<rss  xmlns:content="https://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:media="https://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0" >
<channel> 
        <atom:link href="https://www.gulftoday.ae/rssFeed/58" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
    <lastBuildDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:20:39 +0400</lastBuildDate>
    <title><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae]]></title>
    <description><![CDATA[ RSS Feed : Sport  ]]></description>
    <link>https://www.gulftoday.ae</link>
     <image>
        <url>https://www.gulftoday.ae/theme_gulftoday/images/Gulf_Today_logo-NNN.svg</url>
        <title>gulftoday</title>
        <link>https://www.gulftoday.ae/</link>
    </image>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Stunned Tiger Woods handcuffed after Florida rollover crash, bodycam shows]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/03/stunned-tiger-woods-handcuffed-after-florida-rollover-crash-bodycam-shows]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Tiger Woods expressed astonishment as he was handcuffed after crashing his SUV last week in Florida, according to body camera footage released on Thursday that also shows deputies removing two pills from Woods' pocket.Separate footage from the back of the patrol car shows the handcuffed golfer hiccuping, yawning and repeatedly appearing to nod off during the 15-minute ride.Woods told authorities he was looking at his phone and changing the radio station when his speeding Land Rover clipped the back of a truck and rolled onto its side on a residential road on Jupiter Island. No one was injured in the March 27 afternoon crash."I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden - boom,” Woods told an officer as he knelt on a lawn, prior to his arrest.Bodycam footage shows Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Tatiana Levenar then conducting a roadside sobriety test and telling Woods: "I do believe your normal faculties are impaired, and you’re under an unknown substance, so at this time you’re under arrest for DUI.""I’m being arrested?” Woods responded. "Yes sir,” Levenar said.After handcuffing Woods, authorities searched his pockets and found two white pills."That’s a Norco,” Woods said after an officer pulled out the pills, referring to a painkiller that contains acetaminophen and the opioid hydrocodone. Authorities would later confirm that Woods was in possession of hydrocodone.In the bodycam footage, Woods told Levenar that he had not drunk any alcohol and that he had taken "a few” medications earlier in the day, though Woods’ words are muted in the released video as he describes some of the drugs.At the sheriff’s office complex, after Woods was escorted into the "DUI room” where drivers are tested for being under the influence, Woods said, "I’m not drunk. I’m on a prescription medication,” according to a supplemental sheriff’s office report released Thursday.Woods, 50, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to suspicion of driving under the influence. He posted a statement on Tuesday night saying that he was stepping away indefinitely "to seek treatment and focus on my health.”During the field sobriety test, deputies noticed Woods limping and that he had a compression sock over his right knee. Woods explained he had undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 surgeries on his right leg, and that his ankle seizes up while walking.Woods, who was hiccuping during questioning, continuously moved his head during one of the sobriety tests and deputies had to tell him several times to keep his head straight, an arrest report said."Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle,” Levenar wrote.Woods is the most influential figure in golf and has become as recognizable as any athlete in the world. The first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997, he has captivated golf fans with records likely never to be broken.But his injuries have kept him from accomplishing more, including those suffered in a 2021 Los Angeles car crash that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors considered amputation. He has not played an official event since the 2024 British Open. He was recovering from a seventh back surgery in October and was trying to return at the Masters, where he is a five-time champion.Following last week's crash, Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test, authorities said. He was arrested and released on bail eight hours later.Under a change to Florida law last year, refusing an officer’s request to take a breath, blood or urine test became a misdemeanor, even for a first offense.Associated Press]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/03/1067784.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/03/1067784.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/03/stunned-tiger-woods-handcuffed-after-florida-rollover-crash-bodycam-shows]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:09:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Arsenal fend off Chelsea to reach  eves’ CL semis, Bayern advance]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/02/arsenal-fend-off-chelsea-to-reach-eves-cl-semis-bayern-advance]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Defending champions Arsenal withstood a late Chelsea onslaught to book their place in the women’s Champions League semi-finals despite a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to progress 3-2 on aggregate.The damage for the Blues was done in last week’s first leg as their long wait to win the competition goes on despite their domestic dominance in England over the past decade.Arsenal ended an 18-year wait for an English winner of the women’s Champions League when they shocked Barcelona in last season’s final and dug deep to remain on course to defend their crown.The Gunners kept Sonia Bompastor’s side at arm’s length until a frantic finale in which both sides should have netted multiple times.Stina Blackstenius looked to have killed the tie off when the Swede headed in 10 minutes from time but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check for a marginal offside.Buoyed by that let-off Chelsea suddenly sprang into life.Lauren James stung the palms of Daphne van Domselaar and Veerle Buurman fired the rebound off the post with the goal gaping.Moments later Van Domselaar produced an incredible stop to turn Sjoeke Nusken’s header onto the post.At the other end Beth Mead also struck the woodwork as Arsenal threatened to take advantage of Chelsea’s desperation on the counter-attack.When the opener finally arrived, four minutes into added time, it was too late for Chelsea.Nusken connected sweetly to fire in at the near post from Sam Kerr’s cross.But there was still time for more drama as Bompastor was shown a red card for two bookable offences after a hair pull on Alyssa Thompson by Katie McCabe went unpunished.Bompastor said poor officiating had cost her side a place in the semi-finals.“If the VAR again is not able to check that situation, I don’t know why we have VAR,” said the former Lyon boss on McCabe’s challenge on Thompson.“If you look at all the decisions, first leg and second leg, that’s also part of the result in the end.“That’s the difference between being qualified and not qualified. My players, they don’t deserve that level of refereeing.”Bayern late show sink United: Bayern Munich turned the match with a quick-fire late double to beat Manchester United 2-1 at home and reach the semi-finals, winning 5-3 on aggregate.Melvine Malard’s early goal had the tie on track for extra time and United on course to become the first English side to win in Munich.After peppering the United goal since Malard’s opener, Bayern broke through in emphatic fashion when Glodis Viggosdottir and Linda Dallmann both scored inside the final 10 minutes.“We needed patience today. In the first half, we couldn’t find the solutions we needed,” Dallmann told Disney Plus.“In the second half, we were so much better and patient on the ball.”The result ended United’s hopes of a first Champions League semi-final appearance and put Bayern on track.United coach Marc Skinner lamented his side’s exertions in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to derby rivals Manchester City, while Bayern cruised past lowly Nuremberg.“The one regret I have from this is that if we had our freshness and our fit players, we could have gone toe-to-toe with them and changed that second half,” Skinner said.Bayern’s 3-2 win at Old Trafford, headlined by a double for childhood United fan Pernille Harder, gave the German side the advantage before the second leg.But with 11 minutes gone, Malard made the most of a Bayern defensive mix-up to give United the lead on the night and level up the tie.Jayde Riviere launched a ball up-field and Bayern ‘keeper Ena Mahmutovic failed to clear, allowing Malard to nab the ball and roll it into an empty net.United held firm despite waves of Bayern pressure.Harder forced a last-ditch save from United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce early in the second half.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/02/1067658.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/02/1067658.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/02/arsenal-fend-off-chelsea-to-reach-eves-cl-semis-bayern-advance]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:58:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Philippines’ boxing legend Pacquiao says fight with Mayweather in September not an exhibition bout]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/02/philippines-boxing-legend-pacquiao-says-fight-with-mayweather-in-september-not-an-exhibition-bout]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Manny Pacquiao’s planned September fight with Floyd Mayweather will not be an exhibition, the Philippine boxing legend said Thursday, days after his fellow hall of famer said their bout would be strictly entertainment.Netflix last month announced a long-awaited rematch of the highest-grossing clash in boxing history, with Pacquiao and Mayweather -- now both in their late forties -- set to clash at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept.19.But Mayweather this week stunned the boxing world by suggesting the rivals, whose 2015 bout drove 4.6 million pay-per-view buys, would only be entering the squared circle for show this time around.“It’s an exhibition, so we’re both winners,” Mayweather said in an interview with Vegas Sports Today. “We just want to go out there and entertain the people and put on a good show.”On Friday, Pacquiao begged to differ.“I want to be very clear that the contract we signed is for a professional boxing match. This is not an exhibition; it is a real fight,” he said in a statement sent to AFP.“I wish to clear up any misinformation regarding my upcoming bout against Floyd Mayweather. From the beginning, my intention has been to give the fans what they truly want to see. A high-level, competitive sanctioned fight,” he said.He added that Netflix’s February announcement of the rematch had “reflected the exact terms of our agreement” and that his team expected the “original terms of the agreement to be honored”.On Wednesday, Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, blasted Mayweather’s comments in an interview with ESPN, insisting the fight would take place.“Floyd Mayweather is officially in breach of his contract,” he told the US-based sports outlet.Meanwhile, Mike Tyson and Mayweather Jr. are set to meet in an early 2026 match-up of boxing Hall of Famers.Tyson, who will turn 60 next year, will return to the ring after his loss to Jake Paul last year in an eight-round bout. He’ll meet the unbeaten Mayweather, 48, who said the “exhibition will give the fans what they want.”Tyson barely landed a punch in that eight-round bout, which was nevertheless watched by a live crowd of around 70,000 spectators with an estimated millions more tuning in around the world.No date or site was provided in the announcement Thursday by CSI Sports, the live boxing production company which will launch a media streaming and broadcast partnership with this event.“When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather, I thought, ‘No way this happens,’” Tyson said in the release announcing the fight. “But, Floyd said yes.“This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable - and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets,” Tyson added.“I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!”Tyson was a heavyweight champion and though Mayweather won titles in five weight classes, none was above the 154-pound limit of junior middleweight.His last official bout of his 50-win career was against MMA star Conor McGregor in 2017. That fight, along with his victories over  Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez, were the three richest bouts in boxing history.“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” Mayweather said.“You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.”Earlier, Roy Jones Jr has been handed the Olympic gold medal he was controversially denied in 1988 in an extraordinary act of sportsmanship by the South Korean fighter who beat him.Hall of Fame boxer Jones shared a video on Wednesday from two years ago that showed Park Si-hun visiting the American’s ranch in Pensacola, Florida to present him with the light middleweight gold medal.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/02/1067657.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/02/1067657.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/02/philippines-boxing-legend-pacquiao-says-fight-with-mayweather-in-september-not-an-exhibition-bout]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:55:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Swiatek hires Roig after split with Fissette  as Pegula defends Charleston Open title]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/02/swiatek-hires-roig-after-split-with-fissette-as-pegula-defends-charleston-open-title]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek has hired Francisco Roig, who was part ‌of Rafael Nadal’s team and later coached ​Emma Raducanu, after the Polish ‌world number four ‌ended her coaching partnership with Wim Fissette last month.The six-time Grand Slam ‌winner split with Fissette after a 17-month stint following a shock early exit at the Miami Open with a loss to world number 50 Magda Linette.“Welcome to the team, Francisco! Very ​excited for this new chapter,” Swiatek ‌wrote in an Instagram story on Thursday.Spaniard Roig was part of Nadal’s team for 16 Grand Slam wins, but his stint as Raducanu’s coach lasted only ​six ‌months as the Briton struggled to ‌regain her form.Swiatek has also struggled this year, facing quarter-final exits from the ‌Australian Open, Qatar ‌Open and Indian Wells before the loss ‌in Miami.The 24-year-old will be gunning for her fifth French Open title when the second Grand ​Slam of the year starts next month.Meanwhile, defending champion and top seed Jessica Pegula labored more than three hours to reach the round of 16 at the WTA Charleston Open on Wednesday with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Yulia Putintseva.Pegula, the world number five from the United States, had clawed back a set but was broken to trail 0-2 in the third before mounting a final fightback.“All I just kept thinking was, like, welcome to the clay court season,” Pegula said after grinding out the win on Charleston’s green clay.Pegula, who enjoyed a first-round bye, said the breezy conditions and challenging shadows made it hard to respond aggressively to the high, looping shots from 72nd-ranked Putintseva of Kazakhstan.“She’s a really tricky opponent in general,” Pegula said.“I feel like especially on clay she can be really crafty, use high balls, low balls, slices, drop shots, and I felt like she was just honestly toying with me there for quite a while,” added the American, who was broken as she served for the match at 5-4 but broke back to give herself another opportunity to close it out.Pegula is chasing her second title of the year, after a victory in Dubai in February.Second-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew from the tournament before her second-round opener on Wednesday, saying she had “a bit of an injury” picked up in Miami.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/02/1067650.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/02/1067650.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/02/swiatek-hires-roig-after-split-with-fissette-as-pegula-defends-charleston-open-title]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:39:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Coach Slot hoping ‘legend’ Salah can still burnish Liverpool legacy]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/02/coach-slot-hoping-legend-salah-can-still-burnish-liverpool-legacy]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Arne Slot is hoping Mohamed Salah’s farewell can inspire a strong end to Liverpool’s season as he declared the Egyptian a living ‘legend’ at the club.Salah announced last week he will depart the English champions at the end of the season after nine years and 255 goals to date for the Reds.The 33-year-old had a public spat with Slot in December, declaring he had “no relationship” with the Dutchman after being dropped for three consecutive games.But since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Salah has returned to being a regular starter in a difficult campaign for Liverpool.Slot’s men sit fifth in the Premier League and are in a battle just to qualify for next season’s Champions League.But the former Feyenoord boss is hopeful of still ending the season on a high in the FA Cup and Champions League.Liverpool travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight of Europe’s top competition. “Hopefully he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months where we still play for something special, but he will always leave this club as a legend,” Slot told Liverpool’s website.“To show that hunger every three days, that professionalism, that commitment to the club, to the team, wanting to score again, always wanting to play... that is what stands out for me.”Slot’s forward options have been hampered by the absence of Alexander Isak for much of his time at the club since arriving for a British transfer record £125 million ($165 million) in September.Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/02/1067647.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/02/1067647.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/02/coach-slot-hoping-legend-salah-can-still-burnish-liverpool-legacy]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:30:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[McIlroy primed for DP World India C’ship challenge]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/mcilroy-primed-for-dp-world-india-cship-challenge]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Global star Rory McIlroy will tee it up once again at the DP World India Championship, as Delhi Golf Club prepares to host a world-class field from Oct.15-18, 2026.The World Number Two and career grand slam winner thrilled the spectators gathered to witness his first ever appearance in India last season and is now confirmed to make consecutive appearances in the highly-anticipated $4,000,000 event.The reigning Race to Dubai champion confirmed his position as a golfing icon when he completed the career grand slam in memorable fashion at Augusta National last year, adding the Green Jacket to his four previous Major victories at the 2011 US Open, the US PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and The Open in 2014.The Northern Irishman’s stellar 2025 season also included a second Amgen Irish Open title and two further victories on the PGA Tour, as well as helping Europe earn their first away win in the Ryder Cup since 2012 at Bethpage Black, New York. He rounded out the year by being crowned Race to Dubai champion for a seventh time - and fourth in succession.McIlroy will once again appear alongside some of the best players in the world at the DP World India Championship, with the 2025 winner, World Number Four, and reigning FedExCup champion Tommy Fleetwood also confirmed to tee it up in Delhi.Global smart logistics provider DP World and the DP World Tour launched the DP World India Championship in 2025. Co-sanctioned with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the tournament features the largest prize fund ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India, and will once again take its place as part of the crucial Back 9 phase of the Race to Dubai.McIlroy said: “I’ve always enjoyed playing a global schedule so I was excited to visit India for the first time last season to be part of the inaugural DP World India Championship.“The golf fans in India were so welcoming, and the whole experience was truly memorable, so it’s a pleasure to be returning to Delhi in October.”Fleetwood emerged victorious at the end of the thrilling inaugural event last season to claim his eighth DP World Tour title, as part of an incredible season for the Englishman who also won the FedExCup on the PGA Tour, and made his fourth appearance in the Ryder Cup as part of the historic victory over the US.The launch of the second edition of the DP World India Championship underscores India’s growing influence as a destination for elite golf and as a strategic market for DP World. The new tournament follows the success of the long-running Hero Indian Open, and further boosts the Tour’s momentum in the region.As the Tour’s title partner since 2022, and after becoming the Title and Official Umbrella Partner of the PGTI earlier this year, the tournament complements DP World’s broader sporting footprint in India, which includes partnerships with the Delhi Capitals, and grassroots programmes like the Second Life Container initiative and ‘Balls for Birdies’ campaign - both of which involve DP World donating golf balls, using its smart logistics network, to help grow the game and make it more accessible.Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager, DP World India Subcontinent said: “India is a key growth market for DP World. This tournament reflects our long-term commitment to strengthening trade and connectivity across the region. By bringing global sport to India, we’re not only showcasing world-class talent like Rory, but also reinforcing the country’s role in the global supply chain.”The DP World India Championship will be the eighth of nine events in the Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai, building towards the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs and culminating in the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067401.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067401.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/mcilroy-primed-for-dp-world-india-cship-challenge]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:39:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Late-charging Ganna denies Van Aert at one-day classic Across Flanders]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/late-charging-ganna-denies-van-aert-at-one-day-classic-across-flanders]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Filippo Ganna won the one-day semi-classic Across Flanders race on Wednesday as local favourite Wout Van Aert was agonisingly caught just 100 metres from the finish after a brave solo breakaway.“This is an amazing victory for me,” said Ganna, of the Ineos-Grenadiers team, who had to fight back after breaking his front wheel and handlebars in two separate incidents earlier in the 185-kilometre race from Roeselare to Waregem.“Wout made an impressive performance. To catch him was not easy, but in the end, the legs supported me to the finish line.”Three days after another long-range bid by Van Aert -- alongside his great rival Mathieu van der Poel when he was caught a kilometre from the finish of In Flanders Fields -- the Belgian was again denied at the death.And it was the second straight year he had finished second in this race, called Dwars door Vlaanderen in Dutch, meaning he has not won a major one-day race in more than two years.Van Aert had launched his attack up the Eikenberg cobbled climb with about 40km to ride and quickly caught three riders from an earlier breakaway.He shed those three companions one by one as a charging peloton ate into the 45-second lead they had built up.With the gap coming down, Ganna and Belgian Florian Vermeersch launched a counter-attack to try to catch Van Aert.Vermeersch, who similarly was part of unsuccessful counter-attacks at In Flanders Fields and two days before that when Van der Poel won the E3 Saxo Classic, faded, but Ganna pushed on.And the Italian was rewarded as he surged past the fading Van Aert with 100m left to finish just ahead of the Belgian and one second in front of the peloton, with Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold winning the race for third place.Earlier,  Uno-X rider Magnus Cort shook off a difficult year to win stage 2 of the Tour of Catalonia after a long-range breakaway was caught just ahead of the home straight.The Dane with the handlebar moustache is best known for a star turn during the 2022 Tour de France when he was cheered all the way through stage three in his homeland while leading that stage in the polka dot jersey.Cort said he hadn’t raced well since setting off sick on last year’s the Tour de France.“It’s been a year of struggles so I’m just so happy,” he said.On Tuesday, he took the lead with 100m to go, beating Noa Isidore into second and Francesco Busatto into third in an uphill dash for the line.Nestled in behind this trio, French national champion Dorian Godon of Ineos Grenadiers maintained the overall lead after finishing fourth, with 110 riders getting the same time at the finish line.Remco Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock remain third and fourth in the overall. Stage 2 started in the former home town of Catalan surrealist painter Salvador Dali, also famed for his moustache, in Figueres, for a rolling 167km run to Banyoles.It was a similar stage to Monday’s but with the climb just 25km from the finish line and then downhill all the way.It didn’t suit Irish sprinter Sam Bennett, who finished almost 25mins off the pace. Wednesday’s run should see Godon and Cort locked in a struggle for the overall lead again with a hilly 160km run from Mont-roig del Camp to Vila-seca. Favourite Jonas Vingegaard will likely go on the attack on stages four, five and six in the Pyrenees. Sunday’s finale takes in seven circuits of Montjuic in Barcelona where the Tour de France starts in July.Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067357.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067357.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/late-charging-ganna-denies-van-aert-at-one-day-classic-across-flanders]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:30:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Programme unveiled for 23rd edition of Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/programme-unveiled-for-23rd-edition-of-dubai-international-arabian-horse-championship]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The Organising Committee for Arabian Horse Show has announced the programme for the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship 2026, marking its 23rd consecutive edition.The event will be held at Zabeel Halls (4 and 5) at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 3 to 5, 2026.The championship will begin on Friday, April 3, with the preliminary classes for female horses starting at 2pm. A total of 63 horses will compete across four classes, some of which are divided into categories (A) and (B), bringing the total number of classes on the day to six.The competition will continue on Saturday, April 4, with the preliminary classes for male horses kicking off at 12pm.It will feature 92 horses competing across six classes, with certain classes split into categories (A) and (B), increasing the total number of classes to eight.The championship will conclude on Sunday, April 5, with the final championship classes for horses that qualified from the preliminary rounds, starting at 3pmThe committee noted that the programme reflects the championship’s high level of professional organization and its prestigious international reputation, ensuring strong competition among some of the finest Arabian horses in the world.Qusai Obaidallah, Director General of the championship, confirmed that organizing the event in this format aims to ensure a professional structure that matches its global stature, guarantees the highest levels of competition among participating horses, and further strengthens Dubai’s position as a global destination for hosting leading events dedicated to Purebred Arabian horses.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067355.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067355.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/programme-unveiled-for-23rd-edition-of-dubai-international-arabian-horse-championship]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:19:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Italy miss third straight World Cup, Bosnia, Turkey and Sweden qualify]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/italy-miss-third-straight-world-cup-bosnia-turkey-and-sweden-qualify]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup as a play-off defeat on penalties to Bosnia and Hercegovina on Tuesday meant the Azzurri will not go to this year’s tournament in North America, while Turkey, the Czech Republic and Sweden all secured their places at the finals.Italy have won the World Cup four times, but they failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and will once again have to watch from afar as the field is expanded to 48 teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Bosnia won 4-1 in the shoot-out in Zenica after their play-off final finished 1-1 at the end of extra time, with Sandro Tonali the only Italy player to score from the spot as Francesco Pio Esposito blazed their first penalty over and Bryan Cristante smashed his kick against the crossbar.Moise Kean had given Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy the lead on 15 minutes, but they were reduced to 10 men when Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red card late in the first half.Bosnia equalised on 79 minutes through Haris Tabakovic, and with no further goals in extra time the tie was decided on penalties.“I don’t think the boys deserved to suffer such a blow,” said Gattuso. “It’s difficult to digest.”Ranked 66th in the world, Bosnia finished second in qualifying Group H behind Austria before beating Wales on penalties in their play-off semi-final.Their only previous World Cup appearance came in 2014. Now they go into Group B at this year’s tournament along with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.The 2014 edition is the last time Italy qualified. They went out in the group stage, like in 2010. They have not won a World Cup knockout game since they last lifted the trophy in 2006.In 2018 they failed to qualify after losing a two-legged play-off final to Sweden, and they also missed out in 2022 after losing a play-off to North Macedonia.Kosovo dream over: Turkey qualified as Kerem Akturkoglu’s 53rd-minute goal secured a 1-0 win in Kosovo, shattering their hosts’ dream of appearing at the tournament for the first time.It will be Turkey’s first appearance at a World Cup since reaching the semi-finals in 2002. Vincenzo Montella’s team will go into Group D along with co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and Australia.Montella’s side are ranked 22nd in the world but this will only be Turkey’s third ever appearance at the World Cup — they went to the 1954 tournament before coming third 24 years ago in South Korea and Japan.“We achieved our dreams. The World Cup is the pinnacle in this profession,” Montella told UEFA.com.Kosovo, ranked 78th, were targeting a first ever World Cup appearance, having only been accepted as FIFA members a decade ago.Sweden recovered from a desperate performance in the group stage of qualifying to secure their place at the finals in dramatic fashion.Having beaten Ukraine 3-1 in last week’s semi-final, they edged Poland 3-2 in Stockholm, with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scoring an 88th-minute winner.Earlier, Sweden had twice taken the lead only to be pegged back, with Anthony Elanga’s opener on 20 minutes cancelled out by Nicola Zalewski, only for Gustaf Lagerbielke to put the hosts back in front before half-time.Karol Swiderski got Poland’s second early in the second half, but Gyokeres forced the ball over the line after a frantic goalmouth scramble late on.They finished bottom of qualifying Group B without a win, but secured a play-off spot thanks to their performances in the UEFA Nations League.Now coached by Englishman Graham Potter, they will go into Group F at the World Cup along with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.The Czech Republic matched Bosnia’s achievement by qualifying thanks to back-to-back shoot-out victories, as they followed their success against Ireland last week by defeating Denmark 3-1 on penalties in Prague.The match finished 2-2 after extra time, with Pavel Sulc firing the hosts ahead only for Joachim Andersen to head the Danes level.Ladislav Krejci then put the Czechs back in front in extra time, but Kasper Hogh made it 2-2.However, Denmark converted just one of their four penalties, with Rasmus Hojlund, Anders Dreyer and Mathias Jensen all failing from the spot as the Czechs qualify for a first World Cup since 2006.They go into Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Mexico.Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067347.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067347.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/italy-miss-third-straight-world-cup-bosnia-turkey-and-sweden-qualify]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:01:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Iraq qualify for football World Cup with win over Bolivia]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/iraq-qualify-for-football-world-cup-with-win-over-bolivia]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Iraq grabbed the last available place at the World Cup by beating Bolivia ‌2-1 in their inter-confederation playoff on Tuesday, sealing their return to the finals after a 40-year absence.Aymen Hussein ​steered home a second-half ⁠winner to see the Iraqis become the 48th and last team to qualify for ‌the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the ‌US.Ali Al Hamadi handed Iraq a 10th-minute lead at the Monterrey Stadium but Bolivia were level at the break through Moises Paniagua.Iraq will compete in Group I at the June 11 to July 19 World Cup along with France, Norway and Senegal.'DREAMS OF OUR FANS'Iraqi Prime ‌Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani praised the team, calling qualification a milestone for the country’s sporting ambitions that has fulfilled the "dream ⁠of our fans.""The qualification of our national team for the World Cup marks an important turning point in the history of Iraqi sports and reinforces our country's standing on this global stage," he said.'WE’VE MADE 46 MILLION PEOPLE HAPPY,' COACH SAYSIraq, the ninth team from Asia to qualify, were quickly out of the blocks and Bolivia's goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra made a fingertip save to push Amir Al Ammari’s curling free kick onto his crossbar.But from the resultant corner, Al Hamadi, who plays ​for Luton Town in League One, got ahead of the Bolivia defence to head home the opener.Bolivia ‌slowly recovered from the shock of the early setback and by the break were deservedly level.Their equaliser came when Ramiro Vaca’s forward pass, which looked initially to be a shot on goal, found Paniagua, who then had time to turn and slam ⁠home the ball from close range.Iraq went ahead again in the 53rd minute as substitute Marko Farji’s cross found Hussein, who reacted quickest and got ahead of his marker to steer home.Mohanad Ali had a chance to score a third for Iraq and finish off ​the game near ‌full time but squandered the opportunity.Bolivia forced several late corners as they desperately bid to take the game into ‌extra time but Iraq finished the fresher of the two sides."I must congratulate the players who played with real Iraqi mentality, fighting and putting their bodies on the line and that's why we won the game," Iraq coach Graham Arnold said."You've got to give full ‌credit to Bolivia, because ‌they played well. And it was just through the great ⁠defending from our players, who put their bodies on the line as I said, and we ‌defended the crosses really well. That's why we won the game."I am so happy that we’ve made 46 million people happy and especially with what's going on in the Middle East at the moment," ⁠added Arnold, who took his native Australia to the round of 16 at the last World Cup in Qatar.The ​Iraqis were seeded straight into the playoff decider while Bolivia first had to get past Suriname in Monterrey last Thursday.Iraq’s only previous World Cup appearance was in Mexico in 1986 where they lost all three group ⁠games.Reuters ]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067160.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/04/01/1067160.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/04/01/iraq-qualify-for-football-world-cup-with-win-over-bolivia]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:23:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[23rd edition of DIAHC draws 155 horses from across the world]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/31/23rd-edition-of-diahc-draws-155-horses-from-across-the-world]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The Arabian Horse Show organizing committee has announced that the number of horses participating in the 23rd Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship (DIAHC) reached 155, marking a new confirmation of the prestigious global status of the event.The event will see wide participation from several countries, including the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, and China.The championship is scheduled to take place from April 3 to 5, 2026, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Halls 4 and 5, with the participation of elite breeders of Purebred Arabian horses from around the world.The committee emphasized that this international turnout reflects the great significance of the championship, its prominent role in supporting and developing the sport and beauty of Purebred Arabian horses, and its contribution to enhancing Dubai’s position as a global destination for hosting major specialized events and championships.The Organizing Committee also announced an amendment to the list of judges who were nominated according to the draw mechanism, as part of the preparations for organizing the 23rd edition of the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship.This amendment comes within the committee’s commitment to ensuring the highest standards of transparency and impartiality, further strengthening the championship’s position as one of the leading international events in the field of purebred Arabian horse beauty.The amended list of the judges Claudia Darius, Robbie Den Hartog, Elyas Faraj, Eric gear, Terry Holmes, Jo Polo, Tamas Rombauer, Irinia Stigler, and Michaela Weidner.The committee also affirmed its full commitment to providing an outstanding organizational environment that reflects the reputation of the Emirate of Dubai and contributes to the success and continuity of the event on a global level.“Year after year, the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship cements its status as the world’s premier equestrian event, drawing the finest Arabian horses from top studs and breeders worldwide,” said Adel Saeed Al Falasi, Executive Manager of Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship.Dubai’s commitment to preserving and promoting the Arabian horse stems from its deep cultural roots and respect for this legendary breed. As a global hub for equestrian excellence, the city provides the perfect stage for this prestigious championship, attracting the best Arabian horses and their passionate owners from around the world.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/31/1067107.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/31/1067107.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/31/23rd-edition-of-diahc-draws-155-horses-from-across-the-world]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:18:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[PCB fines fast bowler Naseem Rs20m for criticising Punjab CM Maryam&#039;s presence at PSL]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/30/pakistan-cricket-board-fines-fast-bowler-naseem-shah-rs20m-for-violating-contract-over-social-media-post]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fined fast bowler Naseem Shah Rs20 million ($72,000) for a social media post criticising a politician’s presence at the opening game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which started behind closed doors last week.The Chief Minister of the Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz, was invited to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium last Thursday, along with other dignitaries, and was introduced to officials of the eight franchises and players ahead of the opening game of the tournament between defending champion Lahore Qalandars and first-timers Hyderabad Kingsmen.Naseem Shah commented in a tweet about the opening game, with the bowler saying on X, "Why is she treated like the queen at Lord’s?” in an apparent reference to Maryam Nawaz’s presence at the stadium.He deleted the post soon afterward and later said his account had been hacked.Naseem Shah tendered an unconditional apology after the PCB issued a notice to the fast bowler for violating the terms of his central contract as well as its media policy and regulations. He also appeared before a three-member disciplinary committee in Lahore on Monday.The PCB said that Naseem Shah was found "to have breached various clauses of his central contract.”"It was noted that Naseem Shah’s social media adviser has already been terminated by Naseem and shall be blacklisted by the PCB from associating with any player falling under the PCB’s jurisdiction,” the PCB said.As part of the fallout from the war in Iran, fans are barred from attending games at Pakistan's premier domestic tournament, which was originally scheduled for six venues but now reduced to just two - Lahore and Karachi.The Middle East conflict has resulted in exorbitant price hikes for fuel in the region, and Pakistan’s government is urging people to restrict travel and to work from home.Last year Pakistan all-rounder Aamer Jamal was slapped with a fine of $4,000 for displaying a slogan in favour of cricket great Imran Khan, Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister.Naseem Shah is playing for new PSL franchise Rawalpindi Pindiz and returned with expensive figures of 0-51 in the five-wicket loss to Peshawar Zalmi.Naseem Shah, a right-arm fast bowler, has taken a total of 152 wickets while representing Pakistan in 20 test matches, 34 one-day internationals and 37 T20s games.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/30/1066920.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/30/1066920.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/30/pakistan-cricket-board-fines-fast-bowler-naseem-shah-rs20m-for-violating-contract-over-social-media-post]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:37:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sabalenka claims  second straight  Miami Open title with dominating victory over Gauff]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/29/sabalenka-claims-second-straight-miami-open-title-with-dominating-victory-over-gauff]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Aryna Sabalenka won her second straight Miami Open title on Sunday beating Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to complete a “Sunshine Double” Indian Wells-Miami sweep.The world number one from Belarus, fresh off her first triumph in the California desert, became the fifth woman -- and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022 -- to win both of the elite early-season hardcourt WTA 1000 titles.“That sounds crazy, sounds unreal,” Sabalenka told Tennis Channel. “I’m just super grateful, super happy and super proud right now.”Sabalenka underscored her WTA dominance in a season in which her only defeat to date was her Australian Open finals loss to Elena Rybakina -- who she went on to beat in the Indian Wells title match and in the semi-finals here.She handed Gauff her first career defeat in a hardcourt final.The American had won her first nine, including a triumph over Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open championship match.Gauff had also beaten the Belarusian for the title on the red clay of Roland Garros last year.So Sabalenka said she wasn’t surprised to see Gauff dig in, even after the Belarusian pocketed the first set with a ruthless display of power and precision.She broke Gauff to open the match and, after Gauff saved three break points in a gritty fifth game, broke the American again in the seventh before serving it out in 37 minutes without facing a break point herself.In a tense second set, Gauff’s first break point chance -- from a blistering backhand passing winner in the second game -- sparked a jubilant reaction from the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins that is just about an hour away from Gauff’s Delray Beach home.But Gauff couldn’t convert, slamming a forehand into the net on the next point as Sabalenka held.It needed another gutsy hold from Gauff to keep it on serve in the fifth game.Up 40-0, she wasted three game points with a pair of errors off the ground and a double fault then had to save a break point before taking the game on her fifth game point.Gauff, finding more depth on her ground strokes to ramp up the pressure on Sabalenka, broke for the first time to take the second set.“I know Coco quite well,” Sabalenka said. “I know that she’s not going to, like, give me this final easily. I knew that she’s going to be fighting, she’s going to be moving well, she’s going to be trying to put literally every ball back on my side.“I lost a couple of opportunities in that second set, but I was just trying to stay mentally positive going into the third set.”And the third set, again, was virtually all Sabalenka.She broke to open the final frame and broke again when Gauff sailed a backhand long on Sabalenka’s first match point.“What can be better than this month?” said Sabalenka, who along with two prestigious titles acquired a new puppy and got engaged to boyfriend Georgios Frangulis.Gauff was also feeling grateful after a rocky March that saw her withdraw from her third-round match at Indian Wells with a nerve issue that caused “scary” pain in her left arm.She had said after a dominant semi-final win over Karolina Muchova that she was making progress with the inconsistencies in her serve and forehand. And after considering skipping the event, the 22-year-old was thrilled to reach the final for the first time.“I don’t think with the conversations we had earlier that this was the result we were expecting,” she said at the trophy presentation.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/29/1066574.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/29/1066574.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/29/sabalenka-claims-second-straight-miami-open-title-with-dominating-victory-over-gauff]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:55:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Antonelli wins Japan’s F1 GP to take championship lead]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/29/antonelli-wins-japans-f1-gp-to-take-championship-lead]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli benefited from an opportunely timed safety car in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix to clinch his second straight Formula One ‌win and become, at just 19 years of age, the sport’s youngest ever championship leader.The Italian, who started from pole ​but dropped to sixth after a tardy start, crossed the line 13.7 seconds clear of Australian Oscar Piastri, who ‌handed reigning champions McLaren their first podium ‌of the season. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third.Antonelli’s win, his second from the opening three races, gives him a nine-point lead in the overall standings over teammate George Russell.The Briton, who had held a four-point advantage going into Sunday’s race, finished a distant fourth.“Of course, it’s ‌too early to think about the championship,” said Antonelli who also became the first Italian to win two Formula One races in a row since Alberto Ascari in 1953.“But we’re on the good way,” he added, acknowledging the lucky timing of the safety car but also pointing to his speed in the second half of the race.SLOW STARTAntonelli made a tyre smoking getaway that left him a sitting duck and allowed his rivals to stream past.Piastri, starting third, led into the first corner from Leclerc, reigning world champion Lando Norris, Russell and seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton.It wasn’t until lap 21 that Antonelli found himself back in the lead, ​inherited after his rivals, including teammate George Russell, pitted for fresh rubber.A heavy crash a lap later for Haas ‌racer Oliver Bearman triggered a safety car and turned the race in Antonelli’s favour.That gave the Italian the opportunity to make his stop while his rivals were running at reduced speed and keep the lead, leaving Russell, who had stopped just a lap earlier and had been leading from Antonelli, cursing his luck.BEARMAN GIVEN ALL CLEAR: Briton Bearman was given the all-clear by doctors after limping away from the high-speed 50G crash.Replays showed him having to take avoiding action as he rapidly closed in on Franco Colapinto’s Alpine, with a significant speed differential ​between the two ‌cars.That sent Bearman onto the grass and into a heavy collision with the barriers.The 20-year-old was given an X-ray at the ‌circuit’s medical centre which revealed a right knee contusion but no fractures, a Haas spokesperson said.REDEMPTION FOR PIASTRI: Piastri’s podium helped McLaren bounce back from a dismal Chinese Grand Prix at which neither of their two cars were able to make the start in Sunday’s race.It was also redemption ‌for Piastri, who ‌until Sunday had only turned racing laps in China’s Saturday sprint, having crashed out ahead of his home race in Australia.“Yeah, we do alright when we get to start!” ‌joked the 24-year-old.NORRIS FIFTH: Norris was fifth in the other McLaren ahead of Hamilton and the Briton, like Antonelli, benefited by pitting under the safety car to move up to third.But despite another Sunday afternoon of wheel-to-wheel battling, he was unable to hang on to the podium spot.Pierre Gasly was seventh for Alpine.Four-times world champion Max Verstappen, ​who said he was “beyond frustration” after a poor qualifying on Saturday, salvaged some points in eighth.Liam Lawson was ninth for Racing Bulls with Esteban Ocon 10th in his Haas.Fernando Alonso handed Aston Martin their first finish of the year at power unit partner Honda’s home race. The Spaniard was 18th.Meanwhile, four-time world champion Verstappen suggested he could quit Formula One at the end of the season after enduring another frustrating race on Sunday in Japan.The Red Bull driver finished eighth in Suzuka, ending his four-year reign as Japanese Grand Prix champion in ruthless fashion.He told the BBC that he was “not enjoying the whole formula behind” this season’s championship, which has brought in sweeping new regulations.“You just think about, is it worth it?” he said.“Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/29/1066573.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/29/1066573.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/29/antonelli-wins-japans-f1-gp-to-take-championship-lead]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:52:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[VIDEO: US colt Magnitude wins $12m Dubai World Cup at Meydan]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/29/us-colt-magnitude-wins-12m-dubai-world-cup-at-meydan]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[American colt Magnitude, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, was crowned champion of the 30th edition of the Dubai World Cup today at Meydan Racecourse.The four-year-old, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Jose Ortiz, clinicaly claimed the Group 1 showpiece over 2,000 metres on the dirt track. Competing against a field of nine elite international contenders, Magnitude secured the $6.96 million winner's prize from the total $12 million purse sponsored by Emirates.Magnitude completed the distance in a time of 2:04.38, winning by a margin of 0.98 lengths to secure the United States' ninth victory in the history of the Dubai World Cup.The Japanese challenger Forever Young, owned by Susumu Fujita, finished second under trainer Yoshito Yahagi and jockey Ryusei Sakai, earning $2.4 million. Third place went to the UAE’s Meydaan, owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford and ridden by William Buick, taking home $1.2 million."Obviously, Forever Young was the best horse in the world and we had to respect that. But we knew we had a horse good enough to win, and he showed up to it," said Ortiz, who fought back ⁠tears after the win."He jumped well, he put me in the lead, I was very happy to be there... when I looked to my side, passing 600 metres, I saw Forever Young and I knew it was time to go. I knew he was going to be the horse to beat, so I asked (Magnitude) to run and he was there for me."It was the second Dubai World Cup title for trainer Steven Asmussen, who previously won it in 2008 ⁠with Curlin, another American-trained thoroughbred.Meydaan, named after the venue holding the race, finished third.Ortiz said the celebrations will be rather muted ahead of an early morning flight back to the United States on Sunday."I'm not used to racing late at night under lights," he said. "I'm hungry, I want to go and eat! We fly pretty early tomorrow so I'd rather wait and celebrate with my family and friends. Maybe we'll have a cookout."Forever Young's trainer Yoshito Yahagi believes that the Meydan track "doesn't seem to suit" his horse, having finished third in the Dubai World Cup last year. He did win the G2 UAE Derby on the track in 2024, but it was a workmanlike success that rated below the rest of his performances at three.“Everything went the way we planned but the winner was good today," said Forever Young's regular partner Ryusei Sakai. Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/28/1066305.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/28/1066305.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/29/us-colt-magnitude-wins-12m-dubai-world-cup-at-meydan]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:30:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Tiger Woods arrested, charged with DUI after Florida crash]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/28/tiger-woods-arrested-charged-with-dui-after-florida-crash]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[US golfer Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence late on Friday  after a rollover crash near his Florida home, authorities said, as the  15-time major champion's golf career veered into fresh turmoil.Woods, 50, escaped injury but was detained after his vehicle clipped a  truck while attempting to overtake on a residential road on Jupiter  Island, flipping onto its side before sliding to a stop.But he was released from jail after posting bail following his arrest on suspicion of DUI in relation to a rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida.According to the Martin County Sheriff's Office, ‌Woods showed signs of impairment at the crash scene. He tested negative for alcohol impairment on a breathalyzer check ​but refused a ⁠urinalysis test and was arrested on suspicion of DUI with property damage and ‌refusal to submit to a lawful ‌test.The crash occurred in the city where Woods lives around 2pm ET.Woods was booked at the county jail in Stuart, Fla., around 3 p.m. ET. He was released on bail eight hours later, the minimum allowed under ‌state law, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.In a press conference, Budensiek said that Woods' Land Rover unsuccessfully attempted ⁠to pass a truck with a pressure cleaner on its trailer. Woods' car hit the trailer, landed on its side and continued down the road, per the sheriff.Woods and the driver of the truck were uninjured, the sheriff reported. "This could have been a lot worse," Budensiek said.Officers responding to the scene found Woods to be impaired, according to Budensiek, who added that alcohol wasn't believed to be involved."They believe it was some type ​of medication or drug," Budensiek said of the investigators. "... They did several tests on him. Of ‌course, he did explain the injuries and the surgeries that he had. We did take that into account, but they did do some in-depth roadside tests."Budensiek added, "He is cooperative, but he was not trying to incriminate himself, so he ⁠was careful in what he said and didn't say."Woods, 50, was involved in a one-car crash in Southern California in February of 2021 that caused multiple leg fractures. No charges were filed. The accident impacted Woods' golf career and he has ​appeared in minimal ‌PGA Tour events since.In May of 2017 Woods also was arrested on a DUI charge in Jupiter ‌Island and eventually pleaded guilty to reckless driving. He was given one year of probation, along with a $250 fine and 50 hours of community service.Woods is not expected to participate in next month's Masters Tournament but reportedly had registered to participate in ‌the US Senior ‌Open.A 15-time major winner on the PGA Tour, Woods ⁠had recently hinted at participating on the Champions Tour now that he is 50."I'm trying. ‌Put it that way," Woods said at last month's Genesis Invitational near Los Angeles, when asked about playing again. "The disc replacement has been one thing. ... I've had a fused back and ⁠now a disc replacement, so it's challenging."And now, I entered a new decade, so that number is ​starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart. That's something that, as I said, I won't do out here on (in PGA Tour ⁠events) because I don't believe in it. But on the Champions ​Tour, that's certainly (an) opportunity."Reuters ]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/28/1066141.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/28/1066141.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/28/tiger-woods-arrested-charged-with-dui-after-florida-crash]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:12:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Dubai World Cup: Calandagan starts out on defence of its World’s Best Racehorse crown]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/28/dubai-world-cup-calandagan-starts-out-on-defence-of-its-worlds-best-racehorse-crown]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[He was officially the best racehorse on the planet in 2025 and now Calandagan starts out on the defence of its World’s Best Racehorse crown in the $6m Longines Dubai Sheema Classic [G1 2410m], a race which has acclaimed some of the greats of middle-distance turf racing since it was added to the programme in the third year of the Dubai World Cup story.Fantastic Light and Heart’s Cry were major winners in the early years, while St Nicholas Abbey and Cirrus Des Aigles helped cement the race’s reputation among the global elite events during its second decade.In recent years Mishriff, Rebel’s Romance and the extraordinary Equinox have all shone under the Meydan floodlights and, on the basis of a string of four Group 1 victories between June and November last year, spanning France, Britain and, momentously, Japan, the Aga Khan Studs’ homebred carved his own piece of history.In doing so Calandagan has become as popular with racing fans as he is admired by racing professionals and ratings experts.But what is it that really marks out such a champion to those who know him best? And what is the significance to the Aga Khan Studs of breeding and campaigning such an iconic runner in their famous emerald green and red silks?Trainer Francis Graffard can sometimes be caught in a kind of reverie when recalling the highlights of Calandagan’s extraordinary 2025, and he also takes his time in assessing what qualities elevate the son of Gleneagles to a level very few thoroughbreds achieve."What makes him better than the rest?” wonders Graffard. "His consistency. Mentally and physically he’s made for it and he’s so consistent. Nothing bothers him nowadays.”Graffard confirms that Calandagan was not really a problem child in his younger days, more a gawky adolescent."He never had a bad temperament but he was more backward and immature than we thought, both mentally and physically,” says Graffard."To start the season with the best racehorse in the world, it’s different. This year he will be the one to beat, everytime he runs. But he doesn’t know that, only we do.”Graffard adds: "But it’s so good for the sport, he can run on and be competitive and hopefully he stays at the top. He’s been so good for us.”WAM]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/28/1066054.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/28/1066054.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/28/dubai-world-cup-calandagan-starts-out-on-defence-of-its-worlds-best-racehorse-crown]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:47:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[100 horses to compete in 30th Dubai World Cup with total prize money of $30.5m on Saturday]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/27/100-horses-to-compete-in-30th-dubai-world-cup-with-total-prize-money-of-305m-on-saturday]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Dubai will host the 30th Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, featuring 100 horses from leading international stables competing across nine races with total prize money of $30.5 million.The organising committee at Dubai Racing Club said preparations for the event have been completed, with strong local and international interest expected in this year’s edition.The highlight of the evening is the main race, the Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, offering $12 million in prize money. The Group 1 race will be run over 2,000 metres on dirt, with nine of the world’s leading thoroughbreds set to compete.Among the contenders are last year’s winner "Hit Show”, "Meidan”, winner of Super Saturday, "Forever Young,” champion of both the UAE Derby and the Saudi Cup, and "Imperial Emperor.”The meeting opens with the Dubai Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians (Group 1), over 2,000 metres on dirt, featuring 15 runners competing for $1 million, featuring 15 runners including "Murad," "First Class," "Fallah" and "Mubeed."The second race, the Godolphin Mile (Group 2), over 1,600 metres on dirt, features 12 runners competing for $1 million, including "Commissioner King,” "Panching,” "Mendelssohn” and "David of Athens.”The third race, the Dubai Gold Cup (Group 2), over 3,200 metres on turf, brings together 10 runners competing for $1 million. Leading contenders include "Al Riffa,” "Al Nayyir,” "Siskany,” "Sons and Lovers” and "Very Elegant.”The fourth race, the UAE Derby (Group 2), over 1,900 metres on dirt, features 12 runners competing for $1 million, led by "Pyromancer,” "Wonder Den,” "Six Speed” and "Brotherly Love.”The fifth race, Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1), over 1,200 metres on turf, includes 13 runners competing for $1.5 million, faeturing "Lazzat,” "Riff Runner,” "Cover Up” and "Marbaan.”The sixth race, Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1), over 1,200 metres on dirt, features 12 runners competing for $2 million, including "Bentornato,” "Al Naseeb,” "Midland Money” and "Mufasa.”The seventh race, Dubai Turf (Group 1), over 1,800 metres on turf, sees 11 runners competing for $5 million, led by "Facteur Cheval,” alongside "Embodiment,” "Qudwah” and "Al Najm.”The eighth race, Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1), over 2,410 metres on turf, features six runners competing for $6 million, including "Calandagan”, "Eziqal Diamond”, "Gaiyyath Loto” and "Royal Power.”WAM]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/27/1065801.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/27/1065801.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/27/100-horses-to-compete-in-30th-dubai-world-cup-with-total-prize-money-of-305m-on-saturday]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:22:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[No fans and no fireworks as Pakistan T20 cricket league begins with a hush]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/27/no-fans-and-no-fireworks-as-pakistan-t20-cricket-league-begins-with-a-hush]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Lahore: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) got under way with a win for Lahore Qalandars against Hyderabad Kingsmen but without the usual razzmatazz accompanying cricket’s shortest format — or fans.Organisers of the T20 tournament last weekend said that matches would be played without spectators, and at just two venues instead of six, because of the war in the Middle East.Pakistan’s government has introduced sweeping austerity measures designed to save fuel, with mounting concerns about supplies as the conflict drags on.As a result, Thursday night’s opening ceremony — last year marked by spectacular fireworks — was cancelled and the green and white seats of Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium were empty.Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said it wouldn’t be right to have 30,000 fans attending cricket matches every day while the government is asking the public to stay home.VENUES REDUCED FROM 6 TO 2The PCB reduced the number of PSL venues from six to two as part of austerity measures and barred spectators from PSL games at Lahore and Karachi.Just a handful of people, mostly from the eight franchises, witnessed the opening game. The PCB invited Chief Minister of Punjab province Maryam Nawaz to grace the first match of the 39-day long tournament. The Chief Minister watched the game for some time with officials of the PCB.The PCB has also encouraged fans to watch from home. To make up for empty stadiums, crowd noise was simulated during the live TV broadcast as Lahore scored 199-6.DIFFERENT KIND OF ENJOYMENTFans such as Nadia Tufail, 40, had been eagerly awaiting the start of the 44-match tournament involving eight teams, which runs until May 3.“Watching a match in the stadium has a completely different kind of enjoyment. There is a large crowd, you get to meet different people and the experience becomes even more exciting,” she said as she watched the match at home.“There is cheering, noise and celebration, which makes the atmosphere more lively and thrilling. In my opinion, the government’s policy this time was due to the war situation, but such a policy should not be implemented every time.“People should be given the opportunity to go to the stadium and enjoy the match there because watching at home is not nearly as enjoyable.”Before the game the normal bustle of spectators arriving at the ground was replaced by a hush, with only armed police and soldiers keeping watch.Inside, ground staff prepared the pitch and television cameras were set up, with little of the hubbub of expectation and excitement from the gathering crowds.‘WE WILL MISS IT’“For us as well it’s a different experience without a crowd, and we will miss it,” said Pakistan’s former captain, Babar Azam, who plays for PSL side Peshawar Zalmi.“The fans will miss it too because they bring a different vibe and give players a big boost. Every team has its own fans, and you get a unique kind of support there.“We will try to play good cricket so that people enjoy watching on TV, and we encourage everyone to support their teams through television and social media.”Irfan Khan Niazi, from Hyderabad Kingsmen, agreed but said there was no choice.“We can’t enjoy the game the same way without a crowd but given the situation, we have to make the most of it,” he said. Niazi was on the losing side on Thursday night as Lahore were easy winners by 69 runs.In the opening game, defending champion Lahore Qalandars notched a 69-run win over first-timers Hyderabad Kingsmen in an empty Gaddafi Stadium.Opening batter Fakhar Zaman became second player in the PSL history to complete 3,000 runs and made 53 off 39 balls after Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and elected to bat.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/29/1066319.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/29/1066319.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/27/no-fans-and-no-fireworks-as-pakistan-t20-cricket-league-begins-with-a-hush]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:37:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Final phase of FIFA World Cup ticket sales to open on April 1]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/26/final-phase-of-fifa-world-cup-ticket-sales-to-open-on-april-1]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The fourth and final ticket sales phase for the 2026 World Cup will open on April 1, FIFA announced on Wednesday, without specifying how many tickets will be made available.World soccer's governing body said over one million tickets had been  sold by the end of the previous release between December and February  and additional tickets would be put on general sale April 1 to the end  of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19.The "last-minute" sales phase will then remain open through the end of the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19, global football's governing body said in a statement.Final World Cup ticketing phase is first-come, first-served Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and be "released for sale on a rolling basis, including, on occasion, for matches taking place on the same day."The last-minute phase is the fourth and final official ticket sales phase. During prior phases, FIFA said, more than 1 million tickets were sold out of more than 500 million requests.In total, some 7 million tickets are expected to be sold, taking into account the capacities of the 16 stadiums being used for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.The latest phase comes after FIFA P0resident Gianni  Infantino proclaimed in January that the demand for tickets was the  equivalent of "1,000 years of World Cups at once" and all 104 matches at  the latest edition Cup would be sold out.FIFA has faced criticism over its ticket pricing strategy  for the tournament, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and  Mexico.Fans accused FIFA of a "monumental betrayal" in December  when tickets were put on general sale ranging from $140 for the cheapest  group games to $8,680 for the final.On Tuesday, Football Supporters Europe said it had joined with consumer  group Euroconsumers to make a formal complaint with the European  Commission over prices.FSE has criticised the exorbitant face prices and the employment of  "dynamic pricing" for the first time at a World Cup, which could see  costs rise even further.FIFA said remaining tickets would be sold on a first come  first served basis. It said the latest phase would enable fans to select  specific seats, while those who have already bought tickets would be  able to see which seats they have been allocated from April 1.The group claims FIFA has "abused its monopoly position to impose excessive ticket prices and opaque and unfair purchasing conditions and processes on European fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup."FIFA has defended ticket prices, with president Gianni Infantino saying they are driven by "insane" demand.Under pressure, FIFA created a category of $60 tickets reserved for official supporters' clubs.According to FSE, this category was practically exhausted before sales opened to the general public.FIFA also announced on Wednesday they will reopen the official platform for ticket resale and exchange on April 2.The platform has also been at the center of criticism due to the prohibitive prices of tickets listed for resale, although FIFA says it does not interfere in this "fan-to-fan market" where the reseller sets the displayed price of each ticket.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/26/1065673.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/26/1065673.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/26/final-phase-of-fifa-world-cup-ticket-sales-to-open-on-april-1]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:16:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Joo Kim holds off Korda charge to claim LPGA Founders Cup title]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/23/joo-kim-holds-off-korda-charge-to-claim-lpga-founders-cup-title]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Hyo Joo Kim held off Nelly Korda on Sunday at Sharon Heights to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the Fortinet Founders Cup.Her opening five-stroke advantage gone after 10 holes, Kim regained the lead on the next hole and ended up with a one-shot margin after a closing bogey.“I don’t think I was necessarily shaken up or my emotions were all over the place,” Kim said through a translator. “I was just trying to keep my focus on my shots and what I was doing.”Kim shot a 1-over 73 for a 16-under 272 total. The 30-year-old South Korean player also won the 2015 event in Phoenix. She has eight LPGA Tour titles to go along with 14 KLPGA Tour victories.Korda closed with a 69. The American won the season opener in Florida, then skipped the Asia swing.“Obviously, something like 17 stings, so it is what it is,” Korda said. “It’s golf. It’s a quick turnaround. There is next week. So, just going to take all the positives.”Earlier Sunday, brother Sebastian Korda beat top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the third round of the Miami Open tennis tournament.Korda matched Kim with a bogey on No. 2, then birdied six of the next eight to tie for the lead. Kim pulled back ahead with a birdie on the par-4 11th, traded bogeys with Korda on the par-4 12th and took a two-stroke lead with a birdie on the par-4 14th.Kim gave back the stroke with a bogey on the par-4 16th, then hit a flop from deep rough to 2 1/2 feet to save par after hitting long on the par-3 17th. Korda three-putted for bogey on 17, missing a 3-footer, to send Kim to 18 with the two-shot advantage that she ended up needing.“I think just in the back nine my two par saves were probably the things I’m proudest about today,” Kim said. “Just because my shots weren’t playing as well.”Kim won for the first time in a year since the Ford Championship in Phoenix, the event that begins Thursday at Whirlwind Golf Club.She started fast at challenging Sharon Heights, holing out for eagle on the eighth hole Thursday in a 63 that gave her a two-shot lead. She pushed the advantage to four Friday with a 70.“I enjoyed every single day, but this course was pretty tough,” Kim Korda parred the final hole.“I wish I could have hit that drive into the fairway and given myself a better opportunity to press a little bit more,” Korda said.Associated Press]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/23/1064810.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/23/1064810.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/23/joo-kim-holds-off-korda-charge-to-claim-lpga-founders-cup-title]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:52:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Vinicius double helps Real edge past Atletico thriller]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/23/vinicius-double-helps-real-edge-past-atletico-thriller]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Vinicius Junior struck twice as Real Madrid shaded Atletico Madrid 3-2 in a thrilling derby clash on Sunday to stay on leaders Barcelona’s tail at the top of La Liga.After the Catalan giants edged Rayo Vallecano 1-0 earlier on, Real ensured the gap to the champions stayed at four points by beating Diego Simeone’s side at the Santiago Bernabeu.Ademola Lookman put Atletico ahead in the first half but Vinicius and Federico Valverde’s strikes gave the hosts the lead soon after the interval.Nahuel Molina equalised for Atletico, fourth, with a spectacular effort from distance but Vinicius netted again to claim the three points for Los Blancos.Valverde was sent off for hacking Alex Baena in the final stages but his side held on to win in Alvaro Arbeloa’s first derby clash with Atletico since taking over in January.After ousting Manchester City in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, victory against Atletico completed a successful week for Arbeloa and his team.“We’re evolving and working hard so that in games like these Real fans can be happy, that the fans can enjoy themselves and that Real always win,” Vinicius told Real Real TV.“Everyone deserves credit, the coach, the players, the fans, all the work we’ve done this week. We were sure of our gameplan from the start and that made all the difference.”A pulsating clash began with chances for both sides, with Valverde hitting the post after bursting in behind the Atletico defence.At the other end, Andriy Lunin, playing in place of the injured Thibaut Courtois, fumbled Marcos Llorente’s drive but recovered quickly to grab the loose ball.Vinicius came close to putting Real ahead but Giuliano Simeone blocked twice in quick succession in his own six-yard box from the forward.Atletico took the lead after 33 minutes with a slick team move, Giuliano Simeone backheeling the ball to Lookman who slotted home.Real comeback: Real Real netted two quickfire goals early in the second half as Atletico imploded.Brahim Diaz showed fleet footwork in the area and the unbalanced David Hancko felled the Morocco international.Vinicius tucked home from the spot in the 52nd minute, sending Juan Musso the wrong way.Three minutes later and Los Blancos were ahead, with Valverde charging down Jose Gimenez’s attempted pass and then firing past Musso with the outside of his boot.“I think we could have done more, after going a goal up we could have controlled things in a different way,” Simeone told reporters.Atletico pulled level with a brilliant Molina effort, rifled into the top corner from outside the box.However, Real reclaimed the lead through Vinicius once more after Trent Alexander-Arnold fed him, and the Brazilian curled home.It was Vinicius’s 10th goal in his last 11 matches across all competitions, with the forward in superb form.“I’m very happy because I’ve worked all season for games like this,” added Vinicius.“When this moment of the season arrives, I don’t know why, I always improve.”Julian Alvarez almost levelled once more for Atletico but his effort from the edge of the box crashed back off Lunin’s upright.Arbeloa sent on Jude Bellingham as a substitute for his first appearance since February 1 after a hamstring injury, along with French superstar Kylian Mbappe.Neither had much of an influence as Real were forced to defend after Valverde’s foul on Baena bought him a red card.Real protested it was not severe enough of an offence to merit a dismissal, but to no avail.In 2023 Baena, then at Villarreal, accused Valverde of punching him after a game.“It’s hard to understand...” said Arbeloa of Valverde’s red card. “But (afterwards) there were 15 minutes of teamwork, solidarity, defending well and it didn’t end up being a problem.”Sevilla sack manager Almeyda: Sevilla have sacked manager Matias Almeyda, the LaLiga club said on Monday, with the side three points above the relegation zone.Sevilla are 15th in the standings with 31 points from 29 matches and have managed only one win in their last eight league games.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/23/1064783.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/23/1064783.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/23/vinicius-double-helps-real-edge-past-atletico-thriller]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:47:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Korda sends world number one Alcaraz to another early exit at Miami Open, holder Sabalenka advances]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/23/korda-sends-world-number-one-alcaraz-to-another-early-exit-at-miami-open-holder-sabalenka-advances]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Sebastian Korda stared down Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, sending the world number one crashing out of the Miami Open third round 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.Korda, ranked 36th in the world, notched his first victory over a world number one, sending Alcaraz to his second straight early exit in Miami following defeat to 55th-ranked Belgian David Goffin in the second round last year.Since that defeat, Alcaraz had built a remarkable 73-6 record, including a 16-0 start to 2026 that included an Australian Open triumph to complete a career Grand Slam and a title in Doha.It looked like Korda had missed his chance to spring the upset when he served for the match at 5-4 in the second set and was broken at love.Alcaraz won the next two games to force a third set, part of a run of five straight games for the Spaniard.But Korda didn’t buckle, and it was the American who seized a break for 4-3 in the third when Alcaraz sailed a forehand wide.He held his next service game with confidence, slamming down an overhead winner on game point and after Alcaraz held serve Korda served for the match again, this time making no mistake.“It feels great,” said Korda, who has been ranked as high as 15th in the world but has endured two seasons disrupted by injuries.“I took the scenic route, that’s for sure -- a little more stress than I would want but happy with how I played, happy with how I stayed with it.”Alcaraz said Korda played an “incredible” match.“A lot of tight, tight moments that I just didn’t make the most of it,” Alcaraz said. “I think he was better on those points, on those moments. I would say that was the key of the match.”Korda will face Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce for a place in the quarter-finals after Landaluce ousted 14th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (7/2).Sabalenka marches on: World number one Aryna Sabalenka kept her title defense on track with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over 72nd-ranked American Caty McNally that was tougher than the score indicated.They were on serve after exchanging four breaks in the opening set when Sabalenka gained the decisive break in the final game.The Belarusian star, trying to complete the “Sunshine Double” after capturing her first Indian Wells title last week, wasted one chance to break in the second set before ramping up her return pressure to break McNally’s on her last two service games.“She played really great tennis,” Sabalenka said, adding that her hold for 5-4 in the opening set, in a game that went to deuce five times, was key.“(I’m) super happy to close this match in straight sets,” said Sabalenka, who booked a meeting with China’s Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Madison Keys.It was Zheng’s first win over a top-20 player since elbow surgery last July.World number two Elena Rybakina, who beat Sabalenka in the Australian Open final but fell to her in the Indian Wells title match, moved smoothly into the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.Rybakina next faces Australian qualifier Talia Gibson, who knocked off another seed with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over 18-year-old 18th seed Iva Jovic.Gibson, who reached the quarter-finals at Indian Wells, had ousted former world number one Naomi Osaka in the second round.Meanwhile, world number three Iga Swiatek has ended her coaching partnership with Wim Fissette, she said on Monday, following a disappointing start to the season that culminated in a shock early exit at the Miami Open.The 24-year-old, who hired the Belgian in October 2024, said she had decided to take a different path after a 17-month stint that included her maiden Wimbledon title last year. However, Thursday’s loss to world number 50 and Polish compatriot Magda Linette at the Miami Open proved a turning point for the six-times Grand Slam winner.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/23/1064782.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/23/1064782.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/23/korda-sends-world-number-one-alcaraz-to-another-early-exit-at-miami-open-holder-sabalenka-advances]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:44:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Pakistan opener batsman Farhan bags ICC Player of the Month award]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/23/pakistan-opener-batsman-farhan-bags-icc-player-of-the-month-award]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Pakistan opener batsman Sahibzada Farhan has bagged the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February 2026 after his stunning ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in Sri Lanka, where he was the highest run-getter with 383 runs in seven matches (six innings) at an average of 76.60 that included two hundreds and as many half centuries.The right-hander had a superb run at the global event, boasting a strike rate of 160.25 while breaking Virat Kohli's longstanding record of most runs at the T20 World Cup in a single edition. He also became the first batter to score two centuries (against Namibia and Sri Lanka) in a singular global event of the shortest format.Sahibzada won the award ahead of Will Jacks of England and Shadley van Schalwyk of the USA, following a vote conducted among global fans registered at icc-cricket.com and a specialist panel comprising former international players and media representatives.It is the only time Farhan has won the monthly ICC award, with the hard-hitting batter becoming the first male Pakistan player to achieve the feat since pacer Haris Rauf in November 2024."It’s an incredible feeling to win this ICC award, especially for performances on the World Cup stage, where fans from all over the world are watching every moment. That makes it even more special," Farhan was quoted as saying in the ICC release."It was truly a tournament I’ll always cherish, and I’m determined to carry this momentum forward in the series and competitions ahead. I’m deeply grateful to my teammates for their constant support and belief in me - this wouldn’t have been possible without them.”PCB CHAIRMAN MOHSIN NAQVI CONGRATULATES FARHANPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Sahibzada Farhan for winning ICC Player of the Month Award.In his message,  Naqvi said that "winning of ICC Player of the Month Award by Sahibzada Farhan is an honour for Pakistan."He said that Sahibzada Farhan deserved this award due to his hectic efforts and professional approach. Naqvi expressed the hope that opening batsman Sahibzada Farhan will continue to show outstanding performance and win more titles through his tireless hard work.  Farhan attained a new career-high rating on the latest Men’s T20I  Batting rankings as he moved to second spot after his outstanding  century against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.He was also involved in a record  partnership of 176 runs, the highest for any wicket in T20Is, with  Fakhar Zaman.As a result of the memorable run, the 29-year old  made it to the ICC Team of the Tournament with scores of 47, 73, 0, 100  not out, DNB, 63, 100 across seven games.Agencies ]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/23/1064716.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/23/1064716.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/23/pakistan-opener-batsman-farhan-bags-icc-player-of-the-month-award]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:51:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[City win League Cup as O’Reilly  sinks Arsenal after Kepa blunder]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/city-win-league-cup-as-oreilly-sinks-arsenal-after-kepa-blunder]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Manchester City punished Kepa Arrizabalaga’s howler to lift the League Cup as Nico O’Reilly’s double sealed a 2-0 win against Arsenal in Sunday’s final at Wembley.Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa already had a tortured relationship with the League Cup and the Spaniard’s latest mishap in the tournament’s showpiece proved decisive.Allowing Rayan Cherki’s cross to slip through his fingers, Kepa presented O’Reilly with the chance to put City ahead in the second half.O’Reilly struck again just four minutes later to seal City’s ninth League Cup, giving boss Pep Guardiola a record fifth triumph in the competition.Mikel Arteta chose to ignore Kepa’s League Cup history when he selected the former Chelsea keeper instead of first-choice David Raya, but the gamble backfired spectacularly.Playing for Chelsea in the 2019 final, he infamously refused to be substituted just before the shoot-out, then failed to save a single kick, while in the 2022 defeat against Liverpool he missed a penalty in a shoot-out.Arsenal’s failure to win the first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup was a painful blow, ending their bid to land an unprecedented quadruple.They paid the price for Arteta’s unnecessarily conservative tactics, but the season is far from over for the north Londoners.They remain firmly in control of their bid for a first English title since 2004, while also facing Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals and Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-finals.After failing to win silverware last season and falling well behind Arsenal in this season’s Premier League title race, this was a vital success for City, coming just days after their Champions League last-16 exit against Real Madrid.Guardiola has yet to confirm whether he will remain at City next season after another season of speculation that this could be his latest campaign in Manchester.But the Spaniard’s frenzied celebration of his 15th major trophy at City suggested his passion is undimmed.Now Guardiola can focus on using City’s first win over Arsenal since 2023 as a springboard to close the nine-point gap on the Premier League leaders.City power surge: James Trafford started in goal for City instead of regular first-choice Gianluigi Donnarumma and the understudy quickly repaid Guardiola’s faith with a sensational triple save.Kai Havertz was presented with a golden opportunity by Martin Zubimendi’s deft pass.But Trafford spread himself to block the German’s close-range shot before using his chest and then his out-stretched foot to twice deny Bukayo Saka from the rebound.Arsenal stifled City with their well-drilled pressing but showed little creativity after that initial burst. Even the Gunners’ trademark dominance at set-pieces was absent and City fans chanted ‘boring, boring Arsenal’ after Piero Hincapie nodded over from Saka’s corner.City were transformed in the second half, tormenting Arsenal with a spell of unrelenting pressure.City were furious when Kepa escaped with a booking after racing out of his area in a misjudged attempt to stop Jeremy Doku reaching Matheus Nunes’ long pass.But Kepa’s habit of making costly mistakes wasn’t about to fade away and the Spaniard’s blunder gifted City the lead on the hour.The build-up was vintage City as Rodri’s lofted pass picked out Bernardo Silva and he fed Cherki for a cross that should have been a routine catch for Kepa.Instead, he let the ball squirm through his grasp and O’Reilly pounced to head home from close-range.Shell-shocked Arsenal completely lost their composure after Kepa’s blunder and City delivered the knock-out blow four minutes later.Nunes was the catalyst with a perfectly weighted cross to the far post, where O’Reilly steamed past Saka to bury a clinical header past Kepa.Guardiola’s joy was unconfined as he punched the air and sprinted down the touchline.Booked for his extravagant celebration, Guardiola was again unable to contain himself when the final whistle signalled the end of City’s trophy drought.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064471.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064471.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/city-win-league-cup-as-oreilly-sinks-arsenal-after-kepa-blunder]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:09:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sinner, defending  champ Mensik enter third round  at Miami Open as Pegula advances]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/sinner-defending-champ-mensik-enter-third-round-at-miami-open-as-pegula-advances]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[World number two Jannik Sinner and fifth seed Jessica Pegula won on Saturday to reach the third round at the ATP and WTA Miami Open, where defending champion Jakub Mensik shook off a ‘horrible’ first set to win his opening match.Six days after he lifted the Indian Wells trophy, Sinner launched his pursuit of tennis’ “Sunshine Double” in confident style with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over 76th-ranked Damir Dzumhur.“First-round matches are never easy,” said the 24-year-old Italian, who won the 2024 Miami crown.After beating Daniil Medvedev for his first Indian Wells title, Sinner is trying to become the first to sweep the Indian Wells and Miami ATP Masters 1000 titles since Roger Federer in 2017.He pocketed the first set against Dzumhur in 34 minutes and broke the Bosnian for a 2-1 lead in the second set before breaking again on match point with a backhand winner.“Starting off with a break straight away, I tried to be a bit aggressive,” said Sinner, who dropped just eight points on his serve. “At times it worked very well, at times I made couple of unforced errors. But I didn’t have a lot of time to adjust here. It’s very different than in Indian Wells.”Former number one Medvedev also had little time to adjust, but he managed to fight back for a 6-7 (10/12), 6-3, 6-1 victory over 19-year-old Japanese wildcard Rei Sakamoto.Mensik, who fell in the third round at Indian Wells, was feeling the after-effects of illness as well as the pressure of defending his title in a rocky first set but righted the ship to beat Australian Adam Walton 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.“The first set it was horrible from my side,” the Czech said.After surrendering his serve twice in the first set Mensik regrouped to break Walton in the opening game of the second set on the way to forcing a third and with a break in hand for a 3-1 lead rolled home.“It was really difficult to come back to the match rhythm,” Mensik said. “(I’m) really happy that mentally I stayed focused and tough. The pressure that was around, I tried not to focus on that, tried to focus on my game.”Fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev cruised into the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over 133rd-ranked American Martin Damm. But eighth-seeded home hope Ben Shelton was ousted by Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.Gauff fight-back: Fourth-seeded Coco Gauff led the way into the women’s fourth round, roaring back for a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory over fellow American Alycia Parks.Teenagers Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko booked a last-16 meeting that will be their third clash of the WTA season.Eighth-seeded Russian Andreeva defeated Czech Marie Bouzkova 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, while 10th-seeded Canadian Mboko downed Russian qualifier Anastasia Zakharova 6-1, 7-5.Andreeva, 18, and 19-year-old Mboko have split their last two matches, Andreeva winning in the final at Adelaide in January before Mboko sent her packing in the third round at Doha -- saving a match point in the three-set win and going on to reach the final.Alexandra Eala, whose surprise semi-final run last year launched her rise from 140th in the world to her current 29th, reached the last 16 with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Poland’s Magda Linette -- who had toppled third-ranked compatriot Iga Swiatek in the second round.Women’s second-round play wrapped up as the rain-hit tournament got back on schedule.Fifth-seeded American Pegula, runner up to Aryna Sabalenka last year, advanced when ailing British opponent Francesca Jones retired while trailing 6-1, 3-0 in their match.Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064452.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064452.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/sinner-defending-champ-mensik-enter-third-round-at-miami-open-as-pegula-advances]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 22:54:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Esterhuizen and Spinners shine as South Africa clinch 19-run win over New Zealand in fourth T20 to level series]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/esterhuizen-and-spinners-shine-as-south-africa-clinch-19-run-win-over-new-zealand-in-fourth-t20-to-level-series]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[New Zealand foundered against South Africa’s spinners as the Proteas won the fourth Twenty20 by 19 runs Sunday to level the five-match series at 2-2.Connor Esterhuizen made a maiden half-century from 33 balls as South Africa scored 164-5 after choosing to bat. Esterhuizen eventually was out for 57 and his innings made the difference between the teams.New Zealand was ahead at 63-2 after the powerplay with Tim Robinson making 32 from 22 balls at the top of the order. But left-armer Prenelan Subrayen took 2-13 on debut and Keshav Maharaj took 2-22 to cut through the New Zealand middle order and turn the match in South Africa’s favor.Dane Cleaver made 26 from 16 balls, returning to the New Zealand lineup after almost three years. He was looking dangerous when he was beaten and bowled by a Subrayen delivery. Bevon Jacobs was also bowled by Subrayen when the ball dipped under his bat.Jimmy Neesham (10) was dropped twice then caught in the same over from Ottneil Baartman, who took 2-30 from four overs.Maharaj removed Nick Kelly (16) and Cole McConchie (10) as the spinners pinned down the New Zealand batters by varying their pace and flight.“I thought a total of 164 was about par, maybe a bit below par,” New Zealand captain Jimmy Neesham said. “We certainly had a chance going into the second half of the game.“A few average options and poor execution and we came out on the wrong side of it.”New Zealand’s already depleted lineup was further reduced by the loss of Tom Latham to injury and Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson for the last two matches of the series.Esterhuizen rallied South Africa after it had lost Wiaan Mulder to the second ball of its innings, a maiden bowled by Kyle Jamieson.The right-hander hit a six and a four from the third over, a six and four in the fourth over, a six and two fours among 17 runs in the fifth over, keeping the South Africa run-rate up. South Africa was 50-1 after the powerplay, its best start of the series so far.Esterhuizen reached his half-century in the 10th over with a boundary from Ben Sears, the sixth four of his innings that also included three sixes.“I just tried to keep it as simple as possible to be honest,” Esterhuizen said. “I didn’t have much time to think about it because I was out there straight away.“So I just tried to stick to a game plan and it came off tonight.”Esterhuizen looked set to go big when he was brilliantly caught by Katene Clarke on debut, running in and diving forward from deep square leg.Tony de Zorzi, who was the quiet partner in an 81-run stand with Esterhuizen for the second wicket, was out next over for 23 from 21 balls.Rubin Hermann and Dian Forrester put on 38 for the fourth wicket, keeping the South Africa total ticking over. Forrester made 19 from 14 balls before being trapped lbw by a yorker from Zak Foulkes.Hermann made an unbeaten 28 from 25 balls, Jason Smith scored 19 from 15 and George Linde added 14 from eight but New Zealand reined in South Africa’s scoring a little at the death. Only 43 runs came from the last five overs and Sears allowed only one run from the bat in the final over.The deciding match is at Christchurch on Wednesday.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064450.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064450.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/esterhuizen-and-spinners-shine-as-south-africa-clinch-19-run-win-over-new-zealand-in-fourth-t20-to-level-series]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 22:48:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Spurs falter, Sunderland inflict more derby pain on Newcastle]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/spurs-falter-sunderland-inflict-more-derby-pain-on-newcastle]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Tottenham suffered a potentially seismic 3-0 defeat to Premier League relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday, failing to rise to a rallying call from their massed ranks of fans.Thousands lined the streets to cheer the squad before the crunch fixture in north London and there was a crackling atmosphere in the ground as kick-off approached.Spurs bossed the first half but Forest took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Brazilian forward Igor Jesus headed home a Neco Williams corner.Forest doubled their lead just after the hour mark when Morgan Gibbs-White finished under Guglielmo Vicario and substitute Taiwo Awoniyi compounded Tottenham’s misery with a late strike.The vital win for Vitor Pereira’s men lifts them above Spurs, who are now just one point and one place above the bottom three.Last year’s Europa League winners are staring at the nightmare prospect of relegation from the top tier of English football for the first time since 1977 unless they can arrest their steep decline. Spurs, led by interim boss Igor Tudor, came into Sunday’s game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without a win in the Premier League since late December.But they were buoyed by last week’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool and a midweek win against Atletico Madrid, even though they exited the Champions League on aggregate.Fan groups set up a initiative ahead of the game called “Show Up, Sing Up, Stay Up”, calling for supporters to rally.Fireworks were let off and a section of fans chanted the name of former boss Mauricio Pochettino before the team bus was serenaded with chants of “Come on you Spurs” as white and blue smoke filled the air.A message on the stadium screens from captain Cristian Romero said: “We’ll fight for everything, all together.”Forest, who started the day just outside the drop zone, looked the more dangerous team in the early minutes but Tottenham settled and started to enjoy the bulk of the possession, with Richarlison heading wide.However, the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances and paid the price when Jesus put Forest ahead in the 45th minute, meeting Williams’ corner with a bullet header.Spurs came within a whisker of levelling at the other end but Forest goalkeeper Matz Selz touched Mathys Tel’s powerful shot onto the crossbar in the dying seconds of the opening period.As the half wore on the home fans among the crowd of 61,519 became increasingly edgy.And they were shocked into silence when Gibbs-White, a target for Spurs in last summer’s transfer window, slotted home in the 62nd minute from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.Tudor made a number of attacking changes, bringing on Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons, but to no avail.Awoniyi’s goal in the 87th minute sent home fans scurrying for the exits.The only chink of light for Spurs on Sunday was a 2-0 defeat for West Ham against Aston Villa, which leaves the Hammers in the bottom three.Meanwhile, Sunderland compounded a miserable week for Newcastle as Bryan Brobbey’s 90th minute winner secured a 2-1 victory for the visitors in the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday.Humbled 7-2 by Barcelona to exit the Champions League in midweek, Newcastle’s hopes of European football next season were dented after Sunderland came from behind.Another defeat to their local rivals will sting ever more as the Black Cats extended a club record unbeaten league run against Newcastle to 11 games.Sunderland’s victory also takes them up to 11th and above the Magpies in the table. A famous victory was soured by a report of racist abuse aimed at Lutsharel Geertruida which briefly halted the game in the second half.The Premier League said a full investigation will take place after the Dutch defender reported the incident to the officials.In the first meeting between the sides at St. James’ Park for 10 years it looked like Newcastle were finally about to settle some scores.Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064444.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064444.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/spurs-falter-sunderland-inflict-more-derby-pain-on-newcastle]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 22:34:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Indian star batter Kohli laughs off reports suggesting demands for &#039;chartered flight access&#039;]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/indian-star-batter-kohli-laughs-off-reports-suggesting-demands-for-chartered-flight-access]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[India's batting stalwart Virat Kohli has laughed off ‘fake reports’ suggesting that he demanded a chartered flight for his travel from India to London and also wishes to fly out home in between the matches at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.The report, shared by an Instagram account named 'worldinlast24hrs' suggested that Kohli had reportedly asked Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) management for chartered flight access between India and London and also stated that he wishes to fly out to the UK whenever there’s more than a three-day gap between two games and return just before the next fixture.However, the former RCB skipper rubbished the report, sharing a screenshot of the now-deleted post on his Instagram story with a couple of 'laughing out loud' emoticons.Later, the above-mentioned Instagram handle shared that their account had been crashed after Kohli's reaction to their post. "Our account crashed after Virat Kohli's story" with a screenshot of their analytics.Earlier, Kohli addressed a small group, mainly composed of Indian players during the team's first training session, encouraging them to perform at their best in the coming weeks."We worked really hard over the last two to three seasons to achieve what we did last year, and it's only going to get tougher because other teams are going to come hard at us," Kohli told his teammates.Head coach Andy Flower had earlier welcomed the new players to the squad before Virat Kohli gave them a motivational talk in the first training session.The former India captain, who ranks high on the all-time scorers' list in the IPL, emphasised urgency from day one, "We don't waste these days. We stay ahead. So, switch on now. Let's not waste even a minute of any session that we are a part of. We must give our 120 per cent for these two and a half months."Indo-Asian News Service]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064395.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064395.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/indian-star-batter-kohli-laughs-off-reports-suggesting-demands-for-chartered-flight-access]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:51:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Pakistan&#039;s cricket league PSL moves behind closed doors, scraps opening ceremony amid fuel crisis]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/pakistans-cricket-league-psl-moves-behind-closed-doors-scraps-opening-ceremony-amid-fuel-crisis]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[The initial matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be played behind closed doors in Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday, ​citing a ⁠fuel shortage caused by the conflict in ‌the Middle East.The franchise-based ‌Twenty20 league, set to kick off on Thursday, also cancelled its opening ceremony in Lahore as it scaled back ‌from six venues to two."Fans will be able to receive ⁠refunds for tickets and we apologise to them for the inconvenience... we pray that the situation in the region returns to normal soon," Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister, told a press conference in Lahore.Naqvi said the decision was ​taken after a meeting with the league's franchises."The Prime Minister (Shahbaz Sharif) has requested restricted movements of people because of  the fuel crisis so we have decided that the PSL would continue as per  the original schedule but without crowds. We closed schools and ⁠instituted work from home and increased the number of Eid holidays. We don't know how long this war will last," Naqvi said.To stop fans travelling, the eight-team league has also  been reduced to two venues, and not the original six, meaning  Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and Peshawar miss out."All PSL  matches will now take place in Lahore and Karachi and we hope the league  could be held with crowds but that would be contingent on the crisis in  Iran ending," said Naqvi.The PSL began in 2016 on neutral grounds in the United Arab Emirates due to safety fears in Pakistan. The 11th edition of PSL will run until May 3."I feel for the Peshawar crowds who were due to watch a match for the first time," said Naqvi."But ​we ‌can't ask people to restrict their movements and then ‌have 30,000 people in stadiums every day. We decided that as long as this crisis is ongoing, we will not have ‌crowds at ‌matches."Naqvi said the league would ⁠streamline its operations to minimise team movement."We don’t ‌know how long the current situation will persist, but hosting the PSL is essential. It's an ⁠international brand, and foreign players are involved... if ​we had postponed the PSL, there would be no window later to hold it," he added.Pakistan depends on oil and gas from the Gulf and the government has in recent  weeks introduced a series of fuel-saving measures over fears of a drop  in supply.Agencies ]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064273.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/22/1064273.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/22/pakistans-cricket-league-psl-moves-behind-closed-doors-scraps-opening-ceremony-amid-fuel-crisis]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:37:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[England stars have last chance to earn WC spots:  Tuchel; Ronaldo to miss friendlies]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/england-stars-have-last-chance-to-earn-wc-spots-tuchel-ronaldo-to-miss-friendlies]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[England boss Thomas Tuchel said this month’s friendlies are the “last opportunity for players to compete for their ticket” to the World Cup but insisted “no one is on the plane” yet.Tuchel on Friday announced an extended 35-man squad for matches against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley, on March 27 and 31.Manchester United pair Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo are back in the international fold, while Leeds forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin also returns.Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is included, even though he has not played since early February due to a hamstring injury, but there is no place for his team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw or Ollie Watkins.Tuchel has handed a first senior call-up to Everton’s “underrated” midfielder James Garner.The players will report to camp in two stages across the international window.Among the 11 players who will skip the Uruguay match, “to give them a break mentally and physically”, are Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.Others will then be released to slim the squad down to around 22 outfield players.“The reality of a March camp is that our players are in a crucial moment in the club football season,” the England manager told a press conference.“They fight for titles, they fight a relegation battle, they are involved in knockout matches, in cup matches, so it is a crucial moment of the season, a very stressful moment of the season for them.“But it is also our last camp, the last opportunity to impress, the last opportunity for players to compete for their ticket.”Tuchel has selected United players for the first time since taking the helm at the start of last year.“They have had an outstanding run since Michael Carrick took charge and Harry and Kobbie are a big part of that,” said the German.“It’s the last camp before the US, it’s the last chance also for me to get to know new players, to learn about new players.”Maguire, 33, and Mainoo, 20, last played for England in September 2024 but have been rewarded for United’s recent good form, which has lifted them to third in the Premier League.Shaw, 30, was another United player pushing to be involved but has once again been overlooked, with Tuchel instead calling up Newcastle’s Lewis Hall for the first time since he took charge.Tuchel said the omission of former Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold, even in the absence of injured Chelsea right-back Reece James, was a “sporting decision” but stressed his World Cup hopes were not over.“I know that it’s a tough decision for Trent, as it is for I guess Ollie Watkins at the moment and for Luke Shaw,” he said. “These tough decisions come with the job.”Tuchel was also asked about Arsenal teenager Max Dowman, who became the youngest scorer in Premier League history last week.The England boss described the 16-year-old as a “fantastic talent” but said there was “no need to call him up now and increase the pressure and increase all the noise that comes with it”.The World Cup, taking place in Canada, Mexico and the United States, starts on June 11, with England among the favourites.Meanwhile,  a hamstring injury will keep Cristiano Ronaldo out of Portugal’s friendlies against the United States and Mexico ahead of the World Cup in North America.The 41-year-old Ronaldo hasn’t played since Feb. 28 when he limped off the field while playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.As expected, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez did not include the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in the squad he announced on Friday. Ronaldo hasn’t played in the U.S. since an August 2014 preseason friendly with Real Madrid against Manchester United in Ann Arbor, Michigan.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1064169.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1064169.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/england-stars-have-last-chance-to-earn-wc-spots-tuchel-ronaldo-to-miss-friendlies]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 22:39:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Invincible Japan edge Australia to win Women’s Asian Cup title]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/invincible-japan-edge-australia-to-win-womens-asian-cup-title]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Maika Hamano scored the only goal as a formidable Japan battled past Australia to clinch a third Women’s Asian Cup title on Saturday in front of a record-breaking crowd in Sydney.The Tottenham star hit a stunning long-range strike in the 17th minute at Stadium Australia to break Australian hearts and add to their continental crowns from 2014 and 2018.Those finals were also against Australia and also ended 1-0.“I feel relieved, I think it was a 50-50 game just as I predicted,” Japan’s Greenlander coach Nils Nielsen said.“It’s very difficult to play Australia in Australia and I have to say they made themselves proud.“In the end, I’m just happy. The girls fought with everything they had.”The edge-of-the-seat decider culminated a landmark tournament with more than 350,000 fans through the turnstiles, reinforcing the growth in popularity of the women’s game.This was around six times as many as the previous record set in 2010 in China, with the 74,397 fans at the final setting a new attendance mark for a single game in tournament history.The Asian Cup doubled as qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil next year, with Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, North Korea and the Philippines all punching their tickets.The Japanese team stacked with English-based players were invincible in their run to the final, fluid across the park and defending well to steamroll everyone in front of them.While Australia proved a much tougher test, nothing could stop them as they accumulated 29 goals and conceded just one through their six games to reinforce their status as Asia’s number one team.“We had opportunities and they had a couple of opportunities too, it was a tight game,” said dejected Australia coach Joe Montemurro.“But we were competing with the number six team in the world. Credit to the girls for their performance. It just wasn’t our night.”Japan fielded an unchanged line-up from their 4-1 semi-final thumping of South Korea.Australia made one change from their 2-1 defeat of defending champions China with Wini Heatley preferred in central defence to Clare Hunt.The hosts were composed at the start, looking to dictate, and Caitlin Foord should have scored on 11 minutes when Mary Fowler threaded a pass through inside the box.But the unmarked Arsenal striker sent her shot into the arms of Japan keeper Ayaka Yamashita to miss a golden opportunity.It proved costly with Japan breaking the deadlock six minutes later when Hamano collected the ball outside the penalty area and unleashed a 25-yard rocket that found the top corner.Foord had another chance when she pounced on a sloppy clearance from Yamashita, but failed to find the target from a tight angle, then scuffed another wide just before the break.Japan were always a threat and West Ham’s Riko Ueki went close twice in as many minutes soon after the restart.With the game on a knife-edge, Australia threw everything they had at Japan in a desperate attempt to find an equaliser as the crowd noise reached fever pitch.Alanna Kennedy almost pulled off a late equaliser in the 88th minute, but despite intense pressure Japan were rock solid and absorbed the pressure to cling on for the win.Kennedy was crowned the Most Valuable Player of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2026 after producing eye-catching performances throughout the tournament.Australia’s 1-0 defeat to Japan in the final on Saturday did not take away a standout campaign for the 31-year-old.“I’m happy to have contributed to the team but it’s hard to enjoy right now, but I’ll look back on it as a moment to be proud of.“The support has been amazing over the last few years, and today we really felt the crowd behind us, especially in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the game.“I think we showed a lot of heart and played one of the best games in the tournament and will hopefully build on that in the future.”Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1064157.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1064157.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/invincible-japan-edge-australia-to-win-womens-asian-cup-title]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 22:28:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Top-seed Alcaraz,  Sabalenka start Miami campaign with easy wins in  opening ties]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/top-seed-alcaraz-sabalenka-start-miami-campaign-with-easy-wins-in-opening-ties]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[World number one Carlos Alcaraz was dialed-in on Friday, powering past rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Miami Open.The 22-year-old Spaniard used an early break in each set and saved all three break points he faced in a confident performance at Hard Rock Stadium, where 19-year-old Fonseca was cheered by a raucous contingent of fans.“I was really good from the beginning until the last ball,” Alcaraz said. “I know how good Joao is and that’s why I was really focused, every point, every shot, trying to figure out what is the best possible shot for me.”Alcaraz bounced back from his semi-final loss to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells last week to improve to 17-1 in 2026.That includes an Australian Open title that made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam and a title in Doha.Alcaraz gained the upper hand against 39th-ranked Fonseca with a break for 2-1 in the opening set, delivering a blistering forehand service return winner on break point.He closed out the set with a love game, broke Fonseca to open the second and secured the victory with his eighth ace on match point.It was extra satisfying since Alcaraz was stunned in his Miami opener by David Goffin last year.“He had a lot of chances to stay in the match to (keep it) tight, so I’m just happy to stay calm, stay positive at these moments,” said Alcaraz, who next faces American Sebastian Korda, a 6-0, 6-3 winner over Camilo Ugo.Women’s number one Aryna Sabalenka held off determined American Ann Li 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to launch her Miami title defense.The Belarusian was pleased to get through in straight sets against her 39th-ranked foe in a match moved to the third show court as organizers hustled to get the rain-hit tournament back on schedule.She needed more than an hour to pocket a first set in which she led 4-1 and wasted seven break points in the eighth game.“I was there, I was fighting no matter what, even though my game probably wasn’t the best one that I have,” Sabalenka said.Third-seeded Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, fourth-seeded American Coco Gauff and sixth-seeded compatriot Amanda Anisimova also reached the third round.Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who stunned Sabalenka in the final in Melbourne but fell to the world number one in the Indian Wells final, beat compatriot Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-3.French Open champion Gauff rallied to beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a match delayed several hours by rain.Anisimova outlasted Australian veteran Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.It was Gauff’s first match since she retired during her third-round match at Indian Wells with “scary” pain in her left arm.Gauff said the injury was improving.“I might feel it sometimes on court, but I definitely feel it less and less every day,” said Gauff, who took some time to find her rhythm against the aggressive Cocciaretto.“She takes the ball so early, you don’t have a lot of time to react,” Gauff said. “Today, once I got adjusted to the tempo of play I was able to control the rallies when they went the distance.”In other men’s action, 56th-ranked American Ethan Quinn upset Norway’s 11th-seeded Casper Ruud 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), saving seven set points in the second set on the way to victory.Japanese wildcard Rei Sakamoto bagged his maiden ATP match win, converting his fifth match point in a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7) first-round victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1064154.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1064154.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/top-seed-alcaraz-sabalenka-start-miami-campaign-with-easy-wins-in-opening-ties]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 22:24:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Erling Haaland, Morten Borge and others pose for a picture]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/erling-haaland-morten-borge-and-others-pose-for-a-picture]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Football superstar Erling Haaland is investing in Norway Chess and its new tour format, the Total Chess World Championship Tour.Haaland has ambitious plans to contribute to make chess a broader and more spectator-friendly sport.Norway Chess has been a driving force for innovation in chess for years and is now taking another major step with the launch of the Total Chess World Championship Tour.The initiative is now gaining a new strategic investor: global football superstar Haaland. Together with Norwegian business leader Morten Borge, Haaland has established the company Chess Mates, which will be a significant owner of Norway Chess.“Chess is an incredible game. It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football. You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead. Strategy and planning are everything”, says Haaland.“Chess is ultimately about strategy and long-term thinking”, says Morten Borge. “Those are qualities that also define both elite sport and the ability to make sound investments over time. In many ways, chess sits right at the intersection of the worlds Erling and I come from. I’ve even promised to give Erling a bit of chess training!”With millions of fans around the world, Haaland is already a global sports icon and a natural partner to help grow new audiences and bring fresh energy to the game.“I’m investing in Norway Chess because I believe the new Total Chess World Championship Tour can turn chess into an even bigger sport for spectators around the world. The team behind Norway Chess has already done an impressive job growing the event, and joining the project was too exciting to pass up,” says Haaland.The new championship, featuring the world’s best players, is expected to become one of the most significant  developments in modern chess. The Total Chess World Championship Tour will consist of four tournaments each year, hosted by four different cities, and will crown a combined world champion across three disciplines — Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz chess. This new World Championship has been approved by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for a minimum of 16 years. A pilot tournament is planned for autumn 2026, followed by a full championship season in 2027. Each season will consist of four events, and a minimum annual prize pool of $2.7 million.Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess and Total Chess, welcomes the investment and involvement of Haaland as a long-term strategic partner.“We expect the new championship to become one of the most prestigious events in the global chess calendar. The fact that Erling is joining us as an investor says a great deal about the commercial potential of this tour. Erling has an enormous global following and is truly world-class when it comes to creating magical sporting moments. I am absolutely certain he will bring tremendous value to Total Chess, help generate increased interest in the fascinating world of chess, and attract new audiences. He has already contributed with several great ideas. With Erling on board, we are now entering the final phase of finding host cities for the first tour,” says Madland.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1063950.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1063950.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/erling-haaland-morten-borge-and-others-pose-for-a-picture]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:38:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Corey Heim engineers last-lap pass to win Truck race at Darlington]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/corey-heim-engineers-last-lap-pass-to-win-truck-race-at-darlington]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Same guy. Different truck. Same result.Driving the No. 5 TRICON Garage Toyota on a part-time basis, Corey Heim shocked race leader Ross Chastain with a last-lap pass and collected his second-straight victory at Darlington Raceway in Friday night's Buckle Up South Carolina 200.Last year, the No.11 TRICON Tundra carried Heim to a record 12 victories and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship.This year, the No. 5 truck carried him to a two-overtime win ‌in his second series start of the season, as Heim is running a cobbled-together schedule of Truck Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Cup Series races.Heim also collected the $50,000 ​Triple Truck Challenge bonus for ⁠the victory. Should he run again on April 3 at Rockingham Speedway, he would be eligible for a $100,000 prize available to a driver who wins ‌two races in "The Trip."Heim's overtime victory on Friday night ‌was unlikely enough, and it boiled down to strategy. On Lap 145, with three laps left in regulation, Heim brought his Tundra to pit road for scuffed tires that were five laps fresher than those of Chastain and other frontrunners.Restarting 15th on the first attempt at overtime, Heim gained six spots before the ninth caution for a wreck involving Jake Garcia, Tyler Ankrum, Corey LaJoie and Stewart Friesen.Heim was ninth for the ‌final restart and used his tires to excellent advantage, making the pass for the win through Turns 3 and 4 on the final lap."I'm out of breath, for sure," said Heim, who led ⁠three times for 28 laps and picked up his 24th win in 91 Truck Series starts. "Man, we had a set of scuffs laying, and they were five laps fresher than everyone else's. It was worth a shot. I didn't think we could win from where we were at."I felt like I made all the right moves. I had it three-wide coming to the white (flag) and bombed on in there on Ross (into Turn 3). I was shocked he gave me the bottom like that with fresher tires."Chastain, who led 35 laps and controlled both overtime restarts, thought he had the race won."I have no idea what just happened," said Chastain, who is running races in all three NASCAR series this weekend. "We did so much right... I think that's on us as a whole that we ​didn't catch that."Of course, I would have run the bottom if I thought he would have been close, but I thought I got a good restart. Bummer."Kaden ‌Honeycutt, who won his first career pole earlier in the day, led a race- high 59 laps in the No. 11 TRICON Garage truck Heim drove last year. Honeycutt restarted second and chose the top lane for both overtimes but faded to fourth after the final restart."That last restart, the top lane wasn't preferred," Honeycutt said. "It was like that all night, obviously. The bottom was really good. I tried not ⁠to spin the tires as much as I possibly could..."By the time the 5 (Heim) got by me and the 91 (third-place finisher Christian Eckes) was in front of him, I pretty much just committed to helping (Heim) and see if he could get up there and win the race. I don't know how in the world he did, but he did."Connor Mosack finished fifth, followed Christopher Bell, Grant Enfinger, Gio Ruggiero, Daniel Hemric and William Sawalich.Chandler ​Smith ran 17th but ‌left Darlington with a 33-point lead over second- place Honeycutt in the series standings.Reuters]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1063947.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1063947.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/corey-heim-engineers-last-lap-pass-to-win-truck-race-at-darlington]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:19:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sabalenka, Alcaraz advance at rain-hit Miami Open]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/sabalenka-alcaraz-advance-at-rain-hit-miami-open]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Persistent rain forced further scheduling changes, with several matches pushed to Saturday, while world number one and newly crowned Indian Wells champion Aryna ⁠Sabalenka was moved to a secondary court to face Ann Li. Sabalenka survived a stern battle against her American opponent, grinding out a 7-6(5) 6-4 victory to reach the third round."I was there, ​I was fighting ‌no matter what, even though my game probably wasn't the best one that I ‌have," Sabalenka said in her on-court interview."She played incredible tennis - she was super aggressive and she served incredibly."Men's top seed Carlos Alcaraz later kept his title charge on track, sailing through to ‌the next round ‌with a composed 6-4 6-4 win over ⁠Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca.World number two Elena Rybakina continued her tremendous ‌form, defeating her Kazakh compatriot Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-3.Sixth seed Amanda Anisimova overcame a second-set wobble, after serving for the match before the rain delay, to ⁠beat Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1 5-7 6-4.Fourth seed Coco Gauff and seventh seed ​Jasmine Paolini both came from a set down to defeat Elisabetta Cocciareto and Taylor Townsend, respectively, and advanced to the next round. Reuters]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1063943.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/21/1063943.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/21/sabalenka-alcaraz-advance-at-rain-hit-miami-open]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:12:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Linette sends Swiatek packing, Fonseca and Kouame advance at Miami Open]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/linette-sends-swiatek-packing-fonseca-and-kouame-advance-at-miami-open]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Iga Swiatek crashed out of the Miami Open second round on Thursday as 50th-ranked fellow Pole Magda Linette fought back for a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over the six-time Grand Slam champion.Reigning Wimbledon champion Swiatek, who won the Miami Open in 2022, suffered her first opening loss at a tournament since the 2021 WTA Finals.It’s just the latest disappointment for Swiatek, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and in the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Indian Wells.Although she was seeded second in the elite combined ATP and WTA hardcourt tournament in Miami, Swiatek dropped this week to third in the world as Indian Wells finalist Elena Rybakina moved up behind top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.Swiatek’s compatriot Linette had to dig deep after Swiatek -- who won their last encounter 6-1, 6-1 -- raced through the opening set in 33 minutes.But she stuck to her guns and Swiatek double-faulted to give Linette two break points in the 12th game of the second set, Linette forcing a third set with a return winner.“I just had to go for a little bit more,” Linette told Tennis Channel. “I had to start hitting a little bit faster, too, to push her a little bit more back, not give her space.“But I think it all started with serving a bit better,” she added.Swiatek didn’t go meekly, saving a pair of match points on her own serve in the eighth game of the third and two more as Linette served for the match, before Linette sealed the win as Swiatek sent a backhand wide.“She actually gets really good on those break points down, match points down,” Linette said. “She starts swinging. I just knew I had to stay strong on my serve.”Linette advanced to a third-round matchup against 20-year-old Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, a 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-3 winner over Germany’s Laura Siegemund.“It really was close,” said Eala, a surprise semi-finalist last year who needed three hours and 20 minutes to close out the victory.“It was demanding, physically and mentally. But that was one of my goals last year after the tournament, to improve physically, and here I am fresh as a flower.”It was the longest WTA career match for 29th-ranked Eala, who beat Swiatek in last year’s Miami Open quarter-finals for the biggest win of her career before losing to American Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.Former world number one Venus Williams, 45, lost her first-round match to Britain’s Francesca Jones 7-5, 7-5 after one hour and 51 minutes.Jones advanced to a second-round match against fifth seed Pegula, last year’s Miami runner-up to Sabalenka.On the men’s side 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca outlasted Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, to book a second-round match with world number one Carlos Alcaraz.Fonseca, ranked 39th, was strongly backed by Brazilian fans as he booked a first-ever meeting with Alcaraz and his second marquee contest in as many tournaments after falling to Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells last week.“I’m excited for sure,” Fonseca told reporters.“I don’t know about other players, but I look forward to playing against the top players. I played against Jannik last tournament, and now I’m playing against Carlos.“It’s a super experience, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great match. Hopefully I can get the win.”Fonseca, who attracts supporters by the thousands at events, with the atmosphere often resembling soccer matches, is sure to enjoy plenty of vocal support against Alcaraz just like he did against Marozsan.“The crowd really helped me to stay positive throughout the match,” he said.French 17-year-old Moise Kouame beat qualifier Zachary Svajda 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to become the youngest player to claim an ATP Masters 1000 victory since Rafael Nadal in Hamburg in 2003.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063866.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063866.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/linette-sends-swiatek-packing-fonseca-and-kouame-advance-at-miami-open]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:04:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[New Zealand seal eight-wicket  win over South Africa to take series lead]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/new-zealand-seal-eight-wicket-win-over-sa-to-take-series-lead]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Tom Latham carried his bat for 63 and put on 96 for the first wicket with Devon Conway to set up New Zealand’s eight-wicket win over South Africa in their third Twenty20 on Friday.Conway made 39 and Latham reached his fourth T20 half-century, helping New Zealand’s cricketers pass South Africa’s 136-9 with 22 balls remaining to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.Batting conditions have been tricky and matches in the series have been low-scoring. South Africa won the first by seven wickets, chasing down New Zealand’s 91, and the Black Caps won the second by 68 runs, bowling out the opposition for 107.South Africa batted out 20 overs for the first time on Friday, helped by a lively unbeaten 26 from 20 balls by Nqobani Mokoena in his first international innings.Latham and Conway began their run chase quietly, taking five runs from the first two overs and 12 from the first three. They then took 14 from the fourth over, bowled by Mokoena, and 21 from the fifth by Lutho Sipamla to set New Zealand on the way to a comfortable win.Conway fell in the 11th over, caught in the deep by Rubin Hermann off Keshav Maharaj and Tim Robinson was out for 17 in the 17th over when the scores were tied. Nick Kelly came out and hit a single for the winning run from the next ball.“You look at the depth we’ve got at the moment...with a few guys away,” said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, who won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat.“It was a simple blueprint tonight. The pitch looked like it was doing a little bit early. It looked tricky and it was good the way the two boys (Conway and Latham) could soak that up. You go too hard and you lose a couple of wickets, which makes the chase a little bit challenging.”The pitch at Eden Park typically is quick and bouncy and it provided that again but also held up at times.New Zealand used six bowlers and all six took wickets, including the spinners who helped their team make inroads in the South Africa top order.Pace bowler Lockie Ferguson took 1-9 from four overs.Santner found turn and, after coming on in the fifth over, dismissed Jason Smith (10) and Connor Esterhuizen (15).Smith tried to cut a ball and mistimed his shot when the ball turned back from outside off. Esterhuizen scored all his runs in the third over before trying to hit Santner to the short, straight boundary but finding Kelly at mid-on.Earlier, South Africa was 41-3 at the end of the powerplay and 61-5 at the midpoint of its innings.George Linde and Gerald Coetzee put on 34 for the seventh wicket with Linde scoring 23 from 19 balls and Coetzee 16 from eight deliveries.When Coetzee was out, South Africa was 103-8 in the 15th over and in danger again of being bowled out inside 20 overs. But Mokoena put on an unbroken partnership of 24 with Lutho Sipamla for the 10th wicket, South Africa’s highest for that wicket in T20s.Meanwhile, after being outplayed by New Zealand through in third match, South Africa captain Maharaj admitted the side’s inexperience showed in the loss, but insisted it was no excuse.“We are very inexperienced so you can understand the inconsistencies, but it’s not an excuse. We’re all professional enough; we are representing our country, so we’ve just got to go look back at ourselves and find ways through it.“We have to put away our egos when it comes to playing on these types of wickets, because it doesn’t allow you to play with the freedom that you want at times. I wouldn’t use it as an excuse, even though we have a very inexperienced squad. Guys are professional enough and mature enough to find ways to combat it,” said Maharaj in the post-match press conference.The fourth match is in Wellington on Sunday.AgenciesBrief Scores: South Africa 136/9 in 20 overs (Nqobani Mokoena 26, George Linde 17; Mitchell Santner 2-21, Ben Sears 2-27) lost to New Zealand 137/2 in 16.2 overs (Tom Latham 63*, Devon Conway 39; Lutho Sipamla 1-26, Keshav Maharaj 1-30) by 8 wickets.]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063865.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063865.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/new-zealand-seal-eight-wicket-win-over-sa-to-take-series-lead]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:02:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Forest survive shoot-out to  reach Europa quarters, Villa sail]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/forest-survive-shoot-out-to-reach-europa-quarters-villa-sail]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Nottingham Forest reached the Europa League quarter-finals after Midtjylland missed all three of their penalties in the last-16 second-leg shoot-out, while John McGinn inspired Aston Villa’s 2-0 win against Lille on Thursday.Vitor Pereira’s Forest won 2-1 after extra-time at the MCH Arena in Denmark to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate.That set up the farcical shoot-out as Midtjylland’s Cho Gue-sung and Aral Simsir both hit the post before Edward Chilufya slipped and blazed over in the shoot-out.Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangare and Neco Williams converted Forest’s three kicks to extend the club’s first European campaign since 1995-96, when they reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.The Premier League strugglers will play Porto in the quarter-finals after the Portuguese outfit beat Stuttgart 2-0.William Carvalho and Victor Froholdt netted to clinch Porto’s 4-1 aggregate victory, with Stuttgart’s Nikolas Nartey sent off in the closing stages.Admitting he needed his players to be “fresh mentally and and physically”, Pereira prioritised Sunday’s vital clash with relegation rivals Tottenham as he made nine changes from last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Fulham.Forest’s understudies rose to the challenge and took the lead in the 41st minute.Climbing to meet Nikola Milenkovic’s flick, Nicolas Dominguez craned his neck to loop a header over Elias Olafsson from six yards.Midtjylland were breached again in the 52nd minute when Ryan Yates lashed home from 25 yards before Martin Erlic’s 69th minute reply for the hosts set up the shoot-out.“It’s important, the energy and spirit is different when we win,” Pereira said.“I don’t have any doubt that we have the quality. We will compete for our targets.”At Villa Park, Unai Emery’s side, defending a 1-0 first-leg lead, went ahead in the 54th minute with a perfectly executed route one move.Emiliano Martinez launched a mammoth kick towards Jadon Sancho and his pass across the Lille penalty area was tucked away with aplomb by McGinn.It was the Scotland midfielder’s first goal since January 3 after two months on the sidelines with a knee injury.Bologna win thriller: Leon Bailey’s 86th-minute tap-in from Ollie Watkins’ pass ensured Villa advanced to a European quarter-final for a third successive season.Villa’s dismal run of two wins from 10 Premier League games has put their bid to qualify for the Champions League in jeopardy.Yet they have thrived in continental action and Emery remains in contention for a fifth Europa League crown after winning three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.“It wasn’t a pretty performance but the main thing is we are in the quarter-final,” McGinn said.“The manager was giving me grief before the game to make sure I get in the box, so I was delighted to score.”Villa’s quarter-final opponents will be Bologna, who beat Roma 4-3 in an all-Italian thriller at the Stadio Olimpico.After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Jonathan Rowe put Bologna ahead in the 22nd minute, but Roma’s Evan N’Dicka equalised 10 minutes later.Federico Bernardeschi’s penalty in first half stoppage-time and Santiago Castro’s 58th minute strike put Bologna 3-1 up.Roma’s Donyell Malen converted a 69th minute penalty and Lorenzo Pellegrini equalised in the 80th minute.But Nicolo Cambiaghi slotted home for Bologna in the 111th minute.Real Betis thrashed Greek side Panathinaikos 4-0, booking a tie against Sporting Braga, who routed Ferencvaros 4-0 on Wednesday.Celta Vigo beat nine-man Lyon 2-0 in France to secure a 3-1 aggregate win.Lyon, who finished top of the league phase, were reduced to 10 men in the 19th minute when Senegal defender Moussa Niakhate was sent off for a foul on Javi Rueda.Rueda ensured the Spanish side took advantage of their numerical superiority with a close-range finish in the 61st minute.Ferran Jutgla scored in stoppage-time to wrap up the victory before Lyon’s Nicolas Tagliafico was dismissed for a second booking.Celta will play Freiburg for a place in the semi-finals after the German side crushed Genk 5-1.Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063864.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063864.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/forest-survive-shoot-out-to-reach-europa-quarters-villa-sail]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:53:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[England cricket chiefs to front up to media over Ashes flop]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/england-cricket-chiefs-to-front-up-to-media-over-ashes-flop]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[English cricket chiefs Rob Key and Richard Gould will speak to the media at Lord's on Monday regarding a post-Ashes review into the team's series loss in Australia.Key, the managing director of men's cricket, will appear alongside England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Gould to discuss events on and off the field during a woeful 4-1 reverse over five Tests 'Down Under' in 2025/26.In addition to their poor on-field performance, concerns about the culture of an England squad led by Ben Stokes and coached by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum emerged during a break in Noosa, an Australian resort, where there were reports of excessive drinking by players.This was followed by revelations that vice-captain Harry Brook had had an altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the pre-Ashes visit to New Zealand.The ECB briefly attempted to block England contracted players from fielding questions about the tour at pre-season county media days, in the hope this would first allow team management to discusss the circumstances of a deeply disappointing trip.But following a public outcry, the ECB quickly reversed its position with the England trio of Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson all taking part in Surrey's event at the Oval earlier this week.While no formal review is expected to be published, Key and Gould are set to offer major conclusions ahead of a home season which could lead to a reset for the under-fire coaching regime.The position of McCullum, who reiterated his post Ashes desire to continue as England coach following the white ball team's semi-final exit at the recent T20 World Cup, remains a major talking point.McCullum has been angered by suggestions he runs a "casual operation" with the England hierarchy also facing widespread criticisms regarding the team's warm-up schedule, preparation and overall selection policy.There has also been mounting frustration within English county cricket concerning the seeming disregard the England management have for the first-class game.Pope, however, insisted winning back the hearts and minds of fans was important to the England side."The misconception might be that we weren't as fussed as it came across," he said. "Of course we want to be a well-liked team, on and off the pitch, and unfortunately our performance didn't allow that to happen in Australia."Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063586.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063586.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/england-cricket-chiefs-to-front-up-to-media-over-ashes-flop]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:03:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Aston Martin say Newey stays principal amid media speculation]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/aston-martin-say-newey-stays-principal-amid-media-speculation]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Aston Martin said Adrian Newey remained principal of the struggling Formula One team as media speculation ramped up on Thursday that he ‌was set to be replaced by Audi's Jonathan Wheatley.The www.motorsport.com website reported the acclaimed designer would stand aside ​to focus on ⁠technical matters, with Wheatley returning to Britain from Audi's factory in Switzerland.The BBC and Sky ‌Sports television also reported Aston Martin ‌had made an approach for Wheatley, who was not available for comment, but no contract had been signed."The team will not be engaging in media speculation about its senior leadership team," Aston Martin said in a statement."Adrian Newey continues to lead ‌the team as Team Principal and Managing Technical Partner."Audi said they were aware of the media reports."There is no official ⁠update from our side at this point in time and we do not comment on speculation," said a team spokesman.Last in the ChampionshipSilverstone-based Aston Martin have yet to score a point or finish either of the two grands prix this season, with their new Honda power unit lacking performance and producing heavy vibrations.Two-times world champion Fernando Alonso retired from last Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix after saying he was losing feeling in his hands and feet.On board footage from the ​race in Shanghai showed Alonso taking his hands off the steering wheel whenever possible to ease the ‌pain.The team are owned by Canadian Lawrence Stroll, whose son Lance races as Spaniard Alonso's teammate. They finished seventh last season with Mercedes engines.Newey took over as principal this season with previous incumbent Andy Cowell, a former Mercedes engine boss, moving ⁠into a strategy role.Newey, whose cars have won 14 drivers' and 12 constructors' titles for three different teams, joined Aston Martin from Red Bull last year as a shareholder and tasked with building a winning car.The softly-spoken Briton, 67, had worked closely with ​former team boss ‌Christian Horner and Dutch four-times world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull but his promotion as Aston principal ‌came as a surprise to many."Adrian is an artist. There’s no point Adrian managing a bunch of people because it’d be chaos. He would be the first to accept that," Horner told the High Performance Podcast in 2021.Should Wheatley move to Aston Martin, ‌that would close a ‌door to Horner returning to the paddock with the team. ⁠The BBC reported, however, that Horner had met Stroll this week.Sky said Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero ‌Lambiase had also been approached but opted to stay with Red Bull.Wheatley, who also worked with Newey at Red Bull previously and was sporting director when he left, joined Audi's predecessor Sauber in ⁠April last year.Any further move would likely involve a long period of 'gardening leave' before he could start work ​at any rival outfit.Audi also have former Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto overseeing the F1 project.The next grand prix at Japan's Suzuka circuit on March 29 is a home one for Honda but unlikely to ⁠bring any relief for the Japanese manufacturer.Reuters]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063585.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063585.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/aston-martin-say-newey-stays-principal-amid-media-speculation]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:52:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Swiatek stunned at Miami Open by 50th-ranked Linette]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/swiatek-stunned-at-miami-open-by-50th-ranked-linette]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Iga Swiatek crashed out of the Miami Open second round Thursday as 50th-ranked fellow Pole Magda Linette fought back for a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over the six-time Grand Slam champion.Reigning Wimbledon champion Swiatek, who won the Miami Open in 2022, suffered her first opening loss at a tournament since the 2021 WTA Finals.It's just the latest disappointment for Swiatek, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and in the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Indian Wells.Although she was seeded second in the elite combined ATP and WTA hardcourt tournament in Miami, Swiatek dropped this week to third in the world as Indian Wells finalistElena Rybakina moved up behind top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.Swiatek's compatriot Linette had to dig deep after Swiatek -- who won their last encounter 6-1, 6-1 -- raced through the opening set in 33 minutes.But she stuck to her guns and Swiatek double-faulted to give Linette two break points in the 12th game of the second set, Linette forcing a third set with a return winner."I just had to go for a little bit more," Linette told Tennis Channel. "I had to start hitting a little bit faster, too, to push her a little bit more back, not give her space."But I think it all started with serving a bit better," she added.Swiatek didn't go meekly, saving a pair of match points on her own serve in the eighth game of the third and two more as Linette served for the match, before Linette sealed the win as Swiatek sent a backhand wide."She actually gets really good on those break points down, match points down," Linette said. "She starts swinging. I just knew I had to stay strong on my serve."Linette advanced to a third-round matchup against 20-year-old Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, a 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-3 winner over Germany's Laura Siegemund."It really was close," said Eala, a surprise semi-finalist last year who needed three hours and 20 minutes to close out the victory."It was demanding, physically and mentally. But that was one of my goals last year after the tournament, to improve physically, and here I am fresh as a flower."It was the longest WTA career match for 29th-ranked Eala, who beat Swiatek in last year's Miami Open quarter-finals for the biggest win of her career before losing to American Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.Former world number one Venus Williams, 45, lost her first-round match to Britain's Francesca Jones 7-5, 7-5 after one hour and 51 minutes.Jones advanced to a second-round match against fifth seed Pegula, last year's Miami runner-up to Sabalenka.Fonseca books Alcaraz clashOn the men's side 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca outlasted Hungary's Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, to book a second-round match with world number one Carlos Alcaraz.Fonseca, ranked 39th, was strongly backed by Brazilian fans as he booked a first-ever meeting with Alcaraz and his second marquee contest in as many tournaments after falling to Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells last week.French 17-year-old Moise Kouame beat qualifier Zachary Svajda 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to become the youngest player to claim an ATP Masters 1000 victory since Rafael Nadal in Hamburg in 2003.Kouame, who received a wild card invitation, next faces 21st seed Jiri Lehecka of Czech Republic.Kouame, who battled through cramping late in the match, was thrilled to receive a message of congratulations from his idol Novak Djokovic."He texted me something really, really nice," Kouame said. "I don't know how I'm going to answer. Hopefully I can meet him... it will be my dream."Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063580.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063580.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/swiatek-stunned-at-miami-open-by-50th-ranked-linette]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:29:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Barca, Reds, Bayern and Atletico complete CL quarters line-up]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/barca-reds-bayern-and-atletico-complete-cl-quarters-line-up]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Barcelona hit Newcastle United for seven to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, while Liverpool overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Galatasaray in their last-16 tie and both Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid advanced to the next round.Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski both scored twice as La Liga leaders Barcelona tore apart Newcastle at the Camp Nou, winning 7-2 in the second leg of their last-16 encounter to progress 8-3 on aggregate.A spectacular match saw Anthony Elanga twice score for Newcastle inside the opening half-hour to cancel out goals by Raphinha and Marc Bernal.However, the Catalans went back in front when Lamine Yamal converted a penalty deep in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-2 on the night, and they never looked back.Fermin Lopez ran through for 4-2 early in the second half before Lewandowski added a quick-fire double either side of the hour mark, and Raphinha completed the scoring in the 72nd minute.“The confidence that we got in the second half was good to see,” said Barca coach Hansi Flick.It was a chastening defeat for Newcastle and just the third time since 1955 that an English team has conceded at least eight goals on aggregate in a European tie -- one of the other occasions was this week, when Chelsea lost 8-2 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain.“When the game was effectively over we didn’t react well to that, so it became a very difficult second half,” said Newcastle coach Eddie Howe.It was also just the third time Barcelona have scored seven in a Champions League game, and Flick’s side can now look forward to an all-Spanish quarter-final next month against Atletico.Diego Simeone’s men lost 3-2 on the night to Tottenham Hotspur in London, but progressed 7-5 on aggregate thanks to their 5-2 victory last week.Randal Kolo Muani headed in on the half-hour to give Spurs the lead on the night and suggest a stunning comeback in the tie was possible.A superb Julian Alvarez strike just after half-time doused the home side’s hopes, even if a fine Xavi Simons effort put Tottenham back in front.David Hancko headed in Atletico’s second on the night, before Simons converted a last-minute penalty for his second of the game as Spurs rescued some pride by ending a run of eight matches without a win.Half-centuries for Kane, Salah: Liverpool were too good for Galatasaray, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit against the Turkish side with a comprehensive 4-0 win at Anfield.Arne Slot’s side went ahead on 25 minutes through a lovely first-time finish at a corner from Dominik Szoboszlai.Mohamed Salah then had a poor penalty saved in first-half stoppage time, but the Egyptian made up for that in style after the break.He laid on two goals in the space of three minutes, one for Hugo Ekitike and the other for Ryan Gravenberch.Salah then scored the fourth himself just after the hour, curling a superb effort into the far corner from the edge of the area from a Florian Wirtz lay-off.It was his 10th club goal this season was also his 50th in the Champions League, and it sealed a 4-1 aggregate victory which takes the Reds through to a quarter-final against PSG.That will be a repeat of a last-16 tie a year ago which PSG won on penalties -- the French club have won four knockout ties against English opponents since the start of 2025.“We could (have) won 10-0, but we did a good job. We can be proud,” said Ekitike.Bayern’s progress against Atalanta was never in doubt after their 6-1 win in the first leg in Italy, and they followed that with a 4-1 success in Munich.Harry Kane opened the scoring with a retaken first-half penalty -- his initial effort had been saved -- and then added a brilliant second on 54 minutes.The brace took the Englishman to a half-century of Champions League goals, as he joined Salah and Thierry Henry on that overall mark -- Kane has done it in 66 games compared to 97 for Salah.Teenager Lennart Karl got Bayern’s third and Luis Diaz the fourth, with Lazar Samardzic pulling one back as the Germans progress 10-2 on aggregate -- they now face Real Madrid in a heavyweight showdown.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063579.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/20/1063579.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/20/barca-reds-bayern-and-atletico-complete-cl-quarters-line-up]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:24:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Messi hits 900th goal but Miami bow out, Nashville enter last eight of Concacaf Cup]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/19/messi-hits-900th-goal-but-miami-bow-out-nashville-enter-last-eight-of-concacaf-cup]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Argentine superstar Lionel Messi bagged the 900th goal of his glittering career on Wednesday, scoring for Inter Miami in their CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Nashville.Messi, 38, needed just seven minutes to reach his milestone, coolly tucking away a low finish to give Miami a 1-0 lead in the regional club competition knockout game.The strike took Messi’s tally to 81 goals for Miami following his move to Major League Soccer in 2023.The eight-time Ballon D’Or winner previously scored 672 goals for Spanish giants Barcelona, 32 for France’s Paris Saint-Germain, and a further 115 international goals for Argentina.Messi’s 900th goal comes some 21 years after his first goal in senior football, when he scored for Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Albacete in 2005 as a fresh-faced 17-year-old.Messi, widely regarded as the greatest player in football history, still has some way to go before he catches his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old Portuguese superstar who is on 965 career goals.Speaking ahead of Messi’s 900th goal, Miami manager and former Argentina and Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano described the star’s goals total as “insane.”“I haven’t contributed much to him scoring goals, neither with assists nor now as a coach,” Mascherano said.“I’ve been lucky enough to see most, or many, of the goals he’s scored, much closer than you all, and that’s a privilege.“The number we’re talking about (900) is insane, and that’s why Leo is a one of a kind.”The Argentine World Cup winner’s 900th goal came early in Miami’s last-16 second leg tie with MLS rivals Nashville.After a bright start by Miami, Messi collected a pass from left back Sergio Reguilon inside the penalty area, and duly slotted a clinical finish past Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake.The goal put Miami 1-0 ahead on aggregate as they bid to advance to the quarter-finals of the premier club competition for teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.Wednesday’s match in Fort Lauderdale carries added significance for Inter Miami, marking a farewell to the team’s Chase Stadium.The venue has served as Inter Miami’s home since the club entered Major League Soccer in 2020. The team will move into a new purpose-built 26,700-seat facility next month.Messi is strongly expected to play in his sixth World Cup later this year, when Argentina defend their title in the 48-team tournament being staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.The Argentine star has already extended his Inter Miami contract through to the end of the 2028 season.Messi’s prolific goalscoring has been a hallmark of his career. His 672 goals for Barcelona came in just 778 games -- an average of 0.86 per game -- helping the Catalan club win 35 trophies before departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.In France, he scored 32 goals in 75 matches, winning three trophies including two league titles.In Miami, his 81 goals have come in just 96 appearances, helping the team win the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2025 MLS Cup.His 115 international goals have come in 196 matches, including two in the 2022 World Cup final victory over France.Messi’s goals tally leaves him second only to Ronaldo according to most recognised statistical records.Brazilian legend Pele is often said to have scored more than 1,000 goals but those numbers have been the subject to debate. Most statisticians put Pele’s total for Brazil, Santos and New York Cosmos at 762.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063545.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063545.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/19/messi-hits-900th-goal-but-miami-bow-out-nashville-enter-last-eight-of-concacaf-cup]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:16:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[India to meet Pakistan on Aug.19 at Hockey WC; eves start quest vs China]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/19/india-to-meet-pakistan-on-aug19-at-hockey-wc-eves-start-quest-vs-china]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[World No 8 India will meet arch-rivals Pakistan in a Pool D match at 6.30 pm IST on August 19 in the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 at the Wagener Hockey Stadium, Amstelveen.India are clubbed together with neighbours and four-time World Cup winner Pakistan in Pool D, along with Wales and England in the four-team Pool from which the top-placed team will qualify for the quarterfinals, while the next two placed teams will figure in Cross-Over matches.After a thrilling draw ceremony held at the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam on Tuesday, where participating teams and athletes discovered their opponents for the group stage, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has now confirmed the match schedule for the World Cup.The 1975 World Cup winner India will start their campaign in the 16-team men’s competition against Wales on August 15, the opening day of the FIH Hockey World Cup, at 4.30 pm IST, and will run into fourth-ranked England on Aug.17 at the Wagener Hockey Stadium, AmstelveenEngland will play Pakistan in another key match of Pool D on Aug.15.The first round matches will be held till August 20, and the knock-out stage matches will be played from Aug.21.Meanwhile, the Indian women’s hockey team will start their campaign against World No.4 and Asian Champion China at the Wagner Stadium in Amsterdam on Aug.16.They will run into South Africa, the only team ranked lower than them in World Rankings, on Aug.18 before winding off their first round proceedings with a clash with World No. 7 England, the team to which they lost in the World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad, India, on Aug.20.The Men’s and Women’s Hockey World Cups, being jointly held for the first time by Belgium and the Netherlands, will start with Australia women meeting Japan Women in the tournament opener on August 15.In all, six matches, three each in men’s and women’s sections, will be played at two venues -- Wagner Stadium in Amstelveen and Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium -- on the opening day of the competitions, which will be held from August 15 to 30.India, along with the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Argentina, Spain, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa have qualified in both men’s and women’s sections of the competition. The Indian men made it by winning the Asia Cup, while the women’s team made it by finishing second in the Qualifying tournament held in Hyderabad, Telangana.After the pool draw and schedule for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 were announced, Indian men’s team head coach Craig Fulton highlighted the squad’s tailored and detailed preparation to embrace the challenge of facing the best teams in the tournament.India have been drawn alongside top-seeded England, arch-rivals Pakistan, and an emerging Wales side, with all their group-stage matches scheduled at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen.“We’re excited. It’s a strong group, but that’s exactly what you want at a World Cup — to be tested against the best,” Fulton said. “The mood in the camp is very positive. The players are motivated and hungry, and knowing our opponents now gives us real clarity and focus going into our preparation.”Analysing the varied tactical challenges Pool D presents, the Fulton emphasised the need for adaptability and respect for each team’s unique style of play.“England are a well-organised, physical side who are also top seed in our pool. Pakistan bring flair, unpredictability, and a rich hockey tradition — never a side to take lightly. Wales are making their mark on the international stage and will be full of energy and determination,” Fulton explained.Agencies]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063544.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063544.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/19/india-to-meet-pakistan-on-aug19-at-hockey-wc-eves-start-quest-vs-china]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:11:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Godzilla ready to rampage across F1 with high-flying Haas ]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/19/godzilla-ready-to-rampage-across-f1-with-high-flying-haas]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Formula One's smallest team Haas are ready to ‌go on the rampage with Godzilla as they take the fight to bigger rivals ​this season.The ⁠US-owned team, who have Toyota's motorsport division as title sponsors and ‌are led by Japanese principal ‌Ayao Komatsu, announced on Wednesday a season-long collaboration with Japan's Toho Co.The studio's reptilian anti-hero, the 'King of the Monsters' who has been causing havoc across cinema screens since 1954, is the star ‌of a new 'Godzilla Minus Zero' movie scheduled for North American release in November.Haas said the ⁠collaboration will debut at the March 27-29 Japanese Grand Prix, with a special livery to be unveiled in Tokyo on March 24, and feature prominently at the team's home US Grand Prix in Austin in October."Through this collaboration, get ready for Godzilla to rampage on the world’s fastest stage," said Keiji Ota, Toho's 'Chief Godzilla Officer'.The team are currently punching above their ​weight in fourth place in the constructors' standings after two grands prix and ‌a sprint race, with Britain's Oliver Bearman fifth in the drivers' championship after scoring in all three.Eighth last season, Ferrari-powered Haas are now ahead of former champions Red Bull and only ⁠one point behind current champions McLaren.Bearman is two points clear of McLaren's world champion Lando Norris.Both McLaren drivers failed to start the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend while Bearman lined up 10th and ​finished fifth.Red Bull ‌had four-times world champion Max Verstappen retire from the race on Sunday while teammate ‌Isack Hadjar was eighth."We beat Red Bull on merit today, so we were the fourth fastest team... which is incredible," said Komatsu after the race in Shanghai ended in a Mercedes one-two with ‌Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton ‌and Charles Leclerc third and fourth."The unfortunate thing ⁠for McLaren was that they couldn't take the race. We were there ‌to take the benefit, so we just maximised everything."Coming out of the Bahrain test, I didn't think we could fight Red Bull at all, and ⁠also Alpine looked really quick,” added the Japanese. "(Pierre) Gasly proved that they are ​quick, but we’ve beaten them on merit."Alpine's Gasly finished sixth, more than two seconds behind Bearman.Formula One has 11 teams now but General Motors-backed newcomers Cadillac already ⁠boast a bigger headcount than Haas.Ruters]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063264.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063264.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/19/godzilla-ready-to-rampage-across-f1-with-high-flying-haas]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:42:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Buttler ready to continue despite ‘poor’ T20 World Cup]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/19/buttler-ready-to-continue-despite-poor-t20-world-cup]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Jos Buttler is refusing to accept his England career is over despite admitting he had a “poor tournament” at the recent T20 World Cup.Widely regarded as one of the outstanding white-ball batsmen of his generation, Buttler managed just 87 runs in eight innings at the tournament as England reached the semi-finals before losing to co-hosts and eventual champions India.“Obviously I had a poor tournament, which is disappointing,” Buttler, who remains on an England and Wales central contract, said on his For the Love of Cricket podcast with former England fast bowler Stuart Broad.“But I have been playing some of the best cricket of my (career) in recent years, so hopefully I can get back to playing my best.“I certainly have ambitions (to play for England again), but no longer being a captain, I am not a selector and whatever, so what will be, will be.”Buttler, 35, is set to play for Gujarat Titans in the upcoming Indian Premier League and hopes time away after the World Cup “up the mountains” in France with his family will leave him feeling reinvigorated.“I couldn’t have been further away from cricket, which for me at the time was just perfect,” said Buttler. “It is exactly what I needed.”“Obviously the tournament didn’t go personally how I would have liked it to go, and I just felt like I needed some space from cricket and not to think about the game, and I could not have been further away from cricket where I was in that week.”Buttler, a member of England’s 2019 one-day international World Cup-winning team and also the skipper for their T20 triumph in Australia three years later, added: “It was really refreshing -- I really enjoyed it, a complete sort of release, and slowly but surely, I would say at the start of this week, (I am) just starting to reflect a bit and have a few thoughts about what is important to me and my cricket, and why it probably didn’t go quite as I would’ve liked.“There’s elements that I actually don’t really know exactly. For all your best intentions and hard work and efforts to perform, it just didn’t work, and sometimes that is OK as well.“That is something I have had to realise. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, it just didn’t quite happen.”Pope hopeful of Test recall: England batter Ollie Pope said he remains hopeful of returning to the national test side after accepting that his omission following a poor Ashes series was the right call.Pope was dropped after managing just 125 runs in six innings during England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia in January, with Jacob Bethell replacing him at number three for the last two tests.“I guess I knew where I stood,” Pope said.“Getting dropped is tough. I didn’t want to get dropped of course, but it was the right decision at the time.”The 28-year-old, who has played 64 tests since making his red-ball debut in 2018, said he had clear communication with head coach Brendon McCullum and Director of Cricket Rob Key after losing his place.“For me the chats were just ‘go back, score loads of runs,’” he said.“If I’m not in that XI, can I make sure I’m the best batter in the country? I can take my game to another level, and make sure if something happens, it’s making sure I’m the man to come in.”Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063263.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063263.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/19/buttler-ready-to-continue-despite-poor-t20-world-cup]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:39:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[PSG, Real and Arsenal enter Champions League quarters]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/18/psg-real-and-arsenal-enter-champions-league-quarters]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Holders Paris Saint-Germain, record 15-time winners Real Madrid and Arsenal surged into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday, while Sporting produced a brilliant comeback in Portugal to end Bodo/Glimt’s remarkable run.PSG appear to be coming back into the form which saw them win the Champions League for the first time in their history last season, as the French club crushed Chelsea 3-0 in London to claim a comprehensive 8-2 aggregate victory in their last-16 tie.Chelsea had been left with a mountain to climb after a late collapse in last week’s first leg, and PSG quickly snuffed out any chance the English club had.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia followed his first-leg double by opening the scoring on six minutes at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea defender Mamadou Sarr misjudgeing a long ball on his Champions League debut and then being outmuscled by the Georgian who applied the finish.Bradley Barcola fired in a brilliant second goal from an Achraf Hakimi assist, and the home fans were streaming for the exits when substitute Senny Mayulu swept in PSG’s third on the night just after the hour.“We clearly dominated, we are very happy to be in the quarter-finals and I think it is well deserved,” PSG coach Luis Enrique told Canal Plus.PSG’s fourth victory against English opposition in a two-legged knockout tie since the start of last year sets up a last-eight tie against Liverpool or Galatasaray, who meet on at Anfield with the Turkish side leading 1-0 from the first leg.Two-time European champions Chelsea were not the only English club to be eliminated on Tuesday, with Manchester City losing 2-1 at home to Real as they went out 5-1 on aggregate.Real led 3-0 from the first leg in Spain, where Federico Valverde scored a hat-trick, and their qualification was never in doubt after City’s Bernardo Silva was sent off on 20 minutes for stopping a goalbound Vinicius Junior shot on the line with his arm.Vinicius converted the penalty, and Pep Guardiola’s side had too much to do, even if Erling Haaland levelled the scores on the night before half-time with his 30th goal this season.Real replaced Thibaut Courtois with Andriy Lunin in goal at half-time, and the tie was over long before Vinicius scored again in stoppage time to seal the win on the night.“All of us players know that the good games are coming and when Madrid play in this competition, everything changes,” said Vinicius, as Real knocked City out for the third season running.Real are almost certain to face Bayern Munich in a heavyweight quarter-final, with the Germans 6-1 up against Atalanta before the return match.Premier League leaders Arsenal’s dream of a quadruple remains alive after they beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium for a 3-1 aggregate success.They had needed a late penalty to draw in Germany last week, and finished the tie off in the return with goals either side of half-time from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice.Eze broke the deadlock with a long-range rocket late in the first half and Rice’s composed finish killed off Leverkusen.“We had four or five situations where we should have scored a third but overall we fully deserved to win and be into the quarter-finals,” said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta.His team now face Manchester City in the English League Cup final on Sunday, and will play Sporting in the quarter-finals.The Portuguese champions produced a superb fightback, overturning a 3-0 deficit from last week’s first leg against Bodo/Glimt by beating the Norwegians 5-0 after extra time in Lisbon.Goncalo Inacio and Pedro Goncalves scored before a Luis Suarez penalty on 78 minutes forced extra time.Uruguayan full-back Maxi Araujo gave Sporting the lead in the tie for the first time in the 92nd minute, and Rafael Nel made sure of their progress with the fifth right at the end.Bodo/Glimt’s fantastic run comes to an end as Sporting reach the quarters of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 1983.Agence France-Presse]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/18/1063239.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/18/1063239.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/18/psg-real-and-arsenal-enter-champions-league-quarters]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:11:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sabalenka unsure of Dubai return  after criticism over withdrawal]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/18/sabalenka-unsure-of-dubai-return-after-criticism-over-withdrawal]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she is unsure about her return to the Dubai Championships after its tournament director criticised her withdrawal this year, labelling the demand for tougher penalties on late pullouts a “ridiculous” idea.Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek were among several players ruled out due to injury, illness or scheduling changes, leaving lucky losers to fill the depleted main draw in Dubai and taking gloss off the WTA 1000 event only below the Grand Slams in stature.Sabalenka cited a minor hip injury when she pulled out of the tournament last month, before the US-Israeli war with Iran sparked chaos in the region.At the time, Dubai tournament director Salah Tahlak told media that Sabalenka and Swiatek pulling out had been an “unfortunate surprise” for the organisers and sought strict action for late withdrawals with ranking points being docked.“I think it’s ridiculous,” Belarusian Sabalenka told reporters at the Miami Open on Tuesday.“I don’t think he showed himself in the best way possible. For me it’s actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments not protecting us as players. They just care about their (sales), about their tournament and that’s it.“His comment was ridiculous. I’m not sure if I ever want to go there after his comment. For me it’s too much.”Top players are obliged to compete in all four Grand Slams, 10 WTA 1000 tournaments and six WTA 500 events under WTA rules, with punishments for missing them ranging from ranking points penalties to fines.World number four Coco Gauff urged a more understanding view of Swiatek and Sabalenka pulling out of Dubai.“I just feel Iga and Aryna have played that tournament so many times and it wasn’t anything personal to it,” Gauff said.“It’s tough. We’re trying our best to play the calendar. I completely understand why she (Sabalenka) would feel like that because the comments were unnecessary.”The men’s and women’s tours have faced criticism due to their 11-month seasons, and both came under scrutiny towards the end of last year with several matches in the Asian swing unable to be completed due to injuries.Sabalenka, who won the Indian Wells title on Sunday and will defend her Miami trophy, said she had opted to be more selective this season to negotiate the demands of a relentless circuit.Reuters]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063279.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/19/1063279.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/18/sabalenka-unsure-of-dubai-return-after-criticism-over-withdrawal]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:09:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
     
        <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Forever Young, Calandagan and Rebel’s Romance  among likely contenders for Dubai World Cup]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/18/forever-young-calandagan-and-rebels-romance-among-likely-contenders-for-dubai-world-cup]]></link> 
        <description><![CDATA[Multiple Group 1 winners Forever Young and Calandagan are among the likely runners for the 30th Dubai World Cup meeting, at Meydan Racecourse, on March 28.A field of nine has been announced for the $12million G1 Dubai World Cup (sponsored by Emirates Airline), including 2025 winner Hit Show, aiming to become just the second horse to win the race twice, and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Forever Young.G2 winner Magnitude has also arrived from the US, while the UAE challenge is headed by G1 winners Walk Of Stars and Imperial Emperor.Calandagan, who’s brilliant 2025 culminated in victory in the G1 Japan Cup, heads a possible seven runners in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.His opposition includes nine-time G1 winner Rebel’s Romance, as well as G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond.The G1 Dubai Turf, sponsored by DP World, has also attracted a strong field, including multiple G1 winner Ombudsman, G1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands and Facteur Cheval, successful in this race in 2024.The two sprints on the card also have international casts, with G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato facing 2024 winner Tuz in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (sponsored by Nakheel) and top-level scorers Lazzat and Khaadem in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (sponsored by Azizi Developments).“We are delighted to see horses from so many different countries here for this landmark 30th Dubai World Cup meeting,” said Erwan Charpy, Head of Department, Racing Operations & International Relations, for Dubai Racing Club.“To have so many defending and former champions, including Hit Show. Rebel’s Romance, Tuz, Forever Young and Dark Saffron back here is also very pleasing. We thank everyone for their support and wish them the best of luck on the big day.”Carnival Foray Pays Dividend: When British trainers Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole embarked on their first Dubai Racing Carnival mission in late 2025, it was a dream, rather than a plan, that they would end up at the Dubai World Cup meeting.Dreams can come true, however, and their four-year-old gelding Dividend has an invitation to the $5million G1 Dubai Turf following two wins and a strong second to Quddwah in the G2 Singspiel Stakes.“We’re delighted that Dividend has been invited and it’s a credit to Lucy (Hammond), who has done all the work with them out there, and Jodie Wingrove who has ridden him since he arrived in our yard in England,” says Insole.“It’s our first trip out to Dubai and to have two winners is a massive credit to everyone and a real achievement for the yard.”Dividend progressed through the Carnival, finishing third on his first run in January, before two successes and that excellent Singspiel Stakes silver medal – all under jockey Rossa Ryan. Insole believes Dubai’s training environment brings out the best in the son of Kodiac.“He was quite a playful, energetic two-year-old, but he’s been very easy to deal with,” he continues. “He loves quick ground and the step up in trip at Meydan has definitely helped. He loves the conditions out there and he’s thriving in the weather and being abroad. He enjoys his work and he’s loved cantering on the main track every day. He’s been training predominantly on the dirt out there and doing his fast work on the turf. He’s a pretty cool character.“Lucy has been out there for two months with him and Witness Stand. She is our travelling head girl and it’s her first trip to Dubai. She’s really thrown herself in and enjoyed it. There are people who have been going to Dubai for ten years and haven’t had a winner, so for us to have two winners and a second in the Singspiel and now a runner on World Cup night, it’s super exciting!”Dividend will face a strong field in the $5million race, including 2024 winner Facteur Cheval and multiple G1 winner Ombudsman, but Insole is hopeful he will acquit himself well.“He’s going to have to step up again, but what many people haven’t noted is that his second in the Singspiel was off the back of an eight-day turnaround from his last win the weekend before,” he says. “It was a very short time before running in the biggest race of his life. It’s a nice prep now into World Cup night, he’s going to have a bit more time to freshen up and to train for it.“I think we could see him improve again and I think nine furlongs [1800metres] works really well for him, plus a bigger field and a stronger pace to aim at. If we could run in the first four or five, the whole syndicate and the team at home would be delighted.“It’s an honour and a privilege to be invited to a race like this.”]]></description>
                <enclosure url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/18/1063237.webp" length="50000" type="image/jpeg" />
        <media:content url="https://www.gulftoday.ae/gulftoday/uploads/images/2026/03/18/1063237.webp" type="image/jpeg" />
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[gulftoday]]></dc:creator>
        <category><![CDATA[Sport ]]></category>
        <guid><![CDATA[https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2026/03/18/forever-young-calandagan-and-rebels-romance-among-likely-contenders-for-dubai-world-cup]]></guid>
        <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:07:00 +0400</pubDate>
    </item>
    </channel>
</rss>