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UAE club SAD makes Ronaldo sweat on Asian Champions League debut

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Two teams from the UAE will vie for eight spots on the draw through the play-offs route. Courtesy @TheAFCCL/ X

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr qualified for the Asian Champions League group stage after they secured an injury-time victory against Shabab Al Ahli in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The Saudi Pro League side came from behind to triumph 4-2 in the play-off at Mrsool Park, with Brazilian Anderson Talisca scoring twice and Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic rounding off the win. Nassr had been two minutes from exiting the tournament.

The result means Nassr, runners-up domestically last season, move into the group phase, which begins next month. Ronaldo, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, was making his debut in Asian football’s top club competition after signing for the Riyadh club last December.

Nassr opened the scoring on 11 minutes, when Taslica headed home a Brozovic corner. However, Yahya Al Ghassani levelled for UAE champions Shabab Al Ahli seven minutes later, the winger slotting the ball into the Nassr net after the Dubai side countered.

Ronaldo, 38, left the pitch at half-time clearly frustrated and could been seen arguing with the referee. The Portuguese star, the Nassr captain, believed he should have had two penalties in the first half.
Then, one minute after half-time, Al Ghassani raced clear of the Nassr defence to flick the ball over Nawaf Al Aqidi and put Shabab Al Ahli in front.

However, Nassr equalised with two minutes of normal time remaining, when full-back Sultan Al Ghannam’s header was diverted into his own goal by Walid Abbas.

Nassr’s comeback was complete five minutes into the allotted seven minutes of injury time, with Talisca nodding home from close range. Moments later, as Shabab Al Ahli chased the equaliser, Ronaldo teed up Brozovic to drill his shot into the net and make safe the game.

Elsewhere in the west zone, UAE side Sharjah qualified for the tournament proper with a 3-1 victory away to Iran’s Tractor FC, while Uzbekistan’s Navbahor Namangan defeated Al Wakrah of Qatar 1-0 after extra time. In another play-off, Uzbek side AGMK Olmaliq defeated Qatar’s Al Arabi 1-0.

The 21st season of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s flagship club competition will run from September 2023 to May 2024.

The draw for the group stage takes place in Kuala Lumpur on August 24.

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Pro Panja League is set for international debut as it goes global with UAE Cup 2025

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Pro Panja League, India’s premier professional Arm Wrestling tournament, is set to mark a significant moment in the league’s journey, making its international debut on April 19th at the India Club, who are also the venue partner for the tournament in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The ‘Pro Panja UAE Cup’ is the first-ever occasion when the league is organizing an international event. The event will bring together some of India’s best arm wrestlers alongside the best arm wrestlers from around the world.

The event is sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and will technically be overlooked by the Emirates Body Building and Fitness Federation. Actor and Co-Founder of the Pro Panja League, Mr. Parvinn Dabass and Bollywood Star and President of the People’s ArmWrestling Federation India , Mrs. Preeti Jhangiani will be making a special appearance at the event, alongside Mr. Raz Khan, who is the representative for Pro Panja League in the UAE.

A total of five matches will be played at the event, with the huge India-Pakistan headline clash being between India’s Mazahir Saidu (110 kg), who is India’s Number 1 and also the captain of Kochi KD’s in the Pro Panja League, and Pakistan’s Omer Jamshaid (105 kg).

In the 90 kg category, Arjun Menon from India will take on Talal Ali from Bahrain, while another Indian, Umesh Kattuparambil (80 kg) will compete against Ameer Alturkumani (85 kg) from UAE. In the other three matches at the landmark event, Prasad Kanhangad (75 kg) of India will be pitted against UAE’s Rambo (80 kg), while India’s Asker Ali (85 kg) will fight it out against Ali (90 kg).

Speaking about the international debut, Parvinn Dabass, Co-founder of Pro Panja League, said, “The Pro Panja UAE Cup is a natural progression in our vision to make arm wrestling a mainstream, globally recognized sport. The UAE has emerged as a hub for combat sports and we are thrilled to bring the energy and excitement of Pro Panja to such an enthusiastic audience and I thank our UAE partners especially India Club and Mr Faisal Alzaabi for their support .”

Sharing her enthusiasm for the same, Bollywood Star, Preeti Jhanghiani added, “Having seen the Pro Panja League up close, I have to say it’s a superb mix of sports and entertainment and Bollywood masala, everyone who watches falls in love with Pro Panja and now I’m honoured to be meeting my UAE fans through this platform .”

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Indian boxing icon Mary Kom launches UAE’s first robotic knee surgery unit

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Indian Olympic medalist and boxing legend Mary Kom stepped into a different kind of ring this week as she officially inaugurated Aster Hospital Mankhool’s state-of-the-art robotic surgery facility, a first for the healthcare group in the UAE.

The highlight? The launch of the ROSA robotic knee replacement system, a high-tech marvel that blends real-time data, 3D modelling, and a personalised approach to revolutionise how knee surgeries are done.

“This is a big leap forward for patient care,” said Kom. The six-time world champion, who’s also served in India’s Parliament, hailed the hospital’s push for smarter, safer surgeries.

Precision Power

Unlike traditional knee replacements, the ROSA robot acts as a high-tech co-pilot, guiding surgeons from planning to execution. The system uses detailed CT scans to create a 3D model of the patient’s knee, allowing for precise implant placement, better joint function, and faster recovery.

Safer, Smarter, Stronger

The robotic approach means smaller incisions, less tissue damage, and a lower risk of complications – like infections or nerve damage. Patients with complex anatomy or severe arthritis, in particular, stand to benefit the most.

And the best part? The minimally invasive nature means less blood loss, quicker healing, and a better quality of life – helping patients get back on their feet faster and stronger than ever.

(Source: Zawya)

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FIFA Club World Cup 2025: More tickets released for Al Ain vs Juventus clash as demand soars

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Football fans who missed out during the initial phase of ticket sales for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 have another shot: FIFA has released an additional batch of tickets for select matches following a surge in global demand.

Set to take place this summer in the United States, the tournament has drawn intense interest, especially for marquee matchups like Al Ain FC vs Juventus, scheduled for June 19 as part of Group G. With excitement building around the UAE club facing off against the Italian giants, tickets for the clash have become some of the hottest in the tournament’s early stages.

Other crowd-pulling fixtures now seeing increased ticket availability include Bayern Munich vs Auckland City, Boca Juniors vs Benfica, Real Madrid vs Al Hilal, and Flamengo vs Chelsea. Fans are especially eager for heavyweight showdowns such as Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors and Real Madrid vs Red Bull Salzburg, which continue to top FIFA’s most-requested list.

FIFA reported that tickets have now been purchased by supporters from more than 130 countries, underlining the event’s global draw. Leading the pack is the United States, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, France, Japan, and Spain.

With the 2025 edition of the Club World Cup set to be one of the most diverse and competitive yet, fans are being encouraged to act fast as tickets for key matchups continue to sell out.

(Source: Wam)

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