CHINESE MARTIAL ART WUSHU GAINS POPULARITY AMONG AFRICAN YOUTHS

Wushu players during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa

An ancient Chinese martial art is finding a growing following among young people in Africa, with practitioners in Kenya embracing Wushu not only as a competitive sport, but also as a path to discipline, self-control and cultural exchange.

Athletes from across Kenya gathered in the capital Nairobi for a Wushu competition organized by the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, highlighting the sport's expanding appeal in the East African nation.

Blending athleticism, artistry and centuries of Chinese tradition, Wushu features graceful sword routines, powerful kicks, acrobatic jumps and lightning-fast strikes that demand precision, balance and endurance.

A sport inspired by cinema and culture

For 22-year-old competitor Elvis Munyasya, the journey into Wushu began with martial arts films and online videos.

"What inspired me a lot was action movies," Munyasya said. "Then I came across Wushu performances on YouTube, and that is what inspired me to start training."

He says every movement in Wushu tells a story, and every performance reflects years of training, sacrifice and determination.

For many participants, competitions provide an opportunity to measure their progress and learn from other athletes.

"This is where you come and see the level of your performance. Competing with other athletes helps you understand where you are, and you learn a lot," Munyasya added. 

Wushu player Elvis Munyasya during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa

More than a martial art

For fellow competitor Veronica Wambui, Wushu has become a tool for personal growth and emotional discipline.

"It teaches you how to control yourself," she said. "If someone insults you, you do not react immediately. You learn to withhold yourself or walk away. There is a lot of discipline in Wushu.”

Wushu player Veronica Wambui during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa

Practitioners say the sport builds confidence, resilience and respect while introducing them to aspects of Chinese culture and philosophy.

Building bridges through sport

Organizers believe Wushu can play a broader role beyond athletic competition.

Professor Xiaodong Zhou, Director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa

"Martial arts is not only physical movement; it is also a culture," Director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, Professor Xiaodong Zhou said. "Through this culture, people learn how to deal with others. Martial arts can improve health, strengthen character and create connections between people."

Zhou said Wushu has the potential to deepen cultural ties between Africa and China by encouraging mutual understanding through sport. Organizers hope it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Wushu in Kenya.

As interest in the sport continues to grow, supporters believe it could become an important platform for youth development, cultural exchange and stronger people-to-people relations between Kenya and China.

- Halligan Agade

PRIME MINISTER ANDY BURNHAM CALLS FOR 'WROND MAN' GIANNI INFANTINO TO BE REPLACED AS FIFA CHIEF

AFP

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has branded Gianni Infantino the wrong man to lead FIFA following widespread backlash over plans for private equity to sell stakes in the World Cup. Burnham condemned the controversial commercial proposals after a senior adviser resigned and key regional confederations united to oppose the governing body’s blueprint.

Burnham condemns Infantino leadership

Burnham has launched a stinging attack on Infantino’s leadership of FIFA following a wave of backlash against plans to commercialise the organisation. The resistance has intensified following the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and formal opposition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), UEFA, and CONCACAF. Burnham argued that Infantino’s attempt to sell off a stake in FIFA competitions to private investors represents a fundamentally flawed decision for the future of world football.

SW Pix

Prime Minister demands change

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Burnham openly condemned the proposed private equity scheme. He said: "This was an outrageous suggestion," before questioning Infantino's suitability to remain in charge of FIFA: "The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, [he] is the wrong man to lead the organisation."

Private equity blueprint rejected

Burnham's scathing critique reflects a broader global resistance, including a firm stance taken by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

In an official statement, the AFC rejected plans to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) commercial subsidiary and stressed the necessity of preserving the integrity of football's premier tournament: "The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations.

"Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered."

-Adhe Makayasa

CARL LEWIS IS THE GREATEST LONG JUMPER IN HISTORY

Here’s Why Carl Lewis Is the Greatest Long Jumper in History👀

Most legal-wind 8.50m+ long jumps in history:

🇺🇸 Carl Lewis — 32

🇨🇺 Iván Pedroso — 27

🇺🇸 Mike Powell — 14

🇺🇸 Larry Myricks — 13

🇺🇸 Dwight Phillips — 9

WASHINGTON 2026 | DAY 4

 

ARSENAL, NEWCASTLE REACH AGREEMENT FOR BRUNO GUIMARÄES WITH FEE REVEALED AND IN FINAL STAGES

Bruno Guimarães has been linked with a move to Arsenal.

Arsenal and Newcastle United have reportedly ‘reached an agreement’ over a fee for Brazil international Bruno Guimarães after weeks of rumours.

The Gunners are still looking for a new midfielder this summer with Arsenal keen to build on their Premier League title-winning campaign by bringing in quality over quantity.

It has become clear in recent weeks that Guimarães has emerged as their top target for that area of the team and the Brazil international has reportedly made it clear that he wants to join the north London side.

Some journalists have claimed that talks are ‘advanced’, while other more local journalists have pushed back on that, but, whatever the truth, it now seems inevitable like Guimarães will move to Arsenal after Eddie Howe left St James’ Park.

Giving an update on his YouTube channel on Thursday, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano said: “And then guys, on Arsenal, don’t forget the Bruno Guimarães story because Arsenal are expected to return to the table over next week for Bruno Guimarães.

“Arsenal want Bruno. Mikel Arteta considers Bruno a top priority, so Arsenal are expected to be back in direct negotiations with Newcastle from next week

“It’s going to be an important week of new contacts. Then if the deal can get done already next week or not, this depends on the negotiation on the two clubs.

“The player has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, so Arsenal and Bruno Guimaraes have an agreement.

“Mikel Arteta is pushing to get Bruno Guimaraes because Mikel Arteta considers Bruno Guimaraes the perfect midfielder for Arsenal project, but now Bruno is keen.”

Newcastle, Arsenal ‘agreement’ and deal now in ‘final stages’

And now French newspaper L’Equipe has revealed that Arsenal and Newcastle ‘have reached an agreement in principle’ for the transfer of Guimarães with a deal now in its ‘final stages’.

Arsenal have not been keen to reach Newcastle’s €100m asking price for the midfielder and, after two bids around €70m and €80m, they have finally come to an agreement.

The report adds: ‘Arsenal finally swayed Newcastle United by proposing a base price of €90 million on Friday, plus bonuses that are still to be negotiated, as well as agent fees.

‘If all goes through in the coming days, the Brazilian international (48 caps, 3 goals), a key player in Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield for the national team, will become an Arsenal player, a dream he has cherished for the past month.’

ESPN Brasil had reported that Newcastle and Guimarães have had an ‘amicable agreement’ in place that if Newcastle failed to qualify for the Champions League then he would be allowed to leave the club.

- Joe Williams

ERLIN HAALAND MEME 🤣

 

BASEBALL ⚾ MEME | CALVIN AND HOBBES | AUGUST 19, 1988

 

NBC PREMIER LEAGUE COMMUNITY SHIELD 🛡️ | YOUNG AFRICANS (YANGA) SPORTS CLUB VS. SIMBA SPORTS CLUB | AMAAN STADIUM | ZANZIBAR

 

AFC 'STANDS IN SOLIDARITY' WITH UEFA AND CONCACAF OVER FIFA WORLD CUP PLANS

Asian governing body joins growing opposition to Infantino's controversial private investment scheme

The Asian Football Federation (AFC) has become the latest governing body to come out in opposition against Fifa's controversial private investment scheme.

Fifa insist it will be pushing ahead with a consultation process about whether to sell off stakes in the World Cup and its other tournaments to private investors, despite widespread criticism of the proposal

The pushback since football's world governing body revealed its plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in a subsidiary company set up to run Fifa's competitions has been relentless.

And now the AFC has joined the growing chorus of disapproval which had already reached fever pitch on Thursday when Uefa, European football's governing body, announced that they will boycott the World Cup – and all Fifa's competitions – if the plan of president Gianni Infantino was not scrapped.

“The AFC stands in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf in expressing  concerns over Fifa’s proposal to introduce private investment into [its] flagship competitions and the decision-making process around Fifa Forward Enterprise [FFE],” it said in a statement.

AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF following recent developments surrounding the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).https://t.co/k7MjAvWOhX

— AFC (@theafcdotcom) July 31, 2026

“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a Fifa World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.

“Against this backdrop, and in light of the clear positions expressed by Uefa and Concacaf, as well as the unprecedented divisions that have emerged across the football world, the AFC believes that the proposed FFE cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward.

“The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world’s leading football nations. Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.”

The Confederation of African Football has said it will be hosting meeting of its executive committee next week to “assess and evaluate” the proposals, while South American governing body Conmebol has yet to comment publicly.

Uefa have been the provided the most vocal opposition, saying on Wednesday Fifa were using football “to enrich themselves and their friends” and 24 hours later they made the strength of their protest even more clear.

“Uefa and its national associations will not participate in Fifa competitions,” it said in a lengthy statement that would accuse Fifa of “governance by intimidation”.

“Some things are simply too important to sell,” Uefa said in a statement on Thursday. The Fifa World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”

Uefa said there was no “meaningful consultation” before Fifa announced its plan. “This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa's duty as the custodian of world football,” it added.

FIFA logo. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Despite all the anger, Fifa are digging their heels in, saying earlier on Friday that they will be continuing with an “open and democratic consultation” process with all its 211 Member Associations (MA).

“We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday,” it said in a defiant statement.

“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.

“⁠Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”

Devastating blow for Infantino after Asian football confederation issues damning statement. pic.twitter.com/4aG03Lu3ng

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) July 31, 2026

The statement also goes on to say that: “Nobody is selling football. This is not something Fifa would ever entertain.

“Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of Fifa.”

Fifa also insist that each MA will receive $20 million of Fifa Forward Development funding over the next four years “irrespective of its individual support”.

“Without the support of the majority of MAs, Fifa's commercial activities would remain unchanged,” it added. “FFE would not be established.

“These components represent the starting point of the consultation process and are open for discussion as part of that process. This can include approval, rejection or amendment in their entirety or individually.”

On Wednesday, Infantino had described the plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary as a proposal but “not an obligation”.

“It’s part of a democratic process – a consultation process – and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation, and, as I said, it kicks off the consultation process,” Infantino said in a video released by Fifa.

- The National

UEFA VOTES TO BOYCOTT WORLD CUP AHEAD OF PRIVATE INVESTOR FUND

The core investor would be a US investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner

US President Donald Trump (right) and Fifa president Gianni Infantino get ready to present the World Cup to Spain in New Jersey. Photo: dpa

Uefa member federations agreed on Thursday to boycott all Fifa competitions in protest of Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors.

“Uefa and its national associations will not participate in Fifa competitions,” the European football body said after an urgent online meeting of the 55 members.

“Some things are simply too important to sell,” Uefa said in a statement. “The Fifa World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”

The strategy meeting was called to counter Fifa president Infantino’s offer of US$20 million to each of Fifa’s 211 global members that has to be accepted by mid-September.

Infantino’s secret proposal was revealed on Tuesday to spin off its commercial operations in a new US$20 billion subsidiary 20 per cent owned by private investors. The core investor would be a New York investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has presented the private equity offer as a chance to “turbocharge” funding development of football. Photo: Reuters

“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football,” said Uefa, where Infantino was a long-time staffer and its CEO-like general secretary when he was first elected to lead Fifa in 2016.

- Associated Press

WHAT VIDEO REVIEW CONTROVERSIES IN SPORTS REVEAL ABOUT AI AND HUMAN-DECISION-MAKING

 

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan argues with referee François Letexier during the Argentina-Egypt World Cup match on July 7, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser

If you watched the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you probably saw the now-familiar ritual: a goal, a celebration, then a referee touching an earpiece while fans and players wait for the verdict from the video assistant referee, or VAR.

That ritual is not unique to soccer. Baseball has a replay center in New York, and other sports have also moved once-human calls into review systems.

The hope is simple: Use better technology to yield better calls.

Soccer authorities expected more cameras, replay angles and tracking data to mitigate referee error, limit subjectivity and strengthen perceptions of fairness. But VAR has created new arguments among players, coaches, fans and commentators: Should VAR have intervened? Was the same standard for when to intervene applied consistently? Did the process itself feel fair?

Watching the World Cup as a decision-making researcher, I could not help but see VAR as more than a refereeing tool. It looked like a case study in technology-assisted decision-making, with parallels to the growing use of AI in organizational decision-making.

VAR produced a set of mismatches between what the technology promised and how people experienced it. It left fans disappointed and created new disputes about judgment, process and trust. These tensions offer a useful lens for understanding AI adoption more broadly.

Video replays give officials more accurate information, but that doesn’t automatically lead to better judgment – or less controversy. AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Better measurement is not better judgment

Some decisions are measurement problems: Was the player offside? Did the ball cross the line? Did contact occur? Technology is excellent at these questions because cameras, sensors and data reduce mistakes that come from people not seeing clearly.

But many decisions are judgment problems: Was the contact enough for a penalty? Was the tackle reckless? Was the referee’s original call clearly wrong? Those questions involve interpretation, context and standards. A camera can show that contact occurred. It cannot decide how that contact should be judged.

The same issue appears when organizations use AI to support decisions. AI can process data, predict patterns and classify cases. But a doctor, manager, judge or teacher still needs to decide what the output means, how much weight to give it and what values are at stake. Research on human-AI collaboration makes a similar point: AI is often strongest when paired with human judgment rather than treated as a full replacement for it.

Subjectivity does not disappear – it moves

Before VAR, arguments focused on what the referee saw. After VAR, arguments often focus on how the process works. When does VAR intervene? How far back can officials review the play? What counts as “clear and obvious” video evidence?

Subjectivity is still there. It has moved from the referee’s eyes to the rules, thresholds and governance of the review system. Baseball shows a similar pattern: Replay did not remove judgment from the game. It changed which plays could be reviewed, how challenges worked and where judgment entered the process.

Major League Baseball uses a video replay system that requires ‘indisputable video evidence’ to overturn a call, leaving the determination of ‘indisputable’ to the judgment of the replay official. AP Photo/John Minchillo

AI systems create the same shift. Organizations often imagine AI as a way to remove human discretion. In practice, discretion reappears in new places: deciding which model to use, what data to train on, what error rate is acceptable and who is accountable when the system fails.

More precision can reduce trust

People often assume that greater precision creates greater trust. Sometimes it does. But it can raise expectations faster than it reduces ambiguity. If technology can measure an offside decision by centimeters, fans may expect every decision to feel equally certain. When penalty calls or red cards remain debatable, people can become frustrated.

Research on why people avoid using algorithms finds something similar: People can lose confidence in algorithms after seeing them make mistakes, even when they perform well overall. Accuracy alone does not guarantee legitimacy.

That finding matters for AI decision systems. A company may use AI to make hiring or performance evaluation more objective. But if applicants or employees see the system as inconsistent, biased or unfair, trust can fall instead of rise. When organizations frame AI as a silver bullet, they raise expectations the technology cannot always meet. The result can be deeper frustration and faster loss of trust.

Tennis’s automated line-calling aims to take human error out of a crucial measurement: Was the ball on the line or not? Visionhaus/Getty Images

Where technology ends and judgment begins

Management research suggests that AI adoption today is not a simple choice between humans and machines. The better question is whether a decision should be automated, augmented or left to human judgment.

Measurement problems are the strongest candidates for automation: AI can scan documents, detect patterns, classify cases or flag anomalies faster and more consistently than people can. Interpretation problems call for human-AI collaboration: AI can provide information, options or recommendations, but people still need to think about the context of the decision, how much uncertainty is involved and the consequences the decision may have. And some decisions remain deeply human. Questions involving fairness, accountability, values or meaning cannot be handed over to technology without changing the nature of the decision itself – from one of human judgment to algorithmic assessment.

VAR makes this boundary visible in sport. AI is now forcing organizations to confront the same boundary across high-stakes decisions. The key question in AI adoption is not simply, “Can AI make this decision?” It is, “Which parts of the decision should AI make, and which parts should remain a matter of human judgment?”

-  Pooya Tabesh, California State University, Los Angeles

"THE FINAL STRAW" - NEWCASTLE JOURNALIST FINALLY MAKES BRUNO GUIMARÄES TO ARSENAL CLAIM AFTER EDDIE HOWE EXIT

Eddie Howe looks on (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães is seemingly expected to be sold this summer amid links with Arsenal, as per the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards.

The Brazil international has been strongly linked with the Gunners and it seems Edwards is finally admitting that the feeling seems to be that his future is in serious doubt.

Eddie Howe has today left his position as Newcastle manager, with Edwards posting on X about how it looks like the likely Guimarães sale is seen as the final straw for the English tactician.

“Howe believes Bruno Guimarães will be sold this summer.. the final straw,” Edwards said in a follow-up to a previous post about Howe quitting Newcastle.

This is significant because Edwards has previously played down the Guimarães to Arsenal transfer stories, but it seems he’s finally receiving information that is more in line with what numerous other journalists have been reporting for a while.

Arsenal fans will hope this means there’s a major Guimarães update soon as he would be a hugely exciting addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Bruno Guimarães unhappy as Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle

It’s been claimed that Guimarães is unhappy with Howe leaving, and it surely makes sense that all the change inside Newcastle has left everyone unsettled.

Guimarães could follow Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali in leaving NUFC this summer, while Alexander Isak left to join Liverpool last year.

This has all contributed towards the Magpies going majorly downhill, and it’s hard to imagine a world class player like Guimarães sticking around in those circumstances.

The 28-year-old would likely be a great fit at the Emirates Stadium, giving Arsenal more depth in the middle of the park after the club relied so heavily on Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi playing 90 minutes twice a week for so much of last season.

- Mark Brus

'LEBRON PUT HIS MONEY WHES MOUTH IS' | SHAMS CHARANIA

 

WHAT LED LEBRON JAMES TO JOIN THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS? | ESPN

 

RICH PAUL REVEALS HOW HE TOLD 76ERS LEBRON WILL SIGN THERE

 

BOOKMAKERS SLASH PRICE ON NEWCASTLE UNITED RELEGATION AFTER EDDIE HOWE'S SHOCKING EXIT

Punters are sticking money on Newcastle United to be relegated after Eddie Howe’s exit.

Newcastle United are now priced as low as 12/1 to face Premier League relegation following Eddie Howe’s shock departure.

News broke earlier today that the Magpies have parted company with Howe after four-and-a-half years in charge. The bombshell announcement follows the 4-1 pre-season defeat to Bristol City last night.

However, it is understood that the loss at Ashton Gate had little reflection on the decision. Newcastle are now searching for a replacement just 24 days before the Premier League season - with Al-Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle emerging as the front-runner.

Bookmakers slash price

Bookmakers are now offering just 12/1 for the Magpies to be relegated this season. This has slashed from 16/1 last night - with Newcastle the third-most-backed team with punters after Hull City and Ipswich Town.

All bets appear to be off on the manager front - with Jaissle seemingly a shoo-in to succeed Howe. Club officials are in advanced talks with the German and he could be in the dugout for the pre-season trip to Spain next week.

Alan Shearer thanks Eddie Howe

Speaking to Betfair, Toon icon Shearer hailed Howe for delivering multiple Champions League qualifications and a Carabao Cup trophy. He said: “I'm very, very surprised with the news that Eddie Howe is leaving Newcastle. It's strange timing with three weeks to go until the new season kicks off.

“I don't know what's gone on, whether it was the end of last season, whether it was the summer, whether he feels they can't continue to sell his best players. I'm led to believe it was Eddie's decision to leave. What I would say is thank you. Thank you to Eddie for what he's given us.

“I mean, he gave me my best day as a Newcastle fan with that day at Wembley. He's given us some incredible nights in the Champions League that we'll never ever forget. He did a wonderful job for Newcastle, so it's a huge thank you to Eddie.”

- Charlie Bennett

THE MAN WHO HIT TOO HARD

 

WASHINGTON 2026 | DAY 3

 

MEDAL TABLE | COMMONWEALTH GAMES | GLASGOW 2026

ALEX DE MINAUR VS. STEFANOS TSITSIPAS | WASHINGTON 2026

 

RYAN GIGGS OLD SCHOOL WINGERS TO RETURN TO FOOTBALL

 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Ryan Giggs wants old school wingers to return in football:

"I hope it comes back, left footer on the left, right footer on the right.

We used to play with two centre-forwards or a number 10 and try to beat the full-back on the outside and get a cross in.

I would like to see two wide men beat players on the outside and get crosses in.

I am a bit biased. I was a winger who liked to make things happen and excite the fans.

Sir Alex [Ferguson] used to say 'give the guy who works in the factory something to smile about'.

I liked to pass it forward, to run and try a difficult ball knowing the manager wasn't going to have a go at me."

- Football Tweet

FURTHER UEFA STATEMENT ON FIFA PLANS

 

TOUR OF MAGNIFICENT QINGHAI | INTERNATIONAL ROAD CYCLING RACE

The 25th "Tour of Magnificent Qinghai" International Road Cycling Race has concluded in northwest China, drawing 154 riders from 22 teams across 12 countries and regions.

Founded in 2002, the race is one of the country's earliest and Asia's most influential high-altitude professional road cycling events, and stands as the world's highest-average-elevation multi-day road cycling benchmark race.

- Sports China

HIGHLIGHTS | LIVERPOOL VS. WREXHAM

 

WASHINGTON 2026 | DAY 2

 

ALEXANDRA EALA VS. QINWEN ZHENG | DC OPEN 2026

 

ALEX EALA BEATS DEFENDING CHAMPION LEYLAH FERNANDEZ TO REACH MUBADALA DC OPEN QUARTERFINALS

Alex Eala celebrates her win over Leylah Fernandez at the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2026. Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Every match seems to bring another defining moment in Alex Eala's remarkable rise.

Down 1-5 in the second set, Eala earned an impressive triumph against defending champion Leylah Fernandez, knocking off the Filipina-Canadian left-hander, 6-2, 7-6(1), in the second round of the 2026 Mubadala DC Open early Thursday morning (Philippine time) in Washington, D.C.

The victory sent the 21-year-old Filipina into the quarterfinals and evened her head-to-head record with the 2021 US Open finalist at one win apiece.

Fernandez had won their lone previous meeting, 6-1, 6-4, in the opening round of the Stuttgart Open in April.

This time, however, Eala seized control from the onset.

Eala picked up where she left off in her opening-round victory over Zheng Qinwen, making another fast start by breaking Fernandez in the second game to race to a 2-0 lead. The Filipina quickly consolidated the advantage with a comfortable hold, extending her lead to 3-0.

The Canadian star found her footing with her first hold of the match in the fourth game before threatening to turn the momentum in the next, earning a break point on Eala's serve. But the world no. 28 held her nerve, saving the opportunity and escaping with a crucial hold to preserve her three-game cushion at 4-1.

Both players remained solid behind serve over the next two games, keeping the score at 5-2 before Eala sealed the opening set in emphatic fashion. Eala broke Fernandez for a second time in the eighth game, closing out the opener 6-2 with another clinical return game.

The biggest difference to highlight Eala's smooth play was the unforced errors count, where she only committed four to the 14 of Fernandez.

The second set began on even footing, with both players holding serve through the opening two games. Although Eala stayed level on the scoreboard, she nearly seized the early initiative in the second game, pushing the 23-year-old through a grueling 17-point battle and earning a break point before the reigning champion escaped to hold.

Fernandez capitalised on that momentum in the next game, breaking Eala for the first time in the match to move ahead 2-1. The Canadian continued to dictate play from the baseline, backing up the break with comfortable holds in the fourth and sixth games while adding another service break in the fifth to build a commanding 5-1 advantage.

However, Eala refused to fade, as she steadied herself with holds in the seventh and ninth games and broke Fernandez for the first time in the set in between, reeling off three straight games to cut the deficit to 5-4 and force the Canadian to serve it out.

And once again, Eala delivered another trademark moment. With Fernandez serving to stay ahead, Eala produced her third break of the set to edge in front 6-5, only for the reigning champion to respond with a break of her own and force a tiebreak.

But the momentum had firmly swung in Eala's favor. The 21-year-old raced to a 3-0 lead in the breaker and never looked back, dictating the rallies and closing it out in emphatic fashion, 7-1, to complete another remarkable comeback.

With this win, Eala now awaits the winner of the Round of 16 match between No. 2 seed Elina Svitolina and Polina Kudermetova in the final eight.

- Miguel Alfonso Caramoan

F1 BOSS STEFANO DOMENICALI CONFIRMS SEASON WILL FINISH

• Formula 1 has set a mid-September deadline to decide whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi can host the final two rounds of the 2026 season

• F1 president Stefano Domenicali confirmed the championship will finish in Europe if the Middle East conflict rules out both races, with Imola under consideration as a venue

• The sport looked at running a second race in Las Vegas instead but turned it down, with Domenicali pointing to the NFL calendar and mild European temperatures late in the year

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali walks in the paddock

Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images

Formula 1 has given itself until the middle of September to work out whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi can still host the closing two rounds of the 2026 season, with president and CEO Stefano Domenicali confirming the championship will finish in Europe if the conflict in the Middle East rules out either event.

Speaking to reporters this week, Domenicali said F1 is watching how other motorsport series are handling the same problem, and pointed to the World Endurance Championship’s own call to stay away from the region at the end of the year.

Bahrain’s Move to Malaysia Raises Fresh Doubts

F1’s bosses were already forced to scrap April’s races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this year, and confirmed over the weekend that the Bahrain Grand Prix will instead run at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit in October. That switch has fed new doubt over whether the final two rounds of the season, in Qatar on November 27-29 and Abu Dhabi on December 4-6, can go ahead in their planned homes.

Domenicali said F1 is comparing notes with other championships as it plans for every outcome. “With regard to the end of the season, we are in touch with all the other championships,” he said. “And I know that, for example, WEC (World Endurance Championship) has announced that they will not go at the end of the year in the Middle East and they will stay in Europe.”

No Call Before Mid-September

Domenicali is holding off on a final decision for as long as he can. “The way that we are structured is that we will take the maximum time for us to see how the situation will develop, and we will take the decision at the right time,” he said. “That moment would be not before the middle of September.”

For now, both races remain on the books. “For us, today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed,” Domenicali said. “But, of course, if the situation will not be clearer, the way that we believe it should be, before the middle of September, we will take the decision.”

He was direct about what happens if either race falls through. “I just want to confirm to you that if this (races in the Middle East) will not be possible, the end of the season will be in Europe, because we cannot go in other places,” he said. “There are some possibilities on the table, but I don’t think it’s right to make some promises or anticipate certain things, but that’s the situation of today.

“Even if I really hope that it will not be the case, if the situation will not allow for us to be there, we’re going to finish the championship in Europe.”

Imola Waits in the Wings, a Second Las Vegas Race Is Ruled Out

Italy’s Imola circuit has been tipped as the front-runner among any European replacement venues, though Domenicali stopped short of confirming it. “An option, but is not defined,” he said of the historic track. He explained that “Brexit-connected documentation” limits F1’s options largely to the continent, adding that more than one European venue is under consideration.

Behind the scenes, F1 also looked at running a second race in Las Vegas rather than sending the finale to Europe, an idea it later dropped. “There was a possibility of having two races in Las Vegas, but we don’t want to ruin a jewel that is growing by undervaluing what we are doing there,” Domenicali said.

He added that racing in Europe late in the year would not necessarily mean colder conditions than the alternative. “The fascinating side is that if I look at the statistics of the temperature in Europe in that time, it is less cool than Las Vegas’ average temperature while we are racing,” he said. “It’s definitely something that no one knows where the temperature will go and what the weather will be like. I think that actually we see in this situation of how the pollution of the climate change is happening. There’s no certainty or anything about that.”

Timing against the NFL calendar also played a part in ruling out a second Las Vegas date. “We don’t have to forget that in that period of the year, we are fighting in the US against NFL,” Domenicali said. “That is a major sport that is, I don’t want to say detracting, but a lot of fans are watching that, so we need to avoid any kind of situation that would put us in front of something that of course is quite still very big in the US.”

Already Planning Beyond 2026

Domenicali has also been looking further ahead, to the calendar for 2027. “So far, the calendar that will be presented, let’s say in autumn, it would be as a sort of normal plan,” he said. “But of course, in the case that the situation in the Middle East would be not solved, we have options. But the trigger for that is at the end of the year, so we have still a lot of time to adjust. We have different plans with different options ready in place that will accommodate the fact that we will keep, in any case, the target of 24 Grands Prix for next year.”

Portugal and Turkiye are both confirmed to return to the calendar in 2027, part of what Domenicali described as continued demand from “a lot of requests to host Grands Prix all around the world” as the sport keeps growing.

Title Fight Resumes With 12 Rounds Left

Any reshuffle of the closing rounds would land in the middle of a tight title fight. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli currently leads Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 50 points with 12 scheduled rounds remaining, after Lando Norris ended his own long wait for a 2026 win at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break. The 2026 calendar already sits at 23 races rather than the original 24 following the loss of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and stops still to come include the Italian Grand Prix on September 4-6, Spain’s first Madrid round on September 11-13, Azerbaijan on September 24-26, the Malaysia-hosted Bahrain round on October 2-4, Singapore on October 9-11, the United States on October 23-25, Mexico on October 30 to November 1, Brazil on November 6-8, and Las Vegas on November 20-22, before the season is scheduled to close out in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Formula 1 returns from its break with a Sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix on August 21-23, by which point the plan for the season’s final rounds could look very different already.

- Jack Renn

FIDE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH 2026 | GEVEVA | SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭

♟🇨🇭 Geneva to host FIDE World Championship Match 2026

The FIDE World Championship Match 2026 between reigning World Champion 🇮🇳 Gukesh D and Challenger 🇺🇿 Javokhir Sindarov will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 25 to December 15. Both Gukesh, representing India, and Sindarov, representing Uzbekistan, will be 20 years old when the event begins, making it the youngest World Championship contest in history.

Read more: https://www.fide.com/geneva-to-host-fide-world-championship-match-2026/

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- FIDE

LARGEST CONTRACT VALUES | 2026-27 SEASON | NBA