Top Indian shuttlers P V Sindhu and Lakshya Sen entered the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament after securing straight-game wins in their respective last 16 matches here on Thursday. Sen prevailed over Hong Kong China’s Jason Gunawan 21-10, 21-11 in a contest that lasted a little over half an hour, while Sindhu notched up a 21-19, 21-18 triumph over Line Hojmark Kjaerfeldt of Denmark. Later in the day, former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, a 2021 world championships silver medallist, was too erratic to pose any challenge, going down 11-21, 10-21 to Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in a lop-sided Round of 16 encounter. In women’s singles, Anmol Kharb showed a lot of heart to challenge former world champion Nozomi Okuhara before going down 21-16, 14-21, 11-21 in 56 minutes. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 January,2026 09:38 AM IST | Jakarta | PTIDespite missing podium in Stage 3, Luke Mudgway limited his losses expertly to win the Green Jersey for the Best Sprinter and retained the ‘Yellow Jersey’ as overall leader in the Pune Grand Tour 2026 here on Thursday. But this stage’s star was Cameron Nicholas Scott of Li Ning Star, China, who clocked 03:04:13. Scott’s acceleration proved decisive in the final metres, edging out Georgios Bouglas (03:04:13) of Burgos Burpellet BH, Spain, who had led for long stretches, only to be caught in the final kick. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 January,2026 09:36 AM IST | Pune | PTIWorld champion D Gukesh ended his spate of draws by defeating Thai Dai Van Nguyen of Czechia, but overnight joint leader Arjun Erigaisi was shocked by Vladimir Fedoseev of Slovenia in the fifth round of Tata Steel Masters chess tournament here. Gukesh’s win put him on three points as the Indian went up to joint fourth. Gukesh won with black pieces out of a Queen’s Indian defence game. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 January,2026 09:30 AM IST | Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands) | PTINovak Djokovic sent 141st-ranked qualifier Francesco Maestrelli packing in straight sets to ease into the Australian Open third round on Thursday — with a little help from his favourite tree. The Serbian great is on his latest mission to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and dismissed the Italian 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, before paying tribute to the Brazilian fig tree at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Victoria, Melbourne that he always visits and hugs at the start of each Australian Open. ‘It’s my oldest friend’ “That [the fig tree] is my oldest friend here in Melbourne,” said Djokovic, who has won 10 Australian Open titles, more than anyone in history. “He has been there to heal my wounds and give me company. It’s a beautiful connection, nature is such a powerful ally. We have a friendship going over 20 years,” said Djokovic. The relationship with the special tree began with Djokovic’s decision to meditate under it as part of his training regimen in 2005. Incidentally, his first Grand Slam victory was at the Australian Open in 2008. Djokovic faces 75th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands next. Sinner soars into Rd 3 Meanwhile, defending champions Jannik Sinner also eased into the third round with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Australia’s James Duckworth. In the women’s singles event, reigning champion Madison Keys said she drew on her experience as defending champion to pull through a difficult moment and make the third round. Keys blew hot and cold against fellow American Ashlyn Krueger before getting over the line 6-1, 7-5. “In those tough moments you just have to remind yourself that you have been here before, you figured it out,” Keys said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 January,2026 09:28 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPIndia's top sailors are gearing up for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, with the Sail India 2026 and Asian Games Selection Trials - II underway in Mumbai. Around 150 elite sailors from 18 clubs and institutions across the country are competing in various Olympic and International classes, including ILCA 7, ILCA 6, 49er, 49er FX, and iQFoil. The event kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at Girgaon Chowpatty, emphasizing sportsmanship and the importance of these trials for Indian athletes. Major General Salil Seth, Chief of Staff, HQ Maharashtra Gujarat & Goa Area highlighted the significance of the trials in making a mark in international sailing history. The championship also focuses on promoting sailing at the grassroots level, with a collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to introduce the sport to students through the BMC Army Sailing School. The selection process involves three trials, with cumulative points determining the final squad for the 2026 Asian Games. India's aim is to consolidate its position and demonstrate dominance in Asian sports, building on its historic medal haul at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
22 January,2026 06:42 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentAffiliate marketing is a performance-based model where affiliates promote brands or services and earn commissions based on results such as clicks, signups, or deposits. This model has gained significant traction in high-value digital industries, particularly the iGaming field, which includes online casinos, sports betting, esports, and other gaming platforms. In iGaming, affiliate marketing plays an important role in customer acquisition. Gaming operators rely on affiliates to bring in quality players, and in return, affiliates receive payments through commission structures such as CPA (Cost Per Acquisition), CPL (Cost Per Lead), hybrid deals, or RevShare (Revenue Share). RevShare models are especially attractive because they provide recurring income rather than one-time payouts. Under a RevShare deal, affiliates earn a percentage of the revenue generated by their referred players. This revenue can continue for the entire lifespan of the player, making it a valuable long-term earning strategy. Selecting the right affiliate programs is essential for maximizing performance. Affiliates often evaluate factors such as platform reputation, tracking accuracy, conversion rates, player retention, available GEOs, and payment reliability. For accessible research, a resource such as IGaming affiliate programs list helps affiliates compare opportunities efficiently. For those focused specifically on recurring income, RevShare programs can offer strong passive returns. They are beneficial for affiliates who can generate targeted traffic through SEO, paid ads, content marketing, or social media. To better understand this commission model and explore related offers, the article on RevShare programs provides useful insights. In conclusion, affiliate marketing remains a key driver of growth in the iGaming industry. With competitive commission options, strong RevShare potential, and continued global demand, the iGaming space offers substantial opportunities for affiliates willing to invest in traffic generation and campaign optimization.
22 January,2026 11:20 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmerican tennis ace Taylor Fritz, 28, has opened up on a scary incident in London in October 2024 when he had to grab his racquet to protect his girlfriend Morgan Riddle, 28, from intruders during an attempted break-in, reported The Daily Mail. World No. 9 Fritz, 28, and his partner Riddle, 28, who is an American social media influencer, were on holiday in the city. “The code to the door gets given out because people have to come in, but obviously, whoever is in charge, changes the codes. But someone pulled up at 4am. Being super loud outside, woke us up, and then they were trying to enter the code. They thought no one was there. Someone that worked on the cleaning team or something, probably gave them the code. I think it was an organised break-in,” Fritz said after winning his opening match at the Australian Open on Wednesday. “I was sitting at the door holding my racquet. People made fun of that, but realistically, if I hit someone with a racquet, that’s going to do some damage,” added Fritz, who has been dating Riddle since 2020.
22 January,2026 09:28 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentTwo-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth progressed to the second round at the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament here on Wednesday. Sindhu registered a hard-fought 22-20, 21-18 win over Japan’s Manami Suizu while former World No. 1 Srikanth, currently ranked 33rd in the world, beat world No. 22 Koki Watanabe of Japan 21-15, 21-23, 24-22. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2026 09:23 AM IST | Jakarta | AgenciesWorld Champion D Gukesh drew his fourth game on the trot, signing peace with defending champ R Praggnanandhaa while Arjun Erigaisi couldn’t break Anish Giri’s defence and drew in the Tata Steel Masters. Praggnanandhaa dented white’s pawn structure on the queen side but it wasn’t enough in the end as the players reached a drawn queen and pawns endgame. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2026 09:19 AM IST | Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands) | AgenciesEmma Raducanu said she will sit down to “re-evaluate” her game following a flat second-round exit at the Australian Open on Wednesday. The Briton won a stunning US Open crown as a teenage qualifier in 2021 but has not clinched a tour title since and has struggled for consistency and fitness. Her latest disappointment came with a sluggish 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 loss to Austria’s Russia-born Anastasia Potapova at Melbourne Park. The 28th seed Raducanu missed the chance to test herself against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. Raducanu admitted that she never felt comfortable on court against the 55th-ranked Potapova, despite being ahead 5-3 in the first set. “Just one of those days you don’t feel too good on the court,” said the 23-year-old, who has been managing a foot injury. Poor start to the year Raducanu has had a low-key start to the year, bowing out in the quarter-finals of a warm-up tournament in a surprise straight-set loss to 204th-ranked Taylah Preston. “I don’t want to give myself too much of a hard time because I know my preparation going into this tournament,” she said. “I kind of have to leave with my head held high because of the matches I’ve had here.” Although searching for positives, Raducanu admitted she will take some time now to take stock. “I don’t think I’m going to get straight back on the practice court,” she said. “I’m going to take a few days, get back home, and try and just re-evaluate my game a bit.” Pushed by reporters what she meant, and if she was not playing the style of tennis she wants, she said: “Yeah, I would say so. I think I want to be playing a different way. The misalignment with how I’m playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on.” Carlos Alcaraz celebrates his win over Yannick Hanfmann on Wednesday. Pic/AP, PTI Alcaraz, Sabalenka progress Meanwhile, Spanish superstar Alcaraz came through a tough arm-wrestle 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2 against hard-hitting German Yannick Hanfmann. In another game, four-time major winner Sabalenka went past Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1. Third seed Gauff was clinical against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic. Gauff raced home 6-2, 6-2. Elsewhere, Zverev, who lost last year’s final here to Jannik Sinner, had to wait through a half-hour rain delay and concern over a sore left ankle before beating Alexandre Muller 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2026 09:14 AM IST | Melbourne | AgenciesA jittery Madison Keys admitted on Tuesday that she was “too timid” after getting the defence of her Australian Open crown off to a stuttering start, losing the first four games before rallying to stay in the title hunt. The American World No. 9 was a bundle of nerves on Rod Laver Arena, but calmed down to clinch a 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 win over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova. Mind over matter “I think at the start I just felt like I was playing just a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct. I kind of kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do. That was really slowing down my footwork as well. I was reacting instead of having a plan of what I wanted to do,” said Keys, 30, before going on to praise Oliynykova, calling her ‘incredible.’ Her opponent, the Ukrainian World No. 92, was facing a player inside the Top 50 for the first time, but showed few nerves and put up strong fight. While Keys, who stunned Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago in a three-set epic to win her first major crown at the age of 29, said it was a privilege to be back as defending champion. “I have been thinking of that moment for basically a year. I was talking to [multiple Grand Slam winner] Lindsay Davenport yesterday. She reminded me that not many people get to be a defending champion at a Grand Slam, so just trying to embrace it and enjoy it. And, as nervous as I was at the start, I’m really glad to be back and to win that match,” said Keys. In the men’s singles event, defending champion Jannik Sinner also got off to a winning start, aided by his opponent Hugo Gaston retiring with an injury after the second set. The Italian World No. 2 was leading 6-2, 6-1 against the Frenchman before the latter called it quits with an unspecified injury. Djoko serves up some fun Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic joked that Carlos Alcaraz owes him a percentage of his winnings after the Spanish World No. 1’s new-look serve appeared to bear a striking resemblance to that of the 24-time Grand Slam champion. “When I saw it [before the tournament], I sent him a message. I said, ‘we have to speak about the copyrights.’ Later I told him we have to talk about a percentage of his winnings. Every ace I expect a tribute to me. Let’s see if he’s going to stick to the agreement,” said Djokovic with a laugh. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 January,2026 09:41 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPADVERTISEMENT
