The international automotive competition 'Paris-Beijing along the Great Silk Road,' which began in July, was held for the first time in the territory of Karakalpakstan. This large-scale road race is planned until September 2026 and includes many countries such as Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.
Participants arrived in Karakalpakstan on July 30, following a route that passed through Beyneu in Kazakhstan, then Zhaslyk (Davut-ota), and concluded in Nukus.
The French company ATYPIC Travel Organisation organized this project. The goal of the event is not only to hold a sporting event but also to present the cultural heritage and natural beauty of the countries along the Great Silk Road to the world community.
For Karakalpakstan, participation in the rally provides an opportunity to present itself on the international stage, showcasing its unique natural landscapes, rich historical past, distinctiveness, and tourism potential.
In Nukus, visitors can explore one of the world's famous avant-garde museums, see the path to the shrinking Aral Sea, and feel the expanse of the Karakalpak steppes. Nevertheless, the region is not yet among the main tourist destinations, as most tourists prefer to visit Samarkand, Bukhara, or Khiva.
The Stormers team is looking back at a fifty-year history while keeping the squad strictly confidential ahead of the historic clash with the touring All Blacks at DHL Stadium on Friday evening (match starts at 19:00).
The contest between the South African provincial team and the New Zealand representatives is a rare occurrence. In the case of the Cape Town region team, the last meeting took place half a century ago when Western Province defeated the All Blacks in Newlands in 1976 with a score of 12:11.
On Tuesday, speaking to journalists, Stormers forwards coach Rito Khulungwane stated that head coach John Dobson mentioned this landmark success during preparations for the first match of the great rivalry series in rugby. Khulungwane noted: 'Dobbo really mentioned it to the team two weeks ago. I saw several videos, so our players are aware of it. We delved into the details of who played in that team, how we won, who scored the touchdowns. We know who played, and we know how that game ended, and that is something we are very proud of—the history of this club and what they achieved 50 years ago.'
Forwards veteran Deon Fury supported these sentiments, emphasizing that the opportunity to play against the touring national team is a unique privilege. He said: 'An opportunity like this doesn't come every four years like the World Cup. The last time was 50 years ago, and now we have another chance. We don't know if such an opportunity will arise again. We just need to grab it with both hands and not disappoint ourselves or this club.'
Despite the history hanging over this match, the Stormers remain closed about their squad. The publication IOL Sport reported on Sunday that young junior Springbok Yakin Ahmed, despite being a 20-year-old U20 champion who has not yet played for the top-tier franchise, is ready to unexpectedly feature in the starting lineup.
Khulungwane neither confirmed nor denied whether the talented Ahmed or other U20 World Rugby champions will be in the squad. He added: 'Yakin is training with us. As you know, we usually announce the squad later in the week.' He also mentioned that left prop Oliver Reid has returned to full training along with several other Junior Boks.
The coaching staff is also closely monitoring the physical condition of the players in the midfield. Defenders J.D. Schickelring and Riley Norton, who is himself a former Junior Springbok captain, resumed training after injuries, but Khulungwane admitted that the medical team might decide not to risk any of these forwards against Dave Renne's guests.
If Schickelring and Norton are taken out of the game, Stormers will maintain useful versatility in the second line. Khulungwane stated: 'Andre Smith is available, Connor Evans is available, and Rowan Ackermann has played in defense before, so we have options.'
Former Indian cricketer and commentator Akash Chopra issued a warning to the Indian team regarding the race in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC). He considers the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka critically important, comparing it to a 'fight or die' situation.
According to the latest test results, India's position in the WTC table is not strong. Akash Chopra noted that if India does not perform well during the visit to Sri Lanka, it could seriously undermine hopes of reaching the WTC final, which will be held at Lord's.
India is scheduled to play two Test matches against Sri Lanka starting on August 15. This series is considered extremely significant not only for winning but also for maintaining chances in the WTC race.
Furthermore, the Indian team has suffered a major blow: fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has withdrawn from this series due to injury, weakening the Indian bowling attack.
Discussing India's situation in the WTC on his YouTube channel, Chopra emphasized the importance of the series against Sri Lanka. He explained that if India loses this series 2-0, its WTC percentage points (PCT) will be around 39%, while Sri Lanka would take fourth place with 61 PCT, becoming a strong contender for the WTC final.
Conversely, if India wins the series 2-0, its PCT will rise to 57.58, strengthening hopes for the final. In case of a 1-1 draw, India will not gain a significant advantage: its PCT will be around 48.48, and Sri Lanka's will be 44.44, leading to only a slight change in both teams' positions.
Chopra also pointed out that India's future schedule will not be easy. After the trip to Sri Lanka, the team is set to play two Tests in New Zealand, followed by five home Tests against Australia.
In the expert's opinion, winning in New Zealand has always been a difficult task, and facing such a strong team as Australia will not be an easy challenge. This is why he believes India is currently in a difficult position in the WTC qualification race. A successful performance in Sri Lanka will allow India to maintain its claims for the WTC final, but poor results could make the team's journey extremely difficult.
The Indian team has arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series. However, 24-year-old left-hander Sai Sudarshan could not join the squad as he is still recovering from a big toe injury.
He sustained the injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy match and subsequently underwent rehabilitation at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE). The medical team is closely monitoring his recovery, and reports indicate that he has not yet received medical clearance from the BCCI. He will only be able to join the team after receiving the green light.
Before the start of the Test series, the Indian squad is scheduled to play a three-day practice match against the Sri Lankan team on August 7th. The first Test is planned for August 15-19 in Galle, while the second and final Test will take place from August 23-27 in Colombo.
The team management views Sai Sudarshan as a potential player for the No. 3 position in the Test match lineup. Nevertheless, he has not fully cemented this spot, and his performance has been regularly questioned. Despite this, his performance with 81 runs in a single Test match against Afghanistan boosted his confidence.
If he cannot recover fully in time, there is a possibility that Devdhadh Padikkal might get a chance to feature in the starting XI for the first Test.
The Indian squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka includes: Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudarshan, Dhruva Jurrel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Sutara, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnaur Barada, Devdhadh Padikkal, Akib Nabi, and Saransh Jana.
