Riyadh Marathon Concludes with Participation of 20,000 Competitors from Around the World

The third edition of the Riyadh Marathon saw the participation of more than 20,000 competitors. SPA
The third edition of the Riyadh Marathon saw the participation of more than 20,000 competitors. SPA
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Riyadh Marathon Concludes with Participation of 20,000 Competitors from Around the World

The third edition of the Riyadh Marathon saw the participation of more than 20,000 competitors. SPA
The third edition of the Riyadh Marathon saw the participation of more than 20,000 competitors. SPA

The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) concluded on Saturday the third edition of the Riyadh Marathon, which was held on February 9-10 in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, with the participation of more than 20,000 male and female competitors from around the world.
The contestants crossed the finish line, amid enthusiastic applause from their peers and attendees. The winners were granted prizes worth more than SAR700,000, in addition to medals to celebrate their achievement and participation in the marathon.
Kenyan Kegen Kirwa was crowned in the first place in the men’s professional category for a distance of 242 kilometers, Ethiopian Telehun Gashaho won second place, and third place went to Moroccan Algoz Anwar.
This edition saw the participation of thousands of sports enthusiasts, with participants of over 20,000 male and female competitors from 125 countries.
Males represented 64% while females represented 36% of the total number of participants, with 600 who participated in the full marathon, 3,000 competitors in the half marathon, nearly 8,000 competitors in the 10 km race, and 8,400 participants in the 4 km race. The marathon recorded an increase in the number of participants amounting to more than 33% compared to last year.



Sinner and Alcaraz Breeze through Shanghai Masters Openers

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
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Sinner and Alcaraz Breeze through Shanghai Masters Openers

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)

Carlos Alcaraz and top-ranked Jannik Sinner showed no signs of fatigue from their China Open final earlier this week to advance with comfortable straight-set victories in their opening matches of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.

The second-ranked Alcaraz, who beat the Italian in Beijing on Wednesday for his fourth title of the year, recorded his 10th consecutive win with a 6-2, 6-2 result against 19-year-old Shang Juncheng of China.

The 21-year-old Spaniard won the first nine points of the match and four of seven break points as he rushed into a third-round meeting with another Chinese player, Wu Yibing.

“I’m not used to playing against players younger than me,” Alcaraz said. “He has been playing good tennis lately, lifting his first ATP (title in Chengdu), so I’m pretty sure he’s going to climb the rankings. I’m just happy to to be able to win these kinds of matches.”

Sinner, who is dealing with an ongoing doping case, had a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 outing against Taro Daniel of Japan for his 250th career win.

The Italian, who won the US Open last month for his second major of the year, fired 12 aces and 38 winners.

“I felt quite comfortable today,” said the 23-year-old Sinner, who next plays Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina. “I feel in good shape also physically, which is very important for me. Of course I will try to improve for tomorrow’s performance, but today I was serving really, really well, especially in important moments, and was moving well.”

No. 65-ranked Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic broke sixth-ranked Andrey Rublev seven times on his way to an upset 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Yosuke Watanuki also had a surprise win, beating No. 35-ranked Brendan Nakashima 7-6 (4), 6-3. The Japanese qualifier plays either seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz of the US or French qualifier Terence Atmane next.

Also, 24th-ranked Alexei Popyrin of Australia beat Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-2.

Later Saturday, third-ranked Alexander Zverev began his campaign against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, while fourth-ranked Novak Djokovic faced Alex Michelsen of the United States.