Qatari Stars Barshim, Samba to Kick Offdl Season in Doha
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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 GGOLFOLF | Page 6 UEFA prez Korda grabs Ceferin 1-shot lead warns of at LPGA Los ‘consequences’ Angeles Open Friday, April 23, 2021 TENNIS Ramadan 11, 1442 AH Nadal survives GULF TIMES three-setter to top Nishikori, enters QF SPORT Page 4 ATHLETICS / DIAMOND LEAGUE Qatari stars Barshim, Samba to kick off DL season in Doha ‘Onset of the pandemic gave me the opportunity to take my time and to get things right... I’m excited to race’ By Sports Reporter priority and the onset of the Doha pandemic gave me the opportu- nity to take my time and to get things right. I’m now back to utaz Barshim and where I want to be and I’m ex- Abderrahman Sam- cited to race.” ba, Qatar’s reign- The Qatar Sports Club will ing men’s high jump once again host this prestigious Mworld champion and World Diamond League fi xture which Championship 400m bronze has consistently delivered world medallist respectively, will re- class performances, including turn to Wanda Diamond League two world leads and six meeting action at the Doha Diamond and national records across the League on May 28, the second programme in 2020. meeting of the 2021 series. “Last year’s event was a great After a truncated 2020 Wanda success and its delivery was tes- Diamond League season — which tament to the commitment and was reduced to four events due passion of our people,” said Qatar to the impact of Covid-19 — it’s Athletics Federation president, a welcome return for two of the HE Dr Thani al-Kuwari. host nation’s star athletes, both “In spite of the continued national record holders and se- health and safety protocols we rious medal contenders for this must adhere to, we are excited summer’s Olympic Games in To- to welcome back another im- kyo. pressive line-up of stars for the Barshim, who was outstand- 23rd edition of the Doha meet- ing when winning global World ing and we’re confident in our Championship gold at the Kha- ability to deliver another world lifa International Stadium in class — and safe — athletics October 2019, has competed competition.” only once since that famous The 2021 Wanda Diamond victory. He jumped 2.25m to League comprises 14 meetings — win the Aspire Invitational in starting with Gateshead (replac- Doha on March 15. ing Rabat as the fi rst host city “Following the World Cham- on this year’s circuit) on May 23 pionships in Doha I was in very — leading to a single fi nal across good shape, but with the pan- two days in Zurich at the end of demic and the associated restric- the season. Each meeting will be tions, I didn’t feel I had good While Abderrahman Samba (left) won over 400m in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on March 31, Mutaz Barshim (right) jumped 2.25m to win the Aspire Invitational in Doha on March 15. broadcast globally in a live two- reason to compete last year,” hour programme. said the 29-year-old who has a to be, focused on this summer’s compete and I’m looking forward World Championship bronze opened 2021 with a win over in the lead up to the Worlds, I The 2021 calendar remains best of 2.43m, the second high- Olympic Games and I believe I’ve to opening my Diamond League came off the back of interrupted 400m (45.43) in Potchefstroom, decided that my focus was to subject to change depending on est jump of all time. “All of my used my time wisely to prepare campaign in Doha.” preparation due to injury — also South Africa, on March 31. get back to being 100% healthy,” the global health situation in the eff orts have been, and continue and train well. Now it’s time to Similarly, Samba — whose missed the 2020 season. He “After some hamstring issues he said. “The Olympics is my coming months. FOOTBALL / AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Al Sadd hope to carry momentum against Al Wehdat AFC head coach Abdullah Abu Zema Riyadh will expect them to reproduce that spirit. “In the last match against Al aving rediscovered Sadd we shared control, Al Sadd their best form against controlled in the fi rst half in terms Jordan’s Al Wehdat in a of performance and result, and 3-1 win, Qatari cham- scored three goals, then in the sec- Hpions Al Sadd will be aiming for ond half we dominated but wasted three more points when the two several chances and only managed teams meet again on Matchday to score a goal,” Zema said. Four of the 2021 AFC Champions “The two teams knows each League Group D fi xture today. other now, and there are no se- Xavi Hernandez’s men have crets between us, and I guess now endured a mixed campaign, the level of fi tness will have an ef- needing a late goal to salvage a fect as each team has played three point against Foolad before be- matches. ing beaten by Al Nassr 3-1. They, “Our only hope is to win the however, rediscovered their best match, and get the three points form against competition debu- and this is what we want. The tantes Tuesday. other match between Al Nassr Al Wehdat started their de- and Foolad last time fi nished but campaign with a 0-0 draw with a draw, which kept every- against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, thing open in the group.” but that was followed by defeats “In the previous matches we to Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan FC were organised in defence, but we (1-0) and Al Sadd, and another were not courageous in attack,” defeat would dash their hopes of Zema admitted. “And generally, advancing. we’ve always been better in the Xavi said consistency would second half, but we promise our be key if Al Sadd are to progress fans that we will show a diff erent to the Round of 16 and the Span- Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah (third from right) passes the ball during the AFC Champions League group D Al Wehdat side in the next three ish legend will urge his players to Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez addresses the media yesterday. match against Al Wehdat in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) matches. show the intensity they did in the “We will not lose hope to qual- fi rst half against Al Wehdat on against Foolad and Al Nassr con- the same team twice in a row. But well in the fi rst 60 minutes, and fi cult because Al Wehdat played Al Wehdat found the going ify, and winning this match will Tuesday. fi dent of advancing to the Round we’ve been doing well, especially in the second match, we played well in the second half, and tough against Al Sadd, conced- get us a step closer to that. The Al Sadd had 14 shots from in- of 16 as the group winners. in the last game, where we did better in the second half, then we they’ll be for sure playing attack ing three fi rst half goals but gave team who have better substitutes side the box against Al Wehdat “This is another important excellent in the fi rst half, and not played brilliantly in the fi rst half tomorrow. But it’s okay, we have a better account of themselves in the coming three matches will and if they can play at the same match for us, and we’re treating so well in the second half,” said of the last match. Now, our target four points, it all depends on our- in the second half, with Ahmed be in better situation, and I have level and get a win today, they will this like the fi nal. From my expe- Xavi. is to play well for all 90 minutes. selves, and our main target is to Saleh scoring their fi rst-ever substitutes who are equal to the approach their fi nal two matches rience, it’s diffi cult to win against “In the fi rst match, we played “I expect tomorrow to be dif- qualify for the knockout rounds.” AFC Champions League goal and starting players.” Gulf Times 2 Friday, April 23, 2021 FOOTBALL AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOCUS Al Rayyan out to revive hopes against Al Wahda Super League AFC the back, Blanc will feel that Al gamble to experiment with tac- historic opportunity, Goa Rayyan can defeat Al Wahda for tics in the second half against their fi rst win of the campaign Al Rayyan paid dividends, with and reignite their hopes. the Dutchman’s decision to fi eld wary of making rash l Rayyan of Qatar and “I will not change my tactics several young players paying off UAE’s Al Wahda will against Al Wahda and we will play handsomely. both be desperate for with the same philosophy as we “We won our last game be- decision, say Barca victory when the two did in our fi rst match,” said Blanc. cause it had to do with the de- Asides meet on Matchday Four in “I think we deserved to win termination and mentality of Manchester United, Liverpool, Reuters Group E of the 2021 AFC Cham- (against Al Wahda) on Tuesday. the players,” said ten Cate. “It is Barcelona, Spain Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur pions League at the Jawaharlal We were two goals up but we were always something that I want to abandoned the project on Tues- Nehru Stadium today.