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Eala bundles out higher-ranked big servers with impunity, using a return game that is worthy of WTA royalty

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Alex Eala Alexandra Eala 2026 Mubadala DC Open vs Jessica Pegula finalAlex Eala Alexandra Eala 2026 Mubadala DC Open vs Jessica Pegula final

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates after winning a women’s singles match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on day six of the Mubadala DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on August 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP

At one point during her semifinal match, Alex Eala absorbed a near-200-kph first serve from Naomi Osaka and then swung a backhand return that stunned even TV analysts.

Osaka could only smile as Eala turned her foe’s own power against her to win the point.

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And that wasn’t just some lucky reflex swing—it was by design.

As scrutiny continues on her service game, the Filipino superstar has found her own winning blueprint against some of the sport’s biggest names: Elite returns.

“It really depends on the moment because there are so many factors when it comes to returning,” Eala said, explaining her mental process in dealing with powerful servers in a post-match interview with the Tennis Channel after her 6-4, 6-2 victory over Osaka on Sunday.

The Philippines will wake up to either toasting Eala as champion or the Filipinos celebrating their heroine’s biggest ever WTA 500 finish as the 21-year-old was slated to play American Jessica Pegula very early Monday in Manila.

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“What’s the situation? What are you looking for in the ball? And at the end of the day, you don’t know what serve is going to come at you, right?” she added.

Eala won 27 of the 59 points (46 percent) played on Osaka’s serve while the Japanese-American ace won only 12 of 47 return points (26 percent).

Eala’s performance against Osaka’s first serve was even more eye-catching. She won 13 of 32 first-serve return points (41 percent)—of the 19 points she lost, five were aces, meaning she won 13 of Osaka’s 27 playable first serves. That limited the four-time Grand Slam champion to a 59.4-percent success rate on her first serve.

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“[Y]ou kind of have to be ready for anything. But … whatever I can control, I try to do my 100 percent,” Eala said.

A big part of Eala’s return game is her ability to take the ball early, shortening Osaka’s reaction time after her big serves. The sustained pressure of Eala’s returns produced 12 break chances, four service breaks and a 27-12 advantage in return points won.

“I played really well and I had a great mentality and I stayed locked in until the end,” Eala said.

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Eala, set to jump to a career-best 24th in the world rankings, had previously ousted second seed Elina Svitolina for her sixth top-10 victory of the year after dethroning defending champion Leylah Fernandez.

It was the first meeting of the Asian stars, Eala facing one of the idols of her youth.

“She definitely has aura and she definitely has power,” Eala said of Osaka. “I remember watching her finals in the Australian Open and US Open so really a great experience to share the court with her and I’m really happy I was able to produce that level against her.”

Despite her recent run of success, Eala said she hasn’t lost sight of her goal to constantly improve her game.

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“There are so many things [that keep me grounded],” she said. “My family keeps me grounded. My team keeps me grounded.

“Every error I hit on the court keeps me grounded. Every time I’m mad on the court keeps me grounded. When I wake up in the morning, I have bad hair and it keeps me grounded.”

“I’m 21, so it’s not like I’m the queen of the world or anything,” Eala added.



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Maybe not, but her return game is nothing short of royalty. —with reports from AFP and INQUIRER SPORTS DESK INQ

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Blue Jays trade Kevin Gausman to Cubs

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Ken Rosenthal and Mitch Bannon of The Athletic were first to report the trade. Outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene will go back to Toronto in the trade. Southisene was the Cubs’ No. 13 prospect while Bateman was No. 21, according to MLB Pipeline.

With the deal, the Blue Jays officially part ways with a beloved member of the organization whose success on the field and consistency behind the scenes made him an essential part of their recent success.

In four and a half seasons with the Blue Jays, Gausman combined durability with front-of-the-rotation stuff, making an All-Star team, earning Cy Young votes in two different seasons and posting a 3.79 ERA over the course of 40.1 post-season innings.

“Kev will go down as one of the best free agent signings the organization has made, especially from a pitching standpoint,” said manager John Schneider. “He’s remarkably consistent, professional, good teammate, low maintenance. Everything that you want from a frontline dude.”

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As Schneider said, the Blue Jays have reason to be thrilled with the five-year, $110 million deal they signed with Gausman back in December of 2021. In 148 regular-season starts with the Blue Jays, Gausman posted a 3.62 ERA while pitching 861 innings on his way to 12.8 wins above replacement.

Not only did Gausman shine on the field, but he also embraced the Blue Jays fan base and was beloved in return, all of which made Saturday’s final home start at Rogers Centre more emotional.

“The fans have done a lot of cool moments for me since I’ve been here, but that was definitely up there,” Gausman said of the ovation fans gave him. “I’ve played this game long enough to know those things don’t happen all the time, so I tried to soak it in.”

The right-hander now ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in strikeouts (seventh all-time, 920), starts (ninth, 148) and wins (12th, 53).

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“He’s been everything,” George Springer said. “Consistent, and he wants the ball in a big game. But I think the thing that I’ll take from him is how much he cares about us and who he is as an individual, not just a baseball player.”

The 35-year-old said he’d ideally prefer not to be traded while adding that he understands the business side of the game.

Since Gausman has already received one qualifying offer, he’s ineligible for another one. Under those circumstances, no draft pick compensation was possible for the Blue Jays and their only way to get a return for Gausman was to trade him.

Once the deal becomes official, there will be a new opening in the Blue Jays’ rotation. The likes of Chad Dallas and CJ Van Eyk are among the candidates to take on more innings for the season’s final two months, but the Blue Jays also acquired veteran starter Jameson Taillon from the Cubs in a trade earlier on Sunday.

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Southisene, 21, is a speedy shortstop playing in single-A this season. Bateman, 24, is a contact hitter playing at triple-A.

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Lennox Lewis delivers honest verdict on Anthony Joshua’s current ability after Prenga fight

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Lennox Lewis has spoken out on the future of Anthony Joshua following his recent performance against Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last week, in a bout that most fans expected to be a straightforward affair for ‘AJ’ as he kept busy before a planned showdown with long-term rival Tyson Fury later this year.

Those plans nearly went up in smoke as Joshua was sensationally knocked down twice in the first round, though he was able to recover and earn the second round knockout victory.

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He is now set to proceed with the clash against Fury after ‘The Gypsy King’ was also successful when he defeated Mariusz Wach 24 hours before Joshua competed, but it appears that former undisputed heavyweight champion Lewis still has doubts over the fight.

That’s because Lewis has told The Ring that he thinks Joshua may choose not to fight again after his display against Prenga.

“Does he really belong in the ring right now? A virtual novice put him on the ground twice in the first round. Is that it, have we seen the last of him?”

Choosing when to walk away from the sport is always a difficult decision for boxers, with Lewis famously one of the few who managed to hang up the gloves whilst still on top, retiring in 2004 when he still reigned as world heavyweight champion.

Despite the concerns of Lewis, Joshua still looks set to proceed with the fight against Fury, with the pair expected to meet at Madison Square Garden in New York in November.

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Commonwealth Games 2026, Closing Ceremony Highlights: Scotland Pass Baton To India; Manushi Chhillar, Shankar Mahadevan Dazzle

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We are set for a distinct concoction of Scottish, Indian and international music and dance in the closing ceremony of Glasgow 2026. Rock band Simple Minds leads the features representing the home nation. They will be joined by Scottish musicians Cammy Barnes, BEMZ and Sandi Thoms.

Popular singer Shankar Mahadevan and actor Manushi Chillar will headline India’s performances. We are also gearing up for a fusion between Scottish musician Ross Ainslie and Indian sitarist Rishab Sharma.

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Former Pro Bowl G Andrus Peat announces retirement

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Nov 5, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  New Orleans Saints guard Andrus Peat (75) blocks Chicago Bears defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) during the second half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn ImagesNov 5, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints guard Andrus Peat (75) blocks Chicago Bears defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) during the second half at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Andrus Peat, who earned three Pro Bowl selections at guard during his 11-year NFL career, announced his retirement via a weekend Instagram post.

“11 years in the league, I gave it everything I had. I may be walking away from football, but not from the lessons it taught me,” Peat wrote.

The 32-year old was a mainstay for the New Orleans Saints from 2015-23. The Saints selected the 6-foot-7, 315-pound guard from Stanford with the 13th selection in the 2015 NFL draft.

Peat started 108 of 117 games for New Orleans (including playoffs) and was tabbed to the Pro Bowl from 2018-2020.

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The Mesa, Ariz., native played for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, seeing action in 15 games and starting once. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 and competed in six games, making three starts.

Peat’s father, Todd, played guard for three seasons apiece with the Cardinals and Raiders from 1987-93. He has six siblings and the youngest, Koa, was a first-round draft selection (30th overall) in the 2026 NBA draft and quickly traded to the Phoenix Suns.

–Field Level Media

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Shiho Kuwaki thwarts Esther Henseleit in dramatic play-off to claim Women’s Open title

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Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki claimed her first major title ​by defeating Germany’s Esther Henseleit in a playoff to win the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham on Sunday.

Kuwaki and Henseleit finished regulation play tied at five under par after the German holed a lengthy birdie putt on the 18th to force extra holes.

American Yealimi Noh, who had held the overnight lead and started the day strongly, finished third at four under.

Kuwaki sealed victory on the second playoff hole, after Henseleit missed her par attempt and tapped in for bogey, becoming the second Japanese champion of the tournament in succession, after Miyu Yamashita.

Shiho Kuwaki celebrates her Women's Open triumph
Shiho Kuwaki celebrates her Women’s Open triumph (Getty)

After beginning the day among the chasing pack, Kuwaki ⁠steadily climbed into contention as Noh began to feel the pressure.

She ​moved ⁠into a share of the ‌lead with a birdie at the 13th and stayed patient over the closing stretch before posting the clubhouse target at five under.

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Noh looked set to control the final round but a pair of bogeys at the seventh and eighth cut her advantage.

She briefly recovered, regaining a share of the lead with a birdie at the par-four 13th, before another dropped shot at the 14th left her trailing Kuwaki by one.

Henseleit also produced a strong back-nine charge.

After slipping back with bogeys at the eighth and ninth, she birdied the 11th, 12th and 15th to draw level with Kuwaki, only to drop a shot at the 16th.

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The German refused to relent, however, rolling in a crucial birdie putt at the last ‌to force the play-off.

Esther Henseleit's stunning birdie forced the play-off
Esther Henseleit’s stunning birdie forced the play-off (Getty)

World number one Nelly Korda briefly held the clubhouse lead after a closing three-under 68 but it was not enough to challenge for the title, leaving her tied for fourth on two under with world number two Jeeno Thitikul.

South Korea’s Haeran Ryu saw her bid for a third consecutive ‌major fade with ​bogeys at the 17th and 18th, ‌finishing tied for sixth on one ​under alongside home hopes Lottie Woad and Charley Hull.

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Junior League Softball World Series schedule 2026: Scores, times, channels to watch every game

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Junior League Softball World Series schedule 2026: Scores, times, channels to watch every game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Kirkland, Washington, is about to spend a week at the center of the softball world.

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The 2026 Junior League Softball World Series brings 10 teams to Everest Park for tournament play beginning Sunday, Aug. 2, and running through the championship game on Saturday, Aug. 8.

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Host Washington D9 anchors Pool A alongside squads from Czechia, Michigan, Puerto Rico and North Carolina, while Pool B features teams from the Philippines, Canada, Pennsylvania, Texas and California.

The 10-team field plays round-robin within its pool before crossing over into a single-elimination bracket.

Here’s everything you need to know about watching the 2026 Junior League Softball World Series.

Where to watch Junior League Softball World Series

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None of the 2026 Junior League Softball World Series will air on broadcast TV. Every game will instead stream live on the ESPN app

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Junior League Softball World Series schedule, scores

The 2026 Junior League Softball World Series begins on Sunday, Aug. 2, and concludes on Saturday, Aug. 8. All games will take place at Everest Park in Kirkland, Washington. Times below are listed in Eastern time.

Sunday, Aug. 2

  • Game 1: Asia-Pacific vs. West, 1 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 2: Southeast vs. Europe-Africa, 1:30 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 3: Canada vs. East, 4 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 4: Washington D9 vs. Central, 4:30 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 5: Asia-Pacific vs. Southwest, 7 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 6: Europe-Africa vs. Latin America, 7:30 p.m., ESPN app

Monday, Aug. 3

  • Game 7: Central vs. Latin America, 1 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 8: Canada vs. Southwest, 1:30 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 9: Washington D9 vs. Southeast, 4 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 10: East vs. West, 4:30 p.m., ESPN app

Tuesday, Aug. 4

  • Game 11: Canada vs. West, 1 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 12: Southeast vs. Latin America, 1:30 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 13: East vs. Southwest, 4 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 14: Europe-Africa vs. Central, 4:30 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 15: Washington D9 vs. Latin America, 7 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 16: Canada vs. Asia-Pacific, 7:30 p.m., ESPN app

Wednesday, Aug. 5

  • Game 17: Washington D9 vs. Europe-Africa, 1 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 18: East vs. Asia-Pacific, 1:30 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 19: Central vs. Southeast, 4 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 20: Southwest vs. West, 4:30 p.m., ESPN app

Thursday, Aug. 6

  • Game 21: Pool B No. 1 vs. Pool A No. 4, 3:30 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 22: Pool A No. 1 vs. Pool B No. 4, 4 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 23: Pool A No. 2 vs. Pool B No. 3, 6:30 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 24: Pool B No. 2 vs. Pool A No. 3, 7 p.m., ESPN app

Friday, Aug. 7

  • Game 25: Game 21 winner vs. Game 23 winner, 4 p.m., ESPN app

  • Game 26: Game 22 winner vs. Game 24 winner, 7 p.m., ESPN app

Saturday, Aug. 8

  • Championship: Game 25 winner vs. Game 26 winner, 4 p.m., ESPN app

Junior League Softball World Series teams

There are 10 teams split into two pools competing in the 2026 Junior League Softball World Series.

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Pool A

Region

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Team

Location

Central

Hudsonville LL

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Hudsonville, Michigan

Europe-Africa

Bohemia LL

Bohemia, Czechia

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Latin America

Guayama Softball LL

Guayama, Puerto Rico

Southeast

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Mallard Creek LL

Charlotte, North Carolina

Washington D9

Kirkland American LL

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Kirkland, Washington

Pool B

Region

Team

Location

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Asia-Pacific

Bacolod City LL

Bacolod City, Philippines

Canada

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On Field LLS LL

Repentigny, Quebec

East

West Suburban LL

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Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Southwest

Shiner LL

Shiner, Texas

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West

Foothill LL

Palo Cedro, California

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Terence Crawford says ‘hater’ world champion should thank him for making him big

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Terence Crawford believes he played a crucial role in the establishment of a two-division world champion, whose style is often compared to his own.

The former three-weight undisputed king announced his retirement in December, just a few months after dethroning Canelo Alvarez with a unanimous decision victory at 168lbs.

His most scintillating performances arguably came at 147lbs, however, as the American amassed seven straight stoppages before scoring a ninth-round finish over Errol Spence Jr in 2023.

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‘Bud’ was then ordered to defend his undisputed crown against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, the then-IBF mandatory challenger, only to instead move up in weight.

Ennis, meanwhile, was subsequently elevated from ‘interim’ to full welterweight champion, before unifying his division with a sixth-round stoppage of Eimantas Stanionis last year.

Now campaigning at 154lbs, the American is a two-weight unified champion after dethroning Xander Zayas with a seventh-round finish in June.

But while attempting to craft his own Hall of Fame-worthy career, Ennis’ name is still repeatedly mentioned in the same breath as that of Crawford.

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Speaking with The Real Report, ‘Bud’ even suggested that ‘Boots’ comparisons have been made for the best part of a decade.

“I feel like Boots’ whole motion is built off Terence Crawford. He should thank me. If there was no Terence Crawford at this pinnacle, who would they be talking about?

“When he was an amateur in the Olympic trials, they were like, ‘Man, this dude fights like you, Bud’.

“I’m going to let him have his era [and] wish him the best. [But] I feel like he’s a hater. Why would I need to hate on him? I wanna see him win; I wanna see him go far.”

The styles of Crawford and Ennis are similar in the sense that, while switching between orthodox and southpaw, both fighters have an aptitude for counterpunching on the front-foot.

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Astros’ Carlos Correa (ankle surgery) not ruling out 2026 return

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May 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn ImagesMay 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) reacts after hitting a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

On May 11, Carlos Correa underwent what he thought was season-ending surgery on his left ankle.

On Saturday, he began working out on the field again, well ahead of the original six- to eight-month recovery timeline. That has the Astros’ third baseman optimistic his season isn’t over after all.

“We’ll see,” Correa said. “I wouldn’t be doing all this work if I didn’t think there was a chance.”

Correa has progressed to doing all baseball activities except hitting, and he said he could be cleared to do that, too, following a Tuesday doctor’s appointment.

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“As soon as I got hurt, I got on this protocol,” he told reporters. “I started looking for all the information I could and how to speed up the process and the things I needed to eat and how I needed to sleep, the type of treatment we needed. We’ve been doing a great job with that. We’re in a good spot.”

Correa is not even halfway through his projected recovery timeline. Should he rejoin the Astros’ lineup for the stretch run, his bat and glove would be a big boost for a 57-55 Houston club that led the American League West standings by 1 1/2 games over the Rangers entering Sunday’s game.

While it’s unclear how he would slot in on defense, Correa’s bat would certainly be welcome among the top-heavy lineup. The three-time All-Star slashed .279/.369/.418 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 32 games this season prior to the injury, which occurred while Correa took pregame swings in the batting cage on May 5.

The 31-year-old is a career .275 hitter with 203 homers and 740 RBIs across 12 MLB seasons, including two stints (2015-21; 2025-present) with the Astros.

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“I’m in a really good spot. A really good spot,” he said. “I don’t feel (the injury). Been progressing to running and sprinting, and it feels great.”

–Field Level Media

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Commonwealth Games hailed ‘Alive and Kicking’ as Simple Minds close Glasgow 2026

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Commonwealth Games chiefs insisted the movement is still “Alive and Kicking” as Glasgow rock band Simple Minds brought the curtain down on 11 days of sporting action at Sunday night’s closing ceremony at The Hydro.

The city stepped in to rescue the event with a cut-price £160million programme after original hosts Victoria pulled out at short notice, placing its future in doubt.

The Indian city of Amdavad has since revealed a relatively lucrative plan for the 2034 Games, in which a large portion of the costs are being absorbed into a longer-term bid to host a future edition of the Olympic Games.

Team Scotland athletes celebrated at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (Jane Barlow/PA)
Team Scotland athletes celebrated at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire)

But Glasgow 2026 chief executive Phil Batty believes his city’s offering – bolstered by £100million of compensation from the Australian state – can serve as a blueprint for a more flexible model moving forward.

“Eleven days ago, we asked whether the Commonwealth Games were still relevant and whether Glasgow could create a new blueprint for the future,” said Batty.

“Sitting here on day 11, I feel we’ve answered that question once and for all. We’ve created a belief among all 74 nations that every nation could – and should – host a Commonwealth Games, and they should look different wherever they are hosted.

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Delta Goodrem performed at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Delta Goodrem performed at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

“With this more flexible, sustainable, smarter and more inclusive approach, every future edition of the Commonwealth Games will have its own flavour, feel and character.

“Glasgow 2026 has taken the belief that allowed us to step in, step up and be brave, and I hope we’ve shared that belief with the rest of the Commonwealth.”

English interest may have plunged behind a TV paywall and never-ending reports of the withdrawals of star names, but in Australia, India, and a slew of nations including Lesotho, Tuvalu and Dominica that all raucously celebrated medal firsts, the Commonwealth Games clearly still matter.

Despite baulking at the opportunity to host the Games, Australia were only too happy to capitalise on England’s reluctance, soaring clear at the top of the medal table with a total of 171, including 70 golds – more than Birmingham in 2022, despite the programme being slashed almost in half.

The desire to make hosting a future Commonwealth Games more attractive involves a broad commitment to cutting the previous costs, estimated at upwards of £700m, by 60%, meaning a future Games could come in at around the £300m mark, with a significant proportion of that underwritten by government funding.

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Commonwealth Sport chief executive Katie Sadleir said: “We’re looking at roughly a 60% reduction in costs (going forward).

“The level of government investment will be different in every country. We’re not telling hosts, ‘this is what you must do’. Instead, we’re asking, ‘What are you trying to achieve?’ and then working with them to make it happen. It’s a much more collaborative process.

Melanie Woods was presented with the David Dixon Award for the outstanding athlete of the Commonwealth Games (Steve Welsh)
Melanie Woods was presented with the David Dixon Award for the outstanding athlete of the Commonwealth Games (Steve Welsh) (PA Wire)

“We’ve had about five nations talking to us about hosting the 2034 Commonwealth Games. That’s a big change from where we were, and it’s because we’re working with countries to create a model that suits them.”

Sadleir has not ruled out the possibility of making some sports, such as athletics – which, Josh Kerr apart, was relatively bereft of star names – serve as qualification events for continental or world championships in a bid to ensure the star names are incentivised to return.

“Should the Commonwealth Games be a qualifier for world championships? Why not?” added Sadleir. “Those are exactly the kinds of conversations we need to have if we’re going to create a clearer pathway for athletes moving forward.”

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Kevin Owens makes emotional return at WWE SummerSlam after serious neck injury

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Kevin Owens still has plenty of fight left in him. Seventeen months after a neck injury that nearly cost him his professional wrestling career, Owens made an emphatic return at Night 2 of 2026 WWE SummerSlam on Sunday.

The show began with what had been advertised as a match between Finn Balor and Sami Zayn for a No. 1 Contendership to the Undisputed WWE Championship, currently held by CM Punk. Nick Aldis, recently reinstated as SmackDown general manager, had other plans. Moments before the match started, Aldis added Gunther and a returning Owens to the match.

The Minneapolis crowd welcomed Owens back with a roar of excitement and a sigh of relief. After all, there was once a concern that Owens would never wrestle again. He had not performed since beating Zayn in a physically grueling unsanctioned match at WWE Elimination Chamber on March 3, 2025. Owens was preparing for an encounter with Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 that never materialized. On April 4, he revealed that he’d been dealing with nagging neck and spinal cord injuries that required surgery.

“The pain in the neck, the stuff going down the arms, the legs not really responding, it’s all been happening,” Owens told Cody Rhodes two months later on the “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast. “It’s been pretty f—ing brutal. I can’t wait for the surgery. And then to move forward, whatever that looks like — but it’s been very frustrating.” 

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If not for selling his neck injury during the match, you wouldn’t know his career had nearly ended. Owens crushed his three foes with a swanton bomb to the floor, planted Balor with a fisherman’s buster and even took some decent bumps. Perhaps the most touching moment of their short match was when Owens and Zayn — best friends for decades who started their professional wrestling careers together — embraced before throwing punches. 

Owens scored the pinfall after planting Zayn with a stunner. The win immediately thrusts him back into SmackDown’s main event scene, putting him on a collision course with Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

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