SPORT Saturday 8 September 2018 PAGE | 17 PAGE | 18 Loew rewarded Serena Williams for putting faith in to face Osaka in Germany’s old guard US Open final Ali on target as Qatar defeat China 1-0 in Doha friendly ARMSTRONG VAS Almoez Ali and Ahmed Fathi concluded in Indonesia earlier THE PENINSULA came in for Assim Madibo this week. On the other hand, China Some of the players who DOHA: A first half goal from made two changes. Mirahmetjan played in the continental event, Almoez Ali helped Qatar win the Muzepper went out while Gao Lin including goalkeeper international friendly match saw action as Yu Hanchao Mohammed Bakri and Tarek against China 1-0 at the Khalifa replaced Piao Cheng. Salman have been retained by International Stadium here Boualem Khoukhi of Qatar the Qatar coach. yesterday. was also shown the yellow card The squad also includes The all-important goal came for a bad foul in the second half experienced players of the calibre in the 25th minute when Ali’s At the start of the first half, of Pedro Miguel, Boualem right footed shot from the centre China made three changes going Khoukhi, Hassan Al Haidos, of the box landed in the top right into the second half as they went Akram Afif, Bassam Hisham Al corner of the net, sending the all out for the equaliser, Coach Rawi, Sultan Al Brake, Assim local fans into celebration mood Marcello Lippi, brought in Zhao Madibo, Al Moez Ali and Ahmad very early into the match. Xuri for Yu Hai, Li Xuepeng Alaa. Thereafter, China tried to replaced Yu Yang and Yang Xu China, coached by former break open the Qatar defence but made way for Zhang Xizhe. Juventus and Italy manager Lippi, without any success. Yesterday’s match was one will now head to Bahrain for their As the match tended to get a of the two friendlies that Qatar next friendly game to be played bit physical the referee reached has lined up for this month. They on Monday. out to his pocket to flash yellow will take on Palestine on Tuesday, The last time the Chinese and cards to one player from each as they prepare for the 2019 Asian Qatari teams met was during the side. Zhang Linpeng of China Cup which will be held in the UAE FIFA World Cup qualifying third and Tarek Salman of Qatar, bot in January next year. round in which the East Asians got booked for bad fouls by the The friendly clash against won 2-0. referee. Palestine will also be played at Qatar will play two more The teams went into the half the air-cooled Khalifa Interna- friendly matches in October, time break with Qatar leading tional Stadium in Doha. against Ecuador on 12th in Doha 1-0. The Spanish tactician named and Uzbekistan four days later in In the second half, Qatar who a strong 25-member squad ahead Tashkent. were treating the match as a of the two friendlies all who will In the 2019 Asian Cup, Qatar preparation for next year’s Asian have a closer look during the will be playing against Lebanon, Cup, brought about a few substi- matches. Saudi Arabia and North Korea in tutions as coach Felix Sanchez Qatar national players took Group E. experimented with different part in a preparatory camp in China have been drawn in combinations ahead of the con- Austria ahead of the start of the Group C along with South Korea, tinental tournament. season, during which the team Kirghizstan and The Qatari forward Al Moez Ali (right) vies Sultan Al Brake came in for played two friendlies. Philippines. for the ball with China’s Zhao Xuri Hasan Al Haydos with five Out of them, some of the The 2019 AFC Asian Cup will during their friendly football match minutes left for the final whistle young players also competed in be held in the UAE from January played at the Khalifa International while earlier, Hashim Ali replaced the 2018 Asian Games which 5 to February 1. Stadium in Doha yesterday. Samba set for season-ending fireworks in Ostrava THE PENINSULA more fireworks can be expected. Elseify whoo threwthrew 76.88m in hishis Samba became the second gold winningng attempt in JakartaJakarta DOHA: Dominant Qatari hurdler fastest man ever with his 46.98 last month,h, will team up withwith Abderrahman Samba will be in Paris. He has been unbeaten Tajikistan’s 36-year-old OlympicOlympic looking to shine under a different this season in eight finals, all of champion andand 2015 world silversilver flag when a star cast of athletes them under 48 seconds, including medallist DilshodDilshod Nazarov to representing Europe, Africa, six IAAF Diamond League races challenge the EuropeanEuropean Americas and Asia Pacific and the Asian Games. dominance.. compete in the IAAF Continental Warholm, who has set four Hairanene willwill Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic Norwegian records this year, comete in thethe 800 today and tomorrow. improved to 47.64 in winning the meters in OstravaOstrava Samba, along with his com- European Championships final. along withh hishis patriot and the fastest 400m McMaster from British Virgin Asia-Pasifics ific sprinter in Asia, Abdalelah Islands has run even faster than team-mateate Haroun, middle distarnce runner Warholm with 47.54 in Paris and from India,ia, Jamal Hairane and hammer has three international titles to Asian Gamess thrower Asian Games gold med- his name this year: the Common- Silver med-- allist Ashraf Elseify will compete wealth Games, Central American allist Jinson for Asia Pacific team, highlighting and Caribbean Games and NACAC Johnson. Qatar’s presence during the Championships. Each two-day event. He comes to Ostrava fresh off of the four “It’s my last race of the season another major win in the IAAF teams so I’m going to do something big,” Diamond League final, where he competing in Ostrava has the 2018 Asian Games double finished just ahead of Warholm. two athleteses in tthehe inindi-di- FROM LEFT: Team Asia-Pacific’s Qatari athlete Abderrahman Samba, gold medallist Samba told the “I want to celebrate it vidual eventsents and ththee Australia’s Dani Stevens and her compatriot Jana Pittman pose for a IAAF website yesterday. tomorrow,” Samba, who turned competitorsrs will claimclaim Samba, who has taken the 23 earlier this week, said. photograph in Ostrava, on the eve of the IAAF Continental Cup yesterday. points baseded on their world of one-lap hurdling by “I always think about some- finishing positions.ositions. storm this year, will take on thing big in races and I want to to push him to new heights. 44.07 at the IAAF Diamond The winningnning team world champion Karsten give myself a big present here.” “For sure, when you have League meeting in London. will be awardedarded with a Warholm and IAAF Diamond “Everything until now has strong athletes running together But the 21-year-old cannot unique trophyophy andand League winner Kyron McMaster been perfect, this will be my last it will always be a good result,” afford to take anything for each memberber ooff tthehe on Sunday. race and I hope it will be great.” he said. granted given the presence of his team will receiveeceive part ofof The event has provided some To earn maximum points for In the men’s 400 metres, highly talented contemporary, the trophy. Shaped like an of the biggest highlights of this the Asia-Pacific team, however, Qatar’s world bronze medallist Botswana’s Baboloki Thebe, who athletics track,ack, the trophytrophy year’s IAAF Diamond League he will have to overcome Abdalelah Haroun is currently has run 44.54 this season and is made in 116116 stickssticks fromfrom Abdalelah circuit and with the main protag- McMaster and Warholm, but fourth on the 2018 world list won the African title last month. Bohemian Crystal,Crystal, symbol-symbol- Haroun onists all in action in Ostrava, Samba plans to use their presence thanks to his winning time of In hammer throw, Qatar’s ising relay batons.batons. SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2018 SPORT 17 Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha FINA Swimming Worlds: Tickets selling fast for Doha showdown THE PENINSULA on the cards as over 130 swimmers TICKETS CATEGORIES: will be joined by Russian world record Rio Olympics gold medalist including several big names from a holder Vladimir Morozov - while his Katinka Hosszu (The Iron Lady) of DOHA: The second leg of FINA World total of 23 countries have now con- Standard (Kids below 8 years): QR 10 compatriot Kirill Prigoda – the FINA Hungary, 2018 Glasgow European Cup 2018 which will take place in Doha firmed their participation, eyeing glory Standard (Adults): QR 20 World Championships medalist – and Championships medallist Ranomi Kro- is just around the corner, and tickets in the three-day event. Sessions ticket (valid for all days): QR 50 teenage sensation Michael Andrew of mowidjojo of the Netherlands will also sales for the showpiece event have Tickets for the high-profile com- VIP (Kids below 8 years): QR 50 the US are also set to feature in the make a splash in the state-of-the-art been receiving a massive response petition are available online at VIP (Adults): QR 100 event, along with other prominent Doha pool. from fans. Q-Tickets (www.q-tickets.com). Fans VIP (Family 2 Adults+2 Children): QR 250 names. There will be two sessions The FINA World Cup in Doha, eager to catch live action at Hamad Swedish star Sarah Sjostrom – (morning heats and evening finals) which is one of the highly-anticipated Aquatic Centre can buy their tickets world record holder in several disci- daily on all three days of the events of the year, is set to take place simply by visiting the Q-Tickets maestro Chad Le Clos, who is defending plines including the 100m freestyle contest.