分类： sports

In a poignant interview from Paris, Iranian-French chess grandmaster Mitra Hejazipour has revealed the profound emotional distress she continues to endure while monitoring anti-government protests and severe internet blackouts in her homeland. The 32-year-old athlete, who fled Iran five years ago following her symbolic removal of the mandatory hijab during an international tournament in Moscow, now finds herself grappling with sleepless nights and anxiety as she struggles to contact family members amid widespread communications shutdowns.

Hejazipour, who obtained French citizenship and became national champion in 2023, described the current situation as ‘highly distressing,’ particularly after receiving harrowing accounts from medical contacts within Iran. ‘A friend working at a hospital shared devastating details about numerous gunshot wounds, especially eye injuries, and many fatalities,’ she disclosed while promoting her newly released autobiography, ‘The Chess Player.’

The protests, initially triggered by economic hardships in late December, have evolved into the most significant challenge to Iran’s leadership in recent years. Independent monitoring organizations estimate the death toll ranges from several thousand to as many as 20,000 casualties resulting from the government’s brutal crackdown on dissent.

Despite her successful chess career in exile—which includes leading the French team to a third-place finish at the world championships—Hejazipour remains emotionally connected to Iran’s struggle. She expresses cautious optimism that ‘the sacrifice of Iranians will not be in vain’ and predicts the eventual collapse of the current regime. The chess prodigy identifies Reza Pahlavi, son of the former shah living in American exile, as a potential unifying figure for establishing democratic governance.

Her memoir recounts a childhood in Mashhad where chess became ‘a balm to soothe my sorrow, my shield against life’s uncertainties.’ The defining moment came in December 2019 when she dramatically removed her headscarf during the World Championship in Moscow, an act that precipitated her exile. Now settled in Paris, Hejazipour has established a charitable organization dedicated to promoting chess as an empowerment tool for women worldwide.

Melbourne Park witnessed a captivating blend of elite athletic performance and high fashion on day three of the Australian Open, where defending champions asserted their dominance while a former winner made an unforgettable sartorial statement.

Reigning men’s champion Jannik Sinner commenced his campaign for a historic third consecutive title, though his opening match concluded under unfortunate circumstances. The world No. 2 demonstrated initial rustiness, saving three break points in his first service game before finding his rhythm against French opponent Hugo Gaston. The match ended abruptly at 6-2, 6-1 when Gaston retired due to injury, leaving Sinner victorious after just 68 minutes on court. The Italian consoled his weeping opponent and later expressed satisfaction with his off-season preparation, despite the unsatisfactory conclusion.

On the women’s side, Madison Keys navigated a turbulent start to her title defense against Ukrainian qualifier Oleksandra Oliynykova. Trailing 4-0 with multiple double faults, the American ninth seed staged a remarkable comeback, securing a tense first-set tiebreak before dominating the second stanza 6-1. Oliynykova, making her Grand Slam debut with distinctive blue floral face tattoos, challenged Keys with unorthodox deep shots but ultimately succumbed to the champion’s powerful baseline game.

The day’s most dramatic entrance belonged to Naomi Osaka, whose court arrival overshadowed even the competitive action. The two-time Australian Open champion emerged carrying a white parasol with an extensive trailing veil, complemented by a wide-brimmed hat and a turquoise tunic with crimped white trousers. Osaka later revealed the ensemble was “modelled after a jellyfish.” Her tennis performance mirrored the unpredictable nature of her inspiration, fluctuating before ultimately prevailing against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Other notable results saw 2023 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas avoid another first-round exit by coming from behind against Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki. Meanwhile, 2021 U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez suffered defeat to Janice Tjen, who became Indonesia’s first Australian Open match winner in 28 years. Higher seeds Elena Rybakina, Belinda Bencic, and Jelena Ostapenko all progressed comfortably in straight sets.

The global golfing community turns its attention to the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai this week as the prestigious HERO Dubai Desert Classic commences on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026. This tournament marks the inaugural Rolex Series Event of the year, assembling an exceptional field of golf’s elite competitors alongside emerging talents and regional players.

Northern Irish superstar Rory McIlroy dominates the spotlight, bringing immense international interest to what is widely celebrated as the ‘Major of the Middle East.’ McIlroy’s connection to the event runs deep—the Desert Classic served as the platform for his first professional victory in 2009. He has since claimed the title four times, establishing an extraordinary legacy at this venue. His frequent appearances in the UAE, including recent participation in November’s Abu Dhabi Championship and DP World Tour Championship, demonstrate his strong affinity for the region’s world-class facilities and ideal playing conditions.

The tournament follows closely on the dramatic conclusion of last week’s Dubai Invitational, where Spain’s Nacho Elvira overcame significant pressure and a competitive field to secure victory at Dubai Creek Resort.

Beyond the Desert Classic, professional golf action spans multiple continents this week. The PGA Tour presents The American Express in California with a $9.2 million purse, while the MENA Golf Tour launches its season with two events in Egypt—the Egypt Golf Series at New Giza Golf Club and Address Marassi Resort, each offering $100,000 in prizes.

Meanwhile, Dubai-based professional Rayhan Thomas continues his campaign on the Korn Ferry Tour at The Bahamas Great Aboco Classic. Following a tied-33rd finish last week, Thomas aims to improve upon his tied-27th performance from last year’s event. The competition intensifies this season as only the top 20 finishers (reduced from 30) will earn coveted PGA Tour cards for 2027, evidenced by last week’s remarkably competitive cut line at seven under par.

New Zealand’s campaign for the upcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup has encountered a significant hurdle with two key players sustaining injuries just weeks before the tournament. Pace bowler Adam Milne and all-rounder Michael Bracewell both suffered muscle injuries during separate matches on Sunday, casting doubt on their participation in the global cricket championship scheduled to begin February 7 across India and Sri Lanka.

Milne, known for his express bowling, damaged his left hamstring while delivering a ball for Sunrisers Eastern Cape during a SA20 league match in South Africa. The injury occurred during his bowling spell and has prompted immediate medical assessment to determine the severity and recovery timeline.

Simultaneously, Bracewell sustained a left calf strain while fielding during the third One-Day International against India in Indore. New Zealand Cricket officials confirmed both injuries in an official statement, indicating that Bracewell’s condition would be monitored closely before determining his continued involvement in the ongoing tour.

In response to these developments, the selectors have called up all-rounder Kristian Clarke as backup for the first three T20 Internationals against India, beginning Wednesday. Clarke, who recently impressed during the ODI series against India, will provide additional pace-bowling options for the Black Caps.

Head coach Rob Walter addressed the challenging situation, noting: ‘We’re managing considerable player movement at this crucial juncture. Some athletes are returning from previous injuries, others are transitioning directly from franchise commitments, and the remainder are coming off the ODI series. This presents an excellent opportunity for Kristian to extend his stay with the squad following his impressive demonstration of talent and composure under pressure during the ODI matches.’

New Zealand’s World Cup campaign commences in Group D against Afghanistan on February 8 in Chennai, with these injury concerns adding complexity to their final preparations for the prestigious tournament.