Have fun with it: Golf stars encourage Saudi females to try out the sport

Georgia Hall, right, and Anna Nordqvist during the Aramco Saudi Ladies International press conference. (Screengrab)
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Updated 15 March 2022
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Have fun with it: Golf stars encourage Saudi females to try out the sport

  • Georgia Hall: I started when I was seven years old and I just really enjoy trying to make contact with the golf ball and try and hit it as hard as I could
  • Morocco’s Ines Laklalech, 24, played as an amateur at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in 2020 and will be playing as a professional for the first time

JEDDAH: Some of the biggest names in women’s golf on Tuesday shared their experiences of the sport ahead of this week’s Aramco Saudi Ladies International, encouraging women and girls in the Kingdom to give it a go.

English Major winner Georgia Hall and three-time Major winner Anna Nordqvist are among those competing in the tournament, as well as three Moroccan professional players.

At a pre-tournament press conference, Hall advised Saudi women and girls to start playing golf and to have fun with it. After that, she said, they might consider taking up the sport and think of it differently.

“I started when I was seven years old and I just really enjoy trying to make contact with the golf ball and try and hit it as hard as I could,” she told Arab News. “That’s the advice I would give to start off, just you know, have a lot of fun with it.

“Golf can be a lot of fun as well, especially if you’re going with friends and you can make loads of little different games up. So, I think number one is just to have fun and see where you are with it. Because everyone’s different, wants to take up the game. Some find it easier than others. But yeah, I think, just have fun.”

The four-day tournament starts Thursday and runs until Sunday at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, near Jeddah.

On Friday there will be a ladies’ day, a first for the tournament, with a free golf lesson and other activities on offer.

Nordqvist told Arab News: “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity just to obviously watch women’s golf. There are so many talents coming. There are so many good girls and they’re so shiny now. It’s a cool experience. And I think a lot of people might never be to a golf tournament in person and I think it’ll be quite a different experience.”

The debut Aramco Saudi Ladies International, back in 2020, was a landmark moment for women’s sport in the Kingdom as it was the first professional, international women’s sporting event to be held in Saudi Arabia.

This year’s tournament includes the participation of three Arab golfers including Maha Haddioui, the first Arab woman to play on the Ladies European Tour.

She said that nobody could say anything about golf until they had tried it. “It’s really important to get everybody to try and come and watch. You won’t be interested in golf if you don’t try it. I tried curling a week ago, and it’s a sport I had no interest in.”

She also spoke about being a minority in the golfing world, specifically as an Arab woman.

“I never felt any difference because I was a woman that wasn’t given a chance back home to pursue a career in golf or anything. The only problem I had at the time was that I was really the only one. So it was, you know, I couldn’t go and play the world championships as an amateur, because I wouldn’t go on my own at any team events. 

“But other than that, I was given the same chance as the men. People would think because I am from an Arab country maybe I wasn’t given a chance. But yes, I was given the same chance as men in the game. There’s quite a decent growing women’s section in the UAE. There are some good players in Tunisia as well. I know one of them, actually, (she) was here in Royal Greens last year.”

Morocco’s Ines Laklalech, 24, played as an amateur at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in 2020 and will be playing as a professional for the first time in this tournament.

She said she never felt any gender inequality when playing golf in her home country. She played in male teams as there were not enough female players to form a team.

“As a girl playing golf in my country, I am not having obstacles playing the game. Although I was one of the only girls in my golf club, where most of the time I played with the boys with the guys, there was no category, like a woman or girl category because there were not enough girls. And I think it’s a good thing. It has opened my mind to many things.”

Fellow Moroccan Lina Belmati will also be playing as a first-time professional in the tournament. She said: “I am so glad for playing in this tournament and I hope I can make the Arab world proud.”

An awards ceremony will be held on the tournament’s final day, March 20, to announce the winner.

The first tournament had a positive impact on the Kingdom, with more than 1,000 Saudi women and girls signing up to learn how to play golf over the course of the event as part of Golf Saudi’s Ladies First Club free coaching initiative.


Messi’s last-second assist lifts Inter Miami over Atlas 2-1 in Leagues Cup

Updated 31 July 2025
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Messi’s last-second assist lifts Inter Miami over Atlas 2-1 in Leagues Cup

  • It was Messi’s first game back since he and teammate Jordi Alba were suspended one match by Major League Soccer for skipping its All-Star game
  • Messi connected with Marcelo Weigandt for the winning score in the final minute of stoppage time

MIAMI GARDENS: Lionel Messi had two assists, including one in the final seconds of the match, to help lift Inter Miami over Atlas 2-1 in their Leagues Cup opener on Wednesday night.

It was Messi’s first game back since he and teammate Jordi Alba were suspended one match by Major League Soccer for skipping its All-Star game. He connected with Marcelo Weigandt for the winning score in the final minute of stoppage time.

Messi also assisted on Telasco Segovia’s goal that opened scoring in the 58th.

Rivaldo Lozano scored the equalizer for the Guadalajara club in the 82nd before Weigandt’s goal in the 96th that had to be confirmed by VAR after he was originally ruled offside.

That meant five assists in July for Messi, who was named the Major League Soccer Player of the Month after netting eight goals and helping Miami go 4-1-1 in league play.

Both sides had their chances during a chippy first half, though neither was able to finish. Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo had three saves in the first half, including one in which he slid over to deny Eduardo Aguirre on a header to the back post. Luis Suárez blasted a shot off the crossbar on the final play of the first half.

Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul made his Inter Miami debut. De Paul, Messi’s national team buddy, officially signed with the club last week.


Lottie Woad rides wave of momentum into AIG Women’s Open

Updated 31 July 2025
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Lottie Woad rides wave of momentum into AIG Women’s Open

  • Woad is the odds-on favorite to win this week at BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook
  • Korda remains atop the world rankings, but her winless season has come as a surprise after she won seven times in 2024

PORTHCAWL: As the world of women’s golf prepares for the final major of the year, an English prodigy has seized the limelight.

Lottie Woad is the hottest player in the game and will be among the favorites to land her first major championship when the AIG Women’s Open tees off at Royal Porthcawl on Thursday in Porthcawl, Wales.

Woad’s litany of accomplishments dates back to last year, when she won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, rose to No. 1 in the world amateur rankings and tied for 10th at the Women’s Open at St. Andrews for low-am honors.

But July has seen the 21-year-old truly dominate the sport. Woad had a six- shot win at the Women’s Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour, then tied for third at the most recent major, the Evian Championship, all before officially turning pro.

Then came the Women’s Scottish Open last week, where Woad matched Rose Zhang’s feat in 2023 by winning her first start as a professional, three strokes clear of the field.

“I’ve really been just enjoying myself,” Woad said this week. “Enjoyed being in these events and competing and being in contention, just try to have fun with it and not add too much stress, really.”

Woad is the odds-on favorite to win this week at BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook. And she’s certainly caught the eye of her peers.

“Absolutely amazing,” said Nelly Korda, who played with her at the Scottish Open. “I was very impressed with her composure, her process.

“I think, when it comes to her shot routine, especially under pressure and in the heat of the moment, sometimes people seem to fidget and kind of doubt themselves. But she stuck to it, she stuck to her process every single time, and I think that’s one of the main things that I noticed is how mature she is for her age and how comfortable she was in the heat of the moment.”

Korda remains atop the world rankings, but her winless season has come as a surprise after she won seven times in 2024.

“I feel like I don’t really have anything more to prove to people ever,” Korda said. “For me it’s just I’m passionate about the game. I love the game. I love playing in these kind of conditions, testing my game, and getting to play against the best players in the world.”

Royal Porthcawl has hosted three Senior Open Championships since 2014, but this marks its first time hosting the women’s major. It is a par-72 course that will play 6,580 yards this week.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand is the defending champion thanks to her two-shot win at St. Andrews last year, shortly after she won the Olympic gold medal and clinched her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

“I think it was just fun for me, and I was just trying to have more of an open mindset and just trying to be free rather than hit perfect shots,” Ko said. “I think that’s really important on these links-style golf courses. You could hit a really solid shot and be so far away from the pin, and that could be vice versa. It’s just more about creativity, and I hope that will be kind of the strategy that I’ll take toward this week.”

Three of the first four major winners this season were first-timers: Japan’s Mao Saigo at the Chevron Championship; Sweden’s Maja Stark at the US Women’s Open; and Australia’s Grace Kim at the Evian, where she had a comeback for the ages. Kim finished her final round birdie-birdie-par-eagle to force a playoff, where she beat Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand.

“I think just knowing that my game is there and good enough,” Kim said of this week’s test. “Just mentally preparing whatever could happen.”


Wirtz opens Liverpool account in friendly win in Japan

Updated 30 July 2025
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Wirtz opens Liverpool account in friendly win in Japan

  • Wirtz equalized after Yokohama opened the scoring early in the second half
  • “I am really happy that I could score my first goal,” said Wirtz

YOKOHAMA, Japan: Florian Wirtz scored his first Liverpool goal as the Premier League champions beat Yokohama F. Marinos 3-1 in a pre-season friendly in Japan on Wednesday.

French forward Hugo Ekitike made his debut for Liverpool, one week after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported 69 million pounds ($92 million).

Wirtz equalized after Yokohama opened the scoring early in the second half, the German slamming home a right-foot shot from inside the box in front of over 65,000 fans.

“I am really happy that I could score my first goal. I hope there are more to come,” said Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a blockbuster deal.

Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha also scored for Liverpool, who announced the sale of Colombian forward Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he was happy to see his team come from behind to win but was not pleased with their missed chances.

“It could be with a tough training camp and it could be with the heat circumstances,” said the Dutchman.

“But that’s something that we definitely have to improve.”

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker missed the match after traveling home to Brazil “for private reasons,” Liverpool said.

Shortly before kickoff, an emotional tribute was given to Diogo Jota, who passed away this month in a car crash.

Liverpool dominated throughout but Yokohama opened the scoring when Asahi Uenaka pounced in the 55th minute to beat Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Wirtz levelled when he latched onto a Mohamed Salah pass.

Nyoni volleyed home a Jeremie Frimpong cross to put Liverpool in front, before Ngumoha dribbled from the halfway line and fired in a shot from the edge of the box.


Marchand breaks world record in 200 individual medley; US, Australia win more world gold

Updated 30 July 2025
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Marchand breaks world record in 200 individual medley; US, Australia win more world gold

  • The Frenchman clocked clocking 1 minute, 52.69 seconds to surpass the 1:54.00 set in 2011 by American Ryan Lochte
  • He won four Olympic gold medals a year ago in Paris, but he’s swimming only the 200 and 400 medley – and relays – in Singapore

 

SINGAPORE: Léon Marchand smashed the 200m individual medley world record in Singapore on Wednesday with another breathtaking swim while Australia and the United States celebrated more gold.
Racing in the semifinals at the world championships, the Frenchman clocked clocking 1 minute, 52.69 seconds to surpass the 1:54.00 set in 2011 by American Ryan Lochte.

Marchand set the mark swimming in the semifinals and, in theory, could break it again in Thursday’s finals.
He won four Olympic gold medals a year ago in Paris, but he’s swimming only the 200 and 400 medley – and relays – in Singapore. Planning the lighter schedule in what he calls a “transition year” keeps him fresh to chase the world marks.
Marchand didn’t just break the 14-year-old record, he shattered it.
“What’s crazy is that it’s a whole second — and it’s still hard to believe,” he said. “1:52 on the 200 meters — that’s insane.”
Marchand will swim the 400 IM on Sunday, the final day of the world championships. He holds that record of 4:02.50 set in the 2023 worlds in Fukuoka, Japan. And it seems likely to go.
“Today I felt really good before the race,” he said. “In the water, I felt light, I was taking in a lot of water and technically everything felt clean.”
Asked about swimming a lighter schedule he replied in an understatement: “It was probably the right decision.”
Marchand was about 1.8 seconds under the world record after 150 meters and powered home with the final freestyle leg.
Though this race did not yield a world title — that will come on Thursday in the final — it did win Marchand a check for $30,000.
“In the end I went out hard from the start,” he said. “But I stayed super-relaxed. I didn’t make many mistakes. I didn’t realize I was going that fast but I gave it absolutely everything. Arms at full speed all the way to the wall. At that point I wasn’t even thinking about technique anymore.”

More than Marchand
Despite being only a semifinal, Marchand overshadowed the five finals on Day 4 of the worlds — the halfway mark with four days more to go. Those finals produced medals for the United States, Australia, Italy, Tunisia, and the Neutral Athletes.
American Luca Urlando picked up the third gold medal for the United States in the championships, winning the 200 butterfly in 1:51.87. Krzysztof Chmielewski of Poland was second in 1:52.64 with bronze for Harrison Turner of Australia in 1:54.17.
Urlando has battled back from several surgeries for his first big title on the world stage.
“It was a great race – all great — a great moment,” he said. “I’m trying to have as much fun as I can with it.”
He was asked how he overcame the setbacks and he replied: “The belief that I could get back to a moment like this. Internal belief.”
Mollie O’Callaghan of Australia, the defending Paris Olympic champion in the 200 freestyle, repeated her title in the worlds, pulling away in the last 50 to finish in 1:53.48. Li Bingjie of China was the silver medalist in 1:54.52, with bronze going to American Claire Weinstein in 1:54.57.
O’Callaghan has had a difficult time coming back after the Olympic victory, dealing with the stress and the post-games letdown.
“I’ve had an amazing coach Dean (Boxall) to guide me through this difficult time,” O’Callaghan said. “It’s hard for a lot of people to come back after the Olympics.”
Weinstein, like many of the Americans, has been dealing with what team officials call “acute gastroenteritis” picked up at a training camp in Thailand before arriving in Singapore.
A new name, missing name
Ahmed Jaouadi of Tunisia won the 800 free, clocking 7:36.88 — the third fastest time ever swum in the event. Sven Schwarz of Germany claimed silver in 7:39.96 with fellow German Lukas Martens taking bronze in 7:40.19. American Bobby Finke, the three-time Olympic gold medalist, was fourth, far off the pace in 7:46.42.
Sam Short of Australia, who had the second-quickest qualifying time in the 800, pulled out of the race with what the team said was food poisoning.
One big shock came in the men’s 100 freestyle semifinals where world-record holder Pan Zhanle of China failed to reach the top eight for Thursday’s final. American Jack Alexy had the best time of 46.81 with David Popovici across in 46.84. Pan finished in 47.81, far off his world-record time of 46.40 set last year in Paris.
In the men’s 50 breaststroke, Simone Cerasuolo of Italy won in 26.54 with silver for Kirill Prigoda swimming as a Neutral Athlete, and bronze for Qin Haiyang of China.
McIntosh and Yu
In the women’s 200 butterfly semifinals, Canadian Summer McIntosh qualified in 2:06.22. Yu Zidi, the 12-year-old Chinese, swam 2:07.95 to make the final eight. Her time was the eighth best.
McIntosh has already won two gold medals and is trying for five in Singapore.
Yu finished fourth earlier in the championships in the 200 individual medley.
In the final event, the Neutral Athletes won the mixed 4x100 medley relay in 3:37.97. China was second (3:39.99) and Canada was third (3:40.90).
The United States failed to reach Wednesday’s final after finishing 10th in qualifying. They were Olympic champions last year in Paris.
Britain and France also missed reaching the final.

 

SINGAPORE : Leon Marchand smashed the 200m individual medley world record in Singapore on Wednesday with another breathtaking swim while Australia and the United States celebrated more gold.
Racing in the semifinals at the world championships, the Frenchman clocked 1min 52.69sec to wipe more than a second off the previous record of 1:54.00 set by Ryan Lochte in 2011.
Marchand beat Michael Phelps’s long-standing 400m medley record at the world championships in Japan two years ago.
“Actually I can’t believe it right now,” said Marchand, who won four individual golds in front of his home fans at the Paris Olympics a year ago and was the face of the Games.
“I knew I was going to be close to my PB (personal best) because I felt really good today and preparation has been pretty good.
“But 1:52 is unbelievable for me.”
Marchand, 23, took an extended break from swimming after Paris and only returned to competition in May.
He is focusing on the individual medley events in Singapore and had said he was gunning for Lochte’s record.
Marchand got his world championships campaign under way on Wednesday morning, clocking a time of 1:57.63 in the heats.
He said he would go all-out for the record in the semifinals rather than conserve his energy for Thursday’s final.

 


Taif Derby Prep takes center stage at King Khalid Racecourse

Updated 30 July 2025
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Taif Derby Prep takes center stage at King Khalid Racecourse

  • Runners from the Saudi 2000 Guineas poised to do battle this weekend
  • Ninth event on the 10-race card has assembled a field of 15 with Faal Khair bidding to continue on an upward curve

TAIF: Several key trials are taking place at King Khalid Racecourse this weekend with 2000 Guineas fourth Faal Khair (USA) and fifth Mhalhal (USA) set to clash once again in Saturday’s 1600m Taif Derby Prep.

The ninth event on the 10-race card has assembled a field of 15 with Faal Khair bidding to continue on an upward curve following a successful season in Riyadh, peaking with his effort in the 2000 Guineas on Jan. 25.

Camilo Ospina’s mount is one of two in the race carrying the white stable colors of the Sons of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and both he and Jeddah Beach are trained by Ahmed Mohamoud.

Mhalhal, representing Kuwaiti owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah, trainer Thamer Al-Daihani and Saudi Cup International Jockey Challenge-winning rider Mohammed Al-Daham, was another improver last season and is out to cement his claims on the Taif Derby on Aug. 23.

Race 10 is the Taif Derby Cup Preparatory for Arabian horses, also staged over 1600m, and features a couple of highly rated individuals including Wasib (FR) from the Safwat Aladyat Stable, trained by Abdulaziz Al-Mosa and ridden by Naif Al-Anazi.

He will clash with HM Al Nasrallah (FR), trained by Salem Al-Ruwais and ridden by Abdullah Al-Hussain, in the 12-strong field with the mare having just her second start since finishing seventh in the Group 1 Al Mneefah Cup on Saudi Cup weekend.

Also on Saturday is the preparatory round for the Taif University Cup, over a distance of 1400m, and sees the quick reappearance of the Sami Al-Harabi-trained Saodad (KSA) after he finished fourth last week with Adel Al-Fouraidi taking over in the saddle.

The main event on Friday’s program is the Makkah Almokarramah Reg. Gov. Cup Prep over 1600m where Al-Dihani again looks to hold a big chance with Uncle (GB), who was a Listed winner earlier in the year and ran eighth in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint.

One of his main rivals will be Tuwaiq Cup second Waqtuk (USA) for Al-Fouraidi and trainer Abdulaziz Al-Mosa, while Nicolas Bachalard sends out Henry Q under Alexis Moreno for owner Prince Saud Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz.