Championship leader Wehrlein eyes first home win as Formula E returns to Berlin

Formula E championship leader Pascal Wehrlein. (Formula E)
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Updated 10 May 2024
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Championship leader Wehrlein eyes first home win as Formula E returns to Berlin

  • The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit for rounds 9 and 10
  • Berlin holds historic significance as the only city to host a race in every Formula E season to date

DUBAI: The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Berlin’s iconic Tempelhof Airport street circuit this weekend, May 11-12.

As season 10 reaches the midway point, round 9 and 10 will be the third double-header of the season and are set to intensify the battle for the title. 

With a decade of racing history, all eyes are on the 22 drivers to recreate the excitement of the past 18 races in the German capital, a highlight of which was a remarkable 362 overtakes in last season’s event.

Notable contenders include ABT Cupra’s Lucas di Grassi — eager to take his maiden win of the season in front of his team’s home crowd — and Antonio Felix da Costa, two of only three double winners in Berlin.

Jaguar TCS Racing are aiming to replicate their memorable 1-2 finish from season 9 while Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Gunther has high hopes for his home race.

TAG Heuer Porsche seek to consolidate their lead with Pascal Wehrlein in the Drivers’ Championship standings on what is home territory for both driver and team.

Berlin holds the distinction of being the only city to have hosted a race in every Formula E season — a total of 18 races. With Tempelhofer Feld as the host venue for all but one season, the track presents a familiar yet demanding challenge and, with an updated layout, the opportunities are wide open. 

The second season of the GEN3 era has already yielded fierce competition, with the first eight rounds crowning seven different race winners. No fewer than 11 drivers have celebrated on the podium and, currently, seven different teams are represented in the top 10 of the drivers’ standings.

As the championship gears up for the second half of the year, the current drivers’ standings are as follows: Pascal Wehrlein of TAG Heuer Porsche leads the pack — the only driver with two wins under his belt so far this season; he is closely followed by Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy, who boasts a win and four podiums, leaving him only seven points shy of the lead.

Currently in third is 2023 World Champion Jake Dennis, of Andretti Formula E. He is followed by round 6 winner Oliver Rowland of Nissan Formula E and Mitch Evans, Cassidy’s teammate at Jaguar TCS Racing, in fourth and fifth respectively.

Maximilian Günther of Maserati MSG Racing and DS Penske’s Jean-Eric Vergne are currently sixth and seventh, with Sam Bird of NEOM McLaren Formula E in eighth. Stoffel Vandoorne, after a season-best performance in Monaco, sits in ninth in the other DS Penske machine, while TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa rounds out the top ten.


Imperious Liverpool smash Tottenham to win Premier League title

Updated 18 sec ago
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Imperious Liverpool smash Tottenham to win Premier League title

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool demolished Tottenham 5-1 to clinch the Premier League title at an impassioned Anfield on Sunday, sealing a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown.
Arne Slot’s men stormed back after conceding a surprise early goal to dominate the first half as the decibel level soared among 60,000-plus crowd.
Liverpool, who can no longer be caught by second-placed Arsenal, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint-most successful club in English top-flight history.
Slot’s men started on the front foot at an expectant Anfield after a stirring rendition of club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in the warm spring sunshine.
Mohamed Salah had an early sighter and Cody Gakpo went close with a spectacular overhead kick but Tottenham briefly threatened to become party poopers when Dominic Solanke powered home a header from a James Maddison corner in the 12th minute.
But Liverpool were level just four minutes later when Luis Diaz converted Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross from close range. The offside flag went up but VAR awarded the goal.
The momentum was now all with Liverpool and the home side took the lead in the 24th minute when Alexis Mac Allister thundered the ball home from the 18-yard line past the flying Guglielmo Vicario.
Now the party was well and truly started and Gakpo made it 3-1, slamming a shot into the bottom corner after Spurs failed to clear.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou had made eight changes from the team that lost to Nottingham Forest last week as he prioritizes the semifinals of the Europa League and they now had a mountain to climb.
The Liverpool fans — deprived of celebrating the 2020 Premier League trophy due to Covid restrictions, ran through their full repertoire of songs as their team pushed for a fourth goal in the second half.
Top-scorer Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, collecting Szoboszlai’s pass before cutting in and blasting his shot into the bottom corner.
He celebrated by grabbing a fan’s phone before taking a selfie in front of the Kop.
Deafening cheers of “We’re going to win the league” and “We shall not be moved” rang out.
Liverpool had a fifth when Spurs defender Destiny Udogie poked the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range with about 20 minutes to go as the game turned into a procession.
As the game went into added time the club’s anthem rang out again as scarves were held aloft and the final whistle elicited a thunderous roar.
The win leaves Liverpool on 82 points, 15 clear of nearest challengers Arsenal with just four games remaining.
Tottenham are a miserable 16th in the Premier League table after their 19th defeat of the season, putting Postecoglou under enormous pressure.
Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool’s coronation, setting off flares as the home team bus arrived.
Flags and scarves saying “Liverpool 20-time Champions” were on sale from stalls outside the ground.
At the start of the campaign, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were favorites to extend their dynastic Premier League reign and make it five titles in a row but their form collapsed.
Arsenal emerged as their closest challengers but they drew too many games, failing to take advantage of the rare Liverpool slip-ups.
It was feared Liverpool’s players would need time to adapt to the methods of Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last June following the German’s departure after nine trophy-filled years at Anfield.
But the former Feyenoord boss has sailed serenely through the season despite relentless speculation over the futures of three of his biggest stars — Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Both Salah and Van Dijk have now signed two-year extensions, though England defender Alexander-Arnold is believed likely to be on the verge of a move to Real Madrid.

PSL X: Peshawar Zalmi lock horns with Quetta Gladiators at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium

Updated 27 April 2025
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PSL X: Peshawar Zalmi lock horns with Quetta Gladiators at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium

  • Zalmi have lost three of their four matches this season and secured their only win over Multan Sultans
  • Gladiators, on the other hand, draw confidence from their solid 80-run win over Zalmi in PSL X opener

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi won the toss and chose to bowl first against Quetta Gladiators in the 17th match of the Pakistan Super League 10th edition (PSL X) at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.
Zalmi have lost three of their four matches this season and secured their only win over Multan Sultans. All eyes have been on Zalmi skipper Babar Azam, who has been consistently performing in PSL X, in Sunday’s encounter against Gladiators.
Zalmi said it was “time to shine” in a post on Instagram as their skipper said they were going in with a clear approach.
“Our approach is clear — smart cricket, sharp mindset, and full fight,” Azam said after winning the toss. “Every moment, every move, with one goal in mind.”
Gladiators, on the other hand, draw confidence from their solid 80-run win over Zalmi in the PSL X opener, which gives them a psychological edge in Sunday’s encounter.
However, the Saud Shakeel-led side has failed to maintain consistency since their win against Zalmi and secured a narrow victory against Karachi Kings by defending a modest total of 142.
Fans anticipated a tough battle between Gladiators’ superior bowling line-up and Zalmi’s hard-hitting batsmen.
SQUADS
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mohammad Haris, George Linde, Mohammad Ali, Hussain Talat, Nahid Rana, Abdul Samad, Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, Najibullah Zadran, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat, Mitchell Owen, Ahmed Daniyal, Alzarri Joseph, Ihsanullah
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c) Finn Allen, Faheem Ashraf, Mark Chapman, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Rilee Rossouw, Akeal Hossein, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Khawaja Nafay, Usman Tariq, Haseebullah Khan, Khurram Shahzad, Kyle Jamieson, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Zeeshan, Danish Aziz, Kusal Mendis and Sean Abbott


Bumrah claims 4-22 as Mumbai register five straight IPL wins

Updated 27 April 2025
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Bumrah claims 4-22 as Mumbai register five straight IPL wins

  • It was Mumbai’s 150th victory in the Indian Premier League, the first time for any team in the league

MUMBAI: Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah returned figures of 4-22 to lead IPL heavyweights Mumbai Indians to their fifth successive win with a 54-run hammering of Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday.
Five-time champions Mumbai posted 215-7 after South Africa’s Ryan Rickleton, a left-hand wicketkeeper-batsman, hit 58 and Suryakumar Yadav hammered 54 at the Wankhede Stadium.
All the bowlers contributed, including England’s Will Jacks who took two wickets in one over, as Mumbai bowled out Lucknow for 161, pushing them up to second in the 10-team table in the T20 tournament.
It was Mumbai’s 150th victory in the Indian Premier League, the first time for any team in the league.
Bumrah stood out after he dismissed Aiden Markram to go past former quick Lasith Malinga’s record of 170 IPL wickets to become Mumbai’s leading bowler.
Bumrah, who has returned from a back injury that made him miss India’s Champions Trophy title win in Dubai last month, now has 174 wickets.
Lucknow opener Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran hit back with a flurry of boundaries in their breezy partnership of 42.
Jacks got Pooran out for 27 with his off-spin and struck two balls later to send back Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant, caught out for four while the left-hander attempted a reverse sweep.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Pant, who was brought by Lucknow at an all-time auction record of $3.21 million in November, has flopped with the bat, scoring just 110 runs in nine innings.
New Zealand left-arm quick Trent Boult took down Australia’s Marsh for 34 and later got Ayush Badoni out on 35 to derail the chase and returned figures of 3-20.
Wickets kept tumbling and Bumrah returned to take three in one including impact player David Miller out for 24 to shut out Lucknow.
The batters set up victory after the left-handed Rickleton began quickly with a rush of boundaries despite losing his opening partner and former captain Rohit who fell to returning speedster Mayank Yadav’s slower ball for 12.
Rickleton countered the spin threat to hit back in a 55-run second-wicket stand with Jacks, who hit 29, but finally fell to leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi.
Jacks hit a few boundaries before being bowled by Prince Yadav but Suryakumar kept up the attack with his audacious hitting including a kneel-down hook for six over fine-leg.
The Lucknow bowlers struck regularly and Mayank bowled skipper Hardik Pandya for five.
India’s T20 captain Suryakumar, who is the season’s leading batter with 427 runs, raised his fifty with a six but pace bowler Avesh Khan dismissed him next ball.
Naman Dhir, who hit an unbeaten 25 off 11 balls, and South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch, who smashed a 10-ball 20 on his IPL debut, helped finish with a flourish in their quickfire stand of 28.


Assefa sets women’s only record to win London Marathon women’s race after late breakaway

Updated 27 April 2025
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Assefa sets women’s only record to win London Marathon women’s race after late breakaway

  • Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia secured her first London Marathon title after pulling away from Joyciline Jepkosgei near the end
  • Assefa finished second both in London and at the Paris Olympics last year but adds this title to two Berlin Marathon wins

LONDON: Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia took advantage of the warm weather to pull away late for her first London Marathon title on Sunday, setting a record time for a women’s-only race in the process.
Assefa made up for second-place finishes in London and the Paris Olympics last year by pulling away from Joyciline Jepkosgei near the end to finish in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds. It was the fastest ever time in a women’s-only marathon — but 25 seconds slower than the course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race.
Peres Jepchirchir had set the previous women’s only record of 2:16:16 when she won in London last year ahead of Assefa. Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya set the overall women’s world record of 2:09:56 at last year’s Chicago Marathon.
The weather in London was a lot warmer this year than in 2024 — with temperaturse nearing 18 C (64F) by the time the elite runners were finishing — which Assefa said was to her advantage.
“Last year I did have some problems with the cold, my hamstring tightened up toward the end of the race,” Assefa said through an interpreter. “This year the weather suited me really well.”
Assefa adds this win to two previous Berlin Marathon titles.
She was beaten in a sprint at the Paris Olympics by Sifan Hassan last year. This time she made sure there would be no sprint finish as she left Jepkosgei behind with a few kilometers left and ran alone along the Thames and through central London to the finish in front of Buckingham Palace.
Jepkosgei, the 2021 London winner, was almost three minutes back after tiring near the end.
“It was a little bit humid,” Jepkosgei said. “My body was not responding well. And I said, let’s preserve my energy to arrive safely at the finish line.”
Hassan fell behind about halway through the race and finished third, 3:10 behind.
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s race for his biggest career victory after making a solo breakaway with about 10 kilometers left.


Barcelona beat Real Madrid in extra time to win Copa del Rey final

Updated 27 April 2025
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Barcelona beat Real Madrid in extra time to win Copa del Rey final

  • Barcelona will carry this momentum into Wednesday’s start of their Champions League semifinal series against Inter Milan
  • Barcelona have beaten Madrid in all three of the clasicos this season
  • King Felipe VI awarded the trophy to Barcelona, after the monarch flew back to Spain following his attendance at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican

SEVILLE, Spain: Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 in extra time to claim a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title on Saturday and launch their bid for a treble.

Pedri Gonzalez scored from long range to give Barcelona the lead in the 28th minute at La Cartuja Stadium.

Kylian Mbappe came off the bench at halftime and scored from a free kick for Real Madrid in the 70th. Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni gave Madrid the lead with a header in the 77th.

But Ferran Torres leveled in the 84th and forced extra time.

Jules Kounde then pounced on a pass by Brahim Diaz and slotted a shot into the low corner of Thibaut Courtois’ net for the 116th-minute winner.

Barcelona will carry this momentum into Wednesday’s start of their Champions League semifinal series against Inter Milan. They also lead La Liga by four points over Madrid.

Barcelona have beaten Madrid in all three of the clasicos this season. They routed Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final in January after winning 4-0 at Madrid in the local league in October.

“This was such a physically demanding game, but we showed that we are a great team that never gives up,” said Torres, who filled in perfectly for the injured Robert Lewandowski.

Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was shown a red card by the referee in the final minute of extra time.

The loss to their fierce rival was another blow to Madrid after they were knocked out of the Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal.

This could have been their last title decider with Carlo Ancelotti in charge. The Italian coach said he will decide his future this summer amid speculation he is bound to take over Brazil.

King Felipe VI awarded the trophy to Barcelona, after the monarch flew back to Spain following his attendance at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Barcelona dominate first half

One of the biggest rivalries in global soccer was again a tale of two halves — until Torres scored the late equalizer against the flow of play to renew Barcelona’s prospects.

Barcelona dominated the first half as it kept the action in Madrid’s half thanks to its ball control and pressure defense that was quick to recover the ball.

The only semblance of a Madrid attack came when Jude Bellingham was able to spin away from his marker and beat Barcelona’s pressure defense.

But a Bellingham pass intercepted by Pau Cubarsí cued Barcelona’s opener. Pedri lobbed forward for Yamal, breaking down the flank. The 17-year-old phenom — sporting a new dyed-blonde hairdo — threaded a pass back to the top of the box, where Pedri arrived to blast it home.

Raphinha went close to adding a second goal with some help by Rudiger when the Brazilian’s corker kick grazed the defender and hit the far post.

Mbappe sparks Madrid fightback

Mbappe started the game on the bench after injuring his ankle last week. But Ancelotti sent his striker on at halftime to replace Rodrygo. Luka Modric and playmaker Arda Guler soon followed.

The changes helped Madrid click, and the game became a back-and-forth contest with both teams creating scoring chances after Barcelona’s control was shattered.

Wojciech Szczesny had to protect Barcelona’s lead with three saves to deny Vinícius Junior and Mbappe. The goalkeeper could do nothing, however, to stop Mbappe after he earned a foul and fired a free kick low and just inside the post.

Tchouameni rose up to head in a corner kick that Guler curled into to the edge of the six-yard box.

Barcelona finish it off

Torres brought Barcelona back when Yamal put a long ball behind the defense and Courtois mistimed his run out to intercept it, leaving Torres with an open net.

Raphinha thought he had a penalty in the final minute of injury time after contact with Raul Asencio. But the referee, who the day before the final denounced a campaign to discredit him by Real Madrid’s official club television, waived off his initial decision after consulting video.

With several players clearly exhausted in extra time the game appeared destined to finish in a penalty shootout. But that was when Koundé became the hero for the Catalan club.