Indian Aces Shine: Day 2 at Japan Open and Chess World Cup Heats Up on July 16

With Indian sport being as action-packed as it is, it's quite easy to miss out on important news and results. That's where we come in -- ESPN's daily Indian sports blog has all the updates from the world of Indian sports as well as the news, scores, schedule, results and commentary that comes with it.

July is here and brings a whole new set of sports events. You can see details of other events in our 2025 sporting calendar.

Here are all the updates from July 16, 2025.

Badminton: Japan Open - Tokyo Awaits Indian Triumphs

The DAIHATSU Japan Open 2025, a BWF Super 750 event, continued its first-round action today at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, and Indian shuttlers were certainly in the thick of it.

Lakshya Sen Storms Through: In the men's singles, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lakshya Sen showcased his formidable form, securing a convincing victory in his opening round match. Sen, who has been battling for consistency this season, looked sharp, dismantling his Chinese opponent Wang Zheng Xing in straight games, 21-11, 21-16. This dominant display offers a promising sign for the young Indian as he aims to make a deep run in this prestigious tournament. He will undoubtedly draw confidence from this start as he prepares for tougher challenges ahead.

Sindhu's Gritty Start: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu faced a tricky challenge in her women's singles opener against Korea's Sim Yu Jin. In a hard-fought contest that tested her resilience, Sindhu emerged victorious with a 19-21, 21-17, 21-14 comeback win. After dropping the first game, Sindhu dug deep, finding her rhythm and unleashing her powerful smashes to outmaneuver her opponent. This gritty performance underscores her fighting spirit and ability to perform under pressure, setting her up for a crucial second-round encounter.

Satwik-Chirag Begin Title Hunt: India's top men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, kicked off their Japan Open campaign with a commanding performance. The reigning Asian Games champions, still seeking their first title of the season, dispatched their Korean opponents Kang Min Hyuk and Ki Dong Ju in straight sets, 21-15, 21-18. Their trademark aggressive play and seamless coordination were on full display, signalling their intent to go all the way in Tokyo. This strong start bodes well for the dynamic duo.

Other Indian contenders, including Unnati Hooda in women's singles and the women's doubles pairs of Rutaparna Panda-Swetaparna Panda and Kavipriya Selvam-Simran Singhi, are set to take to the courts later today or have their matches scheduled for the coming days, as the first round continues into July 16.

Chess: FIDE World Cup Fourth Round - Indian Grandmasters in Crucial Battles

The FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia, entered its pivotal fourth round today, featuring a strong Indian contingent looking to advance further in the knockout competition.

Humpy Faces Tough Test: India's chess queen, Koneru Humpy, began her Round 4 classical game against Swiss Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk. Humpy, known for her solid play and tactical acumen, engaged in a finely balanced opening. The game, expected to be a strategic masterpiece, progressed cautiously with both players exchanging precise moves, hinting at a potential tie-break decider. Fans are eagerly awaiting the conclusion of this high-stakes encounter.

Harika's Resilience on Display: Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli was pitted against formidable Russian GM Kateryna Lagno in a highly anticipated clash. Harika, who has shown immense resilience in previous rounds, navigated a complex middlegame. Her ability to find defensive resources under pressure will be crucial as she battles to gain an advantage in this demanding fixture.

Young Guns in Action: The young sensations R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh also commenced their fourth-round matches. Vaishali took on Kazakhstan's Meruert Kamalidenova, while Divya faced China's formidable Zhu Jiner. Both Vaishali and Divya have impressed with their fearless approach and sharp play in earlier rounds, and their performances today will be key in determining India's depth in women's chess on the global stage. Updates on their games will follow as they conclude.

The excitement is building as these Indian stars push their limits on the international stage. Stay tuned for more live updates as the day unfolds!