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Indonesian driver Sean Gelael is set to make his GT World Challenge Asia debut in the upcoming round at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit. The 29-year-old will make a one-off appearance for Garage 75 in the Silver Cup category, lining up against the likes of Malaysia’s Akash Nandy and Chinese duo Franky Cheng Congfu and James Yu Kuai.

 

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Gelael, who also competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup this season, will drive a Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in the two 60-minute races. The Mandalika outing will also mark his first competitive appearance at the circuit, adding further significance to the weekend. “I am so happy to finally race at Mandalika,” he said. “This will also be the first time, except for rallying, that I have contested an international car race in front of my beloved Indonesian crowd. So it promises to be a very special moment indeed.” Gelael will not be the only Indonesian on the grid, joining Anderson Tanoto He, Andrew Haryanto, Setiawan Santoso and David Tjiptobiantoro, ensuring strong home representation. The races are scheduled for May 2 and 3, live on SPOTV NOW.

Álex Rins confirmed he will leave the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team at the end of the 2026 season. The 30-year-old made the announcement on Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, revealing that the Japanese team already signed a replacement, widely rumoured to be Ai Ogura.

 

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"11 days ago, when I called Massimo Meregalli, I asked him straight away, do you have any update?" he said. "He told me he shouldn’t say anything, but he would tell me because he has a good relationship with me. He said, ‘don’t say anything now, but we have signed the second rider.’ "I’m not in a really good moment because of this news […] But they took a decision, so I need to respect it. "I will be giving 100%. I’m the same Alex who won with Suzuki and Honda, and there are still 18 races in front of us. So we’re going to go for everything." Rins joined Yamaha in 2024 after recovering from a serious leg injury but struggled to get back to his best and match the pace of team-mate Fabio Quartararo.

 

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The 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals will take place in Horsens, Denmark from April 24 to May 3, with defending champions China once again entering as the team to beat in both competitions. In the Thomas Cup, China have named a near full-strength squad, with only two doubles players ranked outside the top 20. While that slightly impacts their overall men’s doubles average, their depth across both singles and doubles still sets the benchmark for the rest of the field.

 

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Japan, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia remain close challengers with well-balanced line-ups, while Malaysia stand out in particular for their strength in men’s doubles, arguably fielding the most formidable unit in the competition. In the Uber Cup, China again lead the way, with all but one of their players ranked inside the world’s top 10, a reflection of their depth and consistency in the women’s game. Japan and Chinese Taipei come closest to matching that level, but still lack the same overall balance across the squad.

 

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The margins between the leading teams may appear clear, but team events often hinge on match-ups, form and composure under pressure rather than rankings alone. The following tables break down how each squad shapes up ahead of the tournament.

Thomas Cup

Team	Total Players	Avg MS Ranking	Avg MD Ranking	Group
China	10	11.0	82.0	A
India	10	29.4	19.0	A
Canada	10	328.0	143.0	A
Australia	7	668.6	363.1	A
Japan	10	20.4	21.7	B
Malaysia	10	49.5	5.0	B
England	10	372.0	82.7	B
Finland	6	479.8	930.2	B
Chinese Taipei	10	16.8	16.3	C
Denmark	10	31.8	24.3	C
South Korea	10	104.3	55.0	C
Sweden	10	448.8	407.4	C
Indonesia	10	26.5	9.0	D
France	10	31.3	45.0	D
Thailand	10	143.3	50.3	D
Algeria	5	815.5	274.0	D

 

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Uber Cup

Team	Total Players	Avg WS Ranking	Avg WD Ranking	Group
China	10	26.8	4.7	A
India	10	70.5	258.4	A
Denmark	10	28.8	343.0	A
Ukraine	8	374.1	199.0	A
Japan	10	21.6	10.0	B
Malaysia	10	224.0	93.2	B
Türkiye	8	106.7	261.2	B
South Africa	5	600.3	357.4	B
Chinese Taipei	10	24.5	15.0	C
Indonesia	10	84.8	22.7	C
Canada	9	322.6	187.7	C
Australia	6	470.0	240.0	C
South Korea	10	74.3	30.8	D
Thailand	10	10.8	292.7	D
Bulgaria	9	201.6	295.7	D
Spain	9	205.7	201.0	D

Cristiano Ronaldo could soon share the pitch with his son, with Al Nassr reportedly weighing up a first-team promotion for Cristiano Ronaldo Jr next season. According to Saudi outlet Al Weeam, the Saudi Pro League leaders are expected to decide on the 15-year-old’s status at the end of the current campaign. Renowned transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that discussions are ongoing.

🚨 Al Nassr are considering to bring Cristiano Ronaldo Jr with the first team in training from next season.

He’s turning 16 in June and Al Nassr are closely monitoring his development + best options for his pathway. Inclusion in first squad is an option, as @alweeamnews report. pic.twitter.com/oXqnP1mXea — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 21, 2026

Ronaldo Jr currently plays for Al Nassr’s Under-17 side and has already represented Portugal at youth international level, highlighting his rapid development within the club’s academy. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Ronaldo remains under contract with Al Nassr until June 2027, raising the possibility of a rare father–son partnership at senior level if the promotion materialises.

 

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One of the most notable father-son examples came when Brazilian great Rivaldo came out of retirement to play alongside his son Rivaldinho for Brazilian Serie B club Mogi Mirim. The duo even scored in the same match against Macaé Esporte in July 2015.