January 29, 2018
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SPORT Monday 29 January 2018 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 31 PAGE | 32 ‘Special’ time as NBA: Curry pours in 49 No.20 for super Pakistan go top of points against Boston Federer with ICC T20 rankings Celtics Aussie Open win Wozniacki, Halep to headline Qatar Open THE PENINSULA DOHA: Newly-crowned Australian Open champion and world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark will be headlining the array of top stars that will be in action at the Qatar Total Open 2018. The seven-day fiesta of tennis will be held from Feb- ruary 12 to 18 at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha. The 27-year-old Dane will be hoping to record another first in Doha at this year’s tournament by becom- ing third-time lucky in the quest for the golden falcon trophy. Wozniacki was the final- ist at last year’s edition where Qatar’s players celebrate after retaining their Asian she lost to Czech’s Karolina Handball title. Pliskova. She was also denied the opportunity in 2011 by Russia’s Vera Zvonareva who defeated her in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in an highly enter- taining final. This year’s event, will also Brilliant Qatar complete feature former World No.1 and 2018 Australian Open finalist Simona Halep of Romania, defending champion Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic, Garbine Muguruza of Spain hat-trick of Asian titles and former world No. 1 Angel- ique Kerber of Germany CHINTHANA WASALA year’s IHF Handball World Cup, among others. THE PENINSULA which will take place in Den- Former world number mark and Germany. one Maria Sharapova of Rus- DOHA: Qatar held on to their Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and sia, the 2005 and 2008 Asian Handball title for a third South Korea completed the champion, as well as 2012 consecutive year when they Asian quota of the global and 2013 champion Victoria fought back to overcame their championship. Azarenka of Belaraus have neighbouring rivals Bahrain Qatar enjoy the status of also been granted a wildcard 33-31 in a keenly-contested Asian title holders since 2014 entry by WTA to contest in the final played in Suwon, South and incidentally, Bahrain were main draw. Korea yesterday. their opponents in all three A total of $2,666,000 cash Bahrain led the first half finals. prize are up for grabs at the 17-16 but they could not deny In the final of the 2014 16th edition of the tourna- Al Annabi winning the 2018 championship, Qatar beat them ment which is WTA Premier title. 27-26, while in 2016 the scores 5 tournament on the 2018 Qatar’s total was fed by two read 27-22 in Qatar’s favour. WTA Tour. brilliant efforts from Bertrand Qatar were the only “The fans are definitely in unbeaten team in the tourna- for a good time as they watch ment in Suwon. They made it the stars doing what they to the final in South Korea know how to do best on the when they defeated hosts 32-21 courts,” said Tournament Qatar enjoy the status in a keenly contested Director Saad Al of Asian title holders Qatar’s players and officials celebrate after winning the final against Bahrain yesterday. semi-final. Mohannadi. Earlier, Al Annabi outplayed Sales of tickets for the since 2014 and the UAE 34-20, Bahrain 29-21 prestigious WTA tournament incidentally, Bahrain Roine and Frankis Marzo who award. For the losing side, Following Al Annabi’s and Japan 40-23 in the Group has started online and in var- were their opponents scored eight goals each. Mar- Ahmed Fadhul (7) and Ali advancement to semi-final stage. In the third place play-off, ious shopping malls in Qatar. in all three finals. zo’s contribution also earned Merza (6) did well in their failed stage of the tournament, they South Koreans defeated Saudi Tickets are now available in him the Man-of-the-Match attempt. also secured their berth in next Arabia 29–21 yesterday. the malls at City Center, Landmark, Villaggio or online at www.qatartennis. PSG ‘2,000%’ sure Neymar will be at club next season AFP campaign, but Al Khelaifi rub- “yeah, why?”, and left the mixed relationship,” insisted Al PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi and star striker Neymar bished the claims. zone. Khelaifi. in a file photo. PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain “It’s a rumour and of course Edinson Cavani stole the “But you (the French media), President Nasser Al Khelaifi has it’s not true,” said the Qatari. headlines on Saturday by break- you criticise, you try to make said that he was “2,000 percent “He’s happy here, he wants ing Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s all-time problems between our players sure” that Neymar will stay at the to stay here. He only came here PSG goal-scoring record with his when there are none. I really ask club for next season. five months ago and he still has 157th for the club. you to stop doing it because it’s The world’s most expensive four and a half years left on his It was Neymar’s first outing not good for you or the club. player scored twice in a 4-0 rout contract. since scoring four goals but being “We need to focus on our big of Montpellier on his return from “The Spaniards want to start booed in an 8-0 thrashing of game (against Real Madrid), a two-match absence through a little (game), but we don’t want Dijon 10 days ago, when home which is coming soon.” injury. to get into this game. He won’t fans at the Parc des Princes were PSG take on Real Madrid in Spanish media reports ear- 100 percent be with us next sea- angered after he took a penalty the Champions League last 16, lier this week speculated that son, but 2,000 percent.” that could have given Cavani the first leg at the Bernabeu on Feb- 25-year-old Neymar was When asked by reporters if record. ruary 14, with the return leg in unhappy in Paris and set to join he was happy in Paris after the “The two (Neymar and Cav- Paris on March 6, as they look to Real Madrid at the end of the game, a frustrated Neymar said ani) really have a very good reach a European Cup final. 26 SPORT MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2018 ‘Special’ time as gutsy Pakistan go top of the ICC T20 rankings AFP Batting first on a friendly wicket, Pakistan reached 181 for MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Paki- six with opener Fakhar Zaman stan laid claim to being the best making 46 off 36 at the top of the Twenty20 side in the world innings. yesterday after beating New With wickets in hand, Umar Zealand in the series-deciding Amin was able to lead a late final Twenty20 match in Mount charge that saw 58 runs scored Maunganui. in the final four overs. The 18-run victory gave New Zealand, in reply, were Pakistan a come-from-behind never up with the run chase, and 2-1 series win that will see them managed 163 for six in their 20 overtake New Zealand at the top overs. of the world T20 rankings. The defeat followed a 48-run An animated captain Sarfraz loss in the second Twenty20, Ahmed leapt with delight and which ended a 13-match winning punched the air after the final streak across all formats, and put ball as Pakistan pulled off back- a dampener on New Zealand’s to-back wins over the hosts. preparation for next month’s tri- It marked an incredible angular series with Australia and comeback for the tourists who England. were whitewashed in the five- Zaman was the architect at match one-day series on arrival the start of the Pakistan innings in New Zealand and lost the first with a sharp 46 before being dis- Twenty20. missed in a debatable decision “It was a tough tour for us when Tom Bruce took a catch at because... we lost the (ODI) series ground level. but T20s is a totally different for- Television replays were mat,” said speedster Mohammad inconclusive on whether the ball Amir, who won the man-of-the- touched the grass, and after series award. lengthy deliberations the third “It is very special for all Paki- umpire ruled in favour of the on- Pakistani players celebrate winning the series after the stani people.” field decision. third Twenty20 international cricket match against New Ahmed praised the team New Zealand managed to Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui yesterday. effort and the way his side arrest Pakistan’s brisk early run refused to be bowed after a dis- rate in the middle of the innings appointing start to the tour. until Amin lashed out. Haris Sohail chipped in with the start of their reply to get near bully the bowlers but it was pri- the boundary fence three times “They way we came back His 21 came off the first five 20 off 12 balls while Aamer the required run rate of more marily a lone stand. When he in his 25 off 10 balls. after 6-0, credit goes to my boys. balls in an over from Ish Sodhi Yamin, replacing the injured than nine an over, and were in was removed for 59 off 43 balls But with his dismissal in the They worked really hard and before the New Zealand spinner Hasan Ali, faced six deliveries for early trouble when Williamson in the 13th over, the required run 17th over, New Zealand were 128 now we are again number one,” claimed the wicket off the final his 15.