World No. 1 pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters set for Philippine visit

Islamabad: Pakistan’s rising boxing star Fatima Zahra has created history by guaranteeing the country’s first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after a commanding 5-0 victory over Jordan Wilson of New Zealand in the women’s 60kg quarter-final. Fatima delivered another dominant performance to book her place in the semi-finals, ensuring at least a bronze medal for Pakistan. She began her campaign with an impressive opening-round victory over Real Ebuoha of Lesotho, where the referee stopped the contest early after Fatima completely outclassed her opponent. With back-to-back dominant wins, Fatima has emerged as one of Pakistan’s standout athletes at the Games. Her remarkable achievement also makes her the first Pakistani woman in history to win a boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games. The historic feat marks a major milestone for women’s boxing in Pakistan and is expected to inspire a new generation of female athletes across the country.

FIFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against Argentina following a series of incidents that allegedly took place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including player misconduct, political displays, crowd behavior, and security-related concerns. According to reports, several Argentine players and officials are under investigation for their conduct during the tournament, while the Argentine Football Association is also facing scrutiny over alleged breaches of FIFA regulations. One of the key incidents under review occurred during the World Cup final, where Argentine players were involved in an on-field altercation with Spain’s players after the match. The confrontation has led FIFA to investigate the actions of multiple individuals associated with the Argentine team. Midfielder Leandro Paredes is reportedly facing three separate disciplinary cases over his alleged involvement in the post-match clash. Defender Nahuel Molina is the subject of two disciplinary cases, while assistant coach Roberto Ayala is also under investigation in connection with the same incident. In addition, Thiago Almada is expected to face disciplinary action over allegations of inappropriate conduct during the tournament. Apart from the final, FIFA is also examining incidents that occurred after Argentina’s semifinal victory over England. The Argentine Football Association is being investigated over the display of a political banner related to the Falkland Islands by members of the team on the field after the match. FIFA regulations generally prohibit political messages or demonstrations during official competitions, making the incident a significant part of the disciplinary review. The governing body is also looking into several other alleged violations involving Argentina throughout the tournament. These include discriminatory chants by supporters inside stadiums, delays to kick-off times, failures to comply with security protocols, and multiple incidents in which spectators allegedly threw objects onto the field during matches. FIFA’s disciplinary process will assess whether these incidents breached the organization’s disciplinary code and competition regulations. The governing body has informed all individuals and organizations involved that they will be given an opportunity to submit their responses and present their respective positions before any sanctions are imposed. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will review all available evidence, including official match reports, video footage, witness statements, and the submissions provided by the parties involved. Once the review process is complete, the committee will announce its decision in accordance with FIFA’s disciplinary procedures. At this stage, no final ruling or punishment has been issued. Any potential sanctions against the players, coaching staff, or the Argentine Football Association will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation and the committee’s final verdict. The disciplinary proceedings highlight FIFA’s continued efforts to enforce its competition rules and ensure that players, officials, teams, and supporters adhere to the standards of conduct expected during the world’s biggest football tournament.

MULTAN: Pakistan Greens captain Shadab Khan believes his bowling is steadily improving as his unbeaten side prepares to face Pakistan Gold in the final of the National Champions Cup 2026. Greens have enjoyed an impressive run through the tournament, winning all three of their matches under Shadab’s leadership. Their consistent performances have also been powered by a strong batting display from Fakhar Zaman, who has emerged as one of the competition’s standout performers. Fakhar has scored two successive centuries and currently leads the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 238 runs at an outstanding average of 119. Shadab praised his team’s overall approach, saying the players had adapted well to local conditions and successfully carried forward the work completed during the recent National Cricket Academy (NCA) white-ball camp. “Our attitude in the field has been really good,” Shadab told the Pakistan Cricket Board’s digital platform. He said the squad contained several players familiar with the conditions and credited the entire team for building on their preparations at the NCA. “The whole team has put in a great effort and for me they all stand out,” the all-rounder added. Despite Greens’ unbeaten record, Shadab is not taking Gold lightly. He warned that their opponents’ route to the final made them particularly dangerous, with Gold securing qualification after taking advantage of a narrow opportunity. “We will try to keep things simple in tomorrow’s final while also knowing that a team like Gold that got into the final through a small opportunity can be dangerous,” he said. The final will provide another important test for Shadab, who is looking to make a bigger contribution with both bat and ball. He has so far taken two wickets in three matches, while his batting scores have included an unbeaten 34, 61 and seven. Shadab said he was encouraged by the gradual improvement in his bowling and remained focused on contributing whenever his team needed him. “I feel my bowling is also improving gradually, and with the bat I try to stand up whenever the team needs me,” he said. With Fakhar in outstanding form and Greens carrying an unbeaten record, Shadab’s side will enter the final with confidence. However, the captain knows Gold can upset the odds if his players lose focus in the decisive contest.