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Ons Jabeur sharpens quest to encourage extra Arab girls to take up tennis

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PARIS: Ons Jabeur’s long-stated aim is that her historic exploits on court docket result in extra Arab girls taking over tennis — changing into the primary Arab participant to win a Grand Slam in subsequent month’s French Open ultimate would do wonders to attain that.

The 27-year-old Tunisian turned a front-rank contender for tennis’s biggest prize on clay along with her gutsy three-set victory over American Jessica Pegula in Madrid on Saturday.

In doing so the participating and extremely expressive Jabeur wrote one other piece of tennis historical past.

Her 7-5, 0-6, 6-2 victory made her the primary Arab or African lady to win a WTA 1000 title.

Her title in Birmingham final 12 months was the primary for an Arab lady participant on the circuit and he or she is the primary Arab participant — man or lady — to crack the highest 10.

Certainly she is going to return to her earlier highest rating of seven on Monday.

With a tour-leading 12 victories on clay thus far this season — and with Australia’s world primary Ashleigh Barty having retired — the omens appear constructive for her.

Nevertheless, she has one other glass ceiling to crack in reaching the final 4 of a Grand Slam for the primary time — so she has two quarter-finals to her credit score in Australia in 2020 and Wimbledon final 12 months.

Jabeur — the junior champion at Roland Garros in 2011 — is, although, armed with a robust weapon aside from her strokeplay.

“Undoubtedly all these matches I’ve gained on clay will give me quite a lot of confidence,” she mentioned as she absorbed her Madrid victory.

“If you’re assured like that and also you win quite a lot of matches, I feel I ought to take this chance to go, like, actually ahead and win.”

Jabeur admits to not watching a lot tennis when she was rising up and it was her husband Karim Kamoun who was extra “obsessed by Roland Garros.”

‘All owed to her’

Kamoun was readily available in Madrid — he planted a kiss on her cheek courtside after her triumph — as have been her siblings and the pinnacle of the Tunisian tennis federation to see her momentous win.

Jabeur welcomes such consideration however she want to see extra firm within the locker room on the tour as Arab feminine gamers have been a rarity. Her compatriot Selima Sfar reached a profession excessive of 75 on this planet in 2001 however there was little progress for different Arab girls gamers till Jabeur got here on the scene.

“Being the one Arab just isn’t simple to be on tour proper now,” she mentioned at Wimbledon final 12 months.

“I simply wish to say if I did it (succeed on tour), it’s not not possible. Like I mentioned earlier than, I all the time attempt to encourage different generations.”

Jabeur’s favorite participant of all time is America’s three-time Wimbledon finalist and 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick — however it’s Morocco’s four-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist Hicham Arazi who has been her position mannequin.

Jabeur mentioned simply as Arazi impressed her, so she hopes she will do the identical for Arab girls.

“Actually, he actually impressed me, and I’m attempting to do the identical right here,” she mentioned.

“I prefer to see how French individuals are collectively (on tour), Individuals, Australian, and I really feel like I wish to see this, you understand, with my nation.

“It doesn’t matter, Tunisia or Egypt or Morocco, I actually wish to see an increasing number of gamers.”

Even earlier than her nice run at Wimbledon final 12 months, Jabeur’s pressure of persona and expertise had already satisfied others, together with American legend Venus Williams, that she is going to obtain her aim.

“You’re gonna see a complete different era of ladies from North Africa coming into tennis,” mentioned Williams.

“It’s going to be all owed to her.”

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Asian Video games most prestigious sporting occasion: Says Gen Arif Hasan

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BEIJING: nineteenth Asian Video games, greater than video games to advertise socio-culture ties, stated Lt. Gen (R) Syed Arif Hasan, President, Pakistan Olympic Affiliation (POA) in an interview with China Financial Web (CEN).

The Asian Video games, one of the vital prestigious sporting occasions on this planet, is ready to be held from September 23 to October 8, 2023 in Hangzhou, China.

As one of the vital well-known video games on the world’s largest continent, it isn’t solely a platform for athletes to compete but additionally a large financial alternative for the host nation.

In keeping with analysis, earlier editions of the Asian Video games have generated important financial advantages, together with elevated tourism, infrastructure improvement, and job creation.

China, with its intensive infrastructure and thriving tourism business, is well-positioned to capitalize on these advantages.

First, internet hosting the Asian Video games requires intensive funding in sports activities infrastructure. China has been constantly investing in state-of-the-art sports activities amenities, stadiums, and coaching facilities to help its athletes and promote sports activities participation amongst its residents.

As per the nineteenth Asian Video games Hangzhou Organizing Committee, all competitors venues for the Video games have been constructed or renovated to fulfill the necessities of each the video games and the day by day leisure and sporting wants of native residents, with a give attention to inexperienced and sustainable ideas supported by high-tech.

Additionally, the Asian Video games attracts 1000’s of athletes, officers, and spectators from everywhere in the world. This inflow of tourists creates a big increase to the native financial system, notably within the hospitality, transportation, and retail sectors.

On September 6, the Asian Flower Theme Park was unveiled in Hangzhou, aiming to supply a pleasant environment for guests from throughout Asia.

Hangzhou, recognized for its pure magnificence and cultural heritage, can leverage the Asian Video games to boost its popularity as a vacationer vacation spot, attracting extra guests in the long term.

Final, the Asian Video games not solely stimulates the general sports activities financial system but additionally accelerates the event of China’s sports activities business.

For instance, from August 6 to 12, the 2023 Zhejiang Provincial “Nationwide Health Day” and “Sports activities Promotion Week” themed actions are held on the Huanglong Sports activities Centre, Hangzhou.

It attracted a complete of 880 yoga lovers to take part.

As well as, the First Girls’s Half Marathon Hangzhou 2023 kicked off within the metropolis on Could 7, driving site visitors, catering, lodging and different passenger consumption outdoors the occasion.

It goes with out saying that the Asian Video games serves as a catalyst for sports-related companies, together with sports activities gear producers, sports activities media and broadcasting, sports activities advertising and marketing businesses, and sports activities tourism operators.

The Asian Video games might help these industries acquire momentum, resulting in elevated employment alternatives and income progress.

Because the world eagerly awaits the occasion, all eyes will probably be on China because it showcases its sporting prowess and lays the muse for a thriving sports activities financial system within the years to come back. “Our expertise of the Video games in China has all the time been superb.

And since the video games and occasions that happen in China are of a really excessive commonplace – beginning with the Beijing Olympics and now in Hangzhou – I’m certain it is going to be an amazing expertise not just for us however for all of the athletes and your complete contingent,” Syed Arif Hasan famous.

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Pakistan declares 18-member ICC World Cup 2023 squad

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has introduced the squad for upcoming World Cup 2023 on Friday.

The chief selector and former skipper, Inzamam-ul-Haq introduced the 18-member squad at a press convention. He stated Babar Azam is captain and Shadab Khan will probably be vice-captains within the nationwide squad.

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is scheduled to be held in India from Oct 5 and Pakistan will play its first match within the World Cup in opposition to the Netherlands on Oct 6.

The Squad:

Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Muhammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Wasim Jr., Hasan Ali, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha and Osama Mir.

Reserve:
Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed and Zaman Khan

The announcement, initially deliberate for yesterday, was postponed on account of unexpected circumstances.

Cricket lovers nationwide have been eagerly awaiting this revelation, because it marks an important step in Pakistan’s journey to compete on the worldwide stage within the ICC World Cup.

Sources throughout the PCB point out that the nationwide cricket group will depart for India on September 27.

The primary warm-up match of the nationwide squad will probably be contested in opposition to New Zealand on September 29.

Yesterday, a efficiency overview assembly was held for the Pakistan cricket group, attended by key stakeholders.

Dr. Sohail Saleem, chargeable for participant well-being and health, gave a complete briefing on the accidents and rehabilitation progress of the gamers, guaranteeing that the chosen squad will probably be in prime bodily situation for the upcoming World Cup.

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No different nation rivals China in sports activities: Pakistan’s volleyball captain

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ISLAMABAD: “I consider that there might be a tremendous expertise. And I’d prefer to thank the Chinese language authorities to present us an opportunity to play on this wonderful facility,” stated Issanaye Ramires Ferraz, Pakistan’s Brazilian volleyball coach.

That is Issanaye’s first go to to China and he’s received very excited. “Our preparation goes very effectively, and I hope we are going to play each match until the ultimate,” Issanaye stated, including that “I don’t prefer to say that we’ve one nice participant, China Financial Web (CEN) reported on Thursday.

We’ve group work. That’s our philosophy. We’ll work as a group to present Pakistan a excessive efficiency and get good outcomes.”

“Earlier than this, we’ve performed the Asian Males’s Volleyball Championship. In comparison with that, our group is match now, when it comes to ball abilities and bodily health.

Our head coach can also be happy with our coaching. We anticipate to face on the victory stand,” stated Mubashir Raza Watto, captain of Pakistan’s nationwide volleyball group.

“We went to China for the World Navy Video games. We received a bronze medal. If I discuss in regards to the administration of China, their administration is superb, when it comes to meals, when it comes to lodging.

They deal with us very effectively. When it comes to sports activities, I don’t suppose there’s a higher nation than China that manages it so effectively,” Mubashir added.

The lads’s and ladies’s volleyball competitions began on Sept. 19 and can final by way of Oct. 7 throughout 4 venues in Hangzhou, China.

Pakistan’s largest achievement within the Asian Video games volleyball historical past is their third-place end within the 1962 Jakarta Asian Video games. Within the final Asian Video games held in Indonesia in 2018 Pakistan completed eighth.

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