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Qatar to Host eFIBA Season 4 and 5 World Finals

Qatar to Host eFIBA Season 4 and 5 World Finals

Mohamed Mandour
The two editions of the eFIBA World Finals in 2026 and 2027 will take place in Qatar, as the country further underpins its commitment to both basketball and the development of esports.
Taking over from the Philippines as the host of the eFIBA World Finals, it will be the first time the event will be held in the Middle East.
During recent years, Qatar's strong support for esports, which includes a partnership with the Global Esports Federation, has also led to it being appointed as hosts of the Global Esports Games in 2027.
The eFIBA World Finals will be held in Doha, one of the best-connected capitals in the world and one that holds a clear roadmap towards sustainability and innovation. The Finals will bring together the best e-basketball teams from around the globe as they compete for the prestigious title of eFIBA World Champion.
All nations will be aiming to dethrone back-to-back champions Team USA, who were the winners of both Season 2 in Sweden and Season 3 in the Philippines. Teams will also be competing for a prize pool of $50,000, which will be distributed among the top-performing nations and individuals.
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"Bend It Like Beckham" Sequel in Works
"Bend It Like Beckham" Sequel in Works

See - Sada Elbalad

time3 hours ago

  • See - Sada Elbalad

"Bend It Like Beckham" Sequel in Works

Yara Sameh A sequel to Gurinder Chadha's celebrated 2002 film "Bend It Like Beckham", which starred Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, is in the works. 'I'm excited to revisit the original characters and revive the enduring story and build on the legacy we helped to create for the women's game,' the London-based director told Deadline. Chadha added that Nagra, Knightley, Archie Panjabi, Juliet Stevenson and other members of the original cast 'are aware that a sequel is being developed, but they obviously want to see a script before they commit". 'I'm pretty certain that everyone's going to want to come back Everything hinges on the script and if the original cast likes it,' Chadha noted. 'I am working really hard to make sure every character I bring back has a decent arc and scenes.' The filmmaker was in Basel, Switzerland, ahead of tomorrow's Women's European Championship final, where England women's soccer team faces Spain — a repeat of their 2023 World Cup clash — she tells the outlet that for 23 years, 'I didn't want to do anything because I didn't have a story. And then I came up with a great story, really super-cool story. So now I'm inspired. Literally came up with it just about a month ago. It's my very clear wish to bring the characters back very,very football is more competitive ,more exciting, and more global than is an honor for me to be a small part of it.' Chadha has been toying around with the prospect of a follow-up movie or television drama for two years, encouraged by the phenomenal increase in worldwide support for women's football. "The aim is to have the sequel ready by 2027 to mark the 25th anniversary of Bend it Like Beckham's 2002 UK opening. It's a key year for the game, with the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament set to kick off in host nation Brazil from June 24-July 25 that year," she pointed out. The original film was based on a screenplay she co-wrote with Guljit Bindra and her husband, Paul Mayeda Berges. Chadha and Berges began discussing the screenwriting process. 'I'm hoping to write it with Paul, who has come up with some very funny lines like he did last time.' During this year's Cannes Film Festival, Chadha was introduced to Emma Hayes, who took over as head coach of the U.S. women's national soccer team in June. They subsequently met and chatted a few times and are now working 'collaboratively' on the sequel. 'Her insights into the world of football at her level are invaluable,' Chadha explained. Hayes said that "Bend it Like Beckham" has had a 'massive impact' on her life. 'I was Keira Knightley in Bend it. I cried in the cinema watching the film because I felt just like Jess and Jules,' the characters Nagra and Knightley played in the movie. 'There was no hope for women's football in Britain then, so I was going to the States to try my luck. Twenty three years ago I could never have dreamed of how much that film changed the women's game and now I have the best job in the world- head coach of the U.S. Women's national team,' Hayes noted. The top sportswoman added that she's happy to be 'helping Gurinder with all my experience and insight into the game.' "Bend it Like Beckham" also has won support from Lisa Nandy MP, Britain's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who lauded the project for capturing 'something so special about Britain — our spirit, our diversity, and our ability to dream big in the face of challenge.' Nandy added that Chadha's story 'resonated far beyond the screen and became part of our cultural DNA.' The Cabinet member's statement notes that the announcement "of a sequel is a brilliant moment for British film. It builds on a legacy that continues to inspire and shows the world what British storytelling can do. Films like this help tell our national story, remind us who we are, and who we can be.' Indeed, the film has become a cultural touchstone over the years, with many of the leading lights in the world of women's soccer proclaiming "Bend it Like Beckham" as their main source of inspiration back in the day when the amateur antics of women playing soccer were laughed at. Since then, the sport has become huge, with millions following professional women's clubs and national teams around the world. Chadha recounted how, with the first film, she 'couldn't even get arrested making it. Everyone was like, 'We're not interested. Who wants to see a film about girls playing football?' Everyone laughed me out of the rooms.' For her, the film 'was about lifting up girls and noting, 'You can do and you can be anything you want, even though society dictates what you can and can't do,' and that message is still relevant today, even though we have women and women's soccer sides so huge around the world. The film's been part of that legacy, and I feel there's more that I can do. So that's what I'm writing and that's what I'm focusing on. It will be hard-hitting, of course, but it will also be incredibly joyous,". 'Let's hope we can bring back that same joy and feel good about putting women and girls on the map like we did 23 years ago.' In "Bend it Like Beckham", Nagra plays Jasminder, a teenager besotted with soccer sensation David Beckham — then a player with Manchester United and the England men's squad — who is determined to play soccer against the wishes of her parents. Knightley plays her friend Jules, who also likes to land the ball at the back of the net. 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Defending champions England beat Spain on penalties to win Women's Euro 2025 - World
Defending champions England beat Spain on penalties to win Women's Euro 2025 - World

Al-Ahram Weekly

time13 hours ago

  • Al-Ahram Weekly

Defending champions England beat Spain on penalties to win Women's Euro 2025 - World

Chloe Kelly converted the decisive kick as England beat Spain 3-1 on penalties to win the Women's Euro 2025 after Sunday's final had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time, allowing the Lionesses to avenge their defeat in the World Cup final of two years ago and retain their continental crown. It looked as though Spain would repeat their victory over England in Sydney two years ago as they dominated the game at St Jakob-Park in Basel and led through Mariona Caldentey's first-half header. But England did not panic, having already trailed against both Sweden in the quarter-finals and Italy in the semis before finding a way to win. Alessia Russo headed in their equaliser just before the hour mark, and no further goals meant a shoot-out in which Kelly -- who once again had a huge impact off the bench -- netted the winner. It was an agonising way to lose for Spain, but they failed to score three of their spot-kicks, with reigning Ballon d'Or Aitana Bonmati seeing her effort saved. Sarina Wiegman's England are therefore back-to-back European champions, with this triumph coming three years after they defeated Germany in extra time at Wembley to win a first women's major tournament. Defeating Spain here helps make up for the agony of losing that World Cup final in 2023, and the victory also confirms Wiegman's place among the coaching greats. She has now won three consecutive European Championships, having led her native Netherlands to victory in 2017 before doing the same with England three years ago. Spain, meanwhile, fell short in their quest to add a maiden European Championship title to the World Cup they won in Australia. La Roja dominated possession as expected, but ultimately paid the price for not putting the game to bed against an England side who never know when they are beaten. Wiegman's team had been 2-0 down against Sweden in the last eight before scoring twice to force extra time as they eventually won on penalties. Then substitute Michelle Agyemang's 96th-minute equaliser denied Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva, when Kelly netted the winner in extra time. England had ultimately not played well during much of their run to the final, but it did not matter. Wiegman had taken a gamble on the fitness of Lauren James which paid off, but not quite as planned -- having come off with an ankle injury against Italy, the Chelsea winger did not last until half-time and was replaced by Kelly. Caldentey and Russo exchange blows By that point Spain were already in front, scoring when Bonmati and Athenea del Castillo combined to set up Ona Battle and her cross from the right was headed in by Caldentey. Montse Tome's Spain, with seven players from Barcelona in their starting line-up, had already been in control before that and it felt like England's best hope was for complacency from their opponents. The best example of that came with the game still goalless, when Spain goalkeeper Cata Coll played a careless short pass to Laia Aleixandri in her own area. Lauren Hemp was alive to the opportunity and pounced, but Coll reacted well to make the save. Yet even at 1-0 it felt like England were still in the game, and they took their chance when it came in the 57th minute when Kelly crossed from the left for her Arsenal teammate Russo to level the scores. England -- with more fans on their side in the crowd of 34,203 -- now sensed yet another comeback win was on the cards, and it took the fingertips of Coll to prevent a Kelly effort from finding the far corner midway through the second half. Agyemang then came on for Russo, hoping to once again play the role of super-sub, while Salma Paralluelo was among those brought on for Spain. Paralluelo found herself in a promising position on several occasions as the game continued into extra time, and from there to the gripping tension of penalties. Beth Mead's first kick for England was saved after she was forced to retake, and captain Leah Williamson also had her effort stopped by Coll. However, Alex Greenwood and Niamh Charles both scored, while Patri Guijarro was the only successful taker for Spain before Kelly stepped up to win it. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:

UK Begins Development of High-Altitude Surveillance Balloons
UK Begins Development of High-Altitude Surveillance Balloons

See - Sada Elbalad

time15 hours ago

  • See - Sada Elbalad

UK Begins Development of High-Altitude Surveillance Balloons

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