SPORTS - Page 15

Saeid Ezatolahi of Iran has expressed reservations regarding the AFC’s decision to assign an Arab referee, Kuwait’s Ahmad Al-Ali, for their Asian Cup semi-final against host and defending champions Qatar. Additionally, he voiced concerns about insufficient recovery time during the knockout stage. Ahmad Al-Ali, who has overseen two group games and a last-16 tie, is set to officiate the semifinal on Wednesday. Qatar beat Iran on penalties after the match ended 1-1 through extra time and went to a shootout

On Sunday, Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan achieved a unique feat in ATP Tour history by becoming the first player to win a tournament after losing the first set in each of his matches. Seeded No. 2, Bublik staged another comeback by defeating Croatia’s Borna Coric, the fourth seed, with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 in the finals of the Open Sud de France held in Montpellier. The 24-year-old Bublik showcased a combination of formidable power and a repertoire of

The three-day celebration of Lionel Messi in Hong Kong concluded in disappointment for his fans, as the Argentine football star did not participate in the match. Despite a sellout crowd witnessing Inter Miami secure a 4-1 victory against a local League XI in a friendly on Sunday, Messi remained on the bench throughout the entire 90-minute game. This led to spectators expressing their displeasure by booing both the team and its owner, former England captain David Beckham. The Hong Kong

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion and Formula One’s most accomplished driver, is set to join Ferrari from the year 2025. The surprising announcement was officially confirmed by Mercedes, revealing that the 39-year-old British driver had utilized a release option in his contract, initially signed to extend his stay with the Silver Arrows in August. Mercedes added that Hamilton will join Ferrari next season “on a multi-year contract” but did not reveal further details. That will see Hamilton pair up

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said on Friday that Liverpool could be without forward Darwin Nunez for their crunch Premier League clash at Arsenal this weekend. Nunez played the full 90 minutes as Liverpool defeated Chelsea 4-1 on Wednesday, but he left Anfield in a protective boot after suffering a foot injury. An X-ray on Thursday revealed that the Uruguayan’s foot did not break but remains so swollen that he cannot even put the boot on and is, therefore, a doubt

South Korea beat Saudi Arabia 4-2 in a penalty shootout to advance to the Asian Cup quarter-finals, setting up a clash with Australia. Second-choice goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-Woo was the star performer in Doha, stopping penalties from Sami Al-Najei and Abdulrahman Ghareeb to help Jurgen Klinsmann’s side reach the last eight for the first time since 1996. Hwang Hee-chan then converted the decisive spot kick in extra time to clinch victory for South Korea, aiming to end a 64-year title drought.

On Wednesday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that the anticipated attendance for this year’s Olympics’ opening ceremony has been reevaluated and now stands at approximately 300,000 people. The unique event is set to unfold as a six-kilometer procession along the River Seine on July 26, marking a historic departure from the traditional venue of a stadium for an Olympic opening ceremony. The parade will take athletes through the heart of Paris, with 160 boats on the river and tens

Russian figure skater Valieva received a four-year doping ban on Monday, effectively stripping her and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) of their gold medal in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games nearly two years after the competition. In its long-awaited ruling, the highest court in sport found Valieva guilty of violating an anti-doping rule. The court ruled that Valieva was contaminated by traces of trimetazidine, a heart medication given to elderly patients, but banned for younger athletes

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is sure to be in Las Vegas for the Feb. 11 Super Bowl showdown with the San Francisco 49ers, but whether his girlfriend, mega-pop star Taylor Swift, will also be present to add some stardust to the occasion is looking like a game-time decision. The singer was in the stands cheering and was then caught on camera congratulating her boyfriend with a hug and kiss after the Chiefs 17-10 victory over the Baltimore

Jannik Sinner was not about to announce the end of the “Big Three” after his breakthrough Grand Slam triumph at the Australian Open on Sunday. Still, the 22-year-old Italian does believe tennis needs a fresh generation of champions. His five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev made him the first Melbourne Park winner in 10 years, not named Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, or Roger Federer – the trio of multiple champions who have dominated tennis for two decades. Sinner’s win in the