Snooker Players from India, Wales Win World Under-21 Snooker Championship in Riyadh

SPA
SPA
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Snooker Players from India, Wales Win World Under-21 Snooker Championship in Riyadh

SPA
SPA

Wales national team player Liam Davies was crowned Sunday as the winner of the World Under-21 Snooker Championship after defeating the German player Alexander Widow in a 5-2 victory, while the Indian female player Catherine Banden sealed a victory over her compatriot Anbamy Ramshamandan in a 4-1 win.

The Championship was hosted by the Saudi Arabian Billiard and Snooker Federation in Riyadh over a period of 10 days, in which more than 100 male and female players representing 15 national teams have participated, SPA reported.
The President of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF), Mubarak Al-Khayarin, and the President of the Saudi Arabian Billiard and Snooker Federation Dr. Nasser Al-Shammari, crowned the champions and honored the heads of delegations, referees and organizers during the closing ceremony of the tournament.
Al-Khayarin praised the success of the tournament, saying: "We are proud as Arabs that Saudi Arabia successfully organized the championship, leading to positive reactions from all participants. In the future, Saudi Arabia will be in a high competition as a potential host for any global tournament".
"There will be a close partnership between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and cooperation through the establishment of joint camps", he added.



Liverpool Glory Would Boost Salah's Ballon D'Or Chances, Says Slot

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah - EPA file photo
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah - EPA file photo
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Liverpool Glory Would Boost Salah's Ballon D'Or Chances, Says Slot

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah - EPA file photo
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah - EPA file photo

Arne Slot says Mohamed Salah will have a "far better chance" of winning the Ballon d'Or if runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool win silverware this season.

The Egyptian superstar, 32, is favorite to win the award, regarded as the top individual prize in football, after a sensational campaign so far, AFP reported.

Salah, who is yet to sign a new deal to keep him at Anfield beyond the end of this season, has scored 30 goals and provided 21 assists in all competitions during the current campaign.

But Liverpool manager Slot said Tuesday that despite those stellar numbers, the club need to win major trophies to help their forward win his first Ballon d'Or.

"It's a good thing that Mo is in the discussion because it means he does well and it means we are doing well," the Dutchman said on Tuesday.

"But for him to stay in that discussion, he should bring in the same performances as he's done for seven or eight months now.

"And I think, in general, someone that wins the Ballon d'Or needs to win something as well, so it's a great challenge that is in front of us, but also in front of him."

Liverpool, who host Newcastle on Wednesday, are 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with 11 games to go but Slot said he does not fear complacency.

"We all know these players are so long in this competition, even much longer than me, so they know how difficult every single game is, and if you have to play 11, it's still a long way to go," he said.

Liverpool are also in the final of the League Cup, where they will face Newcastle again, and will meet Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Slot was asked at his pre-match press conference whether Salah's current form could be compared with that of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at their peak but he shied away from direct comparisons.

"He (Salah) has had some outstanding seasons here at Liverpool, and we hope he can continue this for a longer period of time, but to do that he first has to extend his contract of course," he said.

The Liverpool boss was also asked whether Salah's red-hot form would make it easier or more difficult for the club to agree a new deal.

"You can look at it in both ways," he said. "You can say the better he does, the more expensive he might become, and if he would do really worse, we would have second thoughts if we wanted to extend his contract."

"So I think for everyone it's the best that he brings in the performances he does now. Maybe only for the one that has to pay him it's not the best, but for everyone else it's the best."