Dr. Adel Al-Aqili, President of the Saudi Squash Federation, crowned Egyptian player Karim Badawi champion of the Riyadh Squash Championship "PSA 3K," which concluded in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The tournament was held from February 12th to 14th, amidst a highly competitive atmosphere and excellent organization, reflecting the significant development of the sports sector in the Kingdom.

Details of the final match and crowning ceremony

The closing ceremony was attended by the CEO and Secretary General of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Mr. Abdulaziz Baeshen, lending a high-level official air to the event. In a thrilling and closely contested final, Egyptian Karim Badawi secured the title after defeating his Saudi opponent, Mohammed Al-Nisfan, by a score of 3 sets to 1. Despite the loss, Al-Nisfan delivered a heroic performance that earned him the admiration of the large crowd that filled the stadium to support the players.

Broad international participation

The tournament featured 16 professional players representing five different countries: Saudi Arabia (the host country), Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, and Canada. This diverse participation underscores the growing appeal of tournaments hosted by the Kingdom and its ability to attract talent from across the globe to compete on its soil.

The importance of the tournament and the future of Saudi squash

The Riyadh PSA 3K Squash Championship holds special significance as it is a PSA-sanctioned tournament, and the first time the Kingdom has hosted it. Hosting such international events is a strategic step that aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to strengthen the sports sector and establish the Kingdom as a global destination for various sports.

These tournaments directly contribute to raising the technical level of Saudi players by giving them the opportunity to compete against elite international and world-ranked players, thus providing them with the necessary experience to compete in major international events. Furthermore, the tournament's inclusion in the Professional Squash Association's calendar allows players to earn valuable ranking points that help them climb the world squash rankings.

The success of the organization and the distinguished public attendance reflect the growing popularity of squash in Saudi Arabia, and the tireless efforts made by the Saudi Squash Federation to expand the base of practitioners and develop the infrastructure of the game, in order to ensure the sustainability of sporting excellence and the graduation of new generations of champions capable of representing the nation in the best possible way.

Newcastle United achieved a valuable and well-deserved victory over their stubborn host Aston Villa, with three goals to one, in the fiery encounter that brought them together on Saturday evening at "Villa Park" stadium, as part of the round of 32 of the prestigious FA Cup for the 2025-2026 season.

The match was thrilling from the opening minutes, with the home side surprising their visitors with an early goal. Striker Tammy Abraham found the back of the net in the 14th minute, giving Aston Villa the lead and igniting the crowd. However, the Magpies refused to be deterred by the deficit, displaying a strong character in the second half, spearheaded by Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali.

Newcastle rallied in the second half, with Tonali leveling the score in the 63rd minute before adding his second and his team's second goal in the 76th minute, putting the visitors in control of the game. In the dying minutes, specifically in the 88th minute, Foltemead delivered the final blow, scoring the third goal to officially secure his team's qualification.

This victory holds particular significance for Newcastle United, not only because it came away from home against a strong opponent like Aston Villa, but also because it boosts the team's chances of competing for the FA Cup title, the oldest competition in football history, which represents a primary objective for the club's management and its trophy-hungry fans. Reaching the Round of 16 is a pivotal step in the team's journey towards Wembley, especially given the intense competition among Premier League clubs this season.

On the other hand, the cup exit represents a significant blow to Aston Villa's ambitions and those of their manager, as the team had hoped to go far in the competition. They are now expected to focus entirely on the Premier League to improve their position and secure European qualification for next season. With this resounding victory, Newcastle sends a strong message to their rivals, demonstrating their readiness, both technically and physically, to compete for silverware.

Al-Nassr's first football team continued its constant pressure on its traditional rival Al-Hilal, the leader, after achieving a valuable and well-deserved victory over its host Al-Fateh with a score of 2-0, in the exciting match that brought them together on Saturday evening, on the grounds of the first financing field in Al-Ahsa city, at the conclusion of the twenty-second round of the Saudi Professional League competition.

The legend's return and its impact on the team

This match witnessed a significant event: the return of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo to the starting lineup after missing the team's last two matches against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad. The "Madeira Rocket" wasted no time in making his mark, opening the scoring early in the 18th minute and giving his teammates a huge morale boost. His teammate Ayman Yahya then secured the victory with a second goal in the 78th minute, confirming Al-Nassr's determination to compete until the very end.

First half details and missed opportunities

From the opening whistle, Al-Nassr launched a massive attack, creating an early chance to score when Ronaldo received a cross and volleyed it wide in the first minute. Al-Fateh responded quickly with a powerful shot from Moroccan star Mourad Batna that went just past the post in the seventh minute. Frenchman Kingsley Coman then squandered a golden opportunity for Al-Nassr, inexplicably firing the ball over the bar in the 11th minute. From a well-coordinated attack reflecting Al-Nassr's dominance, Senegalese Sadio Mane delivered a perfect cross that found Ronaldo, who expertly slotted it past Spanish goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco. Al-Nassr nearly doubled their lead with a header from the Spanish defender that went narrowly wide, while Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto made a brilliant save from a Batna free-kick. The crossbar then denied Argentinian Matias Vargas an equalizer for Al-Fateh before halftime.

The excitement of the second half and the decisive points

The excitement and competitiveness continued into the second half, with Al-Fateh attempting to get back into the game and pressing their visitors. However, their attacks lacked the final touch. Conversely, Al-Nassr came close to scoring, but the post denied Portuguese player João Félix. In the 76th minute, Pinto made a brilliant save from a powerful shot by Batna, but Al-Nassr quickly responded through substitute Ayman Yahya, who received a cross, controlled it, and fired a powerful shot into the net to score their second goal. Before the end, Pacheco prevented a certain third goal by saving a dangerous shot from Ronaldo.

The two teams' positions in the standings

With this crucial victory, Al-Nassr raised their points tally to 52, narrowing the gap to just one point behind the league leaders and intensifying the competition in the upcoming rounds. Meanwhile, Al-Fateh's points remained at 24, leaving them in tenth place. This presents the team with a difficult challenge to improve their position in the safe zone and avoid relegation amidst the fierce competition witnessed in the Roshan League this season.