Category: 6. Sports

As the Hundred fires into primary-coloured summer action, all free T-shirts and AI fan photos, the Spin has been putting her feet up, coffee in one hand, notebook in the other, chewing over the Championship season to date.

If the notebook has proved a bitter disappointment, scribbled with long-forgotten three for 67s, the ruminations have been fun. It’s been a season of surprises – Leicestershire! Lancashire! – and memorable moments, from Tom Banton’s 371 in the very first game to Ian Botham’s thunder and fury over Somerset’s field-of-onions pitch for the game against Durham.

But in all the gin joints, in all the towns, the one player to have left the biggest impression is young, still so young Rehan Ahmed – who celebrates his 21st birthday on Wednesday.

Ahmed, you’ll remember, made a precocious debut for England in Karachi in December 2022, aged just 18 years and 126 days, nudging Brian Close into the wings – which is quite some feat in itself. With his wheeling leg-breaks he fizzed five for 48 in the second innings, to help England to an eight-wicket victory, and looked feet-on-the sofa at home in the Bazball set-up. Since then, he’s played here and there, another four Tests, plus six ODIs and 10 T20s, but nothing since last autumn.

Progress after his Test debut was haphazard, as you’d expect for a teenager yet to settle in his own skin. In 2024, he played eight Championship games for Leicestershire, made four 50s and averaged 33 with the bat. With the ball, he pocketed 13 wickets at a less than dreamy 60.69.

This year, with just three games of the season to come, he has played in 10, and is averaging more than 50, with five centuries (the joint leading hundred-scorer in Division Two, alongside Kent’s Ben Compton and Saif Zaib – who has had a fantastic season for Northamptonshire). With the ball, the improvement has been even more precipitous, with 23 wickets at an average of 19 – and much of that bowling on the merciless Grace Road square.

But the figures only sketch an outline, and Ahmed is a technicolour player, an energy bath bomb with a textbook technique. The Spin has been lucky enough to watch him razzle-dazzle two hundreds in the flesh this year – both against Lancashire, one at Old Trafford, one at Grace Road, opponent-draining, sparkling innings so much better than the previous blind boundary biffing. He added another against Kent, another against Glamorgan and became the first Englishman to take 13 wickets and score a century in a first-class game since Ian Botham in the Jubilee Test of 1980, after taking Derbyshire to the cleaners with both bat and ball.

His season to remember has tickled the spectators at Grace Road, as well as the playing staff. And not only because because of his role in firing them towards promotion to Division One, now only a fingertip away. He is also a genuinely popular young man.

On the field, a move up the order has brought more responsibility, something that he has relished. And with the ball he has found more control – whereas previously a first over of a spell might have been loose, and gone for 10 runs, this year he’s kept on top of the scoreboard. Those who’ve watched him from the sidelines have seen a subtle shift – from someone who was always a good teammate to someone who wants to take his game to the next level. Someone who, from the first moment of pre-season, meant business.

Claude Henderson is Leicestershire’s director of cricket. “I think there is much more to come, we’re not even close to seeing Rehan Ahmed’s best,” he says. “There is a massive ceiling there. It must be very exciting for England to watch – having Rehan in the top six would solve a lot of problems for them. It is very exciting for us too!

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“I’ve always said you’ve got a hell of a batsman there. The skills and the hunger and the passion – that’s what shines out, that’s what I saw in his eyes when he was 18 years old. He’s a very honest young man, he just wants to play cricket, loves a challenge, what you see is what you get.

“His introduction to cricket happened very quickly and that creates a bit of pressure but he’s come through with flying colours. His fitness has improved, his bowling has improved, which is really good to see, he is more mature. He’s grown up a bit and all while scoring the runs, taking the wickets, with a massive smile on his face.”

Would Henderson take Ahmed on the Ashes tour, with all the pressures that brings? “I would definitely consider him. I know what he can offer. If they are comfortable that he can bat in the top seven, then you’ve got an all-rounder up your sleeve. He has shown in the Championship, and now in the Hundred, what he is capable of with the bat. He’s changed the whole perception of Rehan Ahmed – hold on a sec, I can bat, give me a go, I can win you a game with bat and ball.”

Happy birthday Rehan, may your summer continue to sizzle and your winter entertain you, and us, royally.

LUANDA – MOÇÂMEDES (Angola) – A thorough look at the first four games of the 2025 AfroBasket reveals that the reserve players were the heroes of the day.

Although some starters dominated and contributed greatly to their teams, it was the substitutes who made the biggest impact.

This article highlights some standout performances that were too impactful to overlook.

Alpha Diallo (GUINEA)

Points – 28
Field-Goal – 8/16
Rebounds – 6
Assists – 4
Minutes played – 37:41
Efficiency – 25

During the postgame press conference, Guinea coach Nedeljko Asceric was asked about the secret to his team’s shocking 88-80 win over South Sudan. He responded that there was no secret, and his players stuck to the game plan, executing what he expected from them.

However, Asceric didn’t reveal his secret weapon, which completely changed the game’s narrative for Guinea.

With the score tied at 6-6 early in the game, Asceric called Alpha Diallo off the bench, after which the game changed dramatically for the Bright Stars of South Sudan, as Diallo dictated the pace at will. Diallo didn’t sit out until the final buzzer.

The AS Monaco small forward shot 8-for-16 from the floor, including 5-for-10 from deep, and finished with a game-high 28 points. Diallo also grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists, finishing with an efficiency rating of 25.

Makhtar Gueye (SENEGAL)

Points – 16
Field-Goal – 6/9
Rebounds – 5
Assists – 2
Minutes played – 18:08
Efficiency – 20

The former Basketball Without Borders (BWB) camper wasn’t even Senegal’s first option off the bench. In fact, he was the seventh player Coach DeSagana Diop called.

Gueye replaced Moustapha Diop with 1:39 left in the opening quarter.

However, it was in the second quarter that Gueye began his dominant performance.

In his first action, he grabbed a rebound and followed it up with a three-pointer. Next came a midrange shot, and the rest was history.

He went on to help Senegal secure an 88-53 win over Uganda.
In just 18:08 minutes on the floor, Gueye shot 6-for-9, had five rebounds and two assists, and earned a 20 efficiency rating.

Ehab Amin (EGYPT)

Points – 21
Field-Goal – 7/19
Rebounds – 8
Assists – 3
Minutes played – 30:05
Efficiency – 19

As long as Ehab Amin is in good spirits, Egypt is often guaranteed a strong performance, as was the case on Tuesday.

Egypt outlasted Mali 75-59 thanks to a jaw-dropping performance by Amin.

The former U16 and U18 AfroBasket Most Valuable Player made his first impact with a three-pointer that gave Egypt a 9–2 lead. Then, he finished a fast break for a 13-2 lead as Mali struggled to keep up.

The 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) champion with Al Ahly SC went on to dominate at will.

The Al Ahly SC guard led the Pharaohs with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds. He finished with an efficiency rating of 19.

Kevin Kokila (ANGOLA)

Points – 12
Field-Goal – 4/5
3-pter – 2/3
Rebounds – 4
Steals – 2
Minutes played – 19:08
Efficiency – 16

With 1:03 left in the opening quarter, Kevin Kokila entered the game for the first time, replacing Aboubacar Gakou. He was the eighth player off the Angola bench.

First, he grabbed an offensive rebound and followed it with a steal. Then, he scored the first of his 12 points from behind the arc. He buried another three-pointer, raising eyebrows among Angolan fans.

Thanks to the 85-53 win over Libya, hosts Angola opened their 2025 AfroBasket campaign on a positive note.

Other stellar performances

Mamadi Diakite, the 2021 NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks, spent just 19 minutes on the court to help Guinea defeat South Sudan 88-80 on Tuesday.

The 2019 NCAA Division 1 champion with the Virginia Cavaliers shot 6-for-6 from the floor, including 4-for-4 from deep, and finished with 16 points and a 21 efficiency rating.

Jean Jacques Bossy, the 2025 BAL champion with Al Ahli Tripoli, came off the bench as the sixth man and made an immediate impact. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists as Senegal dispatched Uganda 88-53.

Egypt’s Mohamed Khalaf recorded the highest efficiency rating of the opening day with 28. He shot 6-for-6 from the floor, including a perfect 2-for-2 from deep, and finished with 16 points and 7 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. Egypt beat Mali 74-59.

FIBA

If McLaren is one of motorsport’s most iconic names, Sam Bird is the same for Formula E. As one of the championship’s original drivers, he’s among those who have started – and won – the most races.

Bird grew up a stone’s throw away from the McLaren Racing HQ in Woking and says his time with NEOM McLaren has been the realisation of a childhood dream. 

“As a Surrey boy, born and bred, McLaren was the home team,” the Brit points out. “They were literally a few miles down the road from where I was living. I lived in West Byfleet when I really got the racing bug, so McLaren has always been a team that I’ve wanted to be a part of. 

“It was a dream come true to finally wear these colours, to have this name on my shirt, and I’ve worn it with pride.”

Familiar surroundings and a “revelation” on the other side of the garage

Not only was McLaren’s location familiar to Bird, but he also knew several of those already working within the team, including his long-time Race Engineer, Stephen Lane, who had been with him at Envision Racing.

“It’s meant the world having people like Stephen Lane working on my car again, and Chris Brown, who is on the other side of the garage,” he says. “These are people that I’ve worked with over the last 11 years. 

“To have some familiar faces when I joined was always really lovely, but they’ve been employed by NEOM McLaren for a reason – and that’s because they’re the best at what they do.”

Ahead of his second season at NEOM McLaren, Bird welcomed a new driver into the fold, as Taylor Barnard stepped up to a full-time race seat, being promoted from his role as Reserve and Development Driver in Season 10. 

The blend of youth and experience between Sam and his rookie teammate saw the 38-year-old take on a mentoring role with the youngster, who developed into one of Formula E’s fastest racers over the course of Season 11. Reflecting on Taylor’s performances, Bird said proudly: “Taylor Barnard has been a revelation.”

“In my eyes, and probably in most people’s eyes, he’s been the most impressive rookie in Formula E’s short history so far, which is quite something. 

“Of all the drivers that have come through Formula E, I don’t think any rookie has come in as unestablished as a driver but with such raw pace and announced themselves on the world stage like he’s done. He’s been phenomenal.

“His raw speed is superb, and he’s proven himself as a really gritty, gutsy racer. He’s ruffled some feathers. I know that there are some drivers out there who have taken a little bit unkindly to the way that he races, but there’s nothing wrong with it. He’s there to do a job, and he does it brilliantly.”

A win to remember

Bird made history in Season 10 when he became McLaren’s first race winner in an all-electric series, claiming a dramatic last-lap victory in São Paulo. It was also his 12th in the series, and will go down as a significant moment for both team and driver.  

“It felt phenomenal,” he says. “I think at the time, you don’t realise quite what you did and how big a moment that was, because I’ve won with many different teams. 

“But it was important for me to get a win, and to do it first for such a massive team. Looking back, it was a very special moment. It was a moment in time that the team had longed for, and I’m so proud that I was able to deliver it for them.”

We came close to adding to that win tally on numerous occasions, with seven other podium finishes over our three years in Formula E, five from Taylor in the last season alone, but fell narrowly short of reaching the top step for a second time.

“I think Taylor deserved a win, and I think from my side of the garage, we deserved more of these trophies,” he says. “We may have only ended up with one win, but it was a great day and an amazing memory that will last for everybody here. This win is most certainly for every single person in the team. 

“This wasn’t just my win, it was everybody’s. It’s very special, and I’m honoured and privileged to have gotten it, but in my opinion, we had opportunities to get more.

“I’m happy, but also sad at the same time that we didn’t deliver more, because this team deserved so much more than just one win.”

Another goodbye, or is it?

As NEOM McLaren departs Formula E, Bird’s future in the category is less certain. He might be done, but he’s not willing to fully close the door just yet.

“Well, hopefully I’m not done yet,” he says. “I’m not saying that I’m done yet. So far, it’s been an incredible journey. There’s been 11 great years, 12 wins, and 27 podiums, it’s been a brilliant journey. 

“Formula E gave me a career when I thought my career was over, all those years ago. I’ve loved being a part of it, watching Formula E grow, being a part of three different teams that I hold in high regard, and I’ve loved every minute of it so far.”

‘So far…’ – It’s clear Bird’s fire still burns bright, but if it is to be a farewell, he’s got plenty of fond memories to look back on.

“It’s been a journey where I’ve made friends, I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve had challenging times, and euphoric times,” he recalls. “Racing is a journey in itself, and I’ve enjoyed riding that wave of emotion throughout the course of my time so far in Formula E.”

Picking a stand-out moment from those times is tough, although the win in São Paulo does stand out.

“There’s 12 highlights,” he says, referring to his wins in the series. “But there’s one particular one that happened in Brazil last year, which I think was my standout moment. That race in Brazil was challenging, in how we were able to overcome the odds and win.

“I think that will stand the test of time for most people within this team. It’s certainly a memory that I’ll carry forever.

“But there are so many highlights as well: interviews, little moments, overtakes, fun races, personal stories.”

A lasting impact

Even though he’s had one of the longest careers in Formula E – only two drivers have entered more races – the last two years with NEOM McLaren have still given him room to grow and learn even more.

“I’ve learned more about the spirit of racing and what it means to put your heart and soul into a project, as every single individual here does,” he says. “It’s been emotionally amazing. Everybody here has worked tirelessly, and it’s been a real eye-opener as to how professional a team can be.

“The results, at times, have been challenging. We’ve got some incredible memories, both on and off the track, but from a human perspective, it’s been nothing short of outstanding.

“I’ve never seen such professionalism as what I’ve seen at this race team – the amount of hard work and effort that goes into every single race. I will always remember with great fondness the amount of effort that was put into each and every race weekend from every single individual within this race team.”

One thing’s for sure: his time at McLaren will stick with him forever.

“Racing for McLaren was always an ambition of mine, and I’m super happy to have been able to do that,” he says. “You never know, there might be opportunities in the future, but I’ve loved being able to wear these colours. What an incredible name to have on my jersey. I’ve worn it with pride. 

“I’ve given my all for the team, and I will always hold McLaren in the highest regard.”

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

 

West Indies players celebrate after defeating Pakistan in the 3rd ODI on August 12, 2025

India has previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010, staging the event in New Delhi.

New Delhi 2010 remains the only time India won more than 100 medals at any single edition of CWG.

It was also the country’s most successful campaign in the CWG to date, with the home athletes finishing with a total of 101 medals, including 38 golds, to finish second on the medals tally.

The country’s second-best haul is 69 medals, including 30 golds, at Manchester 2002.

The Commonwealth Games, first hosted in 1930, will see its 24th edition play out in 2030. The last edition was held in Birmingham, UK, in 2022 and the upcoming one is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2026.

At CWG 2022, Indian athletes won 61 medals – 22 golds, 16 silvers and 23 bronze.

CWG 2026 Glasgow will be a scaled-down edition with several sports like hockey, badminton, wrestling and shooting cut from the programme.

IOA officials have, however, confirmed that they will strive to make the 2030 edition a full-fledged affair should India win the bid. Joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey has also batted for the inclusion of indigenous sports like kho kho, kabaddi and others.

The countdown to the start of La Liga is on. After a perfect preseason, Hansi Flick’s team are now ready to begin the official campaign with their first league game of 2025/26 away at Real Mallorca. 

Barça’s preparations for the game continue with Hansi Flick’s team eyeing up their first three points of the campaign. In Wednesday’s session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Toni Fernández, Guille Fernández, Dro and Jofre Torrents from the Barça Atlètic squad all took part. The youngsters all featured and impressed on the recent Asia Tour and continue to work under the watchful eye of coach Hansi Flick. After the session in the morning local time, the squad attended to internal media duties. 

 

India’s PV Sindhu will take on Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova while Lakshya Sen will face Shi Yuqi of the People’s Republic of China in their respective opening round matches at the BWF World Championships 2025 later this month.

Organised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the BWF World Championships is the most prestigious badminton competition held annually, barring the Olympic years.

It offers the most badminton world ranking points along with the Olympics and crowns the senior world champions of a particular calendar year.

The draws for the Badminton World Championships 2025, scheduled to be held in Paris between August 25 and 31, were announced on Wednesday.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, 15th in the women’s singles rankings, is the sole Indian in the women’s section and will face world No. 66 and two-time European junior champion Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria in her opening round match.

Sindhu is a former world champion, having won the women’s singles title in 2019.

The Indian badminton player also finished runners up in the two years preceding her world title and bagged bronze medals in 2013 and 2014.

Sindhu, however, has struggled for form in the 2025 season. Her best run on the BWF World Tour this year was a quarter-final finish at the Indian Open back in January.

Lakshya Sen, 21st in the men’s singles badminton rankings, was handed a tough opening round draw against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of the People’s Republic of China.

A semi-finalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Lahshya won a bronze medal at the 2021 badminton world championships in Huelva.

The other Indian in the men’s singles draw, world No. 34 HS Prannoy, will take on world Joakim Oldorff of Finland. HS Prannoy is a world championships bronze medallist from 2023.

India’s top doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received an opening round bye, while Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruben Kumar will meet the Chinese Taipei pair Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han.

The winner of the match between Hariharan Amsakarunan-Ruben Kumar and Liu Kuang Heng-Yang Po Han will face Satwik-Chirag in the second round.

Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were the first Indian pair to win a medal in the men’s doubles event at the badminton world championships after settling for a bronze in Tokyo back in 2022.

The women’s doubles draw pitted Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda against Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva, while Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra will face French duo Margot Lambert and Camille Pognante in the first round.

World No. 17 Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto received an opening-round bye in the mixed doubles section.

India’s other entry in the mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde, will take on Ng Weng Chi and Leong Iok Chong of Macau China.

India have won a total of 14 medals – one gold, four silver and nine bronze in the BWF World Championships in the past.

Prakash Padukone won India’s first medal in the BWF World Championships in 1983 when he bagged bronze.

BWF World Championships 2025 draw for Indian shuttlers

Men’s singles

• Lakshya Sen vs Shi Yuqi (CHN)
• HS Prannoy vs Joakim Oldorff (FIN)

Women’s singles

• PV Sindhu vs Kaloyana Nalbantova (BUL)

Men’s doubles

• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty – Bye (1st round)
• Hariharan Amsakarunan / Ruben Kumar vs Liu Kuang Heng / Yang Po Han (TPE)

Women’s doubles

• Rutaparna Panda / Swetaparna Panda vs Gabriela Stoeva / Stefani Stoeva (BUL)
• Priya Konjengbam / Shruti Mishra vs Margot Lambert / Camille Pognante (FRA)

Mixed doubles

• Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto – Bye (1st round)
• Rohan Kapoor / Ruthvika Gadde vs Ng Weng Chi / Leong Iok Chong (MAC)

JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Soon, we’re entering the homestretch.

Expect the race to get even more intense as the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 heads into the Final Phase beginning Monday.

Right from the very first game of the Qualification to Quarter-Finals, all qualified teams are sure to fight like there’s no tomorrow – all in the name of glory in Asian basketball’s grandest stage.

Who’s your pick to become champions? Vote for them now!

Men’s badminton world number one Shi Yuqi has been drawn against India’s Lakshya Sen in the first round of the 2025 BWF World Championships, which take place from 25–31 August in Paris, France. The tournament will be available to stream (territorial restrictions apply) live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the Olympics mobile apps.

Shi, the Chinese top seed, will have to face an opponent who has pushed him hard in all four of their meetings, although he does hold the career head-to-head over Sen at 3–1.

They last met in June at the Indonesia Open, when Shi won 21-11, 20-22, 21-15; Sen’s win came at the 2022 Asian Games held in 2023, also in a three-game contest. In their other two meetings, Shi won both in straight games without outclassing Sen.

Meanwhile, both Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia and Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting will enter as unseeded players after injury-hit years.

While Lee has drawn fellow unseeded player Jeon Hyeokjin of Republic of Korea, Ginting faces a tougher opponent in Toma Junior Popov of hosts France, the 15th seed.

Thailand’s defending world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the third seed, plays El Salvador’s Uriel Canjura, while ninth-seeded 2021 world champ Loh Kean Yew of Singapore will take on Georges Julien Paul of Mauritius in the round of 64. Jonatan Christie, Indonesia’s fifth seed, faces unseeded German Matthias Kicklitz.

Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, who is recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disc, will not be participating in Paris after withdrawing last week to focus on rehab.

In the women’s singles draw, world number one An Seyoung of Republic of Korea takes on Belgian Clara Lassaux in the opening round.

An appears to have a straightforward run to the semi-finals at least. The most in-form player on the BWF World Tour circuit this season, she could face the only woman to beat her directly on court this year (An also retired injured while behind in a match against Han Yue) — Chen Yufei from People’s Republic of China — in the last four.

However, to get there, the fourth-seeded Chen, who was An’s predecessor as Olympic champion, would have to potentially get past sixth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand in the quarter-finals. Chen’s opening contest is against Frenchwoman Anna Tatranova.

India’s PV Sindhu, the 15th seed, takes on Bulgarian Kaloyana Nalbantova in the first round and could end up facing second seed Wang Zhiyi in the round of 16.