EXPLAINED SPORTS NEWS

How English Premier League’s traditional Boxing Day fixtures became victim of packed calendar and broadcast logisticsSubscriber Only

June 19, 2025 07:02 IST

For the first time ever, no fixtures have been listed for December 26, but the organisers have kept the door open for future changes.

Pickle juice: Carlos Alcaraz’s quick fix to stave off cramps in French Open finalSubscriber Only

June 11, 2025 12:03 IST

The briny liquid made up of water, salt and vinegar helps provide immediate relief for cramps with the drink being a popular among athletes across disciplines

How a rat-emoji cost veteran football presenter Gary Lineker his BBC jobSubscriber Only

May 28, 2025 17:56 IST

This was not the first time Lineker made an error in judgment, a trait antithetical to his on-field persona, where his strikes were precise and measured.

Can the Italian Open really become the fifth Grand Slam in tennis?Subscriber Only

May 20, 2025 11:53 IST

The Italian Tennis Federation has challenged the monopoly and longstanding convention of Melbourne, Paris, Wimbledon and New York hosting the tennis Majors by demanding that its own national championship be considered the ‘Fifth Grand Slam’

Lillee and Thomson: Decades on, an enduring metaphor for inevitable destructionSubscriber Only

May 15, 2025 07:53 IST

Four decades after they last played together, Lillee and Thomson remain a metaphor for inevitable destruction — as the resonance of Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai’s words in India showed this week

Trump gifted $400mn Boeing: Who is Sam Snead, golfer quoted by the US President?Subscriber Only

May 14, 2025 13:52 IST

Sam Snead is considered one of the legends of golf, and is tied for the most wins on the PGA Tour (82) with Tiger Woods, including seven Majors.

As India bids for Olympics, what research has found about health, economic impacts on hostsSubscriber Only

May 11, 2025 12:21 IST

As India makes a pitch to host the 2036 Olympics, officials have underlined the potential economic and health benefits as plus points for the hosting bid. But once the flame has been doused and the Olympic rings are a distant memory, what’s left behind?

It is fitting, in a way, that Kipyegon’s (right) record attempt comes before the 2028 Olympics. A century ago, at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, women competed in track-and-field events for the first time.

Drafting, super spikes: How Faith Kipyegon can become the first woman to run a mile under four minutesSubscriber Only

May 5, 2025 12:03 IST

With pace-setters in front and behind her and little to no wind on the course, the Kenyan athlete can break new ground for female sportspeople.

Why I-League fiasco involving Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi is another blow to All India Football Federation’s credibilitySubscriber Only

April 29, 2025 13:25 IST

Confusion arising out of AIFF not updating their portal on a player's suspension has cascaded into all-round embarrassment for all parties involved.

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Why inclusion of chess in Esports World cup will cause friction with FIDESubscriber Only

April 28, 2025 09:28 IST

A sport that works perfectly well online and is highly competitive makes for a good fit to be a part of the upcoming Esports World Cup, which will feature chess as an online event for the first time.

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Why the Women’s Tennis Association’s maternity and fertility initiative is historicSubscriber Only

April 25, 2025 12:12 IST

IVF, egg-freezing, paid maternity leave and financial support may ensure that athletes need not choose between career and motherhood

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From cutters to knuckleballs, the evolution of the slower one in cricketSubscriber Only

April 19, 2025 08:00 IST

A well-disguised slower ball is like a conjuror’s illusion. Everything about the bowler's action remains the same, but the way the ball travels and behaves changes dramatically. The success of the slower one, no matter of what kind, lies in this masterful masquerade.

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How ‘torpedo’ bats have taken baseball by stormSubscriber Only

April 5, 2025 07:21 IST

Hitters have been raving about these unique, bowling pin-shaped bats. How do they work? And are they really better?

Why PIO footballers cannot play in India’s national teamSubscriber Only

March 28, 2025 19:25 IST

Bangladesh recently fielded England-born Hamza Choudhury in a football game. But this is not something that India can replicate — even if players are willing

Rumble in the Jungle: Remembering the epic George Foreman-Muhammad Ali fightSubscriber Only

March 23, 2025 14:06 IST

Heavyweight boxing legend George Foreman passed away on Friday. He was 76

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Will EPL’s switch from Nike to Puma balls make a difference?Subscriber Only

March 21, 2025 13:00 IST

The variations in material and design and even stitching, can dictate how a football reacts.

Kirsty Coventry is seen before the opening ceremony of the 144th IOC Session. (REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki)

IOC elections: How royals, politicians & Oscar-winners pick the most powerful figure in sport, why the election mattersSubscriber Only

March 19, 2025 13:15 IST

From the Emir of Qatar and Monaco’s Prince Albert II to actress Michelle Yeoh and Nita Ambani: an exclusive club of influential people will meet on Thursday to pick the most powerful person in sports

Are Indian team owners behind the absence of Pakistani cricketers from The Hundred?Subscriber Only

March 18, 2025 19:45 IST

Not quite. The reasons have to do more with the country’s miserable performance in recent white-ball tournaments, a clash of dates, and the policies of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot during the press conference

Why Arne Slot’s Liverpool is almost certain to win EPLSubscriber Only

March 11, 2025 19:55 IST

Were they lucky? The virtue that defines Slot's Liverpool is control, as opposed to systematic chaos under Klopp

Shami asks for lifting ban on saliva for shining cricket balls: Mechanics of swing, explainedSubscriber Only

March 7, 2025 13:47 IST

Cricketers have traditionally used saliva to shine one side of the ball, smoothen the surface, and make it a tad heavier on that side. But does this really help its movement? We explain.

At just 24, Vinicius is in some ways the ideal candidate to become the crown jewel of Saudi Arabia’s dreams of leading the future football revolution.

Will Vinicius Jr. move to the Saudi Pro League, which is offering him $1 billion?Subscriber Only

March 2, 2025 13:33 IST

The Saudi Pro League has more or less stopped paying big money for over-the-hill stars but at 24, Vinicius is an ideal candidate to fit into long-term plans. Europe hasn’t exactly been kind to him, so the reports of him considering the Saudi deal might not be that exaggerated.

Remembering Boris Spassky, and the Cold War-era ‘Match of the Century’ that defined himSubscriber Only

February 28, 2025 17:43 IST

The World Chess Championship of 1972, between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, became a proxy for the Cold War between the USSR and the US

India-Pakistan Match: Why the Champions Trophy is being held after a gap of 8 yearsSubscriber Only

February 23, 2025 23:09 IST

Champions Trophy 2025, India-Pakistan Match: Why was the Champions Trophy discontinued for eight years, and why has it come back? There are two main reasons. We explain.

Jannik Sinner doping ban: Why three-month suspension is best-case scenario for World No. 1Subscriber Only

February 16, 2025 12:28 IST

While the ban may seem hefty, it has worked as favourably as possible for Jannik Sinner, under the scanner for doping violations. Here's why.

How Trump can help reunite the golfing worldSubscriber Only

February 15, 2025 10:31 IST

Given the power and influence enjoyed by President Donald Trump, there is hope that he can use his clout to get all stakeholders on the same page

Will go after other targets if no peace, says Trump as US strikes 3 nuclear sites in Iran

WorldJune 25, 2025

President Donald Trump said that the United States military had struck three nuclear-related facilities in Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict and a direct American role in efforts to dismantle Tehran’s infrastructure. The strikes represent the most significant direct US military action against Iranian territory in years and come amid rising regional tensions.

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