Pawan Sehrawat and Manu Bhaker (Image credit: X

NEW DELHI: India kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat could not sleep after learning that he would carry the Indian flag at the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony.Sehrawat was named India’s co-flag-bearer alongside double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker after a late change. Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who was earlier named as a flag-bearer, was ruled out due to technical issues.The 2022 Asian Games gold-medal-winning captain said the honour made him so excited that he stayed awake through the night.

‘I did not sleep last night’

Sehrawat said he still had enough energy to carry the Indian flag despite not sleeping.“It is a very proud moment for me. We have a practice schedule. Normally, I practise according to the schedule set by our coaches or the IOA. I did not sleep last night. Today, I went to the gym in the morning and came here.“I have been awake for the whole night. But I still have the energy to carry my nation’s flag in my hands. It is a proud situation for me,” Sehrawat said in an IOA video.

Only elder brother knew

Sehrawat said he did not tell anyone about the news immediately. He only informed his elder brother, Ankur, after receiving a call from him during the night.“I told everyone in the morning (flag-bearer news). I did not tell anyone, not even my close ones. I told everyone in the morning. I only informed my elder brother, Ankur. I texted him last night because he gave me a call in the night,” he highlighted.

‘I will go with the Olympic medallist’

Sehrawat will share the honour with Manu Bhaker, who won two medals at the Paris Olympics.The kabaddi star said he was proud to walk alongside the decorated shooter at the opening ceremony.“I have met her before. She is a very motivated athlete. It is a proud moment for me as well. I will go with the Olympic medallist as the flag bearer.“It is a good moment for me to go with such a big athlete. When I met her for the first time, she gave a very motivating speech. She came to meet the entire Indian team. Today will be our second meeting,” he said.

LSU and Ole Miss will play one of the year’s most hyped games in Oxford on Saturday.

Is Lane Kiffin playing games with Sam Leavitt’s injury status?

On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin makes predictions for a couple of big Big 12 games.

ASU takes on Kansas (in London) while West Virginia seeks a statement win against No. 25 Virginia.

Northwestern over Colorado? Arizona State over Kansas?

Spencer wraps today’s show, laying out his best bets for the week after going 4-1 with last week’s picks.

00:00 Discussing Lane Kiffin’s play style
06:08 Improving the secondary’s performance
07:28 Discussing quarterback Sam Leavitt
15:56 Overseas college football impact
19:11 West Virginia’s impressive rushing stats
24:58 NC State coach on the hot seat
26:49 Kamario Taylor’s first SEC game
30:32 Discussing Louisville vs. SMU game

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

The Ineos founder has spoken just months after apologising for comments suggesting that the UK had been ‘colonised by immigrants’

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe believes the UK is ‘on the slide’ and that politicians must act to deal with ‘immigration and benefits problems’. Ratcliffe, whose petrochemical giant Ineos owns a large stake in United, landed himself in hot water in February after claiming the UK had been ‘colonised by immigrants’.

Ratcliffe apologised for those comments, stating: “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe, but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth. My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing in the UK.

“My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone. It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK.”

Greater Manchester Mayor at the time, now Prime Minister, Andy Burnham called out Ratcliffe, describing the comments as ‘inaccurate, insulting and inflammatory’. United’s Muslim Supporters’ Club also criticised the billionaire, stating: “It was inflammatory, it was divisive and it was just totally uncalled for.”

Since then, Ratcliffe has kept out of the political spotlight, until now. Speaking to the BBC in Denmark at the launch of the EU’s first carbon capture and storage system (CCS), he said: “Unfortunately at the moment, the UK is on the slide and it is quite difficult to see how we arrest it.

“Ultimately we need two things, we need politicians who are tough enough to deal with some very difficult problems, and we know what the problems are, and we need politicians who will make decisions which are good for the country, not good for themselves and their party. We haven’t had one of those for a very long time.

“Nobody is tough enough to deal with the immigration problem, nobody is tough enough to deal with the benefits problem, but somebody needs to do it because otherwise it ends in a bad place, doesn’t it.”

Ratcliffe added: “In America they applaud people who create wealth. Unfortunately the UK has got a bit of a green eye towards wealth at the moment.”

Last Sunday, United fans protested against Ratcliffe and the Glazer family’s ownership of the club. This was after the club stripped 685 fans of their season tickets, and sent warnings or sanctions to a further 464 supporters, to crack down on what the club describes as ‘ticket touting’.

“I hope Jim Ratcliffe’s watching this now, because my message to that man is sell this football club,” Steve Crompton, spokesperson for The 1958 told the Manchester Evening News last weekend.

The 73-year-old Failsworth billionaire was a supporter of Brexit during the EU referendum. However, since 2020, he has been a tax resident in Monaco. He concluded that ‘things would have to get better,’ before he returned to the UK.

NEW DELHI: Shooting ace Manu Bhaker has urged her fellow Indian athletes to put the organisational issues surrounding the Asian Games behind them and focus on competition, saying the continental showpiece represents a “once in a lifetime opportunity and experience”.The build-up to the Games in Japan has been marred by complaints from athletes and officials of several participating countries, including India, over cramped accommodation, organisational mismanagement and long travel times between hotels and training venues.With criticism mounting over the arrangements, Bhaker called on the Indian contingent not to allow the problems to distract them from their performances.“To all my fellow athletes from India, we will have some issues. I saw a couple of issues circulated in social media and people telling me these are the issues,” Bhaker said in a video message posted by the Indian Olympic Association.“Regardless of whatever the issues we have, this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity and experience. We have to make sure that we enjoy the time rather than complaining,” she added.

‘We should not waste our energy’

Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, said Indian athletes had worked too hard to reach the Asian Games to allow the organisational difficulties to consume their attention.“We have prepared the best we can and so we must try to perform the best we can. We have worked so hard to be here and we should not waste our energy in pointing out that this is not right and that is not right. Medal may come or not, that is another story, but we must give our best.”The 24-year-old has been given another significant responsibility at the Games after being named one of India’s two flag bearers for Saturday’s opening ceremony.Bhaker created history at the Paris Olympics in 2024 when she became the first athlete from Independent India to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games. She won bronze in the women’s individual 10m air pistol and mixed team 10m air pistol events.

Manu Bhaker to lead India’s contingent as flag bearer

The Asian Games will also carry a strong personal significance for Bhaker, who is competing at the continental event for the third time.“When I came to know of this (being chosen as one of the flagbearers), I had flashbacks of my earlier days. When I started, I never thought I would reach this far one day. It’s definitely feeling proud and honoured,” she said.“I was just 16 years old when I competed in the Asian Games in 2018. This is my third Asian Games. I was in Palembang (Indonesia) in 2018 and so could not attend the ceremony.”Bhaker recalled that her late coach Jaspal Rana had allowed her to attend opening ceremonies of multi-sport events only when she was a flag bearer, given the tight competition schedule for shooters.“The first time I attended the opening ceremony was in the Commonwealth Games and I was like if I am the flagbearer I will attend because my (then) coach Jaspal (Rana) sir said he will allow me attend the ceremony if I am the flagbearer, otherwise not. Since our matches usually start just a day after the opening ceremony, it becomes hectic for us.“So in opening ceremonies, I am either a flagbearer or I watch the ceremony on television.”Earlier on Saturday, seasoned kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor as the other Indian flag bearer after Toor was unable to attend the ceremony because he did not have the required ceremonial kit in his luggage.

Boxer Daniel Teasdale was hailed as the heir to the legendary Prince Naseem Hamed, but his promise never materialised into fame, fortune and films.

“He’s better than Naz at the same age,” said trainer Brendan Ingle.

Hamed had won his first world title aged 21. Teasdale was still a teenager.

Ingle, from his gym in Sheffield, moulded the careers of a conveyor belt of world-beaters and title winners. He guided both of the fighters from childhood.

Before super-middleweight Teasdale’s first professional bout, the Rotherham fighter had been featured in national newspapers, books and was being documented by photographers and film-makers.

He won a succession of national titles, establishing himself as the next contender to emerge from the Ingle gym.

Photographer Simon Roberts travelled to the Ingle gym in 1997 hoping to photograph Hamed.

“Brendan said ‘don’t worry about Naz, start photographing that kid in the corner. He’s going to be bigger than Naz’. That was Daniel,” Roberts said.

Roberts began to follow the young sensation, hoping to capture his rise on camera.

For PV Sindhu, Japan is a happy hunting ground. It was here that the badminton legend won her second Olympic medal. Back in July 2026, Sindhu beat local favourite Akane Yamaguchi in straight games and clinched her maiden BWF Super 750 title at the Japan Open 2026. This time, the veteran is here for the 2026 Asian Games. Having won a bronze medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and a silver at the 2018 Jakarta edition, Sindhu is eyeing gold at her fourth Asian Games. NDTV caught up with the superstar, who talked about advice from Virat Kohli, using the Trunome device, and her husband’s special gift.

Q: We are in Japan and we are in the happy hunting ground of the athlete I am sitting with right now, PV Sindhu. It was your second Olympic medal that you won here in Tokyo, during the COVID Olympics. Tell us a little bit about coming back to Japan, Sindhu.

A: Well, it’s nice to be here in Japan. I’m really looking forward to the competition, and I hope I do well here and come back with a medal.

Q: When you come back to a venue where you have already won a medal and experienced success, how does that feeling translate into a major event like this?

A: Actually, this is a new venue. When we came to Japan for the Olympics, we played in Tokyo, but this time it’s in Nagoya. It’s a different stadium altogether. We had our first practice session, and it has been quite good. The overall atmosphere is great. It’s an Asian Games venue, so athletes from different sports are here, and we compete both as individuals and as a team. It’s a different feeling altogether.

Q: Are you already feeling the Asian Games buzz and vibe?

A: I’ve reached a bit late. I landed yesterday, and today was my first practice session. In badminton, especially in the women’s team, we all come together and play as a unit. Generally, badminton is an individual sport, so we don’t often get opportunities to compete in team events. That’s what makes tournaments like the Asian Games special.

Q: This time there is no traditional Games Village. Athletes are staying in cruise ships, cabins, and hotels. What do you make of that?

A: It’s sad that there is no village this time. Usually, at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, or Olympics, you get to interact with athletes from different sports and countries. You get to see some of the world’s best athletes in one place, and those interactions are always special. This time, athletes are staying in different locations and competing at different venues, so that experience is missing. It’s unfortunate, but we have to adapt because everything has already been decided.

Q: At this stage of your career, after dealing with several injuries, is it more about managing your body than making technical adjustments?

A: I think it’s both. But yes, managing your body is very important. Sometimes you may not be able to give your 100%, and there’s nothing wrong with taking a break or telling yourself that it’s okay. You can always come back stronger the next day or train more smartly. Training smartly is very important because I’m not 19 or 20 anymore. Once you’re past 30, it becomes essential to take care of your body and work in a much smarter way.

Q: You’ve been using the Trunome device for over a year now. What kind of readings does it provide, and how does it help your training?

A: Trunome is very accurate when it comes to monitoring heart rate, HRV, sleep, cognitive load, physical strain, and recovery. It’s important for an athlete to understand all these aspects. It helps me assess how much strain I’m under, how focused I am, and how well I’ve recovered. Every athlete is different, so these insights help me decide what I should or shouldn’t do in training.

Q: You won an Asian Games medal as a teenager in Incheon and then a singles silver in Jakarta. What about gold this time?

A: Absolutely, why not? I’m all set and ready. I have to give my best regardless of the circumstances. Every day matters, irrespective of the draw, and I’ll make sure I give 100% every time I step on court.

Q: Who do you think will be your toughest opponent, and how close do you think you are to a gold medal?

A: We only have the draw for the team event so far. The individual draws will come next week. In the team event, we face Kazakhstan first, and if we win that tie, we’ll face Japan, which will be tough. There are a lot of strong players in the tournament. My main aim is to contribute a point for my team and create a positive impact.

For the individual event, it will be a very tough tournament because the top Asian players will be there, including athletes from China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Every match will be challenging right from the first round.

Q: This is your fourth Asian Games. What role do you play in the team setup?

A: That’s for my teammates to decide, but as an experienced player competing in my fourth Asian Games, I do feel a sense of responsibility. Whether it’s being a role model or supporting the team, I try to contribute. I share my experiences with the younger players, guide them on how to approach matches, and help them learn from mistakes.

Q: We saw you interacting with Virat Kohli last year. What advice did he give you?

A: Yes, I was going through a difficult phase at the time. I had injuries, was making a comeback, and was losing in the early rounds of tournaments. When I met Virat, we spoke about what I was going through. He told me to simply enjoy playing badminton and enjoy the sport.

That really struck me. Sometimes you’ll play well, and sometimes you won’t. What matters is continuing to enjoy the game. We also discussed how important it is to remember that your opponent is working just as hard as you are. When you step on the court, focus on playing your game and enjoying the process. That conversation really changed my perspective.

Q: What strategies have you adopted to deal with younger opponents?

A: Younger players are definitely quicker and faster, and many talented youngsters are coming through the system. But experienced players have other advantages. We know how to handle pressure, both mentally and physically. We understand how to manage difficult situations. So while younger players may have speed and power, experience can be a major advantage as well.

Q: I noticed your shuttlecock-shaped earrings. Is that your way of carrying a piece of badminton with you?

A: (Laughs) Actually, these were gifted by my husband. I really like them.

Q: Finally, what message would you like to give NDTV viewers and your fans ahead of the tournament?

A: I’m sure many fans are here in Japan supporting me, and there are plenty of Indians cheering as well. To everyone back home, thank you for your constant love and support. Please continue supporting me. I hope I do well, and I promise to give my best and give 100% on court.

Q: We’ll be supporting you all the way for a gold medal.

A: Thank you.

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India Ends CWG Boxing Campaign With Record-Breaking Seven Gold Medals

Trainer Grahame Begg is experiencing a degree of relief as Zakouma has managed to gain entry into a Caulfield Cup lead-up race.

The six-year-old gelding was initially the second emergency for Saturday’s Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, but two scratchings have now opened up a starting position for him.

Having already secured a ballot exemption for the prestigious Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3, Begg has carefully structured Zakouma’s campaign to ensure the horse is at his absolute peak.

Zakouma made his return from a spell in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield last month, finishing a promising sixth. Begg’s current plan involves only two further starts prior to the gelding contesting the Melbourne Cup.

A victory this Saturday would earn Zakouma a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17. If he is unsuccessful, the stayer is slated to run in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) on October 10.

It is noteworthy that last year’s Naturalism Stakes winner, Half Yours, also gained a start as an emergency and subsequently claimed both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.

Had Zakouma missed out on a start in Saturday’s race, Begg’s backup strategy would have been to run him in the JRA Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on September 26.

“Whatever way it worked out, his next run was going to be at 2000 metres, then one run at 2400 metres and then it’s straight into the (Melbourne) Cup,” Begg said.

“If he won the Naturalism, he would go to the Caulfield Cup.

“It’s worth $6 million, so why not, but if he doesn’t win the Naturalism, he will go to the Herbert Power and then straight into the Melbourne Cup.”

Zakouma is allocated 51kg for the Caulfield Cup and is currently ranked 70th in the ballot order. Success on Saturday will see him gain a start, while in the Melbourne Cup, he carries 52kg and has a guaranteed spot thanks to his triumph in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington in May.

Begg and his team were very pleased with Zakouma’s first-up effort, where he surged from second-last position before the turn to secure sixth place, finishing just over four lengths behind the winner, Kingswood.

He added that Zakouma has shown considerable improvement since that initial run.

“He’s got great lung capacity. His recovery is unbelievable,” Begg stated.

“He has come on a lot since his first-up run. His coat is still not there, still a bit woolly, but it’s starting to shift and another run will bring that along.”

Explore the top online bookmakers for your racing bets.

Texas Tech football news: Will Hammond sends special message to Red Raider Nation after huge home win appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Will Hammond grabbed a microphone on the field at Galaxy Stadium and made sure Texas Tech’s crowd heard him. Minutes after the No. 13 Red Raiders survived No. 22 Houston 28-26 on Friday night, the quarterback thanked a stadium that had just given him something he had never experienced.

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“Red Raider Nation, thanks for coming out. Got the win, all black unis,” Hammond said in a video posted by the team’s X, formerly Twitter, account. “This is the best environment I’ve ever been a part of. Wreck, I’ll see y’all next week at 11.”

The atmosphere had history behind it. Friday marked Texas Tech’s first Friday home game since 1941, and the program leaned into the occasion with black uniforms for a matchup between two ranked, undefeated Big 12 contenders.

The start was rough. Hammond did not take the opening snap, as Tommy Castellanos got the first two plays in a designed package, and his sideline throwaway under pressure was intercepted by Will James. Houston converted that into Amare Thomas’ 11-yard touchdown catch, and the Red Raiders found themselves down 10-0 with just one offensive snap of their own nearly 10 minutes into the game.

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Hammond steadied things from there. He hit Kenny Johnson for 28 yards on third-and-12 before connecting with him again for a 35-yard touchdown a minute into the second quarter. He finished 17-of-27 for 257 yards and a score, with Johnson hauling in four catches for 113 yards.

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The second half belonged to the ground game. J’Koby Williams, held to five yards on two first-half carries, ripped off runs of 19, 5 and 29 yards, the last untouched into the end zone for a 21-17 lead. Cameron Dickey added a one-yard score with 7:36 left.

Houston nearly forced overtime. Conner Weigman‘s third touchdown pass, a 10-yarder to Patrick Overmyer with 49 seconds remaining, set up a two-point try to tie. Weigman rolled left and lunged, but his knee hit before the ball crossed the plane.

For Hammond, the night carried extra weight after an ACL injury last October cost him the job he was expected to hold. Texas Tech is 3-0 and back in action next Saturday at 11 am.

The formidable stayer Aethelwulf made the significant step up to stakes level appear effortless, powering to victory in the Group 3 $300,000 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) at Broadmeadow this past Friday.

This triumph marks Aethelwulf’s fifth career win from seven starts and extends his current winning streak to four. He took the lead approximately 1000 metres from the finish line and simply outlasted his rivals to achieve a commanding win.

Trainer Matthew Smith has labelled Aethelwulf an exciting prospect and indicated that a start in the Group 1 $10 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3 is a possibility.

“I was a bit nervous before the race, I must say,” Smith shared. “But he seemed to get into a nice rhythm early and down the back it was a bit muddling and I guess Zac (Lloyd, jockey) thought they were going a bit slow so he let the horse stride and he was too good.

“Zac has so much confidence in this horse, from the first time he sat on him he’s raving about the horse.

“Aethelwulf is still learning but if he pulls up well we might look at the Bart Cummings or The Metropolitan, one or the other.”

Aethelwulf, a striking chestnut, is assigned a light weight of 51kg for the Melbourne Cup and is eligible for a penalty following his Newcastle victory.

However, Aethelwulf is currently quite low in the Melbourne Cup order of entry, presenting trainer Smith with a substantial decision to make regarding the four-year-old’s next engagement.

Aethelwulf firmed into $3 favouritism for the Group 2 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 3. On the same day, the Group 3 $300,000 Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington offers the winner a coveted ‘golden ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup.

Despite coming off a benchmark 78 win at Rosehill and facing a direct jump to Group 3 company, Aethelwulf ($1.20 favourite) toyed with his opposition to win the Newcastle Gold Cup by over two lengths from Steel Blaze ($101), with Bella Montagna ($10) finishing a further half-length back in third.

Jockey Zac Lloyd was effusive in his praise for Aethelwulf after the impressive win.

“He was up against some seasoned stayers and Group 1 winners and he dominated them,” Lloyd commented.

“It’s exciting because he’s still so raw and he hasn’t found himself in a race with a genuine tempo.

“They were crawling in the first 1000m but I have so much faith in this horse, no matter what I do he will be able to overcome it.

“So, I thought I would rather keep him happy and float around them to go to the front. He’s got so much to learn but he’s very promising.”

The convincing performance in the Newcastle Gold Cup has propelled Aethelwulf into the 2026 Melbourne Cup discussion, with his weight and potential penalty being critical considerations.

For those keen on the action, exploring online bookmakers will provide the latest information on the race.