Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud appointed to Asia yoga board

Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud. supplied
Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud. supplied
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Updated 20 January 2025
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Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud appointed to Asia yoga board

Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud. (Supplied)
  • Princess Mashael is vice president of Saudi Yoga Committee
  • She has over 15 years of expertise in several yoga traditions

JEDDAH: The Asian Yogasana Sport Federation has announced the appointment of Princess Mashael bint Faisal Al-Saud, representing Saudi Arabia, to the organization’s board.

Princess Mashael will also head the federation’s Women and Children’s Safeguarding Committee, the AYSF stated in a press release recently.

The appointment was approved unanimously at the AYSF’s sixth general assembly in Dubai recently.

Princess Mashael, the vice president of the Saudi Yoga Committee, has been instrumental in empowering women and youth, and ensuring athlete safety at various sporting events.

Her appointment represents a significant step toward increasing women’s participation in sports, promoting initiatives to protect women and children, and supporting the growth of Yogasana and traditional sports across Asia.

She has over 15 years of yoga expertise, including Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, the Himalayan tradition of meditation, and yoga therapy.

She trained with the AYSF in 2022, mastering yoga federation management and Yogasana systems.

In addition to her yoga accomplishments, the princess is a passionate advocate for women and youth in sports, the AYSF stated.

She owns and runs a sports nongovernmental organization and heads the women’s committee of the Arab Cycling Federation.


Dubai Basketball lose to dominant Partizan in Belgrade

Dubai Basketball lose to dominant Partizan in Belgrade
Updated 7 min 20 sec ago
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Dubai Basketball lose to dominant Partizan in Belgrade

Dubai Basketball lose to dominant Partizan in Belgrade
  • The first leg of the ABA League semifinal resulted in a 30-point loss to the Serbian giants
  • Dubai will continue to fight for a spot in the finals when they return to the Coca-Cola Arena on May 29

 

DUBAI: A dominant performance by one of the ABA League’s most decorated teams, Partizan Mozzart Bet, saw Dubai Basketball fall short in their first-ever semifinal appearance when the Serbian giants secured a 102-72 win on Monday night.

Dubai started the game well at a packed Stark Arena in Belgrade, with Davis Bertans striking first with a clean two-point layup. But seven-time ABA League title winners Partizan were quick to equalize before propelling the team to an eight-point difference in the first quarter.

The home side demonstrated why Belgrade is regarded as one of the most formidable venues in European basketball. Partizan’s Sterling Brown cemented his place against Dubai with a 21-point contribution and, combined with the Serbian team’s 53 percent three-point success rate and 35 field goals, the first semifinal leg went their way.

Despite the scoreline, Dubai Basketball’s debut season continues to impress. In just their first ABA League campaign, they have reached the semifinals — a historic milestone for a debutant club. Dubai also remains the only club to record a win against Partizan in their inaugural season.

“The better team won today,” said Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac. “We lost possession too easily and committed too many turnovers to stay competitive at this level. But this team has character, and we’ve already proven we can compete with the best — including a win over Partizan at home. We’ll go back, analyze the game, regroup, and come out stronger.”

He added: “We need our fans more than ever. Their energy and support at Coca-Cola Arena can make a real difference. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but we’re not done yet — and we want to take this journey forward with the whole city behind us.”

The stage is set for an exciting second leg at Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday, May 29.


Thunder fend off T-wolves 128-126 to take 3-1 lead behind SGA’s 40-point game

Thunder fend off T-wolves 128-126 to take 3-1 lead behind SGA’s 40-point game
Updated 27 May 2025
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Thunder fend off T-wolves 128-126 to take 3-1 lead behind SGA’s 40-point game

Thunder fend off T-wolves 128-126 to take 3-1 lead behind SGA’s 40-point game

MINNEAPOLIS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a steely performance befitting the NBA MVP, and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped back from a 42-point loss by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-126 in Game 4 on Monday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Jalen Williams scored 34 points on 13-for-24 shooting, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, and Chet Holmgren added 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a statement game in his hometown that helped the Thunder stave off several pushes by the Wolves to tie the series.
Gilgeous-Alexander went 12 for 14 from the free-throw line, making a pair with 6.1 seconds left to stretch the lead back to three. The Thunder fouled Anthony Edwards with 3.5 seconds to go, and his intentional miss of the second one to try to keep possession was tracked down in the corner by Gilgeous-Alexander and flung out of bounds in attempt to drain the clock.
The Wolves had one more inbounds pass with 0.3 seconds remaining that Williams grabbed to send the Thunder back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Wednesday with the chance to advance to the NBA Finals.
Edwards was limited to 16 points, and Julius Randle  was also bottled up by the Thunder’s relentless defense led by Luguentz Dort.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker  and Donte DiVincenzo  each went 5 for 8 from 3-point range to lead a second straight onslaught of bench offense to keep the Wolves close all night, but the Thunder always had an answer for the mini-runs they managed. They trailed for only 36 seconds, all stretches in the first quarter.
Any intrigue about how the Thunder would respond to the 143-101 drubbing in Game 3 quickly disappeared when Williams started hitting from deep to lead an 11-for-17 shooting start from the floor.
After shooting just 28 percent from 3-point range over their first six road games in these NBA playoffs, the Thunder went 16 for 37 — straining the Wolves defensively with all the difficulty Gilgeous-Alexander was presenting again following a quiet game on Saturday.
The Thunder, for all their dominance, have shown a hint of vulnerability away from Paycom Center, where they’re 7-1 with a plus-191 scoring differential this postseason.


Ronaldo announces Al-Nassr chapter ‘over’?

Ronaldo announces Al-Nassr chapter ‘over’?
Updated 27 May 2025
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Ronaldo announces Al-Nassr chapter ‘over’?

Ronaldo announces Al-Nassr chapter ‘over’?
  • Al-Nassr lost 3-2 to Al-Fateh in the last game of the season

PARIS: Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo indicated on Monday that he could leave Al-Nassr after declaring that a “chapter is over” hours after the Saudi Pro League finished.
Ronaldo, 40, joined Al-Nassr in 2022 from Manchester United and his contract in Saudi Arabia ends this summer.
A special transfer window runs from June 1-10 to allow the 32 clubs involved in the Club World Cup to sign players.
“This chapter is over,” Ronaldo cryptically said on social media with a photo of him in an Al-Nassr shirt.
“The story? Still being written.
“Grateful to all,” the former Real Madrid and Juventus attacker added.
He posted the message shortly after Al-Nassr lost 3-2 to Al-Fateh in the last game of the season, finishing third.
Al-Nassr missed out on the Asian Champions League Elite, losing to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in April’s semifinals and were third in the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo ended as the league’s top goal scorer on 24.
Last year, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he could end his career wit Al-Nassr.


Alcaraz wins Roland Garros opener, Swiatek makes strong start

Alcaraz wins Roland Garros opener, Swiatek makes strong start
Updated 26 May 2025
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Alcaraz wins Roland Garros opener, Swiatek makes strong start

Alcaraz wins Roland Garros opener, Swiatek makes strong start
  • Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open

PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz powered into the French Open second round on Monday with a resounding win to start his title defense, while three-time defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek also eased through at Roland Garros.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and will face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in round two.

Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic.

“The first round is never easy, and coming here as a champion is even more difficult,” said the Spaniard, who has won both the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open titles on clay this year.

“But I started well, found my rhythm, and I’m happy with my start.”

Alcaraz beat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in straight sets in the Rome final just over a week ago as the Italian returned from a three-month doping ban.

Two-time reigning Australian Open champion Sinner takes center stage in the night session against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who can expect to enjoy much of the support under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier.

It is the first of two successive potential French opponents for Sinner, who could meet the retiring Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet, 38, takes on another wild card, Terence Atmane, in his 22nd and final Roland Garros.

“It’s definitely going to be different,” Sinner said of the atmosphere that awaits him in Paris after he received a warm welcome back in front of home fans in Italy.

Taylor Fritz of the US became the first high-profile casualty in the men’s draw as the fourth seed lost 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to German Daniel Altmaier.

Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open runner-up, got his bid for a first Grand Slam title under way with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over veteran Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

Swiatek entered the tournament on a near year-long trophy drought but showed signs of form in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova.

Her struggles since the last of her four French Open titles have been well documented, but she broke her 42nd-ranked opponent four times in a strong display.

The five-time Grand Slam champion’s remarkable win-loss record in the tournament now stands at 36-2.

“I knew I needed to stay proactive and try to use my weapons. I’m happy with my performance and it was a solid match,” said Swiatek, who also beat Sramkova in the second round of this year’s Australian Open.

Swiatek, who has dropped to fifth in the world rankings, will next face former US Open champion Emma Raducanu after the Briton defeated China’s Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Raducanu is playing at the French Open for the first time since a second-round exit on her debut in 2022.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who had a match point against Swiatek in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, was knocked out by Spanish 10th seed Paula Badosa in a tense three-set battle.

Badosa, an Australian Open semifinalist earlier this year, fought back from a set down to win 6-7 (1/7), 6-1, 6-4.

Osaka has still never got past the third round at Roland Garros.

Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina battled past Argentinian qualifier Julia Riera 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, two days after lifting her first WTA title since April 2024 in Strasbourg.

American ninth seed Emma Navarro suffered an embarrassing 6-0, 6-1 loss to Spanish world No. 68 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in just 57 minutes, only winning a game when her opponent double-faulted to gift her a break when serving for a double-bagel victory.


Inglis stars as Punjab grab two shots to reach IPL final

Inglis stars as Punjab grab two shots to reach IPL final
Updated 26 May 2025
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Inglis stars as Punjab grab two shots to reach IPL final

Inglis stars as Punjab grab two shots to reach IPL final
  • Chasing 185 for victory, Punjab depended on a 109-run second-wicket stand between Inglis and Priyansh Arya to achieve their target
  • Both teams have already secured their play-off berth along with Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the T20 tournament

JAIPUR: Australia’s Josh Inglis scored 73 to help Punjab Kings finish in the top-two moving into the IPL playoffs with a seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians on Monday.

Both the teams have already secured their play-off berth along with Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the T20 tournament.

A top-two position in the final group phase table makes Punjab grab one of the two spots in the first qualifier on May 29 and two shots at reaching June 3’ final.

Chasing 185 for victory, Punjab depended on a 109-run second-wicket stand between Inglis and Priyansh Arya to achieve their target with nine balls to spare in Jaipur.

The left-handed Arya made 62 before he departed in the 15th over and Inglis fell after his first IPL fifty with the team needing another 14 to win.

Inglis, a wicketkeeper-batsman, hit nine fours and three sixes in his 42-ball knock.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer made an unbeaten 26 off 16 balls to steer the team home.

“Every individual stepped up at the right time,” said Iyer.

“We’ve had players putting their hands up when we were in the dumps. (Coach) Ricky (Ponting) has been fantastic with player management, it’s important for me to get trust too.”

Ponting praised Iyer, who was brought for $3.17 million in November’s auction.

“It was pretty obvious with the amount of money we spent on him, we wanted him here,” said Ponting.

“He’s a man who has been so good and has a sparkle for captaincy, he has led this team superbly.”

Five-time champions Mumbai sit bottom of the top-four teams and will play the eliminator on May 30.

“We just want to play good cricket going forward, figure out the right template for the batting group,” Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya said.

“Not much panic though, we knew what was at stake.”

Gujarat’s position will depend on the final league match between Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.

The winner of the first qualifier will enter the final, while the loser will take on the winner of the second qualifier to book their spot in the title clash.

Mumbai reached 184-7 after Suryakumar Yadav top-scored with 57 off 39 deliveries to boost the total.

South Africa’s opener Ryan Rickelton hit a brisk 27 in a 44-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma, who scored 24.

Wicketkeeper Rickelton, a left-hand batter, departed in the sixth over as wickets fell at regular intervals including Rohit and England’s Will Jacks, out for 17.

Suryakumar took stock in a partnership of 44 with Pandya, who took on the opposition bowling in his 26 off 15 balls.

Pandya hit two fours and two sixes before being caught behind off South African left-arm quick Marco Jansen to put Mumbai in trouble.

Number seven Naman Dhir came out firing as he and Suryakumar, who reached his fifth half-century of the season in his 640 runs, hammered 23 off the 19th over.

Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh took down Dhir after the batsman’s 12-ball 20 at the start of the 20th and trapped Suryakumar to finish the over with two wickets and just three runs.