SPORT PAGE | 03 PAGE | 07 Simona Halep’s NBA: Nets’ GM China woes expects Durant to continue with miss entire retirement 2019-20 season Thursday 26 September 2019 President re-elected by unanimous vote at IAAF Congress in Doha Coe wants sport to grow in his new term ARMSTRONG VAS cleaning up corruption in the sport. IAAF president THE PENINSULA “It’s been a tough four years, the first Sebastian Coe during two were the reforms -- the second two Sebastian Coe has been unanimously years were really making sure they were a press conference re-elected for a second term as President implemented,” he said. at the Sheraton This was not an easy of the International Association of “(We) got here pretty much imple- Grand Doha Resort journey. I genuinely am & Convention Hotel, Athletics Federations (IAAF). menting everything we said we’d do. very pleased and proud The 62-year-old, former Olympic and “I want the next four years to be the Doha, yesterday. world champion middle-distance runner, fun bit... I want the sport to grow,” he of the way the sport became head of world athletics’ governing added. has come together. Two body in 2015 and receives his second Yesterday’s Congress also saw the mandate just two days before the World election of four vice-presidents, and 13 hundred changes, the Athletics Championships open in Doha. members of the total 50. Athletics Integrity Unit Coe, who took over the reins during Ximena Restrepo, pole vault -- no sport has a unit in a period of turmoil in world athletics, was champion Sergey Bubka, Geoffrey re-elected by unanimous vote of the 203 Gardner and Nawaf Bin Mohammed Al the same space, it’s about delegates attending the International Saud were elected Vice-Presidents. malpractice, corruption: Coe Association of Athletics Federations’ Con- Restrepo, the 1992 Olympic 400m gress in Doha yesterday. bronze medalist from Colombia, will “This was not an easy journey. I gen- become the first woman to serve as an “Ximena is a former athlete, which is because this was only made possible (The Netherlands), Alberto Juantorena uinely am very pleased and proud of the IAAF Vice-President. tremendously helpful when you’re driving because of you and the changes made (Cuba), Willie Banks (USA), Raul Chapado way the sport has come together,” Coe As part of the widespread reforms the sport forward,” said Coe. to the constitution.” Congress also (Spain), Dobromir Karamarinov (Bul- told delegates following his re-election. adopted by the IAAF Congress at the end “I am delighted that we have for the elected new members of the IAAF garia), Beatrice Ayikoru (Uganda). “Two-hundred changes, the Athletics of 2016, the IAAF added minimum gender very first time elected a female Vice Pres- Council. The IAAF Council will be composed Integrity Unit -- no sport has a unit in the targets into its constitution to establish ident and that she will be joined by seven The newly elected members are: of 26 members, eight of whom are same space, it’s about malpractice, cor- parity at all levels in the sports other women on council. This is a historic Hiroshi Yokokawa (Japan), Antti Pihla- women. The 13 newly elected members ruption,” he said. governance. moment.” “I’m really honoured to take this koski (Finland), Anna Riccardi (Italy), will be joined by six Area Presidents and During his first term, Coe set up the Coe welcomed Restrepo, who now position,” said Restrepo. Nan Wang (China), Adille Sumariwalla two members of the Athletes’ Com- independent Athletics Integrity Unit lives in Chile, as one of the new Vice Pres- “It’s a great moment for me and for (India), Nawal El Moutawakel (Morocco), mission, one man and one woman, which serves as watchdog dedicated to idents and offered his congratulations. my country. I would like to thank you, Seb, Abby Hoffman (Canada), Sylvia Barlag including the Chair. IAAF reveals Dalilah looks to break her own world new Wanda record as USA begin ‘journey to gold’ sponsorship AP FAWAD HUSSAIN DOHA THE PENINSULA Sebastian Coe marked his re- Go to any track and field event election as IAAF President yes- around the world and you see terday by announcing Chinese fans expecting a complete domi- conglomerate Wanda as the nation of proceedings from the I am always Diamond League title sponsor US athletes. That’s the kind of aiming to run in what he called the biggest reputation Team USA has built my absolute commercial deal for track and for itself for many decades. best and field. A decorated group of high- The global real estate and profile 141 US athletes descended improve my film production group is upon the Qatari capital to embark performance, expanding its investment in on a IAAF World Athletics Cham- and if I do sports having signed up as a pionships Doha 2019 mission that that it will be top-tier sponsor of FIFA in has been dubbed as the ‘journey 2016. to gold’ by the team. another world The Diamond League will This group includes 55 Olym- record, so yes be backed by Wanda from 2020 pians including 26 Olympic med- I am targeting in a 10-year deal that secures a allists that have a combined 44 the one in stop for the series in China and Olympic medals, as well as 78 allows the company to organize previous World Championships Doha: Dalilah a new IAAF event in the team members with a total of 65 country, Coe said, without pro- medals. viding financial details. They have seven reigning “It is the biggest single com- FROM LEFT: American athletes Ryan Crouser, Emma Coburn, Rai Benjamin and Dalilah Muhammad during a press conference at world champions, who will mercial partnership in the Khalifa Stadium yesterday. PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA defending their crowns during history of athletics,” Coe told the September 27-October 6 the IAAF Congress in Qatari event in Doha. These include Tori my absolute best and improve my women’s hurdles and it’s going the event is very deep, so I think shot put event. It’s a couple of capital Doha. Bowie, Kori Carter, Emma performance, and if I do that it to be a tough battle. I am pre- it’s a pretty big battle. The top 6 days we’ve been here and the Ahead of the world cham- Coburn, Phyllis Francis, Justin will be another world record, so paring hard and will give my to 8 women will be competing training has been fine. The pionships opening Friday in Gatlin, Sam Kendricks and yes I am targeting the one in best,” she added. for the podium. I am looking for field is looking great, probably Doha, the 62-year-old Coe was Brittney Reese. Doha,” Dalilah told The Peninsula Earlier, members of USA the fight and waiting for Friday a field record will be set,” he unopposed to continue in the Not just that, USA also have yesterday. squad including defending (tomorrow),” Coburn told added. IAAF presidency he first superstars like 2019 Diamond “It (questions about the world women 3,000 steeplechase reporters. “These are the World Cham- assumed in 2015, receiving all League champions Noah Lyles record) adds a little bit of pressure champion Emma Coburn, Rio “With team USA there are a pionships and standard of the 203 votes. (200m) and Dalilah Muhammad, and it makes you run a little bit gold medalist Ryan Crouser and lot of expectations. There is competition will be very high,” A double Olympic 1,500- who can create history any day. fast. It’s not a distraction,” she star 400m hurdler Rai Benjamin standard is to be on the podium, he added. meter champion who And, Dalilah, who set a new said. besides Dalilah spoke at a press to win the races. In the last 43 or Benjamin, who will be organized the 2012 London women’s 400m hurdles world “You know what is so crazy? conference at the Khalifa Inter- 40 years, we have been making making his debut at the World Olympics, Coe has overseen record at the USATF 2019 My winning time was the PIN national Stadium. a lot of appearances at the Championships, was also eyeing Russia being suspended from National Championship, is tar- number for my first credit card,” Coburn, who won gold at the podium. So that’s the standard of for glory in Doha. the IAAF. geting the same in Doha. she said yesterday. “I never even 2017 World Championships in team USA,” she added. “This is my first World Cham- It was one of the toughest The 29-year-old feels she can thought about it until I ran that London, predicted a stiff compe- Rio Olympics champion pionships and I am very excited. sporting sanctions by a sports better her time of 52.20 seconds time and I thought ‘Wow, that tition for the podium finish. Crouser hoped for a new record It’s a strong line-up in the 400m body against the country for during the battle in Doha. used to be my PIN number. “The women’s steeplechase in the men’s shot put event. hurdles and I am looking forward corruption and systematic “I am always aiming to run “The field is very deep in is super super competitive, and “I am really excited for the to it,” he added. doping. 02 SPORT THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2019 Pochettino misses another Champions League final in chance to end Tottenham Saint Petersburg, says UEFA trophy drought AFP retractable roof, was built ahead AFP LJUBLJANA of the 2018 World Cup held in LONDON Russia.