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SUNDAY 10 JANUARY 2021 AustraliaA take charge against India wwith lead of 197 runs in Sydney Test ItI was a good day, woke up this morning hoping we wouldn’tw still be bowling by the close of play and to have a lead of 200, yeah, great day.

Australia's Pat Cummins Sport |07

QBF SENIOR MEN'S LEAGUE: Al Wakrah (Franklin Session Jr 26) 71-67 Al Shamal; Al Gharafa (Wael Arkaji 30) 93-83 Al Rayyan Next Gen stars look to excel as

Doha set to stage AO Qualifiers QUALIFIERS MEN'S SINGLES 1ST ROUND At Khalifa International and THE PENINSULA/ATP – DOHA Lorenzo Musetti We are impressed with the Squash Complex from 10.30am ORDER OF PLAY Lorenzo Musetti and Carlos level of our preparations and Court A Alcaraz will lead the Next Gen readiness for The qualifiers of ATP charge in the Australian B. Mott vs E. Ymer the 2021 . A. Santillan (WC) vs M. Huesler (27) Open qualifying draw, which kicks off in Doha from today Qatar’s reputation as a history- C. Stebe (11) vs T. Fabbiano M. Ebden (WC) vs J. Kubler (WC) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. maker, especially in sports, is A. Hoang (8) vs T. Robredo Doha hosts 128 players and well-known globally, and we other officials who will be con- are happy that we are about to Court B verging in the Qatari capital for add to the long list of our H. Laaksonen (15) vs T. Kamke the qual- V. Troicki vs J. Rodionov (23) ifiers which get underway today sporting achievements F. Meligeni Alves vs M. Klizan (30) at the Khalifa International H. Moriya vs D. Brown Tennis and Squash Complex. with this I. Marchenko vs K. Coppejans Ahead of the four-day event, event: Qatar being held outside of Tennis Doha - Court 1 for the first time in its 116 years Federation T. Daniel (5) vs R. Cid Subervi history, the venue has been E. Donskoy (9) vs Z. Zhang transformed to feature a (QTF) Board F. Horansky vs C. Alcaraz (21) new appearance and looks Member, Karim S. Stakhovsky vs B. Zapata Miralles (28) splendidly radiant. Alami A. Rinderknech vs D. Masur The Next Gen ATP Finals contenders will aim to reach the Doha - Court 2 main draw at a for A. Vatutin vs S. Diez the first time, in just their second T. Wu vs J. Clarke Grand Slam qualifying appear- year's edition of the tournament (QTF) Board Member, Karim Carlos Alcaraz. ATP M. Moraing vs M. Torpegaard ances. Musetti came within one against Brazilian Thiago Alami, said, “We are impressed F. Mena vs E. Karlovskiy victory of a place in the Aus- Seyboth Wild, the number 6 on with the level of our prepara- A. De Greef vs M. Safwat (31) tralian Open main draw last the placement list, the official tions and readiness for The year, but fell short with a draw revealed yesterday. qualifiers of the 2021 Australian Doha - Court 3 straight-sets loss to Tallon A total of sixteen qualifying Open. Qatar’s reputation as a D. Istomin vs L. Giustino (29) Griekspoor. slots are up for grabs in Doha, history-maker, especially in F. Bagnis (10) vs R. Ramanathan Since then, the Italian has with winners earning a spot in sports, is well-known globally, G. Garcia-Lopez vs F. Cerundolo (19) soared more than 200 positions the Australian Open main and we are happy that we are L. Musetti (13) vs B. Van de Zandschulp in the ATP Rankings. During a draw to be held from February about to add to the long list of breakthrough run on home soil 8 to 21 in . our sporting achievements with Doha - Court 4 last year, Musetti stunned Stan The ticket-free tournament this event. All the participants B. Gojo vs S. Ofner Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori at is open to all, and spectators will are assured of a safe, conducive A. Kuznetsov vs U. Blanch the Internazionali BNL d’Italia be allowed in on a first-come, and well-organised envi- R. Hijikata (WC) vs C. Eubanks in Rome, captured his maiden first-served basis as only 30 ronment at this event, and we R. Marcora vs C. Taberner (22) ATP Challenger Tour trophy in percent stadium capacity is look forward to welcoming Forli and advanced to his first allowed in line with the essential everyone.” Doha - Court 6 ATP Tour semi-final in health protocols and guidelines Live scoring and live M. Trungelliti vs M. Marterer Sardinia. occasioned by the prevailing streaming of qualifying where A. Giannessi vs M. Vilella Martinez The 18-year-old, who is the global COVID-19 pandemic. available will be hosted via T. Machac vs J. Domingues second youngest player in the The tournament is ausopen.com and the AO app. J. Menezes vs A. Collarini Top 200, will meet Botic Van de scheduled to be overseen by 64 Zandschulp in his opening Line umpires, 18 chair umpires match. Musetti shares his and five management officials section of the qualifying draw drawn from across the world. Serena, Osaka to join top men in Adelaide with 32nd seed Blaz Rola of Meanwhile, the Local Slovenia. Rola will face 2014 Organising Committee in coor- REUTERS – MELBOURNE tournament director Steve Tiley had already Adelaide will also host a WTA tour 500 Roland Garros semi-finalist dination with Tennis Australia is flagged that Ash Barty and Simona Halep level event, the Adelaide International, in Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in his leaving no stone unturned in its Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka will join would be among the eight players involved the week after the Australian Open as TA first match. bid to ensure that the tour- Rafa Nadal and in playingplaying in the exhibition with US Open champion look to give players every opportunity to In one of the most exciting nament is held under the a pre-Australian Openn warm-uwarm-upp DominicDominic ThiThiememm competecom after travelling Down Under and sections of the draw, third seed strictest health and safety exhibition in Adelaidee after servingserving nownow coconfirmednfirmed iisolatingsola for two weeks. Aslan Karatsev will face Next condition. their quarantine inn thethe SouthSouth asa tthehe “These“ two tournaments are a real coup Gen American Brandon To ensure this, all the Australian city, Tenniss ththirdird forfof r SSouth Australia,” state Premier Steven Nakashima. Karatsev, a four- members of the organizing Australia (TA) saidid man.man. MMarshalla said in a news release. time Challenger finalist last year committee, staff, and volun- yesterday. “This is a real show of support for the (2-2), and Nakashima are both teers have undergone a PCR test The “A Day at the Drive”ive” wayw that South Australia has managed aiming compete in the Aus- to protect all the participants’ event will take place att the thethe COVID-19 pandemic and underlines tralian Open main draw for the safety. city’s Memorial Drive TTennisennis ouroour ability to attract world-class events.” first time. Another round of PCR test Centre on Jan. 29, a week Other warm-up tournaments, including Former Australian Open scheduled for everyone before the delayed Grandnd Slam a shortenedsh version of the ATP Cup finalist Robin Haase will involved in the tournament was gets underway at Melbourneourne involvinginvo Nadal, Djokovic and Thiem, will compete in the first round of the held yesterday. Park. be hheld in Melbourne before the Australian qualifying tournament for this Qatar Tennis Federation Australian Open Serena Williams Naomi Osaka Open.Op IJF World Tour: Lusail venue wears new look ahead of Doha Masters

THE PENINSULA – DOHA collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of With less than a day to the start of the Interior to accommodate all delega- IJF World Judo Masters Doha 2021, the tions in one hotel in a quarantine. All venue, Lusail Multipurpose Hall, is the participants will undergo PCR test, already wearing a new look in read- first on arrival before being taken to iness for the 2020 Tokyo Games qual- their hotels. ifying event. Another test will be conducted before The three-day event takes place at they compete on each day of the the ultra-modern venue from tournament. tomorrow. Tournament Director Eid Al Meraikhi The hall is looking splendidly said, “We are happy with the progress radiant after the branding’s com- of things so far, and we are very pletion, and the necessary makeovers impressed with the level of our prepa- have also been done as Doha is set to ration for the IJF World Judo Masters host some of the world’s best judokas. Doha 2021. All arrangements are in place Aside from this, all the venue facil- to ensure a smooth and stress-free tour- ities are in top shape with all the nament. We are ready to host the world, required technical and logistical The Lusail Multipurpose Hall is all set to and we believe all participants will leave equipment in place. host the IJF World Judo Masters Doha 2021. Doha at the end of the competition with The tournament features over 320 lasting memories. Qatar is globally athletes - 184 male and 136 female - renowned for hosting very successful from 63 countries representing five will be in action in Doha includes No.1 in the lightweight division and competition is held under the safest sporting events, and we are building on continental federations namely the Teddy Riner of , a two-time four-time World Championships gold condition given the current global that reputation with this tournament.” African Judo Union, Judo Union of Asia, Olympic gold winner and 10-time medallist. COVID 19 pandemic. The tournament will feature com- and European Judo Union, Oceania world champion in the +100kg, Idalys Aside from the branding and venue To this end, the International Judo petition in seven categories for both men Judo Union and Pan-American Judo Ortiz of Cuba - the 2012 Olympic gold preparation, the tournament organ- Federation (IJF) and Qatar Taekwondo, and women, and it will be streamed live Confederation. medallist in the +78kg female category, isers are also not leaving any stone Judo and Karate Federation (QTJKF) on the IJF website and social media Top on the list of top judokas who and ’s Soichi Hashimoto - world unturned in ensuring that the have jointly set up health protocols in channels. Sport SUNDAY 10 JANUARY 2021 07

Qatar Basketball League: Al Shamal and Al Gharafa clinch full points Gasanova stuns former World No.1 Pliskova

REUTERS — ABU DHABI court,” Gasanova told reporters amid continuous giggles. “I was Russian qualifier Anastasia so sure of myself. I’m really Gasanova, who made her happy right now. maiden WTA main draw “I’m really surprised, but appearance this week, could when I woke up today, I thought, barely believe what she ‘Why not? Why can’t I win this achieved yesterday after match?’. Actually, I thought I breezing past former world would lose in qualifiers or some- number one Karolina Pliskova thing like that, but I just kept in the second round in Abu pushing myself, like, I need to Dhabi. win and I want to win.” The 21-year-old qualifier, Gasanova will next play ranked 292nd, had won her Spain’s 66th ranked Sara Sor- first-ever tour-level match in ribes Tormo in the last 16. the opening round of the WTA Also yesterday, Elina Svi- 500 event to set up the clash tolina reached the third round with Czech Pliskova in her first with a 6-4, 6-1 win over meeting with a top 100 player. Russian veteran Vera But Gasanova, whose goal Zvonareva. Al Shamal and Al Gharafa players in action during their Qatar Basketball is to break into the top 200 this Svitolina will play 17th- League match at Al Gharafa Sports Club Hall yesterday. Al Shamal won year, took just 72 minutes to seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova the match 71-67. RIGHT: Al Gharafa player (centre) attempts to score against secure a 6-2 6-4 victory against in the third round after a routine during yesterday's second match. Al Gharafa won 93-83. world number six Pliskova. win over Zvonareva in just over “It was not me on the an hour.

Indian players Australia take charge against India allegedly suffer racial abuse with lead of 197 runs in Sydney from crowd: REUTERS — SYDNEY All-rounder Jadeja scored Reports 28 not out despite his injury, as Australia lost both openers in the tail-end wickets tumbled REUTERS — SYDNEY the final session but were in around him. India will be des- control on 103 for two with a perately hoping he has not India’s players were allegedly lead of 197 runs at the close of made his final contribution to subjected to racial abuse from play on the third day of the third the match. a section of the crowd at the Test against India yesterday. “It’s tough, especially losing Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Pat Cummins had taken Jadeja because we are one in the third Test against 4-29 as Australia rolled through bowler short at the moment,” Australia yesterday, local the Indian batting order on a said Pujara. media reported. sunny afternoon at Sydney “We need to pick up a India captain Ajinkya Cricket Ground to dismiss the couple of wickets in the Rahane and other senior tourists for 244, the last six morning and not allow them too players spoke to the umpires wickets tumbling for the many runs in the first session.” at the end of the third day’s addition of just 49 runs. The hard-fought series is play after quicks Jasprit “It was a good day, woke up tied 1-1 after the first two tests Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj this morning hoping we with the final clash scheduled complained of hearing racist wouldn’t still be bowling by the to start at the Gabba next week. slurs while fielding near the close of play and to have a lead Cricket Australia are boundary rope, the reports of 200, yeah, great day,” said pressing ahead with those plans said. Cummins. despite reports of concerns in India batsman Cheteshwar The most significant inter- the India camp over the level of Pujara did not answer when vention from the pace attack, isolation they will endure in asked about the matter at the however, might be the deliv- Brisbane, which went into three end-of-day news eries from Cummins and days of lockdown on Friday conference. Mitchell Starc that resulted in Australia players celebrate Pat Cummins’ wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara, yesterday. after a COVID-19 case was The two boards and the Rishabh Pant and Ravindra found in the city. International Cricket Council Jadeja leaving the ground for (ICC) did not immediately scans on their left elbow and good score again in the hands Vihari departed relatively cheaply SCOREBOARD respond to a request for thumb respectively. of first-innings centurion Smith in the opening session to leave AUSTRALIA FIRST INNINGS 338 9-216 (Bumrah), 10-244 (Siraj) comment. Wriddhiman Saha replaced and Labuschagne. Pujara and Pant chipping away INDIA FIRST INNINGS Bowling: Starc 19-7-61-1, Hazlewood 21-10- “We’ve come to know Pant behind the stumps and was The pair had put on a part- at Australia’s lead in the face of R. Sharma c&b Hazlewood ...... 26 43-2, Cummins 21.4-10-29-4, Lyon 31-8-87-0, about the issue,” BCCI vice- soon in action to help India nership of 68 by the close of play some fine bowling. S. Gill c Green b Cummins ...... 50 Labuschagne 3-0-11-0, Green 5-1-12-0 president Rajeev Shukla told remove Australia’s new opening with Smith on 29 not out and Josh Hazlewood forced the C. Pujara c Paine b Cummins ...... 50 AUSTRALIA SECOND INNINGS Indian news agency ANI in an partnership inside 10 overs at a Labuschagne, who scored 91 in breakthrough when he had the A. Rahane b Cummins ...... 22 D. Warner lbw b Ashwin ...... 13 interview. cost of 35 runs. the first innings, unbeaten on 47. injured Pant caught in the slips H. Vihari run out (Hazlewood) ...... 4 W. Pucovski c Saha b Siraj ...... 10 “Cricket is a gentleman’s R. Pant c Warner b Hazlewood ...... 36 M. Labuschagne not out ...... 47 The reserve snaffled up an It was the breaking of the for 36, and in the next over R. Jadeja not out ...... 28 S. Smith not out ...... 29 game and these kinds of things easy catch off a pearl of a partnership between Cummins finally winkled out R. Ashwin run out (Labuschagne) ...... 10 Extras (lb1, nb3) ...... 4 are not allowed or accepted.” delivery from Mohammed Siraj Cheteshwar Pujara and Pant Pujara after the batsman had N. Saini c Wade b Starc ...... 4 Total (two wickets, 29 overs) ...... 103 According to the ICC anti- that debutant Will Pucovski that triggered the collapse that scored a half century from 176 J. Bumrah run out (Labuschagne) ...... 0 To bat: Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim discrimination policy, the host could only edge behind for 10. ended India’s hopes of batting balls. Notwithstanding some M. Siraj c Paine b Cummins ...... 6 Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, board would have to probe David Warner followed for deep into the day and getting fine fielding, Indian fans will be Extras (lb1, w5, nb2) ...... 8 Josh Hazlewood any incident relating to ‘inap- 13 soon afterwards, trapped in close to Australia’s first-innings aggrieved that three of their Total (10 wickets, 100.4 overs) ...... 244 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Pucovski), 2-35 (Warner) propriate conduct’ and submit front by Ravichandran Ashwin tally of 338. batsmen were run out on a day Fall of wickets: 1-70 (Sharma), 2-85 (Gill), Bowling: Bumrah 8-1-26-0, Siraj 8-2-20-1, a report to the world gov- 3-117 (Rahane), 4-142 (Vihari), 5-195 (Pant), Saini 7-1-28-0, Ashwin 6-0-28-1 while attempting a sweep slog They resumed on 96-2 but when they needed to occupy the 6-195 (Pujara), 7-206 (Ashwin), 8-210 (Saini), Toss: Australia erning body within two to leave Australia’s hopes of a Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma crease for as long as possible. weeks.

Schalke 04’s Matthew Hoppe FA Cup: Everton avoid scare; celebrates after scoring their second goal, yesterday. Chorley beat virus-hit Derby

REUTERS — LONDON Wayne Rooney, a youthful Derby County side were Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure defeated 2-0 at National League scored an extra-time winner as North outfit Chorley. they edged Rotherham United The COVID-19 outbreak at 2-1 in an absorbing FA Cup third Derby meant nine of the round tie yesterday, while starting 11 were making debuts sixth-tier side Chorley beat a and the visitors fell behind Schalke’s Hoppe nets hat-trick Derby County team weakened when Connor Hall put Chorley by their COVID-19 outbreak. Everton’s Abdoulaye ahead in the first half before to snap 30-game winless run After 90 minutes the score Doucoure (right) Mike Calveley added a second at Goodison Park was level at celebrates with team- in the 84th to secure a maiden REUTERS — GELSENKIRCHEN halftime. With Sead 1-1 with Cenk Tosun’s first mates after scoring fourth round berth. Kolasinac, on loan from Everton goal since Nov. 2019 their second goal, Norwich City strolled to a Schalke 04’s teenager Arsenal, back in the squad, cancelled out by a 56th minute yesterday. 2-0 win over fellow Champi- Matthew Hoppe became the Schalke scored again when strike from lowly Champi- onship (second-tier) side Cov- first American to score a Harit and Hoppe combined onship (second-tier) side entry City after midfielder Bundesliga hat-trick when he twice more for the 19-year- Rotherham’s American right Kenny McLean and forward carried his struggling side to old to strike again in the 57th back Matthew Olosunde. Jordan Hugill scored inside a 4-0 victory over and 63rd minute of the But three minutes into extra seven minutes. Hoffenheim yesterday and match. time the Premier League side Millwall’s Danish striker snap the Royal Blues’ “I have no words for this got the decisive goal when sub- Kenneth Zohore and defender 30-game winless streak in day. I cannot really describe stitute Doucoure latched onto Shaun Hutchinson led the the league. it,” a beaming Hoppe said, Colombia playmaker James Championship side to a 2-0 win Hoppe, who made his holding on to the match ball. Rodriguez’s precise through ball over fifth-tier third-round deb- Bundesliga debut in “Just very happy.” before sliding it past helpless utants Boreham Wood, while November and scored three Schalke, whose previous goalkeeper Jamal Blackman. 10 minutes. The visitors end of normal time when Tosun Nottingham Forest beat Cardiff goals in only his fifth league league win was back in With five-time FA Cup responded with a string of struck in the 86th but his effort City 1-0 with an early goal by match, opened his account January 2020, were a defeat winners Everton resting top chances and were rewarded 10 was ruled offside by VAR and it striker Lyle Taylor. when he chipped the ball away from matching Tas- scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin minutes into the second half was left for Frenchman Dou- Luton Town beat Reading over keeper Oliver Baumann mania Berlin’s Bundesliga and Brazilian forward Richar- when Olosunde swivelled in the coure to secure a spot in the 1-0 in another all-Champi- after a superb pass by Amine record of 31 matches without lison, Turkish international box before slotting the ball past fourth round with his extra- onship clash to reach the fourth Harit to finish off a quick a win from the 1965/66 Tosun was handed a rare keeper Robin Olsen. time strike. round for the first time since the break three minutes before season. opportunity to lead the attack Everton thought they had In the absence of first-team 2012-13 season thanks to mid- and got on the scoresheet inside grabbed the winner near the players and interim manager fielder George Moncur.