Chad Brown is utilizing the “strength in numbers” concept at the 2026 Belmont Stakes as he has three horses in the field. All three are mid-to-long shots, but saddling 33% of the Belmont Stakes 2026 field certainly has its advantages. Emerging Market at 6-1 has the shortest Belmont Stakes odds of Brown’s trio, followed by Growth Equity (12-1) and Ottinho (20-1). A native of Mechanicville, N.Y., Brown will aim for his first Belmont victory at a race track just 15 minutes from his hometown. Claim your exclusive TwinSpires $400 signup offer here with the promo code CBSSPORTS, more than what’s available to the general public:
The 2026 Belmont Stakes has a 7:04 p.m. ET post time on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. Ahead of Brown’s trio of thoroughbreds on the Belmont Stakes 2026 odds board is the favorite, Renegade (2-1), Chief Wallabee at 3-1 and Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo at 9-2. With so much to consider while making your 2026 Belmont Stakes picks, a little expert help can go a long way.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be the 158th running of the Test of Champions and, unsurprisingly, the list of winners is overwhelmingly American thoroughbreds. Just nine of the prior 157 Belmont champions were born outside of the United States. Five were British-born, three came from Ireland, and one was from Canada. Victory Gallop (1998) remains the last foreign-born Belmont Stakes champion as the Canadian thoroughbred won by a nose in that year’s race, thus preventing Real Quiet’s bid for the Triple Crown.
Given all the history of the race, there’s a method to picking which horses to focus on for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets in a Belmont Stakes like this, and SportsLine expert Jody Demling knows what it is. He can help you make the best 2026 Belmont Stakes picks possible.
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A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling hit the top three finishers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby in the correct order. He also called 11 of the last 22 Preakness winners and predicted the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last eight years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up.
Now, with the 2026 Belmont Stakes post positions set and odds on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and 2026 Belmont Stakes betting predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Here’s a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine’s Jody Demling:
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Belmont Stakes Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $13.20 at the 2025 Belmont Stakes with Sovereignty and Journalism.
Belmont Stakes Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $13.80 at the 2025 Belmont Stakes with Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza.
Belmont Stakes Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned a colossal $40.50 at the 2025 Belmont Stakes with Sovereignty, Journalism, Baeza and Rodriguez.
While Golden Tempo (9-2) is one of the favorites, Demling isn’t including the Kentucky Derby winner in his picks for the 2026 Belmont Stakes. “I still don’t believe he’s the best of this bunch and I don’t think he gets a perfect set up here like he did at Churchill,” Demling told SportsLine. He is building his tickets around an epic double-digit longshot who a legendary trainer is “very high on”, spicing up Demling’s 2026 Belmont Stakes exotics. You can see his picks here.
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How to make 2026 Belmont Stakes bets
Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Belmont Stakes 2026. He’s sharing them over at SportsLine.
JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt reacted with a four-word message after the team revealed a special tribute paint scheme honoring the late NASCAR driver Michael Annett for the upcoming O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Iowa Speedway. The event is scheduled to be held on Saturday, August 8.
The honor comes less than a year after Annett’s passing in December 2025 at the age of 39. He drove for Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kelley Earnhardt owned JR Motorsports from 2017 through 2021.
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To celebrate his lasting legacy, JRM driver Sammy Smith, who shared a close friendship with Annett, will pilot a throwback version of the #8 Chevrolet inspired by Annett’s iconic 2017 Pilot Flying J paint scheme. The car also features Annett’s signature shamrock, a symbol long associated with the Iowa native throughout his racing career.
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JRM shared the video of the special livery on Wednesday on their official social media accounts. Kelley Earnhardt posted the video on her Instagram story and wrote:
“We miss you Michael”
Kelley Earnhardt insta account
Annett’s lone win came with JRM in the 2019 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The Iowa-native also had three playoff berths and three ninth-place finishes in the points standings over the five years at JRM.
Kelley Earnhardt’s JRM driver Sammy Smith reacts to represent Michael Annett-inspired tribute livery at Iowa
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Pennzoil 250 Presented by Take 5 Oil Change – Source: Getty
The tribute carries added significance as the 2026 season heads to Iowa, Annett’s home-state track. The recreated 2017 Pilot Flying J design pays homage to one of the most recognizable paint schemes from Annett’s career and serves as a reminder of the impact he had on those around him.
Kelley Earnhardt’s JRM driver Sammy Smith’s connection to Annett makes the tribute even more meaningful.
In the video uploaded on Instagram, Smith expressed his emotions paying tribute to Annett, saying:
“Michael meant so much to me personally. I would say he probably was one of the biggest reasons I probably started racing. Kind of just growing up around the track watching him. Being from Iowa, I’m from Iowa. He grew up, he’s pretty much family to us. I think he was kind of right to do it at Iowa.”
“The Shamrock, it was kind of Michael’s thing. He always ran it on the back of his helmets pretty much through his whole career. I plan on carrying it with me the rest of my career and I think it’s just something to carry along for me personally and hopefully it’s making him proud. really cool that Pilot allowed us to do this for Iowa Weekend. It’s very special.”
Kelley Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports is leading the owners’ points standings and is the clear favorite to win the owners championship title.
Many years ago, before drunk-driving charges were euphemized as driving while intoxicated, Dan Marino liked to imbibe a little. But he also enjoyed getting around South Florida because he was the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, not a hermit.
Marino understood his stature in the community and what an unacceptable pratfall a drinking and driving charge would be on charges of his reputation. So he bought a limousine. And he hired a driver.
That driver, who happened to be the father of future NFL great and current Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan, would drive Marino everywhere, making sure the star quarterback, who liked a few drinks now and then, never had any issues on the road.
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino broke Fran Tarkenton’s NFL career completion record with his 3,687th career completion on his fourth completion of the game. Marino finished the day with 3,702 career completions during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Oct. 8, 1995.(CHRIS BERNACCHI/AFP via Getty Images)
The NFL, its players and coaches could definitely use more of Dan Marino’s thinking now because events in the past couple of years suggest the league has something of a driving problem.
Consider what has happened this month so far:
July 22 – The Los Angeles Chargers release guard Ben Cleveland after he is arrested the week before on charges of speeding and driving with a limited permit, according to police reports obtained by the New York Post. That arrest came roughly one-and-a-half-years removed from Cleveland being arrested for DUI.
July 23: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo is arrested in Wisconsin for OWI, which is Operating While Intoxicated, unsafe passing, open intoxicants, and refusing a breathalyzer. He was booked, and a hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21.
July 25: News of an accident involving Kyle Shanahan leaks. The San Francisco 49ers coach on July 14 suffered a broken hand, broken nose, broken ribs, a facial laceration and has been battling concussion symptoms after a head-on collision with another car. Although neither driver was cited, Shanahan this week took responsibility for the accident, saying he dropped his phone and lost control of his Tesla which hit an oncoming car.
July 28: Defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander is suspended by the Minnesota Vikings, the team announces, after he pleaded guilty to third-degree DWI. Alexander paid fines and fees, was assigned community service and will be on probation for two years. He is suspended until Aug. 13.
Rueben Bain Jr of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 25, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.(Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
“Certainly really wish the best for Ben and his family,” Commanders general manager Adam Peters said this week. “A lot of thought was put into that decision and, you know, it was unfortunate but hoping for the best for him and his family.”
Before the draft, OutKick reported that University of Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. got into an accident in October 2025 and was cited for reckless driving. That followed a March 2024 fatal accident in which Bain hit another car on I-95 in South Florida, setting off a chain reaction accident that eventually left one of his passengers non-responsive.
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That passenger eventually died.
Bain was drafted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Top 10 prospect dropped to the No. 15 overall slot.
In this screen grab taken from dash camera video provided by Bill Nabors, two speeding sports cars, left and second from left, cause a chain-reaction crash on the North Central Expressway, in Dallas, Saturday, March 30, 2024. Dallas police said Wednesday, April 10, 2024, that Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice faces charges including aggravated assault after he and another speeding driver of a sports car caused a chain-reaction crash on a Dallas highway.(Bill Nabors via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice served 30 days in jail from May to June because he tested positive for THC (marijuana) and the reason we know this is because those tests are part of a probation agreement stemming from his well-chronicled driving conviction.
Rice in July 2025 pleaded guilty to third-degree felony charges (collision involving serious bodily injury, and racing on a highway causing bodily injury) following a high-speed March 2024 crash in Dallas.
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Fox News Digital compiled records of 21 driving incidents involving NFL people dating back to 2024 that speak to drinking and driving, reckless driving or simply bad decision-making behind the wheel when viewed individually.
But when one understands NFL-connected people – not including their families – are involved in more than one traffic-related mishap per month on average, it could signal a problem.
An NFL spokesman could not be reached for comment on this matter, but a league source told Fox News Digital this is an individual and club matter.
Clubs instruct their employees not to drink and drive, something they probably should already know. Some clubs connect players and others with rideshare programs or tell players to call club security if they feel unsure of their ability to drive.
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But a large percentage of these incidents, like Shanahan’s head-on collision, do not involve alcohol.
More NFL drivers apparently could learn something from the Dan Marino example.
Manchester City have to accept that Rodri may not sign a new contract at the Etihad but have been here before with star players
Manchester City’s hopes of getting Rodri to recommit his future to the club have reduced since the season ended. The player has not accepted any offers of a new deal and Real Madrid are turning their attention to the Ballon d’Or winner as his contract ticks down.
Rodri is currently on holiday after minor surgery on his back and Enzo Maresca said last week that he expects him back at the Etihad before the new season starts. But given the delicate web that Rodri and City weave with Real Madrid there is likely to be plenty more noise before then about a potential transfer.
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City or Rodri could come out and put a stop to it all, with the player saying he is signing a new deal or the club putting a statement out detailing if there are any conditions that would allow for a sale. However, it is hard to see either party speaking up because it is not the sort of thing they do when they know it will antagonise people they are friendly to.
City have long held a golden rule with transfers that is often misquoted. Any player who wants to leave can do so as long as they bring an acceptable offer to the table – the second part is crucial.
Some Blues are already annoyed about the Rodri situation and that’s entirely understandable, and the last time City were in Hong Kong there was a situation where Pep Guardiola was steaming about how blatant Bayern Munich were being about signing Leroy Sane. City insisted he could leave as long as their valuation (of around £135m) was met, and when it wasn’t Sane played in the Community Shield and suffered an injury that ruined his season and his move.
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On more than one occasion, significant bids for Bernardo Silva were knocked back because the player was deemed too valuable to lose at that time; he didn’t like it but he got on with it and left as a club great. On a smaller but related note for Rodri, City got so fed up with Barcelona trying to lowball them over defender Eric Garcia they calculated it was more valuable to keep him and let him leave on a free than to take the number that Barcelona were willing to go up to.
This is common in football recruitment – Kevin De Bruyne enlisted the help of data companies to calculate how much he was worth to City and how much it would cost them to replace him – and there will be a number for Rodri. It isn’t public yet but it is far higher than the 50 million euros that was mentioned about Real this week.
City’s CEO Ferran Soriano does not like the emotional side of transfers, and seeing Rodri go so soon after Silva would be an enormous loss to the team. Soriano is a numbers man though and knows that loss can be calculated, so it does not have to play on City emotions for the rest of the summer if everyone is clear on what figure it will take for Real to take the man that could win the Ballon d’Or for the second time in three years after lifting the World Cup with Spain.
Football is a business, but the more noise from Madrid without the club meeting City’s transfer requirements the more annoyed the Blues and Maresca are going to get. In any negotiation, making your seller angry never usually works out well for the buyer.
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City have to accept that Rodri may not sign a new deal, but if they are to lose him either this summer or next it simply has to be on their terms.
The 2026 Little League Softball World Series will feature eight regional champions from across the United States and four international teams. The tournament will kick off at the Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina on August 2 and will crown a new champion on August 9.
How to watch the 2026 Little League Softball World Series
The 2026 Little League Softball World Series will be shown on ESPN networks, with the final game broadcast on ABC. Additionally, games can be streamed on ESPN+.
Location: Greenville, North Carolina
Teams in the 2026 Little League Softball World Series
Anthony Joshua came close to a shock knockout defeat when tasked with Kristian Prenga on Saturday and the advice from his corner has been criticised. Now, Joshua’s trainer Iegor Golub has released a statement following his fighter’s concerning display.
‘AJ’ famously moved to Team Usyk last year, with Golub taking the reins for the first time ahead of Joshua’s unconventional bout with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, where the Briton scored a sixth round knockout win.
However, against Prenga, Joshua and Golub faced their first genuine heavyweight as a team, albeit one who entered the contest as a larger underdog than Paul did.
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The night did not go as planned for anyone involved, as Joshua was dropped twice in a disastrous opening round. Corner instructions from Sergey Lapin telling him “not to go down,” coupled with a somewhat confusing exchange with Golub, have left fans and pundits questioning the tactics employed.
On his Instagram, Golub responded by highlighting how impressive Joshua’s response to adversity was, before declaring that ‘a big fish’ is ahead of them.
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“It’s not mistakes that define a champion. It’s how he responds to them.
“A few moments passed after the first knockdown, and I glanced at the clock: 2:36 remained in the round. Those were probably the longest two and a half minutes of my life. I imagine they were for AJ as well.
“But he pulled himself together, showed his character, and weathered the storm. There was a lot at stake. We all understood that then, and we understand it even more now.
“I don’t see much point in commenting on the knockout itself. The power in his hands is incredible, and every single day we work to make that weapon as sharp as it can possibly be.
“Huge thanks to the Ready to Fight team for their work, to Oleksandr Usyk, and to my loved ones who traveled to the other side of the world to support us.
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“Ahead of us is a “very big fish” that won’t forgive a single mistake. Anthony won’t forgive a single mistake too.”
Joshua and Fury are expected to face each other in November with Netflix set to be the broadcaster of a blockbuster bill.
“We must not let it become a pawn in the hands of investors. We must not lose the fans’ support, but we are well on our way to squandering that support. I consider this extremely problematic and unacceptable.”
Neuendorf said he “had to learn the news from the newspaper. That’s no way to treat people.” He said Infantino’s method was “extremely troubling. When you sit on the committee, you want to be able to actively participate in decisions and express your opinion. That has to be a process, but none of that is happening at FIFA — not on important issues, and especially not now with the investor issue.”
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Bundesliga clubs slam FIFA World Cup plan
As well as widespread fan discontent, expressed via social media, leading German clubs have voiced their dissatisfaction with the plans.
“I am ashamed that we even discuss such ideas in football. Football does not belong to us,” Bayern Munich’s board member for sport Max Eberl told Sky.
“I have the feeling that FIFA exists solely to make a profit. It disgusts me,” he added.
“Why does FIFA feel it needs to reinvent the wheel? In my view, this initiative is not a good idea at all,” said Borussia Dortmund’s CEO Carsten Cramer, while his equivalent at Stuttgart, Alexander Wehrle, lent his support to the DFB and European football governor UEFA’s stance against the proposal.
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“Driving the commercialization of football in this direction without even a semblance of a common, sensible goal would send a disastrous message,” he said.
“Let’s just say: this is our game, not theirs. These two people (Infantino and Trump), who both have no idea about football, should have nothing to do with that,” he said.
Germany and UEFA keen to make voice heard
Despite falling behind on the pitch in recent times, Germany still holds plenty of sway in European football’s governing body and will likely be a key voice when that organization meets, reportedly on Thursday. Neundorf added that: “If UEFA rejects this request (for approval of the plan), then it is dead, because I believe that you won’t be able to find any investor who would be willing to go ahead with this project if UEFA is out.”
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Bernd Neundorf (right) has been critical of how Gianni Infantino has handled his latest proposalImage: Federico Gambarini/dpa/picture alliance
This is not the first time that Germany has protested against a FIFA decision. At the Qatar World Cup in 2022, the men’s team covered their mouths before a game against Japan in protest at not being allowed to wear the rainbow armband to support LGBT+ rights. The lack of support from other federations for that action made Germany hesitant to repeat it in World Cup 2026 despite widespread concerns about ticket prices, the failure to issue visas to fans and officials from certain countries and Infantino’s relationship with Trump.
Fan engagement means DFB must be strong in message and action
But the Balogun case, and the new sell off proposal may have been beyond the pale. The DFB know that they must toe a particularly careful line on these issues due to the country’s football culture.
In 2024, the DFL, the organization that operate the Bundesliga, was forced to climb down from plans to sell a share of its TV rights to foreign investors due to fan protests that included tennis balls and remote control cars with smoke bombs being thrown on the pitch during matches.
Fan protests against commercialization are common in the Bundesliga. This reads “No to investors in the DFL”Image: Moritz Müller/IMAGO
However, the DFL confirmed on Sunday that it had received an “unsolicited proposal for a debt financing model at the league association level” and have “begun a general, preliminary review of the proposal and its legal feasibility.” German newspaper Bild reported that finance firm Apollo is looking to loan the Bundesliga at least €1 billion ($1.14 billion), with the domestic media rights serving as collateral in the deal. Any notion the DFL will accept this would likely be strenuously opposed by fan groups.
In May, fans of Bayern and Stuttgart unfurled a huge banner featuring a crossed out DFB logo at this year’s German Cup final in protest at high ticket prices.
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Such actions are commonplace in German football, with the 50+1 ownership model, that bars single investors owning a majority stake in a club, ensuring fans retain more power than in most other European nations.
Even if Germany and UEFA continue to protest Infantino’s decisions and presidency, the Swiss executive will likely retain control unless other confederations, particularly Africa and Asia, follow suit. Although UEFA only has 55 of 211 votes, it remains the most powerful confederation within FIFA and with leadership from a powerful nation like Germany, Infantino may start to feel the heat.
The seventh day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow proved to be another memorable outing for Team India. The day was headlined by star long jumper Murali Sreeshankar grabbing a silver medal and an unprecedented clean sweep by Indian boxers in their quarterfinal bouts.
Sreeshankar produced a stellar leap of 8.09m in the Men’s Long Jump Final to secure India’s 13th official medal of the Games. Meanwhile, the Indian boxing squad enjoyed an historic day in the ring, winning all six of their quarterfinal matches to guarantee six additional medals.
Murali Sreeshankar leaps to silver in Men’s Long Jump at Commonwealth Games 2026
Murali Sreeshankar wins silver medal (Image via Wikipedia)Jaismine Lamboria qualifies for semi finals (Image via Olympics)
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Star athlete Murali Sreeshankar delivered a trademark performance in the Commonwealth Games Men’s Long Jump Final, taking the Silver Medal with an impressive leap of 8.09m on his second attempt. Sreeshankar held the gold medal position for much of the competition before Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle clinched gold with an 8.15m attempt in the fourth round. Fellow Indian jumper Lokesh Satyanathan also put up a valiant effort, finishing in the top five with a best mark of 7.70m.
Dilip Gavit grabs Gold, Mohammed Basil wins Silver in Commonwealth Games Men’s 100m T47 Final
Late into the night, India’s para-athletics stars delivered one of the absolute highlights of Day 7 in the Men’s 100m T47 Final. Executing a brilliant race, Dilip Mahadu Gavit stormed across the finish line in 10.71 seconds to capture a glorious Gold Medal for Team India. Right behind him, teammate Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath clocked 10.83 seconds to take the Silver Medal, completing a memorable 1-2 podium sweep for India on the track.
In field events, Devender Kumar and Sagar Thayat also put up strong efforts representing the nation in the Men’s Discus Throw F42-44/F61-64 Final.
Indian boxers script history with six quarterfinal victories at Commonwealth Games 2026
It was a flawless day for the Indian boxing contingent at the OVO Hydro, as all six Indian pugilists in action won their quarterfinal bouts to advance to the semi-finals, assuring India of at least six more bronze medals:
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Jaismine Lamboria (Women’s 57kg Quarterfinal): Earned a hard-fought split-decision victory over England’s Elise Glynn.
Sakshi Choudhary (Women’s 51kg Quarterfinal): Outclassed Northern Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers to book her semi-final spot.
Arundhati Choudhary (Women’s 70kg Quarterfinal): Dominantly outpointed Morgan Henderson of New Zealand.
Sachin Siwach (Men’s 60kg Quarterfinal): Advanced with a convincing win against Botswana’s Treasure Moremi.
Ankush Yadav (Men’s 80kg Quarterfinal): Defeated Jade Micock of Seychelles to progress to the semi-finals.
Narender Berwal (Men’s 90+kg Quarterfinal): Beat Michael Seko of Samoa to complete the historic 6-for-6 day.
Track, pool, and other key outcomes for India at Commonwealth Games 2026
Tajinder Singh Toor for India (Image via Getty Images)
In field events, shot put stars Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Samardeep Singh Gill both performed strongly in qualification to secure their spots in the Commonwealth Games Men’s Shot Put Final. In the Women’s Shot Put Final, Manpreet Kaur came close to the podium, finishing in 4th place with a best throw of 17.00m.
On the track:
Yashas Palaksha finished 3rd in Heat 1 of the Men’s 400m Hurdles with a time of 49.65s.
Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan also took 3rd in Heat 2, clocking 49.51s.
Animesh Kujur won Heat 4 with a season-best time of 20.46s.to rank 7th overall and comfortably qualify for the semi-finals of Men’s 200m Heats.
Across other sports:
Lawn Bowls: India secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Namibia in the Men’s Pairs sectional play.
Para Swimming: Suyash Narayan Jadhav and Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni both advanced to the final of the Men’s 50m Freestyle S7.
Weightlifting: Sanjana suffered an unfortunate setback in the Women’s 77kg Final, failing to register a successful lift across her three attempts.
Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) drives during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
ARLINGTON, Texas— Allisha Gray scored five of her 25 points in the closing seconds and the Atlanta Dream overcame a 15-point deficit to beat the Dallas Wings 82-81 on Wednesday night in the first game for both teams since the WNBA All-Star break.
Angel Reese had 22 points and 12 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the season for the Dream (17-10). They have won four in a row and five of six following a five-game losing streak.
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Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas (18-10) with 24 points. Azzi Fudd scored 20 points, Paige Bueckers had 16 points and Jessica Shepard had 16 points and 14 rebounds for her WNBA-leading 19th double-double of the season.
Ogunbowale was called for a Flagrant Foul 1 on Gray’s 3-point shot with Dallas leading 81-77 and 18.7 seconds left. Gray hit all three free throws, then took the ensuing inbounds pass and hit a contested jumper in the lane to give Atlanta its first lead of the second half with 15 seconds remaining.
Awak Kuier missed a corner 3-point shot before Shepard’s putback attempt at the buzzer missed.
The Dream were 1 of 16 from 3-point range.
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Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach and New Zealand great Stephen Fleming has been appointed as England men’s Test head coach, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirming one of the biggest coaching moves in world cricket.The 53-year-old replaces fellow New Zealander Brendon McCullum, who stepped down from the Test role after England’s series defeat to New Zealand in June, although he continues to oversee the white-ball teams.Fleming will officially begin his tenure later this summer after spending time with his family in New Zealand. Marcus Trescothick will remain interim coach for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan before Fleming takes charge ahead of England’s tour of South Africa.The appointment also marks a reunion with Joe Root, who returns as England’s Test captain after replacing the retired Ben Stokes.
Fleming eager to build on England’s foundations
Despite never coaching an international side before, Fleming arrives with one of the strongest coaching resumes in franchise cricket.He spent 18 years with CSK, guiding the franchise to five IPL titles and 10 finals, while also coaching Southern Brave in The Hundred, Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, and CSK’s affiliated teams in South Africa and the United States.As a player, Fleming captained New Zealand in a record 80 Tests, winning 28 matches, and remains one of the country’s greatest Test leaders.Speaking after his appointment, Fleming said he was honoured to take charge of one of cricket’s biggest jobs.“I’m incredibly excited to be joining England as Test Coach. It’s one of the most prestigious coaching positions in world cricket, and I am honoured to be appointed,” he said.He added that England’s immediate ambition would remain winning matches while ensuring the team continues to develop for the future.“The ambition is always to win now. But equally, it’s about ensuring the team is well placed for the medium and long-term future. There is a lot of young talent in and around the team and our aim is to help them fulfil their potential as world-class cricketers,” he added.Fleming also welcomed the opportunity to work alongside returning skipper Root.“I’m particularly looking forward to working with Joe Root as Captain… There is still plenty more to come from him,” Fleming said.He also identified Harry Brook‘s development as a key priority, adding: “The best players are never finished products.”Reflecting on his long association with English cricket, Fleming said: “English cricket gave that to me, and it is a privilege to have this chance to give something back.”
Root and ECB back new partnership
Root described his return as England captain as “a great honour and privilege” and said working with Fleming was a major reason for accepting the role again.“The opportunity to do that alongside Stephen is also a huge motivator. He has proved over a long period of time that he is an exceptional leader with a great knowledge of the game,” he said.ECB managing director Rob Key called Fleming “one of the most highly respected figures in cricket” and said he believes the New Zealander can turn England’s talented squad into “a world-class outfit” capable of sustained success.England currently sit seventh in the World Test Championship standings, and Fleming’s arrival signals the start of a fresh chapter as they attempt to rebuild their red-ball fortunes.
In about two weeks, EA Sports will release Madden NFL ’27 ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Every year, before the latest edition of the game is released, Madden’s player rankings are made public for gamers. Their calculation process for these rankings is extensive, and each position has measurements weighted differently. A lot of the ranking has to do with their performance over the last season, which is why Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels finished with only a 79 overall rating, while 2024 classmates Drake Maye and Caleb Williams finished inside the top 10.
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Yes, Daniels was wildly disrespected, but he only played in seven games last season. Even in the games he played, Daniels was nursing injuries, so his game wasn’t up to par with his 2024 season.
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Daniels isn’t the only one disrespected by Madden this year, though. In the rookie rankings, first-round draft pick Sonny Styles ranks 13th overall. He is the highest-ranked MIKE, but he landed behind guys like Keldric Faulk, Malachai Lawrence, and Akheem Mesidor, all of whom were drafted after him in the 2026 NFL Draft. Styles was the No. 7 overall pick, and many believed he’d go somewhere in the top five.
Styles received an overall grade of 78. The breakdown is as follows: Speed – 90, strength – 74, agility – 81, change of direction – 77, injury – 87, and awareness – 78.
It’s interesting how change of direction and agility are such different numbers when they go hand in hand. Styles’ speed and agility are enough to overcome any perceived lack of awareness. It’s possible that the game will adjust his ranking once the season starts, but this is not what was expected for Styles.
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The rest of the Commanders‘ rookies received the following overall rankings: Antonio Williams – 73, Joshua Josephs – 72, Kaytron Allen – 71, Matt Gulbin – 64, and Athan Kaliakmanis – 62.
While these rankings won’t change by much even after the season starts, the good news is that they have no bearing on the actual NFL season. Gamers can pre-order Madden ’27 now. Standard edition and public availability for the game is August 13, while existing MVP+ members get access on August 6, and Deluxe edition buyers get access on August 10.
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