The Saudi delegation participating in the 5th West Asian Paralympic Games, currently being held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman, continued to deliver exceptional performances, reflecting the significant progress of Paralympic sports in the Kingdom. Saudi athletes successfully increased their total medal count to 45, comprising 20 gold, 17 silver, and 8 bronze medals, following a day of outstanding achievements on Wednesday.

Saudi dominance in athletics and badminton

Wednesday's competitions witnessed a remarkable performance from Saudi teams, with badminton and athletics adding 24 new medals to the national tally (11 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze). These achievements reflect the growing attention Saudi Arabia is giving to the sports sector as part of its Vision 2030 goals, which aim to empower athletes with disabilities and develop their talents to compete at regional and international levels.

Details of the medals for the mother of all sports

Athletics accounted for the lion's share of today's medals, with athletes winning 18 medals (8 gold, 7 silver, and 3 bronze). The results were as follows:

• In the running events, Ali Al-Nakhli won gold in the 200m T37 with a time of 24.43 seconds, while his teammate Thamer Al-Zahrani took bronze. Nour Al-Sana'a claimed gold in the 200m T44, leaving silver for his teammate Jawad Al-Alawi. Al-Baraa Al-Qarni also shone, winning gold in both the 1500m and 800m T54 races, and Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi secured gold in the 200m T53.
• Other medals in running: Mohammed Al-Yami won silver in the 200m T11, Jamaan Al-Zahrani won silver in the 200m T54, Fahd Al-Turki won silver in the 200m T53, while runner Rabab Al-Sihaiti won silver in the 200m T11 race.
• the throwing events, Haider Salami won gold in the F57 javelin throw, and Hani Al-Nakhli won gold in the F33 javelin throw. In the women's competitions, Hadeel Al-Thuwaie won gold in the F34 discus throw and bronze in the F34 javelin throw. Ziyad Al-Khurayb also won bronze in the F11 discus throw.

Badminton and Goalball Achievements

The badminton team concluded its participation with an impressive haul of 7 medals. Younis Al-Subhi stood out, winning gold in both the singles and mixed doubles SH6 events, while Mohammed Al-Ali secured gold in the singles SL4 event and silver in the doubles standing event with Majed Al-Sahafi. Mehdi Al-Makina also earned a silver and a bronze medal, and Essam Ba’iti took home two bronze medals.

In team sports, the goalball team qualified for the quarter-finals, topping its group after sweeping the UAE team with a score of 10-0, and defeating the Omani team 10-3, setting up a meeting with its Yemeni counterpart.

Upcoming competition schedule

The excitement continues tomorrow, Thursday, as the athletics team concludes its participation with five events. The wheelchair basketball team will face the UAE, and swimmer Zaki Al-Harbi will begin his participation in the 50m freestyle. Additionally, table tennis and boccia competitions will commence, with Abdulaziz Al-Zahrani participating. This tournament serves as an important preparatory stage for Saudi athletes ahead of upcoming international competitions, further solidifying the Kingdom's position on the global Paralympic sports map.

A state of anxiety and anticipation prevails within the corridors of the Saudi Al-Ittihad Club, as the technical staff of the first football team, led by the Portuguese coach Conceição, has not yet decided on the final position of the French professional Moussa Diaby regarding the possibility of his presence in the main squad that will play the anticipated fiery match against the traditional rival, Al-Nasr team.

These doubts arose after the French star missed Wednesday evening's group training session, following a worrying injury sustained during Tuesday's practice. Initial reports indicate that the player is likely to miss El Clásico due to his incomplete recovery, leaving the coaching staff with a tactical dilemma just hours before the crucial match.

Moussa Diaby is considered one of the most important pillars of Al-Ittihad's squad this season, as evidenced by his significant impact on the pitch. The 26-year-old has participated in 26 matches for Al-Ittihad this season, scoring 3 goals. His most prominent role, however, has been playmaking, providing 12 assists for his teammates. He has accumulated a total of 2,264 minutes of playing time, making him the driving force behind the team's attacking play.

This match holds immense importance, extending far beyond the three points at stake. Al-Ittihad is set to host Al-Nassr at 8:30 PM on Friday, February 6th, in the Roshan Professional League. This encounter comes at a crucial juncture in the competition, as each team strives to achieve its differing objectives in the league standings.

Given the two teams' positions in the league standings, Al-Ittihad enters the match in sixth place with 34 points, a position unbecoming of the club's history and the aspirations of its vast fan base, making a victory crucial to getting back on track. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr comes into the game in second place with 46 points, just one point behind league leaders Al-Hilal, meaning any slip-up could cost them the top spot. This adds a fiercely competitive edge and promises a highly anticipated and exciting encounter.

International press reports have revealed a major surprise within the corridors of the Saudi Al-Nassr club, concerning the future of the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, just hours before the anticipated match against Al-Ittihad in the 21st round of the Roshan Professional League competition.

Details of the crisis and the threat of departure

According to reliable journalist Bruno Andrade, via his official account on the "X" platform, the relationship between Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr's management is at a critical juncture. Andrade indicated that Ronaldo explicitly threatened to leave Al-Nassr after the team's upcoming commitments or by mid-year, suggesting he might miss the next match against Al-Ittihad as a form of pressure.

The journalist explained that the Portuguese star had set a key condition for staying, saying: "If the required changes don't happen, Cristiano will not play again and will only continue training until mid-year, and therefore he will leave Al-Nassr, even though his contract is still valid for another year." This statement has worried Al-Nassr fans, who rely heavily on their captain in domestic and continental competitions.

Ronaldo's stance on training and the Al-Ittihad Clasico

Despite reports of tension, Cristiano Ronaldo actively participated in Al-Nassr's group training session on Wednesday, in preparation for the crucial match scheduled for Friday at Al-Ahli Park. Ronaldo's participation in training could be interpreted as a professional message of his commitment to the team despite the administrative disagreements, or as an indication that negotiations remain open to resolve the crisis before it escalates.

The importance of the match and the context of the sports project

The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match is of paramount importance, not only for points in the Saudi Professional League, but also because it is the Saudi "Clásico," attracting unprecedented global attention. This crisis comes at a very sensitive time, as Al-Nassr aims to compete for all available titles.

Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January 2023, the Saudi Pro League has become a global phenomenon. Ronaldo was the cornerstone of the ambitious sporting project that later attracted world-class stars like Neymar, Benzema, and Kanté. His potential departure would not only represent a technical loss for Al-Nassr but could also impact the marketing and media appeal of the league as a whole, given its immense commercial and popular value that extends far beyond the pitch.

The sports community is waiting to see in the coming hours whether Al-Nassr's management will succeed in meeting the demands of the Portuguese star and restoring normalcy, or whether the Al-Ittihad derby will be the beginning of the end for Ronaldo's journey in Saudi stadiums.