Category: Sports

Elina Svitolina edged world no. 1 Iga Swiatek to secure a Wimbledon ladies’ singles semifinal seat on Tuesday. The Ukrainian survived against the Pole in three sets — 7-5, 6-7 (5) and 6-2. The 28-year-old has played well in the tournament despite missing most of last season on maternity leave. Svitolina will take on Marketa Vondrousova, who shocked world no. 4 Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals on Tuesday to reach her maiden major semifinal. The women’s singles semifinals will be held Thursday, while the final will be played Saturday.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The victors of The Cyber Defence & Security Exhibition and Conference (CYDES) 2023 Cyber Warzone: Capture The Flag Challenge will represent Malaysia in the upcoming Cyber SEA Games 2023, scheduled to take place in Bangkok later this year.

Velum Labs Sdn Bhd (Velum Labs) Head of Cyber Operations Mohd Azli Sastero expressed his enthusiasm for the Cyber SEA Games, an annual Capture-The-Flag cyber competition that brings together cyber enthusiasts under the age of 30 from ASEAN member states.

“These teams (at CYDES), each comprising four members from local universities, showcased their skills from early morning until late evening, tackling over 20 unconventional scenarios that closely mirror various real-world cyber security challenges,” he told Bernama today.

The champion will also be awarded a cash prize of RM10,000, the runner-up will receive RM8,000, while the third-place team will be presented with RM6,000. Additionally, a special challenge prize of RM3,000 will be granted to the team that swiftly solves a particularly difficult challenge during the event.

Mohd Azli further noted that the competition provides Velum Labs, a subsidiary of Sapura Group, with a valuable platform to identify and nurture potential talents who possess a keen interest in the cybersecurity industry.

“We see this as an investment in cultivating young talents and fostering their understanding of the cybersecurity industry’s demands and opportunities,” he added.

Earlier today, Velum Labs and National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the sharing of cyber intelligence and implementation models to strategically strengthen, promote and develop national cyber capabilities.

CYDES 2023, organised by the National Security Council, NACSA, and Alpine Integrated Solution Sdn Bhd, is being held from today until July 13 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Orlando Magic did not field Kai Sotto in what could have been his debut NBA Summer League game, which ended in a 78-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday (Philippine time). Despite being one of only two players listed as center in the lineup, the 7-foot-3 Sotto rode the bench as coach Dylan Murphy thought to go small and started power forward DJ Wilson at five, instead of Sotto and Robert Baker Jr. The 6-foot-11 Baker eventually logged almost 15 minutes of playing time and finished with eight points, two rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Wilson struggled with four points — all on free throws – along with three rebounds, two assists, one block, and two steals. The Pistons held the Magic to just 13 points in the third quarter and held them at bay in the fourth. Jalen Duren led Detroit with 17 points, eight rebounds, and one assist, while James Wiseman added 16 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, and two blocks. Kevon Harris led Orlando with 21 points, six rebounds, one assist, and two steals. Aside from Sotto, five others did not see action for the Magic – Tyger Campbell, Dexter Dennis, Amauri Hardy, Drake Jeffries, and Au’Diese Toney. The Magic will next face the Indiana Pacers at the same venue on Tuesday morning (PH time).

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Philippines has officially submitted its bid to the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) for the hosting of the 2025 Women’s World Championship. Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon Suzara bared the development in a press conference during a break in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday. ‘The PNVF has submitted a bid to host the women’s world championship in 2025,’ said Suzara, who was invited by the FIVB to the VNL final phase scheduled on July 20 to 24 and to discuss the bidding process in Gdansk, Poland. ‘We’ll be able to get a clearer picture of our intention to bid, and win, in that meeting,’ he added. Suzara said Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Vietnam are also interested to host the tournament that will be held biannually starting 2025, from the previous once in four years. Hosting the Worlds would give the Philippines the privilege to field its national team in the tournament which will feature 32 nations. ‘If we are hosts, that means we’ll be in the Women’s World Championship for the first time since 1974, the last time we had a team in the prestigious tournament in Mexico,’ said Suzara. He is planning to use the same formula of co-hosting that was granted the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in hosting the FIBA 2023 World Cup next month. ‘Just like in the FIBA World Cup, we intend to host 16 of the qualifiers with the crucial phases and the finals scheduled for the Philippines,’ he said. The last Women’s World Championship was co-hosted by the Netherlands and Poland in 2022. Serbia retained the championship after beating Brazil, 26-24, 25-22, 25-17, in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Italy likewise swept the United States, 25-20, 25-15, 27-25, to place third

Source: Philippines News Agency

Evo Nikolai Enot of Ayala Harpoons Swim Club has qualified for one more event during the third and final day of the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI)-organized tryouts at the Teofilo Yldefonso pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila on Sunday. The 17-year-old Enot won the Boys’ 16-18 100-meter backstroke in 58.82 seconds, surpassing the Qualifying Time Standard (QTS) of 1:00.58. His effort in the 50m and 200m backstroke events in the first two days of the tryouts earned him a provisional slot in the national team going to the Southeast Asia (SEA) Age Group Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia on Aug. 24 to 26. Meanwhile, Patricia Mae Santor of Ilustre East Aquatic added the 400m Individual Medley (IM) to her events, posting 5:26.54 (QTS 5:26.64). She had earlier qualified for the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke in the Girls’ 14-15 category. Also gaining provisional slots were Aishel Evangelista (Betta Caloocan Swimming Team), Boys’ 11-13 400m IM (4:57.80 – QTS 4:59.04); Jalil Sephraim Taguinod (Quezon City Buccaneers Swim Club), Boys’ 16-18 50m breaststroke (29.88 – QTS 29.89); Bea Mabalay (Quezon City Waves Swim Club), Girls’ 16-18 200m breaststroke (2:45.62 – QTS 2:47.98); and Jie Angela Mikaela Talosig (Sayap Pirates Swim Club), Girls’ 16-18 400m freestyle (4:38.99 – QTS 4:39.26). The other qualifiers were Jamesrey Mishael Ajido, Amina Isabelle Bungabung and Mishka Sy (QBSC), Prince Dave Calma (San Beda), Lance Rafael Cruz (Green Archers Swim Club), Estifano Joshua Ramos (Golden Sea Eagles), Catherine Cruz (Mabalacat Race Pace Swim Team), Arabella Nadeen Taguinota (Pasig City Swimming), and Peter Cyrus Dean (Killerwhale Elite Swim Team Quezon). The next tryouts will be in Digos City, Davao del Sur on July 20 to 22 while the North Luzon (Vigan, Ilocos Sur) and Visayas (Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental) legs will be held simultaneously on July 21 to 23. All tryout results will be consolidated before the official qualifiers are announced. ‘The top three qualified in each event are the ones we will send to the SEA Age Group Championships,” said coach Chito Rivera, who is organizing the tryouts supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Canada fought back from a first-set loss to prevail over China, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18, and avoid relegation in the Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday. Outside hitter Stephen Timothy Maar and opposite hitter Ryan Joseph Sclater both scored 20 points as the Canadians improved their win-loss record to 3-9, ahead of Iran, Bulgaria and Cuba, which have identical 2-9 cards. The lowest-ranked team in the 16-team field will be demoted to the Volleyball Challenger Cup, where the winner will be promoted. ‘It’s a huge win. We needed this to stay in the VNL. To win this game and put everything on the line to save ourselves was intense and very emotional. We’re happy with how we performed,’ said the 6-foot-6 Maar, who had 14 aces and six blocks. Danny Demyanenko and Nicholas Hoag chipped in 12 points each for the world No. 16 Canada, which posted its first but biggest win in the Philippine leg of the VNL, organized by the International Volleyball Federation and the Volleyball World. Jingyin Zhang finished with 25 points for China, which is at the bottom of the standings with a 2-10 record. The top eight teams will advance to the final round scheduled July 19 to 24 in Gdansk City, Poland.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Stefanos Tsitsipas swept away Andy Murray in the second round of the Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles on Friday. The Greek eliminated his British opponent, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4. The game seemed to go Murray’s way when it started on Thursday before suspended, but it concluded Friday in favor of the world No. 5. “It was nerve wracking,’ Tsitsipas said. “He was part of the top four for a very long time and I looked up to him. I looked up to Novak, Roger and Rafa so these four guys shaped the game and are the reason I am the player I am today.” Tsitsipas will take on Serbia’s Laslo Djere in round three.

Source: Philippines News Agency