DUBAI // World No 61 Jeev Milkha Singh, just seven days after becoming a father, is hoping to make the most of his share of the overnight lead at the Dubai Desert Classic and take the title home to his newborn son in India. The 38-year-old's wife, Kudrat, gave birth to her first child last Friday in Chandigarh, yet Singh was back to his best at a blustery Emirates Golf Club, finishing his opening round at the Majlis course on four-under par 68 to complete a sextet of players at the top of a cluttered leaderboard.
"I think I managed myself fairly well. When it is so windy, you have got to miss the ball on the right side and you've got to make a lot of up-and-downs, I did that, and holed some good putts for birdies. I just hung in there and walked away with a four-under." Two years ago Kudrat gave birth to a stillborn baby, but this time there was nothing but joy and Jeev was overcome with emotion on the sight of his first child.
"I can't explain it," said Singh of the latest edition to the family. "I'm so excited. When I saw my son for the first time, I had tears in my eyes. It's a great feeling; I don't think you realise it until the time you have it. "We haven't named him yet; we have to wait until they come home [but] my wife is doing fine and the baby is doing fine too so I can only thank God." Singh shares the lead with the Race to Dubai leader Charl Schwartzel, reigning Dubai champion Rory McIlroy, Sweden's Alexander Noren, Edoardo Molinari of Italy and Welshman Stephen Dodd. Molinari, the world No 53, played alongside Singh and the sight of his playing partner playing so well inspired him, he said.
"You just keep it going between each other and it's a lot of fun to be playing with someone who is playing as well as Jeev," he said. Molinari also gave a special mention to compatriot Matteo Manassero, the 16-year-old amateur who finished the opening day one stroke off the lead. "Every week, we play a practice round together and he's been asking a few questions and obviously you give it to him because he is such a great talent," said Molinari. "He is going to do very well in this game."
@Email:gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
SPEC%20SHEET
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 715bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,289,376
On sale: now
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Dir: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson
3/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The%20specs
Results
Results
Women finals: 48kg - Urantsetseg Munkhbat (MGL) bt Distria Krasniqi (KOS); 52kg - Odette Guiffrida (ITA) bt Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS); 57kg - Nora Gjakova (KOS) bt Anastasiia Konkina (Rus)
Men’s finals: 60kg - Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) bt Francisco Garrigos (ESP); 66kg - Vazha Margvelashvili (Geo) bt Yerlan Serikzhanov (KAZ)
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
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HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
HERO%20CUP%20TEAMS
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Director: Shawn Levy
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Rating: 3.5/5
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
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Winner: Mamia Al Reef, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
3.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m
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3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner: Qanoon, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.
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54.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yassoob, Fernando Jara, Irfan Ellahi.
Where to buy and try:
Nutritional yeast
Bulletproof coffee
Amasake
Charcoal drinks and dishes
Various juice bars, including Comptoir 102
Jackfruit
Supermarkets across the UAE
Results
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Male 51kg Round 1
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Male 54kg Round 1
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Male 57kg Round 1
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Men 86kg Round 1
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1
Men 63.5kg Round 1
Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.
Female 45kg quarter finals
Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.
Female 48kg quarter finals
Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.
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Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
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The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars

