Suarez Strike Secures First Title in 7 Years for Atletico, 11Th Overall

QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Sheikh Mohammed’s QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Artemis wins QREC-sponsored Qatar Prix D’elevage page 15 SUNday, MAY 23, 2021

ATLETICO MADRID ARE LA LIGA CHAMPIONS

Supporters celebrate after Atletico Madrid won the Spanish Liga Championship title outside the Jose Zorilla stadium in Atletico Madrid´s players celebrate after defeating Real Valladolid FC 2-1 to win the La Liga Championship title at the Jose Zorilla Valladolid on Saturday. (AFP) stadium in Valladolid, Spain, on Saturday. (AFP) Suarez strike secures first title in 7 years for Atletico, 11th overall DPA months like he was going to and then poking the ball home Zidane’s side struggled to Barcelona add another title this season, from the edge of the box. turn it around, with Karim but in 2021 their lead on Ma- That turned the tide in Benzema having a goal ruled Luis Suarez fired Atletico drid and Barcelona crumbled, their favour and Suarez ran out for offside, but he struck Madrid to a 2-1 win at Real and they won it by a fraction. through on goal to slot home in the 87th minute and Luka Valladolid to earn his team La Atletico finished on 86 the winner in the 68th min- Modric grabbed the winner in Liga for the first time in seven points, two ahead of Zinedine ute. stoppage time. years on Saturday, and for the Zidane’s Madrid on 84, after The Uruguayan joined Third-place Barcelona 11th time in their history. a topsy turvy final day where from Barcelona last summer, earned a 1-0 win over rel- Atletico needed to win on both sides fell behind. with the Catalans telling him egated Eibar through Antoine the last day of the season to Atletico, visiting a Val- he was no longer needed at Griezmann’s late goal. guarantee they would finish ladolid side hoping to snatch Camp Nou. Joining Eibar and Real ahead of city rivals Real Ma- survival, stumbled when Os- “It was tough in the sum- Valladolid in the second divi- drid, who also earned a 2-1 car Plano finished well on the mer, the way they underval- sion next season are Huesca, win against Villarreal. break. ued me,” said Suarez. who drew 0-0 with Valencia. Real Valladolid went At the other end Suarez “I will always be grateful Elche beat the drop with a ahead through Oscar Plano curled wide and Saul Niguez to Atletico Madrid. In terms 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, but goals from Angel Correa headed off target, with the of statistics, Luis Suarez has with Lucas Boye and Raul and Suarez, the team’s top team unable to find their best won five of the last seven Guti the goal-scoring heroes. scorer with 21 in La Liga, en- attacking football. leagues.” In the capital, Real Real Sociedad and Real sured Diego Simeone’s side Eventually in the second Madrid also fell behind when Betis secured Europa League earned the trophy. Simeone half Angel Correa broke the Villarreal’s Yeremi Pino fired qualification, with 1-0 and led the Rojiblancos to the title deadlock with a brilliantly past Thibaut Courtois after 20 3-2 wins at Osasuna and Celta Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (C) celebrates scoring during the Spanish League match in 2014 and it has seemed for taken goal, beating two men minutes. Vigo respectively. against Real Valladolid FC at the Jose Zorilla stadium in Valladolid on Saturday. (AFP) Leclerc crashes but claims pole DPA him straight on into the wall. Starting Grid Monte Carlo It remains to be seen whether the gearbox was Starting grid for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc of Ferrari damaged and will need to be Front row: Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) crashed in the final minute of changed which would earn 2nd row: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) qualifying on Saturday but se- him a five-place grid penalty Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) cured pole position for his Mo- as gearboxes must be used for 3rd row: Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) naco home Grand Prix. five consecutive events. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) 4th row: Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) The Monegasque clocked “We are worried, we are Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1 minute 10.346 seconds checking it - it is too early to 5th row: Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull-Honda) around the tight 3.337-kilo- tell,” Ferrari team principal Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) metre street circuit of Monte Mattia Binotto said. 6th row: Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) Carlo before hitting the wall Such a scenario would 7th row: Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) and bringing out the red flag leave Verstappen on pole on Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) which ended the session and Sunday on a course where 8th row: George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) denied others possibly better- overtaking is all but impossi- Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Honda) 9th row: Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault) Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc drives during the qualifying session at the Monaco street ing his time. ble, and the Dutchman needs Charles Leclerc reacts in the parc Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) circuit ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix on Saturday. (AFP) Max Verstappen of Red a win to boost his title hopes ferme after the qualifying session 10th row: Nikita Mazepin (RUS/Haas-Ferrari) Bull finished 0.230 second be- as he sits second in the driv- in Monaco on Saturday. (AFP) Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari). hind in second. ers’ championship, 14 points Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes behind leader Hamilton. pion Sebastian Vettel of Aston completed the top three for “It was going really well, Martin will be a season-best Schumacher didn’t fulfil Mercedes, while team-mate the red flag ruined the chance eighth, while two-time world the 107 per cent rule, which Lewis Hamilton struggled for for pole. champion Fernando Alonso of states that a driver is not al- pace and will be only seventh. Nevertheless, a very good Alpine didn’t make it to Q2. lowed to race if he fails to It was Ferrari’s and weekend so far,” Verstappen Rookie driver Mick Schu- qualify within 107 per cent of Leclerc’s first pole position said. macher was granted permis- the fastest time of the session. since the Mexican Grand Prix In the other Ferrari car, sion from the Formula One But Haas placed a request in 2019. Carlos Sainz will start the race stewards to start the race after to allow Schumacher to start “It’s a shame to finish in in fourth, followed by Lando he missed qualifying in the the race and permission was the wall, but at the same time, Norris of McLaren in fifth and wake of a crash in final prac- granted after stewards con- I’m crazy happy about my first Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly in tice. cluded the driver “set satisfac- lap,” Leclerc said. sixth, all ahead of Hamilton. His Haas car suffered huge tory times in practice.” After “It’s a bit of a surprise for “Need to go back to the damage when he crashed into being removed from the cal- everyone [in the team] to be drawing board, we’re definite- the barriers in third prac- endar last season due to the on pole, but I’ve always been ly having problems today. Sat- tice on the exit of the Casino coronavirus pandemic, this very unlucky here, so let’s see,” urday is the day, for sure the Square section and the team year Monaco has limited at- Leclerc said. win is out of reach,” Hamilton was unable to repair it in the tendance to 7,500 people per Spectators watch from a rooftop as Alpine’s Spanish driver Fernando Alonso drives during the third prac- He touched the inside bar- admitted. two hours between the prac- day with stands filled to up to tice session at the Monaco street circuit in Monaco, ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 GP on Saturday. (AFP) rier at the chicane, which sent Four-time world cham- tice session and qualifying. 40 per cent of capacity. Sports Sunday, May 23, 2021 13 Lewandowski gets scoring record on 41; Bremen relegated DPA Berlin

Four-time champions Werder Bremen lost 4-2 against Bayern Munich’s team players celebrate with the trophy in Munich, Germany, on Saturday. (AFP) Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday to be relegated for the second time in club history while Bayern Munich striker Bayern chief Rummenigge says Robert Lewandowski bettered the Bundesliga scoring record to 41 goals in a season. Lewandowski ‘will not be sold’ Lars Stindl, Marcus Thuram, Ramy Bensebaini DPA who can score 60 goals in a menigge. and Florian Neuhaus scored Berlin year, who’s the best player The Bayern chief would for Gladbach as the return of in the world at 32?” Rum- like to extend the contract Thomas Schaaf to the Bremen Bayern Munich chief menigge asked rhetorically. with the Polish striker in ad- helm in a last-gasp rescue mis- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Lewandowski is one goal vance. “Lewandowski, who’s sion was to no avail. promises that top scorer away from breaking Gerd in amazing physical shape, Bremen missed the relega- Robert Lewandowski “will Mueller’s Bundesliga record can play at the highest level tion play-off and went straight not be sold,” he said in an of 40 goals. He could reach for another four, five years. down along with Schalke be- interview to Polish web the new milestone in the last Why not at Bayern? Robert cause Cologne beat Schalke 1-0 portal Wirtualna Polska, as match of the season against is like a diamond,” Rum- from Sebastiaan Bornauw’s reported by German sports Augsburg on Saturday. menigge said. 86th-minute winner to move portal Sportbuzzer late on “I’m convinced Robert “Please tell the Polish ahead of Bremen into the play- Friday. will score goal number 41. prime minister that Robert off against the third-placed “His agent, Pini Zahavi, His teammates will certainly Lewandowski is now Po- team from the second division. knows it. But tell me your- help him, we will witness an land’s best ambassador,” “It is tough to say some- self: Who would sell a player historic event,” said Rum- he added. thing. I had hoped to help a little more but it was not to be,” said Schaaf whose financially Bremen who lost for the ninth led 4-0 at half-time from Jef- goal in the last minute. Thank- troubled club faces an uncer- time in 10 winless games. frey Gouweleeuw’s own goal, fully I made it, I am very happy,” tain future. “We don’t have But their relegation for the Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kim- Lewandowski said. “You have to to tak about tomorrow or the second time after 1980 was mich and Kingsley Coman be- fight for a legendary record like day after. This knocks us off sealed in Cologne where the fore Andre Hahn and Florian this.” The departing trio of Da- our legs enough.” There was hosts thought they broke the Niederlechner netted for the vid Alaba, Jerome Boateng and total silence in Bremen after deadlock from Sebastian An- visitors who had earlier missed Javi Martinez then lifted the the final whistle as Gladbach’s Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal and his 41st dersson’s tap-in in the 70th, a penalty from Daniel Caligiuri. trophy as the team celebrated in victory was to no avail either season goal during the German first division Bundesliga match vs FC Augsburg in Munich on Saturday. (AFP) but the goal was disallowed Lewandowski was frus- front of the 250 fans permitted because Max Kruse scored a over a foul in the build-up trated by goalkeeper Rafal to attend the game. stoppage time 2-1 winner for of their coach Hansi Flick, with helmsman Schaaf. baini’s classy back-header and upon video review. But there Gikiewicz on several occasions Elsewhere, Borussia Dort- Union Berlin who needed full Lewandowski getting sole pos- But Stindl calmly fired Neuhaus wrapped up matters were no complaints in the but when his Polish compa- mund beat Bayer Leverkusen points to remain seventh for session of the scoring record Gladbach’s opener into the for Gladbach who however fin- 86th over Bornauw’s header triot failed to hold on to a shot 3-1 to finish third ahead of a place in the new European ahead of Gerd Mueller with a bottom right corner just three ished eighth in a season that which earned Cologne a life- from Leroy Sane he was there Wolfsburg who lost 3-2 against Conference League. 90th-minute tap-in. minutes into the game. nose-dived after coach Marco line to avoid a seventh drop. to tap in for 5-2 and complete Mainz. Eintracht Frankfurt beat Champions Bayern Munich Bremen parted ways with Davie Selke should have Rose had said he would move “That was an emotional a sixth league top scorer crown Freiburg 3-1, Hoffenheim pre- received the trophy for a ninth coach Florian Kohfeldt last levelled 15 minutes later but on to Bourssia Dortmund. roller-coaster,” Cologne goal- with the 41-goal record. vailed 2-1 over Hertha Berlin straight title after a 5-2 victory Sunday and brought back instead Thuram made it 2-0 Milot Rashica and Nic- keeper Timo Horn said. “I have no words, when you and Arminia Bielefeld won 2-0 over Augsburg in the final game their 2004 double-winning on the counter and Bense- las Fuellkrug then scored for In Munich, the champions try for 90 minutes and get the at VfB Stuttgart. English Premier League’s fight for Europe: Who needs what to qualify?

DPA London Sunday Fixtures While the title race and relegation battle have been set- Leicester vs Tottenham Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp. (AFP) tled, there is still a fight for Wolves vs Man United European places ongoing West Ham vs Southampton heading into Sunday’s final Sheffield United vs Burnley Final-day drama nothing new round of matches of the 2020- 21 Premier League season. Fulham vs Newcastle for Liverpool boss Klopp Here’s a closer look at the Leeds United vs West Brom situation. Arsenal vs Brighton DPA day.” A top-four finish looked Aston Villa vs Chelsea London unlikely when they slipped to Who has already secured Man City vs Everton eighth in early March and with a place in Europe? Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Juergen Klopp insists the 10 matches to go they were Manchester City and Man- nature of his managerial ca- seven points adrift. chester United have sealed reer means he is well accus- Since then a nine-game Champions League places, tomed to the stress of the final unbeaten run – the best in the with them confirmed as Pre- day of the season. Premier League – has seen mier League title-winners Liverpool head into Sun- them take 23 points from a and runners-up respectively. day’s match against Crystal possible 27 to put them where Chelsea, Liverpool and Leices- Palace in front of 10,000 fans they want to be. “What did we ter, the sides vying for the two at Anfield knowing an eighth do? We found stability, created other top-four slots, are guar- victory in their last 10 matches confidence again or got it back, anteed Europa League football would guarantee them Champi- scored goals in the right mo- at least. ons League football next season. ments and conceded less, that They may not even need that helped as well,” added Klopp. What do Chelsea, Liver- as long as they match the result “It was just what we had pool and Leicester need of fifth-placed Leicester, level on to do so far, but honestly all for a top-four finish? points but with a goal difference the numbers you mention are Chelsea, a point better off than four inferior, while they could nothing to do with Sunday. fourth-placed Liverpool and Chelsea players applaud the fans following during the English Premier League match against Leicester City in London on May 18. Chelsea, a even finish third should Chelsea “These three games are that Leicester in fifth, can cement point better off than fourth-placed Liverpool and Leicester in fifth, can cement third spot with a win at Aston Villa on Sunday.(AFP) slip up against Aston Villa. important pretty much any- third spot with a win at Aston The most important factor thing can happen and it makes Villa. FA Cup. West Ham hold that And what’s the scenario is Klopp’s side have their des- sense to know that before the Liverpool will look to wrap up position, three points clear How they stand (Top 5) there? tiny in their own hands, but game. No-one should expect a a top-four berth when they of Tottenham (seventh) and Club MP W D l GF GA Pts Arsenal are a point behind the Reds boss is expecting a perfect game with an early lead, play Crystal Palace at Anfield. Everton (eighth). Spurs and Everton in ninth. 1. Manchester City 37 26 5 6 78 32 46 83 couple more twists and turns we have to fight for it.” Leicester, whose goal differ- They will rise two places if those before the season finally ends. Liverpool beat Palace 7-0 ence is inferior to Liverpool’s Who needs what to clinch 2. Manchester United 37 20 11 6 71 43 28 71 sides do not win and the Gun- “I can’t remember a sea- to go four points clear at the by four and Chelsea’s by three, sixth? 3. Chelsea 37 19 10 8 57 34 23 67 ners beat Brighton at the Emir- son when it didn’t go to the top at Christmas, just before will need a big win over Tot- The Hammers will nail the 4. Liverpool 37 19 9 9 66 42 24 66 ates Stadium. A draw could be wire because it was pretty the slump set in, and that now tenham or hope results else- place down if they avoid defeat 5. Leicester City 37 20 6 11 66 46 20 66 enough, although it is another much a final or we had to fight looks like an increasingly im- where go their way. at home against Southampton. Green: Qualify for UEFA C League group stage case that seems unlikely due to the last match day for qual- portant performance. If they do lose, Spurs would Red: Qualify for Europa league group stage to goal difference, with theirs ification for the Champions Klopp knows it will have Who else is in the Europa leapfrog them with a win at seven worse than Tottenham’s. League,” he said. no bearing on Sunday’s game, League picture? Leicester. Everton claiming ferior to West Ham’s by eight. things have panned out this While Leeds, two points behind “Even at Dortmund it was however. “It was not a 7-0 As well as the fifth spot that will sixth looks unlikely even if term has resulted in that go- Arsenal, need a win at home like this, at Mainz it was to game - Palace had chances of be occupied by one of Chelsea, they win at Manchester City, Anything else? ing to whichever team finishes against West Brom, their goal stay in the league or when we their own, it was a crazy one Liverpool or Leicester, sixth is West Ham lose and Tottenham There is also a place in the in- seventh. Arsenal and Leeds difference is such that it ap- got promoted. I am really used and really open. Chance here, also a Europa League berth, fail to win, owing to respective augural Europa Conference mathematically remain con- pears almost impossible for to stress until the last match chance there,” said Klopp. with the Foxes having won the goal differences - theirs is in- League up for grabs - the way tenders to clinch that spot. them to get up to seventh. 14 Sunday, May 23, 2021 Sports

GATESHEAD MEETING Duplantis, Richardson and Ingebrigtsen set for strong The 28-year-old Mariya Lasitskene, a three-time world champion, has not been able to take part in the Olympics. 23 more Russians Diamond League start approved for intl World Athletics her season with a 200m win in Gateshead (UK) 22.56 in Savona, Italy. “It’s been an incredibly competitions There might be a new kid hard winter. I’m so excited to – make that new sensation – be racing because it’s a respite QNA/agencies (high jump) and Anzhelika on the European block in the from training.” Monaco Sidorova (pole vault); Ilya showpiece event of the 2021 In Richardson, the 21-year- Ivanyuk (high jump) and Ak- Wanda Diamond League old Texan who has been tear- World Athletics’ doping re- sana Gataullina (pole vault). season opener at Gateshead ing up the US tracks with siz- view board granted permission The 23-athlete list includes on Sunday, but there was a zling early season clockings of to 23 more Russian athletes eight race-walkers; seven warning for Sha’Carri Rich- 10.72, 10.74 and 10.77, Asher- to participate in international jumpers (height, triple, length ardson from the British rival Smith faces a sprint phenom- competitions as neutral ath- and pole vault); two sprinters, who is relishing the prospect enon hailed in one British letes. After this approval, the two runners, three throwers of lining up for the women’s newspaper headline on Friday total count of natural athlete and a marathoner. 100m with the “funky world as the ‘biggest since Bolt.’ has gone up to 27 this year. Athletes who have been champion” legend pinned on Having taken her bow on In 2015 World Anti-Doping undergoing doping tests out- her vest on home ground for the European circuit with a Agency found evidence of mass side Russia should have the the first time. comfortable 22.35 win in the doping among track and field priority within the announced “I’m much, much strong- chill of Ostrava on Wednes- athletes and decided to ban list, World Athletics said in a er,” revealed world 200m day, Richardson tests her con- Russia’s athletics federation. statement. champion Dina Asher-Smith siderable credentials against The World Athletics also Among the 27 neutral ath- at the eve of competition press not just the strength of Asher- cleared that there is no limit on letes are Mikhail Akimenko conference for the Muller Smith but that of the other the number of Russians who (men’s high jump) and Anz- Grand Prix. two medal winners from the may compete as authorized helika Sidorova (women’s pole “I’ve just had so much 100m final in Doha: Jamaica’s neutral athletes in interna- vault), who won silver and more time to work and I’m Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a tional competitions this year, gold at the 2019 World Cham- much stronger physically now, Pole vault champion Armad Duplantis, Sha’Carri Richardson and Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the Wanda three-time world champion at except the Olympic Games pionships, along with wom- much more technically profi- Diamond League season-opener media conference at Gateshead in UK on Saturday. the distance, and bronze med- and other championships. en’s high jump world number cient. I’ve been doing things allist Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Up to 10 Russians will be one Mariya Lasitskene. that my coach has been hoping nicely for Asher-Smith at the So if an even stronger ver- Olympic women’s 100m final Ivory Coast. allowed to compete as neutral The World Athletics Coun- I could do for many years. 2019 World Athletics Cham- sion of the 25-year-old can in Tokyo, 5,766 miles and 10 Speaking at a later press athletes at Tokyo Olympics if cil announced on 21 March it “Hopefully I’ll be able to do pionships in Doha, in the make her presence felt in the weeks away. conference, Richardson con- they meet certain criteria. had reinstated the Russian ath- them off the bat, but with me form of a silver medal in the north-east of England tomor- “I’ve only just stopped do- firmed that she intended to Four of these athletes have letes to the Authorized Neutral things tend to come together 100m in a national record row, then Richardson might ing over 300 abdominal exer- tackle both the 100m and 200m already been cleared to com- Athletes program after the Rus- at the champs. So it’s going to 10.83 and then a gold in the not have it all her own way in cises a day in training in the last at the US trials next month. pete in April, including world sia federation approved a reha- be a very exciting summer.” 200m, also in a British record the locked and loaded taster of week or two,” revealed Asher- “For us, the trials is a mini- champions Mariya Lasitskene bilitation roadmap. Everything came together of 21.88. what might be to come in the Smith, who last week opened Olympics in itself,” she said.

US PGA Pacquiao set to Rory McIlroy sees hopes disappear fight Spence Jr London: Rory McIlroy blamed his poor performance on the par in Las Vegas fives as his winless drought in majors continued in the 103rd Agencies 62-7-2 record. He is aiming US PGA Championship. McIlroy to win a world title in a fourth was installed as the pre-tour- Manny Pacquiao is set for his decade after first claiming the nament favourite on the back first fight in two years when WBC flyweight belt in 1998. of his victory in the Wells Fargo he faces WBC and IBF welter- He has won world titles at Championship a fortnight ago weight champion Errol Spence eight different weights in his and his eight-shot triumph the Jr in August. The 42-year-old 26-year pro career. last time Kiawah Island staged has not fought since he beat Spence Jr, who has a 27-0 the US PGA in 2012. However, Keith Thurman for the WBA record, claimed victory over the 32-year-old was never a fac- welterweight title in July 2019. Danny Garcia in December in tor following an opening 75 and He announced on Twitter his first fight since a serious again failed to break par despite that he will meet 31-year-old car crash in 2019 that left him easier conditions on Saturday, Spence Jr in Las Vegas on 21 in intensive care. Confirming a third round of 74 leaving the August in what would be his the fight on Instagram, Spence Norway’s Casper Ruud raises the trophy after winning the ATP 250 Ge- four-time major winner on five 72nd professional fight. Pac- Jr wrote: “Done deal! See y’all neva Open final against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov on Saturday.( AFP) over par. (DPA) quiao, who is a serving sena- in Vegas for the biggest fight of tor in the Philippines, has a the year.” Ruud overcomes

India football team holds first training session in Doha Shapovalov for second career title DPA able for me.” Berlin Looking to lay down a marker ahead of the upcom- Rising star Casper Ruud ing French Open, where he continued his impressive 2021 reached the third round last with a straight-sets win over year, third seed Ruud took lit- Denis Shapovalov in the Gene- tle time to get going against va Open final to win his second Shapovalov. career title. However, the first setwent The world number 21 pre- the way of the serve to set up vailed 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in the first a tie-break, which the Norwe- top-level meeting between the gian eventually took with his two players to add to the Ar- fifth set point after Shapovalov gentina Open crown won - also won four points in a row. on clay - in February 2020. Shapovalov was compet- Ruud did not face a sin- ing in his third tour-level fi- gle break point in the match, nal after winning the Stock- which lasted an hour and 40 holm Open and losing in the minutes, and needed only Paris Masters final in 2019, one break conversion him- but he struggled to break his self to see off second seed opponent. Shapovalov. Ruud earned a break in “It’s tough to find all the the fifth game of the second words,” said Ruud, who has a set and saw the job through 15-4 record on clay this year. to keep his momentum go- “It was such an amazing week ing ahead of the second grand here in Geneva. I was always slam of the year. looking forward to coming to Asked about his aims for this tournament. Roland Garros, Ruud said: “I watched it on TV for “Well, it’s the toughest clay many years when I was young- court tournament of the year. er and it always seemed like a “This season I am playing The Indian team had their first training session in Doha on Friday night as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers, slated to be nice place, so I guess I know well on the clay and I’m look- played from June 3 onwards. The 28 players and the support staff were in compulsory quarantine till they received the test results of the RTPCR tests in Doha. After clearing the why I wanted to come here. ing forward to Paris. I hope I test, the squad was allowed to kick-off their preparatory camp. India who are currently on three points from five matches in Group E are scheduled to play Asian Champions Qatar “It’s been going well and can make the second week, on June 3, Bangladesh on June 7, and Afghanistan on June 15 with all three matches to be played at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. this week has been unbeliev- that’s all I can say. Sports Sunday, May 23, 2021 15 Sheikh Mohammed’s Artemis wins QREC-sponsored Qatar Prix D’elevage

Tribune News Network jockey Olivier Peslier. He last position. She couldn’t Doha then allowed her to make up come up the rail and had to some ground on the rail but come across the track. She’s Just half an hour after Sam- finished boxed in on all sides. a superstar! Eight months lla won on debut, His High- Once in the straight, realizing without a run – she has to be ness Sheikh Mohammed bin that he wouldn’t be able to an exceptional mare.” Khalifa Al Thani celebrated a come through the accelerating Peslier explained “I had no second Purebred Arabian win- pack, Peslier had to take his specific orders. After 231 days ner at Toulouse on Saturday. partner back and wide, bring- without a run, I preferred to His representative Arte- ing the mare up the center of have her relaxed in the first mis (Azadi x Ocyrrhoe), not the track. Once the filly found half of the race to see how she seen since her 6th place in the her balance, the filly showed was travelling. Turning into Qatar Arabian Trophy des Ju- an exceptional acceleration the straight, I saw that the race ments (4yo mares) at Paris- to pass a top-class field in the wasn’t going to open for us. It Longchamp on 3 October, ran closing 200 meters, winning was a difficult race. I waited on out the emphatic winner of the by 1 ¼ lengths in front of the her in the straight as I knew Qatar Prix de l’Élevage (Gr.2 Al Shaqab Racing owned pair she was capable of a big ac- PA), a race sponsored by the of Alkedri (Mister Ginoux x celeration. As she has shown Qatar Racing and Equestrian Bise Al Maury) in second and when she’s comfortable in her Club as part of their ongoing Um Taj (Al Mamun Monlau x races. Once in front, she can support of Purebred Arabian Dyala) in third. tend to idle.” racing in France. With tears in her eyes af- Artemis is out of the Al The 5-year-old mare, who ter the race, Elisabeth Ber- Nasr mare Ocyrrhoe, a top- is trained by Mrs. J.F Bernard, nard was delighted with the class race mare who won the was caught on the outside of result, “She’s a fantastic mare. Group 1 PA Qatar French the racing pack in the early She had a horrible race. She Arabiaan Breeders’ Challenge stages, before being dropped pulled at the start, and then Artemis ran out the emphatic winner of the Qatar Prix de l’Élevage (Gr.2 PA), a race sponsored by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club as part (Pouliches 4ans) in 2009, also in at the rear of the field by came out of the final turn in of their ongoing support of Purebred Arabian racing in France. (Pic: Robert Polin) trained by Mrs Bernard. Gauff sweeps Samlla takes Prix Norniz (PA) with ease Tribune News Network rou x Djalmina) and Zafraan Doha Qardabiyah just behind. In the straight, Samlla singles & doubles His Highness Sheikh Moham- had to come out from the rail med bin Khalifa Al Thani cel- to find an opening, as the ebrated a new winner at the three front-runners kicked French track of Toulouse on for home. With 200 meters titles in Parma Saturday when Samlla (Assy left to run, Samlla had a clear x Djakera des Forges) took the run and showed a devastat- WTA Gauff won over three- call, breaking for 3-2. Never- Prix Norniz in easy style. ing turn of foot to quickly hit Parma (Italy) quarters of her first-service theless, Wang’s groundstrokes Running over 1,600 me- the lead and pass the post points and fended off each and were more accurate and hefty ters in this conditions race for with plenty left in hand by 1¼ American teenager Coco every one of the four break in the second set as she kept it 3-year-old Purebred Arabian lengths in front of Djalco. Ih- Gauff charged to her second points she faced in her first en- closer than the first. colts and geldings, Samlla was san D’etoilles came in third. career WTA singles title at counter with Wang. Still, it was Gauff who went making his racecourse debut. Samlla was bred by His the Emilia-Romagna Open on “I think I did well in en- untested on serve from that Trained by Francois Rohaut Highness Sheikh Mohammed Saturday, dispatching Wang gaging every point and push- point forward, as she used an and ridden by Valentin Seguy, Samlla emerged a new winner at the French track of Toulouse in bin Khalifa Al Thani’s rac- Qiang, 6-1, 6-3 in the final in ing [Wang] back,” Gauff said. array of groundstroke winners he was facing 8 rivals in this France on Saturday taking the Prix Norniz in style. (Pic: Robert Polin) ing and breeding operation Parma. “I know she normally likes to to slide to a 5-3 lead. Another competition; mostly newcom- Al Shahania Stud. He is by Al No.3 seed Gauff needed be aggressive. One of the main beautiful backhand forced an ers, however there were also Quardabiyah) for the colours mid-division throughout the Shahania Purebred Arabian just an hour and 14 minutes to goals for me was just to be able error from Wang to end the three colts with racing expe- of Sheail bin Khalifa Al Ku- race, which was led by Ihsan sire Assy and his dam Djakera turn back the challenge from to push her back and set up the match, and Gauff ended the day rience including impressive wari, carrying top weight. D’etoilles (Tabarak x Ouasis des Forges is a descendant of the No.6 seed from China and shots I like to hit.” with 21 winners to Wang’s 11. debut winner Zafraan Qarda- Drawn towards the in- du Croate) at a regular pace, French foundation Purebred add to her singles title collec- Wang had a resurgent Gauff made it a clean biyah (Majd Al Arab x Intisar side, Samlla sat on the rail in with Djalco (Josco du Cay- Arabian matriarch Djeballa II. tion, which she started as a week in Parma, as the former sweep of the titles in Parma, as lucky loser at 2019 Linz. World No.12 was just 4-11 on she paired with Caty McNally 17-year-old Gauff has ex- the year coming into the event. to win the doubles champion- celled on the clay courts in Wang broke through to her ship later in the day. The 4th- Italy over the past fortnight, fifth career singles final -- her seeded team defeated No.2 Faten completes with a semifinal run at the In- first since 2018 -- but was un- seeds Darija Jurak and An- ternazionali BNL d’Italia last able to win her third career ti- dreja Klepac, 6-3, 6-2 to win week leading into a romp to tle, and her first outside of her the final. day of victories the trophy this week. Gauff home country of China. “I feel like all week I just dropped only one set en route Gauff excelled from the was thinking about it,” Gauff Tribune News Network (Dabirsim x Ceedwell). to her title in Parma. backhand side as she surged said. Doha In the final turn, she sat “It definitely means a lot, to an early 3-0 lead in the en- “Especially when we got to patiently as her rivals began to especially on clay, which is not counter. Wang charged back the semifinals, you’re thinking HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khal- come up to challenge. really a surface I feel like peo- from 0-30 down in the next about it, like, ‘It would be pretty ifa Al Thani celebrated an- In the straight, Peslier sat ple associate with me,” Gauff game to hold her serve, but cool to win both the singles and other new winner at Toulouse quietly until the 200-meter told the press, after she fol- that would be it for the Chi- doubles titles.’ Happy that I was on Saturday rounding up an mark, and they came up be- Purebred Arabian colt HM Al Sakeb opened his scorecard for Al lowed up her singles win with nese player in the opener, as able to do that today.” excellent day of racing includ- tween horses to run strongly Shaqab Racing in the Prix de l’Hippodrome de Toulouse on Saturday. a second victory of the day in Gauff regularly came out on At 17 years, 70 days old, ing the Qatar Prix de l’Élevage to the line. Nuuk (IRE) (Ken- (Pic: Robert Polin) the doubles final. top in increasingly lengthy ral- Gauff is the youngest player to (Gr2 PA), when his homebred dargentx Mountain Rose) fin- “I always liked [clay], but lies. sweep the singles and doubles Faten (Anodin x Visomiya) ished second in front of I Am I always fall on it, I always get Serving for the set at 5-1, titles at an event since Maria took the Prix du Grand Balcon. A Dream (FR) (Dunkerque x HM Al Sakeb provides Al dirty!” Gauff laughed. “I have Gauff found herself down Sharapova won both titles at This 4-year-old filly, who Rose Rose). This was a second good results on it, so it’s not double break point after two 2004 Birmingham, at 17 years, was running over 2,400 me- career victory for this consist- Shaqab racing new triumph about my performance. It’s consecutive double faults, but 55 days old. Sharapova com- ters, secured a 1¼ victory in ent filly. just that clay shows you a little the American powered her pleted the sweep 92 days after the hands of Olivier Peslier. Out of Visomiya, Faten’s Tribune News Network sit just behind the pacemakers extra love than the other sur- way out of that jam with su- Gauff was born. She sat in third position, just second dam is the Linamix Doha in this 2,100m race. Moving faces do.” perb groundstrokes. She then Gauff and McNally im- behind the leaders. A steady mare Visorama, dam of cham- into second on the first bend, he Currently ranked at a ca- fended off a third break point proved to 3-0 in doubles ti- pace was set by Isolator (IRE) pion stayer Vazirabad. The Purebred Arabian colt looked to be travelling strongly reer-high World No.30 and in that game before coming up tles as a team, adding to their HM Al Sakeb (Azadi x Morgane in behind Alrazeen (Josco Du projected to rise even higher with a service winner to obtain 2019 titles in Washington D.C. de Piboul) opened his scorecard Cayrou x Rasheeqah). Jockey after this victory, Gauff has the one-set lead. and Luxembourg. McNally on Saturday for the colours of Julien Augé allowed him to won 20 of her last 26 matches A backhand winner down also has a fourth doubles ti- Al Shaqab Racing in the Prix come up to sit on the flanks of on tour as she rapidly racks the line allowed Gauff to save a tle, which she won with Hailey de l’Hippodrome de Toulouse, Alrazeen in the final turn. up match-wins this season. By break point and hold for 2-2 in Baptiste earlier this season at a conditions race for 4-year-old Sitting patiently, he waited contrast, she won 21 matches the second set, and the teenag- the MUSC Health Women’s Purebred Arabians who have until inside the two-hundred- in 2019 and 2020 combined. er took charge after that close Open in Charleston. not yet won a Group race. meter post before sending HM Trained by Thomas Four- Al Sakeb to the front. Having cy, HM Al Sakeb was hav- conserved his partner’s energy, ing just his third start on a HM Al Sakeb was able to show racetrack. He debuted in Oc- a nice turn of foot in the final tober as a 3-year-old for his 100 meters to win by a com- owner and breeders Hassan fortable 1 ¼ lengths in front and Nada Mousalli, with a of Hahlem El Ahlem (Jalnar Al fourth place, before his sea- Khalidiah x Myrzam) with Al- sonal reappearance in 2021 razeen holding on to third. for a promising 2nd place at HM Al Sakeb is out of the La Teste de Buch on the 16th Djourman mare Morgane De of April, after which he passed Piboul, dam of several win- under the silver and burgundy ners including top class Group silks of Al Shaqab Racing. performer Al Mouwaffak, who Faten on way to winning the Prix du Grand Balcon at Toulouse on The racy chestnut colt went also carried the Al Shaqab Saturday. (Pic: Robert Polin) quickly from his wide draw to silks, amongst others. Qatar boxing teams for Asian championships in Dubai QNA Saeed Al Smikh, in weight 81 kg, and Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan boxers Doha Fahad Al Amiri, in weight 75 kg, accom- will present a strong case, as they have a panied by coach Salim Lazraq, will repre- good reputation even at the global level. Qatari teams will participate in the sent the Qatari team in the championship. Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Asian Men’s and Women’s Boxing Cham- Assistant-Secretary of the Qatar Box- Iraq, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyr- pionships in Dubai, which starts Sunday ing and Wrestling Federation Khaled gyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Coco Gauff and Caty McNally with their trophies after winning the women’s doubles at the and continues until May 31, with the par- Youssef Al Mas chairs the Qatari delega- the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma (Italy) on Saturday. (WTA) ticipation of 237 boxers from 21 countries. tion, which left Saturday to Dubai. the UAE and Yemen are participating.