FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 21 We are a team that always wants to think of ways we 4:45PM 6:55PM can improve. We will look Virat Kohli FOOTBALL FOOTBALL to be stronger with the The Indian captain speaks of Al Rayyan vs Al Sailiya at Al Gharafa vs Al Kharaitiyat at his plans in the build-up to Live on 2019 World Cup in mind. the cricket World Cup in 2019 Al Sadd Stadium Al Gharafa Stadium TUBE Live on Al Kass Live on Al Kass

Sharapova, Federer 2 wins from oldest No.1 spot Keys pull out of Dubai AFP The 20-time Grand Slam ahead as he took a 5-2 lead but Switzerland’s Roger Federer champion next takes on German had to hold off his opponent as reacts after a point during his REUTERS ROTTERDAM: Roger Federer Philipp Kohlschreiber, against Sugita clawed back to within a match against Ruben Bemelmans delivered a crushing 6-1, 6-2 whom he stands 12-0 in career point of levelling. from Belgium in the first round defeat of Ruben Bemelmans in meetings. Dimitrov then sent a fore- DUBAI: Former world of the World Tennis Tournament just 47 minutes on Wednesday “You always prefer to play hand into the corner to earn a number one Maria Sharapova in Rotterdam on Wednesday night as the Swiss star moved just the guy whose game you know,” pair of match points and and US Open finalist Madison night. Federer won 6-1, 6-2. two wins away from becoming Federer said. advanced on his second with a Keys have pulled out of next the sport’s oldest world number “You know his patterns, it’s service winner to end the resist- week’s Dubai Duty Free one. nice to play someone like that, ance of the 41st-ranked Sugita. Tennis Championships, the The 36-year-old top seed, a you know what to expect. “It was my first match in tournament organisers said two-time champion at the Dutch “My start will be crucial, I three weeks, and you’re always yesterday. indoor event, needs to reach the need to stay focused all the way. a little rusty,” said Dimitrov who Five-times Grand Slam semi-finals to take back the Any lapses can get you into has been dealing with a sore winner Sharapova, who had number one spot from Rafael trouble.” shoulder in recent weeks. a accepted a wildcard to Nadal. Third seed Alexander Zverev “I was trying to find rhythm. make her first appearance at With two more victories, fell in an upset to qualifying I faced a quality player and I’m the tournament since 2006, Federer would become the lucky loser Andreas Seppi of happy with how things went for decided to withdraw citing a oldest man by three years to hold Italy, 6-4, 6-3 in the second me today -- I was pain-free in forearm strain. the top position in the round to open up Federer’s half my shoulder.” Sharapova lost her rankings. of the draw. Last weekend’s Montpellier opening round match at the “It’s very surprising how Grigor Dimitrov and David champion Lucas Pouille exited Qatar Open on Monday to good things went today,” Fed- Goffin, the duo who faced off in in his opening match, losing 7-5, Romania’s Monica Niculescu erer said after the match. last year’s season-ending ATP 6-4 to Andrey Rublev. in three sets and is currently “The key is to start well, put Finals, both advanced with The Russian was joined in ranked 41 in the world. him under pressure. straight-sets wins. the second round at the Ahoy The 30-year-old Russian “I wanted to make him think Second seed Dimitrov, who Arena by Pierre-Hugues Herbert has a 21-10 win-loss record he had to do something special beat Belgian fourth seed Goffin of France, who advanced after since her return from a to beat me. I did well there, I felt in the London final last just 15 minutes when compatriot doping ban last April. good, I’m healthy and I’m con- November, had to fight back in Richard Gasquet, the Montpel- American world number fident. It was a great first round the second set to defeat Japan’s lier finalist, retired with a groin 14 Keys, who was expected to for me.” Yuichi Sugita 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in injury trailing 3-1. make her Dubai debut, has Federer gave no quarter as their first-round encounter. Pouille lost in 93 minutes, withdrawn due to illness. he raced to a 5-0 lead, with the Goffin made light work of hitting a dozen aces in defeat but “Unfortunately both out-matched Bemelmans win- veteran Spaniard Feliciano losing serve four times. Maria Sharapova and Mad- ning his first game after 16 Lopez, cruising through 6-1, 6-3 The 34th-ranked Rublev ison Keys have regretfully minutes. to reach the quarter-finals. owns his only career title from had to withdraw from the The outcome was never in Dimitrov won the opening Umag last summer on clay. Her- Dubai Duty Free Tennis doubt as Federer dominated with set against Sugita but fell behind bert will play Russian Daniil Championships due to injury six aces and four service breaks, a break in the second before lev- Medvedev in the second round. and illness,” organisers said winning an impressive 21 of 23 elling for 5-all. Robin Haase won an all- in a statement. first-serve points in the As the set went into a tie- Dutch affair over Thiemo de The tournament begins demolition. break, the Bulgarian surged Bakker 6-2, 6-2. on Monday.

NBA players Serge Ibaka (9) of Toronto Raptors in union flexes action during his NBA: Lillard outguns team’s NBA game marketing against Chicago muscle in deal Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Durant as Blazers with Dentsu Illinois, yesterday. BLOOMBERG beat Warriors 123-117 NEW YORK: The NBA has spent decades cultivating fans around the world, and its biggest stars are household names from AFP said afterwards. “I was able to China to Caracas. Now the NBA Results roll. My team-mates did a really league’s players are making LOS ANGELES: Damian Lillard good job of finding me tonight. their global move en masse. scored 44 points as the Portland DETROIT 104 Atlanta 98 “I was just really confident The National Basketball Trail Blazers ended a seven- Charlotte 104 ORLANDO 102 tonight.” Players Association said it game losing streak and over- Philadelphia 104 Miami 102 All five of the Clippers reached a broad agreement with came the Golden State Warriors Indiana 108 BROOKLYN 103 starters cracked double figures, Japan’s leading advertising with a 123-117 win on Washington 118 NY 113 while Lou Williams came off the agency, Dentsu Inc., to develop Wednesday. LA Clippers 129 BOSTON 119 bench to deliver 19 points. content and create and stage Portland overcame a Toronto 122 CHICAGO 98 “Everybody has a job to do global events that feature the 50-point display from Kevin Houston 100 Sacramento 91 on this team,” Jordan said. union and its members. Durant -- his best in a Warriors O City 121 Memphis 114 “We’ve got to keep it up and stay Until recently, that kind of jersey -- to head into the All- N Orleans 139 LA Lakers 117 healthy.” collaboration was functionally Star break with a morale- UTAH 107 Phoenix 97 But while the Clippers bat- off-limits. For more than 20 boosting victory. Portland 123 G State 117 tled to a deserved win, there was years the NBA had paid the Lillard was backed by C.J. no such luck for their city rivals union -- last year, about $41m McCollum (29 points) and Jusuf side a deserved road victory. the Los Angeles Lakers, who -- for the marketing and Nurkic, who finished with 17 The win left Los Angeles were demolished 139-117 by an licensing rights to its 400-plus points. firmly in the hunt in the Western Anthony Davis-inspired New members. The league then The win saw Portland Conference playoff race, taking Orleans Pelicans. turned around and parceled improve to 32-26, vaulting them them to 30-26. Davis conjured another them out to corporate partners into sixth spot in the Western Boston leaned heavily on a hefty exhibition of scoring, and sponsors. Conference standings. 33-point haul from Kyrie Irving pouring on 42 points with 15 The players union decided The Warriors fell to 44-14 but it was not enough to stop rebounds and three assists to it could do better making its own Court at the London Hotel: marketing company MKTG, with the loss, leaving them one them from a third straight loss. take his team to 31-26. deals, and last year, took con- around 30 companies, including whose sports clients include the behind Houston at the top of the The Celtics are second in the However the action was trol of its own licensing and Lamborghini, Vault Aviation and NFL, NHL and Nascar. standings. Eastern Conference on 40-19, overshadowed by a stormy con- marketing deals. Postmates, have signed on to “Ultimately, we chose the “I came out in a good trailing the Toronto Raptors, test which saw the Pelicans’ Players still control their “create exclusive experiences, Dentsu Aegis Network to sup- rhythm,” Lillard said. “I thought who crushed the Chicago Bulls Rajon Rondo and the Lakers’ individual deals, and teams con- business and content opportu- plement our team’s efforts we were really resilient tonight 122-98 elsewhere on Thursday. new signing Isaiah Thomas -- trol the use of their names and nities and other social events because of their diverse assets on both ends of the floor. We got The Clippers had Boston on former team-mates with the logos. The union, though, con- both for and with NBA players,” and global reach,” said National a big, much-needed win. the back foot almost from the Boston Celtics -- ejected after a trols the rights to the players as according to the union. Basketball Players Inc. Presi- “We needed this going into outset, leading by 14 points in fracas in the first quarter. a group, as long as they’re not For Dentsu, the tie-up with dent Jordan Schlachter. “They the break, to get some the first half before the Celtics Lakers coach Luke Walton in uniform, and to its own brand. some of the world’s most pop- bring so many resources to the momentum going into the hit back to close within four was also given his marching Now corporate partners or ular athletes will help cement table across multiple agencies, second half of the season.” points at 61-57 at halftime. orders, sent to the locker room anyone else who wants to use its sports foothold in the US. from commercial opportunities Elsewhere Wednesday, A see-saw second half saw in the second quarter after an groups of players in an adver- It already owns Athletes to content creation to DeAndre Jordan scored a the lead change hands repeat- expletive-laden tirade at the tising campaign or any other First, a sports agency based in creative.” career-high 30 points as the Los edly, with Irving firing Boston officiating crew following a foul promotion will negotiate Laguna Hills, California. A sep- Schlachter and Brian Angeles Clippers sent the Boston ahead with a superb three- against Kyle Kuzma. directly with the union. arate entity, the newly created Murphy, president of Athletes Celtics spinning to a fourth pointer late in the third. Elsewhere Wednesday, At the All-Star game this Athletes First Properties will First, which will spearhead defeat in five games with a 129- The Clippers, however, rat- James Harden had 28 points as weekend in Los Angeles, for work closely with Dentsu Aegis Dentsu’s involvement, didn’t 119 victory at the TD Garden. tled off 10 unanswered points the Houston Rockets maintained example, the union’s new mar- Network, a London-based con- disclose financial terms of the Jordan produced an inspi- in the fourth to take an unas- their pace at the top of the West keting arm, dubbed National sortium of companies that man- agreement. What those oppor- rational performance that sailable lead. with a 100-91 win over the Sac- Basketball Players Inc., has put ages Dentsu’s business outside tunities look like exactly is still included 13 rebounds, three “We got so many guys who ramento Kings -- their 10th together what it’s calling One of Japan. The network includes an open question. assists and four steals to give his draw a lot of attention,” Jordan straight victory. 22 SPORT FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2018 Katara Beach to host FIVB World Tour event ARMSTRONG VAS Also present during the press Halal Qatar Festival and we are THE PENINSULA conference were Darwish Ahmed optimistic that the visitors and Al Shebani, Katara Cultural Foun- sports-loving fans would get a DOHA: Fourteen out of top 16 dation Marketing Director, and high-class action from the Katara world-ranked pairs will be seen Mohammed Salem Al Kuwari, beach volleyball courts to see,” in action at next month’s Katara QVA Beach Volleyball Commis- he said. Beach Volleyball Cup 2018 to be sion Vice-President. QVA President Al Kuwari said: held at Qatar’s scenic Katara “We’ve a vast experience of “The QVA is delighted that Qatar Cultural Village, organisers of the hosting international events at the is back on the FIVB Beach Volley- event informed yesterday. Katara and we know that we’ve ball World Tour after a year’s gap. Katara Beach joins a list of been entrusted with a big respon- The event is very significant for us. some dazzling world-wide ven- sibility by the Qatar Volleyball 56 pairs from 28 countries would ues which has been hosting the Association for holding the Katara be taking part in the Katara Beach FIVB World Tour. Beach Volleyball Cup 2018,” Dr Volleyball Cup 2018. Besides the top prize, the Khalid said. “In the main draw, world’s top pairs will be vying for valuable “It has attracted top players 14 out of 16 teams will be contest- ranking points from March 6 to of the world and it will certainly ing for the title, which shows the 10 in Doha in run up to the 2020 bring more value and importance value of the event. This is the only Tokyo Olympic Games. to our profile,” he added. four-star event the FIVB has allot- Yesterday, Katara Cultural The hosting agreement is ted in the Middle East for which Village Foundation and Qatar right now for just one year but we really wish to thank the inter- Volleyball Association (QVA) there is a high probability of Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) President Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari (second left) and Katara Cultural national federation,” he added. signed an agreement for hosting extending it another two years or Village Foundation General Manager and Katara Beach Volleyball Cup 2018 Tournament Director Dr Kuwari expressed his grati- the event. so, he said. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti exchanging documents during an agreement signing ceremony held at tude to the Katara Cultural Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al “At the moment, we’ve signed Katara Buiding No. 32 yesterday. QVA Beach Volleyball Commission Vice-President Mohammed Salem Foundation for supporting the Sulaiti, Katara Cultural Village the contract to organise the four- Al Kuwari (left) and Katara Cultural Foundation Marketing Director Darwish Ahmed Al Shebani also event. “We want to thank the Foundation General Manager and star event for a year, but we are look on. Picture: Baher Amin/The Peninsula Katara Cultural Village Founda- Tournament Director, signed the highly optimistic that the Katara tion for being partner with us for agreement with QVA President Centre would continue to be the The Tournament Director 10). We have visitors to it from all at reviving the country’s cultural this prestigious tournament. I am Ali Ghanim Al Kuwari, to organ- venue of this premier event for informed that the Katara Cultural over the world and the Katara heritage and traditions. also confident that the Katara ise the tournament, the one of its more years to come,” Dr Khalid Foundation is also organizing the Beach Volleyball Cup would be a “We are holding the Karata would hosting the event for many in the Middle East. said. Halal Qatar Festival (March 2 to part of the festival, which is aimed Beach Volleyball Cup during the more years to come.”

Mendis It’s not over yet, warns Neymar seals easy

Real Madrid’s Portuguese win for forward Cristiano Ronaldo AFP Madrid’s favour with a The return leg at the (left) and Paris Saint- scrappy goal that bounced Parc des Princes will be the Sri Lanka Germain’s Brazilian forward MADRID: Paris Saint- in off his knee. hottest ticket in Europe. Neymar leave the pitch at Germain face a huge task to Marcelo then completed Zidane will take credit AP half-time during their reach the Champions the turnaround to show PSG for sending on Marco UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after -- who have never won the Asensio, who set up the DHAKA: Bangladesh’s high- League match on Cristiano Ronaldo defied Champions League -- the two late goals, although est Twenty20 total didn’t Wednesday. talk that his powers are value of the experience of Alfredo Relano in As matter as Sri Lanka chased it waning with two goals as winning the competition 12 warned that the young down with 20 balls to spare Real Madrid won 3-1 in the times. Spanish star now “has to to win the opener of the two- first leg of their last-16 tie. Zinedine Zidane’s side play every time”. match series yesterday. Billed as a contest have been flagging domes- The Frenchman, After Bangladesh made between World Player of tically, leaving the French meanwhile, paid tribute to 193-5, Sri Lanka raced to the the Year Ronaldo and his coach under pressure, but Ronaldo, who despite show- win with 194-4, spearheaded Brazilian heir-in-waiting Madrid’s other major sports ing signs of fallibility in La by opener Kusal Mendis’ Neymar, the 33-year-old daily As called the perform- Liga this season has scored maiden half-century, a Portuguese came out ance “the late push of a 11 goals in Europe in just 27-ball 53. emphatically on top as he team who still rule in seven matches. Sri Lanka has taken the became the first player to Europe”. “With Ronaldo it’s diffi- one-day international and score 100 Champions “Real Madrid love the cult to always say the same test series, and needs one League goals for the same Champions League and as thing. He has shown once more win in its last tour club. players we can feel that on again that he always turns match on Sunday to sweep up “He who never fails”, the pitch,” Ronaldo said up in the big games,” Zidane all three formats. said sports daily Marca of after being named man of said. Mendis and Danushka Ronaldo’s latest decisive the match. PSG coach Unai Emery, Gunathilaka shared a 53-run contribution on a pulsating “Today things worked who has never been further opening stand. After Mendis evening at the Santiago out for me, scoring two than the Champions League fell at 90-2, Dasun Shanaka Bernabeu. goals and helping the team round of 16 in five previous and Thisara Perera combined Ronaldo dragged Real win, but we know the tie is attempts, gambled with a for 65 off 30 balls in an unde- level with a penalty -- his not finished yet.” young line-up, starting with feated fifth-wicket stand. 100th Champions League Neymar, who cut a 21-year-old Argentinian Shanaka was unbeaten on goal for the club -- after dejected figure at the end, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso 42 off 24, and Perera was on Adrien Rabiot had given said his side “committed and 22-year-old defender 39 off 18. PSG the lead, fed by a errors at certain moments”. Presnel Kimpembe. Left-arm spinner Nazmul cheeky Neymar backheel. “We didn’t play badly, He also took off Edinson Islam took 22-5 on his T20 As PSG seemed to be head- but I think we need to be Cavani in the second half, debut for Bangladesh. ing for a draw that would better if we want to elimi- replacing the club’s all-time Earlier, Mushfiqur Rahim have put the French side in nate Real Madrid. It is record goal-scorer with a hit a career-best 66 not out the driving seat for the difficult, but nothing is right-back in Thomas Meu- in T20s to help Bangladesh return leg on March 6, Ron- impossible,” the 26-year- nier rather than Angel di post a respectable total. aldo turned the match in old Brazilian said. Maria. SCOREBOARD Bangladesh Zakir Hasan b Gunathilaka ...... 10 Soumya Sarkar lbw b JMendis ...... 51 Mushfiqur Rahim (not out) ...... 66 Afif Hossain c Dickwella b JMendis ...... 0 Mahmudullah c Dananjaya b Udana ...... 43 Italy’s failure a wake-up call: Infantino Sabbir Rahman b Perera ...... 1 Ariful Haque (not out) ...... 1 AFP talking about a team with a great Italian President: Do we need “One or two men cannot Extras: (1b, 3lb, 16w, 1nb) ...... 21 TOTAL: (for 5 wickets) ...... 193 tradition who give their best in anything else to say we’re hon- change a situation that needs a Overs: ...... 20. MILAN: FIFA President Gianni events like this. est and clean?” strong president, backed by all Did not bat: Mohammad Saifuddin, Nazmul Islam, Infantino revealed yesterday his “But those who are in Russia Infantino, the Swiss-born parties, and with a long-term Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain. dispair at Italy’s failure to reach deserved to qualify and in any son of Italian immigrant parents, Those who are in Russia strategy: clubs, leagues, play- Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-100, 3-100, 4-173, 5-186 the World Cup finals where he case Italy stayed out with an took over the scandal-battered deserved to qualify and in ers, everyone has to go in the Bowling: Shehan Madushanka 3-0-39-0 (2w), Da- hadhad hoped to hand the trophtrophyy to worldworld bodyb from disgraced pres- any case Italy stayed out same direction, as in Germany nushka Gunathilaka 2-0-16-1 (1w), Ishuru Udana AzzurriAzzurri captaincaptain GianluigiGianluigi BuBuffon.ffon. identident SeppSe Blatter in February with an Italian President: in the 90s, after the crisis of 4-0-45-1 (10w), Thisara Perera 4-0-36-1 (2), Akila “I’m“I’m sad, yesyes I’m sad for the 2016. Do we need anything else results, as in England after the Dananjaya 4-0-32-0 (1w), Jeevan Mendis 3-0-21-2. WorldWorld Cup. I aalmostlmost criecried,”d,” InInfan-fan- “I wouldw have liked to have Heysel (Stadium disaster), eve- Sri Lanka to say we’re honest and Kusal Mendis c Sarkar b Afif ...... 53 tino,tino, wwhoho hholdsolds bothboth Swiss anandd givengiven ththe cup to Buffon though,” clean? I would have liked ryone at the table thinking about Danushka Gunathilaka st Rahim b Nazmul ...... 30 Italian nationality,nationality, said in an admittedadmitte the 47-year-old. to have given the Vup to the common good, today Ger- Upul Tharanga c Afif b Nazmul ...... 4 iinterviewnterview witwithh ItaItaly’sly’s Gazzetta InfantinoInfa said that there had Buffon though: Infantino many wins the World Cup and Dasun Shanaka (not out) ...... 42 DelloDello Sport five months ahead ooff beenbeen sisigns of trouble within the Confederations with young Niroshan Dickwella c Saifuddin b Rubel ...... 11 thethe WorldWorld Cup finalfinal matchmatch in four-timefour-ti world champions players, and England are world Thisara Perera (not out) ...... 39 Russia.Russia. long beforebe their dramatic fail- the world for organisation, clubs, champions in Under 17 and Extras: (3lb, 12 w) ...... 15 “I thinkthink it’sit’s a cocollectivellective ureure in last November’s training, structures, food, tactics. Under 20.” TOTAL: (for 4 wickets) ...... 194 sadness.sadness. We’reWe’re play-offs.play-of We forgot that, without work, tal- Infantino added that he Overs: 16.4. Did not bat: Dinesh Chandimal, Akila Dananjaya, “There“Th have been signals to ent is not enough. hoped to encourage 40-year-old Ishuru Udana, Jeevan Mendis, Shehan Madushanka. thisthis effecteffe for a long time, and “How many young people Juventus and Italy goalkeeping Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-90, 3-92, 4-129. (Matteo)(Matteo Darmian’s shot against advance to the first team?”. legend Buffon to take a role in Bowling: Nazmul Islam 4-0-25-2 (1w), Mohammad SwedenSwede could have gone in Italy are without a national football’s governing body when Saifuddin 2-0-33-0 (1w), Mahmudullah 2-0-23-0 insteadinst of hitting the post, coach and a football federation he retires. (1w), Rubel Hossain 3.4-0-52-1 (10w), Mustafizur but he would have only con- president with the FIGC currently “Could he take a role in FIFA? Rahman 3-0-32-0 (1w), Afif Hossain 2-0-26-1 (1w). Result: Sri Lanka wins by 6 wickets FIFA President Gianni Infantino cealedcea the problems. under the guardianship of the I’m going to go in person and get “Italy were the first in national Olympic committee CONI. him.” FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 23 Tamimi cruises into Canadian Open semis Al Rayyan eye comeback win THE PENINSULA making Elias work hard and proved too strong to close out the match, TORONTO: Qatar’s Abdullah Al winning third and fourth. as Al Gharafa Tamimi shocked top seed Diego “I am very happy with this pre- Elias of Peru to advance to the semi- cious win, which gave me a great finals of the Canadian Open Squash boost to continue my remaining tour target top-four Open Championship in Toronto on of the tournament in the same way,” Tuesday. said Tamimi. CHINTHANA WASALA Seventh-seeded Tamimi “I was not an easy match but I THE PENINSULA defeated the Peruvian star 11-5, 4-11, insisted on winning and thank God, 11-8, 11-3 in the keenly contested I achieved the result I came for.” DOHA: Al Rayyan will be looking to recapture quarter-final clash. “The tournament has not yet honours with a comeback win following their He will face sixth seed Max Lee been decided, and I still have one Qatar Clasico loss to Al Sadd last week when they of Hong Kong. Lee also upset third- game left to play, so I will try my take on Al Sailiya as QNB Stars League action seeded Mexican Cesar Salazar in best to show my best continues today. straight games. performance.” At Al Sadd Stadium, coach Michael Laudrup’s The World No. 34 was off to a Khalid al Khulaifi, Chairman of men will eye full points against the fourth placed strong start wrong-footing his rival the National Team Committee at the team in the league standings, to keep up with the and not letting him settle early in Qatari Tennis, Squash and Badmin- pace of high-flying Al Duhail and Al Sadd. the match. As a result, he raced to a ton Federation congratulated On the other hand, Al Sailiya will be keen to 1-0 lead. Tamimi for this win. keep their top-four position intact to stay ahead The Qatari lost some of his He stressed that all members of of Umm Salal who are threatening them from momentum in the Game 2 and Elias the federation are behind the Qatari behind. won it after hitting quality shots. player and support him to achieve Al Rayyan had won 1-0 in the first phase. On Tamimi pushed him back in the more achievements that would Monday, they locked horns with Iran’s Esteghlal third in which Elias hit five winners enhance his professional career and in their AFC Champions League Group D opener in a rally. But Tamimi somehow the status of the Qatar sports at the at the Al Sadd Stadium where the two teams Qatar’s Abdullah Al Tamimi in action in sneaked out of the tough points after regional and international levels. sheared the honours with in a two-all draw. this file photo. Ahead of today’s tie, coach Laudrup spoke about having to play too many matches within a short period of time. “We just played our first match in the AFC Champions League and now it is back to QNB Stars League action. Too many games in short time and we will make some changes. I cannot say how World Schools Handball set to many. I will have to take a call on it later,” Laudrup said. “After this match, we will be playing in the AFC Champions League in Abu Dhabi next Tues- kick off with dazzling ceremony day. It is good that we have players to come off the bench and do well on the field. When you have good players, you have to use them. We have more ARMSTRONG VAS options now with the new additions,” said THE PENINSULA Laudrup. Al Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi admitted that DOHA: With just a week left for the this is a crucial yet difficult time for his team. 2018 Handball World Schools Cham- “We are passing through a difficult phase and pionships to kick off in Doha we know it will be tough against a side such as Al preparation to host the event have Rayyan. They are a strong side, one of the best in gathered pace, informed a member the QNB Stars League. There is no doubt about it. of the organising Committee. Their results do not fully match their perform- Abeer Al Buainain, member ance and reputation. They deserved a better of the Ceremonies and Awards position in the standings. committee, said that the organ- “For us, this game is very important. We have isers have lined up a glittering put ourselves in a tricky situation and we have to opening ceremony and most of wriggle out of it. We are fighting with our back the members of the committee against the wall at the moment. have attended the dress rehears- “My players are confident that we can make als of the opening ceremony and a strong comeback. We are making some correc- have been impressed by what tions in terms of technical aspects. I cannot reveal they saw. them. But our main problem is psychological. “The work is going well for Then, our finishing has to be better. We have lost the opening ceremony of the cham- many matches despite controlling them. We can- pionship, which combines the not lose more games like this. identity and heritage of, and we are “I don’t think our professional players are not happy with what we saw in the doing a good job. We have a good group of play- rehearsal, and we achieve the ers with fighting spirit,” said Trabelsi. required success,” Al Buainain said. Elsewhere today, Dutch star Wesley Sneijder- More than 20 countries will be is working round the clock to make been holding periodic meetings to Committee of the Championship led Al Gharafa will be no easy kill for participating in the championship the event a great success. facilitate its work and remove any have approached many schools relegation-threatened Al Kharaitiyat in their own which will be held in both boys The event will kick off officially technical and organizational glitches through the Ministry of Education backyard. Al Gharafa eying a top-four finish in and girls section and is organized on February 21 and will be held at which may affect the tournament. and Higher Education so that stu- the League this season and will try to compensate by Qatar School Sports Associa- three venues namely: Aspire Acad- A dedicated website has dents can attend the competitions. for their 1-5 defeat at the hands of Al Duhail. tion (QSSA), in technical emy of Sports Excellence, Qatar uploaded all the details of the event The Committee has also con- Al Gharafa are sixth with 20 points and Al collaboration with Qatar Handball Women’s Sports Committee and Ali on the website related to each team, tacted students of the Shafallah Kharaitiyat 10th with 13 points. Federation. bin Hamad Al Attiyah in Al Sadd. training dates and competitions. Center and people with special In the third and final match of the day, Al Ahli Al Buainain said that everyone The Organizing Committee have Meanwhile the Organizing needs, to make the event a success. will take on Qatar SC. Olympic shooters set to shine at Qatar Open

ARMSTRONG VAS There will be a separate cat- winner at the London Games. THE PENINSULA egory for the juniors and will The event will serve as an serve as an ideal platform for opportunity for the local shoot- DOHA: Sixteen Olympic medal- the age group players to rub ers to brush shoulders with the lists are among the 250 shooters shoulders with some of the Olympians. who will be competing for the established stars. “The level of competition is podium finishes at the 2018 The event will kick off with very high and it is a good oppor- Qatar Open Shotgun Champi- Trap event, followed by Double tunity for the Qatari shooters to onship which begins from today Trap and the championship will have the possibility to compete at the Losail Shooting Range. culminate with the Skeet in a friendly competition. This “Participation is very big in category. event has been always regarded terms of nations. Over 250 QSAA President said it a as a friendly competition. High shooters from 38 countries will great opportunity for the local level, but held in a nice environ- be competing in the event,” said talent to watch the Olympic ment,” she added. Antonella, Competition Direc- stars in action. A total of $133,000 will give tor, while addressing a press “People go to shooting away as prize money in the conference here yesterday in the ranges and buy money to watch event. presence of Qatar Shooting and the Olympic shooters. During “The prizes are attractive. Archery Association (QSAA) the championship our young- We are giving away $133,000 President Ali Mohammed Al sters will get a chance to watch Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSAA) President Ali Mohammed Al Kuwari Antonella, as money,” she added. Kuwari. the top shooters,” Al Kuwari Competition Director and other officials pose for a photograph during a 2018 Qatar Open Shotgun The winners in Trap, Skeet “The championship will be said. Championship press conference at Losail Shooting Range yesterday. and Double Trap will each get held in the Men’s, Men’s Juniors, The QSAA official said that $7000, in both men and wom- Women and Women’s Junior quality of shooters and not en’s section while $6000, section,” Antonella added. quantity is what matters. attract some of the top shoot- Mexico to participate in the in appreciating that,” she said. $5000, $3000, $2000 and Shooters will compete in “A large number of shooters ers, who are preparing for the Shotgun World Cup,” Antonella “This year we have 16 Olym- $1000 will be given to shooters Trap, Double Trap and Skeet training under QSAA coaches new season. said. pic medalists, which will make who finish from second to sixth categories at the event which and with different clubs will be “Every year we schedule the “So, this is always a good the event interesting and more place. serves as an ideal preparation taking. As this is a not a country the championship during this way to start the season. Thanks competitive,” she added. Cash prizes will also be for some of the top ranked play- competition, so any number of period (February) because it is to the weather and of course Some of the Olympic medal- given in the junior category, for ers for the new season. shooters can take part,” he said. the first event of the interna- the facilities and every year we ists who will compete at the both boys and girls. The competition will feature This year, like in the past, tional calendar. After this event try to improve (the facilities) event include Qatar’s Nasser The event ends on February both men and women shooters. the event has been able to most of the shooters will fly to and it seems the shooters are Saleh al Attiyah, bronze medal 22. SPORT Friday 16 February 2018

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Federer two wins It’s not Tamimi cruises from oldest over yet, warns into Canadian No.1 spot Neymar Open semis

CiCi Belis of USA returns the ball to Czech Karolina Pliskova during their match in the Qatar Total Open 2018 at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. Pictures Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula

Qualifier Bellis stuns reigning champion Pliskova in Doha

WTA/AFP than kind of get into the match and take a few games. So I think that was a big Romania’s Simona Halep hits a QATAR TOTAL OPEN 2018: DOHA: American qualifier CiCi Bellis part of it.” return during her third round YESTERDAY’S RESULTS match against Anastasija claimed the biggest win of her career The story was completely different THIRD ROUND Sevastova of Latvia yesterday. after taking down defending champion story today, with qualifier Bellis com- Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x1) bt Monica Karolina Pliskova in straight sets to ing into the match-up after dealing Niculescu (ROM) 7-5, 6-1 reach the quarterfinals at the Qatar Total upsets to Daria Kasatkina (who retired Open. in the second set with a neck injury) and Petra Kvitova (CZE x16) bt Elina Bellis read the Czech’s booming No.12 seed Madison Keys. Svitolina (UKR x3) 6-4, 7-5 serve perfectly, breaking her five times Pliskova, who came to Doha after Julia Goerges (GER x9) bt Mihaela en route to the 7-6(4), 6-3 victory in an Fed Cup and is recovering from an ill- Buzarnescu (ROM) 6-2, 6-2 hour and 37 minutes. Even more impres- ness, spoke of feeling low energy levels Caroline Garcia (FRA x7) bt Anna sive, her victory over World No.5 coming into the match. It showed against Blinkova (RUS) 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 Pliskova is Bellis’ first Top 5 win of her the 18-year-old, and she couldn’t seem career. to find her rhythm againsts Bellis’ relent- Garbine Muguruza (ESP x4) bt Sorana “This was huge for me,” 18-year-old less attacking. Cirstea (ROM) 6-0, 6-4 Bellis said in her on-court interview. “I Bellis kept Pliskova under pressure Catherine Bellis (USA) bt Karolina think I played a really good match and from the start of the match, coming Pliskova (CZE x5) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 just tried to track down as many balls away with the edge after three straight Simona Halep (ROM x2) bt Anastasija as I could. Obviously, I’ve watched her breaks of serve. The momentum swung Sevastova (LAT x13) 6-4, 6-3 play for many years and she’s one of my between the two as they traded five idols for sure. I’m just really happy to more breaks to stay level and bring up was able to get through it.” a tiebreaker. Despite Pliskova finding in each set to advance to the last eight. It was their second meeting of the some of her biggest serves of the set in She added that her ankle was pain- season after Brisbane, where Pliskova the tiebreak, Bellis had the answers to ful but had not got worse during the won comfortably in straight sets drop- force error after error and edge through match. ping just two games. the opening set. unforced errors across two sets. Plisk- 6-3, hit 29 winners and needed four “Day-by-day I will see how it is and “When I played her in Brisbane, she While the first set featured a dizzy- ova struck 30 winners - almost double match points before overcoming her then I will decide if something is getting killed me, and I was super nervous ing eight breaks of serve, the second was the amount of her young opponent - but Latvian opponent, who is ranked 15th worse.” before that match,” Bellis recalled. “It decided by just one. Bellis converted on was undone by her 53 unforced errors in the world. Coming into the match, By reaching the quarter-finals, was the start of the year. It was my sec- her fifth break chance of game six to and eight double faults. Halep admitted she had lingering con- Halep has the chance of reclaiming the ond match of the year and she was grab a 4-2 lead and held onto it for the Earlier, Simona Halep shrugged off cerns about an ankle injury which had world’s top ranking from Wozniacki if playing really well there. rest of the match, serving out the big- injury concerns to record a straight sets kept her out of action since her defeat she goes one round further than the “I knew I had to be super on top of gest victory of her career after an hour victory over Anastasija Sevastova yes- to Caroline Wozniacki in the Australian Dane. But the Romanian said she was it from the first point today, and that’s and 38 minutes. terday to progress to the Qatar Open Open final last month. not concerned about rankings. what my team and I discussed, from the Bellis stayed aggressive throughout quarter-finals. But she seemed relatively untrou- Halep will play 18-year-old Bellis in first point I had to be 100 percent rather the match, hitting 17 winners and 26 The world number two won 6-4, bled breaking her opponent’s serve late the last eight. QSL: Al Duhail crush Umm Salal in goal fest

THE PENINSULA February. They had started their Group B campaign on a winning QNB Stars League DOHA: Al Duhail revelled in yet note by beating Iran’s Zob Ahan Week 17 another goal fest as they fired 3-1 at home three days earlier. YESTERDAY’S RESULT: five past Umm Salal without As a result, many reserve Al Duhail beat Umm Salal 5-0 response on home turf in the players got to play. The Red QNB Stars League (QSL) Week Knights were still at their men- FIXTURES: 17 opener yesterday. acing best and midfielder Luis TODAY: Captain Youssef Msakny Martin, back from an injury lay- (14th and 59th minutes), Nam off, started the goal glut. Nam Al Rayyan vs Al Sailiya Tae-Hee (10th and 15th), and and Msakny continued it as they (Al Sadd Stadium, 4.45pm) Luis Martin (fifth) scored the were 4-0 up inside 15 minutes. Al Gharafa vs Al Kharaitiyat goals as the table toppers ended Such was their domination (Al Gharafa Stadium, 6.55pm) the game having 64 per cent of that Umm Salal, without sus- Al Ahli vs Qatar SC the ball. pended Tunisian midfielder (Al Ahli Stadium, 6.55pm) Al Duhail are now on 45 Oussama Darragi, initially had points as they inched closer to no clue as to what was TOMORROW: the league title and Umm Salal happening. Al Markhiya vs Al Khor on 24. The Orange Fortress created (Al Arabi Stadium, 4.45pm) Msakny moved to 18 goals a chance only after 25 minutes Al Sadd vs Al Arabi and Nam 10 in the 2017-18 QNB only to see striker Yannick (Al Sadd Stadium, 6.55pm) Stars League top scorers’ chart. Sagbo send a free-kick over the Al Duhail had rested key bar. players such as their top scorer Msakny added another coach Talal El Karkouri, could Youssef El Arabi and midfielder around the hour mark as Umm not do much other than another Karim Boudiaf in view of their Salal, who had scored a come- free-kick by Sagbo late in the AFC Champions League fixture from-behind win over Al Khor game that was parried by goal- at the UAE’s Al Wahda on 19th in the previous round under new keeper Amine Lecomte. Al Duhail players celebrate after winning their QNB Stars League (QSL) match against Umm Salal yesterday.