JEDDAH: With just over a week to go before entries close for this year’s Rally Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s leading rally star Yazeed Al-Rajhi is one of 30 competitors from seven nations to so far confirm participation in the two-day event set for Nov. 17-18.
The rally is sponsored by Mohamed Yousef Naghi Motors (MYN Motors) – Land Rover – the official car of the rally, which will also supply the official course opening car and additional vehicles for officials. Additional support and extensive planned media coverage comes from the MBC Group, while Al-Arabia Advertising has planned marketing campaigns and Al-Madina newspaper and Total Oils offer further support to the candidate event for the 2017 Gulf Challenge.
Al-Rajhi, from Riyadh, won the inaugural rally with French navigator Alex Winocq in 2014 and returned last year to dominate with regular German co-driver Timo Gottschalk, with whom he has tackled select events in this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies.
Rally officials are expecting several other teams to enter the event as the deadline looms, but Al-Rajhi has already been joined on the entry list by a long list of Saudi drivers, including the experienced former MERC driver Ahmed Al-Sabban, previous Ha’il Rally winner Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, last year’s T2 winner Monif Al-Salmani, Mohammed and Ahmed Al-Malki, Ahmed Al-Gashami, Saleh Al-Abdulali, Rajeh Farhan Al-Shammeri Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri and Motab Saud Al-Shammeri.
Al-Rajhi will be partnered by Gottschalk again in two weeks’ time, as he aims to claim a hat trick of wins across the Kingdom’s western deserts. “Taking part in rallies in my home country is special and I would not miss this event for the world,” said Al-Rajhi.
“It now has a regular place in the FIA regional motor sporting calendar and I am looking forward to taking part again. The popularity of the event can be seen by the number of local drivers who have already entered the rally.”
The entry list so far shows competitors entered in both the FIA T1 and T2 categories from seven nations: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, France, Russia and Germany.
Two all-Kuwaiti teams have entered Rally Jeddah well ahead of the final deadline. Salem and Fares Al-Thafiri will take part, while FIA Middle East Rally Championship regulars, Meshari and Mubarak Al-Thafiri, have a second car at their disposal for a first attempt at the Saudi event in the T1 category.
Rally Jeddah is organized by the Jeddah government and Abdullah S. Bakhashab Establishment under the supervision of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) and the patronage of Prince Mishaal bin Majid bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, governor of Jeddah and head of Rally Jeddah’s higher organizing committee.
Other members of the committee include Prince Sultan bin Bandar Al-Faisal, president of the SAMF, Dr. Hani Mohammed Aburas and Major General Abdullah Mohamed Al-Qahtani.
Rally Jeddah attracts 30 entries from 7 nations
Rally Jeddah attracts 30 entries from 7 nations
Kuwait welcomes its new PFL MENA champion
- Mohammad Alaqraa, 25, hailed on return home after welterweight title win over Badreddine Diani in Alkhobar
DUBAI: On Dec.15 Mohammad Alaqraa touched down at Kuwait International Airport carrying something he had been chasing for years: the PFL MENA welterweight championship belt.
His arrival came just 10 days after a unanimous decision victory over Morocco’s Badreddine Diani at Dhahran Expo in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. It marked a significant milestone for the Kuwaiti fighter and the combat sports landscape in the Middle East.
Greeted at the airport by his father, brother, excited fans and media representatives, Alaqraa spoke about his plans.
“It’s been a long journey, thanks to everyone that came to the airport and past events. Just like I promised I’ll get the MENA championship, my goal is to raise Kuwait’s name in this sport (and) now I promise next time I’ll come back with a world title,” he said.
Alaqraa’s arrival became an impromptu celebration. Fans had phone cameras ready for selfies and videos as he emerged holding his belt.
The championship fight against Diani was a full five-round affair that showcased Alaqraa’s growth. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 in his favor. Alaqraa had established control through pressure wrestling, fence work, and a steady jab.
The win was sweet after losing by referee’s stoppage to Omar El-Dafrawy in the 2024 PFL MENA Finals.
Alaqraa defeated Omar Hussein and Ayman Galal en route to the 2025 finals, with his semifinal victory over Galal ending in just 21 seconds with an oblique kick, the fastest finish in PFL MENA history.
At 25 years old, Alaqraa now holds a 10-1 record in MMA. His background encompasses multiple martial arts disciplines developed since childhood. He holds a judo black belt and finished first in an International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation tournament before turning professional in 2021.
Since leaving Kuwait at 17 to pursue MMA, Alaqraa has trained at American Kickboxing Academy under head coach Javier Mendez, the gym that has produced champions including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
Alaqraa graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in industrial systems engineering while developing his fighting career.
