Latest news with #BRA
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Gabriela Bryan and Connor O'Leary crowned Corona Cero Open J-Bay champs
Gabriela Bryan and Connor O'Leary won the Corona Cero Open J-Bay, stop No 10 on the World Surf League 2025 Championship Tour. It was all-time Supertubes conditions, with solid four-to-six-foot surf in offshore wind, with the world's best putting on a high-performance show in front of thousands of surf fans lining the beach. Molly Picklum (AUS) and Yago Dora (BRA) finished runners-up after producing some of the top performances throughout the week. The next stop on the 2025 CT will be the Lexus Tahiti Pro, the final regular-season event before the one-day, winner-take-all Lexus WSL Finals in Cloudbreak, Fiji. Only the Top 5 men and Top 5 women on the world rankings will compete in the event. Following today's competition, there are now four men's spots and two women's spots remaining. The seeding and final positions will all come down to the world-renowned Teahupo'o from August 7 through August 16, 2025. Japan's Connor O'Leary won his first-ever CT title at the 2025 Corona Cero Open J-Bay, a career-best result in his seven years on Tour. O'Leary burst onto the scene in his Rookie year in 2017, and his last Finals appearance was at the Fiji Pro of that year. This season, the 31-year-old from Cronulla had a run of ninth-place finishes and two Quarterfinal appearances, and has jumped to No. 11 on the rankings after his win, his best result for 2025. 'I don't have any words,' said O'Leary. 'I'm just so happy with how I performed today. [Richard] 'Dog' Marsh has been telling me that it's coming this year, but it's been hard to believe sometimes. All the stars aligned for this one, so I'm stoked. 'It felt good to have so many people cheering for me, and then to perform for them. I intended to do some of the best backhand surfing you've ever seen, and to compete with a fellow goofy in the final, hopefully it inspires other goofy-foot surfers that they can compete against the best in perfect right-hand point breaks.' O'Leary took the win over Yago Dora (BRA) in an all-goofy-foot battle at Supertubes. O'Leary's flawless backhand attack saw him earn the event's only 10-point ride (out of a possible 10) to knock out three-time J-Bay winner Filipe Toledo (BRA) in an exhilarating semi-final clash to advance to his first final for 2025. O'Leary had a massive challenge ahead, with Dora seemingly unstoppable in J-Bay and in his third Final for the season. Locking into a classic leg burner, O'Leary scored an excellent 8.17 and 7.50 for a total of 15.67 (out of a possible 20) for the win. On the hunt for his third CT win of the season, Dora showed his affinity for the long-running walls of Supertubes, finding excellent scores in almost every heat at the Corona Cero Open J-Bay. On his way to the final, Dora took out Griffin Colapinto (USA) in an exciting semi-final and defeated Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) in the quarter-finals. With this result, Dora clinched his spot in the WSL Final 5, marking his first appearance in the Lexus WSL finals to compete for the World Title. In her fourth Final appearance in 2025, world No 2 Gabriela Bryan earned her third CT win of the season and the fourth of her career in dramatic fashion, defeating world No 1 Molly Picklum (AUS) by the narrowest of margins. After an early exit at the VIVO Rio Pro, Bryan lost the Yellow Leader Jersey to Picklum and flew out to South Africa to reset and get in a few extra reps at Supertubes. 'I don't think it's sunk in yet,' said Bryan. 'I came here early, putting in a lot of time here, and it paid off. I'm so stoked. It's been a dream of mine to win here at J-Bay. It's an iconic wave and one of my favourites in the world. 'The Yellow Jersey comes with a lot of pressure, so I definitely had less pressure in that Final. I personally like chasing something that I want to go after. The only time I want to be wearing Yellow is the first event next year.' Bryan clinched her place in the WSL Final 5 and will compete for the world title in the Lexus WSL Finals Fiji. The 23-year-old dispatched two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) in the quarter-finals, before taking out the 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) in the semi-finals. 'I can't even believe it,' said Bryan. 'From last year, where I think I missed out by one heat, and now to do it with one event left in the regular season. I get to go back to Fiji, one of my favorite places in the world, to compete for a world title, it's mind-blowing. 'It's been a great day. I knew that waking up, that's it's going to be a huge day no matter what. I'm going to do everything I can to make it a great day. There are so many good things to take away, but I just tried to simplify things, because it's so exhausting out there today, so I just focused on getting two good waves.' World No 1 Picklum (AUS) will wear the Yellow Leader Jersey going into the last event of the regular season, the Lexus Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA. She overcame an in-form Isabella Nichols (AUS) in the semi-finals, getting one back after Nichols won their semi-final clash in El Salvador earlier this year. Picklum, runner-up in 2023 to Lakey Peterson (USA), defeated Peterson in the quarter-finals but had to settle for another runner-up in 2025 to Gabriela Bryan. 'It's a one-of-a-kind wave,' said Picklum. 'It definitely has a specific timing and rhythm to it. Last year I felt I could learn a lot about my surfing here, and this year I was just trying to hold the throttle down a bit more, and find that rhythm.' Heading into this event, Picklum had clinched her spot in the WSL Final 5 early. Leading the pack going into Tahiti, the 22-year-old will be one to watch as she's been known to charge waves of consequence, such as Teahupo'o and Cloudbreak, up next on the schedule. Caity Simmers also secured her spot in the WSL Finals with her result today and the results of her competitors. With only two spots remaining for the women, it will all come down to the Lexus Tahiti Pro, which holds a competition window starting 7 August 2025. 1 – Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 13.60 2 – Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.34 1 – Connor O'Leary (JPN) 15.67 2 – Yago Dora (BRA) 14.23 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Ex-Rebel Leader ‘General' Kauona Is Brimming With Confidence In Bougainville Presidential Race
Article – RNZ The former Bougainville Revolutionary Army leader says, 'This time, I'm going to win. I'm confident.'17 July 2025 , RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist Sam Kauona, a former leader of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), wants to become president of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region. Bougainville is immersed in political campaigning as it prepares to choose 46 MPs from 404 candidates in elections shceduled for the first week of September. Seven people are contesting the presidency, including Kauona and his former BRA colleague, the incumbent President Ishmael Toroama. Kauona, who styles himself as 'General' Kauona, has in recent years been more focussed on developing a potential new gold mine, but now he wants the presidency. He ran unsuccessfully in 2020, but this time, he told RNZ Pacific, he is brimming with confidence. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) SAM KAUONA: This time, I'm going to do it. I'm going to get the seat. I'm going to win. I am confident. DON WISEMAN: Why? Given that you didn't do that well last time? SK: Because the government, for the last five years, did not achieve what Bougainvilleans, what we, wanted. They were concentrating on one option only. That's why it wasted the last five years, and we did not achieve anything. DW: And we're talking here about independence? SK: Oh yes. That's the only agenda for Bougainville – independence. There are many approaches that we can consider. One, there is an option in which we can work with Papua New Guinea, and there's an option that we negotiate. You know, it varies. So this government, they went for the option of negotiating for ratification [of the 2019 independence referendum]. They did not achieve what Bougainville wanted. DW: Well, what do you think they should have done? And what would you do? SK: Well, to me, I would go to exercising those powers and function that will make Bougainville realise its independent, meaning to say those powers and functions that concern sovereignty protection, sovereignty rights. Exercising those powers, Bougainville can be able to reach her destiny by exercising the powers of foreign affairs, currency, number two and number three, exercising the powers to protect ourselves – security, defence. In the Peace Process, those powers and functions were reserved for Papua New Guinea. We were not independent at that time, but after the referendum, people voted not for autonomy to be with Papua New Guinea, but they voted to become independent, on their own, exercising the sovereign right. It means that with the referendum achieving independence, the door to exercising those rights, sovereign rights, was open. It was open. It was closed during the peace process, when it was open, we should have put into policies necessary functions. For example, the defence. You see Bougainville is not protected. We are not protected at this point of time, there is fatal incidents happening south to north. We need to exercise the power of security – establishing defence, establishing police powers and functions, protecting our people, our natural resources, our sea boundaries. Of course, whatever we do, we have to consult with Papua New Guinea and establish those functions. Currency, [is] another function that we should be able to now establish our own banks [and] currency, so that we can be able to achieve the level of independence. DW: So you're not talking about making a unilateral declaration or anything like that. You're still talking about negotiating a solution with Port Moresby? SK: Not negotiating, but coming up with a plan, a strategy, that will accommodate Papua New Guinea to participate. When accommodating Papua New Guinea, we need to see Papua New Guinea we are on one side. There is still a common enemy out there: BCL, CRA, Rio Tinto using the system, and then they subjugated us with all their systems, the laws. And here, when we come up with a plan of exercising our rights, Papua New Guinea is part and parcel of that. We need to compensate Papua New Guinea. We need to support Papua New Guinea, also in the economy which, which was incurred during the crisis conflict. They borrowed so much funding, so we should be sharing. DW: What you're talking about, still, is negotiation, isn't it? Bougainville can't do these things you're talking about unless it reaches some sort of a deal with Papua New Guinea, and it's going to need the money. SK: Correct. We need money. Bougainville is full of resources. We are rich in natural resources. But how we manage our resources is a different dimension this time. Before, we were under all those colonial laws, and when we are free now we should be able to come up with the laws to protect our natural resources and use it wisely, together with whoever invests, that comes in. But here, I'm trying to say, not so much negotiation, but it's a plan that Bougainville needs to do. The plan is to be user friendly with Papua New Guinea. And of course, for us, we have won it. We have won the political battle. We need to set away. We need to have a compass that we need to navigate with, and that compass, we Bougainvilleans, we have it in our hands, and that has to be a user friendly direction that we close out. Papua New Guinea will have to be drawn in, we have to participate in that, yes, to a level, it is negotiating, but it is like, you know, we have to lead the way. We have to come up with a plan [that's] user friendly. Not just for Papua New Guinea, let me say that. It is friendly to our Pacific countries, our neighbours, Australia, New Zealand. In terms of security, we will have to make sure that we secure our region together, not just Bougainville, together with the countries that are around us. That's why we need a defence force that is not really big, but enough to protect its internal affairs, internal issues.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Ex-Rebel Leader 'General' Kauona Is Brimming With Confidence In Bougainville Presidential Race
17 July 2025 Sam Kauona, a former leader of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), wants to become president of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region. Bougainville is immersed in political campaigning as it prepares to choose 46 MPs from 404 candidates in elections shceduled for the first week of September. Seven people are contesting the presidency, including Kauona and his former BRA colleague, the incumbent President Ishmael Toroama. Kauona, who styles himself as 'General' Kauona, has in recent years been more focussed on developing a potential new gold mine, but now he wants the presidency. He ran unsuccessfully in 2020, but this time, he told RNZ Pacific, he is brimming with confidence. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) SAM KAUONA: This time, I'm going to do it. I'm going to get the seat. I'm going to win. I am confident. DON WISEMAN: Why? Given that you didn't do that well last time? SK: Because the government, for the last five years, did not achieve what Bougainvilleans, what we, wanted. They were concentrating on one option only. That's why it wasted the last five years, and we did not achieve anything. DW: And we're talking here about independence? SK: Oh yes. That's the only agenda for Bougainville - independence. There are many approaches that we can consider. One, there is an option in which we can work with Papua New Guinea, and there's an option that we negotiate. You know, it varies. So this government, they went for the option of negotiating for ratification [of the 2019 independence referendum]. They did not achieve what Bougainville wanted. DW: Well, what do you think they should have done? And what would you do? SK: Well, to me, I would go to exercising those powers and function that will make Bougainville realise its independent, meaning to say those powers and functions that concern sovereignty protection, sovereignty rights. Exercising those powers, Bougainville can be able to reach her destiny by exercising the powers of foreign affairs, currency, number two and number three, exercising the powers to protect ourselves - security, defence. In the Peace Process, those powers and functions were reserved for Papua New Guinea. We were not independent at that time, but after the referendum, people voted not for autonomy to be with Papua New Guinea, but they voted to become independent, on their own, exercising the sovereign right. It means that with the referendum achieving independence, the door to exercising those rights, sovereign rights, was open. It was open. It was closed during the peace process, when it was open, we should have put into policies necessary functions. For example, the defence. You see Bougainville is not protected. We are not protected at this point of time, there is fatal incidents happening south to north. We need to exercise the power of security - establishing defence, establishing police powers and functions, protecting our people, our natural resources, our sea boundaries. Of course, whatever we do, we have to consult with Papua New Guinea and establish those functions. Currency, [is] another function that we should be able to now establish our own banks [and] currency, so that we can be able to achieve the level of independence. DW: So you're not talking about making a unilateral declaration or anything like that. You're still talking about negotiating a solution with Port Moresby? SK: Not negotiating, but coming up with a plan, a strategy, that will accommodate Papua New Guinea to participate. When accommodating Papua New Guinea, we need to see Papua New Guinea we are on one side. There is still a common enemy out there: BCL, CRA, Rio Tinto using the system, and then they subjugated us with all their systems, the laws. And here, when we come up with a plan of exercising our rights, Papua New Guinea is part and parcel of that. We need to compensate Papua New Guinea. We need to support Papua New Guinea, also in the economy which, which was incurred during the crisis conflict. They borrowed so much funding, so we should be sharing. DW: What you're talking about, still, is negotiation, isn't it? Bougainville can't do these things you're talking about unless it reaches some sort of a deal with Papua New Guinea, and it's going to need the money. SK: Correct. We need money. Bougainville is full of resources. We are rich in natural resources. But how we manage our resources is a different dimension this time. Before, we were under all those colonial laws, and when we are free now we should be able to come up with the laws to protect our natural resources and use it wisely, together with whoever invests, that comes in. But here, I'm trying to say, not so much negotiation, but it's a plan that Bougainville needs to do. The plan is to be user friendly with Papua New Guinea. And of course, for us, we have won it. We have won the political battle. We need to set away. We need to have a compass that we need to navigate with, and that compass, we Bougainvilleans, we have it in our hands, and that has to be a user friendly direction that we close out. Papua New Guinea will have to be drawn in, we have to participate in that, yes, to a level, it is negotiating, but it is like, you know, we have to lead the way. We have to come up with a plan [that's] user friendly. Not just for Papua New Guinea, let me say that. It is friendly to our Pacific countries, our neighbours, Australia, New Zealand. In terms of security, we will have to make sure that we secure our region together, not just Bougainville, together with the countries that are around us. That's why we need a defence force that is not really big, but enough to protect its internal affairs, internal issues.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Wimbledon 2025, Live Scores: Sabalenka, Swiatek in action; women's semifinals updates
The women's singles semifinals of Wimbledon 2025 take place on Day 11 of The Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London. Top seed and world number one Aryna Sabalenka takes on 13th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova in the first semifinal on Centre Court. In the second final-four fixture, eighth-seeded Pole Iga Swiatek will be up against unseeded Swiss player Belinda Bencic. The mixed doubles event will conclude with the Dutch-Czech pair of Sem Verbeek and Katerina Siniakova taking on the British-Brazilian duo of Joe Salisbury and Luisa Stefani in the summit clash. Here's the full order of play: Centre Court: Women's Singles, Semifinal - [1] Aryna Sabalenka vs [13] Amanda Anisimova (USA) - 6PM IST (1:30PM local time) Women's Singles, Semifinal -[8] Iga Swiatek (POL) vs Belinda Bencic (SUI) Mixed Doubles, Final - Sem Verbeek (NED)/Katerina Siniakova (CZE) vs Joe Salisbury (GBR)/Luisa Stefani (BRA) Where to watch Wimbledon 2025 in India? In India, viewers will be able to watch the live telecast of Wimbledon 2025 on the Star Sports Network and stream the matches live on JioHotstar app/website. Court No. 1 Men's Doubles, Semifinal - [1] Marcelo Arevalo (ESA)/Mate Pavic (CRO) vs [Alt] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/David Pel (NED) - 5:30PM IST (1PM local time) Men's Doubles, Semifinal - [4] Marcel Granollers (ESP)/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) vs [5] Julian Cash (GBR)/Lloyd Glasspool (GBR)
India Today
10-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Wimbledon 2025, Day 11 schedule: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek eye spot in final
Day 11 at The Championships promises a thrilling day of action as the women's singles semi-finals take centre stage on Centre Court. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek are both just one match away from a maiden Wimbledon final, but they face formidable opposition in a resurgent Amanda Anisimova and Olympic champion Belinda Bencic Aryna Sabalenka vs [13] Amanda Anisimova - 6PM ISTA clash of heavy hitters will open proceedings on Centre Court, as top seed Sabalenka meets 13th seed Amanda Anisimova in their ninth career meeting. Interestingly, it is the American who holds the upper hand in their head-to-head, leading 5-3. This marks Anisimova's first Wimbledon semi-final, while Sabalenka is featuring in her was made to work hard in her quarter-final, eventually overcoming Laura Siegemund's slice-heavy game in a throwback battle of styles. She'll likely welcome a more straightforward baseline duel against Anisimova. "She's serving well, hitting clean and heavy," Sabalenka said ahead of the match. "It's going to be very aggressive tennis."Anisimova, who took a mental health break last season, has returned to the tour in inspired form. Her win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarter-finals equalled her best showing at a major since her Roland-Garros breakthrough as a teenager in 2019."There's nobody better I could face than her," said Anisimova. "To be playing a world No. 1 in a Wimbledon semi-final is something really special. I'll be soaking it all in."[8] Iga Swiatek vs Belinda BencicIn the day's second semi-final, Iga Swiatek continues her quest to become a true all-surface champion. Despite dominating on clay and hard courts, the Polish star had never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at Wimbledon-until has adapted impressively to the grass this year, and her straight-sets win over Liudmila Samsonova showcased her improved comfort and composure on the surface."I have goosebumps after this win," Swiatek said. "I've worked really hard to make progress on grass, and I'm enjoying it this year more than ever."Belinda Bencic, returning to top-level tennis after maternity leave, has put together a dream run to reach her second Grand Slam semi-final. The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist overcame seventh seed Mirra Andreeva in her quarter-final, showing grit and experience under pressure."It's crazy, it's unbelievable," Bencic said. "Since having Bella, I tell myself every day how proud I am. We've worked hard on this comeback, and to play great tennis is a bonus."This match-up pits Swiatek's relentless baseline consistency against Bencic's compact, attacking style. Both women are capable of going the Doubles FinalSem Verbeek (NED) / Katerina Siniakov (CZE) vs Joe Salisbury (GBR) / Luisa Stefani (BRA)Britain's Joe Salisbury, a former men's doubles champion, has the chance to claim another Wimbledon title-this time in mixed doubles-with partner Luisa No. 1 - Men's Doubles Semi-Finals[1] Marcelo Arvalo (ESA) / Mate Pavic (CRO) vs [Alt] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) / David Pel (NED) - 5:30PM IST / 1PM BSTThe top seeds face a surprise package in alternates Hijikata and Pel, who have ridden their momentum to a dream semi-final appearance.[4] Marcel Granollers (ESP) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG) vs [5] Julian Cash (GBR) / Lloyd Glasspool (GBR)An all-seeded showdown will follow as the British pair aim to book a place in their first Wimbledon final in front of a home two tantalising women's singles semi-finals and a packed doubles line-up, Day 11 promises drama, emotion, and the possibility of history being made on the lawns of SW19.- EndsMust Watch
