Qatari Giants Said That the Stadium on Tuesday
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MMOTORSPORTOTORSPORT | Page 2 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 3 Khalid aims Cricket’s coming to hit top gear home: Pakistan at Qatar Cross hosts stellar T20 Country Rally league Thursday, February 20, 2020 FOOTBALL Jumada II 26, 1441 AH Haaland shines GULF TIMES in thrilling Dortmund victory SPORT Page 7 FOOTBALL Xavi pleased with one of ‘The win was against a strong team... shows that Al Sadd can Sadd’s best matches go far in the competition’ AFC Doha Al Sadd’s al-Haydos ruled l Sadd head coach Xavi out for three months Hernandez praised the performance of his side AFC ture and had to be replaced in in their 3-0 victory Doha the first minute of stoppage Aagainst Sepahan FC in an AFC time. Champions League 2020 Group The off icial Twitter account of D tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad atar Stars League the Qatari giants said that the Stadium on Tuesday. champions Al Sadd SC 29-year-old forward will miss After a scoreless fi rst half, a Qannounced that Hassan action for the rest of the sea- brace from Hassan al-Haydos after al-Haydos has been ruled out son after “sustaining a fracture Akram Afi f had opened the scor- for up to three months after at the top of his leg”. ing early in the second period gave suff ering an injury against Al-Haydos’ absence will also be Qatar’s Al Sadd their fi rst win of Sepahan FC on Matchday 2 a blow for the Qatar national the competition, having played to of the 2020 AFC Champions team who are preparing for a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia’s Al League. their next two matches in Nassr on Matchday One. Al-Haydos scored a brace Group E of the Asian Qualifiers Xavi said Al Sadd produced against Sepahan at Jassim Bin for the FIFA World Cup Qatar one of their best performances Hamad Stadium on Tuesday 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China of the season on Tuesday and the before suffering a foot frac- 2023 next month. victory was important because it was against a top team. “The team was in their best condition and we had one of our best matches this season,” said Xavi. “We defi nitely deserved this victory. “The win was against a strong and special team who are favour- ites to win the group. This victory shows that Al Sadd can go far in the competition.” The 40-year-old Spaniard said his players struggled in the fi rst half and had to be patient in order to break the deadlock. “The match was not easy as the fi rst half ended without goals,” he explained. “Our players, how- Al Sadd players celebrate a goal during the AFC Champions League match against Sepahan at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. ever, were patient and they con- Al Sadd won the match 3-0. (Inset) Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil centrated on transforming their dominance into goals. the same in the next matches.” are strong and the match would be aff ected us and we also made Islamic Republic of Iran’s “I’m satisfi ed with what they Sepahan FC head coach Amir very diffi cult but we never expect- some mistakes,” added the Sepahan, who opened their cam- showed and I always expect such Ghalenoei said crucial mistakes ed such a defeat. We performed 56-year-old coach. “We lost paign with a 4-0 win over UAE’s performances from them. I’m helped Al Sadd win with such big well in the fi rst half but we failed to against a strong team but the Al Ain FC, play Saudi Arabia’s Al happy with what we achieved and score. capitalise on our chances.” most important thing for me is to Nassr next on March 3 while Al Al Sadd’s Hassan al-Haydos (right) in action on Tuesday. hopefully we can continue with “We knew that our opponents “The injury to Soroosh Rafi ei recover for the next matches.” Sadd face Al Ain on the same day. TENNIS Ooredoo to be Silver Sponsor for 2020 Qatar Total Open By Sports Reporter tempt to keep her title. Doha A total of 64 players will battle it out for top spot in the singles Injury forces Andreescu, Konta out of Qatar Total Open event, while 32 teams take each atar’s leading telecom- other on for the doubles title. By Sports Reporter The Qatar Total Open 2020 is munications operator Speaking of the sponsorship, Doha featuring seven of the World has announced it is to Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, Di- top-ten players who are set to be Silver Sponsor for rector PR and Corporate Com- strut their stuff at the Khalifa Qthe upcoming 2020 Qatar Total munications at Ooredoo, said, orld No 5 Bianca International Tennis & Squash Open. “We’re delighted to once again Andreescu of Canada Complex from February 23-29, The prestigious women’s ten- be supporting this major inter- Wand Great Britain’s 2020. nis tournament is set to be held national sporting fi xture, and Johanna Konta, the World No 14, For the qualifiers, Kazakhstan’s from February 23-29, 2020, at proud to be involved with an have withdrawn from the Qatar Zarina Diyas has also pulled out Khalifa International Tennis & event that draws the spotlight to Total Open 2020 as a result due to a yet to be confirmed Squash Complex in Doha. Qatar. of knee injuries while USA’s injury. Russia’s duo of Liudmila Danielle Collins, ranked 50th, Samsonova and Natalia Vikh- will also not feature due to an lyantseva, as well as Belgium’s abdominal injury. Ysaline Bonaventure, have now “I’m very sad to announce that I been placed in the qualifiers. won’t be able to compete in the Tournament Director Saad Qatar Total Open in Doha next al-Mohannadi said, “Though This year’s event – the 18th “We’re fi rmly committed to week. I’m not at 100 % yet, and we would have loved to see An- edition – has seven of the supporting events that promote a following my team and doctor’s dreescu and the rest of the stars world’s top-ten players lined up healthy, active lifestyle, as part of recommendation I don’t want play at this year’s tournament, to play, including the World No our corporate social responsibil- to take any risk to reinjure my we, however, understand that 1 and 2019 French Open cham- ity strategy, and we’d encourage knee. Each day I get closer to their health is more important pion Ashleigh Barty; World No as many people as possible to go being back to the court compet- at this moment. We wish them 2 and 2017 champion Karolina along, see some incredible tennis ing, but Doha is just too soon. a speedy recovery and also Pliskova; World No 4 and 2014 and be inspired. We look forward Hope I can come and play in wish them the best as we look champion Simona Halep; World to an awesome event and some Doha next year,” said Andreescu forward to welcoming them to No 5 and 2019 Wimbledon semi- exciting matches from some of the yesterday. Doha in the future.” fi nalist Elina Svitolina; World No world’s top female tennis players.” The latest development moves Qatar Total Open 2020 is the 7 Belinda Bencic; World No 8 and Tickets for the event are now USA’s Jennifer Brady, Ajla Toml- 18th edition of the annual WTA 2018 champion Petra Kvitova; on sale at City Center Mall, Doha janovic of Australia, and Russia’s Premier 5 tournament and this and World No 10 Kiki Bertens. Festival City Mall and Villaggio Svetlana Kuznetsova into the year’s event carries a total prize Defending champion Elise Mall, as well as at the venue and main draw. purse of $2,939,695. Mertens will also return in an at- online at qatartennis.org. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, February 20, 2020 SPORT MANATEQ QATAR CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY Daam partners with QREC for Khalid aims to His Highness The Amir’s Sword Festival hit top gear at Cross-Country ‘Participating in this championship is important... a new challenge to Rally compete against world class drivers’ By Sahan Bidappa Doha Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club CEO Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi (left) presents a memento to Social and atari rally driver Sport Contribution Fund (Daam) Director of Programme Ahmed Salem al-Ali during a press conference Khalid al-Mohan- yesterday. Daam is a supporting partner for the three-day His Highness The Amir’s Sword Festival, which nadi is optimistic of begins today at the Al Rayyan Park. PICTURE: Juhaim his chances at the QManateq Qatar Cross-Country Rally, which will be organised by the Qatar Motor and Motor- CRICKET cycle Federation from February 22-27. Al-Mohannadi, a veteran on the circuit, will team up with experienced French navigator Can anyone stop Australia? Sebastien Delaunay in a Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo in the hotly- contested T3 category that has attracted 11 teams. Al-Mohan- Hosts target fi ft h title at nadi and Delaunay are part of new a QMMF Team, which also has three competitors in Can- Am Maverick X3s. women’s T20 World Cup While there is no doubt that al-Mohannadi will face a stiff challenge for podium places, the Qatari driver was given a much-needed boost with Uni- versal Sports stepping in to sponsor him for the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.