Al-Ittihad Club victorious at 2024 West Region Hockey Championship
Al-Ittihad clinched the title at the covered sports hall at Al-Ittihad Club in Jeddah, relegating beaten finalists Sakhi to the silver medals
The United Thalasserry Sports Club team secured third position in the competition
Updated 19 May 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Al-Ittihad Club picked up the gold medals at the 2024 Saudi Arabia West Region Championship Cup, the Saudi Hockey Federation said on Sunday.
Federation CEO Abdulilah Al-Maimoun presented the cup and gold medals to Al-Ittihad after their victory in the championship, which took place on May 17 and 18.
Al-Ittihad clinched the title at the covered sports hall at Al-Ittihad Club in Jeddah, relegating beaten finalists Sakhi to the silver medals. The United Thalasserry Sports Club team secured third position in the competition.
Individual prizes were also handed out during the championship ceremony. Ahmed Al-Jundi, a standout player from Al-Ittihad team, landed the best player award, while Jeddah Future players Karim Ashraf, best goalkeeper, and Talam Wissam, best young player, were also honored.
The championship was decided by a series of 12 matches, featuring 60 players representing six teams.
Al-Maimoun said the 2024 Saudi Arabia Western Region Championship had achieved the goals the federation aspires to. He indicated that through these competitions, the federation aims to promote field hockey and attract interest in it.
The CEO confirmed the federation’s keenness to continue organizing such championships as a means to promote the game in other cities in the Kingdom.
Benghazi reopens international stadium in star-studded ceremony
Updated 8 sec ago
It featured appearances by former football stars including England’s Ballon d’Or-winning Michael Owen, Brazilians Roberto Carlos and Julio Cesar, and Portugal’s Luis Figo Without directly referencing eastern authorities, Dbeibah congratulated “Benghazi residents” on the stadium’s reopening
BENGHAZI: Libya’s second-largest city Benghazi on Thursday opened its newly reconstructed international stadium with a high-profile ceremony featuring global football legends. The event was attended by a packed crowd and eastern Libya’s strongman Khalifa Haftar. It also featured appearances by former football stars including England’s Ballon d’Or-winning Michael Owen, Brazilians Roberto Carlos and Julio Cesar, and Portugal’s Luis Figo and Nani. Belgacem Haftar, one of the strongman’s six sons and head of the North African country’s Reconstruction Fund, was also in the stands. “The Benghazi international stadium belongs to all Libyans,” his father said, describing it as a place of unity as Libya remains a “single nation despite the challenges and difficulties.” The oil-rich country is still grappling with the aftermath of the armed conflict and political chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi. It remains divided between an internationally recognized Tripoli-based government in the west, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a Haftar-backed rival administration in the east. Without directly referencing eastern authorities, Dbeibah congratulated “Benghazi residents” on the stadium’s reopening in a statement posted on social media. “Any addition to the country’s sports infrastructure serves Libyan interests,” he wrote. The stadium is set to host as many as 42,000 spectators, a significant increase from its past 28,000-seat capacity, according to official figures. For many football-loving Libyans, it also signalled a step toward normality in a city that has endured years of conflict. Last March, under Dbeibah’s administration, Tripoli International Stadium was also reopened following two years of renovations to meet international standards.
Raducanu waives complaint against man who caused her ‘visible distress’ at Dubai Championships
Authorities initiated legal action against unidentified man, who was given restraining order
Legal expert tells Arab News: ‘In such cases, the public right will not be pursued against the suspect considering that Raducanu has dropped her complaint’
Updated 20 February 2025
Arab News
BEIRUT: British tennis star Emma Raducanu has waived her complaint against an unidentified tourist who caused her “visible distress” during the Dubai Championships earlier this week.
On Thursday, it was reported that the Dubai authorities initiated legal action against the individual, who was identified as a “tourist” and remained unnamed, after the 2021 US Open winner lodged a complaint against him.
Raducanu was playing against 14th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the second-round on Tuesday evening when she was seen approaching the chair umpire in tears. The WTA later linked her reaction to the presence of the unidentified man, who security personnel removed from the first-row seats and ejected from the stadium.
Dubai Media Office issued a statement on X saying that the emirate’s authorities took swift action to address the incident “in accordance with local legal protocols.”
Dubai authorities have taken swift action to address an incident involving British tennis star Emma Raducanu, in accordance with local legal protocols. Following Raducanu’s complaint, Dubai Police detained a tourist who approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and…
It said: “Following Raducanu’s complaint, Dubai Police detained a tourist who approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behavior that caused her distress during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“While Raducanu later chose to drop the charges, the individual signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her and has been banned from future tournaments. Dubai remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the emirate.”
In a follow-up comment, a legal expert told Arab News: “In such cases, the public right will not be pursued against the suspect considering that Raducanu has dropped her complaint. In such type of crimes, and as per the penal law and criminal procedures law, if a complainant drops their complaint then the case would be dismissed instantly.
“Also, if both parties (complainant and suspect) reconcile or reach a settlement, then the case would be dropped.”
The expert added that the suspect, if he has not been released, would be freed soon.
The WTA said that the individual has been banned from all its events pending a threat assessment.
The 22-year-old Raducanu lost the match 7-6(6) 6-4 but later said she was proud of how she responded after the “difficult experience.”
On Wednesday, having left Dubai, Raducanu said in a post on Instagram that she was “doing OK” after the “difficult circumstances.”
Tom Clover eyes Saudi Cup meeting success with Al Nayyir after Qatar triumph
Newmarket-based trainer sets his sights on further glory
Updated 20 February 2025
Arab News
LONDON: Newmarket-based trainer Tom Clover is setting his sights on further international success at the Saudi Cup meeting this weekend, as he prepares Al Nayyir for the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap.
This comes on the back of a major victory for the trainer in Qatar, where his sprinter Rogue Lightning stormed to success in the Dukhan Sprint.
Clover, who operates from the historic Kremlin House Stables, has been enjoying a career-best run, with 2024 marking his most successful year in terms of winners and prize money since he began training eight years ago.
His recent triumphs include victories at the York Ebor Festival and Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire Meeting, adding to his 2023 Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes win at Royal Ascot with Rogue Millennium.
Rogue Lightning, a 5-year-old acquired for £1 million ($1,264,600) by Blandford Bloodstock agent Richard Brown on behalf of the emir of Qatar’s Wathnan Racing, delivered a commanding performance at Al Uqda Racecourse on Sunday.
“Rogue Lightning was always a horse we held in high regard. It was really exciting for the whole team, particularly for Carrie, who has been out there with him,” Clover told Great British Racing International.
“It was important for us to get a win for Wathnan Racing, who have been great supporters, and to deliver a major victory for them on their big day. It was a huge thrill and a day we will always remember.”
Attention now turns to Al Nayyir, who will represent owner Elbashir Elhrari in Saturday’s Red Sea Turf Handicap in the Kingdom.
Newmarket-based trainer Tom Clover is setting his sights on further international success at the Saudi Cup meeting this weekend, as he prepares Al Nayyir (pictured) for the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap. (Supplied/GBRI)
The 7-year-old gelding, who only joined Clover’s yard in July 2024, has already shown his class, finishing second in a Group 2 at York and securing an emphatic eight-length victory in a Listed race at Newmarket.
A strong performance in Saudi Arabia could set him up for a tilt at the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at the Dubai World Cup meeting in April.
Clover is optimistic about his chances, despite the challenge of conceding weight to his rivals.
He said: “I am very pleased with Al Nayyir’s condition. He’s traveled well and improved in his coat with a bit of sun in Saudi Arabia. It’s a big ask giving this weight away to the rest of the field, but he has drawn nicely, he is a high-class horse, and we think he will run a big race.
“He is a 7-year-old now, but he is by Dubawi, and they improve with age. He is just a wonderful horse to deal with, and we hope to see him win a big race this year.”
With momentum firmly on his side, Clover will be hoping Al Nayyir can continue his stable’s upward trajectory and add another prestigious victory to his growing list of achievements.
Rublev needs 8 match points to beat De Minaur in Qatar Open quarterfinals
The Russian fifth seed wasted a 5-2 lead in the last set against the Australian second seed
He’ll face Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime
Updated 20 February 2025
AP
DOHA: Andrey Rublev saved one match point and needed eight of his own to subdue Alex de Minaur 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8) in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Thursday.
The tortuous journey to the win prompted Rublev to joke about de Minaur, “I wanna punch him.”
The Russian fifth seed wasted a 5-2 lead in the last set against the Australian second seed, who forced the tiebreak with remarkable scrambling.
But after 2 1/2 hours, Rublev was through to his fourth semifinals in Doha, where he won the title in 2020.
He’ll face Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Daniil Medvedev when the Russian retired after losing the first set 6-3.
“I felt he was playing normal,” Auger-Aliassime said on court. “And then I broke, I held my serve. And he just told (the umpire) that he didn’t want to shake our hands because he was sick. I hope it’s nothing too bad. I was surprised.”
Inter Milan goalie Yann Sommer injures thumb ahead of key Serie A and Champions League games
Thumb injuries can sideline goalkeepers for several weeks
Sommer also could miss the Champions League round-of-16 games
Updated 20 February 2025
AP
MILAN: Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer has a broken right thumb ahead of key games in Serie A and the Champions League.
Inter said the Swiss ‘keeper’s injury was revealed in tests on Thursday and “necessary therapy will be decided in the coming days.”
Thumb injuries can sideline goalkeepers for several weeks though no timetable was set by Inter for Sommer, who has started every Serie A and Champions League game this season.
The defending Serie A champion are second in the standings, trailing Napoli by two points, and travel to Naples at the end of next week. Inter first host Genoa on Saturday.
Sommer also could miss the Champions League round-of-16 games on March 4 or 5 then March 10 or 11. Inter will be drawn against Feyenoord or PSV Eindhoven when the pairings are made on Friday.
Sommer’s backups are Raffaele Di Gennaro and Josep Martinez.
