Baniyas impress on opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Baniyas impress on opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The fourth round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship kicked of in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (UAEJJF)
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Updated 28 June 2025
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Baniyas impress on opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Baniyas impress on opening day of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
  • Al-Jazira in second place, MOD UAE third

ABU DHABI: Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club seized an early lead on the first day of the fourth round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, which was held on Friday at Zayed Sports City’s Mubadala Arena.

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation-organized event drew strong competition from local clubs, with competitors across youth, adult, and master divisions. Al-Jazira claimed second place, while MOD UAE rounded out the top three.

Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAEJJF, praised the generosity of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in doubling the championship’s prize money.

He said the move reflected the UAE leadership’s commitment to the development of top-level sports, especially jiu-jitsu, which has become the country’s national sport.

Al-Batran said: “The fourth round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is especially important. It marks a key moment in the competition and gives us a chance to evaluate club performances and how well the athletes are prepared to continue their success in the upcoming stages.”

Jasem Al-Marzooqi, the CEO of the Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center, who was attending the event, affirmed that the strong organization of the event reflected the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a leading global sports destination.

He said: “The championship is progressing with every round. Both the technical and organizational levels show how successful the overall system is, giving athletes the ideal environment to grow and excel.”

Igor Lacerda, the coach of the Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club’s youth team, said: “This round once again confirms the incredible progress the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is making across the board. It gave us as coaches extra motivation.

“We focused our preparations on the mental and tactical aspects, and we are working to make the best use of our athletes’ capabilities. From the start of the season our goal has been clear: to strongly compete for the title. We believe this path requires consistent performance and discipline.”

Bouchaib El-Idrissi of Morocco, who was representing Baniyas, took gold in the men’s masters’ brown/black belt 62 kg division, and said: “This achievement means a lot to me, especially since I faced an opponent in the final who was 20 years younger.

“This championship is a unique platform for athletes of all ages to showcase their talent and chase their goals. I sincerely thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the organizers for the tremendous effort they put into delivering such a professional event and creating a competitive environment that matches our ambitions and pushes us to give our best.”


Clinical Bangladesh thump sloppy Pakistan in first T20I

Clinical Bangladesh thump sloppy Pakistan in first T20I
Updated 45 min 2 sec ago
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Clinical Bangladesh thump sloppy Pakistan in first T20I

Clinical Bangladesh thump sloppy Pakistan in first T20I
  • Taskin finished with 3-22 while Rahman grabbed 2-6 to dismiss Pakistan for their lowest total against Bangladesh in T20Is
  • Parvez smashed five sixes, three boundaries in his 39-ball 56 not out to help Bangladesh chase down the target in 15.3 overs

DHAKA: Fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman rocked Pakistan for 110 before opener Parvez Hossain hit an unbeaten 50 as Bangladesh won the first Twenty20 international by seven wickets in Dhaka on Sunday.

Taskin finished with 3-22 while Rahman grabbed 2-6 in his four economical overs to dismiss the visitors in 19.3 overs for Pakistan’s lowest total against Bangladesh in all T20Is.

Parvez smashed five sixes and three boundaries in his 39-ball 56 not out to help the home team chase down the target in 15.3 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Debutant Pakistan pacer Salman Mirza (2-23) jolted Bangladesh with wickets of Tanzid Hasan (one) and Litton Das (one) but Parvez and Towhid Hridoy (36) added 73 for the third wicket to ease up the chase.

It was only Bangladesh’s fourth win over Pakistan in 23 T20Is.

For Pakistan, opener Fakhar Zaman top-scored with a 34-ball 44, which included six boundaries and a six, while Abbas Afridi scored 22 and Khushdil Shah 17.

Pakistan’s previous lowest T20I total against Bangladesh was 127-5 at the same venue in 2021.

Litton admitted batting was not easy on a slow pitch.

“It’s not an easy wicket to bat on, but the way we batted, it looked good,” said Litton. “We took early wickets and that’s the key point.”

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha blamed poor batting.

“It wasn’t enough on the board as we lost wickets at regular intervals which we have to talk about before the second game,” said Agha.

Sent into bat, Pakistan had a disastrous start, with half the side dismissed for 46 in the eighth over with Saim Ayub (six), Mohammad Haris (four) and Agha (three) falling cheaply.

Hasan Nawaz fell without scoring and Mohammad Nawaz made just three.

Zaman, dropped on four and 30, added 24 for the sixth wicket before he was run out after being sent back by Khushdil Shah but was caught out of his crease.

Shah and Abbas took Pakistan past the 100-mark during their 33-run stand for the seventh wicket.

The remaining matches are on Tuesday and Thursday, also in Dhaka.


Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball’s 8th signing of the summer

Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball’s 8th signing of the summer
Updated 20 July 2025
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Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball’s 8th signing of the summer

Mfiondu Kabengele becomes Dubai Basketball’s 8th signing of the summer
  • Canadian center arrives from Italian club Reyer Venezia, where he starred last season in the EuroCup and the Italian League

DUBAI: Canadian center Mfiondu Kabengele joins Dubai Basketball for the next two seasons after reaching an agreement with the club starting this September. The Canadian arrives from Reyer Venezia (Italy), where he starred last season in the EuroCup and the Italian League.

He is the eighth new signing following the announcement of Musa, Avramovic, Wright, Kamenjas, Jaiteh, Bacon, and Anderson joining Dubai’s head coach Jurica Golemac.

Kabengele had a fantastic season in the EuroCup with Reyer Venezia. He was the top rebounder of the competition, averaging 9.7 rebounds per game. He added 15.4 points, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal per game in 18 matches. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the All-EuroCup First Team.

In the Italian League, he was one of the best players on court. He averaged 15.2 points and 9.8 rebounds and had one of the best efficiency ratings in the competition (20.7).

Before moving to Europe, Kabengele played in the NBA from 2019 to 2022. The Canadian played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics. In total, he appeared in 55 NBA games. In the G League, he had strong performances and helped the Rio Grande Valley Vipers win the title in 2022.

Kabengele is set to play a key role for Dubai Basketball in their debut EuroLeague season. Looking to improve on their third-place finish in the ABA League in their inaugural season, the Dubai side have assembled a roster to compete at the highest level in Europe.


Pakistan-India ‘World Championship of Legends’ cricket match called off amid tensions

Pakistan-India ‘World Championship of Legends’ cricket match called off amid tensions
Updated 20 July 2025
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Pakistan-India ‘World Championship of Legends’ cricket match called off amid tensions

Pakistan-India ‘World Championship of Legends’ cricket match called off amid tensions
  • Match called off hours after India’s Shikhar Dhawan withdrew from fixtures against Pakistan 
  • WCL features retired, non-contracted players from India, Pakistan, England and other nations

ISLAMABAD: A match between veteran cricket stars from India and Pakistan as part of the “World Championship of Legends (WCL)” tournament was called off on Sunday, the league announced after Indian players withdrew due to political tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. 

Sporting ties between arch-rivals India and Pakistan have remained limited due to political tensions between the two countries. Both countries engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades in May this year before a ceasefire was brokered by Washington on May 10. 

The WCL is a T20 tournament approved by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) held in England every year. The WCL features retired and non-contracted players from cricketing giants, including England, India, Pakistan, Australia, West Indies, and South Africa. 

In a statement released on its social media accounts, the WCL said it had decided to hold the India-Pakistan match in Birmingham after news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and witnessing the recent India vs Pakistan under-16 volleyball match in Thailand. 

“But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions,” the WCL’s message read. 

“More than that, we unintentionally caused discomfort to our Indian Cricket Legends, who have brought so much glory to the country, and we ended up affecting the brands who supported us purely out of love for the game.”

WCL said it was due to these reasons it had decided to call off the match. 

“We sincerely apologize again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans,” it concluded. 

The league’s owners include its founder, Indian entrepreneur Harshit Tomar and Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn. 

The statement came hours after Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan wrote on X that he was withdrawing from India’s WCL matches with Pakistan. 

“My country is everything for me and nothing is worth more than that,” he wrote. 

The second edition of the WCL started on July 18 in Birmingham and has seen three matches played so far. Pakistan played the opening game of the tournament but Sunday’s clash was going to be India’s first.

Former Indian batter Yuvraj Singh is leading the India side while ex-Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez is leading the green shirts. 


Newcastle boss Howe confident Isak will stay on amid transfer speculation

Newcastle boss Howe confident Isak will stay on amid transfer speculation
Updated 20 July 2025
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Newcastle boss Howe confident Isak will stay on amid transfer speculation

Newcastle boss Howe confident Isak will stay on amid transfer speculation
  • British media reported earlier this week that Premier League champions Liverpool were interested in signing the 25-year-old Sweden international
  • Alexander Isak bagged 23 Premier League goals last season, only behind Liverpool talisman and Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said he is confident that striker Alexander Isak will be at the Premier League club at the start of the 2025-26 season, after leaving the Swede out of their 4-0 friendly loss to Celtic due to transfer talk.

British media reported earlier this week that Premier League champions Liverpool were interested in signing the 25-year-old Sweden international, who has three years left on his Newcastle contract.

Isak bagged 23 Premier League goals last season, only behind Liverpool talisman and Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah (29). Isak, capped 52 times for his country, joined Newcastle from Spanish side Real Sociedad in 2022 and has since netted 62 times in 109 appearances for the Magpies across all competitions.

“It was my decision. He traveled back to Glasgow with us but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him,” Howe told reporters after Saturday’s match.

“The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him. But I’m confident he will be a Newcastle player come the end of the window.

“It’s difficult for me to give 100 percent clarity on any player. Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I’m confident he’ll be here at the start of the season.

“Yes, I’ve had discussions with him but that’s not abnormal. I respect a player’s career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he’s trained really well and I realize there’ll be noise around him.”

Newcastle, who qualified for Champions League football after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season, will next be in action against Arsenal in a friendly match in Singapore next Sunday.


Lionel Messi’s 6th brace in 7 games seals Inter Miami’s win over Red Bulls

Lionel Messi’s 6th brace in 7 games seals Inter Miami’s win over Red Bulls
Updated 20 July 2025
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Lionel Messi’s 6th brace in 7 games seals Inter Miami’s win over Red Bulls

Lionel Messi’s 6th brace in 7 games seals Inter Miami’s win over Red Bulls

Lionel Messi had two goals and two assists to lead Inter Miami to a bounce- back 5-1 victory over the host New York Red Bulls on Saturday night in Harrison, N.J.

Messi and Inter Miami (12-4-5, 41 points) erased a 1-0 first-half deficit with a flurry of goals late in the first half — two of them coming off the foot of Telasco Segovia — that staked the Herons to a 3-1 halftime lead.

Miami won its sixth MLS match in its past seven after having a five-game winning streak snapped at FC Cincinnati on Wednesday. Messi saw the end of his MLS-record streak of five matches scoring multiple goals, only to record a brace on Saturday.

The Red Bulls (9-9-6, 33 points) failed to string together consecutive wins at home and lost to Inter Miami for the second time this season.

New York scored its lone goal in the 15th minute when Emil Forsberg lifted a corner kick in front of Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo’s line of sight. Alexander Hack then kicked it home for the score despite having defender Federico Redondo draped all over him.

Rios Novo made his second start this season for Oscar Ustari, who sat out with an injury.

Jordi Alba, who exited the game in the 84th minute with what appeared to be a leg cramp, scored his first goal of the season in MLS league play off a cross from Messi in the 24th minute to tie the game1-1.

Inter Miami took the lead for good in the 27th when Luis Suarez, who assisted on the first goal, sent a ball ahead to Messi, who then directed it quickly to Alba, who then crossed it back to Segovia for an easy shot into the back of the net.

In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Redondo advanced the ball into the Red Bulls’ box but could not fire off a shot. Segovia, though, surged in and fired a shot off a rebound past Carlos Miguel Coronel for a third goal.

Messi followed with goals in the 60th and 75th minutes to seal the outcome.

Messi increased his total goals in MLS games to 18 this season and has contributed on 27 scores.

The Red Bulls mustered nine shots in the match, but they were outshot 8-1 in shots on target.