Lebanon - players.bio

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.

Israel launches dozens of strikes on Lebanon after Hezbollah targets it

Israel struck Lebanon on Saturday in retaliation for rockets targeting Israel, in the heaviest exchange of fire since the ceasefire.

Direct impact of US tariffs on EBRD to remain limited, says Chief Economist

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in its recently released Regional Economic Prospects report, cites the uncertainty surrounding trade policies among the main reasons for revising global growth projections for 2025 from 3.5% to 3.2%.

Hady Habib eyeing top 100 after historic Australian Open run

DUBAI: Life has been a whirlwind for Lebanese tennis player Hady Habib these past few months, but you would not know that by speaking to him, given his calm and collected demeanor.

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Lebanon Sport News

Rally Jameel ‘not just a race’ for drivers

Lebanese youth footballer injured in Israeli strike determined to return to the pitch

Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation

Pioneer Hadjar flies two flags as an Arab in F1

‘We played for Gaza’: How Palestine’s U-20 Women’s team went from underdogs to champions

Israel launches dozens of strikes on Lebanon after Hezbollah targets it

Direct impact of US tariffs on EBRD to remain limited, says Chief Economist

Hady Habib eyeing top 100 after historic Australian Open run