MOD UAE dominate opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

MOD UAE dominate opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Action from the Masters competition at the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Sharjah. (Supplied)
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Updated 28 September 2024
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MOD UAE dominate opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

MOD UAE dominate opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • Round 3 No-Gi takes place from Sept. 27-29 at Al-Bait Metwahid in Sharjah

SHARJAH: MOD UAE emerged as the frontrunner on the opening day of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Round 3 No-Gi, which is being held from Sept. 27-29 at Al-Bait Metwahid in Sharjah.

Friday’s action saw athletes from the Adults and Masters divisions take to the mat, with MOD UAE competitors delivering commanding performances to firmly establish their lead. Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club followed closely in second place, while Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club secured third spot.

The championship continues over the weekend, with U-12 and U-14 athletes competing on the second day, followed by the U-16 and Youth categories on the third. The competition is part of a five-round series held across the Emirates throughout the season.

Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a great platform to promote jiu-jitsu and support its growth among different categories of athletes. It shows our ongoing efforts to achieve excellence and reflects the strong support from our leadership to advance various sports, especially jiu-jitsu, as it plays a key role in promoting values like determination, persistence and patience.”

He added: “We’re pleased to see the large turnout and strong support from the audience, which has added excitement to the championship and motivated the athletes to give their all to win. It also highlights the special place jiu-jitsu holds in everyone’s hearts.”

Haitham Hanawi of MOD UAE, who won gold in the Men’s Adults/Masters Brown/Black 56kg category, said: “Competing in this championship was tough, especially with the different strategies needed for No-Gi competitions. I won gold thanks to the hard training and support from my teammates and coaches. The matches were difficult, but it was a great way to test my skills. I believe this tournament will keep helping jiu-jitsu grow in the UAE.”


McKenzie shines in All Blacks' 23-13 victory over sloppy Irish

McKenzie shines in All Blacks' 23-13 victory over sloppy Irish
Updated 09 November 2024
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McKenzie shines in All Blacks' 23-13 victory over sloppy Irish

McKenzie shines in All Blacks' 23-13 victory over sloppy Irish
  • McKenzie: It’s never easy to win here in Dublin so we’re really happy
  • The Irish will have to up their game as they regroup to host Argentina next Friday while the All Blacks play France

DUBLIN: New Zealand ended Ireland’s 19-match winning streak at Lansdowne Road, running out deserved 23-13 victors over the world ranked No. 1 side in a scrappy encounter on Friday.

Man of the match Damian McKenzie scored 18 of the All Blacks points — with Will Jordan maintaining his record of scoring a try every time he has played Ireland.

“It was extremely tough, the Irish are a great side. I’m proud of the boys’ efforts,” McKenzie told TNT Sports.

“It’s never easy to win here in Dublin so we’re really happy.”

The Irish will have to up their game as they regroup to host Argentina next Friday while the All Blacks play France.

“We’ve had a very good 10 days away, it’s not an excuse,” Ireland captain Caelan Doris told RTE. “We just need to be better.”

The evening started well for the hosts, Jack Crowley putting them ahead in the eighth minute with a penalty.

However, McKenzie — starting instead of Beauden Barrett who failed a Head Injury Assessment in last Saturday’s win over England — soon leveled.

The edge between the sides because of a tetchy end to their Rugby World Cup quarterfinal last year boiled over as Joe McCarthy eye-balled All Blacks captain Scott Barrett, resulting in several Kiwis surrounding him.

McCarthy going head to head with Barrett brought Irish actor Paul Mescal — in town for the premiere of his latest film Gladiator II — to his feet, punching the air in delight.

The All Blacks settled and put together some neat passing, only great tackles by Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park preventing tries.

Yet after over 10 minutes of constant pressure the All Blacks only came away with a penalty — converted by McKenzie.

Both sides were making elementary errors, McCarthy at fault for a lost Irish line-out handing the All Blacks more possession.

This led to an Irish infringement and McKenzie accepted the opportunity to strike another penalty for 9-3.

However, the battered Irish trooped off at halftime only 9-6 down.

Crowley converted a penalty after Jordie Barrett was penalized — and sin-binned — for a high tackle on his soon to be Leinster teammate Garry Ringrose.

The Irish began the second half with more fire, dragging former All Blacks captain Sam Cane back over his line for a five meter scrum.

They made it count as Josh van der Flier went over for a try and at last brought the home crowd to their feet.

Crowley converted for 13-9.

McKenzie reduced the deficit with a long range penalty, all the more admirable as the ball fell off its tee and he had to put it back with the clock ticking down.

Irish Head coach Andy Farrell rang the changes shortly before the hour, making four changes including Ciaran Frawley for Crowley.

One of the replacements, prop Tom O’Toole, lasted just minutes before he was led off after taking a hit to the head in a collision with Wallace Sititi.

The braided Finlay Bealham, who had just about regained his breath, had to trundle on again.

Bealham was shaking his head in bemusement seconds later as he was penalized. McKenzie punished him by slotting over the penalty for 15-13.

McKenzie added another three points when Iain Henderson was punished for not releasing in the tackle.

The Irish were flagging. Their bete noire Jordan went over in the corner for his fifth try in five Ireland Tests.

McKenzie failed to land the conversion but the visitors had a 10 point lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

“Our discipline was definitely a big factor,” said Doris. “The first half, we gave them territory, points. We felt it might swing in the second half, it was definitely a factor.”

The Irish pressed but the outstanding Ardie Savea forced a turnover prompting huge celebrations as the All Blacks became the first visitors to win at Lansdowne Road since France in 2021

“We were able to build pressure through our kicking game,” said Mackenzie.

“Test matches like that are won in small moments. We capitalized on some great moments, got some penalties and some points.”


Federal judge denies motion to recognize NASCAR teams as chartered organizations for next season

Federal judge denies motion to recognize NASCAR teams as chartered organizations for next season
Updated 09 November 2024
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Federal judge denies motion to recognize NASCAR teams as chartered organizations for next season

Federal judge denies motion to recognize NASCAR teams as chartered organizations for next season
  • The court decision came down just hours before Cup Series cars hit the track for the first practice session of championship weekend
  • Jeffrey Kessler, an antitrust attorney hired by the 23XI and Front Row Motorsports in the legal fight, indicated after Monday’s hearing in Charlotte that the plaintiffs can immediately appeal the ruling

AVONDALE: A federal judge on Friday denied a motion by two NASCAR teams — one of them owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan — to be recognized as chartered teams as they proceed with their antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series and chairman Jim France.

The motion was signed by federal Judge Frank Whitney of the US District Court of Western North Carolina in Charlotte at the exact same time NASCAR executives were giving their annual “State of the Sport” address at Phoenix Raceway.

NASCAR President Steve Phelps opened the address by noting that series officials have not publicly discussed negotiations over charters in the more than two-year process and would not start now.

“I know people are frustrated about that,” Phelps said. “We are not going to negotiate in the media about charters, ever. And we are very happy that 32 of the 36 charters were extended because those were race teams that where the deal that was put on the table for them, the primary big win for the race teams was money.

“I won’t go into what the money split looks like, but what I will say is that the amount of money, it now puts the race teams, starting in ‘25, as the single largest beneficiary of our media deal,” he added. “And we did that because the race teams were upside down financially.”

The court decision came down just hours before Cup Series cars hit the track for the first practice session of championship weekend. Tyler Reddick, who drives for Jordan-owned 23XI Racing, is one of four drivers in Sunday’s winner-take-all finale.

When the ruling came out and NASCAR was informed as executives sat on the stage at Phoenix Raceway, NASCAR chief operating officer Steve O’Donnell quipped: “You can’t make it up, for the timing” as he and Phelps declined comment.

Jeffrey Kessler, an antitrust attorney hired by the 23XI and Front Row Motorsports in the legal fight, indicated after Monday’s hearing in Charlotte that the plaintiffs can immediately appeal the ruling.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision to expedite discovery and fast track the schedule in our case against NASCAR,” Kessler said Friday. “Although we are disappointed that the preliminary injunction was denied without prejudice and as premature, which we intend to appeal, this denial has no bearing on the merits of our case. My clients will move forward to race in 2025 and fight for a more fair and equitable system in NASCAR that complies with antitrust laws.”

Both 23XI and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign a take-it-or-leave-it charter agreement presented to teams by NASCAR in September, just 48 hours before the playoffs began. The offers came after more than two years of negotiations and 13 of 15 teams signed the deal.

23XI Racing and Front Row accused NASCAR of being “monopolistic bullies” in forcing teams to into what is essentially a revenue-sharing agreement between the sanctioning body and its teams.

NASCAR has since rescinded the offers on charter extensions to 23XI and Front Row, whose current charters expire at the end of the year. The teams are free to operate as “open” teams but the lack of chartered protection denies them an equal share of revenue, a guaranteed spot in the field of 38 races and other provisions.

23XI and Front Row have asked for things to remain status quo as their antitrust case proceeds because the new charters prevent teams from suing NASCAR. Kessler asked that the teams be released from that clause for the duration of the lawsuit.

In his ruling, the judge found that Kessler failed to demonstrate that 23XI and Front Row “will face irreparable harm through several avenues.”

Kessler had argued the plaintiffs asserted they risk losing sponsors while competing as open teams because the sponsors “could abandon (them) if they ... do not qualify for all of their races.” For instance, Kessler said 23XI’s sponsorship agreements require that each sponsored car runs in every Cup Series race, so failure to qualify for a race could reduce the amount of sponsorship money it receives.

The plaintiffs also alleged they will risk the loss of their drivers if their cars are not chartered. Kessler said Reddick is permitted to terminate his contract with the team if there is no charter for his car — and he could leave as the reigning Cup champion should he win on Sunday.

Kessler also argued racing as open teams “could threaten (their) continued existence” as both teams alleged they will lose substantial amounts of revenue without charters.

The judge was not persuaded by the argument. Whitney wrote that showing the “possibility of irreparable harm” was not sufficient to win an injunction and “the required irreparable harm must be neither remote nor speculative, but actual and imminent.”

“That is, although plaintiffs allege they are on the brink of irreparable harm, the 2025 racing season is months away — the stock cars remain in the garage,” the judge added. “Plaintiffs have not alleged that their business cannot survive without a preliminary injunction. Instead, they allege that their businesses may not survive without a preliminary injunction.”

Whitney said if circumstances change, the two teams can file a new motion for a preliminary injunction. The teams were given a deadline of Dec. 2 to respond.


Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par
Updated 08 November 2024
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Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

ABU DHABI: Paul Waring hit the shot of his life to complete a career-low 11-under 61 in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship on Friday and establish a five-stroke lead heading into the weekend of the European tour’s first playoff event.
The No. 229-ranked Englishman hit a draw with a 3-wood from about 260 yards to inside 4 feet at No. 18 and tapped in the birdie putt to move to 19-under par for the tournament.
The European tour confirmed to The Associated Press that it is the lowest 36-hole score to par in the tour’s history.
Waring, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at Yas Links and set a course record.
“I’ve got a nice lead at the moment but even before I tee off tomorrow, someone might have caught me,” said the 39-year-old Waring, whose sole win came at the Nordea Masters in 2018. “While I’m in the lead at the moment, and if we are rational about this, everyone is still going to fire a lot of
birdies in there.

Paul Waring. (AFP/File)


“So if I’m going to be involved on Sunday afternoon, I’ve still got to keep going the way I am and I know that.”
First-round leader Tommy Fleetwood of England (68), Johannes Veerman of the United States (67) and Danish players Niklas Norgaard (65) and Thorbjorn Olesen (67) were tied for second place on 14 under.
Rory McIlroy hit his tee shot into a greenside bunker at the par-3 17th and made a triple bogey on the way to a second successive 67, leaving him nine strokes off the lead.
McIlroy, who can clinch a sixth Race to Dubai title with a win this week, was 7 under after 13 holes of his second round and feels he’ll need to produce something similar to reel in Waring and his closest chasers.
“I need the golf course to firm up a little bit and toughen up a little bit to have a chance,” McIlroy said. “There’s so many gettable holes out there.”


Zheng advances to WTA Finals championship match with semifinal win over Krejcikova

Zheng advances to WTA Finals championship match with semifinal win over Krejcikova
Updated 08 November 2024
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Zheng advances to WTA Finals championship match with semifinal win over Krejcikova

Zheng advances to WTA Finals championship match with semifinal win over Krejcikova
  • Zheng, 22, awaits top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka or third-seeded Coco Gauff in the final on Saturday

RIYADH: Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen became the first tournament debutante to reach the championship match at the WTA Finals since 2021 with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Barbora Krejcikova in Riyadh on Friday.

The seventh-seeded Zheng needed one hour and 40 minutes to overcome the Wimbledon champion in their semifinal encounter, firing nine aces along the way.
Zheng led 6-3, 3-0 before the eighth-seeded Krejcikova launched a comeback attempt but the Chinese star regained control of the match to make it two wins from two clashes with the Czech.
Zheng, 22, awaits top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka or third-seeded Coco Gauff in the final on Saturday, as she bids to become the first player to win the WTA Finals on her maiden appearance since Ashleigh Barty in 2019.
“It feels so special because this is my first WTA Finals and right now I’m in the final, which is unbelievable. She’s a really good player, today we gave a good match,” said Zheng.
“It was tricky because at 3-0 I think I dropped my performance; suddenly my performance went down, and she played more free and I was suddenly 3-4 down. I gave so much control to myself to not panic too much. It shows I was mentally strong in that moment.”
Zheng was near untouchable on serve in the 40-minute opening set, dropping just one point behind her first delivery en route to a 6-3 lead.
The Olympic champion broke twice for a 3-0 advantage in the second set and looked on her way to a comfortable victory.
But Krejcikova had other ideas and she halted Zheng’s momentum by attacking her second serve to grab the next four games and inch ahead for the first time in the contest.
It became a tug of war but it was Zheng who found an opening, breaking in game 12 to put herself in the position to serve for the match.
The fight wasn’t over yet as Zheng had to save a break point and saw a first match point slip away before she wrapped up the win on her second chance when a Krejcikova forehand sailed wide.
Since the event’s inauguration in 1972, Zheng is only the second Asian player to reach the decider at the WTA Finals after Li Na pulled off that feat in 2013.


PSG to curb political slogans in wake of ‘Free Palestine’ banner

PSG to curb political slogans in wake of ‘Free Palestine’ banner
Updated 08 November 2024
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PSG to curb political slogans in wake of ‘Free Palestine’ banner

PSG to curb political slogans in wake of ‘Free Palestine’ banner
  • PSG promised to “guarantee the absence of political messages” in the stands
  • “The club was not aware of the plan to display such a message“

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain say they will make sure there is no repeat of a midweek unfurling by fans of a banner proclaiming “Free Palestine.”
The huge banner covered an entire section of the stadium at the Parc des Princes Wednesday night ahead of PSG’s defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
As well as the slogan “Free Palestine,” the banner showed a bloodstained Palestinian flag, a gesticulating man with a keffiyeh scarf covering all his face except his eyes, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and a young boy wrapped in the Lebanese flag.
On Friday, after a meeting with the French football federation and government officials, PSG promised to “guarantee the absence of political messages” in the stands.
“A frank and constructive dialogue made it possible to identify solutions that PSG is committed to putting in place from the next match at the Parc des Princes,” a government spokesperson told AFP.
The banner, which was unfurled by the Paris Ultras Collective (CUP) hard-core fan group, was shown above another slogan which read: “War on the pitch but peace in the world.”
“The club was not aware of the plan to display such a message,” PSG said in a statement Wednesday evening.