Philipsen edges Girmay in sprint for Tour de France stage 10

Philipsen edges Girmay in sprint for Tour de France stage 10
Belgium's Jasper Philipsen celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of Germany's Pascal Ackermann, left, Colombia's Fernado Gavira, second left, and Eritrea's Biniam Girmay, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, to win the 10th stage of the Tour de France Tuesday. (AP)
Short Url
Updated 10 July 2024
Follow

Philipsen edges Girmay in sprint for Tour de France stage 10

Philipsen edges Girmay in sprint for Tour de France stage 10
  • Philipsen was guided to victory by teammate and world road race champion Mathieu van der Poel
  • Man-to-beat Tadej Pogacar protected his 33-second overall lead over Remco Evenepoel with defending champion Jonas Vingegaard at 1min 15sec in third

SAINT-AMAND-MONTROND, France: Belgian Jasper Philipsen won a mass sprint ahead of Eritrean Biniam Girmay on stage 10 of the Tour de France on Tuesday after a flat 187.3km ride south from Orleans.

Before Wednesday’s potentially explosive stage, man-to-beat Tadej Pogacar protected his 33-second overall lead over Remco Evenepoel with defending champion Jonas Vingegaard at 1min 15sec in third.

Last year’s green jersey winner Philipsen closed the gap slightly on current occupant Girmay, who has two stage wins and 267 points to the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider’s 193.

Philipsen was guided to victory by teammate and world road race champion Mathieu van der Poel.

“When you have a world champion to lead you out in your Tour de France sprint it is magnificent,” said Philipsen after hitting a speed of 75km/h (46.6 mph).

After Monday’s rest day the 172 remaining riders embarked from the city of Orleans past the statue of Jeanne d’Arc and the historic city’s giant cathedral.

Low balmy skies and a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit) persuaded the bunch to pace themselves across the vast wheat plains to the south of Orleans.

It was slow enough for Briton Tom Pidcock to unwrap a sandwich from silver foil, while beside him Pavel Sivakov spotted the open door of a camping car and gracefully launched his water bottle through it.

In the battle for the overall title the so-called Fab Four of Pogacar, Evenepoel, Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic are locked in a tense and tetchy struggle at this halfway stage 10 with no obvious favorite.

In his Giro d’Italia-Tour double bid Pogacar may have expected to be further ahead given how much effort he has invested.

Evenepoel looks fresh and calm and is giving off a far happier vibe than the three others.

Two-time winner Vingegaard is riding into form and winning a war of nerves as he tails Pogacar relentlessly, but has suffered an early blow with the 1min 15sec deficit.

Pogacar’s compatriot Roglic is waging a dark horse run in fourth at 1min 36sec but is priming his form for week three.

Any hopes of a record-extending 36th stage win for Mark Cavendish dissolved when he lost his sprint train on a tight corner in the final kilometer.

At the same finish line on stage 13 of the 2013 Tour, 39-year-old Cavendish managed to cross an echelon in strong winds, but on Tuesday he was outside the chase at the finale.

Wednesday’s 211km ride continues south but through dormant volcanic mountains including a handful of testing climbs to the west of the city of Clermont.


Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event

Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event
Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event

Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan take titles at WWE Riyadh Season event
  • The night was not short on surprises, as the match between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ended with no result because of unexpected interference

RIYADH: In an extraordinary night at Mohammed Abdu Arena as part of Riyadh Season’s WWE events, “Crown Jewel 2024” delivered a memorable evening of intense matches that wrestling fans will not soon forget.

The General Entertainment Authority CEO, Faisal Bafarat, awarded Cody Rhodes the “Crown Jewel 2024” men’s title and Liv Morgan the women’s title, with both receiving a new championship belt adorned with 50 carats of diamonds as the first champions in Crown Jewel history.

The event kicked off with an explosive opening match in which “The Bloodline,” led by Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga (accompanied by Tanga Loa), achieved a historic victory over Roman Reigns and “The Usos” (Jey and Jimmy Uso) in a six-man tag team match.

In the WWE women’s tag team championship match, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defended their titles successfully against fierce competition from teams including “Damage Control,” “The Meta-4,” and Chelsea Green with Piper Niven. Seth “Freakin” Rollins also delivered an outstanding performance, defeating “Big” Bronson Reed.

In the women’s showdown, Liv Morgan, the reigning RAW women’s champion, claimed the title of “Crown Jewel Women’s Champion” after defeating SmackDown women’s champion Nia Jax in a grueling battle.

The night was not short on surprises, as the match between Randy Orton and Kevin Owens ended with no result because of unexpected interference, heightening the evening’s excitement.

In a triple-threat match for the United States Championship, LA Knight retained his title after an intense victory over Andrade and Carmelo Hayes.

The night culminated in a grand finale as Cody Rhodes, the undisputed WWE champion, defeated heavyweight champion Gunther, emerging as the Crown Jewel Champion to thunderous cheers from the crowd.

 


Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI 

Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI 
Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI 

Pakistan pick pace-dominated XI to rattle Australia in first ODI 
  • Pakistan head into Melbourne ODI with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain and Haris Rauf in playing XI
  • Green shirts will play three ODIs against Australia on Nov. 4, 8 and 10 at Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, respectively

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will head into the first ODI against Australia on Monday with fiery fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain featuring in the playing XI squad, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said. 

Pakistan’s new white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan will lead his side for the first time since assuming captaincy this month at Melbourne against Australia on Monday. 

The South Asian country is scheduled to play three ODIs on Nov. 4, 8 and 10 in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, respectively before taking on Australia in a three-match T20I series on Nov. 14, 16 and 18. 

“The men’s national selection committee has confirmed Pakistan’s playing XI for the first ODI against Australia,” the PCB said in a statement. 

Rauf and Hasnain have both had ample experience playing on Australian pitches for the Big Bash League (BBL). Both bowlers have the ability to bowl above 150 kmph and bamboozle batters through sheer pace. 

Australian pitches favor pace and bounce, serving as ideal hunting grounds for pacers from Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and the West Indies in the past. 

Afridi and Shah, Pakistan’s experienced pace bowlers, will return to the squad after they were dropped from the Test squad after England drubbed Pakistan in the first Test in Multan last month. 

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Kamran Ghulam have both been included in the squad while the green shirts will rely on openers Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub to deliver the goods with the bat against Australia. 

Playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain 
 


Jadeja takes five as India chase 147 to avoid series sweep

Jadeja takes five as India chase 147 to avoid series sweep
Updated 03 November 2024
Follow

Jadeja takes five as India chase 147 to avoid series sweep

Jadeja takes five as India chase 147 to avoid series sweep
  • New Zealand lead the three-match Test series in India by 2-0
  • India, the hosts, are looking to avoid embarrassing 3-0 whitewash

MUMBAI: Spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed five wickets as India bowled out New Zealand for 174 on Sunday, leaving the hosts needing a tricky 147 to win the third Test.

New Zealand, who lead the three-match series 2-0, resumed on 171-9, losing Ajaz Patel for eight off Jadeja after seven minutes of play on day three at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

The left-handed Ajaz was caught at deep mid-wicket off a slog sweep as left-arm spinner Jadeja ended with a match haul of 10 wickets. He also claimed five in New Zealand’s first innings.

Fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets.

The hosts are seeking to avoid being swept 3-0 after New Zealand won the first two Tests to register their first Test series triumph in India.

Will Young top-scored with 51 on Saturday on a track that has turned sharply since day one.

Shubman Gill hit 90 in India’s 263 which gave them a slender 28-run first-innings lead in response to New Zealand’s 235.


Sabalenka kick offs WTA Finals campaign with win over Olympic champ Qinwen

Sabalenka kick offs WTA Finals campaign with win over Olympic champ Qinwen
Updated 02 November 2024
Follow

Sabalenka kick offs WTA Finals campaign with win over Olympic champ Qinwen

Sabalenka kick offs WTA Finals campaign with win over Olympic champ Qinwen
  • Sabalenka is eyeing a maiden trophy at the prestigious season finale in Riyadh after finishing second two years ago

RIYADH: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka commenced her WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh on Saturday with her fifth victory in as many meetings with the current Olympic champion, China’s Zheng Qinwen, posting a 6-3, 6-4 result.

Facing off for the fifth time in the last 14 months, Sabalenka and Zheng opened the action at the first-ever professional women’s tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia in front of a near capacity crowd at King Saud University Indoor Arena.

The Belarusian top seed needed just one hour and 24 minutes to defeat Zheng, dropping a mere two points behind her first serve throughout the contest.

A runner-up at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas two years ago, Sabalenka is eyeing a maiden trophy at the prestigious season finale, which would also guarantee her the year-end top ranking.

“It’s going to mean everything for me, that’s one of my dreams and I really worked hard in the past years and I really hope that one day I’ll be able to hold this beautiful trophy,” said Sabalenka, 26, on court.

“Qinwen is such a great player and we always had great battles against each other. She’s playing really aggressive tennis. I’m super happy with the win, especially against such a tough opponent.

“I think I served really well today and I put her under so much pressure on her serve. So I think my serve helped me tonight.”

Saudi Tennis Federation President Arij Mutabagani, tournament director and former world No. 1 Garbine Muguruza, and the highest-ranked African and Arab player in history, Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, kicked-off proceedings by welcoming the crowd and the tennis tour to Riyadh in a pre-match opening ceremony.

Very little separated the players in the opening set as both dominated the points behind their first serves, Sabalenka winning 18/19 and Zheng winning 13/16.

But it was the second serve where Sabalenka found an edge, and after she saved a break point in the third game, the top seed broke for a 4-2 advantage and sealed a one-set lead in 39 minutes.

With Chinese supporters representing the majority of the crowd and rallying behind their Olympic hero, Zheng was near clinical through the first eight games of the second set.   

But Sabalenka upped the ante in game nine, converting her second break point opportunity to inch ahead and she closed out the win on her own serve minutes later.

In a bizarre incident, Sabalenka had to wait at the net for a short moment before Zheng realized she had actually lost the match.

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has now won her last seven consecutive matches against top-10 opposition.


Charley Hull triumphs at Aramco Team Series in Riyadh with impressive 18-under finish

Charley Hull triumphs at Aramco Team Series in Riyadh with impressive 18-under finish
Updated 02 November 2024
Follow

Charley Hull triumphs at Aramco Team Series in Riyadh with impressive 18-under finish

Charley Hull triumphs at Aramco Team Series in Riyadh with impressive 18-under finish
  • Englishwoman’s 18-under-par performance gave her a three-stroke lead over Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup

RIYADH: England’s Charley Hull stormed to victory at the Aramco Team Series in Riyadh on Saturday, closing with a 66 to secure her first tournament win since 2022.

Hull’s 18-under-par performance gave her a three-stroke lead over Denmark’s Nicole Broch Estrup, marking her sixth professional win and her fourth on the Ladies European Tour.

Hull attributed her success to her sharp play and solid putting. 

“I felt really sharp, I played very solidly today,” she said. “I made a bogey on the par five 17th and the par three, but that was just two three putts. So quite long putts, in all fairness, and they got away from me a little bit, but felt like I held my game together pretty well. And 18-under for three days is a pretty good score.”

Starting the final round two strokes behind Slovenia’s Pia Babnik, Hull quickly took control with an aggressive approach, sinking birdies throughout the front nine. 

Her momentum was especially evident on the par-5 fifth hole, where she drove close to the green, setting up a perfect chip that left her with a simple tap-in birdie.

“I was actually chatting to someone who was quite close to me before I started, and he said, get off to a fast start, try and get ahead,” Hull shared. “That's what I did — and it’s a good job I listened to them.”

Hull maintained her lead despite bogeys on the 14th and 17th, closing with a steady par on the 18th. Her friends Georgia Hall and Annabell Dimmock were there to celebrate as she sank her final putt, capping off a flawless week in Riyadh.

She now turns her focus to the final events of the LPGA Tour in the US before preparing for a major campaign in 2025. 

“I’m going home for a week, before I head back to America for the last two events in the LPGA Tour, which is the ANNIKA event, and then the CME Group Tour Championship. I like the Tour Championship golf course. I won there in 2016, so I’m looking forward to them too, and then home for Christmas, I can’t wait.”

The Aramco Team Series in Riyadh, one of five $1 million LET events hosted by Golf Saudi this season, capped off an impactful year for golf in Saudi Arabia. 

Golf Saudi CEO Noah Alireza praised the tournament, saying: “What an incredible week of golf we’ve enjoyed here in Riyadh — and what fitting and deserving champions we have in both Charley Hull and Team Tamburlini.”

Alireza also highlighted the event’s local influence, noting the participation of ten Saudi amateur players and the success of Golf Saudi’s Go Golf initiative, which has brought 58 new Saudi players into the game. 

“All of these are landmark moments as we continue to grow golf in Saudi Arabia. I’d like to thank all the players and partners who helped make this an unforgettable week of golf and we look forward to the return of the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF next year.”