Category: 6. Sports

Owen Farrell’s arrival on tour will lift the whole British and Irish Lions squad, says flanker Tadhg Beirne.

Farrell, 33, has been called up to replace the injured Elliot Daly, but lacks form and match fitness after an injury-interrupted season at French side Racing 92.

The decision by head coach Andy Farrell, Owen’s father, to overlook the likes of Scotland’s Tom Jordan and Darcy Graham, has attracted criticism.

But Beirne, who will captain the Lions in their match against the New South Wales Waratahs on Saturday, says Farrell’s leadership and experience of three previous tours will strengthen the tourists ahead of the Test series against Australia.

“He’s only going to bring some serious quality to the squad, so we’re looking forward to inviting him in here and getting to hang out with him,” said Beirne.

“Any type of leadership is only going to enhance the squad. Playing with him four years ago, I’ve seen all the leadership qualities that he brings, the quality of his talent as well. It’s going to do nothing but boost the squad, for sure.”

Daly, along with captain Maro Itoje and prop Tadhg Furlong, was one of three players in the initial squad to have played on two previous tours.

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Tadej Pogačar

It shouldn’t come as a shock to see the 26-year-old world champion’s name front and centre when discussing maillot jaune candidates. After all, he’s got three of them hung in his closest back home in Slovenia.

Nonetheless, Tadej Pogačar returns to France – and the roads that first introduced him to the world – with one goal in mind: winning his fourth Tour de France.

If his early-season form is any indication, the peloton should be nervous…very nervous.

Ranked No.1 in the world, Pogačar has been on an absolute tear this season, racking up one-day “classics” wins at Strade Bianche, Ronde van Vlaanderen, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Furthermore, he’s proven he’s more than a one-trick, or perhaps a single-day, pony, picking up general classification palmarès at the UAE Tour and Critérium du Dauphiné – an all-important tune-up race held weeks before the Tour de France.

Known for his aggressive style of riding and unwillingness to accept defeat until the very end, expect nothing short of adrenaline-inducing racing from Pogačar, as he attempts to make the French countryside his pièce de résistance once more.

Germany’s Thomas Rohler, a gold medallist from Rio 2016, feels that cricket may have played a defining role in India’s rapidly growing reputation in the sport of javelin throw.

Rohler theorised that, unlike football, which dominates Germany’s sporting landscape, cricket, India’s staple sport, helps develop throwing mechanics which align more closely with javelin techniques.

According to the German athlete, this gives cricket-playing nations like India a naturally richer talent pool for the sport compared to others.

“Cricket has played a huge role in the development of javelin talent,” Rohler told Sportstar. “In Germany, the sporting culture is built around football. Indian sporting culture revolves more around cricket.

“And cricket is far more related to javelin than football is. Some people might say the right leg swing is like a football kick, but honestly, football has nothing to do with javelin. So you’ll almost certainly have a bigger talent pool in cricket-playing countries.”

Rohler, who is set to compete at the inaugural NC Classic on Saturday, also believes that Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic gold at Tokyo was the catalyst and turning point that inspired future generations to take up javelin in the country.

“There was always talent – it just needed a spark. Neeraj was exactly that spark that ignited the flame, and now there’s a huge talent pool in India,” Rohler said. “I think there’s another reason too. Here in Germany, performances in events like the javelin throw aren’t appreciated as much.

“In a country like India, your performance gets rewarded. I think that, along with the growing passion for the sport, the time being invested in it, and the sheer mass of people, means there’s going to be a much bigger talent pool in India,” he added.

Rohler, whose 93.90m throw at the 2017 Doha Diamond League remains the third-best in men’s javelin history, also revealed that visiting India was something he always had in mind and thanked Neeraj for the opportunity, labelling it an ‘honour’.

“Well, to be honest, it was really Neeraj who reached out to me, both directly and also via his management. So I decided to be there because competing in India was on my bucket list. I mean, it’s the fastest-growing javelin community in the world right now, and it’s just logical to have an international meet there,” the German javelin throw ace shared.

“Getting the invite directly from the Indian Olympic champion was an honour. I was happy to hear that he’s super involved. I know from my own experience that conducting a meet is an extra bit of work for an athlete. I’m glad he is putting in the work to help the javelin community, so I’m happy to come and help him as well,” Rohler added.

KARACHI – Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan is all set to undergo shoulder surgery on Friday (today) in London and his availability for the Asia Cup also remains uncertain, as his recovery could take between 6 to 12 weeks.

Shadab Khan has also been ruled out from the upcoming series against Bangladesh and the West Indies.

Shadab, who was recently appointed vice-captain under skipper Salman Ali Agha during the tours of New Zealand and Bangladesh, had shown signs of struggle due to recurring shoulder pain. Despite playing all three matches in the home series against Bangladesh—where he took four wickets and scored 55 runs—his discomfort escalated, particularly while bowling googlies.

Sources revealed that Shadab had been dealing with the issue for some time, facing increasing difficulty in throwing the ball.

During a personal trip to England, he underwent an MRI scan, which confirmed the severity of the injury. The doctors advised immediate surgery after which the 26-year-old player decided to prioritize long-term fitness over short-term appearances.

Shadab is determined to safeguard his career, especially with his sights set on leading Pakistan to glory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Given that he holds a central contract, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to bear the costs of his medical treatment.

The all-rounder has been a key figure in Pakistan’s cricket setup, having represented the country in 6 Test matches, 70 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 112 T20 Internationals. Over the course of his international career, he has scored 1,947 runs and taken 211 wickets.

Shadab’s absence would b a major setback for Pakistan’s White-ball campaigns in the coming months while his recovery is closely being monitored ahead of the Asia Cup.

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