खेल

Pakistan achieved a historic milestone at the 2026 World Ju-Jitsu Championship by winning two gold medals and one bronze medal, marking one of the country’s finest performances in the international competition. The championship, being held at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, has attracted more than 1,500 athletes from across the world. Competitors are taking part in Under-16, Under-18, Under-21, adult and Masters categories, with the event continuing until August 9. Pakistan’s biggest success came through former Asian champions Abu Huraira and Muhammad Ammar, who secured gold medals in both the Masters Duo and Duo Show events. Their victories created history as it was Pakistan’s first-ever participation in the Masters category at the World Ju-Jitsu Championship. The pair produced outstanding performances throughout the competition, demonstrating exceptional coordination, technical excellence and consistency to finish at the top of both events. Pakistan added another medal to its tally when young athletes Muhammad Yousaf and Muhammad Umar captured the bronze medal in the Under-21 Duo category. The duo impressed judges with their teamwork, precision and discipline during the competition. Yousaf and Umar are also scheduled to compete in the Under-21 Duo Show event, where they will look to add another medal for Pakistan before the championship concludes. Pakistan Ju-Jitsu Federation Chairman Khalil Ahmed Khan congratulated the athletes on their remarkable achievements and described the victories as a proud moment for the country. He said the success would inspire young athletes to pursue excellence in the sport. Secretary General Tariq Ali also praised the national team, saying the results reflected years of dedication, hard work and continuous improvement by Pakistan’s ju-jitsu athletes on the international stage. The federation congratulated Abu Huraira, Muhammad Ammar, Muhammad Yousaf and Muhammad Umar for their outstanding performances and expressed confidence that the national team would continue to achieve success in the remaining events of the championship.

PORT OF SPAIN: Justin Greaves produced a composed unbeaten half-century to guide the West Indies to 239-5 at stumps on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan, putting the hosts in a strong position after rain and fading light curtailed play. Greaves remained unbeaten on 64, while experienced all-rounder Roston Chase was solid on 36 not out, with the pair steering the Caribbean side through the closing stages after Pakistan struck at regular intervals. Earlier, Brandon King laid the foundation for the innings with an impressive 46, helping the West Indies recover from early setbacks before narrowly missing out on a well-deserved half-century. Pakistan’s bowlers worked hard on a surface that offered occasional assistance but struggled to build sustained pressure as partnerships frustrated the visitors throughout the day. Fast bowler Mohammad Ali emerged as Pakistan’s most successful bowler, claiming two wickets with disciplined line and length. Ubaid Shah, Ali Usman, and veteran spinner Sajid Khan picked up one wicket each, ensuring Pakistan stayed in the contest despite West Indies’ steady progress. The opening day’s play was interrupted by rain and poor light, limiting action to just 74 overs instead of a full day’s schedule. The frequent stoppages disrupted the rhythm of both teams and prevented Pakistan from fully capitalising whenever they gained momentum. With five wickets still in hand, the West Indies will look to extend their first-innings total beyond 350 when play resumes on Tuesday. Greaves and Chase will be aiming to convert their unbeaten partnership into a match-defining stand. Pakistan, meanwhile, will target an early breakthrough on the second morning to expose the lower order and prevent the hosts from taking complete control of the contest. The second day’s opening session is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the direction of the Test, with both teams aware that a strong first-innings performance could prove decisive in the battle for series momentum.

PORT OF SPAIN: Pakistan’s team selection for the second Test against the West Indies has triggered widespread debate after experienced fast bowler Mohammad Abbas was left out of the playing XI despite delivering a match-winning five-wicket haul in the previous Test. The unexpected decision has raised eyebrows among cricket experts and fans, with many describing it as one of the most unusual selection calls in Pakistan’s recent Test history. Abbas was Pakistan’s standout performer in the opening Test at Tarouba, finishing with eight wickets across the match, including a brilliant five-wicket haul in one innings. Despite his efforts, Pakistan suffered a 90-run defeat, largely due to a disappointing batting display. However, instead of retaining their leading bowler, the team management opted to hand Ubaid Shah his Test debut for the series-deciding second match. Pakistan captain Babar Azam defended the move, saying the decision was based on pitch conditions and part of four changes made to the playing XI. According to Babar, the management believed the conditions in Port of Spain required a different bowling combination, and Abbas was rested with those factors in mind. The decision has nevertheless sparked criticism, particularly because bowlers who claim five wickets in an innings are rarely omitted from the very next Test. Cricket statisticians pointed out that this is believed to be the first time since 1980 that a Pakistan bowler has been dropped immediately after taking a five-wicket haul in a Test innings. The last comparable case dates back to Pakistan’s 1979-80 tour of India, when Ehteshamuddin was left out after claiming five wickets in an innings to make room for the returning Imran Khan. The debate intensified after Ubaid Shah endured a difficult start to his Test career. On the opening day of the second Test, the young pacer conceded 56 runs in just nine overs, making him Pakistan’s most expensive bowler of the day despite picking up a wicket. His costly spell has prompted fresh questions over whether the management made the right call by overlooking Abbas, whose experience and consistency have long been valued in red-ball cricket. With the series on the line, Pakistan’s selection strategy is now under intense scrutiny. Whether the bold gamble pays off could have a significant impact on the outcome of the Test and may shape discussions over team selection in the months ahead.

TORONTO: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to rediscover her best form as she begins her campaign at the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Toronto, with the top ranking and momentum ahead of the US Open at stake. The Belarusian has enjoyed an outstanding hard-court season, winning 23 of her 24 matches on the surface in 2026. Her only defeat came against Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final. Despite her dominance on hard courts, Sabalenka struggled to produce similar results during the clay and grass-court seasons. She was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the French Open before suffering a fourth-round exit at Wimbledon against Japan’s Naomi Osaka. The Toronto tournament could have a significant impact on the WTA rankings. Sabalenka risks losing the world No. 1 position if she fails to reach the round of 16 and Rybakina goes on to win the title. Although Sabalenka has never progressed beyond the semi-finals at the Canadian event, she believes she is mentally refreshed after taking a short break following Wimbledon. The 27-year-old spent several days on the Greek island of Mykonos before returning to training with renewed motivation. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Sabalenka said the time away from tennis allowed her to recover physically and mentally. She admitted that some adjustments made during the clay and grass seasons did not deliver the desired results but expressed confidence that returning to her usual approach would help her regain consistency. The tournament draw presents another tough challenge for the top seed. Sabalenka leads the upper half, which also features two-time champion Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova and Poland’s Iga Swiatek, who is looking to bounce back after an early Wimbledon exit. Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina heads the bottom half of the draw alongside Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and newly crowned Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. Noskova, who recently captured her maiden Grand Slam title, enters the tournament with growing confidence and could face rising Philippine star Alexandra Eala in the third round. Several notable players will miss the tournament. Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova remains unavailable while recovering from minor surgery, while defending champion Victoria Mboko is also sidelined with the knee injury that forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s rising taekwondo star Ehsan Mehsud delivered an outstanding performance at an international taekwondo championship in Thailand, securing the gold medal after defeating opponents from Kazakhstan, India, and Sri Lanka in an impressive campaign. Mehsud began his journey in the tournament with a confident victory over a strong competitor from Kazakhstan in the opening round, setting the tone for what would become a memorable performance. His speed, tactical awareness, and attacking style earned him a place in the next stage of the competition. The Pakistani athlete continued his winning momentum in the semi-final, where he faced a formidable opponent from India. Displaying remarkable discipline and technical skill, Mehsud outclassed his rival to book a place in the championship final. In the title clash, Mehsud took on a Sri Lankan athlete and produced another dominant display. Maintaining control throughout the contest, he secured victory to claim the gold medal, bringing international recognition to Pakistan and proudly raising the country’s green crescent flag at the medal ceremony. Speaking after his triumph, Mehsud dedicated the gold medal to the people of Pakistan. He expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for blessing him with success and thanked his parents for their unwavering prayers and support throughout his sporting journey. The champion said the achievement belonged to the entire nation and hoped his victory would inspire more young athletes to pursue taekwondo and represent Pakistan with pride on the international stage.

Persistent rain caused major disruption to professional tennis events in North America on Sunday, forcing officials to suspend the Washington Open women’s final and postpone several matches at the Canadian Open in Toronto and Montreal. The highly anticipated Washington Open women’s singles final between defending champion Jessica Pegula of the United States and rising Philippine star Alexandra Eala was interrupted during the second set after heavy rain made playing conditions unsafe. The match had already faced a delay of nearly three hours before it finally began. Pegula managed to secure the opening set 6-4 after a competitive contest. Eala responded strongly in the second set and had taken a 2-1 lead when rain returned, forcing tournament officials to suspend play. Organisers later confirmed that the final would resume on Monday at 12:00 p.m. local time, with both players returning to complete the unfinished match. The weather also affected the men’s singles final in Washington. The championship clash between American Taylor Fritz and Spain’s Rafael Jodar was postponed and rescheduled for Monday, with organisers announcing that the match would begin no earlier than 1:00 p.m. local time after the completion of the women’s final. Tournament officials issued an update through social media, informing fans that all remaining matches scheduled for Sunday evening had been cancelled because of the adverse weather conditions. Meanwhile, the Canadian Open also experienced significant interruptions as rain swept across both host cities. The prestigious tournament, running from August 1 to August 14, features the women’s competition in Toronto and the men’s event in Montreal. In Toronto, action on the Grandstand Court was suspended during the women’s singles match between Poland’s Magdalena Frech and France’s Leolia Jeanjean. After monitoring the weather, officials decided to cancel the remainder of Sunday’s schedule, assuring spectators that play would resume once conditions improved. Tournament organisers expressed optimism despite the disruption, saying they expected clear weather for the following day and looked forward to restarting the competition. Montreal faced similar challenges, with rain first delaying several daytime matches before worsening conditions forced organisers to cancel the entire evening session as well.

TRINIDAD: Pakistan captain Babar Azam added another milestone to his illustrious career after leading the national side for the 150th time in international cricket, joining legendary captains Imran Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq in one of Pakistan cricket’s most exclusive leadership clubs. The landmark came during the second Test against the West Indies, further cementing Babar’s place among the country’s most successful and experienced captains. The 31-year-old recently returned as Pakistan’s Test captain, replacing Shan Masood ahead of the team’s tours of the West Indies and England. His return marked a new chapter in a leadership journey that has already produced numerous records across all three formats. With 150 international matches as captain, Babar now stands third on Pakistan’s all-time list. Former World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan remains at the top with 187 matches, while Misbah-ul-Haq occupies second place with 151. Babar is also closing in on another remarkable achievement. He has guided Pakistan to 84 international victories, the second-highest by any Pakistan captain. Only Imran Khan, with 89 wins, has recorded more triumphs, while Misbah follows with 77 victories. Across his 150 matches in charge, Babar has registered 84 wins, 51 defeats, two ties, four draws and eight no-results, giving him an impressive overall winning percentage of 56 percent. Former captain Wasim Akram ranks fourth on Pakistan’s captaincy list with 134 international matches, followed by Inzamam-ul-Haq with 119 and Sarfaraz Ahmed with 100. Babar first captained Pakistan in T20 Internationals in October 2019 before taking charge of the ODI side in May 2020. Later that year, he was appointed Test captain, becoming the leader across all three formats. He stepped down from the role after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, but was reappointed white-ball captain in March 2024 before resigning again later that year to focus on his batting. Following Pakistan’s recent leadership changes, the Pakistan Cricket Board restored Babar as Test captain ahead of the current overseas assignments. Reaching 150 international matches as captain places Babar among Pakistan cricket’s greatest leaders, and with several years of international cricket still potentially ahead of him, he now has an opportunity to surpass Misbah-ul-Haq and move closer to Imran Khan’s long-standing captaincy record.

NEW DELHI: India have been dealt a significant setback ahead of their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka after star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out with a knee injury, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday. Bumrah, widely regarded as India’s pace spearhead, has not fully recovered from the left knee injury he sustained during the One-Day International series against England last month. In a statement, the BCCI said the 32-year-old remains unavailable for selection as he continues his rehabilitation. Bumrah has not bowled competitively since the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16, where he suffered the injury.   His absence is a major setback for India, particularly with the challenging conditions expected in Sri Lanka, where Bumrah’s experience and ability to strike with the new ball have often made the difference in Test matches.   Replacing him in the 15-member squad is promising fast bowler Aquib Nabi, who receives his maiden senior international call-up after an impressive run in domestic cricket. The 29-year-old pacer from Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as one of India’s brightest bowling prospects, claiming 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons. He also impressed during India A’s recent tour of Sri Lanka, taking six wickets in two first-class matches, performances that earned him a place in the senior squad. India, led by Shubman Gill, will play a warm-up match before the opening Test begins in Galle on August 15. The second and final Test is scheduled to be played in Colombo from August 23 to 27. The series now presents a golden opportunity for Nabi to showcase his talent on the international stage, while India will hope their emerging pace attack can compensate for the absence of one of the world’s premier fast bowlers. With Bumrah sidelined and a new face joining the squad, all eyes will be on India’s bowling unit as the visitors aim to begin their Sri Lanka campaign on a winning note. India squad Shubman Gill (capt), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi.