THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2020 SPORTSPORT 07
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Hall of Fame NFL: Chiefs' Mahomes relishes Doleman dies at age 58 battle with history at Super Bowl AP — MINNEAPOLIS
AFP — MIAMI Hall of Fame defensive A general view of Hard Rock Stadium prior to Super Bowl LIV end Chris Doleman, who Patrick Mahomes will battle between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. became one of the NFL’s against the weight of history as INSET: Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes speaks most feared pass rushers well the vaunted San Francisco with the media at the JW Marriott Turnberry. during 15 seasons in the defense as he attempts to join league, has died. He was an exclusive club of Super Bowl 58. winners on Sunday. The Minnesota The gifted Kansas City star Vikings and Pro Football would become only the third Hall of Fame president quarterback of African- and CEO David Baker American descent to lift the offered their condolences Vince Lombardi Trophy if the in separate statements Chiefs prevail in this weekend’s late on Tuesday night. NFL showpiece. There was no word on Mahomes, the son of former the timing of Doleman’s Major League Baseball pitcher death, but he had surgery Pat Mahomes, will become one in January 2018 to remove of only seven African-American a brain tumour and Baker quarterbacks to start in the said he passed away Super Bowl when he takes to “after a prolonged and the field at the Hard Rock courageous battle against Stadium in Miami. cancer.” Only two of that group -- “I had the honour of the Washington Redskins’ Doug getting to know him not Williams in 1988 and the Seattle only as a great football Seahawks’ Russell Wilson in player but an out- 2014 -- have ever gone on to standing human being,” win the coveted NFL title. Baker said. Mahomes, the reigning Doleman played NFL Most Valuable Player, said achieve your dream,” Mahomes second round of the play-offs quarterback, when Marlin and I’m glad they did that for college ball for Pittsburgh on Tuesday he is relishing the told reporters. after a strong campaign from Briscoe started for the Denver us.” before he was selected by challenge of joining Williams “For me, being a black quar- quarterback Deshaun Watson. Broncos. In an interview this week Minnesota in the first and Wilson in the winner’s terback -- having a black dad Factor in the likes of Sea- A decade later, Doug Wil- with The Undefeated website, round of the 1985 NFL circle. and a white mom -- it just hawks veteran Wilson, the liams became the first African- Texans signal-caller Watson draft. He spent his first “The best thing about it is shows that it doesn’t matter Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott American quarterback to be said he believes the latest gen- nine seasons with the you’re showing kids that no where you come from. It doesn’t and the Arizona Cardinals’ tal- chosen in the first round of the eration of minority quarter- Vikings, collecting a matter where you grow up, matter if you’re a baseball ented rookie Kyler Murray, and NFL Draft. Nine years after that backs can be similarly league-high 21 sacks in what race you are, that you can player or basketball player, it’s easy to see why 2019 has came his Super Bowl win with influential. 1989. follow your dreams. been billed as the NFL’s “Year the Redskins. “It feels good to know we’re The 6-foot-5 Doleman “Whatever your dreams are, of the Black Quarterback.” Mahomes says Williams having an impact,” Watson said. also played for Atlanta put the work ethic in and you It wasn’t always thus. helped lay the foundations for “Our performance gives the and San Francisco before can be there at the end of the For years, crude, racial ster- the current crop of African- young guys a lot more confi- finishing his career with day.” eotyping had steered talented American quarterbacks. dence -- seeing us at a young Minnesota in 1999. Whatever your Mahomes is in the vanguard black players away from the “My grandpa was a Red- age, especially African- He had 150 1/2 sacks of a crop of young African- quarterback position. A gener- skins fan because of Doug Wil- American quarterbacks having in 232 games. He was a dreams are, put the American quarterbacks who ation ago, a player with the liams, and the way that he was all this success we’re having in first-team All-Pro work ethic in and have emerged to dominate the dynamic rushing game of Bal- able to be the Super Bowl MVP the NFL. selection on two occa- you can be there at NFL this year. timore’s Jackson would quite and do all those different things “The reality is that a lot of sions, and also made eight Baltimore Ravens quar- likely have ended up as a was impressive,” Mahomes said young brothers don’t really Pro Bowls. the end of the day: terback Lamar Jackson is jos- running back. on Tuesday. have the confidence, don’t have Doleman, an Indian- Patrick Mahomes tling to succeed Mahomes as the And while the NFL cele- “Having those guys to pave the resources to even have the apolis native, was regular season MVP after a brates its 100th anniversary this the way before me and let me confidence to think that they inducted into the Hall of record-breaking year, while the year, it was not until 1968 that be in this seat at this podium at can make it at this level. Now Fame in 2012. Houston Texans reached the the league saw its first black this Super Bowl, it’s amazing they can look up to us.”
NHL: Senators Ottawa Senators' Mike Reilly (right) NBA: Middleton scores 51 as celebrates his goal with team-mate clinch 5-2 win Tyler Ennis during their NHL match against the Buffalo Sabres. Bucks prevail over Wizards over Sabres REUTERS — MILWAUKEE Despite playing returned from a nine-game without reigning Most absence to score 24 points and BUFFALO AP — Khris Middleton scored a Valuable Player Giannis grab 10 rebounds as host Phil- career-high 51 points, Antetokounmpo, who adelphia beat Golden State. Mike Reilly scored the go-ahead Milwaukee recorded a fran- Embiid had been out with a goal 8:48 into the third period, chise-record 88 first-half missed the contest to dislocated ring finger on his left and the Ottawa Senators points, and the Bucks held off rest a sore right shoulder, hand. He came out wearing No. snapped a seven-game road a second-half surge to beat the Milwaukee burst to a 24 in memory of Kobe Bryant, skid with a 5-2 win over the visiting Washington Wizards season-best 42 who died in a helicopter crash Buffalo Sabres. 151-131 on Tuesday. first-quarter points. on Sunday. Embiid received Tyler Ennis had a goal and Despite playing without permission from Bobby Jones, assist and Jean-Gabriel Pageau reigning Most Valuable Player who previously wore No. 24 also scored for Ottawa, which Giannis Antetokounmpo, who Bradley Beal scoring a season- and had his jersey retired by the had gone 0-4-3 on the road missed the contest to rest a sore high 47. The 88 points smashed Sixers. since a 5-2 win at Edmonton on right shoulder, Milwaukee burst Milwaukee’s previous season Raul Neto scored 19 points, December 4. to a season-best 42 first-quarter high of 76 first-half points set Ben Simmons added 17, Tobias Mark Borowiecki sealed the during which he allowed 22 game the Sabres twice rallied points. just 12 days ago prior in a Harris contributed 14 and Al victory by blocking Marcus goals. from one-goal deficits, before The victory was the Bucks’ 128-123 defeat of the Boston Horford had 12 points, 11 Johansson’s point shot and then Sabres captain Jack Eichel being outscored 3-0 in the final ninth straight, and Milwaukee Celtics, and it marked a league rebounds and eight assists for banking the puck off the boards scored his career-best 29th of period. improved the best record in the high dating back to Houston’s the Sixers, who improved to and scoring into an empty net the season and Sam Reinhart Reilly’s goal came 43 NBA to 41-6. 90 at Phoenix on November 16, 22-2 at home. D’Angelo Russell with 2:06 remaining. Nikita also scored for Buffalo, which seconds after Buffalo’s Michael Washington fell for the sixth 2017. had 28 points and seven assists Zaitsev added another empty was playing its first game fol- Frolik was penalized for time in eight games despite Meanwhile, Joel Embiid for the Warriors. netter with 6 seconds left. lowing a 10-day layoff. roughing. Though Pageau’s goal was Sabres starter Linus Ennis set up the goal by Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris his 20th of the season, he was Ullmark was unable to put driving the left circle and then Middleton (right) drives for the basket most excited to see Borowiecki weight on his right leg in being making a no-look drop pass against Washington Wizards forward score his sixth. helped off the ice with 9:32 left to Reilly, who blasted a shot Isaac Bonga during their NBA game. “To see him score that goal in the third period. in through a crowd from left after the two blocked shots, I Ullmark, who stopped 17 of point. would love to see the camera 20 shots, was hurt while The Senators entered with on our bench. Everyone was so untouched in his crease. With the NHL’s worst-ranked power- pumped, and everyone was so Ottawa’s Artem Anisimov cir- play unit and converted on each happy,” Pageau said. cling the net, Ullmark’s left of their first three chances. It was well-deserved skate slipped out from under The three power-play reward for a blue-collar him, and he fell back with his goals were the most by Ottawa defenseman who required right leg bent under him. since a 4-3 overtime win at between five and six stitches to Coach Ralph Krueger had Winnipeg on February 16, close a gash under his right eye no immediate update on the 2019. after getting high-sticked severity of Ullmark’s injury Sabres forward Jeff Skinner during 4-3 shootout loss to New except to say the goalie will returned after missing 10 games Jersey on Monday. require further evaluation on with an upper body injury. And it came some seven Wednesday. Skinner was off to a slow minutes after he briefly left the “That’s part of the game and start after signing an eight-year, game with a right leg injury we have to deal with it,” $72m contract last spring. after being up-ended from Krueger said of the injury, Before getting hurt, he had 11 behind by Buffalo’s Kyle before turning his attention to goals and eight assists for 19 Okposo. the loss. points in 39 games a season Craig Anderson stopped 37 Carter Hutton took over and after scoring a career-best 40 shots to snap an 0-4-1 skid finished with eight saves in a goals. 08 SPORT THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2020
Petition to make Kobe Bryant new NBA logo passes 2.5 million
AFP — LOS ANGELES A petition to make LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash, the new NBA logo has become the first petition of 2020 on change. org to pass a million signatures. Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg and Usher have all backed the move, which had received 2.6 million signatures by Wednesday, well on the way to its target of 3 million. “When I started this petition I was just some 16 year old kid who had just lost his role model and hero,” wrote Nick Moghtader from Vancouver in Canada, who registered the petition. “I was using it as a way to cope and mourn his passing. My initial goal was to get a mere 100 signatures. Never would I have thought for this petition to get so incredibly big,” he wrote. The NBA’s current logo features a white silhouette of Jerry West -- another LA Lakers legend -- and has been around since 1969. West later became the Lakers’ general manager, picking a 17-year-old Bryant straight out of high school in the 1996 draft. Bryant went on to A spectator wearing a mask watches the singles quarter-final match between Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Austria’s Dominic become a five-time NBA Thiem on day 10 of the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. champion with the Lakers over 20 seasons, retiring with 33,643 points, 7,047 rebounds and 6,306 Virus in China affects sports assists over 1,346 career NBA contests and making history from first game to last. As a rookie in 1996, events, Olympic qualifiers Bryant was then the NBA’s youngest-ever player, days after his 18th AP — GENEVA championships in Nanjing from March been recorded because of the disease, birthday. 13-15. including the first in Beijing. More than At 37 in 2016, he Amid growing concern about the spread Olympic qualifying events have 4,500 cases reported in China include scored 60 points in his of a new virus in China, international been affected in recent days. almost 1,000 people in serious con- final NBA game, the oldest sports in the country have been post- Women’s soccer and women’s bas- dition, national health authorities said. player to reach the poned and Olympic qualifying tourna- ketball games were moved to Australia Cases have been reported in Japan, milestone. ments have been taken elsewhere. and Serbia. South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the The international ski federation yes- The soccer games had already pre- United States, Australia, Canada and terday cancelled the first World Cup viously moved from Wuhan, at the Germany. races scheduled for the mountain venue center of the outbreak, to Nanjing. The coronavirus family includes the where the sport will be held during the Boxing tournaments for the Asia and common cold but also more severe He was special: 2022 Beijing Olympics. Oceania regions will be held in Jordan illnesses. A men’s downhill had been in March. It causes cold- and flu-like scheduled for Feb 15 in Yanqing to start Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike symptoms, and in more severe cases, a two-race weekend. acknowledged her concern about the shortness of breath and pneumonia. The The NBA tributes “Due to the outbreak and continuing virus when speaking yesterday to the virus is thought to have spread to people spread of the Novel Coronavirus, FIS, heads of 62 municipalities. from wild animals sold at a market in the Chinese Ski Association and its “With only 177 days to go and our Wuhan, a city of 11 million people which continue for Yanqing Local Organizing Committee, preparations accelerating, we must is now in lockdown. have jointly decided to cancel,” FIS said firmly tackle the new coronavirus to Future sports events in China also in a statement. contain it, or we are going to regret it,” include a World Cup soccer qualifying The ski federation said it would Koike said. ”I will do the utmost to game on March 26 against Maldives, Kobe Bryant advise later if the downhill and super-G contain this new problem as we coop- and the China Open golf tournament, races will be be rescheduled. erate closely with all of you.” part of the European Tour, on April That followed a decision by the Tokyo Olympic organizers put out 23-26 in Shenzhen. AP — MIAMI international field hockey federation a generic statement yesterday and Also yesterday, Danish soccer club to postpone Pro League games in China. offered no details. Aalborg said it had decided not to play In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid paid tribute to Kobe Bryant by wearing one Qualifying tournaments for the Tokyo “Countermeasures against infec- a friendly against Chinese team Wuhan of his jersey numbers. Olympics in soccer, basketball and tious diseases constitute an important Zall in Spain. Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie and Orlando’s Terrence Ross are showing boxing scheduled for next month have part of our plans to host a safe and “We are aware that the risk of their respect by no longer doing so. Boston’s Kemba Walker is considering been moved outside of the country. secure games,” the statement said, infection may be microscopic, and little such a change. The biggest upcoming event in adding they would “carefully monitor is still known about the virus, but in And coaches around the league left their snazzy leather shoes in the China is the Formula One race in any incidence of infectious diseases and consultation with the (club), man- office on Tuesday night, wearing Bryant’s signature sneakers instead. Shanghai on April 19, which draws large we will review any countermeasures agement, staff and the health sector, we The games are going on - except in Los Angeles, for a couple more days crowds both for the race and for that may be necessary with all relevant have agreed not to expose anyone,” anyway. So, too, is the grief after the fiery helicopter crash in Southern practice and qualifying. Also under organizations.” Aalborg managing director Thomas California on Sunday that took the life of Bryant, his daughter Gianna and threat is the indoor track and field world More than 100 deaths in China have Baelum said. seven others. And the tributes are continuing as well, such as the separate decisions by Dinwiddie and Ross to no longer wear the No. 8 that Bryant donned at the start of his NBA career. “We often search for meaning in numbers,” Dinwiddie tweeted. Turkish athletes delay China Dinwiddie will now wear No. 26. Ross is going back to No. 31. The moves, evidently, are simply their way of saying Bryant’s numbers - he wore No. 8 and No. 24 for the Los Angeles Lakers - should be retired. Walker said part of the reason why he isn’t sure if he’ll give up the No. visit amid pandemic virus 8 is that the Celtics have a large amount of already-retired numbers and that would limit his options. AA — SAKARYA Many coaches, including Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Boston’s Brad China, according to state broadcaster China Global Tele- Stevens and their staffs for the Heat-Celtics game in Miami, wore Bryant’s vision Network (CGTN). sneakers. Turkey’s Wushu Kung Fu Federation postponed their visit “In conformity with the requirements to prevent and Spoelstra, a father of two young sons, said he plans on buying the Kobe to China over the fear of the deadly novel coronavirus contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, and to avoid sneakers for them to wear in a few years. outbreak, which hit the Asian country recently. crowds gathering, the Chinese Football Association [CFA] “I’m going to tell them the story of Kobe Bryant when they are old “The national (Wushu Kung Fu) athletes will not travel has decided to postpone the 2020 CFA Supercup after cau- enough to understand,” Spoelstra said. “Those shoes will be a symbol of to China until we have positive news about the coronavirus tious analysis and assessment,” the Chinese football gov- excellence, work ethic, commitment and class.” outbreak,” deputy chairman of the federation, Abdurrahman erning body said in a statement, cited by the broadcaster. Jayson Tatum saw all those qualities in Bryant. He considered him a Akyuz told Anadolu Agency yesterday. Besides, FIBA, the world basketball’s governing body friend, mentor, idol, hero. Akyuz said that Turkish athletes went to China for their relocated the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament “Everybody knows how much he meant to me,” Tatum said, his voice studies but they have been on leave in Turkey for three from China’s Foshan to the Serbian capital Belgrade. barely rising above a whisper, his eyes looking down nearly the whole months. “After having carefully evaluated the developments time. “From somebody I really looked up to, and really was like my hero He stated that China is a big country but these deadly regarding the coronavirus outbreak and placing as a main - the reason I started playing basketball. To becoming a friend and a viruses pose a threat against people’s lives and adding that priority the safety of the participating players and team mentor, somebody that I could talk to and help me out with a bunch of he hopes this virus won’t cause bigger troubles as Turkish delegation members,” FIBA said on Monday. things on and off the court. It’s been a tough couple of days.” athletes will have courses in China. The death toll in China from the novel coronavirus out- They will stay that way for a lot of days. Akyuz also said that they were warned about their break has climbed to 132, the National Health Commission A lot of days. travels to China as some of his friends in the Asian country said yesterday. Some 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia The new normal - an NBA world where Bryant will never be physically recommended. caused by the coronavirus, also known as 2019-nCoV, have present again - will continue the opening rounds of its evolution yesterday, China has been suffering from the pandemic virus, a been reported in China. when the Lakers are scheduled to practice and then speak with reporters deadly one which killed at least 132 persons. It was reported that a total of 9,239 people were sus- for the first time since the tragedy. The sports events in this country also faced troubles in pected of being infected with the virus. The virus, which Basketball returns to Los Angeles today when the Clippers play host recent days as the Chinese Supercup in football was post- originated in Wuhan, has spread across 30 provinces in the to Sacramento. The Lakers play at Staples Center tomorrow against poned due to the Coronavirus outbreak last weekend. country. Portland, in what will undoubtedly be a gut-wrenching night of The Chinese football season opener had been scheduled Tens of cases have also been reported in Japan, North emotions. to take place between Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai Korea, South Korea, Thailand, the US, Singapore, France, Tears will be shed that night, just as they were on Tuesday when Turner Shenhua on Feb 5 in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, eastern Germany, Malaysia, Australia, and Vietnam. Sports analysts and former NBA players Shaquille O’Neal - who won three titles with the Lakers alongside Bryant in a superstar pairing like few others - and Dwyane Wade seated at midcourt to share their memories and their anguish. The Clippers and Lakers were supposed to play there China’s women’s team quarantined in Australia on Tuesday. The NBA postponed that match-up, for obvious reasons. The Lakers just weren’t ready to resume playing yet. AP — BRISBANE team doctor and none has shown symptoms. The Olympic Tatum is one of the players in the league who got to work out up close regional qualifying tournament had been relocated from with Bryant. He had plenty of reasons for why he idolized him so much. China’s national women’s soccer team has been quarantined Wuhan to Nanjing before the Asian Football Confederation “His drive, his work ethic to be the best, he just made me fall in love in Australia ahead of an Olympic qualifying tournament as moved it to Sydney, Australia, because of concerns over the with him and the game,” Tatum said. “I loved everything about him and fears spread about the outbreak of a new virus that has killed deadly coronavirus. Now it likely will be delayed. the way he carries himself. He was special.” more than 130 people. The tournament had been scheduled to kick off next But Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant pointed out, probably correctly, that no Health officials in Queensland state said yesterday that Monday with a double-header of China against Thailand fol- matter what the league comes up with, no matter how many players change 32 people, including players, coaches and staff, traveled lowed by Australia against Taiwan. their jersey numbers in Bryant’s memory, no matter how many coaches through the virus-effected Chinese city of Wuhan a week It’s the final stage of regional qualifying for the Tokyo wear his sneakers, no matter how many Bryant chants echo through ago. Olympics, which begin in July. The top two teams were sup- arenas over the coming days and weeks, the gestures will likely fall short The team was placed in isolation by border officials after posed to advance to a home-and-away play-off for the last of capturing what the five-time NBA champion truly meant to the game, arriving in Brisbane from Shanghai on Tuesday, and will be spot at the Olympic tournament. its players and its fans. confined to a Brisbane hotel until Feb. 5. Football Federation Australia yesterday placed a hold on “Nothing,” Durant said, “will ever be big enough to truly honour Kobe Queensland Health said the squad was traveling with a ticket sales for the tournament. Bryant.” THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2020 SPORT 09
Vincent Kompany Bergwijn joins Spurs from PSV; Arsenal rope in Mari
AP — LONDON
Netherlands winger Steven Bergwijn became the latest addition to Tottenham’s rebuilt midfield under Jose Mourinho after completing his move from PSV Eindhoven yesterday. Tottenham has already signed Gedson Fernandes on an 18-month loan deal from Benfica and also made fellow central midfielder Giovani Lo Celso a permanent signing on Players have too much Tuesday, after the Argentina international initially joined on loan in the offseason. to lose if they speak Bergwijn, who signed a deal through 2025 for an undis- closed fee, can play on either out, says Kompany wing and has played nine times for the Netherlands, having PSV Eindhoven's Steven Bergwijn REUTERS — BRUSSELS in the Ukrainian league last Netherlands winger (centre) in action year. Spain’s Barcelona Steven Bergwijn in this file photo. Professional footballers have defender Gerard Pique was fre- becomes the latest too much to lose if they speak quently jeered by the national their minds on issues affecting team’s own fans while playing addition to Tottenham’s made his international debut in Another midfielder, Moussa Flamengo win the Brazilian title the game, such as being ostra- in home matches after criti- rebuilt midfield under October 2018. He scored 31 Sissoko, is out until April and the Copa Libertadores last cised or ‘forgotten’ if they say cising the Spanish govern- Jose Mourinho after goals in 149 appearances for because of a knee injury. year, was at Manchester City the wrong things, according to ment’s response to the political completing his move PSV, winning three Dutch Bergwijn will likely compete from 2016-19 and was sent out former Manchester City captain conflict with Catalonia. from PSV Eindhoven. league titles. Midfield has been with Lucas Moura and Erik on loan to three clubs in that Vincent Kompany. One of the most notorious a problem area for Mourinho Lamela for a place in the team. time. Arsenal manager Mikel Players face problems such cases concerned Italian lower since he took charge in Arsenal, Tottenham’s north Arteta has recently moved from as racism and an overcrowded league defender Simone Farina Arsenal also make a November. Lo Celso recently London rival, also made a move City, where he was assistant fixture list but it is relatively who denounced a match-fixing move late in the January has established himself as a late in the January transfer coach to Pep Guardiola. rare to hear them speak out. attempt while playing for Gubbio transfer window by regular starter as a replacement window by reaching an Mari provides an extra Most interviews feature generic in 2011. He could not find a new reaching an agreement for Christian Eriksen, who agreement with Brazilian team option for Arsenal, which has quotes about the importance club when he was released the with Brazilian team joined Inter Milan on Tuesday. Flamengo to sign centre back been short of center-back cover of playing for the team and next year and had to retire. Flamengo to sign centre Mourinho has been alter- Pablo Mari on loan until the end this season because of injuries. taking matches The 33-year-old Kompany, nating between Harry Winks, of the season. The latest player to get injured one-at-a-time. now player-manager at Ander- back Pablo Mari on loan Eric Dier and, when fit, Tanguy Arsenal has the option to was Shkodran Mustafi, who “There is too much to lose lecht in his native Belgium, is until the end of the Ndombele in central midfield - make the deal permanent. hurt his ankle in the FA Cup if you speak up especially when one of the founding members season. without appearing to be sat- The left-footed Spanish fourth-round win at Bourne- you are on your own,” of the Global Players’ Council, isfied with any of them. defender, who helped mouth on Monday. Kompany said at an event which has been set up by the organised by global players’ world players’ association union FIFPRO. FIFPRO to give athletes a col- “You can put yourself in a lective voice. Striker Felix to miss Saturday's very difficult place... to be iso- “Ultimately, we would want Calhanoglu's lated and then punished. to see everyone speak up on Madrid derby after injury “You have got a career that issues they feel are of impor- double sends AC lasts 12 to 15 years and it is so tance,” said England women’s AFP — MADRID hard to find a space and it is so international Anita Asante, competitive. another member of the new Atletico Madrid said Milan into semis “If a club decides they are council. yesterday that Joao Felix has not going to look at you “It can only happen with sustained a muscle injury, REUTERS— MILAN because you have made certain collective action... the more meaning the striker is likely comments, you can be for- people that join together, then to miss Saturday’s city derby Hakan Calhanoglu scored twice and gotten about within the space we can install the changes we against Real Madrid. was instrumental as AC Milan came of a transfer window.” want to see.” Felix’s absence could from behind to beat visitors Torino There are several cases of FIFPRO Secretary-General persuade Atletico to accel- 4-2 after extra time and reach the players sanctioned for Jonas Baer-Hoffmann said the erate their pursuit of semi-finals of the Coppa Italia on reacting to racism in the union had a “responsibility to Edinson Cavani, who is keen Tuesday. crowd, a notable example create a culture that allows to leave Paris Saint-Germain Turkey midfielder Calhanoglu being Brazilian forward people to speak out.” this month if the clubs can netted a stoppage-time equaliser Taison who was sent off and “(Players) are people, they agree a fee. before giving the Rossoneri a 3-2 lead banned for one game while have freedom of speech, they Atletico confirmed in a in extra time as the home side playing for Shakhtar Donetsk should address issues, they can statement that Felix was claimed their fifth win in as many be agents for change in injured during last week- games to set up a last-four clash with society,” he added Baer- end’s goalless draw with Juventus. Milan were clear favourites Hoffmann said that where Leganes in La Liga. and went ahead on 12 minutes. players had spoken out, it had “Joao Felix suffered a Gleison Bremer, however, equalised made a difference such as in muscular injury in his right Atletico Madrid’s 10 minutes before the interval and If a club decides they recent incidents of racism leg during the match against Joao Felix he put the visitors ahead by heading are not going to look where a number of them had Leganes,” the statement in Ola Aina’s cross in the 71st minute. been vocal. read. Yet Calhanoglu’s half-volley two at you because you Manchester City and “With the persistence of under-performing Atletico Atletico will be looking for minutes into stoppage time drew have made certain England forward Raheem discomfort after a day of team. their first win in five games. Milan level and he was at it again in Sterling is regarded as a role rest, the medical services The 20-year-old has A poor run has seen the 107th with a shot from close range comments, you can model after frequently have performed tests that scored four goals in 24 them lose on penalties to before substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic be forgotten about speaking out against racist detected the injury. His appearances. Real in the Spanish Super rounded off the scoring two minutes within the space of abuse, while in Italy Brescia return will depend on his His injury means Diego Cup final and crash out of later from inside the box. forward Mario Balotelli’s fre- recovery.” Simeone is likely to start the Copa del Rey to third tier With banners and music, Milan’s a transfer window: quent denouncing of racism Felix left Benfica for with Alvaro Morata and Cultural Leonesa. San Siro stadium paid tribute to Vincent Kompany has turned it into a major issue €126m last summer but has Angel Correa up front They have also slipped former NBA star Kobe Bryant, who and prompted clubs and the only shown glimpses of his against Real Madrid at the to fifth in La Liga, 10 points died in a helicopter crash on Sunday. federation to react. talent this season in an Santiago Bernabeu, where adrift of leaders Real. Police probe attack on home of United’s Ed Woodward
AFP — MANCHESTER A fan holds up a banner in protest of the voicing their anger at United’s lost 12 Premier League games ownership of Manchester United in this owners the Glazer family and -- one more than they have won Police have launched an inves- January 26, 2020 file photo. Woodward, who advised the -- under the Norwegian in that tigation into an attack on the Americans during their suc- time. home of Manchester United cessful takeover of the club in United have not won the executive vice-chairman Ed 2005. Premier League since Ferguson Woodward as fans’ frustrations Fans reportedly sang retired in 2013, with far more mount over the plight of the “Woodward’s going to die” at experienced managers David 20-times English champions. the recent defeat against Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Videos shared on social Burnley and during Sunday’s FA Mourinho all in and out at Old media on Tuesday show hooded Cup victory over Tranmere. Trafford before Solskjaer took people throwing flares over a The supporters, who charge. gate to a property, while red enjoyed two decades of almost They now face Manchester paint was sprayed on a gatepost. unbroken success under Alex City in the League Cup semi- A statement from Cheshire Ferguson, have seen their club final today but are 3-1 down Police said officers were fall 33 points behind fierce after the first leg. notified of an incident of rivals Liverpool, who look Earlier this month, Solskjaer criminal damage at around certain to win their first league gave his backing to the Glazers 10:45 pm (2245 GMT) on title for 30 years. and Woodward after fans Tuesday. United manager Ole Gunnar voiced disapproval at their han- “Thankfully no one was Solskjaer is struggling to turn dling of the club. harmed and officers will liaise things around, with the club “As a club we’ve got to stick with security officials over the from his home at the time of the the perpetrators of this unwar- “Fans expressing opinion is fifth in the Premier League, six together, we’ve got to be united, coming days to establish the full attack. ranted attack,” the club said. one thing, criminal damage and points behind fourth-placed we are a family,” he said. circumstances surrounding this United said those respon- “Anybody found guilty of a intent to endanger life is Chelsea. “I can only say from when incident and identify those sible would be banned for life criminal offence, or found to be another. There is simply no Their record following I’ve been here I’ve been backed involved,” the statement said. from the club. trespassing on this property, excuse for this.” former United striker’s Solsk- by the owners, I’ve been backed Woodward, who is married “We know that the football will be banned for life by the The atmosphere at Old jaer’s appointment as per- by Ed and they’re supporting with two young children, is world will unite behind us as we club and may face Trafford has turned toxic in manent manager in March last me, so for me, make sure they reported to have been away work with the police to identify prosecution. recent weeks, with supporters year is poor, with United having stick together.” 10 SPORT THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2020
Quartararo to Rohit's twin sixes help India win replace Rossi at Yamaha MotoGP team in 2021
T20 series against New Zealand REUTERS — LONDON
AFP — HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND SCOREBOARD Valentino Rossi will decide this India New Zealand year whether to call time on Rohit Sharma smacked sixes off his stellar MotoGP career after R Sharma c Southee b Bennett ...... 65 M Guptill c sub (Samson) b Thakur ....31 the final two balls of a dramatic Yamaha announced yesterday super over for India to win the K Rahul c Munro b de Grandhomme .27 C Munro st Rahul b Jadeja ...... 14 the signing of French third Twenty20 against New S Dube c Sodhi b Bennett ...... 3 K Williamson c Rahul b Shami ...... 95 youngster Fabio Quartararo as Zealand in Hamilton yesterday V Kohli c Southee b Bennett ...... 38 M Santner b Chahal ...... 9 the Italian great’s replacement and wrap up the series. S Iyer st Seifert b Santner ...... 17 C de Grandhomme c Dube b Thakur ... 5 from 2021. It sealed a man-of-the M Pandey (not out) ...... 14 R Taylor b Shami ...... 17 Quartararo, 20, will match performance from R Jadeja (not out) ...... 10 T Seifert (not out) ...... 0 remain with the Petronas Sharma, the most prolific Yamaha non-works team for batsman in cricket’s shortest Extras: (B1, LB2, W2) ...... 5 Extras: (B6, LB2) ...... 8 one more season before format, who showed his class Total: (five wickets; 20 overs) .....179 Total: (six wkts; 20 overs) ...... 179 stepping up alongside with 65 to set up India’s 179 for Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-94, 3-96, 4-142, Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-52, 3-88, 4-137, Spaniard Maverick Vinales, five which was matched by 5-160 5-178, 6-179 whose contract was extended New Zealand’s 179 for six. Bowling: Southee 4-0-39-0 (2w), Ben- Bowling: Thakur 3-0-21-2 (2w), Shami on Tuesday, at the factory New Zealand skipper Kane nett 4-0-54-3, Kuggeleijn 2-0-10-0, Sant- 4-0-32-2 (2w), Bumrah 4-0-45-0, Chahal outfit. Williamson had kept his side in Rossi, 40, will be starting ner 4-0-37-1, Sodhi 4-0-23-0, de Grand- 4-0-36-1 (1w), Jadeja 4-0-23-1 (1w), the hunt with a classy 95 and his 25th season in grand prix when the scores were tied he homme 2-0-13-1 Dube 1-0-4-0 motorcycle racing in March scored another 11 of their 17 Did not bat: Shardul Thakur, Yuzven- Result: Match tied, India won super over and said he wanted time to runs batting first in the super dra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit decider decide what came next. over. India only scored eight off Bumrah Series: India lead 3-0 “Yamaha asked me at the the first four deliveries in reply beginning of the year to make before Sharma smacked Tim a decision regarding my Southee for back-to-back sixes When Williamson won the 96 after 11 overs and were future,” said the nine times to clinch the match and the toss in Hamilton he put imme- restricted to a further 83 runs world champion in a team series with two games to spare. diate pressure on the tourists in the remainder of the innings. statement. “It was unbelievable. I by electing to bowl, forcing New Zealand’s reply was “It is clear that after the last thought at one stage we were India to set rather than chase a steady but unspectacular until technical changes and with the gone, down and out,” a relieved total. After a slow start in which the back half of the innings arrival of my new crew chief, Kohli said. Sharma had only 12 runs off 11 when Williamson charged in an my first goal is to be compet- “He (Williamson) played a balls, he erupted over the next attempt to keep the series alive. itive this year and to continue brilliant innings and they 12 deliveries to reach his half Williamson was caught my career as a MotoGP rider probably deserved to finish the century. behind trying to edge the also in 2021. game off the way he batted and In a brutal attack on pace winning runs past the keeper “Before doing so, I need to the way he led from the front bowler Hamish Bennett he hit and after Ross Taylor and Tim have some answers that only and I feel bad for him. three sixes and two fours off Seifert ran a bye to level the the track and the first few “But Rohit was outstanding five consecutive deliveries. scores, Taylor was bowled on races can give me.” in the first half and the last two But when Colin de Grand- the final ball of the innings Yamaha team manager Lin balls as well.” India compre- homme removed KL Rahul for sending the match into a super Jarvis said the Japanese man- hensively won the first two 27 and Bennett followed with over. >491C$?89D%81B=1<5Ǟ35<52B1D5CG9D8 $18E<1Ǟ5B ufacturer respected Rossi’s games of the five-match series the wickets of Sharma and It was the third super over 89Ǡ9>7D85G9>>9>7BE>C4EB9>7D85D89B4&G5>DIŦŤ=1D381D position but had to plan for the when they bowled first, which Shivam Dube, India slumped New Zealand have faced in the %544?>#1B;9>1=9
Zverev renews pledge to donate $2.83m winner’s cheque to bushfire relief
AFP — MELBOURNE Alexander Zverev renewed a pledge yesterday to donate the A$4.12m ($2.83m) Australian Open winner’s cheque to bushfire relief if he lifts the title, after sweeping into the semi-finals. The generous 22-year-old German has already raised $50,000 by handing over $10,000 for each match he has won at Melbourne Park, a vow made after his first-round victory. At the same time, he said he would also donate the win- ner’s earnings should he break through for a maiden Grand Slam title “Yes, it is still true. I hope I can make it happen,” he told cheering fans on Rod Laver Arena after sweeping past veteran Swiss Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals. “I made the people of Australia a promise. I will keep that promise if it happens. “Four million Australian dollars would be nice. But there’s people that need it... for rebuilding the lives they once knew. “It is much more important that they get that money,” he added in an on-court interview with John McEnroe. Fires have ravaged large parts of Australia, leaving 33 people dead and thousands of homes destroyed, with sports stars around the world rallying to support recovery efforts. It was feared that smoke from the blazes could impact the opening Grand Slam of the year after qualifying was hit by thick smog. Austria’s Dominic Thiem with Spain’s Rafael Nadal after winning their quarter-final match at the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. Australian Australian Open results Open glance: Thiem stuns Nadal to set AFP — MELBOURNE
Federer faces Collated results on day 10 of Djokovic for the Australian Open Grand up match against Zverev Slam at Melbourne Park on yesterday (x denotes 50th time AP — MELBOURNE at Melbourne Park since he won his lone take it in a tiebreaker. The first lasted 67 seeding): title at the place in 2009. He’s won two at minutes, the second 69. AP — MELBOURNE Outplayed at his own brand of physical Wimbledon, four at the US Open and 12 at Nadal was flustered by a warning from Men’s singles tennis for much of the match, Rafael Nadal the French Open. chair umpire Aurelie Tourte for a time vio- Quarter-finals Defending champion finally claimed a set to try to start a Asked what he wished he’d done dif- lation, citing him for taking more than the Alexander Zverev (GER Novak Djokovic and Roger comeback against Dominic Thiem. ferently against Thiem, Nadal replied: “Win allotted 25 seconds before serving. x7) bt Stanislas Wawrinka Federer will be playing Nadal marked the moment by hopping any tiebreak.” Nadal termed the call “amazing,” com- (SUI x15) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 each other for the 50th time in a crouch at the baseline and vigorously Thiem had been 0-5 against Nadal at plaining that the previous point was com- Dominic Thiem (AUT x5) when they meet in the pumping his right arm four times. the majors, including losses in the final at prised of an exhausting 19 shots and so the bt Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) 7-6 semi-finals at Melbourne Soon, though, he was back in trouble. Roland Garros each of the past two years. clock shouldn’t have started when it did (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) Park. And eventually, his bid to tie Roger Fed- But this one was different. The defining (something which is at the chair umpire’s It’s a blockbuster erer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles by statistic: Thiem won exactly twice as many discretion). Women’s singles matchup between two men winning the Australian Open was over with points that featured nine or more shots, “You don’t like the good tennis,” he told Quarter-finals with a combined 36 Grand a quarterfinal loss yesterday to Thiem - a 24-12. Tourte. “You don’t like the good tennis.” Simona Halep (ROM x4) Slam trophies (Federer has younger version of Nadal himself. Thiem managed to hang in there with Later, he gave Tourte a sarcastic bt Anett Kontaveit (EST x28) a record 20, Djokovic 16), Thiem’s 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6) Nadal on physical baseline exchanges, thumb’s up after she told him he hesitated 6-1, 6-1 13 Australian Open cham- victory over the top-seeded Nadal lasted 4 trading groundstroke for groundstroke and too long before trying to challenge a line Garbine Muguruza (ESP) pionships (Federer has six, hours, 10 minutes because of so many picking the proper spots to move forward call. bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Djokovic a record seven) lengthy, electrifying points. in the tense clash. Thiem’s biggest hiccups came as the end (RUS x30) 7-5, 6-3 180 singles titles overall One rather memorable one featured Or to describe it another way: Thiem was near. (Federer has 103, Djokovic Thiem stumbling onto his backside before was out-Nadal-ing Nadal, the ultimate There was the break that ceded the third 77) and 10 year-end No. 1 popping up and keeping the ball in play grinder who never met a point that was too set, the one celebrated so enthusiastically finishes in the ATP rankings until Nadal made a mistake. long or too grueling. by Nadal. (five apiece). “He’s playing with a lot of energy ... (and) “Even from difficult positions,” Nadal There was another break when Thiem Djokovic leads the determination. So well done for him,” Nadal said, praising Thiem’s quickness and power, served for the victory at 5-4 in the fourth head-to-head series 26-23, said. “I honestly didn’t play a bad match.” “he was able to produce amazing shots.” but was undone by a series of jitters- with five in a row in Thiem reached his fifth major semi-final Now Thiem will play No. 7 Alexander induced mistakes. There were three off- matches at the majors, but first somewhere other than at the Zverev tomorrow for a berth in the title the-mark forehands, with a double-fault including their most recent French Open, the place that is Nadal’s match. mixed in for good measure. meeting -- in last year’s domain. Zverev reached his first major semi- “Such a really mentally tough situation,” Wimbledon final, where he Of more significance: The outcome final anywhere by overcoming a terrible Thiem said. “Couldn’t handle it.” saved two match points to ended Nadal’s career-best streak of making start yesterday and putting together a 1-6, Then, on his first match point, at 6-4 in beat Federer in a fifth-set at least the semifinals at seven consecutive 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over three-time Grand the last tiebreaker, Thiem drove a leaping tiebreaker. Grand Slam tournaments, a span during Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. forehand into the net, then covered his face So why hasn’t Federer which he earned three trophies to narrow So instead of Nadal, 33, against with his left hand. managed to win a Grand his gap with Federer. Wawrinka, 34, it’ll be Zverev, 22, against His second match point came and went Slam match against “He is one of the greatest of all-time, Thiem, 26, a couple of members of the new with a lob that landed long. Djokovic in eight years? one of this sport’s biggest legends,” the fifth- generation trying to collect a breakthrough But Thiem did not fold there, getting a Djokovic himself said he seeded Thiem said about Nadal. Slam title. third opportunity to close it with a cross- wasn’t sure. The last time Nadal didn’t get to the final “I think it’s the first time I am playing a court backhand that glanced off the tape - Romania’s Simona Halep “I know that whenever four at a major? Also at the Australian Open, Grand Slam semi-final and I am the older one of a handful of favourable net cords for celebrates after victory against we get a chance to play where he also went out in the quarter-finals player,” Thiem said with a chuckle. him. Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit in each other, we understand two years ago before finishing as the The first two sets yesterday sets were When Nadal missed one last forehand, their singles quarter-final it takes a big effort and it’s runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2019. remarkably similar: Nadal would go up by Thiem looked to the sky and spread his match yesterday. required from us to come That was Nadal’s fourth defeat in a final a break, then Thiem would break back and arms wide. up with the best game in order to win against each other,” Djokovic said. Zverev beats Wawrinka “Roger is Roger. You know that he’s always going to play on such a high level, regardless of the to reach the semi-finals surface. He loves to play these kind of matches, big AFP — MELBOURNE lost all three matches, he worked hard rivalries, semis, finals of on the practice court and has been in Grand Slams.” German young gun Alexander Zverev fine touch to finally make a Grand Slam One key this time could stormed into his first Grand Slam semi- last four at his 19th attempt. be how Federer feels after final yesterday, rallying from a set down His serve, a key focus of his extended dealing with a painful groin to shatter the dreams of three-time practices, was a weapon once again muscle while saving seven Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka against 34-year-old three-time Grand match points during a five- at the Australian Open. Slam champion Wawrinka. set quarter-final win. The seventh seed was thumped in He fired 13 aces against just one While the other men’s the first set but recovered to grind down double fault, with a first-serve per- semi-final is not until the 2014 champion 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in centage of 80 percent. tomorrow, both women’s hot sun on Rod Laver Arena. It was Wawrinka who came out of semis are today: He will face fifth seed Dominic Thiem the blocks firing, putting immediate No. 1 Ash Barty vs. No. in the last four, with a final beckoning pressure on the Zverev serve, getting his 14 Sofia Kenin, and No. 4 against Novak Djokovic or Roger returns back to break straight away Simona Halep vs. unseeded Federer. when the German netted a half-volley. Garbiñe Muguruza. “It feels awesome,” said Zverev who Zverev won just four points in the TODAY’S WEATHER has been donating $10,000 for each win opening three games as he struggled to FORECAST at Melbourne Park to Australian bushfire get the measure of Wawrinka, and he Sunny. High of 98 relief, and will even hand over the A$4.12 was broken again when he shanked a degrees (37 Celsius). million ($2.83m) winner’s cheque if he forehand high into the crowd. YESTERDAY’S SINGLES clinches the title. The German finally held to get QUARTER-FINALS “I’ve done well at other tournaments himself on the scoreboard but the Swiss Women: No. 4 Simona and in other matches but could never was moving and serving well, unleashing Halep beat No. 28 Anett break that barrier in Grand Slams. You some crunching groundstrokes to take Germany’s Alexander Zverev is interviewed by John McEnroe after winning his Kontaveit 6-1, 6-1; Garbiñe can’t imagine what this means to me. the set in just 24 minutes. match against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka. at the Australian Open in Melbourne Muguruza beat No. 30 “It hope it will be the first of many,” Zverev needed to hold his opening yesterday. Zverev won in four sets. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Zverev said. serve in the second set to halt the 7-5, 6-3. Big things have been tipped for Wawrinka juggernaut and he rose to the Men: No. 7 Alexander Zverev since he burst into the top 10 in occasion, with his court coverage and A resurgent Zverev rammed home lead. Wawrinka, who beat Spain's Rafael Zverev beat No. 15 Stan 2017, but until now the 22-year-old has groundstrokes raising a level. his advantage with an early break in the Nadal in the 2014 Australian Open final, Wawrinka 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, not fully delivered, slipping down the It went with serve until game eight third set of the match before the wily was out of fight and Zverev had him 6-2. No.5 Dominic Thiem rankings last year to seven from four at when Wawrinka drilled a forehand into Swiss hit back. dancing to his tune as he raced to victory, beat No.1 Rafael Nadal 7-6 the start of the season. the net and Zverev screamed ‘C’mon’ But a poorly executed drop shot ending the popular Swiss star’s bid for a (3), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6 But after a poor build-up to the year’s after his first break of the match, serving again handed the 22-year-old another first Slam semi since Roland Garros in opening Major at the ATP Cup, where he out for the set. break and he raced to a two sets to one 2017. SPORT SPORT | 10 SPORT | 11 Rohit helps Thiem India beat NZ in produces third T20 to stellar shots clinch series to stun Nadal
THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2020 Al Arabi eye full points against Umm Salal
ARMSTRONG VAS continuing the work that we we want to keep winning, we THE PENINSULA started since the beginning of must keep our focus,” Askar said. the season through strong prep- “All team, players and technical Al Arabi will be keen to get back arations. We have a difficult as well as administrative staff, to winning ways in their bid to game against an opponent that are working hard. The players be back among the elite top four did not start well, but they have We must win full know their task well and they when they take on Umm Salal improved now and beat Al Khor must forget the past in order to in Round 14 of the QNB Stars in the last round. points because this restore balance and get positive League at the Al Arabi Stadium Umm Salal, facing rele- will have a significant results for Umm Salal. today at 6.45pm. gation threat along with Al Khor impact on the team’s “We need to know the Al Arabi are going into the and Al Shahania, are on a high importance of every ball and match with back-to-back following their 1-0 victory over final ranking. We every attack, for us or for the defeats, 1-6 against Al Sadd and Al Khor in Week 13 and will look will try to achieve opponent. We have to think that 1-3 against Al Duhail last week to build on it as it will help them we have an opportunity to stay and are fifth in the standings get off the basement, where this target. In the in the first division and must with 18 points - five victories, they now lie with eight points- last game against Al fight to achieve this difficult as many defeats and three two wins, as many draws and Duhail, we deserved target because football is very draws. nine defeats. difficult. Al Arabi coach Heimir Hall- The Orange Fortress and Al at least a draw: “I am not very satisfied, Al Arabi coach Heimir grimsson said his team will be Shahania have same number of despite the fact that we won Hallgrimsson Hallgrimsson speaking gunning for full points against points, but the latter are placed last week after a lot of at a press conference on Umm Salall. above by virtue of better goal struggles. That was the first “We are ready to face Umm difference. the eve of the QNB Stars step, we have many other Salal and our target for this The former Iceland coach League match against steps and we have 24 players. match is three points. We are stressed on the need to get Umm Salal in Doha All players should think the maximum points from the yesterday. same way and must keep their match. concentration,” said Askar. QNB Stars League “We must win full points supports us in order to create a has stressed on the importance they did in the last match Al Arabi had beaten Umm because this will have a signif- team that will compete for titles of remaining focussed in the against Al Khor. That is the key Salal 5-1 in the first leg of Today’s Matches icant impact on the team’s final in the future,” he said. upcoming matches. to get back to winning path. If 2019-20 QNB Stars League. 16:35: Al Ahli vs Al Khor at ranking. We will try to achieve “I may not be with Al Arabi “It will be a Al Ahli Stadium this target. In the last game always, but I will be happy that difficult match QNB Stars League Standings 18:45: Al Arabi vs Umm Salal against Al Duhail, we deserved I started this process. I follow because Al Arabi at Al Arabi Stadium at least a draw.” Hallgrimsson the club’s age-group players to are a big team M Win Lose Draw GF GA Pts said he has been trying to instill choose them for the first team. with huge fan fol- Al Duhail 13 10 0 3 27 11 33 Tomorrow’s Matches the winning mentality. At least their presence in lowing in Qatar Al Rayyan 13 8 1 4 30 13 28 16:35:Al Wakrah vs Al “The winning mentality was training is important,” he added. and they are Al Sadd 13 9 4 0 39 23 27 Shahania at Al Wakrah not present for several years, “Defeats affect the coach of playing on their Al Gharafa 13 7 4 2 26 20 23 Stadium especially when we played course, but after any defeat we home turf.” Al Arabi 13 5 5 3 24 22 18 18:45: Al Gharafa vs Qatar against some teams. There was must start preparing for the next “In the last Al Sailiya 13 5 6 2 15 17 17 SC at Al Gharafa Stadium a kind of panic. match. We must be realistic that round, we started Al Wakrah 13 4 5 4 18 21 16 "It takes time to change this we are having a strong project a new chapter and Al Ahli 13 5 7 1 17 23 16 On Saturday mentality of players and for the future. We hope to we have new Qatar SC 13 4 6 3 14 17 15 16:35: Al Sadd vs Al Sailiya develop a winning mentality. It succeed in the upcoming match players with high Al Khor 13 2 8 3 14 23 9 at Al Sadd Stadium will not happen overnight. I against Umm Salal,” said spirits. I asked Al Shahania 13 1 7 5 13 28 8 18:45: Al Rayyan vs Al Duhail started working in that direction Hallgrimsson. them to focus, Umm Salal 13 2 9 2 8 27 8 at Al Sadd Stadium ever since I took charge of Al Meanwhile, Umm Salal play and think Arabi. I am happy that everyone coach Aziz Ben Askar said he professionally as
AIU recommends Champion’s mindset propels Halep excluding Russia into Australian Open semi-finals from global federation AFP — MELBOURNE “I feel more energy going to the semi-finals. I feel more con- AFP — PARIS Simona Halep warned she’s fident, I feel my game,” said playing some of the best tennis Halep, who is set to rise a place The Athletics Integrity Unit of her career as she steamed to second in the world rankings (AIU) has recommended that into an Australian Open semi- I feel more energy next week. World Athletics expel Russia final against fellow two-time going to the semi- There has also been a from the global federation, the Grand Slam champion Garbine finals. I feel more change of mindset in Halep doping watchdog announced Muguruza yesterday. when she approaches Grand yesterday. The 28-year-old Romanian confident, I feel my Slams, she said. In a statement, the AIU is the only player in the game. I just feel more “I just feel more confident said that it had made recom- women’s draw not to drop a set and I feel like I’m able to do it,” mendations “to consider Qatar's victorious coach Valero Rivera greeted upon arrival at in Melbourne and never looked confident and I feel said the Romanian, a popular imposing the severest possible Hamad International Airport by Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, in danger of doing so as she like I’m able to do it: figure with her fellow players. consequences”, including Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee. thrashed Estonian 28th seed Simona Halep “It’s just a feeling that you “considering the expulsion of Anett Kontaveit 6-1, 6-1 in 53 don’t see this trophy as impos- RusAF (the Russian athletics minutes. sible anymore. federation) from the mem- We deserved the title: Muguruza, who like Halep but Halep said she is in the kind “This is what I’m feeling bership of World Athletics”. has won Wimbledon and the of sizzling form that saw her about the Grand Slams now.” The AIU’s announcement French Open, sealed a date with defeat Serena Williams 6-2, 6-2 Halep, beaten in the 2018 final comes after the World Anti- Qatar coach Rivera Halep with a 7-5, 6-3 quarter- in the Wimbledon final in July. in Melbourne by Caroline Woz- Doping Agency (WADA) final win over Russia’s 30th The former world number niacki, wasted no time asserting decided last month to ban ARMSTRONG VAS THE Officials of various sports seed Anastasia one is also growing into the her authority over 28th seed Russia for four years from PENINSULA bodies in Qatar were in Pavlyuchenkova. Australian Open, having said Kontaveit, who was contesting major global sporting events, attendance at the Hamad Inter- Muguruza edges Halep 3-2 previously she was sluggish and her first Grand Slam including the 2020 Tokyo Qatar's Asian handball Cham- national Airport to receive the in their five previous meetings, tired at the outset. quarter-final. Olympics and the 2022 World pionship winning coach Valero team Cup in Qatar, over manipu- Rivera has said that his team A day earlier, Qatar lated doping data. was 'confident' of winning the defeated South Korea 33-21 to Romania’s Simona Halep hits a return Russia’s anti-doping continental tight right from the win the regional title for the against Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit during agency RUSADA quickly start of the championship in fourth consecutive time. their women’s singles quarter-final announced that it would Kuwait. The win proved Qatar's match at the Australian Open in appeal the ban, as President He said Qatar deserved the dominance in the region having Melbourne, yesterday. Vladimir Putin claimed the ban title because they worked hard earlier won in 2014, 2016 and was “politically motivated”. for it. 2018. However sources said “It was a difficult tour- South Korea are the record earlier this month that a nament but we were confident winners of the continental decision from the Court of from the start. Our victory event, having won it nine times, Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is didn’t come as a fluke, we but their last success was in not expected before May, just worked hard for it. The matches 2012. weeks before the Games open were tough, especially the It is the Qataris who have in Tokyo on July 24. semi-final against Bahrain, but established themselves as the The doping scandal has thanks to our preparations we dominant Asian force since brought fierce criticism of succeeded,” the Spaniard said. then, besides winning the Asian RusAF from several prominent Team manager Yusuf Al title thrice and reaching the athletes, including three-time Hail also credited the team’s World Championship final on high-jump world champion success to hard work and per- home soil in 2015. Mariya Lasitskene. Lasitskene severance. “I congratulate eve- Besides the finalists, the has been a vocal critic of the ryone on this achievement,” he other two losing semi-finalists Russian sporting authorities, said. at the Kuwait championship and has already warned she The victorious handball also qualified for the 2021 would quit Russia and train players arrived to a rapturous World Men's Handball Cham- elsewhere so as not to miss the welcome in Doha on Tuesday. pionship to be held in Egypt. Tokyo Olympics.