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Egyptian team Zamalek crowned champions of Saudi hockey competition

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Egyptian team Zamalek were crowned champions of the first Arab Five-a-Side Hockey Championship at the Green Hall stadiums at the Olympic Complex in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Egyptian team Zamalek were crowned champions of the first Arab Five-a-Side Hockey Championship at the Green Hall stadiums at the Olympic Complex in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Egyptian team Zamalek were crowned champions of the first Arab Five-a-Side Hockey Championship at the Green Hall stadiums at the Olympic Complex in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Egyptian team Zamalek were crowned champions of the first Arab Five-a-Side Hockey Championship at the Green Hall stadiums at the Olympic Complex in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Egyptian team Zamalek were crowned champions of the first Arab Five-a-Side Hockey Championship at the Green Hall stadiums at the Olympic Complex in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Egyptian team Zamalek were crowned champions of the first Arab Five-a-Side Hockey Championship at the Green Hall stadiums at the Olympic Complex in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Updated 14 January 2023
Arab News
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Egyptian team Zamalek crowned champions of Saudi hockey competition

  • The winning team were presented their gold medals by president of the Saudi Hockey Federation (SHF), Mohammed Al-Mandiel
Updated 14 January 2023
Arab News

RIYADH: Egyptian team Zamalek were crowned champions of the first Arab Five-a-Side Hockey Championship at the Green Hall stadiums at the Olympic Complex in Riyadh.

The winning team were presented their gold medals by president of the Saudi Hockey Federation (SHF), Mohammed Al-Mandiel.

Omani player, Rashid Al-Fazrai, won the Best Player Award, while Al-Rayyan player Pedro Crespo was the top scorer in the tournament, and Karim Farhan, who plays for Zamalek, was nominated as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

Seven teams from Arab and Gulf countries Egypt, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia participated in the tournament.

Al-Mandiel praised the success of the first championship, which comes as an extension of the local championships that were organized over the past two years, adding that SHF is keen to expand the establishment of such international tournaments to gain experience and knowledge and to promote hockey in the Kingdom like other games that appeal to young citizens in the kingdom,

Topics: hockey Saudi Arabia Saudi Hockey Federation

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Antetokounmpo, Greece strong in opener; Doncic, Slovenia still have chance to qualify for Olympics

Updated 27 sec ago
AP
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Antetokounmpo, Greece strong in opener; Doncic, Slovenia still have chance to qualify for Olympics

  • Thomas Walkup added 17 points for Greece, who led by as many as 27 and can advance to the semifinal round with a victory over Egypt
  • Slovenia can make it out of Group A and into the semifinals if they beat New Zealand by 21 points when the teams meet Thursday
Updated 27 sec ago
AP

LONDON: Giannis Antetokounmpo looked like a player intent on leading Greece to their first Olympic berth since 2008.

Antetokounmpo had 32 points in 19 minutes, going 11 of 11 from the field, as Greece rolled to a 109-82 win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday in Group B of the Piraeus, Greece, Olympic qualifying tournament.

Thomas Walkup added 17 points for Greece, who led by as many as 27 and can advance to the semifinal round with a victory over Egypt on Thursday.

“Giannis loves to be here. He loves to represent his country,” Greece coach Vassilis Spanoulis said. “He’s very humble. He’s part of the team. For a superstar you don’t find this easy. ... He’s about winning.”

The tournament in Greece is one of four that opened Tuesday to settle the final four spots in the field for the Paris Olympics. Other tournaments are ongoing in Latvia, Puerto Rico and Spain.

Group play at all four sites continues through Thursday, with semifinal games Saturday and the title games Sunday.

An appearance in the Olympics is one of the few things Antetokounmpo has yet to accomplish in his career.

On Wednesday, he didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the strained left calf that caused him to sit out the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff run in April. He got to the rim at will, went 9 of 13 from the free-throw line and knocked down his lone 3-point attempt.

New Zealand 90 Croatia 86

Croatia advanced in their bid to earn one of the final Olympic berths, but not with the kind of momentum it had hoped.

New Zealand beat Croatia 90-86 in Group A in Piraeus. Corey Webster had 21 points and Shea Ili added 18, including a go-ahead layup in the final minute to help New Zealand rally.

“I think it’s just a gutsy win from our team,” New Zealand captain Reuben Te Rangi said.

Ivica Zubac had 29 points and 16 rebounds, Dario Saric added 19 points and eight rebounds and Mario Hezonja had 16 points for Croatia, which was able to secure a place in the semifinals with the four-point differential. The loss, however, kept NBA star Luka Doncic and Slovenia in contention.

Slovenia can make it out of Group A and into the semifinals if they beat New Zealand by 21 points when the teams meet Thursday. If not, New Zealand will advance.

Croatia won their opener 108-92 over Slovenia on Tuesday.

“It was a tough spot playing after an emotional win over Slovenia,” Saric said of the loss Wednesday. “We were hoping we’d be on a level and push the game in our direction. But today wasn’t the case.”

Montenegro 70 Cameroon 66

In Riga, Latvia, Montenegro survived a sluggish start to keep their semifinal hopes alive with a 70-66 win over Cameroon.

Marko Simonovic had 18 points, six rebounds and went 9 of 9 from the free-throw line to lead five Montenegro players in double figures. Nikola Vucevic finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Cameroon need to beat Brazil when the teams meet Thursday to advance to the semifinals out of Group B. Otherwise, the second spot would go to Montenegro.

Cameroon led 32-29 at the half. But Montenegro opened the third quarter with a 15-2 run to take a 44-34 lead and never trailed again. Montenegro connected on 7 of 9 free throws in the final period and 20 for 24 for the game.

Fabien Quentin Philibert Ateba and Jordan Bayehe each had 14 points apiece to lead Cameroon.

Bahamas 90 Poland 81

Valdez Edgecombe Jr. scored 21 points, Deandre Ayton added 18 points and nine rebounds, and the Bahamas advanced to the knockout round with their win over Poland in Valencia, Spain.

The Bahamas led by as many as 19 in the fourth quarter, knocking down 13 3-pointers and assisting on 24 of its 31 field goals for the game. Buddy Hield finished with 17 points and 10 assists to help his team finish 2-0 in Group B.

Poland and Finland play Thursday to decide who will join the Bahamas from the group in the semifinals.

Philippines 89 Latvia 80

Justin Brownlee had 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help the Philippines hold off a late charge and beat Latvia 89-80 in Group A of the Latvia tournament.

Kai Sotto added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Latvia trailed by 26 points and cut what was a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to 10 with 1:21 remaining. But the Philippines settled down and were able to close it out.

Rodions Kurucs led Latvia with 18 points.

The Philippines are in the driver’s seat to win the group and advance to the knockout stage when they play Georgia on Thursday. Latvia beat Georgia 83-55 on Tuesday.

Spain 89 Angola 81

Santiago Aldama had 24 points and Spain beat Angola 89-81 to win Group A and advance to the semifinals of the Liga, Spain, tournament.

Willy Hernangomez added 22 points and 10 rebounds. The winner of Lebanon and Angola on Thursday will join Spain in the knockout round.

Spain carried a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter and Angola never got closer than six the rest of the way.

Jilson Bango led Angola with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Lithuania 97 Ivory Coast 93

Domantas Sabonis had 22 points to help Lithuania beat Ivory Coast 97-93 and advance to the knockout round of the San Juan, Puerto Rico tournament.

Marius Grigonis added 18 points and Lukas Lekavicius finished with 13, including 3 with under a minute to play to put his team ahead for good. Sabonis also had nine rebounds to help Lithuania finish 2-0 in Group A.

Deon Thompson had 18 points to lead Ivory Coast, which needs to beat Mexico Thursday to earn a semifinal berth.

Ivory Coast took a 72-65 lead into the fourth.

Lithuania twice got within a point before Lekavicius made a floater for a 92-90 lead. Ivory Coast nudged back in front with a minute to play on a 3 by Jean Philippe Dally.

Lekavicius answered with a 3 to make it 95-93 with 41 seconds left.

Puerto Rico 90 Bahrain 56

Stephen Thompson Jr. scored 20 points and Puerto Rico powered past Bahrain 99-56 on home soil to secure a spot in the semifinal round.

George Conditt IV added 17 points and eight rebounds for Puerto Rico, which will face Italy on Thursday to determine the winner of Group B. Italy also advanced to the knockout stage, having beaten Bahrain 114-53 on Tuesday.

Puerto Rico controlled the game throughout, building a 39-19 halftime lead that grew to more than 40 early in the fourth quarter.

Zee Hamoda led Bahrain with 15 points.

Topics: Paris Olympics 2024 Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Copa America quarterfinals will have plenty of intrigue, even if Lionel Messi can’t participate

Updated 12 min 49 sec ago
AP
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Copa America quarterfinals will have plenty of intrigue, even if Lionel Messi can’t participate

  • The 15-time Copa America champion Albiceleste are still the undeniable favorites in the Americas’ biggest soccer tournament when quarterfinal play gets underway
  • The other 15-time Copa champs — Uruguay — top the list of challengers capable of taking them down
Updated 12 min 49 sec ago
AP

LOS ANGELES: Lionel Messi’s leg injury was the only major obstacle that fell into Argentina’s path while it rolled through group play and into the Copa America quarterfinals.

Bigger challenges await the defending champions, and they’re hoping Messi will be there to lead the way in perhaps his final international tournament.

The 15-time Copa America champion Albiceleste are still the undeniable favorites in the Americas’ biggest soccer tournament when quarterfinal play gets underway, but the other 15-time Copa champs — Uruguay — top the list of challengers capable of taking them down.

With the host Americans and Mexico eliminated in group play, the spotlight shifts firmly to the South American powerhouses determined to raise the trophy.

(all times EDT)

ARGENTINA VS. ECUADOR IN HOUSTON (Thursday, 9 p.m., FOX)

It’s unclear whether Messi will play in the opening quarterfinal due to a leg injury that sidelined him in the team’s most recent match against Peru. Coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi’s availability will be a game-time decision.

“Depending on how he responds, we will decide,” Scaloni said Wednesday before training. “There are ramifications when Leo is not able to play. We’ll try to make sure that he can play. If not, we’ll try to find the best solution for the team. I will talk to him today. It’s only fair that he can take his time and be able to train as much as he can.”

Argentina have been sturdy even without a goal from Messi in the tournament, winning all three group stage matches by a combined 5-0.

Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez has four goals in a spectacular effort despite coming off the bench twice, while Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez got the other goal. If Scaloni decides to play both center forward together, it could be more than enough to make up for Messi — and a nightmare for underdog Ecuador, who earned their unexpected quarterfinal spot by holding Mexico scoreless last weekend.

VENEZUELA VS. CANADA IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS (Friday, 9 p.m., FS1)

This is a matchup of pleasant surprises. Venezuela have enjoyed an outstanding tournament so far, winning their three matches by a combined 6-1 with offensive leadership from Salomon Rondon and Eduard Bello.

Canada got out of Copa group play for the first time despite scoring just one total goal in three games before losing Inter Milan’s Tajon Buchanan to a broken leg in training Tuesday. Reaching the semifinals would be a massive achievement for either of these teams.

COLOMBIA VS. PANAMA IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA (Saturday, 6 p.m., FS1)

The quarters move west for a pair of games held in air-conditioned stadiums amid a continent-wide heat wave.

Colombia are now unbeaten in 26 consecutive matches after holding Brazil to a draw to win their group. Led by veteran star James Rodríguez, Los Cafeteros will be favored to eliminate Panama, who knocked off the hosts US team to advance from group play.

URUGUAY VS. BRAZIL IN LAS VEGAS (Saturday, 9 p.m., FS1)

Sin City will host easily the most tantalizing matchup of the round, featuring a faltering powerhouse against a team known for perennially punching above their weight.

No quarterfinal team looked as shaky as Brazil, who stumbled into the next round with a thoroughly unimpressive effort. Colombia and Costa Rica both held the Seleçao to draws, and fan discontent is roiling.

Even worse, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is suspended for the quarterfinal after accumulating two yellow cards. Yet Brazil are still laden with individual talent that’s barely touched the field in this tournament, so it’s far too early to write off the five-time World Cup winners.

Uruguay look just as good as advertised under brilliant coach Marcelo Bielsa, winning three times by a combined 9-1 in group play led by Liverpool striker Darwin Nuñez.

After beating Brazil and Argentina in recent World Cup qualifying matches, La Celeste probably would be the tournament favorites if not for Argentina’s similarly strong form — but Brazil have the pure talent to end those dreams in a hurry.

Topics: Copa America 2024 Lionel Messi Argentina football Argentina

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Cavendish breaks Merckx’s record for most career Tour de France stage wins with his 35th victory

Updated 16 min 23 sec ago
AP
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Cavendish breaks Merckx’s record for most career Tour de France stage wins with his 35th victory

  • The 39-year-old Cavendish sprinted for the win in the fifth stage of the Tour, pulling away some 100 meters from the line despite being bunched in
  • While Pogacar retained the race leader’s yellow jersey, the day belonged to Cavendish
Updated 16 min 23 sec ago
AP

SAINT-VULBAS, France: Mark Cavendish wrote a new chapter of Tour de France history in what is expected to be his last appearance at cycling’s biggest race.

The veteran Isle of Man sprinter broke Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record for most career Tour de France stage wins with his 35th victory on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old Cavendish sprinted for the win in the fifth stage of the Tour, pulling away some 100 meters from the line despite being bunched in. He crossed the line ahead of Jasper Philipsen and then celebrated with teammates.

Norwegian rider Alexander Kristoff, who had crashed earlier, finished third. They were given the same time of 4 hours, 8 minutes, 46 seconds.

Sixteen years after his first Tour stage win, Cavendish spoke of his constant hunger for victory.

“I always needed to win one more, more more,” said Cavendish, who was joined by his children on the podium. “It takes a lot to get there every year. I’ve got incredible people around me.”

Two-time champion Tadej Pogacar narrowly avoided a crash and finished nestled in the main pack in 35th place. While Pogacar retained the race leader’s yellow jersey, the day belonged to Cavendish.

He equaled Merckx’s mark of 34 wins during the 2021 Tour and went close to No. 35 in the seventh stage last year when he was narrowly beaten by Philipsen. He crashed a day later and broke his right collarbone.

Merckx, the Belgian considered the most dominant rider in cycling history, won his 34 individual stages at the Tour from 1969-75.

Cavendish’s decision to give it one more shot paid off.

“I just wanted to get the run-in to do it. I’m a little bit in disbelief. Astana put a big gamble on this year to make sure we’re good at the Tour de France,” Cavendish said. “We’ve done it.”

With his 2023 race ending early, Cavendish decided to put off retirement by a year and came back to try again.

Finally, Cavendish made cycling history, after winning his first Tour stage back in 2008.

Other riders were happy for Cavendish, with several stopping to speak with or hug him after the 177.4-kilometer (110-mile) leg from Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas

Merckx amassed his wins in an era during which his domination was such that he earned the nickname “The Cannibal.” Unlike Merckx, one of four riders to win the Tour five times, Cavendish has never won the overall title, or come close.

But Cavendish’s longevity among his fellow Tour sprinters has no equal.

He won the Tour de France best sprinter’s green jersey twice. He also won stages at all three Grand Tours — the others are the Giro d’Italia and Spanish Vuelta — and became a world champion in 2011.

Cavendish joined Astana after his contract with Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl expired and he was overlooked for the 2022 Tour.

Cavendish had faced a difficult start to this Tour. During the first stage, he appeared to struggle with stomach and heat issues.

“I know how it works, my trainer and everyone around me knows how it is,” Cavendish said. “I’ve done 15 Tours de France. I don’t like to have bad days, I don’t like to suffer but I know it’s just in the head and to push through it.”

Meanwhile, Pogacar has another flat stage to get through safely Thursday, having reclaimed the leader’s jersey Tuesday with a brilliant attack near the top of the race’s first big mountain pass.

On Wednesday, he was simply relieved to avoid crashing.

“We were in the bunch and then suddenly something came up in the middle from nowhere. The guys in front of me braked and we touched wheels a little bit, but luckily I escaped,” he said. “I reacted on instinct and was very lucky.”

The 25-year-old Slovenian leads overall by 45 seconds from Tour debutant Remco Evenepoel, the Vuelta and world champion in 2022. Pogacar is 50 seconds ahead of two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard — the Danish rider who was badly injured in a high-speed crash at the Tour of Basque Country in early April.

Pogacar is aiming for the rare Giro-Tour double, and for his third Tour title after wins in 2020 and 2021. The last rider to win the Giro and the Tour the same year was the late Marco Pantani in 1998.

Wednesday’s stage saw Clement Russo and Matteo Vercher forming a breakaway after 35 kilometers (22 miles).

Given that French riders won the first two stages through Romain Bardet and Kevin Vauquelin, this may have motivated them. With rain falling, Russo and Vercher were caught with 36 kilometers (22 miles) left.

Stage 6 on Thursday is again suited for sprinters, going through vineyards to Dijon on a mainly flat trek of around 100 miles. The first individual time trial is on Friday.

Topics: Mark Cavendish tour de france cycling

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Atlético Madrid: No approach made to keeper Jan Oblak from Saudi Arabia: report

Updated 04 July 2024
Arab News
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Atlético Madrid: No approach made to keeper Jan Oblak from Saudi Arabia: report

Updated 04 July 2024
Arab News

RIYADH: There has been no approach for Atlético Madrid first team keeper Jan Oblak from Saudi Arabia, the club told Arriyadiyah.

Transfer rumors indicated that the Slovenian shotstopper was interested in an offer from Al-Nassr.

But the Spanish club rubbished those claims telling Arab News’ sister publication that there had been no negotiations from Al-Nassr or the recruitment program in Saudi Arabia to sign the keeper.

Juan José García, Atlético Madrid spokesperson, told Arriyadiyah that the goalkeeper is very important to the   club, and that there are currently no negotiations for his departure.

Oblak helped his country to qualify for the Round of 16 of the Euros, and saved an important penalty from the Al-Nassr and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, leaving the footballing legend in tears. Portugal won the game on penalties and will face France in the quarterfinals.

Topics: Atletico Madrid Jan Oblak

Ronaldo vs. Mbappe: Clash of generations at Euro 2024 has just been given some extra spice

Updated 04 July 2024
AP
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Ronaldo vs. Mbappe: Clash of generations at Euro 2024 has just been given some extra spice

  • Ronaldo heads into Friday’s game having failed to score in eight straight matches at major tournaments
  • Mbappe scored a hat trick in the World Cup final and has been logging Ronaldo-esque scoring numbers in the first part of his career
Updated 04 July 2024
AP

HAMBURG: Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Kylian Mbappe.

A clash of soccer icons. A clash of generations.

They’ll go head to head when Portugal play France in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals on Friday, and this heavyweight meeting might have got just that little bit bigger.

“It is, without doubt, my last European Championship,” the 39-year-old Ronaldo said after his tearful, emotionally charged performance in Portugal’s penalty-shootout victory over Slovenia in the last 16.

That may have just confirmed what many were presuming anyway.

Still, there’s now a definitive specter of finality to Ronaldo’s long, headline-grabbing Euros adventure that could be brought to an end by Mbappe, the heir apparent to Ronaldo and Lionel Messi after their long-time dominance of the sport.

Mbappe grew up with pictures of Ronaldo on his bedroom wall.

A photo is inevitably doing the rounds on social media of what is apparently their first ever meeting, at Real Madrid’s training ground at Valdebebas in 2012 when a 13-year-old Mbappe stood beside Ronaldo after a visit to the Spanish club where his sporting hero was the star player.

In 2020, Mbappe posted on Twitter, now X, that Ronaldo was his “idol.”

And only a few months ago, Ronaldo reacted to Mbappe clinching a highly anticipated move to Madrid by writing on Instagram: “Excited to see you light up the Bernabeu.”

That Mbappe can now end Ronaldo’s European Championship career — who knows, it might even be his last ever major tournament — adds an intriguing subplot to a match that will be watched around the world.

“Let’s go, let’s go to war,” Ronaldo said of the match against France, whom he considers as the top contender at Euro 2024 along with Spain.

He said he was driven to tears against Slovenia not at the prospect of elimination but because his main motivation these days is “making people happy” and he had a penalty saved in extra time.

“I’m moved by all that football means — by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm for seeing my supporters, my family, the affection people have for me.

“It’s not about leaving the world of football. What else is there for me to do or win?”

Ronaldo heads into Friday’s game having failed to score in eight straight matches at major tournaments — Portugal’s last four at the 2022 World Cup and its four games at Euro 2024 — and with growing concerns about whether he deserves what appears to be a guaranteed spot in the team under Roberto Martinez.

Things haven’t been straightforward for Mbappe, either, at Euro 2024.

He sustained a broken nose in France’s group opener against Austria and has since been wearing a vision-limiting protective facemask during games. Mbappe has scored one goal and that was from the penalty spot against Poland — it’s the only goal scored by a France player at these Euros.

“He will have to get used to it,” France coach Didier Deschamps said of Mbappé and his mask, “because, to protect (his nose), he will have to wear it for a few weeks — or even a few months.”

Few would have predicted the top scorer at the last World Cup (Mbappe) and the record scorer in men’s international soccer (Ronaldo) to have just one goal between them heading into the quarterfinals.

But no one will be surprised if they come alive in Hamburg, with the pressure on and the occasion so big.

Mbappe, remember, scored a hat trick in the World Cup final and has been logging Ronaldo-esque scoring numbers in the first part of his career. He’s already on 48 goals for France at the age of 25, and is also on 48 goals in the Champions League from 73 appearances.

He is chasing down Ronaldo’s scoring records at both international (130) and Champions League (140) level and will likely only succeed by showing the same undimmed passion and desire as the player he used to copy as a kid.

As their countries’ respective captains, they’ll shake hands and embrace before kickoff. You can bet they’ll do the same after the match.

By that time, one of them will be on his way home.

For Mbappe, there will surely be more European Championships down the road.

For Ronaldo, this could be the end of the road.

Topics: Euro 2024 Cristiano Ronaldo Kylian Mbappé

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