Category: 6. Sports

MUNICH (Germany) – Besides the thrilling on-court battles between Europe’s best national teams, every EuroBasket edition offers a glimpse into the future, with young players stepping into the spotlight and delivering breakout performances.

This year, we’ve selected a group of players who could emerge as rising stars, following a couple of (self-imposed) rules: (1) all players must have been born in 2004 or later, and (2) they must have either appeared in at least one preparation game for FIBA EuroBasket or be strongly rumored to make the final rosters.

Without further ado, here are the young players who are ready to step into the spotlight during this year’s EuroBasket.

Bilal Coulibaly – France

Shooting Guard

Birth Date: July 26, 2004 (21 years old)
Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in)
Club: Washington Wizards (USA – NBA)

Coulibaly is returning after a hamstring injury kept him sidelined for the final month of the NBA season. His sophomore year with the Wizards had its ups and downs, with the Frenchman being thrust into a larger on-ball role, which saw him creating more shots for himself and acting as a secondary playmaker for others, but in turn made him struggle in efficiency terms.

Still, he will be extremely important to this young French squad with his ability to handle the ball, pass it and defend multiple positions.

Sergio De Larrea – Spain

Point Guard

Birth Date: December 4, 2005 (19 years old)
Height: 1.97m (6ft 6in)
Club: Valencia Basket (ESP)

De Larrea made his national team debut during the qualifiers, following a standout season for Valencia in which the 19-year-old wing proved to be one of the most efficient three-point shooters in the Spanish ACB. He should add tremendous value for Spain with his ability to space the floor and make plays for others on a secondary level.

Miro Little – Finland

Guard

Birth Date: May 30, 2004 (21 years old)
Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in)
Club: UC Santa Barbara (USA – NCAA)

Lauri Markkanen is poised for an explosive FIBA EuroBasket after dominating the preparation games for the tournament, averaging 40.3 points per contest. Finland will need to surround Markkanen with off-ball scoring, athleticism, and versatile perimeter defense. Enter Miro Little, who, despite not having had the smoothest adaptation to the college game, could play a huge role for Finland this EuroBasket with his defensive impact and ability to contribute on offense without the ball seemingly a perfect complement to Markkanen’s all-around offensive game.

Miikka Muurinen – Finland

Forward

Birth Date: March 4, 2007 (18 years old)
Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in)
Club: AZ Compass Prep (USA – High School)

Muurinen is one of the most hyped prospects coming into the tournament. Considered as one of the top players in the high school class of 2026 and receiving multiple offers from top NCAA programs, the Finnish forward has been making waves on both sides of the Atlantic with his combination of elite 2.08m size, ball-handling ability, versatile shooting flashes, and defensive productivity.

Muurinen, who already made his senior national team debut during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024, is projected as a future standout for Finland and the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket could be his national team breakthrough.

Saliou Niang – Italy

Forward

Birth Date: May 14, 2004 (21 years old)
Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in)
Club: Virtus Segafredo Bologna (ITA)

Niang had a breakthrough 2024-25 season for Trento in the Italian league, where he showed a combination of size, athleticism, ability to attack the basket, and a much-improved three-point jump shot. His development not only drew attention from NBA teams, leading to his selection in the second round of this year’s draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but also earned him a call-up to the Italian national team, where he made his debut in the EuroBasket Qualifiers.

His profile as an athletic wing who can make plays on both ends of the floor could be an X-factor for Italy in this EuroBasket.

Giorgi Ochkhikidze – Georgia

Point Guard

Birth Date: June 5, 2004 (21 years old)
Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
Club: BC Kutaisi 2010 (GEO)

At 21 years old, Ochkhikidze has developed into an impact player for Kutaisi in Georgia, winning the league’s Young Player of the Year award in back-to-back years. He has also stood out for the Georgian national team during the qualifiers with his ability to attack the rim, convert off-the-dribble jumpers, and make plays for others on a secondary level.

Ochkhikidze has been one of the best players to emerge from Georgia in recent years and could make a huge impact for the team during EuroBasket.

Mark Padjen – Slovenia

Shooting Guard

Birth Date: January 25, 2006 (19 years old)
Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in)
Club: KK Ilirija (SLO)

Padjen was an integral part of Slovenia’s bronze-medal run at this year’s FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. The 1.98m guard stood out with his three-point shooting and with his playmaking for others, ranking in the top five in assists per game during the tournament.

His versatility, being efficient as an off-ball scorer while also being impactful as playmaker for others when he has the ball in his hands, could be his calling card and what ultimately secures him a spot on Slovenia’s EuroBasket roster.

Zaccharie Risacher – France

Small Forward

Birth Date: April 8, 2005 (20 years old)
Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in)
Club: Atlanta Hawks (USA – NBA)

Risacher is coming off an impressive rookie season in the NBA, where he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the All-Rookie First Team. He made an impact for the Hawks with his ability to defend multiple positions and his off-ball scoring, which improved throughout the season, as he shot 40.7 percent from three-point range after the All-Star break.

His profile as a versatile defender who doesn’t need the ball to be effective on offense should be key for France at FIBA EuroBasket.

Mario Saint-Supery – Spain

Guard

Birth Date: April 14, 2006 (19 years old)
Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in)
Club: Gonzaga University (USA – NCAA)

Saint-Supery has been a well-known name in scouting circles over the past few years. He made an impact for the Spanish youth national teams, being named MVP at the 2022 FIBA U16 EuroBasket, and last season he had a breakthrough campaign for BAXI Manresa in the Spanish ACB, standing out with his combination of smooth-ball handling, shot-making, and secondary playmaking.

Saint-Supery was included in the 12-man Spanish roster for EuroBasket, despite suffering an injury in a recent preparation game against France. If healthy, he could give Spain an extra punch with his versatile offensive game.

Alexandros Samodurov – Greece

Power Forward

Birth Date: April 20, 2005 (20 years old)
Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in)
Club: Panathinaikos BC OPAP (GRE)

Samodurov is coming off a strong performance at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, where he was named to the All-Star Five, and he has been a regular fixture in Greece’s preparation games for FIBA EuroBasket, playing in all four contests and starting in three of them.

The 20-year-old could be a key factor for Greece thanks to his unique profile as a wing with elite size who can make an impact on multiple levels of the floor with his interior finishing, rim protection, and ability to create offense from the perimeter.

Alex Sarr – France

Power Forward

Birth Date: April 26, 2005 (20 years old)
Height: 2.13m (7ft 0in)
Club: Washington Wizards (USA – NBA)

Sarr made an impact as an interior defender during his first NBA season, finishing in the top 10 in blocks per game. His defensive contributions earned him fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting and a spot on the All-Rookie First Team.

While his offensive game is still a work in progress, his defense will be vital for a French team that, with Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama out of the picture, will certainly turn to Sarr for rim protection.

FIBA

What is the format for the 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League?

The new format for the upcoming campaign will see clubs participate in a 18-team league phase containing all qualified sides, as opposed to split into groups.

Under the new format, teams will now play six different teams, with half at home and half away.

The sides who finish in the top four will automatically qualify for the knockout rounds, which begins with the quarter-finals, while the following eight teams will compete in a two-legged play-off to progress to the next stage.

Places 13 to 18 will be eliminated.

From the last eight onwards, it will continue in its existing format of two-legged ties up until the final.

Nine teams have already been confirmed for the league phase, which are:

• Arsenal
• Lyon
• Paris Saint-Germain
• Bayern Munich
• Wolfsburg
• Barcelona
• Chelsea
• Benfica
• Juventus

The nine other spots will be taken up by those who are successful in the third qualifying rounds. Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris FC, Eintracht Frankfurt are all in the mix to book their spot in the league.

Lausanne, Switzerland – 25 August 2025 — The International World Games Association (IWGA) is pleased to announce the seven athletes who have been elected to serve on the IWGA Athletes Committee for the 2025–2029 term.

Following the voting period held during The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, from 3–16 August, accredited athletes from across the Games cast their votes online to select their representatives.

This election reinforces the IWGA’s ongoing commitment to athlete inclusion and participation in the governance of The World Games.

The seven elected members of the Athletes Committee are:

• Xaioxaio (Sunny) Lai (CHN) – Wushu
• Sandra Sánchez (ESP) – Karate
• Petra Senánszky (HUN) – Underwater Sports
• Catherine Phillips (AUS) – Flying Disc
• Andrea Busa (HUN) – Kickboxing
• Yves Martial Tadissi (HUN) – Karate
• Max Poschart (GER) – Underwater Sports

These athletes were chosen from a pool of 20 candidates representing a wide range of sports and countries, all nominated by their respective International Federations. Their election ensures a diverse and experienced Committee that can effectively represent athlete interests across the IWGA Family.

In line with the IWGA Constitution, up to two additional members may be appointed by the IWGA President by October 2025 to ensure balanced representation in terms of gender, sport, and geographical diversity.

Once the final composition of the Athlete Committee is confirmed, the first meeting of the new Athletes Committee will be held, during which the members will elect their Chair. The elected Chair will also serve as a member of the IWGA Executive Committee for the duration of the term, from 2025 to 2029.

José Perurena, IWGA President and Chair of the Electoral Committee, commented on the outcome:

“I extend my congratulations to the seven elected athletes and thank all the candidates who stood for election. The strong engagement of athletes during the voting period shows how important this Committee is for the future of The World Games. We look forward to working closely with the newly elected members.”

Jan Fransoo and John Liljelund, members of both the IWGA Executive Committee and the Electoral Committee, added:

“This election has once again underlined the importance of athlete input in shaping the direction of our organisation. The Athletes Committee serves as a vital bridge between the IWGA and the competitors who bring the Games to life. We’re excited to collaborate with this new group over the coming years.”

The IWGA thanks all 20 candidates for their dedication and willingness to serve, and applauds all participating athletes who exercised their right to vote.

The Indian badminton players had a smooth passage through the earlier rounds.

They opened with a 21-12, 21-6 win over Cameroon’s Michel Henri Assembe and Félix Michel Kemene Atangana, before brushing aside the UAE’s Dev Ayyappan and Dhiren Ayyappan 21-15, 21-10 in the quarter-finals.

In the semis, they beat fellow Indians Hari Bharathi Baskaran P and Bharathsanjai S 21-14, 21-15.

The Cameroon International is a BWF International Series event – grade 3, level 2 – part of the Continental Circuit of badminton tournaments.

Among other Indian results at the Cameroon International, Anmol Kharb finished runner-up in women’s singles after losing 21-11, 21-19 to Indonesia’s Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan in the final.

Aakarshi Kashyap was ousted in the semis by Wiryawan while Tanvi Sharma’s run ended in the quarters.

In men’s singles, India’s Alap Mishra and Laskhay Sharma both made the top four but neither managed to progress to the final.

Dhruv Rawat, with Maneesha K, bowed out in the mixed doubles semis and so did Sathwik Reddy Kanapuram and Radhika Sharma.

TALLINN (Estonia) – Estonia revealed their final 12-man roster for FIBA EuroBasket 2025 with Kristian Kullamae and Henri Drell as the biggest names.

Head coach Heiko Rannula’s plans took a major blow as star starting center Maik-Kalev Kotsar could not be included due to a shoulder injury.

Estonia had a mixed bag of results in the preparations, going 3-2 including a final loss at home in Tallinn against Great Britain. They did beat Israel, Georgia and Sweden after an opening defeat in Lithuania.

The absence of Kotsar, who led Estonia in scoring and rebounds in the Qualifiers, leaves Matthias Tass as the only real big man on Rannula’s team.

Kullamae and Drell will be needed even more to pick up the scoring responsibility while captain Siim-Sander Vene, Artur Konontsuk and Kaspar Treier are also key players who will need to step up their game.

Estonia start Group A play campaign against Serbia on Wednesday, August 27, at 20:15 CET, followed by games against hosts Latvia, Czechia, Türkiye and Portugal.

FIBA

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma has admitted that his team had ‘no answers’ to a dominant Australian display in the third ODI of the three-match series. They had already clinched the series with wins in the first couple of games, but the Australian side went all guns blazing in the series finale at the Great Barrier Reef Arena to sign off the series on a high. The 276-run loss in Mackay was South Africa’s heaviest defeat in their ODI history.

The Proteas captain further went on to acknowledge that they needed to find the correct measure while trying to play an assertive brand of cricket in the third and final match of the series. He was also positive that this heavy defeat would help them introspect and better themselves for the future. 

“We were under the pump from the first ball today. They put us under pressure and we had no answers. They made it look like a very good surface which I think it was. Yeah, they were far better than us. (Missed the experienced bowlers) in terms of assessing the conditions and adjusting to them. It’s a big learning curve for all of us. We need to find the balance between playing high-risk and batsmanship. Can only get better from here,” stated Bavuma during the post-match ceremony.

Bavuma complimented his side’s overall effort of coming out on top in terms of the result of the series. However, he reiterated that there were certain aspects which the team would be aiming to enhance while keeping the 2027 World Cup in mind, which is set to be hosted in Africa.

“We are not close at the moment from the team being a complete package. We didn’t play close to our hundred percent. But it was a good effort to come out on top and win the series. We need to keep learning from our mistakes, we are still making them in batting and bowling. We do have to work on a few things with the one-day World Cup in a couple of years. So, we need to keep getting better,” he added.

South Africa were thoroughly battered on Sunday by record-shattering centuries from Australia’s top three (Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green) before getting bowled out for 155 in 24.5 overs, with Cooper Connolly securing his maiden five-wicket haul in the 50-over format. The next assignment for the Proteas will be the white-ball series against England on their tour of the United Kingdom.

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