CCRICKETRICKET | Page 3 NNBABA | Page 4 Stokes has good Virus spread cricket brain, may stop seniors will season, says guide him: Wood chief Silver Thursday, July 2, 2020 FORMULA 1 Dhul-Qa’da 11, 1441 AH No Orange Army as GULF TIMES Verstappen chases Austrian hat-trick SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL HORSE RACING Al Shaqab’s Qatar formally bid to Chorba races to host 2027 Asian Cup second victory Reigning champions Qatar are aiming to host the tournament for the third time in France By Sports Reporter Agencies came around the wide outside Doha Compiegne, France while the rest of the fi eld drifted onto the rail. A decision that paid off for Demuro, as Chorba ran he Qatar Football As- l Shaqab Racing’s strongly to the line, picking off sociation (QFA) has of- homebred Chorba was her rivals, for a comfortable vic- Tfi cially announced its Athe favourite com- tory by a length and three quar- bid to host the 2027 AFC ing into the Prix des ters to double her tally. Asian Cup. Bains Pompeins, a Class 1 for Stella Thayer-owned and Qatar is one of the fi ve bids three-year-olds over 2,000m, at trained Control Tower was the presented to the Asian Football Compiegne, France, yesterday. runner-up under Stephane Confederation (AFC), before the And she proved she was the best. Pasquier. Camogie came in third. deadline on June 30, 2020. The Jean Claude Rouget- Henri Francois Devin-trained Reigning champions Qatar are trained bay fi lly settled well in Camogie was a further neck be- aiming to host the champion- mid-division under Cristian De- hind in third. ship for the third time since the muro. She was relaxed and easy Chorba, who was a winner event’s inception in 1956, having in her action. on her only start as a two-year- hosted in 1988 and 2011. The runners chose to stay in old, is by Al Shaqab sire Olympic The other four Member As- the middle of the track for the Glory, who stands at Haras de sociations who have bid to stage better ground, and Camogie set Bouquetot in France. She is out Asia’s premier football tourna- a steady pace under Alexis Badel. of the unraced mare Ysandre, a ment are (in alphabetical order On the fi nal turn, Chorba sister to Keltos. by country): All India Football Federation, Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Uzbekistan Football Associa- tion. The AFC will now work with each Bidding Member Associa- tion on the delivery of the nec- essary bidding documentation in accordance with the bidding process and will announce the host for the 19th edition of the In this February 1, 2019, picture, Qatar’s players celebrate with the trophy in the presence of QFA President HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin AFC Asian Cup in 2021. Ahmad al-Thani and AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifah after winning the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi. It is expected that the QFA bid fi le will detail the love of with great successes for over stressed that Qatar has a proven to stage the FIFA World Cup, Iran too have hosted the tour- football in the country and the two decades now. Qatar’s next track record in hosting world saying the event will bring the nament twice, and are the only lasting legacy it possesses when big assignment is the 2022 FIFA and continental sports champi- football fans together for ‘un- nation in Asian football history it comes hosting top football World Cup and we are preparing onships. forgettable experience’. to have won the coveted crown events. well for the event.” He said Qatar is confi dent it AFC President Sheikh Salman twice on home soil in 1968 and Qatar is ahead of schedule Al-Ansari said that Qatar will will be able to host a spectacular bin Ebrahim al-Khalifah said, 1976. with its preparations for the be ready to host the 2027 AFC edition of the 2027 Asian Cup, “On behalf of the Asian foot- Three-time champions Sau- 2022 FIFA World Cup. Asian Cup, taking advantage of an event it has hosted twice – in ball family, I would like to thank di Arabia and India, who were On this occasion, QFA secre- the modern sports facilities that 1988 and 2011. all our Member Associations recently awarded the host- tary-general Mansoor al-Ansari it has in the country. He added He added Qatar is currently for stepping forward to express ing rights for the 2022 AFC said: “We present Qatar’s bid to that the world-class sport- preparing to stage biggest the their desire and for sharing our Women’s Asian Cup, as well as win the rights to host the 2027 ing infrastructure in Qatar is a footballing event – the FIFA ambitions to host a world-class Uzbekistan, this year’s host for AFC Asian Cup. Our bid con- sound legacy for future football World Cup – in 2022. stage for our players, teams, of- the AFC U-19 Championship, fi rms the great desire to follow generations in the Asian conti- The high ranking QFA offi cial fi cials and fans and I wish all of are all vying to stage Asia’s major sporting events, which nent. said Qatar is ahead of schedule them the very best in the bid- football crown jewel for the Cristian Demuro (right) rides Chorba to Prix des Bains Pompeins Qatar has been conducting The QFA Secretary-General with its large-scale preparations ding process.” first time. victory at Compiegne in France yesterday. (Scoopdyga) FOCUS Messi scores 700th goal but Atletico draw hurts Barca’s title hopes AFP ported, yes,” he said. “And regarding the the near post. Madrid, Spain meeting with the board, I will not say Then he missed a penalty, won after the what was said in that.” excellent Yannick Carrasco left Gerard Setien was also asked about his job on Pique for dead and then cut back inside ionel Messi scored his 700th ca- Monday and had to play down the signifi - Arturo Vidal, who stuck out a leg. reer goal but Barcelona suff ered cance of a frank exchange of views in the Costa’s shot was saved but VAR showed Lanother blow to their La Liga title dressing room following Saturday’s draw Marc-Andre ter Stegen had sprung off his hopes after a 2-2 draw with Atleti- at Celta Vigo. line too early and Atletico were given a co Madrid on Tuesday. Messi had also caused a stir by ap- second chance. This time Saul took the Messi chipped in a penalty to reach an- pearing to ignore Setien’s assistant Eder ball and he scored the equaliser. other astonishing milestone at Camp Nou Sarabia during a water break at Vigo and Messi dinked over the sliding Renan but twice Atletico hit back with spot- on Tuesday it was impossible to ignore Lodi and then whistled a curling eff ort kicks of their own, Saul Niguez convert- the contrast with Atletico’s players, who past the far post. His defl ected free-kick ing both after Barca took an early lead huddled around Diego Simeone while 50 forced Jan Oblak to adjust his feet and through Diego Costa’s own goal. metres away Setien stood alone. palm over. The result gives Real Madrid the chance At full-time, Setien stared into space Finally, it was laid on a plate for him to move four points clear at the top of the with the look of a coach that is running out shortly after half-time. Felipe clipped table if they can overcome Getafe at home of time but he had taken bold decisions, Nelson Semedo and Messi, with the on Wednesday, a formidable lead with fi ve leaving 120-million-euro signing Antoine 700th in sight, chipped the ball delicately games left. Griezmann on the bench and handing an- down the middle. Atletico stay third, two points ahead of other start to 20-year-old Riqui Puig. But every time Barca pulled away, Sevilla, who won 3-0 at Leganes. “It’s true that taking him out of the Atletico pegged them back. Another pen- With a superior head-to-head, it would team like that is hard for a player of his alty was awarded, again instigated by the take a dramatic capitulation for Real Ma- level but the circumstances forced me to speedy Carrasco, who made the most of drid not to lift the trophy from here but do it,” said Setien of Griezmann. “Tomor- the slightest touch from Semedo. there is no guarantee Barcelona can fi nish row I will speak to him, not to apologise, Saul took responsibility again and strongly enough even to create pressure. but it is a decision he has to understand.” while Ter Stegen got a hand to it, the ball This was their third draw in four squirmed into the corner. matches and with suggestions of dishar- COSTA NIGHTMARE Vidal twice went close, the second time mony between the players and coaching Yet it started well for them as Costa en- heading wide Jordi Alba’s cross, and Tho- staff , the future of coach Quique Setien dured a nightmare fi rst quarter of an hour, mas Lemar might even have won it for looks bleak too. fi rst diverting Messi’s corner into his own Atletico in injury-time. For Barca, the “From the dressing room I feel sup- net after misjudging the fl ight of the ball at draw was damaging enough.