Saudi jockey aces 100 km endurance race in France/node/2395411/sport
Saudi jockey aces 100 km endurance race in France
Al-Rajhi is the first female horse rider from the program to participate in European races, specifically in France in the Le Pertre region, after obtaining the approval of the Saudi Federation to participate in this tournament in which more than 60 male and female riders from various European countries participated, achieving the distance required of them. (Supplied)
Razan Al-Rajhi is riding high after completing a 100 km endurance race in France
Updated 21 October 2023
Rahaf Jambi
RIYADH: Saudi jockey Razan Al-Rajhi is riding high after completing a 100 km endurance race in France — less than a year after taking to the saddle.
And her achievement in Le Pertre was recently celebrated at an event organized by the Al-Sarim Al-Battar Academy at its stable in Janadriyah, on the northern outskirts of Riyadh.
The academy offers a program dedicated to training female jockeys.
Al-Rajhi told Arab News: “The endurance race in France was challenging, but I was determined to demonstrate that Saudi women are capable of achieving anything.”
Just 11 months ago, Al-Rajhi did not know how to ride a horse but was determined to learn. She raced twice in Bahrain before applying for the event in France, where she qualified and earned her first star.
More than 60 riders from Europe also took part.
Al-Rajhi leads a team of 15 girls. She said: “As beginners in this field, we support and inspire each other. My girls work hard, push themselves, and I’m proud of their dedication.”
For world cup race qualification, she must now complete 120 km for her second star, and 160 km for her third.
Hatem Hassanein, an international referee, coach, and academy owner, said Al-Rajhi, the only Arab female participant in the championship, amazed jockeys, participants, and judges with her skills.
“I teach girls to ride horses while also helping them build bravery and commitment,” he added.
Al-Rajhi is preparing for the 2024 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla, an international endurance racing world cup.
Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal undergoes surgery on his right knee
Updated 3 sec ago
The Spanish club called the surgery successful The player would start his recovery process in the coming days
MADRID: Spain defender Dani Carvajal has undergone surgery on his right knee, his club Real Madrid said Friday. The Spanish club called the surgery successful and said the player would start his recovery process in the coming days. Carvajal suffered his likely season-ending injury during a Spanish league game last weekend. He was diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, a ruptured external collateral ligament and a ruptured popliteus tendon in his right leg. Shortly after his injury, the club said it had agreed with the 32-year-old right back to extend his contract until June 2026. Carvajal helped Spain win the European Championship in July.
Umpire Aleem Dar joins Pakistan cricket selection panel after England defeat
PCB appoints Dar, ex-test fast bowler Aqib Javed, former test captain Azhar Ali, analyst Hasan Cheema to selection committee
The immediate task of the committee is to finalize the squad for the second test against England, starting Tuesday at Multan
Updated 10 min 52 sec ago
AFP
ISLAMABAD: After a disastrous innings defeat to England, the Pakistan Cricket Board has revamped its selection committee ahead of the second test.
The PCB appointed former international umpire Aleem Dar, ex-test fast bowler Aqib Javed, former test captain Azhar Ali and analyst Hasan Cheema to the selection committee with voting rights. The committee already includes Pakistan captain Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie.
The immediate task of the committee is to finalize the squad for the second test against England, starting Tuesday at Multan.
The PCB said in a statement that committee members held their first meeting in Lahore on Friday and will meet with the captain and coach in Multan on Saturday before the squad is named for the second test.
There are also four non-voting members on the selection panel, including assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and Bilal Afazal, an adviser to the PCB chairman.
Dar resigned from ICC’s elite panel last year but has been supervising domestic matches, including international games at home. Last month, Dar said he will quit umpiring at the end of the domestic season in 2025.
Forest fined almost $1m for questioning integrity of match officials in inflammatory post
The post in question was published soon after Forest’s 2-0 loss to Everton in the Premier League in April
The governing body said an independent regulatory commission found the charge to be proven following a hearing and issued the fine
Updated 14 min 29 sec ago
AP
LONDON: Nottingham Forest were fined 750,000 pounds ($980,000) on Friday after the Premier League club were found to have questioned the integrity of match officials in an extremely inflammatory post on social media that has had more than 46 million views.
The post in question was published soon after Forest’s 2-0 loss to Everton in the Premier League in April, criticizing the failure of officials to award Forest a penalty. It claimed that the VAR for the match, Stuart Attwell, was a fan of a rival club that were fighting relegation, like Forest was at the time.
Forest denied their comments implied “bias and/or question the integrity of the match officials and/or the video assistant referee and/or bring the game into disrepute,” the Football Association said.
However, the governing body said an independent regulatory commission found the charge to be proven following a hearing and issued the fine, while also warning Forest for misconduct.
The social media post by Forest went beyond criticizing match officials for perceived incompetence for the failure to award penalties for what Forest said were three clear fouls during the game.
It pointed to potential foul play by questioning the integrity of Attwell, who, Forest said, is a fan of Luton.
“Three extremely poor decisions — three penalties not given — which we simply cannot accept,” it read. “We warned the PGMOL (English soccer’s referees body) that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.”
A day later, Forest said they had submitted a formal request for the referees’ body to release the audio recordings between Attwell and on-field referee Anthony Taylor for the incidents in question in order to gain “full transparency” and ensure “the integrity of our sport is upheld.”
‘Innovation, transparency, inclusivity’: Visionary promoter Ben Shalom on breaking down barriers in boxing
30-year-old founder of promotional company BOXXER represents four British fighters fighting in Riyadh this weekend
For boxing fans around the world, Shalom represents the future
Updated 6 min 15 sec ago
DANIEL FOUNTAIN
LONDON: Another world-class card of boxing takes place in Saudi Arabia on Saturday as part of Riyadh Season’s continued commitment to developing the sport, not just in the Kingdom but also on a global stage.
Russian light-heavyweight rivals Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will clash in an undisputed ‘IV Crown Showdown’ title contest in Riyadh, which headlines an undercard packed with talent — and in particular British talent in the shape of Frazer Clarke, Jack Massey, Chris Eubank Junior and Ben Whittaker, who face top-class opposition.
One man whose own personal investment into boxing aligns with that of General Entertainment Authority and Riyadh Season supremo Turki Alalshikh is British promoter Ben Shalom.
The 30-year-old founder of promotional company BOXXER represents all four British fighters and is playing his biggest role yet in a Riyadh Season-sponsored event.
Shalom has quickly ascended the ranks to become a key player in the sport, both at home and internationally. As the youngest licensed boxing promoter in the UK, his rise has been nothing short of meteoric, proving that hard work, innovation and bold decisions can change the game — even in a sport as entrenched and tradition-bound as boxing.
“I grew up in Manchester, which has always had a deep-rooted connection to boxing,” he told Arab News.
“Watching the rise of Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton inspired me, I later had the surreal experience of working with both of them. Boxing always had this raw energy that drew me in, but I realized how underdeveloped it was commercially.
“The mainstream media would only touch the sport on special occasions, and the rest of the year it was left in the shadows,” he said.
Shalom founded BOXXER at the age of 25 at a time when professional boxing, especially in the UK, had consistently been dominated by well-established figures such as Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, both of whom had spent years building their reputations as top promoters.
When Hearn’s Matchroom Sports departed from Sky Sports and signed with DAZN, Shalom seized his chance.
Winning the Sky Sports contract for himself propelled BOXXER into the mainstream, giving it the platform to promote major fights and develop a strong stable of fighters. In a short time, Shalom positioned BOXXER as a top-tier brand, working with Sky to bring a fresh approach to boxing.
“We started from the ground up, knocking on doors, and slowly but surely, we built BOXXER into a serious player in the sport, our early success came with the Ultimate Boxxer tournaments, where we introduced a faster, fan-friendly format. It was about shaking things up, making boxing more digestible for modern audiences,” Shalom recalled.
“Landing a deal with Sky Sports was the turning point. It gave us the platform we needed to expand our roster and focus on the next generation of stars, we’ve broken records with Sky and built relationships that are helping us take the sport to new heights,” he said.
Shalom’s ability to break into the world of boxing promotion has been no small feat.
While he faced pressure from the old guard, he was able to carve out his own niche and BOXXER has quickly become known for its innovative approach, more accessible programming and bringing fresh, young talent into the sport.
As a millennial in an industry dominated by older generations, it is clear that Shalom brings a fresh perspective, especially as he understands how younger fans consume content and is laser-focused on making boxing more accessible, entertaining and relevant to modern audiences.
“We’re committed to making the sport more transparent, whether it’s around judging, doping or the structure of the sport itself. We’ve already seen great progress, but this is just the beginning,” he told Arab News in Riyadh.
Though he wasn’t initially involved in the Kingdom’s early forays into boxing promotion, Shalom’s approach and success in building relationships have put BOXXER at the forefront of Saudi boxing events and made it impossible to ignore.
“For us to break into the scene and make the impact we have is a testament to our vision. Our partnership with Saudi Arabia is a perfect example of that,” he said. “Riyadh has become a key player in global boxing, and it’s not just about the major events. It’s about opening the sport up to fighters who might have been overlooked and giving them their shot at greatness.”
Saturday’s undercard also features a historic first-ever women’s title fight to be held in Saudi Arabia between British boxer Raven Chapman and Australian World Boxing Council featherweight champion Skye Nicolson.
While he does not represent either fighter, under Shalom’s guidance, BOXXER has become the biggest exporter of women’s boxing in the UK, and diversifying the sport and growing the women’s game are a big part of his vision.
“We’ve made a conscious effort to bring inclusivity into boxing, especially with women’s boxing,” he said. “We promoted the first-ever all-female event in the UK, and it was groundbreaking, so it’s amazing to see that same energy being brought to Saudi Arabia.”
Looking ahead, Shalom said that the goal is to keep boxing in the mainstream, keep it accessible, and keep finding the stars who will keep the sport relevant after the likes of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury (promoted by Hearn and Warren respectively) retire from the sport.
His success at the helm of BOXXER has proven that the sport is far from stagnant and that there is room for innovation, diversity and new voices in an industry that is more than a century old.
For boxing fans around the world, Shalom represents the future — a future where the sport can evolve to meet the demands of new generations while honoring its rich and storied history.
“I’ve always been told that no one can save boxing, but I’ve also been told that boxing can never die,” Shalom said. “With the vision and commitment we’re seeing now, this could be the pivotal moment for the sport. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Father of Tottenham star Son fined for violating child welfare law at soccer academy in South Korea
The Chuncheon District Court notified prosecutors on Friday that it issued such a ruling on Son Woong-jung, director of the Son Football Academy in Chuncheon city
Two coaches at the academy also each received a 3 million won fine for the same violation
Updated 11 October 2024
AP
SEOUL: A court in South Korea has fined Son Woong-jung, the father of English Premier League star Son Heung-min, 3 million won ($2,200) for violating child welfare law at his soccer academy.
The Chuncheon District Court notified prosecutors on Friday that it issued such a ruling on Son Woong-jung, director of the Son Football Academy in Chuncheon city, according to a local prosecutors’ office.
The academy opened in 2021, with much of the estimated cost of $15 million funded by Son Heung-min, the Tottenham and South Korea star.
Two coaches at the academy also each received a 3 million won fine for the same violation, the prosecutors’ office said.
The parents of a young player have said their son was hit by one of the two coaches with a corner flag and also subjected to verbal abuse.
Son Woong-jung denied wrongdoing but offered an apology and promised to evaluate his coaching methods.