Chasing third Olympic gold: For Kipchoge, the road starts in Kenya’s Rift Valley

Chasing third Olympic gold: For Kipchoge, the road starts in Kenya’s Rift Valley
Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge (C) runs among his pacers during a fartlek (speed work) session in Kaptagat on May 4, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 07 May 2024
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Chasing third Olympic gold: For Kipchoge, the road starts in Kenya’s Rift Valley

Chasing third Olympic gold: For Kipchoge, the road starts in Kenya’s Rift Valley
  • Currently Kipchoge is one of only three marathon runners to have two Olympic titles (2016, 2021), alongside Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and Waldemar Cierpinski of Germany (1976, 1980)
  • Kipchoge has already checked out the hilly route in Paris, a course said to be unfavorable for him

KAPTAGAT, Kenya: Dawn has not yet broken over the highlands of Kenya’s Rift Valley when marathon great Eliud Kipchoge crosses through the gate of his training camp.

It’s barely 6:00 am.

Three months before the Olympic marathon on Aug. 10 in Paris — where he hopes to make history with a third gold medal — he is preparing to start the weekly “long run.”

Wearing a cap and gloves to protect himself from the drizzle and the cool morning air, the 39-year-old sets off at the front of the pack.

Joining him are other residents of the renowned Kaptagat training camp including Kenyan middle-distance star Faith Kipyegon but also local runners who come in the hope of being talent-spotted.

On the program that day: 30 kilometers (18 miles) pounding the local roads.

The athletes have abandoned the red dirt tracks that crisscross the surrounding forest, made muddy by the torrential rains which have been pelting Kenya for more than a month.

“Nature says no. And now it’s speaking very loud,” smiles Kipchoge’s longtime coach Patrick Sang.

Over the kilometers, the pack stretches out and splits apart.

Only the car carrying their coaches, Sang and 2008 Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Brimin Kipruto, protects the runners from the trucks and matatus (minibus taxis) which zoom past on the hilly course.

In the lead group, Kipchoge eats up kilometers at a steady pace. He will go on to complete the distance, with six other runners, in one hour 40 minutes.

“Everything is going well. I’m feeling good. But I think the next months will be more interesting,” Kipchoge tells AFP in an interview after the road session.

The former double world record holder is in the last stages of preparation which will lead him toward the goal of a lifetime — becoming the first person to win Olympic marathon gold three times in a row.

Currently he is one of only three marathon runners to have two Olympic titles (2016, 2021), alongside Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and Waldemar Cierpinski of Germany (1976, 1980).

“The Olympic Games is crucial for me,” Kipchoge says.

For him, Olympic titles are “bigger than the major marathons,” the six races on the circuit where he has won 11 times since 2014 (five in Berlin, four in London, one each in Tokyo and Chicago).

His ambition remains intact despite two recent poor performances, in Boston in 2023 when he came in sixth and in Tokyo in March where he only finished 10th — arousing criticism and doubt about his future.

“I’m old enough to handle any setback. I know sport is not about performing every day,” he counters, saying he believed his low place in Tokyo was down to “fatigue.”

Kipchoge has already checked out the hilly route in Paris, a course said to be unfavorable for him.

“I prepare specifically on the hills and downhills but generally, I want to be fit enough.”

To reach his peak performance, Kipchoge sticks to an abstemious life and trains hard.

“Eliud is very consistent... but the way he is really focusing on Paris, it’s something else,” says Victor Chumo, a member of the team that helped him beat the mythical two-hour barrier in 2019, running 1:59:40 during an unsanctioned race in Vienna.

“He is more aggressive than in previous years. The way he trains, the way he rests, he is reporting to the camp earlier than before... That shows he is going for something special.”

“His mind is already in Paris,” adds Daniel Mateiko, a young Kenyan hopeful in long-distance running who trains alongside him in Kaptagat.

Kipchoge’s preparation is also punctuated by anti-doping controls, which the Kenyan athletics federation has reinforced under pressure from international authorities.

“This year, it has been more frequent,” he says, with a test for performance-enhancing drugs now every week compared to once or twice a month previously.

“There’s a lot of improvement, they have been doing a great job,” he says of the drug testing. “But consistency should be there.”

The countdown is on toward what could well be his last Olympics, but Kipchoge doesn’t want to talk about it: “I’m taking one step at a time.”

But his return to the French capital is rich with symbolism. It was there that in 2003, at the age of 18, he won his first international crown: becoming 5,000m world champion ahead of two legends, Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia.

“Paris is where my life started in athletics 20 years ago.”


Carsley loses eight and calls up five for last England squad

Carsley loses eight and calls up five for last England squad
Updated 12 November 2024
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Carsley loses eight and calls up five for last England squad

Carsley loses eight and calls up five for last England squad

LONDON: England interim manager Lee Carsley gave a first senior call-up to Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers as one of five additions to his last squad on Monday after eight players pulled out.
The team faces Greece in Athens on Thursday before hosting Ireland three days later. Both games are in the Nations League.
Seven of the players to drop out came from the top four clubs in the Premier League: Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer of Chelsea; Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka; Manchester City midfielders Phil Foden and Jack Grealish and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. The eighth withdrawal was Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Rogers was promoted from the Under-21 squad alongside Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, Newcastle’s Tino Livramento and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. Of the quartet only center-back Branthwaite has a senior England cap.
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, who has 12 senior caps, was also added to the squad.
Carsley will return to his role as Under-21 manager after Nations League games, with Thomas Tuchel starting as the new boss in January.
Defeat in Athens would end England’s chances of automatic promotion from the second tier of the Nations League.
Tuchel has signed an 18-month deal that begins on January 1, so will only be an interested observer during this month’s games.
England squad
Goalkeepers
: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford
Defenders: Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ezri Konsa, Rico Lewis, Kyle Walker, Jarrad Branthwaite, Tino Livramento
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Morgan Gibbs-White, Angel Gomes, Curtis Jones, Morgan Rogers
Forwards: Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Dominic Solanke, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen


Neymar backs Saudi Arabia’s ambitious 2034 FIFA World Cup bid

Neymar backs Saudi Arabia’s ambitious 2034 FIFA World Cup bid
Updated 11 November 2024
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Neymar backs Saudi Arabia’s ambitious 2034 FIFA World Cup bid

Neymar backs Saudi Arabia’s ambitious 2034 FIFA World Cup bid
  • Brazilian superstar tours bid exhibition with Hammad Albalawi, the head of the bid unit, and describes it as ‘best project I’ve ever seen’
  • Exhibition showcases proposed host cities — Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha and NEOM — and features interactive displays of the planned 15 stadiums

RIYADH: Brazilian footballer Neymar on Monday expressed his full support for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, and said that he believes it has the potential to be the best tournament yet.

After touring the Saudi 2034 bid exhibition with Hammad Albalawi, the head of the bid unit, Neymar described it as “the best project I’ve ever seen” for players and fans alike.

The exhibition showcases the proposed host cities — Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha and NEOM — and includes interactive displays of the 15 stadiums envisioned for the event.

Saudi Arabia is bidding to be the sole host of a 48-team World Cup tournament. It aims to leverage its geographic advantage, given that 60 percent of the world’s population live within an eight-hour flight of the Kingdom.

Neymar was particularly impressed by the focus of the Saudi bid on the needs of the players, saying: “They’re thinking about the players … making it easier to get from the game to the hotel and recover faster.”

The 32-year-old Brazilian, who has lived in Riyadh since signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in August 2023, praised the passion for football in the Kingdom and the warm welcome he and his family received. Despite an injury that limited his playing time so far, he noted the enthusiastic support among local fans.

The rapid growth in the development of football in Saudi Arabia in recent years has included an expansion in the number of youth-training centers to 23, support for more than 300,000 boys and girls in school leagues, and an increase in the number of registered football coaches from 700 in 2019 to more than 4,000.

Neymar said he believes this investment in the future of Saudi football will pay off, adding: “They will definitely be more competitive in 2034.”

He also acknowledged the influence he and other international soccer superstars who have relocated to the Kingdom, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, are having on the nation’s football scene.

“We want to influence all the kids and the youth to do the right things, and to bring joy to everyone with our football,” he said.

Saudi Arabia submitted its official bid for the 2034 World Cup, which has the theme “Growing. Together,” in July. A decision on the host is due to be made on Dec. 11 during a FIFA Congress.


Netflix drops new trailer for ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ documentary

Netflix drops new trailer for ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ documentary
Updated 11 November 2024
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Netflix drops new trailer for ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ documentary

Netflix drops new trailer for ‘Saudi Pro League: Kickoff’ documentary
  • The highly anticipated six-episode series takes viewers into the heart of Saudi Arabia’s football scene

LONDON: Netflix unveiled on Monday a new trailer for its upcoming sports documentary series “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff,” set to premiere on Nov. 21.

The highly anticipated six-episode series takes viewers into the heart of Saudi Arabia’s football scene, chronicling the 48th season of the competition, which was marked by star-studded signings and the country’s ambitious vision to elevate the league’s global standing.

Produced by Whisper, the series offers an inside look at five major clubs — Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ettifaq — as they compete for the championship and delves into the highs and lows of the season, capturing the triumphs and challenges that defined their campaigns.

The documentary promises to explore critical questions about the league’s trajectory: Can its substantial investments bring long-term success? How do international stars adapt to the culture, and how do local players respond to the increased competition?

Fans will get a front-row seat to Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of victory with Al-Nassr, Karim Benzema’s journey at Al-Ittihad, and the resilience of Al-Hilal as they navigated Neymar’s injury and its impact.

The series also highlights Steven Gerrard’s efforts to revive Al-Ettifaq and Matthias Jaissle’s leadership at Al-Ahli, who aimed for Asian Champions League qualification after their return from relegation.

Beyond the marquee names, the documentary showcases emerging local talents like Salem Al-Dawsari, Feras Al-Buraikan, Talal Haji, and Abdulrahman Ghareeb, spotlighting their determination to shine amid the arrival of international football legends.


Pakistan goes undefeated to claim inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic Championship

Pakistan goes undefeated to claim inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic Championship
Updated 11 November 2024
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Pakistan goes undefeated to claim inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic Championship

Pakistan goes undefeated to claim inaugural Baseball United Arab Classic Championship
  • Pakistan finish tournament with 6 wins and no losses

DUBAI: Pakistan took home the trophy at the first-ever Baseball United Arab Classic international baseball tournament, which concluded Sunday night after four straight days of gameplay.

Pakistan was dominant the entire tournament, outscoring its opponents by a total of 57 runs, including a 12-1 victory over the UAE in the championship game.

The tournament, in which nine nations from the Gulf Cooperation Council and subcontinent participated, featured 21 games played at the new Baseball United Ballpark at The Sevens in Dubai.

The UAE, playing in its first international baseball tournament in the nation’s history, was a surprise finalist, beating Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals and then topping a highly ranked Palestine team in the semifinals to advance to the championship.

The UAE finished the tournament with five wins and two losses, with both defeats coming to Pakistan.

“This was the largest and most competitive baseball tournament in the history of the region, and the Pakistan team showed they are not only one of Asia’s top teams, but they are on the path to compete with the best baseball-playing nations in the world,” Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United, said in a statement.


Turkiye football club chief jailed over attack on ref

Turkiye football club chief jailed over attack on ref
Updated 11 November 2024
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Turkiye football club chief jailed over attack on ref

Turkiye football club chief jailed over attack on ref
  • Incident occurred in December 2023 following a 1-1 draw between Ankara’s MKA Ankaragucu and visiting Caykur Rizespor in Turkiye’s top flight

ANKARA: A former football chief in Turkiye’s Super Lig was sentenced to more than three years in prison Monday over an on-pitch attack on a referee, the Anadolu news agency reported.
The incident occurred in December 2023 following a 1-1 draw between Ankara’s MKA Ankaragucu and visiting Caykur Rizespor in Turkiye’s top flight.
Footage from the scene showed Ankaragucu’s then president Faruk Koca rushing onto the pitch and punching referee Halil Umut Meler after he blew the final whistle, shouting: “I’m going to kill you!“
He appeared to be incensed over the ref’s decision to send off one of his players, and disallowing an earlier goal by Ankaragucu. Caykur had scored an equalizer in injury time.
Denouncing the attack as “despicable,” the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended Super Lig matches for eight days and initiated criminal proceedings against Koca and several others.
Several days later, Koca apologized and resigned as club president but insisted his team had been cheated by the referee.
The court on Monday handed him three years and seven months for “intentional injury to a public sports official” as well as six months and 20 days for “making threats.”
It also handed him a five-month suspended sentence for “violating the law on violence prevention in sports.”
During the incident, the referee — who fell to the ground after being punched — was also kicked several times by other club officials, leaving him with a head trauma.
The court also handed prison sentences to three other officials for causing, or trying to cause, “intentional injury” to a public sports official, with sentences ranging from one to five years behind bars.
The incident provoked uproar in Turkiye and a flurry of condemnation, including from FIFA, football’s world governing body.