Russia banned from Olympics, major global sporting events over doping paGE 14 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 Lanka begin first Pakistan tour since 2009 Sri Lanka embark on first Test cricket tour of Pakistan in QATAR T20 LEAGUE 10 years following the deadly 2009 attack paGE 15 ASIA TOWN Barshim nominated for IOC Attiyah chosen for Monaco World athletes’ commission elections Sports Legends Award TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK selected by the athletes’ National DOHA Olympic Committees, also respon- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK one of the recipients of the sible for submitting a player’s candi- DOHA 2019 Monaco World QATAR’S world cham- dacy file. Sports Legends Award pion high jump athlete The IOC is set to announce the Qatar’s sports icon Nasser (WSLA). and Olympic cham- nominees for the voting process via Saleh al Attiyah’s impressive The annual pion, Mutaz Essa on social media platforms. The candi- list of achievements in motor- awards, also known as Sunday was nomi- dates have the right to show their vi- sport and shooting has found the Oscars of Sport, nated as a candidate sion and aspiration in these elections recognition from the inter- seeks to promote to repre- sent Qatar at the elec- through promotional campaign ran national community. sport’s ethical tions of International Olympic Com- by the athletes themselves. It is es- The three-time and moral values. mittee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission. sential that only the athletes them- Paris-Dakar winner, 15- It is presented to The IOC Athletes Commission’ selves are responsible in promoting time Middle-East Rally champions, both held on has been established to serve as their campaigns without interfer- champion and Olympic active and retired, December 7 at the Hotel an integral platform for athletes ence from their National Olympic bronze medallist who have gained distinc- Fairmont in Monte Carlo. around the world to voice their Committees, National Federations, in skeet will be tion not only for their Among the others who opinions, vision and challenges, or any sponsoring company. sporting exploits but have been chosen for this representing their respected coun- This regulation is set in place to also for their ability year’s awards are USA’s Mario tries. The IOC’s 2020 Olympic level the playing field and allow for a to inspire future Andretti (former F1 champion, agendas mainly focus on placing fair competition between nominated generations. Indycar and Nascar champion), the athletes at the forefront as the candidates. The awards Italy’s Loris Capirossi (three- perfect example representing the The athletes will keep running night time MotoGP world champion) Olympic movement. their promotional campaigns lead- will and Mexico’s Ana Guevara The athletes commission con- ing up to the 2020 Tokyo Summer be (former 400M world champion sists of world and Olympic athletes Olympic Games. and Olympic medallist). FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2019 : Kick off on Wednesday • Global giants to hopeful first-timers lock horns Septet, including Al Sadd, set sights on supremacy in Qatar AVING climbed to the highest football- ing peak their conti- ROLL OF nentsH provide, six champions HONOUR from each corner of the globe join Qatar’s finest in fighting ● Real Madrid (2014, for the title of world cham- 2016, 2017, 2018) pion. On December 21, the ● Barcelona (2009, 2011, FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 will climax with one of 2015) them hoisting the trophy af- ● Corinthians (2000, ter eight games pitting the best the planet has to offer. 2012) Ahead of kick-off at the ● Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Bayern Munich (2013) FIFA.com takes a closer look ● Inter Milan (2010) at what’s in store across 11 days of action in Doha. ● Manchester United (2008) In-form icons Liverpool and Flamengo ● AC Milan (2007) command two of the big- gest fanbases on the planet, ● Internacional (2006) with both all too used to see- ing passionate supporters ● Sao Paulo (2005) fill their respective and hal- lowed cathedrals of football. The duo will land in Qatar resent the OFC since 2010. as Europe and South Amer- They’re going to savour every ica’s best, honours that place moment. them as favourites – with the trophy yet to reside outside Returning hopefuls either continent. Host side Al Sadd are back They arrive fitting of their on the scene after coming out monikers, with both sides in on top in Asia 2011. Having scintillating form. While Fla- been eliminated at the semi- mengo are fresh from being final stage this time, their crowned Brazilian champi- Qatari title meant elimina- ons, suffering just one defeat tion wasn’t going to rob them since August, Liverpool at of their place at the finals. present sit eight points clear Hassan al Haydos (right), skipper of Al Sadd club during his team’s training session in Doha on Monday, ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2019 opening match against Hienghene Sport. With two-time winner Xavi at the top of the Premier steering the ship, home fans League, without defeat in the ful club are set to take their will hope his know-how can competition since January. opening bow at the Club do wonders. With attacking prowess World Cup. Monterrey and ES Tunis and intensity high on both However, their step onto are serial regulars, but are of their talented rosters, the the stage will be preceded by yet to clinch the final spot likes of Mohamed Salah, Ga- the entry of a much more far- they both yearn. Together briel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa, Virgil flung fresh face. Hienghene they’ve made it to the finals van Dijk and Bruno Henrique Sport were the first vis- seven times since 2011 – will will be certain to entertain iting side to land just 22 years old and this year be the one where it the global audience. in Qatar, hav- were crowned con- all comes together? ing travelled tinental cham- Debutants from near 13,000km pions on only A new name on and far from New their second ap- the trophy Al Hilal may have finished Caledonia pearance in the For the first time since Real top of the pile for the third to represent tournament, Madrid lifted the title in time in Asia – with this their Oceania as seeing them 2014, we will see a new name first time hoisting the AFC OFC Cham- spring onto the on the Club World Cup. Champions League aloft pions League global stage as Nine sides have tasted vic- since it began in 2002 – but Al Sadd coach and former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez (2nd right front row) during the FIFA Club World winners. the first non-New tory, who will be number ten? Saudi Arabia’s most success- Cup 2019 preparatory and co-ordination meeting in Doha on Monday. The club are Zealand side to rep- We shall know in Qatar soon. Sports Tuesday, December 10, 2019 13 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2020 Excitement builds ahead of star-studded draw in KL AFC/TNN many as six former AFC are poised to grace the eagerly line with the best practices in KUALA LUMPUR Champions League champi- anticipated draw. Ibrahim Al world football and reiterates the Al Sadd will be ons, which include Al Sadd SC, Ghanim, who featured promi- AFC’s commitment to strength- WITH Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal Korea Republic trio - Jeonbuk nently for Qatar and Al Ghara- en our competitions, as outlined AFC Champions League tri- representing Qatar in Hyundai Motors FC, Suwon fa, China PR and Guangzhou in our Vision and Mission.” umph still fresh in the minds of the next edition of Samsung Bluewings and Ul- Evergrande ace Gao Lin and Among this year’s debu- fans throughout the Continent, san Hyundai FC - as well as ex-Japan and Urawa Red Dia- tants in the group stage are the anticipation is now build- the Asian Football China PR’s Guangzhou Ever- monds star Keisuke Tsuboi newly crowned Thai League 1 ing towards the AFC Champi- Conferation grande FC, will discover their will lend their star credentials champions, Chiangrai United ons League 2020 Group Stage Champions League opponents in what promises to as draw ambassadors. who narrowly missed out on draw, which will take place at be a historic 2020 AFC Cham- AFC General Secretary the 2019 edition after losing to the AFC House in Kuala Lum- 2020 competition pions League campaign. Dato’ Windsor John said: Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima pur, Malaysia at 4:30pm (local having won the Raising the stakes, the up- “The AFC Champions League in the final play-off round. time) on Tuesday. 2018-19 QNB Stars coming edition will present continues to be the ultimate Surprise packages in the An Al Sadd delegation con- the ultimate winners, should club stage for our players and 2019 UAE Pro League, Sharjah, sisting of first team officer Mo- League title. they not qualify through their teams to shine. And its popu- who clinched their first domes- hammed Saeed al Hassan and domestic league, with an add- larity was exemplified in 2019 tic title in nearly 25 years, are media officer Ahmed al Ansari ed incentive of a guaranteed with the rise of television poised to make their maiden will be attending the draw. Al spot in the Preliminary/Play- viewership and new engage- appearance alongside 2019 A- Sadd will represent Qatar in off stage of the 2021 season. ment records set across all the League Premiers, Perth Glory, the next edition of the compe- Adding to the anticipa- AFC’s digital platforms. who will be hoping to emulate tition having won the 2018-19 tion and excitement, some of “The decision to enable the Western Sydney Wanderers’ QNB Stars League title.