14 Wednesday, January 8, 2020 Sports Olympics qualification up for grabs as Thailand 2020 kicks off today AFC the four groups will progress BANGKOK into the knockout phase from where the top three sides are ASIA’s rising stars will look guaranteed spots at this year’s to clinch both Continental Olympic Games.. glory and qualification for the The matches are scheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to be played at four venues in when the AFC U23 Champi- Thailand, namely Bangkok’s onship begins in Thailand on iconic Rajamangala Stadium Wednesday. – which will play host to the fi- A total of 16 teams will nal – the Thammasat Stadium look to succeed Uzbekistan fol- in Pathum Thani, Songkhla’s lowing their 2-1 triumph over Tinsulanon Stadium and the Vietnam two years ago and Buriram Stadium. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim The three previous edi- al Khalifa, the AFC President, 2016 runners-up Korea Re- tions of the tournament have has sent his best wishes to the public, China PR and the Is- all featured players who have Continent’s future stars. lamic Republic of Iran, they subsequently developed into The AFC President said: will attempt to become the key performers for both club “Asia is home to some out- first team to retain the title. and country. standing emerging talent and In the other action, Viet- Players such as Japanese the AFC U23 Championship nam, whose journey to the ace Shoya Nakajima, Iranian underlines our ambitions to Qatar national U-23 players during a training session ahead of their AFC U-23 Championship opener. Qatar are in Group B alongside Japan, 2018 final was no less than goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand provide a world-class plat- Saudi Arabia and Syria. They open their campaign against Syria on Thursday at the Thammasat Stadium. remarkable, feature in a and Thai dynamo Chanathip form for our players and tough looking Group D that Songkrasin have all gone on teams to shine. Continent in Japan. The action starts on weights Iraq, who claimed Afif to the fore, beat Korea will also have DPR Korea, to become superstars of Asian “The tournament offers a “On behalf of the Asian Wednesday in Group A where the title in 2013 and finished Republic to finish third. Al Jordan and the United Arab football after gracing the AFC chance to see stars in the mak- football family, I wish all Thailand, with former Japan third three years later. Annabi will have 2016 title Emirates vying to go through U23 Championship. ing - the players who will be our teams the very best of head coach Akira Nishino in Group B features a Qatar winners Japan and the West to the quarter-finals. This time, and with dual looking to earn their places luck and we also convey our charge, will look to make the side – under the guidance of Asian duo of Saudi Arabia The competition runs targets in their sights, there in the FIFA World Cup Qatar heartfelt appreciation to FA most of the home support as 2019 AFC Asian Cup winner and Syria for company. from January 8 until 26, 2020 promises to be yet more drama 2022 and the AFC Asian Cup Thailand for their dedication they bid to progress. Felix Sanchez – who are ea- Ljubinko Drulovic’s reign- with the Video Assistant Ref- in store for Asia’s next gen- China 2023, as well as this in providing the best possible Thailand have been ger to improve on their U23 ing champions Uzbekistan eree system (VAR) being used eration of stars as they seek to summer’s Olympic Games, environment for the teams drawn alongside Australia, 2018 performance when, begin their title defence in throughout, the teams finish- etch their own names in the which returns to our great and players.” Bahrain and U23 heavy- with Almoez Ali and Akram Group C where, alongside ing first and second in each of history books. Madibo says Al Duhail ready Qatar Cup trophy tour launched Saini, Thakur help to defend Qatar Cup title TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK What can you promise the India cruise to T20 DOHA Al Duhail fans? Certainly, we promise them ASSIM Madibo is one of the to fight on the field and work to win over Sri Lanka main midfielders of Al Duhail make them happy. and Qatar national team. AFP SCOREBOARD Having returned from an What’re your expectations INDORE injury layoff recently, he is in the tournament? SRI LANKA ready with full force as they God willing, we’ll live up to FAST bowler Navdeep Saini led D. Gunathilaka b Saini ....................................... 20 A. Fernando c Saini b Sundar ............................ 22 get ready to take on Al Sailiya expectations. Teamwork is our a disciplined Indian bowling K. Perera c Dhawan b Yadav ............................... 34 in the first semi-final of Qatar main weapon. We always put up performance to set up a seven- O. Fernando st Pant b Yadav .............................. 10 Cup at the Al Sadd Stadium a collective performance, which wicket win over Sri Lanka in the B. Rajapaksa c Pant b Saini ..................................9 on Friday. In an exclusive in- helps us to many victories. second Twenty20 international D. Shanaka b Bumrah ...........................................7 D. de Silva c Dube b Thakur ............................... 17 terview with qsl.qa ahead of in Indore on Tuesday. W. Hasaranga not out ......................................... 16 their 2020 Qatar Cup semifi- Your view on the semifinal Saini returned impres- I. Udana c Saini b Thakur ......................................1 nal against Al Sailiya, Assim against Al Sailiya? The trophy tour of 2020 Qatar Cup was launched at the Al Bidda Tower on Tuesday. The tournament, in its sive figures of 2-18 while fel- L. Malinga c Yadav b Thakur ..................................0 spoke about various topics. It’s a game that won’t be sixth edition, will be held from January 10 to 17 with the participation of the top-four clubs in the 2018- low paceman Shardul Thakur L. Kumara not out ................................................ 0 Extras (b1, lb1, w4) ..............................................6 easy for us or for Al Sailiya. Both 19 season QNB Stars League (Al Sadd, Al Duhail, Al Sailiya and Al Rayyan). The tour was inaugurated in claimed three wickets to help Total (9 wickets, 20 overs) ...............................142 How do you prepare for teams want to reach the final. I the presence of QFA Vice-President Saud Abdulaziz al Mohannadi and Board Member Ahmed Abdulaziz restrict Sri Lanka to 142 for Fall of wickets: 1-38 (A. Fernando), 2-54 this competition? think Al Sailiya won’t be easy al Boenain. Players from the participating teams were also on hand for the launch. It may be noted that nine, a total the hosts surpassed (Gunathilaka), 3-82 (O. Fernando), 4-97 (Perera), Our team started preparing opponents for us and that will the Trophy Tour will continue in the coming days with scheduled visits, which include many public places in 17.3 overs to take a 1-0 lead 5-104 (Rajapaksa), 6-117 (Shanaka), 7-128 (De Silva), 8-130 (Udana), 9-130 (Malinga) Bowling: for this cup early. The desire of make the game exciting. and institutions, as well as a number of universities and schools, in order to introduce the tournament and in the three-match series. The Bumrah 4-0-32-1 (2w), Thakur 4-0-23-3 (1w), Saini all people associated with the encourage fans to be at the venue and support the teams. opening match was rained off. 4-0-18-2 (1w), Sundar 4-0-29-1, Yadav 4-0-38-2 club is to put up an honorable Do Al Duhail have the abil- “This was a clinical perfor- INDIA (TARGET 143) KL Rahul b Hasaranga ....................................... 45 performance. ity to beat Al Sailiya? mance, and that’s how we want S. Dhawan lbw b Hasaranga .............................. 32 Yes, we’ve the ability to win to build on each series. We have S. Iyer c Shanaka b Kumara ............................... 34 this game. We’ve the desire to ticked a few more boxes this V. Kohli not out ................................................... 30 do it. We were champions in the Liverpool sign kit deal with Nike time,” said skipper Virat Kohli. R. Pant not out ......................................................1 Extras (b1, lb1) ....................................................2 last edition. We must fight to “Brilliant from Navdeep. He Total (2 wickets, 17.3 overs) ...........................144 keep the title in our club. AFP officer Billy Hogan. and general manager of Nike has done well in ODI cricket, and Did not bat: S. Dube, W. Sundar, K. Yadav, S. Thakur, LONDON “We welcome Nike into the Europe, Middle East and Af- he’s bowling well in T20s, with N. Saini, J. Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Rahul), What’re your targets in the LFC family as our new official rica, said: “Liverpool Football experienced guys like Jasprit 2-86 (Dhawan), 3-137 (Iyer) Bowling: Malinga 4-0- 41-0, Kumara 3.3-0-30-1, De Silva 2-0-15-0, tournament? LIVERPOOL have struck a kit kit supplier and expect them to Club has such a proud heritage (Bumrah), Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Shanaka 4-0-26-0, Hasaranga 4-0-30-2 Al Duhail have a clear target deal with Nike from the 2020- be an incredible partner for the and strong identity. Kumar) and Shardul. It’s a really Toss: India Result: India won by 7 wickets in every tournament, which is 21 season to replace New Bal- club, both at home and glob- “The partnership with good sign for the team.” Series: India lead the three-match series 1-0 to win the title. This is a pres- ance, the Premier League lead- ally as we continue to expand Liverpool FC underscores The 27-year-old Saini, who tigious tournament for all play- ers announced on Tuesday.