SPORTS NEWS

 Sepang, 4 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Four-time world champion Max Verstappen secured his first Formula One victory of the year and Red Bull’s first win of the season with a dominant drive in chaotic, rain-hit conditions at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The 29-year-old Dutchman, who last won at the Sepang International Circuit nine years ago, claimed his 72nd career victory after a race filled with accidents, safety-car periods and changing tyre strategies. Verstappen finished 2.307 seconds ahead of Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third after a remarkable recovery drive. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth after recovering from last place, followed by Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, McLaren’s Os...

London, 4 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes has described Cristiano Ronaldo as the country’s greatest footballing symbol despite the veteran star leaving the national team camp after learning that he would not start a Nations League match against Denmark. Ronaldo, 41, reportedly left the squad after coach Jorge Jesus informed him that he would not be in the starting lineup, with Portugal going on to defeat Denmark 4-2 without him. The incident has raised uncertainty over Ronaldo’s future with the national team, where he remains Portugal’s leading goalscorer and most-capped player. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Fernandes said he had spoken with Ronaldo and stressed that nothing could change his status as an iconic figure for Portugal. He said Ronaldo would “n...

 Nagoya, 4 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Indian hockey umpire and technical official Gurinder Singh Singha has been sent back to India from Japan following multiple alleged sexual harassment complaints during the Asian Games. According to Indian media reports, Singha allegedly behaved inappropriately with a female hockey official from Malaysia and a hotel employee during his stay in Nagoya. A Hockey India official confirmed that Singha was sent back to India two days ago after a Malaysian female official filed a sexual harassment complaint against him. The official said further action would be taken after Hockey India receives a detailed report from the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), which appoints umpires and technical officials for hockey competitions at the Asian Games. He added tha...

 Karachi, 4 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Pakistan women’s team fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has announced her retirement from international cricket after representing Pakistan in 19 One-Day Internationals and 21 T20 Internationals over a 13-year international career. Kainat recently began a new chapter in cricket by taking up the role of match referee during the PCB National Women’s U19 T20 Tournament held in August and September. She represented Pakistan at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017, featuring in four matches, and made her T20I debut against South Africa in Potchefstroom in October 2010 before earning her ODI cap against Ireland in Fatullah, Bangladesh. The right-arm pacer was also part of Pakistan’s women’s squads that won gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games in Ch...

Nagoya, 4 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): The 2026 Asian Games concluded in Nagoya, Japan, with a colourful closing ceremony as China topped the medal table, while hosts Japan finished second and South Korea secured third place. China dominated the competition, winning 169 gold medals and 341 medals overall to claim the top position. Japan finished second with 63 gold, 95 silver and 91 bronze medals, while South Korea secured third place with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals. Pakistan finished 29th in the overall medal standings after winning 10 medals during the Games. The Pakistani contingent secured two silver and eight bronze medals, completing its campaign with a total of 10 medals. China’s strong performance once again underlined its dominance in Asian sport, while Japan delivere...

 NISSHIN, 4 October, 2026 (Nosheen): India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by 19 runs in a thrilling final to win the cricket gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. Batting first, India posted a formidable 211-6 in 20 overs, with Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma scoring quick-fire half-centuries. Abhishek smashed 61 off 20 balls, including seven sixes and three boundaries, while Varma remained unbeaten on 51 off 22 balls, hitting four sixes and three boundaries. Shivam Dube contributed a rapid 27 off 15 balls as India recorded the highest total of the tournament. In reply, Pakistan scored 192-6, led by an outstanding 96 off 51 balls from Hassan Nawaz, who was dismissed on the final delivery of the innings. India held their nerve in the closing stages to secure a 19-run victory and claim...

NAGOYA, 4 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Pakistan defeated South Korea 5-3 in a thrilling third-place playoff to secure the bronze medal in the hockey event at the Asian Games. The match was tied 3-3 in the fourth quarter, but Pakistan delivered an impressive performance in the closing stages to seal a 5-3 victory and finish third. Rana Waheed scored twice for Pakistan, while Sufyan Khan, Abdul Rehman and Hannan Shahid scored one goal each. With the victory, Pakistan secured the bronze medal in the men’s hockey competition at the Asian Games.

NAGOYA, 4 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan defeated China 3-0 in the men’s volleyball bronze-medal match to secure a podium finish at the 20th Asian Games in Japan. Pakistan dominated the match from the outset and maintained control throughout all three sets, giving China no opportunity to stage a comeback. With the comprehensive victory, Pakistan secured the bronze medal in men’s volleyball at the Asian Games 2026.

 Madrid, 2 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Argentine football icon Lionel Messi has officially acquired Spanish second-division club Club Deportivo Eldense, the Elda-based side announced on Thursday. Eldense, located inland from Alicante, becomes Messi's second venture into Spanish football ownership following his reported acquisition of Cornella, near Barcelona, in April. In an online statement, Club Deportivo Eldense confirmed the takeover by Messi and said the club, founded in 1921, would begin a new chapter with ambitions to strengthen its position and expand its presence in professional football. Eldense competes in Spain's Segunda División and plays its home matches at the Estadio Municipal Nuevo Pepico Amat, which has a capacity of 4,036 spectators. Messi, 39, has been playing for...

Jakarta, 2 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Pakistan's football team ended its campaign in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup with a 4-2 defeat against Vietnam in a fighting encounter at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Friday. Pakistan took the lead in the 31st minute when centre-back Mohib Ullah scored his first international goal, allowing the Falcons to go into half-time with a 1-0 advantage. However, Vietnam made effective changes at the interval and quickly shifted the momentum in their favour. The Asian Championship 2026 winners equalised in the 50th minute through Nguyen Hai Long, who finished after receiving an excellent assist from substitute Phan Tuan Tai. Vietnam then took the lead when another half-time substitute, Nguyen Dinh Bac, chased down a long ball before cutting it back to Nguyen Ho...