Verstappen Predicts Mercedes Duo to Deliver Victory for Lauda
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12 Friday, May 24, 2019 Sports Long season for Al Sadd but, Qatar advance to FIBA 3x3 we’ll bounce back: Afif AFC Asia Cup 2019 Main Draw He was also equally cru- TEHRAN Al Sadd will take on Al cial in Al Sadd winning the Duhail in the Round of 16 Qatar Stars League title for FIBA THE effects of a long season in a mouth-watering clash. the first time since the 2012- CHANGSHA, CHINA caught up with Qatar Stars 13 season but the have shown League champions Al Sadd ed to give retiring Spanish signs of fatigue over the last AFTER a highly competitive as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to legend Xavi but forward few weeks. Qualifying Draw, Qatar (M), Persepolis in their final 2019 Akram Afif admitted that Al “We started this season Chinese Taipei (M), South Ko- AFC Champions League Sadd had not been at their in August 2018, and we still rea (M), the Philippines (W) Group D match on Mon- best in both matches. have one month to go before and Thailand (W) advanced day. “I would like to con- the season ends. Some peo- to the Main Draw of the FIBA The defeat, gratulate the Perse- ple think that the season is 3x3 Asia Cup in Changsha with Mahdi polis fans but at the over for us, but it is not, as (China). Torabi and same time, I must those with the Qatar national World Cup 2014 winners Ali Alipour say it has been team still have one month Qatar had a clean sweep and scoring for tough for our fans. to play, as we will compete advanced to Men’s Pool B, 2018 finalists “This match in the Copa America next where New Zealand and hosts Persepolis, was difficult for month.” China await. The Philippines came just four us as we are in the Afif, however, said he bounced back after a bad start days after Al fasting month and wasn’t too worried about Al yesterday, but their two losses Sadd had lost it has been a very Sadd’s recent form. on opening day were too much the Amir Cup fi- long season for “What is important for to overcome. nal to Al Duhail. us,” said Afif, who us is that we qualified for Chinese Taipei got a spot It was not played an inte- the AFC Champions League in Pool D after a dramatic win the farewell gral role in Qa- Round of 16 and we are con- over Kyrgyzstan in overtime, Al Sadd tar winning the fident of doing well in the courtesy of a Chun Yun Hao want- AFC Asian Cup knockout stage.” Tissot Buzzer Beater. They Qatar 3x3 team in action at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup Qualifying Draw in Changsha, China on Thursday. UAE 2019 Losing to Persepolis joined Indonesia and Kazakh- title in didn’t cost Al Sadd dearly as stan in the Main Draw. Buzzer Beater with time expir- and join Japan and Sri Lanka 15). Turkmenistan and Iran Feb- they still emerged group win- Last but not least in the ing. What’s next for them in in women’s Pool C after con- are up next for them in wom- ru- ners but what it did was set men’s category, India and Pool C? No less than last year’s ceding just over 6 points per en’s Pool D. ary. up a mouth-watering Round South Korea fought until the 2 finalists, Mongolia and Aus- game on average in the quali- The Main Draw of the of 16 meeting with domestic end for the last spot in the tralia. fying draw. FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup will be rivals Al Duhail for which Main Draw. South Korea got In the women’s category, Thailand got the last ticket livestreamed on youtube.com/ Afif is sure Al Sadd will be the last word after Seung Jun the Philippines still remain to the Main Draw after defeat- FIBA3x3 and facebook.com/ back at their very best. Lee scored his very own Tissot undefeated in the competition ing India in a tough game. (21- FIBA3x. Verstappen predicts Mercedes duo to deliver victory for Lauda the wall in front of you - and Hamilton and going up the hill to Casino it’s Bottas were the same thing. It’s incredibly intense out there and you have seven-tenths of a to be so focused.” Bottas, who was only 0.081 second clear seconds behind Hamilton, said: of third-placed “It’s been a good day for us on The new Simonne Mathieu tennis court after its inauguration track. In previous years, the car ceremony at Roland Garros in Paris. (AFP) Vettel of Ferrari felt sometimes difficult to drive, on soft tyres but today it was very driveable, responsive and enjoyable. AFP “You need to find the limits Roland Garros MOnacO on this track and I felt comfort- able to push towards the limit, MAX Verstappen conceded that which is a good sign. Now we unveils new look this weekend’s Monaco Grand need to fine-tune the set-up and Prix will see him and Red Bull make sure we keep going in the scrapping to be “best of the rest” right direction. I think we’ve after Lewis Hamilton and Mer- started the weekend on the after years of cedes dominated Thursday’s right foot, but we’re in Monaco free practice sessions. and anything can happen.” The Dutch tyro had been For Ferrari, like Mercedes legal wrangles widely tipped to challenge their also mourning the passing of supremacy, but the defending Lauda, who won two of his five-time world champion and Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton walks in the pits before the second practice session at the Monaco three titles with them, it was AFP winter during the work,” said his Silver Arrows team-mate street circuit in Monaco on Thursday, ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. (AFP) another day of cold realization PARIS Gilles Jourdan, the head of Valtteri Bottas were seven- and disappointment as Vettel the modernisation project tenths of a second clear of He explained: “We had a ship leader Hamilton and his said Hamilton. wound up third and local hero AFTER years of legal battles which is believed to cost an third-placed Sebastian Vettel of radiator leak because some de- nearest rival Bottas delivered a “I’m really proud of the Charles Leclerc was 10th. and threats to quit its historic overall 350 million euros. Ferrari on soft tyres in second bris flew into the air-box and perfect on-track tribute to their team and naturally our goal is To make matters seem home, Roland Garros will “But the sweat of Mr La- practice. damaged a radiator. We had to team’s former non-executive to try and do something really worse, for Ferrari, there were show off its new look next coste is still there,” he added Verstappen had managed to replace it, but in general it’s all chairman three-time champion positive this weekend. widespread calls from rival week, with a nod to the Eiffel in reference to one of France’s split the two Mercedes men in right. We tried a set-up change, Niki Lauda, who died overnight “We’ve made some small team chiefs in a post-session Tower and a Second World greatest tennis icons, a three- opening practice, but he could but it didn’t work.” on Monday, with another domi- tweaks over the two sessions news briefing for Ferrari to War resistance fighter while time winner in Paris during not repeat that speed in the af- Verstappen’s former Red nant display on the unforgiving and during the sessions as well, lose its unique power of veto on boasting enough plants and the 1920s. ternoon when a radiator leak Bull team-mate Daniel Ric- Mediterranean street circuit. but I’ve been quite happy with changes to the F1 rules. greenery to make even the This year’s tournament hampered his progress. ciardo won last year’s race from In a team statement, they the set-up. Every year we come Red Bull team boss Chris- most demanding environ- will also see the debut of “I think we are quick, but pole position and many observ- were cautious, but praised the back here, it gets faster and you tian Horner said that Ferrari’s mentalist drool. Court Simonne-Mathieu, a not that quick,” said the Dutch- ers believed that he was capable team for rising to the occasion. really notice it when you’re go- long-held historic veto was Ninety years after it was 5,000-seat arena named in man. “I think Mercedes is too of ending Mercedes phenom- “It’s the dream for every ing past the barriers. “outdated” and suggested that built, the French Open’s honour of a WWII resistance quick, but the big gap between enal season-opening run of five driver to come to Monaco and “Coming into Turn 12, you in future the same rules should showpiece Court Philippe hero and a former Roland second and third - I think we one-two finishes. have a car that you can exploit carry so much speed into that apply “for everyone” without Chatrier was demolished Garros champion. The semi- can fill that up.” That was until champion- and utilise your abilities with,” corner, and then there’s just any preferences. soon after the 2018 event fin- sunken arena was a contro- ished. Fast forward 12 months versial development inside and it has been almost com- the nearby Jardin des Serres pletely rebuilt to accommo- d’Auteuil, one of the capital’s date the necessary strength- most beloved green spaces.