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                        <title>Latest Sports News &amp; Updates | The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>FIFA releases new batch of World Cup tickets</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610377/fifa-releases-new-batch-of-world-cup-tickets</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610377/fifa-releases-new-batch-of-world-cup-tickets#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 09:55:57 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[&quot;Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis,” says FIFA]]>
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				<![CDATA[FIFA on Thursday released an extra batch of World Cup tickets, just 14 days before the global soccer tournament kicks off in North America.

&quot;Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last,&quot; said an official social media post.

FIFA, soccer&#39;s governing body, had indicated in April that tickets would be released for sale periodically via its official website right up until the final on July 19.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that more than five million tickets have been sold, out of the approximately seven million expected to be made available.

The previous ticket sales record for a World Cup was 3.5 million, set in 1994 when the tournament was last held in the United States.

This time, the US is sharing hosting duties with Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever, featuring an expanded 48-team format and 104 matches.

But the ticketing process and prices have sparked controversy, with FIFA accused of charging fans exorbitant amounts to follow their teams.

New York and New Jersey this week announced a &quot;thorough investigation&quot; into FIFA ticket practices, with prosecutors describing the process as a &quot;gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices.&quot;

California earlier this month said it had contacted FIFA over possible legal violations in the sale of World Cup tickets following allegations that some fans purchased seats in categories that were later changed.

Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has branded the World Cup pricing structure as &quot;extortionate&quot; and a &quot;monumental betrayal.&quot;

Infantino has defended ticket prices for the World Cup, saying they are driven by high demand, and are appropriate for the US, which is hosting the bulk of the fixtures.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>US bans drones over World Cup matches and events</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610375/us-bans-drones-over-world-cup-matches-and-events</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610375/us-bans-drones-over-world-cup-matches-and-events#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 09:28:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610375</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The no-fly zones around fan events put on by host cities at stadiums]]>
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				<![CDATA[Drone flights will be banned over US stadiums hosting World Cup matches as well as over fan events related to the tournament that kicks off June 11, authorities said Thursday.

On match days, unless specifically authorized, all aircraft including drones will be prohibited from flying within three nautical miles (5.6 kilometers) of stadiums and up to 3,000 feet (900 meters) above ground level, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The no-fly zones around fan events put on by host cities at stadiums and other locations extend to a radius of one nautical mile and up to 1,000 feet above ground.

&quot;As fans from around the world gather at stadiums and fan events across the country for the FIFA World Cup, the FAA is using every available tool to protect the airspace, including stronger drone-enforcement efforts,&quot; said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

Violators could face fines up to $100,000, confiscation of equipment and federal criminal charges, the statement said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that it would get involved &quot;to ensure that we have a safe sky,&quot; Aaron Hope of the FBI&#39;s Atlanta office told a press conference in the southern city.

&quot;Our primary focus is that the message gets out that it is a no-drone zone,&quot; Hope said.

&quot;Should there be the need for us to intercept a drone we have the technology for that. We do have the technology to identify drones and then locate operators, it is something we will be doing if we need to.&quot;

DETER, a new enforcement initiative that enables rapid detection of drone violations, will be used at the World Cup to support &quot;enhanced enforcement,&quot; the FAA said.

The world&#39;s premier soccer extravaganza is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 until the July 19 final.]]>
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			<title>Ailing Sinner crashes out of French Open</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610366/ailing-sinner-crashes-out-of-french-open</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610366/ailing-sinner-crashes-out-of-french-open#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 07:29:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Juan Manuel Cerundolo secured a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 win]]>
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				<![CDATA[Jannik Sinner succumbed to illness and a remarkable Juan Manuel Cerundolo comeback to crash out of the French Open on Thursday, blowing the men&#39;s tournament wide open, as Aryna Sabalenka safely avoided a similar fate.

Men&#39;s world number one Sinner was cruising when leading by two sets and 5-1 in the third set before suddenly struggling with his movement as he lost 18 points in a row.

Sinner took a medical time-out, complained of feeling &quot;dizzy&quot; and left a sweltering Court Philippe Chatrier for treatment, but after returning still slipped to a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 second-round loss to world number 56 Cerundolo.

&quot;I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy. Very low of energy. Tried to serve it out, but didn&#39;t have a lot of energy,&quot; said the Italian.

&quot;Woke up this morning, didn&#39;t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short.&quot;

Sinner suffered his earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2023 French Open, as Cerundolo completed one of tennis&#39; biggest shocks in recent years and set up a last-32 tie against Spanish youngster Martin Landaluce.

The 24-year-old Sinner was the latest player to wilt under the blazing sun this week, seeing his 30-match winning streak, after taking titles in Rome, Madrid and Monte Carlo, Miami and Indian Wells, come to a shuddering halt.

The Italian will now have to wait until next year, when injured rival Carlos Alcaraz will likely be back in action, for his next chance to complete the career Grand Slam.

The top seed was in total control and romping towards the most routine of victories before he suddenly started to struggle physically, losing three consecutive games to love.

He asked the chair umpire what his options were when 0-40 down in the next game, before being evaluated by a physio, saying he felt dizzy and needed to vomit.

Sinner gingerly returned to the court after treatment to applause from the crowd but continued to melt in the 32C heat as Cerundolo took the set.

Unheralded Argentinian Cerundolo appeared inspired by the unexpected opportunity and raced to victory against his deflated opponent, who was left bent over double after every lengthy rally.

&quot;I was little bit lucky, I feel sorry for him,&quot; said Cerundolo, whose older brother Francisco also booked a last-32 spot shortly afterwards.

French 17-year-old Moise Kouame became the youngest man to reach the third round at a major since Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon 23 years ago.

The wildcard delighted a raucous crowd with a dramatic 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8) over Paraguay&#39;s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo after four hours and 56 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

&quot;Frankly, without you, I would never have won this match, never,&quot; Kouame told the crowd.

Ben Shelton followed Sinner in suffering an early loss, as the American fifth seed slipped to a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 defeat by Belgian Raphael Collignon.

Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the third round for only the second time in his last eight Grand Slam events, beating Roman Andres Burruchaga in four sets.

&nbsp;

Sabalenka, Gauff through

Women&#39;s world number one Sabalenka ground down a battling Elsa Jacquemot to win 7-5, 6-2.

The 67th-ranked home hope Jacquemot pushed Sabalenka for long periods on Chatrier but ultimately could not live with the Belarusian&#39;s power.

Sabalenka, chasing a fifth Grand Slam title and first at Roland Garros, will next take on Daria Kasatkina.

&quot;She&#39;s a fighter. She&#39;s putting all of the balls back. You have to really work for each point, especially on the clay court,&quot; Sabalenka said of Kasatkina.

Reigning champion Coco Gauff also booked her place in the last 32, seeing off Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif 6-3, 6-2.

The American, who could face Sabalenka in the semis in a rematch of last year&#39;s final, got the better of a scrappy match featuring 11 breaks of serve.

&quot;It was a physical match, a tough match, my patience was really tested today,&quot; said Gauff.

Naomi Osaka edged closer to a possible last-16 meeting with Sabalenka after reaching the third round for the first time in seven years by beating Croatia&#39;s Donna Vekic 7-6 (7/1), 6-4.

The four-time Grand Slam champion will face a tough test from American teenager Iva Jovic on Saturday after the 17th seed thrashed compatriot Emma Navarro 6-0, 6-3.

Sixth seed Amanda Anisimova, who lost the Wimbledon and US Open finals last year, progressed when her opponent Julia Grabher retired after losing the first set 6-0.]]>
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			<title>Moana Pasifika prepare to bid farewell</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610376/moana-pasifika-prepare-to-bid-farewell</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610376/moana-pasifika-prepare-to-bid-farewell#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 09:41:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Media has reported there are parties interested in acquiring the licence]]>
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				<![CDATA[Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga has urged his financially stricken team to go out on a high as the Super Rugby club prepare to play their final match, barring a last-minute reprieve.

Auckland-based Moana, who have won just one from 13 games this season and are anchored to the bottom of the ladder, face the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

While the hosts are chasing a victory that would secure a fourth-place finish, it is all about pride for Moana, which was established in 2020 to provide a top-level pathway for players of Pacific heritage.

Moana&#39;s ownership group said in April it will cease its funding at the end of the season, citing &quot;financial, operational and strategic realities&quot;.

Unless new owners step in at the 11th hour, the southern hemisphere competition will be reduced to 10 teams next year after the Melbourne Rebels similarly shut down because of financial difficulties after the 2024 season.

&quot;We&#39;ve got nothing to lose and we&#39;ve got to be confident in what we&#39;re doing,&quot; said Umaga, a former All Blacks captain, adding: &quot;We want to get a good result for ourselves.&quot;

New Zealand media has reported there are parties interested in acquiring the licence, although nothing concrete has been put forward.

Umaga, who will join Dave Rennie&#39;s new All Blacks coaching team when the season ends, told reporters &quot;there&#39;s some positives, some good people just saying some positive things&quot;.

&quot;There&#39;s hope and when there&#39;s hope, there&#39;s a way,&quot; he added.

Owned by the Pasifika Medical Association, the club focused on developing players of Samoan, Tongan and Cook Islands descent.

They enjoyed their best year in 2025 when they finished seventh.

The Brumbies have already booked their spot in the playoffs and will secure fourth should they win and the Canterbury Crusaders lose to the table-topping Wellington Hurricanes.

&quot;We&#39;ve certainly got to focus on trying to win this weekend. We&#39;ve picked a team that reflects that,&quot; said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.

They are boosted by the return of Charlie Cale at No.8, joining Rob Valetini and Rory Scott in the back row.

Cale scored nine tries in seven matches before succumbing to a shoulder injury.]]>
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			<title>Deschamps bidding to end glorious France reign</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610365/deschamps-bidding-to-end-glorious-france-reign</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610365/deschamps-bidding-to-end-glorious-france-reign#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 07:11:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610365</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Les Bleus travel to the United States on top of the world rankings]]>
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				<![CDATA[After a remarkable 14-year spell in charge capped by one World Cup triumph and another run to the final, Didier Deschamps is hoping to go out on a high as he gets ready to step down as France coach following the upcoming tournament in North America.

Les Bleus travel to the United States on top of the world rankings and are clearly one of the leading contenders for final victory.

They are bidding to reach a third consecutive World Cup final after winning the trophy in 2018 and losing an epic contest on penalties to Argentina in 2022.

Deschamps was appointed in 2012 when France were struggling to recover from the low ebb of the 2010 World Cup, which featured a squad mutiny against then-coach Raymond Domenech.

Under Deschamps, France have once again become one of the most feared names in the international game.

&quot;It is a funny feeling,&quot; Deschamps, now 57, said recently after naming his squad for a World Cup for the last time.

&quot;I usually try to hide my emotions. But I am fine with it all. What has happened is in the past, and has been done quite well -- if it hadn&#39;t I wouldn&#39;t still be here after 14 years.

&quot;Now all my energy is focused on this World Cup.&quot;

It is expected that Deschamps&#39; old France teammate Zinedine Zidane will succeed him following the tournament.

In the meantime, Deschamps will try to lead France to their fifth World Cup final in eight editions, and a third title.

The Basque Country native has a remarkable CV as a player as well as a coach, having captained his country to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998 and at Euro 2000.

As a midfielder, he was 24 when he skippered Marseille to victory in the 1993 UEFA Champions League final.

Later also a Champions League winner with Juventus, he retired from playing aged just 32 and coached Monaco to the final of Europe&#39;s elite club competition in 2004. He then won a French title with Marseille in 2010.

After a narrow quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Germany in the heat of the Maracana at the 2014 World Cup, he led his country to the final of Euro 2016 as hosts.

An extra-time defeat against Portugal at the Stade de France was painful, but by now he had an exciting generation of players emerging, featuring the likes of Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.

- Third straight final? -

Kylian Mbappe followed, making his debut aged 18 in March 2017, and the young striker starred as France won their second World Cup in Moscow in 2018.

Mbappe went on to score a stunning hat-trick in the Doha final in 2022, when France were unable to deny Lionel Messi his crowning moment with Argentina.

This will be a seventh major tournament as coach for Deschamps, who so far has one title and two defeats in finals, and has made one semi-final in that time.

France also won the UEFA Nations League in 2021, and the next coach will have a lot to live up to.

Above all, Deschamps is a winner, usually favouring efficiency over style despite having a wealth of talent at his disposal.

He was widely criticised at Euro 2024 when France reached the semi-finals while scoring just four goals in six games -- two of which were own-goals and one a penalty.

&quot;If you are bored you can watch something else,&quot; Deschamps replied to one question during that tournament suggesting France were dull.

However, France have looked highly impressive over the last year with a 4-2-3-1 system that makes room in attack for Mbappe, reigning Ballon d&#39;Or Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich star Michael Olise.

Only West Germany between 1982 and 1990, and Brazil from 1994 to 2002, have previously reached three consecutive World Cup finals.

If he leads France to victory at the MetLife Stadium on July 19, he will become just the second coach to win the World Cup twice, after Italy&#39;s Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.

Then it will be time for a different challenge.

&quot;I&#39;m not ruling anything out. I&#39;m available, as everyone knows. We will see,&quot; he said recently.]]>
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			<title>Djokovic meets Fonseca in French Open</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610361/djokovic-meets-fonseca-in-french-open</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610361/djokovic-meets-fonseca-in-french-open#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 06:41:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[He has been stuck on 24 majors since the 2023 US Open]]>
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				<![CDATA[With Jannik Sinner&#39;s shock French Open exit blowing the men&#39;s draw wide open, Novak Djokovic will look to pounce on the opportunity in his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic has been stuck on 24 majors since the 2023 US Open but may not get a better chance to add to that haul with Sinner out and Carlos Alcaraz absent in Paris.

Standing in his way on Friday in the third round is Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, the highly-rated 19-year-old who is itching to make his Grand Slam breakthrough.

&quot;Fonseca has been praised so much in the last couple of years,&quot; said Djokovic, who made his Roland Garros debut in 2005, a year before Fonseca was born.

&quot;I think his potential and quality as a tennis player is obvious, no doubt about it. He&#39;s got big Brazilian support anywhere he goes. I think he&#39;s a big-stage player. He really loves the occasion.&quot;

The 39-year-old Djokovic has been steady but not spectacular in his opening two rounds, dropping a set in both matches, as he launches his latest assault on a fourth French Open crown.

Fonseca, who came from two sets behind to overcome Croatian youngster Dino Prizmic in round two, is eager the make the most of his eagerly-awaited clash with Djokovic.

&quot;I always talk to my coach, like, I want to be in Novak&#39;s draw, because I know... it&#39;s not going to last too much (longer),&quot; said Fonseca, aiming to reach the fourth round of a major for the first time.

&quot;I just want to have this experience in my life. I think I&#39;m just going to enjoy it. I mean, being in Roland Garros, third round, for me it&#39;s just a dream.

&quot;I&#39;m going to enjoy every moment playing against an idol, the GOAT of the sport.

&quot;He inspired me. He inspired the next generation and the generation before.&quot;

&nbsp;

Zverev steps up hunt

Sinner&#39;s departure could also clear the way for Alexander Zverev, who at 29 has been one of the most consistent performers on tour over the past decade but is still chasing an elusive Grand Slam.

The second seed plays Frenchman Quentin Halys in the night session.

&quot;I&#39;m happy where I am, I&#39;m feeling confident in my game,&quot; Zverev said after dispatching an off-colour Tomas Machac in his previous match.

Spain&#39;s Rafael Jodar is another one to watch following his rapid rise in his first full year on tour. The 19-year-old takes on American Alex Michelsen for a place in the last 16.

Two-time losing French Open finalist Casper Ruud squares off against Tommy Paul.

Four-time women&#39;s champion Iga Swiatek opens play Friday on Court Philippe Chatrier against Magda Linette in an all-Polish encounter.

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, whose best Grand Slam result came when she made the semi-finals at Roland Garros two years ago, is also in action against Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova.

Karolina Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up, faces Switzerland&#39;s Jil Teichmann.

Rome champion Elina Svitolina takes on Germany&#39;s Tamara Korpatsch, who is through to the third round of a major for the first time at the age of 31.

Marta Kostyuk, another Ukrianian with a WTA-1000 level trophy to her name this season after winning in Madrid, goes up against Swiss player Viktorija Golubic.]]>
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			<title>Norway's natural-born goalscorer Haaland finally gets global stage</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610358/norways-natural-born-goalscorer-haaland-finally-gets-global-stage</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610358/norways-natural-born-goalscorer-haaland-finally-gets-global-stage#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 06:28:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610358</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He scored 16 times as Stale Solbakken's men plundered 37 goals in eight wins]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Erling Haaland propelled Norway back to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and spearheads a golden generation ready to thrive on the global stage.

Despite a tough draw alongside one of the tournament favourites France, African powerhouses Senegal and Iraq, a Norway side also containing Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is confident of progressing beyond the last 16 for the first time.

Odegaard&#39;s injury troubles left Haaland to take the lead in a flawless qualification campaign.

The Manchester City striker scored 16 times as Stale Solbakken&#39;s men plundered 37 goals in eight consecutive wins.

That included two thrashings of Italy that ultimately cost the Azzurri a place at the World Cup.

&quot;I&#39;ve never experienced Norway being at the World Cup in my life, so I think it was about time,&quot; Haaland told FIFA.com.

&quot;For me personally, it is a huge thing. I have said it for a long time, my big goal is to get Norway to the World Cup... It will feel kind of like a dream come true.&quot;

Haaland struck twice in a famous 4-1 win in Italy that he said has changed perceptions of what is possible as they head Stateside.

&quot;We went to San Siro, where not many teams have beaten them in World Cup qualifying, and we&#39;ve gone and beat them, which shows people we can perform no matter where and no matter what,&quot; he added.

&quot;So, the confidence is there and we&#39;re still a young team.&quot;

&nbsp;

&#39;Goal machine&#39;

Haaland has been destined for greatness from a young age.

Son of former Norwegian international Alf-Inge Haaland and a national heptathlon champion Gry Marita Braut, he possesses a rare blend of blistering pace and a towering 1.95 metre (6ft 5in) frame.

&quot;If you were building a centre-forward from the ground up, Erling is what you would be left with,&quot; former England captain Alan Shearer told The Athletic.

&quot;He&#39;s a goal machine, someone who is quick and direct, who is physically strong and good in the air, who can score with both feet and whose positioning is fantastic.&quot;

Alf-Inge has been credited with careful management of his son&#39;s steady rise through the ranks of European football.

Haaland made his debut for his home-town club Bryne aged just 15 before signing for Molde, then managed by former Manchester United forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in 2017.

Less than two years later he moved again, joining Austrian club Salzburg.

In 2019 Haaland offered an early insight into the devastation he can wreak, scoring nine times in a 12-0 hammering of Honduras at the Under-20 World Cup.

But it was his explosion onto the Champions League scene that really caught the eye, with eight goals in six games in the 2019/20 season.

Boosted by their reputation for developing young talent, Borussia Dortmund won the race for his signature.

Two-and-a-half years and 86 goals in 89 games later, Haaland had his pick of clubs thanks to a cannily negotiated 60 million euro ($70 million) buyout clause that left Dortmund short-changed.

Manchester City swooped in and were rewarded by winning the treble in Haaland&#39;s 52-goal debut season.

In total he has netted 162 goals in less than 200 City appearances, winning three Premier League Golden Boots in the past four seasons.

At international level his hit rate is better than a goal-a-game at 55 in 49 caps.

&quot;It&#39;s a different (kind of) gathering, which I really like in football. It brings people together, not only at the stadium in the country, but around the whole world, in front of the TV and all of that,&quot; Haaland added on his first taste of a major tournament.

Born to deliver on the world stage, Haaland now has the platform he and Norway have long craved.]]>
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			<title>Arsenal aiming to dethrone dynasty-chasing PSG</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610357/arsenal-aiming-to-dethrone-dynasty-chasing-psg</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610357/arsenal-aiming-to-dethrone-dynasty-chasing-psg#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 06:19:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610357</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Luis Enrique's French champions are favourites to defend the trophy]]>
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				<![CDATA[Arsenal seek to finally conquer Europe by wresting the Champions League crown from holders Paris Saint-Germain, who are themselves targeting back-to-back titles in Budapest on Saturday.

Luis Enrique&#39;s French champions are favourites to defend the trophy and establish an era of dominance in their post-superstar age, with heavyweight attackers Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe departed.

Homing in on a career third Champions League trophy as a coach, the Asturian cleaned house after arriving in 2023, and created a cohesive, hard-working and brilliant PSG side in his image.

Luis Enrique took them to the semis in his first season, then past Arsenal last year in the final four before crushing Inter Milan to claim the Parisians a first European Cup -- 14 years and well beyond 1 billion euros ($1.2bn) spent since Qatar Sports Investments took over the club.

By contrast Arsenal&#39;s team has been slow-cooked over nearly seven years by Mikel Arteta, without the overwhelming financial muscle of PSG or domestic rivals Manchester City.

Last summer they recognised their developing team was finally ready to triumph and the Gunners reinforced in key areas.

It brought a first Premier League title in 22 years and a return to Europe&#39;s grandest stage after two decades away, following their 2006 final defeat by Barcelona in Paris.

Both teams arrive in Hungary with different reputations in the eyes of the world for the way they play.

PSG are the tournament&#39;s top scorers with 44 goals, while Arsenal are the team that has conceded fewest, shipping just six and are unbeaten.

Ballon d&#39;Or winner Ousmane Dembele, likely to be fit after a calf problem, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue lead a thrilling attacking cast for a PSG side that edged Bayern Munich 6-5 in the semi-finals.

Beyond the class of winger Bukayo Saka, Arsenal stand out more for their grit and defensive discipline, with centre-back pairing Gabriel and William Saliba their regular stand-out performers, as well as midfield powerhouse Declan Rice.

Arteta&#39;s team will embrace the underdog role, keeping the champions at bay and leaning on their superior set-piece quality.

- &#39;Two great teams&#39; -

Despite their contrasting styles, both sides have emerged as the competition&#39;s outstanding teams this season, shaped by two of the game&#39;s most demanding coaches.

Luis Enrique showed his tactical flexibility in the second leg against Bayern and never likes his team to be predictable.

&quot;I think we&#39;re talking about two great teams &ndash;- along with Bayern Munich, the three best teams in Europe,&quot; the Asturian coach told UEFA.

&quot;We&#39;ll have to adapt to play and defend in a different way compared to how we usually do if we want to get the better of them.&quot;

Along with Dembele the PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi is also expected to win his fitness battle for the game, while Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber is doubtful with a groin problem.

The French side&#39;s regular starters have largely played far fewer minutes than their Arsenal counterparts this season.

PSG play fewer matches in general and despite that, Luis Enrique has rotated and rested players regularly.

Arsenal were pushed to the limit to claim the English title, while PSG were often able to leave their European starters on the bench domestically.

PSG matches against Nantes and Lens were also moved to suit the French club&#39;s European campaign.

Former Arsenal great Thierry Henry agrees his team enter the clash at the Puskas Arena as underdogs to a PSG side aiming to become the only side in the modern Champions League era to win the competition back-to-back, besides record 15-time winners Real Madrid.

&quot;We&#39;re not at the level of those guys yet so you&#39;ve got to be humble,&quot; Henry told CBS Sports.

&quot;Paris Saint-Germain have the experience of knowing what it is to win it.&quot;

The Frenchman finished as a runner-up with Arsenal in 2006, but later won the trophy elsewhere, with Barcelona in 2009.

However Arsenal&#39;s eventual Premier League triumph, after three consecutive second-place finishes, might give them the confidence they need to write a new chapter in the club&#39;s history.

&quot;They called us bottlers,&quot; gloated Arsenal&#39;s Myles Lewis-Skelly, brandishing a bottle of champagne during the team&#39;s Premier League celebrations. &quot;And now we&#39;re holding the bottle.&quot;

The Gunners hope to be uncorking many more on Saturday night.]]>
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			<title>Messi to captain Argentina at the World Cup</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609693/messi-to-captain-argentina-at-the-world-cup</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609693/messi-to-captain-argentina-at-the-world-cup#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 26 14:11:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609693</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The-38-year-old is struggling with a hamstring injury]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at the World Cup, national coach Lionel Scaloni announced Thursday as he unveiled his 26-man squad.

Messi, 38, had not previously confirmed he would play in what will be a record-breaking sixth tournament for the Argentine superstar.

But it had been widely assumed the eight-time Ballon d&#39;Or winner would again lead Argentina, four years after lifting the trophy in Qatar.

As well as confirming Messi&#39;s presence, Thursday&#39;s announcement notably excluded Real Madrid&#39;s Franco Mastantuono from the Argentina squad.

Eighteen-year-old Mastantuono is considered one of the brightest prospects in Argentine football.

The largest ever World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, kicks off June 11.

Argentina&#39;s first match will be five days later against Algeria in Kansas City.

Messi has been at the heart of an injury scare in recent days, with his club side Inter Miami this week saying medical tests diagnosed him with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.

The Major League Soccer club had provided no clear timetable for Messi&#39;s return after his abrupt exit from Miami&#39;s 6-4 victory over Philadelphia in the 73rd minute on Sunday.

But Scaloni had played down the seriousness of the injury this week.

- Romero returns -

Center-back Cristian Romero, who suffered a knee injury last month and has not played since, was also named in the squad.

The Tottenham Hotspur captain was ruled out for the remainder of the Premier League season after he was shoved into his own goalkeeper by Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey.

Argentina&#39;s roster retains 17 of the 26 players who won the title in Qatar.

Young players who received call-ups include 21-year-olds Nicolas Paz and Valentin Barco.

Palmeiras forward Jose Manuel Lopez, who only made his international debut last year, also features.

Other notable absentees include Emiliano Buendia -- currently in excellent form at Aston Villa -- and Roma star Paulo Dybala.

The South American giants will journey to the United States for pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9.

Argentina&#39;s World Cup group also contains Austria and Jordan.

Along with Messi, Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are also expected to appear in their sixth World Cups this summer.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille, FRA), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid, ESP)

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate, ARG), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille, FRA), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Facundo Medina (Marseille, FRA), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, FRA).

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors, ARG), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami, USA), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Alexis MacAllister (Liverpool, ENG), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, ESP), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg).

Attackers: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA), Nicolas Paz (Como, ITA), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras, BRA).]]>
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			<title>Football unites nations at world football day event in Islamabad</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610169/football-unites-nations-at-world-football-day-event-in-islamabad</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610169/football-unites-nations-at-world-football-day-event-in-islamabad#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 26 12:07:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Zulfiqar Baig]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610169</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shahzeb double leads PFF XI to 3-1 win over UN XI]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Football Federation XI produced an impressive performance to defeat United Nations (UN) XI 3-1 in a vibrant exhibition match held to celebrate World Football Day at the Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.

The event which organised by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) brought together diplomats, football personalities, and international representatives to promote the message of peace, unity, and brotherhood through sports.

The exhibition match was attended by United Nations Pakistan Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya, diplomats from France, Romania, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsin Gilani, Pakistan football team head coach Nolberto Solano, former Pakistan captain Essa Khan and several other distinguished guests.

PFF XI dominated the contest with Shahzeb scoring twice, while Essa Khan added another goal to seal the victory. Nnu Gibson scored the lone goal for the UN XI.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohamed Yahya said Pakistan possesses immense football talent and the United Nations would continue supporting efforts for the promotion and development of football in the country.

PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani said football is rapidly growing in Pakistan and the federation is committed to creating more opportunities for young players and taking the game to every corner of the country.

The World Football Day celebration concluded with a strong message that sports are not merely a source of entertainment, but also a powerful tool to promote peace, friendship, and global harmony.]]>
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			<title>Hazara Region clinch cricket title at K-P Minority Sports Festival</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609984/hazara-region-clinch-cricket-title-at-k-p-minority-sports-festival</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609984/hazara-region-clinch-cricket-title-at-k-p-minority-sports-festival#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 26 10:12:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Riaz Ahmad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609984</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[South Region finish runners-up in cricket, emerge champions in football]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Hazara Region lifted the cricket trophy after a thrilling final at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minority Sports Festival, defeating South Region, who finished as runners-up.

The festival, organised by the Directorate General of Sports K-P, featured a range of sporting and recreational events aimed at fostering inclusion and harmony among minority communities.

In football, South Region claimed the championship title by defeating Malakand Region in the final. In the tug-of-war competition, Minority Eleven overpowered the Sports Department team to secure victory.

Elsewhere, Wazirzada topped the Musical Chair event, while Senior Shoban and Junior Gerik won the senior and junior categories of the food competition respectively.

Director General Sports K-P Tashfeen Haider distributed trophies and prizes among the winning teams and athletes. Former MPA and President of Insaf Minority Wing Wazirzada, along with former MPA and Secretary of Insaf Minority Wing Ravi Kumar, attended the ceremony as special guests.

Other notable attendees included Director Operations Jamshed Baloch, Deputy Director Sports Kashif Farhan, Assistant Director Sports Ashfaq Ahmad, Senior Vice President Waqas Khokhar, Director Establishment Naimatullah Marwat, Faisal Javed, Saeed Akhtar, Irshad Khan, and Adnan Joseph.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, DG Sports Tashfeen Haider said the provincial government is committed to providing equal sporting opportunities to minority athletes across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He described the Minority Sports Festival as a significant initiative to promote inclusion, social harmony, and grassroots talent.

He added that the event was held under the directives of Chief Minister and Adviser for Sports Taj Muhammad Khan Tarand, and assured that such festivals would continue in the future.]]>
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			<title>Litton Das’ Taunts</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609691/litton-das-taunts</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609691/litton-das-taunts#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 26 14:06:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Saleem Khaliq]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609691</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tempers flare between Litton and Rizwan in Sylhet]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[&ldquo;Rijwan (rizwan) bhai, listen to one thing&mdash;give me some tips about wicketkeeping and batting in T20,&rdquo; Litton Das once said to Rizwan a few years ago.

&ldquo;Now his acting has started&mdash;50 rupees will be deducted for overacting,&rdquo; Litton Das recently mocked Rizwan.

Whether it&rsquo;s cricket or any other field, respect comes from performance. If your performance is strong, you don&rsquo;t need to say anything&mdash;people respect you automatically. When that&rsquo;s not the case, some people reveal their true nature. You may remember how some Pakistani cricketers, including Amir, used to be overly impressed by Kohli&mdash;asking for his bat or getting autographs on their shirts. One shouldn&rsquo;t be mentally overawed by anyone, as it affects performance on the field. However, Litton Das&rsquo;s behavior isn&rsquo;t right either. Banter is one thing, but provoking someone through humiliation is not appropriate.

Interestingly, these Bangladeshi players go quiet when playing against India. Afghan players also behave cautiously, perhaps hoping that compliance will earn them IPL contracts. Pakistanis have a history of treating others well, yet often receiving no acknowledgment in return. How did things reach a point where Bangladeshi cricketers are now mocking us? It doesn&rsquo;t take rocket science to understand&mdash;we are responsible ourselves.

Let&rsquo;s put it mildly: when you consistently lose four Test matches and both home and away series to an average team, this is bound to happen. No one could have imagined such defeats at the hands of Bangladesh. In the past, even the thought of facing Pakistani fast bowlers would disturb top batters&rsquo; sleep. Now, those we select as fast bowlers and all-rounders might feel embarrassed seeing those titles next to their names.

The lack of genuine fast bowlers is a real issue that needs to be addressed. Our former stars earned fame and wealth from the country, but most now live abroad and only return when there&rsquo;s money to be made. Waqar Younis occasionally serves as a coach or commentator, otherwise spending time in Australia. Wasim Akram has kept himself relevant but avoids taking responsibility. Did either of them try to find bowlers like themselves? Did Inzamam-ul-Haq or Javed Miandad look beyond their relatives for talent? What did they contribute?

The current team&rsquo;s condition is largely due to senior players. No one took responsibility, though in the final innings some scored a few runs just to retain their place. Meanwhile, Bangladesh&rsquo;s top cricketers have performed consistently.

Saud Shakeel&rsquo;s attitude and arrogance suggest he coached Don Bradman, but what is his actual performance? Babar Azam, given his caliber, should be scoring double centuries, yet he seems content with small scores. Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, and Mohammad Rizwan also lack consistency. Shan disappointed as captain too.

Like Salman in T20s, Shan is a very polite person&mdash;but such qualities matter when arranging marriages, not when appointing a cricket captain. A captain must be strong on the field and hold players accountable; otherwise, they take things for granted. Shan often looked isolated, suggesting teammates haven&rsquo;t fully accepted him. Despite his efforts to bond, he failed to assert authority.

Before taking reviews, Shan had to run around consulting teammates. Rizwan even gave contradictory advice after taking catches. Reviews were wasted on not-out decisions and not taken on actual outs. The team was already struggling in the ICC World Test Championship, and losing 8 points due to slow over rates ended even faint hopes of reaching the final.

Everyone knows 15 overs per hour are required, and umpires regularly remind teams of shortfall. So how did this mistake happen?

Criticize Shan Masood, but also see that the team isn&rsquo;t united&mdash;everyone seems to be playing for themselves. Earlier, we blamed losses on selection issues. Now, who exactly is missing? New players are talented, but you can&rsquo;t field an entire team of them. A mix of experienced players and youngsters is ideal.

Azaan Owais and Abdullah Fazal showed promise in the first Test, but failed in the second when responsibility increased&mdash;and that&rsquo;s not their fault; they need time to settle.

Now everyone is eyeing captaincy again. Babar&rsquo;s fans want him reinstated, despite his past failures as a leader and the negative impact on his batting and relationships. The board might not go that route, and Salman Ali Agha could get an opportunity.

Whatever the decision, it should benefit Pakistan cricket. Fans are rapidly losing interest in the game. Urgent steps are needed to improve performance&mdash;otherwise, just hold two PSL seasons a year, since at least Pakistan doesn&rsquo;t lose there and people can enjoy some peace.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Pakistan name squad for Australia ODIs</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609515/pakistan-name-squad-for-australia-odis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609515/pakistan-name-squad-for-australia-odis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 26 12:35:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609515</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Babar Azam returns for the three-match series]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Star batter Babar Azam is back in Pakistan&#39;s 16-man squad to face world champions Australia in the three-match ODI series starting next week, selectors said Friday.

Azam missed the away series in Bangladesh with a fitness issue in March, but scored 588 runs in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this month to stage a comeback.

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to captain the side, with Salman Ali Agha named vice-captain.

The squad sees the return of Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan -- also missing from the Bangladesh tour.

Left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim stages a comeback in the ODI squad after finishing as the highest wicket taker in the PSL 2026 with 22.

Fast bowler Ahmed Daniyal, spinning allrounder Arafat Minhas and wicketkeeper batter Rohail Nazir are selected in the ODI squad for the first time.

Experienced openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will miss the series with injuries, while senior wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan is dropped.

The Australian team will arrive in Islamabad on May 23 and play the matches in Rawalpindi (May 30) and Lahore (June 2 and 4).
The series will give both teams a chance to build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Pakistan&#39;s Test team returned home after suffering a shock 2-0 defeat in Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Pakistan ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori, Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir, Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim.

According to the PCB, fans can purchase tickets online at pcb.tcs.com.pk from 3:00 PM onwards, whereas the physical tickets will be available at 16 TCS Express Centres across the three cities, including eight in Lahore, five in Rawalpindi and three in Islamabad.

The first ODI of the three-match series will be staged at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, 30 May. The second and third ODIs are scheduled to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 2 and 4 June, respectively.]]>
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			<title>‘SL cricket finances greater than feared'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609379/sl-cricket-finances-greater-than-feared</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609379/sl-cricket-finances-greater-than-feared#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 26 19:32:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609379</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Wickramaratne has already ordered a forensic audit of the accounts]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Financial irregularities surrounding Sri Lankan cricket were far worse than feared, government-appointed administrators said Thursday, promising a full accounting and sweeping reforms.

&quot;We have already ordered a forensic audit of the accounts,&quot; Eran Wickramaratne, interim president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), told his first news conference since taking office last month.

He said financial irregularities were &quot;far greater than initially feared&quot;.

He said the new SLC leadership -- handpicked by the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake -- would bring in sweeping reforms as concerns linger over international sanctions.

The current administration was appointed following the mass resignation of SLC&#39;s elected officials last month -- a move that raised fears of possible suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over political interference.

The SLC, the country&#39;s richest sports body, was suspended for two months in 2023 on similar grounds.

Wickramaratne, however, said discussions with the ICC were underway on reforming the SLC.

&quot;Our talks with the ICC have been extremely cordial and constructive,&quot; he said.
&quot;We have been very open and transparent in what we are doing, and they want us to pursue open and transparent methods in doing this.&quot;

Reforms include drafting a new constitution aimed at curbing abuses that allowed groups to retain power for a prolonged period, he added.

Four-time SLC president Shammi Silva and his entire committee stepped down in April after the government intervention, clearing the way for the current overhaul.

The previous administration had also faced criticism over the national team&#39;s performances, including an early exit from the T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka co-hosted with India earlier this year.]]>
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			<title>FIFA releases new batch of World Cup tickets</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610377/fifa-releases-new-batch-of-world-cup-tickets</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610377/fifa-releases-new-batch-of-world-cup-tickets#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 09:55:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610377</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[&quot;Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis,” says FIFA]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[FIFA on Thursday released an extra batch of World Cup tickets, just 14 days before the global soccer tournament kicks off in North America.

&quot;Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last,&quot; said an official social media post.

FIFA, soccer&#39;s governing body, had indicated in April that tickets would be released for sale periodically via its official website right up until the final on July 19.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that more than five million tickets have been sold, out of the approximately seven million expected to be made available.

The previous ticket sales record for a World Cup was 3.5 million, set in 1994 when the tournament was last held in the United States.

This time, the US is sharing hosting duties with Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever, featuring an expanded 48-team format and 104 matches.

But the ticketing process and prices have sparked controversy, with FIFA accused of charging fans exorbitant amounts to follow their teams.

New York and New Jersey this week announced a &quot;thorough investigation&quot; into FIFA ticket practices, with prosecutors describing the process as a &quot;gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices.&quot;

California earlier this month said it had contacted FIFA over possible legal violations in the sale of World Cup tickets following allegations that some fans purchased seats in categories that were later changed.

Fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has branded the World Cup pricing structure as &quot;extortionate&quot; and a &quot;monumental betrayal.&quot;

Infantino has defended ticket prices for the World Cup, saying they are driven by high demand, and are appropriate for the US, which is hosting the bulk of the fixtures.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>US bans drones over World Cup matches and events</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610375/us-bans-drones-over-world-cup-matches-and-events</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610375/us-bans-drones-over-world-cup-matches-and-events#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 09:28:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610375</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The no-fly zones around fan events put on by host cities at stadiums]]>
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				<![CDATA[Drone flights will be banned over US stadiums hosting World Cup matches as well as over fan events related to the tournament that kicks off June 11, authorities said Thursday.

On match days, unless specifically authorized, all aircraft including drones will be prohibited from flying within three nautical miles (5.6 kilometers) of stadiums and up to 3,000 feet (900 meters) above ground level, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The no-fly zones around fan events put on by host cities at stadiums and other locations extend to a radius of one nautical mile and up to 1,000 feet above ground.

&quot;As fans from around the world gather at stadiums and fan events across the country for the FIFA World Cup, the FAA is using every available tool to protect the airspace, including stronger drone-enforcement efforts,&quot; said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

Violators could face fines up to $100,000, confiscation of equipment and federal criminal charges, the statement said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that it would get involved &quot;to ensure that we have a safe sky,&quot; Aaron Hope of the FBI&#39;s Atlanta office told a press conference in the southern city.

&quot;Our primary focus is that the message gets out that it is a no-drone zone,&quot; Hope said.

&quot;Should there be the need for us to intercept a drone we have the technology for that. We do have the technology to identify drones and then locate operators, it is something we will be doing if we need to.&quot;

DETER, a new enforcement initiative that enables rapid detection of drone violations, will be used at the World Cup to support &quot;enhanced enforcement,&quot; the FAA said.

The world&#39;s premier soccer extravaganza is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 until the July 19 final.]]>
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			<title>Deschamps bidding to end glorious France reign</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610365/deschamps-bidding-to-end-glorious-france-reign</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610365/deschamps-bidding-to-end-glorious-france-reign#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 07:11:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610365</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Les Bleus travel to the United States on top of the world rankings]]>
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				<![CDATA[After a remarkable 14-year spell in charge capped by one World Cup triumph and another run to the final, Didier Deschamps is hoping to go out on a high as he gets ready to step down as France coach following the upcoming tournament in North America.

Les Bleus travel to the United States on top of the world rankings and are clearly one of the leading contenders for final victory.

They are bidding to reach a third consecutive World Cup final after winning the trophy in 2018 and losing an epic contest on penalties to Argentina in 2022.

Deschamps was appointed in 2012 when France were struggling to recover from the low ebb of the 2010 World Cup, which featured a squad mutiny against then-coach Raymond Domenech.

Under Deschamps, France have once again become one of the most feared names in the international game.

&quot;It is a funny feeling,&quot; Deschamps, now 57, said recently after naming his squad for a World Cup for the last time.

&quot;I usually try to hide my emotions. But I am fine with it all. What has happened is in the past, and has been done quite well -- if it hadn&#39;t I wouldn&#39;t still be here after 14 years.

&quot;Now all my energy is focused on this World Cup.&quot;

It is expected that Deschamps&#39; old France teammate Zinedine Zidane will succeed him following the tournament.

In the meantime, Deschamps will try to lead France to their fifth World Cup final in eight editions, and a third title.

The Basque Country native has a remarkable CV as a player as well as a coach, having captained his country to World Cup glory on home soil in 1998 and at Euro 2000.

As a midfielder, he was 24 when he skippered Marseille to victory in the 1993 UEFA Champions League final.

Later also a Champions League winner with Juventus, he retired from playing aged just 32 and coached Monaco to the final of Europe&#39;s elite club competition in 2004. He then won a French title with Marseille in 2010.

After a narrow quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Germany in the heat of the Maracana at the 2014 World Cup, he led his country to the final of Euro 2016 as hosts.

An extra-time defeat against Portugal at the Stade de France was painful, but by now he had an exciting generation of players emerging, featuring the likes of Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.

- Third straight final? -

Kylian Mbappe followed, making his debut aged 18 in March 2017, and the young striker starred as France won their second World Cup in Moscow in 2018.

Mbappe went on to score a stunning hat-trick in the Doha final in 2022, when France were unable to deny Lionel Messi his crowning moment with Argentina.

This will be a seventh major tournament as coach for Deschamps, who so far has one title and two defeats in finals, and has made one semi-final in that time.

France also won the UEFA Nations League in 2021, and the next coach will have a lot to live up to.

Above all, Deschamps is a winner, usually favouring efficiency over style despite having a wealth of talent at his disposal.

He was widely criticised at Euro 2024 when France reached the semi-finals while scoring just four goals in six games -- two of which were own-goals and one a penalty.

&quot;If you are bored you can watch something else,&quot; Deschamps replied to one question during that tournament suggesting France were dull.

However, France have looked highly impressive over the last year with a 4-2-3-1 system that makes room in attack for Mbappe, reigning Ballon d&#39;Or Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich star Michael Olise.

Only West Germany between 1982 and 1990, and Brazil from 1994 to 2002, have previously reached three consecutive World Cup finals.

If he leads France to victory at the MetLife Stadium on July 19, he will become just the second coach to win the World Cup twice, after Italy&#39;s Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.

Then it will be time for a different challenge.

&quot;I&#39;m not ruling anything out. I&#39;m available, as everyone knows. We will see,&quot; he said recently.]]>
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			<title>Norway's natural-born goalscorer Haaland finally gets global stage</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610358/norways-natural-born-goalscorer-haaland-finally-gets-global-stage</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610358/norways-natural-born-goalscorer-haaland-finally-gets-global-stage#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 06:28:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610358</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He scored 16 times as Stale Solbakken's men plundered 37 goals in eight wins]]>
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				<![CDATA[Erling Haaland propelled Norway back to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and spearheads a golden generation ready to thrive on the global stage.

Despite a tough draw alongside one of the tournament favourites France, African powerhouses Senegal and Iraq, a Norway side also containing Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is confident of progressing beyond the last 16 for the first time.

Odegaard&#39;s injury troubles left Haaland to take the lead in a flawless qualification campaign.

The Manchester City striker scored 16 times as Stale Solbakken&#39;s men plundered 37 goals in eight consecutive wins.

That included two thrashings of Italy that ultimately cost the Azzurri a place at the World Cup.

&quot;I&#39;ve never experienced Norway being at the World Cup in my life, so I think it was about time,&quot; Haaland told FIFA.com.

&quot;For me personally, it is a huge thing. I have said it for a long time, my big goal is to get Norway to the World Cup... It will feel kind of like a dream come true.&quot;

Haaland struck twice in a famous 4-1 win in Italy that he said has changed perceptions of what is possible as they head Stateside.

&quot;We went to San Siro, where not many teams have beaten them in World Cup qualifying, and we&#39;ve gone and beat them, which shows people we can perform no matter where and no matter what,&quot; he added.

&quot;So, the confidence is there and we&#39;re still a young team.&quot;

&nbsp;

&#39;Goal machine&#39;

Haaland has been destined for greatness from a young age.

Son of former Norwegian international Alf-Inge Haaland and a national heptathlon champion Gry Marita Braut, he possesses a rare blend of blistering pace and a towering 1.95 metre (6ft 5in) frame.

&quot;If you were building a centre-forward from the ground up, Erling is what you would be left with,&quot; former England captain Alan Shearer told The Athletic.

&quot;He&#39;s a goal machine, someone who is quick and direct, who is physically strong and good in the air, who can score with both feet and whose positioning is fantastic.&quot;

Alf-Inge has been credited with careful management of his son&#39;s steady rise through the ranks of European football.

Haaland made his debut for his home-town club Bryne aged just 15 before signing for Molde, then managed by former Manchester United forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in 2017.

Less than two years later he moved again, joining Austrian club Salzburg.

In 2019 Haaland offered an early insight into the devastation he can wreak, scoring nine times in a 12-0 hammering of Honduras at the Under-20 World Cup.

But it was his explosion onto the Champions League scene that really caught the eye, with eight goals in six games in the 2019/20 season.

Boosted by their reputation for developing young talent, Borussia Dortmund won the race for his signature.

Two-and-a-half years and 86 goals in 89 games later, Haaland had his pick of clubs thanks to a cannily negotiated 60 million euro ($70 million) buyout clause that left Dortmund short-changed.

Manchester City swooped in and were rewarded by winning the treble in Haaland&#39;s 52-goal debut season.

In total he has netted 162 goals in less than 200 City appearances, winning three Premier League Golden Boots in the past four seasons.

At international level his hit rate is better than a goal-a-game at 55 in 49 caps.

&quot;It&#39;s a different (kind of) gathering, which I really like in football. It brings people together, not only at the stadium in the country, but around the whole world, in front of the TV and all of that,&quot; Haaland added on his first taste of a major tournament.

Born to deliver on the world stage, Haaland now has the platform he and Norway have long craved.]]>
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			<title>DHA Hockey Academy a landmark initiative for revival of Pakistan hockey</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607491/dha-hockey-academy-a-landmark-initiative-for-revival-of-pakistan-hockey</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607491/dha-hockey-academy-a-landmark-initiative-for-revival-of-pakistan-hockey#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 26 10:52:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Riaz Ahmad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2607491</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PSWF president urges young players to restore national game’s lost glory through hard work]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[President of the Pakistan Sports Writers Federation and Secretary General of AIPS Asia, Amjad Aziz Malik, has termed the DHA Hockey Academy, Lahore a major step towards the revival of Pakistan hockey, urging young players to dedicate themselves to restoring the country&rsquo;s lost glory in the national game.

He expressed these views while addressing under-30 players participating in training sessions at the DHA Hockey Academy at Manzoorul Hassan Hockey Stadium. Former Olympian Manzoorul Hassan and ex-World Cup player Colonel Saeed Khan were also present on the occasion.

Malik received a warm welcome upon his arrival at the stadium, where he was introduced to the young players. Addressing the participants, he described hockey as a symbol of Pakistan&rsquo;s identity, national pride and glorious sporting traditions. He stressed that the younger generation must work with commitment, discipline and patriotic spirit to bring Pakistan back among the leading nations in world hockey.

Recalling Pakistan&rsquo;s historic achievements, he said the country had earned global recognition by winning Olympic gold medals, World Cups, Champions Trophy titles and Asian Games championships. He paid tribute to the legendary hockey players who brought fame to Pakistan through their outstanding performances on the international stage.

He advised the young athletes to focus not only on sports but also on education, physical fitness, discipline and character building. According to him, these players have the potential to represent Pakistan at the international level and carry the national flag with pride in future competitions.

Highlighting the significance of the DHA Hockey Academy, he said such initiatives were vital for nurturing fresh talent and strengthening the future of Pakistan hockey. He remarked that success in sports could only be achieved through continuous hard work, sacrifice and determination rather than talent alone.

Encouraging the players to remain focused on their dreams, he urged them to move forward with confidence and national spirit so that Pakistan could once again reclaim its former stature in world hockey.

On the occasion, Malik also paid rich tribute to Manzoorul Hassan, who is currently serving as head coach of the Pakistan Hockey Federation. He presented the latest edition of the AIPS Asia magazine to the Olympian in recognition of his services to the sport.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan launches school-based plan to revive national hockey</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596858/pakistan-launches-school-based-plan-to-revive-national-hockey</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596858/pakistan-launches-school-based-plan-to-revive-national-hockey#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 26 13:22:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2596858</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The meeting was attended by directors of physical education from educational boards as well]]>
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				<![CDATA[Officials in Pakistan have unveiled a new strategy aimed at reviving the country&rsquo;s national sport by strengthening hockey at school and education-board level.

The initiative was discussed during a meeting of the National Education&ndash;Hockey Coordination Committee hosted by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission at its secretariat in Islamabad on 10 March.

The meeting, focused on rebuilding Pakistan&rsquo;s hockey talent pipeline through the education system, was co-chaired by Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah and Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani.

During the session, the Federal Secretary for the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division presented the IBCC&ndash;PHF School and Inter-Board Hockey Revival Programme (2026&ndash;2029).

The programme &mdash; developed in collaboration with the Pakistan Hockey Federation &mdash; outlines a roadmap to rebuild Pakistan hockey by expanding the sport across schools and educational boards.

Officials said the initiative will focus on increasing participation in school hockey in Pakistan, organising inter-board hockey tournaments, and establishing a structured pathway for talented players to progress from grassroots level to the Pakistan men&#39;s national field hockey team.

The meeting was attended by directors of physical education from educational boards as well as former Olympians including Hassan Sardar, Islahuddin Siddique and Khwaja Junaid.

Participants welcomed the proposed strategy and expressed support for reviving Pakistan hockey through collaboration between sports authorities and the education sector.

A joint steering committee &mdash; which will include former Olympians and representatives from education boards &mdash; will oversee the implementation of the Pakistan school hockey revival programme and monitor its progress over the coming years.

Pakistan remains one of the most successful nations in the history of international hockey, but officials believe rebuilding the sport at grassroots level will be key to restoring its competitiveness on the global stage.]]>
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			<title>Refusing to collapse: How Pakistan hockey fought its way back to the World Cup</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596298/refusing-to-collapse-how-pakistan-hockey-fought-its-way-back-to-the-world-cup</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596298/refusing-to-collapse-how-pakistan-hockey-fought-its-way-back-to-the-world-cup#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 26 10:30:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Nabil Tahir]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2596298</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Green Shirts beat Japan 4-3 to reach the World Cup after eight years]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Instead of celebrating wildly after the final whistle, several Pakistan players dropped to the turf in relief.

For a team that had spent months navigating administrative turmoil, travel controversies and uncertainty around their own federation, the victory over Japan felt less like a single match and more like an emotional release and a return to the Hockey World Cup after eight years.

Having covered Pakistan hockey for more than a decade, I have learned that the sport rarely moves in straight lines. Even the moments that look simple from the outside often carry their own complications, and victories in Pakistan hockey rarely arrive without a story behind them. Pakistan&rsquo;s dramatic 4&ndash;3 win over Japan in the World Cup qualifiers semi-final in Ismailia was one of those moments.

On paper, it will be remembered as a thrilling comeback. Pakistan opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Japan fought back to take a commanding 3&ndash;1 lead. For long stretches of the match, the Japanese side appeared in control.

But between the 52nd and 57th minute, Pakistan scored three goals in the space of five minutes to turn the match around and secure qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup after eight years.

The speed of that turnaround was remarkable. Yet what stood out even more was the manner in which the players carried themselves when the match seemed to be slipping away.

At 3-1 down, Pakistan even missed a penalty corner opportunity that could have brought them back into the contest earlier. In many matches, that moment can drain a team&rsquo;s belief. Instead, the reaction was the opposite.

The players remained composed. There was urgency, but not the panic that often creeps into a team chasing the game. The team continued to push forward, trusting that another opportunity would come.

On the sidelines, head coach Khawaja Junaid was equally animated, often standing on the edge of the technical area directing players until the final whistle. It was a small detail, but one that reflected a team that refused to mentally step out of the contest.

The players arrived at this tournament after months of uncertainty surrounding the sport. Administrative disputes, funding questions and management changes had once again placed Pakistan hockey under uncomfortable scrutiny. Even the team captain, Ammad Butt, found himself under pressure after being banned by the previous federation leadership before the decision was later reversed.

Such situations often divide teams. In this case, it appears to have had the opposite effect. Throughout the qualifiers, Pakistan remained unbeaten, and Butt continued to lead the side despite everything happening around the team. For a captain to carry that kind of pressure while keeping the squad united says much about the trust the players place in him.

The semi-final victory over Japan ultimately reflected that collective belief. For long stretches, there were no visible signs of a team weighed down by the off-field turbulence that has followed Pakistan hockey for years. Instead, there was a group of players determined to control the only part of the story they could, their performance on the pitch.

Qualification for the World Cup after eight years is significant for a sport that once defined Pakistan&rsquo;s sporting identity. But it would be misleading to describe this moment as a full revival.

The deeper structural problems surrounding hockey in the country have not disappeared overnight.

What the victory in Ismailia does show, however, is something equally important. Even within an imperfect system, the players have demonstrated that the competitive spirit of Pakistan hockey still survives.

Even in the final moments, that resolve was tested once more. With less than a minute remaining, Japan earned a penalty stroke that could have forced the match into a shootout. Goalkeeper Ali Raza stepped up and saved it, holding Pakistan&rsquo;s lead and effectively securing their place at the World Cup. In many ways, the moment captured the evening itself, a team refusing to let the opportunity slip away.

Pakistan hockey may still be struggling to rebuild its structure. But on the field, the fight is clearly still alive.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan target World Cup momentum with FIH Pro League debut</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596279/pakistan-target-world-cup-momentum-with-fih-pro-league-debut</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596279/pakistan-target-world-cup-momentum-with-fih-pro-league-debut#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 26 07:12:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2596279</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Green Shirts sealed their place in the World Cup after eight years]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistan men&#39;s national field hockey team is preparing for a crucial stretch in 2026 after securing qualification for the FIH Men&#39;s Hockey World Cup 2026, with upcoming matches in the FIH Pro League expected to play a key role in their preparations.

Pakistan sealed their place at the World Cup with a dramatic 4&ndash;3 victory over Japan men&#39;s national field hockey team on 6 March 2026, ending an eight-year absence from the sport&rsquo;s biggest tournament.

Officials from the Pakistan Hockey Federation say the focus has now shifted to the team&rsquo;s first-ever participation in the FIH Pro League, where Pakistan will face several of the world&rsquo;s top-ranked sides.

Pakistan will travel to Europe in June for a series of high-profile fixtures in Belgium and England.

The Pro League matches are expected to serve as a vital testing ground for Pakistan ahead of the FIH Men&#39;s Hockey World Cup 2026, which will be staged across Belgium and Netherlands from 14 to 30 August.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation Adhoc Committee says it is committed to providing the team with the resources and support needed to compete at the highest level during the European tour and beyond.

Pakistan&rsquo;s return to the Hockey World Cup after eight years has raised hopes among supporters that the former champions can re-establish themselves among the sport&rsquo;s leading nations.

The upcoming FIH Pro League matches in Belgium and England will offer an early indication of how ready the side is for the challenge ahead.

&nbsp;

Belgium leg (Wavre)

13 June &ndash; Pakistan vs Belgium&nbsp;

14 June &ndash; Pakistan vs Spain

18 June &ndash; Pakistan vs Belgium

20 June &ndash; Pakistan vs Spain

&nbsp;

England leg&nbsp;

23 June &ndash; Pakistan vs India&nbsp;

24 June &ndash; Pakistan vs England

26 June &ndash; Pakistan vs India

28 June &ndash; Pakistan vs England]]>
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			<title>Ailing Sinner crashes out of French Open</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610366/ailing-sinner-crashes-out-of-french-open</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610366/ailing-sinner-crashes-out-of-french-open#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 07:29:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610366</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Juan Manuel Cerundolo secured a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 win]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Jannik Sinner succumbed to illness and a remarkable Juan Manuel Cerundolo comeback to crash out of the French Open on Thursday, blowing the men&#39;s tournament wide open, as Aryna Sabalenka safely avoided a similar fate.

Men&#39;s world number one Sinner was cruising when leading by two sets and 5-1 in the third set before suddenly struggling with his movement as he lost 18 points in a row.

Sinner took a medical time-out, complained of feeling &quot;dizzy&quot; and left a sweltering Court Philippe Chatrier for treatment, but after returning still slipped to a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 second-round loss to world number 56 Cerundolo.

&quot;I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy. Very low of energy. Tried to serve it out, but didn&#39;t have a lot of energy,&quot; said the Italian.

&quot;Woke up this morning, didn&#39;t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short.&quot;

Sinner suffered his earliest exit from a Grand Slam since the 2023 French Open, as Cerundolo completed one of tennis&#39; biggest shocks in recent years and set up a last-32 tie against Spanish youngster Martin Landaluce.

The 24-year-old Sinner was the latest player to wilt under the blazing sun this week, seeing his 30-match winning streak, after taking titles in Rome, Madrid and Monte Carlo, Miami and Indian Wells, come to a shuddering halt.

The Italian will now have to wait until next year, when injured rival Carlos Alcaraz will likely be back in action, for his next chance to complete the career Grand Slam.

The top seed was in total control and romping towards the most routine of victories before he suddenly started to struggle physically, losing three consecutive games to love.

He asked the chair umpire what his options were when 0-40 down in the next game, before being evaluated by a physio, saying he felt dizzy and needed to vomit.

Sinner gingerly returned to the court after treatment to applause from the crowd but continued to melt in the 32C heat as Cerundolo took the set.

Unheralded Argentinian Cerundolo appeared inspired by the unexpected opportunity and raced to victory against his deflated opponent, who was left bent over double after every lengthy rally.

&quot;I was little bit lucky, I feel sorry for him,&quot; said Cerundolo, whose older brother Francisco also booked a last-32 spot shortly afterwards.

French 17-year-old Moise Kouame became the youngest man to reach the third round at a major since Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon 23 years ago.

The wildcard delighted a raucous crowd with a dramatic 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8) over Paraguay&#39;s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo after four hours and 56 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

&quot;Frankly, without you, I would never have won this match, never,&quot; Kouame told the crowd.

Ben Shelton followed Sinner in suffering an early loss, as the American fifth seed slipped to a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 defeat by Belgian Raphael Collignon.

Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the third round for only the second time in his last eight Grand Slam events, beating Roman Andres Burruchaga in four sets.

&nbsp;

Sabalenka, Gauff through

Women&#39;s world number one Sabalenka ground down a battling Elsa Jacquemot to win 7-5, 6-2.

The 67th-ranked home hope Jacquemot pushed Sabalenka for long periods on Chatrier but ultimately could not live with the Belarusian&#39;s power.

Sabalenka, chasing a fifth Grand Slam title and first at Roland Garros, will next take on Daria Kasatkina.

&quot;She&#39;s a fighter. She&#39;s putting all of the balls back. You have to really work for each point, especially on the clay court,&quot; Sabalenka said of Kasatkina.

Reigning champion Coco Gauff also booked her place in the last 32, seeing off Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif 6-3, 6-2.

The American, who could face Sabalenka in the semis in a rematch of last year&#39;s final, got the better of a scrappy match featuring 11 breaks of serve.

&quot;It was a physical match, a tough match, my patience was really tested today,&quot; said Gauff.

Naomi Osaka edged closer to a possible last-16 meeting with Sabalenka after reaching the third round for the first time in seven years by beating Croatia&#39;s Donna Vekic 7-6 (7/1), 6-4.

The four-time Grand Slam champion will face a tough test from American teenager Iva Jovic on Saturday after the 17th seed thrashed compatriot Emma Navarro 6-0, 6-3.

Sixth seed Amanda Anisimova, who lost the Wimbledon and US Open finals last year, progressed when her opponent Julia Grabher retired after losing the first set 6-0.]]>
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			<title>Djokovic meets Fonseca in French Open</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610361/djokovic-meets-fonseca-in-french-open</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610361/djokovic-meets-fonseca-in-french-open#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 06:41:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610361</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He has been stuck on 24 majors since the 2023 US Open]]>
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				<![CDATA[With Jannik Sinner&#39;s shock French Open exit blowing the men&#39;s draw wide open, Novak Djokovic will look to pounce on the opportunity in his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic has been stuck on 24 majors since the 2023 US Open but may not get a better chance to add to that haul with Sinner out and Carlos Alcaraz absent in Paris.

Standing in his way on Friday in the third round is Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, the highly-rated 19-year-old who is itching to make his Grand Slam breakthrough.

&quot;Fonseca has been praised so much in the last couple of years,&quot; said Djokovic, who made his Roland Garros debut in 2005, a year before Fonseca was born.

&quot;I think his potential and quality as a tennis player is obvious, no doubt about it. He&#39;s got big Brazilian support anywhere he goes. I think he&#39;s a big-stage player. He really loves the occasion.&quot;

The 39-year-old Djokovic has been steady but not spectacular in his opening two rounds, dropping a set in both matches, as he launches his latest assault on a fourth French Open crown.

Fonseca, who came from two sets behind to overcome Croatian youngster Dino Prizmic in round two, is eager the make the most of his eagerly-awaited clash with Djokovic.

&quot;I always talk to my coach, like, I want to be in Novak&#39;s draw, because I know... it&#39;s not going to last too much (longer),&quot; said Fonseca, aiming to reach the fourth round of a major for the first time.

&quot;I just want to have this experience in my life. I think I&#39;m just going to enjoy it. I mean, being in Roland Garros, third round, for me it&#39;s just a dream.

&quot;I&#39;m going to enjoy every moment playing against an idol, the GOAT of the sport.

&quot;He inspired me. He inspired the next generation and the generation before.&quot;

&nbsp;

Zverev steps up hunt

Sinner&#39;s departure could also clear the way for Alexander Zverev, who at 29 has been one of the most consistent performers on tour over the past decade but is still chasing an elusive Grand Slam.

The second seed plays Frenchman Quentin Halys in the night session.

&quot;I&#39;m happy where I am, I&#39;m feeling confident in my game,&quot; Zverev said after dispatching an off-colour Tomas Machac in his previous match.

Spain&#39;s Rafael Jodar is another one to watch following his rapid rise in his first full year on tour. The 19-year-old takes on American Alex Michelsen for a place in the last 16.

Two-time losing French Open finalist Casper Ruud squares off against Tommy Paul.

Four-time women&#39;s champion Iga Swiatek opens play Friday on Court Philippe Chatrier against Magda Linette in an all-Polish encounter.

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, whose best Grand Slam result came when she made the semi-finals at Roland Garros two years ago, is also in action against Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova.

Karolina Muchova, the 2023 French Open runner-up, faces Switzerland&#39;s Jil Teichmann.

Rome champion Elina Svitolina takes on Germany&#39;s Tamara Korpatsch, who is through to the third round of a major for the first time at the age of 31.

Marta Kostyuk, another Ukrianian with a WTA-1000 level trophy to her name this season after winning in Madrid, goes up against Swiss player Viktorija Golubic.]]>
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			<title>Sinner, Gauff eyeing fast French Open starts</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610159/sinner-gauff-eyeing-fast-french-open-starts</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610159/sinner-gauff-eyeing-fast-french-open-starts#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 26 11:35:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610159</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The world number one will be hoping for a comfortable victory in his first-round]]>
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				<![CDATA[Jannik Sinner will start his first bid to complete the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros on Tuesday, with Coco Gauff getting her French Open title defence under way.

World number one Sinner is the overwhelming favourite in the men&#39;s draw in the absence of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz.

He will be hoping for a comfortable victory in his first-round tie against French wildcard Clement Tabur in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier, after a gruelling, albeit successful, clay-court season.

The Italian clinched his sixth successive Masters title at the Italian Open earlier this month, completing the set of all nine 1000-level trophies, adding to tournament wins on clay in Monte Carlo and Madrid.

Sinner will be playing at Roland Garros for the first time since his agonising loss to Alcaraz in last year&#39;s final, in which he led by two sets and missed three championship points.

He is on a 29-match winning streak and has not lost since a defeat by Jakub Mensik in Doha in February.

&quot;Everyone is trying to beat (me), but that&#39;s also the most normal thing,&quot; said Sinner.
&quot;You need to be ready. Best-of-five matches, they are a bit different.
&quot;It gives you a little bit more time to understand how to beat a player, and even if you have a wrong start, then potentially you can find a way in.&quot;

Tabur will be playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for only the second time at the age of 26, after a first-round loss to Corentin Moutet as a qualifier last year.

The world number 171 has lost all of the other six qualifying matches he has played at the majors.
&nbsp;
Gauff faces Townsend

Gauff begins her defence of the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen against fellow American Taylor Townsend.

The women&#39;s fourth seed has struggled for consistency since beating Aryna Sabalenka in last year&#39;s title decider in Paris, but did reach the Italian Open final before losing to Elina Svitolina.

Gauff could reach at least the quarter-finals for a sixth successive year at Roland Garros, where she has by far her best record in Grand Slam events.

&quot;Whenever I come to this tournament, I don&#39;t even think about my past results here,&quot; she said.

&quot;It&#39;s obviously different thinking about last year, but, I don&#39;t know, last year feels like 10 years ago.&quot;

Townsend won her only previous meeting with Gauff at an ITF event in Charleston seven years ago, when her opponent was a 15-year-old qualifier.

Sabalenka appeared poised to be a strong favourite for the French Open when she completed the &#39;Sunshine double&#39; by emerging victorious at both Indian Wells and in Miami in March.

But the world number one enters Roland Garros with question marks around her form after a Madrid Open quarter-final loss to Hailey Baptiste and another shock defeat in the third round against Sorana Cirstea in Rome.

She believes she will be fresh, though, when she starts her latest tilt at a maiden French Open title, facing Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain.

&quot;I struggled at the beginning of the clay court (season) physically, to be honest, but right now I feel 100 percent,&quot; Sabalenka said.
&quot;We did a great recovery. We focused on recovery and making sure that I&#39;m healed everywhere and I&#39;m ready to go.&quot;
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, a potential last-16 opponent for Sabalenka, plays Laura Siegemund of Germany, while the Philippines&#39; Alexandra Eala faces a tough test against 17th-seeded teenager Iva Jovic.]]>
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			<title>WTAP, PTF discuss measures to promote women’s tennis in Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609176/wtap-ptf-discuss-measures-to-promote-womens-tennis-in-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609176/wtap-ptf-discuss-measures-to-promote-womens-tennis-in-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 26 13:10:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Zulfiqar Baig]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609176</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The meeting was chaired by Mr. Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A meeting of the Women Tennis Association of Pakistan (WTAP) was held today at the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex, Islamabad. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation.

The meeting was attended by Ms. Asma Khawar Khawaja (President WTAP), Mrs. Zaira Ahmad Zaka (Secretary General WTAP), Ms. Sarah Ibrahim Khan (Treasurer WTAP), Ms. Sara Mansoor (NDD-PTF), Mrs. Shahida Kausar Farooq, Ms.Bakhtawar Raja, Ms. Mehreen Haider, Mahnoor Haider, Mr. Adil Bari, Mr. Ali Ashraf, Ms. Meheq Khokhar, Ms. Gulmira, and Ms. Ushan Suhail.

The participants discussed various matters related to the promotion and development of women&rsquo;s tennis in Pakistan. Special focus was given to organizing more tournaments and development activities for young girls and women across the country.

The meeting also reviewed preparations and planning for Pakistan&rsquo;s participation in the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup and emphasized the importance of providing better opportunities and exposure to female tennis players.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi reaffirmed PTF&rsquo;s commitment to the growth of women&rsquo;s tennis and assured full support for initiatives aimed at encouraging female participation in the sport.

The participants appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Tennis Federation for promoting women&rsquo;s tennis and expressed their commitment to working collectively for the development of the game in Pakistan.]]>
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			<title>Martin wins US MotoGP sprint</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2599946/martin-wins-us-motogp-sprint</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2599946/martin-wins-us-motogp-sprint#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 26 12:43:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2599946</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He overtook Francesco Bagnaia on the final lap]]>
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				<![CDATA[Jorge Martin won the U.S. MotoGP sprint in Austin on Saturday while Aprilia Racing teammate and championship leader Marco Bezzecchi crashed and failed to finish &zwnj;a sprint for the second time this season.

Martin overtook Francesco Bagnaia during the final lap at the Circuit of the Americas where he made a move at turn 12 before crossing the line in 20 minutes 19.546 seconds, winning by 0.755 seconds.

&quot;I never thought, when I was starting the season in ⁠Thailand, that after three rounds I would be winning races again. So it&#39;s unbelievable,&quot; Martin said after a record-extending 17th sprint win, but his first with Aprilia.

&quot;I&#39;m so thankful to Aprilia. They are helping a lot to raise my level. And yeah, I did it already. I mean, I feel a better rider than I was in the past.&quot;

Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had finished third but after the race received an eight-second penalty due to low tyre pressure, a move &zwnj;that ⁠dropped him to eighth place and promoted Enea Bastianini to the podium.

After securing the win, Martin, who took the lead in the standings by one point over Bezzecchi, crashed on the cool-down lap while doing a wheelie but escaped without injury.

&quot;I think a lot of riders ⁠can win but not a lot of riders can nearly crash on the way back to the pits,&quot; Martin joked. &quot;Luckily I&#39;m okay, the bike isn&#39;t really damaged.&quot;

The race unfolded under intense pressure at the Circuit of the Americas, with multiple incidents shaping the outcome and testing riders&rsquo; composure. Martin&rsquo;s decisive move highlighted his growing confidence with Aprilia, while his ability to recover from earlier setbacks this season underlined his championship credentials.

Bezzecchi suffered a shocking ⁠start as he quickly dropped from second to seventh but he worked his way back before crashing out of a late second place after pressure from Martin.

Defending ⁠champion Marc Marquez was briefly up to second on the opening lap but eventually crashed and took pole-sitter Fabio di Giannantonio down with him, resulting in a long-lap penalty for Sunday&#39;s Grand Prix .]]>
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			<title>PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi announces jobs, medical support for national hockey team</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2597078/naqvi-announces-jobs-medical-support-for-national-hockey-team</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2597078/naqvi-announces-jobs-medical-support-for-national-hockey-team#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 26 15:48:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2597078</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PCB chairman meets national hockey team, congratulates them on qualifying for Hockey World Cup 2026]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced employment opportunities and medical support for members of the national hockey team, saying the board would bear treatment expenses for injured players, according to an official statement.

He said steps would be taken to provide employment opportunities to hockey players who are currently without jobs, adding that the PCB would also bear the medical expenses of injured players. He made the announcement during a meeting with players of the national side led by captain Imad Butt.

&ldquo;Hockey players will be provided full support in terms of fitness and medical facilities,&rdquo; Naqvi said, adding that the PCB would continue its cooperation with the national hockey team as it had done in the past.



لاہور۔ چئیرمین پاکستان کرکٹ بورڈ محسن نقوی سے قومی ہاکی ٹیم کے کپتان عماد بٹ کی قیادت میں کھلاڑیوں کی ملاقات

چئیرمین پی سی بی محسن نقوی نے 8 برس بعد ورلڈ کپ کے لئے کوالیفائی کرنے پر کھلاڑیوں کو مبارکباد دی

چئیرمین پی سی بی محسن نقوی نے ورلڈ کپ کوالیفائر ٹورنامنٹ میں بہترین&hellip; pic.twitter.com/GQ9rnZn9j4
&mdash; PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) March 11, 2026



He further said the board would always play its role in providing maximum facilities to the players and expressed hope that Pakistan would deliver an impressive performance in the upcoming Hockey World Cup.

The PCB chairman also congratulated the team for qualifying for the Hockey World Cup 2026 after eight years and praised the players for their dedication and hard work during the World Cup qualifying tournament, the statement added.

Read: Bangladesh crush Pakistan in ODI series opener

Meanwhile, the national team coach Khawaja Junaid thanked the PCB chairman for his support, saying it had boosted the morale of the players and helped the team during difficult times.



قومی ہاکی ٹیم کی چیئرمین پی سی بی محسن نقوی سے قذافی سٹیڈیم میں ملاقات

ملاقات کے بعد ہیڈ کوچ خواجہ جنید اور کپتان عماد بٹ کی پی سی بی ڈیجیٹل سے خصوصی گفتگو

ماہِ رمضان میں قوم کی دعاؤں سے ٹیم ورلڈ کپ کھیلنے کی اہل ہوئی، خواجہ جنید، ہیڈ کوچ پاکستان ہاکی ٹیم

ٹیم کی سب سے بڑی طاقت&hellip; pic.twitter.com/PqqcxwAogs
&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 11, 2026



Pakistan qualified for the Hockey World Cup 2026 after defeating Japan in the semi-final of the qualifying tournament last week. The event is scheduled to begin on August 14 this year in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Pakistan had failed to qualify for the previous edition of the World Cup and last secured a place in the tournament in 2018.

This was the second meeting between the PCB chairman and the national team within a month. Last month, Naqvi met the players after Tariq Bugti, former head of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, stepped down following complaints by national players during their tour of Australia.

During that meeting, the players informed Naqvi about unpleasant incidents they had encountered during the league. He expressed regret over the mistreatment of hockey players and assured them that measures would be taken to ensure better treatment in the future.]]>
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			<title>How Pakistan can qualify for T20 World Cup semi-finals after New Zealand loss?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2594936/how-pakistan-can-qualify-for-t20-world-cup-semi-finals-after-new-zealand-loss</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2594936/how-pakistan-can-qualify-for-t20-world-cup-semi-finals-after-new-zealand-loss#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 26 18:13:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2594936</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A win over Sri Lanka would tie Pakistan with New Zealand on points, with net run rate deciding semi-final progression]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan&rsquo;s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup remain alive following New Zealand&rsquo;s defeat against England in the Super Eight stage.

England beat New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling encounter in Colombo, denying the Kiwis a guaranteed place in the semi-finals while keeping Pakistan&rsquo;s slender chances intact.

England, having already qualified for the semi-finals, sit at the top of the table with six points from three wins, whereas New Zealand are second with three points.



A nail-biter sees England hold their nerve to edge past New Zealand in their final #T20WorldCup Super 8 fixture 🔥

📝: https://t.co/SPOfO9xhOb pic.twitter.com/Khi40f6hbx
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) February 27, 2026


Pakistan, who lost their crucial Super Eight match against England, are third with one point, earned from a washed-out match against New Zealand. Co-hosts Sri Lanka, having lost both of their opening Super Eight matches, are already out of contention for the final four.

Pakistan&rsquo;s semi-final fate now rests on their match against Sri Lanka, scheduled for tomorrow at Pallekele. A win would level Pakistan and New Zealand on points, leaving net run rate as the deciding factor for progression.

However, the path to qualification is far from straightforward. Pakistan will need to secure a convincing victory over the hosts or chase their target rapidly to overcome New Zealand&rsquo;s net run rate advantage, following the Kiwis&rsquo; comprehensive win against Sri Lanka.

If batting first, Pakistan must defeat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or more to improve their net run rate sufficiently. Alternatively, if chasing, they must reach the target within 13.1 overs to ensure a semi-final berth.]]>
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			<title>Pakistani runners take part in prestigious Tokyo Marathon 2026</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2595632/pakistani-runners-take-part-in-prestigious-tokyo-marathon-2026</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2595632/pakistani-runners-take-part-in-prestigious-tokyo-marathon-2026#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 26 16:05:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[12 Pakistani runners participated in event, highlighting the growing interest in endurance running within Pakistan]]>
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				<![CDATA[A strong contingent of Pakistani distance runners proudly represented the country at the Tokyo Marathon 2026, one of the world&rsquo;s most prestigious road races and a major fixture on the international marathon calendar.

A total of 12 Pakistani runners participated in the event, highlighting the growing interest in endurance running within Pakistan. The marathon, held on March 1, attracted nearly 40,000 runners from around the globe, solidifying its status as a key event in the global running scene.

The fastest Pakistani runner was Zeeshan Ali, who completed the 42.195 km race in an impressive 2:40:09. His performance placed him at the forefront of the Pakistani contingent in a highly competitive and fast-paced race on the Tokyo course.

Other Pakistani runners who took part in the event included Sadiq Shah, Ayaz Abdulla, Bilal Umar, Mohammad Abu Bakr Afzal, Bacha Khan, Asad Tungekar, Hassan Ijaz, Miqdad Mohammad, Semeena Khan, and Shazia Nawaz, representing both male and female athletes from Pakistan.

In addition to the competitive runners, Express News anchorperson Rehman Azhar also participated, marking the completion of his 5th World Major Marathon.

The Tokyo Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label race, is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, placing it among the most important marathons globally, alongside events in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.

In the elite competition, Ethiopia&rsquo;s Tadese Takele won the men&rsquo;s race with a time of 2:03:37, successfully defending his title. Kenya&rsquo;s Brigid Kosgei triumphed in the women&rsquo;s race, setting a new course record with a time of 2:14:29.

The Tokyo Marathon is recognised as a major event in the global running calendar. It is known for its fast course, excellent organisation, and international prestige, attracting both elite and amateur athletes from around the world.

The participation of Pakistani runners in the Tokyo Marathon 2026 underscores the steady growth of marathon running in Pakistan and highlights the increasing presence of Pakistani athletes at major international races.]]>
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			<title>Babar Azam dropped lower down against Namibia for scoring too slowly, says coach Hesson</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2593684/babar-azam-dropped-against-namibia-for-scoring-too-slowly-says-coach-hesson</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2593684/babar-azam-dropped-against-namibia-for-scoring-too-slowly-says-coach-hesson#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 26 17:07:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2593684</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says Babar is 'well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100']]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said on Friday that batting great Babar Azam was dropped lower down for the final T20 World Cup group game against Namibia for scoring too slowly.

Babar, who is the highest run-scorer in T20 international history with 4,571 runs, was left out for the must-win game against Namibia as Pakistan racked up 199-3 and secured a place in the Super Eights by 102 runs.

The 2009 champions face New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday in the opening match of the second phase.

&quot;I think Babar is well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100 and that&#39;s clearly not the role we think we need,&quot; Hesson told reporters after Pakistan&#39;s final practice session on Friday was washed out by rain.

Pakistan left out Azam for the same reason at last year&#39;s Asia Cup and even after dismal showing in the Big Bash League, he was still selected for the T20 World Cup.

&quot;We brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup,&quot; said Hesson.

&quot;We&#39;ve got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that role towards the end.

&quot;Babar is actually the first to acknowledge that.

&quot;He knows that he&#39;s got a certain set of skills that the team requires and there are certain times where other players can perform that role more efficiently.&quot;

Hesson also defended dropping pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi after he conceded 101 runs in three matches, including 31 in two overs against India.

&quot;We made a call that Salman Mirza was coming in for Shaheen, and he bowled incredibly well,&quot; said Hesson.

&quot;To be fair, he was probably really unlucky to not be playing the second and third games.&quot;

Hesson was wary of Pakistan&#39;s opponents on Saturday.

&quot;New Zealand have played a huge amount in the subcontinent in recent times so we have to play at our best.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Moana Pasifika prepare to bid farewell</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610376/moana-pasifika-prepare-to-bid-farewell</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610376/moana-pasifika-prepare-to-bid-farewell#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 26 09:41:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610376</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Media has reported there are parties interested in acquiring the licence]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga has urged his financially stricken team to go out on a high as the Super Rugby club prepare to play their final match, barring a last-minute reprieve.

Auckland-based Moana, who have won just one from 13 games this season and are anchored to the bottom of the ladder, face the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

While the hosts are chasing a victory that would secure a fourth-place finish, it is all about pride for Moana, which was established in 2020 to provide a top-level pathway for players of Pacific heritage.

Moana&#39;s ownership group said in April it will cease its funding at the end of the season, citing &quot;financial, operational and strategic realities&quot;.

Unless new owners step in at the 11th hour, the southern hemisphere competition will be reduced to 10 teams next year after the Melbourne Rebels similarly shut down because of financial difficulties after the 2024 season.

&quot;We&#39;ve got nothing to lose and we&#39;ve got to be confident in what we&#39;re doing,&quot; said Umaga, a former All Blacks captain, adding: &quot;We want to get a good result for ourselves.&quot;

New Zealand media has reported there are parties interested in acquiring the licence, although nothing concrete has been put forward.

Umaga, who will join Dave Rennie&#39;s new All Blacks coaching team when the season ends, told reporters &quot;there&#39;s some positives, some good people just saying some positive things&quot;.

&quot;There&#39;s hope and when there&#39;s hope, there&#39;s a way,&quot; he added.

Owned by the Pasifika Medical Association, the club focused on developing players of Samoan, Tongan and Cook Islands descent.

They enjoyed their best year in 2025 when they finished seventh.

The Brumbies have already booked their spot in the playoffs and will secure fourth should they win and the Canterbury Crusaders lose to the table-topping Wellington Hurricanes.

&quot;We&#39;ve certainly got to focus on trying to win this weekend. We&#39;ve picked a team that reflects that,&quot; said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham.

They are boosted by the return of Charlie Cale at No.8, joining Rob Valetini and Rory Scott in the back row.

Cale scored nine tries in seven matches before succumbing to a shoulder injury.]]>
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			<title>Swimmer Gkolomeev 'beats' record</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610002/swimmer-gkolomeev-beats-record</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610002/swimmer-gkolomeev-beats-record#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 26 12:43:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2610002</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[His time of 20.81sec came in the final event of the night in Las Vegas]]>
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				<![CDATA[Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev was the only athlete to &quot;beat&quot; a world record Sunday at the Enhanced Games, winning the men&#39;s 50m freestyle at the divisive event where competitors were free to take performance-enhancing substances.

His time of 20.81sec -- which is not considered official -- came in the final event of the night in Las Vegas, sparing the blushes of organizers who had predicted that multiple world records would be surpassed due to a sophisticated doping regime.

Gkolomeev, who was also wearing a synthetic &quot;supersuit&quot; long banned at events such as the Olympics, went faster than Australia&#39;s Cameron McEvoy&#39;s mark of 20.88 set in March.

&quot;It was a great race... I got it,&quot; said Gkolomeev, who pocketed a $1 million bonus for the unofficial record.
&quot;Maybe next year I&#39;ll break it again.&quot;

The Enhanced Games have been denounced as dangerous by athletics governing bodies and anti-doping agencies, citing serious health risks for participants.

Participants, lured by prize money including $250,000 for event wins, included Olympic medallist swimmers James Magnussen, Cody Miller and Ben Proud.

Co-founder Max Martin had predicted &quot;quite a few&quot; world records would be &quot;beaten.&quot; The night turned out to be littered with near-misses until Gkolomeev&#39;s dramatic triumph.

Britain&#39;s Proud won the men&#39;s 50m butterfly in 22.32sec, just 0.05 off the world mark.

&quot;We all know what we came for. And that&#39;s world records. And so, to be that agonizingly close, it&#39;s frustrating,&quot; said the Paris 2024 silver medallist.

Gkolomeev earlier clocked 46.60sec in the 100m freestyle, missing the world record of 46.40.

&quot;I think tonight, yes, we did expect a few more world records to happen. But at the end of the day, this is live sports, and this is always something that you can never plan for,&quot; Martin told AFP.

&quot;We&#39;ve had certain injuries today with athletes that couldn&#39;t participate because of that,&quot; he added.
&nbsp;
Clean athletes win

More than a dozen personal bests were set, including several by athletes who came out of retirement. US swimmer Miller rolled back the years to win the 50m men&#39;s breaststroke, telling the crowd he was delighted to shave &quot;seven-tenths off my personal best at 34.&quot;

But while the vast majority of the 42 competing sprinters, swimmers and weightlifters were taking typically banned substances such as testosterone and anabolic steroids, the handful who opted to compete clean also achieved wins.

The men&#39;s 50m backstroke was won by Hunter Armstrong in 24.21sec, the clean swimmer defeating two rivals who had taken performance-enhancing drugs.

&quot;Unenhanced&quot; sprinters Fred Kerley, of the United States, and Tristan Evelyn, of Barbados, won the 100m sprints. Kerley ran 9.97sec in the men&#39;s, while Evelyn achieved 11.25 in the women&#39;s.

&quot;Man, they got to do better than that. They need to train a little harder. Get on that shit a little bit more,&quot; joked Kerley, a former 100m world champion who is serving a suspension for missing drug tests.

Weightlifters Beatriz Piron, Boady Santavy and Wesley Kitts all attempted unprecedented snatch lifts in their categories, but fell short -- despite organizers bending the rules to give the two men a fourth attempt each.

&quot;Man, if I had about four more weeks (in training) I&#39;d say I&#39;d have had a good shot at it,&quot; said Kitts.
Hafthor &quot;Thor&quot; Bjornsson, better known as &quot;The Mountain&quot; in &quot;Game of Thrones&quot;, could not quite break his own deadlift record of 510kg.

Long-term fears&nbsp;

Donald Trump Jr and billionaire Peter Thiel were among the investors for the event, which took place at a lavish purpose-built arena in a Las Vegas casino parking lot.

Health experts warned that several of the substances being taken could risk &quot;life-shortening and fatal consequences,&quot; including heart, liver and kidney issues, as so little is known about the long-term effects of doping.

Enhanced Games officials said all medications were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Parent company Enhanced sells many of the substances being taken by its athletes to the public.]]>
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			<title>Banned ex-100m champ Kerley to compete clean at Enhanced Games</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609685/banned-ex-100m-champ-kerley-to-compete-clean-at-enhanced-games</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609685/banned-ex-100m-champ-kerley-to-compete-clean-at-enhanced-games#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 26 13:52:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609685</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The athlete said he had chosen not to take any of the banned substances]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Fred Kerley will compete clean against drug-fuelled athletes at this weekend&#39;s Enhanced Games and still hopes to race in the 2028 Olympics, the suspended former 100m world champion said Friday.

Arguably the biggest name at the divisive event in Las Vegas, where doping is permitted, Kerley said he had chosen not to take any of the banned substances including testosterone and steroids that his competitors have been using.

&quot;I don&#39;t need it. God gave me fast feet for a reason. And I&#39;m here to showcase my talent,&quot; US sprinter Kerley said.

Kerley last September became the first American man and first track athlete to commit to the Enhanced Games, and until the eve of the event had kept his decision not to &quot;enhance&quot; under wraps.

He told journalists he has been undergoing regular anti-doping tests in recent months, and is competing in the Enhanced Games for financial reasons.

It is the latest twist in Kerley&#39;s complex relationship with anti-doping authorities.

In March, the Athletics Integrity Unit banned the American track star for two years because he had failed to notify officials of his whereabouts.

Kerley, who won 100m gold at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, had already been provisionally suspended since August last year after committing three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period.

Elite athletes have strict requirements about informing anti-doping officials about their locations, such as at training camps or when traveling, and must provide a time and location each day to comply with rules regarding unannounced doping tests.

&quot;You just don&#39;t come and disrespect my space. Once you start disrespecting my space, it&#39;s irritating,&quot; said Kerley, of the ban.

While World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has warned that track and field athletes competing at the Enhanced Games face being banned for a &quot;long time&quot;, Kerley insisted he was not worried.

&quot;I will compete at the Olympics in 2028. They can&#39;t do nothing. We, us athletes, pay the bills. They don&#39;t pay our bills,&quot; he told journalists.

&quot;I&#39;m still getting tested from AIU, USADA. Simple. The only difference is my pocket is getting fatter... Somebody fires you from the job, don&#39;t you gotta go get a look for ways to make more money?&quot;

Enhanced Games co-founder Christian Angermayer told AFP he supported Kerley&#39;s decision, saying it is &quot;the crystallization of our ethos... free choice for grownups.&quot;

The company behind the Enhanced Games is selling strength and longevity supplements, using the event as a showpiece for their alleged potency.

Asked what would happen if Kerley beat the &quot;enhanced&quot; athletes, Angermayer said &quot;it would be amazing.&quot;

&quot;Mostly our business model is headlines to drive attention. It would be a headline. Any debate is good for us,&quot; said the German billionaire.

&quot;Second, I could scientifically answer, it&#39;s obviously depending where was the baseline of the other [athletes].. It&#39;s all where you start.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Alain Prost's Swiss home robbed: reports</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609684/alain-prosts-swiss-home-robbed-reports</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609684/alain-prosts-swiss-home-robbed-reports#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 26 13:49:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609684</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The 71-year-old sustained a minor head injury during the attack]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[French four-time Formula One champion Alain Prost was injured during a violent robbery at his home in Switzerland, Swiss media reported Saturday.

Switzerland&#39;s biggest-selling newspaper Blick said Prost, 71, sustained a minor head injury during the attack, while one of his sons was forced to open the family safe and the assailants fled with the contents.

A statement issued on Thursday from the Vaud cantonal police force said a family living in Nyon, northeast of Geneva, was the victim of a robbery at their home.

The incident took place on Tuesday, at around 8:30am (0630 GMT).

Contacted by AFP on Saturday, the police declined to give the identities of the victims of the crime, and refused to comment on whether the incident concerned the Prost family.

Thursday&#39;s statement said the perpetrators &quot;entered the house while the occupants were present, threatened them, and forced one of the family members to open a safe before fleeing with stolen goods&quot;.

Despite an extensive search operation, the perpetrators have not yet been apprehended, it said.

- &#39;Large-scale search&#39; -

&quot;Several masked individuals entered the house. Once inside, they threatened the occupants and slightly injured one family member in the head, under circumstances that are still being investigated.

&quot;The perpetrators then forced another family member to open a safe before fleeing with stolen goods, of which the precise inventory is currently being assessed.

&quot;The Vaud cantonal police immediately deployed a large-scale search operation,&quot; the statement said.

The cantonal public prosecutor&#39;s office has opened a criminal investigation, which is ongoing to try and apprehend the perpetrators, it said.

Police said the response involved the Vaud cantonal police, the Nyon regional police, the dog unit, security officers, the forensic science unit, the customs and border security office, the French gendarmerie and a psychological support team for the family.

Contacted by AFP on Saturday, a Vaud police spokesman said the investigation was still ongoing but could not reveal whether any arrests had been made.

&quot;Every effort is being made to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack,&quot; the spokesman said.

Blick said there had been an alarming trend over the last year of burglaries in the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland targeting wealthy individuals, often perpetrated by cross-border gangs from neighbouring France targeting prestigious watch collections.

Prost competed in Formula One between 1980 and 1993 with the McLaren, Renault, Ferrari and Williams teams. He won the world drivers&#39; championship in 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1993.

Only Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton (seven each) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five) have won the championship more times than Prost, while Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen have also won the title four times.]]>
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			<title>Russell bounces back to beat Antonelli</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609683/russell-bounces-back-to-beat-antonelli</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609683/russell-bounces-back-to-beat-antonelli#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 26 13:47:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609683</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He claimed pole position in qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race]]>
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				<![CDATA[George Russell bounced back on Friday to claim pole position in qualifying for Saturday&rsquo;s sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix ahead of championship leader and Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

The 28-year-old Briton had been outpaced earlier by the Italian teenager who is seeking a fourth consecutive Grand Prix win on Sunday, but proved he retains the resilience and pace to handle mounting pressure.

Russell topped the times in 1min 12.965sec to beat Antonelli by 0.068sec in a tight session extended by a lengthy red flag stoppage after two-time champion Fernando Alonso crashed in his Aston Martin.

&quot;It feels great after a tough Miami, but I never doubted myself,&quot; said Russell.

&quot;I knew what I could do. Miami was a bit unique, but it&rsquo;s high grip here and it feels like you&#39;re driving a proper F1 car around here, which is how it should be.

&quot;The upgrades are definitely feeling great, the team have done such a great job to bring this forward. We saw in Miami that McLaren are close and Ferrari are not too far behind, and on a track like this it&#39;s really excelling.&quot;

Antonelli said: &quot;My lap was quite bad and the session wasn&rsquo;t clean for me &ndash; I made a mistake and I pushed for lap one when I&rsquo;d not done enough prep for the tyres and they were cold... We will do better tomorrow.&quot;

World champion Lando Norris was third ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri and the Ferraris of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar qualified seventh and eighth for Red Bull with Racing Bulls&rsquo; rookie Arvid Lindblad ninth and Carlos Sainz 10th for Williams.

The SQ1 session began with Hamilton leading the way in warmer temperatures of 20 (air) and 42 (track), the seven-time Canada winner clocking 1:15.459, a lap time soon bettered by Leclerc, Norris and Russell.

Verstappen also went top. And then came Antonelli in 1:14.010, almost half a second clear of the Dutchman before Hamilton, watched by his mother Carmen in the Ferrari pits, posted 1:13.922 to pip the young Italian by 0.088.

Hamilton improved, trimming his time to 1:13.889, before a red flag stoppage, when two-time champion Fernando Alonso crashed at Turn Three after locking up in his Aston Martin.

The Briton, who claimed his maiden triumph in Montreal in 2007, was clearly in the mood.

This left a clutch of drivers still in need of a flying lap as the barriers were repaired.

&quot;I locked up the fronts and after that you&rsquo;re a passenger,&quot; said Alonso. &quot;No room to avoid anything here&hellip; Too much on the limit.&quot;

Only 20 cars took part with Williams&rsquo; Alex Albon out after crashing in practice earlier and Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls absent with gearbox problems.

The action resumed after a 20-minute break with only 1min 46sec remaining for drivers to complete a lap before the flag and then clock a flying lap.

Only Carlos Sainz and local hope Lance Stroll made it, but without recording an improved time. This left Segio Perez eliminated along with his Cadillac team-mate Valtteri Bottas, Aston Martin&rsquo;s Stroll and Alpine&rsquo;s Pierre Gasly.

Russell and Antonelli were first out for SQ2, but it was Norris who set the pace until Hamilton displaced him, followed by Russell in 1:13.466 &ndash; and Antonelli just behind his Mercedes team-mate by 0.085.

Verstappen was out late and managed only ninth before pitting as Hamilton went top only for Russell to take over again in 1:13.026, four-tenths clear.

Out this time went Audi&rsquo;s Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, Alpine&rsquo;s Franco Colapinto and both Haas drivers along with Alonso.

Hamilton was first out again for SQ3, but aborted his first lap on softs before clocking 1:13.605 beaten only by a revived Russell who found the pace for pole in 1:13.194 which he trimmed to 1:12.965 on a second run.

In a final flurry of laps, the Mercedes&rsquo; pair claimed the front row ahead of the two McLarens and both Ferraris and the Red Bulls.]]>
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			<title>Inter-Madaris Sports Festival kicks off in Peshawar</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609477/inter-madaris-sports-festival-kicks-off-in-peshawar</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609477/inter-madaris-sports-festival-kicks-off-in-peshawar#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 26 08:04:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Riaz Ahmad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609477</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Eight madrasa teams compete in football, cricket as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Sports organizes youth event]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Inter-Madaris Sports Festival, organized by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Sports, officially commenced in Peshawar on Friday.

The festival features eight teams from various madaris, with four teams each competing in football and cricket. Football matches are being played at Tahmash Khan Football Stadium, while cricket matches are taking place at Gymkhana Cricket Stadium.

The formal inauguration was performed by Director Hayatabad Sports Complex, Salim Raza. He was accompanied by Director Sports Operations Jamshid Baloch, Organizing Secretary Mufti Faiz, Deputy Director Kashif Farhan, DSO Faisal Javed, Administrator Yusuf Afridi, Arshad Khan, and other notable figures.

Players have been provided with kits, daily allowances, and other necessary facilities. Mufti Faiz is serving as the Organizing Secretary for the event.

The closing ceremony will be held at Tahmash Khan Football Stadium, where Director General Sports Tashfeen Haider will grace the occasion as the chief guest and distribute trophies and prizes among the winning players.]]>
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			<title>Antonelli seeks to extend sensational start</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609380/antonelli-seeks-to-extend-sensational-start</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609380/antonelli-seeks-to-extend-sensational-start#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 26 19:38:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609380</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He seeks a sensational fourth consecutive victory]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli seeks a sensational fourth consecutive victory to boost his F1 drivers&#39; title bid this weekend, but expects a robust response from Mercedes team-mate George Russell at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The 19-year-old rising star of Italian sport leads the Briton, nine years his senior and the pre-season favourite for the title, by 20 points after four rounds of the 22-race championship as Mercedes unveil a major upgrade package.

For Russell, it is important to re-establish his authority in the team after two fourth-place finishes allowed his team-mate to revel in being the sole Silver Arrows man, astride the top of the podium.

&quot;I am expecting George, for sure, to be super-strong again in Canada,&quot; said Antonelli, whose precocious talent, wide smile and curly hair have become an image Italian sporting optimism following their football team&#39;s failure to qualifying for the World Cup.
&quot;He&#39;s always been strong in Montreal and he won last year so I have to be ready and be fully focused. I will do my best.&quot;

In addition to his hat-trick of pole, victory and fastest lap last year, Russell took pole at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2024 and will fancy his chances of winning both Saturday&#39;s sprint race and Sunday&#39;s Grand Prix.
Last year, Antonelli was fourth on the grid and finished third, his first podium finish.

This time, he hopes to be the first Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1952 to claim four straight wins, when he reeled off six.
Mercedes&#39; team chief Toto Wolff has side-stepped frenzied talk of Antonelli&#39;s prospects to concentrate on keeping balanced and cool.
&quot;Performance is only performance when it is delivered on track,&quot; he stressed.

&quot;We are just four races into the season and there is a long year ahead. It is an important race for us, but it does not decide anything. So, we stay balanced, keep learning and execute as well as we can.&quot;
&nbsp;
Mercedes&#39; challengers hopeful

The championship-leading Silver Arrows men are likely to be challenged by Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, with four-time champion Max Verstappen, who took part at the Nurburgring 24-Hours race last weekend, aiming to add to his three previous wins for Red Bull.
World champion Lando Norris won the sprint last year ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, but the pair collided in the Grand Prix which ended up finishing behind a safety car.

Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc will also be strong contenders despite team boss Fred Vasseur grumbling about rule changes, notably to the starting procedures, that have negated an advantage they enjoyed.
&quot;It was a bit harsh for us,&quot; he said of the introduction of a blue light five-second warning to ensure teams spooled up their turbos.
&quot;I understand what they did, for safety grounds, but the other option would have been to ask the others to start from the pit-lane if they think it&#39;s not safe.&quot;

Lance Stroll will be the only Canadian in the race, but like team-mate Fernando Alonso has little optimism as Aston Martin have struggled for performance with an uncompetitive Honda engine.
Alonso has hinted he is likely to retire from F1 and will decide his future during the summer months of the European leg of the season.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Scheffler counts on home comforts in CJ Cup title defense</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609348/scheffler-counts-on-home-comforts-in-cj-cup-title-defense</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609348/scheffler-counts-on-home-comforts-in-cj-cup-title-defense#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 26 13:29:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609348</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He tied the lowest PGA Tour 72-hole score to win]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As Scottie Scheffler&#39;s life continues to evolve on and off the course the world number one was happy to be home this week to defend his title at the PGA Tour CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Mckinney, Texas.

Scheffler tied the lowest PGA Tour 72-hole score to win by a whopping eight strokes last year at TPC Craig Ranch -- the course in the Dallas suburbs that is a comfortable commute from his home.

&quot;It was nice to have a home week, especially coming off a major championship,&quot; said Scheffler, who struggled on the demanding greens at Aronimink last week to finish seven strokes behind winner Aaron Rai at the PGA Championship.

Some rest on Monday, practice at another local course and Wednesday&#39;s pro-am made for a relaxed build-up to his title defense, Scheffler told reporters on Wednesday.

It&#39;s the kind of week he finds especially valuable since the arrival of his second child, son Remy, in March.

&quot;I think so far this year, when you add a second child to the mix, I think that&#39;s a whole different ballgame in terms of home life,&quot; said Scheffler.
&quot;There&#39;s a lot more activity for me at golf tournaments than there was early in my career. I think you just adjust. I can&#39;t spend as much time at the golf course as I did when I was younger, early in my career, and that&#39;s for a variety of reasons.

&quot;It&#39;s more important for me to get home in a timely manner now. A lot of it is just schedule adjustments. You just adjust your day and prioritize the things I need to prioritize.&quot;

Scheffler seems to keep firing on all cylinders whatever adjustments he has to make.
Although he couldn&#39;t conjure much Sunday magic at Aronimink, his 14th place finish marked his 10th top-25 of a 2026 campaign that included a win at La Quinta in the California desert and a trio of runner-up finishes, including at the Masters.

He&#39;ll try to get back to the winner&#39;s circle at a course significantly changed since his win last year. Scheffler says it plays &quot;fairly similar tee-to-green&quot; but the greens are &quot;definitely much more interesting.&quot;

Scheffler said it offers a chance to &quot;reset&quot; his putting after Aronimink.

&quot;Overall I feel like I&#39;m in a good spot,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#39;ve actually putted the best that I have in my career so far this year, and (I can) just kind of get a reset, get on some new greens, work on my reads, make sure I&#39;m checking all my fundamentals.&quot;&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Mavericks part ways with Kidd</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609171/mavericks-part-ways-with-kidd</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2609171/mavericks-part-ways-with-kidd#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 26 12:52:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2609171</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He has been at the helm in Dallas for five seasons]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Dallas Mavericks are &quot;parting ways&quot; with head coach Jason Kidd in a decision agreed by both parties, the NBA team said Tuesday.

&quot;The Dallas Mavericks announced today that the team has mutually agreed to part ways with head coach Jason Kidd,&quot; an article posted on the team&#39;s website said. &quot;The organization will immediately begin a comprehensive search for its next head coach.&quot;

Kidd has been at the helm in Dallas for five seasons, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024 under his guidance.

But a 26-56 campaign, in the Mavs&#39; first full season since they stunningly traded Slovenian star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025, spelled the end of his tenure.

Kidd, who won a title as a player with the Mavericks, said in April he was &quot;not part of the process&quot; that sent Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick.

Nico Harrison, who engineered the trade as Mavericks general manager, was fired in November.

The aftermath of the trade -- hugely unpopular with Mavericks fans -- was disastrous as Davis suffered an adductor muscle strain in his first game with the team and star guard Kyrie Irving then tore his left anterior cruciate ligament.

The two barely played together before Davis was traded to Washington in February.

The Mavs did get a glimpse of a brighter future with 19-year-old Cooper Flagg&#39;s Rookie of the Year campaign.

&quot;As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team,&quot; Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said.

&quot;We have high expectations for this franchise and a responsibility to build a basketball organization capable of sustained championship contention.

&quot;We will conduct a thorough, disciplined search for our next head coach and continue to evaluate our entire basketball operations staff to ensure we compete at the standard Mavs fans expect and deserve.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Pakistan squash stars set for Asian Junior Championships</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608796/pakistan-squash-stars-set-for-asian-junior-championships</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608796/pakistan-squash-stars-set-for-asian-junior-championships#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 26 11:43:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608796</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The championship is regarded as one of Asia’s premier junior squash events]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan&rsquo;s young squash players are all set to showcase their talent at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships 2026, scheduled to be held from May 20 to 24 in Panzhihua, China.

According to Pakistan Squash Federation, the national contingent, led by Director Academies Group Captain (R) Irfan Asghar and Head Coach Fahim Gul, will compete against top emerging players from across Asia in the prestigious junior event.
Pakistan&rsquo;s squad comprises five boys and two girls competing in different age categories.

In the boys&rsquo; events, Abdullah Nawaz will participate in the Under-19 category, Nouman Khan in Under-17, Ahmed Rayyan Khalil and Sohail Adnan in Under-15, while Mustafa Khan will feature in the Under-13 category.

In the girls&rsquo; competitions, Sehrish Ali and Mahnoor Ali will represent Pakistan in the Under-15 category.

The championship is regarded as one of Asia&rsquo;s premier junior squash events and provides a major platform for young players to gain international exposure and improve continental rankings.

Pakistan squash officials expressed confidence that the young players would deliver strong performances and continue the country&rsquo;s rich legacy in the sport.]]>
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			<title>Mohsin Nawaz becomes first shooting athlete to receive Tamgha-e-Imtiaz</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608794/mohsin-nawaz-becomes-first-shooting-athlete-to-receive-tamgha-e-imtiaz</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608794/mohsin-nawaz-becomes-first-shooting-athlete-to-receive-tamgha-e-imtiaz#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 26 11:33:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608794</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He currently holds 10 international individual medals in F-Class long-range shooting]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan&rsquo;s premier F-Class long-range shooter, Mohsin Nawaz, has become the first athlete from shooting sports to receive the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, marking a historic moment for the country&rsquo;s sporting landscape.

The award was conferred by President Asif Ali Zardari during the Presidential Awards ceremony held in Islamabad on May 13, said a press release.

Speaking after receiving the award, Nawaz described the honor as a milestone not only for himself but for the entire shooting sports community in Pakistan.

He expressed gratitude to his parents, supporters, and coaches, while also dedicating the achievement to young athletes striving for recognition in less-publicized sports.

Currently preparing for the 2026 F-Class World Championship in the United Kingdom, Nawaz continues to advocate for sports reforms, including improved training facilities and reduced import duties on specialized sporting equipment.

Widely regarded as Pakistan&rsquo;s most accomplished F-Class shooter, Nawaz has spent more than two decades building a reputation in a discipline that has traditionally received limited institutional support in the country. Born in Faisalabad on August 23, 1986, he began his competitive shooting career in 2004 at the Pakistan Ordnance Factory shooting club in Wah.

Nawaz currently holds 10 international individual medals in F-Class long-range shooting, the highest tally achieved by any Pakistani athlete in the sport.

His international achievements include podium finishes in the United States, South Africa, and Europe, including medals at the European Long Range Shooting Championship and the prestigious Imperial Championship. In 2023, he equalled a European record during the European Long Range Shooting Championship, further cementing his standing among elite long-range shooters worldwide.

At the national level, Nawaz has consistently dominated competitive shooting events, winning multiple gold medals in PARA Army Championships, national long-range championships, and benchrest competitions. He has also set several national records, including performances at the 2025 F-Class National Long Range Shooting Championship in Jhelum.

Beyond his competitive achievements, Nawaz has played a prominent role in promoting shooting sports in Pakistan. He recently joined Hawksmith Gun &amp; Shooting Club as a brand ambassador to support the development of world-class tactical training and precision shooting facilities in the country.

Internationally, he also serves as a brand ambassador for Austrian optics manufacturer KAHLES Sports Optics and South African bullet manufacturer Peregrine Bullets.]]>
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			<title>Spurs reach Western finals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608467/spurs-reach-western-finals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2608467/spurs-reach-western-finals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 16 May 26 12:06:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2608467</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[They secured an emphatic 139-109 win over the Timberwolves]]>
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				<![CDATA[The San Antonio Spurs booked their ticket to the NBA Western Conference Finals with an emphatic 139-109 win over the Timberwolves on Friday, as the resilient Detroit Pistons stayed alive in the East by defeating Cleveland.

The Spurs arrived in Minnesota with a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven semifinals, and led throughout a victory that sets up a tantalizing showdown series with the reigning champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

It is the first time a revitalized San Antonio has reached the conference finals since 2017. While the Thunder are heavy favorites for another championship, the dangerous Spurs enjoyed a 4-1 record against Oklahoma City in the regular season.

Stephon Castle led Friday&#39;s wire-to-wire win with 32 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 11-of-16 from the field, ably backed up by De&#39;Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, who added 21 and 19 apiece.

The win was vindication for French superstar Wembanyama, who was ejected from game four for smashing an elbow into the throat of Minnesota&#39;s Naz Reid, and was predictably targeted by the Timberwolves for the rest of the series.

&quot;I knew, obviously, what they were going to do... I felt like if I gave in to the physicality and the dirtiness, that would have helped them,&quot; said Wembanyama.

&quot;I knew I couldn&#39;t go over the edge again. So, you know, I had to beat them by playing basketball.&quot;

The Spurs got off to a fantastic start, tearing ahead in the first quarter, dominant in the paint and led by a rampant Castle.

Just when it was looking ugly for the Timberwolves, they fought back, their aggression spearheaded by star man Anthony Edwards.

But from a 74-61 halftime lead, the Spurs roared clear in the third quarter, successfully double-teaming Edwards to shut down Minnesota&#39;s most potent threat.

By the end of the third quarter San Antonio enjoyed an insurmountable 26-point lead, their 56 percent shooting accuracy far outstripping the opposition.

At a timeout with eight minutes remaining, a 25-point deficit on the board, and both teams preparing to send out their benches for the remaining minutes, Edwards walked over to pre-emptively congratulate the Spurs on their resounding win.

&quot;The words &#39;Conference Finals&#39; just seem surreal right now,&quot; said Wembanyama, 22.

&quot;It&#39;s something I heard my whole life, and now we&#39;re in it, it&#39;s kind of unreal.&quot;

- &#39;Great win&#39; -

Meanwhile, Cade Cunningham scored 21 points as Detroit staved off elimination with a 115-94 victory over the Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The top-seeded Pistons -- trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series before Friday&#39;s must-win game in Cleveland -- produced a dazzling early onslaught to build a double-digit lead that proved the difference between the two sides.

Cleveland, who had been unbeaten at their Rocket Arena home this postseason, will now have to win on the road in Sunday&#39;s decisive game seven in Detroit to advance.

Cunningham&#39;s 21 points included five three-pointers, while at the defensive end, Detroit center Jalen Duren delivered a dominant performance that included 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal.

Cunningham was one of six Pistons players to finish in double figures, with Paul Reed adding 17 off the bench, and Duren and Daniss Jenkins scoring 15 points apiece.

&quot;We&#39;re just playing our brand of basketball, coming out competing, trying to execute our system to the best of our ability, and we&#39;re together,&quot; Cunningham said afterward.

&quot;We stick together through everything, so it&#39;s a great win for us.&quot;

James Harden led Cleveland&#39;s scoring with 23 points while Donovan Mitchell was restricted to 18 points.

The Cavs started Friday&#39;s game brightly, opening up a six-point lead in the first quarter before the Pistons started firing to take a grip on the contest.

A devastating 22-4 run by Detroit saw the visitors accelerate into a commanding 39-27 lead in the second quarter and although Cleveland closed the gap to 54-51 at halftime, the Pistons regrouped impressively to snuff out the Cavs&#39; threat with a 30-19 third quarter.

That left Detroit leading by 14 points heading into the fourth and the result was never in doubt, with the Pistons maintaining a double-digit lead to close out victory.]]>
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			<title>Nepali climbers begin Everest season</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607915/nepali-climbers-begin-everest-season</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607915/nepali-climbers-begin-everest-season#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 26 15:38:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2607915</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At least 12 members of a rope-fixing team made the ascent]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A team of Nepali climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest on Wednesday, opening the route for hundreds of mountaineers expected to attempt the world&#39;s highest peak in the coming weeks.

At least 12 members of a rope-fixing team made the ascent, marking the traditional start of the spring climbing window, expedition organisers said.

&quot;The rope-fixing team reached the summit this morning,&quot; Chhang Dawa Sherpa of Seven Summits Treks told AFP from the base camp.
&quot;Climbers are already moving ahead,&quot; he added.

A second team, coordinated by Mingma G Sherpa of Imagine Nepal, assisted in preparing the route.

&quot;Climbers are waiting to summit, so it was important to open the route on time,&quot; he said.

The work had been briefly disrupted by a serac -- a block of glacial ice -- above the already treacherous Khumbu icefall, raising fears of delays early in the season.

However, teams established an alternative route to the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak.

Nepal has issued a record 492 Everest permits this season, with a city of tents set up at the foot of Everest for climbers and support staff.

As most mountaineers attempt the ascent with the help of at least one Nepali guide, about a thousand climbers will be heading for the summit in the next few days.

The high numbers have rekindled concerns about overcrowding on the mountain, especially if poor weather shortens the climbing window.

In 2019, congestion near the summit forced climbers to queue for hours in freezing conditions, with several deaths later blamed on overcrowding.

China has closed the northern approach from Tibet this season, pushing more expeditions onto Nepal&#39;s side.

Chinese climbers account for the largest share of permits this year (109), followed by Americans (76).

Three Nepali climbers involved in Everest preparations have died so far this season, while two foreign climbers died on other Himalayan peaks.

Home to eight of the world&#39;s 10 highest peaks, Nepal relies heavily on mountaineering tourism as a key source of revenue.]]>
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			<title>Scheffler-McIlroy rivalry sparks admiration</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607661/scheffler-mcilroy-rivalry-sparks-admiration</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607661/scheffler-mcilroy-rivalry-sparks-admiration#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 26 07:15:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2607661</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Top golfers explain what makes each other nearly unbeatable]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, who together have won four of the past five major titles, have impressed each other with their mental focus and golfing skills.

As world number one Scheffler and second-ranked McIlroy prepared to face a world-class field at Aronimink in the 108th PGA Championship starting Thursday, they examined each other&#39;s most formidable strengths.

Scheffler captured last year&#39;s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow and British Open at Royal Portrush while McIlroy took the green jacket at the Masters last month and last year.

McIlroy finds Scheffler&#39;s focus and consistency among his greatest weapons.

&quot;He has played consistently excellent golf for I would say ever since he got his first win back at the start of 2022, and he hasn&#39;t really dropped off since then,&quot; McIlroy said.&nbsp;

&quot;It has been four years of really excellent, consistent golf. You look at his game, and you would have said a few years ago that the putting was a weakness, but you wouldn&#39;t say that now.

&quot;And you look at all the other aspects of his game and you don&#39;t see a weakness, from a physical standpoint, from a mental standpoint.&quot;

Scheffler has runner-up finishes in his past three starts but has shaken off weak efforts quickly, McIlroy noted.

&quot;He seems like he has a good mindset of last week&#39;s done, I&#39;ll move on to this week,&quot; McIlroy said. &quot;Forget about whatever happened. He operates in the present so well, and that&#39;s one of his super strengths.&quot;

McIlroy impresses Scheffler in multiple ways as well.

&quot;When you look at just his game, his ability to drive the ball is the best I&#39;ve seen, not only with his speed but how accurate he is as well,&quot; Scheffler said of McIlroy.

&quot;He&#39;s able to take out certain things on some golf courses that not many players can do. He does it in a way where he hits a lot of fairways as well.&quot;

Scheffler also admires how long McIlroy, who won his first major at the 2011 US Open, has played at a top level.

&quot;Another thing is his longevity. Hard to have an understanding of what it takes to remain at the top for as long as he has,&quot; Scheffler said. &quot;Rory is one of those guys that checks the box each week. He&#39;s a guy I always see in the gym, the practice facility.

&quot;Players will have a greater appreciation when you see somebody like Rory who has had success over so many years. When you look at when he won his first major championship to now it has been 15 years.

&quot;That&#39;s pretty difficult to do, so for him to still be at the top of the game for this long is quite impressive.&quot;

&#39;High level&#39;

Australian Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters winner making his 100th career major start, finds both stars impressive in different ways while saying, &quot;These guys are both playing at a high level.&quot;

&quot;I played 18 holes at Augusta with Scottie before the Masters and even in the practice round, his mental approach to not just the game, but a round of golf -- it&#39;s like he picks the course apart,&quot; Scott said. &quot;He&#39;s so good, so controlled with his shots.
&quot;I was watching him even practicing and chipping, where he chipped from, it&#39;s very strategic. It seemed like he had all his bases covered. It&#39;s his approach, it&#39;s so smart, really.&quot;

McIlroy&#39;s willingness to open himself to the world earned Scott&#39;s appreciation.

&quot;There are so many great things about Rory,&quot; Scott said. &quot;Rory tells us a lot more about himself and his golf, and I think the fact that he has put himself out there, to be vulnerable with his game over the last couple years, is what impresses me about him.

&quot;The way he&#39;s able to take his lumps but he also gets some big highs as well. He&#39;s so talented, so the ceiling of his golf is really high, but I think that&#39;s gutsy to do that.&quot;&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>PSB rolls out digital platform for athlete talent scouting</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607640/psb-rolls-out-digital-platform-for-athlete-talent-scouting</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2607640/psb-rolls-out-digital-platform-for-athlete-talent-scouting#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 26 00:05:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Zulfiqar Baig]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2607640</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The system aims to ensure fair, transparent identification of athletes through a digital selection process]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has launched the National Talent Identification and Verification System (NTIVS), a digital, merit-based initiative aimed at providing a transparent and structured pathway for young athletes across the country to be identified and assessed for national-level opportunities.

The initiative addresses a long-standing gap in Pakistan&rsquo;s sports ecosystem, where aspiring athletes often relied on informal channels, personal connections, or limited exposure to gain recognition. Through NTIVS, PSB seeks to institutionalise a fair and documented mechanism that allows talented individuals to present themselves for evaluation on merit.

The system is open to Pakistani nationals aged 12 to 25 across all PSB-affiliated sports, excluding cricket. Applications can be submitted online through the PSB website in both Urdu and English, without any fee, and are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Under the programme, applications will undergo an initial screening by an independent panel of experts, after which shortlisted candidates will be referred to the relevant National Sports Federations (NSFs) for further technical evaluation and trials. Final selection decisions will remain with the respective federations, while PSB will act as a facilitator to ensure transparency and process integrity.

Physical evaluation camps will be conducted at designated centres across major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, and Skardu, ensuring access for athletes from remote and underserved areas.

A key feature of NTIVS is its emphasis on documentation and accountability, including mandatory performance footage, verifiable achievements, and written feedback at each stage of the process. The initiative also aims to build a national talent database to support long-term planning and resource allocation in sports development.

Director General PSB Yasir Pirzada termed the initiative &ldquo;a step towards transforming talent discovery into a transparent, inclusive, and merit-driven national system,&rdquo; adding that it is designed to ensure that &ldquo;no talented athlete is left unseen due to lack of access or opportunity.&rdquo;]]>
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