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Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning undisputed heavyweight world champion, was briefly detained at a Polish airport after an incident involving his traveling companion. The incident occurred on Tuesday at Krakow airport as Usyk and his companion attempted to board a flight to Thessaloniki, Greece.According to Ryanair, the airline operating the flight, Usyk's companion was denied boarding due to disruptive behavior. Usyk, who was not denied boarding, chose not to board the flight in solidarity with his companion.Airport police were called to assist after the two men became upset and refused to leave the departure gate. Usyk was handcuffed as a precautionary measure, but was not detained.Usyk later tweeted that the incident was a "misunderstanding" that was quickly resolved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed disappointment over the incident, stating that he was "disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion."The incident has sparked controversy, with some questioning the treatment of Usyk, who is a national hero in Ukraine. However, airport officials have defended their actions, stating that they were following standard procedures.Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles, is considered one of the greatest boxers of his generation. He is expected to face Tyson Fury in a highly anticipated rematch in the near future.

India's hockey stars, Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh, have been nominated for the prestigious FIH Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year awards, respectively. The nominations recognize their exceptional performances in leading India to a bronze medal at the recently concluded Paris Olympics.Harmanpreet, the team's captain, was a force to be reckoned with throughout the tournament. His 10 goals made him the highest scorer, showcasing his remarkable drag-flicking skills. He will face stiff competition from Thierry Brinkman (Netherlands), Joep de Mol (Netherlands), Hannes Müller (Germany), and Zach Wallace (England) for the Player of the Year award.Sreejesh, a veteran goalkeeper, played a pivotal role in India's success. His resolute defense, particularly in the quarterfinal against Great Britain when India was reduced to 10 men, was crucial in securing the team's victory. He will compete against Pirmin Blaak (Netherlands), Luis Calzado (Spain), Jean-Paul Danneberg (Germany), and Tomas Santiago (Argentina) for the Goalkeeper of the Year honor.The FIH Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year awards are highly coveted accolades in the hockey world. The nominees were selected by an Expert Panel composed of players, coaches, and officials from each Continental Federation. The voting process will remain open until October 11, with national associations, fans, players, coaches, officials, and media having a say in determining the winners.The nominations of Harmanpreet and Sreejesh are a testament to the resurgence of Indian hockey. Their performances have inspired a new generation of players and brought the sport back into the limelight. The awards ceremony will be held in November, where the winners will be announced and celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the game.

Pakistan hockey, once a global powerhouse, has been in a state of decline for the past two decades. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, the team's struggles have persisted since its last major medal in 2010. Factionalism, mismanagement, and lack of funds have further exacerbated the situation, resulting in Pakistan languishing at 16th position in the world rankings.The ongoing Asian Champions Trophy marked Pakistan's first major tournament in a long time, but it came with its own set of challenges. Roelant Oltmans, the team's coach at the time, declined to travel due to financial constraints, leading to Tahir Zaman's appointment at the last minute.Zaman, an FIH master coach with over 20 years of experience, acknowledged the long road ahead for Pakistan hockey. He emphasized the need to analyze player performance, address technical and tactical issues, and instill confidence in the team. However, he admitted that significant improvements could not be achieved without proper training sessions.Captain Ammad Butt attributed Pakistan's struggles to a lack of experience, particularly in international competitions. He highlighted the team's inability to perform consistently against top-ranked opponents and called for more exposure to high-level matches.The PHF itself has been plagued by internal divisions, with two factions claiming legitimacy. This has hindered the federation's ability to provide adequate support and resources to the national team. Zaman emphasized the need for a stable and unified PHF to address the systemic issues affecting Pakistan hockey.He outlined plans to upgrade the domestic hockey structure, establish a professional hockey league, and allocate a budget for international travel and matches against top teams. He also stressed the importance of reviving the national junior championships and establishing a junior league.Butt agreed that the system back home needed fixing. He pointed to the lack of grassroots hockey and the need to identify and train young talent. He also criticized the frequent changes in the coaching staff, which he believed hindered the team's progress.Zaman acknowledged the challenges but expressed optimism about Pakistan hockey's revival. He emphasized the need for continuity and a long-term plan to achieve sustainable success.

India's dominance in the Asian Champions Trophy continued as they clinched their fifth title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over hosts China in the final. The defending champions showcased their resilience and determination throughout the tournament, winning all their matches.The match started with India as the favorites, having defeated China 3-0 in the opening league game. However, the final proved to be a close affair. China defended resolutely and troubled India with quick counterattacks.Despite India's dominance in possession, they struggled to break through the Chinese defense in the first three quarters. Raj Kumar Pal and Nilakanta Sharma had early chances, but Chinese goalkeeper Wang Weihao denied them.The deadlock was finally broken in the 51st minute by defender Jugraj Singh. India captain Harmanpreet Singh made a brilliant run into the Chinese circle and passed the ball to Jugraj, who slotted it past the goalkeeper.China fought back with renewed vigor, earning penalty corners in the 38th and 40th minutes. However, India goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak stood firm.With four minutes remaining, China withdrew their goalkeeper for an extra field player. But India held on to their lead, defending in numbers and securing their fifth Asian Champions Trophy title.India's victory was a testament to their team spirit and tactical discipline. They controlled the game for long periods and never panicked under pressure. China, despite being in only their second international tournament final, showed great resilience and determination.

Glasgow, the vibrant Scottish capital, is poised to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, a scaled-down version of the multi-sport event that was originally scheduled for Victoria, Australia. The Australian state withdrew in 2023 due to soaring costs, leaving the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) scrambling for a new host.Glasgow, which successfully hosted the Games in 2014, has stepped forward with a proposal to host a more modest event, featuring fewer sports and utilizing existing venues. The Scottish government is close to finalizing a deal with Glasgow, which would see the city host the Games for an estimated cost of £130-150 million (USD 170 million).The Australian authorities have pledged a "multi-million pound investment" to support Glasgow's bid, which will likely cover additional policing and security expenses. The number of sports in the 2026 Games will be reduced to between 10-13, with a focus on core sports.UK Health Secretary Neil Gray emphasized that the 2026 Games will differ from the highly successful 2014 edition. He acknowledged the challenge of matching the previous event's legacy but expressed optimism that Glasgow could deliver a positive experience with a smaller-scale approach.CGF President Chris Jenkins praised Scotland's innovative and sustainable concept for the 2026 Games. He believes that Glasgow's experience in hosting major sporting events makes it well-equipped to deliver a world-class event in a short timeframe.Jenkins also emphasized the need for a new model for multi-sports events, one that is more sustainable and accessible to a wider range of host cities. He believes that Glasgow 2026 will be a step towards resetting and reframing the Commonwealth Games as a flexible and sustainable model.

Sebastian Coe, the former Olympic champion and current World Athletics chief, has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coe faces stiff competition from Kirsty Coventry, who aims to become the first woman and African to lead the IOC, and cycling boss David Lappartient.Coe's bid is complicated by IOC Ethics Commission rules that limit the retirement age for members and presidents to 74. Coe will turn 68 in September, and an eight-year mandate would extend beyond that age. However, there is room for maneuver to raise the retirement age.The election will take place at the IOC Session in Athens from March 18-21, 2025. Bach, 70, is stepping down after 12 years in office.Other candidates include Prince Faisal al-Hussein of Jordan, gymnastics chief Morinari Watanabe, Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, and ski federation president Johan Eliasch.Under election rules, Coe, Eliasch, Lappartient, and Watanabe must resign as heads of their respective federations and seek re-election as individual members at the Athens Session.The candidates will present their programs to IOC members in January 2025. A transition period will follow the election, with the new president and team taking control in June.Bach's tenure has been marked by challenges, including the Russian doping scandal and the invasion of Ukraine. Coe has taken a stronger stance on banning Russian athletes than Bach, which has strained their relationship.Despite these challenges, Bach is credited with successfully navigating the IOC through the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring the Tokyo Games took place in 2021.Michael Payne, the IOC's former head of marketing, believes Bach has done an outstanding job. However, he warns that his successor faces significant challenges, including the increasing politicization of sport and the rapidly changing business and broadcast environment.

India's hockey team, led by skipper Harmanpreet Singh, secured a resounding 4-1 victory over South Korea in the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy on Monday, September 16, 2024. The triumph propelled India into the tournament's final, where they will face hosts China.The match commenced with India dominating possession and testing the Korean defense with relentless attacks. Uttam Singh broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Araijeet Singh Hundal. Harmanpreet Singh extended India's lead with a penalty corner goal four minutes later.Korea managed to pull one back through Yang Jihun's penalty corner conversion in the 33rd minute. However, India remained unfazed and regained their two-goal advantage when Jarmanpreet Singh scored in the 32nd minute.Harmanpreet Singh sealed the victory with another penalty corner goal in the 45th minute. India's defense, anchored by goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, held firm to deny Korea any further scoring opportunities.In the other semifinal, China defeated Pakistan 2-0 via a shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time. India and China will now face off in Tuesday's final, a rematch of their group stage encounter, which India won 3-0.Pakistan and Korea will battle for the bronze medal in the third-place classification match, also scheduled for Tuesday. Meanwhile, Japan defeated Malaysia 4-2 in a shootout following a 4-4 stalemate in the fifth-sixth place classification match.

In a stunning upset, China has defeated Pakistan 2-0 (1-1) in a shootout to advance to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy. This marks the first time China has reached the title round of the tournament, while Pakistan, a two-time champion, will play for the bronze medal.China's goalkeeper, Caiyu Wang, was the hero of the shootout, making several key saves. Benhai Chen and Chanliang Lin scored for China in the shootout.Earlier in the match, Yuanlin Lu had given China an early 1-0 lead in the 18th minute with a powerful dragflick. Pakistan equalized in the 37th minute through Ahmed Nadeem, but China held on to force a shootout.China's victory was a testament to their grit and determination. They dominated the ball possession and created early chances, buoyed by the support of a large home crowd.Pakistan, on the other hand, struggled to create scoring opportunities. They had several penalty corners but were unable to breach the Chinese defense.China's head coach, Jin Seung Yoo, praised his team's performance. "It's an important game for us and we are totally charged up," he said before the match. "This is the first time China is playing the semifinal of such a prestigious event in front of home crowd."China's victory is a major upset and a sign of their growing strength in international hockey. They will now face the winner of the second semifinal between India and Korea in the final.

Defending world chess champion Ding Liren has conceded that his Indian challenger, D Gukesh, is the favorite to win their upcoming title showdown in November. Liren's admission comes as Gukesh has been in impressive form at the ongoing 45th Chess Olympiad, leading the Indian team to five consecutive victories."I can see my opponent (Gukesh) playing extremely well in this tournament. Maybe he is a favorite in the World Championship Match. He also has a higher rating than me," Liren said in an interview with the International Chess Federation (FIDE).Liren, who won the world crown in May 2022, has struggled for form in the past year. He took a break from the game due to depression and returned to action earlier this year at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, finishing ninth.Gukesh, on the other hand, has been on a meteoric rise. He became the youngest challenger to the world title at the age of 17 after winning the Candidates tournament in April.The two will clash in Singapore from November 20 to December 15 for the coveted title and a prize fund of USD 2.50 million. Should Gukesh prevail, he would become the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to claim the title.Liren acknowledged the possibility of a close battle between India and China for the gold medal in the Olympiad. "We are two very strong teams. We have a chance to fight for the gold medal," he said.Gukesh, however, remained cautious, saying that all participating teams are strong. "All countries are strong, we have to come everyday with the right spirit...We have a nice mood in the team, it's enjoyable," he said.