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Asian Le Mans Series: Battles for podium places until final lap

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After a challenging Race 1 on Saturday, CrowdStrike Racing by APR made an incredible comeback on Sunday to win 4 Hours of Sepang Race 2 of the 2023/2024 Asian Le Mans Series at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

A close battle for the lead broke out in the second hour, and saw the Portuguese team move into third, passing #90 TF Sport. Five minutes later they passed #3 DKR Engineering for second and were on a strong charge to the front of the field.

Once ahead of the pack, the Oreca 07 of George Kurtz, Colin Braun and Malthe Jakobsen controlled the action-packed race for the final two hours and took the chequered flag for CrowdStrike’s first win in Asia.

The winner of Race 1, 99 Racing, took second place in the final moments with an impressive pass by Louis Deletraz, to seal their second podium finish of the weekend for Al Harty Ahmad, Nikita Mazepin and Deletraz. In third place, was Giorgio Roda, Julien Andlauer and Rene Binder in the #22 Proton Competition Oreca 07.

The 2022 Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 champions, CD Sport, took the class victory from fourth on the grid, with Michael Jensen, Nick Adcock and Fabien Lavergne behind the wheel of the Ligier JS P320

After a podium finish in their first race with the Series in Race 1, the #26 Bretton Racing Ligier JS P320 – Nissan of Dan Skocdopole, Julien Gerbi and Stefan Mihnea moved up another position into second for Race 2.

Saturday’s class winners, James Winslow, Alex Bukhantsov and Danial Frost in the #17 COOL Racing Ligier JS P320 – Nissan, finished third.

A start from sixth place did not hinder Alex Malykhin, Klaus Bachler and Joel Sturm in the #91 Pure Rxing Porsche 911 GT3 R, who stayed out of an incident-plagued race for the GT class, to win.

Race 1 GT class victors #42 Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO 2 of Christopher Haase, Gilles Magnus and Alban Varutti finished in second place, ahead of Mark Radcliffe, Rob Bell and Ollie Millroy in the #27 Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3.

The Asian Le Mans Series now heads to the United Arab Emirates where the Series continues with Race 3 in the Dubai Autodrome, 3 – 4 February 2024.

The calendar is as follows:

Race 1: Sepang (Malaysia) – 2 December 2023
Race 2: Sepang (Malaysia) – 3 December
Race 3: Dubai (UAE) – 4 February 2024
Race 4: Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi) – 10 February
Race 5: Yas Marina Circuit (Abu Dhabi) – 11 February

For fans

Ariana Television Network has once again made sure Afghans around the country will get the opportunity to watch this thrilling race. The first and second race in the five race Series will be broadcast in the coming days.

To catch up on the action, be sure to watch this space as ATN will soon announce dates and times of broadcasts.

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Japan, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan qualify for FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026

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Japan, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan have secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 after strong performances at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

The three Asian sides join hosts Qatar as confirmed representatives from the Asian Football Confederation for the expanded 48-team tournament later this year.

Japan booked their place after defeating Qatar and then beating China 2-1 in Group B. Anthony Motosuna and Maki Kitahara scored the goals that sealed a second straight victory and guaranteed qualification.

Saudi Arabia also advanced from Group A after a 2-0 win over Thailand. Marwan Al Yami opened the scoring early before Hassan Al Okrush added a late second goal, giving the Saudis six points from two matches following their opening win against Myanmar.

Tajikistan joined them after edging Myanmar 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Asadbek Makhtumov. The victory followed Tajikistan’s opening 2-0 win over Thailand and secured their place in Qatar 2026.

More teams could qualify on Sunday as the second round of matches in Groups C and D continues, with the final group-stage fixtures set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Afghan cricket delegation travels to China for technical cooperation

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A delegation from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has traveled to China following an official invitation from the Chinese government, in a move aimed at strengthening sports diplomacy and expanding technical cooperation in cricket between the two countries.

The delegation includes national coach Nawroz Mangal and players Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Faisal Shinozada, and Wahidullah Zadran.

Before their departure, ACB Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan met with the delegation, reaffirming the board’s commitment to developing and globalizing Afghan cricket. He also referenced previous international engagement efforts, including a memorandum of understanding signed with the Uzbekistan Cricket Federation focused on cricket development and technical collaboration.

Naseeb Khan highlighted existing economic and industrial ties between Afghanistan and China, expressing optimism that sports cooperation—particularly in cricket—could further strengthen bilateral relations. He emphasized that knowledge-sharing, technical exchange, and joint development initiatives would support the growth of the sport in both countries.

During their visit, the Afghan delegation is expected to hold discussions on cricket development, community engagement, and the role of sport in society. The program also includes participation in workshops, attendance at a cricket match organized by Chinese cricket authorities, and visits to sports technology and innovation exhibitions.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has increasingly pursued regional partnerships in recent years. Last year, it signed a cooperation agreement with the Uzbekistan Cricket Federation covering technical exchange, capacity building, development programs, and educational workshops aimed at expanding cricket infrastructure and expertise in the region.

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Los Angeles to welcome the world with historic FIFA World Cup 2026 opening event

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The United States is set to welcome the world with a major opening ceremony for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as Los Angeles prepares to host a star-powered celebration marking the start of the tournament across North America.

FIFA announced that global music stars including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla will headline the ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, June 12.

The event will officially launch what FIFA described as a “historic summer of football” across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Organizers said the ceremony will combine football, music and entertainment in a large-scale production designed to reflect the cultural diversity and global appeal of the tournament.

Gianni Infantino said the ceremony in Los Angeles would showcase the scale and ambition of the 2026 World Cup, adding that the lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the power of music to unite people.

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, three opening ceremonies will take place across the three host nations. Mexico City will host the first ceremony on June 11, followed by celebrations in Toronto and Los Angeles on June 12.

The opening match in the United States will see the U.S. national team face Paraguay. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature a record 104 matches across 16 host cities, beginning on June 11 in Mexico City and ending with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Football fans in Afghanistan will be able to follow all the action live on the Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country. ATN will broadcast matches live on Ariana Television, providing full coverage of the world’s biggest football event for Afghan viewers.

Fans are also encouraged to stay connected with Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, including match schedules, team news, and other FIFA World Cup 2026 developments as the tournament draws closer.

 
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