222 Qatar Athletes on a Mission to Make the Nation Proud
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MMOTOGPOTOGP | Page 6 GGOLFOLF | Page 7 Marquez takes Tiger Woods Austrian GP leaps into pole — by hunt as third 0.002 seconds! round begins Sunday, August 12, 2018 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 1, 1439 AH Chelsea, Spurs win GULF TIMES away as promoted teams struggle SPORT Page 2 ASIAN GAMES RALLYING 222 Qatar athletes Qatar’s Abdulla closes in on T2 on a mission to make lead with win in Hungary the nation proud Agencies Veszprem, Hungary ‘We hope their success will inspire young athletes to one day represent Team Qatar’ atar’s Adel Abdulla closed the gap on his By Sports Reporter T2 rival Ahmed al- Doha Shegawi to 23 points Qafter claiming a dramatic victory in the Veszprem-based Hungar- he 18th edition of the ian Baja, the eighth round of the Asian Games will be FIA World Cup for Cross Coun- held in the Indonesian try Rallies, yesterday afternoon. cities of Jakarta-Palem- The Nissan Patrol Y62 driver Tbang from August 18-Septem- and French navigator Jean- ber 2 and will see 222 athletes Michel Polato trailed the Saudi at proudly represent Team Qatar. the overnight halt, but a superb Indonesia will be the fi rst run through the fi rst selective country to ever host the 2nd section yesterday morning gave largest multi-sport event in two the QX Rally Team star the ad- diff erent cities. The Opening vantage. Ceremony will be held on Au- Abdulla maintained that lead gust 18 at the Gelora Bung Karno in diffi cult conditions to reach 39sec and that enabled the Qa- Stadium in Jakarta. The 37th the fi nish 1min 09sec in front of tari to extend his overall advan- General Assembly of the Olym- his arch rival in the race to win tage to 2min 21sec on a section pic Council of Asia will be held the title for series production of the special where Romania’s on August 19 at the Mulia Hotel cross-country vehicles. Claudiu Barbu had dropped an Indonesia. Abdulla said: “I am very happy hour to his two Arab rivals before Team Qatar will be represented about this result. Jean-Michel retiring. by 20 national sport federations did a very good job as usual. I After service and a regroup- and will compete in 30 events and thank the team, the media, my ing in Veszprém, Abdulla headed disciplines at the Asian Games sponsors, the Qatar Motor and for the repeat of the two sections 2018. Team Qatar will also com- Motorcycle Federation, Ooredoo with a T2 lead of 3min 20sec. Al- pete in two new sports for the fi rst Qatar and Nissan Qatar for their Shegawi clawed one minute back time in Qatar’s Asian Games his- support. It was a very tough race on the repeat of the shorter sec- tory, including 3x3 basketball and and we managed to take the win.” tion, but the longer part of the air sports. Abdulla complained that he stage was shortened to 153km Showing his support for Team had been blocked through Fri- and fi nished at PC2 because of Qatar at the Asian Games 2018, day’s opening super special stage inclement stage and weather Qatar Olympic Committee by a rival competitor, who had not conditions. (QOC) secretary-general Jas- moved out of his way in the dust, Abdulla reached the fi nish in sim al-Buenain said, “With the and that was the reason for the a time of 1hr 41min 26sec and, directions of HE Sheikh Joaan 18.6-second gap to the T2 leader even though al-Shegawi beat bin Hamad al-Thani, the QOC at the start of the second day. him on the stage by 1min 12sec, President, we are committed The Qatari had a good start- the Qatari had done enough to to always support our National Team Qatar competitions will begin with the handball team, who are looking to defend their Asian Games 2014 title. ing position on the road for the secure the victory by 1min 09sec Sports Federations in delivering fi rst run through the opening and close the gap on his rival in the appropriate environment for selective section of 219.50km, the T2 standings to 23 points. our athletes to train and achieve nonetheless. He clocked a time Action resumes in the FIA excellence, as this is a key stra- of 20min 42sec for the short fi rst World Cup for Cross-Country tegic goal for the QOC.” part of the timed test and that Rallies with Baja Poland on Au- Al-Buenain added: “Qatar is was 18 seconds faster than the gust 30-September 2. a nation passionate about sport time set by al-Shegawi. and we strongly believe in the That should have put the Nis- FIA WORLD CUP FOR power of sport to unite, inspire, san driver 0.6 seconds behind his CROSS-COUNTRY RALLIES empower and educate people of rival, but the Saudi had incurred T2 STANDINGS all ages and abilities. The 2006 a one-minute time penalty and 1. Ahmed al-Shegawi (SAU) 183pts Asian Games has been a cata- Abdulla inherited a one-minute 2. Adel Abdulla (QAT) 160 lyst for Qatar’s sport develop- outright lead to take into the 3. Yuliya K-Migunova (RUS) 42 ment. Hosting the Games in longer second part of the stage. 4. Marat Abykayev (KAZ) 36 Doha holds a special place in Abdulla completed the longer 5. Alexey Titov (RUS) 25 our hearts. Today we stand be- part of the stage in 2hrs 29min 6. Anders Svensson (SWE) 15 hind our athletes and confi dent that they will make us proud. We hope that their success will in- spire young athletes in Qatar to follow in their footsteps and one day represent Team Qatar.” The diverse and ambitious team includes 29 females who will take part in new and ex- citing sports, everything from shooting to taekwondo. Team Qatar forms a strong team with over 890 previous achievements from winning Olympic medals, to claiming Asian champion ti- tles and are eager to return home with even more medals. Team Qatar will be led by QOC presi- dent HE Sheikh Joaan bin Ha- mad al-Thani. On his medal prediction Rania al-Naji will represent Qatar in women’s hammer throw. Hamad al-Attiyah is part of the Equestrian contingent for 2018 Asiad. and hopes for Team Qatar, al- Buenain said, “It is with no Team Qatar athletes have re- tional ‘I am Qatar’ campaign was tions Director at the QOC, said, compete in competition they doubt that our athletes at the ceived an outpouring of public introduced by an energetic short “We hope the ‘I am Qatar’ cam- compete for us all.” Asian Games 2018 will be car- support in response to a new ‘I fi lm produced by Al Kass Sports paign brings everyone together Team Qatar competitions will rying a huge responsibility to am Qatar’ campaign recently Channels featuring some of the to support our athletes at the begin with the handball team, showcase the Qatari sport at its launched across its digital plat- prominent Team Qatar athletes in 2018 Asian Games. Our athletes who are looking to defend their best. The Games act as a great forms as part of the exciting build diff erent sports. represent everything that Qa- Asian Games 2014 title. The opportunity for our athletes to up to Asian Games 2018 Jakarta- Commenting on the remark- tar stands for. We are extremely team will play against Malay- shine and gain wonderful ex- Palembang. To celebrate Qatar’s able response to the campaign, proud of them and we want sia in the preliminary round on periences. Wishing them all the continued emergence onto the Sheikha Asma al-Thani, the them to feel the support of the Monday, August 13, fi ve days Qatar’s Adel Abdulla (also top) in action on his way to victory in the best at their competitions.” world stage of sport the inspira- Marketing and Communica- entire community. When they ahead of the Opening Ceremony. Hungarian Baja. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, August 12, 2018 FOOTBALL FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Neymar is my key player, says PSG coach Tuchel Proud Pogba happy AFP fi nal three months of last season with Paris injury before being ridiculed for regular to repay trust as playacting at the World Cup. In contrast, teenage sensation Mbappe ew Paris Saint-Germain head shone in Russia, scoring four goals, in- Man Utd captain coach Thomas Tuchel insisted cluding in France’s fi nal victory over that Neymar is the “key player” Croatia. AFP piqued by his frosty relationship for his side, as his team prepare But Neymar did score 19 league goals in Manchester, United Kingdom with the Portuguese coach. Nfor the start of their Ligue 1 title defence 20 games last term before his foot injury, And Pogba seemed to call for against Caen today. and made 13 assists. more trust from Mourinho this The stunning performances of Kylian German Tuchel was keen to play down anchester United season. “Like I always say, I always Mbappe at the World Cup and consistent concerns that the 26-year-old doesn’t midfi elder Paul Pog- give my best for the fans, for my speculation linking Neymar with a move work hard enough for the team. ba declared his pride teammates, for the people that away from the club have left the Brazil- “There are other people in the team at being named cap- trust me,” the midfi elder said. ian’s status as PSG’s star man somewhat who are responsible for defence, the Mtain for Friday’s Premier League Mourinho has clashed with the in danger.