Deschamps keen to lead France into 2022 World Cup PAGE 19 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 Xavi visits Generation Amazing programme QATAR CUP BASKETBALL in India, kicks off pitch construction PAGE 19 AL WAKRA VS AL ARABI (6 PM) Quick read Japan Olympic chief Gymnastics World Cup action to step down TOKYO: The head of Japan’s Olympic Com- mittee said on Tuesday at Aspire Dome from today he would step down in June, as French au- VINAY NAYUDU thorities probe his involvement DOHA in payments made before Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer WITH an eye on 2020 Tokyo Games. “Considering the future Olympics, as many as 188 of the JOC, I think the most ap- gymnasts including some of propriate thing is to leave things the world’s leading stars will to a new leader from the next swing into big action at the generation so that they can host state-of-the-art Aspire Dome the Olympics and carve a new in Doha from Wednesday with era,” Tsunekazu Takeda told a the start of the 12th FIG Artis- meeting of the Japanese Olympic tic Gymnastics World Cup. Committee (JOC) in Tokyo. He The four-day event – which said his decision had “nothing is a qualification event for the to do with the investigation”. 2020 Tokyo Olympics – will The 71-year-old said he would feature a total of 128 men and also be stepping down from the 60 women artistic gymnasts International Olympic Committee. from 57 countries. Takeda has come under pressure Several gymnasts have al- not to seek an additional term ready been practicing at the when his current mandate ends venue for the past few days in June after it was revealed that and are keen to put up their French authorities believe they best show. have evidence of corruption in Among those who are aim- the awarding of the 2020 Games ing to seal an Olympic berth to Tokyo. (AFP) besides picking up medals also include world champions Xiao Ruoteng and Zou Jingy- Ashes 2019: England uan of China, and Dutch Epke and Australia shirts Zonderland. 4-Day Show to feature player Among the youngsters The four-day event – which names & numbers Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo, who became his coun- is a qualification event for the try’s first medal-winner at 2020 Tokyo Olympics – will the World Championships in feature a total of 128 men Doha last October, will be the and 60 women artistic cynosure of all eyes. The tal- gymnasts from 57 countries. ented Filipino took the floor honours with a score of 14.566 at the Melbourne edition. LONDON: For the first time in Lee Chih-kai of the Chi- 142 years of Test cricket, play- nese Taipei, who won the A gymnast at one of the training halls at the Aspire Dome ahead of the 12th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha on Monday. ers’ shirts will feature their name bronze in pommel horse here and squad number when England at the Worlds, can also uncork host Australia in this summer’s a surprise after his triumph Ashes. The change comes as in the same apparatus with part of the International Cricket 15.266 points last month. Council’s promotional plans for Romania’s 38-year-old the new World Test Champion- Marian Dragulescu will also be ship. The ICC wants to make back to compete with a young- Today’s Action cludes Yu Linmin, who fin- players more easily identifiable er generation of athletes. ished third behind Oksana in to encourage greater engage- Qatar’s Ahmed al Daya- Men’s Qualifications for Apparatus Finals Melbourne. ment in Test cricket. Names and ni, Ahmed Mosa and Raslan (FX-PH-R) 3.30pm to 7.30pm Double world champion Women’s Qualifications for Apparatus Finals numbers have long been used Saoud, who will make his (VT-UB) 4.30pm to 7.30pm Fan Yilin added to her grow- for limited over and domestic debut as a senior in a major ing list of international medals cricket. The only minor change competition, will be the local when she won the uneven bars to Test shirts came in 2001 attractions. appearance at the Games, will title final, also in Melbourne. when England introduced a small Ferhat Arican, who became also be competing in Doha. Ahead of the opening debut cap number under the the first Turkish male gymnast One can gauge her commit- day of the World Cup, Qatar Three Lions crest, other teams after 108 years to compete at ment and form from her recent Gymnastics Federation Pres- then following suit. The world’s the 2016 Rio Olympics, will success which included a silver ident and Head of Organis- top nine sides will take part in also hope to pick up a medal in the vault at the Melbourne ing Committee Ali al Hitmi the new championships over two on parallel bars. Qatar gymnasts Raslan Saoud, Ahmed Mosa and Ahmed al Dayani with coach Oleg. leg of FIG Individual Appara- said the Doha leg will see the years, with the Ashes the first Unlike other gymnasts, tus World Cup last month. largest participation in the Test series to be included – the world horizontal bar champi- of last year - and now Baku, Baku, the pressure is off me Individual Apparatus World Oksana lost to South Ko- history of the tournament top two teams will meet in the on Zonderland will be under Olympic qualification goal is now. And that’s nice. This is a Cup in Baku last Saturday, has rea’s Yeo Seo-jeong in a repeat after the 2018 World Artistic final in 2021. The first Ashes less pressure, with the London almost achieved. I also fin- giant step towards the Tokyo already said that she’s aiming of last year’s Asian Games vault Gymnastics Championships, Test begins at Edgbaston on 1 2012 Olympic gold medallist ished second in Melbourne last Games,” he said. for another superlative perfor- final in Jakarta (INA), but Yeo’s which witnessed impressive August. with Australia the current in touching distance of quali- month. You receive 30 points Meanwhile, Oksana Chu- mance in Doha. total was just 0.066 higher than success in October, especial- holders having won the 2017/18 fying for the Olympics. per win. Out of the maximum sovitina of Uzbekistan, who The world’s oldest Olympi- this ‘mother of one’. ly since it was the first time series 4-0. (AGENCIES) “After my victory in Cott- number of 90 points, I now just won a silver in the wom- an at 43, Chusovitina is target- China will field a five- the tournament was held in bus (Germany) – at the end have 85 in my pocket. After en’s vault final at the FIG ART ing her record eighth Olympic member team that also in- the Middle East. Bring on the World Cup, we fear no one: Afghan spin king Khan AFP League (IPL) begins at the said Khan, who cost Hyderabad against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. to play cricket in a country rav- DEHRADUN weekend, Khan said Aghani- $597,000 in 2017 and took 21 The world took notice when aged by war for decades. stan’s cricketers now need only wickets for them last year. he became the fastest bowler While many of the Af- TRAILBLAZING bowler Rashid to believe in themselves. “And then you perform to 100 ODI wickets, complet- ghanistan’s players learnt the Khan said Afghanistan will fear “We have the talent and we there on flat wickets like the ing the milestone in 44 games, game in refugee camps across no one when the World Cup have the skills,” he told AFP in IPL and that gives you a kind of eight fewer than Australia’s the border in Pakistan, Khan starts in May after a maiden an interview. satisfaction and confidence that Mitchell Starc. He now has 123 played with his seven brothers Test win enhanced the reputa- At last year’s Asia Cup, Af- I can deliver when I am in the in 57 matches. to hone his skills. tion of the rising cricket nation. ghanistan made a breakthrough national side.” Khan says the key to his suc- “It was tough because of Khan, who is one of the by topping their group in the Khan has travelled the world cess is that he focuses only on the lack of facilities. No good world’s leading bowlers in short- 50-over competition ahead of to take part in Twenty20 leagues practising and playing despite grounds and equipment. But we form cricket, said Afghanistan’s established Test nations Bangla- including Australia’s Big Bash, bearing the huge expectation still enjoyed our cricket,” said confidence was growing after desh and Sri Lanka. the Caribbean Premier League that he will take wickets every Khan with a smile. beating Ireland on Monday in “How we played in the Asia Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (right) during the Test against Ireland in and the Pakistan Super League. time he bowls. “We never put it in our mind just their second Test match. Cup was totally different and the northern Indian city of Dehradun on Sunday. (AFP) “It really helps to improve “I don’t put that pressure that we don’t have facilities or The 20-year-old leg-spin- we showed that we can beat any your skills working with differ- on myself. I keep trying to en- stuff like that and tried to focus ner, who tops the world Twen- side,” said Khan, whose side War-torn Afghanistan credits fast-paced Twenty20 ent coaches and players,” he joy myself.