Category: Sports

STUTTGART:After her bronze medal at the World Under 23 European Championships, UAE Team ADQ’s Eleonora Gasparrini celebrated her third personal victory of the season today by winning the Women’s Cycling Grand Prix Stuttgart and Region. Eleonora clinched the win at the Grand Prix Stuttgart and Region, with a decisive strong sprint, finishing ahead of runner-up Lieke Nooijen, of team Visma-Lease a Bike and Mareille Meijering, of team Movistar, on Sunday.

Teammate Dominika Wlodarczyk finished sixth. The one-day Pro Series race covered a distance of 118.2km from Böblingen to Stuttgart.

Following her victory, Eleonora Gasparrini said, ‘From the very beginning to the final moments of the race, my teammates were outstanding. We maintained control right from the start, closing in on the breakaways. Throughout the circuit, we stayed at the front. In the final stretch, we kept up a strong pace. With just three of us remaining, I gave my all in the sprint. I’m incredibly pleased with the result.”

Also competing at GP
Stuttgart and Region was teammates Erica Magnaldi and Safiya Alsayegh, who added another important European experience to her racing track record following her Olympic participation in Paris.

The UAE Development Team’s young riders Hannah Kunz and Beatrice Caudera also participated in the race.

Melissa Moncada, Head of UAE Team ADQ, said, ‘I’m thrilled with today’s victory, which underscores Eleonora’s remarkable talent and the strategic cohesion of our entire team. This win reflects not only individual excellence, but also the UAE Team ADQ’s strategic planning and relentless teamwork that have been the cornerstones of our season. Our consistent effort and united approach have been instrumental in securing this achievement, proving that our strategic focus and team spirit are truly paying off.”

UAE Team ADQ was also busy over the past week at the Grand Prix International d’Isbergues – Pas de Calais Féminin, a 131.6 kilometres race, with the start and finish located in Isbergues, France. Chiara Consonni pla
ced seventh and Karolina Kumiega was awarded as the winner of the final KOM classification of the race.

Source: Emirates News Agency

MONTREAL:UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar marked his 22nd personal win and the 73rd for UAE Team Emirates this season with a dominant performance at the GP Montreal.

The race, covering 209.1 km over 17 laps, initially saw a small breakaway group held in check for the first circuits. UAE Team Emirates placed Igor Arrieta on the front of the bunch for the early stages to better manage the day.

As the gap gradually closed, the favorites of the day began launching attacks with 50 km to go. It was a team effort for the Emirati squad, with Fisher-Black, Ayuso, and finally Majka setting the pace, leading to Pogacar’s decisive attack with 23 km remaining.

The Slovenian rider finished solo, repeating his success on Canadian soil after his 2022 victory, enjoying applause and greetings in the final 500 meters.

Pogacar said, ‘The team did a super job. We did it exactly how we wanted to. It was really great racing, and thank you to all my teammates because, without them, this plan would not go to perfection. Luck
ily, I also had good legs to pull it off at the end. We made it hard from early on, also to keep the break in check, and really the hard course suited me well. It was a hot day out there with lots of climbing but I’m so happy to take victory again here in Montreal.’

Results

1.Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 5:28:15

2.Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) +24′

3.Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quickstep) +40′

Source: Emirates News Agency

TAIF: UAE National Team sprinter Maryam Karim won the gold medal in the 200-metre race at the 10th edition of the Arab Junior Athletics Championship (under 18), held in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Major-General Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Al-Murr, President of the UAE Athletics Federation, participated in the medal ceremony alongside officials from the tournament’s organising committee, which concluded this evening with the participation of 400 athletes from 18 countries.

This marks Karim’s second gold medal following her recent victory in the 400-metre race, bringing the UAE’s total to three medals after Salem Al Maqbali’s secured a silver medal in the shot put.

Karim has a distinguished record of winning gold medals, including victories at the first Gulf Youth Games “UAE 2024” and the Arab Championship in Egypt in April and May earlier this year.

The 200-metre final saw fierce competition, with Karim clinching the gold by setting a new record of 24.30 seconds. She broke the UAE’s national records in the women’s, yout
h, and junior categories, having also topped the semi-final race with the best time of 24.67 seconds.

Source: Emirates News Agency

EMILIA-ROMAGNA: Marc Hirschi continued his run of excellent form in the build-up to the World Championships in Zurich with yet another victory at the Memorial Pantani in Cesenatico, Italy today.

The 26-year-old puncheur timed his sprint well to power his way to the front of the reduced peloton. The 195km course beginning in Cesena was controlled from the beginning by the Emirati squad until Filippo Baroncini hit out with a strong attack which was only swept up inside the final kilometre as the riders faced a headwind sprint.

The victory marks the Swiss riders fifth consecutive win in as many races as he now faces the Trofeo Matteotti and the Tour of Luxembourg. Meanwhile, the total win tally for UAE climbs to 72.

Hirschi said, ‘It was a tough race which we controlled from the start. Then, we opened the race up early with an attack from Baroncini which was a good situation for us. We tried to block a bit behind but unfortunately, he came back in the final 500m and so I sprinted behind, following the right w
heels and making the most of the headwind. It’s nice to continue this winning streak. I have luck on my side at the moment and I hope it can continue.’

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship concluded at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP).

The event drew elite athletes from across the globe, offering a strong display of skill and determination.

The final day of the tournament welcomed professional athletes competing in the purple, brown, and black belt divisions, with M.O.D UAE taking the top spot, Commando Group securing second place, and Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Club in third.

This year’s championship witnessed a remarkable surge in participation, with a 50 percent increase in professional competitors compared to last year. These athletes competed intensely for crucial ranking points and the opportunity to qualify for the prestigious Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the high calibre of competition in the professional division, underscoring the
significance of the event on the international stage.

“This championship has provided a premier platform for the finest professional athletes in the black, brown, and purple belt divisions to showcase their talents and compete for a place on the podium,” Al Dhaheri said.

“This tournament is not just a sporting event; it reflects the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s vision to grow and elevate the sport both locally and internationally. It plays a key role in boosting the athletes’ rankings and improving their performances, both for seasoned professionals and emerging talent. It also supports the Federation’s mission to build a solid foundation of champions capable of competing on the global stage,” Al Dhaheri added.

Masilva Noza, coach of M.O.D Academy, remarked, ‘This tournament truly stands out due to the fierce level of competition, particularly with black belt athletes from various countries showcasing their skills. It offers professionals a valuable opportunity to implement new strategies and test their tech
niques against highly seasoned opponents on the mat.’

“There’s no doubt that this championship opens up new pathways for growth, giving athletes the chance to enhance their international rankings and sharpen their readiness for major upcoming competitions. That’s why we entered over 150 male and female athletes, ensuring we gained the maximum advantage from this prestigious event,” Noza continued.

Emirati champion Khalid Al Shehhi, a black belt holder from Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, expressed his excitement after winning gold in the 62kg professional category. “The competition today was incredibly tough, as I faced highly skilled and experienced opponents. This tournament is an unforgettable experience for me-it has helped me raise my game, test my abilities, and prepare for upcoming international competitions, particularly the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Greece and the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship,” Al Shehhi said.

This year’s championship also saw numerous athletes earning new belt
s over the past year, demonstrating their continued progress and determination to enhance their skills, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.

Brazilian athlete Jefferson Alves Jotio, competing for the first time as a black belt, described the championship as an excellent opportunity to test his abilities against some of the world’s best athletes. “The competition was intense, requiring us to be in top physical and mental shape. I am proud to have competed here and look forward to applying what I’ve learned in future competitions,” Jotio said.

Pablo Castodia, also from Brazil, participated for the first time in the brown belt category, having won the gold medal in the 85kg purple belt category in last year’s edition. “This championship marks a significant milestone in my career. I prepared well for it, especially since it is one of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro events, which I always strive to participate in across its various editions. I am pleased to have won the gold medal for the second c
onsecutive year, this time in the brown belt category,” Castodia said.

As the third and final day of competition came to an end, the AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship left a strong mark on the global sporting scene, showcasing Abu Dhabi’s capability to host world-class tournaments of the highest standards. All eyes now turn to the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, where even more thrilling bouts and remarkable achievements are eagerly anticipated.

Source: Emirates News Agency

TAIF: The UAE National Team sprinter Maryam Karim has advanced to the final of the 200-meter race in the 10th edition of the Arab Junior Athletics Championship (under 18) in Saudi Arabia.

Maryam Karim topped the semi-final competition, which included 7 runners, with a time of 24.67 seconds. She had previously won the gold medal in the 400-meter final.

Athlete Mohammed Ahmed Al-Musaabi achieved fourth place in the 800-meter race after delivering a strong performance in a highly competitive race against elite athletes from several Arab countries.

It is worth mentioning that the championship began on September 12 in Taif, Saudi Arabia, with the participation of about 400 male and female athletes representing 18 countries. The event will conclude tomorrow with the winners’ ceremony.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Lebanon won its match against South Africa 3-1 in the second world group of the Davis Cup tennis tournament, which was held on the first court of the Palm Hills Sports Club in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on a clay court.

Lebanon will play its next match in early 2025 against the country that will be determined by the draw that will be held later.

After Lebanon advanced 2-0 on Saturday, two matches were held today, Sunday.

In the doubles category, South Africans Philip Henning and Alec Beckley defeated Lebanese Benjamin Hassan and Hadi Habib in two sets 7-6, 6-3, and South Africa reduced the score to 1-2.

In the second match on Sunday, in the men’s singles, Benjamin Hassan defeated Philip Henning 6-2, 6-3 to win the match 3-1.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon