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Asian Le Mans Series returns to Malaysian circuit

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The exciting 2023/4 Asian Le Mans Series will begin at the Sepang international circuit in Malaysia Saturday, December 2, in the first of five rounds of four-hour races.

Last season saw a record number of people watching the thrilling 2023 Asian Le Mans Series, and the coming season promises even more thrills.

The opening round at the Sepang International Circuit on Saturday will feature 39 cars and 117 drivers from around the world.

The drivers will include winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the pinnacle of endurance racing, along with many regulars from the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The list also features exceptionally talented drivers backed by leading GT manufacturers, along with highly experienced and successful amateur drivers.

A return to Asia has attracted more Asian driver talent and this season will see some very talented drivers from the Asia Pacific region on the grid.

Young Singaporean driver Danial Frost will make his LMP3 debut with COOL Racing in Sepang at what is almost a home race for him. He competed in the IndyNXT series in 2023, winning the opening race in St Petersburg.

Silver rated Chinese driver Kerong Li will be joined by Malaysian racer Adrian D’Silva, and the hugely talented Kiwi racer, Earl Bamber in the #84 EBM Porsche 911 GT3 R.

FIA WEC and Asian Le Mans Series regulars, Satoshi Hoshino and Tomonobu Fujii will return with D’Station Racing for their 5th season with an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3.

Another Series regular from Japan, 2018/2019 GT champion, Kei Cozzolino will also return in the #82 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3.

With 39 cars set to do battle around the Sepang International Circuit in the opening round of the 2023 /2024 championship, this will be the biggest ever Asian Le Mans Series grid in Malaysia.

The Sepang International Circuit has played an important part in the history and development of the Series and the first time the Asian Le Mans Series raced at Sepang was in 2014. The Malaysian circuit featured on the calendar every season until 2020.

The Asian Le Mans Series is growing year on year and is attracting some of the world’s most successful endurance racing teams, as well as fostering new and emerging talent from the region.

The return of Sepang to the calendar will see the season expanded to five races, with the hugely popular races in Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina Circuit also set to feature.

As always, it will not just be Championship glory that the teams and drivers will be fighting for, there will also be invitations to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024 on the line. The Champions of the LMP2 and GT classes will both be awarded an invitation to race at the iconic event.

 

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 the fans

Ariana Television Network has once again made sure Afghans around the country will get the opportunity to watch this thrilling race. The first 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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