Saudi sports minister congratulates Green Falcons on World Cup qualification
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal has congratulated the Green Falcons for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
NBA Sport News
Saudi boxer Yara Al-Amri’s life changed after history-making Asian medal win
RIYADH: The end of 2024 will always hold special memories for Yara Al-Amri. In December last year the young boxer made history by becoming the first Saudi woman to win an Asian medal in boxing — a new milestone for the Kingdom’s fast-growing women’s sports scene.
Pep talks with Djokovic as Sabalenka vows to improve ‘in everything’
HONG KONG: World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she needs to improve her tennis “in literally everything” and how Novak Djokovic is helping her do it on and off the court. In a wide-ranging interview, the four-time Grand Slam champion talked about ignoring hate on social media, nearly quitting and her hopes and fears for life after tennis. The 27-year-old from Belarus is now the undoubted women’s number one but it was hard work and suffering which got her there, and some of it played out very publicly. Sabalenka, then two in the world, was reduced to tears as her serve spectacularly deserted her at a tournament in the lead-up to the 2022 Australian Open. “I couldn’t put one serve in. I was double-faulting 40 times.
USA Basketball names Heat’s Spoelstra as coach through 2028
MIAMI: Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was named head coach of the US men’s team through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on Tuesday by USA Basketball.
Goal-shy Salah seeks change as Egypt eye World Cup place
JOHANNESBURG: Mohamed Salah wants to put a disappointing start to his season with Liverpool behind him on Wednesday and help Egypt beat Djibouti and qualify for the 2026 World Cup. A win for the record seven-time African champions over one of the lowest ranked teams in the continent will give them an unassailable lead over second-placed Burkina Faso in Group A with one match to spare. A two-time African Footballer of the Year, Salah has lost his spark with the Premier League champions, scoring just three goals in nine appearances in all competitions this season. Last season, the 33-year-old netted 29 times in 38 league matches to win the Golden Boot award as Liverpool surged to a record-equalling 20th Premier League title. Salah has fond memories of playing against Djibouti, scoring four goals in a 6-0 Cairo romp in the opening round of World Cup qualifying two years ago. It does not help Djibouti that they do not have a FIFA-approved stadium, so their ‘home’ match against Egypt will be staged in the Moroccan commercial capital Casablanca. Three subsequent goals took Salah to seven in the qualifying campaign, one less than chart-topper Denis Bouanga of Gabon with two rounds remaining. Fellow Egypt forward Mostafa Mohamed, who plays for French Ligue 1 outfit Nantes, is not concerned about Salah, telling reporters the lack of goals is “a temporary setback.” “Mo is a big star, and we are lucky to have him in our team. He is the best player in the history of Egypt,” he told the FIFA website. “He is amazing.
UEFA ‘reluctantly’ approves European league games in US, Australia
LAUSANNE: European football governing body UEFA on Monday said it had “reluctantly” approved the staging of a Spanish La Liga and an Italian Serie A match in the US and Australia respectively despite fan protests.
Zverev dumped out of Shanghai Masters by France’s Rinderknech
SHANGHAI: World No. 3 Alexander Zverev was knocked out of the Shanghai Masters by France’s Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Monday, leaving Novak Djokovic as the tournament’s top-ranked player.
FIA President Ben Sulayem to champion safety, sustainability and innovation at Asai Pacific Congress
DUBAI: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, will open the FIA Asia Pacific Congress in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Wednesday by spotlighting the region’s growing impact on motor sport and mobility.