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≡ THE 5-RING CIRCUS ≡
● Olympic Games 2028: Los Angeles ● The Los Angeles City Council passed on Friday, by 12-0, a resolution that “calls for a thorough and transparent review” of the involvement of LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman with the late child-sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The resolution itself is not binding on anyone and is not expected to impact Wasserman’s position as Board Chair of the LA28 organizing committee. The LA28 Board Executive Committee previously confirmed Wasserman to continue as Chair as its inquiry found no other information than had been already disclosed publicly in a dump of millions of pages of U.S. Justice Department files from the Epstein case.
● Athletics ● Rowan University’s Seth Clevenger won the NCAA Division III Indoor men’s 5,000 m championship on Friday in 13:35.55, but on the awards podium, all of the other place winners immediately walked off as soon as he received his award, and then reformed and had a separate, celebratory photograph taken.
Clevenger formerly ran at Iowa State, and has been accused by former teammates of taking peptides, which are banned under NCAA rules, in 2025. A 2 March story on LetsRun.com explained that “[t] former teammates of Seth Clevenger from his days at Iowa State told LetsRun.com that during the 2025 cross country season, Clevenger admitted to them that he used a peptide, which is a banned substance under NCAA rules; one of those teammates said the peptide in question was BPC-157, which promotes healing in muscles.”
He was suspended from the Iowa State team in October 2025 for violating team rules. A statement posted on Clevenger’s Instagram page on 20 February 2026 from his attorney stated that “Seth Clevenger is not taking and has not taken drugs to enhance his running performance. An inquiry was conducted during his time at Iowa State University, during which Seth underwent testing and was cleared of any wrongdoing.”
● Basketball ● In a situation which could have wide-reaching implications, the German-made ASB GlassFloor – which is approved by FIBA – was abandoned after the quarterfinal round of the Big XII men’s tournament in Kansas City, Missouri.
After three days, 12 games, an injury to Texas Tech star guard Christian Anderson and multiple instances of slipping, conference commissioner Brett Yormark said Thursday:
“After consultation with the coaches of our four Semifinal teams, I have decided that in order to provide our student-athletes with the greatest level of comfort on a huge stage this weekend, we will transition to a hardwood court for the remainder of the Tournament.”
The Big XII used the LED floor for its women’s tournament, the first time it has been used in a U.S. championship event and now in the men’s tournament, for three of the five rounds.
Given its certification by FIBA, the floor is a candidate for use at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
● Football ● The Iranian men’s football team posted a statement on Instagram on Thursday that pushes back against any exclusion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a suggestion from U.S. President Donald Trump that it not compete:
“The World Cup is a historic and international event, and its governing body is FIFA – not any individual country. Iran’s national team, with strength and a series of decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament.
“Certainly, no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup; the only country that could be excluded is one that merely carries the title of ‘host’ yet lacks the ability to provide security for the teams participating in this global event.”
The Iranian sports minister has said that Iran cannot come to the World Cup in view of the U.S. and Israeli actions against the regime. Iran has matches slated for 15 June and 21 June in Inglewood, California and 26 June in Seattle, Washington.
● Modern Pentathlon ● As expected, the International Obstacle Course Federation voted to be absorbed into the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, on Sunday:
“The historic vote took place at the 12th FISO Congress and World Obstacle General Assembly, in which 96.2% of the members present voted in favour of the dissolution of FISO, with 3.8% abstaining and no delegates voting against the motion.
“It means that UIPM (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne) will become the sole governing body for the Obstacle Sports community worldwide on 10 August 2026, following the last-ever FISO World Championships. And the dissolution of FISO will pave the way for the completion of integration processes at national and regional levels.”
The transition period will run through the end of 2027, with the goal made clear in the announcement:
“As UIPM is the only IOC-recognised International Federation governing Obstacle Sports, the joining of the two sporting movements enables all Pentathlon Multisports and standalone Obstacle Sports to be considered for inclusion in future Olympic Games.”
≡ RESULTS ≡
● Alpine Skiing ● Two-time World Champion Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) got his second win of the season at the FIS men’s World Cup in Courchevel (FRA) in Friday’s Downhill, in 1:47.26, just 9/100ths up on Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni (1:47.35) and 0.31 ahead of World Cup seasonal winner Marco Odermatt (SUI: 1:47.57). American Olympic medal winner Ryan Cochran-Siegle was 12th in 1:48.72.
Heavy snow canceled the Super-G events on Saturday and Sunday, so Odermatt clinched the Super-G seasonal title, his fourth.
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At the Women’s World Cup in Are (SWE), Austria’s Julia Scheib got her fifth win of the season in the Giant Slalom, winning in 2:22.41, moving up from second after the first run. American Paula Moltzan, third after the first run, moved up to silver in 2:22.77 for her fifth medal of the season, ahead of Alice Robinson (NZL: 2:23.16).
Seasonal leader Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. was fifth in 2:24.63, moving up from 12th after the first run, but lost some points to German Emma Aicher, fourth in 2:24.15.
Sunday’s Slalom was all Shiffrin, as she roared to an 0.51-second lead on Aicher after the first run and was second on the second run to win in 1:43.35, to 1:44.29 for Aicher. Moltzan was fifth in 1:45.18.
Shiffrin won her eighth Slalom of the season, a mark only she (in 2018-19) and Croatian star Janica Kostellic have achieved. There’s one more race this season; Shiffrin also won her ninth seasonal Slalom title and her 109th World Cup win.
The race for the overall World Cup title is very much alive between Shiffrin (1,286) and Aicher (1,140). There are four races left next week in Norway: Kvitfjell for a Downhill and Super-G and a Giant Slalom and Slalom in Hafjell. Look for Aicher to be in all four; Shiffrin will probably race the Super-G as well as the tech events to close the season.
● Athletics ● Another great show at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with world-leading performances in five events:
● Men/200 m: 19.95, Garrett Kaalund (USA-USC)
● Men/60 m hurdles: 7.36, Ja’Kobe Tharp (USA-Auburn) in heats
● Men/60 m hurdles: 7.32, Tharp in final
● Men/Heptathlon: 6,503, Peyton Bair (USA-Oregon)
● Women/200 m: 22.28, Adaejah Hodge (IVB-Georgia) in heats
● Women/200 m: 22.22, Hodge in final
● Women/400 m: 50.28, Ella Onojuwevwo (NGR-LSU) in heats
Auburn’s Kayinsola Ajayi (NGR), last year’s runner-up, won the men’s 60 m in 6.45 – he’s no. 2 in the world for 2026 – just ahead of Arkansas’ Jelani Watkins (6.48), then Kaalund became only the second man in history to go sub-20 indoors, scaring the world mark of 19.92 by Frankie Fredericks (RSA) from 1996 and scoring the collegiate record.
Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi (Alabama) won the 400 m in 44.57, moving him to no. 4 all-time and close to the new “world record” of 44.52 by American Khaleb McRae earlier this year. The fastest-on-record 44.49 by Christopher Morales Williams (CAN) in 2024 could not be ratified for technical reasons. Florida’s Justin Braun was second in 44.67 and is now ninth all-time.
Habtom Samuel (ERI-New Mexico) won the men’s 5,000 m in 13:36.58 and looked like the winner of the men’s 3,000 m over Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman (7:41.66), but was disqualified for impeding Sahlman on the final curve.
France’s Jonathan Seremes (Texas Tech) zoomed to no. 2 in the world in the triple jump, winning at 17.25 m (56-7 1/4), a lifetime best.
In the women’s 200 m, Hodge moved to no. 6 all-time and won easily over Gabrielle Mathews (JAM-Florida: 22.55). After her world-leading heat, Onojuwevwo was only third in the 400 m final, as Georgia’s Dejanea Oakley (JAM) was the winner of race one in 50.47 and Onojuwevwo was second in race two.
BYU frosh Jane Hedengren impressed with a double in the 3,000 m (8:36.61 meet record) and 5,000 m (15:00.12), beating Alabama’s defending champ Doris Lemngole (KEN). Nigerian Temitope Adeshina (NGR) bounced up to equal-4th on the world list, winning the high jump at 1.97 m (6-5 1/2).
Arkansas, in front of home fans, won the men’s team title with 73 1/2 points with Oregon a distant second at 40. Georgia won the women’s title, 53-44, over Oregon.
¶
Kenyan star Hellen Obiri won the NYC Half Marathon for the second time – previously in 2023 – in a dominating 1:06:33, with defending champion Sharon Lokedi (KEN) a distant second in 1:07:10. Emily Sisson was the top American, in sixth at 1:09:06.
South Africa’s Adriaan Wildschutt was a decisive men’s winner in 59:30, ahead of Zouhair Talbi of the U.S. in 59:41.
● Badminton ● At the BWF World Tour Swiss Open in Basel, Japan’s Yushi Tanaka took the men’s Singles title, 21-18, 21-12 over Alwi Farhan (INA), and top-seeded Putri Kusana Wardani (INA) won the women’s gold over Supanida Katethong (THA), 21-11, 21-15.
Chinese Taipei won the men’s Doubles and China swept the women’s and Mixed Doubles.
● Baseball ● Four crazy quarterfinals set the stage for the World Baseball Classic semifinals in Miami, with the U.S. squeezing through and defending champion Japan stunningly eliminated.
The first quarter was a route, as the Dominican Republic was up 7-0 after three on South Korea and then scored three more in the seventh for a run-rule-shortened 10-0 win in Miami. In Houston, the U.S. was up 3-0 after three and then 5-0 after the top of the sixth, but Canada closed to 5-3 on a two-run Bo Naylor homer. But the Americans got three scoreless innings from relievers David Bednar, Garrett Whitlock and Mason Miller and closed out the win.
On Saturday, Italy’s underdog dream continued, taking a 4-1 lead at the end of the first and scoring in just one other inning – four in the fourth – and held on for an 8-6 over against Puerto Rico in Houston. It was 8-2 going into the eighth, but four Puerto Rican runs made it close, but they could not do more.
The most dramatic was the last quarter, in Miami, with defending champ Japan taking a 4-2 lead on Venezuela in the third on a three-run Shota Morishita homer. But from there, Japan was stifled by four Venezuelan relievers. Meanwhile, Maikel Garcia hit a two-run homer in the fifth and Wilyer Abreu hit a three-run shot in the sixth. One more Venezuelan run in the eighth made it an 8-5 final. Japan, three-time champions, were stunningly out.
As semifinalists and the top two teams from the Americas (other than the host U.S.), the Dominican Republic and Venezuela qualified to play in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The tournament has moved to another level in 2026, with 1,247,357 attending through 44 games, an average of 28,349 per game. That’s more than the entire 2023 tournament already (1,165,857), with three games left. The 2023 average was 24,805, which was the highest ever.
¶
The first semi, between the Dominicans and the U.S. was Sunday evening in Miami; this post will be updated with the results.
The second semi will be Monday with Venezuela and Italy and the final will be Tuesday.
● Basketball ● The U.S. sent a powerful squad to the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifier in San Juan (PUR), crushing Senegal by 110-46 on Wednesday, with guard Rhyne Howard leading with 21 points off the bench and 17 more from sub guard Caitlin Clark.
The Americans then raced past host Puerto Rico by 91-48 on Thursday (12th), behind 16 points from guard Paige Bueckers, 14 from center Imani McGee-Stafford and 12 from guard Kelsey Plum. The Americans had a 46-19 halftime lead.
On Saturday, the U.S. led Italy by 50-30 at halftime, and cruised home to a 93-59 win, with guard Kahleah Cooper leading the scoring with 15 and subs Bueckers and Clark scoring 12 each.
The U.S. is already qualified for the 2027 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but plays in the qualifiers to help develop team chemistry and tactics.
● Beach Volleyball ● At the each Pro Tour Elite 16 in Joao Pessoa (BRA), American two-time Worlds medal winners Kristen Nuss Cruz and Taryn Brasher (USA), won the women’s title over Olympic champions Ana Patricia Ramos and Duda Lisboa (BRA), 21-16, 21-19. It’s the 12th career FIVB seasonal tournament title for the American pair.
In the third-place match, Americans Megan Kraft and Kelly Cheng got past Claudia Scampoli and Giada Bianchi (ITA), 22-20, 21-12.
The men’s final had Olympic and World Champions David Ahman and Jonatan Helvig (SWE) winning in straight sets over surprise finalists, Remi Bassereau and Calvyn Aye (FRA), 21-16, 21-18.
Americans Taylor Crabb and Andrew Benesh won the third-place match over top-seeded Evandro Oliveira Jr. and Arthur Lanci (BRA), in straight sets.
● Biathlon ● Norwegian star Sturla Holm Lagreid agonizingly confessed to cheating on his girlfriend after winning an Olympic bronze back on 10 February. Since then, he hasn’t been off the podium!
He won another Olympic bronze and two silvers, then a silver and gold at the Kontiolahti World Cup in Finland and at the IBU World Cup in Otepaa (EST), he won his second and third races in a row!
He took the men’s Sprint in 23:28.5 (0) over French star Emilien Jacquelin (23:39.2/0), then won the 12.5 km Pursuit in 34:41.0 (1), again over Jacquelin (37:14.4/5) with American Campbell Wright fourth in 37:30.0 (2).
Lagreid won again in the Single Mixed Relay, with Karoline Knotton, in 40:39.3 (8) over Sweden (42:17.45/13).
In the women’s events, French Olympic gold winner Julia Simon won her second straight World Cup race in the 7.5 km Sprint in 21:29.5 (0) over Olympic Pursuit winner Lisa Vittozzi (ITA: 21:32.4/0) and then Vittozzi won the 10 km Pursuit in 33:33.7 (2), with Finn Suvi Minkkinin (33:59.9/1) in second. Two-time Olympic medalist Lou Jeanmonnot (FRA) was third in both races.
In the 4×6 km Mixed Relay, Sweden was a clear winner in 1:16:32.0 (14), followed by Switzerland (1:17:00.6/6), and the U.S. (1:17:06.6/14), which won its first World Cup medal ever in this event, with Maxime Germain, Wright, Deedra Irwin and Margie Freed.
● Cross Country Skiing ● With seasonal winner Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) recovering from his fall after being fallen on by American Ben Ogden during the Sprint semifinals, Norway continued to shine – so to speak, in very foggy conditions – at the FIS World Cup in Oslo (NOR). The famed 50 km Freestyle Mass Start on Saturday was a home sweep, with 24-year-old, three-time Olympic medalist Einar Hedegart winning in 1:51:38.2, barely ahead of Harald Amundsen (1:51.38.6) and Olympic 50 km silver winner Martin Nyenget (1:51:39.3). Zak Ketterson was the top American, in 18th.
Sweden swept the women’s podium, with double Olympic winner Frida Karlsson at 2:07:48.2, followed by Linn Svahn (2:09:36.2) and Jonna Sundling (2:09:36.6). American Jessie Diggins, the seasonal leader, was sixth at 2:09:46.8 and clinched the seasonal Distance title and is close to the overall title, in her final season.
● Cycling ● Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) made it clear that he’s a contender for all honors this season after dominating the 84th running of Paris-Nice. He won the race in 25:25:11, some 4:23 ahead of Colombian Daniel Martinez.
Vingegaard won stages 4 and 5 and had a 3:22 lead going into the final stage, and dueled with France’s Lenny Martinez on the sprint into Nice, finishing second, but adding to his lead. He’s aiming for the Giro d’Italia in May.
¶
At the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy, Mexico’s 22-year-old star Isaac Del Toro cemented his lead with a win in stage six and continued his brilliant season, which also included a win at the UAE Tour.
Del Toro had a 23-second lead on Giulio Pellizarri (ITA) after the fifth stage, then scored a three-second win in stage six and expanded his lead over Pellizarri to 42 seconds and 43 seconds on American Matteo Jorgenson. The final, seventh stage was won by Italy’s Jonathan Milan and Del Toro finished in 28:02:14, with Jorgenson moving up to second, 40 seconds back. Pellizarri was third (+0:42).
¶
At the Women’s World Tour’s 27th Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Dutch rider Karlijn Swinkels got the biggest win of her career, conquering the 146.1 km course in 3:53:17 and winning a final sprint into Cittiglio over countrywoman Anna van der Breggen (same time). Norway’s Mie Ottestad was just behind (+0:03).
● Freestyle Skiing ● Canada’s Reece Howden didn’t score an Olympic medal in 2026, but he did the next best thing at the FIS World Cup in Montafon (AUT), beating the man who won – Italian Simone Deromedis – in the men’s Ski Cross final. Howden got his sixth win of the season, with Deromedis second and Swiss Alex Fiva, the Olympic bronze medalist, in third.
Olympic gold and bronze medalist Sandra Naeslund (SWE) won her eighth World Cup race of the season – out of 12 held – by beating Olympic gold winner Daniela Maier (GER) in the final, with Italian Jole Galli in third.
● Gymnastics ● Stars were out at the Artistic World Cup in Antalya (TUR), with Paris 2024 gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan (IRL) winning on Pommel Horse at 13.900, Paris 2024 bronze winner Chia-Hung Tang taking the Horizontal Bar at 15.200 and 2022 World Champion Adem Asil (TUR) winning on Rings at 14.533.
Paris All-Around winner Oka Shinnosuke was the clear winning on Parallel Bars at 14.700, and the younger brother of Paris double gold winner Carlos Yulo – Eldrew Yulo (PHI) – won on Floor at 14.100. He’s 18. Norway’s Sebastian Sponevik won on Vault, scoring 14.250.
The women’s events were split between Russian Lyudmilla Roshchina, who won Vault (13.4873) and Floor (13.333) and teammate Milana Laiumova, winner on Bars (14.233) and Beam (12.766).
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At the Trampoline World Cup in Alkmaar (NED), China’s Paris 2024 Olympic runner-up Zisai Wang won a tight battle over Olympic champ Ivan Litvonovich (BLR ”neutral”) by 65.860 to 65.200, with China’s Olympic bronzer Langyu Van third at 64.340. American star Ruben Padilla was seventh (62.250).
Russian “neutral” Iana Lebedeva, the 2021 World bronzer, was the class of the women’s event, scoring 58.510 over teammate Anzhela Bladtseva (57.000) and Xinyi Fan (CHN: 56.880).
The U.S. pair of Padilla and Elijah Vogel finished second in the men’s Synchro (51.930); Padilla and Maia Amano finished third in the Mixed Synchro (50.790) and Amano and Cheyenne Webster were seventh (43.480) in the women’s Synchro.
● Nordic Combined ● Familiar faces at the FIS World Cup finale in Oslo (NOR), where Austria’s Johannes Lamparter won the 134 m jumping and 10 km race in 22:47.3, winning his sixth race of the year; he’s the seasonal champion, his second.
He beat the Oftebro brothers, with triple Olympic champ Jens second (23:19.2) and older brother Einar third (23:41.2); they finished 2-3 on the season.
The women’s race – 134 m jumping and 5 km – went to seasonal winner Ida Marie Hagen (NOR) in 13:55.2, ahead of American veteran Tara Geraghty-Moats, enjoying a comeback of sorts at age 32 (14:36.8). Finn Minja Korhonen was just barely third (14:36.8) and American Alexa Brabec fourth (14:46.7). Brabec finished second in the seasonal standings in a break-out season for her.
● Rugby Sevens ● In the sixth stage of the HSBC Sevens Series in Harrison, New Jersey, Australia and Argentina won the men’s pools and Australia and New Zealand both went 3-0 in the women’s pools.
But neither of the men’s pool winners got to the title match, which had South Africa winning a defensive battle over Fiji, 10-7. Argentina took the bronze, 10-7, over Australia, 26-10.
The women’s championship was another Australia v. New Zealand match-up, this time won by the Kiwis, 22-21. The U.S. got the bronze, 26-17, over Fiji.
South Africa leads the men’s standings with 106 points to 104 for Fiji and 86 for Australia. New Zealand (118) leads Australia (110) and the U.S, (86) in the women. The eight Division 1 teams, and the top 4 SVNS Division 2 teams will now advance to the three-stage World Championship tournament, beginning in April in Hong Kong.
● Short Track ● There were nine Short Track events at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, and of those winners, only four repeated – two in relays – at the ISU World Championships in Montreal (CAN).
The Canadians, expected to do very well at the Games, got some redemption from its lone Olympic winner, Steven Dubois, who despite being ill, defended his men’s 500 m title from 2025 in 40.153, over Olympic winner Jens Van’t Wout (NED: 40.329).
Van’t Wout won the Olympic 1,000 m and 1,500 m, but it was 1,000 m bronzer Jong-un Kim (KOR) who won both. Kim won the 1,000 m in 1:25.805 with an ill Van’T Wout second (1:26.315) and Kim took the 1,500 m in 2:14.974 – flying into the lead over the final half-lap – over Thomas Nadalini (ITA: 2:15.218).
Canada won the 5,000 m relay, over China, 6:56.578 to 6:58.309.
Dutch star Xandra Velzeboer won the Olympic 500 and 1,000 m titles and Korea’s Gil-li Kim won the 1,500. Velzeboer was on it in Montreal, taking the 500 m in 41.761 over teammate Selma Poutsma (42.026) and Italy’s Chiara Betti (42.228). But Kim got to the line first in the 1,000 m, edging Velzeboer, 1:28.843 to 1:28.852, with Italian Elisa Confortola third (1:28.920).
Kim then defended her Olympic title in the 1,500 m in 2:31.003, with Velzeboer second again, in 2:31.298. American Corinne Stoddard, a hard-luck story at the Games, but the Olympic bronzer, won bronze again in 2:31.386.
Netherlands won the women’s 3,000 m relay in 4:10.419, beating Italy (4:10.570). In the Mixed 2,000 m relay, Italy won as it did during the Games, in 2:39.275 to 2:39.405 for Canada.
● Ski Jumping ● There were fresh faces on the podium for the FIS World Cup in Oslo (NOR), jumping off the 134 m hill, with Swiss Gregor Deschwarden (35) getting his first career World Cup gold, scoring 263.1, ahead of Austria’s Maximilian Ortner (261.7) and Japan’s Naoki Nakamura (251.7). The U.S.’s Kevin Bickner was 12th (237.2).
On Sunday’s Japan’s Tomofumi Naito got his first World Cup win, in a wind-shortened, single-round event, scoring 128.7 vs. 128.6 for Slovenian star Anze Lanisek and 127.6 for Finn Antti Aalto. American Tate Frantz was 10th (117.5).
The women’s Saturday competition was very much to form, with Slovenia’s team gold medalist Nika Prevc winning for the 16th time in 28 events this season, scoring 228.5. Japan’s Olympic bronzer Nozomi Maruyama (226.1) was a close second and double Olympic winner Anna Stroem was third (224.1).
Two-time Worlds silver winner Yuki Ito (JPN) won on Sunday for the first time in two years, scoring 225.6 to edge Maruyama (225.1) and Stroem (222.2).
● Snowboard ● At the FIS World Cup in Parallel Giant Slalom in Val St. Come (CAN), Swiss Dario Caveziel, the 2023 Worlds runner-up, got his first win and second medal of the season on Saturday, winning the final over Italian Edwin Coratti. Canada’s Arnaud Gaudet won the “Small Final” for third over Walker Overstake of the U.S.
Olympic champion Benjamin Karl won the Sunday race over five-time winner this season, Mauricio Bormolini (ITA), with teammate Mirko Felicetti taking the bronze.
German Ramona Hofmeister, the 2018 Olympic bronzer, won her third women’s final of the season, over Japan’s 2023 World Champion, Tsubaki Miki, who has wrapped up the seasonal title. Olympic bronze winner Lucia Dalmasso took the bronze.
On Sunday, Dalmasso took her third win of the season, finishing ahead of countrywoman Jasmin Coratti in the final. Hofmeister won the bronze.
¶
At the World Cup in SnowCross in Montafon (AUT), Austria’s Jakob Dusek, the 2023 World Champion and Milan Cortina bronzer, took the men’s final over Germany’s Leon Ulbricht. Swiss Sina Siegenthaler got her first win (and first medal) of the season, winning against Australia’s Olympic champ, Josie Baff, and Britain’s Charlotte Bankes, the 2021 World Champion.
● Table Tennis ● At the WTT Champions in Chongqing (CHN), the Olympic bronze winner Felix Lebrun (FRA) won over Ruibo Wen (CHN), 4-1 (11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11), for his second career WTT Champions win, previously in 2024.
Miwa Harimoto (JPN) won her biggest title ever, and defeated Man Kuai (CHN) by 4-3 (11-6, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5) in the final. Out of 18 WTT women’s tournaments, she is only the fourth non-Chinese to win and three of those have been from Japan.
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