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Saudi fighter wins historic first Muay Thai gold at world championships

Saudi fighter wins historic first Muay Thai gold at world championships
Saudi Muay Thai fighter Al-Baraa Al-Amoudi celebrates winning gold at the 2024 Senior World Championships. (Supplied)
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Updated 11 June 2024
SALEH FAREED
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Saudi fighter wins historic first Muay Thai gold at world championships

Saudi fighter wins historic first Muay Thai gold at world championships
  • Al-Baraa Al-Amoudi took the title at the 2024 Senior World Championships which concluded in Greece on Monday
Updated 11 June 2024
SALEH FAREED
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JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Baraa Al-Amoudi clinched the country’s first Muay Thai gold medal at the 2024 Senior World Championships this past weekend.

The tournament, organized by the International Federation of Muaythai Associations, was held in Patras, Greece, from May 31 to June 10.

More than 800 athletes from 70 countries participated in the competition, making it one of the largest events in the history of the sport.

Al-Amoudi defeated the 2023 titleholder, Russia’s Igor Bikruve, in the under-23, 57 kg category.

His friends and family gave him a hero’s welcome at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Monday.

“Bringing home a gold medal, that makes you proud of yourself,” said Al-Amoudi. “I feel so happy to bring glory for my country and hope it is going to be the start for more medals in the upcoming tournaments.”

On its X account, the Saudi Muay Thai Federation congratulated Al-Amoudi.

The Saudi Muay Thai team bagged four other medals.

Ali Al-Nasser, in his first international competition, won gold in the Para category, while Atheer Abdulaziz, Mohsin Al-Subiani, and Abdullah Al-Dossary took home bronze medals.

Arsenal stage 3-goal comeback against Real Madrid, set up Women’s Champions League semifinal against Lyon

Arsenal stage 3-goal comeback against Real Madrid, set up Women’s Champions League semifinal against Lyon
Updated 6 sec ago
AP
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Arsenal stage 3-goal comeback against Real Madrid, set up Women’s Champions League semifinal against Lyon

Arsenal stage 3-goal comeback against Real Madrid, set up Women’s Champions League semifinal against Lyon
  • The England star might have had a hat trick only to be denied by a VAR call for offside, then by Madrid goalkeeper Misa in a one-on-one, then by another offside call
  • Arsenal will face last season’s beaten finalist Lyon as they seek to win the trophy for the second time after success in 2007
Updated 6 sec ago
AP

LONDON: Alessia Russo scored twice and Arsenal staged a remarkable comeback to reach the Women’s Champions League semifinals with a 3-0 win over Real Madrid.

Mariona Caldentey scored the other as Arsenal grabbed three goals in 13 minutes to overturn the team’s 2-0 loss in the first leg of the quarterfinal in the Spanish capital last week.

Caldentey, who used to torment Madrid while playing for Barcelona, wheeled away in delight after leveling the tie three minutes after Russo pulled a goal back as Arsenal couldn’t have had a better start to the second half.

Russo fired Arsenal in front for the first time in the tie with an acrobatic finish in the 59th. It proved to be the winner in the 3-2 victory on aggregate.

The England star might have had a hat trick only to be denied by a VAR call for offside, then by Madrid goalkeeper Misa in a one-on-one, then by another offside call.

Arsenal needed a save from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar in stoppage time to prevent Madrid star Linda Caicedo from sending the match to extra time.

Arsenal will face last season’s beaten finalist Lyon as they seek to win the trophy for the second time after success in 2007.

Lyon advance

Kadidiatou Diani scored one goal and set up two more as Lyon outclassed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the second leg of their quarterfinal earlier.

The French powerhouse needed a wake-up call before reaching the semifinals for the 13th time. Klara Bühl opened the scoring in the 33rd minute off the far post to claw a goal back for Bayern after losing the first leg 2-0 in Munich.

Lyon, the eight-time champion, emerged reinvigorated after the break and went on to wrap up a 6-1 victory on aggregate with Diani scoring and setting up goals for Melchie Dumornay and Tabitha Chawinga, who both scored in Munich last week.

Dumornay played in Ada Hegerberg to seal the rout with a flourish by shooting the ball through Bayern goalkeeper Maria-Luisa “Mala” Grohs ‘ legs in stoppage time.

Bayern will be left to rue defensive blunders for undermining its comeback hopes.

The other quarterfinal second legs are scheduled for Thursday, with defending champion Barcelona in a comfortable position after a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany, and Chelsea needing goals as it host Manchester City after losing the first leg 2-0.

Barcelona defeated Lyon in last year’s final.

Topics: UEFA Women’s Champions League Women’s Champions League Arsenal Lyon real madrid

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Lyon outclass Bayern with 4-1 win to reach Women’s Champions League semifinals

Lyon outclass Bayern with 4-1 win to reach Women’s Champions League semifinals
Updated 27 March 2025
AP
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Lyon outclass Bayern with 4-1 win to reach Women’s Champions League semifinals

Lyon outclass Bayern with 4-1 win to reach Women’s Champions League semifinals
  • Lyon, the eight-time champion, emerged reinvigorated after the break and went on to wrap up a 6-1 victory on aggregate
  • Bayern will be left to rue defensive blunders for undermining their comeback hopes
Updated 27 March 2025
AP

LYON: Kadidiatou Diani scored one goal and set up two more as Lyon outclassed Bayern Munich 4-1 in the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.
The French powerhouse needed a wake-up call before reaching the semifinals for the 13th time. Klara Bühl opened the scoring in the 33rd minute off the far post to claw a goal back for Bayern after losing the first leg 2-0 in Munich.
Lyon, the eight-time champion, emerged reinvigorated after the break and went on to wrap up a 6-1 victory on aggregate with Diani scoring and setting up goals for Melchie Dumornay and Tabitha Chawinga, who both scored in Munich last week.
Dumornay played in Ada Hegerberg to seal the rout with a flourish by shooting the ball between Bayern goalkeeper Maria-Luisa “Mala” Grohs’ legs in stoppage time.
Bayern will be left to rue defensive blunders for undermining their comeback hopes.
Diani was given two opportunities to cross the ball for Dumornay to equalize on the night, then Bayern star Giulia Gwinn inadvertently set up Diani to score in the 54th.
It was the third blow for Bayern in quick succession with forward Jovana Damnjanovic going off with an apparent rib injury.
The fourth blow came shortly afterward with Diana crossing for Chawinga to score Lyon’s third goal on the hour-mark. The French league champion missed further chances to score before Hegerberg made the last one count.
Lyon will face either Real Madrid or Arsenal in the semifinals. They were contesting the second leg of their quarterfinal in London later, with the Spanish team 2-0 up from the first leg in Madrid last week.
Arsenal made a promising start without scoring while Madrid began threatening toward the end of the first half in the second leg.
The other quarterfinal second legs are scheduled for Thursday, with defending champion Barcelona in a comfortable position after a 4-1 win over Wolfsburg in Germany, and Chelsea needing goals as they host Manchester City after losing the first leg 2-0.
Barcelona defeated Lyon in last year’s final.

Topics: Bayern Munich Lyon UEFA Women’s Champions League

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Tour de France champion Pogacar targets Paris-Roubaix’s cobbled ‘hell’

Tour de France champion Pogacar targets Paris-Roubaix’s cobbled ‘hell’
Updated 26 March 2025
AFP
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Tour de France champion Pogacar targets Paris-Roubaix’s cobbled ‘hell’

Tour de France champion Pogacar targets Paris-Roubaix’s cobbled ‘hell’
  • “It was initially planned for Tadej Pogacar to participate in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem,” read UAE’s statement
  • Mauro Gianetti, UAE team manager, highlighted their concerns for the best paid member of the peloton
Updated 26 March 2025
AFP

PARIS: Three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar will race the notorious Paris-Roubaix, known as the ‘Hell of the North’ for its treacherous cobbled mining roads, for the first time, his team UAE announced on Wednesday.
Of the five big one-day races known as ‘Monuments’, Paris-Roubaix is the least suited to the Slovenian’s slender frame and adding that title would confirm his growing status as one of the all-time greats.
He will be the first reigning Tour de France champion to tackle what is often a mudfest since Greg Lemond in 1991 — the American finished 55th.
Cycling legends Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx also tried to win the one-day race in 1982 and 1975 respectively, a year after winning the Tour de France.
Neither was successful although Merckx finished second, edged out on the line by Roger De Vlaeminck. However, they both achieved perhaps an even greater feat in landing the two races in the same year, with Merckx doing the double in 1970 and Hinault in 1981.
Victory on April 13 would set Pogacar up nicely to join that elite duo.
He already has seven Monument victories to his credit, including the 2023 Tour of Flanders.
Pogacar has also won Il Lombardia each of the last four years and Liege-Bastogne-Liege twice.
“It was initially planned for Tadej Pogacar to participate in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem,” read UAE’s statement.
“However, after discussions with the team, it has been decided that he will adjust his calendar to focus on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix instead, aiming for peak form in those iconic races.”
The change of plan is a victory for Pogacar, who has said he prefers the one-day races to multi-stage ones, as he had argued to compete in the Paris-Roubaix, against the wishes of the team directors who were concerned about the possibility of injury.
Paris-Roubaix is considered the most dangerous race of them all owing to its six million cobble stones, many of them uneven, which has resulted in serious injuries to the riders.
Mauro Gianetti, UAE team manager, highlighted their concerns for the best paid member of the peloton — he is believed to earn 8 million euros ($8.6 million) a year — in the one-day races after he had fallen in the Strade Bianche before getting back up to win it.
“A bad fall could put a question mark over his competing in the Tour de France and maybe the rest of the season,” said Gianetti.
“He has enough time in his career to ride in the Paris-Roubaix.”
However, his decision, after finishing third in the Milan-San Remo, delighted Paris-Roubaix race director Thierry Gouvenou.
“It is a huge moment for cycling,” said Gouvenou.
“It has been a long time since we had a Tour de France winner who is a genuine contender to win the Paris-Roubaix.
“He is going to face a challenge suited to his talent.”
Gouvenou, though, believes Pogacar is up against it with rivals like Milan-San Remo winner Mathieu van der Poel, Belgian Wout Van Aert and Italy’s Filippo Ganna.
“If Van der Poel is at the top of his game, it will be very difficult for Pogacar,” said Gouvenou.
“He is going to race on a route that is not suited to him.
“If ever he wins Paris-Roubaix it will be against the odds. But that is what we all expect: to see champions up against it.
“This race could make him even greater than he is now.”
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Pogacar’s bid was a bold move.
“That he dares take this risk in a year he wants to win the Tour is a bold move. It’ll be a hell of a fight. I can’t wait to see it.”

Topics: tour de france Tadej Pogacar UAE Team Emirates

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De Kock fireworks see Kolkata thrash Rajasthan in IPL

De Kock fireworks see Kolkata thrash Rajasthan in IPL
Updated 26 March 2025
AFP
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De Kock fireworks see Kolkata thrash Rajasthan in IPL

De Kock fireworks see Kolkata thrash Rajasthan in IPL
  • Spinners Moeen Ali and Varun Chakravarthy combined to help restrict Rajasthan to 151-9 after KKR elected to field first in Guwahati
  • De Kock bossed the chase with his 61-ball innings laced with eight fours and six sixes as Kolkata achieved their target with 15 balls to spare
Updated 26 March 2025
AFP

GUWAHATI, India: South Africa’s Quinton de Kock struck an unbeaten 97 as holders Kolkata Knight Riders registered their first win of the IPL season with an eight-wicket hammering of Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday.
Spinners Moeen Ali and Varun Chakravarthy combined to help restrict Rajasthan to 151-9 after KKR elected to field first in Guwahati.
De Kock bossed the chase with his 61-ball innings laced with eight fours and six sixes as Kolkata achieved their target with 15 balls to spare.
De Kock, who has retired from Tests and one-day international cricket for South Africa and whose T20 international future remains uncertain, showed no signs of rustiness.
“To be fair, haven’t felt any challenges yet,” De Kock said.
“Have had three months off which felt nice. Had about a 10-day build-up to this season. Only my second game here, just taking it as I see it.”
Kolkata signed De Kock in November’s auction after he was released by Lucknow Super Giants.
He handed his team a quick start, hitting two fours but then lost opening partner Moeen, run out for five.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane fell after a brisk 18 but De Kock stood firm and along with impact substitute Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who made 22, steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 83.
De Kock finished with a six off Jofra Archer as Kolkata bounced back from their opening loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Rajasthan suffered their second straight loss.
Earlier, Kolkata fast bowler Vaibhav Arora dismissed Sanju Samson, bowled for 13, and Chakravarthy and Moeen soon took two wickets each.
Wicketkeeper Samson is Rajasthan’s regular captain but has been forced to play only as a batter in the first three matches due to an injury.
Chakravarthy, who starred in India’s recent Champions Trophy triumph, got stand-in-skipper Riyan Parag out caught behind for 25.
Former England all-rounder Moeen, in for the unwell Sunil Narine, stifled the opposition with his off-spin and was rewarded with the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal for 29.
The 37-year-old and Chakravarthy both struck again as Rajasthan slipped to 82-5 in 11 overs.
Wickets kept tumbling for Rajasthan and despite wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel’s 33 and 16 from Archer, they settled for a below-par total.
“I think 170 was a reasonable score but we fell short by 20 runs,” said Parag. “The plan was to get Quinny out early but he didn’t so we shifted to containing them in the middle overs.”
Arora and fellow quick Harshit Rana also took two wickets each.
Kolkata, under Shreyas Iyer who is now Punjab Kings captain after a $3.17 million move in the auction, won their third IPL title last year.

Topics: KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS RAJASTHAN ROYALS Quinton de Kock

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Philippines teen Eala ousts No.2 Swiatek from Miami Open

Philippines teen Eala ousts No.2 Swiatek from Miami Open
Updated 26 March 2025
AFP
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Philippines teen Eala ousts No.2 Swiatek from Miami Open

Philippines teen Eala ousts No.2 Swiatek from Miami Open
  • Eala broke the Pole for the eighth and final time when Swiatek was serving to stay
  • “It’s just surreal,” said Eala
Updated 26 March 2025
AFP

MIAMI: Alexandra Eala, a 19-year-old wildcard from the Philippines, produced a huge upset at the Miami Open on Wednesday, defeating world number two Iga Swiatek 6-2 7-5 to reach the semifinals.
Ranked 140th in the world, Eala, the first woman from her country to reach the last eight of a WTA 1000 tournament, took advantage of a unusually poor display from Swiatek, keeping her focus as she fought back from 4-2 down in the second set.
Eala broke the Pole for the eighth and final time when Swiatek was serving to stay in the match at 6-5 down in the second set and looked in disbelief as she struggled to contain her emotions.
“It’s just surreal,” said Eala, who has now beaten three grand slam winners on her route to the last four at Miami — having dealt with Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys before upsetting four-time French Open champion Swiatek.
“I’m trusting my shots and I have a great team to tell me that I can do it,” she said.
Eala moved to Spain at the age of 13 to join Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca.
Eala will face the winner of Wednesday’s quarter-final between Britain’s Emma Raducanu and American Jessica Pegula.

Topics: Iga Swiatek Alexandra Eala Miami Open

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