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Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney signed a multi-year contract extension on Wednesday to continue driving the No. 12 Team Penske Ford.Blaney, 32, has won 17 races and the 2023 season championship since joining
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Kalba and Khorfakkan played out a 0-0 draw in their Matchweek 24 clash of the Adnoc Pro League.The result sees Kalba move to 24 points in 11th place, while Khorfakkan reach 26 points in 8th.The
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Alexandra Eala is up and running at the 2026 Italian Open, beating Magdalena Frech in two hours and seven minutes in their first round meeting.After storming to a first-set bagel, World number 42 Eala had
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was overjoyed as his side reached the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years on Tuesday, saying there had been a huge positive shift in energy and belief
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Olympic champion Cameron McEvoy thinks he can take even more time off the 50 metres freestyle world record he set in March, even as he takes on the new challenge of adding 50m butterfly titles to his resume. With 50m gold medals in all four strokes on offer at an Olympics for the first time at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the Australian will look to earn selection in the butterfly sprint at national trials before bidding for medals at the July 23 to August 2 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His teammates’ hopes that he might add 100m freestyle to his repertoire and help Australia win relay titles have been dashed, though, with the 31-year-old adamant it would be too difficult to juggle. McEvoy, whose innovative training methods have been copied by rivals, says the same stripped-back regime that has brought him Olympic and world titles is equally applicable for the butterfly splash-and-dash. “It’s one to one. The only difference is technique but everything else really comes under the same banner,” he said. “So I wouldn’t have to change my training at all. It would just be exposing myself to trying to unlock the right butterfly technique.” McEvoy swam the 50m butterfly virtually on a whim at the 2024 Doha world championships and took a surprise bronze in the event. He shelved the stroke to focus on winning 50m freestyle gold at the Paris Olympics and says he is still very early in the journey to optimise his performance. He swam a personal best of 23.05 seconds in the 50m butterfly at the China Open meet in March, two days after his 50m freestyle world record (20.88). “So there is crossover there, and I think a little bit of scope to -- if I trained it properly -- move the needle a little bit more,” he said. McEvoy is wary of putting too much time into butterfly as he focuses on raising the bar in the freestyle. He noted the last five metres of his world-record swim in China were slower than his world championship swim at Fukuoka in 2023. “So right off the bat, there’s 0.12 (seconds) in the last five metres alone,” he said. “There’s a little bit of low-hanging fruit left to take, and maybe cut a 10th (of a second) here and there.” If McEvoy sounds confident it is only because he has the data to back it up, and a love for the maths and physics that underpin his pursuit of perfection. He is an open book about his training regime which involves fewer laps, more weights and coaching the nervous system to transfer gym-built strength into power in the water. People have called him an “idiot” for being so open-source about his formula for success, he said, but he regards it as his contribution to improving the sport through innovation. “You see time and time again, people burning out, leaving the sport, hating it,” he added. “And so it was an opportunity to not only allow people to have another path to get to where they wanted to go, but they can still continue with the sport and not hate it.” Leaving that legacy sounds just as important to McEvoy as his four Olympic and 10 world championships medals, a haul that would be the envy of most swimmers but one that has generated little commercial reward. Even after his world record McEvoy is not signed with any major sponsor, and he said the corporate apathy had taken him a bit by surprise. Ironically, doped-up swimmers at the upcoming Enhanced Games in Las Vegas will have the chance to earn prize money that clean athletes like McEvoy can only dream of. Focused on winning Olympic and world titles, McEvoy said he had never seriously considered signing up for Enhanced but cast no judgement on those who had. “The access to that form of finance is literally one message away. And knowing that has been really tough to deal with (but) wasn’t something I’d ever act on,” he said.
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Al Shahania and Al Kharaitiyat face off in a decisive relegation play-off tomorrow, with a place in next season’s Qatar Stars League at stake at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm, as a top-flight side battles to retain its status against an ambitious Second Division challenger seeking promotion. Al Shahania enter under pressure after finishing 11th in the QSL with 21 points, a result that forced them into the play-off. They approach the contest knowing defeat would confirm relegation. Al Kharaitiyat, meanwhile, arrive in confident mood following a strong Second Division campaign. They finished runners-up with 25 points behind champions Lusail, who secured automatic promotion. Unbeaten throughout the season and with the best defensive record in the league, Al Kharaitiyat will be aiming to carry that momentum into what promises to be a tense and decisive encounter. Speaking ahead of the clash, Al Shahania assistant coach Pejman Montazeri acknowledged the challenge awaiting his team. “The entire season hinges on this match. We have watched them, they are a good team with a strong structure, and it will be a very difficult game for us,” he said. Montazeri, however, expressed confidence in his side’s recent progress, highlighting improvements in mentality and performances in the closing stages of the season. “The players are aware of this and we are well-prepared. The team is improving significantly in terms of mentality and form, as seen in the last few matches. But we are up against a side that has not lost and has the best defence, so it will be a tough match,” he added. Echoing his coach’s sentiments, Al Shahania player Lotfi Madjer described the encounter as a ‘final’. “Everyone knows this match is very important and the entire season depends on it. It is about either staying in the First Division or being relegated,” he said. Al Kharaitiyat coach Rachid Tiberkanine has warned his side face a tough test against Al Shahaniya in the promotion play-off, describing it as the most important stage of their season. “The team has worked hard since the start of the season to achieve direct promotion, but we did not succeed,” he said. “However, hope remains to crown a full season’s effort with victory and promotion. Preparations are going well. We have focused on the mental side as much as the tactical one, because matches like these are decided by small details, composure and avoiding mistakes.” The match will go to extra time and, if needed, penalties in case of a draw, ensuring a decisive outcome in this high-stakes battle. Related Story
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His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, crowned Al Arabi champions of the HH the Amir Basketball Cup for the 2025–2026 season, following their 84–63 victory over Al Sadd in the final held at Al Gharafa Hall. The match was played before a large crowd in an electrifying atmosphere. Al Arabi dominated the first three quarters (22–16, 27–25, 32–9), while Al Sadd took the fourth (13–3). The coronation ceremony was held in a festive setting, with Sheikh Joaan presenting the trophy to Al Arabi’s captain amid jubilant celebrations by players, staff, and fans. Mohammed bin Saad al-Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, also participated in the ceremony. Al Arabi received gold medals and a financial prize of QR 1.5 million, while Al Sadd claimed silver medals and a prize of QR 900,000. Bahraini star Mustafa Hussain “Mosti” stood out for Al Arabi, scoring 31 points, while Al Sadd’s duo Dejan Janic and Steven Bernard Linard Green each contributed 17 points. The closing ceremony of the 2025–2026 season also honored sponsors who contributed to the success of the tournament, including Elite Motors, Musafir Trading & Transport, Rosewood Doha Hotel, Shaat Al Bahr Group, winwin.com, and Murial Water Park. The referees of the final were also recognized for their outstanding officiating. In recognition of Al Arabi’s historic achievements, QBF awarded the club the Sports Excellence Shield for the 2025–2026 season. The shield was received by His Excellency Sheikh Tamim bin Fahd al-Thani, President of Al Arabi Sports Club, celebrating the team’s unprecedented treble: winning the Qatar Basketball League, the Qatar Cup, and the HH the Amir Cup, in addition to multiple youth titles. Meanwhile, Al Rayyan claimed the inaugural Qatar Basketball Super Cup this season, underscoring the ongoing rivalry among the country’s top clubs. Al Arabi reached the final after defeating Al Ahli 89–70 in the semi-finals, and earlier overcoming Qatar Club 104–73 in the quarter-finals. Al Sadd advanced by beating Al Rayyan 87–72 in the semi-finals, after eliminating Al Shamal 107–96 in the quarter-finals. The Amir Cup has a rich history, first launched in the 1999–2000 season, and has since witnessed fierce competition among Qatari clubs. Al Rayyan holds the record with 14 final appearances and 10 titles, followed by Al Gharafa with 5 titles. Before this edition, Al Arabi and Al Sadd each had 4 titles, while Qatar and Al Jaish won twice each. Last season, Al Rayyan defeated Al Arabi 77–70 to lift the trophy. Following the coronation, President of QBF, expressed his delight at the success of the tournament, noting: “Today’s final reflected the remarkable progress of Qatari basketball, both at the club and player levels. It was a showcase of professionalism and sportsmanship.” Saadoun Sabah al-Kuwari, Secretary General of the Federation and Director of National Teams, added: “The final embodied true competition. It was not just about the title, but a test of mental and technical readiness, essential for preparing national team players to compete internationally.” Assistant Secretary General Ahmed Yousef al-Darwish emphasized that the season marked a turning point for the sport, highlighting the strong attendance and professional organization as proof of the Federation’s strategic success. Board Member Nasser Ajlan al-Kaabi noted: “The fierce competition among clubs raised the level of the tournament. Big matches like this final provide players with invaluable experience.” Board Member Mishal Abdullah al-Maliki praised the overall organization, stressing that success was the result of collective effort between the Federation, clubs, and sponsors. Board Member Abdullah Sultan al-Jaber confirmed that the next phase will focus more on youth categories: “We aim to build a new generation capable of sustaining success Investing in talent is the right path forward.” Board Member Ms. Zahra Majid al-Zaidan highlighted the growing fan interest: “We are committed to offering a complete fan experience, not only through matches but also through accompanying events.” Entertainment was also part of the final, with interactive halftime contests for fans, including shooting challenges with prizes, adding a festive touch to the evening. The night concluded with Elite Motors presenting the grand prize to fans, a 2026 Chery Tiggo 2 car, awarded through a live raffle immediately after the match, drawing wide excitement from the crowd. Related Story
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Tuesday defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws that allow tickets to be resold for thousands of dollars
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Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in multilateral events hosted by India but bilateral events remain off the table, India's sports ministry has said.India also said the visa process for sportspersons and
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The Indian Premier League (IPL) final will be held in Ahmedabad on May 31 instead of Bengaluru as originally planned, the country's cricket board said on Wednesday.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
