Sibol nails maiden Asian Games esports medal with Pokemon Unite bronze

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open after failing to recover fully from a right knee injury, raising fresh questions over the Italian star’s fitness ahead of the US Open. Sinner confirmed his decision on Sunday after consulting his doctors and medical team. The 24-year-old said his knee had continued to bother him despite treatment and that he was not yet ready to return to competitive action. “After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw,” Sinner said in a statement published by the ATP. The decision comes just days after Sinner also pulled out of the Masters 1000 event in Montreal. He has now missed both major North American hard-court tournaments that traditionally serve as important preparations for the US Open. Sinner’s withdrawal is particularly significant given his recent form. The Italian arrived at the North American swing on a six-tournament winning streak at Masters 1000 level and has not played since successfully defending his Wimbledon title last month. The Cincinnati setback also means Sinner will enter the final Grand Slam of the season without a competitive match on the North American hard courts. The US Open main draw begins in New York on August 30, leaving him with limited time to regain full fitness. Adding to the uncertainty, world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is also expected to miss Cincinnati while dealing with a wrist injury. The two young stars have become the central figures of men’s tennis and contested last year’s US Open final, with Alcaraz winning in four sets. Sinner’s priority now is clear: recovery rather than rushing back. His decision reflects the importance of arriving in New York healthy, particularly with another Grand Slam title within reach. For Cincinnati, however, the absence of both Sinner and Alcaraz is a major blow. For tennis fans, the bigger question is whether the sport’s two leading stars will be fully fit when the US Open begins.

Pakistan’s Better Future football team continued its impressive run at the Norway Cup 2026, battling to a 2-2 draw against Norwegian club Trygg/Lade in their second group-stage match in Oslo. The Karachi-based side, which won the tournament’s Boys Under-15 event last year, once again showed determination and attacking intent as it secured another positive result against international opposition. According to reports from Oslo, Better Future Pakistan produced an energetic performance against Trygg/Lade, with Yasin and Shahid finding the net for the Pakistani team. Both players played a key role in keeping their side level during a competitive encounter. The draw follows an encouraging start to Pakistan’s campaign. Better Future Pakistan opened its Norway Cup 2026 journey with a narrow 1-0 victory over Norwegian club Saudaku, giving the team an early boost in the group standings. The Pakistani youngsters will now turn their attention to their third group match on Wednesday, where another strong performance could strengthen their hopes of progressing further in the competition. Better Future Pakistan’s participation is particularly significant because the team is made up of young footballers from Lyari, Karachi, an area widely associated with Pakistan’s football culture. The players have the opportunity to showcase their talent on an international platform while competing against youth teams from different countries. Last year, the Karachi side made headlines by completing an unbeaten campaign to win the Boys Under-15 event. Their latest performances in Norway suggest that the young players are again determined to make their mark. The Norway Cup is organised under the National Council of Norwegian Children and Youth Organisations, an umbrella body representing more than 100 organisations working for the welfare of children and young people in Norway. The tournament attracts boys’ and girls’ teams from around the world, with many participants travelling independently to compete at one of the world’s major youth football events. For Better Future Pakistan, the competition is about more than results. Each match provides the young players with valuable experience against international opposition and offers a glimpse of the potential emerging from Karachi’s grassroots football scene. With one win and one draw from their opening two group matches, the Pakistani youngsters have made a promising start. Now, all eyes will be on Wednesday’s crucial third group game to see whether Better Future Pakistan can continue its impressive Norway Cup adventure.

  Amstelveen / Islamabad: Pakistan ended a 16 year wait for a victory in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup with a thrilling 4 3 win over Japan in the 9th to 16th place classification match at the Wagener Stadium, giving the Green Shirts a much needed boost after a disappointing campaign in the main round. Pakistan made a difficult start as Japan scored twice in the opening quarter through Hyota Yamada and Kaito Tanaka. The Green Shirts, however, refused to give up and gradually fought their way back into the match. Rana Waheed Ashraf pulled one goal back in the second quarter to reduce Japan’s lead to 2 1 before the interval. Pakistan then produced a remarkable comeback in the third quarter, with Ashraf scoring again before Muhammad Hammadudin put the Green Shirts ahead. Japan quickly responded through Koji Yamasaki to make it 3 3, setting up a tense finish. Pakistan eventually regained the lead through Hannan Shahid, who scored in the 40th minute. Neither side could score again and Pakistan held on for a memorable 4 3 victory. The victory was Pakistan’s first in the Hockey World Cup since the 2010 tournament, when the team defeated Spain 2 1. Pakistan missed the 2014 World Cup and remained without a win in the 2018 edition, making the latest victory an important moment for the country’s struggling national sport. The result also comes at a time when the Pakistan Hockey Federation is seeking to rebuild the sport under the leadership of its ad hoc president, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani. Wani deserves credit for putting greater emphasis on rebuilding hockey from the grassroots as well as improving the federation’s working structure. Under his leadership, the PHF announced plans to bring around 60,000 to 70,000 youngsters into hockey through cooperation with provincial education boards, with free hockey kits planned for schools and colleges at under 14 and under 16 levels. Wani has also pushed for administrative and professional reforms within the federation. The PHF announced separate Governance Management and Professional Development Committees, bringing together experts in areas including financial management, resource mobilisation, sports development, coaching, sports medicine and the experience of former Olympians. His efforts have focused not only on the senior national team but also on expanding hockey beyond traditional centres. Wani has stressed the importance of regions including Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Balochistan and Sindh and has spoken about developing the game at schools, colleges and universities. The latest victory therefore provides an encouraging result for the rebuilding process, although much more work remains before Pakistan can return to the top level of international hockey. Pakistan had already been eliminated from the title race after losing to England and India and drawing 3 3 with Wales in the opening phase. The team consequently entered the classification round for positions 9 to 16. Despite failing to reach the knockout stage, the fighting spirit shown against Japan will give the players confidence as they continue their World Cup campaign. For a country that has won the Hockey World Cup four times, the 16 year wait for another World Cup victory has been a painful reminder of the decline of Pakistan hockey. The win over Japan does not solve the problems facing the sport, but it provides a welcome sign that the national team can still fight back when under pressure. The real challenge now is to turn this victory into the beginning of a sustained revival. With stronger grassroots programmes, better administration, improved training facilities and continued support for players, Pakistan will hope to rebuild its position among the leading hockey nations of the world.

FIFA has issued a detailed clarification regarding its proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project following concerns raised by several stakeholders. The world football governing body said the proposal is still under discussion and no final decision will be made without consulting all 211 member associations. In an official statement, FIFA stressed that transparency and consultation remain central to its decision-making process. It said every member association will have the opportunity to review the proposal and express its opinion before any final approval is granted. FIFA said no single organisation or group can claim to represent the interests of all 211 member associations. For that reason, it said all major decisions must be taken collectively after a comprehensive consultation process involving its global membership. The organisation also responded to criticism suggesting that the proposed project could result in the commercial sale of football. FIFA strongly rejected those claims and stated that football is not being sold under any circumstances. The governing body said it would never compromise the integrity of the sport or transfer ownership of its commercial operations. It added that the proposed enterprise is intended solely to improve the management of commercial activities while keeping FIFA in full control. According to FIFA, the proposal involves establishing a subsidiary company under the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative. The subsidiary would manage certain commercial operations, but it would remain entirely owned and controlled by FIFA. The organisation said the project aims to generate higher commercial revenue, allowing greater investment in football development programmes across the world. FIFA said the additional income would be distributed among all member associations through its existing development framework. Under the proposal, every FIFA member association could receive up to $20 million in FIFA Forward funding during the 2027-2030 funding cycle. The organisation said the increased financial support would help national football associations strengthen infrastructure, improve grassroots development, enhance coaching programmes and invest in long-term football projects. FIFA also clarified that while the proposal may include external investment, such investment would not affect FIFA’s governance structure, independence or decision-making authority. The organisation said it would retain complete ownership and operational control of the proposed subsidiary. The governing body further stated that the project has not yet been approved and remains subject to discussions with member associations. It emphasised that the proposal could still be amended if member associations recommend changes during the consultation process. FIFA made it clear that if a majority of its 211 member associations do not support the proposal, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project will not move forward.

Two more Pakistani cricketers have secured contracts for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL), while Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons. Young Pakistani batter Khawaja Nafay has signed with Jaffna Kings ahead of the new LPL season. The promising right-handed batter has been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, who is unavailable for the competition. Naafay’s inclusion provides the Jaffna Kings with an exciting batting option as they prepare for the tournament. The youngster has been regarded as one of Pakistan’s emerging talents and will have the opportunity to showcase his skills in one of South Asia’s premier T20 leagues. Playing alongside experienced international cricketers is expected to provide him with valuable exposure and help accelerate his development. Meanwhile, Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has also earned an LPL contract after being signed by Dambulla Sixers. He joins the franchise as the replacement for Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi. Iftikhar brings considerable experience to the Dambulla squad with his ability to contribute in multiple departments. Known for his powerful middle-order batting and useful off-spin bowling, he has represented Pakistan in all three international formats and has featured in numerous T20 leagues around the world. His versatility is expected to strengthen the team’s balance as it aims to challenge for the LPL title. The addition of Khawaja Nafay and Iftikhar Ahmed further increases Pakistan’s representation in the Lanka Premier League, highlighting the growing demand for Pakistani players in franchise cricket. Their participation also provides another platform for both players to perform against international opposition and gain valuable match experience ahead of future assignments. In a separate development, Kandy Royals have confirmed that Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi will no longer participate in this year’s Lanka Premier League. According to tournament officials, Afridi informed the organizers that he would be unavailable because of personal reasons. As a result, the left-arm fast bowler has withdrawn from the competition before its start. Shaheen’s absence is a significant setback for Kandy Royals, who were expected to rely heavily on his pace, experience and ability to strike with the new ball. Widely regarded as one of the leading fast bowlers in international cricket, Afridi has consistently delivered match-winning performances for both Pakistan and various franchise teams around the world. The franchise has yet to announce a replacement for the star pacer, and further details regarding his withdrawal have not been disclosed. Tournament organizers have respected the player’s decision and stated only that his absence is due to personal reasons. Despite Afridi’s withdrawal, the presence of Khawaja Nafay and Iftikhar Ahmed ensures continued Pakistani representation in the Lanka Premier League. Fans will now be eager to see how the two players perform as they begin a new chapter in one of the region’s most competitive T20 tournaments.

LAHORE: Pakistan women’s cricket team spinners Nashra Sandhu and Tuba Hassan have expressed confidence in the side’s preparations for the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup and Asian Games, saying consistency will be the key to turning strong performances into results. Speaking during the team’s training camp in Lahore, Sandhu said the squad was preparing specifically for different opponents while working to improve every aspect of its game. Pakistan’s spinners could have a particularly important role to play in the UAE, where the conditions are expected to suit slow bowling. Sandhu said the team was focused on adapting its plans according to opponents and match situations rather than relying on a single approach. “We prepare according to every opponent,” Sandhu said, stressing the importance of maintaining consistency during crucial moments. The spinner acknowledged that Pakistan have sometimes produced encouraging performances without being able to finish matches strongly. The team, she said, was working to address those lapses and build greater consistency in areas where it has already shown promise. India matches, meanwhile, bring an added level of pressure. Sandhu said players prepare carefully for such contests because the team that handles pressure better on match day often gains the advantage. Tuba Hassan also highlighted the importance of preparing for conditions in Dubai. According to the leg-spinner, Pakistani players are familiar with the UAE environment, but training specifically for those conditions remains essential before the tournament begins. She said the team was concentrating on reducing mistakes, particularly because small errors can have a major impact in T20 cricket. Training sessions are being designed around different match situations, including pressure scenarios, to help players make better decisions when the stakes are high. Tuba also revealed that coach Wahab Riaz has been challenging players with different situations during practice, aiming to prepare them for the demands of international matches. The leg-spinner admitted that Pakistan still face a psychological hurdle when playing against top-ranked sides, despite having competed strongly against leading teams in the past. She argued that more bilateral series against the world’s top four teams would help Pakistan bridge the gap and develop greater confidence. The experience of players competing abroad could also prove valuable. Tuba said Fatima Sana had shared lessons from her stint in The Hundred with teammates, offering the squad insight into playing at a high level overseas. With the Asia Cup and Asian Games ahead, Pakistan’s women’s team will hope that improved preparation, greater consistency and exposure to elite opposition can translate into stronger results. For the spinners, the message is clear: Pakistan have the ability to challenge the best — but now they must learn to finish the job.