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Shane Lowry looking forward to Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship return

Shane Lowry looking forward to Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship return
Former champion Shane Lowry will take part in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from Nov. 7-10, 2024. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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Updated 08 October 2024

Shane Lowry looking forward to Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship return

Shane Lowry looking forward to Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship return
  • Former champion to take part in first event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs from Nov. 7-10

ABU DHABI: Former champion Shane Lowry is excited to return to the UAE for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the first event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs taking place from Nov. 7 to 10.

The Irishman claimed the famous Falcon Trophy in 2019 just six months before becoming a Major champion, winning the Claret Jug at The 148th Open.

Lowry will join fellow Major winners Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Adam Scott, as well as Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood, in the field for the fourth Rolex Series event of the season at Yas Links.

The 37-year-old has enjoyed an excellent 2024 campaign, recording 13 top-20 worldwide finishes, including sixth-placed results at both The 152nd Open and US PGA Championship.

In addition, he partnered McIlroy to victory at the PGA TOUR’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

“I’m excited to end my season in the UAE, starting with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links,” said Lowry. “It’s always nice to return to a part of the world where you have had success in the past, and I hope to end the year on a high.”

As part of the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs, the championship will have the top 70 available players from the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex at the conclusion of the “Back 9.”

The top 50 players at the end of the week will then advance to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

Also confirmed for the championship are Genesis Scottish Open champion Robert MacIntyre, who also represented Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup, and Thriston Lawrence, currently ranked second on the Race to Dubai Rankings.


Ryder Cup stars confirmed for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Ryder Cup stars confirmed for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Updated 15 September 2025

Ryder Cup stars confirmed for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Ryder Cup stars confirmed for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
  • Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, and Robert MacIntyre will join reigning Masters champion and career grand slam winner Rory McIlroy at Yas Links from Nov. 6-9

ABU DHABI: Ryder Cup stars and Rolex Series winners Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, and Robert MacIntyre are the latest players confirmed for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, taking place from Nov. 6-9 at Yas Links.

The trio will join reigning Masters Tournament champion and career grand slam winner Rory McIlroy in a world-class field for the opening event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs on Yas Island.

The quartet all played a role in Europe’s stunning 16œ–11œ victory over the US at the 2023 Ryder Cup at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome and will return to help defend the trophy at Bethpage Black in New York next week.

World No. 9 MacIntyre has enjoyed a strong season worldwide, finishing second at the US Open at Oakmont Country Club and the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club, as well as tied seventh at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

MacIntyre said: “I really enjoy finishing the season in the Middle East, and I’m looking forward to returning to Abu Dhabi for the first of two big events later this year. It’s been a strong start to my year, and with some good memories at Yas Links, I hope to keep that momentum going and give myself a chance to finish the season on a high.”

Hatton, the 2019 Abu Dhabi Championship winner, returns following a runner-up finish at Yas Links last year. He currently sits fourth in the Race to Dubai Rankings following his win at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January and a tied-fourth result at the 2025 US Open.

“I’ve got some great memories from playing in the UAE, especially winning Abu Dhabi in 2019 and this year in Dubai,” said Hatton. “Yas Island is an incredible destination with so much to see and do, and this tournament always has a fantastic atmosphere, so I’m looking forward to getting back to Abu Dhabi and kicking off the DP World Tour Play-Offs.”

Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open Champion, has had a consistent 2025 campaign with six top 10 finishes globally, including a tied fourth result at the 153rd Open in Northern Ireland.

The nine-time DP World Tour winner will be looking to build on his recent momentum and is looking to add another Rolex Series title to his name as the Play-Offs get underway.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to Abu Dhabi and getting the DP World Tour Play-Offs started,” said Fitzpatrick. “Abu Dhabi is always a great place to play, and I hope to carry my recent form through and give myself a chance to have a strong end to the season.”

Staged by Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the DP World Tour, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is the first event of the DP World Tour’s end-of-season showpiece, leading straight into the DP World Tour Championship, where the Race to Dubai champion will be crowned. The top 70 available players at the conclusion of the Back 9 events will gather in Abu Dhabi for the fourth Rolex Series event of the year as the season comes to a close.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship returns to Yas Links for the fourth season after England’s Paul Waring won his maiden Rolex Series title in 2024. The top 70 available players on the Race to Dubai will battle it out for its 20th edition in 2025, with the top 50 qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the following week.


Baniyas victorious at Round 6 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Fujairah

Baniyas victorious at Round 6 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Fujairah
Updated 15 September 2025

Baniyas victorious at Round 6 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Fujairah

Baniyas victorious at Round 6 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Fujairah
  • Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club finish as runners-up with Al-Ain in third

FUJAIRAH: The sixth round of the second edition of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship concluded on Sunday evening at the Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah, with Baniyas Club taking top spot in the three-day competition.

The last day saw matches in the categories of children under the age of 12.

The final overall standing saw the Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club finish second and Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club third.

Fahad Ali Al-Shamsi, secretary-general of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said that the championship’s continued success reflects the organization’s mission to support clubs and academies across the emirates and to produce athletes who can represent the national team in global competitions.

He added: “This championship, which bears a name dear to our hearts, brings together various segments of society, players, families, and jiu-jitsu enthusiasts, in interactive settings that strengthen communal bonds and uphold the values on which this sport is founded: commitment, discipline, and teamwork. It also helps to establish sport as an essential component of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.”


Dubai set for WBC Middle East world title bout at Purse on the Palm

Dubai set for WBC Middle East world title bout at Purse on the Palm
Updated 15 September 2025

Dubai set for WBC Middle East world title bout at Purse on the Palm

Dubai set for WBC Middle East world title bout at Purse on the Palm
  • Brit Anees Taj takes on Egypt’s Wagdy Attia in the show’s main event on Sept. 20
  • Event will feature seven professional bouts and an amateur prize fighter tournament with cash prizes

DUBAI: Dubai will host Purse on the Palm on Sept. 20, with the main event featuring a WBC Middle East title bout and a prize fighter tournament where the winner will walk away with almost $5,500.

The event, staged by Grassroots Boxing, takes place at W Dubai and features a card that includes established fighters as well emerging talent from the region.

In the night’s main event, for the WBC Middle East title, the UK’s Anees Taj (10-5) takes on Egypt’s Wagdy Attia (12-2) in what promises to be a thrilling contest.

Taj, 29, goes into the bout having won his past three fights, most recently against compatriot Phil Williams in November 2024.

Attia, meanwhile, has lost just once in his previous nine encounters, with the 30-year-old overcoming fellow countryman, Mohamed Gaabary, last time out.

Jamie Cormack, head of Grassroots Boxing, said: “Purse on the Palm is set to be an electrifying new addition to the boxing calendar, an experience that brings together die-hard fans and casual spectators for a Saturday filled with sport and entertainment.

“Unlike traditional fight nights, the action kicks off in the afternoon, with guests able to enjoy premium brunch packages as the bouts unfold.

“The WBC Middle East title clash between Anees Taj and Wagdy Attia is not to be missed, while the high-stakes prize fighter tournament, with cash on the line, will have the crowd on the edge of their seats from the first bell.”

The card will also feature unbeaten Dubai-based fighter Mikael Husain (8-0), backed by Hamza Sheeraz, who achieved a victory over Edgar Berlanga in New York recently.

Sheeraz will be at Purse on the Palm, along with world champion Jazza Dickens, who produced a career-best performance to stun Albert Batyrgaziev via fourth-round knockout in July.

The prize fighter tournament will feature eight amateur boxers battling it out to walk off with almost $5,500, while the beaten finalist will pocket $2,700. Knockout bonuses are on offer in every contest.

Fights will be judged by three commission judges, along with three current or former world champions.


Usain Bolt on his track greatness: “I wanted to set high standards and I did“

Usain Bolt on his track greatness: “I wanted to set high standards and I did“
Updated 15 September 2025

Usain Bolt on his track greatness: “I wanted to set high standards and I did“

Usain Bolt on his track greatness: “I wanted to set high standards and I did“
  • Eight years since his retirement, nobody has come close to matching Bolt's times or his presence
  • He remains the only track star of this century whose fame cascades well beyond sports

TOKYO: On the night track turned to Jamaica once again to find the World’s Fastest Man, the greatest Jamaican sprinter was in a sky box in the stadium — his presence literally hovering over a sport that hasn’t been the same since he left.
Oblique Seville might be the new 100-meter world champion. Usain Bolt remains the only track star of this century whose fame cascades well beyond sports.
Eight years since his retirement, nobody has come close to matching his times or his presence. In an interview before Sunday night’s races at the track worlds, he said he feels great about that, because “that’s what I worked for.”
“When I was competing, I was working to break the benchmark,” he said. “Now that I’ve retired, it’s a great feeling to know that I’m the benchmark if you want to be the best, you want to be a legend. I wanted to set high standards and I did. I’m happy about that.”
The numbers tell part of this story: Eight Olympic gold medals. Eleven gold medals at world championships. Three world records — 9.58 seconds in the 100, 19.19 in the 200 and 36.84 in the 4x100 relay — that still stand.
No runner has come within .12 seconds of either of his individual marks since he retired.
Asked why that is, despite a world in which shoe and track technology gives runners a bigger boost than 15 years ago when he was in his prime, Bolt offered a window into why he remains his sport’s most engaging ambassador.
“Do you really want the answer? We’re just more talented,” he said. “You look at it. I’m just saying, you can’t run faster (just) with brand-new spikes.”
Speed, though, is only part of Bolt’s story. It was his ability to use the platform to entertain and bring people together — a skill that couldn’t be overlooked in an era when the Olympics needed a recharge — that made Bolt one of track’s most important characters.
From his trademark bow-and-arrow pose to his leisurely victory laps around the track with the reggae music blaring — from his mile-wide smile to the joy he so effortlessly exuded despite the excruciating nature of his work — he elevated the sport into a personality-driven lovefest and gave people a reason to watch.
“It’s the personality,” he said. “I think a lot of people, they try to be fun but it comes off different. It’s just having a good time. If you try too hard, it’s not going to be the same. But I was just having a good time. That’s how I looked at it. I tried to engage with fans and that’s why they gravitated to it.”
Sunday marked Bolt’s first appearance at an Olympics or worlds since he exited the sport after the 2017 championships in London.
He is now the father of a 5-year-old daughter, Olympia Lightning Bolt, and 4-year-old twin sons, Saint Leo and Thunder Bolt. To them, Bolt is just Dad. But the greatest sprinter of all time said their view might change at the next world championships — two years from now in the place where his career lifted off like a rocket: Beijing.
“I’m excited because I get to bring my kids and I can tell them, ‘Listen, this is where it all happened,’” he said of the 2008 Olympics where he set three world records and won three gold medals. “I’ve shown my kids videos and stuff like that. They’ll be 6 and 7, and they’ll kind of understand the moment, and I can explain to them what their dad has done over the years.”


Al-Nassr overcome Al-Kholood to top Saudi Pro League

Al-Nassr overcome Al-Kholood to top Saudi Pro League
Updated 15 September 2025

Al-Nassr overcome Al-Kholood to top Saudi Pro League

Al-Nassr overcome Al-Kholood to top Saudi Pro League
  • The 2-0 win has Jorge Jesus’ team maintain perfect start to the season with 6 points from 2 wins

RIYADH: Al-Nassr defeated Al-Kholood 2-0 at Al-Awwal Park on Sunday night to maintain their 100 percent record at the start of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season.

Jorge Jesus’ team now have two wins from two matches and join Al-Ittihad and Al-Khaleej on six points, but with a better goal difference.

After a goalless first half, Senegal star Sadie Mane opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, latching onto Kingsley Coman’s smart flick to finish with his right foot past Juan Pablo Cozzani in Al-Kholood’s goal.

The home fans could finally relax in the 82nd minute when Inigo Martinez brilliantly headed Marcelo Brozovic’s corner to Cozzani’s right.

The closing minutes of the match could have been far more nervy for those supporters had Al-Kholood’s Myziane Maolida not missed from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.

It proved to be the last meaningful action of the match as Al-Nassr secured their first home league win of the season.

Earlier on Sunday, Al-Riyadh beat new boys Al-Najma 2-1 while another newly promoted team, Neom, registered their first points of the season with a 2-1 win at Damac.