Top 20 Sports News Stories — India & World
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Here are 20 major sports stories making headlines today, with the strongest focus on the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Indian cricket, badminton, hockey and major international football and US sports developments.
🇮🇳 India Sports
1. Mirabai Chanu Wins Asian Games Silver After 28-Year Wait
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the women’s 49kg silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The medal is India’s first Asian Games weightlifting medal since 1998 and adds another major achievement to Chanu’s decorated career.
2. India Reaches Asian Games Badminton Men’s Team Final
India’s men’s badminton team advanced to the final after defeating China 3-1 in the semifinal. Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won their doubles match, while India’s singles results decided the tie.
3. Lakshya Sen Helps India Reach Badminton Semifinals
Lakshya Sen produced a notable comeback against Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the quarterfinals, helping India complete a 3-0 sweep of Japan and secure a medal in the men’s team event.
4. Jay Meena Creates Asian Games History in Soft Tennis
Jay Meena became India’s first Asian Games soft-tennis medallist, securing bronze in the men’s singles competition. His achievement came after a quarterfinal victory over the Philippines’ Sherwin Nuguit.
5. India Women Continue Strong Asian Games Hockey Campaign
India’s women’s hockey team produced a dominant 20-1 victory over Thailand, with Deepika scoring nine goals. The result keeps India’s campaign firmly in focus as the hockey competition progresses.
6. Indian Kabaddi Teams Continue Asian Games Campaign
India’s women’s team defeated Iran while the men’s side recorded a convincing victory over Bangladesh as both teams continued their campaigns in Nagoya.
7. India Adds More Shooting Medals in Nagoya
Indian shooters added bronze medals in the Asian Games skeet team competitions. The shooting contingent remains one of India’s important medal contributors at the Games.
8. Manu Bhaker Finishes Fifth in Women’s 10m Air Pistol
Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the women’s 10m air-pistol final. India’s team also missed out on a medal in the event.
9. India Has 11 Asian Games Medals So Far
As of September 23, India’s medal tally stands at 11 — one gold, five silver and five bronze. The women’s cricket team supplied India’s first gold, while weightlifting, shooting and other sports have contributed additional medals.
10. India Women’s Cricket Team Defends Asian Games Title
India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the women’s T20 final to retain its Asian Games cricket title. Smriti Mandhana scored 79, Shafali Verma made 48 and Richa Ghosh finished unbeaten on 49.
11. Smriti Mandhana Reaches 11,000 International Runs
During India’s Asian Games final, Smriti Mandhana became the first woman cricketer to reach 11,000 international runs, adding a major statistical milestone to India’s gold-medal campaign.
12. India-Japan T20I Ends in Dramatic Two-Run Victory
India edged Japan by two runs in a rain-shortened five-over men’s T20 match at the Asian Games. The narrow finish included a controversial wide-call reversal that attracted considerable discussion.
13. Mark Wood Retires From International Cricket
England fast bowler Mark Wood has announced his retirement from Test and 50-over international cricket, saying medical advice means he can no longer continue in those formats. He remains associated with England’s T20 plans.
🌍 World Sports
14. Kylian Mbappé Signs With On After Leaving Nike
French football star Kylian MbappĂ© has moved from Nike to Swiss sportswear company On, marking the brand’s major entry into football. Former France captain Thierry Henry is also involved with On’s football operation.
15. UEFA Women’s Champions League Group Stage Begins
The new Women’s Champions League campaign is underway, with holders Barcelona and runners-up Lyon among the headline teams in action. Barcelona face Paris FC while Lyon meet Servette.
16. UEFA President Aleksander ÄŚeferin Questions Trust in FIFA
UEFA president Aleksander ÄŚeferin has said that trust in world football’s governing structures remains damaged following the controversy surrounding FIFA’s proposed private-investment plan.
17. Shohei Ohtani Set to Return for Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Shohei Ohtani is expected to return from the injured list on Wednesday. The Dodgers are entering the final stretch of the regular season with postseason positioning at stake.
18. Tampa Bay Rays Clinch AL East
The Tampa Bay Rays clinched the American League East after defeating the New York Yankees 6-1 in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. It is the Rays’ first division title since 2021.
19. Pete Alonso Reaches 40 Home Runs
New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso hit his 39th and 40th home runs of the season against Baltimore, reaching the 40-homer mark again during the closing stages of the MLB regular season.
20. Fernando Alonso Calls for F1 Circuit Changes
Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso has called for changes to the sport’s circuits, arguing that some tracks have lost elements of their traditional character and that races should provide more entertainment and overtaking opportunities
