Da Costa wins Shanghai E-Prix, Hughes on podium for NEOM McLaren

Da Costa wins Shanghai E-Prix, Hughes on podium for NEOM McLaren
Shanghai E-Prix winner Antonio Felix da Costa (center) with second-placed Norman Nato (right) and third-placed Jake Hughes
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Updated 27 May 2024
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Da Costa wins Shanghai E-Prix, Hughes on podium for NEOM McLaren

Da Costa wins Shanghai E-Prix, Hughes on podium for NEOM McLaren
  • The TAG Heuer Porsche driver secured his second win of Season 10 with Hughes and Andretti’s Nato completing the top three
  • Nearly 40,000 spectators enjoyed the doubleheader weekend in what was the series’ first time racing in China since Season 5

SHANGHAI: Antonio Felix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche) clinched his second victory of Season 10 in Round 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the Shanghai E-Prix, leading NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes and Andretti’s Norman Nato in second and third respectively.

After superior energy management and performance, Da Costa seized the lead from Nato on Lap 16 and maintained his position until the end of the 28-lap race, despite Hughes’ late push. Hughes, who had secured the Julius Baer Pole Position by a mere 0.001 seconds earlier in the day, succeeded in securing his first-ever Formula E podium amid fierce competition, ultimately finishing second.

Nato finished third, with Nick Cassidy (Jaguar TCS Racing) in fourth after a collision damaged his front wing. Cassidy’s closest title rival and Da Costa’s teammate Pascal Wehrlein faced a setback with a punctured tire, finishing outside the points.

“I’m super happy with the momentum that we’ve been able to build. It’s been a big run of races now since Sao Paulo, racing almost every two weeks, so we’ve been able to crack on and keep building a little bit more every weekend,” said Da Costa. “We’ve had some sixth places, some fifth places and now we’ve had three wins in the last six or seven races, so definitely good momentum. A real shame how the year started, plus that loss of win in Misano, but otherwise I think we’ve been having a run with a championship-contending car and driver.

“I think Mitch (Evans) has got two victories, (Nick) Cassidy and Pascal (Wehrlein) are on a roll as well so obviously it shows that the Jags and the Porsches at these types of races, where efficiency is key, have a little bit of an edge on the others I think, and that’s good.”

Jaguar TCS Racing’s Evans followed Cassidy in fifth, contributing to a strong team result for the current leaders of the Teams’ FIA World Championship. The DS PENSKE duo Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne finished sixth and seventh, respectively. Maximilian Gunther (Maserati MSG Racing), Robin Frijns (Envision Racing), and Oliver Rowland (Nissan) rounded out the top 10. Reigning champion Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E Team) finished just outside the points in 11th.

The results see Cassidy extend his lead to 25 points over Wehrlein in the Drivers’ FIA World Championship standings. Jaguar TCS Racing now holds 299 points in the Teams’ standings, with TAG Heuer Porsche on 226. Porsche leads the Manufacturers’ standings with 337 points to Jaguar’s 328.

Next, the championship heads to Portland for a double-header on June 29-30, marking the beginning of the decisive final four rounds of Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.


Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par
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Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par
Waring, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at Yas Links
Rory McIlroy made a triple bogey on No. 17 in his second successive 67

ABU DHABI: Paul Waring hit the shot of his life to complete a career-low 11-under 61 in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship on Friday and establish a five-stroke lead heading into the weekend of the European tour’s first playoff event.
The No. 229-ranked Englishman hit a draw with a 3-wood from about 260 yards to inside 4 feet at No. 18 and tapped in the birdie putt to move to 19-under par for the tournament.
The European tour confirmed to The Associated Press that it is the lowest 36-hole score to par in the tour’s history.
Waring, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at Yas Links and set a course record.
First-round leader Tommy Fleetwood of England (68), Johannes Veerman of the United States (67) and Danish players Niklas Norgaard (65) and Thorbjorn Olesen (67) were tied for second place on 14 under.
Rory McIlroy made a triple bogey on No. 17 in his second successive 67 and was nine strokes off the lead.
McIlroy can clinch a sixth Race to Dubai title with a win this week.

Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool
Updated 08 November 2024
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Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool
  • Slot appeared to have a tough ask to follow Jurgen Klopp
  • The Dutch coach has won 14 and drawn one of his 16 matches in charge

Liverpool: Arne Slot said he is not shocked by a stunning start to life in charge of Liverpool as the Reds have stormed to the top of the Premier League and Champions League.
The Dutch coach has won 14 and drawn one of his 16 matches in charge in all competitions as the holders have also progressed to the League Cup quarter-finals.
Slot appeared to have a tough ask to follow Jurgen Klopp.
But he has built on the solid foundations left by the German after Liverpool finished third in the Premier League behind Manchester City and Arsenal last season.
“Surprise isn’t the right word I’d use because I knew the quality of our team. But quality is one thing, to be consistent is a second thing,” said Slot at his pre-match press conference ahead of hosting Aston Villa on Saturday.
“From the moment I started working with them I saw how much energy they put in on a daily basis and that is I think the reason you can be consistent.”
Liverpool were inspired by the power of the Anfield crowd to come from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 last weekend to move two points ahead of City at the top of the Premier League.
A similar atmosphere helped blow Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen away 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Slot is keen to keep his players’ feet on the ground but is happy for the fans to get excited about the possibility of just a second league title in 35 years.
“If the end result of them being excited is to bring the atmosphere of the second half against Brighton and the whole game against Leverkusen, I am hoping they will keep being excited because that atmosphere helped us a lot,” added the former Feyenoord boss.
Diogo Jota remains sidelined but should return after November’s international break.


Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar
Updated 08 November 2024
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Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar
  • Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title for 3rd time
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif promises to set up world-class facilities for sportsmen

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif for winning the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Championship in Qatar for the third time, Pakistani state-run media reported on Thursday.
Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title in a thrilling final on Nov. 6. He outclassed Ali 5-3: 70-25, 7-87(84), 82(56)-8, 106(106)-08, 82-12, 43-91(58), 0-118 and 93(80)-4.
“Asif made the entire nation proud by winning the international championship for the third time,” PM Sharif was quoted as saying by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster. “The talented youth of Pakistan are highlighting the country’s name in the fields of sports.”
The IBSF, founded in 1971, is the governing body for billiards and snooker worldwide. It represents 85 member countries and is recognized by the World Confederation of Billiard Sports and the International Olympic Committee.
Asif, 42, first won the IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2012 and went on to win it again in 2019. His victory ties him with India’s Pankaj Advani who has also won the World Snooker Championship thrice.
The Pakistan prime minister said Asif’s family and coach also deserved recognition, adding that providing quality facilities to Pakistani players was top priority of his government.
“The government is making all possible efforts to provide international standard facilities to the players,” he added.
 


Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona
Updated 08 November 2024
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Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

BARCELONA: Raphinha knew he would have a hard time getting off Barcelona’s bench with the soccer world enthralled by teen phenom Lamine Yamal and the club eyeing to sign another hot prospect in the attack.

Instead of pouting, he evolved.

While the entire Barcelona team improved under new coach Hansi Flick, no player has made such a leap forward this season as Raphinha.

His 12 goals and team-leading 10 assists across all competitions are a big part of why Barcelona is playing its best soccer since the exit of Lionel Messi more than three years ago.

But if one player looked to be on the out when the season started, it was the Brazil forward.

Raphinha seemed destined to become a second-choice right-side winger after 17-year-old Yamal helped Spain win the European Championship in dazzling style. To make matters worse, the club was heavily linked to a possible transfer bid to pry Spain left-side winger Nico Williams away from Athletic Bilbao.

That move never materialized for Williams, but Raphinha was still left with either playing in a new position or being a backup to Yamal.

And when Flick gave him the chance to have a new role, he made the most of it.


England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over
Updated 08 November 2024
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England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

LONDON: Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall were called up to the England squad for the first time on Thursday as interim coach Lee Carsley made his final selection before Thomas Tuchel takes charge.

Tuchel does not start until January after being hired to lead the national team’s bid to win the 2026 World Cup.

Carsley will oversee England’s final Nations League games against Greece and Ireland and has continued to look toward a new generation of players, having already handed debuts to Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke since taking over on a temporary basis from Gareth Southgate in August.

Carsley said had not discussed his selection with Tuchel.

“He hasn’t had any influence on the squad selection. I’ve spoken to him by text, but it’s literally congratulations,” he said. “I think he’s highly respectful of the job that not only myself, but the staff are doing.

“We’ve been left to it, like we always have.”

England plays Greece in Athens on Nov. 14 and Ireland at Wembley on Nov. 17.

Carsley will resume his role as England Under-21 coach after those games.