“Unleash Your Power: Where Mental Strength Meets Physical Excellence,” is the theme of the third staging of the Mayberry, JOA Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) National Bodybuilding Championships.
This year’s event is set for Saturday, September 28 at the AC Hotel in Kingston.
“We are excited at JABBFA to showcase Jamaica’s premier bodybuilding event where the country’s top athletes will compete for the prestigious titles of Mr. and Ms. Jamaica,” said Vice President of JABBFA, Kirk Frankson at the launch of the event held at the Jamaica Olympic Association on Tuesday morning.
“This competition marks a pivotal moment in our season of bodybuilding as we continue to celebrate not only physical excellence but also the discipline, commitment and mental strength that our sport cultivates. It is a platform where our athletes don’t just showcase their physical prowess, but also their mental resilience and dedication to drive them to become the best version of themselves,” he added.
Mayberry Investments Limited will serve as main sponsors for the championships for the third year in a row.
“Today marks a significant moment for bodybuilding and fitness Jamaica as we kick off another year of showcasing the incredible talent, dedication and discipline of our athletes,” said Stephanie Harrison, VP-Marketing at Mayberry Investments Limited.
“We are very happy and elated to have accommodated this third staging and we believe in the potential of our athletes and it’s a testament to the growing importance of fitness and wellness in Jamaica,” she added.
The competition will feature 56 athletes competing in a diverse range of categories: Men’s Physique, Bodybuilding, Bikini Fitness, Body Fitness and Women’s Physique.
The Men’s Physique category will be broken down into three smaller categories: Short, Tall and Muscular while the Bodybuilding category will be broken down into two: Open and Classic.
Bikini Fitness, similar to Men’s Physique, will see three sub-categories: Short, Tall and Wellness.
There are 23 competitors registered for the Men’s Physique category with Bodybuilding, Bikini Fitness, Body Fitness and Women’s Physique following with 15, 10, 4 and 4, respectively.
“Without the athletes, none of this would’ve been possible. With their hard work and dedication, going through the diet, it’s amazing,” said JABBFA President Audrey Allwood.
A large number of Gyms around the island will be represented on Saturday including the likes of Fit Farm Fitness, Island Body Fitness, Myers Fitness Center, Work That body Gym and recent additions to the fitness landscape like Shaddai Fitness Factory among many others.
“We could not have done this without the gym because, of course, the gyms make the bodies,” Allwood said.
Allwood also expressed gratitude to Mayberry for their contributions over the last three years, referring to that period as the association’s “best ever.”
As far as prizes go, for all competitive categories with more than three participants, the top three athletes will be awarded trophies and Mayberry tokens and sponsored gift baskets.
Category winners will also receive a cash prize of JA$20,000, while the overall champions will be rewarded with JA$50,000.
Other sponsors for this year’s edition include Caribbean Producers Jamaica, Lasco Financial Services, Lasco Distributors, Ayrtons Distributors, Gustazos Jamaica, VitaMalt, Nature Valley, Powerade, Vigorton 2 Iron and Vitamin Tonic, Cheffin’z with Jolly, Fitness Junkies, Express Fitness Jamaica and PUSH.
England beat Australia by 46 runs on the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method to keep the great rivals' ODI series alive, with Harry Brook scoring a century.
Matters looked bleak for England as Australia set them a tough target of 305, with the tourists having reached 304-7 in their 50 overs at the crease.
Steven Smith scored 60 and Alex Carey, who starred in the second ODI as Australia took a 2-0 series lead, plundered an unbeaten 77, striking seven fours.
Indeed, Australia looked like they would cruise to another victory as Mitchell Starc sent Phil Salt packing for a duck and then dismissed Ben Duckett four balls later.
Yet Will Jacks and Brook had other ideas, putting on a third-wicket stand of 156 to put England in control.
Jacks' stand finally came to an end on 84 in the 28th over, but Brook simply picked up the slack, clipping his way to a maiden ODI ton.
With Brook, who reached 110 not out, at one end, Liam Livingstone added an unbeaten 33 to the total before the rain closed in at Chester-le-Street, but with England needing just 51 runs from 74 balls, they got over the line on DLS, leaving the series delicately poised at 2-1 to Australia heading into the final two matches.
Data Debrief: Leading by example
When Brook gets into his stride, there are not many better big hitters, and his knock on Tuesday was nothing short of spectacular. It also included 15 boundaries (13 fours, two sixes) and came at a strike rate of 117.02.
He is England's stand-in captain for this series in Jos Buttler's absence, and he certainly stepped up to the plate as Australia saw a 14-game winning streak (only two teams - Australia in 2003 and South Africa in 2005 - have ever won more successive ODIs) snapped.
Manchester City are still waiting on news regarding Rodri's injury, so said Pep Guardiola.
Rodri has been in Barcelona over recent days after he sustained a serious-looking knee injury in City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
Reports have suggested the Spain midfielder, who has been crucial to City's success over the past few seasons, has suffered an anterior crucial ligament (ACL) injury.
There is speculation Rodri could miss the remainder of the season, but Guardiola was unable to offer any confirmation of those reports.
"We are still waiting for the decision of the doctors, exactly what he has," Guardiola said ahead of City's EFL Cup game against Watford on Tuesday.
"When we know it, the club or myself, the spokesman of the club will announce it."
Rodri played 50 times for City last season, with the Premier League champions losing only one of those matches.
However, they lost four of the nine games the former Atletico Madrid man missed in 2023-24.
Yerson Mosquera is expected to miss the rest of the 2024-25 season for Wolves with a serious knee injury.
The defender was stretchered off in the 82nd minute of their 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa after twisting his knee following a challenge from Morgan Rodgers.
Mosquera has since undergone scans, with Wolves revealing that he has suffered injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Wolves' head of high performance, Phil Hayward, said in a statement: "We will be visiting specialists in the coming days to finalise the plan for surgery; this will take place in the next two weeks.
"Clearly, there is a long recovery period ahead for Yerson, and the club will be providing all the support he needs to ensure a successful rehabilitation and a return to competition in due course.
"Timescales are difficult to state prior to surgery, but it is highly unlikely he will feature again this season."
The Colombian, who spent last season on loan at Villarreal, has started all five of Wolves' Premier League games so far this campaign, with only Mario Lemina (449) playing more than his 442 minutes.
In the top-flight, he has made the joint-most interceptions for Wolves (10) and has won possession 24 times, a team-high, while he has won 29 duels, the second-best tally in the squad behind Lemina (32).
It is a huge blow for Wolves, who have claimed just one point so far this season and currently sit bottom of the table, while only in 2003-04 (first seven) and 2019-20 (first six) have they gone longer without victory from the start of a campaign in the competition.
Wolves' next match is against Liverpool at home on Saturday.
England bowler Mark Wood said there is "nothing" he can do with his right arm due to the elbow injury that will keep him sidelined until next year.
Wood played a full part in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in August, taking two wickets in the match as England sealed a five-wicket victory, but was then replaced for the second.
Olly Stone was brought in for him, with Wood initially missing out due to a groin problem, though it was later confirmed that the elbow injury would rule him out of red-ball tours of Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.
Wood had been suffering from stiffness and discomfort while bowling during July's series against West Indies, with his scan after the Sri Lanka Test showing he had "bone stress" in his right elbow.
The 34-year-old, who had elbow surgery in 2022, is still targeting a return to action in early 2025 but admitted he needed to see another specialist to find out the true extent of the injury ahead of next year's Ashes.
"There is nothing I can really do on my right side," Wood told BBC's Test Match Special.
"I have been told to stop picking my kids up with my right arm. I have to do everything with my left.
"It was a bizarre injury. I had a bit of a groin tweak and went for a scan with a stiff elbow, which is not uncommon for a fast bowler.
"I was thinking I might need an injection, which would give me a perfect time period with having the groin injury
"[The doctors] said I have some bone stress in my elbow. I must have been playing with it.
"They were worried it would be a stress fracture, but I have got to see a specialist in another few days to determine that."
Mohamed Salah is one of several Liverpool players to show improvements in the early stages of Arne Slot's reign, according to former Reds goalkeeper David James.
Liverpool have won four of their first five Premier League games under Slot to trail early-season pacesetters Manchester City by just a single point, with a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest the only blot on the Dutchman's record.
The Reds have kept four clean sheets already this term, their joint-most in the opening five league games of any season, along with 1967-68, 1977-78, 2005-06 and 2021-22.
It is not only their defence that has impressed, however, with Salah contributing three goals and four assists already in 2024-25. Only Erling Haaland, with 10 goals, has more goal contributions in the Premier League this term.
Salah also ranks joint-sixth in the league for both chances created (12) and expected assists (1.38 xA).
Speaking to Stats Perform, James outlined his belief that Salah – who is out of contract at the end of the season – had improved his all-round displays under Slot.
"If you look at Mo Salah, Mo Salah's improved," the former England shot-stopper said.
"He hasn't scored a massive amount of goals compared to the likes of Erling Haaland in particular, but his gameplay, his control, his pass choices, his effectiveness, his scoring, his assists are up there with his normal standard.
"But he's playing better. Ball retention is a massive thing, especially in the final third, so his ball retention is much better."
James believes Slot's more patient approach to build-up play has helped both Salah and fellow wideman Luis Diaz, granting them more space when they do get the chance to isolate their markers.
"I think where Arne has effectively changed the style of play, it's allowed the wingers to really go for it," James added.
"Also, if you're improving as a player with your touch, your control and ball retention, then that's only going to enhance the team's output.
"I think you'll see a lot more higher performances from Liverpool players. I mean, [Ryan] Gravenberch, he's like a new signing. It's mad.
"Considering the squad is the same squad, effectively, he looks like a new signing. Mo, as I said, has improved. Luis Diaz has improved.
"We're talking about three of the most dangerous players possibly in the Liverpool team. So well done, Arne Slot."
Liverpool's next Premier League game is at winless Wolves, who have suffered more defeats in the competition against the Reds (16) than versus any other club.
Aryna Sabalenka is targeting a return to the top of the world rankings to cap a stellar 2024.
Sabalenka won two grand slam titles this year, the Australian Open and the US Open, as well as clinching the top prize in Cincinnati as well.
She also reached the final in Madrid and Rome, losing out to world number one Iga Swiatek on both occasions.
The Belarusian currently sits over 2,000 points behind Swiatek in the women's rankings, but the Pole will not be defending her crown at the upcoming China Open.
Sabalenka is entering the tournament as the number one seed, and another victory would see her take a huge step towards closing the gap at the top.
"Of course that's one of my goals, to finish the season at world number one," Sabalenka said.
"I'm not trying to focus on that, I'm trying to focus on my game. There is only three tournaments left.
"I'm just trying to bring my best tennis on court. After the season, I'll see if it was enough to finish the year at number one or have to improve something else to get to number one.
"To be called the best player in the world, that means everything. It's good to know that you've been doing the right thing, all of that hours of training wasn't a waste of time."
The women's singles tournament in China begins on Wednesday, with the final to be held on October 6.
Michel admitted that Girona are no longer the same team that took LaLiga by storm last season and urged them to rediscover their identity.
Girona were the surprise package last season, going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid and Barcelona in the title race before eventually finishing third in LaLiga.
However, the club let go of Golden Boot winner Artem Dovbyk, who scored 24 LaLiga goals last season, and influential midfielder Aleix Garcia in the transfer window.
Though they brought in reinforcements, including Donny van de Beek from Manchester United, they have not yet found their rhythm, losing each of their last three games in all competitions.
In that run, which includes a 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League debut, they have managed a combined eight shots on target from 20 attempts, and netted just one goal, failing to score in each of the last two.
"Things happen for a reason," Michel told a news conference. "Our reality is that we have lost three games in a row, and it is difficult because people expect the team to win.
"Right now we are not the team we were last year, we are another one."
"With the ball, we are not hurting the opponent and this means that we have to suffer. We must play with fewer touches and be able to look up and for that I need high intensity. This is a machine that has to work now.
"Right now we are 12th and that is our reality. We have to improve to win games continuously as people expect. We have to go through the process, and we will suffer."
Winger Portu is available after an ankle knock, giving Michel a fully fit squad as he prepares to face the club where he spent most of his playing career and took his first steps into management.
"It's a special match which I never enjoy. It will always be like this," Michel added. "[Rayo] is the club where I have lived, and my life is in Vallecas.
"They are a great team in every way. They are the team that presses the most and best in the league, and they have a higher intensity than anyone else. It isn't easy to create scoring chances against them."
Erik ten Hag has asked people to "trust" his decision to drop Marcus Rashford to the bench against Crystal Palace after criticism over the move.
The Englishman made a slow start to the Premier League campaign but got on the scoresheet against Southampton with his first goal since March in their FA Cup victory over Liverpool.
He followed that up with a brace against Barnsley in the EFL Cup last Tuesday, also registering an assist, with Ten Hag claiming Rashford was returning to his best form.
However, Rashford unexpectedly started on the bench in their 0-0 draw at Palace, with Amad Diallo favoured on the wing, though the 26-year-old came off the bench in the 61st minute for Joshua Zirkzee.
Some pundits questioned Ten Hag's choice, but the Dutchman shrugged off any ideas of a problem.
"I didn't understand the criticism. People are not entitled to bring speculation," Ten Hag said.
"If I give an explanation, they have to trust my words. If they don't, that's not right."
United are preparing for their Europa League clash against FC Twente, Ten Hag's boyhood club, at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Like the Champions League, the competition has been expanded to 36 teams, resulting in two extra matches in the opening round.
Other Premier League clubs have already voiced concerns about the number of matches they face this campaign, and Ten Hag admitted the increased schedule could lead to problems.
"There are too many games. It's clear. Too many competitions," he added.
"For the top players, they are overloaded, and this is not good for football. It's maybe good for commercial but there is a limit.
"It's almost unavoidable that players get injured because of the overload from so many games."
Arne Slot says Trent Alexander-Arnold has always been a "good defender" but backed him to get better if he can improve on his concentration.
The right-back has said he welcomes Slot's criticism, claiming he wants the Dutchman's help to become "the defender that no one wants to come up against in Europe".
Alexander-Arnold more often draws plaudits for his attacking play, and in Liverpool's latest win, he reached 100 goal involvements (19 goals, 81 assists), setting up Luis Diaz's second in their 3-0 win over Bournemouth.
Slot acknowledged how important Alexander-Arnold's impact going forward is, and that he is more than happy to help his defensive side.
"Yeah, it's difficult for me to judge how it has been in years before - we are talking here about a player that won the Champions League and a league title," Slot said.
"He mentioned himself that winning a league is about defending. It's clear to me then that he's been a good defender all his life.
"But because he's so so special with the ball, the main emphasis goes to him doing special things with the ball. With him, it's not about if he's capable of doing things, it's his concentration rate and being 100% focused.
"This is what we talk about a lot, that he always has to be active in every situation of the game, even if the ball is far away from him. It's not that he's learned how to defend in the last three months; he's won the league and the Champions League!
"It's just getting him to understand what is necessary for him to play the best possible game and that's what we talk about with all the individuals but also with him."
The defensive work put in by Alexander-Arnold is already starting to show, as he has made the third-most interceptions (31) out of his team-mates, and won possession on 176 occasions, with only Alexis Mac Allister (195) bettering that in the Premier League so far this season.
The 25-year-old has described his new manager's approach as "refreshing" after his bright start to life on Merseyside.
When asked how he felt about Alexander-Arnold's comments, Slot said: "I think we all remember the day that Jurgen [Klopp] left and what that man meant to him [Trent Alexander-Arnold].
"So, you can assume how good of a relationship the two of them had, so to hear him say this about his new manager is always nice. It's not always easy to come in and replace a manager like him.
"But it's the same with Trent as it is with the others. They are getting a lot of individual attention to make them better, because if they get better, then the team does as well."
Barcelona will be without injured goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for several months, but Hansi Flick is confident they have a capable deputy in Inaki Pena.
Germany international Ter Stegen underwent a successful operation on Monday after suffering a complete rupture of the patella tendon in his right knee.
The 32-year-old suffered the injury in Barca's 5-1 win at Villarreal in LaLiga on Sunday and is expected to be out for at least eight months, according to Spanish media reports.
Despite Ter Stegen's season likely being over, Flick is remaining upbeat, backing academy product Pena to handle the step up.
"Inaki is doing very well, in pre-season too. He has worked very hard to be here. He is focused and ready to play," Flick said ahead of Wednesday's home game versus Getafe.
"We are confident but we also have to look at what we do because the players at the back are very young. For the moment, we don't feel under pressure and we trust in Inaki."
Having joined Barcelona's La Masia academy aged 13, 25-year-old Pena has made 23 first-team appearances, conceding 39 goals and keeping five clean sheets.
Pena made 10 league appearances for Barca last term, with his save percentage of 56.4% falling some way short of Ter Stegen's 73.5%.
Pena also conceded 17 goals from 13.89 expected goals on target (xGoT) faced, giving him an underperformance of 3.1 in terms of goals prevented. Ter Stegen, by contrast, conceded 27 times from 27.84 xGoT faced.
The Catalans were already without new signing Dani Olmo and fellow midfielders Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal and Fermin Lopez, plus defenders Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, due to injuries.
However, they have made a perfect start to the season under Flick, with six straight wins putting them top of LaLiga, four points ahead of reigning champions Real Madrid in second.
But the former Bayern Munich boss is striving for more, adding: "We analysed the game against Villarreal and we saw a lot of things that can be improved.
"We haven't reached the end of the road. You can always do more. We are moving forward step by step."
The Jamaica Boxing Association staged its long awaited first fight card for 2024 with four fights and an exhibition bout on Saturday at the Stanley Couch Gym in Kingston. It was an all amateur fight card under the banner Gloves Over Guns Futures Programme.
Three of the four fights went to the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) whose boxers looked well prepared and physically fitter than their opponents. Arguably the fight of the night was the final (elite) bout between Delano McLaughlin of the JDF and Kirk-Patrick Heron of the Port Antonio Gym in a light heavyweight match-up. Both fighters were very determined while going all three rounds of three minutes each. At times they traded blow for blow while taking some big punches but in the end McLaughlin landed more hits and was adjudged the winner.
The first JDF boxer to enter the ring was Gervin Garrison in a light heavyweight matchup with Sadeki Harris of GC Foster Gym. Both boxers got busy immediately but Garrison soon showed that he was the better fighter with cleaner punches and was more agile around the ring. Harris took a lot of punishment and showed a lot of heart to stay toe to toe with Garrison but just did not have the strength to throw some winning punches as Garrison came out the clear winner.
That fight gave way to another JDF match-up between with Shawn Morgan in a lop-sided super heavyweight face off with Vernando McKenzie of Funrobics Gym. McKenzie entered the ring confidently but could not handle the force and speed of Morgan. He faced referee Wayne Roberts count more than once in the less than two rounds that he was in the ring, as Roberts eventually stopped the fight midway in the second round.
The only boxer out of the blue corner to record a win on the night was Mark-Andre Mendez of Control Strike Gym against Hammid Gordon of Funrobics Gym. They put on a spirited light middleweight show for the crowd but Mendez sent down more punches and was definitely under less pressure in the ring.
The opening action on the night was an entertaining exhibition bout which went to Alex Grant of Suga Gym over Crishaun McPherson of Funrobics Gym. They were the youngest boxers on show at just fourteen years old.
Stephen Bomber Jones, president of the Jamaica Boxing Association was pleased with the response from the boxing community. “I am very encouraged. I am extremely encouraged by what I saw. I am more encouraged also by the response by the boxers, the gyms and the managers themselves because tonight represents what they have been asking for, at least an answer, one of the answers for what they have been asking for. They have had their boxers training without being able to showcase their skills so this gives a platform to answer that so I am very happy.”
He also said ‘the last Saturday of every month we intend to have the same show but going forward it won’t just be amateurs. We want this platform to be from the most novice boxer which is our grassroot boxers – children, the elite amateurs – those that will over the next couple of years give the activities so that they can represent us internationally and also those boxers who want to turn pro, we give them this platform to have monthly bouts so that they can build a professional record so that they can be the choice of boxers that we carry around the island. The public deserves the best boxers when we do the Fight Night Series so this will be kind of be a feeder programme into the Series. The best boxers, the best amateurs and the best professionals that come out of this we will showcase around the island.”
The fight card was sponsored by Pepsi, S&G Road Surfacing, Vere Events, Locker room Sports and Creative Sports
Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella has suffered a thigh injury and will miss at least the next two games for the Italian champions.
The 27-year-old Italy international, who has made 175 league appearances for Inter, has a strain in the rectus femoris of his right thigh, the club said in a statement.
"His condition will be reassessed next week," the club added when announcing his injury on Tuesday.
Inter, sixth in the Serie A standings with eight points from five matches, visit Udinese on Saturday, before hosting Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League next Tuesday.
Simone Inzaghi's side will be desperate to recover Barella for their clash with surprise league leaders Torino on October 5.
Barella impressed as the Nerazzurri began their Champions League campaign with a goalless draw at Manchester City last week, creating two chances for team-mates and ranking first among all Inter players for possession regains (seven) and passes played in the final third (10).
After hinting at retirement from international cricket following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup back in June, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has made an about turn and is now aiming to parade his skills at the next global cricket showpiece in 2026.
Russell, who ahead of that World Cup said he believes the region possesses enough young talent to fill the gap after his departure, in the same breath, declared that he would be happy to return, if needed.
As such, the 36-year-old Jamaican will stick around just a bit longer, thanks to some convincing from West Indies white ball head coach Darren Sammy.
Interestingly, Russell’s return to international T20 action against England late last year, after a two-year absence, was also based on a conversation with Sammy, but beyond that, the explosive all-rounder pointed out that the emergence of exciting young talent in the region also influenced his decision to stay put—at least for another two years.
“I’ve talked with Sammy, and he said he wants me to keep playing some international cricket, and I think by looking around and seeing the talents that’s in the Caribbean, I think I’m going to push my body and push myself to play international cricket for another two years,” Russell declared.
One of the most feared all-rounders in T20 cricket, Russell, a two-time T20 World Cup winner for the West Indies, packs incredible power-hitting and athletic prowess that can change the course of a game single-handedly.
Though he has graced other formats of the game before, it is as a T20 legend, sought after by every franchise league in the world, that he will be remembered. Russell has experience in over 500 T20 matches with over 8,000 runs to his credit at a strike rate of just over 169. He also has over 450 wickets at a remarkable bowling average of 25.31.
Russell’s ability to clear the boundary with ease and finish innings on a high note is unparalleled, a quality he consistently demonstrates, both internationally and in franchise leagues.
While he will be 38 at the time of the next T20 World Cup to be hosted jointly in India and Sri Lanka, Russell said he still has enough in the tank to significantly contribute to the team’s future success both on and off the field.
“I could have walked away from the game international-wise, but I just want to see the youngsters do well in terms of all-rounders. So I definitely want to play the World Cup of 2026 because there is a lot of talent that you know we have, and I want to help nurture those young talents,” he said.
“I still can hit the ball anywhere I want to hit the ball, still bowling at a good pace, still fit, and can move around, so I don’t see why I should stop,” he added.
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