Sports Friday, April 12, 2019 15 Rayyan have edge over The Lions aim to confirm a Police in Cup final top four finish The title clash is scheduled at the QVA Indoor Hall at in League 6:30 today Raajiv Tripathi

Defending champion Club, after having surrendered the QVA League title too Police earlier this season, are insisting that they are well prepared for the fifth final of the Volley- ball Championship in a row, despite the absence of in- jured skipper Mubarak Dahi Tribune News Network tering victory over Al Kharaiti- Waleed. DOHA yat so that they can ensure The Qatar Cup final pits they finish the tournament in the best two teams of the cur- Al Rayyan will go all out and the third position, as Al Rayy- rent season as double winners press for a victory against Qa- an (34 points) and Al Ahli (33 Al Rayyan Club clash with Po- tar Sports Club in the Week points) are breathing down lice at the QVA Indoor Hall on 22 of the QNB Stars League their neck with the aim of a Friday at 6:30 pm. on Saturday. The kick-off is at top-four finish. Besides a strong core, 20:30 at the Al Sadd Stadium. On the other hand, Al Al Rayyan Club hope that Al Rayyan go into the game Kharaitiyat are facing a differ- their master tactician Carlos QVA Board Member Mohammed Salem al Kuwari and QVA Technical Director Hussein Imam Ali with Al Rayyan Club and Police officials and with 34 points in fourth place. ent challenge. The Thunders Schwanke and professional players for the Qatar Cup volleyball final in Doha. They have nine wins, seven are placed at the bottom of the players – Kamil Rychlicki draws and five defeats, while league table with 15 points. (Luxembourg) and Marko wari announced that the title ing to be difficult as we know tively. in our players. The fitness of their goal difference is +2 (30 They are the team that stares Vukasinovic (Montenegro) clash will carry QR500,000 in each other well. We’ve two This is the fifth clash of the the team is nearly the same goals for and 28 against). at relegation the most, the oth- – will combine and translate prize money with the winners days to prepare for the Qatar season between the two teams, even after 30 plus matches Al Rayyan will look for ers being (19 points) their edge into the 10th title pocketing QR300,000. Cup final. We’ve two strong after Al Rayyan and Police this season. We’ve to be men- nothing less than a victory to and Qatar SC (16 points). in 11 events since the - He wished good luck to professionals and our other clinched two each. However, tally strong against Al Rayyan ensure their stay in the top Al Kharaitiyat have record- ian coach joined the team late both the teams and expressed players are also fairly good. with Al Rayyan beating the as their professional players four. They have one point less ed five wins, including their 2016-17 season and guided hope that League champions We’ll try to bring to play at the rivals and winning the Super have the Italian league expe- than third-placed Al Sailiya shock 1-0 verdict over formi- them to the prestigious Amir Police and Arab club cham- highest of our energies in the Cup and the Arab club cham- rience. and lead fifth-placed Al Ahli dable Al in Week 21. Cup. pionship winners Al Rayyan final. pionship in Tunis, The Lions “Our policy is not to make by a point. However, they lost 16 games. While the former brings Club will play to their poten- “The absence of Mubarak have got a slight edge. many changes in the team. It may be recalled that Al Their goal difference is -36 (17 high standard Italian league’s tial and take the sport to new will put any pressure on my Even last year, Al Rayyan Maybe the budget is not as big Rayyan had finished third last goals for and 53 against). experience, the latter helped levels while making the match team. We came through a dif- Club entered the fourth suc- as Al Rayyan have. Our profes- season, behind champions Al Al Sailiya had beaten Al his national team bag the a treat to watch for fans. ficult semi-final series and I’m cessive final of the Qatar Cup sional players Rivas and Oi- Duhail and Al Sadd. Kharaitiyat 5-0 in the first leg. 2015 World League Group 3 Also present during the trying to ensure that my play- and had beaten Police to vanen are also good but right On the other hand, QSC runners-up honours and 2014 press conference were the of- ers will continue to show the emerge the winners for a sec- now, Al Rayyan Club appear are in the 11th position with Toyota car presented CEV European League gold ficials, players and coaches game that they have been do- ond time. But after beating Al to have a slight all-round edge. 16 points, just one point ahead The medal, besides helping OK of both the finalists. While Al ing till now,” added Schwanke. Rayyan twice on the way to We’ll see how we can handle of bottom-placed Al Kharaiti- (QSL) presented the Toyota Novi Pazar win multiple titles Rayyan were represented by Both the teams had to go winning the QVA League this the final. But it doesn’t mean yat. The Kings have four wins, car, sponsored by the QSL’s in Serbia. Waleed, Vukosinovic and Ry- through the grind during the season, Police will be aiming that we can’t win. History may as many draws and 13 defeats official sponsor Abdullah Ab- Last year, Al Rayyan clean- chlicki and coach Schwanke, best-of-three semi-final se- to repeat that performance. be with Al Rayyan but some against their name. Their goal dulghani and Brothers (AAB), swept all the six titles they skipper John Chigbo, Mikko ries. Police and Al Rayyan won It will be interesting to watch day, it can be changed and who difference is -21 (17 goals for to the winner of the draw held contested, including the Arab Oivanen, Willner Rivas and their first match but their ri- if Police will be lucky second knows if it might happen on and 38 against). during the QNB Stars League clubs championship. This sea- coach Damiano Arredondo vals and Al Arabi time on Friday. Friday,” added the Argentine. In fact, Qatar SC, along Week 20 match between Al son, they won the marked their presence for Po- launched stirring comebacks Police coach Arredondo with Al Khor (19 points) and Duhail and Al Sadd at the Al and retained the Arab title in lice in the media talk. to force the deciders by win- recalled the Arab club cham- Qatar Cup Roll of Honour Al Kharaitiyat, are involved in Duhail Stadium on March 30. Tunis but failed to defend the Schwanke said his team is ning the second meeting. pionship semi-final clash and the fight to avoid relegation. The prize was presented League crown. That hurt may a champion side and he is just Police and Al Rayyan had said, “It was a strange match. 2013/14 Al Arabi El Jaish Al Rayyan played out a 2-2 on Thursday at the AAB Head- 2014/15 Al Arabi Al Rayyan drive them to put in their best. motivating the players to play to bring in their A game again We could not press them draw with Al Sailiya, whereas quarters in the presence of 2015/16 Al Rayyan El Jaish At a press conference on to their best, which will be suf- and reached the final, after in the closing stages and Al Qatar SC lost 1-2 to Al Arabi QSL’s Marketing and Sales 2016/17 Al Arabi Al Rayyan Wednesday, QVA Board Mem- ficient for them to beat Police. breaking the resistance of Al Rayyan just about managed to last week. Al Rayyan had beat- Department Acting Director 2017/18 Al Rayyan Police ber Mohammed Salem al Ku- “The final is undoubtedly go- Wakrah and Al Arabi, respec- win 3-2. We’ve full confidence en Qatar SC 2-0 in the first leg. Nasser Yacoub, AAB’s Senior Sales Manager Ahmed Abu Sailiya aim to cement Saad, Sales Manager Shaji Jo- third place seph and Marketing Manager Al Sailiya are up against Rami Khattab. Al Kharaitiyat in their final Asian athletics meet tickets sale begins in Doha league match at the Al Gharafa Saturday’s fixtures Club Stadium on Saturday. 18:20 Tribune News Network son will enter for free how ready our world-class fa- Al Sailiya, who played out Al Arabi vs Al Duhail (Al Arabi Stadium) Al Sadd vs (Al Sadd Stadium) Doha Ticket options mirror cilities and infrastructure are a 2-2 draw with Al Rayyan in Al Shahania vs Al Gharafa (Al Gharafa those on offer at the 17th IAAF to host the biggest of athletics the last round, are placed third Stadium) Athletics fans in Qatar, World Athletics Champion- events. Asian Athletics Cham- with 35 points (11 victories, Asia and all over the world ships, which Doha hosts in pionship is the biggest IAAF two draws and eight defeats). 20:30 can now secure their tickets September for the first time in event in the continent, and we The Peregrines have a goal dif- Al Ahli vs Al Khor (Al Arabi Stadium) for the 23rd Asian Athletics the Middle East. Asian Athlet- are ready to pleasantly surprise ference of +9 (33 goals for and Al Rayyan vs Qatar SC (Al Sadd Stadium) Championships after the com- ics Championships serves as our guests,” said Dahlan al 24 against). Al Sailiya vs Al Kharaitiyat (Al Gharafa petition’s Local Organising an official test event for the Hamad, President of the Asian They will be keen on regis- Stadium) Committee put the tickets for World Championships, and Athletics Association and Vice- online sale on the competi- the LOC will trial all major op- President of the International tion’s official website. erations, including the venue, Association of Athletics Fed- The competition takes transport and accommoda- erations (IAAF). place at the air-conditioned tion, to ensure a smooth and “The 23rd Asian Athletics Khalifa International Stadium spotless experience during the Championships will be signifi- from April 21-24 and brings to- Starting at an affordable available for purchase per each global showpiece in less than cant not only for bringing to- gether nearly 700 athletes and QR30, tickets provide a wide day of the competition, includ- six months. gether Asia’s elite athletes but over 400 officials and coaching array of options for the pub- ing a family deal that allows for “Today marks yet another also because it allows us to put staff from 43 countries, who lic, whether athletics fans or two adults and two children to milestone in the journey of our organizational capacities will compete for top honours those looking to learn about secure tickets with a 15 percent welcoming the world of athlet- into examination ahead of the in the world’s most populous the game. discount. People with disabili- ics to Doha. In less than three World Championships,” Ham- continent. Up to 7,000 tickets will be ties and 1 accompanying per- weeks, we will show the world ad added.

Pollard hoping for Shammari wins another gold medal in Amir Cup shooting and archery Ahmed al Shammari continued his golden Windies recall form as he shot an- AFP “There has been a lot of other title in the Amir Cup Mumbai turmoil in West Indies cricket Shooting and Archery over the last couple of years. Championships. In the West Indies outcast Kieron We have seen in the last couple men’s 10m Air Pistol at Pollard said he was targeting a of weeks there’s a change,” said the Losail Ranges, he return to the national team for Pollard. beat Osama al Shaibah, the World Cup after smashing “The most I can do every while Talal al Ali got the a whirlwind 83 in the Indian time I step on the cricket field is bronze medal. In youth Premier League. try to put runs on the board,” he category Misfer al Marri Pollard, whose knock off 31 added, when asked about the emerged the champion. balls helped Mumbai Indians West Indies’ World Cup squad. He was followed by Fahad beat Kings XI Punjab on the “There’s people there who Ayed and Abdul Razzaq last ball on Wednesday, said have the job to select and what- al Mohannadi (third). he hoped his problems with the ever and let’s see how that Khalid al Sharshani won West Indies board were in the goes. As I said, I’m 31 years, the men’s Air Rifle gold past. Chris Gayle is still playing, he’s medal, Jassem al Balushi The 31-year-old, who last 39, and he’s whacking it all secured the silver medal played an ODI in 2016, said around.” and Dan Bahadur had the he was “blacklisted” under the Pollard said it could be the bronze medal. Hamad al previous regime but was hope- start of a fresh era for West Marri bagged the gold in ful of a recall after last month’s Indies cricket under new chief the youth category, ahead ousting of controversial board Ricky Skerritt, the former team of the Hamad al Tamimi president Dave Cameron. manager. and Ahmed al Khulaifi.