Australian Caleb Ewan wins Tour de France Stage 11 page 15 THURSday, JULY 18, 2019

QSC present former Spanish goalkeeper BRITISH OPEN Carlos Alos as club’s new head coach page 14 the 148th championship North, South Korea to face off in World Cup 2022 Asian qualifiers Qatar drawn in Group E with Oman, India AFP Kuala Lumpur

North and South Korea will face off in politically-charged World Cup qualifiers after be- ing drawn in the same group Wednesday, while arch-rivals Iran and Iraq will also meet. Heavyweights Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Saudi Arabia – who all played in the 2018 World Cup in Rus- sia – were drawn in different groups for the Asian qualifiers joint qualifiers will compete in a of the 2022 edition of the tour- separate competition for the re- nament in Qatar. maining 12 slots in the 24-team China, who are seeking to AFC Asian Cup China 2023. qualify for the World Cup for After the draw at the Asian only the second time, look Hosts in the mix football body’s headquarters to have a promising fixture The eight group winners and in Kuala Lumpur, South Ko- against lower-ranked oppo- four best runners-up will rea coach Paulo Bento insist- nents including war-torn Syr- advance to the AFC Asian ed that facing the North was ia and tiny Guam. The draw for Asian qualifiers of FIFA 2022 World Cup taking place at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) HQ in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Cup China 2023 Finals and “nothing special”. The country and its 73rd- the final round of qualifying “For us it is a sport – the ranked team have grand ambi- goal is to qualify,” he told AFP. tions to host and win a World for the FIFA World Cup Qatar “The message I will share Cup under football-fan Presi- 2022. However, should Qatar with the players when we play dent Xi Jinping. (hosts 2022 FIFA World Cup) against North Korea is to give South Korea is one of win their group, the seven them the same respect we will Asia’s best sides and should other group winners and five have for any other teams we easily beat the North, but the best second-placed sides will play against.” matches between the neigh- will advance to the final Sporting ties played a role bours on the divided Korean round of qualifying. in a diplomatic thaw on and peninsula promise to be bitter. around the peninsula last year, Sides play each other twice when the two Koreas formed during the qualifiers, which the UAE completing the cast. their first-ever unified Olym- run from September to June. The eight group winners pic team for the 2018 Winter Qatar, who will host the and four best runners-up will Games. But those endeav- 2022 FIFA World Cup, were advance to the AFC Asian Cup ours stagnated with the wider drawn in Group E alongside China 2023 Finals and the fi- deadlock in negotiations over Bangladesh, Oman, India and nal round of qualifying for the the North’s nuclear arsenal. Afghanistan in their bid to de- FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Iran and Iraq will renew one fend the AFC Asian Cup they However, should Qatar win of football’s great rivalries after won in spectacular fashion in their group, the seven other being drawn in the same group. the UAE last February. group winners and five best sec- The teams will compete Group G had a distinct ond-placed sides will advance to in a round-robin format, Southeast Asian flavour as the final round of qualifying for with the winners of the eight ASEAN rivals Vietnam, Thai- the 2022 FIFA World Cup. groups and four runners-up land, Malaysia and Indonesia Qatar, who will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, were drawn in Group E alongside Bangladesh, Oman, India and Afghanistan in their bid to defend The next best 24 teams progressing to a final round of were all drawn together, with the AFC Asian Cup they won in spectacular fashion in the UAE last February. from the second round of the qualifying. (Inputs AFC.com) Hosting Open ‘speaks volumes’ for Northern Ireland: McIlroy

AFP The 39-year-old said he, Portrush (UK) Rain sweeps in on final practice day McIlroy and Darren Clarke Sport has an unbelievable ability to bring people together. We used to joke with former R&A all know that this country sometimes needs that. It’s amazing Rory McIlroy said on PORTRUSH: The final day of bursts of heavy rain. chief Peter Dawson about tak- to think 40 years on it’s such a great place, no one cares who Wednesday that Northern Ire- practice before the British Spaniard Jon Rahm, who ing the British Open to Por- land hosting the British Open Open Championship at Royal finished tied third at the US trush, before the trio won six they are, where they’re from, but you can have a great life and for the first time since 1951 Portrush was hit by steady rain Open last month, said the major titles between them to it doesn’t matter what side of the street you come from. this week “speaks volumes” on Wednesday, and forecasts rain would make for a “tough make that idea no longer a Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy for how much it has changed are for showers on the first two grind” for the players. laughing matter. since The Troubles. days of competition. “You have to battle it. It’s very “The reasons were: Infra- The 148th edition of golf’s Strong sea breezes combined difficult. When it starts raining, structure, and this and that oldest major will be the biggest with the showers, ensuring the you start getting water on the and the other,” said McDowell. sporting event held in North- players got a taste of what they club face and balls start being a “It was the Irish Open in ern Ireland, with 237,750 peo- may come up against when play little bit unpredictable,” he said. 2012 when we broke the Euro- ple expected to attend across gets underway on Thursday. “It’s hard to hit all the greens. pean Tour attendance record. the week. The conditions did not keep a You have to grind out the pars I think The R&A couldn’t ig- “Sport has an unbelievable huge crowd from turning out to and make the best of the few nore the fact that this could ability to bring people together. watch the world’s top golfers birdie putts you have,” he said. be a commercial success. The We all know that this country get in their final preparations Friday sees a continued jokes became very serious. It sometimes needs that,” said before the 148th British Open chance of rain, although the was like, ‘We can do this, we Northern Irishman McIlroy, begins. Local favourite Darren forecast is for “mainly dry” can pull it off’.” who was only eight years old Clarke is due to hit the first weather, particularly at the McDowell, who will be when the Good Friday Agree- tee shot at 0635 local time. start of the day. The conditions playing in the tournament for ment was signed in 1998. The Met Office weather are forecast to brighten at the the first time since 2016, be- “It’s amazing to think forecast for the opening round weekend with temperatures ris- lieves it can have a long-last- 40 years on it’s such a great expects “passing showers ing, although it is expected to ing effect. place, no one cares who they throughout the day” with short remain changeable. (Reuters) “If we can have a great are, where they’re from, what week this week, have a success- background they’re from, but ful tournament, which seems you can have a great life and it McIlroy, a four-time ma- “And I think as well it will be inevitable at this point, I think doesn’t matter what side of the jor champion, will draw huge a massive thing for the country.” get the Open Championship street you come from. crowds when the tournament back here in the near future, “To be able to have this gets underway on Thursday. ‘We can do this’ I think the spinoffs for golf in tournament here again, I think “I think no matter what Former US Open champion Ireland in general is huge. it speaks volumes of where the happens this week, if I win or and Portrush native Graeme “Being from this part of the country and where the people whoever else wins, having the McDowell has been one of the world, obviously I’m biased that live here are now. Open back in this country is driving forces behind the re- and I’m very proud for what “We’re so far past that. And a massive thing for golf,” the turn of the championship to it’s going to do for this town Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (right) plays the 5th green during a practice session at The 148th Open that’s a wonderful thing.” 30-year-old added. Northern Ireland. and this surrounding area.” Golf Championship at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland on Wednesday. (AFP)