Alas Pilipinas standout Owa Retamar is set to play for Azerbaijan-based club Ordu Sports. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Owa Retamar becomes the first Filipino to play in the 2026–27 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup, also known as the European Cup, joining Azerbaijan-based team Ordu Sports Club.

The Alas Pilipinas setter on Thursday was welcomed by Ordu Sports Club, as he is set to join the team on August 11. The season is from November to April, with 64 clubs competing.

“This is a dream come true and a challenge that I’m truly excited to embrace,” said Retamar. 

“Playing in Europe has always been one of my aspirations because it allows me to compete against some of the best players in the world and continue growing as an athlete. While I may be wearing the colors of Ordu Sports Club, I know that I will still be carrying the Philippines with me on another playing field.”

“ Every match is an opportunity to show the world what Filipino volleyball players are capable of, and I hope this journey inspires more young athletes to dream bigger and believe that opportunities beyond Asia are possible,” he added.

VP Global Management, Retamar’s agency, said that discussions with Ordu Sports Club had been ongoing for several months, reflecting the club’s confidence in Retamar’s ability to lead its offense as one of the team’s primary playmakers.

“For a setter, joining the team ahead of the season is extremely important. Building chemistry with teammates cannot be rushed, and Joshua’s early arrival will allow him to fully integrate into the team’s system before official competitions begin,” VP Global Management wrote.

Ordu Sports Club, a seven-time Azerbaijan Men’s Super League champion, expressed its confidence in the young Filipino setter, who led Visakha VC to a runner-up finish in the Techo Volleyball Cambodia League last month and a bronze in his first stint with the club in the 4th Sar Kheng Cup early this year.

“In ORDU VK’s talented roster, Joshua Retamar’s role is expected to attract special attention. Surrounded by experienced players, the young setter will continue to develop while bringing speed, determination, and a winning mentality to the team,” the team wrote

“This transfer is not only for the club’s present ambitions but is also a strategic investment in its future. We believe your energy, volleyball intelligence, and courageous decision-making will play a vital role in our team’s future success.”

Retamar is a decorated setter in the country, shining in the FIVB World Championship last year and leading Alas back to the podium with a bronze in the Southeast Asian Games.

In his rookie year for the men’s national volleyball team, Retamar was the main playmaker of the historic silver medal team in the 2019 SEA Games. He is also a two-time UAAP champion, Finals MVP, and Best Setter out of National University.

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. – After two rounds of stroke play at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur, two players sit atop the leaderboard.

Anna Iwanaga, a 17-year-old from Japan, held onto her first-round lead to earn co-medalist honors, at six under, alongside 15-year-old Hailey Kim of Simi Valley, Calif.

Just one stroke behind the co-medalists was 17-year-old Asterisk Talley, whose second-round 3-under 69 secured her the No. 3 seed entering match play.

The players battled more than just one another. A weather delay of nearly two and a half hours suspended second-round play on Wednesday and forced competitors to return the following day to complete their rounds.After regular play concluded, nine players were tied at five over, with just two spots remaining in the 64-player match play field: Bridget Boczar, Paula Francisco, Sarah Lydic, Claire Swathwood, Eliana Saga, Kathryn VanArragon, Nobelle Park, Addison Klonowski and Hsin Chun Liao.

The playoff began on the 10th hole. The 407-yard, par-4’s demanding layout quickly narrowed the field, eliminating Park, Swathwood, Lydic and Francisco. The remaining five competitors battled for more than two hours, extending the playoff through three more holes.

On the third hole, the par-4 15th, VanArragon and Saga were eliminated after Boczar, Klonowski and Liao each made birdie to extend the playoff. The final two spots were decided on the following hole — the par-3 16th — where the tee shot over water heightened the pressure.

After missing the green to the left, Boczar made bogey, leaving her fate in the hands of her competitors. Klonowski faced a birdie attempt from roughly 20 feet, rolling it close to leave herself a short par putt. Moments later, Liao confidently buried a 10-foot birdie putt to punch her ticket into the match-play bracket.

All eyes turned to Klonowski as she stepped over her short par putt and rolled it into the heart of the cup. Following the playoff, Klonowski credited her teammate, who was on the bag, for helping her stay composed on the course.

FILE– Alex Eala and Venus Williams during their round of 16 match in the Bad Homburg Open doubles. PHOTO: BAD HOMBURG OPEN

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala is back on center court in Toronto, this time alongside a legend.

Eala and partner Venus Williams return as a doubles team at the 2026 Canadian Open on Friday, with their round-of-32 match scheduled no earlier than 8 a.m. (Manila time).

READ: Alex Eala keeps celebration going with Filipino fans in Toronto

“I’m really, really excited to be playing doubles with her again. Every opportunity I get to share the court with her is super cherished,” Eala said. “She’s super good, and I think she’s got a great mentality and there’s so much I can learn from her.”

The Filipino-American duo takes on Liudmila Samsonova and Japan’s Miyu Kato.

It will be Eala’s second appearance on center court after opening her singles campaign with a three-set victory over Alycia Parks on Thursday.

READ: Venus Williams calls Alex Eala her ‘best partner’ after team-up

The stands for her first match at the WTA 1000 event were packed to the brim with Filipino fans, and Eala expects another electric atmosphere when she takes the court with Williams.

“So really excited to be doing that, and in a different setting. I think it will be very fun. I think with the Filipino community and the amazing fans that she has, I think it will be a great atmosphere,” Eala said.

Eala and Williams are teaming up for the second time since the Bad Homburg Open in Germany, where they reached the quarterfinals.

They were also slated to reunite at the Mubadala DC Open before Eala withdrew from the doubles draw to focus on singles, where she captured her first WTA Tour title.

The organisers of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have unveiled the cricket schedule for the 2026 edition, with the men’s competition set to take place from September 24 to October 3.

Although the Asian Games officially begin on September 19 and conclude on October 4, cricket action will extend beyond the opening ceremony, with the women’s tournament commencing on September 17 and the men’s event getting underway a week later.

T20 format returns

The men’s cricket competition will once again be played in the T20 format and staged at the Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

A total of 10 teams are expected to compete for the medals. The tournament will begin with a preliminary phase before moving into the knockout rounds.

Likely tournament format

While the final draw is yet to be confirmed, the competition is expected to follow a structure similar to the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.

Under that format, the top four seeded teams receive direct entry into the quarter-finals, while the remaining six nations compete in preliminary group-stage matches to determine the other four quarter-finalists.

Official confirmation of the tournament format and participating teams is expected closer to the event.

Qualification yet to be confirmed

India eye another golden campaign

Cricket will make its fourth appearance at the Asian Games after previous editions in Guangzhou 2010, Incheon 2014 and Hangzhou 2023.

  Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket: Live streaming and telecast details

When will India’s men’s cricket team begin its Asian Games 2026 campaign?

If India receive a top-four seeding, they are expected to begin their campaign directly from the quarter-finals on September 28, 2026. The official draw and fixtures are yet to be confirmed.

Why could India get direct entry into the quarter-finals?

If the tournament follows the same format as the 2023 Asian Games, the top four seeded teams based on the relevant rankings will qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while the remaining teams will play preliminary matches.

What are the match timings for the Asian Games 2026 cricket tournament? 

Each matchday is expected to feature two games:

Morning match: 9:00 AM JST (5:30 AM IST)

Afternoon match: 2:00 PM JST (10:30 AM IST)

India’s exact match timing will be confirmed once the fixtures are released.

Which TV channels will telecast India’s Asian Games 2026 cricket matches?

The official television broadcaster for the Asian Games 2026 will be the Sony Sports network.

Where can fans watch the live streaming of India’s Asian Games 2026 cricket matches?

The official streaming platform for the Asian Games 2026 is SonyLIV with the app and website streaming the tournament in India.

Jubilee Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 23 NRL game between St. George Illawarra Dragons and
Cronulla Sharks. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Cronulla Sharks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the St. George Illawarra Dragons vs.
Cronulla Sharks
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday August 9, 2026 at 4:05 pm

Where: Jubilee Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Cronulla Sharks Odds

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Cronulla Sharks Preview

Cronulla will look to extend its outstanding run of form when it crosses southern Sydney to face St George Illawarra on Sunday afternoon. The Sharks have won 10 of their past 11 matches and remain firmly in the race for the minor premiership, while the Dragons continue to battle through a difficult campaign despite showing resilience in recent weeks.

The Sharks have won 11 of the past 12 meetings between the clubs and again enter the local derby as strong favourites. Mawene Hiroti comes into the Cronulla side after KL Iro’s concussion, while the Dragons reshuffle their forward pack following Toby Couchman’s injury. Nicho Hynes has consistently excelled against St George Illawarra, and another influential performance from the star halfback could keep the Sharks’ impressive late-season charge rolling.

European soccer’s governing body has retained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions despite FIFA apologising for its failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.

UEFA on Thursday reiterated that it had lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino and said conditions to withdraw its boycott threat had not been met.

Read moreEuropean football body declares no confidence in FIFA’s Infantino after World Cup sell-off plan

“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non participation in FIFA competitions,” it said in a statement.

“First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.

“These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in it’s statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.”

FIFA and Infantino tried to present a united front following a high-level summit in Morocco on Wednesday when it announced the president had the full support of top staff in attendance.

Read moreFIFA closes ranks round Infantino amid mounting leadership crisis

The world governing body also apologised for errors made over it’s controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary and committed to “ensure they do not happen again.”

FIFA said it hoped its meeting would “help restore confidence” in the organisation after the turbulence created by Infantino’s now abandoned project, which provoked widespread condemnation.

Read moreFIFA backs Infantino but apologises over World Cup investment plan

UEFA voted to abandon FIFA competitions if it went ahead. And even after Infantino’s hasty climbdown, Europe’s governing body said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership – paving the way for a challenge to his presidency. 

In its defiant statement, UEFA made it clear its position still held. 

“Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing,” it said.

South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL, usually seen as a strong supporter of Infantino, welcomed the withdrawal of FIFA’s private investor plan, but expressed “its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken”.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

Marvel Stadium will play host to Thursday’s
Round 22 AFL game between Western Bulldogs and
North Melbourne Kangaroos. The game kicks off at 7:30 pm with Western Bulldogs heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Western Bulldogs vs.
North Melbourne Kangaroos
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Thursday August 6, 2026 at 7:30 pm

Where: Marvel Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne Kangaroos Odds

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne Kangaroos Preview

The Western Bulldogs will be determined to avoid a costly late-season slip when they face North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. The eighth-placed Bulldogs challenged ladder leader Fremantle last week before conceding seven second-half goals in a 78-41 defeat. They remain one win behind sixth-placed Melbourne, but their percentage of 94.8 leaves little margin for error in the race to avoid the Wildcard Finals Round.

North Melbourne showed encouraging signs in a 99-83 loss to Hawthorn, with Harry Sheezel collecting 25 disposals and kicking two goals. However, the Kangaroos have now lost five consecutive matches and sit eight points outside the top 10 with only three rounds remaining. History strongly favours the Bulldogs, who have won their past nine meetings with North Melbourne.

It’s debatable whether the Canada or Chattanooga pipelines have been more valuable to Tennessee football recruiting lately because there’s so much overlap between them.

UT signed four Canadian players in its 2026 class. And it has three players from Baylor School in Chattanooga.

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Offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda and defensive back Jamyan Theodore fit into both categories. Osenda is from Airdrie, Alberta. Theodore is from Montreal, Quebec. They played together at Baylor School the past two seasons.

Most notably, they were Baylor teammates and close friends with David Gabriel Georges, the Canadian five-star running back that committed to the Vols in the 2027 class after a high-profile recruiting battle with Ohio State.

“It’s a great relationship. Both him and I have the origins that we’re Haitians (who grew up in Montreal), so we have a close bond,” Theodore said. “His uncle and my father know each other and have a close bond, so we naturally built a close bond together.

“Because we are both from Canada and speak French, we were able to speak to each other and help each other out in tough moments.”

Members of that Baylor trio aren’t the only Canadians packing UT’s current and future rosters.

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Freshman defensive lineman Carter Gooden is originally from Hamilton, Ontario. Freshman offensive lineman Jeremy George-El, a former Knox Catholic standout, is from Montreal.

They gave coach Josh Heupel the opening for a well-timed joke on signing day in December.

“South Dakota was annexed by Canada a few years back, so it was part of our curriculum in school,” said Heupel, a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota.

How COVID pandemic pushed Canadian players to Tennessee

But in all seriousness, that Canadian pipeline has proved profitable for the Vols, especially via Baylor School.

It goes back to the COVID-19 pandemic. High school sports in Canada were shut down for almost two years. But the United States opened up much earlier, especially in the South and Midwest.

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Elite Canadian athletes traveled south of the border to play high school football. Osenda played one season in Florida and then moved to Chattanooga. Theodore spent two years in Ohio and then to Chattanooga. They found a home in Baylor’s boarding school and an opportunity to impress college football recruiters.

George-El played at Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and then at Knox Catholic. Gooden played two seasons in Massachusetts.

They’ve converged at Tennessee thanks to high school recruiting connections that extended to Canada’s best football exports.

“You’ve seen more and more guys come down from Canada, typically to private schools, chasing their dreams of playing American football at this level,” Heupel said. “You think about the journey that they have to be on to ultimately get to this point. There’s so much sacrifice from the families and the kid moving away from home. They’re hungry to accomplish their goals and dreams.”

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How speaking French on football field is an asset

Getting one Canadian player on the roster obviously helps UT land others. They share a bond and culture.

“It’s definitely very comforting, especially for me and (Theodore), coming from Canada and having another brother (on the team) to know that we’re here for a reason,” said Osenda, a 6-foot-8, 330-pounder who was one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 class.

“We’re here to show out for our country and do everything we can to get better every day.”

For Theodore and Gabriel Georges, that bond is often demonstrated in their shared language.

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“I remember in games (at Baylor) when I needed to calm him down in games, I would speak to him in French and people would be like, ‘Woah, what’s going on?’ ” Theodore said. “And when he needed to calm me down, he would speak French.”

Canadians are eager for Gabriel Georges arrival with Vols

Canadian players on UT’s 2026 roster are trying to adjust to the college game like their fellow freshmen. But they said they’ll keep an eye on Gabriel Georges’ much-anticipated senior season.

“It’s definitely exciting to see what he’s going to do in high school this year,” said Osenda, who blocked for Gabriel Georges during his 1,756-yard season en route to Baylor’s 2025 state title.

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Gabriel Georges can sign with Tennessee during the early signing period in December, and he can enroll in January. If all the current Canadian players return, his arrival will give the Vols five players from north of the border.

“We were always able to stay on the same path and obviously seeing (Gabriel Georges) come here is going to be great,” Theodore said. “We’ve all seen his talent. He’s a great player, and I’m excited to keep bonding with him and see him develop here.”

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Inside Tennessee football’s Canadian pipeline to David Gabriel Georges

UEFA’s FIFA boycott is still in place, the European confederation said Thursday.

The 55 European federations voted unanimously to suspend their participation in FIFA competitions—including World Cups—at an emergency meeting on July 30. One week later, the European governing body remains dissatisfied, despite FIFA president Gianni Infantino calling off his widely panned plans to sell shares of the World Cup.

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“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in FIFA competitions,” the governing body said in a statement. “First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn, and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again. These conditions have not been met.”

UEFA also reiterated its lack of confidence in Infantino and his future as FIFA president in the statement.

Infantino convened FIFA’s top officials at a crisis meeting Wednesday in Morocco as he sought to preserve support for his presidency. In an unsigned statement afterwards, FIFA’s leadership acknowledged “errors” in how the proposal was handled, apologized to its 211 member associations for excluding them from “the process,” and promised that an internal review “will now be conducted.” The statement added that the “successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup” would not have been possible without Infantino.

“FIFA’s top management is fully confident that the outcomes of today’s meeting will strengthen FIFA’s governance, help restore confidence in the organisation and enable us to prepare for the major events and challenges ahead,” the statement read.

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The statement also said that Infantino has the “full support” of FIFA’s management board and secretary general Mattias Grafström.

But in an internal email obtained by the Associated Press, Grafström sought to reassure FIFA staff that they would be protected from the fallout of the FFE.

“You do not need to worry,” Grafström wrote Tuesday. “I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience.”

“We have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept,” Grafström added.

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FIFA COO Kevin Lamour was not invited to the meeting in Morocco after previously saying that senior staff was “deceived” by Infantino. While Lamour remains with the governing body, Carlos Cordeiro, a former senior adviser to Infantino, resigned from his position, saying he had no involvement with the proposal and that he strongly opposed it.

Calls for Infantino’s departure have grown in recent days. Former Portugal star Luis Figo—who ran for FIFA president himself in 2015—said “Infantino must go,” while Jordanian federation president Prince Ali bin Hussein ruled out endorsing him in a social media post.

Finland, Wales, and Serbia have withdrawn their endorsements of the FIFA president, and England followed on Thursday. Infantino has retained support from several federations in Africa and Asia, including Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE.

Infantino is seeking a fourth term in FIFA’s March 2027 presidential election, though several European federations have already withdrawn their endorsements of him following the collapse of the FFE. Victor Montagliani, the president of CONCACAF, has been widely viewed as the challenger best-positioned to run against Infantino. No candidate has yet said they plan to step forward and run against Infantino, who was widely viewed as on a glide path to re-election until the FFE debacle.

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FIFPRO also condemned the proposal Wednesday, saying it would permanently alter the ownership and governance of the World Cup. The global players’ union called the plan “a profound abuse of power” before delivering a set of demands for “structural safeguards to ensure these events can never be repeated.”

“The players did not create this crisis,” FIFPRO said in the statement. “They will insist that football emerges from it with stronger institutions, stronger safeguards and leadership worthy of the trust the game demands.”

The next FIFA event begins Sept. 5 with the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, where six European nations are set to compete.

The general secretary of the Polish Football Association previously said the association believed the boycott would end quickly, with the tournament expected to proceed as scheduled. With UEFA continuing its boycott threat, the participation of European teams remains up in the air.

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The U-20 Women’s World Cup could be the first of several events impacted by any prospective European boycott lasts an extended period of time. The biggest of those is the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Brazil and will kick off in July 2027.

Asked whether the UEFA boycott will affect the U-20 Women’s World Cup in September, a representative from the governing body had “no further comment.”

A representative for FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The post Europe Still Plans to Boycott World Cups, UEFA Says appeared first on Front Office Sports.

India’s captain Shubman Gill, (left), and head coach Gautam Gambhir during a training session. (PTI)

India will begin their preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka with a three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI, starting on Friday at the Nondescripts Cricket Club. The fixture comes just days before the opening Test in Galle on August 15 and will give Gautam Gambhir’s side a valuable opportunity to adapt to local conditions.The practice game carries added significance for India’s batters, who have struggled against quality spin in recent home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa. Sri Lanka’s spin-friendly conditions are expected to present another stern examination, making the warm-up match an important part of the team’s build-up.Several senior batters, including captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, had already begun individual training sessions against spin before departing for Sri Lanka. However, batting on Sri Lankan pitches against local bowlers is expected to provide a far more realistic test ahead of the series.Many members of India’s current squad are also playing red-ball cricket in Sri Lanka for the first time. In fact, only KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav have previous Test experience in the country.India’s bowling attack, led by Mohammed Siraj in the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah, will also use the fixture to assess conditions. Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain are among those expected to gain valuable match practice, while Brar and Jain arrive after impressive performances for India A against Sri Lanka A in Galle last month.Head coach Gautam Gambhir has urged the players to make the most of every session before the Test series.“We know what is in front of us. We can do volume, we can push our limits, we can tick all the boxes and come 15th morning whether we are batting first or bowling first we will be absolutely ready with every answer to every question thrown at us.“So make sure to tick all the boxes from now on,” Gambhir said in a video shared by the BCCI.Sri Lanka XI have also named a strong squad for the practice game, led by Sonal Dinusha and featuring experienced pacers Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, along with spinners Isitha Wijesundara and Ramesh Mendis.India vs Sri Lanka XI warm-up match: Live streaming and broadcast detailsMatch: India vs Sri Lanka XI, three-day warm-up matchVenue: Nondescripts Cricket ClubStart date: FridayMatch timing: 10:00 AM ISTTV broadcast in India: Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HDLive streaming: Sony LIV app and websiteRain has been forecast in the region during the match, which could affect the amount of play available before India begin the Test series on August 15 in Galle.