Tennis

Wuhan, China: Aryna Sabalenka powered into her 11th semi-final of the year with a 6-3, 6-3 win over eighth-seeded Elena Rybakina at the Wuhan Open on Friday. The world number one remains unbeaten in four tournament appearances at the event and will take a 20-0 record into her final-four showdown with Jessica Pegula on Saturday. The defending champion improved to 8-5 head-to-head against Kazakhstan's Rybakina, whose bid for a WTA Finals berth has taken a hit with the loss. “Elena is a great player, very nice girl and always tough to play against,” said Sabalenka, the US Open champion. "We have a really huge history against each other, always great battles. She always pushes me to the limit to get the win . "Rybakina narrowed the deficit by getting one of the breaks back but couldn't stop Sabalenka from marching into the final four and extending her winning streak to 10 matches. Sixth-seeded Pegula recorded her 50th win of the season with a 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Katerina Siniakova to reach a third consecutive semi-final, following Beijing and the US Open, all three-setters contested within a 16-day period, and the American was successful in six of them. “I guess I'm in really good shape,” said the 31-year-old. "I definitely don't think I need to play any more matches or work on any physical stuff because I've been able to battle through these matches and play very well." She added: "Obviously I wish maybe it was more straightforward for my mental and physical state. "But if I win every match for the rest of my life in three sets I think I'll be pretty happy."

Qatar Sport

Philadelphia: The 11th Aspire Academy Global Summit 2025 concluded two inspiring days of dialogue, innovation and collaboration at Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, bringing together global leaders in sport and marking the successful close of its first-ever edition in the United States. Organised in partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS) and in collaboration with the Philadelphia Union, the 11th edition of the Aspire Academy Global Summit brought together over 400 participants from across the global football community, including coaches, technical directors, educators, and decision-makers, united by a shared commitment to advancing the game through education, insight, and collaboration. Among day two’s highlights were three Star Chats featuring two World Cup-winning players in Italy’s Alessandro Nesta and the USA’s Carli Lloyd, as well as an icon from American football, Ron Jaworski. The dialogue, discussions, and practical sessions continued at Subaru Park for a second day, building on the first day, which had featured a Masterclass by Rafa Benitez, former manager of Liverpool, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, as well as a Star Chat with Sir Gareth Southgate, former England National Team Manager. Ahead of the Star Chats, there was an informative roundtable looking at “Managing Congested Calendars.” Representatives from US Soccer, AC Milan, and Urawa Red Diamonds addressed one of football’s most pressing challenges: the growing demand for competitions. They explored strategies to help players manage both the physical and mental demands of an increasingly intense schedule. The attendees were treated to an exclusive Star Chat with Alessandro Nesta, former AC Milan captain and FIFA World Cup winner, as he spoke about his transition from player to coach, sharing, “The moment I stopped thinking like a player and started thinking like a coach was when I truly changed. My motivation has always been driven by competition, the desire to win and excel. Coaching is about psychology, trust, and understanding every player. Today’s players are different, and we must adapt to bring out their best. After a loss is when leadership really matters, and that’s when passion keeps you going.” A central theme of the second day was the continued rise of women’s football, reflecting the global growth and investment shaping the game’s future. One of the highlights was a Star Chat with two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner and two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Carli Lloyd, in conversation with Philadelphia Union captain Alejandro Bedoya. Sharing her experiences, Lloyd said: “Preparation is everything; it’s the foundation of success. You must be consistent in your training, stay disciplined, and continue putting in the hard work, even when no one is watching.” Her words set the tone for the following roundtable on “New Frontiers in Women’s Soccer,” where representatives from the Italian and Brazilian Football Federations, as well as the National Women’s Soccer League, discussed development pathways, visibility, and the cultural momentum driving the women’s game forward. Italy’s Alessandro Nesta speaks during the final day of the 11th Aspire Academy Global Summit 2025 in Philadelphia. The culmination of the focus on the women’s game saw Denise Reddy, a former player and assistant coach for the US Women’s National Team, conducting a practical session with the girls from clubs in the Philadelphia area. Another coaching clinic on the pitch was led by José Tavares, the Academy Director at Portuguese club FC Porto, where participants from the Philadelphia Union’s academy had the opportunity to see elite-level methodology applied in real-time, reinforcing the Summit’s vision of connecting theory with practice. Innovation and technology also featured on Day Two with the discussion “Sports Tech in Soccer: Where Are We?” bringing together experts from Major League Soccer (MLS), Juventus, and Aspire Academy to explore the growing influence of data and digital tools in football. Reflecting this spirit of innovation, Aspire Academy introduced a new e-gym product that it has been developing, called Blind/Off. The interactive technology that delivers instant feedback and analysis for individual or group training is now being adapted for mobile use to help athletes enhance performance anywhere. Moving away from traditional football, briefly, there was a lively discussion with Ron Jaworski, a former NFL quarterback, who brought a powerful cross-sport perspective. Attendees also took part in specialized workshops to further discuss the 2025 Aspire Academy Global Summit topics featuring members of the Aspire in the World Fellows. Ali Salem Afifa, Chairman of the Aspire Academy Global Summit, affirmed that hosting the Aspire Academy Global Summit 2025 at Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, marks an important milestone in the Academy’s international journey - as the event takes place in the United States for the first time. Afifa emphasised that the Summit serves as a unique platform combining education, collaboration, and innovation - with the main objective of developing the skills of coaches and young sporting professionals while enhancing the exchange of knowledge and expertise among participants from around the world. He highlighted the value of the first day’s sessions, which featured a Masterclass by Spanish coach Rafa Benitez - former manager of Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Napoli - a thought-provoking Star Chat with former England national team manager Sir Gareth Southgate, and an insightful session with Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy. He added that the Summit’s interactive workshops, led by Aspire Academy experts and international partners, explored applied performance science, data-driven coaching, and youth talent development frameworks - offering attendees the tools to translate theory into real-world practice.

Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has confirmed that Team Qatar will participate in the upcoming 3rd Asian Youth Games, set to take place in the Kingdom of Bahrain from October 22 to 31, with a delegation of 73 athletes competing among 5,000 participants from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees. During a press conference, Mohammed Abdul Salam, Director of Qatar’s Administrative Delegation, announced that Qatar will take part in 16 sports: athletics, badminton, 3x3 basketball, equestrian (show jumping), golf, judo, jiu-jitsu, cycling, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wrestling, volleyball, beach volleyball, and boxing. He added that female athletes will represent Qatar in four sports — athletics, badminton, volleyball, and beach volleyball — reflecting the QOC’s commitment to expanding women’s participation across all disciplines. Read Also Gulf nations pledge full support for Qatar’s hosting of FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar remain confident of sealing World Cup berth ahead of UAE showdown Baig and Ali star as Qatar thrash Malaysia in Oman Abdul Salam emphasized that Qatar’s participation aligns with the QOC’s strategic objective to develop young athletes and prepare a new generation capable of representing the nation in future international competitions, particularly the Doha 2030 Asian Games. He expressed confidence in Qatar’s prospects, especially in athletics, equestrian, and golf, describing them as key disciplines where strong performances are expected. Despite the presence of powerhouse nations such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia, Abdul Salam voiced optimism about the potential of Qatar’s emerging athletes to secure podium finishes. According to Abdul Salam, athlete selection followed a long-term development strategy, categorizing participants into three groups: athletes targeted for Doha 2030, elite medal contenders, and newcomers participating to gain valuable experience. He noted that Team Qatar’s preparations have been extensive, with several squads — particularly in athletics and swimming — completing intensive international training camps to enhance their physical and technical readiness ahead of the Games. Abdul Salam concluded by reaffirming the QOC’s full support for national sports federations, ensuring that all resources and logistical needs are met to enable athletes to perform at their highest level and uphold Qatar’s growing reputation in Asian sport. The 3rd Asian Youth Games will feature 24 sports and 253 events, and will also serve as a qualifier for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Qatar previoDirector of Qatar’s Administrative Delegation Mohammed Abdul Salam announced that Qatar will take part in 16 sports at the 3rd Asian Youth Games.usly won two silver medals in athletics at the Singapore 2009 edition, followed by three medals (one gold, two silver) at the Nanjing 2013 edition — including gold in handball and two silver medals in shooting.