Van Aert lands third stage win of debut at Spanish Vuelta

Van Aert lands third stage win of debut at Spanish Vuelta
Team Visma's Wout van Aert celebrates crossing first the finish line in Baiona on Tuesday, at the end of the stage 10 of La Vuelta a España cycling tour, a 160 km race between Ponteareas and Baiona. (AFP)
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Updated 28 August 2024
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Van Aert lands third stage win of debut at Spanish Vuelta

Van Aert lands third stage win of debut at Spanish Vuelta
  • Van Aert is making his debut on the Vuelta after a disappointing Tour de France, when he was unable to secure any victories
  • O’Connor leads overall by three minutes 53 seconds from three-time winner Roglic

BARCELONA: Wout van Aert won the 10th stage of the Vuelta a España on Tuesday to seal a hat trick of victories on his debut in the Spanish Grand Tour.

The Belgian Visma-Lease a Bike rider worked with Quentin Pacher on the way to the finish in Galicia, with the French rider leading out but soon accepting defeat against the sprint king.

Australian Ben O’Connor keeps the overall lead from Primoz Roglic on a relaxed afternoon for the red jersey rider, as the peloton rolled in five-and-a-half minutes down on Van Aert.

It was a tricky 160 kilometer ride from Ponteareas to Baiona, with four categorized climbs, as the race moved north after Monday’s rest day.

“It’s not too often that I can win when (my family) visits me on the race,” said Van Aert, 29, who celebrated with his loved ones after his victory.

“It was my aim to be in the breakaway, I had a hard time to be honest on the first climb, I almost gave up, I had one more try at the top... for 50km we had to fight for a bit of a gap.”

Van Aert is making his debut on the Vuelta after a disappointing Tour de France, when he was unable to secure any victories.

“I have a versatile profile and when I get in a situation like this I have a chance,” he added.

Midway through the stage the breakway finally got up the road and opened up a significant gap on the peloton, with O’Connor’s team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale content to let them go as the group contained no general classification threats.

Van Aert took off with around 30km to go and Pacher followed him to form a leading duo.

Groupama-FDJ’s Pacher has never won a pro race and left up against Van Aert, the Frenchman clearly did not fancy his chances.

With 1.6km remaining he burst forward but Van Aert followed and waited on his back wheel, ready for his inevitable sprint triumph.

“It’s not really easy to find a place to attack Wout because he is strong everywhere, so I tried to stay in his wheel and I just gave my best and didn’t think too much,” Pacher told Eurosport.

“I can only be satisfied because I am beaten by a guy who was stronger.”

UAE Team Emirates rider Marc Soler came in third to complete the day’s podium.

O’Connor leads overall by three minutes 53 seconds from three-time winner Roglic.

Wednesday’s stage 11 takes riders on a 166.5km route starting and finishing in Galician town Padron.


Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi

Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi
Updated 07 October 2024
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Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi

Pakistan set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as first trials held in Rawalpindi
  • The event brought together students from various universities across the Rawalpindi and Islamabad divisions
  • The Girls Cricket Camp will continue on Tuesday to provide more participants a chance to demonstrate skills

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to get its inaugural women’s cricket league as Zalmi Foundation, a Pakistani non-profit skills development organization, on Monday held trials of aspiring women cricketers from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Zalmi Foundation completed day one of the trials for its Girls Cricket Camp at the Government Post Graduate College in Rawalpindi, aiming to empower women in sports and fostering gender equality through inclusive platforms.

The event, organized in collaboration with other organizations, brought together students from various universities across the Rawalpindi and Islamabad divisions to showcase their cricketing skills and compete at a national level.

“This event marks a turning point for women in sports in Pakistan,” said Dr. Saima Hamid, vice-chancellor of the Fatima Jinnah Women University in Rawalpindi. “By offering a space where young women can thrive and showcase their talent, the Zalmi Foundation is breaking down barriers and creating new possibilities for female athletes.”

Shabana Nawaz, deputy chief of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), described the event as a “powerful initiative to challenge the status quo.”

“By empowering women in sports, we are promoting equality and creating a future where young girls are not only encouraged but expected to excel in all areas, including sports,” she said.

On the occasion, Mohayyudin Ahmad Wani, special secretary at the Pakistani education ministry, emphasized the importance of collaboration to empower women in the country.

“The combination of education and sports is transformative. The Zalmi Foundation has taken a bold step by collaborating with NCSW and Dukhtar-e-Pakistan to provide opportunities that will shape the future of women in Pakistan,” he said.

Abbas Layaq, a top official of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi, expressed his excitement over the talent displayed during the trials, saying the young women had “immense potential.”

“We are committed to ensuring that they have the resources and platform to succeed,” he added.

The Girls Cricket Camp will continue on Tuesday to provide more participants a chance to demonstrate their cricketing skills and book a place in the inaugural women’s cricket league.


Baseball United partners with ECB to launch UAE national team

Baseball United partners with ECB to launch UAE national team
Updated 07 October 2024
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Baseball United partners with ECB to launch UAE national team

Baseball United partners with ECB to launch UAE national team
  • Emirates Cricket Board backs history-making new team that will compete in Baseball United Arab Classic tournament next month
  • Baseball United presented the plan for the team and program to the ECB as part of its grassroots and community development strategy

DUBAI: Baseball United, the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, announced today a plan to form and develop the first national baseball team in the history of the UAE.

Baseball United received official sanctions from the Emirates Cricket Board to manage the UAE National Baseball Team and institute a corresponding development program for baseball in the nation. The Emirates Cricket Board is the governing body for bat and ball sports activities in the UAE.

The new team will compete in international baseball events, beginning with Baseball United’s inaugural Arab Classic tournament, which will take place from Nov. 7-10, 2024, at Baseball United’s new ballpark in Dubai.

Baseball United presented the plan for the team and program to the ECB as part of its grassroots and community development strategy. The new sanctions tout Baseball United’s professional knowledge, expertise and pedigree as a respected international baseball organization, and enable it to oversee player selection, player development and the team’s participation in baseball competitions worldwide.

“Thanks to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, and the ongoing support of Vice Chairman Khalid Al-Zarooni and General Secretary Mubashshir Usmani, we’ve been able to reach another significant milestone for baseball in this region,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United.

“While our professional league aims to create the gold standard for baseball across the Middle East and South Asia, we believe the most powerful way to grow the game is through the development and enhancement of national team programs in this part of the world. We’ve supported several national teams over the past three years, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, and now we are very grateful to build a new program here in our UAE headquarters.”

The new team will now compete with Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia and five other regional nations at Baseball United’s Arab Classic event. Saudi Arabia and the UAE will field national baseball teams for the first time. The tournament will be the largest national baseball team tournament in the history of the region, with all games played at Baseball United’s new ballpark at the Sevens sports and entertainment complex in Dubai.

The UAE National Baseball Team will follow World Baseball Classic eligibility rules and regulations, which will enable broader representation and participation for local residents. In addition to country citizens, WBC rules allow for permanent legal residents and/or players born in the national team’s country or territory to participate in its international events. In addition, players with at least one parent who is, or if deceased, was, a citizen of the national team’s country or territory, or whose parent was born in the national team’s country or territory, are also eligible to play.

“I truly believe this milestone will be an inspiration to countless young players, coaches and fans across the UAE,” Shaikh added. “We are excited to implement our baseball training curriculums and professional protocol, and get to work in developing the most competitive team possible. I have no doubt that the UAE team will make their country proud.”


Rakan Ali Reda, Haya Al-Mami take gold at rowing competition

Rakan Ali Reda, Haya Al-Mami take gold at rowing competition
Updated 07 October 2024
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Rakan Ali Reda, Haya Al-Mami take gold at rowing competition

Rakan Ali Reda, Haya Al-Mami take gold at rowing competition
  • Sixteen male and female rowers from various parts of the Kingdom took part in the beach sprint at Kokiyan Beach in Jeddah
  • Ali Hussein Alireza: The tournament showed the emergence of great talents in the sport of rowing, which will be the nucleus of a Saudi team

JEDDAH: Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi crowned the winners of the coastal rowing competition as part of the third Saudi Games on Saturday.

Sixteen male and female rowers from various parts of the Kingdom took part in the beach sprint at Kokiyan Beach in Jeddah.

The two-day competition began with preliminary qualifiers to determine the finalists.

In the men’s category, Rakan Ali Reda claimed the gold medal, with Turki Al-Aref earning the silver, and Moayyad Al-Rashidi securing the bronze. In the women’s category, Haya Al-Mami won the gold medal, while Israa Qadri took home the silver, and Yusra Malaika earned the bronze.

The President of the Saudi Rowing Federation Ali Hussein Alireza congratulated the winners on their achievement.

“The tournament showed the emergence of great talents in the sport of rowing, which will be the nucleus of a Saudi team that can provide impressive results in the upcoming international championships,” he said.

“The future of rowing will witness great development in the Kingdom with the direct support of the Ministry of Sports.”

The Saudi Games is the largest national sporting event held annually in the Kingdom, featuring the participation of more than 9,000 athletes, representing 200 clubs and competing in 52 different sports.

The total prize pool exceeds SR200 million ($53.25 million), with the gold medalists in the coastal rowing receiving SR1 million, the silver medalists SR300,000, and the bronze medalists SR100,000.


Dubai Basketball fall to Mega MIS on last-second foul call

Dubai Basketball fall to Mega MIS on last-second foul call
Updated 07 October 2024
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Dubai Basketball fall to Mega MIS on last-second foul call

Dubai Basketball fall to Mega MIS on last-second foul call
  • A 80-83 defeat to the Serbian team saw the new franchise lose their unbeaten start to the ABA League

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball saw their perfect start to the 2024-2025 ABA League season come to an end following an agonizing 80-83 defeat to Serbia’s Mega MIS on Saturday night — in a game that was watched by NBA and global basketball royalty.

Both sides went into the Round 3 game with an unbeaten 2-0 record, and it was Mega MIS who maintained their flawless start to the season with a closely fought victory in front of almost 4,000 vociferous fans at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

Among the stars sitting at courtside were Denver Nuggets’ stars, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, a 2023 finals champion and MVP, and 7-time NBA All-Star, and Vlatko Cancar, who both played for Mega MIS, as well as Dario Saric.

They were joined by Denver Nuggets’ owners, Stanley Kroenke and Josh Kroenke, former EuroLeague president, Jordi Bartomeu, NBL owner, Larry Kestelman, BeoBasket owner, Misko Raznatovic, VTB League president, Serhiy Kurchenko, and owner of Gigantes Spanish basketball newspaper, Jose Luis Ortiz.

The fans were treated to a thrilling game that was decided in the last second, on a controversial foul call against Awudu Abass that brought Mega MIS’ Kosta Kondic to the free-throw line — scoring three consecutives to seal his team’s victory.

Earlier, the hosts made a strong start to the game, buoyed by strong home support. Leon Radosevic’s three-pointer was among the highlights that saw Dubai Basketball take a 24-18 advantage at the end of the first quarter. By the end of the second quarter Mega MIS had found their rhythm, but Dubai Basketball’s intensity saw them rewarded with a 45-36 advantage going into half-time.

The third quarter was closely fought as Mega MIS closed the gap to just three points at 63-60, setting things up for an enthralling final 10 minutes.

With the scores tied at 77-all, Kosta Kondic hit a huge three-pointer for Mega MIS to give his team a three-point lead going into the final minute. However, Dubai had their answer ready as Danilo Andusic drove through the lane for a tough-fought two, and was fouled in the process — making the free throw to complete tie the game at 80-80.

As the clock went below five seconds, with Dubai Basketball’s defense pressuring, Kondic’s three-point attempt was off the mark — but a foul was called, sending him to the line for three, with the entire game in the balance. Kondic kept his cool despite the loud Dubai crowd, draining all three shots from the line, and finishing the game’s joint-top scorer with Filip Jovic (16 points).

For Dubai Basketball, the US’s Isaiah Taylor scored a game-high 14, and also grabbed five rebounds while captain Klemen Prepelic continued his impressive form with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Dubai Basketball head coach, Jurica Golemac, was proud of his team and said there were positives to take from the defeat.

Golemac said: “We couldn’t catch the rhythm and break the game. We were up most of the game. But we never got through and Mega played extremely energetically and extremely quick. I would say at crucial moments we missed a couple of lay-ups and we let them shoot open shots on the end.

“The season is a marathon and not a sprint, but we need to learn from the mistakes. From the defeats — we are learning. Defeats make you learn; defeats make you work harder. In the wins, not everything is perfect, and in the defeats not everything is bad.”

Dubai Basketball will next be in action on Sunday, Oct. 13 when they travel to Serbia to take on Borac Mozzart. They will then return to the Coca-Cola Arena for the home game against Spartak Subotica on Sunday, Oct 20.


Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi

Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi
Updated 07 October 2024
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Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi

Jayson Tatum declares MVP ambitions as Celtics rout Nuggets in Abu Dhabi
  • Boston beat Denver 130-104 in the second of the preseason NBA Games at Etihad Arena on Sunday night

ABU DHABI: Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is not shying away from declaring his MVP ambitions but says his personal goals will never come at the expense of the team’s success.

The Celtics wrapped up their preseason trip in Abu Dhabi on Sunday with a second victory in three days over the Denver Nuggets, routing the 2022-2023 champions 130-104 at Etihad Arena.

Boston went a league-best 64-18 en route to the 2023-2024 NBA title, but the one team they were unable to beat all season were the Denver Nuggets.

The tables were turned during the two preseason games they had in the UAE capital though, where Boston outplayed their opponents, particularly with a 42-16 run against Denver in the third quarter.

The Celtics stuck to their starting lineup from Friday’s game — Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Luke Kornet, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday.

However, the Nuggets swapped Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon with Julian Strawther and Vlatko Cancar, who joined Nikola Jokic, Christian Braun and Jamal Murray on the floor on Sunday.

Newly-acquired guard Russell Westbrook, who made his debut for the Nuggets on Friday, did not participate in the game, nor did Porter Jr. and Gordon.

Reigning NBA Finals MVP Brown scored a game-high 21 points for the Celtics, with five other players on the squad hitting double digits, including 17 points from Tatum.

Tatum, whose three-point shooting let him down during the playoffs last season, says he has been working on his shooting form and feels he has made progress ahead of the start of the new campaign.

The 26-year-old power forward shot 43 percent from beyond the arc on Sunday and had a 43 field-goal percentage.

Discussing his MVP ambitions for next season, which tips off on Oct. 22, Tatum said: “Everybody should have individual goals and we’re all mature enough and know what it’s like to have team success that nothing gets in the way of what we’re trying to accomplish and be as special and great as we were last year and even better this year.”

The Celtics are trying to become the first team to successfully defend their NBA crown since the Golden State Warriors went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.

“Whether the guys want to make All-Defensive Team or All-Star or being MVP, you should be able to want to go after that. That means that you’re having a hell of a year, that means that you’re dominating, that means that you’re being the best version of yourself, which we want everybody to be,” continued Tatum.

“So not chasing MVP in spite of, costing us games or anything like that, but if I’m in that conversation, that means we’re one of the best teams, that means I’m playing the right way and everybody on the team is having success and we’re going in the right path.”

Three-time MVP Jokic top-scored for the Nuggets on Sunday with 20 points in 18 minutes, 30 seconds of play, but the team’s second unit and further combinations off the bench struggled to keep up with the Celtics after halftime.

“That third quarter was a far cry of who we need to be,” admitted Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “I don’t get caught up in the losses in preseason, I get caught up in getting better and that’s the most disappointing thing about tonight.”