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NNBABA | Page 5 Curry-less Warriors lose to Mavericks by huge margin Monday, March 25, 2019 TENNIS Rajab 18, 1440 AH World number one GULF TIMES Osaka stunned by Hsieh in Miami SPORT Page 2 FOCUS Wenger praises Qatar’s preparations for 2022 WC QNA Qatar’s starting 11 for the fi nal included Doha seven Aspire Academy graduates. Aspire Academy was founded in 2004 with the goal to fi nd and develop the best Qa- egendary coach Arsene Wenger tari athletes, while providing them with praised Qatar’s FIFA World Cup high-quality secondary school educa- preparations, along with the tion. In recent years, youth football has country’s commitment to foot- fl ourished in Qatar, with the country Lball development. winning the 2014 AFC U-19 Champion- The former Arsenal manager, who ship, before tasting success in the senior won ten major honours during 22 years version of the tournament in the United with the Gunners, spoke positively Arab Emirates. The ultimate goal is to de- about Qatar’s World Cup plans, saying velop players who will represent Qatar at the 2022 edition would off er a new ex- the FIFA World Cup. perience to players, fans and offi cials. “It’s a good lesson for every coun- The Frenchman, who won a record try. If you start with quality education, seven FA Cups with Arsenal, also hailed quality planning and quality coaching, Qatar’s recent AFC Asian Cup victory you get results,” said Wenger. which he said was testament to quality “The most important thing is that education, planning and coaching. Qatar has won the Asian Cup. Nobody, “I’m impressed with the quality of even in Qatar, could have planned that the planning for the World Cup, includ- when Aspire was opened. The most ing the thinking that is behind it,” said Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Secretary-General Hassan positive aspect, apart from the pride of Wenger. “This World Cup is integrated al-Thawadi (right) with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Wenger (left) and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser al-Khater. everyone in the country after winning in the community and there are a lot of such a huge competition, is the fact plans to make sure it is not wasted af- which is a great idea. rience for supporters here once you’re too the national teams can stay at one Wenger, who spent a season coach- it’s encouragement for education and ter the tournament. The project for the “When I think back to the many in Qatar you just have to move from place during the whole World Cup and ing Japanese side Nagoya Grampus in coaching young players. It’s a remark- event is fantastic but the community will World Cups I’ve been to, you always one stadium to another without taking that will be a much more comfortable the mid-1990s, also spoke about Qatar’s able lesson for all the countries that take advantage of it after the World Cup, plan your fl ights. It will be a new expe- a fl ight. For the players and delegations experience than before.” stunning victory in the AFC Asian Cup. love football.” AFC U23 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS Saoud al-Mohannadi’s campaign visits Uzbekistan, Al-Rawi, al-Ahrak fi re Kyrgyzstan Qatar to win over Nepal Hosts will next face Oman, who beat Afghanistan 2-1, tomorrow to decide the group topper AFC Doha atar and Oman are set for a Matchday Three showdown to decide the winners of QAFC U23 Championship Thai- land 2020 qualifying Group QFA and AFC vice-president Saoud A, after both sides continued al-Mohannadi. their winning momentum in the competition yesterday. QNA Qatar continued their trou- Doha ble-free start to their cam- paign, producing a command- ing second-half performance Qatari delegation, headed to overpower Nepal and secure by HE President of Qa- a 5-0 win. tar Football Association While the hosts delivered an (QFA) Sheikh Hamad bin impressive team performance, AKhalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, con- the match will be best remem- cluded the last phase of the sup- bered for the two sensational port tour for the Asian election second-half goals scored by campaign of Saoud al-Mohannadi, Bassam al-Rawi, who added to by visiting Uzbekistan and Kyr- his rapidly-growing reputation gyzstan. with a superb individual per- QFA and Asian Football Confed- formance. eration (AFC) vice-president al- Qatar spent almost all of the Oman’s Muhsen al-Ghassani (left) vies for the ball with Atiqullah Mohannadi is running for the posts fi rst half on the front foot, but Sultani of Afghanistan during the match at Aspire Zone yesterday. of AFC President, the FIFA Vice- their attacking forays often President, FIFA Council, and the came unstuck on the fi nal pass, pride against Afghanistan. keeper Faisal Hamidi making AFC Vice President for West Asia. and they only managed two Oman kept their campaign an excellent stop to deny Sa- In Tashkent, the delegation held shots at goal in the opening 45 on track, recording their second laah al-Yahyaei in one of the a positive meeting with President minutes, with Nepal unable to successive narrow win with a 2-1 standout moments of the fi rst of the National Olympic Commit- test their aim at all. victory over Afghanistan. half. tee of Uzbekistan Umid Ahmad- Despite the lack of goal- Second-half goals from Oman’s breakthrough came janov. The meeting dealt with the mouth action, the hosts did Ahmed al-Matroushi and in the 56th minute, when al- future of Asian football, where both go to the break with a 1-0 lead Muhsen al-Ghassani took the Matroushi got on the end of a sides agreed on many points that after Abdullah al-Ahrak sent a Omanis to six points from two clever and well-rehearsed cor- serve the Asian march on the way to penalty into the top corner in matches, setting up tomor- ner kick routine to score with reach the best administrative level. the 25th minute. row’s match against group a low drive, and they doubled In the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, the Al-Rawi, captaining the side hosts Qatar. their lead through an al-Ghas- delegation met with representa- after his starring role in Qatar’s Qatar captain Bassam al-Rawi in action Afghanistan’s defeat leaves sani penalty kick after Hamidi tives of ten local Asian associations AFC Asian Cup triumph two during the AFC U23 Championship them without a point after committed a foul just three during the meeting of the Central months ago, provided a mo- Thailand 2020 qualifying Group A two matches, meaning their minutes later. Asian Football Association, which ment of outstanding quality match against Nepal at Aspire Zone qualifi cation hopes have been Afghanistan found a glim- includes the following federations in the 54th minute, letting fl y yesterday. PICTURES: Othman Khalid dashed. mer of hope when they were Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, with an extraordinary 35-yard As in Friday’s opening awarded a penalty of their own, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyr- half volley which sailed beyond liant al-Rawi produced anoth- prefer to forget, al-Ahrak add- Superior goal diff erence 1-0 win over Nepal, Hamed with captain Ahmad Haydary gyzstan. Al-Mohannadi delivered Nepali goalkeeper Arpan Karki er stunner in the 80th minute, ed the fi nal coat of gloss, scor- means Albert Caballeria’s side al-Azani’s side were largely fi nding the back of the net with a speech to the audience, where he and into the back of the net. this time sending a wonderful ing on the bounce with a spec- will need only a draw against in control early, but several 13 minutes remaining, but an presented his huge administrative An unfortunate Dinesh Ra- 30-yard free-kick into the top ulative long-range eff ort in the Oman to secure direct qualifi - missed opportunities meant equaliser wasn’t forthcoming, expertise at the local, regional and jbanshi own goal extended the corner. dying minutes, as Qatar sealed cation tomorrow, while Nepal, Oman were unable to capital- leaving Oman to celebrate a continental levels. lead further, before the bril- In a moment Karki would a thumping win. now eliminated, will play for ise, with Afghanistan goal- hard-fought win. Gulf Times 2 Monday, March 25, 2019 SPORT TENNIS GOLF Hend pips Elvira in playoff aft er lightning World number one strikes at Maybank Reuters Final-round scores Kuala Lumpur 273-Scott Hend (AUS) 69- 70-67-67, Nacho Elvira (ESP) ustralian Scott Hend 65-72-66-70 Osaka stunned by beat Spanish over- 275-Jazz Janewattananond night leader Nacho (THA) 66-72-68-69 Elvira with a birdie on 276-Johannes Veerman (USA) Athe fi rst playoff hole to win the 72-69-69-66 co-sanctioned $3 million May- 277-Oliver Fisher (ENG) 70- bank Championship after wild 70-68-69, Maximilian Kieff er weather triggered a dramatic (GER) 71-67-68-71 fi nish yesterday. 278-Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) Hsieh in Miami Hend was leading Elvira by a 72-72-66-68, Darren Fichardt single stroke with the leading (RSA) 76-65-71-66, Ernie Els Ferrer beat Zverev to reach the third round; Federer fights back to beat Albot pair on the fi nal fairway when (RSA) 68-70-69-71, Andy torrential rain started falling Sullivan (ENG) 72-70-67-69, on the Saujana Golf and Coun- Jordan Smith (ENG) 74-68-71- try Club. 65, Benjamin Hebert (FRA) The fi rst crack of thunder 69-73-65-71 came as Elvira hit his approach 279-Ross Fisher (ENG) 72-71- shot to the 18th green and, 66-70, David Lipsky (USA) with lightning fl ashing around 72-66-67-74 them, the players were forced 280-Dean Burmester (RSA) off the course before either 68-70-73-69, Nicholas Fung could attempt a putt.

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