Rashid Hamad shoots Skeet gold at Open PAGE 18

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2019

Four-time QTCC champ Khelaifi to ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE compete in TCR Europe series PAGE 18 EVERTON VS LIVERPOOL

SHEIKH JOAAN GRACES LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR GRAND PRIX OF

HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee, poses on the podium with the winners of the CSI 5* Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha - 1.60m at the Al Shaqab Arena on Saturday. ‘Surprised’ Epaillard strikes it big with Usual Suspect d’Auge Frenchman RESULTS CSI 5* Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha - 1.60m (€375.000) wins LGCT 1. Julien Epaillard (FRA). Horse: Usual Suspect d’Auge. Round 1 time: 81.72 secs; Jump off time: 40.11 secs; Pirze- money: €123,750 2. (GBR) Explosion W. 80.83 secs; 40.55 secs; €75.000 Doha Grand 3. Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) H&M Chilli Willi; 80.65 secs; 43.43 secs; €56,250 Prix in style CSI 5* GCL of Doha Round 2 - 1.55m (€95.000 to individual class winners) 1. Kevin Staut (FRA) Horse: Viking d’La Rousserie. Time: 72.16 secs; Prize money: €23,750 2. Ben Maher (GBR) Explosion W. 72.33 secs; €19,000 VINAY NAYUDU 3. Bertram Allen (IRL) Harley vd Bisschop; 72.70 secs; €14,250 DOHA GCL Team results 1. Swans; Riders: Daniel Deusser (Calisto Blue) 76.56 secs; Pius Schwizer (Cortney Cox) 78.63 secs. Total JULIEN Epaillard finally time: 155.28 secs struck luck with all his pluck 2. Valkenswaard United. Bertram Allen (Harley vd Bisschop) 72.70 secs; Frank Schuttert (Chianti’s Champion) 76.95 in the Longines Global Cham- secs. Penalties: 4. Total time: 149.65 secs pions Tour as the French- 3. New York Empire. Scott Brash (Hello Senator) 76.44 secs; Hans-Dieter Dreher (Prinz) 75.62 secs, Penalties: 4. Total time: 152.06 secs. man emerged supreme in the blue riband CSI 5* Lon- Hathab 2019 Big Tour 1.30/1.45m gines Global Champions Tour Table A: Two Rounds, 1st and 2nd Round Against the Clock 1. Rider: Nasser al Ghazali; Horse: Aslan 69; Round 1: 0.00 Round 2: 0.00; Time: 40.68secs; Prize: QR8,750 Grand Prix of Doha class of 2. Saeed Nasser al Qadi; Daydreamer EC; 4.00; 0.00; 41.17secs; QR7,000 the grand showjumping event 3. Mubarak Yousuf A S al Rumaihi; Vivaldi K; 4.00; 0.00; 42.21secs; QR5,250 at the magnificent Al Shaqab 4. Awad al Qahtani; Cassander Van Het Bremhof; 0.00; 0.00; 42.86secs; QR3,500 Equestrian Arena on Satur- Open class 1.15/1.25m day evening. Two Phases: A + A, Both Phases Against the Clock The delighted Epail- 1. Mohammed Said A.M Haidan; Apple Bee; 0.00; 0.00; 25.38secs; QR3,750 lard, who won a whopping 2. Khalid Mohammed A S al Emadi; Ambre De Beaufour; 0.00; 0.00; 26.00secs; QR3,000 €123,750 besides other re- 3. Hamad Nasser al Qadi; Cuando Z; 0.00; 0.00; 26.36secs; QR2,250 wards, was honoured by HE 4. Hamad Nasser al Qadi; St. Lucia; 0.00; 0.00; 26.56secs; QR1,500 Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Medium Tour 1.20/1.30m Thani, President, Qatar Olym- Table A: Against the Clock with Jump-Off pic Committee. 1. Jaber Rashid al Amri; Canavaro De Muze (E.T.); 0.00; 64.56secs; QR5,000 2. Saeed Nasser al Qadi; Daydreamer EC; 0.00; 66.92secs; QR4,000 The 41-year-old Epaillard, The podium finishing teams of the Global Champions League competition Shanghai Swans, Valkenswaard United and New York Empire with 3. Mohammed al Ghazali; Alegro 84; 0.00; 68.93secs; QR3,000 who had been finishing sec- LGCT President and GCL Co-Founder and QEF Secretary-General Badr al Darwish. 4. Mohammed Khalifa al Baker; Arselina; 0.00; 68.94secs; QR2,000 ond in various classes through the weekend, struck gold on his trusted 11-year gelding Experienced Swans duo about the long season ahead, Usual Suspect d’Auge finish- of Daniel Deusser and Pius and the strength of the teams ing ahead of 2018 winner Ben Schwizer kept cool heads in this season. “I expected more Maher (on Explosion W) and the Qatari heat, pulling out a teams on a double clear to- Belgian Nicola Philippaerts, flawless performance to de- day, but it showed the course riding another famous horse liver the only faultless score was tough. There were faults H&M Chilli Willi. of the event, finishing ahead everywhere. It’s a long season, It was Epaillard though in of Valkenswaard United’s but the first step is done so we the season opener of 2019 who pairing of Bertram Allen and hope to continue like this.” made the showjumping world Frank Schuttert, with New take notice with a fast and fu- York Empire’s Scott Brash and GHAZALI rules in Hathab rious Jump Off round of the Hans-Dieter Dreher taking The thrilling national finale needing just 40.11secs. third. Hathab competition’s eighth That beat Maher and Ex- A delighted Daniel said leg saw the 23-year-old Nasser plosion’s round of 40.55secs “We have a very good team, al Ghazali, who is also 2014 and Nicola and H&M Chilli but still in the end you have Asian Games medallist, claim Willi’s 43.43secs. to get the job done! We had a the Big Tour (1.30-1.45m) Speaking of his exploits, strong day on Thursday, and class honours on his mount the soft-spoken Epaillard said, two clear rounds today - I have Aslan 69. “Credit for me today. It was Winner of the Hathab round eight Big Tour class Nasser al Ghazali a super partner with Pius, so The Open class of crazy to ride in the Grand Prix. Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha winner Julien receives his prize from Omar al Mannai, Event Director, at Al Shaqab we’re very happy.” 1.15/1.25m was won by Mo- I has a little chance and then I Epaillard of soon after his victory at Al Shaqab on Saturday. on Saturday. Pius praised his team- hammed Said A.M Haidan was surprised when I rode in mates, both equine and hu- riding Apple Bee, while Jaber the first round. In the Jump ful. “I wasn’t actually thinking ing Doha leg of the 20-world place. I had a chance to ride tion, Shanghai Swans soared man: “My horse jumped Rashid al Amri on Canavaro Off there were only five rid- about winning the Grand Prix city LGCT also saw Epaillard there last year it was special to the lead in today’s GCL amazing, and in my mind De Muze (E.T.) won the Me- ers and I tried my best and it but it’s fantastic. It’s my sec- become the first rider to qual- and I am already excited to be Doha, with a high octane com- Daniel is the best rider in the dium Tour 1.20/1.30m class. worked. It’s a nice feeling.” ond LGCT win after and ify for LGCT Super Grand Prix riding there again,” said the petition seeing many of the world at the moment, so thank Big action equestrian will re- For someone who had I am very happy to win it,” said Play-offs in later this winner. very best horse and rider com- you Daniel!” turn to the fabulous arena next been pushing for the top po- Epaillard. November. Earlier in the Global binations crumbling under Despite their early win, week when the CHI Al Shaqab is dium finish, it was a delight- The triumph in the open- “It’s great. Prague is a nice Champions League competi- pressure. Daniel remained humble held from March 7 to 9. Sports Sunday, March 3, 2019 17 QFA boss meets top City pip Bournemouth to go Greek soccer officials

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK present during the meeting. back atop in Premier League DOHA The latest round of meet- ing is a follow up of a MoU that A Qatar Football Association was signed at Al Bidda Tower Hugo Lloris last-gasp penalty save helps Tottenham hold Arsenal in the north derby (QFA) delegation headed by by QFA President Grammenos President Sheikh Hamad bin in Doha in 2017. DPA Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani QFA and HFF have agreed LONDON has met with the Greek coun- to have bilateral exchanges at terparts during a short over- all levels of football with direct MANCHESTER City moved seas visit. aims of boosting the young tal- back to the top of the Pre- With aims of working to- ent in both countries. mier League after a 1-0 win at gether to develop football in Both countries are seeking Bournemouth on Saturday. both countries, the QFA Presi- ways and means to play each scored the only dent and his accompanying other’s national teams when goal of the game 10 minutes delegation discussed a series possible. into the second half to put City of matters of common inter- Greek football officials two points ahead of Liverpool, est. were also updated on the de- who play at Everton on Sun- The QFA President was ac- velopment work related to the day. companied by Qatar’s Ambas- 2022 FIFA World Cup to be Tottenham remained third sador to Greece, HE Abdulaziz held in Qatar. after a 1-1 draw with Arse- al Nama. The delegation also During their visit, the QFA nal, while Manchester United included Ali Dawood, Execu- delegation toured the head- moved above the Gunners into tive Director of the President’s quarters of the Greek Football fourth after they beat South- Office, and Ahmad al Abbasi, Federation. ampton 3-2. Executive Director of the Na- The President and mem- City struggled to break tional Teams Department. bers of the Greek Football Fed- down Bournemouth in the first President of Greek Foot- eration have also confirmed half and lost Kevin de Bruyne ball Federation, also known their support for Qatar in their to injury just before half-time. as Hellenic Football Federa- preparation efforts to host the Mahrez replaced the Bel- tion, Evangelos Grammenos, 2022 FIFA World Cup. gian and squeezed in the cru- Secretary General Alexandros At the end of the meeting cial goal 10 minutes into the Dedes, and National Team Di- souvenirs were exchanged by second half to put the pressure rector Angelos Basinas were both parties. back on Liverpool. Tottenham stayed four points clear of Ar- senal as they drew 1-1 in the north London derby, although Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez scores a goal past Bournemouth’s goalkeeper Artur Boruc (left) during their English Premier League match at missed a late penalty for Arse- the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth on Saturday. (afp) nal in injury time. Aaron Ramsey put Arse- be sent off for Arsenal in injury James Ward Prowse equalized nal ahead after 16 minutes but time. Kane said he felt Spurs for the visitors. equalised from the deserved a point. Lukaku snatched the win- penalty spot on 74 minutes, be- “We came out in the sec- ner in the 89th minute and fore Aubameyang’s late penalty ond-half fighting and we put though Paul Pobga missed a for Arsenal was saved by Hugo the pressure on with good penalty, the result lifted United Lloris. tackles and aggression,” Kane one point above Arsenal, while Beaten in each of their last said. “We needed to go on and Southampton are just two two games, Tottenham had get the second and thankfully points above the bottom three. Lloris to thank for their point, Hugo saved the penalty at the Bottom side Huddersfield having lost their previous two end and that point was the least look dead and buried, 13 points games. we deserved.” from safety with nine games to “The game was a bit crazy. “It’s a point, we wanted go, after a 1-0 defeat at Bright- At the end it could have been three but it stops the losing on. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani (right), President of 2-1 for either team but it is a streak and we can focus on Qatar Football Association with Evangelos Grammenos, President of good point for us after a bad Dortmund and then South- Results the Hellenic Football Federation in on Friday. start in a tough week,” said Llo- ampton.” ris, who let in an own goal in scored Tottenham 1 - 1 Arsenal midweek. Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku (right) celebrates after scoring twice, including a late winner, Bournemouth 0 - 1 Man City “Everything went so quick- his second goal during their English Premier League match at Old as United edged out a bat- Brighton 1 - 0 Huddersfield ly,” Lloris said of the penalty. “I Trafford in Manchester on Saturday. (EPA) tling Southampton side 3-2 to Qatar U-23 set for 3 friendlies always protect my defender but go above Arsenal into fourth. Burnley 1 - 3 Crystal Palace I also respect the decision refer- after saving well from Christian but Aubemayang then had the Yann Valery put South- Man United 3 - 2 Southampton ahead of AFC Qualifiers ee.” Ramsey’s goal gave Arsenal Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko. chance to win it, only to see his ampton in front early on but Wolves 2 - 0 Cardiff City a deserved lead but goalkeeper Kane equalized after he penalty saved, while there was Andreas Perreira and Lukaku West Ham 2 - 0 Newcastle TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK will face Oman, Nepal and Af- Bernd Leno kept them in front fouled by Shkodran Mustafi still time for Lucas Torreira to helped United lead before DOHA ghanistan. The 11 group winners and THE Qatar U23 national side four best second-placed teams AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE have scheduled three friendlies will qualify for the Finals, with to gear up for the qualifying the host nation of the Finals group for the AFC U23 Cham- receiving automatic qualifica- pionship set to take place in tion. Doha on March 22-26, 2019. In the event that the host Rayyan, Sadd to face Saudi rivals The young marrons will of the Finals, Thailand, finish start proceedings against among the qualified teams to QSL Outfit Al Arabi on March the Finals (either top of the 6. Two more friendlies will group or one of the four best Al Duhail to host Esteghlal of Iran in see the squad test it’s capac- second-placed teams), the next ity against Iraq and India on 8 (fifth) second-placed team in Doha on Tuesday and 11 of the same month. the ranking among all groups Qatar will host Group A as will qualify to the Finals in- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ing competed in four editions they aim to make their third stead. DOHA of the AFC Cup since then. appearance in the AFC U23 The 2020 Qualifiers will be They get their campaign un- Championship Finals. They held on March 22-26, 2019. THE group stage of the 2019 derway with a trip to the Is- AFC Champions League gets lamic Republic of Iran where underway in West Asia on they face perennial partici- Monday and Tuesday with pants Zobahan. The Isfahan- the 16 sides in Groups A to D based team had to overcome Bounedjah becomes only opening their campaigns. the challenge of Al Gharafa in Al Sadd, Al Duhail and Al the play-off round, and they third player in Al Sadd history Rayyan will represent Qatar did so in style, coming from in the continent’s showpiece two goals down at half time to to net century of goals for clubs. Al Rayyan start emerge 3-2 winners in Doha their campaign on Monday at the final whistle. against Al Ittihad in Saudi IKOLI VCITOR Arabia, while Al Sadd face GROUP B DOHA another Saudi Arabia club Al PFC Lokomotiv and Al Ahli. Duhail host Esteghlal in Wahda kick-off their 2019 AL-SADD striker Baghdad Doha. campaigns exactly as they did Bounedjah netted his 100th Iraqi teams return to the the previous year. The Emi- goal for the club during the AFC Champions League for rati side will hope the result (From left) Mouafak Awad, Dame Traore and Gelmin Rivas during their Champions League playoff match Wolves 8-1 thrashing of Qatar the first time in over a decade is different this time, having against Saipa in Doha recently. SC on Thursday. as Al Zawraa line-up in Group lost their Group B opener 5-0 Going into Thursday’s A, while all three past win- in Tashkent 13 months earli- seven attempts to reach the their run of nine consecutive They face Uzbekistan’s Pa- QNB Stars League game, ners from West Asia - Al Ain, er. Two-time winners Al Itti- knockout stage ended in dis- wins ended by Persepolis, khtakor who had to overcome Bounedjah was on 99 goals. Al Ittihad and Al Sadd - are had missed out on the last two appointment. while Esteghlal were elimi- the reigning AFC Cup cham- After scoring a hat-trick in the present in the group stage. editions of the competition GROUP C nated at the same stage by Al pions Air Force Club in the big win, he now has 102 strikes but return this time around Just like in Group B, this Sadd. The Qatari champions play-off round. to his name. The 30-year old GROUP A under difficult circumstances group brings a repeat of a have since strengthened their A repeat of last year’s has been in phenomenal form Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates Returning to Continental as they find themselves em- Matchday One fixture from ranks with the likes of Medhi Round of 16 fixture sees Al for the Wolves this season as with teammates after his record football for the second year broiled in a battle to avoid last season. Giants Al Ain Benatia and Shoya Nakaji- Sadd travel to Jeddah to the hat -trick took the Algerian feat on Thursday. running, UAE’s Al Wasl wel- relegation from the Saudi Pro and Al Hilal have been pitted ma, while the giants play Al Ahli. The Qataris had striker’s season tally to 34 goals, come Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr League. in the same group again, but snapped up striker Godwin come away from King Abdul- which puts him on top of the in his six-year spell with the club in the first match of Group A The Jeddah-based side this time their first match-up Mensha from rivals Persepo- lah Sport City with a 2-1 win league goalscorers list. Against between 2003-2009. Former on Monday. The Saudi side play hosts to Qatar’s Al Rayy- will be in the UAE on Tues- lis. which ultimately helped them Qatar SC, he scored one from player Khalfan Ibrahim is third had cruised past Uzbekistan’s an on Monday in what will be day. The match sees a return GROUP D seal a 4-3 aggregate result the penalty spot in the first half on the list with 101 goals. Has- AGMK in the play-off round the second test for Coach Jose for Coach Zoran Mamic to his Of the 16 West Asian sides and advance to the quarter- then added two in the closing san Haydos, who is still on ac- with a 4-0 victory in Riyadh Luis Sierra, having drawn 1-1 old stomping ground, having participating in this season’s finals. minutes of the game. tive duty for Al Sadd is fourth to round off the quartet of with city rivals Al Ahli on his swapped the Garden City for AFC Champions League, it Al Ahli, whose best Con- Al Sadd confirmed that on the list with 96 goals for the Saudi teams in this year’s return to the club he man- the Saudi capital in Decem- was Persepolis who went fur- tinental performance was Bounedjah reached 100 goals club. group stage alongside the aged last season. ber, after he had helped Al thest last time around, losing reaching the final in 2012, re- on Twitter on Thursday, making Bounedjah’s century plus kingdom’s traditional pow- Al Rayyan had survived Ain to the 2018 FIFA Club the 2018 final 2-0 to Japan’s turn for the third time in four him just the third player to reach two goals are from, 77 in the erhouses Al Hilal, Al Ittihad an early scare to defeat IR World Cup final. Kashima Antlers. years, having finished sec- the landmark for the Wolves. league in 55 appearances, 13 in and Al Ahli. Iran’s Saipa 3-1 in the play- Two 2018 quarter-final- Branko Ivankovic’s men ond in the Saudi Pro League. Bounedjah is now Al Sadd’s the AFC Champions League, Al Zawraa returns to the off round to confirm an ists go face-to-face in the return to Meanwhile, this will be Al second-top goalscorer behind ten goals in other cup com- AFC Champions League for eighth appearance in the second Tuesday encounter in where the previous campaign Sadd’s sixth consecutive Con- who according petitions including the Amir the first time since 2007, hav- group stage. All previous Group C. Al Duhail had seen ended in disappointment. tinental participation. to Wikipedia, netted 104 goals Cup. 18 Sunday, March 3, 2019 Sports Suaiteen wins Amir’s Sword Endurance Race at Sealine Development of Qatar sports due to government vision: QBF chief Ghanim tops opening day of Amir’s Cup bowling AYENI OLUSEGUN DOHA

QATAR Bowling Federation President Abdulsalam Abbas Hassan says the government’s Winners of the HH The Amir’s Sword Endurance Race pose with their trophies at Sealine. A total of 66 horsemen participated in the 120-km race contested over four stages. vision has led to significant The Amir’s Sword was won by Abdulrahman Saad al Suaiteen astride Gazalles du Bosphore Ewalraid. Jassim al Maadhadi on Shagya Stone JJ finished as the runner-up, while Khalid growth and development in Sanad al Nuaimi on Flore de Suleiman took the bronze. The Qatar Equestrian Federation and the Qatar Endurance Committee organised the annual event. Qatar sports. Speaking on the opening day of the Amir’s Cup 2019 at QBF President Abdulsalam the Qatar Bowling Center on Abbas Hassan Saturday, he said ‘excellent facilities and organisational RESULTS structure’ have contributed to Rashid Hamad strikes the sports sector. TOP 10 RESULTS “The government has been Name Total Average 1 Ghanim M Aboujassoum 1375 229.17 0 doing a great job with sports 2 Abdulrahman M Jaidah 1262 210.33 by providing excellent stadi- 3 Mansour al Hajri 1255 209.17 ums, good training facilities 4 Nasser Jamal al Sahoti 1250 208.33 and sufficient budget for the 5 Mohamed Jamal 1235 205.83 Skeet gold at Qatar Open 6 Ryan Lalisang 1230 205.00 federations and we are reap- 7 Mohammed H al Merekhi 1212 202.00 ing the rewards for that as the 8 Yousef al Jabir 1193 198.83 RESULTS football team recently won the 9 Saoud Ahmad Abdulla 1175 195.83 Bartekova Asian Cup. 10 Mohammed Alessaily 1134 189.00 QATAR OPEN IN SHOTGUN 2019 “For the bowling federa- champion in Men’s Skeet tion, we have been competing another Qatari Abdulrahman women’s class 1.Hamad, Rashid Saleh (QAT) 23 24 24 24 24 at a high level for a long time so Jaidah who closed the day in (119+19 & 56+3) we hope to continue progress- second. 2.Tomecek, Jakub (CZE) 25 23 24 25 23 (120 & 56+2) ing,” Abbas said. Mansour al Hajri, Nasser TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK 3.Lodde, Luigi Agostino (ITA) 24 24 25 24 24 (121 & 45) Over the last few years, Jamal al Sahoti and Mohamed DOHA 4.Terras, Anthony (FRA) 24 25 24 24 25 (122 & 35) bowling has been on the rise Jamal completed the top five. 5.Delaunay, Eric (FRA) 25 22 23 25 24 (119+18 & 25) and last year, the Qatari team A total of 41 players have regis- 6.Hansen, Jesper (DEN) 24 25 22 23 25 (119+1 & 17) FORMER Asia champion won the overall boys event at tered for this year’s competition Rashid Hamad Saleh clinched Women’s Skeet the World Youth Champion- with 16 representing the host. a pulsating and high-scoring 1.Bartekova, Danka (SVK) 24 23 22 22 23 (114 & 55) ship. The prize money for the 2.Anastassiou, Lucie (FRA) 24 24 23 25 24 (120 & 47) Men’s Skeet gold medal match 3.Hill, Amber (GBR) 25 23 22 22 24 (116 & 39) “Some of our bowlers are PBA-World Bowling tourb- on the concluding day of the 4.Sumova, Barbora (CZE) 19 23 23 24 24 (113+1 & 29) young and they are still stu- nament, which also serves Qatar Open in Shotgun 2019 5.Del Prete, Francesca (ITA) 22 23 21 24 25 (115 & 20) dents at universities but they an Asian ranking event was at the Losail Ranges on Sat- 6.Demina, Svetlana (RUS) 22 23 19 24 25 (113+0 & 13) have been doing great job at increased from $61,400 to urday. Junior Men’s Skeet balancing both playing and $102,000 with the winner set The 2008 Asian Cham- 1.Mcneill, David (GBR) 25 19 19 24 23 - 110 studies,” Abbas added. to claim $20,000. pionship gold medallist and 2.Harrison, Oliver (GBR) 22 17 18 19 19 - 95 Meanwhile on the tourna- The Singapores Basil Dill twice Olympian Saleh was 3.Vaitekunas, Tomas (LTU) 20 16 13 18 18 85 0 ment front, Qatar’s Ghanim Ng won last year’s event while pitted against Czech Jakub Junior Women’s Skeet Aboujassoum set the pace on Qatar’s Jassim al Muraikhi was Tomecek, the 2011 European (Left) Rashid Hamad Saleh of Qatar, the winner of the Men’s Skeet gold medal, cleans his gun at the Qatar 1.Bogdanova, Alisa (LTU) 19 20 19 22 24 - 104 the opening day, bowling a to- champion in 2017. The format Championship bronze medal- Open in Shotgun 2019 at Losail on Saturday. (Right) The winners of the Men’s Skeet with QSAA President 2.Boyd, Madeleine (GBR) 19 21 19 21 20 - 100 tal of 1375 with an average of of this tournament is a singles list, and the two were locked at Ali Mohammed al Kuwari after the prize distribution ceremony. 3.Al Muraikhi , Fatma (QAT) 18 19 16 22 20 - 95 229.17. mixed with unlimited attempts 56 each after a thrilling regula- Ghanim who won the gold as long as there are vacancies. tion finish. shooting. After the victory, Country Rally title, was locked medal in All Event at the World The tournament, which began In the ensuing shootoff, Hamad said, “ in a seven-shooter group with Bowling Youth Championships on Saturday, will conclude on Hamad held his nerves and Italian Luidi Agostino Lod- 118 each and missed out on in Michigan last year, leads March 8. got the better of the Czech de, the 2014 World Champion qualifying for the finals by a challenger, who won the silver with two appearances in the point. medal in the 2009 European Olympic Games, bagged the Slovakia’s Danka Barte- Championships also, 3-2 to bronze medal with 45, while kova won the Women’s Skeet emerge the winner and pocket double world champion An- crown, outclassing French $7,000 in prize money. thony Terras, a French giant Lucie Anastassiou. Qualifying Earlier, Hamad was the who has had one World Cup for the final with the fourth set up in the final by a difficult Finals and two World Cups best score of 114, the Lon- qualifying shootoff which end- to his name, was fourth after don Games bronze winner ed in his favour with 19-18 re- topping the qualifying rounds and 2012 World Cup Finals sult against French Eric Delau- with 122. champion Bartekova struck nay. Besides them, Denmark’s Delaunay and Hansen 55, while Anastassiou could Jesper Hanssen also had 119 grabbed the fifth and sixth manage only 47. but he advanced as the sixth places, respectively, getting British Amber Hill was best shooter, hitting only one only 25 and 17 targets, respec- third with 39, while Czech target in the shootoff, while tively. Barbara Sumova was fourth Hamad was fourth. London Olympics bronze with 29 hits. Italian Franc- The Qatari however car- medallist Nasser bin Saleh al esca Del Prete was fifth and ried on his form into the final The winner of the Women’s Skeet Danke Bartekova is flanked by Attiyah, who just followed his Russian Svetlana Demina and made it to the gold medal other medallists on the podium after the medal ceremony at the third Dakar Rally crown with completed the top six prize Participants in action during the opening day of the Amir’s Cup matchup with his brilliant Losail Ranges on Saturday. the Manateq Qatar Cross- winners at 13. Bowling Tournament in Doha on Saturday. (HANSON K JOSEPH)

Jadhav, Dhoni steer India to Khelaifi to compete in TCR Europe Series victory Khelaifi was both proud The QMMF to send five riders to and thrilled with getting this AFP opportunity. “Even till the last HYDERABAD (INDIA) Europe under its plan to develop the week, I wasn’t sure. I’d heard sport in Qatar about the plans but it was con- KEDAR Jadhav on Saturday firmed just now. It’s dream op- said batting with Mahendra portunity for me to compete Singh Dhoni is a learning expe- RAAJIV TRIPATHI themselves. against strong teams and tough rience after the duo led India to DOHA Qatar Motorcycle and Mo- drivers in the TCR Europe. Also a six-wicket win over Australia torcycle Federation President it is a steep learning curve for in the first one-day interna- FOUR-TIME Qatar Touring Abdulrahman al Mannai, dur- me. I’ll try and develop myself tional. Car Championship winner ing a press conference, said that and see how it goes from here. Jadhav, top-scoring with 81, Abdulla al Khelaifi will tackle the decision to give exposure “Before the championship and Dhoni, batting on 59, put a full-fledged TCR Europe to the riders and Khelaifi is in starts at the end of April in on an unbeaten 141-run stand Series this season, after hav- line with its plans to motivate Hungary, I’ll have a training as the hosts achieved their tar- ing been duly rewarded by the the participants in the national for two weeks to get familiarise get of 237 with 10 balls to spare Qatar Motor and Motorcycle championships and expand the with the track, the team and in Hyderabad and take a 1-0 Federation (QMMF) for this sport in the country. QMMF President Abdulrahman al Mannai with officials, riders and QTCC champion Abdulla al Khelaifi (third car. In the beginning, I know lead in the five-match series. talent, dedication and drive. “Khelaifi has shown his left) during a press conference in Losail. it’ll be difficult to produce re- The pair registered their The QMMF is also send- dedication, drive and abilities sults but I’ll see how I can uti- second successive century ing five riders to Europe to get during the past QTCC sea- opportunity to represent Qatar QMMF, Losail Circuit Sports lise each chance on the track stand against Australia in ODIs more experience and enrich sons. So we are sending him in various championships,” he “Khelaifi has shown his Club, Losail Academy and and get better. after India were in trouble at 99 their abilities under its long- to the TCR Europe for the full added. dedication, drive and abili- PCR Sport. After the training “My long term goal is to de- for four with paceman Nathan term strategy to develop the season. This is the best time to Talking about the contribu- ties during the past QTCC programme of Darwish and velop myself enough to be able Coulter Nile and leg-spinner motor sport and inspire the motivate him, put him in the tion of QSTK champion Sulaiti seasons. So we are send- Khamis is over, the former will to compete in the WTCC. Qatar Adam Zampa taking two wick- youth in Qatar. Saeed al Sulaiti, tougher competitions to help to training of young riders and ing him to the TCR Europe stay back and compete in the has hosted a few rounds of the ets each. the QSTK champion, prom- him learn and get better. Hope- an amazing surge of his protégé for the full season.” Moto4 series. This develop- WTCC and I hope to compete Earlier, Usman Khawaja ising Abdulla al Qubaisi and fully, this will set the goals not Qubaisi this season, he said, ment path will continue and in it one day on the home track. top-scored with 50 while the in- Sheikh Jassim al Thani will only for him but also for others. “Saeed had done a tremendous I’m sure there will be a healthy I also want to inspire the young form Glenn Maxwell made 40 contest in all the seven rounds “Earlier, there was noth- job with the young riders at the es and in the last two QSTK competition between the riders drivers of Qatar in future. But off 51 deliveries for Australia. in the Spanish Supersport ing for the drivers and riders Losail Academy. We know the rounds, he has been unbeat- and drivers to push themselves right now I want to enjoy each Championship, while Losail to look for after the national incredible way trained Qubaisi able. and secure the chance to com- moment and train hard so that BRIEF SCORES India 240 for 4 (Jadhav 81*, Dhoni 59*, Kohli 44) beat Academy’s Yousuf al Darwish championships were over. and how the young rider has “The strategy to send the pete in Europe or other higher I can get ready for the open- Australia 236 for 7 (Khawaja 50, Maxwell 40, Carey 36, and Hamed Khamis are be- Now, it will surely inspire them improved tremendously. Now drivers and riders to Europe level competitions,” Mannai ing round at the Hungaroring Kuldeep 2-46, Shami 2-44) by six wickets ing sent to learn and improve to work hard and try to gain the he has started to win the rac- is a joint cooperation by the added. Track,” Khelaifi added.