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.

Saudi women’s sports continued their remarkable success in regional events, as the Al-Khaleej Athletics Club team raised the Saudi tally of colored medals in the Arab Women’s Clubs Games “Sharjah 2026” to 11 medals of various kinds, including 3 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals, reflecting the remarkable development in the level of technical performance of Saudi female players.

A remarkable performance in the field of athletics

The latest addition to Saudi Arabia's record of achievements came on Tuesday, with the outstanding performance of Al-Khaleej Club's athletes in the athletics competitions, which witnessed fierce competition and high levels of skill from various participating Arab clubs. Saudi runner Lujain Al-Humaid secured the silver medal in the 200-meter sprint, delivering a heroic performance that reflects the extensive preparations undertaken for this event.

In a related context, her teammate Sarah Al-Hilal the Saudi tally by winning the bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles race, one of the races that requires a combination of speed and high technique, thus proving the ability of Saudi female athletes to compete in complex technical races.

Rowing participation concludes with honorable results

On another note, the Saudi Rowing Federation concluded its participation in the Games, marking a distinguished presence that culminated in a silver medal in the doubles competition on Monday. In the singles competition, rower Mariam Al-Kaaki a commendable performance, finishing in fourth place and gaining valuable experience that will undoubtedly contribute to her development in future competitions.

The importance of the course and supporting women's sports

The Arab Women's Clubs Games, hosted by the Emirate of Sharjah, holds significant importance as the first platform of its kind in the Arab world to bring together women's clubs in professional competitions. The strong Saudi participation in the 2026 edition reflects the major transformation underway in the Kingdom's sports sector under Vision 2030, which has placed great emphasis on empowering women in sports and supporting clubs and federations to develop champions capable of raising the Saudi flag at international events.

Anticipation for the Taekwondo competitions

The active participation of Saudi clubs in the tournament continues, with attention turning tomorrow to the taekwondo competitions, as Al-Qadisiyah Club prepares to enter the competition with high ambitions to increase the Saudi medal haul, amid great optimism to achieve positive results that will add to the record of successes achieved so far in “Sharjah 2026”.

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.