Jacob Batalon recalls iconic handshake with Tom Holland

Olympic javelin throw gold medallist Arshad Nadeem has decided to undergo training in South Africa ahead of major international competitions. According to sources, Nadeem will not participate in the Lausanne Diamond League scheduled for August 21. His name had initially been included in the entry list for the event. The Pakistani javelin thrower is now planning to train in South Africa. He has previously completed training camps in the country on two occasions. Sources said Nadeem will travel to South Africa on the first available flight once he receives his visa. He is expected to use the training camp to prepare for his upcoming international assignments. Following his training in South Africa, Nadeem will compete at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. The championship is scheduled to take place in Budapest from September 6 to 14. The event will bring together leading athletes from around the world. Nadeem is also expected to compete at the Asian Games after the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. The decision to skip the Lausanne Diamond League is part of his revised competition and training plan. The focus is now on preparing thoroughly for the major championships ahead. Nadeem has emerged as one of Pakistan’s leading athletics stars. He made history by winning the Olympic javelin throw gold medal, becoming a major figure in Pakistan’s international sporting success. His planned training stint in South Africa is expected to provide him with an opportunity to work on his technique, strength and overall competition preparation before returning to international action.

FIFA’s internal tensions have deepened after senior executive Kevin Lamour left the organisation, weeks after publicly criticising President Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan to sell part of the governing body’s commercial rights. FIFA confirmed on Monday that Lamour’s working relationship with the organisation had ended on August 17, bringing an abrupt close to the tenure of a senior official who had once been part of Infantino’s inner circle. “FIFA can confirm that the working relationship between FIFA and Kevin Lamour as FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer has ended,” a FIFA spokesperson said. The organisation thanked Lamour for his service but offered no further explanation. Lamour joined FIFA’s senior leadership team in November 2024. He had previously supported Infantino’s campaign for the FIFA presidency in 2016. His departure comes after he openly attacked a proposal to create a commercial subsidiary worth around $20 billion and sell as much as a 20% stake to private equity investors. The plan was designed to raise an estimated $4.2 billion. Lamour criticised the proposal last month, saying FIFA employees had been “deceived” about the plan and describing it as “the project of one person”. He also questioned whether FIFA’s leadership was putting personal interests ahead of football’s wider interests. The controversy intensified after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigned in protest and described the proposed deal as a bad arrangement for football. Infantino subsequently withdrew the proposal. However, the backlash has continued and has increasingly raised questions about Infantino’s bid for a fourth term as FIFA president. Infantino’s Reelection Faces Growing Opposition Infantino’s reelection, once widely regarded as almost certain, now faces a stronger challenge. UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF have all expressed concerns and recently called for an independent review of Infantino’s conduct. At the same time, several national football associations have questioned whether they should support another term. The Scottish Football Association has already said it will not back Infantino in next year’s election. The dispute has also moved into FIFA’s governance structures. Human rights organisation FairSquare has asked FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee to rule Infantino ineligible for another presidential term, arguing that FIFA’s rules limit presidents to three terms. Infantino, however, has maintained that his initial period in office from 2016 to 2019 should not count because he completed an interrupted mandate following the resignation of former president Sepp Blatter. He was elected in 2016 and subsequently won uncontested elections in 2019 and 2023. FairSquare director Nicholas McGeehan said the organisation’s complaint presented evidence of what he described as a breach of FIFA’s rules. Former FIFA Governance and Review Committee head Miguel Maduro also backed the complaint, arguing that term limits were a central part of reforms introduced to prevent excessive concentration of power. The dispute now places FIFA under increasing scrutiny ahead of next year’s presidential election. While Infantino retains support from the African and South American confederations, opposition from influential football bodies in Europe, Asia and North and Central America could make his path to another term considerably more difficult. With Lamour’s departure adding to the controversy surrounding FIFA’s leadership, pressure on Infantino is likely to remain intense as football’s governing body approaches a crucial election year.

Pakistan’s trailblazing boxer Fatima Zehra believes she had the potential to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games if she had access to the same level of training facilities and international exposure as many of her competitors. The 22-year-old made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to win a boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games after claiming bronze in the women’s 60kg category. Although she narrowly missed out on a place in the final, Fatima described the achievement as a proud moment for herself and for Pakistan. Reflecting on her campaign, Fatima said her main objective before the tournament was to secure a medal, while also hoping to progress to the final. She admitted that the competition was extremely challenging, with many of her opponents benefiting from extensive international training and experience. Her journey ended in the semi-finals, where she faced Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh. Fatima acknowledged that her opponent’s speed and international experience proved decisive, making it difficult to overcome the challenge. Despite the defeat, she expressed satisfaction with her bronze medal, saying it was earned against some of the strongest boxers in the competition. She also noted that competing at such a high level allowed her to gain valuable experience by observing other elite athletes and learning from every bout. Fatima highlighted the gap between Pakistan’s sporting infrastructure and that of leading boxing nations. She pointed out that several countries, including regional rivals, organized overseas training camps in the United States before the Games, while Pakistan’s preparations took place entirely at home. According to Fatima, world-class coaching facilities, modern training environments, and regular international competition are essential if Pakistani athletes are to consistently challenge for top honors on the global stage. She believes greater government investment in sports development would significantly improve the country’s chances of success. The young boxer also acknowledged the role played by the Pakistan Army, the Pakistan Boxing Federation, and her coach, Raheel Adnan, crediting them for their guidance and support throughout her preparation. She said their encouragement was instrumental in helping her achieve the historic milestone. Looking ahead, Fatima has already shifted her focus to the upcoming Asian Games, which are scheduled to take place in Japan in September. She hopes the experience gained at the Commonwealth Games will strengthen her performances against Asia’s top competitors. Fatima previously won a bronze medal at the 2025 Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia, and she is determined to build on that success by aiming for an even stronger finish at the Asian Games. Her boxing journey has not been without challenges. She revealed that although boxing now runs in her family, her parents initially opposed her decision to pursue the sport. After competing at the Punjab level, she was forced to step away from boxing because of her family’s concerns. However, her coach Raheel Adnan convinced them to give her another opportunity, a decision that ultimately changed her career. Today, her family fully supports her ambitions, and her two sisters, Dua and Aiman, along with her younger brother Naday Ali, have also taken up boxing. Fatima secured her historic Commonwealth Games bronze after defeating New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson by a unanimous 5-0 decision in the quarter-finals. Under tournament rules, both losing semi-finalists were awarded bronze medals, marking a landmark achievement for women’s boxing in Pakistan.