THAI FOOTBALLER DIES ON THE PITCH IN SOUTHERN THAILAND AFTER BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

 

Thai winger Sofwan Awae, who had just signed with Yala FC, died on Aug 4 after lightning struck the field of play. PHOTOS: FCYALAOFFICIAL/FACEBOOK, COURTESY OF ABDUL BASIR CHEPOR

A Thai footballer died on the pitch after a lightning strike that also left 12 others injured, according to Thai police.

The incident happened on Aug 4 during a Golok Cup match played at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok, southern Thailand, between SAMCOLTS and Abu x Nong Sirin. The Golok Cup is a regional football tournament featuring local and mixed teams from Thailand and Malaysia.

Winger Sofwan Awae, a recent signing for Thai third-tier professional side Yala FC, was playing for SAMCOLTS. He was struck by lightning at around 5.30pm as the match was ongoing.

Images circulated online show a bright light streak appearing to hit an area of the pitch inside the penalty area.

The 24-year-old’s teammates, wearing a black-and-white team strip, can be seen flipping him onto his back and attempting to revive him in the middle of the field.

“Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident,” said Sungai Golok police chief Thun Sirikhunt, as cited by Bernama.

He said 12 others, including one Malaysian footballer, were injured and taken to hospital.

Sofwan’s club Yala FC and the Football Association of Thailand shared condolence messages with the player’s family.

In Singapore, Category 1 weather status alerts are triggered by the Met Service’s islandwide detection networks, mandating an immediate stop of play and clearance of open fields or public pools.

Singapore has one of the highest lightning strike rates in the world. Annually, there are on average 175 days when lightning is detected in Singapore, based on Meteorological Service Singapore’s records.

In March 2004, before the Cat 1 alerts were implemented, Jiang Tao, an 18-year-old player with the now-defunct Chinese S-League club Sinchi FC, was killed after he was struck by lightning during training at the Jurong Stadium, which has since been demolished.

In 1996, Mohd Amin Mohd Salleh, a Secondary 2 student of Pioneer Secondary School, died after being struck by lightning when playing football on the school field.

- Lok Jian Wen

BRAZILIAN NUMBER 10 | WORLD CUP | SINCE 1954

 

SINGAPORE SURPASSES SOUTH KOREA AS ASIA'S LEADING SPORTS TOURISM DESTINATION

Singapore has outperformed South Korea's Seoul to become "Asia's leading sports tourism destination" at this year's World Travel Awards.

Tourists pose for photos with the Marina Bay Sands at a popular tourist spot along Marina Bay in Singapore, July 24, 2015. Photo by Reuters

The city state held the title in 2023 but lost it to South Korea last year.

Singapore is a major sports tourism destination due to landmarks like the Singapore Sports Hub and events such as the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.

The Sports Hub, a 35-hectare complex, includes the 55,000-seat National Stadium and the 12,000-seat Singapore Indoor Stadium, which host a wide array of international sporting and entertainment events.

The city-state's commitment to high-profile events, such as the F1 night race and major golf championships, further solidifies its status as a premier destination for both athletes and fans.

The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, recognize excellence in the travel and tourism industry and are often referred to as the "Oscars of the travel industry." These annual awards are determined by votes from both travel industry professionals and the public.

- Hoang Vu

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SINGAPORE GP: WILLIAMS RACING DISQUALIFIED FROM QUALIFYING

Despite seeing their cars finish qualifying for the 2025 Singapore GP in 12th & 13th with Alex Albon leading Carlos Sainz post session checks by the FIA would see both Williams Racing cars disqualified due to issues with the DRS and it's allowable dimensions.

Qualifying for the 2025 Singapore GP had seen the Atlassian Williams Racing Team finish with both Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon not making it past Q2. Alex would finish in 12th and Carlos 13th.

But in post-session checks by the FIA it was announced that for both Williams cars the uppermost rear wing elements exceeded the allowed limits. The FIA confirmed the measurement: “Both cars exceeded the maximum limit of 85mm on both sides of the rear wing outer area.”

The infringement falls under article 3.10.10 g. of the technical regulations, which governs the Drag Reduction System (DRS). The rule requires that, when deployed, the gap between sections of the rear wing must remain between 9.4mm and 85mm across the span.

This would see both Williams cars disqualified from qualifying. The Williams team had conducted their own measurements on both cars prior to qualifying but these measurements were shown to be incorrect based on the FIA's own checks.

The FIA stated: “The competitor did not contest the measurement procedure, the methodology, or the accuracy of the measuring equipment used by FIA.”

Williams Team Principal James Vowles described the disqualification as a setback, emphasising that no performance advantage was sought. (Statement below)

James Vowles Team Principal:

"During FIA scrutineering after Qualifying, the rear wings on both our cars failed DRS slot gap checks. As a result, Alex and Carlos have been disqualified from Qualifying for tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix. This is bitterly disappointing for the team and we are urgently investigating how this happened.

At no point were we seeking a performance advantage and the rear wings had passed our own checks earlier in the day, but there is only one measurement that matters and we fully accept the FIA ruling. We have a car capable of scoring points here this weekend and will do everything we can to fight from the back of the grid tomorrow, and will immediately review our processes to make sure this doesn’t happen again."

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EDDIE HOWE: MY RELATIONSHIP WITH ALEXANDER ISAK CHANGED ONCE HE WENT ON STRIKE

The 25-year-old missed the club’s pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea and was left training by himself on the squad’s return before eventually getting his wish with a deadline day move to Anfield.

HOWE TIMES HAVE CHANGED: Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has revealed his relationship with striker Alexander Isak broke down after the player went on strike (John Walton/PA)

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has admitted his relationship with Alexander Isak became “difficult” after he went on strike in an attempt to force through his move to Liverpool.

The 25-year-old Sweden international missed the club’s pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea and was left training by himself on the squad’s return before eventually getting his wish with a deadline day move to Anfield which netted the Magpies £130million.

Asked about his relationship with the man he signed from Real Sociedad for £63million during the summer of 2022, head coach Howe said: “Alex and I always enjoyed a great relationship. I loved working with him and I hope he loved working with us.

“It was mutually beneficial. We helped him become the player that he in part is today, and he helped us as a team achieve some unbelievable milestones. He was part of a very successful team.

“But to give you a bit more on that, the moment he went on strike, our relationship did change. I think that was probably a turning point in our relationship. Communication became difficult from that point onwards. I won’t go into any more detail than that.”

Isak’s departure prompted Newcastle to invest £69m in VfL Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who cost them £55m, and the former could make his debut against Wolves on Saturday.

However, Wissa will not be involved after returning from international duty with DR Congo with a knee injury which could also rule him out of Thursday night’s Champions League opener against Barcelona.

"The moment he went on strike, our relationship did change"

Asked if the 29-year-old would be available for the Premier League fixture, Howe said: “Unfortunately not, no, so he won’t make this game.

“I saw him for the first time yesterday, he’s feeling the effects of the injury he sustained just before he came off, so we’re going to have to see how he is.”

Asked further about the severity of Wissa’s problem, Howe added: “I don’t know currently as I sit here. I think he’ll go away for tests and maybe see a specialist to see.”

Woltemade could get his first taste of St James’ Park on Saturday, and Howe has called for patience as the 23-year-old Germany international attempts to plug a sizeable gap.

Newcastle new boy Jacob Ramsey is facing a month on the sidelines (Nigel French/PA)

Howe said: “I think it would have been impossible to have replaced Alex like-for-like. There’s no other player like Alex, he was totally unique. He had his qualities and I think it’s important we don’t compare whoever we bring in to Alex, because I think that’s very difficult to do.

“I think each player that comes in is an individual in their own right and has their own strengths and weaknesses. There will be a process where we have to mould ourselves to them, and vice-versa.”

Wissa’s absence, coupled with that of fellow summer arrival Jacob Ramsey, who will be sidelined until after the October international break with an ankle injury, represents a significant blow to Howe, who is already without the suspended Anthony Gordon.

- DAMIAN SPELLMAN, PA

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FRENCH STAR MARCHAND ENHANCES LEGEND WITH RECORD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP

Léon Marchand broke the world record for the men's 200m individual medley in the semi-finals at the 2025 world swimming championships in Singapore. (AFP - FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT

French swimming sensation Léon Marchand set a world record on Wednesday as he powered into the final of the men's 200m individual medley at the world swimming championships in Singapore.

The 23-year-old, who won four gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finished in one minute, 52.69 seconds to slash more than a second off Ryan Lochte’s exploit of one minute and 54 seconds which the American set in July 2011 at the world championships in Shanghai.

Marchand said: “I knew I was going to get close to my personal best because I felt really good today, and the preparation has been pretty good, so I was really excited to race. But one minute and 52 is unbelievable for me."

Marchand emerged as one of the stars of last year's Games in Paris after winning the 200m and 400m individual medleys as well as the 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly.

His decision to concentrate on the individual medleys and target world records at the world championships raised eyebrows.

Vindication though came from the heats of the 200m individual medley where he was the fastest swimmer with a time of one minute, 57.63 seconds.

And he anointed himself as hot favourite for Thursday's 200m individual medley final with his semi-final exploit.

“Focusing on the medleys was probably the right decision," Marchand added. "So, I’m grateful for my coaches and all the staff behind me. It’s been a really hard season for me, but I’m happy to be here and do that.”

After Thursday's final, Marchand will take part in the heats for the 400m IM on Sunday morning.

First gold for Italy

In finals on the fourth day of competition, Simone Cerasuolo took the men's 50m breaststroke to furnish Italy with their first gold in the pool.

The 22-year-old touched home in 26.54 seconds ahead of the Russian Kirill Prigoda and Haiyan Quin from China.

Luca Urlando from the United States won the men's 200m butterfly in one minute 51.87 seconds. Krzystof Chmielewski from Poland was second and the Australian Harrison Turner from was third.

Mollie O'Callaghan claimed the women's 200m freestyle. The 21-year-old Australian finished in one minute, 53.48 seconds. Bingjie Li from China was second and the American Claire Weinstein finished third.

- Paul Myers

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