Eight-gold target set as Philippines eyes Asian Games splash

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.

PESHAWAR: A nine-member mountaineering team has successfully climbed the 6,050-metre Thalo Zom peak in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The achievement is being seen as an important milestone for mountaineering and adventure tourism in the province. The team completed the difficult expedition after spending eight days on challenging mountain routes. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority said Thalo Zom is one of the most difficult and less frequently climbed peaks in the Hindu Kush mountain range. Its difficult terrain makes the climb demanding even for experienced mountaineers. The expedition started on July 9. The team continued its journey through difficult mountainous terrain before reaching the summit on July 17. After reaching the top, the mountaineers raised the national flag. The moment marked the successful completion of a challenging expedition in one of the region’s difficult mountain areas. The climbers had to pass through difficult routes in Kumrat and Chitral during the expedition. The journey involved steep and rugged terrain. The team also crossed glaciers and areas containing deep cracks in the ice. Glacial crevasses can make high-altitude expeditions particularly dangerous. Mountaineers must carefully choose their routes while crossing such areas. The difficult conditions required careful planning and sustained effort from the team. The eight-day expedition tested the climbers as they moved through remote and challenging parts of the Hindu Kush. The successful ascent also highlights the potential of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for adventure tourism. The province is home to several high-altitude mountains and remote valleys. The region’s mountainous landscape attracts climbers and adventure enthusiasts. However, many peaks remain difficult to access because of their rugged terrain and limited routes. The Tourism Authority said Thalo Zom has a notable history in international mountaineering. Australian climbers first reached the summit in 1971. The peak was climbed again in 2019 by Italian mountaineers. The latest expedition adds another successful ascent to the mountain’s history. The achievement also draws attention to the broader tourism potential of Kumrat and Chitral. Both areas are known for their mountainous landscapes and challenging terrain. Successful mountaineering expeditions can help promote lesser-known destinations among domestic and international adventure tourists. They can also bring greater attention to the natural attractions of the province. The latest climb demonstrates the determination and endurance required to reach high-altitude peaks. The team had to overcome glaciers, steep routes and dangerous ice formations during the journey. The successful ascent of Thalo Zom is therefore more than a mountaineering achievement. It also showcases the natural beauty and adventure tourism potential of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

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.