SPORT Wednesday 31 October 2018 PAGE | 30 PAGE | 31 Federer arrives in Qatar’s Al Attiyah set Paris as Sousa lines up to defend regional Djokovic at the Masters title in Kuwait Team USA storms to 4th straight world title FAWAD HUSSAIN The victorious US women’s team members and an official celebrate on the podium during 48th THE PENINSULA Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Doha 2018 at the Aspire Dome yesterday. PICS: SYED OMAR DOHA: When it comes to women’s team battle in artistic gymnastics, there is no match for the United States. The Americans showed that to the world once again in Doha yesterday, as they comfortably clinched their fourth straight women’s team title by a record margin at the 48th edition of Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. Led by a superb performance by superstar Simone Biles at Aspire Dome, team USA never fell behind and looked like the winners right from the start. On Monday, the margin of victory for Chinese men over Russia in men’s team final was “We are very happy with the STANDINGS Brazil (159.830), who finished less than half point but it was not victory,” delighted Biles said yes- 7th ahead of bottom-placed the case in the women’s team terday after guiding her team to 1: USA - 171.629 Germany (159.428), had a first- final. USA won the title with a first gold medal at Doha Worlds. 2: Russia - 162.863 ever team medal at Worlds in lead of 8.766 points, the biggest “We as a team are doing a very 3: China - 162.396 their sights after they replaced margin of their six world team good job. It is a result of teamwork,” 4: Canada - 161.644 China following the third rotation. titles. she said. 5: France - 161.294 But their gymnasts failed to cope They amassed 171.629 points Biles, who went to hospital 6: Japan - 160.262 up with the pressure as China with Russia winning a silver with a kidney stone just hours 7: Brazil - 159.830 came back strongly. medal with a tally of 162.863. before women qualifiers on Friday, 8: Germany - 159.428 Canada finished fourth with China completed the podium was hoping to bag maximum a total of 161.644 points while with a bronze medal scoring number of gold medals in Doha. France (161.294) and Japan 162.396 points. All the top three “There is lot of nerves, hope- rotations, made a great comeback (160.262) finished on 5th and 6th teams confirmed their team fully I will do my best and see USA’s Simone Biles in action at in the final rotation to win bronze positions respectively. berths in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. where we stand (in the remaining the Aspire Dome yesterday. medal, after slipping to 7th in the Today, the title in men’s all- USA, which started with the events),” she said. penultimate rotation. around will be decided with vault and uneven bars led in all “It’s very exciting to be in Doha China’s Liu Tingting said her China’s world champion Xiao the four rotations at the final. and may be we’ll go out to explore making an international return medal. All the team members and team did not panic after falling Ruoteng and Russia’s Nagornyy Biles, a ten-time World places and communities,” she said. after 16 months, was amazing coaching staff put in a lot of behind. Nikita starting as favourites. The Championships and three-time Russia, which secured their particularly in uneven bars in effort,” said Mustafina. “I was confident that we can duo finished on the top two posi- Olympic gold medallist, gave USA 5th team medal at the Worlds which she scored 14.500, and Commenting on her Tokyo manage to fight back in the final,” tions respectively in the quali- a superb start tallying a whopping yesterday were also impressive received a well deserved Games plans, she said: “I am 65 Tingting said at a post-final press fying round. 15.50 in the vault. through the final. After they fin- applause from spectators. to 70 percent right now. Olympics conference. America’s Mikulak Samuel, She continued her consistent ished the first rotation on third Team Russia players were are very far and I would continue “We were banking on the who took third position in the performance marking - 14.866 position, they continued to happy to seize the silver medal to do my training and strength and confidence. I am preliminary round, will also start (uneven bars), 13.733 (balance occupy second spot till the final despite injury setbacks ahead of preparations.” happy that we have achieved among the top contenders as a beam) and floor (14.766) - in the routine. the World Championships. China, who ensured third third position and a berth in total of 24 gymnasts will compete remaining three routines. Star, Aliia Mustafina, who is “We are happy to win a position after the first two Olympics,” she added. in the final. Top seed El Shorbagy in Doha quarters ARMSTRONG VAS Egyptian world number one Mohamed El Shorbagy challenge yourself so I’ll be ready THE PENINSULA (left) in action against England’s Adrian Waller YESTERDAY’S RESULTS for it.” Rösner, the World No.5, during their third round match of the Qatar Classic saw off the threat of England’s DOHA: Egyptian Mohamed El yesterday. El Shorbagy won 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-7). Tom Richards to book his place Shorbagy will face Diego Elias of [8] Paul Coll (NZL) beat Borja Golan (ESP) 3-0 in the quarter-finals. Peru while German Simon Rösner (11-3, 12-10, 3-0 rtd) Rösner, who reached the will take on Paul Coll of New semi-final stage here twelve Zealand, in the quarter-finals of [4] Simon Rosner (GER) beat Tom Richards months ago in what was a break- the Qatar Classic here today. (ENG) 3-1 (11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7) through result for him, was at Also making it to the last eight time sluggish on court, but were three other Egyptians Tarek Diego Elias (PER) beat Mazen Hesham (EGY) managed to find enough in his Momen, Ali Farag and Karim 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-5) locker to prevail 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, Abdel Gawad while Welshman 11-7 and set up a last eight Joel Makin continued his [1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) beat Adrian encounter with Paul Coll of New impressive run in Qatar. Waller (ENG) 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-7) Zealand. At the Khalifa International Coll breezed into the last Tennis and Squash Complex, top eight at the 2018 Qatar Classic for [3] Tarek Momen (EGY) beat James Willstrop seed and World No.1 Shorbagy’s the first time in his career fol- (ENG) 3-1 (7-11, 11-0, 11-1, 11-7) march towards the retention of lowing the withdrawal of his third the PSA World Tour Platinum round opponent Borja Golan of Qatar Classic title continued una- Joel Makin (WAL) beat Mathieu Castagnet Spain. bated yesterday as he dispatched (FRA) 3-1 (11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 8-3 rtd) Coll had been in complete England’s Adrian Waller in control of their clash, taking a two straight-games to cruise into the [7] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) beat Declan game lead against little quarter-finals. James (ENG) 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-2) resistance, but injury forced The Egyptian took just 31 Golan to concede the match in minutes to end the challenge of [2] Ali Farag (EGY) beat Saurav Ghosal (IND) the early stages of the third game, Englishman Adrian Waller in 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-6) gifting Coll safe passage through straight games 11-8, 11-5, 11-7. to the quarter-finals to face Waller had ruthlessly dis- Rösner. patched former World No.3 Omar In the other matches, Momen Mosaad in the previous round for defeated James Willstrop of the loss of just seven points in aren’t a great player and he physically strong and mentally begun to find his form again in from the start because he’s the England while Mathieu Castagnet total, but he was unable to deal showed that he is a great player fresh.” Peruvian former World recent months and showed signs kind of player who can send you of France retired hurt going down with the pace and power of with the way he played this Junior Champion Elias, the Lima- of returning to his best as he five directions in one rally,” said 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 8-3 to Makin. ElShorbagy as the Egyptian, week,” said ElShorbagy. based World No.13, sailed into the swept aside Hesham – one of the Elias, who will play World No.1 Gawad managed to win the based in Bristol, England, showed “He put me under a lot of quarter-finals with a straight- most gifted players on the PSA El Shorbagy in the next round. cliff hanger against Declan James why he’s the favourite to triumph pressure throughout the whole games demolition of Egypt’s World Tour – with ease, pre- “Last season, I got injured and of England 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 13-11, again in Doha this week. match but the most important Mazen Hesham. vailing 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 in just lost in the first round of nearly 7-11, 11-2), while second seed “The way he played against thing is that you don’t let it get to Elias, a quarter-finalist here 36-minutes.