Qatar Sport

Doha: The Qatar Sports for All Federation (QSFA), operating under the Ministry of Sports and Youth, has announced a men's padel tournament scheduled for November 8-10. The event will be held at the Platinum Padel courts at Al Sadd Sports Club and is open to players aged 16 and above. The tournament forms part of the Federation's calendar of sporting events, which aims to broaden community participation and encourage young people to engage in sports, reflecting padel's growing popularity across Qatar. The Federation said registration is now open through the QSFA mobile app, giving enthusiasts an opportunity to compete and showcase their skills and technical abilities. The new edition reflects the Federation's commitment to organizing sports competitions that attract young people, QSFA Executive Director Abdullah Al Dosari said, highlighting that padel's rising popularity in Qatar is driving efforts to stage more tournaments and create opportunities for participation across different segments of society. The success of previous editions and the strong interest shown in past competitions provide an incentive to deliver a new edition to exceptional organizational standards, enabling participants to compete in an atmosphere of excitement and challenge, he added. Al Dosari noted that the tournament's objectives go beyond competition and winning as it also seeks to encourage young people to engage in regular physical activity and to identify and nurture sporting talent, while inviting padel enthusiasts to register and take part in the event. The championship is part of the QSFA's wider efforts to diversify its sports activities and programs through an annual calendar of more than 850 events and tournaments. These initiatives cater to a range of age groups and help promote a sporting culture by embedding physical activity as a way of life within the community.

Cricket

Rawalpindi: Maaz Sadaqat just missed out on a hundred as Pakistan upstaged Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the second T20 international yesterday, taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series. Sadaqat’s 51-ball 96 and Sahibzada Farhan’s 44-ball 73 helped Pakistan to their highest T20 total at home of 215-3 in Rawalpindi. Medium pacer Mohammad Imran then grabbed 3-11 to restrict Sri Lanka to 133-7 for Pakistan’s biggest T20 win over the tourists. Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals with Maheesh Theekshana (32 not out) and Chamindu Wickramasinghe (29) offering some resistance once the game was beyond reach. Kamindu Mendis (23) and Sineth Jayawardena (22) were the only others to reach double figures. Pakistan benefited from three dropped catches by Sri Lanka as Sadaqat and Farhan punished the attack, adding 88 runs for the second wicket off just 49 balls. Sadaqat smashed seven sixes -- the joint most by a Pakistan batter in a T20s -- and six fours before being dismissed off the final delivery of the innings. Farhan, dropped on two and 11, hit five sixes and four fours before he holed out to Dasun Shanaka in the 15th over. Sadaqat, who was put down on 44, then cut loose and added a quickfire 72 off 31 balls for the third wicket with Hasan Nawaz (19 not out). Pakistan plundered 70 runs in the last five overs, improving on their highest home T20 total of 208-3 against the West Indies in Karachi five years ago. The third and final match will be played tomorrow.

Football

Miami: Lionel Messi (pictured) scored twice to help Inter Miami rout DC United 4-0 on Saturday, taking a victory in his first match since saying farewell to the Argentina national team. Four nights after scoring in his final match for the Albiceleste in a victory over Benin, the 39-year-old South American superstar struck in the 47th and 60th minutes as defending MLS champion Miami won for only the second time in their past 11 league matches. A first-half brace by Luis Suarez staked the Herons to the lead as they improved to 13-5 with 10 drawn for 49 points, jumping from third to second in the Eastern Conference Messi hopes to make Miami the first team to win back-to-back MLS crowns since the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011-12. Messi, the top point producer in the league with 23 goals plus assists on 13 others, seeks a third consecutive MLS Most Valuable Player award. Uruguayan striker Suarez scored in the third minute to give Miami the lead, blasting a left-footed shot from the heart of the box into the top left corner. Suarez struck again in the 39th for his 16th goal of the campaign, assisted like his first of the night by German Berterame. Messi blasted home a left-footed shot off an assist from Suarez to give Miami a 3-0 lead and evaded three defenders to add another goal 13 minutes later as the pink-clad hosts pulled away to stay. In other games, Scottish striker Lewis Morgan and American Djordje Mihailovic scored in second-half stoppage time to rally Toronto for a 2-1 home victory over Montreal. The visitors grabbed the lead in the Canadian clash on a goal by Mexican forward Daniel Rios in the 52nd minute. Toronto, however, battled back for the equalizer by winger Morgan, obtained last month from San Diego, in the third minute of stoppage time, his first regular-season MLS goal in two years. Former Montreal standout Mihailovic struck for the decider in the fifth minute of extra time