Sports News Highlights, July 18: Inter Kashi Crowned I-League Champions; IND-W’s Pratika Rawal Fined By ICC

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of all the sporting action for today, July 18. So sit back and enjoy your cup of coffee/tea as we get you all the updates from the world of sports, right here!

Kenyan marathon runner Ruth Chepngetich, who broke the world record in the Chicago Marathon 2024, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for doping violation. Reportedly, diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) was detected in her samples.

Read the full news.

Today is a sad day for the sporting world as extreme athlete and skydiver Felix Baumgartner, known ‘Fearless Felix’, has passed away aged 56 in what looks like an accident in Italy. The Austrian had earlier made history when he jumped ‘from space’ and broke the sound barrier.

Read the full obituary.

Swimmer B. Benedicton Rohit became the first Indian to swim the 50m butterfly men’s event under 24 seconds, achieving the feat on Thursday at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.

The youngster clocked a time of 23.96s in the semi-final, breaking the record of 24.00s set by Virdhawal Khade seven years ago.

Not as a player, but as co-owner and investor. The American rapper is now a part of the co-ownerhip of the EFL Championship club Swansea City that also includes Luka Modric. Real the full news.

Another sporting figure that we have lost is former Super Bowl winner and NFL linebacker Bryan Braman, who has passed away at 38 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Read the full obituary.

In brighter news today, point guard Damian Lillard has reportedly returned to his former NBA side Portland Trail Blazers, in a three-year deal worth USD 42 million. Read the full news report.

Zimbabwe are set to face New Zealand in the tri-series today, with the table-topping Kiwis facing bottom-placed hosts. See the points table:

The match is at 4:30 PM IST.

In another positive development, away fans will be allowed in a gradual manner in the Argentine Primera Division after a 12-year ban ended. The ban on away fans was imposed in 2013 following stadium violence that caused deaths, but now, the future looks brighter. Read the full news article.

On 18 July 1976, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci became the first person to achieve the 'perfect 10' in Olympics gymnastics history. Read all about the historic achievement.

Tonight, Spain will face Switzerland in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025. Aitana Bonmati, who was hospitalised three weeks ealier after a case of viral meningitis, talked about her return physically and mentally ahead of the crucial clash.

The FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 is set to enter the tie-breaks of Round 4 today. All four Indian players - Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, Rameshbabu Vaishali, and Harika Dronavalli - will play in the tie-breaks, which start at 4:35 PM IST.

In day two of The Open 2025 golf tournament, Stewart Cink played the opening tee shot.

Currently, Jacob Skov Olesen (Denmark), Li Haotong (China), Matt Fitzpatrick (England), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa), Harris English (USA) are tied for first place.

The Super League Kerala (SLK) has signed a blockbuster five-year deal with Sports.com, which will allow for global broadcast in India, the Middle East, Europe, and other places. Read the full news report.

Legendary goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan announced her retirement from football. End of an era.

Former Wolves and Liverpool player Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car crash on 3 July, has been posthumously inducted into the Wolves Hall of Fame.

A happy birthday to India national women's cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who turns 29 today! Here are some of the records from her glittering career:

Also, a warm happy birthday wish as well to East Bengal and national team footballer Soumya Guguloth, who scored against Mongolia in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers for India.

England women's national cricket team were fined 5% of their match fee by the ICC for maintaing a slow over rate during the ODI match against India.

In a more serious offence, Pratika Rawal was fined 10% of her match fee and handed one demerit point for two 'avoidable' physical contacts with England bowlers Lauren Filer and Sophie Ecclestone, the first while taking a run and the second after being dismissed.

Marcus Rashford's proposed loan move to FC Barcelona is on, claimed Italian journalist Nicolo Schira.

Arjun Erigaisi defeated Nodirbek Abdusattorov to reach the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour semi-finals. However, R Praggnanandhaa was knocked out of the title race.

Inter Kashi are set to be crowned the I-League 2024-25 champions after the Court of Arbitration (CAS) ruled in their favour. The club celebrated the news on X:

Thank you for following our live blog as we brought you the latest news from all the sporting events taking place today. Tune in tomorrow for another daily blog from Outlook India.

Meanwhile, cricket fans can follow our live coverage of the T20I match between ZImbabwe and New Zealand.