February 07, 2018
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SPORT Wednesday 7 February 2018 PAGE | 30 PAGE | 31 PAGE | 32-33 Injured Mathews Pyeongchang ready PSG pay 12 of ruled out of to battle cold snap, highest Ligue 1 Bangladesh tour norovirus: Lee salaries Sanchez confident Al Annabi will be ready for Qatar 2022 REUTERS and experience to face this with the level in the first division in Belgium right mood to play in this or the second division in Spain. HONG KONG: Qatar will take a competition.” They’re both very good levels. huge stride into the unknown Qatar have gone close twice to “It gives them the opportu- when they host the World Cup in qualify for World Cup, with their It (playing in Europe) gives nity to grow as players and so 2022 but coach Felix Sanchez is most recent near-miss coming them the opportunity to far we are trying different confident the players will gain ahead of the 1998 finals when a grow as players and so players there and all the enough experience in the lead-up narrow defeat at the hands of Saudi far we are trying different experiences have been to the showpiece event to not get Arabia cost the nation a place in players there and all the very positive and that’s the overawed at their first finals France. experiences have been most important thing.” appearance. Qatar were awarded the host- Sanchez is hoping Qatar missed out on qualify- ing rights for the 2022 tournament very positive and that’s the experience will ing for Russia this summer, in December 2010, prompting the most important thing: begin to pay off when ensuring they will make their debut authorities to improve an already Sanchez he leads the senior appearance at the tournament burgeoning development set-up. team to the finals of when they host the competition in Before the successful hosting that the development work was the 2019 Asian Cup in just under five years’ time. bid, Qatar, with help from the bearing fruit. the United Arab Emir- But with a multifaceted plan in Aspire Academy, had the infra- Further moves to improve the ates as the final drive place to prepare their players structure to produce a team country’s chances of success saw towards the 2022 World between now and when the finals capable of challenging at the top Qatar’s sporting authorities pur- Cup commences. kick off in November 2022, Span- levels in Asia. chase Belgian first division side “We have to push the ish coach Sanchez believes the Just two years after Aspire’s Eupen and Cultural Leonesa in players to get better and bet- players will be ready. inauguration, Qatar won the gold Spain’s second division, with sev- ter,” he said. “We know from history that it’s medal at the 2006 Asian Games eral World Cup hopefuls already “In one year there is the difficult to qualify for the World under-23 football tournament on sent to gain experience. Asian Cup in the Emirates, in Cup,” said Sanchez, who serves as home soil in Doha, showing signs “We know that in Europe the 2019, and this is another good head coach of the country’s senior of a bright future. quality of football is very high and test to see our players, not the national team and under-23 side. The country won the Asian professional,” said Sanchez. youth but the national team. “To play in Russia would have Under-19 Championship in 2014 “In our country we have a very “We hope the players are been a good experience ahead of and reached the semi-finals of the good plan and a good league, but going to keep working hard and the next one, but I’m pretty sure Asian Under-23 Championship in it’s good to send these young play- this will be a big motivation for they will have enough knowledge both 2016 and 2018, underlining ers to Europe, to feel what is the them to continue their work. Qatar Football Coach Felix Sanchez THE PENINSULA Sport Committee will hold its activities at its premises in Al DOHA: The Qatar Olympic Team Qatar Sport Village ready to Waab. Committee (QOC) will join forces NSD was established in 2012 with a number of its National with the aim of uniting the Federations to offer the public a nation in a shared celebration wide programme of sporting add colour to National Sport Day of sport and inspiring people to activity in celebration of National lead active and healthy life- Sport Day (NSD) on Tuesday 13th styles. Qatar is one of the only February, including a unique who puts their hand up to give a federations to form the Team NSD in a bid to inspire more consecutive year to participate countries in the world to dedi- Team Qatar Sport Village. sport a go,” he said. Qatar Sport Village will include young people to get excited and in and enjoy sport. cate a public holiday to sport The seventh edition of the Aspire Park has been one of Gymnastics, Athletics, Weight- inspired by the sport. Team Other National federations and the number of people that special day, which has been the main venues for the NSD lifting, Basketball, Judo, Qatar’s Ahmed Nabil will be on are also holding their activities turned up to join in activities in emulated across the region since since the initiative started. It has Taekwondo, Hockey, Tennis, hand to meet the public and across Qatar on NSD. The pub- the past years show how it con- its introduction by Qatar in 2012, held numerous public, private Sailing, Fencing, Boxing, Wres- share his experiences for a lic are able to try out shooting tinues to be a huge success. will see exciting sporting activi- entities and international events tling, Golf, Table Tennis, chance to educate and spread at an open day at Lusail Shoot- The public can keep up to ties offered for all ages and since its conception. In partner- Volleyball and School Sports. All the sport of gymnastics. ing Range, golf activities will be date with latest information abilities at the stunning Aspire ship, Aspire is providing the federations will be organising Further Team Qatar Olym- taking place at Katara, together regarding the NSD on the Team Park, with the public encouraged needed space for the National taster sessions and demonstra- pic heroes will be joining in with handball, equestrian, row- Qatar social media channels, as to try new sports or pick up old Federations to exhibit their tions, providing an opportunity the Aspire Park NSD celebra- ing, cycling, triathlon, air sports, well as by signing up to the ones. activities on NSD, which is inte- for the public to be active and tions to share their karate and rugby activities. A Team Qatar Club on www.olym- Sports on offer will include gral to the smooth running of discover hidden talents. experiences and advice with swimming open day will also be pic.qa/en/teamqatarclub where activities ranging from basket- the day. The Gymnastics Federation everyone, as the nation come taking place in Hamad Aquatic exclusive content, offers and ball, gymnastics and athletics to The 14 National sporting will be focal to all activations on together for a seventh Centre, while Qatar Women’s competitions are available. taekwondo and weightlifting with the public simply needing A Qatari gymnast demonstrates his skills to schoolchildren to turn up at Aspire Park between during last year’s National Sport Day in this file photo. 8.30am and 4.00pm on the day INSET: Young boxers show off their skills during the 2017 to get involved. National Sport Day. Speaking about NSD, QOC Secretary General Jassim Al Buenain said: “We can’t wait for National Sport Day! This year promises to be bigger and better than ever with 12 federations organising activities that will give everyone the opportunity to have a go at sport. When we say eve- ryone we really do mean it! This is a day for all ages, all abilities and all our people to come together and enjoy the thrill of being active.” “Whilst festivities like this are rooted in a desire to provide a fun and informal environment for all those who want to take part, they are also extremely important if we are to nurture our next generation of super- stars. That’s why this year we will also be joined by Team Qatar’s very best athletes who will show the way and support everyone 30 SPORT WEDNESDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2018 Mathews ruled out of Bangladesh tour AFP COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s limited- overs skipper Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the rest of Thisara Perera is the Bangladesh tour due to a likely to stand in hamstring injury, the country’s cricket board said yesterday. as captain for the Mathews, who sustained the two T20 games injury during the tri-nation ODI in Bangladesh on tournament that Sri Lanka won February 15 and 18. Top stars to take in Bangladesh last month, will miss the second and final Test against the hosts as well as the adding strength to their batting part at Qatar two subsequent T20 matches. by bringing in Sabbir Rahman. Mathews, 30, was recently Veteran left-arm spinner named as Sri Lanka’s captain in Abdur Razzaq is also expected Open Shotgun the shorter format until the 2019 to make the starting XI in Dhaka. World Cup. Bangladesh have been a THE PENINSULA But he has been beset by dominant side at home after reg- injuries and now faces a race istering memorable Test wins DOHA: Losail Shooting Range will host several former World against time to be fit for a T20 against England and Australia in and Olympic champions at the 2018 Qatar Open Shotgun tri-nation tournament at home the 2016-17 season.