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Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan (left) celebrates with bowler Noor Ahmad during their T20I against West Indies in Dubai on Monday. Batting first, Afghanistan scored 181/3 in their 20 overs and then restricted to 143/9 to win the match by 38 runs. The next T20I of the series is tomorrow. Source link
Title challenger Gauff also advanceS, CanadIAN Auger-Aliassime exits after cramping up Novak Djokovic safely negotiated the first hurdle in his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open yesterday as women’s title challengers Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff also eased into the second round on day two of the championships. There were straightforward victories for Daniil Medvedev, local hope Alex De Minaur as well as top Americans Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula in front of another bumper crowd of 100,763 fans at Melbourne Park. Djokovic was last out on the Rod Laver Arena showcourt where he has won 10 of his major titles and ensured there would be no late finish with a vintage 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory over Pedro Martinez.Martinez was eight years old back in 2006 when Djokovic last lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam and the Spaniard was unable to put sufficient pressure on the Serbian fourth seed to earn more than sympathetic applause for holding his serve. “What can I say? I like the sound of it. Centurion is pretty nice,” Djokovic said after sealing his 100th Australian Open win in his first tour-level match since November.“It always feels good at the beginning of the tournament. Let’s see how I progress. Tonight’s performance was definitely great, I cannot complain about anything … let’s hope for the best.” Djokovic, 38, was not the only member of the men’s old guard to progress with 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, 40, and 37-year-old Marin Cilic, who won the US Open in the same year, also rolling back the years with first-round victories. “I know I’m not as good as I was before,” wildcard Wawrinka said after kicking off his final season of Grand Slam tennis with a four-set win over Laslo Djere. “That’s normal. I’m getting old. But I’m still happy with what I’m doing, always trying to push my own limit, always trying to be better.” SWIATEK BATTLES INTO SECOND ROUND Even with six Grand Slam titles already in the bag, Swiatek is probably nearer the start than the end of her career and she opened her bid for a first Australian Open crown with a 7-6(5) 6-3 win over Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue. The 24-year-old Pole was far from convincing, however, particularly in the opening set as an inspired Yuan overwhelmed her at times with a relentlessly aggressive game.“I guess there were some moments where I felt great, but the start of the match wasn’t that perfect,” said the second seed. “I’m happy that I worked through this and could finish in two sets.”Gauff is also bidding for a maiden title in Melbourne and looked every bit the Grand Slam champion as she thumped Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2 6-3 in the first match of the day on the main showcourt. Anisimova, who downed Simona Waltert 6-3 6-2, and Pegula, a 6-2 6-1 winner over Anastasia Zakharova, also wasted little time in breezing into the second round in the vanguard of a strong American challenge in the women’s draw this year. Their compatriot Madison Keys begins her title defence along with men’s champion Jannik Sinner today. After record crowds crammed into Melbourne Park on the opening day on Sunday, the venue was heaving again yesterday as fans streamed through the gates under cloudy skies.It was still steamy during the day, however, and seventh seed Felix Auger-Aliassime retired with severe cramp after falling 3-6 6-4 6-4 behind to Portugal’s Nuno Borges. “I want to be on the court competing with my opponent,” said the Canadian, who reached the US Open semi-finals last year.“I don’t want to be just standing there, you know, like a punching bag. So there’s no point.” Three-times finalist and former world number one Medvedev may have been quietly cheering at Auger-Aliassime’s exit as he could well have met the Canadian in the fourth round. After three consecutive first-round exits at the Grand Slams, the Russian was relieved to pass a 7-5 6-2 7-6(2) test against Jesper de Jong at Margaret Court Arena.Originally drawn to play injured former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, sixth-seeded Australian De Minaur instead faced lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald and thrashed the American 6-2 6-3 6-3.Frenchman Alexandre Muller later denied fans more local success to cheer when he outlasted Alexei Popyrin in the sort of marathon five-setter that turns John Cain Arena into a bear pit in the early rounds at Melbourne Park. Source link
Packed crowds turned out to see Alexandra Eala at the Australian Open Monday but the Philippines trailblazer was unable to deliver for her adoring fans in a first-round defeat, admitting it was “a bit overwhelming”. The 20-year-old was playing in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time and even practice sessions were mobbed by large numbers of her followers. She stormed to the first set against Alycia Parks in front of a full house at the intimate court six. But the lower-ranked American fought back in front of the fiercely pro-Eala crowd to win 0-6, 6-3, 6-2. The umpire had to repeatedly call for spectators to quieten down as they tried, unsuccessfully, to will Eala to victory. Hundreds more Philippines fans watched on nearby big screens and waved their national flag. Chants of “let’s go Alexandra” frequently rang out, then hush descended when her American opponent sealed the match. Eala was rushed from the court afterwards surrounded by as many as a dozen security guards. “It was so heart-warming,” she said of the hero’s welcome she received all week. “That’s one of the things that makes a loss like today a little bit harder – I know a lot of people were rooting for me.” Eala, who has put Philippines tennis on the map, admitted however that some of the attention had been too much. “It’s a process to take it all in. I think this week definitely there were elements that were a bit overwhelming, especially during my practices,” she said. “I didn’t expect that many people to be there. So it’s a learning process.” The 49th-ranked Eala has risen fast in the past 12 months. She trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca and broke into the top 100 last year following her shock run to the semi-finals in Miami, where she beat world number two Iga Swiatek. In August at the US Open, she carved out a piece of tennis history, becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match. “I’m still young, so learning how to deal with all of this attention, but then at the same time being grateful,” Eala said after her loss to the 99th-ranked Parks. Although disappointed, Eala said just being at the first major of the year was significant for her nation. “I guess this is one of the moments that I can reflect on what this means for Philippine tennis,” she said. “I’m the only Filipina in the draw this year. I’m the only Filipina that’s ever been in the draw, I think. So there are positives to take away.” Source link
Al Shamal players rejoice after one of their four goals against Al Kharaitiyat at the Grand Hamad Stadium Tuesday. Al Shamal scored a crucial 4-1 win over Al Kharaitiyat in their Round 10 match of the QSL Cup 2025-26 season at the Grand Hamad Stadium Tuesday. The victory fetched Al Shamal three valuable points and took their tally to 15 while Al Kharaitiyat remained on 13 points. Tamer Seyam, Mohammed Waad, Omar Ali and Adam Ounas were on target for Al Shamal, while Rodrigo Tabata (Penalty) scored Al Kharaitiyat’s only goal. Al Waab 2-1 Al Shahania A stoppage time goal saw Al Waab edge Al Shahania 2-1 in their Round 10 match of the QSL Cup at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium. The important win saw Al Waab take their tally to 18 points while Al Shahania remained on 17 points. Abdulrahman Mohamed and Baha Faisal were on target for Al Waab while Artur George scored for Al Shahania. Al Shahania also lost a player in the 63rd minute after being flashed with a red card. Al Markhiya and Wakrah in 1-1 draw Earlier, Al Markhiya and Al Wakrah shared a 1-1 draw at the Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium. While Y Njie scored for Al Markhiya in the opening half, R Burkan equalised for Al Wakrah in the second session. Al Markhiya moved to 18 points with the draw, while Al Wakrah’s tally moved to 6 points. Related Story Source link
Tens of thousands of Senegal football fans lined the streets of Dakar Tuesday as the Lions of Teranga held a victory parade to celebrate their triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco. The players and coaches brandished their trophy from an open-top bus which inched its way through immense crowds across the capital, winding towards the country’s presidential palace. As the players travelled the final stretch of their journey along the city’s oceanside highway, the Corniche, fans walked and sometimes ran alongside the bus, with throngs of people lining the sidewalks. Downtown was overcome by a fever pitch of almost deafening noise – revving engines, horns, vuvuzelas and shouting – as the players neared the palace, where they will be officially received. In the morning, thousands had gathered at the parade’s starting point in Patte d’Oie, a working-class neighbourhood across town, wearing team jerseys, chanting, whistling and blowing vuvuzelas. All along the route old and young, men and women turned out decked in the country’s green, yellow and red colours, sometimes watching on from buildings and bridges, or even climbing on top of cars and billboards. Security forces were also present in large numbers, including anti-riot police. The Senegal team made its way across the capital after arriving on a special flight from Morocco shortly before midnight on Monday, where they were greeted by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and other members of the government. Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations when they beat hosts Morocco 1-0 in a chaotic final in Rabat on Sunday that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. “I wouldn’t have missed this moment for the world,” 26-year-old fan Doudou Thiam told AFP from the parade’s sidelines in the Bourguiba neighbourhood, wearing a Senegal jersey. “The Lions are our pride and they deserve all the honours. Even if it meant staying here all day, I would have done it”, he said. Din of victory A ruckus of whistles and horns has been almost constant since Senegal’s victory on Sunday night, when fans flooded the streets, filling the air with honking, fireworks and the deafening roar of vuvuzelas. The win marked Senegal’s second title, after their 2022 victory over Egypt in Cameroon. It was the team’s third final in just the last four editions. Hortense Kenny brought her five-year-old child to Patte d’Oie to watch the parade. “The Lions made an entire nation proud, beating the host country in those circumstances,” she told AFP, referring to the end of the match. “Now, all that’s left is to win the World Cup. With Sadio Mane, anything is possible,” she said, referencing the team’s biggest star. His role as peacemaker during the final – he was the one who stayed on the pitch and persuaded his teammates to return – has been widely praised. Nearby Abdulai Sy, a 49-year-old, told AFP he felt personally touched by the victory which gave him a “big sense of pride to also be Senegalese”. Controversial win Tuesday’s crowd seemed unphased by a cloud of controversy surrounding their team’s decision to storm off the pitch late in normal time in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco. Prompted by Mane, they returned to the pitch and an attempted ‘Panenka’ penalty from Morocco’s Brahim Diaz was easily saved by Senegal’s goalkeeper before Pape Gueye won the game with a superb shot in extra time that stunned the Moroccan crowd. The Moroccan FA said it had referred the incidents, including protests from Senegal players and fans, to the Confederation of African Football and FIFA. Far from Morocco, football’s lucrative business side had trickled down even to the streets of Dakar Tuesday. Amath Ndiaye, a 36-year-old street vendor who usually sells tissues, told AFP he has switched to hawking jerseys, flags, vuvuzelas and whistles for the duration of AFCON and the celebratory aftermath. Tuesday, he was basking in the wisdom of his decision. “I’m doing well,” he told AFP from Patte d’Oie, near the joyous crowd decked out in patriotic Senegalese gear and waving flags. Source link
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah laughs with teammate Jeremie Frimpong during a team training session in Kirkby Tuesday, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League match against…
Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys made winning starts to their Australian Open title defences Tuesday. Sinner, who is aiming for a third straight title at Melbourne Park, spent only 68 minutes on court in his first outing of the 2026 season before Hugo Gaston retired because of injury while losing 6-2, 6-1. The world number two consoled the weeping Frenchman and wished him well in his recovery before declaring himself delighted with the results of his off-season training. “I was very happy,” said the Italian. “We put in a lot of work to be back on court and it felt great. Obviously not the way you want to win the match, but from my side I’m very happy to be back on court.” Sinner showed some signs of rust at the start and was forced to save three break points in his opening service game before finding his imperious touch. American Keys made an even shakier start to her maiden Grand Slam title defence before rallying for a 7-6(6), 6-1 victory over Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova.A double break down thanks to some untimely double faults, Keys trailed 4-0 before forcing a tiebreak in which the unorthodox Oliynykova caused chaos with her deep, looping shots. Oliynykova brought up two set points but Keys erased the deficit with some trademark big-hitting to eventually snatch a tense tiebreak before racing through the second stanza. “I think at the start I just felt like I was playing just a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct,” said the ninth seed. “I felt like I kind of kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do. I felt like I was reacting instead of having a plan of what I wanted to do.” Oliynykova, who was playing in her first major, wore temporary face tattoos – blue flowers that matched her outfit and the court – but she was put into the shade in the fashion stakes by Osaka. In one of the boldest fashion statements ever seen on a tennis court, Osaka entered Rod Laver Arena carrying a white parasol with a voluminous trailing veil and wore a wide-brimmed hat above a long turquoise tunic with crimped white trousers. The 2019 and 2021 Melbourne Park champion’s tennis was at times less impressive than her self-designed outfit but Osaka finished strongly to beat Croatian Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4and take her place in the second round. Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open runner-up, was not so fortunate and exited with a 6-2, 7-6(1) loss to Janice Tjen, who became the first Indonesian to win a match at the Australian Open in 28 years. There were comfortable first-round wins for fifth seed Elena Rybakina, in-form Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Belinda Bencic and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. In the men’s draw, 2023 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas had to rally from a set down to beat Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki and avoid a first-round exit for the second year in a row. Sinner’s compatriot Lorenzo Musetti, the fifth seed, also advanced after his opponent Raphael Collignon retired while trailing 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5, 3-2. Eighth seed Ben Shelton, who lost to Sinner in last year’s semi-finals, beat Ugo Humbert in three tight sets while his fellow American Taylor Fritz, seeded one spot lower, needed four to get past French opposition in the shape of Valentin Royer. Melbourne Park’s favourite Frenchman of recent years, Gael Monfils, bid farewell to the tournament for the 20th and final time after a 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 loss to Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny. Monfils, who has won 13 ATP titles in a career stretching back to 2004, said in October that this year would be his last in tennis. “My journey started in 2003 with you guys, now we are in 2026 and somehow it’s the finish line,” the 39-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, told the crowd after receiving a standing ovation. “Thank you so much for this amazing ride.” Related Story Source link
Bodo/Glimt’s Kasper Hogh celebrates after scoring against Manchester City. Manchester City suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt as the Norwegian minnows caused one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history. Pep Guardiola’s side were blown away by Kasper Hogh’s first half brace and a second half strike from Jens Petter Hauge at the ecstatic Aspmyra Stadion. Rayan Cherki got one back moments after Hauge’s goal, but Rodri’s dismissal for two bookings left City in tatters as Bodo/Glimt celebrated their first ever win in the Champions League group phase. In a fishing town situated 200km north of the Arctic Circle, the 2023 European champions were caught cold in freezing temperatures of minus two degrees. Bodo’s entire population of only 55,000 people could almost fit into City’s Etihad Stadium. But Kjetil Knutsen’s underdogs ignored the huge financial and talent gap between the clubs to inflict a chastening defeat on the Premier League giants. Bodo/Glimt, who hadn’t played since December after the end of the Norwegian season, reached the Europa League semi-finals last term, an impressive run that maintained their remarkable rise over the last decade. In their first ever season in the Champions League group phase, Bodo/Glimt had already earned creditable draws against Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham. City failed to heed the warning, playing with a lack of urgency in the face of Bodo/Glimt’s relentless pressing. They travelled to Norway earlier than Guardiola’s usual schedule to ensure his players were able to practise on Bodo/Glimt’s artificial pitch. Yet they were totally out of sync in the latest disjointed display in an increasingly troubled season. City are without a win in their last four Premier League matches, with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United leaving them seven points behind leaders Arsenal. Guardiola will be alarmed by City’s second successive tame surrender, which exposed the Spainard’s claim that his players had rediscovered their hunger after finishing without a trophy last season. The City boss had said he planned to enjoy the Northern Lights from his hotel before the match, but that will be his only fond memory from one of the most embarrassing losses of his glittering career. City’s final group phase fixture is at home to Galatasaray on January 28 as they try to seal an automatic place in the last 16 via a top-eight finish. Related Story Source link
The atmosphere inside the Lusail Sports Hall was electric Tuesday as the world’s elite youth table tennis talent descended upon Doha for the WTT Youth Contender Doha 2026. From January 19 to 22, the second leg of the prestigious five-part Qatar International Series delivered high-stakes drama and a podium-heavy performance for the home nation’s under-13 squad. The spotlight shone brightest on Qatar’s Rashal Laghraibi, who fought her way to a spectacular second-place finish in the Under-13 category. Laghribi’s path to the podium was clinical, but she ultimately met her match in the final against Egypt’s Malak Zaki, falling 3-0 in a high-speed clash that tested the limits of both competitors. The Qatari presence in the division was formidable throughout the bracket, as teammate Alia al-Baz secured a well-earned third place after an emotional rollercoaster of a tournament. Al-Baz provided the highlight of the quarter-finals, outlasting Egypt’s Zeina Farouk in a 3-2 thriller that brought the crowd to its feet, before eventually bowing out to Laghribi in the semi-finals. Ali al-baz On the boys’ side of the Under-13 bracket, Rabia al-Kuwari added more silverware to the national tally by clinching third place. Al-Kuwari’s valiant run ended in the semi-finals at the hands of Uganda’s Joseph Seba Tendera in a 3-1 battle. His teammate, Mubarak Marzouq, also came within striking distance of a medal but saw his journey halted in the quarter-finals by a powerful performance from Egypt’s Youssef Taher, who took the match 3-0. Rabia al-Kuwari While the local heroes grabbed the headlines, international heavyweights lived up to their billing. The field was bolstered by global icons like South Korea’s Lee Seung-soo, ranked third in the world, and his compatriot Hyo Wa-rim, the world number two, ensuring the level of play remained world-class. In the Under-17 girls’ category, Chinese Taipei’s Wu Ying emerged victorious in a grueling five-set final, defeating India’s Divyanshi 3-2. Meanwhile, the Under-17 boys’ title went to Iran’s Benjamin Faraji, who dominated Hong Kong’s Man Long in a 3-0 sweep. In the Under-13 boys’ championship match, Malaysia’s Ko Wei Yeo proved too strong for Uganda’s Joseph Seba Tendera, securing the title with a 3-0 victory. This tournament marks a pivotal moment in the broader Qatar International Table Tennis Series. With two events already in the books, the action is set to accelerate as the “Star Contender Youth” championship takes center stage from January 23rd to 25th. The entire series will reach its fever pitch with the concluding “Feeder” tournament, scheduled to run from January 27 to 31. As the final rounds for the remaining categories wrap up this Thursday, the world watches to see which of these young phenoms will carry their momentum into the next phase of this elite international circuit. Mohammed al-Rumaihi, a member of the Qatar Table Tennis Federation’s Board of Directors, Tuesday praised the performance of the Qatari national team players in the Contender Youth Championship. He noted that participation in this type of tournament hones the players’ skills and experience through interaction with players from different nationalities and schools of thought.He added: “The Al-Adaam champions have undergone many preparatory camps and have prepared well for the tournament, so these outstanding results have come about, and God willing, the future will be better.” Related Story Source link
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is preparing to stage the second edition of its annual Half Marathon in 2026, scheduled for Tuesday, 10 February, along Lusail Boulevard, coinciding with Qatar National Sport Day. The event reflects the QOC’s continued commitment to spreading sports culture and promoting an active, healthy lifestyle across all segments of society.The race features a wide range of thoughtfully designed categories to ensure broad participation. A 1-kilometre race is dedicated to children aged 6 to 14, while a 5-kilometre race is open to boys and girls aged 15 to 17. Open categories for men and women aged 19 to 39 will compete over distances of 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km, alongside similar categories for participants aged 40 and above. The competition also includes dedicated “Team Qatar ”categories for men and women aged 19 to 39, as well as 40 years and above, across the same distances of 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km, ensuring inclusive participation and a comprehensive sporting experience for all.The QOC Half Marathon 2026 will also host a Fun Run under the umbrella of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), in cooperation with the Qatar School Sports Federation, aiming to highlight the role of sport within the educational environment and further instill Olympic values among all participants.In this context, Ahmed Al-Jaber, Head of the Technical Committee of the QOC Half Marathon 2026 OrganisingCommittee, affirmed that the participation of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Qatar School Sports Federation represents a valuable addition that enhances the stature of the event and contributes to its promotion at both continental and international levels, while serving as a practical embodiment of the “Sport for Life” slogan. Al-Jaber also confirmed that representatives from the Olympic Council of Asia will take part in the Fun Run, in addition to attending National Sport Day activities and visiting Team Village at Al Sa’ad Plaza, which will serve as a vibrant hub for accompanying events and activities. The Half Marathon will be complemented by a diverse programme of sporting and recreational activities at Team Village, organised in collaboration with several national sports federations and supported by a range of partners. Leading partners include Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, the event’s host, ASICS, the renowned Japanese sportswear brand, Doha Bank, alongside the Ministry of Interior and Hamad Medical Corporation, with strong support from dedicated volunteers.The Organising Committee has renewed its invitation to all eligible categories to register via the dedicated link on the Qatar Olympic Committee’s official website, in accordance with approved terms and conditions. This comes as part of its ambition to expand participation, increasing the number of runners from 6,000 in the inaugural edition to 10,000 participants in the second edition, from within Qatar and abroad, further strengthening the event’s international and competitive character.The Organising Committee reaffirmed its determination to deliver a second edition that meets the highest organizational and technical standards, ensuring an outstanding sporting experience for participants, reinforcing a culture of physical activity within Qatari society, and supporting the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 toward building a healthy and active community. Source link