The Warriors seek to rebound at Eden Park against a confident Newcastle side chasing its first preliminary-final appearance since 2013.

When: Sunday September 20, 2026 at 4:05 pm

Where: Eden Park

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New Zealand shifts its home semi-final to Eden Park seeking a response after a 26-16 qualifying-final loss to the Dolphins. The Warriors had won six consecutive matches before that setback and defeated Newcastle twice during the regular season, while their most recent finals meeting produced a 40-10 victory in 2023. Jackson Ford is unavailable after sustaining an ankle injury on his return, with Morgan Gannon joining the interchange. Leka Halasima and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak are listed among the reserves as they push to overcome hamstring and collarbone injuries respectively. Newcastle arrives with confidence after eliminating South Sydney 20-10 and has retained the same squad, including Dylan Lucas on the extended bench following his ankle injury. Dominic Young provides a major attacking threat, but the Warriors’ strong record against Newcastle in New Zealand and their ability to control first halves give them the clearer route forward.

Sumit Nagal of Team India (Photo by Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images for ITF)

India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal has had a difficult 2026 season, with injuries disrupting his progress and pushing him down to No. 247 in the rankings. But the 29-year-old says he has changed his mindset and is now focused more on enjoying tennis than constantly worrying about results.Nagal started the year with a hip injury picked up during a Challenger event in Thailand. He returned early for India’s Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands in Bengaluru because he wanted to represent the country.“I started the year with an injury, then played Davis Cup (in Bengaluru). I was always running behind time. I came in early to play because it was Davis Cup and Team India,” Nagal told PTI.“If it wasn’t for the Davis Cup, I would have taken the whole month off.”He later developed a wrist problem and said he did not feel fully fit until May.“I was in a position where I wasn’t healthy, but I was playing. And then March, again, I started feeling something in my wrist. So I didn’t feel good till I would say May.”

Nagal changes his approach

Despite the setbacks, Nagal won a Challenger title in Romania and reached another semifinal in Czechia. He believes his game has improved in recent months.“The last two, three months have been better comparing to the first half of the year. And now I just have to build on it,” he said.His US Open qualifying campaign ended with a 3-6, 6-7(4) loss to France’s Arthur Gea. Nagal, however, felt the close match showed he can still compete at a high level.“My last match in the US Open was a little bit unfortunate. I had a few break points and the guy ended up making the fourth round. So I feel like it’s there, it’s just I need to work hard for it to go in my favour,” he said.The constant cycle of playing and recovering also affected him mentally.“It’s not so fun, because when you play for two months and then you’re out for two months and you play for two months, I don’t think it’s so much fun. But I’m done playing the victim. I take it as what it is, how it is, and I try to enjoy every day.Before the US Open, Nagal realised he needed to stop putting all his focus on winning.“I realised that I need to be more happy. Very simple, actually. And not focus too much about winning, winning, winning, winning. Because I was doing that and it wasn’t really working for me.”A loss to Jan Kumsat in Prague helped him reach that realisation.“I lost a match in Prague and I was driving back. And that’s when I realised, I said, man, like this is just not fun. I’m not going to survive like this if I keep putting pressure on myself that every match I step on, I need to win, win, win,” Nagal said.“I was just burning too much energy throughout the match and throughout the days.”

‘The focus right now is to compete’

Nagal has also put his immediate goal of returning to the top 100 aside.“You always want to play the Slams. You want to be top 50, top 30. But I wouldn’t say that’s my focus right now. The focus right now is to compete, man,” he said.Earlier in the season, he often struggled to maintain his level throughout matches.“For a lot of weeks, I was playing two good sets and not the third set. That’s very basic. Or I was playing one good set and not a good second set because I was just playing the victim thing and saying, ‘Oh, this is not working for myself. This is not working. This is against me. Everything was against me’,” he said.“And like this, whatever, you can have any goals. But like this, you’re not going to reach anywhere.”Nagal is also willing to help younger Indian players but does not want to force himself into a leadership role.“I’m always open for them. I guide them if something is needed. But also, I don’t want to be in there, let’s say, as a leadership role when it’s not asked,” he said.“At the end of the day, it’s still a team sport. It shouldn’t be one guy leading the team. Of course, my help is there. I’ve always said it. I always want Indian tennis to do well. Never a question.”

A rain threat looms over women’s cricket matches on the opening day of the Asian Games 2026 tournament on Thursday, September 17, with China already eliminated after their quarter-final against Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The women’s competition began two days before the September 19 opening ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India are scheduled to begin their campaign against hosts Japan on Friday, September 18.

Persistent bad weather at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, on the outskirts of Nagoya, forced the cancellation of Thursday morning’s opening quarter-final. Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals under the tournament’s ranking rule, ending China’s campaign before they could play.

Higher ranking sends Bangladesh into semi-finals

Under Rule 16.10.2(b) of the Asian Games cricket playing conditions, the higher-ranked team advances when a match is washed out. That provision favoured Bangladesh, led by Nigar Sultana, over China.

With no play possible, rankings determined which side remained in contention for a medal. China’s third Asian Games appearance since 2010 therefore ended at the quarter-final stage.

The same provision applied at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, when rain-hit quarter-finals saw India, Pakistan and Bangladesh progress to the last four.

Nisshin weather forecast points to afternoon rain

AccuWeather’s hourly forecast for Nisshin points to a continued risk of afternoon rain on Thursday. AccuWeather hourly forecast.

Time in JapanTime in IndiaPrecipitation probability

3 pm11.30 am IST43 per cent

4 pm12.30 pm IST68 per cent

5 pm1.30 pm IST62 per cent

6 pm2.30 pm IST49 per cent

Pakistan’s quarter-final against Thailand is the other fixture on Thursday’s programme at the same venue.

India face Japan on September 18

Harmanpreet Kaur’s India will play their quarter-final against Japan in Nisshin on Friday. Bangladesh could meet India in the semi-finals if the Indian team progresses.

Both semi-finals are scheduled for Sunday, September 20, with the gold medal match on September 22. All cricket matches at the Asian Games will be held at Korogi Sports Park.

Barcelona forward Raphinha has made his feelings clear about Lamine Yamal missing a penalty kick during the 7-2 thrashing of Racing Santander in La Liga on Wednesday. The Brazilian stated that he didn’t see the miss as a big deal while pledging to help the 19-year-old and the rest of the team.

Lamine Yamal got the opportunity to put his name on the scoresheet when he stepped up to take a penalty kick won by Karim Adeyemi just before half-time. Unfortunately, the Spaniard failed to beat the goalkeeper from the spot, leaving him visibly frustrated.

Reacting to the episode after the final whistle, Raphinha insisted that it wasn’t an issue as even he could also miss from the spot.

”We always have to think about the team,” the Barcelona captain told DAZN (via Barca Blaugranes). “In the first half, Lamine needed it, he missed the penalty, but it wasn’t a big deal.

“I can miss too. I’m always going to help him and the rest of the team. I know that for a striker, goals are essential. We are a family and we all need to be doing well and on the same path,” he added.

After missing the penalty kick and failing to convert a couple of shots including one that hit the woodwork, Lamine Yamal finally found the back of the net in the closing minutes of the game, all thanks to Karim Adeyemi. The German international won the ball in his own half, made a solo run into the opposition box and passed it to the Spaniard to tuck it home.

Meanwhile, Raphinha stole the highlights with his fantastic hat-trick during the encounter while Adeyemi also earned praise from Barcelona fans for his selfless and electric performance on the left flank.

Lamine Yamal’s incredible numbers for Barcelona so far this season

After leading Spain to the 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph this summer, Lamine Yamal has entered the new season in spectacular form. The attacker remains a pivotal figure in Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, creating solutions for the team in front of goal.

So far, he’s made seven appearances for the Catalan giants across all competitions, recording eight goals and four assists to his name. That includes seven goals and two assists in six La Liga outings, as well as one goal and two assists in the UEFA Champions League.

As it stands, the Spaniard is one of the leading candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award following his brilliant performances and achievements with club and country during the year.