Manu Bhaker (Image credit: Instagram)

NEW DELHI: Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has urged young people to avoid using abusive language, saying that “using bad language is not cool” and that the words people use reflect their personality.The 23-year-old shooter, who won two medals at the Paris Olympics, shared a long message on X on Sunday. She did not mention any particular incident but spoke about the increasing use of abusive language in everyday conversations.

‘Choose your words wisely’

Bhaker said people should be careful about the words they use because they shape a person’s character over time.“The language we choose reflects our personality and the kind of person we are. Choose your words wisely, because over time, you become what you think, what you speak, and what you practice.”“Using bad language is not cool. Abusing is not cool,” she said.Bhaker also said that being “cool” has nothing to do with abusive language.“Let’s keep the definition of cool simple: being hardworking, kind, respectful towards others and yourself, striving to be successful through honesty, and making your parents and your country proud. That’s cool,” the Indian shooter said.Bhaker later explained why she decided to speak about the issue. She said abusive language has slowly become normalised, especially among youngsters.

“I’m speaking about this because, over the past few years, the way we perceive abusive language has changed. For many, using such words has become so normal that it’s even considered ‘cool’. Without realising it, people casually use degrading and disrespectful language in everyday conversations,” Bhaker said.Manu created history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first Indian athlete in the post-Independence era to win two medals at a single Olympic Games. She won bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and another bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.

Sigrid Haugset of Norway won stage three of the Tour de France Femmes on Monday, seizing the overall lead and the yellow jersey from Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes in the Jura region.

Haugset, of the Uno-X Mobility team, launched a gutsy solo attack less than halfway into the hilly 156.6km route between Geneva and Poligny, and held off Belgium‘s Lotte Kopecky.

Kopecky dropped back in the closing stages after failing to reel in Haugset, crossing the line 1 minute 24 seconds behind as the Norwegian became the first rider from her country to win a Tour stage and wear the yellow jersey.

“I haven’t been thinking about it because I never thought it was possible. So standing here, it’s unreal,” said Haugset, who built her her win by attacking on the third of the day’s four climbs, the Côte de la Savine.

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“When I went, it wasn’t many seconds and I thought she (Kopecky) would catch me. Then I thought I should just drop down to her … Second is good. But I kept on. The team car was amazing, pushing me.

“I was thinking about all my team-mates, everyone cheering from home and so I had to give it my all. I can’t believe that Lotte didn’t catch me. All done in the Norwegian jersey too, it’s fantastic.”

The main favourites for overall victory on August 9 in Nice, such as reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Demi Vollering, all finished together, almost three minutes behind Haugset.

Wiebes, who won the opening two stages, was dropped as soon as the road began to rise on the Col de la Faucille early in the race. She ended more than 20 minutes off the pace.

Tuesday’s fourth stage should provide a first real shake-up among the overall contenders, with a 21km time trial between Gevrey-Chambertin and Dijon.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento has died at age 34, the UFC announced Monday.

Nascimento was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep, according to a statement released by the organization.

Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene, the UFC said.

In a post shared on X, the UFC said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Allan’s family, friends, teammates, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Ryan Garcia has insisted that he will never rematch Devin Haney, unless his welterweight rival agrees to make an unlikely admission.

The pair squared off in April 2024, back when Garcia weighed 3lbs above the super-lightweight limit and edged a majority decision after scoring three knockdowns.

That result was then ruled a no-contest after it emerged that ‘King Ry’ had tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, before producing one of his standout performances.

Since then, the 27-year-old has served a year-long ban but maintains his innocence, albeit with wild accusations of an ‘inside job’ orchestrated by Team Haney and the late Victor Conte.

Such baseless allegations were made under the suspicion that Conte, a former doping facilitator, had used his relationship with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association to tamper with Garcia’s samples.

The boxer then attempted to strengthen his claim by highlighting Conte’s partnership with Haney, who continues to work with the doping expert’s SNAC Nutrition.

In response, the former steroid distributor-turned-anti-doping advocate dismissed Garcia’s assessment as nothing more than a conspiracy theory, yet the American continues to suggest that he was sabotaged by Team Haney.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, the WBC welterweight champion said he would not rematch Haney unless he admits to this alleged wrongdoing.

“Until [Haney] admits that they [his team] f**ked with my s**t, or something was going on, I’m never going to fight him.

“His little brother supposedly knew I was going to get caught with steroids. Why would his little brother go on his [social media] story and say ‘Ryan Garcia is going to get caught for steroids’?

“How the f**k did you know? I tested for four months straight [and every result came back] clean.”

While his previous results may have come back negative, the fact of the matter is that Garcia did test positive for a banned substance.

Nigerian forward Flourish Sebastine has completed her move to Portuguese champions Benfica, signing a three-year deal with the club.

The 21-year-old joins Benfica after a successful spell with Turkish side Fenerbahçe, where she helped the club win the Turkish Women’s Super League title last season.

Sebastine started her career with Bayelsa Queens and won three domestic titles before moving to Europe. She later played for Stade de Reims in France, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe in Turkey.

Her journey with the Nigerian national teams also started at youth level. She represented Nigeria at the 2022 and 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups.

One of her biggest moments came at the 2022 tournament when she scored the winning goal against France.

Her performances eventually earned her a place in the Super Falcons, and she made her senior debut against Japan in October 2022.

Now, Sebastine begins a new chapter in Portugal after saying goodbye to Fenerbahçe.

Known for her pace, movement and finishing, the forward is expected to add more attacking strength to Benfica as they compete for domestic honours and in European competitions.

Her move also means she will reunite with fellow Nigerian Janet Akekoromowei at Benfica, continuing the club’s growing connection with Nigerian women’s football.

For Sebastine, the move provides another chance to develop her game at one of Europe’s leading women’s clubs.

It also gives the Super Falcons forward an opportunity to gain more experience at the highest level as she continues to establish herself in European football.

India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was on Monday named in the North Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy, while Jammu and Kashmir wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan was appointed captain of the 15-member team.Arshdeep, who is a regular in India’s white-ball teams, was part of the Test squad during the 2025 tour of England but did not make his Test debut because of injury and team combination issues.Another player who returned to the squad is Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj, who was also included in the North Zone side for the tournament starting on August 23.Fresh from Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy title-winning campaign, six players from the side earned places in the squad. Along with Wadhawan, opener Qamran Iqbal, all-rounder Abdul Samad, left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, pacer Sunil Kumar and fast bowler Yudhvir Singh were selected.Delhi batter Ayush Badoni was named vice-captain.Veteran Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra, 41, was not picked as the Duleep Trophy is seen as a platform for players looking to push for national selection.Pacer Auqib Nabi was unavailable as he is on national duty.Delhi had the second-highest representation after Jammu and Kashmir. Opener Sanat Sangwan, former captain Yash Dhull, middle-order batter Ayush Doseja and Badoni were all included in the squad.India A regular Nishant Sindhu, along with Abid Mushtaq and Arjun Sharma, will provide the spin and all-round options.North Zone squad: Kanhaiya Wadhawan (Captain), Ayush Badoni (Vice-Captain), Sanat Sangwan, Qamran Iqbal, Yash Dhull, Ayush Doseja, Abdul Samad, Nishant Sindhu, Arjun Sharma, Abid Mushtaq, Arshdeep Singh, Sunil Kumar, Anshul Kamboj, Yudhvir Singh, Nikhil Kashyap.

Richard and Will Freedman have launched the 2026/27 Sydney racing season on a high note, with Horizons completing a stable double at Rosehill. This early success places the training partnership at the top of the premiership standings.

After Attractiveness secured victory in the initial race of the program, Horizons delivered another tenacious performance to claim the Congratulations Siena Grima Handicap (2000m).

“I’ve dreamed of this moment,” a jovial Will Freedman stated after the win.

Freedman praised the toughness of Horizons, who had completed a demanding preparation before digging deep when it mattered most.

“Horizons has been game all preparation and she was again today,” Freedman confirmed. “It’s always a query when you have had some tough runs to come and back that up again. But I think the benefit of those tough runs has really hardened her for today’s race.”

Sent out as a $6.50 chance, Horizons fought tenaciously in the straight to defeat Cheval De Bois ($5.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Anythink Goes ($8.50) finishing a close third.

Star jockey Zac Lloyd also achieved a riding double, having earlier triumphed aboard Gatwick, putting him in contention for the Sydney jockeys’ premiership lead.

“It was a nice performance from her today, she was very determined,” Lloyd commented. “To the first turn, we probably did a bit more than I would have liked but then she relaxed well during the run and then found plenty under pressure.”

The five-year-old mare, a daughter of The Autumn Sun, has now amassed four wins from 21 starts, boosting her career earnings to nearly $300,000.

Freedman indicated that Horizons had earned a spell following her latest brave effort.

“We will see how she pulls up but I would think she has done her job for now,” Freedman concluded.

Get the best racing odds for upcoming events.

Gervonta Davis is likely to have no shortage of options if he keeps himself out of trouble and in the gym, ready for a ring return in 2027.

The 31-year-old has not fought since his controversial draw with Lamont Roach, who was wrongfully denied a 10-8 round that would have clinched victory in March 2025.

Davis was then accused of domestic violence later that year, which extended his inactivity following the cancellation of an exhibition match with Jake Paul.

According to long-time advisor Al Haymon, though, the American is now eyeing a return to action in the first half of next year.

Someone who would gladly welcome him back to the sport is Ryan Garcia, who suffered a seventh-round stoppage defeat when they collided in 2023.

Yet that result, he claims, was caused by a rehydration clause in their contact, with Garcia having since moved up to 147lbs and become the WBC world champion.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, ‘King Ry’ insisted that a rematch with Davis is more commercially viable than a second encounter with one of his other former rivals.

“I feel like the Tank rematch is bigger [than a Devin Haney rematch]. He has to come up to 147[lbs].

“If he’s a man, he’d [come up to welterweight]. And then, when I beat him, we can have a trilogy.”

Garcia edged a majority decision against Haney in April 2024, only for the result to be ruled a no-contest on account of him testing positive for ostarine.

Since then, the 27-year-old has lost and won unanimous decisions against Rolando Romero and Mario Barrios, respectively, and will defend his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn on September 12.

The Cubs have landed reliever-turned-starter Clay Holmes from the Mets and outfielder Tyrone Taylor in a trade deadline deal to fill two major needs, according to the New York Post. Jefferson Rojas, the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect, is headed back to New York.

The 33-year-old Holmes has been sidelined since the middle of May after a comebacker fractured his fibula, but he’s already three starts into his minor-league rehab assignment and will soon be ready for activation from the injured list. 

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This season, Holmes had once again been quite effective prior to suffering the leg injury, and his work in 2026 advanced what’s been a highly successful transition from bullpen work earlier in his career. Holmes made the jump to starter after signing with the Mets as a free agent prior to the 2025 season. Across 40 starts and a pair of relief appearances for the Mets, Holmes has pitched to a 3.26 ERA/127 ERA+ with an FIP of 3.89. In his first season as a starter in 2025, Holmes was able to log a qualifying number of innings. 

Holmes is owed the balance of a $13 million salary for the remainder of the season. His contract includes a $12 million player option for 2027, but he seems highly likely to decline that option and re-enter the free agent market this coming winter. 

The Cubs rotation has been banged up all season, but it’s potentially crowded down the road. Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga are staples. David Peterson has mostly thrown well since the Cubs acquired him from the Mets. Kevin Gausman (acquired Sunday night) and Holmes have now joined the rotation. Colin Rea and Javier Assad are depth pieces who could be used in long relief. Edward Cabrera is expected to return from injury in mid-August. Ben Brown, who was great earlier in the season before his neck injury, has started throwing. Justin Steele is also continuing to rehab from Tommy John surgery. 

The Cubs have been seeking bullpen help, too, and have traded for power arm Ryan Zeferjahn. Further, given their newfound abundance of starting pitchers, it’s reasonable to believe they’ll move some of them to the bullpen. Hunter Harvey and Hoby Milner will likely return soon enough and the Cubs will still hope for a healthy return from closer Daniel Palencia.

With eyes on the playoffs, the Cubs could have a rotation of Gausman, Holmes, Boyd and Imanaga while Cabrera, Rea, Assad and Brown take bullpen roles. There’s always innings for pitchers, especially in the postseason.

Tyrone Taylor, meanwhile, is a rental and a good defender, and has been on a major heater over the last several weeks. The Cubs will hope he can keep that up as a fourth outfielder. And with Ian Happ’s struggles, maybe Taylor gets time in left field as a starter.

For the Mets, the seller’s move by lead executive David Stearns comes amidst a deeply disappointing season that’s seen them tumble from contending status in each of the last two seasons to last place in the National League East. They have already shipped out Luke Weaver, A.J. Minter and Huascar Brazoban over the deadline.

Rojas, a 21-year-old third baseman, is hitting .270/.339/.461 with 19 doubles, 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 58 runs and 17 steals in Double-A this season. MLB Pipeline ranked him No. 2 in the Cubs organization, praising his pitch-recognition and bat-to-ball skills.

Here are our grades for each team. 

Chicago Cubs: A-

The Cubs added a rental starter in Gausman, so they were likely trying to grab a pitcher under team control for another few seasons on Monday. Holmes isn’t that, as there’s a player option for 2027 that he’s unlikely to exercise. That’s the only reason for the minus being tacked on to that A. Holmes was outstanding in his nine starts before injury and could resemble a frontline guy the rest of the season and into the playoffs. That’s a big get for the Cubs. Taylor is helpful as well, especially with Happ’s significant struggles.

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New York Mets: B

Holmes and Taylor were both gone after this season, so there was no reason for the Mets to hold onto them. As such, they were without a ton of leverage and did well to get the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect. That says more about the Cubs’ farm system, though, as Rojas isn’t a top 100 prospect overall. He’s a good get, not a great one. That means we can land on a B here and feel good enough.