Sports Groove

...As Nimrod hails Adeniyi’s support, eyes Badagry showpiece By Maxwell Kumoye      Nigeria’s volleyball resurgence gained further traction as the President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod, hailed the crucial backing of the Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, following the impressive continental outings of the Customs teams. At the African Women’s Club Championship in Egypt, the Nigeria Customs Service women’s team showed resilience and growing maturity, battling through a competitive field to secure a commendable 9th-place finish.  Their campaign was marked by spirited performances against some of Africa’s elite sides, underlining their steady rise. Meanwhile, at the men’s championship in Kigali, the Customs male team demonstrated grit and tactical discipline to progress beyond the group stage and into the knockout rounds.  Their journey to the Round of 16 showcased Nigeria’s improvin...

As Adeniyi rallies Team Nigeria for glory, do everything possible to bring title 15 home    By Maxwell Kumoye      With confidence high and expectations even higher, Team Nigeria has departed Abuja on a bold mission, to conquer Africa once again. Led by the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the contingent left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Tuesday, setting course for Alexandria, host of the 2026 African Wrestling Championships. The tournament, scheduled from April 27 to May 2, will feature U-17, U-20, and Senior categories, with Nigeria fielding a strong squad of: • 18 wrestlers • 10 women • 8 men They are ready to battle across multiple weight divisions. But it is in the women’s category that Nigeria’s dominance truly echoes across the continent. Fourteen-time champions. A record unmatched in Nigerian sport. And now, a shot at a historic 15th title. Addressing the team before departure, Adeniyi deli...

The Badminton World Federation membership has approved the introduction of the system, with the new format set to come into effect on 4 January in two years time, the sport's world governing body announced on Saturday. The proposal was passed by the required two-thirds majority of votes cast at the 87th BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark, according to a federation press release. BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul said the decision marked an important milestone for the future of badminton. "We are building a sport that speaks to the next generation, while continuing to invest in the long-term future of our players," she said. The BWF said the 3×15 system is designed to increase excitement and competitiveness, improve scheduling consistency, and offer benefits for player welfare and recovery. Leeswadtrakul added that the format aims to produce closer scores and more dramatic finishes by bringing high-pressure moments earlier in matches, help...

The Nordic country has said it will not host international championships while the governing body continues to allow athletes from both to compete, joining Norway and Poland as tensions escalate. Members of the Nordic Swimming Federation contacted by Reuters have also distanced themselves from World Aquatics' earlier decision this month to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to competition with full honours. The move marks a reversal of earlier restrictions introduced after Russia's 2022 war of Ukraine, when athletes from the two countries were largely restricted to neutral status. Further talks among federation members are scheduled for Monday. The group includes representatives from Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. World Aquatics has permitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in its events in their national uniforms, with flags and anthems, since 14 April, and confirmed that both cou...

In June 2027, the para-sporting spotlight will turn to Uzbekistan as the nation becomes the first in Central Asia to host the flagship para-athletics event, a decision reflecting the country's rapid rise as a sporting powerhouse. World Para Athletics has officially confirmed that Tashkent will host the 2027 World Para Athletics Championships. This announcement marks a historic first for the region, as the most significant single para-sport event on the global calendar heads to Uzbekistan. The competition is scheduled to take place at the Olympic City Main Stadium in June 2027. Tashkent 2027 will represent the 13th edition of the championships and the fifth time the event has been staged in Asia. Uzbekistan follows in the footsteps of recent hosts including Doha (2015), Dubai (2019), Kobe (2024), and the most recent edition in New Delhi (2025). The organisers expect to welcome approximately 1,300 athletes representing more than 100 nations. While the final list of events...

The Estonia Olympic Committee's former president was ousted on Monday at an extraordinary assembly after a no-confidence vote, following weeks of internal tensions and criticism over funding, the coaching system and her leadership style. The institutional crisis in Estonian sport reached its breaking point with the removal of Kersti Kaljulaid as head, after an extraordinary general assembly approved a no-confidence motion by simple majority. The result exposed a deep division within the organisation: 61 votes supported her removal, 50 opposed it and three ballots were declared invalid. The session was attended by 114 of the 123 members (the minimum required for a quorum was 62), comfortably exceeding the threshold needed to take a decision of this magnitude. The initiative had been promoted by Heino Märks, who gathered the required signatures to convene the assembly amid growing internal discontent. Among those backing the motion were prominent figures in Estonian sport...

  As calls for the Polish Olympic Committee chief to step down grow over a sponsorship deal signed with the cryptocurrency platform, the sports administrator promised this week to terminate the agreement should the company fail to transfer money it owes to athletes. "If by April 30, as stipulated in the contract, the funds are not transferred to us, to PKOl, I have grounds to terminate the agreement and it will be terminated without cost, without any complications for PKOl," Radosław Piesiewicz told RMF FM.  The head of the governing body had previously said that there were no grounds to terminate the sponsorship agreement signed in October 2025, despite ongoing investigations into the crypto trading company's liquidity and reports on unpaid rewards from several Team Poland athletes. Speed skater Damian Żurek said he could not cash out PLN 100,000 (€23,624) worth of tokens awarded for his performance at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, and ski jumper Kacper To...

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations has introduced a refreshed visual identity aligned with its 2026–2032 Strategy. The updated framework reflects the organisation's vision for the future. As with any rebranding exercise, this visual overhaul launched on Monday is far more than a matter of aesthetics, it signals the beginning of a new strategic trajectory for the years ahead, designed to reinforce the collective influence of international federations within the Olympic Movement. Founded in 1983, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations, ASOIF, defines its mission as "to represent, strengthen and expand the collective influence of the Summer Olympic International Federations within the Movement", as stated on its official platform. The launch of its 2026-2032 Strategy, driven by ASOIF President Ingmar De Vos in close collaboration with member federations, ushers in a new phase for the organisation, characterised by ren...

Last weekend, Nexus Seawoods in Navi Mumbai, India, hosted a high-profile event confirming the collaboration between Marine Pro Boxing Promotions and the International Boxing Association to promote boxing in India. A combination of elite international match-ups, emerging domestic talent and strong engagement from fans and the wider sporting community made for a prestigious evening featuring a varied fight card with boxers from around the world, as well as the next generation of Indian boxing prospects. India is one of the markets where the IBA has focused its attention, and the event in Navi Mumbai clearly demonstrated boxing's growing appeal. Notable guests included six-time world champion Mary Kom and Harish Choudhary, who is closely linked to sporting initiatives. Prominent figures from the entertainment industry also attended, including Bollywood actor Pulkit Samrat, television actor Divyenndu and filmmaker Karan Anshuman, highlighting the growing cross-sector appea...

The US body brought together more than 1,000 leaders last week at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, where the tourism sector highlighted its economic impact and reinforced the country's position as a global hub for events, business, and expansion. The Sports Events & Tourism Association closed a record edition of its annual Symposium in Las Vegas, with the sense that something more than an event had taken place. Over four days at Caesars Forum, the organisation brought together 1,200 industry figures and confirmed a trend that had already been building: sport, tourism and global business are increasingly converging in the United States. The closing delivered strong figures and even stronger signals. The report presented during the week, which for the first time unifies participatory and spectator sports tourism, outlined an economic impact of nearly $275 billion (€233bn), including around $111bn (€94bn) in direct spending, 1.6 million jobs and more than $20bn (€17bn) in s...

Delegations from across the continent met this week in the Kenyan capital to discuss cooperation, education and development at a forum running until Saturday, with officials, experts and institutional representatives in attendance. The 11th session of the Association of African National Olympic Academies placed the future of the Olympic Movement in Africa at the centre of discussions. NOC-K President Shadrack Maluki underlined the strategic nature of the initiative and its potential impact on regional development, "As president of the national Olympic committee, together with my committee, we deliberately chose to host it because we know the benefits it brings in terms of opening avenues for sports development," he said. He clarified that the opening engagements were largely introductory, pointing towards more substantive discussions in the days ahead, adding, "this was just a courtesy visit; the real deal and discussions begin tomorrow". From the contin...

  If held in odd years instead of pairs as to fall just one away from the Summer Olympics, the Asian Games would serve as a direct qualification platform or a venue for elite preparation, allowing pros to gauge their form just before the marquee event. The Olympic Council of Asia addressed the possible calendar modification this week during a gathering in Sanya, seeking to align the continent's flagship event with guidance from the International Olympic Committee, while simultaneously bringing order to an increasingly congested competitive landscape where overcrowding threatens to dilute audiences, sponsorship value, and, at times, athletic performance itself. Should the idea be approved, the transition would begin with the Doha 2030 Asian Games, which would be deferred to 2031. The domino effect would affect the Riyadh 2034 Asian Games, which would consequently move to 2035. By contrast, the already scheduled Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games would retain its original slot...

The organisers of the 2030 Winter Olympics are considering Paris and Lyon as potential venues for ice hockey, due to political deadlock in the host city. This follows the new governor's refusal to move the local football club for the tournament. The French Alps 2030 Winter Olympics organising committee is re-evaluating its venue strategy for ice hockey following the impasse in the city of Nice. Originally intended to serve as the hub for all ice and skating disciplines, the Mediterranean resort city may now share hosting duties with Paris or Lyon after local leadership opposed the use of existing infrastructure. The shift in strategy stems from a refusal by the newly elected mayor of Nice, Eric Ciotti, to allow the temporary conversion of the Allianz Riviera - the city's primary soccer stadium - into an Olympic ice hockey rink. The original ambitious proposal involved transforming the football stadium into a dual-rink facility, divided by a partition and new stands ...

The Youth Olympic Games working group, led by Danka Eubegova, was welcomed to the 'Land of Smiles 'on Monday by Preecha Lalun, deputy governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand for Elite Sports and Sports Science, as they began the three-day evaluation process.  Dr Suwanna Silpa-archa, vice president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand; Dr Chuenchonok Siriwat, deputy secretary general of the NOC, Sports Directors Rattapol Phaingam and Akrapol Phuengporn, also accompanied the delegation.  The International Olympic Committee delegation will hold working sessions and conduct site inspections, assessing Thailand's vision, governance structures and operational plans as part of the Targeted Dialogue phase. Embodying the vision 'Inspiring Youth, Connecting Southeast Asia and Asia', Thailand's bid will link sport, education, culture and urban life. Bangkok is positioned as the main host city, with competition clusters centred on Hua Mak Sports Co...

The nation's table tennis federation shed light on the process through which its athletes have regained access to global competition. The key priority, according to First Vice-President Oleg Zavalyuev, is for players to remain focused on performance. The Russian federation has encountered a series of challenges in securing the participation of its athletes in global tournaments. Nevertheless, these hurdles proved far from insurmountable, as Zavalyuev explained in an interview with TASS last weekend. Russian players have been competing internationally again since 2025. "As with any comparable process, there were certain difficulties, but they did not deter us", Zavalyuev remarked. "What matters most at this stage is that the athletes concentrate on their performances rather than on external issues. The number of Russian players taking part in international competitions largely depends on the quotas allocated to national federations for each tournament...

The International Skating Union unveiled an action-packed schedule on Monday, setting the stage for another year of world-class competitions across figure, speed, synchronised and short-track speed skating. As part of skating's continued transformation under ISU Vision 2030, the upcoming season will further strengthen the way the sport is presented, experienced and shared. Through enhanced event presentation, stronger storytelling, and an athlete-first approach, the ISU aims to continue building deeper engagement with fans, media, broadcasters, commercial partners and new audiences worldwide.  Fans around the world can already look ahead to another thrilling chapter, with World Championships, World Cups, Grand Prix events, the Short Track World Tour, Junior competitions and more set to take place across Asia, Europe, and North America. The 2026/27 season will build towards a blockbuster ISU World Championships line-up, with titles up for grabs in Tampere, Beijing, Seoul...

The Royal Spanish Rugby Federation unveiled a global bid at its annual gala last week in Madrid, aiming to boost Spain's international standing, while Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from the race. The event brought together authorities, sponsors, and representatives of Spanish rugby. Under the concept of 'Spain Connects Rugby', it demonstrated the ambition to promote Spanish rugby internationally. The bid is conceived as a project that unites institutions, regions, and the entire rugby community. During the gala, Spain's development of the sport and its growing presence in international competitions were highlighted. To strengthen the bid, the organisers emphasised the country's organisational capacity, its infrastructure network, and its strategic role as a bridge. Speeches were given by the president of the Royal Spanish Rugby Federation, Juan Carlos Martín 'Hansen', and the President of the Higher Sports Council, José Manuel Uribes. Both speakers ...

In his address to Asia’s national associations at the 36th AFC Congress in Vancouver, Canada, AFC president Shaikh Salman delivered a message praising their unity and resilience in the face of “the realities beyond football that weigh heavily on many in our Asian football family”. He went on to deliver hard hitting messages of sticking to the core mission of football and not politics and maintaining their independence from outside interference as they deliver their competitions amid “the global shifts and the uncertainty”. Salman’s recognition of their resilience referenced the confederation’s delivery of a full complement of 16 AFC competitions over the year despite “the conflict affecting their regions” and the impact of the US war on Iran and the retaliatory strikes by Iran on the Gulf nations. “In these challenging times, your commitment to keeping the beautiful game alive across our Continent has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Salman. “Over the past year, you h...

...As marathon record holder Sawe set for hero’s welcome By Maxwell Kumoye      Team Kenya has officially shifted into competition mode, kicking off preparations for the upcoming Africa Senior Athletics Championships with their first training session at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. With the continental showpiece set to run from May 12 to 17 in Accra, the East African powerhouse is leaving nothing to chance as athletes fine-tune their form in pursuit of medals and national pride. The early start to camp signals intent from the Kenyan contingent, long regarded as a dominant force in African athletics.  Coaches and officials are focused on sharpening speed, endurance, and team cohesion ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely competitive championship. Adding to the buzz within the athletics fraternity, Athletics Kenya is set to roll out the red carpet for marathon world record holder Sebastian Sawe, who is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, April 29 at the Jo...