Category: 6. Sports

Loh Kean Yew’s schedule and draw at 2025 World Championships

In the opening round, Loh will take on unfancied Mauritian Georges Julien Paul, ranked 234th in the world. This match will take place on either 25 or 26 August 2025.

If, as expected, Loh gets past his first-round encounter, a last-32 matchup awaits against either England’s Harry Huang or Finnish hope Kalle Koljonen. That clash will take place on either 26 or 27 August.

If Loh reaches the round of 16, the other seed in this eighth of the draw is a man who needs no introduction to Loh: Japan’s Naraoka Kodai. Loh has Naraoka’s number, having won all six of their career meetings, although they have yet to face each other this year. That match would take place on 28 August.

Quarter-finals will be played on 29 August with potential opponents including Li Shifeng, Lu Guangzu, or Lee Zii Jia. The semi-finals occur on 30 August and the final on 31 August.

India’s Chikitha Taniparthi etched her name in history by winning the Under-21 women’s compound crown at the World Archery Youth Championships 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada, on Saturday.

It was India’s first-ever archery gold medal in this category at the Youth World Championships.

The 20-year-old Indian archer was in imperious form throughout the knockout stages.

She eased past Spain’s Paula Diaz Morillas 142-133 in the semi-finals before holding her nerve in the gold medal clash against Park Yerin of the Republic of Korea, prevailing 142-136.

In the quarter-finals, she had defeated compatriot and 2023 senior Asian champion Parneet Kaur 146-143.

India also produced a strong showing in the U18 compound events. In an all-Indian women’s semi-final, Prithika Pradeep edged out Surya Hamsini Madala 130-128, before going down narrowly 143-140 to the USA’s O’Donohue Savannah in the final to settle for silver.

Surya missed out on the podium after losing the bronze playoff 139-127 to the Netherlands’ Fenna Stallen.

Aditi Swami won the women’s U18 crown in the previous edition held in Limerick, Ireland, two years ago. Now 19, Aditi Swami did not compete in the 2025 edition in the U21 division.

MEXICO CITY: Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will be released while awaiting trial for alleged links to drug cartels, his lawyer said Saturday after a court hearing in Mexico.

Chavez Jr., 39, son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, was deported from the United States on Monday and appeared before a federal judge in the northwestern state of Sonora on Saturday.

“He will be released immediately as ordered by the judge,” lawyer Ruben Fernando Benitez told reporters.

The attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

Chavez faces charges of “organized crime” without a leadership role, and for allegedly participating in the “clandestine introduction of weapons into Mexico,” the lawyer said.

Benitez said “very strict measures,” including a travel ban, were imposed, but added that Chavez would comply.

During the hearing, the attorney general’s office requested three additional months to gather evidence, according to local media.

The next hearing is set for November 24.

US authorities arrested Chavez in July for being in the United States illegally.

They also said he was wanted in Mexico for alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, one of six Mexican drug trafficking groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.

After Chavez’s deportation, Mexican authorities transferred him to a prison in Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state.

Chavez’s arrest in July came days after his lopsided loss to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a cruiserweight bout before a sell-out crowd in California.

If convicted, Chavez could face four to eight years in prison, his lawyer said.

MACKAY, Australia: Fast bowler Lance Morris was Sunday ruled out for 12 months due to back surgery, denying him the chance to be part of Australia’s squad for the Ashes series later this year.

The 27-year-old, who has been in and around the Australian set-up for several years, was originally named to feature in the current one-day series against South Africa.

But he pulled out at the last minute after experiencing lower back pain in the lead up, with further investigation revealing a lumbar bone stress injury.

Morris said he had decided to have surgery.

“I feel this is the most logical way to realise my full potential and return to my very best cricket for the Perth Scorchers, Western Australia and Australia long into the future,” he said in a statement.

“I also take great confidence in others who have undergone similar procedures and returned to their best. I plan to work hard through my recovery and return when the time is right.”

Cricket Australia said he would likely be sidelined for 12 months, ending his hopes of an Ashes debut.

Morris was seen as a potential fifth pace option for the campaign against England as back-up to Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.

British cyclist Finlay Pickering took a 200km taxi ride and arrived without his luggage following a flight delay to accept a late call-up for his first Vuelta a Espana.

The 22-year-old was called upon to replace injured Bahrain Victorious team-mate Damiano Caruso less than 24 hours before the start of Saturday’s opening stage.

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Pickering, only able to take the call after being late to head out on a training ride, travelled in a taxi from Andorra to Toulouse before flying to Turin.

A delay meant he arrived at the race with only the contents of his hand luggage – although fortunately that included his shoes.

It was far from ideal preparation for the Yorkshireman’s first stage at a Grand Tour race, but he managed to finish stage one in 153rd place.

“It was actually really lucky. I had a problem with a pair of training wheels and they were in a bike shop so I was a bit late going out training,” Pickering explained.

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“I was on the way to pick them up when I got a call from management saying: How quickly can I be in an airport?

“The first flight was delayed, so I didn’t get my suitcase. But at least I managed to pack two pairs of shoes [in my hand luggage] so I can start.

“I’ve got a set of boxers, a set of socks, and the team are really good at looking after me, so no stress.”

He added, speaking before starting the Vuelta: “I’m pretty ready. I’m a bike rider and this is a bike race, after all – even if it’s a pretty big one.”

Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen won the first red jersey of this year’s Vuelta a Espana after taking victory on the opening stage in a sprint finish.

Pakistan’s Firasat Ali and Ejaz Ahmed secured two gold medals at the 57th Asian Bodybuilding Championship 2025 in Thailand, defeating strong opponents from India, Afghanistan and other countries.

Firasat Ali, who once worked as a bicycle puncture repairman in Multan, claimed the top position in the 75kg junior category by outclassing India’s Bashan Dutt, Hoai Bam Riki and Feroz, along with Afghan contestant Baitullah Zadran.

In the masters category, Ejaz Ahmed delivered another impressive performance by overcoming athletes from Vietnam, China, Malaysia, India and Mongolia to earn Pakistan its second gold medal in the event.

Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation Secretary General Sohail Anwar in a statement, hailed the achievement, saying both athletes had raised the national flag high in Thailand. “By clinching two gold medals, they have made the country proud, and we are confident that our players will continue to excel at international level,” he said.

British cyclist Finlay Pickering took a 200km taxi ride and arrived without his luggage following a flight delay to accept a late call-up for his first Vuelta a Espana.

The 22-year-old was called upon to replace injured Bahrain Victorious team-mate Damiano Caruso less than 24 hours before the start of Saturday’s opening stage.

Pickering, only able to take the call after being late to head out on a training ride, travelled in a taxi from Andorra to Toulouse before flying to Turin.

A delay meant he arrived at the race with only the contents of his hand luggage – although fortunately that included his shoes.

It was far from ideal preparation for the Yorkshireman’s first stage at a Grand Tour race, but he managed to finish stage one in 153rd place.

“It was actually really lucky. I had a problem with a pair of training wheels and they were in a bike shop so I was a bit late going out training,” Pickering explained.

“I was on the way to pick them up when I got a call from management saying: How quickly can I be in an airport?

“The first flight was delayed, so I didn’t get my suitcase. But at least I managed to pack two pairs of shoes [in my hand luggage] so I can start.

“I’ve got a set of boxers, a set of socks, and the team are really good at looking after me, so no stress.”

He added, speaking before starting the Vuelta: “I’m pretty ready. I’m a bike rider and this is a bike race, after all – even if it’s a pretty big one.”

Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen won the first red jersey of this year’s Vuelta a Espana after taking victory on the opening stage in a sprint finish.