Aramco Team Series confirms Shenzhen’s Mission Hills Resort as fourth stop of season

1 / 3
The Aramco Team Series presented by PIF and organized by Golf Saudi has confirmed Mission Hills Resort in Shenzhen as its fourth stop of the season. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 27 August 2024
Follow

Aramco Team Series confirms Shenzhen’s Mission Hills Resort as fourth stop of season

  • Ladies European Tour returns to mainland China for the first time in over seven years
  • Organized by Golf Saudi, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF is a series of five events on the LET

SHENZHEN, China: The Aramco Team Series presented by PIF and organized by Golf Saudi has today confirmed Mission Hills Resort in Shenzhen as its fourth stop of the season, as the Ladies European Tour (LET) returns to mainland China for the first time in over seven years.

A cornerstone of the LET, the second Asian leg of the 2024 Aramco Team Series presented by PIF will tee-up on the acclaimed World Cup Course at Mission Hills Resort in the vibrant city of Shenzhen, October 4-6. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course will welcome an array of the world’s top talent, as they bid to win individual and team trophies, and a share of the weekend’s $1 million prize fund.

Organized by Golf Saudi, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF is a series of five events on the LET each year, adding an annual $5 million in prizemoney. With events in destinations across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East, the innovative format is loved by players and fans alike, as groups of three professionals and an amateur compete against each other in the Tour’s only recurring team event.

The series heads to Shenzhen in October following events in Florida, Seoul and London already this season, with the final leg of the season set for Riyadh in November.

Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, said: “We’re thrilled to be taking the Aramco Team Series to Shenzhen. This move not only showcases elite women’s golf to a significant audience, but also offers us an opportunity to inspire future generations in this exciting market. Joining efforts with the world-renowned Mission Hills allows us to deliver a best-in-class event that meets the quality our golfers, fans and stakeholders alike all expect with the Aramco Team Series. Together, we are poised to deliver another truly unforgettable event.”

Khalid Al-Zamil, Aramco vice president of Public Affairs, said: “We are delighted that the Aramco Team Series will be hosted in Shenzhen. At Aramco, we believe sport provides a platform to create opportunity, improve lives and positively impact society. The Aramco Team Series aims to empower female athletes, elevating women’s golf globally, inspiring future generations of athletes.”

Following a successful event in Hong Kong last year, the move to Shenzhen represents an opportunity for the tournament to continue to engage with a diverse array of spectators and showcase the elite of women’s golf.

Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen, a sprawling golf and leisure resort located in the heart of southern China’s Guangdong Province, is renowned as the world’s largest golf facility, boasting a staggering 12 golf courses, making it one of golf’s premier global destinations.

Tenniel Chu, vice chairman of Mission Hills Group, said: “Bringing the Aramco Team Series to Shenzhen represents a significant milestone for both Shenzhen and Mission Hills, heralding the return of the Ladies European Tour to China for three days of thrilling elite competition. We take immense pride in hosting this esteemed event at Mission Hills and look forward to extending a warm welcome to the international community at our breath-taking resort. Our aim is to orchestrate a memorable tournament that captivates audiences and leaves a long-lasting positive impact.”

Since its inception in 2021, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF has continued to grow at a rapid pace on the global stage.

Alexandra Armas, chief executive officer of the Ladies European Tour said: “Returning to China is an exciting prospect for the LET, as we continue to provide our members with valuable experiences on the world’s best courses. Our aim is to continue elevating women’s golf to new heights, around the globe, and in partnership with the Aramco Team Series.”


PSG sporting director Campos extends contract to 2030

Updated 22 May 2025
Follow

PSG sporting director Campos extends contract to 2030

  • Campos “will oversee the sports strategy of the whole QSI group“
  • His existing deal was due to expire at the end of this season

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos has extended his contract with the French giants in a boost to the club ahead of the upcoming Champions League final.

In a statement issued on Thursday, PSG’s owners Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) announced that Campos had renewed his contract “for an additional five years until 2030.”

Campos, who is from Portugal and began working with PSG in an official role of football adviser in 2022, “will oversee the sports strategy of the whole QSI group.”

That includes Braga, who finished fourth in this season’s Portuguese league and in whom QSI holds a minority stake.

Campos’s existing deal was due to expire at the end of this season and the announcement is welcome news for PSG as they prepare for the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Munich on May 31.

Before that they face Reims in the French Cup final on Saturday as they bid to complete a clean sweep of the domestic honors in France for the second season running.

Campos previously worked at Monaco and at Lille and has overseen the successful squad rebuild at PSG following the shift away from the superstar approach that led to the signings of Neymar and Lionel Messi.


The enduring legend of Virat Kohli

Updated 22 May 2025
Follow

The enduring legend of Virat Kohli

  • Kohli’s cricketing persona has been one of aggressiveness and intensity, always eager to join the fray and whip up his team to greater heights, more in the manner of soccer than cricket

Some cricketers possess an unmistakable presence when they walk out to bat. Vivian Richards of the West Indies was one. He swaggered, smiled, oozed confidence and menace, chewed gum and eschewed a helmet in favor of a cap. His style of entrance may have set a precedent for others to build their own individual brands as cricketers in an era of universal television coverage. 

Chris Gayle, another West Indian, the self-styled “Universe Boss,” was one who did that across all formats. An imposing presence as soon as he stepped onto the cricket field, Gayle took to the T20 format very quickly, establishing himself as a free-scoring, aggressive batter to be feared. He also proved himself at Test level, capable of batting at length. In 2010, he batted almost 10 hours in scoring 333 against Sri Lanka, becoming only the fourth batsman to score two Test triples. Both Gayle and Richards now live out of the limelight, their cricketing reputations intact.

In previous eras, the great and charismatic players of the time did not have the media exposure that is available to current players. In the immediate years after 1945, Denis Compton of England and Keith Miller of Australia were two players who excited crowds with their charisma, becoming icons at a time of national recovery from war. Compton was one of the first cricketers to be used in consumer advertising, as the face of Brylcreem, a hair cream. 

It is now commonplace for cricketers to endorse consumer products, other than cricket equipment. A number of them have developed their own brand values. An outstanding example of this is Virat Kohli, who has transcended his ability as a cricketer to become an international icon. His decision to retire from Test cricket, announced on Instagram on May 12 to 271 million followers, has sparked a deluge of tributes. These have focussed on his place in the game and his contribution to it, especially to Test cricket, for which he has been an outspoken champion. 

In this respect, it is a disappointment to many that Kohli will not be a part of the Indian team that will play five Tests in England between June 20 and Aug. 4. Neither will his successor as captain, Rohit Sharma, who also announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 7. Both players retired from international T20 cricket after India won the T20 World Cup in June 2024, under Sharma’s captaincy. The two were different in both batting and leadership styles but have been instrumental in guiding India to recent trophy success.

Sharma retires with 4,301 runs in 67 Test matches, averaging 40.57. His recent form has been poor, having made only one 50 in 15 innings since his last Test hundred against England in Dharamsala in March 2024. Sharma was captain in 2024, when India was surprisingly beaten 3-0 at home by New Zealand and 3-1 away by Australia, where he sat out the decisive fifth Test in Sydney. In the same series, Kohli, although scoring a hundred in the first Test, endured a dip in form. His frustrations at what appeared to be waning abilities surfaced in an unseemly incident during the fourth Test at Melbourne. 

At the end of the tenth over of Australia’s innings, 19-year-old debutant, Sam Konstas, walked toward his opening partner at the non-striker’s end. He was looking at his gloves, when Kohli, who was walking in the opposite direction from his fielding position, made shoulder contact with Konstas. Commentators remarked that Kohli had walked one whole pitch over to his right and appeared to have instigated the confrontation.

Kohli was sanctioned for a breach of conduct and fined 20 percent of his match fees, which he accepted. Perhaps the act was that of an aging lion attempting to curb a rising cub, of whose talent he was envious. Kohli’s cricketing persona has been one of aggressiveness, intensity, always eager to join the fray and whip up his team to greater heights, more in the manner of soccer than cricket.

This has not endeared him to opposition supporters. I have witnessed and heard comments by English supporters that have been uncomplimentary — not that Kohli has been afraid to take on opposition supporters with words and provocative gestures. There has always been a sense that he has escaped censure for transgressions and acts for which others would have received punishment.

On the field, whether fielding, captaining or batting, Kohli’s presence and actions were ones that demanded attention. His passion for Test cricket shone through, as evidenced in his retirement statement in which he said, “I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.”

In it, Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests to stand fourth in India’s all-time list of Test run-scorers after Tendulkar, Dravid and Gavaskar. He also captained India in 68 of his Tests, winning 40 of them, which makes him the country’s most successful leader in the format. Such a record is a reflection not only of his hunger for runs, but his desire to win and for those around him to strive for excellence. His own commitment to physical fitness has become legendary and aspirational for young Indians, who seek to emulate his appearance.

It is not clear if there was any single reason for Kohli’s decision to retire. One consideration is form. The Test hundred in Australia last November was his first in 15 innings in the previous 16 months. In Australia, he scored 190 runs in nine innings, averaging just 23.75, which compares with a final Test average of 46.85. Since January 2020, he has averaged 30.72, scoring only three centuries in 39 Tests. Another consideration was the curbing, by the national board, of the size and composition of the support groups for players while on tour. One factor that does not seem to have been widely discussed is the impact of Sharma’s retirement.

Of course, Kohli has not slipped into the shadows. In IPL 2025, he has scored more than 500 runs and he still wishes to play ODI cricket for India. His retirement appears to be a carefully managed process. Off the field, his brand value and product endorsement strategy has been carefully curated to mirror his fitness-oriented lifestyle, fashion sense, family orientation and appeal across the whole Indian demographic. Kohli has also invested in a number of start-up ventures to ensure exposure outside of mainstream advertising. Unlike other famous cricketers, he will not be living quietly in retirement. 

There is little doubt that Virat Kohli has an aura about him on and off the pitch. He leaves a huge gap in the Test arena and there is a worry that his advocacy of it may not be continued by his successors. Kohli has said that, “There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no-one sees but that stay with you forever.” Self-reflection is not a characteristic that springs immediately to mind about Kohli, who admits that the journey has “tested me, shaped me and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.” He leaves an indelible mark on both Indian and global cricket in which his stature was invariably imperial, not just when going out to bat.       


How Al-Qadsiah Esports went from underdogs to contenders in Saudi eLeague

Updated 22 May 2025
Follow

How Al-Qadsiah Esports went from underdogs to contenders in Saudi eLeague

  • Newcomers clinched 4 titles across 9 tournaments, challenging established giants Twisted Minds and Team Falcons
  • Al-Qadsiah Esports rose to second place in elite rankings after victories in top titles

RIYADH: Al-Qadsiah Esports has made a powerful entrance into the 2025 Saudi eLeague, the Kingdom’s premier esports league organized by the Saudi Esports Federation and hosted at the SEF Arena. With standout performances across multiple titles, Al-Qadsiah has quickly established itself as one of the strongest teams in the league, announcing loud and clear that they are not just taking part, but aiming to dominate.

In a blistering start to the 2025 Saudi eLeague season, which featured nine tournaments, Al-Qadsiah stormed through the field to seize four championship titles, sending a clear message to every club in the league. Their elite roster dominated Major 1 elite tournaments in EA SPORTS FC 25, Overwatch 2 and Valorant, showcasing talent, strategic depth and multi-genre versatility that few teams could match.

Further cementing their dominance, Al-Qadsiah Corals, the organization’s female team, secured their first title in Overwatch 2 Major 1 Female, defeating Twisted Minds Orchid in a dramatic 4–3 final, marking a milestone moment in the club’s growing legacy.

Abdullah Al-Nasser, head of esports products at the Saudi Esports Federation said: “Al-Qadsiah Esports has delivered the kind of breakout performance that captures exactly what the Saudi eLeagues were built to showcase. Their rise isn’t just a win for the club, it’s a signal of how far local talent has come, and how fiercely it’s beginning to compete. The growth we’re witnessing across the league reflects a deeper ecosystem maturing fast. Our vision is to see more Saudi clubs not just show up, but rise, lead, and make their mark on both regional and global stages.”

Al-Qadsiah’s performance places them second on the Saudi eLeague Clubs Cross Game Leaderboard, positioned between two of the most dominant names in Saudi esports, with Twisted Minds holding the top spot and Team Falcons trailing in third. The breakout momentum from Al-Qadsiah signals a clear shift in the competitive balance of the Saudi eLeague, as a new wave of Saudi teams rise through the ranks, challenging the longstanding hierarchy and reshaping the competitive scene within the Kingdom.

With momentum building and eyes on the top spot, all signs point to Al-Qadsiah pushing for the throne.


French Open odds against tennis great Novak Djokovic as time running out for record 25th Slam

Updated 22 May 2025
Follow

French Open odds against tennis great Novak Djokovic as time running out for record 25th Slam

  • The 38-year-old Serbian’s bid for a fourth French Open crown looks more unlikely than in many years
  • Djokovic struggling for form since his run to the Australian Open semifinals back in January before retiring injured

BERLIN: If there is one tennis player who knows how to beat the odds when they are stacked against him, it is 24-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
The 38-year-old Serbian’s bid for a fourth French Open crown looks more unlikely than in many years, with Djokovic struggling for form since his run to the Australian Open semifinals back in January before retiring injured.
Since then Djokovic, who has 99 tour titles to his name and is in the twilight of a glorious career, has reached only one final and has not lifted a trophy this year.
After two early losses in Monte Carlo and Madrid, it was clear that Djokovic’s attempt to claim a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam could be his hardest yet.
“(It is) kind of a new reality for me, I have to say, trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament,” Djokovic said after his early Madrid exit.
He was expected to jumpstart his clay campaign in Rome before returning to Paris, where he won Olympic gold last year, but he skipped the Italian Open without giving a reason.
Instead he picked up a surprise wild card for the Geneva Open this week, in what looks like a last-ditch attempt to get some more matches on clay under his belt before Paris.
News of the wild card came as Djokovic split with his coach Andy Murray after only a few months working together.
Djokovic appointed fellow former world number one Murray ahead of this year’s Australian Open and the Serb said at the Qatar Open in February that he would continue working with the Scot for an indefinite period.
That time, however, ended abruptly last week with the Djokovic-Murray partnership yielding no titles and one losing final in Miami.
Their partnership is now officially over as Djokovic heads toward the French Open in a cloud of uncertainty over his form and future.
The world number six has struggled to assert his dominance after winning three out of the four Grand Slams in 2023.
There is even more uncertainty over his chances of reaching the last major goal in his illustrious career: adding that elusive 25th record Grand Slam to his collection to move past Margaret Court on the all-time winners’ list.


Dubai to stage final Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifier in November 2025

UAE city set to host the Final Qualification Tournament at The Sevens Stadium from Nov. 8-18, 2025. credit: @rugbyworldcup
Updated 22 May 2025
Follow

Dubai to stage final Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifier in November 2025

  • The event will decide the 24th and final team to secure a spot at the expanded global showpiece in Australia

DUBAI: The road to Rugby World Cup 2027 will culminate in Dubai, with the UAE city set to host the Final Qualification Tournament at The Sevens Stadium from Nov. 8-18, 2025.

The event will decide the 24th and final team to secure a spot at the expanded global showpiece in Australia.

Four teams will compete in a round-robin format across three match days, with the highest-ranked side at the end of the tournament booking their place at the World Cup. Belgium is the first nation confirmed for the Dubai qualifier, having finished fifth in the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship.

The remaining three teams will emerge from ongoing regional qualification campaigns, including the Rugby Africa Cup, Asia Rugby Championship, Sudamerica Rugby Championship, and the Pacific Nations Cup. Representing four continents, the participants will highlight the global reach and growing competitiveness of the sport.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson welcomed Dubai’s selection as host of the final qualifier, describing the tournament as a pivotal point in the international rugby calendar.

“The Final Qualification Tournament is always a thrilling, do-or-die moment in the build-up to Rugby World Cup — and it’s fitting that we bring it to a world-class destination like Dubai,” Robinson said.

He added: “As we head toward the most inclusive and globally representative tournament ever, with 24 teams competing in an expanded format and at least one nation from each of our regional associations, this final step on the ‘Journey to Australia 2027’ will be a celebration of ambition, resilience and the global spirit of rugby. We cannot wait to see which team earns the final place and joins us for what promises to be a unique celebration of rugby and Australia in 2027.”

The 2027 event in Australia will mark a new era for the sport. With 24 teams, a round of 16 stage, and a total of 52 matches, it will be the largest Rugby World Cup to date, aimed at increasing opportunities for emerging nations and enhancing the overall fan experience.

For the first time in the professional era, the pool draw will take place with all 24 teams confirmed. Scheduled for December 2025, the draw will be based on the official World Rugby Men’s Rankings at the close of the November international window, offering a more accurate and current reflection of team performance.

All international fixtures in 2025 — excluding matches during the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia — will influence the rankings and, ultimately, the pool seedings. Every result could be decisive in shaping the composition of the six pools for Rugby World Cup 2027.

As the global qualification process reaches its final chapter, all eyes will turn to Dubai this November. The tournament promises high-stakes rugby and a fitting finale to the long journey toward what is expected to be the most inclusive and competitive Rugby World Cup in history.