World No. 11 Celine Boutier set to make series debut at Aramco Team Series

World No. 11 Celine Boutier set to make series debut at Aramco Team Series
Organized by Golf Saudi, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF consists of five events on the LET each year, contributing an additional $5 million in prize money annually. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 October 2024

World No. 11 Celine Boutier set to make series debut at Aramco Team Series

World No. 11 Celine Boutier set to make series debut at Aramco Team Series
  • Boutier to play alongside fellow LPGA stars Xiyu Lin, Ruoning Yin, Alison Lee, Angel Yin
  • ‘To win here would be especially memorable,’ says Boutier

SHENZHEN, China: World No. 11 Celine Boutier is set to make her series debut at the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF — Shenzhen from Oct. 4 to 6.

Boutier headlines a stellar field including fellow LPGA stars Xiyu Lin, Ruoning Yin, Alison Lee, and Angel Yin at the tournament organized by Golf Saudi and China Golf Association.

While the 30-year-old French golfer has six professional wins, including a major victory at the 2023 Amundi Evian Championship, Boutier is still seeking her first win of the 2024 season after a T18 finish at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Eager to claim victory at her event debut, Boutier relishes the opportunity to play in the unique format that has witnessed wins from the sport’s very best including Golf Saudi ambassador Charley Hull in 2021 and Nelly Korda in 2023.

“Competing in Shenzhen, surrounded by such strong talent in this innovative format, is an exciting challenge,” said Boutier.

“It’s also great to be part of an event with a focus on advancing the women’s game, creating more opportunities for female athletes to compete on a global stage.

“To win here would be especially memorable, particularly being back on the Ladies European Tour, and having won in the last event that was here in China, back in 2017,” she said.

Boutier will also face off against some of the LET’s top talents, including the current Order of Merit leader Chiara Tamburlini, who comes fresh from her second win of the season at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.

Organized by Golf Saudi, the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF consists of five events on the LET each year, contributing an additional $5 million in prize money annually.

The series arrives in Shenzhen, following events in Tampa, Seoul, and London earlier this season, with the final leg set to tee off in Riyadh on Oct. 31.


Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement from Indian cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement from Indian cricket
Updated 10 sec ago

Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement from Indian cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement from Indian cricket
  • Batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has played in 103 Tests and five ODIs in his international career
  • The batter made his Test debut for India in 2010, and racked up 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60
MUMBAI: Batsman Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on Sunday, bringing to an end an international sporting career that spanned over a decade.
Pujara has played in 103 Tests and five ODIs in his international career, last featuring for India in the World Test Championship 2023 final against Australia.
The batter made his Test debut for India in 2010 and throughout his playing journey racked up 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60.
On Sunday, the 37-year-old said he was hanging up his boots, noting that “all good things must come to an end.”
“Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and trying my best each time I stepped on the field – it’s impossible to put into words what it truly meant,” Pujara said in a social media post.
“But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and with immense gratitude, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket.”
“As a little boy from the small town of Rajkot, along with my parents, I set out to aim for the stars; and dreamt to be a part of the Indian cricket team,” the cricketer continued.
“Little did I know then that this game would give me so much – invaluable opportunities, experiences, purpose, love, and above all a chance to represent my state and this great nation.”
Pujara, a rare five-day specialist in the age of T20 and white-ball performers, has in the past attributed his staying power to discipline.
“I have certain routines, fitness, little bit of meditation, yoga and pranayama (a breathing technique) because it is necessary to shut the outside noise, even if it is positive,” he told reporters in 2023.
“We play nine Tests on an average, and when you go back home, unless you have domestic cricket, you are not in touch with the game. Keep challenging yourself, keep training, looking forward.”

Mexican boxer Chavez Jr. to be released pending trial

Mexican boxer Chavez Jr. to be released pending trial
Updated 27 min ago

Mexican boxer Chavez Jr. to be released pending trial

Mexican boxer Chavez Jr. to be released pending trial
  • Chavez Jr. was deported from the US on Monday and appeared before a federal judge in the northwestern state of Sonora on Saturday

MEXICO CITY: Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will be released while awaiting trial for alleged links to drug cartels, his lawyer said Saturday after a court hearing in Mexico.

Chavez Jr., 39, son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, was deported from the United States on Monday and appeared before a federal judge in the northwestern state of Sonora on Saturday.

“He will be released immediately as ordered by the judge,” lawyer Ruben Fernando Benitez told reporters.

The attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

Chavez faces charges of “organized crime” without a leadership role, and for allegedly participating in the “clandestine introduction of weapons into Mexico,” the lawyer said.

Benitez said “very strict measures,” including a travel ban, were imposed, but added that Chavez would comply.

During the hearing, the attorney general’s office requested three additional months to gather evidence, according to local media.

The next hearing is set for November 24.

US authorities arrested Chavez in July for being in the United States illegally.

They also said he was wanted in Mexico for alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, one of six Mexican drug trafficking groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.

After Chavez’s deportation, Mexican authorities transferred him to a prison in Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state.

Chavez’s arrest in July came days after his lopsided loss to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a cruiserweight bout before a sell-out crowd in California.

If convicted, Chavez could face four to eight years in prison, his lawyer said.


Bahrain Victorious rider Pickering’s mad dash pays off in Grand Tour debut

Bahrain Victorious rider Pickering’s mad dash pays off in Grand Tour debut
Updated 24 August 2025

Bahrain Victorious rider Pickering’s mad dash pays off in Grand Tour debut

Bahrain Victorious rider Pickering’s mad dash pays off in Grand Tour debut
  • “It was actually really lucky, because I had a problem with a pair of training wheels and they were in a bike shop, so I was a bit late going out training,” Pickering told reporters

Bahrain Victorious rider Finlay Pickering had to scramble to make it to Turin in time for the Vuelta a Espana’s start, arriving without his luggage after being drafted in as a last-minute replacement.
The 22-year-old Briton received a call to replace injured teammate Damiano Caruso less than 24 hours before the opening stage began, triggering a frantic journey involving a 200-km taxi ride from Andorra to Toulouse and a flight delay.
He went on to finish Saturday’s first stage in 153rd place.
“It was actually really lucky, because I had a problem with a pair of training wheels and they were in a bike shop, so I was a bit late going out training,” Pickering told reporters.
“I was on the way to pick them up when I got a call from management saying ‘How quickly can I be in an airport’? Well, if I drive fast, I guess the answer’s — pretty quick... The first flight was delayed, so I didn’t get my suitcase.
“But at least I managed to pack two pairs of shoes (in hand luggage) so I can start today. I’ve got a set of boxers, a set of socks, and the team are really good at looking after me, so — no stress.”
Pickering has never previously competed in a Grand Tour, but he did not seem daunted by the prospect.
“I’m pretty ready. I’m a bike rider and this is a bike race, after all — even if it’s a pretty big one,” he added.


Rashid Khan to lead spin-heavy Afghanistan in Asia Cup

Rashid Khan to lead spin-heavy Afghanistan in Asia Cup
Updated 24 August 2025

Rashid Khan to lead spin-heavy Afghanistan in Asia Cup

Rashid Khan to lead spin-heavy Afghanistan in Asia Cup
  • Afghanistan hasn’t played a T20 since beating Zimbabwe in December 2024
  • They’ll prepare with a triangular series in Sharjah starting August 29, featuring UAE and Pakistan. Afghanistan is in Group B with Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka

KABUL: Rashid Khan will lead a spin-heavy Afghanistan at the next month’s Asia Cup with uncapped mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar also named in the 17-member Twenty20 squad on Sunday.
Khan was named captain and is joined by Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi as the other seasoned spinners for the Sept. 9-28 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, where pitches are expected to help slow bowlers at Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan hasn’t played a T20 since beating Zimbabwe in December last year. Afghanistan will tune-up for the Asia Cup by playing a triangular series which begins at Sharjah from Aug. 29 and also features UAE and Pakistan.
Ghazanfar hasn’t played a T20 international but has impressed in his brief ODI career, grabbing two five-wicket hauls in 11 games. He’s been playing in a number of T20 leagues around the world — notably the Indian Premier League.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen Ul Haq and Gulbadin Naib are the four pace bowling options in the Afghanistan squad.
The return of Zadran strengthens its batting line-up with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal providing firepower upfront with Karim Janat and Zadran in the middle-order.
Afghanistan is placed in a tougher Group B along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. India, Pakistan, Oman and UAE are in Group A. Afghanistan will take on Hong Kong in the opening game of the tournament at Abu Dhabi on Sept. 9.
___
Squad: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Reserves: Wafiullah Tarakhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai


Shnaider downs Alexandrova to claim Monterrey Open title

Shnaider downs Alexandrova to claim Monterrey Open title
Updated 24 August 2025

Shnaider downs Alexandrova to claim Monterrey Open title

Shnaider downs Alexandrova to claim Monterrey Open title
  • Third seed Shnaider carved out an advantage early on in the third set when she broke Alexandrova in the first game and held serve to go 2-0 up, an advantage she would not relinquish

Russian Diana Shnaider continued her impressive winning streak in tour-level finals at the Monterrey Open on Saturday, beating compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4 4-6 6-4 in the WTA 500 event’s final.
Shnaider had little trouble in the opening set but struggled in a topsy-turvy second, as Alexandrova clinched the set’s fifth and decisive break at 5-4 to force a decider.
Third seed Shnaider carved out an advantage early on in the third set when she broke Alexandrova in the first game and held serve to go 2-0 up, an advantage she would not relinquish.
World number 12 Shnaider is now unbeaten in her last five finals on the WTA Tour, adding the Monterrey crown to her triumphs in Hong Kong, Budapest, Bad Homburg and Hua Hin last year.
The win also saw Shnaider level her head-to-head record with Alexandrova, who was faced with a quick turnaround for the final after her semifinal against Czech Marie Bouzkova was moved from Friday to Saturday due to a rain-enforced suspension.
Both players will have little time to rest after the final before they make the nearly 2,000 mile journey from Monterrey to New York to play in the first round of the US Open, which begins on Sunday.
Shnaider will face Germany’s Laura Siegemund, while Alexandrova takes on Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia.