By: Dr Avi Verma

India and England are set to begin a much-anticipated five-Test series at Headingley on
Friday, with Jasprit Bumrah once again emerging as the most feared bowler on either side.
Known for his unorthodox slingshot action and surgical accuracy, Bumrah enters the series
after an extraordinary Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he claimed 32 wickets at
an average of just 13. However, India must manage his workload carefully, targeting only
three Tests this summer to avoid overburdening their premier pacer.

England captain Ben Stokes acknowledged Bumrah’s awkwardness, especially early in an
innings. With Virat Kohli now retired, Shubman Gill leads a new Indian generation chasing
their first series win in England since 2007. For England, Joe Root—Bumrah’s most frequent
Test victim—remains central, while Chris Woakes leads a relatively inexperienced bowling
unit.

The newly introduced Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy adds historical weight to the contest. As
temperatures soar in Yorkshire, the toss could be pivotal, with recent trends favoring teams
bowling first at Headingley. Meanwhile, Jofra Archer will make his first red-ball appearance
since 2021 in a county match at Durham, eyeing a potential return for the second Test.

Alcaraz survives heat and Munar in Queen’s Club marathon

Carlos Alcaraz battled through sweltering conditions and a gritty challenge from fellow
Spaniard Jaume Munar to win 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-5 at Queen’s Club. The nearly 3.5-hour match
was the longest at the venue in 34 years. Alcaraz, down 4-2 in the final set, overcame 50
unforced errors and a misfiring serve to claim his 15th straight win. Munar pushed him
throughout, but Alcaraz’s timely winners sealed the win. Earlier, Britain’s Jacob Fearnley
reached his first ATP quarterfinal with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win over Corentin Moutet, who lost his
cool after repeated time violations.

Johnson nears Crystal Palace takeover amid Europa League uncertainty

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is close to purchasing John Textor’s 44.9% stake in
Crystal Palace for approximately $240 million. The move could boost Palace’s case to play in
the 2025–26 Europa League amid concerns over multi-club ownership. UEFA has yet to
confirm Palace’s eligibility, as Textor also owns French club Lyon, another Europa League
qualifier. Johnson’s offer is backed by Palace chairman Steve Parish and could help avoid
sanctions. Liverpool, meanwhile, are preparing a bid for defender Marc Guéhi, as Palace
explore replacing him with Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande.

Messi magic lifts Inter Miami over Porto in Club World Cup thriller

Lionel Messi scored a stunning free-kick to lead Inter Miami to a 2-1 win over FC Porto in Group A of the FIFA Club World Cup. Porto opened the scoring with Samu Omorodion’s penalty in the 8th minute after a VAR-reviewed foul by Noah Allen. Inter equalized just after halftime through Telasco Segovia, assisted by Marcelo Weigandt. The moment of brilliance came in the 54th minute when Messi, fouled just outside the box, curled in his 68th career free-kick goal. The crowd roared as his shot soared over the wall and into the top corner.
Both teams had drawn their opening matches, making this win crucial for Miami. They now
head home for a decisive group match against Palmeiras. Meanwhile, Porto will face Al Ahly
in New Jersey with their hopes hanging in the balance.

Trawlerman dominates Gold Cup with relentless front-running display

Trawlerman produced a commanding performance to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot,
leading from start to finish under William Buick. The seven-year-old gelding, trained by John
and Thady Gosden, broke clear with a quarter mile to go and won by seven lengths over
Illinois, with Dubai Future finishing third.

Buick’s bold tactics paid off as Trawlerman maintained a strong pace over the two-and-a-
half-mile distance, leaving his younger rivals unable to respond. Trainer John Gosden praised
the ride and compared the victory to legendary stayers like Sagaro, noting, “If they were
going to beat him, they had to stay every inch.”

Trawlerman was second to Kyprios in last year’s Gold Cup and seized the opportunity with
the champion absent. Gosden hinted the horse may not race again this season, possibly
reappearing in May 2026.

The win marked a fifth for the Gosden stable at this year’s Royal Ascot, while jockey Ryan
Moore surged ahead in the standings with a treble on the day.

Kirsty Coventry pledges humility and collaboration as IOC president

Kirsty Coventry will make history as the first female president of the International Olympic
Committee when she officially takes over on June 23. The Zimbabwean, a seven-time
Olympic medalist in swimming, emphasized that she will lead with humility and
responsibility rather than privilege.

Unlike outgoing president Thomas Bach, who often stayed in luxury suites, Coventry stated
her family would avoid such perks, saying, “We won’t be staying in the Palace. I want my
kids to grow up grounded.”

Coventry said the impact of her election has grown clearer after reading heartfelt messages
from women around the world. “I’ve started to understand how meaningful this is,” she said.
She plans to foster an open, collaborative leadership style and invited IOC members for a
retreat in Lausanne to discuss the future of the movement. “It’s not about power or the title,”
she added. “It’s about making the right decisions and improving lives through sport.”

Chelsea’s Mudryk charged with doping after testing positive for banned drug

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been officially charged with an anti-doping violation
by the Football Association (FA) after testing positive for Meldonium. The banned substance
was detected in a urine sample collected in November 2024, leading to his provisional
suspension.

The FA stated that Mudryk’s charge falls under its Anti-Doping Regulations 3 and 4 and
involves both presence and/or use of a prohibited substance. Meldonium, often used to
enhance stamina and recovery, was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2016.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth up to
$113 million, signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract. His form has been underwhelming,
with just 10 goals and nine assists in 73 appearances.

In a statement, Mudryk said he was shocked and denied knowingly using any banned
substance. He continues to cooperate with investigators and hopes to return soon, though a
potential four-year ban looms if found guilty.

Mbappe hospitalized with gastroenteritis, ruled out of Club World Cup
opener

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis, forcing
him to miss the team’s Club World Cup opener against Saudi side Al-Hilal. The French
international missed training earlier this week with a fever and did not appear in
Wednesday’s 1-1 draw.

The club confirmed his condition on Thursday, stating that Mbappe is undergoing tests and
receiving treatment. No timeline has been provided for his return.

Mbappe, who joined Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain before the 2024–25
season, has had a strong debut with 43 goals in 56 games across all competitions.

His absence was felt as Madrid failed to secure a win in their opening Group H match.
Gonzalo Garcia gave Madrid the lead, but Ruben Neves equalized for Al-Hilal. Federico
Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty that could have sealed victory.

Madrid’s progression now depends on results against RB Salzburg and Pachuca in the newly
expanded Club World Cup format.

Chengdu 2025 unveils medals with bamboo, panda and Sun Bird motifs

Organizers of the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, have unveiled the official medal
design ahead of the August event. Named ‘Zhuguang’ or “bamboo light,” the medal draws on
themes of nature, culture, and gratitude.

The front features the International World Games Association emblem, surrounded by both
Chinese and English text. The back showcases bamboo-inspired patterns and “Shubao,” the
panda mascot. Also included are the Golden Sun Bird motif and flowing cityscape lines that
symbolize Chengdu’s history and heritage.

A standout feature is the detachable centerpiece — a reversible pin athletes can gift to
someone significant. One side shows “Jinzai,” a golden snub-nosed monkey; the other
displays the Chengdu 2025 logo.

The medal’s ribbon includes Shu embroidery and elements from Sichuan’s cultural icons, like
the hibiscus flower and Sanxingdui mask.

The 12th edition of the World Games will run from August 7 to 17 and include 34 sports and
60 disciplines, celebrating peace, friendship, and resilience through sport.

Kvitova, Evans among Wimbledon 2025 main draw wild card recipients

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and British No. 1 Dan Evans are among the
notable wild card recipients for the 2025 Wimbledon main draw. Kvitova, now ranked No.
572 after returning from maternity leave, won her comeback match in Rome and will aim to
recapture her form at SW19, where she won titles in 2011 and 2014.

Evans, competing in his 10th Wimbledon, was granted a wild card following his win over
Frances Tiafoe at the HSBC Championships. He joins fellow Britons Henry Searle, Jack
Pinnington Jones, and Jay Clarke in the men’s draw.

Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and Sonay Kartal earned direct entries. Rising talent Hannah
Klugman, fresh off her French Open girls’ final appearance, will make her senior Grand Slam
debut.

Wimbledon qualifying begins June 23, with the main draw starting June 30. Additional wild
cards have also been distributed to promising young British players in both singles and
qualifying rounds.

Ex-referee David Coote charged for insulting Klopp in viral video
Disgraced referee David Coote has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for
making abusive and nationality-based remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
in a video that circulated online. The FA cited violations of Rule E3.1 (improper conduct)
and E3.2 (aggravated breach involving nationality).

Coote had already been dismissed by Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) for
breaching contract terms. UEFA earlier suspended him from officiating until June 2026 after
video footage emerged allegedly showing him using a banned substance during Euro 2024.
Though Coote was cleared of a separate match-fixing allegation from 2019 involving Leeds
and West Brom, the FA charge over the Klopp video remains active.

In response, Coote released a statement defending his career integrity, claiming any personal
struggles never affected his officiating.

The charges now cast further scrutiny on English officiating standards and the FA’s broader
efforts to uphold professional conduct across all tiers of the sport.

Indian junior women’s hockey team ends Europe tour with shootout loss to
Netherlands

The Indian junior women’s hockey team ended its successful Europe tour with a narrow 2-3
shootout loss to the Netherlands in Utrecht after a 0-0 draw in regulation time. India had won
four straight matches—three against Belgium and one against Australia—before the final
fixture.

Both teams displayed strong defensive structure, and despite several scoring chances, neither
side could find a breakthrough. In the shootout, India converted through Lalrinpuii and
Priyanka Yadav, but the Dutch edged ahead with goals from Imme de Leeuw, Roos
Alkemade, and Lotte Rust.

India finishes the European leg with four wins out of five and gains valuable experience
ahead of the 2025 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Chile. Earlier this year, the
team also impressed at the Four Nations Tournament in Argentina, recording wins over Chile
and Uruguay.

Canada Grand Prix secures Formula 1 calendar spot through 2035

Formula 1 has extended its contract with the Canadian Grand Prix, confirming the race will
stay on the calendar until the 2035 season. The agreement, involving the Promoter and the
Governments of Canada and Quebec, ensures Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve remains a
key F1 venue.

Held annually since 1967, the Canadian Grand Prix is the oldest Formula 1 race outside
Europe. The track, known for its technical chicanes and the famed Wall of Champions, has
seen victories by top drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Fernando
Alonso. Hamilton shares the record for most wins at the circuit with Michael Schumacher
(seven).

Recent infrastructure upgrades by Octane Racing Group support F1’s global growth strategy.
Starting in 2026, the race will move to an earlier calendar slot. Formula 1 also confirmed an
extended media rights deal with Bell Media as part of the announcement.

Bottom strip:

Shikhar Dhawan denies link to Super60 USA Legends Tournament

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has denied reports linking him to the upcoming
Super60 USA Legends Tournament, calling them “entirely inaccurate and misleading.” In a
statement, Dhawan’s office clarified he is not associated with the event in any capacity and
urged media outlets to avoid spreading misinformation. Tournament organizers had earlier
listed Dhawan among four Indian participants, alongside Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and
Robin Uthappa. The tournament is scheduled to run from August 5 to 16, 2025, in the United
States.

World Padel League expands with two new teams for Season 3

The World Padel League (WPL) is set to return for its third season from August 12 to 16 in
Mumbai, featuring two new franchises. After a successful India debut in February, the league
now expands from four to six teams. Hosted at the Nesco Center, WPL will showcase global
padel talent. Organizers and the Indian Padel Federation emphasized the sport’s rising
popularity in India and its potential as a top-tier event. SG Pipers Cheetahs won the previous
season’s final.

JJ Spaun wins US Open with thrilling birdie finish

JJ Spaun clinched his first major title at the US Open, sinking two late birdies to edge Robert
MacIntyre by two shots. Despite five bogeys early on, Spaun rallied after a weather delay,
carding a 2-over 72 to finish 1-under overall—the only player under par at Oakmont. His 65-
foot putt on the 18th sealed the win. MacIntyre finished second, while Viktor Hovland took
third. Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai tied for 33rd. Indian-American Akshay Bhatia missed the
cut, and Sahith Theegala did not compete.