India will begin its sporting campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on September 17, with the men’s doubles teqball pair of Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg set to take the court.
Teqball, a sport that combines elements of football and table tennis, is making its debut at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The Indian pair will play their group-stage matches at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center as India looks to make an early mark in the new discipline.
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India eye successful start in teqball
Gonsalves and Beg will begin their men’s doubles campaign against Vietnam before facing South Korea in their second group-stage fixture. The two matches are scheduled for 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM IST, respectively, at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center.
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The Indian pair will be hoping to progress from the group stage and move into the knockout rounds later in the day. The schedule has men’s doubles quarter-finals and repechage matches lined up after the group-stage action.
Teqball is among the sports being introduced to the Asian Games programme for the first time at the Aichi-Nagoya edition. India has entered athletes in the discipline as the sport makes its continental multi-sport Games debut.
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Cricket action also underway
The women’s cricket competition also got underway on September 17, with Bangladesh taking on China in the opening quarter-final at Korogi Athletic Park. However, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled after rain left the playing conditions unsuitable. Under the tournament rules, Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals by virtue of its superior T20I ranking.
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Bangladesh will now face the winner of the quarter-final between India and Japan in the semi-final on September 20. India are scheduled to play hosts Japan in the fourth quarter-final on September 18.
Pakistan’s women’s team are also in action in the second quarter-final match against Thailand. The winner will meet the winner of the Sri Lanka-Malaysia quarter-final in the semi-final.
Asian Games 2026 September 17: India’s schedule and results
Time (IST)
Sport
Indian athlete/team
Event
Stage
Opponent
Result
12:30 PM
Teqball
Declan Marshall Gonsalves & Mohamed Anas Imran Beg
Men’s doubles
Group stage
BA Truong Giang & LE Anh Quang (Vietnam)
TBD
1:00 PM
Teqball
Declan Marshall Gonsalves & Mohamed Anas Imran Beg
Men’s doubles
Group stage
LEE Junsuk & LEE Taehyun (South Korea)
TBD
3:00 PM
Teqball
Declan Marshall Gonsalves & Mohamed Anas Imran Beg
Men’s doubles
Quarter-final
If advance
TBD
4:00 PM
Teqball
Declan Marshall Gonsalves & Mohamed Anas Imran Beg
Men’s doubles
Repechages
If advance
TBD
Asian Games 2026 September 17: Live telecast
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The live telecast of the September 17 events at the Asian Games 2026 will be available on Sony Sports Network and DD National in India.
Asian Games 2026 September 17: Live streaming
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The live streaming of the September 17 events at the Asian Games 2026 will be available on the SonyLIV app and website in India.
Follow all the latest updates from India’s Asian Games campaign on September 17 here
Indian athletes arriving in Nagoya for the 2026 Asian Games faced a series of accommodation and logistical problems on Wednesday, with several contingents waiting for hours before getting rooms.
The rowing team was among the worst affected, with many athletes left without accommodation on the cruise ship designated to house them. Some athletes who received rooms were asked to share them with others.
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Shooters also faced delays, while accreditation issues affected India’s pistol shooting head coach, Samaresh Jung. The wushu and table tennis contingents reported lengthy registration procedures as they checked in.
The problems came as India’s athletes and officials were being spread across a cruise ship, container-style accommodation and hotels, instead of staying in a traditional Games Village.
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Rowers wait for hours for accommodation
The Indian rowing contingent reached the cruise ship at around 9 am Japan Standard Time, but several members were still waiting for rooms more than 11 hours later. A rower said only a few members had received accommodation by 8:30 pm, while some of those given rooms had been asked to accommodate additional athletes.
The contingent includes 22 men and five women athletes. An official from the Rowing Federation of India said only three of the 22 male rowers had accommodation listed against their names. The official also said the names of three women rowers — Poonam, Aleena Anto and Anshika Bharati — were missing from the hosts’ registration system despite the athletes having valid accreditation.
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The rowers had also faced an equipment-related issue before leaving India. One group travelling from Mumbai was initially told by Cathay Pacific that its oars could not be checked in. The equipment was subsequently sent to Delhi and was expected to reach Nagoya on Thursday morning, ahead of the team’s first official practice session.
Food and rest become concerns
The long wait came after a demanding journey for the rowing contingent. One rower said the team had left the Army Rowing Node in Pune on Monday evening, travelled to Delhi and then flew to Japan the following morning after a stopover in Bangkok.
According to the rower, the organising committee provided water during the wait but no proper food. Some athletes relied on food they had carried from India.
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The rower also said the team had not been able to get adequate sleep and needed rest, with their competition scheduled to begin on September 19.
Shooters face transport and accommodation delays
The Indian shooting contingent also encountered difficulties after arriving in Nagoya. The shooters reached the airport around 9 pm on Tuesday but reportedly waited nearly three hours for transport. A team member said there was no food available at the airport and that the welcome centre could not provide information on their onward arrangements.
The team eventually reached its hotel around 4 am. Shooters were also moved to a different hotel after the accommodation originally allocated to them was reportedly occupied by other participants.
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India’s pistol shooting head coach, Samaresh Jung, faced a separate accreditation problem. His accreditation did not permit him to enter the players’ arena and field of play during competitions. The issue was taken up with the National Rifle Association of India, and a new accreditation was expected to be issued.
Wushu, table tennis face lengthy check-in
The wushu contingent also encountered problems during registration. Six of the seven players were initially able to get rooms on the cruise ship, while one player and two coaches reportedly could not find their names in the accommodation system.
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An Indian Olympic Association official later said all the players had received rooms.
The table tennis contingent also described the check-in process as lengthy after reaching the cruise ship, although a team member said the situation had eventually settled.
Equestrians seek funds for horse feed
Indian equestrian riders preparing for the Games have faced a different logistical challenge, with the sport’s IOA-appointed ad hoc committee informing riders that government funds had not yet been released for horse feed and related maintenance expenses in Japan.
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An email signed by Lt Col Sandeep Dewan, member (administration) of the ad hoc panel and team leader of the equestrian contingent, said the funds released to the national federation were insufficient to clear some existing expenses. The federation had reportedly used its own funds to cover the shortfall in one case.
The communication also said no government funds had been released for feed and other expenses related to maintaining the horses in Japan.
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Athletes spread across ship, hotels and container rooms
The accommodation difficulties stem from the Games’ unusual housing arrangement. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 has not created a conventional centralised Athletes’ Village. Instead, participants are being housed on the Costa Serena cruise ship docked at Nagoya Port, in container-style rooms at Garden Pier and in commercial hotels across Aichi Prefecture.
Around 4,000 to 5,000 athletes are expected to stay on the cruise ship, while about 2,000 are to be housed in the container units. The remaining athletes and officials are being accommodated in hotels, including at locations away from Nagoya for some events.
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The South Korean contingent has also raised concerns about the size of the container rooms, while athletes from other countries, including Vietnam, China, Korea and Thailand, have reportedly faced accommodation-related difficulties.
We have a full slate in the Big Ten this week with all 18 teams in action across 16 games.
Conference play gets underway as well, with USC and UCLA kicking things off. The Trojans cross the country to Rutgers while the Bruins host Purdue.
Oregon and Washington both face in-state FCS foes to close out the non-conference portion of their season.
Here are my previews for the four teams from the West, plus UTEP at Michigan and Virginia Tech at Maryland.
Portland State at No. 21 Oregon
Friday, September 18 7:30 PM PT, BTN (Mark Followil, Rhett Lewis and Kenjon Barner)
Line:Oregon –58.5 Over/Under:65.5
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Oregon’s season did not get off to a good start with the lackluster showing in knocking off Boise State in the opener.
Things got far worse in Week 2 as the Ducks fell to Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys snapped their 12-game losing skid.
It was the first time in history a team broke a losing streak of 10+ games with a win over a Top 10 opponent. This is not the way 2026 was supposed to start for Oregon.
Now, the Ducks must start over, and the new season begins this week.
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The Vikings should pose little threat to Oregon in this one; PSU is an FCS squad that has struggled to an 0-3 start this season.
So, a get-right week for sure, but what exactly do the Ducks need to get right?
Dante Moore & Dierre Hill Jr. | Mitch Alcala/AP
Well, in the first two games, Oregon certainly has had a multitude of problems. The loss of both coordinators seems to have had a bigger effect than was expected. The defense was supposed to be a strength of the team, and it currently is a disaster.
Against OSU, the Ducks failed to record a sack and were torched for 554 yards. The unit has been marred by missed tackles and blown coverage assignments. This is where the Ducks can use the week to shore those things up.
On offense, the line has not been able to establish a push in the run game, and there have been plenty of issues with pass protection.
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Oregon should dominate all facets against the Vikings, and they should be much better up front. If they are not, then it is going to be a very long season.
Give me the Ducks by 60 in this one, only because they need to improve on those aspects and the starters could see more run than they normally might in a game like this.
Winner:Oregon ATS:Oregon O/U:Over
No. 12 USC at Rutgers
Saturday, September 19 12:30 PM PT, CBS (Brad Nessler, Charles Davis and Jenny Dell)
Line:USC –24 Over/Under:59.5
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While some teams have struggled to start the season, others have rolled. One of those teams rolling through the opening weeks is USC.
Jayden Maiava looks to be in complete control of the offense and has developed a connection with Trent Mosley, though the freshman receiver is injured and is not expected to play this week.
In the first three games, Maiava has completed 80.7% of his passes and thrown 10 touchdowns, becoming just the sixth QB nationally since at least 2000 to throw at least 10 TD passes with a 80%+ completion percentage in the first three games of a season.
Simply put, the Trojans offense is firing on all cylinders and is looking unstoppable.
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If there is a cause for concern, it has come on the defensive side of the ball, where the Trojans have allowed some late scores to make things tighter than they should have been.
Trojan WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt | Mark J. Terrill/AP
But the starters have looked good, and they shut out Fresno State, seemingly their best opponent thus far.
The opposition has been soft ahead of a challenging Big Ten slate, but the challenges will not start this week.
Rutgers has played some of the worst football in America this season and certainly among Power Four teams. The Knights are among the worst in the nation in both total offense and defense through their first two games.
Rutgers is 0-43 in their last 43 games against ranked opponents, with 39 of those 43 losses by 10+ points and the average defeat by 29.8.
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That trend continues: SC wins big, as they remain unbeaten while the Knights start 0-3 for the first time since 2008—and Greg Schiano’s seat gets scorching hot.
Winner:USC ATS: USC O/U:Under
UTEP at No. 19 Michigan
Saturday, September 19 12:30 PM PT, Big Ten Network (Jeff Levering, Jake Butt and Brooke Fletcher)
Line:Michigan –35 Over/Under:48.5
The round-robin play in the Okla-TEP-igan cup concludes this week with the Miners traveling to the Big House as Michigan looks to conclude the non-conference slate 3-0 (ish).
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Of course, UTEP played Oklahoma to open the season, hence the round-robin slate. UTEP is hoping the trip to Ann Arbor is a bit better than that trip to Norman was, with the Miners falling 51-0 and not even topping 200 yards of offense.
The go-go attack of UTEP rebounded in week two with a convincing win over Texas Southern. The Miners put up 51 points and were balanced on offense with 252 on the ground and 239 through the air.
It was a big improvement over the shutout loss to Oklahoma. Obviously, the competition was a bit different as well.
Kyle Whittingham admitted that he and the staff did not have a good game plan in the opener for Bryce Underwood. They rectified that in game two against Oklahoma as Young was electric with the ball in his hands.
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Kam Thomas | UTEP Athletics
Underwood still has not been able to throw with any real effectiveness, but he was a problem for the Sooners on the ground. The QB accounted for 87 of the Wolverines 152 yards on the ground.
So which Michigan team shows up—the one that struggled with Western Michigan or the one that rebounded against the Sooners?
I think we will see more of the latter this season and definitely that version this week. Underwood will need to get better throwing the football, but he won’t need to make a jump this week.
Michigan should be able to run all over the Miners, and the defense of the Wolverines will stymie UTEP throughout.
Winner: Michigan ATS:Michigan O/U:Under
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Eastern Washington at Washington
Saturday, September 19 4:15 PM PT, BTN (AJ Kanell, Marcel Reece and Alyssa Charlston-Smith)
Line:Washington –42.5 Over/Under:56.5
The Huskies are looking to find some rhythm, especially on the offensive side of the ball, in a week when they could also be shorthanded with several players out with injuries.
This is a game to work out the kinks and get healthy.
Washington’s win over Utah State last week was far closer than expected. Similar to their PNW conference rival Oregon, UW has been inconsistent in its offensive line play.
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Against the Aggies, the Huskies only managed 2.67 yards per rush. Against the Eagles, Demond Williams should be able to make all kinds of plays all over the field. The line should also be able to create the physical push that has been lacking.
Husky WR Dezmen Roebuck | Joe Nicholson/Imagn Images
The UW offense has found the end zone only four times this season in the two wins over Washington State and USU. I’d expect that output to more than double in this game.
The win over the USU last week may have been alarming in just how tight it was, but it is better to get a win out of it than a loss. Hopefully, for UW fans, the alarm will signal improvement.
This week is a chance for Washington to get things right and hopefully get and stay healthy before conference play opens.
Winner: Washington ATS: Washington O/U:Under
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Virginia Tech Hokies at Maryland Terrapins
Saturday, September 19 4:30 PM PT, FS1 (Eric Collins and Spencer Tillman)
Line:Virginia Tech –3 Over/Under:53.5
There was a time, 2009 in fact, when James Franklin was named the coach in waiting to replace Ralph Friedgen at Maryland. Things went sideways, and Franklin ended up at Vandy, then Penn State, and now Virginia Tech.
Maryland might be in a better spot over the last 15 years than they could have been. I guess that part is debatable, but I lean towards UM on this one. Either way, any time Franklin faces off with the Terps, I like to keep my eyes open.
The Terps will welcome the Hokies to College Park this weekend in an intriguing battle. Both teams are unbeaten, albeit against opponents they both should have handled and did.
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But three weeks ago I would have said Tech wins this one easily. Now, I am not so sure. Maryland has played much better in the opening two weeks than I had expected.
Malik Washington is a talented playmaker and put up big numbers as a freshman, but through the first two games this season has looked like a far better passer. He is completing 73.6% of his passes this season and has yet to throw an interception.
This week will be a challenge. Va Tech leads the nation in sacks this season, getting to the QB 12 times in their two games. Last week they recorded seven sacks against ODU. The Terps have only allowed one sack this season.
Offensively, the Hokies did not get the push at the line they needed against the Monarchs, averaging just 2.1 yards per rush as they totaled just 89 yards against the Sun Belt squad.
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The team that controls the trenches is going to win this game. And I like the Terps to be stingy against the run. Washington’s ability to make plays outside of the pocket will create the upset.
Winner:Maryland ATS:Maryland O/U:Under
Purdue Boilermakers at UCLA Bruins
Saturday, September 19 8:00 PM PT, BTN (Jason Horowitz, Brock Vereen and Kelsie Kasper)
Line:UCLA –14 Over/Under:53.5
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UCLA has looked good in the opening of the Bob Chesney era. The Bruins have embraced a run-first approach, running on almost 63% of their offensive snaps.
Purdue allowed Wake Forrest to run for 186 yards on 41 carries in their loss last week. The Bruins ground game could be in for a big day.
Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods, and Jaivian Thomas have all been effective on the ground and the rotation will continue to work. Nico Iamaleava looks like a natural fit in this offense.
The Bruins have already run for 10 touchdowns this season, two more than they had all of 2025.
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Nico Iamaleava | Ross Turteltaub/UCLA Athletics
Purdue will look to throw the football; Ryan Browne leads the Big Ten in pass completions this season with 27.5 per game.
UCLA completely took the passing game away from San Diego State and while Cal racked up a ton of yardage through the air, it was a bend but don’t break. Cal threw the ball a bunch and UCLA weathered it.
Simply put, UCLA is the far better team in this. Purdue is traveling across the country. The Bruins will run the ball at will and win this one going away.
Winner:UCLA ATS: UCLA O/U:Over
Straight-Up Staff Picks for Selected Games
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writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
Ricky Saints admitted that he isn’t good at jumping off the top rope. The WWE SmackDown star is usually quite smooth in the ring while he’s competing or on the microphone.
Saints moved up to the main roster and signed with SmackDown after a dominant run on NXT, where he became the NXT Champion. He unsuccessfully challenged Rey Fenix for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship on the September 11, 2026 edition of SmackDown.
Thanks for the submission!
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Speaking on Huge Pop with Donnie DaSilva and Jimmy Korderas, Saints admitted that he is quite unathletic in his head and explained why jumping off the top rope and the reality of it are two different things.
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“If you asked the internet, I’m not good at playing guitar [laughs]. I don’t know, politicking? I don’t know what I’m not good at….you know what, actually, I’m not that good at a lot of jumping off the top rope. I get up there and I’m very unathletic in my head. The way that I think I’m jumping and the reality of it are two different things,” said Ricky Saints. [H/T: Fightful]
Saints added that he never looked at himself as a high-flyer. He would rather be a blend of everything.
“Sometimes it feels like an obstacle, but I never really thought of myself as that,” Saints said, speaking on being looked at as a high-flyer because of his size. “There was a time I was trying to figure out what style I am, and I just came to the point where I don’t really have a specific style that I do. These guys that I was coming up with were like, ‘I’m a technical wrestler.’ I can do kind of all of it, but I’m more of a pastiche type guy. Everything is a blend of a blend of a blend. That does sometimes bite you in the butt, but I don’t really let it bother me. I don’t like those type of restraints,” added Ricky Saints.
When Did Ricky Saints Debut On The Main Roster?
Ricky Saints debuted on the main roster on the April 24, 2026 episode of SmackDown. He confronted then-Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on his debut and lost to The American Nightmare in his first match on the main roster.
He was briefly involved in the United States Championship picture, unsuccessfully challenging Trick Williams at Night of Champions.
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Veteran Indian fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar was one of the standout players of IPL 2026, picking up 28 wickets as his side Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifted back-to-back titles. Despite being 36 years old, Bhuvneshwar produced arguably his finest IPL campaign. The experienced pacer, however, revealed that he was surprised by the fact that RCB picked him in the mega auction in 2025. In a recent interview, Bhuvneshwar revealed his raw reaction after being picked by RCB for Rs 10.75 crore, and how the team inducted him in.
Bhuvneshwar revealed that he was in the middle of a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match when his name came up on the second day of the mega auction.
“When the auction happened on the first day, I was told by (SRH coach) Daniel Vettori that a few teams were waiting for me. SRH wanted me, but due to dynamics and budget, they could not get me,” Bhuvneshwar revealed, in an interview with Jatin Sapru.
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“When my name came up, Mushtaq Ali was going on, and I was captaining UP (Uttar Pradesh). We were just getting into the ground, and our video analyst was watching the auction. I took a peek, and I remember MI and LSG had started the bidding. When it went to Rs 5 or 6 crores, I had to go as the umpires had started entering the ground,” the pacer narrated.
“Someone came in after a few overs and told me that RCB had picked me. I was a bit surprised, because two other teams were bidding earlier. But I got messages from the team, and I was happy to be part of a team with such a big fanbase,” he said.
Bhuvneshwar walked into an RCB setup that hadn’t won a title in 17 years, but revealed that there was never any pressure to end the long wait.
“When I met the staff, everyone wanted to win, but they had a simple philosophy: if we win, it would be great but if not, it’s just one more year. We were excited and prepared, but we were also relaxed,” Bhuvneshwar stated.
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The pacer started off his IPL career at RCB, but only played once for the franchise in the Champions League T20. Upon his return, he has taken 45 wickets in just 30 games across IPL 2025 and 2026, with the team going on to win the title in both seasons.
Featured Video Of The Day
India Ends CWG Boxing Campaign With Record-Breaking Seven Gold Medals
Aug 29, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero (54) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The MLB schedule is a busy one today, with 15 games set to take place starting as early as 1 p.m. EST (White Sox vs. Guardians) with the final game (Marlins vs. Diamondbacks) getting underway at 9:40 p.m. EST.
I’m here to help you sort through them to find the MLB Best Bets of the day.
Here are my top picks:
Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Tigers +103 (DraftKings)
Keider Montero has decent on the road (4-4, 3.75 ERA, .185 OBA) while Max Scherzer has largely struggled at home (2-7, 6.75 ERA, .241). Detroit has been hitting .286 this last week and drove in 48 runs (six games). Toronto hasn’t been bad at the plate (.255, 25 runs), just not as good.
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Detroit has clobbered them the last two nights, winning 6-5 and 10-1. If recent performances mean anything, the Tigers should easily take this one. Don’t expect a bloodbath but expect Detroit to win.
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Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cincinnati Reds
Dodgers -1.5 at -126 (DraftKings)
Blake Snell is one of the better pitchers in baseball (4-1, 1.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) and he has recorded wins in four of his last five starts. He has not allowed more than one earned run since allowing four in his first start off the IL. A Reds lineup hitting .191 over the last week is in for a long day against him.
Andrew Abbott may see some success against a Dodgers lineup that has not been hitting too well (.235 BA over the last week). But even if he does, he will not get enough support from his lineup to have a remote shot at keeping this one close.
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Miami Marlins vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Marlins ML at +111
Ryan Gusto (Miami) is 0-2 on the road with a 4.45 ERA and a .277 OBA. Merrill Kelly (Arizona) is 4-5 at home with a 5.83 ERA and a .279 OBA. Guston pitched four shutout innings earlier in the season vs. Arizona, a game the Marlins won 8-0. Kelly pitched six solid innings against Miami earlier in the year, but with no run support Arizona lost 2-0.
Arizona has a slightly better bullpen with a 3.95 ERA compared to 4.06 for the Marlins. Both have been hitting well over the last week, but Miami has been better (.286 with 37 runs scored in six games compared to .272 and 29 runs).
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The line doesn’t suggest a blowout, but it does make Arizona a solid favorite. I see this game as being a 50/50 contest that could go either way, which makes the Marlins moneyline a solid value play.
New Zealand shifts its home semi-final to Eden Park seeking a response after a 26-16 qualifying-final loss to the Dolphins. The Warriors had won six consecutive matches before that setback and defeated Newcastle twice during the regular season, while their most recent finals meeting produced a 40-10 victory in 2023. Jackson Ford is unavailable after sustaining an ankle injury on his return, with Morgan Gannon joining the interchange. Leka Halasima and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak are listed among the reserves as they push to overcome hamstring and collarbone injuries respectively. Newcastle arrives with confidence after eliminating South Sydney 20-10 and has retained the same squad, including Dylan Lucas on the extended bench following his ankle injury. Dominic Young provides a major attacking threat, but the Warriors’ strong record against Newcastle in New Zealand and their ability to control first halves give them the clearer route forward.
New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights Teams
Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 18. Jett Cleary 20. Morgan Gannon 21. Makaia Tafua 22. Leka Halasima 23. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Cody Hopwood 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Francis Manuleleua 13. Mathew Croker 14. Harrison Graham 15. Lachlan Crouch 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Thomas Cant 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Toby Winter 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Elijah Leaumoana 22. Dylan Lucas
Sumit Nagal of Team India (Photo by Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images for ITF)
India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal has had a difficult 2026 season, with injuries disrupting his progress and pushing him down to No. 247 in the rankings. But the 29-year-old says he has changed his mindset and is now focused more on enjoying tennis than constantly worrying about results.Nagal started the year with a hip injury picked up during a Challenger event in Thailand. He returned early for India’s Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands in Bengaluru because he wanted to represent the country.“I started the year with an injury, then played Davis Cup (in Bengaluru). I was always running behind time. I came in early to play because it was Davis Cup and Team India,” Nagal told PTI.“If it wasn’t for the Davis Cup, I would have taken the whole month off.”He later developed a wrist problem and said he did not feel fully fit until May.“I was in a position where I wasn’t healthy, but I was playing. And then March, again, I started feeling something in my wrist. So I didn’t feel good till I would say May.”
Nagal changes his approach
Despite the setbacks, Nagal won a Challenger title in Romania and reached another semifinal in Czechia. He believes his game has improved in recent months.“The last two, three months have been better comparing to the first half of the year. And now I just have to build on it,” he said.His US Open qualifying campaign ended with a 3-6, 6-7(4) loss to France’s Arthur Gea. Nagal, however, felt the close match showed he can still compete at a high level.“My last match in the US Open was a little bit unfortunate. I had a few break points and the guy ended up making the fourth round. So I feel like it’s there, it’s just I need to work hard for it to go in my favour,” he said.The constant cycle of playing and recovering also affected him mentally.“It’s not so fun, because when you play for two months and then you’re out for two months and you play for two months, I don’t think it’s so much fun. But I’m done playing the victim. I take it as what it is, how it is, and I try to enjoy every day.Before the US Open, Nagal realised he needed to stop putting all his focus on winning.“I realised that I need to be more happy. Very simple, actually. And not focus too much about winning, winning, winning, winning. Because I was doing that and it wasn’t really working for me.”A loss to Jan Kumsat in Prague helped him reach that realisation.“I lost a match in Prague and I was driving back. And that’s when I realised, I said, man, like this is just not fun. I’m not going to survive like this if I keep putting pressure on myself that every match I step on, I need to win, win, win,” Nagal said.“I was just burning too much energy throughout the match and throughout the days.”
‘The focus right now is to compete’
Nagal has also put his immediate goal of returning to the top 100 aside.“You always want to play the Slams. You want to be top 50, top 30. But I wouldn’t say that’s my focus right now. The focus right now is to compete, man,” he said.Earlier in the season, he often struggled to maintain his level throughout matches.“For a lot of weeks, I was playing two good sets and not the third set. That’s very basic. Or I was playing one good set and not a good second set because I was just playing the victim thing and saying, ‘Oh, this is not working for myself. This is not working. This is against me. Everything was against me’,” he said.“And like this, whatever, you can have any goals. But like this, you’re not going to reach anywhere.”Nagal is also willing to help younger Indian players but does not want to force himself into a leadership role.“I’m always open for them. I guide them if something is needed. But also, I don’t want to be in there, let’s say, as a leadership role when it’s not asked,” he said.“At the end of the day, it’s still a team sport. It shouldn’t be one guy leading the team. Of course, my help is there. I’ve always said it. I always want Indian tennis to do well. Never a question.”
A rain threat looms over women’s cricket matches on the opening day of the Asian Games 2026 tournament on Thursday, September 17, with China already eliminated after their quarter-final against Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
The women’s competition began two days before the September 19 opening ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India are scheduled to begin their campaign against hosts Japan on Friday, September 18.
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Persistent bad weather at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, on the outskirts of Nagoya, forced the cancellation of Thursday morning’s opening quarter-final. Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals under the tournament’s ranking rule, ending China’s campaign before they could play.
Higher ranking sends Bangladesh into semi-finals
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Under Rule 16.10.2(b) of the Asian Games cricket playing conditions, the higher-ranked team advances when a match is washed out. That provision favoured Bangladesh, led by Nigar Sultana, over China.
With no play possible, rankings determined which side remained in contention for a medal. China’s third Asian Games appearance since 2010 therefore ended at the quarter-final stage.
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The same provision applied at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, when rain-hit quarter-finals saw India, Pakistan and Bangladesh progress to the last four.
China’s elimination also ends the country’s participation in cricket at these Games, as its men’s team is not among the eight sides competing in that tournament.
Nisshin weather forecast points to afternoon rain
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AccuWeather’s hourly forecast for Nisshin points to a continued risk of afternoon rain on Thursday. AccuWeather hourly forecast.
Time in JapanTime in IndiaPrecipitation probability
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3 pm11.30 am IST43 per cent
4 pm12.30 pm IST68 per cent
5 pm1.30 pm IST62 per cent
6 pm2.30 pm IST49 per cent
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Pakistan’s quarter-final against Thailand is the other fixture on Thursday’s programme at the same venue.
India face Japan on September 18
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Harmanpreet Kaur’s India will play their quarter-final against Japan in Nisshin on Friday. Bangladesh could meet India in the semi-finals if the Indian team progresses.
Both semi-finals are scheduled for Sunday, September 20, with the gold medal match on September 22. All cricket matches at the Asian Games will be held at Korogi Sports Park.
Barcelona forward Raphinha has made his feelings clear about Lamine Yamal missing a penalty kick during the 7-2 thrashing of Racing Santander in La Liga on Wednesday. The Brazilian stated that he didn’t see the miss as a big deal while pledging to help the 19-year-old and the rest of the team.
Lamine Yamal got the opportunity to put his name on the scoresheet when he stepped up to take a penalty kick won by Karim Adeyemi just before half-time. Unfortunately, the Spaniard failed to beat the goalkeeper from the spot, leaving him visibly frustrated.
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Reacting to the episode after the final whistle, Raphinha insisted that it wasn’t an issue as even he could also miss from the spot.
”We always have to think about the team,” the Barcelona captain told DAZN (via Barca Blaugranes). “In the first half, Lamine needed it, he missed the penalty, but it wasn’t a big deal.
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“I can miss too. I’m always going to help him and the rest of the team. I know that for a striker, goals are essential. We are a family and we all need to be doing well and on the same path,” he added.
After missing the penalty kick and failing to convert a couple of shots including one that hit the woodwork, Lamine Yamal finally found the back of the net in the closing minutes of the game, all thanks to Karim Adeyemi. The German international won the ball in his own half, made a solo run into the opposition box and passed it to the Spaniard to tuck it home.
Meanwhile, Raphinha stole the highlights with his fantastic hat-trick during the encounter while Adeyemi also earned praise from Barcelona fans for his selfless and electric performance on the left flank.
Lamine Yamal’s incredible numbers for Barcelona so far this season
After leading Spain to the 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph this summer, Lamine Yamal has entered the new season in spectacular form. The attacker remains a pivotal figure in Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, creating solutions for the team in front of goal.
So far, he’s made seven appearances for the Catalan giants across all competitions, recording eight goals and four assists to his name. That includes seven goals and two assists in six La Liga outings, as well as one goal and two assists in the UEFA Champions League.
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As it stands, the Spaniard is one of the leading candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award following his brilliant performances and achievements with club and country during the year.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino plans to seek his fourth and final term in next year’s election, despite the outrage sparked by his now-shelved plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. “Nothing has changed,” a spokesman for football’s governing body confirmed on Sunday, referring to an announcement Infantino made back in April.
Conference play gets underway as well, with USC and UCLA kicking things off. The Trojans cross the country to Rutgers while the Bruins host Purdue.
Portland State at No. 21 Oregon
No. 12 USC at Rutgers
UTEP at No. 19 Michigan
Eastern Washington at Washington
Virginia Tech Hokies at Maryland Terrapins
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