Category: 6. Sports

UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 – Jule Brand takes the reins in new-look German side

Brand was the youngest player in the Germany squad that reached the European Championship final in 2022, since growing into a key player that helped her then club side VfL Wolfsburg win back-to-back league titles.

This is not the same Germany that were beaten by hosts England at Wembley Stadium three years ago, with the likes of Olympic champion striker Alexandra Popp and bronze medallist Merle Frohms retiring from international duty last year.

It is these departures allowed new faces to assume responsibility, among them 22-year-old Brand, who has already played more than 60 times for her country and emerged as one of their talismanic talents.

Brand has been able to demonstrate her quality in a youthful national side that has grown in strength and self-assurance with each match. Be it as a creative outlet providing for her teammates or driving forwards with an eye for goal, the forward has been on fire all season long.

It has already been an exciting year for Brand, who this May secured a move to eight-time record Champions League winners OL Lyonnes in France. She will get to continue her trade at a European powerhouse, her first time playing abroad at that.

Indeed, the Germersheim native has been able to find her footballing freedom at both ends of the pitch under head coach Christian Wück. A talent in attack but also reliant in defence, showing a willingness to track back and support her teammates at any cost.

World Athletics today (22 July) released its inaugural year review of the Athletics for a Better World (ABW) Standard, the system that evaluates, measures and scores an event’s achievement in sustainable delivery.

The ABW Standard consists of 55 action areas that address efforts to minimise an event’s environmental impact and maximise its social and local economic benefits. It was launched in December 2021 and implemented in January 2024, when sustainability reporting through the ABW Standard became an annual or bi-annual requirement for most global elite competitions managed or awarded by World Athletics.

The review examined reports submitted by 102 events from 36 countries across each of World Athletics’ six continental areas, spotlighting best practices, noting trends and identifying strengths and weaknesses in sustainable event delivery. It then presented some next steps to address some of the challenges the review identified.

Click to access report

“While sustainable delivery was already ‘business as usual’ for many events, it was an entirely new delivery component for even more,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “We knew from experience and discussions with organisers that sustainability planning and reporting does require an allocation of additional time, resources and expertise. And we know that poses organisational challenges across our events, which will need time to change.

“This is why I am both grateful and appreciative of the efforts of these first 102 events from 36 countries that began their sustainability reporting process in 2024. It’s a start our entire sport can be proud of.”

The ABW Standard is a tiered system, with platinum, gold, silver, bronze and recognised event achievement levels. In 2024, 48 events reached one of the achievement levels.

The World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 and the Oslo Bislett Games achieved platinum, and the Hypo-Meeting combined events meeting in Götzis, Austria, and the Weltklasse Zurich achieved gold. Four other events reached silver, five bronze and another 35 achieved Recognised Event status.

Some of the key findings:

· 62 events produced sustainability plans, 42 have dedicated sustainability pages on their websites and 42 published post-event sustainability reports

· 48 events worked with local public transport companies to provide free or discounted fares

· 40 incorporated air quality initiatives into their events

· 50 reported ways that their events engaged with, and directly drove added value to, the local community

· 33 events considered zero waste targets in their planning and 40 used catering plans to lower carbon emissions

This initial review will serve as the ABW Standard’s baseline reference. Comprehensive annual reviews will continue to help identify areas where support should be directed and at the same time chart the Standard’s impact on athletics events and in the communities that host them.

More than 9,000,000 people were either participants in or spectators of the 102 events represented in the report, illustrating the reach the sport of athletics has to positively influence the environmental and social impacts of its events.

When fully adopted, the ABW standard will apply to about 500 in-stadium athletics and mass participation road running events, making it the largest sustainability evaluation system in the sport industry.

World Athletics will provide a detailed breakdown and deep dive into the Year 1 Review at a webinar on Tuesday 29 July at 2pm CET. Organisers of four events will join the discussion to share their experiences with the ABW Standard. The guests include:

· Alexandra Giesinger, Meeting Director, Hypo-Meeting Götzis combined events

· Christoffer Hagren, Sustainability Manager, BAUHAUS-Galan Diamond League

· Claire O’Neill, Chief Executive, Moy Park Belfast City Half & Marathon

· Georgie Eyre, Event Services Manager, Sydney Marathon

Register here

TimesofIndia.com in Manchester: Three Tests, six innings, and the series has already seen monumental efforts by both captains. If it was Shubman Gill with the bat at Edgbaston, it was Ben Stokes with his long spells at Lord’s, helping their respective teams to Test wins. Two individuals in the hot seat have little in common, but they share one common drive — to lead from the front.One is 34, the other is 25. One has seen a lot as a leader, while the other is taking baby steps into his new role. One is obsessed with a certain way of playing Test cricket, while the other is obsessed with batting and is navigating his way through what is his maiden assignment as captain. There’s very little in common, but both are chasing an important moment in their respective careers, standing at contrasting junctures, and a Manchester win stands in their way.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The series win would give Stokes the assurance that his methods still tick, while victory for India would do a world of good for Gill, who has struggled with player availability and injuries in his first series as a captain. It’s all to play for from July 23 at the Old Trafford cricket ground. The series is on the line for the visitors, while the hosts have a bright opportunity to deliver the knockout blow.On the eve of the game, very little cricketing activity was possible due to consistent rain, and the press conferences of the two captains turned out to be the only talking point. Stokes spoke at length about his workload, England’s approach, sledging the opponents, and the makeup of their XI. Gill, in a much shorter interaction, was very precise and took a nice parting jibe.Very like Stokes, but very unlike Gill. That’s how the two media sessions unfolded, but a lot of “unlike Gill” things have happened in the series so far. The brush with captaincy has certainly flipped the intensity switch in Gill, and he has been far more in-your-face over the last month than he has been in his entire career. The youngster said the challenges of captaincy have been more mental than physical, but he continued to hold his ground on his side’s theatrics during those dramatic six minutes at Lord’s on Day 3.

“The English batsmen on that day had 7 minutes of play left. They were 90 seconds late to come to the crease. Not 10, not 20 but 90 seconds late. Even if we were in that position, we would have also liked to play fewer overs. But there is a manner to do it. And we felt, yes, if you get hit on your body, the physios are allowed to come on, and that is something that is fair. But to be able to come 90 seconds late to the crease is not something that I would think comes in the spirit of the game,” said Gill, while throwing punches at the opposition, which has upped the chatter on sledging and verbal volleys.Not long before Gill’s comments, Stokes mentioned that while they would not initiate any chatter, they would not take a “backward step” when tension rises in the middle.“It’s not something that we’re going to purposely go out and look to start again, because then that will take our focus off what we actually need to do out in the middle. But by no means are we going to take a backward step and let any opposition try and be confrontational towards us, and not try to give a bit back. I think that goes for most teams, to be honest. So it’s not like we’re the only team who does that,” said Stokes.The series is very well placed at the moment, and while India would be disappointed to see the 1-2 scoreline, it’s not a reflection of the kind of cricket they have played so far. The scoreline could well have been 2-1 in their favour, if not 3-0, and Manchester will be a stiff test for the depleted bunch to throw the right punches and keep the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy alive before the caravan moves to London for the final Test.Gill has had a fantastic run with the bat, looked tactically very sound, and Stokes was back to doing Stokes things with his marathon spells and signs of returning to form with the bat. The two captains will be at it for the next five days, chasing the same goal, one with far bigger implications for their, and their teams’, futures.

Editor’s note: This story includes quotes from an interview conducted by Tennis.com’s David Kane at the Mubadala Citi DC Open.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last Friday, Leylah Fernandez had a sassy and unprecedented invitation for her 350,000 followers on Instagram.

“Hey guys,” she began, smiling broadly, “You know what I really want to do, and that I haven’t done, is actually going on a date. I’m not a big fan of dating apps, so I’m actually going to do things my way.”

And then she asked anyone interested in a one-hour date next week when the Hologic WTA Tour arrives in her hometown of Montreal to direct message her with some personal details. More than 100 came through the very first day. They’re still coming.

On Monday, at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Fernandez, 22, confirmed she has never, ever gone on a date. She’s been too busy playing professional tennis. Fernandez soared into prominence nearly four years ago, reaching the US Open final and, a year later, posting a career-high ranking of No. 13.

Oddly enough, the idea came from … her father (and coach) Jorge. No, we assure you, this is not a dad joke.

Prompted by the socially adroit tennis.com writer David Kane, Fernandez recounted the conversation that started it all:

Jorge: So, have you gone on a date yet?

Leylah: No, I haven’t. I never really had the time, and nobody has really asked me — which I don’t know why.

Jorge: So let’s just do something fun. How about you post a little video on Instagram and have a little date in Montreal, where you feel at home, feel comfortable, where it all started. So, it’s like a big full circle. 

Leylah: That’s a great idea, dad.

Jorge: But … he has to meet me first.

Leylah: Yes, that’s 100 percent fair.

And, very quickly, that “funny conversation” went from unserious to, “OK, we’re actually going to do this.”

One thing that surprised Fernandez was the response of other athletes, some of them fellow Olympians four years ago in Tokyo.

“They say, ‘I know how you feel, because when I was 22 I hadn’t gone on a date, I’m always studying, going to sport competitions,’” Fernandez said. “Reading those messages makes me feel better. It makes me feel like I’m not the odd one out. It’s pretty cool that we’re able to have that conversation all together.”

So, here’s the vetting process:

Every night, Fernandez goes through the newly arrived DMs and forwards the ones of interest to her team, which includes her father and sisters Bianca and Jodeci. They will forward their recommendations and ultimately Fernandez will make the call.

Being based in Montreal, of course, is a plus. A deep knowledge of tennis, however, isn’t mandatory.

“If they know tennis, they know tennis, If they don’t I don’t really mind,” Fernandez said. “It’s also getting to know each other, know what his hobbies are, what he likes. And he can ask me the same. Because I’m a tennis player, but that’s not all I am. 

“It’s just a little conversation that we’re going to be having, seeing if there’s mutual interest.”

Her dream date? Maybe meet in a nice little coffee shop, some orange juice and a pastry. Conversation and perhaps a walk in the park or an ice cream.

“Something simple,” Fernandez said, “where we get to know each other.”

Nothing too serious, she said.

“It’s a fun activity, it’s a fun way to connect with my fans,” Fernandez said. “For me, I’m just going to take it one date at a time.”

 

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• Summer League: Complete Coverage

Summer unofficially is over, at least for NBA fans, with the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas and its two cousins in Utah and California wrapping up this month. No one is in a hurry to get to and beyond Labor Day Weekend, but after what we saw in the raw, sometimes frantic warm-up contests of July, a little eagerness for training camps makes a lot of sense.

In sheer statistical terms, the players who forevermore became lottery picks late last month didn’t dominate. For example, No. 1 draftee Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks ranked 14th in scoring among the Summer League aspirants. While New Orleans’ Derik Queen was second in rebounds, Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe topped the lottery guys at 38th overall in assists. Among shooters who averaged more than one 3-point attempt, Washington’s Tre Johnson was the best of the bunch at 46th.

But glimpses of their potential for what’s to come in a few months or even a few years generated plenty of interest. Here is a rundown of how draft picks 1-14 did in their first toe-dips of NBA basketball.

Statistics from Las Vegas unless otherwise noted:

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1. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

> 20.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg

It didn’t take long for the consensus No. 1 pick in the June draft to become the heavy favorite to snag the NBA’s 2025-26 Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as Kia Rookie of the Year. After the versatile 6-foot-9 native of Maine put up solid numbers and a few thunderous dunks in Vegas, the oddsmakers installed him as the league’s likeliest best newcomer. For all the things Flagg does well now, it’s his sponginess for what he’ll add to his repertoire that has the Mavericks and their fans most excited.

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2. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

> 16.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg

Harper’s July work ended with a groin injury, but in his two games, he justified his lofty draft position. His debut was Flagg’s second game, and the son of former Bulls guard Ron Harper kept up nicely with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Harper can give San Antonio a potent guard trio with De’Aaron Fox and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.

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3. VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

> 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
> 28 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists (Salt Lake City)

When you can play just two summer games – one in Utah, one in Vegas – and prompt spectators to drop names such as Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Victor Oladipo, you’re making strong first impressions. He was 2-for-13 from the arc in his two appearances, but his athletic ability and skills at both ends make the Sixers’ short-term future look brighter from the backcourt with Tyrese Maxey and last year’s rookie Jared McCain.

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4. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

> 15.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.8 apg

It might not take long for fans outside of Charlotte to forget about the Hornets’ 6-0 record as Summer League champions and Knueppel’s 21-point performance in the finale to lock down MVP honors. But if Knueppel is like most past Summer League elite, he’ll be around for a decade or longer as a solid role player at least. Charlotte is hoping for even more than that from the 6-foot-7 hustling shooter, who even answered a few questions scouts had about his defense.

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5. Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz

> 13.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 apg (Salt Lake City)

A hip injury limited Bailey’s summer experience to just two games in the Salt Lake City competition (none in Vegas), but Jazz minority owner Dwyane Wade liked what he saw. “Even though the rumor mill was saying that he wanted to go to certain teams,” the former Miami Heat Hall of Fame guard said on his podcast, “there’s no way you can pass him up. He is too talented. He is one of those guys that just walk in the gym, and he can get you 30.”

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6. Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards

> 19.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 apg

Johnson scored and shot well in his two summer performances, hitting 45.5% of his 3s and 58.3% overall. He isn’t Flagg, the rookie the Wizards had in mind before the lottery dashed those hopes. But Johnson’s ability to put up points could have him emerge quickly from the bevy of young guys on Washington’s roster.

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7. Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans

> 17.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.6 apg

Thirteen assists to 25 turnovers wasn’t going to stop Fears, whose confidence is evident on the back of his jersey (“Fears 0”). He’s quick and aggressive attacking the paint, though contact with stronger defenders can make it tough to finish. The Pelicans staff felt his decision-making improved over the five games he logged in Vegas.

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8. Egor Demin, Brooklyn Nets

> 11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.3 apg

Demin cobbled himself a little “3Gor” nickname in Las Vegas, hitting 43.5% from deep while attempting 7.7 per game. At a slender 6-foot-9, the alum of one season at BYU needs to get stronger and considers himself more of a playmaker than a prototypical point guard, but he can punish opponents working from behind screens.

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9. Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors

> 10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 apg

Murray-Boyles’ versatility – a half-full spin on a 6-foot-7 guy who’s a little small positionally – as well as his 3.0 offensive rebounds per game and solid 57% shooting in the desert had the Raptors pumped, with his earliest impact likely to come on defense. Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic praised the kid’s “ability to move laterally, the ability to create deflections and steals — that fits into the style of play that we want to continue to develop and cherish.”

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10. Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns

> 10.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.3 apg

“Bad hands” is a harsh label, but it’s one that many big men shed in time. The Suns are hopeful Maluach, a native of South Sudan and a product of the NBA Africa Academy, can do that. Phoenix believes in his potential, reminding fans that the 7-foot-2 project who spent one year at Duke won’t turn 19 until September. Suns owner Mat Ishbia said: “People have unreal [expectations]. He’s 18. I have a son that’s 14. He’s four years older. He’s still a kid and he’s going to develop.”

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11. Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies

> DNP

It’s ironic that a player who got folks excited about his wingspan – 7-foot-2 on a guy 6-foot-6 – missed summer play entirely because one of his wings was clipped by a shoulder injury that has lingered since November. The Grizzlies envision Coward as a replacement for Desmond Bane and are enthusiastic about another Washington State product, like last year’s rookie Jaylen Wells.

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12. Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls

> 12.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 0.7 apg

Essengue’s indelible image in Las Vegas – which definitely should stay there – was the look on his beleaguered face trying to challenge Indiana’s Johnny Furphy on a rousing breakout dunk. But the Bulls still came away encouraged about the draft’s youngest player, confident he can add the strength the NBA game will require from him.

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13. Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans

> 14.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.3 apg

You cannot make up more bad-luck, injury-related tales about the Pelicans than those through which that team has lived. New Orleans paid a hefty price to get Queen from Atlanta on draft night, sending its unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Hawks. Then Queen, after three straight double-doubles in Vegas (and 17 turnovers), tears a ligament in his left wrist that required surgery and will shut him down for three months or more.

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14. Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs

> 7.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.0 apg
> 8.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.5 apg (California Classic)

Less Harper meant more attention focused on Bryant, who impressed spectators and scouts quickly with his defense. Offensively, he was a slower study, saving his best for last (16 points with 4-for-6 from 3 vs. Charlotte). But he led the lottery picks with 10 blocks across the two leagues in which he played.

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Tim Seifert’s aggressive half-century on a tricky pitch led New Zealand to a comfortable seven-wicket win over South Africa in a tri-series T20 match on Tuesday.

Opening batter Seifert, dropped in the first over before he had scored, hit an unbeaten 66 off 48 balls to guide the Black Caps to their target of 135 with more than four overs to spare.

Earlier, South Africa tinkered with its batting order but the experiment of using captain Rassie van der Dussen as an opener failed to pay off as the team could only make 134-8. Reeza Hendricks top-scored with 41 off 37 balls and George Linde stroked an unbeaten 23.

The two teams will meet again in Saturday’s final after host Zimbabwe, which takes on New Zealand in a dead rubber on Thursday, lost three games in a row.

New Zealand will go into the final with a 2-0 record against South Africa after beating the Proteas by 21 runs earlier in the tri-series.

Lucky Seifert leads the chase

Seifert made full use of his let-off after Andile Simelane failed to hold onto a skier at mid-off.

Seifert and Devon Conway (14) combined for the tournament’s highest tally in the batting power play as New Zealand cruised to 55-1 in the first six overs.

The South African bowlers were wayward with their line and length and conceded a total of 17 wides.

Simelane made late amends for his earlier lapse when he found the outside edge of the bat to remove Conway, before spinner Senuran Muthusamy (2-24) picked up the wickets of Rachin Ravindra (3) and Mark Chapman (10).

But Seifert continued to dominate and raised his half-century off 38 balls when he hit Muthusamy over his head for a straight six.

South Africa’s below-par effort in the field was summed up when fast bowler Kwena Maphaka’s low full toss was perfectly timed by Seifert to long-leg for the winning boundary.

South Africa top-order flop

South Africa’s batters struggled to find momentum on a two-paced wicket after New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner had won the toss and elected to field.

Van der Dussen (14) struck three boundaries but attempted an over-ambitious shot against Adam Milne, only to see his stumps knocked back.

Chapman delivered a spectacular run-out of Rubin Hermann when he sprinted from mid-wicket before diving in at the non-striker’s end to break the stumps.

South Africa then lost its way completely when in-form batter Dewald Brevis feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Seifert as he tried to upper-cut Will O’Rourke in the 10th over.

Santner stifled the middle-order by removing Lhuan-dre Pretorius (1), who was demoted to middle-order from his usual opening slot, and Simelane in an economical spell of 2-26.

Jacob Duffy (2-33) ended Hendricks’ 37-ball toil when he had him caught at cover, and he followed it up with the wicket of Gerald Coetzee, who attempted an upper-cut but gave Seifert his second catch.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket