Sanju Samson (Image: ANI)

NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson has spent years learning to live with the scrutiny that comes with playing for India. On Tuesday, after his 57 off 22 balls against Afghanistan in the second T20I, he admitted that the noise from outside does get through — even if his preferred response is to switch it off.“I try to switch the Wi-Fi off. But sometimes the Wi-Fi gets switched on and comments become visible,” Samson said after India’s seven-wicket win. “Some senior player says something. So I think it’s very normal.”Samson’s innings, in which 52 of his 57 runs came in boundaries, came at a time when his place at the top of India’s T20I order is under scrutiny. The emergence of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has added another layer to the competition for the two opening slots alongside Abhishek Sharma. Sooryavanshi had impressed on India’s recent tour of Zimbabwe, while Samson had been left out of that series after failing to convert his opportunities in the preceding Ireland, England series.“Definitely, outside noise does affect cricketers in India,” Samson said. “But you need to be very clear about what your mindset is, how you need to prepare and what mindset you need to play with.”“I think I have been mature enough and experienced enough to know how to handle it. Earlier, it used to hurt a little. I’m not a machine. We are not robots that we can say, ‘No, it doesn’t affect me.’ Definitely, it affects you,” he said.“If I paid attention to those things, I couldn’t bat like this,” Samson said. “Before hitting a shot, I would think ten times, ‘Yaar, out ho gaya toh phir Wi-Fi problem ho jayega.’ So instead, I tell myself, ‘Koi baat nahi.’”That mindset has become particularly important as Samson finds himself competing for a place with a teenager who has rapidly forced his way into the conversation. Samson, however, said he does not view Sooryavanshi as a rival within the dressing room.“I think they (Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma) are competitors for the outside world, but we are a team and we are playing for a country,” he said. “We want to win the game first, and then it comes down to the other individuals.”Samson also said his experience as an IPL captain has helped him understand why difficult selection calls have to be made. He acknowledged that the management has a difficult task in choosing between players who are all performing, while stressing that individuals have to remain ready for their opportunities rather than dwell on selection decisions.“We can’t sulk or be in a negative frame of mind, thinking, ‘Yaar, mujhe nahi mila, usko kyun diya.’ Those kinds of mindsets don’t work here,” he said.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has been linked with a move to Manchester United once again

Manchester United are reportedly plotting another move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. United have been heavily linked with a deal to sign the Toffees centre-back in the past, and now it seems that fresh interest has emerged from the Reds.

Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Matthijs de Ligt are United’s senior central defensive options, but the Reds have been forced to deal with some injury concerns.

De Ligt has not played for United since November last year due to a back injury, but is closing in on a return to action.

As a result, United are being linked with signing a new centre-back, with Branthwaite emerging as a target once again.

According to talkSPORT, United still have an interest in Branthwaite, although it’s not stated if this could lead to a bid to sign the 24-year-old defender.

The report claims that United are looking to revamp their defensive options next summer, which could lead to moves for reinforcements, which may include a pursuit of Branthwaite.

Maguire, Martinez and Luke Shaw are three players who have been mentioned as potentially leaving United next summer when their contracts expire.

No price tag is mentioned for what Everton would demand for Branthwaite’s signature, with the defender contracted to Hill Dickinson Stadium until the summer of 2030, having signed a five-year extension just over 12 months ago.

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Branthwaite will have three years left to run on his contract from the end of the season, meaning Everton will be under no pressure to sell to United, unless the player himself pushes for a move.

Everton boss David Moyes has spoken very highly of Branthwaite in recent weeks, with the former United boss tipping the centre-back to have a bright future.

“Jarrad is a really good player. I think he’s got far more to come. I think he’s still finding his way after his injury.

“It would be great if he gets called up because I want my players to be called up for their countries because it means they’re doing well and the team’s doing well.

Ronaldo and Al-Nassr suffer a shocking 4-0 defeat on their long-awaited AFC Champions League Elite return/ Image: X

Al-Nassr’s return to the AFC Champions League Elite was supposed to offer an early glimpse of what the new season could bring. Instead, Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates walked away from their opening night with a result that few inside the club would have expected, as Ange Postecoglou’s side suffered a heavy defeat in the United Arab Emirates.

Al-Nassr suffer nightmare start against Al-Ain

Cristiano Ronaldo started for Al-Nassr, but there was little the captain could do to prevent a disastrous evening as Al-Ain swept aside the Saudi side 4-0 in their first AFC Champions League Elite match of the campaign.The defeat came in Matchday 1 of the newly formatted competition, meaning Al-Nassr’s Asian campaign has barely begun, but the manner of the loss immediately puts Postecoglou’s team under pressure.Al-Ain took control in the 25th minute, when Houssine Rahimi opened the scoring. Al-Nassr were unable to find a response before Rahimi struck again in the 63rd minute, leaving the visitors with a huge task just to get back into the match.Instead, the collapse continued.Soufiane Rahimi added a third in the 72nd minute, before Georgios Giakoumakis completed the rout five minutes from full-time to seal a stunning 4-0 victory for the UAE side.For all of Al-Nassr’s possession, there was remarkably little attacking threat to show for it. Postecoglou’s team controlled 58 per cent of possession and won the corner count 10-2, yet managed only three shots on target.Al-Ain, by comparison, registered seven shots on target and made their opportunities count.The result also extends an impressive start to the season for Al-Ain, who arrived unbeaten in their first five UAE Pro League matches, having recorded four wins and one draw.

Ronaldo suffers heaviest Al-Nassr defeat

For Ronaldo, the scale of the defeat makes it particularly difficult to dismiss as an ordinary bad night.It is now the heaviest defeat of his Al-Nassr career since he joined the Saudi club in January 2023. His previous worst results in Saudi colours had both ended in three-goal defeats, with Al-Nassr losing 3-0 to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League in December 2023 and 4-1 to the same opponents in the Saudi Super Cup in August 2024.The 4-0 defeat to Al-Ain is therefore a new low in terms of the margin of defeat during Ronaldo’s time in Saudi Arabia.It does not, however, match the heaviest losses of his entire career. Ronaldo’s two worst defeats by goal difference remain Manchester United’s 5-0 loss to Liverpool in October 2021 and Real Madrid’s 5-0 defeat to Barcelona in November 2010, both five-goal margins.What makes Tuesday’s result particularly damaging is when it arrived.Al-Nassr had only just returned to the AFC Champions League Elite after a one-year gap, with a new coach, a new season and renewed expectations surrounding a squad built to compete for major honours.The opening match was supposed to begin that campaign.Instead, Al-Nassr now sit at the bottom of the tournament standings after one match, having conceded four goals without scoring.

Al-Nassr have seven matches to repair the damage

The new AFC Champions League Elite format gives Al-Nassr some room to recover because this is no longer a traditional four-team group containing six matches.Instead, the competition now features a single league stage in which each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents.That means Al-Nassr have seven matchdays remaining, giving Ronaldo and his teammates plenty of opportunities to climb the table after their disastrous opening.Their next opportunity comes on October 12, when Al-Nassr host FK Neftchi Fergana.The scale of the response will matter as much as the result itself. A one-year absence from the competition had created anticipation around Al-Nassr’s return, while Postecoglou had arrived with the task of turning a squad containing Ronaldo and other high-profile additions into a side capable of making a serious continental run.Instead, the first night exposed just how far there is still to go.

Al-Nassr fans turn on Ronaldo and Postecoglou

The reaction from the stands was predictably furious after Al-Nassr were beaten at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.Supporters had expected something very different from the club’s return to Asia’s elite competition, particularly with Ronaldo leading the side and Postecoglou now in charge.Some fans directed their anger towards Ronaldo himself, with the captain’s performance described by supporters as “pitiful” amid Al-Nassr’s failure to seriously threaten Al-Ain for long periods.Postecoglou faced even sharper criticism.Supporters questioned whether the Australian had made the difference they expected after his appointment, with Al-Nassr appearing short of answers at both ends of the pitch as the scoreline continued to worsen.Calls for his dismissal grew louder as the defeat unfolded.For a club that entered its AFC Champions League Elite return with ambitions of going deep into the competition, there could hardly have been a more damaging opening night. Ronaldo and Al-Nassr now have seven matches to change the story, but the first one has already left them with a four-goal deficit and very little margin for another collapse.

When Russia‘s parliamentary elections are held from September 18 to 20, Alexander Ovechkin won’t be there to cast his ballot in person. On Monday he took his first few strides back on the ice in the United States as he starts gearing up for a new National Hockey League (NHL) season with the Washington Capitals, his 22nd in the world’s best league.

Before leaving his homeland, where he spent his summer break, he did make his contribution to the election campaign, however, appearing in a video promoting the ruling United Russia party, which steadfastly supports President Vladimir Putin.

In the video, which has been widely shared on social media, Ovechkin doesn’t speak but can be clearly seen in the third row of a group of supporters behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is heading the United Russia list for the parliamentary vote.

Ovechkin’s appearance has faced criticism, including from Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the 2026 Olympic Games for insisting on wearing a helmet depicting athletes killed in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Ovechkin a long-standing Putin supporter

This is certainly not the first time that Ovechkin has expressed his support for Putin, with whom he shares his profile photo on his Instagram account. 

And, at times, Ovechkin’s public support has appeared even more active than in the current United Russia video. Back in 2017, Ovechkin used his Instagram account to announce the creation of “PutinTeam” a group to help support Putin in the 2018 presidential campaign.

“I have never hidden my feelings about our president; I have always openly supported him. I am certain there are many of us who support Vladimir Putin! So let’s unite and show the world a strong, united Russia!” he wrote.

“Being part of such a team is a source of pride for me; it feels just like pulling on the Russian national team jersey, knowing the whole country is rooting for you.”

The creation of PutinTeam came three years after Russia had invaded and seized the Ukrainian territory Crimea in 2014, a move that was met with widespread condemnation in the international community. Later that year, Ovechkin appeared to express support for the operation, posting a photo of himself on Instagram holding up a sign with the message: “#savechildrenfromfascism.”

“Our grandfathers and grandmothers witnessed all the horrors of fascism! We will not let it happen in our time,” he wrote.

Putin has painted the Ukrainian authorities as “neo-Nazi” or fascist, in particular when justifying Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022. What Putin calls a “special military operation” raised questions in the minds of many about how this might affect Ovechkin’s view of the man he had always so publicly supported.

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On February 25, 2022, a day after Russia launched the invasion, a reporter covering the Washington Capitals asked Ovechkin if he still supported Putin.

“Well, he’s my president,” Ovechkin replied. “But how I said, I’m not in politics, I’m an athlete.”

He did issue a vague appeal for peace but declined to criticize Moscow’s military action.

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“Please, no more war. It doesn’t matter who’s in the war — Russia, Ukraine, different countries,” he said.

Back on the ice with the Capitals

Whatever you may think of his political views, Ovechkin is without a doubt one of the best players to ever lace on a pair of skates.

Now, back on the ice in Arlington, Virginia, ahead of the Washington Capitals’ training camp, “Great8” is focused on getting his aging body (he turns 41 on Thursday) ready to compete for what would be a second Stanley Cup for both him and the Caps.

For much of the offseason, Ovechkin had left open whether he would return for another year. After all, he has achieved just about everything you can in the NHL, having broken Wayne Gretzky’s career goal-scoring record two seasons ago. Going into the 2025-26 campaign he has 929 goals in 1,573 regular season games. In July though, after a conversation with his wife, he decided to come back for one more year in Washington – and he hasn’t ruled out extending his career beyond that.

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Over 40 and still going strong

“I’m going to be 41. I’ve had a lot of pressure on my shoulders over the years,” he said. “I’m going to focus on the game and helping my team to win,” he told reporters after his first skate. “I’m still a good player and can still help the team to win.”

His numbers support that last assertion, having scored 32 goals in 2025-26. Only two other players have ever scored more over the age of 40.

“I can’t wait for the season,” he said. “On paper, you can see our team is one of the best teams but now we have to work for the Stanley Cup.”

The bookies disagree, however, with some putting the Capitals way down at 18 (of 32) on their list of Stanley Cup candidates for 2027.

On the other hand, the prospect of United Russia’s winning this weekend’s parliamentary elections, the first since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, appears a safe bet.

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Edited by: Jonathan Harding

Missed tackles are always a little bit tough to diagnose. Did the defender mess up? Did the offensive player create the missed tackle? A lot of times it’s a little bit of both. Whatever the cause, on Monday night in Kansas City, missed tackles were the primary reason the Chiefs blew the doors off the Denver Broncos. The guys creating those missed tackles were predominantly the Chiefs’ two new running backs, Kenneth Walker and Emmett Johnson.

Walker was a revelation early and often in this game. His 60.9% tackle avoid rate was second in Week 1, trailing only Bucky Irving. His 7.78 yards after contact per rush attempt also ranked second, behind Kyle Monangai. And Johnson wasn’t just efficient, he was a bell cow. He had 26 touches in this game despite barely playing in the 4th quarter. He looked like a true RB1 with a chance to challenge the RB1 if this usage keeps up.

Johnson wasn’t as efficient as a rusher, didn’t force as many missed tackles as a rusher, but he picked up 44 yards on his two receptions and made multiple Broncos defenders look foolish in the process. His lower rushing average could at least partially be attributed to the fact that most of his rushes came after the game was in hand and the Broncos knew the Chiefs would be running every play. What became crystal clear is that Johnson is the replacement for Walker, and he looks well-suited to do the job. Brashard Smith spent his night on the sideline and did not receive a touch. For teams that don’t need Week 2 help, Johnson may just be the top waiver wire add this week.

The success of these backs only highlights what an incredible week it was for the position. Six running backs scored at least 30 PPR Fantasy points. Six more scored at least 20. Nine more scored at least 13. As awesome as that is, it could feel pretty lonesome if your starting backs were bad in Week 1. I am hopeful De’Von Achane, Omarion Hampton, James Cook, and Saquon Barkley will bounce back, though I am not sure any of them will be as good as Walker. As for the other backs who struggled in Week 1, I am going to be very concerned if they aren’t better in Week 2.

Now let’s get to the rest of the Week 1 RB Preview:

Week 2 RB Preview

• 78% — De’Von Achane ran a route on 78% of the team’s drop-backs. Bijan Robinson was the only running back with a higher route rate in Week 1.
• 69% — Chuba Hubbard played 69% of the offensive snaps for the Panthers. He’s the RB1 for now.
• 60% — Christian McCaffrey had a 60% rush success rate. We may get fewer rush attempts but more productive rushes because of that.
• 25.9% — Bucky Irving’s 25.9% target share was the second highest amongst running backs. Kenneth Gainwell did not matter in Week 1.
• 85.1% — Rhamondre Stevenson had the third-highest snap share at 85.1%. That will come down significantly when TreVeyon Henderson returns.
• 65% — Marshawn Lloyd had 65% of the Packers‘ running back opportunities in Week 1. I am not giving up on him yet.
• -0.73 — Jeremiyah Love averaged -0.73 yards before contact in Week 1. You were fortunate to get the touchdown if you started him.
• 24 — Breece Hall had 24 touches in Week 1. That was his most in a game since Week 18 of the 2024 season.
• 10 — The Titans gave their running backs 10 carries in Week 1. And this was a game they were favored in.

My full set of Week 2 Fantasy football projections for every position is now available here. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don’t live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 2. Projected stats for all starting running backs will be updated throughout the week, so check back regularly.

The central government has spent Rs 800.70 crore on preparing Indian athletes for the Asian Games 2026, based on the combined expenditure figures released by the Sports Ministry on Tuesday. The support has covered training, equipment, coaches and experts ahead of the Games beginning on September 19 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The amount brings together spending under the Annual Competition and Training Calendar (ACTC) and additional funding through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). The ministry outlined preparations over the past three years, with participation in international competitions accounting for the largest expenditure category identified.

India will send 501 athletes across 36 disciplines, including 310 Asian Games debutants. TOPS Chief Executive Officer N S Johal said performances across sports had given the contingent momentum to match or improve on the previous edition’s medal haul.

How much has the government spent on Asian Games preparations?

The ministry reported expenditure of Rs 702.86 crore under the ACTC. A further Rs 97.84 crore was spent from the TOPS fund, taking the combined amount to Rs 800.70 crore.

The ACTC accounted for about 88 per cent of the combined amount, while TOPS contributed around 12 per cent. These figures concern India’s athlete preparations, rather than the cost of staging the Games in Japan.

Where has the preparation money gone?

International competition exposure received Rs 251.4 crore, the largest amount among the spending categories cited by the ministry. Domestic training followed at Rs 118.3 crore.

Together, the two categories accounted for Rs 369.7 crore. Spending on international competitions was more than twice the amount devoted to domestic training, indicating the importance given to competitive exposure overseas in the preparation programme.

Equipment support and the hiring of coaches and experts were also covered by the ministry’s account of preparations. Separate amounts for these components were not specified in the figures cited, nor was a sport-wise or year-wise spending breakdown provided.

How large is India’s Asian Games contingent?

The 501-member athlete contingent comprises 267 men and 234 women. They will be accompanied by 265 support staff, taking the combined strength to 766.

The athlete count is two fewer than the 503 originally sanctioned. Two names were dropped because of doping violations.

Debutants make up about 62 per cent of the athlete contingent. Johal said the presence of so many newcomers was encouraging because developing athletes takes time, and reaching the top level early was a positive sign for their future.

Which young athletes are in focus?

Among the young athletes attracting attention is 15-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. However, he is not funded by the Sports Ministry, an important distinction when considering the government’s preparation expenditure alongside the full contingent.

Other names highlighted include table tennis player Syndrela Das, badminton player Ayush Shetty and 18-year-old squash player Anahat Singh, who recently won the junior world title. Judoka Asmita Dey, the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games gold in the sport, is also among those in focus.

The contingent includes 65 athletes who have come through Khelo India, which Johal described as the country’s baseline sports system. They account for about 13 per cent of the 501 athletes, showing the programme’s representation in the team heading to Japan.

What support will athletes have at the Games?

TOPS has also worked on the composition of the support teams, including the presence of physiotherapists, mental health experts and doctors. According to Johal, sports science personnel account for one-third of the authorised support staff.

Women are represented in the support staff of every team, he said. Finalising the contingent list took time because some federations had initially failed to name enough women in support roles.

Of the 265 support staff members, 56 are women. 

How were preparations coordinated amid federation issues?

The Target Asian Games Group held nine coordination meetings from January this year, Johal said. The effort was to give athletes the best possible preparation environment despite administrative difficulties involving various federations.

Asked to explain those difficulties, he declined to discuss specific issues. The concerns arose against a background of administrative disputes and selection controversies involving several national federations.

Johal maintained that the focus on athletes had continued despite these problems. His account placed coordination with federations and the composition of support teams alongside funding as parts of the preparation effort.

What does India hope to achieve in Japan?

Johal said the contingent had the momentum to match or better India’s best medal performance at the previous Hangzhou Games. The ministry’s account put that benchmark at 106 medals, comprising 28 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze.

“In the end the performance has to come from athletes. We have tried our best. As I said, the momentum is good and the younger lot is carrying this momentum,” Johal said.

Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi has added an academic achievement to his football career after graduating from the PFA Business School with a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Football Sport Directorship with Merit.

The 28-year-old Coventry City forward announced the achievement on Instagram, describing it as “another proud moment” away from the football pitch.

Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi has added an academic achievement to his football career after graduating from the PFA Business School with a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Football Sport Directorship with Merit.

The 28-year-old Coventry City forward shared the news on Instagram, describing the qualification as “another proud moment” away from the football pitch.

“Another proud moment for me off the pitch.

“Graduating from the PFA Business School with a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Football Sport Directorship with Merit,” Awoniyi wrote.

The former Nottingham Forest striker said he believes footballers should continue learning and developing themselves beyond their playing careers.

“I have always believed that being a footballer shouldn’t stop you from being a student of the game and education has become an important part of that journey for me,” he added.

Awoniyi thanked the PFA Business School, its lecturers and fellow students for their support throughout the programme.

“Thank you to everyone at the PFA Business School, the lecturers and my colleagues I had the opportunity to learn alongside.

“And a special thank you to my family and friends for their encouragement and support throughout,” he said.

The Nigerian forward ended his message by reaffirming his commitment to both football and continued education.

“Still playing. Still learning. The journey continues.”

The PFA Business School offers education and development programmes for football professionals, including courses in leadership, management and the business side of the sport.

Awoniyi’s latest qualification adds another dimension to his career as he continues to combine professional football with academic development in football sport directorship.

Controversial streamer XenaTheWitch has sparked another controversy after an altercation with looksmaxing streamer Drago at the Ice Poseidon x Nick Lee event. A clip from the event has been circulating on X, appearing to show Xena slapping Drago during a heated exchange between the two streamers.

The incident also follows another controversy at an earlier Ice Poseidon event, where she was banned from Kick after a paintball incident. With the latest altercation once again taking place at an Ice Poseidon event, it has drawn further attention to her history with the event.

According to the footage, Xena appeared agitated while complaining about people filming her. The situation escalated after Drago remarked “chim*ing out,” prompting Xena to slap him. She also appeared to continue arguing with him after the incident, further escalating the confrontation.

Drago explains why he did not hit XenaTheWitch back after she slapped him

Another clip from the event has also been circulating on X, in which Drago addressed the altercation and explained why he chose not to retaliate after being slapped. He said that he held back because of how he was raised and because he did not feel that Xena posed a physical threat to him. He said:

“That’s just reactionary, you know? It’s like the shock factor leaves really quickly. Oh my God, you slapped me on the first date. What are you gonna do on the second date? Punch me? What are you gonna do on the third date? Put me in a f*****g chok*hold? It’s like, is that content? Remember, these hands are *******. Mine are not.”

Drago further explained that he did not feel threatened during the confrontation and believed that retaliating could have seriously hurt Xena. He said that he was holding her back when she became pushy and chose not to hit her because he did not want to cause her to fall or get seriously injured.

“Because that’s the thing, like, she actually takes— I mean, it’s like I could. When she was being pushy with me, and I was holding her back, I could tell how light she is and how easy it would be. And it’s like, when you know that, you can easily beat the s**t out of a person at any moment. It doesn’t feel like a threat.”

In other news, XenaTheWitch made headlines when she was arrested earlier this year.