SA paceman Anrich Nortje claims career-best 6-56 to destory Sri Lanka MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 in Jo’burg PAGE 14 World judokas set to converge in Qatar for IJF Doha Masters 2021 Tokyo Olympics qualifying event to begin Jan 11 TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA PREPARATIONS are in top gear as Qatar is once again set to host the world at the Inter- national Judo Federation (IJF) Doha Masters 2021 from Janu- ary 11 to 13 at the ultra-modern Multipurpose Hall at Lusail. The 2020 Tokyo Games qualifying event will feature 370 athletes - 203 male and Some of the judokas set for Doha at one of world’s airports. 167 female - from 68 countries representing five continental a lively and dynamic place world. Now here we are, willing federations namely the Afri- to discover and stage high- to continue our lives and con- can Judo Union, Judo Union performance events. We are tinue to promote our beloved of Asia, and European Judo very grateful to our highest au- sport, without anything or any- Union, Oceania Judo Union thorities for all their continued one preventing us,” he said. and Pan-American Judo Con- backing,” Al Muraikhi added. “In that regard, I would federation. France’s Teddy Riner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and ten-time world champion in the +100kg, is one of the stars featuring in IJF Doha The Doha Masters precedes like to thank the commitment The event is also part of the Masters 2021 — one of the qualifying events for Tokyo2020. the World Championships of the Qatar Judo Federation, World Judo Tour. The tourna- which Qatar will host in 2023. whose effort has been enor- ment will feature competition judoka, male or female, to do 48 kg division, and Belgium’s kg event at the 2019 African the strictest health protocols Al Muraikhi thanked the mous, ensuring everything is in seven categories for both so). In his 13-year career as Matthias Casse - the World Games held in Rabat, Morocco to the athletes and officials IJF President Marius Vizer ready on time. The Masters is, men and women. a professional judoka, Riner No.1 in -81kg and the 2019 Eu- is also set to strut her stuff at taking part in the prestigious for “his continuous support therefore, ready to begin! For the men, participants was only defeated eight times ropean Games gold medalist. the tournament. event. The safety of everyone and trust in allocating the or- The Doha Masters is a vital will contest in the -60kg, in elite international champi- Other stars on the list in- Qatar LOC director Eid is our topmost priority, and all ganisation of the Doha Mas- qualifying tournament for the -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, onships. clude Clarisse Agbegnenou Al Muraikhi said, “We are de- measures will not be spared, ters event and the 2023 World Tokyo Olympic Games, with -100kg and +100kg categories Also on the cards are Idalys of France - the 2016 Olympic lighted to welcome the world in partnership with the health Championships” to Qatar. the crème de la crème of the while the women will be in ac- Ortiz of Cuba - the 2012 Olym- silver medalist and four-time to Doha once again. We are ex- authorities, to ensure an inci- Meanwhile, Vizer praised World Judo Tour battling to tion in the -48kg, -52kg, -57kg, pic gold medalist in the +78kg world champion in the -63 kg tremely proud of being the host dent-free tournament. Qatar’s enthusiasm and com- earn the valuable points. -63kg, -70kg, -78kg and +78kg female category, Japan’s female category, and Egypt’s of this important tournament “We are quite aware that mitment to sports despite the “It will happen in Doha, a categories. Soichi Hashimoto - world No.1 Ramadan Darwish - a six-time which is a qualifying event for we need to put in a lot of effort complications stemming from place tied firmly to its history Top on the list of stars in the lightweight division and African champion in -100kg the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo to meet the specific needs and the COVID-19 pandemic. but that bets on the future, featuring in Doha is France’s four-time World Champion- and a bronze medalist at the Games. The tournament is expectations of all our stake- “As you all know, this is a with its avant-garde architec- Teddy Riner – a two-time ships gold medalist, Ukraine’s 2009 World Championship happening in an unusual time holders. We are very pleased to complicated year. The corona- ture, its green spaces and its Olympic gold medalist and Daria Bilodid - the 2019 World in Rotterdam. Tunisia’s Ni- occasioned by the global COV- welcome our best judokas and virus pandemic has forced us desire to be a hub of culture, ten-time world champion in Champion and the 2019 Eu- hel Cheikh Rouhou - the gold ID 19 pandemic. Still, Qatar guests in our hospitable city of all to modify established plans sports and business. This is the +100kg (the first and only ropean gold medalist in the medalist in the women’s +78 is more than ready to provide Doha. Doha has always been for the good of judo and the Doha!,” said Vizer. Defending champion Sainz wins first Dakar stage, Attiyah suffers one flat tyre to end up a steady 10th AFP/TNN fledgling standings, foranoth - First Stage Results BISHA (SAUDI ARABIA) er luminary of the rally world the 2021 Dakar had barely be- From Jeddah to Bisha: Auto DEFENDING champion Car- gun before it was all but over. 1. Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (ESP/ESP/Mini) 3 h 05:56 los Sainz won the first stage Nine-time world rally 2. Stephane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger (FRA/FRA/Mini) at 25 of the Dakar Rally on Sunday champion Sebastien Loeb in Saudi Arabia with the king- trails by more than 24 minutes 3. Martin Prokop/Viktor Chytka (CZE/CZE/Ford) 3:18 dom hosting motorsport’s after a day to forget. 4. Mathieu Serradori/Fabian Lurquin (FRA/BEL/Century) 6:33 most punishing event for the “I’ve rarely had such a ter- 5. Yasir Seaidan/Alexey Kuzmich (KSA/RUS/Century) 8:10 second year since its move rible stage,” the Frenchman la- 6. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi/Xavier Panseri (UAE/FRA/Peugeot) 8:13 from South America. Mini’s Spanish drivers Carlos Sainz mented, after three punctures. 7. Giniel De Villiers/Alex Haro Bravo (RSA/ESP/Toyota) 8:59 The Spaniard, a three- of Spain concentrates before In the motorbike category 8. Nani Roma/Alexandre Winocq (ESP/FRA/Brx) 9:39 time Dakar winner, covered a driving session on the eve of Australian Toby Price began the 277km special between technical checkup in Jeddah. (AFP) his quest for a third crown 9. Jakub Przygonski/Timo Goettschalk (POL/GER/Toyota) 9:46 Jeddah and Bisha in his Mini in style, taking the first stage 10. Nasser Al Attiyah/Matthieu Baumel (QAT/FRA/Toyota) 12:34. Buggy in 3hr 18min 56sec. Speaking soon after the honours by more than half a Moto Sainz, whose son Carlos stage, Attiyah said, “It wasn’t minute from Argentine Kevin drives for Ferrari in Formula easy for us to open. We were Benavides (Honda) and his 1. Toby Price (AUS/Ktm) 3 h 18:26, 2. Kevin Benavides (ARG/Honda) at 31, One, finished 25sec ahead of Nasser Al Attiyah of Toyota Gazoo Racing Team durng shakedown. losing time but we did good KTM teammate, Matthias 3. Matthias Walkner (AUT/Ktm) 32, 4. Sam Sunderland (GBR/Ktm) 2:03, French teammate Stephane navigation, only one mistake Walkner of Austria. 5. Lorenzo Santolino (ESP/Sherco Factory) 4:23, Peterhansel after a gripping It wasn’t easy for us to open. We were losing time and then we had one flat tyre. But the opening day 6. Xavier De Soultrait (FRA/Husqvarna) 4:35, 7. Franco Caimi (ARG/Yamaha) 4:48, see-saw battle which record Our speed wasn’t that good proved tough going for reign- 8. Skyler Howes (USA/Ktm) 5:25, 9. Luciano Benavides (ARG/Husqvarna) 7:37 (penalty 1:00), 13-time champion Peterhan- but we did good navigation, only one mistake and then we but we understand, the stage ing champion Ricky Brabec, sel appeared to have won until had one flat tyre. Our speed wasn’t that good but we was quite difficult. Honda’s American rider who 10. Martin Michek (CZE/Ktm) 8:10. Selected: 24. Ricky Brabec (USA/Honda) 18:32. Sainz stormed home to deny understand, the stage was quite difficult. “There were too many trailed in almost 20 minutes his celebrated rival. rocks which I have never seen behind Price after losing his tween Bisha and Wadi Ad-Da- endurance challenge moved Czech Martin Prokop Nasser Al Attiyah but we tried to maintain a way in the early part of the wasir featuring the first taste of to Saudi Arabia for the first (Ford) completed the first steady speed and I am happy 277km special. racing in dunes. time last year after a decade in day’s car podium. his French co-driver Mat- that restricted their speed. to be here,” he added. Monday’s second stage sees Launched in 1979 between South America. Qatar’s three-time cham- thieu Baumel had to endure a They, however, finished tenth, While Sainz leads Peter- competitors covering 685km, Paris and the Senegalese The rally concludes back in pion Nasser Al Attiyah and tough stage with one flat tyre 12:34secs behind the leader. hansel by eight seconds in the including a 457km special, be- capital Dakar, the celebrated Jeddah on January 15.