Vegas clings to PGA lead as Kim, Scheffler charge

“It was a great day,” Vegas said. (AP)
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Updated 17 May 2025
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Vegas clings to PGA lead as Kim, Scheffler charge

  • Vegas closed with a double bogey to fire a one-under-par 70

CHARLOTTE: Jhonattan Vegas, chasing his first major title, clung to a two-stroke lead in Friday’s second round of the PGA Championship while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and South Korean Kim Si-woo made late charges at Quail Hollow.
Vegas closed with a double bogey to fire a one-under-par 70 and stand on eight-under 134 after 36 holes with France’s Matthieu Pavon shooting 65 to share second with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Kim on 136.
“It was a great day,” Vegas said. “I can’t really get too down on myself for making double on 18. I feel like I managed my game really well. I was feeling it out there. It was nice to keep the momentum. The game was there and the feeling was good.
“I wasn’t happy to finish with that double on 18 but we have two more days to go.”
Kim aced the par-three sixth hole from 252 yards with a five-wood, hitting the longest hole-in-one in major history, and added six birdies against a lone bogey to equal Max Homa for the day’s low round of 64.
“It was exciting,” Kim said of the ace. “I hit it like exactly how I wanted. So it was cool and it was pretty memorable hole-in-one in major.”
Sharing fifth in the clubhouse were Americans Homa and Scheffler, who shot 68 to stand on 137 — three off the lead.
“A little below average for me,” Scheffler said. “I felt like I did a good job scoring. I was able to hit the right shots when I need to.”
Scheffler’s playing partners in the feature group — second-ranked Masters winner Rory McIlroy and third-ranked defending champion Xander Schauffele — grinded through the final hole just to make the cut on the number at one-over 143.
McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam with his Masters win, closed bogey-bogey to flirt with missing the weekend, lipping out from three feet for par at 17 and hitting off a hospitality tent roof into rough at 18 and two-putting for bogey from 36 feet to shoot 69.
Closing par putts at 17 and 18 from inside four feet gave Schauffele a 71.
Vegas, who fired a 64 on Thursday, never lost the lead despite pressure while Pavon and Homa each delivered their career-low major rounds.
“That was really very solid,” Pavon said. “Got a nice momentum with the putter early on. A few birdies on the front nine helped me to be more confident on the back nine. Overall it was a super satisfying day.”
Homa shot 30 on the same back nine where he fired 39 on Thursday.
“I knew the game was good,” Homa said. “Didn’t know I was going to shoot seven-under but I’ll take it.”
Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, fired a 68 and will draw upon his major win to try and pad his trophy haul.
“The fact I’ve done it before, that’s always a big confidence boost,” he said. “You can lean on that. I’m just happy to be in this position.”
World number 70 Vegas was set to become the lowest-ranked player to lead a major outright after each of the first two rounds since American Gil Morgan at the 1992 US Open.
Vegas was battling after a sleepless night sitting on the lead.
“Not getting a great sleep and having to come back early put me not in the best mood all day,” Vegas said. “It felt like three hours, but I probably got a little bit more than that. I got some sleep but it wasn’t the best.”
American Jordan Spieth, needing a win the complete a career Grand Slam, missed the cut on 144.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, whose 19 made major cuts were the longest active streak, and two-time major winner Justin Thomas were out on 145.


The youngest Saudi snooker player hopes to one day be world champion

Updated 9 sec ago
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The youngest Saudi snooker player hopes to one day be world champion

  • Abdullah Alqabani participated in the Saudi Junior Championship as the youngest player in the tournament
  • Alqabani practices at the Ronnie O’Sullivan academy in Riyadh

JEDDAH: 10-year-old Saudi snooker player, Abdullah Alqabani, is hoping to make a name for himself in the sport and represent Saudi Arabia internationally.

Alqabani on Tuesday took part in the Saudi Junior Championship, a part of the World Pool Championship making him the youngest player in the tournament.

Despite losing 4-7 in the first round of the Saudi Junior Championship to Romanian Hermeneanu Evan, the young Saudi remains hopeful about his future in snooker and aims to be the best snooker player in Saudi Arabia.

Arab News spoke to him at the Green Halls, he said: “I am so glad to be part of this international championship and seeing the best in the world competing here at home. It is a really great moment for me and my teammates because we learn from it. Just watching the best in the world performing here in Saudi Arabia is something else.”

Alqabani, who hails from Riyadh, spends more time training at Ronnie O’Sullivan academy in Riyadh and recently has been shining on the junior snooker circuit in Saudi Arabia and because of his skills, he was invited to join the Saudi national team.

“Saudi Arabia is not a snooker nation but the sport is getting there and many players now are playing billiards and snooker off course with the support of the Saudi Billiards and Snookers Federation,” he said.

At the age of 8, he started playing the American pool and moved to snooker as he got older, “It all started with my father who used to take me to play with him in one of the clubs in Riyadh.

 He continued: “I am going to work hard to become the best player in Saudi Arabia and with such events held in Saudi Arabia, I think my generation can make it to the highest level but it takes time.”

As one of the young snooker players all over the world who look up to the greatest player of all time, Ronnie O’Sullivan, often referred to as ‘The Rocket,’ Alqabani said: “My idol is Ronnie O’Sullivan and hope one day to be like him.”


Power Slap returns to Abu Dhabi Showdown Week in October

Updated 22 July 2025
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Power Slap returns to Abu Dhabi Showdown Week in October

  • Event will take place in the lead-up to UFC 321 at Etihad Arena
  • Dana White: Power Slap has had 13 straight sold-out events, and is now heading back to Abu Dhabi, one of the premier fight capitals in the world

ABU DHABI: Power Slap, the world slap fighting promotion, is set to return to the UAE on Friday, Oct. 24 at the Space 42 Arena as part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, headlined by UFC 321.

Last year, Power Slap hosted its first international event, Power Slap 9: Dumpling vs Da Crazy Hawaiian, in the UAE capital. A sold-out crowd witnessed a showdown between two of the world’s best strikers, as former Power Slap super heavyweight champion, Da Crazy Hawaiian, defended his title against No. 1 ranked super heavyweight, Vasilii “Dumpling” Kamotskii, in a match that ended in a dramatic draw.

Power Slap 9 generated more than 700 million total views across social media platforms through promotional and event coverage content and drew global influencers with 1 billion-plus followers. This marked a big step in the sport’s international growth and highlighted the region’s enthusiasm for combat sports.

“Power Slap has had 13 straight sold-out events, and is now heading back to Abu Dhabi, one of the premier fight capitals in the world,” said Power Slap founder Dana White. “In just two years, Power Slap has exploded with nearly 30 million followers and close to 20 billion video views across our platforms. The Middle East is becoming a hotbed for Power Slap, and I’m excited to bring it back.”


Pakistan keep Bangladesh down to 133 in second T20I

Updated 22 July 2025
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Pakistan keep Bangladesh down to 133 in second T20I

  • Batter Jaker Ali smashes five sixes to hit a 48-ball 55 for his third T20I fifty
  • Bangladesh lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first match

DHAKA: Pacers Salman Mirza and debutant Ahmed Daniyal grabbed two wickets apiece to restrict Bangladesh to 133 all out in the second Twenty20 international in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Mirza finished with 2-17 and Daniyal took 2-23 after Pakistan won the toss and sent Bangladesh into bat on another slow-paced pitch.

Jaker Ali hit a fiery 48-ball 55 for his third T20I fifty, smashing five sixes and a boundary before holing out off the final delivery of the 20th over.

Fast bowler Abbas Afridi also grabbed 2-37.

Bangladesh lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first match — also at the same venue — by seven wickets.

Bangladesh had lost four wickets by sixth over for 28 before Jaker and Mahedi Hasan revived the innings with a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Mahedi scored a 25-ball 33 with two sixes and as many boundaries.


Pakistan wins toss and puts Bangladesh into bat in second T20

Updated 22 July 2025
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Pakistan wins toss and puts Bangladesh into bat in second T20

  • Pakistan handed Ahmed Daniyal his international debut
  • The third and final match in the series is in Mirpur on Thursday

DHAKA: Pakistan cricket captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and put Bangladesh into bat in the second T20 on Tuesday.

Pakistan handed Ahmed Daniyal his international debut. He replaces leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed in the team’s only change after it lost the first match by seven wickets.

Bangladesh made two changes with Naim Sheikh replacing opener Tanzid Hasan and paceman Shoriful Islam coming in for Taskin Ahmed.

The third and final match in the series is in Mirpur on Thursday.

Line-ups:
Bangladesh: Parvez Hossain Emon, Naim Sheikh, Litton Das (captain), Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal.


Qatar bids to host 2036 Olympic Games

Updated 22 July 2025
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Qatar bids to host 2036 Olympic Games

  • One of the smallest and wealthiest states in the Gulf, Qatar had already hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup
  • Should it be chosen, Qatar would become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to host the Olympic Games

DOHA: Doha is bidding to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, authorities said on Tuesday, as the wealthy Gulf state sets its sights on yet another major sport event to diversify its energy-reliant economy.

One of the smallest and wealthiest states in the Gulf, Qatar had already hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Should it be chosen, Qatar would become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to host the Olympic Games, said Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

“The official bid submitted by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games represents a new milestone in Qatar’s journey,” he said in a statement shared on the official Qatar News Agency.

“The bid builds on Qatar’s proven track record of successfully hosting major international sporting events, most notably the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

Amnesty International and other rights groups claimed thousands of migrant workers died in the lead-up to the 2022 tournament, though Doha has said only 37 workers on World Cup projects perished – and only three in work-related accidents.

President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said Doha had “made sport a central pillar of our national strategy.”

“We currently have 95 percent of the required sports infrastructure in place to host the Games, and we have a comprehensive national plan to ensure 100 percent readiness of all facilities,” he said.

Countries are no longer required to make their Olympic bids public.

The Games are meant to rotate continents every season. With the 2024, 2028, and 2032 editions set for Europe, North America, and Oceania, there are high chances the 2036 Olympic Games will be held in Asia – or in Africa, which would be a first.

Choosing the next host of the games will be the first major project for the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) new president Kirsty Coventry, who last month became the first woman to lead the body.