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How can India qualify for AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Quarterfinals — Scenarios explained  India will take on Chinese Taipei in its final Group C fixture of the AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 on Wednesday.After defeats in their opening two matches against Japan and Australia, both India and Chinese Taipei find themselves in identical situations, chasing a result that could yet keep their tournament alive.How can India qualify for the quarterfinals in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026?India’s goal difference of -11 makes things a bit more complicated than Chinese Taipei’s -7. The Young Tigresses’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 2004 rest on securing a place among the two best third-placed teams across all groups.Their task will be simplified if either the Group A match between Vietnam and Bangladesh on Tuesday or the Group B match between Uzbekistan and Jordan on Wednesday ends in a draw. In that case, the winner of India vs Chinese Taipei will qualify for the quarterfinals, regardless of goal difference.But if there is a winner in both those games, India would need to win by a handsome margin to avoid being the worst-ranked third-placed side in the three groups. At the moment, the goal differences of the other teams are – Bangladesh (-3), Vietnam (-6), Uzbekistan (-8) and Jordan (-9).Published on Apr 07, 2026  #India #qualify #AFC #U20 #Womens #Asian #Cup #Quarterfinals #Scenarios #explained

How can India qualify for AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Quarterfinals — Scenarios explained

India will take on Chinese Taipei in its final Group C fixture of the AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 on Wednesday.

After defeats in their opening two matches against Japan and Australia, both India and Chinese Taipei find themselves in identical situations, chasing a result that could yet keep their tournament alive.

How can India qualify for the quarterfinals in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026?

India’s goal difference of -11 makes things a bit more complicated than Chinese Taipei’s -7. The Young Tigresses’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 2004 rest on securing a place among the two best third-placed teams across all groups.

Their task will be simplified if either the Group A match between Vietnam and Bangladesh on Tuesday or the Group B match between Uzbekistan and Jordan on Wednesday ends in a draw. In that case, the winner of India vs Chinese Taipei will qualify for the quarterfinals, regardless of goal difference.

But if there is a winner in both those games, India would need to win by a handsome margin to avoid being the worst-ranked third-placed side in the three groups. At the moment, the goal differences of the other teams are – Bangladesh (-3), Vietnam (-6), Uzbekistan (-8) and Jordan (-9).

Published on Apr 07, 2026

#India #qualify #AFC #U20 #Womens #Asian #Cup #Quarterfinals #Scenarios #explained

India will take on Chinese Taipei in its final Group C fixture of the AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 on Wednesday.

After defeats in their opening two matches against Japan and Australia, both India and Chinese Taipei find themselves in identical situations, chasing a result that could yet keep their tournament alive.

How can India qualify for the quarterfinals in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026?

India’s goal difference of -11 makes things a bit more complicated than Chinese Taipei’s -7. The Young Tigresses’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time since 2004 rest on securing a place among the two best third-placed teams across all groups.

Their task will be simplified if either the Group A match between Vietnam and Bangladesh on Tuesday or the Group B match between Uzbekistan and Jordan on Wednesday ends in a draw. In that case, the winner of India vs Chinese Taipei will qualify for the quarterfinals, regardless of goal difference.

But if there is a winner in both those games, India would need to win by a handsome margin to avoid being the worst-ranked third-placed side in the three groups. At the moment, the goal differences of the other teams are – Bangladesh (-3), Vietnam (-6), Uzbekistan (-8) and Jordan (-9).

Published on Apr 07, 2026

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Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Dhruv-Tanisha pair keeps Indian challenge alive in mixed doubles <div id="content-body-70834226" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto kept India’s mixed doubles challenge at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 with two other duos from the country bowing out in the opening round in Ningbo, China on Tuesday.</p><p>Kapila and Crasto outlasted Thailand’s Phuwanat Horbanluekit and Benyapa Aimsaard, beating them 21-14, 11-21, 21-15 in a three-game thriller which lasted 51 minutes.</p><p>In another match, Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani went down fighting against Malaysia’s eighth seeds Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie 13-21, 19-21 in a 34-minute contest at the Ningbo Olympic Centre.</p><p>The Indian duo struggled to find rhythm early on, conceding the first game comfortably, but showed signs of resistance in the second before the experienced Malaysian combination shut the door in straight games.</p><p>Meanwhile, Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh also failed to cross the opening hurdle, losing 16-21, 15-21 to Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien in 31 minutes.</p><p>The Indian pair fought hard but was unable to sustain pressure at crucial junctures against their steady opponents.</p><p>The focus will shift to singles competition on Wednesday with India’s top stars, including P. V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, set to begin their campaigns.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 07, 2026</p></div> #Badminton #Asia #Championships #DhruvTanisha #pair #Indian #challenge #alive #mixed #doubles

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Deadspin | Bulls prez sees Billy Donovan as integral to future — if coach wants to stay <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28666205.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28666205.jpg" alt="NBA: Phoenix Suns at Chicago Bulls" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan directs his team against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The Chicago Bulls aren’t looking to move on from Billy Donovan. Now it’s up for Donovan to decide what his future holds.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf held a video call with media Tuesday and said the team’s next front office hires must be “sold” on Donovan as their coach.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach,” Reinsdorf said, “they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City. … If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.”</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The “if” is the key. Reinsdorf said Donovan is scheduled to meet with ownership to discuss his future on Monday, the day after the team’s season finale against the Dallas Mavericks.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Donovan, a two-time NCAA champion at Florida (2006, 2007), had been linked to the opening at North Carolina, but ex-Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone was officially hired there Tuesday.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>The Bulls fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on Monday. Reinsdorf said he wanted Donovan to have a greater voice in team-building.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>“We’d be crazy not to want Billy’s input in player acquisition from players around the league,” Reinsdorf said. “He’s an NBA coach, he coaches against these guys. Some of these guys he’s already coached. Billy will be involved and will be encouraged … I’ll probably push Billy to be more involved.”</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>In fact, Reinsdorf entertained the idea of Donovan moving into the front office himself, but clarified that Donovan had not raised that possibility.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>“If he came to me and said, ‘Hey, I may want to do a Brad Stevens situation,’ I would sit down and listen to Billy,” Reinsdorf said, referencing the former coach of the Boston Celtics who moved into their president of basketball operations position. “I don’t think that’s where his head’s at. I don’t think Billy cares about titles. Billy cares about being a head coach, and he cares about the players and cares about the organization.”</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Donovan, who turns 61 in May, has coached the Bulls since 2020-21 but guided them to just one playoff appearance. They lost to the Miami Heat in the play-in round in each of the past three years.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Chicago, long eliminated from playoff contention, entered Tuesday’s game at the Washington Wizards at 29-49 and on a seven-game slide. Donovan addressed reporters before the game and said he appreciated Reinsdorf’s belief in him.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>“I’ve always believed this: The room is smarter than any individual and there are a lot of smart people in that room,” Donovan said. “I think if we can put our heads together and figure out how do we get to that? I don’t have all the answers to those things. I just know the last four years, we have not won at a high level. I want to win at a high level. I want to be a part of that. I think the organization deserves that, I think everyone in the organization wants that, and then everybody has got to put their heads together and figure out, ‘How do we go about doing that?'”</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Bulls #prez #sees #Billy #Donovan #integral #future #coach #stay

Chet Holmgren is the textbook definition of a basketball unicorn. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 7’1 center cashed 36.2 percent of his three-pointers this season on 243 attempts while also being one of the very best shot-blockers in the NBA. NBA teams will tank for years to get a player like Holmgren who can provide stout rim protection defensively while also spacing the floor on offense. The Thunder did tank to get him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and it resulted in a championship in the big man’s third pro season last year.

If Holmgren is a unicorn, Victor Wembanyama is an alien. There’s never been a player in league history quite like the 7’5 French sensation. He’s probably already the most dominant defender in the history of basketball, and he hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.

Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.

The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it all

Want to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.

The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.

Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.

Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBA

Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.

Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.

Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this season

The Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.

The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.

The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.

Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.

The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.

Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theater

The Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.

Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.

This tweet summed it up perfectly:

This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:

After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.

Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.

#Victor #Wembanyama #hates #Chet #Holmgren">Why Victor Wembanyama hates Chet Holmgren so much  Chet Holmgren is the textbook definition of a basketball unicorn. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 7’1 center cashed 36.2 percent of his three-pointers this season on 243 attempts while also being one of the very best shot-blockers in the NBA. NBA teams will tank for years to get a player like Holmgren who can provide stout rim protection defensively while also spacing the floor on offense. The Thunder did tank to get him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and it resulted in a championship in the big man’s third pro season last year.If Holmgren is a unicorn, Victor Wembanyama is an alien. There’s never been a player in league history quite like the 7’5 French sensation. He’s probably already the most dominant defender in the history of basketball, and he hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it allWant to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBAHolmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this seasonThe Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theaterThe Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.This tweet summed it up perfectly:This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.  #Victor #Wembanyama #hates #Chet #Holmgren

hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.

Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.

The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it all

Want to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.

The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.

Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.

Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBA

Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.

Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.

Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this season

The Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.

The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.

The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.

Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.

The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.

Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theater

The Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.

Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.

This tweet summed it up perfectly:

This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:

After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.

Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.

#Victor #Wembanyama #hates #Chet #Holmgren">Why Victor Wembanyama hates Chet Holmgren so much

Chet Holmgren is the textbook definition of a basketball unicorn. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 7’1 center cashed 36.2 percent of his three-pointers this season on 243 attempts while also being one of the very best shot-blockers in the NBA. NBA teams will tank for years to get a player like Holmgren who can provide stout rim protection defensively while also spacing the floor on offense. The Thunder did tank to get him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and it resulted in a championship in the big man’s third pro season last year.

If Holmgren is a unicorn, Victor Wembanyama is an alien. There’s never been a player in league history quite like the 7’5 French sensation. He’s probably already the most dominant defender in the history of basketball, and he hits logo threes from Steph Curry range, uses his 8-foot wingspan for an unprecedented offensive catch radius on interior finishes, and plays with a non-stop motor. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a full year before he entered the NBA, and he hasn’t made me regret it yet. Kareem is, by the way, the third best player in NBA history.

Wembanyama is 22 years old. Holmgren just turned 24 years old. These two players have been battling since they were teenagers on the international stage, and there’s clearly some bad blood between them. As Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs meet Holmgren’s defending champion Thunder in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, their rivalry is coming back into focus. Here’s why there’s so much hostility between these great young bigs — and why Wembanyama is the one driving it.

The 2021 U19 FIBA World Cup started it all

Want to get a first-look at the next generation of basketball stars? Lock in to the FIBA youth tournaments in the summer time. Back in 2015, I wrote that a 17-year-old Jayson Tatum had the basketball world in the palm of his hand after watching him on the FIBA stage. He’s just one of many examples of future stars who had their first big breakout in these events. I’ve been following this stuff closely for a long time, and I can never remember a more anticipated matchup than the United States vs. France showdown in the 2021 gold medal game at the U19 FIBA World Cup. It’s an important first chapter in the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren rivalry.

The United States won the game, and Holmgren was named tournament MVP. What I remember about that game is that it wasn’t Chet who out-dueled Wemby — it was Kenneth Lofton. Lofton was a 6’6, 275-pound big man who played his college ball at Louisiana Tech, signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 as an undrafted free agent, and played 45 NBA games before now continuing his career in China.

Lofton won the U.S. the gold medal game, but Holmgren was still that team’s best player.

Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren head-to-head in the NBA

Holmgren was the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft but missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. Wembanyama entered the league the next year as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Thunder demolished the Spurs in the first two games between Holmgren and Wembanyama in the NBA. The Spurs won the third matchup in their shared rookie season with Wemby going off for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Holmgren had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the loss.

Wemby and Chet only matched up once in the next season during the 2024-25 campaign. The Thunder won an Oct. game and would go on to win the NBA championship while the Spurs missed the playoffs after Wembanyama had to be shutdown after the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

“I was told by somebody inside that room that Wemby is motivated by Chet. Chet having one up on him on the championship,” ESPN reporter Marc Spears said.

Wemby takes the upper hand in the rivalry this season

The Thunder looked like a potential dynasty coming off their 2025 championship. Victor Wembanyama had other ideas.

The Thunder started the year at 24-1. Then the Spurs beat them three times in just about two weeks, including knocking them out of the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas in a game where Wemby came off the bench to score 22 points in 21 minutes. Watch the way Wembanyama reacted when Holmgren missed a key free throw late.

The Christmas matchup between the two teams was another fantastic showcase. The Spurs beat the Thunder, 117-102, for their third straight win against mighty OKC. Holmgren only had 10 points in the loss, and Wembanyama was clearly trying to get in his head.

Watch this hard foul by Wemby, and his reaction when Chet missed another free throw.

The Thunder did win the final regular season matchup. Everyone knew we’d see these two again in the Western Conference Finals.

Wembanyama vs. Holmgren in the Western Conference Finals is pure theater

The Spurs’ Game 1 double-OT victory in the 2026 Western Conference Finals was one of the greatest basketball games you will ever see. Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds in a career-high 49 minutes. His logo three will be the shot remembered forever, but he also served Chet a facial with a dunk in double overtime to essentially clinch the win.

Wembanyama knows he’s one of the few people alive with a physical advantage on Holmgren. He also seems to play the mental game against his rival relentlessly.

This tweet summed it up perfectly:

This Wemby vs. Chet TikTok edit also went viral after Game 1. It’s such a good watch:

After Game 1 of the WCF, Wembanyama holds a 5-4 edge in head-to-head matchups against Holmgren.

Spurs vs. Thunder is cinema. We’re watching the next great rivalry in not just the NBA, but all of sports. Wembanyama taking it personally against Holmgren makes it even better.

#Victor #Wembanyama #hates #Chet #Holmgren

The French Open main draw ceremony for singles will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 2 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. IST) in Paris.

This year’s French Open is set to begin from May 24 and concludes on June 7 at Roland Garros.

Where can you watch French Open 2026 draw ceremony?

French Open 2026 draw ceremony will be live streamed on the tournament’s official YouTube channel..

Where to watch French Open 2026 in India?

French Open 2026 will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and live streamed on Sony Liv (app and website) and FanCode (app and website) from May 24 to June 7

Round-wise details of the ranking points on offer

Men’s Singles

Winner: 2,000 points

Runner-up: 1,300 points

Semifinals: 800 points

Quarterfinals: 400 points

Fourth Round: 200 points

Third Round: 100 points

Second Round: 50 points

First Round: 10 points

Women’s Singles

Winner: 2,000 points

Runner-up: 1,300 points

Semifinals: 780 points

Quarterfinals: 430 points

Fourth Round: 240 points

Third Round: 130 points

Second Round: 70 points

First Round: 10 points

Men’s Doubles (per team)

Winner: 2,000 points

Runner-up: 1,200 points

Semifinals: 720 points

Quarterfinals: 360 points

Third Round: 180 points

Second Round: 90 points

First Round: 0 points

Women’s Doubles (per team)

Winner: 2,000 points

Runner-up: 1,300 points

Semifinals: 780 points

Quarterfinals: 430 points

Third Round: 240 points

Second Round: 130 points

First Round: 10 points

What is the total prize money for French Open 2026?

Prize money at this year’s French ​Open has jumped by 9.5 per cent, taking ‌the total purse to 61.7 million ​euros (USD 72.69 million).

Men’s and women’s champion each will receive 2.8 million euros.

Who are the defending champions?

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz is the defending men’s singles champion. However, he has withdrawn from this year’s tournament due to a wrist injury.

In women’s singles, USA’s Coco Gauff is the reigning champion.

In men’s doubles, Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos won the title while in women’s doubles, the all-Italian duo of Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani were the winners last year.

Errani also clinched the mixed doubles title with compatriot Andrea Vavassori.

Alfie Hewett of Great Britain and Yui Kamiji of Japan were the winners in men’s and women’s wheelchair singles.

Israel’s Guy Sasson won the wheelchair quad singles.

Wheelchair men’s doubles title was clinched by the all-British duo of Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid while in the women’s category, Japan’s Yui Kamiji and South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane lifted the winner’s trophy.

Sasson and Dutchman Niels Vink emerged victorious in wheelchair quad doubles.

Published on May 21, 2026

#French #Open #draw #ceremony">When is French Open 2026 draw ceremony?  The French Open main draw ceremony for singles will be held on Thursday, May 21, at 2 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. IST) in Paris.This year’s French Open is set to begin from May 24 and concludes on June 7 at Roland Garros.Where can you watch French Open 2026 draw ceremony?French Open 2026 draw ceremony will be live streamed on the tournament’s official        YouTube channel..
Where to watch French Open 2026 in India?

French Open 2026 will be telecast on the        Sony Sports Network and live streamed on        Sony Liv (app and website) and        FanCode (app and website) from May 24 to June 7
Round-wise details of the ranking points on offerMen’s SinglesWinner: 2,000 pointsRunner-up: 1,300 pointsSemifinals: 800 pointsQuarterfinals: 400 pointsFourth Round: 200 pointsThird Round: 100 pointsSecond Round: 50 pointsFirst Round: 10 pointsWomen’s SinglesWinner: 2,000 pointsRunner-up: 1,300 pointsSemifinals: 780 pointsQuarterfinals: 430 pointsFourth Round: 240 pointsThird Round: 130 pointsSecond Round: 70 pointsFirst Round: 10 pointsMen’s Doubles (per team)Winner: 2,000 pointsRunner-up: 1,200 pointsSemifinals: 720 pointsQuarterfinals: 360 pointsThird Round: 180 pointsSecond Round: 90 pointsFirst Round: 0 pointsWomen’s Doubles (per team)Winner: 2,000 pointsRunner-up: 1,300 pointsSemifinals: 780 pointsQuarterfinals: 430 pointsThird Round: 240 pointsSecond Round: 130 pointsFirst Round: 10 pointsWhat is the total prize money for French Open 2026?Prize money at this year’s French ​Open has jumped by 9.5 per cent, taking ‌the total purse to 61.7 million ​euros (USD 72.69 million).Men’s and women’s champion each will receive 2.8 million euros.Who are the defending champions?Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz is the defending men’s singles champion. However, he has withdrawn from this year’s tournament due to a wrist injury.In women’s singles, USA’s Coco Gauff is the reigning champion.In men’s doubles, Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos won the title while in women’s doubles, the all-Italian duo of Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani were the winners last year.Errani also clinched the mixed doubles title with compatriot Andrea Vavassori.Alfie Hewett of Great Britain and Yui Kamiji of Japan were the winners in men’s and women’s wheelchair singles.Israel’s Guy Sasson won the wheelchair quad singles.Wheelchair men’s doubles title was clinched by the all-British duo of Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid while in the women’s category, Japan’s Yui Kamiji and South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane lifted the winner’s trophy.Sasson and Dutchman Niels Vink emerged victorious in wheelchair quad doubles.Published on May 21, 2026  #French #Open #draw #ceremony

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