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FRIDAY 15 JANUARY 2021 Australia look to seal series at Gabba fortress

For me, it’s about rising above it and concentrating on what I’m doing and concentrating on leading my team and not worrying about what’s going on the other side. We’ve spoken a lot ... about controlling what we can control and focusing more inwardly on ourselves. Tim Paine Australia Sport | 15 DAKAR RALLY, STAGE 11 - WINNERS: NASSER AL ATTIYAH (QAT), MATTHIEU BAUMEL (FRA) TOYOTA GAZOO RACING 04H 34' 24''

Qatar eye winning start at World Championship

THE PENINSULA — DOHA was postponed due to lack of flight options. Asian champions Qatar are Although Qatar, coached by eyeing a winning start at the IHF Spaniard Valero Rivera, were World Men’s Handball Cham- confined to Doha during their pionship Egypt 2021 campaign build-up for the 32-nation event as they take on Angola in their due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opening Group C match in Alex- they are one of the teams andria, today. favoured to proceed to the next Al Annabi left for the event phase of the competition yesterday after their departure despite not meeting expecta- tions at the past two World QATAR SQUAD Championships after placing second at Qatar 2015. Mahmoud Zaki, Omar Khaled, Ahmed Meddy, The Asian giants will look to Raphael Capote, Shadi Hamdoun, Firas Al- bounce back from eighth place Qatar handball squad's players and officials pose for a Shayeb, Mustafa Al-Karad, Daniel Saric, Waj- at France 2017 and their 13th group photo ahead of their departure to Egypt yesterday. di Sinan, Zain Al-Din Boumengel, Ali Jarba place two years ago. and Moatasem Abdel Wahid. And Kamal al- After meeting Angola, Qatar Din Malash, Amin Zakar, Guvu Damjanovic, will face Japan on Sunday home tournament against in years past including most Angola have won both However, Qatar will have Wilder Memisevic, Ali Inad, Ahmed Magdy, before their final group game teams including Spain, Tunisia recently a 36:28 victory at the games between the two sides, both experience and cohesion Hassan Awad, Mustafa Haiba, Muhammad against Croatia on January 19. and Argentina. 2020 AHF Men’s Asian including a 24:23 nail-biter two on their side, with key players Abidi, Marwan Sassi, and Franks Karol. Qatar underwent a training Al Annabi reached for the Championship. years ago, their only win in the playing in Qatar’s skilled Today’s Group C Fixtures camp in Doha and played World Championship confident But Qatar are still looking group phase, which basically domestic competition, with

Qatar vs Angola (5:30pm) several practice matches knowing they have beaten for that elusive win against threw Qatar out of contention many of them already having Croatia vs Japan (8:00pm) against top club sides of the Croatia and have had tre- Angola, which could seal the for a main round berth at the played under coach Rivera for country besides featuring in mendous success against Japan deal for a main round berth. World Championship. the past years. Doha Masters Dakar Rally: Qatar's Al Attiyah blockbuster yet clinches penultimate stage win another success REUTERS — RIYADH cars. Today’s final 200km half (for each change) is a story for Qatar, stage to Jeddah features lot.” French veteran Stephane chains of dunes before In the motorcycle cat- Peterhansel was one stage reaching the shores of the egory, Britain’s Sam Sun- says OCA chief away from a record- Red Sea but offers less scope derland won the stage for extending 14th Dakar for Al Attiyah to close the KTM to move up to second THE PENINSULA/QNA — DOHA triumph yesterday after gap unless his ever-con- overall, four minutes and 12 ending the penultimate day sistent rival hits problems. seconds behind Honda’s Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh in Saudi Arabia with a “It’s exactly like last Argentine Kevin Ahmed Al Fahad Al Sabah praised the distin- 15-minute lead over Qatar’s year, we are really strug- Benavides. guished organisation of the Doha World Judo Nasser Al Attiyah. gling with the tyres,” said “I knew that today Masters 2021, which concluded on Wednesday Toyota’s Al Attiyah, who the Qatari, a triple Dakar was one of my last at the new-look Lusail Multipurpose Hall, with had said on Wednesday that winner, after clawing back chances the participation of 399 athletes - 215 male and the event would be decided a minute and 56 seconds to try to 184 female players - from 69 countries. on the shortened 464-km from Peterhansel to secure win and In a statement yesterday, the OCA President stage from Al-Ula to Yanbu, his sixth stage win of the I gave said that Qatar organised in a short time more won the day but Peterhansel event. my all,” said than one competition successfully and kept him in check with the “I hope for next year (we rider remarkably, and it received great praises, which second fastest time. are) coming with good rules Sunderland. is not new for Qatar. “There’s only one day to for everybody. “I didn’t quite “The Doha World Judo Masters has been go. It’s time to cross fingers “There’s still one day manage to take added to the list of successful tournaments and hope that we will be in left, but this time we have enough time, but I’m happy organised in Doha, especially in light of the coro- first place at the end,” said really had a lot of punctures. with my effort. We still have navirus (COVID-19) conditions, and we are happy Peterhansel, whose record I’ve had more than 16 tyres one day to go and many Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Nasser Al Attiyah and to return to Doha once again, the sports capital 13 previous wins came on punctured. I am sure that 16 things can happen on one Co-Driver Matthieu Baumel in action during a of the Asian continent.” both motorcycles and in tyres by one minute and a stage.” Dakar Rally stage. “During my meeting with the various judo sports leaders and those present in the champi- onship, all of them praised the good quality of the Qatari organisation, and considered it one of the best Masters tournaments,” he explained. He congratulated President of the Qatar Guillambert, Taxiwala bag Muaither Cup Olympic Committee (QOC) H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the Organising Committee of — DOHA THE PENINSULA QREC Racing Manager Abdulla WINNERS the championship, International Judo Federation Rashid Al Kubaisi presenting Horse, Trainer, Jockey (IJF) President Marius Vizer, and President of the JP Guillambert, teaming up the Muaither Cup to winning Judo Union of Asia (JUA) Obaid Al Enezi for the with Taxiwala, clinched top team's representative. MUAITHER CUP great success of the championship, wishing Qatar honours during yesterday’s Taxiwala (IRE), Osama more success in hosting other tournaments in the 26th race meeting at Qatar future. Al-Dafea, JP Guillambert Racing and Equestrian On Wednesday, the International Judo Fed- PUREBRED ARABIAN Club’s Al Rayyan Park, eration President Marius Vizer also lauded Qatar’s HANDICAP winning the Muaither Cup organisation of the season-opening event. after a thrilling race. Goldamer (FR), Alban “The Doha World Judo Masters is a great The Osama Omer Al Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane success from all points of view,” said Vizer. Dafea-owned and trained Saadi “We have great champions and fantastic 4YO gelding recorded a PUREBRED ARABIAN organisation despite the global health situation. neck win over Izzthatright, NOVICE PLATE The local organising committee did everything which was guided by Ginkeau (FR), Osama possible to make the event a success,” the IJF chief Michael Forest, to claim top Al-Dafea, Alberto Sanna said. honours. The winners PUREBRED ARABIAN “I want to thank the authorities of Qatar and received QR 57,000 with CLAIMING RACE the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad the runners up collecting QR AJS Al Aredh (QA), Al Thani, as well as the national federation of judo, 22,000. The third place was Mohammed Ghazali, their President Mr. Khalid Hamad Alatiya and his secured by Zyzzyva, ridden Saleh Salem Al Marri team, who did an amazing job," he added. by Tomas Lukasek. PUREBRED ARABIAN “We must also recognise the efforts of the Earlier, Mohammed Bin MAIDEN PLATE (Div 2) Qatar Olympic Committee and its President, His Fahad Al Attiya’s Goldamer Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani. Hilona D’id (FR), completed a double after Everyone can be really proud of what was done Mohammed Hussain winning Purebred Arabian in Doha. We had the best of the best athletes in Handicap (0-95). Soufiane Afroz, Meteb Ali Al Marri the world present. All of them shall be congrat- PUREBRED ARABIAN Saadi rode the Alban de Novice Plate event saw collected winning prize of Arabian Claiming Race as ulated and especially all the winners." Mieulle-trained 5YO horse Ginkeau, ridden by Alberto QR 28,500. the Mohammed Ghazali- MAIDEN PLATE (Div 1) "In 2023 we’ll be back in the city for our to a ¾ length win in the mile Sanna, claiming the title AJS Al Aredh, with Saleh trained 6YO gelding regis- Jamaiel (FR), Julian Colin World Championships, the flagship event of our run to pocket QR 34,200. with 1½ length win in the Salem Al Marri in the saddle, tered a ½ length win in the Smart, Tomas Lukasek organisation. We are all looking forward to it,” The Purebred Arabian 2200m run. The team was victorious in Purebred 7f run. he added. Sport FRIDAY 15 JANUARY 2021 15 Boucher Survival of the fittest as Australia confident look to seal series at Gabba fortress of team REUTERS - MELBOURNE even if a draw would be enough safety on to retain the Border-Gavaskar A punishing Test series that has Trophy two years after their Pakistan exacted a heavy toll on both breakthrough 2-1 win in the sides draws to a fitting climax 2018/19 series in Australia. in Brisbane where a humbled The home side have had tour Australia will aim to crush an their own injury challenges, ailing Indian side at their Gabba with Marcus Harris replacing fortress. Will Pucovski after the rookie REUTERS - CAPE TOWN Australia had their confi- opener was ruled out with a dence rocked in the third test shoulder injury. South Africa have faith in the as India’s batsmen held on for Opener David Warner was security measures put in a gallant draw in Sydney but clearly hampered by his groin place for their Test and Tim Paine’s team hold the upper strain as he laboured for runs International tour hand for the decisive clash of a in Sydney but the veteran of Pakistan coach Mark series that has become survival lefthander has been cleared to Boucher said yesterday as he of the fittest. play. revealed that he hoped to With regular captain Virat Australia’s problems are lure Jacques Kallis back as a Kohli on paternity leave, India more on the mental side, with batting consultant. have defied a mounting injury India’s obstinacy having got the South Africa start the first toll to keep the series alive but better of their captain and A view of the pitch to be used for the fourth and final Test between India and Australia at the Gabba, of two Tests in Pakistan on now have few bullets left to fire. bowlers on the final day in Brisbane. The final Test starts today. PIC:@cricketcomau January 26 as they return All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja Sydney. there for the first time since has been scratched and pace Paine was moved to apol- 2007. spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is ogise this week after he lost his Damning reviews tend to pickings in the series. The “For me, it’s about rising Their absence followed a also expected to be ruled out cool, was abusive to Ravi- follow Australia’s home series COVID-19 pandemic has seen above it and concentrating on militant attack on the Sri after an abdominal strain in chandran Ashwin and dropped defeats and a reverse at the both teams confined to their what I’m doing and concen- Lanka team bus in Lahore in Sydney, meaning India’s attack three catches behind the Gabba could prove terminal for hotel rooms in Brisbane before trating on leading my team and 2009 that killed six could be in the hands of three stumps, any one of which might Paine’s leadership a year out and after training excursions, a not worrying about what’s policemen and two civilians. rookie pacemen when the have unlocked the game for from England’s Ashes tour. vexing end to a long and going on the other side,” captain “We’ve had our (security) match starts today. Australia. He will lean heavily on his arduous tour in the “bubble”. Paine told reporters guys go there and do a recce And the Gabba is no place It was arguably the - attack to deliver on a pitch that A chastised Paine said Aus- yesterday. of the situation and they have for the walking wounded, with keeper-captain’s worst day in tends to reward express pace, tralia would leave the frustra- “We’ve spoken a lot... about said it is safe,” Boucher told Australia undefeated at the the office since taking over the and will hope Nathan Lyon can tions behind them upon taking controlling what we can control reporters ahead of the team’s stadium since 1988. team in the wake of the New- also get among the as the field at the Gabba and their and focusing more inwardly on departure. In short, Ajinkya Rahane’s lands ball-tampering scandal the 33-year-old offspinner only focus would be to admin- ourselves. I think we can do all “So from my side there India have a mountain to climb, in 2018. savours his 100th Test after lean ister the coup de grace. that, ” he added. are no issues, we have to get back there and start playing .” SCOREBOARD Boucher made his Test SRI LANKA, 1ST INNINGS Wood 6-1-21-0, Dom Bess 10.1-3-30-5, debut in Pakistan in 1997 and Day One: England in L Thirimanne c Bairstow b Broad ...... 4 17-2-55-1 went on to play 147 times in K Perera c Root b Bess ...... 20 ENGLAND, 1ST INNINGS a stellar career. He said the K Mendis c Buttler b Broad ...... 0 Z Crawley c de Silva b Embuldeniya ...... 9 conditions will be more A Mathews c Root b Broad ...... 27 D Sibley c Thirimanne b Embuldeniya ...... 4 suited to his side than most control after bowling out D Chandimal c Curran b Leach ...... 28 J Bairstow ...... 47 sub-continent nations. N Dickwella c Sibley b Bess ...... 12 J Root not out ...... 66 D Shanaka c Buttler b Bess ...... 23 Extras (nb 1) ...... 1 “It is tough but different PWH de Silva b Bess ...... 19 TOTAL (41 Ov, RR: 3.09) ...... 127/2 to India and Sri Lanka, where Sri Lanka for 135 runs D Perera b Bess ...... 0 Yet to bat: Dan Lawrence, , Sam Curran, it (the ball) turns. Pakistan is L Embuldeniya run out (Leach) ...... 0 Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad more conducive to fast A Fernando not out ...... 0 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-17 bowling. Reverse swing was REUTERS - GALLE, SRI LANKA Stuart Broad (3-20) as the home Sri Lanka were forced to Extras (lb 1, nb 1) ...... 2 BOWLING: Lasith Embuldeniya 18-3-55, Asitha very big, though regulations TOTAL (46.1 Ov, RR: 2.92) ...... 135 side failed to take advantage of leave out Karunaratne due to a Fernando 6-0-19-0, PWH de Silva 7-0-30-0, Dilru- are tighter these days on how Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-16, 3-25, 4-81, 5-81, 6-105, wan Perera 10-2-23-0 England captain struck winning the toss with some fractured thumb - another 7-126, 42.3 ov), 8-126, 9-130, 10-135 Venue: Galle International Stadium Umpires: you can work on the ball. his 50th Test fifty to put them wayward batting. injury blow to a team that suf- BOWLING: S Broad 9-3-20-3, S Curran 4-2-8-0, M Kumar Dharmasena and Ruchira Palliyaguruge “They are historically flat in a strong position on the first Bess got off to the perfect fered several setbacks on their wickets. The areas you score day of the opening Test after start when he took the wicket tour of South Africa earlier this as a batsman are different. If Dom Bess took five wickets as of the dangerous Kusal Perera month. you apply yourself there are the tourists bowled out Sri with only his second ball of the Bess said he did not bowl as a lot of runs out there.” Lanka for a paltry 135. morning. Attempting an ambi- much as he would have liked Boucher also said he An unbeaten 110-run part- tious reverse sweep, Perera in the preparations after wanted to regain the services nership between Jonny succeeded only in top edging arriving in Sri Lanka and of 45-year-old Jacques Kallis Bairstow and Root saw England the ball to Root at slip to depart admitted there was an element as a batting consultant after to 127-2 at stumps yesterday, for 20, the first of several ill- of fortune to his haul. the former all-rounder trailing by eight runs, with the considered shots from the No much more so than signed a short-term deal with opportunity to go on and build home batsmen. when a sweep shot from Dasun England for their current test a significant lead after Sri Lanka Niroshan Dickwella was Shanaka hit at tour of Sri Lanka. Cricket posted the lowest first-innings caught at backward point for short leg on the ankle and South Africa did not take up score in a Test at the Galle 12 while , who popped up for wicketkeeper Jos the option of retaining Kallis’ International Stadium. scored 23, went in bizarre cir- Buttler to catch. services last year, citing The pair steadied matters cumstances, sweeping his shot “It was bizarre. You want transformation targets, but after spinner Lasith onto the ankle of Bairstow at guys getting caught at short leg Boucher is hopeful that, with Embuldeniya, who opened the short leg, popping it up into the by Jonny rather than hitting a new board in place, that bowling, had removed England air for wicketkeeper Jos Buttler him, caught Buttler, but at the could change. openers Dom Sibley (4) and Zak to claim. end of the day a wicket is a “He is on my radar in Crawley (9) cheaply. Preferred to England’s wicket,” Bess told a news terms of trying to get him Root, in his 98th Test, sur- record Test wicket taker James conference. back involved in the set-up. vived a leg before decision Anderson, Broad bagged opener “I know that I haven’t I hope we treat him with care when on 20, which was over- Lahiru Thirimanne and strug- bowled as well as I could have as he has shown he has a lot turned on review, before gling Kusal Mendis in the same done and got away with of other opportunities in reaching his half century off 94 over for the first two wickets of probably one or two, but that’s world cricket. He is a massive balls. He will resume today on the test and then added Angelo cricket. Those were not among loss but I know Jacques 66 with Bairstow playing a Mathews after lunch. my best deliveries but then would love to be working in England off-spinner Dom Bess poses for a photo tweeted by strong supporting role with 47 Dinesh Chandimal, who again, I’ve also bowled very South African cricket. The @englandcricket at the end of the first day of the first Test not out. took over the captaincy from well on days and haven’t taken knowledge he has needs to between England and hosts Sri Lanka at the Galle International Bess took 5-30 off just 10.1 injured Dimuth Karunaratne, any poles... and dropped be utilised.” overs with strong back-up from top scored for the hosts with 28. catches,” said Bess. Stadium yesterday. Vet Check ahead of Hathab Round at QEF Arena Murray status for Australia in doubt after contracting virus

AP - MELBOURNE American player Tennys Sandgren was given special clearance to board a charter flight from Andy Murray’s status for the Australian Open was Los Angeles to Melbourne despite testing pos- put in doubt yesterday after he tested positive itive for COVID-19 in November and again on for the coronavirus only days before his planned Monday. Under tournament protocols agreed charter flight to Melbourne. with Australian government authorities, all The three-time Grand Slam champion is iso- players had to return a negative test before lating at home near London, the tournament said boarding their flights to Australia and would be in a statement. subjected to further testing on arrival and daily “Unfortunately this means he will be unable during a 14-day period of quarantine. to join the official AO charter flights arriving in Sandgren received an exemption after Aus- Australia in the coming days to go through the tralian health officials assessed his case history. quarantine period with the other players,” the American player Madison Keys has also tested statement said. “The AO fans love Andy, and we positive before her scheduled flight to Australia. know how much he loves competing here in Mel- She said she is self-isolating at home. bourne and how hard he’d worked for this “I’ve very disappointed to not be able to play opportunity.” in the coming weeks after training hard in the Murray has been given a wild-card entry into off-season and knowing Tennis Australia and the first Grand Slam tournament of 2021. the tours did so much to make these events The Australian Open was delayed three weeks happen,” Keys wrote on Twitter. because of COVID-19 restrictions and is set to The first of about 1,200 players, coaches, Trainers are seen with horses going through begin February 8. Players and officials must entourage and officials landed yesterday in Aus- their paces ahead of the Round 8 of the spend 14 days in quarantine once they arrive in tralia. Tennis Australia said players who have Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour. The Australia. Murray, a five-time Australian Open previously tested positive for COVID-19 were 8th round will start today and ends tomorrow runner-up, earlier backed out of the Delray Beach “required to provide additional and highly at QEF's Outdoor Arena. The series is backed Open in Florida to “minimize the risks” of con- detailed medical information as proof they are by the Social & Sport Contribution Fund. tracting the virus through international travel. a recovered case and no longer infectious or a Murray could still compete in Australia. risk to the community.”