SPORT Thursday 7 September 2017 PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Injured Murray Kohli fires India AArgentina and Chile likely to miss to seven-wicket stumble again as rest of season victory Uruguay on brink Sanchez hails Qatar’s show against China Agencies “And also there was the match against Syria where we were leading atar national football team until the last minute. We lost four points coach Felix Sanchez said his in these two matches. If we had them, team played a strong match We have a lot of very we would have qualified as the second against China in the final young players, we will in the pool.” Qround of the 2018 World Cup “What we have witnessed is the qualifiers despite a 1-2 defeat at Khal- keep working with improvement of the Chinese team, both ifa International Stadium. in quality and points. You could tell Speaking during his post-match them, says Qatar’s from this match. press conference, Sanchez said China coach Felix Sanchez “When I took over we had almost started the match with high pressure no hope of qualifying at all.... but we against Qatar and the first 15 minutes fought until the end and I hope we keep were tough but the Qatari players improving so we can have a good result relaxed after that and scored a goal at the Asian Cup.” before the visitors equalised and scored The Asian Cup in the United Arab Paris Saint Germain’s Qatari President Nasser Al Khelaifi (left) and their a second goal. tual group winners Iran in Tehran. Emirates in early 2019 will be the next new forward Kylian Mbappe hold a jersey during his presentation at Asked about carrying on with the “Now, looking back we deserved a major test for China and the side will the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris yesterday. The 18-year-old striker national team, Sanchez said he will win in the game against Qatar as we hit be positive about their pros- moved to PSG in a season-long loan deal with a €180m buy-out clause continue to work withith thethe playersplayers not thethe woodworkwoodwork threethree times,times, andand theirtheir pectspects with LippiLippi duedue attached, making him the second most expensive player of all time just for 2022 but alsoso for other com-com- goalkeepergoalkeeper was also outstanding,”outstanding,” to remain at the behind new team-mate Neymar. petitions, adding that the team World Cup-winnerCup-winner LippiLippi said of helm.helm. showed a competitivetive spirt despite a 0-0 draw with the Gulf side in the loss. KunmingKunming in November,Novemberr, whichwhich Sanchez was positivesiitive despitedespiitte Tues-Tues- waswas hishis debutddebbut as ChinaChina coach.coachh. Mbappe says change of day’s outcome of thee match, and said He said China managed 12 that there is a lot of youngoung playersplayers which pointspoints from six matches, which, could boost Qatar’sr’s hopeshopes in he added, is a ggoodood result but heart triggered PSG move future. lamented the results againstagainst “We have a lot ooff Qatar in the home leg of the tie very young players,, andand failingfailing to beatbeat Syria in thethe Paris family and I took the decision to join we will keep eighth round of the qual-qual- AFP PSG,” said Mbappe, who comes from working with ifiers results thatthat the Paris suburbs. them,” the Qatar wowoulduld hahaveve ssentent ylian Mbappe revealed a change He insisted he had not fallen out coach said. ChinaChina to thethe finalsfinals in of heart prompted him to join with the Monaco ownership and China’s coach Mar-ar- Russia.Russia. KParis Saint-Germain from praised the club’s Vice President cello Lippi said his sideside French champions Monaco in a deal Vadim Vasilyev, but told reporters: created a numberr ooff poised to become the second most “There were some things that hap- chances in the first halfalf expensive transfer in history. pened that I will talk about, you’ll hear but the players starteded The 18-year-old France striker soon.” to feel tension andnd said at the end of last season he had Mbappe, speaking as he was offi- lacked organisation onon decided to stay with Monaco, but con- cially unveiled at the Parc des Princes, the pitch. After thethe fessed yesterday that “certain events said it had been vital for him to stay in break, he added, the happened which made me change my France despite strong interest from players doubled ttheirheir mind”. Real Madrid. efforts and were ableble to Mbappe completed a move to PSG Mbappe’s arrival in the capital score twice. last Thursday on an initial season-long follows the world-record signing of The win was thehe team’s loan as part of an agreement that Neymar from Barcelona, and the third in a five-gameme run that includes an option to buy the teenager Frenchman is eager to continue his saw China lose just ooncence - to even-even- Qatar’s coach Felix Sanchez for €180m ($215m). development alongside a highly “I discussed it in depth with my accomplished cast of players. QEF delegation Ul Haq shines as Qatar reach semi-finals Chinthana Wasala meet officials in The Peninsula atar reached the semi-finals of the ICC World Cricket Uzbekistan QLeague Division IV Tourna- ment after skipper Inam Ul Haq Tashkent led a formidable reply against QNA Guernsey to secure a three-wicket win at the Willowmoore Park in delegation from Qatar and Asian equestrian feder- Benoni, South Africa yesterday. ations visited Uzbekistan after an official invitation Chasing a target of 232 to win, A of the Uzbek government. Qatari team got off to a brilliant During the visit, the qatari officials also met with Dep- start by skipper Ul Haq and uty Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Ibrahimov Ghulam Jan, Qalandar Khan. as well as a number of officials of the Uzbek The Qatari openers were Government. involved in a 112-run partnership The President of the Asian and Qatari equestrian feder- before Khan departed for 56 in ations Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah said that the visit of the 22nd over. His 64-ball knock Qatar cricket team and officials pose for a photograph after winning their third Group match the delegation of the Qatari and Asian equestrian federations included nine hits to the bound- against Guernsey at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni, South Africa yesterday. to Uzbekistan came at the official invitation of the Uzbek gov- ary. Muhammad Tanveer joined ernment, adding that the delegation met during the visit with Ul Haq after the departure of with a boundary, securing their swell their total which proved to against Group B’s second placed the most prominent governmental and sports personalities. Khan and continued to swell the place in today’s semi-finals. be not enough at the end against team Vanuatu. Al Attiyah also pointed out that the delegation discussed total. The skipper faced 83 deliv- Earlier, Qatari skipper won the the strong Qatari side. The final of the tournament, how to develop equestrian sport in the Asian region, and eries for his 63-run knock and hit toss and elected to field first. Left-arm orthodox spinner as well as the play-offs will take discussed ways of cooperation between the national fed- nine boundaries before he was Guernsey, the island nation just Mohammed Nadeem bagged three place on Saturday. erations and how to exchange experiences. dismissed by David Hooper. Tan- off the coast of Normandy, France, for 49 to lead the Qatari bowling Brief scores: He also said that there was a discussion on how to veer scored 47 and hit six amassed a total of 231 for the loss attack while leggie Tamoor Sajjad Guernsey: 231 for 9 (Oliver benefit from the great equestrian experience in Qatar and boundaries. of nine wickets while Oliver Newey took two for 33. Muhammad Tan- Newey 80, Josh Butler 36, Ben Far- Uzbekistan, as well as the support of the Asian Equestrian Qatar lost seven wickets dur- top-scored with well-compiled 80 veer and Iqbal Hussain bagged a brache 34, Tom nightingale 31; Federation there, adding that another meeting was held ing their run chase while runs before he was caught and wicket apiece. Mohammed Nadeem 3 for 49, with the Vice President and Minister of Agriculture and Mohammed Rizlan and Awais bowled by Tamoor Sajjad. Qatar will now meet Jersey Tamoor Sajjad 2 for 33) the President of Equestrian Federation, and it was a fruit- Malik were not out at the crease Josh Butler (36), Ben Farbrache who remain unbeaten in Group B. Qatar: 234 for 7 (Inam Ul Haq ful meeting bringing together members of the Uzbek with 22 and 10 runs respectively. (34) and Tom nightingale (31) also The other semi-final will see 63, Qalandar Khan 56, Muham- Equestrian Federation. Malik finished the game in style made valuable contributions to Group A leaders Italy, playing mad Tanveer 47) SPORT THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2017 21 Venus beats Kvitova to meet Stephens in semi s New York Andy Murray AFP even-time Grand Slam DJ Forbes Injured champion Venus Wil- liams became the oldest semi-finalist in All Blacks Murray likely US Open history at Sage 37 on Tuesday by defeat- ing two-time Wimbledon Sevens legend to miss rest champion Petra Kvitova 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2). Forbes retires US ninth seed Williams, of season seeking her third US Open Wellington crown, advanced to today’s AFP matchup against 83rd-ranked London compatriot Sloane Stephens for Venus Williams of the United ew Zealand rugby AFP a spot in Saturday’s final.