Egyptian teenager Amina Orfi has become the youngest British Open women’s squash champion after breaking a 94-year-old record with a 3-1 victory over Nour ElSherbini in Birmingham.
The 18-year-old sensation recovered from a one-game deficit to defeat her compatriot 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 at the Rep Theatre.
By lifting the prestigious trophy, she surpassed the longstanding milestone set by Susan Noel, who was 19 years and eight months old when she triumphed in 1932.
Historic month for the Egyptian prodigy
This monumental achievement follows her triumph over the same opponent last month to become the youngest women’s world champion.
Her Sunday success is even more remarkable given she endured the longest women’s match in tournament history just 24 hours earlier.
The rising star navigated a grueling 110-minute marathon to eliminate top seed and world number one Hania El Hammamy in Saturday’s semi-final.
“I feel very happy with these two results back-to-back after the world champs. I was very tired and it was a great match,” stated Orfi.
Coll capitalises on Asal fatigue for men’s title
In the men’s draw, New Zealand’s Paul Coll secured his third British Open crown with a commanding victory over Mostafa Asal.
The Egyptian world number one was physically depleted following an epic 115-minute semi-final clash against Peru’s Diego Elias.
That fatigue proved decisive as the top seed was forced to concede the final at the beginning of the fourth game.
“Mostafa had a brutal one yesterday, but I still had to get him today, make him hurt, pick up as much as possible and I’m very happy with that performance,” Coll said.
The triumph marked the 33rd PSA Tour title of the Kiwi’s illustrious professional career.
The global squash calendar now turns to the season-ending PSA Squash Tour Finals, taking place in Paris from 17 to 20 June.
Six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy has shared a positive update on his health as he prepares for a major charity bike ride in Glasgow this September despite living with terminal prostate cancer.
The 50-year-old Scot revealed in 2024 that his illness had spread to his bones, with medical professionals giving him a life expectancy of two to four years.
However, the former track cyclist refuses to let the stage four diagnosis define him or limit his daily activities.
Instead, the British sporting icon is channelling his energy into ‘Tour de 4’, an initiative designed to support those affected by the disease.
Focusing on the road ahead
“I’m doing fine, thanks. The Tour de 4 is the main focus for me the next few months.”
The legendary Olympian told the Press Association that the upcoming fundraising ride remains his primary driving force.
The event previously raised more than £3.1 million during its inaugural run, providing crucial backing for five major UK charities while challenging societal attitudes.
“It’s trying to demonstrate, rather than just talking about it, that all these people who are in a similar situation to me – living with stage four cancer – that there’s plenty of life left in us.”
The 11-time world champion admitted that the charity initiative has become a powerful motivator since receiving his terminal diagnosis.
Appreciating the small moments
He explained that setting future goals helps his family navigate the most challenging moments of his ongoing treatment.
“I guess for me and for my family, the thing that we’ve tried to do is to not look too far ahead and to still have plans for the future and still have goals and aims and things to look forward to.”
While the cycling legend remains optimistic that future advancements in artificial intelligence could accelerate new medical treatments, he is currently focused on staying grounded.
“Don’t forget to enjoy the moment and don’t forget to appreciate the present, because it passes you by very easily.”
He added that people often miss out on the simple joys of life by constantly looking ahead to the next big milestone.
Nelly Korda has fulfilled a childhood dream by winning the US Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club on Sunday, claiming the fourth major championship of her career.
The world number one faced immense pressure as the pre-tournament favourite but sealed her victory with a dramatic par putt on the 18th green.
Despite an inconsistent start to the week, the American battled through one of the toughest tests in women’s golf to secure the defining title of her season.
Overcoming early struggles
The tournament did not begin smoothly for the four-time major winner, who shot a disappointing 73 on Thursday to tie for 52nd place.
She struggled with errant drives early in the competition, leaving her unable to find the fairways required to attack Riviera’s notoriously challenging greens.
However, the determined star worked tirelessly with swing coach Jamie Mulligan to correct her wayward form and mount a stunning comeback.
A family celebration in Los Angeles
Her final par putt took a cruel, near 360-degree swirl around the cup before dropping in, sparking wild celebrations from the gathered crowd.
She was greeted greenside by her emotional family, including her sister Jessica, who watched her debut in this prestigious event at age 14 back in 2013.
“That 14-year-old girl that stepped on the range at Sebonack in 2013, her dream has just come true sitting next to this trophy right now.”
The triumphant golfer added that the long-awaited victory was incredibly difficult to put into words.
Destiny fulfilled for the world number one
This historic win serves as the crowning achievement for a player who has comprehensively dominated the sport this year.
Her caddie, Jason McDede, was visibly moved to tears following the trophy presentation in California.
“This is the biggest event in golf, this is the one you want to win. I feel like it was destiny.”
Her father, Petr Korda, noted that lifting this specific trophy had always been his daughter’s ultimate sporting ambition.
WWE legend Hulk Hogan died from a cardiac arrest following a secret battle with leukaemia, newly released police documents have confirmed.
The 71-year-old wrestling icon passed away last July, but the exact circumstances of his final hours have only now been made public.
A comprehensive 72-page investigative brief compiled by the Clearwater Police Department details the severe health issues facing the cultural phenomenon.
Secret health struggles revealed
To the public, the man born Terry Bollea remained the indestructible face of professional wrestling.
However, the report notes he was privately fighting chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and atrial fibrillation in the months leading up to his death.
His condition had deteriorated so significantly that a dedicated nursing team frequently checked on the former world champion at his Florida home.
Final moments and emergency response
On the morning of his death, care workers observed the legendary entertainer was slightly incoherent upon waking.
He managed a light breakfast of yoghurt and berries before his occupational therapist, Justin McCamey, discovered he had stopped breathing.
Paramedics rushed to the Clearwater residence following a high-priority dispatch, but aggressive resuscitation protocols were unsuccessful.
The WWE Hall of Famer was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local medical facility.
No foul play suspected
In the frantic aftermath, the home care team admitted they were not surprised by the tragic outcome.
“He’s in bad shape,” McCamey told a responding officer.
“We knew it was going to be happening.”
Investigators conclusively ruled out foul play, confirming the cause of death as natural causes resulting from a cardiac arrest.
Extensive reviews of medical records, surveillance footage, and witness statements corroborated the declining health of the beloved sports entertainer.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hopes to inspire a new generation of players as she prepares to lead her country into the Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil, starting against Sri Lanka this Friday.
The veteran all-rounder was a key part of the squad that famously lifted the 50-over World Cup at Lord’s in 2017.
This time, she will take the field alongside 21-year-old talents Freya Kemp and Alice Capsey, who grew up watching that historic triumph from afar.
Creating a full-circle moment
Speaking at a spectacular launch event that temporarily transformed London’s Waterloo Bridge into a cricket pitch, the skipper emphasised the importance of creating lasting memories.
“Hopefully the young girls are watching out and maybe they’ll be part of the next World Cup. You never know when it’s going to happen.”
“We managed to get a few people from 2017 and now they’re playing in the team, so I think that’s such a cool full-circle moment.”
“It’s an ‘I was there’ moment, so don’t miss out on that.”
Tournament preparations gather pace
The global showpiece begins on Friday evening when the hosts face Sri Lanka in their Group 2 opener at Edgbaston.
Matches will be spread across the country, with world-class venues in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Southampton selected to host the competition.
Six-time champions Australia remain heavy favourites to reclaim the crown won by New Zealand in Dubai two years ago.
The tournament heavyweights begin their Group 1 campaign against South Africa at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Growing stature of the women’s game
The high-profile promotional event in the capital highlighted the increasing global visibility of women’s cricket.
Australian captain Sophie Molineux believes closing a major London thoroughfare reflects this remarkable progress.
“It just shows where the game has come from and where it’s going.”
“I think this tournament is going to be a massive inroad into getting the women’s game right up there in terms of eyeballs and eyes watching, so hopefully this really sets the tone for what’s going to be a really exciting few weeks.”
Seven-time Olympic champion Simone Biles has revealed she is recovering from a terrifying health scare earlier this week, describing the undisclosed medical incident as “almost dying”.
The most decorated gymnast of all time shared her ordeal through a series of Instagram posts, which featured images of hospital bracelets on her wrist alongside a heart-rate monitor screenshot.
Despite withholding specific details about the medical emergency, the multi-time gold medallist assured her devoted followers that she was safely resting in bed.
She subsequently replied to a concerned fan on social media platform X to categorically clarify that the terrifying incident was strictly a health-related issue.
‘Scariest experience of my life’
The American explained that she usually prefers to keep personal matters private, but felt compelled to share this extreme ordeal with her loyal fanbase.
“But almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card earlier this week. This was one of, if not the scariest experience of my life.”
This sudden medical emergency occurred while her husband, Jonathan Owens, was away participating in pre-season training with NFL franchise the Indianapolis Colts.
Rest, recovery and an uncertain future
Expressing deep gratitude for her dependable support system, the legendary athlete thanked her close circle of friends and family for checking in and sending flowers during her ongoing recovery.
BBC Sport has officially contacted the athlete’s representatives and USA Gymnastics for further clarification regarding the incident.
This unexpected health setback follows a magnificent, triumphant campaign at the Paris 2024 Games, where she phenomenally secured three gold medals and a silver on the floor exercise.
Her extraordinary career haul currently stands at a staggering 41 World Championship and Olympic medals, firmly establishing her as one of the greatest female competitors in sporting history.
Having made her spectacular Olympic debut at Rio 2016, the pioneering sportswoman recently admitted she remains unsure whether she will eventually compete at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Brazilian welterweight Gabriel Bonfim secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over former champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The 20-1 fighter delivered a breakout performance, frequently smiling while shutting out his veteran opponent over five rounds.
All three judges awarded a clean sweep to the rising 170-pound contender.
Bonfim targets Della Maddalena after extending win streak
Despite the intense bout, the victor expressed deep respect for his opponent’s gruelling journey to a world title.
“This man has trailed a path few have trailed. He took the hard way all the way up to be a champion. I just want to say, ‘I admire you a lot and respect you so much.'”
Following the post-fight pleasantries, the South American immediately turned his attention to another high-profile name in the division.
“Jack Della Maddalena, stay ready. You’re right there. You’re my next opponent. I just got to the Top 5. I want to be active. You’re next.”
Welterweight division continues to evolve
This emphatic victory cements the recent top-five entrant’s status among a dangerous new wave of talent at 170 pounds.
Fresh contenders such as Ian Machado Garry, Carlos Prates, Michael Morales and Sean Brady are all circling the top tier without having fought for gold.
Statistics highlighted the disparity in the main event, with the winner out-landing his counterpart by 120 strikes to 91.
The punishment was evident by the second round as stiff jabs and right hands bloodied the 36-year-old veteran.
A particularly clean strike in the third round even sent the former titleholder’s mouthpiece flying across the Octagon.
Makhachev awaits while Allen secures middleweight win
While Muhammad has now suffered three consecutive defeats, the wider division awaits the return of defending welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
The top pound-for-pound fighter in the world is anticipated to make his first title defence late this summer.
Elsewhere on the Las Vegas card, Brendan Allen successfully defended his middleweight ranking against Edmen Shahbazyan in the co-main event.
The number four-ranked contender accepted the high-risk bout to remain active and ultimately secured a hard-fought unanimous decision over three rounds.
“Hopefully champion Sean Strickland is next. This was a big risk. A very big risk. Let’s see.”
Kentucky Derby champion Golden Tempo has secured the third leg of the Triple Crown with a dramatic comeback victory at the 158th Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs.
Ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, the impressive colt charged down the stretch to hold off a late challenge from Commandment.
Pre-race favourite Renegade was forced to settle for third place behind the leading pair at the historic upstate New York venue.
Historic milestone for DeVaux
The triumph marks another significant achievement for trainer Cherie DeVaux, who recently made history as the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner.
Competing in her hometown of Saratoga Springs, the celebrated horsewoman now becomes only the second female trainer to win the Belmont in the past four years.
Despite a much slower pace than their previous victory at Churchill Downs, the powerful runner still closed effectively to complete the 1 1/4-mile course in two minutes and 3.49 seconds.
Saratoga bids farewell
This weekend marked the third and final occasion that the prestigious American classic will be held at Saratoga Race Course.
The temporary upstate relocation was necessitated by the ongoing demolition and reconstruction of its traditional home on the border of Queens and Long Island.
Racing officials have confirmed that the grueling endurance test will return to a state-of-the-art Belmont Park facility next year.