one of the last functioning hospitals in northern gaza — has been forcibly evacuated by the israeli military. germany's parliament is dissolved ahead of elections set for february. a nasa spacecraft has made history by surviving the closest—ever approach to the sun. now on bbc news, it's sportsday. hello and welcome along to sportsday. coming up on the programme. can arsenal close the gap on leaders liverpool when they take on ipswich at the emirates stadium tonight? a moment to rememberfor damon heta as he hits a nine—darter, but was it enough to see him through to the next round?

we speak to ian bennett, one of the winners of the bbc sports personality of the year unsung hero awards. very welcome along to the programme. arsenal have the chance to go second in the premier league and move to within six points of the leaders liverpool this evening — that's if mikel arteta's side beat ipswich at the emirates. kieran mckenna's side are second from bottom and suffered a heavy defeat at home to newcastle last saturday. the gunners are the only top—flight side still unbeaten at home this season, but they will have to manage without the injured bukayo saka. i'm putting some ideas together. i

haven't got it yet, but i love you. i want to speak with them as well to understand how to do and don't i generate that —— but i have a few. we're going to... we went through with five players missing, we went through a period without many players and we will continue to take it with positivity. that's it. i think we need to show the right mentality. — i think we need to show the right mentality, first of all. i think it's a — mentality, first of all. i think it's a chance to show our togetherness, our spirit, our resilience _ togetherness, our spirit, our resilience. we have to show mental strength— resilience. we have to show mental strength and organisation. it's going — strength and organisation. it's going to — strength and organisation. it's going to have to be really, really good _ going to have to be really, really good. we're going to have to show bravery— good. we're going to have to show bravery at — good. we're going to have to show bravery at different moments in the game _ bravery at different moments in the game as_ bravery at different moments in the game as well to take them on in the way we _ game as well to take them on in the way we want to at different phases of the _ way we want to at different phases of the game. it's an 8.15 kick—off in north london and alex howell is there for us.

it's a massive opportunity for arsenal to keep the pressure on liverpool at the top of the premier league. things haven't gone all the way to plan for mikel arteta's side. they've had a number of suspensions, making things difficult for them to keep up a tighter challenge for the season. this will be the first match they will be without buyako saka since he picked up a hamstring injury in that win over crystal palace. arteta said he's going to be out for many weeks, which is a big blow to his side. he's so crucial to everything arsenal do. they've already lost martin odegaard, and without him and those two players, their main attacking outlet. it will be interesting to see the solution. he says he might try gabriel martinelli, but looking to the transfer window, martinelli, but looking to the transferwindow, it martinelli, but looking to the transfer window, it may be an option

for mikel arteta to bring someone into fill the void. first up, they need to get points, and keep pressure on the report the top of the table. �* ., and brighton host brentford in the other game tonight. away from the football, the darts got back under way today at alexandra palace. defending champion luke humphries is in third round action tonight, while this afternoon, the big story was a stunning nine—darter from damon heta. the australian celebrated well in the moment, but was eventually beaten by england's luke woodhouse. james gregg is covering the pdc world championship for us and began by telling me why a nine—darter hasn't been the best omen so far in the tournament. a bit like christian, the dutchman who at the first nine darts, it was seen like that lifetime ago. he also lost. maybe it's about denying dieters that means you going home. i

don't think that will be the case if you get the other one. but what about the fans who have been here? when you come here to join the championship, it wasjust when you come here to join the championship, it was just the second step of the entire day. a brilliant moment for him, but like we say, it wasn't heta who advance. it was the man from worcester, luke woodhouse, who booked his round. then we had johnny cashman, who felt like he was in the twilight of his career. 16th seed out of the 32 to go home. what a great moment that was.— seed out of the 32 to go home. what a great moment that was. there were real competitive _ a great moment that was. there were real competitive matches _ a great moment that was. there were real competitive matches this - real competitive matches this afternoon. i suppose stephen bunting had a little bit easier. he afternoon. i suppose stephen bunting had a little bit easier.— had a little bit easier. he breezed throu~h had a little bit easier. he breezed through and _

had a little bit easier. he breezed through and looked _ had a little bit easier. he breezed through and looked really - had a little bit easier. he breezed through and looked really good. i had a little bit easier. he breezed i through and looked really good. he walked on titanium by david guetta. the other one went home, the latvian. that was who stephen bunting got the better of. let’s bunting got the better of. let's look ahead _ bunting got the better of. let's look ahead to _ bunting got the better of. let's look ahead to the _ bunting got the better of. let's look ahead to the evening - bunting got the better of. let's look ahead to the evening because it will be all eyes on defending champion luke humphreys. christmas is over. things are getting serious and the pressure is on to continue to perform. he and the pressure is on to continue to perform-— and the pressure is on to continue to perform. he was not his brilliant best when he _ to perform. he was not his brilliant best when he first _ to perform. he was not his brilliant best when he first took _ to perform. he was not his brilliant best when he first took here. - to perform. he was not his brilliant| best when he first took here. nearly two weeks ago, in the opening day of the championship, what he's done in that time, who knows? i'm sure we'll probably find out after his match this afternoon. he's up against nick kenny, who knocked out in the

previous round. we also have peter wright, who knocked out another one of the big names. kicking off the evening is another world champion. a real treat for spectators later. his first up againstjoe colon and price has not been at his best since he won in 2021, but he's still one name that gets talked about —— cullen. but he's still one name that gets talked about —— cullen. a big weekend of premiership rugby gets under way this evening, with bristol bears hosting sale sharks. pat lam's side have the chance to go top of the table, as bristol are second only on points difference to local rivals bath, who play saracens tomorrow. 0ur rugby correspondent

chrisjones is there. and after the huge win away to leicester tigers before christmas, bristol must be feeling confident they can get another result at home tonight. 0ne one of the form teams, bristol bears, still as far away from ashton gate. they've won places like bath, harlequins, and if they could take the form on the road to hear ashton gate, they will be world beaters. maybe to a few people's surprise, but playing with the confidence that saw them be at topside three or four season ago. sale are kind of the opposite story. they can't win away from home. what unbeatable at home. if they can start picking up some wins on the road, they will be in the mix as well. i like the look of the mix as well. i like the look of

the line. the other man trying to get back in. you can hear the whole game live on five live as well. we will be listening. a late flurry of wickets has given australia control of the boxing day test in melbourne, with india more than 300 runs behind after day two. replying to the home side's first innings score of a74 built on the back of steve smith's 34th test century. for india started well, but a chaotic run—out and then the wicket of virat kohli started a mini collapse, in which the tourists lost three batters for just six runs. leaving them in trouble at 164—5 at close of play. on day two in centurion, corbin bosch helped steer south africa out of trouble on his test debut, reaching 81 not out as the hosts put on a 90—run lead after the first innings against pakistan. in response pakistan have struggled, finishing the day on 88—3

in their second innings — marco jansen with two of those wickets. pakistan trail south africa by two runs with seven wickets remaining. let's have a quick look at some of the day's other sports stories. in the big bash, 0llie pope's 39 from 27 wasn't enough as the adelaide strikers were beaten by the hobart hurricanes by 11—runs. pope's england teammate chrisjordan picked up two wickets for the hurricanes in their second win of the season. the 8—1 shot val dancer won the welsh grand national in incredibly foggy conditions at chepstow. ridden byjockey charlie hammond, val dancer came in a length ahead ofjubilee express, whilst i will do it finished third. elena rybakina helped kazakhstan to a 2—1victory over spain on her united cup debut at the season—opening tournament in australia. the 2022 wimbledon champion beat jessica bouzas maneiro

in straight sets to level the match. iga swiatek said she feared losing her fans after her positive doping case earlier this year. the five—time grand slam champion failed an out—of—competition drug test in august. but tennis�* integrity unit accepted her explanation that the result was unintentional and caused by the contamination of a different substance she was taking to help jet lag and sleeping issues. swiatek accepted a one—month suspension in november. the reaction in poland basically because mostly what i read it has been pretty supportive and i really appreciate that because my name is trying to swing, and nobody knew why it wasn't so easy. after my case

information was released, i was scared that most of people were going to turn their back on me. but ifelt the support going to turn their back on me. but i felt the support and it was great. finally to one of the bbc sports personality of the year, unsung hero award winners. ian bennett is someone who dedicates their time to making the ocean accessible for all, and he spends as much time volunteering as the adaptive surf lead for the wave project charity as he does working each week. andy birkett went to croyde in devon to surprise him with the trophy. the beautiful north devon coast, enjoyed by many. however, our unsung heroes mission is for it to be enjoyed by all. today, ian thinks he's coming to help george get onto the beach, which i suppose is true, but he thinks we've come along to do about george's mum's project. pretty

much anything else that helps people into the water. he’s much anything else that helps people into the water.— into the water. he's a very modest man and he's _ into the water. he's a very modest man and he's the _ into the water. he's a very modest man and he's the sort _ into the water. he's a very modest man and he's the sort of— into the water. he's a very modest man and he's the sort of chap - into the water. he's a very modest man and he's the sort of chap who | man and he's the sort of chap who does remarkable things but never takes any credit for it at all. without him, we wouldn't have adaptive surfing here. he's developed a process, he's developed the training, he's developed the equipment and he's constantly looking to improve all the time. a remarkable man and he deserves the award. irate remarkable man and he deserves the award. ~ , ., ., , ., ., award. we took george out six and a half ears award. we took george out six and a half years ago _ award. we took george out six and a half years ago and _ award. we took george out six and a half years ago and it _ award. we took george out six and a half years ago and it showed us - award. we took george out six and a half years ago and it showed us howl half years ago and it showed us how in acceptable beaches are. —— inaccessible. it'sjust a game changer— inaccessible. it'sjust a game changer having the equipment that we've _ changer having the equipment that we've built up over the years. can we've built up over the years. can we 'ust we've built up over the years. can we just step _ we've built up over the years. can we just stop here a second? i think it's time we told ian. we got here under �*s fault —— slightly false pretences. the time you given up to do things you do, you have been

chosen as our unsung hero for 202a. congratulations. it's a bit naughty to spring on you, what are you thinking right now? i to spring on you, what are you thinking right now?— to spring on you, what are you thinking right now? i wish i was somewhere... _ thinking right now? i wish i was somewhere... looking - thinking right now? i wish i was somewhere... looking really i thinking right now? i wish i was i somewhere... looking really nice thinking right now? i wish i was - somewhere... looking really nice for sir. somewhere... looking really nice for sir really— somewhere... looking really nice for sir realty and — somewhere... looking really nice for sir. really and accepted _ somewhere... looking really nice for sir. really and accepted —— - sir. really and accepted —— unexrrected _ sir. really and accepted —— unexpected —— _ sir. really and accepted —— unexpected —— for- sir. really and accepted —— unexpected —— for surf. - sir. really and accepted ——| unexpected —— for surf. the sir. really and accepted -- unexpected -- for surf. the kindest, most caring. — unexpected -- for surf. the kindest, most caring, passionate _ unexpected -- for surf. the kindest, most caring, passionate person - unexpected -- for surf. the kindest, most caring, passionate person i- most caring, passionate person i know. they're notjust a team that enables him in the ocean, they have become friends of his. ian sometimes pepped become friends of his. ian sometimes popped around to come and see him in his spare time and just check that he's 0k. what he's doing for adaptive surfing here isjust amazing and he just spends all of his time doing it. fir i spend ispend a i spend a lot of time doing what i do, i spend a lot of time doing what i do. so _ ispend a lot of time doing what i do. so my— i spend a lot of time doing what i do. so myfamily_ i spend a lot of time doing what i

do, so my family doing _ i spend a lot of time doing what i do, so my family doing this, - i spend a lot of time doing what i do, so my family doing this, i- i spend a lot of time doing what i. do, so my family doing this, i think it's nice _ do, so my family doing this, i think it's nice to— do, so my family doing this, i think it's nice to be — do, so my family doing this, i think it's nice to be recognised _ do, so my family doing this, i think it's nice to be recognised for- do, so my family doing this, i think it's nice to be recognised for the i it's nice to be recognised for the work— it's nice to be recognised for the work i _ it's nice to be recognised for the work i would _ it's nice to be recognised for the work i would say _ it's nice to be recognised for the work i would say we _ it's nice to be recognised for the work i would say we are - it's nice to be recognised for the work i would say we are doing. i it's nice to be recognised for the . work i would say we are doing. it's yours _ work i would say we are doing. it's yours now. — work i would say we are doing. it's yours now, george! _ work i would say we are doing. it's yours now, george! surfing - work i would say we are doing. it's yours now, george! surfing in- yours now, george! surfing in general, _ yours now, george! surfing in general, we _ yours now, george! surfing in general, we all— yours now, george! surfing in general, we all get _ yours now, george! surfing in general, we all get a - yours now, george! surfing in general, we all get a buzz- yours now, george! surfing in general, we all get a buzz out yours now, george! surfing in. general, we all get a buzz out of surfing _ general, we all get a buzz out of surfing and _ general, we all get a buzz out of surfing and everybody _ general, we all get a buzz out of surfing and everybody should . general, we all get a buzz out of surfing and everybody should bej surfing and everybody should be entitled — surfing and everybody should be entitled to — surfing and everybody should be entitled to have _ surfing and everybody should be entitled to have a _ surfing and everybody should be entitled to have a go _ surfing and everybody should be entitled to have a go at - surfing and everybody should be entitled to have a go at that. - lovely to seek, congratulations to ian. just a reminder of two premier league games. 0ne getting under way at 7:30 p:m.. brighton are hosting brantford, worst away record in the league. you can follow that game on the bbc sport website. arsenal have the opportunity to close the gap on leaders liverpool. they host ipswich. but that is it from me in the team here on sportsday. have a lovely evening. bye—bye.