Category: 6. Sports

In contrast to the sputtering start against Italy, New Zealand enjoyed greater fluidity on attack and discipline on defence. The Junior Lelos won seven scrum penalties in their 35-28 loss against Ireland. They had no such profit against New Zealand, who in the second half also defused three menacing mauls inside their 22. 

Georgia made a passionate and precise start. Halfback Giorgi Spanderashvili wrenched an early turnover at the ruck. Rapid and belligerent phases ensued, and Shota Kheladze speared low and hard to reach the paint. 

New Zealand responded when winger Maloni Kunawave created a turnover, resulting in a quick tap penalty by Oli Mathis, which earned Luka Keshelava a yellow card for a cynical offside tackle. Following another tap, New Zealand quickly moved the ball left, with James Cameron delivering a pass to Harlyn Saunoa, who dived into the corner with a style, reminiscent of Greg Louganis.

New Zealand botched the restart, leading to a penalty for Georgia, which allowed Toulon No. 8 Mikheil Shioshvili to maul over for a try. 

Georgia failed to retain their kick off, enabling New Zealand to strike back. ‘Harlyn Air’ rinsed and repeated from a spiralled Tane Harvey pass. 

Prop Bachuki Baratashvili was yellow carded for a second consecutive game for a head-on-head tackle. His departure was the cue for New Zealand to wrestle firm control. 

Halfback Dylan Pledger sent Mathis thundering into a hole. Mathis transferred back to Pledger, who was tipped over but offloaded from the ground to lock Xavier Tracey as New Zealand led for the first time after 25 minutes.

Blonde Bull Eli Oudenryn expanded that advantage when he splintered off a maul and stampeded clear for a bonus point try.  Lock Aissake Vakasiuola gathered a charitable lineout throw and sauntered in as New Zealand turned 31-14 ahead at the interval. New Zealand’s growing ascendancy was illustrated by the fact that they made 34 of 35 first-half tackles, and Georgia missed 27 tackles.

A 43rd-minute pitchside fire briefly held up proceedings. The flames didn’t dampen Maloni Kunawave. His footwork a short while later could have avoided the MGM Grand Hotel Fire. 

Except for a rolling maul that could have stopped in Tbilisi, there was no scoring for the last 34 minutes. The game staggered from stoppage to stoppage, the players visibly strained by the searing heat. 

Rampaging No.8 Micah Fale didn’t cool with a game-high 13 carries for 90 metres. Oudenryn was lively, Simpson silky, and New Zealand’s wingers combined for five turnovers, a dozen defenders beaten, and 142 metres gained. Mathis had two turnovers while adding an extra dimension to New Zealand’s attack. 

New Zealand has won 57 of their 71 matches at the World Under 20 Championships. Their previous victories over Georgia were 55-0 in 2016, 45-13 in 2019, and 50-26 in 2023.

New Zealand Under 20: 38 (Harlyn Saunoa 2, Xavier Tracey, Eli Oudenryn, Aissake Vakasiuola, Maloni Kunawave tries: Rico Simpson 4 cons) Georgia: 19 (Shota Kheladze, Mikheil Shioshvili, Mikheil Khakhubia tries; Luka Takaishvili 2 cons) HT: 31-14

London
CNN
 — 

Portuguese tennis players Francisco Cabral and Nuno Borges were given permission to stray from Wimbledon’s strict all-white dress code to honor the late Liverpool and Portugal soccer star Diogo Jota, they told reporters, including CNN, on Friday.

Jota died in a car crash in Spain early Thursday morning. He was 28. His brother, André Silva – who was also a professional soccer player – also died in the accident at the age of 25.

Cabral, who competed in men’s doubles, told CNN Friday that he initially wanted to wear a black armband, but he said he was told that would not be allowed. He was granted approval to wear a small black ribbon instead.

The AELTC said to CNN in a statement: “We are always open to having conversations with players regarding such matters, and given the tragic circumstances, the Referee’s Office has approved the players wearing a black ribbon as a mark of respect and condolence.”

Cabral, ranked 40th in the world in doubles, won his first-round match Thursday but fell in the second round Friday with his playing partner Lucas Miedler of Austria.

“Yesterday, I came up with the idea of wearing a black strap, but that was not allowed,” Cabral said. “The players’ relations, they had a black ribbon, and I asked for permission.
They let me play with it and I just did it this morning.

“It was an honor. It’s not for the best reason. But yeah, he was not only an inspiration to me but for the country in general, he meant so much in the sport. He conquered so much in his life. So it was just an honor for me to try and help, if only 1% for the family and everybody.”

Later Friday, in the men’s singles draw, Portugal’s Nuno Borges – with a black ribbon affixed on his white cap – lost to Russian and No. 17 seed Karen Khachanov in five sets.

After the match, Borges said that he had initially hoped to walk out on court in a full red Portugal top, but his team was told that would not be allowed.

Instead, he opted for the same small black ribbon worn by Cabral.

“I think it was a nice gesture for him (Jota). He was a great footballer, it’s a tragedy,” Borges said.

In a nation where sports infrastructure remains underfunded and many disciplines struggle to find mainstream recognition, Pakistan’s youth continue to carve out remarkable stories of triumph on the global stage.

The latest testament to this tenacity came from South Korea, where Pakistan’s U-16 girls’ netball team clinched the Asian Youth Netball Championship title with a resounding 60-35 win over the Maldives in the final. Staying undefeated throughout the tournament, the team has brought home the trophy in triumph.

Netball, like many other sports in Pakistan, exists in the shadows of cricket. Government support is negligible, sponsorships are rare, and media coverage is minimal. Athletes often pay out of pocket for training or rely on passionate coaches working in difficult conditions.

Yet, results like these show that the raw talent and commitment of Pakistan’s youth is not in question. What is in question is whether the country is willing to invest in its sporting future. A national sports policy that focuses on development at the school and grassroots levels is urgently needed. Support for women’s sports must also move beyond tokenism to structured programs and facilities.

The fact that the Prime Minister and the Pakistan Embassy in Seoul publicly congratulated the team is encouraging, but mere praise must translate into policy. These victories should serve as a wake-up call for the country’s sports authorities to expand their focus beyond a few marquee sports.

We must invest in grassroots development and offer platforms for youth to compete, both locally and internationally. The talent is clearly there. What is now needed is a system that catches up to the ambition of these budding athletes to realise their true potential and have them perform at the global stage.

LAUSANNE (Switzerland) – New Zealand wrote another chapter in their recent youth basketball history by reaching the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 – their first-ever top four finish in the competition.

Let us know what you think and vote:

Who will be crowned U19 World Cup 2025 champions?

The Junior Tall Blacks spoiled the party in Lausanne as they beat hosts Switzerland 84-70 to set up a date with United States in the Semi-Finals.

“It means a lot”, said Oscar Goodman, one of the players tonight for New Zealand. “Basketball has been on the rise for the last five years. It keeps getting bigger every day, and this just shows we can compete with the best teams in the world.”

“It’s amazing. I am so proud of the group. We all stuck together, got it done and are now moving it.”

New Zealand gained control of the game with 24-9 run spanning the second and third quarters. And the Oceanians led 67-56 after 30 minutes. New Zealand were ahead 77-64 with under 3 minutes when the Swiss crowd tried to give them one more push – similiar to the 18-0 run late in the Round of 16. But New Zealand would not be denied.

Hayden Jones was exceptionnal in the second half and scored 23 points with 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Julius Halaifonua scored 17 points and Oscar Goodman had 13 points and 13 rebounds for an efficiency rating of 26.

Switzerland’s Cinderella run ends here. The Hosts left it all on the floor.

Jones and Goodman were part of more New Zealand magic last summer in reaching the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 – tying for the best-ever result for the country along with the Tall Blacks finishing fourth at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002.

New Zealand also played against USA last summer – with many players from the 2024 teams playing in Lausanne as well.

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Who will be named FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 TISSOT MVP?

FIBA

LAUSANNE (Switzerland) – The pairings and schedule for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 Semi-Finals have been confirmed following the Quarter-Finals games in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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Who will be crowned U19 World Cup 2025 champions?

Semi-Finals

The Semi-Finals will take place on Saturday July 5 at Lausanne Arena.

July 5

This all-European showdown is even more fascinating considering Slovenia and Germany faced off a week ago when the Germans rallied from 13 points down to win 75-68. Germany defeated Slovenia in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 as well.

Neither team has reached the FIBA U19 World Cup Final.

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Smart Power Rankings Vol 2: Massive shake-up

New Zealand’s magic ride keeps going as the Junior Tall Blacks will play in the Semi-Finals of the U19 World Cup for the first time. But the task will be very difficult as they face record eight-time champions United States.

Curiously, these two countries played in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 as well – with USA winning 145-65.

The complete FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 Final Phrase bracket can be found here.

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Who will be named FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 TISSOT MVP?

FIBA

+++ 9 under par and a hole-in-one: Davis Bryant (USA, -12) is the
standout performer of round two +++ Kristoffer Reitan (NOR) two shots
back in second +++ Marcel Siem (-7, T10), Marcel Schneider, Matti
Schmid, and impressive amateur Tim Wiedemeyer (all -6, T15) in
promising positions +++

Munich. Davis Bryant had a sensational day at the BMW
International Open. The American, who is playing his first season on
the DP World Tour, started on the 10th hole, made a birdie on the
11^th, and then aced the 12th hole (Par 3, 166 yards). He
would go on to make eight more birdies, finishing the second round at
12 under par to take the lead. On an otherwise perfect day, the
25-year-old might only regret making his ace on the “wrong” hole. This
year’s hole-in-one prize – a BMW M5 Touring – is awarded for an ace on
the 17^th hole, which remains in play over the weekend.

Closest behind Bryant are Kristoffer Reitan (NOR, -10), along with
Yuto Katsuragawa (JPN), Daniel Brown (ENG), and Jordan Smith (ENG),
all at -9. “I honestly don’t know what happened today. The hole-in-one
really got things going – that’s always incredibly cool,” said Bryant.
“I’m just very proud of how I executed everything, stuck to my
process, and holed some key putts. That was a big factor. The spark
really lit today – and then you just ride that momentum.”

Bryant’s ace – contributing to making him the first American since
John Daly (2001) who could potentially win the BMW International Open
– was one of 28 eagles recorded on Friday. For every eagle made during
the tournament rounds, the BMW Group is donating €1,000 to the Philipp
Lahm Foundation for Sport and Education. The joint initiative aims to
equip children and youth with key life skills in movement, nutrition,
and personal development. Heading into the weekend, the donation total
already stands at €44,000.

While Bryant and Reitan have created a slight gap, the leaderboard
remains tightly packed, promising an exciting weekend of golf. A total
of 68 players made the cut – including seven Germans. Among the most
promising are Marcel Siem (-7, T10), Marcel Schneider, Matti Schmid,
and the sensationally performing amateur Tim Wiedemeyer (all -6, T15).

Siem said: “I’m very happy. Apart from the 9th hole, I took advantage
of all the chances I had. All in all, I’m really satisfied with my
6-under round today. I don’t think much more was possible – I really
got the maximum out of it. My goal is to start the weekend confidently
and go at the flags more aggressively when I’m in the fairway. That’s
my game plan.”

Schneider was also pleased with his performance: “Today went better
than yesterday. The putter got really hot at times. Overall, the
ball-striking was better. It wasn’t perfect yet, but overall, I’m
satisfied. The four early birdies definitely gave me a push. My plan
is to keep playing well, attack the course, and hit a lot of greens.
I’ll take it shot by shot and see where that gets me.”

Amateur Tim Wiedemeyer has been playing impressive golf this week. In
his hometown, the 20-year-old followed up his even-par opening round
with a 66 today and said: “I’m very happy. Six under par is pretty
good. I tried to hit a lot of fairways and greens. And when the putter
gets hot, you shoot a good score. The support – especially on the back
nine – was really cool. It felt more like an evening round with
friends. That definitely helped my game today. Now, I just want to
have fun. The cut is made – let’s see what happens and enjoy it.”

For Martin Kaymer (-4, T37), the dream of a second win in Munich
after 2008 is still alive – albeit with a steep task ahead, sitting
seven shots behind the leader. The two-time Major champion said:
“Overall, I was satisfied with my game and hit a lot of good shots,
but I didn’t take advantage of the par-5s. Those are the real birdie
chances this week, and I missed out there. On this course – especially
if the weather is good – you can really go low. Marcel proved that
today. I know what I need to do tomorrow and hope to shoot a good
round to still be in contention on Sunday.”

Completing the group of Germans playing on the weekend are Yannik
Paul (-4, T37) and Hurly Long (-3, T53). Missing the cut (-3) were
defending champion Ewen Ferguson (SCO), Masters champion Patrick Reed
(USA), and Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (ENG).

Full tee times for round three are attached.

Mercedes

Russell sounded concerned about tyre wear in FP1, especially compared to the Ferraris – he was running behind Hamilton, and had a sneaky look at his former team mate’s rubber in the opening session. The better news is the car is in the mix in the hands of Russell, while Antonelli took a little longer to get going as he struggled to adjust to the soft compound tyre. The team mates reversed that trend in FP2 – Antonelli looking both quicker, and more comfortable on the softs than his team mate. As for their form, Mercedes will be hoping the forecast drop in temperatures for tomorrow help them as they look a shade off the pace as it stands.

George Russell – FP1: 1:27.163, P5; FP2: 1:26.523, P8

“It’s been a warm day here at Silverstone, with track temperatures upwards of 40°C. That made it a challenge to look after the tyres; it is frustrating that we are affected by the weather as much as we are, but we’re all focused on improving that, particularly as we head into summer months where this will be the norm.

“If the forecast cooler conditions do appear over the rest of the weekend, that will likely help us.We won’t just sit here hoping that is the case though. We will work hard overnight to make improvements and give ourselves the best race car for Saturday and Sunday. I love being here at Silverstone, I love seeing all the fans, and I am hopeful that we can still get ourselves into the fight at the front, put on a good show for them, and give them something to cheer about.”

Kimi Antonelli – FP1: 1:27.367, P9; FP2: 1:26.383, P6

“Today was not the easiest Friday of the year we’ve had so far. The temperature was quite a bit higher than expected and that made looking after the tyres slightly more challenging. That said, the car felt decent, and I was happy with the overall balance. Silverstone is a great track, and I enjoyed being out there, exploring the limits, and pushing the car. There are clear areas for us to work on this evening, and for me to improve in my driving, so I’m excited to see what improvements we can make overnight.

“Tomorrow is forecast to be slightly cooler which should help us. We should have some cloud cover too which may help keep the track temperature lower. If we can make gains this evening, then our goal is still to get ourselves into the fight with those who looked strong today, such as McLaren and Ferrari. Let’s see what we can do.”

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

“It is always good to get on track at Silverstone, the closest race to our two factories at Brackley and Brixworth. Knowing many of our colleagues will be in the grandstands this week cheering us on at the circuit is always a boost. That will provide added motivation for our work overnight as we aim to find more pace in the car after a tricky Friday.

“We opted to only run the Medium and Soft compounds today, like most other teams. We were able to complete plenty of single lap and long run work but were limited by rear tyre overheating. Silverstone puts a lot of energy into the tyre, and we saw track temperatures around 40°C, so the phenomenon was not completely unexpected, but it proved to be our main constraint on the long runs, alongside a tricky car balance in the gusty conditions.

“We will need to make a step overnight to be able to challenge at the front this weekend, and we have several areas we are already targeting to do that. We will work diligently trackside and in the simulator at Brackley this evening to find gains ahead of FP3 and Qualifying tomorrow.”