Katara International Chess Tournament receives overwhelming global response page 14 WEDNESday, AUGUST 26, 2020

IPL Anderson scales 600 peak as Don’t burst the virus S’thampton Test ends in draw bubble, Kohli warns stars

AFP Dubai

India captain Virat Kohli has warned Indian Premier League players of serious “re- percussions” for the tourna- ment if they breach coronavi- rus safety rules. With all eight teams now in quarantine in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the September 19 start, the Royal Challengers Bangalore skip- per said: “One mistake from us could literally spoil the whole tournament.” The IPL, originally sched- uled to start in March, has been moved from India because of the coronavirus’s raging spread across the country, now the third worst hit in the world. Kohli made the warning in a virtual meeting with players which was posted online by the Bangalore team. All teams are in quarantine in Dubai hotels for six days, during which each player will undergo three coro- navirus tests. England’s James Anderson (2nd left) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Azhar Ali, his 600th Test match wicket, on Players can only start the fifth day of the third Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England, on Tuesday.( AFP) training for the behind-closed- doors tournament after pass- stan, following on, 109-3 – still ing the tests, and in the tour- 201 runs adrift of England’s Leading Test wicket-takers Scoreboard nament bubble they will be first innings 583-8 declared. Muttiah Muralitharan (SL ) – 800 wickets in 133 matches England 1st Innings 583-8 dec (Z Crawley barred from contact with any- After Anderson struck, the one who hasn’t undergone the Shane Warne (AUS) – 708 wickets in 145 matches 267, J Buttler 152) remaining energy in the con- Pakistan 1st Innings 273 (Azhar Ali 141 no, quarantine period. test appeared to drain away Anil Kumble (IND) – 619 wickets in 132 matches Mohammad Rizwan 53; J Anderson 5-56) and a draw was agreed as the James Anderson (ENG) – 600 wickets in 156 matches Pakistan 2nd Innings (following-on, overnight 100-2) match entered the last hour. Glenn McGrath (AUS) – 563 wickets in 124 matches The result meant England Shan Masood lbw b Broad ����������������������� 18 secured their first series win Courtney Walsh (WIS) – 519 wickets in 132 matches Abid Ali lbw b Anderson ���������������������������� 42 Stuart Broad (ENG) – 514 wickets in 143 matches Azhar Ali c Root b Anderson ���������������������� 31 England’s James Anderson takes a stump as a souvenir at the end over Pakistan in a decade. Babar Azam not out ...... 63 of the fifth day’s play in the third Test against Pakistan at the Ageas Anderson is only the fourth Note: Anderson and Broad’s figures correct at time of Anderson’s 600th Test wicket. Asad Shafiq c sub (Bracey) b Root ���������� 21 Bowl in Southampton, England, on Tuesday. (AFP) bowler – and first paceman – Fawad Alam not out ������������������������������������ 0 to reach the mark of 600 Test I’m a big fan of Jimmy’s. Just take the new ball to suggest Extras: (lb9, nb3) ������������������������������������� 12 AFP Anderson and the 38-year- wickets. The only men ahead the fact he’s still playing now, they might press for victory Total: (For 4 wkts, 83.1 overs, 360 mins) 187 Southampton old did not disappoint, strik- of him in the all-time Test list in his 156th Test match, which but after just one Stuart Broad Did not bat: Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, ing with his 14th ball of the are three retired spinners – Sri in itself is just incredible. delivery in the statutory last Shaheen Afridi, Mohd Abbas, Naseem Shah. England paceman James day to reach the 600-wicket Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan “The rigours, the stresses hour, a draw was agreed. Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Masood), 2-88 (Abid), Virat Kohli tweeted this picture of 3-109 (Azhar), 4-172 (Shafiq). himself on Monday. Anderson cemented his place milestone. (800), Australia’s Shane that fast bowlers put on their Babar was 63 not out, with Bowling: Anderson 19-3-45-2; Broad 14.1- in cricket history by tak- Defying a docile pitch, he Warne (708) and India’s Anil body day in day out, to turn Pakistan finishing on 187-4. 5-27-1; Woakes 8-2-14-0; Archer 14-8-14-0; ing his 600th Test wicket as produced a rising delivery Kumble (619). around and front up and just Anderson’s innings return Bess 21-4-54-0; Root 6-0-17-1; Sibley 1-0- But concerns remain about the rain-marred third and that moved away from Paki- Kumble tweeted: “Con- work your backside off is just of 2-45 from 19 overs gave him 7-0 (3nb). players breaking the bio-securi- final Test against Pakistan stan captain Azhar Ali, a first- gratulations @jimmy9 on your absolutely incredible.” match figures of 7-101. Result: Match drawn ty conditions before the seven- at Southampton ended in a innings century-maker, with 600 wickets! Massive effort After Anderson struck, Ba- Zak Crawley, however, Toss: England. week tournament wraps up on draw on Tuesday. England skipper Joe Root from a great fast bowler. Wel- bar Azam completed a 76-ball was named man of the match Player of the match: Zak Crawley (ENG). November 10. Fresh downpours prevent- holding a head-high catch at come to the club.” fifty featuring six fours. for his stunning 267 -- the Series: England win three-match series 1-0 Several sportsmen have England player of the series: Jos Buttler ed play on the last day until first slip. But when it seemed the 22-year-old Kent batsman’s Pakistan player of the series: Mohammad found it tough to stay within 1515 GMT, meaning England, There was applause and ‘Incredible feat’ match was petering out, part- maiden Test century. Rizwan. coronavirus bubbles, includ- who were 1-0 up in the series, cheers from Anderson’s team- Former Australia paceman time spinner Root had Asad Together with Jos Buttler ing cricketers. did not have enough time to mates, with the nick off the Glenn McGrath, whose tally Shafiq caught by substitute (152) he shared an England re- combination of poor catching, England bowler Jofra force a victory. shoulder of Azhar’s bat clearly of 563 wickets was passed by fielder James Bracey at short cord fifth-wicket stand of 359. bad weather and determined Archer missed the second But despite the tame end audible at an empty Ageas Bowl. Anderson in 2018, told the leg to leave Pakistan 172-4. Anderson had been left Pakistan batting thwarted him Test against the West Indies to the series, all eyes were on Azhar’s exit for 31 left Paki- BBC: “Absolutely incredible, The next over saw England just one wicket shy of 600 as a on Monday. for a breach, and Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez had to go into self-isolation after a golf outing during their tour of England. ames Anderson did something no other Peter Moores dropped Hoggard and Harmison The IPL is a massive earner paceman has achieved when he dismissed and gave Anderson the new ball for the Welling- for the Board of Control for JPakistan captain Azhar Ali in Southampton ton Test. Cricket in India, and a contract on Tuesday to reach 600 Test wickets. Anderson took five wickets in the first -in to be signed by each player is After fellow England quick Fred Trueman The name nings and was then the unchallenged leader of understood to impose finan- became the first bowler to take 300 Test wickets, England’s attack. cial penalties for coronavirus a then astonishing figure, in 1964, he was asked is James, He played a key role in England’s only Ashes breaches. whether he thought anyone would ever break triumph in Australia of recent times, taking 24 RCB’s director of cricket op- his record. wickets at 26 during their 2010/11 success. erations Mike Hesson warned Trueman replied: “Aye, but whoever does James And when, in 2012, England achieved a rare players that any wilful breach will be bloody tired.” series win in India, MS Dhoni said Anderson of the team’s safety precautions If anyone could sympathise with those senti- Anderson: had been the difference between the two teams. would be handled “very seri- ments it is the 38-year-old Anderson, now ap- By now he had formed a hugely productive ously”. pearing in his 156th Test. England’s new-ball partnership with Stuart Broad, whose “If somebody breaks this What Trueman could not have foreseen was ability to seam the ball complements Anderson’s bubble that we have worked in- the increase in the number of Test nations and late swing through the air. credibly hard to put in place, it matches that would take place in the interven- King of And the fact England decided to end Ander- actually affects the whole tour- ing years. son’s white-ball career after the 2015 World Cup nament,” Hesson said. And unlike Trueman, a stalwart performer Swing has helped extend his longevity as a Test bowler. “It’s not just RCB, it is the for Yorkshire, the advent of England central In September 2018 he surpassed Glenn tournament, it is the TV rights, contracts means Anderson has not had to bowl McGrath’s 563 wickets to become Test cricket’s so there will be strong conse- hundreds of overs for Lancashire alongside his most successful fast bowler. quences if players choose to international commitments. But his form wavered and for a time Ander- For some pundits, that series damned An- The sheer physical strain of his trade saw do that.” But nothing should detract from Anderson’s son found himself reduced to bowling at cones derson forever as a bowler who thrived in home, Anderson break a rib bowling against South Af- Kohli added that any player endurance or skill. during England practice sessions. swing-friendly conditions but he learned from rica at Cape Town in January, yet he still bowled caught breaching the safety He burst on the scene as a 20-year-old when, A stress fracture kept Anderson on the out- that experience and an overseas record of 194 37 overs in the match, taking seven wickets. rules “is letting the whole team after just three limited-overs county games, he side looking in as England, under the captaincy wickets at 33.36 in 61 Tests is an impressive re- Anderson has become increasingly savvy in down. was summoned to Australia for a one-day inter- of Michael Vaughan, assembled the pace attack turn. his dealings with the media -- when it was sug- “It might happen at a stage national series. of Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, An- Anderson tried to develop a more aggressive gested on Twitter that he was on the wane this of the tournament where we Anderson made his England debut in Mel- drew Flintoff and Simon Jones that would help persona of “Jimmy” when taking the new ball month, he held a press conference in which he cannot afford to lose that player. bourne in December 2002, taking a modest 1-46 them win the celebrated 2005 Ashes series. against the world’s best batsmen before realis- made it clear he was far from finished. “If we get harmed by it, then in six overs but he improved on the tour and Anderson’s distinctive action was also sub- ing that, as many great West Indies fast bowlers And while the paceman has mellowed, there the whole system, the whole won himself a place in England’s squad for the jected to some unwelcome interference from had before him, he did not need to say too much were flashes of temper when three catches were team, the whole culture loses. 2003 World Cup. coaches concerned over a potential risk of injury. in the middle. dropped off his bowling on Sunday. I want everyone to understand He made his Test debut at Lord’s later that But he was back for England’s miserable 5-0 A key moment in his career came in 2008 Even so Anderson still took 5-65 – his 29th the repercussions.” year, taking 26 wickets in seven Tests against Ashes series loss in Australia in 2006/07, taking when, after a 189-run defeat by New Zealand in five-wicket haul in Tests. Only one seamer, New The pre-IPL quarantine has Zimbabwe and South Africa. just five wickets at an average of 82.60. the first Test in Hamilton, then-England coach Zealand’s Richard Hadlee, has claimed more. been a culture shock for many of the top stars now in Dubai. Sports Wednesday, August 26, 2020 13 ‘Complete bombshell’: Messi tells Barcelona he wants to leave AFP the 2021 season. winner is the club’s record Ole described Messi’s wish to ply exposed Barca’s ageing in March regarding pay cuts Madrid “In principal, this clause scorer with 634 goals and has leave as a “complete bomb- team for what Messi has been during the coronavirus (COV- expired on June 10, but the won the Champions League shell”, but the Argentine has saying all along: they are sim- ID-19) pandemic. Lionel Messi has informed unusual nature of this season four times. had regular disagreements ply not good enough. “Respect and admiration, Barcelona he wants to “uni- disrupted by the coronavirus But his future at Barca was with the club’s board in He said it in February and Leo. All my support, friend,” laterally” terminate his con- opened the way for Messi to thrown into doubt following recent times. again in July, when a rant in tweeted Barca great Carles tract with the Spanish giants, a ask to be released from his a humiliating 8-2 loss to Bay- According to Spanish me- the aftermath of handing Real Puyol, a long-time former club source confirmed to AFP contract now,” wrote Spanish ern Munich in the Champions dia, Messi met with new Barca Madrid the title turned into a team-mate of Messi. on Tuesday. sports daily Marca. League quarter-finals in Lis- coach Ronald Koeman last brutal, but honest, assessment “When you shut a tiger in Lawyers for the Argentina “It’s the first step towards bon 11 days ago. week and told the Dutchman of their season. a cage, he doesn’t give in he star sent Barca a fax in which opening negotiations over The humbling defeat he saw himself “more out than As his relationship with fights back,” tweeted Vidal. they announced Messi’s desire his departure, on the basis sparked drastic changes with- in” the club. the club hierarchy grew in- Messi’s reported salary of to rescind his contract by trig- of which his release clause in the club. Coach Quique Since his appointment creasingly strained, Messi also nearly one million euros per gering a release clause, send- amounts to 700 million euros Setien was sacked after barely Koeman has reportedly told reacted publicly when Abidal week would limit the number ing shockwaves throughout ($800 million).” six months in charge while Luis Suarez he is no longer appeared to blame the players of potential suitors, with Man- the world of football. Messi joined Barca’s youth sporting director Eric Abidal part of Barca’s plans, deliver- for the sacking of Ernesto Val- chester City, Paris Saint-Ger- However, the club main- academy at the age of 13 and was also dismissed after Bar- ing a similar message to Ar- verde in January. main and Inter Milan three tains the clause expired in made his debut for Barca in ca’s first season without a tro- turo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic and He also led the fightback clubs linked with an audacious June and that he remains un- 2004 as a 17-year-old. phy since 2007. Barcelona’s Argentinian star Samuel Umtiti. from the Barcelona players swoop for one of football’s der contract until the end of The six-time Ballon d’Or Argentine sports daily Lionel Messi. Bayern’s demolition sim- over a dispute with the board all-time greats. Super Cup partially Murray impresses, Djokovic open to fans DPA fights pain to advance Berlin The UEFA Super Cup be- tween Champions League DPA battled through neck pain that match went to a decider. winners Bayern Munich and New York forced him to withdraw from With the heat rule in ef- Europa League title-holders his doubles match on Sunday fect, a 10-minute break be- Sevilla will be played in Bu- Andy Murray recorded his to squeeze past Lithuanian fore the final set seemed to dapest in front of a limited first top-10 victory in over qualifier Ricardas Berankis get Williams back on track as number of fans, the Euro- three years with an impres- 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 and arrange a the 39-year-old fought off four pean governing body said on sive 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over third-round clash with Ameri- break points in game one then Tuesday. world number seven Alexan- can Tennys Sandgren. upped her level to serve for the The match which takes der Zverev to reach the last “Obviously I wasn’t close match at 5-3. place in the Hungarian capital 16 at the Western & Southern to my best with serving but She couldn’t serve it out on September 24 will see “up The Super Cup is played UEFA Open in New York on Monday. when I needed a good serve, I though and lost the next three to 30 per cent” of Puskas Are- between Champions League win- The Briton, who played his found it,” said Djokovic. games before it was Rus’ turn na capacity used amid corona- ners and Europa League winners. first official match since last “The injury is not so bad to get broken while serving for virus restrictions, “in order to November on Saturday, had that I have to pull out from the match. Williams blasted study precisely the impact of tember will also be behind been hampered by a pelvic singles but it’s bothering me through the deciding tiebreak spectators on the UEFA Re- closed doors. injury that forced him to miss definitely with the serve. But to book a last-16 showdown turn to Play Protocol,” a state- “While it has been impor- the start of the 2020 season. it’s getting better.” Dominic with Greek number 13 seed ment said. tant to show that football can The former world number Thiem, the number two seed Maria Sakkari. “All other UEFA matches carry on in difficult times, one, now down to 134 in the who played a whopping 28 It was Williams’ fourth shall continue to be played without fans, the game has lost rankings having gone through exhibition matches over the three-setter in four matches behind closed doors until fur- something of its character,” two hip surgeries, split the first past five months, received a contested since the resump- ther notice.” Bayern Munich said UEFA president Alek- two sets with Germany’s Zverev 6-2, 6-1 drubbing from Ser- tion of the tour earlier this chairman Karl-Heinz Rum- sander Ceferin. before surging ahead 4-1. bian world number 32 Filip month. The world number menigge told dpa he “greeted” “We hope to use the UEFA Murray lost his advan- Krajinovic, who lost just two nine says this is the fittest the decision. Super Cup in Budapest as a tage as Zverev rallied back points on serve throughout she’s felt since before getting Coming Nations League pilot that will begin to see the and served for the match at their second-round encounter. pregnant in 2017 but admits international matches in Sep- return of fans to our matches. 5-4, only to double-fault three Earlier, Serena Williams that she “hit a wall” midway times and get broken. was made to sweat in her open- through her match with Rus. That gave Murray the life- ing match before overcoming “At some point it’s going to line he needed as the two-time Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus get better. I don’t feel like I am Cincinnati champion took the Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Ricardas Berankis of Lithu- 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6 (7-0). doing anything bad,” said Wil- Ronaldinho leaves Paraguay next two games to set up a ania during the Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King Williams saved a set point liams of her level of play. last-16 showdown with Cana- National Tennis Center in New York on Monday. (Getty Images/AFP) in the tiebreak before taking Russian Number three after five months’ detention dian Milos Raonic, who beat a one-set lead in 60 minutes seed Daniil Medvedev com- Britain’s Dan Evans 6-3, 7-5. up to the tournament, I was “I think inside me, I have against the 72nd-ranked lefty. menced his Cincinnati title de- AFP “It was a big one to get getting belted by everyone. a very, very strong self-be- The 23-time Grand Slam sin- fence campaign with a smooth Asuncion through,” said Murray. But practice doesn’t really lief and know that I can win gles champion broke at the 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ameri- “If you watched my prac- matter. It’s what obviously you matches like that.” World start of the second set but lost can qualifierM arcos Giron to Former Brazil football tice sets and stuff in the build- do on the match court. number one Novak Djokovic four games in a row as the move into the third round. star Ronaldinho flew out of Paraguay in a private jet on Tuesday, television footage showed, heading for Rio de Janeiro after he spent five Ronaldinho arrives for his hear- Osaka finds her inner calm on court months in detention over a ing at the Asuncion’s Justice forged passport scandal. Palace, in Asuncion, Paraguay, citing a right shoulder problem. “For a while since Beijing I some of her fellow players on A judge on Monday re- on Tuesday. (AFP) Osaka, 22, played just two have been carrying this slight Instagram Live and is hoping leased Ronaldinho, 40, and tournaments at the start of shoulder injury, so it was really a to have come out of the last his brother, who had both residence” for a period of one 2020 – making the semi-fi- focus for me to get it better dur- five months a calmer and more been held for a month in jail year, the judge said. nals in Brisbane and the third ing quarantine. And I did,” said self-assured individual. and another four months un- “He has no restrictions ex- round at the Australian Open - the two-time major champion. “I think if I were to evalu- der house arrest in a hotel in cept for the fulfilment of repa- before losing her sole Fed Cup “So this is the first match ate myself or compare myself, the capital, Asuncion. rations for damage to society.” match in February. that I have played since Bei- I would say this is the first The brothers arrived in Dressed in jeans, a black In her first match back fol- jing without it hurting, and time in a long time I was kind Paraguay on March 4 with beret and black shirt at Mon- lowing the tour’s five-month I’m just really happy for that.” of calm, or just extremely fo- Ronaldinho, the 2005 Ballon day’s court hearing, Ronald- coronavirus-enforced hiatus, Osaka was on a mission dur- cused throughout the match d’Or winner, due to take part inho accepted the terms of his Naomi Osaka of Japan cools down between games against Karolina Osaka put in a clinical per- ing the tennis hiatus, not just and without showing any neg- in an event in support of dis- release, which include pay- Muchova of Czech Republic during the Western & Southern Open in formance to defeat Czech Re- to rehabilitate her shoulder ative emotions,” said Osaka. advantaged children. ment of $90,000 in damages. New York on Monday. (Getty Images/AFP) public’s Karolina Muchova in but also to step out of her shell “So that’s something that I However, two days later, the His brother Roberto de As- three sets on Monday to reach and become more outspoken. was really thinking about during pair were taken into police cus- sis Moreira, who is also Ron- DPA which she finally managed to the third round. She participated in pro- quarantine, like, what do I want tody when investigators raided aldinho’s business manager, New York recover from during the tennis The Japanese world num- tests in Minnesota following to gain from this when every- their hotel following the discov- must pay $110,000. tour’s suspension. ber 10, who is the highest-paid the killing of George Floyd by thing ends? For me, that was the ery they had fake documents. The judge stressed that he Naomi Osaka revealed at the The former world number female athlete in the world, fired police officers and was dis- thing I landed on, and hopefully The former World Cup was not issuing a “definitive Western & Southern Open in one concluded last season on an 12 aces and won 81 per cent of cussing social justice issues on it’s something that I can keep winner is now “free to travel to dismissal” of the case but that New York on Monday that she 11-match winning streak, but her first-serve points against social media. applying and keep growing and whatever country in the world Ronaldinho was benefitting had been dealing with a shoul- withdrew after her first match Muchova and later shared news The two-time Grand Slam keep trying to make it more of he wants but he must inform from a “conditional suspen- der injury since last October, at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen on the status of her shoulder. champion also interviewed my character.” us if he changes his permanent sion of the procedure.” Formula One adds four races to 2020 calendar, but China cut AFP this 17-race season possible,” pointed that we have not been Paris organisers said in a statement. able to return to some of our Formula One returns to planned races this year, we Four Grand Prix races, in Turkey for the first time since are confident our season has Turkey, Bahrain (two) and Abu 2011, with the Turkish Grand started well and will continue Dhabi, have been added to the Prix to be run at Istanbul Park to deliver plenty of excitement 2020 Formula One calendar, on November 15. with races that will entertain but the postponed Chinese GP That is followed by a all our fans.” has been cancelled, F1 organis- back-to-back double header Last month, Formula One ers announced on Tuesday. in Bahrain, with the Bahrain organisers scrapped the Grand The addition of the four Grand Prix on November 26 Prix races in the United States, races and the elimination of and the Sakhir Grand Prix on Mexico, Brazil and Canada, the Chinese Grand Prix in December 6. The season-con- but added three in Europe, Shanghai bring the race total cluding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix handing an F1 debut to Por- to 17 for the coronavirus-af- will take place at the Yas Ma- tugal’s Portimao track and a fected season. rina Circuit on December 13. “Due to the ongoing fluid- cluding travel restrictions and return for Germany’s Nurbur- “We can confirm that Tur- Formula One organisers Formula One will have a Turkish Grand Prix on the calendar for the ity of the COVID-19 pandemic local health procedures.” gring and Imola in Italy. key, Bahrain (hosting two rac- added that “a number of races first time since 2011. we continue to maintain close Chase Carey, chairman The sport was hit hard by es), and Abu Dhabi will be part in the revised 2020 season will dialogue with all promoters and CEO of Formula 1, said the COVID-19 pandemic, with of the revised season and want be open to a limited number of “While we want to see safety of the Formula 1 com- and local authorities to ensure this year had “presented For- the season postponed just to express our thanks to the fans, including hospitality, and as many fans as possible re- munity and the communities we operate in the safest way mula 1 and the world with an hours before the opening prac- hard work of all our promot- we are working with each pro- turn as soon as it is safe to do we visit, and we review fan possible and monitor each unprecedented challenge”. tice of the traditional curtain ers and partners in making moter to finalise the details”. so, our priority remains the access on this basis. national situation closely - in- “While we are all disap- raiser in Melbourne in March. 14 Wednesday, August 26, 2020 Sports

QSL unveils new ball ‘Clubs, players showed commitment during for 2020-21 season a challenging QNB Stars League season’

assan Rabiah Al Kuwari, added to this category under middle or the bottom. The General-Secretary of the the name of Best Video Assis- selection process is carried HBoard of Trustees of Qa- tant Referee (VAR). out according to previously- tar Football Association (QFA) In terms of Football for mentioned criteria, including Award, gave his takes on the All Award, presented to enti- performance, results and par- 2019-20 QNB Stars League sea- ties or people who contribute ticipation. But in the end, one son in general, nominees for this to the development and pro- winner will be selected from season’s Best Awards, selection motion of football, a number each category according to the mechanism, participants in the of names and entities were award mechanism. voting process and cancellation presented to the Board of of the award ceremony, among Trustees for selection. How were the partici- various other topics. pants in the voting process What do you think of the chosen? Hassan Rabiah, tell us candidates for voting in Since the inception of the about your evaluation of Hassan Rabiah Al Kuwari, General-Secretary, Board of Trustees, each category and awards award, one of the most impor- the 2019-20 season? Qatar Football Association. in general? tant factors to select the best It was a strong and difficult With regard to the nomi- has been the participation of season, which witnessed some emony was cancelled under in the voting process. A total of nees for each award, the names various stakeholders directly challenges that we overcame in the current circumstances to 54 forms were sent on Sunday, put up for voting are consid- related to Qatar football. On co-operation and co-ordination ensure the safety and security 23rd August, and the last day ered as the best according to top of the list are coaches, team with the authorities concerned of everyone and as part of the to return the filled-up forms the data of numbers, statistics, managers and national team and all partners. In this regard, country’s efforts to combat the is Tuesday, 25th August, after general performance and re- coaches, in addition to media I extend my sincere thanks and coronavirus (Covid-19) pan- which the forms are sorted and sults. The choice is presented representatives who actively appreciation to all entities that demic. Candidates and award presented to the Board of Trus- to all participants in the vot- cover the matches. worked with us and supported winners will be announced tees for approval of the final ing process to choose the most us, such as the Ministry of Inte- through the official websites results, and the winner in each distinguished in each cat- Do you feel that the coro- rior, Ministry of Public Health, and social media platforms of category is announced. egory, according to the names navirus (COVID-19) pan- Qatar Red Crescent, Supreme QFA and Qatar Stars League, specified and announced. demic, which led to the Committee for Delivery and as stated in the statement by How about the other suspension of football ac- Legacy, QFA and Aspetar. the Board of Trustees. awards? Are there any new There’ve been discussions tivity, has affected levels We also thank the clubs and awards this season? that some other names too and performance this sea- players for their commitment For the award nominees As for the other awards that deserved to be included in son after the resumption and professionalism through- this season, what’s the se- are not subject to voting, the each category. What’s your of competitions? The Qatar Stars League unveiled the ‘Derbystar’ ball to be used for out the season in general and lection mechanism and top-scorer award will be shared comment on the nomina- It’s certain that there was the upcoming 2020-21 QNB Stars League season. during the outbreak of corona- also the voting process? by Al Sadd’s Akram Afif and Al tions? some impact of the pandemic virus (Covid-19) in particular With regard to the awards Rayyan’s Yacine Brahimi (both It’s good to put up a large on the levels and performance as well as fans for their com- that are subject to voting, 15 goals). number of names that some of some players and through mitment to the instructions namely (Best Under-23 Player, Regarding award for the believe deserve to be included what we saw in some games and guidelines regarding the Best Coach and Best Player), the Best Referees, co-ordination in list of nominees and this during the last five rounds Coaches meet held to precautionary measures. number of candidates has been is being done with the Ref- reflects the high levelof play- of QNB Stars League. But in reduced and three names have erees’ Committee of QFA to ers and the extent of techni- general during the season, the discuss arrangements for Why was this season’s been approved in each category. nominate the outstanding cal quality of matches this technical levels in most of the QFA Award ceremony They are voted to choose the referees based on their per- season, as we witnessed great games were high and a number 2020-21 QNB Stars League cancelled? best as we send the forms to the formances. It should be noted competition at various levels of players exhibited distinct This season’s awards cer- parties authorized to participate that a new award has been and positions, be it at the top, and strong levels. (qsl.qa) Tribune News Network ing the 2019-20 league cham- Doha pionship and for their com- mitment to the protocol that As part of preparations and led to successful resumption arrangements being made of football activity and match- ahead of the launch of 2020- es. The importance of such 21 season QNB Stars League, meetings was emphasized, African national teams set to the Qatar Stars League (QSL) in line with the continuous held a co-ordination meeting communication process and with club coaches at its head- co-ordination with the aim of quarters in Al Bidda Tower, in developing football and rais- resume playing in October accordance with the precau- ing the technical standards of tionary measures and general tournaments and players. plan, in the presence of Mr. At the meeting, the general AFP club competitions with 34 and Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Exec- plan for the 2020-21 season’s Johannesburg In light of the current COVID-19 17 titles respectively. utive Director of Competitions league championship, which After considerable tinker- and Football Development at will start on 3rd September, African national teams are situation, FIFA and the Asian ing, CAF decided to stage two- the QSL, Neji Jouini, Execu- was reviewed. Preparations set to resume playing this Oc- Confederation (AFC) jointly leg semi-finals, with the venue tive Director of the Referees being made by the clubs and tober, according to CAF, with a for the single-match final de- Department of Qatar Football the health protocol for the next nine-day window available for decided that the upcoming pendant on who qualifies. Association, and its members stage were discussed in addi- friendly matches ahead of 2022 A Raja Casablanca-Wydad Abdullah Al Balooshi as well tion to the remarks by some Cup of Nations qualifiers one qualifying matches for the FIFA Casablanca finalwill be in Mo- as Khaled Saleh. coaches and attendees, which month later. World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC rocco, an Ahly-Zamalek final The attendees thanked the were taken into account, and No international matches in Egypt and a neutral venue efforts made by all clubs dur- queries were answered. have been possible in the con- Asian Cup China 2023, originally will be chosen should the title tinent this year due to the cor- scheduled to take place during decider involve a club from onavirus pandemic, leading each nation. to new dates for both Cup of the international match windows Dates: Semi-finals, first Nations and 2022 World Cup legs - Sept 25/26, second legs Asian Handball Federation eliminators. in October and November 2020, - Oct 2/3; final - single match Clubs have also been badly will be rescheduled to 2021. date, venue to be announced announces new dates affected by the COVID-19 out- break with the semi-finals and CAF Confederation QNA finals of theC AF Champions Only Mali among the 10 the lacklustre form of record uled for January in Cameroon. Cup: The format for the Afri- Kuwait League and CAF Confederation favourites have not qualified seven-time champions Egypt, Four venues in Douala, can equivalent of the Europa Cup, originally set for May, yet before and the Eagles could who could only draw with Ken- Limbe and Yaounde will host League will differ from the CAF The Asian Handball Federa- to be played. face strong competition from ya and the Comoros. the 16 teams over 22 days with Champions League with sin- tion announced new dates for Here, AFP Sport updates Uganda and Kenya in Group D Those setbacks left the Morocco hoping to become gle matches deciding both the the 2020 Asian Champion- the positions regarding the for the single final-round place. Pharaohs, whose star is Liver- the firstnation to win back-to- semi-finals and the final. ships, which were postponed main national team and club Dates: First round: pool sharpshooter Mohamed back titles. Morocco will stage the ‘final due to the coronavirus (COV- competitions in Africa. May 31-June 15 2021, Aug Salah, third in the Group G Togo will be the only debu- four’ tournament and two clubs ID-19) pandemic. 30-Sept 7, Oct 4-12 (all two table ahead of home and away tants, having shocked 2019 from the kingdom, Renaissance The second Asian Youth World Cup: The two-leg matchdays); play-offs: Nov clashes with unpredictable runners-up Nigeria 4-3 on ag- Berkane and Hassania Agadir, Beach Handball Champion- preliminary round was com- 8-16 (two legs) Togo this year. gregate. Other casualties of meet at the penultimate stage. ship (World Championship pleted last year before the pan- Dates: Nov 9-17, Mar regional qualifying included African debutants Pyra- Qualifiers 2022) will be held pionship from March 3-11. demic took hold, leaving 40 Africa Cup of Nations 22-30 2021 (both two Ghana and the Ivory Coast. mids of Egypt are in the other from Feb. 15-22, 2021 in Bang- The 17th Asian Junior contenders for five places at the Qualifying for the 2022 matchdays) Dates: January 2021 semi-final against Horoya of kok, Thailand. The 9th Asian Handball Championship 2022 World Cup in Qatar. tournament in Cameroon (dates to be announced) Guinea, the only non-north Youth Handball Champion- (World Championship Quali- African champions Algeria, will resume this November African Nations Cham- African survivors in either ship (World Championship fiers - Hungary 2021) will be Cameroon, the Democratic Re- with two matchdays and be pionship: The biennial tour- CAF Champions club competition. Qualifiers - Greece 2021) will held from March 20-29, 2021, public of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, completed with two further nament for footballers playing League: The semi-finalists Dates: Semi-finals -be held from March 1-12 in Al- in Shiraz, Iran, while the Asian Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Sen- rounds next March. in their country of birth was come from Egypt and Mo- Sept 22; final - Sept 27 (all maty, Kazakhstan, which also Handball Club League Cham- egal and Tunisia are seeded to The biggest surprise during among the first victims of coro- rocco, the first and third most single matches hosted by hosts the fifth Asian Women’s pionship will be held from May win the 10 first-round groups. the opening two matchdays was navirus and has been resched- successful countries in CAF Morocco). Club League Handball Cham- 20-31 in Jeddah. Overwhelming response for Katara International Chess Tournament over the world with 10,000 The Qualifiers it continues in this approach for their support and coopera- 12 Grand Masters participants showing their by holding the Katara Inter- tion in organising this tourna- prowess and over 2000 spec- For final on August 26 national Chess Championship ment. The Katara Internation- and 3 IMs qualify tators watching online. GM Naroditsky Daniel, USA (146 pts) which this year has a special al Chess Championship 2020 The first three qualifying touch since it is being online is being held for the first time GM Firouzja Alireza, Iran (135) for final besides stages were held on Monday given the coronavirus pan- from a distance. QCF has or- world champion (Aug 24) while the final round GM Sarana Alexey, Russia (127) demic and following the pre- ganised many local and inter- will be played on Wednesday GM Martirosyan M, Armenia (126) cautionary measures taken by national tournaments remote- Magnus Carlsen (Aug 26). IM Rothuis Vincent, Netherlands (126) the official authorities to pre- ly during the past period and A whopping 235 Grand GM Sargsyan Shant, Armenia (121) vent the spread of COVID-19. this championship is witness- Tribune News Network Masters and 207 International GM Mamedov Rauf, Azerbaijan (119) “We are happy with this ing the participation of world Doha Masters were engaged in keen fruitful cooperation with QCA champion Magnus Carlsen GM Erigaisi Arjun, India (116) matches that eventually saw 15 in organising this internation- which will add to the value and The Katara International players qualify for the final to IM Taher Theolifus, Indonesia (115) al tournament and we annouce excitement of the tournament. Chess Online “Bullet” Tour- be played on August 26 along GM Grachev Boris, Russia (114) the launch of this new edition.” “We again thank Katara and nament 2020, organised by with world champion GM GM Tang Andrew, USA (112) Mohammed Ahmed Al Dr. Khaled Al Sulaiti and we the Qatar Chess Association Magnus Carlsen. IM Beerdsen T, Netherlands (110) Mudahka, President, QCA, highly appreciate their efforts in (QCA) in collaboration with Earlier speaking the start GM Paravyan David, Russia (109) said, “The Qatar Chess Federa- supporting various sports and Cultural Village Katara has of the tournament, Dr. Khalid ways been keen to support ising and hosting a number tion extends its sincere thanks cultural activities. We hope this received an overwhelming re- bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, CEO, sports activities and spread of important local and inter- GM Sadhwani Raunak, India (109) and gratitude to the Cultural cooperation will continue in the sponse from players from all Katara, said, “Katara has al- the culture of sport by organ- national sporting events, and GM Svane Rasmus, Germany (107) Village Foundation, Katara, coming years,” he added.