National selectors stress revival of grassroots hockey and lack of facilities as key challenges PESHAWAR: Senior hockey team trials were held in Peshawar on Thursday, drawing participation from 155 players across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, reflecting continued interest in the sport despite longstanding challenges. The trials took place at Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium, located within the Peshawar Sports…
A young climber scales a rock wall in India. Photo: AFP PUNE: Blink and you might miss Indian speed climber Deepu Mallesh scaling a wall five buses high in five seconds.India, a country obsessed with cricket, has seen a surge in popularity in climbing but those who want to compete internationally have had to crowdfund…
Stuttgart forward Tiago Tomas celebrates after scoring the winner in Thursday’s German Cup semi-final against Freiburg. Photo: AFP BERLIN: Tiago Tomas’ stunning 119th-minute back-heel sent Stuttgart to a German Cup final meeting with Bayern Munich after a 2-1 extra-time home win over Freiburg on Thursday. Maximilian Eggestein’s first-half opener had Freiburg on track for a…
LONDON: An envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked world football’s governing body FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup, according to the Financial Times. US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT on Wednesday it would be a “dream” to see four-time World Cup winners Italy at the finals in…
Machida supporters wave flags during a home match in 2024. Photo: AFP TOKYO: Japan’s Machida Zelvia shared their clubhouse with senior citizens doing fitness classes less than a decade ago. Now they’re one win away from being Asian champions. The team from the Tokyo suburbs will look to complete their remarkable transformation from non-league nobodies…
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal scores the only goal from the penalty spot against Celta Vigo. Photo: AFP LONDON: Barcelona moved a step closer to winning La Liga with a tight 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Wednesday but lost their goalscorer Lamine Yamal to an apparent hamstring injury. The teenage Spain star won and converted…
MADRID: Filipina star Alexandra Eala enjoyed a strong start to her Madrid Open campaign on Wednesday, moving past Russian qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round at the event for the third straight year. The 44th-ranked lefty needed one hour and 31 minutes to dismiss Pavlyuchenkova, who was a semi-finalist in the…
Erling Haaland sent Manchester City top of the Premier League. Photo: AFP LONDON: Manchester City edged ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor condemned Burnley to relegation on Wednesday. The defeat confirmed the Clarets’ third Premier League relegation in five seasons, consigning them to the…
Cristian Chivu could win his first Serie A title as a coach this weekend. Photo: AFP/File LONDON: Inter Milan could have their first chance to seal the Serie A title on Sunday as the champions in waiting take on Torino while Napoli and AC Milan try to push back the celebrations by at least one…
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz is under investigation by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after returning a positive test for recreational drug use, according to a media report on Wednesday. The 32-year-old left-arm spinner, currently playing for Multan Sultans in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, was reportedly flagged during testing conducted at the ICC Men’s T20…