TABATA IS QFA PLAYER of the YEAR ONCE AGAIN Al Rayyan Striker Wins the Best Player Award a Second Time, Thanks Teammates; Fossati Adjudged Best Coach
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SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 Ten-wkt haul for Anderson Nadal favourite at French Open James Anderson takes 10 for 45 as Clay king Rafael Nadal is back at Roland TENNIS Sri Lanka lose by inns and 88 runs PAGE 31 Garros with no Roger Federer to face PAGE 30 FRENCH OPEN EMIR HOSTS LUNCHEON BANQUET FOR LEKHWIYA, AL SADD PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani hosted a luncheon banquet at the Emiri Diwan on Saturday honouring the football teams and the technical and administrative officials of Lekhwiya Sports Club – the champions of Emir Cup – and the runners-up Al Sadd Sports Club, in addition to representatives of the tournament sponsors and a number of sports and media personalities. Special Representative of the Emir HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani also attended the function. The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani and HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee, also attended the luncheon banquet. (QNA) TABATA IS QFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR ONCE AGAIN Al Rayyan striker wins the best player award a second time, thanks teammates; Fossati adjudged best coach IKOLI VICTOR time with El Jaish. We are a DOHA hardworking team that be- lieves in team spirit. We won THE soccer season in Qatar the Qatar Stars Cup and still ended on Saturday with Al in the Champions League.” Rayyan’s attacking midfielder Tabata, who also won the Rodrigo Tabata capping an award in 2012, said: “This impressive 2015-16 by win- award means a lot to me and ning the Qatar Football Asso- for my team. I scored so many ciation (QFA) Best Player of goals because I got great sup- the Year award for a second port from my teammates. I time at the Qatar National want to thank the entire Al Convention Centre (QNNC). Rayyan management, fans, QFA President Sheikh Ha- coach and teammates.” mad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Meanwhile, 23-year-old Thani presented the award to Al Sadd defender Abdelkar- Tabata. eem Hassan retained the best The 36-year-old Brazilian young player honour for a sec- Qatari international slammed ond year running. 21 goals and essayed ten assists The best fans award went to for Al Rayyan who clinched the Al Rayyan supporters, who the Qatar Stars League title for cheered the Lions and played a the first time in 21-years. key role in the team’s success. “I am very happy to be pre- The best club administra- sented with this award. I want tion of the season was won by to thank all my teammates El Jaish, who finished in second and a special appreciation to place in the Qatar Stars League. my wife, whom I dedicate this A postmortem award was award to,” Tabata said on win- given to late Mohammed al Lan- ning the honour. Tabata also gawi for his contribution to the earned $200,000 with the media and sport in the country. Gold Trophy. The Football for All award Al Rayyan boss Jorge Fos- was given to Jeem Cup Tour- Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata speaks after receiving the QFA best player award from QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani at the Qatar National Convention sati was adjudged the best nament organisers for staging Centre on Saturday. (PHOTOS: HANSON K JOSEPH) coach, ahead of Yousuf Adam a tournament that attracted of Al Ahli and Sabri Lamouchi school boys from about ten of El Jaish, who guided Jaish different countries. to Qatar Cup title. A special Recognition Speaking after the pres- Award for home grown talent entation, Fossati said, “I am was given to Meshaal Abdulla very happy and emotional to for his impressive contribu- receive this award for the third tion to the Qatar Stars League time. I am a good coach be- for reaching a century of goals cause I have a great bunch of this season. The award came people around me. My players, with a QR100,000 cash award. technical staff and my club of- Speaking after the award, ficials deserve this award. I Meshaal said: “It is a major think the Al Rayyan team had achievement being the third a great season. There’s a lot of Qatari player to achieve that promise for the future.” milestone of scoring 100 goals. El Jaish mercurial Moroc- I am happy for the award and can striker Abderrazak Ham- more pleased for receiving the dallah and Al Rayyan’s live wire award from the person that Rodrigo Tabata shared the Best launched my career.” Scorer’s Award with 21 goals This has been a special sea- apiece. son for football in many ways. The duo received a Silver The teams played well and many Trophy and $100,000. The matches dished out quality stuff. award was presented to them The pressure created by teams by Egyptian legend Mohamed on one another was amazing. Aboutrika. This raised the quality of The former Chinese football in the country. One of Super League striker of the finest moments this sea- Guangzh R&F said: “I am son was Lekhwiya’s winning very happy with this award. I the Emir Cup on Friday for the want to thank my teammates first time with a comeback 2-2 and technical staff for the draw in regular time before support. I have enjoyed my clinching it 4-2 on penalties. Rodrigo Tabata, Abdulkareem Hassan, Abderrazzak, coach Jorge Fossati and other winners with the QFA officials. 30 Sunday, May 22, 2016 Sports TENNIS TENNIS Wawrinka ends long wait Dutch qualifier wins STARS OF THE DAY for home title Nuremberg tournament Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka raises the trophy after Dutch Kiki Bertens celebrates her win in the final defeating Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6 (13/11) to win against Colombian Duque-Marino during the WTA the Geneva Open ATP 250 tennis tournament final on tennis tournament in Nuremberg, Germany on Saturday. (AFP) Saturday. (EPA) SPIETH BACK IN FORM? Rafa’s back at Roland Spieth shines, Crane leads at AT&T Byron Garros with no title to Nelson event AFP heading into another major WASHINGTON championship. I’m finding defend, no Roger to face the rhythm with the putts and REIGNING US Open cham- that’s a really good feeling.” pion Jordan Spieth fired a Spieth began off the 10th five-under par 65 on Friday tee Friday and made his first Nadal won the title at Roland Garros every year from 2005-08 and from 2010-14 to achieve the lowest 36-hole birdie putt from 10 feet at the start of his PGA career at 12th hole only to stumble with AP his hometown Byron Nelson his lone bogey at the par-3 13, PARIS Championship. missing a five-foot par putt. World number two Spi- He answered with a 21-foot THROUGH the years, Ra- eth, who began coming to the birdie putt at 14. fael Nadal grew accustomed Dallas event as a child, stood to a couple of givens at the on 11-under 129 at TPC Four French Open: He would arrive Seasons to share second place as the defending champion, alongside Spain’s Sergio Gar- and Roger Federer would be cia and US compatriots Brooks somewhere in the draw, often Koepka and Bud Cauley. awaiting a showdown in the American Ben Crane, seek- final. ing his sixth career PGA victo- This time around, neither ry, sank a 14-foot birdie on his is the case. final hole to grab the halfway Federer withdrew a few lead on 128 with a 63, but it days before Sunday’s start of was Spieth’s performance that the clay-court Grand Slam raised eyebrows the most. tournament, ending his The 22-year-old Texan record run of 65 consecutive missed the cut last week at major appearances. the Players Championship, “For the fans, for the tour- his first event after a last-nine Jordan Spieth looks on from the nament, for the world (of) ten- meltdown cost him a second first tee during Round Three at nis, in general, is ... very nega- consecutive wire-to-wire Mas- the AT&T Byron Nelson in Irving, tive news, no?” Nadal said. ters victory and handed Eng- Texas on Saturday. (AFP) Nadal won the title at Ro- land’s Danny Willett a green land Garros every year from jacket. Closing out his first nine 2005-08 and from 2010-14 “The Masters felt like it with three birdies in a row, — a record nine in all, beating was quite a while ago,” Spieth Spieth tapped-in from two feet Federer in four of those finals said. “Well, I mean, two tour- at the par-5 16th, drained a 35- — but returns to town trying naments ago. It does feel like a foot stunner at 17 and an im- to earn back the trophy after while, though.” pressive 11-footer at 18. relinquishing it in 2015. Spieth, who will defend his On the front nine, Spieth US Open crown next month at made eight pars and a tap-in Oakmont, managed his best birdie at the par-5 seventh. He Nadal, who owns 14 major Byron Nelson finish to date in missed his only green in regu- championships in all, 2010 when he shared 16th at lation on his final hole but es- could face No. 1 Djokovic age 16. caped with a par. in about two weeks in the “It will be fantastic. I’m “I’m putting myself in excited thinking about it right good positions off the tee,” semifinals — on what now,” Spieth said of the week- Spieth said.