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.”


Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh
Updated 10 February 2025
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Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh

Cristiano Ronaldo attends premier padel tournament in Riyadh
  • Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus
  • Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition

RIYADH: Padel continues to capture the attention of global sports icons, with Cristiano Ronaldo among the spectators at the Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1, enjoying the top-level action on the court. The Portuguese football legend followed the matches closely and celebrated the victory of his compatriots Miguel and Nuno Deus, who secured their place in the main draw with an impressive performance in the final qualifying round.

Ronaldo is the latest in a growing list of global sports stars drawn to Premier Padel and its elite-level competition. Last year, Neymar Jr. attended the Riyadh Premier Padel P1, while other football greats including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Leandro Paredes, and Paulo Dybala have also shown their passion for the sport by recently attending tournaments. Beyond football, combat sports icons Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ilia Topuria have also attended Premier Padel tournaments. During the Qatar Grand Prix in 2024, sporting legends including Novak Djokovic, Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, drivers Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, footballers Luis Figo and Marco Materazzi, and basketball’s Tony Parker attended a sporting legends tournament during the event, further highlighting Premier Padel’s appeal.

The Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 is the first tournament of the 2025 season, following an exceptional 2024 campaign that featured 24 tournaments across 16 countries. As part of Premier Padel’s continued global expansion, the event brings world-class padel to Saudi Arabia, with top international players battling for valuable ranking points and the first title of the season.


Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record

Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record
Updated 10 February 2025
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Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record

Williamson’s century guides New Zealand into tri-series final despite Breetzke’s record
  • Breetzke scored 150, the highest score by any batter on his ODI debut, to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s 133 won the match
  • Pakistan, the third team in the tri-series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final

LAHORE: Star cricketer Kane Williamson hit a brilliant century to take New Zealand into the tri-series final with a thumping six-wicket win on Monday, overshadowing South African opener Matthew Breetzke’s record score on debut.
Breetzke scored 150 — the highest score by any batter in his first one-day international — to lift South Africa to 304-6 but Williamson’s unbeaten 133 proved match winning at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The tri-series is a warm-up event before the eight-nation Champions Trophy starting February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan, the third team in the tri-series, will play South Africa on Wednesday in Karachi to decide who meets New Zealand in the final at the same venue on Friday.

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, center, celebrates with Glenn Phillips after winning the tri-series ODI cricket match against South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

Williamson hit his first ODI century in nearly five years on Monday and was ably supported by opener Devon Conway who missed his century by just three runs.
The pair added a solid 187 runs for the second wicket after Will Young was dismissed for 19, steadily setting New Zealand’s second win in as many games in the tri-series.
“You need partnerships to chase targets and it was an outstanding knock from Conway and that partnership between him and Kane that led us to the win,” said New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner.
Williamson was so assured of finishing the game that the loss of Daryl Mitchell (10) and Tom Latham (nought) did not deter him as he hit the winning boundary to seal the win in 48.4 overs.

South Africa’s Mathew Breetzke, right, celebrates after scoring 150 runs as teammate Wiaan Mulderafter smiles during the tri-series ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

Meanwhile a new record for the highest ODI score on debut was clinched by Breetzke, who smacked 11 fours and five sixes, topping the 148 scored by Desmond Haynes for West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 1978.
South Africa’s skipper Temba Bavuma said the record was among “some positives” in the match.
Breetzke hit New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke for a boundary to reach three figures off 128 balls, becoming the fourth player from his country to hit a century on ODI debut.

South Africa’s Tbraiz Shamsi, center, bowls as England’s umpire Richard Illingworth watches during the tri-series ODI cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, in Lahore on February 10, 2025. (AP)

South Africa were forced to give four debuts in this match as their top players were either active in a Twenty20 league back home or recovering from injuries.
New Zealand brought in Conway for Rachin Ravindra who got injured in team’s 78-run win over Pakistan in Lahore on Saturday.


Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 

Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 
Updated 10 February 2025
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Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 

Injured Pakistan pacer Rauf to ‘fully recover’ ahead of Champions Trophy— PCB 
  • Haris Rauf sustained muscular sprain in lower chest wall during Saturday’s match against New Zealand 
  • PCB says injured pacer will not be available for selection as precaution against South Africa for Feb. 12 clash 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s injured right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf is expected to be “fully recovered” ahead of this month’s ICC Champions Trophy tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said recently, brushing aside concerns he would be ruled out of the tournament. 

Rauf sustained a muscular sprain in the lower chest wall region during Pakistan’s match against New Zealand on Saturday, triggering fears the bowler would be ruled out of the tournament. Along with pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rauf is an essential part of the South Asian country’s pace attack.

“The injury is not serious and he is expected to be fully recovered for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which commences in Karachi on 19 February,” the PCB said on Sunday. “However, as a precautionary measure and part of his ongoing rehabilitation, he will not be available for selection against South Africa on 12 February.”

Pakistan are already reeling from in-form left-handed batter Saim Ayub’s absence, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury while fielding against South Africa last month. Ayub’s injury has made room for left-arm batter Fakhar Zaman, who scored an impressive 84 runs from 69 balls against New Zealand on Saturday. 

Pakistan are currently playing a tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand in Karachi and Lahore cities respectively. The series, seen as a warm-up ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy tournament, will conclude on Feb. 14. 

Pakistan lost the opening match of the tournament against New Zealand in Lahore by 78 runs. The tourists amassed 330/6 at the end of their 50 overs, which was too much for Pakistan who were bundled out for 252 runs in 47.5 overs. 


New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series

New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series
Updated 10 February 2025
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New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series

New Zealand wins toss, elects to field against South Africa in tri-series
  • New Zealand beat Pakistan last week in tri-nation series clash between both sides 
  • South Africa have entered series without seven of their Champions Trophy players

LAHORE, Pakistan: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won his second successive toss and elected to field against an understrength South Africa lineup Monday in the cricket tri-nation series.
New Zealand had to make one forced change with opening batter Rachin Ravindra replaced by Devon Conway.
Ravindra sustained a blow on the forehead while fielding during New Zealand’s thumping 78-run win in the first match on Saturday against Pakistan and was rested for the second game.
Ravindra was struck on the head when he lost sight of the ball in what seemingly should have been a routine catch of Khushdil Shah at deep mid-wicket.
South Africa has entered the tournament without seven of its Champions Trophy players, who will arrive at Karachi over the weekend.
Matthew Breetzke, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy and Eathan Bosch were awarded ODI debuts on a wicket which Santner says “looks like another 300” pitch.
Glenn Phillips smashed his maiden ODI century as New Zealand rattled 330-6 in the first match.
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Lineups:
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Ben Sears, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Mihlali Mpongwana, Senuran Muthusamy, Eathan Bosch, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
 


England’s Bethell ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy— captain

England’s Bethell ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy— captain
Updated 10 February 2025
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England’s Bethell ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy— captain

England’s Bethell ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy— captain
  • Left-handed Jacob Bethell sat out second ODI against India with hamstring injury
  • England call up Somerset batsman Tom Banton on Sunday as cover for injured Bethell

NEW DELHI: Jacob Bethell is set to miss next week’s Champions Trophy after the left-handed batsman sat out the second one-day international against India with a hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old Bethell made 51 in the opening defeat last week, but was missing on Sunday as India took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Cuttack.

The 50-over Champions Trophy begins on Feb. 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

“I’m pretty sure (Bethell) has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy, to be honest,” captain Jos Buttler admitted after England’s four-wicket defeat.

“That’s really disappointing for him. Obviously, he played nicely the other day and has been one of the really exciting players,” he added.

“It’s a shame that injury is going to rule him out.”

England have not made an official statement on Bethell’s status, but they called up Somerset batsman Tom Banton on Sunday as cover.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Banton, 26, was due to arrive in India on Monday and join the England squad for the final match of the series in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Banton has played in six ODIs, with a top score of 58 and averages 26.80 with the bat.

England’s first match in the Champions Trophy is against World Cup winners Australia on Feb. 22.

Final squads must be submitted by Feb. 12.