SPORT

Saturday 28 October 2017

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Root ready Expanded Club World Garcia, Svitolina for Ashes Cup could replace advance on day of without Stokes Confederations Cup: FIFAFA upsetsu in Singapore Al Rayyan rally to down Al Sadd 2-1 Armstrong Vas shot off a counter-attack. The Peninsula The match was even afterwards. The Brigadiers’ evergreen hero Abdul- l Rayyan rallied from lah made attempts at the rival goal behind to register a fight- time and again, only to be denied, even ing 2-1 win over Al Sadd in as Al Ahli tried hard for a second the Qatar Clasico of the equaliser. And it did come five min- QNB Stars league (QSL) at utes from time through Meshaal AlA Sadd Stadium yesterday. Mubarak’s direct free-kick. The sixth-round match between Al Ahli next run into Al Sadd, while the two giants kept everybody on their Al Arabi face Al Kharaitiyat. toes thorough out the 90-minute dura- Meanwhile, Umm Salal got back tion and in the end The Lions were to winning ways, thanks to a nervy 1-0 able to end the jinx of losing to Al Sadd victory over Al Khor. in the QSL. Needing to start the game well, the Prolific goal scorer for Al Sadd home side looked well organised Baghdad Bounedjah gave the lead for against Laurent Banide’s Al Khor. The Wolves in the 12th minute of the However, they were largely restricted match while Abderrazaq Hamdallah to shots from distance in the first half. struck ten minutes in to the second Danger man Yannick Sagbo went close half for Al Rayyan while Myongin Koh on two occasions, first shooting wide struck the decisive match-winning when in on goal and the second, a goal in the 71st minute. rocket of a shot from long range, was The match began at a fast pace tipped around the post. with both teams eager to gain a foot- Immediately after the break, they hold over the proceedings very early found a way through the Al Khor in the match. defence, thanks to some good attack- Al Sadd got off on the goal front ing play down the left. Left-back Rami very early. Striker Bounedjah posi- Shamalah’s cross inside the area found Al Sadd’s Xavi Fernandez (left) and Al Rayyan’s Abderrazaq Hamdallah vie for ball possession during the QNB tioned himself in a perfect position to Mohammed El Sayed who first looped head home a cross from Musab Keder Stars League (QSL) match at Al Sadd Stadium in Doha yesterday. Al Rayyan won 2-1. the ball over the defender before scor- Kamal to give Al Sadd an early lead. Pictures: Kammutty VP/The Peninsula ing when in on goal at the second Thereafter, both the teams tried between the legs of Sadd keeper Al QNB STARS LEAGUE who rose above the rival defenders to attempt. to break open the rival defense but Dosari. Yesterday’s results flick home a Khalfan Ibrahim free-kick This goal sprung Al Khor into life without any success. Down by a goal, Al Sadd pressed with his head. for the first time as they enjoyed a In the second half, Al Rayyan came the panic buttons and steeped up the Umm Salal beat Al Khor 1-0 Hamad Ismail, along the right, and lengthy period of possession in search up with varied combinations to unset- pace in the last five minutes but Al Al Ahli drew with Al Arabi 2-2 Khalfan from the left, made inroads of the equaliser. Their greatest attack- tle the back four of Al Sadd. Rayyan defense stood the test. Al Rayyan beat Al Sadd 2-1 into the Al Ahli area as Al Arabi con- ing threat came from an energetic The Lions efforts bore fruits when In the other two matches played Today’s fixtures tinued to be on the offensive, but the Madison, who made several efforts Hamdallah managed to restore par- yesterday, Al Ahli and Al Arabi played 5:20pm: Qatar SC vs Al Sailiya scoreline remained the same till the and was particularly unlucky with a ity. The Moroccan striker finished the out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Al at Al Duhail Stadium half-time whistle. 25-yard drive that flew just inches past combined move with an elegant left Ahli Stadium while Umm Salal edged Al Ahli came back from the the post.

footed drive which broke through the Al Khor 1-0 at the Al Gharafa 7:30pm: Al Duhail vs Al Gharafa breather with renewed vigour and that Sagbo did have a chance to finish defense of Al Sadd keeper Saad Stadium at Al Duhail Stadium paid dividends in the form of an equal- off the game late on as he latched onto Abdulla Al Dosari. At Ahli Stadium, Under-23 player iser in the 50th minute when Farid a through ball over the top, but was Al Rayyan struck again with 19 Farid Ibrahim (50th minute) and Al Arabi were on the front foot found the mark after Abdullah crossed unlucky to see his volley on the turn minutes left for the final whistle, Koh defender Meshaal Abdullah (85th) from the beginning. They showed the ball from the right. go over the bar. tool full toll of a defensive lapse on scored for Al Ahli, while captain more purpose and created their first Al Arabi then upped the ante, with Al Khor will be disappointed not the part of Al Sadd defender Kamal, Ammar Jamal (21st) and Mardek chance in the 15th minute, but striker Diego Jardel replacing Mohammed to have made more of an impression who slipped on his own while trying Mardikian (64th) were on target for Al Mohammed Salem hit wide off a pass Salem. They regained the lead before on the game as they seek to regroup to keep the South Korean in check Arabi. from the right by Mardikian. long through Mardikian, who slammed for next week’s game against high-fly- allowing enough room for the Al Ahli now have five points and They duly surged ahead six min- home a rebound from Yazan Naim ers Al Duhail, while Umm Salal face 29-year-old to send his trying Al Arabi four after six matches. utes later through captain Ammar, after the goalkeeper blocked Hamad’s Al Sailiya.

Leaders Al Duhail aim to extend winning streak

The Peninsula side. Their players have quality, Kharaitiyat hasn’t affected our all-win record have 15 points Kharaitiyat by a big margin in the dangerous players and (Youssef) so the match will be difficult. We preparations. We’re going full from five matches. last round. El Arabi is scoring at will. It all l Duhail coach Djamel Bel- respect the opponents and will steam ahead and I’ve asked my Al Gharafa coach Jean Fern- “We took on Al Kharaitiyat will depend on how well we con- madi has urged his players take the game seriously. players not to show let-up,” said andez said his team will face an in a confident manner, having tain their attacks. Anot to let the guard down “We hope to retain the title, Belmadi. uphill task in the clash with Al registered our first victory in this “Our defence needs to but to maintain the consistent so I hope to avoid defeat in every The Algerian rejected sug- Duhail. season’s league, against Al Khor. improve. If you defend well, then run in Round Six of the QNB Stars game. Naturally, we’ll face Al gestions that statistics show Al “We know it’s a difficult task But things didn’t work our way you’ve more chances to win. League (QSL) when they take on Gharafa with all our strength to Duhail are superior to Al Gharafa. against Al Duhail. They’re the and we ended up disappointed. We’ve many positives to draw Al Gharafa here today. achieve our sixth successive vic- “Statistics can’t really deter- champions and leaders with an We just couldn’t sustain the from our games so far and we’ll “The game won’t be easy tory. They’ve a coach (Jean mine the superiority of one team all-win record. However, we’ll momentum. All that is past and try to build on them,” said the because Al Gharafa are a big Fernandez) with great experi- over another. What happens on be desperate to get some points. we look forward to this match. Frenchman. team despite the fact that they’re ence. That Al Gharafa are coming the field may be totally differ- We’re trying to put behind the We won’t get overawed by Al Al Gharafa are sixth in the in the process of rebuilding the off their shock loss to Al ent,” he said. Al Duhail with an disappointment of losing to Al Duhail’s status. They’ve some table with five points. SPORT SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2017 21 Stage set for classic encounters in Qatar Armstrong Vas The Peninsula

orld Champion is keen to put on track his up-and- Wdown 2017-18 season by successfully defending the Qatar Classic crown he won last year at the Khalifa International Ten- nis and Complex. Second seed Gawad – who beat compatriot 3-0 in the 2016 final – has a tricky first round tie on Monday against Spain’s former World No.5 Borja Golan in store, with Golan getting the better of Gawad in their Windy City Open quarter-final clash in February. November 2016 was one of the most remarkable months of Gawad’s career as he became the third Egyptian to lift the PSA Men’s World Championship title, while he followed that up two weeks later with his first ever Nicolas Mueller (left) of Switzerland and Ben Coleman of England in action during the qualifying rounds of the Qatar Classic World Series title at the Qatar QATAR CLASSIC 2017 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday. Mueller won 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 11-1, 11-8. Classic, defeating compatriot and First Round Draw the World No.1 at the time, [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) vs Mohamed El Shorbagy. make me stronger and more should both prevail through their in round one. US Open champion NetSuite Open and Marwan Cesar Salazar (MEX) It was a landmark moment hungry to win,” said Gawad. respective fixtures. The Egyptian and current leader on the World ElShorbagy at the US Open. The Zahed Mohamed (EGY) vs for Gawad, who had only ever “I know I didn’t perform my former World No.1 has had a Series Standings, , will younger ElShorbagy brother will Gregoire Marche (FRA) reached a solitary World Series best, I know losing in the first strong start to the season, which look to continue his purple patch begin his tournament against Daryl Selby (ENG) vs [Qualifier] final before his displays in Doha. round is not what I am supposed has seen him claim titles at the as he also opens against a qual- New Zealand’s World No.10 Paul Diego Elias (PER) vs [7] (ENG) Gawad has had an up-and- to do. NetSuite Open and Channel VAS ifier in round one. Coll. [5] Ali Farag (EGY) vs [Qualifier] down beginning to the new “That will make me learn at St George’s Hill and a runner- Tournament wildcard and The Doha event, which Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) vs [Qualifier] season, with a runner-up finish from it and come back as strong up finish at the US Open. home hope Abdulla Mohd Al kicked off with the qualifying Fares Dessouky (EGY) vs [WC] to ElShorbagy at the Oracle Net- as I can.” Mohamed ElShorbagy will open Tamimi, the World No.37, will be rounds yesterday, is the second Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) Suite Open last month followed Gregory Gaultier tops the against a qualifier in round one. looking to start strong in front of leg of the World Series event of [Qualifier] vs [3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) by a shock first round defeat at draw in Doha as he makes his Also in the bottom half of the his home crowd as he comes up the Men’s Tour and presents [4] (ENG) vs [Qualifier] the hands of World No.10 Paul first appearance of the season draw, three-time World Cham- against Egypt’s Fares Dessouky another chance for players to Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) vs [Qualifier] Coll at the US Open. after sitting out the early weeks pion and 2009 winner Nick in round one. earn points for the World Series Cameron Pilley (AUS) vs [Qualifier] The 26-year-old from Giza with an ankle injury that saw him Matthew is on Gawad’s side of Other strong contenders in Standings as they bid to qual- Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) vs [8] is determined to put that defeat forced to withdraw from both the the draw and is making his last the men’s draw include Eng- ify for the season-ending PSA (EGY) behind him though as he targets NetSuite Open and US Open. ever appearance at the tourna- land’s former World No.1 James World Series Finals – with only [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) vs Paul Coll (NZL) a third successive World Series The Frenchman will begin ment after last month’s Willstrop, who last won the tour- the top eight players on the Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) vs title to go with his triumph in his tournament against Mexico’s announcement that the York- nament in 2005. The men’s standings earning a cov- (EGY) Qatar last year and the JP Mor- Cesar Salazar – who recently shireman will be retiring at the Yorkshireman faces a tough ask eted berth at the lucrative Simon Rösner (GER) vs [Qualifier] gan Tournament of Champions won the Chicago Open. end of the season. in round one as he takes on tournament. Borja Golan (ESP) vs [2] crown he picked up in January Gaultier could face two-time Matthew – who beat Egypt’s Peru’s Diego Elias, who has been Matches of the main draw Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) inside New York’s stunning Qatar Classic champion Karim Darwish in the 2009 one to watch on the Men’s Tour will take place from tomorrow Venue: Khalifa International Tennis and Grand Central Terminal. Mohamed ElShorbagy in the Qatar Classic final – will start his so far this season – defeating after two days of qualifying, with Squash Complex “For me, that loss will just semi-finals of the tournament tournament against a qualifier England’s Matthew at the final on November 3.

NBA RESULTS New Orleans 114 Sacramento 106 LA Clippers 104 Portland 103 Root ready for Ashes without Stokes Chicago 91 Atlanta 86

Memphis 96 Dallas 91 London currently available for selection. three Ashes tours of Australia, although Boston 96 Milwaukee 89 AFP “We’ve got to make sure we plan and they did enjoy a 3-1 triumph in 2010/11. prepare as a squad and look to Many pundits believe that with- ngland captain Joe Root (pic- approach it as if this is our team going out Stokes they have no chance this NHL RESULTS tured) said yesterday his side out there for the tour,” Root told report- time around, but Root insisted “He is Vancouver 6 Washington 2 Ewere prepared to be without star ers at Lord’s yesterday. a fine player but I see a squad of play- all-rounder Ben Stokes for the whole Ashes-holders England have yet to ers that’s more than capable of going Edmonton 5 Dallas 4 of their upcoming Ashes tour of name a replacement vice-captain but over there and doing something really Minnesota 6 NY Islanders 4 Australia. Root said there was no need to rush special.” Los Angeles 4 Montreal 0 Stokes, England’s vice-captain, will that decision. Meanwhile Root denied England Ottawa 5 Philadelphia 4 not fly out with the rest of the squad “We will have to sit down and chat had a drinking culture as he vowed on Saturday, having been suspended about that,” said the Yorkshire there would be no repeat of the inci- Tampa Bay 3 Detroit 2 from international duty following an batsman. dent that had jeopardised Stokes’s Florida 8 Anaheim 3 incident outside a Bristol nightclub in “It’s something that’s ongoing and participation in the Ashes. Boston 2 San Jose 1 September. over the course of the next few weeks “We know that what’s happened Carolina 6 Toronto 3 The Durham ace remains under we’ll come to a decision.” hasn’t been good enough and we are

NY Rangers 5 Arizona 2 investigation after being arrested on Root added neither he nor anyone determined to get that right,” he said. suspicion of causing actual bodily else in the England hierarchy had “I don’t think there’s a drinking cul- Pittsburgh 2 Winnipeg 1 harm. received an indication as to whether ture in our side... We are grown men, Stokes and England are still wait- Stokes would face criminal charges. we know how to behave and we’ll ing to discover if he will face criminal “We don’t really know how long make sure we conduct ourselves well NFL RESULT charges. things are going to take and I think on this tour.” The England and Wales Cricket we’ve just got to sit tight and wait,” Root is now one of the world’s lead- Result from the NFL match between Balti-

more and Miami on Thursday Board have yet to rule him out of the Root said. ing batsmen, having scored more than Baltimore 40 Miami 0 five-Test series, which starts in Bris- England have suffered humiliating 5,000 runs in 60 Test at an average of bane on November 23, but he is not 5-0 series defeats on two of their last 53.76 including 13 hundreds. Johnson changes putters to take Shanghai lead

Shanghai -- Brooks Koepka, who hung followed up his opening 68 putter like about 20 minutes AFP on for second on 132 with a sparkling round that before I teed off, it’s a Spider, overall. started well and only got bet- so it’s one that I’ve used before. ustin Johnson switched Also in the hunt was Eng- ter as the day wore on. “I wasn’t really pleased putters at the last lishman Justin Rose, the Rio The 33-year-old had a with the one I played with yes- Dmoment and then 2016 Olympic champion, and couple of near birdie misses terday so the guys here in nailed four birdies in his last Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarn- early in his second round, but China made me one,” said the four holes to seize a one-shot rat. They shared third on 135 found his range with back-to- 2016 US Open champion. World number one Dustin lead at the halfway stage of the at “Asia’s major”. back bridies on holes 12 and “I got it right before I Johnson tees off during the $9.75m WGC-HSBC Champi- Fifth was Patrick Reed of 13, then ramped up his chal- walked to the tee. I hit a few second round of the WGC- ons in Shanghai yesterday. the United States, five shots off lenge to finish with a putts on the practice green HSBC Champions at the The world number one’s the lead. flourish. with it and I was like, ‘Oh, this Sheshan International golf club spectacular nine-under-par Johnson, who triumphed Johnson, tied 11th after the will work pretty well’. in Shanghai yesterday. 63 catapulted him over fel- in Shanghai in 2013 and has opening round, said: “Today “Went out and holed a lot low American and overnight won all four prestigious World obviously I played very well of putts today, so kind of like leader -- and good friend Golf Championships (WGC), today, but I actually got a it.” 22 SPORT SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2017

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is seen in a TV FIFA boosts camera’s viewfinder as he attends a news conference after a FIFA Council meeting in World Cup Kolkata, India yesterday. prize money

Kolkata AFP

he 32 national teams competing at the 2018 World Cup will share $400m Tin prize money, a 12 percent increase from the 2014 tournament, FIFA said yesterday. The purse at the previous edition in Brazil was $358m - $35m of which was awarded to champions Germany, with run- ners-up Argentina pocketing $25. By contrast, countries who failed to Expanded Club World Cup could advance beyond the group stage received $8m. At a meeting of the FIFA council in Kolkata, world football’s governing body also approved a decision to enhance the replace Confederations Cup: FIFA bidding regulations for the 2026 World Cup and appointed members of the bid evalu- ation task force. Kolkata from other regions unable to mount tournament or we’d rather not do some teams refused to take part. Reuters a serious challenge. it.” One of the most notorious fix- The Confederations Cup is held But Infantino stressed that it was tures was in 1967 when a brutal lobal soccer body FIFA in the year before a World Cup and important not to further congest the two-leg tie between Scotland’s Celtic Real’s reserves could replace the Con- features the respective national international calendar. and Argentina’s Racing Club went federations Cup with a team champions of each “One option could be to organ- to a replay in Uruguay. Six players make Fuenlabrada new world club compe- continent. ise it instead of the Confederations were sent off and became known as tition, its president “The current Club World Cup is Cup,” he said. the ‘Battle of Montevideo’. pay penalty in GGianni Infantino said yesterday. a nice competition but it has not The Club World Cup has been Among the teams to benefit from Infantino also confirmed that really had the impact that was hoped held in its current form since 2005. Friday’s decision were Italian club FIFA will officially recognise as in development of club football Before that, from 1980 to 2004, a AC Milan, Uruguay’s Penarol and King’s Cup win world club champions the winners around the world,” Infantino told single match was played between Real Madrid, who all won the Inter- of the old Intercontinental Cup dat- a media conference following a the champions of Europe and South continental three times in the Madrid ing back to 1960 - a contest that FIFA Council meeting. America in Tokyo. 1960-2004 period. AFP became notorious for some of the “We have to see if we can come That in turn was preceded by the A Pele-inspired Santos team, most unsavoury matches in the up with something special, some- so-called Intercontinental Cup, Portugal’s Porto and Brazil’s Sao eal Madrid needed two second-half sport. thing new which will help club which also featured European and Paulo were among the clubs to win penalties converted by Marco Asen- FIFA currently organises a Club football and confederations all South American champions and was it twice. Other winners have Rsio and Lucas Vazquez to open their World Cup every year, featuring the around the world.” played over two legs, with one included Argentine clubs Racing Copa del Rey campaign with a 2-0 last 32, champion clubs of each continent, “When FIFA organises a com- match on each continent. Club, Estudiantes, Velez Sarsfield first leg win at third-tier Fuenlabrada on but it has recently suffered from petition, it should be something The fixture was marred by so and River Plate, Paraguay’s Olim- Thursday. European dominance with teams special, so either we find a special much violence that, eventually, pia and Brazil’s Flamengo. Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane gave most of his star names the night off with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Isco and Sergio Ramos among those not even included in the squad. However, Real’s reserves failed to take United and Spurs seek to keep pace with EPL leaders their chance to impress in a sluggish first 45 minutes in which only Marcos Llorente’s thunderous volley from outside the box ManchesterManchester his players of a “poor attitude” after the Marouane Fellaini is still recovering from tested Jordi Codina. AFP Huddersfield reverse, made seven changes a knee ligament strain, though, while fellow “I’m happy, we scored two goals and for Tuesday’s League Cup fourth-round midfielder Michael Carrick also remains kept a clean sheet,” insisted Zidane. efeat is not aan option for tie at fellow Premier League club Swan- injured. “We had patience. We knew we could JoseJose MourinhoMourinh (pictured) sea and was rewarded with a 2-0 United have won all four of their home find the gap in the second-half and we Doror Mauricio PochettinoP as victory. league matches this season, scoring 14 goals did.” th eir teams seek tto keep pace Most of those omitted from the start- and conceding none, and Mourinho is seek- Shorn of inspiration from open play, with leaders ManchesterManch City in ing line-up in midweek are set to be ing to keep that sequence going. the visitors opened the scoring from the the Premier LeagueLeague title race. restored against Spurs, among them Midfielder Ander Herrera said: “Totten- penalty spot when Fran Garcia pulled Mourinho’sMourinho’s Manchester Romelu Lukaku, who is seeking a return ham are a direct rival every season. In the down Achraf Hakimi just after the hour UnitedUnited and Pochettino’sPoch Tot- to form, having gone four games without last two or three years they have improved mark and Asensio slotted home. tenham HotspurHotspu begin the a goal after scoring 11 in his first 10 United a lot and they are contenders for everything; Codina temporarily kept Fuenlabrada weekend five pointspoints behind City appearances. the Champions League, the Premier League in the tie with two stunning saves to deny asas theythey fafacece each other Mourinho is looking to get some of his and for both cups. Borja Mayoral. But Real’s second arrived atat OldOld TTrafford in injured players back quickly, although he “It will be a big statement if we beat 12 minutes from time when another pull today’stoday’s earlyear kick-off. has given no indication as to when France them.” from Paco Candela on Theo Hernandez UnitedUnited haveh lost sig- midfielder Paul Pogba will be ready to return Pochettino’s side should have been saw him sent-off for a second yellow card nificant grogroundu in the last from a hamstring injury sustained on Sep- heading to Manchester full of confidence and another penalty awarded to the Euro- fortnight,fortnight, followingfo up a tember 12. following the emphatic 4-1 defeat of Liver- pean champions. dire goallessgoalle draw at Phil Jones, who limped off at Hudders- pool last weekend. This time Vazquez took responsiblity Liverpool bby falling to a field with a thigh strain, was among the However, an unexpected home loss to to leave the return leg in a month’s time surprisingsurprising first league substitutes at Swansea, and will be fit, while struggling West Ham United in the League at the Santiago Bernabeu little more than defeatdefeat ooff tthehe season last his central defensive partner Eric Bailly is Cup in midweek delivered a sharp reality a formality. However, it wasn’t a trouble Saturday,Saturday, as HuddersfieldH also close to being available after suffering check to the north London club who squan- free evening for Real as debutant Jesus TownTown beat themthem 2-1. a groin injury with Ivory Coast at the start dered a 2-0 half-time lead before eventually Vallejo was shown a straight red card two Mourinho,Mourinho, wwho accused of the month. losing 3-2 to the Hammers. minutes from time. J oshua wants to be undisputed world champion in 2018

Cardiff But it seems not to matter to win the other two world title Keeping all four versions of On the undercard, Joshua’s Japan’s Sho Ishida in a clash of AFP who is in the other corner when belts held by New Zealand’s the world title intact is a difficult formermer victim Dillian Whyte can two unbeaten boxersboxers.. Joshua fights in the UK -- fans Joseph Parker, the World Box- job due to the different obliga- putt himself in the frame for a nthony Joshua hopes a will still turn up. Promoter Eddie ing Organisation champion, and tions from the rival world shotot at thethe WBC version ofof thethe successful fourth title Hearn claims a crowd of over American Deontay Wilder, who governing bodies. worldrld title next year. Adefence in Cardiff today 70,000 will take their seats at the defends his World Boxing Coun- “We want to become undis- Whyte,Whyte, whowho movemovedd to Lon- will keep him on course to Principality, the home of the cil crown against Haiti’s Bermane puted heavyweight champion donn ffromrom Jamaica as a cchild,hild, was achieve his goal of becoming Wales rugby union team. Stiverne on November 4. and then probably we will have knockedocked out by Joshua in undisputed world heavyweight Victory for Joshua, 28, both “We could fight Parker in to vacate the belts,” said Hearn. Decembercember 2012 bbutut is rankedranked No champion in 2018. the International Boxing Feder- February or March, so you have Joshua has yet to fight out- 3 byy the WBC. Not every fight can be career- ation and World Boxing the WBO and then it’s only one side of the UK and has stopped MeanwhileMeanwhile IreIreland’sland’s Katie defining and Cameroon’s Association champion, will see more,” Hearn told reporters. all 19 of his professional Tayor,yor, tthehe 2012 OOlympiclympic gogoldld France-based Carlos Takam, him return to fighting the divi- “We’ve only boxed twice this opponents. medallist,dallist, can win a world title Joshua’s opponent at the Princi- sion’s big names after his thrilling year, which has worked out OK One world title unification in herher seventhseventh professionalprofessional fightfight pality Stadium, is hardly one of 11th round stoppage of Ukraine’s because the Klitschko fight was fight that could happen in the UK whenen she takes on Argentina’s the biggest stars in the heavy- Wladimir Klitschko in front of huge. in 2018 would be against Parker, Anahiahi SancSanchezhez fforor tthehe WBA llight-ight- weight division over which British 90,000 at Wembley in April. “But ideally, March, April, who made a second title defence weightight belt.belt. boxer Joshua currently rules. Beating Klitschko, who summer then December. That against England’s Hughie Fury Also on the bill, Eng-Eng- Takam, 36, was only drafted reigned for a decade, was the would be nice. In a perfect world, on points last month. land’sd’s KalKal YafaiYafai makesmakes in at 12 days’ notice after Josh- highlight of 2012 Olympic cham- two of the three fights would be “The Titans didn’t clash, so it a secondecond ddefenceefence ooff ua’s original opponent Kubrat pion Joshua’s four-year for the additional belts. In any didn’t create a good, entertaining his WBA worldworld Pulev, of Bulgaria, pulled out professional career. order.” fight, especially for a heavyweight super-fly-per-fly- with a shoulder injury. He has There could be more epic On hearing Hearn’s plans for championship fight, nut the good weighte ight three defeats in a 39-fight record encounters next year, with Hearn him, a laughing Joshua said: “So thing is he’s still champion and it titlet l e and this will be his first world- hoping Joshua can box three actually, I think we’ll be fighting still bubbles in the background againstainst title fight. times in 2018 with the aim being Parker and Wilder in 2018.” for me,” said Joshua. Anthony Joshua SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2017 SPORT 23 Al Saaq grabs top honours as QR1m Hathab series continues

Chinthana Wasala event, Mohammed Khalid Al The Peninsula Qashouti guided Golden over the obstacles as they made no mis- ohammed Taleb Al takes on their way to win the Podium winners of the 115/125cm (Art 238.2.1) Saaq, astride Dia- event with a time of 40.51 sec- mond Delemma onds at the same venue. and 100/115cm (Art 274.5.6) events pose for completed a flaw- Qashoti won QR2,500 in photographs with officials during the presentation less routine to prize money for his winning per- ceremony on the opening day of second round of Msecure the top prize in the fea- formance while Hamad Nasser the Hathab Series at Al Shaqab Arena yesterday. ture event of the day as the Al Qadi, astride his 11-year old second round of the QR1m mare Belucci Van ‘T Vleminkhof’, Hathab showjumping series clocked 41.30 seconds to finish kicked off at the state-of-the-art second in the final standings. He Al Shaqab Arena yesterday. bagged a cheque worth QR2,000. Completing his round in Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi, astride 68.56 seconds in the 115/125cm Fudine, finished the round in (Art 238.2.1) event, Al Saaq 41.97 seconds to round up the bagged prize money worth podium and won QR1,500 in QR3,750 in yesterday’s round. prize money. The jubilant rider, Saaq said Today, the riders will take the that competing in Hathab is very field on the final day of round helpful for riders who will be tak- two of the series which is organ- ing part in internationalernational ised by Al Shaqab and Qatar competitions and hhee was EquestrianEquestrian FederationFederation delighted to haveave won (QEF).(QEF). yesterday. “Hathab is one ofof the greatgreat national competitionss and it prepre-- pares us for internationalernational championships. I am reallyreally hon- oured to win herere as thethe competitions were strong,strong, and to compete against topop national riders was tough. Butut I mamadede it Riders in action on opening day of with the support of my team,” Saaq said. second round of the Hathab Series at Saeed Nasser Al QQadi,adi, guid- Al Shaqab Arena yesterday. ing Daydreamer EC to another flawless routine, com-om- pleted the task in 71.831.83 seconds to secure the sesec-c- ond place which earnedrned him QR3,000 in prizee moneymoney.. The winner of thehe feature event in the previousous round which was held two wweekseeks aago,go, Hamad Nasser Al QadiQadi was placed third in yesterday’sterday’s competition after finishingshing his round in 73.12.12 seconds. This time, he chosese What A Pleasure overer of his 12-year-old geldingg SIEC Lonnie who helped himim grab the HathabH Ecuestrian Tour 2017/2018 Results top spot in the first roundound of the SmallSm Tour Table A, Special two phases, 100/115 (274.5.6) 12-leg series. Rank: Rider/HorseR Time Prize Money Despite missing thehe top prize 11:: MohammedMoh Khalid Al Qashouti/GOLDEN 40.51 QR2,500 yesterday, Hamad All Qadi was 22:: HamadHam Nasser Al Qadi/BELUCCI VAN ‘T VLEMINKHOF’ 41.30 QR2,000 positive ahead off today’s 33:: GhanimGha Nasser Al Qadi/FUDINE 41.97 QR1,500 competition. 4: GhaGhanim Nassel Al Qadi/FANTA - SPARTA 43.19 QR1000 “I’m very thrilled for tomor- 5: MohammedMoh Nasser Al Qadi/EVINA 43.72 QR700 row as you know wewe will be competing for the grandrand prize. OpenO Class Table A, One round against the clock 115/125 The competition is strongong andand I’m (238.2.1) Very glad to be amongong the top 1:1: MohammedMoh Taleb Al Saaq/DIAMOND DELEMMA 68.56 QR3,750 three,” he said yesterday.rday. 22:: SaeedSaee Nasser Al Qadi/DAYDREAMER EC 71.83 QR3,000 Earlier, in the Smallmall Tour - 3: HHamadam Nasser Al Qadi/WHAT A PLEASURE 73.12 QR2,250 Special two phases, 100/115cm 4: Sheikhhei Abdulla bin Nasser Al Thani/GIVAGO VAN DE GROENEDIJK 74.16 QR1,500 Garcia, Svitolina advance on day of upsets in Singapore

Singapore who was assured of a semi- However, Garcia Despite going into the Reuters final berth on Wednesday regrouped to finally get a WTA Finals contest knowing she can go after easily winning her foothold in the match in the Garcia advances to no further in the tourna- aroline Garcia pro- opening two pool matches. second set, deploying her semi-finals on ment, Svitolina came out duced a stunning Garcia’s dream debut devastating forehand to full tournament debut motivated and broke Halep comeback to over- will continue today with a effect to fashion three breaks at the first opportunity, the C after beating come Caroline Wozniacki semi-final against an ever- of serve as Wozniacki’s lev- Ukrainian rewarded for a Caroline Wozniacki 0-6, 6-3, 7-5 and advance to green Venus Williams, while els dipped. far more aggressive the last four at WTA Finals Woznaicki takes on White As the match drifted into 0-6, 6-3, 7-5. approach than she yesterday, the Frenchwoman Group winner Karolina a decider, the Dane rediscov- employed in her previous topping the Red Group after Pliskova, who can replace ered her range. She began to Halep eliminated ties. top seed Simona Halep lost Halep as world number one assert pressure on Garcia’s after losing to The world number four later in the day. if she wins the tournament weaker backhand side and Svitolina. kept her nose in front with Elina Svitolina knew she tomorrow. was rewarded with an early her positive play as Halep was out of the running for a Friday’s first match break. Garcia plays struggled to find any sort of semi-final berth following started as expected with But the Frenchwoman Williams, rhythm and Svitolina car- Garcia’s win in the day’s Wozniacki, whose serve had was fighting tooth and nail Wozniacki faces ried the momentum of the opening round-robin match been impenetrable all week, to stay in the tournament and Pliskova in early break all the way to a but that did not prevent the opening with a love hold covered every inch of the semi-finals. one-set lead after 32 Ukrainian from producing before the Dane attacked a court to tie it up at 5-5 on her minutes. her best display of the week. lethargic Garcia, who third breakpoint as Wozni- Locked at 3-3 in the sec- Svitolina, who had lost coughed up a couple of fore- acki attempted to serve for Wozniacki backhand sailed ond set, Svitolina continued her two previous Red Group hand errors to gift her an the match in a thrilling 10th long. to play with the freedom Caroline Garcia of encounters, blasted her way early break. game. “The first set she was that was missing in her France hits a return to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Wozniacki had recorded Garcia once again dug playing amazing and I was a opening losses and more against Caroline Halep, ending both their two ‘bagels’ in the wins over deep to recover from 0-40 little bit down, not believing sloppy play from Halep ena- Wozniacki of campaigns. Svitolina and Halep, and the down in the 11th game edge enough and she gave me bled the Ukrainian to edge Denmark during the That result meant Garcia, 27-year-old chalked up a ahead in the decider and the nothing,” Garcia, who has ahead and she sealed vic- WTA Finals tennis the last woman to qualify for third 6-0 set in as many Frenchwoman sealed a now won 13 of her last 14 tory when the Romanian tournament in Singapore, progressed along matches after just 22 minutes memorable victory on her matches, said in a courtside found the net on the second Singapore yesterday. with Denmark’s Wozniacki, of dominant action. second match point when a interview. match point.