Category: 6. Sports

+++ England’s Daniel Brown (-22) triumphs in Munich, ahead of Jordan
Smith (ENG) and Kazuma Kobori (NZL) +++ Matti Schmid is the best
German in seventh, amateur Tim Wiedemeyer impresses in 17^th
place +++ € 73,000 for “Eagles for Education” and the Philipp Lahm
Foundation +++ 58,000 golf fans flock to Golfclub München Eichenried +++

Munich. Englishmen Daniel Brown and Jordan Smith,
teeing off in the final group, began the final round with a
spectacular flurry of birdies that delighted the crowds in Munich.
Smith came into the Sunday one shot behind his compatriot, but
overcame that deficit with five birdies on the first nine holes.
Brown, for his part, hit back with four birdies. However, unlike his
playing partner, he did not drop a single shot and was ultimately a
worthy winner of the only DP World Tour event in Germany. The
30-year-old carded rounds of 70, 65, 65 and 66 to end the tournament
on 22 under par (266 shots) and claim his second title on the DP World Tour.

“At the end of a fantastic tournament week, it is my pleasure, on
behalf of BMW, to congratulate Daniel Brown on his deserved title at
the 36th BMW International Open,” said Jochen Goller, Member of the
Board of Management of BMW AG, Customer, Brands, Sales. “The
atmosphere around the course was sensational. It was great to see so
many fans, customers and friends of the game of golf here. We are also
delighted with the many eagles that were carded, namely 73, meaning
the BMW Group will donate € 73,000 to the Philipp Lahm Foundation for
Sport and Education.”

This year, the BMW Group donated €1,000 for every eagle scored over
the course of the tournament to the Philipp Lahm Foundation for Sport
and Education. The shared goal is to give children and young people
skills and knowledge in the areas of exercise, nutrition and personal
development. This is the third time that the BMW Group has used its
“Eagles for Education” initiative at the BMW International Open to
work towards equal opportunity and better prospects for children and
young people who have a difficult start to life. The 73 eagles at this
year’s tournament is a record for “Eagles for Education”.

Making his 69^th appearance on the DP World Tour, Brown
became the eighth Englishman to win the iconic German tournament. In
doing so, he followed in the footsteps of Matt Wallace (2018), Danny
Willett (2012), David Horsey (2010), Nick Dougherty (2009), David
Howell (2005), Lee Westwood (2003) and Russell Claydon (1998). Brown
had his low error count to thank for the victory – over the course of
the whole tournament, he only dropped three shots – as well as a
nerveless final round. Smith carded three bogeys on the final nine
holes and must consequently – as he did last year – settle for second
place, despite having had a very good tournament.

“It means an awful lot to me. I did not really take it all in when I
claimed my first victory but today hit me straight away. I lost a
friend last weekend. This is for him. All day, it felt as though I was
not playing in my own body. I could feel the tension and then I
started to think what it would mean to win a golf tournament like
this. That repressed what happened a little. I believe he was with me,
and that made it a bit easier,” said a visibly emotional Brown.

Third place went to Japan-born New Zealander Kazuma Kobori (-18), who
thrilled the 17,500 golf fans on Sunday with a round of 63 (9 under
par) – the best of the week, together with Davis Bryant (USA, round
two). A total of 58,000 visitors flocked to Golfclub München
Eichenried over the course of the week. Bryant, Joost Luiten (NED) and
Kristoffer Reitan (NOR all -16) ended the tournament tied in fourth place.

The best-placed German at this year’s BMW International Open was
Matti Schmid (-15, T7). The man from Regensburg, who predominantly
plays in the USA on the PGA TOUR, said: “The atmosphere was more than
mega all week. I hope everyone comes back again, as it is nice to have
a full house here. I am obviously happy with the result, as the top
ten is always a super outcome. My performance was mixed. On the whole,
there was more there for me – however, I assume everyone feels that
way. I felt very good on the greens. At some point, everything will
come together at the same time.”

Munich-born Tim Wiedemeyer also gave an outstanding display. He made
the cut without any problems and ended the week as the top amateur.
The 20-year-old did not stray above par on any of his four rounds (72,
66, 69, 69) and finished tied in an impressive 17^th place.
Wiedemeyer said: “It was really cool. I missed out a few times, and
could definitely have done better, but I am very happy with the
result. I could take something from the tournament in all areas of the
game. The walk to the 18th green on the final day was the best moment
of the week.”

Seven German players made it to the weekend: Martin Kaymer (-11,
T19), Marcel Schneider (-10, T26), Marcel Siem (-4, T58), Yannik Paul
and Hurly Long (both Even Par, T66).

The full final result of the 36^th BMW International
Open can be found in the PDF document attached.

Cameron Norrie held off a spirited fightback from Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals and keep alive British interest in the singles.

British number three Norrie led by two sets – and held a match point in the third-set tie-break – before finally securing a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (7-9) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 win under the Court One roof.

After missing his first opportunity, the 29-year-old left-hander regrouped admirably to seal his progress – almost two hours later – at the second opportunity.

The piercing roar which greeted victory indicated Norrie’s delight at coming through a bruising battle where he needed all of his characteristic determination and endurance.

His win came a couple of hours after fellow Briton Sonay Kartal – the final home player in the women’s singles – was beaten on Centre Court.

Norrie is ranked 61st in the world after a difficult couple of seasons, but is now one more victory away from replicating his run to the SW19 semi-finals in 2022.

To do that, he may have to come through one of the most difficult tasks in the sport – beating reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight.

Spain’s Alcaraz, seeded second, faces Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev in their fourth-round match on Sunday.

Captain Joe Clarke thrashed a fourth half-century of this season’s Vitality Blast before 17-year-old Farhan Ahmed helped Notts Outlaws seal a thrilling one-wicket derby-day win over Leicestershire Foxes at Trent Bridge.

With two runs needed in pursuit of 189 and nine wickets down, last man Ahmed dug out a Logan van Beek yorker and scampered a nerve-shredding two to give Notts their first-ever one-wicket win in T20 cricket.

To add to the drama, Ahmed was short of the crease when coming back for two as Tom Scriven’s throw arrived, only for wicketkeeper Ben Cox to drop the ball and allow Ahmed in.

Clarke had earlier set up the chase by hammering 50 in 24 balls inside the powerplay, including eight boundaries, while Tom Moores’ innings of 42 came off 30 and contained six boundaries.

Within the Foxes’ innings, Calvin Harrison and Daniel Sams claimed the wickets of Sol Budinger and Rishi Patel, respectively, as they posted 188-2 after winning the toss.

However, their score proved narrowly not enough, as the Outlaws powered through tricky conditions before sensationally holding their nerve to seal victory with one ball to spare.

Having initially enjoyed a confident start in restricting the visitors to 18 from the first three overs, the Outlaws were forced to fight their way back into the contest.

Patel and Budinger remained unbeaten through the first half of the innings, posting their century partnership in 62 balls, before Harrison produced the breakthrough.

Finding some turn to beat the bat, Harrison teamed up effectively with Moores, whose rapid wrists behind the stumps saw Patel stumped for a 34-ball 51.

Moments later, one brought two as Sams then struck to see off Budinger for 56, splattering the opener’s furniture to end a 45-ball knock and throwing in a roar of delight in celebration.

That was as far as the hosts got in the wickets column, as Sams finished with 1/34 and Harrison collected 1/37, but the run rate did remain consistent as the Outlaws battled hard with the ball.

Ultimately, the Foxes were kept below 200 as Pakistan batter Shan Masood struck 40 not out and Rehan Ahmed added a further unbeaten 30.

In response, Clarke slammed another half-century at the top of the order to kickstart the Outlaws chase and see them to 62-2 after six overs.

Spinners Liam Trevaskis and Louis Kimber put the brakes on somewhat following the end of the powerplay to drag the visitors back into the contest, with the Outlaws requiring another 112 to win from the final ten overs.

However, Moores and some crucially colossal hitting from Daniel Sams, who added 33 from just 12 balls, put the chase back on track as the latter stages approached.

The duo shared in a stand worth 54 from just 24 balls for the fifth wicket as, at one point, 51 runs came off just 18 balls, meaning that with four overs to go, the Outlaws required 34 more.

Regular wickets stretched out the drama even as Moores hammered van Beek for back-to-back sixes to start the 18th over of the innings, before his wicket ramped up the nerves.

Dillon Pennington and Liam Patterson-White added a priceless further four runs for the ninth wicket across the first three balls of the final over to take the Outlaws to within two.

However, the tension then reached white-knuckle levels once more as the latter fell to a Sam Wood catch off van Beek, leaving the equation at two off two.

The prodigious Ahmed, though, once again displayed skill and maturity beyond his years to partner Pennington in seeing the Outlaws over the line in the most dramatic of circumstances.

*******

The Outlaws are back in action on Friday 11 July, as Durham visit Trent Bridge (6.30pm) as part of a Vitality Blast double-header. Secure your seats here…

Tennis players often say it’s hard to play against a friend, the killer instinct never quite as easy to call on as it might be against someone else. Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, has rarely had that problem, but she was pushed hard by her former doubles partner Elise Mertens before ­winning through 6-4, 7-6 (4) to reach the quarter-finals.

Mertens had won just two sets in their past nine matches but played as good a match as she has ever done at Wimbledon, and still came out on the wrong side. Sabalenka hit 36 winners and made just 18 unforced errors, coming from 3-1 down in the second set to set up a quarter-final against Laura Siegemund of Germany.

“It’s tough to play against someone you know quite close,” Sabalenka said. “She’s a great player, great person. It’s tricky facing her. I know how smart she is, I know she’s going to fight til the very end and she will be trying to find something. She really challenged me today, I’m super happy with the win.”

This is the only grand slam event in which Sabalenka has yet to make the final, but the Belarusian said her belief was growing. “I always dreamed of winning it. Every time on this court, I’m trying to give my best tennis, trying to fight for every point and really hope for the best.”

Challenged by Emma Raducanu in the previous round, Sabalenka broke in the fourth game on her way to a 4-1 lead. But Mertens, returning sharply and using her forehand slice when out of position to make life awkward for Sabalenka, hit back and ­levelled at 4-4. But every time it seems as if Sabalenka is on the back foot, she takes back control. A good hold of serve put her in front again and she ripped a backhand winner to take the set.

Mertens continued to play with poise, mixing nice touch with crisp groundstrokes and good serving and the Belgian claimed a 3-1 lead in the ­second set. Again Sabalenka dug deep, breaking back for 3-3 and ­taking command of the tie-break to win it 7-4 and take her place in the last eight.

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Siegemund reached the quarter-finals here for the first time, following up her win over Madison Keys in the previous round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Solana Sierra, the lucky loser from Argentina who took out Katie Boulter in round two.

Following the conclusion of the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race at Silvestone, PREMA Racing driver Gabriele Minì has been handed a post-race penalty.

During the Feature event, Car 20 of Minì made contact with Car 5, belonging to Oliver Goethe of MP Motorsport at the exit of Turn 3.

The Stewards reviewed video evidence during the race and found the driver of Car 10 to be wholly to blame for the incident and elected to apply the standard 10-second time penalty.

But due to Car 10 not finishing the race, the 10-second time penalty is converted into a five-place grid drop for the next race in which the driver competes.

Women boxers led from the front as Olympian Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Sakshi (54kg) and Nupur (80+kg) won gold in their respective weight classes to help India finish with 11 medals at the World Boxing Cup Kazakhstan 2025 in Astana on Sunday.

The Indian boxing contingent’s tally from the Astana meet comprised three gold, five silver and three bronze.

Two-time youth world champion Sakshi was at her best against USA’s Yoseline Perez to get a unanimous verdict from the judges in the women’s 54kg final. It was India’s first gold medal from the Astana boxing meet.

Paris 2024 Olympian Jaismine Lamboria kept her cool under pressure to get the better of two-time Olympian Jucielen Romeu of Brazil 4-1 in the women’s 57kg weight category. The Indian boxer used her long reach to good effect in the third round after a close opening two rounds.

Nupur, meanwhile, overcame the challenge of local boxer Yeldana Talipova to earn a 5-0 verdict in the 80+kg final.

Earlier, Meenakshi pushed hard for victory against local favourite Nazym Kyzaibay, an Olympic bronze medallist, in the 48kg final but ended on the wrong side of a 3-2 verdict.

Jugnoo (men’s 85kg), Olympian Pooja Rani (women’s 80kg), Hitesh Gulia (men’s 70kg) and Abhinash Jamwal (men’s 65kg) also returned home with silver medals after losing their respective finals.

Jugnoo lost 5-0 to Bekzad Nurdauletov of Kazakhstan while Pooja went down by an identical scoreline to Australia’s Eseta Flint.

In the evening session, Hitesh lost 5-0 against Brazil’s Kaian Oliveira and Jamwal suffered a 3-2 split decision defeat against Yuri Falcao.

Meanwhile, Sanju (women’s 60kg), Nikhil Dubey (men’s 75kg) and Narender Berwal (men’s 90+kg) bagged a bronze medal each, having made it all the way to the semi-finals.

Indian pugilists had won six medals at the previous World Boxing Cup leg held in Brazil back in April. The Indian women did not compete in Brazil on account of the national championships.

Boxers accumulate ranking points through their performances at these two meets, with the top pugilists qualifying for the World Boxing Cup Finals to be hosted at New Delhi, India, in November.

Over 400 boxers from 31 countries, including Olympians, competed at the Kazakhstan leg. India had sent a 20-member team for the Astana meet.

World Boxing Cup Kazakhstan 2025: Indian medal winners

• Sakshi (women’s 54kg) – gold medal
• Jaismine Lamboria (women’s 57kg) – gold medal
• Nupur (women’s 80+ kg) – gold medal
• Meenakshi (women’s 48kg) – silver medal
• Pooja Rani (women’s 80kg) – silver medal
• Abhinash Jamwal (men’s 65kg) – silver medal
• Hitesh Gulia (men’s 70kg) – silver medal
• Jugnoo (men’s 85kg) – silver medal
• Sanju (women’s 60kg) – bronze medal
• Nikhil Dubey (men’s 75kg) – bronze medal
• Narender Berwal (men’s 90+ kg) – bronze medal

Brookes and Singh (1-12) did an excellent job for their side in the middle overs, controlling the run-rate with efficiency.

Finch returned with gusto, after an excellent recent display in the Rothesay County Championship match against Hampshire, the quick bowler was bowling with pace and aggression, which was rewarded twice in four balls.

Northants soon found themselves 104-7, as Finch first undid McManus with a textbook yorker, before removing the dangerous Zaib for 17, after a superb piece of fielding in the deep from young star Isaac Mohammed.

The fast-bowler changed ends, but his success on the day was far from over as he helped himself to another wicket in his final over, finishing with figures of 3-28 from his four-overs.

Khurram came back to end Sanderson’s cameo of 27 when he sent his stumps cartwheeling, as the Steelbacks’ clawed their way to 152-9 at the completion of their 20 overs.

The Rapids’ pursuit got off to a far from ideal start, with youngster Isaac Mohammed caught at mid-off in the first over, before D’Oliveira was bowled by Willey in the third over as the away side were pegged back at 3-2.

Kashif Ali and Gareth Roderick came together and showed positive signs, playing with intent, as Kashif drilled Sanderson back over his head for a big six into the sightscreen.

The number-four continued his assault, taking Broad’s first over for 18, as the Rapids ended the powerplay 44-2.

Kashif then stepped up through the gears, as he blasted his way to a second Vitality Blast half-century of the season, reaching the feat in 24 balls and including seven boundaries.

Roderick began to exhibit his shot-variety, timing the ball to the midwicket boundary at ease as Worcestershire reached the halfway stage of their innings, 89-2.

Kashif’s display of clean ball-striking provided the visitors innings with exactly the impetus it needed, as he and Roderick notched their 100 partnership off just 52 balls, with Kashif striking at over 200 for almost the entirety of his knock, as he bettered his highest T20 score to date.

His sublime knock of 88 from just 45 balls was brought to a close when the Rapids number-four mistimed a big shot into the leg-side and was caught on the boundary, 12 runs short of a deserved hundred.

He departed with his side 130-3 after his 127-run partnership with Roderick left Worcestershire needing just 23 to win from the remaining five overs.

Roderick fell four-balls later for a well-tempered 36 off 31 balls, as debutant Henry Cullen joined Ethan Brookes at the crease,

 

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias have issued their final respects to the late Diogo Jota in his hometown of Gondomar in Portugal this weekend.

The Liverpool forward died in a car crash last week aged 28, alongside his brother and fellow professional footballer Andre Silva (25) in the accident, which took place in the Spanish province of Zamora.

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The Guardia Civil told BBC Sport that the brothers had died around 00:30 local time on Thursday, after their Lamborghini left the road following a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle and then catching fire.

Diogo Jota had only recently married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children, with their ceremony taking place just 11 days before the road traffic accident in Spain.

Issuing a statement on the accident and death of their attacking star, Liverpool said they “are devastated” at the loss, while his former club Wolves said in their own statement, “We are heartbroken”.

Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Manchester City’s Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva joined family and friends in the town of Gondomar in Portugal to pay their final respects to Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva.

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Issuing a short interview this weekend, Bernardo Silva said of his compatriot, “I can’t even imagine the pain of the family, of Rute [Diogo Jota’s wife], the children, the parents. For Andre and for Jota.

“A great friend of all of us. His career, although not most important, speaks for itself. He didn’t train at any big team and took the most difficult path. His passion, will and determination allowed him to succeed in life and have a brilliant career.”

The Manchester City midfielder continued, “More important, as a person… the memories that remain… Jota will always be in our hearts. He will always be present at every breakfast, lunch, dinner, national team get-together, PlayStation or card game.”

Earlier in the week, Ruben Dias penned on his social media channels, “I still can’t believe it. You won your first Premier League, we won Nations League together, you married… It doesn’t make any sense.”

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The central defender added, “We won’t forget you; the man… the father… the brother… the son and the tireless and talented companion you have always been on the field. May you both rest in peace.”

Diogo Jota and André Silva were honoured by family, friends and teammates at a joint funeral on Saturday, as hundreds of locals and supporters gathered at the Igreja Matriz in Gondomar, where the brothers are from.

The funeral also brought together huge names from across the football world, including Jota’s teammates Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, who were seen carrying floral tributes into the church ahead of the ceremony.

Al Hilal’s Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves – who were visibly upset during a minute’s silence at the FIFA Club World Cup before their defeat to Fluminense in the quarter-final – also made the funeral, with the latter carrying Jota’s coffin into the church.

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Many of those at the ceremony wore football shirts and carried merchandise from the different teams across Portugal and abroad where Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, who played for local club Penafiel, spent some time in.