Month: August 2025

The Asian Games are Asia’s biggest multi-sport event and a platform for international exchange, cultural connection, and the celebration of diversity across the continent.

Held every four years, the Asian Games feature both Olympic-style sports and those unique to the continent such as kabaddi and sepak takraw. This mix reflects the rich culture of Asia and offers spectators a chance to see competitions that don’t often receive international attention.

MMA will feature six events in its Asian Games debut and be classed as a discipline under Combat Sports, alongside kurash and jujitsu. Interest will be high, not only because of cricket’s popularity in Asia but also because it represents a major milestone in the sport’s Olympic history. It will be the first time that the sport has been played at the Olympics since 1900 in Paris when matches between Great Britain and France were held.

Esports will be part of the Asian Games 2026 with 11 titles confirmed including PUBG and League of Legends. The inclusion of esports at the Asian Games is a reflection of its growing popularity, but also shows how the choice of titles can be strategic to optimize production and broadcasting and align with the stringent protocols required by high-stakes international sporting events.

The logo and slogan for the Asian Games 2026 were created by a group comprising members of the Organizing Committee as well as representatives from various communities, utilizing input from local people. They are intended to communicate the spirit of the Games, which offer an opportunity to develop a new direction for inclusive society and Para sports.

The Champions League is one of the most prestigious competitions in world football. Originally the tournament was limited to teams from different European countries, but eventually it became an open tournament that accepted clubs from all nations. Over the years, it has grown to its current size of 36 teams.

The competition continues with a series of two-legged knockout games through to the final that takes place in May. From the 2024-25 season, the format was changed to make it more streamlined. Rather than having groups, the Champions League has individual eight-game fixture lists for each team. This makes the league phase more meaningful and gives the final eight a clear path to the semifinals.

UEFA have also changed how the draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals works, with the teams not being split into different pots. This allows any remaining club to be drawn together regardless of whether they finished first or second in their group, played in the same group with each other, are a team from the same domestic league, or have ever met before in a previous Champions League tie.

The new system has created a number of intriguing clashes. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, for example, will have to face Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Tottenham and Arsenal, all from Pot 1. This looks like a gauntlet run that could prove difficult for them. It also means that a single result could mean the difference between qualifying for the last 16, having to compete in a two-legged play-off round, or dropping into Europa League.

For many nations, international qualifiers are more than just football matches; they’re battles for identity and national pride. The grueling process can test the limits of teams and athletes and it can also produce incredible moments of skill, courage and emotion. The outcome of qualification often determines whether a nation will be on the map or sink into obscurity. For those lucky enough to achieve qualification, the experience can be life changing and a source of immense pride. But for others, qualification can be a crushing blow that ends in heartache and despair.

In Europe, qualifying is often the last chance for countries to play top-quality opposition before they become established on the world stage. The format, which involves teams being grouped into groups and playing each other home and away, has revolutionised the continent’s football. It has given smaller nations the kind of regular calendar they would previously have struggled to secure, allowing them to invest in coaches and youth setups. It has also allowed them to build competitive match experience against some of the best in the world.

This week sees the first round of group qualifying for the 2026 World Cup come to a close, with the race for places in the United States, Mexico and Canada reaching a crucial phase. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have a chance to make their mark with the group runners-up entering an inter-confederation play-off. However, as the coronavirus crisis in South America continues to impact fixtures, analysts warn that it could be a case of too little too late for some of the region’s teams.

ANY sincere fan will, at times, display what might seem like an inordinate amount of emotional attachment and angst over sports celebrity gossip. Whether it’s a megamusic or film star spotted in the stands, a viral social media moment or a star athlete struggling through a crushing injury, celebrities add a level of interest and excitement that can boost viewership and ticket sales. But as fans, it’s important to strike a balance between entertainment and responsible engagement by fostering a critical mindset and prioritizing more substantial issues.

In this week’s episode, Charlotte and Madeline start the show with some admin orders of business then dive into the latest sports celebrity gossip. Find out what NBA star Damian Lillard is up to with his Subaru lifestyle, WNBA star Suni Lee and her NBA boyfriend OG Anunoby make things official and a teen powerlifter obliterates the world record in a lift that had the athletics world in awe.

Plus, Patrick Mahomes opens up about his dad’s 2024 DUI arrest, Piers Morgan threw in the white towel after calling Jake Paul’s fights “boring, staged bulls***” and more.

The third staging of the World Test Championship final begins at Lord’s on Wednesday with reigning champions Australia taking on South Africa. The home of cricket has played host to both of the previous showstopper finals, held in 2021 and 2023.

Whether or not the result at Lord’s is a high-scoring thriller, the fact that it’s happening is a positive sign for the future of Test cricket. There are fears that the game’s ‘Big Three’ powerhouse nations will dominate in red-ball competitions, but the fact that two teams outside the top five have made it to the final in the space of a year — and with two more besides — is encouraging.

It’s also encouraging that the Proteas and Australians have both prepared well for the final, with the latter using their IPL experience and county cricket in England to fine-tune their approach. A win for either side will prove that their hard work has paid off, and will mark a triumphant return to ICC tournament glory after years of hurt at the one-day and T20 World Cups.

Despite the success of the new tournament, many of its details have been criticised. For example, some have complained that it’s unfair that the richer countries are forced to play five-Test series against each other when they can opt for fewer games against smaller teams. This is a problem that the ICC needs to address, and there are suggestions it could introduce a league stage to the current WTC with the eight best-ranked nations qualifying for a final.

The esports industry is growing at an exponential rate and is estimated to be worth more than $5 billion by 2023. It’s no wonder, with global championship events bringing together millions of gamers and spectators each year. Whether you’re competing in the world’s biggest league or simply watching from your couch, there’s something for everyone.

From the top teams in the league to the latest controversies, our expertly curated esports tournament news will keep you updated and engaged. Whether you love first-person shooters or strategy games, we’ve got you covered with the latest tournament results, match schedules and more.

A full range of formats for esports competitions are used, including group stage, round-robin and single-elimination. The biggest esports events have large prize pools and attract players from all over the globe. These events can be hosted by major gaming brands, broadcasters and social media platforms.

Esports, short for electronic sports, has its origins in the early days of video gaming. The first recorded competitive gaming event took place in 1972 at Stanford University when video game players competed in Spacewar! during the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics. The winner of that competition received a one-year subscription to Rolling Stone magazine, but the industry really took off in the 1990s when internet connectivity speeds allowed for online gaming and large esports tournaments.

There are now leagues for almost every popular video game, with League of Legends (LoL) being the most watched esport in the world. Other top esports include Riot Games’ Dota 2 and the wildly popular Counter Strike series. With a lot of wild and wonderful tournaments taking place each year, it can be hard to keep track of what’s going on. That’s where Strafe comes in.

International sports are events that pit two or more countries against each other in a sport, whether it is soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, or golf. These events are governed by rules set out by international federations, which are independent organisations responsible for the administration of their sports at the international level. The most famous of these is the FIFA World Cup, which draws fans from all over the world to watch teams compete for the coveted trophy (a little more than a foot tall).

Some governing bodies are based in a single country and have an exclusive right to administer their sport. For example, the Olympics is governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which only recognises sports that meet certain criteria for being considered a “sport”. Some of these are physical activities such as football or rowing, while others are more ephemeral and intangible, like the honours awarded to the winners of a particular competition.

Governments worldwide support a significant amount of sporting activity. In the past, this support was justified as a means to promote military preparedness, but nowadays the argument often centres on the need for physical fitness and social inclusion. Regardless of the motivations for government intervention, the results of international sporting events can have profound impacts on nations and their culture.

While Title IX and other social movements have fueled progress in closing the gender gap in sports, there are still many hurdles to be overcome. Women athletes need to be valued on the field of play and in front offices, and sports organizations must work with local governments and media outlets to create a more equitable environment. Funding programs, such as the WSF Travel & Training Fund and Scout Bassett Grant, can help women athletes with their sport-related expenses. The media can also promote a more balanced view of women in sports, and encourage gender equality through its coverage and commentary.

The issue of gender equality (GE) in sport is closely linked to the social construction of masculinity and femininity in society. Therefore, it is essential to understand and address the root causes of GE in sport. This article uses data from the Special Eurobarometer 525 (2022) to measure Europeans’ attitudes towards GE in sport and identify its main determinants by applying Fuzzy-Hybrid TOPSIS, Latent Profile Analysis, and Multinomial Logistic Regression.

In order to reach a true level of GE in sports, gender diversity needs to be introduced at the governance level, as research shows that more diverse organizations are more successful. Furthermore, the media must start to recognize women for their athletic achievements rather than simply for being women, and societal norms need to shift away from socializing young girls into gender stereotypes that portray them as passive and less capable than men.

The ESPN Fantasy staff explains which players are undervalued and others who might be worth taking on risk.

The NFL draft is in full swing and the first few rounds offer plenty of potential sleepers at every position. But there are a lot of nuances to consider when deciding which rookies to target and when. The best strategy is to find the right balance between a safe pick and one that offers high upside.

With the first few big-name wide receivers off the board, it’s a good idea to target quarterback and tight end prospects. Fortunately, this team has already taken a running back and a tight end in the previous two rounds, so they should have enough value left for another star at those positions.

This team is loaded at the running back position, so you can go back-to-back for your starting lineups if you’re feeling brave. Shaheed Carter possesses the speed to break into the deep ranks and deliver plenty of spike weeks as a pass-catching threat. While he’s not a guaranteed top-10 RB, he can be an excellent flex play if he lands in the right spot with the Saints.

The other running back to target here is Rhamondre Stevenson, who possesses the versatility to thrive in a multiple-back offense and could make a strong case to be your starter at the position. He has a good chance to claim short-yardage work, and he also boasts the skills to make an impact on third-down snaps as well.

Combat Sports are competitive fighting disciplines that involve striking and grappling in a regulated arena with a referee to enforce rules and ensure athlete safety. They are practiced for a variety of reasons including self-defense, fitness, cultural connection, stress relief, or as a way to challenge oneself and become better. The most popular of these are boxing and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) but there are many more, including traditional martial arts.

The roots of these sports can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Greece and India. They have evolved over the centuries, influenced by the culture of their time and embracing the need for structured ways to measure and improve skill and strength.

There are multiple modalities of combat sports with each having its own unique set of training, equipment and rules to minimize injury. For example, while boxing is score based and requires protective gear, wrestling is not scored and does not require the same level of equipment. Some, such as judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, are more focused on the culture of their origins while others like the UFC have incorporated many modern techniques and styles.

Combat Sports provide a full body workout that enhances strength, endurance and flexibility while helping to build a lean physique. They also have the potential to teach a wide range of skills that can be used in a real fight and improve reaction times, coordination and balance, concentration and self-discipline. It is important to consider these benefits before deciding whether to begin training in a combat sport.