AlUla to Host Arab Cup and World Championship for Camels

The event is part of their broader initiative to establish AlUla as the premier destination for traditional sports in the region. (SPA)
The event is part of their broader initiative to establish AlUla as the premier destination for traditional sports in the region. (SPA)
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AlUla to Host Arab Cup and World Championship for Camels

The event is part of their broader initiative to establish AlUla as the premier destination for traditional sports in the region. (SPA)
The event is part of their broader initiative to establish AlUla as the premier destination for traditional sports in the region. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate announced on Wednesday its plans to host the inaugural Arab Camel Cup and the World Camel Endurance Championship, in collaboration with the Arab and International Camel Federations.

The event is part of their broader initiative to establish AlUla as the premier destination for traditional sports in the region.

The Arab Camel Cup is scheduled to take place on May 3 at the Mughira Heritage Sports Village. Elite camels from 15 countries will compete in 13 rounds for prizes exceeding SAR3 million.

The World Camel Endurance Championship will kick off on May 4, featuring camels and jockeys from various corners of the globe, vying for prizes totaling SAR2 million.

The race consists of two stages, spanning a distance of 16 kilometers. Both men and women will participate in two categories, utilizing the riding techniques of Hail, Thanaya Bakkar, Zamoul, and Thanaya Qadan.

Each first-place winner in the two categories will be awarded a prize of SAR500,000, while the remaining prizes will be distributed among the winners of the other categories.



Zheng Says Too Much Respect for Sabalenka Hampered her in the Past

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
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Zheng Says Too Much Respect for Sabalenka Hampered her in the Past

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman

Zheng Qinwen finally got her first win over Aryna Sabalenka at the seventh attempt to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday and the Olympic champion said she had perhaps shown the world number one too much respect in their prior meetings.

The Chinese 22-year-old had gone down tamely in all but one of her previous six encounters with Sabalenka, including in the 2024 Australian Open final, but she delivered a clinical 6-4 6-3 win over the off-color Belarusian in Rome.

The win will come as a huge boost for Zheng as she continues her preparations for the French Open, which begins on May 25.

"The few times I faced her in the beginning, I gave her too much respect," Zheng told reporters, according to Reuters.

"I didn't face her like a normal player. I remember I was going to see her in the 2017 China Open ... My father was saying 'Oh, you need to learn about her forehand, her backhand'.

"I think this kind of respect, it takes a while to treat her like a normal player."

Sabalenka had been on a nine-match winning streak on clay but Zheng said she was in her comfort zone on the surface.

"This is the first time we've played on clay," she said.

"I guess when I play on clay, I'm more comfortable because I've got great experience on clay.

"I was more patient. I'm happy with my performance and happy to make the step forward to beat the world number one."

Zheng plays world number three Coco Gauff for a place in the final.