arabnews.com - Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema misses Monday’s training session

Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema misses Monday’s training session

RIYADH: French striker Karim Benzema, who captains Saudi football club Al-Ittihad, missed Monday’s training session due to the vacation granted to players during the international break. According to a media statement issued on Tuesday, Al-Ittihad resumed training after the vacation granted to the club’s international players by their Portuguese coach Nuno Santo during the break of the Saudi Professional League that coincided with FIFA days. Benzema is expected to join his teammates for Tuesday night training. Player Abdulrahman Al-Oubud, who only participated in the morning session, also missed the evening group training. Ranked third in the SPL behind leaders Al-Hilal and second-placed Al-Taawoun with 12 points, Al-Ittihad are preparing to face Al-Okhdood on Thursday in the match that brings them together in SPL’s sixth round, at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Najran. Coach Santo is looking forward to the last two sessions ahead of the match to find the optimal lineup that will face Al-Okhdoud, in light of the confirmed absence of his compatriot Jota and Brazilian player Cornado due to injury. Al-Ittihad collected 12 points after winning four out of their five matches with only one home defeat against Al-Hilal in the previous round.

International fencing delegation looks at Saudi Arabia’s readiness to host World Championship

RIYADH: A delegation representing the International Fencing Federation has arrived in Saudi Arabia to ascertain the Kingdom’s readiness to host the World Fencing Championship for Juniors and Youth in April. Headed by the IFF’s CEO Nathalie Rodriguez, along with her companions, and accompanied by Tunisian Ziad Al-Friyani, the competition director and head of the legal committee, the delegation is visiting the Kingdom to examine the preparations in Riyadh, which hosts the championship between April 12 and 20 next year. Ahmed Al-Sabban, the president of the Saudi Arabian Fencing Federation, and Abdullah Al-Sunidi, the federation’s executive director, are accompanying the delegation during the three-day visit, said a media statement. A meeting will be held on Wednesday with Al-Sabban to discuss hosting requirements and needs. The delegation on Tuesday visited the sports hall at King Saud University which is due to host the championship, and toured the premises and looked at transportation and technical requirements. The IFF’s General Assembly in November named Riyadh as host of the major global event.

Meet the first Saudi female boxer to win international gold

Riyadh: Hala Saleh Al-Rashidi, a boxer from Al-Ahli Club, became the first Saudi woman to win a gold medal in the 51kg category at the UAE Open Boxing Championships in Abu Dhabi, which concluded on Sunday with the participation of 176 players.

World No. 2 Lilia Vu headlines elite lineup for Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Hong Kong

HONG KONG: The stage is set for an incredible spectacle of golf as the eagerly awaited Aramco Team Series presented by the Public Investment Fund descends upon Hong Kong. From Oct. 6 to 8, 2023, the renowned Hong Kong Golf Club will play host to a star-studded roster, spearheaded by World No. 2 Lilia Vu, alongside Chinese golf stars Xiyu Lin and Muni He.

Juventus midfielder Pogba provisionally suspended for doping

ROME: Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after a doping control detected the banned substance testosterone, Italian anti-doping authorities (NADO) told AFP on Monday. “The National Antidoping Tribunal informs that, in acceptance of the instance proposed by the National Antidoping Prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete Paul Labile Pogba,” NADO said in a statement to AFP. NADO said the “prohibited substance detected: Non-endogenous testosterone metabolites,” was consistent with a doping infringement. The Italian press reported that the doping test was carried out on the opening day of the Italian Serie A season, a 3-0 win at Udinese on August 20, during which the 30-year-old was an unused substitute. The test concerns the ‘A’ sample, and if the ‘B’ sample also tests positive for testosterone Pogba could face a four-year ban. NADO sent a statement Monday to clarify reports from earlier in the day in the Italian press regarding Pogba, who was hoping to play for Juventus against Lazio this weekend. Pogba was a star player in France’s 2018 World Cup triumph but had an awful 2022-2023 season blighted by injury and a blackmail affair. He played just ten games for Juventus that season and missed the 2022 World Cup with France.

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Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema misses Monday’s training session

International fencing delegation looks at Saudi Arabia’s readiness to host World Championship

Meet the first Saudi female boxer to win international gold

World No. 2 Lilia Vu headlines elite lineup for Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Hong Kong

Juventus midfielder Pogba provisionally suspended for doping

Preparations complete as Green Falcons set for South Korea clash

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