James O'Brien 
Britain’s Joe Clarke MBE captured gold in the men’s kayak cross on the opening day of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma City, posting a time of 46.54 seconds. The 33‑year‑old, who previously won silver at the Paris Olympics, added to his tally of seven world titles, while teammate Lois Leaver earned a bronze in the women’s event.
Ben Stokes returned to competitive cricket and hit a century, guiding Durham to a five‑wicket victory over Derbyshire in the One‑Day Cup. Despite battling severe cramp, Stokes unbeaten 108 helped Durham chase down the target of 257.
Middlesbrough have reached an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur for 21‑year‑old striker Will Lankshear. The initial fee is around £10 million with add‑ons that could bring the total to a club‑record £20 million, though personal terms are yet to be finalised.
Ipswich Town have bolstered their squad for the upcoming Premier League season by paying a reported £20 million to bring Ghana international Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City. The 22‑year‑old signs a five‑year deal and joins a side that finished second in the Championship last season.
Para-swimmer Rebecca Redfern is set to race the 50m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow only four months after giving birth. She has adapted her training to focus on speed and is balancing motherhood with elite competition, receiving support from the team for childcare and breastfeeding.
Sussex County Cricket Club announced that Matt Walker will take over as head coach from 1 November 2027, replacing Paul Farbrace who moves into the Director of Cricket role. Walker, 52, previously led Kent to promotion and limited‑overs titles and also works as a batting coach at Warwickshire and assistant coach with MI London in The Hundred.
Tottenham Hotspur Women have completed a club‑record signing by bringing in 22‑year‑old French defender Alice Sombath from Lyon. The fee was undisclosed, but the move follows a busy transfer window for the club. Sombath, a versatile centre‑back/right‑back who featured for France at Euro 2025, joins a Spurs side looking to build for the future.
Police seized more than 220,000 counterfeit football shirts, valued at over £18 million, across the UK ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Tests showed the fake kits are far more flammable than genuine ones, prompting safety warnings from fire services and the Intellectual Property Office.
Former England bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt has been named assistant coach of the Trent Rockets Women ahead of the 2026 The Hundred season. The 41‑year‑old, who retired in 2023, joins a coaching team that also includes Graeme White as fielding coach and Anton Roux assisting Peter Moores with the men’s side.
The Women’s Tennis Association has introduced a new eligibility policy that mandates a one‑time genetic sex test for all players on the tour. The rule, which will be enforced from Tuesday, aims to ensure fair competition by confirming biological sex, while the WTA says it will be applied respectfully and with dignity.