Abdulla Storms to Fastest Time in Abu Dhabi, Confirms Second Spot
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SPORT Friday 30 March 2018 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 PAGE | 24 Full-strengthFul Al Sadd Australian cricket Del Potro grindsnds pprepare for Al Wasl coach quits, captain down Raonic in clash breaks down in tears Miami Abdulla storms to fastest time in Abu Dhabi, confirms second spot THE PENINSULA Adel said: “We pushed from the start today and decided to ABU DHABI: Qatar’s Adel take a risk. Suddenly we saw Abdulla confirmed second Shegawi. I think he had a flat tyre position in the T2 standings at the or something. We pass him and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with I pushed very hard to the end of the fastest time in the final the stage.” 218.57km selective section from “I was pushing the maximum Hameem to the south of Abu of the car. I didn’t even slow Dhabi yesterday. down when the engine temper- Driving a rented Nissan ature went a bit higher. Some Safari Y61 in insipid heat, the sections today were open and fast Qatar’s Adel Abdulla Qatari and navigator Nasser Al and, maybe, that helped to cool (right) and navigator Kuwari carded a stage-winning the car down,” he added. Nasser Al Kuwari time of 3hrs 23min 22sec and “The risk paid off because we celebrate after the managed to shave 11min 38sec won the stage today by over 11 final round yesterday. off rival Ahmed Shegawi’s minutes. This is fantastic for us. eventual winning margin of Second place is good with the sit- 45min 53.9sec. uation we had. We could not The performance also earned bring our car. I tried my best to Adel 12th in the overall standings do the race and collect maximum – a particularly impressive result points. To collect 36 points is very with a near-standard car on one important. of the toughest cross-country “Nasser, my co-driver, events in the world. managed everything in the right ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE – FINAL T2 POSITIONS AFTER SS5 1. Ahmed Al Shegawi (SAU)/Laurent Lichtleuchter (FRA) Toyota Land Cruiser 23hrs 17min 25.7sec 2. Adel Abdulla (QAT)/Nasser Al Kuwari (QAT) Nissan Patrol 24hrs 03min 19.6sec 3. Yuliya Khegay-Migunova (RUS)/Aldis Vilcans (LVA) Toyota LC 200 53hrs 21min 10.5sec FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies – T2 standings after round 3 1. Ahmed Al-Shegawi (SAU) 75pts 2. Adel Abdulla (QAT) 69pts way. We were confident together was 37°C. It is too much in the to my sponsors, the Qatar Motor The next stop in the FIA 3. Yuliya Khegay-Migunova (RUS) 42pts in the car. The weather conditions dunes,” he added. and Motorcycle Federation World Cup calendar will be the 4. Alexey Titov (RUS) 25pts were very hot,” he said. “I also say thank you to my (QMMF) and Ooredoo Qatar and Qatar Cross-Country Rally in “Today, the air temperature team here on their good job and Nissan Qatar.” three weeks’ time. Russia 2018: Al Marri set to become first Qatari referee to officiate at World Cup RIZWAN REHMAT FIFA also announced a full list of ref- employed by teams,” FIFA said on its THE PENINSULA erees who will feature in the 2018 World website yesterday. Cup. “Over the last three years, prepar- DOHA: Qatar’s Taleb Saleh Al Marri Six referees are from Asia whereas atory seminars have taken place for ref- (pictured) is set to become the first I am proud to be the first a total of 10 will represent UEFA, the erees and assistant referees focusing on Qatari referee to officiate at the FIFA referee to represent Qatar European football governing body. fair play, protecting players and the World Cup when he will serve as an in a World Cup: Taleb Saleh In total, the FIFA Referees Com- image of the game, as well as con- assistant referee in Russia this summer. mittee has selected 36 referees and 63 sistency and uniformity. Al Marri’s debut appearance in the Al Marri on Twitter assistant referees, representing 46 dif- “The selected FIFA World Cup match 32-nation event was confirmed yes- ferent countries, for the 2018 FIFA officials will attend another dedicated terday after FIFA released the final list Iran, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia World Cup, details showed seminar for two weeks in the second of referees and assistant referees who each will have two representatives in yesterday. half of April at the technical centre of will be seen in action at the June 14 to the list of 10 assistant referees. Other “The choice of the final group of the Italian Football Association in Cov- July 15, 2018 event. He will join nine AFC assistant referees are from the match officials selected to officiate at erciano, Italy.” other assistant referees representing the Bahrain, the UAE and Japan. the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia was The officials will be divided into two Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Al Marri featured as an assistant based on each referee’s skills and per- groups, which will also include video “I am proud to be the first referee to referee in the matches of the 2016 FIFA sonality, as well as his level of under- assistant referee (VAR) candidates,” FIFA represent Qatar in a World Cup,” Al World Club Cup held in Osaka in standing of football and ability to read added while announcing the list of Marri tweeted yesterday. December that year. both the game and the various tactics referees. Three-way battle for QAL trophy This file photo shows action during a Qatar Amateur League match. THE PENINSULA third placed team will face Al Nasr Bidda wins against Al Khabayib same number of points and who currently leads the league and collects three points, while Al ranking, and as per tournament DOHA: Al Bidda, Al Nasr, and Al with 27 points, also today at Matar and Al Nasr draw and regulations, a playoff will be Matar will all have a thrilling close 5:10pm. collect 1 point each, Al Bidda organised at a later date to decide call today as they battle it out on In the first scenario where Al would be crowned QAL the champions of the QAL this the field of play to have a chance Nasr wins against Al Matar and champions. year. of lifting the much coveted Qatar collects three points, Al Nasr In the fourth scenario where The 13 teams competing in this Amateur League (QAL) trophy. would be crowned QAL cham- Al Bidda loses against Al Khabayib, year’s QAL are Qatar University, Al Bidda, who has so far col- pions regardless of the Al Bidda while Al Matar wins against Al Al Khabayib, Madinat Khalifa, The lected 26 points and are currently vs. Al Khabayib result. Nasr and collects 3 point, Al Matar Pearl, Al Nasr, Lusail, Al Thakhira, ranked the second placed team, In the second scenario where would be crowned QAL Al Thumama, Al Maroona, Al will face Al Khabayib, the seventh Al Bidda loses to Al Khabayib, and champions Bidda, Al Aziziya, Al Matar, and place team with 17 points, at 4pm Al Matar and Al Nasr draw, Al Nasr In the fifth scenario where Al Doha. at Al Arabi Stadium. would still be crowned QAL Bidda wins against Al Khabayib, A total of 390 players regis- Al Matar, who currently champions. and Al Matar wins against Al Nasr, tered for this year’s edition, from earned 26 points making them the In the third scenario where Al Al Bidda and Al Nasr will have the which 130 are Qataris. 22 SPORT FRIDAY 30 MARCH 2018 Hat-trick hero Isco wants leading role at Real Madrid AP BARCELONA: After scoring his first hat trick for Spain, Fran- cisco “Isco” Alarcon (pictured) thought the time was right to send a message to Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. Isco wants to join Zidane’s untouchable group of first- choice players and regularly perform alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Luka Modric. The 25-year-old midfielder Al Sadd’s players during a said Spain coach Julen training session in Doha. Lopetegui “gives him life”. “When a footballer doesn’t feel like he has a leading role and consistent playing time with his club, the national team gives him life,” Isco said after starring in Spain’s 6-1 rout of Full-strength Al Sadd Argentina in a friendly on Tuesday. “I have the confidence of my coach here (with Spain). I still have the desire to keep tier. Zidane has preferred Mateo prepare for Al Wasl tie working, to improve, to be a Kovacic in two big games this starter with my club and with season, the home “clasico” FAWAD HUSSAIN the national side.” Zidane will against Barcelona that ended THE PENINSULA Algerian striker Baghdad decide whether to start Isco on in a 3-0 loss and a 2-1 victory Bounedjah will join the squad Saturday when Madrid visits at Paris Saint-Germain in the yesterday following his partic- Las Palmas. Champions League last-16. DOHA: Looking to maintain ipation with the Algerian With Madrid trailing league “At Madrid I don’t have the top spot in their group at the The two teams will clash on April 2 at national team in friendly leader Barcelona by 15 points, consistent playing time that a AFC Champions League, Qatari Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium and Xavi’s games against Tanzania and perhaps the best guide to player needs but I know the giants Al Sadd will go all out Iran. Zidane’s plans for Isco will problem is mine, that I haven’t for a win against UAE’s Al Wasl side will be targeting full points against During the session, the come next week when the team been able to earn it,” Isco said.