Baku confirmed as host city for 2023 FIA annual assembly, prize giving

Baku confirmed as host city for 2023 FIA annual assembly, prize giving
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem (right) with Anar Alakbarov, the President of the Azerbaijan Automobile Federation in Baku. (Supplied)
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Updated 30 April 2023
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Baku confirmed as host city for 2023 FIA annual assembly, prize giving

Baku confirmed as host city for 2023 FIA annual assembly, prize giving
  • Event in Azerbaijan capital will take place from Dec. 4-8

BAKU: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has announced that the city of Baku in Azerbaijan will host the FIA annual general assembly week and prize giving from Dec. 4 to 8.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem was joined by Anar Alakbarov, the president of the Azerbaijan Automobile Federation and assistant to the Azerbaijan president, to formally sign the hosting agreement against the backdrop of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, taking place in the country’s capital.

Ben Sulayem said: “I am delighted to confirm that Baku will host the 2023 annual general assembly week. I am indebted to Anar Alakbarov and his team for their commitment and dedication in providing a compelling case for the wonderful city of Baku as the host venue.

“It is important for the geographical expansion of FIA members’ activity and participation that we bring important FIA events to countries like Azerbaijan. Hosting FIA events like this will also stimulate interest and growth in motorsport in the region.”

Alakbarov said: “We feel honored to host the FIA annual general assembly and prize giving for 2023 in Baku. I strongly believe that the organization of these important events will be a milestone for the promotion of motorsports in Azerbaijan.

“I extend my warmest thanks to the members of the FIA and especially to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for trusting and giving us this opportunity.”

The FIA annual general assembly week will feature a number of meetings between member organizations with the aim of approving proposals to take mobility and motorsport forward. The assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the FIA.

The event will culminate in the FIA gala giving – the official award ceremony of FIA Championships – that honors the top drivers, manufacturers, and teams from the world of motorsport.


Celtics land ex-Bucks guard Holiday from Portland

Celtics land ex-Bucks guard Holiday from Portland
Updated 13 sec ago
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Celtics land ex-Bucks guard Holiday from Portland

Celtics land ex-Bucks guard Holiday from Portland
  • The Celtics answered the challenge issued by Milwaukee when the Bucks acquired superstar guard Lillard as part of a three-team deal with Phoenix that sent Holiday to the Trail Blazers
  • In Boston’s lineup, Holiday likely will fill the starting point guard role that previously had belonged to Marcus Smart, who was traded to Memphis in a three-team off-season deal

WASHINGTON: Responding to the blockbuster NBA trade that sent Damian Lillard to Milwaukee, the Boston Celtics obtained former Milwaukee guard Jrue Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers in a trade deal on Sunday.

The Celtics confirmed they are sending guard Malcolm Brogdon, center Robert Williams, a 2024 first-round NBA Draft pick obtained from Golden State and a 2029 first-round selection to the Trail Blazers for Holiday.

“The Holiday season came early this year,” the Celtics posted. “Welcome to Boston @Jrue_Holiday11.”

The Celtics answered the challenge issued by Milwaukee last Wednesday when the Bucks acquired superstar guard Lillard as part of a three-team deal with Phoenix that sent 33-year-old Holiday to the Trail Blazers.

Holiday is a two-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection who played a key role in Milwaukee’s 2021 championship run, the first NBA crown for the Bucks in 50 years.

“We’re excited to see Jrue in a Celtics uniform,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said. “He plays the game with a great competitive character and his impact on and off the court has been felt everywhere throughout his career.”

When Milwaukee swung the deal for Lillard, Las Vegas oddsmakers moved the Bucks into a most fancied role among title contenders for the upcoming season, leapfrogging the Celtics.

Boston’s response figures to add to Eastern Conference tensions even more with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo having said how sad he was to lose Holiday even as his team was adding a top playmaker in Lillard.

Holiday won the NBA’s Teammate of the Year award in three of the past four seasons from player voting, took the NBA Sportsmanship award in 2021 and won this year’s ESPY Sports Humanitarian Award for community charity efforts.

Holiday averaged 19.3 points, 7.4 assists, a career-high 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game last season for Milwaukee in his 14th NBA campaign.

In Boston’s lineup, Holiday likely will fill the starting point guard role that previously had belonged to Marcus Smart, who was traded to Memphis in a three-team off-season deal that also brought giant Latvian power forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics.

Add them to the NBA’s top-scoring duo in swingman Jaylen Brown and forward Jayson Tatum and Boston will be a formidable rival for Milwaukee in the East.

Holiday and Tatum were teammates on the US gold medal team at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Bucks will visit Boston on Nov. 22 and March 20 while the Celtics play in Milwaukee on Jan. 11 and April 9.

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid, the Cameroonian star who won the NBA Most Valuable Player award last season, posted on social media: “This off-season was fun lmao.”

The 76ers haven’t swung a major off-season deal but still have guard James Harden, who has asked for a trade. The Sixers were unable to find a deal that worked well enough to move him.

Portland, a crucial player in reshuffling the East powers, has hauled in a king’s ransom for Lillard, obtaining Deandre Ayton and Belgian rookie forward Toumani Camara from Phoenix, 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Brogdon and Williams from Boston in the Holiday exchange as well as three first-round NBA Draft picks and swaps for better position on two other picks.


Atletico rally from two goals down to score 3rd straight win against Cadiz in Spanish league

Atletico rally from two goals down to score 3rd straight win against Cadiz in Spanish league
Updated 3 min 45 sec ago
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Atletico rally from two goals down to score 3rd straight win against Cadiz in Spanish league

Atletico rally from two goals down to score 3rd straight win against Cadiz in Spanish league
  • The victory moved Diego Simeone’s team to fourth place behind Girona, Barcelona and leaders Real Madrid
  • Cadiz, winless in three matches and sitting in 12th place, got off to a fast start with Lucas Pires scoring in the 12th and Roger Martí in the 27th

MADRID: Atletico Madrid rallied from a two-goal deficit to win their third straight game and move into the Champions League spots in the Spanish league.

With a brace from Angel Correa and a goal by Nahuel Molina, Atletico went from 2-1 down at halftime to beating Cadiz 3-2 on Sunday at the Metropolitano Stadium.

The victory moved Diego Simeone’s team to fourth place behind Girona, Barcelona and leaders Real Madrid. Atletico have a game in hand and were coming off wins at Osasuna and against Madrid in the first city derby of the season.

“The team had the tranquility to find the way to victory,” Simeone said. “The guys have been showing great effort, and today’s comeback makes me happy because it wasn’t easy after conceding those two goals.”

Cadiz, winless in three matches and sitting in 12th place, got off to a fast start with Lucas Pires scoring in the 12th and Roger Martí in the 27th. Atletico pulled closer with Correa’s goal in the 32nd, and Nahuel Molina equalized for the hosts early in the second half before Correa got the winner from inside the area in the 66th.

Atletico have won 12 straight home matches at home in the league going back to last season, and the have not lost in 16 consecutive home matches against Cadiz, with 15 wins and a draw.

Cadiz remain winless in their last nine away league matches, since a 2-0 win at Real Betis in April.

HAT TRICK IN 5 MINUTES

Last-place Almeria couldn’t hold on to a three-goal lead at halftime after a hat trick by Luis Suarez in five minutes, drawing 3-3 with second-to-last Granada at home.

Suarez scored Almeria’s goals in the 41st, 44th and in the first minute of first-half stoppage time but the Colombian forward had to leave the game late in the second half with a leg fracture. He was taken to a hospital in an ambulance after being substituted.

Granada rallied with goals from Bryan Zaragoza in the 66th, Ricard Sanchez in the 70th and Myrto Uzuni in the 86th.

Almeria, which was led by interim coach Alberto Lasarte after Vicente Moreno was fired this week, remains the only team without a win in the league this season. It has three points from three draws. Granada has five points from a win and two draws.

BETIS BEAT VALENCIA

Real Betis ended their four-game winless streak in all competitions with a 3-0 win over Valencia.

Assane Diao scored in the first half, and Marc Roca and Ez Abde added second-half goals for the hosts.

The win moved Betis to seventh place, with midtable Valencia winless in three matches.

The game at Benito Villamarin Stadium was moved to a night slot because of high temperatures in the southern Spanish city of Seville.

OSASUNA WIN

Osasuna ended a five-game winless streak in all competitions with a 2-0 victory at promoted Alaves, with José Arnaiz and Ante Budimir scoring a goal in each half.

Osasuna’s last win had come at Valencia in August. They next visit league leader Real Madrid.

Alaves, winless in four matches, played a man down from the 49th because of a red card for midfielder Antonio Blanco.


Juventus and Atalanta draw 0-0; Lukaku helps crisis-hit Roma beat Frosinone 2-0

Juventus and Atalanta draw 0-0; Lukaku helps crisis-hit Roma beat Frosinone 2-0
Updated 7 min 29 sec ago
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Juventus and Atalanta draw 0-0; Lukaku helps crisis-hit Roma beat Frosinone 2-0

Juventus and Atalanta draw 0-0; Lukaku helps crisis-hit Roma beat Frosinone 2-0
  • Both teams had chances and Atalanta hit the woodwork but neither could find the breakthrough in Bergamo
  • Riccardo Orsolini scored a hat trick to fire Bologna to a 3-0 win over hapless Empoli

MILAN: Juventus and Atalanta fell further behind the Serie A leaders as they played out a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

Both teams had chances and Atalanta hit the woodwork but neither could find the breakthrough in Bergamo.

Juventus remained fourth, four points behind second-place AC Milan and Inter Milan at the top after seven rounds. Atalanta are a point behind Juventus.

Troubled Roma beat Frosinone 2-0 for only their second league win of the season.

Both Atalanta and Juventus were in form heading into Sunday’s match. Atalanta had won their last three matches in all competitions without conceding a goal, while Juventus had three victories in its past four matches.

There were few chances in a tight first half. Davide Zappacosta should have given Atalanta the lead in the 14th minute but his first attempt was blocked by Juventus defender Danilo and he fired the rebound wide of the right post from close range.

Juve’s best chance came early in the second half when Federico Chiesa’s fierce attempt was palmed away by Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso.

His counterpart, Wojciech Szczęsny, did even better 15 minutes from time as he managed to fingertip a stunning free kick from Luis Muriel onto the crossbar. The ball then bounced down and hit the goalkeeper on the back before going out.

LUKAKU AGAIN

Romelu Lukaku was again on target to set Roma on their way to a vital victory.

Jose Mourinho’s team was in crisis after just one win in its six league matches and had lost 4-1 at promoted Genoa midweek.

Roma were playing another promoted side in Frosinone, who have been enjoying an impressive start back in the Italian top flight.

Lukaku, who spent last season on loan at Inter, had netted three times in five matches for Roma since joining from Chelsea and he scored again in the 21st minute following an assist from Paulo Dybala.

Dybala also set up Roma's second with a free kick for Lorenzo Pellegrini to volley home with seven minutes remaining.

HAT TRICK HERO

Riccardo Orsolini scored a hat trick to fire Bologna to a 3-0 win over hapless Empoli.

That ended a run of three goalless draws for Bologna. Empoli, who recorded their first points and first goal midweek, has lost six of its seven matches.

Albert Guðmundsson almost scored a first-half hat trick but Genoa was held to a 2-2 draw at Udinese after a stoppage-time own-goal.

Guðmundsson had the ball in the back of the net three times but one of his strikes was ruled out for offside.

Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca scored his team’s first equalizer with his first Serie A goal and the home side snatched a point when Genoa defender Alan Matturro headed the ball into his own net.

Udinese midfielder Sandi Lovrić was shown a straight red card moments later for a foul on Junior Messias.


Neymar left stunned by state of pitch ahead of Al-Hilal AFC Champions League clash in Iran

Neymar left stunned by state of pitch ahead of Al-Hilal AFC Champions League clash in Iran
Updated 01 October 2023
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Neymar left stunned by state of pitch ahead of Al-Hilal AFC Champions League clash in Iran

Neymar left stunned by state of pitch ahead of Al-Hilal AFC Champions League clash in Iran
  • Footage was shared to X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday of Nassaji groundskeepers laying thin strips of turf over what appeared to be vast areas of exposed concrete

LONDON: Brazilian superstar Neymar appeared less than happy with the state of the pitch ahead of Al-Hilal’s AFC Champions League clash with Iranian side Nassaji Mazandaran.

Footage was shared to X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday of Nassaji groundskeepers laying thin strips of turf over what appeared to be vast areas of exposed concrete only three days before the match.

Neymar replied underneath the clip with: “This is not possible,” along with facepalm and crying with laughter emojis.

Some fans also took to the platform to warn the Brazilian against taking part in the match.

“Neymar don’t risk it bro, that pitch looks like a death-trap,” one wrote. Another simply said: “Welcome to Iran, Neymar.”

The former Paris Saint-Germain striker signed a two-year contract with the Riyadh club in August in a $98 million deal after six years with the French champions.

Al-Hilal began the defense of their AFC Champions League title with a 1-1 draw at home against Uzbek side Navbahor last month.


Alcaraz, Sabalenka sail through at China Open

Alcaraz, Sabalenka sail through at China Open
Updated 01 October 2023
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Alcaraz, Sabalenka sail through at China Open

Alcaraz, Sabalenka sail through at China Open

BEIJING: Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka both breezed into the next round of the China Open with routine victories on Sunday.

Alcaraz sealed a place in the men’s quarter-finals with a smooth 6-2, 6-2 victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in Beijing.

The world No. 2 overpowered his opponent and seized the first set when Musetti whacked a baseline backhand into the net.

The Spaniard then broke serve twice in the second set and saw out a comfortable match with an unreturned serve.

He will next face Casper Ruud after the world No. 9 came back to beat Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7).

“I feel great, honestly. It was a good performance against a really tough opponent,” Alcaraz said at a post-match news briefing.

“(My level) didn’t (go) up and down. I stayed at a high level, high quality, during the whole match,” the 20-year-old said.

The match balls have been a sticking point in the tournament’s early rounds, with Alcaraz’s main challenger Daniil Medvedev describing them on Saturday as “like a grapefruit.”

Alcaraz said Sunday he had also felt the distinct quality of the balls, which Medvedev said were also quick to fluff up, “since day one.”

“It’s something tough, but tennis players have to get used to the balls in every tournament,” he said in response to a question from AFP.

“Here, in just one or two games, the balls become really different from (when they’re) new. It’s a kind of different (style of) play,” he said.

Also on Sunday, world No. 7 Jannik Sinner obliterated Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-0.

The Italian will play a quarterfinal against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov after he upset fourth-ranked Holger Rune 6-3, 7-5.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka earlier sailed into the second round of the women’s draw with an imperious 6-1, 6-2 defeat of American Sofia Kenin.

The Belarusian pummeled Kenin with a succession of mighty serves and groundstrokes and wrapped up the opening set with an ace after just 23 minutes.

The 25-year-old broke serve twice more in the second set as Kenin — playing with heavy strapping on her left thigh — failed to muster a response.

Sabalenka sealed the match with yet another unreturned serve to set up a tie against Britain’s Katie Boulter, ranked No. 54 in the world.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect to play that good on my serve — in practice, it didn’t work very well,” Sabalenka said at a post-match briefing.

“But I was super hyped that I was able to bring that level on my serve today. I think it helped a lot,” she said.