Saudi Sport Minister Crowns GCAT Champion

The event featured the participation of 237 horses representing premier studs from around the world. Asharq Al-Awsat
The event featured the participation of 237 horses representing premier studs from around the world. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Sport Minister Crowns GCAT Champion

The event featured the participation of 237 horses representing premier studs from around the world. Asharq Al-Awsat
The event featured the participation of 237 horses representing premier studs from around the world. Asharq Al-Awsat

The final round of the Global Champions Arabians Tour concluded on Saturday in Riyadh as Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal crowned the mare AJ Kayya as the GCAT champion.

The event featured the participation of 237 horses representing premier studs from around the world.

Prince Abdulaziz crowned AJ Kayya as the GCAT champion after earning the highest points across the series, which spanned seven Gulf and European cities, culminating in Riyadh.

Additionally, the colt D Burkan was recognized for achieving the highest cumulative points across all rounds of the competition, while Saudi handler Azzam Al-Qassem was awarded best handler during the final round in Riyadh.

The championship began in February in Doha, Qatar, and continued through five other cities: Abu Dhabi (UAE), Muscat (Oman), Cannes (France), Valkenswaard (Netherlands), and Rome (Italy).

The competition brought together the world’s most prestigious Arabian horse stables, with Riyadh hosting an intense final round to determine the overall champion.

This event aimed to raise the standard of Arabian horse shows, foster high-level competition, promote cultural exchange, provide competitive opportunities, and encourage investment in the Arabian horse sector. These efforts align with the Ministry of Sports’ mission to achieve the sports objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.



Di Maria Studying to Become a Coach after Retirement

Benfica's Argentine forward #11 Angel Di Maria (front) celebrates with teammate Benfica's Danish defender #6 Alexander Bah after converting a penalty to score their fourth goal during the Portuguese League football match between SL Benfica and FC Porto at at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, on November 10, 2024. (AFP)
Benfica's Argentine forward #11 Angel Di Maria (front) celebrates with teammate Benfica's Danish defender #6 Alexander Bah after converting a penalty to score their fourth goal during the Portuguese League football match between SL Benfica and FC Porto at at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, on November 10, 2024. (AFP)
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Di Maria Studying to Become a Coach after Retirement

Benfica's Argentine forward #11 Angel Di Maria (front) celebrates with teammate Benfica's Danish defender #6 Alexander Bah after converting a penalty to score their fourth goal during the Portuguese League football match between SL Benfica and FC Porto at at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, on November 10, 2024. (AFP)
Benfica's Argentine forward #11 Angel Di Maria (front) celebrates with teammate Benfica's Danish defender #6 Alexander Bah after converting a penalty to score their fourth goal during the Portuguese League football match between SL Benfica and FC Porto at at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, on November 10, 2024. (AFP)

Benfica forward Angel Di Maria said he is studying to become a coach as he will consider opportunities in the dug-out when he eventually ends his 20-year-long playing career.

The 36-year-old, who helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, retired from international soccer after winning his second Copa America trophy in July.

Former Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Paris St Germain player Di Maria has scored five goals and registered two assists in 14 appearances for Benfica this season, including a goal in their 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last month.

"I am taking the course to be a coach. I am doing it just in case," Di Maria said in an interview with Clank Media published late on Monday. "From the age of 30 I started to see football differently and analyze it."

"I started to see it not only from the player´s side, but also how a coach can see it. I know that the coaching side is much more difficult because it takes much more time. As a player you just train and go home.

"When I retire, I would like to enjoy time with my family for a while but later on, maybe this can happen."

Di Maria, who joined Benfica last year from Italian side Juventus, has a contract with the Portuguese club valid until June 2025.