others to prioritise their health.

Speaking at the event, Milind Soman, Founder, Pinkathon, said:

”Every city adds a new chapter to the Zydus Pinkathon journey, and returning to Chennai after 7 years is particularly special. We’ve always believed that when women come together through fitness, they inspire change not just in themselves but within their families and communities as well. We look forward to seeing Chennai once again embrace this movement and celebrate the many stories of strength that will unfold on race day.”

The Chennai edition will once again amplify awareness around preventive healthcare through The Easiest Exam campaign, encouraging women to adopt regular self-breast examinations as a simple but vital step towards the early detection of breast cancer.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences, said, “With the Easiest Exam campaign, we seek to empower women with the knowledge that a simple 3-minute self-examination each month can make a life-saving difference. Zydus Pinkathon aims to reach many more women, raise awareness, and inspire collective action in the fight against breast cancer. We believe that raising awareness on women’s health and breast cancer remains equally vital, as early detection has the power to save countless lives.”

Alongside the main race categories, the Chennai edition will also feature young mothers running with their babies, cancer survivors, visually impaired runners, and many runners in saree, continuing Zydus Pinkathon’s tradition of adapting to each city’s unique community and culture.

Ankita Konwar, Founder, Invincible Women, added, ”Every Zydus Pinkathon reminds us that there is no single definition of strength. Whether someone is preparing for her first run or taking on an ultra-distance challenge, every woman is writing her own story. We hope Chennai inspires many more women to begin their fitness journey, knowing that every step forward counts.”

The event is supported by a strong partner ecosystem led by Zydus as the Title Partner, and further strengthened by Lifelong (Fitness Partner), Sirona (Hygiene Partner), and Hyatt Regency Chennai (Hospitality Partner). Healthcare and wellness are reinforced through Fujifilm (Breast Health Partner), MILLD (Flour Partner), 3TENX (Hair Wellness Partner), alongside Bisleri (Hydration Partner), Zivame (Activewear Partner), and Tasty Nibbles (Tasty Meals Partner). The event is supported by Sports Authority of India (SAI) & Fit India. The experience is further enriched by Inc.5 (Gifting Partner), and Big FM (Radio Partner), with execution by Smiling Tiger Experiences LLP.

Founded in 2012, Pinkathon has evolved from a single-city run into a nationwide movement that uses running to build visibility, confidence, and access for women. Following successful editions across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Pune, the Chennai edition marks another key milestone in the 2025–26 calendar, continuing to reinforce that fitness knows no age, ability, or circumstance—and that every woman deserves the opportunity to take her first step.

In the finals played based on the best of three games format, Abhishek eclipsed Anand R by winning the first two games (191-185 & 189-135). In Game 1, Abhisek defeated Anand by a narrow margin of 6 pins, however came back strongly in the second game to eventually claim the trophy.

Earlier in the day, in the first Semi-Final played based on the best of three games format Abhishek trounced Vishnu M 2-0 (214-166 & 196-194). In the second Semi-Final, Anand R
managed to defeat Akramullah Baig (215-161,196-161) to enter the finals.

Shabbir Dhankot finished on top of the table after Round 2 with a pinfall 2286 at an average of 190.5.

Special Prizes:

Highest Average in 6 Game Block:
Shabbir Dhankot (190.8)
Highest Score in Single Game:
Deepak Kothari (233)

At the Tamil Nadu State Sub-Junior (U-15) Ranking Tournament in Kanchipuram, Hatsun Badminton Centre showcased its strength in the Boys’ Singles event, with both finalists, Abdullah and Selvamadhan K., representing the academy. Abdullah emerged champion after an all-Hatsun final and went on to claim a second Gold Medal in the U-15 Mixed Doubles alongside Sennila C. C. At the Tamil Nadu State Junior (U-19) Ranking Tournament in Chennai, the academy repeated the feat with another all-Hatsun Boys’ Singles final, where Sachin J. T. won Gold and Lesslee Roy secured Silver.

Extending its success beyond Tamil Nadu, Sreeeswar Shijo won the U-15 Boys’ Singles title at the Yonex Sunrise YUMMS Kerala State Sub-Junior Ranking Tournament in Ernakulam. The medal tally was further strengthened by Tanya Abigail J. (Silver, U-19 Girls’ Doubles), Aaditri Kannan (Silver, U-15 Girls’ Doubles and Bronze, U-15 Girls’ Singles), Adlin Jefima (Bronze, U-19 Girls’ Doubles) and Neha S. (Bronze, U-19 Mixed Doubles).

Commenting on the achievement, Mr. R. G. Chandramogan, Chairman, Hatsun Agro Product Ltd., said: “These results reflect the commitment of our players, coaches and support team. At Hatsun Sports Academy, our endeavour has always been to provide young athletes with access to world-class infrastructure, expert coaching and the right environment to realise their potential. It is encouraging to see our players consistently perform at the highest level, and we remain committed to supporting the next generation of Indian badminton talent.”

Mr. Rajanikanth, Head Coach, Hatsun Badminton Centre, said: “The players have worked hard and shown tremendous discipline throughout their preparation. At Hatsun Badminton Centre, we strive to provide every athlete with a holistic high-performance environment through expert coaching, world-class infrastructure and personalised training that enables them to continually improve their game. Competing consistently across age groups and tournaments requires technical ability, mental resilience and adaptability, and it is gratifying to see those qualities reflected in their performances. We hope these results inspire them to continue striving for higher standards in the tournaments ahead.”

These performances add to the growing list of achievements by players training at Hatsun Badminton Centre, which also nurtured Rithvik Sanjeevi, the reigning Senior National Men’s Singles Champion and the first player from Tamil Nadu to win the national title, who has since gone on to achieve success on the international circuit.

Hatsun Badminton Centre is part of the Hatsun Sports Complex under the HAP Sports Trust, a multi-sport training facility that houses world-class academies for badminton, tennikoit and chess. The complex offers athletes access to professional coaching, high-performance training infrastructure, a modern gymnasium, swimming pool, athletics track and sports recovery facilities. Committed to nurturing talent at every stage of development, Hatsun Badminton Centre will continue to strengthen India’s badminton ecosystem by preparing young athletes to compete and succeed at the highest levels of the sport.

Pierre’s arrival at Port-au-Prince airport was met with cheers from fans and media. Airport staff wanted photos with him, and his mother embraced him repeatedly. Fans like Guy Ernst Phillipe praised Pierre, saying they were “proud” and that he was making history. Phillipe even joked that he hopes Pierre scores at least 10 goals.

Pierre’s teammates had already arrived in Florida to prepare for the tournament. This marks Haiti’s second time qualifying for the World Cup after more than 50 years.

While waiting for his visa, Pierre trained with local players in a wealthy area of Port-au-Prince. The team’s home stadium was deemed unsafe, forcing them to host qualifiers in Curaçao instead.

Pierre grew up in Cite Soleil, a tough neighborhood in western Port-au-Prince, known for gang violence and poverty. Despite the challenges, he is now set to represent his country on the global stage.

Both brothers began their football journey at Rennes. Desire broke into Rennes’ first team in 2022, while Guela made his competitive debut in 2023. After the 2023-24 season, they chose different clubs: Guela joined Strasbourg, and Desire moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

Their international careers also diverged. Guela earned his first Ivory Coast call-up in 2024 and has since become a regular starter for the national team. Desire, on the other hand, made his debut for France in 2023 and was recently named in Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad.

Despite their professional rivalry, the brothers share an unbreakable bond. They describe each other as twins, with no secrets between them. Guela says he paved the way for Desire, while Desire credits his brother with being a constant support throughout their careers.

The Doue brothers will be the third pair of siblings to represent different nations at a World Cup, highlighting the unique challenge of balancing family ties with national loyalty.

Smith, a left-arm spinner, has climbed to No.1 after impressive performances against New Zealand and India. She gained one place to overtake Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal and secure the highest ranking.

This achievement comes after a long journey for Smith, who made her debut in 2018 but only became a regular in England’s T20I team late last year. Her recent success includes being named Player of the Series against New Zealand and contributing to England’s victory over India in Bristol.

Smith’s teammate Lauren Bell also moved up one spot to third, while stand-in captain Charlie Dean improved two places to fifth. Meanwhile, India’s Shree Charani jumped seven spots to fourth after taking three wickets against England.

At the top of the batters’ rankings, Australia’s Georgia Voll remains unchanged. However, other players have made notable progress, including India’s Jemimah Rodrigues, who moved up four places to 11th, and Ireland’s Orla Prendergast, who jumped 10 spots to 16th after an unbeaten 71 against the West Indies.

Bangladesh’s Nigar Sultana Joty and Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali also showed improvement, climbing four and two places respectively in the batters’ rankings. These changes highlight the competitive nature of women’s T20 cricket ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which starts on June 12.

Nabi was surprisingly left out of the initial squad despite his impressive performance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, where he took 60 wickets and was named Player of the Tournament. His omission puzzled many, especially after his heroics for Jammu & Kashmir.

The BCCI chose to rest Jasprit Bumrah and exclude Akash Deep and Harshit Rana due to injuries. selectors went with Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnoor Brar instead of Nabi, who was expected to get a call-up.

Ajat Agarkar, the chief selector, explained that while Nabi’s performances were noted, they decided on the three selected players for this match.

Nabi, 29, has played 41 First-Class matches with 156 wickets and an average of 18.37. In List A cricket, he has taken 56 wickets at 27.37, and in T20s, he has 43 wickets at 25.27.

Despite being picked by Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026, Nabi struggled, taking no wickets in five matches. His omission from the main squad received criticism, with Sanjay Manjrekar calling it “ridiculous.”

The players secured an impressive five medals in the Rapid segment, marking a strong start to its international campaign. Leading the charge were Tamizh Amudhan S. and Meha, who claimed Gold Medals in their respective categories. In the Under-10 Boys category, chess prodigy Tamizh Amudhan S., who recently crossed the 2000 Elo mark at just eight years old, won the Gold Medal. In the Under-12 Girls division, Meha secured another Gold Medal.

Further strengthening the medal tally, Nandish earned a Silver Medal in the highly competitive Under-18 Boys category. In the senior youth divisions, Marium (Under-20 Girls) and Kritan (Under-20 Boys) claimed Silver and Bronze Medals.

Mr. R.G. Chandramogan, Chairman, Hatsun Agro Product Ltd said, “The Hatsun Sports Academy was created to give young athletes access to world-class training infrastructure and experienced coaching. Seeing every single one of our traveling players secure an international medal in Sri Lanka reflects our belief that disciplined training, guided by the best expertise, creates the foundation required to produce world-class champions”

Hatsun Chess Academy Head Coach GM Vishnu Prasanna said: “Our students have set a phenomenal tone from the very start of the tournament. Securing five medals in the Rapid event, followed by strong performances in the Classical and Blitz segments, reflects the effectiveness of our training programs and the dedication of our players. We are immensely proud of these young champions for proving their mettle on an international stage. Achievements like these reinforce our commitment to nurturing world-class talent and expanding opportunities for young athletes to excel globally.“

Following the high-intensity Rapid segment, the grandmasters-in-the-making continued their dominant run through the Classical and Blitz championships, securing 8 additional medals. Notably, Tamizh Amudhan S., Modith Aaroh Mutyalapati, Meha Arin A., and Marium Fatima claimed 4 medals in the Classical segment, while Tamizh Amudhan S., Modith Aaroh Mutyalapati, Nandish VS, and Marium Fatima emerged victorious in the Blitz event, bringing a spectacular end to international campaign.

Category Details

BLITZ MEDALLIST
NO	NAME	CATEGORY	MEDAL	LINK
1	TAMIZH AMUDHAN S	UNDER-10 OPEN	GOLD	BLITZ UNDER-10 STANDINGS
2	MODITH AAROH MUTYALAPATI	UNDER-12 OPEN	SILVER	BLITZ UNDER-12 STANDINGS
3	NANDISH VS	UNDER-18 OPEN	SILVER	BLITZ UNDER-18 STANDINGS
4	MARIUM FATIMA	UNDER-20 GIRLS	BRONZE

STANDARD MEDALLIST
NO	NAME	CATEGORY	MEDAL	LINK
1	TAMIZH AMUDHAN S	UNDER-10 OPEN	GOLD	STANDARD UNDER-10 STANDINGS
2	MODITH AAROH MUTYALAPATI	UNDER-12 OPEN	SILVER	STANDARD UNDER-12 STANDINGS
3	MEHA ARIN A	UNDER-12 GIRLS	BRONZE	STANDARD UNDER-12 GIRLS STANDINGS
4	MARIUM FATIMA	UNDER-20 GIRLS	BRONZE