Indian chess Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa won his maiden St. Louis Rapid & Blitz 2026 title at the Saint Louis Chess Club, USA, held from 31 July to 7 August 2026.
He scored 23.5/35 points, finishing 1.5 points ahead of Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan. Wesley So of the USA finished third with 20.5 points. Praggnanandhaa earned $50,000 and 13 Grand Chess Tour points, moving to second place in the overall Grand Chess Tour standings.
The victory is significant as Praggnanandhaa had also won Norway Chess 2026 earlier in the year.
Harshita Jakhar, a 19-year-old cyclist from Rajasthan, became the first Indian woman to participate in the Tour de France Femmes. She took part in the ceremonial start of Stage 2 on 2 August 2026 in Switzerland.
Harshita was part of a specially selected group of eight cyclists from countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Chile, Ethiopia, Namibia and Uganda.
The riders were selected by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) and completed a 4.5-km neutralised section of the course.
The Tour de France Femmes is the women’s equivalent of the men’s Tour de France and is part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar.
The 2026 race began on 1 August in Lausanne and is scheduled to conclude on 9 August in Nice.
Harshita has achieved several successes in junior and senior cycling competitions in India.
Her goals are to finish in the Top 10 at the 2026 Asian Games and win a medal at the 2030 Asian Games.
Exam Point: Harshita Jakhar → First Indian woman at Tour de France Femmes → Rajasthan → 2026.
The Commonwealth Games 2026 were held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August 2026. India delivered one of its strongest performances at the Games, winning 39 medals and finishing 4th in the overall medal standings.
India won 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze medals. Boxing was the biggest success for India, while weightlifting, athletics, para-athletics and judo also produced several historic achievements.
India’s Medal Tally
🥇 Gold: 13
🥈 Silver: 17
🥉 Bronze: 9
🏅 Total: 39
Overall Rank: 4th
Major Highlights
Boxing: Indian boxers won a record 10 medals, including 7 gold medals, making it India’s best-ever Commonwealth Games boxing performance.
Mirabai Chanu: Won gold in the women’s 48 kg weightlifting event and completed a Commonwealth Games hat-trick.
Judo:Asmita Dey won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games judo gold. Harsh Singh became the first Indian male judoka to win a CWG gold.
Para-athletics:Sharmila Dhankar won India’s first Commonwealth Games para-athletics gold.
Dilip Gavit: Won gold in the men’s 100m T47 event.
Soman Rana: Won gold in the men’s F57 shot put.
Neeraj Chopra: Won silver in men’s javelin with a season-best throw.
Gulveer Singh: Won silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m, becoming the first Indian to win two athletics medals at the same Commonwealth Games.
Tejaswin Shankar: Won bronze in the decathlon, becoming the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games decathlon medal.
Jhandu Kumar: Won India’s first medal of the 2026 Games in para powerlifting.
Top Countries in the Medal Table
Rank
Country
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
1
Australia
65
41
52
158
2
England
26
40
35
101
3
Canada
18
20
21
59
4
India
13
17
9
39
5
Scotland
13
8
17
38
Overall Significance
India’s performance was particularly notable because several of its traditional strong sports, such as wrestling, badminton, shooting and hockey, were not part of these Games. Despite this, Indian athletes performed strongly in boxing, weightlifting, athletics, para-athletics and judo.
India’s 39-medal haul and 4th-place finish highlighted the country’s growing strength across a wider range of sports.
On 25 July 2026, Anahat Singh created history by becoming the first Indian to win the World Squash Junior Individual Championships, defeating Ruqayya Salem (Egypt)3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-9) in the girls’ singles final at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. Her victory ended Egypt’s 15-year dominance in the championship and marked a historic milestone for Indian squash.
Born on 13 March 2008 in New Delhi, Anahat Singh is coached by Saurav Ghosal, Stéphane Galifi, and Grégory Gaultier. She has previously won the British Junior Open U-11 (2019), US Junior Open (2021), Asian Junior U-15 Championship (2022), Squash World Cup gold (2025), and was named PSA Young Player of the Year and Challenger Player of the Year (2025). She also became the youngest Indian squash player to compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the age of 14.
The Commonwealth Games 2026 officially opened in Glasgow, Scotland on 23 July with a vibrant indoor ceremony at the OVO Hydro Arena. Over 3,000 athletes from 74 nations are competing across 11 days, with India fielding a 124-member contingent led by Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain.
P.V. Sindhu won the Japan Open 2026 women’s singles title by defeating home favourite and World No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi21-17, 21-17 in the final of the BWF Super 750 tournament on 19 July 2026 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
With this victory, Sindhu became the first Indian shuttler to win the Japan Open. It was her first BWF Super 750 title, her first BWF World Tour title since the Syed Modi International 2024, and her biggest achievement since winning the BWF World Championships in 2019.
During her title-winning campaign, Sindhu defeated Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei, World No. 5 Han Yue, and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi. The triumph also ended her more than two-year wait for an international title and marked her first completed-match victory over Yamaguchi in four years, signalling a strong return to top form ahead of upcoming international tournaments.
Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026 by defeating Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final played at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on 19 July 2026. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, helping Spain lift their second FIFA World Cup title after their first triumph in 2010.
England secured the Bronze medal by defeating France 6–4 in the third-place playoff.
⚽ Golden Boot (Top Scorer)
Kylian Mbappé (France) won the Golden Boot with 10 goals and 4 assists, becoming the first player to win back-to-back Golden Boots (2022 & 2026) and the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 22 goals.
Defending champions Argentina defeated England 2–1 in the second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on 15 July 2026 to book their place in the final against Spain. The match was played at Atlanta Stadium, USA.
England took the lead in the second half, but Argentina made a late comeback to secure victory and keep alive their hopes of defending the title won at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Earlier, Spain defeated France 2–0 in the first semi-final on 14 July 2026 to reach the final.
Spain advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final after defeating France 2–0 in the semi-final played at Dallas Stadium, USA, on 14 July 2026.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the 47th minute, while Pedri sealed the victory with a superb long-range goal in the 78th minute. Spain controlled possession throughout the match with their trademark passing style and defended strongly to keep France scoreless despite the presence of Kylian Mbappé.
With this victory, Spain reached their second FIFA World Cup final, having previously won the title in 2010. France, champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, missed the opportunity to reach a third consecutive World Cup final. Spain will now face the winner of the England vs Argentina semi-final in the championship match.
Italian World No. 1 Jannik Sinner clinched the Wimbledon 2026 men’s singles crown, defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev in a thrilling four-set final: 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 on 12 July 2026.
🎾 Key Highlights
Champion: Jannik Sinner (Italy)
Runner-up: Alexander Zverev (Germany)
Scoreline: 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4
Venue: Centre Court, All England Club, London
Date: 12 July 2026
Duration: 3 hours 46 minutes
🌟 Significance
Sinner secured his second consecutive Wimbledon title.
This was his fifth Grand Slam victory overall.
He became the 10th man in Open Era history to defend Wimbledon successfully.
Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova (21) won her first Grand Slam title by defeating fellow Czech Karolina Muchova6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in the Wimbledon 2026 Women’s Singles Final at Centre Court, London, on 11 July 2026.
With this victory, Noskova became the third Czech woman in four years to win the Wimbledon women’s singles title, following Marketa Vondrousova (2023) and Barbora Krejcikova (2024).
The Men’s Singles Final is scheduled for 12 July 2026, with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner taking on Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Sinner reached the final by defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets, while Zverev advanced after beating British wildcard Arthur Fery.
About Wimbledon
Wimbledon Championships is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. It is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, along with the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open. Held annually at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam played on grass courts. The tournament is traditionally held over two weeks in late June and early July.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final lineup is now confirmed: Argentina defeated Switzerland 3–1 to join England, France, and Spain in the last four. The semifinals will feature Argentina vs England and France vs Spain.
⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Teams
Match
Teams
Venue
Date
Semi-Final 1
France vs Spain
Dallas Stadium, USA
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Semi-Final 2
England vs Argentina
Atlanta Stadium, USA
Wednesday, 15 July 2026
🔥 Key Highlights
Argentina 3–1 Switzerland (Quarterfinal): Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez (extra-time stunner), and Lautaro Martínez sealed Argentina’s place in the semis. Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye had equalized earlier, but a red card left them vulnerable.
England: Beat Norway 2–1 in extra time, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice.
France: Defeated Morocco 2–0, with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.
Spain: Edged Belgium 2–1, thanks to a late winner from Mikel Merino.
On 6 July 2026, Australia won the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 by defeating England by 7 wickets in the final at Lord’s, London.
Chasing 151 runs, Australia reached 153/3 in 17.1 overs, with Beth Mooney scoring 64 runs and Phoebe Litchfield adding 48 runs. Earlier, England posted 150/4 in 20 overs, led by captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 58 and Freya Kemp’s 44.
With this victory, Australia secured a record-extending seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title. Beth Mooney was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament (Series).
On 4 July 2026, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history by becoming the youngest cricketer to represent India in senior international cricket. The 15-year-old left-handed opener made his T20I debut against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, at the age of 15 years and 99 days.
He broke the 37-year-old record of Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut at 16 years and 205 days, and also surpassed Shafali Verma to become India’s youngest international debutant across both men’s and women’s cricket.
Hailing from Samastipur, Bihar, Sooryavanshi earned national selection after an outstanding 2026 season, including a record-breaking IPL campaign and a successful ICC U-19 World Cup. On debut, he scored 14 runs off 10 balls, impressing with two sixes against England’s pace attack.
The Durand Cup 2026, the 135th edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament, will be held from 25 July to 23 August 2026 across five Indian cities — Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong, and Guwahati. A total of 24 teams, including seven debutants and two foreign sides, will compete, with the grand final at Kolkata’s iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
🏆 Durand Cup 2026 Overview
Edition: 135th (established in 1888, Asia’s oldest football tournament).
India’s Kidambi Srikanth won the silver medal at the US Open Badminton 2026 (BWF Super 300) after finishing runner-up in the men’s singles final on 29 June 2026. He lost to Su Li-yang of Chinese Taipei15–21, 21–16, 9–21 in a three-game match lasting about 1 hour 9 minutes.
This was Srikanth’s first BWF World Tour final of 2026 and his best performance of the season. On his way to the final, he defeated Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia and Japan’s Yudai Okimoto. Despite the defeat, the runner-up finish marked a strong comeback for the former world No. 1.
India finished first in the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 held in Germany, topping the medal standings with 24 medals – 7 gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze. India outperformed the Individual Neutral Athletes (14 medals, 6 gold) and Italy (10 medals, 6 gold).
India’s campaign began with Sejal Kamble winning gold in the women’s 10m air pistol, while Himanshi secured bronze. India added several more gold medals through Sameer (men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol), Rohit Kanyan (men’s 50m rifle 3 positions), Pritam Kendre (men’s 10m air rifle), and team events. The contingent also earned multiple silver and bronze medals in individual, team, and mixed team competitions.
With this outstanding performance, India emerged as the overall champion of the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026.
Lionel Messi is now the all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose’s 16. The closest active challenger is Kylian Mbappé (16 goals), who is well within reach of Messi’s record. Other active players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and Thomas Müller remain in the chase but are further behind.
⚽ Messi’s FIFA World Cup Goal Record
Total Goals: 18
World Cups Played: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026
Historic Moment: Surpassed Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record (16 goals) during the 2026 World Cup.
Highlight: Scored 7 goals in the 2022 World Cup, leading Argentina to victory.
🏆 Top 10 FIFA World Cup Goal Scorers (All-Time)
Rank
Player
Country
Goals
Active?
1
Lionel Messi
Argentina
18
✅
2
Miroslav Klose
Germany
16
❌
2
Kylian Mbappé
France
16
✅
4
Ronaldo Nazário
Brazil
15
❌
5
Gerd Müller
Germany
14
❌
6
Just Fontaine
France
13
❌
7
Pelé
Brazil
12
❌
8
Jürgen Klinsmann
Germany
11
❌
9
Sandor Kocsis
Hungary
11
❌
10
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
10
✅
10
Harry Kane
England
10
✅
10
Thomas Müller
Germany
10
✅
🔥 Active Players Who Could Challenge Messi
Kylian Mbappé (France, 16 goals)
Only 2 goals behind Messi.
At age 27, he has multiple tournaments ahead.
Already scored a World Cup final hat-trick in 2022.
On 21 June 2026, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team defeated host New Zealand 2–0 in the final at Auckland to win the FIH Women’s Nations Cup 2026. With this victory, India secured promotion to the FIH Women’s Pro League for the next season.
Key Highlights
Navneet Kaur scored the opening goal, while Sunelita Toppo added the second goal.
India maintained a strong defensive performance to keep a clean sheet and clinch the title.
Lalremsiami was named Player of the Match in the final.
Deepika finished as the joint top scorer of the tournament with 6 goals, sharing the honor with Ashley Sessa (USA).
This was India’s second FIH Women’s Nations Cup title, after winning the inaugural edition in 2022.
On June 15, 2026, midfielder Sarpreet Singh created history by becoming the first footballer of Indian origin to start a match in a FIFA World Cup tournament. The 27-year-old achieved this milestone while representing New Zealand against Iran in their opening Group G match, held at the Los Angeles Stadium in California, USA. The high-intensity match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Born in Auckland to Punjabi parents from Jalandhar, Sarpreet wore the prestigious No. 10 jersey and played 92 minutes. Notably, former French midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo (in 2006) and Australia’s Nishan Velupillay (who debuted as a substitute on June 13, 2026) are the only other players of Indian descent to feature in World Cup history. Sarpreet also holds the record for being the first Indian-origin player to play in Germany’s top-tier league, the Bundesliga, for Bayern Munich in 2019.
The 10th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup officially began on 12 June 2026 in England and Wales. The tournament has expanded to a record 12 teams, making it the largest edition in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
The competition will be held from 12 June to 5 July 2026 across seven venues, including Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, Headingley, and Hampshire Bowl. The teams are divided into two groups of six, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will begin its campaign against Pakistan on 14 June 2026 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Smriti Mandhana serves as the vice-captain of the Indian team. India, which has reached the semi-finals multiple times, is aiming to win its first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup title.
The defending champions are New Zealand, who won the 2024 edition. The tournament features a total prize pool of USD 8.76 million.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began on 11 June 2026. It is being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, making it the first FIFA World Cup hosted by three countries and the first edition featuring 48 teams. The opening match was played between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca). (FIFA)
Key Facts: FIFA World Cup 2026
Edition: 23rd FIFA World Cup
Host Countries: Canada, Mexico, United States
Teams: 48 (highest ever)
Matches: 104
Opening Match: Mexico vs South Africa
Opening Venue: Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca)
Final: 19 July 2026, New York–New Jersey Stadium
Exam-Ready One-Liners
FIFA stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
FIFA was founded in 1904.
FIFA headquarters is located in Zurich, Switzerland.
The first FIFA World Cup was held in 1930 in Uruguay.
Uruguay won the inaugural FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The 2026 edition features 48 teams and 104 matches.
Brazil is the most successful FIFA World Cup team with 5 titles.
Argentina are the defending champions, having won the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
India won the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 title by defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the final played at Madgaon, Goa, on 6 June 2026. With this victory, the Blue Tigresses lifted the trophy after a gap of seven years and secured a record sixth SAFF Women’s Championship title.
India took the lead through Pyari Xaxa, while Ritu Porna Chakma equalized for Bangladesh before halftime. In the second half, goals from Sanfida and Linda Kom helped India dominate the match and seal a memorable 3-1 win. Throughout the tournament, the Indian team displayed impressive form and finished as deserving champions.
Alexander Zverev won his maiden Grand Slam at the French Open 2026, defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a dramatic five-set final. In women’s singles, 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva claimed her first Grand Slam title, marking a breakthrough moment in her career.
🎾 French Open 2026 – Key Highlights
🏆 Men’s Singles
Champion: Alexander Zverev (Germany).
Final Opponent: Flavio Cobolli (Italy).
Scoreline: 6–1, 4–6, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–1.
Significance:
Zverev’s first Grand Slam title after losing three previous finals.
First German man to win a Grand Slam since Boris Becker and the first German ever to win Roland Garros.
👩 Women’s Singles
Champion: Mirra Andreeva (Russia).
Achievement: Won her first Grand Slam title at just 19 years old.
The BCCI has appointed Shreyas Iyer as the new captain of India’s T20 International team, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, on 6 June 2026. The decision marks the beginning of a new leadership cycle for Indian cricket ahead of major events such as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the next T20 World Cup.
Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the upcoming T20 series against Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Tilak Varma has been named the vice-captain of the team.
The BCCI has also included young sensation Vaibhav Sooryvanshi in the squad for the first time, following his great IPL 2026 season, scoring highest runs. Prince Yadav has also been added to the squad.
Shreyas Iyer brings strong leadership experience, having captained Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai in domestic cricket. He has also been one of the most consistent performers in recent IPL seasons.
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa created history by becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title on 5 June 2026 in Oslo, Norway. The 20-year-old achieved the feat by defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the final round.
Praggnanandhaa finished the tournament with 18 points and won the championship after a remarkable comeback. During the event, he registered impressive victories against top players, including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and World Champion D. Gukesh.
India’s badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the Men’s Doubles title at the Singapore Open 2026 on 31 May 2026.
In the final, they defeated Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi with a score of 21–18, 21–16.
This was the first Singapore Open title for the Indian duo. The victory strengthened India’s position in international badminton and boosted their confidence ahead of the Paris 2026 Olympics.
Satwik and Chirag are among the world’s top men’s doubles pairs and have previously won the Thomas Cup (2022) and Asian Games gold medal (2023).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 title by defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on 31 May 2026. Chasing a target of 156 runs, Virat Kohli played a match-winning unbeaten knock of 75 runs off 42 balls, guiding RCB to 161/5 in 18 overs and securing the franchise’s second consecutive IPL championship.
Gujarat Titans posted 155/8 in 20 overs, with Washington Sundar top-scoring with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls. RCB’s bowlers restricted GT through impressive performances from Rasikh Salam Dar (3/27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29), and Josh Hazlewood (2/37).
Virat Kohli was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 75, which included his fastest IPL fifty, reached in just 25 balls. The victory marked RCB’s second IPL title (2025 and 2026) and their first successful title defence, making them one of the few franchises to defend an IPL crown.
On 23 May 2026, Punjab sprinter Gurindervir Singh created history by winning the men’s 100m gold medal at the Athletics Federation Cup 2026 held in Ranchi. He clocked 10.09 seconds, setting a new national record and becoming the first Indian sprinter to run under 10.10 seconds in the 100m event. His performance also surpassed the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 10.16 seconds. Gurindervir improved upon his previous best timing of 10.17 seconds.
In the race, Animesh Kujur won the silver medal with 10.20 seconds, while Pranav Pramod secured bronze with 10.29 seconds. Gurindervir Singh’s achievement is considered a major milestone for Indian athletics and highlights the rising standard of Indian sprinting at the international level.
India delivered an impressive performance at the 11th Sanda World Cup held in Macau on 15 May 2026, winning a total of 5 medals — 2 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze.
The Indian women athletes starred in the tournament by winning both gold medals:
Shivani won gold in the women’s 75kg category after defeating her Russian opponent.
Aparna secured gold in the 52kg category.
In the men’s section:
Kushal Kumar of the Indian Air Force won a silver medal in the 48kg category.
Kareena Kaushik and Sagar Dhaiya won bronze medals.
About Wushu
Wushu is a traditional Chinese martial art and combat sport. Wushu has been a core, official medal sport at the Asian Games since 1990. It features two main disciplines: Taolu (routine performance) and Sanda (full-contact combat).
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