Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the 124-member Indian contingent success for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, expressing confidence in their determination. India begins its campaign Thursday with bowls events, with Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra and weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu leading medal hopes.
Billionaire Gina Rinehart has offered Australian Commonwealth Games swimmers cash bonuses for medals and world records at Glasgow 2026, welcomed by Kyle Chalmers. This incentive aims to boost participation amid athlete withdrawals, though Commonwealth Games Australia distances itself from the private scheme.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) plans legal action against protesters and the National Election Commission for disrupting operations at Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, which houses nine sports federations, due to a ballot-shortage controversy and alleged election fraud.
Australia's Stingers and USA's women's water polo teams will meet in a World Cup semifinal at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, 26 years after their historic gold medal match at the same venue. The Aussie Sharks also advanced, stunning Spain.
India's only para-cyclist at the Commonwealth Games, 16-year-old Lisha Das, expressed "immense emotional distress" to sports authorities over uncertainty regarding her coach Aditya Mehta and support staff. Despite court intervention for her physiotherapist, Mehta's travel remains unconfirmed, leading Lisha to consider self-funded travel to Glasgow.
India's Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and Grandmaster Nihal Sarin advocate for a transparent, merit-based education system as protests over alleged NEET exam irregularities continue. Environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk is on an indefinite fast, and a student march to Parliament was dispersed by Delhi Police.
Ukrainian athletes and coaches voiced anger and confusion over the International Fencing Federation's (FIE) decision to allow Russian and Belarusian delegations to compete under national symbols at the Kerry Fencing World Championships in Hong Kong, following a similar move by the IOC.
Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games due to injury, alongside Dina Asher-Smith, Matt Hudson-Smith, and others. Their absence, coupled with prior pull-outs and scheduling challenges, prompts discussion on the event's standing in the international sporting calendar.
Cyclist Matt Richardson, born in England but developed in Australia, switched allegiance to Team England after the Paris Olympics, facing criticism but claiming it had "zero effect" on him. He attributes his recent success to the UK cycling program, while former Australian teammate Leigh Hoffman anticipates a fierce rivalry at the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Netball, historically dismissed as a 'girly game' and pioneered by suffragist Martina Bergman Osterberg, is now professionalizing and campaigning for Olympic inclusion at Brisbane 2032. The sport, driven by women, seeks to secure its future beyond the Commonwealth Games.
PV Sindhu's China Open campaign ended in the second round with a 21-16, 20-22, 18-21 defeat to world No. 4 Chen Yufei. The loss came despite Sindhu's recent Japan Open triumph and a strong performance in the nearly 90-minute match.
Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain has guaranteed India its first medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, securing at least a bronze in women's 75kg boxing due to a semifinal bye. She will compete on July 31.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games aim to redefine their future with a simplified, cost-effective model, expanded Para programme, and new broadcasting deal. Key athletes like Adam Peaty and Shericka Jackson return, while India faces reduced medal opportunities but eyes future hosting bids.
Australia's men's water polo team, the Sharks, will host the World Aquatics World Cup Finals in Sydney, starting against Spain. Fueled by their Paris 2024 Olympic quarterfinal loss, the team aims to leverage home crowd support for success and long-term program building.
Australian weightlifter Kiana Elliott, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian, is preparing for the Glasgow Games, overcoming past injuries and balancing training with her job at SA Pathology, while also noting the rise of women in the sport.
Queensland councils are celebrating six years until the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a countdown clock unveiled in Queen Street Mall. The state government still needs to build seven new venues and upgrade ten, but officials express confidence in readiness. A legacy vision includes 50,000 new homes and transport expansion, while Moreton Bay unveiled a Matilda kangaroo replica.
Australian weightlifter Kiana Elliott, who overcame injuries and transitioned from gymnastics, is preparing for the Glasgow Games. She discusses her training, the growth of women's weightlifting, and balancing her sport with a part-time job at SA Pathology.
Glasgow prepares for the scaled-back Commonwealth Games 2026 opening ceremony on Thursday. Organisers hope for a late surge in ticket sales, as demand has reportedly been slower than expected for the event, reduced in scale after Victoria's withdrawal.
The Queensland state government released new renders for the National Aquatic Centre in Brisbane, securing ARM Architecture, NH Architecture, and Arkhefield to design the 2032 Olympics venue. Early works at Centenary Pool, Spring Hill, begin September 1, with Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie set to make a formal announcement.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert faces a lengthy FA suspension for three counts of misconduct related to the "Spygate" scandal, involving covertly observing Championship training sessions. This follows the club's four-point deduction by the EFL and a FIFA ban precedent for similar actions.
Australian sprinter Torrie Lewis broke her own national 100m record, clocking 11.04 seconds and defeating five-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah at the Tipos PTS meet in Slovakia. This achievement provides perfect preparation for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Australian sprinter Torrie Lewis set a new national women's 100m record of 11.04 seconds at a meet in Slovakia, surpassing her previous best of 11.08. She defeated five-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah and also won the 200m event, preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Remco Evenepoel secured back-to-back stage wins in the Tour de France time trial, narrowing Tadej Pogacar's lead. The stage also saw Florian Lipowitz withdraw due to injury and continued controversy surrounding nocturnal doping tests conducted on top riders.
Ukraine's Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi condemned the International Olympic Committee's decision to provisionally lift the ban on Russian athletes, calling it a "primitive legal trick" that undermines international pressure on Russia. European ministers also expressed anger, urging the EU to cut Olympic funding.
