Sweden’s Maja Stark wins US Women’s Open for her first major championship

Sweden’s Maja Stark wins US Women’s Open for her first major championship
Maja Stark holds up her championship trophy after winning the US Women’s Open golf tournament. (Reuters)
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Updated 02 June 2025
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Sweden’s Maja Stark wins US Women’s Open for her first major championship

Sweden’s Maja Stark wins US Women’s Open for her first major championship
  • Stark became the sixth Swede to win a women’s major, and the first since Anna Nordqvist in the 2021 Women’s British Open
  • Stark maintained her poise well enough to earn a $2.4 million prize in the most lucrative event of the year

ERIN, Wisconsin: Maja Stark has lost her confidence heading into the US Women’s Open.

Her decision to stop worrying about that sparked her to the biggest title in women’s golf.

The 25-year-old Swede shot an even-par 72 on Sunday and stayed ahead all day. Her four-day total of 7-under 281 at Erin Hills left her two strokes ahead of top-ranked Nelly Korda and Japan’s Rio Takeda.

“I think that I just stopped trying to control everything, and I just kind of let everything happen the way it happened,” Stark said. “During the practice days, I realized that, if I just kind of hovered the club above the ground a little bit before I hit, I released some tension in my body. I think that just doing my processes well and knowing, giving myself little things like that was the key this week because I don’t really want to rely on my confidence for stuff.”

Stark became the sixth Swede to win a women’s major, and the first since Anna Nordqvist in the 2021 Women’s British Open. Stark also won her second career LPGA Tour title.

The former Oklahoma State player is the first Swede to win a US Women’s Open since Annika Sorenstam earned her third title in 2006. The only other Swede to win this event was Liselotte Neumann in 1988.

“They texted me yesterday and just kind of said, ‘Bring it home,’ ” Stark said.

Stark’s steadiness made the difference as she held off Korda and a host of other challengers.

Korda closed with a 71, and Takeda had a 72 to tie for second. Hye-Jin Choi (68), Ruoning Yin (70) and Mao Saigo (73) tied for fourth at 4 under. Hailee Cooper (70) and Hinako Shibuno (74) were 3 under.

Stark’s playing partner, Julia Lopez Ramirez, fell out of contention early on her way to 79 that left her tied for 19th. Lopez Ramirez, who entered the day just one shot off the lead, had a triple bogey on 18.

This was as close as Korda has come to winning a US Women’s Open.

Korda discussed her “complicated relationship” with the US Women’s Open this week, as her best previous finish was a tie for eighth place in 2022 at Pine Needles. She missed the cut at this tournament last year after posting a 80 in the opening round.

“I played this event when I was 14 years old, so maybe a little bit more emotional about it,” Korda said. “I mean, definitely it’s gotten my heart broken a couple times. ... To have that showing last year definitely put a dagger into my heart, but that’s just golf. You’re going to lose more than you win a majority of the time.

“I feel like I actually learn a lot about myself and my game and where I need to improve playing the US Women’s Open because it does test every part of your game.”

Korda birdied Nos. 7 and 8, but missed a 9-foot birdie putt on No. 9 that would have tied her for the lead. Korda’s birdie attempt on No. 9 came minutes after Stark’s bogey-free streak ended at 21 on No. 7.

Stark then extended her lead to three by making a 14-foot birdie putt on No. 11 immediately after Korda missed a par putt of just under 5 feet at No. 13.

Korda, Shibuno and Takeda got within two strokes of Stark with birdies on the par-5 14th, though Korda missed a 14-foot eagle putt and Shibuno missed an eagle attempt from 9 1/2 feet.

Stark then made a birdie of her own on No. 14 to regain her three-stroke advantage at 9 under. She maintained that lead despite bogeying the last two holes.

“I didn’t look at the leaderboards until I was on like 17,” Stark said. “I caught a glimpse of it. It was nice. I wasn’t as nervous as I thought that I would be because it felt like I have somewhat control of my game and I kind of know what’s going on.”

Stark credited caddie Jeff Brighton, a former standup comedian who helped keep her loose by telling jokes and making sure she didn’t dwell on what was at stake.

“We just kind of tried to talk about some stuff and not be too into my own putt,” she said.

Said Brighton: “I would say Maja’s quite an intense player. She tries really hard and is really competitive, so when (a player’s) intense, you’re trying between shots to just get their head away from golf.”

He spoke wearing a cheesehead similar to the ones seen at Green Bay Packers games

Stark maintained her poise well enough to earn a $2.4 million prize in the most lucrative event of the year. Now she just needs to figure out how to spend her winnings.

“Maybe move out of my studio apartment can be one thing,” Stark quipped.


Muhammad Waseem leads UAE in Pearl of Africa T20I Series in Uganda

Muhammad Waseem leads UAE in Pearl of Africa T20I Series in Uganda
Updated 14 July 2025
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Muhammad Waseem leads UAE in Pearl of Africa T20I Series in Uganda

Muhammad Waseem leads UAE in Pearl of Africa T20I Series in Uganda
  • UAE to play Kenya in their opening match on Friday

DUBAI: Opening batter Muhammad Waseem is to lead the 14-member UAE squad in the Pearl of Africa T20I Series at the Entebbe Cricket Oval in Uganda.

The UAE will be playing the hosts Uganda, along with Kenya, and Nigeria, in the series, with six matches in the league stage, two against each opponent.

The team to finish at the top of the table at the end of the league stage will be declared the tournament’s winner, with the UAE playing Kenya in their opening match on Friday.

The UAE’s squad: Muhammad Waseem (captain), Akif Raja, Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Muhammad Zuhaib, Rahul Chopra, Rohid Khan, and Saghir Khan.

The UAE’s matches in the Pearl of Africa T20I Series:

July 18: UAE v Kenya (Entebbe Cricket Oval).

July 19: Uganda v UAE (Entebbe Cricket Oval).

July 21: Nigeria v UAE (Entebbe Cricket Oval).

July 23: Kenya v UAE (Entebbe Cricket Oval).

July 26: UAE v Nigeria (Entebbe Cricket Oval).

July 27: UAE v Uganda (Entebbe Cricket Oval).


Jeddah to host the fourth round of the Formula One powerboat world championship

Jeddah to host the fourth round of the Formula One powerboat world championship
Updated 14 July 2025
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Jeddah to host the fourth round of the Formula One powerboat world championship

Jeddah to host the fourth round of the Formula One powerboat world championship

JEDDAH: As part of the Jeddah Season 2025 programs and activities, Jeddah will host the fourth round of the UIM F1H2O World Championship, which will take place from Nov. 28 to 30.

This was announced by Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Makkah Region and head of the Jeddah Events Calendar Committee.

The event in Jeddah will be the second time the Road World Championships take place in Saudi Arabia after the 2019 edition in Dammam.

The Grand Prix of Jeddah will feature 10 teams from 13 countries competing with 21 boats, driving boats with a top speed of 266 km per hour, challenging the limits of speed.

Commenting on this round, Raimondo di San Germano, CEO of H2O Racing, expressed his delight at Saudi Arabia’s return to hosting the UIM F1H2O World Championship competitions, stating, “We are extremely excited to witness this thrill in Jeddah, the Bride of the Red Sea.”

He also noted that this partnership represents the beginning of a long-term collaboration and development for the championship across various levels.

The UIM F1H2O World Championship, organized by the Union Internationale Motonautique and promoted by H2O Racing, is considered one of the world’s most competitive, dangerous and thrilling sports championships.


Merlier doubles up as Van der Poel denied epic win at Tour de France

Merlier doubles up as Van der Poel denied epic win at Tour de France
Updated 14 July 2025
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Merlier doubles up as Van der Poel denied epic win at Tour de France

Merlier doubles up as Van der Poel denied epic win at Tour de France
  • This was a second Tour win for Soudal Quick-Step sprinter Merlier this year, who was first across the line on stage three at Dunkirk
  • After finishing in the peloton on Sunday, Pogacar was already looking ahead to Monday’s mountainous 165.3km slog

CHATEAU, France: Tim Merlier won stage nine of the Tour de France at Chateauroux on Sunday after a heroic long-range escape from Mathieu van der Poel was caught in the final kilometer.

There was no change atop the overall standings with Tadej Pogacar now holding a 54sec advantage over Remco Evenepoel in second with French starlet Kevin Vauquelin third.

This was a second Tour win for Soudal Quick-Step sprinter Merlier this year, who was first across the line on stage three at Dunkirk.

Merlier was led in by team leader Evenepoel.

“It’s mad, we are supposed to be helping him (Evenepoel) but he’s helping us,” Merlier said.

“I need to make it through the mountains now, I won’t be any use to Remco there, but I want to help him in the other ones,” said the 32-year-old.

On a sun drenched slog from the Chinon vineyards, Van der Poel and a teammate broke early and built up a lead of 5min 30sec on the flat roads to Chateauroux.

Jonas Rickaert won the combativity award for accompanying Van der Poel to within 10km of the line before slumping over his handlebars.

“I’m really happy. That was one of his (Rickaert) dreams, to win the combativity award and that’s why we went,” Van der Poel explained.

“In the end we nearly made it but we hadn’t expected to get that far,” he said of his 173km breakaway at an average speed on 49.9kph.

As with many heroic exploits, their epic escape was ultimately doomed to a gut wrenching narrow failure.

But with his gung-ho all-in style Van der Poel grew his Tour de France legend here despite being caught with 700m to go, the plaudits will be both his and Merlier’s.

“It’s hard to not be able to finish it off, but we put on a good show,” said the Dutch rider.

As Van der Poel was reeled in, it looked as though Jonathan Milan would win a second consecutive stage but Merlier got ahead with 30m remaining as Milan finished second with Arnaud De Lie completing the podium.

Road signs in honor of British cycling great Mark Cavendish had been placed at entry points to Chateauroux — reading Cavendish City — in homage to the now-retired 40-year-old, after he won three stages there in 2008, 2011 and 2021.

Pogacar’s Tour de France defense took a hit Sunday as his key teammate Joao Almeida threw in the towel two days after his nasty fall at the Mur de Bretagne, where he fractured a rib.

“It’s a big loss he was in good shape. He’s our hero. I was suffering today so I understand how he must have felt. Every respect to him,” the Slovenian said.

Stage 10 should shake up the race with eight classified climbs in the Massif Central on the July 14 French national holiday.

After finishing in the peloton on Sunday, Pogacar was already looking ahead to Monday’s mountainous 165.3km slog.

“Visma have a strong team for tomorrow and I think Jonas (Vingegaard) will be ready,” Pogacar said of his great Danish rival.

“There will be attacks from the main contenders, it’s up and down all day.

“I’m pretty confident in my team though. I’m looking forward to the hard stages,” added the 26-year-old three-time champion.


Chelsea boss Maresca hails ‘great triumph’ in winning Club World Cup

Chelsea boss Maresca hails ‘great triumph’ in winning Club World Cup
Updated 14 July 2025
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Chelsea boss Maresca hails ‘great triumph’ in winning Club World Cup

Chelsea boss Maresca hails ‘great triumph’ in winning Club World Cup
  • Maresca: I have the feeling that this competition is going to be as important, if not more important than, the Champions League
  • Maresca only took over at Chelsea a year ago but was previously on the coaching staff under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City when they won the Champions League in 2023

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca insisted winning the Club World Cup meant as much as winning the Champions League after his side beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final of the first edition of FIFA’s new competition on Sunday.

“I have the feeling that this competition is going to be as important, if not more important than, the Champions League,” said Maresca after adding the trophy to the UEFA Conference League title his team won in May.

Maresca only took over at Chelsea a year ago but was previously on the coaching staff under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City when they won the Champions League in 2023.

“I was lucky to be on the coaching staff of a team that won the Champions League a few years ago, but this competition features the best teams in the world and I think we can value it on the same level,” said the Italian.

“It is a great triumph for us and it will allow the Chelsea fans to have that on our shirt for the next four years, so it is a source of pride.”

Maresca said he instructed his players to go out and take the game to PSG from the off — they went on to net all three goals in the first half with Cole Palmer netting a brace before Joao Pedro added his name to the scoresheet.

“The message was to let them understand that we were here to win the game and I think in the first 10 minutes we showed them that,” Maresca said.

“That set the tone of the game, and then the quality of the players was also important.”

England international Palmer was named player of the match after bagging a brace and setting up Joao Pedro’s goal.

The 23-year-old therefore lived up to his superstar billing — his face has appeared on billboards around New York advertising the tournament, alongside the likes of Real Madrid duo Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

“To score the goals was a great feeling, as was the way the team showed fire out there — the gaffer’s game plan was spot on,” he said.

“I just try to do my job every time I go onto the pitch and hopefully I will continue.

“I have seen the billboards in Times Square and outside Madison Square Garden and it is obviously a nice feeling to be alongside those players,” he added.


Rampant England and France reach Women’s Euro 2025 quarterfinals

Rampant England and France reach Women’s Euro 2025 quarterfinals
Updated 14 July 2025
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Rampant England and France reach Women’s Euro 2025 quarterfinals

Rampant England and France reach Women’s Euro 2025 quarterfinals
  • England will face Sweden in Zurich on Thursday, a repeat of the semifinal at the last Euros three years ago which the Lionesses won 4-0
  • France will take on Germany in Basel in the last quarterfinal on Saturday, and are on the same side of the knockout draw as world champions Spain who face hosts Switzerland on Friday

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland: Holders England reached the quarterfinals of Women’s Euro 2025 on Sunday after thrashing Wales 6-1 and taking second place in Group D behind France, who won 5-2 in a thrilling match with the Netherlands.

Georgia Stanway started England on their way from the penalty spot in the 13th minute and further goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones made sure of passage to the last eight.

England will face Sweden in Zurich on Thursday, a repeat of the semifinal at the last Euros three years ago which the Lionesses won 4-0.

But the Swedes look a tough proposition after topping Group C with a perfect nine points and swatting aside Germany on Saturday.

“We just wanted to be confident and enjoy it and I think we obviously play better football when we do that. I think there was more flow to the game tonight, there was better connections,” said midfielder Keira Walsh.

“(Sweden are) going to be a really tough opposition but we’re just going to keep trying to focus on what we’re doing, keep being confident, playing good football.”

France, meanwhile, will take on Germany in Basel in the last quarterfinal on Saturday, and are on the same side of the knockout draw as world champions Spain who face hosts Switzerland on Friday.

The French finished the group stage three points ahead of England after making it three wins from three thanks to Delphine Cascarino’s decisive double.

San Diego Wave forward Cascarino has been excellent in Switzerland, and she made sure that France would top the group with the key goals in a superb comeback from a goal down.

France, who opened the scoring through Sandie Toletti in the 22nd minute, trailed at the break to a Victoria Pelova strike and Selma Bacha’s clumsy own goal.

But Marie-Antoinette Katoto levelled for France just after the hour and the match was done six minutes later thanks to Cascarino’s fine finishes.

First Cascarino lashed France back ahead with a sumptuous, dipping long-range strike, before rolling in the fourth after Sandy Baltimore watched her shot ricochet off both posts.

Sakina Karchaoui completed the scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

“I’m having a good Euros, and it’s a real pleasure to play in a major tournament. I’m pleased and I hope that we can go a long way,” Cascarino told reporters.

In St. Gallen, England knew a win would be enough to seal a spot in the next round regardless of what happened in Basel, and once Stanway slotted home her penalty after being brought down by Carrie Jones there was no way back for Wales.

Eight minutes later Toone doubled England’s lead after Wales failed to clear and the Manchester United forward tapped home after her initial effort was blocked on the line by Lily Woodham.

Toone then turned provider on the half-hour with a perfect searching cross for Hemp, before Russo rolled home from close range just before half-time to get off the mark for the tournament.

Mead drilled home England’s fifth in the 72nd minute, but Hannah Cain gave Wales fans something to cheer about by lashing a fine consolation goal past Hannah Hampton.

And Beever-Jones completed the rout one minute from the end to send England through on a high.