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Glasgow, the vibrant Scottish capital, is poised to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a scaled-down version of the multi-sport event that was originally scheduled for Victoria, Australia. The Australian state withdrew in 2023 due to soaring costs, leaving the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) scrambling for a new host.Glasgow, which successfully hosted the Games in 2014, has stepped forward with a proposal to host a more modest event, featuring fewer sports and utilizing existing venues. The Scottish government is close to finalizing a deal with Glasgow, which would see the city host the Games for an estimated cost of £130-150 million (USD 170 million).The Australian authorities have pledged a "multi-million pound investment" to support Glasgow's bid, which will likely cover additional policing and security expenses. The number of sports in the 2026 Games will be reduced to between 10-13, with a focus on core sports.UK Health Secretary Neil Gray emphasized that the 2026 Games will differ from the highly successful 2014 edition. He acknowledged the challenge of matching the previous event's legacy but expressed optimism that Glasgow could deliver a positive experience with a smaller-scale approach.CGF President Chris Jenkins praised Scotland's innovative and sustainable concept for the 2026 Games. He believes that Glasgow's experience in hosting major sporting events makes it well-equipped to deliver a world-class event in a short timeframe.Jenkins also emphasized the need for a new model for multi-sports events, one that is more sustainable and accessible to a wider range of host cities. He believes that Glasgow 2026 will be a step towards resetting and reframing the Commonwealth Games as a flexible and sustainable model.

Sebastian Coe, the former Olympic champion and current World Athletics chief, has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coe faces stiff competition from Kirsty Coventry, who aims to become the first woman and African to lead the IOC, and cycling boss David Lappartient.Coe's bid is complicated by IOC Ethics Commission rules that limit the retirement age for members and presidents to 74. Coe will turn 68 in September, and an eight-year mandate would extend beyond that age. However, there is room for maneuver to raise the retirement age.The election will take place at the IOC Session in Athens from March 18-21, 2025. Bach, 70, is stepping down after 12 years in office.Other candidates include Prince Faisal al-Hussein of Jordan, gymnastics chief Morinari Watanabe, Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, and ski federation president Johan Eliasch.Under election rules, Coe, Eliasch, Lappartient, and Watanabe must resign as heads of their respective federations and seek re-election as individual members at the Athens Session.The candidates will present their programs to IOC members in January 2025. A transition period will follow the election, with the new president and team taking control in June.Bach's tenure has been marked by challenges, including the Russian doping scandal and the invasion of Ukraine. Coe has taken a stronger stance on banning Russian athletes than Bach, which has strained their relationship.Despite these challenges, Bach is credited with successfully navigating the IOC through the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring the Tokyo Games took place in 2021.Michael Payne, the IOC's former head of marketing, believes Bach has done an outstanding job. However, he warns that his successor faces significant challenges, including the increasing politicization of sport and the rapidly changing business and broadcast environment.

India's hockey team, led by skipper Harmanpreet Singh, secured a resounding 4-1 victory over South Korea in the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy on Monday, September 16, 2024. The triumph propelled India into the tournament's final, where they will face hosts China.The match commenced with India dominating possession and testing the Korean defense with relentless attacks. Uttam Singh broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Araijeet Singh Hundal. Harmanpreet Singh extended India's lead with a penalty corner goal four minutes later.Korea managed to pull one back through Yang Jihun's penalty corner conversion in the 33rd minute. However, India remained unfazed and regained their two-goal advantage when Jarmanpreet Singh scored in the 32nd minute.Harmanpreet Singh sealed the victory with another penalty corner goal in the 45th minute. India's defense, anchored by goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, held firm to deny Korea any further scoring opportunities.In the other semifinal, China defeated Pakistan 2-0 via a shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time. India and China will now face off in Tuesday's final, a rematch of their group stage encounter, which India won 3-0.Pakistan and Korea will battle for the bronze medal in the third-place classification match, also scheduled for Tuesday. Meanwhile, Japan defeated Malaysia 4-2 in a shootout following a 4-4 stalemate in the fifth-sixth place classification match.

In a stunning upset, China has defeated Pakistan 2-0 (1-1) in a shootout to advance to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy. This marks the first time China has reached the title round of the tournament, while Pakistan, a two-time champion, will play for the bronze medal.China's goalkeeper, Caiyu Wang, was the hero of the shootout, making several key saves. Benhai Chen and Chanliang Lin scored for China in the shootout.Earlier in the match, Yuanlin Lu had given China an early 1-0 lead in the 18th minute with a powerful dragflick. Pakistan equalized in the 37th minute through Ahmed Nadeem, but China held on to force a shootout.China's victory was a testament to their grit and determination. They dominated the ball possession and created early chances, buoyed by the support of a large home crowd.Pakistan, on the other hand, struggled to create scoring opportunities. They had several penalty corners but were unable to breach the Chinese defense.China's head coach, Jin Seung Yoo, praised his team's performance. "It's an important game for us and we are totally charged up," he said before the match. "This is the first time China is playing the semifinal of such a prestigious event in front of home crowd."China's victory is a major upset and a sign of their growing strength in international hockey. They will now face the winner of the second semifinal between India and Korea in the final.

Defending world chess champion Ding Liren has conceded that his Indian challenger, D Gukesh, is the favorite to win their upcoming title showdown in November. Liren's admission comes as Gukesh has been in impressive form at the ongoing 45th Chess Olympiad, leading the Indian team to five consecutive victories."I can see my opponent (Gukesh) playing extremely well in this tournament. Maybe he is a favorite in the World Championship Match. He also has a higher rating than me," Liren said in an interview with the International Chess Federation (FIDE).Liren, who won the world crown in May 2022, has struggled for form in the past year. He took a break from the game due to depression and returned to action earlier this year at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, finishing ninth.Gukesh, on the other hand, has been on a meteoric rise. He became the youngest challenger to the world title at the age of 17 after winning the Candidates tournament in April.The two will clash in Singapore from November 20 to December 15 for the coveted title and a prize fund of USD 2.50 million. Should Gukesh prevail, he would become the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the title.Liren acknowledged the possibility of a close battle between India and China for the gold medal in the Olympiad. "We are two very strong teams. We have a chance to fight for the gold medal," he said.Gukesh, however, remained cautious, saying that all participating teams are strong. "All countries are strong, we have to come everyday with the right spirit...We have a nice mood in the team, it's enjoyable," he said.

The Indian men's chess team continued their impressive run at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, securing a 2.5-1.5 victory over Azerbaijan in the fifth round. The win was spearheaded by in-form stars D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, who extended their unbeaten streak in the tournament.Gukesh, playing with white pieces on board one, outplayed Aydin Sulemanli in a quick and decisive game. Erigaisi, on board three, also showcased his dominance, overpowering Rauf Mamedov with a similar efficiency.Praggnanandhaa, on board two, played another draw, but his contribution was crucial in ensuring India's victory, regardless of the outcome of Vidit Gujrathi's game against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.With this victory, the Indian men's team maintained their perfect record, scoring ten points from five matches. They are now joined by Vietnam, who also continued their impressive performance with a 2.5-1.5 win over Poland.In the women's section, Grandmaster D Harika suffered a surprising defeat against Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, giving the latter an early lead. However, Vantika Agarwal played a strong game on board four, securing a clean victory with white pieces against Alua Nurman. Xeniya Balabayeva and Divya Deshmukh shared the point on board five.Grandmaster R Vaishali came close to securing a second win for India, but ultimately settled for a draw.With this result, the Indian women's team is likely to join Armenia and Mongolia in the lead with ten points.

India, the bronze medallists at the Paris Olympics, have maintained their impressive form in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, securing a spot in the semifinals after registering five consecutive wins in the league stage.The Harmanpreet Singh-led side began their campaign with a 3-0 victory over hosts China, followed by dominant wins over Japan (5-1) and Malaysia (8-1). India then defeated Korea 3-1 before edging out arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 in a closely contested match.India's performances have been characterized by their excellence in all departments. The forwardline, comprising young talents like Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh, and Araijeet Singh Hundal, has exceeded expectations by scoring crucial field goals. Midfielder Raj Kumar Pal has also shone brightly, contributing with some fine field goals.The experienced trio of Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, and Nilakanta Sharma have been instrumental in controlling the midfield, while the Indian defense has been equally impressive, conceding just four goals. Goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera have filled the void left by the retirement of PR Sreejesh with aplomb.Harmanpreet Singh, one of the world's top drag-flickers, has led from the front, converting five penalty corners and providing a steady source of goals. He has been ably supported by young Jugraj Singh, who is known for his lightning-fast drag-flicks.However, the knockout stage presents a new challenge for India, and they cannot afford to take Korea lightly. The Koreans are known for their unpredictable style of play and their ability to spring surprises. India's defense will need to be cautious about conceding penalty corners, as Korea possesses a potent drag-flicker in Jihun Yang, the tournament's leading scorer with seven goals.In the other semifinal, Pakistan will face hosts China. The final is scheduled for Tuesday.Harmanpreet Singh has warned his teammates against complacency, despite India's impressive run so far. "We came into this tournament with very little rest or preparations after our Olympic campaign. Despite that, I am happy with how the team has done to progress into the semifinal stage," he said."Korea is a tough team, they defend very well and can counter attack fast and skillfully," added Harmanpreet.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri emerged victorious in a thrilling Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, holding off pole-sitter Charles Leclerc's Ferrari to secure his second career win. The Australian driver's triumph marked a significant moment for McLaren, as they overtook Red Bull in the constructor's championship title race.Piastri's victory was hard-fought, as he engaged in a fierce battle with Leclerc throughout the race. After Leclerc held the lead for the first 20 laps, Piastri seized the opportunity to overtake him and maintain his position until the checkered flag.Behind the top two, Mercedes' George Russell secured a podium finish in third place, while Piastri's teammate Lando Norris finished fourth. Norris's performance was particularly impressive, as he earned an extra point for setting the fastest lap of the race.The race was not without its drama, as a late collision between Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull) forced the race to end under a virtual safety car. The incident prevented any further changes in the standings, leaving Piastri as the victor.Piastri's win has significantly impacted the championship standings. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who has not won in seven races, still leads the drivers' standings with 313 points. However, Norris's strong performance has reduced Verstappen's lead to 59 points with seven races and three sprints remaining.In the constructor's championship, McLaren's victory has propelled them ahead of Red Bull. McLaren now holds 394 points, while Red Bull has 389 points. The battle for the title is expected to remain intense in the upcoming races.

Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh continued his impressive form, scoring two penalty corners to lead India to a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their final league match of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.The match was a tense affair, with both teams playing with intensity and determination. Pakistan took the lead in the 8th minute through Ahmad Nadeem, but Harmanpreet equalized just five minutes later with a powerful drag-flick. He then gave India the lead in the 19th minute with another penalty corner conversion.Pakistan fought back in the second half, but India's defense held firm. The Indians also had chances to extend their lead, but they were unable to convert their penalty corners.The match was marred by a heated encounter between Harmanpreet and Pakistan's Ashraf Waheed Rana in the third quarter. Rana shouldered Jugraj Singh inside the Indian circle, prompting Harmanpreet and Jarmanpreet Singh to confront him. The on-field umpires and Pakistan captain Ammad Butt intervened to control the situation, and Rana was shown a yellow card.India's victory was their fifth consecutive in the six-team round-robin competition. They will now face South Korea in the semifinals on Sunday.