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United News of India
18 hours ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Boulter, Kartal & Raducanu in GB team for BJK Cup
London, July 22 (UNI) Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong has named a strong line-up for the Billie Jean King Cup, with Katie Boulter, Sonny Kartal, Emma Raducanu and Jodie Burrage all included. Boulter is ranked 41 in the world, with Kartal at 45, Raducanu at 46 and Burrage 116. Great Britain beat Germany and Netherlands in April to seal their place in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China in September. They will play Japan in the quarter-finals on September 18 and, if they get through, face the winner of the tie between the United States and Kazakhstan. Britain have never won the women's team event and last reached the final in 1981 when the competition was known as the Federation Cup. Kartal recently impressed at Wimbledon as her progress to the fourth round was the furthest of any of the GB women, according to a BBC news. Raducanu reached the third round before she was beaten by world number one Aryna Sabalenka. UNI BM
Biz Bahrain
16-07-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Khaleeji Bank announces its sponsorship of the Bahrain Padel Federation Cup
Khaleeji Bank, one of the leading Islamic banks in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has recently signed a sponsorship agreement with the Bahrain Padel Federation to support the Federation Cup under the title of 'Khaleeji Federation Cup' between 16th – 19th July 2025, in Padel Kingdom Courts, with the participation of top local players. The signing ceremony was held at Khaleeji Bank's headquarters in GFH Tower, Manama, where Mr. Mohamed Abdulla Saleh, Assistant General Manager of legal, regulatory and Corporate Affairs, signed on behalf of the Bank, while Mr. Fahad Fawzi Kanoo, Chairman of the Bahrain Padel Federation, signed for the Federation, in the presence of senior officials from both sides. This sponsorship underscores Khaleeji Bank's dedication to supporting Bahrain's youth and sports sector as a key pillar of its corporate social responsibility. It reflects the Bank's commitment to investing in the future of the youth and national sport, in line with the Kingdom's vision of promoting sport as an essential driver of social progress, the directives of the wise leadership, and the tireless efforts spearheaded by His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King's Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, with the follow-up of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee. On this occasion, Mr. Mohamed Abdulla Saleh, Assistant General Manager of Legal, Regulatory, and Corporate Affairs at Khaleeji Bank, stated: 'We are delighted to announce this sponsorship, which embodies Khaleeji Bank's ongoing commitment to supporting national sporting initiatives and enabling the youth to develop their abilities across various sports, particularly Padel, which has witnessed remarkable growth and popularity in recent years. We are confident that the Khaleeji Federation Cup will elevate local competition and reinforce the Kingdom's position on the regional sporting map, in line with our vision to invest in talent and empower it to achieve sustainable success both locally and internationally.' On his part, Mr. Fahad Fawzi Kanoo, Chairman of the Bahrain Padel Federation, said: 'We are pleased with our partnership with Khaleeji Bank to launch the Khaleeji Federation Cup, an important step towards enhancing padel and attracting more players and fans. This support will enable us to organise a championship that raises standards, provides a platform to discover and refine promising talents, and strengthens Bahrain's presence regionally and globally in the sport.' Khaleeji is a leading Islamic bank that strives to achieve clients' ambitions through an Islamic banking model that offers a comprehensive range of high quality Shari'a-complaint banking services and investment opportunities to individuals and companies.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Jamshedpur FC likely to sign Nishu Kumar after confirming Jayesh Rane for upcoming season
Jamshedpur FC is likely to sign Indian full-back Nishu Kumar and after confirming the arrival of Jayesh Rane for the upcoming season. The club is at an advanced stage of negotiations with Nishu, who was spotted training with the Jamshedpur FC squad, as confirmed by Sportstar. Nishu, a product of the AIFF Elite Academy, made his senior debut with then-I-League side Bengaluru FC in 2015. He spent five seasons with the Blues, winning four trophies—the Indian Super League (ISL), the I-League, the Federation Cup, and the Super Cup—before moving to Kerala Blasters. He helped the Blasters reach the 2022 ISL final but left for East Bengal in 2023, where he won the Super Cup a year later—the club's first trophy in 12 years. ALSO READ | East Bengal completes quota of foreign signings; Jay Gupta joins EBFC from FC Goa 'Thank you, East Bengal FC. It has been a privilege to wear the red and gold and be part of such a historic club,' Nishu wrote on social media. 'Grateful to the coaches, teammates, staff, and especially the fans who stood by us throughout. Getting to experience the football culture here up close has been truly special. There are so many moments I will always cherish.' Meanwhile, Rane joined Jamshedpur on a free transfer after being released by Mumbai City FC. The 32-year-old is a three-time ISL Cup winner—with Chennaiyin FC (2015), ATK (2019-20), and Mumbai City (2023-24)—and also won the I-League (2016-17) and the Durand Cup with ATK. Johar Jayesh Bhau! 🙏⚽️ The attacking maestro is here to ignite the pitch! 🔥💥 Get ready for the magic of Jayesh Rane in the 134th Durand Cup!🎉⭐ [Jam Ke Khelo, Indian Football, Indian Super League, Jamshedpur, Durand Cup 2025, Men Of Steel] — Jamshedpur FC (@JamshedpurFC) July 15, 2025 Rane's biggest moment in the ISL came at Mumbai City, where his two assists, coming on as a substitute in the 2023-24 semifinal against FC Goa, sparked a 3-2 comeback win. Rane will reunite with coach Jamil at Jamshedpur, under whom he had won the I-League. Both the players are expected to sign short-term contracts with Jamshedpur FC. The club remains hesitant in committing to long-term term contracts for new signings this summer due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ISL.
Arab Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Kuwait's homegrown coaches lead handball clubs to new heights
KUWAIT CITY, July 14: The 2024–2025 handball season marked a notable rise in the presence and performance of Kuwaiti national coaches across local and international competitions. Their growing impact reflects not only a positive shift in coaching development but also the success of homegrown talent in achieving competitive and honorable results. Among the standout figures this season is Hussein Habib, head coach of Burgan's first-handball team. Taking over from Algerian coach Said Hijazi at the beginning of the season, Habib made an immediate impact, strengthening team cohesion and dramatically improving performance. Under his leadership, Burgan achieved a historic runner-up finish in the Premier League, securing a spot in the upcoming Asian Club Championship for the first time in the club's history. Habib's close relationship with the players and the full backing of the club's management were key factors in this breakthrough. Habib's coaching journey includes a successful stint with Al-Arabi in 2014, where he led the team to promotion to the Premier League. He later served as assistant coach at Al-Qadsiya in 2019, before coaching Sulaibikhat in 2022. In 2023, he returned to Al-Qadsiya as head coach, leading them in the AFC Club Championship, and then joined Burgan in 2024. He recently renewed his contract with Burgan for another season. Reflecting on the season, Habib said: 'Our target was to reach the podium and qualify for the Asian Club Championship. With the support of the management and dedication from the players and staff, we achieved that goal.' He credited the signings of Yasuhira and Stipe Mandalinich for playing a crucial role in securing second place five rounds before the end of the league. Habib outlined several objectives, including maximizing the participation of local players in league matches, developing talent for the national team, and competing in the Asian Cup. He highlighted the season's major positives, such as: A historic runner-up finish Won every team except Kuwait Club A fast-paced attacking style A season completed without major injuries Among the challenges, he noted: A lack of depth at the right-back position A mental dip after securing second place Physical fatigue and underperformance in the Federation Cup are due to the absence of strong alternatives. Another national coach who found success this season is Yaqoub Al-Moussawi, head coach of Al-Salmiya's handball team. Under his leadership, the Sky Blues achieved: Runner-up at the 39th Arab Club Championship Third place in the Super Cup Third place in the 2023–2024 Federation Cup Third place in the 2024–2025 Cup Secured Premier League status for next season Al-Moussawi began his coaching career as an assistant with Al-Salmiya in 2019–2020, before taking over as head coach in the 2022–2023 season, where he immediately led the team to a runner-up finish in the Cup. He also voiced concern about the decision to allow three professional players per team, criticizing the rule as unbalanced given the lack of financial rewards in the league and the limited resources of clubs to attract multiple foreign players. Also earning praise is Waleed Salmeen, who led Sulaibikhat to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, ensuring their participation in the top tier next season. His steady guidance helped the team retain its league status despite stiff competition. The upcoming season will feature eight teams, including league champions Al-Qadsiya and newly promoted sides from the First Division, promising an even more competitive landscape for Kuwait handball.
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First Post
08-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
'Little improvements, lot's of training': How sprint sensation Animesh Kujur became India's fastest man
Having obliterated the national records in 100m and 200m, Animesh Kujur is now the undisputed fastest man in India. His coach, Martin Owens, explains his rapid rise. read more There hasn't been a more popular event than the 100m race in athletics. And sprint prodigy Animesh Kujur was the favourite as the athletes lined-up for the biggest event during the 2024 Federation Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The result though surprised everyone. Gurindervir Singh, who didn't have any sponsor at that time, won the race ahead of Kujur with an advantage of .15 seconds. The saving grace on the day was the Chhattisgarh-born athlete winning his favourite 200m race, with a timing of 20.62s. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fast forward a little over a year, Gurindervir now has some of the best support in the country with Reliance Foundation backing the athlete, but it's their original star, Kujur, who leads the race timings for India in both the 100m and 200m races. Record-breaking year for Kujur as records shatter At Federation Cup 2025 in April, Kujur broke the 200m national record (NR) of 20.52s with a blistering timing of 20.40s and then bettered it a few days later at the Asian Athletics Championship with a new NR of 20.32s. Even more sensational has been the 22-year-old's rapid rise in 100m. On 5 July, Kujur became the first Indian to hit a timing of 10.1s in the event, as he registered a new NR of 10.18s while winning the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting in Greece. Animesh Kujur sets a new 🇮🇳 NR in the men's 100m. He clocks 10.18 to win his heat at the Dromi International Sprint and Relays in Vari, Greece. He erases the old mark of 10.20 set by Gurindervir Singh. He also shaves nearly .10 seconds off his own previous best of 10.27 — jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) July 5, 2025 To become the first Indian athlete to achieve a sub-10.20 second time in the 100m, Kujur had to shave off nearly .10 seconds from his personal best of 10.27s as he broke the NR of 10.20s set by Gurindervir at the Indian Grand Prix in March 2025. While the lightning improvement in Kujur's race timings in the last 12 months may come as a surprise for many, his coach Martin Owens, also the head trainer at the Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre, feels it has come a few months late. 'I think he was in shape to break it in February at the National Games,' Owens told Firstpost on a call from Switzerland. 'I thought he was in shape then to do it. He just got shocking appalling start. The blocks were a bit funny. I mean, he wouldn't admit that in public, but he was worried about the blocks were shaky and he was worried about foul start, so he sat and waited. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'But if you look at that race, if he'd started well, if he started like he did in the tour, he'd have broken national record then. No, not surprise at all. All we were waiting for was the right race.' Nonetheless, once Kujur scripted history at Athens, Owens could not keep calm. 'The stadium clock had come up at 10.20, which equals the old record. And the announcer just announced 10.18s and I'm screaming from a stand. 10.18, that's a new record. 10.18s, National Record. And it's legal. It's legal,' Owens, former running coach with England athletics, added, recalling his reaction to the first sub-10.20 second timing by an Indian in 100m. 'The thing is, the track wasn't particularly fast. It's not a fast track. It's not a hard, fast track. It's just been relayed. It was quite spongy. We haven't focussed on the 100m here. We've really focussed on the two (200m) because that's our best chance of getting to the World Championship.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD National record holder Animesh Kujur finished behind Gurindervir Singh at Federation Cup 2024 in 100m race. Image: PTI Kujur and coach Owens are currently engaged in more training at the Magglingen Sportzentrum, Bern in Switzerland as the Indian athlete gets ready for the Under-23 Men's 200m race at the Monaco Diamond League (11 July) on his European tour. Owens reveals that their aim is to help reduce Animesh his 200m timing to 20.16s, which would see him qualify for the World Athletics Championships. 'At the moment, we are working a lot on stuff. We work on speed endurance, top-end speed and everything. Curve running, running off the bend. He's got a good training group as well. He's got some really good young lads that push him in training.' And that's where his current European tour is crucial. It was a similar European trip last year that kicked off the sharp reduction in his race timings. 'Last year changed him as an athlete. I mean, you can be the best athlete in India and you can come to Europe and you know, you're not doing anything. So when he came, he saw what he needed to do, saw where he wanted to be. He wanted to be faster.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kujur's secret sauce to keep getting better Whether 20.16 will happen or not is impossible to predict, but the recent significant drop in his timings shows that Kujur is on the right path. But how is he making it happen? Owens believes it's the footballer-turned-sprinter's mindset, his belief in his ability and their shared commitment to improving every day. 'He's what we call intrinsically motivated. He wants to be the best Animesh Kujur. Not bother about the national records, doesn't bother about medals. He's not running for a job. He wants to be the best he can be. Everything else comes because of that. 'So if he becomes the best he can be, then he wins races, then he breaks national records. You know, we're working on stuff here today. You know, we were quite tired. We caught up this morning, was a long day travelling back from Athens. But we are out, working, making everything better. And that's what we're trying to do all the time is little improvements.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, how far can he go? Quite far, says Owens, considering his age and the support he's receiving. 'The average prime age in sprinting was about 21, 22 in the past. But that's because back in the day, you had to leave athletics and go get a proper job. Now people can make long careers out of it. So if you look at Shelly-Ann (Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce), she's still going at the age of 38, (Usain) Bolt was still going quite late. You know, you can make your career out of it. As long as you look after your body. And we really lucky. I mean, Animesh is really lucky. The setup in Bhubaneswar with a combination between the government and Reliance, he's got fantastic physio support. To keep the body in shape, nutrition is really important, sleep is really important. So he's got no pressure, really. '…So, yeah, he's just got to keep chipping away. He's just turned 22. He's got some Olympics in him. That's what we're aiming for. And we've got a 20.32s, maybe 20.16 is the time. It'll be nice.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
