Marco Bianchi 
Kenyan runner Agnes Ngetich broke the women‑only half‑marathon world record, finishing in 1:05:15 to claim gold at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen. The performance shaved two minutes off the previous women‑only record and adds to her recent 10km world‑record achievements.
Joel Colwill, the 21‑year‑old Cardiff City midfielder, has been named in Craig Bellamy’s 28‑man Wales squad for the Nations League A campaign. He said it would be “surreal” to line up against football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland when Wales face Portugal and Norway in September.
Peruvian ATP player Ignacio Buse sparked controversy by claiming he could beat WTA world No.1 Elena Rybakina. Days later, in a Davis Cup match in Lima, he was tested when he faced Paraguay’s Hernando Jose Escurra Isnardi, a player ranked over 2,000 places lower. Buse survived a tight three‑set battle to secure the win for Peru.
Jockey Danny Tudhope claimed his second Ayr Gold Cup victory aboard the horse Pellitory after a race delayed by heavy rain. Trainer David O’Meara and owner Evan Sutherland celebrated the win, which saw Tudhope fend off runner‑up Tuco Salamanca on a heavy ground that suited the seven‑furlong specialist.
Paula Badosa advanced to the semi‑finals of the Sao Paulo Open with a straight‑sets win over Mary Stoiana. After the match she met her childhood idol, former world No.1 Maria Sharapova, describing the encounter as a memorable moment. The victory also moved her up to No.56 in the live rankings, keeping her in contention for a first WTA title since 2024.
Rory McIlroy remained in the Race to Dubai hunt with a five‑under 67 in round two of the BMW PGA Championship, leaving him four shots off the lead held by Ryan Gerard. The Northern Irish star capitalised on a strong back‑nine, while rivals such as Patrick Reed withdrew and several big names missed the cut.
Organisers apologised after the North Korean anthem was played for South Korea’s men’s field hockey team during the Asian Games in Japan. South Korea, who beat Bangladesh 5-0, were confused by the error and coach Min Tae‑seok called it a serious problem that should never happen. The incident highlighted broader logistical issues faced by teams at the Games.
Former Everton manager Brian Sorensen is set to become an assistant coach for the Republic of Ireland women’s national side ahead of their World Cup play‑off qualifiers against Kazakhstan. He will retain his technical director role at Aston Villa women while working alongside Liverpool’s Amber Whiteley under manager Carla Ward.
Canadian No.6 Felix Auger‑Aliassime was eliminated in the second round of the 2026 US Open by Karen Khachanov, later suggesting he may have suffered heatstroke during the match. He acknowledged the loss, vowed to move on, and turned his focus to the upcoming Davis Cup qualifying tie against France. The article also outlines his 2026 Grand Slam results and his role in Team Canada’s Davis Cup campaign.
Dutch ATP player Tallon Griekspoor slammed Alexander Zverev’s US Open win, calling it mediocre and saying Zverev was not exceptional. Griekspoor also predicted that if other top players falter, Zverev could finish his career with four or five Grand Slam titles.