分类： sports

Jebel Ali Racecourse hosted a spectacular display of thoroughbred racing this Saturday, highlighted by significant milestones for key figures in the United Arab Emirates’ racing community. The afternoon’s feature event, the Zayed & Rashid Initiative Cup, witnessed a determined victory from Mashkoor under jockey Richard Mullen, marking a career-defining achievement for emerging trainer Marwan Al Baidhaei.

The victory represented a crucial breakthrough for Al Baidhaei, who has been steadily building his reputation within the UAE training circuit. Earlier this year, he received the prestigious ERA Najm Award recognizing his dedication, sportsmanship, and horse-first philosophy. Reflecting on Mashkoor’s performance, Al Baidhaei noted: ‘He’s a bit underrated, but he’s been training very well. I was slightly concerned as this was his seasonal debut, but carrying lightweight proved advantageous. When he saw competitors approaching at the 400-meter mark, he demonstrated tremendous fighting spirit.’

Meanwhile, British jockey Richard Mullen delivered an exceptional performance, securing three victories on the card. The veteran rider, long associated with Zabeel Stables and renowned for his 2013 Dubai Golden Shaheen triumph aboard Reynaldothewizard, demonstrated his enduring skill and tactical expertise. Two of Mullen’s wins came in partnership with reigning champion trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who himself enjoyed a highly successful afternoon.

Al Mheiri’s double victory propelled him to the top of the UAE trainer standings, making him the first to surpass the Dh 1 million prize-money threshold this season. His successes included Duke Of Immatin’s maiden victory in The 54th Stakes for two-year-olds and The Ice Phoenix’s stylish win in The Ghaf Tree Stakes. The champion trainer expressed optimism about both horses’ development, stating: ‘They both showed the attitude and progression we hoped for. It’s a long season ahead, and we’re excited about their potential.’

The event collectively highlighted the dynamic nature of UAE racing, featuring breakthrough performances from emerging talents alongside continued dominance from established champions, all contributing to the sport’s growing prestige in the region.

Dubai’s prestigious Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge witnessed a wave of anticipation as Hungarian tennis star Dalma Galfi made her triumphant return to the W100 ITF World Tennis Tour event after a five-year absence. The tournament commenced Sunday at the Habtoor Grand Resort in Mina Seyahi.

Galfi, 27, enters as top seed with a career-high singles ranking of 79 achieved in September 2022. Her history at this Dubai event includes a memorable semifinal run as a wild card entrant in 2019. “I love being in Dubai, and for sure I would love to do well during the week,” Galfi expressed during Sunday’s draw ceremony. “I am excited, not just because I am returning to Dubai after five years, but also because I have some great memories here.”

The Hungarian player faces a qualifier in her opening match, with a potential second-round encounter against veteran Vera Zvonareva, one of four wild card recipients this year. Galfi remains undaunted: “No match is going to be easy, and I am confident I can do some good hard work out there.”

Tournament founder Khalaf Al Habtoor emphasized the event’s significance as “the first tennis event for women in this part of the world” since its establishment in 1998. “Each year, our tournament keeps getting better,” Al Habtoor noted. “Tennis is such a sport that actually combines enjoyment with entertainment.”

The competition features several notable participants, including second seed Anastasia Zakharova and Dubai resident Kristina Mladenovic, former world number one in doubles. Slovakia’s Viktoria Hruncakova, making her ninth appearance, acknowledged the challenging draw: “I expect myself to fight all the time. It is a tough draw, and I will be prepared for some tight matches.”

Among emerging talents, Czech Republic’s Vendula Valdamannova, who turns 18 on December 10, declared ambitious intentions: “I am here to win this tournament.”

Sunday’s qualifying rounds saw Japanese players dominate, with top qualifier Mai Hontama leading a trio of compatriots into the next round. Main draw matches commence Monday alongside final qualifying rounds at the Habtoor Grand Resort courts.

In a spectacular display of sailing prowess, Emirates Great Britain has etched its name in SailGP history by capturing the 2025 championship title during a heart-stopping finale at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix. The British team accomplished what no other crew has achieved in the competition’s history—a complete clean sweep by simultaneously winning the Season Grand Final, topping the overall season standings, and securing the Impact League title.

The championship-deciding race unfolded on the Arabian Gulf with intense pressure and adrenaline-fueled action as three elite teams battled for supremacy. Under the leadership of Dylan Fletcher, Emirates GBR executed a remarkable comeback during the fourth leg of the winner-takes-all shootout, overtaking both the BONDS Flying Roos and the Black Foils to claim victory.

This monumental achievement marks Emirates GBR as only the third team ever to win a SailGP championship title, culminating in a record-breaking financial reward. The team’s exceptional season performance earned them a staggering $2 million championship prize, supplemented by an additional $400,000 for finishing the season with the highest points tally. When combined with their Impact League earnings, the British squad collected an unprecedented total of $4.4 million in prize money for the season.

Team skipper Dylan Fletcher expressed overwhelming excitement following the victory: ‘It was an unbelievable final. All three teams demonstrated incredible skill—any one of us could have emerged victorious. I’m absolutely over the moon right now. What a team, what a year… I’m stoked.’

The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix 2025 Season Grand Final, presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, concluded the sixth season of the global sailing championship. SailGP enthusiasts can anticipate the commencement of the 2026 season, which is scheduled to begin in Perth, Australia on January 17-18.

In a dramatic Premier League showdown at Etihad Stadium, Phil Foden delivered a masterclass performance that secured Manchester City’s crucial 3-2 victory over Leeds United on Saturday. The English midfielder netted twice, including a spectacular stoppage-time winner, demonstrating his growing importance to the squad as star striker Erling Haaland extends his goalless streak to three consecutive matches.

Manager Pep Guardiola lavished praise on the 25-year-old phenomenon, describing him as ‘a gift’ to manage and highlighting his extraordinary development since joining the club as a teenager. ‘This season has been the Phil we met a long, long time ago,’ Guardiola reflected. ‘When he arrived at 16, 17 years old at the training sessions, it was, ‘Oh my God, what a player.”

The victory comes at a critical juncture for City, who suffered recent defeats against Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen despite Haaland’s league-leading 14 goals this season. Guardiola emphasized Foden’s tactical flexibility and winning mentality as key differentiators: ‘Some players when the situation is uncomfortable, they make a step back. Phil is completely the opposite. He says, ‘Give me the ball because I want to dribble, I want to score, I want to win the game.”

Foden’s resurgence has earned him a recall to the England national team for the first time since March, with both Guardiola and England manager Thomas Tuchel agreeing that his optimal position lies centrally behind the striker. ‘A guy who has this sense of goal has to be close to the ball,’ Guardiola affirmed, acknowledging Foden’s evolving role as a creative and scoring threat.

The performance signals a potential strategic shift for City, suggesting reduced dependency on Haaland’s scoring prowess as Foden continues to demonstrate his capacity to deliver decisive moments in high-pressure situations.

In the inaugural match of the three-game ODI series held in Ranchi, South Africa’s interim captain Aiden Markram won the crucial toss and elected to field first against India on Sunday. This decision marks India’s 19th consecutive lost toss in international cricket.

South Africa’s strategy appears influenced by anticipated dew conditions later in the evening, which typically favor chasing teams in day-night matches. The Proteas have implemented significant roster changes, resting regular captain Temba Bavuma and left-arm spinner Keshav Mahraj following their recent 2-0 Test series victory against the same opponents.

India, under the leadership of stand-in captain Lokesh Rahul due to Shubman Gill’s injury, fields a formidable lineup including white-ball specialists Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The home team has opted for a balanced bowling attack featuring three spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav—complemented by pace bowlers Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and debutant Harshit Rana.

South Africa’s playing XI features only one specialist spinner, Prenelan Subrayen, supported by four seamers in what appears to be a strategy to challenge India’s powerful batting lineup. Both teams have made calculated selections aiming to gain early advantage in the limited-overs contest.

In a significant shift for international T20 cricket, former South African captain Faf du Plessis has announced his departure from the Indian Premier League after fourteen consecutive seasons. The veteran batsman revealed through social media that he will not participate in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction, instead opting to join the Pakistan Super League for the forthcoming season.

Du Plessis, who has been an integral part of the IPL since its early years, expressed profound gratitude for his extensive career in the Indian tournament. Having represented four franchises—Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and most recently Delhi Capitals—the 41-year-old cricketer acknowledged the transformative impact of his IPL journey on both his professional and personal development.

The decision comes after a comparatively challenging final season with Delhi Capitals, where du Plessis managed 202 runs across nine matches with an average of 22.44. Despite this, his overall IPL legacy remains impressive: 154 matches, 4,773 runs at an average of 35.10, and a strike rate of 135.79, highlighted by two championship victories with Chennai Super Kings in 2018 and 2021.

In his emotional Instagram statement, du Plessis emphasized that this move represents neither retirement nor permanent departure from Indian cricket, but rather an intentional pursuit of fresh competitive stimulation. The Pakistani league offers him unprecedented opportunities to experience new cricketing environments, engage with different playing styles, and contribute to the growing prestige of PSL.

The 2026 IPL auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, will proceed as a single-day mini-auction without the participation of one of the league’s most recognizable international stars. This development marks a notable moment in the evolving landscape of global T20 leagues, demonstrating increased player mobility between major tournaments.

Pakistan secured a commanding six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the T20I tri-series final on Saturday at Rawalpindi Stadium, showcasing exceptional bowling prowess that dismantled their opponents’ batting lineup. The match concluded with eight balls remaining as Pakistan comfortably chased down a modest target of 115 runs.

The bowling attack, led by Mohammad Nawaz (3-17) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-18), proved devastatingly effective. Sri Lanka, after being sent in to bat, collapsed dramatically from a promising position of 84-1 to a meager 114 all out in 19.1 overs. This spectacular collapse saw nine wickets fall for just 30 runs, highlighting Pakistan’s relentless bowling pressure.

Opener Kamil Mishara provided the lone resistance for Sri Lanka with a solid 59 off 47 balls, including four sixes and two boundaries. His 64-run partnership with Kusal Mendis (14) established what appeared to be a foundation for a competitive total. However, once both batsmen departed within three overs of each other, Sri Lanka’s innings unraveled completely against Pakistan’s disciplined attack.

In response, Pakistan’s chase was anchored by solid contributions throughout their lineup. Openers Saim Ayub (36) and Sahibzada Farhan (23) established a 46-run partnership in the first eight overs, providing crucial momentum. Despite losing captain Salman Agha (14) and Fakhar Zaman (3) in quick succession, Babar Azam’s unbeaten 37 ensured a smooth victory without further complications.

Pakistan captain Salman Agha praised his team’s comprehensive performance, noting: ‘This has been a very good two months for us, we won against South Africa and now against Sri Lanka.’ Meanwhile, Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka acknowledged his team’s shortcomings: ‘We couldn’t build on a good platform because Pakistan bowled very well. We need to fine-tune our game ahead of the next series and the World Cup.’

The tri-series, which also included Zimbabwe who finished bottom after losing three of their four matches, serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled for February-March next year, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The Abu Dhabi T10 tournament witnessed dramatic developments on Saturday as two crucial matches determined the finalists lineup. In Qualifier 1, the Aspin Stallions secured their place in the championship final with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Quetta Qavalry at Zayed Cricket Stadium.

The Stallions’ triumph was orchestrated by West Indies powerhouse Sherfane Rutherford, who delivered a spectacular unbeaten 66 runs from just 22 deliveries. His explosive innings, featuring six boundaries and six maximums, marked his first half-century of the tournament and propelled his team to chase down Quetta’s total of 102 with seven balls remaining.

Despite early trouble at 13-2, Rutherford’s crucial 64-run partnership with captain Rahmanullah Gurbaz (19) stabilized the innings. The match reached its climax when Rutherford unleashed a devastating assault, scoring 22 runs from four consecutive balls against pace bowler Khuzaima Tanveer to seal the victory.

Earlier, Quetta’s batting lineup struggled against the Stallions’ bowling attack, particularly Karim Janat (2/9) and Binura Fernando (2/14), who restricted them to 102-6 despite several batters making promising starts.

In the Eliminator match, UAE Bulls kept their championship hopes alive with a dominant 47-run win against Ajman Titans. The Bulls posted the tournament’s highest total this season—162-3—fueled by Phil Salt’s 59 (26 balls), Tim David’s rapid 40 (13 balls), and Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 32 (10 balls). Their collective six-hitting exhibition overwhelmed the Titans.

Although Ajman’s openers Alex Hales (35) and Aneurin Donald (37) mounted a strong 68-run partnership in 5.1 overs, UAE pace bowler Junaid Siddique turned the tide by dismissing both Hales and Rilee Rossouw in successive deliveries during the sixth over. The Titans eventually collapsed to 115-4, eliminating them from contention.

The stage is now set for Sunday’s decisive Qualifier 2 between UAE Bulls and Quetta Qavalry at 3:30 PM, with the winner advancing to face Stallions in the championship final at 5:45 PM on the same ground.