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Nasser al-Khelaifi, President of Paris Saint-Germain, praised his side’s collective approach after they secured a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Liverpool FC at Anfield on Tuesday evening, sealing a 4-0 aggregate victory. PSG are the defending champions and have strong hopes of winning the title again this year.“We tried everything in the past 13-15 years. Three years ago, with Luis Enrique and the new project, we are trying to build something with a very young team. That is what we tried,” al-Khelaïfi said in a post-match interview.“We tried everything in the past 13-15 years. Three years ago, with Luis Enrique and the new project, we are trying to build something with a very young team. That is what we tried,” he added, reflecting on the club’s long-term direction under head coach Luis Enrique.“Of course, results are really important, but the most important for us was how we played football, to have a team, not players only. The star is the team, there are no stars in our team. Even today, we have the Ballon d’Or [winner], our players are huge, but the biggest star is the team.“They work for each other, the team, the club, the logo. We can probably have the best players in the world last year and this year but they work together as a team. Your fault is my fault, they run together, that is the mentality we want to have. We have the best coach in the world, he is an amazing coach, person and motivator.”PSG president’s first reaction after the win also included a tribute to the 97 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster.“We really think about the 97 people who lost their lives for football, and that’s something much bigger than any football, any sport. So, our thoughts are with them and their family,” he said.He also showed support for Hugo Ekitike, who picked up an injury during the match, saying he hopes the injury is not too serious.Al-Khelaïfi said the team would stay grounded despite the result.“We are here, of course, very proud, very happy with both the result and qualifying for the semi-final. To come here and show respect for the amazing fans, and to beat them 2-0 again, that’s an amazing achievement.”“But we need to be humble, we need to stay grounded and think about the next step, the next match. We shouldn’t go over the moon, but we’re very, very happy.” Related Story Source link
His Excellency President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani has crowned Al Rayyan as champions of HH the Amir Handball Cup for the 2025-2026 season, after defeating Al Arabi 28-26.His Excellency presented Al Rayyan with the the championship’s trophy and gold medals, while Al Arabi, the runners-up, received the silver medals.Held at Duhail Handball Sports Hall on Monday, the final saw Al Arabi finish the first half ahead with a score of 16-12. However, Al Rayyan mounted a comeback in the second half, overturning a four-goal deficit into a two-goal victory to officially claim the title.President of the Qatar Handball Association, Ahmed Al Shaabi congratulated Al Rayyan on winning HH the Amir Handball Cup for the fifth time ever, praising their performance against Al Arabi in the final.Al Shaabi also commended Al Arabi’s efforts and noted the match’s high technical and organizational standards, along with the game’s large fan turnout. Source link
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland goes to his daughter (not pictured) while holding the Masters Trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning during the final…
Barcelona’s Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal plays with the ball during a training session on the eve of their UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg…
Mexican archer Dafne Quintero poses with a bronze medal at the Stage 1 Archery World Cup, in Puebla, Mexico, April 11, 2026. REUTERS Mexico won three bronze medals in the first leg of the 2026 Archery World Cup in Puebla on Sunday, sending a clear message in the season’s opener: Los Angeles 2028 is their target.Over 200 archers from 32 countries competed in Stage 1 of the four-stage annual tournament in Mexico, battling in the recurve and compound divisions, with the host nation delivering on both fronts.The recurve women’s team – Alejandra Valencia, Ana Paula Vazquez and Angela Ruiz – took bronze against Spain, winning 6-2.”With this third place we have a good starting point ahead of the Olympics … It’s proof that we can achieve more, and that’s our goal as a team,” Vazquez told reporters on Sunday.Mexico’s other bronze winners were the compound women’s team of Andrea Becerra, Dafne Quintero and Ana Sofia Hernandez, who beat Turkey 233-230, and the compound men’s team of Sebastian Garcia, Juan Del Rio and Lot Maximo Mendez, who defeated Denmark 233-226.The compound mixed team event will make its Olympic debut at the LA28 Games, making every result between now and then count. On the individual stage, Mexico’s Matias Grande reached the men’s semifinals, where he fell to defending World Cup champion Brady Ellison of the U.S., then lost the bronze match to Turkey’s Mete Gazoz.In compound, Quintero similarly reached the final four before losing to Colombia’s Sara Lopez, then fell to another Colombian, Alejandra Usquiano, in the bronze match.The event itself was no small undertaking.Mexico stepped in to host after Central Florida lost its rights, with World Archery Mexico President Gabriel Ramos embracing the opportunity to showcase Puebla, navigating city authorities, logistics and the weight of expectation.”It was a challenge to convince all the authorities and to explain the size of this event,” Ramos told Reuters.The crowds, as ever in Mexico, rose to the occasion. “I believe this happens only in Mexico,” Ramos said, “to have people cheering not just for Mexicans – for the other countries.”With Mexico also staging the 20th anniversary World Cup Final in Saltillo and 60% of the national team hailing from Coahuila, that event in September promises to be something special. “It’s going to be a great celebration,” Ramos said.The longer goal is clear, he said. “We are a strong team, we want to be in LA, and we are building and working for that every day.” Source link
Napoli's Serie A title defence suffered a blow with Sunday'1-1 draw at Parma which gave league leaders Inter Milan the chance to move nine points clear.Scott McTominay's drilled finish on the hour mark gave Napoli a draw which may well not be enough for the champions to claim a third Scudetto in four seasons.Napoli trail Inter by six points, a gap which could increase following the late match between the Milan giants and Champions League chasers Como.Antonio Conte's team were on the back foot within 36 seconds. That was how long it took for Gabriel Strefezza to race on to Nesta Elphege's knock-on and beautifully curl home Parma's opener.Napoli struggled to break down the hosts who were content to sit deep and soak up the pressure and deny the away team a sixth straight league win.Last weekend's win over AC Milan had reopened the prospect of retaining the title but a draw at the Stadio Ennio Tardini has made that feat less likely with six matches remaining in their season.’I told the boys that there is a very thin line that separates winners and losers,’ said Conte.’If you concede a goal after 30 seconds it's inevitable that a match which was already going to be against a deep-lying team was going to become even more like that.’They rightly put up the barricades and tried to hit us on the counter… in the end I can't really criticise the team for their desire and commitment.’Parma are level on 36 points with Genoa, who also took a step towards safety with a tumultuous 2-1 win over Sassuolo in the day's early fixture. Both teams were down to 10 men for the second half following a tunnel bust-up.Caleb Ekuban tapped home Genoa's winner with six minutes remaining in front of a typically passionate crowd at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris who watched their team move nine points clear away from the relegation zone in 13th.Genoa midfiedler Mikael Ellertsson and Italy international Domenico Berardi were sent off after a row blew up just after the half-time whistle, with the hosts leading through Ruslan Malinovskyi. Source link
Aspire Academy student-athlete Hassan Waly, playing alongside Spain’s Javier Bolumar, won the under-18 title at the FIP Promises Oeiras event in Portugal. This is not only Waly’s first FIP Promises title but also the first for a Qatari player at a European event.FIP Promises events are the International Padel Federation’s (FIP) tournaments for various age groups from under-12 to under-18, designed to develop young players through high-level international competition.Waly and Bolumar, who were seeded sixth, impressed throughout the tournament, winning three matches against higher-seeded opponents.They were given a bye in the first round, then beat the Spanish duo of Mario Brocal and Jaime Rodriguez 6-2, 6-2 in the last 16.In the quarter-finals, Waly and Bolumar won the first set against second seeds Francisco Goncalves Da Silva and Goncalo Liberato Costa, before the Portuguese pair had to retire.Then in the last four, they overcame fourth seeds Lautaro Dos Santos Sueyro and Valentin Villalba, from Argentina, 6-4, 6-3.Their toughest test came in the final against the Spanish top seeds, Juan Carlos Gutierrez Guerrero and Mario Martinez Guerrero, and they eventually needed a tiebreak to clinch the title.Aspire Academy’s Head Padel Coach, Mariano Amat, was thrilled with the way Waly played in the deciding moments of the final. “The final was a long and closely contested match, ultimately decided by a lengthy tiebreak,” he said.“Hassan showed real composure under pressure, making a decisive impact at the net and with his overhead play during the key moments of the match. “This result reflects not just talent but the kind of competitive maturity we have been working as coaches to develop: the ability to manage tight situations and make the right decisions when it matters most.”“The other good news is that Hassan’s development is continuing, and he has room to improve even further going forward. Next up for Hassan is the FIP Promises Athleticans II tournament in Cairo, Egypt, which starts on 20 April, and again he will be playing with Javier Bolumar.”“These few weeks allow Hassan to take part in two international competitions to increase his tournament exposure, and to combine those with structured training periods.”“While this is a significant milestone for Aspire Academy’s padel programme, our goal is not just a single result; we will keep working.”“We want to build complete players who are capable of competing at the international level on a consistent basis.”As Waly prepares for his next tournament, several of Aspire Academy’s other padel players are set to travel to Spain to train at the Sompadel academy in Madrid, alongside some of the best Spanish players in their age categories. Related Story Source link
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has announced that it will participate with a delegation of 34 male and female athletes in the Asian Beach Games, set to be held in Sanya, China, from April 22 to 30, 2026, with the participation of 1,790 athletes, competing across 14 sports. Mr. Abdulla Al Abdulla, Deputy Head of the Qatari Administrative Delegation, confirmed during a press conference held at the QOC headquarters on Sunday that Qatar will compete in 7 sports: beach volleyball (men and women), basketball (men and women), beach handball, sailing, aquathlon, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling. Al Abdulla noted that Qatar’s participation in the Asian Beach Games comes as part of the QOC’s commitment to maintaining an active presence in various continental sporting events and to strengthening the country’s sporting presence on the Asian stage.He added that Qatari teams have completed their preparations for the Games through comprehensive training programs overseen by the respective sports federations in coordination with the QOC, emphasizing that the delegation aims to deliver strong performances and compete for medals in a number of sports, particularly beach handball and beach volleyball, in addition to individual disciplines. The Deputy Head of Administrative Delegation further highlighted that the Games are expected to feature a high technical level, given the participation of elite athletes from across Asia, which presents significant challenges requiring Qatari athletes to demonstrate peak readiness. He explained that the primary objective of participation extends beyond results, focusing on maximizing technical benefits by providing athletes with opportunities to compete against diverse sporting schools and gain valuable competitive experience in a multi-sport environment. He added that this participation represents an important step in the development pathway of Qatari athletes, contributing to enhancing their performance levels and readiness for upcoming continental and international events. Al Abdulla also reviewed Qatar’s history in the Asian Beach Games, which began with the inaugural edition in Bali 2008, followed by Muscat 2010, and Haiyang 2012, where Qatar secured its first gold medal through the handball team. Qatar later achieved 12 medals in Phuket 2014 (2 gold, 2 silver, and 8 bronze), and 7 medals in Da Nang 2016 (5 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze), reflecting the country’s consistent presence in the Games. For his part, Mr. Mohammed Al-Zaidan, Head of the Team Qatar Media Delegation, announced the launch of the promotional campaign accompanying Team Qatar’s participation in the Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026. He explained that the campaign comes as part of efforts to support the athletes of the Qatari delegation and enhance their media presence throughout the competition period. He added that the campaign aims to motivate both fans and athletes, while also highlighting the achievements of Qatari athletes. Al-Zaidan further noted that the campaign will focus on showcasing Qatar’s key tourist attractions and the beauty of its beaches, under the slogan “From the Shores of Doha to the Shores of Sanya,” reflecting the connection between sport and tourism and contributing to the promotion of Qatar’s coastal destinations. These include Katara Beach, Old Doha Port, Lusail Marina, the Doha Corniche, The Pearl Island, and 974 Beach. He also emphasized that the campaign will deliver diverse digital content that captures the atmosphere of the competitions and enhances audience engagement, as part of an integrated media vision aimed at projecting a positive image of Qatari sport at both the continental and international levels across the Committee’s platforms and various media outlets in the country. The Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 will feature 1,790 athletes competing in 14 sports: 3×3 basketball, aquatics (open water swimming and water polo), aquathlon, athletics, handball, kabaddi, football, volleyball, wrestling, rowing, jiu-jitsu, sailing, sport climbing, and teqball. Source link
The Bronze Tour was won by Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Gohal, followed by Qatar’s Ahmad Jassim al-Suwaidi and Saudi’s Khaled al-Hadi Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly delivered a commanding performance to secure victory in the Diamond Tour during the tenth round of the Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) main arena Saturday.Competing in the Accumulator with Joker class over 150cm, Alsharbatly guided Frenchy Vds to the top of the podium after collecting 65 points in a time of 55.62 seconds. Qatar’s Nasser al-Ghazali finished second with Heavens Light H on 65 points in 60.65 seconds, while Kuwait’s Yara al-Hunaidi secured third place aboard Caprice 563 in 62.00 seconds. Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly astride…
Udinese’s Arthur Atta celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match against AC Milan at the San Siro stadium in Milan. (AFP) AC Milan relinquished any remaining hope of winning the Serie A title Saturday after falling to a shock 3-0 home defeat to Udinese. A Davide Bartesaghi own goal and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s glancing header in the first half, and Arthur Atta’s superb low finish in the 71st minute, left Milan nine points behind Inter Milan ahead of the league leaders’ clash at Como Sunday. With six matches remaining in their season, even an Inter loss at Como would leave third-placed Milan with a near-impossible gap to close. And a Como win would not be good news either as the lakeside outfit currently sit fourth and five points behind Milan, who have lost three of four matches since winning last month’s Milan derby, with Juventus also gunning for a Champions League spot. Juve are at Atalanta in the day’s late match and will move above Como into fourth – just three points behind Milan – with a win in Bergamo. Milan host Juve in a fortnight, a match which looks likely to be key to the top-four positions come May, and the loud whistles which accompanied the end of the game highlighted supporter frustration. Udinese moved into the top half of the table after an impressive away performance in which Nicolo Zaniolo, who was the rising star of Italian football before suffering two serious knee injuries in 2020, was the standout player. Zaniolo has had a difficult time of it since being dumped by Roma in 2023, and he was not selected for the Italy squad which recently missed out on a third straight World Cup. But the 26-year-old has found a home at Udinese and he was key to Bartesaghi’s own goal in the 27th minute, as the attacker charged upfield on the counter-attack before offloading to Atta whose cross was deflected into the Milan net. Ten minutes later Zaniolo whipped in a beautiful, inch-perfect cross for Ekkelenkamp to double the away side’s lead and spark rumblings of discontent in the San Siro stands. Milan pushed up on Udinese after the break, when coach Massimiliano Allegri brought on burly centre forward Niclas Fullkrug, and Alexis Saelemaekers could barely believe it when Maduka Okoye palmed his half-volley onto the crossbar in the 51st minute. Atta sealed the points for Udinese 20 minutes later when he was allowed to burst towards goal and roll a sneaky low shot in at Mike Maignan’s near post. The discontent was clear when loud boos met Rafael Leao’s substitution soon afterwards, and those who were still in the seats at the end made their feelings known at the final whistle. Source…