Morocco’s history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam believes best is yet to come

Morocco’s history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam believes best is yet to come
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Morocco's history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam, a two-time Olympian, has high ambitions for his sophomore season on the WSL's Championship Tour. (Supplied/World Surf League)
Morocco’s history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam believes best is yet to come
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Morocco's history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam, a two-time Olympian, has high ambitions for his sophomore season on the WSL's Championship Tour. (Supplied/World Surf League)
Morocco’s history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam believes best is yet to come
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Morocco's history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam, a two-time Olympian, has high ambitions for his sophomore season on the WSL's Championship Tour. (Supplied/World Surf League)
Morocco’s history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam believes best is yet to come
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Morocco's history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam, a two-time Olympian, has high ambitions for his sophomore season on the WSL's Championship Tour. (Supplied/World Surf League)
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Updated 14 February 2025
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Morocco’s history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam believes best is yet to come

Morocco’s history-making surfer Ramzi Boukhiam believes best is yet to come
  • Two-time Olympian has high ambitions for his sophomore season on the WSL’s Championship Tour
  • Last year was a big one for Boukhiam, not just because of his second appearance at the Olympics

ABU DHABI: Last summer at the Paris Olympics, Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam attacked one monster wave after another at Tahiti’s iconic Teahupo’o, going toe-to-toe with Brazilian Joao Chianca in one of the most memorable heats of the Games.
The duo traded perfect 8-to-10-foot barrels throughout the heat, with Boukhiam scoring a stunning 9.70 on one of his waves. But the Moroccan’s total, which combines the highest-scoring two waves per surfer, ended up being just 0.3 points short of Chianca’s tally and he missed out on a spot in the quarter-finals and a chance to fight for an Olympic medal.
“It was pretty much the conditions that I love, that I dream of. Perfect heats, at perfect Teahupo’o, big waves, barrels. And I was against Joao Chianca. He’s one of the best barrel riders in the world. And he’s a good friend. And I knew he charged a lot,” Boukhiam told Arab News on the sidelines of the ongoing Surf Abu Dhabi Pro at Hudayriyat Island in the UAE capital.
“We knew that both of us were going to go for it and bring the best out of each other. And we did. It was an amazing, amazing, amazing heat. And I was really bummed.
“I think it’s the toughest loss of my career. Even though I put on a show and it was amazing, but I still didn’t come home with a medal. So, at the end of the day, I was really sad. But I’m proud of my performance.”


It may have felt like he left Tahiti empty-handed, but Boukhiam walked away from his second appearance at the Olympics with scores of new fans, from the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.
The Paris Games gave surfing a wider platform compared to when the sport made its Olympics debut in Tokyo three years earlier.
Opting to stage the competition in Tahiti, the Paris Olympics showcased surfing at its best, with massive barrels and elite-level ripping on full display.
“When you see those big, perfect barrels, even if you don’t understand nothing about surfing, you’re going to be like, wow! You know? It gets you. It captivates you,” Boukhiam said.
“So, I really feel like these Olympics were way bigger for surfing than the other one. And we really showed what surfing is all about. I wish I had the medal. But it is what it is. It was a nice one.”
Last year was a big one for Boukhiam, not just because of his second appearance at the Olympics. The Agadir native spent 10 years battling on the Qualifying Series before he finally clinched a spot for the 2023 Championship Tour, or CT, of the World Surf League, or WSL, only to get injured and break his ankle in training just before the start of the new season.
He got his chance a year later when he was handed the replacement slot for 2024 and a couple of withdrawals made way for the first Arab surfer to compete on the WSL’s CT, the highest-level of competition in the world of professional surfing.
Boukhiam finished his rookie campaign ranked 12th in the world and he has loftier targets for his sophomore season, which began at Pipeline in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago before landing on Abu Dhabi shores this weekend for the first CT event to be staged in the Middle East.
“My first year, I had a lot of fun,” Boukhiam said. “And I was super proud of a few moments in the year where my back was against the wall and I managed to step it up and turn the situation around and come out with big results and just boost of confidence, coming back from my injury and everything.
“So, I was pretty happy and proud of myself after a nice year.”
An interference call in the round of 32 saw Boukhiam finish 17th at Pipeline last week and he admits it was a tough pill to swallow given he had high hopes for the opening event of the 2025 season.
“It really felt like I let an opportunity go by to have a really, really good result. So it hurt a lot,” he said.
Boukhiam quickly put the disappointment behind him on landing in the UAE for a historic inaugural Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, and is excited to compete in front of Moroccan and Arab fans.
“Honestly, it’s super cool. And I’m sure I’m going to see some Moroccan flags the day of my heat. I know a lot of friends and a lot of Moroccans that live here in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi as well. So, I hope they’ll come around and check it out and support,” he said.
“Hopefully it’s going to motivate the kids from here in the Middle East. Maybe a champion is going to come from here soon. And you guys have good waves close by. You know, Sri Lanka and everything. So, yeah, it’s a perfect start for the region. Having the best surfers on the planet in your home. I’m super happy.”

 

Winning his first CT event is high up on Boukhiam’s bucket list for 2025, and he’s also hoping to finish the year in the top five.
“I know I can do it. It’s really hard, but I know I can do it. So, I’m going to go for it,” said Boukhiam, whose best CT finish so far was clinching third at the Tahiti Pro last year after defeating surfing great Kelly Slater in the quarter-finals.
At 31, Boukhiam believes his best days are still ahead of him. He feels he’s finally coming into his own competing against the world’s best and isn’t putting any limits on his ambitions.
Could a third Olympics appearance be in the cards for him at LA 2028?
“If my body lets me, for sure, I’m thinking about it,” he said.
“I feel fresh, honestly. I feel the strongest I’ve ever been. My surfing is there. I feel like I’m almost still improving a little bit, which is not usual. At 31, normally you start going down. But I feel like I’m getting better and stronger. So, Alhamdulillah, yeah. Why not? Why not?
“I’m going year by year and event by event. I just want to do good in the CT. And if I’m ready for the Olympics, I’ll be ready, inshallah.”
Boukhiam was born in Agadir to a Moroccan father and Dutch mother. He lost his father at the age of 11 and later moved with his mother and brother to Biarritz, France — the epicenter of European surfing.
After a strong junior career and a decade toiling on the Qualifying Series, Boukhiam, who is back based in Agadir, is finally where he belongs, competing against the best surfers on the planet.
Asked what his advice would be for Arab surfers looking to follow in his footsteps, Boukhiam said: “I know it’s cliche, but keep going, because that’s exactly what I did. I had a good junior career, and then I had ups and downs for more than eight, nine, 10 years on the Challengers and all that stuff, and then finally qualified at 29,” he said.
“So I kept pushing with a lot of injuries, a lot of stuff. I know it’s cliche, but keep pushing, believe, and keep improving.
“Forget about what everyone is doing. Do you, and do the best of you, and try to be the best of you every day, and keep going, and try to do the maximum so you have no regrets. I think that’s the mindset you need to have.”


Season-opening wins for Hyderabad and Chennai in IPL

Season-opening wins for Hyderabad and Chennai in IPL
Updated 47 min 11 sec ago
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Season-opening wins for Hyderabad and Chennai in IPL

Season-opening wins for Hyderabad and Chennai in IPL
  • Rough day for Rajasthan’s English pacer Jofra Archer
  • Mumbai had spin woes in Chennai

HYDERABAD, India: Ishan Kishan scored 106 not out off 47 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 44 runs in their season-opening encounter in the 2025 Indian Premier League on Sunday.
Kishan smacked 11 fours and six sixes in his first IPL hundred on debut for his new franchise, which notched up its second-highest total in tournament history.
Travis Head scored 67 off 31 balls as the Sunrisers picked up where they left off in 2024 to reach a mammoth 286-6 in 20 overs.
Hyderabad’s previous highest score was 287-3 — the highest IPL total — against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season.
In the evening game, Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets with five balls remaining in a high-profile clash.
Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad took 4-18 in four overs for Chennai as Mumbai was restricted to 155-9 after losing the toss. Tilak Varma top-scored with 31 off 25 balls.
Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten 65 off 45 balls, along with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s quick-fire 53 off 26, helped Chennai score 158-6 in 19.1 overs.
Royals fall short despite reaching 242-6
Rajasthan Royals fought well to post 242-6 (20 overs) in reply to Hyderabad’s huge target. Dhruv Jurel led with 70 off 35 balls, while Sanju Samson scored 66 off 37 balls.
Put into bat, Hyderabad ran away at the start with Head and Abhishek Sharma’s (24) explosive opening pairing putting on 45 off 19 balls.
Kishan found another gear as he reached 50 off 25 balls. Hyderabad, which bought him at the season’s auction earlier, found immediate returns as the young batter smacked his way to an attacking hundred on debut for his new franchise.
He put on 85 off 39 balls with Head, who also hit nine fours and three sixes. The latter fell just prior to the halfway mark.
Kishan – and Hyderabad – did not let up the scoring rate. He found able company in Nitish Reddy who hit 30 off 15 balls and Heinrich Klaasen, who added 34 off 14 balls.
Kishan’s next 50 came off 22 balls, as he raced to his century, helping Hyderabad to a statement total in its first outing.
Rough day for Rajasthan’s English pacer Jofra Archer
England pacer Jofra Archer finished with 0-76 from four overs – the most expensive spell in IPL history.
Rajasthan faltered early in its chase. Yashasvi Jaiswal was out caught for one, while Riyan Parag was dismissed for four — both in the second over. It became 50-3 as Nitish Rana was dismissed for 11.
Samson, coming in as an impact substitute, did start off the season in style. He scored 50 off 26 balls, and put on 111 off 60 balls with Jurel as Rajasthan fought back on a good batting surface.
Jurel reached 50 off 28 balls at the other end, hitting six sixes and five fours as the chase revolved around him. Adam Zampa dismissed him in the 15th over, while Samson was out caught in the previous over.
It was too tall an ask for Rajasthan thereafter to chase down the mammoth target successfully despite fruitful cameos from Shimron Hetmyer (42 off 23 balls) and Shubham Dubey (34 not out off 11 balls).
Mumbai’s spin woes in Chennai
Ahmad sprung into action after left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed took 3-29, including the dismissal of Rohit Sharma for a four-ball duck.
Spin did the trick on a slow Chepauk track as Mumbai never got into third gear in its opening game. It missed skipper Hardik Pandya, who was on the bench serving a slow over-rate suspension from 2024.
Stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav only managed 29 off 26 balls. Mumbai was down to 96-6 in 13 overs and then 118-7 in 16.1 overs.
Deepak Chahar, a former Chennai player making his Mumbai debut, scored 28 not out off 15 balls including two sixes to push the score past 150.
Chasing 156, Chennai was boosted by a 67-run partnership for the second wicket off only 37 balls between Gaikwad and Ravindra.
Gaikwad hit three sixes and six fours, reaching 50 off 22 balls. Mumbai struck back through 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur (3-32).
Chennai lost regular wickets to Puthur and Will Jacks but Ravindra helped his team reach the target in the 20th over.


Saudi national team continue preparations for crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan

Saudi national team continue preparations for crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan
Updated 23 March 2025
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Saudi national team continue preparations for crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan

Saudi national team continue preparations for crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan
  • Saudi Arabia will be looking to secure a positive result to keep their World Cup hopes alive

SAITAMA, Japan: The Saudi Arabian national football team continued their preparations on Sunday evening ahead of their highly anticipated clash against Japan in the eighth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.

Under the guidance of head coach Herve Renard, the Green Falcons trained at Saitama Stadium 2002, where they focused on tactical drills following a warm-up session.

The training concluded with a full-pitch game between two groups before wrapping up with stretching exercises.

The team will hold its final training session on Monday at 7:00 PM (Japan time). The first 15 minutes of the session will be open to the media, offering a glimpse into the squad’s final preparations.

Meanwhile, Renard is set to address the media in a pre-match press conference at 6:00 PM (Japan time) in the stadium’s press conference hall. He is expected to discuss the team’s strategy and readiness for the encounter.

Saudi Arabia will be looking to secure a positive result against Japan as they continue their quest for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.


Algeria’s Nabil Anane defeats Muay Thai icon Superlek at ONE 172 in Japan

Algeria’s Nabil Anane defeats Muay Thai icon Superlek at ONE 172 in Japan
Updated 23 March 2025
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Algeria’s Nabil Anane defeats Muay Thai icon Superlek at ONE 172 in Japan

Algeria’s Nabil Anane defeats Muay Thai icon Superlek at ONE 172 in Japan
  • 20-year-old dominates Thai veteran across 3 rounds at Saitama Super Arena

JAPAN: Algeria’s Nabil Anane picked up the biggest win of his career against Superlek Kiatmoo9 on Sunday in Japan at ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang.

Anane showed improved striking skills and growing confidence en route to an impressive victory inside the Saitama Super Arena against the martial arts icon who is largely considered the world’s best Muay Thai athlete.

The thrilling matchup was contested across three rounds despite being initially scheduled as a ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title unification bout, with Superlek entering as the division’s titleholder and Anane as interim world champion. The rules changed after Superlek failed his pre-match hydration test and was stripped of his belt.

Even without the chance to unify the world title, Anane had a point to prove against the only man to beat him in the ONE Championship, back in 2023 via first-round-knockout on his promotional debut.

The Algerian put in a much-improved performance, dominating the Thai veteran across three rounds of quick-paced action. Anane’s slick movements made it impossible for Superlek to land big shots, while the 20-year-old utilized his height and reach advantage to unleash powerful punches, kicks, and knees.

In the course of the matchup, Anane also became the first man to ever score a knockdown with a high right kick that saw Superlek bounce off the ropes and land on the canvas.

Anane also became only the second athlete to beat Superlek in the ONE Championship, following Morocco’s kickboxing star Ilias Ennahachi.

The emphatic win raised Anane’s overall professional record to 40-5 and continued his stunning run in form after defeating Scotland's Nico Carrillo, former world title challenger Felipe Lobo, and Lethwei legend Soe Lin Oo.

Anane, who is the youngest-ever WBC Muay Thai world champion, later expressed his delight at beating the Muay Thai and kickboxing icon.

“I’m very happy now. My first dream just came true. I’m so happy; I’ve never been this happy in my life before,” Anane said as he thanked his friends, family, and coaching team led by Mehdi Zatout.

The event, which witnessed four world-title bouts, was headlined by the long-awaited five-round flyweight kickboxing contest in which Thailand’s Rodtang Jitmuangnon claimed a historic knockout win in the first round over Takeru Segawa.

Earlier in the event, Morocco’s Zakaria El-Jamari, who represented Arab nations on the fight card alongside Anane, suffered a disappointing first-round-knockout loss at the hands of Japan’s Hyu Iwata.


Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win

Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win
Updated 23 March 2025
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Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win

Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win
  • Richard Mansell sank a crucial birdie putt at the final hole to win a first DP World Tour title at the weather-hit Porsche Singapore Classic by a single shot on Sunday

SINGAPORE: Richard Mansell sank a crucial birdie putt at the final hole to win a first DP World Tour title at the weather-hit Porsche Singapore Classic by a single shot on Sunday.
Needing to avoid a playoff with Japan’s Keita Nakajima at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, the Englishman reached the green in two at the par-five 18th.
He then rolled his eagle attempt to within six feet of the pin before holding his nerve to drain his winning putt to clinch his maiden DP World Tour title with a final-round six-under-par 66.
“I wish this win had come earlier. I played so well today to get into that position and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said the 29-year-old.
“So many people have supported and believed in me when I stopped doing it myself.”
Victory was particularly special as Mansell had come close to winning on multiple occasions on the tour, only to fall short and struggle with self-belief.
“I had quite a few close calls and didn’t get it done. Looking back, I probably should have kept doing what I was doing and it (a win) probably would have happened a lot sooner,” he said.
“I tried to change and became quite good at pointing the finger at other people. I was just not enjoying this much and I got a little lost.
“It took a lot of work this past six months.”
Nakajima carded seven birdies for a bogey-free 65 to finish alone in second place.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and France’s Adrien Saddier ended the week tied for third.
A three-day monsoon surge in Singapore forced the cancelation of the first round on Thursday, leading the tournament to be decided over 54 holes.

Leading scores:
200 — Richard Mansell (ENG) 68-66-66
201 — Keita Nakajima (JPN) 67-69-65
202 — Adrien Saddier (FRA) 66-68-68, Tom McKibbin (NIR) 69-65-68
203 — Marcus Armitage (ENG) 65-70-68
204 — Matthew Jordan (ENG) 65-69-70, Dan Erickson (USA) 69-64-71, Yuto Katsuragawa (JPN) 72-65-67
205 — Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 69-65-71, Manuel Elvira (ESP) 66-69-70, Kazuma Kobori (NZL) 70-71-64, Robert Macintire (SCO) 73-64-68, Li Haotong (CHN) 66-72-67


Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two

Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two
Updated 23 March 2025
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Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two

Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two
  • Oscar Piastri led from pole to win the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday as McLaren used a one-stop strategy to complete a dominant one-two with Lando Norris second

SHANGHAI:Oscar Piastri led from pole to win the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday as McLaren used a one-stop strategy to complete a dominant one-two with Lando Norris second.
George Russell was third in a Mercedes with Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen snatching fourth place after a thrilling late pass on Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton came home sixth behind his teammate after his first Ferrari victory in Saturday's sprint race in Shanghai, when Piastri had been second.
"It's been an incredible weekend, the car has been pretty mega," said the Australian Piastri, who had been running second a week ago in Melbourne' season-opener before a late spin.
"Very, very happy. The hard was a much better tyre than everyone expected, so to go all the way to the end was a bit of a surprise, but a happy surprise."
Norris had to cope with a late brake issue which forced him to settle for second rather than challenge his teammate.
The Briton continues to lead the championship after two race weekends on 44 points from Verstappen on 36.
Russell started from second and knew it was imperative to try to grab the lead off the line.
Instead he was squeezed by Piastri on the long first bend complex, which allowed Norris to surge past into second.
Both Ferraris got past Verstappen on the same bend, relegating the world champion from fourth to sixth.
Leclerc lost part of his front wing when it brushed Hamilton's rear right wheel but it did not affect his pace.
Hamilton was the first of the front-runners to dive in for new rubber on lap 14.
All the others followed for hard tyres with Russell getting past Norris in the melee.
But the McLaren showed superior pace and surged back past at the end of the pit straight with the help of DRS.
Hamilton began to struggle on the hard compound and allowed his teammate past on lap 21 freeing Leclerc to go after Russell.
On lap 38 Hamilton had to pit again for new tyres, dropping him behind Verstappen.
The front five all stayed out as it became clear they were going to attempt to make the hard tyres last till the end of the 56 laps.
Verstappen had nursed his tyres throughout the race which enabled him to have a late charge on Leclerc and pass the Ferrari at the start of lap 54.
Haas finished with two cars in the points as Esteban Ocon was seventh and rookie Ollie Bearman 10th.
The other points scorers were Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli in eighth with Alex Albon ninth in his Williams on his 29th birthday.