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Al Nasr and Al Dhaid have booked their places in the UAE Men’s National Handball Cup final after overcoming Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahli respectively in two closely contested semi-final encounters.Al Nasr ended Sharjah’s hopes
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Formula One world champion Lando Norris won the Miami Grand Prix sprint race in a McLaren one-two with Oscar Piastri on Saturday as Mercedes suffered their first defeat of the season.Charles Leclerc finished third for
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Marta Kostyuk defeated Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 7-5 to win the Madrid Open for the first time on Saturday.It was world number 23 Kostyuk’s first trophy at WTA 1000 level and her second title of the
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Chennai Super Kings produced a clinical all‑round performance to outclass Mumbai Indians by eight wickets in their IPL 2026 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.Skipper
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Arsenal opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Fulham, thanks to a first-half double from Viktor Gyokeres either side of
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The stage is set for the HH the Amir Basketball Cup semi-finals, scheduled to take place at Al Gharafa Indoor Sports Hall tomorrow. In the opening semi-final, Al Ahli will take on last year’s runners-up Al Arabi at 6:00pm. The second semi-final will see defending champions Al Rayyan face Al Sadd at 8:00pm. Al Rayyan booked their place in the semi-finals with a series of strong performances, including a commanding 104-82 victory over Al Gharafa in the quarter-finals. Al Arabi also impressed, cruising past Qatar SC with a 104-73 win. Al Ahli and Al Sadd secured their spots in the last four after defeating Al Wakrah (85-72) and Al Shamal (107-96), respectively. Meanwhile, the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has announced the release of tickets for the final, set to be held on May 6. Prices start from QR15, while children under the age of five can enter free of charge. This initiative reflects the federation’s commitment to encouraging family attendance and enhancing the fan experience at one of Qatar’s premier basketball competitions. With the tournament’s growing popularity and the closely matched teams competing for the title, the final is expected to attract a large crowd and deliver an exciting conclusion to the championship. Tickets are available for purchase via the Snoonu mobile application through the following link: https://apps.snoonu.com/#/scity?event_id=1762200b-fd00-450e-aafa-db15e3049c8d Related Story
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Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaire-Emery (left) scores his side’s second goal during the Ligue 1 match against Lorient at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris Saturday. (AFP) Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich by fielding a second-string line-up and throwing away the lead twice in a 2-2 draw with Lorient in Ligue 1 Saturday. Ibrahim Mbaye’s fortuitous early goal to put PSG ahead at the Parc des Princes was cancelled out by Pablo Pagis for mid-table Lorient, but Warren Zaire-Emery gave the hosts the lead for the second time, moments after coming on as a second-half substitute. However, a mistake by teenage debutant Pierre Mounguengue allowed Aiyegun Tosin to run through and score a second for Lorient, and PSG could not find a winner - even being awarded a penalty in stoppage time for a non-existent handball which was overturned by VAR. The result means the Ligue 1 title race remains alive, with PSG seven points clear of Lens who have four games remaining including at Nice later Saturday. Lens also still have to host PSG, and Luis Enrique’s side are focused principally on the defence of their European title as they face Bayern away on Wednesday after winning 5-4 at home in the first leg. “We needed the three points. This has opened up the title race a little bit,” admitted Luis Enrique. “It is very difficult in terms of motivation after playing a Champions League semi-final in an incredible atmosphere, but I expect more from my players,” said the PSG coach, who made nine changes here, with only Willian Pacho and Desire Doue retained from midweek. Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were unused substitutes against Lorient while Vitinha was rested entirely. Renato Marin, 19, made just his second top-team appearance in goal, and fellow teenager Mbaye made a first start in three months. Mounguengue, an 18-year-old forward, came on in the second half as PSG were held to a draw by Lorient for the second time this season. PSG went ahead on six minutes when Lorient goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo attempted to clear a Doue cross but instead played the ball off Mbaye before it rebounded in. Pagis converted the first equaliser for Lorient, the club owned by American businessman Bill Foley, also the owner of Premier League Bournemouth. It was 2-1 to the hosts just after the hour. Zaire-Emery had just come on for Fabian Ruiz when he controlled a Doue pass for his first touch, and then fired in with the aid of a deflection. But Mounguengue cost the home side two points when his loose ball inside was pounced upon by Tosin and the Benin forward went on to score. PSG, chasing a fifth straight Ligue 1 title, hit the post late on through Senny Mayulu as they dropped points for the third time in five home Ligue 1 games. Meanwhile, Marseille’s troubled season continued with a 3-0 defeat at Nantes which is a further blow to their prospects of Champions League qualification but gives their opponents’ renewed hope of avoiding relegation. Ignatius Ganago, Remy Cabella and Matthis Abline all scored in the space of nine minutes early in the second half as Nantes claimed a first win in nine matches and just a fifth victory all season. Eight-time champions Nantes remain in the automatic relegation places with two games left but are now just two points behind Auxerre in the play-off spot before their rivals play on Sunday. Marseille are on a run of four defeats in their last six outings and have slipped to seventh below Monaco, who won 2-1 at Metz. OM are four points away from a Champions League berth with two games left, and at this rate are running the risk of not qualifying for Europe at all. “We got what we deserved,” said coach Habib Beye, who insisted he will not walk away. “When you take on a challenge like this you don’t just give up. I will never quit.” Monaco revived their own European hopes by coming from behind against Metz, with USA star Folarin Balogun scoring a ninth goal in 10 league games to equalise before Ansu Fati’s stoppage-time winner. Metz have now gone 20 league matches without winning and the result confirmed their relegation. Related Story
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Chennai Super Kings’ Ruturaj Gaikwad plays a shot during the IPL match against Mumbai Indians in Chennai Saturday. (AFP) Ruturaj Gaikwad led from the front with an unbeaten 67 as Chennai Super Kings hammered fellow IPL giants Mumbai Indians by eight wickets Saturday to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. In a clash of two teams sharing 10 titles between them, Chennai kept Mumbai, who elected to bat first, down to 159-7 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Captain Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma then put on an unbeaten stand of 98 to steer the team home with 11 balls to spare and bounce back from a big defeat in their previous outing. Gaikwad anchored the chase and Sharma hit the winning four in his 54 as five-time champions Chennai moved to sixth place in the 10-team table. “It was about getting a good start and then one of the batters had to go deep,” said Gaikwad. “Feels good to bat till the end. I wanted to make sure to take the team to the end if I got a start.” Mumbai, who have also won the IPL five times and lost their second match to Chennai this season, languish in the ninth spot with seven defeats in nine matches. “Not the season,” said Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya. “They played better, they bowled better, they fielded better and they batted better.” Chennai lost an early wicket but Gaikwad struck his second successive half-century to keep his side on track. Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah took down Sanju Samson, caught behind for 11, in his first over before Urvil Patel counter-attacked in his 12-ball 24. Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar bowled Patel to raise some hopes for Mumbai, but Gaikwad stood firm to raise his fifty from 34 balls to put Chennai on course. Opener Gaikwad hit five fours and two sixes in his 48-ball knock and was name dplayer of the match. The bowlers set up victory as left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad struck two key blows including Ryan Rickelton, for 37, and Tilak Varma, for five, before medium-pace bowler Anshul Kamboj took 3-32. BRIEF SCORESChennai Super Kings 160 for 2 (Gaikwad 67*, Kartik 54*, Bumrah 1-20) beat Mumbai Indians 159 for 7 (Dhir 57, Rickelton 37, Kamboj 3-32, Noor 2-26) by eight wickets Related Story
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Delhi Capitals' KL Rahul watches the ball after playing a shot during the IPL match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on May 1, 2026. (AFP) KL Rahul topped the Indian Premier League run-scoring charts with a match-winning knock in Delhi Capitals’ seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Friday, saying individual milestones mean more when they help the team win. Rahul has been Delhi’s most consistent performer this season, registering three half-centuries and one century despite the team’s mixed results. The 34-year-old struck 75 off 40 balls, with six fours and five sixes, as Delhi snapped a three-match losing streak and completed their highest successful run chase of 226 in the IPL. Rahul had earlier hit an unbeaten 152 in a defeat against Punjab Kings, a knock that drew praise but did not bring the desired result for the team. “After playing for so many years, numbers do matter,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation. “You’re happy that you score runs and you score these big runs and break records. “But if you don’t get the win after the game, it’s not as much fun,” he said, Rahul has been in strong form this season and he credited it to work on maintaining a higher strike rate to suit the demands of modern day Twenty20 cricket. While he is enjoying a good run in the tournament, he acknowledged that Delhi had slipped up in key moments despite pushing hard in earlier games. “This competition and T20 cricket doesn’t allow you a second chance,” he said. “So it was important that we take our chances and when we’re ahead, really press hard and finish the game, which we weren’t doing.” Delhi were also boosted by the return of Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who took three wickets in his first match of the season after months on the sidelines with elbow and shoulder injuries. Sixth-placed Delhi next face Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday. Related Story
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UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey is escorted to the podium after winning the fourth stage of the Tour of Romandie UCI cycling World tour. (AFP) Tadej Pogacar soared away from his rivals Saturday on the final climb to win for the third time in four days on the Tour of Romandie. At the end of the mountainous ‘queen stage’ of the week-long race, Pogacar attacked twice on the 8.3km final climb the Jaunpass. The first time he went he shook off every other member of a group of more than 20 except second-placed Florian Lipowitz. But the Slovenian kicked again a kilometre from the top and dropped his German rival. After two sprint victories earlier in the six-day race, followed by a defeat at the finish on Friday by French sprinter Dorian Godon, the four-time Tour de France winner this time battled a headwind on the final descent and run to the line before raising his arms in solo victory. Facing the microphone once more as winner at the finish line, Pogacar dismissed the suggestion that his display again suggested hi rivals have no chance when he attacks. “I disagree,” said the World Champion, after praising his UAE team-mates. “The competitors today were really good, strong, and it was really hard to drop Florian. He was really strong,” said Pogacar. “He gave me really hard time keeping the gap the same all the time. It was definitely not easy. It was super hard, and hey, I’m happy with the performance today.” Lipowitz chased doggedly and, after Pogacar relaxed near the line, finished 14 seconds back. The German, who rides for Red Bull-Bora, said that Pogacar had known what he was doing when he attacked at the end of the final climb. “I’m not the fastest guy,” he said. “I like a steady pace, and I think he was right on the last kilometre when he tried to drop me and it worked for him quite well.” Lipowitz trails by 35 seconds, which gives him a chance of springing a surprise in Sunday’s final stage a hilly 178.2km ride from Lucens that ends with a long climb to finish at Leysin. “I’m super happy with today,” Lipowitz said. “One more day!” Pablo Castrillo a Spaniard from Movistar was a distant third at 1 minute 42 seconds. Lenny Martinez,a Frenchman with Bahrain Victorious, is third but trails Pogacar by 2 min 30sec. Related
