Today, as 14 year tribal boy retuned with a gold medal from Tashkant, the border town burst into celebrations. Yasir was garlanded and carried on shoulders as crowd marched on the streets to celebrate the rare victory.

Many of this week's most attractive pickups are worth securing for the long haul

OSLO, Norway (AP) Barcelona and OL Lyonnes are both chasing a season sweep of four major trophies when they meet in the Womens Champions League final Saturday.The two dominant clubs in European womens soccer over 15 years face each other for the fourth time in the past eight finals.It is 2-1 in that head-to-head for Lyon which has a record eight European titles, including five straight through 2020, in the competitions 25-year history.Barcelona is in its seventh final in eight years, its sixth in a row, and is widely favored to win a fourth title.That era started with a humbling 4-1 loss to Lyon in the 2019 final in Budapest.They were much, much better than us. I am humble enough to say that, Barcelonas two-time Ballon dOr winner Alxia Putellas recalled.Lyon also won their title clash in 2022 and only in 2024 did Barcelona finally triumph against its biggest rival.Lyon captain Wendie Renard is set to play in her 12th final of a remarkable career, since scoring in the French giants first title win in 2011.The teams are coached by former colleagues at Barcelona. Jonatan Girldez now coaches Lyon after winning two Womens Champions League titles at Barcelona when Pere Romeu was one of his assistants.I feel privileged to face Barcelona as Im grateful for the experience I had there and I wish them the best, Girldez said.Oslo too small?UEFAs choice of Oslo to host the final has drawn some criticism from Barcelona.Star player Aitana Bonmat suggested the 28,000-seat Ullevaal Stadium was a step back for womens soccer: a stadium too small in a city with too few direct flights.Norway was defended as the motherland of womens soccer in Europe by UEFAs director of womens football, Nadine Kessler. She played in three Champions League finals that each drew crowds of fewer than 20,000.The Ullevaal is sold out Saturday, while one year ago Sporting Lisbons stadium was just three-quarters full with nearly 39,000 to watch Arsenal beat Barcelona 1-0.Norways established stars Barcelonas Caroline Graham Hansen and Lyon's Ada Hegerberg stood up for their national stadium Friday.The venue was decided a couple of years ago, said Graham Hansen, who grew up in this neighborhood of Oslo, and you didnt take it for granted you would sell out the stadium.The game is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Norwegian soccer and to inspire young girls, Hegerberg said.The 2027 final is in Warsaw at Polands national stadium, which can hold 56,000 for the biggest games.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Canada's Christopher Morales Williams is among the track stars competing at the latest stop of the 2026 World Athletics Diamond League tour at Xiamen Egret Stadium in Xiamen, China.

Carlton will be hoping to take the momentum of last weeks inspiring win under interim coach Josh Fraser when it meets Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

SIMON JONES: Glenn Hoddle has launched a withering attack on club captain Cristian Romero for his plan to stay in Argentina this weekend rather than support Tottenham.