Abdulla al Qubaisi emerges Qatar Superstock 600 champion at Losail International Circuit page 14

SUNday, MARCH 15, 2020 Duhail drub Al Sailiya 4-0 to set up Amir Cup semis clash with Al Sadd

Tribune News Network QFA puts off all matches Al Duhail came up with a rol- licking performance on Satur- till March 29 day as they handed Al Sailiya a 4-0 defeat to ensure a semi-final The Qatar Football Associa- clash with arch-rivals Al Sadd. tion (QFA) announced that The Red Knights dominat- based on the circular issued ed from the word go to hum- by the Qatar Olympic Com- ble Al Sailiya, for whom it was mittee No. 6 for the year one of their worst match of 2020, it will suspend all the season, at the Jassim Bin local sporting activities until Hamad Stadium. March 29, 2020. The Qatar , who be- Football Association has gan the scoring with a penalty decided to stop all football strike in the first half, Abdulla matches, which includes al Ahrak (49’), Moez Abdalla the Amir Cup, QNB Stars (52’) and Abdulrahman Mo- League, Second Division hamed (65’) were among the League, QatarGas League goal-scorers for Al Duhail. and Ooredoo Cup for the The win paved way for an season 2019-2020 in addi- exciting Al Duhail-Al Sadd tion to other local football semis clash. The Red Knights competitions that are organ- had prevailed over Al Sadd to ised by the Qatar Football claim the Amir Cup the last Association until March 29. season. The Wolves avenged This decision comes within the bitter loss during the Qatar the framework of the efforts Cup earlier this season. and measures taken by the Duhail are currently the state to limit the spread of QNB Stars League leaders and the coronavirus (Covid-19) in will aim to get the better of Al order to ensure the safety of Sadd once again. players, fans and administra- The Xavi Hernandez- tive staff. (QFA) coached Al Sadd in contrast needed a spot kick to get past Al Wakrah for their captain Boudiaf was pleased semis berth. Al Duhail players celebrate with star of the match Edmilson Junior (No. 10) after he scored the opening goal from the spot against Al Sailiya during their Amir Cup quarter-final his team’s show and said he The other last four encoun- match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday. was looking forward to the ter pits Al Arabi against sec- semi-final against Sadd. ond division side Al Markhiya, Scoreline “We are very happy to play who stunned Al Rayyan. Al Duhail 4 (Edmilson in the semis against Al Sadd. Of all the four sides, Al Du- We are very happy to play in We have taken another step hail seem to be in fine fettle Al Sailiya’s Ahmed the semis against Al Sadd. Junior (pen) 24’, Abdulla closer to winning the Amir given their show on Saturday. al Minhali tries to We have taken another step al Ahrak 49’, Moez Cup again and I hope we play Led by Edmilson Junior, who stop Al Duhail’s closer to winning the Amir Abdalla 52’, well against Sadd. We have a toppled Sailiya defence time during their Cup again and I hope we Abdulrahman Mohamed good team and are playing at and again, the Red Knights match on Saturday. 65’) bt Al Sailiya 0 good level. The last time (at clearly on top of their game. play well against Sadd. We ) Al Sadd played They should have been 2-0 have a good team and are better than us but hopefully up inside the first 10 minutes playing at good level. The by Sailiya defenders. this time we will come out as but and last time (at Qatar Cup) Al The second goal eventually winners,” said Boudiaf. Almoez Ali were poor in front Sadd played better than us came in the 49th minute when Sailiya’s Serigne Mbodji of goal, failing to take advan- but hopefully this time we Abdulla al Ahrak sent in a stun- said his team didn’t deserve tage of Edmilson’s pin point ner from just outside the box. to win and lamented the sec- cross from the left side. will come out as winners. Whatever little hopes Sail- ond half performance. Edmilson put Duhail Al Duhail midfielder and iya may have had of making “It’s was a very difficult ahead in the 24th minute as captain Karim Boudiaf a comeback were dismissed match for us. The way we the Belgian forward converted when when Almoez found the played in the second half a penalty after Sailiya’s Mosta- net in the 52nd minute. was bad. If you are playing fa Mohamed Abdelha handled time with one-goal lead. Soon, Abdulrahman Mo- the leaders of the league you the ball in the box. Karim Bou- Immediately after the half hamed piled on the misery need to try and not give any diaf and Muntari spurned easy time break, Edmilson had a for Peregrines with a 66th chance, and but we were very opportunities to increase the chance to score again but he minute strike. poor in the second half,” the lead as Duhail went into half shot too long and was crowded Al Duhail midfielder and Senegalese defender said. I’m supernatural, says Semenya, Japan’s PM Abe pledges pursues Olympics 200m slot Olympics to go ahead

AFP “With what I have already done – I have AFP Johannesburg run three 200m races – it is doable,” said Se- Tokyo menya as she eyes making the Tokyo quali- Double Olympics 800-metre champion fying time before the June 29 deadline. Japanese Prime Minister Caster Semenya called herself “supernat- The athlete born in northern region Shinzo Abe on Saturday resist- ural” this weekend after saying she hoped capital Polokwane holds the South Afri- ed pressure for changes to the to compete in the 200m at the 2020 To- can records at 300, 400, 600, 800, 1000 Tokyo Olympics schedule even kyo Games. and 1500m. as sporting events worldwide The 29-year-old South African can- Semenya took the athletics world by fall victim to the coronavirus not defend her 800m title as she refuses storm 11 years ago when becoming the pandemic. to abide by World Athletics testoster- world 800m champion in Berlin at the Abe pledged Japan would one-reducing regulations covering races age of 19. But as her list of successes grew, host the Games as planned in between 400m and the mile. rival female athletes began to question July and said he had no im- “I call myself supernatural,” said the how the South African could leave them mediate intention to declare three-time world 800m champion after trailing in her wake. a state of emergency over the clocking 23.49 seconds to win a provincial Semenya is among a minority of fe- virus outbreak, which has now championships 200m final in Pretoria. male athletes who have an unusually high seen more than 140,000 peo- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talks to the media during a The time she set here leaves her 0.69 level of testosterone, which gives added ple infected across the globe press conference in Tokyo on Saturday. (AFP) sec outside the time needed to qualify for strength. and over 5,400 killed. the July 24-August 9 Tokyo Olympics. The media-shy South African has faced His comments come two any trouble by overcoming the outbreak and Olympics after Semenya will have at least four chanc- South African 800-metre Olympic champion constant legal battles during her career, days after US President Don- spread of infections,” he said. Trump proposed a delay. es during April to lower her time to at least Caster Semenya reacts after winning the leading to temporary bans from compet- ald Trump suggested the Organisers, Japanese gov- “We agreed that Japan 22.80 sec and secure a place in the South women’s 200m final during the Athletics Gaut- ing in her favourite middle-distance event. Japanese capital postpone the ernment officials and the IOC and the US will cooperate and African Olympics team. eng North Championships at the LC de Villiers The latest testosterone regulations left her Games for a year as the spread have insisted preparations are closely coordinate for success She can compete in three Athletics Athletics Stadium in Pretoria on Friday. (AFP) with a choice of competing in the 200m or of the virus wreaks havoc on on track and there will be no in the Olympics,” Abe said, South Africa Grand Prix meetings and at a distance longer than the mile. the sporting calendar. postponement or cancellation. adding they had not discussed the national championships. “You now me – I always challenge my- She has not clocked impressive times “We will respond by closely England’s football Premier any postponement. The champion was thrilled at her lat- self. This (switching from 800m to 200m) over longer distances, prompting her to coordinating with officials con- League, America’s NBA bas- The Japanese parliament est 200m time, having slashed 0.77 sec off was not an easy decision to make. seek the 200m route to Tokyo. cerned, including the IOC (In- ketball season and the Augusta on Friday approved legisla- her 2019 personal best in two races span- Away from the athletics track, Se- ternational Olympic Commit- Masters golf major are just some tion that gives Abe the power ning seven days. ‘Anything is possible’ menya joined a Johannesburg-based tee). There is no change in this,” of the competitions suspended to declare a state of emergency “We are chopping the times and I call ”I am used to running two laps and then you football club last year but was unable to Abe told a news conference. because of the pandemic. to combat COVID-19 but Abe myself supernatural. I can do anything I come and run half a lap. You have to adjust, play immediately because she missed the “We want to hold the On Friday, Abe and Trump insisted such a declaration was want,” she told reporters. which is not easy, but anything is possible. registration deadline. Olympics as planned without spoke on the phone about the not yet necessary.