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Yousef Al Refaie sets the record for reaching the top of the highest volcanoes on each of the seven continents.
A Kuwaiti mountaineer has become the youngest person to climb the world’s Seven Volcanic Summits.
Yousef Al Refaie has set a Guinness World Record for reaching the top of the highest volcanoes on each of the seven continents at 24 years and 119 days.
“[If] you came from the desert, I wouldn’t think you [would] be able to climb the highest mountains,” he said of his feat.
Mr Al Refaie, the 24th person to climb the peaks, began his journey as a tourist on December 30 2015 when he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
He then climbed Russia’s Mount Elbrus on July 18 2017, Mount Giluwe Mountain in Papua New Guinea on July 21 2018, Pico de Orizaba in Mexico on January 6 2019, Iran’s Mount Damavand on August 11 2019, Ojos Del Salado in the Andes on January 15 2020 and Mount Sidley in the Antarctic on December 22 2021.
He said the toughest was the 4,285m dormant Mount Sidley in Antarctica’s Marie Byrd Land, one of the largest uninhabited areas in the world. It took the team seven hours to push from their camp at 3,000m to the crest of the caldera.
He said he had previously attempted to break the record for the fastest climb of the Arabian Peninsula’s highest peaks, but, as with other challengers, he was not allowed to enter Yemen.
Mr Al Refaie now wants to cross the largest deserts in the world, starting with the Empty Quarter in November.
“When I first asked my mum for the Guinness World Records Book as a kid, she told me she would only buy it if I had something amazing to make my way into it,” he said.
“I really don’t know if she meant it that time, but here we are living the dream.
source/content: thenationalnews.com (edited)
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Kuwaiti mountaineer Yousef Al Refaie has become the youngest person to climb the Seven Volcanic Summits, the highest volcano on each continent. Pictures: Guinness World Records
Egyptian swimmer Omar Hegazy broke two Guinness World Records last week after losing his leg in 2015.
The 31-year-old first broke the record for “longest distance swam underwater with one breath,” swimming 185 feet and 4 inches (or 56.48 meters). He then donned a fin and broke the record for “longest distance swam underwater with one breath with fins,” traveling 251 feet and 7.68 inches (76.7 meters), according to a statement from Guinness World Records.
Hegazy commemorated his accomplishments in an Instagram post, in which he thanked his friends, family and coaches for their support.
“Nothing beats the journey,” he wrote in the post’s caption. “Enjoyed every cold windy day in the pool. Enjoyed after midnight training sessions. Enjoyed the friendships and the unconditional love I saw in the eyes of my friends, family and coaches. Still hungry for more!”
Hegazy had his left leg amputated in 2015 after he was run over by a truck in a motorcycle accident, according to Guinness. He was 25 years old at the time.
Hegazy had to spend several more weeks in the hospital after the operation, learning how to complete everyday tasks. He eventually became interested in accomplishing athletic achievements of strength after reading about Dareen Barbar, a Lebanese amputee who broke the world record for the longest static wall sit. He also read about Faisal Al Mosawi, a Kuwaiti wheelchair user who broke the record for the fastest 10 kilometer scuba dive.
My source of motivation in the beginning was that I do not have much left to lose,” Hegazy said in statement to Guinness. “I only got into swimming because I was a very angry. I found a way to I let out my anger and frustration, but it was also where I felt really free and capable.”
In addition to breaking two Guinness World Records, Hegazy has achieved a number of other athletic milestones. He swam across the Gulf of Aqaba in 2017, completed in a 700 kilometer cycling challenge and climbed a mountain, according to his website.
“I hope these Guinness World Records titles inspire others and serve as a reminder that amazing is somewhere near you,” Hegazy told Guinness. “You just have to open your eyes wide.”
Dr. Hanan bint Abdulrahim Al-Ahmadi was awarded the International Award for Exceptional Achievement during the Tulane Alumni Awards Gala, hosted by Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine on April 9.
Al-Ahmadi, an academic who specializes in economics and health management and who also serves as the assistant speaker of the Saudi Shura Council, was honored for the contributions of her legacy of excellence at Tulane University.
The award is given to alumni who represent the highest standards of excellence and community service locally and internationally.
During her acceptance speech, Al-Ahmadi said that the scholarships to study abroad provided by Saudi Arabia are pillars of educational strategy in contributing to distinguishing the Kingdom as a global educational institution.
Al-Ahmadi highlighted that all this is due to the great investment in women’s education in Saudi Arabia. She emphasized that the leadership’s support of Saudi women contributed to elevating her to international and regional forums and representing the Kingdom abroad.
Two other doctors, Dr. Neil Meltzer and Dr. Joseph Kanter were also honored for different achievements alongside Al-Ahmadi.
UAE team defeated Luxembourg, the hosts of the tournament, (8:1), at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Luxembourg, delivering an incredible win of the title.
The UAE national team scored a resounding victory over the Luxembourg team in their final match at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship DIV III A.
The UAE team scored the full mark of 12 points after winning four matches.
Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, dedicated the landmark victory to the UAE leadership, which he said had provided all support and assistance to the sports in the country.
Juma Al Dhaheri, captain of UAE Ice Hockey Team, said the victory is a result of tireless work for more than ten years to assemble a strong, competitive team.
Three Moroccan Taekwondo champions participated in the Spanish Open this year.
Moroccan athletes Ayoub Bassel and Nada Laaraj have won silver and bronze medals respectively at the Spanish Taekwondo Open.
Morocco’s National Olympic Committee celebrated the news in an Instagram post on April 3.
The Spanish Open championship was organized on April 2-3 in Alicante, Spain, bringing together Taekwondo champions from around the globe.
Bassel, 26-years-old, won the silver medal in the over 87 kilograms weight class. But the Moroccan champion lost in the final against Spain’s Ivan Garcia after beating the 2018 world champion, Emre Kutalmis Atesli.
In February, Bassel secured another silver in the Arab Cup Championship in Fujairah, UAE. The Moroccan athlete has participated in over 15 international tournaments.
Nada Laaraj, 21-years-old, secured the bronze medal after losing against Spain’s Marta Calvo in the semi-final for the under 62 kilograms weight class.
Laaraj has won three gold medals in international Taekwondo competitions including in the 2022 Arab Cup Championship, 2019 African Games, and the 2018 African Championship.
In 2021, she secured a silver medal in the African Championship in Dakar, Senegal.
20-year-old Rabab Ouhadi represented Morocco in the under 49 kilograms weight class. But she did not succeed in obtaining a medal as she ranked 8th in the women’s section after losing in the first round to Italy’s Martina Corelli.
The athlete started competing internationally in 2018, participating in the Olympic Games qualification in Hammamet, Tunisia.
In the same year, she clinched a bronze medal in the French Open in Paris before collecting other silver and bronze medals in regional and international Taekwondo championships.
In February, she represented Morocco along with Bassel and Laaraj in the 2022 Arab championship in Fujairah where she secured a bronze medal.
Egypt’s Nouran Gohar has ended compatriot Nour El Sherbini’s 17-month reign as the World No.1 after the PSA Women’s World Rankings for April were released today (April 1).
Gohar has been in sensational form throughout the 2021-22 season and has won the last four PSA World Tour Platinum events in a row, including the Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family and the CIB Black Ball Open last month.
Those wins have seen her leapfrog El Sherbini to claim the World No.1 spot for the second time in her career and for the first time since October 2020.
Hania El Hammamy and Amanda Sobhy stay at No.3 and No.4, respectively, while New Zealand’s Joelle King returns to the top five for the first time since May 2019 after reaching the semifinals of both the Windy City Open and Black Ball Open in March.
England’s Sarah-Jane Perry moves down to No.6 ahead of Salma Hany at No.7, while Rowan Elaraby reaches a career-high ranking of No.8 after reaching her first Platinum semi at the Black Ball Open.
Women’s Top 10 – April 2022 / pix: pic: psaworldtour.com
Meanwhile, Georgina Kennedy rises to her career-high ranking of No.9 after achieving back-to-back quarter finals at the Windy City Open and Black Ball Open, the former seeing her reach the last eight of a Platinum event for the first time. France’s Camille Serme – who has been sidelined since September, 2021 due to a leg injury – completes the top 10.
USA’s Olivia Fiechter drops out of the top 10, while Belgium’s Nele Gilis rises a spot to a joint career-best No.12 ranking. India’s Joshna Chinappa is also on the move as she moves up to No.13, ahead of Tesni Evans at No.14 and Nadine Shahin who remains at No.15.
Nada Abbas rises five places to reach No.16, while Hollie Naughton drops down a spot to joint No.17 with Olivia Clyne. Emily Whitlock stays at No.19, while England’s Lucy Turmel moves up six spots to break into the top 20 for the first time. It’s the first time in over two years that there have been three Englishwoman have been ranked inside the top 20 at the same time.
Egypt’s Nour El-Sharkawy is the biggest mover on the women’s tour this month. The 18-year-old appeared at the Black Ball Open in March and enjoys a 186-place rise to a career-high No.147 ranking.
source/content: psaworldtour.com (edited)
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Nouran Gohar in action at the Allam British Open / pic: psaworldtour.com
Bahrain women created a world record as they smashed the highest total in a T20I inning – 318 – against Saudi Arabia in match seven of GCC Women’s T20I Championship, played at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman.
Saudi Arabia won the toss and opted to field first. Bahrain women smacked the SA bowlers right from the beginning, especially Tharanga Gajanayake. While Rasika Rodrigo only scored 13 off 11 balls, Tharanga continued smack the bowlers from the other end.
Deepika Rasangika joined Tharanga and the duo added 255 runs in 16.4 overs – the highest partnership for the second wicket and second-highest partnership in a women’s T20I match. Tharanga remained unbeaten at 94 off 56 with the help of 17 fours. Deepika, on the other end, scored 161 from 66 balls with the help of 31 fours – becomes first women cricketer to score 150+ in a T20I game.
Bahrain scored 318 runs in the 20 overs, but interestingly they didn’t hit any six through the innings; a record 50 boundaries were hit in the inning. Saudi Arabia conceded 50 runs in extra runs – 34 wides, 13 no-balls, 2 byes, and 1 leg bye.
Before this, the highest total scored in a T20I inning was by Uganda Women – 314 vs Mali in 2019.
Maira Khan conceded the most runs for Saudi Arabia – 68 in four overs. Emaan Ejaz took the sole wicket of the inning but conceded 63 runs in her fours overs.
There was a clear contrast between the two bowling cards. The best Saudi Arabian bowler conceded 13 runs an over and the worst bowler for Bahrain conceded 3.5 runs an over.
In reply, Saudi Arabia women could only score 49 runs and lost eight wickets. They lost the match by 269 runs – the second-highest win in terms of runs in a women’s T20I game.
There were inspiring scenes as the winners of Arabian Business’ inaugural KSA Women Excellence Awards were revealed at a special ceremony, a glittering evening at the Riyadh Marriott on Mother’s Day with an audience of more than 150 attendees, the winners were revealed.
Before the winners were announced, a fireside chat with Arabian Business Editor in Chief Scott Armstrong heard from Mae Al Mozaini, CEO of nusf – The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment, who told the room: “What an exciting time it is to be a Saudi woman – we are the number one most educated women in the region and 10 in the world.”
Meanwhile, Hawazen Almaddah, Group Head of Corporate Communications at IFFCO Group, captivated the room with her ‘letter to her future self’.
Mae Al Mozaini, founder and CEO of The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment – Nusf
Secondly, Samar Alshorafa, who is the founding CEO of She is Arab.
And finally, Carla Sertin, ITP Group Editor, who leads brands such as Oil & Gas Middle East, Construction Week, Utilities Middle East, to name but a few.
Editor in Chief Scott Armstrong said: “The journey to today has been breathtaking, and if you plot the line graph for women into Saudi’s future, the potential is incredible.
“As the proud father of an irrepressible daughter and husband to an unstoppable wife, I’m delighted to be here in Riyadh to celebrate the achievements of inspiring women, especially on Mother’s Day here in the Gulf.”
The Winners:
Business – Woman of the Year
Highly Commended: Maria Medvedeva, Vice President, Mastercard, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Winner: Mona Althagafi, KSA Country Director with Serco.
Education – Woman of the Year category
Winner: Alia Albazie – Director of Special Education with the Tatweer Company
Business – Energy – Woman of the Year
Winner: Dr. Abeer Al-Olayan, General Director at the Ministry of Energy
Entrepreneurial – Woman of the Year
Highly Commended: Nour Al Hassan, the Founder and CEO of Tarjama
Winner: Sheikha Aldosary, founder and managing director of Saudi Women’s Stories
Finance – Woman of the Year
Winner: Tala Al Jabri
Government – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Reem AlSuwaiyel, Executive Director -Board of Directors General Secretariat at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority
Winner: Dur Essam Kattan, the Deputy Minister for Communications and Media at the Ministry of Culture (MoC), Saudi Arabia
Inspirational – Woman of the Year
Dr. Hibah Shata, owner of Maharat Learning
Linah Alhabeeb, the Associate Director for Human Capital Development at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA)
Nouf Aljalaud, currently Customer Success Manager at SITA covering Border Management Service Management
Nouf Abdullah Al Rakan- Nouf founder Qiyadat Global
Law – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Tala AlJahlan who led the legal and compliance department during the Saudi G20 presidency
Winner: Nasreen Alissa of The Law Firm of Nasreen Alissa
Media – Woman of the Year
Winner: Ghada Alrumayan, group chief marketing and communications officer at the national community developer, ROSHN
Medical – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Dr Tamara Sunbul, Medical Director of Clinical Informatics with Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH)
Winner: Taghreed Alghaith of the National Health Economics and Policies at the Saudi Health Council (SHC)
Rising Star – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Albandari AlajlanDental Department Manager at Dallah Hospital
Winner: Abeer Algwaiz, Design Assistant Manager at the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA)
Science and Technology – Woman of the Year
Highly commended: Maha Alnuhait, GM of Sustainability with stc
Winner: Dr. Noha Alharthi, Technology Lead at NEOM
Startup – Woman of the Year
Winner: Muzon Ashgar, Muzon Bodycare
Special Recognition – Woman of the Year
Special Recognition – Woman of the Year: Mae Al Mozaini (L), The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment
Highly commended: Samiha Ahmed of the Ireland- Saudi Arabia Business Council
Winner: Mae Al Mozaini, The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment
The Arab Fashion Council, a non-profit organization representing the fashion industry in the Middle East and North Africa, has named Dubai-based Tunisian model Ameni Esseibi as its new ambassador.
The announcement coincided with the launch of Arab Fashion Week, which includes 28 shows divided into three main programs, namely couture on Thursday and Friday, ready-to-wear from March 26 to 28, and events that will run throughout the five-day gathering.
Esseibi prides herself on being the Arab Fashion Council’s first-ever plus-size ambassador.
She said: “I feel proud. This is a huge step to acknowledge every woman, which is just the first milestone toward a new era for the fashion and retail industries to update the standards boldly and make them more inclusive for every woman. With my new title, I thrive on being a role model for self-confidence.”
The 24-year-old, considered the first plus-size model in the Middle East, is a staunch advocate for inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry.
Esseibi’s new role marks the first time that the Arab Fashion Council has acknowledged a plus-size model as an envoy, a move it hopes will show its commitment to making a difference in the fashion industry when it comes to inclusivity and tolerance.
Mohammed Aqra, the Arab Fashion Council’s chief strategy officer, said: “It strategically encourages designers to take a step closer to include diverse profiles of the consumers, offering a wider choice for them at offline and online retail.
In addition to being a council ambassador, Esseibi has worked with a number of esteemed brands including Jean Paul Gautier and H&M and has featured in the pages of multiple publications including Vogue Arabia and Elle Arabia.
source/content: arabnews.com
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Ameni Esseibi prides herself on being the Arab Fashion Council’s first-ever plus-size ambassador. Supplied
Abdulaziz Fahad Al-Jouf is the founder and CEO of PayTabs, a payment processing company founded in Saudi Arabia in January 2014 and now based in Bahrain.
He graduated from Riyadh’s Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Islamic business and subsequently obtained a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a master’s degree in e-business from the New York Institute of Technology.
PayTabs was founded in 2013 after Al-Jouf “faced problems finding a suitable payments gateway for one of his business startups … and figured there would be many others with the same issues.”
PayTabs was, according to Al-Jouf, “taken under the wing” of Saudi Aramco’s entrepreneurship scheme “Wa’ed” and made headlines in August 2017 when it raised $20 million investment from unnamed sources.
In 2018 PayTabs was recognized by Forbes Middle East as No. 1 among “the top 20 Fintech startups to watch.”
In the same year, Al-Jouf was featured on the cover of Arabian Business magazine, and PayTabs was named “Fintech Company of the Year” at the Arabian Business Achievement Awards.
