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NNFLFL | Page 6 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 7 Patriots stand Shami shines in way of Eagles as Bangladesh extending dismissed for winning streak 150 in Indore Friday, November 15, 2019 FOOTBALL Rabia I 18, 1441 AH Lippi quits as GULF TIMES China coach aft er defeat to Syria SPORT Page 3 FOOTBALL Qatar drawn with the UAE, Yemen and Iraq in Gulf Cup Defending champions Oman are in Group B where they are joined by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain By Sports Reporter Doha sian Champions and hosts Qa- tar have been placed in Group A along with the UAE, Yemen and Iraq for the 24th Gulf Cup Aaccording to the tournament’s draw which was held at the Grand Hyatt Ho- tel yesterday. Defending champions Oman are in Group B where they are joined by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. The draw was conducted for the sec- ond time following the late inclusion of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain in the tournament. Earlier, the tournament was sched- uled to go ahead with only five teams – AGCFF President HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait and Yemen. (C) and Vice-President Jassim al-Shukali (L) at the draw yesterday. The tournament will begin on No- At bottom, the Gulf Cup trophy is displayed. vember 26 and will finish on December 8. The new fixtures and venues are to be revealed shortly. The draw was conducted in the pres- ence of HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, the President of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federa- tion (AGCFF), Jassim al-Shukali, Vice A general view shows the groups following the draw for the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup in Doha yesterday. President, Mansour al-Ansari, General Secretary, Qatar Football Association, FIFA World Cup which Qatar would be Rumaihi said it was a fair draw. the favourites. So we are hoping we can and other officials representing Qatar hosting,” he added. “I think it’s a fair draw, and I am sure win the title.” and the football federations of the re- “I am sure the Gulf Cup will be excep- that the quality of football will be very Hamid al-Shaibani, Chairman of gion. tional, not only from the organisational high. To have all the eight teams would the Competitions Committee of the “All football fans in the Gulf are very point of view but also from the point of be a huge boost for the game and I am AGCFF, said that the schedule will be happy that all the eight teams are par- view of brotherhood, co-operation and sure there would be a huge turnout of announced shortly. ticipating in the tournament,” Oman’s unity. fans.” Earlier, with only five teams, only one al-Shukali told reporters after the draw. “We are confident it will be a special Al-Rumaihi added, that as a Qatari, stadium – the Khalifa International – “The standard of tournament will event with lots of fans. Also, the Gulf he hped the host nation would win. was earmarked for the tournament. But be very high and it will especially ben- Cup and the Club World Cup will be re- “As a Qatari it will be great for us if now another stadium could be added to efit the teams who are also engaged in hearsals for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.” we win the event. Our team is strong accommodate the increased number of the qualifying tournament for the 2022 AGCFF General Secretary Jassim al- and since we are hosting it we are also matches, he added. WORLD SQUASH Kiwi Coll to take on Egypt’s Momen in fi nal By Mikhil Bhat Doha or the fi rst time since 2015 a non-Egyptian will feature in the PSA Men’s World Squash Championship fi nal after New FZealand’s Paul Coll won yet another fi ve-game thriller, this time against Marwan ElShorbagy, in the semi-fi nal yesterday. Coll, who is also the highest-ranked non-Egyptian in the world at fi ve, will take on world number three Tarek Momen in today’s fi nal, which prom- ises to be a cracker given that both the players will be going for their fi rst world title. For Momen, he will have a second the game was in the decider, where it game at winning quick points and he straight shot at the title having reached stayed neck and neck midway through did exactly that at the start of the fi rst the fi nal against compatriot Ali Farag the game at 6-6. However, a few errors three games. I did not feel like I was in Chicago earlier this year, and would cost ElShorbagy crucial points, and playing terrible squash, there were want to go one better at the glass court New Zealand’s Paul Coll celebrates after yet another five-game thriller, this time against Marwan ElShorbagy, in the Coll nailed the game ball at the fi rst just a few wrong shot selections. of the Khalifa International Tennis and semi-final yesterday. At right, Egypt’s Tarek Momen plays a shot against Marwan ElShorbagy. PICTURES: Jayan Orma opportunity yet again, and celebrated “(In the end), I was just trying to run Squash Complex today. his win in an 84-minute slugfest with my backside off and trying to volley In the fi rst semi-fi nal, Momen went the win. had “more reserves in his legs” than old narrowly took the fi rst game 11-9. In a roar. as much as possible and push up the 0-1 down against fi fth seed Simon “There was pivotal moment in the he did and that eventually proved the the second, Elshorbagy took an injury “It is a pretty surreal feeling, but court. I had to make him work and I Rosner before winning the next three second game when I was 6-3 down. I diff erence as he couldn’t close out the break at 2-0 after Coll’s move past him like I said yesterday, I am just going tried to put the pace through the roof.” games off of an energy-sapped German was so glad to come back to win that games he initially led. at the T caught him on his right knee. to enjoy the moment as it is, but then in a little less than an hour for a 3-1 (9- game and from then on I just kept push- In the second semi-fi nal, the young- While initially on his return, the focus on tomorrow because tomor- RESULTS (semi-finals) 11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6) victory. ing and tried to use my speed advantage er ElShorbagy, who had beaten his elder break didn’t seem to have aff ected the row is the biggest match possible and 2-Tarek Momen (EGY) bt 5-Simon Rös- “It was a really good match today. a little bit to close out the match. brother and the top seed Mohamed in Egyptian much as he surged to take an I want to fi ring for that,” said Coll, ner (GER) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (58m) Simon pushed himself really hard and “But I am not done. I have been there the quarter-fi nal on Wednesday, just 8-3 lead, but Coll then took fi ve straight who is the fi rst New Zealander since 4-Paul Coll (NZL) bt 9-Marwan ElShor- he gave it everything at the beginning. I already and I know how it feels. The fo- fell short of his second appearance in points to restore parity. A couple of ref Ross Norman in 1986 to reach a men’s bagy (EGY) 3-2: 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 was really struggling to cope, but at the cus is to recover and to prepare myself a World Championships fi nal, losing to decisions later, Coll had the game ball World Championships fi nal, and is 3-3 (84m) end of the day, this is the semi-fi nals of for a big battle and to fi nally lift the tro- Coll 2-3 (11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 7-11). He and he nailed it at the fi rst opportunity in head-to-head in PSA events against TODAY’S SCHEDULE (final) the World Championships and nerves phy that I have always dreamed of.” had lost to Mohamed in the 2017 fi nal to level the match 1-1. Momen. 5:30pm: 2-Tarek Momen (EGY) vs have to play a role,” Momen said after Rosner admitted that his opponent in Manchester. Yesterday, the 26-year- Twenty-three odd minutes later, “Marwan is one of the best in the 4-Paul Coll (NZL) Gulf Times 2 Friday, November 15, 2019 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT FOCUS FIFA Club World Cup winners’ trophy Ooredoo Cup to be displayed at Souq Waqif today second round matches today he QNB Stars League has and Al Duhail drew 2-2 with Al taken a long break and Gharafa. it is Ooredoo Cup time The Ooredoo Cup, formerly again. The Round 2 fi x- QSL Cup, provides younger turesT will be held today (three players with more playing time matches in Group A), and tomor- and exposure. The tournament, row (three matches in Group B). which has a group-cum-knock- The fi xtures are Al Wakrah out format, off ers new opportu- vs Umm Salal (16:00) at Al Ahli nities for sponsors, partners and Stadium, Al Rayyan vs Al Ahli stakeholders to highlight their (18:10) at Al Ahli Stadium and brands.