SPORT Wednesday 16 January 2019 PAGE | 07 PAGE | 09 Harden scores Top seed Simona season-high Halep digs deep for 57 as Rockets opening win down Grizzlies Down Under Paris Saint-Germain’s players hold up a banner that reads, ‘Thank you to all our fans in Qatar’ following their winter training session at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Qatar 2022 will be an ‘excellent’ Neymar eyes slice World Cup: PSG coach Tuchel of ‘history’ ARMSTRONG VAS PSG’s German coach Thomas Tuchel looks on during the THE PENINSULA team’s winter training camp in Doha, yesterday. Connecting with in Qatar Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Thomas Tuchel while fans is important, praising the state-of-the-art RIZWAN REHMAT facilities at Aspire Academy says Mbappe THE PENINSULA is confident that Qatar will deliver an ‘excellent’ World Feared striker Neymar is looking forward to Cup in less than four years. THE PENINSULA leading Brazil to glory at the 2022 FIFA World “It’s a pleasure to be here DOHA Cup to be held in Qatar. (in Doha), sun is shining all Neymar, who currently plays for French the time. People make sure Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe is happy giants PSG, was last night speaking to the media the visiting teams are pro- and thrilled that he and his team-mates got an oppor- after a training session at the Khalifa Interna- vided with excellent condi- tunity to connect with fans in Doha. tional Stadium. tions to play and practice. I PSG’s Brazillian “It’s exciting here (in Qatar) and everywhere to PSG are in Qatar on a five-day winter am very sure and hopefully it forward Neymar meet fans. I think it’s important to have contact with training camp and yesterday's training was con- will be a nice and challenging attending your fans. Not only here, but around the world. They ducted at one of the venues to be used at the World Cup. I am eagerly yesterday’s have the chance to come to the training session and 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. awaiting it and it will be nice, training session. it is open to them. So it was an opportunity for us to "I'm very happy (as) this is my first time in only three years time,” said spend some time together,” the Frenchman said in this stadium," Neymar said yesterday. the German, while speaking an interview on the club website. "The temperatures are so wonderful and to journalists here The French champions, who are on a four-day the fans here are amazing," the heavily-tat- yesterday. winter tour to Qatar to prepare for the second half tooed Brazilian forwarded added. Tuchel is on a four-day of the season, yesterday meet local fans during an "It is a great feeling to train in a stadium visit to Qatar with the French open training session at the Khalifa International that will host the 2022 World Cup (matches)," champions as they prepare Stadium, a venue for the 2022 World Cup. Neymar, 26, said after the training session for the second half of the Mbappe said PSG is a ‘young club’ which is watched by more than 5,000 fans at the Khalifa season in Doha. ‘growing’ on and off the field. International Stadium. The PSG tactician is “PSG is a young club that wants to develop itself. The former Barcelona star said he is looking delighted that the FIFA show- Of course, that firstly comes on the pitch, but also in forward to leading the charge for Brazil, piece event of 2022 will be in terms of marketing. That’s what ‘growing’ means, in winners of five World Cup trophies. winter season and he is every sense of the word. It’s about sport, that’s the "I am excited to represent my country in eagerly looking forward to it. most important aspect, but also marketing. PSG have (the) 2022 (FIFA World Cup) and to write new “The weather conditions understood that.” history of Brazil," Neymar said. at the World Cup will be very The Frenchman is happy with the way the Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarter-finals excellent as it will be in training sessions have been progressing in at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. winter. So big challenge for Qatar. Neymar said PSG - under coach Thomas PSG players with the students everybody and we all are “The weather is good, hot, the sun is out...that’s Tuchel - are ready to resume Champions of Doha’s PSG Academy. looking forward to that and I a bit of a change! We’re taking part in a number of League battle next month. am pretty sure Qatar will host marketing activations, interviews, and - of course - The French giants take on Manchester an excellent world Cup.” been here, I can tell you that been using for the last couple training, because we have a game to prepare against United in the round of 16 in February. Speaking further, the it is a friendly place so people of days during their winter Guingamp at the Parc des Princes on Saturday,” "We are here in Qatar to prepare for the 45-year-old trainer who are welcoming, everybody is tour. He said his team-mates are putting in a lot of upcoming matches and challenges, especially joined PSG from Germany open and very friendly,” he “Exceptional and work on the training pitch. in the Champions League because our oppo- club Dortmund said people added. incredible. This is the best “We have to prepare for the games to come. We nents are strong," Neymar said. have been very friendly in The former defender also pitch I’ve ever seen. The started 2019 without a lot of training, because the "But we are also have a strong team that Qatar to him and his team heap praises on the excellent academy is incredible and it games came around quickly. Now, we have a bit can go really far," the Brazilian added after players and officials. infrastructure at the Aspire offers excellent and amazing more time, so we’re going to take advantage of that meeting a group of young fans yesterday. “From the time i have Academy, which his team has opportunities,” he said. to work,” he added. Neymar's fellow striker Kylian Mbappe, who powered France to 2018 FIFA World Cup glory in Russia last summer, said the team was enjoying their stay in Qatar. Fans take selfies "The weather is good, hot, the sun is out... Al Attiyah extends Dakar Rally with Toyota’s Qatari that's a bit of a change! We're taking part in a driver Nasser Saleh number of marketing activities, interviews, and lead with another stage win Al Attiyah at the end - of course - training because we have a game of the Dakar Rally to prepare against Guingamp at the Parc des Stage 7 around San Princes on Saturday," Mbappe told the club Juan de Marcona, in website. Peru, on Monday. Al "We have to prepare for the games to come. Attiyah impressed by We started 2019 without a lot of training winning eighth stage because the games came around quickly. Now of this year’s event, we have a bit more time so we're going to take his 34th in the Dakar advantage of that to work," the 20-year-old Rally. Al Attiyah French forward added. currently occupies Owned by Qatar, PSG have spent a busy time in Doha the last two days visiting Al the overall lead, Wakrah Stadium, heading out to the desert 46.29 minutes ahead besides launching their Academy at Qatar of the second-placed Foundation on Monday. PSG arrived in Qatar Spanish driver Nani on Sunday and head out back to Paris Roma. tomorrow. 08 SPORT WEDNESDAY 16 JANUARY 2019 Murray’s agony: Nishikori feels sorry for opponent ‘It’s so sore I even hate after surviving scare in first round walking the dogs’ AFP AFP Japan’s Kei Nishikori throws MELBOURNE MELBOURNE his racquet after losing a point against Poland’s Kamil Andy Murray has opened up Kei Nishikori survived a Majchrzak during their men’s I have to say he had about the personal agony of his dramatic Australian Open first- singles first round match battered right hip after losing round match yesterday after it today. He played an epic Australian Open five- of the Australian Open, very well and it was his Polish qualifier opponent yesterday. setter, saying he can’t even retired with cramp in the unfortunate how it enjoy simple pleasures like searing Melbourne heat having finished. I didn’t do walking his dogs. raced to a shock two-set lead. anything, but he was The Scot fought to the bitter Eighth seed Nishikori of hurt and I feel sorry for end in what could prove his final Japan won 3-6, 6-7 (6/8), 6-0, match before losing a four-hour 6-2, 3-0 but the scoreline fails him: Nishikori thriller to 22nd seed Roberto to tell the story of world Bautista Agut on Monday night. number 176 Kamil Majchrzak’s He now faces a heart- torrid end to the match. the fifth set leaving Nishikori wrenching dilemma -- having Majchrzak had never to thank his lucky stars he to decide over the next week before played in a Tour-level made it through. whether to battle on through the event other than Davis Cup ties “I was trying to play but he pain for an emotional farewell but showed no sign of nerves was playing amazing tennis (in at Wimbledon or undergo major against Nishikori, who won his the first two sets),” said surgery knowing it may mean 12th ATP Tour at the Brisbane Nishikori, who has previously he can never play tennis again.