Saudi karate champion Tarek Hamdi looks to add to gold medal haul at Tokyo 2020

Tarek Hamdi during a training exercise. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 July 2021
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Saudi karate champion Tarek Hamdi looks to add to gold medal haul at Tokyo 2020

  • Hamdi heads to Japan as the Saudi Arabian delegation’s most decorated athlete

Saudi’s karate Olympian Tarek Hamdi hopes to add to his impressive collection of gold medals at international competitions when he takes to the mat at Tokyo 2020 on Aug. 6.

Hamdi, who will turn 23 during the Olympics, will be the Saudi Arabian delegation’s most decorated athlete in Japan.

Having started karate in 2009 at the age of 15, Hamdi won his first medal for Saudi Arabia, a gold, at the Asian Junior Championships in Uzbekistan in 2013. He followed that up by becoming the first Saudi to win gold in a Karate World Championship, at Jakarta in 2015.

In 2017, he claimed gold medals at four tournaments in the 75 kg category — the Asian Championship in Indonesia, the World Cup in Croatia and the U-23 Asian Championship and Asian Senior Championships, both in Kazakhstan. His achievements earned him the title of world most promising karate athlete for the year.

A year later he won three bronze medals at the World League in Spain, the World Premier League in the UAE and the Asian Games in Jakarta. He also won gold at the Asian Senior Championships 2019 in Uzbekistan.

Hamdi secured qualification to the Olympics with a gold at the Karate Tokyo 2020 Qualifiers in France earlier this year.


Rabiot double lifts Milan after early scare at Como

Updated 16 January 2026
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Rabiot double lifts Milan after early scare at Como

  • Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points

COMO, Italy: AC Milan came from behind to earn a 3-1 victory at Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot scoring twice to keep the away side in the Serie ​A title race.
Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points.
Como made the brighter start and took the lead after 10 minutes when Marc-Oliver Kempf rose to head home a corner.
Despite the hosts controlling much of the first half, Milan struck ‌in stoppage ‌time as Christopher Nkunku calmly converted ‌from ⁠the ​penalty spot ‌after Kempf was penalized for pushing Rabiot.
Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced a series of strong saves to keep Como at bay after the break before Milan took the lead in the 55th minute when Rabiot knocked the ball in from close range.
Como were denied an equalizer as Nico Paz saw his effort from outside ⁠the box crash against the crossbar. Milan then sealed the win two minutes ‌from time when Rabiot caught the Como ‍defense off guard with a ‍low strike from distance that crept into the bottom corner.
“This ‍was a team victory, we showed our mentality,” Rabiot told DAZN after being named Man of the Match.
“We suffered a lot in the first half, but we talked during the break, came out with ​a different mentality, we all came out fighting for the three points.
“We gave something extra and I am ⁠very happy to score two goals, obviously, but above all I’m pleased with the mentality of the team.”
While Rabiot provided the goals, another Frenchman, goalkeeper Maignan, made his mark with a string of crucial saves.
“We knew that playing here would be difficult, we were well-prepared. We started a little sluggish and they scored, but we managed to keep the game open, and then all together started to play as a team,” Maignan said.
“We know these are great nights for Milan with an atmosphere like this. ‌We suffered, we used up a lot of energy and left it all on the field.”