Latest news with #FISUGames
The Citizen
29-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Pillay bags 400m gold in Germany
Brentwood Park resident Lythe Pillay delivered a golden performance for South Africa at the Rhine Ruhr FISU World University Games in Germany, storming to victory in the men's 400m final with a season's best time of 44.84 seconds. The 22-year-old sprinter followed up his individual success by helping Team South Africa secure silver in the 4x400m mixed relay. He anchored the team to a podium finish, capping off a standout performance at the multi-sport event. 'It was a good feeling. I came into the champs hoping to save the season, especially by securing qualification for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo,' said Pillay. 'The heats gave me time to rediscover my race and stride in the build-up to the final. The final went really well. I'm chuffed with the time. Winning the medal for my university and country was a big bonus.' Pillay's impressive showing at the Universiade qualified him for the Tokyo World Championships in the individual 400m, having already secured qualification in the relay events. 'Honestly, I do feel like I messed up my exchange in the relay. But I'm glad I was able to put us back into the silver medal position. The vibe was great, the chemistry was cool, and we had a great team. We all supported each other.' After a rollercoaster season that included injury setbacks, the 2022 World U20 400m champion found the FISU Games to be the perfect platform to rediscover his form. His 44.84 finish was the fifth fastest of his career and the quickest since the 44.58 he ran at the Monaco Diamond League in 2023. The Arbor Primary alum said the performance was a major step forward in his Tokyo preparations. 'It was a massive confidence booster. It helped me rediscover my racing again and find that sweet spot, as well as my strengths and weaknesses. It was nice to find that fifth gear, go back to training and further refine our approach heading into Tokyo,' said Pillay. Now that qualification for Tokyo is secured, the 2024 national 400m champion will shift focus to training and may compete in a few events before jetting off to the World Championships, which take place from September 13 to 21 at the Japan National Stadium. 'We're glad to be back running times my coach and I know I'm capable of. We're looking forward to the champs and doing damage in both the individual and relay events.' Also Read: Pillay and team earn gold at world relays Also Read: WATCH: Pillay on course to defend title at nationals
Business Recorder
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PSB caps age limit for officials at 70, sets two-term limit, stricter penalties
The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has officially notified the 'Term Rules 2025', bringing sweeping governance reforms for all national sports federations, including age and term limits for office bearers and the potential for lengthy bans or lifetime disqualification in case of violations. Under the new rules, issued in continuation of the National Sports Policy 2005, the position of President has been declared the highest office within any federation, the sports board said in a statement. Alternate designations such as Chairman, CEO, or equivalents will no longer be acceptable, according to the notification. PSB forms inquiry committee over athlete disappearances during FISU Games The rules set the maximum age limit for office bearers at 70 years, after which the seat will be considered automatically vacated. No individual will be permitted to hold office in more than one federation simultaneously. Federations have been given 90 days to align their constitutions accordingly. The 'Term Rules 2025' comprise six major clauses and 24 sub-clauses and take immediate effect. A maximum of two four-year terms will be allowed for any office, capping the total tenure at eight years. Moreover, officials who have served in senior positions will be barred from contesting for lower posts within the same or other federations. In case of a mid-term vacancy, the newly elected office bearer's term will be counted within the eight-year limit. In the event of a violation, the Director General of PSB will be authorised to initiate an inquiry. If misconduct is confirmed, the individual may face a ban ranging from four to six years, during which they will be ineligible for funding, roles, or any benefits related to the federation. PSB bars federations from competing in India without prior approval The rules also empower the DG PSB to recommend further legal or administrative action to the federal government if violations are ignored. Repeated violations could lead to permanent disqualification from all sports-related roles. A central database will be created to maintain and publish the list of disqualified individuals on the PSB website. Affected persons will have the right to file a written appeal with the Panel of Adjudicators, as per the relevant provisions of the Code of Ethics and Governance in Sports. Federations that fail to comply risk cancellation of their registration and suspension of government funding. These measures mark a major push toward institutional accountability and standardisation of leadership tenure across Pakistan's sporting landscape.
Winnipeg Free Press
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Much larger honour': Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame call humbling, exciting
Ashley Lanz was very confused when the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame reached out to say she's in the 2025 induction class. She was put into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in 2017 and didn't realize this was a completely different honour. She picked up the phone to call her mom who assured her that yes, she had already been recognized. 'I was like 'Did they not check their records or something?' It was a blonde moment,' laughed Lanz. SUPPLIED Ashley Lanz was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in 2017. SUPPLIED Ashley Lanz was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame in 2017. 'So, I immediately called them back saying 'I think you made a mistake, like, I've already been inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame.' And he goes 'No, honey, this is the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.' And I was like 'Oh my God,' and so embarrassed. And then also, the realization and the excitement then hit because this is a totally different thing and obviously, a much larger honour to be considered and accepted into this. The wave of emotions hit me at that point.' This year's class, which was announced Wednesday, also features longtime Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Troy Westwood, Olympian and Brandon University athletic director/volleyball coach Russ Paddock, sport medicine leader Glen Bergeron, builder Col. Gary Solar (multi-sport) and the 1987 Lucania Football Club soccer team that won a senior men's national title. The Winnipegger was standout pitcher for the Canadian national team and captured gold at the 2007 FISU Games and silver at the 2011 Pan Am Games. She was named to the First-Team All-Conference at Minot State before transferring to Simon Fraser where she was the NAIA Pitcher of the Year in 2005. She also pitched professionally overseas where she won league titles in Czech Republic and Netherlands. Not a bad career for someone who was told when she was 13 that she wouldn't amount to anything as a pitcher. 'I just always had a passion for it. I was never one to play for stats, or strikeouts or anything like that. I was just very competitive. There were times when people came up to me and said 'You got a no hitter.' and I'd be like 'I did? I had no idea.' For me, it wasn't about that, it was about doing my part to win and be a part of a team,' said Lanz. 'I pitched seven games in one day one time. I pitched with a broken finger. I remember one nationals my back was so sore that I couldn't even sit down, and I pitched the whole tournament, pretty much all by myself. I feel like there's been a lot of physical hurdles, mental hurdles, and different barriers and whatnot, but since I loved it so much, I kept doing my job.' Lanz, 41, now lives in Minot and owns a speech therapist practice. She was recently a pitching coach at Minot State. 'I'm really humbled and grateful for this,' she said. MARC GALLANT / FREE PRESS FILES Troy Westwood goes nuts after kicking a 55-yard field goal to win a game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders- Winnipeg defeated Saskatchewan in 2003. MARC GALLANT / FREE PRESS FILES Troy Westwood goes nuts after kicking a 55-yard field goal to win a game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders- Winnipeg defeated Saskatchewan in 2003. This also isn't the first Hall call for Westwood. The product of Dauphin was added to both the Augustana College Hall of Fame and Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 2011. 'I was walking around inside the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (on Wednesday) and saw things from (Philadelphia Flyers legends and fellow Manitobans) Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach and stuff like that,' said Westwood. 'To be associated at any level whatsoever with some of the truly awesome athletes that are in there already, just to be in that circle, somewhere on the fringe, it's just really cool, man.' Westwood certainly isn't on the fringe. He played 18 seasons for his hometown Bombers (1991-2007, 2009) and ranks fourth all-time in CFL history in career points with 2,748. Westwood, who grew up selling popcorn and peanuts at the old stadium, was a two-time East Division all-star and once named to the all-CFL team. 'I remember distinctly in my 17th year, sitting on the ground when all the other guys were in their meetings and I was looking around the locker room shaking my head as I just still couldn't believe that I was in there,' said Westwood, 58. 'Not a day did I ever take for granted of being a Blue Bomber. It was a dream from when I was five years old, telling my dad that I would one day be the kicker for the Bombers.' You could argue Westwood deserved to go in as an athlete/builder for being the one responsible for the Banjo Bowl. 'Yeah, I'm gonna talk to the committee about that, maybe that was overlooked. I'm having a meeting next week with Wade Miller about possibly getting a statue erected as the godfather of the Banjo Bowl, right next to Bud Grant. We'll see if that comes to fruition,' said Westwood, sarcastically, of course. SUPPLIED 1987 Lucania Football Club SUPPLIED 1987 Lucania Football Club The 1987 Lucania team is one of the most iconic amateur soccer clubs in Manitoba history. Making their run even more special is the fact they won the Canadian crown in Winnipeg in front of friends and family. 'We started off poorly, we were then able to recruit a few players from the Winnipeg Fury who were just starting out and were releasing some players,' said head coach and general manager Michael Nardiello. 'And then, we kind of just took off. It was our first time winning the MSA Cup and going to nationals, and it was in Winnipeg at the U of M, and we ended up winning it all.' 'For our group, it was like a World Cup win.' Nardiello, who still runs the club today, expects there will be a dozen or more players at the induction ceremony on Nov. 6 at the Victoria Inn. 'I see and speak to lots of the guys still,' said Nardiello. 'Of course, when I sent them the email about this, they were super excited.' Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Calgary Herald
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Randy Bryden, Atina Ford Johnston leading Canadian rinks into world senior curling playoffs
Article content Randy Bryden's Regina-based team, representing Canada, won its fifth straight round-robin game Wednesday and qualified for the world senior men's curling championship quarter-finals in Fredericton. Article content Atina Ford Johnston, who is from Gray and grew up curling in Regina before moving to Alberta, is skipping the Canadian senior women's champions, who have also qualified for the playoffs in Fredericton. Article content Article content Skipping a rink that includes teammates Troy Robinson, Russ Bryden (Randy's brother) and Chris Semenchuck, Bryden defeated Ireland's Bill Gray 9-4 in seven ends Wednesday to clinch its playoff berth. Article content Article content 'We were curling the same time as Atina,' said Randy Bryden, who saw the women's team beat New Zealand 13-1. Article content 'We've got lots of fans here and so does Atina. So all the Canadian fans were out at the same time, wearing red hoodies and cheering for us. Atina looked really tough out there.' Article content Bryden's team had a final round-robin game slated for Thursday afternoon against Bob Bomas of the Netherlands before first-round playoffs were scheduled to begin Thursday night. 'Germany looks tough and we beat England, another good team,' said Bryden. 'A medal would be great but it's gonna be a tough battle.' Article content Article content Russ and Randy Bryden were teammates on a rink that won a Canadian mixed championship in 1996. Randy's son, Josh Bryden, skipped the University of Regina men's rink to last year's USports championship and qualified for the recent FISU Games in Italy, where the team placed fourth. Article content Thirty-one countries were represented in the men's event, including Nigeria, Israel, Spain and the Philippines. They were split into five pools (four of six teams; one of seven teams), with the top two finishers in each plus two third-place wildcards qualifying for the playoffs. Canada's seven-team pool also included Portugal and Belgium, countries that also aren't known as curling hotbeds. Article content 'It's a neat thing after the games,' said Bryden. 'We meet the other teams and they share their stories, what they've gone through to play. They play because they love the game. The team we just played, all their guys were in their 60s and one guy was 76.'
