It's time for a roundup of the latest headlines from the Arab sports world! We're here to bring you the facts on the top stories that are impacting these nations.
Lewis Hamilton takes the trophy at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
This week, in the heat of Abu Dhabi, Lewis Hamilton managed to grab his 11th win of this season. This season was not free of incidents, but the champion managed to keep up his streak to the finale. The opening lap of the race saw Nico Hulkenberg involved in a grizzly crash, though thankfully the driver was unharmed.
His car was clipped by Romain Grosjean, a sometimes overconfident driver, which resulted in the fiery blaze. Fernando Alonso also took to the track in a last race before retirement, a bittersweet moment for the crowd and fellow drivers.
Saudi bowler Hasan Al-Sheikh takes to Hong Kong
While bowling might seem like a niche sport, one Saudi Arabian competitor is taking this to the national level. Hasan Al-Sheikh recently competed in Las Vegas, before heading to Hong Kong later this year. The national team will also be attending the competition, where they will be hoping to reach international acclaim.
This bowler even holds a world record recognised by the Saudi Bowling Federation. There are major changes on the way for these leagues, with women being permitted to play for the first time.
Saudi Arabian footballers encouraged to play internationally
The AFC Technical Director, Andy Roxburgh, has advised Saudi football players to gain more experience internationally to move out of their group. He believes that the poor performance of the team in the 2015 cup comes down to the fact that they have not experienced the height of club football. The odds on the team winning in the upcoming league are astronomical, with existing odds on upcoming games reaching around 12/5 (source : casinoaraby).
This is a controversial opinion from the Technical Director, but there's definitely insight to be gained there.
Golfer Matt Wallace fined for slow play in Dubai
In the DP World Tour, it seems like officials are eager to stick to the rules. Their fine was handed down to pro golfer Matt Wallace, as he took too long to putt on the ninth hole. He was timed on the previous two holes and it seems that officials had decided to lay down the rules with the players. This £3,000 fine didn't seem to put much of a dampener on his mood, as the golfer continued to play well for the remainder of the round.
In Wallace's opinion, he didn't feel like he was playing too slowly. However, he's hoping to make up the funds by the end of the week in order to pay off the fine and go on to better success.
The Arab world of sport is certainly unique and interesting, with new headlines emerging each day. These sports are interesting to bet on, though you may not initially think of this as a thriving sports scene!
