Slovakia defeated Tunisia 3-0 in what appears to be a team competition, securing second place in their group. Ľubomír Pištej opened the scoring for Slovakia with a 3-1 set victory over Wassim Essid. The result allowed the Slovak team to claim the runner-up position in the group standings.
Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas disclosed that he followed an extreme diet regimen that he compared to drug addiction. The Finnish driver revealed that his weight loss efforts began in 2014 when he was racing for the Williams Formula One team. Bottas described the restrictive eating pattern as having addictive qualities, suggesting the intense pressure in professional motorsport can lead drivers to adopt unhealthy practices in their pursuit of competitive advantage through weight reduction.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Iran will participate in the upcoming World Cup championship. Iran's participation had been uncertain due to the ongoing military conflict between the United States and the Asian nation. The confirmation removes doubts about whether geopolitical tensions would prevent Iran from competing in football's premier international tournament.
The African Football Confederation announced its support for Gianni Infantino's re-election as FIFA president. Infantino assumed leadership of world football's governing body in February 2016 following a major corruption scandal that led to the suspension of his predecessor Sepp Blatter. The endorsement from Africa, which represents 54 of FIFA's 211 member associations, provides significant backing for Infantino's campaign to continue leading the organization that oversees global football governance and the World Cup tournament.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund will cease financing the LIV Golf series, the controversial golf circuit announced alongside changes to its leadership structure. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who serves as governor of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund and was one of the key architects behind LIV Golf's creation, has stepped down from his role as chairman of the series. The leadership changes come as the Saudi-backed golf league, which launched in 2022 as a rival to the established PGA Tour, faces an uncertain financial future without continued support from the kingdom's main investment vehicle.
Košice defender and team captain Krivák is experiencing his first final, which serves as major motivation for the player. The defender is in his fourth season with the eastern Slovak team, having joined from Škendija Tetovo in North Macedonia, where he won his only trophy to date as the country's champion. The final represents a significant milestone in his career with Košice.
Slovak alpine skier Petra Vonnová sustained severe injuries during February's Winter Olympics that will keep her out of training for an extended period. Vonnová suffered a serious knee injury and complex tibia fracture after a heavy crash during the downhill event in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The injuries are significant enough that she estimates it will be another year and a half before she can return to training, marking a major setback for the Slovak skiing competitor's career.
The apartment of Ján Kováčik, president of the Slovak Football Association (SFZ), has been seized by a bailiff due to outstanding debts spanning several years. The enforcement action targeted his apartment in Bratislava's Karlova Ves district, according to an investigation by the Index news portal. The debts are owed to Geomatix, a company owned by Eduard Maták, a former partner of the influential Penta financial group. Maták acknowledged that he had previously lent money to Kováčik, and the football association president only began repaying the debts after being contacted by journalists about the matter. The Slovak Football Association is the governing body for football in Slovakia, while Penta is one of the country's most prominent investment groups with significant influence in various sectors of the economy.
Slovak defender Dávid Hancko made a dramatic return to Atletico Madrid's starting lineup for their Champions League semifinal against Arsenal, after missing five matches due to an injury that could have ended his season. The 26-year-old center-back sustained the injury during Atletico's Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Barcelona but recovered in time for one of the most important matches of the season. His return from what appeared to be a potentially season-ending injury has generated significant discussion among football fans and analysts, though opinions remain divided on various aspects of his performance and comeback.
Philadelphia eliminated Pittsburgh from the current hockey season, while Montreal moved within one step of advancing to the next round. Montreal got off to a strong start with Brendan Gallagher scoring a goal in the third minute of their game.
Slovak NHL first-overall draft pick Juraj Slafkovský and 16-year-old hockey sensation Nela Lopušanová collaborated on filming a commercial for Budiš. Slafkovský, who represents one generation of Slovak hockey talent, joined forces with Lopušanová, a teenage phenomenon who has earned international recognition as the "female version of Connor McDavid," one of the NHL's biggest stars. The pairing brings together two of Slovakia's most promising hockey talents from different generations and genders for the advertising campaign.
Slovakia's under-18 national hockey team secured a spot in the semifinals of the World Junior Championship after defeating Denmark 7-1. The tournament is being held on home ice in Slovakia, giving the young national team additional motivation as they compete for medals. A hockey scout noted that everything is aligning well for the Slovak team, emphasizing the importance of not repeating mistakes made by other teams in similar situations. The decisive victory over Denmark demonstrated Slovakia's strong offensive capabilities as they advance to the medal rounds of the prestigious international youth tournament.
Atletico Madrid, featuring Slovak defender David Hancko, drew 1-1 with Arsenal in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final match. The result sets up an evenly balanced second leg, scheduled for Tuesday, May 5th in London, where Arsenal will have the advantage of playing at home while needing to overcome the away goals rule that has since been abolished in UEFA competitions.
Slovan defeated Slavia 3-2 in the fourth game of their playoff final series, evening the series at 2-2. The victory forces a decisive fifth and final game, which will be played on Saturday, May 2nd at the Gopass Arena to determine the championship winner.
Slovakia's national team suffered a 3-2 defeat to India at the World Team Championships. Wang Jang secured Slovakia's lone victory in his match, while Jakub Zelinka lost both of his encounters and Ľubomír Pištej managed one win despite losing his opening match. The result represents a setback for the Slovak team in the international competition.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi will miss the team's upcoming Champions League semifinal second leg away at Bayern Munich due to a right thigh injury. The Moroccan international's absence represents a significant blow to PSG's defensive options as they seek to advance to the final of Europe's premier club competition.
Tatran Prešov handball team defeated Nové Zámky in their second semifinal match of the Niké Handball Extraliga playoffs, moving within one victory of advancing to the championship final. The team now holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-series semifinal round. Prešov needs just one more win to secure their place in the final of Slovakia's top handball league championship playoffs.
Three goaltenders have been nominated as finalists for the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's top goaltender. The candidates are Andrei Vasilevskiy, Ilya Sorokin, and Jeremy Swayman. Of the three nominees, only Vasilevskiy has previously won the prestigious award, capturing it in 2019. The winner is determined by votes from NHL general managers across all 32 teams.
Manchester United has extended the contract of 21-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo through 2031. The young player came through the club's academy system and has made 98 appearances for the first team, scoring seven goals. The contract extension secures the services of one of United's promising young talents for the next several years as the club continues to build around players developed through its youth system.
The Czech Republic defeated Finland 2-1 to advance to the semifinals of the U-18 Ice Hockey World Championship. The victory marks the Czech team's return to medal contention after a four-year absence from the tournament's final stages. The Czechs will now compete for a medal position in the upcoming semifinal rounds of the youth hockey championship.