SSHOOTINGHOOTING | Page 2 GOLF | Page 9 Nearly 300 Spieth rolls to shooters to gun four-stroke To Advertise here for glory at win at Pebble Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Qatar Open Beach Tuesday, February 14, 2017 FOOTBALL Jumada I 17, 1438 AH Emery, PSG look GULF TIMES to get over Barcelona at last SPORT Page 3 TENNIS / QATAR TOTAL OPEN FOOTBALL Record numbers Jankovic targets to compete in top-10 fi nish in 2017 2017 Workers Cup Serbian makes it to main draw with a win over Tsvetana Pironkova Hassan al-Kuwari (left), executive director, Marketing and Communications at Qatar Stars League, and Fatma al-Nuaimi (right), director, Communications at Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, address a press conference yesterday. By Sports Reporter Doha undreds of football-loving workers from across Qa- tar are set to compete in the Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic in action against Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova during their qualifying singles match at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex fi fth edition of Doha’s an- Hnual Workers Cup, the much antici- in Doha yesterday. (Below) Madison Brengle of USA too made it to the main draw. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil pated seven-week football tournament By Sahan Bidappa organised by the Qatar Stars League Doha (QSL) and sponsored by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC). This year’s tournament will see over aving plummeted to 50th in 600 players compete in 32 teams — an the world rankings, it almost increase on the 24 teams that battled feels unreal that Jelena Jank- it out for glory last year. Taleb Group, ovic was once ranked No.1. 2016’s surprise winners who won the HThe Serbian was a major force in trophy in their debut tournament, are 2008, when she reached the summit also re-entering the competition to de- of women’s tennis. Jankovic was once fend their title. touted as the challenger to Serena The tournament kicks-off at 6:45pm Williams; in fact she then led the ri- on Friday at Qatar Sports Club when valry with the American 3-2. Nakheel Landscapes will face off That year, Jankovic became the against Bin Omran Trading & Con- first player to top the world rankings tracting. Both companies have com- without reaching a Grand Slam final. peted in previous editions of the Cup. However, later that year, she made a The tournament’s showpiece fi nal maiden appearance in the US Open will be played on March 31. General ad- final, but went down against Wil- mission for every Workers Cup match is liams. free and everyone is welcome to attend migrant communities into one foot- At 22, the world was at her feet. But and cheer on the competing teams. balling community, demonstrating this in the next nine years, Jankovic’s for- The competing teams are made up sport’s power to bridge cultural diff er- tunes nosedived as she neither made of players from local and international ences and bring people together. it to another major fi nal, nor back to construction companies operating in “We are enormously grateful to the No.1. Qatar, many of whom are working on millions of people who have come to Last year was even more frustrat- the country’s largest infrastructure Qatar to help us prepare for the tour- ing for Jankovic, as she battled poor She wrapped up the first set in “It’s been a long time (2004) since ORDER OF PLAY projects as well as SC projects linked nament and meet the country’s de- form and two ruptures in her shoulder quick time, breaking three times I have played in the qualifi ers. I had CENTRE COURT (Starting at 2pm) to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This year velopment objectives, as outlined in muscles. while Pironkova, with 13 unforced a tough last year with lot of injuries. Q-Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs Anasta- will see 15 teams linked to the SC com- the Qatar National Vision 2030. This Now 31, the Serbian is keen to errors, struggled to find her range Now, I need to make a comeback and sia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) pete at the tournament. They consist of tournament forms just one part of the mount back in the circuit as she tar- and timing. get my ranking up,” she added. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs Kiki 11 former and current contractors en- SC’s efforts to ensure the 2022 FIFA gets a top-10 fi nish in 2017. But Pironkova broke fi rst in the sec- Three other qualifi ers were decided Bertens (NED) gaged in World Cup projects and four World Cup leaves a lasting legacy And she will be hoping her for- ond set to jump into a 4-1 lead, before yesterday, with Americans Christina 5-Garbine Muguruza (ESP) vs WC- teams engaged with the SC’s fl agship of enhanced health and well-being tune changes in Doha. Playing in the Jankovic regained her focus. The Serb McHale, Madison Brengle and Lauren Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR) CSR programme, Generation Amazing. for everyone contributing to Qatar’s qualifi ers for the fi rst time since 2004, got back on level terms and forced a Davis sealing their spots in the main 8-Barbora Strycova (CZE) vs WC- The Workers Cup has grown in size growth.” Jankovic sealed her place in the main tiebreak and looked to be fi rmly on draw. Fatma al-Nabhani (OMA) and stature in recent years, with over Hassan al-Kuwari, executive direc- draw of the Qatar Total Open, which course for the main draw. McHale beat Sweden’s Johanna Not before 8pm 11,000 fans packing the stands at the tor, Marketing and Communications of began yesterday. But she squandered two match Larsson 7-6, 6-4 in the fi nal round of Laura Siegemund (GER) vs Monica Al-Ahli Sports Club Stadium for the QSL, added: “Football is for everyone The Serbian rolled back years at points at 5-4, to lose the next four qualifying. In her opening round to- Puig (PUR) 2016 tournament fi nal. Last year, the and the Workers Cup is just one of the the Khalifa International Tennis and points and with it the set. day, the American will play sixth seed COURT 1 (Starting at 2pm) competition also earned the praise of ways we make sure that every member Squash Complex in chilly condi- Jankovic, however, come out on top Elena Vesnina of Russia, who is ranked Roberta Vinci (ITA) vs Q-Lauren FIFA president Gianni Infantino and of Qatar’s vibrant sporting commu- tions as she beat Bulgarian Tsvetana of a topsy-turvy fi nal set and notch a No. 15 in the world. Davis (USA) UN secretary general for Development nity has an opportunity to play foot- Pironkova 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 in a match seventh win over Pironkova. In her Brengle brushed aside Chinese Q-Madison Brengle (USA) vs Caro- and Peace, Wilfried Lemke, both of ball if they wish to, whether it’s to keep lasting over two and a half hours. fi rst round match today, Jankovic will Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-1 to make it line Garcia (FRA) whom were impressed by the healthy healthy, meet new people or show off As rain threatened to interrupt the take on Russia’s Anastasia Pavly- into the main draw. She will take on Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) vs 7-Timea competition and camaraderie the their skills. proceedings and extreme wind made uchenkova, who has a 5-2 advantage Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia next. Bacsinszky (SUI) Workers Cup instils in participants. “The popularity of the tournament is it uncomfortable for the players and over the Serb, having also won their Davis had an easy passage as her COURT 2 (Starting at 2pm) Fatma al-Nuaimi, SC Communica- testament to the positive impact it has spectators alike, Jankovic held her last two matches. opponent Camila Giorgi of Italy was Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) vs Daria tions director, said of this year’s edition on the local community and I’m proud nerve to get past a plucky Pironkova, “I am glad I was even able to play forced into retirement with the score Kasatkina (RUS) of the tournament: “The SC is proud to to be able to give back to the people who saved two match points in the in the qualifi ers because I was not at 7-5, 2-5. Davis is set to face veteran Q-Christina McHale (USA) vs be supporting the Workers Cup for a preparing this country for the future second set. even in the draw as I got a wild card. Roberta Vinci of Italy. 6-Elena Vesnina (RUS) fi fth year given the joy it brings to both in such an impactful way. The passion Jankovic came into the match I am thankful for that opportunity The top four seeds — Angelique Not before 5pm (TBA after suitable those who participate and their col- shown by the players and the fans in boasting an impressive 6-0 head-to- and luckily I was able to win the three Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Dominika rest) leagues and friends who attend as fans. previous tournaments is great to see head record against Pironkova, and rounds and here I am in the main draw Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwan- Katerina Bondarenko (UKR)/Elena We are confi dent the 2017 edition will and I’m looking forward to another fun she began the match in a dominating again,” said Jankovic, who lost in the ska — will not in been in action today, Vesnina (RUS) vs Gabriela Dabrowski be as eff ective as previous tournaments but competitive tournament over the fashion.