Lebanon defeat Qatar on second day of FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah
JEDDAH: The second day of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup saw Lebanon sneak past Qatar 84-80 in their Group A opening fixture at King Abdullah Sports City on Wednesday night.
WTA Sport News
Osaka books WTA Montreal title clash with Canadian teen Mboko
MONTREAL:Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko booked a championship showdown with gritty semifinal wins on Wednesday in the WTA Canadian Open in Montreal. Japan’s Osaka, chasing her first tour-level title since the 2021 Australian Open, saved a pair of set points in the second-set tiebreak to polish off a 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) victory over Denmark’s Clara Tauson — who was coming off victories over Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek and Australian Open winner Madison Keys. Mboko saved a match point in a thrilling 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) victory over former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. The 18-year-old wild card fed off the energy of the crowd, crediting ecstatic supporters with carrying her through after a tumble left her with a sore right wrist in the third set of her first tour-level semifinal. Mboko, who ousted top-seeded French Open champion Coco Gauff in the fourth round, didn’t let it stop her. After going down an early break in the third set she refused to go quietly, loading up on her forehand and fending off a match point as she broke Rybakina in the 10th game to level the set. A couple of untimely double faults helped ninth-seeded Rybakina break back for a 6-5 lead, but the ninth seed from Kazakhstan was broken to love in the next game, setting the stage for the tiebreak drama. “After I had that fall I wasn’t in the greatest spirits, but I’m happy that I kept my composure and I was kind of patient in the right moments,” said Mboko, who won the last three points of a decider she called “stressful.” “Anything can happen,” an exhausted Mboko beamed as the crowd’s cheers rained down on her. “Unfortunately I fell, but I had everyone supporting me and pushing me.” Mboko started
Canadian teen Mboko reaches Montreal final, beating Rybakina in 3rd-set tiebreaker
MONTREAL: Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko rallied to reach the National Bank Open final, beating ninth-seeded Elena Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) on Wednesday night.
Top seed Gauff rallies to reach WTA Montreal fourth round
MONTREAL: World No. 2 Coco Gauff battled through another tough three-setter Thursday, rallying from a set and a break down to beat Veronika Kudermetova and reach the fourth round of the WTA Canadian Open.
Top EU court rules that soccer governing body FIFA’s decisions can be challenged outside Switzerland
BRUSSELS: The European Union’s top court ruled on Friday that the decisions of world soccer’s governing body FIFA can be challenged outside Switzerland, opening up a system that currently binds athletes, officials and clubs to accept verdicts there. A statement from the European Court of Justice said that tribunals in the 27 EU member states “must be able to carry out an in-depth review of those awards for consistency with the fundamental rules of EU law.” The ECJ ruling in Luxembourg means that EU national courts should be able to review verdicts from the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. “The awards made by the CAS must be amenable to effective judicial review,” the statement said.
UAE hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan in T20I cricket tri-series in Sharjah
DUBAI: The UAE will host Pakistan and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium from Friday, Aug. 29. The three teams will play each other twice in the six-match group stage. The top two teams will then compete in the final on Sunday, Sept. 7.
Saudi eLeagues MVPs shine at Major 2 tournaments
RIYADH: While the Esports World Cup action takes place in Riyadh, the Saudi eLeagues’ Major 2 tournaments have this week showcased competition across various titles, with over 40 clubs competing at SEF Arena.
Fernando Alonso in doubt for Hungarian Grand Prix as he misses practice with injury
BUDAPEST: Fernando Alonso will miss the first practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Friday because of a back injury and could be in doubt for the race itself. Aston Martin said in a post on X that the two-time Formula 1 champion “has been managing a muscular injury in his back” since last week’s Belgian Grand Prix He will be replaced by reserve driver Felipe Drugovich for the first session Friday and continue treatment before the team decides who will compete. “A decision will then be made on Fernando’s participation in (second practice) and the remainder of the weekend in due course,” Aston Martin said. Brazilian driver Drugovich is in his fourth season as Aston Martin reserve but has yet to race in F1.