Sainz signs new contract with F1 team Williams

London: Carlos Sainz signed a "multi-year" contract extension with Formula One team Williams on Wednesday to quash speculation about his future.

Sainz agreed to stay at Williams just 24 hours after the British team confirmed his team-mate Alex Albon will be retained for the 2027 campaign.

The former Ferrari and McLaren driver has endured a disappointing season so far. betsport24.es

But the four-time Grand Prix winner, who has failed to score a point at the last six rounds, has elected to remain with Williams for the foreseeable future.

"I'm thrilled to announce my continued journey with the Williams family," the 31-year-old said.

"I truly believe in the people that form this team, both at the factory and at the racetracks, and the investments and hard work that are happening in the background.

"We have what it takes to turn this around together. I'm as committed as I was on day one to helping get Williams back to where it belongs, and I look forward to creating more memories with the team."

Sainz's decision comes ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix and was a relief to Williams team principal James Vowles.

Williams failed to make the first pre-season test, and their car has been uncompetitive throughout the opening half of the campaign.

"Carlos is a leader of this team, and I'm thrilled that he can see what's possible as we continue to rebuild it," Vowles said.

"Carlos shares the belief and ambition we have at Williams and is pushing every day to deliver it.

"Along with Alex, I truly believe we have one of the strongest line-ups on the grid, and a team capable of fighting for every ounce of performance together."

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will open their campaign in the second edition of the FIVB U17 World Championship against Venezuela in Group A at the Aspire Zone's Women's Sports Hall today at 5pm. This will be followed by France on August 21 and Tunisia on August 23.

Yesterday, the Qatar 2026 Organizing Committee announced that preparations for the championship being hosted in Doha from Wednesday until August 28, are complete.

Secretary-General of the Qatar Volleyball Association and Executive Director of the tournament Yusuf Ahmed Kanoo described hosting the championship as a historic event for Qatari volleyball, stressing Qatar's readiness in terms of facilities and organizational expertise.

The matches will be held at the Women's Sports Hall in Aspire Zone and Al Arabi Sports Club.

Kanoo highlighted the tournament's importance in showcasing promising talent and the future of volleyball, noting that the Qatar U17 team is fully prepared after an extensive training program.

He also called on Qatari fans to attend and support the team.

For his part, Assistant QVA Secretary-General and Tournament Media Director Saeed Salem Al Nuaimi said all organizational and media arrangements had been completed, including a media center at Aspire Zone's Women's Sports Hall.

QVA Board Member and Competition Director Mohammed Salem Al Kuwari expressed confidence in Qatar's ability to host a successful edition, noting that the FIVB had praised the facilities and venues.

A total of 20 teams - France, Qatar, Tunisia, Venezuela (Group A), Cuba, India, Italy, Romania (Group B), Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Poland (Group C), Bulgaria, Egypt, Spain, Turkiye (Group D), Algeria, Iran, Pakistan and Chinese Taipei (Group E) are participating in the tournament.

Italy will begin their title defence in Pool B alongside Cuba, India and Romania.

The defending champions are among all four of the top finishers from 2024 returning to the World Championship, with runners-up Argentina, bronze medalists Chinese Taipei and fourth-placed Spain also back in the field.

The expanded 20-team field welcomes nine teams making their Boys’ U17 World Championship debut: hosts Qatar, France, Venezuela, India, Romania, Poland, Türkiye, Pakistan and Algeria.

Each team will play three preliminary round matches, with the top 16 teams in the combined ranking advancing to the Round of 16.

The remaining four teams will be eliminated.

The knockout stage will continue with the quarter-finals and semi-finals, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches.

The inaugural edition was held in Bulgaria in 2024 and won by Italy.

Doha, Qatar: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee today celebrate one month to go until Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, hosts the largest multi-sport event in Asia from September 19 to October 4.

Bringing together more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials from 45 countries for 16 days of world-class competition, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will feature 43 sports and 71 disciplines, with 1,407 medals to be awarded across 469 events in what is set to be a historic celebration of Asian sport.

Marking the third time Japan has had the honour of hosting the Asian Games, following Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 stands as Asia’s flagship multi-sport festival, uniting the continent under the official motto, “Imagine One Asia”.

“Representing the largest and most diverse continent within the Olympic family, these Games embody the true power, solidarity and shared vision of uniting Asia as one,” said OCA President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani.

“Japan has a world-class track record in hosting major sporting events and I have no doubt that Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will set a benchmark for future editions - empowering our youth and inspiring the next generation of Asian sport.”

Supported by 10,200 volunteers and covered by 5,300 accredited media representatives, with hundreds of millions of fans tuning in around the world, Japan stands ready to stage an unforgettable event.The Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, will serve as the main venue for the athletics competitions and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2026 Asian Games.

“As we celebrate one month to go to Aichi-Nagoya 2026, I would like to thank our dear friends in Japan who have prepared the greatest stage for Asia’s athletes,” said OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam.

“These Games will create memories for millions of people not only in Japan, but across Asia, forging lifelong friendships through sport, promoting peace through our diversity and creating a legacy that reaches every corner of our great continent.”

Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will get underway with a spectacular Opening Ceremony on September 19 and conclude with the Closing Ceremony on October 4.

As the final countdown begins, Asia’s diverse nations stand united, ready for sixteen days of world-class sporting competition.

أعلن نادي موناكو الفرنسي إنهاء تعاقده مع لاعب الوسط بول بوغبا بالتراضي بين الطرفين، قبل انطلاق منافسات الجولة الأولى من الدوري الفرنسي لكرة القدم.

وأوضح النادي، في بيان له اليوم، أن الأهداف التي حددها مع بوغبا، البالغ 33 عاما، تحققت جزئيا فقط، ما دفع الطرفين إلى الاتفاق على إنهاء العقد الذي كان مقررا أن يستمر حتى يونيو 2027.

ويغيب بوغبا، المتوج مع المنتخب الفرنسي بكأس العالم 2018، عن الملاعب بسبب إصابة في الفخذ، وذلك بعد فترة وجيزة من عودته من إصابة في الركبة.

ويستهل موناكو مشواره في الدوري الفرنسي للموسم 2026 - 2027 بمواجهة لوهافر في الثالث والعشرين من أغسطس الجاري.