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Hiba Al-Qwaidi makes history as Saudi Women’s Premier League’s first female referee

Hiba Al-Qwaidi makes history as Saudi Women’s Premier League’s first female referee
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The clash the Al-Qadsiah’s stadium in Al-Khobar saw Abdullah Al-Madad and Khaled Al-Anezi take part as assistant referees. (SAFF)
Hiba Al-Qwaidi makes history as Saudi Women’s Premier League’s first female referee
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The clash the Al-Qadsiah’s stadium in Al-Khobar saw Abdullah Al-Madad and Khaled Al-Anezi take part as assistant referees. (SAFF)
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Updated 23 March 2024
SALEH FAREED
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Hiba Al-Qwaidi makes history as Saudi Women’s Premier League’s first female referee

Hiba Al-Qwaidi makes history as Saudi Women’s Premier League’s first female referee
  • Al-Qwaidi was accredited by FIFA last year, and took charge of Friday’s clash between Al-Qadsiah and Al-Riyadh
Updated 23 March 2024
SALEH FAREED
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JEDDAH: Hiba Al-Owaidi has become the first Saudi female referee to take charge of a Women’s Premier League match, after she officiated Al-Qadsiah’s 1-0 win against Al-Riyadh on Friday.

In a historical first for Saudi women’s football, Al-Qwaidi took charge of the match as field referee after she was internationally accredited by the games’s governing body FIFA.

The clash the Al-Qadsiah’s stadium in Al-Khobar saw Abdullah Al-Madad and Khaled Al-Anezi take part as assistant referees.

Al-Qwaidi’s first appearance after receiving her accreditation was as the fourth referee in the Riyadh Season Cup tournament, specifically the match that that’s aw Saudi’s Al-Hilal beat Inter Miami of the US 4-3 at Kingdom Arena.

Al-Qwaidi, a graduate of College of Sports Sciences at the University of Jeddah, is now among 22 Saudi referees accredited by FIFA, as announced by the Saudi  Arabian Football Federation last December.

The referees include Mohammad Al-Hoaish, Faisal Al-Balawi, Sami Al-Garisi, Majed Al-Shamrani, Khaled Al-Taris, Abdullah Al-Shehri, and Shukri Al-Hanfosh.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Saudi football Saudi Women’s Premier League

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‘Hate it’: Tien beats friend to set-up NextGen final against Fonseca

‘Hate it’: Tien beats friend to set-up NextGen final against Fonseca
Updated 21 December 2024
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‘Hate it’: Tien beats friend to set-up NextGen final against Fonseca

‘Hate it’: Tien beats friend to set-up NextGen final against Fonseca
  • Sunday’s final will feature the two youngest players in the eight-man field with Fonseca having the advantage of already beating Tien
Updated 21 December 2024
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JEDDAH: Learner Tien defeated close friend Alex Michelsen to reach the NextGen ATP Finals title match on Saturday but admitted he “hated” having had to face his American compatriot.
The 19-year-old left-hander, ranked at 122 in the world, came through 2-4, 4-2, 1-4, 4-0, 4-1 in a semifinal which boasted tennis legend Rafael Nadal among the spectators.
“I can’t put it into words right now,” said Tien who hit 21 winners past the 41st-ranked Michelsen.
“I am really happy with the win but I hate it against him, but that is just how it goes. I started smiling when I came out here and saw him on the other side of the net, but I am really happy to get through and think I played really well.”
Tien will face Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, the lowest-ranked player in the draw at 145, who eased into the final by seeing off France’s Luca Van Assche 4-2, 4-2, 4-1.
Fonseca is the second youngest man to make the NextGen final after current world number one and two-time major winner Jannik Sinner who took the title in 2019.
The Brazilian has won all of his four matches in Jeddah this week, a run which included the biggest win of his career against 20th-ranked Arthur Fils of France.
“Today was a great match. I played really solidly,” said Fonseca after his one-hour victory.
“He didn’t have too many chances because I was playing so aggressively and making all the shots. There is one more match to go, and I hope I can for it.”
Sunday’s final will feature the two youngest players in the eight-man field with Fonseca having the advantage of already beating Tien during the group stages.

Topics: tennis Saudi Arabia 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals

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Newcastle deepen Ipswich woes with thumping win at Portman Road

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Updated 21 December 2024
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  • Isak volleyed Eddie Howe’s team ahead in the first minute
Updated 21 December 2024
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IPSWICH: Newcastle deepened Ipswich’s plight and lifted themselves to seventh in the table with a 4-0 win at Portman Road.

Isak volleyed Eddie Howe’s team ahead in the first minute and Jacob Murphy doubled their lead before Isak side-footed in from close range just before the break.

The Sweden international scored his third nine minutes into the second half, poking the ball home after more fine work from Murphy.

It was a ninth defeat in 17 games for Ipswich since they returned to the Premier League and they remain in the relegation zone, two points from safety.

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Gulf Golf Championship tees off in Oman

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Updated 21 December 2024
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  • The tournament features five Gulf nations: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman
Updated 21 December 2024
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MUSCAT: The Ghala Golf Club in Oman welcomed players and officials for the official launch of the Gulf Cooperation Council Golf Championship, which runs Saturday to Tuesday.

The tournament features five Gulf nations: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

The event was inaugurated by Sayyid Azan bin Qais Al-Said, vice president of the Oman Olympic Committee and chairman of the Oman Golf Association.

During the opening ceremony, Ahmed bin Faisal Al-Jahdhami, secretary-general of the OGA, highlighted the championship’s role in nurturing and developing emerging talents in the region, as well as enhancing the skills of both male and female players.

He added that hosting the tournament demonstrated Oman’s commitment, through the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth and the OGA, to strengthening Gulf ties and advancing the regional standard of golf.

“This championship serves as a significant milestone in preparing a new generation of players capable of competing on continental and international stages,” he said.

Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al-Hashemi, vice president of the UAE Golf Federation and a member of the Arab and Asian Golf Federations, said that the championship was more than a competition.

“It is a platform for promoting cooperation and unity among Gulf countries while shaping future champions and fostering camaraderie among participants,” he said.

Topics: golf Saudi Arabia Golf Saudi

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Renard confident Green Falcons ready for Gulf Cup challenge

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Updated 21 December 2024
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  • Frenchman emphasized that his team was aiming for significant results rather than merely gaining experience
Updated 21 December 2024
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KUWAIT CITY: Herve Renard, the Saudi national football team’s head coach, expressed confidence on Saturday in his team’s readiness to compete at the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, which gets underway on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference, the Frenchman emphasized that his team was aiming for significant results rather than merely gaining experience.

“We are here to participate effectively and win,” Renard said. “This tournament provides a great platform to work with the players and prepare them for future competitions.”

Renard also said the tournament was a good way to enhance the technical and physical capabilities of his players.

He provided updates on key players, confirming that defender Hassan Tambakti was fully ready for action. However, he said Salem Al-Dawsari was still working to regain full fitness.

Renard praised Al-Dawsari’s dedication to his recovery process, saying it demonstrated his commitment to the team.

Meanwhile, striker Firas Al-Brikan is dealing with an injury, and his participation will depend on further medical evaluations.

Acknowledging the challenges of the competition, Renard said: “I accepted this challenge because I believe in the players’ capabilities. We must work with team spirit and focus on improvement in the coming period.”

The Saudi team get their campaign up and running against Bahrain on Sunday, and Renard stressed the importance of delivering a strong performance to set the tone for the tournament.

Topics: football soccer Saudi Arabia Gulf Cup 26th Gulf Cup

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Aston Villa beat Manchester City to deepen Guardiola’s pain

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Updated 21 December 2024
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Aston Villa beat Manchester City to deepen Guardiola’s pain

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  • City manager in the worst run of his glittering career said Friday “sooner or later” things will turn around
Updated 21 December 2024
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BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa beat crisis-hit Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday to heap more misery on floundering manager Pep Guardiola, who has now suffered nine defeats in his past 12 matches.
Jhon Duran finished off a fine team move to give the home side an early lead and Morgan Rogers doubled Villa’s advantage in the 65th minute.
Phil Foden scored his first Premier League goal of the season in stoppage time but it proved to be too little too late.
Pep Guardiola, in the worst run of his glittering career, said Friday that “sooner or later” things will turn around but City’s fear factor has vanished.
The win lifts Unai Emery’s inconsistent Villa team to fifth in the Premier League table, one place above sinking City.
Guardiola made six changes to the team side that lost last week’s Manchester derby, bringing in goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and reshaping his defense with Rico Lewis, John Stones and Manuel Akanji.
Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish also returned.
But the defending champions started the match in chaotic fashion and could have been behind inside 20 seconds.
Untidy work from Josko Gvardiol allowed John McGinn to steal the ball and he fed Duran, whose shot from outside the box was pushed behind by Ortega.
Villa were millimeters away from taking the lead from the resulting corner, with Ortega, in for first-choice goalkeeper Ederson, producing a superb save to deny Pau Torres.
City then settled and their possession numbers topped 75 percent but they created little.
Instead it was Villa who took the lead through Duran after a superb team move, scoring his seventh Premier League goal of the season.
Youri Tielemans delivered a wonderful defense-splitting pass to Rogers, who burst through City’s backline with ease before finding Duran on his right and the Colombian international finished crisply.
Phil Foden tested Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the 35th minute after an incisive move involving Lewis.
And Gvardiol squandered a glorious chance moments before half-time, heading over a Grealish cross.
Guardiola brought on Kyle Walker for Stones at the break.
Minutes into the second half Villa’s Matty Cash lashed an attempt into the side netting after a speedy attack before Duran had a strike ruled out for offside.
Rogers hit the foot of the post just before the hour mark after an intricate team move down the left.
Emery’s men doubled their lead 20 minutes into the second half, with Rogers finishing unerringly from a McGinn pass.
City created little as they searched for a way back into the game until Foden pounced for a late consolation goal.

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