Kylian Mbappe has been banned for three matches following his sending-off during PSG’s French Cup final against Rennes
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019 Gutsy Semenya eases to 800m win at Doha Diamond League
RAAJIV TRIPATHI “It was a great atmosphere DOHA and the people working here are fantastic. I hope to return ALL eyes during the open- for the IAAF World Champi- ing leg of the 14-meeting Dia- onship and win again. The big mond League series were fixed focus is always to have fun and on South African star Caster power,” added Stahl, who lost Semneya. The double Olympic the world championship gold champion vented her anger at medal to Andrius Gudzius of the recent CAS ruling through Lithuania in London by a mere a blistering 800m race at the two centimetres. majestic Khalifa International American Dalilah Muham- Stadium on Friday. mad set a new meet record and The 28-year-old, who is world lead time on her way to looking to add her fourth world winning the 400m hurdles. She title in Doha later this year, clocked 53.61 to push compa- clocked 1:54.98 to beat her own triot Ashley Spencer to second 2017 meet record – a perfor- spot. Ukraine’s Anna Ryzhykova mance which overshadowed Ryan Crouser of the US poses as he celebrates winning the men’s was third in 54.82. world and European silver shot put. (REUTERS) Muhammad was pleased medallist discus thrower Daniel to have won the dress rehears- Stahl’s Diamond League record al for the upcoming worlds. of 70.56. She commented: “It is quite Overall, the opening round great winning my season- quite productive and thrilling as opening race in Doha. I am there were eight world lead per- happy with the performance formances, with three of them tonight and it is good to have a also fetching new meet marks feel of the tracks for the world and one ending into a DLR. championship. All the athletes descend- “The weather was great and ed on Doha to see and feel the fans were fantastic. I know the venue of the IAAF World the season is going to be a long Championship in September- one. My coach and I are per- October, besides giving them fecting our plans for the season. an early assessment of their I look forward to a wonderful off-season preparations. time here again at the world Semneya, who lost her ap- championships in September,” peal to challenge the IAAF’s the US hurdler added. new rule on her medical con- The world lead performers dition at the Court of Arbitra- South Africa’s Caster Semenya competes in the women’s 800m during the IAAF Diamond League Runners compete in the women’s 3000m during the IAAF Diamond of the Doha leg included Bot- tion for Sport two days ago, competition at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Friday. (AFP) League competition in Doha on Friday. (AFP) swana’s Nijel Amos in 800m looked pumped up and re- (1:44.29), Kenya’s Elijah Mo- sponded with a burst of speed The plan is to go back home and She also expressed her de- believe I will be here again can tell me what to do. I am Wesshaidinger cleared 66.90 tonei Manangoi in 1,500m in the two-lap race. train as hard as I can so that I termination to continue the (during the worlds). here for a purpose. If somebody to win the second place, while (3:32.21), Morocco’s Soufiane The South African set a can break 1:54. two-lap race. “The next (plan) “Of course, I am going to wants me to switch events, that multiple Asian champion Ira- El Bakkali in 3,000m Steeple- fierce pace and won in 1:54.98 Talking about the support is 800m again. I have a few run 800m, no matter what. I is their problem, not mine. nian Ehsan Hadadi bagged chase (8:07.22), Dina Asher- to beat her two-year-old mark the world has thrown behind weeks off. I will go back to my am a crazy athlete and switch “I am a power athlete…I can the third place with a 66.78m Smith in 200m (22.26) and and Francine Niyonsaba by her, she said, “I think this is family and spend time with events like hell. I believe in run 400m to 5k. I can run any throw. Olympic champion Kenya’s Hellen Obiri in 3,000m well over two seconds. Ameri- fantastic. People look up to them. I have been away from 800m and that is what I am race I want. I did 5k earlier in Christoph Harting managed (8:25.60). can Ajee Wilson was third in you and we inspire them, so we my family for a decade. In going to do in future even be- the season. That was a part of only 64.49m for fifth place. Qatar’s Abubaker Haydar 1:58.83. have to deliver. I am a woman these moments, you want to fore I retire.” my plan to build the base and it A delighted Stahl com- Abdalla, who recently set a After setting a new meet of guts. I think I am in this be with your family. Reacting angrily to a ques- helped me run a very consistent mented: “I had great power world lead time to win 800m record, Semneya commented world for a reason. The life is “Of course, the main plan tion what she would do if com- 800m race. “ and I have been working on in the Asian Championship at about her win, “The race was very important and I think we and the main goal is to de- pelled to race in another event, Swedish Stahl won the my technique a lot. Also I the same venue, was fourth. fantastic…I opened (the sea- should enjoy each and every fend my world 800m title. she said, “I can’t be forced to discus throw and created have been training hard in This was the best result for the son) with 1:54 which is great. moment no matter what the I will be here in September switch to any races. I will switch the record of 70.56m off his the gym so I expected it and I hosts in the opening Diamond We don’t know yet what is next. circumstances are.” defending my title. Yes… I races when I want to. No man third throw. Austrian Lukas am really happy. League meet.
Al Sadd’s Xavi to retire at Lucky Al Rayyan beat Al Arabi to set up end of season Amir Cup semi-final clash against Al Sadd REUTERS BARCELONA Ilyas stars as Al AL Sadd midfielder Xavi Her- nandez will retire at the end of Sailiya edge Al Ahli the season to move into coach- 3-2, to play ing, calling time on a trophy- laden career spanning two dec- defending champs ades. Xavi, who has made a record Al Duhail in semis 767 appearances for Barcelona and 133 for Spain, confirmed his retirement plans in an open AYENI OLUSEGUN letter sent on Thursday. DOHA “This is my last season as a player but I am looking forward AL Rayyan staged a thrill- to seeing what the future holds ing comeback as they beat Al for me as a coach,” wrote Xavi. Arabi 4-2 on Friday in a pen- “It has been a privilege to alty shootout to qualify for the play football until 39 years of Amir Cup semi-final despite age and now I would like to being reduced to 10 men after finish the season on a high by Mohammed Alaa Eldin was winning the Emir Cup and by shown a second yellow card getting to the next phase of the for a silly tackle. Asian Champions League.” The Lions will now take on Al Rayyan captain Rodrigo Tabata acknowledges the fans after scoring against Al Arabi during their Amir Al Ahli midfielder Mohsine Moutouali shoots against an Al Sailiya Xavi made his debut for rivals Al Sadd in what could Cup quarter-final match at the Al Arabi Stadium on Friday. defender during their Amir Cup match on Friday. Barca in 1998 after com- be the game of the tourna- ing through the club’s famed ment. Wilfred Bony and Ah- Gregory Gomis after a swift strike which was parried out flair, Al Rayyan still looked Al Arabi were made to with a 3-2 victory over Al Ahli. La Masia academy and soon mad al Qafaje both missed interchange of passes in the by the goalie before Bony was fragile at the back, a problem rue that missed chance later Abdulkadir Ilyas was the became the heartbeat of the from the spot for the Dream 35th minute. The club icon flagged offside on the other which has haunted them all on as Rivas latched on to a star of the match with one goal team’s midfield, winning eight Team. received the ball in the mid- end as baker easily gathered season. Al Arabi took advan- loose ball in the box — slot- and two assists as the Per- La Liga titles and four Champi- The match had ended 2-2 dle of the park before find- his goal-bound header. tage of the unsteady defence ting past the hapless Gomis egrines set up a semis clash ons League crowns before join- after 90 minutes as Wilfred ing Gelmin Rivas who im- The second half contin- and made it 2-1 in the 71st in the 87th minute. against defending champion ing Al Sadd. Bony put Al Arabi ahead from mediately returned the ball ued with thesame high in- minute when Mohammed Al Arabi almost snatched Al Duhail. He was one of the key play- a VAR-awarded penalty af- to Tabata. The number 10 tensity as Al Rayyan created Salah headed home from it at the death as number 26 Ilyas scored in the 38th ers when Spain won their first ter just 10 minutes. The for- skipped a tackle before firing more chances but failed to close range. header from a corner was minute, Mohammed Mad- and only World Cup in 2010 as mer Manchester City striker from just outside the box past find the back of the net. Rivas In an enthralling end to pushed out inches away from thar in the 64th minute, well as their European Champi- converted sending the Fahad the goalkeeper. smashed a shot high and wide the game, Bony again had a clearing the goalline, sending Fahd Youssef in the 78th onship triumphs in 2008 and Baker the wrong way. Four minutes before half- after Lucca Borges had picked chance to put the game be- the game into penalties. minute, while Al Ahli scored 2012, eventually retiring from Al Rayyan captain Rod- time, Al Rayyan threatened him out with a scintilating yond Rayyan but the Ivorian In the early kickoff, Sami late goals through Jonathan the national team after the 2014 rigo Tabata pulled level again as Tabata from about 30 pass across the box. blasted over the bar with less Trabelsi’s Al Sailiya contin- Porras in the 82nd and 90th World Cup. smashing past the Al Arabi yards out unleashed a super Despite their attacking than 10 minutes to go. ued their impressive season minutes. Sports Saturday, May 4, 2019 13 Liverpool ‘ambitious like hell’ for Premier League title: Klopp AFP ten, honestly, that I lose 3-0 LONDON and have much more positive thoughts about the game than JURGEN Klopp says his Liver- negative, but it was in this pool players are “ambitious like game. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball against the Toronto hell” to win the Premier League, “When we flew home it was Raptors in the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Eastern Conference backing them to bounce back all OK, the boys were already Semi-finals at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Thursday.(AFP) from their thumping at Barce- (focused) on the Newcastle lona and keep the title race alive game 100 percent,” the Ger- against Newcastle. man boss added. Sixers dominate Raptors to Liverpool travel to face “The boys have had 20 the St James’ Park side man- hours to recover, now we will take 2-1 series lead aged by former Reds boss have one session and try to pre- Rafael Benitez a point behind pare them for Newcastle, which AFP cluding a gritty 94-89 victory in Premier League leaders Man- is important because it will be PHILADELPHIA game two three nights ago. chester City with two matches a different game obviously, but Game four will be played in to go. it’s not new for us.” JOEL Embiid finished with 33 Philadelphia on Sunday. Victory on Saturday would Klopp revealed however points as the Philadelphia 76ers Kawhi Leonard paced the see Liverpool go back to the that Naby Keita would miss the routed the Toronto Raptors Raptors’ attack with 33 points top of the table and ramp up rest of the season with an ad- 116-95 on Thursday to seize a while Pascal Siakam added 20. the pressure on City ahead of ductor injury that is set to side- 2-1 lead in their NBA second- Leonard has scored at least the reigning champions’ home line the Guinea international round playoff series. 30 points in five of Toronto’s match against Leicester on midfielder for around eight Embiid also had 10 re- eight playoff games this sea- Monday. weeks, putting his participation bounds and five blocked shots son, including all three games The German manager told in the Africa Cup of Nations in for his 12th double-double in 15 against Philadelphia. Embiid reporters at his pre-match jeopardy. career playoff games. was at his theatrical best, jig- press conference on Friday he Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp gestures during the UEFA Champions League match against Barcelona Keita limped off midway “I was trying not to force gling his shoulders and rocking was expecting a tough game on Wednesday. (REUTERS) through the first half in Barce- anything and if I didn’t have a mock baby after scoring bas- against Newcastle, who are safe lona. it I just moved it to my team- kets. from relegation. on fire,” he said. “When you are is unbelievably difficult.” recover as they look to win Liv- “Bad news, he has a high- mates,” he said. “We wanted to “I need it. When I have fun, - ‘Boys completely on fire’ in the race and you see you can Klopp reiterated that a ma- erpool’s first English title of the grade adductor injury,” said put our foot down in the fourth my game just changes,” he said. -But he said his players had win it, you don’t get tired, that’s ture away performance in the Premier League since 1990. Klopp. “The tendon is ruptured, and we did that by making “I have always been told that if proved their ability to perform how it is. Champions League was not “It’s no problem, of course which keeps him out for at least stops.” I don’t smile during the game under pressure all season, “We are ambitious like hell. reflected in the 3-0 scoreline at we have to prove it again to- two months. Jimmy Butler added 22 that I’m either having a bad amassing 91 points so far with We want to (win) but we still Camp Nou. morrow, but we didn’t have to “Bad news for us obviously, points, nine assists and nine game or I’m not into it. just a single defeat in the Pre- know it’s not 100 percent in our And he insisted that his pick up players in Barcelona but bad news for Guinea as well rebounds while JJ Redick de- “I know that to get my game mier League. hands but the only thing we can players were in a positive mood and give them a hug,” he said. because the Africa Cup of Na- livered 15 points for the Sixers, going, I have to have fun on the “The boys are completely do is to beat Newcastle and that and had the mental strength to “It doesn’t happen too of- tions is coming up.” who have won two straight in- court.”
Attiyah to lead Qatar team at Shotgun World Cup International conference on medicine & science in athletics kicks off at Aspetar TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA
ASPETAR, the orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital in Doha, kicked off its interna- tional conference on medicine and science in athletics with a strong turnout of leading med- ical professionals including physicians, nurses, pharma- cists, physiotherapists, nutri- tionists, and podiatrists. The conference featured more than 250 experts who went on to discuss the most advanced techniques and most recent scientific research in ath- Partcipants at the Aspetar International Conference on Medicine and Science in Athletics at the Aspire letics from around the world. Academy Football Performance Centre on Friday. Olympics Skeet bronze medallist Nasser al Attiyah will lead the Qatar team in the upcoming ISSF World At Aspire Academy’s Foot- Cup for Shotgun in Changwan, South Korea. The national squad, which includes Abdulaziz al Attiyah, ball Performance Centre, the “Through the hosting of tinued, “As we stand here today, petar’s strategic preparations Rashid Hamad Saleh, Saeed Abusharib and Nasser al Humaidi, left Doha for South Korea on Friday to conference commenced with this conference, Aspetar aims we are just a few metres away to ensure it can provide the have a training camp ahead of the World Cup, which is scheduled to be held from May 7 to 18. Qatar opening remarks from Dr Ab- to achieve numerous goals and from Khalifa International Sta- most comprehensive medical Shooting and Archery Association Executive Director Mohammed Taher is the head of the delegation. dulaziz al Kuwari, Acting Chief deliver on some key objectives, dium that is currently hosting support for 2019 IAAF World Qatar’s international referee Abdullah Ali al Mutawa al Hammadi is also a part of the group as he has Executive Officer (ACEO) of including the commitment to the 2019 IAAF Diamond League Athletics Championships in also been invited by the organisers to officiate in the World Cup. Aspetar. advance medicine and tech- and some of the world’ finest September as the country gears “I welcome everyone here niques specifically dedicated to athletes. Behind the scene, hun- up to host thousands of the today at this important and athletics. During the three-day dreds of our medical personnel world’s leading athletes. progressive event which ce- conference, participants will are providing world-class ser- Locally, Aspetar provides ments our approach to com- also get a glimpse of the latest vices in the fields of sports med- medical support to more than bining scientific research and innovations from all over the icine and physiotherapy, giving 100 sports annually. Last year, Dufner matches career-low round as implementation within the globe as the conference fea- comprehensive medical sup- the National Sports Medicine context of Aspetar’s mission to tures experts from every corner port to the world’ finest athletes Programme at Aspetar provid- assist athletes and help them of the world, achieving our vi- that is based on rich knowledge ed medical care for all sport- McIlroy stumbles at Wells Fargo achieve their maximum perfor- sion of being a global leader in that Aspetar has gained dur- ing events held in the country, mance and full potential dur- sports medicine and exercise ing myriad major tournaments achieving more than 11,000 REUTERS first hole at Quail Hollow. low 60s. Everything kind of ing world championship level science by 2020,” he added. hosted by the country.” work hours by 370 doctors and CHARLOTTE He added a 40-foot birdie meshed together.” events,” Kuwari said. The ACEO of Aspetar con- The conference is one of As- specialists. putt at the penultimate hole McIlroy seemed likely to JASON Dufner emerged from en route to an eight-under- remain close to the lead un- hibernation to take the sec- par 63 that matched his ca- til he butchered the easy par- ond-round clubhouse lead at reer-low round on the PGA four eighth, his 17th, where the Wells Fargo Champion- Tour. his tee shot found a bunker, Quick read ship on Friday, while Rory “I played what I would from where he took five more McIlroy stumbled late in consider the scorable holes strokes to negotiate the final 55 South Africa’s Rabada out of IPL over ‘back niggle’ Charlotte, North Carolina. really well, and then I threw yards. Dufner, the 2013 PGA in some others,” the 42-year- He also bogeyed his final THE Indian Premier League’s top wicket-taker Kagiso Rabada was ruled South African bowler to suffer an injury scare after Dale Steyn lasted Championship winner, never old told PGA Tour Radio. hole and signed for a 70 that out of the rest of the tournament on Friday to rest a “back niggle” only two IPL games before withdrawing with a shoulder problem. “It is looked back after pitching in “That’s what happens on left the two-times Wells Fargo ahead of the World Cup. Cricket South Africa has advised Rabada, to indeed very hard for me to leave the Delhi Capitals at this stage of the from 35 yards for birdie at the a day when you get in the winner five shots off the pace. return home as a precaution, Delhi Capitals said. He is just the latest tournament,” Rabada said in a team statement. (AFP) Arsenal-Valencia Europa League tie still 50-50, say managers
REUTERS second leg is going to be very the surest route to next season’s that the scoreline on Thursday LONDON difficult and maybe different. I Champions League competition night flattered the home side consider it 50-50 in this one,” for both sides as they sit outside somewhat. ARSENAL may have beaten the Spaniard told reporters. the qualifying spots in their do- “I don’t think Arsenal ex- Valencia 3-1 in the first leg of “They are going to feel mestic leagues. Nevertheless, pected that result, but the game their Europa League semi-final strong with their support- Emery said he was looking for- is played until the final whistle,” on Thursday but both managers ers there.” Valencia manager ward to returning to the Mestal- he said. believe the tie is still very much Marcelino appeared to agree. la, having led Valencia to third- “They have two very good up for grabs. “I don’t think any Valencia place finishes in La Liga behind strikers - I don’t know how Alexandre Lacazette’s dou- fan will think they were par- Barcelona and Real Madrid for many millions of euros they cost ble and a late third from Pierre- ticularly stronger than us. We three consecutive seasons from - and if you make the slightest Emerick Aubameyang earned are excited and optimistic. If we 2010 to 2012. mistake at this level, players like the hosts the advantage after have our fans behind us and get “I want to enjoy playing them can make you pay.” Mouctar Diakhaby had given things right, we can win next there, with our players and our But the Spaniard suggested the Spanish side an early lead. week,” he said. supporters. It’s going to be a that his side still have every- But Arsenal coach Unai Emery Arsenal have been dogged tough atmosphere,” he said. thing to play for. was notably cagey about his by a string of poor displays away “We are going to prepare “The goal at the end was side’s chances of reaching this from The Emirates this season, for the match thinking to win, a surprise and makes it more month’s final in Baku ahead and they have now conceded 10 thinking to score, thinking to difficult for us. But it doesn’t of the second leg at Valencia’s goals in their last four games in take our moment in attack, but take anything away from our Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) scores the third goal during the UEFA Europa League semi- Mestalla stadium next week. all competitions. Winning the it depends,” he said. thought that we can still reach final first leg against Valencia CF in London on Thursday.(EPA-EFE) “It’s a good result, but the Europa League looks like being Marcelino seemed to feel the final,” he added.