Sports
NFL Week 2 grades for all 32 teams: Saints earn an ‘A’ for stunning Ravens, Steelers get low mark
Welcome to the Week 2 grades!
The second week of the season is always a big one, especially for all the teams with an 0-1 record. If there’s one thing you don’t want ever want to do in the NFL, it’s start the season at 0-2. Since the playoffs expanded to 14 teams in 2020, only eight out of 51 teams have bounced back from an 0-2 start to make the postseason. Basically, the odds are NOT in your favor.
That’s not great news for the Texans, Titans, and Falcons, all teams that are now 0-2 after losing on Sunday. Of course, we did see three teams make the playoffs last season after starting 0-2, so getting to the postseason isn’t impossible, but all of the teams above have dug themselves into a big hole that won’t be easy to get out of.
With that in mind, let’s get to the grades, starting with a Saints team that avoided an 0-2 start by stunning the Ravens in Baltimore.
(Note: The Buccaneers and Browns had a weather delay, so those grades will be available at some point after that game has concluded.)
New Orleans 24-17 over Baltimore
New England 20-3 over Pittsburgh
Cincinnati 20-6 over Houston
Minnesota 9-3 over Chicago
Green Bay 20-17 over New York (OT)
Philadelphia 24-20 over Tennessee
Carolina 34-3 Atlanta
Buffalo 41-31 over Detroit (Thursday)
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Jacob Bridgeman’s 2 PGA Tour wins couldn’t be any more different | News
Sports
Fulham v Manchester United LIVE: Premier League result and reaction
Matheus Cunha rescues Manchester United but their major issue remains clear
A game that had looked like it was edging towards a first Alvaro Arbeloa win, courtesy of Lisandro Martinez’s bizarre own goal, instead saw another wicked deflection divert it to a 1-1 draw.
Neither club is completely unhappy, but this could have been a lot worse for both.
An exuberant Fulham at least climb off the bottom of the table, ensuring it is Tottenham Hotspur who sit there going into this three-week international window. They look the closest to the “crisis club” enduring all manner of external criticism and introspection going into an unusually long break. That was so close to being United.
Miguel Delaney20 September 2026 18:48
Gary Neville lambasts Manchester United’s display against Fulham as an ‘absolute disgrace’
Matheus Cunha rescued a point for the Red Devils with a deflected strike in the 89th minute after a Lisandro Martinez own goal had sent the Cottagers into the lead.
United took 29 shots throughout the game but were unable to capitalise in the final third and the scrutiny will now increase on manager Michael Carrick after a week of poor performances has seen them lose to Manchester City and Brighton (in the league cup) and now draw with Fulham who began the match bottom of the Premier League table.
Michael Jones20 September 2026 19:50
‘They would not let Manchester United lose’: Fulham boss decries refereeing decisions after Premier League stalemate
Fulham went ahead in the 63rd minute after Lisandro Martinez turned into his own net, though United rescued a point late on as Matheus Cunha’s effort deflected past Bernd Leno in the 89th minute.
Both sides wasted chances in a game that was sluggish at times, though there were no particularly controversial calls made by either referee Peter Bankes or the VAR team.
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 19:45
Saha: ‘Players need to play at full pace’
“At some points when they decide to accelerate, they look like a Manchester United side – there is no problem; the quality is there,” says former Man Utd striker Louis Saha on Sky.
“There are some moments, though, when they accept the speed of a charity game. That’s shocking.
“Players need to play at full pace; if they can’t after 70 or 80 minutes, they should be substituted,” he added.
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:59
United’s results so far
Here’s what Manchester United’s results look like so far this season then:

Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:55
Neville: ‘Carrick will be relieved’
“It was a game that was a real struggle for both teams. Both lacked confidence,” said Gary Neville at full-time.
“There were challenges for both managers coming into this game, they both need the international break to start their seasons again.
“The defensive work from both teams was awful and lacked effort. Carrick will be relieved going back to Manchester with a goal and a point,” he added.
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:51
United ‘need to do a lot more’
“It was too slow, Fulham ran more and looked like they wanted to win more. Bassey just eased Cunha out the way [for Fulham’s goal] and looked like he wanted to take the game to Man United,” explains Ashley Young on Sky.
Carrick will be thinking ‘we need to do a lot more’,” he added.
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:47
Cunha: ‘
“It is so frustrating for us. In the beginning, we put the plan in and created some chances,” says Matheus Cunha on Sky after full-time.
“We didn’t score and then they scored in one action. It is hard to explain. It is frustrating for us. After the goal, we played much better snd had a lot of character,” he explains.
“It needs to be from the start. It is only one point but we should never play for one point.
“It is hard. They put in more energy than us, we cannot accept this.
“We need to do our best. We need to improve in every single position.
“It is only the beginning. Last season was the same, with noise around, but we finished third,” he added as he finished.

Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:44
Next up
Manchester United’s next game comes against Tottenham on 10 October at Old Trafford, and they face a trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions league after that.
As for Fulham, they play on the same day at 3pm, and they travel to Ipswich.
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:40
How the table looks
That result leaves United languishing in 12th, with five points from their opening four games.
As for Fulham. they will head into the international break in 19th after earning just their second point of the season.
Manchester City went top after their win over Sunderland today, while Spurs are now rock bottom!
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:37
Sports
College Football Week 3 Winners and Losers: Ole Miss, Kiffin and More
It took until the late slate to save the weekend, but it was still another exciting week of college football.
The biggest story of the week was Ole Miss getting revenge on their former coach, Lane Kiffin, in Oxford, but who else were the biggest winners and losers from week three of the college football season?
Winner: Ole Miss
There’s no debate about who the winner of the weekend was. Ole Miss couldn’t have scripted a better first matchup against their old head coach. The crowd absolutely won this game for Ole Miss; Trinidad Chambliss looked like the best quarterback in the country, and a Lane Kiffin-led offense choked under the bright lights for the millionth time. Many have doubted the Rebels as SEC contenders, and if this didn’t convince people, then nothing ever will.
Loser: Lane Kiffin
On the flip side, nobody had a worse weekend than Kiffin. He left Ole Miss high and dry because he felt LSU had more national-title upside. Well, one year later, LSU is still a bit of a mess, and Ole Miss is now a well-oiled machine, even with Pete Golding as the coach.
LSU will catch a ton of heat from the media this week, and it’s pretty deserved. Kiffin continues to struggle in top-10 matchups, and it’s hard not to think the Tigers were overrated after their week one win against Clemson.
Loser: Texas A&M
After Alabama thumped Kentucky in Lexington, it felt like this weekend against Texas A&M would be another tough loss. However, Will Stein got a program-changing win on the road, and it wasn’t any fluke.
Marcel Reed has struggled in every big game the last two years, and turnovers killed him again against Kentucky. Texas A&M thrived on a weak schedule last season, and they won’t be as fortunate this season. LSU, Alabama, and Missouri are all on the schedule in the next six weeks, and Reed has to play much cleaner in those matchups.
Over the past two weeks, I felt that Virginia was a contender in the ACC, but it’s actually West Virginia that might be a contender in the Big 12. WVU has thrived on elite quarterbacks since the turn of the century, but during their recent struggles, they haven’t had a game-changer under center.
Rich Rodriguez got his new dual-threat QB, Michael Hawkins Jr., to combine for 313 all-purpose yards and 5 total touchdowns. Hawkins, the Oklahoma transfer, has been one of the most fun watches in the country so far, and he could lead the Mountaineers to a Big 12 title if he keeps playing this well.
Winner: West Virginia
Sep 19, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers tight end Josh Sapp (0) celebrates with West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (3) after defeating the Virginia Cavaliers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Sports
Daniel Jones’ abysmal record in primetime, can he improve record on ‘SNF’ vs. Chiefs
On “Sunday Night Football” against the Chiefs, Daniel Jones isn’t just trying to help the Colts avoid a 0-2 start in his second game back from tearing his Achilles; he’s trying to reverse his own prime-time issues. And these aren’t just any struggles. They’re historic struggles.
Jones has a 1-15 career record in prime time, the worst mark of any starting quarterback (minimum 10 starts) since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. It’s not particularly close, either.
|
Worst W-L as starting QB in prime time, since 1970 |
W-L |
|
Daniel Jones |
1-15 |
|
4-15 |
|
|
6-21 |
|
|
Mark Brunell |
3-10 |
|
Kerry Collins |
5-16 |
And for the “wins aren’t a quarterback stat” crowd, it doesn’t get much better when we look at Jones’ performance individually. Of the 78 quarterbacks who have started at least 10 prime-time games since 1970, Jones ranks …
- 78th — dead last — in touchdown-to-interception ratio (12-21)
- 76th in yards per attempt (5.8)
- 76th in passer rating (70.5)
- 70th in sack rate (8.8%)
Jones hasn’t thrown a touchdown in any of his last eight prime-time starts. It’s the longest streak by any quarterback since 1970, and no one else has a streak longer than five games. He’s also gone six straight games with zero touchdown passes and at least one interception, also the longest streak since 1970.
If there’s good news here, it’s that Sunday night’s showdown will be Jones’ first prime-time start with the Colts — all 16 previous contests were with the Giants.
Jones’ lone prime-time win came in 2022, when the Giants beat Washington 20-12. Jones only threw for 160 yards and averaged 5.0 yards per attempt, but a win’s a win. He has lost his last six prime-time starts, including …
Week 1, 2023: Cowboys 40, Giants 0
Coming off a surprise playoff berth in 2022, the Giants were under the bright lights of “Sunday Night Football” to open 2023. It was a disaster from the start. Cowboys cornerback Noah Igbinoghene returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown to open the scoring, and Dallas produced the largest shutout win in the long history between the two teams.
Jones went 15 for 28 for just 104 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-six by Daron Bland that, unfortunately for Jones, wasn’t really his fault.
Jones was also sacked seven times. Jones posted a 32.4 passer rating on the dreadful evening; for comparison’s sake, throwing every single pass incomplete is a 39.6 passer rating.
Week 3, 2023: 49ers 30, Giants 12
Under siege all night from the 49ers’ pass rush, Jones threw for just 137 yards on 32 attempts, had no touchdown passes and threw an interception to Talanoa Hufanga. It was very much a “Thursday Night Football” performance to forget.
“We didn’t create a rhythm,” Jones said. “We didn’t execute, didn’t take advantage of our opportunities. That’s a good defense, a good team and when you are playing good teams, you can’t afford to do that. We didn’t play well enough.”
Week 4, 2023: Seahawks 24, Giants 3
In his third prime-time start in four weeks, Jones was once again awful: 27 for 34 (good) but for just 203 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, including this Devon Witherspoon pick-six.
Somehow that wasn’t the worst of it. Jones took 10 sacks, the most in a prime-time game since Donovan McNabb took 12 in a 2007 contest.
Week 4, 2024: Cowboys 20, Giants 15
Jones once again threw no touchdown passes — he has zero touchdown passes in eight of his 16 career prime-time starts — in a loss to the Cowboys. Jones actually put up decent numbers in this game, going 29 for 40 for 281 yards, but it ended on a sour note, with Amani Oruwariye picking him off to end the game.
Week 6, 2024: Bengals 17, Giants 7
Jones went 22 for 41 for 205 yards and a particularly brutal interception in this loss.
Week 8, 2024: Steelers 26, Giants 18
Another prime-time game, another back-breaking interception from Jones. This one hurts.
Jones, who had been benched the week prior, went 24 for 38 for 264 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
“We hurt ourselves a lot tonight,” Jones said. “That’s the most frustrating part about it. We’ve got to be more detailed, starting with me. The good stuff that happened was negated by the mistakes.”
Sports
Asiad 2026: India’s shooting contingent hit by accommodation, travel woes | Asian Games 2026
India’s shooting contingent has been caught in a continuing accommodation and logistical crisis at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with athletes facing room allocation problems, long waits for transport and disruptions to their training schedules even before their events begin.
The problem resurfaced when shooter Rahi Sarnobat arrived later and found that the room booked for her at the Grand Tiara Hotel was unavailable because it was being used for dope control. The episode is the latest in a series of setbacks that have included athletes hauling equipment between properties and waiting hours for buses to the shooting range.
While Games organisers have said accommodation complaints have been brought down to “zero”, India’s decision to arrange additional rooms, transport and contingency support underlines the scale of the disruption faced by the contingent.
What is actually going on in Nagoya
The shooting contingent arrived in Nagoya on September 16 after travelling from India, but the accommodation it found on the ground did not match the booking information provided to the IOA.
According to a media report from NDTV, 40 rooms had originally been booked for the Indian shooting contingent at the Grand Tiara Hotel. When the athletes arrived, however, they were told that only seven rooms were available there, while another 33 rooms had been allocated at a Toyoko Inn property.
The problem resurfaced when five other members of the contingent, including Sarnobat, arrived later.
A coach went to the Grand Tiara to collect the key to Sarnobat’s room, only to be told that the room was no longer available because it was being used for dope control. The room had nevertheless been booked by the Indian Olympic Association and appeared in the accommodation records of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organisers.
The episode became even more confusing when Sarnobat arrived in Nagoya on Friday night and went to another Toyoko Inn property. Rather than being told she was at the wrong hotel, she was given the keys to a room there. In effect, the shooter ended up with a room at the “wrong” hotel while the room booked for her at the designated hotel was unavailable.
Shooters also face transport and training disruption
The accommodation problems have been accompanied by transport delays that have affected the team’s preparation.
The shooters reached the airport at around 9 pm on September 15 and completed customs and accreditation formalities relatively quickly. But after leaving the accreditation centre, the contingent was left waiting for transport from around 11:45 pm until 3 am. The team eventually reached its hotel at around 3:30 am.
The accommodation arrangement then required athletes to move between two properties. By the time the emergency rooms were organised, the original transport had left. Members of the contingent had to drag suitcases, shooting equipment and ceremonial clothing between the hotels, with some male athletes making several trips to help their female teammates with the luggage. Check-in was finally completed between 5 am and 5:30 am.
The following morning brought another problem. The team was scheduled to leave at 7 am for training and was expected to reach the shooting range by around 8:20 am. Only one bus arrived initially, leaving athletes and coaches waiting for around three and a half hours. They eventually boarded a bus at 10:30 am and reached the venue only at around 12:30 pm.
The shooting range is reportedly around 50–60 km from some of the accommodation, with journeys taking as long as two hours. Indian athletes have also reported long bus queues, cramped accommodation and cold food, adding to the logistical concerns.
There has also been a separate accreditation problem involving India’s pistol shooting head coach Samaresh Jung. His accreditation initially did not allow him access to the players’ arena and field of play during competitions, forcing the issue to be taken up with the National Rifle Association of India.
For a shooting team, these are not merely inconveniences. Long journeys, delayed training access and uncertainty over accommodation can eat into the time available for preparation and recovery.
It is not just the shooters
The problems affecting the shooting team have emerged as part of a wider accommodation and logistical problem involving the Indian contingent.
The rowing team faced long waits for rooms on the Costa Serena cruise ship, one of the main accommodation facilities being used for the Games. Some rowers were reportedly asked to share rooms, while three Indian women rowers were initially missing from the hosts’ registration system despite having valid accreditation.
The badminton contingent was also shifted to hotels after delays in receiving its designated accommodation. Wushu players and coaches encountered registration problems, while the table tennis team reported a lengthy check-in process.
An Indian MMA fighter, Varun Sanyal, also publicly confirmed that Indian athletes had been left waiting for accommodation, saying he had been waiting for seven hours when he posted about the situation.
Why has the accommodation crisis happened?
A major reason for the confusion is the accommodation model chosen for the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
There is no conventional centralised Athletes’ Village. Instead, athletes and officials are being housed in hotels, the Costa Serena cruise ship and temporary accommodation built using container-style units at Garden Pier. The cruise ship can house several thousand participants, while around 2,000 people are expected to use the temporary units.
Organisers have defended the model as a deliberate choice rather than a failure to provide a traditional village.
The Olympic Council of Asia has said that building a conventional Athletes’ Village would have created a facility that could become underused after the Games. The alternative model was intended to reduce costs and avoid leaving behind large amounts of unused infrastructure.
Higher participant numbers add to logistical pressure
The increase in the number of registered participants has emerged as one explanation offered by organisers for the accommodation pressure. Organisers had planned around 15,000 participants but ultimately had to accommodate more than 17,000 registered athletes and officials. Officials have pointed to late entries and the addition of new sports as factors behind the increase.
Asian Games organising committee chairman Tayyab Ikram, however, said in an interview with the news agency ANI that the increase was only a few hundred above the number originally planned for, although he acknowledged that there had been a cluster of problems during the initial arrivals. He said the organising committee had accommodated everyone despite the additional pressure.
That explanation is important because it is at the centre of the disagreement over what actually went wrong: organisers have pointed to the pressure created by participation numbers and the complexity of the decentralised model, while India says its own numbers had been communicated and invoiced for in advance.
Organisers say complaints are now ‘zero’
The Indian account has to be viewed alongside the organisers’ assessment of the situation. Tayyab Ikram said on September 18 that all genuine complaints regarding accommodation had been addressed.
“At this moment, we have brought all the actual complaints down to zero,” Ikram said, while arguing that some of the criticism that remained on social media came from particular perspectives.
Ikram said every athlete and official was now settled and that the National Olympic Committees were reporting zero complaints during daily coordination meetings. He attributed the initial problems to an unexpectedly high number of arrivals and defended the container accommodation, describing the facilities as comparable to high-end accommodation.
The organisers have therefore drawn a distinction between the initial disruption and the current situation: their position is that the early problems occurred but have since been resolved. India’s actions provide a different picture of how the situation is being handled operationally.
What India says happened
India’s Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav has acknowledged that there was mismanagement in the initial accommodation process.
Yadav said organisers had informed India that more players than expected had arrived. India’s response was that it had stuck to the number of athletes for which it had been invoiced, and that organisers had removed around 30–35 names from the accommodation list.
India therefore had to arrange hotels for those athletes. Yadav said the Indian side quickly moved to secure accommodation and had booked 18 hotel rooms, with plans to book another 10. He identified badminton and shooting among the contingents affected.
He also said India had arranged additional vehicles and sent officials to airports to receive arriving athletes, particularly because of delays in accreditation and accommodation.
The Indian approach has therefore been to solve the immediate problems itself rather than wait for every issue to be resolved through the Games’ central accommodation system.
India prepares for more accommodation problems
Even after the organisers’ assurance, India is maintaining its own contingency arrangements. The Sports Ministry has adopted a three-layer response involving officials at the airport, additional hotel bookings and outreach to the Indian diaspora. The Indian Embassy has contacted around 2,000 Indian families in Nagoya, with several offering assistance if further accommodation shortages emerge.
The first priority remains to put athletes in hotels or official accommodation. But the diaspora is being kept as a fallback option if rooms become unavailable.
India is also strengthening its transport arrangements so that athletes are less dependent on the Games’ bus system. Officials have been deployed at the airport and welcome centre to help with registration and accommodation, while additional buses have been arranged for the Indian contingent.
This means India is effectively running a parallel support system alongside the official Games arrangements.
What happens next?
The next few days will be important because a substantial portion of India’s contingent was still to arrive in Nagoya as the Games are set to officially kick off on September 19.
For the shooters, the immediate priority is to ensure that accommodation and transport problems do not continue to interfere with training. Their experience has already involved a combination of room-allocation confusion, late-night transfers, long waits for buses and lengthy journeys to the range.
Typhoon risk lingers as Nagoya prepares for grand opening ceremony
As if the organisational issues were not enough, the 2026 Asian Games now face another immediate challenge, with Typhoon Dujuan threatening to disrupt competition and athlete movement in the opening days of the Games.
Severe weather has already caused delays and postponements in some events, while heavy rain in Nagoya earlier this month disrupted transport and briefly forced hundreds of athletes and officials to evacuate their accommodation.
The latest forecast has put September 21 in focus, when the storm could bring heavy rain and strong winds to central Japan. Japan’s chef de mission Kosei Inoue said organisers were preparing for further disruption, while Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa said athletes could be temporarily evacuated if torrential rain triggers emergency alerts.
The weather threat is particularly significant because more than 4,000 athletes and officials are staying aboard the Costa Serena cruise ship. Organisers have said the vessel would move offshore if winds reach typhoon strength, creating a fresh logistical challenge after days of accommodation and transport problems.
With the opening ceremony scheduled for Saturday, the immediate concern is no longer simply whether Nagoya will receive bad weather, but whether the storm will disrupt the movement of athletes, competition schedules and accommodation arrangements just as the Games enter their main phase.
Sports
How Caleb Williams’ Injury Could Change the Bears’ Season
Everyone in Chicago held their breath as Bears quarterback Caleb Williams needed to be carted off the field in Sunday’s game.
The Bears lost 9-3 against the Minnesota Vikings, but that’s not the main concern in Chicago.
With less than eight minutes remaining in regulation, Williams slid after a scramble and immediately rolled over on the field. The initial injury has been listed as a hamstring injury.
The talented 24-year-old was ready for a big season.
Last year, the Bears were one of the surprise stories in the league, winning 11 games and making it to the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs. Year 3 was expected to be that massive leap for Williams, who showed so much promise and potential during last season’s run.
It felt like for the first time in decades that the Bears had the right quarterback and the right coach at the right time. Ben Johnson’s offense had been humming prior to Sunday’s loss against the Vikings. And Williams has really emerged as one of the premier young quarterbacks in the sport.
That’s why it was hard to breathe easy in Chicago this afternoon.
In order for Chicago to reach the heights they were expected to this offseason, the Bears need Williams. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent is a tremendously fun underdog to root for, and he has a little bit of talent, too. But Sunday was proof that the NFC North is still legitimate, as the Green Bay Packers and Vikings could threaten Chicago’s division if Williams misses extended time.
Williams was spotted in Chicago’s locker room. No walking boot. No crutches. Maybe a light limp.
That’s encouraging for Bears fans.
If Williams misses a few games, Bagent is a serviceable enough backup to keep the boat afloat. The one thing that can’t be afforded is a long-term injury to the face of the franchise.
Williams was 15-of-26 passing for 138 yards, an interception and three sacks prior to the injury. It was far from his best outing in a Bears uniform. Yet still, it can’t be understated how important he is to the team’s present – and future.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles invested into the offensive line last offseason to protect Williams. It worked. They’ve also loaded up on play makers, trying to go all-in with their young, superstar quarterback.
When you see an athletic quarterback go down with a non-contact injury, it’s easy to fear the worst. But for everyone in Chicago, the Bears and their fans will be hoping Williams can return to action soon and keep their dream season alive.
Sports
Tour Confidential: Presidents Cup preview, new PGA Tour schedule | News
Sports
WATCH: Drew Lock, JSN gash Cardinals secondary for 3rd TD
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock connected with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for their third touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, giving them a 24-7 lead in the fourth quarter.
WATCH:
Smith-Njigba has been automatic Seattle today. Lock has targeted him on 10 of his 25 passing attempts, of which he’s caught eight for 151 yards and the three touchdowns. Lock only has 80 receiving yards outside of him, but that’s all he’s needed to put up one of the best passing lines in the NFL so far this week. The first touchdown showed Smith-Njigba exposing the gap between the cornerback and safety in zone coverage, the second showed him beating tight man coverage, and this third one shows him splitting the zone with one lethal cut again. The Cardinals inability to gameplan for the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year has cost them a chance at a game in which they were tied at halftime. Since then, the Seahawks have routed them 17-0 in the second half.
Follow Seahawks Wire’s live blog for further updates.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: WATCH: Drew Lock, JSN gash Cardinals secondary for 3rd TD
Sports
Asian Games 2026 Day 1 Medal Tally: Where India rank after two shooting silvers in Aichi-Nagoya | Asian Games 2026 News
NEW DELHI: India ended the opening day of medal competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with two silver medals in shooting, leaving the country joint 10th in the medal standings after a day that also saw assured medals, big wins in hockey and cricket, and encouraging starts in badminton and table tennis.India’s first medals came in the women’s 10m air rifle event, with Elavenil Valarivan playing a central role in both. Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar and Games debutant Vidarsa Vinod combined to win silver in the team event before Valarivan added another silver in the individual competition later in the day.The individual medal was particularly significant for the 27-year-old, who had gone without a podium finish in her previous two Asian Games appearances. Valarivan shot 252.4 in the final, finishing 0.6 points behind Japan’s Hinata Taichi, who won gold with an Asian Games record 253.0. South Korea’s Ban Hyojin took bronze with 230.4.Valarivan had led for much of the final and looked on course to challenge for gold before three loose shots towards the closing stages allowed Taichi to turn the contest around. Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing the top spot, her two silvers made her one of India’s standout performers on the opening day.
China lead, Japan close behind
China finished Day 1 at the top of the medal table, collecting 11 gold, six silver and three bronze medals for a total of 20. Hosts Japan were second with six gold, seven silver and seven bronze, also making a strong start on home soil.The Republic of Korea occupied third place with 14 medals, including four gold, while Kazakhstan and Thailand completed the top five. Kazakhstan won three gold and two bronze medals for a total of five, while Thailand’s three medals were all gold.India’s two silver medals placed the country joint 10th at the end of the opening day. The shooting haul also offered an early boost to a discipline that produced a record 22 medals for India at the Hangzhou Asian Games.Beyond the medal tally, India enjoyed several other notable results. Suchika Tariyal assured at least a bronze in the women’s Traditional MMA 60kg event after reaching the semifinals, while the women’s cricket team stormed into the final after beating Bangladesh, with Shafali Verma scoring a maiden T20I century.The hockey teams also made emphatic starts, with the women defeating Uzbekistan 19-0 and the men beating Indonesia 13-1. India’s badminton and women’s table tennis teams also began with victories, setting up further medal opportunities as the Games move into the next phase.
Asian Games 2026 medal tally after Day 1
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | China | 11 | 6 | 3 | 20 |
| 2 | Japan | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| 3 | South Korea | 4 | 3 | 7 | 14 |
| 4 | Kazakhstan | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | Thailand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Myanmar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Macao, China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | Kuwait | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | Chinese Taipei | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | INDIA | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Hong Kong, China | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Sports
Edidiong Ezekiel Joins Shabab Al-Sahel After Enyimba Exit
Former Nigeria youth international Edidiong Ezekiel has joined Lebanese club Shabab Al-Sahel Sports Club after leaving Enyimba FC.
The move, SportsRation gathered will see the Nigerian forward earn around $4700-5000, monthly.

The forward confirmed his move in a social media post, announcing the start of a new chapter in his career.
“I’m delighted to announce that I have joined Shabab Al-Sahel Sports Club,” Ezekiel wrote.
“I’m grateful for this new opportunity and excited to begin the next chapter of my career in Lebanon.
“A big thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey. I’m looking forward to working hard, giving my best and helping the team achieve its goals.
“New chapter. New challenge. Same hunger.”
Ezekiel’s move comes two days after he announced his departure from Enyimba following one season with the Aba-based club.
The former Nigeria U17 star confirmed his exit on Friday, September 18, 2026, thanking Enyimba’s supporters and Chairman Kanu Nwankwo for their support during his time at the club.
“Today I say thank you and goodbye to Enyimba FC,” he said.
Ezekiel also praised the Enyimba fans for their love and support while appreciating Kanu Nwankwo for his advice and guidance.
During his time at Enyimba, the forward made more than 30 appearances for the People’s Elephants.
Before joining Enyimba, Ezekiel played for Cofine FC, Ibom Youths FC, Dakkada FC, Akwa United and Remo Stars.
He will now begin a new challenge with Shabab Al-Sahel as he looks to make his mark in Lebanon.
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