WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 11

French government says Roland BRAVE CF President hails Garros faces delay of ‘a few days’ HH Shaikh Khalid’s vision Mohammed Shahid congratulates HH Shaikh Khalid on groundbreaking success in revolutionizing the sport of MMA

General view inside Court Philippe-Chatrier during a match at Roland Garros BETTER (file photo) AFP | Paris

KNOW he French government has BETTER Tdiscussed a possible “delay of a few days” of this year’s BRAVE CF changed the land- French Open with the event KNOW scape of MMA worldwide and organisers, the sports ministry became the only MMA pro- said yesterday. motion to visit 21 countries, 5 Discussions between the ministry and Roland Garros Last year Roland continents, in its first 50 events officials also included how the Garros was delayed making it the only truly global tournament might be able to by four months and and fastest growing MMA pro- accommodate fans who were held in September motion in the world largely locked out of the de- and October instead layed 2020 edition. of its longstanding Khalid on the success of his vision to pro- This year’s event is due to May-June slot HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Mohammed Shahid mote the sports sector in the Kingdom, and take place between May 23 putting Bahrain on the map internationally and June 6, with qualification from March 11 to April 1st, and the achieve- through his efforts in MMA. HH’s passion rounds starting earlier. cancellation. Mohammed Shahid hailed ments BRAVE CF accomplished globally. for MMA found the number one ranked “Discussions are underway “At the moment, we are on • BRAVE CF has grown tremendously with amateur MMA national team in the world with the organisers on the track, the tournament is on the the achievements BRAVE the vision of HH Shaikh Khalid to reform and the fastest olympic boxing qualifying methods used, in particular scheduled date,” he said. CF accomplished globally MMA from an entertainment business into federation with national combat sports for the reception of the pub- “But if we go into total lock- a sports business and provide opportuni- development programs in 17 countries lic,” the ministry spokeswom- down for two months, we will TDT | Manama ties for fighters on a global platform and making the Kingdom a hotspot for combat an told AFP. obviously need to take meas- reforming the sports from a unique per- sports globally and revolutionizing mixed “A delay of a few days is un- ures -- the worst being the out- spective. The Bahraini MMA promotion martial arts. der discussion,” she added. right cancellation, but I dare resident of BRAVE Combat Federa- changed the landscape of MMA worldwide Shahid also thanked HH Shaikh Salman At the end of March, Gilles not imagine that.” tion Mohammed Shahid congratu- and became the only MMA promotion to bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chairman of Moretton, the new president Coronavirus restrictions Plated His Highness Shaikh Khalid visit 21 countries, 5 continents, in its first the Bahrain Council for Combat Sports, for of the French Tennis Federa- were tightened across France bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Supreme Council 50 events making it the only truly global his continuous support and efforts toward tion (FFT), had indicated that last Wednesday although all for Youth and Sports (SCYS) First Deputy and fastest growing MMA promotion in the promoting combat sports in the Kingdom, he was working on almost all professional sport is carrying Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee world, the largest sports media property and Mohammed Qamber, the president of the scenarios. on albeit behind closed doors. (BOC) President, on the success of the 50th in the Middle East and acquire the largest the Bahraini Mixed Martial Arts Federa- He said the only ones he President Emmanuel Macron edition of BRAVE CF, the last of 4 events that MMA market share in Asia, making it the tion, for his support overseeing the event “dared not” consider were has expressed a wish to re- took place during the Kombat Kingdom leading promotion in the continent. and assistance to ensure BRAVE CF 50 is a the extremes - a 100 percent open cinemas, museums and Returns Series in the Kingdom of Bahrain Shahid further congratulated HH Shaikh glowing success. spectator level and outright theatres in mid-May.

The Proof of Trust, KHK Holding announce collaboration Casimero eager to retire Rigondeaux TDT |

orld Boxing Organization W(WBO) champion John Riel Casimero is aching to meet fellow title- holder in the ring. Manny Pacquiao Promo - tions chief Sean Gibbons has expressed desire for Casimero to take on the Cuban WBA regu- lar champ in a match between a “classic boxer versus puncher.” “John Riel Casimero would Casimero is confident of beating the Cuban champion love to do a favor for the box- ing fans and retire Guillermo Inoue of Japan. Waseem Sakhib, Patrick Damien O’Brien, Arthur Ali, Jez Noah Ali, Khalique Mani, Aaron Ali, Ali Adam Noah from The Proof Rigondeaux once and for all! The duel between Casime- Of Trust pose with KHK Holding CEO Mohammed Shahid and Jaideep Kharub, IMinds Director, during BRAVE CF event It would be a great fight,” said ro and Inoue has yet to mate- Gibbons. John Riel Casimero rialize after being reset twice TDT | Manama tion. The Proof of Trust’s hub port of both objectives through “Casimero can do a lot of would love to do a favor and Hall of Fame promoter and will meet the needs of the bur- our innovative, IBM-backed different things. Rigondeaux for the boxing fans Top Rank honcho Bob Arum he Proof of Trust, the geoning tech sector by giving protocol. is 20-1, only lost to Vasiliy Lo- and retire Guillermo eventually matched up Inoue Tworld’s first globally pat- Bahrainis the opportunity to “It’s highly welcoming tech machenko in a fight way out Rigondeaux once and against Jason Moloney of Aus- ented smart contract validation join educational courses run and business environment of his weight division. He is a for all! It would be a tralia. and automated dispute resolu- by The Proof of Trust through make Bahrain the perfect future Hall of Famer possibly. great fight Inoue had defended his titles tion platform, announce da col- which they will be able to work launch-pad for The Proof of Casimero and him would be an in a seventh-round knockout MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS CHIEF SEAN laboration with the Kingdom of for the Company within the Trust in the region, and we look explosive fight and I think the GIBBONS win against the Aussie foe. Bahrain through KHK Holding, region. forward to working closely with fans would really enjoy it.” Rigondeaux, for his part, last founded under the patronage of Sakhib Waseem, Chief Inno- our in-country partners to de- Reports have surfaced about my head off. I’m the best pound saw action in February 2020 His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin vation Officer at The Proof of liver novel solutions to some of their potential unification bout. for pound at 122 pounds and with a split decision victory Hamad Al Khalifa. Trust said: “The Kingdom of the world’s biggest problems.” The two champions, likewise, now I’m going for more,” said over Liborio Solis of Venezuela The Kingdom of Bahrain has Bahrain has demonstrated an Mohammed Shahid, Chair- had an exchange of indirect Rigondeaux. to improve at 20-1 record with emerged as a key centre for incredible level of dedication man of KHK Holding said: “As banters with confidence on Casimero is currently on a 13 KOs. technology in the Arab Gulf to building its nascent tech - pioneers of innovative tech- how they will fare against each six-match win streak with the Rigondeaux has won three region. In 2017, the government nology industry. As we enter nology in the Gulf, we are very other in the boxing ring. latest coming from a technical fights in a row since his loss to launched its ‘StartUp Bahrain’ the transitionary period out of proud to be collaborating with Casimero has made it known knockout win over Ghanaian Lomachenko while Casime- programme which has led to the Covid-19 pandemic, gov- The Proof of Trust to bring the that he is very confident that he pug Duke Micah last September ro is riding a six-fight winning growth of nearly 50 per cent ernments and the private sec- power of its protocol to Bah- would emerge victorious if the which was his first fight amid streak. in Bahrain’s startup ecosys- tor alike are seeking new ways rain. Working with The Proof fight comes to fruition. the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to winning the ban - tem. Technology spending is to ensure business continuity of Trust, we hope to create new “He can say what he wants, The 32-year-old Casimero, tamweight title, Rigondeaux also estimated to grow at an to support economic recovery technology-based opportuni- but inside the ring we will be who holds a 30-4 record on top campaigned as a junior feath- annual rate of 8.6pc over the and protect against future black ties for our people and further the referee - him and myself. of 21 KOs, has been in the wait- erweight for his entire career coming three years - demon- swan events. The Proof of Trust enhance our business land - Let’s see if he can do it. Let’s see ing game for so long against except for his fight against Lo- strating its hunger for innova- can provide solutions in sup- scape.” if on that day he will really rip unified WBA and IBF king Naoya machenko.