EUGENE, United States: EUGENE, United States: Beatrice Chebet shattered the women’s 5,000m world record Saturday with a groundbreaking time of 13min 58.06sec as fellow Kenyan Faith Kipyegon lowered her own 1,500m global record at the Diamond League athletics meeting in Eugene, Oregon.
Chebet, Olympic gold medallist at 5,000 and 10,000m in Paris last year, delivered a devastating finish to become the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the 5,000.
The 25-year-old said she was inspired by her own strong showing in Rome last month, and by Kipyegon’s ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful bid to become the first woman to break four minutes for the mile just over a week ago in Paris.
“In Rome I was just running to win a race, but after running 14:03, I said that I’m capable of running a world record,” she said.
“When I was coming here to Eugene, I was coming to prepare to run a world record, and I said I have to try. I said ‘If Faith is trying, why not me?’“
The leading group of Chebet, Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay and Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich had fallen off world record pace with several laps remaining, but Chebet mustered a last mighty kick on the final lap.
Jebet Ngetich was second in 14:01.29 and Tsegay — who set the previous world record of 14:00.21 on the same Hayward Field track in September 2023 — was third in 14:04.41.
Kipyegon, the three-time reigning Olympic champion, won the 1,500m in 3:48.68, improving on the record of 3:49.04 she set in July 2024.
The 31-year-old Kenyan was running her first 1,500m of the season, having come up short in her bid for mile history in a special event in Paris.
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished second in 3:51.44, overhauling Australia’s Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull, who had stuck to Kipyegon until the final lap but settled for third in 3:52.67.
“This was really special,” Kipyegon said. “After what I tried last week, it gave me motivation that I can still do better.”
With the World Championships looming in Tokyo on September 13-21, Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden continued their stellar sprint campaigns with 100m victories.
Olympic silver medallist Thompson clocked 9.85sec to win the men’s 100m, confidently following up on his blistering 9.75sec at the Jamaican national trials that made him the sixth-fastest man all-time at the distance.
Thompson easily out-paced Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (9.91) and American Trayvon Bromell (9.94) and said the race was another learning experience as he gears up for an expected world title tilt against American Noah Lyles — who bested him by just .005sec for Olympic gold in Paris.
“I’m the only one that can stop me,” Thompson said. “I don’t say that to brag but to be honest. Once I better my execution, amazing things are going to happen.”
Jefferson-Wooden outdueled Olympic champion Julien Alfred in the women’s 100m, holding off the Saint Lucia star to win in 10.75sec.
That was just outside her season-leading 10.73 set at the Philadelphia Grand Slam Track event, but impressive in a headwind of -1.5 meters per second.
Alfred was second in 10.77 and Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith came third in 10.90.
American Sha’Carri Richardson, who revealed this week that an injury in February had slowed her season start, finished ninth in 11.19sec.
Sweden’s two-time Olympic champion Armand “Mondo” Duplantis won the pole vault with a leap of 6.00m.
Duplantis finished comfortably ahead of Americans Sam Kendricks and Austin Miller, who took second and third with clearances of 5.80m, but he came up empty on three attempts to better the world record of 6.28m that he set in Stockholm three weeks ago.
In addition to records, there were multiple world-leading performances.
Rising Ethiopian talent Biniam Mehary, 18, won the 10,000m in 26:43.82. Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo won the 200m in 19.76sec and Bahrain’s Olympic champion Winfred Yavi threatened a world record on the way to a world-leading 8:45.25 in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Rudy Winkler set an American record in winning the hammer with a throw of 83.16m, American Joe Kovacs won the shot put at 22.48m and Olympic long jump gold medallist Tara Davis-Woodhall equalled the season’s best with a 7.07m leap.
Kenyans Chebet, Kipyegon light up Eugene Diamond League with world records
https://arab.news/j3369
Kenyans Chebet, Kipyegon light up Eugene Diamond League with world records
- Chebet, 25, had already broken the 10,000m world record at Hayward Field in May of 2024
Pakistan gear up for AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in Saudi Arabia with training camp
- Qualifiers will take place from Sept. 1-9, feature 44 teams in total in groups of 11
- Pakistan have been placed with hosts Cambodia, Iraq and Oman in Group G
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan are gearing up for the qualifiers of the Saudi Arabia-hosted AFC Asian Cup 2026, with a training camp in Islamabad, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said on Wednesday.
The qualifiers will feature 44 sides each drawn into 11 groups, which will be contested from Sept. 1-9. The 11 group winners and the four best-ranked runners-up will join Saudi Arabia, who are hosting the tournament for the first time, in January’s finals.
Pakistan has been placed in Group G with Iraq, Cambodia and Oman. While the tournament will be hosted in Saudi Arabia, one member of the group will host all qualifier matches. Cambodia has been picked as the host for all Group G AFC Asian Cup qualifier matches.
“Initially, 50 players selected through tryouts are participating in the camp,” the PFF said in a statement on Wednesday. “The final 23-member squad will be announced later.”
Pakistan Head Coach Nolberto Solano joined the U23 team at the Jinnah Sports Complex in Islamabad for the training camp, the PFF said.
Pakistan will play its first match against Iraq on Sept. 3, followed by its second one against hosts Cambodia on Sept. 6. The Green Shirts play their final group stage match against Oman on Sept. 9.
Sinner’s health comes into focus ahead of US Open
- Tennis World USA reported that Sinner was battling a high fever and flu symptoms the night before and during his match with Alcaraz
LOS ANGELES: Top-ranked Jannik Sinner arrives at the US Open as the defending champion and a leading contender, though his withdrawal from the Cincinnati final on Monday due to illness adds a measure of uncertainty to his title defense.
The Italian looked off from the outset of his match against rival Carlos Alcaraz and, after quickly falling behind 5-0 in the first set, retired from the match, saying he “didn’t feel great” and apologizing to the disappointed fans in Ohio.
Tennis World USA reported that Sinner was battling a high fever and flu symptoms the night before and during his match with Alcaraz.
Sinner also mentioned the punishing heat and humidity during his match against Alcaraz, calling it “one of the hottest tournaments we played.” He then announced that he had withdrawn prior to his US Open mixed doubles match on Tuesday.
How quickly the 24-year-old can bounce back from his illness will have major implications for the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Sinner and world No. 2 Alcaraz have separated themselves from the pack, having won the last seven major titles between them.
While Sinner has compiled a stellar 31-4 win-loss record this year, three of those defeats have come at the hands of the Spaniard, who rolls into Flushing Meadows with a ton of momentum and a chance to grab the world No. 1 ranking from Sinner.
Prior to Monday’s final, Sinner looked unstoppable, not dropping a set in his first tournament since winning Wimbledon for his fourth Grand Slam title in July.
“I feel like it was a very positive week,” Sinner, who won the Cincinnati title last year, said on Monday.
“Making finals of a Masters event, it’s always an amazing achievement. So we’ll keep going, keep pushing. I have some points where I need to improve if I want to go far in the US Open. And it was a good test this week, trying to understand where my level is.”
He said his focus was firmly on the biggest stages the sport has to offer.
“I love Grand Slams a lot. These are the main tournaments for my season and for my career,” he said.
“So US Open is going to be a tough tournament, but at the same time, I’m looking forward to it. If I’m ready, physically and mentally, I will be ready to push.
“So now I have a couple of days of recovery, and then we get back to work, and hopefully we’ll be ready.”
Saudi rowing stars shine in Asian championship with 4 medals
- The championships, staged earlier this month on Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand, brought together elite competitors from 13 nations
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s rowing team returned from the 2025 Asian Coastal (Beach Sprint) Rowing Championships with a haul of four medals, marking one of the Kingdom’s strongest international performances to date.
The championships, staged earlier this month on Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand, brought together elite competitors from 13 nations, including rowing powerhouses China, Japan, Korea, the UAE and Kuwait.
Despite the stiff competition, the Saudi contingent delivered a performance that underlined the growing strength of the sport in the Kingdom.
Among the highlights was a silver medal for rising talent Mofleh Al-Khalidi, who produced a superb display in the Junior Men’s Singles event.
Al-Khalidi also partnered with Abdullah Al-Mami in the Junior Men’s Doubles, where the duo battled through the heats to claim bronze.
In the senior categories, Moayad Al-Rashidi secured a bronze medal in the Men’s Singles, while the mixed pairing of Haya Al-Mami and Turki Al-Aref added further success with a bronze in the Mixed Doubles.
The Saudi team, which included athletes Abdullah Al-Hay, Radaan Al-Dossari and Al-Jazi Al-Ibrahim, was guided by a technical and administrative coaching staff led by head coach Matthew Tarrant, alongside Fernando Ferraz and Humood Al-Shammari.
Saudi Rowing Federation Vice President Sherine Abu Al-Hassan and Executive Director Yousef Jleidan provided support throughout the competition, with officials noting the impact of their presence in lifting the squad’s morale.
In a statement, the federation hailed the results as a milestone, describing it as evidence of the sport’s rapid development across the Kingdom.
The federation said that it would continue working to nurture a new generation of athletes capable of competing at the highest continental and international levels.
Al-Ahli book Super Cup final date with Al-Nassr
- Asian champions recovered from an early setback after their rivals from Dammam took an eighth-minute lead to win 5-1
- Al-Ahli, who have won the trophy once, will take on Al-Nassr, twice winners of the cup, at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday
Al-Ahli thrashed Al-Qadsiah 5-1 in the semifinal of the Saudi Super Cup on Wednesday to book a showdown on Saturday with Al-Nassr.
In the traditional curtain-raiser to the Saudi Pro League season, the Asian champions recovered from an early setback after their rivals from Dammam took an eighth-minute lead.
Christopher Bonsu Baah, signed by Al-Qadsiah from Belgian club Genk in the summer, cut in on the left side and the Ghanaian international chipped a perfect cross into the six-yard box for Gaston Alvarez to head home.
Al-Ahli were level just four minutes later. A long throw caused chaos in the area and Franck Kessie swept the loose ball home.
The Greens took the lead in the 28th minute. A raised arm in the box led to a penalty and Ivan Toney stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.
Just three minutes later it was 3-1 thanks to some fine wing play from Riyad Mahrez. The former Manchester City star twisted and turned on the right edge of the area and crossed for French midfielder Enzo Millot — who was making his debut — to head home from close range.
It got worse for Al-Qadsiah just before the break as Bonsu Baah was red carded for a reckless tackle.
Then, in added time in the first half, the game was virtually over as a contest as Kessie scored his second and his team’s fourth. Mahrez, on the other side this time, floated over another perfect cross and the former AC Milan man made no mistake.
More misery was inflicted just after the hour as Nacho Fernandez put into his own net.
Al-Ahli, who have won the trophy once, will take on Al-Nassr, twice winners of the cup, at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday.
Coach Golemac ‘very optimistic’ as Dubai Basketball look forward to EuroLeague debut
- Team will take part in historic first participation in 2025-26 after playing in ABA League last season
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac is optimistic as the 2025-26 preseason begins, after a summer spent carefully building a 16-man roster that will compete in both the EuroLeague and ABA League.
“We’ve worked on this team since the beginning of the year, and we’re extremely happy with the players we brought,” Golemac said. “It was important to sign guys who can quickly become a team. It will be challenging, but we added hungry players with strong character, and I’m very optimistic about the season ahead.”
For the Slovenian coach, competing in two major competitions is both a privilege and a challenge. “You prepare, you compete, you analyze — that part doesn’t change,” he said. “But with this travel and schedule, nobody has done it before. We are pioneers. It won’t be easy, but we won’t complain about how tough it is. Instead, we’ll enjoy the work and stay focused.”
One of the most difficult aspects is starting the preseason without eight players who are currently away competing with their national teams for EuroBasket or the AmeriCup. Golemac acknowledged the challenge but also pointed to the quality it reflects.
“As staff, of course we’d prefer to have the full group from day one. But having so many internationals shows the level of our roster. We’ll welcome the first arrivals, make them feel at home, and integrate each national team player as soon as they return.”
The coach also addressed the demanding schedule ahead — from 40 games last season to potentially 80 this year if Dubai reaches the playoffs and finals. “The biggest challenge is how to manage traveling, practices, and recoveries. With 20 EuroLeague teams, finding time to practice and analyze will be key.”
Finally, Golemac turned to the supporters: “Our mission is to fight like there’s no tomorrow. Fans can expect us to be physical, to compete for the city, the club, and for them. Like last year, we want them to be our sixth player. With their energy, I know it will be even tougher for any team to beat us at home.”
