Stars Rossi and Vinales Express Disappointment
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www.facebook.com/QatarTribune Kohli anger as India ‘completely www.instagram.com/qatar_tribune outplayed’ in New Zealand www.twitter.com/Qatar_Tribune PAGE 14 TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020 Shot put champs Kovacs and Crouser to go head-to-head in Doha For the first time in its 22- IAAF Wanda Diamond League is year history, the Wanda Dia- mond League in Doha will be scheduled at QSC on April 17 held over two days across two different venues. The Qatar TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Olympic champion with a life- Sports Club will host the main DOHA time best of 22.90m. programme, but in an innova- The American pair, who tive development, the men’s IN a much-anticipated re- were separated by only one cen- high jump – featuring world match following the greatest timetre at the 2019 World Ath- champion Mutaz Barshim – shot put competition ever, letics Championships in Doha, will take place at the Amphithe- world champion Joe Kovacs made history in an extraordi- atre of the Katara Cultural Vil- and world silver medalist Ryan nary final which produced three lage on the evening of 16 April. Crouser will go head-to-head of the seven best throws ever. The 2020 Wanda Dia- in the Doha for the opening Joe Kovacs said: “Last mond League comprises 14 of the IAAF Wanda Diamond year’s World Athletics Cham- meetings - commencing with League on 17 April at the Qatar pionships final was unbeliev- Doha - leading to a single fi- Sports Club. able, and unforgettable. The nal at the end of the season. Kovacs, also world cham- depth of competition was in- Ryan Crouser, who won the Doha Diamond League shot put in 2019, Joe Kovacs, world champion in Beijing 2015, and runner-up in London Each meeting will be broad- pion in Beijing 2015, and run- credible, and I hope that we is defending Olympic champion with a lifetime best of 22.90m. 2017, is an Olympic silver medalist with a lifetime best of 22.91m. cast globally in a fast-paced ner-up in London 2017, is an can continue that momentum 90-minute programme. Olympic silver medalist with a through 2020. strong group of athletes we 22.90m at the World Champi- 22.60m at the US Indoors. head with Joe in Doha. Simi- Tickets for the Doha lifetime best of 22.91m. “I’m excited to be opening can really motivate one anoth- onships and I hope that I can “It’s important to build lar to what’s happening in the Diamond League are avail- Crouser, who won the my Wanda Diamond League er in this Olympic year.” build on that in the early part confidence and consistency at pole vault this year, I’m sure able at: https://www.q-tick- Doha Diamond League shot season in Doha, especially Ryan Crouser added: “I fin- of the summer season, espe- this time of year and I’m look- we can bring the best out of ets.com/iaaf/eventdetails. put in 2019, is defending alongside Ryan. With such a ished my year off on a high with cially after a solid opener of ing forward to going head-to- one another.” aspx?k1=bmuk7ZHWVwY= Stars Rossi and Vinales Global sport heavily disrupted express disappointment by coronavirus TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Qatar I really wanted to start AFP called in Paris on Monday. DOHA with the first race. PARIS The virus has killed more “The MotoGP class can- than 3,000 people world- MONSTER Energy Yamaha’s Moto2 & Moto3 races at Qatar GP to go on as scheduled cellation for Qatar is difficult THE coronavirus is disrupt- wide, mainly in China, and its seven-time world champion news to take, also for the fans, ing sport around the world effects are being felt across Valentino Rossi and teammate because now we do not know with the Moto Grand Prix the global economy. Maverick Vinales expressed how long we will have to wait in Qatar and Thailand post- Sport is no exception. disappointment at the can- before we can start racing. It is poned, and a host of football In Italy, the European cellation of the Premier Class certainly a long time, consid- matches put off to a later country with the highest racing in the season-opening ering the next GP in Thailand date and increasing con- number of deaths at 34, the round in Qatar. has been postponed for all cerns surrounding the To- outbreak wreaked havoc with The Qatar Grand Prix, the classes. I hope everything will kyo Olympics later this year. Serie A football matches at only night race on the Mo- get better in the next weeks,” The Swiss football league the weekend. toGP calendar at the floodlit the Italian legend added. on Monday suspended all Six games were post- Lusail International Circuit, Vinales, who turned out Super League and second- poned, including the clash scrapped the highest class to be the quickest rider during division Challenge League between defending cham- due to restrictions on travel- the Qatar test, was a bit upset matches until March 23 as pions Juventus and title ri- lers from Italy by the Qatar at missing out on the opportu- part of efforts to contain the vals Inter Milan in Turin, government following the out- nities to race on his favourite spread of the Coronavirus. originally scheduled to be the break of coronavirus. tracks. “It‘s a shame that the “This Monday, at a meet- showpiece match on Sunday With six riders on the Mo- Qatar GP has been cancelled ing, all 20 clubs in the Swiss evening. toGP grid being Italians and for us and that the Thai GP has Football League (SFL) ... de- The Italian government the majority of the partici- been postponed, because these cided to suspend the champi- has signed a decree that stops pating teams having bases in are tracks that I really like, and I onships until March 23,” the sporting activity in the north- Italy, the decision has forced Moto2 riders during the Qatar test at the Lusail International Circuit on Sunday. think that I‘m very strong there. league said in a statement. ern regions that have been the race organisers to strike “We finished the Qatar test The league referred to a worst hit by the virus until off the highest class. Revised Qatar Grand Prix Schedule with very positive feelings. I government decision taken March 8, unless it is held be- The Moto2 and Moto3 also feel sorry for the fans in on Friday to suspend all hind closed doors. races will however go on ac- THURSDAY 5 MARCH 2020 Qatar and Thailand, who must events with more than 1,000 That decision means an- cording to the schedule this 10:00-17:00 Moto2 & Moto3 Technical Control be disappointed. But I fully participants until March 15. other five matches next week weekend as their riders and 12:30 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup riders’ briefing (Press Conf.) understand the critical situa- One of the early races in can only go ahead if played in teams are already in Qatar for 13:15 Media Opportunity: Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup group photo tion we are experiencing with the Formula One season, the empty stadiums. the pre-season testing, which (Grid) the coronavirus. Shanghai Grand Prix on April The Italian league has ended on Sunday. 13:15 Moto3 class riders’ briefing (Press Conf.) “We hope the situation re- 19, has already been post- called an emergency meeting Not only the MotoGP race 14:00 Media Opportunity: Moto3 class group photo (Starting Grid) turns to normal as soon as pos- poned although organisers for Wednesday in which dis- at the Qatar round is affected 14:00 Moto2 class riders’ briefing (Press Conf.) sible so that we can start the say the season-opening race cussions will be held on how due to the coronavirus, the 14:45 Media Opportunity: Moto2 class group photo (Starting Grid) World Championship soon.” in Australia on March 15 will to manage the fixture chaos. second OR Thailand Grand 15:00 First time riders’ briefing (EMC Room) “The decision to cancel go ahead as planned. Football in Asia has been Prix March 20 to 22, has also 15:45-16:00 BMW M Media Laps The Lusail International Circuit. the MotoGP class was cer- Olympic chiefs are meet- massively disrupted, with been postponed. The FIM, 16:15-17:30 Track Technical Test tainly not taken lightly, nor ing on Tuesday and Wednes- the start of Japan’s J-League IRTA, and Dorna are currently 18:00 Track Safety Inspection 13:50-14:30 Moto2 Free Practice 3 11:30 Track Inspection was the postponement of the day in Lausanne to discuss postponed till mid-March evaluating if an alternative 18:00-19:30 Riders Track Familiarisation 14:45-15:30 BMW M Laps Thai GP an easy call to make the impact of the virus on and a hugely rearranged fix- date will be possible. In case 16:10 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup Race 1 (14 laps) for the Thai government, but preparations for the sum- ture list for the continental the second round doesn’t hap- FRIDAY 6 MARCH 2020 17:05-17:20 Moto3 Qualifying 1 the growing concern about mer Games in Tokyo, and to competitions. pen, the MotoGP riders are 12:30-13:10 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup Free Practice 1 17:30-17:45 Moto3 Qualifying 2 the spread of the coronavirus address the unthinkable – Rugby officials will gather likely to start the season in the 13:25-14:05 Moto3 Free Practice 1 11:50 Medical Inspection 18:00-18:15 Moto2 Qualifying 1 should be taken very seriously.