Asfan Al-Khalediah and Medbaas claim Founder’s Cup wins

Asfan Al-Khalediah and Medbaas claim Founder’s Cup wins
Asfan Al-Khalediah crosses the finish line to win the Founder’s Cup for Arabian horses. (Supplied)
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Updated 12 March 2023
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Asfan Al-Khalediah and Medbaas claim Founder’s Cup wins

Asfan Al-Khalediah and Medbaas claim Founder’s Cup wins
  • Governor of Riyadh presents ‘The Crown of the Championships’ at conclusion of second evening of racing

RIYADH: The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia on Saturday hosted the second and final evening of the King Abdulaziz Cup, known in Saudi Arabia as the “The Crown of Championships,” with big wins for Asfan Al-Khalediah and Medbaas.

The evening at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Janadriyah, just north of Riyadh, included 11 rounds and ended with two main championship races determining the winners of the King Abdulaziz Cup for purebred Arabian horses and the first-grade race, both for local Saudi horses.

Horse Asfan Al-Khalediah, owned by Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz and Sons, claimed the first cup, while Mohammed Haadi bin Khyoot Sons’ Medbaas took the second. 

Total prize money for the two main rounds was $2.66 million, split equally, with the respective winners each receiving $670,000.

Prior to the races, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia held a parade of jockeys with thoroughbred Arabian horses to honor Saudi Arabia’s Flag Day, which the Kingdom is celebrating for the first time in its history.

The second evening of the King Abdulaziz Cup began with the Fillies Open, a contest for imported and locally bred open-grade fillies aged four and over. Filly Najd, owned by Prince Saud bin Salman Abdulaziz and trained by M. Almulawah, covered the 2,100m turf round track in 2:13.96 minutes under jockey Alexis Moreno.

The Handicap 0-75, the second round of the evening, saw the horse Gurkhali Warrior, owned by R, win with jockey Eyad Alturisi and trainer Rashed Sanad M. Daban.

Meanwhile, the third round Handicap 0-80, was dedicated to three-year-old fillies and saw Aenood Alghada, owned by Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, led by jockey Khaled Almimoni and trained by Hussein Alshoieb, win the 1,200m race.

The Jammran, owned by Prince Mohd. bin Saif Al-Deen bin Saud, won the fourth round of Saturday’s evening Handicap 0-90 race.

In the fifth round, the horse Mahroot, owned by Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz, won the Local Bred Horses Open race, which spanned 1,400m of dirt distance in which open class productions competed with colts and horses aged four years and older.

Filly Bosooq, owned by Fuad Mohammed Fahd bin Gheshayan, won the Local Bred Fillies Handicap 0-70 in the sixth round on Saturday evening.

The horse Skip, owned by Prince Fahd bin Khalid bin Faisal Al-Saud, won the Local Bred Horses Open race in the seventh round, clocking 2:36.12 over a dirt distance of 2,400m.

Kaasirr, from Ireland and owned by Ahmed Hassan Abdullah Al-Seif, won the JCSA Challenge after completing the eighth round and covering the 1,400m dirt track in 1:25.39 minutes, with jockey Camilo Ospina and trainer Nasser Fawaz.

The filly Wathabat Al-Khalediah II, owned by Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sons, won the JCSA Cup for Arabian horses (of Saudi origin and descent) in the ninth round.

The horse Asfan Al-Khalediah, owned by Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sons, won the King Abdulaziz Cup (Arabian Horses) race in the 10th round on Saturday evening.

Four-year-old, Asfan Al-Khalediah completed the 1,600m track in 1:46.06 minutes with jockey Abdullah Alawfi and trainer Saad Mutlaq, beating seven competitors.

The King Abdulaziz Cup in the 10th round was dedicated to open grades of four-year-old horses.

At the end of the evening, 17 participants competed in the King Abdulaziz Cup.

The horse Medbaas, owned by Mohammed Haadi bin Khyoot Sons, claimed the King Abdulaziz Cup trophy with jockey Aseel Alsarhani and trainer Saad BinKhiood.

Three-year-old Medbaas covered the 1,600m dirt track in 1:39.47 minutes.


Ronaldo, Mane and company don Saudi traditional attire for Al-Nassr Saudi National Day video

Ronaldo, Mane and company don Saudi traditional attire for Al-Nassr Saudi National Day video
Updated 43 sec ago
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Ronaldo, Mane and company don Saudi traditional attire for Al-Nassr Saudi National Day video

Ronaldo, Mane and company don Saudi traditional attire for Al-Nassr Saudi National Day video

 

RIYADH: Ronaldo once again takes center stage as Al-Nassr release Saudi National Day video filled with traditional dances, swords and garments.

Nassr fans were delighted to see their stars partake in the festive mood in the Kingdom as the club dropped a fun early morning video celebrating the occasion.

Saudi National Day is celebrated each year on the Sept. 23 and falls on a weekend this year.

The video mixes glimpses of the club’s past successes and history with its forward-looking revival, with some of the best players on the planet donning the famous yellow jersey in the past year.

The video begins with a group of youngsters gatecrashing the club’s headquarters in Tuwaiq and catching the first-team players getting ready for national day festivities.

In the 2 and half minute clip, Winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb and keeper Nawaf Alaqidi are shown preparing drums for the celebration.

Goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah shares some Arabic coffee with Otávio as the Portuguese midfielder gets a haircut for the occasion.

Talisca, the blonde-haired Brazilian attacking midfielder, is seen in the video taking measurements for head coach Luis Castro’s new white thobe.

Senegalese marksman Sadio Mane rests a sword on his shoulder as drumbeats resounding around him.

But it’s Ronaldo who takes center spot as he performs the Ardah with teammates Abdullah Alkhaibari, Mercelo Brozovic, and Sultan Al Ghanam.


Saudi U-23 football team defeats Mongolia to top group at 2023 Asian Games

Saudi U-23 football team defeats Mongolia to top group at 2023 Asian Games
Updated 21 September 2023
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Saudi U-23 football team defeats Mongolia to top group at 2023 Asian Games

Saudi U-23 football team defeats Mongolia to top group at 2023 Asian Games
  • Saudi female rower Haya Al-Mami qualifies for the semifinals of the women’s single sculls competition
  • Over 6,000 journalists and 1,500 photographers have applied to cover the 19th Asian Games

HANGZHOU, China: The Saudi U-23 football team took the lead in the second group on Thursday after winning their second match against Mongolia at the 2023 Asian Games.
The Green Falcons thrashed Mongolia 3-0 with Haitham Asiri, Mohamed Marran and Naif Masoud scoring on the 18th, 49th and 74th minutes, respectively.
The Saudis now lead the group with three points following a goalless draw with Iran in their opening game.
Saudi female rower Haya Al-Mami has qualified for the semifinals of the women’s single sculls competition (W1x) after finishing third in the second round.
The semifinal will take place at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Fuyang Lake Water Sports Center, and will include competitors from South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan and China.
In the men’s lightweight double sculls (LM2x) competition, Saudi duo Turki Al-Aarf and Sultan Al-Shali advanced to group B after finishing fifth in the second round.
Their teammate Rakan Ali Reda advanced to group C in the men’s single sculls (M1x) competition after finishing sixth in the second round.
On Friday, the Saudi table tennis team start their participation when they face the host country China at 6 pm.
The draw for the table tennis competition on Thursday placed the Saudi team in the group with China and Vietnam.
The competitions involve 20 teams in the men’s category and 18 in the women’s category.
The Saudi e-sports team held its first training session at the e-sports hall in the Jiang Hotel in Hangzhou, with 22 players taking part.
Over 6,000 journalists and 1,500 photographers have applied to cover the Asian Games. The organizing committee has set up a comprehensive media center in the Expo Ground area in downtown Hangzhou.
The center features nine large screens for broadcasting live games and can accommodate over 500 media representatives at one time. It functions for 16 hours daily, and provides news, photos, and videos in languages including Arabic, English, Korean, Japanese, Russian and Chinese.
Organizers have dedicated an area for conducting live interviews with guests.


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.