MONDAY 11 MARCH 2019 SPORT 05 Manchester City manager There should be an easy solution Pep Guardiola expects VAR and next season there will be. FOOTBALL FOOTBALL system to rid the Premier With VAR, that will not be a prob- League of controversial AFC Champions League: Bundesliga: Fortuna lem, it will be fairer. refereeing decisions. Al Rayyan vs Lokomotiv ACTION Dusseldorf vs Frankfurt TODAY’S Handscomb and Turner shine Djokovic and Osaka earn wins as Australia chase record 359 at Indian Wells

AFP in the opening ODI and playing MOHALI just his second match, also built Australia’s Peter Handscomb AP “She’s been playing so well crucial partnerships including an celebrates his century INDIAN WELLS this year. You never know Peter Handscomb’s maiden 86-run stand with Alex Carey, against India, yesterday. what’s going to come off her century and a blistering 84 from who made 21. Novak Djokovic and Naomi racket,” Williams said in an on- Ashton Turner helped Australia The 26-year-old Turner, who Osaka, both ranked No. 1 in the court interview. chase down a record 359 against replaced an injured Marcus world, cruised to straight-set Williams, a three-time India to level the series at 2-2 in Stoinis in the playing XI, hit 5 victories at the BNP Paribas semifinalist at Indian Wells, is the fourth one-day international fours and 6 sixes to smash the Open on Saturday night. the oldest woman in the tour- yesterday. bowlers to all parts of the Djokovic beat Bjorn Fra- nament at 38. She’s seeking her Turner’s 43-ball blitz in ground. tangelo 7-6 (5), 6-2 in pursuit of 50th career title. Williams also Mohali gave Australia the win by Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah a record sixth title in the desert. needed three sets to beat four with 13 balls to took three wickets but the Indian It was Djokovic’s 50th match Andrea Petkovic in the first spare in their highest ever run spinners were at the receiving win at the tournament, his round. chase. end of some attacking play in highest total at any ATP Masters Wimbledon champion The Baggy Greens’ previous dew-laden conditions and sloppy 1000 event. Angelique Kerber routed Yulia best was a race to 334 against fielding. Defending champion Osaka Putintseva 6-0, 6-2. Kerber England in 2011 in Sydney. Rishabh Pant, doing the beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, broke serve to open the match A 192-run second- keeping duties in place of the 6-4 in her first attempt at on her way to winning the first partnership between rested Mahendra Singh Dhoni defending a WTA Tour title. 10 games in a row. Handscomb, who smashed 117 missed a chance to stump Turner Mladenovic upset Osaka in Kerber, seeded eighth, con- off 105 balls, and Usman on 38 and the innings also wit- straight sets two weeks ago at verted 93 percent of her first Khawaja, who made 91, was key nessed a few dropped catches. the Dubai tournament. It was serves and moved on to a third- to take the series into the final Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan Osaka’s first match since round match against qualifier ODI in Delhi on Wednesday. struck a career-best 143 to guide ascending to the No. 1 ranking. Natalia Vikhlyantseva. Turner, who made his debut India to 358 for nine after “I learn the most when I lose Other seeded winners were: matches, and honestly, it was No. 5 Karolina Pliskova, No. 9 SCOREBOARD great that I got to play her again Aryna Sabalenka, No. 11 Anas- India well 8-1-61-0, Zampa 10-0-57-1, Finch 3-0-22-0 because I was able to learn from tasija Sevastova, No. 21 Anett R. Sharma c Handscomb b Richardson ...... 95 Australia the mistakes I did back then,” Kontaveit and No. 24 Lesia S. Dhawan b Cummins ...... 143 A. Finch b Kumar ...... 0 Osaka said. Tsurenko. K. Rahul c Carey b Zampa ...... 26 U. Khawaja c Yadav b Bumrah ...... 91 electing to bat first. The hosts and aggression to lay the foun- Djokovic needed 1 1/2 hours Alexander Zverev, Milos V. Kohli c Carey b Richardson ...... 7 S. Marsh b Bumrah ...... 6 rode on a 193-run opening stand dation for India’s big total. to beat Fratangelo and improve Raonic, Gael Monfils, Gilles R. Pant c Finch b Cummins ...... 36 P. Handscomb c Rahul b Chahal ...... 117 K. Jadhav c Richardson b Cummins ...... 10 G. Maxwell lbw b Yadav ...... 23 between Dhawan and Rohit Sharma registered his 40th to 11-1 on the season. Afterward, Simon and Laslo Djere were V. Shankar c Maxwell b Cummins ...... 26 A. Turner ...... 84 Sharma, who made 95, to post a ODI fifty but missed out on a Djokovic went over to greet seeded winners on the men’s B. Kumar c Carey b Richardson ...... 1 A. Carey c Dhawan b Bumrah ...... 21 big total. hundred after falling to Jhye former No. 1 Pete Sampras, who side. There were several upsets K. Yadav not out ...... 1 J. Richardson not out ...... 0 Fast bowler Pat Cummins Richardson, who took three sat courtside. on Day 4 of the combined Y. Chahal c & b Cummins ...... 0 Extras (b4, lb8, w5) ...... 17 returned his best-ever ODI wickets. “I think I tried too hard in ATP-WTA event. J. Bumrah not out ...... 6 Total (6 wickets, 47.5 overs) ...... 359 figures of 5-70 in 10 overs. Dhawan went on to register the first set to impress him,” the No. 9 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who Extras (b1, lb1, w5) ...... 7 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Finch), 2-12 (Marsh), 3-204 Dhawan, who has been his 16th ODI ton and his first in Serb said. lost to Roger Federer in both the Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) ...... 358 (Khawaja), 4-229 (Maxwell) struggling to get big scores in 18 innings amid crowd cheers Djokovic indicated he was Australian Open semifinals and Fall of wickets: 1-193 (Sharma), 2-254 (Dha- Did not bat: P. Cummins, J. Behrendorff, A. wan), 3-266 (Kohli), 4-296 (Rahul), 5-314 (Pant), Zampa recent times, struck form as he and a standing ovation from the rusty at the start, having taken the final in Dubai last week, was 6-331 (Jadhav), 7-344 (Kumar), 8-351 (Shankar), Bowling: Kumar 9-0-67-1 (w1), Bumrah 8.5-0- reached his fifty in 44 deliveries Indian dressing room. over a month off after winning ousted by Felix Auger-Aliassime 9-352 (Chahal) 63-3, Shankar 5-0-29-0 (w1), Yadav 10-0-64-1, to take the attack to the He surpassed his previous the Australian Open in late 6-4, 6-2. Also losing on the Did not bat: J. Bumrah Jadhav 5-0-44-0, Chahal 10-0-80-1 (w3) opposition. best of 137 in ODIs before being January. Venus Williams out- men’s side were No. 11 Borna Bowling: Cummins 10-0-70-5 (w3), Behren- Result: Australia won by 4 wickets The right-left batting com- bowled by Cummins, striking 18 lasted No. 3 seed Petra Kvitova Coric, No. 23 Alex de Minaur and dorff 10-1-61-0, Richardson 9-0-85-3 (w2), Max- Series: Five-match series level at 2-2 bination of Sharma and Dhawan fours and three sixes in his 115- 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the second No. 31 Nick Kyrgios. mixed the right dose of caution ball knock. round. It was just her eighth In the women’s draw, No. 13 match of the year. Kvitova Caroline Wozniacki, No. 17 served 10 aces and 10 double- Madison Keys, No. 26 Carla faults in the 2 1/2-hour match. Suarez Navarro, No. 28 Donna De Kock smashes ton as Stirling and She became the highest seeded Vekic and No. 30 Anastasia Pav- Balbirnie woman to lose so far. lyuchenkova lost. SA clinch ODI series win help Ireland

REUTERS level series DURBAN South Africa’s Quinton de Kock celebrates after scoring a century against Sri Lanka AFP Quinton de Kock’s swash- yesterday. DEHRADUN buckling century inspired South Africa to beat Sri Lanka by 71 Half-centuries by Paul Stirling runs under the Duckworth- and Andy Balbirnie helped Lewis system at Kingsmead Ireland to a five-wicket series- yesterday to secure a winning levelling win over Afghanistan 3-0 lead in their five-match in the fifth and final one-day one-day international series. international yesterday. After South Africa had been Chasing a modest 217, Novak Djokovic put into bat, De Kock smashed Ireland depended on a 81-run in action against 121 off 108 balls at the top of the second wicket stand between Bjorn Fratangelo on innings -- his 14th ODI hundred Stirling and Balbirnie to achieve Saturday. -- as they went on to make 331-5 their target in 47.2 overs as the off their 50 overs. series ended at 2-2 in Sri Lanka, set a revised target Dehradun. The second ODI was of 193 after a rain delay, fell a rate at 75-2 off 16 overs when a was caught washed out. long way short, managing to rain storm took the players off and bowled by Imran Tahir for Left-arm spinner Geroge score only 121-5 off 24 overs in for a two-hour break, after 41 just as Sri Lanka looked set to Dockrell led a disciplined Second ITF World reply. which the visitors were set a take on the challenge but despite bowling attack to set up the win Sri Lanka had already been Herculean target of 118 runs off the best efforts of Thisara Perera, as Ireland kept down Afghan- Tennis Tour kicks falling behind the required over just eight overs to win. who swung at every ball, the istan to 216 for six after being SCOREBOARD tourists were always fighting a put into bat first. losing cause. Stirling top-scored with 70 off in Doha today South Africa N. Dickwella c Imran Tahir b Rabada ...... 2 Rassie van der Dussen added and Balbirnie made a patient Q. de Kock c Dickwella b Rajitha ...... 121 O. Fernando c De Kock b Shamsi ...... 25 50 and a cameo from Andile 68 to drive a tricky chase for R. Hendricks c Malinga b Udana ...... 4 Kusal Mendis c and b Imran Tahir ...... 41 Phehlukwayo, who hit 38 off 15 Ireland in a hard-fought series THE PENINSULA F. du Plessis c Dickwella b Malinga ...... 36 T. Perera c Van der Dussen b Imran Tahir ...... 12 DOHA H. van der Dussen lbw b Kamindu Mendis ...50 Kamindu Mendis not out ...... 8 at the end of the innings, ensured that comes after their D. Miller not out ...... 41 I. Udana not out ...... 0 South Africa went past 300 as whitewash in the two D Pretorius b Udana ...... 31 Extras (b4, lb1, w5) ...... 10 they continued their World Cup matches. The preliminary rounds of Second Qatar Men’s ITF World Tennis A. Phehlukwayo not out ...... 38 Total (5 wkts, 24 overs) ...... 121 preparations with some aplomb. Earlier Afghanistan skipper Tour will begin at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Extras (lb5, w5) ...... 10 Did not bat: K. Perera, A. Dananjaya, L. Malinga, Sri Lanka lost key batsman Asghar Afghan struck a gritty Complex today. Total (5 wkts, 50 overs) ...... 331 K. Rajitha early on in the 82 to bring Afghanistan respect Three Qatari players including Mousa and Mubarak Shanan, Did not bat: K. Rabada, L. Ngidi, Imran Tahir, T. Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Dickwella), 2-35 (A. Fern- game when he looked to have after they were left reeling at as well as Jaber Al Mutawa will participate in the Shamsi ando), 3-76 (O. Fernando), 4-104 (Kusal Mendis), hurt his hamstring in the field 50 for four. tournament. Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Hendricks), 2-121 (Du 5-118 (T. Perera) Plessis), 3-187 (De Kock), 4-231 (Van der Dussen), Bowling: Rabada 6-2-18-1 (1w), Ngidi 5-1-25-1, and was taken to hospital for Afghan, who made 75 and With $15000 in prize money, the tournament is organised 5-284 (Pretorius) Phehlukwayo 2-0-19-0 (1w), Pretorius 2-0-6-0, scans.Officials said he would not 54 in the previous two matches, by the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) in cooperation with the Bowling: Malinga 10-0-68-1 (1w), Udana 8-0- Imran Tahir 5-0-19-2 (1w), Shamsi 4-0-29-1 (2w) have been able to bat had he put on 76 runs with veteran ITF. 50-2, Rajitha 8-0-69-1 (3w), Dananjaya 9-0-56- Result: South Africa won by 71 runs (Duckworth/ been needed but it is unsure how batsman Nabi, who made 40, The Tournament Director Saad Al Mohannadi said that the 0 (1w), T. Perera 5-0-38-0, Kamindu Mendis 10- Lewis/Stern method) serious the injury is. to revive the Afghanistan QTF is proud to organise the tournament, which will help Qatari 0-45-1 Series: South Africa lead the five-match series South Africa and Sri Lanka innings. players to gain experience by competing against some of the Sri Lanka 3-0 will play the fourth match of the The two teams will play a best young players. He added that the tournament will also A. Fernando c Shamsi b Ngidi ...... 23 Toss: Sri Lanka series in Port Elizabeth on one-off Test starting March 15 promote the sport in the region and in Asia. Wednesday. in Dehradun, India 06 SPORT MONDAY 11 MARCH 2019 Infantino AFC Champions League 2019 aims to push forward Club World Cup, Al Rayyan eye turnaround in Lokomotiv tie says report FAWAD HUSSAIN Souza, who is associated THE PENINSULA with Al Rayyan club since nine AFP years, hoped his team will give BERLIN Following a defeat in their an improved performance at opening match, Al Rayyan are home today. Gianni Infantino wants to speed hoping for a strong comeback at “We have a chance to make up plans for a new Club World the AFC Champions League as a comeback in the group. The Cup and abolish the Confeder- they host Uzbekistan’s Loko- team is eager to do well against ations Cup at next week’s FIFA motiv in Doha today. Lokomotiv and achieve good council meeting in Miami, Al Rayyan, currently placed result,” Souza said on the eve of according to German broad- on the bottom of group B after a the match. caster ZDF. 1-5 loss to Saudi Arabia’s Al “Our team has good players The report says FIFA pres- Ittihad last week, will be tar- but it is struggling to get good ident Infantino wants to discuss geting a win at Al Sadd Stadium results in recent matches. All expanding the Club World Cup to open their account in the con- the members of the team are from it’s current format of tinental event. determined to change the for- seven teams to 24, including 12 ‘The Red Knights’ will be tunes of team and are targeting sides from Europe on Thursday supervised by club’s Under-23 a strong performance,” the and Friday in the US. coach Gilson Souza, who has coach said. The Swiss also reportedly taken charge after Al Rayyan Defender Mohamed Al wants to scrap the Confedera- parted ways with Turk Bulent Aaeldin said all Rayyan players tions Cup, an international Uygun. want to compensate their loss AlAl R ayyayannc ccooacachachch GilsGGililssonon Souzaouzzaa ((ri(rrrigghghtght)g)hht)) spesppepeaksaakaskks ddurduriduuriuur ngngga a preprpper ssss c oonfeononfnfnferencrenrreencenceeasea asas ddefdeeeffeended r tournament held the year Al Rayyan, currently last week with a good per- Mohamedmemedd AlAl Aaeldlddiinn looks on.n. before a World Cup by the host formance against Lokomotiv. nation and last won by placed on the bottom “We are in a situation that we Germany in Russia in 2017. of group B after a 1-5 seek to change. It is a difficult Al Rayyan, who have never when goals from Temurkhuja second successive win would put According to the ZDF report, loss to Saudi Arabia’s Al time for us and all players are faced Lokomotiv in the AFC Abdukholikov and Islom Tukhta- them in a strong position after the new-look Club World Cup Ittihad last week, will be keen to take the team out of this Champions League, last faced khujaev secured a 2-0 victory two games. would be held from 2021, a year targeting a win at Al Sadd situation,” said Aaeldin. Uzbek opposition in the 2012 over the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ittihad are leading the before Qatar hosts the 2022 Stadium to open their “The defeat to Al Ittihad is edition when they defeated Al Wahda in Tashkent. group by with three points. World Cup. behind us now and all our focus Nasaf home and away before The Uzbek champions, Lokomotiv and the UAE’s Al According to the report, account in the continental is on the second match. It is still exiting at the group stage. whose domestic league has yet Wahda are second and third with Infantino also wants to delay event. a long journey and we can still Lokomotiv, meanwhile, got to begin, have exited at the group three and 0 points plans to introduce a global make a comeback,” he added. off to the perfect start last week stage in the past two years but a respectively. Nations League until a later date. India U-23 look to Firmino, Mane sink Burnley gain from Qatar to keep Liverpool in the race friendly in Doha REUTERS Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino (left) celebrates LIVERPOOL with Mohamed Salah after scoring their THE PENINSULA the pitch, both on the third goal, yesterday. DOHA attacking and the defensive Two goals each from Roberto front. Joel (Carter) is doing a Firmino and Sadio Mane helped A day prior to taking on Qatar good job and he brings in Liverpool to keep in touch with in a friendly match, India experiences of working in the Premier League leaders U-23 Coach Derrick Pereira Senior Team. He’s helping the Manchester City with a 4-2 win labelled the match as “a boys stay on good shape,” he over lowly Burnley at Anfield perfect opportunity to gauge stated. yesterday. ourselves before the quali- Meanwhile, Indian players Juergen Klopp’s side move fiers.” could not resist themselves to 73 points, one behind City, EPL RESULTS The match is part of India from lamenting the slender who beat Watford 3-1 on Sat- Arsenal 2 (Xhaka 12, Aubameyang U-23’s preparation for the solitary goal loss to Qatar in urday. Both teams have eight forthcoming AFC U-23 Qual- the AFC 2018 Qualifiers. games remaining. 69-pen) Manchester United 0 ifiers slated to be held in “I still remember the day. Liverpool came through this Chelsea 1 (Hazard 90+2) Wolves 1 Tashkent, Uzbekistan from Although they were attacking tricky fixture, played in high (Jimenez 56) March 22, 2019 where India vigorously, we were able to wind and sporadic showers, Liverpool 4 (Firmino 20, 67, Mane have been clubbed with hosts stave off the danger. We had helped by some generous gifts 29, 90+3) Burnley 2 (Westwood 6, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. our chances to equalise but we from the Burnley defence and Gudmundsson 90) “The match against Qatar didn’t take our chances. I think while they were not at their very provides us the opportunity it was not a game that we best Klopp was still pleased. to get a fair idea of where we deserved to lose,” Sarthak Golui “Good game, difficult but stand, and where we need to recalled with a heavy heart. good. It is always difficult against work on. The focus will be Almoez Ali, who hadn’t Burnley. In the circumstances, more on finding the right come into the limelight till even more difficult. 4-2 is a bril- Alisson Becker. If Burnley’s half well but the outcome was giveaway Mane added a fourth combinations, and style of then, had netted the only goal liant result,” he said. strategy was to frustrate their put beyond doubt in the 67th goal to make sure of the three play,” Pereira maintained. to break Indian hearts on that The German chose to recall opponents and create some minute when Heaton poorly points, rounding Heaton and The match will kick-off at day. Adam Lallana to his midfield, at nervous tension in the stadium kicked straight to Salah, the slotting into the empty net. 7pm today at the Aspire The fact that this Qatar the expense of Jordan Hend- it was working well but they Egyptian bursting into the area, While Klopp can turn his Academy ground and will be side is going to be the ‘nucleus’ erson, and the former South- were undone by unusually and Charlie Taylor’s sliding attention to Wednesday’s Cham- streamed live on Indian of their 2022 World Cup Team ampton midfielder, whose career sloppy work at the back. tackle fell kindly to Firmino who pions League second-leg match Football Official Facebook puts more value on the match has been hampered by injury, Tarkowski and Clarets made no mistake. away to Bayern Munich, Burnley page. according to Pereira. delivered a fine showing. keeper Tom Heaton got in each Substitute Johann Berg Gud- manager Sean Dyche has eight Pereira, a former India “The match is going to be “I told him, if he can play like other’s way as they made a mess mundsson pulled back a goal in games to keep his team in the International has been a tough one for us, hands he trained, then he will help us of a low cross from Mohamed stoppage time for 17th-placed top flight. working relentlessly on the down. They are the current a lot and that is exactly how it Salah and Firmino was left with Burnley who remain two points The Burnley boss was fitness as it’s going to be one Asian champions, and for a happened,” said Klopp. the simplest of tap-ins to above the relegation zone. pleased with his team’s mentality of the crucial factors to churn reason. Some of the members It was the visitors though, equalise. For a moment, with winger but said they had paid the price out a result. of the U-23 squad have who took a surprise lead in the The tension having eased, Dwight McNeil causing problems for their defensive errors. “Fitness is one part that already played in the Asian sixth minute, with Ashley Mane then put Liverpool ahead on Liverpool’s right with his “You cannot give a team like carries paramount impor- Cup and most importantly, Westwood scoring direct from a with a fine, curling finish after a dribbling and crosses, Burnley Liverpool four goals -- we cer- tance in modern football. We they will be the nucleus of corner although Burnley’s James poor clearance from Jeff Hen- threatened an improbable tainly gave them three. You can have to sustain 90 minutes on their 2022 World Cup squad.” Tarkowski looked to have drick was blocked by Lallana. comeback. question the errors but we cer- impeded Liverpool keeper Burnley started the second But after another cheap tainly made a game of it.” Qatar prepares to host another FIG World Cup

QNA task of organising the round as a hosting the large number of expertise they have in organising DOHA challenge it wants to succeed in, participants. major events. especially after organising the On the most important gains Al Hitmi added that organising Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) region’s first FIG World Gymnastics from hosting these World Cham- international sporting events was President Ali Ahmed Al Hitmi said Championships last October. pionships, he highlighted that the part of investing in human capital, that the success of the last year’s On participation of the large eyes of participating countries will a main component of Qatar FIG World Gymnastics Champion- number of competitors in the event, be on Qatar at a time the country is National Vision 2030, by helping ships will reflect positively on the Al Hitmi highlighted that the subject to an unjust blockade and young Qatari athletes gain FIG Artistic Gymnastics Champi- number of participants at Worlds fake news propagated against Qatar. experience. onship, which will be hosted later last year was the highest in the He highlighted that the best On whether some of the par- this month. history of the competition. way to respond to those lies is by ticipating delegations will arrive Speaking to the press, Al Hitmi He maintained that QGF is organising major international earlier to prepare for the compe- discussed the preparation for the capable of organising the compe- tournaments that will show the real tition, Al Hitmi noted that some of Doha round, set to be held from tition well. image of Qatar to the world. the participating countries have March 20 to March 23 at Aspire Al Hitmi added that everyone The QGF President also noted already arrived. Their reason QGF President Ali Dome and with 58 countries is working on showing the real that coordination between the behind that is to get used to the Ahmed Al Hitmi participating. image of Qatar, highlighting that organising committee was going environment, in terms of the time He said that the QGF takes the the federation has strategy for very well, highlighting the great difference for instance, he said. MONDAY 11 MARCH 2019 SPORT 07 Harding wins Qatar Masters to seal maiden European Tour title

ARMSTRONG VAS It’s fantastic. THE PENINSULA It’s still sinking The anxious wait of around five in. I didn’t minutes seemed like a hundred quite think it years for Justin Harding and it was was enough, I not just for the €259,669 prize thought there money, but also for a host of things associated with his career. might be a At the driving range of Doha play-off but I’m Golf Club, the South African having happy to get finished his round was increasingly getting restless as he kept a tab on over the line the live scores of his competitors. eventually. I’ve He practised a dummy run of the been knocking swing, did a few ball juggling skills on the door a with golf ball and took short walks to ease his discomfort. little recently. One thing was certain, Harding It’s rewarding detested the idea of going into a seeing the hard play-off and when the news came graft and change that he has emerged as the sole leader he pumped his fist in the air in mindset – and his support staff joined in the seeing what’s celebrations. involved and The South African was looking what’s going on. for his European Tour break- through and was delighted to have I’m really happy: final ended the drought. The win Harding in Qatar at the $1,750,000 prize money tournament turned to be his first European Tour win. In 53 attempts on the Tour, the South Africa’s Justin Harding, winner of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, poses for a picture with 33-year-old had not been suc- officials of Qatar Golf Association during the presentation ceremony at Doha Golf Club yesterday. cessful to tame the greens. Yes- terday, he turned a new chapter in The victory is a fifth in nine like to be into again, the schedules Karlsson had made birdies his golf career by winning the Com- months and four different coun- change, I’m no longer having to from 30 and three feet on the first mercial Bank Qatar Masters. tries worldwide for the 33-year- pick and choose. I’m looking and seventh and he took advantage On the final day, Harding birdied old after he claimed back-to-back forward to seeing what happens of the par five tenth to share the three of his last four holes to claim Sunshine Tour wins in May and going forward and playing in some lead, with Elvira also birdieing the a maiden European Tour win. repeated the feat on the Asian Tour bigger events.” tenth to add to a gain after getting The South African shot 6-under in July. Harding birdied the par five up and down from the sand on the 66 in the final round for a 13-under He becomes the fifth South first for the fourth time this week first. total of 275, ahead of a packed group African winner of this event after and added further gains on the Harding was another man to in second which included compa- Darren Fichardt, Ernie Els, Retief third and fourth to share the lead. make the most of the tenth and triots George Coetzee (68), Christiaan Goosen and Branden Grace - who It was a very congested lead- when he holed from the fringe on Bezuidenhout (68), Erik Van Rooyen successfully defended the Mother erboard, however, and birdies on the 12th and hit a brilliant second (70) and overnight leader Oliver of Pearl trophy in 2016. the sixth and seventh dropped him from the rough to four feet on the Wilson of England. “It was a really good day, back as Choi surged through the 15th, it was a four way tie. Wilson carded a closing 71. hugely rewarding,” the 33-year- field. A brilliant 25 foot putt that was Harding arrived in Qatar old Harding, who had two top fives Starting the day seven shots off downhill and downwind on the without full playing privileges after and three further top 20s from the lead, the 34-year-old birdied 12th edged Elvira ahead but finishing third on last season’s Asian eight events coming into this week the first, second, third, eighth and Harding holed from just off the Tour but now has his breakthrough said. ninth to turn in 31 and another gain back of the 17th green and Elvira in his 54th European Tour start. “It was nerve wracking, espe- on the 12th had him in touch. found sand off the 13th tee for a Harding made three early cially coming off, it’s a situation I He then just missed the green two shot swing. birdies to share the lead but his haven’t really been in. I didn’t enjoy on the driveable 16th but holed a Harding got down in two from chance looked to have gone as he it but it’s good fun, I’m glad it hap- huge putt for an eagle to take the the front of the green on the par made two bogeys and South pened and now we move on. lead before missing a good birdie five 18th and it was left to the rest Korea’s Jinho Choi signed for a bril- “I get into the events that I’d chance on the last. to chase him down. liant 64 to set the clubhouse target Karlsson dropped shots on the at 11 under. COMMERCIAL BANK QATAR MASTERS SCORES 13th and 14th but recovered on the Birdies on the tenth and 12th 16th and last, while Elvira bogeyed put him back in contention and the 17th but birdied the next. - Justin Harding (RSA) 68, 68, 73, 66 further gains on the 15th, 17th and 275 Coetzee eagled the last for a 68 18th handed him a two shot lead 277 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA) 68, 68, 71, 70, Anton Karlsson (SWE) that made it five top tens at this at 13 under after a 66. 72, 66, 70, 69, Oliver Wilson 69, 68, 69, 71, Jorge Campillo (ESP) 72, event, with Bezuidenhout and He faced a nervous wait as the 69, 68, 68, George Coetzee (RSA) 68, 68, 73, 68, Jin-ho Choi (KOR) Campillo also recording four under final groups finished up but nobody 72, 69, 72, 64, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 72, 71, 66, 68, Erik par rounds. could catch him, with c Bezui- Van Rooyen (RSA) 69, 68, 70, 70, Nacho Elvira (ESP) 71, 67, 69, 70 Karlsson signed for a 69, Elvira, denhout, Coetzee and Rooyen, Lorenzo-Vera and Van Rooyen - Andy Sullivan 70, 71, 69, 68, Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 72, 68, 70, Spaniards Jorge Campillo and 278 went round in 70, and overnight Nacho Elvira, Swede Anton 68, Thomas Detry (BEL) 70, 68, 70, 70 leader Wilson finished with a 71. Karlsson, Frenchman Mike 279 - Adri Arnaus (ESP) 67, 70, 72, 70, Maximilian Kieffer (GER) 69, Belgian Thomas Detry, Eng- Lorenzo-Vera, Wilson and Choi in 71, 72 67, Jeff Winther (DEN) 70, 70, 72, 67, Nick Cullen (AUS) 69, land’s Andy Sullivan and Para- Justin Harding in action during the Commercial a European Tour record nine way 70, 68, 72 guayan Fabrizio Zanotti were ten Bank Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. tie for second. under. Cherif, Ahmed aiming for more glory in Doha

FIVB champions in 2013, are chasing their LAUSANNE first World Tour medals since they won gold at the One-Star Aalsmeer Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tajin tournament that came a week after will be out to claim more hometown the 2018 Katara Open. They began glory when they return to FIVB the year with a quarterfinal finish at Beach Volleyball World Tour action The Hague Four-Star in the first at the Four-Star Katara Beach Open week of January and Doha will be title in Doha. their first tournament since then. Qatar’s leading pair is ranked Brazil has two new teams com- ninth for the tournament that runs peting following another change to from tomorrow until March 16 and their line-ups. which will take place at the Katara Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Cultural Village for the second year Games gold medallist and Nether- in a row. It will be the fifth time that lands 2015 world champion Bruno the Qatari capital has hosted a World Schmidt will compete alongside Tour event since it first played host Austria 2017 world champion in 2014. Evandro Goncalves for the first time. In 2018 Cherif and Ahmed won Meanwhile their most recent their first World Tour medal with partners, Pedro Solberg and Vitor bronze. Later in 2018 they won Felipe, will also make their World bronze at the Vienna Five-Star and Tour debut as a pairing. gold at the AVC Asian Beach Vol- Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena Britain’s Mo Farah poses with the trophy leyball Championships. are seeded first and while the Amer- after winning the men’s race of The Vitality Alexander Brouwer and Robert icans finished outside the medals Big Half in London, Britain, yesterday. Farah Meeuwsen return to Doha to defend with fourth place in 2018, they have defended his title in the annual half marathon, the gold they won in 2018, and the good memories of competing in Cherif Younousse (left) and Ahmed Tajin are looking to bag top honours when finishing in one hour, one minute and 14 Dutch pair have been seeded Doha having won silver there in 2015 they compete in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour action at the Four-Star Katara seconds. seventh. which helped them in their late run Beach Open title in Doha from tomorrow. Brouwer and Meeuwsen, world to qualify for Rio 2016. SPORT Monday 11 March 2019 PAGE | 05 PAGE | 07 Djokovic and Harding wins Qatar Osaka earn Masters to wins at Indian seal maiden Wells European Tour title

Sheikh Joaan attends IAAF Council Meeting in Doha

The President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of IAAF World Championship Doha 2019, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani addressing the IAAF Council Meeting which started in Doha, yesterday. IAAF President, Sebastian Coe and Vice-President and Director General of the LOC and Vice-President of the IAAF, Dahlan Al Hamad were also present among a host of top officials from around the world. During the meeting, the IAAF Council approved the qualification system and entry standards for the 2020 Olympics as well as the timetables for three World Athletics Series events to be held next year. Dovizioso pips Marquez in Qatar thriller

RIZWAN REHMAT THE PENINSULA Baldassarri edges Italian MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati) yesterday Luthi to win Moto2 pipped arch-rival and reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol battle under lights Honda Team) of Spain in a thrilling finish to the season’s first Grand Prix battle. RIZWAN REHMAT Winner in Qatar last year, THE PENINSULA Dovizioso finished the 22-lap race at Losail International Circuit (LIC) in a Promising Italian rider Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox time of 42’36.902 just 0.023 seconds HP 40) last night improved on his Doha appearance ahead of Marquez. It was the same 1-2 from last year to bag the season’s first Moto2 win at combination that featured at last year’s Losail International Circuit (LIC). podium in Qatar. Having finished second last year, Baldassarri Just when it seemed that Marquez, clocked 39’56.109 on his Kalex bike to take the top winner of 44 MotoGP victories, would spot at the Qatar podium finishing ahead of Swiss star start the 2019 season with a Grand Prix Thomas Luthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) in the 20-lap race. win and 25 points, Dovizioso found Luthi finished just 0.026 seconds slower at the enough pace in his Ducati to take the finish following an intense battle for supremacy under chequered flag ahead of his Spanish lights. rival following a cat-and-mouse battle Lujthi’s Dynavolt Intact GP stabelmate Marcel under lights in the last three laps. Schrotter of Germany (+2.123 seconds) finished in third Great Britain’s Cal Crutchlow Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali with the podium winners of the MotoGP event spot for his season’s first podium. brought immense delight in the LCR Andrea Dovizioso, Marc Marquez and Cal Crutchlow at the end of the VisitQatar Grand Priz at the Losail It was Schrotter’s 159th start in his Grand Prix Honda Castrol camp by finishing third International Circuit, yesterday. career. just 0.320 off the pace set by Dovizioso. Baldassarri, 22, started the race in third place but For Crutchlow, it was a solid week after passing pole winner Schrotter off the line at the having started the race from sixth spot so it was good for me to understand Crutchlow applauded the role spot. Vinales was a notch below Danilo start, he grabbed the lead on lap two and retained on the grid. that and I pushed reallyy hardhd in the hl last playedplayldbhed bbyy hihiss team aahead hdfhhead ofof thethe seasonseason PetrucciPetrucci ()h((MissionMission Winnow DucatiDucati)) wwhoho his spot until the end. It was Dovizioso’s 13th MotoGP win lap, but Marc never givesgives up,up, he’she’s openeropener lastlast night.night. waswas sixthsixth ffastest.astest. After the heart-stopping battle, Baldassarri and his first since Valencia last year. It always there - but I waswas aableble to “Obviously“Obviously a ggreatreat jobjob byby Joan Mir (Team(Team SuzukiSuzuki EcstarEcstar)) fin-fin- admitted it was a tough grind. was the 32-year-old’s eighth podium answer because I put himhim reallyreally myy team.team. We workedworked hhardard ished in 8th spot (+5.088)(+5.088) followed by “I had a lot of pressure at the end because the in Qatar including six in on the limit.” this weekend,”weekenenendn ,” CrutcCrutchlowhlow TakaakiTakaaki NakaNakagamigami of JapaJapann (LCR whole race was about a good rhythm,” Baldassarri MotoGP (2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, Marquez, winner ofof nine saidd yesterday.yesye terererder ay. Honda Idemitsu,Idemitsu, +7.406 seconds)seconds) and said yesterday. 2018 and 2019). Grands Prix last season,on, saidsaid “I wasw aas ggladlad to be able toto Aleix EspargaroEspargaro (Aprilia(Aprilia RacingRacing Team “Luthi was very strong and I felt that he was Suzuki’s Alex Rins last night fin- yesterday: “It was exactlyctly llikeike fight.fight. I pushedppushed as hardhard as I GresiniGresini,, +9.636 seconds).seconds). coming. At the end of turn 10, I heard the roar of the ished fourth (+0.457) and racing legend last year. Exactly same.e.e. IIt triedtriedrierriiededed couldcoulcoucoulouululd go,go, I didn’tdidn’t havehave a TheThe MotoGPMotoGP ridersriders willwill nownow headhead engine and knew I tried to get in. I tried to close all Valentino Rossi – who started from to push but here in thee circuitcircuiti greatgreat feelingfeeelinling wiwithth thethee rearrear to ArgentinaArgentina fforor tthehe season’season’ss seconsecondd the holes, I had a problem with the rear end, but I 14th – completed the top five for his when you overtake on thet dirtydirty tyre at the end ofo thethe race.race.ace GrandGranG d PrixPrix onon MarchMarch 30.30. managed to close well in the last corners.” Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP place, you just go widede and iti I hahaveve ttoo ththankank my Luthi, who suffered a crash on Saturday, said yes- (+0.600). was so difficult to keep theh linline.”e.”e”” surgeons,surgurgeons, they’vethey’ve putput a lot terday: “I love being here on the podium, but I could Dovizioso chose his words care- He added: ““Anywayaya I tried,tritrt ed, ofof eeffortfforf t to getg me backack have won, I lost too many positions at the beginning fully when he said: “It was a strange I tried to be there, I ttriedried tto here,here, as wellwell as my phys-physy - of the race.” race. I didn’t have that strategy, but at push, I tried until the end.nd.d ButB t iotherapist.iotherapist. AndAnd my wholwwholee Schrotter said after the race: “The start was not that moment I thought it was the right I am very happy with theseesee2e 2020 team,team, we nevernevn er ggaveave so bad, but we had to control the thrust a little bit, I strategy. I was managing the rear tyre points because it’s a ciccircuitircuircurccuic it up.”p. think I was at full throttle and because everybody was struggling, also that we struggle on.n. ThisThis MaverickMaverick Vinales,Vinalesa , I was not making enough progress. After lap 8, I in the end it was difficult to manage weekend we were strugglingugglggligggglg ngg polepolpooleolollee winnerwininnnnenererer onnS Sat-S atat- started having problems, I lost control of the train rear.” the tyre.” a lot with the front tyre.yree...I IfI f urdayurdururdaurdrdarddaayyan anandnddR RRoRossi’sssssiii’s Earlier yesterday, Japan’s Kaito Toba (Honda Team He added: “Overall, I’m so happy you see, we put the medium,diium,umum YamahaYamaYYaamaa ahaha tteam-eam-eameam-amam Asia) edged Italy’s Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) because I didn’t see nobody (chasing). I wasn’t able to push likekkeeeI I matematmmaataatettee ata in a tight finish to clinch the first Moto3 Grand Prix win I couldn’t really know my positive and would like in the brakeaakakek Yamaha,YYaYamaYamamaha,haha,a, ffinfin-- of the season. negative points. I saw Marc in the last points. But we finished thee ishedisheishshehehedinddi inin The 18-year-old Japanese clocked a time of lap. I struggled a lot with the rear tyre, race with 20 points.” seventhsevsseveseeevv ntn tth 38’08.887 in the 18-lap race around the 5.38km circuit. Porta, 21, was just 0.053 seconds slower than the VISITQATAR GRAND PRIX RESULTS Japanese. Pole winner Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing MOTOGP Team) of Spain finished in third place after domi- 1. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 42.36:902, 2. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) at nating for most part of the race. Nineteen year old 0.023, 3.Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda-LCR) 0.320, 4. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) Canet, riding a KTM bike, was +0.174 adrift of Toba. 0.457, 5. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.600, 6. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) Toba, who started third on the grid, was thrilled 2.320, 7. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 2.481, 8. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) with his first win of the new season. He became the 5.088, 9. Takaaki Nagakami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 7.406, 10. Aleix Espargaro first Japanese winner in the lightweight class since (ESP/Aprilia 9.636 Tomoyoshi Koyama took victory in the 125cc race at MOTO2 the 2007 Catalan Grand Prix. 1. Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA/Kalex) 39min 56.109sec, 2. Thomas Luethi Spain’s Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing, + 0.505) (SUI/Kalex) at 0.026sec, 3. Marcel Schrotter (GER/Kalex) 2.123. and Italian Celestino Vietti (SKY Racing Team VR46, MOTO3 +0.584) completed the top five. Mission Winnow Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso celebrates The Moto3 and Moto2 family now moves to 1. Kaito Toba (JPN/Honda) 38 min 8.887sec, 2. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA/ with a trophy on the podium after winning the Argentina for the Grand Prix on March 30. Honda) at 0.053sec, 3.Aron Canet (ESP/KTM) at 0.174 MotoGP race.