खेल

PARIS: Pakistan’s Muhammad Zubair has pulled off a remarkable victory at the Esports World Cup in Paris, defeating South Korea’s LowHigh to claim the Tekken 8 world championship and put Pakistan firmly in the global esports spotlight. Zubair completed a dominant run at the tournament, held from August 5 to 8, despite narrowly surviving the early stages. His breakthrough came when the competition entered its decisive phase, where he produced one impressive performance after another. In the second group stage on Friday, Zubair defeated fellow Pakistani star Arslan “Ash” Siddique, one of the biggest names in the international Tekken scene. The two met again in Saturday’s semifinal, producing a tense battle that went down to the wire. Zubair eventually edged Ash 5-4, earning his place in the grand final. But the final proved to be a completely different story. Facing LowHigh, Zubair showed little sign of nerves and delivered a commanding 5-0 sweep to secure the championship. The emphatic victory transformed what had initially looked like an unlikely run into a memorable world title. The Esports World Cup celebrated the upset on social media, posting: “He came out of nowhere and took the crown!” Zubair’s victory also came with a substantial financial reward. The newly crowned world champion received $250,000 in prize money. For Arslan Ash, the tournament ended with a fourth-place finish after he lost the third-place decider against Australia’s Yagami. Despite the disappointment, Ash remains one of Pakistan’s most celebrated esports players. The Lahore-born star had entered the EWC after winning the 2026 Evo championship in Las Vegas in June. The victory marked his fourth consecutive Evo title, further cementing his status as one of the world’s leading Tekken competitors. Zubair’s triumph now adds another major chapter to Pakistan’s growing esports story. His victory against two established international names — and particularly his semifinal win over Ash — demonstrates the depth of Pakistan’s talent in competitive fighting games. The Esports World Cup features some of the biggest titles in competitive gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, Street Fighter and Valorant. For Pakistan, however, the biggest moment in Paris belonged to Zubair. After surviving the early rounds, overcoming his country’s biggest Tekken star and then sweeping a world-class South Korean opponent, Muhammad Zubair left the tournament not merely as a contender — but as the new Tekken 8 world champion.

CHICAGO: A heated Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup has sparked a fresh controversy in the WNBA after Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham and later posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media. The incident happened during Saturday’s game in Chicago when Cunningham was driving toward the basket on a fast break. Carrington chased her down and struck Cunningham high around the head and neck, sending the Fever guard to the floor. After a video review, officials upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic ejection. Cunningham immediately confronted Carrington before teammates stepped in to separate the players. Carrington later posted the words “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on Threads while tagging the Indiana Fever, bringing a racial dimension to an already tense incident. Cunningham strongly rejected that interpretation after the game. “I think the league is taking care of that. This has nothing to do with race,” Cunningham said, pointing out that she had previously been ejected for a similar incident and accepted the punishment at the time. She also described Carrington’s foul as unnecessary and said she believed there was intent behind the contact. “I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her,” Cunningham said, adding that she believed Carrington had some pent-up frustration. Despite the confrontation, the Fever guard’s coach offered a more measured assessment of the incident. Indiana coach Stephanie White agreed that the Flagrant 2 call was appropriate but said she did not believe Carrington deliberately targeted Cunningham’s neck. White previously coached Carrington during their time with the Connecticut Sun. Carrington’s own coach, Tyler Marsh, also said he initially believed the play was a legitimate attempt to make a defensive play and had not immediately considered it a Flagrant 2. He said the team would address Carrington’s social media post internally. The controversy comes as Cunningham has already attracted considerable attention away from the basketball court because of her public comments about transgender athletes in women’s sports. Her views have prompted both supporters and protesters to appear around Fever games in recent weeks. The game itself ended in a 90-86 victory for Indiana, while Carrington’s early exit dramatically changed the contest. She had scored eight points in only four minutes before being ejected. Cunningham finished with three points in 17 minutes, with all three points coming from the free throws awarded after the flagrant foul. The latest clash adds another chapter to the increasingly intense rivalry surrounding the Fever, which has attracted enormous national attention. For now, the basketball incident has moved beyond the court, with questions about the foul, Carrington’s social media post and the wider debate surrounding Cunningham continuing to generate discussion across the WNBA.

LOS ANGELES: Austin Reaves has just secured a massive new contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his long-term future in Hollywood could still become a major talking point after the franchise made sweeping changes to its roster this summer. The Lakers have entered a new era with their focus increasingly centred on Luka Doncic, while the departure of LeBron James has changed the shape and direction of the team. Reaves, meanwhile, remains an important part of the Lakers’ plans. The 28-year-old guard re-signed with Los Angeles in late June on a four-year, $180 million contract, including a player option in the final season. The deal appeared to confirm that the Lakers viewed Reaves as a key piece alongside Doncic. His contract also reportedly gives Los Angeles greater financial flexibility moving forward, including the possibility of pursuing another player with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception next summer. But the Lakers’ subsequent move for centre Walker Kessler has complicated the picture. Los Angeles acquired Kessler from the Utah Jazz in July, reportedly committing significant draft capital in the process. The move reflects the Lakers’ desire to secure a long-term defensive presence in the frontcourt, but it also reduced the number of valuable assets available to the franchise. That situation has prompted NBA insider Zach Lowe to raise an intriguing possibility: Reaves could eventually become a trade candidate. Lowe argued that the Lakers paid heavily for Kessler and now have fewer tradeable assets with which to reshape the roster. “There’s no question that they overpaid for him,” Lowe said, suggesting the Lakers may eventually have to decide whether the current roster is good enough or whether they need to pivot by moving Reaves. The logic behind the speculation is straightforward. Doncic is now firmly positioned as the franchise cornerstone, making it highly unlikely that Los Angeles would consider moving him. Reaves, however, could command significant interest around the league if the Lakers eventually decide they need additional draft capital or another major piece. That does not mean a trade is imminent. In fact, Reaves could be more important to the Lakers than ever during the upcoming season. With James no longer in the picture, the team will need additional scoring, playmaking and leadership around Doncic. Reaves has already demonstrated that he can thrive in a high-pressure environment, evolving from an undrafted player into one of the Lakers’ most valuable contributors. His new contract suggests the organisation believes he can play an important role in its next chapter. Yet NBA roster building can change quickly. If the Lakers struggle to build a championship-calibre supporting cast around Doncic, Reaves’ value could become a tempting trade asset — particularly because the team has already sacrificed considerable draft capital to acquire Kessler. For now, Reaves remains a Laker and an important part of the franchise’s post-LeBron era. But with Doncic at the centre, Kessler anchoring the future frontcourt and the Lakers’ trade assets significantly reduced, one question is beginning to emerge: Could Austin Reaves ultimately become the price Los Angeles pays to build its next championship team?

MULTAN: Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has arrived in Multan for the National Champions Cup, where he held an important meeting with the coaching staff of all four participating teams as the domestic tournament gets ready to kick off the 2026-27 season. Hesson met the head coaches of the four sides — Misbah-ul-Haq, Ijaz Junior, Iqbal Imam and Aizaz Cheema — to discuss ways of improving players’ one-day cricket skills and ensuring that the tournament serves as a meaningful platform for national selection and development. Pakistan bowling coach Ashley Noffke and National Cricket Academy (NCA) Head of Coach Education Shahid Aslam also attended the meeting, adding further weight to discussions around player development and coaching standards. The meeting comes at an important time for Pakistan cricket, with the Champions Cup being viewed as the first major step towards preparations for next year’s World Cup in South Africa. Hesson’s presence in Multan signals the national team management’s focus on closely monitoring domestic performances while identifying players capable of making the jump to international cricket. Particular attention is expected to be given to players’ consistency, tactical awareness and ability to handle pressure in the 50-over format. The tournament will also provide coaches with an opportunity to assess emerging talent in a competitive environment. The National Champions Cup will begin on August 11, coinciding with the official start of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic cricket season. With the World Cup on the horizon, the tournament could prove crucial in shaping Pakistan’s next generation of one-day performers.

MIAMI: Inter Miami suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Monterrey in the Leagues Cup on Saturday, with Lionel Messi absent as he travelled to Argentina following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. The match began with an emotional tribute to Messi’s father, who died at the age of 68. Both teams observed a minute of silence before kick-off, while Inter Miami expressed its support for their captain and his family. Despite missing their star player, Miami looked set for another positive result after Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring in the 32nd minute. The Argentine midfielder celebrated in a particularly touching manner, removing his No. 7 shirt to reveal a No. 10 underneath as a tribute to Messi. The hosts carried their 1-0 advantage into half-time, but Monterrey quickly changed the momentum after the break. Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers equalised just two minutes into the second half, putting Miami under increasing pressure. The match appeared destined for a draw until Monterrey delivered a late blow. Uruguayan forward Diego Rossi struck in the 90th minute to complete Monterrey’s comeback and leave Inter Miami empty-handed. The defeat comes after Miami opened their Leagues Cup campaign with a convincing 4-2 victory over Atletico San Luis. The MLS champions will now look to respond when they face Leon on Wednesday. For Messi, however, football understandably took a back seat as he returned to Argentina to be with his family following his father’s death. The emotional night in Miami showed just how much the Argentine captain means to the club, both on and off the pitch.

HONG KONG: Pakistan’s young squash sensation Umair Arif produced a fighting performance to capture the Under-17 title at the Hong Kong Junior Squash Open on Sunday, overcoming England’s Luke McBride in a thrilling five-game final. Arif recovered from a slow start to defeat McBride 3-2, showing composure and determination when the championship was on the line. The Pakistani teenager struggled in the opening game, losing 4-11 as McBride established early control. But Arif quickly turned the contest around, winning the next two games 11-6 and 11-5 to move within one game of the title. McBride refused to surrender and responded strongly in the fourth game, edging Arif 11-9 to level the match at 2-2 and force a decisive fifth game. With the title hanging in the balance, Arif produced his best squash of the match. He controlled the final game and secured an emphatic 11-4 victory to complete the comeback and lift the Under-17 trophy. The victory adds another promising achievement to Arif’s growing junior career. He has previously represented Pakistan at both the World Junior Squash Championships and Asian Junior Squash Championships, gaining valuable experience against some of the best young players in the sport. Arif is also a fellow of the Bilquis and Abdul Razak Dawood Foundation, which supports promising young talent. His latest triumph will further raise expectations around his future, particularly as Pakistan continues to nurture a new generation of squash players. The hard-fought Hong Kong final was a reminder of Arif’s fighting spirit — and his ability to respond when the pressure is at its highest.

TORONTO: Russian tennis player Ekaterina Alexandrova produced a major upset at the WTA Toronto Masters by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. The 16th-seeded Alexandrova secured a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 victory over the four-time Grand Slam champion in a match lasting two hours and 29 minutes. The win booked Alexandrova’s place in the quarter-finals and improved her career record against Sabalenka to 5-5. Sabalenka made a strong start, breaking Alexandrova early in the opening set to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Russian responded by winning four consecutive games. The set remained closely contested, with both players exchanging breaks late in the set. Alexandrova eventually dominated the tie-break and took the opening set 7-6. Sabalenka fought back in the second set. She secured a crucial break to move 4-3 ahead before holding her next two service games to level the match. The deciding set again featured intense rallies and momentum shifts. Alexandrova broke Sabalenka early to establish a 3-1 advantage. Sabalenka managed to recover one break, but Alexandrova remained composed under pressure. The Russian created two match points in the 10th game after a series of errors from the top seed. Sabalenka saved the first two opportunities with a service winner and an ace. However, she then sent a backhand beyond the baseline before committing her sixth double fault of the match, handing Alexandrova victory. Alexandrova said she entered the contest without any particular expectations because she knew defeating Sabalenka would be extremely difficult. She explained that she deliberately played aggressively and took risks because she believed it was the best way to create opportunities against the powerful Belarusian. The victory sends Alexandrova into the Toronto quarter-finals, where she will face either American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Ukraine’s ninth seed Elina Svitolina.