RIYADH: Yazeed Al-Rajhi rebounded from a costly mishap to win the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally after starting 40th on Saturday.
Nasser Al-Attiyah took it easy and finished 19 minutes behind, and retained his overall lead by more than an hour.
Al-Rajhi crashed on Friday and lost five hours making repairs to his Toyota. He tumbled from third overall to 35th, effectively ending the Saudi’s chances of a podium finish for a second straight year.
But he was fast throughout the 333-kilometer special from Riyadh north to Al-Duwadimi, that tracked through stony canyons and valleys and finished in dunes.
“It wasn’t easy to start from the back and overtake all the little cars, often going left and right in the wadis, but we did a great job,” Al-Rajhi said after his fourth career stage win.
Vaidotas Zala of Lithuania was second on the stage, nine minutes behind, and Guerlain Chicherit was third. The Frenchman lost his way in the closing kilometers and a chance to place second.
The motorbikes were given the day off, and without their tracks to follow, the cars opening the way changed from Al-Attiyah to Sebastien Loeb to Chicherit.
Henk Lategan, second overall, had the sixth best time and made up five minutes on his teammate Al-Attiyah.
Lucas Moraes, the Brazilian running third, had his streak of four successive top-10 stage finishes end when he placed 11th. He made up two minutes to trail Al-Attiyah by 1 hour, 11 minutes.
Loeb was ninth and still about two hours off the lead.
Erik van Loon, winner of the second stage and running 11th overall, was out of the race after rolling his Toyota about 99 kilometers in. He briefly lost consciousness and was flown to hospital with neck pain.
Saudi Yazeed Al-Rajhi rebounds from crash to win Dakar Rally 7th stage
https://arab.news/ms99s
Saudi Yazeed Al-Rajhi rebounds from crash to win Dakar Rally 7th stage
- Al-Rajhi crashed on Friday and lost five hours making repairs to his Toyota
- Nasser Al-Attiyah took it easy and finished 19 minutes behind
Paret-Peintre paints masterpiece on Ventoux as record setter Pogacar stays in control
- Paret-Peintre tames Mont Ventoux for France
- Pogacar stays in yellow, extends Tour lead
MALAUCENE, France: Valentin Paret-Peintre kept his cool in a furnace of pressure and heat, delivering a thunderous victory atop the legendary Mont Ventoux to give France its first win in this year’s Tour de France during a breathtaking Stage 16 on Tuesday.
The Soudal-Quick Step rider edged out Ireland’s Ben Healy in a heart-pounding sprint finale on the Giant of Provence, while Tadej Pogacar remained unshakable in yellow, fending off Jonas Vingegaard on the brutal 21.5km ascent averaging 7.5 percent.
Defending champion Pogacar clawed two more seconds from his Danish rival in a final surge to extend his overall lead to 4:15 after setting the record for the climb, riding up in 54 minutes and 41 seconds — one minute 10 seconds faster than the previous best mark set by Spain’s Iban Mayo in 2004.
The Slovenian also beat the fastest time from the Saint-Esteve bend, where the toughest section starts by clocking 44:48. The previous record was held by the late Marco Pantani (46:00).
“I had a bad day in 2021 on the Ventoux, today was the opposite, I had good legs, I enjoyed myself,” Pogacar, chasing a fourth Tour title, said.
“We will try to go for another stage win. He (Vingegaard) attacked a lot of times but I knew that I could follow the wheel.”
Vingegaard suffered a brief crash after the line but said his performance gave him confidence that he was still in contention for a third title.
“How I felt good today gives me motivation, I will keep trying,” he said.
Germany’s Florian Lipowitz held firm in third, 9:03 adrift of Pogacar, pulling further ahead of fourth-placed Briton Oscar Onley, who lags another 2:01 behind.
But the day belonged to Paret-Peintre. “I honestly didn’t believe it,” he said. “I thought Pogacar would go for victory today. But when we built a real gap, I told myself, you can’t let a win on Mont Ventoux slip through your fingers.”
Seven riders surged ahead from an early breakaway, carving out a healthy 6:30 buffer as they reached the base of the climb.
The air grew thinner, the crowds louder and the landscape more lunar.
Survival
Spanish climber Enric Mas led the charge, attacking solo 14.2 km from the summit. Behind him, Paret-Peintre, Healy and Colombia’s Santiago Buitrago gave chase.
As they passed Chalet Reynard, pine forest yielded to desolate, white-stone slopes.
Mas and Buitrago fought valiantly but were dropped by the Franco-Irish duo, only to courageously claw their way back.
Then came Belgian Ilan Van Wilder, who fought his way back to the group and dug deep for teammate Paret-Peintre to keep the Pogacar-Vingegaard threat at bay.
Vingegaard had attacked a handful of times, the first attempt coming 9km from the top, but could not shake off Pogacar, whose acceleration was also not strong enough to drop the Visma-Lease a Bike leader.
With 400 meters to go and the gradient spiking to a lung-scorching 10 percent, Healy launched his sprint.
But Paret-Peintre, with ice in his veins and fire in his legs, clung to his wheel. In the final, agonizing meters, he surged past, claiming not just a stage win, but also a place in French cycling folklore.
He was only the fifth Frenchman to conquer the Ventoux, the mountain that claimed the life of Tom Simpson, who died in hospital after collapsing in the finale of the ascent in 1967.
There was a big scare for Tobias Johannessen, who was taken to hospital after being given oxygen by a race doctor immediately after the finish.
“Tobias suffered some right-sided upper abdominal pain during the final climb today. He made it to the finish where he was seen immediately by the race doctors and given oxygen,” the Norwegian’s Uno-X team said.
“He is feeling much better but will go to the local hospital for further checks.”
England fight back to down Italy in extra time and reach Euro 2025 final
- Kelly goal sends defending champions into final
- Agyemang equalizes for England in 96th minute
GENEVA: Chloe Kelly fired home the rebound from her own penalty to net a 119th-minute winner as reigning champions England pulled off a stunning comeback to beat Italy 2-1 after extra time on Tuesday and reach the Women’s European Championship final.
England fell behind in the first half but hit back to level through Michelle Agyemang six minutes into second-half stoppage time and when Emma Severini pulled down Beth Mead in the box in extra time, Kelly grabbed the chance to decide the game.
Her first effort was saved but she was quick off the mark to rifle in the rebound and send England through to the final where they will face either Spain or Germany.
After a come-from-behind penalty shootout win over Sweden in the quarter-finals, England again flirted with disaster, but their late surge floored Italy, whose hopes of reaching a first final since 1997 were crushed.
The win propelled England into a third successive major final after their Euro 2022 success and World Cup loss to Spain the following year.
With the Italians riding a wave of confidence after a last-minute winner against Norway in their quarter-final, they defended brilliantly and attacked incisively on the break.
Their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute of a gritty semifinal when a ball from the right found its way to Barbara Bonansea, who took a touch before lashing it into the roof of the net.
England then dominated possession and created a slew of chances as the Italians rode their luck, but too often the English attackers unleashed shots from distance that were easily dealt with or flew harmlessly over the bar.
With their hopes of defending their title slowly slipping away, 19-year-old substitute Agyemang snapped up a loose ball in the box and fired home to send the game to extra time.
Agyemang almost scored again with an effort deep into the second half of the extra period, out-sprinting and out-muscling the Italian defense only to see her deft lob toward goal bounce back off the crossbar.
Sensing that they could avoid a repeat of their quarter-final penalty shootout against Sweden, England poured forward and reaped their reward when Mead was fouled in the box, but there was one more twist in the tale.
Kelly took her usual prancing run-up, but Italy keeper Laura Giuliani kept her nerve and saved, only for the England winger to score from the follow-up and seal her side’s spot in Sunday’s final in Basel.
“I just tried my best for the team. It wasn’t supposed to go like that, that penalty, but (I was) ready for the rebound and ready for any opportunity given to me wearing an England badge,” a delighted Kelly said.
England defender Lucy Bronze said they had been forced to dig deep to reach the final.
“Yeah, we don’t know if it’s the easy way it seems this tournament, but we find a way to win,” she said.
“I think it was the 96th minute and then the 118th minute ... we just ... found a way to get the goals and get the ball (in) the last minute.”
For Italy, who had defended superbly until England’s equalizer, the loss was a devastating blow.
“Obviously, going out like this hurts a lot. Having stood up to the champions should give us a lot of confidence for the future. There are no words to describe the emotions we have experienced on this journey,” coach Andrea Soncin said.
“This evening, for as hard as the girls fought, we definitely deserved a different ending. Many difficult situations to comment on. It’s sad, but I am and we are very proud.”
Saudi professional golfer Othman Almulla partners with SAL
- Partnership will nurture local talent and advance golf and the Saudi sports sector in general
- Othman Almulla: I’m honored to have SAL’s support on my journey
JEDDAH: SAL Saudi Logistics Services has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Othman Almulla, the Kingdom’s first professional golfer.
The partnership is intended to nurture local talent and advance golf and the Saudi sports sector in general.
“I’m honored to have SAL’s support on my journey,” Almulla said. “Their belief in my mission reflects their broader commitment to the development of Saudi sports. Together, we aim not only to compete but to inspire, and I look forward to representing SAL and our Kingdom on the international stage.”
Almulla made history as the first professional golfer from Saudi Arabia to compete on international circuits, currently participating in events such as the Asian Tour and the Asian Development Tour. His journey in the sport is marked by determination and a strong sense of national pride, resonating with the core values of the sponsorship.
The agreement aims to provide Almulla with the support needed to inspire younger generations of athletes in Saudi Arabia. Beyond just financial backing, SAL sees this partnership as a way to foster a sense of community and pride in Saudi sports. Almulla’s achievements are not only a source of inspiration but also a representation of what is possible for Saudi youth.
Omar Hariri, CEO of SAL, said: “We are proud to sponsor an ambitious and inspiring athlete like Othman Almulla, who represents a true model of achievement and excellence. This reflects our belief in the importance of supporting and empowering Saudi talent and contributing to a brighter future for sports in the Kingdom. Through this sponsorship, we also aim to expand our brand visibility both locally and internationally.”
With this partnership, SAL joins a group of organizations — such as NEOM and Saudi Aramco — whose support champions Almulla’s journey and helps to elevate Saudi Arabia’s presence in the global sports arena.
Bangladesh take second T20I for first series win over Pakistan
- Left-arm Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam picks up his best T20I bowling figures of 3-17
- Pakistan lost five wickets for 15 runs and was bowled out for 125 while chasing target of 134
DHAKA: Bangladesh survived a late onslaught by Faheem Ashraf and Ahmed Daniyal to pull off a narrow eight-run victory in the second T20I match on Tuesday, winning a first-ever series in the format against Pakistan.
Ashraf hit an aggressive 32-ball 51 while debutant Daniyal smashed an 11-ball 17 but holed out off the second ball of the final over as Pakistan were all out for 125 in their chase of 134 to win in Dhaka.
Earlier, Jaker Ali struck a 48-ball 55 as Bangladesh — sent in to bat — were bowled out for 133 in 20 overs, with Salman Mirza taking 2-17 and Daniyal close behind on 2-23.
Left-arm Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam picked up his best T20I figures of 3-17 on a slow-paced Mirpur pitch as Pakistan lost their first five wickets for just 15 runs by the fifth over.
Ashraf cracked four sixes and as many boundaries to raise hopes of a comeback win, but spinner Rishad Hossain bowled him in the penultimate over.
Ashraf and Abbas Afridi, who scored a 13-ball 19, had revived the innings from 47-7 with a 41-run stand, but Bangladesh had the last laugh.
Bangladesh won the first match at the same venue by seven wickets and took an unassailable 2-0 lead with the final match on Thursday, also in Dhaka.
This was Bangladesh’s first T20I series win over Pakistan in four tries.
Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub to a run out for one in the first over before Islam dismissed Fakhar Zaman (8) and Mohammad Haris (0) to hit Pakistan hard at the top.
Bangladesh skipper Litton Das praised a team effort.
“It’s wonderful to win back-to-back series,” said Litton, who also led the team to a 2-1 T20I series in Sri Lanka last week. “This shows good improvement in our standards.”
Pakistan captain Salman Agha rued his side’s batting lapses.
“We thought 134 would be gettable but we lost too many wickets early on and that’s something we must address quickly,” said Agha.
Earlier, Jaker smashed five sixes and a boundary for his third T20I half century.
Bangladesh had lost four wickets for 28 by the sixth over before Jaker and Mahedi Hasan revived the innings with a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Mahedi scored a 25-ball 33 with two sixes and as many boundaries.
Saudi snooker prodigy hopes to one day be world champion
- Abdullah Alqabani participated in the Saudi Junior Championship as the youngest player in the tournament
- Alqabani practices at the Ronnie O’Sullivan academy in Riyadh
JEDDAH: Snooker prodigy, Abdullah Alqabani, age 10, is hoping to make a name for himself in the sport and represent Saudi Arabia internationally.
Alqabani on Tuesday took part in the Saudi Junior Championship, a part of the World Pool Championship making him the youngest player in the tournament.
Despite losing 4-7 in the first round of the Saudi Junior Championship to Romanian Hermeneanu Evan, the young Saudi remains hopeful about his future in snooker and aims to be the best snooker player in Saudi Arabia.
Arab News spoke to him at the Green Halls, he said: “I am so glad to be part of this international championship and seeing the best in the world competing here at home. It is a really great moment for me and my teammates because we learn from it. Just watching the best in the world performing here in Saudi Arabia is something else.”
Alqabani, who hails from Riyadh, practices and plays at the Ronnie O’Sullivan academy and recently has been shining on the junior snooker circuit in Saudi Arabia and because of his skills, he was invited to join the Saudi national team.
“Saudi Arabia is not a snooker nation but the sport is getting there and many players now are playing billiards and snooker of course with the support of the Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation,” he said.
At the age of 8, he started playing American pool and moved to snooker as he got older, “It all started with my father who used to take me to play with him in one of the clubs in Riyadh.
He continued: “I am going to work hard to become the best player in Saudi Arabia and with such events held in Saudi Arabia, I think my generation can make it to the highest level but it takes time.”
As one of the young snooker players all over the world who look up to the greatest player of all time, Ronnie O’Sullivan, often referred to as ‘The Rocket,’ Alqabani said: “My idol is Ronnie O’Sullivan and hope one day to be like him.”
