The women’s 10m air rifle event also marked the start of India’s individual shooting challenge, with Elavenil, Sonam and Vidarsa competing in qualification ahead of the final scheduled later on Sunday.

India have fielded a strong shooting contingent in Aichi-Nagoya, with Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, Rudrankksh Patil, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka among the leading names across pistol, rifle and shotgun events. Elavenil, Suruchi Singh and Neeru Dhanda are also among India’s major medal prospects. Pasted markdown

India’s shooting record at Asian Games

Shooting has historically been one of India’s most productive sports at the Asian Games. Before Aichi-Nagoya 2026, Indian shooters had won 80 medals — 16 gold, 30 silver and 34 bronze.

The silver won by Elavenil, Sonam and Vidarsa takes India’s overall Asian Games shooting tally to 81 medals, including 31 silver medals.

India registered their best-ever shooting performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games, winning 22 medals — seven gold, nine silver and six bronze. Pasted markdown

Who are India’s biggest shooting medal hopes at Asian Games 2026?

A double medallist at the Paris Olympics, Manu Bhaker will lead India’s pistol challenge and is entered in the women’s 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events.

Esha Singh will also compete in both events, while Suruchi Singh is part of the 10m air pistol line-up.

In rifle, Rudrankksh Patil and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar are among India’s leading contenders, while Anant Jeet Singh Naruka heads into the Games as one of the country’s major skeet medal prospects. Pasted markdown

Elavenil has already helped India secure silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event and is also entered in the mixed-team competition alongside Parth Mane later in the Games. 

Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games 2026

Men’s Shooters

• Kamaljeet — 10m Air Pistol; 10m Air Pistol Team
• Aakash Bharadwaj — 10m Air Pistol; 10m Air Pistol Team
• Kedarling Uchaganve — 10m Air Pistol; 10m Air Pistol Team; 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team
• Anish Bhanwala — 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
• Himanshu Dhillon — 10m Air Rifle; 10m Air Rifle Team
• Parth Mane — 10m Air Rifle; 10m Air Rifle Team; 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team
• Rudrankksh Patil — 10m Air Rifle; 10m Air Rifle Team; 50m Rifle 3 Positions; 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team
• Niraj Kumar — 50m Rifle 3 Positions; 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team
• Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar — 50m Rifle 3 Positions; 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team
• Shapath Bharadwaj — Trap; Trap Team
• Kynan Chenai — Trap; Trap Team; Trap Mixed Team
• Ahvar Rizvi — Trap; Trap Team
• Bhavtegh Singh Gill — Skeet; Skeet Team
• Mairaj Ahmad Khan — Skeet; Skeet Team
• Anant Jeet Singh Naruka — Skeet; Skeet Team; Skeet Mixed Team

Women’s Shooters

• Suruchi Singh — 10m Air Pistol; 10m Air Pistol Team; 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team
• Manu Bhaker — 10m Air Pistol; 10m Air Pistol Team; 25m Pistol; 25m Pistol Team
• Esha Singh — 10m Air Pistol; 10m Air Pistol Team; 25m Pistol; 25m Pistol Team
• Rahi Sarnobat — 25m Pistol; 25m Pistol Team
• Vidarsa Kochalumkal Vinod — 10m Air Rifle; 10m Air Rifle Team; 50m Rifle 3 Positions; 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team
• Sonam Uttam Maskar — 10m Air Rifle; 10m Air Rifle Team
• Elavenil Valarivan — 10m Air Rifle; 10m Air Rifle Team; 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team
• Ashi Chouksey — 50m Rifle 3 Positions; 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team
• Tilottama Sen — 50m Rifle 3 Positions; 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team
• Neeru Dhanda — Trap; Trap Team; Trap Mixed Team
• Aashima Ahlawat — Trap; Trap Team
• Manisha Keer — Trap; Trap Team
• Maheshwari Chauhan — Skeet; Skeet Team
• Parinaaz Dhaliwal — Skeet; Skeet Team; Skeet Mixed Team
• Raiza Dhillon — Skeet; Skeet Team

Indian shooting schedule at the Asian Games 2026

Oct 1Men’s 25m rapid fire pistol final2:20-3:10 pmAnish Bhanwala, if qualifiedScheduledIndian men’s and women’s shooting events broadcast and live streaming details

When will the Indian men’s shooting events take place at the Asian Games 2026?

The Indian men’s shooting events will be held from September 21 to October 1, 2026. Indian shooters will compete in 10m air rifle, 10m air pistol, 50m rifle 3 positions, 25m rapid-fire pistol, trap and skeet events, along with mixed-team competitions.

When will the Indian women’s shooting events take place at the Asian Games 2026?

The Indian women’s shooting events will be held from September 20 to September 29, 2026. Indian shooters will compete in 10m air rifle, 10m air pistol, 25m pistol, 50m rifle 3 positions, trap and skeet events, as well as mixed-team competitions.

Which channels will telecast Indian shooting events at the Asian Games 2026?

Sony Sports Network has the broadcast rights for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. Viewers in India will therefore be able to watch the live telecast of Indian shooting events on Sony Sports Network channels.

Where can people follow the live streaming of Indian shooting events at the Asian Games 2026?

People in India can live-stream the Indian shooting events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on the Sony LIV app and website.

Gold medallist Japan’s Takumi Hojo celebrates on the podium (Image: Reuters)

Japan got the perfect start to its home Asian Games campaign as Takumi Hojo stormed to victory in the men’s individual triathlon on Sunday, claiming the first gold medal of the Aichi-Nagoya Games.The 30-year-old produced a decisive final run to finish in 52 minutes and 56 seconds, edging China’s Zhang Xirui by nine seconds. Kazakhstan’s Arlan Zhanabay secured bronze, crossing the finish line 15 seconds behind Hojo.The victory marked a memorable moment for the host nation, with Hojo adding an individual gold to the mixed relay title he won at the Hangzhou Asian Games three years ago.

Hojo pulls away in the final run

The men’s individual triathlon featured a 750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre cycling leg and a 5km run. Hojo was fourth out of the water in Mikawa Bay before moving into fifth position during the cycling section. He then made his move on the final run, battling closely with Zhang before pulling clear in the closing stretch.“I was really fired-up. Even the rain held off and I was in top form right up until I stood on the starting line,” added Hojo, who also won the Asian Games test triathlon a year ago on the same course.“(I knew) it would be tough, but (I thought) I would push myself and if it works, I think it will be a good race,” said the 30-year-old Hojo, whose victory will qualify him for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Japan’s first gold gives team a boost

Hojo said winning the opening gold had lifted the Japanese contingent and provided momentum for the rest of the competition.“As it’s our first gold medal, it’s given the Japanese team a real boost,” he said, adding that he hoped to pass that momentum on to the women’s team and his teammates in the relay.Zhang finished second in 53:05, while Zhanabay took bronze in 53:11. Uzbekistan’s Aleksandr Kurishov, who was first out of the water, faded during the cycling and eventually finished 20th. Swimming competitions also began on Sunday at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre as the Asian Games moved into action across multiple sports.

Former Nigeria youth international Edidiong Ezekiel has announced his departure from Enyimba FC after spending one season with the Aba-based club.

Edidiong Ezekiel confirmed his exit in a social media post on Friday, September 18, 2026, as he thanked the club, its supporters and Chairman Kanu Nwankwo for their support during his time with the People’s Elephants.

“Today I say thank you and goodbye to Enyimba FC.

In that one season, this club gave me memories, experiences, friendships and, most importantly, an amazing relationship with the fans.

To the wonderful Enyimba supporters, thank you for the love, trust and support. Your passion for the club is something I will always cherish. You made every moment special, and I am grateful to have shared this journey with you.

I also want to specially appreciate the Chairman, Kanu Nwankwo, a true football legend and an even greater human being. His kindness, wisdom and words of admonition meant a lot to me.

The legendary Papilo, I am particularly grateful for your counsel. Under your wings, I listened, I learned, and I will carry those lessons with me into the next chapter of my career.

To everyone at Enyimba FC, thank you for the opportunity, the memories and the experiences.

One chapter ends to open the door for another.

I look forward to the next chapter with gratitude, hope and excitement.

Goodbye, The People’s Elephant”

During his time at Enyimba, the former Nigeria U17 star made more than 30 appearances for the club.

Before joining Enyimba, Edidiong Ezekiel played for Cofine FC, Ibom Youths FC, Dakkada FC, Akwa United and Remo Stars.

The forward is now expected to join a new club, although his next destination has not yet been announced.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Ernie Els laughs as the question arrives.

Of course he remembers. You remember your great moments at the major championships like you remember your loved ones. When you have a score better than 154 players in the field at the U.S. Open, you don’t forget it.

But Els also laughs because he knows nobody has really thinks about his better-than-154-players score at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. They think only about the name that appeared above Els’ on the enormous manual scoreboard on 17 Mile Drive on that June Sunday — Woods. And yes, they think about how the only guy Ernie Els didn’t beat changed golf forever.

“I had that question for about 20 years of my life,” Els said on a chilly Friday afternoon in Pebble Beach 26 years later. “Playing with a guy the way Tiger played that whole week, but especially on that Sunday, I don’t believe he really missed a shot.”

History lingers everywhere, but especially in golf, and especially at great golf courses. It lingers a bit more this weekend at Pebble Beach, where many of the greatest stars from that 2000 U.S. Open are among the players in the field at the PURE Insurance Championship — a 54-hole PGA Tour Champions event played annually from the cliffside golf course.

Els was one of a handful of players in the field in both 2000 and 2026, and he was one of a handful of players to underline an interesting throughline in Woods’ 15-shot victory, that largest in the history of major championship golf: We don’t appreciate it nearly enough.

“I knew way before that happened that he was going to do it,” said Rocco Mediate, who finished T32 that week. “What he did, did not surprise people that have a brain.”

In Mediate’s memory, playing against Tiger at the peak of his powers was like playing Red Rover against a rhinoceros.

“He had everything. Mentally he was ridiculous, but physically he was also ridiculous too,” Mediate said. “The shots he played, none of them surprised me — because they couldn’t be played, and he played them a lot. Crazy stuff.”

It can be easy to understate greatness, to sweep it under the generalization of “The GOAT” and move on. But those who witnessed Woods that week saw something today’s highlight watchers don’t: they saw a player who had accomplished complete and total victory, who had beaten the best in the sport so summarily he faced a cakewalk into a major title — and who kept pushing anyway.

“I’ll never know how he did it,” said Stuart Appleby, MC in 2000. “It was like he conquered it. And yet he just kept making pars. He didn’t let off the gas when he was up by 8. It was miraculous.”

“Well, I after that week, I I felt that I was inferior,” said Justin Leonard, T16, with a laugh. “When it gets firm, the greens get really firm, and the rough is as deep as it is — you know, it can make you feel pretty human. Tiger wasn’t a lot of weeks, but certainly not that week.”

In the end, nobody had a better view of the action than Els, the tournament runner-up who shared each of the final 18 holes with Woods already leading by a million and still pouring it on.

“The intensity he walked on the first tee, I’ll never forget,” Els said. “He kept that up all the way through 18 holes, even winning by 12, 15, whatever it was.”

Els remembers his performance that week. He remembers pride in how he played. He remembers something else more vividly: The sense of certainty that finished his round. Not in himself, but in the knowledge that he had just witnessed his profession change forever.

“I knew the game changed especially that day,” Els said. “He obviously won some big events before that, but that was kind of a really seriously the changing of the guard in sports. Lucky to have been around to see that from up close.”

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy praises Brighton’s “incredible” performance in their 3-0 win over Arsenal, predicting they will cause problems for Premier League teams this season.

MATCH REPORT: Premier League – Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Arsenal

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India’s Quimcy Dsouza’s spirited campaign endured a heartbreaking double setback on Sunday, narrowly missing out on a women’s singles bronze before returning minutes later to lose the mixed doubles bronze-medal clash alongside Mohamed Anas Beg at the Asian Games here on Sunday.

The Mumbai girl pushed Japanese world No. 7 Yuina Sakamoto all the way in the singles bronze-medal match, going down 0-2 (11-12 11-12), before the physical toll of an intense battle caught up with her in the mixed doubles contest, where the Indian pair lost to Vietnam’s Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen and Gia Ngih Trinh 0-2 (9-12 6-12).

Playing in front of a partisan home crowd, Sakamoto may have won in straight sets but the scoreline did little justice to the fight Quimcy produced. Check Asian Games 2026 September 20 India schedule, medal events, live streaming here  

The match is played in a best-of-three sets format, with the first player to win two sets taking the contest.

Quimcy had a set point in the opening game and then raced to a 10-8 lead in the second as she looked to force a decider.

She even saved a match point and served a winner, only to commit a foul that handed Sakamoto the match.

There was barely any time to recover as moments after her singles loss, Quimcy was back on court alongside Anas for their mixed doubles bronze-medal clash against the Vietnamese pair.

Trailing 5-9 in the second game, the physical toll of playing two intense matches in little over an hour began to show.

Quimcy grimaced in pain as her lower back was massaged before she took a 10-minute medical timeout.

She returned with a strapped waist but could not sustain the momentum, with the Indian duo eventually going down 0-2 (9-12 6-12).

Despite the heartbreaking finishes in both events, India’s deep run in the tournament underlined the country’s rapid progress in a sport that is still relatively new back home.

As per the rules, the first player to reach 12 points wins a set. In the first two sets, a player can win by a single point, while if the match goes to a deciding third set, the winner must secure a two-point margin to seal the issue.

Teqball is a non-contact sport that combines a bit of football and table tennis, played by hitting a standard football back and forth over a specially curved TT-like table.

Players use any part of their body except their hands and arms, with a maximum of three touches allowed per side to return the ball.

The sport made its debut at the 20th edition of the continental showpiece.

Lane Kiffin’s big-game struggles: LSU coach has history of failure when leading top-10 team vs. ranked foe originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There is no doubt Lane Kiffin can energize a locker room, and there is no doubt he can coach up an offense.

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For LSU, that isn’t going to be enough. A national championship is the expectation in Baton Rouge, whether that’s in year one, year two, or some point in the years that follow.

If Kiffin’s track record as a top-10 team is any indication, winning the big games shouldn’t be taken as a given. LSU’s faceplant against Kiffin’s former team on Saturday goes down as another big-game loss for the highly-paid coach, and this loss might be the most painful yet given the circumstances.

Here’s a look at Kiffin’s struggles against ranked teams when leading a top-10 squad.

MORE:Lane Kiffin jeered by Ole Miss fans after arrival in Oxford

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Lane Kiffin record when leading top 10 vs. ranked opponents

Kiffin is now just 1-7 when facing a ranked opponent as a top-10 team in his head coaching career. Here’s a look at every game:

Kiffin only had one such game — a loss — while at USC, facing No. 21 Stanford as the No. 2 team in the country early in a memorably disappointing 2012 season. At Ole Miss, Kiffin started 0-5 in such games, including two losses to Georgia, before finally beating a ranked opponent as a top-10 team with a win over Oklahoma last season.

Now at LSU, Kiffin had a chance to make it two in a row but lost as the slight favorite on the road in Oxford, dropping to 1-7 in such games.

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Lane Kiffin overall record vs. ranked opponents

Kiffin is 13-26 in his career against ranked opponents. Here’s the full breakdown:

Kiffin started his head coaching career 3-15 against ranked opponents, going just 2-7 in such games at USC and finishing 0-5 in such games at FAU, which is no surprise given the Owls are not a power-conference program.

At Ole Miss, Kiffin proved that a 3-15 record wasn’t totally representative of his ability. He went 10-10 against ranked opponents with the Rebels, holding his own against some of the SEC’s powerhouses at a school that historically hasn’t been one of them.

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Now at LSU, Kiffin is hoping for much greater achievements than ranked wins, so an 0-1 start in that department isn’t what he envisioned.

LSU remaining schedule

LSU will head back home to Baton Rouge to host a reeling Texas A&M team next Saturday, after the Aggies suffered a home upset at the hands of Kentucky.

The Tigers don’t have it as bad as some other SEC teams, but they still have to face Alabama and Texas at home before going on the road at Tennessee during their toughest stretch of the season in November.

Isharani Baruah made it to the quarterfinals of Syed Modi International (BAI)

NEW DELHI: When Isharani Baruah looks at India’s badminton squad for the Asian Games, she doesn’t see a team overawed by Asia’s traditional powerhouses.The 22-year-old from Assam will make her Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, stepping into a squad that brings together the experience of two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and the emergence of youngsters such as Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda and the doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.For Isharani, the journey to this stage began almost by accident. Growing up in Dibrugarh, she was a regular fixture among the boys playing different kinds of sport in her neighbourhood. A neighbour noticed her enthusiasm and suggested badminton to her mother. There was no sporting pedigree at home, no elaborate plan for a career in badminton — just a young girl, a racquet and an opportunity that changed the course of her life.India’s medal ambitions in Aichi-Nagoya come against a backdrop of steady progress on the Asian circuit. The gap with China, Japan and other established powers may still exist, but Indian players are increasingly finding themselves on the latter stages of tournaments rather than merely entering them.For Isharani, the evidence is there week after week.“If you see the Super 100 and Super 300 tournaments, there are always three or four Indians reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals. Even in the 500s, we’re competing well. Badminton has definitely grown in India, and we’re going to reach the level of countries like China and Japan quite soon. We’re ready to challenge these powerhouses at the Asian Games,” she said.Her own rise has followed that same route. Consistent performances on the lower-tier circuit have helped her climb the rankings and, more importantly, exposed her to opponents from the badminton-heavy nations of Asia.“To reach the Super 750 and 1000 events, you first have to perform in the 100s and 300s because that’s how you earn ranking points. Playing against Chinese and Japanese opponents there and beating them gives us confidence before the bigger tournaments,” Isharani said.But perhaps the biggest change in her game has not been technical. It has been between the ears. Once prone to tightening up after mistakes, Isharani has learned to treat composure as part of her game plan. The smile that often appears on court is not simply an expression of enjoyment; it has become a way of resetting herself.“For me, the most important thing is to enjoy playing. Even if I’m making mistakes, I don’t want to become tense because then I lose focus on the next point. I keep smiling, I talk to my coaches more, and I trust the process,” she said.

Ciryl Gane has been elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and will defend the title against Josh Hokit in November.

In the main event of UFC 334, Gane makes his first defence of the belt as he fights a controversial opponent in Hokit, who is known for playing a WWE-style character.

The news comes after UFC president Dana White “misspoke” on Friday, per the promotion’s ringside commentary team on Saturday, with White having said that Gane would not be upgraded.

Last October, Gane failed to take the undisputed belt from Tom Aspinall in their fight, with the Frenchman’s multiple eye pokes forcing a no-contest in round one. Those fouls also led Aspinall to undergo numerous surgeries, and he is still not fully healthy; as such, he vacated the undisputed title this week.

With Gane having won the interim belt in June – by stopping Alex Pereira at the White House – he has now been elevated to undisputed champion after Aspinall’s decision.

Gane, 36, therefore becomes the UFC’s first-ever undisputed champion, having twice reigned as an interim-title holder.

Gane vs Hokit will take place at Madison Square Garden, with the co-main event being a reorganised title fight between champion Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes. All-time great Nunes will come out of retirement to challenger her former teammate for the women’s bantamweight belt.

Even Gane’s interim-title win in June was controversial, with many fans believing he landed numerous illegal blows to the back of Pereira’s head.