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Saudi’s Al-Qahtani to headline 2025 PFL MENA 1 as full card announced for Jeddah

Saudi's Abdullah Al-Qahtani (left) will headline PFL MENA 1 in jeddah on May 9. (PFL)

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Updated 10 April 2025

Arab News

April 10, 2025 11:33

Saudi’s Al-Qahtani to headline 2025 PFL MENA 1 as full card announced for Jeddah

Featherweight champion Abdullah Al-Qahtani takes on Islam Reda in the main event

Updated 10 April 2025

Arab News

April 10, 2025 11:33

JEDDAH: The Professional Fighters League has announced the full fight card for 2025 PFL MENA 1.

This is the first event for PFL MENA Season 2 and takes place in Jeddah on Friday, May 9.

In the main event, 2024 PFL MENA featherweight champion Abdullah “The Reaper” Al-Qahtani of Saudi Arabia will face Egyptian star Islam “The Egyptian Zombie” Reda in a crucial quarterfinal matchup. The rematch has been almost seven years in the making, after Al-Qahtani got the win in their first meeting in 2018. Last season, Reda actually earned a spot in the featherweight finals, but withdrew because of injury and was replaced by Al-Qahtani.

The card features league debuts for top Middle East talent such as Salah Eddine Hamli of Morocco, Izzeddine Al Derbani of Jordan, Yanis Ghemmouri of Algeria, and Hussein Salam of Iraq.

Also making their PFL MENA debuts in showcase bouts will be 2024 Saudi Games champion Abdulaziz Al Moamar of Saudi Arabia and Youssef Alhosani, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion and a highly touted prospect from the UAE.

Full fight card for 2025 PFL MENA 1

Featherweight quarterfinal

Abdullah Al-Qahtani (10-2) vs. Islam Reda (12-1)

Lightweight quarterfinal

Mohsen Mohammadseifi (7-2) vs. Ahmed El Sisy (6-1, 1 NC)

Lightweight quarterfinal

Salah Eddine Hamli (8-0) vs. Abbas Khan (8-3)

Featherweight quarterfinal

Izzedine Al Derbani (15-5) vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (12-3)

Flyweight showcase

Malik Basahel (0-0) vs. Mountasser Boutouta (1-0)

Featherweight quarterfinal

Abdelrahman Alyhasat (5-0) vs. Taha Bendaoud (4-0)

Featherweight quarterfinal

Hussein Salem (12-5) vs. Assem Ghanem (6-0)

Lightweight quarterfinal

Georges Eid (10-5, 1 NC) vs. Mohammad Fahmi (4-0)

Lightweight showcase

Ahmed Makki (1-3-1) vs. Hasham Elnamer (3-0)

Lightweight quarterfinal

Abdullah Saleem (5-0, 1 NC) vs. Souhil Tairi (7-6-1)

Featherweight showcase

Youssef Alhosani (4-1) vs. Neder Jeffel (2-0)

Amateur catchweight (166lbs) showcase

Abdulaziz bin Moammar (10-3) vs. Fares Hamdani (2-0)

Syrians chase equestrian glory in sport once dominated by Assads

Updated 48 sec ago

AFP

May 19, 2025 06:05

Syrians chase equestrian glory in sport once dominated by Assads

For decades, former president Bashar Assad, his relatives and allies enjoyed wide-ranging privileges before his overthrow in December

Updated 48 sec ago

AFP

May 19, 2025 06:05

DAMASCUS: For weeks, Ziad Abu Al-Dahab has been training for gold at an equestrian tournament near Damascus — in a sport once dominated by Syria’s Assad family and their inner circle.
“Results used to be decided in advance, always favoring those close to the government,” the 25-year-old rider said.
“My greatest ambition was to reach third place, but today, I can aim for first and do well with my new horse.”
For decades, former president Bashar Assad, his relatives and allies enjoyed wide-ranging privileges before his overthrow in a lightning Islamist-led offensive in December.

People watch as a horse rider competes during the fourth Al-Nasr Equestrian Show Jumping Championship at the Central Equestrian Club in Dimas, northwest of Damascus on May 9, 2025. (AFP)

Equestrian sports surged in the 1990s under Assad’s late brother Bassel, who was being groomed to succeed their father Hafez before dying in a car crash in 1994. Bashar took over and became president in 2000.
Bassel used to take part in tournaments at home and abroad and styled himself as Syria’s “first rider.”
His profile helped shine a spotlight on the sport, which came to symbolize elite status under the Assads.
Abu Al-Dahab said those close to the family had European horses, which far outperformed the local ones of other competitors.
“It was impossible to compete with the ruling family,” he said while walking his horse on the sand.

Banned from competing

Outside the Dimas equestrian club near Damascus, a statue of Bassel still stands, his face now hidden by the new Syrian flag.
The family’s grip on the sport passed to the next generation, including Sham, daughter of Bashar’s brother Maher.

The head of an equestrian statue of Bassel al-Assad, the eldest son of late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad who was killed in a car crash in 1994, is wrapped in a Syrian flag, outside the Central Equestrian Club in Dimas, Damascus. (AFP)

Sham used to compete in Syria and at international tournaments, often placing high.
The attention she received in the media stirred controversy, with critics seeing it as propaganda.
That grip on the sport kept some away. Munana Shaker, 26, said her father banned her from competing until the Assads were gone.
“My father forbade me from practicing due to fear (of the ruling family), and he always told me that competition with them was impossible,” she said as she stroked her white mare, Mariana.
“He didn’t want us associating with the Assad family at all. He told me the story of the equestrian who was jailed after beating Bassel Assad, and did not want to put me in danger.”
She was referring to Adnan Qassar, a prominent rider who outperformed Bassel before being imprisoned without trial in 1993, accused of plotting to kill him.
Many believe his sporting success was the real reason for his arrest. Qassar was freed 21 years later under a presidential pardon.
“I have long stayed away from this sport, but it is now time to come back strong. I am from the Shaker family, not the Assad family,” she said.

Dream come true
Shadi Abu Al-Dahab, 48, oversees about 240 horses — including some of the Assads’ former European ones.
“Around 40 horses were set aside for the Assad family. No one else was allowed to get near them,” he said.

A horse rider competes during the fourth Al-Nasr Equestrian Show Jumping Championship at the Central Equestrian Club in Dimas, northwest of Damascus on May 9, 2025. (AFP)

But today, he’s seeing new faces and growing interest in the sport.
“We have new skills that we discover daily, and enthusiastic children... We now have a large number of riders aspiring to compete and get titles,” he said.
Fellow trainer Salah Al-Ahmad, 52, was beaming as his son took the mare Topsy for a spin — once ridden by Sham Assad.
“He used to dream of touching her or patting her head,” Ahmad said. “Now in this new era, the mare is with him, and he has won two tournaments.
“It’s a dream come true.”

Topics: Fall of Assad equestrian

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder roll into West finals with 125-93 rout of Nuggets in Game 7

Updated 19 May 2025

May 19, 2025 03:17

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder roll into West finals with 125-93 rout of Nuggets in Game 7

Oklahoma City went a league-best 68-14 in the regular season, becoming the youngest team to win at least 60 games

Updated 19 May 2025

May 19, 2025 03:17

OKLAHOMA CITY: The Oklahoma City Thunder grew up on Sunday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points, Jalen Williams added 24 and the Thunder rolled into the Western Conference finals, beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game 7.
The top-seeded Thunder will host the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves starting Tuesday. It’s Oklahoma City’s first trip to the conference finals since 2016.
Oklahoma City went a league-best 68-14 in the regular season, becoming the youngest team to win at least 60 games. To back up their status as the best team in the league, the Thunder had to get past three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and a Denver squad that won the NBA title in 2023 and beat the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in the first round this year.
Coach Mark Daigneault said his players handled the pressure well.
“There’s not many games, you wake up in the morning and you know that you’re going to remember the game for the rest of your life, and Game 7 is one of them,” he said. “To be able to focus through that and perform the way these guys did today was very impressive.”
Jokic had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Nuggets. Aaron Gordon, a key player for Denver throughout the playoffs who hit the winner in Game 1 against the Thunder, started despite a strained left hamstring. He had eight points and 11 rebounds in 24 minutes.
“What he played with today, I don’t know many people that would even attempt to go out there and run up and down,” Nuggets interim coach David Adelman said. “And he did it in Game 7 against Oklahoma City on the road. That that was one of most incredible things I’ve ever seen. He was extremely close to not playing. I was surprised.”
The Thunder fell behind by 11 in the first quarter, but took the lead early in the second. Oklahoma City outscored Denver 39-20 in the period to take a 60-46 lead at the break.
Gordon was called for a flagrant-1 foul for elbowing Gilgeous-Alexander in the face early in the third quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander made both free throws, and then Williams hit a short jumper to give Oklahoma City a 66-46 lead.
Cason Wallace got loose on a fast break and dunked on Jokic to put the Thunder up 78-57, sparking delirious roars from the crowd.
Oklahoma City cruised from there and now hopes to make another leap.
“We’re better now than we were at the beginning of the series, and it’s because of them,” Daigneault said. “They pushed us to the limit.”

Topics: NBA Playoffs oklahoma city thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Villarreal dampens Barcelona’s title celebrations. Mbappé scores again for Madrid

Updated 19 May 2025

May 19, 2025 02:20

Villarreal dampens Barcelona’s title celebrations. Mbappé scores again for Madrid

Villarreal’s victory secured its return to the Champions League for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 2022

Updated 19 May 2025

May 19, 2025 02:20

MADRID: Villarreal dampened Barcelona’s title celebrations by handing the Catalan club its first defeat of 2025 in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Barcelona, which clinched its 28th league title midweek, presented the trophy to its fans in the team’s final home match of the season at Montjuic stadium. Players were announced one by one after the game, which Villarreal won 3-2, before lifting the trophy.
Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey trophies also were displayed at Montjuic, with players dancing around the silverware during the celebrations.
“We can be proud of this team for winning these titles and for how it did it,” Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen said. “We had a great season in all levels.”
Before the match, Villarreal players did a guard of honor for the new league champions, with its players lining up to congratulate Barcelona as the team entered the field.
Real Madrid won 2-0 at nine-man Sevilla, with Kylian Mbappé extending his league-leading tally to 29 goals with one round to go. Jude Bellingham also scored. Madrid reached 81 points, four fewer than Barcelona.
Villarreal’s victory secured its return to the Champions League for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 2022.
It will join Barcelona, Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao in Europe’s top club competition next season. Spain will have five clubs in the Champions League next season.
Real Betis clinched one of the Europa League spots. Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano and Osasuna will be chasing the final Europa League place and the Conference League spot.
Leganes, owned by former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, and Espanyol will try to avoid the last relegation spot in the final round when Leganes is at last-placed Valladolid and Espanyol faces relegated Las Palmas.
Barcelona, Madrid, Atletico and Athletic will play in next year’s lucrative Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
All 10 games were played at the same time on Sunday.
Barcelona’s loss
Barcelona hadn’t lost in the league since a 2-1 defeat against Atletico on Dec. 21, with 15 wins and two draws since then. Villarreal’s win was its fifth straight victory in the league.
Ayoze Pérez put the visitors ahead after a breakaway four minutes into the match. The hosts equalized when Lamine Yamal scored with yet another beautiful goal in the teenager’s outstanding season, curling in a left-footed shot from outside the area.
Fermín López put Barcelona ahead in first-half stoppage time, but Santiago Comesaña scored for Villarreal in the 50th and Tajon Buchanan netted the winner in the 80th.
It was likely the last match Barcelona played at Montjuic stadium as the club plans to return to the Camp Nou Stadium next season even though renovation work at the venue is not expected to be fully completed until mid-2026.
Mbappé’s goals
Mbappé strengthened his chances of finishing as the league’s top scorer this season with a goal from a low shot from outside the area in the 75th.
Mbappé now has 29 league goals. Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (25 goals) is his nearest rival.
Sevilla’s Loic Bade was sent off in the 12th for a foul on Mbappé to stop a breakaway. Then Isaac Romero was shown a red card for a hard foul on Aurélien Tchouaméni.
It was the second-to-last match for Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti before he becomes Brazil coach. Xabi Alonso is widely expected to be Madrid’s next coach.
Sevilla, sitting in 16th place, had only one win in its last 10 games.
Relegation fight
Leganes kept its survival hopes alive by winning 1-0 at Las Palmas with a sixth-minute goal by Dani Raba.
It is two points behind the first team outside the relegation zone, Espanyol, which remained in danger after a 2-0 loss at Osasuna for its fifth straight defeat.
Alaves escaped the drop by winning 1-0 at Valladolid, while Getafe did the same by beating Mallorca 2-1 to end a six-game losing run.
Second-to-last Las Palmas and bottom side Valladolid had already been relegated.
European places
Celta Vigo lost 2-1 at home to Rayo Vallecano but holds the final Europa League spot in seventh place. It is one point ahead of both eighth-placed Rayo — in the Conference League position — and ninth-placed Osasuna.
Rayo will host Mallorca in the final round, while Osasuna visits Alaves and Celta is at Getafe.
Spanish Super Cup
The top two teams in the league and the Copa del Rey finalists are awarded places in the Spanish Super Cup. Since this season’s final was between Barcelona and Madrid, two other spots were made available through the league.
Third-placed Atletico guaranteed its spot with a 4-1 win over Betis with Julián Álvarez scoring twice, including with a superb curling free kick in the first half. Fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao won 1-0 at Valencia with a goal by Álex Berenguer.
Alguacil honored
Real Sociedad honored coach Imanol Alguacil in its final home match, a 3-2 win against Girona.
Alguacil will step down this summer after a mostly successful six-and-a-half-year stint in charge of the Basque Country club.

Topics: La Liga villarreal Barcelona

Scheffler pulls away to win PGA Championship for 3rd major title

Updated 19 May 2025

May 19, 2025 02:23

Scheffler pulls away to win PGA Championship for 3rd major title

Scheffler was flawless when he had to be on the back nine of Quail Hollow, Scheffler was flawless when he had to be on the back nine of Quail Hollow

Updated 19 May 2025

May 19, 2025 02:23

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: Scottie Scheffler worked harder than he imagined and got the result everyone expected Sunday in the PGA Championship: A most pleasant walk to the 18th green with another major title secure in the hands of golf’s No. 1 player.
Scheffler was flawless when he had to be on the back nine of Quail Hollow, leaving the blunders to Jon Rahm and everyone else trying to catch him on a final day that turned tense until Scheffler pulled away with a steady diet of fairways and greens.
He closed with a bogey he could afford for an even-par 71, giving him a five-shot victory and his third major title. Scheffler became the first player since Seve Ballesteros to win his first three majors by three shots or more.

Scottie Scheffler plays a shot from a bunker on the first hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Getty Images via AFP)

A snoozer? Not even close. That much was clear when Scheffler raised his arms on the 18th green and then ferociously slammed his cap to the turf.
Scheffler was five shots ahead coming to the last hole when he won his first Masters green jacket in 2022. He was four shots clear of the field when he won at Augusta National last year. And he had a six-shot lead at Quail Hollow.
But this sure didn’t feel like a walk in the park.
He had a five-shot lead standing on the sixth tee. But with a shaky swing that led to two bogeys, and with Rahm making three birdies in a four-hole stretch around the turn — they were tied when Scheffler got to the 10th tee.
It looked like a duel to the finish, with Bryson DeChambeau doing all he could to get in the mix, until Scheffler looked every bit the best in golf. He didn’t miss a shot off the tee or from the fairway until his lead back to four shots.

Topics: Scottie Scheffler PGA Championship golf

Napoli close in on Serie A title despite Parma stalemate

Updated 19 May 2025

AFP

May 19, 2025 02:10

Napoli close in on Serie A title despite Parma stalemate

Updated 19 May 2025

AFP

May 19, 2025 02:10

PARMA, Italy: Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after being held to a goalless draw at Parma while closest rivals Inter Milan drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with Lazio.
Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar.
The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres was fouled, only for the decision to be reversed for a foul committed by Giovanni Simeone earlier in the move.
A feisty match at the Stadio Ennio Tardini ended with Conte and his Parma counterpart Cristian Chivu both being sent off following a blazing row between the two dugouts in the final moments.
However a home win on the final day against Cagliari, who are safe thanks to a 3-0 win over second-from-bottom Venezia, will give Napoli a fourth league crown.
“We’re close but we have more step to take in front of our own fans. We’ve been top for a large part of the season even with a lot of difficulties,” said Conte to DAZN.
“It’s down to these boys who put their heart and soul into it. I really hope we can win this title because it would truly be a great achievement.”
Inter’s final fixture is at Como who are finishing their first Serie A season in over two decades in great form, although Cesc Fabregas’ team’s winning streak ended at six matches with a 1-1 draw at safe Verona.
Napoli were saved from being overtaken by Inter thanks to a Pedro brace for Lazio, including a 90th-minute penalty.
Denzel Dumfries thought he had headed home a potentially key goal with 10 minutes remaining at the San Siro, before a Yann Bisseck handball allowed Champions League chasers Lazio to snatch a point.
Inter once again showed their wasteful side by giving away a lead twice, with Bisseck opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time before Pedro netted in the 73rd minute, while Marko Arnautovic missed a golden chance to move the hosts top in the dying moments.
Coach Simone Inzaghi will also missed the final match of the season after being sent off for his livid reaction at the VAR check which led to Pedro levelling from the penalty spot.
No one from the Inter spoke to media after the match, in apparent protest over the decision to give Lazio their penalty.
Lazio drawing kept the Roman club in the hunt for the final Champions league spot, although Marco Baroni’s team are two points behind four-placed Juve who beat mid-table Udinese 2-0.
Sandwiched between Juve and Lazio are Roma, who beat 10-man AC Milan 3-1 on a night when fans honored Claudio Ranieri in his last home match as coach for his boyhood club.
Milan, who had to play most of the match a man down after Santiago Gimenez was sent off in the 21st minute, sit ninth and will not play European football next season.
Bologna’s bid for Champions League football is over after a 3-2 defeat at Fiorentina which left the Italian Cup winners five points behind Juve.
However Vincenzo Italiano’s team will play in the Europa League next season thanks to their historic cup victory on Wednesday over Milan, their first major trophy since 1974.
A point was not enough to guarantee Parma safety as Chivu’s team are two points above Empoli who are just inside the drop zone after beating relegated Monza 3-1.
Empoli are level on 31 points with Lecce, who moved one place above the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Torino.

Topics: Serie A Napoli Parma

Saudi’s Al-Qahtani to headline 2025 PFL MENA 1 as full card announced for Jeddah

Saudi’s Al-Qahtani to headline 2025 PFL MENA 1 as full card announced for Jeddah

Syrians chase equestrian glory in sport once dominated by Assads

Syrians chase equestrian glory in sport once dominated by Assads

Syrian equestrian champ reveals 21 years of torture at hands of Assad regime

AlUla ready to host Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation Endurance Cup

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder roll into West finals with 125-93 rout of Nuggets in Game 7

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Thunder roll into West finals with 125-93 rout of Nuggets in Game 7

NBA champion Celtics eliminated from playoffs by rampant Knicks

Jokic, Strawther star as Nuggets down Thunder to tie series

Villarreal dampens Barcelona’s title celebrations. Mbappé scores again for Madrid

Villarreal dampens Barcelona’s title celebrations. Mbappé scores again for Madrid

Atletico Madrid stumble in La Liga again after draw with Villarreal

Barca rout Villarreal but Ter Stegen hurt, Atletico draw at Rayo

Scheffler pulls away to win PGA Championship for 3rd major title

Scheffler pulls away to win PGA Championship for 3rd major title

Vegas clings to PGA lead as Kim, Scheffler charge

Jhonattan Vegas grabs surprise lead at PGA Championship

Napoli close in on Serie A title despite Parma stalemate

Napoli close in on Serie A title despite Parma stalemate

Serie A title race down to Inter and Napoli after Atalanta lose again

Napoli beat Juventus to continue Serie A title charge

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Saudi’s Al-Qahtani to headline 2025 PFL MENA 1 as full card announced for Jeddah

Saudi’s Al-Qahtani to headline 2025 PFL MENA 1 as full card announced for Jeddah

Syrians chase equestrian glory in sport once dominated by Assads

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