Arabs & Arabian Records Aggregator. Chronicler. Milestones of the 25 Countries of the Arabic Speaking World (official / co-official). AGCC. MENA. Global. Ist's to Top 10's. Records. Read & Enjoy./ www.arabianrecords.org
Lebanese athlete Étienne Chaer has made headlines in the world of powerlifting after breaking the IPF Raw Deadlift world record by lifting an impressive 396 kg at the IPF Classic Powerlifting World Championships 2024 in Druskininkai, Lithuania, from June 15 to 23.
At the beginning of the 2024 season, Étienne el-Chaer, a prominent competitor in the junior category, became ineligible to compete in that division.
Undeterred, the young Lebanese athlete moved up to the 120 kg category. He showcased his determination and strength by setting a new IPF Raw Deadlift world record with an astounding 396 kg lift.
His journey during the competition had its challenges. Despite a solid start with a successful 370 kg lift in his initial attempt, he faced technical difficulties in his second attempt at 396 kg, resulting in a disallowed lift due to minor form adjustments post-lift.
However, he showed resilience and determination, regrouping swiftly and securing the record on his third attempt, completing the lift in under five minutes.
His performance highlighted his raw strength, technical skills, and competitive spirit among some of the sport’s top athletes.
Following his achievement, Étienne shared a video of the moment on Instagram, expressing satisfaction with his standing record.
The Algerian Olympic gymnastics champion, Kaylia Nemour, won the first place in the 41st prestigious “Arthur Gander” tournament, held on Wednesday in Chiasso, Switzerland.
After her triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Kaylia Nemour repeated the feat with an exceptional performance, scoring a total of 41.350 points – an impressive score that demonstrates her level of preparation and talent.
She earned 14.900 points on the uneven bars, 13.750 points on the balance beam, and 12.700 points on the vault.
The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Local Organising Committee (LOC) has received several awards for a historic edition of the continental championship.
Both Qatar Tourism and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recognised the achievements made by Qatar in hosting the tournament earlier this year.
The LOC received two Qatar Tourism Awards for Premier Sports Events of the Year and Accessibility Initiative of the Year.
The awards were presented to the LOC by Qatar Tourism and Visit Qatar Chairman Saad bin Ali al-Kharji, UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona, and Regional Director (Middle East) Basma al-Mayman.
At the AFC Annual Awards, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) received the AFC Asian Cup Host Appreciation Award for the tremendous role they played in delivering a memorable tournament.
The Award was presented by Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifah, AFC President, to Jassim Rashid al-Buenain, QFA President.
The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 was hosted by Qatar in the beginning of 2024, having previously organised the competition twice before, in 1988 and 2011. The tournament, which saw Qatar defend its title on home soil, broke records for overall attendance, digital engagement and press coverage.
A total of 86,492 spectators made their way to the iconic Lusail Stadium for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 final.
With that, a record-breaking attendance of 1,509,496 fans was registered for the tournament, surpassing the previous attendance record of 1.04mn set during the 2004 edition hosted by China.
source/content: gulf-times.com (headline edited)
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The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Local Organising Committee received two Qatar Tourism Awards for Premier Sports Events of the Year and Accessibility Initiative of the Year. The awards were presented to the LOC by Qatar Tourism and Visit Qatar Chairman Saad bin Ali al-Kharji.
Qatari Mountaineer Sheikha Asma bint Thani Al-Thani made history as she posed atop the Castensz Pyramid in Central Papua, two days back on October 11, 2024, becoming the first Arab woman and Qatari to complete the prestigious Explorer’s Grand Slam.
“The Explorers Grand Slam is one of the world’s most prestigious adventure challenges, involving climbing the highest peak on each continent and skiing to the North and South Poles. Fewer than 75 people in history have completed this incredible feat,” she wrote on her social media account, adding that she was honoured to be the first Arab woman and Qatari national to achieve this milestone.
Sheikha Asma began her Explorer’s Grand Slam journey with Kilimanjaro in 2014, after which she reached the North Pole in 2018, she then conquered the Aconcagua in 2019. In 2021, Sheikha Asma summitted Elbrus and then began the following year with Mount Vinson in January, from where she skied to the South Pole Last Degree. Then in May 2022, she was at the top of her dream destination – the mighty Everest. In June 2022, she conquered Mt Denali, then leaving her one summit away from the Grand Slam.
Writing about her journey so far, Sheikha Asma stated, “A journey that began in 2014 with a dream and a determination to break boundaries. Along the way, I’ve learned that persistence, no matter how challenging the road, always pays off. Each summit represents a step closer to realizing my potential, but more importantly, it’s a testament to staying true to your dreams, even when the path ahead seems impossible.”
Sheikha Asma has also successfully summited Mount Lhotse, Kangchenjunga, Mount Ama Dablam, Mount Dhaulagiri, Mount Manaslu, and Labuche Peak.
Sheikha Asma dedicated her most recent victory to every young girl with big dreams, as she encouraged them to keep dreaming big, “there are no limits to what we can achieve if we remain persistent and believe in ourselves. Keep climbing, keep dreaming, and know that the summit is always within reach.”
Lack of historical resources means that there is some debate over which club is officially the oldest in the nation.
Football is such an integral part of culture in the Kingdom that the history of the game in the country dates back to the era before the formation of the modern Saudi state.
However, a lack of historical resources means that there is some debate over which club is officially the oldest in the nation.
Al-Wehda in Makkah is one that claims to be the first. Though the club acknowledges it was officially registered in its current form in 1946, its official website quotes historian Mohammed Ghazali as saying it was originally founded under the name Al-Hizb in 1916.
Jeddah side Al-Ittihad believes it is the Kingdom’s oldest club, however, with an official founding date of Dec. 26, 1927, almost five years before the unification in September 1932 that created the modern Saudi state.
Al Ittihad. Photo: Arab News Archive / Al-Ittihad believes it is the Kingdom’s oldest club. (Photo: Arab News Archive)
Given such uncertainty about the exact origins of the game in the country, in 2023 the Saudi Arabian Football Federation launched the Saudi Football History Documentation Project.
Saudi historians and international experts nominated by FIFA are working to research and record a definitive, agreed-upon history of football in the Kingdom.
The committee announced on Sept. 16 the completion of the first phase of the project, finding that the national team played a total of 92 matches and the clubs played more than 7,000 matches between 1902 and 1982.
But much of Saudi Arabia’s footballing history is clear.
Al-Ahli club, for example, is another one of the Kingdom’s oldest clubs, having been founded in 1937. Other early organizations include Al-Ettifaq (1945), Al-Shabab (1947), Al-Riyadh (1953), Al-Nassr (1955), and Al-Hilal (1957).
The SAFF was established in 1956 as the governing body for the sport in the country. That same year, the Kingdom gained international football recognition when it joined FIFA, allowing local teams to participate in global competitions.
Al Ahli. Photo: Arab News Archive / Al-Ahli club is another one of the Kingdom’s oldest clubs, having been founded in 1937. (Photo: Arab News Archive)
In 1957, the Kingdom’s national team played its first competitive international match, a game against Lebanon in Beirut that ended in a 1-1 draw.
While there have been domestic national leagues in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s, the Saudi Pro League was not established in its current form until 2008.
In 1984, the Saudi national team won the AFC Asian Cup for the first time, with Majed Abdullah and Shaye Al-Nafisah claiming the goals in a 2-0 win over China in the final. The Kingdom retained the trophy four years later.
Saudi Arabia made their debut at the FIFA World Cup in 1994, which was held in the US, and reached the round of 16. Their success continued when they were once again crowned Asian Cup champions in 1996.
In more recent years, the Kingdom has continued to make strides in football, including the introduction of the first domestic women’s league in 2020, followed by the SAFF Women’s Cup in 2023.
Fuad Anwar is a former member of the Saudi national team who began his career in 1991 with Al-Shabab. He is perhaps best remembered for his performances during the 1994 World Cup, in which he scored two goals that helped the Saudis qualify for the knock-out stage. He also participated at the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup with Al-Nassr.
He told Arab News that three football clubs in particular shaped the football scene in the Kingdom.
Al Ittihad. Photo: Arab News Archive / Al-Ittihad believes it is the Kingdom’s oldest club. (Photo: Arab News Archive)
“There was a cultural shift in sports because of Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad and Al-Wehda,” Anwar said. “The world became more accepting of Saudi Arabia and the region to be a part of the football scene … football culture became relevant in every part of the country, from Riyadh and beyond.”
Anwar highlighted in particular the efforts of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal, and Prince Faisal bin Fahad to create a successful foundation for sports culture in the Kingdom.
Prince Khaled Al-Faisal played an instrumental role in the development of football in the region, having come up with the idea of launching a tournament for the Arabian Gulf in the late 1960s. Prince Abdullah, meanwhile, served as co-founder and chairperson of Al-Ahli, and Prince Faisal held a number of positions with domestic and regional sporting organizations.
Ahmed Eid Al-Harbi, a former Al-Ahli player who now chairs the SAFF’s board of directors, highlighted Prince Abdullah’s significant role in the development of Saudi football and sport in general.
He told Arab News the prince devoted much of his time to the development of youth to benefit the future of sport not only in the Kingdom but in the wider Gulf and Arab world, and on the continental and international stages.
“He didn’t merely adopt the club (Al-Ahli) for the sake of exercising a sport or achieving trophies, he spoke of the club as a university established to nurture and spotlight sports talents, giving them the attention and care they deserve,” said Anwar.
Nader Al-Sahleh, 61, a Saudi from the Eastern Province, told Arab News that he has witnessed the evolution of football in the Kingdom through the years, all the way back to the 1970s when, as a child, he played the game with neighbors and schoolmates in parks and fields.
“Those were beautiful, irreplaceable days filled with challenges, such as participating in neighborhood football leagues and Ramadan tournaments,” he said.
“These experiences impacted my life, introduced me to friends I still cherish today and created wonderful memories that I wish could return.”
Football in the Kingdom has evolve tremendously over the years, Al-Sahleh said, and “as a result, Saudi teams now compete to win, as seen in our victories in the Asian Cup and our dominance in Asian football.”
He added: “Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has stated his ambition to make the Saudi League one of the top 10 leagues in the world, which is a testament to the development of Saudi football.
“Currently, Saudi Arabia is constructing massive stadiums to host the Asian Cup and even the FIFA World Cup. This is just a brief overview of the progress of Saudi football, and we are grateful to our government, led by the (king) and the crown prince, for their continued support. May our sports continue to advance and prosper.”
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Saudi historians and international experts nominated by FIFA are working to research and record a definitive, agreed-upon history of football in the Kingdom. Photo: Arab News Archive
Saudi Arabia’s Majid Binsuaiger and Khalid Al-Harbi achieved a remarkable feat on Sunday by winning the silver medal in table tennis doubles at the ITTF World Masters Championships Rome 2024.
Competing in the 45-49 years age category, the Saudi duo showcased their skills and defeated teams from Sweden, Germany, and France on their way to the podium, SPA reported. Their exceptional performance earned them a well-deserved spot in the finals, where they secured the silver medal.
They narrowly finished behind the duo of Giovanni Maria from Italy and Cédric Merchez from Belgium, highlighting their strong performance throughout the championship.
Saudi Arabia’s Majid Binsuaiger and Khalid Al-Harbi win the silver medal in table tennis doubles at the ITTF World Masters Championships Rome 2024. SPA
Multiple area and national records broken in men’s 10,000m event at World Athletics U20 Championships 2024.
Rayen Cherni set a championship record in the men’s 10,000m race walk to win the first ever gold medal for Tunisia at the World Athletics U20 Championships 2024, while China’s Baima Zhuoma dominated the women’s race during the final morning session of action in Lima on Friday.
In a hard-fought men’s race, the top 17 all set area or national U20 records, or achieved PBs, with Cherni winning in an African U20 record of 39:24.85, Mexico’s Emiliano Barba securing silver in a North and Central American U20 record of 39:27.10 and Italy’s Giuseppe Disabato gaining bronze in a national U20 record of 39:31.25.
Australia’s Isaac Beacroft, who won the U20 title on the roads at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya in April, finished fourth on the track in Lima, setting an Oceanian U20 record of 39:36.39, while Japan’s Sohtaroh Osaka finished fifth in a PB of 39:39.36.
It was Germany’s Frederick Weigel who had taken the early lead, but Osaka, Beacroft and Kenya’s Stephen Ndangiri Kihu took control by the halfway point, passed in 20:05.03.
As the pace gradually picked up, the lead pack whittled down, and Barba, Disabato and Cherni made their break. Six athletes remained in contention with four laps to go and eventually 17-year-old Cherni left his rivals behind to win by more than two seconds.
China’s Baima Zhuoma claims gold with personal best in women’s 10,000m race walk at World Athletics U20 Championships 2024
In the women’s race, Baima looked calm and in control throughout. The field quickly spaced out and the 19-year-old, who claimed Asian U20 silver in April, was well clear as she passed the 5000m mark in 21:47.33.
She was followed by India’s Aarti and her Chinese teammate Chen Meiling, last year’s Asian U20 champion, with Romania’s 17-year-old Alessia Cristina Pop, the European U18 silver medallist, looking determined behind them.
While Baima was never under threat, Aarti seemed to be moving away from Chen, but with two red cards Aarti had to be cautious and Chen made her move, passing her rival with three and a half laps to go.
Baima maintained her lead to cruise to victory in a world U20 lead and big PB of 43:26.60, as Chen held on for silver to complete a 1-2 for China in a PB of 44:30.67. Aarti claimed bronze in an Indian U20 record of 44:39.39, while Pop also set a national U20 record of 44:54.32 in fourth. Similar to the men’s race, the top 16 all set national records or PBs.
From weightlifting to gymnastics and boxing, Arab athletes made the nation proud at the Olympics.
Meet the Olympics winners here
The 2024 Olympics concluded last night in Paris, and have marked a very special season for Arab athletes.
Despite controversy and a few ups and downs over the past 17 days, the best sportswomen and sportsmen from the region did their nations proud, earning a total of 17 medals. Overall, the medals were won by athletes from seven countries: Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain and Algeria. Bahrain won the highest number of medals this time with four major wins (two gold, one silver, and one bronze). In second place was Algeria, bringing home three medals (two gold, one bronze).
Tied in third place, Egypt and Tunisia earned three medals each (one gold, one silver, one bronze), followed by Morocco, which also won three medals (two gold, one bronze). Jordan came in fifth with one silver medal, and Qatar completed the seventeen wins with a bronze medal.
It’s no easy feat earning an Olympics medal, and while 2024 has marked a proud moment for the region, it’s also important to note that this isn’t the first time our athletes have brought home this number of wins. Back in 2020, the Tokyo Olympics saw Arab athletes earn a total of 18 medals!
Among this year’s winners, some of the most talked about athletes were the ones that went through the biggest hardships. Algeria’s Imane Kheliff faced speculation and bullying at a global level, but remained undeterred in her pursuit for gold. Winning her medal last week, she said, “I sent them a message with this gold medal, and I say my dignity has been restored and my honor is above anything else.”
Days prior to Khelif’s proud moment, France-born Algerian athlete Kaylia Nemour (who be made history when she became the first-ever African gold medalist in gymnastics. The win was twice as special given Nemour’s past dispute with the French gymnastics federation, which led to her switching from competing for France to competing for Algeria in 2023.
Also in the list of noteworthy names is Tunisia’s Firas Katoussi, who won a gold medal in 80kg taekwondo, Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, who brought hold gold in 3,000m steeplechase, and Egypt’s Ahmed Elgendy, who set a world record with 1,555 points in modern pentathlon. Congratulations to all the athletes who represented the region and did their nations proud. Below, a complete list of all the Olympics winners from the region.
Wrestler Akhmed Tazhudinov secured the second gold medal for Bahrain at the Paris Olympics after defeating the Georgian Givi Matcharashvili.
His victory secured Bahrain’s fourth medal at the Paris Olympics and the first ever in wrestling at the Olympic Games. This is Bahrain’s first-ever medal outside of athletics.
The 21-year-old wrestler won in the men’s 97kg freestyle wrestling. Georgia’s Givi Matcharashvili won silver, while Azerbaijan’s Magomedkhan Magomedov and Iran’s Amirali Azarpira took bronze.
