Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London

Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Update Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua during the Weigh-in. (Action Images via Reuters.
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Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua during the Weigh-in. (Action Images via Reuters.
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Boxing fans entering Wembley Stadium to enjoy fights between a number of the world’s greatest fighters competing tonight for the IBF world heavyweight title in the headline event of Riyadh Season. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Boxing fans entering Wembley Stadium to enjoy fights between a number of the world’s greatest fighters competing tonight for the IBF world heavyweight title in the headline event of Riyadh Season. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Boxing fans entering Wembley Stadium to enjoy fights between a number of the world’s greatest fighters competing tonight for the IBF world heavyweight title in the headline event of Riyadh Season. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Boxing fans entering Wembley Stadium to enjoy fights between a number of the world’s greatest fighters competing tonight for the IBF world heavyweight title in the headline event of Riyadh Season. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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A reported record crowd of 96,000 spectators prepare to watch boxers compete for the IBF world heavyweight title in the headline event of Riyadh Season at WembleyStadium. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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A reported record crowd of 96,000 spectators prepare to watch boxers compete for the IBF world heavyweight title in the headline event of Riyadh Season at WembleyStadium. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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A reported record crowd of 96,000 spectators prepare to watch boxers compete for the IBF world heavyweight title in the headline event of Riyadh Season at WembleyStadium. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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The atmosphere inside Wembley Stadium was energetic ahead of the highly anticipated Riyadh Season Card match between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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The atmosphere inside Wembley Stadium was energetic ahead of the highly anticipated Riyadh Season Card match between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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The atmosphere inside Wembley Stadium was energetic ahead of the highly anticipated Riyadh Season Card match between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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The atmosphere inside Wembley Stadium was energetic ahead of the highly anticipated Riyadh Season Card match between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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The atmosphere inside Wembley Stadium was energetic ahead of the highly anticipated Riyadh Season Card match between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Anthony Joshua during the press conference after losing his fight against Daniel Dubois. (Reuters)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Daniel Dubois knocked out Anthony Joshua in the fifth round of their mouthwatering clash during the Riyadh Season event at a full-house Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. (Arab News)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Daniel Dubois celebrates after winning his fight against Anthony Joshua. (Reuters)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Daniel Dubois during the press conference after winning his fight against Anthony Joshua. (Reuters)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Britain's Anthony Joshua (L) and Britain's Daniel Dubois fight during their heavyweight boxing match for the IBF world title at Wembley Stadium in London on September 21, 2024. (AFP)
Update Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
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Anthony Joshua after being knocked down by Daniel Dubois. (Reuters)
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Updated 22 September 2024
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Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London

Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua at Riyadh Season event in London
  • Riyadh Season event draws 98,128 people, setting postwar British record

LONDON: Billed as Anthony Joshua’s next stop on a comeback tour, a record Wembley crowd of 98,128 were left stunned as Daniel Dubois confirmed his credentials on the world heavyweight stage by dismantling the former two-time world champion.

Looming over the Wembley Edition of this Riyadh Season was the specter of Tyson Fury, who took a seat for the first of the undercards, the camera repeatedly cutting to him amid great applause from the gathering crowd.

Fury’s presence added only further fuel to the fiery demand for a long sought-after Joshua-Fury bout, which would bring the two biggest names in British boxing of the past decade together, but Joshua first had to get past IBF Heavyweight Champion Dubois.

It may have been Dubois’ belt at the start of the night, but Joshua entered to a medley beginning with “The Godfather” theme, before Jay Z’s “Public Service Announcement.”With the song’s line “allow me to reintroduce myself,” here was the main man.

Certainly, the crowd — pumped by a three-song Oasis set from the frontman of the newly reformed band, Liam Gallagher — and the experts concurred with that assessment.

Dubois’ opening volley, however, suggested that he was unphased by his underdog status.

And it was not long before he connected with a thunderous, and likely decisive, overhand right, putting Joshua to the floor for the first of what would be four times over the course of the bout, leaving the bumper crowd in shock.

Dubois carried the momentum into the second, and that overhand right seemed to hang over Joshua, whose legs trembled throughout as multiple shots from the champion hit hard and true.

Another hard left from Dubois unnerved Joshua as he stumbled in the final 10 before going down as the bell tolled. Nearby spectators were shocked, with one saying: “I can’t believe what I’m seeing here.”

Two more knock-downs followed in the third, although the second rather unconvincingly was ruled a slip as unified champion Oleksandr Usyk watched on, likely growing more and more convinced that Dubois would be among his pending fights.

Dubois was unrelenting, but in the fourth, Joshua showed signs of the determination that had seen him previously rebuild from career setbacks; after goading and mocking the titleholder, Joshua finally landed a convincing shot before the bell went.

That new momentum carried into the fifth and it seemed that a miraculous comeback could be on the cards as again Joshua connected with Dubois. Sensing an opening, he went for the double, in a move that his manager Eddie Hearn would later call greedy.

In that moment, Dubois spotted a chance, landing a counter-right that put the challenger down for the fourth and final time, his team in the corner moving to save him from himself as he scrambled to beat the count. It was to be Joshua’s fourth loss in 32 bouts.

After the winner had been declared he took to the mic, though, to suggest that he was not done yet, despite many already suggesting this had been something of a last chance saloon for the fighter.Seemingly, the commentariat’s short memories drove that narrative; had Joshua won, he would have emulated the likes of Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis as a three-time world champion.

 

Confident that he was not yet set for retirement, Joshua recognized his own failings over the course of the five rounds, admitting that he had come up against a “fast and sharp opponent … a lot of mistakes from my end.”

Dubois, though, delivered not only the best shots of the night, but also the best line, yelling to the crowd “Are you not entertained?” He was quoting the Russell Crowe movie “Gladiator,” in reference to Joshua having described himself as just that.

“I’ve been on a rollercoaster run; this is my time, my redemption story,” Dubois added, after it appeared that he may have silenced those critics who had doubted his true potential in the buildup.

“I want to get to the top of this sport and reach my full potential,” he said.

A Joshua win would almost certainly have ramped up expectations that, finally, now would be the time the much-hyped, long sought-after dust-up with Fury happened — a fight the Saudi sport authority would have been only too keen to host.

But as Joshua dusted off his wounds, it appeared that Fury had already left the stage, leaving hopes of that prospective bout in tatters, as one spectator walked past asking: “What have we just witnessed here?”

 


AS IT HAPPENED (All times BST):

22:30 - Game over

Daniel Dubois, IBF heavyweight champion, walked into the ring as the underdog against Anthony Joshua on Saturday night in front of a sold-out Wembley crowd, but showed the world why he needs to be taken more seriously with a statement-setting knock-out of the favorite in the 5th round. Dubois had Joshua reeling from a damaging blow in round one, which the two-time former unified world champion never recovered from. Dubois gains more admirers and retains his belt, Joshua now ponders where he goes from here.

A spectacular Riyadh Season show in London comes to an end with a number of impressive fights and a dramatic main card that has the boxing world in shock. 

That’s all from us tonight. Check out more on Arab News Sport.

22:30 - Main event

Hanging over this fight was the spectre of Tyson Fury. A match between Joshua and Fury has long been touted, and it didn’t take long for Fury to appear. Throughout the undercard fights cameras would pan to him, eliciting roars of delight from the ever increasing crowd.

If Fury is the superstar on Joshua’s mind, Usyk was also not to be forgotten, the pair sat front row.

It may have been Dubois’ belt at the start of the night but AJ, as he’s colloquially known entered the ring with a clear message: here was the boss, as the theme from mafia movie The Godfather blared out, followed precipitously by Jay Z’s HoVA, beckoning the crowd to let him reintroduce himself.

All the experts we spoke too, were unified in their belief that the challenger was the favourite. Dubois seemingly welcomed the underdog status unbecoming his title.

He started well, setting out his stall with a volley of shots that immediately appeared to ask questions of Joshua, an overhand right landing heavily. It was just before the end of the first round that the crowd erupted as the challenger went down. Dubois had dropped Joshua.

He opened the second round with that same level of ferocity. Joshua appeared stunned, his legs seemingly having given up, and then a left hook making contact with his face further unnerved him. 

Nearby spectators were shocked, one noting “I can’t believe what I’m seeing here”.

By the end of the third, Joshua’s legs were clearly failing him, and in the final 10 of he stumbled, before going down again as the bell tolled.

More followed, within 15 seconds of the fourth he was again down before jumping up only to be put down again. Joshua may have looked lost but there remained a determination as he sought to fight on, but Dubois was unrelenting.

Finally, after goading Dubois, Joshua made contact and then the bell went.

That seemed to spark the fight into Joshua, who began the fifth strongly. The crowd clearly in his corner as they cheered him on.

Now it was his turn to send a message. Dubois was as in pain but not for long. It was all too little too late from Joshua.

Dubois had him down again. That was it. Game over. 

Fury didn’t appear to stick around, turning his back on the ring and walking off.

"What have we just seen?" one spectator asked. 


20:44 - With the main event looming, the penultimate fight of the night featured Tyler Deeny and Hamzah Sheeraz battling it out for the European Middleweight Title.

The hype was certainly flowing in Sheeraz’s favour and, with what was the first shot of the night he had Deeny on the mat.

After eight seconds he was up but it was an auspicious start, which Sheeraz followed up by backing him into the rope and unleashing blow after blow.

His height advantage showed. And in the second he had it, knocking Deeny down and rewarding Frank Warren’s faith in him.

There was more excitement emanating outside the ring as frontman of the newly reformed Oasis, Liam Gallagher, was spotted for the first time tonight.

Gallagher’s performance immediately before the main event tonight had been known for some time. But earlier this month, he and his brother Noel announced the first Oasis shows for 15 years. 

Now the hype was mounting that maybe tonight there would be a preview of what those who landed tickets to next year’s shows could expect.


20:20 - This was a fight that really opened up in the sixth, with Britain’s Joshua Buatsi - entering the match up with 18 win, 13 by knock out - putting Scotland’s Willy Hutchinson - with 18 wins, 13 by KO and one loss - down.

The Scot was back up on the eight count but Buatsi went straight back in. If the preceding rounds had been tight, this was definitely the Brit’s.

And he opened the seventh in similar fashion, clearly hoping to capitalise on his success in the closing stages of the preceding round.

Hutchinson though wasn’t prepared to surrender, stirring the crowd with his own volley of attacks.

At the end of the seventh, the first images of Dubois flashed across the screens, garnering whoops for a now nearly full Wembley audience. It bears repeating that tonight, will see a record 96,000 at the home of English football.

Two minutes into the eighth and it seemed Hutchinson may again taste the mat, but he managed to keep to his feet and see the round out, before opening the ninth with a series of attacks that could have flipped things on their head before Buatsi again had Hutchinson down for another eight count, having pinned him into a corner with an uppercut before unleashing a left that sent him to the ground.In the tenth, Buatsi was wrong-footed, tripping onto the rope, but it remained very much his to lose.

Having gotten Hutchinson to the mat twice, Buatsi was not going to be rushed in the final round, instead willing to absorb the Scot’s final few attacks. 

And then the bell went. We were again back to the judges.

As it did, the Scot was at a self-inflicted disadvantage, having been docked points for use of the head following repeated warnings in the earlier half of the bout.

Catching everyone in attendance off guard, the judges came to a split decision, but this was Buatsi’s night as he was crowned WBO Interim Light Heavyweight Title.


19:15 - Tonight’s first title fight as Ireland’s Anthony Cacace put the IBO Super Featherweight Championship he won in May on the line against Britain’s Josh Warrington.

Again, with the fight having gone the distance, it was fair to say a theme was emerging in the early stages of this Riyadh Season event, with the judges deciding the outcome.

Watching on in the role of commentator, former WBC Cruiserweight Champion Tony Bellew consistently rated Cacace as the better.

The positivity surrounding Cacace did not match his experience, the Irishman the less seasoned of the two, having won 22 of his 23 compared to his competitor’s 31 wins and 3 losses.

Bellew, providing his own scores throughout, considered it tight between the pair.

For the judges though, the situation was more clear cut, scoring it 118-110, 117-111, and 117-111, all in Cacace’s favour, as he retained the belt he’d won just four months earlier.

It seems that this may have also been the last of Warrington’s fights in what has been a glittering career for the proud Leeds man. 

Those 31 wins of his twice brought him the IBF title he was vying for, with victories against the likes of Carl Frampton, Kiko Martinez, and Lee Selby.


18:15 - If the opening fight of this Riyadh season was a trial in patience, the second bout was its opposite.

A middleweight division fight, it featured Team GB representative at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Josh Kelly - who started today having fought 15 times, with 13 wins, 8 of which were by knock out - against the undefeated Ishmael Davis who’d stopped four of his last five fights.

Kelly was the clear favourite as far as the audience were concerned, having the back of 69 percent of those who voted.

And in the early rounds he certainly evidenced that faith.

Davis, however, seemed happy to absorb Kelly’s efforts in the early rounds.

The closing seconds of the fourth round whipped the audience up as both fighters traded blows.

But it would be in the final round that things heated up.

Barely a minute in, Davis elicited audible gasps from the watching crowd as shot after shot rained down on Kelly, opening up his face.

Davis could, metaphorically and literally, smell blood now. 

And Kelly appeared shaken. But the bell went before a knock out.

Off the back of those three minutes, Kelly appeared the less assured of the two, seeming to motion to his team that he’d messed it up.

Again, we went to the judges.

The first scored it a draw at 114-114 each. The other two, though, determined a clear winner, scoring it 115-114 and 115-113 in Kelly’s favour.


17:00 Opening the Riyadh Season, super lightweight fighters Mark Chamberlain and Josh Padley squared off at a rapidly filling Wembley Stadium.

With 96,000 due for the main event, those who were gathered for this first bout certainly made their voices heard.

Neither Chamberlain nor Padley had lost in their preceding respective 16 and 14 fights.

For Chamberlain, 12 of those victories had come by knock out, while Padley had landed knock outs in all of his. 

This fight wasn’t to go that way, as chants of “Blue Army” - in reference to Chamberlain’s home city of Portsmouth - and “Padley” rang out.Indeed both pugilists seemed to recognise the quality of their opponent with the opening rounds proving tentative.

Of the two, Padley was the more aggressive, hurling a volley of shots.

Later, the stats would show Chamberlain had landed an ever so slightly higher percentage of his shots.

Eventually Padley’s determination would pay off, a left hook knocking chamberlain down halfway through the 8th round.

He was not down for long though.

And it seemed to spark some urgency in the Pompey lad.

But as the bell rang out to end the 10th round, Padley seemed far more assured he’d done enough to gain the judges favour.

And the audience agreed, with just 37 percent giving the win to Chamberlain. When the results were announced Padley had won unanimously, with the judges scoring it 95-93, 96-92, and 96-92 in his favour.


Son helps Spurs hold off Hoffenheim in Europa League

Son helps Spurs hold off Hoffenheim in Europa League
Updated 4 sec ago
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Son helps Spurs hold off Hoffenheim in Europa League

Son helps Spurs hold off Hoffenheim in Europa League
Goals from Son and James Maddison lifted Spurs up to provisional fourth
It also lifted some of the heat off manager Ange Postecoglou with his injury-ravaged team

PARIS: Son Heung-min helped Tottenham gain some respite from their Premier League woes on Thursday with a double in a 3-2 Europa League win at Hoffenheim to put them on course for the knockout rounds.
Goals from Son and James Maddison lifted Spurs up to provisional fourth in the revamped league phase of European club football’s second-tier competition ahead of the night’s later games.
It also lifted some of the heat off manager Ange Postecoglou with his injury-ravaged team arriving in Germany after losing seven of their last Premier League games.
Postecoglou had pledged to win silverware for the first time for the London side since 2008 in his second season as boss.
With Spurs struggling in 15th behind Liverpool at home that leaves the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup to fulfil his promise.
A win against Swedish outfit Elfsborg in their closing league phase game at home next week will give them an automatic ticket to the next round as one of the top eight finishers.
“I told them to enjoy it,” Postecoglou told TNT Sports.
“Winning away in Europe, it’s a significant victory for us and gives us a good foothold to get into those top eight spots which will give us a week off,” the Australian added.
They charged out of the stalls with Maddison receiving a pinpoint pass from Pedro Porro to fire the ball past keeper Oliver Baumann and into the roof of the net to give Spurs the perfect start after just four minutes.
Richarlison, making only his second start of the campaign, could have doubled the advantage but the Brazilian’s shot went straight to Baumann.
Attacking at will Spurs were looking to put the game to bed against their out of sorts German hosts.
And on 22 minutes Maddison turned provider to set up Son whose shot deflected off a defender, the ball flying over Baumann and into the far corner.
The big problem for Spurs given their leaky defense was to hold onto their superiority.
Brandon Austin started in goal for them, two weeks after making his debut, and was called on to make a full-stretched save to deny Tom Bischof as half-time beckoned.
VAR overturned a penalty decision to Hoffenheim after the hour when Austin collided into Max Moerstedt.
With the wind in their sails Hoffenheim halved their deficit minutes later when Spurs got caught on the counter, Anton Stach toeing the ball past Austin.
But Son’s angled shot with 13 minutes left on the clock settled the issue, although David Mokwa’s goal two minutes from normal time meant another nerve-jangling ending for Tottenham’s long-suffering supporters.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce drew 0-0 at third-placed Lyon to lift the Turkish side provisionally 19th and the door open to make the play-offs.
In the 2000 GMT kick-offs Manchester United host Rangers and table toppers Lazio play Real Sociedad.
Two Real Sociedad fans were taken to hospital after their group was apparently attacked by hardcore Lazio supporters ahead of the match at the Olympic stadium in Rome, the Spanish club said.

Bayern’s Davies ruled out ‘for time being’ with hamstring tear

Bayern’s Davies ruled out ‘for time being’ with hamstring tear
Updated 14 min 5 sec ago
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Bayern’s Davies ruled out ‘for time being’ with hamstring tear

Bayern’s Davies ruled out ‘for time being’ with hamstring tear
  • Bayern said scans confirmed the Canada international “sustained a muscle strain in his left hamstring”
  • Davies could also miss Bayern’s Champions League playoffs in February

MUNICH: Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies is set for a stint on the sidelines after he was diagnosed with a torn muscle, the German club said in a statement on Thursday.
Davies, 24, was subbed out in first-half stoppage time in Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to Feyenoord.
Bayern said scans confirmed the Canada international “sustained a muscle strain in his left hamstring” and “would be absent for the time being.”
The club did not indicate how long Davies will miss but he will be in doubt for the trip to defending champions Bayer Leverkusen on February 15.
Davies could also miss Bayern’s Champions League playoffs in February, should the German giants fail to qualify for the top eight.
Wednesday’s loss to Feyenoord leaves Bayern with 12 points in 15th spot on the Champions League table, one point behind eighth-placed Leverkusen.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern sit four points clear of Leverkusen atop the table.


Japan football star Yui Hasegawa on life at Man City, her career so far and future goals

Japan football star Yui Hasegawa on life at Man City, her career so far and future goals
Updated 23 January 2025
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Japan football star Yui Hasegawa on life at Man City, her career so far and future goals

Japan football star Yui Hasegawa on life at Man City, her career so far and future goals
  • Hasegawa admits the club is going through a tough period with injuries, but is still hopeful they can secure some silverware this season
  • The Japan international is considered one of the best footballers in the world and is a pivotal figure on Gareth Taylor’s squad

ABU DHABI: On the back of a productive warm-weather training camp in Abu Dhabi, Manchester City women’s team have had a mixed bag of results, dropping to fourth in the Women’s Super League, while also advancing to the semifinals of the League Cup.
After going unbeaten in the first 10 games of their 2024-2025 campaign, City have been rocked by a spate of injuries with Dutch summer signing Vivianne Miedema and England international Lauren Hemp both undergoing knee surgeries, and WSL lead-scorer Khadija Shaw sustaining a lower leg injury that has sidelined her since early December.
City’s recent derby loss to Manchester United may have all but ended their WSL title hopes, but they still have plenty to play for in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, while chasing a top-two finish in the WSL to secure a place in Europe next season.
Japanese star midfielder Yui Hasegawa admits the club is going through a tough period with injuries, but is still hopeful they can secure some silverware this season.
Hasegawa, 27, joined City from West Ham in September 2022 on a three-year deal and signed a contract extension last January that will keep her at the Academy Stadium until the summer of 2027.
The Japan international is considered one of the best footballers in the world and is a pivotal figure on Gareth Taylor’s squad.
Arab News recently caught up with Hasegawa at Emirates Palace to discuss her career, her time at Manchester City, and her goals for the future with both club and country.
Q: You’ve played in Japan, Italy and the UK, so you have experience seeing the development of women’s football across the globe. In your opinion, what is the state of women’s football right now compared to when you first entered?
YH: When I started playing football, I knew how big football was in the US and I was very inspired and fascinated by the American soccer community. However, when I started high school, I started to know how amazing the European football leagues are, and I really wanted to join them. Now, I’m with one of the biggest club teams and I’m extremely happy. I’m still going to try my best in my football career.
Q: What was the biggest challenge that you faced when you first left Japan and went to play football at AC Milan in Italy?
YH: When I first went to Italy, the biggest challenge was the language and also the cultural difference. The football culture in Italy was also very different from what I was used to and I couldn’t really play in my own style. The relation with my surroundings was different. It was still football but different football. I couldn’t play the best in my own style. I faced a lot of challenges; I couldn’t really connect with the people around me either. However, because I went to Italy, now I feel like I have improved and grown from that challenge as well.
Q: What is life like for you in England and what is your experience like with Manchester City so far?
YH: When I played in Italy or West Ham, I always had this dream of playing for Manchester City and being with this club. I can really play in my own style. I’m very, very happy. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity. For the lifestyle, I have two other Japanese players on the same team, so the three of us cook together and eat Japanese food. I’m really happy with the changes.
Q: When you talk about your style of football, how do you describe it? I read in an interview that you are a big fan of Andres Iniesta, and I’m curious; are you inspired by his style or how do you describe your own style?
YH: Of course, Iniesta was my inspiration. He has great technique. He can go against the opponents, he contributes to a goal when it is really important, he leads his teammates to bring to the goal, all these are things that I like. That’s how he inspired me. My style is that I want the audience to really enjoy my football and also lately I’m not just contributing to the offense; I think my strength is that I’m contributing to the defense as well. I’m trying to develop more a sharp sense of prediction.
Q: How confident are you in City’s chances of claiming silverware this season?
YH: The stage of my team at the moment; there are some injured players, so I realize that it might be difficult but I want to take it one game at a time and I am determined to win each game. I’m very confident. As a team as a whole, we are determined to win every game from now on.
Q: After England won the Euros, did you feel that the attention in women’s football in the UK has gotten bigger?
YH: I do feel so. Compared to West Ham, I feel like there is a lot more attention on me being at Manchester City and I feel that this team, the players individually, are all stars and each one of them have their own fans. I also noticed that a lot of children always call their names. I feel that the result is very, very important from the Euros.
Q: When you started playing football in Japan, there was no professional women’s league. What gave you the idea that this is something you wanted to pursue, even though you didn’t even have a professional league to look up to?
YH: When I started playing football when I was young, I always watched the men’s game. I didn’t know if there was a professional league in Japan but I just wanted to go pro. When I grew up to junior high school age, I was very surprised that there are women players that work for a company and they play in the company league. So I felt like even if this is my path, I wanted to continue playing football. And now, it’s my profession and I’m very grateful and I want to enjoy what I do.
Q: In Japan, there are some big names in women’s sport right now. There is someone like you, who is one of the best midfielders in the world. There is Naomi Osaka. How do you feel to be part of this generation of strong Japanese women in sport?
YH: I still wonder if I’m actually part of this group of Japanese star athletes, but I feel like outside of Japan, I get more recognized and valued, especially last year and this year. I feel that maybe in Japanese culture, female athletes are still not as valued in Japan. But I just want to be a female athlete that children can be inspired by and I want to bring good results as well.
Q: How much have you heard about the football scene in this part of the world for women? In Saudi Arabia, they are putting a lot of effort into the league over there and there is an Asian Champions League now as well, featuring a team from Abu Dhabi. Are you following much and how do you see the room for growth for women’s football in this region?
YH: I recognize that women’s football in the Middle East is still developing and women aren’t necessarily at the forefront. If I can contribute to making that place recognizable for female athletes, I would really love to contribute, and I would like to help in every way that I can and make a place to make female athletes more valued, not only in football but in sports in general.
Q: What are your biggest goals and dreams with Japan and with Manchester City?
YH: With Man City, of course winning the league is my goal at the moment. I have always wanted to play in the Champions League and in my favorite style of playing football, so winning the Champions League would be a goal for me as well. As for Japan, we have a new foreign coach for the first time (Danish coach Nils Nielsen) and we would like to bring back that 2011 (World Cup) winning moment once again. I would also like to contribute to the improvement of football culture in Japan.


Pit Boost to debut at inaugural Jeddah E-Prix on Feb. 14-15

Pit Boost to debut at inaugural Jeddah E-Prix on Feb. 14-15
Updated 23 January 2025
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Pit Boost to debut at inaugural Jeddah E-Prix on Feb. 14-15

Pit Boost to debut at inaugural Jeddah E-Prix on Feb. 14-15
  • Feature will showcase EV ultra-fast charging technology, add thrilling new dimension to select Formula E races
  • Formula E co-founder says Pit Boost will challenge teams, drivers to make high-stakes decisions under intense pressure

JEDDAH: The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is set to revolutionize the race-day experience with the launch of Pit Boost, a new feature debuting at the inaugural Jeddah E-Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Feb. 14-15.
Designed to enhance strategy, unpredictability and fan engagement, Pit Boost will showcase EV ultra-fast charging technology while adding a thrilling new dimension to select Formula E races across Season 11.
Alberto Longo, co-founder and chief championship officer, Formula E, said: “After an extensive testing and simulation process, we’re pleased to finally present this game-changing technology to the world. It marks one of the most ambitious and impactful additions not just to our series, but also to modern-day motorsport.”
Pit Boost will challenge teams and drivers alike to make high-stakes decisions under intense pressure, he added.
“The potential for dramatic overtakes, unexpected twists and human ingenuity will elevate the excitement for our fans, and showcase Formula E and the FIA’s relentless commitment to innovation,” Longo said in a statement on Thursday.
Marek Nawarecki, senior circuit sport director, FIA, said: “This pioneering new feature will add another strategic element to the sport.”
What is Pit Boost?
Pit Boost is an innovative mid-race feature that provides a 10 percent energy increase (3.85 kilowatt-hours) to race cars through a 30-second, 600kW rapid recharge in the pitlane. The mandatory sporting feature — deploying more than double the power of current consumer superchargers — adds another strategic element during select races, with the potential to dramatically alter race outcomes and tactics.
Strategic racing impact
Pit Boost is set to redefine race strategies in Formula E. Drivers and teams will have to weigh the benefits of an energy boost against the risk of losing track position during the pit stop. Choosing the optimal moment for their Pit Boost will be pivotal, introducing heightened stakes and an extra layer of drama to every race.
As the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship continues to lead the charge in advancing electric mobility, Pit Boost highlights the rapid progress in EV charging technology. The innovation addresses one of the key challenges in EV adoption — charging speed and time — and demonstrates Formula E’s unique position as a “race-to-road” technology platform.


LeBron James announces new team for UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF

LeBron James announces new team for UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF
Updated 23 January 2025
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LeBron James announces new team for UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF

LeBron James announces new team for UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF
  • Team AlUla named after the ancient city in Saudi Arabia
  • ‘E1 is a new type of global competition that’s revolutionizing water racing and I’m proud to be at the forefront of its expansion,’ says professional NBA star

RIYADH: Professional NBA star LeBron James announced on Thursday that his team, Team AlUla, are set to join the fleet for the 2025 E1 season that begins with the E1 Jeddah GP on Saturday.
James’ team have been named after the ancient city in Saudi Arabia, and will be piloted by Rusty Wyatt and Catie Munnings.
The LA Lakers star, 40, said: “As a lifelong fan of sports and competition, the opportunity to own an E1 team that represents such a high level of innovation in sports is incredibly exciting.
“E1 is a new type of global competition that’s revolutionizing water racing and I’m proud to be at the forefront of its expansion in season two.”
The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF sees teams go head-to-head in high-energy racing in iconic global cities, including Doha, Monaco, and Miami, in a bid to be crowned champions of the water.
Wyatt, a Canadian powerboat star, is one of the sport’s promising talents after being recognized as Rookie of the Year at the prestigious F1H20 UIM World Championship in 2024.
Alongside Wyatt is Munnings, the UK’s first-ever female Red Bull motorsports athlete and a previous FIA European Rally Championship Ladies’ Trophy winner. The British racer joins from Team Brazil after securing an impressive three podium places in E1’s debut season.
James joins a roster of team owners in the championship that includes NFL Hall of Famer Tom Brady, tennis legend Rafael Nadal, Hollywood actor Will Smith, international DJ Steve Aoki, footballing superstar Didier Drogba, philanthropist and businessman Marcelo Claure, cricketer Virat Kohli, and Grammy Award-winning musician Marc Anthony.
Team AlUla are led by co-team principals John Marlow and Barny Whitwham, who have a combined 30 years’ experience working in commercial and technical roles across blue chip organizations, FIA Formula One and World Rally Championship motorsport teams.
They are joined by a crew with equally strong sporting, technical and partnerships prowess across global motorsport and sports categories.
Alejandro Agag, chairman and co-founder of E1, said: “We are thrilled to welcome James and Team AlUla to the UIM E1 World Championship.
“With LeBron’s championship pedigree and history of excellence in globally celebrated sports, his entry into E1 sets the stage for an incredibly competitive and high-energy season on the water.”
With new teams, innovative technology, and iconic race destinations, Agag says the 2025 season will represent an exciting evolution for E1.
Rodi Basso, CEO and co-founder of E1, said: “As E1 prepares for a second season that will deliver new teams, more iconic race locations, and more thrilling on-water action, it’s with immense pride and excitement that I welcome Team AlUla and LeBron to the Championship.”