Global Pulse

分类： sports

  • Former Nigeria striker Eneramo dies during match

    Former Nigeria striker Eneramo dies during match

    Former Nigeria international forward Michael Eneramo, a beloved figure who built a standout career across club football on three continents, has died following a suspected cardiac arrest that occurred mid-match during a friendly fixture, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed. The 40-year-old collapsed on the pitch in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna just five minutes into the second half of the game on Friday, and emergency personnel were unable to revive him.

    Eneramo earned 10 senior international caps for Nigeria’s Super Eagles over the course of his career, marking his debut against Jamaica in 2009. He notched his first and most memorable international goal in a 2009 friendly against the Republic of Ireland, before scoring a crucial strike in a 2–2 World Cup qualifying draw against Tunisia that secured Nigeria’s place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Despite his key contribution to the qualifying campaign, Eneramo was ultimately left out of the final tournament squad.

    Long before his international retirement, Eneramo built a formidable reputation across club football in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. His most iconic tenure came with Tunisian giants Esperance, where his imposing physical frame and relentless attacking energy earned him the fan nickname Al Dababa, meaning “The Tank” in Arabic. The four-time African champions honored his legacy in a statement posted to social media platform X, writing: “He was a symbol of strength, determination and resolve, and created unforgettable moments” for the club.

    Ahead of making his senior international debut for Nigeria, Eneramo rejected an opportunity to switch allegiances and represent Tunisia at the international level, choosing instead to represent his country of birth. Over the course of his club career, he also took up spells with teams in Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, where he continued to earn widespread respect from fans, teammates and opponents alike for his work rate, physicality and consistent goalscoring output.

    NFF general secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi described the sudden passing of the former striker as “devastating”, extending his condolences to Eneramo’s loved ones and the wider Nigerian football community. “I can only pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant his loved ones and the Nigeria football family the fortitude to bear the loss,” Sanusi said in an official statement.

    Eneramo’s death is far from an isolated incident: he is the latest in a growing line of high-profile former African international footballers to die suddenly on the pitch from suspected heart-related complications. Other high-profile names include Cameroon’s Marc-Vivien Foe, who collapsed and died during a 2003 Confederations Cup semi-final, Ivorian midfielder Cheick Tiote, and Ghana striker Raphael Dwamena, all of whom passed away in similar on-pitch cardiac events.

    As far back as 2009, a FIFA-funded medical research study concluded that Black African athletes appear to face a disproportionately higher risk of adverse cardiac events during competitive sports activity. In response to repeated tragedies, former Ivory Coast and Chelsea star Didier Drogba has repeatedly pushed for mandatory regular cardiac screenings for all professional players across the continent, a call that has gained renewed attention following Eneramo’s death.

  • Inoue-Nakatani fight highlights boxing’s surging popularity in Japan

    Inoue-Nakatani fight highlights boxing’s surging popularity in Japan

    On May 2, dubbed “The Day” by the Japanese boxing community, the Tokyo Dome will host what is widely considered the most high-profile bout in the nation’s boxing history: a showdown between two undefeated Japanese legends vying for supremacy. Undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue, boasting a 32-0 professional record with 27 knockouts and nicknamed “The Monster,” will face rising contender Junto “Big Bang” Nakatani, who holds an equally unblemished 32-0 record with 24 wins by KO.

    The bout carries unprecedented stakes for Japanese boxing, marking the first time two athletes from the country have ranked among the top six in Ring Magazine’s prestigious pound-for-pound global rankings, with Inoue holding the number two spot and Nakatani claiming sixth. All 55,000 general admission tickets sold out within days, and pay-per-view access has also been selling at record pace, drawing interest from demographics that have historically been less engaged with the sport, including women and children. Fans across the nation are already hailing this moment as the true golden age of Japanese boxing — a milestone that comes even as the country has long produced world-class champions, including Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Yoko Gushiken and Fighting Harada.

    What makes this moment particularly transformative, beyond one blockbuster bout, is the deep pipeline of young talent emerging across Japan’s lighter weight divisions, ensuring that this boom is not a one-off event. Standout prospects include Daiya Kira, a 2024 pro debutant who already holds a 3-0 record, and Riku Masuda, who scored a major upset by stopping legend Nonito Donaire earlier this year. This growing pool of contenders has experts convinced that the current wave of popularity will extend far beyond the May 2 main event.

    The energy of this boom is visible at gyms across Tokyo. On a recent warm evening at downtown Tokyo’s Kadoebi Boxing Gym, more than a dozen boxers trained relentlessly on heavy bags, driven by the momentum of the sport’s rising profile. Mikio Sakai, Japan’s fifth-ranked middleweight, explained that the sport’s appeal in the country stems from its alignment with traditional cultural values, what he calls “the samurai spirit” — the ability to build inner confidence and resilience through discipline. Like many Japanese boxers, Sakai’s introduction to the sport came through an unexpected cultural influence: his father introduced him to boxing by showing him the *Rocky* film franchise to teach him grit and determination, before he joined his high school’s boxing club. “I always thought punching was so cool from when I was a kid,” Sakai told reporters. “I aspired to be a strong man.”

    Beyond Inoue and Nakatani, Japanese boxing has already accumulated an impressive roster of current and former bantamweight champions in recent years, including Seiya Tsutumi, Yoshiki Takei and Ryosuke Nishida, with dozens more young athletes turning pro every year. The May 2 fight card is stacked from top to bottom: Naoya Inoue’s younger brother Takuma Inoue, who recently defeated Japanese star Tenshin Nasukawa, will defend his WBC bantamweight belt against former multi-division champion Kazuto Ioka.

    Japanese boxing pundits, many of whom reach huge audiences via social media, have been consumed with analyzing the bout’s potential outcomes. Former OPBF super bantamweight champion Shingo Wake is confident Inoue will emerge victorious, while former world champion Takanori Hatakeyama has warned Inoue against overcommitting to a knockout win, a mistake that could open the door for Nakatani to capitalize. While most analysts lean toward an Inoue win thanks to his superior experience, elite speed, and precise footwork and distance control, predictions remain far from unanimous. Nakatani, a taller right-handed southpaw with a longer reach, carries equal knockout power in both hands, making him a dangerous threat for any opponent.

    A defining trait of the modern Japanese boxing scene that sets it apart from many other global circuits is the stoic, disciplined demeanor shared by most of its top athletes. Many top Japanese boxers got their start in traditional martial arts like karate, which is widely taught as an educational character-building activity for children across Japan. Both Inoue and Nakatani trained in karate from early childhood, and grew up in supportive family environments that nurtured their boxing ambitions. Inoue’s father has served as his long-time trainer and closest advisor, and regularly appears alongside his son at press conferences. Nakatani, who moved to the United States as a teenager to study boxing and regularly trains in Los Angeles, has his brother in his corner for every bout, and works with Rudy Hernandez, one of the most respected trainers in professional boxing. “We won’t know until the bell rings,” Hernandez said of the bout’s outcome. “We have two great fighters.”

    In a contrast to the trash talk that often dominates promotion for major bouts in other countries, both Inoue and Nakatani have maintained polite, respectful interactions throughout the fight buildup, always addressing each other with a smile while reaffirming their commitment to winning. “I want to show you all a spectacular fight,” Inoue told reporters. “I’ve studied and thoroughly know Nakatani, the fighter.”

    When the opening bell rings on May 2, one of the two undefeated competitors will suffer their first professional loss. When asked if a draw — a outcome many fans are quietly hoping for — was on the table, Nakatani smiled and acknowledged it is highly unlikely, but not impossible. For Japanese boxing, regardless of the result, this historic bout already marks a new high point for the sport in the country.

  • Spain heads to World Cup with its image battered by cases of racism, sexism and xenophobia

    Spain heads to World Cup with its image battered by cases of racism, sexism and xenophobia

    MADRID – As Spain’s men’s national soccer team prepares to compete for the 2025 World Cup title, a string of high-profile discrimination incidents has plunged Spanish soccer into a global reckoning, overshadowing the team’s on-pitch success and raising urgent questions about cultural change within the sport. The latest controversy came in a March friendly match against Egypt, held in Barcelona, where a faction of Spanish supporters directed anti-Muslim chants at the Egyptian team and jeered the Egyptian national anthem – an incident that sparked international outrage just months before the World Cup kicks off. This incident marks the third major discrimination scandal to hit Spanish soccer in two years, following 2023’s racist abuse targeting Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior and the unwanted sexual advance by former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales against Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso. With Spain set to co-host the 2030 World Cup, cleaning up its international reputation as a tolerant host nation has become a top priority for Spanish authorities and soccer leaders, who have pushed back against framing the entire country as racist or discriminatory. Esteban Ibarra, leader of the Madrid-based Movement Against Intolerance, Racism and Xenophobia, argues that the harmful acts are limited to small, radical fan factions rather than the broader Spanish supporter base. “It’s not a very good image for Spain right now, but we can’t mistake these acts by minority groups, usually the ultra groups, with the actions of the majority of fans in Spain,” Ibarra noted. Spain’s highest sports governing body, the Higher Council for Sports, echoed that position in a statement to the Associated Press, stressing that the disruptive fans do not represent the vast majority of Spanish supporters. “These acts, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms, have been perpetrated by a group of people who in no way represent the vast majority of Spanish soccer fans,” the council said. “The chants were deplorable and cannot be repeated. We are confident that the Spanish men and women attending the World Cup this summer will support our team with passion and always with respect.” Critics and affected parties have pushed back against framing the incidents as isolated, however. The Egyptian Football Association called the chants “entirely unacceptable in football stadiums” and emphasized that this negative phenomenon must be collectively addressed and fully eradicated. Notably, the incident occurred even with 18-year-old Spanish star forward Lamine Yamal – a practicing Muslim – in Spain’s lineup. The day after the friendly, Yamal publicly condemned the chants as disrespectful and intolerable, arguing that the bigotry was unacceptable regardless of whether it was directed at him personally. “I understand that not all fans are like that, but to those who chant these things: Using a religion as a taunt on the field makes you look ignorant and racist,” Yamal said. “Football is for enjoying and cheering, not for disrespecting people for who they are or what they believe.” The RFEF has pointed to Yamal’s widespread popularity as proof that discrimination does not reflect the views of most Spanish fans, noting that Yamal’s jersey is the highest-selling Spain national team shirt and that he draws massive crowds everywhere the team travels. The federation also highlighted ongoing anti-discrimination campaigns run in partnership with the Spanish government and other soccer entities. In response to the incident, Spanish authorities launched a criminal investigation into the fan behavior, and FIFA has opened formal disciplinary proceedings against the RFEF. The anti-Muslim incident comes on the heels of two major scandals that already put Spanish soccer’s culture of discrimination under the global microscope. In 2023, Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid’s Black Brazilian forward, was subjected to racist slurs from ultra fans during a La Liga match in Valencia, prompting the star to speak out forcefully about the pervasive problem of racism in Spanish soccer. At the time, Vinícius said that the Spanish league “now belongs to racists” and that Spain was widely perceived as a racist country globally. He has since softened that framing, noting that racism exists in every nation, but continues to advocate for stronger action. After praising Yamal’s condemnation of the anti-Muslim chants, Vinícius said: “I’m not saying that Spain or Germany or Portugal are racist countries, but there are racists in these countries, and in Brazil and other countries as well. But if we keep fighting together, I think future players and people in general won’t have to go through this again.” Vinícius’ protest sparked widespread global support and pushed Spanish authorities to take stronger action against on-pitch discrimination. For the first time in Spanish professional soccer history, a court handed down a conviction for racial abuse in soccer following Vinícius’ repeated calls for accountability, and multiple other radical fans have received penalties for discriminatory acts. A recent ruling from the Spanish Supreme Court also set a new precedent for harsher sentences for intolerance in sports, marking a tangible step forward in the fight against discrimination. Just months after the Vinícius controversy, Spanish soccer faced another major cultural reckoning with the Rubiales scandal. After Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup, then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales grabbed Jenni Hermoso, a star Spanish player, by the head and kissed her on the lips without her consent. Rubiales ultimately resigned and was found guilty of sexual assault, with critics arguing the incident exposed deep-rooted sexism in Spanish soccer leadership. The RFEF says the scandal prompted sweeping internal reform: today, 50% of the federation’s board of directors are women, and women hold multiple senior leadership positions within the organization. As the World Cup approaches, Spain is grouped with Saudi Arabia, a majority-Muslim nation, adding extra urgency to addressing the recent anti-Muslim incident. Spanish soccer and government officials say they have put in place robust measures to prevent similar incidents during the tournament, including monitoring bulk ticket purchases to block known radical ultra fans from accessing matches. Ibarra argues that the high global attention on recent scandals has put Spain on alert, making it less likely that similar incidents will occur during the World Cup. “Especially now that Spain is on alert because of the international repercussion of the recent incidents, more severe measures are expected against these Spanish ultra groups that are responsible for these acts,” Ibarra said. The Spanish government said it has coordinated for years across law enforcement, soccer governing bodies, clubs and fan groups to stop a small faction of hooligans from tarnishing the sport. The government claims it has “one of the most advanced systems in Europe” to combat sports-related intolerance, with a dedicated anti-violence commission that coordinates action between law enforcement, prosecutors and other relevant institutions. Spain enters the 2025 World Cup as one of the pre-tournament title favorites. The team, which currently holds the European Championship title, recovered from a disappointing round-of-16 exit at the 2022 Qatar World Cup to win the 2023 Nations League and finish as runners-up in the 2024 iteration, building strong momentum on the pitch ahead of the tournament. But that on-pitch success has been partially overshadowed by the ongoing reckoning over discrimination, leaving observers waiting to see if the recent string of scandals will translate to lasting cultural change in Spanish soccer.

  • Jim Furyk is returning as US Ryder Cup captain for 2027, AP sources say

    Jim Furyk is returning as US Ryder Cup captain for 2027, AP sources say

    The world of professional golf is set for the 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland, with multiple sources close to the selection process confirming to The Associated Press that Jim Furyk will return as captain of the United States team. His appointment comes after Tiger Woods removed himself from consideration for the role, following a late March arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence that led the 15-time major champion to step away from competitive golf indefinitely to prioritize his health and recovery.

    Furyk’s selection makes him only the fourth American skipper to earn a second captaincy since 1979, the start of the modern Ryder Cup era when continental European players joined the competition. He follows Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Davis Love III, all of whom held the role twice over the past four decades. All three previous two-time captains led the U.S. team on home soil both times, leaving Furyk with a historic and daunting challenge: the Americans have not won a Ryder Cup held on European soil since 1993, a drought that has stretched more than three decades.

    The path to Furyk’s appointment began with the PGA of America’s original priority on Woods. For the 2025 Ryder Cup, the governing body delayed its selection to wait for Woods to confirm if he wanted the role, ultimately nominating surprise pick Keegan Bradley when Woods declined. For 2027, organizers set a soft late-March deadline for Woods to make a final decision, with a shortlist of vetted candidates ready to be considered if he turned down the post.

    That contingency plan was activated after Woods’ March 27 incident in Florida: his SUV struck a pickup truck’s trailer on a residential street, flipping the vehicle onto its side. Authorities determined Woods was impaired, leading to his arrest and brief jailing. Four days after the crash, Woods announced he would step away from competitive golf indefinitely “to seek treatment and focus on my health,” and formally notified the PGA of America he could not take on the 2027 captaincy. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the official announcement has not yet been made, confirmed the Ryder Cup committee moved directly to select Furyk after Woods’ withdrawal. When contacted by AP, Furyk declined to comment via text message, and the PGA of America issued a vague statement Friday saying, “We look forward to sharing details regarding our 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain announcement soon.”

    Furyk first led the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2018 at Paris’ Le Golf National, where Europe secured a lopsided 17 1/2-10 1/2 victory. That tournament was marred by internal friction for the U.S. side: all four of Furyk’s captain’s picks combined for a dismal 2-10-0 record across match play sessions, and star Patrick Reed publicly blamed teammate Jordan Spieth for poor paired play and Furyk for benching him twice during the event.

    Despite that 2018 defeat, Furyk has rebuilt his reputation as a strong leader in subsequent team events. He captained the U.S. Presidents Cup team to a victory in 2024, and served as a trusted assistant captain under Keegan Bradley for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. That event saw Europe take a commanding seven-point lead after the first two days of play, holding on to claim a second consecutive victory under captain Luke Donald, who will return for his third straight Ryder Cup at Ireland’s Adare Manor in 2027. If Donald leads Europe to victory in 2027, he will become the first captain ever to win three consecutive Ryder Cups.

    The challenge facing Furyk is steep by any measure. Dating back to the 1995 Ryder Cup at Oak Hill, Europe has claimed 11 victories from the 15 contested matches, cementing a decades-long era of dominance over the American side. While the U.S. scored a resounding home victory at Hazeltine in 2016, they collapsed two years later at Le Golf National, a course designed with narrow fairways and thick rough that neutralized the American team’s power. After opening with a 3-1 lead on the first day, the U.S. failed to win a single session for the rest of the tournament, with all four captain’s picks including Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Bryson DeChambeau combining for just one half-point from nine matches.

  • Turkey to return to F1 calendar in 2027

    Turkey to return to F1 calendar in 2027

    The Turkish Grand Prix is set to make a permanent comeback to the Formula 1 schedule starting in 2027, marking a six-year absence from the global racing series, Formula 1 has officially announced. The iconic Istanbul Park circuit will host the annual race through at least 2031, locking in a multi-year agreement between motorsport’s governing body and Turkish event organizers.

    Istanbul Park holds a special place in modern F1 history: it was the venue where British racing legend Lewis Hamilton secured his seventh world drivers’ championship in wet, treacherous conditions back in 2020, tying Michael Schumacher’s long-standing all-time record. Turkey’s first run on the F1 calendar stretched from 2005 to 2011 before the event was dropped from the annual lineup. It made a brief return in 2020 and 2021, when F1 scrambled to fill out its race schedule amid widespread event cancellations triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Contrary to early speculation that the addition of Turkey would expand F1’s controversial 24-race maximum calendar cap, series officials confirmed the total number of annual races will not rise beyond the current limit. The Turkish Grand Prix will take the place of existing events as their hosting contracts expire, or will be integrated into a new rotational race system that F1 has begun rolling out for several European venues. This model mirrors the new agreement for the Belgian Grand Prix, which will host four races across the six-year period from 2026 to 2031 rather than holding an annual event.

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed the announcement as a vote of confidence in his country’s capabilities. “Formula 1 ranks among the world’s foremost sporting events, distinguished by its spectacle, its young fan base, and its leadership in automotive technologies,” Erdoğan said in a statement. “In our country, too, Formula 1 enjoys a broad following across all age groups – especially among our youth – with a truly passionate fanbase. The races reach nearly 19 million people in our country, while around 7.5 million follow them closely on social media. I regard Turkey’s return to the Formula 1 calendar as a clear reflection of the strong confidence placed in our country – in our robust organisational capacity, in our modern sports and healthcare infrastructure, and, of course, in the renowned hospitality of the Turkish nation.”

    Stefano Domenicali, CEO and President of Formula 1, echoed the enthusiasm for the return to Istanbul. “We are delighted to be returning to the incredible and vibrant city of Istanbul from 2027 to thrill all our fans in Turkey and around the world on one of the most exciting and challenging circuits in Formula 1,” Domenicali said. “As a city, Istanbul represents a cultural gateway between Europe and Asia, offering a unique blend of history and tradition with a forward-thinking approach to sport, business, and entertainment.”

  • ‘They can make a mess of us’: The worrying trend Storm must fix if they want to extend crazy streak against the Rabbitohs

    ‘They can make a mess of us’: The worrying trend Storm must fix if they want to extend crazy streak against the Rabbitohs

    For more than two decades, the Melbourne Storm have held an unbeatable record on their home turf against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, holding a flawless 20-0 win streak in matches played in Melbourne. But this Saturday, that historic run faces its most threatening test yet, as the NRL powerhouse confronts an internal issue that has derailed its 2026 season before it even hits the halfway mark: crippling 20-minute concentration lapses that have turned premiership contenders into table drifters.

    No one knows the Storm’s identity better than club legend Cameron Smith, widely regarded as the greatest player in NRL history. Smith was the first to flag the worrying pattern that has brought the franchise its longest losing skid in 14 years. The Storm, who entered the 2026 season as one of the top favorites to lift the premiership trophy after back-to-back grand final appearances, have dropped five consecutive matches, leaving them clinging near the bottom of the ladder heading into the Anzac Day weekend clash.

    The core issue is not consistent poor performance across full 80-minute matches, head coach Craig Bellamy acknowledges. Instead, the team repeatedly falls apart in short, concentrated stretches of play that cost them critical points and match results. This pattern has played out week after week: in the 2025 grand final rematch against the Brisbane Broncos, the Storm held a lead before conceding three tries in just 17 minutes to throw away the win. Against the North Queensland Cowboys, three tries went to the opposition in six devastating late minutes. Last week against Canberra, the Raiders crossed the line twice in quick succession in both halves to secure the win.

    Injury woes have compounded the team’s focus problems, too. The Storm lost key stars Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jonah Pezet in the off-season, and long-term injuries to starting players Eli Katoa and Xavier Coates have gutted the team’s depth and consistency. It is a far cry from the opening two rounds of the season, when Melbourne exploded out of the gate to score 98 points and looked set to dominate the competition.

    Bellamy echoed Smith’s assessment of the problem, saying the team’s failure to compete for a full 80 minutes is the root of its current slump. “We just seem to find ways of not playing for the full 80 minutes; we’re only playing for 50 or 60 minutes,” Bellamy said. “Cameron Smith made the point that you don’t win games in this competition by playing for 50 or 60 minutes, and that’s basically what we’ve been doing. We’re just picking a different time each week of (when to play) the 50 or 60 minutes.”

    The coach emphasized that consistent full-game intensity is non-negotiable for turning the season around, even when the team is put under pressure. “It’s important that we get our jobs done for 80 minutes, and hopefully the team can get their jobs done for 80 minutes,” he said. “We just need to put that effort in that we’re putting in at other times and make sure we do it for 80 minutes. There are going to be stages in the game where your backs are against the wall and things are going to happen that put you on the back foot, but that’s when you’ve got to stiffen up, toughen up and get through that period. You’ll know at some stage that it’s going to end, but you’ve just got to keep turning up.”

    The historic 20-0 home streak against South Sydney will get its biggest challenge on Saturday night, with the Rabbitohs poised to target Melbourne’s right defensive edge with their red-hot left attack. Star fullback Latrell Mitchell comes into the match fresh off a four-try haul against the St George Illawarra Dragons, while winger Alex Johnston holds an incredible personal record against the Storm, with 17 tries from just 15 career matches against the Melbourne side.

    Bellamy said his defensive unit on the right edge is gearing up for the toughest test of the season so far, and acknowledged a lapse in focus against the Rabbitohs’ star pairing would be catastrophic. “I’d like to think that our right hand side will be up for it,” Bellamy said. “We know with Latrell and Alex how good a player they are and what they can do to you. If you don’t aim up, they can make a mess of us.”

    For the Storm, this weekend’s clash is not just about protecting an almost unheard of long-term home winning streak. It is also a critical chance to fix the concentration issues that have derailed their season, and avoid a sixth straight loss that would put their once-certain finals hopes in serious jeopardy.

  • ‘Raw and honest’: India climbers face obstacles in race to the top

    ‘Raw and honest’: India climbers face obstacles in race to the top

    In a display of jaw-dropping speed, Indian speed climber Deepu Mallesh can scale a vertical wall equivalent to the height of five full-sized city buses in just five seconds – a feat so quick it can easily slip past an untrained eye. Yet for Mallesh and dozens of other elite Indian climbers chasing international Olympic dreams, the biggest obstacle is not the steep rock face in front of them, but the systemic barriers that have left the sport largely unsupported in a cricket-mad nation.

    Once a niche recreational activity, competitive climbing has exploded in grassroots popularity across India over the past decade. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) reports that tens of thousands of people now participate in sport climbing regularly, with more than a dozen purpose-built commercial climbing gyms opening across the country since 2014. But while recreational participation has surged, the transition to a full-time professional career has remained out of reach for most talented athletes, held back by prohibitive costs, near-zero sponsorship access, and a complete lack of official government recognition.

    Today, just 3,500 climbers compete at any level across India, and only around 60 athletes earn the chance to compete in international tournaments each year. Many promising climbers have been forced to walk away from the sport entirely due to financial pressure. For those who persist, like 28-year-old Mallesh, balancing elite training with basic survival is a constant juggle. Mallesh, who has already represented India in international competition and dreams of becoming the first Indian climber to qualify for the Olympic Games, works part-time as a climbing instructor to fund his training and competition goals for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

    “What I like most about climbing is how raw and honest it is. It’s just you, the wall and the clock,” Mallesh explained. Despite placing outside the medals at last month’s IFSC World Climbing Championships in China, Mallesh set a new Indian national record of 5.39 seconds in the men’s speed discipline, and earned a spot to compete at the 2025 Asian Games in Tokyo this autumn. Still, his journey has been marked by financial uncertainty. For years, Mallesh relied entirely on crowdfunding to cover international competition costs, raising roughly 1 million rupees ($10,500) two years ago to attend six global events. He has missed multiple competitions over his career simply because he could not raise enough money to cover travel and entry fees. “If I get proper funding and proper support I might see my career through till the Olympics. Otherwise I will have to find something else to do,” he said.

    The financial burdens facing climbers are substantial even at the basic level. A single high-quality pair of climbing shoes and safety harness costs around 10,000 rupees ($106), and a chalk bag for improving grip costs an additional 5,000 rupees. Unlike regular athletic shoes, competition climbing shoes wear out quickly, lasting just three to six months with regular training – and most athletes carry a backup pair for competition events. Nineteen-year-old 2024 Asian climbing silver medalist Joga Purty is one of the rare lucky few: she holds a sponsorship from Indian conglomerate Tata, a lifeline that has allowed her to continue competing. “If I didn’t have this I also would be one of those who quit the sport,” Purty said.

    Unlike most major sports in India, competitive climbing has not earned official government recognition or support under the National Sports Governance Act. IMF representative Keerthi Pais says the organisation is currently in active negotiations to secure this designation, a change that would open up access to government funding, training infrastructure, and development programs that could transform the sport’s trajectory in India. “This recognition will help them continue their climbing career,” Pais said. For Mallesh, official status would do far more than provide symbolic validation: “It directly impacts support, funding, infrastructure and sponsorship opportunities.” Pais added that government policy to reduce barriers for building new climbing gyms would also be transformative, calling the move “the game-changer” that would unlock widespread, sustainable growth for the sport.

    Commercial gym operators have already stepped into the gap left by limited government support, acting as a catalyst for grassroots growth. Mumbai-based The Indian Bouldering Company owner Shaiv Gandhi says private facilities have driven rising public awareness and provided the specialized training infrastructure that emerging athletes need to develop their skills. His gym has even launched an internal talent scouting program that allows promising young climbers to train for free, putting the onus on facility owners to nurture the next generation of elite competitors. “We already have a programme where we have told our instructors to keep an eye out for budding talent… if anyone you think has potential, let them climb. It’s on me,” Gandhi said. Since 2002, Indian climbers have already claimed nearly 70 medals across international competitions, including top finishes at Asian youth championships, proving that with systemic support, Indian athletes could compete with the best in the world on the global stage.

  • ‘Always has been’: Michael Cheika receives strong support as the former Wallabies coach continues to be linked with the Dragons

    ‘Always has been’: Michael Cheika receives strong support as the former Wallabies coach continues to be linked with the Dragons

    As the St. George Illawarra Dragons search for a permanent replacement for outgoing head coach Shane Flanagan ahead of next season, a high-profile cross-code candidate has received a glowing endorsement from one of the NRL’s most respected club leaders. \n\nTrent Robinson, the long-serving Sydney Roosters head coach, has publicly backed former dual-code international rugby union coach Michael Cheika, confirming the 59-year-old possesses every quality needed to succeed as an NRL head coach — and argued that club CEOs and chairmen simply need to take a chance on him.\n\nCheika’s name has repeatedly circulated as a candidate for NRL head coaching vacancies over the past several years, but the decorated mentor has never been given an opportunity to lead a top-flight NRL side, despite a stellar track record across global rugby union. His resume includes head coaching roles with the Australian Wallabies, Argentina’s Pumas, and the Lebanese rugby league international side, a resume that has kept him on the radar for NRL clubs seeking fresh leadership.\n\nCheika already has deep ties to the Roosters organization: he first joined the club as a consultant back in 2020, and has recently returned to the NRL premiership contenders in a specialist role working with the club’s forward pack. That working experience has given Robinson a first-hand look at what Cheika would bring to any NRL head coaching role.\n\nWhen asked whether NRL clubs would be willing to hire a coach with a primarily rugby union background, Robinson redirected the question to the decision-makers at the top of clubs, but left no doubt about Cheika’s credentials. “He’s a head coach, that’s pretty clear, and he always has been,” Robinson told reporters. “Whenever that comes up, he’ll be a head coach in the future somewhere pretty quickly, so he’ll be ready to go.”\n\nRobinson added that Cheika’s work with the Roosters forwards has been a major boost to the squad, noting that while Cheika continues to familiarize himself with the specific nuances of NRL play, his decades of elite coaching experience have already added immense value to the club. “He works with the forwards a lot and he’s worked really well with that crew. Building that mindset along with the skill set, he’s learning at the same time around the nuances of the game, but the mindset he’s had for a long time, so he’s been a good value add,” Robinson said.\n\nBeyond Cheika, Robinson also praised another product of the Roosters’ coaching pathway: club legend and former NSW captain Boyd Cordner, who recently stepped into a new role as assistant coach for the NSW Blues State of Origin side. Cordner replaced outgoing Dean Young, who stepped up to serve as the Dragons’ interim head coach following Flanagan’s departure announcement.\n\nCordner has already built a strong coaching resume through his work leading the Roosters’ SG Ball Cup youth side, and Robinson said the former premiership-winning forward has all the tools to become a top-level head coach in the future. “He is a great coach. He will be a great coach. And it’s a good step towards his future,” Robinson said. “(He’s got a) deep knowledge of rugby league, so he knows the nuances of the game. He knows how the game should be played, and then he’s got the ability to communicate that. So it’s Boydo’s choice that if he wants to go down that line, then he can, and he’s obviously doing it in part-time roles. But Boyd is and will be a very good coach.”\n\nLooking ahead to the Roosters’ upcoming Anzac Day clash against the Dragons, Robinson said his side is focused on preparing for their opponents rather than being distracted by the Dragons’ ongoing off-field coaching saga. The biggest talking point for the match is the NRL debut of Dragons rookie halfback Kade Reed, who is expected to be a primary target for the Roosters’ aggressive defensive line.\n\nRobinson confirmed that the Roosters have done their full scouting work on Reed, noting that while the young half is making his first NRL appearance, he has extensive experience through the junior and reserve grade pathways. When asked about the strategy of targeting debutant playmakers, Robinson said modern NRL requires all 13 players to step up physically, regardless of position or experience.\n\n“That’s the game, that will always be a part of it. But it won’t just be him,” Robinson said, also confirming Roosters centre Billy Smith will not return to the side for this week’s clash. “The game used to be played where years ago, they (smaller halves) used to play second line (defence) and they used to slot in on the far side of where the defensive lines were or where the ball was and move around. That’s not the case anymore. You need 13 guys aiming up and it’s a physical game.”\n\nRobinson added that the Roosters’ preparation for the match has centered on reviewing their own recent performance and locking in their game plan, rather than making drastic adjustments to target Reed. “Our most important preview for this game was our review, and that’s the things that we want to do and the things that we want to improve on,” he said. “You don’t change direction, but our style of game can double down on some of those areas that we want to attack. We’ve done our work as we do each week, no more than any other player that we face each week. But we’re really clear on the way that he plays the game and what he’ll bring to them, and then also what we need to do. He’s played a lot of footy, and we’ve watched him play a lot of footy. He just hasn’t played NRL yet. He’s played a trial, but he’s played a lot of reserve grade and he’s come through the grades, so as long as you do your work, you know the player.”

  • Raiders take Mendoza with first pick of NFL Draft

    Raiders take Mendoza with first pick of NFL Draft

    The 2026 NFL Draft opened its three-day selection process in dramatic fashion Thursday outside Pittsburgh Steelers’ home stadium, drawing a record crowd of 320,000 fans to the outdoor event, where the Las Vegas Raiders landed highly touted college football star Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick.

    The 22-year-old quarterback was a near-unanimous favorite to claim the top selection after a historic 2025 college season, where he led Indiana to its first ever national championship and claimed the Heisman Trophy. With the selection, Mendoza becomes just the third player in NFL history to earn a Heisman Trophy, a national title, and the first overall draft pick in the same calendar year, joining elite company that includes Cam Newton (2011) and Joe Burrow (2020).

    In a break from draft tradition, Mendoza skipped the iconic red carpet walk and opening ceremony in Pittsburgh to share the life-changing moment with his family at his Miami home. In a playful, modern twist on the draft declaration process, the business graduate had previously announced his entry to the draft by updating his LinkedIn status to “Open to Work” — and he refreshed the profile less than 60 minutes after receiving the iconic call from Raiders management to confirm his selection.

    The franchise’s minority owner, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, who is also Mendoza’s childhood idol, was quick to welcome the rookie to Las Vegas. Posting on social platform X shortly after the pick, Brady wrote: “Welcome to Las Vegas. Time to get to work.” Mendoza, who will join veteran quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and 2023 first-round selection Aidan O’Connell in the Raiders’ quarterback room, noted ahead of the draft that Brady has already committed to mentoring the team’s new signal-caller. “He has mentioned that whatever quarterback they select… he is going to pour into them and give them advice,” Mendoza said. “I’m really looking forward to that.”

    While Mendoza’s selection was widely expected, the first round of the 2026 draft was defined by unexpected picks, strategic trades, and heartwarming personal stories from across the league. Analysts had widely labeled the defensive front as the deepest position group in this year’s draft class, and the New York Jets lived up to pre-draft projections by selecting star pass rusher David Bailey with the second overall pick. The next two selections swung back to offense: the Arizona Cardinals took dynamic running back Jeremiyah Love at third, before the Tennessee Titans turned heads with a surprise fourth-round pick of wide receiver Carnell Tate, who appeared just as shocked as fans and analysts by the early selection.

    The New York Giants held two of the first 10 selections, and used the picks to shore up both sides of the ball, selecting pass rusher Arvell Reese at fifth and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at 10. The 20-year-old Mauigoa, who grew up in American Samoa, paid tribute to his roots with a custom collage of his homeland printed on the back of his draft suit. “I never thought I’d be here,” he said after the pick. “If I can do it, you can do it.”

    The Kansas City Chiefs, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014 this past season and are in the midst of a roster rebuild, pulled off one of the first major trades of the night, moving up from the ninth selection to sixth to land coveted cornerback Mansoor Delane. “They weren’t really on me too much in this process,” Delane said after the pick. “But they said they just wanted to keep it quiet and make that sneaky move, and they made the best move of the draft so I’m excited.”

    Multiple other teams climbed the draft board to target priority prospects: the Dallas Cowboys moved up one spot to select star safety Caleb Downs at 11, while the Los Angeles Rams pulled off the most controversial surprise of the first round by selecting former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at 13. Simpson had been projected as a possible first-round pick, but few analysts expected him to be taken as early as the 13th overall selection, after only 15 career college starts. The Rams’ selection has sparked widespread speculation that the team is planning for life after veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, the 2025 league MVP who turned 38 in February and has only committed to one additional season with the franchise.

    BBC Radio analyst Rob Staton noted that the Rams’ move hints at a long-term plan that was put in motion a full year ago, when the team traded with Atlanta to acquire the 13th overall pick. “There’d been little expectation that the Alabama quarterback would go that high, given he only started 15 games in college,” Staton explained. “You can’t help but wonder if the Rams, when making that trade a year ago, did so with a plan for the future at quarterback in mind. He does have some excellent throws on tape and he clearly has natural talent, yet his inexperience showed up when he started to feel pressure in the second half of last season. It’ll help that Simpson is working with a head coach like Sean McVay, but there’s no substitute for game experience.”

    Elsewhere in the first round, the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a last-minute trade to jump in front of the host Pittsburgh Steelers and select wide receiver Makai Lemon at 20th overall. The Steelers responded by selecting Nigerian-born offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, who moved to the United States at age 13. First-round picks featured many legacy prospects as well: Washington Commanders selected pass rusher Sonny Styles, the 21-year-old son of Super Bowl-winning linebacker Lorenzo Styles Sr., whose older brother Lorenzo Jr. is also expected to be selected later in the draft. “He’s my best friend, my inspiration,” Sonny Styles said. “We’ve dreamed about this since we were five years old so to see it all happen, we’re living out the dream, but it’s just the beginning.”

    Day one of the draft saw eight total trades shake up the selection order, with six teams finishing the first round holding two selections, while the New York Jets ended up with three first-round picks after jumping back into the round to select wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. The draft will continue Friday with rounds two and three, before concluding Saturday with rounds four through seven.

  • Not so Api days: Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau facing three-match ban for hip-drop tackle

    Not so Api days: Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau facing three-match ban for hip-drop tackle

    One of the National Rugby League’s most in-form players has had his dream of a State of Origin recall derailed by a significant suspension stemming from a dangerous tackle in a top-of-the-table clash. Api Koroisau, inspirational co-captain of the resurgent Wests Tigers, has been hit with a grade 2 dangerous contact charge from the NRL Match Review Committee for a hip-drop tackle on Canberra Raiders forward Noah Martin during the Tigers’ Round 8 victory on Thursday.

    The incident unfolded in the 25th minute of the tight contest, which saw the Tigers climb into a share of first place on the NRL ladder alongside defending premiers Penrith Panthers. Koroisau was sin-binned immediately for the tackle, and while Martin managed to play through the initial discomfort, the Raiders forward was forced out of the game early in the second half and did not return.

    The suspension carries particularly harsh consequences for the veteran dummy-half, who had emerged as a leading contender for a recall to the New South Wales Blues State of Origin squad ahead of the 2026 series opening match on May 27. Under NRL charging rules, Koroisau will serve a three-match ban if he accepts the early guilty plea, which would see him miss upcoming critical fixtures against the Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles. If he chooses to challenge the charge at the NRL Judiciary and loses, that ban will stretch to four matches. The Blues squad for the series opener will be announced just two days after the Tigers’ clash with Manly, ruling Koroisau out of contention for selection regardless of his decision.

    The setback is a particularly cruel one for the Wests Tigers, who have staged a stunning early-season resurgence under new head coach Benji Marshall, with Koroisau widely cited as the locker room and on-field leader driving the team’s unexpected climb up the ladder. After the match, Marshall publicly slammed the NRL’s officiating for inconsistency, defending his star player and questioning how the tackle should have been executed under current rules.

    “Yeah, look, it’s probably not a good time, but who cares?” Marshall told reporters after the win. “The inconsistency of the referees is annoying me at the moment to be honest. I know we won but some of the calls … it’s hard to understand. In Api’s case with the sin bin, I don’t know what he’s supposed to do in that situation. He’s making a cover tackle from behind, of course he’s going to land on his legs. There are heaps of things that didn’t go our way. I just think the fans deserve some consistency around the interpretations of the rules, and we’re not getting it.”

    With Koroisau set to miss the next three weeks, the Tigers have already begun planning for life without their starting hooker. Reserve hooker Tristan Hope is the frontrunner to step into the starting line-up, while in-form playmaker Jock Madden – who has recently filled in for injured half Jarome Luai in the halves – is also an option to shift into the dummy-half role. Two other players from the Round 8 clash received minor penalties: the Tigers’ Fonua Pole and the Raiders’ Corey Horsburgh accepted small fines for grade 1 offenses from the match. Koroisau has a history of four appearances for the NSW Blues, last representing his state in the opening match of the 2023 State of Origin series.