arabnews.com - Assefa sets women’s only record to win London Marathon women’s race after late breakaway

Assefa sets women’s only record to win London Marathon women’s race after late breakaway

LONDON: Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia took advantage of the warm weather to pull away late for her first London Marathon title on Sunday, setting a record time for a women’s-only race in the process. Assefa made up for second-place finishes in London and the Paris Olympics last year by pulling away from Joyciline Jepkosgei near the end to finish in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds. It was the fastest ever time in a women’s-only marathon — but 25 seconds slower than the course record set by Paula Radcliffe in 2003 when it was a mixed race. Peres Jepchirchir had set the previous women’s only record of 2:16:16 when she won in London last year ahead of Assefa.

Barcelona beat Real Madrid in extra time to win Copa del Rey final

SEVILLE, Spain: Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 in extra time to claim a record-extending 32nd Copa del Rey title on Saturday and launch their bid for a treble.

South Korea’s Ryu and Japan’s Saigo share LPGA Chevron lead

HOUSTON: South Korea’s Haeran Ryu and Japan’s Mao Saigo, both aided by long birdies, shared the lead after Saturday’s third round of the LPGA Chevron Championship.

Reem Al-Aboud and Hanna Riehle crowned champions of Rally Jameel 2025

QASSIM: Reem Al-Aboud from Saudi Arabia and her German co-driver Hanna Riehle of Jameel Motorsport were crowned winners of Rally Jameel 2025, which concluded on Saturday in Qassim.

Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener, Swiatek advances

MADRID: Novak Djokovic admits he may have played his last-ever match at the Madrid Open after he crashed out in his opening round encounter on Saturday, while Iga Swiatek advanced to the last-16 on the women’s side of the draw.

Ronaldo scores and leads Al-Nassr into AFC Champions Elite semifinals

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: Cristiano Ronaldo led Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr to a 4-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan in the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite on Saturday. The 40-year-old scored his eighth goal of the tournament during a dominant first half performance in Jeddah, which is hosting all of the games in the tournament from the quarterfinal stage to the final on May 3. In Wednesday’s semifinal, Al-Nassr will take on Al-Sadd of Qatar or Kawasaki Frontale of Japan, who meet on Sunday. Jhon Duran, signed for over $100 million from Aston Villa in January, opened the scoring from close range. Four minutes later, Sadio Mane doubled Al-Nassr’s lead, the former Liverpool forward firing home a fierce low shot from the left of the area. There was still time before the break for Ronaldo to give Al-Nassr, looking for a first ever continental title, one foot in the last four.

Chris Eubank Jr beats Conor Benn on unanimous points decision

LONDON: Chris Eubank Jr dealt fellow-Briton Conor Benn a first career defeat after going the distance to win their middleweight grudge match on a unanimous points decision on Saturday. All three judges scored the fight 116-112 after a pulsating 12-round slugfest, both fighters coming out hard from the start and going toe-to-toe in front of 65,000 spectators at London’s Tottenham Hotspur stadium. The fight, between the sons of former world champions and arch-rivals Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn who met twice in the 1990s, was called off in 2022 when Benn tested positive for trace amounts of fertility drug clomifene. Both fathers were present, 32 years on from their last clash, and embraced in the ring before the opening bell.

Palace sweep past Villa to reach FA Cup final

Oliver Glasner’s side took the lead in the semifinal through Eze’s long-range blast“All the credit to the players. They had to work so hard. They had to overcome a few difficult moments,” Glasner saidLONDON: Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup final for the first time in nine years as Ismaila Sarr’s double and a rocket from Eberechi Eze sealed a 3-0 win against Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday.Oliver Glasner’s side took the lead in the semifinal through Eze’s long-range blast before Sarr netted twice in the second half.In the final on May 17, Palace will face Nottingham Forest or Manchester City, who meet in the second semifinal on Sunday.The Eagles have never won the FA Cup, losing their two final appearances against Manchester United in 2016 and 1990.“All the credit to the players.

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Assefa sets women’s only record to win London Marathon women’s race after late breakaway

Barcelona beat Real Madrid in extra time to win Copa del Rey final

South Korea’s Ryu and Japan’s Saigo share LPGA Chevron lead

Reem Al-Aboud and Hanna Riehle crowned champions of Rally Jameel 2025

Djokovic crashes to nervous Arnaldi in Madrid opener, Swiatek advances

Ronaldo scores and leads Al-Nassr into AFC Champions Elite semifinals

Chris Eubank Jr beats Conor Benn on unanimous points decision

Palace sweep past Villa to reach FA Cup final