Eala upsets Svitolina again to reach Washington Open semis

OSLO: Norway’s Football Federation has announced that it will call for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, intensifying pressure on the football governing body’s leader ahead of next year’s presidential election. Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness said Infantino no longer has the institutional trust needed to lead FIFA, arguing that the organisation requires stronger and more credible leadership in the current climate. “He does not have the institutional trust required to lead FIFA in a stable manner,” Klaveness told reporters on Friday. “We are going to ask the FIFA president to resign now.” Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking a fourth and final term. He is currently the only declared candidate and would need a majority of votes from FIFA’s 211 member associations to secure re-election. Candidates have until November 18 to enter the race. Norway has been among Infantino’s most vocal critics, particularly over the governance of FIFA and decisions made under his leadership. Klaveness said the federation believed there was “no turning back” for the FIFA chief. The latest dispute follows the collapse of Infantino’s reported plan to allow private investors to participate in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The proposal drew criticism and added to concerns over the organisation’s direction. Norway’s federation has also decided to refer three matters to FIFA’s ethics committee. These include the abandoned private-investment plan, the lifting of US footballer Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the 2026 World Cup following an intervention by US President Donald Trump, and FIFA’s decision to award a so-called “Peace Prize” to Trump. The Norwegian federation is also seeking a comprehensive review of reforms previously promised by Infantino. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested Klaveness could eventually challenge Infantino for the presidency, potentially making her the first woman to lead FIFA. However, Klaveness has rejected speculation about her own candidacy, saying the focus should remain on football governance rather than individuals. The challenge from Norway comes as Infantino prepares for a closely watched election campaign, with growing questions over his leadership and FIFA’s future direction.

TAROUBA: Pakistan and the West Indies officially unveiled the trophy for their upcoming two-match Test series on Friday, setting the stage for an eagerly awaited contest that begins this week at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Pakistan captain Babar Azam and West Indies skipper Roston Chase posed with the series trophy during a ceremonial event held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad. The unveiling marked the official start of the red-ball series between the two cricketing nations. The opening Test is scheduled to begin on July 25 at the same venue, with both teams looking to make a strong start. The second and final Test of the series will be played from August 2, concluding Pakistan’s tour of the Caribbean. Pakistan will enter the series aiming to continue its impressive form in Test cricket, while the hosts will be hoping to capitalize on familiar home conditions and bounce back with a strong performance against the visitors. Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies has announced a 15-member squad for the Test series, with Roston Chase leading the side. The squad includes an exciting new face, as left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop has earned his maiden call-up to the national Test team. Bishop’s inclusion has generated interest among cricket fans, with selectors backing the young spinner to strengthen the West Indies bowling attack against Pakistan’s experienced batting lineup. The series is expected to provide both teams with a valuable opportunity to improve their standing in international Test cricket while giving emerging players a chance to make their mark on the biggest stage. With the trophy now unveiled and preparations complete, anticipation is building for what promises to be a competitive battle between two proud cricketing nations. Fans will be hoping for high-quality cricket as Pakistan and the West Indies renew their long-standing Test rivalry in Trinidad.

LONDON: Pakistan has produced a historic performance at the 7th F-Class World Championship in the United Kingdom, emerging as the highest medal-winning nation in the FTR category after securing 4 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals during the opening individual competitions. The championship, being held at the renowned Bisley National Shooting Centre, began on 12 August and has brought together 207 elite long-range shooters from 24 countries. The first phase featured individual matches over distances of 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Competing with a modest contingent of just 12 shooters, Team Pakistan outperformed much larger international teams, underlining the country’s rapid rise in long-range target shooting. The achievement comes only three years after Pakistan entered the international F-Class arena, making its emergence as a major force all the more remarkable. The standout performer was Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Ali, who delivered a world-class performance to claim the coveted Individual FTR World Champion title. He won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal, finishing ahead of all 207 competitors through exceptional consistency across all three shooting distances. His triumph marks the biggest individual achievement in Pakistan’s F-Class shooting history. Sepoy Muhammad Waleed added another gold and a bronze medal to Pakistan’s tally, while Huzaifa Gill excelled in the Under-25 category with three silver and two bronze medals. Ahsan Gill also secured a bronze medal. Pakistan’s impressive depth was reflected in the overall standings, with seven shooters—Lt Col Junaid Ali, Muhammad Waleed, Obaid, Qasim, Huzaifa Gill, Junaid Waqas and Ahsan Gulrez—finishing among the championship’s top 100 competitors. The latest success follows another outstanding performance at the F-Class British Open 2026, held at Bisley earlier this month, where Pakistan won seven gold, two silver and four bronze medals, signalling the country’s growing stature in international long-range shooting. Attention now turns to the prestigious 16-member World Championship Team Match, scheduled for 15–16 August, where Pakistan will compete across 800, 900 and 1,000 yards with hopes of adding to its remarkable medal haul. Pakistan’s performances at Bisley have established the national team as one of the fastest-rising forces in world F-Class shooting and brought considerable pride to the country on the international stage.

RABAT: FIFA has thrown its full support behind president Gianni Infantino despite growing criticism over the now-abandoned proposal to privatise the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup, while admitting that serious mistakes were made during the handling of the controversial plan. The governing body’s senior leadership met in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday to address the crisis that erupted after details of the proposal were leaked to the media. Following the meeting, FIFA issued a statement reaffirming its confidence in Infantino but also apologised to member associations for the way the process was managed. The proposed project, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed to create a new commercial subsidiary responsible for managing tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup. FIFA estimated the venture could generate up to $4.2 billion, based on a valuation of $20 billion, while significantly increasing financial support for its 211 member associations. Under the proposal, each member nation would have received a one-time payment of $20 million in 2027, with regular funding for the 2027–2030 cycle rising from $8 million to $20 million. However, instead of winning support, the initiative sparked fierce opposition from football stakeholders worldwide. UEFA strongly criticised the plan, describing it as an opaque agreement that lacked transparency, while CONCACAF questioned Infantino’s leadership and governance. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also publicly expressed doubts about Infantino’s ability to continue leading world football. Facing mounting pressure, Infantino withdrew the proposal last weekend, saying FIFA’s primary goal had always been to unite and strengthen the global game. In Wednesday’s statement, FIFA admitted that member associations and the FIFA Council should have been more closely involved from the outset. It also acknowledged mistakes made after the proposal became public and pledged to improve transparency in future decision-making. A formal review of the process will now be conducted, with findings expected to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting. Officials confirmed that the FFE proposal has been permanently shelved. Later in the day, Infantino attended a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat alongside Moroccan football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, one of the few senior officials to publicly support him throughout the controversy. Despite surviving the immediate crisis with the backing of FIFA’s leadership, the episode has raised fresh questions about governance, transparency and trust within world football, casting a shadow over Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president.

  Amstelveen / Islamabad: Pakistan ended a 16 year wait for a victory in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup with a thrilling 4 3 win over Japan in the 9th to 16th place classification match at the Wagener Stadium, giving the Green Shirts a much needed boost after a disappointing campaign in the main round. Pakistan made a difficult start as Japan scored twice in the opening quarter through Hyota Yamada and Kaito Tanaka. The Green Shirts, however, refused to give up and gradually fought their way back into the match. Rana Waheed Ashraf pulled one goal back in the second quarter to reduce Japan’s lead to 2 1 before the interval. Pakistan then produced a remarkable comeback in the third quarter, with Ashraf scoring again before Muhammad Hammadudin put the Green Shirts ahead. Japan quickly responded through Koji Yamasaki to make it 3 3, setting up a tense finish. Pakistan eventually regained the lead through Hannan Shahid, who scored in the 40th minute. Neither side could score again and Pakistan held on for a memorable 4 3 victory. The victory was Pakistan’s first in the Hockey World Cup since the 2010 tournament, when the team defeated Spain 2 1. Pakistan missed the 2014 World Cup and remained without a win in the 2018 edition, making the latest victory an important moment for the country’s struggling national sport. The result also comes at a time when the Pakistan Hockey Federation is seeking to rebuild the sport under the leadership of its ad hoc president, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani. Wani deserves credit for putting greater emphasis on rebuilding hockey from the grassroots as well as improving the federation’s working structure. Under his leadership, the PHF announced plans to bring around 60,000 to 70,000 youngsters into hockey through cooperation with provincial education boards, with free hockey kits planned for schools and colleges at under 14 and under 16 levels. Wani has also pushed for administrative and professional reforms within the federation. The PHF announced separate Governance Management and Professional Development Committees, bringing together experts in areas including financial management, resource mobilisation, sports development, coaching, sports medicine and the experience of former Olympians. His efforts have focused not only on the senior national team but also on expanding hockey beyond traditional centres. Wani has stressed the importance of regions including Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Balochistan and Sindh and has spoken about developing the game at schools, colleges and universities. The latest victory therefore provides an encouraging result for the rebuilding process, although much more work remains before Pakistan can return to the top level of international hockey. Pakistan had already been eliminated from the title race after losing to England and India and drawing 3 3 with Wales in the opening phase. The team consequently entered the classification round for positions 9 to 16. Despite failing to reach the knockout stage, the fighting spirit shown against Japan will give the players confidence as they continue their World Cup campaign. For a country that has won the Hockey World Cup four times, the 16 year wait for another World Cup victory has been a painful reminder of the decline of Pakistan hockey. The win over Japan does not solve the problems facing the sport, but it provides a welcome sign that the national team can still fight back when under pressure. The real challenge now is to turn this victory into the beginning of a sustained revival. With stronger grassroots programmes, better administration, improved training facilities and continued support for players, Pakistan will hope to rebuild its position among the leading hockey nations of the world.