Sports News

With 100 days to go until the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games begin, Paralympic swimmers and an Olympic diver tested out the facilities at the newly completed Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

The brand-new, state-of-the-art venue has been constructed in time for this summer’s major multi-sport event, where it will be in operation for all eleven days of sporting action.

The prestigious Emsley Carr Mile and Millicent Fawcett Mile races will take place at the Night of 10,000m PBs in Highgate on Saturday 14 May 2022.

The iconic Emsley Carr Mile race has run annually in the UK since 1953 when it was first won by Olympic silver medallist Gordon Pirie. Among the other legends of the sport to have won the race during its 69-year history are Haile Gebrselassie, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, Hicham El Guerrouj and many more.

Angela Okutoyi, a budding tennis player from Kenya, made history by being the first Kenyan girl to win a match at a junior grand slam event at the 2021 Australian Open.

It was the first time a Kenyan had competed in the Australian Open Juniors in 16 years, and it was just the second time a Kenyan female has competed in a Junior Grand Slam Tournament.

England bowler Anya Shrubsole, a key part of England's 2017 World Cup triumph, has retired from the international game.

The 30-year-old played 173 games for her country across all formats, claiming 227 wickets. She took six wickets in England's dramatic World Cup final win over India at Lord's in 2017.

With just six weeks to go until the opening game of this year’s Vitality Blast at Edgbaston, the Bears have confirmed members of a new off-field team to support the in-bowl experience and live stream for those tuning in at home.

BBC Asian Network radio and television presenter Noreen Khan will be one of the hosts stepping onto the field, whilst supporters can also watch six* of Bears Vitality Blast games at Edgbaston from home in a new match day programme hosted BBC Test Match Special commentator and stand-up comedian Aatif Nawaz.

Former Colombia captain Freddy Rincon has died after suffering severe head injuries in a car crash. The 55-year-old was driving a car that collided with a bus in Cali, Colombia.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Rincon scored 17 goals for Colombia and played at the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

The prestigious Emsley Carr Mile and Millicent Fawcett Mile races will take place at the Night of 10,000m PBs in Highgate on Saturday 14 May 2022.

The iconic Emsley Carr Mile race has run annually in the UK since 1953 when it was first won by Olympic silver medallist Gordon Pirie. Among the other legends of the sport to have won the race during its 69-year history are Haile Gebrselassie, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, Hicham El Guerrouj and many more.

The men’s 100m will showcase some of the fastest athletes in the world with Andre de Grasse (CAN), Trayvon Bromell (USA), and Yohan Blake (JAM) amongst the star names set to star at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League, the second meeting of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League series, at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 21 May.

Birmingham Phoenix have appointed Dan Vettori to the role of Head Coach for the men’s team in The Hundred following the appointment of Andrew McDonald as the new Australia men’s team Head Coach.

Vettori, was previously Assistant Coach for Birmingham Phoenix and acted as Head Coach on an interim basis during the first year of The Hundred, having previously coached in roles with Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League, Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and Middlesex in the Vitality Blast.

Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium has unveiled its new Plaza and stadium entrance, which features one of the largest outdoor community spaces in Birmingham. With 14,800 sq m, the Edgbaston Plaza offers more space than both Centenary Square and Victoria Square in Birmingham city centre and the new community space is the first stage to complete within the new Edgbaston Stadium Masterplan.

This year’s Commonwealth Games will see the British Kabaddi League make an entrance in the UK, with tournaments set to take place over this month (April) in Birmingham as well as Manchester, Glasgow and Wolverhampton.

Prem Singh, CEO of British Kabaddi, said: “We are delighted that so many people from different and diverse backgrounds have come together to present this amazing sports project.

The first athletes selected for this summer’s European Athletics Championships have been confirmed with 10 marathon runners set to compete in Munich this August. Trials winner Becky Briggs leads the women’s team as she targets the Championships in Germany later in the summer.

The City of Hull athlete clocked a PB of 2:29.04 at the Manchester Marathon to secure the British vest, having previously competed for GB & NI at the World Cross Country Championships and World Half Marathon Championships in recent years.

Olympic gold medallist and Laureus Academy Member Missy Franklin surprised youngsters from an inner-city baseball programme at Wrigley Field today, presenting them with an honour which puts them alongside their sporting heroes as winners of a Laureus World Sports Award. Five-time Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Missy Franklin was joined by the Executive Chairman of the Chicago Cubs, Tom Ricketts to present Lost Boyz Inc. with the 2022 Laureus Sport for Good Award.

Leicester Riders have been crowned back-to-back BBL Championship winners following their away victory over Plymouth City Patriots, 60-77. The Riders needed just one more win, or one more London loss, heading into their clash with the Patriots, and thanks to another stellar performance from reigning MVP Geno Crandall, who posted a near triple-double with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Leicester were finally able to capture their sixth league title after initially being denied the opportunity last Friday.

Olympic pole vault bronze medallist and British record holder Holly Bradshaw will be up against world class competition as she gets her 2022 season underway at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 21 May.

Olympic champion, Katie Nageotte (USA) will be joined by compatriot and World Indoor champion, Sandi Morris and the Olympic champion from Rio, Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) meaning four of the current top five world ranked female pole-vaulters will battle it out for the first Diamond League points of the season in Birmingham.

Three of the UK’s most exciting artists will support the opening round of the brand new eSkootr Championship (eSC) at Printworks London as part of eSC - The Party, which is included in the ticketholder experience for Saturday 14 May.
British singer songwriter, Lady Leshurr, will be joined by DJ Anz and DJ La La when eSC races into town at the iconic South East London cultural destination.