Islamabad (Sports Desk): The World Climbing Series 2026 gets underway in Keqiao, China, with the first Boulder competition of the season. The event brings together a world-class field and marks the start of a new campaign defined by record prize money announced earlier in the off-season.All eyes will be on Janja Garnbret, the two-time Olympic champion, who returns to the Chinese venue where she claimed gold in 2024. The Slovenian arrives in top form after securing another world title in Seoul in September 2025, and is now closing in on a remarkable milestone: her 50th gold medal across World Climbing Series and former World Cup events.A DEEP AND COMPETITIVE FIELDPacked with Olympians and World Cup winners, the field sets the stage for a highly competitive season opener. Among the participants are also World Championships silver medallist Oriane Bertone of France, and bronze medallist Melina Costanza of the USA, both returning after their podium finishes in Seoul.COSTANZA READY FOR A FULL RETURNFor Costanza, Keqiao represents a fresh start after limited appearances in recent seasons. “I’m doing well. We had pretty easy travel in, and I’m feeling excited about the season,” she said. “This will be my first time doing a lot of World Cups in Boulder in one season – my first time doing any Boulder World Cup since 2022 – so I’m really excited.”After dealing with injuries, including a knee issue last year, the US climber arrives confident in her physical condition: “I’m gonna knock on wood, but they feel good right now. I had injured my knee last season, and this year I haven’t had any knee issues so far… so I’m feeling healthy and excited for the first event and many more.”Her confidence is also rooted in her breakthrough performance at last year’s Climbing World Championships in Seoul, where she secured bronze: “That was definitely, by far, my best result ever. I had never made a final or semi-final even at a Boulder World Cup before, so it definitely was kind of a fairy tale finish to that season.”Despite that result, Costanza remains grounded in her expectations: “Going into the season with no expectations, hoping to make my first semi-final, and take it step by step, day by day.”She is also fully aware of the level she will face in Keqiao: “I know how strong the competition is, and I definitely do not underestimate that. I feel really grateful to be here, surrounded by so many people who are so talented and so strong and so dedicated. I think it pushes the level higher for everyone.”A BOLD PREDICTIONLooking ahead, Melina Costanza anticipates a shift in the style of Climbing this season: “I think the trajectory has been more toward a classical bouldering style. Not so much every single boulder being some sort of coordination, or really complicated to figure out. I think we’ll see some straightforward, hard Climbing this year, and I think it’ll be exciting for everyone to participate and to watch!”MEN’S FIELD ABUNDS WITH TALENTThe men’s field is equally competitive, led by defending Keqiao winner Anraku Sorato of Japan, who returns after claiming victory at this venue in 2024. He is joined by the two athletes who shared the podium with him at the 2025 World Championships in Seoul: Mejdi Schalck of France and Lee Dohyun of South Korea, following what was a high-level and tightly contested final.With a record prize pool, a stacked field, and evolving Climbing styles, the Boulder opener in Keqiao promises to set the tone for the World Climbing Series 2026.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): The 76th FIFA Congress was the second to be held in Canada after the meeting staged in Montreal in 1976 and got under way with a welcome speech from Concacaf President Victor Montagliani and an address from The Canadian Soccer Association President Peter Augruso.In his own opening remarks, FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted football’s unique power to build bridges in a divided world as all 48 Participating Member Associations get ready to shine at this year's FIFA World Cup and convey a powerful message of unity.“Of course, (IR) Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and, of course, (IR) Iran will play in the United States of America. And the reason for that is very simple, dear friends, it is because we have to unite, we have to bring people together,” said President Infantino.“It is my responsibility; it is our responsibility. Football unites the world. FIFA unites the world. You unite the world. We unite the world. And we have to remember, always, that we have to be positive. We have to be smiling; we have to be happy. There are enough problems around the world. There are enough people who try to divide all over the world. If nobody tries to unite, what will happen to our world? We have to do it.”Update on Global Stand Against RacismPresident Infantino, accompanied by members of the Players’ Voice Panel and FIFA Legends, took the stage to deliver a powerful message on the progress made in the implementation of the Global Stand Against Racism, which was unanimously approved at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, in May 2024.Since then, FIFA has taken numerous key steps to strengthen the fight against racism, including amending the FIFA Disciplinary Code. In addition, the No Racism Gesture is now in place at all FIFA tournaments, over 12,000 individuals and more than 570 teams have been protected via the FIFA Social Media Protection Service, educational resources have been rolled out as part of the ongoing No Racism campaign and the Players’ Voice Panel representing all six confederations has completed a series of high-profile assignments.“Two years on, while challenges remain, we can say this with confidence: we have made real and meaningful progress. We have turned commitment into concrete action across the global game. Our shared mission continues to guide and strengthen efforts worldwide,” stated President Infantino.Commenting on the importance of the Global Stand Against Racism, the panel’s honorary captain George Weah said via video message: “This movement must go further, deeper into communities worldwide and raise awareness of the negative impact of racial discrimination. Racism is a disease.”Unprecedented investment in footballThe FIFA Congress also approved the FIFA Annual Report 2025, including the cycle budget for 2027-2030, which foresees record-breaking revenue of USD 14 billion. This means that an unprecedented amount will be available for FIFA to reinvest in the game, with FIFA’s 211 Member Associations entitled to football development funding representing an eightfold increase as compared to the programmes that were in place prior to 2016, as FIFA Forward investments will reach a new high of USD 2.7 billion.“Let me just say that, obviously, (FIFA) Forward Programme has made a big impact. In the last ten years, we have invested USD 5 billion in football development,” said Infantino.“It is crucially important that we do invest and it is crucially important that we increase our investment programmes. And I can assure you, as well, that these (USD) 2.7 billion that we are investing in the next cycle for Forward are just the starting point, are just the minimum of what we do and (what) we want to do and will do definitely, as well, much, much more,” he added. “(This USD) 2.7 billion, this corresponds to eight times more than what was done in the past.”Statements by the Palestine Football Association and the Israel Football AssociationThe FIFA Congress heard statements by the Palestine Football Association (PFA) and the Israel Football Association (IFA) as President Infantino paid tribute to the innocent victims of violence in the region and insisted on the importance of using football to build bridges.The original submission made by the PFA at the 74th FIFA Congress was handled by the relevant FIFA instances.“You should never forget something: your two federations have the same rights. The right to organise football in your respective territories, the right to represent your countries on the international stage, and the right and duty to instil in your children a love of football and respect for one another,” Infantino said.Update on the 77th FIFA CongressThe FIFA President stated that he intends to stand for re-election next year, and it was confirmed that this electoral event, the 77th FIFA Congress, will take place on Thursday, 18 March 2027 in Rabat, Morocco. Before that, a virtual Extraordinary FIFA Congress, intended as a stand-alone event to appoint the hosts of the 2031 and 2035 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, will take place on Monday, 23 November 2026.

Faisalabad (Sports News): The triangular stage of the National U17 Cup 2025-26 is set to begin from Saturday, 2 May at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. Table-toppers from each of the three groups will feature in a bid to play the final of the 18-team tournament scheduled to take place from 11 to 13 May in Faisalabad.Abbottabad Region finished top of Group ‘A’ with 42 points from five matches, registering four wins and a draw. Lahore Region Whites ended second on 25 points after two wins and two draws.In Group ‘B’, Rawalpindi Region led the standings with 39 points, winning four of their matches while their fixture against Multan Region were abandoned. Peshawar Region finished second on 26 points.Lahore Region Blues topped Group ‘C’ with 22 points, securing two wins and three draws across their five matches. FATA Region ended second on 21 points.In the triangular stage, Rawalpindi will play the first two-day game against Lahore Blues from 2 May before taking on Abbottabad from 5 May. Abbottabad will then face Lahore Blues from 8 May to round off the triangular stage.All triangular stage matches and the final of the tournament will be live-streamed on Tapmad in Pakistan.

Mohammad Shoaib maintains winning habit, defeats Matas Vasiliauskas 2-0Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Veteran tennis player, Aqeel Khan pairing with Barkatullah Khan claimed a big win against duo of overseas lads Adam Farag-Cao from Canada and Carl Holder from Great Britain after a three sets nerve-jangling thrilling competition in the Men’s Double event of the ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue on Thursday.Pakistan’s top player, Mohammad Shoaib, produced a commanding performance in the second round of the ITF M-15 Islamabad, thrilling the home crowd with his dominance on court. Facing Matsas of Lithuania, Shoaib showed complete control from the very first point. He stormed through the opening set 6-0, displaying precision, power, and confidence that left his opponent with little chance to respond. Carrying the same momentum into the second set, Shoaib raced to a 4-1 lead before Matsas was forced to retire, sealing Shoaib’s emphatic victory.With this win, Shoaib has qualified for the quarterfinals -a significant milestone, not just for him but for Pakistan tennis as a whole. His achievement is especially noteworthy as it highlights the growing strength of local players competing at the international level on home soil.In the doubles quarterfinal, experienced campaigner Aqeel Khan partnered with emerging player Barkatullah to deliver a strong and composed performance. The Pakistani duo overcame the pair of Adam Farag-Cao of Canada and Carl Holder of Great Britain in a competitive encounter. After dominating the first set 6-1, Aqeel and Barkatullah faced resistance in the second set, which they narrowly lost 4-6. However, showing great composure and teamwork, they bounced back in the match tie-break to seal the victory 10-5. With this impressive win, Aqeel Khan and Barkatullah have successfully qualified for the semifinals, continuing Pakistan’s promising run in the doubles event.Results:Men’s Singles (Pre-Quarterfinals):Mohammad Shoaib (PAK) beat Matas Vasiliauskas (LTU) 6-0, 4-1 (Retd.)Mert Naci Türker (TUR) beat Abubakar Talha (PAK) 6-3, 6-4Nikita Ianin (RUS) beat Barkatullah (PAK) 6-2, 6-0Fanming Meng (CHN) beat Essa Qabazard (KUW) 6-4, 6-3Arvid Nordquist (SWE) beat Darrshan Suresh (MAS) 6-3, 6-3Samir Hamza Reguig (ALG) beat Alexey Dubinin (RUS) 6-0, 6-3Leo Borg (SWE) beat Mohammad Abid Ali Akbar Khan (PAK) 6-4, 6-4Kere Yilmaz (TUR) beat Dmitrii Shiroki 3-6, 7-5, 7-5Men’s Doubles (Quarterfinals):Aqeel Khan / Barkatullah Khan (PAK) beat Adam Farag-Cao (CAN) / Carl Holder (GBR) 6-1, 4-6, (10-5)Ivan Iutkin / Alexey Dubinin (RUS) beat Abubakar Talha / Ahmad Nael Qureshi (PAK) 4-6, 6-3, 10-5.

Australian High Commission Timothy Kane vows to support Women’s Blind Cricket in Pakistan Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: A national training camp for visually impaired women and girls in Islamabad concluded on Thursday here at Shalimar cricket ground, as the camp was established on April 25 by Australian High Commission, in partnership with the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC).Australian High Commission Timothy Kane said that Australia would fully support to Women’s Blind Cricket in Pakistan. “Cricket is a powerful force for connection and inclusion. It brings Australia and Pakistan together through a shared passion, and it also creates opportunities for women and girls including those with disabilities to challenge barriers and succeed. At a time when Australian players and coaches are actively engaged in Pakistan’s cricket landscape, this initiative highlights the depth of our partnership from elite sport to grassroots impact.”Chairman, PBCC Syed Sultan Shah, said: “Blind cricket is more than a sport, it is a platform for empowerment. With the right support, these women can excel both on and off the field.”It is important to mention here that the annual initiative built on the historic formation of Pakistan’s first blind women’s cricket team in 2018. This year, 52 participants from across Pakistan took part in the camp, developing their skills and working towards national selection.  

Lahore (PFF Report): Pakistan played with heart and intensity but fell to a 1-0 loss to Azerbaijan in their final game of the UEFA Under-16 Development Tournament at the BIIK Sports Complex in Shymkent, Kazakhstan on Thursday.Having dominated for the majority of the match, Pakistan conceded late on when Azerbaijan’s Nazim Aliyev scored from close range before holding on with 10 players after defender Hamza was sent off.The defeat meant Pakistan ended the tournament at the bottom of the standings, having earlier suffered defeats to hosts Kazakhstan and Russia. However, coach Mohammad Essa hailed the learning experience for his young charges.“We played really positive football today with good attacking and build up play,” said Essa. “This is a learning tournament for us with Pakistan participating in UEFA competition for the first time and I think the boys played with a lot of spirit and determination. “With more exposure I have no doubt that we will learn more and I thank PFF president Mohsen Gilani for arranging this opportunity for us.”Pakistan started with purpose against Azerbaijan, who had beaten Kazakhstan on penalties in their last match, with the midfield and forward line combining well and the consistent press giving their opponents little room.They grew into the game and striker Danish Masih’s introduction in the second half saw several chances being created.However, Azerbaijan struck on the counter in the 77th minute when Pakistan lost possession and the ball was played to Aliyev.Pakistan finished with 10 players when Hamza was shown a straight red in the 86th and despite pouring forward in the dying minutes, they couldn’t get an equaliser.

Lahore (Sports News): Hyderabad Kingsmen registered an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Multan Sultans in Eliminator 1 of HBL PSL 11 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday night, sealing their place in Eliminator 2. It was the first HBL PSL 11 game in Lahore with fans in attendance.The Kingsmen, who lost their opening four matches of the tournament, have now won six of their last seven outings to remain in title contention. They will now face Islamabad United in Eliminator 2 on Friday, 1 May at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with the winner taking on Peshawar Zalmi in the final on Sunday, 3 May at the same venue.Chasing 160, Maaz Sadaqat (64 not out, 33b, 4x4s, 5x6s) and Usman Khan (64, 35b, 8x4s, 3x6s) tore the chase apart with a second-wicket stand of 102 in 53 balls. The Kingsmen lost Marnus Labuschagne early off Mohammad Ismail for 11 with the scoreboard reading 18 for one in the third over. However, Usman dictated terms thereafter, raising his fifty off 29 balls in the ninth over.Usman fell with Hyderabad in touching distance of victory at 120 for two in the 11th over, leaving Maaz to finish the job with Saim Ayub. Maaz brought up his half-century off just 25 balls and sealed the chase with 28 balls to spare. Saim remained unbeaten on 15 off as many deliveries.Earlier, after Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Ashton Turner opted to bowl, the Sultans were pegged back inside the powerplay. Sahibzada Farhan (15, 12b, 2x4s) and Steven Smith (13, 10b, 2x4s) departed early and Mohammad Ali castled Josh Philippe to leave Multan tottering at 36 for three in the fifth over.Akif Javed sent Sahibzada back caught at deep point by Saim, while Hunain Shah trapped Philippe leg-before-wicket with one that kept low.Saim then dismissed Turner (9), caught by Hassan Khan before Glenn Maxwell trapped Arafat Minhas (1) leg-before-wicket off the first delivery of his spell to leave the Sultans tottering at 52 for five in the eighth over.Shan Masood resisted with an unbeaten 69 (46b, 2x4s, 4x6s), adding 33 with Mohammad Nawaz (18, 19b, 3x4s) and 21 with Peter Siddle (9). Akif dismissed Nawaz at 85 for six while Ali bowled Muhammad Imran to leave Sultans tumbling at 93 for seven.Hunain bowled Siddle in the 16th over while Faisal Akram was run out by Saim in the 19th as Multan finished on 159 for nine.Ali (4-0-34-2), Akif (4-0-30-2) and Hunain (4-0-31-2) led the bowling chart, with Saim (4-0-23-1) returning the most economical figures.Scores in brief:Multan Sultans 159-9, 20 overs (Shan Masood 69 not out, Mohammad Nawaz 18; Akif Javed 2-30, Hunain Shah 2-31, Mohammad Ali 2-34)Hyderabad Kingsmen 162-2, 15.2 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 64 not out, Usman Khan 64).

Ahmad Nael Qureshi and Abu Bakar Talha win Men’s Doubles match against Russian pair 2-1Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top national tennis player, Mohammad Shoaib moved into the second round of the ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) after thrashing Edoardo Cherie Ligniere from Italy in straight sets 2-0 here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex on Wednesday. The final score-line was 6–1, 6–3.Mohammad Shoaib displayed aggressive tennis and did not allow his opponent to settle his feet on the court, as the game of the local guy was laced with powerful forehand and backhand drives with the classic drop shots and volleys. Mohammad Shoaib finished the first set after losing a solitary game at 6-1.Meanwhile, in the second set, Mohammad Shoaib exhibited brilliant tennis despite facing some resistance from his Italian challenger Lignere, who won three games of the set. Mohammad Shoaib ended the second set at 6-3 to confirm his berth in the second round of an international tennis showpiece.A total of 70 men’s players from 23 countries are participating in this prestigious international event. The participating nations included hosts Pakistan, Kuwait, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Australia, Malaysia, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, China, Turkey, Algeria, Canada, USA, Ireland, Poland, Hong Kong, Nepal, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Japan.It is pertinent to note here that the top seed of the tournament is Leo Borg of Sweden, currently ranked ATP 483, while the second seed is Samir Hamza Reguig of Algeria, holding an ATP ranking of 844.Later on, in the Men’s Doubles, the young Pakistani pair Abubakar Talha and Ahmad Nael Qureshi delivered an impressive performance, showing great coordination and confidence throughout the match. After dropping a tight first set, the duo fought back strongly to take control of the contest with aggressive and composed tennis. They ultimately secured a well-earned victory over their opponents with a score of 5–7, 6–2, 10–5, advancing to the next round.Results:Men’s Singles (Round=1):Mohammad Shoaib (PAK) beat Edoardo Cherie Ligniere (ITA) 6–1, 6–3Darrshan Suresh (MAS) beat Melih Anavatan (TUR) 6–4, 6–3Arvid Nordquist (SWE) beat Carl Holder (GBR) 6–4, 7–6 (7–0)Barkatullah (PAK) beat Yousaf Khalil (PAK) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2Samir Hamza Reguig (ALG) beat Andrei Kunitsyn (RUS) 7–5, 2–6, 7–6 (4)Alexey Dubinin (RUS) beat Adam Bajurko (POL) 6–3, 6–3Leo Borg (SWE) beat Aqeel Khan (PAK) 7-6 (4), 6-3Mert Naci Türker (TUR) beat Stevan Popovic (GER) 6–7 (5), 7–6 (5), 7–6 (3) Men’s Doubles (Round-1):Ahmad Nael Qureshi (PAK) / Abu Bakar Talha (PAK) beat Egor Khotchenkov / Dmitrii Shirokii (RUS) 5–7, 6–2, (10–5)Essa Qabazard (KUW) / Darrshan Suresh (MAS) beat Arkhip Kozlov (RUS) / Abdulaziz Usmonjonov (UZB) 7–5, 6–3Aqeel Khan (PAK) / Barkat Khan (PAK) beat Adam Bajurko (POL) / Lawrence Bataljin (AUS) 6–0, 6–1Adam Farag-Cao (CAN) / Carl Holder (GBR) beat Nikita Ianin / Andrei Kunitsyn (RUS) 3–6, 7–6 (3), 10–6Tugra Duran (TUR) / Mert Naci Türker (TUR) beat Yousaf Khalil (PAK) / Mohammad Shoaib (PAK) 6–4, 6–4

Lahore (PR): The Pakistan Football Federation delegation led by president Syed Mohsen Gilani held high-profile meetings after attending the 36th AFC Congress in Vancouver, Canada on Tuesday.PFF president Gilani, vice-president Hafiz Zakaullah and Chief Operating Officer Shahid Niaz Khokhar, who are in Canada for the 76th FIFA Congress on Thursday, met German Football Association (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf, Canada Soccer president Peter Augroso, Chinese Football Federation (CFA) president Song Kai and Tajikistan Football Federation (TFF) vice-president Dzhalilov Iskandor.The DFB offered PFF full support on several avenues including coaches education and women’s football. Neuendorf extended an invitation to Pakistan players and coaches to visit Germany and learn from the high quality footballing ecosystem there. In the meeting with Canada Soccer president, PFF president thanked Canada for their hospitality during the FIFA Congress. With Canada possessing a solid football structure, their cooperation on grassroots football and coach education courses was discussed. Talks for an exhibition series were also held, with the PFF offering its support in activating the Pakistan community in Canada. The CFA chief hailed the diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, terming the two countries as ‘Iron Brothers’. The CFA has offered Pakistan support in futsal training with the PFF inviting Kai for a visit to Pakistan. Both federations agreed to a detailed meeting after the World Cup.The TFF, meanwhile, has offered its support in training Pakistani referees, whilst also assisting in coaching of goalkeepers. Cooperation on women’s football development was also discussed. Tuesday’s meetings were part of a detailed programme of the PFF delegation in Canada, where it will also be meeting officials from several other federations to discuss avenues of football development.

Islamabad (Sports News): The historic decision empowers the FIFA Council, in consultation with the relevant confederation, to establish and approve the registration of a national or representative team under exceptional circumstances where a Member Association is unable to do so. The ultimate aim is to ensure that players are not excluded from international football due to situations beyond their control, in line with FIFA’s statutory principles of universality, inclusion and non-discrimination.“The FIFA Council today approved a momentous amendment to the FIFA Governance Regulations, which enables Afghan female players – including members of the FIFA-funded and FIFA-supported Afghan Women United squad – to represent their country in official international matches as part of FIFA competitions in agreement with the relevant local confederation, in this case the Asian Football Confederation,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.“This is a powerful and unprecedented step in world sport. FIFA has listened to these players as part of its responsibility to protect the right of every girl and woman to play football and to represent who they are. By enabling Afghan women to compete for their country in official matches, we are turning principles into action. FIFA is proud to lead this historic initiative and to stand alongside these courageous players on and off the pitch.”This reform builds on the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football, endorsed by the FIFA Council in May last year, and follows the creation of Afghan Women United as a FIFA-supported team providing structured playing opportunities for Afghan women footballers living outside the country. Now, for the first time, these Afghan female players will be able to represent their country in official matches with full sporting recognition.Members of the independent advisory group for the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football welcomed the move as a transformative moment.“This decision recognises Afghan women footballers not as victims of circumstance, but as elite players with the right to compete, be seen and be respected,” said Nadia Nadim, who was born in Afghanistan and went on to win over 100 caps for Denmark. “It shows what is possible when sport is guided by values and leadership.”Former Afghanistan captain Khalida Popal added: “For these players, representing Afghanistan is about identity, dignity and hope. Thanks are due to the leadership of FIFA, which listened to their biggest request and delivered a solution that no other sport has ever achieved. This moment also shows that when we stand united, we can achieve more.”Andrea Florence, the Executive Director of the Sport & Rights Alliance, said: “This reform sets a global precedent. It demonstrates that governing bodies can adapt their rules to protect human rights when extraordinary circumstances demand it.”Although the amendment has immediate effect, FIFA will now lead the required administrative and preparatory steps, including team registration and the establishment of an operational and sporting structure. World football’s governing body will provide all necessary resources – human, technical and financial – to ensure a safe, professional and sustainable pathway to official competition.Support packages for Afghan Women United players will continue throughout the transition phase for up to two years, allowing the new structure to evolve while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, performance and well-being.The FIFA-funded and -supported team will hold their next training camp from 1 to 9 June in New Zealand, where they will also have the opportunity to face off against the Cook Islands.