Ex-Barcelona and Spain star Iniesta retires aged 40

Ex-Barcelona and Spain star Iniesta retires aged 40
Spanish footballer Andres Iniesta won nine La Liga titles and the Champions League four times with Barcelona. (AFP)
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Updated 08 October 2024
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Ex-Barcelona and Spain star Iniesta retires aged 40

Ex-Barcelona and Spain star Iniesta retires aged 40
  • Andres Iniesta came up through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and made his first-team debut in 2002 aged just 18

BARCELONA: Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with an all-conquering Spain team, announced his retirement from football on Tuesday at the age of 40.
“Being on the pitch is over,” a visibly emotional Iniesta told reporters at a news conference in Barcelona.
“I can’t stay away from football, it’s my life and will continue to be my life. Now I need to continue educating myself, I’m in the process of doing my coaching diploma and that’s the next step.”
“I will try to come back and do a great job, but it won’t be running after the ball, but from another place,” he added.
Iniesta came up through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and made his first-team debut in 2002 aged just 18, becoming a mainstay in the midfield before his departure 16 years later.
He won nine La Liga titles and the Champions League four times with Barcelona, but his greatest moment came in the 2010 World Cup final when he scored the winning goal against the Netherlands in extra time.
After leaving Barcelona in 2018, Iniesta spent five years with Japanese club Vissel Kobe before playing one final season with Emirates of the UAE.


Pakistan goes undefeated to claim inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic Championship

Pakistan goes undefeated to claim inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic Championship
Updated 11 November 2024
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Pakistan goes undefeated to claim inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic Championship

Pakistan goes undefeated to claim inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic Championship
  • Pakistan finish tournament with 6 wins and no losses

DUBAI: Pakistan took home the trophy at the first-ever Baseball United Arab Classic international baseball tournament, which concluded Sunday night after four straight days of gameplay.

Pakistan was dominant the entire tournament, outscoring its opponents by a total of 57 runs, including a 12-1 victory over the UAE in the championship game.

The tournament, in which nine nations from the Gulf Cooperation Council and subcontinent participated, featured 21 games played at the new Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens in Dubai.

The UAE, playing in its first international baseball tournament in the nation’s history, was a surprise finalist, beating Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals and then topping a highly ranked Palestine team in the semifinals to advance to the championship.

The UAE finished the tournament with five wins and two losses, with both defeats coming to Pakistan.

“This was the largest and most competitive baseball tournament in the history of the region, and the Pakistan team showed they are not only one of Asia’s top teams, but they are on the path to compete with the best baseball-playing nations in the world,” Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United, said in a statement.


Turkiye football club chief jailed over attack on ref

Turkiye football club chief jailed over attack on ref
Updated 11 November 2024
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Turkiye football club chief jailed over attack on ref

Turkiye football club chief jailed over attack on ref
  • Incident occurred in December 2023 following a 1-1 draw between Ankara’s MKA Ankaragucu and visiting Caykur Rizespor in Turkiye’s top flight

ANKARA: A former football chief in Turkiye’s Super Lig was sentenced to more than three years in prison Monday over an on-pitch attack on a referee, the Anadolu news agency reported.
The incident occurred in December 2023 following a 1-1 draw between Ankara’s MKA Ankaragucu and visiting Caykur Rizespor in Turkiye’s top flight.
Footage from the scene showed Ankaragucu’s then president Faruk Koca rushing onto the pitch and punching referee Halil Umut Meler after he blew the final whistle, shouting: “I’m going to kill you!“
He appeared to be incensed over the ref’s decision to send off one of his players, and disallowing an earlier goal by Ankaragucu. Caykur had scored an equalizer in injury time.
Denouncing the attack as “despicable,” the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended Super Lig matches for eight days and initiated criminal proceedings against Koca and several others.
Several days later, Koca apologized and resigned as club president but insisted his team had been cheated by the referee.
The court on Monday handed him three years and seven months for “intentional injury to a public sports official” as well as six months and 20 days for “making threats.”
It also handed him a five-month suspended sentence for “violating the law on violence prevention in sports.”
During the incident, the referee — who fell to the ground after being punched — was also kicked several times by other club officials, leaving him with a head trauma.
The court also handed prison sentences to three other officials for causing, or trying to cause, “intentional injury” to a public sports official, with sentences ranging from one to five years behind bars.
The incident provoked uproar in Turkiye and a flurry of condemnation, including from FIFA, football’s world governing body.


Commando Group takes early lead at Abu Dhabi World Amateur Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Commando Group takes early lead at Abu Dhabi World Amateur Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Updated 11 November 2024
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Commando Group takes early lead at Abu Dhabi World Amateur Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Commando Group takes early lead at Abu Dhabi World Amateur Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • Event is part of ongoing 16th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi World Amateur Jiu-Jitsu Championship got underway on Sunday at Mubadala Arena, as a part of the ongoing 16th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

At the end of the first day, the UAE’s Commando Group took the lead in the medal table, with Kazakhstan’s National Team in second and Brazil’s Checkmat International in third.

For the first time, the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship has dedicated two days to amateur competitions.

The first day focused on adult amateurs (aged 18 and above) with white and blue belts, while the second day will feature the master category (over 30) for the same belt levels.

Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, chairman of the Department of Community Development, said the championship reflects the support of the nation’s leaders.

They have recognized the sport’s “role in building character and promoting discipline, self-confidence and teamwork, which are the qualities essential for a strong and united society.”

He added: “With thousands of athletes from around the world, including 60 percent from outside the country, the championship highlights its global status and confirms the UAE’s leading role in developing jiu-jitsu on the international stage.”

Mohamed Hussein Al-Marzouqi, director of marketing and corporate communications at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and director of the championship, said that adding two days for amateurs was aimed at accommodating a growing number of athletes.

“It provides a unique opportunity for jiu-jitsu enthusiasts of all ages to test their skills and showcase their abilities in a competitive environment, enhancing their experience and developing their skills, while allowing them to experience a professional championship atmosphere and connect with athletes worldwide.”

“This step highlights the inclusive nature of jiu-jitsu as a sport for everyone, regardless of age or ability, showing that anyone can start practicing it at any time and benefit from its many benefits.”


Champions crowned at Inaugural Dubai Premier Padel P1

Champions crowned at Inaugural Dubai Premier Padel P1
Updated 11 November 2024
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Champions crowned at Inaugural Dubai Premier Padel P1

Champions crowned at Inaugural Dubai Premier Padel P1
  • Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia take men’s title with win over Federico Chingotto and Alejandro Galan at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium
  • Bea Gonzalez and Delfina Brea Senesi beat Alejandra Alonso De Villa and Andrea Ustero Prieto to lift women’s trophy

DUBAI: The men’s and women’s champions of the inaugural Dubai Premier Padel P1 were crowned on Sunday night at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, presented the trophies to Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia, and Bea Gonzalez and Delfina Brea Senesi, as the men’s and women’s champions, respectively.

The awards ceremony took place on the center court of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, ending a week of action for a prize pool of over $510,000.

The emirate’s first Premier Padel P1 tournament, organized by Dubai-based Gallop Global, was a collaborative effort supported by the UAE Padel Association, the International Padel Federation, the Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Sports Council, and Premier Padel.

Coello and Tapia clinched the men’s trophy with a 6-4, 6-3 score over Federico Chingotto and Alejandro Galan in front of a passionate crowd of more than 5,000 spectators.

Having racked up 30 consecutive wins before the Dubai victory, world No. 1 Coello said: “We keep focusing on every challenge one by one and the wins keep tallying up.

“We are aware that every match is difficult, so we just try to keep focus on every match. It feels fantastic to win in Dubai, a special city and special tournament.”

Meanwhile, Gonzalez and Brea Senesi reigned supreme in the women’s draw with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Brea Senesi was unable to attend the post-match press conference owing to sickness, and partner Gonzalez said she was surprised with her own performance.

“It was unexpected to play at this level, especially so soon after returning from injury,” said Gonzalez. “It has been a long period of recovery which has meant a lack of competition, so I’m very happy for Delfina and myself to win this tournament.”

“We thank His Highness Sheikh Mansoor for both his patronage and for his unwavering support of padel in Dubai,” said Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al-Maktoum, the UAE padel body’s president, in a press statement.

“In addition to congratulating our champions, Arturo, Agustin, Bea and Delfina, for their historic and dramatic success at the debut of Premier Padel in Dubai, we hope this milestone event will serve as another springboard to encourage the next generation of homegrown champions to pick up the sport.”

Saeed Mohammed Hareb, secretary-general of the Dubai Sports Council, added: “In a city renowned for hosting major international sporting events, the Dubai Premier Padel P1 has established instant credentials as a truly world-class event in every metric.

“Bringing the world and region’s best male and female players to Dubai only serves as a catalyst for the prosperity of our society and the growth of the sport in the emirate. Congratulations again to Premier Padel, our champions, the organizers, and to Dubai.”


Paul Waring claims Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship trophy

Paul Waring claims Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship trophy
Updated 11 November 2024
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Paul Waring claims Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship trophy

Paul Waring claims Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship trophy
  • Englishman posted a bogey-free closing 66 as he got to 24 under-par, 2 shots ahead of 4-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton

ABU DHABI: Paul Waring held off a stellar chasing pack on Sunday to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and claim his first Rolex Series title.

The Englishman displayed nerves of steel in his bogey-free closing 66 as he got to 24 under-par and two shots ahead of four-time Rolex Series winner Tyrrell Hatton.

Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy, England’s Matt Wallace and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen ended a shot further back.

“It just hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Waring. “Obviously I still think I’ve got to go and do something else or got to go play another hole or something because I kind of never let myself think that I was over the line at any point. I always knew there was a job to be done and work to be done as I was playing.”

Waring had taken control of the first event of the new DP World Tour Play-Offs with a course-record 61 at Yas Links on Friday but saw his five-shot halfway lead reduced to one as he posted 73 a day later.

The 39-year-old, whose only previous DP World Tour title came at the Nordea Masters more than six years ago, made a fast start with two opening birdies and added two more at the seventh and 10th.

He responded to being caught by Hatton with a moment of magic as he converted from 12 meters at the 17th, before hitting a perfect drive at the last, running a three-wood through the back of the green and getting up and down to seal victory.

“That was massive (on the 17th),” said Waring. “Me and my caddie, we had a look at the lines, to be fair, we really fancied it, really, really fancied it, and as soon as it left the blade, I knew it was in.

“I know that sounds a bit cocky or whatever, but it was so pure. I knew it was dead middle as soon as I hit it, and I was just absolutely buzzing to see that go.”

“It’s my second win,” he added. “I’ve been knocking on the door a few times. I had a few seconds. I’ve been in and around a few times. To get over the line again is fantastic, and to control it the way I have as well, especially today. I thought I might have let it slip yesterday.”

McIlroy, the four-time Major winner, had the chance to take an unassailable lead in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, as he birdied four of his first six holes.

He bogeyed the fifth and added five more gains to sign for a 64, but the Race continues into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

This comes after closest challenger Thriston Lawrence recorded two eagles and four birdies in his round of 64 to get to 20 under, and a tie for sixth alongside two-time Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood, and French pair Ugo Coussaud and Antoine Rozner.

“I do feel in a good position,” said McIlroy. “I saw Thriston making a charge today, and I was keeping one eye on the leaderboard and looking at what he was doing. I saw he posted 20.

“Obviously I wanted to birdie the last, anyway, but I know that birdie, even if it isn’t to win the tournament this week, it obviously gives me that little bit extra of a cushion going into next week.

“Every shot counts at this moment in time, and I was glad to make the four at the last and at least give myself half a chance at this tournament this week. But also give myself a little bit more of a cushion going into Dubai next week as well.”