Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu entered her first final in more than two years after Tokyo Olympics champion Chen Yufei of China retired midway through their women’s singles semifinal at the Japan Open in Tokyo on Saturday. The 31-year-old Indian was leading 21-19, 15-10 when world No. 4 Chen was forced to pull out with a hamstring injury. It will be Sindhu’s first final since winning the Syed Modi International in Lucknow in 2024. She had also finished runner-up at the Malaysia Open Super 500 earlier that year. Her last major title came at the Singapore Open Super 500 in 2022.

“I’m very happy that I’ve gone to the final,” Sindhu said after the match.

“For me every match mattered a lot from the first match, especially today’s match. It was important from the beginning to be focused because when you play with the top-ranked players it’s important that every point matters so winning that first game really mattered a lot.” In Sunday’s summit clash, Sindhu will take on the winner of the second semifinal between Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi and Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani.

World No. 12 Sindhu had entered the contest trailing 6-8 in her head-to-head record against the fourth-seeded Chen, who had won each of their previous four meetings, including a straight-games victory at this year’s Indonesia Masters.

Sindhu’s last win over Chen had come in the semifinals of the 2019 World Championships, where she went on to become India’s first badminton world champion.

Sindhu relied on her attacking game and sharp net play to dictate the rallies against the Chinese.

A delightful drop shot followed by a thunderous smash to Chen’s deep forehand corner helped the Indian pull ahead early. She then produced a superb backhand defensive block to carry a handy 11-7 cushion into the mid-game interval.

Looking at her physical best, Sindhu displayed remarkable hand speed and repeatedly pushed Chen to the backcourt before drawing her to the forecourt, disrupting the Chinese player’s rhythm.

Chen regained her bearings after the interval, tightening her defence and finding greater penetration with her attack to gradually close the gap to 15-17.

A gripping 51-shot rally followed, with both players refusing to yield before Chen eventually hit wide. Sindhu then sent one long and Chen fired a straight smash to level the scores at 18-18.

But the Indian responded emphatically, unleashing two fierce smashes that Chen could only find the net with, as Sindhu celebrated with a fist pump.

Sindhu raced to a 3-0 lead in the second game before Chen reduced the deficit to 3-4. The Indian answered with another cross-court smash to stay in front.

Chen’s jump smash helped her narrow the gap to 7-8, but Sindhu responded with a delicate drop shot and a powerful smash to establish an 11-7 advantage at the interval.

Leading 13-8, Sindhu peppered Chen’s backhand with three successive smashes to extend her control. A cross-court winner then made it 15-10, after which Chen called for a medical timeout. The Chinese eventually retired from the contest clutching her leg.

“I was very focused and my coach kept saying because I was leading the first game and then she came quite close it was important that I be more focused because sometimes when you’re leading and you give away points you suddenly get disheartened, so a lot of emotions go in your head,” Sindhu said.

“My coach was saying that it doesn’t matter just focus on the next point and I think that really helped. Even in the second set there were long rallies and especially in the first game that long rally which happened and I won the rally I think that one was very important for me.

“In the second game as well I was focused from the first point because it was going quite equal and even though I was two points leading, she was covering and coming back and I think after 11, I was maintaining that three four points but yeah unfortunately she had to retire.”

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

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Playing ⁠your ⁠final World Cup match one day prior to ⁠the championship game ​is not the assignment anybody desires.

But it’s the reality for France and England as the two countries will take the field in the third-place match on Saturday ​in Miami Gardens, Florida.

“None of our players, and none of the French players, wants to play the third- place match,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said. “They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve it.”

England missed out on the title match after allowing two late goals to Argentina to fall ​2-1 on Wednesday ‌in the semifinals. One day earlier, France came up short when largely outplayed in a 2-0 loss to ⁠Spain.

France coach Didier Deschamps isn’t the least bit thrilled about competing for the consolation prize.

“The best thing for France and England would be for this match not to exist,” Deschamps said.

The contest will be the ‌final one as Les Bleus coach for the 57-year-old Deschamps, whose 14-year tenure includes guiding the nation to the ⁠2018 World Cup crown.

“I know that it’s the last match and I don’t want anybody to cry, and I don’t think anybody here will cry,” Deschamps said. “I had the privilege to go through amazing moments and to go also through some more difficult ​moments, so the end is coming near but life goes on.”

Read moreGolden era ends for Deschamps’ France as Midas touch deserts Les Bleus

France star Kylian Mbappé is tied with Argentina‘s ‌Lionel Messi with eight goals in the Golden Boot competition. Mbappe is the defending winner after also having eight goals in 2022.

But first, Mbappé is coping with the fact that his side didn’t reach the final.

“As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility,” Mbappé said of falling against Spain. “I have no problem ‌with that. We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”

Mbappé has 20 career World Cup goals, one behind Messi’s record.

Three other players in this match are second-hand contenders for the Golden Boot: England’s ​Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have scored six goals and France’s Ousmane Dembele is a longshot at five.

Read more‘It is crazy’: Argentina’s Messi adds third final to his career after inspiring win against England

Kane won the 2018 Golden Boot with six goals. This will be the final World Cup match of his “prime” as he turns 33 on July 28.

It could conceivably be ​his final World Cup match, but Kane isn’t ready to discuss that possibility.

“It’s too early to talk about that,” Kane said. “I mean, as ​a person, it’s always just about taking it year by year and how I feel. The national ​team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do most, more than anything.

“Obviously, four years is a long way away. I’m 33 in the summer, but as you saw on the other end ​with Messi (who is 39) there, he’s still performing at the highest level. So, I never want to put a limit on these things.”

Kane and Bellingham have had standout World Cup performances for the Three Lions despite the disappointment of not reaching the final.

Tuchel has been roundly criticized for his tactics after England went up 1-0 in the 55th minute against Argentina on Anthony Gordon’s goal.

England loaded up the back end and played passively on ⁠offense. Instead of seeking a two-goal lead, England were playing not to be tied.

The strategy was foiled as Argentina scored goals in the 85th minute and the second minute of stoppage ⁠time to dash the ​dreams of English fans.

“No regrets, the team gave everything, and we were very, very close,” Tuchel said. “We deserved to be up one-nil. We played one of our better matches, maybe the best match. The team was top, but we couldn’t bring it over the line. No regrets.”

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

World Cup holders Argentina are to face England in the 2026 World Cup semifinal in Atlanta – a match that will take place against the background of an intense history between the two nations.

In April 1982, the unpopular General Leopoldo Galtieri, who led Argentina under a military junta at the time, ordered an invasion of the Falkland Islands, which are known to Argentinians as “Las Malvinas.” Great Britain’s then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a “task force” of approximately 26,000 troops to take back the territory. The conflict lasted 74 days and ended with Argentina’s surrender on June 14, 1982. 

Argentines see the roots of that conflict as going back to 1833, when the United Kingdom took military control of the islands, located about 500 kilometers (300 miles) off Argentina’s eastern coast, from Argentine authorities. In 2016, Argentina sought negotiations with the United Kingdom over the Falklands. While no changes to sovereignty were made, there was cooperation on practical matters.

Argentina’s ‘revenge’

When asked about the significance of this history on the game, Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni was quick to shut that thinking down.

“No, no, no,” Scaloni said, emphatically. “This is just a football match. Let’s not look for other stuff. It’s a football game against a great team, with a great manager who I admire. But it’s a football match. End of.”

Nevertheless, Argentina’s Vice President Victoria Villarruel posted the following message on social media the day of the game: 

“Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. This isn’t just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more. It’s the Malvinas, it’s Diego, it’s Leo’s last one, and it’s putting the brakes on the invaders. Go Argentina! Because until our last breath, we’re going to claim what’s ours!”

On the field, some of the most iconic and infamous moments in the history of football have happened between the two nations, which is a huge reason why the rivalry is so intense.

It starts perhaps as far back as 1966, when England beat Argentina in the quarterfinals. Argentina felt England’s goal scored by Geoff Hurst was offside and the Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was sent off in controversial fashion, with England’s heead coach Alf Ramsey calling the Argentine players “animals”.

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But it was in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, just four years after the war over the Falklands, that one of the most iconic and infamous moments occurred. England faced Argentina at Mexico City’s historic Azteca Stadium and the match is remembered for the “Hand of God,” the goal that Diego Maradona scored with his hand – but also a brilliant second goal, in which he weaved through a helpless English defense.

Years later, Maradona wrote in his autobiography published in 2000: “This was our revenge, it was… recovering a part of the Malvinas. We all said beforehand that we shouldn’t mix the two things but that was a lie. A lie! We didn’t think of anything except that, like hell it was going to be just another game.”

In 1998, the two teams met again on the world’s stage and this time David Beckham was sent off as Argentina eventually won on penalties. Beckham faced extraordinary media criticism afterwards, but four years later, the England captain got his revenge as he scored a penalty that helped England to victory and sent Argentina home before the knockouts.

A step away from history 

This long history between the two makes the 2026 semifinal all the more intriguing.

This current Argentina team, led by Lionel Messi, has the opportunity to become the first nation to defend their World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. For England, it’s been six decades since they last made a World Cup final, famously one they won at home in 1966. Whoever wins, whoever scores the winner out of Lionel Messi or Harry Kane, another chapter looks set to be written in one of football’s greatest rivalries.

Edited by: Jonathan Harding

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The Las Vegas Aces are turning to a familiar face to continue ramping up their offense.

On Friday night, the Aces officially announced the signing of guard Mai Yamamoto to a rest of season contract.

The move comes on the heels of the Aces announcing that rookie forward Janiah Barker would be out for the remainder of the season due to injury.

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Yamamoto is something of a known commodity for the Aces, and one they will be more than happy to see on their side this time around. On April 26, when the Aces faced Team Japan in a preseason exhibition, Yamamoto was easily the best player on the court for the Japanese with seven three-pointers and 24 points.

While Yamamoto has no WNBA experience outside of a brief cup of coffee with the Dallas Wings before the 2025 season, she brings a glut of international experience. She has been a star in several renditions of the FIBA World Cup and Asian Cup, and also put up 17 points, three rebounds and five assists when Japan faced Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.

The signing comes as the Aces aim to improve on the offensive end.

Despite looking to find players to provide scoring punch beyond the trio of A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, the offseason acquisitions have not done much this season. Stephanie Talbot and Brianna Turner have been more impactful on the defensive end, but have produced less than five points per game combined. Chennedy Carter appeared to be finding her groove as a microwave scorer coming off the bench, but things quickly soured and she scored more than 10 points only once since May 31 before being waived.

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A healthy Dana Evans and an eyebrow-raising start from Justine Pissott should help add some firepower from the bench, but the Aces felt the need to do more.

There is zero doubt that Becky Hammon and Nikki Fargas did their homework on Yamamoto after the Japan game, and they clearly liked what they saw enough to give her a chance to see if the impressive preseason effort translates in regular season action.

By Hadriana Lowenkron and Giles Turner

Fifa has no plans to move the World Cup final on Sunday, even as smoke from Canadian wildfires degrades air quality in the New York area, according to people familiar with the matter. 

There have been informal discussions about the wildfire situation including Fifa and Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup task force, but no some major formal meeting is on the books about the matter right now, according to a White House official. 

The game featuring Spain and Argentina will kick off at 3 pm at the 80,000-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.  Staff from the National Weather Service has been stationed at the Fifa command centre in Miami throughout the tournament and will continue to monitor the weather, an NWS spokesperson said.

While smoke in New York City will likely get worse on Saturday, most of that will clear by Sunday, said Bob Oravec, a senior branch forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Centre.

“Sunday will not be terrible for the World Cup,” Oravec said. “Everything we see is that the smoke will be clearing on Sunday.”

Hotter and drier conditions fueled by climate change have caused hundreds of wildfires in Canada to send dangerous smoke plumes across the continent.

Poor air quality has already disrupted professional sports, resulting in the postponement of a Thursday MLS match in Chicago and leading officials to move an MLB game in Philadelphia forward by one hour.

Air quality alerts have been issued in major US population centres, with the US Environmental Protection Agency labeling readings in cities such as Detroit and Minneapolis as “hazardous.”

Fifa previously monitored air quality at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, deploying a network of solar-powered sensors and air quality monitoring stations across all eight stadiums being used. 

While Latin Americans have traditionally rallied behind football teams from the region who advance deep into the World Cup tournament, a flood of memes, jokes and criticism has made it clear there is one exception: Argentina. In one photoshopped pic that went viral, Lamine Yamal — who leads Argentina’s opponent, Spain — is wearing a Brazilian jersey. The snarky caption? “The hope of the Brazilian people.” The fervor goes beyond the historic rivalry between Pele’s Brazil and Diego Maradona’s Argentina: Mexico, Colombia, Chile and others are all hoping Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste bite the dust on Sunday. 

A similar phenomenon occurred before Argentina won its third World Cup title in 2022.

Colombian sociologist German Gomez told AFP that the “dynamic of solidarity … has been broken” with Argentina.

He said the digital era and social networks have fueled “narratives” that the team is a darling of football’s world governing body FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino.

“Argentina has had help from referees,” said Francisco Santos, a Brazilian fan trading World Cup stickers at a shopping center in Sao Paulo, where cheers rang out when England scored first against Argentina in the semi-finals.

If Brazil could not become six-time champions, “I would rather see Spain become two-time champions than Argentina become four-time champions,” the 42-year-old said.

Critics say Argentina has received more favorable calls such as penalties and yellow or red cards against opponents, even when such decisions have been backed by FIFA and experts.

“We’re going to cheer for Spain,” said Juan Camilo Abusaid, a 28-year-old finance worker in Bogota.

‘Very political’

Antonio Lopez, 51, a police officer in Mexico City, described Messi as a “legend.”

But Lopez added: “If you’re going to sweat and break your back on the pitch to become champions twice, I accept that. If referees are going to help you, I don’t.” 

At a press conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum jokingly asked journalists which team they were supporting in the final.

“Spain! Spain!” they replied.

For Mexican anthropology professor Jorge Negroe, a specialist in social studies of sport, “this World Cup has proven to be very political.”

Gomez meanwhile said that while Maradona was seen as a revolutionary who confronted FIFA’s power, current narratives perceive Messi as FIFA’s “golden boy.”

National politics has also created resentment.

“I really don’t like Javier Milei (Argentina’s president) at all!” said Rachid Sjoberg, a 29-year-old agricultural laboratory operator in Santiago.

“The idea that he would then boast about having won the World Cup if they win does not sit well with me.” 

Argentine fans and some players have also faced accusations of racism — such as a chant sung by the team in the past mocking the Black players on the French team as not being really French.

There is also a long history of club-level fans throwing bananas on the field or making monkey gestures at Brazilian fans or black players.

During this World Cup, FIFA condemned racism in a statement after an Argentine supporter told a Black US influencer known as IShowSpeed to go “cry at the zoo” during a livestream.

‘We are unbearable’

Messi himself has acknowledged the strong feelings around whether the team wins or loses.

“Four years ago, we achieved what we wanted: to play the final and be the best for four years. Once again, we have shown that nobody gives us anything for free, and we have put ourselves among the two best again,” he said.

“Let it hurt whoever it hurts.”

A brand of fernet, an alcoholic drink which is hugely popular in Argentina, has taken advantage of the anti-Argentine sentiment with humor.

Under the slogan “We are unbearable,” it launched an advert showing fans from different teams sitting in a therapy circle complaining about Argentines’ unbridled passion for football.

While many in Latin America are rooting against Argentina, the team has received a rapturous response at training camps in the United States, with fans chanting “Messi! Messi!”

But some still embrace regional solidarity.

“I’m going to support Argentina because it’s a South American country,” said Valentino Tocto, a 20-year-old student in Lima.

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

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Cornerback Levi Wallace has retired from the NFL at age 31.

Wallace was with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, but spent the year on injured reserve and never appeared in a game. His final game action came with the Denver Broncos in 2024.

He announced his retirement on Instagram, captioning the post, “Walk-on. Undrafted. 8 years. Retired.”

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Buffalo Bills cornerback Levi Wallace reacts to a defensive play against the Atlanta Falcons at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. (Rich Barnes/USA Today Sports)

“Not bad.”

Wallace was undrafted out of Alabama, but being an underdog was familiar to him. He played for Nick Saban at Alabama, joining the team as a walk-on in 2014.

For the first two years of his collegiate career, he played on the scout team and eventually saw the field, earning a scholarship for the 2016 season. In 2017, he became a key starter for the Crimson Tide defense during the National Championship-winning season.

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace stands on the sidelines during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Philip G. Pavely/USA TODAY Sports)

In 2017, he recorded 48 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions and led the SEC with 15 pass breakups. He returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown.

Coming out of Alabama, Wallace went undrafted and signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent. He eventually earned a spot in the starting lineup during his rookie year, starting seven games.

Once Wallace seized a spot in the secondary, he didn’t let go, as he started every game he appeared in for the Bills over his four-year stint with them. With the Bills, Wallace recorded 219 tackles and six interceptions.

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace leaves the field after a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

Wallace signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers following his Bills tenure, and started 18 of 31 games over two seasons. While he didn’t start as much, he still remained a ball hawk, snaring six interceptions over those two years for Pittsburgh.

In Wallace’s final season with Denver, he started two of 13 games and recorded 28 tackles.

In 96 career games, Wallace recorded 333 tackles, 56 pass deflections and 12 interceptions.

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Uncrowned has Diego Pacheco vs. Immanuwel Aleem live results, round-by-round updates, highlights, ring walks and start time for the Pacheco vs. Aleem fight card on Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. In the night’s main event, top-ranked super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco faces Immanuwel Aleem as he continues his ascent toward a world title shot

Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) has established himself as one of the leading contenders at 168 pounds, and now returns for the first fight of his career under Hall of Fame trainer Buddy McGirt. Pacheco survived a knockdown to claim a career-best win over top-10 contender Kevin Lele Sadjo this past December.

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Aleem (22-4-3, 14 KOs) was defeated this past March by Lester Martinez in his bid for the WBC interim title. He has served as a gatekeeper to the world level at middleweight in recent years and now at super middleweight.

In the night’s co-feature, recent title challenger Andy Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs), a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, fights for the first time since falling short to Raymond Muratalla for the IBF lightweight title this past January. Cruz battles Mexico’s Abraham Montoya (24-7-1, 14 KOs).

The Pacheco vs. Aleem prelims begin at 5:30 p.m. ET and can be watched on Uncrowned.

The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET on DAZN, with main event ring walks expected around 11 p.m. ET.

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Follow all of the action with Uncrowned’s live results and play-by-play of the main card below.

Main card (8 p.m. ET, DAZN)

Super middleweight: Diego Pacheco vs. Immanuwel Aleem

Lightweight: Andy Cruz vs. Abraham Montoya

Featherweight: Albert Gonzalez vs. Aaron Alameda Lopez

Bantamweight: Saul Sanchez vs. Bruno Rios Jr.

Prelims (5:30 p.m. ET, Watch on Uncrowned)

Heavyweight: Leo Atang vs. Glen Williams

Middleweight: Frank Espinoza vs. Luis Caraballo Ramos

Lightweight: Samuel Contreras vs. Jorge Alberto Ayala Lopez

Heavyweight: Federico Pacheco Jr. vs. Nick Jones