SOCCER
Bayern tweak Rwanda deal
Bayern Munich signaled on Friday that they would cut down on “Visit Rwanda” branding as they move away from a commercial sponsorship with the African nation facing a backlash over alleged support for rebels in neighboring DR Congo. Bayern dismissed allegations of “sportswashing” when they signed a five-year Rwanda deal in 2023. It included advertisements in the stadium and what Bayern called events “to promote tourism and investment opportunities in Rwanda.” Some Bayern fans displayed a large banner at a game in February protesting the deal, amid accusations from the UN that Rwanda has backed rebels in neighboring DR Congo. Now the German soccer champions say they have reached a new deal with Rwanda, which turns the existing sponsorship deal into a three-year agreement focusing on developing young soccer players at a Bayern-affiliated academy in the country. The club did not specify how soon they would drop “Visit Rwanda” branding as part of the move, which is described as a transition.
MARTIAL ART
Taiwanese bags medal
Liu Chang-min of Taiwan won bronze in the men’s nanquan-nangun combined event at the World Games in Chengdu, China, on Friday, securing Taiwan’s first medal of the Games. In nanquan, a southern Chinese martial art known for its short strikes and distinctive arm movements, Liu scored 9.740 points to lead the field. He followed with 9.690 in nangun, a staff-based discipline, for a combined total of 19.430, finishing behind gold medalist Shahin Banitalebi of Iran and silver medalist Mohammad Adi Salihin of Brunei. In the women’s combined tai chi and taijijian (straight two-edged sword) event, Taiwan’s Liu Pei-hsun placed sixth with a total of 19.056, scoring 9.393 in tai chi and 9.663 in taijijian. This year’s World Games are being held from Friday to Tuesday.
SOCCER
‘Palestinian Pele’ killed
Former Palestine national team player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pele,” has been killed by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip, the sport’s local governing body said. Al-Obeid, 41, was killed on Wednesday when Israeli forces “targeted people waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip,” the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said in a statement. A former star of the Khadamat Al-Shati club in Gaza, Obeid played 24 international matches for Palestine, the PFA said. “During his long career, Al-Obeid scored more than 100 goals, making him one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football,” it added. The midfielder also played for the Al-Amari Youth Center Club in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
SOCCER
Rodri sustains groin injury
Manchester City midfielder Rodri could be sidelined for the start of the English Premier League season because of an injury sustained at the FIFA Club World Cup, City coach Pep Guardiola said. Last year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or winner sat out nearly all of last season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, and Guardiola described the Spain international’s latest setback as a “big injury.” It is believed to be a groin problem this time and occurred during City’s 4-3 loss to Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup on June 30.
Yu Yao-hsing on Tuesday nabbed Taiwan’s only goal in the final round of qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, as they fell 3-1 to Sri Lanka at Taipei Municipal Stadium. Early goals from Sri Lanka in the first half left Taiwan struggling to get on the board, and Christopher Tiao’s own goal at 53 minutes sealed the team’s fate in the third round of qualifiers. While acknowledging that the defeat, Taiwan’s sixth in Group D, was disappointing, head coach Matt Ross said he saw reasons to stay positive about the team’s development. “There were lots of positive signs in terms of the
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli yesterday vowed to “keep raising the bar” after winning the Japanese Grand Prix to become the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the championship standings. The 19-year-old Italian took advantage of a mid-race safety car to jump into the lead after a dreadful start from pole position, crossing the line ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Antonelli’s Suzuka victory came two weeks after the first grand prix win of his career in China, and sent him top of the championship standings after three races, nine points ahead of team-mate George Russell. Mercedes are struggling to
INDIGESTION: Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time after a 4-1 defeat to Bosnia on penalties in a loss Gattuso said was ‘difficult to digest’ Coach Graham Arnold on Tuesday challenged his players to “shock the world” after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico, as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Sweden and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) also secured their places at the finals. Iraq, whose preparations were disrupted by the war in the Middle East, sealed their first appearance at the finals in 40 years and are to play in Group I against France, Senegal and Norway. Goals from Ali al-Hamadi
Teng Kai-wei, the only Taiwanese player on an opening-day roster in this year’s Major League Baseball (MLB) season, took his first win of the year with the Houston Astros in his season debut. Teng entered in relief in the top of the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, with the Astros trailing 5-0. He pitched 2-1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, as Houston scored 11 runs during his outing to snatch an 11-9 comeback victory. The win is the Astros’ first of the season and the third of Teng’s MLB career. “It’s my first time pitching for the Astros, so
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