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AlUla ready to host 黑料社区n Equestrian Federation Endurance Cup

AlUla ready to host 黑料社区n Equestrian Federation Endurance Cup
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Updated 29 November 2024

AlUla ready to host 黑料社区n Equestrian Federation Endurance Cup

AlUla ready to host 黑料社区n Equestrian Federation Endurance Cup
  • Event will feature more than聽200 male and female riders competing across a challenging 120-kilometer course

ALULA: The 黑料社区n Equestrian Federation Endurance Cup will take place on Saturday at the Al-Fursan Equestrian Village fields in AlUla.

The event will feature more than聽200 male and female riders competing across a challenging 120-km course, with a prize pool totaling SR1.5 million ($399,268).

Organized in collaboration between the Royal Commission for AlUla and the 黑料社区n Equestrian Federation, the event will showcase the Kingdom鈥檚 growing presence in the global equestrian arena.

A veterinary examination of the participating horses took place on Friday聽to ensure the well-being of all entrants ahead of the race.

This marks the fourth endurance race hosted in AlUla during the 2024-2025 season, and the region has become a key destination for endurance racing, attracting top talent from around the world.

The endurance racing season in AlUla will culminate in February 2025 with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.


Australia beat聽China, 90-89, to complete 鈥榯hree-peat鈥 bid in FIBA Asia Cup

Australia beat聽China, 90-89, to complete 鈥榯hree-peat鈥 bid in FIBA Asia Cup
Updated 18 August 2025

Australia beat聽China, 90-89, to complete 鈥榯hree-peat鈥 bid in FIBA Asia Cup

Australia beat聽China, 90-89, to complete 鈥榯hree-peat鈥 bid in FIBA Asia Cup
  • Australia became only the second team in Asia Cup history to achieve a 鈥渢hree-peat鈥
  • China first achieved the feat in 2003 when it won its 13th title of the tournament

JEDDAH: Australia took the FIBA Asia Cup basketball for the third time in a row after a dramatic 90-89 victory over China at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Sunday.

The Boomers trailed all the way, with China leading by up to 15 points early in the game. 

Xavier Cooks pumped in 30 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, Jaylin Galloway contributed 23 points and 5 rebounds, and William Hickey added 15 points as the Boomers steadily narrowed down China鈥檚 lead.

With just 1:09 remaining in the last quarter, Hickey scored the basket that turned the tide. China had a chance to win but Hu Mingxuan鈥檚 buzzer-beater attempt bounced off the rim. Hu led his team with 26 points.

With the victory, Australia became the second team in Asia Cup history to achieve a 鈥渢hree-peat鈥. The Boomers also extended their unbeaten run to 18 games since they joined the tournament in 2017.

China was the first to win the title three times in a row in 2003 as it captured its 13th tournament title. All in all, China has won 16 Asia Cup championships.

Aside from Hu Mingxuan, three of China鈥檚 players scored double figures, with Hu Jinqiu pouring in 20 points and 10 grabbing rebounds, Cheng Shuaipeng making 12 and Zhao Rui adding 10 points.

Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, vice president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, crowned the Australian national team with the 31st edition of the 2025 Asian Basketball Cup, in the presence of Sheikh Saud Al Thani. (FIBA photo)

China鈥檚 second place performance was, nonetheless, a remarkable comeback after a decade without a medal since it last won the Asia Cup title in 2015.

Speaking to the press after the game, Australia head coach Adam Caporn said: 鈥淭he main thing is I am so proud of the character of our guys. We were down by 15, but we saw our players鈥 toughness, their problem-solving attitude,鈥

鈥淲e have great people in the program, and in my opinion that鈥檚 why we won,鈥 he added

In the battle for third place in Jeddah, Iran defeated New Zealand, 79-73.

Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, vice president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, crowned the Australian national team with the 31st edition of the 2025 Asian Basketball Cup, in the presence of Sheikh Saud Al Thani, president of the International Basketball Federation; K Govindaraj, FIBA Asia president; and Ghassan Tashkand, president of the Saudi Basketball Federation.
 


Sebastian Munoz wins first LIV event, Jon Rahm clinches 2025 individual title at Indianapolis

Sebastian Munoz wins first LIV event, Jon Rahm clinches 2025 individual title at Indianapolis
Updated 18 August 2025

Sebastian Munoz wins first LIV event, Jon Rahm clinches 2025 individual title at Indianapolis

Sebastian Munoz wins first LIV event, Jon Rahm clinches 2025 individual title at Indianapolis
  • It was Munoz鈥檚 first career LIV victory after he previously had six top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes over his three years on the tour

Colombia鈥檚 Sebastian Munoz birdied the final two holes of regulation and won a one-hole playoff over Spain鈥檚 Jon Rahm to win the LIV Golf Indianapolis event Sunday in Westfield, Indiana
Rahm, who surged up the leaderboard in the third round by shooting an 11-under-par 60, lost the event but narrowly won his second consecutive LIV Golf Individual Championship over Chile鈥檚 Joaquin Niemann.
Munoz entered the day tied with Dustin Johnson atop the leaderboard at 16 under. A bogey on the par-4 15th hole dropped him to 20 under for the tournament while Rahm ended his round on a run, shooting his final six holes at 5 under to get into the clubhouse at 22 under.
After a par on the 16th hole, Munoz rallied with back-to-back birdies on the final two holes to force a playoff and birdied the 18th hole once again to end the playoff after Rahm鈥檚 birdie putt drifted just left of the hole.
It was Munoz鈥檚 first career LIV victory after he previously had six top-five finishes and 13 top-10 finishes over his three years on the tour.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no words to describe it right now. I鈥檓 proud of myself,鈥 Munoz said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time coming, six years since my last win, and it鈥檚 awesome right now being able to take it in with my daughter, my family, everyone here, it鈥檚 great.鈥
Rahm, who entered the day tied for ninth at 11-under, was sensational throughout the final individual round of the 2025 LIV season. He finished a bogey-free front nine with five birdies. On the back nine, he scored an eagle on the Par-5 13th, and then birdied the final four holes after a bogey on the par-3 14th.
Rahm won the individual title despite not winning a single event this season. He stormed past Niemann at the wire with three second-place finishes in the last four LIV events.
But he admitted the feelings weren鈥檛 all joy because he lost a playoff for the second straight tournament.
鈥淪lightly bittersweet. Like I know I鈥檓 supposed to be happy. It鈥檚 a great moment. But it just doesn鈥檛 feel great to finish the year losing two playoffs,鈥 Rahm said. 鈥淭hat part doesn鈥檛 feel great, so I鈥檓 sure over time I鈥檒l get over that, and I really appreciate what I鈥檝e done this year. To be able to win the season without actually winning a tournament, I know eventually I鈥檒l be proud of that.鈥
Niemann entered the week No. 1 in the individual championship standings, with five wins in the first 12 events of the season. He finished tied for fourth in Indianapolis to total 223.66 points in the individual standings, just behind Rahm鈥檚 226.16.
鈥淲e all know how good of a player he is, and yeah, he played amazing,鈥 Niemann said. 鈥淚 feel like he didn鈥檛 miss many shots, made a lot of putts, left his ball close to the hole pretty much every time. I played good. I started playing my best golf on the back nine, which I鈥檓 proud of it, but at the end of the day, the putts didn鈥檛 drop, and it wasn鈥檛 enough.鈥
Niemann and Munoz are teammates on Torque GC, which won the team title at Indianapolis with a team score of 64 under, 10 strokes clear of second-place Legion XIII (54 under).
England鈥檚 Ian Poulter entered the day in the relegation zone, but he birdied four of his final holes to finish 48th in the LIV individual standings, the final secure spot for the 2026 season.
Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Andy Ogletree, Chile鈥檚 Mito Pereira, Yubin Jang of South Korea, Anthony Kim and Denmark鈥檚 Frederik Kjettrup are the six players who finished in the relegation zone (49th through 54th in the individual standings). They will have to play their way back onto the tour by winning the International Series or through LIV Golf Promotions.
The 2025 LIV season comes to an end Aug. 22 through 24 with the Team Championship event at The Cardinal at St. John鈥檚 in Plymouth, Michigan-Field Level Media.


LIV鈥檚 DeChambeau joins Henley and English as US Ryder Cup qualifiers

LIV鈥檚 DeChambeau joins Henley and English as US Ryder Cup qualifiers
Updated 18 August 2025

LIV鈥檚 DeChambeau joins Henley and English as US Ryder Cup qualifiers

LIV鈥檚 DeChambeau joins Henley and English as US Ryder Cup qualifiers

NEW YORK: LIV Golf鈥檚 Bryson DeChambeau joined PGA Tour players Russell Henley and Harris English in qualifying for US Ryder Cup team spots after Sunday鈥檚 BMW Championship, the last US points event.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, a two-time Masters champion who won this year鈥檚 British Open and PGA Championship, US Open winner J.J. Spaun and two-time major winner Xander Schauffele had already clinched berths based on accumulated qualifying points.
US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley will announce his six captain鈥檚 picks to complete the squad on August 27, with a major question being whether or not he will pick himself to play against Europe at Bethpage Black next month.
Scheffler, who won his fifth title of the year Sunday at the BMW, is 2-2-3 in Ryder Cup matches.
Spaun and Henley will be making their Ryder Cup debuts.
Schauffele, last year鈥檚 British Open and PGA Championship winner, is 4-4-0 in two prior Ryder Cups while English was 1-2-0 on the triumphant US team in 2021 at Whistling Straits.
DeChambeau, a two-time US Open champion, won this year鈥檚 LIV Golf Korea title and has a 2-3-1 Ryder Cup record.


World No. 3 Swiatek powers past Rybakina into Cincinnati WTA final

World No. 3 Swiatek powers past Rybakina into Cincinnati WTA final
Updated 17 August 2025

World No. 3 Swiatek powers past Rybakina into Cincinnati WTA final

World No. 3 Swiatek powers past Rybakina into Cincinnati WTA final
  • Poland鈥檚 Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina

CINCINNATI: Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in a match played in sweltering summer conditions.
Poland鈥檚 Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina 鈥 who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.
Swiatek, a former world number one now ranked third, had twice stalled at the semifinal stage at the pre-US Open event, but booked her title chance on her third opportunity.
She will vie for the title on Monday against either seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini or Veronika Kudermetova.
鈥淚t was a tough match,鈥 Swiatek said. 鈥淎t the beginning it was crazy, so hot and we were playing so fast.鈥
The six-time Grand Slam champion recovered from 3-5 down in the opening set, sweeping the last four games.
Swiatek jumped to a 4-1 lad in the second, sandwiching a pair of love service games around a break of Rybakina鈥檚 serve.
But Kazakhstan鈥檚 Rybakina made her work for it, fending off three break points in the sixth game and saving a pair of match points in the eighth before Swiatek closed it out a game later.
鈥淚 was playing with intensity and quality,鈥 Swiatek said. 鈥淚 feel good about my game right now and would not change anything.鈥
Swiatek said she was prepared for a tough final, no matter who she faces.
鈥淎nyone who is there will have been playing well,鈥 she said. 鈥淓ach of them play completely different tennis. I鈥檒l have to figure out my tactics. I鈥檝e progressed well at this tournament and I want to continue that.鈥
Before her 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final win over Amanda Anisimova last month, Swiatek had been in a trophy drought with her last prior title coming in June 2024 at Roland Garros.
Another victory on Monday would be a strong springboard into the US Open, where first-round play starts on August 24.


Morocco and Kenya reach quarterfinals of Africa contest

Morocco and Kenya reach quarterfinals of Africa contest
Updated 17 August 2025

Morocco and Kenya reach quarterfinals of Africa contest

Morocco and Kenya reach quarterfinals of Africa contest
  • The MENA country will play co-hosts Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Friday

NAIROBI: Co-hosts Kenya held their nerve to beat Zambia 1-0 on Sunday and reach the African Nations Championship quarterfinals on their tournament debut.

Kenya finished top of Group A thanks to striker Ryan Ogam鈥檚 75th-minute goal in Nairobi.

The home team already had one foot in the knock-out phase heading into the final round of group matches, knowing avoiding defeat would guarantee progress.

Morocco grabbed second place in the group and a last-eight berth courtesy of a 3-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in a winner-takes-all clash.

Berkane forward Oussama Lamlioui scored in the eighth minute to put Morocco, who were level on six points with their opponents before kick-off, into the lead.

The DRC responded through Jephte Kitambala when he fired home for his second goal of the tournament shortly before half-time.

Two-time champions Morocco retook the lead through a Mohamed Hrimat penalty with 20 minutes remaining, before Lamlioui put the game to bed in the 80th minute.

Kenya will face Madagascar in the last eight, while Morocco will play co-hosts Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Friday.

Elsewhere, Japan winger Ritsu Doan scored twice on his debut as Eintracht Frankfurt thumped fifth-tier Engers 5-0 in the first round of the German Cup on Sunday.

Doan, who joined Frankfurt from Bundesliga rivals Freiburg in the summer, scored in each half.

The Japan international scored Frankfurt鈥檚 second in first-half stoppage time, collecting the ball on the run and scoring past the goalkeeper in one motion.

Doan got his second 54 minutes, cutting into the corner on his left foot to put Frankfurt 3-0 up.

Jean-Matteo Bahoya, Elye Wahi and Paxten Aaronson also got on the scoresheet for the five-time German Cup winners.

On Monday, five-time winners Borussia Dortmund will play at neighbors Essen.