Trio of Saudi fighters looking to shine at PFL MENA 1 in Jeddah
JEDDAH: PFL MENA will begin its second season at the Onyx Arena in Jeddah on May 9 with a trio of fighters from the Kingdom looking to leave their mark in front of the home crowd.
Jiu-Jitsu Sport News
Mbappe returns to France squad as PSG’s Doue earns first call-up
PARIS: Captain Kylian Mbappe returned to the France squad named Thursday for this month’s UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Croatia, as Paris Saint-Germain teenager Desire Doue earned a first call-up. Mbappe, 26, was left out of the last two France squads by coach Didier Deschamps for the Nations League group stage in October and November. The Real Madrid superstar was initially dropped because of fitness concerns, before later being left out amidst headlines about his private life. Deschamps said at the time that his decision to do without Mbappe was “for the best” due to the noise surrounding the striker. Mbappe has been in fine form for Real in the months since and has scored 28 goals in all competitions this season for the club he joined last year. “I have chatted with him and I confirm what I already said a few weeks ago, that he will be the captain,” Deschamps said in response to questions about Mbappe’s ongoing role as skipper. The versatile Doue, meanwhile, has been rewarded for his impressive club form. The 19-year-old has scored or set up a total of 17 goals in 23 appearances since becoming a regular in the PSG side in mid-December. Capable of playing as a winger as well as in midfield, Doue was outstanding after coming off the bench for PSG in Tuesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg against Liverpool, and scored the winning kick in the penalty shoot-out. Signed by PSG from Rennes for a reported 50 million euros ($54.1m) in August, Doue was part of Thierry Henry’s France Under-23 team that won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics last year. “He is not always a starter for his club but whenever he plays or comes on he has made a lot of progress,” Deschamps said. “He is a very young player but
Kimmich extends Bayern contract until 2029
BERLIN: Bayern Munich on Thursday announced Joshua Kimmich had signed a four-year extension to his contract that had been set to expire at the end of the season. Germany international Kimmich said he made his decision because Bayern is “the best environment to achieve my sporting goals. “There’s currently no better package of teammates, coaching staff and club environment for me to achieve maximum success. I feel at home here and I’m not finished yet.” After Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen sent Bayern through to the Champions League quarter-finals, Kimmich told reporters he was set to prolong his stay at the club.
Esports World Cup Foundation announces multi-year partnership with Capcom
RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation and Capcom have announced a multi-year partnership that integrates the Street Fighter e-sports ecosystem — Capcom’s Capcom Pro Tour and Street Fighter League — into the Esports World Cup for the next three years.
Saudi crown prince meets president of International Olympic Committee
RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, at Al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh on Sunday.
Inside Ittihad: A match day experience to rival the world’s best
RIYADH: A big screen bombarding match-going fans with advertisements, an emcee screaming at the top of their lungs and a playlist of overly commercialized pop music devoid of any meaning or connection.
Five things to look out for at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
ABU DHABI: The Women’s Tennis Association’s Middle East swing kicks off its three-week stint in the Gulf on Monday with the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
UAE's Shamma Al Kalbani clinches third successive gold at Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship
Having collected a third successive gold to help the UAE claim a fourth consecutive championship title at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship, Shamma Al Kalbani is now ready to start a new chapter in the martial arts sport.