Jarry stuns world No. 3 Zverev in Barcelna Open second round PAGE 18

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019

Qatar’s Mubaraka enters Jordan IPL junior quarters PAGE 19 RCB VS KXIP FEMI DOUBTFUL FOR 200M FINAL Qatari hammer duo through to finals; China disqualified in men’s 4x100m relay finals of Asian Athletics Championships

Qatar’s Femi Ogunode (right) in action during the men’s 200m semi-finals of the 200m race at the Asian Athletics Championships at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. (PHOTOGRAPHS: HANSON K JOSEPH) Chinese runners celebrate with the gold medal after winning the women’s 4x100m Relay on Tuesday.

AYENI OLUSEGUN his season best 74.92m men’s 4x100m as China were Shitaye Habtegebrel set a new DOHA while the Olympic cham- disqualified for lane infringe- record in the women’s 10,000m pion Nazarov also had a sea- ment after winning what would with a time of 31:15.62 ahead ANOTHER spectacular day at son best 71.46m. Ahmed El have been a consecutive Asian of Japan’s Hitomi Niiya. In- the Asian Athletics Champion- Sify raised hopes of another Championships gold medal. dia’s Baburao Sanjivani Jad- ships saw more championship medal for Qatar after the The disqualification means hav claimed another bronze to records set at the Khalifa Inter- hotly-contested qualifying Thailand were upgraded to gold add to her 2017 medal in the national Stadium on Tuesday. stage. Tajik who is president while Chinese Taipei and Oman 5000m. For the hosts Qatar, it was a of his country’s federation, bagged silver and bronze, re- China have won the most bittersweet day as 200m Asian has only lost once in the con- spectively. medals with six gold, nine silver record holder Femi Ogunode tinent when he was beaten at Former Asian champion and six bronze medals. despite qualifying for the fi- the Asian Games last year by nals with the best time (20.63) El Seify. RESULTS seemed to pick up a hamstring China scorched the track injury in the process. Ogunode in the women’s 4x100m relay TUESDAY’S FINALS RESULTS 2. Rui Zeng (CHN) 13.65 who also holds the record in setting a new championship Women’s 3000m Steeplechase 3. V. Heenatimullage Dona (SRI) 13.53 1. Winfred Mutile Yavi (BRN) 9:46.18 (SB) 100m, dominated from the record and world lead in the 2. Shuangshuang Xu (CHN) 9:51.76 (SB) Women’s High Jump heats and semis but clutched process. The Chinese team 3. Tigest Mekonen (BRN) 9:53.96 (SB) 1. Nadezhda Dusanova (UZB) 1.90m his left hamstring immediately clocked 42.87secs to surpass 2. Nadezhda Dubovitskaya (KAZ) 1.88 after the race. their previous record set at the Women’s Heptathlon 3. Svetlana Radzivil (UZB) 1.88 1. Ekaterina Vornina (UZB) 6198 pts (WL) “It didn’t go well,” moaned Wuhan meet in 2015. Kazakh- 2. Swapna Barman (IND) 5993 (SB) 4x400m Mixed Relay the former Asian Athlete of the stan claimed silver led by 100m 3. Qingling Wang (CHN) 5829 (SB) 1. Bahrain 3:15.75 Year. “My left hamstring hurts. record holder Olga Safronova 2. India 3:16.47 I am not sure I will be able to while Bahrain completed the Japanese gold medallist Keisuke Ushiro is flanked by silver medallist Majed Alzaid (left) and compatriot Men’s Decathlon 3. Japan 3:20.29 1. Keisuke Ushiro (JPN) 7872 pts compete in the final,” he said podium. Ahiko Nakamura after the prize distribution ceremony of the decathlon on Tuesday. 2. Majed al-Zaid (KUW) 7838 (NR) Women’s 10000m as his participation in the final “We wanted to win badly 3. Akhiko Nakamura (JPN) 7837 1. Shitaye Habtegebrel (BRN) 3:15.62 (CR) remains in doubt. today,” said Liang Xiaojing. pressive showing particularly in event,” she added. Ushiro scooped up the gold 2. Hitomi Niiya (JPN) 31:22.63 Philippines’ Eric Cray was “We lost to Bahrain in the last the javelin. India’s Barman, who fin- medal with (7,872). Women’s Pole Vault 3. Sanjivani Baburao Jadhav (IND) 32:44.96 1. Ling Li (CHN) 4.61m disqualified in the semis heat championships and we know “I won in the Asian Games ished second said, “I had a Asian Games gold medallist 2. Huiqin Xu (CHN) 4.36 TODAY’S FINALS three after a false start. we can do better at the worlds in 2014 and the 2015 Asian discomfort in my ankle for the Li Ling continued her continen- 3. Natalierose Uy (PHI) 4.20 5:04pm Discus Throw (Women) Qatar boosted hopes for later this year.” Championships, but I missed past two weeks, which affect- tal dominance as the Chinese 5:05pm 100m Hurdles (Women) more medals on the final day In the women’s heptathlon, the 2017 edition to have my ed my performance. I believe cruised to victory in the wom- Women’s 4x100m Relay 5:15pm 110m Hurdles (Men) 1. China 42.87 secs (CR) 5:30pm 200m (Women) on Wednesday as both Khamis former Asian champion Ekate- daughter. It feels good to be I lost the gold medal in the en’s pole vault. 2. Kazakhstan 43.36 5:36pm High Jump (Men) Saifeldin Muhand and Musaab rina Vornina set the 2019 world back on top,” the 27-year-old javelin which is my weakest “That’s my third Asian 3. Bahrain 43.61 5:46pm Long Jump (Men) Ali both qualified for the men’s lead as she blitzed to gold ahead from Uzbekistan said. event.” Championships title but I also 5:48pm 200m (Men) Men’s 4x100m Relay 6:06pm 1500m (Women) 1,500m final. of India’s Swapna Barman “I was well prepared to win Japan’s Akhiko Nakamura wanted to break the Games’ re- 1. Thailand 38.99 6:24pm 1500m (Men) Ashraf Amgad El Seify and Wang Qingling of China. but also to break the national edged Kuwait’s Majed Alzaid cord,” said the 29-year-old who 2. Chinese Taipei 39.18 (PB) 6:50pm Hammer Throw (Men) pipped favourite Tajikistan’s The 2015 AAC champion, had record (6,212) points, I was (7,837) to silver in the men’s had various attempts at the re- 3. Oman 39.36 (PB, NR) 6:53pm 5000m (Men) Dilshod Nazarov in the quali- missed the 2017 edition to give close. The turning point for me decathlon, setting a new na- cord she set in 2015 after seal- Women’s Triple Jump 7:30pm 4x400m (Women) fying round for the men’s birth to her daughter, but she I believe was the javelin throw. tional record (7,838 points). ing her third gold. 1. Parinya Chuaimaroeng (THA) 13.72m 7:50pm 4x400m (Men) hammer throw. Ashraf threw returned to the field with an im- I felt I would win after this Another Japanese Keisuke There was drama in the Almoez, Nakajima on target in Al Duhail’s victory

goal for Shoya Nakajima. The Qatari club were dominant and The Japanese international intelligently stepped over the inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Al Ain ball, pulling two defenders away from El Arabi who found AFC.COM er and crossing back to the Qa- all the time in the world to ap- AL AIN tari international whose diving ply the finish for his third goal header nestled into the back of of the campaign. AL Duhail maintained their po- Khaled Eisa’s net. Al Duhail played pragmati- sition in second place of Group Al Ain quickly regrouped cally after their second goal C of the 2019 AFC Champions and tried to get back into the and relied on the counter-at- League with a 2-0 victory over game. Bandar Al Ahbabi sent tack. Ali Afif came closest from Al Ain at the Hazza Bin Zayed his free-kick just over the one after being set up by El Stadium on Tuesday. crossbar and Ahmed Barman Arabi, but the midfielder’s shot Al Ain had been with- shot wide all inside the open- from the left side crept wide of out a win in their previous ing 20 minutes. Edmilson ex- the upright. three encounters against changed passes with Youssef A first win in three matches Al Duhail, having lost both El Arabi before shooting from for Al Duhail keeps them at legs in the 2018 Round of 16 distance, but his strike was the heart of competition, with and snatched a 2-2 draw in held by Eisa as the first half seven points, just two behind Matchday Three in Doha two ended with a one-goal advan- group leaders Al Hilal. weeks ago. tage for the away side. Al Ain, meanwhile, drift The visitors started with a Rui Faria’s men doubled further off the pace with two bang, opening the scoring after their lead in style in the 66th points from four games. Their just three minutes through Al- minute. A fine passage of pass- hopes are, however, still alive. moez Ali. ing football saw the ball reach The 2016 finalists need to win Edmilson collected Ali’s Ali down the left wing, and the their remaining fixtures and pass and advanced down the striker evaded a defender and wait for other results to help right, dribbling past his mark- squared it across the mouth of them. Al Duhail defenders clear the ball against Al Ain of the UAE during their AFC Champions League football match in Al Ain on Tuesday. 18 Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Sports

News Jarry stuns Zverev in in brief Hip injury forces Halep to pull out of Stuttgart Open

STUTTGART: World number two Simona Halep said she has been forced to withdraw from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart after suffering a hip injury in the Fed Cup over the weekend. Halep sustained the injury in the Fed Cup semi-finals when The world No. 3 had a match point against the Chilean rival but failed to convert it she beat France’s Caroline Garcia on Sunday. The win was in vain as France won the tie and advanced to the final. AFP “It was against Garcia in the first set, when I fell down,” BARCELONA Halep told reporters on Tuesday. “I felt pain in the hip. If I’m not 100 percent I don’t want to step on the court. ALEXANDER Zverev’s disap- “I’m also exhausted mentally because I gave my everything pointing season continued on in that tie but unfortunately we couldn’t win. That’s why I decided Tuesday as the world number to pull out, because I have to think about my health first. three was beaten by lucky loser “It feels bad because I gave everything, I really wanted to win Nicolas Jarry in the second the Fed Cup. I’ve been very sad the last two days, I just need to round of the Barcelona Open. recover mentally and physically and then just start again.” Zverev spurned a match Halep’s withdrawal means she will now rely on next month’s point at 6-5 and then a 3-0 lead tournaments in Madrid and Rome to prepare for her in the final-set tie-break before defence of the French Open title. going down 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7/5) to Jarry, ranked 81st in the world. Jarry had even lost in Kevin Anderson to skip clay season due qualifying to Spain’s Marcel to hip injury Granollers but, after being given a reprieve, knocked out JOHANNESBURG: Kevin Anderson has pulled out of all clay the same opponent in the first tournaments this season, including next month’s French Open, round to set up a meeting with to give himself time to recover from an elbow injury, the South Zverev, long-considered a fu- African said on Tuesday. ture star of the men’s game. The big-serving 32-year-old, who also withdrew from Indian The Chilean had upset both Wells and the Mote Carlo Masters this year, last played at the Marin Cilic in Shanghai and Miami Open last month where he was ousted in the quarter- in Hamburg finals by eventual champion . last year but this was the big- “I will unfortunately be missing the clay season this year,” Anderson said in a statement on Twitter. “After discussing with my doctors and team, we thought the best decision is to rest RESULTS and rehab my elbow injury for a few more weeks. Results from the Barcelona Open on “I will keep working hard each day to get healthy again in Tuesday (x denotes seeding): time for (the) grass (season). I’m very disappointed to be miss- First round ing Estoril, Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros... but I know this (ESP) bt (GER) 6-3, 6-1 Nicola Kuhn (ESP) bt Federico Del Bonis (ARG) 7-6 is the right decision for the long term in my career.” (7/3), 4-6, 6-2 Christian Garin (CHI) bt Martin Klizan (SVK) 7-5, 6-4 Malek Jaziri (TUN) bt Guido Andreozzi (ARG) 6-7 Frappart set to become first female (3/7), 6-4, 6-2 Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) bt Cameron Norrie Ligue 1 referee (GBR) 6-2, 6-2 Alexander Zverev: The German continues to have a poor clay season as he lost to Chile’s Nocolas Jarry (inset) in the second round. PARIS: Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman to ref- Second round Jaume Munar (ESP) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x14) Federer and Novak Djokovic from a slow start to beat Amer- seed Alexander Zverev in the eree a French Ligue 1 match when Amiens host Strasbourg on 6-4, 6-3 en route to winning the ATP Zverev spurned a match ican Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-2. The second round. April 28, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Tuesday. Kei Nishikori (JPN x4) bt Taylor Fritz (USA) 7-5, 6-2 Finals at the end of last year point at 6-5 and then a world number seven will be up Elsewhere, Fernando Ver- Frappart, the only referee from France who will be officiat- Nicolas Jarry (CHI) bt Alexander Zverev (GER x2) 3-6, but has since struggled to against either Canadian Felix dasco beat fellow Spaniard ing at the Women’s World Cup to be held there this June, was 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) 3-0 lead in the final-set maintain momentum. tie-break before going Auger-Aliassime or Tunisia’s Feliciano Lopez 6-4 6-3 on the also the first woman to officiate a Ligue 2 (second-tier) match. He lost in the fourth round down 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7/5) to Malek Jaziri for a place in the Rafa Nadal Court, while Ar- “Stephanie Frappart, selected by FIFA for the Women’s gest victory of his career and at the Australian Open in Jan- quarter-finals. gentina’s Diego Schwartzman World Cup in France, has been appointed by the FFF Referee- another setback for Zverev, uary and has now failed to win Jarry, ranked 81st in the On Monday, home fa- came back from a set down to ing Direction for the match on the 34th day of Ligue 1 between with just over a month to go more than a single match for a world. vourite see off Japan’s Yoshihito Nish- Amiens SC and RC Strasbourg,” the FFF said in a statement before the start of the French fifth tournament in a row. was the main casualty on ioka 4-6 6-4 6-2. https://www.fff.fr/actualites/185186-stephanie-frappart-en- Open. Jarry, meanwhile, will face highest ranked seed left in the the opening day of the tour- Leonardo Mayer beat big- ligue-1?themePath=arbitrer. Zverev had taken a late either Bulgaria’s Grigor Dim- bottom half. nament amidst murky, grey serving Romanian Marius Frappart is not the first woman to officiate a top-flight wildcard in Barcelona in search itrov or veteran Spaniard Fer- Nishikori, Barcelona skies in Catalonia. Copil 6-3 6-7(3) 7-5 to set up men’s game in Europe’s top leagues. Germany’s Bibiana Stein- of both matches and form after nando Verdasco in the third champion in 2014 and 2015, The Spaniard was beaten a second round meeting with haus became the first woman to officiate a Bundesliga match a string of surprise defeats. round on Thursday, with Ja- has also been out of form in 7-5 4-6 6-4 by Chilean Nico- 11-times champion and top in 2017 when Hertha Berlin drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen. The 22-year-old beat Roger pan’s Kei Nishikori now the recent weeks but recovered las Jarry, who will face second seed . Antetokounmpo fires Old Trafford holds no fears for Guardiola AFP Bucks to crush Pistons MANCHESTER MANCHESTER City manager Jazz stave off Pep Guardiola said Old Traf- ford is no longer a “scary” place elimination to visit ahead of Wednesday’s derby at the home of Manches- AFP ter United. LOS ANGELES Victory for City in the Pre- mier League clash will keep THE Milwaukee Bucks wiped the reigning champions on away 18 years of frustration on course to become the first team Monday by beating the Detroit in English football history to Pistons 127-104 to complete a win a treble of all three major four-game sweep of their first domestic trophies in the same round Eastern Conference season. playoff series. City boast an impressive Giannis Antetokounmpo run of five wins and a draw in scored 41 points as the Bucks their last seven league visits to reached the second round of Old Trafford -- a sequence that the postseason for the first Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is fouled by includes 6-1 and 3-0 victories. time since the 2000-01 season Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) in the second half of their Guardiola, however, refused when they made it all the way NBA Eastern Conference playoff at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, to use that form guide as a rea- to the NBA semi-finals. MI, USA on Monday. (USA TODAY SPORTS) son for confidence, although he Top-seeded Milwaukee accepted a trip to Old Trafford cruised through the first three ounmpo said. “Chicago, the and another one, and another was not as daunting as in previ- Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (right) gestures while Tottenham Hotspur’s Argentinian games and after a slow start in last game, game six, they beat one.” ous years. head coach Mauricio Pochettino instructs his players during the English Premier League football match at game four, they took control us by 50 or something insane. Jae Crowder added 23 “I don’t make theories about the Etihad Stadium in Manchester recently. (AFP) late and won by a comfortable But where we were and where points, Ricky Rubio tallied what happened in the past for 23 points. we are right now, it’s been an 18 points and 11 assists and what is going to happen in the ing on the derby. he can play one or two more “I think it’s important unbelievable journey.” Derrick Favors finished with future,” Guardiola told report- “A little bit, yeah but even a Guardiola, however, games this season and next sea- that we take a second tonight. Milwaukee finished the 12 points and 11 rebounds for ers on Tuesday. good result, the confidence will refused to use that form son make a good pre-season.” Enjoy it,” Bucks coach Mike third quarter with a 17-3 run, Utah, who trail three games to “Every game is completely be higher,” said Guardiola when guide as a reason for con- Meanwhile Guardiola de- Budenholzer said. “It’s a good taking a 10-point lead into the one. different. The reason why is the asked if United’s defeat by Ever- fidence, although he nied claims that winger Riyad night for Milwaukee. It’s a fourth after the Pistons had Utah outscored Houston fact this club in the last decade ton made his task harder. accepted a trip to Old Mahrez -- the club’s £60 million good night for the Bucks.” led much of the way. 31-12 in the fourth quarter to grew a lot and it is not scary to “It is a derby and all the Trafford was not as daunt- ($78 million, 69 million euros) Breaking their streak of The Blake Griffin-led Pis- set up game five on Wednes- go there. times we play against United, ing as in previous years. record signing from Leicester eight straight playoff exits so tons set an NBA record with day. “Before it was maybe more the derbies are always special last season -- is unhappy at his quickly means Milwaukee has their 14th consecutive playoff James Harden scored 30 difficult. The players Manches- games and the players do their lack of first-team opportunities more time to prepare for their loss, a losing skid that began points to lead Houston. Chris ter City had in the last decade best for the fans, the club.” to hamper the Belgian in a and keen to move on from City. next opponent -- the Boston in 2008. Paul added 23 points, eight re- made this game a little bit more The Catalan boss added: “I campaign that has seen him “Riyad will be with us for Celtics, who are coming off a Milwaukee were also the bounds and seven assists. Eric equal.” saw the game, I imagine what plagued by knee trouble and the next season here and the sweep of Indiana. second team in playoff his- Gordon tallied 16 points. Man City can move one will happen against us. The Guardiola said De Bruyne next one and the next one,” he The Bucks matched their tory to sweep their first round The Rockets shot a dis- point clear of title rivals Liver- game against Everton is over.” would required a concerted said. regular season dominance series by at least 15 points in mal 17 of 46 from three-point pool at the top of the table head- training programme ahead of “I don’t need to speak with over the Pistons, winning all each game, joining the 1980 range. ing into their final three games De Bruyne injured next season. him. He will be with us next four games. They had met in Celtics. of the season with victory over City will visit Old Trafford “Muscular problems, he season,” the former Barcelona the postseason four times with Elsewhere, Donovan Results United. without inspirational playmak- had two or three,” recalled and Bayern Munich boss add- Results from the first round of the NBA the Pistons winning them all. Mitchell scored 19 of his 31 playoffs on Monday (all series best-of-seven): This latest derby takes place er Kevin De Bruyne who suf- Guardiola. ed. “He is a player for us. We Antetokounmpo had a points in the fourth quarter against the backdrop of United’s fered a hamstring injury in the “In England you don’t have are delighted with him and the quiet night in game three with as the Utah Jazz staved off Eastern Conference woeful 4-0 loss away to Everton weekend win over Tottenham time to make a preparation. way he plays. just 14 points but he had all his elimination in game four with Milwaukee 127 Detoit 104 on Sunday, a lacklustre display Hotspur that came just days “You play every three “He is happy we are here. weapons at his disposal in the a 107-91 victory over the Hou- (Milwaukee wins series 4-0) that was roundly criticised. after a dramatic Champions days that is not the best way. Everyone knows the competi- close-out game. ston Rockets. Western Conference Guardiola, however, did not League semi-final loss to Spurs You have to make a good pre- tion we have here. He came last “I remember our first play- “It’s not over,” Mitchell Utah 107 Houston 91 expect the Goodison Park per- ended hopes of a quadruple. season. Now he has to pay at- season to stay longer. It is not off series (in 2015),” Antetok- said. “We have another one, (Houston leads series 3-1) formance to have a major bear- It is the latest problem tention, the little details, see if necessary to speak to him.” Sports Wednesday, April 24, 2019 19 GCC Tennis Championship Small tweaks in to begin in Doha today

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Jordan Rally route DOHA THE GCC Tennis Champion- ship for men and juniors (un- der-12 and 16 years) will begin at the Khalifa International due to rain & snow Tennis and Squash Complex on Wednesday. The championship is being organised by the Qatar Tennis Young Alex Feghali follows father Roger’s footsteps into MERC competition Federation (QTF) in coopera- tion with the GCC Tennis Or- ganising Committee. In addition to Qatar, the tournament will feature the participation of Kuwait and Oman. In men’s event, Qatar will be represented by Mubarak Shanan, Mousa Shanan and Jabor al Motawa. Rashed Nawaf, Ghanim al Sulaiti, Nasser al Yafei and Ali al Yafei will participate in un- der-16 boys event while Me- shari Nawaf, Ghanim al Su- laiti, Adel al Wali and Fahad Jabor al Thani will compete in under-12 boys.

In addition to Qatar, the tournament will feature the participation of Kuwait and Oman.

The tournament will be held in round-robin format where the participating teams Qatari players are in good shape for the GCC Tennis Championship in will play two singles matches Doha from Wednesday. and one doubles match. The GCC tennis organ- and Chairman of National for the GCC challenge and ising committee chaired by Teams Committee Khalid al said that the training camps Khalid bin Ali Adi met on Khelaifi said “We are keen to and tournaments organised Monday. Also present on the organise an exceptional edi- by the federation helped Qa- occasion were Committee’s tion of the tournament and tar prepare the players for this Secretary-General Salman bin we have completed all techni- important event. Autotek mechanics prepare Nasser bin Saleh al Attiyah’s Volkswagen for the Jordan Rally. Abdulrahman al Bloushi and cal arrangements for the GCC The tournament will con- Tournament Director Sultan gathering.” tinue until April 27 under the TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK the rally to the heart of the city Khalfan. Khelaifi also stressed that supervision of chief referee DOHA for the spectators. Hopefully The QTF Board Member the Qatari players are ready Mohammed al Mullah. we will have one of the best COMPETITORS have arrived Jordan rallies ever.” at the Dead Sea and are carry- On Tuesday, competitors ing out their last-minute prep- from 10 nations carried out arations for this weekend’s the first of two permitted days Mubaraka qualifies for Jordan Jordan Rally, round two of the of reconnaissance of the spe- 2019 FIA Middle East Rally cial stages, with the remaining Championship. stages scheduled for recce on tennis tourney quarters Unusual weather condi- Wednesday. tions have forced rally organ- A name appearing on the isers to make further small entry list of a rally outside Leb- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK changes to the route. While anon for the first time is that of DOHA many parts of northern Europe 21-year-old Alex Feghali, the basked in glorious sunshine son of 14-time Rally of Leba- QATAR’S Mubaraka al Naimi and warm Easter holiday tem- non winner Roger. The young- qualified for the quarter-fi- peratures, the Levant region ster began his motor sporting nals of the Jordan ITF Junior has sustained heavy rain and Rain affected last year’s Jordan Rally and has forced route changes career in the Lebanese Karting Tournament in Amman. even the occasional snow flurry. for the 2019 edition. Championship and took part in Naimi began her cam- Temperatures are set to the Spring Rally with a Peugeot paign in the tournament with climb dramatically this week the south of Jordan were cov- 208 RC2. He teams up with the a defeat of Russia’s Rosaleen and should be into the 30s On Tuesday, competitors ered in snow. They were white experienced co-driver Joseph Alioussef 7-6(4) 6-3 in the Centigrade at the Dead Sea by from 10 nations carried over. We were inspecting them Matar, himself a seven-time first round and then she de- the weekend, but Jordan Mo- out the first of two permit- for the last 48 hours and we are winner of the Rally of Lebanon. feated India’s Khushali Modi torsport was forced into late ted days of reconnais- happy that they have held to The event is based at the 6-1 6-2 in the second round. minor route revisions and has sance of the special stag- their status. There have been Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea The event features the done away with the second run es, with the remaining minor fixes here and there and Resort and gets underway with a participation of 32 players through the Dead Sea super we are working on that now. ceremonial start at Abdali Boule- from Egypt, Poland, Germa- special stage before the cer- stages scheduled for “This year we will not be vard in Amman from 19.00hrs ny, India, Italy, Turkey, Brit- emonial finish on Saturday. recce on Wednesday. running the super special stage on Thursday. It will now be ain and Hong Kong. Clerk of the Course George on Thursday. We concentrated fought out over 21 special stages The Qatari squad includes Khoury said: “We had torren- the rain, we had to reinvent on the ceremonial start in Ab- and 244.09 competitive kilome- Mubarak al Naimi, Taima Ha- tial rain for the last four weeks the itinerary from scratch. We dali in the heart of Amman. tres in a route of 565.10km. siba and Danah al Mudhahki. Mubaraka al Naimi of Qatar: Good start to the Jordan ITF junior tennis actually. We had to redo the came up with 244 kilometres of We wanted to increase the ex- Support for the event The national team’s par- in Amman. itinerary totally. Our famous special stages. posure of the event, give com- comes from Abdali Boule- ticipation in this tournament Jordan River stage was ini- “We actually had snow a petitors’ sponsors more mar- vard, Mountain Dew, Hala comes within the federation’s tari players with opportunity ments which are held under tially planned but, because of few days ago. Some areas in keting opportunities and take and Bliss FM. strategy to provide the Qa- to participate in the tourna- the umbrella of the ITF. Watson steers Chennai to top with thrilling victory

CSK managing just seven In the last over, the defending champions needed nine. The Australian smashes 96 off 53 runs off the last two overs hit- ting no boundaries. Kedar Jadhav (11 not out) hit Sandeep Sharma for a six balls in six-wicket triumph In the last over, the de- despite Pandey’s brilliant effort on the boundary to save fending champions needed it but then Rayudu was out with one run needed off two nine. Kedar Jadhav (11 not balls. IANS For the visitors, Manish out) hit Sandeep Sharma for CHENNAI Pandey (83 off 49 balls, not a six despite Pandey’s bril- which formed the bedrock of stumping. out) and David Warner (57; liant effort on the boundary Sunrisers’ innings. Vijay Shankar (26; 20b, SHANE Watson smashed a 45 balls, 4x3, 6x2) struck half to save it but then Rayudu For CSK, Harbhajan Sin- 4x2, 6x1) then joined hands belligerent 96 as Chennai Su- centuries. was out with one run needed gh was the pick of the bowlers with Pandey for a 47-run per Kings zoomed back to the CSK lost Faf du Plessis (1) off two balls. with figures of 2/39 in four partnership before holing top of the table with a com- early but that mattered lit- Dwayne Bravo (0 not out) overs. out to Ravidra Jadeja at deep manding six-wicket victory tle as Watson roared back to came to crease but did not The visitors lost Jonny midwicket off Deepak Cha- over Sunrisers Hyderabad form on a day star spinner face a ball as Jadhav complet- Bairstow (0) -- playing his har. in an Indian Premier League Rashid Khan (1/44) had an ed the formalities. last IPL game -- early, as the Shankar never really got (IPL) clash at the M.A. Chi- off day. Earlier, Pandey remained England stumper-batsman going and after he was re- dambaram Stadium here on The former Australia unbeaten on 83 with the help was out caught behind trying moved, Yusuf Pathan (5 not Tuesday. opener forged a 77-run stand of seven fours and three sixes to cut Harbhajan. out) also could not up the Watson, who took 53 balls for the second wicket with but could not lead his team From there on, Warner ante. and hit nine fours and six six- Suresh Raina (38) and then to an imposing total as Sun- and Pandey paced their in- es, missed out on a fifth IPL shared a 80-run stand with risers managed only 51 runs nings perfectly as Sunrisers Brief scores: hundred as Bhuvneshwar Ku- Ambati Rayudu (21) to guide in the last six overs after raced to 91/1 at the halfway Sunrisers Hyderabad: mar (1/18) got his wicket. his team to a win after two Warner’s dismissal. Sunrisers stage. 175/3 (Manish Pandey 83, But riding his devastat- losses win with one ball to managed 175/3 in 20 overs. Harbhajan removed not out; David Warner 57; ing knock, CSK made light of spare. Warner cracked his sev- Warner in the 14th over with Harbhajan Singh 2/39) a 176-run target after skipper Once Watson was out, enth fifty this season as the Chennai Super Kings’ Shane Watson plays a shot during the 2019 a slower one which the vet- Chennai Super Kings: M.S. Dhoni asked Sunrisers caught behind trying to hook dashing southpaw combined Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match against Sunris- eran Australian failed to read 176/4 (Shane Watson 96; to bat first. CSK scored 176/4 Sunrisers skipper Bhuvnesh- with Pandey for a 115-run ers Hyderabad at the M.A. Chidhambaram Stadium in Chennai on and came down the track only Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/18) in 19.5 overs. war, the run-flow ebbed with stand for the second wicket Tuesday. (AFP) for Dhoni to effect a brilliant CSK win by six wickets