Akwa United defender and Nigeria U-20 international Somto Nnoli has presented his Flying Eagles jersey to the club’s Chairman, Mr Joseph Eno, and General Manager, Mr Jimmy Joshua, during training on Tuesday.

The presentation came after the defender returned to club duty following his participation in the recently concluded WAFU B U-20 Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.

Nnoli was part of the Flying Eagles squad that finished as runners-up at the regional tournament, playing his part as Nigeria battled their way to the final.

Welcoming Nnoli back to the club, Chairman Joseph Eno praised the defender for his discipline and commitment, describing these qualities as an important asset to Akwa United.

“We are happy to welcome Somto back from his national team duties. His discipline, commitment and dedication have been impressive, and these qualities are a great asset to this club. We are proud of what he has achieved with the Flying Eagles and we expect him to continue working hard,” Eno said.

General Manager Jimmy Joshua also congratulated Nnoli on his achievement with the national team, expressing confidence that the experience will be valuable to the club.

“We congratulate Somto on his achievement with the national team. It is a big experience for him, and we are optimistic that what he has learnt with the Flying Eagles will be key to our push for promotion in the upcoming season,” Joshua said.

Nnoli had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, where he also presented a souvenir Nigeria U-20 jersey.

During the visit, Bassey congratulated Nnoli for representing Nigeria and Akwa United with distinction and described his progress as another sign of the growing football talent coming through the club.

Nnoli earned his place in the national team after an impressive season with Akwa United in the Nigeria National League (NNL). He featured in about 90 per cent of the club’s league matches and was one of the most consistent players in Coach Paul Offor’s squad.

Although Akwa United narrowly missed promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League after losing out on the final day of the season, Nnoli’s performances impressed the national team coaches.

The defender has now returned to training with the rest of the squad as Akwa United step up preparations for the new season.

Akwa United will continue their pre-season preparations when they face Heartland FC in a friendly match on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Uyo Township Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 10:00am.

NEW DELHI: Indian dressage rider Shruti Vora has sought the immediate intervention of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), alleging that the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) failed to process horse owner accreditation for the Asian Games despite receiving the required documents nearly two months before the deadline.In a letter addressed to the IOA, a copy of which is with TOI, Shruti, a member of the Indian dressage team for the Asian Games, alleged that all required horse owner details, duly notarised, were submitted to the EFI on June 3. According to her, neither she nor fellow athletes received an acknowledgement or response from the federation despite repeated follow-ups on July 13, 17, 19 and 30.Shruti has alleged that the EFI raised the issue with the Asian Games Organising Committee in Japan only on July 29 — nearly two months after receiving the documentation from the athletes. Further reminders were sent by athletes on August 2 and 3, she said.The matter, according to Shruti’s letter, took a more serious turn on August 14, when the Asian Games Organising Committee informed the EFI that while FEI regulations permit two horse owner accreditations or passes per horse, the names of the horse owners were required to have been submitted along with the Definite Entries.Shruti has alleged that the delay by the EFI has consequently left horse owners at risk of being denied accreditation, despite the athletes having submitted the required information well in advance.“This is not an unavoidable administrative issue,” Shruti alleged in her communication to the IOA, describing the situation as a consequence of what she termed a “serious failure” by the federation to act on documentation submitted in time.The dressage rider also questioned whether athletes’ interests and essential administrative requirements were being handled with the seriousness expected of a national sports federation representing India at the Asian Games.For equestrian athletes, horse owners and support personnel can play an important role during major international competitions, and Shruti argued that athletes should not be made to bear the consequences of an administrative delay when they had completed the required formalities within the stipulated time.Shruti has now requested the IOA to intervene with the EFI and the Asian Games Organising Committee and ensure that the horse owner accreditations are processed as originally requested.She has also sought written confirmation of the resolution, stressing that the matter is “urgent and time sensitive” with the Games approaching.The rider said repeated attempts by athletes to resolve the matter directly with the EFI had allegedly resulted in neither timely action nor meaningful communication, prompting them to seek IOA intervention.Shruti’s letter is an allegation from the athlete’s side, and the claims regarding the EFI’s handling of the accreditation process have not been independently established. The EFI’s response to the allegations was not included in the communication shared by Shruti.The Asian Games 2026 are scheduled to be held in Japan, with the Indian equestrian contingent preparing for the continental multi-sport event. Shruti has urged the IOA to ensure that athletes are not prejudiced by what she alleges are administrative failures beyond their control.

Former Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose speaks to the audience during a ceremony retiring his #1 Chicago Bulls jersey at the United Center on January 24, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. AFP

CEBU—Derrick Rose saw this progressive province for the first time in his latest Philippine visit and soaked in the experience of still being loved and revered in this basketball-loving country.

The NBA legend also got to see the sights, including beaches along Lapu-Lapu and the famous Mactan Shrine, while also showing off his dancing moves by doing the “tinikling” in the event hosted by ArenaPlus.

An NBA all-time great, Rose has been in the country five times, starting when he joined Kobe Bryant, James Harden and Kevin Durant in a two-day exhibition at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Since last year, Rose has landed thrice here in performing his duties as brand ambassador, and being familiar with the Philippines has made Rose recall one of his early experiences.

“The first time I got here [in the Philippines], me, my friend and my workout trainer were just in the park playing one-on-ones,” Rose said. “There wasn’t any media. It wasn’t a promotional day or anything. We were just there working out.”

“It went from us playing one-on-ones to one person seeing us play one-on-ones to by the end of the game, we almost had to get escorted out of the park because everybody showed up once they heard that I was at the park.”

The Chicago Bulls great and 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player continued that the experience gave him his biggest realization about the country and its passion towards basketball.

“I knew that’s what separates Filipino fans from [everybody] else. They’re really fanatics,” Rose said. “I didn’t know anyone knew me over there in Manila at the time, so I knew basketball was like a gym.”

“I knew that you all cherish basketball, and that’s one of the reasons why we put this on just the, I would say, the books, or we made it prominent, I would say, because of the love.”

“I never forgot the experience [of] leaving that park and seeing everybody follow us out of that park, and that stayed here to my heart,” he concluded.

The Houston Texans are adding much-needed depth at wide receiver. 

Houston has agreed to a deal to acquire wide receiver Kayshon Boutte from the New England Patriots in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick, The Ringer reported on Monday. 

The draft selection sent to New England originally belonged to the New Orleans Saints, according to NFL Network.

The trade addresses an immediate roster need for Houston following a season-ending knee injury to wide receiver Jayden Higgins during last week’s joint practice session with the Las Vegas Raiders. Higgins was expected to hold a starting role in the Houston offense before suffering a torn ACL.

Boutte spent his first three seasons with New England after being selected in the 2023 draft. Last season, the receiver recorded 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns in a bit of a breakout year.

However, Boutte became expendable this offseason following the Patriots’ moves at wide receiver. They made a big trade for A.J. Brown and signed Romeo Doubs to a pricey contract. Brown and Doubs joined a wide receiver room that also features DeMario “Pop” Douglas, Kyle Williams and Mack Hollins. 

So, Boutte’s name emerged in trade rumors over the offseason and into training camp. He addressed the trade speculation during training camp last week.

“I’m just blocking out the noise. That’s the main thing. We all hear the stuff that’s going on,” Boutte told reporters. “But like I always said, I’m where I’m at. My feet are here, so I’m not worried about what’s next or what’s behind me. Just being present.”

In return, New England acquires Reed to bolster their secondary along with future draft compensation. Boutte now joins a Houston receiving group that features Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, and Tank Dell.

Matt Gogel has been handed a six-month ban after placing bets on golf.

The PGA Tour confirmed on Wednesday that none of his wagers involved events in which he was playing.

The 55-year-old, whose best PGA Tour Champions finish this year was runner-up in the Senior British Open, can return on 22 February 2027.

Gogel called the situation an honest mistake.

“In 2024 and 2025, I unknowingly violated the PGA Tour policy by placing small, recreational wagers on golf,” Gogel said in a statement provided by the tour.

“I want to be clear that these wagers were not placed on regular PGA Tour events, PGA Tour Champions events or any tournament in which I participated.”

The tour did not disclose details of his violation, though his statement would indicate the wagers involved major championships.

Gogel, who grew up in Kansas, was best known on the PGA Tour for shooting 40 on the back nine in 2000 when Tiger Woods overcame a seven-shot deficit in the final seven holes at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for his sixth straight victory.

Gogel atoned for that two years later by winning at Pebble Beach, his lone PGA Tour title.

He worked briefly for Golf Channel and CBS, returning to competition when he turned 50 and became eligible for the PGA Tour Champions.

The Czech team of Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik won the US Open mixed doubles Wednesday, saving two match points in a nervy semi-final and then pulling through in a tight final.

The pair survived a second-set pummeling in the championship decider in New York to edge Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Flavio Cobolli of Italy, 6-3, 1-6, 10-6. 

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Mensik, a singles semi-finalist at this year’s French Open, sealed the triumph with a searing ace to the backhand corner. 

Another Mensik ace saved one of two match points earlier in the evening when the Czech pair edged the Russians Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev, 5-4, 3-5, 11-9.

The back-to-back wins secured the first Grand Slam title for both Mensik and Muchova, who lost a heartbreaking Wimbledon singles final in July in three sets to fellow Czech, Linda Noskova.

“At the end the matching outfits made the difference for us,” Muchova quipped during the trophy presentation, referencing the white and maroon kit worn by the team.

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The mixed doubles event is in its second year with a convention-busting format which features shortened sets and multiple matches played the same day.

The competition is scheduled before the main US Open to attract singles stars who usually avoid Grand Slam doubles events to conserve energy for the concluding matches of the biggest events. 

The tournament’s star teams — the cross-generational partnership of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka — did not make it through the event’s preliminary rounds.

That left open a Grand Slam opportunity for some of the game’s most accomplished non-household names to nab a precious major title, resulting two semifinals and a final that all went the distance.

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Earlier, Cobolli and Bencic beat the married team of Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Gael Monfils of France in a hard-fought marathon, 4-5, 4-1, 10-5.

The result ended the prospects for a fairytale finale to the career of the acrobatic Monfils, who has said 2026 will be his last season. 

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Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has proposed to his longtime partner, Kasi Bennett, during celebrations marking his 40th birthday in Kingston, Jamaica.

Bolt reportedly got down on one knee in front of family and close friends before presenting Bennett with a diamond engagement ring.

The surprise proposal adds a major new chapter to the couple’s relationship, which has lasted for more than a decade.

Bolt and Bennett began their relationship in 2013 and have since built a family together. They have three children.

The eight-time Olympic champion has often kept his family life away from the spotlight, although he has occasionally shared moments with Bennett and their children on social media.

Bennett has also supported Bolt throughout his life after athletics, as he has remained one of Jamaica’s most recognisable sporting figures since retiring from competitive sprinting.

Bolt, widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, won eight Olympic gold medals and holds the men’s 100m and 200m world records.

His 100m world record of 9.58 seconds, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, remains unbeaten.

The proposal came as Bolt celebrated reaching the age of 40, marking another important milestone for the Jamaican sporting icon.

With the engagement now confirmed, Bolt and Bennett are set to begin preparations for the next chapter of their lives together after more than 13 years as a couple.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki has had a mixed second season with the NL West franchise. Sasaki’s struggles worsened after he left Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves with an injury.

Sasaki, who held the Braves to a run over the first three innings, ran into trouble in the fourth. After the Japanese pitcher allowed three earned runs, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior and interpreter Will Ireton visited the mound.

Dodgers’ head athletic trainer Thomas Albert and manager Dave Roberts also joined them on the mound to evaluate Sasaki’s right hand. The Japanese pitcher exited the game after a brief discussion. He reportedly suffered a blister on the middle finger of his right hand.

Sasaki entered Wednesday’s game with a 2.31 ERA over his last six starts since the All-Star break. However, he exited the game after just 3.1 innings with four earned runs and three strikeouts.

His shaky fourth inning helped the Braves overturn a 3-1 deficit to take a 4-3 lead. The Dodgers sent reliever Edgardo Henriquez to the mound to replace Sasaki.

The Dodgers allowed another run in the sixth inning, but bounced back with two runs in the seventh to make it 5-5.

Dodgers’ pitching depth expected to cope with Roki Sasaki’s injury