GONDA: In intensely hot and oppressive Gonda, at the Nandini Nagar Mahavidyalaya where wrestling mats have replaced school desks, hundreds of athletes wait endlessly for their bouts. In that wait, one name has dominated every conversation — Vinesh Phogat.The Katha Vachak central hall at the university complex in Nawabganj has turned into one giant wrestling…

File Pic: Vinesh Phogat (PTI Photo) GONDA: In the ongoing standoff between Vinesh Phogat and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the sport’s global governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW), has reportedly backed the Indian federation’s authority to decide on the wrestler’s future participation and any disciplinary proceedings.According to messages accessed by TOI, UWW president…

Shubman Gill’s (Photo by @ShubmanGill on X) NEW DELHI: Shubman Gill grabbed attention on social media once again after Gujarat Titans registered a crushing 82-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026. Soon after the win in Ahmedabad, the GT skipper shared a cheeky Instagram post with the caption: “Dil abhi bhi sache, aur ghar…

Preity Zinta slams at fake reports amid PBKS slump (image: X) Punjab Kings’ IPL 2026 campaign has suddenly taken a worrying turn after four consecutive defeats, dramatically changing the complexion of their season. Once comfortably sitting at the top of the points table following a seven-match unbeaten streak, consisting of six wins and one no-result,…

Madhav Tiwari (BCCI Photo) DHARAMSHALA: Madhav Tiwari still remembers how tiring bowling used to feel. As a 13-year-old kid in Indore, newly introduced to leather-ball cricket after changing schools, batting was the only thing that truly excited him. Bowling, in comparison, felt like labour. “I really liked batting. I wanted to become a batsman. Bowling…

Koneru Humpy (FIDE Photo) PUNE: Koneru Humpy, India’s top-rated woman chess player, said that besides China’s Zhu Jiner she doesn’t see any woman player having the potential to reach an Elo rating of 2600 and break into the top-100 in Open world rankings.Humpy, who is set to play Norway elite chess meet from May 25…

Gujarat Titans’ Kagiso Rabada and teammates (ANI Photo) With 14 games remaining in the league stage, LSG and MI are already out of contention for the playoffs and DC is barely hanging in there. GT has almost qualified while RCB and SRH would have to do really badly from here on not to make the…

Hardik Pandya (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya dropped a major hint about his whereabouts through his latest Instagram story, where the star all-rounder was seen training at the Reliance facility in Mumbai amid doubts over his availability for MI’s next IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Thursday.The all-rounder,…

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli (ANI Photo) Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Shane Watson admitted his side are hoping for an early mistake from Virat Kohli when KKR face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a crucial IPL 2026 clash on Wednesday.Kohli has once again been among RCB’s standout performers this season, scoring 379 runs in 11…

FC Barcelona player Lamine Yamal holds a Palestinian flag (AP Photo) FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal once again found himself at the centre of attention during the club’s La Liga title celebrations after waving a Palestinian flag during the team’s open-top bus parade through the streets of Barcelona. The 18-year-old winger, regarded as one of…