Pawan Sehrawat will replace Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India’s flag-bearer at the Asian Games opening ceremony in Nagoya on Saturday after the shot-putter was unable to receive his official kit in time.Sehrawat, a key member of India’s gold-medal-winning men’s kabaddi team at the previous Asian Games, will now join shooting star Manu Bhaker in leading the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony, chef-de-mission Sahdev Yadav told PTI.Toor’s absence is linked to the delayed delivery of the official kit. The 30-year-old told PTI that he was informed his kit would arrive at Nagoya airport only at 3pm, leaving him with little time to collect it and reach the ceremony venue.“I am told that my kit will reach at 3pm at the (Nagoya) airport. Reaching the opening ceremony venue after collecting my kit from airport on time will be very difficult. So, I have told IOA (Indian Olympic Association) that I am not coming for opening ceremony,” Toor told PTI.The celebrated shot-putter also revealed that the athletics contingent is yet to receive its kits, with the equipment still in India.“My kit is lying in India. Nobody in the athletics team has got their kits so far,” he revealed.The athletics team has been based at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo since September 13 for an acclimatisation camp. The contingent is scheduled to travel to Nagoya on September 21, two days before the athletics events begin.Toor said the situation could have been different had he been informed earlier about his flag-bearer duties. He only learnt about the role on Friday, meaning his coach, who had arrived in Nagoya a day earlier, could potentially have collected the kit for him.“IOA told me yesterday about me becoming flag-bearer. Otherwise my coach who reached here yesterday could have picked it (the kit) up for me,” he said.With Toor unable to attend, Sehrawat has been handed the responsibility of carrying the Indian flag alongside Bhaker at the opening ceremony.

Two continental football federations, UEFA and CONCACAF, on Friday called on FIFA President Gianni Infantino to release around $2.1 billion from the global governing body’s reserves to share among its 211 member associations.

A letter sent to Infantino by European football chief Aleksander Ceferin and his counterpart at the North and Central American and Caribbean body, Victor Montagliani, said each of FIFA’s member associations (MAs) should receive $10 million in the four years between 2027-2030.

The move is the latest twist in the civil war which erupted in world football after it emerged Infantino sought to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors.

Read moreFrench Football Federation pulls support from FIFA head Infantino’s re-election bid

The incendiary proposal was short-lived after a fierce backlash across the sport, with European governing body UEFA threatening to boycott all FIFA competitions until the plan was shelved.

Infantino has said the venture was designed to raise capital for football across the world.

But Ceferin and Montagliani’s letter, sent on Friday and obtained by AFP, said FIFA’s vast cash reserves – estimated at around $6 billion – could be used to boost funding for the sport without outside investment.

“FIFA already has the capacity to deliver substantially more to its MAs from its own balance sheet – without any sale of interests in its competitions, and without asking anything of the MAs in return,” the letter read.

“Our analysis indicates that FIFA should make at least $10 million available to each of its 211 MAs over the 2027-30 cycle for investment in infrastructure and football development – an aggregate of approximately USD 2.1 billion,” it added.

The letter said the “one-off” release of funds would be in addition to the annual development funding already distributed to FIFA members, which under Infantino has increased to $8 million per country over a four-year cycle.

The UEFA and CONCACAF letter said they would issue recommendations for disbursements at the next FIFA Council meeting.

The letter comes a day after England‘s Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt wrote to Infantino requesting a full disclosure of information relating to the ill-fated private equity plan.

Hewitt has also called for the release of documents relating to the decision to suspend a ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, which followed a phone call from US President Donald Trump to Infantino.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

• 

• 32 Thoughts: The Podcast

  Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.

  Latest episode

In the words of Nick Wright, the “prince who was promised” is at the top of Mahomes Mountain. However, Patrick Mahomes isn’t that prince. 

After an incredible slate of Week 1 performances, Wright’s quarterback hierarchy got quite the shakeup. But only one of Josh Allen, Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence or Lamar Jackson can sit atop the mountain after a weekend of tremendous performances. 

So, who is the No. 1 quarterback in the NFL entering Week 2? Here’s how he views the league’s top quarterbacks in the latest edition of Mahomes Mountain: 

Off The Mountain:

Wright: “Darnold, Kyler and Tua are off [Mahomes Mountain] with injuries. Off because of their play — Deshaun, Cooper Rush, Cam Ward and Malik Willis.”

“Malik Willis [is] dying to get on the mountain, trying to find a spot, somebody’s spot to take.”

7th Row

Wright: “Drew Lock played really well once he got his feet underneath them against a Patriots’ defense that should be good.”

“Here’s my worry about Daniel Jones. He doesn’t seem to want to run on that Achilles. One carry, four yards. If Daniel Jones does not run the ball, he’s not going to be effective.”

6th Row

Wright: “Sixth row, moving up, was Tyler Shough with 410 yards. Now is that a canary in the coal mine that the Lions secondary might be a total catastrophe possibly? Yes, but his connection with [Chris] Olave was good.

“Turn on a Jacoby Brissett game. About every other one, you’re gonna be like, this guy can, this guy should start somewhere. Now the other half of the every other one, he’s just throwing laser beams to the opponent, like perfect dots to the secondary. But he looked really good. He seriously outplayed Herbert.

“My guy, Bake Show (Baker Mayfield) — those fumbles are just awful, and not just because they cost me so much in week one, but it’s just awful. He just got paid, and then he’s playing reckless. Don’t love it.”

5th Row

Wright: “Jared Goff, fine. You know he was fine. Didn’t need to move up. Didn’t need to move down. He stays where he is. Dak? Not so fine. The interception before half was bad.

“I think it’s very fair to say a disappointing opening week for Dak Prescott. C.J. Stroud, on the other hand, if there ever can be an encouraging performance that ends with you fumbling the ball in the final possession to lose the game, that was it.”

4th Row:

Wright: “Now to the top 10. Fourth row. Joe Burrow played fine, then threw a pick-six, let the Bucs back in it, then steadied himself. He stays where he is.

“Jalen Hurts made the three biggest plays of the game. They won the game. I felt like there’s nobody on row five that deserved, you know, to move up more than him, so he moves up.”

3rd Row:

Wright: “Moving up to row three, Caleb Williams. Moving down from the top spot of the mountain, Patrick Mahomes, and moving down Matt Stafford. 

“Caleb’s obvious. He had maybe the best game of his career. Patrick said it himself. He did not think he played that well. Patrick also does not want to be graded on an ACL curve. 

“Given how many great quarterback performances we had in Week 1, he doesn’t deserve to stay at the top of the mountain. I thought he steadied himself in the second half.”

2nd Row:

Wright: “Moving up to row two, perennial MVP candidates Lamar Jackson moves up. … I thought Lamar was outstanding.

“Josh Allen was awesome, almost, almost lost the game, but didn’t. And then, after almost losing the game, had a 100 out of 100 throw.”

1st Row:

Wright: “For the first time in the history of the mountain, the prophecy was realized atop the quarterback mountain for the first time ever. The prince who was promised, Trevor Lawrence, he is who the media wants Justin Herbert to be: the super-talented, amazing pedigree.”

Kingswood has made significant strides since joining Gavin Bedggood’s stable.

The horse commenced his career in Ireland before a spell with Maddie Raymond at Warrnambool. He then joined the Bedggood yard in mid-2024, achieving wins in his first two starts at Caulfield, including the Coongy Cup (2000m).

By the end of 2026, Bedggood made the decision to send Kingswood to New Zealand, where he secured a Group 1 victory at Ellerslie.

Following a first-up win at Caulfield over stablemate Just Folk in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) last month, Kingswood is preparing for his first Group 1 race on Australian soil in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Despite also being nominated for the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) on the program, Bedggood stated that the Underwood Stakes was always the primary goal. “I threw in a nom for the Naturalism in case something happened,” Bedggood said. “He’s as good as I could have him and he’s improved from his first-up run and I suppose Saturday will be a good test to see where he sits against that calibre of horse.”

Kingswood has drawn the widest gate in an eight-horse field, reduced by one following the withdrawal of Aeliana, who is staying in Sydney for the 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Bedggood commented that Kingswood was fit enough for the Heatherlie Stakes and believes he has improved since that run. “He was pretty screwed down first-up but with improvement to come,” Bedggood added. “He definitely hasn’t regressed. His coat has improved and his last two Monday mornings have been great, so I wouldn’t swap my horse for any other in the race.”

Saturday’s race will determine his next target, with the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3 or the Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield a week later being the likely options.

Kingswood has 55kg in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17 and is currently 20th in the ballot order following the release of weights on Thursday. The Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington on October 24 has not been ruled out.

“Everything is on the table at the moment, but his next two runs will tell us where we sit,” Bedggood concluded. “My gut feeling tells me he’s not sharp enough at 10 furlongs for a Cox Plate.”

Check out the latest online bookmakers for the Underwood Stakes.

Having endured the mental and physical grind of making four title defenses over a two-year span as champion heading into his first meeting with Joshua Van last December at UFC 323, Alexandre Pantoja had envisioned a month’s long vacation as a reward to himself for all of his hard work and sacrifices. 

But Pantoja’s fifth defense of his 125-pound title didn’t exactly go as planned. The Brazilian legend suffered a freak dislocated elbow just 26 seconds into the fight after Van caught a high kick attempt and pushed him to the ground to cause the injury and a changing of the guard atop the division thanks to the TKO win. 

Instead of a vacation, the 36-year-old Pantoja quickly found himself back in the gym just two days later with one arm in a sling and a new mindset that has led him into Saturday’s rematch, when the pair of flyweights headline UFC 331 in Los Angeles (9 p.m. ET, Paramount+).

“I [went back] to the gym because I knew if I take too much time off, it’s going to be very tough to get back to my shape and this level,” Pantoja told CBS Sports during an August sitdown in Philadelphia before the UFC 331 introductory press conference. “Since my injury, I haven’t stopped. I was back to training with one arm in the gym and doing physical therapy. I think my right hand is very powerful now.”

Sign up for Paramount+ and watch UFC 331 for no additional fee — every UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night is included with your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year!

A native of Rio de Janeiro who elevated his career to the next level when he moved himself and his family to Florida in 2018 to train full-time at American Top Team, Pantoja (30-6) has taken umbrage with how quickly everyone has seemed to move on from everything he accomplished as flyweight champion. 

UFC 331 fight card — Joshua Van vs. Alexandre Pantoja 2: Five biggest storylines to follow in Los Angeles

Advertisement

Brian Campbell

Despite not losing his title in the traditional way following the 26-second defeat due to injury, Pantoja was dropped from the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings despite previously reaching No. 4 thanks to an 8-fight win streak late in his career that elevated Pantoja from dangerous everyman to one of the most decorated champions in the promotional history. 

Part of that was due to the seemingly overnight success of Van (17-2), a 24-year-old native of Mynamar who fights out of Houston and has been quickly labeled as one of the breakout stars of the sport. Van rebounded from a 2024 knockout loss to Charles Johnson by winning seven consecutive fights over the next two years, including a Fight of the Year against Brandon Royval in 2025 and an all-action title defense against Tatsuro Taira in May that ended in a thrilling fifth-round TKO. 

“[Van] didn’t beat me, he didn’t beat me. It’s not about that. I lost for myself [due to the injury,]” Pantoja said. “I have 20 years of professional fighting, I never made a drill to push someone to break their arm like that. He didn’t beat me. I know, like an athlete, I lost the fight and I know I lost my belt. I’m not the champion anymore. But it’s not as if someone beat me.”

In 2020, Pantoja was a three-year UFC veteran with a record of just 6-3 inside the Octagon. But his eventual 8-fight win streak began with a 2021 win over Manel Kape and continued through an emotional 2023 title win over Brandon Moreno by split decision in which Pantoja traded punches with savage intent for five full rounds in a back-and-forth slugfest. 

Pantoja’s run to becoming UFC champion at age 33 was considered a feel-good story but few could’ve predicted he would go on the title reign that followed as “The Cannibal” proved the old adage true of becoming noticeably better as champion. Throughout four title defenses, Pantoja evolved into an efficient and technical finisher with a well-rounded game who was worthy of the P4P recognition he received by becoming the first men’s flyweight in UFC history to win a title bout after turning 35. 

“People maybe don’t give me the recognition,” Pantoja said. “I fought the best fighters in my division. I beat some guys three times. I had eight [wins] in a row with the best fighters. I beat Manel Kape, Brandon Royval, Brandon Moreno, Kai Kara-France. The [UFC] brought Kai Asakura from another promotion and I beat him this guy, too. 

“I don’t have a lot of recognition but, for me, it’s OK. What I want is to be the best fighter in the world. I try to be that guy everyday in my life because I’m training very hard and Joshua Van can be sure I want [the rematch] more than ever.” 

While Pantoja is likely too proud to blast boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.’s 2002 rap song “Y’all Must’ve Forgot” as his walkout music this weekend but it’s clear this humble warrior has a distinct chip on his shoulder and is motivated to remind everyone, even at 36, who he still is. 

Pantoja, who was nearly a 3-to-1 betting favorite against Van last December, now finds himself as the betting underdog entering the rematch. And if former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo deserves credit for ultimately saving the 125-pound division in the aftermath of Demetrious Johnson’s legendary title reign, when UFC brass was considering folding it, Pantoja deserves the respect for bringing consistency to it following a memorable four-fight series between Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo when the belt constantly switched hands. 

“I sacrificed a lot about my life and I think I’m one of the best fighters in the world,” Pantoja said. “I have this opportunity right now against Joshua Van and you have a lot of new fans coming in with this deal with Paramount. It’s so good for everybody. This new generation of fans is so interactive on the internet, everybody supports Joshua Van so well. Everything has changed since my last fight.

“I have a champion to fight, I don’t have a challenger. Joshua Van is the champion and I have nothing to lose in this fight. I have had this position before. I’m not going to be afraid of excuses, I go to conquer.”

Who wins Van vs. Pantoja, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 2018, and find out.

Manchester United have made a slow start to this Premier League season, but Kobbie Mainoo has a case to be their standout performer so far and has been rewarded

Nine of the 26 players who represented England at this summer’s World Cup do not feature in the latest squad Thomas Tuchel has named for the country’s upcoming Nations League matches.

Dan Burn, Dean Henderson, Djed Spence, Ivan Toney, John Stones, Jordan Henderson, Noni Madueke, Ollie Watkins and Reece James are not involved for various reasons. However, despite infamously being the only Three Lions player to have played no minutes in North America, Kobbie Mainoo keeps his spot.

There are also recalls for various players who just missed the cut, including Alex Scott, Cole Palmer, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jason Steele, Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rio Ngumoha and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Phil Foden, though, remains absent, six months after his last call-up.

Receiving a straight red card barely 20 minutes into last weekend’s Manchester derby will hardly have helped his case. Mainoo was one of the few positives for United from that defeat at Old Trafford, and the same can be said of their start to this season as a whole.

Twelve months on from Ruben Amorim only sporadically using the academy graduate as a substitute, Reds boss Michael Carrick has recently described him as “a real joy to have” and “a fantastic player”. Tuchel has also spoken highly of his conduct this summer.

“He didn’t put a foot wrong during the World Cup,” the England head coach said, “he was class in behaviour on the training pitch.”

Keep your schedule open in the fall of 2032 and 2033.

That’s because the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish announced on Wednesday morning that the two schools will take part in a college football home-and-home series in 2032 and 2033.

The Fighting Irish will travel to Lincoln to play Nebraska on Oct. 30, 2032, and the Cornhuskers will travel to South Bend to play Notre Dame on Oct. 29, 2033.

“The series with Notre Dame is the type of matchup that college football fans circle on their calendars years in advance,” Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said in a statement. “Our fans have a tremendous appreciation for the history of college football and iconic venues. We are excited to welcome Notre Dame and their fans to Lincoln in 2032, and I know our fans will travel to South Bend in full force in 2033.”

The scheduled 2032 game will be the first time the two programs square off since the Cornhuskers beat the Fighting Irish in Nebraska on Sept. 8, 2001, 27-10, and just the third time since 1948. Nebraska is 8-7-1 all time against Notre Dame.

As for the present, both teams are 2-0 in the 2026 college football season, with the Cornhuskers getting home victories over the Ohio Bobcats (49-21) and Bowling Green Falcons (56-7) and the No. 3 AP-ranked Fighting Irish defeating the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field (41-13) and the Rice Owls at home (52-0).

Nebraska’s Big Ten season opener comes on the road against the Michigan State Spartans on Sept. 26, and it has four AP Top 25-ranked teams on its remaining schedule (Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State and Iowa). Meanwhile, Notre Dame has three AP Top-25 ranked teams on its remaining schedule: BYU, Miami and SMU.

Both Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman signed new contracts with their respective schools within the last year.

The Cornhuskers are a combined 21-19 under Rhule since 2023, while the Fighting Irish are a combined 45-12 under Freeman since he took over as head coach during the 2021 season, highlighted by reaching the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.