Sport

FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 LateL wickets spoil South Africa’s good work TheT wicket has started to take turn and there is also ssome bounce for the spinners. Tomorrow, we will try to bbowl them out quickly so that we do not have to chase ththat many runs for victory.

PakistanP spinner Yasir Shah Sport | 15

NBA RESULTS: Indiana 116-106 Charlotte; Brooklyn 132-128 Atlanta; Utah 116-104 Dallas; Denver 109-82 Miami; Golden State 123-111 Minnesota

H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day at Al Rayyan Park

H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle (T/B) Noor Al Hawa, Mon’nia and Tarek Horse: Noor Al Hawa (FR), Trainer: Georges Mikhalides, Jockey: Alberto Sanna H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 PA) Mon'nia (FR), Julian Smart, Tomas Lukasek Du Soleil clinch top honours H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (4YO P/A) Tarek Du Soleil (FR), Deborah Mountain, THE PENINSULA – DOHA Qatar Olympic Committee President, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani gestures after Faleh Bughanaim presenting His Excellency’s Rifle to Ali Bin Hamad Bin Ali Al Attiyah - representative of H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Noor Al Hawa, Mon’nia and Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned Noor Al Hawa. Trophy (P/A) Tarek Du Soleil yesterday Ateej (USA), Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento clinched top honours on the H H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Trophy (T/B) Thani Rifle Day by winning the Dominus (IRE), Stefano Ibido, Alberto Sanna feature races in the eventful H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani 29th Race Meeting at the Al Trophy (L T/B) Rayyan Park. Black Pearl (QA), Bader Al Balushi, Soufiane Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Noor Saadi Al Hawa (FR) stormed to fourth H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani victory in a row, winning the H Trophy (3YO T/B) E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Soldierpoy (GB), Mohammed Hussain Afroz, Thani Rifle, with jockey Alberto Jason Watson Sanna getting a lucrative win in H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday’s final race. Trophy (T/B) The Georges Mikhalides- Izzthatright (IRE), Zuhair Mohsen, Marco trained 8YO horse recorded a Casamento length win over Hellenistique, Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup ridden by jockey Marco Casa- Khatafaynee (QA), Julian Smart, Tomas Lukasek mento in the $100,000 race to Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate pocket $57,000 with the Khanoor (QA), Zuhair Mohsen, Marco runners-up receiving $22,000. Casamento Seeyoubyme, with Ivan Rossi, 5YO mare defeated Al Naama, Thani Trophy – yesterday’s received $22,000 while team Trophy (P/A). There was also a in the saddle grabbed third spot helmed by Soufiane Saadi by 3L third feature race - after First Classs, who finished third, tough fight in the $40,000 H E for a prize purse of $11,000. to win $57,000. Team Al Naama defeating Hadjira De Flauzins got richer by $11,000. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Injaaz Stud’s Izzthatright to win In yesterday’s penultimate bagged $22,000 for second - helmed by Casamento, who In first of yesterday’s several Thani Trophy (T/B), which saw in the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin feature race, Tomas Lukasek finish with team Ginkeau, sealed his hat-trick of title wins races offering $40,000 as prize Dominus (IRE), with Sanna in Hamad Al Thani Trophy to rode H E Sheikha Yasmeen bint steered by Sanna to third place earlier last evening. The Debbie money, jockey Casamento the saddle, taking the title with claim top prize of $22,800 in Mohammed bin Khalifa Al getting richer by $11,000. Mountain-trained and Eng. clinched first of his three titles a half-length win to bag top the $40,000 race. The Zuhair Thani’s Mon’nia to victory in Ridden by Faleh Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik- by guiding Jassim Ghazali- prize of $22,800. Mohsen-trained 9YO gelding $100,000 H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Bughanaim, Tarek Du Soleil owned colt’s neck win lent the trained 8YO horse Ateej to Soufiane, teaming up with was in fine form as it outpaced Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 topped the $100,000 H E side a handsome winning purse ¼-length win at the H E Sheikh Black Pearl, registered thrilling Taxiwala, helmed by JP Guil- PA). The Julian Smart-trained Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al of $57,000. The runner-up side Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani 1/2 –length win in the 1850m lambert. Also yesterday, H H run victory to win the H E Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Sheikh J’oaan Bin Hamad Al Al Thani’s homebred Khata- Thani Trophy (L T/B). The Bader faynee clinched the Local Al Balushi-trained 5YO gelding Purebred Arabian Novice Cup lent his team a top prize of $22, defeating AJS Berline by a length 800 in the $40,000 in the 7f run to bag top prize in competition. the $20,000 race. Lukasek was There was success for Khalifa at the helm of 5YO horse trained Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Soldierpoy by Julian Colin Smart. too as the Jason Watson-rode In the $10,000 Local gelding recorded a neck win over Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate Thunderstone, ridden by Sanna, – yesterday’s first race – Ali bin to capture the $40,000 H E Thamer bin Ali Al Mehshadi’s Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani homebred Khanoor emerged Representatives of Tarek Du Soleil celebrate after their Jockey Alberto Sanna guiding Noor Al Hawa to win the H E Sheikh Joaan Trophy (3YO T/B). victorious with Casamento in H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani 4YO P/A victory. Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle (T/B). Earlier, Casamento rode the saddle. Al Duhail can reach FIFA Club World Cup final, says Ali Afif

THE PENINSULA – DOHA the ticket for FIFA Club World Cup Japan Duhail received a bye into the second 2011. round of Qatar 2020 when their first- Al Duhail star Ali Afif is ready to make his Though he missed Al Sadd’s 2-1 win round opponents Auckland City, pulled second appearance at the FIFA Club World over ES de Tunis and a 4-0 semi-final out due to the nation’s coronavirus in exactly a week, but with a different team defeat to Barcelona – Afif came on for the restrictions. this time. last 18 minutes of the match for third place Afif and Al Duhail will now face the The former Al Sadd player who made against host team Kashiwa Reysol, a game reigning African champions Al Ahly. his first appearance in the premier club com- Al Sadd won 5-3 on penalties. Afif told FIFA.com that Al Ahly is one of petition a decade ago, told FIFA.com that A month after his maiden FIFA Club the biggest sides in Africa, but Al Duhail will believes this time Al Duhail can do what his World Cup appearance, Afif joined Lekhwiya set their eyes beyond the February 4 clash previous team couldn't. Club, which later became Al Duhail SC. Since which will take place at the Education City “I’m delighted to be one of the few then, he has been playing a key role in his Stadium. Qatari players to play in the Club team's success, helping "They were named the continent’s club World Cup twice, which is not some- the club to win six of the 20th century. We’ll see what happens thing many players can say,” Afif told QNB Stars League against the African champions but it’s 11 FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. title. versus 11,” he added. “It’s always pleasing to Al Duhail's latest “If we beat Al Ahly, we’ll then play equal records but we’ve got title win came last Bayern Munich, but we have to face the the ability to reach the final season which African champions first. We have to prepare FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers: Qatar to and go one step eventually and focus on how to play them because further than Al Sadd earned them they’re a great side too,” Afif said. host 3 groups in February window did in 2011. We need a place at the Afif was part of the Qatar team that won a bit of luck to do that. FIFA Club the country’s first ever AFC Asian Cup title THE PENINSULA – DOHA And when it comes to World Cup in 2019 and now his aim is to use his expe- knockout matches you also Qatar rience and help his young Al Duhail team- The location of Group A games in the upcoming February window need to use your head some- 2020. mates make history. of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers has been changed to Doha. times,” Afif, brother of Al Sadd Al “I’d like to thank Al Sadd, Al Duhail and The FIBA Regional Office Asia yesterday confirmed the change star Akram, added. the Qatar Football Association for showing of the original venue - Clark, Philippines - to Qatari capital due Afif, aged 23 then, played faith in me and my football career. I’ll use all to the extension of the travel ban imposed by the Filipino author- an important role for Al Al Duhail's Ali Afif my experience for the good of the team. It ities. FIBA had earlier announced the change of Group B venue Sadd who won the AFC celebrates with a makes me really happy that the players are to Doha from Tokyo, Japan. Group E (Qatar, Iran, Syria and Saudi Champions League title team-mate in this proud of me and proud of having me by their Arabia) matches will also take place in Doha. The qualifiers will which helped them book file photo. side at Al Duhail,” Afif said. be held from February 17-23. Sport FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 15 Al Attiyah the man to beat as Sheikh Suhaim eyes strong show on debut Stage set for Qatar International Rally THE PENINSULA — DOHA

The 2021 Qatar International Rally roars into life at Katara this evening with the cere- monial start podium set to be held at 8:15pm before teams will tackle two runs and two laps of a purpose-built super special stage from 9:30pm. Then, ahead of an impressive field of drivers and co-drivers from 12 nations are two days of high-speed com- petition across the northern deserts of the State of Qatar that Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani will make the opening round of the FIA Middle East Rally Cham- rally star Kris Meeke to get up pionship (MERC) such a close and personal with the challenge. challenges he will face on his Run under the rigorous pro- MERC debut. tocols put in place for the The Ulsterman and his COVID-19 pandemic, all nec- regular WRC navigator essary precautions have been Sebastian Marshall are rallying taken. Teams have now com- in a privately-entered Škoda Nasser Saleh pleted their reconnaissance of Fabia Evo run by Sports Racing Al Attiyah tests his the desert special stages and Technologies (SRT). VW before the Qatar attention turns to setting the “It is nice to see the Qatar International Rally. cars up in preparation for the desert on a small test in the SRT rigours that lie ahead over the Škoda” said Meeke. weekend. “It looks nice to drive here, Motorsport-run Volkswagen Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani a new challenge in more open Polo GTi R5 after spending works for the Qatar Olympic and fast terrain. For sure, I need much of January battling his Committee, but international good notes on the recce to way across the sand dunes of rallying is a far cry from the understand the road and see the Saudi Arabia to finish second in member of the Qatari Royal visibility of the stages and make the Dakar Rally in a Toyota Family’s normal day-to-day good lines. It’s a big challenge Hilux. routine. Al Thani has decided to to race the guys with Qatar Al Attiyah won the Qatar venture into the world of motor experience, but I’ll bring my International Rally for the 14th sport and has teamed up with best to the stages.” SRT is a time when it was last held in Motorsport Italia to run a Škoda Latvia-based operation and 2019 and that marked the first Fabia Evo with co-driver works in numerous motor regional success for the Hamad Al Yafei. sporting disciplines, including Volkswagen. Sheikh Suhaim has never special stage rallies and cross- That victory set the winner taken part in a rally before and country events, and is also of a record-breaking 75 MERC has never driven competitively running Qatar’s Khalid Al- event wins up for his 15th either. Suwaidi on his home event. regional title and he made it 16 He’s not expecting to be Al Suwaidi teamed up with during a 2020 season that was pushing his R5 rivals at all and Adel Abdulla to finish fifth in the shortened with the onset of the the goal is to finish the rally and 2019 rally and the 2012 Kuwait COVID-19 pandemic. gain experience over some of International Rally winner has Qatar’s Nasser Khalifa Al the most challenging desert returned on this occasion with Atya and Abdulaziz Al Kuwari terrain in the Middle East. He the Portuguese co-driver Hugo and Oman’s Abdullah Al Rawahi managed to work with his team Magalhães. drive the other three R5s in a Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani’s new team. and test the car for the first time The latter finished ninth and formidable line-up that opens earlier this week. third in MERC 2 with Abdullah the door for some fascinating He moved into senior FIA with technical advice from Cross-Country Rally, but are a The big guns at the head of Al Kuwari at the Qatar Interna- competition over the weekend. officialdom throughout the Feghali. welcome inclusion in the MERC. the entry list have also found tional Rally in 2019. Al Atya was a regular com- early 2000s and made a return The pairing finished 10th This weekend’s Qatar Inter- time to carry out a shakedown Defending regional petitor in the MERC throughout to the hot seat a few years ago and fourth in MERC 2 in Qatar national Rally will be held under test in an area of desert close to champion Nasser Saleh Al the 1990s and finished as and has been a regular sup- in 2019 and Al-Rawahi finished the chairmanship of QMMF the Losail Sports Arena. Attiyah also made use of the runner-up in the title race to the porter of the regional rally as runner-up to Nasser Saleh President Abdulrahman Al- This marked an excellent opportunity to get back behind late Sheikh Hamed bin Eid Al- series ever since. Al-Attiyah in last year’s MERC. Mannai, senior committee opportunity for international the wheel of his Autotek Thani in 1993. Al Atya teams up with Leb- The new FIA T4 category is member Abdulrazaq Al-Kuwari anese co-driver Georges now permitted on gravel rounds and the QMMF’s Executive 2021 QATAR INTERNATIONAL RALLY – LEADING STARTERS (TOP 10) Nader in a Ford Fiesta R5 run of the MERC and, subject to Director Amro Al Hamad. 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 by Motortune under the man- scrutineering checks, Qatar’s Today vehicles will be 2. Kris Meeke (GBR)/Sebastian Marshall (GBR) Škoda Fabia R5 agement of 14-time Rally of Khalid Al-Mohannadi (Polaris), checked for compliance with 3. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/James Fulton (IRL) Škoda Fabia R5 Evo Lebanon winner Roger Lebanon’s Jad Al Aawar FIA technical checks in scruti- 4. Meshari Al Thefiri (KWT)/Nasser Al Kuwari (QAT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X (MERC 2) Feghali. (Can-Am) and the talented neering at Losail. Subject to 5. Henry Kahy (LEB)/Carlos Hanna (LEB) Škoda Fabia 1.6 Al Rawahi is a young talent Saudi driver Saleh Al-Saif conforming with the require- 6. Abdullah Al-Ruwahi (OMN)/Ata Hmoud (JOR) Ford Fiesta R5 on the MERC scene and grad- (Can-Am) will give their light- ments, crews will then head to 7. Nasser Khalifa Al Atya (QAT)/Georges Nader (LEB) Ford Fiesta R5 uated from MERC 2 to drive a weight vehicles an airing in the Katara for the start ceremony 8. Khalid Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Škoda Fabia R5 fully-fledged R5 car. desert. and opening super special stage. 9. Sheikh Suhaim Al Thani (QAT)/Hamad Al-Yafei (QAT) Škoda Fabia R5 Evo The Omani is working with These cars are normally There will also be a National 10. Jassim Al Muqahwi (KWT)/Thamer Al Mutairi (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X (MERC 2) his Oman Rally Team and Jor- seen on cross-country events, Rally category running behind danian navigator Ata Al Hmoud such as the Dakar or the Qatar the main event. Late wickets spoil South Africa’s good work Australian Open players begin REUTERS — KARACHI (2 not out), the pair looking Pakistan wicketkeeper to push South Africa towards Mohammad Rizwan leaving quarantine Aidan Markram and Rassie a total that will give them takes a catch to van der Dussen produced something to defend in dismiss South Africa's patient half centuries but Pakistan’s fourth innings. Dean Elgar off Yasir REUTERS — MELBOURNE Pakistan grabbed three late Their situation looked a Shah's delivery during wickets as South Africa lot brighter 30 minutes third day of first Test Australian Open players were given the reached 187 for four in their before the close but Paki- in Karachi. green light to begin exiting COVID-19 second innings at the close on stan’s spinners grabbed quarantine yesterday after spending day three of a see-saw first three big wickets as the two weeks strictly confined to a biose- Test in Karachi. shadows lengthened on the curity hub. The tourists lead by 29 day. The first group among the 960 runs and have wiped out a Markram (74 from 224 players, coaches and officials isolating first innings deficit after they balls) put on 127 for the at three Melbourne hotels were allowed trailed by 158 having earlier second wicket with Van der to leave from 6 pm local time (0700 yesterday bowled Pakistan Dussen (64 from 151) to get GMT), with the rest expected to depart out for 378. their team into the lead, but by Sunday, Victoria state health offi- Captain Quinton de Kock the latter was caught at silly cials said. has yet to score and will mid-off by Abid Ali from the Players isolating in South Australia resume on the fourth bowling of leg-spinner Yasir state, including Novak Djokovic and morning with night- Shah (3-53). Serena Williams, were also to be watchman Keshav Maharaj The tourists were dealt a released ahead of an exhibition tour- nament in Adelaide today. SCOREBOARD Players will be free to move around South Africa 1st innings 220 105-2 (1nb), Ngidi 17-1-57-2 (3nb), Maharaj 32.2-4- the cities and surrounding regions so Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 308-8) 90-3 (3nb), Linde 13-4-38-0, Markram 3-0-10-0 long as they abide by local social dis- Imran Butt c sub b Rabada ...... 9 South Africa 2nd innings tancing restrictions. Abid Ali b Rabada ...... 4 A. Markram c Abid b Nauman ...... 74 Australia has not had a case of com- Azhar Ali c de Kock b Maharaj ...... 51 D. Elgar c Rizwan b Yasir ...... 29 munity transmission for 11 straight days Babar Azam lbw b Maharaj ...... 7 R. van der Dussen c Abid b Yasir ...... 64 Shaheen Shah Afridi b Nortje ...... 0 Faf du Plessis lbw b Yasir ...... 10 and residents have regained most of Fawad Alam c Bavuma b Ngidi ...... 109 K. Maharaj not out ...... 2 further blow when Faf du blow on the hand. He never Rabada (3-70) picked up his their pre-COVID freedoms. Mohammad Rizwan c du Plessis b Ngidi ...... 33 Q. de Kock not out ...... 0 Plessis (10) was trapped leg looked settled after that and 200th Test wicket when he Faheem Ashraf b Nortje ...... 64 Extras (lb1, nb6, w1) ...... 8 before wicket by the dan- was caught by wicketkeeper bowled Hasan Ali (21), Hasan Ali b Rabada ...... 21 TOTAL (75 overs, for four wkts) ...... 187 gerous Shah, but worse was Mohammad Rizwan off Yasir. becoming the fourth youngest Nauman Ali lbw b Maharaj ...... 24 Still to bat: T. Bavuma, G. Linde, K. Rabada, A. The first group among the 960 players, to come as the set Markram X-rays have revealed no player to reach the Yasir Shah not out ...... 38 Nortje, L. Ngidi coaches and officials isolating at three Extras (b1, lb7, nb10) ...... 18 Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Elgar), 2-175 (Dussen), was dismissed in the next fracture. milestone. Total (119.2 overs, all out) ...... 378 3-185 (Du Plessis), 4-185 (Markram) over, also caught at silly mid- Pakistan’s lower order But the final Pakistan pair Melbourne hotels were allowed to leave Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Abid), 2-15 (Butt), 3-26 Bowling: Shaheen 13-1-48-0 (3nb), Hasan 12-1-50- off, though from the bowling frustrated the visitors in the of Yasir (38 not out) and from 6 pm local time (0700 GMT), with (Azam), 4-27 (Shaheen), 5-121 (Azhar), 6-176 0 (2nb), Nauman 20-7-27-1 (1nb), Yasir 24-6-53-3, of Nauman Ali. morning session as they took Nauman (24) added 55 for the (Rizwan), 7-278 (Fawad), 8-295 (Ashraf), 9-323 Asrfa 6-3-8-0 the rest expected to depart by Sunday, (Hasan) Toss: South Africa, elected to bat Opener Dean Elgar (29) the attack to the bowlers. final wicket before the latter Victoria state health officials said. Bowling: Rabada 27-7-70-3 (nb3), Nortje 27-4- Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK) was the other wicket to fall After they resumed on was leg before wicket to having earlier taken a nasty 308 for eight, seamer Kagsiso spinner Maharaj (3-90).