As-salamu alaykum - Salem Al Dawsari named Asian Player of the Year again
As-salamu alaykum. Quick sports round-up: Alhamdulillah, Saudi winger Salem Al Dawsari has picked up the Asian Player of the Year award for a second time, while Japan’s Hana Takahashi won the women’s prize at a glittering AFC ceremony in Riyadh.
Salem, 33, reclaimed the honour he first won in 2022, beating Qatar’s Akram Afif and Malaysia’s Arif Aiman after another strong season for both club and country. The Al Hilal captain was crucial in helping Saudi Arabia seal qualification for a third straight World Cup earlier this week. He said he’s grateful for the recognition and dedicated the award to his teammates, the fans and everyone who supported him.
His win continues Saudi Arabia’s good run in the continental prize - Salem is the seventh player from the kingdom to be named Asia’s best since Saeed Al Owairan won the first award back in 1994.
On the women’s side, Urawa Red Diamonds captain Hana Takahashi took the top spot ahead of Australia’s Holly McNamara and China’s Wang Shuang. In a message she said she’s honoured, and with the Women’s Asian Cup coming next year her aim is to fight for a national team spot and help raise the profile of women’s football across Asia.
Other awards at the ceremony included North Korea’s Ri Song Ho being named Coach of the Year after the Under-20 Women’s World Cup win in Colombia, and international player awards going to South Korea’s Lee Kang-in and Japan’s Maika Hamano.
Also in the same bulletin: a roundup of some upcoming match kick-off times in the UAE, a short background piece on the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma and how that ties into the wider opioids story, a few film listings and reviews, and travel options for places like Luang Prabang with flight and cruise notes.
That’s it for now - may Allah keep our athletes safe and grant them success. Peace.
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