Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu took a serious fall during an Olympic qualifying run Wednesday. 

Competition at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics was briefly suspended while Liu remained largely motionless on her back in the snow at the bottom of the halfpipe. The toe edge of Liu’s snowboard appeared to get caught in the snow, sending her slamming, face-first, into the bottom of the halfpipe.

An emergency sled was used to remove the 33-year-old from the area for further evaluation. Liu was able to avoid major injuries to her spine, The Associated Press reported, citing sources with knowledge of the professional snowboarder’s medical report.

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Liu Jiayu of the People’s Republic of China reacts after her qualifying run in the women’s snowboard halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)

It is believed that Liu maintained consciousness after the scary fall. 

2026 MILAN CORTINA OLYMPICS: EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR’S WINTER GAMES

Liu was trying to finish her second and final qualifying run with a 900-degree spin. After she slammed into the halfpipe, her legs and board snapped over her back, a wreck known in snowboarding as a “scorpion.”

Liu Jiayu of the People’s Republic of China reacts after her run in women’s snowboard halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)

Riders wear protective gear, including helmets, during competitions. Despite the precautions, dangerous crashes remain a strong — and sometimes life-threatening — possibility. If the head or neck is impacted during a fall, the risk of serious injury rises sharply. 

Liu Jiayu of China competes in the women’s snowboard halfpipe qualification at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Former world champion freestyle skier Dave Murray died in 1990 after suffering serious injuries in a halfpipe crash in Utah. In 2010, Kevin Pearce sustained brain injuries while training for the Vancouver Olympics.

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Earlier this week, Australian snowboard cross racer Cam Bolton was hospitalized. Representatives for Bolton confirmed he was dealing with multiple stable neck fractures.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Tempted laid down a formidable mark for her peers with a powerful resurgence in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, leaving Apocalyptic poised to respond in kind.

The Michael Freedman-prepared three-year-old filly steps out again in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, coming a week on from Tempted’s decisive defeat of colts and geldings first-up across the same ground.

Yet to cross paths, the two fillies are charting paths that will intersect at the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28, and Apocalyptic’s assertive comeback could forge a thrilling encounter.

“I guess there will be the prospect of us locking horns in the Surround,” Freedman said.

“They’re animals, so I never get too far ahead of myself, and I certainly never get over-confident with any horse.

“But I’m very happy with her and looking forward to getting her back to the track.”

Boasting three wins from just five starts, Apocalyptic opened her spring account in the Furious Stakes (1200m) before claiming the Tea Rose (1400m) and Flight Stakes (1600m), ending with a runner-up effort in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at her first Melbourne run.

Freedman finds it tough not to feel buoyant about a horse delivering such results early on.

“When you break your maiden in a Group Two, and then win a Group Two and a Group One at your next two, you don’t see it too often,” he said.

“From a trainers’ point of view, when you get horses like that around you, it’s exciting.”

Stablemate Manaal remains in contention for the Expressway (1200m) and Triscay Stakes (1200m) as the four-year-old embarks on her probable swansong season.

A reliable stable force in recent times, this Group 1 winner is earmarked for stud duties next season, with Freedman keen to bolster her achievements first.

“This will probably be her last campaign, I’d suggest, before she goes off to the breeding barn, so I’d love to try to pick up another stakes win for the Emirates group,” Freedman said.

“She has been here since the Gimcrack and she’s still matching strides (with the better mares).

“She’s never been what you call a headliner, but it’s rare to see them win before Christmas, a stakes winner at two, stakes winner at three and then a stakes winner at four. It’s a pretty good resume.”

The racing betting markets are heating up for the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick.

The post Apocalyptic set to Light up Randwick first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

Recent reports have suggested that a deal for Fabio Wardley to face Daniel Dubois in May is done, but Tyson Fury has his reservations and has advised fight fans to be curb their enthusiasm.

Wardley knocked out Joseph Parker to claim the WBO Interim heavyweight belt back in October and, after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the full title the following month, the Ipswich fan-favourite was upgraded to champion.

It made the 31-year-old knockout artist the United Kingdom’s 11th heavyweight world champion, but Wardley is keen to truly validate his position as a worthy titleholder with a strong first defence.

He has been on the lookout for an opponent that would allow him to prove his quality and he seems to have found the perfect dance partner – Britain’s 10th heavyweight world champion, Daniel Dubois.

However, despite reports suggesting that the fight is a ‘done deal’, Tyson Fury said on Instagram that Frank Warren, who promotes both Wardley and Dubois, will announce the fight when it is legitimately over the line.

“I’ll tell you what I find funny, I’ve seen it all over the internet today that Wardley vs Dubois is done, it’s in every media outlet, it’s everywhere except from the actual promoter of both fighters, Frank Warren at Queensberry, so until they put it out it’s not confirmed, believe that!

“Everybody has rushed to get a scoop on inside info apart from the confirmation being from the actual promoter of these fighters, Frank Warren. Until Frank says it’s on, it’s not on.”

It is understood that Wardley and Dubois will collide on Saturday, May 9, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, in what will be the seventh all-British heavyweight world title contest in boxing history.

Fury, meanwhile, returns in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, and may well target the winner should he come through as expected.

An all-British heavyweight world title clash is on the horizon, as Fabio Wardley prepares to take on Daniel Dubois in his first defence of the WBO belt. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed his thoughts on the proposed match-up.

Wardley shook up the division when he pulled off the upset and halted Joseph Parker back in October to claim the WBO Interim title and, when Usyk vacated the full WBO strap, the United Kingdom’s four-month stint without a heavyweight world champion came to an end.

The Ipswich fan-favourite was upgraded to full world champion and ever since, the 31-year-old sensation has been looking for a showdown that will prove his worth as a legitimate titleholder and kickstart his reign in style.

It now appears as though Wardley has found the perfect dance partner, with reports suggesting that he will collide with former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, who lost his belt to Oleksandr Usyk last time out in July.

Speaking with iFL TV, Eddie Hearn explained why he believes Dubois’ decision to jump straight into another world title contest may be a naive one.

“If I was Daniel Dubois, I would be coming back with a [lesser] fight, but what happens is you make so much money that you don’t want to come back with one of those fights because you are not really looking at the long play.

“I think sometimes that is a little bit of a poor decision. The last time Daniel Dubois fought was July, against Usyk, that was now eight months ago. So, if he fights in May, he is going to have been out of the ring for 10 months after getting knocked out.

“Daniel Dubois is the kind of guy where, if he has any doubts in himself or if he is not 100% confident, he is much easier to beat than the flip side of that.”

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Hearn then went on to reveal why he believes the scrap favours Fabio Wardley stylistically, predicting that the reigning champion will break Dubois down if he is able to survive an early onslaught.

“Daniel Dubois hits really hard, he can take anybody out or hurt anybody early but if you get past two, three or four rounds with him and you start making him second guess himself, you can break him down real quick.

“I think that Wardley and his team will look at that fight and say ‘that is a good fight for us’.”

Wardley-Dubois is being touted for Manchester on Saturday, May 9, whilst Usyk is currently being linked to a shock clash with Dutch kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on the same date. Although, it is unclear whether the Ukrainian’s three heavyweight world titles would be on the line for that bout.

The Minnesota Vikings will have approximately two dozen quarterbacks to ponder this offseason, decide on a running mate to challenge J.J. McCarthy this summer for the QB1 job, or serve as insurance if he falters. According to ESPN, if Minnesota explores a “toolsy” young passer with upside, someone like Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, or Tanner McKee could do the trick.

ESPN’s list includes three young quarterback swings for the Vikings: Richardson, Levis, and McKee.

Benjamin Solak dropped those names this week, in addition to Kirk Cousins as a veteran option.

Three Young Quarterbacks Enter the Vikings’ Rumor Mill

The Vikings’ quarterback choice will dominate the offseason indefinitely.

Solak on the Vikings’ QB Options

Solak sized up the market for quarterback-needy teams this week, and because McCarthy didn’t do enough in 2025 to fully secure the QB1 gig for the long haul, Solak touched on the Vikings.

He wrote, “Minnesota will absolutely bring in competition for J.J. McCarthy, as it reportedly tried to do last season with Rodgers. Cousins is the obvious choice because he has scheme familiarity from his time in Minnesota as coach Kevin O’Connell’s starter.”

“But O’Connell is a big believer in quarterback development, and I would not be surprised if he wants to go for a younger player to challenge McCarthy’s seat not just in 2026 but also beyond. Every toolsy young passer who can operate from the pocket (Tanner McKee, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, etc.) is on my radar for a surprise Vikings trade. (It will probably just be Cousins, though, let’s be honest.)”

Solak notably didn’t mention Mac Jones or Kyler Murray, two high-profile passers in the Vikings’ trade rumor mill.

Anthony Richardson

Richardson needs a change of scenery. In 2025, he lost a summer training camp battle to Daniel Jones, got hurt, watched as the Indianapolis Colts signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers, and played rookie passer Riley Leonard in the final game of the season. Quarterback headlines in Indianapolis included everybody — except Richardson.

He might have Top 2 or Top 3 arm strength in the league, and he’s difficult to tackle. A couple of years ago, after his team lost to the Vikings, O’Connell greeted him — consoled — at midfield, instructing him to continue his quarterback journey and encouraging him that he had a long career ahead of him.

The Colts saw something in Richardson to draft him fourth overall in 2023; perhaps the Vikings could trade for him and ‘fix” him. Thankfully, Richardson’s next team won’t have to spend much on him via trade. A 6th-Round pick or so should do the trick, and courtesy of former Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota has a war chest of late-round picks.

Will Levis

Once Levis is healthy this offseason, the quarterback situation should become clear: Cam Ward is the Titans’ QB1. Tennessee drafted Ward with the No. 1 overall pick last April, and Levis, already fading into the background, will likely be his backup. In Tennessee, Levis’s ceiling appears to be that of a high-end backup— assuming Ward continues his growth.

This reality suggests a fresh start for Levis, who needs an opportunity to audition elsewhere. O’Connell, for example, tends to favor quarterbacks who aggressively attack defenses vertically and aren’t afraid to make mistakes, as evidenced by players like Nick Mullens and Sam Howell in recent seasons. Fearlessness is the common denominator, and Levis certainly possesses that trait, boasting a powerful arm.

Whether Minnesota acts on this potential fit remains to be seen. However, O’Connell’s ideal QB2 would closely resemble Levis, as his attributes align with O’Connell’s preferences.

Tanner McKee

Probably the least likely on the list to capture the Vikings’ attention, Solak floated McKee nevertheless.

The Philadelphia Eagles picked McKee in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and because of that low capital, no team is really chomping at the bit to give him a QB1 audition. But McKee is 6’6″ and 230 pounds, so size isn’t a problem for the Stanford alumnus.

Experience, though, is: only 88 passes over two seasons. He did serve as Jalen Hurts’s backup in 2025, notably defeating the aforementioned Howell for the QB2 job in Philadelphia last summer.

Solak noted on McKee, “McKee typically looks strong in the preseason, and he looked acceptable in two Week 18 starts while throwing to the Eagles’ backups. He is an older prospect (will be 26 next season), but he still has a developmental arc in that he has never seen extended game action.”

“In a world where Will Howard might be starting for the Steelers or Quinn Ewers could be in for the Dolphins, McKee deserves a camp fight somewhere.”

In an extremely small sample, McKee has logged an EPA+CPOE of 0.098, which would rank him 22nd among 66 qualifying passers in the NFL since 2024. He shares EPA+CPOE space with Jaxson Dart (0.099), Daniel Jones (0.096), and Tua Tagovailoa (0.104). Of course, he would need to maintain that pace and hopefully improve with more snaps under his belt.

McKee will turn 26 right after the draft in April.

India will take on Argentina in a crucial FIH Pro League 2025-26 clash at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Thursday, February 12, with both teams aiming to build momentum early in the tournament. The hosts come into the match after a 1-3 defeat against Belgium and will be eager to bounce back in front of home fans.

FIH Pro League 2026: India vs Argentina head-to-head (since 2013)

• 
  Total matches: 19
• 
  India won: 10
• 
  Argentina won: 7
• 
  Draws: 2

FIH Pro League 2026: India vs Argentina full squads

India squad for FIH Pro League 2026: Suraj Karkera, Pawan, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Amandeep Lakra, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Rajinder Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Selvam Karthi, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Aditya Arjun Lalage

Argentina squad for FIH Pro League 2026: Agustin Bonanno, Bautista Capurro, Maico Casella, Juan Catan, Nicolas Cicileo, Nicolas Della Torre, Tomas Domene, Martin Ferreiro, Thomas Habif, Nehuen Hernando, Ignacio Ibarra, Nicolas Keenan, Tadeo Marcucci, Lucas Martinez, Tobias Martins, Lucio Mendez, Inaki Minadeo, Ignacio Nardolillo, Matias Rey, Nicolas Rodriguez, Tomas Ruiz, Tomas Santiago, Facundo Sarto, Santiago Tarazona, Joaquin Toscani, Lucas Toscani, Facundo Zarate

FIH Pro League 2026: India vs Argentina live streaming and telecast details

When will the India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 be played?

The India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will be played on Thursday, February 12.

What will be the venue for the India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026?

The India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will be played at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium, Rourkela.

What time will the India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 begin?

The India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will kick off at 7.30 pm IST.

Where to watch the live telecast of the India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 in India?

The live telecast of the India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will be available on the Star Sports Network in India.

Where to watch the live streaming of the India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 in India?

The live streaming of the India vs Argentina match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will be available on the JioHotstar app and website in India.

Who is Vladyslav Heraskevych?

In Pyeongchang in 2018, the Kyiv native became the first Ukrainian to compete in skeleton at the Winter Olympics. Heraskevych also competed in Beijing in 2022. After the third of four runs there, he held up a sign with the English inscription “No war in Ukraine” for the cameras at the finish line of the run. Thirteen days later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Since then, Heraskevych has tirelessly used his sport to draw attention to the suffering of the people in Ukraine and to urge further strict sanctions against Russian sports. The skeleton racer was given the honor of being one of Ukraine’s flag bearers for the Milano Cortina Games’ opening ceremonies.

Heraskevych, however, is not among the likely medal contenders at the Olympics. He finished 12th in 2018 and 18th in 2022.

What is his dispute with the IOC about?

Heraskevych wants to wear his “helmet of remembrance” not only in training but also during the Olympic race in Cortina. It features images of Ukrainian athletes who were killed during Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) considers the helmet a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

In 2020, the IOC Athletes’ Commission published guidelines on how to implement this rule. According to these guidelines, athletes should only be allowed to express political views during the Olympic Games at press conferences, in interviews in the mixed zones, at team meetings, on internet platforms or through media outlets.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams told a press conference this week: “There are 130 conflicts going on in the world. We cannot have 130 different conflicts featured, however terrible they are, during the field of play, during the actual competition.”

Therefore, Heraskevych is allowed to express his political views outside of competition, but not during the race.

Could a compromise be reached?

There is no current indication that this is possible. The IOC offered the Ukrainian the option of wearing a black armband during the competition — as a sign of mourning for his compatriots killed in the war.

“We feel this is a good compromise,” Adams said.

Heraskevych sees things completely differently.

“The IOC has turned the ‘helmet of remembrance’ into an absurd farce,” the Ukrainian said on Wednesday. He insisted that he was not violating any IOC rule and accused the IOC of “double standards.”

United States figure skater Maxim Naumov displayed a picture of his parents, who died in a plane crash, after his short program on Tuesday evening in Milan, without any objections being raised. Heraskevych has previously pointed to the example of German weightlifter Matthias Steiner, who held up a photo of his deceased wife after his Olympic victory in Beijing in 2008.

According to the IOC, the cases are not comparable. The rules have evolved since 2008. Naumov’s behavior was “a very emotional, very human, spontaneous gesture,” according to IOC spokesman Adams: “In a sense it highlights what we are saying, this Ukrainian athlete, he can do the same.”

What happens if Heraskevych defies the IOC ban?

The IOC Athletes’ Commission’s recommendation regarding violations of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter states: “If an athlete or participant is in breach of Rule 50 and the Olympic Charter, each incident will be evaluated by their respective National Olympic Committee, International Federation [of the sport] and the IOC, and disciplinary action will be taken on a case-by-case basis as necessary.”

This leaves room for interpretation. In the worst-case scenario, Heraskevych could face immediate exclusion from the Olympic Games.

What have the reactions been?

Heraskevych has received support from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On X, he thanked the skeleton racer “for reminding the world of the price of our struggle.”

Thomas Weikert, president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), expressed understanding for Heraskevych’s action but advised him not to disregard the IOC ban and to abide by the rules.

Three time Olympic luge gold medalist Felix Loch, a close personal friend of Heraskevych, said if he were to be disqualified, it would be “sad and a bit of a scandal.” After all, there is “no text or anything like that” on the helmet in question, he noted.

This article was originally published in German.