AlUla Camel Cup to crown ‘Champion of Champions’ in stunning setting

AlUla Camel Cup to crown ‘Champion of Champions’ in stunning setting
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The AlUla Camel Cup is organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in collaboration with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation (SCRF). (Supplied)
AlUla Camel Cup to crown ‘Champion of Champions’ in stunning setting
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The AlUla Camel Cup is organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in collaboration with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation (SCRF). (Supplied)
AlUla Camel Cup to crown ‘Champion of Champions’ in stunning setting
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The AlUla Camel Cup is organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in collaboration with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation (SCRF). (Supplied)
AlUla Camel Cup to crown ‘Champion of Champions’ in stunning setting
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The AlUla Camel Cup is organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in collaboration with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation (SCRF). (Supplied)
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Updated 22 February 2023
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AlUla Camel Cup to crown ‘Champion of Champions’ in stunning setting

AlUla Camel Cup to crown ‘Champion of Champions’ in stunning setting
  • Inaugural AlUla Camel Cup offering a grand prize pool of SAR80 million (more than $21 million)
  • The races will be held from March 14 – 17 against the scenic backdrop of AlUla

ALULA: The inaugural AlUla Camel Cup will culminate with the crowning of a ‘Champion of Champions’ to the backdrop of arguably Saudi Arabia’s most stunning scenery.

Under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the races will be held from March 14 – 17, with a total prize pool of SAR80 million (more than $21 million) on offer.

The AlUla Camel Cup is organized by the RCU in collaboration with the Saudi Camel Racing Federation (SCRF).

Amr AlMadani, CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla said: “The AlUla Camel Cup will celebrate the most noble of Saudi Arabian sporting traditions, welcoming royalty VIPS, the elite of the sport and many distinguished guests to the most glorious of settings for this illustrious occasion.”

With such deep-rooted historical connections — such as the Incense Road Trading route where camel caravans traveled through AlUla trading precious goods, and the ancient petroglyphs featuring camels engraved across the rocks of AlUla — it is fitting that we celebrate the ‘ships of the desert’ with the first AlUla Camel Cup.

The inclusion of the AlUla Camel Cup to the Saudi Camel Racing Federation’s season ushers in a new era for the Kingdom’s cherished homegrown pursuit.

“We eagerly await March 14 when world-class sport will be combined with natural beauty and the epitome of modern luxury for a spectacle like no other.”

Mahmoud Suleiman Albalawi, Executive Director of SCRF, said: “The pinnacle of the Saudi Arabian camel racing season, which will crown a ‘Champion of Champions’, can have no better setting than the performance grade track at AlUla, a jewel of the desert where tradition meets modernity.

“Saudi Arabia has championed camel racing the world over, with historical records indicating the sport played a part in our ancient culture as far back as the 7th Century. The professional nature of camel racing has a similarly distinguished past, with the first professional camel race held in Saudi Arabia dating back to 1964 as part of a heritage festival.

“The evolving story of the sport, where we pay tribute to its timelessness and the special appeal it holds in the hearts and minds of the region’s people, will reach new heights at the AlUla Camel Cup in March 2023. Here the conclusion of our camel racing season, which began back in August 2022, will reach a truly spectacular finale.”

AlUla Camel Cup is one of the flagship sports events of AlUla Moments 2023 calendar of events and festivals, which includes five major festivals and six marque events. Other sports events taking place in AlUla are ‘The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla 2023’ on March 4, ‘AlUla Trail Race’ on February 23 and 24, and the recent ‘Saudi Tour’ between January 30 and February 3.

In-depth details of each day at the AlUla Camel Cup, and activities surrounding the event, will be released in due course.


Pakistan’s World Cup worries continue with warm-up loss to New Zealand

Pakistan’s World Cup worries continue with warm-up loss to New Zealand
Updated 30 September 2023
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Pakistan’s World Cup worries continue with warm-up loss to New Zealand

Pakistan’s World Cup worries continue with warm-up loss to New Zealand
  • Mohammed Rizwan scores 103, Babar Azam makes 80 as Pakistan scored 345-5
  • Half-centuries by Ravindra, Williamson and Chapman power Kiwis’ successful chase

HYDERABAD: Pakistan’s Mohammed Rizwan hit an impressive century inside an eerily empty stadium on Friday but his team suffered a heavy defeat to New Zealand in their World Cup warm-up fixture.
Pakistan went down to a five-wicket loss to the Black Caps at the 55,000-capacity Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
The game, however, was played behind closed doors due to a Hindu festival and security issues in the southern Indian city.
Rizwan hit 103 with nine fours and two sixes in his 94-ball innings while skipper Babar Azam made 80 in Pakistan’s 345-5 after electing to bat first.
“A hundred is hundred in any conditions. I feel proud and satisfied,” said Rizwan.
Rachin Ravindra and the returning Kane Williamson then played key knocks as New Zealand chased down the target with 6.2 overs to spare.
Ravindra (97) and Williamson (54) put on 137 to put their team on course against a Pakistan attack missing pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Williamson, who returned from a six-month lay-off due to a knee injury and played the match only as a batsman, looked impressive in his 50-ball stay before he retired out.
“It held up pretty good,” Williamson, who will miss the tournament opener against England on October 5, said about his knee after the win.
“Little bit of icing after that (knock). But that’s part of the process. Fortunate with that recovery and being named in the squad was exciting to me.”
Left-hand batsman Mark Chapman made an unbeaten 65 while Mitchell Santner contributed 59 before he retired out.
At Guwahati, Liton Das, Tanzid Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz struck half-centuries to guide Bangladesh to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their opening warmup match.
Chasing Sri Lanka’s 263, Bangladesh knocked off the runs with eight overs to spare
Liton and Tanzid got Bangladesh motoring from the off as they put on 131 for the first wicket in 20 overs.
Liton cracked 10 boundaries in his 56-ball 61 before being caught by Matheesha Pathirana off Dushan Hemantha.
Tanzid, 22, has only played five ODIs but looked at home as he stroked two sixes and 10 fours on his way to 84 from 88 balls.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, skipper for the day, led Bangladesh home with an undefeated 67 off 64 balls with five boundaries and two sixes.
He and Mushfiqur Rahim (35) put on an undefeated 76 for the fourth wicket.
Sri Lanka had won the toss and chose to bat.
Opener Pathum Nissanka top scored with 68 while Dhananjaya de Silva hit 55.
The day’s other scheduled warm-up between Afghanistan and South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain.
On Saturday, five-time winners Australia face the Netherlands at Thiruvananthapuram while hosts India tackle defending champions England at Guwahati.
 


Asian Games: Pakistan take on arch-rivals India for squash gold today

Asian Games: Pakistan take on arch-rivals India for squash gold today
Updated 56 min 16 sec ago
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Asian Games: Pakistan take on arch-rivals India for squash gold today

Asian Games: Pakistan take on arch-rivals India for squash gold today
  • Pakistan have qualified for an Asian Games squash final after 13 years
  • India beat defending champions Malaysia on Friday to qualify for the final

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will lock horns with arch-rivals India to compete for the squash gold medal in the 19th Asian Games today, Saturday, making it the first time in 13 years that the South Asian country has qualified for the final of the tournament.
Pakistan qualified for the final of the tournament on Friday after beating No.3 seeds Hong Kong, China to reach the men’s team squash final. India, meanwhile, qualified after beating defending champions Malaysia on Friday.

During Pakistan’s first match on Friday, Noor Zaman, 19, gave his side the lead with a 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 win over World No.51 Henry Leung.
Pakistan looked on their way to winning it with a match to spare when Muhammad Asim Khan dominated early on against Tsz Kwan Lau. However, the Chinese squash player came back to force the tie into a third match with a 60-minute 3-2 win.
For the third match, Nasir Iqbal, 29, who was also part of the Pakistan team that crashed out in the pools stage in 2014, controlled proceedings against Ming Hong Tang throughout, wrapping up the win in straight games.
Khan uploaded a video clip of the moment when Pakistan beat Hong Kong on social media platform X, terming the victory a “great upset.”
“We’re in finals of Asian games,” he wrote.


Indian No.1 Saurav Ghosal gave credit to Pakistan for playing impressively throughout the tournament, mentioning the defeat India tasted at Pakistan’s hands in the pool stage of the tournament.
“You have to give Pakistan credit for the way they have played this entire week,” Ghosal said. “They’ve been very good and won all their matches. They are flying high and playing really well.”
 

 


Kingdom’s Youssef Masrahi qualifies for 400-meter final at Asian Games

Kingdom’s Youssef Masrahi qualifies for 400-meter final at Asian Games
Updated 29 September 2023
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Kingdom’s Youssef Masrahi qualifies for 400-meter final at Asian Games

Kingdom’s Youssef Masrahi qualifies for 400-meter final at Asian Games
  • Asian record holder finishes second in semifinal in 45.64 seconds
  • Abdullah Abkar, Nasser Mahmoud through to semifinals of 100-meters

HANGZHOU, China: Saudi athlete Youssef Masrahi has qualified for the final of the men’s 400-meters at the 19th Asian Games.
The Asian record holder secured his place in the medal race after finishing second in his semifinal at the Olympic Stadium on Friday in a time of 45.64 seconds. Japan’s Sato Fuga won the race in 45.56.
Masrahi took the gold medal in the 400 at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, where he also broke the Asian record with a time of 44.46.
His teammate, Mazen Alyassin, failed to qualify for the 400 final after coming home fourth in his semifinal in a time of 46.13.
Meanwhile, Saudi sprinter Abdullah Abkar made it through to the semifinals of the 100-meters after finishing fourth in his heat in a time of 10.30. He will be joined by teammate Nasser Mahmoud, who qualified in 10.50.
Esports
The Kingdom’s esports team of Abdulrahman Al-Fahad, Abdulrahman Al-Aroui, Khaled Al-Abdulaziz and Ahmed Al-Qahtani have been eliminated from the Games after losing in the last 16 of the Peace Elite contest.
Boxing
Boxer Mohamed Al-Sabhi was also eliminated from the Games after losing to his Uzbek rival on a judges’ decision in the last 16 of the 80 kg category.
Table Tennis
The Kingdom’s Azam Alaam and Khalid Al-Shareef were knocked out of the table tennis doubles competition after losing 3-0 to their opponents from Chinese Taipei in the last 16.
Fencing
The Saudi fencing team of Ahmed Al-Hussein, Khalifa Al-Umairi, Jawad Al-Daoud and Faisal Aabid were also eliminated on Friday, after going down by 45-43 to Japan in the quarterfinals of the epee category.
Golf
The Kingdom’s golfers ended their second round on Friday, with Othman Al-Mulla shooting 70, Ali Al-Sekhi 71, Faisal Al-Salhab 72 and Saud Al-Sharif 73.


Ronaldo and Talisca take Al-Nassr to 3rd in Saudi Pro League

Ronaldo and Talisca take Al-Nassr to 3rd in Saudi Pro League
Updated 29 September 2023
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Ronaldo and Talisca take Al-Nassr to 3rd in Saudi Pro League

Ronaldo and Talisca take Al-Nassr to 3rd in Saudi Pro League
  • Portuguese star linked up well with Anderson Talisca and the pair look to be enjoying themselves
  • Yellows fans now see their side just a point behind leaders Al-Ittihad who were held to a 0-0 draw at Al-Fayha

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 10th of the season as Al-Nassr made it six from six in the league on Friday with a 2-1 win at Al-Tai.

The Portuguese star linked up well with Anderson Talisca and the pair look to be enjoying themselves.

The same can be said for fans of the Yellows who now see their side just a point behind leaders Al-Ittihad who were held to a 0-0 draw at Al-Fayha.

After starting the campaign with two defeats in the first two games, Al-Nassr are showing themselves to be capable of putting teams to the sword and grinding out victories when they need to.

This was more the latter, and it was a close-run thing. The visitors moved ahead just after the half hour to quieten the vociferous home fans, and it was a beauty. Ronaldo, on the edge of the area, flicked the ball up for the advancing Talisca to fire home from the right side of the box for his third in two games. It was a fifth assist of the season so far for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The goal had been coming as Al-Nassr had been pushing forward, with Ronaldo missing good chances earlier in the game.

From one opportunity Talisca had set up his captain, running into the area and supplying the unmarked Portuguese international who, to the surprise of everyone, unleashed a shot that lacked power and enabled Victor Braga to save.

Ronaldo had a slightly tougher chance six minutes before the break. Marcelo Brozovic made use of plenty of space in the middle of the Al-Tai half to chip a perfect pass into the area. On the right corner of the six-yard box, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star fired a half-volley just wide of the post.

The half ended with a spectacular overhead kick by Ronaldo finding Talisca at the far post but, while the Brazilian rounded the goalkeeper to roll the ball home, he was just offside.

It was not all one-way traffic, though. Al-Tai wanted a penalty early in the second half and came close to an equalizer on the hour, but Nawaf Al-Aqidi got down quickly at his near post to push a smart free-kick from Anselmo around the post.

Ronaldo looked to have provided his side’s second on 63 minutes but his header was palmed away acrobatically by the busy Braga.

And then, with 11 minutes remaining, Al-Tai did score. Abdulrahman Al-Harthi produced a beautiful pass that sent Virgil Misidjan sprinting free of three Al-Nassr defenders and the Dutch forward rolled the ball home.

A draw looked likely, but Al-Nassr grabbed the winner with three minutes left as Anselmo handled a Talisca header and Ronaldo fired home from the spot.

Al-Nassr now have 18 points from eight games and are breathing down the neck of champions and leaders Al-Ittihad, who were held to a goalless draw at Al-Fahya.

Al-Ittihad, again without the injured striker Karim Benzema, had the better chances in the first half.

Abderrazak Hamdallah was denied at close range by Vladimir Stojkovic. The Serbian stopper could then only watch as a thunderbolt from Ahmed Bamsaud rocketed back off the crossbar.

Al-Fayha had their chances but the game remained goalless.

Al-Ittihad stay top but are now level on points with Al-Taawoun who won 3-1 at Al-Hazm.


Leipzig part ways with a key executive linked with Bayern Munich a day before playing Bayern

Leipzig part ways with a key executive linked with Bayern Munich a day before playing Bayern
Updated 29 September 2023
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Leipzig part ways with a key executive linked with Bayern Munich a day before playing Bayern

Leipzig part ways with a key executive linked with Bayern Munich a day before playing Bayern
  • The decision came a day before Leipzig play Bayern in the Bundesliga
  • Leipzig said Eberl had been “relieved ... of his duties with immediate effect”

LEIPZIG, Germany: Leipzig parted ways with their top sports executive Max Eberl on Friday citing a “failure to commit to the club” amid speculation linking him with Bayern Munich. The decision came a day before Leipzig plays Bayern in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig said Eberl had been “relieved ... of his duties with immediate effect.” The club denied the decision was linked to the team’s performance or signings.
“His failure to commit to the club has led to us making this decision. It has nothing to do with the squad’s rebuild or results on the pitch,” the club said.
Reports in Germany in recent days have indicated that Eberl could be of interest to Bayern, which have shaken up their own management structure after difficulties on the field last season and off-field issues including the firing of coach Julian Nagelsmann in March and replacing him with Thomas Tuchel.
Eberl, who was a Bayern player in the early 1990s, had pointed to his Leipzig contract when asked about the speculation and said he wanted to focus on the upcoming game against Bayern, in comments published by the Sport Bild newspaper on Wednesday.
Leipzig are a point behind league leader Bayern before the two teams meet Saturday.
As managing director for sport, Eberl joined Leipzig last year and was credited with overseeing a rebuild which has seen established players like Joško Gvardiol and Dominik Szoboszlai depart for large price tags and the arrival of young talents like Loïs Openda and Paris Saint-Germain loanee Xavi Simons.
Leipzig said sporting director Rouven Schröder would move into Eberl’s role.