Al-Ittihad will play against Auckland City in the first match on Dec. 12
Mexico’s Leon will meet Japan’s Urawa Reds
Updated 05 September 2023
Arab News
Jeddah hosted the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 draw on Tuesday, with the tournament emblem being unveiled during a live broadcast on FIFA’s digital platforms and Saudi sports channels.
The tournament matches will be held between Dec. 12 and 22 in Jeddah with the participation of seven clubs: the host Al-Ittihad from Saudi Arabia; CAF Champions League 2022/2023 winners Al-Ahly from Egypt; AFC Champions League 2022 winners Urawa Reds from Japan; Concacaf Champions League 2023 winners Club Leon from Mexico; OFC Champions League 2023 winners Auckland City from New Zealand; UEFA Champions League 2022/2023 winners Manchester City from England; and the yet-to-be-determined Copa Libertadores champions.
The draw was conducted by Jaime Yarza, director of FIFA Tournaments, with Samantha Johnson presenting and the roles of assistants performed by City legend Yaya Toure and Al-Ittihad icon Manaf Abushugair.
Al-Ittihad will play against Auckland City in the first match on Dec. 12 at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah.
In the same round, Mexico’s Leon will meet Japan’s Urawa Reds. The winners of the two matches will qualify for the semifinals to face Manchester City and the yet-to-be-determined Copa Libertadores champions.
Al-Ahly will play against the winner of the match between Al-Ittihad and Auckland City.
This is the first time the tournament will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Cup 2020 title awarded to Midnight Bisou after Maximum Security is disqualified
Inquiry into the charges took place in May at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse
The Stewards Committee determined that charges issued against Jason Servis were proved, handing him lifetime ban from racing in Saudi Arabia
Updated 02 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia has disqualified the winning horse Maximum Security from the Saudi Cup 2020 after an inquiry showed that its trainer Jason Servis had been involved in misconduct, misadministration, and corrupt practices.
JCSA’s Stewards Committee awarded the title of the winner of the race — which was held at Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 29, 2020 — to Midnight Bisou.
The inquiry into the charges took place on May 22-23 this year at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse, where Servis was put on notice of the inquiry and invited to attend remotely, by himself, or by legal representation, but chose not to do so.
The Stewards Committee determined that the charges issued against Servis were proved and handed him a lifetime ban from racing in Saudi Arabia.
In respect of Maximum Security and the race, it was ordered that the placings be altered to reflect Maximum Security’s disqualification and the prize money to be redistributed accordingly.
A JCSA spokesman said: “The JCSA is satisfied that, following a full disciplinary process, the charges affecting the outcome of the 2020 Saudi Cup have now been determined by the Stewards Committee following a proper investigation.
“The JCSA will abide by the decision of the Stewards Committee. The JCSA looks forward to continuing with preparations for the Saudi Cup 2025 and the 2026 Asian Racing Conference with this matter concluded.”
The spokesman extended the committee’s congratulations to Midnight Bisou.
The JCSA announced the new result had Midnight Bisou in first place, ahead of Benbatl and Mucho Gusto, in second and third respectively.
Fourth to 13th in the race were Tacitus, Gold Dream, Chrysoberyl, Mjjack, Magic Wand, Gronkowski, McKinzie, Great Scot, North America and Capezzano.
Arab News reported at the time of the race that Maximum Security had made history in front of King Salman as the first winner of the Saudi Cup, claiming the winning prize of $10 million in the world’s richest horse race.
Luis Saez rode the Servis-trained 4-year-old to a victory many had predicted, leaving Midnight Bisou in second ($3.5 million) and Benbatl third ($2 million).
Saudi sprinter Hiba Malm to miss 100m race due to injury
The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee says on X that she suffered an injury to a metatarsal during training on Wednesday
Updated 01 August 2024
Arab News
PARIS: The Saudi team’s medical staff at the Paris Olympic Games announced on Thursday that sprinter Hiba Malm had suffered an injury that will prevent her from competing in Friday’s 100m race.
The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee said on X that the sprinter suffered an injury to a metatarsal during training on Wednesday. The committee wished the runner a speedy recovery.
Malm is the 100m and 200m national record holder and the sole female representative for Saudi Arabia in athletics. The 23-year-old sprinter was granted a wildcard in the 100m event in Paris and was looking forward to improving her personal best time of 12.24 seconds.
Meanwhile, shot putter Mohammed Tolo is set to begin his participation in the Olympics, while Hussain Al-Hizam will take part in the pole vault on Saturday.
Saudi swimmer Zaid Al-Saraaj wins men’s 100m freestyle heat
Updated 30 July 2024
Arab News
PARIS: Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning sports scene received a boost after 16-year-old swimmer Zaid Al-Saraaj came first in his men’s 100m freestyle heat at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While the teenager, the youngest member of the Kingdom’s delegation, did not progress to the next stage of the competition, he set a new personal best with a time of 51.21 seconds.
Al-Saraaj earned his place at the Games through a universality spot — a place offered to under-represented National Olympic Committees to increase the diversity of participating nations.
Earlier on Sunday, 17-year-old Mashael Al-Ayed finished sixth in her women’s 200m freestyle heat with a time of 2:19.61.
The Saudi Olympic team, a 10-strong group comprising seven men and three women, is competing across four sports — athletics, equestrian, swimming and taekwondo.
Previously, Saudi athletes have taken four medals across 12 Olympic Games. The most recent was a silver won by Tareq Hamedi in karate at Tokyo in 2020.
Saudi swimmer Mashael Al-Ayed shines in women’s 200m freestyle at Paris 2024
Al-Ayed clocked a personal best time of 2:19.61 on Sunday, a significant milestone on her Olympic debut
Updated 28 July 2024
Arab News
Paris: In a notable achievement for Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning sports scene, 17-year-old Mashael Al-Ayed secured a commendable sixth place in the women’s 200m freestyle heats at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Al-Ayed clocked a personal best time of 2:19.61 on Sunday, a significant milestone on her Olympic debut.
Women's 200m freestyle heats results.
She earned her spot in the heats through a universality place, effectively a wildcard invitation, allowing her to compete at this prestigious global event. Her performance highlights the progress being made by Saudi women in international sports.
In addition to Al-Ayed, Saudi Arabia’s swimming team features 16-year-old Zaid Al-Sarraj, the youngest of the Kingdom’s representatives in Paris. Al-Sarraj, also granted a universality place, competes in the 100m freestyle, representing the future of Saudi swimming.
The two swimmers highlight Saudi Arabia’s growing presence and potential in the international sports arena.
Saudi Arabia’s 10 among the Arab stars to look out for at the Paris Olympics
Several North African stars have high hopes as they pursue their Olympic dreams in different disciplines
Tarek Hamdi’s performance at Tokyo 2020 Games had set a new standard for Saudi athletes back home
Updated 29 July 2024
Ali Khaled
ABU DHABI: As the clock ticked down, Olympic karate gold beckoned for Tarek Hamdi. With only seconds left of the Men’s kumite +75kg final at the Tokyo 2020 Games, the Saudi fighter held what looked to be an unassailable lead against Iranian opponent Sajjad Ganjzadeh.
A historic first gold medal for the Kingdom at the Olympic Games was all but a formality. Instead, Hamdi was agonizingly denied gold, receiving a penalty after he was judged to have knocked out Ganjzadeh with an illegal kick to the head. A heartbroken Hamdi had to be content with a still-remarkable silver medal.
The then-22-year-old received a hero’s welcome on his return home, his performance having set a new standard for Saudi athletes, many of whom are still finding their feet at this level of competition.
Others also performed with distinction without coming as close Hamdi to glory.
Rower Hussein Alireza fought valiantly despite having sustained an injured rib only weeks before the Games, while his fellow Saudi flag-bearer at the opening ceremony in Tokyo — 100m runner Yasmeen Al-Dabbagh — became only the second Saudi female to participate in the track and field category, following Sarah Attar at London 2012.
Saudi Arabia’s Under-23 footballers, led by coach Saad Al-Shehri, performed well in all three matches of a very tough group in Tokyo, but ultimately lost 2-1 to Cameroon, 3-2 to Germany, and 3-1 to the eventual gold medalists Brazil.
10 ARAB ATHLETESTO LOOK OUT FOR
WOMEN
• Sara Samir (Egypt) — Weightlifting
• Kaylia Nemour (Algeria) — Artistic gymnastics
• Dunya Aboutaleb (Saudi Arabia) — Taekwondo
• Ray Bassil (Lebanon) — Shooting
• Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi (Morocco) — Athletics
MEN
• Djamel Sedjati (Algeria) – Athletics
• Ahmad Abu Al-Soud (Jordan) – Gymnastics
• Ramzi Boukhiam (Morocco) – Surfing
• Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) – Athletics
• Yahia Omar (Egypt) – Handball
With their 23-man football squad missing out on qualification for the Paris Games, the Saudi contingent is much reduced this summer. However, the 10 members taking part across four sports will be hoping to emulate, or maybe even surpass, Hamdi’s achievement.
The Saudi showjumping team consists of Ramzy Al-Duhami, Abdullah Alsharbatly, Khaled Almobty and Abdulrahman Alrajhi, all of whom have a shot at glory between Aug. 1-6, first in the individual competition and then as a foursome in the team competition.
Special mention must go to 52-year-old Al-Duhami and 41-year-old Alsharbatly, who, alongside Kamal Bahamdan and Prince Abdullah Al-Saud, won the bronze medal in the equestrian team jumping event at the 2012 Olympics in London. In Paris, Al-Dunami will be taking part in a remarkable sixth Olympic Games.
The Kingdom’s swimming ambitions will rest on the shoulders of 17-year-old Mashael Al-Ayed — Saudi Arabia’s first female Olympic swimmer — in the Women’s 200m freestyle, and, in the Men’s 100m freestyle, on Zaid Al-Sarraj, who, at 16, is the youngest member of the Saudi contingent this year.
• شكرًا للقيادة على دعمها للمرأة السعودية
• فخورة بتمثيل السعودية
• بعمر 9 سنوات شاركت بأول بطولة
— اللجنة الأولمبية والبارالمبية السعودية (@saudiolympic) July 27, 2024
In track and field, Hibah Mohammed will kick off Saudi participation in the Women’s 100m preliminary round on Aug. 2.
That same day, 26-year-old Hussain Al-Hizam will look to leap into the record books in the men’s pole vault competition, having missed out on the last Olympics. He is backing himself to go far.
“I am pretty confident that I have not reached my full potential and I believe that it could all come together on that day (in Paris), that I can shock everyone. I really believe that I can do that,” Al-Hizam told Arab News from his training camp in Germany before jetting off to Paris.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Daouda Tolo, who booked his spot in the shot put competition in Paris by improving his Asian record from 20.66m to 21.80m, will be hoping to go at least one better than his fourth-place finish at the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing.
Saudi athletes walk across a bridge near the Eiffel Tower in Paris during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics on July 26, 2024. (AP)
Finally, Donia Abu Taleb will carry the hopes of the nation in the taekwondo competition after becoming the first Saudi female athlete to officially qualify for the games. Her predecessors, including Yasmeen Al-Dabbagh and Tahani Alqahtani (judo, Tokyo 2020) having been given wild cards to compete.
Elsewhere, there will be hopes for further success from Arab athletes and teams.
The football competition kicked off two days before Friday’s official ceremony and the three Arab teams emerged with fine results. Morocco beat Argentina 2-1 in Group B, albeit in controversial circumstances, while Iraq managed to beat Ukraine 2-1 in the same group. Egypt, will not be disheartened by a 0-0 draw with the Dominican Republic.
For Tunisia, the teenage swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui, who struck gold in the Men’s 400m freestyle competition in Tokyo, is back again, but sadly the country’s tennis superstar Ons Jabeur has had to pull out of the Paris Games.
Yehia Elderaa, right, of Egypt, against Patrik Ligetvari, of Hungary, during a men's handball match at the 2024 Summer Olympics on July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
Several North African stars will, however, once again have high hopes of glory. Heading the hopefuls is Algerian runner Djamel Sedjati, who is chasing gold after a stunning run of form in the build-up to Paris 2024, one that has raised the tantalizing possibility of breaking David Rudisha’s 12-year-old world record in the 800 meters.
Ramzi Boukhiam, the first Moroccan or Arab surfer to qualify for the World Surf League’s Championship Tour, will take part in his second successive Olympics, while his compatriot Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi will aim for a podium place when she runs the marathon on Aug. 11.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Algerian gymnastics prodigy Kaylia Nemour will be hopeful of a medal placing after a series of international podium finishes in recent years.
Perhaps the highest-profile Arab athlete remains Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim, who in Tokyo memorably decided to share high jump gold with his Italian rival and friend Gianmarco Tamberi amid unique scenes of celebration. With two silver medals from London 2012 and Rio 2016, he competes in Paris as one of the region’s most decorated sportsmen.
File photo of Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim competing in a high jump competition in 2019. (X: @qatartourismqa)
Finally, many eyes will be on the 10-strong Palestinian contingent, who will take part in Paris with the specter of the war in Gaza hanging over them.
“I’m going to the Olympics not just for myself, but for all of Palestine,” 20-year-old boxer Waseem Abu Sal, who will be fighting in the 57kg category in Paris, told Arab News recently. “I’m fighting to show the world our dignity and to preserve our identity.”
From North Africa through the Middle East and to the Gulf, Arab athletes at Paris 2024 will echo those sentiments.
