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12 Friday, July 23, 2021

Tala and Al Rumaihi named Nine stars to watch as ’s bearers for at the Games Tokyo 2020 opening event From trailblazing superstars to precocious teenagers, here are Tribune Network nine world stars to watch at Tokyo the Tokyo Olympics: Rower Tala Abujbara and shooter Mohamed Al Rumaihi were named as Qatar’s joint flag bearers for Friday’s opening ceremony of the Twice world champion Tokyo Olympics. The pair will share the hon- (2017 & 2019) and silver and bronze ours following a directive by the International medallist at 2021 London and Rio Olym- Olympic Committee in March 2020 where each pics respectively, the 30-year-old Qatar team should have a flag bearer to represent athlete will be aiming for the gold. An both genders. Asian record holder with a beat mark of Simone Biles Naomi Mary Kom The Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremo- 2.43m, he jumps off his left foot, using ny will begin at 8pm (2pm Time). the Fosbury Flop technique, with a pro- Tala, who will become the first Qatari fe- nounced backwards arch over the bar. male athlete to represent Qatar in rowing at the Simone Biles Olympics, said that she is proud of her partici- The world’s greatest gymnast, who pation at the Tokyo Games. won four gold medals and one bronze in The 29-year-old will also be in action on Rio, is aiming to become the first women Friday in the women’s singles sculls heats at the to defend the all-around title since Vera Sea Forest Waterway. Caslavska in 1968. Biles earned her place “I would like to do my best and work con- despite a series of uncharacteristic errors stantly on developing my skills because reach- in the US trials: bank on her being back at ing a top level requires great effort and hard her best in the Japanese capital. work. This will only be achieved through perse- Naomi Osaka Filippo Ganna Mutaz Essa Barshim Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce verance and diligence. Rowing is very difficult All eyes will be on Osaka when she re- and arduous,” she said. turns to action in front of her home fans Tala, who had lived in for three years, in Tokyo - whether she likes it or not. said she was delighted to be back in the coun- The 23-year-old, a four-time Grand Slam try of which she has only good memories. “I am champion, withdrew from the French very happy to be back again. Japan is my sec- Open after being fined for not talking to ond country. I love the Japanese culture and its media, and also skipped Wimbledon to people very much. The atmosphere is very won- take some time out with her family, but derful in Tokyo, whether in the Olympic Village has committed to making her Olympic or the training centres and everyone here is do- return. ing their best. The Japanese volunteers’ effort Filippo Ganna to serve the athletes reflects the kindness of the Undisputed king of the cycling time Katie Ledecky Teddy Riner Armand Duplantis Japanese people as they are very friendly peo- The refugee team is comprised of athletes trial, Ganna will start as a clear favourite ple,” the rower said. who were displaced after fleeing their home in the men’s event, and will also switch to London, sent a timely reminder that she The 32-year-old Frenchman heads Regarding her involvement in the sport of country. the track to join his Italian team-mates in remains the one to beat when she clocked into the men’s +100kg judo event as the rowing, Tala said: “I started rowing during my On the other hand, Qatar’s other woman the team pursuit, and potentially also the 10.63sec in June - the second-fastest time double defending champion. Riner has university studies and I loved this sport as it is athlete and sprinter Bashayer Al Manwari ar- omnium. The Team Ineos rider - nick- in history behind the late Florence Grif- won 10 world titles in the course of his outdoors and on the water as I train on a daily rived in Tokyo on Wednesday. Al Manwari named ‘La Bestia’ (‘The Beast’) - won fith-Joyner. In a field now shorn of Amer- illustrious career and was unbeaten for basis. I started with a large team and within a will be the first Qatari athlete to hit the track both time trials in this year’s Giro d’Italia. ican rising star Sha’Carri Richardson, the the best part of a decade until February group that posed a challenge for me to continue at women’s 100m event. She started out as a Katie Ledecky Jamaican’s rivals - including Dina Asher- 2020. His potential final battle with Ja- and be able to achieve achievements.” athlete, then found herself in short The American swimming superstar Smith - have their work cut out. pan’s Harasawa Hisayoshi could prove Tala holds a Bachelor degree in biology distance running. Al Manwari is a West Asian is a near-certainty to significantly expand Mary Kom one of the moments of the Games. and neuroscience from Williams College in the champion in 2013 and five-time GCC cham- upon her six-medal haul at her third The remarkable 38-year-old, a six- Armand Duplantis United States. She has also received a master’s pion. Games. Ledecky soared through the US time world boxing champion who also Nicknamed ‘Mondo’, the Amer- degree from HEC Paris University in manage- Meanwhile, beach volleyball duo of Cherif trials and is expected to compete in up to won Olympic bronze in London in 2012, ican-born Swede is in a world of his ment and worked at previous- Younousse and Ahmed Tijan continued their six events, including the women’s 1500m, is back for another shot. own in the men’s pole-vault, and ly. Currently she is working as a management training session at the Shiokaze Park ahead of a discipline appearing in the Games for Having risen from a remote part of an unbackable favourite for his first consultant. their opening match against Adrian Heidrich the first time and in which she is almost rural to become a member of par- Olympic gold. Duplantis set a new in- Meanwhile, during the opening ceremony, and Mirco Gerson of Switzerland on Sunday. untouchable. liament, a mother-of-three and a bona- door world record of 6.18m last year, Greece will be followed by the Refugee Olympic Shooter Mohamed Al Rumaihi trained at Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce fide superstar in her homeland, nothing then went on to usurp the great Sergei Team which had a short training camp in Doha, Asaka Shooting Range. The trap shooter will The 34-year-old Jamaican, winner of fazes Kom in her quest for another medal. Bubka’s 26-year-old outdoor best by Qatar before arriving in Tokyo. begin his campaign on July 28. the women’s 100m in both and Teddy Riner clearing 6.15m at the gears up for WC 2022 demand Qatar’s national carrier expects to deploy more of its widebody aircraft across the skies to connect passengers to and from WC 2022

Tribune News Network Doha

Qatar Airways’ SVP of Rev- enue Management, Alliances and Strategy Mark Drusch said that the airline is well prapred to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 next year. There is a lot at stake when it comes to hosting the World Cup. Qatar has spent billions in preparation, but the returns can be massive- ly rewarding. For instance, World Cup 2018 injected over $14 billion into the Russian economy amid Russia’s host- ing of the tournament. It’s not only short-term benefits to be had. Sporting events have the ability to put cities on the world stage and the tournament can trans- of Doha, just like everybody ing restrictions. The loyalty and start a reserving demand what we expected.” do wonders in the long term. form Qatar’s capital, Doha. had heard of Atlanta, but it’s of football fans won’t stop for those who are looking for Outside of the booking With this in mind, there have “We are planning the ex- a lot different when every- them from flying, even if it is seats already. window, rather than guess, been significant investments pansion of HIA, which will be body is watching it. It really We’re already starting to see a challenge. Stadiums were at There is plenty of activity Qatar Airways will allow the in expanding Hamad Inter- complete in time for the FIFA raises the global awareness a lot of requests for seats lower capacity than expected, already building up. With the market to help the company national Airport (HIA) in World Cup. So, more capac- of the city. Therefore, I’m from around the world. As but with the World Cup 17 World Cup being such a gar- shape where it will need extra time for the World Cup. This ity at HIA, not only for the convinced it will continue to you would expect, it’s the months away, capacity is ex- gantuan affair, people from capacity. Moreover, the com- move will not only enable World Cup, but for the post fuel the growth of Qatar.” usual suspects, , pected to normalise as con- countries across every conti- pany is communicating closely smoother travel for visitors World Cup demand. I was at Even though Doha is a ditions with dealing with the nent are looking at flying in. with airline partners to ensure during the tournament, but it Delta for the 96 Olympics. popular spot amid the mil- South America, US, , virus continue to improve. “We’re already starting that all parties can support will enhance Qatar’s position And I got to tell you, that was lions of passengers flying all already coming and look- Nonetheless, if the Euros are to see a lot of requests for each other with the added ca- as a global transit hub within the single biggest accelerator through it from across the ing fo seats to fly here something to go by, Drusch seats from around the world. pacity across the globe. the country’s strategic loca- for international demand and continents every year, the during the World Cup highlighted that there will As you would expect, it’s Passengers will be con- tion in the long run. leisure demand in and out of World Cup can leave a legacy still be strong demand even the usual suspects, Europe, necting onto Qatar Airways Qatar Airways will be ex- Atlanta. Putting Atlanta on for it to be recognised even Mark Drusch if global reopening takes its South America, US, China, all flights from services handled pecting to deploy more of its the global stage for the Olym- more as a hotspot for tourism time. already coming and looking by other airline partners, so widebody aircraft across the pics really accelerated the and business. role in the World Cup. While The first matches of Qa- for seats to fly here during the carriers need to ensure that skies to connect passengers international growth of that Qatari officials are cov- HIA will handle the majority tar 2022 will be during next World Cup,” Drusch added. they are on the right path. to and from World Cup 2022. city,” Drusch told Simple Fly- ering all angles to ensure of passengers, the November. So, Qatar Airways “We’re starting to work Overall, the airline is tak- Drusch explained how ing. that visitors have a seam- will be deployed to cater to is not within the booking with everybody to help them ing the right steps to ensure past sporting events have “I would expect we should less journey. For instance, private jets and the like. window for inventory in its secure the seats that they’ll that it can meet demand revolutionised social and eco- see something very similar Doha International Airport Even as cases were rising revenue management sys- need and make sure we un- ahead of the World Cup. It nomic activity in cities in a from the World Cup being is coming out of retirement. across numerous countries tem. However, outside of this derstand exactly how much is analyzing data, looking at recent interview with Simple hosted here in Doha. It puts The airport was mothballed in Europe, there was still system, the airline has devel- demand we’re going to have. previous tournaments, and Flying. He used his own ex- Doha on the world stage. I after HIA’s opening in 2014, some demand for air travel oped a platform that allows Therefore, we’re going to working with its partners well perience to demonstrate how am sure everybody has heard but it will now have a major for Euro 2020 despite ongo- it to collect the demand data need to add capacity beyond in advance.