JAKARTA: A Palestinian weightlifter wept as he belatedly learned of his young sister’s tragic death from illness — a day after he competed in the Asian Games.
Hani Al-Qassas’s family and team kept the news from him until after his appearance at the Games, the first international competition he had permission to attend.
His five-year-old sister, who had fallen into a coma, died in Gaza three days before he was due to take his turn in the 77kg class.
“They did not tell me until a day after my participation,” a tearful Qassas told AFP.
His coach Hossam Hamada, crying too, said he was the first to find out.
“The news had a big impact on me because I had a similar situation with my sister,” said Hamada, who also comes from Gaza, where medical facilities are generally poor.
“I tried to hide the news from Hani, as far as I could.”
But Qassas, 23, realized something was going on. “Their behavior with me was unnatural. I told them ‘What is happening? Tell me!’,” he said.
It was the first time that Qassas had left the Gaza Strip to take part in a championship.
In 2017 he was invited to compete in the Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, but the Israeli authorities denied him permission.
“We were always tormented by travel, and we were always expecting to turn back because of the permits,” Qassas said, explaining it took 15 hours just to make it to Amman, where he boarded the plane to Indonesia.
His cousin Ahmed Al-Qassas, an 85kg-class weightlifter, made the same arduous journey to get to the Games.
The two men said they were afraid war would break out in the Gaza Strip, preventing them from attending the regional Olympics.
“Our exit from Gaza is an achievement, in previous competitions we did not even bother trying because we knew we could not exit,” Ahmed Al-Qassas, 21, told AFP at the athletes’ village.
In Gaza, the athletes suffer from a lack of financial support and facilities.
“We train in a gymnasium for the Palestine club. There is nothing, it’s like a ruin,” Ahmed said.
“Many in Gaza ask us why we play the game in these circumstances and without material gain, but we are like poets who write for nothing.”
Palestinian weightlifter heartbroken over sister’s death
Palestinian weightlifter heartbroken over sister’s death
- Hani Al-Qassas’s family and team kept the news from him until after his appearance at the Games
- His five-year-old sister died in Gaza three days before he was due to take his turn in the 77kg class
Pioneering Pakistan woman MMA fighter breaks barriers ... and arms
- Anita Karim comes from Gilgit-Baltistan and is nicknamed ‘the arm collector’ due to her fierce performances
- She originally trained in taekwondo and jiu-jitsu before discovering MMA at high school in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Growing up in the rugged northern reaches of Pakistan, Anita Karim honed her combat skills fighting with three older brothers who pulled no punches.
The bruising experience prepared her for a career in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) — blending Thai kickboxing, Japanese judo and wrestling — and she is now the nation’s pre-eminent woman fighter.
“The village where I come from, they support women fighters,” she told AFP. “But when I started MMA, they had no awareness of this sport.”
“They said it’s a men’s game exclusively and a woman cannot do that one,” the 28-year-old said.
Eight years ago she won the right to enter the ring, swiftly becoming Pakistan’s first internationally competing woman MMA fighter and appearing in Asia’s biggest promotion, ONE Championship.
“Now misogynistic comments and criticisms have stopped,” she said at her gym in the capital Islamabad, where she trains without heating in the octagonal “cage” where fighters face off.
It is unusual for women to take up sport in deeply conservative Pakistan, where it is often forbidden by families.
But Karim’s native Gilgit-Baltistan region — where female modesty codes are more relaxed — has become an incubator for women’s sport.
In October, two sisters from the region, Maliha and Maneesha Ali, brought back gold and bronze from a taekwondo competition in Indonesia.
Karim’s brother Uloomi, who became her coach after being on the receiving end of her blows, said support began at home.
“When she showed the commitment, the dedication, we knew that she was going to make it,” said the 33-year-old, standing in their family-owned gym.
“We knew that she could take it and we did not have any issues with her training with any guy.”
Surprisingly timid outside the ring, Karim is at the head of a cohort of Pakistani female MMA fighters — five from Gilgit-Baltistan, according to the regional government.
“She’s shy, but when she enters the cage, it’s completely different,” said Uloomi, who has also competed in the sport.
Her speciality is the armlock, deployed with an agonizing all-body grip, which aims to force an opponent to “tap out” in submission before bones are broken or joints wrecked.
In 2022 she was pictured atop a podium in Pakistan with two opponents wearing slings on their injured arms — a performance that earned her the nickname “the arm collector.”
“They could have tapped to stop the fight, but they didn’t, so I went through with it,” she said.
In her hometown, Karim originally trained in taekwondo and jiu-jitsu before discovering MMA at high school in Islamabad — to the consternation of her community back home.
“A lot of people close to me criticized me, but that’s part of the game. Now they know how it works,” she said.
The message emanating from her hometown now is one of pride.
“The way she has made the name of Gilgit-Baltistan and all of Pakistan shine on the international level, serves as a lesson,” said the regional government’s sports chief Shah Muhammad.
After losing on her professional debut in 2018, where the referee refused to let her fight unless she raised her leggings above the knee, she moved to Thailand to train at an MMA academy.
She now earns a living from competition prizes, modest government grants and coaching at her Islamabad gym.
When she returns after competitions, small crowds gather to greet her at the airport and she is followed by a fledgling community of female fighters.
They too want to turn professional in a nation where only one in five women have jobs, according to United Nations figures.
“Anita is a role model for us,” said Bushra Ahmed, a few years Karim’s junior and out of breath as she trains alongside her, another woman and a dozen men.
Karim also wants to “give Pakistani women confidence and self-defense techniques,” with over 80 percent having been victims of public harassment, according to the UN.
Recently she “hit a man who was harassing me in a market in Islamabad,” Karim said.
“He left with his face stained with blood.”
Italian qualifier Bellucci stuns Medvedev in Rotterdam
- The Italian, who also reached the last eight in Atlanta in 2024, will next play sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor for a spot in the semifinals
- Former US Open champion Medvedev, ranked seven in the world, had defeated veteran Stan Wawrinka in the first round but has struggled at the start of 2025
ROTTERDAM: Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci stunned former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in three tough sets on Wednesday to reach the Rotterdam ATP quarterfinals.
The 23-year-old left-hander, playing on a career-high ranking of 92, came through 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 to record a first win over a top 10 opponent.
“It was a three-hour match and I really enjoyed every moment of it. I really tried to do the best I could. I’m pretty tired but I’m happy,” said Bellucci.
“I was going for the serve and volley which is not something I’m used to doing but it worked pretty good today.”
Bellucci held his nerve in the decider, where he saved six break points, after squandering a match point in the second set tie-break against the 2023 champion in Rotterdam.
The Italian, who also reached the last eight in Atlanta in 2024, will next play sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor for a spot in the semifinals.
Former US Open champion Medvedev, ranked seven in the world, had defeated veteran Stan Wawrinka in the first round but has struggled at the start of 2025 having lost in the second round of the Australian Open last month.
Newcastle shoot down Arsenal to be back in League Cup final in bid to end 70-year wait for domestic trophy
- Newcastle will play either Tottenham or Liverpool in the March 16 final at Wembley Stadium
- Newcastle reached the 2023 League Cup final, but lost 2-0 to Manchester United
LONDON: Newcastle are back in the English League Cup final for another chance to end their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
The Saudi-backed northeast club beat Arsenal 2-0 in the second leg of the semifinals Wednesday to advance 4-0 on aggregate. Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon scored the goals at a boisterous St. James’ Park.
Newcastle will play either Tottenham or Liverpool in the March 16 final at Wembley Stadium. Tottenham lead 1-0 after the first leg, with the return match at Anfield on Thursday.
For Newcastle, it marks another opportunity to capture a first piece of silverware since being bought by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021. Newcastle’s last trophy was the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969 and the most recent domestic title was the FA Cup in 1955.
Newcastle reached the 2023 League Cup final, but lost 2-0 to Manchester United.
“Play like that and we can dream big,” Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said after the Arsenal match. “It would be amazing in my first season as the captain to lift a trophy, it is my dream.”
Arsenal arrived buoyed by a 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday and looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg against Newcastle at Emirates Stadium last month.
Mikel Arteta’s team failed to handle the lively atmosphere inside St. James’, with its usually solid defense looking fragile and almost conceding after just four minutes when Alexander Isak was played through on goal and finished into the top corner. It was disallowed for offside following a video review and the decision was announced to fans inside the stadium by the referee via a wireless microphone — a practice being trialed in the English League Cup ahead of use in the Premier League.
After Martin Odegaard hit the post for Arsenal, Newcastle took the lead in the 19th when Isak struck a shot against the post and Murphy converted the rebound.
Arsenal’s remote chances of a comeback were further hit when Gabriel Martinelli went off with a muscle injury before halftime, and Gordon virtually secured Newcastle’s place in the title match by scoring the second after Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was dispossessed outside his area by a sliding Fabian Schar.
The ball flew straight to Gordon, who swiveled and shot into the bottom corner past stranded goalkeeper David Raya.
Arsenal, two-time League Cup winners, were looking to reach the final for the first time since 2018, when it lost 3-0 to Man City.
Newcastle fans taunted Arsenal’s manager in the last few minutes, singing: “Mikel Arteta, it must be the ball.” It was a reference to Arteta saying after the first leg that the ball used in the League Cup was “very different to a Premier League ball” after his team missed several chances.
And Gordon appeared to deliver a post-match dig at Arsenal, whose players and fans had delighted in goading Man City striker Erling Haaland on Sunday for his “stay humble” comment in the previous match between the teams.
“It is important for us to stay humble now,” Gordon said ahead of the final. “It will be a big occasion but it’s so far away.”
Real Madrid beat Leganes 3-2 to reach Copa semifinals on Garcia’s goal in stoppage time
- The 20-year-old Garcia sealed the victory with a header three minutes into stoppage time after a cross by Brahim Diaz
- In the other two quarterfinals on Thursday, it will be Real Sociedad hosting Osasuna and Barcelona playing at Valencia
MADRID: Gonzalo Garcia scored in stoppage time as Real Madrid avoided an upset by defeating Leganes 3-2 to reach the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
Madrid had taken a two-goal lead at halftime with Luka Modric and Endrick before the hosts rallied to even the match in the second half.
The 20-year-old Garcia, a striker who usually plays with Madrid’s “B” team, sealed the victory with a header three minutes into stoppage time after a cross by Brahim Diaz.
“I’m thrilled, filled with emotions. It has been a dream since I was a child and since I joined the youth teams. I’m happy to have scored the goal that gave us a place in the semifinals,” Garcia said. “It was a perfect cross by Brahim and the ball went in by itself.”
Another setback would have been troublesome for Madrid after they lost 1-0 at Espanyol in the Spanish league on Saturday for their second defeat in 15 matches across all competitions. Madrid had needed extra time to eliminate Celta Vigo at home in the round of 16 of the Copa last month.
“We suffered but we are in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We have to be satisfied with the outcome.”
Modric opened the scoring with a strike from close range in the 18th and Endrick doubled the lead after picking up a loose ball inside the area in the 25th.
The hosts rallied with Juan Cruz converting a penalty kick in the 39th and finding the net with a shot that deflected on a defender in the 59th.
Madrid nearly moved ahead again when Díaz’s flick over the goalkeeper struck the crossbar in the 75th.
Atletico Madrid had become the first team to reach the semifinals when thy routed Getafe 5-0 at home on Tuesday with a pair of goals by Giuliano Simeone, the 22-year-old son of Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
In the other two quarterfinals on Thursday, it will be Real Sociedad hosting Osasuna and Barcelona playing at Valencia.
Madrid was depleted in defense because of recent injuries to Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba. Eder Militão and Dani Carvajal had already been out with long-term ailments.
Ancelotti used youngsters Jacobo Ramon and Raul Asencio as the central defenders, and improvised midfielder Federico Valverde in the right back position. Valverde picked up his 200th win in 295 matches with Madrid.
Ancelotti praised the youth-squad players who came through for the main team.
“The youngsters have been doing a very good job,” Ancelotti said. “They lack experience but have been doing very well. We know that we can count on them.”
Ancelotti rested some regular starters ahead of the Spanish league derby against Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday. Madrid leads Atletico by one point at the top of the standings.
Madrid last won the Copa in 2022-23. They were eliminated by Atletico in the round of 16 last season.
Leganes only made it to the Copa semifinals in 2017-18, when it was eliminated by Sevilla. It is winless in three matches in all competitions and sits in 16th place in the Spanish league.
Mathys Tel ‘100 percent’ committed to Spurs, says Postecoglou
- Postecoglou told his pre-match press conference that Tel had been right to take his time over such a major decision
- “He obviously wants to play. We’ve already shown that irrespective of age, he’ll get an opportunity here”
LONDON: Ange Postecoglou said Mathys Tel is “100 percent” committed to Tottenham after the French forward signed on loan despite reportedly rejecting a move to the club earlier in the January transfer window.
Tottenham were busy in the final hours of Monday’s deadline day as they bolstered Postecoglou’s injury-ravaged squad, bringing in Tel and defender Kevin Danso.
Bayern Munich’s Tel, 19, was also linked with Manchester United and Arsenal before opting for Tottenham, who have an option to make the move permanent in the summer transfer window.
Postecoglou, whose team take a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s League Cup semifinal second-leg at Liverpool, told his pre-match press conference that Tel had been right to take his time over such a major decision.
“It’s not so much that he rejected us or rejected anyone else,” said the Spurs manager. “Rightly so he was getting as much information as possible.”
The Australian added: “I had a conversation with him and I guess mine was purely around the football and I think he’ll find a really great place here in terms of where he is in his career.
“He obviously wants to play. We’ve already shown that irrespective of age, he’ll get an opportunity here, and the way we play will suit him.
“Certainly with what we have in the next few months and then more importantly what we’re building beyond, I thought he would be a perfect fit.”
When asked if he felt the France under-21 international was fully committed to Spurs, Postecoglou said: “Yes, 100 percent. I am more than 100 percent sure because he took so much time, was so diligent about finding out everything when he made a decision that it’s us.
“He obviously had options and that sort of gave me even more confidence that we are getting the right kind of mentality, the right kind of player.
“He is very ambitious. He’s got a great deal of self-belief and self-confidence. He feels he can reach the top of the game and he has chosen us, which is a great vindication of what we are doing.”
Tel and Danso will both be available for Thursday’s match at Anfield, but Micky van de Ven and fellow center-back Cristian Romero are set to miss out, with Postecoglou taking a “conservative” approach after the duo’s injury absences.
Tottenham are one match away from a League Cup final at Wembley as they seek to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2008.
Former Celtic boss Postecoglou, in his second season at Tottenham, put himself under pressure earlier in the campaign when he said he “always wins things in my second year.”
But he said Premier League leaders and League Cup holders Liverpool would also be feeling the pressure.
“I don’t think Liverpool will be any less anxious than us about the fixture,” he said. “You’re in a semifinal, particularly a second leg and it’s still very tight.
“It’s a big game for both clubs so you recognize that, you embrace that but ultimately if you want to be successful these are the games you want to be involved in.”
