分类： sports

LIVIGNO, Italy — Olympic halfpipe gold medalist Ayumu Hirano has provided a cautiously optimistic update regarding his physical condition following significant injuries sustained last month, indicating his intention to compete in the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games. The Japanese snowboarding superstar suffered a severe crash during a competition in Switzerland, resulting in a broken nose and pelvic fractures according to his training team’s social media reports.

The 27-year-old athlete, who captured gold at the previous Olympics after securing two silver medals in earlier Games, remained deliberately vague about his current recovery status. In an official statement distributed by the Ski Association of Japan, Hirano expressed his competitive philosophy: “I just have to trust what I’ve built up to this point so far and ride the way I’m capable of riding.”

Historical significance awaits Hirano should he medal in Cortina, as Olympics.com identifies him as potentially becoming the first Japanese Winter Olympian to achieve podium finishes across four consecutive Games. His career has been defined by groundbreaking performances and legendary rivalries, particularly his dramatic back-and-forth battle with snowboarding icon Shaun White during the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where he narrowly missed gold.

Hirano’s breakthrough moment occurred four years ago when he successfully landed the revolutionary triple cork maneuver—three inverted aerial rotations—to surpass Australian competitor Scotty James for Olympic victory. Reflecting on his mental approach, Hirano noted: “I think it’s been a process of coming to terms with myself and recognizing what I needed to work on. I’ve always felt like the challenger, so not a lot has changed about me as far as I’m concerned. I hope to be myself, just give it everything I’ve got.”

With official halfpipe training sessions commencing Sunday and men’s qualification rounds scheduled for next Wednesday, the snowboarding community awaits Hirano’s return to competitive form amidst concerns about his recent injuries.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — As the T20 World Cup approaches, New Zealand confronts the challenge of pursuing its maiden title with a notably depleted bowling arsenal. The Black Caps, historically strong in the shortest format, are strategically pivoting to leverage their profound batting strength and a roster rich with seasoned all-rounders to offset these limitations.

The team’s campaign follows a sobering T20 series defeat in India, where their bowling unit was decisively overpowered. A particularly stark moment was the fifth match, where India posted a colossal 271-5, featuring a blistering 40-ball century from Ishan Kishan. In another instance, India chased down New Zealand’s total of 153 with eight wickets and a staggering 10 overs to spare, highlighting the pressing concerns within the bowling department.

Captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged the difficulty, quipping that the only solution might have been to ‘push the boundaries back.’ However, he emphasized the invaluable intelligence gathered from the series, which the team will carry into their World Cup opener against Afghanistan in Chennai.

The bowling hopes rest significantly on the shoulders of pace bowler Jacob Duffy. The 31-year-old, entering his first World Cup, is coming off a record-shattering 2025 season where he claimed 81 wickets, eclipsing a longstanding national record. He is currently ranked the world’s No. 4 T20 bowler. He is supported by a pace attack including Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, and late call-up Kyle Jamieson, who replaces the injured Adam Milne. Potential paternity leaves for Henry and Ferguson could see reserve Ben Sears activated.

The spin department is led by Santner and Ish Sodhi, with versatile players like Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, and Michael Bracewell providing additional options. Sodhi noted the batters have undertaken specific training to hone their strategies against spin bowling, a crucial skill for the subcontinent conditions.

New Zealand’s primary confidence lies in a powerful and deep batting lineup. It features explosive opener Finn Allen, who boasts international and domestic strike rates of 165.45 and 175.23 respectively, alongside Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and wicketkeeper Tim Seifert. The squad’s balance is further enhanced by all-rounders Jimmy Neesham, Bracewell, and Phillips—the latter also being an exceptional fielder with 52 T20I catches.

Head coach Rob Walter expressed confidence in the team’s composition, stating, ‘World Cups are special and there’s few better places to play one than in India. We have a group which can make New Zealand proud.’ He highlighted the critical balance of power-hitting, adaptable bowling, and the five all-rounders who each offer a unique skill set. This experienced group, many with extensive global franchise exposure, is familiar with the pressures of the subcontinent.

Drawn into Group D alongside Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, and the UAE, New Zealand will rely on its proven match-winners and collective experience to finally capture the elusive T20 World Cup trophy.

The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament (AWST) 2026 witnessed a spectacular display of athletic prowess on Wednesday, with basketball courts and fencing pistes serving as stages for regional competition. The event, which brings together 65 teams from 16 Arab nations competing across nine sports, is set to continue until February 12th.

On the basketball court, Tunisia’s Al Amal Sports Club delivered a masterclass performance, launching their championship campaign with a resounding 100-54 victory over Bahrain’s Al Hala Club. The Tunisian squad established an insurmountable lead early, concluding the first quarter at 24-11 before executing a devastating 31-5 run in the second period. This offensive surge created a commanding 55-16 halftime advantage. Despite a tied final quarter (24-24), Al Amal’s dominance remained unchallenged throughout the match.

The day’s second basketball encounter featured Iraq’s Gaz Al Shamal Club overcoming a strong start from the UAE’s Khorfakkan Women’s Sports Club to secure an 81-71 victory. After trailing 21-19 in the opening quarter, the Iraqi team mounted a impressive comeback, outscoring their opponents 26-17 in the second period to claim a halftime lead they would not relinquish.

Tournament hosts Sharjah Women’s Sports Club reinforced their championship credentials with a convincing 74-49 win against Kuwait’s Al Fatat Sports Club. Demonstrating strategic superiority and athletic precision, Sharjah controlled the tempo across the first three quarters (19-16, 21-7, and 22-12), establishing a foundation that rendered Kuwait’s narrow fourth-quarter advantage (14-12) insignificant.

Meanwhile, the team fencing competitions concluded with Oman’s Salalah Club emerging as the dominant force. The Omani team topped the medal standings with an impressive haul of seven medals (three gold, two silver, and two bronze) across épée, sabre, and foil disciplines. Saudi Arabia’s Alula Club secured second place with six medals (three gold, two silver, one bronze), while the UAE’s Sharjah Women’s Sports Club claimed third with four medals (one silver, three bronze).

Basketball action continues Thursday at Al Batayih Cultural & Sports Club with three scheduled matches: Al Fatat Sports Club versus Al Amal Sports Club at 12:00 PM, Al Hala Club against Khorfakkan Women’s Sports Club at 2:00 PM, and a concluding match between Jordan’s Al Fuheis Club and Sharjah Women’s Sports Club at 4:00 PM.

In a spectacular display of resilience and skill, Dubai Basketball secured their 12th EuroLeague victory in a debut season thriller, overcoming Olympiacos 108-98 in overtime before an electrified crowd of 6,500 at Coca-Cola Arena. The Wednesday night showdown showcased Dubai’s emergence as a formidable force in European basketball, setting the stage for their historic first-ever home encounter with legendary club Real Madrid on Thursday.

The match unfolded with immediate intensity as Dubai established early dominance through aggressive defensive pressure, rapid transition plays, and confident shooting. The home team maintained control throughout regulation play, feeding off the energy of what has become one of Europe’s most challenging home court environments. However, Olympiacos mounted a determined comeback that culminated in a dramatic last-second three-pointer, forcing overtime and momentarily silencing the arena.

Dubai demonstrated remarkable composure in the extra period, locking down defensively while executing with precision on offense to secure the victory. Center Mfiondu Kabengele delivered a dominant performance with a powerful double-double, supported by crucial contributions from Dwayne Bacon and McKinley Wright during critical moments. Aleksa Avramović set the early tempo on both ends of the court, exemplifying the team’s collective identity of fearlessness and unity under pressure.

Head Coach Jurica Golemac emphasized the significance of the hard-fought win, stating: ‘This was an extremely intensive game with tremendous physicality and energy. We maintained our passion throughout the momentum shifts and demonstrated championship character to ultimately prevail.’ Golemac specifically highlighted the importance of home court advantage ahead of the upcoming Real Madrid matchup, expressing hope for increased fan support to strengthen the team’s familial atmosphere.

With the regular season entering its decisive phase, Dubai Basketball continues to establish Coca-Cola Arena as an impenetrable fortress while building momentum in the heated race for EuroLeague postseason positioning. The team’s growing confidence and cohesive identity position them favorably as they prepare to host one of basketball’s most iconic franchises in what promises to be a landmark event for Middle Eastern sports.

Pakistani cricket icon Zaheer Abbas, renowned for his elegant batting during the 1970s and early 1980s, has expressed profound disappointment over the escalating tensions between Indian and Pakistani cricket authorities. The former International Cricket Council president described the current state of relations as “heartbreaking” in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times.

The deterioration reached new lows with Pakistan’s decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India following Bangladesh’s elimination from the tournament. This development follows last year’s Asia Cup controversy where Indian players refused handshakes with Pakistani counterparts, triggering chaotic scenes, mutual allegations, and subsequent boycott threats.

“I don’t know how to react to everything that has happened between the two countries’ cricket boards,” stated the 78-year-old legend during a phone conversation from Karachi. “It’s heartbreaking that we have reached a stage where all we see is negativity and bitterness.”

Abbas highlighted specific incidents that violated cricket’s spirit, including the absence of traditional handshakes during the Asia Cup and India’s refusal to accept trophies from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi during presentation ceremonies. The cricketing great emphasized that “nobody is bigger than the sport” and condemned the unsportsmanlike behavior displayed by administrators and players from both nations.

Reflecting on his playing era, Abbas recalled how cricket served as a bridge for cultural exchange despite political tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. “I played numerous matches against India and developed lasting friendships with Indian players. Politics never influenced our on-field competitions or off-field relationships,” he reminisced. “Cricket previously united people through positive interactions and mutual respect—what we witness today stands in stark contrast to those values.”

The cricketing legend urged both nations to prioritize dialogue over confrontation, emphasizing that cricket administrators should focus on progressing the sport rather than damaging it through perpetual conflict.