What to watch this weekend in sports
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Rallying-WRC drivers reach agreement with FIA on swearing
World championship rally drivers have resolved a dispute with the sport's governing body over when they can swear during a competition.
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.
Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top
It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn’t see earlier in the season“We learn to do better. To create another bond with the team, to celebrate when we score a goal,” he saidLONDON: Pep Guardiola has vowed Manchester City will be back to their best next season after losing their “spirit” during a turbulent campaign that exposed an unexpected lack of hunger in his side.Currently third in the Premier League, City — who had won the previous four English titles — want to salvage a dismal year by winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League via a top five finish.Guardiola’s side face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semifinals on Sunday knowing defeat at Wembley would condemn them to finish without a major trophy for the first time since 2016-17.But Guardiola is already thinking about how to avoid a repeat of City’s stunning struggles and he believes he has found the solution.The City boss noticed the passion his players celebrated with after Bernardo Silva put them ahead in a crucial 2-1 win against top-five rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday.It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn’t see earlier in the season, when he felt City took success for granted after winning six of the last seven Premier League titles.“We learn to do better.
Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure
“When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea said“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest”SEVILLE, Spain: Copa del Rey final referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea welled up on Friday when speaking about pressure officials have faced from Real Madrid TV this season.Madrid take on rivals Barcelona on Saturday in the Spanish cup final in Seville and this week the club’s television channel launched a video attacking the official, which they have done to various referees this season.Los Blancos also published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited.”“When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea told a news conference.“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional.“This is really messed up...
Hassan laughs off suggestion Sunday’s London marathon could be better than her debut
“I don’t know why I get nervous and scared about the marathon but you have to go for over two hours,” Hassan saidHassan went on to win Olympic marathon gold last year in ParisLONDON: Sifan Hassan concedes she remembers little about her remarkable marathon debut two years ago in London when she stopped twice to stretch her hip before her stunning kick down the home stretch to victory, but she is hoping for less drama in Sunday’s race.The 32-year-old Dutchwoman, who headlines the women’s field for the 45th edition of the London Marathon, laughed when asked on Friday if she is poised for an even better performance on her return to England’s capital.“Better than two years ago? I’m never going to be better than two years ago,” Hassan told reporters.“I don’t know why I get nervous and scared about the marathon but you have to go for over two hours,” she added. “I had a lot of drama in my win two years ago.”The Olympic champion over 5,000 and 10,000 meters dropped back from the field in the 2023 London race due to cramping before drawing on her track experience to out-sprint Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir and Alemu Megertu of Ethiopia.“Everybody is asking me ‘Do you remember what happened in London in 2023?’ I don’t remember a lot of it all honesty.
Sweden’s Duplantis says not ruling out another record at Diamond League opener
BEIJING: Swedish superstar Armand “Mondo” Duplantis did not rule out another pole vault world record on the eve of his outdoor season opener, a month after the Paris 2024 champion snagged his third consecutive indoor title in China. “I never really rule out anything,” he told reporters on the eve of the Diamond League event in the eastern city of Xiamen, adding that he hadn’t checked the conditions for Saturday but felt “really good.” The 25-year-old set the first of his three world records in 2024 at the Xiamen Egret Stadium, clearing 6.24 meters at his first attempt. He has since bettered his own mark to 6.27 meters, set at the All Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand, France, in February after clearing 6.26 meters in Poland and 6.25 meters in Paris before a rapturous Olympic crowd. He was named the 2025 World Sportsman of the Year on Monday, an honor he shares with Tiger Woods and Usain Bolt. “It’s quite surreal,” he said. Duplantis is joined in Xiamen by a star-studded cast that includes nine other world record holders and more than 20 reigning individual champions. This weekend will also see the return of 200m world champion Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, who missed the chance of gold in Paris due to injury. “I took some time to get healthy and I’m excited,” said the 30-year-old who will compete in the 200m for the first time since last July. “I just want to cross the line healthy,” she said.
Ryu, Liu share Chevron Championship lead as defending champion Korda struggles
THE WOODLANDS, Texas: Haeran Ryu and Yan Liu each shot bogey-free 7-under 65 to share the lead during the suspended first round of the Chevron Championship as top-ranked Nelly Korda struggled to a 77 on Thursday in her title defense.