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Shiho Kuwaki thwarts Esther Henseleit in dramatic play-off to claim Women’s Open title

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Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki claimed her first major title ​by defeating Germany’s Esther Henseleit in a playoff to win the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham on Sunday.

Kuwaki and Henseleit finished regulation play tied at five under par after the German holed a lengthy birdie putt on the 18th to force extra holes.

American Yealimi Noh, who had held the overnight lead and started the day strongly, finished third at four under.

Kuwaki sealed victory on the second playoff hole, after Henseleit missed her par attempt and tapped in for bogey, becoming the second Japanese champion of the tournament in succession, after Miyu Yamashita.

Shiho Kuwaki celebrates her Women's Open triumph
Shiho Kuwaki celebrates her Women’s Open triumph (Getty)

After beginning the day among the chasing pack, Kuwaki ⁠steadily climbed into contention as Noh began to feel the pressure.

She ​moved ⁠into a share of the ‌lead with a birdie at the 13th and stayed patient over the closing stretch before posting the clubhouse target at five under.

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Noh looked set to control the final round but a pair of bogeys at the seventh and eighth cut her advantage.

She briefly recovered, regaining a share of the lead with a birdie at the par-four 13th, before another dropped shot at the 14th left her trailing Kuwaki by one.

Henseleit also produced a strong back-nine charge.

After slipping back with bogeys at the eighth and ninth, she birdied the 11th, 12th and 15th to draw level with Kuwaki, only to drop a shot at the 16th.

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The German refused to relent, however, rolling in a crucial birdie putt at the last ‌to force the play-off.

Esther Henseleit's stunning birdie forced the play-off
Esther Henseleit’s stunning birdie forced the play-off (Getty)

World number one Nelly Korda briefly held the clubhouse lead after a closing three-under 68 but it was not enough to challenge for the title, leaving her tied for fourth on two under with world number two Jeeno Thitikul.

South Korea’s Haeran Ryu saw her bid for a third consecutive ‌major fade with ​bogeys at the 17th and 18th, ‌finishing tied for sixth on one ​under alongside home hopes Lottie Woad and Charley Hull.

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Tottenham consider Victor Osimhen as striker search continues

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a move for Victor Osimhen as they look to strengthen their attack ahead of the new season.

Spurs are searching for a new striker, with manager Roberto De Zerbi keen to improve his forward line. Richarlison’s future at the club is also uncertain.

Victor Osimhen scored his 17th goal of the season to help Galatasaray win 1-0 against Alanyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday.Victor Osimhen scored his 17th goal of the season to help Galatasaray win 1-0 against Alanyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig on Sunday.

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Reports on Sunday claimed that Osimhen has emerged as a new name on Tottenham’s transfer wishlist.

The Nigerian striker has been linked with a move to the Premier League for several years. Chelsea were strongly interested in him two years ago, but talks broke down in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Osimhen is now at Galatasaray and is reportedly keen to move to the Premier League. According to CaughtOffside, personal terms are not expected to be a problem, with the 27-year-old said to be open to joining Tottenham.

Victor Osimhen scored twice as Galatasaray beat Trabzonspor 3-0 to win the 2024/25 Turkish Cup on Wednesday night.Victor Osimhen scored twice as Galatasaray beat Trabzonspor 3-0 to win the 2024/25 Turkish Cup on Wednesday night.
Victor Osimhen

Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur claims Tottenham have made an opening offer of between £50 million and £55m for the Super Eagles striker.

However, Galatasaray are reportedly looking for around £65m before agreeing to sell Osimhen.

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It remains unclear whether Tottenham will make a serious move for the Nigerian, but De Zerbi is expected to push for a new striker before the transfer window closes.

The Spurs boss also admitted on Saturday that Richarlison’s future remains uncertain.

“I like him as a player, as a guy,” De Zerbi said after Richarlison scored a late winner against Chelsea in Sydney.

“He has an unbelievable attitude and behaviour, but in the end we have to respect what he wants to do. We all know what he wants to do.

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“But for me, he’s still an important player because it’s not so easy to find another striker like Richarlison. He scores goals. He scored 12 goals last season, not through luck, because he knows how to score.”

With Richarlison’s future still unclear, Osimhen could become an attractive option for Tottenham as they look for a proven goalscorer.

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Terence Crawford predicts a ‘bloodbath’ if William Zepeda faces one world champion next

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Terence Crawford is excited about the prospect of William Zepeda potentially facing one man in particular next.

Zepeda cemented his status as one of the best 135lb fighters on the planet when he won the vacant WBC lightweight title on Saturday with a unanimous decision victory over Lamont Roach.

It saw the Mexican star return to winning ways after a defeat to Shakur Stevenson last year, and hand Roach just the second loss of his professional career, having drawn with Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis in his last two bouts.

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Crawford was in attendance to witness Zepeda’s victory, and speaking on the TNT broadcast following the bout, he praised the performance of the new champion.

“Zepeda caught me off guard. I wasn’t ready for that. I was looking for a straight come forward type fighter, but from round one I said ‘damn look at his movement.’

“Look at his footwork. His distance, his range, his angles, his faints, his jabbing, his counter ability, his punch placement. How he was controlling the fight. Roach would hit him with a good shot, but he would eat it and come right back.”

The TNT panel then discussed a potential clash between Zepeda and current unified super-featherweight world champion Emanuel Navarrete, and Crawford made it perfectly clear what a war he thinks that could be.

“That’s CTE at its finest. You talk about a bloodbath, it’s a bloodbath waiting.”

Three-weight world champion Navarrete added the IBF super-featherweight title to his WBO crown when he defeated Eduardo Nunez back in February, and may be interested in the chance to claim gold in a fourth division by moving up to take on Zepeda.

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Chelsea Green’s husband reacts after she becomes the interim WWE Women’s Champion at SummerSlam 2026

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Chelsea Green’s biggest career victory at WWE SummerSlam 2026 received an immediate reaction from someone who knows her journey better than anyone else. Shortly after Green captured the Interim Women’s Championship, her husband, Matt Cardona, took to social media to celebrate the historic moment.

The Interim WWE Women’s Championship was introduced after reigning champion Rhea Ripley suffered a torn meniscus while successfully defending her title against Jade Cargill in their rematch at Clash in Italy. Ripley had originally won the championship by defeating Cargill at WrestleMania 42, but her injury forced the sports entertainment juggernaut to crown a temporary champion until she is medically cleared to return.

Following Adam Pearce’s announcement that Ripley would miss SummerSlam, WWE held a series of qualifying matches on SmackDown. Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Charlotte Flair, Chelsea Green, and Lash Legend all earned spots in the high-stakes Five-Way Ladder Match.

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The championship bout lived up to expectations. Late in the match, Tiffany Stratton appeared close to victory before Green shoved the ladder, sending her crashing onto the other competitors outside the ring. Moments later, B-Fab and Michin tried to stop Green and assist Cargill, only for The Queen to intervene as the action descended into complete chaos.

After Flair and Cargill neutralized one another at the top of the ladder, Green recovered while the rest of the field was down. She climbed the ladder uninterrupted and unhooked the championship to become the Interim WWE Women’s Champion.

While Matt Cardona did not compete at The Biggest Party of the Summer, he shared a congratulatory message on X after watching The Hot Mess climb the ladder and secure the championship on Night Two of SummerSlam.

“Here is your winner and NNNEEEWWW @WWE Women’s Champion…my hot wife…@ImChelseaGreen!”

Chelsea Green can now call herself Interim Women’s Champion, but her reign comes with a major challenge waiting in the future. Once Rhea Ripley returns from injury, the two stars will eventually collide in a Championship Unification Match to determine the undisputed titleholder.

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