Esther Henseleit tapped in for bogey and turned around to look into the fading sunset at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Forty minutes earlier, the 27-year-old German had made the putt of a lifetime, draining a long bomb for birdie on the 72nd hole to tie Shiho Kuwaki and send the AIG Women’s Open to a playoff.
She then missed a much shorter birdie putt to win the first playoff hole and watched as her tee shot on the second playoff hole apparently hit a marshal in the leg and ricocheted into a gorse bush. She hacked out into the fairway, played her third onto the green, but missed her par putt. With Kuwaki in close for par, Henseleit was left to rue a missed opportunity as Kuwaki rolled in the par putt to win the year’s final major in stunning fashion. The 23-year-old from Japan is a multi-time winner on the JLPGA and will be a staple on the LPGA. Make no mistake, Shiho Kuwaki won the AIG Women’s Open. As chaos enveloped Royal Lytham on Sunday, it was Kuwaki who played her final 13 holes in regulation in two under to post five under and put pressure on 54-hole leader Yealimi Noh and Henseleit to match. It was Kuwaki who hit a perfectly flighted iron to the small landing spot on the par-3 ninth for a key birdie. It was Kuwaki who steadied herself after early trouble, played fast and confident, and did what no one else on Sunday could.
This was Shiho Kuwaki’s day. The champagne showers and the LPGA membership that comes with a life-changing win prove that.
But if anything summed up Sunday at the year’s final major, it was Henseleit’s look off into the distance as reality set in, a look that said how fast everything could change at Royal Lytham.
Advertisement
But Esther Henseleit isn’t the only one leaving Royal Lytham feeling they let a golden major opportunity slip away. That unshakeable feeling was everywhere in the wake of Kuwaki’s stunning major victory.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda fired a final-round three-under 68 to finish in a tie for fourth at two under. Sunday’s round saw Korda make a bogey on the par-3 fifth and double on the par-5 sixth. That was the story of Nelly Korda’s week. She kept throwing punches, but big mistakes like the closing double bogey on Saturday and an early seven on Sunday were the difference between a third major and a solid, but otherwise bland finish to a brilliant major season.
Alongside Korda was World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, who opened the tournament with a brilliant round of 64. As Thitikul torched Lytham’s greens on Thursday, it felt like this might be the week she finally won her maiden major title. Instead, Thitikul’s putter went cold over the final three rounds, including Sunday’s final round, where she went out in three over and was unable to make anything coming home to meet the bar set by Kuwaki.
“It’s just kind of shake it off,” Thitikul said leaving Lytham. “I knew I missed some, but I feel like my game wasn’t that bad. I just couldn’t make putts like the first day, and then we just couldn’t hit it that close because of the wind, the pin position, and everything. That’s why I [couldn’t make] the putt.”
Advertisement
Yealimi Noh held the lead for as long as she could on Sunday. Battling final-round nerves, Noh scraped her way around Lytham’s front nine and watched her lead go from five to one as she made the turn. By the time she bogeyed 14, she had lost the lead and needed to make a birdie coming in to match Kuwaki. When her final birdie attempt on 18 came up short, Noh admitted she was hurt by how Sunday unfolded, especially a missed short putt for par at 14, but exited the carnage at Lytham with a silver lining.
“I will be taking away a lot more than I thought I would be this week,” an emotional Noh told NBC’s Cara Banks after the round, wiping tears from her eyes. “It stings just being one short, but very happy with the week. I told myself this morning, no matter what happens, I’m just really happy to be in this positionagain. A couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t even feeling the want to play golf — obviously play — but I was losing a lot of motivation with my past results.
“But this week has really helped me feel so much better about my game and realize why I’m doing this. Coming up 18 was pretty incredible, just in front of those crowds and playing here at the Open. Very grateful.”
Going for her third major victory in a row, Haeran Ryu held a four-shot lead early on Saturday but got bludgeoned by Lytham and entered Sunday trailing Noh by three. An early double at the par-3 fifth sent Ryu down the leaderboard. She climbed back to within two of the lead on the back nine but finished bogey-bogey to card a three-over 74 and settle for a T6 finish.
Advertisement
But there might be no bigger what ifs than from the two players who the crowd at Lytham tried their hardest to will to victory. Lottie Woad entered Sunday four shots back of Noh. Charley Hull was one shot back of her but ready to put the pedal down to chase her first major title in 65 tries.
As Noh scuffed along and Lytham pummeled the field, the title was there for the taking for either Woad or Hull.
Woad opened with a bogey but got the stroke back with a birdie at six. With the par-5 seventh coming up, it looked like Woad was in position to pin her ears back and put pressure on Noh. Instead, she made a mess of the seventh and dropped a shot. When she missed a birdie putt at the eighth, Woad became visibly irritated. When her par putt at the ninth missed the cup, she swiped her putter through the air knowing that her major opportunity was slipping away. No late Sunday magic materialized for Lottie Woad. She played the back nine in even par, and her bogey at the 16th served as the final nail in Sunday’s would-be comeback.
With a leaderboard filled with players with few LPGA winning moments, Sunday seemed like it could be Charley Hull’s day. With five major runner-up finishes, Hull has experience in the cauldron. She emptied the tank at Riviera and was just beaten by Nelly Korda. A furious run to catch Miyu Yamashita at last year’s AIG Women’s Open was derailed by two bad swings. But Charley Hull had been here before, and now it appeared her moment had finally arrived. Sunday, in benign conditions, set up for Charley Hull to finally become a major champion.
Advertisement
Instead, Hull quickly lost control. She made a double bogey at the third and then made another double at the par-5 seventh after hitting her approach into a pot bunker. Birdies at nine and 11 got Hull back onto the periphery, but every birdie attempt coming home veered away from the hole. Perhaps nothing better told the story of Hull’s unsuccessful charge than the tee shot on the short par-4 13th. Needing to make a move, Hull pulled driver and hit it a bullet through the northwestern English wind. It was a pure strike, one of her best of the day, but Hull immediately knew it might not deliver the desired result. It landed on the front of the green, bounded across the putting surface and rolled into a thick patch of dried-out rough. Unsure of how the ball would come out, Hull left her pitch well short and two-putted for par. When her birdie putt just missed right, she pointed for it to go left and shook her head.
As Charley Hull approached Lytham’s clubhouse, she tried to give the English crowd one final firework, even if her title dreams were dashed. But her closing birdie attempt missed the hole, closing the book on another winless major championship season. Charley Hull quickly tapped in for par and exited another major she could’ve won, with nothing but scars.
Hours after Korda, Hull and Woad left Royal Lytham, Esther Henseleit looked out at nothing in particular, her would-be signature major moment quickly evaporating as Shiho Kuwaki rolled in a short putt and raised her arms in triumph.
“I just can’t believe it,” Kuwaki said through an interpreter afterward. “I just can’t believe it.”
Advertisement
That feeling was everywhere in the aftermath at Royal Lytham. But she’s the only one who won’t be trying to forget her reason for disbelief.
Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade clinched the men’s and women’s singles title with contrasting wins at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships here on Sunday.
Bhattacharjee emerged a deserving 4-3 winner over Payas Jain after a hard-fought match.
Payas looked set for victory after opening a 7-4 lead in the deciding game.
However, Ankur called a timeout that disrupted his opponent’s rhythm, and fought back to level at 8-8.
Advertisement
He then edged ahead 10-9, and eventually sealed the title 11-9 when Payas’ return drifted long.
In the women’s final, Ghorpade delivered a commanding performance to defeat Sreeja Akula 4-1.
India dominated the championships, winning all but one of the gold medals on offer.
Advertisement
The lone title eluded the hosts was the men’s doubles, where Malaysia’s pair defeated Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah in the final.
Ghorpade dominated the opening two games, racing to an 11-6, 11-1 lead and putting Sreeja under immense pressure.
Sreeja responded admirably, taking the third game 11-8 to keep her hopes alive, but Ghorpade quickly regained control, claiming the fourth game 11-7 and moving within touching distance of the title.
The fifth game produced the most entertaining contest of the match, with both players matching each other point-for-point in a tense finish.
Advertisement
Although Sreeja fought hard and saved two championship points, she failed to benefit from crucial opportunities at the business end.
Yashaswini held her nerve to convert her third match point, sealing a 13-11 victory and the championship in style.
In the men’s doubles final, contrary to expectations, Malaysia’s Shen Qi Wong and Javen Choong delivered a clinical display, defeating India’s Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, the world No. 2 pair, in straight games.
In the all-Indian women’s doubles final, Sreeja Akula and Syndrela Das delivered a commanding performance, defeating Yashaswini Ghorpade and Divyanshi Bhowmick 3-1.
Advertisement
The mixed doubles final featured a spirited comeback by India’s Manav Thakkar and Taneesha Kotecha, who defeated Malaysia’s Ai Xin and Richard Rui 3-2.
Nigeria’s final Group C match against Egypt could play a major role in deciding which teams reach the knockout stage of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
If Nigeria beat Egypt 1-0 and Zambia also defeat Malawi, the final positions will depend on the score in the Zambia-Malawi game.
A 1-0 win for Zambia would leave Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia level on goal difference. Malawi would then top the group on goals scored, with Nigeria finishing second, while Zambia would be eliminated.
Advertisement
If Zambia win by two or three clear goals, Malawi would be eliminated, with Zambia topping the group and Nigeria finishing second.
However, a 3-2 victory for Zambia would again leave the three teams level on goal difference. Malawi would top the group based on goals scored, while Nigeria would finish second and Zambia would be eliminated.
The biggest twist could come if Zambia beat Malawi 4-3. In that case, Nigeria would be eliminated, while Malawi would top the group and Zambia would finish second.
Advertisement
The permutations are based on the competition’s head-to-head rules. If three teams finish level on points, results against the fourth-placed team, Egypt in this case, are not considered when deciding the positions among the three tied teams.
This means Nigeria’s victory over Egypt would be important for qualification, but the final score between Zambia and Malawi could ultimately determine whether the Super Falcons top the group, finish second or face elimination.
Indian batter Rohit Sharma hailed former fielding coach T Dilip for his contributions to Indian cricket during his stint, which included two ICC T20 World Cup wins and the ICC Champions Trophy title win, saying that he “created magic within the group” and was a “workhorse” behind the scenes. Dilip served as India men’s fielding coach from 2021 until the conclusion of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He returned for a second stint during India’s Test tour of the UK in 2025 on a one-year contract but was not retained after it expired. Meanwhile, India men’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also stepped down following the white-ball tour of England in July and has since joined Kolkata Knight Riders as their Head of Cricket Strategy.
Taking to his Instagram, Rohit posted a picture with Dilip on his story, captioned, “You are a legend Dillip guru. You created magic within the group and a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead @dillip.tk.19”
During Dilip’s tenure as India’s fielding coach, India made a lot of progress as a fielding side. The fielding medal ceremony, which crowned the ‘Best Fielder of the Match’ after every match, gained a lot of popularity since it started during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, with KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma being among the winners. The medal was given with the motive to encourage a better fielding culture within the Indian team and make players take risks and be at their athletic best while fielding.
Advertisement
Taking to Instagram, Dilip posted a parting note, saying that “it is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much.” He also expressed his gratitude for being able to contribute as India’s fielding coach and said that he will carry the memories that came with his stint forever, especially the fielding medal presentation ritual.
“Five years. It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team’s journey,” he posted.
“The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I’ll carry with me forever,” he added.
“I will always cherish being part of: Two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumphs (2024 & 2026), ICC Champions Trophy triumph (2025), Two Asia Cup triumphs (2023 & 2025), Runners-up at the ICC World Test Championship & ICC Men’s Cricket ODI World Cup (2023), Several unforgettable journeys on the world stage. A heartfelt thank you to the BCCI @indiancricketteam for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to serve Indian cricket,” he continued.
Advertisement
He thanked Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir, who served as head coaches during his tenure, for placing their trust in him and also to Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who captained the side across various formats during his tenure.
“And to every player, coach and member of the support staff… thank you. The memories we’ve created together will stay with me for the rest of my life. As this chapter comes to a close, I’ll always be grateful that, for five unforgettable years, I had the honour of wearing the India badge. Forever grateful. The journey continues,” he signed off.
Subhadeep Ghosh has replaced T Dilip as the fielding coach of the India men’s cricket team ahead of the upcoming two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, Cricinfo reported.
The 57-year-old previously served as the fielding coach of the India women’s team for two years, during which he was part of the support staff for the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup and the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Advertisement
Ghosh has also worked with India A and had a stint as head coach of Assam’s senior men’s team. As a player, Ghosh was a right-handed batter who represented Assam and Railways. He featured in 17 first-class matches and 17 List A games during his domestic career.
India will begin their two-Test series against Sri Lanka on August 15 in Galle, with the second Test scheduled for August 23 at the SSC in Colombo. Before the series gets underway, the visitors will play a three-day practice match in Colombo from August 7.
Featured Video Of The Day
Spain’s Royal Family Welcomes World Cup Champions To Zarzuela Palace
Alexandra Eala became the first Filipino to win a WTA singles title as she beat top seed Jessica Pegula in a delayed Washington Open final.
The WTA showpiece was postponed from Sunday to Monday because of bad weather in the US capital.
Rain and lightning meant the start was pushed back on Sunday, before world number three Pegula took the first set 6-4.
Eala, 21, was leading 2-1 in the second set when further bad weather meant play was halted and then cancelled for the rest of the day.
Advertisement
And after play resumed on Monday, Pegula won just three more games as Eala wrapped up a 4-6 6-4 6-0 victory.
Pegula, 32, previously won the event in 2019 and 2021, but Eala secured the second set before racing through the decider behind a dominant left-handed serve and some fearless baseline hitting.
“I feel so much love,” she said. “I knew whatever happened, this match would have already been a win for me.
“My first chance at a title knowing it won’t be the last and already [I’ve] achieved this milestone for my career.”
On Monday, the American added: “To see how far you’ve come over the last couple of years since we first played, to see the amazing fans that follow you every place you go, it’s not fun to play against, but I think it’s amazing.”
The victory extended Eala’s winning streak against top-10 opponents to five matches following victories over Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina (twice), and Iga Swiatek.
In the men’s final, world number 10 Taylor Fritz beat 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.
Advertisement
The American, who was the third seed, claimed his 11th ATP title and his first since Eastbourne last year.
Officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission have received a delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Lagos as part of preparations for the 2026 CAF Awards.
The CAF team visited the proposed venue for an inspection ahead of the awards ceremony, which will bring together some of the biggest names in African football.
Officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission guided the delegation around the venue and received feedback on the preparations.
Advertisement
The inspection is part of efforts to ensure that the venue and facilities meet the required standards for an event of such importance.
The Lagos State authorities said preparations were ongoing, with attention being given to every detail ahead of the ceremony.
Lagos is expected to host the 2026 CAF Awards as the state continues preparations to stage what is expected to be a major event on the African football calendar.
NBA player Terry Rozier departs after his arraignment hearing at Brooklyn Federal Court on charges tied to illegal sports betting and poker game schemes on December 8, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
NBA veteran Terry Rozier has asked a federal judge to throw out two of the four charges he faces in an alleged sports gambling scheme that rocked the US basketball world last year.
In a filing on Friday in US District Court in New York, Rozier attorney David Markus argued that a text message sent by alleged co-conspirator Deniro Laster showed Rozier did not agree to manipulate his performance for the benefit of bettors.
Article continues after this advertisement
Advertisement
The text message also indicated that Rozier didn’t know anyone was betting on his statistics during a March 23, 2023 game he played for the Charlotte Hornets.
“Dont tell chum bout the bet,” a text from Laster reads, according to the filing, with Markus saying that “Chum” is Rozier’s nickname.
The recipient answered “Hell no,” according to the filing.
Prosecutors have alleged that Rozier advised co-conspirators he would leave that game early and allow them to make bets accordingly, but Markus said the texts “should end the case.”
Advertisement
Article continues after this advertisement
“One does not hide a bet from the person who supposedly sold it,” Markus wrote.
Prosecutors responded with a filing in which they said they have “developed evidence from multiple sources that this text chain does not relate to sports gambling.”
Rozier was arrested in October 2025 and accused of manipulating his performance in the March 23, 2023 game. In May, prosecutors added two more charges, accusing Rozier of agreeing to a $100,000 bribe.
Rozier, a free agent who has played for the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, has pleaded not guilty.
In December, his lawyers asked a judge to dismiss the initial charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, but a superseding indictment was issued in May, maintaining those charges and adding two more.
Advertisement
On Friday, they sought dismissal of charges of bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy.
Markus also asked that the case, set to go to trial next February, be moved from the Eastern District of New York to the Southern District of Florida, where Rozier lives.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
Advertisement
Two others charged in the sweeping case, former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones and self-described “gambling guru” Marves Fairley, have pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
The Boston Red Sox have acquired catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles hours before Monday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline, ESPN reports. In return, the Orioles will receive a package of four players and a player to be named later, reports the Baltimore Sun. The return, headlined by right-handed pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson, also includes catcher Carlos Narváez, right-handed prospect Kyson Witherspoon and outfield prospect Enddy Azocar.
Advertisement
Rutschman, 28, is a former No. 1 overall draft pick out of Oregon State and a three-time All-Star. He had spent his entire professional career with the Orioles prior to this trade. This season, he’s enjoying a solid bounce-back campaign coming off an injury-compromised 2025 in which he posted the worst offensive numbers of his career. For that career, Rutschman has an OPS+ of 115 – the same as his 2026 figure – across parts of five big-league seasons. He’s averaged 20 home runs per 162 games played over that span, although his power has taken a dip in recent seasons. Rutschman is presently on the injured list with an inflamed wrist, but he could soon begin a minor-league rehab assignment.
Rutschman is owed the balance of a $7.25 million salary for this season, and he’ll again be arbitration-eligible for 2027, the final season before he’s slated for free agency.
The Orioles make the move despite being just 2 ½ games out of playoff position going into Monday’s slate of games. They do have rookie Samuel Basallo ready to take over as the team’s primary catcher moving forward. However, he’s on the IL with shoulder inflammation. In earlier deadline deals, the Orioles also traded starting pitcher Dean Kremer to the Twins and outfielder Taylor Ward to the Mariners.
Once healthy, the switch-hitting Rutschman is primed to fill the catcher void for the division-rival Red Sox, who have surged back into contention thanks to a franchise-record 21-4 record in July. This season, Boston catchers — mostly Connor Wong and Narváez — have combined for an OPS of just .615, which ranks 25th in MLB. Rutschman, in contrast, has a .764 OPS this season and a .756 mark for his career. That additional year of control means that Orioles fans must watch Rutschman — the face of their recent deep rebuild — in a Boston uniform not only for the rest of 2026 but also the 2027 season.
Advertisement
On the return side for Baltimore, Witherspoon, who turns 22 on Aug. 12, is the most notable addition for the Orioles. Coming into this season, CBS Sports ranked him as the No. 77 overall prospect. Here’s part of that write-up:
“Witherspoon has an uptempo delivery that sees him pitch off a high front side and really hinge on his back leg before he looses the ball from a high-three-quarters slot. Despite the frantic aesthetics, he was able to rein in his control at Oklahoma, with his strikeout-minus-walk percentage improving from 13.4% to 25.9% year to year. Witherspoon certainly has the stuff to start at the big-league level — his arsenal includes a heater that sits in the mid-to-upper 90s, a cutter, and two breaking balls — so his future will hinge on his ability to maintain those control gains as a professional.”
This season, Witherspoon, the No. 15 overall draft pick in 2025 out of the University of Oklahoma, has a 4.78 ERA in 17 starts at the High-A level. Eyanson, age 21 and a former third-rounder out of LSU, is in his first professional season. In 68 ⅓ combined innings at the High-A and Double-A levels, Eyanson has a 1.32 ERA with 94 strikeouts and 26 walks. Azocar, 19, is enjoying what may shape up to be a breakout season in 2026. Across 85 games at the Single-A and High-A levels, he’s slugging .540 with 18 homers, 27 doubles, six triples, and 11 stolen bases while spending most of his time in center field.
Bryant suffered a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture during Monday’s training camp practice
•
1 min read
Advertisement
Bears safety Coby Bryant will miss the next 8-10 weeks due to a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture suffered in Monday’s training camp practice, ESPN reports. Bryant, 27, had to be carted off after going down during a one-on-one drill, per Adam Hoge.
Chicago signed Bryant, formerly of the Seahawks, to a three-year, $40 million deal this offseason, hoping to fortify its secondary with 2025 starting safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, both free agents. Byard signed with the Patriots, Brisker with the Steelers.
A fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, Bryant thrived when Mike Macdonald arrived in Seattle in 2024 and moved him from cornerback to safety. Over the past two seasons, Bryant recorded seven interceptions (and returned one for a touchdown), 139 tackles, 13 passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He started all 15 games he appeared in last season, as well as all three of the Seahawks’ playoff games en route to their Super Bowl triumph.
Chicago drafted Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman 25th overall in April, and he is likely to start at one safety spot. Cam Lewis could be next up to take Bryant’s starting spot early in the season.
Advertisement
The Bears open their 2026 season on Sept. 13 — less than six weeks away — against the Panthers.
Infantino’s leadership is under intense scrutiny, with a widespread loss of confidence coming after his failed attempt to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.
Wales became the first member association to officially retract its support for the Swiss-Italian in an attempt to force him out, and England is expected to follow suit.
The FA is preparing to send a letter to Fifa to withdraw its backing, piling more pressure on Infantino.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham next to Infantino in 2023 (PA)
Infantino, whose decade-long reign is under severe pressure, announced on Friday night that he was shelving the widely-denounced plan, which had been rejected by three confederations after first being revealed earlier in the week.
Concacaf, the confederation for North America and the Caribbean, along with the Asian Football Confederation, fumed over the lack of consultation while Europe’s governing body Uefa threatened to boycott all Fifa competitions, including next year’s Women’s World Cup and the 2030 World Cup, before Infantino’s eventual climb-down.
Advertisement
Uefa confirmed that it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership after he went back on his plans, criticising the “shabby, backroom deal”, and has now written to the Fifa president confirming it is “actively considering” legal action in regard to the sell-off scheme.
The letter orders Infantino and Fifa to “take immediate steps to identify, locate, and preserve all documents and electronically stored information described in this notice that are in your or Fifa’s possession, custody, or control”.
Prime minister Andy Burnham said that Infantino is the “wrong man” to lead Fifa, while the FA called for a “full and robust review” into his leadership as the fallout of his U-turn continues.
The proposal involved establishing Fifa Forward Enterprise and selling a 20 per cent stake to private investors, with Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Eternal reportedly earmarked as the lead investor group. He is the brother of Jared Kushner, who is the son-in-law of US president Donald Trump.
Uefa has indicated that “no option should be off the table” regarding the future of Infantino, hinting at the possibility of a no-confidence vote.
Advertisement
Such a move, if triggered by just 43 national associations, would necessitate an Extraordinary Fifa Congress.
However, this action is considered improbable unless there is a strong conviction, if not certainty, that a majority of Fifa’s 211 member nations would vote to remove Infantino at such a gathering.
Several African and Asian football bodies, including those from Morocco, Egypt and Qatar, have publicly voiced their support for Infantino over the weekend.
Rohit Sharma with T Dilip during a practice session ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final match between India and Australia, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)
Former India captain Rohit Sharma paid tribute to T Dilip after the former India fielding coach was replaced by Subhadeep Ghosh, thanking him for his work with the team over the last five years.Taking to Instagram Stories, Rohit wrote: “You are a legend, Dilip garu. You created magic within the group and [you are] a behind the scenes workhorse. Best wishes ahead.”Dilip worked as India’s men’s fielding coach under both Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir. He first joined the support staff in 2021 and served until the end of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He returned for a second stint during India’s Test tour of England in 2025 on a one-year contract but was not retained after it ended.
During his time with the Indian team, India won the T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, along with the 2025 Champions Trophy.One of Dilip’s most recognised ideas was the ‘Best Fielder of the Match’ medal, introduced during the 2023 ODI World Cup. The post-match fielding medal ceremony became popular among fans because of the creative ways in which the winner was announced.The initiative was aimed at building a stronger fielding culture within the team and encouraging players to take more risks and improve their athleticism in the field. Players such as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were among the medal winners during the ceremony’s run.After his departure, Dilip shared a farewell message on Instagram, thanking the team and reflecting on his journey.“Five years. It is difficult to find the right words for a journey that has meant so much. When I first walked into this setup, I came in with one simple intention, to give everything I had every single day. Fielding has always been my way of contributing to the game I love, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in this team’s journey.”He also said the fielding medal ceremony would remain one of his favourite memories.“The fielding medal will always hold a very special place in my heart. Seeing the excitement it created in the dressing room, the smiles it brought and the value the players attached to it are memories I’ll carry with me forever.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login