NNBABA | Page 5 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 6 Davis scores Ngidi bowls 45 as Pelicans South Africa defeat Celtics to series win in overtime against India Thursday, January 18, 2018 TENNIS Jumada I 1, 1439 AH Nadal dominant as GULF TIMES big guns pull off great escapes SPORT Page 2 FOCUS AFC U23 CHAMPIONSHIP Palestine 2022 will have big focused from start to fi nish, impact across Arab says captain AFC knowing that only a substantial Changzhou, China win over Thailand, coupled with defeat for DPR Korea in their game against Japan, would be world: Di Maria alestine captain Mah- enough to secure a ticket through moud Abuwarda be- to the knockout phase. ‘It’s important to have compact World Cup as it will be comfortable for players’ lieves tournament debu- tants Palestine delivered “We knew that we had to Pa focused and near perfect per- By Matthias Krug win by a decent amount of Doha formance during Tuesday’s 5-1 goals to be able to qualify thumping of Thailand, a win for the next round,” which saw them qualify for the Palestine captain Mahmoud rgentina star Angel Di Maria be- AFC U23 Championship quar- Abuwarda said lieves the 2022 FIFA World Cup ter-fi nals against Qatar. will have a huge impact in Qatar First half goals from Mohanad With their continued par- and across the Arab world. Fannoun, Oday Dabbagh, Mah- ticipation in the competition on ATalking on the sidelines of Paris Saint- moud Yousef and Mohamed Dar- the line, Palestine were, accord- Germain’s recent winter training camp wish laid the foundations for the ing to Abuwarda, eager to pile in Doha, Di Maria said he had no doubts impressive victory, as Palestine on the goals in the opening half about the tournament’s signifi cance to edged DPR Korea for second spot in a bid to ease the pressure on the region. in Group B thanks to a superior themselves – and ratchet up the “It will be a very important World Cup,” goal diff erence. tension for their Korean counter- said Di Maria. “The stadiums are very im- Shehab Qumbor duly added a parts. Something they achieved pressive and I know the tournament will fi fth for his side late on to con- to great eff ect. be a big boost for the Arab world. fi rm a mouth-watering last eight “We knew that we had to win “I have been to Doha a few times and meeting with Qatar on Friday. by a decent amount of goals to every time I have been received very well, “The match was excellent in be able to qualify for the next both on a personal level and with the every aspect, whether it was round,” he said. team.” technical, tactical, or physical,” “Although we also knew it de- Di Maria, who has won 92 caps for his Abuwarda said. pended on the score in the Japan country, went on to praise Qatar’s com- “We were focused from the versus DPR Korea match. pact tournament plans, which will give start to the fi nish. We listened to “However, we concentrated fans the chance to see more than one the coach’s instructions on the on finishing the match by scor- match a day in 2022. fi eld which defi nitely helped us ing goals in the first half, so as “I have played in World Cups in coun- win the game and play to the best not to have to play the second tries which are very big and having to take of our abilities.” half with a lot of pressure on long journeys is diffi cult and complicated Palestine entered the game ourselves.” for the team,” said Di Maria, who was part of the Argentina squad which made it all the way to the 2014 FIFA World Cup fi nal. “It is very important to have a compact World Cup as it will be a lot more com- fortable for the players.” Argentina has already tasted success on Qatari soil after its youth team won the U20 World Cup in 1995 – something Di Maria hopes is a good omen. Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria (second from left, also inset) takes part in a practice session during their Qatar Winter Tour in “I hope we can repeat the success of Doha’s Aspire Zone last month. 1995,” said Di Maria. “We have the World Cup coming up this year which we can ites, fi rst of all because we have Lionel and that makes the games very special.” but he is already the best. Hopefully foot- aim to win, and if we win in Russia, hope- Messi. There are other teams playing at a Di Maria also heaped praise on Messi, ball will give Messi this World Cup – it fully we can win in Qatar as well.” high level, like Spain and France, but Ar- who he described as the greatest player of would be good for everyone. Di Maria, 29, is confi dent Argentina gentina is among the best. all time. “Messi has achieved everything in his can lift world football’s most prestigious “We have to keep working hard to re- “Messi is already the greatest,” added career – the only thing missing is a World event for the fi rst time since 1986 this main at the top level. World Cup tourna- Di Maria, who has also turned out for Real Cup. Obviously as an Argentine and a summer after coming so close in Brazil. ments are always diff erent to the qualify- Madrid and Manchester United. “Win- teammate of his, I would love for it to “Argentina is always one of the favour- ing rounds. If you don’t win, you go home, ning the World Cup would validate him, happen in Russia.” (SC.qa) DAKAR RALLY Sainz closes in on second title; al-Attiyah third overall Palestine captain Mahmoud Abuwarda (left) in action against Thailand during their group stage game on Tuesday. AFP competitor. Chilecito, Argentina Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke (Toyo- ta) won the stage with a time of 4hr 10min Quarter-fi nal fi xtures IRAQ: Group C winners with 54sec, ahead of Cyril Despres (at 4min two wins and a draw to their arlos Sainz has his second Dakar 35sec) and Sainz (at 4min 40sec). Peter- Qatar v Palestine: name. rally title in his sights after over- hansel (at 4min 50sec) and al-Attiyah (at Changzhou Olympic Sports VIETNAM: Came second in coming his second tough exam in 5min 56sec) rounded up the top fi ve. Center, January 19 Group D thanks to a win and the Argentine dunes in yester- Sainz had lost 13 minutes to Peterhan- Japan v Uzbekistan: Jiangyin a draw. Cday’s 11th stage and maintaining his lead sel on Tuesday’s 10th stage but after con- Sports Center, January 19 KOREA REPUBLIC: Topped over Stephane Peterhansel in the general taining his closest rival yesterday made a Iraq v Vietnam: Changshu Group D with seven points. classifi cation. crucial step towards taking the 2018 title, Sports Center, January 20 MALAYSIA: The competition’s Spaniard Sainz is an hour ahead of with a move away from the dunes and to Korea Republic v Malaysia: other debutants. Finished fellow Peugeot driver Peterhansel with more manageable routes. Kunshan Sports Center, Janu- second in Group C. three stages of the rally to go after fi nish- Matthias Walkner is also close to the ary 20 ing third yesterday, 10 seconds ahead of motorcycle title despite fi nishing fi fth on Numbers Game the Frenchman. Qatar’s two-time Dakar Wednesday, nearly 10 minutes behind his How they qualifi ed champion Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (Toy- nearest challenger Kevin Benavides. Group Stage Top Scorer: Al- ota) is third in the overall classifi cation. KTM rider Walkner is 32 minutes QATAR: Finished top of Group moez Ali (Qatar) and Lee Keun- “This is one of the Dakar classics. I lost ahead of Honda’s Argentine rider Bena- A with three wins from their ho (Korea Republic): 3 goals the Dakar here in 2009 when I started vides, and after seeing former leader three games. Most Goals Scored in the with a 30-minute lead and I ended up in a Adrien Van Beveren crash out on Tues- PALESTINE: Tournament Group Stage: 6 (Palestine) hole, so it’s very good to have got through day witnessed Honda’s Joan Barreda debutants who were second in Fewest Goals Conceded in it,” said Sainz. retire in the special stage, finally giv- Group B. the Group Stage: 1 (Qatar, “We have to continue like this, day af- ing into the knee pain that he had com- JAPAN: Were top of Group B Uzbekistan, Japan, Iraq) ter day, and what was important was not plained of since Saturday. with a perfect record thanks to Largest Group Stage Margin to lose Stephane.” Barreda had won three stages and was their three victories. of Victory: Thailand 1-5 Pales- Sainz’s bid was strengthened fur- second in the general classifi cation go- UZBEKISTAN: Group A’s tine (Group B) ther after offi cials decided to rescind a ing into Wednesday’s 11th stage, won in second-placed team who beat 100 percent Group Stage 10-minute penalty imposed on Monday 4hr 01min 33sec by Australian Toby Price Toyota driver Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah of Qatar and his co-driver Matthieu Baumel of China 1-0 in the group stage. Records: 2 (Qatar, Japan) for a dangerous overtake of a quad bike who climbed to third overall. France finished fifth in the 11th stage of the Dakar Rally 2018 yesterday.