sports
International Cricket Council pledges funding, support for Afghanistan’s exiled cricketers
Afghanistan’s national women’s cricket team was formed in 2020, prompted by the rules of the International Cricket Council, which stated that countries must have both a men’s and a women’s team. The ICC hasn’t officially recognized the women’s team since the Taliban returned to power, but it has now pledged funding to help the team.
Mapuche sports help Indigenous Chileans revive culture
Chile’s Indigenous Mapuche people have long fought the government over land claims. They’ve faced discrimination and assimilation in Chilean society. But some Mapuche communities are now turning the page. And they’re using an ancestral sport to help protect and revive their culture, customs and language.
Tarahumara runners torn between tradition and comfort
The Ciudad Juárez Marathon, in northern Mexico, is known for having an Indigenous category, which attracts runners from the Tarahumara tribe. The group has a long tradition of running long distances while wearing sandals, and have even inspired a trend of barefoot running around the globe. But a new generation of Tarahumaras wants to run in different types of shoes.
‘I’m not finished’: Badminton’s Beiwen Zhang wants gold in the final Olympics of her decadeslong career
Olympian Beiwen Zhang went pro in badminton at age 13, leaving her home country of China for Singapore to pursue the sport. She struggled with the pressure of competitive athletics, though. The World’s Bianca Hillier has the story of how she bounced back, not just from intense stress but also from what many believed could be a career-ending injury.
