Saudi rally driver Yosra Jazzar raring to go for Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge

Saudi rally driver Yosra Jazzar is preparing to retain her Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge T4 category title when the series gets underway next week. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 October 2024
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Saudi rally driver Yosra Jazzar raring to go for Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge

  • Saudi driver, alongside co-driver Faisal Al-Swaih, line up for second season in demanding off-road rally series

JEDDAH: Saudi rally driver Yosra Jazzar is preparing to retain her Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge T4 category title when the series gets underway next week.

Jazzar, alongside her co-driver Faisal Al-Swaih, will line up for their second season in the demanding off-road rally series.

Jazzar told Arab News she was ready for the competition, stating: “I am completely prepared for this rally physically and mentally, and extremely excited and eagerly looking forward to this unique experience. We will do our utmost to achieve an honorable victory.”

She added that her confidence is further boosted by the expertise of her co-driver, who brings valuable experience in managing technical challenges and navigating complex terrains.

“Me and my co-driver Al-Swaih, who has high experience and skills in dealing with technical problems and reading geographical terrain, are confident in our abilities, as we strive to win the title of our category for the second time,” she said.

Jazzar, a successful entrepreneur and advocate for motorsports, has become a symbol of Saudi women’s increasing participation in international racing.

She said she remains focused on representing her country at the highest level, hoping to replicate her previous success and raise the Saudi flag on the podium once again.

The Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge series, consisting of four rounds, will commence next Saturday and will run until April 2025. Competitors will face a variety of tough desert conditions as they compete for top honors.

Event calendar:

Round 1: Oct. 12, 2024
Round 2: Nov. 3, 2024
Round 3: Jan. 11, 2025
Round 4: April 12, 2025


Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Chess Championship

Updated 16 February 2026
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Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Chess Championship

Norway’s Magnus Carlsen added ‌another crown to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after ​a comeback win over Fabiano Caruana in Germany.
The chess master secured the title with a cautious draw in the fourth and final game, clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponent in Weissenhaus.
Sunday’s turning point came in the thrilling third game, in ‌which Carlsen, ‌35, pulled off a stunning ​win ‌from ⁠a ​seemingly lost ⁠position, swinging the entire contest in his favor.
The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, and that’s exactly what he got in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunities to mount a ⁠comeback.
Carlsen has now won 21 world ‌titles in various formats.

 

The ‌World Championship marked a breakthrough ​collaboration between FIDE and ‌private organizer Freestyle Chess, staging the first ‌officially recognized title in this format.
Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularly sweet for the chess great.
In ‌the bronze medal match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing ⁠his spot ⁠by drawing from a winning position in the final game.
Both finalists and Abdusattorov have qualified for next year’s championship.
The tournament’s lower placings saw Hans Niemann of the United States take fifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place.
In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s ​Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over ​Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended in a draw.