Connect with us
DAPA Banner
DAPA Coin
DAPA
COIN PAYMENT ASSET
PRIVACY · BLOCKDAG · HOMOMORPHIC ENCRYPTION · RUST
ElGamal Encrypted MINE DAPA
🚫 GENESIS SOLD OUT
DAPAPAY COMING

Sports

Australia star, coaches blast referee after 2-0 World Cup loss to USA

Published

on

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A star player on Australia’s World Cup team spoke out against referee Felix Zwayer after a 2-0 loss to the U.S. on Friday, as the head coach and an assistant coach have now complained about the referee as well.

Forward Nestory Irankunda said the referee had a “stinker.”

“If you look at how the referee was today, [there’s] not much I can say about that,” Irankunda told reporters after the game.

Advertisement

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

“The ref was having a stinker today, but I mean it is what it is,” he said. “He was giving every call to the USA. I get it, but at the same time, we know there’s two teams on the field, so you have to give the calls both ways and he didn’t do that today.”

Nestory Irankunda of Australia reacts during a FIFA World Cup match at Seattle Stadium

Nestory Irankunda of Australia reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the U.S. and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on June 19, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)

Irankunda’s complaint came shortly after Australia manager Tony Popovic criticized Zwayer as well.

“I thought the referee gave too many fouls away, in all honesty,” Popovic told reporters after the match. “Sometimes you didn’t have to do much to win a foul, and on the other occasions you you had to do a fair bit to get one.

Advertisement

“Today was I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee. Certainly we felt we were Australia today with the referees.”

One of the more controversial moments in the match came when the Americans appeared to score their second goal. The play was initially called back for offside, but after a VAR review, officials determined the goal was valid and let it stand.

The U.S. found the back of the net at the end of the 43rd minute after a free kick was stopped, and then Alex Freeman, the son of former NFL player Antonio Freeman, headed a ball in. The score was immediately protested by the Australians, who felt their goalkeeper had been impeded or there was an offside. After a VAR review, the call stood, and the goal was awarded.

Popovic questioned the decision to let the score count, after the game.

Advertisement

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

Tony Popovic reacting during FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match at Seattle Stadium

Tony Popovic, head coach of Australia, reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the U.S. and Australia at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash., on June 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty Images)

“I’m not sure on that one. We felt that, but unfortunately that didn’t go our way,” Popovic said.

Meanwhile, Australia assistant coach Paul Okon argued that their goalkeeper Patrick Beach was impeded during the play.

“From what we understood, he probably impeded Beachy,” Okon said at halftime, per FOX Sports. “But, of course, the VAR decided differently.”

Advertisement

Popovic was seen getting into a heated exchange with the match officials after the game ended.

The U.S. scored its first goal on an own goal by Australia’s Cameron Burgess in the 11th minute. It marked the second game in a row where the U.S. scored first on an early own goal.

But despite the complaints about the referee, Popovic did give credit to the Americans and admitted his players looked “sluggish” on Friday.

United States' Alex Freeman heads the ball past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach in a soccer match.

United States’ Alex Freeman heads the ball for a goal past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Seattle on June 19, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)

“I don’t know if it’s the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged … They won every duel, they won every second ball and when you do that, it makes it very difficult to gain any momentum. And then we conceded two soft goals,” he said.

Advertisement

“When you think, you know, this noise here — host nation — I think the players show how good they are in the second half, but obviously at this level, you can’t give away that much in the first.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Zwayer also pulled up with a cramp towards the end of the USA’s win. The German official, 45, required help from both the USA’s Folarin Balogun and Australia’s Aiden O’Neill, who stretched out his left leg after Zwayer fell to the turf.

With its 2-0 record, the United States is in first place with six points, while Australia remains with three and in second place.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Sports

The P/PTSD Perspective: Juicy Details on QB Battle, ’26 Head Scratcher, and Roster Moves

Published

on

Advertisement

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy at the New York Giants
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up before kickoff during pregame routines on Dec. 21, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The rookie passer went through timing drills and footwork as Minnesota finalized preparations ahead of a late-season road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.

The P/PTSD Perspective: June 20th, 2026

1) Vikings Insider Shares Juicy QB Details on QB Competition: Best guess at this stage is that Kyler Murray will become the QB1. But, to be sure, there are some cracks in what appeared to be a fortified position. To my eye, McCarthy had a better minicamp but different people will have different opinions.

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy chats with a ref against the Packers in Week 18 of 2025
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) talks with a referee before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

2) The Vikings’ 2026 “Sure Thing” is a Head Scratcher: The K1 has become elite. What’s going to be key is proving capable of maintaining his elite ability. Plenty of kickers have had sizzling seasons; a considerably smaller amount of have had sizzling careers. Can Reichard be that guy?

3) Vikings Make a Handful of Roster Moves: GM Nolan Teasley has been reasonably restrained since taking over as the top executive. However, he hasn’t been shy. Some moves have been made to further adjust the front office while also tweaking the roster.

Advertisement

Vikings fans watch late in the fourth quarter against the Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Nov 9, 2025, watching late-game action unfold as tension builds in the closing moments of a tightly contested matchup between two playoff-caliber teams. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

4) Young Vikings D-Lineman Packed on Some Muscle Ahead of 2026: A good thing. Elijah Williams has already proven to be more formidable than the vast majority expected. Seeing him continue to overcome long odds would be a sneaky good development for the Vikings.

5) J.J. McCarthy Needs to Keep His Good Offseason Rolling: The kid QB has improved. What remains to be seen is he’ll be prove so much better that he can’t be placed on the bench. His failures from 2025 are still fresh in everyone’s mind, meaning he has a long way to go before securing the top job.

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy in the final game of 2025.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.


avatar

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

FIFA World Cup 2026 June 21 schedule, live match timings (IST), streaming | FIFA World Cup 2026

Published

on


The FIFA World Cup 2026 action continues on Sunday, June 21, with four matches across Groups E, F and H.

 


Four-time champions Germany headline the day’s schedule with a clash against Ivory Coast, while Ecuador take on Curaçao in the second Group E fixture. In Group F, Tunisia face Japan before Spain meet Saudi Arabia in the final game of the day.

 

Advertisement


With the group stage gathering momentum, several sides will be aiming to strengthen their qualification chances with another positive result.


Germany look to build on winning start 


Germany head into their Group E clash against Ivory Coast after beginning their campaign with an emphatic 7-1 victory over Curaçao. Julian Nagelsmann is expected to retain the core of the side that impressed in the opener, with Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz leading the attack. Germany had suffered a setback before the tournament when young midfielder Lennart Karl withdrew through injury and was replaced by Assan Ouédraogo.

 
 

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, also started with a victory after edging Ecuador and will fancy their chances of causing problems for the four-time champions. However, the Elephants have been dealt a blow, with forward Elye Wahi unavailable for the match after being denied entry into Canada. Rising winger Yan Diomande remains one of their biggest attacking threats. 
Advertisement


Ecuador and Curaçao seek first points


The second Group E fixture sees Ecuador take on World Cup debutants Curaçao.

 


Ecuador will be eager to bounce back after suffering defeat to Ivory Coast in their opening game and are expected to rely heavily on Moisés Caicedo and Piero Hincapié as they chase their first points of the tournament.

 

Advertisement


Curaçao, meanwhile, are also searching for a response after conceding seven goals against Germany in their opening match. The Caribbean nation will hope to tighten up defensively and make a stronger impression in their second-ever World Cup outing.


Japan eye first win as Tunisia begin new era under Renard


Japan and Tunisia meet in Group F in what will be the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history. The Samurai Blue produced an impressive 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their opener and will once again look to the likes of Takefusa Kubo, Kaoru Mitoma and Daichi Kamada for inspiration.

 


Tunisia, meanwhile, are attempting to recover from a 5-1 defeat to Sweden and have responded by appointing experienced French coach Hervé Renard in place of Sabri Lamouchi. The North Africans know another defeat would leave their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

Advertisement


Spain seek sharper edge against resilient Saudi Arabia


Spain head into their Group H encounter against Saudi Arabia under pressure after being held to a goalless draw by World Cup debutants Cabo Verde. Goalkeeper David Raya has urged La Roja to be more clinical, while coach Luis de la Fuente could hand bigger roles to Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams as Spain search for their first win. However, Yamal has admitted he is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes after recently returning from injury.

 


Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, earned a creditable 1-1 draw against Uruguay in their opening match and will take confidence from that performance. Coach Georgios Donis is expected to stick with the same line-up as the Green Falcons aim to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stage.


FIFA World Cup 2026: June 21 schedule


Date

Match

Group

Time (IST)

Venue

21 June 2026

Germany vs Ivory Coast

Group E

1:30 AM

Toronto Stadium, Canada

21 June 2026

Ecuador vs Curaçao

Group E

5:30 AM

Kansas City Stadium, USA

21 June 2026

Tunisia vs Japan

Group F

9:30 AM

Monterrey Stadium, Mexico

21 June 2026

Spain vs Saudi Arabia

Group H

9:30 PM

Atlanta Stadium, USA


FIFA World Cup 2026: June 21 matches live streaming and telecast details


Which two teams will feature in the first game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 21?

Advertisement

 


Germany and Ivory Coast will kick-start the June 21 action of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at 1:30 am IST.

 


Which two teams will feature in the second game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 21?

Advertisement

 


Ecuador will take on Curaçao in the second match of the day from 5:30 am IST.

 


Which two teams will feature in the third game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 21?

Advertisement

 


Tunisia and Japan will square off in the third game of the day at 9:30 am IST.

 


Which two teams will feature in the fourth game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 21?

Advertisement

 


Spain and Saudi Arabia will face each other in the final match of the day in Group H at 9:30 pm IST.

 


Where to watch the live broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 June 21 matches in India?

Advertisement

 


The broadcast of the June 21 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels for fans in India.

 


Where to watch the live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 June 21 matches in India?

Advertisement

 


The live streaming of the June 21 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on the Zee5 app and website for viewers in India.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Flemington straight track to test I’mateez in 2026

Published

on

Man smiles while patting a brown horse on a sunny day at the stable area outdoors.

Significant expectations surrounded I’mateez from his very first race.

As the younger sibling of the celebrated 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz, I’mateez has to date recorded only two victories from seven starts, with three minor placings.

Alex Rae, based at Cranbourne, has I’mateez primed to contest the Rod Johnston Handicap (1100m) at Flemington this Saturday, where he will be seeking his maiden city success.

Imperatriz herself achieved Group 1 glory down the Flemington straight, triumphing in the Champions Sprint (1200m) and the Lightning Stakes, and also secured a second place in the Newmarket Handicap.

Advertisement

Rae is optimistic that running on a straight track will benefit I’mateez, who has been sidetracked by minor physical issues throughout his seven-race tenure.

After an initial win at Geelong in April, Rae entered I’mateez into the Warrnambool May Carnival, but the outing ended in disappointment.

“He’s got a few soundness issues which have pulled him up,” Rae said.

“Immediately after the race we thought the 1200 (metres) saw him out, but on reflection he wasn’t himself and it took us a good couple of weeks to get him over the run, physically.”

Advertisement

“He felt the ground. Nothing in particular, but he just jarred up badly which I know is ironic on rain-affected ground.”

“His knees, joints, he’s just not that well put together, but with maturity, he’s improving.”

“We thought the rain-affected ground was going to be the key with him, then we ran him on rain-affected ground, on a heavy deck, and he pulled up the same.”

“Originally, we wanted to avoid running him on hard track. I ran him first-up at Sale last campaign and he could barely walk for a week.”

Advertisement

“He’s got his issues, but we’ve ironed them out at the moment.”

Rae took I’mateez to Sale last week for an 800m jump-out, which the gelding won.

He mentioned that I’mateez has recovered well from the hit-out, and it will provide the stable with an indication of the gelding’s current form.

“The straight is going to keep him nice and balanced, and he seems to be going really well,” Rae said.

Advertisement

“We took him down to Sale last week for a bit of a blowout and he’s ready to run, so at least we’ll see where he fits in the mix and whether he’s up to metropolitan standard at this time of the year.”

“He was a $200,000 yearling and probably a three-quarter-of-a-million-dollar horse if he didn’t have his ailments.”

“We’ve had to manage him, and the owners have been patient, but the talent is there.”

Find the best betting markets for the Rod Johnston Handicap at Flemington with leading sports betting platforms.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Today’s best bets: USMNT World Cup opener, MLB and more on Friday

Published

on

Turkiye and Paraguay should both display a sense of urgency Friday night when they meet in a 2026 World Cup Group D match. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Turkiye entered the tournament as one of the favorites in Group D, which also features Australia and the United States. But its 2-0 loss in the opening round to Australia in last Sunday’s opener and the associated zero points already has the club in a dire position. The same goes for a Paraguay side that looked outmatched from the outset against the USMNT and succumbed to a 4-1 thrashing.

Paraguay is making its first World Cup appearance in 16 years, but its 2026 debut left little room for optimism. Coach Gustafo Alfaro, whose team generated just one shot on goal compared to six for the United States, told the media the opener provided a “very painful lesson” from which he hopes to see his team respond.

On the bright side for Turkiye, making its first World Cup appearance in 24 years, the club managed a 72%-28% edge in time of possession and an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal but still came out on the short end.

Advertisement

Turkiye and Paraguay have only met one previous time, an international friendly in 1995 that ended that ended in a scoreless draw.

The current FanDuel 2026 World Cup three-way odds have Turkiye priced as the money-line favorite at +105, while Paraguay is offered at +280 and the draw at +240. The over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. 

Wager on Friday’s top games with the Caesars bonus code CBSDYW and bet $1 to double your winnings on your next 10 bets

2026 World Cup best bets, where to watch

Turkiye vs. Paraguay 

Time: 8 p.m. | Location: Santa Clara, Calif. | TV: FOX | Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

Advertisement

SportsLine pick — Expert: Turkiye +110 (Brad Thomas)

SportsLine soccer analyst Brad Thomas, who is 9-4 for a profit of +355.5 on his 2026 World Cup selections, says believes the price on Turkiye “feels like a gift.” Thomas says he anticipates the middle of the field should be open for the Tukiye offense to operate, and he also envisions this as favorable matchup for the club on several fronts. The World Cup analyst predicts a Turkiye victory by a 3-1 margin. 

For those who prefer to play the prop market, SportsLine’s Brandon Gustafson offers a lucrative play on Turkiye’s Kenan Yildiz to find the back of the net with a price of +230. 

Bet on Friday’s World Cup matches games with the FanDuel promo code, which gives new users $350 in bonus bets when you bet $5 for seven days:

Advertisement

MLB best bets, where to watch

Orioles at Dodgers

Time: 10:10 p.m. | Location: Los Angeles | TV: MLB.TV

SportsLine pick — Expert: Mookie Betts HR +548 (Jeff Hochman)

In this late West Coast showdown on the diamond, SportsLine baseball analyst Jeff Hochman is passing on a money-line suggestion that sees the Dodgers laying a thick price of -205 against the visiting Orioles in the opener of their weekend series. Instead, he is offering a lucrative prop play that should provide a fun sweat along with supporting data that suggests a value position.

In backing Betts to hit a home run, Hochman notes the Dodgers slugger’s recent performances suggest an upward trajectory in his production. He also notes that the club is featuring a Betts bobblehead promotion and that the Dodgers star has a history of delivering on such occasions. Betts homered on his bobblehead night in 2021 and has gathered multiple hits in two other giveaway promotions. 

Advertisement

Bet on MLB games with the DraftKings promo code and get $200 in bonus bets:

Looking Ahead, UFC Fight Night 

UFC Fight Night: Kape vs Horiguchi 

Time: 8 p.m. Saturday  | Location: Las Vegas | Stream: Paramount+

SportsLine pick — Expert: Kape -160  (Daniel Vithlani)

On the heels of the historic UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House that saw slugger Justin Gaethje pull a massive upset in the main event against previously undefeated Ilia Topuria, the MMA prometon returns Saturday with a Fight Night card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas. The main event features a matchup of ranked flyweight contenders Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi, with the winner possibly becoming the front-runner for the division’s next title shot.

Advertisement

The 33-year-old Kape is 7-1 in his last eight UFC appearances but also suffered a defeat to Horiguchi in 201 when both were part of the Rizin promotion. The 35-year-old Horiguchi brings an eight-fight unbeaten streak into Saturday’s main event but only two of those victories have come with the UFC. However, the flyweight division’s perpetual lack of depth and Horguchi’s overall professional resume provided a fast track to title contention.

SportsLine MMA analyst Danny “Brasco” Vithlani says he believes Kape has improved immensely since his first fight with Horiguchi and expects Kape to avenge that defeat. He’s suggesting a 1.5-unit play at the moderate favorite price of -160. 

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

ITV upgrades Emma Hayes’ tactics corner after sexism storm over ‘kitchen’ set

Published

on

ITV pundit Emma Hayes received an upgrade to the set used for her tactical analysis after the kitchen-esque design initially sparked something of a sexism row at World Cup 2026.

Hayes, who is the current US women’s team manager and whose seven Women’s Super League titles during her time at Chelsea made her one of the most highly-respected tacticians in world football, delivered tactical insights during England’s impressive opening 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday.

But viewers were left baffled and distracted by ITV’s decision to station her away from the main punditry in a part of the set that resembled a show kitchen, with a chalkboard affixed to a brick column, surrounded by cupboards and drawers that looked as if they should contain cutlery and crockery.

Emma Hayes appeared to be put in a show kitchen to do tactical analysis during England’s game with Croatia
Emma Hayes appeared to be put in a show kitchen to do tactical analysis during England’s game with Croatia (ITV)

It took the focus away from her analysis of England’s performance and led The Independent’s Louis Chilton to write that Hayes deserved better than a sexist World Cup gimmick from ITV.

The broadcaster appeared to listen to complaints as Hayes was back in tactics corner for Brazil’s comfortable victory over Haiti late on Friday night but had her stick of chalk upgraded to movable magnets for insights on the blackboard and a tight camera shot that focused just on her face and the board, without zooming out to reveal the cupboards, was used throughout.

Hayes herself also gave a couple of subtle nods to the controversy during her segment of analysis.

Advertisement
Hayes was back in tactics corner for Brazil v Haiti but the camera didn’t pan back to reveal the cupboards
Hayes was back in tactics corner for Brazil v Haiti but the camera didn’t pan back to reveal the cupboards (ITV / Screenshot)

She began the first-half segment by saying: “Let’s focus on the first half in particular” before turning around, looking directly down the camera and wryly adding “I know that’s a challenge for some of us at home. But I’m going to encourage us to look at some of the things going on in the game.”

She then analysed the movement and rotation in Brazil’s attack before concluding the piece with another dry quip, saying: “I’m sure you will see that when you watch the first half, so pay attention.”

Hayes returned during the hydration break in the second half of the match with another piece of analysis in the same place, with the same tight camera shot used, and again gently teased the viewers.

At one point, she said: “I know its late – but did you notice I changed [the magnets of] Brazil from white to blue? I’m just checking we’ve got our full attention on the tactics board for everyone at home.”

Hayes is currently the US women’s manager
Hayes is currently the US women’s manager (Getty)

ITV have not publicly commented on the situation, although the set-up was criticised by Katie Bailiff, chief executive of charity Women in Film & TV.

She said of the initial segments during England v Croatia: “I initially thought they had cut away to another channel by mistake. Emma is a brilliant pundit who deserves the best platform. It was an ill-conceived, damaging creative decision.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Shakur Stevenson predicts David Benavidez vs Jai Opetaia at cruiserweight: “He’s a beast”

Published

on

Shakur Stevenson has offered his prediction for a potential clash between David Benavidez and Jai Opetaia, describing one man as a “beast”.

Benavidez moved up to 200lbs last month, becoming a three-division world champion by dethroning Gilberto Ramirez with an emphatic sixth-round stoppage.

But despite holding the WBO and WBA titles, ‘The Mexican Monster’ has since been named as the WBC’s mandatory challenger, putting him in position to face cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian.

Advertisement

It was previously reported that Mikaelian would take on Opetaia later this year, yet it now seems that Benavidez has torpedoed their negotiations.

The 29-year-old is now reportedly in “advanced” talks to face Mikaelian later this year, potentially leaving Opetaia without an obvious opponent.

The former IBF champion comes off a unanimous decision victory over Brandon Glanton, claiming the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title in his first fight with Dana White’s promotional outfit.

Even without a traditional world title, Opetaia is still widely considered the top dog at 200lbs, while others might argue that Benavidez has already surpassed him.

Advertisement

If the pair were to ever lock horns, four-division world champion Stevenson has told The Agnew Podcast that he would favour the naturally smaller man.

“I’ve got Benavidez. I think he is a beast – you have to be on an elite level to even be in the ring with him.”

Despite becoming a unified cruiserweight champion, Benavidez is quite clearly a more natural operator at 175lbs, where he still holds the WBC strap.

Opetaia, on the other hand, is a fully-fledged 200-pounder and would certainly boast a significant size advantage against the Mexican-American.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Neeraj Chopra Posts On Social Media After Fourth-Place Finish At Doha Diamond League

Published

on

File photo of Neeraj Chopra.© NDTV Library




Advertisement

India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra expressed satisfaction after making a successful return to competition at the Doha Diamond League 2026, where he secured qualification for the upcoming Commonwealth Games with an 85.69m throw in his first event of the 2026 season. Sharing a video of his effort on X on Saturday, Chopra wrote, “Happy to be back on the field. 85.69m felt good, and ready for the season ahead!” The 28-year-old was competing for the first time in eight months after recovering from a back injury that had sidelined him since the end of last season. While he narrowly missed out on a podium finish in Doha, the outing provided encouraging signs as he returned to the international circuit.

Chopra began the competition with a foul throw but gradually found his rhythm in a high-quality field. His best effort of 85.69m came on the third attempt, lifting him to third place at the end of the third round and comfortably taking him past the qualification mark for the Commonwealth Games.

The Tokyo Olympic gold medallist followed it up with a throw of 83.45m in the fourth round. However, he could not improve further and recorded another foul on his fifth attempt. As a result, he slipped to fourth place and missed out on advancing to the final three-athlete shootout.

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage emerged victorious with a throw of 88.68m, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters finished second with 86.38m. American Curtis Thompson claimed third place with a best effort of 85.99m, edging Chopra by just 30 centimetres.

The Doha venue holds special significance for the Indian athlete. It was here last year that Chopra breached the coveted 90m mark for the first time in his career, a milestone that further cemented his status among the world’s leading javelin throwers.

Advertisement

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)


Featured Video Of The Day


IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season

Topics mentioned in this article

Advertisement

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Shohei Ohtani misses game, away from Dodgers awaiting birth of child

Published

on

May 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) swings for a single during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn ImagesMay 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) swings for a single during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

For the second Friday in a row, the Dodgers held Shohei Ohtani out of the lineup.

But it wasn’t knee inflammation sidelining him this time.

Prior to their game against Baltimore in Los Angeles — a game the Dodgers won on a walk-off 6-5 — the Dodgers announced their star is away from the team on paternity leave as he and his wife expect the birth of their second child.

However, the Dodgers announced Ohtani “is expected to be back at some point this weekend” and he was not placed on the paternity list. (Being placed on the paternity list requires a player to miss at least one game but no more than three before being taken off the list.)

Advertisement

Ohtani was the starting pitcher in the Dodgers’ previous game, getting the win in a 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay on Wednesday. He is not expected to be back on the mound until the middle of next week.

Kyle Tucker took Ohtani’s usual leadoff spot in the lineup while rookie Ryan Ward served as the designated hitter. Tucker went 1-for-4 with a run scored while Ward was 0-for-3 with a pair of walks and scored the winning run.

–Field Level Media

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Infinity Nikki 2.7 banners and outfits revealed

Published

on

Infinity Nikki 2.7 will be releasing across all servers on June 23, 2026 (UTC -7). This update will take players back to the Sea of Stars region for a refreshing summer event. Brand new summer-themed outfits, events, and quests will also be available for players to participate in.

This article provides details regarding the new outfits and banners which will go live once Infinity Nikki 2.7 is released.


All outfits and banners in Infinity Nikki 2.7

Once Infinity Nikki 2.7 goes live globally, a total of four outfits will be available for players to obtain:

  • Rippling Reverie (new; 5-star)
  • Warm Miracles (new; 4-star)
  • Water’s Echo (rerun; 4-star)
  • Enchanted Writing (rerun; 4-star)

Here are the details about these outfits:

Rippling Reverie (5-star)

5-star outfit Rippling Reverie (Image via Infold Games)5-star outfit Rippling Reverie (Image via Infold Games)
5-star outfit Rippling Reverie (Image via Infold Games)

The new 5-star outfit Rippling Reverie will be featured on the “Refrain of Reunion” resonance banner in Infinity Nikki 2.7. This outfit has a Sweet main attribute, and an outfit ability titled “Celestial Tide”, which can be used once all the outfit pieces have been collected. After using this ability, Nikki summons a wave mid-air, which she can jump and stand upon.

Additionally, this ability also lets Nikki place three Starlets nearby on the map, which act as waypoints that she can teleport to. These Starlets are temporary, and they disappear if Nikki moves too far away from them, or if players log out of the account.

All outfit evolutions for Rippling Reverie (Image via Infold Games)All outfit evolutions for Rippling Reverie (Image via Infold Games)
All outfit evolutions for Rippling Reverie (Image via Infold Games)

Rippling Reverie can be evolved into the following:

  • Rippling Reverie: Ensemble
  • Rippling Reverie: Notturno
  • Rippling Reverie: Waltz
  • Rippling Reverie: Nursery Rhyme (full glow-up evolution)

Warm Miracles (4-star)

4-star outfit Warm Miracles (Image via Infold Games)4-star outfit Warm Miracles (Image via Infold Games)
4-star outfit Warm Miracles (Image via Infold Games)

Players can pull for the 4-star outfit Warm Miracles on the “Refrain of Reunion” resonance banner, alongside the 5-star outfit Rippling Reverie. This outfit has a Sexy main attribute, with its special ability titled “Astral Bubbles: Whimsicality”. Upon using this ability, Nikki uses a wand to blow star-shaped bubbles in the air.

Warm Miracles evolutions (Image via Infold Games)Warm Miracles evolutions (Image via Infold Games)
Warm Miracles evolutions (Image via Infold Games)

Warm Miracles has the following evolutions:

  • Warm Miracles: Astral Crown
  • Warm Miracles: Shimmer (full glow-up evolution)

Water’s Echo (4-star)

4-star outfit Water's Echo (Image via Infold Games)4-star outfit Water's Echo (Image via Infold Games)
4-star outfit Water’s Echo (Image via Infold Games)

The 4-star outfit Water’s Echo will be having its first rerun in Infinity Nikki 2.7. Players can pull for it on the “Whispering Stream” resonance banner, and all previous pull counts for this banner will carry over to the current one.

Water’s Echo has a Sweet main attribute, and its outfit ability is called “Nature’s Nurture: Whimsicality”. Using this ability lets Nikki summon a comfortable rocking chair, upon which she perches, eating fruits from a goblet.

Outfit evolutions for Water's Echo (Image via Infold Games)Outfit evolutions for Water's Echo (Image via Infold Games)
Outfit evolutions for Water’s Echo (Image via Infold Games)

Water’s Echo can be evolved into:

  • Water’s Echo: Wave Song
  • Water’s Echo: Melody (full glow-up evolution)

Enchanted Writing (4-star)

4-star outfit Enchanted Writing (Image via Infold Games)4-star outfit Enchanted Writing (Image via Infold Games)
4-star outfit Enchanted Writing (Image via Infold Games)

Enchanted Writing is another 4-star outfit that will be rerunning in Infinity Nikki 2.7. It will be available on the “Magical Scribbles” banner, and pull counts for the previous banner will be honored for the current one.

Enchanted Writing’s main attribute is Elegant, and its outfit ability – titled “Scribble: Whimsicality” – lets Nikki pen down words on a magnificent, magical scroll.

Advertisement
Enchanted Writing outfit evolutions (Image via Infold Games)Enchanted Writing outfit evolutions (Image via Infold Games)
Enchanted Writing outfit evolutions (Image via Infold Games)

Enchanted Writing has these evolutions:

  • Enchanted Writing: Starlight
  • Enchanted Writing: Luminous Night (full glow-up evolution)

Also read: How to craft Slumber by Blossoms legendary outfit in Infinity Nikki


Follow Sportskeeda for more Infinity Nikki news, updates and guides.