Category: 6. Sports

Fiji were beaten 65-7 by Canada in their tournament opener in York on Saturday, a difficult defeat to swallow but it’s never easy when you play the team ranked second in the world.

As is customary for their squad for which religion is an integral part of their team culture, a Sunday service was held the next day for reflection. Stoltz had noticed her team-mates felt down about the result and some of the outside criticism they received from it, and so despite being one of the youngest players, she took it upon herself to write and read out loud a letter to them, saying that when she looks at her team-mates she doesn’t see losers, she sees “warriors” and “fighters”.

“I know the game may not have gone the way some of you wanted it to go. Losses sting. Sometimes more than we let others see,” the 19-year-old said in a video you can watch below.

“I am proud of the heart you carry because I know that heart is something not everyone has.

“And I need you to hear me: a scoreboard cannot measure the value of this team. Win or lose, your worth does not change. You’re more than a result.

“We may have lost on paper but when I looked onto that field at each of you, I didn’t see losers.

“I saw warriors. I see fighters. I see people who refuse to give up, and that makes me proud in a way no words can fully explain.”

Despite experiencing a Rugby World Cup for the first time in her career, Stolz showed maturity beyond her years to call upon her team to maintain the belief that “greatness” lies ahead for all of them.

“So lift your heads,” she said. “This is not the end of our story, it’s only the beginning. It’s just a page in a bigger book, and I believe that God has written greatness ahead of us.

“And as your team-mate, as your sister, and as your family, I am beyond grateful to stand alongside each of you in this truth.”

The Fijiana next face Scotland in Manchester on Saturday – and you can buy tickets to that match here.

Day 2

The second day of action (28 August) moves to Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium, where the world’s leading track stars join the competition for Diamond League titles.

Among the biggest names is Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold medallist, Julien Alfred, who will compete in the women’s 100m. While the likes of world champion Sha’Carri Richardson and this year’s world leader Melissa Jefferson will not run in Zurich, Alfred will still need to be at her very best to beat the likes of Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Jamaica’s Tia Clayton in the shortest sprint event.

In the 200m, both of Paris 2024’s men’s sprint champions will face off against each other, with the USA’s Lyles and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo resuming their budding rivalry in Zurich.

Lyles, who was given a wild card to compete in the final, has the chance to make history by becoming the first-ever male track athlete to win six Diamond League titles. But the relentless challenge of Olympic 200m champion Tebogo makes this one of the must-see events of the final.

The men’s 800m sees a clash of titans as the joint-second and fourth fastest two-lap runners in history line up against each other in the Letzigrund Stadium.

Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s personal best of 1:41.11 is a mere 0.2 seconds slower than David Rudisha’s world record set all the way back at London 2012. But have no doubt about it, he will face a difficult task in beating off Canada’s Marco Arop, who will be aiming for a confidence-boosting victory in a year in which he is aiming to defend his world title from 2023.

Could we see a world record fall in Zurich? All will be revealed on Thursday.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, the Netherlands’ Femke Bol will be a strong favourite as she looks to win her fifth title. The race in Zurich will also be excellent preparation for the reigning world champion, who will be hoping for victory both in Zurich and Tokyo in the absence of world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Moving back to the field events, a thrilling contest is on the cards in the men’s javelin, where India’s Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Neeraj Chopra faces two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada. Both men will need to be at the top of their game to beat Germany’s Julian Weber, who has the longest throw of this year at 91.06 metres.

Of course, being the Diamond League Final, there are a host of other athletes — including Olympic champions — on show in Zurich such as Norway’s Karsten Warholm in the men’s 400m hurdles, Germany’s Malaika Mihambo in the women’s long jump, Dominica’s Thea LaFond in the women’s triple jump, New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr in the men’s high jump and many others.

One thing’s for sure, you won’t want to take your eyes off any of the action on 27 and 28 August in Zurich.

Premier League football returned to Emirates Stadium with a bang as we put five without reply past Leeds United, and you can see all of Mikel Arteta’s reactions to the goals now in Bench Cam, presented by TCL.

The boss took his seat in the home dugout for the first time in the league in 2025/26, and watched his side put on a devastating attacking display, scoring with all five of their shots on target to record a fine victory over last season’s Championship champions.

On an afternoon he called “special”, there were plenty of feed-good moments, from Jurrien Timber bagging an unexpected brace, Viktor Gyokeres grabbing his first Gunners goals, and debuts for Cristhian Mosquera and Max Dowman.

See how Mikel dealt with all the moments and his full-time celebrations by pressing play on the video above.

Read more

Arsenal Analysed: How we ran riot against Leeds

The recent passing of FedEx founder Fred Smith marked the end of an era. His company revolutionized the freight transport industry and ultimately changed society. 

GE Aerospace is proud to have powered Smith’s bold vision from the very beginning, when he was a young, decorated military veteran who daringly launched a unique enterprise in Memphis, Tennessee, with a few modified business jets. 

Through the decades, Smith’s company grew wildly across the globe with a massive fleet of large cargo jets and vehicles. At the same time, GE Aerospace transformed from a leading military engine supplier to become the world’s largest producer of commercial jet engines. Along the way, GE Aerospace has been FedEx’s principal jet engine supplier, while Smith worked closely with generations of GE Aerospace leaders — from Gerhard Neumann and Brian Rowe to David Joyce and current Chairman and CEO Larry Culp. 

 

 

The FedEx of today operates 269 cargo aircraft powered by GE Aerospace, including the CF6 and GE90 engine lines. And it began with a handshake deal.

After graduating from Yale University and serving two tours in Vietnam as a platoon leader and aerial observer/tactical air controller in the U.S. Marine Corps, Smith pursued his idea of creating an overnight freight carrier. He founded Federal Express (later renamed FedEx) in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1971 and went operational in April 1973 in Memphis, with 14 small jets serving 25 cities.

Smith put up personal savings and took out loans to buy the 14 Dassault Falcon 20 business jets, which he converted into cargo carriers. Strapped for cash, he faced another financial hurdle: how to maintain his jet engines. 

 

 

Enter Brian Rowe and GE Aerospace. The Falcon 20 is powered by the CF700* engine, a commercial variant of GE Aerospace’s wildly successful J85 military engine developed in Lynn, Massachusetts. Using an aft-mounted fan, the CF700 became the world’s first turbofan for business jets. Rowe had moved to the U.S. from England in 1957 to join GE Aerospace’s Lynn operation, and his first project management job was leading the CF700 program. The engine was certified in 1964.

By the early 1970s, Rowe had moved up the ladder at GE Aerospace and was running commercial engine operations for division head Gerhard Neumann. As Smith acquired the Falcon 20 jets, Rowe presented the young Memphis entrepreneur with a bold financial proposal.

“Fred came to my dad over the maintenance of his engines,” says David Rowe, Brian’s son and managing partner of AE Industrial Partners. Brian Rowe assured Smith that GE Aerospace would provide his company with a significant line of credit while offering attractive terms to have the CF700 engines overhauled at its service shop in Strother, Kansas. Smith’s collateral would be his aircraft. 

“The amazing part is that the deal was done on a handshake,” says David Rowe. “My dad simply asked of Fred that if his company became successful, he would buy GE engines.” 

And did he ever. After operating 33 Falcon Jets for several years, FedEx acquired a massive fleet of large cargo jets. 

 

 

Just like the closing scene with Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains in the classic film Casablanca, the handshake between Smith and Rowe was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. “They relied on each other’s opinions,” says David Rowe. “They were very close.” Rowe was chairman emeritus of GE Aerospace when he passed away in February 2007.

Smith continued to enjoy warm friendships with other GE Aerospace leaders. Larry Culp described Smith as “a friend and inspiration” saying “Fred was a trailblazer whose bold ideas and relentless drive built one of the world’s most respected companies. I have long admired his professionalism and patriotism. He was one of the first people to reach out to me when I joined GE. He always was actively engaged, offering wisdom and guidance with the same passion that has shaped his legacy.”

Smith’s story is one of bold ideas, resilience, and the kind of trust that builds lasting partnerships. His journey reminds us that some of the most important parts of innovation are the relationships we build along the way.

After facing some stiff resistance from Phnom Penh, East Bengal broke through as Fazila, a two-time IWL Golden Boot winner, struck to break the deadlock. The goal proved enough to seal the victory.

The preliminary phase of the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League features 19 teams, split into five groups – four pools of four teams each and one of three.

After single round-robin matches, the five group winners and the best-ranked runners-up across pools will progress to the group stage, joining six automatic qualifiers from the highest-ranked AFC member associations.

East Bengal have been drawn in Group E alongside hosts Phnom Penh Crown FC and Hong Kong China’s Kitchee SC in the preliminary stage. Monday’s win puts them in good standing to progress.

East Bengal will face Kitchee in their next AWCL preliminary stage match at the same venue on Sunday.

This is only the second edition of the AWCL, Asia’s premier women’s club competition, which launched in 2024-25.

Odisha FC represented India in the inaugural season, advancing from the preliminary stage to the main draw before exiting in the group stage.

The 12-team main draw for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 will be held between November 9 and 23.

The Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, and Bantamweight Semifinals of the PFL Africa Tournament Will Take Place on Oct. 18 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda

 

RWANDA (August 25, 2025) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced four bouts for the historic first-ever PFL Africa Semifinals, taking place Saturday, October 18 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. This event marks the biggest MMA competition ever to take place in East Africa, underscoring Rwanda’s growing reputation as a premier destination for world-class sports and entertainment.

Rwanda has quickly established itself on the global sports map, hosting international spectacles such as the Basketball Africa League (BAL), major concerts, and high-profile competitions. By bringing the PFL Africa Semifinals to Kigali, the league is adding MMA to that list of milestone moments and cementing Rwanda’s place as a hub for sport and culture while making history with the nation’s first major MMA event.

For the first time, Africa’s elite fighters are on the road to Benin, where four champions will be crowned and claim the title of the very best in Africa and among the best in the world. After two groundbreaking events in Cape Town and Johannesburg, the inaugural PFL Africa Tournament now reaches its Semifinal stage, where Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, and Bantamweight finalists will be decided, with additional bouts to be announced shortly.

“This is a historic moment for PFL and for the sport across Africa,” said John Martin, PFL CEO. “We’re proud to bring the first-ever PFL Africa Semifinals to Kigali’s BK Arena and showcase the continent’s best on one of its premier stages.”

In the main event, Nigeria’s Patrick Ocheme (7-1), who outworked Mohamed Camara in Johannesburg to secure his place in the Semifinals, now faces Burkina Faso’s Abdoul Razac Sankara (7-4), the flashy striker who delivered Joburg’s knockout of the night with a spectacular head kick over Shadrick Dju Yemba. Their meeting pits Ocheme’s steady composure and experience against Sankara’s explosive finishing power, with a place in the 145-pound Finals hanging in the balance.

The co-main event features South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele (9-3), known as the “King of Many Nations,” who continues his march through the Bantamweight bracket after a commanding performance in Cape Town. Across the SmartCage will be undefeated Simbarashe “Simba” Hokonya (6-0), a dangerous contender from Zimbabwe who trains with Nicholas Hwende, the last man to hand Ndebele a loss. With national pride and personal redemption on the line in Kigali, the stage is set for a dramatic Semifinal showdown.

Welterweight action sees Angola’s Shido Boris Esperança (10-1), fresh off a viral 34-second submission win in Johannesburg, taking on Cameroon’s undefeated Octave “Bantu Warrior” Ayinda (7-0), who blasted through his previous opponent with a first-round TKO. Both fighters ignited social media with their dancing celebrations, but in Rwanda only one will be able to celebrate and advance to the Finals.

The Heavyweight bracket opens the main card, as Cameroon’s Maxwell Djantou Nana (7-1), who impressed the Cape Town crowd with his power, collides with South Africa’s undefeated Justin Clarke (3-0), who eliminated Nana’s countryman Jashell Ticha Awa in the First Round. With both men eager to establish themselves as the face of PFL Africa’s Heavyweight division, fans can expect a thunderous start to the night.

 

PFL Africa: Rwanda Main Card:
BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
SuperSport (Africa – English) | Canal+ (Africa – French)
PFL App (U.S.)
Saturday, 18 October

Featherweight Semifinal Main Event: Patrick Ocheme (7-1) vs. Abdoul Razac Sankara (7-4)
Bantamweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Nkosi Ndebele (9-3) vs. Simbarashe Hokonya (6-0)
Welterweight Semifinal Bout: Shido Boris Esperança (10-1) vs. Octave Ayinda (7-0)
Heavyweight Semifinal Bout: Maxwell Djantou Nana (7-1) vs. Justin Clarke (3-0)
 

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The FEI is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dr Genshitsu Sen, President of the Japan Equestrian Federation, in August, at the age of 102.

Dr Sen assumed the Presidency of the Japan Equestrian Federation in 2003 and dedicated 22 years to the growth and promotion of equestrian sport in Japan. His tenure included landmark achievements such as hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020, and guiding the Japanese Eventing team to a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

Born in 1923, Dr Sen served in the Japanese Navy Air Force during World War II. He later became the 15th Grand Master of the Urasenke School of Tea, promoting his philosophy of “Peacefulness through a Bowl of Tea,” and assumed the title of Grand Master Emeritus in 2002.

He also held numerous prominent roles, including UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Japan-U.N. Goodwill Ambassador, Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Rotary Japan Foundation, President of the United Nations Association of Japan, and President of the Kyoto City International Foundation.

“Dr Sen was a remarkable man and an outstanding ambassador for equestrian sport,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“His dedication and commitment will be remembered with great respect, and he will be profoundly missed. Many of us have treasured memories of the tea ceremonies Dr Sen held for our equestrian family during the FEI General Assembly in Tokyo in 2016, as well as at the Olympic Family Lounge in the equestrian venue at Baji Koen during the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.

“As President of the Japan Equestrian Federation for more than 20 years, and as former Grand Master of the Urasenke Chado Tradition, Dr Sen was not just an extraordinary ambassador for our sport but also a true reflection of the Spirit of Japan.”

Among his many awards and recognitions, Dr Sen received the Order of Culture from the Emperor of Japan in 1997 and was appointed Commandeur of France’s Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur in 2020.

The FEI extends its sincere condolences to Dr Sen’s family, friends, the Japan Equestrian Federation, and the wider equestrian community.

Photo caption:  Dr Genshitsu Sen, who had served as President of the Japan Equestrian federation since 2003, has passed away at the age of 102.