Saudi Arabia's Hail to host final two rounds of FIA Baja series
Saudi Arabia's Hail to host final two rounds of FIA Baja series /node/1748986/sport
International cross-country rallying is returning to Saudi Arabia with the final two rounds of the 2020 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas in Hail and a further round in the 2021 series. (Supplied: SAMF)
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Saudi Arabia will now host Baja Hail with a new format that includes back-to-back Baja events
Saudi races will be scheduled as the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2020 series
LONDON: International cross-country rallying is returning to Saudi Arabia with the final two rounds of the 2020 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas in Hail and a further round in the 2021 series, it was announced on Wednesday.
In a motorsport season heavily affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with numerous events around the world canceled or rescheduled, Saudi Arabia will now host Baja Hail with a new format that includes back-to-back Baja events.
The Saudi races will be scheduled as the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2020 series on Dec. 10-12 and Dec. 14-16.
The close proximity of both events to the second running of the Dakar Rally in the Kingdom in January will enable teams to round off a shortened season of Baja-type events, but also provide opportunities to carry out pre-Dakar testing and development in a familiar racing environment.
Saudi Arabian Motoring Federation President Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal has also confirmed that the Kingdom will host the Sharqiya Baja on March 4-6, 2021, a new event for the FIA that slots into its international calendar.
The first Sharqiya Baja ran as the fifth round of the Saudi Desert Rally Championship last autumn, and will be fine-tuned and modified to the exacting standards of the FIA, Prince Khalid said.
"Saudi Arabia will host the Dakar Rally for the second time at the start of 2021, but we are delighted to be able to announce that we will host three forthcoming events that will form crucial rounds of the FIA Baja Championship," he added.
"We are blessed with amazing terrain for cross-country rallying in the Kingdom, and it is a privilege for Saudi Arabia to be now included in the official FIA calendars.
"This is a major step forward for Saudi motorsport, and runs hand-in-hand with the great vision and foresight of our wise leadership and the Ministry of Sport to develop sporting events and tourism across the realm."
December's back-to-back Hail events will round off a modified 2020 Baja series that started in Russia in February before continuing in Poland in September.
It will head to Portugal and Dubai in November before concluding in Saudi Arabia in December.
Hail Bajas will run under the supervision of the Hail Regional Development Authority in cooperation with the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage and the General Authority for Sport.
Topics: Motorsport FIA World Motor Sport Council Saudi Arabia
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Saudi golfer Alsharif says game in the Kingdom 'better than ever' /node/1795171/sport
Saud Alsharif has called on more young potential golf stars to make the most of what is available to them throughout Saudi Arabia and the wider region. (Golf Saudi/File Photo)
Updated 18 min 18 sec ago
World's best players preparing for Saudi International this February
Alsharif said no excuse for more Arab talent not to take up golf
RIYADH: Saudi golfer Saud Alsharif believes having the sport's best players competing in Saudi Arabia is key to the development and growth of the game in the Kingdom.
World number one Dustin Johnson will be joined by the likes of US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau as well as European superstars Tommy Fleetwood and Sergio Garcia at the Saudi International in February.
Royal Greens Golf Club will host the third edition of the event, which is once again one of the opening events on the European Tour calendar.
Johnson won the first Saudi International in 2019, recording an impressive 19 under par, whilst Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell secured victory at last year's tournament.
"Players like Dustin (Johnson) and Brooks (Koepka) coming to Saudi is a real honour and I really do wish I can play with any of these guys – they are massive stars in world golf. For golf fans in Saudi to see Dustin Johnson and others is incredible – they are some of the best sportsmen in the world, Alsharif said.
"Three years ago we didn't have any big, global event in Saudi and right now we have the biggest golf event in the Middle East with the biggest field so it really is booming. It really does help the golf community in Saudi Arabia and encourage more people to take this up."
Growing up in the region, Saud didn't have anywhere near the same accessibility to coaches or facilities as today's young hopefuls – and he has called on more young potential stars to make the most of what is available to them throughout Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
"Right now golf in Saudi Arabia is better than I could have ever imagined it. We have everything we need to go out and play the best golf we can. We've got coaching throughout the game, including on the mental side of the game," he said.
"We've also got great facilities too and its exciting that there is young talent coming through.
"Previously it used to be travelling to play in local events with a lot less coaching and a team gathering every three or four months in Riyadh – that was pretty much it. Now we have good relationships with our coaches where we can see them more and the team can sign us up to compete in more events too.
Whatever you wish for, it is there, so there is no excuse for us not to go out there and play well," he added.
Tournament preparations have been different this time around due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions placed on competitions and travel, but Alsharif said that has had limited impact on his own confidence as he looks to improve on previous years in the competition.
"It's been very quiet with COVID and travel so we haven't been able to play. I played an event in Bahrain last month which was nice to get into. Unfortunately, I lost in the play-off but I keep working very hard with Jamie (McDonnell, coach and caddy). I can't see him at the moment, but we communicate a lot," he said.
"I'm very excited but I'm also really relaxed going into this event. I know I haven't played a lot of events recently but I have so much confidence in my game right now because of the practice over the year.
"One thing that stood out last year was my decision making on the course and the caddy/player relationship and how we talked on the course.
"It's a big part of the game and its important. You need a good caddy and Jamie was there for me and he did such a great job for me last year on this course.
"I went from shooting 85 to 75,and that is all down to decision making. I was going into the first round very excited, taking on shots and not really taking on the game plan and managing it as we discussed.
"That really affected me on the first day but on the second day it was the complete opposite, I was completely relaxed and I listened to my caddy and the results showed that," he added.
Saud will be joined by fellow Saudi Othman Almulla as the two local representatives competing at the tournament, which runs Feb. 4-7.
For more information visit www.saudiinternational.com
Topics: golf Saudi Arabia Saudi International Saudi International 2021
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