HAIL: Qatari rally driver Nasser Al-Attiyah told Arab News on Friday that he is happy to be present at the 20th edition of the Hail Rally, a race he has won twice in the past.
This time, however, Al-Attiyah is here not as a driver, but to run and support his team, Nasser Racing.
“I have eight cars here to be driven by four drivers from Qatar, one from Portugal, two from the United Arab Emirates and one from Saudi Arabia,” he said. “I am so happy to have a group of such good drivers with Nasser Racing here in Hail and I hope they win this special rally.”
He continued: “The Hail Rally is one of the most beautiful rallies and the organization is amazing. There is great interest from the emir of the region and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, and there is a great turnout from the people of Hail, who are (true) rally lovers. They have a great rally culture. I congratulate them on the 20th anniversary.”
The Qatari sports icon praised the support of the Saudi government and SAMF for high-level motorsport, noting that Saudi Arabia has become a fixture on the calendar.
“During the last five years, we can see major changes in the Kingdom related to motorsport. For us, as competitive drivers, we feel lucky to take part in major races here in our second home. Motorsport is really gaining popularity and we can see many young people joining the sport,” he said.
Discussing the latest edition of the Dakar Rally, which took place earlier this month, and in which Al-Attiyah came fourth, he said: “It was an amazing and tough rally. Unfortunately, we could not fight for the podium because we had a new car, However, we were happy. We had a good performance, but a new car always needs time”.
The five-time Dakar champion promised he would be back to fight for top spot in next year’s rally, adding that he is determined to keep competing in order to win more titles and break new records.
Nasser Al-Attiyah praises success of motorsport in Saudi Arabia
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Nasser Al-Attiyah praises success of motorsport in Saudi Arabia
- Qatari rally driver attends Hail Rally ‘to run and support’ his new team, Nasser Racing)
- Team has eight cars in rally, with four drivers from Qatar, one from Portugal, two from the UAE and one from Saudi Arabia
France midfielder Rabiot has a calf problem and could miss Croatia match
PARIS: France midfielder Adrien Rabiot has a minor calf injury and is doubtful to face Croatia in the return leg of the Nations League quarterfinals on Sunday.
Rabiot came off midway through the second half on Thursday in Split, where Les Bleus lost 2-0.
“Rabiot has a calf problem and will not train this (Saturday) evening,” Deschamps said at a pre-match news conference. “It looks complicated for tomorrow.”
France won the Nations League in 2021 but lost to Croatia 1-0 at home the following year.
Before Sunday’s game, France will pay tribute to all-time leading scorer Olivier Giroud, who retired from the national team last year after scoring 57 goals in 137 matches.
Thierry Henry is second with 51 followed by Kylian Mbappé on 48. Mbappé missed chances to score in Split.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL opener
The star batsman hit four fours and three sixes as Bengaluru chased down the defending champions’ 174-8 with 22 balls to spare.
Phil Salt scored 56 off 31 balls, adding 95 off 51 balls with Kohli in a whirlwind opening stand that powered Bengaluru’s total of 177-3 in 16.2 overs.
Salt, who played a prominent role for Kolkata in their 2024 triumph, was picked by Bengaluru in this season’s player auctions and made an impression in the very first game.
For Kolkata, skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored 56 off 31 balls, including six fours and four sixes.
Rahane is leading the defending champions after last year’s winning captain Shreyas Iyer was not retained by the franchise and moved to Punjab Kings for this season.
Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar for the first time, had won the toss and opted to bowl with the dew-factor in mind.
Put into bat, Kolkata lost Quinton de Kock early when he was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood for four.
A couple of catching chances went begging as the hosts fought back through Rahane and opener Sunil Narine.
Narine hit 44 off 26 balls, with five fours and three sixes, and put on 103 off 55 balls with Rahane. It was the skipper who set the tone by hitting six fours and four sixes in his first outing for Kolkata.
Bengaluru put on the brakes with spin as the duo both fell within four deliveries with the score reading 109-3 in 10.3 overs.
Kolkata then lost their way as big-money all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer was bowled for six, while Rinku Singh scored only 12.
Both were bowled off Krunal Pandya, who picked 3-29 in four overs in his first outing for Bengaluru. Andre Russell was also bowled for four off wrist spinner Suyash Sharma — another former Kolkata player.
Impact sub Angkrish Raghvanshi’s 30 off 22 balls pushed the score past 170, but it proved under par.
In reply, Kohli and Salt set an electric pace as the packed Eden Gardens chanted for the visiting side.
Salt hit nine fours and two sixes to set the tone and brought up 50 off only 25 balls. Kohli also scored at a brisk pace, as RCB was 80-0 in six overs – the highest opening stand in the powerplay in IPL history.
Kohli reached his 56th IPL half-century off 30 balls, and continued in attacking fashion, even as wickets fell at the other end.
There was too much dew for Kolkata’s spinners to have any impact, as Bengaluru pushed aggressively through the chase.
Patidar chipped in with a quickfire cameo – 34 off 16 balls, with five fours and a six – on his captaincy debut.
Sunday will see the first double-header of the season – 2024 runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad first take on Rajasthan Royals at home, followed by the high-profile clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in Chennai.
Green Falcons start training ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Japan
- Head coach Herve Renard divided the players into two groups
- National team will hold a closed training session on Sunday
SAITAMA, Japan: Saudi Arabia’s national football team started training on Saturday at Saitama Stadium’s training pitch in preparation for their clash against their host Japan on Tuesday.
The Green Falcons will face off with Japan at Saitama Stadium 2002 as part of the eighth round of the AFC qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On the field, head coach Herve Renard divided the players into two groups. The first group included those who played their recent match against China, and were assigned recovery exercises at the health club.
The second group, which consisted of the remaining players, had warm-up exercises followed by small-sided games. Later, the players carried out a variety of tactical exercises, and the session concluded with stretching.
The national team will hold a closed training session on Sunday, at 7:00 p.m. at the same training pitch.
The Green Falcons arrived in Japan on Friday evening, a day after beating 10-man China 1-0 in Riyadh to get their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign back on track.
Former Algerian international Djamel Menad dies aged 64
- “The wider Algerian football family and JS Kabylie are in mourning following the announcement of the death of Djamel Menad,” JS Kabylie wrote
- Born on July 22, 1960 in the town of El Bayadh, Menad represented his country 79 times, scoring 25 goals, over a 15-year international career
ALGIERS: Former Algeria forward Djamel Menad has died aged 64 following a short illness, his ex-club JS Kabylie announced on Saturday.
“The wider Algerian football family and JS Kabylie are in mourning following the announcement of the death of Djamel Menad, a former player and true legend of football in the country,” JS Kabylie wrote on social media.
“In recent weeks, the health of the former center-forward of the Algerian national team had deteriorated rapidly as a result of a devastating illness that struck him around two months ago,” indicated news website TSA.
Menad died in a clinic in Algiers where he had been hospitalized on March 14, after returning from Brussels where he had been receiving treatment for a month, reported Algerian football media DZfoot.
Born on July 22, 1960 in the town of El Bayadh, Menad represented his country 79 times, scoring 25 goals, over a 15-year international career.
Menad’s efforts in helping Algeria reach the 1986 World Cup in Mexico resulted in him being named Algerian sportsman of the year in 1985.
He was notably top scorer at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, with four goals in five appearances as Algeria claimed the trophy on home soil.
Over his club career, Menad played for Algerian sides JS Kabylie, CR Belouizdad and USM Alger. He also played in Europe for French club Nimes, as well as Portuguese sides Famalicao and Belenenses.
Menad moved into coaching after his playing career and was most recently sporting director at JS Kabylie.
Saudi national football team arrives in Japan for World Cup qualifiers
The Saudi national football team arrived in Japan on Friday ahead of the team’s match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The match between Saudi Arabia and Japan will take place on Tuesday at the Saitama Stadium 2002 and is part of the seventh round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup.
The team was greeted by Saudi Deputy Ambassador to Japan Anas Al-Nuwaiser and several embassy staff members on arriving at Japan’s Narita International Airport.
On Thursday, Japan became the first team to qualify for the World Cup after winning 2-0 against Bahrain, followed by Saudi Arabia after defeating China 1-0.
