Athletics

The men's 100m semi-finals and final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship are attracting major global attention, with viewership and engagement exceeding 1.5 million as fans follow the sport's marquee event. The blue-riband sprint races remain the biggest draw of the championship, with audiences closely watching the showdown for the world title.

The 20th Asian Games are under way in Japan's Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, running from 19 September to 4 October. Around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries are competing across 43 sports. The Guardian has published a photo gallery from the event, showing scenes from the opening days of competition in Japan.

Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad, reportedly citing principled objections to facing Israel in an international match. The reported decision raises questions about player activism in international football and how federations respond when athletes decline selection on ethical or political grounds. Ireland's management has not publicly detailed the circumstances, and reactions have focused on the precedent such a withdrawal could set.

Reports suggest Republic of Ireland players are considering boycotting a fixture against Israel. The potential move comes amid ongoing political tensions and debate over sporting ties with Israel. Fans and commentators are divided, with some backing the players' stance on principle and others arguing sport should remain separate from politics. Football authorities have yet to respond formally to the reports.

Tigst Assefa's attempt at a world record at the Berlin Marathon fell apart when cramps forced her off record pace, with Guye Adola taking the men's victory in the German capital. Berlin has long been the stage for marathon world records, making the missed mark a notable talking point among distance running fans.

The US Supreme Court has upheld state laws banning transgender girls from competing on girls' school sports teams. The ruling allows such bans, already passed in multiple states, to remain in effect and is a significant setback for advocates of transgender inclusion in school athletics, while supporters of the laws say it protects fairness in women's sports.

The trend refers to news that Manchester City has been found guilty, covered in an explainer by The Athletic via The New York Times. The headline frames three questions: what the ruling says, how serious it is, and what happens next. Beyond that, the available evidence only includes the headline itself, so the specifics of the charge, the verdict, and any penalties are not clear from the posts. It concerns the English Premier League club.

Several US senators who played college sports are playing an outsized role in drafting legislation to reform college athletics, NPR reports. Their firsthand experience as athletes gives them extra influence over a bill addressing issues like athlete compensation and the power of the NCAA, as Congress weighs its most significant intervention in college sports in decades.

Coverage of the Asian Games 2026 on September 27 centres on India's scores, updates and results from Day 8 of the competition. Sports outlets are tracking how Indian athletes are faring across events as the Games, hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, move into their second week, with medal standings and key match outcomes drawing particular attention from Indian audiences.

Manchester City's legal fight with the Premier League over its financial rules continues to be described as sport's 'trial of the century'. The Athletic profiles the lawyers on both sides of the dispute, which centres on the league's associated party transaction regulations and allegations City breached financial fair play rules. City has denied wrongdoing throughout. The case is widely seen as a landmark test of how far football authorities can regulate club finances.

India and the West Indies are facing off in an international cricket series, with searches spiking across India, the UK, Australia, Canada and beyond. West Indies captain Shai Hope has acknowledged his side are wary of the challenge posed by a strong Indian team. Fans are also following related fixtures and athletics coverage from the Asian Games.

Germany has chosen Munich as its candidate city to host the Olympic Games. If successful, it would be the first Olympics held in Germany since the 1972 Munich Games, which were overshadowed by the terrorist attack that killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. The bid now heads to international competition, and reactions are likely to weigh the city's modern sporting infrastructure against the weight of 1972's history.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is expected to be sidelined for roughly two weeks, according to a report by The Athletic. The France international's absence comes as a blow to Real Madrid's attacking plans, and it also raises questions about his availability for upcoming France fixtures. Fans and pundits are reacting to how the club will cope without its star striker during his recovery.

India take on Iran in the kabaddi final at the 2026 Asian Games, with India also meeting Japan in hockey and Indian athletes competing in athletics events. The clashes are drawing major attention from Indian sports fans, with hundreds of thousands engaging with live coverage of the day's action across the Games.

The Asian Games are getting under way in Japan, with attention turning to ten athletes highlighted as ones to watch at the multi-sport event. Coverage is focusing on the stars expected to headline the competition, which brings together thousands of athletes from across Asia in one of the world's largest sporting gatherings after the Olympics.

Attention is on India's medals tally and winners list for the 2026 Asian Games, to be hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. A full table tracking every Indian medal and medallist is being compiled as the countdown to the Games gathers pace, with fans and media following how the country's athletes are shaping up for the continental showpiece.

A live results and medallists page for athletics at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 has been published on the official Olympics website, listing results and medallists as they come in. The Games, hosted in Japan's Aichi prefecture and Nagoya, are the region's biggest multi-sport event, and attention is building around the athletics programme ahead of and during the competition.

Premier League clubs are reportedly planning legal action in response to guilty verdicts in the Manchester City charges case, according to The Athletic. The development marks a new phase in the fallout from the long-running disciplinary process, with rival clubs preparing to contest elements of the outcome and the implications for the league's financial rules.

Coverage tracks India's performance on Day 7 of the Asian Games 2026, with live scores, updates and results for Indian athletes across events on September 26. Readers are following how India's contingent is faring in the medal standings and which competitors advanced or won on the day.

Premier League clubs are earning significant revenue by hosting concerts at their stadiums, with major acts like Oasis, Beyonce and Coldplay playing football grounds. The Athletic examines how much clubs make from these events, which have become a key income stream as clubs look for revenue beyond matchdays and broadcast deals.

The US Senate has taken an initial procedural step toward legislation that would overhaul the college sports system. The move signals congressional interest in reshaping how college athletics are governed, a debate that has intensified over athlete compensation, name, image and likeness deals, and the power of the NCAA. Details of the proposed framework and its chances of advancing remain limited at this stage.

An approaching storm on the US East Coast has led sports leagues and organizers to postpone or cancel scheduled events across the region. Teams and venues have adjusted calendars as conditions are expected to disrupt travel and outdoor competition. The Athletic reports the changes are spread across multiple sports throughout the affected area.

Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has withdrawn from matches involving Israel, citing the Gaza war. The move has drawn attention in Middle East and sports circles, with reports circulating in regional media. It is part of a wider debate about athletes' responses to the conflict and participation in fixtures connected to the war.

The NFL's third week of the season is underway, with The Athletic and The New York Times providing live coverage of Sunday's slate of games, including scores, highlights, injury updates and analysis. Fans are following the action throughout the day as results come in across the league.

South Korean golfer Tom Kim will head straight from the Presidents Cup to the Asian Games, where a medal could earn him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service. The 21-year-old, one of golf's rising stars, is part of the national team aiming for gold, with service exemption a major incentive for Korean athletes.

Organisers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games have released initial details of the triathlon courses. The announcement gives athletes and fans a first look at how the swim, bike and run legs will be laid out for both the Olympic and Paralympic events, as preparations for the Games continue to take shape ahead of 2028.

Paris 2024 organisers have confirmed that a small number of Olympic medals awarded at the Games have been affected by premature aging, prompting a replacement procedure. Athletes whose medals are damaged can now apply for a new one through their National Olympic Committee. The issue has drawn attention to quality concerns surrounding the medals awarded in Paris.

Singapore sprinter Shanti Pereira is chasing a place in a historic women's 200m final at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she is expected to face Chinese teenage sprint sensation Chen Yujie. The matchup is being billed as a highlight of the athletics programme, pitting Asia's established sprint star against one of the sport's fastest-rising young talents.

India's star javelin thrower and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will not compete at the Asian Games 2026. No detailed explanation was given in the coverage, leaving the specific reason for his absence unclear. Chopra has been India's biggest athletics draw in recent years, so news that he will sit out the continental showpiece has drawn wide attention.

United States Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker has publicly acknowledged he has made 'mistakes' as the American team risks losing the competition. The admission, reported by The Athletic, comes with the U.S. in a precarious position and has sparked debate among golf fans about whether the team can still recover and win the cup.