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SPORT Monday 11 December 2017 PAGE | 31 PAGE | 32-33 PAGE | 35 Sri Lanka crush QSL: Al Duhail on James dazzles as India in first top after round 11; Clippers edge ODI match Al Sadd close in Wizards Team Qatar Flag Relay to inspire nation on National Day The Peninsula It will travel up and around participation in the Team Qatar Qatar taking in key landmarks, Flag Relay, Barshim said: “It’s an he Qatar Olympic Commit- including the Museum of Islamic amazing honour to be part of the tee (QOC) yesterday Art, Katara, the Pearl, Al Khor, Team Qatar Flag Relay and share Tannounced that it will host Qatar Foundation, Al Shaqab and this experience with everyone in a flag relay on Thursday, Decem- the Aspire Zone, before complet- Qatar. I’ve achieved some amaz- ber 14 to unite, inspire and share ing its route in the evening at the ing results this year and I am so pride with the nation through heart of Qatar’s National Day cel- happy with how I have fulfilled Team Qatar in celebration of this ebrations, Darb Al Saai. some of my dreams but the best year’s National Day. Flag-carriers will transport it via part is always when I stand on the Hundreds of current and multiple different sporting activ- podium and see the flag of Qatar retired athletes, schoolchildren ities, including cycling, running, raised and hear the national and inspirational individuals will para-athletics, sailing, rowing, anthem. This is a moment that I carry the national flag across swimming and more, reflecting always cherish and it is a huge Qatar and its most iconic land- the strength and depth of Team source of pride for me. It is every marks, transporting it via a Qatar’s athletes. athlete’s dream to represent their wide-range of sporting activities Qatar has had a hugely suc- nation and I hope that I am able to and culminating in a grand finale cessful year on the international inspire more young Qataris to ful- at Darb Al Saai. sporting field this year. Notable fil their dreams in the future and The flag relay aims to show- stars include World Junior Cham- make our country proud.” case the very best of Qatar and pion in weightlifting and World The flag relay will celebrate the very best of sport in a unify- Championships silver medallist Qatar’s national flag, Al Adaam, ing celebration that will spread Fares Ibrahim, Para-Athletics to reflect the shared patriotism, the Olympic values and transmit World Championships gold and pride and unity of Team Qatar. Sheikh Ali Khalid Al a message of peace, friendship silver medallists Abdulrahman The QOC launched a new brand Thani, flagbearer and solidarity through the Abdelqader and Sara Masoud, Al in October of this year that incor- of Qatar at the Rio national flag, which is a symbol Dana Al Mubarak who won porates the flag in order to build Olympics, leads of Qatar’s dignity and pride. The shooting gold at the 2017 Islamic on Qatar’s sporting heritage and his contingent values of sport and the values of Solidarity Games and the most patriotic roots, while looking to during the opening Qatar are intrinsically linked and celebrated among them all, Mutaz the future with a contemporary, ceremony at the the event will celebrate the Essa Barshim who became World adaptable and innovative design. Maracana Stadium achievements and inspirational Champion. Barshim became the Further information about the in Rio de Janeiro in spirit of Team Qatar’s athletes and first high-jumper since 2004 to flag relay route, timings and flag- this August 5, 2016 of Qatar itself ahead of this year’s be undefeated for a whole season carriers will be released over the file photo. LEFT: National Day. and finished the year as IAAF week ahead so that spectators can The route of Team The flag relay will begin on World Athlete of the Year, taking plan where and when to watch Qatar Flag Relay. the morning at the Team Qatar the crown from Usain Bolt. the flag relay travel past their Winter Camp in Sealine Beach. Commenting ahead of his area. Park, Popescu reign supreme in Doha Fawad Hussain Romania’s Ana Maria Popescu The Peninsula celebrates after defeating Italian fencer Mara Navarria in the women’s outh Korean prodigy final yesterday. Park Sang-young of South Korea and Romania’s seasoned campaigner Ana SMaria Popescu claimed men’s and women’s titles respec- tively at Qatar Fencing Grand Prix, which concluded after an eventful final day in Doha yesterday. The last day of the three- day event begun with the last-64 stages in both men’s and women’s epee events, wit- nessing major upsets including a heartbreak for Tunisia’s defending champion Sarra Besber, who suffered upset defeat in the last-32 stage. Park, the reigning Olym- pic champion, clinched six victories on the extensive final day to bag his second title in The reigning Olympic champion Park Sang-young (right) and Jung Jinsun in action during the all-South Korean Doha. men’s final of the Qatar Fencing Grand Prix at the Aspire Dome yesterday. Pictures: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula “Last time it was 2014 when I won in Doha. It’s my second title here,” a jubilant before his victories against sharp reflexes in the final. Park told The Peninsula after Francois Xavier Ferot Popescu earlier defeated sealing the title. (Belgium),Maksym Khvorost Guangjuan Hou of China in the “Olympic gold is obviously (Ukraine), Marco Fichera semi-final and Tatyana Andry- special but I consider the title (China) and Max Heinzer ushina of Russia in the in Doha also important (Denmark) in the earlier quarter-finals. Hou was the because it’s a tough stages. fencer who ended Sarra’s competition.” “It was a long day and tir- dream of defending her title Park was up against Jung ing day but I am happy that it with a stunning win in the last- Jinsun in the all-South Korean ended with my win. I always 32 stage. Francesca Boscarelli final in which he showed no like to come to Doha because (Italy), Beate Christmann (Ger- sign of tiredness to seal the it’s hospitality and the level of many), Tatiana Gudkova title with ease. Jinsun was competition here,” he added. (Russia) and Rossella Fia- penalised for the foul play dur- While Park was expected mongo (Italy) were Popescu’s ing the course which lent Park to win the men’s title, Popescu victims in the earlier stages. the title. emerged as surprise winner in The three-day event fea- The 22-year-old, how- women’s competition. tured 350 fencers from a total ever, faced tough competition The 33-year-old shocked of 45 countries. As many as 12 against former world cham- two-time winner at Qatar GP Qatari including 4 female pion Paolo Pizzo of Italy in the Mara Navarria of Italy in the fencers were also seen in The President of the Qatar Fencing and Weightlifting Federation, Mohamed Yousef Al Mana (left) semi-final in which he had to final 10-6 to win the women’s action during the event. Qatar rally to win. Earlier, Park event. The Romanian looked is hosting the prestigious Aspire Academy Director General Ivan Bravo (centre) and Italian Fencing Federation President defeated Max Heinzer of Den- clearly superior to Navarria International Fencing Feder- Giorgio Scarso pose for a photograph after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) mark in the quarter-finals with her crafty touches and ation event since 2004. between the two federations at Aspire Academy in Doha yesterday. Picture: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula 30 SPORT MONDAY 11 DECEMBER 2017 Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi scoring Duckett suspended from a goal during the English Premier League match England Lions matches against Manchester United at Old Trafford in London home immediately, which was Manchester, north west AFP mooted as a possibility, the out- England, yesterday. come of his hearing appears to en Duckett has been fined demonstrate that England are and will play no further in no mood for any lenient Bpart in the remaining responses to further matches for the England Lions transgressions. in Australia following the bats- Their full Ashes tour was man’s bar prank in Perth. beset by off-the-field issues Duckett, 23, poured a glass before it even began, and has over England Test star James continued in the same vein. Anderson and the Lions opener Duckett and his Lions col- was left out of the English a leagues were joined by around development team’s two-day 10 members of the Ashes squad, match against Cricket Australia freshly arrived back in Perth on Saturday. after going 2-0 down with three Dousing England’s all-time to play against Australia. leading wicket-taker in the It was also the first time late-night incident will earn they were not subject to a mid- Duckett a reported £1500 night curfew, imposed by ECB ($2000) fine and a final warn- director Andrew Strauss at the ing over his conduct. end of last month in response The incident occurred late to the embarrassment caused on Thursday when the Ashes by Bairstow’s unusual method tourists returned to the bar in of introducing himself to which Jonny Bairstow delivered Bancroft. Otamendi goal gives his ‘head-butt’ greeting to Aus- Duckett’s drink-related tralia opener Cameron Bancroft antics therefore took place with at the start of their tour. England already at a low ebb, The England and Wales in danger of losing the Ashes in Cricket Board confirmed Duck- the next week and still without ett’s punishment in a brief all-rounder Ben Stokes.