Browsing: Sports
Jockey Arnaud de Lepine rode Samha Alseej to the Al Bidda Cup Thursday. PICTURE: Juhaim Samha Alseej claimed the Al Bidda Cup, a Local Thoroughbred Graduation Plate over 1400m (Class 4) at the Al Rayyan Racecourse Thursday.The bay filly, owned and trained by Jassim bin Hamad al-Atteya, the bay filly came from off the pace with a blistering turn of foot inside the final 100m to land the spoils and score by 1½ lengths. She was guided to victory by jockey Arnaud de Lepine, who completed a double on the card.Samha Alseej was settled at the rear in the early stages as Afran set the pace ahead of Halitan, with Awayed Alseej and Ayyal Bjd following in behind. The order remained unchanged through the middle part of the race. At the top of the straight, the leading trio still held sway and looked set to decide the outcome.However, Samha Alseej produced a decisive late surge, quickening sharply inside the final 100m to sweep past her rivals and take control, turning the race on its head in a matter of strides before stretching clear to a convincing success. The long-time leader Afran, representing Al Wasmiyah Farm and from the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki yard, with Marco Casamento aboard, kept on to take second, two lengths clear of the nearest rival behind her.The Umm Al Shukhut Farm-owned Halitan, trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed and ridden by Alberto Sanna, held third without threatening the first two home.Earlier, De Lepine was in the winners’ enclouser when he guided Meshaal bin Ali al-Attiyah-owned Minsk to victory in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-45) for three-year-old+ over 1200m. RESULTS68th Al Rayyan Race meeting – Al Bidda CupWINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 – Al Bidda Cup, Local Thoroughbred Graduation PlateSamha Alseej, Jassim bin Hamad al-Atteya, Arnaud de Lepine2 – Thoroughbred Maiden PlateMaraaheb, Hadi al-Ramzani, Alberto Sanna3 – Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden PlateSafwan Al Shahania, Rudy Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier4 – Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-45)Minsk, Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, Arnaud de Lepine5 – Thoroughbred Handicap (0-75)Morello Man, Hamad al-Jehani, Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi6 – Thoroughbred Handicap (60-80)Make Love, Mohammed al-Ghazali, Salem Alajmi7 – Thoroughbred Handicap (75-95)Studio City, Mohammed al-Ghazali, Pierre Charles Boudot8 – Purebred Arabian Handicap (70-90)Monaafasah, Ahmed al-Jehani, Pierre Charles Boudot9: Purebred Arabian Handicap (80-100)Mohimma, Jean de Mieulle, Alberto Sanna Source link
Bernardo Silva to leave Manchester City after winning 15 major trophies during his nine years stay. Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season, the Premier League club announced Thursday as they hailed his “incalculable” contribution to our “greatest sustained period of success”. The 31-year-old Portuguese playmaker, who is the current club captain, joined City from Monaco for £43mn ($58mn) in 2017 and has gone on to make over 450 appearances for manager Pep Guardiola’s side, winning 15 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and one Champions League as well as this season’s League Cup. He has also scored 76 goals and provided 77 assists to date, with Silva also involved as City won the ‘treble’ of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the 2022/23 season. Silva recently moved into the top 10 of all-time City appearance holders, overtaking several notable former players, including David Silva, Paul Power and Willie Donachie. “Manchester City can confirm Bernardo Silva will leave the club this summer,” said a City statement. “Bernardo will now focus on seeking to try and ensure his remaining time at City ends with even more silverware, with Pep Guardiola’s side still very much in the hunt to win both the Premier League title and the FA Cup. “In short, he will be deservedly remembered both as one of City’s finest and most popular players of all time.” Confirming his departure from the Etihad on his Instagram page, Silva wrote: “When I arrived nine years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life, wanting to achieve great things. “This city and this club gave me much more than that, much more than I ever hoped for. What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart. “The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the Four In A Row and much more… It wasn’t that bad. “In a few months, it’s time to say goodbye to the city where not only we won so much as a football club, but also where I started my marriage and my family. From the bottom of my heart, Ines and Carlota, thank you!” Silva, who thanked fans for their “unconditional support” and said he would leave the Etihad as a “Man City supporter for life”, added: “To the club, Pep, the staff and all my team-mates these nine years, thank you for all the memories and for letting me be a part of this journey for so long. “The atmosphere we created every day in the training ground made me feel at home and a part of a big family. Let’s enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us.” Related Story Source link
Japan’s Vissel Kobe will next face either defending champions Al Ahli Saudi from Saudi Arabia or Malaysia Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, who meet at…
The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has announced that the Amir Cup Final 2026 will take place on 9 May at Khalifa International Stadium.The country’s biggest annual football cup has returned for its 54th edition, with a total of 20 clubs from first and second divisions participating in the competition.According to QFA, starting 2 May, fans can purchase tickets for the Amir Cup Final 2026 at the Association’s website.Fans can purchase up to six tickets per person. Upon purchase, tickets will be made available on the Road to Qatar mobile app on 7 May.Fans arriving at the Khalifa International Stadium will be treated to a variety of entertainment and cultural activities at the fan zone.Following the Round of 16 held earlier in the year, eight teams have qualified to the quarterfinals and semifinals that will take place between 1-8 May. The quarterfinals fixtures feature Al Gharafa vs. Umm Salal; Al Sadd vs. Al Shamal; Al Arabi vs. Al Duhail; and Al Rayyan vs. Al Wakrah.The grand finale will take place at the renowned Khalifa International Stadium. This year marks 50 years since the stadium’s inauguration in 1976. Source link
The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has unveiled the new design of the HH the Amir Cup basketball shield for the 2025-2026 season, alongside enhanced financial rewards to boost competition.At a press conference in Doha, QBF Secretary-General Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari said the redesign reflects efforts to raise the tournament’s profile and increase competitiveness among clubs. He also announced improved prize money, with QAR 1.5 million for the winners and QAR 900,000 for the runners-up.The tournament begins with Qatar SC facing Al Khor in the preliminary round, followed by quarterfinal matches featuring top clubs including Al Sadd, Al Rayyan, Al Arabi, and others. The semifinals will take place on May 4, and the final is scheduled for May 6. Related Story Source link
Al Rayyan player celebrate after winning the QSL Cup at Stadium 974 Wednesday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Favourites Al Rayyan prevailed over Second Division rivals Muaither 2-0 in the final to lift the QSL Cup at Stadium 974 Wednesday. The triumph also meant The Lions claimed their first trophy since winning the Sheikh Jassim Cup in 2018, delivering immediate success under new coach Vicente Moreno. Roger Guedes struck in first-half stoppage time (45+1 minute) before Aleksandar Mitrovic added a second in the 53rd minute to seal victory for the champions. Muaither, who enjoyed an impressive tournament run, made strong early efforts to find a breakthrough but were held back by a resolute Al Rayyan defence. Their inexperience showed at a crucial moment when they squandered a promising chance inside the box. Al Rayyan were also tested by Muaither’s disciplined backline despite creating several opportunities. The deadlock was eventually broken when Brazilian forward Guedes capitalised on a clever assist from Khaled Ali Binsabaa, breaking into the box before beating both defender and goalkeeper to slot the ball into the right corner of the net. Al Rayyan doubled their lead early in the second half when Mitrovic headed home a long free kick that bounced into the net. The assistant referee initially raised the flag, but the goal was awarded following a VAR review. Moreno has been in charge for just two weeks after replacing Artur Jorge, and the victory provides a timely boost as The Lions continue their pursuit of further silverware. Al Rayyan remain in contention in both the Amir Cup and the Gulf Club Champions League. Al Rayyan centre-back Jassim Jaber expressed his delight at securing the title. “We performed well in the final against Muaither and crowned our efforts by winning this championship, which we hope will be an important motivation for us in the future,” he said. “Winning this title will give us confidence ahead of the semi-finals of the Gulf Champions League next Sunday. We thank Al Rayyan fans for their support, as they always have a great impact on raising the morale of the players,” Jaber added. Related Story Source link
This year’s FEI Group VII Finals introduces the Under-25 class for the first time. The FEI Group VII Finals kick off Wednesday at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab, bringing together more than 100 riders from across the region. Running over four days, the championship will feature junior, youth, and senior athletes competing for a total prize purse of €318,000.In a milestone addition, this year’s event introduces the Under-25 class for the first time. Sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the category is designed for riders aged 16 to 25 and is already established across Europe and the United States. The U-25 class runs alongside the Global Champions Tour, contributes to international rankings, and offers a vital pathway for emerging talent to gain top-level competitive experience.Competition begins from 5PM to 8:30PM, opening with junior and youth classes at heights of 110 cm and 120 cm, followed by the U-25 class at 135 cm. The second day continues with individual and team competitions across all categories, with jumps ranging from 110 cm to 140 cm.On Friday, action starts at 2PM with a local junior class, followed by team competitions for juniors and youth. The highlight of the day will be the U-25 Grand Prix at 145 cm, scheduled for 9:30PM. The championship concludes on Saturday with a full afternoon of junior and youth competitions, featuring heights up to 135 cm.Tournament Director Sheikh Talal bin Khalid al-Thani highlighted the event’s continued growth, noting steady improvements in both organization and competition level. He emphasised Qatar’s rising prominence on the international equestrian stage and its commitment to developing the sport.“The introduction of the U25 category marks a significant step forward,” he said. “It strengthens the development pathway for young riders, helping them progress to elite levels while gaining valuable international experience ahead of major global competitions.” Related Story Source link
Qatar’s top beach volleyball pair, Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan powered into the semi-finals of the 2026 AVC Beach Tour – 25th Samila Open in Thailand after a flawless run marked by dominant straight-sets victories. The Qatari duo, former Olympic bronze medallists, and Asia’s top beach volleyball pair, topped Pool B with authority before continuing their momentum in the knockout rounds. They secured their semi-final place with a convincing 21-9, 21-7 win over China’s Li Wei and Du Hongjun, then followed it up with another clinical performance against Kazakhstan’s Bogatu Sergey and Kirill Gurin, winning 21-16, 21-18 in Round 2. Younousse and Tijan will now face Australia’s D’Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse in the semi-finals, as they aim to extend their unbeaten streak and push for the title. Related Story Source link
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (L) takes a team training session at London Colney, north of London, on April 14, 2026, on the eve of their…
Iga Swiatek is hoping to benefit from new coach Francisco Roig’s experience and technical expertise when the world number four begins her claycourt season at the Stuttgart Open this week after a disappointing start to the year.The Polish six-times Grand Slam champion lost in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and tournaments in Doha and Indian Wells before a shock second-round defeat by Magda Linette in the Miami Open last month.That prompted Swiatek to part ways with her coach Wim Fissette and hire Roig, who worked with her idol Rafa Nadal from 2005-22 and more recently with Briton Emma Raducanu.”I’m really happy to start with Francis,” Swiatek told a press conference in Stuttgart.”I was basically looking for someone with a good eye, really technical, but also a person that is experienced enough to help me through some different kind of situations. I feel Francisco has lived through everything on tour.”It’s going really amazing … I was able to find a new coach pretty fast, which is a positive thing because when you do that in the middle of the season, it’s nice to have some security in that.”Swiatek, who has won four French Open titles on her favoured clay courts, began preparations for the Grand Slam that begins on May 24 with a training block at Nadal’s academy in Mallorca under the watchful eyes of the Spaniard.”I asked if it would be possible for him to come and maybe be some kind of inspiration, also hear some feedback from him,” Swiatek said.”It was a privilege to have him on court. I honestly didn’t have many expectations because I know he’s super busy and he has a lot of stuff to do, even though he always has different projects and everything.”Now I’ll continue with Francisco. He’ll be the person that takes care of the whole process. That’s the plan for now.” Related Story Source link