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Saudi Arabia hosts Red Bull Four 2 Score Championship

Saudi Arabia hosts Red Bull Four 2 Score Championship
Qualifiers will take place in five stages in Riyadh and Jeddah, with the national final scheduled for June 7 in Abha. (Supplied)
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Updated 20 May 2024
Arab News
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Saudi Arabia hosts Red Bull Four 2 Score Championship

Saudi Arabia hosts Red Bull Four 2 Score Championship
Updated 20 May 2024
Arab News
Follow

RIYADH: The Red Bull Four 2 Score Championship is returning to Saudi Arabia for its second edition from May 24 to June 7.

The tournament will feature teams of four players each competing in local qualifiers across three Saudi Arabia cities, culminating in a national final. The ultimate goal for participants is to win an all-inclusive trip to the world final in Germany later this year.

The event is being held in partnership with Red Bull Mobile, Subway and the Kingdom’s Ministry of Sports and Sports for All Federation.

Qualifiers will take place in five stages in Riyadh and Jeddah, with the national final scheduled for June 7 in Abha.

The tournament’s rules and concept are designed to showcase Red Bull’s “power football” philosophy. In the first and last 60 seconds of the 10-minute matches, goals are doubled. There are no breaks or goalies, emphasizing the importance of scoring at critical moments. Both male and female players aged 16 to 35 are eligible to participate.

The two winning teams from the female and male categories will represent Saudi Arabia alongside other international teams at the world final, hosted by RB Leipzig.

Topics: RedBull Saudi Arabia

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Djokovic claims he was ‘poisoned’ before 2022 Australian Open deportation

Djokovic claims he was ‘poisoned’ before 2022 Australian Open deportation
Updated 24 sec ago
AFP
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Djokovic claims he was ‘poisoned’ before 2022 Australian Open deportation

Djokovic claims he was ‘poisoned’ before 2022 Australian Open deportation
  • Novak Djokovic has claimed that he was “poisoned” by lead and mercury in his food while he was briefly held in Melbourne in 2022 before being deported on the eve of the Australian Open
Updated 24 sec ago
AFP
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic has claimed that he was “poisoned” by lead and mercury in his food while he was briefly held in Melbourne in 2022 before being deported on the eve of the Australian Open.
The former world number one had his visa canceled and was eventually kicked out of the country over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid.
He was held in a detention hotel as he fought a fruitless legal battle to remain.
“I had some health issues. And I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed some food that poisoned me,” the 37-year-old Djokovic told GQ magazine in a lengthy interview published Thursday.
“I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia. I never told this to anybody publicly, but discoveries that I had a really high level of heavy metal. I had lead, a very high level of lead and mercury.”
When asked if he believed his food was contaminated, the Serb replied: “That’s the only way.”
Djokovic refused to elaborate on Friday in Melbourne when asked if he had any evidence that his high heavy metal blood levels were linked to the food he was given.
But he did not back down from the poisoning allegations.
“The GQ article came out yesterday ... I’ve done that interview many months ago,” Djokovic said as he was preparing for a tilt at an 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown.
“I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that because I’d like to focus on the tennis and why I am here.
“If you want to see what I’ve said and get more info on that, you can always revert to the article.”
A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Home Affairs said it could not comment on individual cases “for privacy reasons.”
But the government says a lease agreement with the Park Hotel where he was held provides for freshly cooked, individually portioned lunches and dinners for detainees.


All catering staff have undertaken food safety certifications, it says.
And, as of December 31, 2021, the hotel had been providing samples of the food provided to detainees at each meal to the contractor responsible for detention services.
Australia says detainees had access to a variety of food and drink that was nutritious, culturally appropriate and satisfied specific medical or dietary requirements.
They were also offered breakfast items such as bread, cereal, noodles, tea and coffee at any time of the day or night.
Djokovic insisted that he does not hold “any grudge over the Australian people” despite the 2022 controversy. A year later, he returned to Melbourne where he swept to the title.
“A lot of Australian people that I meet in Australia the last few years or elsewhere in the world, have come up to me, apologizing to me for the treatment I received because they were embarrassed by their own government at that point,” he said in the GQ article.
“And I think the government’s changed, and they reinstated my visa, and I was very grateful for that.
“I actually love being there, and I think my results are a testament to my sensation of playing tennis and just being in that country.”
However, he added: “Never met the people that deported me from that country a few years ago. I don’t have a desire to meet with them. If I do one day, that’s fine as well. I’m happy to shake hands and move on.”

Veteran Gael Monfils reaches his 35th ATP final in Auckland aged 38

Veteran Gael Monfils reaches his 35th ATP final in Auckland aged 38
Updated 30 min 47 sec ago
AP
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Veteran Gael Monfils reaches his 35th ATP final in Auckland aged 38

Veteran Gael Monfils reaches his 35th ATP final in Auckland aged 38
  • Becomes the second oldest player since 1990 to reach a final on the men’s elite tennis tour
  • Frenchman Monfils has been breaking records steadily in Auckland to reach his 35th ATP Tour final
Updated 30 min 47 sec ago
AP

AUCKLAND: Gael Monfils became the second oldest player since 1990 to reach a final on the men’s elite tennis tour after beating American Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the semifinals at Auckland on Friday aged 38 years, 131 days.
Ivo Karlovic holds the ATP Tour record, having won through to final in Pune, India in 2019 at the age of 39 years, 311 days. Monfils edges Stan Wawrinka who was aged 38 years and 124 days when he reached the final at Umag, Croatia in 2023.
Karlovic also reached the final at Den Bosch in 2017 aged 38 years, 110 days while Roger Federer (Basel in 2019 aged 38 years and 80 days) and Rafael Nadal (the 2024 Swedish Open at 38 years and 48 days) also are in the top five.
Frenchman Monfils has been breaking records steadily in Auckland to reach his 35th ATP Tour final. When he beat Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the quarterfinals, he became the oldest player in the professional era to reach the last eight in Auckland.
He became the oldest-ever semifinalist in Auckland when he beat Facundo Diaz Acosta 6-3, 6-1 to reach his 73rd ATP Tour semifinal. Only Novak Djokovic has played more.
Monfils will face Zizou Bergs of Belgium in Saturday’s final.
“Everybody knows I’m a warhorse on the court, I don’t give up easy,” Monfils said after his semifinal. “I’m very pleased with the way I got through today, it wasn’t easy.”
The 19-year-old Basavareddy also has been making waves in Auckland. He is the youngest American since Reilly Opelka to reach an ATP Tour level semifinal on hard courts. Opelka did so aged 18 in Atlanta in 2016.
He turned pro in December after a stand-out 2024 season on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Topics: tennis Gael Monfils

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Bellingham leads Madrid past Mallorca to set up a Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona

Bellingham leads Madrid past Mallorca to set up a Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona
Updated 10 January 2025
AP
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Bellingham leads Madrid past Mallorca to set up a Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona

Bellingham leads Madrid past Mallorca to set up a Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona
  • Bellingham blasted in the third shot in a row by Madrid after Rodrygo initially hit the post
  • Madrid tacked on two goals late in stoppage time
Updated 10 January 2025
AP

JEDDAH: Jude Bellingham scored again to lead Real Madrid into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 3-0 win over Mallorca in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The England midfielder, who led Madrid in scoring last season, started this campaign slowly but has netted seven goals in his last eight Spanish league games.
He notched another goal in 63rd minute of the Super Cup semifinal when he finally broke down a tough Mallorca that until his goal had imposed their defensive style on the star-studded Madrid.
Bellingham blasted in the third shot in a row by Madrid after Rodrygo initially hit the post and goalkeeper Dominik Greif blocked a follow-up by Kylian Mbappé.
Bellingham collected the rebound and slotted his shot from just outside the six-yard box under the on-rushing Greif and past three defenders who were trying to protect the goalmouth.
Madrid tacked on two goals late in stoppage time. Mallorca’s Martin Valjent scored an own goal when he inadvertently turned a pass by Brahim Díaz into his net. Rodrygo then took Madrid’s third.
The match ended with a short scuffle after the final whistle before calm was restored.
Barcelona await Madrid in Sunday’s final.
Madrid lost Aurélien Tchouaméni, a midfielder playing as a central defender, in the 54th after he took a hard knock to the head during a collision with a Mallorca player.
Youth player Raúl Asencio replaced him.
Madrid were competing as last season’s Spanish league champion, while Mallorca were invited as the runner-up in the Copa del Rey.
Former Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who now plays in the Saudi Arabian league, was in attendance.
The minor trophy has become a major cash maker for the federation and competing clubs since the federation struck a deal in 2019 to hold it in the Middle Eastern kingdom.

Topics: real madrid Spanish Super Cup Barcelona mallorca Jude Bellingham

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Ronaldo penalty and Mane double propel Al-Nassr to 3-1 victory

Ronaldo penalty and Mane double propel Al-Nassr to 3-1 victory
Updated 10 January 2025
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Ronaldo penalty and Mane double propel Al-Nassr to 3-1 victory

Ronaldo penalty and Mane double propel Al-Nassr to 3-1 victory
  • After Savior Godwin gave Okhdood an early lead, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane leveled after 29 minutes
  • Ronaldo, who signed for Al-Nassr two years ago, put the Riyadh club ahead from the penalty spot three minutes before the break
Updated 10 January 2025
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 11th goal of the season to help Al-Nassr defeat Al-Okhdood 3-1 on Thursday as the Saudi Pro League restarted after a month’s break.
After Savior Godwin gave Okhdood an early lead, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane leveled after 29 minutes.
Ronaldo, who signed for Al-Nassr two years ago, put the Riyadh club ahead from the penalty spot three minutes before the break.
The 39-year-old Portugal star was top scorer last season and is now one goal behind Aleksandar Mitrovic of Al-Hilal in the current rankings.
Mane added his second in the 88th minute as Al-Nassr moved into third in the standings, six points behind Al-Hilal and eight behind leader Al-Ittihad.

Topics: SPL Al-Nassr SPL Al-Okhdood Cristiano Ronaldo Sadio Mane

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Atletico blast decision to let Barca’s Olmo play as dissent grows

Atletico blast decision to let Barca’s Olmo play as dissent grows
Updated 10 January 2025
AFP
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Atletico blast decision to let Barca’s Olmo play as dissent grows

Atletico blast decision to let Barca’s Olmo play as dissent grows
  • The Catalans sought and were granted a precautionary measure by the CSD on Wednesday
  • Las Palmas were also upset with the decision by the CSD
Updated 10 January 2025
AFP

MADRID: La Liga team Atletico Madrid criticized on Thursday a “dangerous precedent” set by the Spanish national sports council (CSD) to allow Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo to play on a temporary basis after his license expired.
Olmo and forward Pau Victor were unregistered by La Liga after Barcelona failed to get their short-term licenses extended before the end of 2024.
The Catalans sought and were granted a precautionary measure by the CSD on Wednesday, while their case against La Liga and the Spanish football federation’s decision is analyzed, which would allow Olmo and Victor to play until there is a final ruling.
“Atletico Madrid wish to express their deep concern about the situation in Spanish football following the resolution adopted this Wednesday by the (CSD),” said the club in a statement.
“We believe that this decision puts the current system in jeopardy, questioning the rules of the game.
“This government intervention creates a very dangerous precedent, as it opens the door to breaking the rules and making the same serious mistakes of the past.”
Financially-struggling Barcelona were not in a position to register Olmo and Victor under La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules, until they agreed a deal to sell some VIP seats to Middle Eastern investors in late December, with the paperwork not ready until after the deadline.
Without the missing players Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao to reach Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
Las Palmas were also upset with the decision by the CSD.
“We believe that this decision poses a serious threat to the integrity of the competition and sets a worrying precedent that could destabilize the foundations of professional football in our country,” said Las Palmas in a statement.
La Liga president Javier Tebas railed against the decision to let Olmo and Victor play, calling the situation a “tragicomedy” in a post on social media.
Tebas expressed his surprise at the CSD measure and highlighted that it contradicted previous decisions made by the council and some courts.

Topics: Dani Olmo Barcelona Atletico Madrid La Liga

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