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SPORT Tuesday 2 May 2017 PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Federer says No edge for Real Joshua, with heavyweight he plans to play att in all-Madrid clash, title, may make French Open says Zidane boxing must-see TV Qatar clinch first major cricket We made a lot of preparations for this tournament and our only target was to clinch the title. All the players showed trophy and get ICC promotion attitude and tried to play their part throughout the Fawad Hussain competition for the title between tournament: Qatar The Peninsula us and Saudi Arabia, throughout Captain Inam Ul Haq the event,” Qatar vice-captain atar yesterday got a Mohammed Rizlan told The huge breakthrough in Peninsula. their bid to become a “The best part of our cam- major cricketing nation paign was that we didn’t lose Qwhen they won the hope after an upset against Bah- seven-nation International Cricket rain. We kept believing that we Council’s (ICC) World Cricket can win the title and eventually League Asia Division 1 event in we made it happen,” added Riz- The best part of our Thailand with a brave run chase lan who was adjudged the campaign was that in their final match. Best-Wicket-keeper-of-the- we didn’t lose hope The maiden ICC trophy for Tournament. after an upset Qatar came after an impressive “This title has given us a lot run of form by Al Anabi, who won of confidence and motivation to against Bahrain. We five of their six matches at the ICC- do well in the future tourna- kept believing that sanctioned tournament. ments,” he said. we can win the title The title-triumph - which Qatar national cricket team players and officials pose for a photograph after winning the Qatar, after being promoted and eventually we came after Qatar beat Saudi Ara- International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Cricket League Asia Division 1 tournament in Chiang Mai, to Division 5, will now head to made it happen: Thailand. The title-triumph - which came after Qatar beat Saudi Arabia by five wickets yesterday bia by five wickets yesterday - also South Africa in September where Vice-Captain gave the men in maroon a pro- - also gave the men in maroon a promotion to ICC Division 5. they will be up against teams motion to ICC Division 5. including Italy, Guernsey, Jersey, Mohammed Rizlan Despite their dominating faced an uphill task against other basis of net run-rate for the title, target was to clinch the title. All Vanuatu, Cayman Islands and show in the 12-day event, Qatar title contenders Saudi Arabia in Qatar lost their top order soon in the players showed attitude and Ghana while a team from Europe their last match, needing a huge search of quick runs and were tried to play their part through- is yet to be determined. ROAD TO HISTORICAL victory against them to attain a reeling on 4-24 at one stage before out the tournament. “This title is a huge step TITLE- TRIUMPH better net run-rate yesterday. Tamoor Sajjad and Zaheer Ibra- “It’s purely a team effort and towards becoming a good side in The Saudis, who survived a him launched the rescue if we continue to play like this international cricket,” said the Qatar beat Kuwait by 150 runs scare against hosts Thailand in mission. then I am sure this win will fol- Qatar Rugby, Hockey and Cricket Qatar beat Bhutan by 214 runs their previous game winning it by Sajjad, the Man-of-the-Match, low more triumphs in the future,” Federation’s (QRHCF) senior offi- This title is a huge Qatar beat Thailand by 60 runs just one wicket, showed nerves in guided his team to victory in 18.1 added the seasoned cial Manzoor Ahmed, who is the crunch tie and were bowled overs after scoring a gallant 28 all-rounder. accompanying the team. step towards Qatar lost to Bahrain by 52 runs becoming a good Qatar beat China by 265 runs out for just 94 in 43.3 overs after from 26 deliveries under Qatar defeated Kuwait by 214 “I’d say Qatar would not stop opting to bat against Qatar. pressure. runs in their opening game of the here and will keep striving to side in international Qatar beat Saudi Arabia by 5 wickets Al Anabi captain Inam Ul Haq Ibrahim lost his wicket after tournament and also registered advance at international stage. I cricket. I’d say Qatar and Mohammed Nadeem claimed smashing 25 but his contribution victories against Bhutan (60) and would also like to thank QRHCF WHAT’S NEXT FOR QATAR would not stop here three wickets each while Awais proved enough to lend Qatar their Thailand (60) in their next two President Youssef Jaham Al and will keep Malik and Mohammed Tanveer first major cricket trophy, with matches. Kuwari for his backing of the Qatar will play Division 5 tournament in secured a pair of wickets apiece five-wicket victory over Saudi They were heading the points national cricket team. striving to advance September in South Africa. to demolish the Saudi batting Arabia. table but an upset against Bah- “This team has the potential at international Italy, Guernsey, Jersey, Vanuatu, Cay- line-up. “It’s the happiest day of our rain (by 52 runs) put Saudi Arabia of becoming a good cricket side,” stage: Senior QRHCF man Islands and Ghana along with an- Mohsin Shabbir (23), Moham- lives as our constant struggle ahead in the title-race. Ahmed said. official Manzoor other European side will feature in the mad Afzal (22) and Inayat Saeed finally paid dividend,” Qatar cap- However, their next two wins Meanwhile, Saudi Arabi who Ahmed tournament. (17) were the notable scorers for tain Inam told The Peninsula from against China (by 265 runs) and also earned 10 points from five The winning side will be promoted to Saudi Arabia. Chiang Mai. Saudi Arabia (by 5 wickets) fol- wins had to be content with sec- Division 4. Needing the victory in only 23 “We did a lot of preparations lowed the triumph. ond position while Bahrain overs to overcome the Saudis on for this tournament and our only “It was a very tough finished third with 8 points. Al Attiyah to debut in new Ford Fiesta GCC Young Drivers Academy Dead Sea, Jordan The Peninsula atari star Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah will debut his Qnew Ford Fiesta R5 Evo 2 at this week’s FIA Jordan Rally, the second round of the FIA Middle East Rally Cham- pionship (MERC), taking place from May 4 to 6. The Qatari, who is bidding for a record-breaking 11th Young Qatari drivers Muftah Al Hamad and Khalifa Al Rabban pose victory in the Hashemite Kingdom’s premier motor for a photograph during the GCC Young Drivers Academy training sporting event, realises the Qatar's programme, jointly organised by Federation Internationale De importance of achieving a top Nasser L’Automobile (FIA), Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF), Qatar Motor finish at the Dead Sea after Saleh & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and the Automobile & Touring failing to finish the opening Al Attiyah Club of UAE (ATCUAE) in Dubai. BOTTOM: Young drivers take part round of the series in Qatar. in the training programme. Autotek Motorsport will run the car for the winner of RRC car. I guess the RRC is a driver Rakan Al Rashed. Run- Puhakka – found time to visit 63 MERC rallies and team detuned World Rally Car and is ning under the management the Dead Sea and enjoy some principal Ken Skidmore is rel- much stronger component wise. of former top Finnish star relaxation time in between ishing the challenge of “On smooth surfaces, we Jussi Vällimäki, the Lancer working on the Mitsubishi. continuing the Qatari’s win- expect the R5 cars to be faster has been re-prepared by the Al Rashed finished 49th on ning streak at the lowest place than the RRC but, of course, team at the Dead Sea over the his rallying debut on ice in Fin- on earth. when it gets rough, or if the last few days and Al Rashed land and will be hoping to “Nasser will use the new driver slips off the road, then will test for the first time reach the finish in Jordan on car, it’s one of only eight built the R5 is more fragile. The car today (Monday) with Finnish this occasion after an accident so far,” said Skidmore. has only recently been navigator Jarkko Kalliolepo. forced him out on the final day “The main difference homologated by the FIA.” Vällimäki and his crew, last year. between the R5 and the RRC Meanwhile, a Finnish who include chief mechanic The event gets underway (Regional Rally Car) is that the team will look after a Mitsubi- Risto Tuominen - a five-time with a new timed super spe- R5 has a 32mm air restrictor shi Lancer Evolution X for the winner of the Finnish Rally cial stage on the shores of the rather than the 30mm on the talented young Saudi Arabian Championship with Jouko Dead Sea on Thursday. SPORT TUESDAY 2 MAY 2017 25 Diamond League: Qatar’s Budair aims to go extra mile The Peninsula close to 100 meters – it left a “I love competing against the big impression on me,” he greatest in the world,” he said, hmed Budair’s story is added. adding, “It’s the only way to unlike most javelin Ahmed’s natural talent was improve. Sometimes it’s good Athrowers. quickly identified and he soon to lose, as that is how you can The 21-year-old’s qualifi- joined Aspire Academy, a truly learn and grow as an ath- cation to the Rio 2016 Olympic world-class sport and educa- lete.