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Qatar’s Akram Afif nominated for third Asian Player of the Year award

Reigning Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif has again been included on the three-man shortlist for the Asian Football Confederation’s annual award, alongside Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari and Arif Aiman of Malaysia.Australian Holly McNamara, Wang Shuang from China and Japanese defender Hana Takahashi have been nominated for the women’s award.Qatari forward Afif, who also won in 2019, would become the first three-times winner of the title should he lift the trophy at a gala ceremony in Riyadh on October 16.Al-Hilal’s Al-Dawsari is hoping to win for a second time after being crowned in 2022, while Johor Darul Ta’zim winger Arif is the first Malaysian to be nominated for the award.Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League winner Lee Kang-in from South Korea has been listed for the AFC’s International Player of the Year Award alongside Iran’s Mehdi Taremi and Takefusa Kubo from Japan.

Alcaraz survives injury scare and rain delay to win Tokyo opener

TOKYO: World number one Carlos Alcaraz shrugged off an ankle injury to beat Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday in a gritty start to his Japan Open campaign. US Open champion Alcaraz crumpled to the ground chasing a shot in the fifth game of the opening set in Tokyo and sat on the court grimacing for several minutes. The Spaniard had his left ankle heavily strapped during a medical timeout before gingerly returning. He soon began to move comfortably and broke world number 41 Baez to take a 5-4 lead. The match was delayed for a further half an hour as organizers closed the stadium roof with rain falling. Alcaraz returned strongly and closed out the first set before breezing past Baez in the second. “I have to see later if the outcome is going to be good,” Alcaraz said of his injury after the match. Alcaraz is playing at the Japan Open for the first time and the crowd gave him a warm cheer as he emerged in a burgundy sleeveless outfit with platinum blond hair. But their applause soon turned to concern when he went down injured halfway through the first set, with his reaction suggesting he may be unable to continue. Alcaraz somehow found a way to carry on and went on to dominate the match, winning in 1 hour and 30 minutes when Baez hit a return long. Number two seed Taylor Fritz of the US survived a tough opening test against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo to go through 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). Fritz, the world number five, beat Alcaraz at the Laver Cup in San Francisco last week. Norway’s number four seed Casper Ruud also advanced, with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki. Number five seed Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic went out after losing 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro.

Kandas di Korea Open 2025, Ginting Kirim Unek-unek ke BWF

Anthony Sinisuka Ginting kandas di 16 besar Korea Open 2025. Ginting kirim unek-unek ke BWF soal lapangan yang tidak menggunakan Instant Replay System (IRS).

Dodgers' Roki Sasaki activated, likely to pitch out of bullpen - ESPN

PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers activated rookie Roki Sasaki from the 60-day injured list Wednesday, and the right-hander is expected to throw out of the bullpen over the final five games of the regular season to see if he can earn a postseason role.

Canadian women to face Dutch in women's soccer friendly in October

Canada will face the 11th-ranked Netherlands in a women's soccer friendly during the October FIFA window.

Fantastic Four: Pakistan’s top baseball players look to elevate country on global stage

DUBAI: Baseball United, the first professional league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, has announced the signing of four Pakistani players to the Karachi Monarchs, the nation’s first franchise.

Tim Balap Indonesia Nyaris Sapu Bersih Podium GT4 Japan Cup 2025

Tim balapan Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia bersinar di ajang GT4 Japan Cup. Di empat seri, Haridarma Manoppo dan Seita Nonaka nyaris sapu bersih podium.

PSG’s Dembélé wins the Ballon d’Or and Barcelona’s Bonmati achieves award hat trick

PARIS: Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or for leading Paris Saint-Germain to its first Champions League title and Aitana Bonmatí received the women’s award for a third successive year on Monday. Dembélé succeeded Manchester City midfielder Rodri to become the sixth Frenchman to win it after Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema. Bonmatí won ahead of her Spain teammate Mariona Caldentey. She’s only the third player in the award’s history to win three in a row after Platini (1983–85) and Lionel Messi (2009-12). The award capped a remarkable turn of fortune for Dembélé, who at one point last season was snubbed by PSG coach Luis Enrique for disciplinary reasons. But once repositioned as a No. 9, he became a scoring machine and was inspirational in PSG’s historic Champions League campaign. The French club also completed a quadruple last season. Dembélé was praised after the Champions League final for the way he contributed to PSG’s pressing and his ability to defend during the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan. He delivered 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 official matches last season, and was involved in 14 goals (8 goals, 6 assists) in the Champions League in 15 appearances.

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Japan Sport News

Qatar’s Akram Afif nominated for third Asian Player of the Year award

Alcaraz survives injury scare and rain delay to win Tokyo opener

Kandas di Korea Open 2025, Ginting Kirim Unek-unek ke BWF

Dodgers' Roki Sasaki activated, likely to pitch out of bullpen - ESPN

Canadian women to face Dutch in women's soccer friendly in October

Fantastic Four: Pakistan’s top baseball players look to elevate country on global stage

Tim Balap Indonesia Nyaris Sapu Bersih Podium GT4 Japan Cup 2025

PSG’s Dembélé wins the Ballon d’Or and Barcelona’s Bonmati achieves award hat trick