DUBAI // Winner of the Most Improved Player award at Monday night’s Players’ Gala, India’s PV Sindhu will be hoping to end a memorable year on a high as she makes her debut in Dubai World Superseries Finals.
Sindhu, winner of the women’s singles silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, qualified for the lucrative $1 million (Dh3.67 million) season-ending Dubai Finals with a late surge into the top eight of the Superseries rankings, winning the prestigious China Open last month before reaching the final in Hong Kong in the following week.
• More: Draw features Rio Olympics rematch between Marin and Sindhu
On a hot streak coming to Dubai, Sindhu, however, has been drawn in the same group as the woman who beat her in the Rio Olympic final, Spaniard Carolina Marin. Japanese Akane Yamaguchi, the No 2 seed, is also in her group, as is China’s Sun Yu.
Sindhu knows she will have to be at her best if she hopes to advance from her group and reach a third consecutive final.
“I didn’t expect to get this award, so I’m excited and happy,” said Sindhu, who will meet Yamaguchi in her opening match on Wednesday and Sun Yu on Thursday before the highly anticipated rematch with Marin on Friday.
“It’s good to be here in Dubai. It’s my first time at the Dubai World Superseries Finals. My draw is tough, I’m with Carolina, Yamaguchi and Sun Yu. So, I have to play well from the start.”
Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei won the Male Player of the Year Award. The Japanese pair of Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi shared the Female Player of the Year award, thanks to their Olympic gold medal and four Superseries titles.
“We’re extremely pleased,” said Matsutomo. “This year has been great for us. There were two memorable victories — the All England and the Olympics. We had an amazing year, and finishing the year with this award is unforgettable.”
China’s rising star Chen Qingchen won the Eddy Choong Award for Most Promising Player of the Year ahead of Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei and her Chinese compatriots He Bingjiao, Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen.
In the para-badminton category, Lucas Mazur of France and Switzerland’s Karin Suter-Erath won the Best Player of the Year awards in the male and female categories, respectively.
The Rio Olympic gold medal winners in all the five categories were also honoured on the night, receiving a golden shuttle.
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
