GULF TIMES Hercules’, Thrice Olympic Champion, Dies at 50 SPORT Page 2
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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 Cavani nets Sri Lanka a double as gain upper PSG thrash hand against Nantes 4-1 India Sunday, November 19, 2017 SPOTLIGHT Rabia I 1, 1439 AH Turkey’s ‘Pocket GULF TIMES Hercules’, thrice Olympic champion, dies at 50 SPORT Page 2 Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani (right) honours Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani (second from left), who won the Grand Prix event of the Qatar International Show Jumping Championship, as second-placed QOC President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and Qatar Equestrian Federation President Hamad bin Abdulrahman Edwina Tops-Alexander (left) of Australia and third-placed Ali al-Khorafi of Kuwait look on. al-Attiyah with the winners of the Qatar International Show Jumping championship. QATAR INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP Sheikh Ali, Bassem triumph on glorious day for Qatar Sheikh Ali and his horse First Devision were by far the best combination on the field as they flew around the course By Sahan Bidappa had to settle for third place. Doha “It’s really a nice feeling to win the competition. The horse just came back and we made a plan and it worked. To- heikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani day was his day,” said Bassem, who and his trusted 12-year-old pocketed €6,150 for his victory. “The gelding First Devision dazzled horse just came back to the competi- under the lights at the Qa- tion. I am so happy how he jumped Star Equestrian Federation’s outdoor today. I am looking forward to the next arena as the ace Qatari rider clinched events,” he added. the Grand Prix of Qatar International His confi dence sky high having won Show Jumping championship. the Doha leg of the GCT at Al Shaqab, In what was a memorable day for Bassem looked back at last weekend’s hosts, Qatari riders won all three class- turn of events and called it the best es on the last day of the championship. victory of his career. “Last week’s win In the Grand Prix, which was also the at Global Champions Tour was the Arab qualifying event for next year’s biggest win of my career. To win es- World Cup, Sheikh Ali and his Olym- pecially here in Doha, I am so happy. I pic horse First Devision were by far the am motivated for the coming shows. I best combination on the fi eld as they just need to stay focus and follow the fl ew around the course. The two were plan from trainers. When you also in perfect sync on the night as they have support from His Highness the came out fastest in 55.77 seconds. Father Emir, His Highness the Emir Qatar’s Bassem Mohamed with The Toymaker clinched the 145cm class at the Qatar Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexan- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, International Show Jumping Championship. der had to settle for second spot once HE Sheikh Joaan, then everything is again, after having fi nished runner-up possible,” the 30-year-old said. to Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohamed Bassem is currently second in the earlier. The two-time Global Champi- Arab League rankings with 44 points ons Tour winner astride Inca Boy Van as he looks good to qualify for the next T Vianahof fi nished almost eight sec- year’s World Cup in France. “I feel con- onds of winning time. The third place fi dent. This event may not be as big as went to Kuwait’s Ali al-Khorafi , fl ying GCT but it’s an important one for us. under the fl ag of FIE, on Cheril as the It’s a good class, there are fast rid- pair came home in 53.57 secs but in- ers too and some good horses. In each curred four faults which dealt a blow to class you have to respect the riders and victory hopes. horses,” he said “It’s a good win as it will give me con- “I am in the second place in the Arab fi dence for next week also,” said Sheikh rankings to qualify for the World Cup. Ali, after collecting his prize from HE I need to fi nish in the top-3 in total. I Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, the will only do two shows here in Doha president of the Qatar Olympic Com- and will skip the rest. Then wait and mittee. “This was very good practice see what will happen,” he added. for future events. My horse has won In the opening event of the fi nal day, three times before and he was sixth in Qatar’s Saeed Nasser al-Qadi mount- the Olympics,” he added. ing Daydreamer EC cruised to victory “It seemed too easy for him but to in the 135 cm class. The two combined win is always special. It is very impor- to record the fastest time of 66.36 secs, tant for me to make my country happy. which was a good six seconds ahead We did that today. We dominated at of their nearest rival. France’s Cyrine Winner of the 135cm class, Qatar’s Saeed Nasser al-Qadi, runner-up Cyrine Cherif this championship because we have a Cherif (Gerlin VD Waterkant) fi nished of France and third-placed Yara al-Hunaidi pose with the off icials. good team now. We have good horses second, while Kuwait’s Yara al-Hun- and good trainers. We work hard (for aidi (Dinky Toy van de Castershoeve) Boy Van T Vianahof. 63.09 secs. €18,380 3. Athina Onassis (Greece) Vannan. 77.06 the wins) and you can see that every Qatar’s Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani astride First Devision celebrates his win in riding under the fl ag of FEI came third. 3. Ali al-Khorafi (FEI) Cheril 4. 53.57 secs. secs. €3,690 year. Hopefully we will have the best the Grand Prix event of the Qatar International Show Jumping championship at €13,785 Table A, Against the clock FEI Art. 238.2.1 team in the future also,” the popular QEF’s outdoor arena yesterday. PICTURES: Lotfi Garsi RESULTS Table A, One Round + Winning Round | Max. 130/135 cm | Prize Money €7,000 Qatari rider added. GRAND PRIX - World Cup Competition | FEI Art. 276.2.1, 2.3 | Max. 145 cm | 1. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Qatar) Day- Despite fi nishing second, Edwina was Earlier, Qatar’s Bassem carried his The pair’s winning time of 54.75 was Two Rounds Min 140 - Max. 160cm Prize €24,600 dreamer EC. Time: 66.36 secs. Prize content with the results. “I am very hap- winning form from the last weekend’s two and half seconds better than Ed- money: €91,900 1. Bassem Mohamed (Qatar) The money: €1,750 py. This was the fi rst time he went out for Global Champions Tour, as he clinched wina Tops-Alexander, who came home 1. Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani (Qatar) Toymaker. Time: 54.75 seconds. Prize 2. Cyrine Cherif (France) Gerlin VD Wa- this Grand Prix. I couldn’t be happier. I the 145cm class. Bassem, astride The on Veronese Teamjoy in 57.37 secs. First Devision. Time: 55.77 secs. Prize money: €6,150 terkant. 73.05 secs. €1,400 am also happy that Ali won. It was a very Toymaker, took out a comfortable error- Greece’s Athina Onassis committed money: €22,975 2. Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) 3. Yara al-Hunaidi (FEI) Dinky Toy van de good ride by him,” she said. free round even as his rivals faltered. two faults on Vannan, which meant she 2 Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) Inca Veronese Teamjoy. 57.37 secs. €4,920 Castershoeve. 79.32 secs. €1,050 Gulf Times 2 Sunday, November 19, 2017 SPORT SPOTLIGHT Turkey’s ‘Pocket Hercules’ Suleymanoglu, thrice Olympic champion, dies at 50 AFP liver transplant earlier this month after Turkish people but the world,” Taspinar spectators with his power and was one Istanbul a suitable donor was found and initial added. of few weightlifters who managed to reports had said that the surgery was The path to stardom for Suleyman- clean and jerk three times his own bod- successful. oglu, who was born Naim Suleimanov yweight. urkey’s legendary triple Ol- Suleymanoglu’s exploits made him a as a member of the Turkish minority in He built up one of the sport’s great- ympic gold-medal winning national hero in Turkey, where he is re- Bulgaria, was not smooth. est ever rivalries with Greece’s Valerios weightlifter Naim Suleyma- garded as one of the greatest sports per- He initially competed for Bulgaria Leonidis which was followed avidly by noglu, the diminutive “Pocket sonalities in the country’s history. but defected from the then-communist Turkish and Greek communities across THercules,” has died aged 50, state media President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bulgaria in December 1986 during the the world. said. who had visited Suleymanoglu in hos- Weightlifting World Cup in Melbourne. After picking up a third Olympic title Suleymanoglu, was only 1.47 metres pital and received the news while deliv- In an episode that caused a sensa- in Atlanta, he tried a comeback at the (4.8 feet) tall, scored a historic hat-trick ering a speech to supporters, expressed tion at the time, Suleymanoglu left 2000 Sydney Games but suff ered a rare of consecutive Olympic titles starting his condolences on live television over for London aboard the Turkish prime failure. He failed to lift 145kg in three in Seoul in 1988 then Barcelona in 1992 Suleymanoglu’s death.