‘You always want to get better, and that’s just golf,’ says Patty Tavatanakit ahead of her Saudi Ladies title defense

‘You always want to get better, and that’s just golf,’ says Patty Tavatanakit ahead of her Saudi Ladies title defense
1 / 3
Patty Tavatanakit and Carlota Ciganda have both won the PIF Saudi Ladies International. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 12 February 2025
Follow

‘You always want to get better, and that’s just golf,’ says Patty Tavatanakit ahead of her Saudi Ladies title defense

‘You always want to get better, and that’s just golf,’ says Patty Tavatanakit ahead of her Saudi Ladies title defense
  • Golf Saudi ambassadors Patty Tavatanakit and Carlota Ciganda, both previous winners in Saudi’s capital, are set for the $5 million PIF Saudi Ladies International
  • Patty Tavatanakit: Being a Golf Saudi ambassador this year, I’m really grateful to be a part of this journey

RIYADH: Patty Tavatanakit is is ready to defend her title at the PIF Saudi Ladies International from 13-15 February at Riyadh Golf Club.

Reflecting on her off-season, Tavatanakit admitted she had not dwelled much on her three victories last year but instead remained focused on improvement and the road ahead.

The Thai player said: “I feel like, in the off-season, I hadn’t really reflected back on last year and the three wins. But I just kept on working and looking forward to this year already. I don’t know what to think or what to expect. 

“Coming into this week, I just really want to play my best. I’m working on some things right now. I just switched to a new coach, so I really want to focus on the process.” 

As the defending champion, she acknowledges the pressure but views it as a privilege.

“I feel like there’s always pressure. You're coming back as a defending champion. You’ve done it once. People expect you to do it again. But I could take it as a positive. Pressure is a privilege, and I’m very privileged to have that at the back of my mind.”

Last year was a strong season for Tavatanakit, with victories in Thailand, two additional top-10 finishes, and a third-place finish at The Amundi Evian Championship. However, she believes there’s still room for improvement.

“It was very, very important. A big boost in confidence, for sure. Earlier last year, I felt like my performance was there.

“At the same time though, I didn’t feel like I performed my best or had my form all year round. That’s something I’ve been working on this off-season — just trying to eliminate those big misses, tee to green, and cleaning things up on the putting green a little bit. You always want to get better, and that’s just golf.”

Tavatanakit also praised the efforts of PIF and Golf Saudi in growing the game globally. 

“What they’re doing for the game of golf in general is amazing. They’re showing their commitment. They’re here, they’re staying, and they’re trying to grow the game globally. Being a Golf Saudi ambassador this year, I’m really grateful to be a part of this journey.”

Carlota Ciganda also echoed similar sentiments about the event’s significance. 

The Spanish Solheim Cup star said: “I think it’s amazing what Golf Saudi are doing. I’ve been with them for the last three years and again this year. Very grateful for all the support and their commitment to women’s golf with all the tournaments on the Ladies European Tour, these team events. 

“Tournaments like this one with the same prize fund as the men — I think that’s changing women’s golf. It’s moving towards more equality, so I’m very happy to be a part of it.”

Tavatanakit’s primary goal for the season is clear: “I’d like to win this year. Very clear about that, very passionate about it. I’ll do anything I can to make that happen.”

As she prepares to defend her title, Tavatanakit emphasizes mental toughness. “I feel like the words “comfortable” and “confident” are kind of an illusion for me now. You just have togo out there regardless of how you feel. Just got to make it happen and accept that it’s golf — it’s not always going to look pretty.”

A previous team captain and winner in Riyadh, Ciganda embraces the format change. “I love playing for the team. It’s something I always enjoy. I love playing for my teammates, and I think the best comes out of me when I play for others as well.”

She also had words of encouragement for young players like Mimi Rhodes, who has previously stated Ciganda as a role model whilst growing up. 

“Young players nowadays are very ready to play. When they turn pro, they are much more prepared than 15 years ago. But I think it’s important to have fun, enjoy, and have a good team around you. It can be lonely sometimes, so having a coach and a team that supports you through good and bad times is really important. Just enjoy the process. Golf has ups and downs — that’s just how it is.” 

The Spaniard’s goal for the season? 

“Winning. Winning on the LPGA, winning here, winning majors — that’s what I want. Being European, the AIG Women’s Open is always special, but I’d be happy with any Major.” 

It’s all to play for as Tavatankit and Ciganda hope they can kick start their season with an all important win.


Soccer-Slot says Liverpool title favorites due to last season’s triumph, not spending spree

Soccer-Slot says Liverpool title favorites due to last season’s triumph, not spending spree
Updated 47 sec ago
Follow

Soccer-Slot says Liverpool title favorites due to last season’s triumph, not spending spree

Soccer-Slot says Liverpool title favorites due to last season’s triumph, not spending spree
  • “It’s completely normal that we are one of the favorites, because we won it last season,” Slot told reporters ahead of Sunday’s FA Community Shield showdown against Crystal Palace
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said it is completely normal for his side to be viewed as favorites to retain their Premier League crown, citing last campaign’s success rather than their close-season transfer activity.
Liverpool, who won the Premier League last season to secure a record-equalling 20th English title, have bolstered their squad with the arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and others.
The Merseyside club, however, have also had Trent Alexander-Arnold leave for Real Madrid, Luis Diaz move to Bayern Munich and Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen, while their Portuguese forward Diogo Jota died in a car crash last month.
“It’s completely normal that we are one of the favorites, because we won it last season,” Slot told reporters ahead of Sunday’s FA Community Shield showdown against Crystal Palace.
“And we brought in good players. Like all the other teams did, by the way. This is what makes this league so nice.”
Liverpool had only signed forward Federico Chiesa from Italian side Juventus in the close-season window last year.
“Every team in the Premier League is spending money. So if we are only favorites because we’ve spent a bit, I would see that as weird because we’ve lost a lot as well. But that we are favorites because we won it last season and we played so well, that’s clear,” Slot said.
“And the ambitions haven’t changed, because the ambition of this club is always to compete for every trophy.”
Liverpool, eyeing a 17th Community Shield title, face FA Cup winners Palace at Wembley.

Nawaz sparks Pakistan to five-wicket ODI win over West Indies

Nawaz sparks Pakistan to five-wicket ODI win over West Indies
Updated 09 August 2025
Follow

Nawaz sparks Pakistan to five-wicket ODI win over West Indies

Nawaz sparks Pakistan to five-wicket ODI win over West Indies
  • Hasan Nawaz made a triumphant one-day international debut, going 63 not out
  • Nawaz struck for six on the second ball of 49th over and blasted the winning shot

TAROUBA, Trinidad and Tobago: Hasan Nawaz made a triumphant one-day international debut, going 63 not out on Friday to power Pakistan over West Indies by five wickets in their ODI series opener.

Nawaz and Hussain Talat formed a sixth-wicket partnership of 104 not out to rally the visitors in the day-night affair, with game two on Sunday and the concluder on Tuesday.

West Indies went 280 all out with Evin Lewis leading the way on 60 from 62 balls with three sixes and five fours while Shai Hope added 55 and Roston Chase contributed 53.

Needing 281 to win, Pakistan got 53 runs from Mohammad Rizwan before he was bowled lbw by Shamar Joseph in the 38th over with the visitors still 101 runs shy of victory, setting the stage for heroics by Nawaz and Talat.

Nawaz struck for six on the second ball of the 49th over and blasted the winning shot to the boundary off the final delivery by Joseph, giving Pakistan the victory with seven balls to spare.

In all, Nawaz reached 63 on 54 balls with three sixes and five fours while Talat finished on 41 from 37 balls with one six and four fours.

Pakistan won the toss and sent the hosts in to bat first, a choice that paid quick dividends when Brandon King was taken for four on the fifth ball of the opening over, bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi — his first of four wickets — and caught by Babar Azam off stump.

Lewis exited on the last ball of the 19th over, bowled by Saim Ayub and caught by Afridi.

West Indies captain Hope was bowled by Afridi and caught by Rizwan on the second ball of the 41st over, leaving the hosts on 200 for five.

Romario Shepherd, was sent off on four on the last ball of the 43rd over.

Chase made the third half-century for the West Indies with a boundary but went out on the next ball, caught by Azam and bowled by Naseem Shah, who also bowled out Gudakesh Motie and Jediah Blades on the last two Pakistan deliveries.


Bayern Munich shift away from ‘Visit Rwanda’ sponsorship after criticism

Bayern Munich shift away from ‘Visit Rwanda’ sponsorship after criticism
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

Bayern Munich shift away from ‘Visit Rwanda’ sponsorship after criticism

Bayern Munich shift away from ‘Visit Rwanda’ sponsorship after criticism
  • Some Bayern fans displayed a large banner at a game in February protesting the deal
  • Now the German soccer champion say they have reached a new deal with Rwanda

MUNICH: Bayern Munich signaled Friday they will cut down on “Visit Rwanda” branding as they move “away from a commercial sponsorship” with the African nation facing a backlash over alleged support for rebels in neighboring Congo.

Bayern dismissed allegations of “sportswashing” when they signed a five-year Rwanda deal in 2023. It included advertisements in the stadium and what Bayern called events “to promote tourism and investment opportunities in Rwanda.”

At the time, they replaced a controversial sponsorship deal with Qatar. Rwanda has similar sponsorships with European soccer giants like Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.

Some Bayern fans displayed a large banner at a game in February protesting the deal, amid accusations from the United Nations that Rwanda has backed rebels in neighboring Congo.

Now the German soccer champion say they have reached a new deal with Rwanda which turns the existing sponsorship deal into a three-year agreement focusing on developing young soccer players at a Bayern-affiliated academy in the country.

“In constructive talks about our future direction, we agreed that a very special part of our relationship with (the Rwanda Development Board) was the developmental nature of our work in Kigali through the FC Bayern Academy,” Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen said in a statement.

“We are therefore transforming our commercial partnership into a talent program and expanding the FC Bayern Academy in (Rwanda’s capital) Kigali together with the RDB as both a football and social initiative. This remains perfectly aligned to our strategic objective of developing playing talent in Africa.”

Bayern didn’t specify how soon they would drop “Visit Rwanda” branding as part of the move, which is described as a transition. As of Friday afternoon local time, the branding was still displayed under a section of the Bayern website listing club sponsors and partners.

The RDB’s chief executive, Jean-Guy Afrika, was quoted by Bayern as saying the changes to the partnership aimed to “accelerate sports development,” adding: “This continued partnership with FC Bayern helps ensure that talent development remains anchored in our broader vision to position Rwanda as a global hub for tourism, investment, and high-performance sport.”

Rwanda’s presence in European soccer has grown steadily since 2018, when it first partnered with Arsenal to put “Visit Rwanda” branding on the London club’s shirt sleeves.

An agreement with PSG was signed in 2019 and renewed in April this year. It covers branding in the stadium and included shirt-sleeve sponsorship at the Club World Cup. A three-year deal to sponsor Atletico was agreed in April including branding on training and warm-up shirts.

Rwanda is accused of supporting the M23 rebel group, the most potent of more than 100 armed

groups vying for dominance in mineral-rich eastern Congo just across the border with Rwanda. Rwanda also has been accused of exploiting eastern Congo’s minerals, used in smartphones, advanced fighter jets and much more.

However, Rwandan authorities allege some of those who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide fled into Congo and are either working with or are being protected by the Congolese army. They have denied involvement in Congo’s minerals sector and said any security action taken is to protect its territory.


Man United unveil state-of-the-art training base they hope will return them to soccer’s elite

Man United unveil state-of-the-art training base they hope will return them to soccer’s elite
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

Man United unveil state-of-the-art training base they hope will return them to soccer’s elite

Man United unveil state-of-the-art training base they hope will return them to soccer’s elite
  • A $67m revamp of the club’s Carrington training base has been completed in time for the start of the new Premier League season
  • “The big thing that I like the most is now there’s going to be no excuses,” Dalot said

MANCHESTER: Manchester United opened their new “world class” training complex Friday that they hope will help return the fallen giant to the top of European soccer.

A 50 million pound ($67 million) revamp of the club’s Carrington training base has been completed in time for the start of the new Premier League season as the storied club aim to bounce back from their worst campaign in the modern era.

“The big thing that I like the most is now there’s going to be no excuses,” defender Diogo Dalot said.

United have gone 12 years since last winning the Premier League title in 2013 and last season recorded their lowest finish when placing 15th.

They also suffered a club record 18 losses in the Premier League and amassed their lowest points total, 42, as they failed to qualify for any European competition.

“It’s what we’re going to do on the pitch that obviously will determine what we do and where we put the club back on top,” Dalot said.

But he added that the new training center meant players had “everything that you need to be on your best shape mentally and physically.”

State-of-the-art performance and rehabilitation equipment has been installed, including altitude training facilities. Sleeping pods, oxygen chambers and cryotherapy treatment facilities are to be added imminently.

The project was funded by minority owner Jim Ratcliffe as part of the British billionaire’s $1.3 billion investment in the storied club last year.

“I hope it helps take Manchester United where Manchester United need to go,” he said.

Ratcliffe, who has also outlined plans to rebuild the club’s iconic Old Trafford stadium, said he had quickly made a decision to “invest significantly in the creation of a world class performance environment for staff and players to reflect our ambition and vision for Manchester United.”

“The club have to compete at the highest level. That’s appropriate to the brand and the size and the history of the club,” he said. “So whilst a world class training facility won’t take us to that place alone, it is one of the key ingredients in the modern world.”

As well as performance equipment, the redesign of the campus, led by architect Foster + Partners, includes facilities like a barber shop, a Formula 1 simulator and pool table, with a padel court due to be installed at the request of players.


Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters

Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters

Vitesse Arnhem lose last bid to save professional status, angering supporters
  • The Central Netherlands Court rejected the club’s appeal to overturn a decision by the Dutch Football Association to revoke their professional license
  • Dutch media showed images of scuffles in Arnhem city center as supporters gathered

AMSTERDAM: One of the Netherlands’ oldest clubs, Vitesse Arnhem, lost a final bid to save their professional license on Friday and were effectively kicked out of the league, sparking fan protests.

The Central Netherlands Court rejected the club’s appeal to overturn a decision by the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) to revoke their professional license.

Dutch media showed images of scuffles in Arnhem city center as supporters gathered. One journalist was slapped, the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper reported, as anger was directed against media.

The court upheld the KNVB decision after the football association said the club had circumvented and undermined the licensing system for years and had spurned repeated opportunities to regularise their affairs, including debt reported to be around 14 million euros ($16.3 million).

The club, established in 1892, had been sanctioned last year and relegated to the Dutch second division because of financial irregularities, which the KNVB said included the absence of a bank account, the absence of a controlling accountant, and the fact that no conclusive budget could be provided.

Vitesse were the first Dutch club to have foreign owners in 2010 when Georgian businessman Merab Jordania took over the club with Russian Valeriy Oyf becoming majority owner in 2018.

The club’s financial fortunes changed drastically after sanctions that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The decision means Saturday’s scheduled match against Almere City has been canceled and leaves the Dutch second division with 19 clubs.

In a statement, Vitesse said they were “devastated” by the verdict. “What the future holds is unclear,” the statement said.

“The club is exploring options and continues to talk to stakeholders to safeguard football in Arnhem.”

Vitesse, who were four-time runners-up in the Dutch league but never won the championship, will be forced to either continue as an amateur club or cease to exist.

The Dutch league has two divisions, but there is no mandatory promotion and relegation between the second tier of the professional competition and the amateur ranks.

“The worst-case scenario has come true,” said Arnhem’s Alderman for Sports Affairs Bob Roelofs.

“This is a tragedy for the city, for the supporters, for Vitesse. The city has lost a large part of its DNA.”