Browsing: Sports
Al Duhail begin their Amir Cup knockout campaign Thursday with a Round of 16 clash against Al Waab at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, aiming to book a berth in the quarter-finals.Elsewhere, Al Wakrah will square off against Al Sailiya at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium, as the knockout fixtures run through Sunday.Speaking ahead of the tie, Al Duhail assistant coach Fares Bouzid underlined the need for complete concentration and discipline against their opponents. “This is a crucial match in a tournament that means a great deal to Al Duhail, and we must give everything to win the title. We’ve prepared thoroughly and expect a tough match,” he said at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.“We’ve studied Al Waab closely, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and will fight with full focus and determination to secure qualification.”Second Division side Al Waab advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating Lusail in the preliminary stage. Al Waab coach Ahmed Abdelsalam Mohamed said his team is ready to rise to the challenge.“We’re looking forward to delivering our best performance against Al Duhail. The team is fully prepared, and we aim to show a level worthy of this highly competitive tournament,” he said.Meanwhile, Al Wakrah, currently sixth in the Qatar Stars League, are aiming for a strong showing in the prestigious competition. “We’re excited to perform well in a competition that means a lot to us and everyone involved, and we are striving to win the title, even though we know it will be very difficult with so many strong teams,” said Al Wakrah coach Vicente Moreno.“Al Sailiya are a distinguished side with good players and a good coach, but we are ambitious and determined to compete strongly and fight for the trophy.”Al Sailiya coach Mirghani Al Zain said his side is eager to make the most of their opportunity in the tournament. “We are preparing to compete in a tournament that is dear to everyone’s hearts. The players are striving to give their best, and despite the difficulty of our situation, we are determined to seize the opportunity to qualify for the next round.”Round of 16 FixturesThursday: Al Duhail vs Al Waab at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium (4:30pm); Al Wakrah vs Al Sailiya at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium (7:15pm)Friday: Al Shamal vs Qatar SC at Grand Hamad Stadium (4:30pm); Al Shahania vs Al Arabi at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (7:15pm)On Saturday: Al Gharafa vs Al Kharaitiyat at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium (4:30pm); Al Rayyan vs Al Khor at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium (7:15pm); Al Sadd vs Al Markhiya at Grand Hamad Stadium (7:15pm)On Sunday: Al Ahli vs Umm Salal at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium (7:15pm) Related Story Source link
A visit to Pebble Beach last year helped set up Rory McIlroy for one of the biggest moments of his golf career.McIlroy earned a two-shot victory at the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, kickstarting a stellar run that saw him win the Players Championship before completing the career Grand Slam by capturing the Green Jacket at the Masters.The 36-year-old Northern Ireland native is back on the Monterey Peninsula this week to defend his Pebble Beach championship.”Obviously last year was a great way to start the 2025 season,” McIlroy said. “Historically I haven’t played Pebble Beach that well. I’ve played OK, but nothing spectacular.”I think winning on a golf course that I hadn’t won on before, hadn’t really contended on before, I feel like it gave me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the season.”He added of his triumphant performance at Pebble Beach Golf Links that he was pleased with “how in control I was with my ball flight, especially in tough conditions last year on the Saturday. There was a lot of things that I worked on in the offseason that I brought with me into here. Yeah, it was a massive confidence boost and obviously then went on to play well in that early part of the season, won at The Players and then obviously into the Masters.”Yeah, it was a perfect way to start the year here last year. Hoping for something similar this.”An aggressive approach and clutch work on the greens were key to prevailing at Pebble Beach, McIlroy believes.”I hit driver a lot, giving myself short irons in,” he said of his 2025 strategy. “I think last year as well, it was probably the best putting performance I’ve ever had on poa greens. I usually come to the West Coast and I struggle a little bit on the poa, and last year I didn’t. I holed a lot of putts and that was a big difference.”McIlroy finished last season and started this season well, too. After the PGA Tour playoffs concluded, he captured the Irish Open, tied for third in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and finished second at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.After tying for 14th at the Australian Open to end 2025, he tied for third and tied for 33rd in two Middle Eastern events to kick off 2026.”Game feels in good shape,” McIlroy said. “I had two weeks in Dubai to sort of shake the rust off. Played OK, wasn’t anything spectacular. But I’ve had two nice weeks at home and done some practice. … I feel pretty good coming in here.” Related Story Source link
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FA Cup – Third Round – Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – January 10, 2026…
Trainer-jockey combination of Jassim al-Ghazali and Marco Casamento celebrated a treble on the first day of the HH The Amir Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Racecourse Wednesday.Al-Ghazali-Casamento pair won the Purebred Arabian Open Handicap Cup with Hadi De Carrere, in the colours of Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani, Wednesday to complete the hat-trick of wins. Hadi De Carrere underlined his class in emphatic fashion in the 1900m race, with a second straight winner from three starts this season. The nine-year-old bay horse travelled comfortably in a handy position throughout, poised to strike. Once set alight in the home straight, he surged clear and was never threatened, powering away inside the final 250m to register a resounding 13-length victory.Last Saturday, Hadi De Carrere claimed the Ain Sinan Cup with an impressive victory in the Purebred Arabian Open Race under the supervision of Casamento at the Al Uqda Racecourse.In the penultimate race of the day, the pair guided Khalid Nasser al-Attiya’s Loaded Gun to victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap Cup (85-105) race for the four-year-old+.In the 2500m race, where stamina came to the fore, Loaded Gun added further substance to his season. The five-year-old bay gelding recorded his fourth victory of the campaign, anchored towards the rear before circling the field approaching the home turn. Once asked to lengthen in the straight, he responded immediately, kicking clear and then holding on gamely from his only serious challenger to prevail by ¾ of a length.In the card opener, al-Ghazali and Casamento were in the winners’ enclosure when Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud-owned Jungle Monarch made a striking Qatar debut by winning the Thoroughbred Maiden Cup for three-year-old.In the 1200m contest, Jungle Monarch, bounded straight to the lead in a race dominated by speed and never seeing a rival, stretching clear in the closing stages to score comfortably by 2½ lengths and give the trainer-jockey a flying start in the festival curtain raiser.Sweet Fantastic also produced a performance of authority Wednesday by clinching the Thoroughbred Handicap Cup (70-90) contest for three-year-old+. The four-year-old raced prominently within striking distance throughout in the 1200m contest. Set alight on straightening, he lengthened powerfully inside the final 200m, stretching further clear with every stride to settle matters by 5¾ lengths. The gelding was trained by Hamad al-Jehani and was ridden by Szczepan Mazur, who completed a double on the day. RESULTS48th HH The Amir Sword Festival – Day 1WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey) Purebred Arabian Open Handicap CupHadi De Carrere, Jassim al-Ghazali, Marco Casamento Thoroughbred Handicap Cup (85-105)Loaded Gun, Jassim al-Ghazali, Marco Casamento Thoroughbred Handicap Cup (70-90)Sweet Fantastic, Hamad al-Jehani, Szczepan Mazur Purebred Arabian Handicap Cup (0-70)Dukhan Alseej, Jassim Hamad al-Atteya, Hamza Laglaoui Thoroughbred Novice Cup, 4yo+Waajidd, Zuhair Mohsen, Szczepan Mazur Purebred Arabian Novice CupAl Natibis Up, Eng. Osama Omer al-Dafea, Pierre Charles Boudot Thoroughbred Maiden CupJungle Monarch, Jassim al-Ghazali, Marco Casamento Related Story Source link
Britain’s Harry Charles stole the spotlight with a razor-thin victory in the CSI5* 155cm Prix Hermes Sellier, the feature event on the second day of the HH The Amir’s Sword Showjumping Championship at Al Shaqab after prevailing in a high-quality jump-off.Riding Casquo Blue, Charles produced a flawless double-clear round in 37.74 seconds to edge Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano and Esteban de Hus, who also jumped clear but finished just hundredths of a second slower in 37.77 seconds. Belgium’s Pieter Devos secured third place with Primo DV – recording the fastest jump-off time but incurring four faults after knocking a pole. Edwina Tops-Alexander finished fourth on Fellow Castelfield, while Khaled Almobty completed the top five aboard Qaparezzo-A. Earlier in the CSI5* 1.45m Faults and Time class, France’s Lara Tryba guided Flash de Talma to victory with a clear round in 62.41 seconds. Austria’s Max Kuhner followed closely in second place on Eic Cornets Lady in 62.54 seconds, while Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Merciminka secured third in 63.56 seconds. Megane Moissonnier finished fourth on Kandoo Z and Kamal Abdullah Bahamdan rounded out the top five with Cascadello Boy RM. Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels delivered the best national performance just outside the top five, finishing sixth with Chacco’s Lando OL.In the CSI3*-W 1.35m Special Two-Phase class, Kristen Vanderveen of the United States topped the podium with Bull Run’s Mary in 31.06 seconds, ahead of Qatar’s Ibrahim Yousuf al-Mahmoud on Perle Van Dorperheide and Saeed Hamad Juma with Wathnan Diesel in third.Italy’s Gaudiano returned to winning form in the CSI3*-W 1.45m Faults and Time class, partnering Diarouge Blue PS to a clear round in 62.02 seconds. Qatar’s Faleh Suwead al-Ajami finished second aboard Wathnan Qapella, while Turkey’s Hasan Senturk claimed third with Quinti Von Hof.Egyptian riders dominated the CSI3*-W 1.30m class, with Ismail Osama El Borai winning on Incredible Z ahead of compatriot Abdallah Haitham on Consagros, while Saudi Arabia’s Bader Alfard placed third with Kimberly.Saudi Arabia’s Salem Balharith topped the CSI1* 1.20m class riding Lovina, narrowly ahead of Sheikh Fahad Jassim al-Thani on Ciara LU, with Khalid al-Hadi finishing third aboard Capoen. In the CSI1* 1.10m Special Two-Phase, Abdulaziz bin Jassim al-Thani claimed victory with Gabbana M ahead of Abdulla Ahmed al-Khulaifi and Quenta van de Corsendonksehoeve.In the National Competition 80cm Optimum Time class, Meshael Mohammed al-Thani won with Malaga, followed by Jassim Saoud al-Darwish on Janne and Bahrain’s Sultan Abdulaziz Mayoof al-Romaihi with Olissimo Van 'T Merelsnest.The CDI1* Prix St-Georges dressage competition saw Qatar’s Jassim al-Kuwari take top honours with Jack Sparrow on a score of 71.275, ahead of Wejdan Majed al-Malki riding Faisao in second and Maryam Ahmad al-Boinin with Blue Hors Touch Of Olympic L in third.Competition continues today with 10 rounds on the programme, including the feature CSI5* Grand Prix at 160cm with a jump-off for the prestigious Amir Sword. The €1.5mn Grand Prix stands as the championship’s showpiece event and ranks among the most prestigious classes in global showjumping, attracting top-ranked riders from around the world and delivering elite-level competition.Today competitions will also be held for three CSI3*-W classes counting as World Cup qualifiers, two rounds for Junior and Youth riders, a national 80cm class, an international CDI dressage class. Source link
(FILES) England’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur training ground in Enfield, north London on November 12, 2025, ahead…
Italy’s Anthony Mosca celebrates after winning the World Cup group stage match against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai Thursday. (AFP) Spinners Crishan Kalugamage and Ben Manenti helped debutants Italy to a historic first win at the cricket T20 World Cup with a 10-wicket hammering of Nepal Thursday.Kalugamage (3-18) and Manenti (2-9) combined to bowl out Nepal for 123, a total Italy’s openers overhauled with 44 balls to spare in their second match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.Brothers Justin Mosca, who made 60, and Anthony Mosca, who hit 62, tore into the opposition attack with fours and sixes to fire their team to a win.A nation better known for its football, Italy are cricket minnows and the lowest-ranked side in the 20-team tournament.They lost their opener to Scotland in Group C but bounced back.Nepal were a far cry from the team that ran England close on Sunday at the same venue as they collapsed from 93-3 to be bundled out in 19.3 overs.”It’s pretty extraordinary really. It’s something a lot of people in Italy, a lot of people in this group, have dreamed of,” Italy’s stand-in skipper Harry Manenti said.”We didn’t quite nail it the other day but we backed up today and showed the world what we’ve got.”Italy were without skipper Wayne Madsen, who dislocated his shoulder in the first loss, but came out roaring after they won the toss and elected to field first.Leg-spinner Kalugamage sent back skipper Rohit Paudel for 23 and Manenti, who opened the bowling attack, took down Aasif Sheikh, for 20, with his off-spin.”I always wanted to help the team to win a match and do my best for my nation, Italy — I’m happy,” player of the match Kalugamage said. “These are my brothers. I’m really happy.”Aarif Sheikh attempted to rebuild in 27 but Italy bowlers were unrelenting in their pursuit of wickets and the Nepal batting came crashing down.”We need to be more consistent and today was the day to prove that, but not taking away the credit from Italy,” said Paudel. “They played really well today and credit must go to them.”The Mosca brothers then struck eight fours and nine sixes between them to leave the Nepal bowlers in agony.The win made Italy jump to third and England slip to fourth in the group led by the West Indies. BRIEF SCORES: Italy 124 for 0 (A Mosca 62*, J Mosca 60*) beat Nepal 123 (Kalugamage 3-18) by 10 wickets. Related Story Source…
Al Duhail reached the Amir Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Al Waab in their round of 16 clash at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium Thursday. Al Wakrah also advanced after beating Al Sailiya by the same scoreline.Adel Boulbina put Al Duhail ahead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute, while Krzysztof Piatek sealed the win with a late strike in the 87th.Al Waab threatened early, with Ousseynou Gueye breaking into the area and forcing a save from goalkeeper Salah Zakaria in the seventh minute.The breakthrough came when Abdoulaye Bakayoko fouled inside the box, allowing Boulbina to convert from the spot and give Al Duhail a 1-0 lead at the break.Al Waab came close to leveling after halftime, but Bahaa Faisal’s powerful effort rattled the crossbar in the 52nd minute, as Al Duhail held firm before Piatek wrapped up the result late on.“We went into the match determined to win and reach the quarter-finals, given the importance of this tournament,” said Boulbina after the match. “In these games, the key is getting the result, and we did that. The season is still long, and our focus remains on the Amir Cup and the AFC Champions League.”Al Duhail will face the winners of the Al Arabi vs Al Shahania clash, scheduled for today at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, in the quarter-finals. Al Shamal will take on Qatar SC at Grand Hamad Stadium in the other match today.Meanwhile, second-half strikes from Omar Salah and Redouane Berkane secured Al Wakrah’s 2-0 win against Al Sailiya later in the evening. Salah capitalised on a defensive error to break the deadlock in the 58th minute, while Berkane sealed the victory five minutes before time.Al Wakrah will now meet either Al Rayyan or Al Khor, who will face each other at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium Saturday. Source link
Dubawi Spectre successfully defended the Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup on the second day of the HH The Amir Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Racecourse Thursday.Just as he did last year, Mansoor bin Ebrahim al-Mahmoud-owned six-year-old bay gelding showed trademark determination in the concluding stages, digging deep to secure victory by ¾ of a length in the 1700m feature race of the day under the guidance of Marco Casamento, which gave trainer Jassim al-Ghazali, a treble on the card. The victory also gave Casamento a quick-fire double. Mared Al Jasra timed his challenge to perfection to win the Purebred Arabian Sand Championship Cup under jockey Marco Casamento. Phoebus set the pace for much of the contest, with Upton Park tracking closely in second throughout the early and middle stages. Nuvolari travelled in midfield before improving approaching the home turn to move into third, positioning himself to challenge as the tempo lifted.Straightening for home, Nuvolari struck the front and engaged in a sustained duel with Dubawi Spectre, who responded gamely when asked for his effort. The pair drew clear of the remainder and battled stride for stride until inside the final 50m, where Dubawi Spectre dug deep to edge ahead and secure victory with authority.Nuvolari, owned by Nibras Racing Syndicate and trained by Abdulla al-Mulla, raced midfield before pressing forward approaching the home turn, taking the lead on entering the straight and battling the winner all the way to the final 50m under Marco Ghiani to take second, finishing seven lengths ahead of Upton Park. Marco Casamento rides Dubawi…
World number two Iga Swiatek and Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina both crashed out of the Qatar Open on Thursday losing their quarter-finals to Maria Sakkari and Victoria Mboko respectively.Top seed Swiatek fell short against a revitalised Sakkari who rolled back the years as she clawed her way to a nervy 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory while 10th seed Mboko outmuscled Rybakina 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.”It’s been a while since I had a big win like today,” said Sakkari, who reached No. 3 in the rankings in 2022 but has slipped to 52nd. “When you drop in the rankings and you’re not playing good tennis you start doubting yourself and you think you are never going to beat those players again. So it’s a huge process you have to go through in your head that you can do it.”The 30-year-old Greek won her first three career meetings with the young Swiatek but the last of those victories came in 2021. The Pole had won their last four matches, the most recent in straight sets in Qatar last year. “Last year in the second round here against her, I was not confident, I was not believing in myself and this year it’s different. I feel a lot better,” said Sakkari who will now face either 14th seeded Czech Karolina Muchova or unseeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya,. “I’ve missed that feeling of going deep into tournaments.”Swiatek, who won the Qatar tournament, a WTA 1000 event, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, started as if she would repeat last year’s rout when she broke twice in the first set. Sakkari began to fight back in the last game, but Swiatek saved a break point to seal the set.Sakkari continued her upswing by breaking in the second game of the second set. Yet every time she gained an edge, Swiatek responded. The Pole broke in the seventh game, but Sakkari steadied and broke in the tenth game to take the set.It was the first time in their seven meetings that a match between the pair had gone to a third set. In a see-saw deciding set, Swiatek saved a match point on her serve before Sakkari held to love, the Greek going on to win in the next game, on her third match point.The match lasted one minute under two-and-a-half hours and was followed by an equally gripping contest as Mboko underlined her growing reputation in a contest that was just six minutes shorter. Mboko, who had already defeated Rybakina in last year’s Montreal semifinals, managed to break the Kazakh’s serve three times in the opening set alone.On the flip side she lost her own twice but that was still enough for her to take the first set 7-5. She dropped her serve twice again in the second set, which Rybakina won 6-4. But the 19-year-old Canadian had the last word in the final set, winning it 6-4.Mboko, who was swept aside by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16 in Melbourne, will face last year’s runner-up, Jelena Ostapenko in the Doha semifinals. The Latvian, who won the French Open in 2017, advanced by beating the Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5, 6-4. Related Story Source link