Saudi Minister of Sports Holds Talks with Chinese Counterpart, IOC Vice President 

Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz awards the medals to the winners of the race. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz awards the medals to the winners of the race. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Sports Holds Talks with Chinese Counterpart, IOC Vice President 

Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz awards the medals to the winners of the race. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz awards the medals to the winners of the race. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz held talks in Hangzhou on Monday with China’s Minister of Sports, Chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Hangzhou Asian Games Gao Zhidan.

The officials discussed issues related to the 19th Asian Games Huangzhou 2022 that are underway and ways to boost cooperation to serve athletes and youth in their countries.

Prince Abdulaziz is heading the Saudi delegation participating in the Asian Games.

The talks were attended by Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi, and other officials.

Prince Abdulaziz also held talks with Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Ng Ser Miang.

They tackled the latest developments in international sports and the upcoming Olympic Games, in Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028.

Later in the evening, Prince Abdulaziz crowned the winners of the 200m freestyle relay race at the Asian Games.



Navarro Calls for Video Review Rule Change After Double Bounce in Defeat 

USA's Emma Navarro hits a return against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (AFP)
USA's Emma Navarro hits a return against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Navarro Calls for Video Review Rule Change After Double Bounce in Defeat 

USA's Emma Navarro hits a return against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (AFP)
USA's Emma Navarro hits a return against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (AFP)

Emma Navarro's split-second decision not to halt play after a double bounce in her Australian Open quarter-final loss to Iga Swiatek on Wednesday cost her a vital point and the American called for changes to the rules on the use of video reviews.

Navarro lost the match 6-1 6-2, with her fightback fading following a controversial moment at 2-2 in the second set, when Swiatek ran to the net and returned a low shot after the ball had bounced twice.

The incident was missed by the chair umpire and while the 23-year-old Navarro sought a video review immediately after losing the point she was informed by the official that it was too late as she had continued the rally.

"I think it (a video review) should be allowed after the point even if you play. It happened so fast. You hit the shot, and she hits it back, and you're just like 'Oh, I guess I'm playing'," Navarro told reporters.

"In the back of your head you're like, 'Okay, maybe I can still win the point even though it wasn't called'. It's going to be a downer if I stop the point and it turns out it wasn't a double bounce. Yeah, it's tough.

"I think we should be able to see it afterwards and make that call."

Swiatek, a five-times Grand Slam champion who is chasing her first Australian Open title, said it was the official's job to call double bounces.

"I wasn't sure if it was a double bounce or I hit it with my frame," Swiatek added.

"It was hard to say, because I was sprinting. I don't remember even seeing the contact point. Sometimes you don't really look when you hit the ball.

"I thought this is like the umpire's job to call it. I was also waiting for the (video review), but I didn't see it, so I proceeded. I was already focused on the next one."

It was not the first time Swiatek had benefited from a no-call on a double bounce at a Grand Slam with a similar incident occurring during her quarter-final win over Jessica Pegula in her triumphant 2022 French Open run.

Navarro shrugged off Wednesday's incident, saying it was not the only factor in her defeat.

"It is what it is, I guess," she added.

"It's tough to place blame on anybody. It's a tough call. I think the rules should be different."