SSPORTPORT FRIDAY 8 DECEMBER 2017 21 IPL spend Defiant Bayliss says England need could hit $96m as wage cap to fight for longer periods of time rises 20%

New Delhi Adelaide shown the capabilities we have AFP AFP got. We have just got to find a way to do it for longer,” he said. he Indian Premier ngland coach Trevor “In both Test matches we League, one of the Bayliss says his team have competed for a couple of Tworld’s richest sports left “a few scars” on days but to win against Australia competitions, will let teams Australia in the in Australia we have to compete splurge up to $12 m each on Adelaide Test, suggest- for longer than that. player salaries in 2018, an E ing the home side’s second “All of our players have com- increase of 20 percent. innings batting performance will peted at different times and After a meeting in New have some players feeling showed they can bat but we just Delhi on Wednesday, the IPL “nervous”. have to do it for longer.” governing council also said The fighting talk came after Bayliss clearly does not think teams will have to spend a England slumped to a crushing that any more practice is the key minimum of 75 percent of the 120-run defeat in the second for England’s batsmen and yes- salary cap each season. Ashes Test at Adelaide, leaving terday named only The decision means the the tourists trailing 2-0 and on from the side that lost in Adelaide eight IPL teams are likely to the verge of losing the five-Test in an England XI to face a spend anywhere between series. Australia XI in a two-day tour Australia’s $72m and $96m on players Despite succumbing again, match in Perth. (right) shakes hands with England alone for just eight weeks of Bayliss was upbeat about his The rest of the team is made captain Joe Roor after the second cricket action in 2018. bowlers skittling Australia for up of the squad members who Ashes cricket Test in Adelaide. “Whatever changes we 138 in the second innings, leav- did not play in the second test have come up with are all in ing England with a chance of and six players from the England the interest of the players,” chasing down a record 354-run Lions team, who are training in IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla victory target. the city. to give his side a realistic shot at said. Australia head into the third But he is confident he can said. “We have got a few scars Captain was also winning. Test with all-rounder Mitch contribute if selected, with mid- “We are also looking to there with the Australian team,” positive after the game, saying “If we can perform to our Marsh recalled to the squad, with dle-order batsman Peter increase the prize money for he told the BBC. England were “still massively” ability for longer periods of time the home side conscious of pro- Handscomb likely to be dropped the players in future.” “There will be a few who in the Ashes series. we’ll win games. The belief in tecting star fast bowlers Mitchell if Australia opt for Marsh. While most of India’s big have missed out and a few who This is despite England not dressing room is definitely Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat “As an allrounder in the Aus- name players are already will be nervous. beating Australia at Perth’s there.” Cummins with the series still tralian team with our attack I’m attached to franchises, sev- “They’ve got four good bowl- WACA Ground since 1978, where Bayliss said the team played alive and three Tests obviously not going to be bowl- eral players bagged lucrative ers and we’ve shown we can the third Test starts next week. well in final days of the Adelaide remaining. ing 30 to 40 overs a game,” he deals in the IPL auction in compete with them for a period “We’ve shown throughout day-night Test, but they needed Marsh, brother of Adelaide said. February. of time.” the two Tests in periods we can to make more than 220 runs in Test centurion Shaun Marsh, last “But I’ve worked hard over England all-rounder Ben Bayliss said his players just out-perform Australia, but just an innings to stand a chance in played a Test on Australia’s tour the last eight months to get my Stokes set a new record for a needed to figure out how to be not over five days,” said Root, Perth. of India in March and required body into a position where I’m foreigner by joining the Ris- competitive for longer periods. who scored 67 in the second “If we do that well we can a full shoulder reconstruction now playing again as an all- ing Pune Supergiants for more “I don’t think there is a real innings run chase but failed to put more pressure on Australia after an injury in the Bangalore rounder so that’s really than $2m. need to panic, the guys have stay at the crease long enough than we did on this match,” he Test. exciting.” England pace bowler Tymal Mills went to the Royal Challengers Bangalore for $1.8m, even though he had only played four Twenty20 ‘Circus’ fears as Stokes is internationals before that. India vs SL: Tired ‘rivalry’ The attractions of last-ball back in England ODI squad winning sixes, extravagant switch-hitting and rapid-fire Sydney centuries have made IPL a and the empty stands AFP favourite of the masses, espe- cially the younger uspended all-rounder was included yesterday in generation. England’s squad for their one-day series against Australia, The IPL’s 60 games are New Delhi with coach Trevor Bayliss bracing for “a circus” if he is cleared valued at roughly $8.5m each, Indian team captain Virat S Reuters to play. not far off the estimated Kohli gestures during the Stokes is currently banned from international cricket while $9.6m per English Premier he humorous observation fifth day of third Test cricket British authorities probe his alleged involvement in a late-night League match -- and well that India and Sri Lanka’s match between India and fight outside a Bristol nightclub, and it remained in doubt whether over the $6.2m price tag Tcricketers see more of Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah he would play. attached to home internation- each other than their respective Kotla Cricket Stadium in New Batsman Alex Hales, who was caught up in the same fracas, als in India. partners appears to have taken Delhi on Wedesday. was also named in the 16-man squad for the five-game series, a more serious tone with the starting in Melbourne on January 14. Indian board accepting that an Selectors said in a statement they were advised to name their overdose of the one-sided strongest squad, and picked the pair accordingly. rivalry is bad for cricket. “Both Alex Hales and Ben Stokes are included, though their Three months after subject- involvement remains subject to any relevant legal or disciplinary ing hosts Sri Lanka to a 9-0 developments in relation to the incident in Bristol in September,” whitewash across all formats, they said. Bayliss admitted Stokes’ potential appearance in Aus- captain Virat Kohli’s men pre- tralia could be a distraction for the team. vailed 1-0 in the latest round of “Whenever he comes back that’s going to be a bit of a circus a duel between the neighbours for sure,” he told reporters after England lost the second Test in to seal their record-equalling Adelaide on Wednesday. “Whether it’s any more of a circus than ninth consecutive test series it’s already been, it’s hard to say. If it happens, let’s just get on with win. it and take it on the chin.” Three of those triumphs He added: “We’ve got to adjust to that at some stage.” have come against an unsettled New Zealand-born Stokes did not travel to Australia with the and inexperienced Sri Lankan rest of the squad for the Ashes Test series, and has missed the first side in the throes of a tricky two in Brisbane and Adelaide, with England losing both. transition period following the But speculation that he is preparing for a dramatic call-up was retirements of batting stalwarts fuelled by his decision to sign with New Zealand provincial side Since becoming and Kumar Canterbury as their overseas player in late November. England Test captain, Joe Sangakkara in 2015. In his first limited overs match for his birth province against Root (pictured above) has India’s six other series wins Otago, he was bowled for two. He did better against Auckland on passed 50 in nine of his 16 in this period includes home tri- Wednesday, hitting 34 from 41 deliveries as he shakes off the rust. innings but has converted umphs against South Africa, Stokes could yet return mid-series to the Ashes if police decide just 2 into centuries - 190 New Zealand, England, Bangla- substantial basis of further dis- going throughout the year.” not to charge him. at Lord’s in his first knock desh and Australia, as well as a cussions on FTP.” India also played five one-day- In addition to Stokes and Hales, Kent batsman Sam Billings as captain and 136 against victory over West Indies in the Indian captains seldom talk ers in Sri Lanka this year, against and Durham seamer were added to the squad that West Indies at Edgbaston. Caribbean. about scheduling issues but an opponent containing many beat the West Indies 4-0 in the one-day series held in England at While it makes financial Kohli has expressed concerns regulars in the Indian Premier the end of the British summer. “It’s a monkey on his sense for Sri Lanka to play India, that the frequency of certain League (IPL). “With around 18 months to the start of the 2019 World Cup, back and it will continue to the game’s economic engine, the contests might result in plenty “This analysis has to be done our ODI side continues to make solid progress with series wins grow with so many fifties home board (BCCI) said the lat- of empty seats in the stands. over a period of time, by asking over the West Indies and South Africa last summer and a semi- not being hundreds. I’m still est series, an underwhelming “It definitely has to be taken fans who watch the game,” final berth in the Champions Trophy,” said selector James Whitaker. convinced it’s because he’s prospect for fans, was unavoid- into consideration because you Kohli said. “The forthcoming series against Australia presents another had the captaincy put on able as it had to honour its don’t want fans going away from “For someone watching the significant opportunity for this group to showcase their skills and him. I wish they hadn’t, I commitment to the calendar. the game or not watching,” Kohli game, it is very different than talent against a quality side away from home.” wish he didn’t have the “The back-to-back series said ahead of the back-to-back someone playing the game. For England one-day squad: (capt), Moeen Ali, burden and could just be resulted from what had been series against Sri Lanka, who us, there is no room for saying Jonathan Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, , Tom Cur- our best-ever batsman but committed in the past in the cur- have managed only one win in that I don’t want to play this ran, Alex Hales, , , Joe Root, , that decision has been made rent FTP (Future Tours the last nine Tests against their game. Ben Stokes, David Willey, , Mark Wood and this tour will be tough Programme),” BCCI acting sec- neighbours. “I don’t know if too much Schedule: on him because that retary Amitabh Choudhary told “We have to find a balance cricket is being played, or (it’s) 1st ODI - Sunday, January 14, Melbourne Cricket Ground pressure will build and reporters on the sidelines of the between how to engage the fans repetition of the same series... 2nd ODI - Friday, January 19, Gabba, Brisbane build,” SAYS FORMER third and final Test in Delhi. and, at the same time, keep That point will definitely be dis- 3rd ODI - Sunday, January 21, ENGLAND SPINNER “The observation of the cap- players fresh, keep cricket excit- cussed (with the Indian board) 4th ODI - Friday, January 26, Adelaide Oval GRAEME SWANN. tain of the team will be a ing and have very competitive in future.” 5th ODI - Sunday, January 28, Optus Stadium, Perth 22 SPORT FRIDAY 8 DECEMBER 2017 FRIDAY 8 DECEMBER 2017 SPORT 23 Spain’s Garcia named Tiger still a major threat, Europe’s best golfer of the year say Calcavecchia and Janzen New York Woods, who remains four Woods will turn 42 on Reuters majors behind Jack Nick- December 30 and the com- laus’s record of 18, would be petition he faces from the he show that Tiger well served to play in more game’s younger players is Woods put on last His name is Tiger events than usual to get into deeper than in his prime. T week in his latest Woods after all. a groove. But just as Nicklaus came comeback from injury was While Woods drove the out of nowhere to win the enough to convince a pair of You don’t just ball as well as he had in a 1986 Masters at the age of 46, major winners that he may forget that he decade, he was rusty when Janzen felt the same could be still be able to triumph in it came to chipping, but that in store for Woods. golf’s blue riband events. has won 14 was no concern for twice US “That is the biggest ques- Woods swung freely and majors and 79 Open winner Lee Janzen. tion, can he win a major now with no sign of back pain at (PGA Tour) titles: “Tiger Woods has a var- because he is playing against Sergio Garcia of the Hero World Challenge, iable that is unmeasurable a bunch of Tiger clones, basi- Spain tees off finishing tied for ninth in the Calcavecchia that you can never count him cally,” he said. during the third 18-man exhibition which out,” said Janzen. “All these young guys are round of the featured eight of the world’s “He always has in his playing like he used to play Omega Dubai top 10 golfers. pocket somewhere the abil- and it isn’t just one of them. Mark Calcavecchia saw ity to do something dramatic “So he has to beat the Desert Classic enough to know it would be and to pull off the right shot younger version of himself at the Emirates foolish to write off the former at the right time. now and there’s a handful of Golf Club, in this world number one. to one Las Vegas “His putting looked them, at least. February 2017 “His name is Tiger bookmaker. really good. But if he regains “But just like Jack Nick- file photo. Woods after all. You don’t In August, he had opened that touch with chipping I laus, when they tried to write just forget that he has won at 100-1 odds to win the would be surprised if he him off he showed everybody 14 majors and 79 (PGA Tour) year’s first major. wasn’t in contention in a that he wasn’t done yet,” he tournaments,” the former Calcavecchia said major.” said. British Open winner told a conference call to promote the Diamond Resorts Tiger Woods hits his bunker London after Seve Ballesteros and Jose Invitational. shot on the 17th hole during Reuters Maria Olazabal. “I watched most of last the final round of the Hero “This is an amazing honour,” week and I was very World Challenge in Albany on S Masters champion Sergio Garcia said in a news release. “I impressed with a lot of December 3. Garcia was named the Euro- think both on and off the golf things. He’s going at it full Upean Tour’s Golfer of the course it has been a unique and speed, he’s certainly not Year for the first time yesterday, unbelievable year, and one that I holding back trying to pro- capping an excellent year in which will definitely remember my tect what we all thought was he also triumphed in the Dubai whole life. still going to be a tender Desert Classic and the Andalucia “I am so happy to receive this back.” Valderrama Masters. award...against the calibre of players Following spinal fusion The 37-year-old, who beat that were in contention, (it) is incred- surgery and a lengthy layoff, Englishman Justin Rose in a play- ible. Tommy (Fleetwood), Justin, Woods arrived at the Baha- off back in April to capture his Tyrrell (Hatton) and Jon (Rahm) are mas event ranked 1,199th but maiden major in Augusta, is the all amazing players, and all had unbe- after posting a 31 on his third Spaniard to win the award lievable years themselves.” opening nine holes, his odds to win the US Masters in April dropped to 15-1, according

Capitals thrash NFL: Goodell Blackhawks Durant powers Warriors; signs $200m as Maple Leafs contract edge Flames extension New York James dominates Kings Agencies New York NBA RESULTS season. Charlotte pulled to Reuters lexander Ovechkin within seven points halfway scored his league- Minnesota 113 LA Clippers 107 through the fourth quarter, but oger Goodell has Aleading 21st goal, San Antonio 117 Miami 105 the Warriors built the lead back signed a contract Nicklas Backstrom ended a Golden State 101 Charlotte 87 up to 16. Rextension to 21-game goal-scoring Milwaukee 104 Detroit 100 The Warriors also got 22 remain the commis- drought, and Tom Wilson New Orleans 123 Denver 114 points from Klay Thompson and sioner of the National scored twice as the Washing- 10 points from Nick Young. Football League, accord- ton Capitals cruised to a 6-2 Boston 97 Dallas 90 Curry sat out the contest ing to a letter from the victory over the sliding Chi- NY Knicks 99 Memphis 88 after suffering a sprained ankle league’s compensation cago Blackhawks on Cleveland 101 Sacramento 95 in New Orleans two nights ago. committee that was sent

Wednesday. Indiana 98 Chicago 96 Green was a late scratch because to owners on

Brett Connolly and Evg- of a shoulder injury. Wednesday. Orlando 110 Atlanta 106 eny Kuznetsov also scored for Charlotte was without their Financial terms of the Capitals, who have won coach Steve Clifford, who missed the contract for Goodell, six of seven to move into a tie Los Angeles his second game with an who has been commis- for second place in the Met- AFP illness. sioner of the most ropolitan Division. Kemba Walker had a team- popular US sports league Maple Leafs 2, Flames 1 evin Durant finished high 24 points for the Hornets, since 2006, were not dis- Frederik Andersen made with 35 points, 11 who dropped to 9-14. Nicolas closed but multiple 47 saves, and William rebounds and 10 Batum scored 15 and Dwight media reports said the Nylander scored the decisive assists for his ninth Howard had 14. two sides agreed to a goal in a shootout as Toronto career triple double Golden State led 26-18 after five-year deal worth defeated Calgary. Mark Kon Wednesday as the under- one quarter, 53-38 at halftime, $200m. Giordano scored for the manned Golden State Warriors and 79-68 after three quarters. The contract ends Flames in regulation, and defeated the Charlotte Hornets Elsewhere, LeBron James weeks of hostilities dur- Morgan Rielly replied for the 101-87. nailed a clutch three-pointer ing which Dallas Maple Leafs. The Warriors won their fifth with 16 seconds left as Cleveland Cowboys owner Jerry Ducks 3, Senators 0 straight and the seventh in their won a record-tieing 13th straight Jones threatened to sue In other game of the day, last eight games despite playing game with a 101-95 win over the the NFL and the six own- Ryan Miller made 29 saves to without superstar Stephen Curry Sacramento Kings on ers on the compensation earn his 40th career shutout, and forward Draymond Green. Wednesday. committee. According to and Adam Henrique regis- Durant had 16 points in the James finished with 32 the six-person compen- tered two goals as Anaheim first quarter, quickly setting the points, 11 rebounds and nine sation committee, there defeated Ottawa. tone for the game at the Spec- assists as the win equaled a was a nearly unanimous The Ducks broke a three- trum Center arena. He finished Cleveland franchise record. consensus among the game losing streak (0-1-2) by 13 of 28 from the field and hit Kevin Durant (centre) of the Golden State Warriors shoots There were about five sec- ownership in favor of taking the opener of a three- three three-pointers. over team-mates Treveon Graham (left) and Dwight Howard onds left on the shot clock when signing the contract game homestand. Durant said his team-mates of the Charlotte Hornets during their NBA game at Spectrum time was called with 20 seconds extension now. did a good job of picking up the Center on Wednesday. left and Cleveland clinging to a Goodell has overseen NHL RESULTS slack with Curry and Green out. two-point lead. significant revenue “I think everybody just ral- Kerr was impressed with the product of Steph being out, Coach Tyronn Lue said he growth for the NFL but Anaheim 3 Ottawa 0 lied around each other, from the way Durant carried the team to Draymond being out. intended to call a different play has also been the subject coaches to the players to the victory. “He was attacking from the in the huddle, but James wanted of major scrutiny in Philadelphia 4 Edmonton 2 trainers, everybody,” Durant “What a luxury to be able to start. It was like a ‘I’ve got this’.” “Chicago,” a play named for recent years for his han- Washington 6 Chicago 2 said. “The defense was on point just throw him the ball, espe- The Warriors cruised to a James’ turnaround jumper at the dling of sensitive issues

Toronto 2 Calgary 1 tonight and we got off to a good cially with Steph out,” Kerr said. 48-22 lead in the second quar- buzzer in game four of the 2015 such as domestic vio- start.” “He took over. It wasn’t really ter and never trailed, conference semi-finals against lence and concussions. Golden State coach Steve scripted, it was just a natural improving to 20-6 on the the Chicago Bulls. SSPORTPORT Friday 8 December 2017

PAGE | 21 PAGE |23 PAGE | 23 India vs Sri Lanka: Tiger still a threat, Durant powers Tired ‘rivalry’ and tthehe say Calcavecchia andd Warriors;W James empty stands Janzen dominatesdo Kings Al Ahli stun Al Rayyan as Al Sadd claim big victory

Rizwan Rehmat leaders Al Duhail battled with just The Peninsula 10 men for most of the game and still managed to scrape through n a spirited performance, Al with a creditable 1-1 draw against Tokyo 2020 unveils Ahli yesterday shocked title a gritty Al Sailiya side. hopefuls Al Rayyan 2-0 while Coached by Djamel Belmadi, Al Sailiya held point leaders Al Duhail opened the scoring bug-eyed Olympic Al Duhail to a 1-1 draw in through Youssef El Arabi in the Iblockbuster QNB Stars League 50th minute via a penalty. action. Al Sailiya, coached by Sami In the third match of the day, Trabelsi, managed their equaliser mascot hopefuls Doha giants Al Sadd moved closer three minutes later through Wag- to Al Duhail with a clinical 4-0 win ner Rebeiro. Tokyo over Al Kharaitiyat at Al Khor Al Duhail were reduced to 10 AFP Stadium. men at the half-hour mark. Goal- Two first-half goals by keeper Khalifa Ndiaye was shown okyo Olympic organisers unveiled a shortlist of three Mohamed Muntari (19) and Ali the red card for handling the ball official 2020 Games mascots yesterday -- from bug- Ghaderi (39) sealed Al Ahli’s outside the box with Al Sailiya’s Teyed cartoon heroes to cuddly raccoons (two resounding win over Al Rayyan Valentin Lazar set to latch on to a pictured above). who failed to score despite a loose ball. Despite being down to The Olympic and Paralympic designs, which cele- number of opportunities created 10 men, Al Duhail scored through brate the themes of harmony, diversity and resilience, by the strike-force. El Arabi in the 50th minute. Soon were unveiled by pupils at a Tokyo elementary school. Earlier in the day, points afterwards, Al Sailiya scored the After a bungled rollout of the official Olympic logo Al Sailiya players celebrate a goal against Al Duhail during their equaliser through Rebeiro. that led to it being scrapped following accusations of pla- QNB STARS LEAGUE: RESULTS Also yesterday, Al Sadd com- QSL match at Al Ahli Stadium yesterday. giarism, local organisers have left the selection of the Al Ahli bt Al Rayyan 2-0 pleted a commanding 4-0 win over Tokyo 2020 mascots in the hands of schoolchildren. Al Sailiya draw with Al Duhail 1-1 Al Kharaitiyat at Al Khor Stadium. Al Kharaitiyat net. Xavi curled in handball infringement inside the Al From December 11 to February 22, pupils at every It was Al Sadd’s 9th win of the a spectacular free-kick and Miguel Kharaitiyat box by defender Soud elementary school across Japan -- and Japanese schools Al Sadd bt Al Kharaitiyat 4-0 2017-18 season. headed home with a near-perfect Nasser on a back-pedal shot by Al overseas -- will choose their favourite design, with each Today’s fixtures Al Sadd opened the scoring in snap-header, jumping higher than Sadd’s Musab Kedar. class casting a single vote. The winner will be announced 4pm: Al Arabi vs Al Khor at Al Arabi Stadium the first half after a strike by Pedro his marker Abraman Abdallah to Jugurtha scored Al Sadd’s third on February 28. 6:10pm: Al Markhiya vs Umm Salal at Miguel (40). Hassan Al Haydos (52, meet the ball. goal with a powerful strike into the The competing mascots are instantly recognisable as Al Arabi Stadium penalty and 81) and Hamroun In the 52nd minute, Al Sadd top of Al Kharaitiyat net in the 77th “Made in Japan”, ranging in appearance from sci-fi cool

6:10pm: Qatar SC vs Al Gharafa at Jugurtha (77) added to Al Sadd’s jumped to a 2-0 lead when star minute. A similar shot by Al Hay- to a glum-looking fox closer in spirit to the country’s Qatar SC Stadium delightful performance.In the 40th striker Al Haydos scored off a pen- dos made it 4-0 for Al Sadd in the beloved “yuru-kyara” (soft characters). minute, Al Sadd put one into the alty kick resulting from an accidental 81st minute. Design A’s futuristic blue-checked design with pointy ears and oversized eyes evokes Japanese manga, while Olympic organisers revealed it has a “strong sense of jus- tice” and can apparently move faster than light. Qatar handball team’s players during a practice Its Paralympic cousin, meanwhile, sports red checks session in this file photo. derived from cherry blossoms and possesses the ability, Qatar to meet Kiwis in helpfully, to “talk with stones and the wind.” Design B pairs a cartoon hybrid of a “lucky” cat and a fox draped in a red flame-like cloak with a blue lion- Asian handball opener dog of the type seen guarding Japanese shrines -- the common thread between them big round eyes resem- The Peninsula bling disco lights. Olympic Mascot B also “loves to take naps underneath itle-favourites Qatar are will take on New Zea- the sunlight,” said Japanese organisers, adding that it “gives land in their opening match of next month’s 18th happy energy to people by touching them with its tail.” TAsian Men’s Handball Championship which will The softer appeal of Option C, meanwhile, brings be played in South Korea. together a fox looking less than overjoyed at being dec- According to the schedule of the event announced orated in prehistoric “magatama” beads and a red raccoon by the Asian Handball Federation yesterday, the event looking a little bemused by all of the commotion. will run from January 18-28. Tokyo organisers will hope to make smooth progress The Asian championship acts as a qualifying tour- on the mascots to build on recent momentum following nament for the prestigious 2019 IHF World Men’s a series of public relations disasters. Handball Championship, which will take place in Ger- Last month, Tokyo opened its first new permanent many and Denmark. venue for the 2020 Olympics -- a welcome boost after In their second match, the Qatari team will take on plans for the main stadium were torn up by Prime Min- their China before taking on Saudi Arabia in their last ister Shinzo Abe two years ago over its $2 billion price match in the group stage. tag. Designs for the official Games emblem were then scrapped amid a plagiarism row. Aspire Academy becomes sponsor for Qatar Fencing GP

The Peninsula Salem Afifa, on behalf of the other various Qatari sporting Director General of Aspire Acad- federations.” spire Academy yesterday emy, Ivan Bravo, and the “This is an important sport- signed a sponsorship Secretary General of the Qatar ing event for Qatar and it gives Aagreement with the Qatar Weightlifting and Fencing Fed- our fencing athletes in Aspire Weightlifting and Fencing Fed- eration (QWFF), Khalid Issa Al Academy and other local clubs eration to become the official Hamadi, a former Qatari fencer. a chance to compete on an inter- technical and logistical sponsor Director of Education and national level against of the 2017 Qatar Fencing Grand Student Affairs, Badr Al Hay professional athletes, including Prix Championship, a three-day along with the CEO of QWFF and some of the world’s highest event which starts today at the Chairman of the Grand Prix ranked players,” he added. Aspire Dome. Championship, Abdullah Ali Al Al Hamadi, said: “We’d like Some of the world’s best Ghanim also attended the to extend our thanks to Aspire fencers and Aspire Academy’s ceremony. Academy for extending its sup- promising fencing students will Speaking on the side-lines of port for the Qatar Fencing Grand be among those taking part at the the signing ceremony, Afifa said: Prix, which is now in its 15th event. “This sponsorship agreement year. It is fantastic that the Acad- Deputy Director General of Aspire Academy, Ali Salem Afifa and Secretary General of the Qatar The agreement was signed builds on our existing partner- emy is committed to supporting between the Deputy Director ship with the Qatar Weightlifting so many important sporting Weightlifting and Fencing Federation, Khalid Issa Al Hamadi shake hands at the partnership General of Aspire Academy, Ali and Fencing Federation and competitions in Qatar.” signing ceremony, along with other officials at Aspire Academy yesterday.