Chennai

Celebrated Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will begin his Diamond League campaign at the Qatar Sports Club in Doha on Friday against a familiar but formidable field of rivals, eyeing a perfect start to the season in which he will be defending his world championship crown later this year.

The Qatar Sports Club has been a happy hunting ground for Neeraj. He won the Doha leg of the Diamond League in 2023 and finished second in 2024.

Chopra’s compatriot Kishore Jena, who won a javelin silver medal at the Asian Games but is struggling of late, will also be one of the 11 competitors.

Jena (Personal Best: 87.54m) competed here in 2024 as well, finishing ninth with a throw of 76.31m.

Who will be the main challengers of Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena?

• Two-time world champion and 2024 Olympics bronze-winner Anderson Peters of Grenada
• Jakub Vadlejch of Czechia, who won here in 2024
• German duo of Julian Weber and Max Dehning
• Kenya’s Julius Yego
• Roderick Genki Dean of Japan.

Interestingly, five of the Doha participants — Peters, Yego, Dean, Chopra and Jena — were also scheduled to face each other in the inaugural NC Classic in Bengaluru on May 24, but that event has been postponed in the wake of tensions between India and Pakistan, which led to military confrontation.

Will Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem compete in Doha Diamond League 2025?

No, 2024 Paris Olympics gold-winner Arshad Nadeem will not compete in Doha Diamond League 2025.

Who are the other Indians in action?

• Gulveer Singh is all set for his Diamond League debut when he takes to the tracks for the men’s 5000m race.
• National record holder Parul Chaudhary is in the entry list for the women’s 3000m steeplechase event.

Parul, who holds both the women’s 5000m and 3000m steeplechase national records, finished 16th in the steeplechase event at the Eugene leg last year on her Diamond League debut.

Gulveer holds the 5000m national record courtesy of a 13:11.82-second run he recorded in Japan last year. 

Where to watch Doha Diamond League 2025 live in India?

The Doha Diamond League 2025 will be available to watch on live streaming in India on the Wanda Diamond League YouTube channel and Facebook page.

All events, including Neeraj Chopra’s javelin throw match, will be live streamed.

Doha Diamond League 2025 schedule (only for Indian athletes)

**All timings given are according to Indian Standard Time (IST)

(inputs from PTI)

Boxing great Manny Pacquiao is coming out of retirement to fight Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight crown in July.

Pacquiao’s team made the announcement on Thursday, just hours after he conceded defeat in a bid for another seat in the Philippines Senate.

“His comeback aligns with his scheduled induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June, capping a storied sports legacy that continues to inspire millions of Filipino people,” the press statement said.

It was not clear if the fight at a Las Vegas venue to be decided is a one-off or if 46-year-old Pacquiao is coming out of a four-year retirement to box full-time. Asked to clarify, his communications officer Joey Hernal said the media should wait for Pacquiao’s own press conference.

In the statement, Pacquiao promised to continue serving the country despite losing in the mid-term elections. “I may not have won in my run for the Senate, but I am totally grateful for each vote, each prayer and support,” Pacquaio said in Filipino.

He even thanked voters who did not choose him because “you were part of the process to strengthen our democracy.”

ALSO READ | Jake Paul aims to ‘embarrass’ former world champion Julio Chavez Jr

He said he remains committed to serve the country. “The fight continues. Service continues. For God. For the country. For each Filipino,” he added.

Pacquiao previously served as a senator from 2016-22. He then made a bid for the presidency in 2022 elections but failed. In the mid-term elections on Monday, Pacquiao vied for a second stint in the Senate but finished 18th in voting when only the top 12 made it.

He joins the Canastota, New York-based Hall of Fame next month as one of the most decorated boxers in history.

A world champion in eight divisions from flyweight to super welterweight, he appeared to end a 26-year career in 2021 with a record of 62-8-2 (39 KOs).

Barrios retained the WBC welterweight belt with a draw against Abel Ramos last November in Arlington, Texas.

Reigning champion Australia will be up against South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

In the lead-up to the final, the International Cricket Council has announced the prize money for the biggest event of the longest format of the sport. The total prize pool for the WTC 2023-25 Final is USD $5.76 million (Rs. 49.28 Crore), more than double that of the previous two editions.

The champions will walk away with USD $3.6 million (Rs. 30.80 Crore), a significant jump from the USD $1.6 million awarded in both 2021 and 2023, while the runners-up will earn USD $2.16 million (Rs. 18.48 Crore), up from USD $800,000.

India, which finished third on the table, will receive $1.44 million (Rs. 12.32 crore).

South Africa topped the WTC standings and became the first team to secure a spot in the final, courtesy of series victories over Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, along with a drawn home series against India.

Meanwhile, Australia booked its place in the final with a 3-1 triumph over India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Its strong campaign also included a 3-0 sweep of Pakistan at home and away series wins against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Here’s the full break down of the prize money each team will get: