MILAN: Eight fencers from Saudi Arabia’s national team will take part in the nine-day World Fencing Championships starting July 20 in Milan, Italy.
A media statement issued on Tuesday said Ahmed Al-Sabban, president of the Saudi Fencing Federation, is heading the Kingdom’s delegation to Italy.
The Greens enter the tournament with fencers Adel Al-Mutairi, Ahmed Al-Qudaihi, Mohamed Al-Amr and Abdullah Al-Mansaf, who will compete with sabers. Meanwhile, fencers Ahmed Al-Hussein, Hussein Al-Taweel, Khalifa Al-Amiri and Faisal Abed will compete in the epee event.
The Saudi saber team completed their preparatory camp on Tuesday at the Christian Power Academy in Orleans, France. The training camp lasted 20 days, under the supervision of Cyril Verbrackel, the director of sports performance at the federation, national coach Majid Al-Mutairi, and team administrator Saud Al-Huwaimel.
The epee team held their training camp in Forli, Italy, for 10 days, under the supervision of coach Mohamed Fouad and team administrator Khaled Al-Baridi.
During the camps, the Saudi fencers took part in several friendlies against European and Arab contenders as part of their preparations for the championship.
Saudi team to compete in World Fencing Championships
https://arab.news/jt9gh
Saudi team to compete in World Fencing Championships
- Saber side hosts 20-day training camp in France
- Kingdom’s epee fencers travel to Italy for 10-day camp
Lando Norris resists Oscar Piastri to lead dominant McLaren one-two in Austria
In torrid heat at the Red Bull Ring, the 25-year-old Briton came home 2.695 seconds clear of the 24-year-old Australian to trim his lead in the title race by 15 points
It was Norris’s first win in Austria, his third win this year and the seventh of his career.
It was McLaren’s first win in Austria since David Coulthard triumphed in 2001.
The McLaren pair battled throughout the race to provide thrilling racing for the packed crowd and put behind them their collision in Canada two weeks earlier.
Charles Leclerc was third ahead of his Ferrari team-mate seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, their best result of the year, with George Russell finishing fifth for Mercedes.
“It was a tough race,” said Norris.
“Pushing the whole way through... tricky, hot, tiring, but the perfect result for us as a team, a 1-2 again. We had a great battle, that’s for sure.”
For Piastri, it was equally demanding.
“Intense!” he said.
“I hope it was good watching because from inside the car it was hard work. Yeah, I tried my absolute best.”
Liam Lawson came in a career-best sixth for RB on a desultory day for the senior Red Bull team after four-time champion Max Verstappen retired on the opening lap after being hit by Mercedes’ teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli. He is now 61 points behind Piastri.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was seventh ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and his Sauber team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, the future Audi outfit showing their huge potential, with Esteban Ocon finishing 10th for Haas.
After a frantic prelude, during which Carlos Sainz’s Williams failed to leave the grid and then caught fire in the pit lane, the race was delayed for 10 minutes — before delivering immediate drama at the second attempt.
Norris made a clean start while, behind him, Piastri passed Leclerc on the outside of Turn One before Antonelli locked up and lost control at Turn Three and hit Verstappen’s Red Bull.
A safety car was deployed as both drivers retired on lap one ending, for the defending champion a run of 31 races in the points.
“I got hit,” said the Dutchman on team radio.
The teenage rookie apologized. “I locked the rear. Sorry about that,” he told Mercedes.
The race resumed after a two-minute slowdown and Norris was forced immediately to defend as Piastri, looking sharp, attacked as also did Russell on Hamilton for fourth. Both were thwarted by defensive driving.
By lap 12, the McLaren duo were four seconds clear and delivering a show of their own.
Unhampered by any embarrassing hangovers from their collision in Montreal, they raced side by side and wheel to wheel, but each time the Australian attacked, the Briton hung on.
In scorching heat of 32 degrees (air) and 55 (track), it was a perfect advertisement for the historic venue in the Styrian Alps which had secured a 16-year contract extension to 2041 before the race.
Norris pitted, taking hards, after surviving another Piastri lunge, at turn four, on lap 20.
Piastri then followed suit, emerging fourth until Leclerc pitted.
After the leaders out on track also changed tires Norris led Piastri by 6.5 seconds.
Red Bull’s misery intensified on lap 30 when Yuki Tsunoda hit Colapinto, sending both to the pits for repairs.
The Japanese rejoined 16th and last of the runners with a new front wing before being handed a 10-second penalty.
As the field settled Norris led Piastri by 3.2s.
Russell began the second round of stops on lap 46, followed by the rest of the leaders, leaving Norris to complete a near-perfect day in the Styrian mountains.
‘I take full responsibility’: Renard disappointed after Saudi exit from CONCACAF Gold Cup
- Green Falcons 2-0 loss to Mexico in Arizona saw side leave tournament at quarterfinal stage
JEDDAH: Saudi coach Herve Renard expressed his disappointment and accepted the blame after his team’s 2-0 loss to Mexico, which saw them exit the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the quarterfinals.
“We did not perform at the (right) level, and the Mexican team deserved to win,” Renard said during the press conference following the match held in Arizona on Sunday morning.
“Sometimes the coach makes wrong decisions, and that’s part of football. I take full responsibility for today’s loss.”
He added: “We have to work on developing the offensive side of the national team, and we have benefited from our interactions with other teams during the tournament.
“We were lucky that Mexico did not play at 100 percent. I asked the players to put pressure on their defense, but we did not do it well and kept the ball.”
The French coach said that his time with the players was fruitful in terms of gaining experience, but admitted that the team failed to perform at its best during the crucial match. Focus will now shift to preparing well for the World Cup playoffs, Renard said.
Gold Cup: Mexico into semifinals with shutout of Saudi Arabia
Defending champion Mexico found the scoring touch in the second half and advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona
Mexico will face Honduras in the semifinals Wednesday in Santa Clara, California Honduras ousted Panama after a 1-1 draw in regulation with a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks in a quarterfinal earlier Saturday in Glendale.
Alexis Vega got Mexico on the board in the 49th minute after his initial shot was stopped by Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi. Vega put in the rebound and the goal was confirmed following a VAR review that there was no offside violation.
Abdullah Madu of Saudi Arabia tried to reroute Mexico’s crossing pass in the 81st minute, but he instead put it past his goalie for an own goal and a 2-0 deficit.
Mexico controlled 60.3 percent of the possession time against Saudi Arabia and that was reflected in more shot attempts (18-1), shots on goal (5-0) and corner kicks (7-2).
Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Al-Aqidi made four saves, while Mexico’s Angel Malagon had none.
Mexico had advanced through the group stage with a 3-2 win over the Dominican Republic, a 2-0 shutout of Suriname and a scoreless draw with Costa Rica to win Group A with seven points.
Saudi Arabia defeated Haiti 1-0, lost to the United States 1-0 and tied Trinidad and Tobago 1-1 to finish second in Group D.
Baniyas extends lead on Day 2 of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
- Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club are in second place with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club following in third
ABU DHABI: The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship continued its fourth round on Saturday, as Day 2 saw competitions in the U-14 and U-16 categories at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.
The event brought together top talent from across the UAE, with wide participation from clubs and academies and strong support from families and jiu-jitsu enthusiasts.
Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club claimed the top spot in the overall standings, followed by Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club in second place and Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in third.
Organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the championship continues to reinforce its role as a key driver for developing grassroots talent and promoting the country’s national sport. More than 1,800 male and female athletes are taking part in the fourth round, which has drawn strong community engagement and attendance.
Mohammed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, commented: “The championship is special because it bears a name that is very dear to everyone in the country. The decision by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed to double the prize money made the players more ambitious and encouraged them to aim for top positions.
“Jiu-jitsu gets strong support from the UAE leadership because it teaches important values and helps shape the character of young people. It has become a key part of sports in the UAE and plays an important role in developing the next generation,” he added.
“The championship is a big part of the federation’s plan to build a strong base of young talent. The younger age groups are the foundation for producing future champions. The ranking system in the championship helps clubs compete and pushes them to improve and invest more in their athletes.”
Among the day’s standout performances, Baniyas athlete Salma Rashid Al-Mansoori claimed gold in the Girls U-14 -44 kg gray belt division. Her mother, Sarah Al-Mansoori, said: “This gold medal is the result of her hard work and focus. Winning in a tournament that carries such a respected name makes it more meaningful. We are also thankful to the leadership for increasing the prize money. It was a huge motivator.”
Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club’s Noura Nasser Al-Ghilani, who won the Girls U-16 -80 kg gray belt gold, said: “This win means a lot to me and my team. Jiu-jitsu has given me so much: confidence, discipline, and a drive to succeed. I thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for the incredible support and promise to keep training hard to represent the UAE internationally.”
The championship concludes on Sunday with the Kids and U-12 divisions, where another strong turnout is expected from the local jiu-jitsu community.
Reed, 4Aces enter final round on top of leaderboard at LIV Golf Dallas
- On a challenging Maridoe Golf Club course, Reed moved to 9 under and takes a three-shot lead after two rounds
CARROLLTON, Texas, US: Since joining LIV Golf, Patrick Reed has 11 top-5 finishes, including five podium results. He has also celebrated seven team victories with his 4Aces GC, including the inaugural 2022 Team Championship, and has twice finished inside the top six in the season-long points race.
But he has yet to win an individual LIV Golf title in his first 41 regular season starts, making him arguably the best league player without a win. And he has yet to win a professional tournament in his home state of Texas, where he was born and still lives.
Now he is 18 holes away from changing both narratives on Sunday at LIV Golf Dallas presented by Aramco.
Thanks to a solid 4-under 68 on a challenging Maridoe Golf Club course, Reed moved to 9 under and will take a 3-shot lead entering the final round. This is his first 36-hole lead since joining LIV Golf for the league’s first US event in Portland in 2022.
“To get my first LIV victory as well as doing it in my home state would mean a lot,” said the Houston resident, who was born in San Antonio. “But really, at the end of the day, instead of trying to focus on what happens on the 54th hole, it’s stay in the moment. Stay in the present.”
His 4Aces team also hope to stay in the present as they seek a first victory since the 2023 tournament in London. The club, captained by Dustin Johnson, has a four-shot lead over Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII and Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC, who have won the previous two LIV Golf team titles. No other team is within 13 shots of the lead.
Reed, meanwhile, has plenty of pursuers, many of whom — like Reed himself — are hungry to win their first individual LIV Golf title.
The Crushers’ Paul Casey shot a 5-under 67 and is tied for second at 6 under with Fireballs GC’s Abraham Ancer, who shot a second consecutive 69. In a four-way tie for fifth at 5 under are Cleeks GC’s Richard Bland, Fireballs’ David Puig, 4Aces’ Harold Varner III and Legion XIII’s Tyrrell Hatton, who produced the low round of the day with a 65. His captain Jon Rahm is alone in eighth at 4 under.
Four of the top seven players have yet to win an LIV Golf tournament — Reed, Casey, Bland and Puig. And Puig is the only player who ranks inside the top 20 in driving distance average this season. Maridoe, despite its 7,533-yard layout, is rewarding the shot-makers this week in the Texas heat.
“If you’re not in the fairway, you’re going to struggle,” Ancer said. “You’re going to make big numbers. Bogeys come really, really quickly, even if you’re in the fairway.”
Ancer should know. He had a rollercoaster round that included seven birdies — including four in a row on his first nine — along with four bogeys and one up-and-down par after an approach shot bounced off the flagstick and rolled off the green at the eighth hole. “I felt like I stayed in it mentally really well,” said the San Antonio resident.
Casey’s round had less drama and ended on a high note with three consecutive birdies. Hatton’s round, on the flip side, started with three straight birdies.
Reed also produced three consecutive birdies and was among the steadiest of performers, hitting 78 percent of his greens in regulation. His challenge on Sunday will be to stay focused on the task at hand.
“The golf game feels pretty solid,” Reed said. “Everything seems to be tight and where I want it to be. The biggest thing is going out there and not trying to press, not trying to force anything and really just go out and try to win the day as if it’s a Monday qualifier.”
And his chasers?
“Looking like the way he’s playing, he’s not going to go backwards,” Bland said. “We’ve got to go get him.”
Team scores
LIV Golf’s new scoring format this season means all four scores count in every round in the team competition. Here are the results and scores for each team after Saturday’s second round of LIV Golf Dallas presented by Aramco.
4ACES GC -12 (Reed 68, Pieters 71, Varner 72, Johnson 74; Rd. 2 score: -3) T2. LEGION XIII -8 (Hatton 65, McKibbin 71, Rahm 72, Surratt 72; Rd. 2 score: -8)
T2. CRUSHERS GC -8 (Casey 67, Howell III 71, DeChambeau 72, Lahiri 73; Rd. 2 score: -5)
T4. STINGER GC +2 (Burmester 71, Grace 71, Oosthuizen 71, Schwartzel 74; Rd. 2 score: -1)
T4. FIREBALLS GC +2 (Ancer 69, Puig 69, Garcia 74, Ballester 76; Rd. 2 score: E)
CLEEKS GC +7 (Bland 69, Rottluff 70, Meronk 72, Kaymer 74; Rd. 2 score: -3) TORQUE GC +14 (Niemann 66, Munoz 70, Ortiz 70, Pereira 79; Rd. 2 score: -3) T8. RIPPER GC +15 (Leishman 70, Herbert 71, Smith 71, Jones 75; Rd. 2 score: -1)
T8. HYFLYERS GC +15 (Steele 69, Tringale 73, Mickelson 74, Ogletree 78; Rd. 2 score: +6)
MAJESTICKS GC +16 (Horsfield 72, Stenson 73, Westwood 75, Poulter 78; Rd. 2 score: +10) RANGEGOATS GC +18 (Campbell 70, Watson 73, Uihlein 75, Schniederjans 78; Rd. 2 score: +8) T12. SMASH GC +22 (Gooch 70, Kokrak 74, McDowell 74, Carrera 77; Rd. 2 score: +7)
T12. IRON HEADS GC +22 (Kozuma 70, Lee 76, Jang 79, Na 79; Rd. 2 score: +16)
Wildcards: C. Lee 71, A. Kim 74
