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SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026
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Bahrain on road to 2029 Asia Cup

TDT | Manama
Kuwait on August 31. Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong,
Only the top three teams from and Singapore, while Group D
ahrain will begin its bid to the group will move on to the consists of Thailand, Mongolia,
Bqualify for the FIBA Asia Cup Second Round of the Pre-Qual- Vietnam, and Fiji.
2029 when it competes in the ifiers, scheduled for the Novem- The First Round matches will
First Round of the Pre-Qualifi- ber 23 to December 1 interna- be staged across Dubai, Almaty,
ers in Dubai later this year. tional window. Seremban, and Ulaanbaatar,
FIBA Asia has confirmed the Bahrain enters the competi- with FIBA also confirming a host
draw, placing Bahrain in Group tion with both experience and city change in Kazakhstan from
A alongside hosts United Arab expectation. The national team Atyrau to Almaty.
Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and has featured in the FIBA Asia At the end of the two-round
Nepal. Cup nine times, with its strong- Pre-Qualifiers, eight teams will
The tournament will run from est finish coming in 1997 when advance to the FIBA Asia Cup
August 24 to September 1, mark- it placed 10th. 2029 Qualifiers, joining 16 na-
ing the opening step on the road Currently ranked 75th in the tions that secured direct entry
to Asia’s premier men’s basket- world, they will be looking to through their participation in
ball championship. turn their experience into con- the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in Jed-
Bahrain opens its campaign sistent results as they attempt to dah.
against Oman on August 27, be- re-establish themselves among From there, the qualification
fore quickly turning around to Asia’s competitive side. process will continue across
face the UAE the following day. Elsewhere in the draw, Group three international windows,
After a rest day on August 29, it B features Kazakhstan, Pales- gradually shaping the final 16-
meets Nepal on August 30, then tine, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and team lineup for the 2029 tour-
closes its group stage against Ali Rashed during Bahrain’s campaign in Saudi Arabia last year Kyrgyzstan. Group C includes nament.

Arteta calls for Arsenal focus on ‘huge’ West Ham clash Man City must put pressure

AFP | London on Arsenal, says Guardiola

ikel Arteta said Arsenal
Mmust re-focus for Sun- Stay present, live in the
day’s “huge” Premier League moment, prepare and
clash at West Ham after the
emotional high of reaching the show the same level
Champions League final. of energy, hunger and
The Gunners will be crowned desire we have shown all
English champions for the first season, or more
time in 22 years if they can win
their final three league games. MIKEL ARTETA
A trip to relegation-threat-
ened West Ham appears to be “Understanding the condi-
their toughest task remaining. tions of the game for both clubs,
Arteta’s men then host rel- it’s huge, obviously,” said Arteta.
egated Burnley before facing “We know the importance of
Crystal Palace just days before it, we know what we want and
the Eagles play in the Confer- Mikel Arteta reacts during a match (file photo) what we have to do to win the Pep Guardiola reacts during a match (file photo)
ence League final. game.”
Arsenal reached the Champi- same level of energy, hunger and top of the table but have played The Spaniard said Mikel Me- AFP | London press conference yesterday.
ons League final for just the sec- desire we have shown all season, one game more than Pep Guar- rino and Jurrien Timber remain “That’s all we have to do. All
ond time in their history with or more,” said the Arsenal boss, diola’s men. out and are facing a race against ep Guardiola said Man- we can do.”
victory over Atletico Madrid referring to his message to his The result at the London Sta- time to feature in the Champi- Pchester City must bounce City were on course for de-
on Tuesday, but Arteta stressed players. dium could also have huge ram- ons League final on May 30. back against Brentford on Sat- feat at Everton until Jeremy
there was little time to look “We are closer and closer and ifications for Arsenal’s north “There’s a fair bit to do,” he urday to put pressure back on Doku’s sensational strike with
ahead to facing Paris Saint-Ger- everything we do is going to London rivals Tottenham. said. “Everything has to be Arsenal in the Premier League virtually the last kick of the
main in Budapest. matter.” Spurs are just one point above so smooth and quick if they title race. game salvaged a point.
“Stay present, live in the mo- The Gunners are five points 18-place West Ham in the battle want the chance to play any City’s dramatic 3-3 draw The Belgian scored twice at
ment, prepare and show the clear of Manchester City at the to avoid the drop. minutes.” at Everton on Monday handed the Hill Dickinson Stadium to
the destiny of the title to the take his tally to four goals in
Gunners. his last five games and register
Arsenal are five points clear his best goalscoring season in
Real Madrid fine Tchouameni and with three games to play, a City shirt with seven.
“I’m so glad,” Guardiola add-
while City have four matches
Valverde 500,000 euros over bust-up remaining. ed on Doku’s development.
Victory for Guardiola’s men “Not just the goals, the assists,
at the Etihad against Cham- also contributing defensively.
pions League hopefuls Brent- Jeremy has been amazing this
AFP | Madrid ford would cut the gap at season.”
tion and frustration caused the the top for at least 24 hours A seventh league title in
situation to escalate,” Valverde before Arsenal visit West nine seasons may prove be -
eal Madrid announced yes- wrote on social media, express- Ham. yond City’s men, but the club
Rterday they had fined Au- ing regret at the media coverage “Put pressure on Arsenal did celebrate a first Women’s
relien Tchouameni and Fed- of the incident. winning our games,” said Super League success for 10
erico Valverde 500,000 euros “I accidentally hit a table Guardiola at his pre-match years this week.
($588,000) each after a training during the argument, causing
ground clash that left the latter a small cut on my forehead that
needing hospital treatment. required a routine visit to the
The club did not impose any hospital,” he said.
sporting sanctions on the two “At no point did my team-
players, saying in a statement mate hit me, and I didn’t hit
that the fine “thereby con- him either.”
cludes the internal procedures” According to reports the two
launched against them. players rowed on Wednesday
Valverde will miss Sunday’s in training and their argument
Clasico against Barcelona as Real Madrid’s French midfielder #14 Aurelien Tchouameni (L) and Real continued on Thursday during
a result of the head injury he Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder #08 Federico Valverde take part in a training and after the session.
suffered during the altercation. session (file photo) Spanish media reported Val-
The club said he would be out verde refused to shake Tchoua-
for up to two weeks. “They extended their apolo- hospital facility near the club’s meni’s hand and later fouled
Tchouameni took part in gies to the club, their teammates, Valdebebas training complex by him in Thursday’s training ses-
training yesterday and could the coaching staff, and the fans, Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, sion, with the pair scrapping
feature at Camp Nou this week- and both have made themselves according to Spanish reports, afterwards in the dressing room
end. available to Real Madrid to ac- which said the player needed when the injury occurred.
Madrid said both players “ex- cept whatever sanction the club stitches to treat a facial wound. Tensions are running high at
pressed their complete remorse deems appropriate,” read a club Valverde sought to downplay Real Madrid with the club on
for what happened and apolo- statement. the severity of the altercation the verge of a second consec-
gised to each other” while tak- Uruguay international Val- with the France midfielder. utive season without a major
ing part in a club investigation. verde was accompanied to the “The strain of the competi- trophy.