FOOTBALL | Page 3 TENNIS | Page 4 Sanchez Sharapova vows keeps to ‘rise again’ Arsenal in aft er French top-4 race Open snub Thursday, May 18, 2017 NBA Sha’baan 22, 1438 AH Curry shines as GULF TIMES Warriors crush Spurs, lead series 2-0 SPORT Page 5 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP QATAR / KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM Completion of our fi rst World Cup stadium an important milestone, says al-Thawadi By Sports Reporter experience to fans and players alike. tire spectator area, with an intricate visit the stadium, including the cool- Doha I’m proud we can show these off to the net of German and Italian-made steel ing technology we promised during world and welcome fans with the hos- tension cables weighing 4,000 tonnes our bid, a pitch that was developed at pitality this World Cup will be remem- holding 92 panels in place, while the our one-of-a-kind Turf Nursery, and, he fi rst proposed host venue bered for.” stadium will also be the fi rst World of course, an immense atmosphere of the 2022 FIFA World Cup The fi rst event the renovated sta- Cup venue and the fi rst stadium in the Arab fans alone are capable of produc- Qatar, Khalifa International dium will host is the 2017 Emir Cup fi - region to be lit by LED lighting, which ing. We still have seven stadiums un- Stadium, has been completed nal, Qatar’s most prestigious domestic is both more sustainable and more ver- derway, all due to be completed well in Ta full fi ve years before the tournament football tournament. This builds on a satile than traditional lighting. advance of the tournament, but this is begins, the Supreme Committee for rich history of hosting important lo- Even the pitch at Khalifa Interna- a great demonstration of our progress.” Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organisa- cal, regional and international events tional Stadium has a rich story to tell: Located in the world-famous As- tion responsible for delivering the in- since the stadium was originally built designed to be perfectly suited to Qa- pire Zone, Khalifa International Sta- frastructure required to host the tour- in 1976, including the Gulf Cup on two tar’s climate, it was developed at the dium already off ers a range of nearby nament, has announced. occasions, the FIFA U-20 Youth World SC’s nearby Turf Nursery - the only leisure amenities. During the World Speaking on the launch of Qatar’s Championships in 1995, the 2006 one of its kind in Asia - and was laid in Cup, however, fans will also be able to fi rst World Cup stadium, Hassan al- Doha Asian Games, the 2011 AFC Asian a new world record time of 13 ½ hours. travel to and from the historic venue Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC, Cup fi nal and international friendlies Hilal al-Kuwari, Chairman of the via a dedicated metro station on Qa- said: “The completion of our fi rst sta- between top world teams. The stadium Technical Delivery Offi ce at the SC, tar’s national metro project, QRail. dium more than fi ve years before the will also host another Gulf Cup in De- said: “It will be a proud moment for my Once completed, Qatar’s tournament Qatar World Cup begins is an impor- cember this year and the 2019 IAAF team when the fi rst ball is kicked here infrastructure will keep journey times tant milestone that refl ects our deter- World Championships in Athletics on Friday and I know all of Qatar ap- between all World Cup stadiums and mination to deliver a tournament the before the FIFA World Cup kicks off on preciates the eff orts of those who have accommodation locations below one entire Arab world is proud to be a part 21st November 2022. helped deliver such an impressive ven- hour, enabling fans to watch more than of. As we promised in our bid, our in- Other new features include the in- ue. Fans of all ages and nationalities one live match per day for the fi rst time novative stadiums off er an unrivalled stallation of a larger roof over the en- An aerial night shot of the Khalifa International Stadium. have a lot to look forward to when they in World Cup history. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, May 18, 2017 FOOTBALL EMIR CUP Khalifa Stadium all set for fi nal: Organising Committee By Sports Reporter are already patrolling the stadium and the sur- Doha rounding areas. Police personnel will be also be deployed inside the stadium to help the fans get to their seats. In addition to this, there will be ll measures are being taken to ensure security at all the entry gates. Buhindi requested that the 2017 Emir Cup fi nal at the the fans to co-operate with the police to facili- Khalifa International Stadium will be tate easy entry and exit from the venue. an amazing experience. The Organis- There will be fan zones around the stadium, Aing Committee of the Emir Cup informed this which will have eateries to cater to the large during a press conference held yesterday at the number of people who are expected to turn up venue where Al Sadd will take on Al Rayyan in for this historic match. what is expected to a thrilling encounter. The stadium has 64 hospitality suites for Chief operating offi cer of the Organising VIPs and a limited number of them will be open Committee Hassan al-Kuwari, marketing and for testing purposes. They will be distributed communications manager Jassim al-Jassim and between sponsors and supporters of the two representative of the Ministry of Interior, Lieu- fi nalists. The private suites are priced between tenant Fahad Buhindi were present at the press QR15,000 and QR30,000. Out of these two conference. suites will be given to people with special needs. In order to streamline the entry of specta- For the spectators, there are 10,000 tickets tors into the stadium, the gates will be opened that have been put on sale. at 3:30pm, two hours before the action begins. The Organising Committee also informed The evening’s activities will begin with an that the players and offi cials who were present opening ceremony at 6:30pm followed by the during the 1976 opening ceremony have been kick-off half an hour later. invited for the fi nal tomorrow. Apart from them, The security for the event will be top-notch high-ranking football offi cials and dignitaries assured Buhindi. He informed that police teams from across the region have also been invited. Chief operating off icer of the Organising Committee Hassan al-Kuwari (centre) speaks at a press conference. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil CONFEDERATIONS CUP Persepolis to play Lekhwiya Germany manager Loew in empty stadium Kuala Lumpur: Iran’s Persep- olis will play Qatar’s Lekhwiya names seven debutants in an empty stadium owing to a repeat of fan misconduct, the Asian football’s govern- Injury and illness had already sidelined World Cup-winners Goetze, captain Neuer and Hoewedes ing body said yesterday. The Asian Football Confederation AFP (AFC) said the Champions Berlin League match will be played on May 23 at Azadi Stadium in Tehran. ermany’s head coach Joachim The AFC punished Persepo- Loew yesterday named seven lis after fans lit a flare during uncapped players for next a match against United Arab month’s Confederations Emirates’s Al Wahda on May GCup in Russia as the injury-hit world 8. “Persepolis supporters lit a champions unveiled an experimental flare in the 88th minute of the squad. Injury and illness had already match, putting safety in the sidelined World Cup-winners Mario stadium at risk,” the AFC said Goetze, captain Manuel Neuer and via a statement. Benedikt Hoewedes for the June 17-July In 2015, following three 2 competition. spectator related incidents, Midfi elder Julian Weigl, 21, of Borus- the AFC fined Persepolis and sia Dortmund, was also ruled out after ordered the club to play a fracturing his ankle last Saturday. As match in an empty stadium if expected, Loew has reacted by naming there were any new incidents an inexperienced 23-man squad — none of fan misconduct within two of whom are over 30 — which he aims years. “As the current breach to blood a year before Germany launch occurred within the probation- their defence of the World Cup. ary period, the order to play Only three of the squad — Matthias one match with a full stadium Ginter, Julian Draxler and Shkodran closure automatically comes Mustafi — won the 2014 World Cup and into eff ect,” AFC said. none of them played in the fi nal. Ajax winger Amin Younes, 23, is amongst the debutants, along with Hoff enheim’s striker Sandro Wagner and midfi elder CHAMPIONSHIP Kerem Demirbay, 23, plus Hertha Ber- lin’s deadball expert, defender Marvin Plattenhardt, 25. Kermorgant At 29, burly forward Wagner is the oldest member of the youthful squad. fi res Reading Premier League midfi elders Liverpool’s Emre Can, 23, and Manchester City’s into fi nal Leroy Sane, 21, have the chance to add to their handful of caps. First-choice London: Yann Kermorgant's players like Thomas Mueller, Mats penalty gave Reading a 1-0 win Hummels, Jerome Boateng (all Bayern over Fulham on Tuesday that Munich), plus Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos sent Jaap Stam's side into the and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil are all left out Championship play-off fi nal. to rest. “The aim is to bring a few play- Germany’s head coach Joachim Loew (centre) unveiled an experimental squad for next month’s Confederations Cup in Russia.