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Bablu Shiwakoti has been active in the Taekwondo sector in various capacities, including as an athlete, coach, referee, and sports official. His contributions span administrative roles, technical training, international representation, and athlete development. He holds several positions within the Nepal Taekwondo Association, including Central Committee Member, Technical Delegate (TD), and Chairperson of the National Poomsae Referee Subcommittee. In these roles, he has overseen national competitions and contributed to the introduction of formats such as Free Style Poomsae and Team Kyorugi in domestic championships. These formats were featured in events like the 2nd School Level National Championship and the Kukkiwon Cup in 2025.

Shiwakoti participated in the 2024 World Taekwondo Championships in Hong Kong, where he reached the quarterfinals. He also completed the International Taekwondo Instructor Course recognized by Kukkiwon in 2015. In terms of officiating, he is certified as an international referee in both Kyorugi (sparring) and Poomsae (forms). He completed referee training programs in Dubai (2023) and another in 2024. Shiwakoti has officiated in international events in countries such as Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and China, and has attended rule-updating sessions in India and Kazakhstan. He has also facilitated referee training within Nepal’s provinces under the Nepal Taekwondo Association.

As a coach, Shiwakoti has worked with athletes at Sitapaila Taekwondo Dojang and led the Nepali team at the 2023 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Athletes he has trained have participated in various international tournaments, including the Asian Games and Youth Asian Games selections. He has also served as a coach at events like the 10th Fujairah Open in the UAE (2023) and the Asian Cadet and Junior Championships in Vietnam (2022).

Shiwakoti has expressed an interest in supporting the professionalization of Taekwondo in Nepal. He highlights the importance of long-term planning for athletes’ careers and the need to strengthen domestic opportunities to reduce early migration of players abroad. Originally from Rautahat, Shiwakoti began practicing Taekwondo during his school years. He later moved to Kathmandu, where he continued his training and competed in local and national-level tournaments.

Three promising Under-19 cricketers from Nepal Naren Bhatta, Sahil Patel, and Puja Mahato are to undergo a month-long professional training program at the LB Shastri Cricket Shaala in Bhopal, India from July 15 to August 14 as part of the Ambassador’s Cricket Fellowship for Nepali Youth announced by the Indian Embassy, Kathmandu.

The initiative aims to support the development of young Nepali cricket talent while strengthening people-to-people ties between India and Nepal through a shared passion for cricket. 

This professional exposure is expected to significantly enhance the players’ skills and contribute to Nepal's cricketing aspirations, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy, Kathmandu.

Indian Ambassador to  Nepal Naveen Srivastava met and interacted with the players in the presence of President of the Cricket Association of Nepal Chatur Bahadur Chand, today and conveyed best wishes for their training programme, according to the statement.

The interaction underscored the importance of sports cooperation in fostering deeper people to people ties between India and Nepal.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed a sharp jump in its overall valuation after the latest edition.

According to a report by US-based investment bank Houlihan Lokey, IPL’s overall valuation has reached a whopping USD 18.5 billion (over Rs 1,56,000 crore) in 2025 and has seen a 12.9 percent increase from last year, Firstpost reported.

Meanwhile, the report also said that the league’s stand-alone brand value rose 13.8 percent to USD 3.9 billion (over Rs 32,000 crore). IPL’s brand value in 2024 was USD 3.4 billion.

“The brand value of the IPL has risen by 13.8% year over year, reaching US$3.9 billion (equivalent to ₹32,721 crore, reflecting a 16.1% increase year over year in INR terms). This growth underscores the league’s expanding commercial appeal, global reach, and deepening fan engagement, particularly in the digital domain,” the report stated, according to Firstpost.

 RCB becomes top-valued franchise

A major shift in the rankings saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) emerge as the most valuable IPL franchise for the first time ever, with a brand value of USD 269 million. The boost comes after their maiden IPL title win in 2025. Last year, RCB stood at USD 227 million.

Mumbai Indians (MI) rose from fourth to second place with a brand value of USD 242 million, up from USD 204 million last year. In contrast, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) dropped to third place at USD 235 million after a poor season where they finished last. Their value increased only slightly from USD 231 million in 2024.

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has fined Chelsea €31m for breaching financial regulations, including €20m for violating football earnings rules and €11m for exceeding squad costs. The club faces a further €60m penalty if targets under a four-year settlement are not met, according to BBC.

Aston Villa, Barcelona, and Lyon also got fines, with Villa sentenced to pay €11m. All four teams would be restricted from registering new players in UEFA tournaments.

Lyon’s agreement allows Europa League participation, pending a successful appeal against relegation by French financial body DNCG. All clubs must meet full compliance by the end of their agreed settlement periods, BBC reported.