Royal Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been criticised by viewers of the Fifa Women’s World Cup final after kissing Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the trophy presentation. Rubiales was one of the FIFA officials on stage who congratulated the Spanish players after they received their winners’ medals following a 1-0 victory over England to capture …

Pakistan face Afghanistan in a three-match one-day international series in Sri Lanka starting on Tuesday, with skipper Babar Azam seeing it as good preparation for the Asia Cup and World Cup. The first bilateral ODI series between the two teams will be followed by the six-nation Asia Cup, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, beginning on August 30 and the World …

BUDAPEST: Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei delivered his season’s best performance of 27 minutes 51.42 seconds, clinching the men’s 10,000m world title for the third consecutive time on Sunday. Cheptegei, 26, only surged ahead in the final lap, comfortably securing the top spot, even if his time couldn’t rival his world record of 26:11.00. Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenso bagged the silver with …

The swimming leg of a triathlon test event ahead of next year’s Olympic Games in Paris was cancelled on Sunday due to poor water quality in the River Seine, the third such decision this month. “Water quality tests (…) do not provide the necessary guarantees to properly hold the swimming event,” organisers said in a statement. The mixed relay triathlon …

England vs Spain, Women’s World Cup 2023 Final: Spain beat England by a margin of 1-0 in the final of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.  This was courtesy of a firm strike from Olga Carmona from the left wing that beat England goalkeeper Mary Earps in the first half. Carmona, a left back, has scored in back-to-back World Cup …

BEIJING: Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week: China edges New Zealand to clinch third place in basketball Supercup Li Kaier made a crucial interception as China rallied from behind to edge New Zealand 69-68 at the 2023 Basketball Supercup in Hamburg on August 13. With just under 10 seconds left, Li, the first naturalized player …

Neymar has arrived in Saudi Arabia after agreeing a deal to move from French side Paris Saint-Germain to the Saudi Pro League. The forward landed at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport having departed PSG to join Al-Hilal. He was photographed boarding a largely empty jumbo jet in Paris and later landing in the Middle Eastern nation. The 31-year-old was wearing …

Star Pakistani javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem, expressed confidence in securing a gold medal at the upcoming World Athletics Championship in Hungary. In conversation with the media, Arshad Nadeem conveyed his full fitness and determination to clinch the gold medal for his country during the mega event. “I am feeling well and, InshaAllah will strive for the desired outcome. If I …

BUDAPEST: Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) vice director Wang Nan was elected as a World Athletics Council member for the second term at the 54th World Athletics Congress in Budapest on Thursday. Nearly 500 delegates from 195 member associations took part in the Congress and voted for a new council. Wang became the first Asian woman to be elected council member …

BUDAPEST: China’s Olympic champion Gong Lijiao says she is going all out for her third women’s shot put world title in the 2023 World Athletics Championships, which opens on August 19. The 34-year-old failed to defend her title last year in Oregon as Chase Ealey threw 20.49 meters to secure gold for the United States, leaving Gong to settle for …

HAIKOU: Following China’s Village Basketball Competition and Village Super League, “CunVA,” or village volleyball, has become the latest sports fever arising from China’s vast countryside. Concluding Sunday night in Wenchang in the island province of Hainan, the one-and-half-month volleyball league has taken the city — a rising tourist boomtown famous for its space launch center — by storm. The event …

In a bittersweet moment for cricket enthusiasts across Pakistan as left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz on Wednesday announced his retirement from international cricket. Wahab extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board, his family, teammates, and the ever-loyal fans who stood by him through thick and thin. He affirmed his commitment to continue showcasing his skills in league cricket, …

Legendary pacer, Wasim Akram, criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for omitting Imran Khan in a celebratory video on the 77th Independence Day. Days after the release of the video, highlighting the achievement of the team, Akram expressed that the PCB should apologize to Imran Khan for the omission in the video. “I was shocked when I watched PCB’s brief …

BEIJING: China’s pair skating Olympic champion Han Cong announced on Tuesday that he will skip all competitions of the current Olympic cycle because of injury. It means the 31-year-old Han and his 28-year-old partner Sui Wenjing will not be able to defend their Olympic title at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. “I am sorry to announce that I have decided …

Imran Khan, the World Cup-winning captain of Pakistan, is considered one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of cricket. As a fast bowler and middle-order batsman, he captained the Pakistan national team to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, Pakistan’s only victory in the competition. Khan’s leadership of the Pakistan team was inspirational. He instilled a sense of …

The Player of the Series from the Ashes, Chris Woakes, is now the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for July 2023 after beating off stiff competition from compatriot Zak Crawley and Netherlands’ up-and-coming star Bas de Leede. The English star capped off a memorable Ashes performance with the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for July 2023. “It’s …

Nine renowned national athletes have been honored with civil awards for their exceptional achievements in their respective sports on the occasion of Independence Day. As per the official announcement, the investiture ceremony for the following civil awards, divided into different categories, will take place on Pakistan Day, March 23, next year. According to the confirmed list, legendary hockey player, Islahuddin …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to take action against those national cricketers who play in the United States of America without permission. According to the details, the cricket board has sent show-cause notices to players who play in the US without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from PCB. Players like Sohaib Maqsood, Arshad Iqbal, Aarish Ali, Hussain …

Star left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi has signed a three-year contract with Desert Vipers for the second season of the UAE’s ILT20, and will become the first Pakistan player to play in the league in January next year. “I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE and I hope they …

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf has embarked on a special journey as he got engaged last night in a glorious event. Pakistani all-rounder, Faheem Ashraf, added a joyful chapter to his life with his engagement on 11th August, a Friday that brimmed with celebrations. The event, graced by his near and dear ones, painted a picture of joy and togetherness As the …

Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears while being taken off due to an injury suffered during the Arab Club Champions Cup 2023 final between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal. Ronaldo, who scored a brace to help Al-Nassr beat Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s Al Hilal, suffered an injury and was stretchered off during the second half of extra time and had to be carried off …

The Ministry of External Affairs of India has denied providing special security during the upcoming World Cup 2023, scheduled to take place in India. In response to the request from Pakistan to make strict security arrangements, the ministry stated that the Men in Green are as important to them as other participants. An official spokesperson from the Ministry of External …

Pakistan national women team’s chief selector Saleem Jaffar today announced a 15-player squad for next month’s bilateral white-ball series against South Africa. The series consists of three T20Is and three ODIs, with the ODIs being part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. 18-year-old Shawaal Zulfiqar, who has also been included in Pakistan’s squad for next month’s Asian Games, has been …

The 2023-24 domestic season brings more competition and quality cricket with enhanced earning opportunities as eight regional sides and eight department teams will compete in separate first-class tournaments. This step will make sure that the regions and departments compete on a level playing field by utilising the best available talent. The domestic structure is framed by the PCB Cricket Technical …

Under mountains that dagger the sky, a misfit caravan of Pakistani porters trudge towards K2 toting live chickens and lawn furniture for adventurers seeking an audience with the world’s second-highest peak. It’s a dozen-day round trip, some 270,000 burdened steps in lopsided plastic loafers, tie-dye headbands and leopard-print pyjamas, climbing to a glacial perch under one of the most awing …

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has disclosed details regarding ticket sales for the eagerly awaited ODI World Cup 2023, scheduled to take place in India. Chris Tetley, the ICC Head of Events, has stated that tickets for the marquee event will be accessible online starting from August 25, catering to cricket fans worldwide. “We urge all fans to register their …

Gazing up from K2 Basecamp, Sajid Ali Sadpara sees Earth’s second-highest mountain, his father’s final resting place, and a blight of litter on the furthest reaches of the natural world. Sajid dons a down coverall stitched with Pakistan’s green flag to scale the 8,611-metre (28,251-foot) spur of rock, clearing an icebound grotesquerie of spent oxygen canisters, mangled tents and snarled …

India’s cricket board earned a surplus of around $1.5 billion in the five years to 2021-22, the country’s parliament heard during a rare look into the sporting body’s finances. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not typically publish its finances in detail. But it is known to be one of the world’s most lucrative governing bodies thanks …

In view of security concerns, the much-awaited Pakistan and India match to be held in Ahmedabad under ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has been rescheduled to October 14 (Saturday). The India and Pakistan match was originally set to take place on October 15 but since the tournament’s most anticipated game was clashing with the first day of Navratri, a festival …

Pakistan Cricket Team’s chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced the 17-man squad for Asia Cup and 18-man squad on Wednesday, for the ODI series against Afghanistan. Inzamam-ul-Haq clarified in the press conference in Lahore that Saud Shakeel might be added to the squad for Asia Cup, if he performs well against Afghanistan. He told that Faheem Ashraf was added to the team …

BEIJING: Chinese table tennis enthusiasts can now gain a more precise understanding of their proficiency in the sport. The Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) unveiled a table tennis level test in Beijing on Tuesday. Speaking at the launch, CTTA Vice President Qin Zhijian highlighted the significance of the level test in fulfilling China’s objective of becoming a sporting powerhouse and …

Veteran Pakistani cricketer, Fawad Alam has decided to shift to the United States of America (USA) and embark on a new cricketing journey. As per media reports, the 37-year-old cricketer is gearing up to grace the fields of the Minor League Cricket (MLC) T20 as a pivotal player for the Chicago Kingsmen. the move by the left-hander exemplifies a trend …

CHENGDU: China swept 18 golds from the pool as the swimming competitions wrapped up at the Chengdu Universiade with the FISU records broken 14 times, while Italy and Poland followed suit with eight and six golds respectively. Away from the pool, young athletes from universities around the world are harvesting friendship and touching memories in Chengdu, one of the most …

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam ul Haq was again appointed national men’s chief selector, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a tweet on Monday. This will be Inzamam’s second tenure as the chief selector, having been given the same role in 2016, which he left after his term finished three years later in 2019. Inzamam led Pakistan in 31 Test …

CHENGDU: China beat Italy 12-7 in the final to claim gold in the women’s water polo at the World University Games here on Monday. “The girls withstood the pressure in the final, and they performed perfectly,” said China coach Wang Jun, adding that she believes the water polo will be developed well in the future. Earlier on Monday, Australia won …

BERLIN: China’s Chen Yiwen clinched the women’s 3m springboard gold, while Yang Hao dominated the men’s 10m platform on Sunday, bringing China’s gold medal haul to eight at the World Aquatics World Cup Berlin Super Final. Two-time world champion Chen Yiwen narrowly clinched victory with 344.15 points, a slim margin of 1.55 points ahead of Japanese diver Sayaka Mikami. Not …

Star fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been displaying exceptional bowling performances in the ongoing third edition of The Hundred in England. The bowling brilliance of the left-arm fast bowler took center stage in the 100-ball cricket tournament as he led the Welsh Fire bowling attack against the Oval Invincibles. The 23-year-old pacer yet again claimed the wicket of the …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Zaka Ashraf, has expressed his aspirations for a revitalized cricketing relationship between Pakistan and India. Speaking to the media, he hoped for collaboration between the PCB and the cricket authority in India to strengthen the cricketing bond between the neighboring countries. Ashraf has proposed a Jinnah-Gandhi series to honor the cricketing history, drawing parallels …

CHENGDU: The three-day rowing tournament at the Chengdu Universiade began here on Friday with 15 golds up for grab. China coach He Yi said that 46 Chinese rowers are competing in all 15 events and that they will try their best to get wins as many as possible despite the hot weather. So far, the Chinese rowers ranked No. 1 …

Pakistan captain, Babar Azam has witnessed an improvement in the latest ICC Men’s Test rankings. This follows his team’s impressive 2-0 victory against Sri Lanka in the longer format of the game. Babar, widely recognized as an exceptional batter, has climbed two spots to secure the fourth position in the rankings. Sitting ahead of Babar are three other remarkable players: …