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RIYADH: ��������’s Tala Al-Mazrou made history after winning gold in the eFootball competition at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain — becoming the first Saudi female athlete to claim a gold medal in the history of the Asian Games.

The milestone marks a major breakthrough for Saudi women in esports, highlighting the rapid progress of female athletes under the support and guidance of the Saudi Esports Federation.

A graduate of the Saudi Esports Academy’s FIFA program, Al-Mazrou dominated the tournament with an unbeaten record, concluding her run with a commanding performance in the final. Her journey in esports began through the Schools eLeague on EAFC, where her standout performances helped her qualify for the online stage and later the Saudi eLeague. She went on to represent the Kingdom in the Arab eLeague on eFootball.

At the Asian Youth Games, Al-Mazrou showcased exceptional skill and composure against Asia’s top youth players. She defeated Laos’ Viengxila Thammavong in the semifinals before securing the gold medal with a clean three-game victory over Thailand’s Supawadee Dunyachit in the final.

“Tala Al-Mazrou is more than a champion; she is a pioneer and a symbol of the ambitious spirit of the Saudi youth,” said Rawan Al-Butairi, CEO of the Saudi Esports Federation.

“This gold medal, the first by a Saudi woman in the history of the Asian Youth Games, reflects the Kingdom’s growing leadership in the global esports arena. This milestone proves that our investment in structured talent development, from the grassroots Schools eLeague to the professional academy level, is yielding world-class athletes. Tala has set the benchmark and opened the door for countless other young Saudi women to pursue their dreams in competitive gaming.”

The Saudi Esports Federation said it remains committed to supporting local talent, providing clear pathways for aspiring athletes such as Al-Mazrou. The federation emphasized that this achievement underscores the success of its vision to build a sustainable ecosystem that nurtures talent and ensures the Kingdom continues to lead in the global esports landscape.

MILAN: Despite mounting injury problems, Napoli moved clear at the top of Serie A with a 1-0 win at Lecce on Tuesday.
Kevin De Bruyne was the latest player sidelined and the talismanic midfielder will most likely not return until February after a serious thigh injury in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Inter Milan.
Frank Anguissa scored the only goal of the match at Lecce after Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic had saved a penalty from teenager Francesco Camarda.
Defending champion Napoli moved three points clear of Roma, which host Parma on Wednesday. AC Milan can close the gap back to one point if they win at Atalanta later.
Lecce were two points above the relegation zone.
Napoli struggled to break Lecce down and the home side had a great opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty early in the second half following a lengthy video review as Juan Jesus was adjudged to have touched Kialonda Gaspar’s header with his hand.
Milinkovic-Savic is known as somewhat of a penalty specialist and he lived up to his reputation by denying Camarda. The Serbian has saved five of the last nine spotkicks he has faced.
The 17-year-old Camarda, who is on loan from Milan, looked distraught and was seen in tears on the bench after being substituted in the 70th minute.
That was moments after Napoli had taken the lead as Anguissa met David Neres’ pinpoint free kick with a glancing header into the top far corner.