The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is preparing to become the focus of attention for individual sports enthusiasts, as it hosts the PSA 3K Squash Championship from February 12th to 14th. The highly anticipated tournament will take place at the Falcon Squash Club, with 16 professional players representing four Arab countries: Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, and the host nation, Saudi Arabia.

This tournament holds particular significance within the context of the Kingdom's significant sporting development, offering an ideal opportunity for Saudi players to gain international experience. Representing the Kingdom at this event are Mohammed Al-Nisfan and Salem Al-Mawlid, who aim to deliver a commendable performance reflecting the remarkable progress Saudi squash has recently made, and to earn ranking points that will improve their positions in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) rankings.

Enhancing Riyadh's position as a global sports destination

Hosting this tournament is part of a broader strategy to diversify sporting events in Saudi Arabia, in line with the goals of Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program. Following the significant successes of hosting football, boxing, and Formula 1 championships, the focus is now shifting to enhancing infrastructure and public interest in Olympic and individual sports such as squash. PSA (Professional Squash Association) tournaments are the primary gateway for emerging players to enter the global professional arena, making hosting the 3K category a crucial foundational step in building a new generation of champions.

Official statements and future aspirations

In this regard, Dr. Adel Al-Aqili stressed the importance of Riyadh hosting this tournament, noting that the event represents an extension of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to support various sports and enhance its position as a leading destination for hosting major international tournaments.

Al-Aqili stated, “We welcome all players participating in the PSA 3K Squash Championship. We in Riyadh are delighted to host this sporting event, which brings together elite players from brotherly and friendly nations in a competitive atmosphere that reflects the spirit of sport and its importance in strengthening relations between peoples.” He added, “We also emphasize our commitment to providing exceptional organization befitting the Kingdom’s stature and the rapid pace of sporting activity in Riyadh. We look forward to the championship being a successful milestone that contributes to the development of the game and motivates Saudi players to compete at the international level.”.

Regional competition and the evolution of the game

The tournament is expected to be fiercely competitive, especially with the participation of players from Egypt, the current world's top squash powerhouse, which will undoubtedly raise the technical level of the matches. The participation of countries like Kuwait and Oman is further evidence of the growing interest in this sport in the Gulf region. The tournament is part of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series and is generating considerable public anticipation. The matches are expected to be highly competitive over three days, contributing to the spread of the sport and attracting more players in the Kingdom.

Al-Nassr's Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, revealed the real reasons behind his decision to exclude Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo from the squad called up to face Arkadag in the highly anticipated Round of 16 match of the AFC Champions League. This decision comes at a sensitive time in the football season, as the team seeks to compete on all fronts.

League priority and player rotation

In a decisive statement during the pre-match press conference, Jorge Jesus confirmed that the decision stemmed from a purely technical vision aimed at maintaining the team's readiness. He said, "I decided to exclude Cristiano Ronaldo and a number of other key players from the Arkadag match, which is part of the AFC Champions League 2." The veteran coach explained that squad rotation has become a pressing necessity given the pressure of consecutive matches both domestically and continentally.

Jesus indicated that the main reason behind this bold decision was the upcoming domestic fixture, adding: "Al-Nassr has a very tough and important match against Al-Fateh in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, which will be held at Al-Fateh's stadium." This statement reflects the coaching staff's desire to field their strongest lineup for the league match, given the importance of the three points in the race for the Saudi League title, which is witnessing fierce competition this season.

The morale boost after El Clásico

Al-Nassr enters this period with extremely high morale, having won their last match in the Saudi Arabian football classic against Al-Ittihad, with a score of 2-0, in the previous round of the Saudi Professional League. This victory not only earned the team three points but also boosted the confidence of the players and coaching staff in their ability to continue winning.

Effort distribution strategy

Resting Ronaldo and other key players is part of a "management strategy" employed by major clubs competing in multiple tournaments. While the AFC Champions League 2, despite its continental importance, may allow for the inclusion of substitutes and young players to prove themselves at certain stages, league matches, especially away games like the one against Al-Fateh, demand the full mental and physical presence of the team's mainstays, most notably captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Through this careful balance between tournaments, Al-Nasr seeks to avoid muscle injuries and fatigue that may strike the players in the final stretch of the season, making Jesus's decision a proactive step to ensure the competition continues with the same long-term commitment until the end of the season.

Qatari team Al Sadd achieved a valuable and strategic victory away from home by defeating their Iranian host Tractor 2-0 in the strong match that brought them together on Tuesday evening, as part of the seventh and penultimate round of the league stage in the AFC Champions League for the 2025-2026 season.

The match witnessed a high level of tactical performance from the Qatari team, who successfully absorbed the home side's initial enthusiasm before launching their decisive attacks in the second half. The brilliant Rafa Mojica opened the scoring for Al Sadd in the 61st minute, putting pressure on the Iranian team. Before the final whistle, Brazilian star Roberto Firmino delivered the final blow, scoring the second goal in the 89th minute, securing Al Sadd's well-deserved three points.

A precious gift for Al-Hilal Saudi and securing the top spot

This victory was not only important for improving Al Sadd's position in the standings, but it also served as a golden gift to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. As a result, Tractor Sazi of Iran remained on 14 points in third place, a full four points behind leaders Al Hilal. With only one round remaining (three points available), it became mathematically impossible for any team to catch Al Hilal, officially securing the top spot in the West Zone group before even playing their final match.

Team standings and the struggle for qualification in the elite

With this crucial victory, Al Sadd raised their points tally to 8, jumping to eighth place in the West Zone standings, the last qualifying spot for the Round of 16. This intensifies the competition in the final round to secure a place in the next stage. Meanwhile, Tractor's points total remains at 14, level with Al Ahli Saudi (on goal difference) in second place, and ahead of Al Wahda of the UAE in fourth.

The importance of the new system for the continental championship

These results take on added significance under the new format of the AFC Champions League, where West Asian teams compete in a single group in a round-robin format. Finishing first, which Al-Hilal secured, grants a significant advantage in the knockout stage draw, as they will face the eighth-placed team, theoretically easing their path to the later rounds, in addition to the advantage of playing the decisive matches at home.

Al-Hilal is scheduled to conclude its journey in this round with a celebratory match - in terms of the top spot calculations - when it hosts its Emirati counterpart Al-Wahda on Monday evening, in a match in which Al-Hilal will seek to confirm its absolute dominance over the Asian continent and the best preparation for the knockout stages.