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Kingdom to Host 'Saudi Smash' World Table Tennis Championship in May

The event will take place May 1-11 in Jeddah
The event will take place May 1-11 in Jeddah
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TT

Kingdom to Host 'Saudi Smash' World Table Tennis Championship in May

The event will take place May 1-11 in Jeddah
The event will take place May 1-11 in Jeddah

The Kingdom will host the Grand Smash 2024 World Table Tennis Championship for the first time under the theme "Saudi Smash."

The event will take place May 1-11 in Jeddah and will feature the participation of elite international players in singles and doubles competitions for men and women, as well as mixed doubles.

Under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Table Tennis Federation will organize the tournament in cooperation with the World Table Tennis Organization (WTT).

The Minister of Sport and the Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, stated that this new global sporting event will join the other major tournaments hosted by the Kingdom.

The tournament will be held in two stages. The first stage is the qualifying stage, which will take place May 1-3 and will feature 64 players, including players representing the Kingdom. Eight players will advance to the second stage, or the final rounds, beginning May 4.

The final rounds will include the eight players finalists from the qualifying stage plus 56 players in advanced levels of the global player classification table. This brings the total number of players in the final stage to 64, who will compete in the knockout rounds towards reaching the titles in five competitions for men (singles and doubles), women (singles and doubles), and a mixed doubles tournament.

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Alexander-Arnold Not Disturbed by Transfer Noise, Liverpool Boss Slot Says

Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (L) and Christos Tzolis of Greece (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League match between England and Greece in London, Great Britain, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (L) and Christos Tzolis of Greece (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League match between England and Greece in London, Great Britain, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
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Alexander-Arnold Not Disturbed by Transfer Noise, Liverpool Boss Slot Says

Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (L) and Christos Tzolis of Greece (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League match between England and Greece in London, Great Britain, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
Trent Alexander-Arnold of England (L) and Christos Tzolis of Greece (R) in action during the UEFA Nations League match between England and Greece in London, Great Britain, 10 October 2024. (EPA)

Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold is not disturbed by the growing speculation around his future at the Premier League club and is fully focused on matters on the pitch, head coach Arne Slot said.

The 26-year-old England right back has been linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid with his Liverpool contract running out at the end of the season. Alexander-Arnold last month said his contract situation will not be played out in public.

Having come through the ranks at Anfield and captaining the club across its youth levels, Alexander-Arnold has won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and the Club World Cup among other major honors since making his senior debut for Liverpool in 2016.

Captain Virgil van Dijk and winger Mohamed Salah are also out of contract at the end of the campaign.

"I think you underestimate our players. These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis, if they have contracts or not," Slot told reporters ahead of Sunday's Premier League home clash against Chelsea.

"If you think they're disturbed by this interest then you don't do justice to how strong they are mentally. This is part of our job. This is part of this world we are living in. You just focus on what you have to do.

"Maybe if you're 17 or 18 years of age it could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League; Virgil and Mo the same. I don't think that is a problem for them to perform and that's what we see at the moment because they're playing really well."

Liverpool, who top the Premier League table with 18 points from seven matches, suffered a blow with first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker facing a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Slot said he expects the 32-year-old Brazil international to return before Christmas.

"But you never know. It is always difficult to know how an injury will go in the first stages, so we can answer that question better in two or three weeks' time," the Dutchman added.