‘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.


Inter to wear gold for Champions League final against PSG

Updated 5 sec ago
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Inter to wear gold for Champions League final against PSG

Inter have played in six Champions League/European Cup finals to date
The Parisians are designated as the home team in the final

MILAN: Inter Milan will dress for the occasion by wearing their third, golden yellow kit in Saturday’s Champions League final when they face Paris St. Germain in Munich in the first official meeting between the sides.

Inter have played in six Champions League/European Cup finals to date, the first in 1964, and have never used their third kit in the showpiece match so far.

Since the Parisians are designated as the home team in the final, they will wear their first-choice kit — navy blue shorts and shirts with a white and red stripe in the center — so Inter cannot play in their classic black and blue striped jerseys.

The Italians, however, did not opt for their second strip -white shirts with blue details — choosing to wear the third kit instead, a golden yellow shirt with black details and black shorts.

There may be superstition involved as Simone Inzaghi’s side won both of their games in Europe’s elite club competition when playing in yellow this term, January’s 1-0 win at Sparta Prague and a 2-0 last-16 first-leg victory at Feyenoord in March.

Their only defeat in this season’s Champions League, meanwhile, came at Bayer Leverkusen when they wore white shirts in December.

Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season

Updated 12 min 50 sec ago
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Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season

  • Al-Ahli fans came in second with 354,019 attendees
  • This year’s champions had their fans passing the half-a-million attendance mark

RIYADH: Al-Ittihad supporters have emerged as the most dedicated fans throughout the Roshn Saudi League 2024/2025 season with a total number of 594,326 attendees.

Al-Ahli fans came in second with 354,019 attendees, according to official data released on Wednesday via Saudi Pro League’s Arabic handle on X.

This year’s champions, Al-Ittihad, were the only club where fans passed the half-a-million attendance mark, out of a total number of 2.5 million supporters who attended the whole RSL.

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal secured third place with 302,028 attendees while Al-Nassr ranked fourth with a total of 277,821attendees.

In a notable rise, newly promoted Al-Qadsiah, returning from the Yelo League (First Division), claimed fifth spot with 168,331 fans.

Rounding out the list were Al-Fateh in sixth, followed by Al-Ettifaq, Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun, Damac, Al-Khaleej, Al-Raed, Al-Wehda, Al-Kholood, Al-Orobah, Al-Riyadh, Al-Okhdood and Al-Fayha.


Ex-Turkiye international Turan appointed Shakhtar boss

Updated 28 May 2025
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Ex-Turkiye international Turan appointed Shakhtar boss

  • Turan, 38, has signed a contract until 2027
  • “I’m proud to have joined Shakhtar,” Turan said

ISTANBUL: Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk have announced former Turkiye midfielder Arda Turan as their new head coach, replacing Marino Pusic.

Turan, 38, has signed a contract until 2027 after taking unfancied Eyupspor to a sixth-place finish in the Turkish top flight.

Next season, 15-time Ukrainian champions Shakhtar will feature in the Europa League first qualifying round having won the domestic cup earlier this month.


“I’m proud to have joined Shakhtar — a great club with a rich history and great traditions,” Turan said in a Shakhtar statement.

“We are deeply motivated to win trophies — both in Ukraine and in European competitions.”

Shakhtar were forced to leave their home ground, the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, after Russian-backed separatists seized control of the region in 2014.

Their home league games take place in the western city of Lviv.

They held their Champions League games this term in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Turan retired from playing in 2022 after spells with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray. He also won 100 caps for his country.


Top team to be crowned at ESL Saudi Challenge grand final

Esports World Cup is scheduled to return to Riyadh from July 7 through Aug. 24. supplied
Updated 28 May 2025
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Top team to be crowned at ESL Saudi Challenge grand final

RIYADH: The ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 reaches a thrilling climax this Friday at VOV Gaming in Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia’s top Overwatch 2 teams are set to battle for regional supremacy and a place on the global stage.

The high-stakes tournament will see Team Vision take on Al-Qadsiah in a best-of-five showdown, with the winner advancing to face reigning champions Twisted Minds in a best-of-seven grand final. 

With qualification for the Overwatch Champions Series and the Esports World Cup at stake, the event is being hailed as a defining moment for the Kingdom’s esports scene.

This year’s ESL Saudi Challenge is playing a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s evolving esports ecosystem. More than just a tournament, it serves as a direct pathway to international competition while highlighting the rising caliber of local talent.

Organized by ESL FACEIT Group, the world’s leading esports and video game entertainment company, the tournament reflects the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to become a global gaming hub.

EFG was acquired in 2022 by Savvy Games Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, in a $1.5 billion deal aimed at accelerating the growth of esports in the region.

The ESL Saudi Challenge is a key pillar in that strategy, with EFG also serving as the main operating partner for the Esports World Cup over the next five years. The group’s involvement marks a long-term vision to build a world-class esports infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and provide new opportunities for players, fans and creators alike.

Viewers can tune in to the action live on ESL Arabia’s official channels across X, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. As anticipation builds for Friday’s final, the event promises not only elite-level Overwatch 2 gameplay, but a powerful statement of intent from a nation rapidly becoming a leader in global esports.


UAE U-21s enjoy success at 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships

UAE U-21 National Team won a total of 22 medals at the 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Amman (Supplied)
Updated 28 May 2025
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UAE U-21s enjoy success at 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships

  • Team wins 10 medals on final day, making it 22 for the tournament 

AMMAN: The UAE’s U-21s notched up 10 medals in their category on the final day of the 9th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, bringing the team’s total for the competition to 22.

The Emirati athletes, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, gave outstanding performances across the event, winning three gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

The gold medalists were Mariam Al-Ali (45kg), Rashed Mohammed Al-Shehhi (56kg) and Ammar Al-Hosani (94kg).

Silvers went to Aysha Al-Shamsi (45kg) and Alanood Al-Harbi (48kg), with Alanood Al-Hosani (57kg), Rashid Al-Haimeini (+94kg), Saeed Al-Nuaimi (62kg), Ahmad Andeez (69kg) and Fahad Al-Hammadi (77kg) taking bronze.

Several dignitaries attended the event, including Hamad Al-Matrooshi, acting charge d’affaires at the UAE Embassy in Amman, and Khaled Al-Ali and Aisha Al-Shehhi, both members of the UAE diplomatic corps.

Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation board, said: “This achievement highlights the athletes’ technical maturity and mental focus, as well as their ability to succeed against top-level competitors across Asia. Our preparation included both local and international training camps focused on tactical and physical development — something that clearly paid off during the competition.”

Rashed Mohammed Al-Shehhi, who won gold in the 56kg division, said he was delighted take such a significant victory.

“The matches were not easy, especially the final, where I faced a highly skilled and experienced opponent. I relied on tactical discipline and exploited my opponent’s flaws at vital points. With the coaches’ instruction and the rigorous preparation, we underwent, I was able to impose my style and secure the victory,” he said.

Fellow gold medalist Mariam Al-Ali added the competition and diverse techniques had been challenging.

“I experienced various technical hurdles that needed me to constantly change my plan, but I was able to transition quickly between offense and defense and employ ground control efficiently,” she said.

“The technical assistance provided by our coaches prior to and throughout the event was critical in building my confidence. This gold medal is just the beginning; my dreams are expanding, and I’ll keep working hard to reach even higher levels.”