Bayern Munich for Atletico’S 1974 Agony SPORT Page 2
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NBA | Page 6 OLYMPICS | Page 9 Westbrook Brazil in leads chaos with Thunder 100 days to over Mavs go for Rio Wednesday, April 27, 2016 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Rajab 20, 1437 AH Torres hopes to GULF TIMES take revenge on Bayern Munich for Atletico’s 1974 agony SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Qatar names its biggest and strongest Olympic contingent for Rio Games ‘With 100 days to go for Rio 2016, we hope that our nation will unite in support of Team Qatar and celebrate their incredible feats in the true spirit of Olympism. Through our Rio 2016 social media campaign, we aim to shine a spotlight on the lives of our Olympians to show the amount of training, dedication and commitment that goes into elite sport and share their dreams with our country’ By Sports Reporter Doha ith just 100 days to go un- til the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) yester- Wday announced the line-up of athletes that have qualifi ed to represent Team Qatar. Qatar is at least sending 34 ath- letes from six federations to face the rest of the world in Brazil. Speaking at the countdown event, Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General Dr Thani Abdelrahman al- Kuwari said: “Each of our athletes have performed exceptionally well to simply qualify for the Olympic Games and we are proud of what each and every one of them have achieved. “With 100 days to go for Rio 2016, we hope that our nation will unite in support of Team Qatar and celebrate their incredible feats in the true spirit of Olympism. Through our Rio 2016 social media campaign, we aim to shine a spotlight on the lives of our Olym- pians to show the amount of training, dedication and commitment that goes into elite sport and share their Olympic dreams with our country. We cannot wait for the Games to begin.” Talking about the number of female athletes for the Rio games, he said: “I think the number will increase.” Four female athletes represented Qa- tar at London in 2012 and senior mem- bers of the team said they hoped to im- prove on that fi gure in Brazil. With qualifi cation deadline in some events on till July, Qatar’s chef de mis- sion to Rio, Mohamed al-Fadala, said two female athletes would defi nitely compete in Brazil and they were trying to fi nalise others. “It could be more, there are still some qualifi cation events left. We hope to get more athletes to go to Rio,” said Fadala. The QOC is encouraging the whole nation to get behind the country’s ath- Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General Dr Thani al-Kuwari (2nd right) with swimmers Nada Arkaji (right) and Noah al-Khulaifi (left) at the event to mark the 100 days countdown to Rio Games yesterday. letes through a social media campaign that it hopes will connect the public to portant. You feel like you’ve got the na- ble World junior champion in hammer Under the banner of #YallaQatar, Team Qatar and raise awareness about tion behind your back and it really helps throw, Ashraf Elseify, 2016 World In- each team and athlete will be profi led what it takes to be an Olympian. to give you a mental push.” door 400m silver medallist Adelalelah through the QOC’s ‘Olympic Dreams’ Team Qatar contains signifi cant One of Qatar’s fi rst-ever female Ol- Haroun, and current 100m Asian record fi lm series, which will be released regu- strength and depth with reigning world ympians, Nada Arkaji, will also be re- holder Femi Ogunode, creating a six- larly on the QOC’s social media chan- and Olympic medallists amongst its turning for her second consecutive strong team and showing the excep- nels over the next 100 days. ranks. Nasser al-Attiyah, who won the Olympic Games when she competes in tional progress that Qatar has made in The campaign kicks off with a special bronze in skeet shooting at London the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfl y athletics development in recent years. ‘100 Days To Go’ fi lm which gives a taste 2012, will return for his sixth consecu- swimming events. Making their Olympic debuts will be of what is to come from the series. Ex- tive Olympics. Speaking about being an inspiration the men’s Handball team, who won the ploring the highs, lows, motivations and Fellow London 2012 Olympic bronze to young females from Qatar, Arkaji 2015 World Championship silver medal, dreams of Team Qatar, the campaign will medallist, Mutaz Barshim–who in said: “Being the fi rst Qatari woman to and the Equestrian jumping team, who give a real insight into each Qatari ath- 2014 was just 2cm away from Javier represent my country in the Olympics qualifi ed when they won the second lete that will compete at Rio 2016. Sotomayor of Cuba’s 23-year-old world was such a great honour and gives me stage of the FEI Nations Cup in Abu Speaking about his Olympic dreams, record–also returns to action in Rio. such pride. I want to inspire a lot of Dhabi last year. Noah al-Khulaifi said: “At the Kazan Speaking about the Olympic experi- women, especially from the younger The youngest member of Team Qatar World Championships last year, I had an ence, Barshim said: “Olympics is the generation to be the best they can be. at just 16 years old is promising young interesting experience because I didn’t greatest sports event in the universe. I encourage them to not be afraid and swimmer Noah al-Khulaifi , who is cur- do as well as I’d have liked but from that Rio is going to be my second Olympics take risks. They should just be confi - rently juggling school with his Olym- I got a lot of good things and that’s why and I’m really excited to go there and dent and do what they love.” pic career. The other Qatari Rio 2016 I think I managed to push through and represent my country for a second time. Other returning London 2012 Ol- Olympians are Rashid Hamad and Li get to a higher level. It feels incredible That’s really big. I’m looking forward to ympians include reigning Asian cham- Peng, who will compete in skeet shoot- to be going to my fi rst Olympic Games it and I want to go there, perform well pions Musaeb Balla and Mohamed al- ing and table tennis respectively. as a teenager. My goals are to do per- and represent my country in the best Garni, who will compete in the 800m Rio 2016 qualifi cation is open until sonal best times and maybe something way possible. To get the support of eve- and 1500m respectively. Qatar’s ath- July so there are still further qualifi ca- special that no one else in Qatar or even Ace rally driver and shooter Nasser al-Attiyah, who won the bronze in skeet ryone from around Qatar is really im- letics team will be completed by dou- tion opportunities for Team Qatar. in the Middle East has ever done.” shooting at London 2012, will be competing in his sixth consecutive Olympics. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, April 27, 2016 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ATLETICO VS BAYERN, 9:45PM COMPARISON Atletico run mirrors Leicester journey: Atletico out to take Felipe Luis revenge on Bayern for 1974 agony Torres will lead the charge against Bayern in the Champions League semi-finals for Atletico Madrid’s Argentinian coach Diego Simeone (C) takes part in an Atletico side determined to take revenge for their agony in the 1974 final a training session at Atletico de Madrid’s sport city. Reuters earned 477 million euros, while Madrid the other teams in the last four— Real Madrid and Manchester City—earned 557 million euros tletico Madrid defender 463.5 million euros. Filipe Luis sees similar- Leicester, seven points clear ities between his side’s at the top of the Premier League run to the Champions with three games left, were ALeague semi-fi nals and Leicester ranked 24th with 137 million City’s stunning march towards euros and were the 12th highest the English Premier League title. English team featured in the re- Leicester are on the brink of port. completing a surreal journey Barcelona, stunned by Atletico from 5,000-1 no-hopers to Eng- in the Champions League quar- lish champions after Tottenham ter-fi nals, received 560 million Hotspur’s 1-1 draw with West euros in 2014/15. Bromwich Albion on Monday left Filipe Luis said a ‘team-fi rst’ the Foxes needing just one win to ethic had helped Atletico level clinch the title. the playing fi eld. Just as Leicester have defi ed “We don’t have a megastar, we the odds and left big spenders have a team where everyone runs, like Chelsea, Arsenal, Manches- everyone fi ghts for the player ter City and United trailing in next to them, and that makes us their wake, Atletico have over- stronger,” he added. come a lack of spending power “The team thinks a lot collec- compared to their Champions tively, nobody thinks individual- League rivals to reach the semis. ly, that’s the most positive things “Look at what is happening that we have. this year with Leicester, they “We’ve had a lot of bad and are a modest team and are al- good moments in the season and most champions in the Premier now we are stable, we have play- League,” said Filipe Luis on Mon- ers who are getting better and day.