Asia Sports Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 35 Week of 6 October 2025
(1) F1 Singapore Grand Prix: George Russell wins street race, McLaren seal constructors’ title
George Russell holds off Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, with Oscar Piastri in fourth.
(2) Fifa accuses Malaysia of falsifying players’ citizenships: ‘cheating, pure and simple’
Football’s world governing body says Malaysia forged documents to grant citizenship to seven foreign players.
(3) Djokovic battles through injury to reach last eight at Shanghai Masters
Novak Djokovic overcame injury issues and sweltering heat as he beat Jaume Munar to continue his bid for a fifth Shanghai Masters title.
(4) National Games: Hong Kong Olympian tipped to bring home sailing gold
Nicholas Halliday will arrive in Guangdong lifted by a notable victory on the elite-level Grand Slam circuit.
(1) F1 Singapore Grand Prix: George Russell wins street race, McLaren seal constructors’ title
(Photo Credit: SCMP)
George Russell of Mercedes secured a victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris. McLaren clinched the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship with six races remaining, matching Red Bull’s 2023 record, thanks to a 27-point haul from Norris and Oscar Piastri (who finished fourth). This marked McLaren’s second consecutive team title and its 10th historically, cementing their dominance in the current season.
The race saw intense battles, particularly between McLaren teammates Norris and Piastri. Norris aggressively passed Piastri early on, sparking a radio complaint from Piastri about unfair treatment, though the team deferred discussions post-race. Verstappen faced mechanical issues, reporting gearbox downshift problems “like a handbrake,” while Norris struggled to overtake him on Marina Bay’s notoriously difficult track, ultimately securing podium positions for both despite the challenges.
The event was designated F1’s first official “Heat Hazard” race due to tropical Singaporean conditions, requiring drivers to have liquid-cooled vests available. However, with temperatures cooler than expected (28°C instead of 31°C), some drivers, including Verstappen, opted not to use the equipment. The race underscored both competitive intensity and adaptability to evolving regulatory and environmental demands in the sport.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3327930/f1-singapore-grand-prix-george-russell-wins-street-race-mclaren-seal-constructors-title?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article
(2) Fifa accuses Malaysia of falsifying players’ citizenships: ‘cheating, pure and simple’
(Photo Credit: AFP)
FIFA has launched a severe rebuke against Malaysia, accusing the country of “cheating, pure and simple” by allegedly forging citizenship documents for seven footballers of Brazilian, Argentine, Spanish, and Dutch origins who played in an Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam. In a 19-page report, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee cited official records from the players’ home countries confirming that none had grandparents born in Malaysia—directly contradicting documents submitted by Malaysian authorities claiming heritage ties in states like Penang and Johor. The world governing body imposed fines and bans, emphasizing that presenting fraudulent documentation for eligibility constitutes unacceptable cheating.
Malaysian officials, including Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution, denied wrongdoing, insisting citizenships were granted “the right way” with personal scrutiny by the National Registration Department (NRD) director. However, FIFA’s report highlighted the NRD’s admission that it issued new birth certificates without original records, relying instead on secondary foreign documents. The Football Association of Malaysia vowed to appeal FIFA’s “baseless” allegations, while one player, Facundo Garces, attributed the issue to a “clerical error” and affirmed his Malaysian heritage pride on social media.
The scandal has transcended sports, raising concerns about the integrity of Malaysia’s citizenship and passport issuance systems. Legal activist Eric Paulsen of Lawyers for Liberty called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry, criticizing the government’s handling of the “fiasco” and warning that Malaysia’s reputation is “in tatters beyond repair.” The incident reflects deeper issues of bureaucratic accountability and national integrity, with pundits suggesting rival nations may have instigated the probe, though FIFA remains “comfortably satisfied” with evidence of document falsification.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3328096/fifa-accuses-malaysia-falsifying-players-citizenships-cheating-pure-and-simple?module=AI_Recommended_for_you_In-house&pgtype=section
(3) Djokovic battles through injury to reach last eight at Shanghai Masters
(Photo Credit: BBC News)
Despite battling an apparent ankle injury and requiring multiple medical timeouts for treatment, Novak Djokovic persevered to defeat Jaume Munar in a grueling three-set match (6-3, 5-7, 6-2). The 24-time Grand Slam champion visibly grimaced and grasped his ankle during points, even collapsing exhausted after a long rally, but managed to break Munar’s serve twice in the decisive third set to secure the win in 2 hours and 41 minutes.
Djokovic’s physical struggles extended beyond the ankle issue: he had vomited during his previous round win in extreme heat (30°C with 80% humidity) and required blood pressure checks during the Munar match. Despite appearing drained and receiving frequent trainer assistance, he demonstrated remarkable resilience, breaking early in the third set and maintaining composure to advance to the quarter-finals.
Djokovic will next face world No. 44 Zizou Bergs, who rallied to beat Gabriel Diallo. Meanwhile, tenth seed Holger Rune advanced to the quarters and criticized the ATP Tour’s lack of a heat rule, calling conditions “brutal” with high humidity and demanding reforms similar to Grand Slam protocols to protect player safety in extreme weather.
News Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/cn95wrw2w5ro
(4) National Games: Hong Kong Olympian tipped to bring home sailing gold
(Photo Credit: Dickson Lee)
Peter Jessop, a 17-year-old debutant at the National Games, is highly confident in his Hong Kong sailing teammate Nicholas Halliday, predicting a gold medal for the reigning Asian champion in the men’s single dinghy event. Jessop, who moved to Hong Kong at age six, aims to qualify for the finals alongside Halliday by finishing in the top four during the preliminaries off the coast of Shanwei, Guangdong, from October 20 to 30. Inspired by Halliday, whom he considers a role model, Jessop is determined to make his mark in his first senior-level National Games, targeting a top-six finish or a near-medal position.
Nicholas Halliday, now 26, brings a wealth of experience to his second National Games, having finished eighth in Tianjin in 2017. His recent victory in the Sailing Grand Slam circuit has boosted his confidence, though he remains focused on performing his best rather than fixating on medals. The seasoned sailor, who competed against Olympic-level athletes this year, believes his maturity and preparation will serve him well in Shanwei’s waters, which are similar to those in Hong Kong, providing a familiar challenge for the team.
The Hong Kong sailing squad, comprising eight athletes, includes other notable competitors like Stephanie Norton, a Tokyo Olympian and Asian Games silver medalist, and Nancy Highfield in the women’s single dinghy class, alongside Skiff pairs Russell Aylsworth and Akira Sakai in the 49er event, and Mak Hiu-tung and Emily Polson in the 49erFX category. Norton noted that the Shanwei venue is new but the team is accustomed to facing strong Chinese competitors from past championships. Jessop, motivated by racing alongside his idol Halliday, is eager to compete and contribute to Hong Kong’s performance at the Games.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3328278/national-games-hong-kong-olympian-tipped-bring-home-sailing-gold?module=top_story&pgtype=section
