Finale of 5th Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship to Take Place 11th to 13th April

The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 - WAM
The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 - WAM
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Finale of 5th Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship to Take Place 11th to 13th April

The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 - WAM
The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 - WAM

Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of the finale of the 5th Al Dhafra Grand Kingfish Championship for Men and Women on Al Mughirah beach in Al Dhafra city, as part of the Kingfish Fishing Season in Abu Dhabi.

The final phase will take place from 11th to 13th April 2024 in Al Mirfa, Al Dhafra Region, state news agency WAM reported.

Organizers said the competition is an integral part of the kingfish fishing season in Abu Dhabi, aligning with the goal of protecting marine life from overfishing in accordance with national laws.

It also aims to regulate kingfish fishing, uphold traditional heritage competitions that reflect the UAE's maritime heritage, revive local maritime traditions, familiarize the public with the coastlines and islands of the Al Dhafra Region and provide an opportunity for amateurs to engage in traditional fishing.

The competition will also promote and revitalise fishing as a recreational pursuit, foster a spirit of healthy competition among enthusiasts, encourage widespread participation and establish the competition as a seasonal highlight for fishing enthusiasts.

A total of 20 prizes, valued at AED920,000, have been allocated for the final phase of the competition, comprising 10 prizes for the men's category and 10 prizes for the women's category.



Bagnaia Wins Japanese Grand Prix Sprint after Leader Acosta Crashes

Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia of Italy (R) leads his teammate Enea Bastianini of Italy (L) during Tissot Sprint of the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at the Mobility Resort Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi prefecture on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia of Italy (R) leads his teammate Enea Bastianini of Italy (L) during Tissot Sprint of the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at the Mobility Resort Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi prefecture on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
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Bagnaia Wins Japanese Grand Prix Sprint after Leader Acosta Crashes

Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia of Italy (R) leads his teammate Enea Bastianini of Italy (L) during Tissot Sprint of the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at the Mobility Resort Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi prefecture on October 5, 2024. (AFP)
Ducati Lenovo Team rider Francesco Bagnaia of Italy (R) leads his teammate Enea Bastianini of Italy (L) during Tissot Sprint of the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at the Mobility Resort Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi prefecture on October 5, 2024. (AFP)

Reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia won MotoGP's Japanese Grand Prix sprint on Saturday after leader Pedro Acosta crashed out with four laps to go, reducing his gap with championship leader Jorge Martin, who finished fourth, to 15 points.

Rookie Acosta, who took pole earlier in the day, had overtaken Bagnaia on the third lap to take the lead, but lost control near turn seven, losing the opportunity to win his first MotoGP sprint.

Ducati's Bagnaia, who moved to 357 points ahead of Sunday's race, fought off second-placed Enea Bastianini by 0.181 seconds amid occasional rains in Motegi to win his 16th sprint of the season.

"We had to sacrifice a bit of performance during the race to understand the conditions better... I'm very happy because with this condition it's not very easy to win," Bagnaia said in his post-sprint interview.

Pramac Racing's Martin, who started from the 11th position on the grid after crashing during the qualifying session, started well to take the fifth position in the first lap, facing pressure from Marc Marquez, who eventually overtook him.

Marquez momentarily took second place from Bastianini but the Ducati rider recovered to leave him third.

LCR Honda's Takaaki Nakagami crashed out of his home grand prix sprint after a collision with teammate Johann Zarco, while Red Bull KTM's Brad Binder, sixth in the championship, quit due to an issue with his bike.

"We´re investigating what happened to cause Brad Binder's sprint to come to a premature end," the team wrote on X. "For now, all we can do is apologize to Brad."