Saudi Arabia progress to the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup semifinals

Saudi Arabia progress to the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup semifinals
Saudi Arabia dominates Myanmar with a massive 327-run victory in ACC Challenger Cup (ACC twitter)
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Updated 09 March 2023
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Saudi Arabia progress to the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup semifinals

Saudi Arabia progress to the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup semifinals
  • Men in green dominate Myanmar to win by massive margin of 327 runs

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national cricket team comprehensively defeated Myanmar by 327 runs in their last group match of the 2023 ACC Men’s Challenger Cup played at the Terdthai Cricket Ground, Bangkok on Wednesday.

The result means the team from the Kingdom maintained a perfect record of three wins from three matches in Group B to reach the semifinal of the eight-team tournament.

“Saudi Arabia dominates Myanmar with a massive 327-run victory in the #ACCChallengercup, qualifying for the semifinals in style! Congratulations to the team on their remarkable performance!” tweeted the Asian Cricket Council. 

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation tweeted: “The Saudi national cricket team beats Myanmar in group ‘B’ and qualifies for the Semi-Final facing Bhutan on the 3rd of March in the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup.”

Earlier, Saudi Arabia had won the toss and elected to bat first. They proceeded to up a massive total of 424 runs on the board in 50 overs — for the loss of seven wickets — thanks to a dominant performance by man of the match, Abdul Manan Ali.

Ali, in his debut match, put on sensational innings that saw him score 102 runs off just 80 deliveries, including 11 boundaries and two sixes. Saudi’s mammoth total was always going to be too much for their opponents.

Speaking after the match, Ali said: “I just played my natural game. Thanks to our coach Mohammed Kabir Khan and the Saudi Cricket Federation for supporting us…and encouraging (us) to excel in the game.”

All-rounder Zain Ul Abidin was another star performer, who remained not out on 66 from 34 balls and also took two wickets in his four-over spell.

Other top scorers from the Saudi side were Abdul Wahid, who scored 61 runs from just 36 balls, Mohammed Hisham Sheikh who scored 59 from 62 balls, and Saad Khan who scored a quick 36 runs from just 14 balls.

The Myanmar bowlers struggled throughout the inning to stop the Saudi team but rarely troubled the order.

Chasing the massive total, the Myanmar batting lineup collapsed and bowled all out in 25.3 overs for just 97 runs. Ye Naing Tunb scored high for his team with 29 runs in 31 balls.

KoKo LinThu was another batsman who reached a double-digit score, 17 in 21 balls. No other Myanmar batsman reached double figures.

Abdul Waheed-Baladraf was the best bowler from the Saudi side, taking four wickets in 8.3 overs and conceding just 30 runs in his impressive spell.

The tournament, which runs until Sunday, March 5, is played in a round-robin format with eight teams split into two groups of four. The top two from each group qualify to the semifinals in the knockout stages.

The 2023 ACC Men’s Challenger Cup is the inaugural edition of the Men’s Challenger Cup, with the matches to be played in List A Cricket (50 overs) format.

The competition acts as a pathway to September’s 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan, which itself is a preparatory tournament for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India starting in October.


LIV Golf Jeddah to stage regular season finale next month

LIV Golf Jeddah to stage regular season finale next month
Updated 22 September 2023
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LIV Golf Jeddah to stage regular season finale next month

LIV Golf Jeddah to stage regular season finale next month
  • Individual and team titles, and 2024 league spots all on the line at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club from Oct. 13-15

JEDDAH: LIV Golf makes its highly anticipated return to Royal Greens Golf & Country Club here from Oct. 13 to 15, when the league’s 2023 regular season will reach its conclusion and set the stage for the Team Championship — and the future for many golfers.

The event marks the 13th tournament of the league’s first full season. There are 13 major winners who will compete in King Abdullah Economic City, including 2023 PGA Championship winner and 2023 US Ryder Cup Team selection Brooks Koepka, 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith, World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, 2020 US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau, and two-time major winners Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer.

There will be much to play for amongst those atop the individual standings. Those further down the standings face a battle to secure their future, with players ranked 45 and below in the “Drop Zone” at season’s end facing relegation and losing their LIV Golf status for next year.

Smith currently leads the individual standings with 170 points after wins in London and Bedminster. In-form American Talor Gooch (149), a three-time individual champion this season, is in hot pursuit of the Australian. They are followed by seven contenders including 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah winner Koepka, 4Aces GC captain Johnson and Crushers GC captain DeChambeau, who shot a sensational 58 at LIV Golf Greenbrier earlier this year.

Those who finish in the top 24 in the overall standings will lock-in their position in the LIV Golf League for next season. Players finishing in the “Open Zone,” positions 25 to 44, however, may face trade or release by their respective teams. Meanwhile, those finishing in positions 45 and below sitting in the “Drop Zone” will be relegated and automatically qualify for the league’s promotional tournament, where they will have the opportunity to earn their spot back for the 2024 season.

Aside from the individual race, each player in the 48-man field has good reason to make their scores count, as the final team standings following LIV Golf Jeddah will determine seeds one to 12 for the LIV Golf Team Championship in Miami the following week, with the top four teams receiving first-round byes.

Through 11 events, 4Aces GC — featuring Johnson, Reed, Peter Uihlein and Pat Perez — sit atop the team standings with 172 points after wins in Adelaide and London. Torque GC, featuring Chilean stars Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira, Colombian Sebastian Munoz, and Spanish rookie David Puig, trail closely behind with 163 total points following wins in Orlando, D.C., Andalucia and Greenbrier.

The all-South African Stinger GC featuring major champions Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester, currently sit in third place with 156 points. DeChambeau’s Crushers GC (146 points), including Paul Casey, Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri, hold a three-point edge in fourth place over RangeGoats GC (143 points). They boast five top-three finishes this season thanks to standout performances by Gooch, Harold Varner III, Thomas Pieters, and captain Watson.


Ticket offer to fans wishing to watch Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games

Ticket offer to fans wishing to watch Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games
Updated 20 September 2023
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Ticket offer to fans wishing to watch Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games

Ticket offer to fans wishing to watch Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games
  • Organizing committee unveils special gesture to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s National Day for fans who purchase tickets between today and Sept. 25 for SR93
  • Single day tickets will also be available at just SR15

RIYADH: The Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games’ organizing committee has revealed a luring offer to fans wishing to watch the competitions at reduced prices, in a special gesture to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s National Day.
With 30 days remaining before the WCG kicks off on Oct. 20, the organizing committee unveiled the limited offer, according to which fans who purchase tickets between today and Sept. 25 will be able to attend the event with unlimited access to daily competitions for just SR93 ($24.79).
Single day tickets will also be available at just SR15, said a media statement.
The single-day tickets will feature a host of benefits, including complimentary parking and unrestricted access to all five sports venues and accompanying fan zone entertainment.
Riyadh hosts the 2023 WCG between Oct. 20 and 30 at King Saud University.
Moreover, free admission will be provided to children under 12, seniors over 65, disabled people and those accompanying them. Those attending the final day’s contests will also be granted entry to the closing ceremony celebrations.
Tickets can be purchased through the official Riyadh 2023 WCG ticketing website https://tickets.riyadh2023.com/ as well as onsite during the competition from designated kiosks at King Saud University.
WCG’s third edition has entered its final phase of preparations. The organizing committee is dedicated to deliver an exceptional experience for all attendees, ensuring that this global celebration of combat sports is accessible and entertaining for everyone.
Combat sports extravaganza is set to take place during 11 thrilling days with over 2,800 athletes and officials attending from over 80 countries.
Each athletic disciplines includes the following: Aikido, Arm-wrestling, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Ju-jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muay-Thai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling and Wushu.
This year will mark the WCG’s inaugural appearance in the Middle East, with Riyadh proudly serving as the host city.


Saudi national dodgeball team arrive in South Africa for training camp

Saudi national dodgeball team arrive in South Africa for training camp
Updated 20 September 2023
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Saudi national dodgeball team arrive in South Africa for training camp

Saudi national dodgeball team arrive in South Africa for training camp
  • The five-day training trip, during which the players will take part in 18 friendly matches, is part of their preparations for the Asian Dodgeball Championship 2024
  • Coach Hani Nabil will work with the main men’s team and the U-21 squad to assess and develop skills before choosing his team for the tournament next year

SOUTH AFRICA: The Saudi national dodgeball team has arrived in South Africa for a five-day training camp as part of their preparations for the Asian Dodgeball Championship 2024.
Coach Hani Nabil will work with the main men’s national team and the U-21 squad to assess and develop young players’ skill levels, before choosing the final team who will represent the Kingdom at the tournament next year
During their visit, the Saudi players will take part in the South African Friendly Championship and play 18 matches.
The national team squad includes 22 players: Hassan Aman, Ahmed Al-Muhar, Hadi Alawi, Ahmed Al-Quwaii, Mohamed Al-Fardan, Ali Al-Zayer, Hani Al-Abd Rabb Al-Nabi, Mustafa Al-Muhaishi, Ahmed Al-Muhaishi, Hussein Al-Basha, Ahmed Al-Kayyal, Abdul-Rahman Zidane, Salah Kassim, Firas Al-Dalaan, Abdullah Baatab, Sultan Fakhoury, Mohamed Al-Ghannam, Raed Salman, Khaled Al-Shaeri, Maitham Al-Hajji, Moaz Al-Maliki and Saleh Al-Saeed.
The training camp, which will conclude on Sept. 25, was organized by the Saudi Dodgeball Federation. The officials accompanying the team include Abdulaziz Al-Hazani, the federation’s executive director, administrative staff Laila Al-Hamidi, Mustafa Al-Fahd and Fatun Al-Jaber, and technical staff Hani Abdel Malek, Gumulur Issa and Ibrahim Mahdi.


Saudi U-23 football team tie with Iran in opening match at 19th Asian Games

Saudi U-23 football team tie with Iran in opening match at 19th Asian Games
Updated 19 September 2023
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Saudi U-23 football team tie with Iran in opening match at 19th Asian Games

Saudi U-23 football team tie with Iran in opening match at 19th Asian Games
  • The Kingdom is one of 45 countries competing at the Games, which are being hosted by Hangzhou in China and will continue until Oct. 8
  • Members of the Kingdom’s rowing team launch their medal bids on Wednesday, when Sultan Al-Shali and Turki Al-Aarif compete in the lightweight men’s double sculls

HANGZHOU: Saudi Arabia’s U-23 footballers played out a goalless draw with Iran on Tuesday, in their opening match at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Prince Abdullah bin Fahd bin Abdullah, the head of the Saudi delegation at the Games, watched the match, which took place at the Lining Sports Center. The Green Falcons’ next game is on Thursday morning when they will face Mongolia, who were defeated 4-2 by Vietnam on Tuesday.
The Kingdom is one of 45 countries competing in the Games in Hangzhou, which continue until Oct. 8. Members of the Saudi rowing team will launch their medal bids on Wednesday, when Sultan Al-Shali and Turki Al-Aarif compete in the lightweight men’s double sculls, starting at 9:20 a.m. at the main lake in the Fuyang Water Sports Center.
Haya Al-Mami, will race in the women’s single sculls individual event at 3:30 p.m., and Rakan Ali Reda in the men’s single sculls at 4 p.m. The Saudi rowers completed their final training session on Tuesday at the lake.
Meanwhile, the Saudi weightlifting and shooting teams arrived in Hangzhou on Tuesday. The weightlifting team, which includes Seraj Al-Salem, Ali Al-Khazal, Mahmoud Al-Hamid, and Nujood Kharumi, will take part in a 10-day training camp before their competitions begin. The shooting team includes 12 men and women.
The Saudi basketball team’s preparations for the Games continued on Tuesday with a victory in a friendly match against a Chinese team at Shuo Zhang University gym.
The Kingdom’s fencing team took part in morning and evening training sessions that included warm-ups, physical fitness work, and footwork and other individual exercises.
Saudi Arabia’s tennis hopefuls have been taking part in an intense training regime over the past few days, and on Tuesday coach Jean Marie gave brother-and-sister players Ammar and Yara Alhogbani a rest day, during which they visited the physiotherapy center for muscle treatments.
The Kingdom’s table tennis team began training on Tuesday, and took part in a technical meeting with their head coach that focused on tactical training for players Ali Alkhadrawi, Azam Alem, Turki Al-Mutairi and Khaled Al-Sharif.


Riyadh set to host 10th World Championship Festival of Arabian Horses

Riyadh set to host 10th World Championship Festival of Arabian Horses
Updated 19 September 2023
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Riyadh set to host 10th World Championship Festival of Arabian Horses

Riyadh set to host 10th World Championship Festival of Arabian Horses
  • Since establishment of festival, Italy has organized previous 9 events
  • Saudi organizing committee chairman looking forward to welcoming participants

RIYADH: Twenty countries are set to participate in the 10th World Championship Festival of Arabian Horses being hosted by Saudi Arabia next month.
Being staged in Riyadh between Oct. 11 and 14, all nine previous festivals have been organized by Italy.
The event, supervised by the King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center, will include the Manefah championship for Saudi Arabian horses of origin, as well as the World Championship for Arabian Horse Beauty in its seventh edition for the Egyptian origin.
Other festival attractions are expected to include a special horse expo, an exhibition of the Arabian Horse identity, an auction for purebred Arabian horses, and an opera bringing together artists from around the world.
Emad Al-Rashid, chairman of the festival’s organizing committee, said he was looking forward to welcoming visitors and participants from major international and local stables interested in purebred Arabian horses.
“We target all segments of society to spread the culture of equestrianism, which is an extension of the authentic Arab heritage and the history of our ancestors,” he added.