Football

Liverpool: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk on Thursday signed a new two-year contract with the club, ending months of fevered speculation over his future just a week after Mohamed Salah extended his stay. The announcement comes with Liverpool potentially just days away from winning the Premier League title in Arne Slot's first season in charge. "I'm very happy, very proud," said Van Dijk, whose existing deal, like Salah's, had been set to expire at the end of the season. "There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it. "It's a proud feeling, it's a feeling of joy. It's just incredible. The journey I've had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I'm so happy." With new deals confirmed for Salah and Van Dijk, the future of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold remains unresolved. The England international, who returned to training on Wednesday after a month out because of injury, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. Van Dijk, 33, has made 314 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 27 goals. He has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup, all under former manager Jurgen Klopp. Last month Van Dijk said he had "no idea" if he would remain at Anfield but on Sunday hinted that he was set to extend his stay. 'Always Liverpool' The imposing centre-back had been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain but said his heart was set on Liverpool. "It was always Liverpool," he said. "That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool. "There wasn't any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I'm one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser -- I'm really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling." Van Dijk arrived from Southampton in January 2018 for £75 million ($99 million), then a world record fee for a defender, and has been instrumental in Liverpool's rise back to the top of the English and European game. He won the Champions League in 2019 and a year later helped deliver the club's first league title for 30 years. He also came second in the 2019 Ballon d'Or vote, losing out to Argentina star Lionel Messi, who has won the award eight times. Van Dijk, who played for Celtic before joining Southampton, took over the club captaincy in 2023 following the departure of Jordan Henderson. Now he is on the brink of adding to his collection of silverware with Liverpool, who are set to equal Manchester United's record of 20 English titles. The Reds are 13 points clear of Arsenal with just six games remaining and could wrap up the title this weekend if the Gunners lose.

Padel

Doha, Qatar: Both World No.1 and 2 pairs booked their places in the quarter-finals of the Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel 2025, continuing their flawless runs at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday. Title favorites Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, the Spanish-Argentine duo, clinched a commanding victory on Center Court, overpowering Argentina’s Juan Cruz Belluati and Ignacio Sager in straight sets (6–2, 6–4). Second seeds Federico Chingotto (ARG) and Alejandro Galan (ESP) also advanced in style, after surviving a tough first set to defeat Lucas Campagnolo (BRA) and Maximiliano Sanchez (ARG) 7–5, 6–3. Spaniards Jorge Nieto and Miguel Yanguas, seeded third, delivered a commanding performance, sweeping past Spanish-Argentinean combination of Mario Del Castillo and Ignacio Albornoz 6–0, 6–0 to book their quarter-final berth in emphatic fashion. Fourth seeds Javier Garrido (ESP) and Martín Di Nenno (ARG) were involved in a gripping three-set encounter. However, the Spanish-Argentine pair managed to edge out the 12th-seeded team of Francisco Guerrero and Jairo Bautista, both from Spain, 7–6(2), 1–6, 6–1 in a match that stretched to 1 hour and 46 minutes. Fifth seeds Jeronimo Gonzalez and Jon Sanz (ESP) also advanced, overcoming Aris Patiniotis (ARG) and David Gala Sanchez (ESP) with a 6–3, 4–6 win. With all top five seeds advancing to the quarter-finals, the men’s draw is shaping up for an electrifying climax. The scenario is not much different on the women’s side too. The top three seeded pairs in the women’s draw also advanced to the quarter-finals. World No. 1 duo Ariana Sanchez Fallada and Paula Josemaría Martin delivered a flawless display, crushing Marta Talavan and Ksenia Sharifova with a dominant 6–0, 6–0 win. Second seeds Triay Pons and Delfina Brea Senesi had to withstand tough resistance from Marta Guinart Espana and Victoria Iglesias Segador, the 12th seeds. However, the higher-ranked pair prevailed despite dropping the first set, to advance with a 2–6, 6–4, 6–1 win. Third seeded pair of B Gonzalez Fernandez/C Fernandez Sanchez, T Icardo Alcorisa/C Jensen, L Sainz Pelegri/P Llaguno Zielinski and M Ortega Gallego/S Araujo also advanced.

Horse Racing

Doha, Qatar: Safeer Al Shahania, ridden by Marco Casamento, showcased blistering speed to claim a thrilling victory in the feature race, securing the coveted Athbah Cup for owners Al Ghazali Stud at Al Uqda Racecourse yesterday. The 1400m Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden (Class 6) remained closely contested for most of the race, with Safeer Al Shahania – trained by Jassim Ghazali – staying prominently among the front runners. As the race entered its final stages, Safeer Al Shahania, Motaghatres under Alberto Sanna and Husam Al Shahania ridden by Salman Fahad Al Hajri, broke away from the rest, setting up an intense three-way contest for the title. Jockey Marco Casamento poses after receiving the trophy from QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al-Kubaisi. However, in the final 100 metres, Motaghatres and Husam Al Shahania couldn’t keep up with the surging four-year-old colt Safeer Al Shahania, who powered ahead to win by two lengths, capping off a string of strong recent performances. Motaghatres secured second place in the exciting finish, narrowly edging Husam Al Shahania by a head. Trophies were presented to the winners by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi. Earlier in the 20th Al Uqda Race Meeting – Athbah Cup (Div 2), Khalil Du Croate emerged victorious in the 2300m Purebred Arabian Handicap 70-90 (Class 3), defeating Sakher by three-quarters of a length. Trained by Julian Colin Smart, Khalil Du Croate was skillfully guided to victory by jockey Alberto Sanna. Meanwhile, trainer Hamad Al Jehani enjoyed a stellar outing, claiming two wins. Lukas Delozier piloted Ajlaan to triumph in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, while Muhab Al Uraiq, under Pierre Charles Boudot, took top honours in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6). The day began with another exhilarating contest, as Monapia, ridden by Szczepan Mazur, clinched the Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80 (Class 4) by a short head over Studio City in a nail-biting finish. Today’s 21st Al Uqda Race Meeting – the Al Jumail Cup Day – will feature five more exciting races. 20th Al Uqda Race Meeting - Athbah Cup (Div 2) WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey) Athbah Cup - Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden (Class 6) Safeer Al Shahania, Jassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento Purebred Arabian Handicap 70-90 (Class 3) Khalil Du Croate, Julian Colin Smart, Alberto Sanna Purebred Arabian Novice Plate(4yo Only) (Class 5) Ajlaan, Hamad Al Jehani, Lukas Delozier Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6) (3yo Only) Muhab Al Uraiq, Hamad Al Jehani, Pierre Charles Boudot Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80 (Class 4) Monapia, Zuhair Mohsen, Szczepan Mazur