TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2020 SPORTSPORT 07

TENNIS He never says anything inappropriate. He WTA Qatar Total vs Zimbawe does things that only exist on the Playstation, Open at Khalifa (One-off Test) unthinkable things: Messi 'greatest' ahead of International Tennis Women's T20 World

ACTION And Squash Complex Cup Australia Maradona, says Napoli boss Gattuso TODAY’S New Zealand restore pride by thrashing India

REUTERS — WELLINGTON with Jamieson’s height and angle providing plenty Kohli has no With a dark cloud hanging over of problems. New Zealand cricket since last ’s side lost their excuses for month’s humiliating 3-0 defeat final six for 47 runs as in Australia, ’s Boult and Southee combined to side delivered the perfect rip through the lower middle heavy loss response to their critics with a order and then finish off the tail. 10- win over India in the Southee completed his 10th AFP — WELLINGTON first Test yesterday. five-wicket haul in Tests with The victory was New Zea- 5-61. Virat Kohli refused to make land’s 100th since they began Tom Latham finished seven excuses for India’s compre- playing Tests in 1930. It came while Tom Blundell was New Zealand’s Tim hensive loss to New Zealand against a side unbeaten in their on two as they knocked off the Southee (centre in the first Test in Wellington last nine Tests and one that had nine runs needed for victory in left)and team-mate yesterday with the skipper won all seven of their previous just 10 balls after the visitors Ross Taylor (centre saying his side were simply World Test Championship were dismissed for 191 in their right) walk from the “not good enough”. matches. second innings. field at the end of The world’s top-ranked The return of New Zealand “It was a great win and to India’s 2nd innings team crashed to a 10-wicket pace spearheads Tim Southee beat a quality Indian side is very during day four defeat in the first session of and Trent Boult and the intro- pleasing,” said Southee, named of the first Test at day four to snap a nine-Test duction of 2.03m-tall debutant man of the match for figures of the Basin Reserve unbeaten streak dating back Kyle Jamieson proved crucial 9-110. in Wellington, to the 2018 Boxing Day Test in against the tourists, also the Jamieson’s emergence as a yesterday. Melbourne. world’s top-ranked Test side. pace threat who can It was also India’s first loss They exploited a tricky also bat -- he scored 44 in New in eight games in the World Basin Reserve wicket to bowl Zealand’s first innings -- could with Neil Wagner coming back was only one defeat. “Some target rested with the last rec- Test Championship, although India out for under 200 twice create some selection issues for the second game starting at people might want it to be the ognised batsmen -- vice- they remain at the head of the Hagley Oval on Saturday. end of the world, but it’s not. For Ajinkya Rahane and table, while New Zealand lie SCOREBOARD “The performance across us it’s a game of cricket,” he Hanuma Vihari -- seeing out the fifth with two wins from six India (I innings) ...... 165 Extras (W2) ...... 2 the board was a very good one,” said. “We lost and we move on, first session unscathed. matches. New Zealand (I innings) ...... 348 Total (all out, 81 overs) ...... 191 captain Williamson told we keep our heads high.” But Boult, in his second Faced with a first innings India (II innings) Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-78, 3-96, 4-113, 5-148, reporters. On the plus side for the vis- over, enticed an edge from deficit of 183 -- after being P Shaw c Latham b Boult ...... 14 6-148, 7-162, 8-189, 9-191, 10-191 “We know we have good itors, Ishant Sharma took 5-68 Rahane when he was on 29 and sent in to bat first on a green M Agarwal c Watling b Southee ...... 58 Bowling: Southee 21-6-61-5, Boult 22-8-39-4, C Pujara b Boult ...... 11 de Grandhomme 16-5-28-1, Jamieson 19-7-45- days and bad days but guys in New Zealand’s first innings wicketkeeper BJ Watling com- wicket and on a windy, V Kohli c Watling b Boult ...... 19 0 (2w), Patel 3-0-18-0 came back... and really focused after returning from a torn pleted an easy catch. Vihari had overcast day -- India were A Rahane c Watling b Boult ...... 29 New Zealand (II innings) on the areas we needed to move ankle ligament and was espe- not added to his overnight score rolled for 191 in the second H Vihari b Southee ...... 15 T Latham (not out)...... 7 this team forward. cially effective when they of 15 when he was bowled by innings leaving New Zealand R Pant c Boult b Southee ...... 25 T Blundell (not out)...... 2 “That was the most pleasing reduced the hosts to 225-7 on Southee in the next over. a mere 10 runs for victory. R Ashwin lbw Soutee ...... 4 Total (0 wickets) ...... 9 performance.” day three. Southee then had Ravi- “We did not show enough I Sharma lbw de Grandhomme ...... 12 Bowling: Sharma 1-0-8-0, Bumrah 0.4-0-1-0 Kohli held his hand up and India had started the day on chandran Ashwin trapped in competitiveness,” Kohli said M Shami (not out) ...... 2 : New Zealand won by 10 wickets conceded his side had not been 144-4, still 39 runs behind, and front for four to reduce India to as his batsmen failed in the J Bumrah c sub (Mitchell) b Southee ...... 0 Player-of-the-Match: ...... Tim Southee good enough but added that it their hopes of setting a decent 162-7. face of New Zealand’s three- pronged seam attack of senior bowlers Tim Southee and Australia avert Trent Boult, and newcomer Kyle Jamieson, who took 18 of elimination as Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur hits the 20 wickets. Man-of-the-match India dominate Southee took four for 20 on the final morning to finish with Bangladesh double ton to corner five for 61 after grabbing four wickets in the first innings. AFP — DHAKA for two at stumps on the third Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim reacts after scoring a double “We let ourselves down REUTERS — SYDNEY day, still needing 286 runs to during the third day of the Test match against massively in the first innings hit his third make Bangladesh bat again on Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium with the bat,” Kohli said. Defending champions Test double century as Bang- a wearing pitch at the Sher-e- in Dhaka, yesterday. “You could say the toss Australia returned from the ladesh declared their first Bangla National Stadium. played a big role in this Test brink of elimination to pip Sri innings with a lead of 295 Mushfiqur, who became the match but it’s an uncontrol- Lanka but India underlined yesterday in their one-off became the highest run-scorer lable so you can’t really focus their title credentials with their match against Zimbabwe. for Bangladesh in Tests, hit an on that and take that as a second successive victory in Bangladesh ended their unbeaten 203, while skipper massive factor. “We don’t want the Women’s World innings on 560 for six in the made 132, after to make too much of this pitch Cup in Perth yesterday. final session before spinner the hosts resumed on 240 for and what conditions were like. Australia were stunned by then claimed three. The simple truth is we did not India in Friday’s tournament two wickets in two balls in the Mushfiqur and Mominul play good enough cricket and opener and the hosts looked first over in Dhaka. added 222 for the fourth wicket, that’s why we lost. patchy again as they edged out The visitors reached nine while wicketkeeper-batsman “Some people might want by five wickets to made 53 to give the it to be the end of the world keep alive their hopes of a fifth SCOREBOARD hosts their highest-ever total but it’s not. For us it’s a game title. Zimbabwe (I innings) ...... 265 against Zimbabwe. of cricket we lost and we move Later at the same WACA Bangladesh (I innings) Mominul declared the on, we keep our heads high.” Ground, India were much c Chakabva b Tiripano ...... 41 innings soon after Mushfiqur New Zealand captain Kane more clinical in their 18-run Saif Hasan c Chakabva b Nyauchi ...... 8 reached the 200-run mark after Williamson described New victory against Bangladesh. Najmul Hossain c Chakabva b Tshuma ...... 71 Ainsley Ndlovu past extra cover Zealand’s 100th Test victory Sri Lanka captain Chamari Mominul Haque c & b Ndlovu ...... 132 for a boundary. as a “special effort with the Atapattu had led from the front Mushfiqur Rahim (not out) ...... 203 Nayeem struck with the ball and some handy contri- c Chakabva b Ndlovu .....17 with a belligerent 50 to help her Liton Das c Chakabva b ...... 53 second ball of the innings, butions with the bat.” team post 122-6 after electing (not out)...... 14 bowling Prince Masvaure for a With short-ball specialist to bat. Free-scoring Atapattu Extras (B8, LB3, NB5, W5) ...... 21 duck, before dismissing night- hundred since becoming Bang- innings. Liton fell to off-spinner Neil Wagner unavailable, the smacked two sixes and seven Total (6 wkts dec; ) ...... 560 watchman Doland Tiripano. ladesh Test captain in Sikandar Raza trying to cut a New Zealand bowlers were boundaries in her entertaining Did not bat: , Nayeem Hasan, Bangladesh made Zim- November. ball that was too close to his forced to mix up their attack 38-ball innings before falling to babwe wait until the second Mushfiqur, who resumed on body as Zimbabwe wicket- which hindered the Indian Nicola Carey (2-18). Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-96, 3-172, 4-394, session of the day for their first 32, was one run short of his keeper com- batsmen ability to settle. Umesha Thimashini (20), 5-421, 6-532 success, when Ndlovu took a century at lunch but did not pleted his fifth catch in the “We tried doing thing a Bowling: Tiripano 30-6-96-1 (nb2, w4), Anushka Sanjeewani (25) and Nyauchi 27-3-87-1 (w1, nb2), Raza 30-2-111-1 brilliant reflex catch off his own take long after the break to innings. little bit differently,” Wil- Nilakshi de Silva (18) were (nb1), Tshuma 25-2-85-1, Ndlovu 42-4-170-2 bowling to dismiss Mominul. bring up his hundred, cutting After Liton’s dismissal, it liamson said. unable to convert their good Zimbabwe (II innings) Mominul had brought up his Ndlovu for a boundary through was Mushfiqur all over as the "The best part of the starts into match-winning P Masvaure b Nayeem ...... 0 ninth Test hundred off 156 balls, cover point. Ndlovu removed senior Bangladesh campaigner bowling performance was contributions.Australia, in K Kasuza () ...... 8 joining teammate Tamim Iqbal Mohammad Mithun for 17 to attacked in pursuit of his double their ability to put the ball into reply, ran into trouble early D Tiripano c Liton b Nayeem ...... 0 as Bangladesh’s most prolific give Zimbabwe hope and slow century. an area that creates the most and were reeling at 10-3 in the B Taylor (batting) ...... 1 century-makers in the five-day the Bangladeshi scoring rate. At 195 runs he also overtook opportunity for dismissals like Total (2 wickets, five overs) ...... 9 fourth over after Alyssa Healy, V Nyauchi, A Ndlovu, C Tshuma format. Mithun got a bottom edge Tamim to become Bangladesh’s lbws, bowled or caught behind Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0 Mominul, unbeaten on 79 as he tried to cut Ndlovu as highest run-getter. He now has and we saw that today with the Mooney departed in quick suc- Bowling: Nayeem 3-1-4-2, Taijul 2-0-5-0 overnight, struck 14 fours in his wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva 4,413 runs from 70 Tests, with change of lengths to create cession. It was the 95-run 234-ball innings -- his first took his fourth catch of the Tamim scoring 4,364 from 59. that." stand between Rachael Haynes (60) and skipper Meg Lanning (41 not out) that rescued the hosts. Sri Lanka did not help their ICC bans Oman player for 7 years for attempt at match-fixing own cause by dropping AP — DUBAI Haynes and burning their match fixing approaches from severity of the sentence,” Alex Balushi, who was playing in the contact, and passed on a reviews which meant they An Omani cricketer has been three people and trying to Marshall, the ICC”s general Oman domestic competition at message to an Oman player. could not challenge the banned for seven years after obstruct an investigation by manager for integrity, said. the time, was initially asked by The player rejected the not-out decision after Lanning admitting to corruption charges deleting evidence from his “Without Mr. Balushi’s a contact he knew from an approach and immediately had edged behind. relating to qualifiers for the telephone. admission of guilt and full unsanctioned tournament in reported it to anti-corruption Put into bat in the later men’s Twenty20 World Cup. The ICC said the charges all cooperation throughout our Bahrain in 2017 to “do some officials.Oman was one of four match, India posted a compet- The International Cricket related to the T20 qualifiers investigation, the ban could work together” and to set up teams that secured a place itive 142-6 with opener Shafali Council announced yesterday held in the United Arab have been significantly contact with three Oman through qualifying for the first Verma putting on a six-hitting that Yousuf Abdulrahim Al Emirates last year. longer.” The maximum players. round of the men’s T20 World display in her 17-ball blitz. Balushi had accepted four “This is a very serious penalty under the code is a He did not facilitate the Cup in Australia starting in Playing without regular charges of breaching the ICC offense where a player life ban from all involvement contact in that case, but didn’t October. partner Smriti Mandhana, who Anti-Corruption Code, attempted but failed to get a in cricket, including playing, report the approach to cricket The top four teams in the missed the match with fever, including an attempt to solicit teammate to engage in corrupt coaching or officiating at any integrity officials. first round will progress to a the 16-year-old sensation another player for match- activity in high-profile games match. He was later approached by Super 12 stage, joining the top Verma smashed four sixes fixing, failing to report illegal and this is reflected in the An investigation found that two associates of the initial eight teams at the World Cup. before falling for 39. 08 SPORT TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2020 Five-star Real Madrid clinch Al Kass Cup

– DOHA THE PENINSULA Champions Real Madrid players At the other end, Tommaso celebrate with the trophy after beating Clerici had two efforts on goal Real Madrid produced a Inter Milan 5-0 at the Aspire Academy but couldn’t find a way past Real dominant display to regain the yesterday. keeper Guillermo Sunico. Al Kass International Cup, with Pece went close with a free- a stunning 5-0 victory over kick in the final 10 minutes and Inter Milan at Aspire Academy he then put the ball into the net yesterday. only for his effort to be ruled out Inter had only conceded for offside. four goals all tournament prior There was still time for a fifth to this final, but that figure had Real goal though as Gonzalo doubled inside an hour as 2017 Garcia crossed for Redondo to champions Real created wave head home from close range. after wave of attack to entertain Real enjoyed a massive 63% a big crowd. possession and had 22 shots The Spaniards were compared to the seven by Inter, supreme as they recorded the as they regained the trophy in biggest winning margin ever in style. an Al Kass International Cup As well as keeping a clean final, as they took the number sheet on the night, Sunico of goals in the tournament to received the Golden Glove 120, 13 more than the previous award for best goalkeeper in the best. post-match presentations, while Real netted three times Igor Kozlov (Zenit) and Charlie during the first half, which saw Lindsay (Rangers) finished as the them enjoy 61% possession and tournament’s top scorers with have 13 attempts on goal – six goals apiece. while the Italians failed to Lindsay was named player muster a single shot. of the tournament, having also The opening 25 minutes picked up for player of the match were tight, though, and seemed awards, while Kashiwa Reysol to be going the way of most pre- received the fair play award vious Al Kass finals as Inter’s Having provided an assist Pece beat two defenders but his Lancha also lashed an effort keeper for Real’s fourth on 58 having received just one yellow impressive defensive capabil- just minutes earlier, Pece forced shot was going wide until Peretti against the post as rampant Real minutes, and Pece almost added card. ities kept the Spaniards at bay. a fine save out of Paolo Rai- sent a miscued clearance into his turned on the style. another but his effort hit the But the biggest cheers were But once Yeray Lancha mondi and Real added two more own net. Real continued to entertain post. for the magnificent Real squad broke the deadlock it was before the break. Two minutes later Abraham after the break and Lancha Raimondi, who enjoyed an who deservedly lifted the trophy. one-way traffic. Linking up with Their second goal on 37 sent a brilliant dipping shot into showed great skill before feeding excellent tournament, pulled off Having gone into the final as the player of the match David minutes was a disaster for the net and Pece, Marc Cucalon Abraham who shot narrowly a fine point-blank save to deny only unbeaten team, they leave Pecellin (Pece), Lancha fired defender Lorenzo Peretti, who and Abraham all had further wide. Ekaitz Redondo after fine Doha with hopes of going on to home a powerful shot for his had played a major role in their efforts on target as Inter Abraham had more joy when approach play by the classy become first team favourites at third goal of the tournament. semi-final victory over PSG. struggled to contain them. he sent a beautiful lob over the Lancha. the Bernabeau Stadium. Guardiola wants Messi is no Maradona for Napoli as Italian City to show ‘personality’ giants prepare for Barcelona encounter against Real AP – NAPLES, ITALY most memorable exploits. He and Bar- Napoli’s Diego Demme REUTERS – MADRID celona will face Napoli at the San Paolo (left) and team-mates For Napoli, there is no comparison Stadium in the Champions League during a training Manchester City manager Pep between Lionel Messi and Diego round of 16 today. session ahead of Guardiola has issued a rallying Maradona. “At the moment Messi is the their Champions cry to his players to show char- Messi will finally play in the strongest player in the world,” Napoli League match against acter and fight to the very end stadium where fellow Argentinag ggreat forward Lorenzo Insigneg said. “But Barcelona, yesterday. in their Champions League MaradonaMMaradona achievedachieved comparisonscomparissono s don’t exist foforor us,us, bebecausecause last-16 tie against Real Madrid. somessome ooff hihhiss forfor us NNeapolitans,eapolitans, MaradonaMaaraddona is sasacred.acrc ed. City, who have not pro- TakingTaking nnothingothingn aawaywwaay frfromom MMessi,essii, whowho gressed beyond the semis- remainsremainns a rereallyallly ggreatreat champion.champion.”” finals of Europe’s elite club AfterAfter lleavingeaving BarceBarcelona,lona, competition, have been banned MaMaradonaarradod na led Napoli to its only by UEFA for the next two twotwo ItItalianalian lleagueeague ttitles,ittless, iinn 19198787 seasons following an investi- andand 19901990.. He alsoalso helpedhellped tthehe cclublub gation into alleged breaches of winwin tthehe 19198989 UUEFAEFA Cup. Financial Fair Play rules. MessiMessi andand BBaBarcelonarcellona havehhave They face a daunting task never plplayedayyed aagainstgainnsst NNapoli,apoli, against the 13-times cham- andand tthehe 3232-year-old-yyear-olld ArgentinaArA geentina pions, who they take on in the starstar saidsaid rerecentlycec ntllyy hhee isis first leg in Madrid tomorrow. exexcitedciteed to ffinallyiinnallly “We have to show our per- mmakeakke iitt to SSanann sonality. I know that my PaoloPaaoolo Stadium.SStadiuum.m players, myself, all the club “I“I hhaveave want to fight until the end for wantedwaw ntn ed ttoo sststadiumtadadiui m foforr a llolongo time, but we have taking over from Ernesto Valverde in this title,” Guardiola told gog ttoo tthathaat nevernneveer hadhaad thtthehe chance,”c Messi said. January. reporters following Saturday’s “Finally,““Finnaalllyy, thetht e momentmom has come and Both will be debuting in the Cham- 1-0 Premier League win over I’mI’m veryvevery excitedexcx ittede to see what it’s like, pions League as a coach. Leicester City. evenevven iiff iit’st’s differentdifffef r now. Gattuso won the tournament twice “It’s the real test. The kings “T“Thehhee expexperienceeerriiee of playing there as a player with Milan. His Rossoneri of this competition against one willwilll bebe veveryerry nnice. People are very team came up against Messi’s Bar- team who aren’t used to passionatepaasssionnat there and they celona eight times - although they playing these kind of games dreameddrd eaamem that if Maradona never faced each other because either much, as our best performance cameccamee there, why can’t Messi him or Messi were always absent. was one semi-final. come?coc m Yes, I know the “What Messi does is something I “But if you want to do that NeapolitansNNeea are crazy only see on the PlayStation when I play (win the title) you have to face aboutaabbo football. I had with my son,” Gattuso said. “He’s a these teams sooner or later... teammatestet am that played champion, who has statistics that will you have to beat Madrid, you there...thheerre.e .. ((they)thth told me that they never be repeated and who is also an have to beat Barcelona, you livelliivee forfor tthishih s andannd I’mI very excited about example for kids for the way he’s con- have to beat Bayern Munich. goingggooining ththere.”heerree.” ducted his career. You have to beat the big, big BothBoB th teamsteamss changedc their coaches “He’s been doing unimaginable teams. If we’re able to do it Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates afteraafftteer thetthhe groupgrg ououp stage, with Gennaro things for years, the only difference is we’ll be so happy. If not then after scoring during the Spanish League GattusoGatttususo replacingreeplplaacciin Carlo Ancelotti at that today he has a beard, but he next season... well, next season match against SD Eibar at the Camp NapoliNNaapolli inin DecemberDeceem and Quique Setién remains the best in the world.” I don’t know but when we are Nou Stadium on Saturday. able to play we are going to come back.” City, who plan to appeal their transfer ban, have not beaten Madrid in four pre- vious meetings in thethe Mueller ready to show Chelsea what Germany is missing competition.competition.

AFP – BERLIN was a second-half replacement puts him near his personal best. goals for Kingsley Coman and is that he is neither a striker,triker, nor in Friday’s 3-2 league win over The 30-year-old is back to Lewandowski as Bayern raced an attacking midfielder,elder, but A year after being dumped by bottom side Paderborn when his best after significant setbacks into a 3-0 lead after 12 minutes. describes himself as a ‘Raum-‘Raum- Germany head coach Joachim Lewandowski netted twice. for club and country in 2019. Flick is probably wise to pick deuter’ - an interpreterr of sspace.pace. Loew, Thomas Mueller The Poland striker is on a Alongside fellow 2014 World Mueller, who joined Bayern as A key member off the 2013 (pictured) is set to showcase career-high 38 goals after 32 Cup winners Mats Hummels and a schoolboy in 2000 and made team which won thee ttreblereble ooff why he is so important for games in all competitions and is Jerome Boateng, Mueller was his first-team debut in 2009 just Bundesliga, German Cup and Bayern Munich - and Robert happiest with Mueller alongside told last March he was no longer before his 19th birthday. Champions Leagueue titles, Lewandowski - at Chelsea in the him. needed by Germany as Joachim His relationship with Pep Mueller has won the domesticdomestic Championspions League. “It’sIt s easier with Thomas next Loew rebuilt his squad following Guardiola became strained after league eight times, liftingfting the Alongsideongside ErlingErling Braut to me, he helpshelps me out a the 2018 World Cup debacle. Mueller was benched for the 2016 cup in Berlin onn five Haaland,and, Bayern’s star lot,”lot,” Lewandowski Then last autumn, Mueller Champions League semi-final, occasions. strikerr LewandowskiLewandowski isis has sasaidid ooff MMueller.ueller. found himself repeatedly first-leg defeat at Atletico Madrid. He has scored 38 goagoalsls joint ttop-scorerop-scorer in ththee It’sIt’s nnoo cocoinci-inci- benched by Bayern to make Mueller was part of a dis- -- 10 of those at Worldd CupCup Championsmpions dedencen ce tthath at room for Philippe Coutinho, who gruntled group of senior players finals with five eachh at Leaguee with LeLewandowskiwandowski iiss is on loan from Barcelona. whose complaints contributed South Africa 2010 aandnd 10 goalsgoals eenjoyingnjoying his When Niko Kovac was to the sacking of Guardiola’s suc- Brazil 2014 -- in 110000 going intointo highest goal tally sacked in November, caretaker cessor Carlo Ancelotti in 2017 appearances for Germany.many. the lastast 16, justjust when Mueller’s coach Hansi Flick restored after poor results. His current form meansmeans first-leg-leg 14 assistsassists in Ger-Ger- Mueller to the starting line-up, Mueller then became so he could yet playy forfor clash today.today. many’smany’s top often at Coutinho’s expensive, frustrated under Kovac that his Germany at a major interna-nterna- In oorderrder flightflight and he has flourished. wife Lisa criticised the coach in tional tournament thiss summersummer to kkeepeep alsoalso Mueller was superb in their a social media post just before having been named inn the pre-pre- him fresh,resh, recent 4-1 win at Cologne, he was replaced by Flick. liminary German squadad forfor thethe Pep Guardiola Muellerler drawing defenders to create What makes Mueller unique Tokyo Olympics. TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2020 SPORT 09 Qatar doing great job to boost athletics in region, says marathon legend Radcliffe

FAWAD HUSSAIN FROM MUSCAT have to be really skilful to THE PENINSULA manage the conditions but it was really phenomenal event Paula Radcliffe’s mark of and looked great in pictures. 2:15:25 remained the women’s world marathon record for 16 Q - How the level of Qatar is playing a good years. competition is going to be in role for the promotion of Although Kenya’s Brigid this year’s Tokyo Olympics? athletics in the region. Kosgei eclipsed the feat last A - The level of compe- year in October, Radcliffe tition is increasing in every The initiatives keep remains as the top name in edition of Olympics. The track going in Doha. Doha has women’s long-distance and field events are going to running. be tough. It is going to be good some very good parks The Briton is a three-time Olympics. and world class venues winner of the London Mar- athon (2002, 2003, 2005), Q - Your comment on the and their stadiums are three-time New York Mar- Muscat Marathon, which amazing. Qatar is doing athon champion (2004, 2007, broke a participation record 2008), and 2002 Chicago Mar- this year again? a great job in keeping athon champion. A - It’s a great event. This the inspiration of In an interview with The year it has grown again from hosting the major events Peninsula in Muscat, Radcliffe last year. It is a great way to – the global ambassador for bring the community together going: Paula Radcliffe the recently-concluded Al from not just Muscatt bbutut ffromrom Mouj Muscat Marathon 2020 the whole of Oman. NNow,ow, glglo-o- – praised Qatar’s initiatives to bally the people are ccomingoming in promote athletics in the entire to experience thisis event. region. People can combine it with the The podium winners of the women's Al Mouj Muscat Marathon, Ethiopia’s Astede Habtamu The 46-year-old also holiday because it is a veveryry (second, left); silver winner, Kenya’s Perez Jerubet (left) and Bency Cheruiyot with British shared her experience of nice event. former world marathon champion Paula Radcliffe during the presentation ceremony held watching the 2019 IAAF World in Muscat, Oman. Championships in Doha and Q - Which racee diddid youyou gave thumbs up to the mid- like the most at thee Muscat night marathons. of athletics in the region. The in Qatar – the first one to be Q - Did you like the idea Marathon? She also predicted a tough initiatives keep going in Doha. hosted in the Middle East? of midnight marathon A - It is very hardrd to pipickck Olympics for athletes this year Doha has some very good A - I was in Qatar for the during the World Champi- one race. I liked tthehe 1010kk in Japan. parks and world class venues World Championships. It was onships in Doha? because I also participatedcipated in Following are the excerpts and their stadiums are a great event. The organising A - Yes. I like the idea of the event, but the kkids’ids’ races of her interview: amazing. committee did a very good job midnight marathon. The first were also exciting. TToo see Qatar is doing a great job and everybody was very wel- one – the women’s race - was the enthusiasm amongmong Q - How do you see the in keeping the inspiration of coming there. We saw tough because of the difficult kids was very good.od. role of Qatar in promotion of hosting the major events excellent competitions, some weather conditions. Some of them werere athletics in the region? going. thrilling races. The World The men’s race was running for the firstst A - Qatar is playing a Q - How was the 2019 Championships were very well normal for that time of the time and they werere good role for the promotion IAAF World Championships done. year. It was a great race. You very happy.

Riders and horses at the state-of-the-art Longines Arena at Al Shaqab in this file photo. India to GAZOO Racing celebrates host 2022 victory at Rally Sweden Commonwealth shooting and THE PENINSULA – DOHA and final day with an advantage of half a second in the No. 17 car. archery events The GAZOO Racing (GR) World Rally In the tricky conditions of the Team (WRT) continued its outstanding 21.19-kilometer Likenäs stage, Rovanperä REUTERS – NEW DELHI start to the season with a dominant was 3.7 seconds faster than anybody else, performance at the recent Rally Sweden. taking his first-ever WRC stage win and India will host the shooting Elfyn Evans took the top spot during the maximum five bonus points on offer and archery championships, his second time behind the wheel of the in the Power Stage. This makes him the which had originally been left No. 33 Toyota Yaris WRC. He was joined youngest ever podium finisher during a out of the 2022 Common- on the podium by 19-year-old rookie sen- WRC round, more than two years wealth Games, six months sation Kalle Rovanperä, who came out younger than the previous record holder. before the main multi-sport ahead in the No. 69 Toyota Yaris WRC to Ogier still managed to achieve the third- competition takes place in claim third place following a thrilling fastest time during the stage to claim Birmingham, it was battle with his world champion team- fourth position overall, collecting a strong announced yesterday. mate Sébastien Ogier in the No. 17 Toyota points haul towards the driver’s cham- The medals won in the Yaris WRC. pionship, where he is currently in third events to now be staged in First batch of horses Together, the all-new driver line-up place – five points behind Evans. Chandigarh at the start of built on their successful GR debut at last “Evans and Martin brought the first 2022 will count in the final month’s Rallye Monte-Carlo to take victory of the season to our new-look tally of the Birmingham arrive for CHI Al Shaqab Toyota into pole position in the manu- team. Elfyn and Scott, congratulations! I Games, which take place in facturers’ championship, while Evans am really happy that such a new team July and August later in the THE PENINSULA – DOHA arrive on three specially Commercial Bank now jointly leads the drivers’ champi- member is already achieving great results year, the Commonwealth chartered flights to par- CHI Al Shaqab Presented onship for the first time in his career. together with the team,” said Akio Games Federation (CGF) A flight carrying 45 top ticipate in the event. by Longines is one of only Evans led the event from start to finish Toyoda, Team Chairman. said. showjumping horses has The horses will five CHI competitions to record his second FIA WRC victory, Tommi Mäkinen, Team Principal at The Indian Olympic touched down in Doha, compete in the Olympic worldwide and the first having previously won on home soil at GAZOO Racing, commented: “It is an Association (IOA) had initially ahead of Commercial equestrian disciplines of and only equestrian Wales Rally GB in 2017. It was the first- absolutely brilliant finish for us here. threatened to boycott the Bir- Bank CHI Al Shaqab showjumping, dressage, event of its kind in the ever WRC win for co-driver Scott Martin, Elfyn has been so good this weekend, and mingham Games over the Presented by Longines, and para dressage. CHI Middle East and Asia and together they are the first British he and Scott have made history today as exclusion of shooting, which the international eques- (Concours Hippique (Mena) region. competitors to ever win Rally Sweden, the first British winners in Sweden. And is an optional sport for host trian event taking place International – Interna- It is being organised which was a founding round of the WRC it’s incredible what Kalle did in the final cities. at the Longines Arena at tional Equestrian Com- and hosted by Al Shaqab in 1973. stage. It was his first time on that stage in They withdrew the threat Al Shaqab from February petition) is the official for the seventh time. Having won five of the previous eight these vehicles. Everybody else has been in December and offered to 27-29. title awarded by the Tickets for the event, stages, Evans had built up a cushion of doing it many times before and he was host separate championships In total, 130 horses Fédération Equestre including exclusive VIP 17.2 seconds going into the final day in just flying away from the rest. I think we for archery and shooting, both from all around the world Internationale (FEI) to packages, are available the No. 33 car. This allowed him to take have a ‘dream team’ at the moment. of which had been omitted – including Germany, international equestrian online at www.q-tickets. a relatively cautious approach through There is such a good feeling and the team from the Birmingham Netherlands, France, competitions with three com/ or through the Al the tricky deciding test and still secure spirit is the highest it’s ever been. I can schedule. Belgium, Spain, Austria or more equestrian Shaqab website (www. the win by 12.7 seconds. only smile and be proud of them.” The CGF executive board and Switzerland - will disciplines. alshaqab.com). Already impressive on his debut at The season continues next month approved India’s “innovative” rallying’s top level during Rallye Monte- with Rally Mexico from 12 – 15 March, idea after a three-day meeting Carlo, Rovanperä reached another level which features rough gravel roads and in London. at Rally Sweden, climbing as high as temperatures in the region of 30°C. High “I am delighted that we Duplantis misses third second overall at one point on the second altitude is also a major factor, with a route have approved India’s ambi- day in the No. 69 car. He and Ogier traded that peaks at 2,737 meters above sea level, tious proposal to host a Com- third place several times during day three, starving engines of air and cutting power monwealth Archery and world record in 15 days but it was Ogier who went into the fourth by as much as 20 percent. Shooting Championships in Chandigarh during 2022,” CGF President Louise Martin AFP – CLERMONT-FERRAND, FRANCE “This winter I managed to improve said in a statement. a little bit everywhere, now the winter A week after the closing Armand Duplantis just clipped the bar season is over for me, I couldn’t con- ceremony of the 2022 Games on Sunday when he attempted to break clude it in a better way”, he said. in August, the CGF will issue the pole vault world record for a third Duplantis, who is nicknamed a medal table combining straight weekend. ‘Mondo’, said he asked event host and results from Chandigarh and After jumping 6.01m to win the “All former Olympic champion Renaud Birmingham to determine the Star Perche” competition in Clermont, Lavillenie for advice. RACE NOTES: final rankings, CGF said. Duplantis had the bar raised to 6.19m. “He enlightened me on a few No. 33 Toyota Yaris WRC (Elfyn India finished third in the The Swede had broken the old world details.” Lavillenie had held the world Evans & Scott Martin) 2018 medals table but in the record on February 8 with a jump of record of 6.16m since 2014 until Position: 1st (1h11m43.1s) absence of shooting, could 6.17 metres in Poland. He then added a Duplantis broke it two weeks ago. haved slipped to between fifth centimetre in Glasgow last Saturday. On On Sunday, the Frenchman cleared No. 69 Toyota Yaris WRC (Kalle and eighth place in 2022, Sunday, he tried to add another 5.94m, his best jump in almost two Rovanperä & Jonne Halttunen) according to IOA estimates. Position: 3rd (1h12m03.3s) centimetre. years. He said that early in the compe- One of GAZOO The National Rifle Asso- “Make some noise,” he asked some tition, struggling to get past 5.87m, he Racing World ciation of India (NRAI), No. 17 Toyota Yaris WRC 5,000 spectators before setting off. He was worried that he would be Rally Team's which led the protest against (Sébastien Ogier & Julien failed twice with a stiffer pole than he humiliated. drivers in action shooting’s exclusion, came Ingrassia) used to set his two records, before In the women’s competition, during the Rally up with the idea of a sep- Position: 4th (1h12m06.7s) returning to the old one and narrowly American Sandi Morris cleared 4.80m Sweden. arate Commonwealth failing. to win before failing at 4.93m. championship. 10 SPORT TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2020 Dominant Al Attiyah opens up massive lead THE PENINSULA – LUSAIL Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and French navigator Matthieu Baumel driving their Toyota Hilux during yesterday's 2020 MANATEQ QATAR stage of the Manateq Qatar Cross-Country Rally. CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and French navigator Matthieu Baumel moved POSITIONS ON SS2: (TOP 5) further ahead of their nearest rivals 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu after winning a dramatic second Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive: 3hr 334.25km selective section of the 26min 48sec Manateq Qatar Cross-Country Rally 2. Austin Jones (USA)/Gustavo Gugelmin (MQCCR) across the country’s northern (BRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3): 4hr 03min and western deserts yesterday. 51sec Driving a Toyota Gazoo Hilux, Al 3. Khalid Al Mohannadi (QAT)/Sébastien Attiyah was the first on the road yes- Delaunay (FRA) Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo (T3): terday morning and benefited from an 4hr 23min 34sec increased advantage of 6min 00sec, 4. Mubarak Al Hajri (QAT)/Laurent after nearest rival Yazeed Al Rajhi was Lichtleuchter (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3): handed a 10-second time penalty at the 4hr 24min 28sec night halt for a minor speeding 5. Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU)/Michael Orr (GBR) violation. Toyota Hilux Overdrive: 4hr 29min 15sec His rival had the better of the day’s early exchanges and led the Qatari by POSITIONS AFTER SS2: over 1min 40sec at the first passage control. But the stage advantage was two in the South Racing Can-Am Mav- still managed to set the third fastest time along the north-western coast and 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu short lived and Al Rajhi had dropped erick X3. He was rewarded with the to hold fourth overall, 19min 08sec across the northern deserts to finish off Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive: 4hr five minutes to Al Attiyah by the fourth second quickest time and climbed to a adrift of Jones in the T3 contest. the Al Kharsaah road. The timed section 59min 16sec checkpoint before stopping several similar impressive position in the Ahmed Al Kuwari and Manuel included three passages controls on the 2. Austin Jones (USA)/Gustavo Gugelmin times on the run down the north-west overall rankings, the T3 category lead Luchesse moved up to third in T3 and Al-Zubara and Al-Jumailah roads and (BRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3): 6hr 06min with power steering issues and flat tyres. being an added bonus for the fifth overall. the Dukhan highway. 05sec Al Attiyah duly recorded a stage 24-year-old. Saleh Al Saif holds fifth in T3 in his Today's third Al Kharsaah selective 3. Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU)/Michael Orr (GBR) time of 3hr 26min 48sec and increased It was a day to forget for Poland’s Can-Am and Dutchman Kees Koolen is section is the longest of the event at Toyota Hilux Overdrive: 6hr 07min 43sec his overall lead to a massive 1hr 06min Jakub Przygonski and German navi- sixth in the first of the new OT3s. 340.28km and starts at 08.40hrs. The 4. Khalid Al Mohannadi (QAT)/Sébastien 49sec, the Qatari finishing the special gator Timo Gottschalk in the third Russian team-mate Fedor Vorobyev route heads south towards the Inland Delaunay (FRA) Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo (T3): over an hour ahead of Al Rajhi. Toyota Hilux. They were running stopped near the finish after an accident Sea, before turning north-west and 6hr 25min 13sec Al Attiyah said: “It was a good day strongly in third place through the and lost over an hour and a half. heading back through the central 5. Ahmed Al Kuwari (QAT)/Manuel Lucchese except for one tyre that was completely opening checkpoints and staying close Al Harqan was forced to repair an deserts to finish in the north-west of the (ITA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) 6hr 55min 46sec destroyed in the last 50km. We had a to Al Attiyah’s pace before sustaining a electrical connector on the front of his country, 68.55km from Lusail. There 6. Saleh Al Saif (SAU)/Ali Hassan Obaid (ARE) good run and good navigation. We are damaged steering arm after an impact Can-Am that had been damaged by a are four passage controls – two on the Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3): 6hr 59min 16sec quite happy. This rally is very difficult in a ditch. The crew managed to repair rock. The delay cost the Qatari valuable Al Kharrara road – and a further two 7. if you don’t take care with the speed. the car temporarily, reached the finish minutes and he finished the stage in where the stage crosses the Al Aamriya Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Timo Gottschalk You will get a lot of problems. From the 1hr 49min 39sec behind Al-Attiyah and seventh in T3 and holds 10th overall. and Umm Bab highways. (DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive: 6hr 59min 42sec beginning today, it was very tricky. Mat- plummeted to seventh overall. Mubarak Al Hajri, however, recovered thieu did a good job. Sometimes we Hungarian Opel Rally Team driver strongly after retiring on day one with Austin Jones driving his Can-Am Maverick X3. were searching for the correct road. We Balazs Szalay was the only other T1 fin- a broken suspension arm and was need to score full points here in Qatar.” isher on the day in ninth after fourth on the day in the second of four Al Rajhi and Ulster co-driver Mohammed Al Meer’s Chevrolet Buggy FN Speed Can-Ams. Michael Orr haemorrhaged time as the ground to a halt shortly after the start Qatar’s Adel Abdulla restarted with stage progressed, came home in fifth and damage from Sunday’s accident hefty time penalties after his first day place and slipped to third overall, 1min sidelined fellow Qatari Abdullah Al electrical issues but the G-Force T3 GF 38sec adrift of American driver Austin Rabban. ground to a halt again before the first Jones and his Brazilian team-mate Time penalties of 15 minutes were checkpoint. The former FIA T2 world Gustavo Gugelmin. handed to both Mohammed Al Harqan champion said: “We had a steering box Both Al Attiyah and Al Rajhi were and Rashid Al Mohannadi for missing problem. We feel the car was not good recorded at stunning average speeds in a waypoint before the resumption of before the start. We checked the bar excess of 191km/h and 190km/h on a racing yesterday. before the start and it seemed okay. fast gravel section of the stage between Khalid Al Mohannadi began the Then it got worse and worse until the the nine and 22km points. second stage with a lead of 35 seconds first speed zone and we stopped. It was Jones, on the other hand, made a in the T3 category, but the Qatari lost finished.” patient start to his first event in Qatar, precious time with flat tyres and no The day’s action began off the Al but began to increase his pace on day intercom system for over 300km. He Shamal highway and wound its way

Maverick Vinales Maverick Vinales Qatar beat Oman by 34 runs in T20

Franco Morbidelli

Alex Rins Qatari cricketers and officials posing for a photograph as they celebrate their win against Oman in the Group A match of the (ACC) Western Region T20 match played in Al Amerat, Oman, yesterday. Batting first, Qatar scored 175 for 5 with the help of a brilliant knock by Kamran Khan (54) and the hosts were bowled out for 144 with Awais Malik (3 for 28) and Mohammed Nadeem (3 for 34) doing most of the damage. Yesterday's win was their second win in the tournament. On Sunday, Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs.

Vinales fastest as Yamaha top timesheets in Qatar Test

THE PENINSULA – LUSAIL MOTOGP OFFICIAL TEST - QATAR: was happy, the feeling with the COMBINED STANDINGS bike is good and he “isn’t far” Maverick Vinales (Monster 1. Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha but he needs to work more with Energy Yamaha MotoGP) ended MotoGP) - 1’53.858 the tyre. the MotoGP Qatar Test at the 2. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) +0.033 Quartararo said his race summit thanks to a 1:53.858 on 3. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.180 simulation on Day 3 was very Man of the match, Kamran Khan, receiving his award. the final day in Doha. 4. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) +0.210 pleasing, pretty much every lap Kamran Khan hits a shot At the Losail International 5. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) +0.247 was in the 1:54s and the Circuit yesterday, the Spaniard 6. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) +0.271 Frenchman didn’t go for a pipped Franco Morbidelli (Pet- 7. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) +0.291 proper time attack. ronas Yamaha SRT) to top spot 8. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) +0.381 That bodes very well for the by just 0.033 after the three 9. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory) +0.425 2019 Rookie of the Year and Banned Kenyan runner Asbel days, with fellow Petronas 10. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) +0.454 team-mate Morbidelli was also Yamaha SRT rider Fabio Quar- very upbeat. tararo finishing P3 on the com- It was a busy and intriguing Kiprop to turn to motorsport bined times. most laps of anyone on the final day for reigning Champions Overall it was a great test for day – 84 for the number 12. Honda as Marc Marquez Yamaha, but there will be slight Monster Energy Yamaha (Repsol Honda Team) started AFP – NAIROBI “I am ready to begin again in a sport that worry that Quartararo suffered MotoGP Team Director Massimo with three bikes in his garage, doesn’t have doping conspiracy,” the 30-year- technical failures on both Meregalli was pleased with the one of those being Takaaki Suspended Kenyan Olympic 1,500 metres and old Kiprop, who waged a long battle to prove his Sunday and yesterday, in progress made with improved Nakagami’s (LCR Honda Ide- three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop has doping innocence, said on Twitter. addition to Valentino Rossi’s grip and on acceleration, saying mitsu) 2019 RC213V. Later on announced he is turning his back on athletics to “I will be patient again to be able to be (Monster Energy Yamaha the 2020 package “is very com- Day 3 Nakagami’s teammate try his hand at motorsport. champion. I will be climbing this ladder hoping MotoGP) Turn 2 crash on Day 3. petitive” – good news for Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda The controversial athlete, who is serving a to learn the next game.” 'The Doctor' was uninjured Yamaha fans. Rossi finished Castrol) completed 70 laps as four-year doping ban imposed in April 2019 after Kiprop is known for being a fast driver, and ventured back out during the 0.474 off his team-mate’s time, HRC went in search of finding he tested positive for EPO, has joined a Nairobi resulting in a road crash in November 2013 when last hour of the test, with team- placing the nine-time World improvements on the final day motor-rallying academy with the hope of honing he lost control of his vehicle that left him with a mate Vinales completing the Champion in P12. Overall Rossi in Qatar. his motorsport skills. few bruises. TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2020 SPORT 11

Qatar Total Open: Qatar Tennis Federation hosts gala dinner

Qatar Total Open Qatar Tennis Federation President defending champion Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi and Elise Mertens of Belgium former Arsenal Manager Arsene poses for a picture Wenger during the gala dinner. LEFT: during the gala dinner Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova hosted by Qatar Tennis poses for photographs. The event Federation in Doha on saw the players and officials of the Sunday night. LEFT: Qatar Total Open 2020 taking time Elina Svitolina of Ukraine away from action of the competition poses for a photograph to enjoy a night of glamour, fun and during the gala dinner entertainment at the Marsa Malaz yesterday. Kempinski Doha on Sunday. Djokovic downs Jaziri to Djokovic surprised by Federer knee extend unbeaten streak surgery news

AFP — DUBAI next face Germany’s Philipp REUTERS — MUMBAI Kohlschreiber, who overcame World number one Novak Egypt’s Mohamed Safwat 4-6 News of Roger Federer’s Djokovic extended his unbeaten 6-4 6-0. knee surgery caught start to the season with a 6-1 “I lost to him (Kohlsch- Novak Djokovic by 6-2 victory over Tunisian Malek reiber) in straight sets in Indian surprise and the world Jaziri in the opening round of Wells last year. I am aware of number one said he the Dubai Tennis Champion- what he’s capable of,” said hoped to see his Swiss ships yesterday. Djokovic. rival back on court soon Djokovic, who helped “He likes actually playing as the sport needs him. Serbia to victory in the ATP Cup top players on a big stage. He Federer said he before lifting his eighth Aus- Serbia’s Novak has lots of experience. I cer- would miss a number of tralian Open title last month, Djokovic celebrates tainly will not underestimate tournaments, including struck 22 winners and did not after defeating him.” Seventh seed Karen the French Open in May, face a break point against Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri Khachanov recovered from a after undergoing keyhole wildcard Jaziri in a near- during round 1 of break down on two occasions surgery in Switzerland faultless display. the Dubai Duty Free in the opening set before last week. “It’s a great way to start out Tennis Championships cruising to a 7-6(2) 6-1 victory Federer suffered a the tournament,” Djokovic, who yesterday. over Kazakh Mikhail groin problem in his is playing in Dubai for the first Kukushkin. Australian Open quarter- Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts after time since 2016, said. The 23-year-old Russian final win against Tennys his victory against Spain’s Rafael Nadal “I miss playing here. I really the first match. “Of course, with the performance.” dropped just one point on his Sandgren and his in this February 7 file picture. enjoy it. I enjoy night sessions... there’s things that always can Djokovic is chasing his fifth title first serve in the second set to movement appeared I think I’ve done everything as be improved, things that can be in Dubai and his first since 2013. improve his win-loss record to hampered in his defeat to eventual champion Djokovic in the well as I imagined it to be for better. But I have to be satisfied The 32-year-old Serb will 8-5 this season. semi-finals. “It was a surprise, to be honest,” Djokovic told reporters ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. “I knew he was struggling with an injury in the Australian Opelka wins ATP Open. But no one knew really what was the injury, what is the extent of that injury.” Djokovic, who won his 17th Grand Slam title in Melbourne, underwent an elbow operation in 2018 in a bid to cure an injury Delray Beach title that has troubled him for a long time. “I really don’t like to see anybody going through surgery. I’ve been through that once, and hopefully the last time in my life,” AFP — MIAMI prior ATP final in 2018 at he said. Shenzhen, ousted French sixth “Roger is Roger - this sport needs him.” Djokovic also revealed US fourth seed Reilly Opelka seed Ugo Humbert 1-6, 6-4, 6-0 that he, Federer and Spaniard Rafa Nadal have a WhatsApp group won twice on Sunday to on Saturday before the rain. and said the ‘Big Three’ of men’s tennis get along very well. capture the ATP Delray Beach Opelka beat Nishioka 6-4, “We are all active, and we are not active as well,” he said of Open title, outlasting Japan’s 6-4 last week in the second the chat group. Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5, 6-7 round at New York in their only “When we are active everybody responds. We got it, we get (4/7), 6-2 in the championship prior meeting. In the finals tie- along very well, I think we know, there is tremendous respect for match. breaker, Opelka botched a each other, privately and professionally. It was a second career ATP forehand volley to hand “As long as this is the case, everybody benefits from that and crown for the 22-year-old Nishioka a 6-3 edge and the the sport as well.” American, whose other title American sent a forehand long The Serb is yet to lose a match in 2020 having led Serbia to came at last year’s New York two points later to force a third victory in the inaugural ATP Cup team event in Australia followed Open, and he won after he set. by his eighth crown in Melbourne. played a morning semi-final at Opelka broke early in the The 32-year-old said it will be a fresh start for him when he the rain-hit Florida venue. third and again in the seventh opens his bid for his fifth title in Dubai, and first since 2013, against Opelka battled back to elim- game, Nishioka slamming Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri. inate Canadian second seed Milos down his racquet in anger after “Yes, there is room for improvement. That’s my biggest moti- Raonic 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in the having rescued three break vation,” he said. semis to book a date with the points only to fall behind 5-2. “That’s probably one of the biggest reasons why I keep on world number 63. Opelka held serve a final playing this sport and why I put a lot of effort and dedication every “I’m exhausted after those time to complete the victory single day. Rafael Nadal of Spain attends a practice session before the Mexican two (matches),” Opelka said. after two hours and nine “I feel that tennis is a great place for me to improve not just ATP Open in Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico, yesterday. Nishioka, who won his only minutes. in tennis but also as a human being to build my character.” Sport in Italy badly hit by surge in coronavirus cases

AFP – MILAN and Parma in Turin was called Messi’s Barcelona side will go Inter’s home Europa League That followed the post- instructions, all events in the off as well as the matches ahead today as southern Italy match scheduled for Thursday ponement of the women’s Six Lombardy and Veneto regions Sport in Italy is being heavily between title-chasing Inter is currently unaffected. against Bulgarian club Ludog- Nations rugby clash between would be postponed. disrupted by a surge in the Milan and Sampdoria, Atalanta European football body orets could also be played in an Italy and Scotland, that had “We agree and align with number of new coronavirus and Sassuolo, and Hellas UEFA said they were moni- empty stadium, according to been scheduled to take place in the government’s provisions,” cases but Napoli’s Champions Verona and Cagliari. toring any change in that reports. Legnano, north of Milan, on said CONI president Giovanni League match against AC Milan also announced situation. A planned get-together of Sunday. Malago. Barcelona today in the south of the postponement of their “UEFA is following the situ- Italy’s under-19 national “To ensure the safety of our “I believe that at this the country is not at risk. women’s team’s match against ation closely and is contact with football team, which was to players and spectators PRO14 moment the world of sport Italy reported its fifth death Fiorentina on Sunday. the clubs and the authorities feature the coach of the senior Rugby fully supports the pre- should not go its own way. from the virus on Monday and The government announced concerned,” a spokesman said. team, Roberto Mancini, was ventative measures taken in Health is the primary concern.” it has the most confirmed cases on Sunday that all sporting A medical taskforce met at postponed on Monday. Italy and will adhere to the Eleven towns -- 10 in Lom- in Europe. events in two northern regions the Italian Football Federation’s In the latest development, directives from the World bardy and one in neighbouring A surge in infections at the would be suspended, with headquarters in Rome on two Pro 14 rugby union matches Health Organisation (WHO) and Veneto -- are under lockdown, weekend forced the post- Sports Minister Vincenzo Monday to plot a way forward, due to be played this weekend local authorities,” a statement with some 50,000 residents ponement of four Serie A Spadafora saying the gov- but it seems likely that the high- have been rescheduled. on the Pro 14 website said. prohibited from leaving. football matches in the north of ernment had “a duty to be profile Serie A clash between They are Zebre’s clash with Other sports were also hit Regional authorities have the country where the outbreak prudent and responsible”. Juventus and Inter on Sunday Welsh club Ospreys in Parma, with the Italian Olympic Com- ordered gathering spots, such is concentrated in two regions. Napoli’s last 16 Champions will be played behind closed and Irish side Ulster’s visit to mittee (CONI) confirming that as bars, restaurants, cinemas The game between Torino League match against Lionel doors. Treviso-based side Benetton. in line with government and discos to close. SPORT SPORT | 08 SPORT | 11 Messi is no Djokovic MaraMaradonad for Napoli downs Jaziri to as ththeye prepare for extend unbeaten Barca clash streak

TUESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2020 QTF hosts a star cast at Qatar Total Open gala dinner

THE PENINSULA – DOHA

The players and officials of the Qatar Total Open 2020 took time away from the adrenaline rush a competition of its calibre typically gives, to enjoy a night of glamour, fun and entertainment at an exclusive gala dinner held at the Marsa Malaz Kem- pinski Doha on Sunday. Tennis stars including tournament’s top-seeds Ashleigh Barty, Karolina Pliskova, Belinda Bencic, Elina Svitolina, Sofia Kenin, Kiki Bertens and Petra Kvitova were at the event which was also attended by QTSBF President Nasser Al Khelaifi, QTSBF Sec- retary-General Tariq Zainal, Tournament Director Saad Al Mohannadi and Managing Director Total E&P Qatar, and Country Chair – Total Laurent Wolff- sheim among others. The guests were treated to music from a live band, besides other entertainment on the sidelines, making the night a memorable one for all attendees. Welcoming the guests, Khelaifi said, “It is a great pleasure to once again welcome everyone to this gala dinner. In line with our annual tradition, this dinner serves as an opportunity to enjoy the great hospitality the Qatar Total Open offers and for eve- ryone to let the hair down as much as possible. I wish everyone a wonderful night and I wish the players the best of luck.” The Qatar Total Open 2020 started on Sunday and it will run until February 29 at the Khalifa Inter- The players taking part in the Qatar Total Open pose for a picture with Qatar Tennis Federation President Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi, former Arsenal national Tennis & Squash Complex. Manager Arsene Wenger and Tournament Director Karim Alami during the gala dinner in Doha on Sunday. Teen Anisimova stuns Svitolina in Doha

ARMSTRONG VAS of that brilliance in her Doha THE PENINSULA debut yesterday, securing WTA QATAR TOTAL OPEN victory after 64 minutes on ROUND OF 64 American teenager Amanda Centre Court. Carla Suarez Navarro, Spain, def. Anisimova pulled off one of the “I was finishing my semester Elina’s a great player, Zhang Shuai, China, 7-5, 6-0. biggest upset of the Qatar Total exams that week, and I actually so I was just trying Open as she eased past No.5 got them done that night,” she Maria Sakkari (15), Greece, def. Julia seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine said of how she celebrated the to go out there and Goerges, Germany, 6-4, 6-3. in straight sets to book her career breakthrough. “That was fight for every point. Anett Kontaveit, Estonia, def. Anastasija place in the third round. surprising!” I wanted to stay Sevastova, Latvia, 6-4, 7-6 (3). Besides Svitolina, three Svitolina ended 2019 on a Barbora Strycova, Czech Republic, def. Petra other seeded players also high note, reaching back-to- focused on each Martic (10), Croatia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. crashed out of the first Premier back Grand Slam semi-finals ball, so I’m really Zheng Saisai, China, def. Marketa Vondrousova 5 event on the 2020 calendar at Wimbledon and the US happy to get in which six of the WTA’s top Open, and came within one (12), Czech Republic, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. 10 are taking part. match of defending her WTA through this match: Tereza Martincova, Czech Republic, def. Misaki Doi, Tenth seed Petra Martic of Finals crown in Shenzhen - Amanda Anisimova Japan, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Croatia lost 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to falling to World No.1 Ashleigh Yulia Putintseva, Kazakhstan, def. Timea Babos, Barbora Strycova of Czech Barty. Hungary, 6-3, 6-4. Republic, while Zheng Saisai Fresh off a win over rising of China got the better of 12th Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova Vera Zvonareva, Russia, def. Hsieh Su-wei, seed Marketa Vondrousova of in the first round, Anisimova Taiwan, 6-4, 6-4. Amanda Anisimova of Czech Republic, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 saved two break points in the Iga Swiatek, Poland, def. Donna Vekic (17), the US returns the ball to and Iga Swiatek of Poland third game of the opening set to Croatia, 6-4, 7-5. handed 17th seed Donna Vekic turn the tables on Svitolina, a Elina Svitolina of Ukraine during their Round of Dayana Yastremska, Ukraine, def. of Croatia a 6-4, 7-5 straight semi-finalist at this event last Kirsten Flipkens, Belgium, 6-2, 6-4. sets defeat. year. Nabbing the only break of 32 match of the Qatar ROUND OF 32 Yesterday at the Khalifa the set, Anisimova held on to Total Open at the Khalifa International Tennis and clinch the set on her second International Tennis Kiki Bertens (7), Netherlands, def. Karolina Squash Complex, 18-year-old opportunity. and Squash Complex, Muchova, Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-4. Anisimova ranked 29 on the The second set moved in yesterday. Amanda Anisimova, United States, def. Elina WTA computer soared past Svi- similar fashion as the Ukrainian Svitolina (5), Ukraine, 6-3, 6-3. tolina 6-3, 6-3 to pick her first earned another break chance top 10 win of 2020. on the Anisimova serve, only to “Elina’s a great player, so I find herself on the back foot as was just trying to go out there the World No.29 took a 0-40 and fight for every point,” she lead two games later. While Svi- aggression ultimately proved “I love playing here. I love work of Turkish wildcard Cagla Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4 to said during her on-court tolina battled back to deuce, her undoing as it was the this stadium and the crowd is Buyukakcay on Sunday. move into the last 16. interview. Anisimova was undeterred, American who turned one last great. I’m so glad I get to see “I have still have some “I was really happy with the “I wanted to stay focused on breaking serve and moving game around to move over the everyone again in the next school work, but I don’t think level I played today. My serving each ball, so I’m really happy to ahead 5-3. finish line. round.” I’ll be doing it tonight! I’m just was great – I saved all the break get through this match.” Looking to put the pressure In all, she struck an Up next for Anisimova will going to soak it in; I don’t think points I faced – and I missed Anisimova last beat a Top back on her young opponent, impressive 27 winners to 21 be the winner of between I play tomorrow so I’m just only one break point that I won, 10 player at Roland Garros, the former World No.3 had two unforced errors and saved all former World No.2 Svetlana going to practice and work for so on the important points I was where she dethroned defending game points as she served to three break points faced on her Kuznetsova and Polish teenager my next match.” there,” she said after yesterday's champion Simona Halep en stay in the match. A mix of own serve while converting Swiatek. Swiatek came through Meanwhile, No.7 seed Kiki win. route to her first Grand Slam inconsistency on top of three of six opportunities on her first round clash with Vekic, Bertens of Netherlands “I hadn’t played her before semifinal, and showed flashes Anisimova’s relentless the Svitolina serve. while Kuznetsova made quick overcame Karolina Muchova of but I’d seen her play and I knew she’d be really aggressive, Carla Suarez Kiki Bertens of The Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan coming to the net so I knew I Navarro of Spain in Netherlands hits a prepares to serve against had to play aggressive myself. action against shot against Karolina Romania's Sorana Cirstea. If she was able to play Zhang Shuai of Muchova of Czech aggressive, she’d have been able China. Republic. to get to the net and put me under pressure.” Also advancing to the next round was No.15 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece as she overcame Julia Goerges of Germany 6-4, 6-3 in one hour 22 minutes. Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, the 2016 champion in Doha, defeated Zhang Shuai of China 7-5, 6-0. Estonia's Anett Kontaveit defeated Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Elena Rybakina, the fast emerging 20-year old from Kazakhstan, overcame a slow start to beat Romania's Sorana Cirstea 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.