Tonight will just be Neeraj Chopra’s third javelin event of 2026, with the 28-year-old spending the first half of the year recovering from injuries. His first event of the year was the previous Diamond League in Doha, where he narrowly missed out on the Top 3, finishing fourth.
In his second event, the Commonwealth Games 2026, he won silver!
Rory McIlroy headed straight to the driving range after dropping off the pace during the BMW Championship‘s second round in St Louis.
The Masters champion opened with a six-under-par round to share the lead, but managed to improve his score by only a single stroke on Friday with a 69.
“I feel like conditions were pretty similar to yesterday,” McIlroy told the Golf Channel.
“The wind was coming out of a different direction, but still very scorable. The greens are soft, maybe the ball’s got a little bit more run out on the fairways, but you’ll still see guys shooting pretty good scores today.
“I didn’t quite hit it as good as I did yesterday, so probably an afternoon on the range for me.
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JJ Spaun impressed on Friday (PA)
“I’m proud of how I just hung in there. A lot of good par putts on the back nine, especially. The only bogey I had was with a mistake on the par-five eighth hole, but I made some really good par saves coming in and that sort of kept me in it.”
McIlroy’s underwhelming round came after Bryson DeChambeau hit back at the Northern Irishman after he questioned the value that the American and Jon Rahm had brought to LIV Golf, amid the breakaway league’s struggles.
DeChambeau said: “I think we just have a bit of a responsibility to continue to show this. If it works, it works; awesome. If it doesn’t, we’ll figure things out.”
He added: “Time will move on, and I would say that time heals things. I hope people can see that we actually bring value to the game of golf. My wish is that people give us one more shot and be open minded.”
American JJ Spaun looked on course to dominate the second round after reaching 11 under at the turn.
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Three bogeys on the back nine slowed his advance, but two birdies, including at the 18th, set the early clubhouse target on 10 under.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, two over after a first-round 72, bogeyed the first but bounced back with five back-nine birdies to remain contending at three under.
The 2026 NFL regular season gets underway in under three weeks with the kickoff game on Wednesday, Sept. 9. With Week 2 of the NFL preseason rolling, the time has come for Fantasy football owners to lock in on preparations for another big Fantasy football draft weekend. Veterans like Josh Allen, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Ja’Marr Chase all headline the 2026 Fantasy football rankings, and will likely be among the top players on most Fantasy football draft boards. The key to Fantasy success remains finding sleepers and rookies who outperform their Fantasy football ADP, and avoiding drafting players that end up being Fantasy football 2026 busts.
Last year, the model accurately predicted that Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin would fall well short of his top-50 ADP. The result: A season after piling up nearly 1,100 receiving yards and a career-high 13 touchdown catches, McLaurin had career lows in receiving yards (582) and receiving touchdowns (3). Injuries were a factor, but his per-game averages were down across the board as well, so anybody who avoided him in Fantasy drafts dodged a major headache.
The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, nailing Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous season in 2021 and correctly predicting C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024. Additionally, it’s called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017.
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Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy football rankings 2026, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2026 Fantasy football busts
One of the 2026 Fantasy football busts the model is predicting: New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers. He’s going off the board around pick No. 34, but SportsLine’s model doesn’t even have him as a top-15 receiver. In fact, it has players such as DeVonta Smith and Nico Collins above him.
Nabers isn’t a lock to be ready to at the start of the season after tearing his ACL last season and then undergoing a follow-up procedure in the spring. The Giants are also expected to lean heavily on the run game under offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, making Nabers a risky pick in the second or early third round. See more busts at SportsLine.
Another bust that SportsLine’s Fantasy football rankings 2026 have identified: Bills running back James Cook. Cook is going off the board with an ADP around No. 11 overall and is the fifth running back being taken on average. SportsLine’s model, however, ranks him as RB No. 10, behind players such as Derrick Henry and Chase Brown, saying that he should be more of a late-second or even third round pick.
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Cook has stacked two impressive seasons and was the RB6 a year ago, so it’s understandable why he’s getting first-round consideration in many drafts. He did fumble at a higher rate last season, however, and he’s not an elite target out of the backfield. Also, Josh Allen always looms as a touchdown vulture for Buffalo, as these factors are why the model is leaning to other high-end backs early. See which other Fantasy football busts 2026 to pick here.
England’s Jofra Archer, celebrates taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq ( AP)
Pakistan have created an unwanted piece of Test history after losing their opening wicket for a score of zero in both innings of the Headingley Test against England.The first instance came in Pakistan’s opening innings when Azan Awais was trapped lbw by Ollie Robinson with the very first delivery he faced. Pakistan had not added a run to the scoreboard.The same pattern was repeated in the second innings on Friday. Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for five-ball duck in the second over, leaving Pakistan 0/1 once again.While losing an opening wicket without a run on the board is not unusual in Test cricket, doing so in both innings of the same match is a far rarer occurrence. The Headingley collapse marked the seventh time Pakistan have suffered this fate in a Test, making them the first team in the history of the format to do so seven times.Pakistan have played 472 Tests, meaning the unwanted record has occurred roughly once every 68 matches. England are second on the list with five such instances in 1,098 Tests, or approximately once every 220 matches.The latest occurrence came during a disastrous Test for Pakistan, who were beaten by England by an innings and 103 runs inside three days. After England posted 409, Pakistan were bowled out for just 135 in their second innings, handing Joe Root a winning start in his return as Test captain.England’s fast bowlers dominated throughout the match. Robinson and Josh Tongue claimed eight wickets apiece, with Robinson taking 8/80 and earning Player of the Match honours. Tongue finished with 8/89.Pakistan had started the Test with some confidence after drawing their series in the West Indies, but their batting struggled against England’s disciplined seam attack. Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with 41 in the second innings, but Pakistan failed to build partnerships as they collapsed before tea on day three.The result gave England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second Test scheduled to begin at Lord’s on Thursday.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) celebrates a first-quarter touchdown with teammate Justin Jefferson (18) on Dec 8, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The young receiving duo connected early to energize the home crowd as Minnesota’s offense found rhythm against the Atlanta Falcons, showcasing its explosive potential when both playmakers are healthy and active in the lineup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Pro Football Focus has ranked all 32 receiving corps entering the 2026 NFL season, and it puts the Vikings in fifth place. It’s a lofty position that shows the talent the Vikings have on offense and how highly they are viewed despite a difficult season last year.
PFF Ranks Vikings Receiving Corps in the Top 5
PFF went through the process of evaluating the complete collection of pass-catchers each offense has at its disposal. A team’s wide receivers are the focal point, but depending on how a team sets up its offense, running backs and tight ends can be a huge part of a team’s passing attack.
Aaron Jones celebrated with Justin Jefferson after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter on Sep 22, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Vikings running back, wearing number 33, and the star wide receiver, wearing number 18, connected during the home game against the Houston Texans. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The Detroit Lions topped the list, followed by the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, and Seattle Seahawks. Minnesota rounded out the top five, here is what PFF had to say about their positioning of the Vikings.
Many fans still consider Justin Jefferson the best receiver in the sport, and he will be hungrier than ever to make right on a very uncharacteristic down year in which issues at quarterback largely contributed to his lack of success. Jordan Addison is still only 24 years old, but his play really fell off toward the latter stages of last year, with a 57.0 PFF receiving grade from Week 10 onward. The addition of Jauan Jennings helps Minnesota stay ranked inside the top 10. He brings a true possession receiver presence, making 18 contested grabs last year. However, no NFL team got less receiving production from its non-wide receivers last year (1,012 yards).
The Vikings wide receivers are as good as it gets; in my WR rankings for the NFC North, I had them ahead of the Lions. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings aren’t just an extremely talented trio but they also bring different styles and skill sets to the table.
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If Myles Price can bring his impressive preseason form into the regular season then Minnesota will have even more firepower in their offense.
More Needed From RB & TE
PFF is correct in their assessment that the Vikings need more from their running backs and tight ends in the passing game this season. There’s no reason not to expect Kevin O’Connell to be able to do that.
T.J. Hockenson was on his way to a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2023 before a knee injury stopped him in his tracks. He’s not reached those heights since but his 2024 season was delayed as he came back from his knee injury and last year Minnesota’s QB woes are well documented.
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Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dec. 7, 2025. Hockenson celebrated in the second half after finishing the drive with a scoring catch as Minnesota’s passing attack found success at home. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
At running back a lot will depend on what Aaron Jones has left in the tank at nearly 32. He has been a prolific pass catcher in the past but his numbers were down last season, but so were everybody else’s.
How the Vikings can use rookie RB Demond Claiborne’s dynamic speed could also be a big factor. His pass-catching skills are still very raw, but if he gets the ball in his hands early, he can make things happen.
Overall, the top five ranking for the Vikings receiving corps is a fair assessment; however, there is potential for even better if the play from the guy throwing the ball can be a lot more consistent than it was last season.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
Indian javelin ace Neeraj Chopra produced his best performance in more than a year but was pipped to the post by the rising Sri Lankan star Rumesh Pathirage for the top spot by a mere nine centimeters in the Lausanne Diamond League meet on Friday. The 28-year-old Chopra’s 88.05m throw in the second round, which fetched him the second spot in the nine-man star-studded field, was his best after the 88.16m he recorded while winning the Paris Diamond League in June 2025. It was also his season’s best throw.
However, the 23-year-old Pathirage continued his juggernaut this season as he overtook Chopra with his third-round throw of 88.14m.
The gap between the best throws of the two was just 0.09m.
Grenada’s Anderson Peters was third with his sixth and final round effort of 86.69m.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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“Winning World Cup Most Beautiful thing”: Golden Ball Winner Rodri
Even for experienced IndyCar drivers, competing on a circuit set against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol proves remarkable.
“We get to race at a lot of cool cities, but this one is by far the best that we’ve ever had, and I can say that very truthfully,” Kyle Kirkwood noted on Friday. “Going by the Capitol building, the views here, all the architecture of all the buildings around here, all the museums, it’s stuff that you dream of.
“It’s a serious honor and privilege.”
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix taking place this weekend is the second major sporting event hosted by President Donald Trump in Washington to mark the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, following a UFC fight card staged on the White House’s South Lawn in June.
IndyCar practice and qualifying are scheduled for Saturday, along with an IROC race (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
IndyCar racing — an open-wheel counterpart to NASCAR — doesn’t have quite the same association with the right-wing “manosphere” or the MAGA movement, but series owner Roger Penske received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump in 2019 and led the effort to put together this race in the District of Columbia.
For the drivers, it’s a welcome moment in the spotlight.
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“What’s been the coolest part of this week? Honestly, the media covering us,” Kirkwood said. “It’s cool to see IndyCar in this light. We don’t get these opportunities very often outside of the Indy 500, and to have an event that is sought after as much as the 500 is something that’s special.”
Washington has little history with high-level motorsports. In 2002, the parking lot at RFK Stadium on the city’s east side was transformed into a course for an American Le Mans Series event.
The Freedom 250 is downtown in one of D.C.’s prime tourist areas. If you’re not in a race car, it’s not the greatest weekend to be driving around the area given all the road closures, but if the weather holds up, the setting has the potential to be spectacular.
“As a boy from the Netherlands that just got his green card, it is really cool,” said Rinus VeeKay, who has six top-10 finishes this season. “We didn’t get too much U.S. history in school … but learning so much about it here, seeing all the monuments and museums and just how every building kind of has a special purpose here around the city, is very cool. Getting to see the White House, this is stuff you see in movies.”
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The Freedom 250 is downtown in one of DC’s prime tourist areas (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
The White House is not part of the D.C. course, although after Turn 1, the track does include a lengthy straightaway along Pennsylvania Avenue, heading northwest away from the Capitol. Then there’s a sharp left turn between the National Archives and the main Justice Department building, followed by a couple quick 90-degree turns as the track navigates the city’s grid system.
After a straightaway takes drivers across the National Mall, they turn left onto Independence Avenue, passing the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum. and the Eisenhower Memorial before heading north on 3rd Street to the finish line, which is just west of the Capitol.
“I think it’s more exciting when you actually get on the grounds and see what you’re about to do. I mean, when is this ever going to happen again?” said Josef Newgarden, a driver for Team Penske. “I hope it’s great visibility. That’s probably the biggest thing that it could bring to us — is visibility to people that aren’t maybe as familiar with IndyCar racing.”
IndyCar practice and qualifying are scheduled for Saturday, along with an IROC race. The IndyCar race is Sunday and set for 250 miles (147 laps) — the second-longest street circuit race in IndyCar history.
The 1.7-mile track includes seven turns in all. The Air & Space Museum and National Gallery of Art are both inside the course’s perimeter, with a fan zone between them. The track is shorter and has fewer turns than several others on the IndyCar schedule, but it’s not much different from the 1.6-mile, nine-turn circuit used in downtown Detroit.
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“It’s short and snappy, but you know what? We don’t know. We haven’t driven on it yet,” driver Marcus Armstrong said. “We’ll find out tomorrow. It might even be wet tomorrow. There’s a lot of crosswalks, a lot of paint on the track, so that could be super slippery.”
Joe Pride, the trainer of Ceolwulf, has solid grounds to believe the four-time Group One champion can regain his top form this preparation, following the premature end to his autumn campaign.
The highly-rated miler was spelled after only two starts last time in, owing to a combination of foot issues and a minor bleed. He is now slated to make his comeback this Saturday in the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Pride is not anticipating a victory on his return but is looking for a spirited performance from the gelding as he heads towards his main objective, a third consecutive win in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m).
“He needed a good rest, and he’s now had that rest,” Pride remarked.
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“We’ll see a better version of him this spring, and it has always been a good time of year for him. He’s won his four Group Ones all in the spring, and I don’t think it’s coincidental.”
Ceolwulf’s only occasion featuring in the placings first-up was on his debut. Last year, however, he showed competitive spirit in the Winx Stakes (1400m), finishing fourth to Via Sistina after a late closing effort.
Facing a formidable line-up on Saturday, Pride will be content to see him hitting the line with vigour. A downgrade in track conditions from the current soft 7 rating would also be beneficial for the horse.
“I think it’s going to come down to track conditions on the day. If it ends up being a bit wet and a few of the key chances come out, he could end up being a top three chance,” Pride stated.
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“But I’ve certainly learned not to expect too much of him early in his preparations. He’s never won first-up. He’s run some nice races, but that’s all I need to see from him, a nice return, and he’ll build into the preparation as he always does.”
The regular rider, Chad Schofield, will guide Ceolwulf, who was listed as a $34 chance on Thursday. The betting markets are dominated by the outstanding mares Autumn Glow ($1.85 favourite) and Sheza Alibi ($3.10).
Sheza Alibi was initially anticipated to resume in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield next week, but connections elected to change their minds and enter her for the Sydney event.
Co-trainer Katherine Coleman indicated that the Doncaster Mile champion is on schedule to participate at Randwick, with training partner Peter Moody preparing to travel with the Victorian mare on Thursday night.
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“Pete and her strapper Mitch are heading up with her tonight (Thursday)…and hopefully they can get the job done,” Coleman told Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio.
“She’s by no means screwed down going into Saturday. We’ve been pretty vocal the grand final this time around is the Golden Eagle, so there is plenty of water to go under the bridge before we get there and that’s when we want to be peaking.
“Definitely plenty of improvement to come out of having the trip away and the run on Saturday, but she goes there in really good order.”
Stay updated with the latest racing news and odds at racing odds.
Fans hailed the performance of midfielder Martin Odegaard as Arsenal opened their Premier League title defence with a statement 3-0 verdict over Championship winners Coventry City at the Emirates on Friday (August 21).
The Gunners broke the deadlock through Kai Havertz in the 15th minute before Bukayo Saka doubled their advantage eight minutes later. Martin Odegaard applied the coup de grace three minutes after the break as Mikel Arteta’s side laid down a marker to the rest of the competition.
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Having also scored in the 3-0 FA Community Shield against Manchester City in Cardiff last weekend, Odegaard scored for the second game running, earning plaudits from fans:
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“Martin Odegaard back to his brilliant best. Make your apologies as loud as your disrespect. You know who you are,” one tweeted.
“Odegaard seems like he’s really enjoying football since the World Cup Felt totally opposite last season Huge for us,” another commented.
“The World Cup transformed Odegaard and reshaped his mentality. Eze might get benched for many games this season,” one commented.
“Some ungrateful Arsenal fans wanted him out,” another posted.
“Martin Odegaard, there are statements to be made this season,” one tweeted.
The loss meant that Frank Lampard has won just one of his last 18 Premier League games as manager, losing 13, and failing to keep a clean sheet in 17 straight matches, with his Coventry team losing on their return to the competition after 25 years.
What’s next for Arsenal?
Arsenal FC vs Coventry City – Premier League 2026/27 – Source: Getty
Following their comprehensive opening-day victory in the Premier League as they seek back-to-back league titles for the first time in nearly a century, Arsenal return to action after 10 days.
Mikel Arteta’s side next travel to Aston Villa for their first away game of the campaign before hosting Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea six days later at the Emirates, hoping to continue their winning run.
Last season, the Gunners ended a 22-year league title drought since registering a historic ‘Invincibles’ triumph under the legendary Arsene Wenger. Fast forward two decades, they finished runners-up three straight times before winning the title again last season.
Reinier de Ridder kept his foot on the gas for nearly his entire UFC middleweight run. Four wins in seven months drove him to the edge of title contention until his body forced him to slow down. Now, De Ridder is refueled and ready for a new challenge.
De Ridder makes his UFC light heavyweight debut against Roman Dolidze at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, joining a growing list of middleweights exploring new opportunities at 205 pounds. His UFC rise happened fast. He’d already beaten former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and highly-touted prospect Bo Nickal by the time he met Brendan Allen. A fifth win in less than a year could have put him within reach of a title shot.
“I pushed my body too far,” De Ridder told CBS Sports. “Too many weight cuts and training camps in too short a time period. Now able to feed myself during camp, I’m pushing hard twice a day for eight weeks. I’m going to show that on Saturday.”
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De Ridder believes the schedule caught up with him. He took nearly six months off before returning against Caio Borralho at UFC 326, hoping the extended break would correct the problem. Physically, he felt better but still limited. Mentally, the Allen fight hadn’t completely left him.
“I still had some doubt in my mind,” De Ridder said. “Maybe scared of getting tired as I did in the Brendan fight.”
Borralho swept the scorecards, giving De Ridder consecutive losses after he’d come so close to a middleweight title shot. At 35, De Ridder doesn’t want to start the climb over while squeezing his 6-foot-4 frame down to 185 pounds.
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He isn’t alone. Dolidze made the same decision, giving De Ridder an opponent familiar in size while he grows into the division. De Ridder isn’t trying to become a full-fledged light heavyweight again overnight.
“I’m very happy with this matchup because it gives me more time to put on mass,” De Ridder said. “I’ll try to put on more kilos after the fight.”
Other former middleweights have already made noise at 205. Paulo Costa is approaching the top five after knocking out Azamat Murzakanov, while Whittaker stopped Nikita Krylov to enter the ranks. De Ridder might have the highest ceiling of the group.
Unlike Costa and Whittaker, De Ridder has already built a championship career around fighting men this size. He held ONE Championship titles in two divisions, competing under a different weight-class structure that allowed him to fight considerably heavier than he has during his UFC run. He also won’t surrender the size that most middleweights do moving up.
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“I’ll be the same height as the 205 guys,” De Ridder said. “Relative to most light heavyweights, I’ll be a little bit taller.”
It’s part of what makes this middleweight migration interesting. Whittaker brings speed and experience. Costa brings enormous power and has always been one of the division’s most physically imposing fighters. De Ridder brings length, grappling and the experience of succeeding at higher weight classes.
“Paulo only does well against southpaws,” De Ridder said, before acknowledging with a grin that he is one himself. “Maybe he wants to fight me.
“I think Robert looked so good and quick. I hope he does very well.”
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All four middleweights moving up have reached points where the road to a UFC title at 185 pounds has been blocked. Continuing to make a difficult weight becomes less appealing when the payoff isn’t immediately obvious. De Ridder knows how close he was before everything went sideways.
“There were many options at middleweight before I lost those dumb fights. I was almost there before I messed myself up,” De Ridder said. “At 205, I think if I do well in this way and put Roman away spectacularly, I’ll fight a top 10 guy next.
“It’s all in my hands. If I do well and put guys away like I know I can, I think I’ll be close to fighting for a title soon.”
India’s fifth-seeded men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty suffered heartbreak at the BWF World Championships 2026 on Friday as they went down 18-21, 9-21 against third seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China in the quarterfinals at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
The defeat ended Satwik and Chirag’s hopes of adding another World Championships medal to their tally, having previously reached the semifinals in 2022 and 2025. Their exit also means India will finish the home edition with just one medal, secured by women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand after their quarterfinal victory earlier in the day.
Satwik-Chirag let opening game slip after taking lead
Satwik and Chirag, playing only their second match of the tournament after receiving a bye in the round of 64 and a walkover in the round of 32, made a slow start as Liang and Wang raced into a 3-0 lead.
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The Indians responded with flat smashes to level the score at 5-5, only for the Chinese pair to switch to body-line shots and move 8-5 ahead. Satwik and Chirag quickly fought their way back to 8-8 before consecutive errors from Liang and Wang helped the Indians take an 11-10 lead into the mid-game interval.
The contest remained tight after the break, with Satwik and Chirag managing to stay ahead until the closing stages. Liang and Wang began keeping their shots lower and reduced the deficit before eventually moving 19-18 ahead.
The Indians then committed back-to-back errors as the Chinese pair took three straight points to close out the opening game 21-18.
Chirag felt their game plan had worked for most of the opener but said losing it from a strong position changed the direction of the match.
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“The first game was very good. We were leading until 18, and I think the game plan we had set was working very well. But after we lost the first game, I think they came back much harder in the second game,” Chirag said.
Satwik said the battle for control in the opening exchanges of each rally had been crucial, particularly against a Chinese pair comfortable playing at a high pace.
“They like to play the faster game. They were very good in the first four shots. Whoever controlled the first four shots was winning. In the first game, we were controlling those exchanges, but they got confident after a few points,” Satwik said.
The Indians also found it difficult to finish rallies despite creating opportunities. Liang and Wang repeatedly absorbed their attacks before turning defensive positions into attacking ones.
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“Their defence was also very good. In a lot of the points where we thought we would get a finish, we couldn’t. They were not just retrieving but also converting those balls into attack,” Chirag said.
Chinese pair take complete control in second game
Liang and Wang carried that confidence into the second game, taking an early 3-1 lead before Satwik and Chirag responded to level the score at 3-3.
The match then began to move rapidly away from the Indians. The third seeds reeled off five consecutive points to move 8-3 ahead, repeatedly keeping the shuttle flat and denying Satwik and Chirag the opportunity to settle into their attacking game.
The Indians tried to respond with pickup shots, but Liang and Wang continued to control the exchanges at the net and took an 11-5 lead into the mid-game interval.
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Satwik said the approach from the Chinese pair was different from what they had expected after studying their previous matches.
“Maybe we weren’t expecting that because they usually want to block and get the lift. Whenever we watched their match videos, they wanted to block and come forward because they are very good at attacking,” Satwik said.
“But today, they were playing all-around, just pushing again and again. It was difficult to lift from our side because we were on the second side and playing against the drift. It was difficult to control, but that’s how they play.”
Satwik and Chirag picked up back-to-back points immediately after the interval, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly halted as Liang and Wang responded with four straight points to stretch their advantage to 15-7.
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The Indians managed their eighth point before the Chinese added another two. Satwik and Chirag picked up one more point, but Liang and Wang then reeled off four consecutive points to close out the second game 21-9.
Satwik said the Indians did manage to create attacking opportunities in the second game, but the Chinese pair’s defence and control of the front court prevented them from converting those chances.
“In the second game, it’s not that we didn’t get any lifts. We got quite a few, but we weren’t able to finish them as much as we would have wanted to,” he said.
“They were defending really well and also dominating the front court. Even when we were getting those lifts, we tried playing soft drops and then eventually killing the shuttle, but we weren’t able to convert those opportunities well.”
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With Liang and Wang sealing the contest in straight games, Satwik and Chirag’s hopes of adding another World Championships medal came to an end.
“I think we were close to them, but we could have been a little tighter from our side. We’ll go back and learn from what we missed,” Satwik said.
The defeat also confirmed that India will finish the BWF World Championships 2026 with one medal, courtesy of Treesa and Gayatri’s run in the women’s doubles event.
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