Pakistan’s first-ever international gold medallist wrestler Din Mohammad passed away after a prolonged illness. He was over 100 years old.
Hailing from Lahore’s Bata Pur area, Din Mohammad earned the honour of winning Pakistan’s first gold medal in the 1954 Asian Games held in Manila.
Representing the country in wrestling, he defeated opponents from the Philippines, India, and Japan to claim the top podium spot.
Besides the Asian Games gold, Din Mohammad also brought home a bronze medal from the Commonwealth Games and represented Pakistan in numerous international events, raising the national flag with pride.
Punjab Sports Board spokesperson confirmed his passing and recalled that it was Din Mohammad who gave Pakistan its first-ever gold at an international event.
Punjab Sports Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar expressed deep sorrow at his death, saying: “Din Mohammad’s services to the nation and wrestling are unforgettable. He lifted Pakistan’s flag in international arenas and is a true national hero.”
Punjab Director-General of Sports Khizar Afzal Chaudhry also conveyed heartfelt condolences, saying: “May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah. Wrestler Din Mohammad made the nation proud and his contribution to Pakistani sports will always be remembered.”
Both officials extended prayers and sympathies to the bereaved family, terming Din Mohammad a source of pride for the nation and an inspiration for future generations.
Pakistan hockey officials and team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt have welcomed reports from India suggesting their national team will be allowed to compete in the upcoming Asia Cup, but stressed that any participation will hinge on approval from Islamabad.
Indian media, citing sports ministry sources, reported that Pakistan’s hockey team will face no hurdles in travelling to India for the tournament, scheduled in Rajgir, Bihar from August 29 to September 7.
According to the Press Trust of India, the Indian sports ministry has already secured permissions from both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) learnt on Friday.
The Asia Cup is a crucial event for Pakistan hockey, serving as a qualifying tournament for next year’s World Cup to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Rana Mujahid struck a cautiously optimistic note when speaking to Telecom Asia Sport. “We have to wait and see to ascertain the credibility, but surely these are positive developments,” Mujahid said. “However, let me make it clearour participation will depend on clearance from the government.”
Given this context, PHF officials had already written to the Asian Hockey Federation and the International Hockey Federation, seeking guarantees that players would receive the necessary visas not only for the Asia Cup but also for the FIH Junior World Cup, which India’s Tamil Nadu state will host in November.
Pakistan head coach Tahir Zaman said he was encouraged by the developments.
“This is good news for not only Pakistan hockey but also for the international game,” Zaman told Telecom Asia Sport. “Our participation will still depend on government clearance, and we look forward to that.”
Zaman added that players have been instructed to stay ready despite the uncertainty. “We are planning to hold a preparation camp for the Asia Cup, and even at this stage, players have been told to keep working on their fitness at home.”
Team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt also welcomed the reports and expressed hope that sporting ties between the two nations could begin to improve.
“We welcome this and hope to get ready for the event as and when we get the permission,” Butt said. Last month, he publicly appealed for the restoration of sporting ties between India and Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly completed the signing of respected Australian fielding specialist Shane McDermott as the men’s all-format fielding coach.
The 44-year-old McDermott was one of two finalists for the job and arrives with a broad résumé across international and domestic cricket. He holds a High Performance Level Three Coaching Certificate and has previously contributed to setups in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and his native Australia.
Shane McDermott also reportedly had the backing of Pakistan’s newly appointed white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who worked closely with him during previous assignments. He is expected to link up with the squad ahead of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.
An official announcement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely later this week.
Between 2022 and 2023, Shane McDermott served as Assistant Fielding Coach with Bangladesh’s national team and earlier spent three years as Sri Lanka’s senior team fielding coach while also leading the Sri Lanka A program. Most recently, the Australian worked with Afghanistan.
His earlier coaching experience includes seven years with Cricket Australia’s National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, where he held positions ranging from Interim Assistant Coach to National A Team Analyst and Fielding Coach.
According to sources, his appointment come as Mohammad Masroor departs from his role as the fielding coach. Masroor, who was hired on a series-to-series basis, confirmed his exit through a heartfelt message on social media.
“Thank you to the players who trusted the staff who supported, and the fans who believed,” he wrote.
“Though my chapter with the team ends here, I’ll always be a part of Pakistan cricket’s story. Thank you, Pakistan. I leave with no regrets, only pride and best wishes for what lies ahead,” he further wrote.
Masroor, 49, had previously worked with Pakistan’s Under-19 and domestic teams, and was viewed as a progressive coach with modern fielding insights. However, despite his efforts, Pakistan’s fielding continued to disappoint in key matches, including in World Cups and the Asia Cup.
The PCB has struggled for years to find consistency in this department, having rotated through several fielding coaches without significant improvement.
Masroor’s exit comes at a critical time with Asia Cup 2025 fast approaching. Scheduled to be held in India, the high-profile tournament will see Pakistan face stiff competition against arch-rivals India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and possibly Afghanistan.
Umar Gul set for key role with PCB
Former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul is expected to take up a major role in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) setup as part of the board’s wider plans to restructure its coaching and development departments.
According to sources, Gul is likely to be named head coach of the Pakistan Shaheens, who have a packed schedule ahead. The team is set to participate in the Top End T20 Series in Darwin next month, followed by a tour of England later this year.
The 42-year-old retired from international cricket in 2020 and has since built a strong coaching resume. He has previously served as the bowling coach of Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Afghanistan’s national team, and Pakistan’s senior men’s side.
Gul stepped in as Pakistan’s bowling coach after Morne Morkel’s departure and worked with the national team during the Test series against Australia in late 2023 and the T20I series against New Zealand in early 2024. He also held the same role during Pakistan’s 2023 T20I series against Afghanistan and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the PCB has announced that Pakistan Shaheens will return to Darwin for the 2025 Top End T20 Series, marking their third straight appearance in the tournament. The event will run from August 14 to 24, with the Shaheens facing Bangladesh ‘A’ in the opening match at TIO Stadium.
The 2025 edition will feature 11 teams playing 36 T20 matches across five venues: DXC Arena, TIO Stadium, Gardens Oval, Cazaly’s Arena, and Freds Pass. More details about the tournament are expected to be announced soon.
In previous editions, the Shaheens have performed well, reaching the final in 2023 and the semi-final in 2024. Their campaign included notable wins against teams like Perth Scorchers, Tasmania, Melbourne Renegades, and Bangladesh ‘A’. However, their run ended in the semi-finals after a loss to Adelaide Strikers.
LAHORE – Pakistan’s pursuit of excellence in international cricket gained fresh momentum as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) 20-day Skills Development Camp concluded on Friday at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Lahore.
With over 40 elite male cricketers participating, the camp, led by Director High-Performance Aqib Javed, laid the groundwork for a pivotal upcoming season, including Pakistan Shaheens’ England tour, a T20 assignment in Darwin, and a home Test series against South Africa. In his media interaction at the LCCA Ground following a scenario-based 35-over match marking the camp’s conclusion, Aqib expressed confidence in Pakistan’s prospects for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. “I believe Pakistan has a strong chance to win it,” he said, emphasising the strategic importance of capitalising on home conditions and preparing meticulously for the South Africa Test series.
The Skills Development Camp, which commenced on June 16, was executed in three carefully structured phases. The final stage focused on the Pakistan Shaheens’ squad as they gear up for their England tour. Earlier phases were dedicated to refining skills among centrally contracted and fringe national players through high-impact sessions tailored for both individual and team growth.“Off-season is the best time to address technical and mental aspects of a player’s game,” Aqib said and added: “We are not just working for the next tour but also developing depth in every department.”
Following the Ashura break, PCB’s High-Performance Centre will resume camps to prepare for the Darwin T20 tournament and the Test squad’s red-ball challenges. Aqib explained how the setup is running dual-track preparations. “We are simultaneously working on our red-ball specialists and white-ball performers. We have even curated pitches replicating home Test conditions to ensure optimal preparation.”
Such parallel preparation reflects the evolving complexity of modern cricket, where formats demand sharply defined roles and relentless performance. “You can’t cover everything in a week, but these short camps are essential in bridging gaps, whether it’s spin-bowling all-rounders, pace-bowling utility players, or expanding our wicketkeeping pool,” Aqib added. In an era where athleticism and discipline have become non-negotiables, Aqib praised the players for their dedication and commitment during the camp. “What stood out to me the most was their willingness to wake up at 5 am daily. That kind of discipline brings structure to a cricketer’s life and it’s going to show in their performances and fitness over the next six months.”
Commenting on the evolution of the game, Aqib said: “Modern cricket is highly skill-oriented and phase-specific. A batter has to know how to anchor, accelerate, and finish; bowlers must adapt to powerplays, middle overs, and death overs. Our sessions were designed with these role-specific requirements in mind.”
Looking ahead, Aqib confirmed that similar camps will continue till October, aimed at scouting and polishing talent across the board. “These camps aren’t one-off events but part of a consistent strategy to build bench strength,” he said. “We are constantly evaluating players based on conditions, formats, and match requirements.”
The most challenging stretch of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES began Friday with the first day of on-track activity at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Before this month ends, teams will have competed in five races at four venues in three different parts of North America (the Midwest, Canada and the West Coast).
Here are three observations about the first practice of The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport, plus other notes of interest:
This is Alex Palou’s track until proven otherwise. In four starts with Chip Ganassi Racing on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course, the Spaniard has finished third, second, first and second for an average finish of 2.0. The series points leader was third on Friday’s speed chart, which should be concerning to those trying to cut into his commanding 93-point standings lead. Palou has a series-leading six race wins this season, and he and Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, who delivered Friday’s fastest lap, are the only race winners this season. Palou doesn’t have to qualify up front Saturday to win Sunday. His average starting position here with CGR is only 4.75.
Mid-Ohio has always been a roller-coaster ride for drivers. Friday, it sent several off track. Colton Herta of Andretti Global w/Curb-Agajanian slid off twice, the first time well wide of Turn 1. Later, he went rear-first off Turn 6. Rookie Jacob Abel of Dale Coyne Racing spun at the exit of Turn 1. Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel (Turn 12), AJ Foyt Racing’s David Malukas (Turn 9), Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin (Turn 4) and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward (Turn 4) also went off the road. Malukas mentioned a slick track. Maybe that was it. The track was resurfaced two years ago.
Turn 4 is one of the track’s signature corners and one of the best places to pass. But for safety reasons, the profile of the corner has been modified since last year’s NTT INDYCAR SERES race. Previously, there was a big drop-off into the gravel trap, an area affectionately known as “China Beach.” But that drop-off contributed to the dramatic flips of Michael Andretti (1998) and Simon Pagenaud (2023), among other rough rides. The transition from track to gravel is now about the same level, and the rest of Turn 4 has been flattened out, which removes the ramp effect that previously existed.
So Many Winners (Poles and Race)
There are many reasons why drivers love competing at Mid-Ohio, and one is the success so many of them have experienced.
There are nine drivers in this NTT INDYCAR SERIES field who have won series races here – the most by any venue on this year’s calendar. Certainly, eight different winners in the past eight years are the most of any venue on the schedule.
Qualifying has been similarly competitive in recent years. Different drivers have won the NTT P1 Award each of the past four years – Josef Newgarden (2021), O’Ward (2022), Herta (2023) and Palou (2024).
In all, seven drivers racing this weekend have won NTT P1 Awards at this track, led by Will Power and his five poles. Scott Dixon and Alexander Rossi are the other former Mid-Ohio pole winners.
Qualifying for Sunday’s The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport is at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).
Odds and Ends
A year certainly can fly by fast. Last year at this event, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES raced with hybrid technology for the first time. O’Ward won the race. Last month, World Wide Technology Raceway became the first track to experience the series’ hybrid technology a second time as the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline moved forward in this year’s schedule by two months.
Marcus Ericsson has a different engineer for the first time as an Andretti Global driver. Dave Seyffert has been tabbed to finish out the season with the No. 28 FOX INDYCAR Honda, replacing Olivier Boisson. Seyffert was an assistant engineer with Meyer Shank Racing when Helio Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in 2021. He also stepped in for Jeremy Milless on Kirkwood’s car last month at World Wide Technology Raceway, and the combination won the race.
Ericsson should be optimistic about his chances this weekend. He has finished in the top six of four of the past five races at Mid-Ohio. He finished second to Newgarden in 2021 and was fifth a year ago.
Felix Rosenqvist’s No. 60 SiriusXM Honda is carrying a special livery this weekend, highlighting legendary English hard rock singer Ozzy Osbourne.
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen will start Sunday’s race six positions beyond where he qualifies due to serving a penalty for an unapproved engine change following last week’s team test at Iowa Speedway.
The Wimbledon title was the third of Arthur Ashe’s Grand Slam crowns
Fifty years ago Arthur Ashe pulled off an amazing feat, upsetting the odds and becoming the first black man to win the Wimbledon Men’s final when he beat fellow American Jimmy Connors – but it was not something he wanted to define his life.
His fight to break down barriers around racial discrimination was closer to his heart – and apartheid South Africa became one of his battle grounds.
“I don’t want to be remembered in the final analysis for having won Wimbledon… I take applause for having done it, but it’s not the most important thing in my life – not even close,” he said in a BBC interview a year before his death in 1993.
Nonetheless his Centre Court victory on 5 July 1975 was hailed as one of those spine-tingling sporting moments that stopped everyone in their tracks, whether a tennis fan or not, and it is being commemorated with a special display at the Wimbledon museum.
Ashe was already in his 30s, tall, serene and with a quiet and even-tempered demeanour. Connors, 10 years younger and the defending champion, was an aggressive player and often described as “brattish”.
Ashe’s achievements and the skills and courage he displayed on the court were certainly matched by his actions off it.
Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Ashe’s victory at Wimbledon was an iconic moment in sport
In the early 1970s, South Africa repeatedly refused to issue a visa for him to travel to the country alongside other US players.
The white-minority government there had legalised an extreme system of racial segregation, known as apartheid – or apartness – in 1948.
The authorities said the decision to bar him was based on his “general antagonism” and outspoken remarks about South Africa.
However, in 1973, the government relented and granted Ashe a visa to play in the South African Open, which was one of the top tournaments in the world at the time.
It was Ashe’s first visit to South Africa, and although he stipulated he would only play on condition that the stadium be open to both black and white spectators, it sparked anger among anti-apartheid activists in the US and strong opposition from sections of the black community in South Africa.
British journalist and tennis historian Richard Evans, who became a life-long friend of Ashe, was a member of the press corps on that South Africa tour.
He says that Ashe was “painfully aware” of the criticism and the accusation that he was in some way giving legitimacy to the South African government – but he was determined to see for himself how people lived there.
“He felt that he was always being asked about South Africa, but he’d never been. He said: ‘How can I comment on a place I don’t know? I need to see it and make a judgment. And until I go, I can’t do that.’”
Evans recalls that during the tour, the South African writer and poet Don Mattera had organised for Ashe to meet a group of black journalists, but the atmosphere was tense and hostile.
“As I passed someone,” Evans told the BBC, “I heard someone say: ‘Uncle Tom’” – a slur used to disparage a black person considered servile towards white people.
“And then one or two very vociferous journalists stood up and said: ‘Arthur, go home. We don’t want you here. You’re just making it easier for the government to be able to show that they allow someone like you in.’”
Gerry Cranham / Offside
Arthur Ashe went to Soweto in November 1973 to hold tennis clinics for children in the township
But not all black South Africans were so vehemently opposed to Ashe’s presence in the country.
The South African author and academic Mark Mathabane grew up in the Alexandra township – popularly known as Alex – in the north of Johannesburg. Such townships were set up under apartheid on the outskirts of cities for non-white people to live.
He first became aware of Ashe as a boy while accompanying his grandmother to her gardening job at a British family’s mansion in a whites-only suburb.
The lady of the house gifted him a September 1968 edition of Life magazine from her collection, and there, on the front cover, was a bespectacled Arthur Ashe at the net.
Mathabane was mesmerised by the image and its cover line “The Icy Elegance of Arthur Ashe” – and he set out to emulate him.
When Ashe went on the 1973 tour, Mathabane had only one mission – to meet Ashe, or at least get close to him.
The opportunity came when Ashe took time off from competing to hold a tennis clinic in Soweto, a southern Johannesburg township.
The 13-year-old Mathabane made the train journey to get there and join scores of other black – and mostly young – people who had turned out to see the tennis star, who they had given the nickname “Sipho”.
“He may have been honorary white to white people, but to us black people he was Sipho. It’s a Zulu word for gift,” Mathabane, now aged 64, told the BBC.
“You know, a gift from God, from the ancestors, meaning that this is very priceless, take care of it. Sipho is here, Sipho from America is here.”
Gerry Cranham / Offside
Gerry Cranham / Offside
Excited crowds descended on the tennis clinic to catch a glimpse of the superstar tennis player…
By 1973 Arthur Ashe had already won the US Open and Australian Open…
The excitement generated at the Soweto clinic was not just contained to that township but had spread across the country, he said.
From rural reservations to shebeens or speakeasies (bars) – wherever black people gathered, they were talking about Ashe’s visit.
“For me, he was literally the first free black man I’d ever seen,” said Mathabane.
After the 1973 tour, Ashe went back to South Africa a few more times. In early 1976 he helped to establish the Arthur Ashe Soweto Tennis Centre (AASTC) for budding players in the township.
But not long after it opened, the centre was vandalised in the student-led uprisings against the apartheid regime that broke out in June of that year.
It remained neglected and in disrepair for several years before undergoing a major refurbishment in 2007, and was reopened by Ashe’s widow Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe.
The complex now has 16 courts, and hosts a library and skills development centre.
AFP/Getty Images
The Arthur Ashe Soweto Tennis Centre has big ambitions – and Serena and Venus Williams have held tennis clinics there
The ambition is to produce a tennis star and Grand Slam champion from the township – and legends such as Serena and Venus Williams have since run clinics there.
For Mothobi Seseli and Masodi Xaba, who were once both South African national junior champions and now sit on the AASTC board, the centre goes beyond tennis.
They feel that fundamentally it is about instilling a work ethic that embraces a range of life skills and self-belief.
“We’re building young leaders,” Ms Xaba, a successful businesswoman, told the BBC.
Mr Seseli, an entrepreneur born and raised in Soweto, agrees that this would be Ashe’s vision too: “When I think about what his legacy is, it is believing that we can, at the smallest of scales, move the dial in very big ways.”
Ashe was initially inclined to challenge apartheid through conversations and participation, believing that by being visible and winning matches in the country he could undermine the very foundation of the regime.
But his experience within South Africa, and international pressure from the anti-apartheid movement, persuaded him that isolation rather than engagement would be the most effective way to bring about change in South Africa.
He became a powerful advocate and supporter of an international sporting boycott of South Africa, speaking before the United Nations and the US Congress.
In 1983, at a joint press conference set up by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and UN, he spoke about the aims of the Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid, which he had just co-founded with the American singer Harry Belafonte.
Getty Images
Arthur Ashe and US singer Harry Belafonte (R), seen here during an anti-apartheid protest outside the UN in New York, founded Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid
The organisation lobbied for sanctions against the South African government, and at its height had more than 500 members.
Ashe joined many protests and rallies, and when he was arrested outside the South African embassy in Washington DC in 1985, it drew more international attention to the cause and helped to amplify global condemnation of the South African regime.
He was the captain of the US Davis Cup team at the time, and always felt that the arrest cost him his job.
Ashe used his platform to confront social injustice wherever he saw it, not just in Africa and South Africa, but also in the US and Haiti.
He was also an educator on many issues, and specifically HIV/Aids, which he succumbed to, after contracting the disease from a blood transfusion during heart surgery in the early 1980s.
But he had a particular affinity with South Africa’s black population living under a repressive regime.
He said that he identified with them because of his upbringing in racially segregated Richmond in the US state of Virginia.
No wonder then that Ashe was one of the key figures that South African anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela was keen to meet on a trip to New York, inviting him to a historic townhall gathering in 1990 shortly after his release from 27 years in prison.
The pair met on a few occasions, however Ashe did not live to see Mandela become president of South Africa following the 1994 election, which brought in democratic rule and the dismantling of apartheid.
But like Ashe, Mandela was able to use sport to push for change – by helping unify South Africa – notably during the 1995 Rugby World Cup when he famously wore the Springbok jersey, once a hated symbol of apartheid.
To celebrate this year’s anniversary of Ashe’s victory, the Wimbledon Championships have an installation in the International Tennis Centre tunnel and a new museum display about him. They are also taking a trailblazer workshop on the road to mark his achievement.
His Wimbledon title was the third of his Grand Slam crowns, having previously won the US and Australian Opens.
But to many people like Mathabane – who in 1978 became the first black South African to earn a tennis scholarship to a US university – Arthur Ashe’s legacy was his activism, not his tennis.
“He was literally helping to liberate my mind from those mental chains of self-doubt, of believing the big lie about your inferiority and the fact that you’re doomed to repeat the work of your parents as a drudge,” he said.
“So that was the magic – because he was showing me possibilities.”
Don’t tell Kyle Kirkwood that Alex Palou will waltz to his fourth NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship this season.
Kirkwood, the only driver besides Palou to win a race in 2025, led an eventful opening practice Friday for The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport with a top lap of 1 minute, 5.8272 seconds in the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda featuring a special Honda tribute livery this weekend.
SEE: Practice Results
“We’re really fast right now,” Kirkwood said. “As long as we continue that, we’ll be in a really good spot. We’ve come here this year with maybe a different philosophy, and it seems to be working out.”
Reigning Mid-Ohio winner Pato O’Ward was second at 1:06.0160 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. All teams are benefiting from this event being the first anniversary of the INDYCAR hybrid system as, for the first time on a road and street circuit, teams can return to their car setup notes from 2024.
Palou still lurks near the top as he seeks his seventh victory this season, ending up third at 1:06.0409 in the No. 10 Open AI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Kirkwood has won three races in 2025 and is second in the championship, 93 points behind Palou.
Two-time Mid-Ohio winner Josef Newgarden made a good start by ending up fourth at 1:06.1791 in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet. Two-time Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Newgarden is a disappointing 17th in the season standings and is looking to jump-start the second half of his season this weekend.
Another driver looking to salvage his season, Marcus Ericsson, rounded out the top five at 1:06.2324 in the No. 28 FOX INDYCAR Honda of Andretti Global. 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Ericsson is 21st in points.
The tricky, roller-coaster nature of Mid-Ohio caught out a handful of drivers in the 80-minute session, which was split into two groups.
David Malukas backed into the tire wall hard in Turn 9 in his No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises, while Colton Herta backed his No. 26 Gainbridge Honda into the tire barrier in Turn 6. The Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian crew was able to fix Herta’s machine so he could return to the track. Neither driver was hurt.
2022 Mid-Ohio winner Scott McLaughlin spun into the gravel in his No. 3 Odyssey Battery Team Penske Chevrolet and continued. Felix Rosenqvist was forced to stop on track due to a mechanical problem in his No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian, adorned with a special livery saluting hard rock icon Ozzy Osbourne and his band Black Sabbath.
Up next is pre-qualifying practice at 10:30 a.m. ET Saturday, followed by NTT P1 Award qualifying at 2:30 p.m. (both sessions FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 90-lap race starts at 1 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
Just days ago, Gwinn spoke of the pride at leading her team into a major tournament wearing the captain’s armband.
“It’s a great honour for me [and] it makes me really proud,” she told DW.
“Going into a tournament like this is special. I’m feeling very motivated and looking forward to finally getting out onto the pitch.”
But in a cruel twist of fate, the full-back was helped off the pitch following what seems to be a serious injury sustained while making a goal-saving block.
Germany’s skipper put her body on the line to prevent Ewa Pajor from getting a clear shot on goal, hurting herself in the process.
Despite admiral attempts to continue, she was helped off the pitch by physios before the interval.
Not only is she a huge loss of ability on the field for the European giants, her leadership skills will be sorely missed at the back.
The extent of this injury is unknown at this point, though it is particularly brutal for Gwinn, who has missed out on major tournaments previously after sustaining two Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries in her career before.
Fans and teammates alike will be tentatively waiting for updates in the coming days, but such an emotional reaction from the Bayern Munich star could signal the end of her campaign before it has even really started.
