Saudi Arabia concludes West Asian Laser-Run Cup with 12 medals
Kuwait: The Saudi Arabian Modern Pentathlon National Team delivered a strong performance at the West Asian Laser-Run Cup, securing a total of 12 medals.
Lebanon Sport News
Leverkusen beat Augsburg to postpone Bayern’s title celebrations
LEVERKUSEN, Germany: Bayer Leverkusen beat Augsburg 2-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday to postpone leaders Bayern Munich’s expected title win by at least a week. The still reigning Bundesliga champions are on 67 points, eight behind leaders Bayern with three matches left to play. The Bavarians can seal their 34th league crown with a win at RB Leipzig next week. Before Saturday’s game Leverkusen fans greeted coach Xabi Alonso, who led their team to an undefeated domestic league and Cup double last season, with loud applause and the unfurling of banners urging him to stay at the club. The Spaniard, who has a contract to 2026, is a target for several top European teams, including reportedly Real Madrid, and has declined to say if he will be at Leverkusen next season. Forward Patrik Schick struck in the 13th minute with Leverkusen’s first real chance, drilling home from the edge of the box for his 19th league goal of the season. Leverkusen had the ball in the net again but Nathan Tella’s header at the far post was ruled offside. They made amends in first-half stoppage time when Emiliano Buendia curled a shot past goalkeeper Finna Dahmen to make it 2-0 and ensure three points for the hosts. “It was a better game for us, with better energy and more self-belief,” Alonso told a press conference. Leverkusen had drawn their previous two league games to lose ground in the title race with Bayern. “We were solid and focused and I’m satisfied with this game.
IPL climax impresses South African greats AB de Villiers and Chris Morris
LONDON: This year’s Indian Premier League is serving up a thrilling climax and two of South Africa’s cricketing greats, AB de Villiers and Chris Morris, are delighted with how the 18th event is unfolding.
Rally Jameel ‘not just a race’ for drivers
QASSIM: When the women competing in Rally Jameel come to Saudi Arabia, they not only get to discover the Kingdom’s terrain, but its people and culture. Spanish driver Noelia Benitez, competing in the all-female race — which began April 21 in Jordan and ends April 26 — for the fourth consecutive year, told Arab News: “It’s a fun week — drivers and co-drivers enjoy every minute of it.” For Benitez, the rally is about more than just the racing. “We’re not just enjoying sitting behind the wheel and competing for the title,” she said. “The race takes us through the stunning landscapes of Tabuk, AlUla, Hail and Qassim and showed us the culture and traditions of Saudis in different places.
Lebanese youth footballer injured in Israeli strike determined to return to the pitch
BEIRUT: Shining young Lebanese footballer Celine Haidar is refusing to let a critical head injury she sustained after an Israel airstrike keep her down, and is determined to recover and return to the pitch. “No pain, no gain … I am very gratified with where I’ve reached in my rehabilitation. Actually I’m surprised … I want to return to football once I complete my physiotherapy and retain my fitness,” Haidar, a 20-year-old youth international, told Arab News on Saturday. Speaking at Mgr Cortbawi Institute and Rehabilitation Hospital, where she has stayed since waking up from a two-month coma in January, Haidar said she does not recall what happened on the ill-fated day of Nov.
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.
Pioneer Hadjar flies two flags as an Arab in F1
LONDON :Formula One rookie Isack Hadjar has two flags in his room, the French tricolore and Algeria's red star and crescent on green and white.
‘We played for Gaza’: How Palestine’s U-20 Women’s team went from underdogs to champions
AMSTERDAM: When rank outsiders secure a victory they tend, often, to be of the moral variety. If victory is achieved it rarely ends up with an outsider advancing to the final match and lifting the trophy.