Jhonattan Vegas grabs surprise lead at PGA Championship

Jhonattan Vegas grabs surprise lead at PGA Championship
Vegas, who started on No. 10, posted birdies on five of his final six holes. (AP)
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Updated 16 May 2025
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Jhonattan Vegas grabs surprise lead at PGA Championship

Jhonattan Vegas grabs surprise lead at PGA Championship
  • The 40-year-old Vegas has won four times on the PGA Tour
  • World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shot 2-under 69

CHARLOTTE: Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas surged into the lead late in the first round of the PGA Championship, shooting a 7-under-par 64 on Thursday at Quail Hollow Club.

Vegas, who started on No. 10, posted birdies on five of his final six holes. He capped it with a 27-foot putt on his last hole.

Cameron Davis of Australia and newcomer Ryan Gerard are two shots back.

The 40-year-old Vegas has won four times on the PGA Tour, including last July in the 3M Open. But he has missed cuts in nine of his last 13 majors.

Davis, who tied for fourth in the 2023 PGA Championship before missing the cut in last year’s tournament, racked up seven birdies. He held the lead until a bogey on his last hole.

Gerard, a Raleigh native who played collegiately for North Carolina, is appearing in a PGA Championship for the first time. He led by three strokes after an eagle on No. 15 before making consecutive bogeys to end his round in the early afternoon.

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald of England shot 4-under 67 and was a co-leader in the clubhouse for a stretch during the afternoon. Donald completed his bogey-free round before Alex Smalley, New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, Germany’s Stephan Jaeger and England’s Aaron Rai joined him with 67s.

Jaeger navigated the course with six birdies and two bogeys, including on the final hole that cost him the solo lead.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shot 2-under 69, while defending champion Xander Schauffele finished at 1-over 72 and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the recent Masters champion and four-time winner of the PGA Tour stop at Quail Hollow, recorded 3-over 74.

Scheffler started on the back nine and notched an eagle on No. 15. But on the next hole, the trio of Scheffler, Schauffele and McIlroy all took double-bogey 6s.

Scheffler finished with birdies on two of his last three holes.

Smalley, who lives about 90 minutes away in Greensboro and has additional in-state ties as a former Duke golfer, was added to the field Wednesday when Sahith Theegala withdrew because of a neck injury.

US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is among a cluster of golfers at 3 under.

J.T. Poston, also North Carolinian, finished at 3 under after a bogey on the final hole. Michael Thorbjornsen, Englishmen Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton, Colombia’s Nico Echavarria, Japan’s Ryo Hizatsune, Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard, Sweden’s Alex Noren, Scotland’s Robert MacIntire and Puerto Rico’s Rafael Campos also completed rounds at 3 under.

With Donald and Bradley holding top-10 positions, it’s just the second time that two current Ryder Cup captains have ended a round in a major within the top 10 during a Ryder Cup year. It also happened in 1937.


Al-Ain set for IMMAF Youth World Championships

Al-Ain set for IMMAF Youth World Championships
Updated 31 sec ago
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Al-Ain set for IMMAF Youth World Championships

Al-Ain set for IMMAF Youth World Championships
  • More than 1,000 athletes to compete at the event running from July 21-27 at ADNEC Centre Al-Ain

AL-AIN: The sixth edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships it set to get underway on Monday in Al-Ain for the very first time.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the event will run from July 21-27 at ADNEC Centre Al-Ain.

More than 1,000 male and female athletes from over 60 countries will compete in what is shaping up to be the biggest edition in the championships’ history. Participants will compete across four age divisions: Youth D (10–11 years), Youth C (12–13 years), Youth B (14–15 years) and Youth A (16–17 years).

The UAE National Team enters the competition with 57 athletes, following a training camp in Phuket, Thailand, as part of their final preparations. The team is aiming for a strong showing and hopes to build on last year’s success, where they finished fourth overall and secured 12 medals.

Mohammed Al-Hosani, a member of the MMA Committee, UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mix Martial Arts Federation, said that hosting the championship in Al-Ain for the first time with a record number of participants reflects the UAE’s growing stature on the global combat sports map. He described the event as a sporting and cultural platform that promotes cross-cultural understanding and empowers youth.

“The championship serves as a launchpad for future champions and a bridge to connect nations through sports. A series of tailored experiences have also been designed for the athletes and delegations, offering them a well-rounded Emirati experience that blends hospitality, entertainment and cultural exchange.

“The UAE National Team is approaching the championship with high spirits and a strong sense of determination. We have all the confidence in athletes’ capabilities to deliver a powerful performance that highlights the progress of MMA in the country,” Al-Hosani added.


Clinical Bangladesh thump sloppy Pakistan in first T20I

Clinical Bangladesh thump sloppy Pakistan in first T20I
Updated 20 July 2025
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Clinical Bangladesh thump sloppy Pakistan in first T20I

Clinical Bangladesh thump sloppy Pakistan in first T20I
  • Taskin finished with 3-22 while Rahman grabbed 2-6 to dismiss Pakistan for their lowest total against Bangladesh in T20Is
  • Parvez smashed five sixes, three boundaries in his 39-ball 56 not out to help Bangladesh chase down the target in 15.3 overs

DHAKA: Fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman rocked Pakistan for 110 before opener Parvez Hossain hit an unbeaten 50 as Bangladesh won the first Twenty20 international by seven wickets in Dhaka on Sunday.

Taskin finished with 3-22 while Rahman grabbed 2-6 in his four economical overs to dismiss the visitors in 19.3 overs for Pakistan’s lowest total against Bangladesh in all T20Is.

Parvez smashed five sixes and three boundaries in his 39-ball 56 not out to help the home team chase down the target in 15.3 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Debutant Pakistan pacer Salman Mirza (2-23) jolted Bangladesh with wickets of Tanzid Hasan (one) and Litton Das (one) but Parvez and Towhid Hridoy (36) added 73 for the third wicket to ease up the chase.

It was only Bangladesh’s fourth win over Pakistan in 23 T20Is.

For Pakistan, opener Fakhar Zaman top-scored with a 34-ball 44, which included six boundaries and a six, while Abbas Afridi scored 22 and Khushdil Shah 17.

Pakistan’s previous lowest T20I total against Bangladesh was 127-5 at the same venue in 2021.

Litton admitted batting was not easy on a slow pitch.

“It’s not an easy wicket to bat on, but the way we batted, it looked good,” said Litton. “We took early wickets and that’s the key point.”

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha blamed poor batting.

“It wasn’t enough on the board as we lost wickets at regular intervals which we have to talk about before the second game,” said Agha.

Sent into bat, Pakistan had a disastrous start, with half the side dismissed for 46 in the eighth over with Saim Ayub (six), Mohammad Haris (four) and Agha (three) falling cheaply.

Hasan Nawaz fell without scoring and Mohammad Nawaz made just three.

Zaman, dropped on four and 30, added 24 for the sixth wicket before he was run out after being sent back by Khushdil Shah but was caught out of his crease.

Shah and Abbas took Pakistan past the 100-mark during their 33-run stand for the seventh wicket.

The remaining matches are on Tuesday and Thursday, also in Dhaka.


Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball’s 8th signing of the summer

Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball’s 8th signing of the summer
Updated 20 July 2025
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Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball’s 8th signing of the summer

Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball’s 8th signing of the summer
  • Canadian center arrives from Italian club Reyer Venezia, where he starred last season in the EuroCup and the Italian League

DUBAI: Canadian center Mfiondu Kabengele joins Dubai Basketball for the next two seasons after reaching an agreement with the club starting this September. The Canadian arrives from Reyer Venezia (Italy), where he starred last season in the EuroCup and the Italian League.

He is the eighth new signing following the announcement of Musa, Avramovic, Wright, Kamenjas, Jaiteh, Bacon, and Anderson joining Dubai’s head coach Jurica Golemac.

Kabengele had a fantastic season in the EuroCup with Reyer Venezia. He was the top rebounder of the competition, averaging 9.7 rebounds per game. He added 15.4 points, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal per game in 18 matches. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the All-EuroCup First Team.

In the Italian League, he was one of the best players on court. He averaged 15.2 points and 9.8 rebounds and had one of the best efficiency ratings in the competition (20.7).

Before moving to Europe, Kabengele played in the NBA from 2019 to 2022. The Canadian played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. In total, he appeared in 55 NBA games. In the G League, he had strong performances and helped the Rio Grande Valley Vipers win the title in 2022.

Kabengele is set to play a key role for Dubai Basketball in their debut EuroLeague season. Looking to improve on their third-place finish in the ABA League in their inaugural season, the Dubai side have assembled a roster to compete at the highest level in Europe.


Pakistan-India ‘World Championship of Legends’ cricket match called off amid tensions

Pakistan-India ‘World Championship of Legends’ cricket match called off amid tensions
Updated 20 July 2025
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Pakistan-India ‘World Championship of Legends’ cricket match called off amid tensions

Pakistan-India ‘World Championship of Legends’ cricket match called off amid tensions
  • Match called off hours after India’s Shikhar Dhawan withdrew from fixtures against Pakistan 
  • WCL features retired, non-contracted players from India, Pakistan, England and other nations

ISLAMABAD: A match between veteran cricket stars from India and Pakistan as part of the “World Championship of Legends (WCL)” tournament was called off on Sunday, the league announced after Indian players withdrew due to political tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. 

Sporting ties between arch-rivals India and Pakistan have remained limited due to political tensions between the two countries. Both countries engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades in May this year before a ceasefire was brokered by Washington on May 10. 

The WCL is a T20 tournament approved by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) held in England every year. The WCL features retired and non-contracted players from cricketing giants, including England, India, Pakistan, Australia, West Indies, and South Africa. 

In a statement released on its social media accounts, the WCL said it had decided to hold the India-Pakistan match in Birmingham after news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and witnessing the recent India vs Pakistan under-16 volleyball match in Thailand. 

“But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions,” the WCL’s message read. 

“More than that, we unintentionally caused discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends, who have brought so much glory to the country, and we ended up affecting the brands who supported us purely out of love for the game.”

WCL said it was due to these reasons it had decided to call off the match. 

“We sincerely apologize again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans,” it concluded. 

The league’s owners include its founder, Indian entrepreneur Harshit Tomar and Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn. 

The statement came hours after Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan wrote on X that he was withdrawing from India’s WCL matches with Pakistan. 

“My country is everything for me and nothing is worth more than that,” he wrote. 

The second edition of the WCL started on July 18 in Birmingham and has seen three matches played so far. Pakistan played the opening game of the tournament but Sunday’s clash was going to be India’s first.

Former Indian batter Yuvraj Singh is leading the India side while ex-Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez is leading the green shirts. 


Newcastle boss Howe confident Isak will stay on amid transfer speculation

Newcastle boss Howe confident Isak will stay on amid transfer speculation
Updated 20 July 2025
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Newcastle boss Howe confident Isak will stay on amid transfer speculation

Newcastle boss Howe confident Isak will stay on amid transfer speculation
  • British media reported earlier this week that Premier League champions Liverpool were interested in signing the 25-year-old Sweden international
  • Alexander Isak bagged 23 Premier League goals last season, only behind Liverpool talisman and Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said he is confident that striker Alexander Isak will be at the Premier League club at the start of the 2025-26 season, after leaving the Swede out of their 4-0 friendly loss to Celtic due to transfer talk.

British media reported earlier this week that Premier League champions Liverpool were interested in signing the 25-year-old Sweden international, who has three years left on his Newcastle contract.

Isak bagged 23 Premier League goals last season, only behind Liverpool talisman and Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah (29). Isak, capped 52 times for his country, joined Newcastle from Spanish side Real Sociedad in 2022 and has since netted 62 times in 109 appearances for the Magpies across all competitions.

“It was my decision. He traveled back to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him,” Howe told reporters after Saturday’s match.

“The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him. But I’m confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window.

“It’s difficult for me to give 100 percent clarity on any player. Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I’m confident he’ll be here at the start of the season.

“Yes, I’ve had discussions with him but that’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realize there’ll be noise around him.”

Newcastle, who qualified for Champions League football after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season, will next be in action against Arsenal in a friendly match in Singapore next Sunday.