FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 BBASEBALLASEBALL | Page 5 Swaggering Astros Spurs return crowned to European World Series big time champs Friday, November 3, 2017 CRICKET Safar 14, 1439 AH Australia GULF TIMES skipper Smith out to re-open England’s ‘scars’ SPORT Page 6 SQUASH/QATAR CLASSIC Momen to take on El Shorbagy in fi nal By Sports Reporter nothing is off the table. I’m in the Doha fi nal and I’ll give it my all and con- tinue to believe in myself.” Earlier in the day, two-time gypt’s Tarek Momen entered champion Mohamed El Shor- his maiden World Series fi - bagy defeated World No 1 Gregory nal to set up an all-Egyptian Gaultier of France 3-0 to enter the Qatar Classic title clash fi nal for a fourth consecutive year. Eagainst two-time champion Mo- El Shorbagy, who lost to Karim Ab- hamed El Shorbagy yesterday. del Gawad twelve months ago in the World No.7 Momen produced fi nal, and Gaultier were meeting for a stellar performance at the Kha- the 21st time in what is one of the lifa International Tennis and Squash fi ercest rivalries of the modern era Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and Qatar’s ambassador to Germany Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani with International Complex to defeat Germany’s giant but, after coming through a spell- Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in Prague yesterday. HE Sheikh Joaan attended various meetings of the ANOC General Assembly in the Czech capital. killer Simon Rosner 3-0 in the semi- binding opening game, it was the fi nal, their sixth meeting on the PSA 26-year-old from Alexandria who World Tour. prevailed to end the Frenchman’s SPOTLIGHT “I’m really happy, I can’t believe 30-match unbeaten run over a best- I’m in my fi rst World Series fi nal – of-fi ve games format. it’s amazing,” Momen said. El Shorbagy, who showed little Momen kept his nerve on the big tiredness after a brutal fi ve-game stage, coming out fi ring in the early clash with Ali Farag the day before, stages to pile the pressure on the attacked with intensity from the off German No 1, profi ting from a series to avenge his defeat to Gaultier at the of unforced errors to take the open- Tournament of Champions in New ing game and set up the foundations York in January. Barshim named for an 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 victory. “I’m really happy to be back in the Rosner, who defeated third seed fi nal here, it’s where I won my fi rst Marwan El Shorbag and World ever World Series and to be back in Champion Karim Abdel Gawad in my fourth consecutive fi nal is an the quarter-fi nal and second round, honour,” said El Shorbagy. respectively, was off colour yester- “He made a fool of me in that day. match in New York and I thought Momen, who had defeated com- about it all summer – it motivated best Asian athlete patriot Mohamed Abouelghar, Aus- me to get back to my best in the off tralia’s Cameron Pilley and Eng- season and I really wanted to go out land’s three-time world champion there today and beat him 3-0,” the Nick Matthew in the tournament, 26-year-old, who is aiming for his said he was spurred on by the sup- third title in Doha, said. portive crowd. “Without the way that he beat me “I think I had a physiological edge at the ToC that day, I wouldn’t be as – with the crowd supporting me and hungry as I am now. I had a bad sea- at ANOC Awards having been in a semi-fi nal before son by my standard last year but I – and I took advantage of it. Ear- feel like I’m better every tournament By Our Correspondent lier this season I wasn’t in the zone and every match this season so far Prague mentally but I knew I wasn’t far off and I’m really pleased to be compet- and fi nally it materialised this week,” ing for the title here once again,” the Momen said. 2013 and 2015 champion said. he accolades just keep pour- “I was on court and I didn’t think ing in for Mutaz Barshim. I would get this emotional,” the RESULTS (SEMI-FINALS) Barely a month after be- 29-year-old said with tears in his [3] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Ting nominated for the IAAF’s eyes. [1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 3-0: 14-12, Athlete of the Year Award, the Qa- “I have been waiting for this mo- 11-9, 11-1 (55m) tar high jumper, who swept aside all ment for so long but I’m not done [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Simon competition this past season, was de- here so I don’t know why I’m crying Rösner (GER) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-7 clared the Best Male Athlete from Asia – it’s not over! (40m) at the annual ANOC (Association of Talking about the fi nal he said, FINAL National Olympic Committees) gala “I’ve had some huge matches [3] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v annual awards in Prague yesterday. against Mohamed before and I have [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) The two-time Olympic medallist won against him as well so I know and 2017 IAAF world champion ac- cepted the award from pole vault leg- end Sergey Bubka on the opening day of the ANOC general assembly, the largest meeting of the Olympic move- ment outside the Olympic Games. Mutaz Essa Barshim receiving his Best Male Athlete from Asia trophy from pole vault legend Sergey Bubka in Prague “First of all I am very happy to yesterday. At right, Barshim with his coach Stanislaw Szczyrba. be here and to win this award,” said Barshim. “I thank my family, espe- which took place this year, and submit and rarely looked like dislodging the ba is of the opinion that Barshim’s best cially my mother, and my team for a shortlist to the jury. bar with his elegant run-up and leap. is yet to come. keeping me going,” he added. Barshim The ANOC Jury comprised of repre- With the gold medal duly secured “The best age for a high jumper is also singled out his coach Stanislaw sentatives from each of the Continen- he went agonisingly close to clearing 28, 29, 30. So he is on his way to the Szczyrba, crediting him for his suc- tal Associations, the ANOC Athletes’ 2.40 but there was no disappointment top. He is physically and mentally cess as an athlete. Commission Chair, ASOIF President, and the 26-year-old can target a crack stronger now,” the coach had said last Qatar Olympic Committee Presi- AIOWF President and ANOC Secre- at the world record on home soil when month. dent HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al- tary-General. Doha hosts the next World Champi- Thani, Qatar’s ambassador to Germa- Barshim was unbeaten last season, onships in 2019. ANOC Awards list: ny and former QOC Secretary-General sweeping all Diamond League com- “My fi rst big world championships Asia Best Female Athlete: Song Yu, China (Judo) Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al- petitions before being crowned world gold and I was so determined to win Best Male Athlete: Mutaz Essa Barshim, Qatar Thani were present on the occasion. champion in London where he won it,” Barshim said then. “I was expect- (High Jump) The ANOC Awards were established the the global high jump title with a ing it tonight so I am glad I managed Africa by ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad al- leap of 2.35 metres. to fulfi l my target,” Barshim had said Best Female Athlete: Farida Osman, Egypt (Swimming) Fahad al-Sabah and held for the fi rst The 26-year-old, whose 2.43m best after his London success. Best Male Athlete: Chad Le Clos, South Africa time in Bangkok in 2014. is the second-highest in history after Later, he told Gulf Times, “It (Swimming) The winners of each award were se- Cuban Javier Sotomayor’s 2.45 set al- was very important (to go past that America lected by the ANOC Jury from a short- most a quarter of a century ago, has Sotomayor barrier). It will give me an Best Female Athlete: Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela list provided by each of the continental won silver and bronze at the last two extra push the next time I line up to (Triple Jump) Best Male Athlete: Trinidad and Tobago associations. Continental associations Olympics and silver in the 2013 World write more history. I want my name 4x400m relay team were asked to monitor athletes’ per- Championships. to be mentioned at the mere mention Europe formances across the international At the London World Champion- of high jump. And that will only hap- Best Female Athlete: Sarah Sjostrom, Swe- federations’ World Championships, ships, he blew away the opposition. He pen by quality jumps and by breaking den (Swimming) Best Male Athlete: Marcel Hirscher, Austria World Cups and Grand Prix events qualifi ed without a single failed jump records.” His coach Stanislaw Szczyr- (Alpine Skiing) Title clash: Tarek Momen (L) and Mohamed El Shorbagy. Gulf Times 2 Friday, November 3, 2017 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOCUS What’s going wrong at Chelsea? Spurs stun Real 3-1, sacked. “What’s gone wrong AFP London for Chelsea? One word: Matic,” Neville told BBC radio.