Bayern rivals Leverkusen and Dortmund drop points in Bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen, Serhou Guirassy, Felix Nmecha and Gregor Kobel look dejected after their Bundesliga — 1 match against FC Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin, on Oct. 5, 2024. (Reuters)
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Updated 05 October 2024
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Bayern rivals Leverkusen and Dortmund drop points in Bundesliga

  • Dortmund slumped at Union Berlin to a 2-1 defeat without injured forward Karim Adeyemi
  • Defending champion Leverkusen squandered an early two-goal lead over promoted Holstein Kiel and drew 2-2

BERLIN: Bayern Munich won without playing on Saturday as Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund dropped points to modest opponents.
Dortmund slumped at Union Berlin to a 2-1 defeat without injured forward Karim Adeyemi, who starred in the team’s 7-1 rout of Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Defending champion Leverkusen squandered an early two-goal lead over promoted Holstein Kiel and drew 2-2. It was only Kiel’s second point in its debut top-flight season.
Leverkusen played in a special black jersey with red trim to commemorate the club’s 120th anniversary, and for Xabi Alonso it was also a special occasion – the Spanish coach took over exactly two years before.
Leverkusen fans didn’t have to wait long to celebrate after Victor Boniface opened the scoring in the fourth minute and Jonas Hofmann made it 2-0 four minutes after that. Leverkusen looked set for a rout.
But the home team failed to make more of their dominance — Boniface had another goal ruled out for offside — and Kiel secured a lifeline before the break when Max Geschwil scored after a corner. Fiete Arp scored an unlikely equalizer from the penalty spot in the 69th.
Also, Freiburg won at Werder Bremen 1-0, and Wolfsburg enjoyed a 3-1 win in Wolfsburg.
St. Pauli was playing Mainz later.
League leader Bayern visit second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.


Kingdom’s esports chief ‘proud’ as Riyadh prepares to host 16th IESF World Esports Championship

Updated 10 November 2024
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Kingdom’s esports chief ‘proud’ as Riyadh prepares to host 16th IESF World Esports Championship

  • Event will bring together more than 50 nations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is hosting the 16th edition of the International Esports Federation’s World Esports Championship in Riyadh from Monday.

The event, which is being hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation and runs until Nov. 19, will bring together more than 50 nations across six major esports tournaments at the SEF Arena at Boulevard Riyadh City.

The championship will feature contests in Counter-Strike 2 (including both an open and a women’s category), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (open and women’s tournaments), PUBG Mobile, and Dota 2. 

With over 200 matches set to take place, more than 480 esports enthusiasts are ready to participate and showcase their skills in what organizers hope will be a landmark international event for the Kingdom.

Abdullah Al-Nasser, head of esports at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “Hosting the IESF World Esports Championship 2024 in Riyadh is another proud accolade for the federation in the Kingdom’s gaming and esports journey to becoming a global hub for the industry.

“We are delighted to welcome all athletes and countries to the WEC24 ahead of what is going to be a fascinating and intense competition.”

The championship’s opening ceremony is to be held on Monday at the main stage of the SEF Arena.

The event will include the introduction of participating teams, highlighted by a flag ceremony displaying the flags of each competing nation. Those attending will also be treated to a look back at the history of the showcase, featuring memorable moments, rivalries, and significant achievements from past editions of the World Esports Championship.


Basketball returns to NEOM Beach Games with FIBA 3x3 World Tour

Updated 10 November 2024
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Basketball returns to NEOM Beach Games with FIBA 3x3 World Tour

  • Single-hoop tournament’s new incarnation this year is the top tier of the 3x3 format

NEOM, Saudi Arabia: 3x3 basketball returned to NEOM Beach Games this week with the hosting of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour NEOM 2024.

Thrilling final matches saw Team Miami triumph in the men’s tournament and Bahrain’s Al-Zallaq come out on top in the Women’s Cup. The competition drew large crowds at the Beach Games Hub to witness the finalists secure their well-earned victories.

FIBA 3x3 World Tour NEOM 2024 at NEOM Beach Games featured 16 teams, including returning men’s teams Amsterdam, Hangzhou and Plunge. The presence of recent Olympic gold medalists Worthy De Jong, Dylan Travis and Frank Seguela brought an increased competitive edge to the event.

Four Saudi Arabia men’s teams — AlUla, Dammam, Jeddah and Makkah — took part in the tournament.

The NEOM Beach Games also saw strong women’s representation from Saudi Arabia, with Jeddah and Riyadh teams stepping on to the court.

Following their remarkable success in Manama, where Riyadh made history by winning the Kingdom’s first international 3x3 women’s trophy, they continued to impress by reaching the semifinals.

Jeddah excelled throughout the competition, finishing as the cup runner-up after a close match against Al-Zallaq.


WTA Foundation champions women’s health at event in Riyadh

Updated 10 November 2024
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WTA Foundation champions women’s health at event in Riyadh

  • Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud: ‘We have laid the foundations for cooperation with WTA toward a healthier, more active future both on and off the court’
  • Ahead of the WTA Finals Riyadh, former players Marion Bartoli, Martina Hingis and Daniela Hantuchova called for greater resources, visibility and funding

RIYADH: Ahead of the final match of the inaugural WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF, the WTA Foundation on Saturday hosted “Championing Women’s Health Together,” an educational event attended by Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud and tennis legends Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova and Martina Hingis.

The event, highlighting a new vision for women and girls in Saudi Arabia, and addressing global health priorities such as maternal and child malnutrition, was supported by several regional and global partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Tennis Federation and WTA’s title partner, Hologic.

“Championing Women’s Health Together” is one of five major development engagements to take place this year since the WTA Foundation launched its “Women Change the Game” campaign in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this past International Women’s Day.

Panel discussions tackled a variety of issues including the role of preventative women’s health, the lifelong health benefits of sports for women and girls, the global state of women’s health and maternal nutrition, and the goals of the WTA Foundation’s Global Women’s Health Fund.

The fund launched with a $1.5 million donation from Hologic. It focuses on providing prenatal vitamins to at least 1 million women in low- and middle-income countries in its first year. The resources will be directed to the UNICEF-led Child Nutrition Fund, a global initiative aimed at ending malnutrition.

Former Wimbledon champion and WTA Foundation Game Changer Marion Bartoli highlighted global advancements in women’s healthcare while acknowledging persistent challenges.

“Healthy women are indeed the cornerstone of healthy families, vibrant communities and prosperous economies — from right here in Saudi Arabia to every corner of the globe,” she said.

Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud highlighted the tournament’s lasting impact in inspiring women and girls through tennis as well as promoting healthier lifestyles.

“The legacy of the WTA Finals Riyadh will resonate for years to come, extending beyond the remarkable athleticism shown by the world’s top female tennis players this week,” she said.

“By hosting the WTA Finals, we aimed to inspire women and girls across Saudi Arabia and beyond to embrace tennis not only as a sport, but as a powerful tool for empowerment and community building. Through initiatives like ‘Championing Women’s Health Together’ and our collaborative efforts with the WTA Foundation and the Saudi Tennis Federation to integrate tennis into schools and communities, we have laid the foundations for cooperation with WTA toward a healthier, more active future both on and off the court.”

Dr. Khaled Alabdulkareem, assistant deputy minister for primary healthcare, Ministry of Health, said: “The relationship between sports and healthcare is intrinsic, as an active society is a healthy one. The WTA Finals aligns with our national Vision 2030 ambitions to inspire a healthier, more physically active society. The legacy of the WTA Finals, by inspiring more women into tennis, along with today’s discussions highlighting women’s healthcare, are part of achieving our goals.”

Ann Austin, executive director of the WTA Foundation, highlighted the organization’s dedication to community development.

“The WTA is about changing lives through tennis with its partners around the world, and when we show the world how healthy we can be, we empower an entire generation of young female champions,” she said.

Meanwhile Dr. Alaa Murabit, director of global health advocacy and communications at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said that across the world “women are changing the game in their homes, workplaces and communities every day.

“While they lead this work, it’s essential to make their health and well-being a priority,” she added. “Investing in women as game-changers requires ensuring women everywhere have access to proven health and nutrition solutions, which is what ‘Women Change the Game’ is all about.”


McIlroy and Bale join forces for special golf challenge in Abu Dhabi

Updated 10 November 2024
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McIlroy and Bale join forces for special golf challenge in Abu Dhabi

  • The sporting icons took part in a series of stunts to promote the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Sporting superstars Rory McIlroy and Gareth Bale joined forces recently to showcase their golfing abilities in a unique, eye-catching campaign ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The four-day Rolex Series event, part of the inaugural DP World Tour Play-Offs, is currently taking place at Yas Links, with the likes of McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry competing.

McIlroy, reigning Race to Dubai champion, was joined by Bale, the former Real Madrid forward and keen golfer, with the pair taking part in a series of visually impressive challenges on Yas Island which involved a fast-paced flying drone.

Firstly, McIlroy and Bale were tasked with hitting shots, both individually and together, with the drone flying as close to the ball flights as possible, changing the flight path around the ball trajectories each time.

They were then challenged to hit a flying drone in the style of a clay shooting target, with the pair working as a team over multiple rounds to complete the task.

 


Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club tops medal table at Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Updated 10 November 2024
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Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club tops medal table at Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship

  • The competition for youngsters is part of the ongoing 16th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship

ABU DHABI: Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club secured top position on the second day of the Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Mubadala Arena, part of the 16th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Commando Group claimed second place, followed by the Kazakhstan National Team in third.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, commented: “Today, we witnessed future champions deliver outstanding performances characterized by skill, enthusiasm, and professionalism. The high level of these youth athletes reflects their dedication and passion for the sport. We take pride in Abu Dhabi’s role as a global hub where athletes can showcase their talents and take significant steps in their careers.”

Al-Dhaheri also commended the young athletes from the UAE who secured multiple medals, adding: “This generation has the potential to achieve remarkable success on the international stage. It is inspiring to see their talent and determination, proving they are on the right path to success.

“The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship serves as an ideal platform for supporting young athletes, helping them reach their goals and gaining invaluable experience for future achievements.”