With the victory, the Chinese got to nine points and confirmed the top spot in the standings in Pool F, setting up a duel with France, who finished second in Pool C, in the Round of 16. Second with six points, the Dominicans will face Brazil, who topped their pool. Both matches will be held on Sunday, in Bangkok.
Wu Mengjie was China’s leading scorer with 16 points (15 kills, one block), one more than fellow outside hitter Zhuang Yushan, who registered 12 kills, two blocks and one ace. Middle blocker Wang Yuanyuan also got to double digits, tallying ten points with five kills and five blocks.
“I’m very excited about our team’s relentless effort today,” Wu commented. “We felt that we couldn’t play at our best in the first two matches. We prepared very well for today’s match and our performance was much better. I hope we can bring our best game again in the elimination rounds. We’re going to keep charging forward and taking it one step at a time.”
Aston Martin Aramco F1 ACADEMY driver Tina Hausmann discusses her season so far, looks ahead to the next round of the ultra-competitive, all-female, single-seater series at Zandvoort – an event she sees as a home race – and explores what her racing future may hold.
Following a chance to rest and recharge over the summer shutdown, we’re raring to go once more. 14 races down, 10 to come, the 2025 Formula One season resumes this weekend with the Dutch Grand Prix at historic Zandvoort.
Accompanying it on the support bill, the latest round of F1 ACADEMY, with Aston Martin Aramco represented by Tina Hausmann as she looks to build on a solid showing in Canada last time out, the highlight being a fourth-place finish in race three.
Here, she previews the next instalment of the all-female racing series and explains why Zandvoort feels like home despite hailing from Switzerland, reflects on her sophomore season so far, and discusses what might lay in store for her after 2025 as series rules dictate each driver can only spend two years competing in the championship.
How do you reflect on your F1 ACADEMY campaign up to this point?
“I’ve made good progress this year. I’ve grown in confidence each race weekend and results have got better and better, so I’m trying to sustain that momentum for the second half of the season.
“We’ve had some strong results, such as in Canada. That race weekend was one of the most stressful of my career because I was in the thick of my final exams at school; I completed four written four-hour exams before flying to Montréal and five oral exams as soon as I got back home.
“Mentally, it was very demanding to juggle, but it was one of the best race weekends we’ve had so I was really pleased with how we worked together as a team.
“I spent a lot of time in the simulator to prepare for Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as it was my first time racing there and I took heart from how confident I felt after just a few laps.
“It showed me just how important confidence is, particularly at new circuits, and also how we got our preparation right.
“We are aiming to take that and the other positives from the season and use them as a springboard for the remainder of the year, starting at Zandvoort.”
The sport waits for no one and you need to maximise every opportunity you get.
What lessons from your first season in F1 ACADEMY have you been able to apply this year?
“I’ve learned so much at every race weekend on and off the track.
“When I started F1 ACADEMY I thought two years would be a very long time, but it’s flown by. I’ve learned the sport waits for no one and you need to maximise every opportunity you get as a driver.
“I’ve had great support from Aston Martin Aramco and PREMA during my time in F1 ACADEMY, but at the end of the day you are the driver and you need to be proactive if you want to secure a future after your two years in the series. Different highly exciting opportunities are on the horizon. There are only three rounds of this season left, so I need to maximise them and show my full potential.”
F1 ACADEMY is at Zandvoort this weekend. Are you looking forward to racing in the Netherlands?
“Zandvoort is a very special track. In a sense I treat it like a home race because it’s the closest race on the F1 ACADEMY calendar to my native Switzerland; it’s the only race in Europe this year. It’s very different to the other circuits we’re visiting this season, and I like it because it’s old-school. There is a lot of elevation and banking, so it requires quite a unique approach as a driver.
“The majority of the F1 ACADEMY field know the circuit very well as many have raced and tested on it, so the difference between the drivers will be made by who gets up to speed quickest from Free Practice onwards, plus the weather is often variable there so adapting quickly will be key.”
After Zandvoort, F1 ACADEMY heads to Singapore and then Las Vegas for the season finale. What are you expecting from those rounds?
“I realised a childhood dream when I raced in Singapore last year so to be going there again is very special.
“I really like Singapore as a venue and it’s exciting to drive there. The humidity and heat challenges are well-documented but it’s a mentally taxing event as well as physically because the walls are so close and you can’t afford to make a mistake.
“As for Las Vegas, I’ve never been but I’ve heard lots of exciting things about the city and the circuit.
“It’s an event where so much is going on away from the track that it’s important not to get distracted and it’s also going to be emotional because it will be my last weekend in F1 ACADEMY.
“I’ll be trying to extract everything from every moment we have between now and then.”
There are so many young girls looking up to us, being empowered.
What are your plans after the F1 ACADEMY season concludes?
“You can never fully predict what you’ll be doing in a few years, but racing is my main focus; I’ve started my motorsport journey and I want it to continue.
“I have quite a few options for after F1 ACADEMY and I’m weighing them up. I want to be competing in a championship that has a clear route of progression up the motorsport ladder, so I’m not just set for 2026 but also the years after. I want to step up and drive faster cars, but it’s a bit too early to say which direction I’ll head in.
“Equally, one thing I know is that I want to go to university and do some other projects alongside my racing next year, so I’ll factor that into my decision. I’ve graduated from school with all the grades I wanted and I’m starting a gap year so I’ve got some time to think about what I want to do next and how it’s all going to fall into place.
“Lately, it’s really dawned on me how important female representation in motorsport is and that’s something I want to keep promoting. For me, it’s been normal to be a female racing driver but there are so many young girls looking up to us, being empowered, and I’ve realised how important what we are doing is for future generations.
“Earlier in the summer, I attended some of the European Women’s Championship football matches in Switzerland and was really inspired by the players. I realised it’s the same for the young girls who are watching us racing. That underlined to me how important it is what we’ve been doing in F1 ACADEMY, and what we need to keep doing in wider motorsport series.
“That’s another reason why I want to keep racing.”
Dutch Grand Prix
Driving among the dunes
A sea of orange, sand dunes and spectacular banked corners, the Dutch Grand Prix has become famed for its exhilarating festival atmosphere as much as its racing.
Read our essential guide to the weekend as Formula One returns after the summer break.
DUTCH GP PREVIEW
I / AM DROPS
Amplify your fan experience
From exclusive collabs to once-in-a-lifetime prizes, I / AM DROPS is a new series of unique and ultra-limited moments and fan experiences.
The University of Warwick is set to host the annual British Chess Championships next summer.
The event, in its 112th year, will be held in venues on the university’s campus in Coventry from 1 to 9 August.
More than 1,000 players from under-eights to seniors will take part in a range of age group competitions.
Paul Bartlett, director of Warwick Conferences, which will operate the venues, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming players from across the country to a campus that champions ambition, focus and community, qualities that align well with the game of chess.”
The championships were last held in the city in 2015, and since then the hosts, which has one of the largest and most successful university chess clubs in the UK, have won the British Universities’ Championship three times.
Mr Bartlett added that the university was proud to be hosting the event and said the campus combined “excellent transport links, modern event spaces, and a strong track record in delivering major events”.
Alex Holowczak, director of events for the English Chess Federation, said: “The event continues to grow in size and significance, and Warwick provides the facilities, experience and chess pedigree needed to support that growth.”
This year’s championships took place in Liverpool earlier this month, where Michael Adams, an English chess grandmaster, won the British Chess Champion title for the ninth time.
The 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) delivered yet another high-voltage encounter as the St Lucia Kings pulled off one of the most remarkable chases in the tournament’s history. Their victory came at the expense of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, who not only squandered a dominant position but also walked away with an unwanted record for the very first time in CPL history.
Shepherd’s Power Show Sets the Stage
Guyana Amazon Warriors looked in complete control during the first innings, piling up a mammoth 202 runs. The highlight of their innings was an electrifying knock from Romario Shepherd, who unleashed his brute force to dismantle the Kings’ bowling attack. His blitzkrieg innings brought the crowd alive and seemed to have put the Warriors on course for a comfortable win.
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Kings’ Stunning Fightback
But the St Lucia Kings, known for their resilience, had other plans. Chasing over 200 is always a daunting task in the CPL, yet the Kings approached the innings with calculated aggression. Their top and middle order stepped up collectively, refusing to bow down to the pressure of the steep target. In the end, they completed a record chase, turning the match on its head and leaving the Warriors shell-shocked.
An Unwanted Record for the Warriors
For the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the loss was doubly painful. Despite setting a target of 202, they became the first team in CPL history to fail to defend a score above 200. For a side that has been among the most consistent performers in the league, the unwanted milestone will sting deeply.
Kings Carry Momentum
This win further cements the St Lucia Kings’ reputation as CPL’s comeback specialists. After winning their maiden title in 2024, they have continued to play with confidence and composure, showing that they are no longer underdogs but genuine title contenders year after year.
The result will go down as one of the defining moments of the 2025 CPL season, a game where individual brilliance met collective resilience, and history was rewritten in dramatic style.
TAMPERE (Finland) – Lithuania couldn’t have started FIBA EuroBasket 2025 on a better note, finding their first win in the competition by beating Great Britain by 24 points (94-70) in Tampere, and setting a single-game record.
The whole team put up a collective rebounding masterpiece, breaking the record – since 1995 when data was first recorded – for most rebounds grabbed in a single FIBA EuroBasket game at 57.
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Lithuania open FIBA EuroBasket 2025 with convincing win
The previous two record-holders in such a category were Russia and Croatia, respectively finishing with a 54-rebound performance at FIBA EuroBasket 1995 against Finland and at FIBA EuroBasket 2013 versus Greece.
Rank
TEAM
OPPONENT
YEAR
REBOUNDS
1.
Lithuania
Great Britain
2025
57
2.
Russia
Finland
1995
54
=
Croatia
Greece
2013
54
4.
Poland
Iceland
2017
53
=
Türkiye
Iceland
2015
53
=
Slovenia
Croatia
2013
53
6.
Finland
Russia
2013
52
=
Montenegro
Hungary
2017
52
=
Germany
Italy
2007
52
=
Russia
Finland
2013
52
10.
Great Britain
Israel
2013
51
=
Spain
Czechia
2017
51
In the same game, Jonas Valanciunas moved up to fourth in the FIBA EuroBasket rebounding charts at 309 boards collected in the competition; surpassing Spain’s Marc Gasol.
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Valanciunas climbs to fourth in EuroBasket rebounding charts
Reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra will spearhead India’s 19-member contingent for the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo next month, with rising sprinter Animesh Kujur making history as the first Indian male sprinter to make the cut.
As defending champion, Neeraj Chopra booked his place through a wild card entry. He will be joined in the men’s javelin throw by Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh, both securing berths via the world rankings.
India also gained direct qualifiers through entry standards – Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), Parul Chaudhary (3000m steeplechase), Gulveer Singh (5000m) and Praveen Chitravel (triple jump). However, Sable has been ruled out of the World Athletics Championships after an injury cut short his season.
Thirteen others made the cut through the rankings, including long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who returned impressively after a year-long injury layoff, and javelin thrower Annu Rani, whose consistent 60m-plus efforts have underlined her form this season.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) management has formally initiated a comprehensive valuation process of all its commercial assets, reinforcing its commitment to transparency, fairness, growth and long-term sustainability.
Following the conclusion of a public tender process initiated in July, the contract for these valuation services has been awarded to Ernst & Young (EY MENA) one of the world’s leading professional services firms.
The valuation process will commence later this month and is expected to be completed within a five- week period. EY MENA will engage with all relevant stakeholders of the PSL, carry out market research, benchmarking exercises, and formulate projections and valuations.
The TORs for the exercise were approved by the PSL Governing Council and include, amongst other items, the following:
The Fair Market Value of all existing Franchises
The Valuation of commercial rights including Media, live-streaming and In-stadia sponsorships
The Valuation of Title Sponsorship rights
The Valuation of New Franchise teams
This process with respect to determining the Fair Market Value and renewal franchise fee for the existing franchises is in line with the terms and conditions of the existing franchise agreements which are nearing completion.
Speaking on the development, CEO PSL Salman Naseer said: “This valuation marks a pivotal step in the evolution of the PSL which has cemented its place as one of the leading cricket franchises in the world. By engaging an independent global leader like EY MENA, we are ensuring absolute transparency and fairness in determining the fair market value of our franchises and commercial rights.
“As we look toward the renewal cycle and addition of new team(s), this process will give current and prospective stakeholders complete confidence in the league’s growth trajectory and long-term sustainability. Once the valuation report has been reviewed internally, the PCB will take informed and strategic decisions that will shape the future of the league.”
The PSL continues to be a cornerstone of Pakistan’s sporting landscape, driving cricketing excellence, commercial success and global recognition. With the upcoming renewal cycle of commercial assets, PSL is poised to offer even greater opportunities for investors, fans, and players alike.
2025 Sydney Marathon schedule (all times in AEST -UTC +10h)
Races will start in staggered times for the record-breaking 35,000 participants from Miller Street, North Sydney, the historic start point on Sunday 31 August.
Currently, the Australian time zone is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). That means the race will be on Saturday evening/night in most parts of the world. The start times for the different races are:
06:15 – Elite wheelchair men’s
06:30 – Elite men and women’s race
06:31 – Mass start Group 1
07:03 –Mass start Group 2
07:41 –Mass start Group 3
How to watch the 2025 Sydney Marathon live
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, 31 August from 6 am to 10 am 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.
The 499Ps return to the spotlight in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the 6 Hours of COTA, the sixth round of the 2025 season, which kicks off on Sunday 7 September at 1.00 p. m., local time. Ferrari arrives in Texas defending its lead in both the World Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Championships standings.
Fifty-six days after the previous round contested in Brazil, the Ferrari – AF Corse works team heads to the Circuit of The Americas with a clear goal for both crews: the number 50 of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen, and the number 51 of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, who both finished outside the top ten at São Paulo, need to score crucial points in the world title races.
On the American circuit, which is hosting the Lone Star Le Mans for the second consecutive year and is renowned for its dramatic elevation changes and 5.513-kilometre layout combining high-speed sections with corners of varying radius and speed, the spotlight will also fall on the number 83 499P, eighth in Brazil. Entered by the AF Corse privateer team, it will be driven by Maranello-based manufacturer official driver Yifei Ye alongside Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson.
The situation. As indicated, Ferrari tops the World Manufacturers’ Championship standings on 175 points, 55 clear of second place, ahead of a race that awards 25 points to the winner. In the World Drivers’ Championship, Pier Guidi, Calado, and Giovinazzi lead on 105 points, with two wins and two pole positions so far. Ye, Kubica, and Hanson follow them in second place on 93 points, while Fuoco, Molina, and Nielsen sit fourth on 57, with one win and one Hyperpole.
AF Corse also leads the FIA World Cup for Hypercar Teams, 64 points clear of their closest rivals on the eve of a race – the third-to-last of the season – which is crucial for the independent teams’ title.
The programme. The Lone Star Le Mans starts on Friday, 5 September, with the first two 90-minute free practice sessions at 11.30 a. m. and 4.00 p. m.; on Saturday, 6 September, after the third free practice session (11.00 a. m.-12.00 a. m.), qualifying for the Hypercar class takes place from (at 3.40 p. m.), followed by the Hyperpole (at 4.00 p. m.). The 6 Hours of COTA, as mentioned, starts on Sunday, 7 September at 1.00 p. m. (local times).
