Category: Sports

The fourth season of the DP World International League T20 is planned to begin on December 2, 2025, coinciding with the UAE’s National Day festivities. The competition will go until January 4th, 2026, making it a joyful blend of cricket, culture, and celebration. With matches set through Christmas and New Year’s, the league promises a spectacular month-long cricket carnival in the Gulf.

Khalid Al Zarooni, Chairman of ILT20 and Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, expressed enthusiasm about the time. He emphasised the importance of opening the competition on Eid-Al-Etihad, a day commemorating the UAE’s unity and diversity. According to him, this action is a personal tribute to the country and its cricket-loving people.

David White, CEO of DP World ILT20, emphasised the strategic thinking underlying the chosen dates. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup set for early February 2026, this window permits players to compete in both events without conflict. White stated that this schedule would also provide access to a larger number of overseas players.

Despite losing in the Eliminator last year, the memories of their title success in 2024 continue to excite devoted fans.

FIFA has set a lofty financial goal of generating $1 billion in income from the next Women’s World Cup tournament. FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the news during the Saudi Arabia-US Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh. He emphasised that women’s football is not only crucial to the sport’s progress, but it is also expanding at an exponential rate around the world.

Infantino emphasised the success of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. That tournament broke even and generated more than $570 million in revenue, setting a financial milestone for women’s football.

Brazil will host the next Women’s World Cup in 2027, marking the first time the event will be held in South America. Meanwhile, the 2031 edition is expected to be given to the United States, with a bigger roster of 48 teams, up from the current 32.

Infantino also mentioned untapped possibilities in markets outside Europe. He suggested that if nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United States could recreate even a percentage of Europe’s football economy, the sport might contribute more than $500 billion to global GDP. Saudi Arabia, in particular, is making significant progress with its women’s league and national squad.

Smriti Mandhana, India’s outstanding hitter, has moved up one spot to second in the latest ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings, drawing closer to the top. Her outstanding performance in the just-finished Tri-Nation event in Sri Lanka contributed significantly to her rise. Mandhana last topped the ODI batting rankings in 2019. In this series, she scored 264 runs in five innings, making her the tournament’s second-highest run scorer.

Her greatest performance came in the final, when she hit 116 off 101 balls against hosts Sri Lanka. She now trails current No. 1 Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa by only 11 rating points. In contrast, Wolvaardt scored only 86 runs in the same event.

Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka’s skipper, advanced two spots to fifth after scoring 139 runs. Jemimah Rodrigues of India climbed five places to 15th, while Chloe Tryon of South Africa jumped nine places to 18th.

Sneh Rana of India was one of the best bowlers to rise in the rankings. Rana moved up four places to 34th after being named Player of the Series with 15 wickets at an average of 14. Sophie Ecclestone of England remains the number one bowler.

India is set to make history at the Diamond League’s Doha leg on May 16, fielding the largest squad ever at the premier global event. Four Indian athletes will compete for the nation, led by Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra, who returns to a familiar arena with confidence and resolve. Chopra, who won in Doha in 2023 with a remarkable throw of 88.67m and finished second in 2024 with 88.36m, is still a strong medal candidate.

Kishore Jena, a fellow javelin thrower, will be joining him again. Jena, who finished ninth in last year’s edition with a throw of 76.31m, will attempt to improve his form and get significant recognition on a worldwide scale in the run-up to the Paris Olympics. The men’s javelin event is likely to be fierce, with great athletes like Anderson Peters, Jakub Vadlejch, Julian Weber, Max Dehning, Julius Yego, and Roderick Genki Dean competing.

India’s track athletes will also be competing, with national 5000m record holder Gulveer Singh making his Diamond League debut. Parul Chaudhary will compete in the women’s 3000m steeplechase against a strong international field. This is a new chapter in Indian athletics, as it gains worldwide momentum and strives for excellence ahead of Paris 2024.

Smriti Mandhana put on an outstanding display in the Women’s ODI Tri-Series final at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. Her 116 off 101 balls helped India post a dominant total of 342/7 against Sri Lanka. With this knock, she not only achieved a huge victory for her team but also etched her name into history.

Her century was her 11th in Women’s ODIs, passing England’s Tammy Beaumont. Only Meg Lanning (15) and Suzie Bates (13) are now ahead of her on the all-time list. Mandhana also set a new milestone for the most sixes by an Indian woman in ODIs, with 54, beating Harmanpreet Kaur’s 53.

Mandhana presently stands third in terms of WODI runs as an opener, having scored 4,448 runs and outscoring some of the game’s greats. Only Suzie Bates and Belinda Clark are ahead. Her supremacy over Sri Lanka continues. She has scored 614 runs in 16 innings, the second-most by an Indian, trailing only Mithali Raj.

Her 116 is also India’s second-highest individual score against Sri Lanka in ODIs, after only Mithali Raj’s 125*. With numerous milestones in a single match, Mandhana’s innings will be recognised as one of the best in Indian women’s cricket.

Mohammed Afsal broke the national record in the men’s 800m at the UAE Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai. The 29-year-old ran 1 minute and 45.61 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 1:45.65 set by Jinson Johnson in 2018. Despite this extraordinary accomplishment, Afsal finished second in the World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level competition at the Dubai Police Stadium, trailing Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplagat, who won in 1:45.38.

Although Afsal missed the automatic qualification threshold of 1:44.50 for the 2025 World Championships, his time represents significant improvement since his silver-winning 1:48.43 race at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

In addition, India won the men’s 200m event. Animesh Kujur, the national record holder, claimed gold in 20.45 seconds. His previous time of 20.40 seconds in the 2025 Federation Cup remains the national best. Amlan Borgohain, a former record holder, finished sixth with a timing of 21.08 seconds.

In the relay events, India’s men’s 4x100m team won in 38.76 seconds. However, the men’s 100m produced disappointing results, with Gurindervir Singh and Manikanta Hoblidhar finishing eighth and twelfth, respectively.

Johann Zarco won the French Grand Prix on Sunday, ending a 71-year wait and making him the first French racer to win at home since Pierre Monneret in 1954. The 34-year-old Honda LCR racer performed a superb race in treacherous conditions, reaching the line about 20 seconds ahead of Marc Marquez, while 19-year-old Fermin Aldeguer finished third, his first MotoGP podium. The victory came under dramatic circumstances, with early rain disrupting the race.

Zarco started in the middle of the pack, slid to 17th after a brief off-track excursion, but remained composed as the field battled for control. His decision to start on wet tyres paid off, allowing him to overtake competitors as grip faded and visibility worsened gradually. While others battled, Zarco raced ahead, finally taking the lead with precision and finesse.

Fans at the Bugatti Circuit screamed in joy when Zarco sealed the historic victory and wowed them with his iconic backflip. The victory not only ended Ducati’s 22-race winning streak, but it also represented a rare moment of glory for Honda. A modest Zarco described the mood as “unbelievable.”

For France, this was more than just a victory; it was a long-awaited moment of national pride.

The Thai Cabinet has officially authorised the cooperation framework for the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025” campaign, which represents a significant push to establish Thailand as a global leader in tourism and sport. The decision, taken on May 6, 2025, requires alignment between the public and private sectors with the goal of increasing competitiveness and tourist readiness.

This government-backed program identifies eleven strategic pillars for improving Thailand’s tourism experience. Incentives for airlines include decreased fees and expanded slot allocations, particularly in secondary cities. Improved service delivery will be aided by data-sharing platforms between airlines and regulators.

Upgraded standards, targeted promotions, and more awareness for small-scale operations would benefit the hospitality and food service industries. Tour operators and internet travel companies will market both well-known and growing destinations through coordinated packages. Retailers will provide overseas travellers with discounts, souvenirs, and VAT refund enhancements.

Improved connectivity across all kinds of transportation is also planned. Visa facilitation and tailored events, such as the Maha Songkran World Water Festival, are intended to improve appeal.

Thailand is gearing up for a thriving and economically significant tourism year, with over 39 million visitors expected and earnings topping 3.4 trillion Baht.

Thailand is set to host the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in 2025, which will take place from August 22 to September 7. The tournament will take place in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Nakhon Ratchasima, and will include 32 of the world’s finest women’s national volleyball teams.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports verified the country’s readiness. Minister Sorawong Thienthong emphasised the event’s importance in raising Thailand’s worldwide profile and solidifying its position in international sport. It is projected to attract more than 1.3 billion viewers and generate more than 8.5 billion Baht in tourism and media revenue.

Participating countries will be from five continents, including global volleyball powerhouses such as the United States, Brazil, China, Japan, Serbia, and host Thailand. The first Pool Phase will take place from August 22 to 27, followed by the knockout rounds in Bangkok. The finals will be held on September 7.

Each host city brings a unique sporting heritage and cultural flair. Thailand is also implementing the “Green Heart Event” strategy to encourage sustainability.

Tourism Authority Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool emphasised how the championship relates to the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025.”

The United Arab Emirates will host the 6th Asian Yogasana Championship in July 2025, making it the first time this continental event will be hosted in the GCC region. The UAE Ministry of Sports will organise the championship in partnership with the UAE Sports for All Federation and the UAE Yoga Committee, overseen by the Asian Yogasana Sport Federation (AYSF), which Padmashri Nouf Al Marwaai chairs.

Following a recent visit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms. Al Marwaai, the tournament is viewed as a step towards strengthening Yoga cooperation among Asia, Africa, and the Arab world. The Prime Minister praised the AYSF’s efforts to promote Yogasana as a sport and a tool for cultural exchange and peace.

In preparation, the AYSF will hold a Coaches and Referees Training Camp in Dubai from May 16 to 18, 2025. Delegates from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia will attend. The competition will be held at Fujairah’s Zayed Sports Complex, which is well-known for hosting international sporting events.

The event, themed “Yoga Across Borders,” will culminate in the Excellence Asian Awards Ceremony, recognising those propelling Yogasana forward. With over 25 countries participating, the UAE is positioned to become the Arab world’s yoga and wellness capital.