Ogura fastest as Aprilia sweep top three in MotoGP Jerez test

Cristiano Ronaldo shared a light-hearted exchange with an Al Ahli fan following Al Nassr's 2-0 win in their latest Saudi Pro League clash. The two sides met on Wednesday, just days after Al Ahli secured their second consecutive AFC Champions League Elite title with victory over Machida Zelvia in the 2026 final. The 41-year-old was on the scoresheet alongside Kingsley Coman as the league leaders extended their gap to eight points over Al Hilal, who have a game in hand.

 

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During a post-match interview, a fan off-camera referenced Al Ahli's recent continental success, prompting a cheeky response from the Portuguese forward. "I have five [UEFA] Champions League [titles]," he said, referring to the four he won with Real Madrid and one with Manchester United. Ronaldo will have the opportunity to add another continental honour to his collection when Al Nassr face Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two on May 17.

كريستيانو رونالدو ردًا على أحد جماهير الأهلي بعد المباراة ⚠️

«أنا لدي 5 بطولات دوري أبطال.»#النصر_الأهلي | #استديو_ثمانية pic.twitter.com/7lt4RPP0VU — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) April 29, 2026

On Tuesday, France stunned the badminton world with a 4–1 victory over Indonesia at the 2026 Thomas Cup, knocking out the 14-time champions in one of the tournament’s biggest shocks. For France, it stands as one of their greatest-ever badminton achievements. For Indonesia, it marked one of their most disappointing campaigns, as it was only the second time they failed to reach the semi-finals, after 2012.

Thomas Cup - Indonesia 🇮🇩 come face-to-face against France 🇫🇷 in Group D.#ThomasUberCupFinals #Horsens2026 pic.twitter.com/aO5Tdq7jnQ

— BWF (@bwfmedia) April 29, 2026

More broadly, the result reinforces a defining truth of the Thomas Cup: reputation and history guarantee nothing. Across eras, even the most dominant teams have been toppled by emerging challengers, often in ties decided by depth, momentum and a handful of pivotal moments. On top of France’s latest triumph, here are five of the greatest examples.

The new kings of badminton arrive (1982)

China’s Thomas Cup debut could not have been more emphatic, as they defeated Indonesia 5-4 in the London final, overturning the established order in one of the sport’s defining results. After trailing 3-1 following the first day, China mounted a remarkable comeback. Luan Jin set the tone by defeating eight-time All England champion Rudy Hartono, before Han Jian and Chen Changjie levelled the tie. Sun Zhian and Yao Ximing then combined to deliver the decisive point. The victory not only secured China’s first title but also marked the beginning of their long-standing dominance in world badminton.

#TodayInHistory On May 21, 1982, the Chinese men’s badminton team claimed the Thomas Cup for the first time. This historic triumph signaled the onset of China’s reign in international badminton. #OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/gfNNq9Qr5k

— VideoChina (@videochinatv) May 21, 2025

Shock early exit for Malaysia at home (2000)

Host nation Malaysia entered the Kuala Lumpur edition with high expectations, fielding a squad largely unchanged from their runner-up finish in 1998. However, their campaign unravelled early. A 3-2 loss to South Korea and a heavy 4-1 defeat to Denmark resulted in a group-stage exit. It remains one of the few occasions a host nation failed to progress beyond the opening round.

Japan rise up (2014)

Japan’s 2014 triumph was shaped by a semi-final upset that shifted the balance of the tournament. Facing defending champions China, the Kento Momota-led side produced a dominant 3-0 sweep, eliminating the traditional powerhouse in one of the most decisive upsets. With the tournament’s dominant force removed, Japan carried that momentum into the final, where they edged Malaysia 3-2 to secure their first-ever Thomas Cup title.

South Korea stun China (2016)

In 2016, South Korea delivered one of the most significant modern-era upsets by defeating China 3-1 in the quarter-finals. China, competing on home soil, had never failed to reach the semi-finals since entering the competition in 1982. Their early exit marked a rare break in their dominance and underlined the increasing competitiveness of the field.

India’s underdog story (2022)

India’s 2022 campaign stands as one of the most remarkable runs in Thomas Cup history as they claimed their maiden title in Bangkok. Not among the pre-tournament favourites, India built their success on resilience in the knockout stages, with H. S. Prannoy delivering crucial wins against Malaysia and Denmark to guide them into the final. Against defending champions Indonesia, India showed no signs of nerves. Lakshya Sen overturned a deficit to defeat Anthony Ginting, before the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty overcame Mohammad Ahsan and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. Kidambi Srikanth then beat Jonatan Christie to seal a 3-0 victory and clinch the title.

The 2025/26 A-League regular season has concluded, setting the stage for the Finals Series. Premiers Newcastle Jets and second-placed Adelaide United have secured direct passage to the semi-finals, where they await the winners of Auckland FC vs Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC.

Date	Match
May 2	Elimination Finals: Auckland FC vs Melbourne City
May 2	Elimination Finals: Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
May 8-10 & 15	Semi-Finals: Adelaide United vs TBA
May 8-10 & 16	Semi-Finals: Newcastle Jets vs TBA
May 23-24	Grand Final

Here’s how each of the six teams booked their place.

 

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Newcastle Jets

Best Finals performance: Champions (2008) Few would have predicted Newcastle Jets to finish on top after a difficult start to the campaign, which saw them lose six of their opening 10 matches. However, their season turned around after the turn of the year, beginning with a 3-1 win over Auckland FC that sparked an eight-game winning streak, which lifted them from ninth to the top of the table. Results elsewhere, including a crucial favour from F3 rivals Central Coast Mariners in the penultimate round, confirmed their Premiership triumph. Having also won the Australia Cup earlier in the season, Mark Milligan’s side are now chasing a rare domestic treble.

 

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Adelaide United

Best Finals performance: Champions (2016) Adelaide United built their campaign on a strong second half, recovering from an inconsistent start to emerge as one of the most efficient sides in the run-in. Under head coach Airton Andrioli, they steadily accumulated points to remain within reach of the top two before delivering when it mattered most. Luka Jovanovic’s late winner against Melbourne City on the final day secured second place ahead of Auckland FC, earning them a direct route to the semi-finals.

Definition of Clutch 😍

The goal that seals second and Asia 🙌#MCYvADL https://t.co/dSsHLsBu4b pic.twitter.com/ILVf3jorar — Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) April 26, 2026

Auckland FC

Best Finals performance: Semi-finals (2025) Auckland FC spent much of the season in the top two, underpinned by the league’s second-best defensive record. However, their form dipped at a crucial stage, with three draws and two defeats in the final five rounds costing them a semi-final berth. Despite that late slide, a third-place finish still guarantees home advantage in their elimination final against Melbourne City — a fixture they won 3-0 in the regular season at Go Media Stadium.

 

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Melbourne Victory

Best Finals performance: Champions (2007, 2009, 2015, 2018) After collecting just five points from their first seven matches, Melbourne Victory improved significantly, largely due to the influence of Juan Mata. The former Manchester United and Chelsea playmaker’s creativity and control in possession lifted their attacking output and earned him two Player of the Month awards. Even after Mata’s late-season elbow injury, Victory maintained enough consistency to secure their place in the top six.

Who else but Juan Mata to finish top of the assists charts! 🔵🔥

The Melbourne Victory star's 13 assists tally is the third-most of any player in an Isuzu UTE A-League season. Inevitable 🪄 pic.twitter.com/yPHU4h4RNC — Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) April 28, 2026

Sydney FC

Best Finals performance: Champions (2006, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2020) Sydney FC looked on course for a top-two finish, even leading the standings at one stage. However, unfortunate injuries, particularly to key player Joe Lolley, disrupted their attacking rhythm. A return of four wins in 12 matches after the new year saw them slide down the standings and prompted a coaching change, with Ufuk Talay replaced by Patrick Kisnorbo in March. Kisnorbo steadied the side with an unbeaten finish to the regular season, highlighted by a 2-0 win over rivals Western Sydney Wanderers.

 

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Melbourne City

Best Finals performance: Champions (2021, 2025) Balancing domestic competition with AFC Champions League Elite fixtures appeared to affect Melbourne City’s early form, as they managed just five wins in their first 19 league matches. Following their continental exit, their domestic performances improved significantly. They collected 16 points from the final seven rounds, including key wins over direct competitors Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix to make the cut.

 

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The 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships will take place in London, England from April 28 to May 10, bringing together the world’s top teams across both the men’s and women’s events. Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand will represent Southeast Asia, with all three nations fielding men's and women's squads as they look to test themselves against higher-ranked opposition and push for a place in the knockout stages. Here’s a closer look at the Southeast Asian trio ahead of the tournament, which will be broadcast live on SPOTV NOW.

Singapore

Singapore remain one of Asia’s strongest sides outside the traditional powerhouses, built around a well-established women’s programme. Their women’s team have consistently competed at the highest level, highlighted by their historic gold medal at the 2010 edition, and continue to be regular contenders for the knockout rounds. With experience and depth across the squad, they enter the tournament as Southeast Asia’s most credible threat.

	Players	Group Stage Opponents
Men's Team	Izaac Quek (145th) Pang Yew En Koen (176th) Josh Chua (220th) Ellsworth Le (274th) Nicholas Tan (328th)	Angola - April 29 USA - April 30 Ivory Coast - May 1
Women's Team	Zeng Jian (34th) Ser Lin Qian (98th) Tan Zhao Yun (157th) Loy Ming Ying (189th) Chloe Lai (221st)	Trinidad & Tobago - April 28 Hungary - April 30 Ethiopia - May 1

Malaysia

Malaysia arrive in London with contrasting prospects across their squads. The women’s team have shown steady progress in recent years, including a notable upset victory over the United States in 2022 and a Round of 16 finish in 2024, signalling their growing competitiveness on the world stage. The men’s team, however, will be under pressure to deliver a response after a winless campaign in 2024, and will be aiming to regain momentum against strong opposition.

	Players	Group Stage Opponents
Men's Team	Wong Qi Shen (171st) Choong Javen (533rd) Tey Hong Yu (641st)	Austria - April 29 Togo - April 30 Italy - May 1
Women's Team	Tee Ai Xin (220th) Karen Lyne (243rd) Chang Li Sian (287th) Ho Ying (454th)	Dominican Republic - April 28 USA - April 29 Namibia - May 1

 

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Thailand

Thailand’s strength once again lies with their women’s team, who have become increasingly competitive in recent editions. Their Round of 16 finish in 2024 has demonstrated their ability to challenge higher-ranked opponents, and they will be looking to build on that progress in London. The men’s team, meanwhile, are seeking a turnaround after winless outings in both 2022 and 2024, with their last victory at the championships dating back to 2018.

	Players	Group Stage Opponents
Men's Team	Thitaphat Preechayan (273rd) Phakpoom Sanguansin (711st) Sarayut Tancharoen (712nd)	Egypt - April 28 Turkiye - April 29 Kazakhstan - April 30
Women's Team	Orawan Paranang (79th) Suthasini Sawettabut (113th) Jinnipa Sawettabut (293rd) Wanwisa Aueawiriyayothin (N/A) Tamolwan Khetkhuan (N/A)	Slovenia - April 28 Serbia - April 29 Benin - April 30

 

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