BADMINTON | Page 5 F1 | Page 6 Sindhu, Button Saina, says Abu To Advertise here Jayaram Dhabi his Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 advance last race Friday, November 25, 2016 CRICKET Safar 25, 1438 AH Du Plessis hits GULF TIMES defi ant ton to silence boos of Adelaide crowd SPORT Page 4 GOLF/ QATAR LADIES OPEN Madsen joins leader Hall; Aditi, Annabel close behind ‘I have been having a few bad rounds the last couple of months and I don’t really know why. The game just hasn’t been what I want it to be. I’ve done a lot of hard work with my new putter. When you’re tired of something it’s good to try something new’ By Satya Rath Doha nother now-sunny now- cloudy day, another day of near-perfect conditions, and Ait was again a day of high scores at the Qatar Ladies Open, the Ladies European Tour event at the Doha Golf Club here. At the halfway mark of the inaugu- ral edition, it was a two-way tie for the lead with Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark joining overnight leader Lydia Hall of Wales with nine-under totals. A stroke behind, on tied-second, were Indian teenager Aditi Ashok and Annabel Dimmock of England, followed by Alexandra Vilatte Farret of France a further stroke back. Madsen, only in her second year on the professional tour, shot a six-under- par 66 to add to her 69 on the opening day to seize a share of the lead along- side Hall. She sunk seven birdies, but for a lone bogie, on the par-four 15th – she also stumbled on the same hole in Wednesday’s fi rst round – that stopped her from going on top. “My driving was good and the putting was better than the last couple of months,” said Madsen, who has had a relatively quiet stretch since winning the Tipsport Golf Masters in the Czech Republic in June, with just one top-10 fi nish, in the Spanish Open, since then. “I’ve been having a few bad rounds the last couple of months and I don’t really know why. The game just hasn’t been what I want it to be. I’ve done a lot of hard work with my new putter. When you’re tired of something it’s good to try something new. I think it’s working,” added the 23-year-old Dane. Co-leader Hall too has a fresh driver in her bag this week and a new caddie Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark's second-round 66 in tour professional Paul Doherty. “He’s helped her join overnight leader Lydia Hall of Wales atop experienced, he’s been playing on the the leaderboard going into the weekend action of the Challenge Tour and Mena Tour, he’s a Qatar Ladies Open at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. good player, so he knows what it’s like to be in certain positions and how to go about it when under pressure. It’s ing error-free – I’ve only had one bogey myself enough chances yesterday so Dimmock, who returned a 67, said: great to have someone who knows how over two days. It’s been quite plain sail- I did that today and I feel it was really “My long game was really good but I I’m feeling and he’s keeping me in the ing really,” she added. good,” said Aditi. “I’m feeling confi dent still left a few short putts short. I’m re- present,” said Hall. Aditi, fresh from her title win in the in my game and today was a great day. I ally pleased.” The 2012 Ladies British Masters Hero Women’s Indian Open champion hope I can keep the momentum going. I Swedish trio Linda Wessberg, Caro- champion had fi ve birdies and one bo- last week, hit six birdies in a bogey-free putted really well and four of my birdie line Hedwall and Johanna Gustavsson gey in her second-round 67. “I’ve been round of 66 – which was the best score putts were outside eight feet, so those were tied for fourth along with over- playing fairly solidly from tee to green of the day till it was matched by Madsen were good. I made a 15-footer for par as night co-leader Noora Tamminen of India's Aditi Ashok hit a fine 66 for and hopefully I can get the putts going later in the day. well on the 14th, and I hit the ball well. It Finland, all at six-under, while seven a two-day total of eight-under 136. tomorrow. The best part is I have play- “Today was really good. I didn’t give was a satisfying day.” players were on fi ve-under-par. Barcelona-Al-Ahli Saudi FC tickets for sale on QFA website he countdown has begun for the two football giants. In October 2014, the na- highly anticipated Qatar Airways Match tional carrier of the State of Qatar announced a Tof Champions between FC Barcelona and sponsorship agreement for three seasons with Al-Ahli Saudi FC, which will be held in Doha on Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli. Earlier this year, Qatar December 13th at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium Airways extended its FC Barcelona sponsorship (Al Gharafa Stadium). for another season, with the deal running until As the date of this unique friendly match ap- June 2017. proaches, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Through Qatar Airways Holidays (www.qatarai- have now placed the first batch of tickets for sale rways.com/cup) or accredited travel agents in the on the website (www.qfa.qa) of the Qatar Football Arabian Gulf, fans of the two teams can get many Association (QFA). off ers and promotions, including flight tickets, Every supporter can buy up to a total of four hotel accommodation, and match tickets. tickets, on one or both of the following catego- In the 2015/2016 season, Al-Ahli won the Saudi ries: Category 1 (QR200), Category 2 (QR100). Professional League. The club also won the Saudi The LOC, which comprises representatives of Super Cup and the Kings Cup. the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, FC Barcelona won their 23rd La Liga title this QFA, and Qatar Stars League (QSL), said it was year, the Copa del Rey and are the reigning delighted to announce the launch of ticket sales champions of the FIFA Club World Cup. The club and to support the event between two of the won the treble during the 2014/2015 season com- most popular teams in the world. second batch of tickets on the QFA website which available in a number of locations including local month, via the QFA’s social media channels. prising of the La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA The LOC has also confirmed plans to release a also will include the VIP tickets. Tickets will also be malls. Further details will be announced early next Qatar Airways is the off icial sponsor of the Champions League titles. Gulf Times 2 Friday, November 25, 2016 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Arsenal have lost momentum, admits Barcelona, Man frustrated Wenger City into last 16 as PSG control fate The Argentine star returned from illness to score both goals at Celtic Park — the second from the penalty spot — to send the five-time European champions through as winners of Group C Arsene Wenger (C) watches from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League group A football match between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in London on Wednesday. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (C) celebrates scoring his first AFP tie in the knock-out stages. goal against Celtic in their Group C Champions League London “It’s not over, but we have a match on Wednesday. 90% chance to fi nish second,” rsene Wenger admits Wenger said. “We wanted to fi n- Arsenal have lost mo- ish fi rst. We haven’t lost a game mentum and look des- in this group so we have done Atined for a frustrating well, but we haven’t fi nished the second-placed fi nish in their job. Champions League group after “We dropped off after it was being held to a 2-2 draw against 2-1. We didn’t maintain the Paris Saint-Germain. pressure and paid for that. It’s Wenger’s side were on course frustrating.We were a bit passive to wrap up top spot in Group A on the corner for their second when they led 2-1 late in the sec- goal.” ond half at the Emirates Stadi- Arsenal know only too well um on Wednesday. But Lucas’s how damaging it can be to fi nish 77th minute header was defl ect- second as a series of tough draws ed into his own net by Gunners have led to six consecutive last- winger Alex Iwobi and Arsenal 16 exits. were unable to fi nd a winner. But Wenger tried to remain That leaves the north Lon- upbeat and insisted the quality doners level on points with PSG of some of the teams fi nishing but behind them on a head-to- second meant even group win- head record, meaning the French ners couldn’t be guaranteed an team will take fi rst place if they easy draw. win their last group match, “Will it be bad for us? We have against minnows Ludogorets on to wait and see,” he said. December 6. “If you fi nish fi rst you play the Arsenal travel to Basel on the second game at home, but you same night and Wenger con- look at the groups and it’s diffi - ceded it doesn’t look likely they cult to tell what is better.