Category: 6. Sports

KATOWICE (Poland) – Even though Slovenia started their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 campaign with a defeat to Poland, Luka Doncic added one more page to his already distinguished chapter in the competition’s history books.

In his first official game with the national team as a Los Angeles Laker, he became the first ever player to register more than 30 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals in a single EuroBasket game since at least 1995, when relevant records started being kept.

With an astonishing losing effort of 34 points, 9 assists, and 5 steals in front of the NBA franchise’s delegation in Spodek Arena, Luka Magic continued the Lakers’ tradition of EuroBasket excellence.

The Slovenian leader and EuroBasket 2017 champion is the latest of Lakers players who represented their nation at this stage and collected individual and team accolades.

Pau Gasol (Spain)

You can’t say “FIBA EuroBasket excellence” without mentioning Pau Gasol, who won three EuroBasket titles (2009, 2011, and 2015) with the Spanish national team. He also stepped on the podium in four other editions.

Spain’s legend is also the player with the most appearances (7) in the FIBA EuroBasket All-Star Five, and the one with the most EuroBasket MVP awards (2) alongside Kresimir Kosic. Pau was the EuroBasket Top Scorer in three different editions and is the competition’s all-time leading scorer, with 1,183 points.

He was a key piece in the purple and gold LA franchise winning the NBA title twice during his stint in Los Angeles, from 2008 to 2014.

Vlade Divac (Yugoslavia)

The first really big non-US name to pull on the Los Angeles Lakers jersey, Vlade Divac is a multi-time winner at FIBA EuroBasket and twice a member of the EuroBasket All-Star Five. He played in LA from 1989 to 1996 and had another short stint in 2004-05 before retiring.

He first contributed to Yugoslavia’s third-place finish in 1987 and then to two titles, at FIBA EuroBasket 1989 and 1991. Then, he led the team to glory once again at FIBA EuroBasket 1995, stepping on the podium one last time in 1999.

Marc Gasol (Spain)

Next to his brother Pau, Marc Gasol collected two FIBA EuroBasket titles, in 2009 and 2011. Moreover, the iconic Spanish center brought home three more medals in 2007, 2013, and 2017.

Before returning to Spain as Girona’s president and leader on the floor, he also spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020-21, his last season in the NBA.

Dennis Schroder (Germany)

The German national team captain is, alongside Luka Doncic, the only active player on this list who managed to step on the FIBA EuroBasket podium at least once. That happened back in 2022, when Germany came in third.

Dennis Schroder, who averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists for the Lakers in 2020-21 and returned for another stint in 2022-23, is Germany’s heart and soul. He had 21 points in this edition’s opening win against Montenegro.

Moreover, he ranks among the most prominent scorers in the history of FIBA EuroBasket, as he is averaging 22.3 points per game in the competition.

Ronny Turiaf (France)

Ronny Turiaf didn’t win the FIBA EuroBasket title with the French national team, but he participated in two editions: in 2007, when the tournament was held in Spain, and in 2009 in Poland.

One of the two Ambassadors of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025, the charismatic big man was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 37th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, and stayed with the team until 2008.

Luol Deng (Great Britain)

Entering the NBA in 2004 to retire 15 years later, Luol Deng also played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2016 to 2018, after he had established himself as Great Britain’s bona fide superstar.

The current president of the South Sudanese basketball federation had a fantastic campaign at FIBA EuroBasket 2011; he led the competition in points per game with 24.6, adding 9.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Honorable mentions

The list of European players who played for the Lakers and competed for their country at FIBA EuroBasket includes several more names, such as point guard Jose Calderon, a EuroBasket 2011 champion with Spain. .

Former Laker Ivica Zubac played for Croatia at FIBA EuroBasket 2022, just like Ukraine’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. Sasha Vujacic is the other Slovenian to have worn the purple and gold, from 2004 to 2010, but didn’t compete for Slovenia at senior level.

With Greece starting off strong in Group C on Thursday, could Kostas Antetokounmpo become another Laker, albeit former in his case, to celebrate podium success at FIBA EuroBasket?

FIBA

Eliud Kipchoge’s schedule at the 2025 Sydney Marathon

All times local time AEST (UTC +10h).

Races will start at 6:30am in the morning on Sunday 31 August. Currently the Australian time zone is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The start time for Kipchoge’s race is:

• 06:30 – Elite men and women’s race

How to watch Eliud Kipchoge live at the 2025 Sydney Marathon

Fans can follow the 2025 Sydney Marathon around the world via the marathon’s official broadcast TV and livestreaming partners.

7mate and 7plus Sport will provide live TV coverage in Australia on Sunday, August 31 from 6am to 10am AEST. There will also be live stream on the TCS Sydney Marathon YouTube channel.

Eurosport has the rights for most of Europe, while in Belgium fans can follow it on DAZN Europe.

Viewers in the US, Canada can follow the action on Flosports, CBS, Fight Network, Fox TV, MASN TV, MSG Network, NBC Sports National digital and Game+.

SuperSport has the right for most of sub-saharan Africa including Kenya where the marathon will be broadcast from 11:30pm, while Fuji TV will air the Sydney marathon in Japan.

Eurosport has the rights in India and subcontinent, Shanghai TV in the People’s Republic of China, SKY NZ in New Zealand while Brazilian fans can follow the action on Xsports.

If we have learned anything about the Hundred as we near the end of its fifth season it is that people will see in it whatever they wish to. So Adam Zampa’s last-minute arrival in the Oval Invincibles squad from Australia, confirmed on Thursday, will be perceived by some as the welcome return of a global white-ball star, the leading wicket-taker in last season’s competition. Others will consider the very possibility of a team making a big, potentially decisive signing for just the final of a competition proof of its essential unseriousness. Another group might care about nothing but their own entertainment. Protest will be fuelled by the fact that the success of the Invincibles, who go into Sunday’s decider seeking a three-peat, and Oval-based teams in general, is perhaps starting to grate.

They are something of an anomaly. The Hundred is structurally designed to promote inconsistency across seasons, unpredictability generally being seen as a positive trait in sporting competition and particularly important in a tournament with only eight teams and no relegation, circumstances that might allow it to become very stale very quickly. So Trent Rockets men, runners-up in this year’s table, have now finished first, second, third and fifth twice; while the team they face in Saturday’s eliminator, third-placed Northern Superchargers, have never finished in the same position twice.

But the Invincibles have chosen stability, building their team around a core of players who have been there from the start (the new player-recruitment system expected to be introduced for next season aims to encourage more player movement, albeit around a small number of players on longer-term contracts). Familiarity is not the only ingredient of success but it is notable that the two worst teams in this season’s men’s competition, London Spirit and Welsh Fire, each have only one player who has made more than 25 appearances for them, while the Invincibles have six. Nine of the XI that started last year’s final have returned this year, while Sam Billings has captained them through 41 of their 42 games.

Like the Invincibles, Southern Brave women have topped their table for the third time in five years – they have only once finished outside the top two, and that was last year when they came last – but so far they have only once converted their league success into a title. Last year they won one game and that with one ball to spare; Thursday’s victory over Welsh Fire, who collapsed from 50 for one to finish with 77 for nine, completed the first 100% record of any team, men or women, in the history of the tournament (unless you count Welsh Fire men’s eight defeats from eight in 2022). The England seamer Lauren Bell added another four wickets to an outstanding record for the Brave: she has the most wickets this season at the lowest average, and one of the few to come close to her combination of wickets (lots) and runs conceded (few) is her teammate Tilly Corteen-Coleman.

Superchargers will be involved in both eliminators, with London Spirit their opponents in the women’s competition. The sides met less than a fortnight ago, when Superchargers romped to victory by eight wickets (they have become fearsome chasers, winning three of their last five games by eight wickets and one by seven, with a combined total of precisely 100 balls to spare), and for all that it’s their home ground Spirit have not won at Lord’s since they pipped the Invincibles in the first game of the season.

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Coached by Andrew Flintoff, captained by Harry Brook and with Ben Stokes involved as a non-playing mentor, their men’s team has been, well, supercharged by the unlikely figure of Zak Crawley, whose 280 runs this season already exceeds the number he scored in 2021, 2022 and 2023 combined (he did not play in 2024 because of injury). In 2023 he averaged 13 in five innings and overall had been so hopeless that Spirit cut him from their squad in February. The success of Crawley, like the Superchargers’ women, offers a romantic vision of a tournament that allows one season’s losers to become winners the next – a vision that may or may not survive contact with the remorseless juggernaut that is the Invincibles.

This has been a dream for me, it’s one of those where you dream big, because I was at the last World Cup. I was with the U18 Fijiana. I was 14 or 15 and I was there watching in the stands. I remember watching the Fijiana play and the Black Ferns, all the teams. And after being around them and feeling the atmosphere I made it my big goal to one day represent my country internationally and hopefully get the chance to play in the World Cup, and here I am.

I’m more faith driven, and with God, I think that anything’s possible. 

Just being a part of the squad here with the ladies, I still look up to each and every one of them. It’s still a dream come true for me.

Inspiring the team & going viral 

We usually have lotu (church) every day and either the night before or the morning of, one of our leaders puts out who’s doing the lotu and what our dress code is and everything. So the ‘bomb squad’, the ones who weren’t playing (against Australia) were asked to share. 

So after the game, I went to my room, and I could feel how my team was feeling. Being there with them, you could feel how a big loss can get to you. So I was laying down in my room on my bed, and I put on some worship songs, and I was reading my Bible, and I just started writing.

I was thinking about each and every one of my teammates, how they’d be feeling. I just wanted to write a word of encouragement for them, because it’s really nice to hear that encouragement, that support from within. Because you know, you’re away from your family, so for these weeks we have to be each other’s family.

I was very shocked that it went quite viral!

And seeing my teammates’ reaction when I was sharing, how emotional they were getting and how it really touched them. Their feedback to me, felt really nice. That it actually meant something to them and touched them personally.

If I am (asked to say anything before the Scotland game on Saturday) I guess I’ll be ready!

Inspired in turn by Ruby Tui

I actually met Ruby (New Zealand’s RWC and Olympic Games winner) in person in 2023 when I was painting a a changing room for my club in Auckland, and she came along because we were encouraging female rugby. She was very down to earth, and I was a fan-girl to her, because I just loved the way she plays.

They say don’t meet your heroes, it’s not worth it, but she was so humble and so positive. Her vibes were just so nice, and it was so cool because she was helping us paint the walls and the changing rooms! 

It turns out Ruby feels just the same, with a tearful Michella’e being surprised in front of all her team by the following video:

High-stakes clash v Scotland

I’m excited. Even last week, when I wasn’t picked, the whole week, I was looking forward to the game, to being a part of the team, and watching from the sidelines. It’s an experience in itself.

For us, we need to be a bit more physical for this game. After watching them against Wales, they were more dominant with their physicality. We usually like to play offload after offload, but I think being more physical because there might be some rain. Holding on to the ball and our position.

It (the try seen below scored by Kolora Lomani v Canada) really shows what our team can do when we work together. It really was so exciting watching from the side. I was losing my voice from screaming.

I live in New Zealand and I’ve heard the bagpipes with the Waipu Club. They wear the skirts (kilts) as well. I think it’s cool that they (Scotland) have certain traditions for their country. I am looking forward to it. 

For us, it’s really nice when we sing together. It really it’s uplifting. Personally, I feel like when we sing, it’s like, brings us together. 

News summary:

• Cisco has been named Official Secure AI Infrastructure Partner of Team Luna Rossa for the 38th America’s Cup.
• Cisco’s AI-powered security and unified technology platform will protect Luna Rossa against cyberthreats while securing operations to enable critical decision-making in real-time.
• This partnership expands Cisco’s global leadership in sports technology, adding to collaborations with the NFL, LA28, and McLaren F1.

SAN JOSE, Calif., August 29, 2025 – Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) – the worldwide leader in networking and security– and Luna Rossa – Italy’s leading sailing team – today announced that Cisco has become the team’s Official Secure AI Infrastructure Partner. Luna Rossa will challenge at the 38th edition of the America’s Cup in Naples, Italy in 2027. Through this sponsorship, Cisco will provide Luna Rossa with its advanced security portfolio and unified technology platform, powered by AI, to help the team stay ahead of emerging threats, safeguard mission-critical operations, and enable real-time performance decisions with confidence.

“Success in today’s America’s Cup is as much about technology as it is about sailing,” said Rob McQueen, Vice President of Global Sponsorships at Cisco. “As an official partner of Luna Rossa, our AI-powered security platform will defend Luna Rossa’s digital edge, knowing that every design insight, every tactical decision, and every byte of race data is protected.”

The Luna Rossa team’s impressive line-up of sailors with Olympic and previous America’s Cup experience, combined with a world-class team of engineers and designers, make it a formidable Challenger to the 38th edition of the event. The Italian team has extensive experience in the America’s Cup, having already competed in six editions and twice won the Challenger Selection Series.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cisco as our technology partner,” said Gilberto Nobili, Technology & Operations Director at Luna Rossa. “The America’s Cup is a race of innovation as well as endurance. With Cisco’s cutting-edge AI security safeguarding our operations, our team can focus on what matters most—delivering performance at the highest level.”

Innovating across the global sports landscape

The Luna Rossa sponsorship expands Cisco’s global portfolio of strategic sponsorships with leading sports leagues, teams, properties and organizations. Cisco serves as the Official Enterprise Networking Partner and an Official Cybersecurity Partner of the NFL; Official Network Equipment Partner for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and the Official Technology Partner and a Security Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team.

Cisco also powers the world’s most technologically advanced stadiums including Madison Square Garden, Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

About Luna Rossa

The Luna Rossa team was born in 1997 when Patrizio Bertelli decided to challenge for the 30th America’s Cup in 2000. Since then, the team has taken part in six editions of the America’s Cup, winning the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000 and the PRADA Cup in 2021, and reaching the finals of the Challenger Selection Series also in 2007, 2013 and 2024.

World number two Swiatek looked to be cruising as she led her Dutch opponent by a set and a break but stumbled before eventually seeing off the 66th-ranked Lamens 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

“It wasn’t an easy match. I did some mistakes,” said Swiatek.

“I felt like it depended on me and if I made mistakes or not, sometimes I did. I probably got a little tight in the second set.

“But the third set is a reset. You’ve got to start from the beginning and I knew I could play a little more precisely, so I just tried to do that.”

Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion, has won 16 of 17 matches following titles at Wimbledon and Cincinnati. She goes on to play Russian 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya for a spot in the last 16.

Ekaterina Alexandrova, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Linda Noskova were among other women’s seeds to advance.

Sinner is back in action later on Thursday as he takes on Alexei Popyrin, the Australian who inflicted a shock defeat on Novak Djokovic at last year’s tournament.

The Italian has won his last 22 matches on hard courts at Grand Slams and said he felt fully healthy again after dealing with illness last week in Cincinnati.

He is trying to become the first man to repeat as US Open champion since Roger Federer won five in a row from 2004-2008.

It is the longest run without a successful men’s title defence of any Grand Slam tournament in the Open era.

Sinner will be hoping to join Lorenzo Musetti in the next round. The Italian 10th seed matched his best US Open run as he blew past Belgium’s David Goffin.

Russian 15th seed Andrey Rublev beat American wild card Tristan Boyer in four sets. He advances to a last-32 tie with Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong.

Wong, a 21-year-old qualifier, extended his New York fairytale with a 7-6 , 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Australian Adam Walton.

The 173rd-ranked Wong had already made history earlier in the week by becoming the first man from Hong Kong to win a Grand Slam singles match.

Alexander Zverev plays Britain’s Jacob Fearnley after Coco Gauff kicks off the night session on Arthur Ashe against Croatia’s Donna Vekic.

The third-seeded Gauff stumbled through her opening match and admitted the build-up to the tournament had been “mentally exhausting” after shaking up her coaching team.

Twice former US Open champion Naomi Osaka takes on American Hailey Baptiste after making an encouraging start in her first Grand Slam as a seeded player since 2022.

Wimbledon runner-up and eighth seed Amanda Anisimova plays 19-year-old Australian Maya Joint under the lights on Louis Armstrong.

mw/rcw

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Badminton World Championships medallist one week, kinesiology university student the next.

That’s exactly what Canada’s Victor Lai is experiencing, after the 20-year-old part-time student and part-time badminton player produced a second stunning upset in a week at the 2025 BWF World Championships in Paris to become Canada’s first ever world medallist in the sport.

Having already defeated 11th seed Lu Guangzu in the round of 32, Lai went one better on Friday to knock out the 2021 world champion and ninth seed Loh Kean Yew, winning 22–20, 21–18 in straight games.

With losing semi-finalists receiving bronze medals, it means Lai will leave the French capital to return to Toronto’s York University next week as a history-maker for Canada. No badminton player representing the country has previously reached a World Championships semi-final in any of the sport’s five events.

“I start school next week,” Lai laughs when Olympics.com asks him about returning to Canada after a successful run at these World Championships, a month after he reached the fourth round at the World University Games in Germany.

For someone whose global experience has been limited to BWF World Tour Super 300-level events and below — “I’ve played one [Super] 500 before but that’s it,” Lai confirms — it’s been a run to dream of.

So much so that it has Lai considering his future options. Most of the players he’s faced this week are professionals, either training under national team set-ups or independently, without having to worry about a second job or other commitments.

“School can always take a pause,” he says. “I’m part-time so depending on how much I can handle [balancing] school and badminton, I’ll see.

“For sure [it gives me pause for thought], that’s something that’s going to be on the mind and just excited for tomorrow to give it my best again.”

‘Tomorrow’ brings a semi-final contest against what would be the biggest scalp of all, if he can pull it off: world number one Shi Yuqi of People’s Republic of China.

“I think just my training this year, I’ve had blocks of training on end, 5-6 weeks, that helped me build up physically,” Lai explains of his success this week.

“Before this season, my physical was not up to par and it’s still not up to par, at least I can compete with the top guys. I don’t have the power, strength, of those other guys, but I think I make up for it with my mental and my skills.”

Now that he’s proven he can hang with “those other guys”, there are new things to get used to.

Lai was stopped by multiple outlets in the media mixed zone after his match, including by Chinese media who asked him questions in Cantonese, a language Lai understands thanks to his family’s background from Hong Kong China.

“It’s something I’m not used to,” Lai acknowledged of the media attention. But it’s one thing Lai will become accustomed to, especially if he continues his remarkable run up the world rankings.

The Canadian began the year ranked 99th in the world, and entered the World Championships ranked 50th. After his exploits in Paris, he is looking at a big jump once more.

“Actually, at the beginning of the year, my goal was just top 50,” he shares.

Mission accomplished, he isn’t setting himself a new target this year. “Now I’ve reached it… just the pressure’s gone. I can just go out there and enjoy myself and do my best [every game].”

36 teams from across the continent will learn their fate on Friday afternoon, as the draw is made for the 2025/26 Conference League.  
 
This is the second year of the revamped tournament, which saw a brand-new league phase. ECA played a crucial role in the development of the tournament, ensuring our Member Clubs were central in the decision-making process of the new format. 
 
This season, 94% of clubs participating in the Europa League are ECA Members.  
 

Which Teams Qualified for the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League? 

 
All 36 teams reached the tournament via play–offs, but there was plenty of drama. Here is a closer look at some of the teams who have qualified.  
 
Having lost two consecutive Conference League finals, Fiorentina will be targeting the competition’s crown this season. It wasn’t easy for the Italian side in their play-off game against Polissya Zhytomyr. Veteran striker Edin Džeko scored an 89th winner to help La Viola wrap up a 3-2 win on the night and a 6-2 aggregate victory.  
 
Ħamrun Spartans made history becoming the first ever Maltese club to reach the Conference League group stage. Midfielder Vincenzo Polito was the hero, scoring the vital goal as the Spartans edged out Latvian side RFS 3-2 on aggregate.  
 
Mileta Rajović scored in extra-time to hand Legia Warszawa a memorable 5-4 aggregate win over Scottish side Hibernian. Having gone all the way to the quarter-finals of last season’s competition, the Polish side will be hoping for a similar successful European campaign.  
 
Lausanne registered the biggest shock of the play–off round as former Arsenal youngster Nathan Butler-Oyedeji scored the only goal to knock out Beşiktaş. This will be the first time the Swiss team has played in European competition since reaching the group stages of the 10/11 UEFA Cup.  

 
2025/26 UEFA Europa League – How Did Qualification go? 
 
All 36 teams qualified for the tournament via a play–off route:.  

Armenia: Noah 
Austria: SK Rapid 
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Zrinjski 
Croatia: Rijeka 
Cyprus: AEK Larnaca, Omonoia 
Czechia: Sigma Olomouc, Sparta Praha 
England: Crystal Palace 
Finland: KuPS Kuopio 
France: Strasbourg 
Germany: Mainz 
Gibraltar: Lincoln Red Imps 
Greece: AEK Athens 
Iceland: Breidablik 
Italy: Fiorentina 
Kosovo: Drita 
Malta: Hamrun Spartans 
Netherlands: AZ Alkmaar 
North Macedonia: Shkëndija 
Poland: Jagiellonia Białystok, Lech Poznań, Legia Warszawa, Raków Częstochowa 
Republic of Ireland: Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne 
Romania: Universitatea Craiova 
Scotland: Aberdeen 
Slovakia: Slovan Bratislava 
Slovenia: Celje 
Spain: Rayo Vallecano 
Sweden: Häcken 
Switzerland: Lausanne-Sport 
Türkiye: Samsunspor 
Ukraine: Dynamo Kyiv, Shakhtar Donetsk 
 

When Is the Draw? 
 
The draw for the league phase will take place on Friday, August 29. It will take place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco and will be streamed live UEFA’s website at 13:00 CET. 

 
Where is the Final?  

The final will be hosted at Leipzig’s RB Arena on 27 May 2026.