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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen maintained his composure in a frantic race as the reigning four-time world champion won his second successive Qatar Grand Prix Sunday.The Lusail International Circuit is known for being one of the fastest tracks in Formula 1, but the race was slowed down multiple times with safety car deployed three times. There were also numerous incidents and a penalty for McLaren’s Lando Norris, which relegated the Brit to 10th place after battling for the lead with Verstappen.Charles Leclerc took second place, the Ferrari driver crossing the line six seconds back from Verstappen, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the podium in third, adding to his Saturday Sprint victory. George Russell was Mercedes’ sole points-scorer in fourth, ahead of Pierre Gasly who held off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to take a solid fifth for Alpine.Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was seventh, while Sauber scored their first points in a year courtesy of the outgoing Zhou Guanyu, who capitalised on the mayhem to finish a brilliant eighth. Kevin Magnussen took ninth for Haas ahead of Norris, was hit with a 10-second stop/go penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags.At one point, it seemed McLaren might secure their first Constructors' Championship since 1998 in Qatar, with both Norris and Piastri battling for podium positions. However, following Norris' penalty, Ferrari narrowed McLaren's lead from 30 points to just 21. The Constructors' title will now be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi next week.Verstappen, who had been demoted to second on the grid from pole position after impeding Russell in qualifying, wasted no time in asserting his dominance as the lights went out. The Dutchman swiftly overtook Russell into Turn 1 and never looked back, with Norris able to follow him through in second.Despite the ongoing chaos behind him, Verstappen maintained a mature and steady drive, clinching his ninth win of the season. "It was a very good race, the car was a lot better,” said Verstappen, as he celebrated by jumping into the arms of his Red Bull crew and his family.“That first stint was very, very fast - me and Lando (Norris) were pushing each other, always within 1.8 secs and it was a lot of fun out there. A few Safety Car moments, but very happy. It's been a while in the dry since we've been this competitive. It got a bit spicy into Turn 1 with Norris but very happy to win here,” he added.It was Nico Hulkenberg, struggling on hard tires after every driver had opted for medium, who started the incident-packed Grand Prix. The Haas driver locked up and collided with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, who in turn was hit by Williams' Franco Colapinto. While the incident triggered the first Safety Car, it forced both Ocon and Colapinto to retire from the race. Hulkenberg was able to pit and continue, but the damage had already been done for the others. Alex Albon also suffered a spin after contact with Lance Stroll at Turn 4 with the latter retiring a few laps later.Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton had a challenging start, dropping from sixth to ninth after a suspected jump start. He was penalised for the infraction and given a five-second penalty, though he did manage to gain a position back at the restart, overtaking Alonso into Turn 1.Russell became the first driver to pit on lap 23, but a slow seven-second stop put him behind Piastri, as the McLaren driver closed the gap.The race saw further drama when a loose wing mirror from Albon’s Williams was sent flying across the track, forcing a yellow flag. Valtteri Bottas, while trying to avoid the debris, ran over it, damaging his car and leading to a puncture for both him and Sainz on the following lap. This incident relegated Hamilton and Sainz to the back of the pack and prompted the deployment of another Safety Car.As the track was cleared and the Safety Car came in, Verstappen led from Norris and Leclerc, with Piastri and Sergio Perez completing the top five. Perez, however, reported a loss of power in his Red Bull and was forced to retire after spinning at Turn 15. Hulkenberg’s earlier incident also resulted in a Safety Car, further prolonging the interruptions.At the restart, Norris tried to challenge Verstappen for the lead but was forced to the outside. Russell, meanwhile, climbed back into the top five during the restart.Norris, however, would soon find himself in trouble. He was investigated for failing to slow under yellow flags when the wing mirror was on track, receiving a 10-second stop/go penalty.Norris rejoined in 15th, 16 seconds behind Liam Lawson, while Hamilton's luck worsened with a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane.Despite the setbacks, Guanyu was promoted to eighth place, a promising result for Sauber as they sought their first points of the season. Norris, battling back from his penalty, fought through the pack and managed to recover to 10th by the end of the race.In the final twist of the night, Russell was handed a five-second penalty for a Safety Car infringement but held onto his position, finishing ahead of Gasly by seven seconds.But there were no worries up ahead for Verstappen, who avoided the mayhem that unfolded around him to come out on top.Qatar Grand Prix 2024: Race classification1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 57 laps2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +6.0313 Oscar Piastri McLaren +6.8194 George Russell Mercedes +14.1045 Pierre Gasly Alpine +16.7826 Carlos Sainz Ferrari +17.4767 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +19.8678 Zhou Guanyu Kick Sauber +25.3609 Kevin Magnussen Haas F1 Team +32.17710 Lando Norris McLaren +35.76211 Valtteri Bottas Kick Sauber +50.24312 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +56.12213 Yuki Tsunoda VCARB +61.10014 Liam Lawson VCARB +62.65615 Alexander Albon Williams +1 lapDid not finishNico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 TeamSergio Perez, Red Bull RacingLance Stroll, Aston MartinFranco Colapinto, WilliamsEsteban Ocon, Alpine

Sporting legends included Novak Djokovic, F1 world champion Max Verstappen, drivers Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, footballers Luis Figo and Marco Materazzi, and basketball’s Tony Parker.Launched 2022, Premier Padel Legends Tour travels around the world bringing together the biggest sporting VIPs. Many more events to come from 2025 onwards.Tournament organised by Premier Padel & PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.Premier Padel, the world’s leading official professional padel tour, hosted the latest edition of the Premier Padel Legends Tour, bringing together some of the world’s biggest sporting VIPs to play padel in iconic places across the globe.At the invitation of Premier Padel and PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the November 2024 edition held matches at the spectacular Waldorf Astoria hotel in Lusail, during the highly anticipated 2024 Qatar Grand Prix.The star-studded event – with guests including Novak Djokovic, F1 drivers Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, San Antonio Spurs basketball player Tony Parker and Italian football player Marco Materazzi – brought together iconic athletes from across the world of sport, high-profile business leaders and local professional padel players to experience the world’s fastest growing sport and showcase their skills on court.The Premier Padel Legends Tour started in 2022, travelling around the world to bring together the biggest sporting VIPs around padel. There will be many more such events to come from 2025 onwards.This extraordinary event is the latest innovative exhibition tournament by Premier Padel – following a stunning match onboard the iconic Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier in Genova harbour (Italy) and the historic match at the Grand Egyptian Museum against the backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza. These events further demonstrate how Premier Padel is driving the sport’s global expansion and advancing the journey towards Olympic Games inclusion.

Formula One has a history of nasty feuds and intense rivalries among teammates. But last night at the Lusail International Circuit, Lando Norris displayed a rare gesture of sportsmanship and gratitude as he allowed his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to pass him just before the chequered flag to win the Sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix.Later, Norris revealed that he had disobeyed the team order to give Piastri his victory as payback for the Australian’s assistance during the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint. At the time, Norris was still in the hunt for the drivers’ title, but with Max Verstappen having wrapped up his fourth successive World Championship in Las Vegas last weekend, the Brit decided to return the favour to Piastri.The Sprint 1-2 also consolidated McLaren’s bid for the constructors’ title for the first time since 1998, extending their advantage over Ferrari to 30 points with two Grands Prix remaining.On the final lap, Norris was told over the team radio: “Finish in this order. We are happy.” McLaren had their reasons, as Piastri was under intense pressure from Mercedes’ George Russell throughout the race, with Russell coming close to overtaking him in the first corner on at least three occasions.But Norris says he had made up his mind to give Piastri the Sprint victory if the chance arose. Norris led from pole to flag before slowing to allow Piastri to win by 0.136 seconds, ahead of Mercedes’ Russell in third. “I know it was a bit closer than what I was wanting,” said Norris later. “But I planned to do it since Brazil. What I thought was best is probably a little bit sketchy. The team told me not to do it, but I thought I could get away with it, and we did. So honestly, I don’t mind. I’m not here to win Sprint races; I’m here to win races and a championship, but that’s not gone to plan. I did the best we could, and I look forward to tomorrow.”Piastri said his teammate’s gesture showed there is a ‘lack of egos’ at McLaren. “I was aware it could happen,” Piastri said, who had also won the 100km dash in Qatar last year. “I was a bit surprised that, with George (Russell) half a second back, it did, but I was aware it was a possibility, so it wasn’t completely unexpected. Maybe a little bit in the circumstances of the race, but yeah, I think it just speaks to our teamwork and fairness for the team, and obviously doesn’t change the points. It just shows off our teamwork and lack of egos within the team.”Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished fourth, ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, who had won a thrilling battle with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Haas’s Nico Hülkenberg and Red Bull’s Verstappen rounded out the points-paying positions in seventh and eighth, respectively.Two changes were made to the Sprint starting grid before the race, with Sergio Perez and Franco Colapinto starting from the pit lane due to car adjustments during parc fermé conditions. When the tyre blankets were removed, most drivers were on mediums, except Zhou Guanyu, whose Kick Sauber gambled on softs.At lights out, Norris surged into the lead, while teammate Piastri quickly overtook Russell for second after a bold move into Turn 2. Hamilton, determined to bounce back from his Sprint qualifying disappointment, made a stellar start, climbing to fifth ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc. Meanwhile, Verstappen struggled, falling to ninth, and Perez, starting from the pit lane, remained at the back.As Russell applied pressure on Piastri by Lap 4, replays showed Verstappen battling oversteer, limiting his early progress. Elsewhere, Zhou’s soft-tyre strategy proved ineffective, prompting an early switch to mediums. Hamilton began losing ground, with Leclerc overtaking him on Lap 13 after a tense wheel-to-wheel battle.Russell continued his pursuit of Piastri, briefly flaring tempers with a late defensive move from the Australian. Up front, Norris reported front tyre struggles, while Perez’s woes deepened with a pit stop for a new front wing.In the final laps, Norris relinquished the lead to Piastri, allowing his teammate to take the win as a reward for their teamwork.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a stunning first pole position in five months at the Qatar Grand Prix yesterday while McLaren dealt Ferrari another blow in the Formula One constructors’ title battle by qualifying ahead of their rivals.The newly-crowned four-times world champion ended the session under investigation by stewards, however, after a near-miss with Mercedes’s George Russell who qualified alongside on the front row at the Lusail Circuit. Russell almost went into the rear of the slower Red Bull in an incident he described as ‘super-dangerous’ over the team radio.McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified third and fourth respectively after taking maximum points from the sprint to send the team 30 points clear. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start fifth with teammate Carlos Sainz seventh.McLaren can clinch their first constructors’ title in 26 years on Sunday, with one round to spare, if results go their way. Verstappen secured his fourth successive world title in Las Vegas last Saturday and the Qatar pole - in a time of one minute 20.520 seconds - in the final seconds.It was his first since Austria at the end of June and ninth of the year. “That was amazing, the turnaround. Great job guys,” Verstappen said over the radio after crossing the line 0.055 quicker than Russell, who had looked like repeating his Las Vegas pole. “I didn’t expect this,” the Dutchman said later, having finished only eighth in the sprint with a lack of balance and grip.“We changed a bit on the car but I never thought it would make such a swing in performance, so that’s promising. I hope it lasts tomorrow in the race. It just felt a lot more stable over one lap and that’s exactly what we need.”Team boss Christian Horner said Red Bull had changed “pretty much everything we could change” to put the car in a better performance window. Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth for Mercedes, 0.436 of a second off Russell’s time, with Fernando Alonso eighth for Aston Martin and Verstappen’s struggling team mate Sergio Perez ninth.Kevin Magnussen completed the top 10 on the grid for Haas, who are fighting a midfield battle for sixth place with Renault-owned Alpine and Red Bull’s RB. Piastri had led Norris in the sprint after swapping places within sight of the finish as payback for the Australian gifting victory to the Briton in Brazil to help his drivers’ championship chances.“Not the position we were hoping for after yesterday and today but the maximum we could do,” Norris, who made a mistake at turn five on his first effort in the final phase, said of his grid position for today.“The lap was pretty good. I was pretty happy with it but just not quick enough compared to the others. I don’t think we are as quick as the Mercedes, and Red Bull showed how much they improved since yesterday, so plenty of opportunity for everyone.” “It was a surprise for us to be so close to McLaren but a surprise that Red Bull and Mercedes were so strong,” said Leclerc. Sainz was summoned to the stewards after the session for an unsafe release from the Ferrari garage into Hamilton’s path, with the team fined 5,000 euros ($5,287).

Amro al-Hamad, Executive Director of the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and CEO of Lusail International Circuit (LIC), yesterday praised the huge public turnout for the Qatar Airways Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix. Al-Hamad said the huge turnout of fans at the Qatar Grand Prix has added to the thrill of watching F1 racing at the state-of-the-art circuit that can accommodate 40,000 spectators.He added that the huge audience turnout that exceeded expectations in the first two days made the atmosphere special during the various races, especially the sprint race. Al-Hamad said he expects that the final race today will witness another high turnout with added enthusiasm for the second last Grand Prix of the F1 season.The executive director of QMMF pointed out that the fan zones were designed in a distinctive way, enabling them to move around most of the areas of the circuit with absolute ease. He explained that fans at LIC witnessed fierce competitions among the drivers on the first two days of the Qatar Grand Prix, especially in the “Sprint” race. He said there were strong competition in the manufacturers’ title race, in addition to the Formula 1 Academy Women’s race competitions, as well as the Formula 2 Academy, besides the Porsche Cup Middle East competitions.Regarding Qatar’s participation in the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East, which is being held on the sidelines of the Qatar Grand Prix, al-Hamad praised the levels of Qatari drivers Abdullah al-Khulaifi, Ghanim al-Maadheed and Ibrahim al-Abdulghani.Regarding his approval by the International Automobile Federation as a referee in the Qatar Grand Prix for the second time after 2021, al-Hamad expressed his great happiness to be present for the second time, saying “it is an achievement for me and the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation.”The Executive Director QMMF expressed his great happiness over the great success achieved by the Qatar Grand Prix for yet another year.

Mercedes driver George Russell was agonisingly close to claiming pole position at Qatar Grand Prix, but he explained that he is more than ready to battle back past pole-sitter Max Verstappen and get stuck into a multi-team fight for the win. The Briton continued his magnificent run of form that has characterised his last few races, lining up for his fourth consecutive front-row start in tomorrow’s race around the Lusail International Circuit.After taking provisional pole, he was pipped to the top spot by just 0.055s following Verstappen’s final flying lap – but the tight result, coupled with his P3 finish in the Sprint, has left Russell optimistic that he can target victory. He also explained that Mercedes couldn’t “have dreamt of” their resurgence to be repeatedly in the mix at the front of the field after they experienced a clear slump in performance after the summer break.“Feeling in such a groove at the moment, feeling really great,” Russell said after qualifying. “My first lap was one of the best I’ve ever done, and then for whatever reason just couldn’t find that extra bit of time on the last lap and Max pipped me. “Just taking the positives – the car’s been so great the last two weekends and just enjoying it while we can.”Four teams could have a shot at the win around the high-speed, physically demanding track as Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari have been virtually inseparable at points across the weekend’s sessions. It was McLaren who led the pack in the Sprint, with Lando Norris handing Piastri the win out of the final corner, after Russell found himself unable to overtake the Australian having lost P2 on the first lap, but he consistently stayed close to both papaya cars.He added: “Hopefully we can have a proper race rather than this team orders stuff! It’s going to be a good race. I think we’ll all be going for it. It’s actually great that Max is in the mix as well – I was really surprised at their turnaround because they looked really off the pace yesterday, off the pace this morning. Obviously they were both in Q3 and Max on pole so I think we’ve got a good race on our hands.”I know I’ve still got it,says ‘slow’ HamiltonMeanwhile, Lewis Hamilton said he knew he had ‘still got it’ despite qualifying sixth and nearly half a second slower than Mercedes teammate George Russell for today’s Qatar Grand Prix.The seven-times Formula One world champion, who will be 40 next year when he moves to Ferrari, had said after qualifying seventh for the sprint at Lusail on Friday that he was “definitely not fast any more”.He repeated that verdict to reporters after the main qualifying session, with Russell on the front row, but in a slightly more positive way. “I know I’ve still got it,” he said. “It’s just the car won’t go any faster, I definitely know I’ve got it. It’s not a question in my mind. Looking forward to the end (of the season).”The most successful driver in the history of the sport with a record 105 wins has triumphed twice this season but Russell, second on the grid in Qatar behind four-times champion Max Verstappen, has out-qualified him 18-5. “I’m slow,” said Hamilton. “About half a second off my team-mate in the same car. “It’s been all year,” he added, saying he did not know why that was.“It’s not possible to change it right now.”The season ends in Abu Dhabi on Dec 8, with Hamilton contracted to Mercedes until the end of the year and facing sponsor commitments before he can start at Ferrari next season.

British driver Abbi Pulling has been crowned champion of the F1 Academy - the all-female racing series - after she finished second in Qatar Grand Prix Saturday night. Alpine’s Pulling, 21, has taken eight victories from 11 races this season to claim the title ahead of next weekend’s concluding round in Abu Dhabi.Pulling, from Gosberton in Lincolnshire, will be rewarded with a fully-funded season in GB3 - the United Kingdom’s number one single-seater category - with the Rodin team.“It is nice to hear those words,” said Pulling when informed she had won the second edition of series which aims to discover the first female F1 driver in almost half-a-century.“It has been a tougher season than most would think. I had to win this year, I had no choice. I have struggled financially so to get the prize next year makes me so happy. There are so many people in my corner to thank, my family, the sacrifice my dad has made, it is just a sigh of relief and a weight off my shoulders. I am going to really put in the work and make the most of the opportunity. I will not leave any stone unturned.”

Kuala Lumpur: Qatar’s Hasan al-Haydos and Ayaka Yamashita of Japan are among several Asian players nominated for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024.Japan women’s head coach Futoshi Ikeda, Yui Hasegawa, Saki Kumagai and Australian duo Ellie Carpenter and Steph Catley have also been nominated.Al-Haydos emerged as a standout name in the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award category.The Qatari captain’s stunning goal against China PR during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 on January 22, 2024, earned him a place among the nominees.Joining al-Haydos on the nominees list is Yamashita, who is nominated in two categories – Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper and Best FIFA Women’s 11.Yamashita showcased her exceptional talent by helping Japan reach the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Domestically, she added to her accolades by leading her side to victory in the 2023 Japanese Empress’s Cup.Hasegawa, who was recognised in the 2023-24 English Women’s Super League Team of the Year and Kumagai, winner of the 2023-24 Italian Serie A Femminile, were the other Japanese players nominated for the Best FIFA Women’s 11.Also on the list are Australian duo Catley, who was a third-place finisher in the 2023-24 English Women’s Super League and a standout at the Paris 2024 Olympics with two goals while Carpenter won the 2023-24 French Division 1 Feminine with Olympique Lyonnais Feminin and was runner-up in the 2023-24 UEFA Women’s Champions League. Ikeda has earned a nomination for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach after guiding Japan to the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Estoori with Muanis al-Siyabi in the saddle secured a second straight victory to land the Bu Samrah Cup at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.Owned by Meshaal bin Ali M A al-Attiyah, the five-year-old drew 3¼ lengths clear of the field in the day’s feature – a Local Thoroughbred Handicap over 1,900m – to bag win for trainer Mohammed Balasim al-Jumaili and remain unbeaten.Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi crowned the winners.Earlier, Szczepan Mazur rode AJS Falak to Purebred Arabian Conditions (Class 2) title while Jungle Mate emerged winner in the Thoroughbred Handicap 85-105 (Class 2) under jockey Fayos Martin Borja.The ninth Al Rayyan Race Meeting featured seven races with Marnan and Sussex also claiming victories.In the opening race, Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi guided Ethandun to win in Thoroughbred Maiden Plate followed by a victory for Shared al-Shahania and jockey Marco Casamento in the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Class 6) contest.RESULTS9th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Bu Samrah CupWINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 - Bu Samrah Cup - Local Thoroughbred Handicap 45-65 (Class 4)Estoori, Mohammed Balasim al-Jumaili, Muanis al-Siyabi2 - Purebred Arabian Conditions (Class 2)AJS Falak, M H K al-Attiyah, Szczepan Mazur3 - Thoroughbred Handicap 85-105 (Class 2)Jungle Mate, Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, Fayos Martin Borja4 - Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-70 (Qatari Riders Race) (Class 5)Marnan, Mohamed Hassan al-Matwi, Abdulla Rashid al-Mansoori* (-4kg)5 - Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80 (Class 4)Sussex, M.H.K al-Attiyah, Szczepan Mazur6 - Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Class 6)Shared Al Shahania, Mohammed Ghazali, Marco Casamento7 - Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (3yo Only) (Class 6)Ethandun, Hamad al-Jehani, Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi (-4kg)

Arsenal thrashed West Ham 5-2 yesterday to climb up to second in the Premier League, while Justin Kluivert scored the first ever Premier League hat-trick of penalties in Bournemouth’s 4-2 win at Wolves.The Gunners have struck 13 goals in a week to re-find their form and cut the gap to runaway leaders Liverpool, who host struggling defending champions Manchester City in Sunday’s blockbuster clash, to six points.Arsenal scored four times before the break in a 6-0 rout at the London Stadium last season and went one better this time as all the goals came in a manic first half,Gabriel Magalhaes’ threat from set-pieces is well-known but the Brazilian was inexplicably not picked up to head in Bukayo Saka’s corner on 10 minutes.Saka then teed up Leandro Trossard to double the lead before he stepped aside for Martin Odegaard to score Arsenal’s third from the penalty spot.Kai Havertz slotted in from Trossard’s pass to make 4-0 after just 36 minutes.Another heavy home defeat increased the pressure on West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.The Hammers flickered into life with two goals in two minutes through Aaron Wan-Bissaka and a brilliant Emerson Palmieri free-kick. But Saka restored the three-goal advantage from the spot after Gabriel was felled from another corner.Kluivert made history at Molineux to curtail Wolves’ mini-revival. There were three goals inside eight minutes as the Dutchman opened the scoring, Jorgen Strand Larsen replied for Wolves before Milos Kerkez made it 2-1 for the visitors.Kluivert made it 3-1 just 10 minutes later and completed his hat-trick 16 minutes from time after Evanilson also set a record by winning a third penalty. “I was not completely sure I should allow him to take the third one,” said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.“It is difficult, every time you shoot the first one, you give information to the keeper.”Strand Larsen pulled another goal back for Wolves, but Gary O’Neil’s men slip back into the relegation zone.Brentford continued their stunning home form to thrash Leicester 4-1 in front of the Foxes’ in-coming manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. Facundo Buonanotte had put the visitors in front in west London.But Brentford roared back to make it six wins and one draw from seven home league games this season -- the best points return in the Premier League.Yoane Wissa started the comeback before Schade took centre stage. The German had only scored two Premier League goals since joining the Bees in 2023 but matched that tally before half-time to put the home side in front.Schade then rounded off the scoring to show Van Nistelrooy the scale of the task that awaits him ahead of his first game in charge at home to West Ham on Tuesday.“The shining star today was Kevin Schade,” said Brentford manager Thomas Frank.“I celebrated so much his first because I know how hard it’s been for him because he’s had so many injuries and he’s wanting to play in the team.Chris Wood’s emphatically struck penalty was enough to get Forest back to winning ways and leave Ipswich still in the bottom three. Crystal Palace edged out of the relegation zone on goal difference thanks to late drama in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle.Marc Guehi, who had been the subject of multiple bids from Newcastle during the transfer window, put the Magpies in front early in the second half with an own goal.However, the England defender redeemed himself as from his cross Daniel Munoz powered home a header at the back post.

England took charge of the first Test against New Zealand yesterday, riding Harry Brook’s 171 to a first-innings lead of 151 before reducing the Black Caps to 155 for six at close of play on day three in Christchurch.New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway departed cheaply before tea, and the crisis deepened when Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell were dismissed in successive balls in the final session with the hosts still in arrears.Williamson offered hope with an innings of 61 but it all but disappeared when Chris Woakes, belying his reputation as a bowler who struggles outside England, trapped him in front and then had Blundell caught behind off a nick for a golden duck.Glenn Phillips fended off the hat-trick ball but followed his teammates off the field in the last 20 minutes of play when he was dismissed lbw for 19 by Brydon Carse.Daryl Mitchell, unbeaten on 31, and debutant all-rounder Nathan Smith, who had scored one not out, were at the crease at stumps with New Zealand just four runs ahead.“I had a lot of luck, didn’t I? Thankfully I cashed in,” said Brook.“We’re in an amazing position to go on and win the game.”The Black Caps will have a long, hard look at their fielding as they reflect on their poor position after five dropped catches helped Brook to his match-turning tally.England skipper Ben Stokes also benefited from a few as he provided the glue for a series of partnerships that pushed the visitors to 499 in response to New Zealand’s 348.Brook had resumed on 132 with England 319-5 and the 25-year-old played with great freedom and some style as he and Stokes put on 159 for the sixth wicket.Defying the new ball, Brook punched his 13th four through covers to move past the 150 mark before blasting a huge six on to a grandstand roof.By the time he got an edge on a Matt Henry delivery and was caught behind, Brook had hit 15 fours and three sixes in his 197-ball knock to take his batting average in three tests in New Zealand to 100.Henry (4-84) also finally dismissed Stokes for 80 but England’s tail wagged hard with Gus Atkinson adding 48 runs off 36 balls and Carse an unbeaten 33 from 24.Woakes (3-39) had failed to take a wicket in the first innings but wasted no time in removing Latham for one before Carse (3-22) and Atkinson combined to send back Conway for eight.Williamson became the first New Zealander to accumulate 9,000 Test runs on his way to his 61, a rare highlight on a largely dismal day for the home fans.“Fielding’s something we pride ourselves on and that’s the part that hurts,” said Henry.“We had some really good partnerships in there, but unfortunately a couple of wickets late in the day hurt us.”BRIEF SCORES (Christchurch Test, Day 3)New Zealand 348 (Williamson 93, Phillips 58*, Carse 4-64, Bashir 4-69) and 155 for 6 (Mitchell 31*, Smith 1*) lead England 499 (Brook 171, Stokes 80, Pope 77, Henry 4-84) by four runs

The Organising Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 has officially announced the commencement of a 1000-day countdown to the tournament, which will mark the inaugural event of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa.The FIBA Central Board had previously selected Qatar as the host nation following a thorough evaluation of the bids submitted by competing countries.The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 represents a significant milestone in the sporting history of the Middle East and North Africa. Hosting this prestigious event in Qatar is a remarkable achievement, as it will be the first time the tournament is held in this region.The tournament is set to occur from August 27 to September 12, 2027, with 32 teams from various countries participating.This extensive involvement offers fans a unique opportunity to witness numerous exhilarating matches and experience the vibrant atmosphere created by international teams in Qatari venues. Over the course of 17 days, the tournament will attract fans from around the world.

South Africa’s lanky speedster Marco Jansen took the last two wickets as the hosts won the first Test against Sri Lanka by 233 runs yesterday but had to toil hard to break down stubborn resistance to prevail before tea on the fourth day at Kingsmead.Jansen finished with match figures of 11-86 – the second best in Test history in Durban – as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 282 to hand South Africa a fourth straight Test win and keep up hopes of a place in the 2025 World Test Championship final.However, Sri Lanka went some way to restoring their own confidence ahead of next week’s second Test after being rolled over for 42 in the first innings, their lowest ever Test score.Chandimal scoresimpressive 83Dinesh Chandimal scored an impressive 83 and Dhananjaya da Silva a brisk 59 off 81 balls in a much better batting display yesterday, even if the match-winning target of 516 looked near impossible.Resuming from their overnight score of 103-5, the tourists put on 93 runs in the opening 90 minutes before captain Da Silva chipped a slower delivery from spinner Keshav Maharaj to Tristan Stubbs at mid-wicket.South Africa would have been hoping to run through the last five wickets when play started but it proved much harder than anticipated on a hot day with significant humidity.There was another 75 runs added for the seventh wicket before Chandimal fended a delivery from Gerald Coetzee that popped straight back to the bowler.Vishwa Fernando lasted only five balls before a healthy edge off Maharaj saw him depart and then the dangerous Kusal Mendes was caught behind off Jansen for 48.Jansen, appropriately, secured the win in a Test in which he was the star performer by bowling Asitha Fernando.“I never thought I would get 10 wickets. It is a dream and that is what we work for. The second innings we felt the wicket was low and slow and a bit flatter,” said Jansen.Victory for South Africa followed Test success over West Indies in Guyana in August and Bangladesh in a two-test series in October.South Africa will have a strong chance of competing in the WTC final at Lord’s in June if they win the second test against Sri Lanka and then two tests versus Pakistan at home at the end of the year and in early January.The second Test against Sri Lanka starts in Gqeberha on Thursday.BRIEF SCORES (Durban Test, day 4) South Africa 191 and 366-5 declared v Sri Lanka 42 and 282 (D. Chandimal 83, D. de Silva 59; M. Jansen 4-73, K. Rabada 2-65, G. Coetzee 2-67, K. Maharaj 2-67)Result: South Africa won by 233 runsSeries: South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0Remaining match:December 5-9, Gqeberha

Qatar’s Abdulla al-Tamimi yesterday won the Cape Town Squash Open 2024 title, beating Declan James in the final. Al-Tamimi won 15-13, 11-5, 11-6 (40m).Victory for al-Tamimi secured him an 11th PSA Squash Tour title and his first outside of Qatar since 2022, and speaking after his win, he revealed how he felt after keeping his composure with the lead.“I feel relief, to be honest,” al-Tamimi said on court moments after victory. “You have no idea the amount of things going through my head when I have even a one-point lead, imagine four or five.“I knew Dec gets a lot of balls back. You think he’s far from the ball, but he’s got that reach so it makes you think that you have to take him short again, which I did a lot of the time, but I knew I had to push it deep again then short again.“That’s what I’ve been working on, to get the guy tired towards the end of the match, to sneak the mistakes from them instead of the other way around,” he added.It was al-Tamimi’s first career win over James in what was their fifth head-to-head clash.The No.1 seed from Qatar suffered a cut to the head in his semi-final win over Karim El Hammamy, and sported a small plaster below his trademark headband from the off today.The crowd inside the sports hall – usually home to the indoor cricket nets – at Western Province Cricket Club were treated to a thrilling opening game, too, as al-Tamimi and James went toe-to-toe over more than 15 minutes of action, with the Qatari player showing no signs of his injury affecting his game.James had two games balls at 10-8 and another at 13-12, but ultimately fell short of taking the lead, losing the tiebreak 15-13, as the two players showcased somewhat contrasting styles, with the diminutive al-Tamimi attacking the front of the court, while James displayed his usual consistency to the corners.It was al-Tamimi’s approach that came out in top of game two as well, though, as he reeled off seven points out of 8 to move from 4-4 to 11-5, and he carried that momentum into game three, dragging James around the court with a combination of deft touches and impressive speed.James kept fighting until the end but al-Tamimi would prove too strong on the day, raising his arms aloft as James failed to reach a forehand drop on match balls.No.1 seed Melissa Alves won the women’s title by beating Nour Heikal. Alves won 12-10, 11-5, 11-7 (29m). Alves said: “I came here as the No.1 seed so obviously I wanted to win this tournament. That was the goal with my team, with my coaches, we talked about this one, and I’m happy. It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you get the win, and I think I played pretty well.”

Verstappen takes his first pole since JuneNinth of the season for quadruple championRed Bull driver under investigationMcLaren qualify ahead of title rivals FerrariRed Bull's Max Verstappen took a stunning first pole position in five months at the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday while McLaren dealt Ferrari another blow in the Formula One constructors' title battle by qualifying ahead of their rivals.The newly-crowned four-times world champion ended the session under investigation by stewards, however, after a near-miss with Mercedes' George Russell who qualified alongside on the front row.Russell almost went into the rear of the slower Red Bull in an incident he described as 'super-dangerous' over the team radio.McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified third and fourth respectively after taking maximum points from the sprint to send the team 30 points clear.Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will start fifth with team mate Carlos Sainz seventh.McLaren can clinch their first constructors' title in 26 years on Sunday, with one round to spare, if results go their way.Verstappen secured his fourth successive world title in Las Vegas last Saturday and the Qatar pole was his first since Austria at the end of June and ninth of the year."That was amazing, the turnaround. Great job guys," Verstappen said over the radio."I didn't expect this, he added afterwards."We changed a bit on the car but I never thought it would make such a swing in performance, so that's promising. I hope it lasts tomorrow in the race."It just felt a lot more stable over one lap and that's exactly what we need."Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth for Mercedes with Fernando Alonso eighth for Aston Martin and Verstappen's struggling team mate Sergio Perez ninth.Kevin Magnussen completed the top 10 on the grid for Haas, who are fighting a midfield battle for sixth place with Renault-owned Alpine and Red Bull's RB.

No.1 seeds Melissa Alves and Abdulla Al-Tamimi have won the Cape Town Squash Open 2024, beating Nour Heikal and Declan James on finals day in South Africa. The action was taking place on the purpose-built all-glass court inside Cape Town’s Western Province Cricket Club, with the spectacular Table Mountain providing a backdrop to rival any in world sport. All eyes were firmly on the inside of the court on finals day, though, with fans queueing to get in just moments before play started, and every seat in the grandstand filled once it did. Qatar’s Al-Tamimi recorded a first career win over James at the fifth time of asking. The No.1 seed suffered a cut to the head in his semi-final win over Karim El Hammamy, and sported a small plaster below his trademark headband from the off Saturday. The crowd inside the sports hall – usually home to the indoor cricket nets – at Western Province Cricket Club were treated to a thrilling opening game, too, as Al-Tamimi and James went toe-to-toe over more than 15 minutes of action, with the Qatari player showing no signs of his injury affecting his game.James had two games balls at 10-8 and another at 13-12, but ultimately fell short of taking the lead, losing the tiebreak 15-13, as the two players showcased somewhat contrasting styles, with the diminutive Al-Tamimi attacking the front of the court, while James displayed his usual consistency to the corners. It was Al-Tamimi’s approach that came out in top of game two as well, though, as he reeled off seven points out of 8 to move from 4-4 to 11-5, and he carried that momentum into game three, dragging James around the court with a combination of deft touches and impressive speed. James kept fighting until the end but Al-Tamimi would prove too strong on the day, raising his arms aloft as James failed to reach a forehand drop on match balls. Victory for Al-Tamimi secures him an 11th PSA Squash Tour title and his first outside of Qatar since 2022, and speaking after his win, he revealed how he felt after keeping his composure with the lead. “I feel relief, to be honest,” he said on court moments after victory. “You have no idea the amount of things going through my head when I have even a one-point lead, imagine four or five. “I knew Dec gets a lot of balls back. You think he’s far from the ball, but he’s got that reach so it makes you think that you have to take him short again, which I did a lot of the time, but I knew I had to push it deep again then short again. “That’s what I’ve been working on, to get the guy tired towards the end of the match, to sneak the mistakes from them instead of the other way around.” It was 21-year-old Heikal who made the better start to the women’s showdown, attacking at every opportunity on her way to a 9-6 lead. She was, however, unable to convert that advantage into a one-game lead, with Alves quickly erasing the deficit before taking the tiebreak that followed. The French No.1 was quickly 5-0 up in game two, as Heikal found the tin on a number of occasions, and 5-0 soon became 11-5, and a two-game lead for Alves.

BWT Alpine Formula One Team announced Paul Aron as its 2025 reserve driver. The 20-year-old Estonian is currently competing in his first season of the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Hitech Pulse-Eight. With seven podiums in 2024, Paul is fourth in the championship and second-best rookie as it stands.He will line-up on pole position for Sunday’s penultimate Formula 2 feature race in Qatar as he remains in the mix for the Drivers’ Championship.Aron is also a racer Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes knows well, with the British boss having previously been in charge of Hitech before he joined the Enstone outfit in August this year.Following the announcement, Aron said: “It’s incredibly special to be joining BWT Alpine Formula One Team. It is clear that this is a great place to be for any young driver and I’m really pleased that Flavio [Briatore] and Oliver [Oakes] have given me this opportunity.“Before 2025 and the hard work that will come with being the team’s Reserve Driver, I have a Championship to focus on for the remainder of this year and I will be giving it my all to compete for the title. I’m looking forward to really beginning the work and continuing my career pathway in motorsport.”Flavio Briatore, Alpine Executive Advisor, said: “We are very pleased to have Paul join BWT Alpine Formula One Team as our 2025 reserve driver. There is a generational shift in Formula 1 at the moment, as we see with many young drivers coming into the sport and making an impact. We believe Paul is one of the best talents and we look forward to developing him into an F1 driver.”

McLaren closer to title after sprint one-twoNorris led from pole before handing lead to Piastri at the endFerrari fourth and fifthRussell third for MercedesLando Norris ignored team orders and gifted Oscar Piastri victory at the line in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint on Saturday as McLaren took another stride towards a first Formula One constructors' title in 26 years.The team's lead over Ferrari, who had Carlos Sainz finish fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth, stretched to 30 points with 88 still to be won from Sunday's race and the final round in Abu Dhabi next weekend.McLaren will win the championship under the Lusail floodlights on Sunday night if they score 15 points more than Ferrari -- the equivalent of another one-two.George Russell was third for Mercedes in the 19 lap race with team mate Lewis Hamilton sixth, Nico Hulkenberg seventh for Haas and Red Bull's Max Verstappen taking the final point a week after securing his fourth successive drivers' title.The risky swap at the chequered flag, despite the team telling Norris to hold position with Russell close behind, was pay back for Piastri who gifted Norris a sprint victory in Brazil.The Briton was still fighting for the championship at the time but Verstappen ended that battle in Las Vegas last Saturday.Just 1.3 seconds divided the top four at the finish, with Australian Piastri crossing the line a mere 0.136 ahead of his team mate to take his second successive Qatar sprint win."It was probably a bit closer than I was wanting but I planned to do it since Brazil," Norris said of the swap."It's just what I thought was best. It's probably a little bit sketchy. The team told me not to do it but I thought I could get away with it, and we did."Honestly, I don't mind. I'm not here to win sprint races, I'm here to win (grand prix) races and a championship, but that's not gone to plan."The Briton led from pole position while Piastri passed Russell for second at turn two on the opening lap, a crucial move that then put him in a position to take the victory.Norris kept Piastri in his slipstream, easing off to ensure the Australian stayed in DRS range to allow him to defend against Russell down the straight."It was about defence for the whole race," said the Australian. "I had a good start and good turn one but didn't quite have the pace. I think I killed the front (tyre) a bit early on."I was struggling a bit for the rest of the sprint but some great team work. Without that help, it would have been a much more difficult sprint."Hamilton went from 10th on the grid to fifth, while Verstappen dropped to ninth, but Mercedes' seven times world champion was unable to keep Leclerc behind him with six laps to go after the earlier overtake.Verstappen's team mate Sergio Perez started from the pitlane and the Mexican then suffered the indignity of being passed at the exit by Williams' Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto.

DOHA: It’s been just over three months since Oliver Oakes became Alpine’s team principal. At 36, the former British racing driver is the second-youngest team principal in Formula 1 history, after Christian Horner, who was 32 when appointed by Red Bull. Oakes’ appointment was the latest in a series of staff changes at Alpine. He is the team’s third boss in just over 12 months, having replaced Bruno Famin, who was reassigned to a full-time role at their base in France.Becoming Alpine’s team principal wasn’t a role Oakes had always envisioned for himself. In his own words, he says, “My wife wasn’t too thrilled since my summer holiday was cut short,” but he has embraced the challenge with enthusiasm.Oakes became the World Karting champion in 2005 and joined Red Bull’s young driver program. Although his promising racing career never took off, he went on to manage his own karting team and later formed Hitech GP, which competes in Formula 2 and Formula 3.Speaking to Gulf Times at the Lusail International Circuit on Friday, Oakes acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead as he helps rebuild the famed organisation, previously known as Renault. When he took over, the team had fallen to ninth place in this year’s constructors’ championship.While there was a mini resurgence, with a stunning double podium at Sao Paulo putting Alpine in firm contention for sixth place, Haas has overtaken them again – albeit by just one point – after Pierre Gasly suffered a disastrous race at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he retired after qualifying a stunning third just 24 hours earlier. Esteban Ocon compounded Alpine’s misery by finishing 17th out of 18 runners, after having to pit one more time than necessary due to an early call to change tyres before his crew was ready.It meant that Alpine came away point-less from Las Vegas, dropping from P6 to P7 in the constructors’ standings. Haas now sits in sixth on 50 points, one ahead of Alpine, with RB on 46 points in P8.On Friday, during the Sprint qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, Gasly had another strong qualifying performance for Alpine, securing eighth, but Ocon was knocked out in Q1.“It wasn’t lost on me before joining that the team had faced criticism, much of it undeserved. This is a team with a deep F1 heritage, successful in many forms over the years. The recent seasons have been tougher, and leadership changes added to the challenges. But since joining, I’ve felt a strong sense of positivity, particularly with leadership now aligned across myself, Flavio (Briatore), and Luca (de Meo),” he says.Alpine has taken the next step in their rebuild by confirming they will use Mercedes power units and the Silver Arrows’ gearboxes from 2026. Alpine’s power unit has been the least competitive on the grid for several years, and at some circuits, their deficit has cost them several tenths of a second — a significant gap in modern-day F1, given how tightly packed the field is.In his short time as team boss, Oakes has taken bold steps, including promoting Jack Doohan from reserve driver to a full-time seat for next season, where he will replace Ocon and drive alongside Gasly, becoming the grid’s second confirmed rookie.“The decision to step away from being a works team and to change our engine partnership was emotional but strategic,” Oakes explains. “We were transparent about our reasons, and the team rallied behind it. It’s a bold move that signals where we want to go as a team. At the core, we aim to stay humble and focused on racing, climbing up the grid, and achieving more.”“In the short term, my goal was to avoid making drastic changes. I wanted to understand the team, build chemistry, and focus on areas needing attention. Long-term, our power unit decision reflects our ambition to climb back to the front. It was a tough call but necessary to position the team for future success.”Oakes acknowledges that stepping into a leadership role mid-season gave him a unique opportunity to integrate quickly with the team, both at the factory and trackside. “One of the great things about joining in the summer is that you get to meet not just the factory team but also the race team. If you join in the winter, you might not immediately have the chance to build those relationships or see everything in action. My wife wasn’t too thrilled since my summer holiday was cut short, but that’s part of the job,” he says.“Looking back, I’d say my impressions of the team haven’t changed much after nearly four months here. The fundamentals are as I expected. It’s all about finding the right chemistry, getting everyone aligned, and pushing in the same direction. Some priorities shifted as I got a clearer view of the team’s inner workings, but that’s to be expected,” Oakes adds.With two races remaining for the season, Oakes is confident Alpine can finish in sixth. “We were fortunate with our result in Brazil — it was a fantastic boost. Since Austin, it’s been clear the car’s performance is improving, which is a testament to our hard work. Few teams manage to make such strides mid-season. The Brazil result has put us firmly in the fight for P6, a close and competitive battle,” he says.“We faced some setbacks, like Pierre’s issue in Vegas, but challenges like these are part of motorsport. They keep us sharp. What excites me most is the team’s spirit—there’s a deep competitiveness and a hunger to improve. After setbacks, we focus on the positives and stay united.”

Lando Norris lifted the spirits of his title-chasing McLaren team on Friday when he powered to pole position ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell in qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix.After a disappointing outing in Las Vegas, where his drivers’ title hopes ended as Max Verstappen clinched his fourth championship with Red Bull, the British driver was back on top form under the lights at the Lusail International Circuit. Norris clocked a best time in one minute and 21.012 seconds to outpace Russell, the winner in Nevada, by just 0.063 seconds at the end of a closely-fought session. Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren was third.“It’s tough,” said Norris of his laps and the speed of the track. “It is so quick around here. It feels like the quickest of the year and in the final sector you feel like you are just hanging on.“I want to win and I want to win every session as a driver. Our target tomorrow is a one-two so we maximise the points for our constructors’ but we know Mercedes and Ferrari will be quick.”The Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc qualified fourth and fifth ahead of Verstappen and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes, an outcome that was not enough to buoy hopes that the Italian team can stop McLaren claiming their first constructors’ title in 26 years. Pierre Gasly took an impressive eighth for Alpine ahead of Nico Hulkenberg of Haas and RB’s Liam Lawson.McLaren hold a 24 points lead in the teams’ title race with 608 to Ferrari on 584. With two Grands Prix remaining, including one sprint, McLaren can clinch the title with a dominant weekend ahead of Ferrari in both the sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.In cooling conditions with temperatures of 19 (air) and 22 (track) falling as darkness descended, Kevin Magnussen set the early benchmark time for Haas in 1:23.750 before the ‘big boys’ joined the fray, Sainz soon going top. Norris then gave notice of his intentions with a lap in 1:22.785, but it was not enough as speeds increased with the drop in temperature and Ferrari took advantage with Leclerc and Sainz on top.With three minutes remaining in SQ1, Norris bounced back in 1:22.021, a time Russell equalled exactly with the same lap time. Piastri, last year’s winner, went fourth, six-tenths off his team-mate’s best time. Norris trimmed his time to 1:21.356 in the final seconds to finish four-tenths clear of Sainz, six-tenths ahead of Russell and Verstappen with Hamilton fifth.But it was another painful session for Sergio Perez of Red Bull who exited in Q1 along with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Zhou Guanyu of Sauber and Williams’ Franco Colapinto. As prescribed, all of the cars ran on medium compound tyres and nearly all of them were under investigation by the stewards for driving too slowly, at times, in SQ1 as they ‘backed up’ to seek a ‘tow’.The SQ2 segment began with Verstappen on top before Leclerc took over in 1:22.130 and then Piastri in 1:22.050, the leading teams all very clothed matched. With two minutes to go, Norris was back in control in 1:22.231 ahead of Russell and Piastri with Verstappen fourth until Hamilton knocked him down to fifth ahead of the two Ferraris.Out this time went two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Williams’ Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas of Sauber, Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin and Magnussen. The top ten shootout began with Leclerc in a hurry to clock 1:21.706, as they all switched to softs, Norris lapping in 1:21.012 for top spot.