Pattaya Mayor Opens 9th Heroes Taekwondo International Championships 2026

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.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has reshuffled its recently appointed foreign coaching staff, elevating Bob Johan Veldhof from goalkeeping coach to head coach as Pakistan prepares for the upcoming FIH World Cup. The decision places Veldhof in charge of the national side for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30. PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani confirmed the reshuffle, explaining that Herman Kruis, who was initially appointed as the national team head coach and National Hockey Coaching Advisor, will now focus solely on his advisory responsibilities. Kruis was appointed on July 3 for an initial two-year period. Soon afterwards, Veldhof joined the coaching setup as goalkeeping coach, while David Dwyer was brought in as high-performance coach. Chris Bowen was assigned a dual responsibility as technical coach and sports psychologist, while Adnan Zakir became the only Pakistani among the newly appointed coaches, taking charge of junior talent identification. The latest changes have effectively altered the hierarchy of the coaching group just weeks before the World Cup, with Veldhof now taking on the most important technical role. The PHF has been looking to strengthen Pakistan’s coaching structure as the national team attempts to regain its place among the world’s leading hockey sides. Veldhof’s elevation also gives him a major challenge on the international stage. With the World Cup approaching, he will be expected to prepare the team tactically while ensuring the players are physically and mentally ready for a demanding tournament. Wani also provided an update on the role of former Pakistan captain and Olympian Tahir Zaman. Zaman, who was appointed Director High Performance on May 21, will now serve as an adviser to the PHF president. The latest reshuffle comes at a crucial stage for Pakistan hockey, with the federation relying on its revamped coaching setup to improve the team’s international performances. With the World Cup only days away, attention will now turn to how quickly Veldhof can settle into his new role and guide Pakistan through one of the sport’s biggest tournaments.

Fourteen cities across Australia and New Zealand have expressed interest in hosting matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028, highlighting strong enthusiasm for the tournament that will be jointly staged by the two neighboring nations. Tournament organizers invited cities to submit bids for hosting rights, and a total of 14 cities responded with proposals to stage matches during the global event. However, only eight to ten cities are expected to be selected as official host venues, meaning several bidding cities will ultimately miss out. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 is scheduled to take place during October and November and will mark another major cricket event jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Both countries have extensive experience organizing ICC tournaments and are expected to provide world-class venues and infrastructure for teams and fans. According to reports, organizers will evaluate each bid based on the International Cricket Council’s hosting guidelines. A key factor in the selection process will be logistics, with officials aiming to create a tournament schedule that minimizes unnecessary travel while ensuring smooth operations throughout the competition. The governing body is expected to prioritize a balanced distribution of venues that allows teams to move efficiently between matches without excessive travel. A more compact tournament structure is also expected to improve scheduling, simplify event management, and provide a better experience for supporters traveling across both countries. Reducing the number of host cities is seen as an important part of the planning process. With Australia and New Zealand separated by the Tasman Sea and both countries covering vast geographical areas, organizers are seeking to strike the right balance between showcasing multiple regions and maintaining practical travel arrangements. Officials believe that selecting fewer venues will help streamline tournament operations, reduce travel demands for participating teams, and make it easier for fans to follow their favorite sides throughout the competition. The bidding process also reflects the continued popularity of international cricket in both nations. Many cities view hosting World Cup matches as an opportunity to attract visitors, boost local tourism, and generate significant economic activity through hotels, restaurants, transportation, and entertainment. Meanwhile, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is expected to host the final of the 2028 T20 World Cup. The iconic stadium has a rich history of staging major international cricket events and is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most prestigious venues. If confirmed, the MCG would once again provide the stage for the tournament’s biggest match. The final list of host cities is expected to be announced after organizers complete their evaluation of the bids and finalize venue arrangements in line with ICC requirements. Once confirmed, preparations will begin for upgrading facilities, coordinating logistics, and developing match schedules ahead of the tournament. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 is expected to feature the world’s leading cricket nations and attract thousands of traveling fans, making it one of the biggest sporting events on the international cricket calendar. With significant interest from host cities and careful planning underway, Australia and New Zealand are preparing to deliver another memorable edition of the tournament.

Pakistani taekwondo player Ehsanullah Mahsud has dedicated his latest gold medal to the people of Pakistan. He credited their prayers and support as a major reason behind his success in the competition. Speaking to Geo News after his win, Mahsud did not hold back his gratitude. He said the medal was not just his own achievement. It belonged to the nation that stood behind him throughout the tournament. The gold came at the Thailand International Taekwondo Championship. Mahsud put together a strong run from the very first round. He opened his campaign with a win against a Kazakh opponent. That victory set the tone early and gave him the momentum he needed heading into the tougher rounds ahead. He carried that form into the semi-final. There, he faced off against an Indian competitor. Mahsud came out on top in that matchup, securing his place in the final. Beating a regional rival at that stage is never easy, and the win added extra weight to his overall run. In the final, Mahsud went up against a player from Sri Lanka. He delivered another strong performance, finishing the tournament with a win and claiming the gold medal. Each stage of the competition tested him differently. From facing a Central Asian opponent early on, to going head-to-head with regional rivals in the later rounds, Mahsud’s path to gold wasn’t a simple one. Every match added pressure, and every win built on the last. This is not just a personal milestone for him. Wins like these also add to Pakistan’s growing presence in international taekwondo, a sport that continues to produce strong performances from Pakistani athletes on the global stage. For Mahsud, the victory reflects months of preparation and discipline. Competing internationally requires consistent training, sharp reflexes, and the ability to perform under pressure across multiple rounds in a short span of time. As he continues competing on the international circuit, this gold adds another achievement to his growing list of accomplishments. It also reinforces his position as one of the athletes representing Pakistan on international platforms. For now, Mahsud’s focus remains on what comes next, as he continues building on this latest success and preparing for future competitions ahead.