WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016 VOLUME XI ISSUE NO.13 QR2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com P 8 | FOOTBALL P 18 | ATHLETICS MISSION SUCCESS ROYAL BATTLES QATAR’S FIRST Sabri Lamouchi-coached Jaish turn Qatari high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim ENGLISH SPORTS the tables on Lekhwiya to win their is to fight with a bunch of world-beaters WEEKLY second Qatar Cup in three seasons. at the Doha Diamond League meet. FOLLOW US PAGES 22-23 DSP EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW P 24 | TABLE TENNIS Call to develop young players P 26 | volleyball Rayyan supreme at Qatar Cup P 20 | POSTER DIAMOND LEAGUE TOP GUNS UK £1, Europe €2 | Oman 200 Baisas | Bahrain 200 Fils | Egypt LE 2 | Lebanon 3,000 Livre | Kuwait 250 Fils | Morocco Dh 6 | UAEDh 5 | Yemen 75 Riyals | Sudan 1 Pound | KSA 2 Riyals | Jordan 500 Fils | Iraq $1 | Palestine $1 | Syria LS 20 Wednesday, May 4, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 3 EXCITEMENT NOW JUST A TOUCH AWAY OutlookThe writer can be contacted at [email protected] Inspire our athletes, especially women, to excel on world stage ĈĈThe QOC is working hard to support said, “The key isn’t the will to win. Everybody has the country’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony participation of women in sport at that. It’s the will to prepare to win that’s impor- of the London Olympics four years ago, the QOC all levels and in all structures tant.” I think it’s here that we Qataris are fortu- had sent a strong message to its critics that it nate to have a wise leadership to guide and sup- doesn’t discriminate women in the name of gen- HEN Pierre De Coubertin founded port us in our preparation to win. der or any other barriers. the International Olympic Committee The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), under One of the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 is Won June 23, 1894, and staged the first the inspirational leadership of HE Sheikh Joaan social development and it encompasses a system modern Games in Athens in 1896, it was seen as bin Hamad Al Thani, is sparing no efforts to pre- to bolster women’s role in society and empower the focal point for a social movement that would pare our biggest-ever contingent for the Olympics, them to be active community members. help make the world a better place by propagat- set to start at Rio de Janeiro on August 5. I would like to remind all Qatari citizens that ing the humanitarian philosophy of Olympism. The QOC has announced a list of 23 athletes, it’s our duty to support our athletes, especially Much water has flown under the bridge, but who have already achieved the qualifying marks women, by encouraging them in their pursuit importantly, both the spirit of Olympism and the for the Games. With more events forthcoming, of excellence. Games have survived, overcoming many chal- the number is certainly going to increase. lenges. The most heartening thing this time is the rise Another Olympics is round the corner. With in the number of women athletes. I’m happy to just three months to go, athletes from across note that the QOC is working hard to encourage the world are working hard to accomplish great and support participation of women in sport at things. For them, the Games are a manifestation all levels and in all structures, including man- of the strength of human spirit. agement, administration and coaching. Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi Former US basketball coach Bobby Knight once By choosing female shooter Bahiya Al Hamad as Editor-in-Chief Clubs must connect City is absolutely astonishing (Doha with communities Stadium Plus, April 27). INBOX Mahrez, voted player of the year The cover story on mismanagement by the Professional Footballers at Qatari football clubs made an inter- Association, has been in a class of Doha Stadium Plus Editor-in-Chief Dr Ahmed Al Mohannadi P.O. Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar esting read ( , April his own. Every time he receives the Tel: +974 44138065, Fax: +974 44138597 27). Despite excellent infrastruc- ball in the opposition half, there’s Managing Editor Kumar Ravi WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2016 VOlUME Xi iSSUE NO.12 Qr2.00 www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com P 8 | FOOTBALL P 22| BASKETBALL IT’S LEKHWIYA VS JAISH ARMYMEN’S CUP OF JOY QATAR’S FIRST Lekhwiya face Jaish in the Qatar Cup El Jaish come back strongly in the last ture and a quality field, the game in expectation among fans even as rival Senior Editor/Writer ENGLISH SPORTS final for the third successive season as two quarters to beat Al Gharafa in the Aswin Abraham they beat Rayyan and Sadd respectively. final and retain the Emir’s Cup. WEEKLY Editorial: Tel: +974 44138522, Fax: +974 44138593 FOLLOW US Senior Sports Writer Qatar suffers from a lack of passion- defenders panic. N Ganesh e-mail: [email protected] Sports Writers ate fan following. Without fans, the Leicester would do well to keep Sajith B Warrier Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Mohammad Amin-ul Islam e-mail: [email protected] game is nothing and clubs as well him in their ranks, but if they can PIECESPAGES 6-7 Sarath Pookkat Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 as authorities should find ways to do that, the Foxes are going to chal- e-mail: [email protected] Photographers Mohan attract them to venues. lenge for the title next time as well. Vinod Divakaran In a country like Qatar, where expa- Chris Smith, Doha. Fadi Al Assaad triates outnumber nationals, clubs Mohammed Dabboos MISSING P 20 | POSTER should ensure that they connect with P 18 | FOOTBALL ANTHONY P 24 | MOTORSPORT Winning a habit SPECIAL MARTIAL Dune bashing! STORY The art of being rebellious DSP graphics/ Joice Michael Joice DSP graphics/ Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution A K BijuRaj UK £1, Europe €2 | Oman 200 Baisas | Bahrain 200 Fils | Egypt LE 2 | Lebanon 3,000 Livre | Kuwait 250 Fils | Morocco Dh 6 | UAEDh 5 | Yemen 75 Riyals | Sudan 1 Pound | KSA 2 Riyals | Jordan 500 Fils | Iraq $1 | Palestine $1 | Syria LS 20 different communities. Publishers: ASPIRE Printing, Graphic Designers Abhilash Chacko P K Suresh, Doha. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah has become P O Box: 24598, Doha, Qatar. Publishing and Distribution Marketing & advertising: Tel: +974 44138566 Gopakumar K Printed at ASPIRE Printing Press so used to winning rallies across the Joice Michael Middle East that it just feels like the e-mail: [email protected] www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus Rise of Mahrez Technical support Shaheen Mohammed norm (Doha Stadium Plus, April 27). Distribution: Tel: +974 44138535/36, Fax: +974 44138597 www.facebook.com/dohastadiumplusqatar e-mail: [email protected] Abdul Naser M www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar Riyad Mahrez’s rise from a substitute He won again at the Sealine Rally at a relegation-threatened team in and it seems he’s destined to retain www.facebook.com/dohastadium www.twitter.com/dohastadiumplus www.flickr.com/photos/dohastadiumplusqatar © Stories and photographs appearing in this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of the English Premier League to the the FIA Cross-Country World Cup. ASPIRE Printing, Publishing and Distribution. shining light of champions Leicester Hassan Musthafa, Doha. Wednesday, May 4, 2016 | www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com 3 OutlookThe writer can be contacted at [email protected] Inspire our athletes, especially women, to excel on world stage ĈĈThe QOC is working hard to support said, “The key isn’t the will to win. Everybody has the country’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony participation of women in sport at that. It’s the will to prepare to win that’s impor- of the London Olympics four years ago, the QOC all levels and in all structures tant.” I think it’s here that we Qataris are fortu- had sent a strong message to its critics that it nate to have a wise leadership to guide and sup- doesn’t discriminate women in the name of gen- HEN Pierre De Coubertin founded port us in our preparation to win. der or any other barriers. the International Olympic Committee The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), under One of the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 is Won June 23, 1894, and staged the first the inspirational leadership of HE Sheikh Joaan social development and it encompasses a system modern Games in Athens in 1896, it was seen as bin Hamad Al Thani, is sparing no efforts to pre- to bolster women’s role in society and empower the focal point for a social movement that would pare our biggest-ever contingent for the Olympics, them to be active community members. help make the world a better place by propagat- set to start at Rio de Janeiro on August 5. I would like to remind all Qatari citizens that ing the humanitarian philosophy of Olympism. The QOC has announced a list of 23 athletes, it’s our duty to support our athletes, especially Much water has flown under the bridge, but who have already achieved the qualifying marks women, by encouraging them in their pursuit importantly, both the spirit of Olympism and the for the Games. With more events forthcoming, of excellence. Games have survived, overcoming many chal- the number is certainly going to increase. lenges. The most heartening thing this time is the rise Another Olympics is round the corner. With in the number of women athletes. I’m happy to just three months to go, athletes from across note that the QOC is working hard to encourage the world are working hard to accomplish great and support participation of women in sport at things.