Ethiopia’s Tola Wins Men’s Marathon Gold at Olympics

 Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Invalides in Paris on August 10, 2024. (AFP)
Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Invalides in Paris on August 10, 2024. (AFP)
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Ethiopia’s Tola Wins Men’s Marathon Gold at Olympics

 Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Invalides in Paris on August 10, 2024. (AFP)
Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line to win the men's marathon of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Invalides in Paris on August 10, 2024. (AFP)

Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola won gold in the men's marathon at the Paris Games on Saturday as Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge failed in his bid to win a historic third consecutive Olympic crown.

Belgium's Bashir Abdi took silver, improving on his bronze from Tokyo, and Kenya's Benson Kipruto claimed bronze.

Tola built a strong lead early on and crossed the finish line in two hours, six minutes and 26 seconds.

Emerging from a pack of frontrunners from the first steep ascent of an exceptionally hilly course, the former cross country specialist seemed only to strengthen on the second hill as others faded behind him.

Tola had an 18-second lead by the 35km mark, which he extended as the Eiffel Tower came into sight and crowds lining the streets roared him on. He became the first Ethiopian winner of the Olympic men's marathon in 24 years.



Sinner, Djokovic kept apart in French Open draw

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 17, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his men's final match against Norway's Casper Rudd REUTERS/Ciro De Luca/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 17, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his men's final match against Norway's Casper Rudd REUTERS/Ciro De Luca/File Photo
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Sinner, Djokovic kept apart in French Open draw

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 17, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his men's final match against Norway's Casper Rudd REUTERS/Ciro De Luca/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 17, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his men's final match against Norway's Casper Rudd REUTERS/Ciro De Luca/File Photo

Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will not be able to meet until the French Open final after the pair were placed in opposite halves of the draw on Thursday.

Sinner, the red-hot title favourite in the absence of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz, will start his bid for a maiden Roland Garros crown against French wildcard Clement Tabur, the world number 165.

World number one Sinner is slated to meet big-hitting American fifth seed Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals.

Daniil Medvedev is a possible semi-final opponent for the Italian, AFP reported.

The Russian gave Sinner a rare scare in the Italian Open semis earlier this month before eventually succumbing in three sets.

Djokovic will kick off his latest tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title against home player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Second seed Alexander Zverev is a potential semi-final opponent for Djokovic.

The German has played Djokovic twice before at Roland Garros, suffering quarter-final defeats against the Serb in 2019 and last year.

The stand-out first-round tie sees in-form French number one Arthur Fils take on former champion Stan Wawrinka, featuring at the tournament for the last time before retirement.


Saudi Arabia Tops AFC Club Rankings for Sixth Consecutive Year

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Tops AFC Club Rankings for Sixth Consecutive Year

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia has retained its top position in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) club rankings, according to the latest update for the 2025–2026 season.

The Kingdom leads the standings with 132.545 points, followed by Japan in second place with 120.410 points, and South Korea in third with 87.334 points.

This marks the sixth consecutive year Saudi Arabia has topped the AFC rankings, reflecting the strong performances of Saudi clubs in continental competitions and their consistent competitiveness in Asian tournaments.


Djokovic Names Compatriot Troicki as Coach Ahead of French Open

20 May 2026, France, Paris: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in action during a training session on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament (Roland Garros 2026), at Roland Garros Stadium. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
20 May 2026, France, Paris: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in action during a training session on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament (Roland Garros 2026), at Roland Garros Stadium. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Djokovic Names Compatriot Troicki as Coach Ahead of French Open

20 May 2026, France, Paris: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in action during a training session on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament (Roland Garros 2026), at Roland Garros Stadium. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
20 May 2026, France, Paris: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in action during a training session on day 3 of the French Open tennis tournament (Roland Garros 2026), at Roland Garros Stadium. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Novak Djokovic has confirmed long-time friend and compatriot Viktor Troicki as his head coach ahead of next week's French Open where the Serb will bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

"Welcome my friend, teammate and now coach... Viktor Troicki," former world ⁠number one Djokovic ⁠wrote on Instagram, according to Reuters.

The pair have previously combined. Troicki, Serbia's Davis Cup captain, joined Djokovic's coaching setup for his Paris Olympics ⁠gold medal triumph in 2024.

They previously teamed up as players to deliver Serbia its first Davis Cup title in 2010.

Troicki's immediate task will be to help Djokovic, who turns 39 on Friday, muster confidence after an injury-disrupted season ⁠following ⁠his defeat in the Australian Open final in January.

Djokovic has had limited clay-court preparation ahead of the year's second Grand Slam while managing his workload to cope with a niggling shoulder issue.

The French Open starts on Sunday.