Category: 6. Sports

The Brazilian rising star will step into the #21 car in place of de Vries, who has a pre-existing commitment to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship on the same weekend, for the double-header in the German capital.

To fans of single-seater racing, the 25-year-old from Maringá, Brazil needs little introduction. Drugovich enjoyed a silverware-laden rise through the junior ranks, including championship titles in Euroformula Open and the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

WATCH: Follow all the action from Berlin live

More recently, Drugovich has balanced his commitments as a Reserve Driver for Aston Martin in Formula 1 alongside several sportscar appearances, including IMSA, ELMS and an appearance at last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“I’m very happy to confirm I will be making my Formula E debut with Mahindra Racing in Berlin,” he says. “Formula E is a championship I’ve been around for a while now; having tested on several occasions, I’m excited to now get the opportunity to race.

CALENDAR: Sync the dates and don’t miss a lap of Season 11

“Mahindra Racing is a fantastic team, one of the championship’s standout names, and it’s clear from their recent results that the new car is a significant step forward. I’m looking forward to working closely with them to prepare for Berlin, and I’m sure we can have a good weekend together.”

With an impressive 47 race victories and a further 71 podium finishes across his career to-date, Drugovich will now turn his talents towards his competitive debut in Formula E. He recently completed a successful test for the team at Circuito Guadix, Spain, to gain crucial mileage in the team’s Mahindra M11Electro, built to Formula E’s latest GEN3 Evo regulations.

He is also no stranger to the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit, having participated in the last two Formula E Rookie Tests at the same venue, topping the times in the 2023 edition.

Drugovich will be hoping to add to Mahindra Racing’s ever-improving run of form. The team currently sits fifth in the standings after 12 races of Season 11, with podiums in Monaco and Jakarta, plus a one-hundred percent record for making the qualifying Duels and scoring points in almost every race.

Drugovich’s team-mate for the Berlin weekend will be Mahindra Racing’s other regular driver, Edoardo Mortara.

Mahindra Racing CEO and Team Principal, Frederic Bertrand, added: “It’s very exciting to be able to welcome Felipe to the team for the Berlin E-Prix. “It’s been on our radar for a while now that we would need to find a solution for Berlin to substitute for Nyck.

“Felipe quickly emerged as the standout candidate, his achievements speak for themselves, and he’s been very impressive when he’s tested a Formula E car in the past.

“The benefit of having this confirmed so far in advance is that we have had plenty of time to get him fully integrated with the team, to prepare him properly for the race weekend and give him the best opportunity to go out and showcase what he can do.”

Find out more

CALENDAR: Sync the dates and don’t miss a lap of Season 11

WATCH: Find out where to watch every Formula E race via stream or on TV in your country

TICKETS: Secure your grandstand seats and buy Formula E race tickets

SCHEDULE: Here’s every race of the 2024/25 Formula E season

HIGHLIGHTS: Catch up with every race from all 10 seasons of Formula E IN FULL

PREDICTOR: Get involved, predict race results and win exclusive prizes

HOSPITALITY: Experience Formula E and world class motorsport as a VIP

FOLLOW: Download the Formula E App on iOS or Android

 

A packed Allianz Stadium for the final of Rugby World Cup 2025 is a dream Maggie Alphonsi cannot wait to realise. But just as much as the match itself, the RWC 2014 winner is looking forward to welcoming fans from all over the world to her city. 

Here, Alphonsi delivers an insider’s guide to making the very most of time in Twickenham, Richmond and the rest of London – whether you are a first-time visitor, a returning fan or even a curious local. 

Twickenham & Richmond on matchday:

What I absolutely love is seeing the area come to life. Seeing the various different jerseys. It’s a very positive, upbeat environment. I love the uniqueness that Twickenham and Richmond bring. It’s very relaxed. People stroll up the river, if they are coming from the Richmond way and you know, casually pop into one of the eateries or pubs.

It’s a whole day out, you are not just going out for one event. People really bask in the rugby setting, the rugby vibe, the rugby event.

What I love on match day as well is how connected the fans are to the players. I love seeing the players get off the coach and everyone is waiting outside. Seeing the anticipation, the excitement and the happiness in people’s faces, it’s very cool.

I love now being a spectator.

Pre-match routine:

I get off (the train) at Twickenham Station and walk down the road everyone walks down (Whitton Road).

I have a proper lunch at Bella Vita, grab a pizza and then walk to the Cabbage Patch. That’s the iconic place to go, there’s always space there There’s a beer garden. I always know I am going to meet someone. It’s a very rugby vibe. I love it. Everyone comes out the train station and it’s ready to welcome you.

Then stop in The Scrummery (pub). It’s really busy, it’s hard to get a seat but if you can, stop in. If you can’t, stand outside and get a photo. 

Where to eat, drink and watch RWC 2025 matches on TV:

There’s a really good pub in Richmond, the Rising Sun. It’s very rugby. I mean now and then you might find Jason Leonard (former England international and British & Irish Lion) at the bar. And I’ll be very clear, I’m not really a drinker, so I don’t go to the pubs to drink, it’s just a social thing. It’s not far from the train station, just down a back road. It’s great.

I would also go to Richmond Rugby Club. It will be showing the games. I always think clubhouses are very welcoming during big tournaments. It’s got a really good social side. Great women’s teams too.

Must-visit community rugby clubs:

I have to start with my Saracens Amateur RFC (Maggie’s old club). Very welcoming set-up there, very good family environment.

Grasshoppers Rugby Club is a very, very nice family club, family setting.

Southwark Tigers is really interesting. It’s south London, a different part of London.

Top tips for London visitors:

Go and watch a show. Must do that. Immerse yourself into the theatre scene. My top one is the Lion King, closely followed by Hamilton, and then ending on Six.

Second thing, I find London is awesome when you just go to the markets and check them out. Camden Market is awesome. Portobello Market is cool, the street food. There’s a real buzz, vibe going on. I love London for the variety of cultures, the melting pot that is going on. 

And then one of the things I’ve loved is going to get on a boat, a speed boat and doing a tour up the Thames. It’s cool to learn about London via the water.

It’s going to be a phenomenal time to welcome all these different nations over to England and put on a good show. We’re very good at hosting tournaments, and I just think we will do a great job.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the selection of 30 players for the third phase of the U19 Skills Assessment camp, set to begin in Multan on July seven and run through the end of August.

This phase follows a comprehensive match-based assessment conducted in two earlier stages, where a total of 65 players were evaluated under the supervision of former Test captain and current Head of Youth Development, Azhar Ali.

Of the 30 players selected for the next phase, 20 were shortlisted based on their performances in the first two phases. Ten additional players, who have previously represented Pakistan U19 and remain eligible for the ICC U19 World Cup 2026, have also been included.

The third phase of the camp is designed to further enhance the players’ technical and mental skills ahead of the ACC U19 Asia Cup and ICC U19 World Cup.

It is pertinent to mention that the Skills Development Camp for 47 senior Pakistan cricketers was also held in three phases at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore from June 30 to July four.

Selected U19 players for skills assessment camp:

Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Abbas Khan, Abdul Wahab, Ali Hassan Baloch, Asad Umar, Daniyal Ali Khan, Ghulam Haider, Hamza Zahoor, Haroon Khan, Hazrat Ali, Huzaifa Ahsan, Ibtisam Azhar, Mohammad Arshad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Niqab Shafiq, Rana Adeel Mushtaq, Rizwanullah, Saad Sakhawat, Sadeeq Aman, Sameer Minhas and Yahya Shah, Farhan Yousaf, Hassan Khan, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Tahir, Momin Qamar, Tayyab Arif, Umar Zaib and Usman Khan.

How beating cancer helps Ann-Katrin Berger ‘live in the moment’

Berger has more than just hard work behind her.

In 2017, and then again in 2022, she had to undergo surgery and subsequently therapy following a diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

Her fight has given the goalkeeper the inspiration to live in the moment, on and off the field. She is no longer worried about making mistakes, nor does she want to overthink when she is between the sticks.

“I try to live, react, and act in the moment,” she explains to us.

“If I think too much, it will ruin my style of play – that’s why I’ve never thought like that before, and I hope that I never will.

“In general, I don’t look so far into the future. No matter what I do, I just look at what’s in front of me. In football, you don’t know what’s going to happen – and due to my illness, I don’t know whether I might be able to continue tomorrow or not.”

As far as Berger is concerned, some things are simply more important than playing with a ball.

Her experiences have helped shift perspective, she continues: “Football is just a game, there are worse things in the world. In the past, football was the be-all, end-all for me. There was nothing better and nothing more important.

“The illness has made me a bit calmer… I still hate losing, but I lose and walk away from the game after doing my best for 90 or 120 minutes, then that’s enough for me now.

“It’s best to leave the pitch as a winner, but as I said, there are bigger things out there that are more important.”

LAHORE – Former Pakistan pacer and current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official Wahab Riaz is set to make a return to the field as he eyes participation in the upcoming World Championship of Legends.

The tournament, scheduled to be held in England later this month, is expected to feature several former cricket stars.

Wahab, who has been associated with the PCB in various roles, has been included in the Pakistan Champions squad for the event. This marks a shift from earlier this year when he was denied permission to serve as the bowling coach for Quetta Gladiators in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10. However, sources say that the PCB is likely to issue him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the upcoming tournament.

Wahab Riaz, who retired from international cricket five years ago, has expressed his interest in coaching Pakistan Shaheens in the future. He has already been seen guiding bowlers in recent skills camps organized by the PCB.

The Pakistan Champions squad also includes former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed. Other confirmed players for the event include Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Ali, Kamran Akmal, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Khan, and Sohail Tanvir. The team is owned by Kamil Khan, who is the brother-in-law of former head coach Waqar Younis.

Wahab had previously served as the head of the PCB’s Champions Cup mentorship project, which involved five mentors: Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Malik and Waqar Younis. While Shoaib Malik has since stepped down, the others have continued despite indications from the board suggesting resignation.

Sources said that since these mentors were receiving salaries of Rs5 million per month, the board would be required to pay three months’ salary if they are removed from their roles.

Regarding former cricketers’ participation in leagues, the PCB clarified that, like active players, ex-players are allowed to participate in up to two leagues per year.

However, during this period, they do not receive salaries from the board.

Pakistan Champions lost the final to India in the previous edition of the World Championship of Legends. That squad was led by Younis Khan.

However, the participation of Younis and Misbah in the upcoming tournament remains uncertain.

Management, stakeholders review PSL X statistics

Over in Spain, Praveen Chithravel recorded a wind-assisted 16.80m jump with tailwinds measuring 2.9m/s to win the triple jump event at the X Meeting Memorial Jose Luis Hernandez 2025 athletics meet in Pamplona.

His other two legal jumps at the meet measured 16.40m and 16.27m.

Cristian Napoles (15.99m) and Eugenio Camara Mane (15.25m) finished behind the Indian.

This was Praveen Chithravel’s third competitive outing in Spain this season, but the first triple jump event. He competed in two long jump events in Guadalajara and Malaga previously.

The Indian athlete last competed in a triple jump event at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in Gumi, the Republic of Korea, where he won a silver medal with a 16.90m jump.

Praveen Chithravel holds the men’s triple jump national record, with a 17.37m leap at a meet in Cuba two years ago. He matched the mark at the Federation Cup in Kochi earlier this year.

Boeing employee Kandy Paulson says volunteering for the Special Olympics is a “life-changing experience.” Each year, she and her fellow Boeing drivers — those who operate cars, vans, buses and trucks for the company — come together to support the athletes.

• “When I see an athlete come off the field holding a medal, that hits me deep in my heart,” Paulson said.

Paulson was one of about a dozen Boeing drivers who volunteered to support the week-long Special Olympics Washington Spring Games in June. The team delivered equipment, supplies and food for of the athletes, who competed soccer, track and field and other events.

Wiese, who will earn his 35^th Test cap when he packs down at the back of the scrum against Italy at Loftus Versfeld in the opening match of the Castle Lager Incoming Series on Saturday, was pleased with his recovery and rehabilitation and said he was ready to return to the field in green and gold.

“My injury wasn’t that serious; there were two discs that had to recover in my neck, so I was only out for three months,” said Wiese. “I’m very excited to be back here. It’s a massive privilege.”

Commenting on his brother being in the squad with him after earning his first Springbok call-up this season, the tough-as-nails loose forward said: “We’ve never had the opportunity to play together, and it doesn’t get better than being able to do so for the national team, so I hope he gets a run.

“I’m very happy for him because he has always dreamed of it. Over and above that, he’s had a good season, and it’s fantastic to see how he has flourished at the Vodacom Bulls.”

Looking forward to Saturday’s encounter against Italy, Wiese expected a physical onslaught from the visitors, and said: “They are a very passionate side and they know how to get themselves up for a game. They are also strong up front and will want to try to dominate there this weekend.”

On a personal note, he was excited about moving from the UK to Japan, where he currently plays for the Urayasu D-Rocks, and said the biggest change was having to adapt to the vastly different style of rugby they play.

“In Japan, they play a different rugby to that which I experienced in the four or five years I was in the UK, so I’ve learned to run a lot because of the fast-paced style of rugby they play.”

The match kicks off at 17h10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Poland’s speed queen looks to impress on home turf

Few names standout as distinctly as Aleksandra Miroslaw in the pantheon of Polish sport climbing. The 31-year-old from Lublin, Poland has been dominant in recent years, winning two world championships and an Olympic title to cement her legacy as one of Poland’s greatest climbers.

Nonetheless, despite flirting with the six-second barrier last summer at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 – setting a new world record in the process at 6.06 seconds – Miroslaw’s yet to break the once unimaginable barrier in women’s speed climbing.

It’s a task she’ll hope to accomplish once and for all during the IFSC Sport Climbing World Cup Krakow 2025, with the backing of a lively and supportive home crowd – one that has yet to see Miroslaw in action on the world stage.

Of course, she won’t be the only Polish climber targeting victory in Krakow, especially if Paris 2024 bronze medallist Aleksandra Kałucka has any say in the matter.

While the 23-year-old from Tarnów has yet to compete this season, it’d be foolish to write her off prematurely. She’s shown an ability to remain calm in high pressure situations and perform at her best when it matters most, as evidenced by the overall World Cup title she claimed in 2022 and her bronze medal at Paris 2024.

Still, Kałucka will need to leave the likes of Olympic silver medallist Deng Lijuan and Team USA’s Emma Hunt in her dust, along with sister Natalia Kałucka (2023 European Games champion) and teammate Miroslaw, to stand any chance of winning in Krakow and beginning her own reign atop the speed climbing throne.