TUESDAY 8 JANUARY 2019 SPORT 05

This win will give us a different Captain Virat Kohli FOOTBALL identity as an Indian team and can after India’s first FOOTBALL inspire kids to do the same for the Test series victory in EFL Cup semi-final: Asian Cup: Iraq vs country going forward. . Tottenham Hotspur vs Vietnam; Saudi Arabia vs ACTION

Chelsea TODAY’S North Korea

Sydney to NBA: Raptors host finals Australia bad-boy showdown down Pacers of new ATP without Team Cup to highlight Kooyong Classic Leonard REUTERS TORONTO AFP AFP The opening day line-up SYDNEY of MELBOURNE announced yesterday includes Norman Powell scored a Australia hits a Sydney will host the American playing season-best 23 points off the finals of the new ATP Nick Kyrgios will face off against return against Tomic, Serb Filip Krajinovic bench and the Toronto World Team Cup, organ- for the first time Jeremy Chardy taking on Damir Dzumhur of Raptors, playing without isers announced as Australia’s most combustible of France during Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Aus- Kawhi Leonard but with Kyle yesterday, while pair battle for last-minute Grand their men’s tralian Jason Kubler playing Lowry back in the line-up, and one other Slam form at the Kooyong singles second Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia. defeated the visiting Indiana city will feature round- Classic from today. round match The event once again fea- Pacers 121-105 on Sunday. robin games in a revamp The three-day event, at the at the Brisbane tures women’s matches, which Lowry had 12 points and of the season-opening private club which served as the International in were reintroduced in 2017 after eight assists after missing six calendar. home of the Brisbane, in this more than two decades. straight games with a stiff The Association of until 1988, is famed as a rela- January 2, 2019 Day one sees rising back. It was the Pacers’ 11th Tennis Professionals, tively stress-free preparation for file photo. American teenager Amanda Ani- regular-season loss in a row which runs the men’s the opening major of the year simova face Britain’s Katie in Toronto, dating to March game, voted in London next week at . Boulter, fresh from the Hopman 2013. earlier this year to award Kyrgios and Tomic will both Cup last week. Serge Ibaka added 18 the tournament to count on lifting their games, with In addition a new format -- points and Danny Green Australia. each suffering in his own way as used last week at the Hopman chipped in 15 for the Raptors, It will be played in from burnout and lack of Cup -- will see matches played who beat the Bucks in Mil- January over 10 days in motivation. as best of two sets with a third waukee on Saturday night. the lead-up to the Aus- Controversial Tomic could set, if necessary, a 10-point Bojan Bogdanovic had 21 tralian Open, the first not even qualify for the Aus- tiebreak. points and nine rebounds to of the year, tralian Open 12 months ago fol- The field is headed by top 10 lead the Pacers, who saw starting in 2020. lowing a car-crash season, and players Marin Cilic and Wim- their six-game winning streak Sydney will host the faced a backlash after later bledon finalist Kevin Anderson. end. Domantas Sabonis final of the 24-team boasting “I just count my World number seven Cilic scored 16 points and had 11 event at the Ken millions”. did not play last week as he rebounds, and Victor Oladipo Rosewall Arena, which His ranking is now back up works to heal a knee problem added 16 points. will get a new roof this to 51st. while Anderson, ranked six, Meanwhile, Jeff Teague year, along with some Kyrgios, infamous for pet- began 2019 with a title in Pune, contributed a pair of round-robin matches. ulant behaviour and outbursts India. 3-pointers to a game- Group action will on court, ended his season early “The 2018 highlight for me opening, 15-1 run that paved also be played in after arguing with an umpire at was achieving some of the goals the way for host Minnesota to Brisbane along with I had set for myself, specifically rout Los Angeles, which is still another city, reportedly The three-day event, making London year-end finals, without LeBron James. Adelaide. at the private club winning more than one tour- The win came shortly Perth was thought to which served as the nament in the year, winning a before head coach and pres- be in the running, but the home of the Australian 500 (series event), and of course ident of basketball operations success of this year’s Open until 1988, is making another Grand Slam Tom Thibodeau was fired, mixed teams Hopman famed as a relatively Shanghai then picking up an other top players want match final,” Anderson said. ending his tenure midway Cup, spearheaded by elbow injury in Moscow. practice under competitive “In 2019, I hope to continue through his third season in and stress-free preparation While Australia’s notorious conditions. pushing the boundaries. A big Minnesota. Serena Williams, has for the opening major pair will not clash until In 2018, both Novak goal of mine is winning the Teague finished with 15 thrown that into doubt. of the year next week at tomorrow, organisers have lined Djokovic and Masters series, being in the finals points and a game-high 11 “The ATP Cup fits Melbourne Park. up a tasty programme, leaving played in one-off exhibition there, and giving myself a shot assists, while Karl-Anthony perfectly with our gaps for any late requests in case matches. at another Grand Slam.” Towns added 28 points and strategy to innovate and a game-high 18 rebounds for look towards the future,” the Timberwolves. said ATP chief Chris Elsewhere, hosts Los Kermode. Angeles played one of its best “We know from our Monfils pulls out in Auckland defensive games of the season extensive discussions to beat Orlando. with the players that the The Clippers are 24th in ATP Cup will provide a AFP “I have had a pain for two AUCKLAND CLASSIC RESULTS Marius Copil 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, has defense, giving up an average great way for them to WELLINGTON days with my quadriceps and lost his two previous matches of 114.7 points per game, but First round open their season. unfortunately I am not able to against Isner. they held the Magic to 37.1 “It will bring together Gael Monfils became the third play the tournament,” he said. Philipp Kohlschreiber bt 6-4, Germany’s Philipp Kohlsch- percent shooting from the the world’s best for a big name to pull out of the ATP “So I’m disappointed about 7-6 (7/2) reiber continued his phe- floor. major team event that Auckland Classic yesterday side- the situation I’ve put myself and Cameron Norrie bt Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2 nomenal run in Auckland when Tobias Harris had 28 compliments existing lined by injury while seventh the tournament through, Joao Sousa bt D Shapovalov 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 the 35-year-old defeated points and nine rebounds, scheduling, provides seed Denis Shapovalov was because obviously this year is bt Marius Copil 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 American Bradley Klahn 6-4, 7-6 and Lou Williams scored 17 highly-coveted ATP bundled out in three sets. tough because they’ve had a Jan-Lennard Struff bt Laslo Djere 7-6 (7/5), (7/2) to move through to the off the bench for the Clippers, ranking points and Monfils, the eighth seed, said couple of retirements.” 2-0 rtd second round for the 11th time who have won six of their last

clearly links to the Aus- he was hampered by a niggling Shapovalov, the 19-year-old Tennys Sandgren bt M Marterer 6-3, 6-4 in 12 years. nine. tralian Open.” pain in the leg. Canadian and only seed in action Matteo Berrettini bt M McDonald 6-3, 6-4 In other action, German Jan- The event is His withdrawal followed the on day one, romped through the Lennard Struff won his first set NBA RESULTS returning to the global absence of top seeds Tomas first set against Portugal’s Joao 7-6 (7/5) against Laslo Djere and Toronto 121, Indiana 105 calendar for the first time Berdych and Roberto Bautista- Sousa, but went off the boil for the below par performance. led 2-0 in the second when the Atlanta 106, Miami 82 since taking place in Agut, who both pulled out after most of the second set. In the reshuffled draw, John Serbian retired. Dusseldorf from 1978 to contesting the Qatar Open final The third set went with serve Isner takes over as top seed and Tennys Sandgren raced Phoenix 113, Charlotte 119 2012, and will feature on Saturday which Bautista Agut until 3-3 when Sousa made the goes straight through to the through his opening singles 6-3, Oklahoma City 98, Washington 116 US$15m in prize money, won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. vital break and then held on to second round to play fellow 6-4 against qualifier Mackenzie Chicago 100, Brooklyn 117

along with ATP rankings The flamboyant Monfils said win the error-filled match. American Taylor Fritz. McDonald and will face third Minnesota 108, LA Lakers 86 points. his injury flared on Saturday and “The first tournament of the Fritz, who opened with a seed Marco Cecchinato in round LA Clippers 106, Orlando 96 had not responded to treatment. year is not easy,” Sousa said of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Romanian two.

Schauffele wins Tournament of Champions

REUTERS But two eagles -- the “It was a crazy day,” on the course, before and maintain it,” he said. LAHAINA, HAWAII second from 105 yards at Schauffele told Golf reading the breaking nine- Woodland, who the par-four 12th -- and Channel. foot birdie putt perfectly. started the day with a Xander Schauffele eight birdies catapulted “I started off poorly, The 25-year-old hit a three-shot lead over Rory equalled the course record the American to his fourth chipped in (on the par-five similarly impressive McIlroy, shot 68 and had with an 11-under-par 62 to victory on the PGA Tour, ninth) and then holed out approach at the last, a to settle for second on win the Sentry Tour- his second in a couple of shortly after that. fairway-metal from 270 22-under. “I’m playing nament of Champions by months after winning the “I knew it was going to yards that he drew into the great,” he said. a stroke ahead of Gary WGC-HSBC Champions in be a birdie-fest coming in. heart of the green before “Frustrated right now Woodland in Hawaii on Shanghai in late October. I got nervous coming two-putting from 12 feet. but Xander played great, Sunday. Schauffele finished at down the stretch but I was All four of his victories hat’s off to him. This one Schauffele started the 23-under 269, and then able to pull off some have been achieved will sting tonight but we’ll final round five strokes watched from the scoring shots.” playing the final round regroup.” behind overnight leader trailer as Woodland None of those shots from behind. Justin Thomas (65) fin- Woodland and fell further missed a 10-foot birdie were better than the 200- “I’m definitely freed ished third on 18-under, Xander Schauffele back with a bogey at the putt at the par-five 18th yard approach he fired up,” he said. while McIlroy faded with of the United States first at the Kapalua Plan- that would have forced a into the green at the par- “The next step is to go a 72 to finish eight shots poses with the trophy. tation course on Maui. play-off. four 17th, the hardest hole wire-to-wire, have a lead back tied for fourth. 06 SPORT TUESDAY 8 JANUARY 2019

India’ss tteam celebrate their series win on thehe fifth day offt tthe fourth andd finafin l cricccrricketkett TTestest aagag instiniinsns AAustralia at the Syyydney Cririicket Groundndd in Syyyydney yesteere daday.ay Time Paine struggles to find any gain from Australia loss in series

AFP SYDNEY

Australia skipper Tim Paine desperately looked for posi- tives yesterday after his side’s calamitous 2-1 Test series loss to India, but struggled to find many. While they won in Perth, Australia were comprehen- sively outplayed the rest of the series, losing in Adelaide and Melbourne before being spared by the rain in a one- sided Sydney finale. Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc failed to fire, and Aus- tralia’s batsmen plumbed dis- appointing lows. Their squad for two Tests against Sri Lanka is due to be announced tomorrow, with the matches Australia’s last red-ball cricket before the Ashes tour to England later in the year. And there will be some nervous players waiting to Dominant India end 71-year find out their fate. “We’re really disap- pointed. We know we had some guys missing but we honestly felt coming into this drought after draw in Sydney series that in Australia, we could beat India,” said Paine, REUTERS first time in 30 years Australia their skills. They are dictating who has won only one of the SYDNEY had suffered such ignominy on terms now which is the most seven Tests he has been in home soil. amazing thing you can ask for charge. India ended a 71-year wait for a Ultimately, it was the Sydney from your bowlers.” “But throughout the Test series victory in Australia, weather that saved Australia With the bat, the tourists series, more often than not their 2-1 triumph finally con- from a 3-1 humiliation with no managed to score five centuries when those big moments firmed when the rain-affected play possible after tea on day over the four matches with came up, Virat (Kohli) scored fourth and final Test ended in a four, when they had mustered Player-of-the-Series Pujara a century or (Cheteshwar) draw at Sydney Cricket Ground up six runs without loss in their recording three of them, aggre- Pujara scored one, or (Jasprit) early yesterday afternoon. second innings. gating 521 runs from seven Bumrah bowled a great spell The finale may have ulti- “It’s obviously a very proud innings at an average of 74.42. and got them through those mately have turned out to be a moment. More so because for the There was a century for moments. damp squib but Virat Kohli’s last 12 months we understand captain Kohli, of course, and one “Their best players stood tourists utterly dominated what what we have gone through as in Sydney for the younger gen- up in the big moments.” action there was to deservedly a team,” said Kohli. eration through the irrepressible The same can’t be said for become the first side from the “The fact that the reward has wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Australia, who capitulated at Asian sub-continent to take the come in the most historic series India have still never won a crucial times. honours Down Under. for Indian cricket is the cherry series in South Africa but finally Starc was criticised for Wins in the first Test in on the top of the cake. In the 10 breaking through in Australia not being at his best, while Adelaide and third in Melbourne years that I have played, it is the India’s captain Virat Kohli recieves the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will do much to burnish the rep- none of the batsmen reached ensured they could not lose the proudest moment that I have from Australia’s former cricketer Allan Border in Sydney yesterday. utation of Kohli and a team three figures, making it the series and their batsmen, led by experienced and we’re so happy already ranked number one in hosts’ first four-Test home a 193 from Cheteshwar Pujara, for the whole team. to paper over the cracks left by departments.” India’s trio of the world in the longest format series without scoring a batted Australia out of the fourth “It is a young bunch of guys their absence, and even the seamers Ishant Sharma, of the game. century in their history. match with a daunting 622-7 and to have that belief to keep vaunted pace attack of Josh Mohammed Shami and Jasprit “This is an Indian team that It exposed the gaping hole declared total in the first innings. striving for excellence on a daily Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Bumrah, by contrast, were highly will jump over a cliff to win a left by the banned Steve That all but destroyed home basis and to get a reward like this Pat Cummins failed to fire, disciplined and executed their game for their country,” said Smith and David Warner, hopes of a face-saving victory we definitely have to be happy,” except for spells in the victory in plans to perfection to exploit the coach Ravi Shastri. who are due back from and India’s spinners then got to he said. Perth. weaknesses in the Australian “That’s the determination 12-month ball-tampering work to drive home the For some Australians the “I thought we actually had batting. and the ruthlessness, the mindset bans in late March. advantage in the field against an series will always carry an our chances to win the test “I feel great standing in the with which this team went out Asked how the batsmen Australia side that failed to asterisk given their two best match in Adelaide, India just out- slips cordon and watching these to play in this series. This team will be able to handle an muster a single century over the batsmen, Steve Smith and David played us in big moments in that guys run in,” said Kohli. now has an identity to look at English attack on home ter- series. Warner, were unavailable test,” Paine said. “In Perth, I “You can see that hunger and any other Indian team from the ritory if they were not able to The hosts were duly dis- because of bans they received thought we played a very good that passion to win for India. We past in the eye without being deal with India’s quicks on missed for 300 and Kohli did not for the ball-tampering scandal game of cricket but when we put everything on the line to win intimidated and say ‘We play docile pitches in Melbourne hesitate to go for the jugular by in South Africa last year. went to Melbourne and Sydney, for the team. proper Test match cricket. You and Sydney, Paine said: “We’ll enforcing the follow-on -- the Tim Paine’s side were unable we’ve been outplayed in all “They take ownership of did, and we do too’.” have conversations in the next day or two”. But he also suggested that not much will be changing. Kohli hopes win reignites passion for Test cricket “I have faith that the guys we have around the team are the right guys -- (we) just REUTERS “In a world would rate their contribution as have to keep putting some SYDNEY where a lot of far above all the batsmen that faith and trust in them,” he people want have contributed this season.” said. “They are learning on India captain Virat Kohli is the easy stuff, Kohli, of course, played his own the job a bit, but I think we’ll hoping the breakthrough Test matches that part in the success with a century get there. series triumph in Australia will finish in the in Adelaide and, less skillfully but “We can’t help that we inspire renewed reverence and evening, I think no less importantly, by winning haven’t got Mike Husseys or passion back home for the it is important three of the four tosses. Michael Bevans,” he added, longest form of the game. to spread that The lessons learned from referring to the two explosive A draw in the fourth Test at message of Test series defeats in South Africa and former players. “We’ve got the Sydney Cricket Ground on cricket. We def- England had laid the what we’ve got and the Monday gave Kohli’s side a 2-1 initely want to groundwork for the success in playing group is trying as victory and broke a 71-year cycle build on this Australia, he said, and the hard as we can to get better.” of unsuccessful tours Down and always failures on those tours made this Paine pinpointed the Under. promote the triumph all the sweeter. opening Adelaide Test as one Kohli said he hoped it would message of Test So sweet in fact, that for him that got away and could have act as something of a counter- cricket being the triumph Down Under changed their fortunes. India Australia’s captain Tim Paine (centre) watches on with teammates as India celebrates balance to popularity of the the most trumped even the 2011 World won it on the fifth day by just a 2-1 series victory following play being abandoned at the SCG in Sydney, Australia. shorter, more explosive brands important and Cup triumph on home soil that 31 runs. of cricket that have increasingly the most valued sent his nation into paroxysms “We honestly feel that we dominated the Indian game. format of the of euphoria. let that Test match slip. We “I see this series as a stepping game, which it rightfully is. in Australia with three centuries Mohammed Shami and Jasprit “It is definitely more special thought we had a number of stone for this team to inspire the “From where I see this is our and 521 runs. Bumrah. purely because of the fact that opportunities in that Test to next lot of test cricketers,” he told vision for Indian cricket.” Kohli initially refused to “If your fast bowlers are we have really badly wanted to get ahead of the game, and reporters. Few players typify the long- single out any individual per- happy and fighting as a team, win a series away from home,” when those key moments “To be passionate for Test form cricketer more than formances in the spirit of the you can win anywhere in the he added. came up, India outplayed us,” cricket firstly. When Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, team ethic but when he did yield, world and you have a chance to “So having stuck to our tasks he said. “We can learn a lot cricket respects Test cricket we who has eschewed shorter it was not Man of the Series beat any side in the world any- and executed what we wanted from the way they went about know the fans are going to come formats to fine tune his Test Pujara he chose to laud but where,” he said. and having got the result we, as it, and we’ll make sure we in and watch Test cricket. game and received his reward seamers Ishant Sharma, “In the past 12 months I a team, feel complete.” do.” TUESDAY 8 JANUARY 2019 SPORT 07 Halep, Kerber lead star cast at Qatar Total Open

THE PENINSULA Angelique Kerber of Germany Simona Halep of Romania DOHA speaks during a press conference seen in action in this file at the Sydney International picture. Simona Halep, the World No. 1 tennis tournament in Sydney, and 2014 champion, is leading yesterday. the array of stars set to feature at the Qatar Total Open 2019, a WTA Tour event, to be held from February 11 to 16 at the Khalifa Tennis Complex in Doha. Now in its 17th edition, this year’s event will parade five of the world’s top ten players including World No. 2 Angelique Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam champion and 2014 finalist, 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan - who is currently ranked fifth, World No. 8 and 2017 champion Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic and Nether- land’s Kiki Bertens, the World No. 9. Other players to watch out We are happy to for include 2016 champion Carla host the Qatar Total Suárez Navarro of Spain, World Open once again. It No. 11 Anastasija Sevastova, 2017 has always been a pleasure to be greater and better than the week-long incomparable level events in the region and it has US Open finalist Madison Keys bring the world’s best players to previous and fans are assured of of sports entertainment activ- consistently featured the world’s has always been a as well as Latvia’s Jelena Doha, the hub of global sports, having the best of fun as they ities at the home of tennis in top ten players on a regular basis. pleasure to bring the Ostapenko, the 2016 finalist. every year. Qatar Total Open has watch their favourite stars play,” Qatar – the Khalifa Interna- The last edition was won by world’s best players A total of $851,031 cash grown to become one of the most said Tournament Director, Saad tional Tennis & Squash Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova to Doha, the hub of prizes are up for grabs in the sought-after event in Qatar’s Saleh Al Mohannadi. Complex. No one can afford to who recorded her 13th consec- 32-competitor singles draw and sporting calendar and we are “In continuation of our tra- miss this,” he added. utive victory by beating Spaniard global sports, every 16-pair doubles draw event . really proud of what we’ve been dition as a family-oriented Held since 2001, the Qatar Garbine Muguruza 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 year: Saad Saleh Al “We are happy to host the able to achieve over the years. event, Qatar Total Open 2019 Total Open has grown to become in a highly entertaining Mohannadi Qatar Total Open once again. It This year’s edition promises to brings to the whole family a one of the biggest WTA Tour encounter. Asian Cup: China, South England women’s football team to Korea survive scares train in Qatar AFP completed the turnaround, AL AIN, UAE rounding Matiash and scoring AFP from a tight angle 12 minutes DOHA Favourites South Korea scraped from time. Lippi, who is expected past the Philippines and China to leave his post at the end of the England’s women football team will hold a winter training needed a spectacular goal- Asian Cup, said he was “enor- camp in World Cup 2022 host Qatar this month, officials in keeping gaffe to spark their mously unhappy” at China’s first the Gulf and the English Football Association confirmed comeback against lowly half performance, but proud of yesterday. Kyrgyzstan as lesser teams their revival. The team will train at Doha’s Aspire Zone from January continued to trouble bigger sides “During the first half we 14-22, said officials in Qatar, as they continue preparations at the Asian Cup yesterday. weren’t playing well, and I for the World Cup later this year and ahead of taking part in A day after defending cham- thought if we keep playing like the SheBelieves Cup, a four-team tournament in the United pions Australia were rocked 1-0 that we’re going to lose the States in February and March. by Jordan, South Korea, still match,” said the 2006 World “The training camp in Qatar is crucial for our SheBelieves awaiting the arrival of star Cup-winning coach. Cup preparation and an ideal opportunity for us to work as a forward Son Heung-min, left it “After the reaction from my group as we begin an important year,” said England coach late before beating the Philip- players in the second half, I’m Phil Neville. It the first time the English women’s team has pines by the same scoreline. happy that we won the three trained in Qatar, although the men’s side played -- and lost Fellow debutants Kyrgyzstan points.” -- a friendly in Doha against Brazil in November 2009. South Korea’s forward Jaesung Lee (left) fights for the led China 1-0 at half-time but Later in Dubai, prolific goal Twenty eight players will make the journey from the UK ball with Philippines’ defender Daisuke Sato during the they were left to rue a costly poacher Hwang Ui-jo snatched to the Gulf, with the squad expected to be announced Tuesday. error by goalkeeper Pavel 2019 AFC Asian Cup game at the Al Maktoum Stadium a second-half winner as South The women’s World Cup takes place in France in June and Matiash, whose embarrassing in Dubai, yesterday. Korea beat Sven-Goran Eriks- July. England’s women’s team is joining a host of other sides own goal put the Chinese on son’s Philippines, who impressed -- domestic and international -- currently training in Qatar. course for a 2-1 win. on their tournament debut. Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven are already in Doha, After hosts UAE were held The Koreans, looking to end with Qatari-owned French champions Paris Saint-Germain by Bahrain, and Syria were kept 59 years of hurt after failing to flying out on Janaury 13. to a goalless draw by Palestine, the country, I am also disap- Israilov smashed home the win the title since 1960, soaked At least seven other club sides will train in Aspire during it provided more evidence that pointed with the result,” Thai- opening goal just before half- up considerable pressure in their this month. Among the national teams in Qatar are Sweden the gap has narrowed between land’s FA president Somyot time in Al Ain. opening Group C fixture before and Finland, who will play each other in a friendly on Tuesday. Asian teams. Poompanmoung said, explaining But China profited from the Hwang broke the deadlock after The English Football Association, which failed in its bid Separately, Thailand’s the rapid dismissal. howler of the tournament so far 67 minutes. The Japan-based to host the 2018 World Cup, has previously been a critic of Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac “But as president of the when Matiash, attempting to striker swivelled and smashed the decision to host the 2022 tournament in Qatar. paid the price for yet another football association, I cannot claw a defensive header over the home from close range to settle However, in February last year, the Qatari and English shock result when he was given stand still with this problem.” bar, batted it over the line his side’s nerves after Newcastle Football Associations signed a “memorandum of under- his marching orders following Kyrgyzstan looked capable of instead. midfielder Ki Sung-yueng standing” in Doha to “share resources and expertise, develop Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to India. pulling off an almighty upset A Chinese winner looked limped off with a suspected knowledge (and) understanding” of football issues. “Like all Thai football fans across against China when Akhlidin inevitable and it was Yu who hamstring injury.

QFA President receives Nordic Football Association’s chiefs

Ari Lahti, President of the Football Association of Finland presents a football jersey to Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of Qatar Football Association (QFA) during a meeting in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, President of QFA receiving a memento from Jesper Moller, President of the Danish Football Association, in Doha yesterday. SPORT Tuesday 8 January 2019 PAGE | 05 PAGE | 06 Monfils Paine struggles to pulls out in find any gain from Auckland Australia loss

Asian Cup: Team Qatar flexes muscles ahead of opener

Qatari players during their training session in Al Ain, UAE yesterday, ahead of their opening match of the Asian Cup against Lebanon tomorrow. Coach Felix Sanchez supervised the training session for second consecutive day. The Qatar squad reached UAE on Saturday evening. Al Annabi will also take North Korea and Saudi Arabia in their Group E matches.

‘Qatar World Cup will be a Future ‘wide open’ for star Robben big success’ ARMSTRONG VAS (Borussia Dortmund) and hope- THE PENINSULA Bayern Munich Arjen fully put pressure on them but the Robben during a only thing we have think about THE PENINSULA press conference at DOHA Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben is winning our own games.” is undecided on which of the Al Aziziyah Boutique On the Champions League clubs he may join at the end of Hotel in Doha, chances, Robben said Bayern Arjen Robben has backed the season. yesterday. Munich have it in them to beat Qatar to host a successful The Dutch international yes- PICTURE: BAHER AMIN/ Liverpool. World Cup 2022, saying terday also refused to admit or THE PENINSULA “They are doing a great job. the Gulf state will deny his next destination Last season they reached the emulate nations who reportedly to be Inter Milan. Champions League final. And still have delivered block- Robben, who has already this season they are one of the busters in the past. announced plans that he will not favourities to win the Champions “Hopefully it will be renew his contract with Bavarian League. For us probably it is most a great tournament,” club at end of the season, said the difficult draw. But it is a good Robben said of Qatar ‘future is wide open’. challenge. We have to work hard 2022. “There are always “I am privileged that clubs are ourselves and try to improve positive and negative showing interests,” the 34-year things.” sounds, but it is for all the old dutch striker said in response Robben is happy the way tournaments. The last to a question as to whether he Dutch and Liverpool defender few World Cups were big has decided to join Italian giants. Virgil van Dijk career is taking success and I am almost “The future is wide open, it shape. sure that this one (in can go in any directions. We just “I am really happy for him Qatar) is going to be a big (Virgil), for the big steps he has success like the previous taken in his career especially he editions, ” the star said. wait and see what it will be in the future is wide open, I am still Bayern Munich’s chances in the developed as a player and as a Asked as to whether end,” Robben, who is accompa- waiting, I want to wait as well,” Bundesliga, said: “It’s going to be personality as well, I am just he will make the Qatar nying his club on a week-long Robben said. very difficult, I think, it’s going to happy for him where he is at the move somewhere down The future is wide winter camp in Doha, said at a Robben said his current focus be a big challenge. For the moment. the line in his career, open, it can go in any press conference. is to bounce back into the Bayern moment we are six points behind Being an important youth Robben said: “Future is directions. We just “It has been quite busy last team. so we have to chase them. And player and also the national team wide open. I don’t think few days, especially my dad who On deciding on his impending again we have proved in the last of Netherlands and he is now I have so many years left. wait and see what is also my agent, but it is nice to transfer, Robben said he will not few games before the winter captain of the national team, so But for the moment I am it will be in the end: hear that clubs are interested. wait till the fag end of the season break that we can do it and hope- it is big compliments the way he feeling good.” Arjen Robben “But as for me, what i have to make big career move. fully we will continue the same has developed himself,” he said before the winter break, the The seasoned striker, on way and we will chase them added. QFA and NFA discuss ways to boost football ties

THE PENINSULA The delegation Institutional Development of mutual interest and the DOHA of Nordic Football Mushtaq Al Waeli also attended importance of developing them Association is in Doha as the meeting. in the coming period in Qatar The President of the Qatar a number of Scandinavian The delegation of Nordic and the Nordic nations, while Football Association (QFA), national teams which Football Association is in Doha continuing to enhance the coop- Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin includes Sweden, Finland, as a number of Scandinavian eration between these Ahmed Al Thani received the national teams which includes associations. Presidents and Vice Presidents Iceland, and Estonia Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and At the end of the meeting, the of five Nordic Football Associa- will be conducting their Estonia will be conducting their parties stressed on the impor- tions (NFA) at QFA’s head- winter training camps in winter training camps in Qatar. tance of building on their rela- quarters at Al Bidda Tower, Qatar. The four national teams are tionship and on further devel- yesterday. also set to play friendly matches oping them in the future to help Attending the meeting from Sjostrand, President of the against one another during their impact football in a positive way. Nordic Football Association were Football Association of Finland, visit to Qatar on January 8, 11 and The Nordic Football Associ- President of the Football Asso- Ari Lahti, and Vice President of 15. The friendly matches will be ation’s delegation will also be ciation of Norway, Terje the Faroe Islands Football Asso- held at Al Sadd Stadium and given an exclusive tour of Al Svendsen, President of the ciation, Roin OJ Schroter. Khalifa International Stadium. Bidda Tower’s ‘Legacy Pavilion’ Danish Football Association, From QFA’s side, the QFA During the meeting, the – which brings to life the plans Jesper Moller, Vice President of General Secretary Mansoor Al parties discussed the bilateral for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Swedish Football Association, Ansari, Executive Director of the relations concerning football in Qatar. The delegation is also The President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA), Sheikh Jorgen Eriksson, General Sec- QFA President office Ali Qatar and Scandinavia and ways expected to make a stop at Edu- Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani receives the President retary of Swedish Football Asso- Dawood, and QFA Executive of enhancing them. cation City Stadium to witness of the Football Association of Norway, Terje Svendsen at Al ciation, Hakan Director of Strategy and They also discussed matters its’ latest developments. Bidda Tower in Doha, yesterday.