Navi Mumbai-based Peeyush Aggarwal is all set to represent India at the 138th All England Masters at Hatfield, United Kingdom, from April 10 to 12. Aggarwal delivered a stellar performance at the Yonex-Sunrise 48th Indian Masters National Badminton Championship recently, finishing runner-up in the men’s singles 40+ category, where he stunned India No. 1 Nigel D’sa 21-18, 21-19 in the quarter-finals and followed it up with a 21-15, 21-19 win over India No. 2 Mayank Behl in the semis. The Kharghar resident eventually went down 11-21, 11-21 to Harshad Bhagwat in the summit clash.
02 April,2026 10:18 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentIndian trap shooters failed to reach the finals in both the men's and women's events after two days of qualification rounds at the inaugural ISSF Shotgun World Cup here on Wednesday. Kynan Chenai and Aashima Ahlawat fought hard but missed reaching the finals of the men's and women's trap competitions respectively by an identical one-point margin. Kynan shot 119 (24, 24, 24, 24, 23) while Aashima tallied 111 (22, 22, 21, 22, 24), as they bowed out in 13th and 14th spots respectively. Bhowneesh Mendiratta (23, 24, 25, 20, 23) shot rounds of 20 and 23 in the men's trap to give up his overnight (23, 24, 25) advantage of sixth spot, eventually finishing 39th in the pecking order. Olympian Prithviraj Tondaiman was further down in 57th with a score of 111 (24, 21, 20, 23, 23) after five rounds. Reigning Olympic champion Nathan Hales of Great Britain topped the 83-man qualification field, firing a 123 over two days and five rounds. 2012 London Olympic champion Jessica Rossi of Italy topped the women's trap qualifiers with a 121. The host nation's Driss Haffari took the eighth and final qualification spot in the men's trap with a score of 120 whereas Turkish shooter Rumeysa Pelin Kaya took that final berth in the women's trap, shooting 112. Only eight shooters qualify for the final round in both the men's and women's trap. On Tuesday, Bhowneesh and Kynan had enjoyed an eventful opening day, shooting with precision and consistency to put themselves in contention. Both Bhowneesh and Kynan had hit 72 targets to be in joint sixth place alongside seven others after three rounds of 25 shots each, totalling 75 clay targets. In women's trap, Kirti Gupta was the second best Indian among women after Aashima, securing 32nd position with a score of 107 (20, 22, 23, 21, 21). Olympian Rajeshwari Kumari shot 106 (24, 21, 20, 21, 20) to garner 37th spot in the 59-strong field. The Indian contingent shooting for ranking points only (RPO) saw Md. Asad Sultan shoot 108 (22, 22, 22, 20, 22) and Sharan Susheel Gyanchand 104 (21, 20, 21, 21, 21) in the men's trap, while Shreshtha Sisodia (19, 21, 23, 20, 21) and Preeti Rajak (20, 20, 22, 18, 23) shot 104 and 103 respectively, in the women's event. The final day on Thursday has the trap mixed team on schedule with India still in search for a medal in this World Cup leg. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 April,2026 10:15 AM IST | Tangier (Morocco) | PTIIndian boxers continued their impressive run on day three of the Asian Boxing Championships, with World Cup medallist Sachin Siwach and Vishvanath Suresh advancing to the quarterfinals here on Wednesday. Sachin notched a hard-fought 4-1 split decision win over Mongolia's Buyandalai Bayarkhuu in the 60kg round of 16 bout, maintaining composure in a closely-contested fight to progress to the last eight. He will next face Chinese Taipei's Cheng-Wei Lee. Vishvanath moved into the quarterfinals with a commanding 5-0 unanimous decision over Bekzat Ergeshov of Kyrgyzstan. He delivered a dominant display, showcasing sharp technique and excellent ring control throughout the bout. He will next take on reigning world champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay of Kazakhstan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 April,2026 10:09 AM IST | Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) | PTITiger Woods said he is stepping away to seek treatment, four days after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He will miss the Masters for the second straight year. "This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my well-being and work toward lasting recovery," Woods said in social media posts. Woods pleaded not guilty in his driving under the influence case in Florida on Tuesday, hours after a sheriff's report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment after his SUV clipped a trailer and rolled over on its side. The online court docket for Martin County showed Woods entered a written plea of not guilty and planned to waive his April 23 arraignment hearing. It's the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando, he took a leave of absence to work on being a better person. That lasted four months and he returned at the Masters. Woods showed signs of impairment Woods' eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated and he had opioid pills - identified as hydrocodone - on him when interviewed at the scene of the crash, according to the arrest report released by the Martin County Sheriff's Office. Woods' movements were slow and lethargic, he was sweating as he talked to deputies in the back seat of an air-conditioned car and he told them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning, according to the report. Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio moments before he hit the trailer, the report said. Woods has not played an official event since the 2024 British Open. He was recovering from a seventh back surgery in October and was trying to return at the Masters, where he is a five-time champion. "I'm committed to take the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally," Woods said in his statement. He is taking a break from the PGA Tour board, that means a break from more than just golf. He serves a key role on the PGA Tour board by leading its Future Competition Committee reshaping the schedule. A tour spokesman said Woods did not take part in Tuesday's meeting, and the work would continue in his absence. "Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game, but for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry," said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, who started last summer. "My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support." Woods' defense attorney, Douglas Duncan, didn't respond to an email and phone call after the plea was entered Tuesday. Woods was traveling at high speeds on a beachside, residential road on Jupiter Island with a 30 mph (nearly 50 kph) when the accident occurred. The truck had $5,000 in damage, according to the report. The truck driver and another person helped Woods out of his vehicle through the passenger window. Neither Woods nor the truck driver were injured. The failed sobriety test During a field sobriety test, deputies noticed Woods limping and that he had a compression sock over his right knee. Woods explained he had undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 surgeries on his right leg, and that his ankle seizes up while walking. Woods, who was hiccupping during questioning, continuously moved his head during one of the sobriety tests and deputies had to tell him several times to keep his head straight, the report said. "Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle," the deputy wrote after the tests. Woods, 50, is the most influential figure in golf and has become as recognisable as any athlete in the world. The first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997, he has captivated golf fans with records likely never to be broken. But his injuries have kept him from accomplishing more, including those suffered in the 2021 car crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors considered amputation. At this latest crash, Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test, authorities said. He was arrested and released on bail eight hours later. Woods, who has been involved in four crashes over the years, is charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Under a change to Florida law last year, refusing a law enforcement officer's request to take a breath, blood or urine test became a mis-demeanor, even for a first offence. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 April,2026 10:05 AM IST | Orlando | AP | PTIThree-time Olympian Manika Batra registered a gritty 3-2 win over USA's Lily Zhang to stay in contention for a place in the knockouts of the ITTF Table Tennis World Cup in Macau on Tuesday. The 30-year-old Batra rallied past Zhang 11-7, 11-2, 14-16, 5-11, 11-6 in a 43-minute Group 4 clash, bouncing back from her opening match defeat to Japan's Miwa Harimoto. In another match, world No. 43 Sreeja Akula suffered a 1-3 (11-8, 9-11, 13-15, 8-11) loss to Portugal's Fu Yu in her Group 2 opener. She will next face China's world No. 2 Wang Manyu on Wednesday. In the men's draw, Manav Thakkar faces a must-win situation against Sweden's Olympic silver medallist Truls Moregard in Group 2 after going down 0-3 to Korea's Park Ganghyeon in his opening match. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 11:06 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIReigning world champion D Gukesh on Tuesday decided to scale back his tournament schedule following a disappointing performance this season, opting to play only two Grand Chess Tour events in 2026 to prioritise training and preparation for his title defence. Gukesh's inconsistent run has seen him endure an early exit as top seed at the Chess World Cup in November 2025 at home. It was followed by lowly finishes at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in December, a 10th-place result after tie-breaks at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, and a ninth-place result at the recently concluded Prague Chess Festival. "My performance in the last few events has been quite disappointing, not just for me, but for all of you who support me," wrote Gukesh on 'X', something he does not do very often. My performance in the last few events has been quite disappointing, not just for me, but for all of you who support me.In order to find my best form my team and I have decided that I should compete with slightly less intensity over the next few months. Consequently, we feel it… pic.twitter.com/EmtAE3hn6c — Gukesh D (@DGukesh) March 31, 2026 "In order to find my best form my team and I have decided that I should compete with slightly less intensity over the next few months. Consequently, we feel it is in my best interest to skip long events away from home to allow for more dedicated training time," he added, indicating his priority from now on would be preparing to defend the world title he won by beating Ding Liren of China in Singapore in 2024. The decision could prove to be a strategic pause to reset after a string of early exits, though it is certain to draw close attention from the chess fraternity. Gukesh's opponent for the FIDE World Chess Championship later this year is currently being decided at the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, where eight competitors are battling it out, with the winner earning the right to challenge him for the title. Gukesh added that he had requested the organisers of the Grand Chess Tour to allow him to play only two events this season, a request they supported."With this in mind, I approached the Grand Chess Tour organisers and asked to play only two European Rapid & Blitz events. They were very supportive and understanding, and we agreed that I would participate in the Rapid & Blitz tournaments in Warsaw and Zagreb this year. "I'm very grateful for their support. Respectfully, I am not planning to play any other events during the Grand Chess Tour schedule and will certainly be back for the full Grand Chess Tour in the future," he added. With Gukesh opting not to play the full Grand Chess Tour, the organisers have brought in reigning World Cup champion Javokhir Sindarov as his replacement."Reigning World Cup champion Javokhir Sindarov will join the 2026 Grand Chess Tour as a full tour participant, replacing Gukesh Dommaraju, who has withdrawn from the full tour to focus on training but will still compete in select Grand Chess Tour events in Warsaw and Zagreb. "Sindarov will compete in Warsaw, Bucharest and both Saint Louis events, bringing his dynamic play and recent World Cup-winning form to the Tour," wrote Grand Chess Tour on 'X'. Reigning World Cup champion Javokhir Sindarov will join the 2026 Grand Chess Tour as a full tour participant, replacing Gukesh Dommaraju, who has withdrawn from the full tour to focus on training but will still compete in select Grand Chess Tour events in Warsaw and Zagreb.… pic.twitter.com/ZGy7Q6fSPV — Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) March 31, 2026 Gukesh will next play in the Euro 26,000 Masters Chess Menorca in Spain from April 7-12. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 10:59 AM IST | Chennai | PTIIndian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa suffered a major setback in his campaign, going down to Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan in the third round of the FIDE Candidates Tournament here on Tuesday. The defeat with the white pieces could prove costly for Praggnanandhaa, who had begun his campaign on a high by defeating Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, leaving the Indian on 1.5 points after the setback and in urgent need of a quick recovery. Apart from Sindarov, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana the pre-tournament favourite defeated Wei Yi of China in one of the strangest games of the opening three rounds, with Caruana and Sindarov sharing the lead on 2.5 points apiece. They are followed by Praggnanandhaa on 1.5, while Matthias Bluebaum, Andrey Esipenko, Hikaru Nakamura and Giri are tied for fourth on one point each. Wei Yi sits at the bottom on half a point in the eight-player double round-robin event with 11 rounds still to be played. For Praggnanandhaa, it was a heartbreak after a rousing start, as with the white pieces he faced a Queen's Gambit Declined and, on another day, it could well have been a straightforward draw had he not pushed to play decisively. Sindarov, the youngest-ever World Cup winner, has emerged as a fierce competitor against the world elite over the past year, and on Tuesday was no different as the Uzbek seized his chances in the middle game, sacrificing a piece to dismantle white's initiative early on. Praggnanandhaa was pushed onto the back foot as the pressure mounted, and a series of errors in the later stages of the middle game proved costly for the Indian. Caruana secured a win that few expected to end so swiftly, as the game began with an English Opening and initially promised a complex battle, but Wei Yi found himself out of preparation early on, allowing the American to seize control, trap a bishop with resourceful play and wrap up the contest in just 19 moves. In the women's event being held simultaneously, the ice was finally broken by Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan who scored the first victory of the event at the expense of Zhu Jiner of China. R. Vaishali kept herself in contention with a draw against Anna Muzychuk in an uneventful game, while Divya Deshmukh, the women's World Cup winner, staged a spirited comeback from a losing endgame to hold Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia to her third consecutive draw. In the other game of the day, favourite Tan Zhongyi of China also suffered a setback against seasoned Kateryna Lagno of Russia. The Candidates is played to determine the challenger for the next world championship match. In the Open section, the winner will face D Gukesh while in the women's the champion will have a showdown with Ju Wenjun of China. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 10:54 AM IST | Paphos (Cyprus) | PTITennis legend Leander Paes has expressed his gratitude towards Home Minister Amit Shah for inducting him into the Bharatiya Janata Party and said he will strive to live up to his faith with dedication and sincerity. In a post on X, Paes said, "Deeply honoured and grateful to Shri Amit Shah Ji @AmitShah for inducting me into the Bharatiya Janata Party @BJP4India and reposing his trust in me. I will strive to live up to his faith with dedication and sincerity. Till today, I wore the Tiranga on my chest. Now I carry it on my shoulders too and will work towards empowering our youth and strengthening sports across the nation. Jai Bharat Jai Hind," Paes met Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday. Deeply honoured and grateful to Shri Amit Shah Ji @AmitShah for inducting me into the Bharatiya Janata Party @BJP4India and reposing his trust in me. I will strive to live up to his faith with dedication and sincerity. Till today I wore the Tiranga on my chest. Now I carry it on… pic.twitter.com/xw0gbPxPBf — Leander Paes OLY (@Leander) March 31, 2026 In another social media post, Paes said he is committed to working with a strong focus on youth development and growth of sport in the country after joining the BJP earlier on Tuesday, just ahead of elections in West Bengal. He also thanked Nitin Nabin, the BJP's national president, for believing in him. I sincerely thank Shri Nitin Nabin Ji @NitinNabin for being instrumental and inspiring, for his encouragement, and for believing in me as I begin this new journey with the Bharatiya Janata Party. I am committed to working with dedication and integrity, with a strong focus on… pic.twitter.com/owhBoByZIj — Leander Paes OLY (@Leander) March 31, 2026 "I sincerely thank Shri Nitin Nabin Ji @NitinNabin for being instrumental and inspiring, for his encouragement, and for believing in me as I begin this new journey with the Bharatiya Janata Party. I am committed to working with dedication and integrity, with a strong focus on youth development and the growth of sport in our country. Jai Bharat Jai Hind," Paes said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Paes formally joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of senior party leaders, days after meeting the state BJP chief, Nitin Nabin, in Kolkata, which had fuelled speculation about his political move. Welcoming him into the party, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “There is no need for a separate introduction of the legendary Leander Paes. Across India, there is no need to explain who Leander Paes is. Even so, today, Leander Paes’ entry into the BJP family is historic. Inspired by the work Prime Minister Modi has done for sports and athletes over the past 12 years, Leander Paes has joined our party as a BJP member…” I am honoured that Shri Kiren Rijiju Ji officially inducted me into the BJP at the National Headquarters in New Delhi. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to him for his constant guidance, mentorship and inspiration as I embark on this new chapter with the Bharatiya Janata Party. I… pic.twitter.com/J6W1SSTuBj — Leander Paes OLY (@Leander) March 31, 2026 Paes, one of India’s most celebrated tennis players with multiple Grand Slam titles, had earlier entered politics by joining the All India Trinamool Congress in 2021. He had campaigned for the party during the 2022 Goa Assembly elections but did not contest any polls. His switch comes at a crucial time as political activity intensifies in West Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections. The contest in the state is expected to be primarily between the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the BJP, which is aiming to expand its footprint in the state. The West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. All 294 constituencies will go to the polls in what is shaping up to be a closely watched political battle. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 10:47 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSMumbai racer Kiaan Shah marked his senior international debut with a double podium finish in Round 2 of the IAME Asia Series and IAME Thailand Series. The 15-year-old Rayo Racing driver, began the Asia Series race in 14th and finished P5 — the top five finishers are all classified as winners. Since this Asia Series round also counted towards the Thailand Series, Kiaan was classified third, with two competitors not registered for the Thailand Series
01 April,2026 10:42 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentIndia's Abhay Singh has been declared outstanding Men's Player of the Year 2025 by the Asian Squash Federation, while rising teenaged sensation Anahat Singh was selected for the top honours in the girls section (juniors). The Indian boys team, which clinched bronze at the 2025 World Junior Team Championships in Egypt, was picked for the men's team award, according to the awardees list released by Asian Squash Federation (ASF). Abhay, currently ranked 25th in the world, is a multiple-time Asian Games medallist and Asian Championships winner, and was also a member of the team that won India's maiden World Cup mixed team title last year. World No. 20 Anahat is also a multiple Asian Games and Asian Championships medallist. In 2025, she won bronze at the World Junior Championships in Cairo and was also a part of India's gold medal-winning World Cup mixed team. The previous time Indian players featured on the ASF annual awards list was in 2022 when Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa bagged the men's and women's players honours respectively. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 April,2026 10:40 AM IST | New Delhi | PTITennis superstar Rafael Nadal jetted off to the Bahamas along with wife Maria Perello and sons Rafael Jr, three, and seven-month-old Miquel to enjoy the island’s pristine beaches. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal) Posting a series of photos from their trip on Instagram, Nadal wrote: “Recently, I spent [a few] very special days with my family in Exumas [an island district in the Bahamas]. A unique place, full of beautiful nature. We are very lucky to enjoy places like this, and it reminds us how important it is to protect them for the future. Always grateful for these moments with my family!” The post received nearly five lakh ‘likes.’
01 April,2026 10:26 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentADVERTISEMENT
