Baseball United rebrands to expand reach of Middle East franchises

Baseball United rebrands to expand reach of Middle East franchises
The Abu Dhabi and Dubai franchises of Baseball United have been rebranded to Mid East Falcons and Arabia Wolves respectively. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 26 March 2024
Follow

Baseball United rebrands to expand reach of Middle East franchises

Baseball United rebrands to expand reach of Middle East franchises
  • The league’s 2 UAE franchises will now be called the Arabia Wolves and Mid East Falcons
  • The league recently announced it would add 3 new franchises in Saudi Arabia later this year

DUBAI: Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, has announced the expansion of its two UAE-based franchises.

The Dubai Wolves will now be called the Arabia Wolves, and the Abu Dhabi Falcons have been renamed the Mid East Falcons.

The two clubs will largely retain their original colors, emblems, and brand identities. The shifts in naming and branding are intended to extend the franchises’ appeal across the entire GCC.

“Over the past two years of building within the region, we continue to be inspired by the growing number of avid and emerging baseball fans across the GCC,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United.

“About 7 percent of the GCC population are now baseball fans, which gives us a strong foundation of nearly 5 million fans across the Arabian Peninsula. These fans are young, educated, and active across sports and social media. And they all want teams they can call their own — franchises that have a local feel, presence and identity. By evolving our founding Middle East franchises to encompass the entire region, we will now be able to connect with fans more meaningfully in all six GCC countries.”

The Arabia Wolves’ new typography includes Arabic-inspired lettering and elements, with a new letter mark featuring a stylized “A” protecting a four-point, i’jam-inspired compass that speaks to the connectivity across the Arabian Peninsula. I’jam are dots used in modern Arabic script to distinguish between consonants with identical shapes.

The Mid East Falcons’ new letter mark evolves the original Abu Dhabi lettering into an “ME” design that leverages a Tuscan serif font reminiscent of traditional Major League Baseball clubs. The regional distinction was shortened from Middle East to “Mid East” to evoke a younger, more modern feel.

“We are intentional and deliberate with our brand building and our marketing cadence,” said Shaikh. “We believe our brand strategy, brand identity, and brand creative are all key points of difference for our business, and we continue to see our league and franchise brands resonate with sports fans around the world. I can’t wait to see Arabia Wolves and Mid East Falcons hats and jerseys all over the Peninsula.”

The Arabia Wolves and Mid East Falcons join the Mumbai Cobras and Karachi Monarchs as Baseball United’s founding franchises. The league recently announced it would add three new franchises in Saudi Arabia later this year. Baseball United plans to have a total of eight franchises for its first full season, which is slated to begin in the winter of 2025.

Baseball United’s inaugural All-Star Showcase last November was the first professional baseball games in the history of the Middle East and South Asia. Hosted at Dubai International Stadium, the games were broadcast in 127 countries and reached nearly 200 million households. The two-game series included players from 16 countries who have played at the highest levels of professional baseball, including former Major League Baseball stars Robinson Cano, Pablo Sandoval, Bartolo Colon and Andrelton Simmons.

Cano, an eight-time MLB All-Star, joins several other MLB stars on the Arabia Wolves franchise, including former New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, and former Atlanta Braves All-Star Jair Jurrjens. Sandoval, a two-time MLB All-Star and former World Series MVP, anchors the Mid East Falcons’ roster alongside former big leaguers Alex Liddi and Dillon Thomas.


Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win

Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win
Updated 23 March 2025
Follow

Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win

Patience pays off for Mansell with breakthrough Singapore win
  • Richard Mansell sank a crucial birdie putt at the final hole to win a first DP World Tour title at the weather-hit Porsche Singapore Classic by a single shot on Sunday

SINGAPORE: Richard Mansell sank a crucial birdie putt at the final hole to win a first DP World Tour title at the weather-hit Porsche Singapore Classic by a single shot on Sunday.
Needing to avoid a playoff with Japan’s Keita Nakajima at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, the Englishman reached the green in two at the par-five 18th.
He then rolled his eagle attempt to within six feet of the pin before holding his nerve to drain his winning putt to clinch his maiden DP World Tour title with a final-round six-under-par 66.
“I wish this win had come earlier. I played so well today to get into that position and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said the 29-year-old.
“So many people have supported and believed in me when I stopped doing it myself.”
Victory was particularly special as Mansell had come close to winning on multiple occasions on the tour, only to fall short and struggle with self-belief.
“I had quite a few close calls and didn’t get it done. Looking back, I probably should have kept doing what I was doing and it (a win) probably would have happened a lot sooner,” he said.
“I tried to change and became quite good at pointing the finger at other people. I was just not enjoying this much and I got a little lost.
“It took a lot of work this past six months.”
Nakajima carded seven birdies for a bogey-free 65 to finish alone in second place.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and France’s Adrien Saddier ended the week tied for third.
A three-day monsoon surge in Singapore forced the cancelation of the first round on Thursday, leading the tournament to be decided over 54 holes.

Leading scores:
200 — Richard Mansell (ENG) 68-66-66
201 — Keita Nakajima (JPN) 67-69-65
202 — Adrien Saddier (FRA) 66-68-68, Tom McKibbin (NIR) 69-65-68
203 — Marcus Armitage (ENG) 65-70-68
204 — Matthew Jordan (ENG) 65-69-70, Dan Erickson (USA) 69-64-71, Yuto Katsuragawa (JPN) 72-65-67
205 — Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 69-65-71, Manuel Elvira (ESP) 66-69-70, Kazuma Kobori (NZL) 70-71-64, Robert Macintire (SCO) 73-64-68, Li Haotong (CHN) 66-72-67


Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two

Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two
Updated 23 March 2025
Follow

Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two

Piastri wins Chinese Grand Prix from pole in McLaren one-two
  • Oscar Piastri led from pole to win the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday as McLaren used a one-stop strategy to complete a dominant one-two with Lando Norris second

SHANGHAI:Oscar Piastri led from pole to win the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday as McLaren used a one-stop strategy to complete a dominant one-two with Lando Norris second.
George Russell was third in a Mercedes with Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen snatching fourth place after a thrilling late pass on Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton came home sixth behind his teammate after his first Ferrari victory in Saturday's sprint race in Shanghai, when Piastri had been second.
"It's been an incredible weekend, the car has been pretty mega," said the Australian Piastri, who had been running second a week ago in Melbourne' season-opener before a late spin.
"Very, very happy. The hard was a much better tyre than everyone expected, so to go all the way to the end was a bit of a surprise, but a happy surprise."
Norris had to cope with a late brake issue which forced him to settle for second rather than challenge his teammate.
The Briton continues to lead the championship after two race weekends on 44 points from Verstappen on 36.
Russell started from second and knew it was imperative to try to grab the lead off the line.
Instead he was squeezed by Piastri on the long first bend complex, which allowed Norris to surge past into second.
Both Ferraris got past Verstappen on the same bend, relegating the world champion from fourth to sixth.
Leclerc lost part of his front wing when it brushed Hamilton's rear right wheel but it did not affect his pace.
Hamilton was the first of the front-runners to dive in for new rubber on lap 14.
All the others followed for hard tyres with Russell getting past Norris in the melee.
But the McLaren showed superior pace and surged back past at the end of the pit straight with the help of DRS.
Hamilton began to struggle on the hard compound and allowed his teammate past on lap 21 freeing Leclerc to go after Russell.
On lap 38 Hamilton had to pit again for new tyres, dropping him behind Verstappen.
The front five all stayed out as it became clear they were going to attempt to make the hard tyres last till the end of the 56 laps.
Verstappen had nursed his tyres throughout the race which enabled him to have a late charge on Leclerc and pass the Ferrari at the start of lap 54.
Haas finished with two cars in the points as Esteban Ocon was seventh and rookie Ollie Bearman 10th.
The other points scorers were Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli in eighth with Alex Albon ninth in his Williams on his 29th birthday.


Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought

Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought
Updated 23 March 2025
Follow

Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought

Hovland grabs share of Valspar lead in bid to end PGA title drought
  • Hovland could see “a lot of good” after posting three birdies and a bogey to join Colombian Nico Echavarria and American Jacob Bridgeman atop the leaderboard on seven-under 206
  • Bridgeman, seeking his first win in his second full season on the tour, started the day with a one-shot lead and kept himself atop the board with a 1-under 70

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Viktor Hovland carded a 2-under par 69 on Saturday to grab a share of the 54-hole lead at the Valspar Championship, where the Norwegian is gunning for his first US PGA Tour title since 2023.

Hovland, who arrived at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida this week off three straight missed cuts, says he’s still battling the inconsistency that has seen him make five coaching changes as he slumped from fourth in the world to 19th.

But he could see “a lot of good” after posting three birdies and a bogey to join Colombian Nico Echavarria and American Jacob Bridgeman atop the leaderboard on seven-under 206.

“It’s fun to be in contention, but it is a little bit more stressful when you don’t feel super comfortable over the ball,” Hovland said. “But, man, it’s fun to see some putts go in and still see the ball end up close to the hole and put some good scores up there.

“Still feels like saving a lot of shots, but they’re going fairly straight so it’s OK,” added Hovland, who is chasing his first title since he won the Tour Championship in 2023 — when he claimed three of his six PGA victories and captured the FedEx Cup crown.

Echavarria, chasing a third PGA title, rebounded from a 1-over par 72 on Friday with a bogey-free 5-under par 66, making five of his six birdies n the back nine.

“I gave myself a lot of looks,” Echavarria said. “I was leaving a couple birdie putts short on the front nine. I got the speed right on the back nine, made a lot of good putts coming in.”

Bridgeman, seeking his first win in his second full season on the tour, started the day with a one-shot lead and kept himself atop the board with a 1-under 70 that featured four bogeys and five birdies.

“I had fun today,” the 25-year-old said. “I was navigating a lot of the course. I seemed to find some spots that I had never see before, so that was fun. I scrambled well.”

Bridgeman said swirling winds in the afternoon made for uncertainty on many shots while the wind-dried greens “were getting a little bit crusty.”

The leading trio were one stroke in front of American Ricky Castillo, who carded a 68, while a big group on 208 included major winners Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry.

Ireland’s Lowry had a frustrating day on the greens on the way to a 1-under 70 but said he was right in the hunt.

“I can’t remember the last time I hit so many good putts that burned the edge,” he said. “I did hit it probably a little bit too far away from the hole today ... but I just feel like I didn’t get rewarded at all.

“(But) I know if I can go out and shoot in the mid 60s (Sunday) that something could happen.”


Draper back down to earth, Zverev advances, in Miami

Draper back down to earth, Zverev advances, in Miami
Updated 23 March 2025
Follow

Draper back down to earth, Zverev advances, in Miami

Draper back down to earth, Zverev advances, in Miami
  • Top seed Alexander Zverev eased into the third round with a 6-2 6-4 win over Britain’s Jacob Fearnley
  • In the women’s draw, top seed Aryna Sabalenka moved into the fourth round after Romanian opponent Elena-Gabriela Ruse had to retire after the Belarusian won the first set 6-1

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Britain’s Jack Draper, the winner at Indian Wells, came back down to earth with a bump on Saturday, beaten by 54th ranked Czech Jakub Mensik in his opening match at the Miami Open.

Draper moved into the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time in his career with his triumph over Holger Rune in the Indian Wells final last Sunday, having beaten Carlos Alcaraz in the last four.

But the 19-year old Mensik rose to the occasion, winning two tie-breaks to enjoy a 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (7/3) win.

“It was tough, obviously I came up against someone today who was playing incredibly well,” said Draper.

“He served 10 out of 10, I couldn’t get a read or a look on his serve at all. There were some things I could do better and obviously a big change in surface from last week,” he said, noting he had struggled to adjust to the faster courts.

Rune was caught out, too, falling 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to American Reilly Opelka.

Top seed Alexander Zverev eased into the third round with a 6-2 6-4 win over Britain’s Jacob Fearnley.

Zverev’s title hopes received a boost on Friday when second-seed Carlos Alcaraz crashed out with a shock defeat to Belgian veteran David Goffin.

With no Jannik Sinner while the Italian serves a doping ban, the German Zverev’s main challenger, on paper, should be Novak Djokovic.

Zverev lost his opening game at Indian Wells but looked sharp on his debut on the South Florida stadium court.

“I’m generally happy with my level today,” said Zverev, a 2018 Miami finalist. “In Indian Wells it was very different, so I hope I can continue playing this way and have a great week here.”

The 27-year-old took 74 minutes to take care of business against Fearnley and said his extra time off as a result of his surprise defeat to Tallon Griekspoor had been valuable.

“Had two weeks time to practice and work on my game again and I did that — hopefully this is the first of many matches for me here,” he added.

There was an upset for 13th seeded American Ben Shelton, who was knocked out by 20-year-old wildcard Coleman Wong of Hong Kong.

Wong, 128th in the world, battled his way to a 7-6 (7/3) 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) victory despite letting a slip a 5-2 lead in the final set.

His victory provides him with a place in the third round of a Masters 1000 for the first time in his career.

“I always trust myself to play in these big stages... I had a tough time (during) the COVID times. I didn’t play for a year and a half and I’m really lucky my team keeps supporting me. I’m really happy and this is for you Hong Kong,” said Wong.

Brazilian 18-year-old Joao Fonseca delighted his large and loud group of supporters with another energetic display as he knocked out 19th seed Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-3 and reach the third round at a Masters 1000 for the first time.

In the women’s draw, top seed Aryna Sabalenka moved into the fourth round after Romanian opponent Elena-Gabriela Ruse had to retire after the Belarusian won the first set 6-1.

Ruse received medical treatment on her right thigh but was unable to continue.

Third seed Coco Gauff progressed with a 6-2, 6-4 win over a struggling Maria Sakkari, who has slumped down the rankings from the top 10 to her current 51st.

Naomi Osaka met some determined resistance from American wild card Hailey Baptiste before emerging with a 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-4 win.

“Today was an emotional day for me,” said Osaka. “I’m a little embarrassed for how much I threw my racquet, which is something that I don’t like to be known for.”

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia also retired allowing sixth-seed Jasmine Paolini to go through — the Italian was 4-3 and a break up in the first when Jabeur could no longer continue due to a left leg injury.


Duplantis ‘grinds’ for gold as stellar trio headline electrifying world indoors

Duplantis ‘grinds’ for gold as stellar trio headline electrifying world indoors
Updated 23 March 2025
Follow

Duplantis ‘grinds’ for gold as stellar trio headline electrifying world indoors

Duplantis ‘grinds’ for gold as stellar trio headline electrifying world indoors
  • It was a truly pulsating competition, echoed in the men’s 3,000m won by a hair’s breadth by Norway’s multi-medalled Jakob Ingebrigtsen, incredibly for his first world indoor title
  • The third of the stellar trio on show was Grant Holloway, the American claiming an unprecedented third successive 60m hurdles victory that extended his indoor win streak to 94 races

NANJING, CHINA: Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis was the headline act as a trio of modern-day track and field greats starred on an electrifying night of action at the world indoor championships in Nanjing on Saturday.

Duplantis was pushed all the way by Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis in a battle royale before bagging a third world indoor pole vault gold with a best of 6.15m.

“We put on a good show for everybody,” said Duplantis. “It’s great to be pushed and I’m happy for Manolo (Karalis). I had to grind for it tonight.

“It’s good for me especially and it’s just great competition. It’s just such a higher level than what pole vault’s ever been, so it’s good. You just have to want it.”

It was a truly pulsating competition, echoed in the men’s 3,000m won by a hair’s breadth by Norway’s multi-medalled Jakob Ingebrigtsen, incredibly for his first world indoor title.

The victory kept alive his tilt at a first world indoor 1,500/3,000m double since Ethiopian legend Haile Gebreselassie achieved the feat in 1999. The 1,500m final is scheduled for 1215 GMT on Sunday.

“My competitors study me, but you have to race many times to be able to respond in all scenarios,” said Ingebrigtsen, who pipped Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi at the line in a dramatic, fast-finishing race.

“I’ve done a lot of racing but I’m not perfect. It’s all about learning. The more you race, the more you learn, so you can make the right decisions at the right point to increase the possibility of winning.

“I don’t enjoy the 1,500m warm-up, but the racing is a lot of fun, and that’s what I’m going to do tomorrow — have a lot of fun!“

The third of the stellar trio on show was Grant Holloway, the American claiming an unprecedented third successive 60m hurdles victory that extended his indoor win streak to 94 races dating back a remarkable 11 years to when he was 16 years old.

“This one was a little bit different,” said Holloway. “I didn’t have two great rounds and had to rely on my experience to get me through the final. But I knew what I had to do, I knew what I was missing.”

“Epic showdowns on the banks of the Yangtze River” was one of the slogans brandished around Nanjing’s Cube.

And so it proved to be as Duplantis battled Karalis, Ingebrigtsen elbowed it out with Aregawi, and Holloway saw off Wilhem Belocian, the three winners handing out master classes in the art of holding your nerve when the pressure ramps up.

There were five other golds up for grabs in the Chinese city.

Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji produced a savage dip to regain the 60m crown she last won in Belgrade in 2022, clocking 7.04sec to see off Italy’s European champion Zaynab Dosso by two-hundredths of a second.

“Every win is always good for the confidence,” the Swiss racer said.

“It shows me that we’re doing a lot of things right because not every year is the same. You can’t just take one recipe and do it every year.

“You always have to adapt on how you feel, so I’m really happy to see that my coach can feel what I need, and we can do what’s optimal for me.”

Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu won the women’s 3,000m in 8:37.21, American Shelby Houlihan — just two months after returning from a four-year doping ban — edging Austrian Jessica Hull for silver by two-hundredths.

There was a Cuban 1-2 in the women’s triple jump, Leyanis Perez Hernandez taking gold with a first-effort 14.93m ahead of Liadagmis Povea and Spain’s Ana Peleteiro-Compaore.

Amber Anning ensured a first British gold in the women’s 400m by edging American Alexis Holmes by three-hundredths for the win in 50.60sec, Norway’s Henriette Jaeger taking bronze.

The US men made up for Holmes’ silver by sweeping the men’s 400m, Christopher Bailey winning in 45.08sec ahead of Brian Faust and Jacory Patterson.