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University Dodgeball Championship launches in 3 Saudi cities

RIYADH: The Saudi Dodgeball Federation and the Saudi Federation for University Sports are launching the Men’s University Dodgeball Championship, a two-day tournament that will be held in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam starting Friday. A strategic partnership between the two federations, the initiative aims to promote the sport of dodgeball and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in the sporting sector, a media statement said on Thursday. It also aims to foster a culture of physical activity and broaden sports participation within the university community. Dar Al Uloom University in Riyadh will host the capital’s tournament on Friday, featuring five teams: three from King Saud University and two from Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. Meanwhile, the Jeddah International College’s sports hall hosts four participants representing the University of Jeddah, Effat University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and Jeddah International College. The third leg of the championship will take place on Saturday at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, featuring teams from the Arab Open University, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al-Ghad College and the host university. The university championship series represent a major step forward in expanding dodgeball’s presence in Saudi universities.

Qatar replaces Garcia as national coach with Lopetegui

DOHA: Qatar appointed former Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui as the national coach on Thursday. Lopetegui, 58, has signed a contract until the 2027 Asian Cup, where Qatar will go for a third consecutive title. His first game in charge is on June 5 at home to Iran, and then in Uzbekistan five days later. “Ready for a new chapter.

Flintoff proud as Afghan refugee protege plays for Lancashire second team

LONDON: Andrew Flintoff has revealed his pride at seeing ‘Field of Dreams’ protege Adnan Miakhel, a refugee from Afghanistan, make his first appearance for Lancashire’s second team. The former England cricket captain, who made his name in cricket as a hugely talented all-rounder while playing for Lancashire, his native county, has been back in the public eye lately following the release of a new documentary detailing the painful recovery from his life-changing car crash. The program sees Flintoff speaking about how returning from show business to cricket has helped him gain fresh meaning in life, with Miakhel’s appearance in a three-day friendly against Yorkshire — the traditional arch-rivals of northwest county Lancashire — uniting the worlds of entertainment and sport. The Afghan refugee was the breakout star of Flintoff’s television reality show about a scratch team of would-be cricketers based in Preston, Lancashire, and was awarded asylum in the United Kingdom after his mentor wrote to the Home Office (Britain’s interior ministry) supporting his application. Flintoff, reflecting on Miakhel’s elevation from Lancashire’s Under-18s last season to the second string this year, posted on X: “Some journeys are longer and harder, I’m so proud of this fine young man.” Miakhel scored 25 not out batting at number 10 in the first innings and dismissed first-teamers Jonny Tattersall and Matt Revis as he claimed figures of 2-72 from 13 overs. The game at Liverpool’s Northern Cricket Club is a friendly match which does not restrict teams to the usual standard 11 players and Miakhel is not listed to bat in the second innings. Rossall School, which awarded Miakhel a scholarship, paid its own tribute, adding on X: “Amazing to see

Hussein Ammouta U-turn leaves Iraq still without a coach as big games loom

AMSTERDAM: No coaching carousel spins faster than those in West Asia.

Switzerland fencing team turns away from Team Israel on medal podium at European championships

Trump said that he told Netanyahu to ‘be good to Gaza’ because ‘those people are suffering.’

Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation

JEDDAH: Mai bint Ubaid Al-Rasheed has become the first Saudi woman to be elected as president of the Arab Badminton Federation. The election was held on Friday during the organization’s general assembly on the sidelines of the Badminton World Federation’s annual congress in China. Al-Rasheed secured 10 votes in the poll, two more than Iraqi candidate Fann Shawqi Youssef, the ABF said in a statement. She will take over the presidency from Sawsan Hajji Taqawi, who had held the position since 2018. Al-Rasheed’s victory was widely hailed as a positive step in strengthening the role of Saudi women in regional sports leadership. During the vote, Tabash Al-Jilali of Algeria, Iyad Mahmoud from Syria, Samir Shaghouri of Lebanon and Yaqoub Al-Issa from Palestine were elected as committee members. Yazeed Al-Massoud was named secretary-general of the Arab Badminton Federation for the 2025–28 term. The statement said that the new leadership marked a step forward in strengthening Arab cooperation and advancing the sport of badminton both regionally and internationally. The ABF was established in Cairo in 1996.

Iraq boots Casas citing unpermitted exit as World Cup hopes hang by a thread

BAGHDAD: Iraq has sacked national team coach Jesus Casas Garcia after the Spanish manager left the country without permission, the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) said on Tuesday. “The association announces the termination of the contract of Spanish coach Jesus Casas Garcia and his technical staff due to their serious breach of contractual obligations, including leaving the country without official permission and failing to comply with invitations and warnings issued to them by the association. We officially informed FIFA with that decision,” the IFA said in a statement on its Facebook page.

Europa League anthem played by mistake before Villa-PSG in Champions League

A minute or so later, the more famous Champions League anthem was finally playedThis is Villa’s first season in the Champions League BIRMINGHAM, England: Call it being inexperienced in the Champions League.There was confusion before kickoff in the second leg of the quarterfinal between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday when the anthem for the second-tier Europa League competition appeared to be played by mistake as players from both teams lined up.A minute or so later, the more famous Champions League anthem was finally played at Villa Park — by which the players were almost ready for the kickoff. In the crowd was Prince William, the heir to the throne and a die-hard Villa fan.This is Villa’s first season in the Champions League.

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Iraq Sport News

University Dodgeball Championship launches in 3 Saudi cities

Qatar replaces Garcia as national coach with Lopetegui

Flintoff proud as Afghan refugee protege plays for Lancashire second team

Hussein Ammouta U-turn leaves Iraq still without a coach as big games loom

Switzerland fencing team turns away from Team Israel on medal podium at European championships

Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation

Iraq boots Casas citing unpermitted exit as World Cup hopes hang by a thread

Europa League anthem played by mistake before Villa-PSG in Champions League