The excitement and strong competition continued on the seventh day of the Asian Road Cycling Championship “Al-Qassim 2026” , hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the roads surrounding the Al-Qassim region witnessed a high tactical and physical struggle between the elite cyclists of the Asian continent, amidst an enthusiastic atmosphere and a large audience reflecting the growing interest in cycling in the region.

The highlight of the day was the elite men's individual road race, a grueling 156km course demanding high endurance and precise strategies from the participating teams. Kazakhstan's Yevgeny Fedorov , claiming the gold medal with a time of 3:25:17, further cementing Kazakhstan's prominent position on the Asian and global cycling map. The race was fiercely contested until the final meters, with China's Su Haoyu finishing second and securing the silver medal with a time of 3:25:20, just three seconds behind the leader. Arab cyclists also made a strong showing, with Emirati Abdullah Jassim Al Ali claiming the bronze medal in third place with a time of 3:26:21.

In the Paralympic Games, the 2.6km mixed team race was held, and the Thai team dominated. Team Thailand (1) secured the gold medal and first place with a time of 00:50:31, reflecting the significant progress in Paralympic athlete training programs in East Asia. The South Korean team came in second, winning the silver medal with a time of 00:50:40, while the Thai team (Thailand 2) reaffirmed its superiority by taking third place and the bronze medal with a time of 01:04:27.

The hosting of this major continental event in the Qassim region is part of the broader sporting movement underway in Saudi Arabia, aimed at strengthening the Kingdom's position as a global destination for major sporting events. The Qassim region boasts diverse terrain and well-maintained roads, providing an ideal environment for road cycling races. This contributes to raising the technical level of the competitors and showcases Saudi Arabia's organizational capabilities in managing international championships to the highest standards.

This championship is of particular importance as it brings together the continent's best cyclists and serves as a crucial platform for evaluating performance and developing national teams in preparation for upcoming world and Olympic competitions. Furthermore, the results achieved, especially the Arab presence on the podium, provide a positive indication of the development of cycling in the Gulf countries and their ability to compete with traditional Asian powerhouses such as Kazakhstan, China, and Japan.

The championship competitions will continue in the coming days according to the approved schedule, as fans look forward to more exciting races in various categories, until the conclusion of the event on February 13, amid expectations of more records and surprises.

Saudi international Abdullah Al-Hamdan, striker for Al-Nassr FC, expressed his immense happiness at contributing effectively to his team's valuable victory over Turkmenistan's Arkadağ. This well-deserved win came in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16, played at Arkadağ Stadium, where Al-Nassr delivered a remarkable performance away from home.

Abdullah Al-Hamdan's statements after the match

In his first reaction after the match, Abdullah Al-Hamdan said in official statements carried by the AFC Champions League 2 account: "Thank God, this is a good start for us in these knockout stages. We are eager to continue this upward trajectory." The young striker, who was given the opportunity to start, added: "I am very happy to have helped my team achieve victory and secure the three points away from home, and I will continue to work hard in this manner to win and achieve more victories with my team during the upcoming crucial period of the season.".

The importance of winning and the context of the Asian competition

This victory provides a tremendous morale boost for Al-Nassr in their continental campaign, as winning away from home in the knockout stage is a significant step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals. The AFC Champions League holds particular importance for participating clubs, as Saudi Arabian clubs strive to reaffirm their dominance and superiority in various continental competitions, capitalizing on the significant development of the sports sector in the Kingdom and the unlimited support provided to clubs.

The match marked Abdullah Al-Hamdan's first start for the team in this tournament, reflecting the coaching staff's confidence in his abilities and his capacity to make a difference. Al-Hamdan's capitalization on this opportunity, scoring or contributing to the victory, sends a strong message confirming the readiness of Al-Nassr's bench and the depth of their squad, enabling them to compete on all fronts.

Preparing for the upcoming Riyadh derby

On another note, Al-Nassr has little time to rest, as the team temporarily puts the Asian Champions League aside to begin immediate preparations for a crucial domestic match. Al-Nassr is set to face its neighbor and traditional rival, Al-Shabab, in a highly anticipated derby as part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League.

The match will take place on Saturday evening, and it holds paramount importance in the league standings. Al-Nassr aims to continue its winning streak to put pressure on the league leaders and maintain its chances of competing for the domestic title, drawing strength from the high morale gained by the players after their recent continental victory.

Al-Nassr FC of Saudi Arabia took a significant step towards the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League 2, securing a crucial away victory against Turkmenistan's Erkadag FC with a 1-0 scoreline. The win came in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie, played on Wednesday evening at the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium.

Al-Hamdan's goal decides the Ashgabat match

Al-Nassr owes this precious victory to its striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan, who scored the only goal of the match in the 19th minute. The goal was the culmination of early dominance, as Al-Hamdan received a perfectly weighted through ball inside the penalty area, which he handled intelligently, faced the goal, and skillfully placed the ball to the left of goalkeeper Rasul Shariyev, giving his team a comfortable advantage before the return leg.

Jesus' philosophy and artistic rotation

The match saw coach Jesus field a largely reserve lineup, a tactical move aimed at rotating players and distributing their physical exertion. This decision stemmed from the coaching staff's desire to rest key players in preparation for the upcoming and challenging match against Al-Fateh next Saturday in the domestic league, reflecting their ambition to compete on all fronts this season.

Match events and missed opportunities

Despite a relatively quiet start, Al-Nassr quickly imposed their rhythm, with Ayman Yahya nearly opening the scoring in the 11th minute with a powerful shot that struck the post. Al-Nassr continued to create chances, with Brazilian Angelo Gabriel missing a clear opportunity in the 31st minute when his shot went just wide of the post. Defender Nawaf also almost scored an own goal, but the ball went out for a corner.

In the second half, the back-and-forth continued, with Al-Nassr holding a slight advantage, but they were thwarted by the brilliance of Turkmen goalkeeper Shariyev, who made another crucial save from Al-Hamdan. In the final minutes, Arkadag intensified their pressure in search of an equalizer, but Al-Nassr nearly sealed the victory with a second goal, only for Abdulrahman Ghareeb to squander an easy chance, firing over the bar in the 90th minute, and Mohammed Maran's shot to be denied by the post.

The importance of winning and qualification calculations

This victory is of paramount importance to Al-Nassr, not only because it was achieved away from home, but also because it came amidst long journeys and a different climate in Turkmenistan. The AFC Champions League 2 (which replaced previous tournaments under the new AFC structure) is a primary objective for Saudi clubs to solidify their continental dominance. This win gives Al-Nassr a significant advantage before the decisive second leg, scheduled for Wednesday, February 18th, in Riyadh, where a draw of any score will be enough to secure their place in the quarterfinals.