Sports

Rare update on Michael Schumacher’s recovery

Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula One world champion, is reportedly no longer bed-bound more than 12 years after a severe ski accident, according to multiple recent news reports. Sources close to the Schumacher family say the 57-year-old can now sit upright in a wheelchair and be moved around his residences in Majorca and near Lake Geneva, marking what some outlets are calling the most significant update on his condition since the accident in December 2013.

Schumacher sustained a traumatic brain injury while skiing in the French Alps, resulting in a medically induced coma and a long period of recovery in private care. The family has maintained strict privacy around his health, and official updates have been rare.

“I spoke to someone who is very, very close to him,” Scarborough told The Sun. “And they just explained we’re not going to hear any more from him. He’s

Glimpses of Schumacher’s life

Schumacher has not been seen in public since his accident in December 2013 and is being cared for privately by his family and medical staff at their Lake Geneva home. Updates on his condition have remained rare, with his wife Corinna fiercely guarding his privacy.

But in recent weeks, several figures from Schumacher’s inner circle have offered glimpses into his life away from the cameras.

Former Benetton boss Flavio Briatore, who oversaw Schumacher’s first two world titles in the 1990s, told Corriere della Sera: “If I close my eyes, I see him smiling after a victory. I prefer to remember him like that rather than him just lying on a bed. Corinna and I talk often, though.”

That comment appeared to confirm previous suggestions — including from Briatore’s ex-wife Elisabetta Gregoraci — that Schumacher remains unable to speak and is largely bedridden. In a 2021 Netflix documentary, son Mick also implied communication was now mostly non-verbal.

Charity auction and emotional moment

Still, there have been poignant signs of connection. Earlier this year, Schumacher signed a charity auction helmet with Corinna’s help — an emotional moment, said former teammate Johnny Herbert.

“We haven’t seen something like this in years,” Herbert said. “Hopefully, it’s a sign.”

Whether it is or not, those closest to Schumacher seem to be quietly preparing the world for the reality: the voice that once roared through F1 may never be heard again.

Football

Mbappe tops Spanish La Liga leading scorers

Kylian Mbappe may have ended the 2024/25 campaign without lifting a team trophy at Real Madrid, but his debut season in the famous white shirt was still a resounding personal triumph.

The French superstar claimed the La Liga Golden Boot, finishing comfortably as the league’s top scorer.

All signs suggest Mbappe is well placed to defend that title in 2025/26.

His goal-scoring form has remained relentless, even as Madrid continue to grapple with inconsistency and broader structural issues.

Despite those challenges, Mbappe has surged ahead in the scoring charts, leaving Barcelona and the rest of the chasing pack trailing behind.

Amid the battle for Spain’s most coveted individual scoring prize, here’s the Spanish La Liga leading scorers after the weekend’s matches:

Rank	Player	Club	Goals (PKs)	Assists	Matches
1	Kylian Mbappe	Real Madrid	22 (8)	4	21
2	Vedat Muriqi	Mallorca	14 (4)	0	20
3	Ferran Torres	Barcelona	12 (1)	1	20
4	Ante Budimir	Osasuna	10 (3)	0	21
5	Lamine Yamal	Barcelona	9 (2)	8	18
=	Robert Lewandowski	Barcelona	9 (1)	1	17
7	Raphinha	Barcelona	8 (1)	3	14
=	Cucho Hernandez	Real Betis	8 (1)	3	19
=	Mikel Oyarzabal	Real Sociedad	8 (3)	3	19
=	Borja Iglesias	Celta Vigo	8 (2)	3	20
=	Alberto Moleiro	Villarreal	8 (0)	3	21

Basketball

Mahrez: Things are under control!

Algerian star Riyad Mahrez, winger for Al-Ahli, expressed his great happiness with the resounding 4-0 victory against Al-Ettifaq, stressing that “Al-Raqui” achieved the goals set for the match and combined technical level with a great result.

In exclusive statements to Asharq Al-Awsat after the end of the match, Mahrez said: “We are living moments of happiness now, and thank God we played a very good match, and the most important thing for us was to collect the three points. Scoring four goals while keeping a clean sheet is ideal, and we are very pleased with what was achieved.”

Regarding the upcoming match against Al-Hilal in the next round, Mahrez stressed the need to approach it calmly, saying: “We must treat the Al-Hilal match like any other match in the league; we will prepare for it with the same usual seriousness, and we will go to the field with all our strength in order to achieve victory and continue the series of positive results.”

In a confident message to the club’s fans about the team’s ambitions in the competition, Mahrez concluded his remarks by addressing his previous promise to win the title, saying: “Things are under control.”

Asharq Al-Awsat

Basketball

Seven Arab teams compete in AWST 2026 basketball

Basketball competitions will begin on Tuesday, February 3, as part of the eighth edition of the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST 2026), being organised by Sharjah Women’s Sports from February 2 to 12 across the Emirate of Sharjah. The biennial tournament brings together 63 teams from 16 Arab countries, competing across nine individual and team sports.

The basketball competition features seven teams representing six Arab countries, making it one of the tournament’s most competitive and widely-followed sports. The strong participation reflects the rapid development of women’s basketball at the club level across the Arab region, alongside the rising technical standards of participating teams.

Competing in the basketball event are Sharjah Women’s Sports Club and Khorfakkan Women’s Sports Club (United Arab Emirates), Al Fatat Sports Club (Kuwait), Al Hala Club (Kingdom of Bahrain), Shabab Fuheis Club (Jordan), Ghaz Al Shamal Club (Iraq), and Al Amal Sports Club – Al Watan Al Qibli (Tunisia).

Basketball matches and training sessions will be hosted at Al Bataeh Cultural and Sports Club. Meanwhile, Al Riqa Children’s Centre will host the teams’ official training sessions. This arrangement ensures the highest technical and organisational standards and supports the teams’ readiness throughout the tournament.

Pride in hosting basketball was expressed by His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah bin Halis Al Ketbi, Chairman of Al Batayih Cultural and Sports Club, who highlighted the venue’s capacity to accommodate more than 500 spectators and the inclusion of community activities showcasing local culture alongside the competitions.

Sharjah Women’s Sports invites fans and basketball enthusiasts to attend the matches, support Arab women athletes, and experience the competition firsthand in an atmosphere that reflects the growing momentum of women’s sport across the region. Match schedules are available on the tournament’s official website, https://awst.ae/

Host clubs and facilities have confirmed the completion of all maintenance and preparations, and announced their full readiness to stage competitions and training sessions in line with the highest standards, ensuring smooth operations, capacity for all spectators, and a comprehensive sporting experience befitting the scale of the event.

Basketball remains one of the tournament’s flagship sports, enjoying strong public and media interest due to its fast-paced nature and advanced skill level. The competition also serves as a prominent platform to showcase the progress of Arab women’s clubs and their ability to compete at the regional level.

The organisation of the basketball competition aligns with the tournament’s broader vision to present an integrated sporting model that strengthens women’s participation in competitive sport and reinforces Sharjah’s position as a regional hub for women’s sport, bringing together clubs and athletes from across the Arab world.

WAM