Horse racing is in UAE’s DNA, says Dubai Racing Club CEO
DUBAI: With less than three weeks left before the Dubai World Cup, Ali Al-Ali can look back with more than a measure of satisfaction on another successful racing season calendar at Meydan.
NBA Sport News
McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1’s season-opener
Lando Norris heads to the second round of the Formula 1 season in China with a lead over champion Max Verstappen after winning a thrilling race in Australia. Ahead of Sunday’s race in Shanghai, here are five takeaways from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix: McLaren is the team to beat Without the rain and the safety car, the Australian Grand Prix might not have been much of a contest. The two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri quickly built a lead of more than 15 seconds to Verstappen in third early in the race. The McLarens were also three-tenths of a second faster than anyone else in qualifying.
Al-Wasl host Al-Jazira as mouthwatering ADIB Cup semifinals kick off
DUBAI: A quartet of UAE heavyweights are set to lock horns during the international break as the ADIB Cup’s mouth-watering semifinals kick off on Monday night.
Magic mount comeback to end Cavs win streak
LOS ANGELES: Paolo Banchero scored 24 points as the Orlando Magic overturned a 13-point deficit to end the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 16-game NBA unbeaten streak with a gutsy 108-103 road victory on Sunday.
Ronaldo leads Al-Nassr to third in table
JEDDAH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored again to set Al-Nassr on their way to a 3-1 victory over Al-Kholood on Friday to move them into third in the table and keep their faint Saudi Pro League title hopes alive.
Tuchel calls up Marcus Rashford and ‘serial winner’ Jordan Henderson to his first England squad
LONDON: Thomas Tuchel praised Jordan Henderson as “a serial winner” in welcoming him and a resurgent Marcus Rashford back to the England team on Friday. Tuchel included the pair in his first squad as England coach ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at Wembley Stadium. Both Henderson and Rashford missed out on last summer’s European Championship under then-coach Gareth Southgate and faced uncertain international futures. But now they’re contenders for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. “Jordan is, first of all, a serial winner,” Tuchel said of the Ajax midfielder. “What he brings to every team is leadership, character, personality, energy, make sure that everyone lives by the standards.” The 34-year-old Henderson helped Liverpool win both the Champions League (2019) and Premier League (2020) before leaving in 2023 for Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
Germany recall Goretzka and Adeyemi for Italy Nations League tie
BERLIN: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann on Thursday recalled the in-form Leon Goretzka and Karim Adeyemi to his squad for the two-legged Nations League quarter-final tie with Italy. Injuries to key players including Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Niclas Fuellkrug and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen necessitated several changes as Germany look to reach the final four of the Nations League for the first time. Bayern Munich midfielder Goretzka last played for Germany in 2023 but has regained the form of a few years ago. Nagelsmann, who coached him at Bayern, said: “Leon is in a very good phase from a sporting perspective.” Adeyemi has not pulled on a Germany senior shirt since 2022 and this is the first time Nagelsmann has selected him. Appointed Germany manager in September 2023, Nagelsmann has repeatedly selected on form rather than reputation, having regularly left big names out of the squad. On Thursday, Nagelsmann said he selected “players who play regularly for the club” and added he wanted players to be “on fire (and) show their spirit even if they don’t play from the start.” Midfielder Nadiem Amiri has been chosen for the first time in five years as he benefits from Mainz’s rise to third spot in the table. Inter Milan center-back Yann Aurel Bisseck, 24, is the only debutant. “We’ve got great respect for him,” Nagelsmann said of Bisseck, adding “he’s got a lot of talent and brings plenty to the table.” Manchester City back-up Stefan Ortega joins Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann and Stuttgart’s Alexander Nuebel, on loan from Bayern, as the goalkeepers. Nagelsmann did not indicate which of the three would play but said he would opt for the same player for both games. The coach complained about the scheduling of the Bundesliga, with
Baniyas crowned Mother of the Nation Jiu-Jitsu Cup champions in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI: Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club emerged as champions in the Mother of the Nation Jiu-Jitsu Cup, which concluded on Thursday at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy. The two-day event, which showcased elite female jiu-jitsu athletes, saw Al-Jazira finish second and Al-Ain take third place. Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Al-Hashmi, chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, president of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and senior vice president of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, congratulated the winning clubs while acknowledging their role in supporting athletes by providing a well-rounded sports environment that enhanced their readiness and offered real opportunities for competition and growth. Al-Hashmi said: “The incredible success of jiu-jitsu in the UAE is made possible by the limitless support of the country’s wise leadership and its commitment to developing talent. “The achievements of Emirati women in local and international competitions demonstrate the success of the federation’s strategy in building a solid foundation of female athletes capable of competing globally and bringing pride to the nation.” Baniyas’ Asma Al-Hosani, a gold medalist in the adults’ 57 kg category, said: “This victory is the result of months of hard work, refining both physical and mental skills. “Winning requires more than strength: It demands strategy, adaptability, and teamwork.