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Jesse Love will drive the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2027.The team announced the news Wednesday, a week after confirming that driver Josh Berry will not
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Paula Badosa fought back tears after recording her first victory since April as she fought back to beat Coco Gauff 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Berlin Open on Wednesday."It's been very
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Ahead of next month’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on July 25, organisers have revealed two marquee matchups featuring athletes whose stories extend far beyond rankings and records.From coffee shops and music culture to
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Under the patronage of the Ministry of Sports, the UAE Committee for Talent and Sports Support (UAETSS) signed five agreements to enroll a new group of young athletes into its modern sailing training and rehabilitation
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Harry Kane scored twice in the first half as England eventually saw off Croatia 4-2 to launch their World Cup title assault in Texas on Wednesday.Jude Bellingham, immediately after half-time, and substitute Marcus Rashford with
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Cristiano Ronaldo's 25 touches against Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston on Wednesday were his fewest in a game at a major tournament for Portugal when playing the full match. (AFP) Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane all made blistering starts to the World Cup. And then there was Cristiano Ronaldo.Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has a major decision to make over the 41-year-old following the 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday.Ronaldo, who once vied with Messi for the unofficial title of best player on the planet, huffed and puffed his way through a match in which he was a peripheral figure up front. His 25 touches were his fewest in a game at a major tournament for Portugal when playing the full match.The contrast with Messi was stark, the 38-year-old having hit a hat-trick a day earlier to give defending champions Argentina a 3-0 win over Algeria. With Portugal searching for a winner in Houston, Martinez elected to keep the veteran captain on the field throughout even though he never seriously looked like scoring.A draw against the African side, appearing in their first World Cup since 1974 when the country was known as Zaire, was a stuttering start for a team rated as outside title contenders in North America."When you are looking for goals you need Cristiano on the pitch, it makes no sense to get the best goal-scorer in the world out in a game where you need goals," Martinez said. He added: "In moments like this, the experience of Cristiano in the box is important."In his prime, former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus superstar Ronaldo was one of the best players in football history. Behind his success was a relentless drive for self-improvement and a refusal to settle for second best.By turning out against the DRC he has now played in a record-equalling sixth World Cup, testament to how he has looked after his body. He scored 30 goals in 37 games for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia this season, and has an incredible 143 goals in 229 appearances for his country.As his career has progressed and his pace ebbed away, Ronaldo has moved from the wings to central striker. He had his chances against the DRC, who came into the World Cup ranked 46 to Portugal's five, twice stabbing the ball wide after being set up by Francisco Conceicao.With Ronaldo and Portugal increasingly desperate, he took away a cut-back destined for Bruno Fernandes, who was in a better position to score.Former France striker Thierry Henry accused Ronaldo of being selfish. Henry said on Fox: "The team needs to score, not you need to score."There were clear signs well before now of a drop-off at elite international level for Ronaldo, who has gone 10 games at major tournaments without scoring. In the Qatar 2022 World Cup knockout rounds, then-coach Fernando Santos sensationally dropped a misfiring Ronaldo for their last two matches.That makes Martinez's dogged faith in a player that is now four years older even more baffling to outsiders. For the Houston stalemate, opposition midfielder Ngal'ayel Mukau was asked if they had a plan to contain Ronaldo."Not really. We know he's no longer the same player as before and that he's older now," he replied. "At his age he can no longer put in the same effort as before, but I have tremendous respect for him."Mukau's assessment was kinder than some of the flak going Ronaldo's way, and Martinez has not been spared either. Some pundits accused the Spaniard of being afraid to drop the skipper or even substitute him."That's embarrassing from Martinez," former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said on the BBC after Martinez kept Ronaldo on and took off midfielder Vitinha in the 83rd minute. "He's scared to take him off. He's not the manager... the game has passed him (Ronaldo) by today."Critics say it is not as if Martinez does not have alternatives. Goncalo Ramos, the Paris Saint-German striker who replaced Vitinha, is a ready-made replacement and out-and-out number nine.Portugal face World Cup debutants Uzbekistan next, but despite the evidence stacking up against Ronaldo it would be a shock if he does not start once again. Related Story
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President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and Lusail International Circuit Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif al-Mannai and Turkish Automobile Sports Federation President Eren Uclertopragı pose after signing a cooperation agreement in Turkiye. The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and the Turkish Automobile Sports Federation (TOSFED) formalised a landmark five-year cooperation agreement, marking a significant step forward in the shared ambition of both organisations to elevate motorsport on the international stage.The agreement, signed on Thursday in Turkiye, lays the groundwork for structured knowledge transfer, joint development programmes, and ongoing collaboration across sporting, technical, safety, and sustainability matters.Both QMMF, which serves as the legal and operational entity of Lusail International Circuit (LIC) in Qatar, and TOSFED, the sole recognised national governing body for motorsport in Turkiye recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), bring decades of experience in hosting world-class motorsport events and developing national talent. The agreement signals a commitment to pooling that expertise in a sustained and structured manner.Central to the five-year agreement is a dedicated focus on knowledge sharing, encompassing professional expertise in race operations, safety standards, and sustainable practices. The collaboration also prioritises the development of drivers and officials alongside the coordination of international events. To facilitate these objectives and ensure the partnership yields concrete results for both organizations, a joint committee will be formed to establish a comprehensive agenda and strategic timeline.The agreement also opens the door to collaboration on major international events. Both Qatar and Turkiye have established themselves as premier destinations for elite motorsport championships. On the occasion of the signing of the partnership agreement, the motorsport leadership from both countries commented on the occasion.“This agreement reflects the kind of partnership that moves our sport forward. Qatar and Turkiye share a deep commitment to motorsport excellence, and by combining our knowledge and experience, we can create lasting value, not just for our own federations, but for the broader motorsport community. We look forward to building something meaningful with TOSFED over the years ahead,” said President of QMMF and the Lusail International Circuit Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif al-Mannai.TOSFED President Eren Uclertopragı said: “Qatar is a country that successfully hosts major global events such as Formula 1, MotoGP, and the World Endurance Championship (WEC). We aim to establish joint official training and exchange programs tailored for these types of high-profile organizations. Additionally, we look forward to developing joint events where Turkish and Qatari athletes can compete together, alongside launching impactful social responsibility projects.”Chief Executive Officer of the Lusail International Circuit Abdulaziz Ali al-Mohannadi said: “Lusail International Circuit has always stood for more than a world-class race weekend. It stands for a vision of what motorsport can achieve when the right people and the right institutions work together. This partnership with TOSFED is an extension of that vision, and we are proud to be building these bridges at an international level.”For his part, Executive Director of the QMMF Amro al-Hamad said: “The cooperation between QMMF and TOSFED opens up real and practical opportunities for both organisations to grow. Through joint programmes, shared expertise, and a genuine exchange of ideas, we can develop motorsport in ways that benefit athletes, officials, and fans alike. This is the kind of collaboration that creates a lasting legacy.” Related Story
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Cristiano Ronaldo's record-equalling sixth World Cup got off to a disappointing start as the Democratic Republic of Congo secured their first ever point at the finals, drawing 1-1 with Portugal in their Group K match
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More than 400 international sailing delegates will gather in Qingdao, China from November 16 to 21 to shape the future of the sport, World Sailing announced on Wednesday, naming the city host of its Annual Conference and Awards.Qingdao, in Shandong Province, hosted the Olympic sailing competition at the 2008 Beijing Games and is known as China's sailing capital. World Sailing's president, Li Quanhai, is the first Chinese national to hold the role.The conference brings together delegates to discuss proposals, address challenges facing the sport and share suggestions for improvement at all levels.The World Sailing Awards, also part of the event, recognises athletes and those working to develop and innovate in sailing worldwide.Li Quanhai defeated incumbent Kim Andersen of Denmark by eight votes to become the first Chinese president of World Sailing. He is currently serving a second four-year term.'The Annual Conference is always a special occasion, one where the global sailing community is able to come together, discuss proposals, celebrate our successes and share suggestions to improve the experience for sailors at all levels while speaking openly about challenges facing the sport worldwide and create new opportunities for the growth,' said World Sailing Chief Executive David Graham.
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Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti has pulled out of Wimbledon, it was announced on Wednesday. Italian Lorenzo Musetti pulled out of Wimbledon on Wednesday as he continued to recover from the thigh injury that meant the former world number five also missed the French Open.Musetti, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2024, has not played since he fell to Casper Ruud in the fourth round of the Italian Open in Rome in mid-May."I want to update you on my recovery from the injury I sustained in Rome: rehabilitation is going very well and the medical results are encouraging," the 24-year-old Musetti wrote on Instagram."Unfortunately, as I have not yet been able to begin a full athletic training program, and after careful evaluation, we have come to the difficult conclusion that I will not be able to participate in Wimbledon this year.""It is not an easy decision, but it is the right one." Related Story
