‘Hottest race in the region’ ends without a hitch

Winners of the 10 km, 21 km and 42 km races split the prize money of SR176,000 ($46,900). (Supplied)
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Updated 25 August 2024
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‘Hottest race in the region’ ends without a hitch

  • Second annual AlUla Desert Blaze saw 320 runners beat the summer heat on Saturday

ALULA: Temperatures rose to more than 43 degrees as 320 runners made it across the finish line for the second annual AlUla Desert Blaze on Saturday.

A DJ played energetic tunes to help motivate the runners at the start of the day and continued to play upbeat beats throughout the race. All participants, for the 5 km, 10 km, 21 km and 42 km, started at the same time but each had a different route and signage to help them find their way.

There were hydration stations every 2.5 km, along with bananas and cooling gels.

After the race, there were ice baths available as well as showers, games and snacks. And, of course, plenty of cold water and ice.

In the 5 km race, the female winners were Hana Nimry from Jordan, who was placed first, followed by Sundus Alhawsawi from Saudi Arabia in second and Angela Wober from Austria in third. For the males, Amin Abdullah from Afghanistan took first place, Mohammed Omar from Algeria came in second and Haiel Gebran Yahya from Saudi Arabia secured third.

In the 10 km race, Wafa Zaroual from Morocco claimed first place among the women, with Samar Jassim from Iraq in second and Jade Palmer from New Zealand in third. Youssef Nasir from Morocco topped the male category, followed by Bourhim El-Bouzyry from Morocco in second, and Ali Alshahrani from Saudi Arabia in third.

The 21 km race saw Elfinseh Demise Amare from Ethiopia finish first among the females, with her compatriots Arado Gulume Hailu and Welala Lemlem Girmay taking second and third places, respectively. In the male category, Mickael Gasc from France claimed first place, followed by Ahmad Yoosuf from Nigeria in second and Sebr Saleh from Eritrea in third.

Finally, in the 42.2 km race, the female winners were Eden Alemu Dadi from Ethiopia in first place, Bethlehem Nega Ferede from Ethiopia in second and Tetiana Maltseva from Ukraine in third. For the men, Abdelaziz Ahnida from Morocco took first place, with Amine Khadiri from Cyprus in second place and Tayron Fatuma Usen from Ethiopia in third.

Winners of the 10 km, 21 km and 42 km races split the prize money of SR176,000 ($46,900). All participants who crossed the finish line received a medal.

Mohammed Adel Flihan from Riyadh ran in the 10 km race and was excited for the chance to see his home country in a new light.

“I’m from Riyadh and this is my first time in AlUla. I’m excited to explore this historic, cultural and natural area in Saudi Arabia,” he told Arab News.

“This isn’t my first race; I participated in the Riyadh Marathon in February. Since then, I’ve enjoyed participating in races — but the first time in the heat! Competing in the summer was a challenge but I’m enjoying it. I’m really impressed with the changes I’ve seen in the Kingdom and amazed that such a place exists in Saudi Arabia. I see people from all over the world coming to experience this event,” Flihan said.

Before the event, Oliver Marshall, medical director at the race, assured runners that safety was their first priority but that each person should self-monitor and not overexert.

“As it is every year, really listen to your body throughout the race; this is a really high-level heat race with 48 degrees and a really low wind. It’s really important to manage your hydration status — not only by staying hydrated — but really to be wary of not over-hydrating,” Marshall reminded runners.

There were no reported injuries or accidents, so the event was considered a success by the organizers.

On their website, AlUla Moments described the event as: “Taking place in the hottest month of the year, AlUla Desert Blaze pushes the limits of participants from all over the world. Runners will pass through AlUla’s most iconic sites, where the epic landscapes inspire them to push through to the finish. There is no other race like this in the region, making the AlUla Desert Blaze a ‘blaze of glory’ for those daring enough to take on this formidable challenge against nature.”

The Race Arabia team collaborated with the Royal Commission for AlUla for the race.

The 2025 AlUla Desert Blaze is expected to take place next summer.


Donovan Mitchell scores 43 and Cavaliers beat the Pacers 126-104 to cut series deficit to 2-1

Updated 8 sec ago
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Donovan Mitchell scores 43 and Cavaliers beat the Pacers 126-104 to cut series deficit to 2-1

INDIANAPOLIS: Donovan Mitchell had 43 points and nine rebounds, and the finally full-strength Cleveland Cavaliers beat Indiana 126-104 on Friday night to cut the Pacers’ lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The road team has won all three games in the series, and the Pacers will have another chance to break that trend Sunday in Game 4.
Cleveland was desperate to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole and used everything in its arsenal to hold on this time — making 14 3-pointers, holding a 56-37 rebounding edge, even relying on zone defense to slow down the high-scoring Pacers.
And with NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley, All-Star guard Darius Garland and key backup De’Andre Hunter all suited up after missing Game 2, Mitchell got the support he needed.
Max Strus made four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Three other Cleveland players also scored in double figures on a night the Cavs led by as much 26, never trailed and managed to protect their late lead when the Pacers cut the deficit to 11 early in the fourth.
Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 23 points. Pascal Siakam had 18 and Tyrese Haliburton finished with four points and five assists in his first career home loss in a postseason game he’s appeared.
The most physical of the three games resulted in players routinely sprawled on the floor. Hunter turned into a hard shoulder after making a basket early in the second quarter, a collision that nearly knocked him down, and Mitchell took a nasty spill into the front-row seats while being called for an offensive foul.
Tempers also flared at times with the Pacers drawing five technical fouls, one for a delay of game.
On the court, though, Cleveland controlled most of the game after breaking a 36-36 tie with a 25-4 run that helped push the Cavs to a 66-45 halftime cushion.
Indiana cut it to 80-65 midway through the third quarter and looked ready to pull off another fourth-quarter rally when Siakam’s 3 with 8:24 to play made it 104-93. But Mitchell and Strus answered with back-to-back 3s to lead a game-sealing charge.


Iraq hire former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach

Updated 09 May 2025
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Iraq hire former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach

  • Arnold left Australia in September
  • Iraq are third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup

BAGHDAD: Iraq hired former Australia boss Graham Arnold as head coach of their national team on Friday.

Arnold left Australia in September after six years in charge during which he took the Socceroos to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, where they lost to eventual winners Argentina.

Iraq are third in Group B of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and Arnold will start with two crucial games against leader South Korea in Basra on June 5 and second-placed Jordan in Amman five days later.

Six points from these two matches would seal Iraq’s place at the tournament for the first time since their 1986 debut.


Lebanon welcomes Saudi basketball delegation

Updated 10 May 2025
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Lebanon welcomes Saudi basketball delegation

  • The arrival of Al-Ittihad marks significant step following Beirut’s efforts to rebuild international trust
  • Lebanese PM Salam welcomes Saudi team ‘to your second home’ after travel ban lifted

BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Jeddah Basketball Club landed in Beirut on Friday afternoon, arriving from the Red Sea city on a Middle East Airlines flight.

This marks the first time Saudi nationals have visited Lebanon since the Kingdom’s authorities imposed a travel ban on citizens heading to the country in 2019.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the Saudi team.

“This is a visit filled with hope for increased cooperation in various fields, and an opportunity to strengthen the fraternal relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“Welcome to your second home, and among your people.”

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. (AFP/File)

Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Minister Nora Bayrakdarian was at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport to receive the Saudi sports delegation.

Al-Ittihad is participating in the FIBA West Asia Super League final eight, alongside teams from Kuwait, the UAE, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, and two teams from Lebanon —Al-Riyadi and Sagesse SC  — in matches from May 10-18.

The UAE lifted its travel ban on its citizens visiting Lebanon, and Emirati travelers began arriving in the Mediterranean country at the beginning of this week.

Lebanon is eagerly anticipating the return of other Gulf nationals, particularly in light of President Joseph Aoun’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, aimed at restoring international trust in the country.

On May 7, an Emirates plane landed at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, and the passengers from the UAE were welcomed with flowers.

At the time, the Lebanese ambassador to the UAE, Fouad Chehab Dandan, posted pictures of the warm reception on his Facebook account.

The ambassador commented: “A step that brings hope for the return of our Arab brothers to their second home, Lebanon, which will welcome and receive them with flowers, warmth, and love.”
 


FIFA Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams from 2031

Updated 09 May 2025
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FIFA Women’s World Cup to be expanded to 48 teams from 2031

  • The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104
  • The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams

PARIS: The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams, like the men’s competition, starting with the 2031 edition, FIFA announced on Friday.

The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to enlarge the competition “given the remarkable recent strides made by women’s football across the world,” the sport’s governing body said in a statement.

The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week, FIFA said.
FIFA have still to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts.

The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the move followed the success of the 2023 World Cup in Australia won by Spain.

The 2023 tournament was “the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, among many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness,” said Infantino.

“This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women’s football globally.

“This is not just about having 16 more teams playing ... but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general by ensuring that more FIFA Member Associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures.”

The decision, FIFA said, will broaden representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women’s football worldwide.

The men’s tournament will be expanded to 48 teams for the World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.


Liverpool’s Salah voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year

Updated 09 May 2025
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Liverpool’s Salah voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year

  • Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool
  • The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements

LONDON: Mohamed Salah won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award for the third time on Friday after inspiring Liverpool’s march to a record-equalling 20th English title.

Salah earned the prize after scoring 28 goals and producing 18 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League this season.

The Egypt forward broke the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League campaign as Arne Slot’s side romped to their first title since 2020.

Salah secured almost 90 percent of the football writers’ votes, marking the biggest winning margin this century.

Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk came second in the contest, with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak third and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice fourth.

Salah, who was previously given the award in 2017-18 and 2021-22, is now level with former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry as the only players to win it three times.

The 32-year-old recently ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year contract to stay at Anfield until 2027.

Salah’s decision to commit to Liverpool will make them favorites to win a record 21st title next season as they look to move ahead of Manchester United as England’s most successful top-flight club.

Alessia Russo became the second Arsenal player to land the women’s award as the striker finished ahead of last year’s winner Khadija Shaw.