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Klaebo equals Olympics gold record as Norway dominates day three

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3 hours ago

February 14, 2026

TESERO: Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo sprints to the finish line during the 10km cross-country interval start free event of the Winter Olympics at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on Friday.—AFP

TESERO: The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics delivered a packed day of high-stakes action on Friday, with Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo etching his name deeper into Winter Games history by claiming his eighth career gold medal to tie the all-time record.

The 29-year-old Norwegian superstar dominated the men’s 10km interval start freestyle cross-country race in Tesero, clocking 20min 36.2sec to finish 4.9sec ahead of France’s Mathis Desloges, with compatriot Einar Hedegart taking bronze. The victory marked Klaebo’s third gold of these Games following wins in the skiathlon and classic sprint, and his first in a 10km interval start skating format on the professional circuit.

Klaebo now shares the record of eight Winter Olympic golds with fellow Norwegians Marit Bjorgen, Bjorn Daehlie and biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen.

Rivals acknowledged his dominance, with Hedegart admitting it was his best chance to beat the “insanely high” level of the Norwegian, while Britain’s Andrew Musgrave predicted Klaebo could sweep all six possible cross-country golds here. The relay on Sunday offers Klaebo his next shot at sole possession of the record.

In biathlon at Anterselva, France’s Quentin Fillon Maillet stormed to gold in the men’s 10km sprint, his first individual Olympic title since Beijing and a reminder of his enduring class at 33.

Maillet, who matched Martin Fourcade’s seven-medal tally for France, described it as a “perfect race” amid personal joy at awaiting a baby. Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid overcame recent personal controversy to claim bronze, with team-mate Vetle Sjastad Christiansen snatching silver in a late surge.

Australia’s Josie Baff thrilled in Livigno, surging to gold in women’s snowboard cross by 0.04sec over Czechia’s Eva Adamczykova, who completed her Olympic medal set (gold Sochi 2014, bronze Pyeongchang 2018). Italy’s Michela Moioli took bronze on home snow, kissing her medal through tears after a recent training crash.

Curling in Cortina d’Ampezzo saw Italy’s men, skipped by Joel Retornaz, continue their strong home campaign with a 9-7 win over Britain, stealing four in the first end before holding off a British fightback. The result boosted Italy’s medal hopes after earlier beating Sweden.

In women’s play, the United States’ Tabitha Peterson delivered a landmark 9-8 victory over two-time world champions Canada with the hammer in the final end, ending a long wait for an Olympic win over their neighbors. Sweden’s Anna Hasselborg edged Denmark 6-5 to top the standings.

Ice hockey in Milan featured powerhouses asserting control. Canada crushed Czechia 5-0, with Jordan Binnington posting a shutout and young star Macklin Celebrini among the scorers, backed by Connor McDavid’s three assists. The United States rebounded from early disallowed goals to beat Latvia 5-1, with Brock Nelson scoring twice.

Italian short track star Arianna Fontana settled for silver in the women’s 500m, tying Edoardo Mangiarotti as Italy’s most decorated Olympian with 13 medals across six Games. The 35-year-old, who overcame a torn quad, drew inspiration from fellow Italians’ successes.

As the Games approach the halfway mark, Norway lead the medal table with eight golds and 18 total, tied on overall count with host Italy (six golds, 18 total). The United States sits third with 14 medals. With events in figure skating, speed skating and more looming, the battle for supremacy intensifies on Italian soil.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2026

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Boycott averted, Pakistan and India set for World Cup blockbuster

Published

1 hour ago

February 14, 2026

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Pakistan and India will clash in the Twenty20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday, still feeling the aftershocks of a tumultuous fortnight in which Pakistan’s boycott threat – later reversed – nearly blew a hole in the tournament’s marquee fixture.

With bilateral cricket a casualty of their fraught relations, emotions run high whenever the bitter neighbours lock horns in multi-team events at neutral venues.

India’s strained relations with another neighbour, Bangladesh, have further tangled the geopolitics around the World Cup.

When Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the 20-team field for refusing to tour India over safety concerns, the regional chessboard shifted.

Pakistan decided to boycott the Group A contest against India in solidarity with Bangladesh, jeopardising a lucrative fixture that sits at the intersection of sport, commerce, and geopolitics.

Faced with the prospect of losing millions of dollars in evaporating advertising revenue, the broadcasters panicked. The governing International Cricket Council (ICC) held hectic behind-the-scenes parleys and eventually brokered a compromise to salvage the tournament’s most sought-after contest.

Strictly on cricketing merit, however, the rivalry has been one-sided.

Defending champions India have a 7-1 record against Pakistan in the tournament’s history and they underlined that dominance at last year’s Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

India beat Pakistan three times in that single event, including a stormy final marred by provocative gestures and snubbed handshakes.

Former India captain Rohit Sharma does not believe in the “favourites” tag, especially when the arch-rivals clash.

“It’s such a funny game,” Rohit, who led India to the title in the T20 World Cup two years ago, recently said.

“You can’t just go and think that it’s a two-point victory for us. You just have to play good cricket on that particular day to achieve those points.”

India’s edge

Both teams have opened their World Cup campaigns with back-to-back wins, yet India still appears to hold a clear edge.

Opener Abhishek Sharma and spinner Varun Chakravarthy currently top the batting and bowling rankings, respectively.

Abhishek is doubtful for the Pakistan match, though, as he continues to recover from a stomach infection that kept him out of their first two matches.

Ishan Kishan has reinvented himself as a top-order linchpin, skipper Suryakumar Yadav has regained form, while Rinku Singh has settled into the finisher’s role in India’s explosive lineup.

Mystery spinner Chakravarthy and the ever-crafty Jasprit Bumrah anchor the spin and pace units, while Hardik Pandya’s all-round spark is pivotal.

For Pakistan, opener Sahibzada Farhan has looked in fine form, but Babar Azam’s strike rate continues to polarise opinion.

Captain Salman Agha will bank on spin-bowling all-rounder Saim Ayub, but the potential trump card is off-spinner Usman Tariq, whose slinging, side-arm action has intrigued opponents and fans alike.

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Every delivery counts, warns Markram ahead of New Zealand encounter

Published

3 hours ago

February 14, 2026

hussainbinnoman3@gmail.com

AHMEDABAD: South African skipper Aiden Markram on Friday said his bowlers need to be sharper against New Zealand after their super over escapes at the T20 World Cup, because “every delivery’ counts.

The winners of the Group ‘D’ match between the two unbeaten sides on Saturday in Ahmedabad will be the first to be guaranteed a place in the Super Eights.

South Africa, the runners-up two years ago, needed two super overs to beat Afghanistan.

“Realising the importance of every delivery” was important, Markram told reporters as he reflected Friday on the nail-biting win.

“Also realising the importance of winning smaller moments in the game, and not putting too much importance on the end result.

“But yeah, two super overs in a game, I don’t think many of us have been a part of it. But it’s certainly really nerve-wracking.”

Afghanistan needed 13 runs to win off the last six balls, but pace bowler Kagiso Rabada sent down two no balls and a wide to allow the opposition match South Africa’s 87.

Markram called for a more clinical performance from his bowlers.

“First and foremost, discipline,” said Markram. “Not just from the no ball or anything like that, but 22 extras I think it’s been now in two games. And it’s a lot of runs in this format.”

New Zealand pace bowler Matt Henry said facing South Africa was always a challenge, in any sport.

“I think you always want to play the best sides,” said Henry. “With rugby and cricket it’s always those games you want to be a part of so it’s always exciting to come and play South Africa and nothing changes in a World Cup.

“They’re always going to be strong in all areas as well so it’s just a challenge we look forward to.”

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2026

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