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Wednesday, January 4, 2017 CRICKET Rabia II 6, 1438 AH Warner emulates GULF TIMES Bradman with ton before lunch SPORT Page 7

QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN Murray eases past Chardy to extend win streak to 25 ‘The first match of the year is always diff icult and we were probably both a bit nervous at the start’

By Joe Koraith Doha

n a way, if you looked at the open- ing round matches of the top two seeds here at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, you could say that it refl ect- Ied their mentality. Novak Djokovic was down 1-5 dur- ing his fi rst set against Jan-Lennard Struff on Monday but he then produced a fi ghtback that saw him win the fi rst set and then wrap up the second set and the match with ease. Yesterday, Andy Murray, playing his fi rst round match against Jeremy Char- dy, came out guns blazing, and took the fi rst set 6-0. And then in the second set, he huff ed and puff ed, was broken once and then pulled it back together in the tie-breaker to claim a straight sets victory. The scoreline read 6-0, 7-6 (2) but the second set could have gone in either direction. The characters com- ing through, don’t you think? It’s, undoubtedly, reading too much between the lines but it does make for an interesting comparison. What’s good is that the fans at the Khalifa In- ternational Complex – quite a few had turned up to support Murray – saw good tennis being played in the second set. And they would also be happy that ‘their man’ had progressed into the second round. “He (Chardy) stepped it up big time but didn’t start too well,” said Mur- ray after the match. “The fi rst match of the year is always diffi cult and we were probably both a bit nervous at the start,” the Scot added. In the fi rst set, Chardy couldn’t get his rhythm with shots being missed and it looked like Murray would double- bagel him. But in the second set, the Frenchman began to serve better and his shots too started staying inside the tramlines. “He didn’t serve too well in the fi rst set but was a lot more aggres- sive in the second and pushed me hard,” said Murray on his opponent’s resur- gence in the second set. Andy Murray en route to a straight-set win over Jeremy Chardy in the first round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Complex in Doha yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil The world No. 1 said that he “liked the conditions” here and was looking forward to doing better as the tourna- ment and the season goes on. “The last fi ve or six months of last year were the best I have played consistently but I’ve got to keep getting better. I fi nally made it to number one after 12 months of try- ing. I had a lot of tough losses but I got there,” said Murray. This win now takes Murray’s unbeaten run to 25 matches. The Brit will now take on Austrian Gerald Melzer, who came from a set down to defeat Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2. The match lasted an exact two hours. Chardy and Mathieu - two French- men bowed out of the tournament yesterday but Jo-Wilfried Tsonga en- sured that his country’s fl ag continued to blow in the Doha wind after he de- RESULTS Fans cheer for Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during his win over Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia. FIRST ROUND (X denotes seeding) Andy Murray (GBR x1) bt Jérémy feated Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov 6-1, In the third set I came back to played stay healthy and try to rise my level,” Chardy (FRA) 6-0, 7-6 (7/2); 4-6, 6-2. In the fi rst set, Tsonga was like the fi rst set and it was good,” said said Tsonga, who now take on German Gerald Melzer (AUT) bt Paul-Henri on song but his game dropped in the Tsonga yesterday. Dustin Brown next. Mathieu (FRA) 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-2; second and the Russian was ready to “It was a good match to win. It’s a From Qatar’s perspective, Mubar- Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x7) bt pounce on that. But then, just like the pretty good level I played in these two ak Shannan Zayid lost his fi rst round Malek Jaziri (TUN) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3); Jo- fi rst set, Tsonga was a dominant force sets and that will help me in the next match to Russia’s Karen Khachanov Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x5) bt Andrey in the third and won it with ease. match,” he added. 6-1, 6-3. Zayid had received a wild card Kuznetsov (RUS) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2l Ivo Tsonga said he got a bit tentative The 31-year-old also said that he for this event and lost the fi rst set eas- Karlovic (CRO x6) bt Illya March- with his shot selection in the second was relieved to be fi t after an injury- ily but did put up a better performance enko (UKR) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/0)l Karen set and that cost him. “I played pretty prone 2016. “I’m feeling good now. To in the second. In the doubles the Qatar Khachanov (RUS) bt Mubarak Shannan good in the fi rst set. Then I was wait- be honest, 2016 was long. I’m fi nally pairing of Jabor Mohamed Ali Mutawa Zayid (QAT) 6-1, 6-3; Tomas Berdych ing a little bit more in the second for a healthy. It’s good because I feel like I and Mousa Shanan Zayed lost their fi rst (Cze) bt Alessandro Giannessi (ITA) good shot to come along. In the fi rst set, can play 100% every day. I can practice round match 3-6, 1-6 to Robin Haase of 7-6 (1), 6-2 I didn’t seem to hesitate but I can’t ex- consistently. For me, it’s something the Netherlands and Germany’s Philipp Wild card Mubarak Shannan Zayid of Qatar lost his first round match to Russia’s plain why that happened in the second. new, so I will, yeah, enjoy it and try to Petzschiner. Karen Khachanov 6-1, 6-3. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, January 4, 2017 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Stars attend Qatar ExxonMobil Gala Dinner xxonMobil Qatar and the Qatar partnership their organisations share; and Tennis Federation hosted a gala the people behind the tournament’s suc- dinner to celebrate the tourna- cess. “This year is a very important one for ment’s 25th anniversary and its the tournament – it’s our 25th Anniversa- 2017E edition, that began on Monday. ry, and we are thrilled that you are here to The event was attended by Qatari offi - celebrate with us,” said Routledge. cials, key business and community lead- “While we’re all here to watch some in- ers, and several of the tennis players who credible tennis, let’s not lose sight of what are competing in this year’s tournament, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open means for the including: World No. 1 Andy Murray; 2016 country and its people. It’s one of the many defending champion and No.2 Novak projects Qatar has created for the world to Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas enjoy, and it has contributed signifi cantly Berdych. Each year, the gala features a va- to its standing as an international business riety of unique activities and performances and investment hub,” Routledge added. by world-renowned entertainers. In a spe- Thanks to the guidance of His High- cial performance for the tournament’s 25th ness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad anniversary, famed magician and mental- al-Thani and his Qatar National Vision ist Oz Pearlman intrigued the audience 2030, Qatar continues to thrive as a posi- with an interactive show. His performance tive example for the world across numer- featured a dazzling mind-reading routine ous fronts. ExxonMobil Qatar remains and involved the tennis stars to the audi- committed to supporting his vision of a ence’s amusement. knowledge-based society, and to working Nasser al-Khelaifi , President of the hand-in-hand with local partners like the Qatar Tennis Federation, and Alistair Qatar Tennis Federation to support educa- Routledge, President and General Manager tion, professional workforce development, for ExxonMobil Qatar, welcomed guests and active and healthy lifestyles programs Players and off icials pose at a gala dinner hosted by ExxonMobil Qatar and the Qatar Tennis Federation to celebrate the tournament’s 25th anniversary. and spoke about the history of the strong within Qatar’s community.

BRISBANE OPEN TENNIS ROUND-UP Serena shakes Nadal storms into off rust to win

AFP 18 minutes. Britain’s Johanna Auckland Konta, who has begun 2017 as a top 10 player for the fi rst time in her career, had a scare of her own erena Williams overcame against 77th-ranked Vania King second round rust and a troublesome of the US on Tuesday, losing the wind to launch her come- fi rst set 1-6. Konta recovered to Spaniard took only 74 minutes to see off Dolgopolov 6-3, 6-3 back from a four-month prevail 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 in an hour lay-offS with a 6-3, 6-4 win over and 35 minutes. AFP 69th-ranked Pauline Parmentier But unseeded home player Brisbane, Australia at the Auckland Classic yester- Wang Qiang caused an upset, day. In her fi rst outing since she putting out seventh seed Monica Rafael Nadal of Spain in was shocked by Karolina Plisk- Niculescu of Romania 7-6 (7/1), ormer world number one Rafael Nadal enjoyed action at the Brisbane ova in the US Open semi-fi nals 6-4, in a gruelling encounter an ideal start to his fi rst Brisbane International International yesterday. (AFP) in September, the world number that lasted more than two hours yesterday, storming into the second round with a two made a sluggish start to a even though the pair only played straight sets win over Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgo- season in which she is seeking a two sets. polov.F Nadal took only 74 minutes to see off Dolgopolov record 23rd Grand Slam title. 6-3, 6-3 and book a second round clash with Germany’s Williams shares the Open-era KYRGIOS SHRUGS OFF INJURY Mischa Zverev, who earlier outclassed 17-year-old Aus- record of 22 Grand Slams with Nick Kyrgios played down an- tralian qualifi er Alex De Minaur 6-3, 6-3. Steffi Graf, and is two behind other injury scare after his Hop- Dolgopolov had beaten Nadal on their previous two Margaret Court’s all-time record man Cup win over Adam Pav- encounters and he started well, breaking the Spaniard’s of 24. “I defi nitely felt that rust, lasek in Perth. Kygrios appeared second service game. but mentally I knew how to get it hampered by a left knee prob- But Nadal broke straight back then broke again to back and get in there,” Williams lem during the singles match, in take the fi rst set in 39 minutes. He broke once more in said, adding it “wasn’t fun” which he beat Pavlasek 7-5, 6-4 the second set to the delight of the packed house at Pat playing in the wind. to temporarily keep Australia’s Rafter Arena. “It’s tough to play against him,” Nadal said “Unfortunately I have the title defence hopes alive in the of Dolgopolov. “He’s able to — he plays a little bit Kami- highest of goals and obviously mixed teams tournament before kaze, you know. He’s very aggressive with all the shots. that involves winning Grand they were snuff ed out by the It’s diffi cult to construct a point with him.” Slams and that’s all,” said Wil- Czech Republic. Nadal, who played the last match of the day and fi n- liams, who last week announced But Kyrgios played down talk ished just before midnight, only arrived in Brisbane from her engagement to Reddit co- of any lingering problems, say- Abu Dhabi on Monday and said he was struggling to founder Alexis Ohanian. “It’s ing the knee wasn’t a major is- adapt to the time diff erence. basically all I want to do, but you sue. The 21-year-old also had “Today, at two in the afternoon I was on the bed,” he have to win tournaments like his left lower leg strapped in his said. “I was destroyed. I’m not sure if it’s better to play this, or do well in them, to win fi rst-up win over Feliciano Lopez earlier or not. I think for the moment, I think it’s better Grand Slams, so these events re- on Sunday, but said at the time it for me to play later. I played great in Abu Dhabi (where he ally count.” was due to a recent injury sus- won an exhibition tournament),” he added. The third and fourth seeds, tained playing basketball. After “I like the conditions there, and a lot of years I played Caroline Wozniacki and Barbora Kyrgios’ win, Lucie Hradecka well there. That’s always important for me. And here is Strycova, both cruised through — levelled the tie with an upset an important event for me, because it’s the second event their opening matches, with win over the misfi ring Daria Ga- of the year and the fi rst ATP event. It’s great to start the Wozniacki beating American vrilova. new year with a victory in the ATP Tour.” Nicole Gibbs 6-1, 6-2 and Stry- The Czech is ranked 166 in the Earlier, fi fth seed Lucas Pouille recovered from 0-5 in cova a 6-4, 6-3 winner over fel- world, while Kyrgios teammate the fi rst set to see off fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon 7-6 low Croatian Barbora Stefkova. Gavrilova is 25th, but it was the (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) and set up a second round clash against However, the rain again af- Czech who had all the answers, Britain’s Kyle Edmund. Australian wildcard Sam Groth fected evening play with second coming from a set down to win won his fi rst match in the ATP main draw since July when seed Venus Williams also mak- 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Australia then he beat France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. ing a slow start as she was 2-2 bowed out of fi nal contention US qualifi er Jared Donaldson upset Luxembourg’s in the fi rst set against New Zea- when the Czechs clinched the Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-4, while Viktor Troicki of Serbia lander Jade Lewis when play was tie in the deciding mixed dou- downed Japanese qualifi er Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4, 7-5. set, only to be broken by the fourth-seeded Muguruza. France’s Alize Cornet stormed into the quarter-fi nals stopped for the day. bles rubber. That meant the un- Argentine Diego Schwartzman upset Sam Querrey of the Muguruza then kept her nerve in the tiebreak, hold- when she demolished Christina McHale in straight sets defeated United States pairing US 6-2, 6-4. ing on to win in just under three hours. It was her second 6-2, 6-1. Cornet will play either second seed Dominika RADWANSKA CRUISES of Coco Vandeweghe and Jack three-set win in as many days after she edged Australian Cibulkova or China’s Zhang Shuai in the quarter-fi nals. Top seed and world number three Sock were straight through to MUGURUZA SURVIVES BIG SCARE Samantha Stosur on Monday. Earlier, Australian teenager Destanee Aiava created a Agnieszka Radwanska made the fi nal, which the US has won a In the women’s, French Open champion Garbine Mu- Third seed Czech Karolina Pliskova earlier continued slice of history when she became the fi rst player born in short work of her second round record six times. guruza saved a match point before seeing off Russia’s her impressive form when she stormed past US quali- the 2000s to win a main draw match on the WTA Tour. opponent at the WTA Shen- Earlier in the day, Vandeweghe Daria Kasatkina in the second round. The 23-year-old fi er Asia Muhammad 6-1, 6-4. However, sixth seed Elina The 16-year-old Aiava beat fellow qualifi er Bethanie zhen Open yesterday. The Pole and Sock had notched their sec- Spaniard won 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7) over the 19-year-old Svitolina was pushed hard by American Shelby Rogers Mattek-Sands of the US 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a rain-delayed disposed of Romania’s Sorana ond win in as many ties with a Kasatkina, who served for the match at 5-4 in the third before winning in three sets 7-5, 2-6, 7-5. fi rst-round match. Cirstea 6-0, 6-3 in an hour and 3-0 victory over Spain.

GOLF Dubai-based Indian Thomas to defend Qatar amateur title

By Sports Reporter nately missed the cut. Doha Thomas is the number one amateur in the UAE and a second straight win in Doha would ease his path to the big league with yet another chance to ast year’s champion Rayhan Thomas will at- play in the Qatar Masters. tempt to defend his title in the Qatar Open A total of 126 golfers have confi rmed their partic- Amateur Golf Championship beginning at ipation in the 31st edition of the event which will be the Doha Golf Club tomorrow, the Qatar played over three rounds of individual stroke play. LGolf Association announced yesterday. “These 126 players will be representing 38 coun- The Dubai-based Indian teen defeated The Neth- tries,” QGA executive director Fahad al-Nuaimi erlands’ Pierre Verlaar Jr after forcing a tie with a said. Of the 126 players, a whopping 24 are from birdie on the 18th before birdieing the hole again in Bahrain which has traditionally enjoyed a large the play-off to clinch victory. presence in the tournament, while 12 will represent Prior to his win in Qatar last January, he had be- Great Britain. come the fi rst amateur to win a MENA Tour event, There will be nine Qatari golfers, with the top two the Dubai Creek Open. In 2015, he also won the among them getting a chance to play in the Com- Emirates Golf Federation Order of Merit. mercial Bank Qatar Masters later in the month. “We are happy to inform that the winner last year, Besides the winner’s trophy, 10 individual prizes Rayhan Thomas, will be playing again in the Qatar for the top 10 gross scorers will be awarded by the Open,” Qatar Golf Association general secretary organisers. Fahad al-Nuaimi told a press conference yesterday. The tournament is being sponsored by the Qatar The 16-year-old’s victory last year earned him Olympic Committee, the Qatar Golf Association, a dream spot at the European Tour’s prestigious InterContinental Doha Hotel, Al Muftah Rent a Car Commercial Bank Qatar Masters where he unfortu- and Doha Golf Club. Qatar golf off icials pictured with InterContinental Hotel general manager Andreas Pfister at yesterday’s press conference. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 4, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Bayern need better balance between defence and attack: Lahm

DPA a 3-0 victory over RB Leipzig in a ta- Clement who has been appointed as Munich ble topper on December 21, which al- new manager of Premier League bot- lowed Bayern to go three points ahead tom club Swansea. of Leipzig into the winter break which Clement, 44, was Ancelotti’s as- ayern Munich must improve runs until January 20 when they visit sistant at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Ger- the balance between defence mid-table Freiburg. main, Real Madrid and Munich. and attack for the second “We wanted to send out a signal at “Paul has been a professional, loyal part of the Bundesliga sea- the end of the year. It was the right and capable coach for us. We did not son,B captain Philipp Lahm said yes- signal at the right time. It is always want to stand in his way of becoming terday. important for us to enter the winter a manager in the Premier League. We The champions have landed in Qa- break in fi rst place,” Lahm said. wish him all the best for the future,” tar for a winter training camp, which Coach Carlo Ancelotti has an all Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rum- will run till January 11 at Aspire Zone. but full squad at his disposal at the menigge said in a statement. Lahm, 33, said the team must al- camp until January 11 in Doha. Gerland, 62, was Bayern reserve low fewer chances and create more Only centre back Jerome Boateng team coach 2001-2009 and then as- themselves, a problem that was ex- remains in Munich as he recovers sistant under Louis van Gaal, Jupp posed in several matches in the past from chest surgery. Winger Kingsley Heynckes and Pep Guardiola until last months although the team was at its Coman is in Qatar but will work indi- summer when he became a regular best when it mattered. vidually on his return from a knee and member of Ancelotti’s coaching staff . “It must work out better although ankle injury. Bayern said the decision to rein- it always worked out very well at Munich meanwhile also welcomed state him as fi rst assistant was made times in certain games,” Lahm said. back Hermann Gerland as fi rst as- jointly by Ancelotti and the club Bayern Munich players David Alaba, Xabi Alonso, Juan Bernat and Joshua Kimmich sign autographs for fans on their arrival at the The captain was mainly referring to sistant coach to take the place of Paul board. Hamad International Airport in Doha yesterday. (Twitter/Bayern Munich)

QATAR STARS LEAGUE PREVIEW Unbeaten Lekhwiya Rayyan move to and Sadd in QSL action today

By Sports Reporter “The break was good for us and now fourth with 1-0 win Doha we play against Muaither. The team is having a bad time now, however, they can be dangerous if you don’t take our of the top fi ve teams in the them seriously. We will concentrate Qatar Stars League are all in ac- and we have used the break to prepare tion today, with table-toppers ourselves physically and psychologi- Lekhwiya up against a strug- cally, and we will hope to get the three over Shahania glingF Muaither, and third-placed El points,” coach Djamel Belmadi said. Jaish looking to bounce back from a He added: “I don’t know how the By Sports Reporter string of questionable performances second round will go. We want to have Doha against Al Wakrah. consistency and win games. We want Al Gharafa, who were provisionally to play well in the Champions League overtaken by Al Rayyan for the fourth and the best way to do it is to play well l Rayyan leapfrogged Al spot in the standings yesterday, will in the league.” Gharafa to the fourth spot be in the hunt for three points against Muaither are at the very bottom of in the Qatar Stars League Al Ahli, while Al Kharaitiyat will be the table and have lost six games in a standings with a 1-0 win looking to get away from the drop zone row. overA Al Shahania at the Grand Hamad when they face second-placed Al Sadd. Muaither coach Philip Birrol used Stadium in the fi rst game of 2017 yes- In the last four matches, Jaish played the break to enhance his squad. “We terday. out a 1-1 draw with Sadd, beat Muaith- had only 3 days of preparation and it Al Shahania, who are currently er 2-1, and lost a game each against went very fast. We have two new play- staring at a relegation battle with 12 Gharafa and Lekhwiya. ers, one from Iraq and the other from points, having registered just two Talking ahead of their match against Japan. Now we need to improve our po- wins so far this season, were hoping to Wakrah, who won their last match 5-1 sition in the table to stay in the league. bounce back from their heaviest-ever against Al Sailiya, coach Sabri Lam- Namori Sato is the Japanese player defeat, a ten-goal thumping by Le- ouchi said, “Wakrah is not the same who we signed from Bunyodkor in Uz- khwiya, and give their new coach Igor team as the beginning of the season. bekistan. Hamid Yaseen was playing in Stemac a good start to 2017. They are a diff erent team and a diff er- Sweden and the national team of Iraq, However, that wasn’t to be cour- ent coach as well as a diff erent playing he is a strong player, he can play winger tesy an early goal from their Ahmed style. So, we will face a diffi cult and dif- and striker,” Birrol said. Alaaeldin, who scored in the 12th ferent team than we faced before.” Al Kharaitiyat will be looking for minute with a fi ne header. Lamouchi won’t have last season’s their third consecutive win against Al After getting in front of his mark- joint top-scorer Abderezzak Hamedal- Sadd, having beaten Al Gharafa 2-0 and er inside Al Shahania’s 18 yard box, lah for the trip to Wakrah Stadium to- Muaither 1-0 in the last two matches. Alaaeldin leapt well to connect with day, and the coach said they will keep However, the unbeaten Sadd are in a a fast cross delivered from the right Seidou Keita until the end of the sea- race of their own, a pursuit of leaders wing. Despite Al Shahania’s goalkeep- son. Lekhwiya, and any slip could cost them er getting a fi ngertip to the ball, it was “The fi rst game of the second half the title at the end of it all. too high and had too much pace and of the league we will like to start in the Al Gharafa need the win against Al went in off the underside of the cross best way with a win against Al Wakrah. Ahli today to reclaim their fourth spot bar to give Michael Laudrup’s men the The target is to try to play better and in the league, which is also a ticket to lead. to win all the games and to give it the the AFC Champions League. Al Shahania had their best chance of maximum eff ort,” he added. the fi rst half when they were awarded Wakrah coach Kais Yakoubi said, TODAY’S MATCHES a free kick in a dangerous area after Al Rayyan’s Ahmed Alaaeldin (right) in action against Al Shahania during the Qatar Stars League match at Grand Hamad “They have not collected many points VENUE: Al Khor Club Fahad Khalfan countered and was Stadium yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed in the last four games so they needed 4:15pm: Al Kharaitiyat vs Al Sadd brought down by Al Rayyan’s Gonzalo the break. However, we were gaining Viera just outside the box. Instead of post. Al Rayyan’s goalkeeper, Oumar ond half as Al Rayyan set about look- of easy chances. momentum so the timing of the break VENUE: Al Gharafa Club shooting, Al Shahania went for what Barry, somehow managed to get down ing for some additional decisive goals. The three points leave Al Rayyan wasn’t good.” 4:15pm: Muaither vs Lekhwiya looked like a training ground routine to his left post in time and save it to Laudrup’s men should have fi nished in fourth position in the league with Lekhwiya, one of two teams in the 6:25pm: Al Gharafa vs Al Ahli and fl icked it out to the left wing for a ensure Al Rayyan went into the halft- the game three or four up after a glut of 25 points, even as Gharafa are in ac- QSL, the other being Sadd, are on a cross which was nearly converted by ime break 1-0 up. chances and Alaaeldin should have left tion today and could regain the crucial six-match winning streak, with the last VENUE: Al Wakrah Club Khalfan who was lurking on the back It was one-way traffi c in the sec- with a hat trick after missing a handful spot. match a huge 10-0 win over Al Shahania. 6:25pm: Al Wakrah vs El Jaish

Sailiya down Arabi in an exciting game; Umm Salal win at Khor

By Sports Reporter Doha

l Sailiya clinched a valuable 1-0 win and secured three vital Apoints in a tense encounter with Al Arabi in the Qatar Stars League yes- terday. Sailiya scored the game’s only goal just eight minutes after kick-off when a cross reached Sayaf al-Kurbi inside the penalty area. Al-Kurbi ini- tially tried to shoot himself but scuff ed his shot. However, the ball reached Mohamed Muddather, who smashed it home for the league strugglers. Al Arabi played some exciting foot- ball in the first half but they failed to convert any of the goal-scoring opportunities that came their way. Their best chance of the game came in the 9th minute when Jimenez hit a lovely cross that found Ahmed Fathi waiting but he was unable to test the goalkeeper. Al Arabi’s biggest chance of the first half came in the dying Al Sailiya’s Mohamed Muddather (right) in action against Al Arabi yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Umm Salal’s Yannick Sagbo (right) in action against Al Khor. PICTURE: Anas Khalid minutes when the ball fell to Ahmed al -Khalfan in a dangerous area. goalkeeper Masoud Zeraei. Umm Salal in the Round 14 of the Umm Salal’s first goal. Al Khor didn’t ing. Umm Salal’s defense held up well inside the penalty area and netted Al Arabi continued their pressure in Al Arabi left empty-handed in the end league. Umm Salal were able to finish let their heads drop after going behind against the relentless pressure from home from close range. the second half but also continued after missing plenty of chances and the first half in the lead thanks to a though and heaped the pressure on Al Khor and the Orange Fortress relied Umm Salal player Saleh al-Yahri was to waste chance after chance in front continue their slip down the league goal from their big number 13, Yannick the Orange Fortress’ back four look- heavily on counter attacks which paid unfortunately severely injured and of Al Sailiya’s goal. Al Arabi came table. With this result Al Sailiya now Sagbo, whose shot beat Papa Djebril ing for that equaliser, maintaining dividends right before the end of the moved to the hospital in the 65th desperately close to stealing a point have 15 points, a point less than Al after just 12 minutes, and a crucial the lion’s share of possession for the first half when Hilal Mohamed scored minute. when al-Khalfan hit the post in the 4th Arabi’s haul so far. second goal from Hilal Mohamed right remainder of the game. their second. Despite the superiority of Al Khor dur- minute of injury time. before the stroke of half time on the Al Khor’s Madison and Yagor failed Al Khor succeeded in scoring their ing the remaining time, their players Al Arabi nearly went two nil down at UMM SALAL GRABS 2-1 WIN 44th minute. to take advantage of some good goal only goal of the game in the second didn’t manage to break Umm Salal’s the final whistle had it not been for AGAINST AL KHOR The game was finely balanced be- scoring opportunities and were denied half when in the 58th minute Sultan al- strong defense and Umm Salal left the excellent performance of their Al Khor were beaten 1-2 at home by tween both sides until Sagbo scored thanks to some excellent goalkeep- Enzi received a pass from Saleh Badr with all three points. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, January 4, 2017 FOOTBALL

FOCUS MOVE Arriving at end of my career: Guardiola German international

AFP and Real Madrid. Draxler signs for PSG London Guardiola arrived at City with much fanfare as is only right with a man who whilst at Barcelona delivered 14 tro- oaching great Pep Guar- phies in his four years at the helm. diola’s hint that Manchester However, his spell at Bayern Munich City may be his last job has — replacing German Jupp Heynckes raised eyebrows and suggests who had swept the domestic double theC club’s erratic form is getting to the and the Champions League — yielded poker-faced Spaniard. three Bundesliga crowns but failed to The 45-year-old told NBC his ca- land the Champions League. reer was “arriving at the end” ahead of “If my work is judged on whether City’s 2-1 win over Burnley on Monday I win the Champions League or not, and followed up those comments with I have failed,” he said after his fi nal a moody exchange with the BBC — hopes of winning European football’s where he constantly rubbed his nose most prestigious trophy with Bayern as if he had developed a nervous tic. Munich had disappeared last season, The Burnley win left City seven going out in the semi-fi nals to Atletico points off Premier League leaders Madrid. Chelsea, who can go 10 points clear if “I need to accept that. If people they beat Spurs today. think I have failed, I have to accept It all looked very diff erent when that. If you think that I have failed, you City made an electrifying start to the have to write it.” season under Guardiola, winning their Bravo has not been helped by a creak- three seasons, maybe more,” said It is way too early to write off his fi rst 10 games including getting the ing defence which was brutally exposed Guardiola. City sojourn but the club’s Abu Dhabi better of his old rival Jose Mourinho in by out of form champions Leicester in “I will not be on the bench until I am owners will be praying their dream the Manchester derby. a 4-2 defeat in December which led to 60 or 65 years old. I feel the process of capture as a coach does not turn into However, since then their form has Guardiola’s bizarre claim he didn’t do my goodbye has already started. a nightmare. slipped considerably with City at one tackling after his side failed to make a “I am arriving at the end of my For the moment the omens do not point going six games without a win single tackle in 35 minutes. coaching career, of this I am sure.” look good. — Guardiola’s worst run as a manager. With it the mask of serenity sur- Mourinho may wear his heart on Told in a remarkably tetchy inter- Question marks over the wisdom of rounding Guardiola has slipped as well his sleeve but Guardiola seems self- view with the BBC following the win signing goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and leading to his suggesting to NBC the contained and almost cold in his over Burnley he did not look too hap- his callous dispensing of fans’ favour- City job could be his last. press conferences, only once letting py, Guardiola forced a smile and said in ite and England number one Joe Hart the mask slip when his Portuguese a tone dripping with sarcasm: “More have been backed up by some nervy THE END rival had provoked him one too many than you believe. I’m so happy, believe displays by the Chilean goalkeeper. “I will be at Manchester for the next times when they were at Barcelona me. Happy New Year.”

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

AFP sion’ in the team. Spurs major Paris Draxler is PSG’s fi rst purchase in the January transfer window as the club seeks to strengthen its squad after a erman international Julian disappointing start to the season and Draxler has joined Paris Saint ahead of a their Champions League Germain from Wolfsburg on second round clash with Barcelona on a four-year deal, the French February 14 and March 8. Gclub said yesterday. Draxler made his Bundesliga debut obstacle to record The 23-year-old attacking midfi eld- at 17 for Schalke 04 and went on to be- er has signed a contract for a reported come the youngest ever goalscorer for 36 to 40mn euros ($37.5mn — $42mn) the national side, against Kazakhstan that will keep him at the top French in June 2013, and the youngest player club until the end of June 2021. to captain Germany the following year Draxler, part of Germany’s 2014 against Poland in a World Cup warm- World Cup-winning side, said he was up game, aged 20. bid, says Conte proud to join the current French cham- More recently his career has been pions, ending an acrimonious spell at dogged by controversy. his German club. He has upset fans, teammates and Victory over Spurs today would emulate Arsenal’s record of 14 straight wins “I will be discovering a new country, offi cials at Wolfburg, with his drive to a new championship and am very proud quit the club lying 13th in the Bundes- to embark on this new stage as part of a liga while critics say his performance club that has become a reference in Eu- on the fi eld has fallen short of his stel- rope and has recruited many very great lar reputation. players in recent years,” Draxler said in Last month former German inter- a club statement. national Lothar Matthaus chimed in Draxler was unsettled at Wolfsburg with a warning to clubs interested in and ruffl ed feathers last year when he the precociously talent player that he announced publicly that he wanted to had “never proved at the highest level leave, prompting coach Valerien Ismael that he was capable of making the dif- to say the player was causing ‘confu- ference”.

SPOTLIGHT Liverpool in good place, says Cup of Nations-bound Mane

Chelsea’s Diego Costa and manager Antonio Conte celebrate after their win over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge in London on Saturday. (Reuters)

AFP “To win 13 games in a row is not compliment (Mauricio) Pochettino.” served a one match suspension. London easy. We are pleased for this. “I like to have my players in good AFP “But I wish them good luck. We have “Tomorrow (Wednesday), we know ‘THE LEAGUE IS OPEN’ form and then to make the best choice London a strong team and I think it won’t be a that we have a tough game against Conte, an industrious midfi elder who for the game,” said Conte. “It is a good problem. They will do it. purs represent a signifi cant Tottenham. It is a good team. For this won 20 caps and was a member of the problem. Now, we have Pedro, Wil- “I think we are in a good position. hurdle to overcome if Chelsea reason we need to continue our run!” squads that reached the 1994 World lian, (Eden) Hazard and (Diego) Costa adio Mane believes he is leav- The draw is okay, but now the most are to equal Arsenal’s Premier Conte, who made his name as a Cup and Euro 2000 fi nals, said as far as in good form and in good shape. ing Liverpool in good shape as important thing is the reaction. Every- League record of 14 succes- manager at Juventus a club he also he was concerned the Spurs match rep- “I have to decide the starting XI but he prepares to spearhead Sen- body knows that and we are ready for siveS wins, said Blues manager Antonio served with distinction as a player, resented the start of the second-half of I think you win the game in 90 min- egal’s Africa Cup of Nations the next game,” added Mane, whose Conte yesterday. admitted going on their previous clash the season with nothing won yet. utes and it is important to have all my challenge.S handball six minutes from time gifted The 47-year-old Italian — who earlier in the season Spurs would be “This type of game gives you moti- players available and in good form.” The 24-year-old — whose goal in the Sunderland a penalty which was con- took over after he had guided Italy to tough opposition. vation,” he said. Conte, who said there were dis- 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Monday verted by Jermain Defoe for a share of the Euro 2016 quarter-fi nals — has “Against Tottenham (previously “Now I think every team want to cussions going on about perhaps was his ninth for Liverpool since his the points. steered Chelsea to 13 consecutive vic- when Chelsea came from 1-0 down stop our run, not just Tottenham. strengthening the squad in the Janu- £34million ($41.7mn, 40.1mn euros) Liverpool’s next league game — tories and a fi ve point lead over Liver- to win 2-1) was a tough game,” said “If you see the table, we have only ary transfer window, said Costa had move from Southampton — says the coming after an FA Cup clash with Ply- pool at the top of the table. Conte, who coached Juventus to three fi ve points more than second place fl ourished since he decided to stay and squad is strong enough to make up for mouth and then an EFL Cup semi-fi nal Victory over fi fth-placed Spurs to- Serie A crowns. from Liverpool and seven points from not seek a transfer last summer. him playing at African football’s show- fi rst leg meeting with Southampton — day would emulate Arsenal’s record “I watched it again. In the fi rst half Manchester City. “When Diego decided to stay, he piece tournament in Gabon. is a mouth-watering trip to Manches- set over two seasons — winning the they played well and put us under “The league is open. This is only the said he wanted to fi ght for this club Mane leaves Liverpool in second ter United on January 15 with both sides last 13 matches of the 2001-02 season a lot of pressure. In the second half fi rst game of the second part of the and for his shirt,” said Conte. position in the table, fi ve points adrift in excellent form. and their fi rst game of the following we played very well but Tottenham season.” “I wasn’t concerned. He is show- of leaders Chelsea, who can go eight Liverpool are unbeaten in six Premier campaign. showed great form. Conte faces the type of selection ing great patience in the right way, in points clear if they beat Spurs today. League games — the Sunderland draw “It is a great achievement for us,” “For me, Tottenham are better than dilemma every coach wishes for as he every moment of the game. “It won’t be easy for me to leave be- ending a run of fi ve victories — whilst said Conte of their record-equalling last season. They have a good manager mulls over whether to restore Pedro “We are happy for this. He is com- cause I would like to help them until the United have won seven on the trot in all 13th successive win in a single season. who is working very well. It is right to Rodriguez to the starting XI after he pletely focused on the game.” end of the season,” he told LFCTV. competitions. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 4, 2017 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Tarasenko brace lift s Blues to win Butler’s big night over Blackhawks AFP thought we did a great job get- Los Angeles ting pucks deep. I thought we really managed the game well. I thought we played a really ladimir Tarasenko smart, sound hockey game, and scored two goals with- quite frankly, deserved to win.” lift s Bulls, Cavs in two minutes of the The contest at a mist- Vthird period yesterday shrouded Busch Stadium, be- to break a 1-1 tie and lead the St. fore a capacity crowd of 46,556, Louis Blues to a 4-1 win over the was the fi rst outdoor game for Chicago Blackhawks at the NHL’s the Blues. Winter Classic outdoor game. “It’s pretty cool,” Blues cap- Tarasenko’s fi rst goal at 12:05 tain Alex Pietrangelo said of in the third came as his attempt hosting an outdoor game. “I and Warriors win at a backhanded centring pass think the fi rst real awe was yes- defl ected off the skate of Black- terday in practice, having our Chicago Bulls owed their turnaround was down to Butler, whose 52 points were one hawks defenseman Niklas Hjal- family on the bench and the marsson and into the net. family skate afterwards was, shy of his career high. He added 12 rebounds and six assists, carrying his team with The Russian right winger’s that was pretty cool.” next goal, at 13:58, was more “We’re lucky we had that, Dwyane Wade sidelined by a swollen knee and point guard Rajon Rondo benched straightforward — a wrist shot kind of got the emotional side past Blackhawks goaltender out of the way,” he added. “And Corey Crawford for his 18th goal when the game got going it just Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) drives to of the season. pretty much felt like a normal the basket against Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy “Well, he’s a hungry off ensive game for us, I think. You get Lamb (3) during their NBA game yesterday. Chicago player,” Blues coach Ken Hitch- so into the game and playing won 118-111. (Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports) cock said. “He’s a guy that sniff s against our biggest rival it’s just out weaknesses, or he sniff s out business as usual.” coverage issues and he jumps St. Louis got a fi nal goal from on it. And when he’s engaged Alexander Steen into an empty like he was today and like he’s Blackhawks net. been for most part of this year, The Blues had equalized at he’s dangerous because he’s one 7:45 of the second period when shift away from breaking the Patrik Berglund scored. thing right open.” The Blackhawks had seized Tarasenko had two superb the lead just 62 seconds into the chances earlier in the third, game with a goal by defenseman but was denied by Blackhawks Michal Kempny. goaltender Corey Crawford on It was the second-fastest a breakaway before hitting the goal to begin an outdoor game in post while the Blues were on a NHL history. power play. The fastest goal came just 21 It was the fi fth outdoor game seconds into the 2008 Winter for the Blackhawks, the most Classic, scored by the Pittsburgh of any team in the NHL in the Penguins’ Colby Armstrong showpiece events fi rst con- against the Buff alo Sabres. ceived as a nod to the game’s pond-hockey roots. Results (Home team in CAPS) “I thought we played great to- VANCOUVER 3 Colorado 2 day,” Hitchcock said. “I thought NEW JERSEY 3 Boston 0 we ground on them hard. I ST. LOUIS 4 Chicago 1 Fernandez out for up to 10 weeks Clermont’s Argentinian fly-half Nations three times, including Patricio Fernandez will be out of the Grand Slam in 1968. action for up to 10 weeks after picking up a thigh injury, the Top Wiggins signs up for 14 leaders said yesterday. Fern- ski jump TV show andez was injured in Saturday’s 26-20 defeat by Toulouse, and Newly retired Olympic cycling will “not resume competition champion Bradley Wiggins will before March”, Clermont said. swap the velodrome for the ski The 22-year-old has enjoyed a lot jump ramp in British television of game time with Clermont this show ‘The Jump’, the programme season, starting seven games makers announced yesterday. in the Top 14 and three in the Wiggins, 36, follows in the foot- European Champions Cup. steps of fellow British sporting greats Steve Redgrave (rowing), Smith out for six weeks Beth Tweddle (gymnastics) and Rebecca Adlington (swimming), Pau’s ex-All Black centre Conrad all of whom pulled out of the Smith has been ruled out for six The Golden State Warriors were in half. Houston took the lead for the fi rst lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 98-94 vic- show through injury. But the AFP weeks with an ankle tendon in- the groove in Oakland, where Draymond time with 2:45 left in the third quarter. tory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. five-time Olympic champion, Los Angeles jury, the Top 14 club announced Green’s triple-double keyed a 127-119 vic- The Wizards tied it once in the fourth, but Thunder star Russell Westbrook, whose who became Britain’s first Tour yesterday. Smith sustained the tory over the Denver Nuggets. never got back in front. 16 triple-doubles this season lead the de France champion in 2012, is injury in the 32-27 defeat by immy Butler scored 52 points and the Green recorded his second triple-dou- LeBron James — fi ghting fl u symptoms league, scored a game-high 30 points de- a seasoned skier and says he is Montpellier on the weekend and Chicago Bulls started 2017 off right ble of the season with 15 points, 13 assists — scored 26 points to pace the reigning spite connecting on just nine of 28 shots looking forward to the challenge will undergo surgery in the com- with a 118-111 NBA victory over the and 10 rebounds. Klay Thompson scored a champion Cavaliers to a 90-82 victory over from the fl oor. of learning how to ski jump. Other ing days. The 94-time capped Charlotte Hornets yesterday. game-high 25 points, Stephen Curry add- the New Orleans Pelicans in Cleveland. In Los Angeles, the Clippers earned a participants in the programme Smith, an integral part of the J With a clash with the NBA champions ed 22 and Kevin Durant contributed 21 as Kevin Love scored 12 points and pulled much-needed win, snapping a six-game include former England footballer All Blacks’ World Cup-winning Cleveland Cavaliers looming today, the the Warriors became the fi rst team to reach down 11 rebounds for the Cavs before exit- losing streak with a 109-98 victory over Robbie Fowler, ex-England rugby squads in 2011 and 2015, will Bulls snapped a two-game skid, posting just 30 wins this season. ing in the fourth quarter as he continued to the Phoenix Suns. JJ Redick scored 22 captain Jason Robinson and miss three Top 14 games — Lyon their fourth victory in their last 12 games. The Warriors led 68-64 at halftime and feel the eff ects of food poisoning. points and Jamal Crawford added 18 for Olympic gymnast Louis Smith. and Grenoble at home and an The turnaround was down to Butler, by as many as 14 points in the third quarter With Kyrie Irving sidelined by a tight the Clippers, who survived 20 turnovers. away match at Toulouse. whose 52 points were one shy of his career before the Nuggets produced one last surge. hamstring, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue had Clippers star point guard Chris Paul sat Tretiakov among high. He added 12 rebounds and six as- Golden State reserves Andre Iguodala, Dav- limited options, but despite shooting out a third straight game with a sore left suspended sliders sists, carrying his team with veteran guard id West and Shaun Livingston hit consecu- just 37.8 % — one of their worst shooting hamstring. “He’s getting better, but we’re Ex-France international Elie Cester dies Olympic champion Alexander Dwyane Wade sidelined by a swollen knee tive baskets in a key stretch of the fourth nights of the season — Cleveland rallied just going to take our time,” Clippers coach Tretiakov and bronze medallist and point guard Rajon Rondo benched by quarter to help thwart the Nuggets’ rally. from a 10-point third-quarter defi cit and Doc Rivers said. Former France lock and captain Yelena Nikitina are among four coach Fred Hoiberg. In Houston, James Harden posted his held on for the win. Results (Home team in CAPS) Elie Cester has died at the age Russian skeleton sliders who have “I think it’s an understatement to say third straight triple-double as the Rockets Rookie Kay Felder scored eight of his 12 of 74. Born in 1942, the erstwhile been provisionally suspended in Jimmy was phenomenal tonight,” Hoiberg erased a 15-point defi cit to beat the Wash- points in the fourth quarter. Channing Frye, LA CLIPPERS 109 ...... Phoenix ...... 98 boilerhouse companion of Wal- connection with a doping inves- said of Butler, who made 15 of 24 attempts ington Wizards 101-91. who has also been nursing the fl u, scored 14. GOLDEN STATE 127 ...... Denver ...... 119 ter Spanghero and Benoit Dauga tigation. The other suspended from the fi eld and 21 of 22 free throws. “He Harden had 27 points, 10 assists and 10 “Can’t have any excuses no matter what’s CHICAGO 118 ...... Charlotte...... 111 was capped 35 times between athletes are Olga Potylizina and did it every which way.” rebounds, and reserve guard Eric Gordon going on with the team,” James said. “As HOUSTON 101 ...... Washington ...... 91 1966-74, captaining France on Maria Orlova. The ruling body Butler poured in 17 points in the fourth scored a season-high 31 points to help the ugly as it was tonight, just got to fi nd a way Utah 101 ...... BROOKLYN ...... 89 three occasions. During his ca- IBSF had said on Friday it had quarter, when the Bulls out-scored the Rockets to a fi fth straight win. to get through it and we did that.” Orlando 115 ...... NY KNICKS...... 103 reer, he was part of the Tricolor suspended four Russians, without Hornets 36-26. “I was just playing basket- Between them Gordon and Harden out- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 MILWAUKEE 98 ...... Oklahoma City.. 94 team that won the then-Five giving their names. ball,” Butler said. “I just had a groove.” scored the Wizards 39-38 in the second points with 10 rebounds and fi ve assists to CLEVELAND 90 ...... New Orleans...... 82

RUGBY Once proud Bradford Bulls go into liquidation AFP and will be liquidated,” Bulls general The Bulls ran into fi nancial diffi cul- London manager Stuart Duff y said. “The Rug- ties over unpaid taxes in 2012, when fans by Football League have said they have raised around 500,000 pounds ($611,000) contingency plans in place and some- to keep the club going after banks cut radford Bulls, one of the most one could buy the club from the liqui- their overdraft facilities. However, by Au- historic clubs in rugby league, dators but at the moment everybody gust 2012 things were looking brighter as have been liquidated, their gen- has been made redundant.” they were bought by a consortium led by eral manager said yesterday. “I’m hopeful something comes of local businessman Omar Khan. B The Bulls—who were crowned English this but in what league I don’t know. Two years of relative stability fol- domestic champions six times, won the Everyone is very disappointed because lowed before disaster struck and they Challenge Cup fi ve times and the World we were led to believe that things would entered administration for a second time Club Challenge on three occasions—had come to a successful conclusion today. and with it a six-point penalty which ul- been placed in administration for a third “Nobody has been paid their wages timately proved too much of a hurdle to time in four years last November. for December and we had been hoping overcome and condemned them to the The writing on the wall for the to be paid tomorrow, so this is a bomb- second tier. Bulls—who were relegated from the shell. This is a nightmare for everybody be allowed to remain in the second tier ing employment in and around the sport season on minus twelve points.” They came within a game of regaining Super League in 2014—came when the involved,” he added. Championship but with a points penalty. in 2017,” read the RFL statement. The sport’s ruling body added that the their Super League status a year later but administrators rejected a bid by a con- The sport’s domestic governing “The Board were most mindful of the “Accordingly the Board has agreed move was “not an entirely surprising de- fell short in the match titled ‘the mn pound sortium last week. body, The Rugby Football League (RFL), planning already undertaken by all other that the wider interest of the sport is velopment given the scale of debt incurred game’ and failed to reach the play-off s last “The solicitor acting on behalf of the met and agreed given preparations for clubs in the competition structure, the best satisfi ed if it off ers a place in the by the previous management of the club season. The club was known as Bradford administrators has told everyone that next season have been underway for season tickets already purchased and the Championship to any new club in Brad- and the debilitating level of fi nancial com- Northern until the launch of Super League the club has eff ectively ceased trading some time a team from Bradford will players and staff who will now be seek- ford and that such a club start the 2017 mitment already entered into for 2017”. in the 1990s led to a rebranding. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, January 4, 2017 SPORT

INITIATIVE SPOTLIGHT Bachar Houli Academy athletes Qatar Airways, QDF complete camp at line up activities for Aspire Academy tennis fans in Doha Visitors can also take part in the Qatar Duty Free draw at the Khalifa Complex Australian ambassador to Qatar, Axel Wabenhorst (fourth from left), and Aspire Academy’s Director of Sports Science, Tim Cable (fifth from left), with Bachar Houli Academy athletes and coaches.

team of six coaches and portive environment which seven athletes from massively helps young athletes to Australia’s Bachar Houli develop and achieve their full po- AAcademy have com- tential. It off ers great facilities and pleted a week-long training camp programmes which aren’t avail- at Aspire Academy, where they able anywhere else in the world were able to use the state-of-the- and I’m thankful to the Academy art facilities and receive training for allowing us to train in such a tips from some of the Academy’s high-performance setting and use leading experts. The team was some of the world’s most techno- welcomed to Aspire Academy by logically advanced facilities.” the Australian ambassador to Qa- Meanwhile, Ahmed Saad, tar, Axel Wabenhorst, and Aspire Coach and Project Manager at Academy’s Director of Sports Sci- Bachar Houli Academy, added: ence, Tim Cable. “We’re thrilled to be in Aspire The Bachar Houli Academy is Academy for our fi rst Leadership an Australian talent development Camp and the seven participants programme that aims to produce were selected by their peers and sporting champions by develop- chosen based on their leadership ing the footballing talents of young skills. We were amazed when we Muslim athletes between the ages fi rst entered. We had heard that of 15-18, who wish to be drafted Aspire is the best Academy in the into Australia’s major league. The world and it did not fall short of Academy was founded by Bachar expectations. The facilities are Houli, a Richmond midfi elder second to none, the coaching staff playing in the Australian Football is unbelievably talented and the League (AFL), and one of the fi rst knowledge they shared with our Muslims to play at the AFL. coaches and players is incred- This platform is an extension of ibly helpful. We felt very welcome the Bachar Houli Cup, a national and we hope that this partnership competition for Islamic schools in continues to grow.” Australia which aims to scout the Speaking about this partner- best Muslim footballing talents ship, Tim Cable, Aspire Acad- in Australia to be enrolled at the emy’s Director of Sports Science, Academy. added: “It has been a pleasure Praising Aspire Academy, welcoming Bachar and his team Tennis fans taking part in activities arranged by Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free at the Khalifa Complex. Founder Bachar Houli said: “As- to our Academy and we hope this pire Academy provides an in- collaboration continues for years Fernando Verdasco, Ivo Karlovic, Jeremy into the draw to win a QDF Millionaire destination and I wish all competitors the credibly inspirational and sup- to come. atar Airways and Qatar Duty Chardy, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Ticket and a chance to take home US $1 best of luck in what I am sure will be an Free (QDF), the offi cial airline Berdych among others. million. exhilarating competition.” and retail sponsors of the Qa- Both Qatar Airways and QDF are help- Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Qatar Airways’ interactive tennis game MEDICAL SERVICES Qtar ExxonMobil Open Men’s ing celebrate the tournament with dedi- Akbar al-Baker, said: “I am thrilled to allows visitors to participate in their own Tennis 2017, are welcoming fans to the cated interactive booths located in the partner with the Qatar Tennis Federation tennis tournament . fi rst tournament of the 25th annual ATP Public Village Area. Qatar Airways has to once again bring the prestigious Qatar QDF has also invited spectators to par- World Tour 250 Series in Doha. invited tennis enthusiasts to play their ExxonMobil Open Men’s Tennis tourna- ticipate in games for a chance to enter the Aspetar supports Held at Khalifa International Tennis own virtual Qatar ExxonMobil tennis ment to our home - Doha. This impor- Millionaire Draw. and Squash Complez, the exciting tour- tournament, with an exciting and inter- tant extension to the ATP World Tour 250 Senior Vice President Qatar Duty Free, nament is the fi rst in the prestigious ATP active stand hosted by its award winning Series celebrates the very fi nest in men’s Luis Gasset, said: “Qatar Duty Free is ex- Qatar Open World Tour 250 Series that takes place cabin crew. tennis, providing international and local cited to participate in this global event across the globe. The Qatar ExxonMobil QDF has welcomed visitors to capture audiences a thrilling six-day festival of and I welcome everyone to visit our stand s part of its on-going agreement. This is an extension Open Men’s Tennis 2017 is showcasing the moment inside its tennis inspired elite sport. to celebrate this special occasion. Qatar partnership with the of our on-going eff orts to pro- the world’s best professional tennis tal- photo booth, as well as giving visitors “Important sporting events such as the Duty Free has prepared a wonderful expe- Qatar Tennis Federa- vide integrated sports medical ent, including defending champion No- the opportunity of becoming a QDF Mil- Qatar ExxonMobil Open Men’s Tennis rience that will off er visitors to the QDF tion (QTF), Aspetar care in support of all local and vak Djokovic, world number-one Andy lionaire. With its easy to play game, suc- 2017 tournament help establish Qatar as tennis booth the chance to become a QDF Acontinues to provide compre- international tournaments held Murray, David Goffi n, Dustin Brown, cessful game winners at QDF’s tent go a world class sporting and entertainment millionaire.” hensive world-class medical in Qatar, while ensuring fast, on- services at the ATP Qatar Exx- the-spot reaction to any injury onMobil Open. obtained during play.” CRICKET Working alongside Qatar Red As part of its eff orts to pre- Crescent staff , Aspetar’s team of vent injuries and ensure players experts includes sports medicine are fi t to compete at their high- physicians, physiotherapists, est performance level, Aspetar is Ton-up Renshaw states case for India tour massage therapists, podiatrists, also off ering customised physi- emergency medical staff , and otherapy solutions. Players can AFP watched his opening batting partner ther add to his tally and make an undeni- pretty good coming in. I didn’t really paramedics. receive treatment at Aspetar’s Sydney David Warner blast a 78-ball century in able case for inclusion in the challenging know that I was going to miss out on In- Commenting on the occasion, state-of-the-art rehabilitation the fi rst session of the third Test in Syd- four-Test series in India next month. dia so it didn’t really come into my head Dr Mohamed Ghaith al-Kuwari, facilities, designed to treat in- ney before he blossomed into his maiden Former Test captain Michael Clarke too much. “You go into every game and Acting Director General of Asp- jured athletes from all over the ustralia’s rookie opening bats- Test century. said during the match commentary on try to do as well as you can, but I probably etar, said: “We are proud to con- world. man Matt Renshaw made a At the close with Australia at 365 for the Nine Network: “There’s been talk wasn’t expecting to be this score tonight. tinue our work with the Qatar In addition to its support for huge statement to selectors for three, Renshaw had batted through the that Australia aren’t going to take him “It should be a good experience if I’m Tennis Federation. Since 2011, the ATP Qatar ExxonMobil Open next month’s India series with a entire day to be unconquered on 167 off to India, that Shaun Marsh will open selected (for India), but we’ve got a Test Aspetar has been the offi cial and 2017, Aspetar will provide medi- resoluteA maiden Test century against Pa- 275 balls with 18 fours after Warner was in place of him. I think it’d be a terrible match to win and I’ve got to keep batting exclusive Medical Partner for the cal support to the WTA Qatar kistan yesterday. dismissed for 113 after lunch. move.”The negative chatter didn’t seem tomorrow morning. I’m trying to con- Qatar ExxonMobil Open as part Total Open 2017, which is sched- The Yorkshire-born 20-year-old Renshaw has the chance today to fur- to have fazed Renshaw, who said: “I felt centrate on that at the moment.” of our long-term partnership uled to take place in February.

BOTTOMLINE Aspire Zone’s march towards sports excellence

spire Zone is continuing its Supreme Committee for Delivery and Belgian First Division, marking yet an- Championship, with over 100 athletes successful journey towards Legacy. The new app is designed to keep Aspire product Mutaz other success for the club and an oppor- from 20 diff erent countries taking part. sports excellence with its ef- track of the welfare of labourers working Barshim won a silver in the tunity for Aspire Academy’s graduates Held in conjunction with that tourna- Aforts to promote a sporting on 2022 projects, providing an effi cient high jump for Qatar at the to take part in other prestigious football ment, Aspire Zone also hosted the 6.50K culture within the local community in tool to help the SC monitor contrac- Olympics last year. tournaments in Europe. Aspire Academy International Race for local community line with Qatar’s National Development tors’ compliance with the its stringent alumni played a crucial role in Eupen’s members, providing local amateur run- Strategy for the development of the Workers’ Welfare Standards, which en- strong performance in the 2015/16 sea- ners with the opportunity to compete sporting sector. sure workers’ rights are protected from son, with Striker Akram Afi f scoring six against the best athletes in ultrarunning. Over the last 12 months, AZF has the moment they arrive in Qatar right goals in 16 games. Other highly popular local events or- continued to make signifi cant progress through to their repatriation. Aspire Zone Foundation has set up ganised by the Foundation as part of its towards its vision, further cementing its Towards the end of 2016, the Supreme a number of world-class events that eff orts to promote a sporting culture and reputation as a leading sporting hub for Committee for Delivery and Legacy, in marked it as a leading sporting hub in healthy lifestyles among local commu- decision makers, community members cooperation with AZF, revealed an in- Qatar and the region. Some of the key nity members include Qatar’s Strongest and sporting icons worldwide, and as an novative cooled helmet that has been events hosted by the Foundation and Man, the Aspire Torch Staircase Run, essential element of athletes’ journeys to designed and developed by researchers its member organisations include the the fi rst Aspire Water Polo competition excellence. from Qatar University to reduce the skin ‘Challenges in Football Injuries’ medical in Qatar, the Aspire Banks Tournament By mid-2016, AZF set another world temperature of construction workers by conference, hosted by Aspetar in part- and the Aspire Embassies Tournament. record when it re-turfed Al Sadd SC Sta- up to 10 degrees centigrade. nership with the FIFA Medical Centre of As with every year, Aspire Zone regularly dium in under 14 hours and 40 minutes. During 2016, AZF achieved success High Jumper Mutaz Barshim, claimed lete) project, a unique Athlete Develop- Excellence in Doha and the International hosts elite training camps for top-tier The new turf was developed by the Qatar at diff erent levels. Early last year, Aspire Qatar’s fi rst-ever silver medal at the Rio ment Pathway (ADP) model developed Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery athletes and sports teams, attracting the Turf Research Centre, located within As- Zone Foundation inaugurated the west 2016 Olympic Games, making him a role by the Qatar Olympic Committee in and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISA- likes of Bayern Munich and Zenit St Pe- pire Zone, the fi rst of its kind in the Mid- expansion of Aspetar as a part of the hos- model for student-athletes at Aspire partnership with Aspire Academy that KOS). Aspire Zone Foundation, in part- tersburg in 2016. With a combined total dle East. pital’s eff orts to help athletes achieve the Academy and a source of inspiration for a seeks to produce a new generation of Qa- nership with the Qatar Athletics Federa- of 11 training camps over the year, these In the programming fi eld, the Depart- highest levels of performance through its new generation of young Qatari athletes. tari sporting champions. tion, and the International Association of training camps nurture elite sporting tal- ment of Information Technology at AZF facilities and services. The end of last year also saw the com- Furthermore, Aspire-owned Belgian Ultrarunners (IAU), successfully held the ent, allowing athletes to compete at their has developed an application for the One of Aspire Academy’s graduates, pletion of the “Kun Riyadi” (Be an Ath- club KAS Eupen was promoted to the second edition of the IAU 50km World maximum potential. Gulf Times Wednesday, January 4, 2017 7 CRICKET

SENSATIONAL NEWLANDS TEST Rabada, Philander Warner emulates dismantle Sri Lanka Bradman with ton before lunch Warner became the first Australian since Bradman 87 years ago to make a century in the opening session of a Test, and the only batsman to achieve the feat in Australia

South African bowler Kagiso Rabada (L) celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka batsman Dinesh Chandimal (not in picture) at Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town yesterday.

AFP SCORECARD Cape Town

South Africa, first innings agiso Rabada and Ver- (overnight 297-6) non Philander took four S. Cook c Mendis b Lakmal ...... 0 wickets each as South D. Elgar c Mendis b Lakmal ...... 129 Africa bowled out Sri H. Amla b Kumara ...... 29 LankaK for 110 and took total con- J. Duminy c Mendis b Kumara ...... 0 trol on the second day of the sec- F. du Plessis c Mathews b Herath .38 ond Test at Newlands yesterday. T. Bavuma c Tharanga b Kumara 10 South Africa built on a fi rst Q. de Kock c Chamal b Kumara 101 innings lead of 282 and reached K. Abbott c Chandimal b Herath ....16 35 for no wicket by the close, an V. Philander c Chamal b Kumara .20 overall lead of 317 runs. With K. Maharaj not out ...... 32 three days remaining, Sri Lanka K Rabada c Chandimal b Kumara ..8 faced a seemingly impossible Extras (lb3, nb1, w5) 9 task if they were to prevent the Total (116 overs) 392 hosts from securing a series- Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Cook), 2-66 clinching win. Rabada took four (Amla), 3-66 (Duminy), 4-142 (Du for 37 and Philander four for 27. Plessis), 5-169 (Bavuma), 6-272 The Sri Lankan batting crumbled (Elgar), 7-303 (Abbott), 8-336 (De after Rabada broke a stubborn Kock), 9-376 (Philander), 10-392 opening partnership. (Rabada) Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Kar- Bowling: Lakmal 27-4-93-2, Pra- unaratne defi ed South Africa’s deep 15.4-3-46-0, Mathews 17-3-41-0 new ball attack for 73 minutes, (1w), Kumara 25-1-122-6 (1nb, 4w), putting on 31 runs before Rabada Herath 23.2-4-57-2, De Silva 8-0-30-0 made the breakthrough in the 16th Sri Lanka, first innings over when Silva was forced on to D. Karunaratne c Bma b Rabada ...24 the back foot by a lifting delivery K. Silva b Rabada ...... 11 which he played on to his stumps. K. Mendis c Duminy b Maharaj ...... 11 Sri Lanka lost a second wicket D. de Silva lbw b Maharaj ...... 16 shortly before tea when Kusal A. Mathews c Du Plessis b Rabada 2 Mendis, who had earlier slog- D. Chandimal c De Kock b Rabada 4 swept left-arm spinner Keshav U. Tharanga not out ...... 26 Maharaj for six, tried to repeat R. Herath lbw b Philander ...... 1 the shot and top-edged a simple S. Lakmal c Amla b Philander ...... 0 Australia’s batsman David Warner celebrates reaching his century against Pakistan on the first day of the third Test match at the SCG in Sydney yesterday. catch to JP Duminy at short cov- L. Kumara b Philander ...... 4 er. The innings went into an irre- N. Pradp c Du Plessis b Philander ..0 Ahmed off Wahab Riaz for 113 off 95 balls Renshaw fought back from a head-rat- versible slide three balls after tea Extras AFP SCORECARD (lb5, nb1, w5) 11 Sydney with 17 fours. tling blow on the grille of his batting hel- when Dimuth Karunaratne, who Total (43 overs) 110 “That’s obviously an honour and met from speedster Mohamed Amir on 91 had made a patient 24, square- Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Silva), 2-56 Australia first innings privilege to be amongst the greats of the to go on and claim his resilient hundred. cut Rabada and Temba Bavuma (Mendis), 3-56 (Karunaratne), 4-60 avid Warner joined the illustri- M. Renshaw not out ...... 167 game,” Warner said. “It’s great to be out “That fi rst session was all a bit of a dived to take a sharp, low catch at (Mathews), 5-78 (De Silva), 6-78 ous company of Don Bradman D. Warner c Sarfraz b Riaz ...... 113 there with those guys. Hopefully I can whirlwind. He was absolutely smok- backward point. (Chandimal), 7-100 (Herath), 8-100 and Victor Trumper with a Test U. Khawaja c Sarfraz b Riaz ...... 13 continue with that great start and posi- ing them and I was trudging along on Rabada and Maharaj reduced (Lakmal), 9-110 (Kumara), 10-110 century before lunch as rookie S. Smith c Sarfraz b Shah ...... 24 tive approach. not many,” Renshaw said of batting with the Lankans to 78 for six. Upul (Pradeep) partnerD Matthew Renshaw hit his maiden “I started last year with a hundred here Warner. Tharanga and Rangana Herath Bowling: Philander 12-4-27-4 (1nb), P. Handscomb not out ...... 40 hundred against Pakistan yesterday. Extras (b2, lb1, w1, nb4) 8 (against the West Indies) and I started “I was trying to not keep up with him put on 22 for the seventh wicket Abbott 8-3-9-0, Rabada 12-2-37-4 (1w), Warner smashed a whirlwind 18th Test Total (3 wickets, 88 overs) 365 here with another hundred here and I’ve as I have in the past, apparently.” before Philander wrapped up the Maharaj 11-1-32-2 hundred off 78 balls in just 117 minutes, Fall of wickets: 1-151 (Warner), 2-203 got to capitalise on that.” Renshaw also successfully overturned innings by taking the fi nal four South Africa, second innings while 20-year-old Renshaw blossomed (Khawaja), 3-244 (Smith) The only other player to post a century a leg before wicket decision to leg spinner wickets at a personal cost of fi ve S. Cook not out ...... 15 after claiming his century in 282 minutes Bowling: Amir 16-1-58-0, Imran before lunch on the fi rst day of a Test was Yasir Shah on 137 when a review showed runs in 12 balls. D. Elgar not out ...... 19 in the third Test in Sydney. 17-3-81-0 (2nb), Riaz 19-4-63-2 (2nb, Pakistan’s Majid Khan (108) against New he had edged onto his pad. Maharaj, bowling into a strong Extras (w1) 1 At the close, after winning the toss, 1w), Shah 30-2-132-1, Azhar 4-0-16-0, Zealand at Karachi in 1976. It was a timely innings for the York- south-easterly wind, took two for Total (0 wkts, 11 overs) 35 Australia were 365 for three with Ren- Shafiq 2-0-12-0 Warner’s knock eclipsed his previous shire-born youngster ahead of next 32 while the two fast bowlers took Bowling: Lakmal 5-1-16-0, Pradeep shaw taking his score to 167 and fellow Toss: Australia fastest century at the SCG — off 82 balls month’s demanding four-Test tour of seven of their combined eight 2-0-5-0, Kumara 4-0-14-0 (1w) newcomer Peter Handscomb on 40 in an in last year’s Test against the West Indies. India, where he faces a challenge for wickets with the wind at their Match situation: South Africa lead unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 121. Vice-captain Warner has now scored his opening spot from the fi t-again and backs. Both Rabada and Philan- by 317 runs with ten wickets remain- Warner became the fi rst Australian his way to 334, with fellow Australians 5,206 runs in 60 Tests at an average of vastly more experienced Shaun Marsh. der reached personal milestones. ing in the second innings since Bradman 87 years ago to make a Trumper hitting 103 in Manchester in 49.11. There were precious few successes on Rabada took his 50th wicket in century in the opening session of a Test, 1902 and Charlie Macartney scoring 112 In contrast to Warner’s dazzling cen- a defl ating fi rst day for the tourists af- his 13th Test, while Philander and the only batsman to achieve the feat at Leeds in 1926. tury, rookie Renshaw provided the steady ter their shattering innings defeat in last achieved 150 wickets in 39 Tests. Kumara, 19, who had not tak- in Australia. Warner was fi nally out 20 minutes foil, painstakingly taking almost fi ve week’s second Melbourne Test to lose the Earlier Quinton de Kock made his en more than two wickets in an Bradman made 105 in Leeds in 1930 on after lunch, caught behind by Sarfraz hours to bring up his maiden Test century. series. third Test century and fast bowler innings in his previous two Test Lahiru Kumara took six wickets as matches and three other fi rst- South Africa were bowled out for class games, fi nished with six T20 392 in their fi rst innings. for 122.

Pakistan hopes to host West Indies for Twenty20s Williamson leads New Zealand AFP, Lahore: Pakistan said and their security team is due to yesterday it hoped the West visit Pakistan later this month, Indies would agree to play two so we are hopeful of hosting the Twenty20 internationals in the matches,” Sethi told reporters. country in March despite secu- Sethi said he believed the to comfortable victory rity concerns. successful hosting of the final No major team has toured of the Pakistan Super League AFP the game, opted to bat on a fl at debutant Ben Wheeler took two Pakistan since a militant attack (PSL), a T20 contest, in Lahore Napier wicket after winning the toss but for 22. Bangladesh felt they were on the Sri Lankan team bus in on March 9 would pave the way could only manage 141 for eight. still in the game when top-order Lahore in March 2009. They for a West Indies tour. Mahmudullah, who had been big hitters, Neil Broom, Colin play their “home” series in the “We have decided to stage the ane Williamson belted out of form in the ODIs, came Munro, Corey Anderson and Tom United Arab Emirates (UAE). final of PSL and once it is staged 73 off 55 balls as New right with a knock of 52 in the Bruce were all removed cheaply. Pakistan did host Zimbabwe successfully that will open the Zealand cruised to a six- only innings of note with Mosad- Broom was out for six when for three Twenty20s and as way for the West Indies tour,” wicket win over Bangla- dek Hossain adding 20 and New Shakib Al Hasan pulled off a sen- many one-day internationals in he said. Pakistan were forced to deshK in the fi rst Twenty20 match Zealand’s 18 wides was the third sational as he sprinted around the May-June 2015. But that failed host the inaugural edition of the in Napier yesterday. highest contributor to their total. boundary to take the ball. to convince the bigger teams to PSL in the UAE last year. New Zealand cut down their Mahmudullah kept out a yorker He then fl icked it in the air be- resume tours. The West Indies Cricket Board 142-run target with two overs to to avoid a hat trick with the fi rst fore momentum took him across Pakistan Cricket Board ex- confirmed it was considering spare as captain Williamson held ball he faced after New Zealand the rope and then stepped back ecutive committee chief Najam the tour proposal, subject to a the innings together with support debutant Lockie Ferguson took into the fi eld of play to complete Sethi said he was hopeful the security clearance. from Colin de Grandhomme after son. It was Williamson’s highest back. The comfortable win con- the wickets of Sabbir Rahman the catch. West Indies would tour for two If it goes ahead there will be two the fi rst four wickets fell cheaply. Twenty20 innings, one run more tinued New Zealand’s domina- and Soumya Sarkar with his fi rst Mustafi zur Rahman, who re- Twenty20 games on March 18 reciprocal Twenty20 matches New Zealand were four for 62 than his unbeaten 72 against Pa- tion of Bangladesh after winning two deliveries. moved Munro without scoring, and 19. in Lauderhill in the US state of when de Grandhomme went to kistan a year ago, while de Grand- the three 50-over matches last Ferguson also bowled Mah- was the most economical of the “We have invited West Indies Florida ahead of Pakistan’s tour the crease and added 41 off 22 in homme’s previous best was eight week. Bangladesh, looking to turn mudullah in his last over to fi n- Bangladesh bowlers with one for for two Twenty20 internationals to the Caribbean in March-April. an 81-run stand with William- against Zimbabwe four years the tables in the shortest form of ish with three for 32 while fellow 21 off his four overs. Wednesday, January 4, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

DAKAR RALLY Pertamina drops sponsorship for F1 Lightning Loeb blows driver Haryanto away rivals in Stage 2

Qatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah slides to overall second with Frenchman Loeb leading by 28 seconds Reuters Jakarta

Agencies Tucuman, Argentina ndonesian driver Rio Qatar's Nasser al-Attiyah in action. Haryanto has suff ered a (Below) His Toyota Hiluxe at the Imajor setback in his bid ecorated Frenchman Sebast- service after yesterday's second stage. to return to Formula One this ien Loeb scorched to victory in season after state-owned the second stage of the Dakar energy company Pertamina DRally yesterday to send the announced it was ending its nine-time rally world champion clear in sponsorship. the overall standings. “This year there will not Loeb completed the 275km timed be a continuation of par- section between Resistencia and San ticipation by Pertamina in Miguel de Tucuman in northern Argen- F1,” spokeswoman Wianda tina in 2hr 06min 55sec for his fi fth ca- Pusponegoro said in a state- reer stage victory in the gruelling race. ment yesterday, noting that Last year he fi nished ninth overall. Pertamina could not meet Yesterday’s performance on day two a sponsorship deadline. “Of of the race was enough to lift him clear course we regret this very in the overall classifi cation as he saw off much, but we have already Qatari opening-day winner Nasser al- made maximal eff orts for Rio Attiyah by 1min 23sec and fellow Peu- and Indonesia,” she added. geot man Carlos Sainz of Spain by 2min Haryanto, the first Indone- 18sec. That gave Loeb a 28sec overall sian to race in Formula One lead over al-Attiyah and he leads Sainz and only Asian driver on the by 1min 56sec. grid last season, said in a text Al-Attiyah and French navigator message that he had “not yet Matthieu Baumel opened the road in the confirmed” his position and fi rst of eight offi cial Toyota Hiluxes after hoped to reach a decision as their stage win on Monday. soon as possible. The minor oil leak that had caused a “We are still working on a scare at the stage end was repaired and plan to keep Rio in Formula the duo were the fi rst crew through PC1, One,” Haryanto’s manager, after 120km. Piers Hunnisett, said. “People The Qatari, a two-time winner of in the Formula One world felt the Dakar, maintained a superb pace he did a good job and he de- throughout the stage, despite running serves to be there,” Hunnisett fi rst on the road, and posted the target said, adding that it would be time of 2hr 06min 55sec. a “great shame” if Haryanto This was suffi cient for the Toyota missed out on a seat in 2017. Gazoo Racing South Africa driver to The only likely vacancies record the second fastest time, although still open are the two Manor he slipped 28 seconds behind the stage- seats and there is lingering winning Frenchman Loeb in the overall uncertainty about that team’s rankings. Chance to design Nasser al-Attiyah’s helmet future ownership. South African Giniel de Villiers and Swiss-based Sauber, who like German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz ver thought about having your de- online on www.redbull.com/yallanasser your social media channels. The grand prize: A replica of the winning Manor expect their drivers to also delivered a consistent performance signs applied on a Red Bull helmet by following the simple steps below: The design contest will end on Janu- helmet design and the chance to witness bring financial backing, are ex- in the second Toyota Gazoo Racing car Efor an international athlete, such as Login, create your account and con- ary 31, after which the 20 designs that al-Attiyah in action during a 2017 champi- pected to sign German driver and the fourth quickest time elevated Qatari sports icon Nasser al-Attiyah? How firm your registration. Design the right, have the most votes will be shortlisted onship race! For design lovers who’d like Pascal Wehrlein, who is backed the South African to fourth overall. about owning a replica of this helmet? left, back and top sides of the helmet and shared with al-Attiyah. He will then to work on off line tools, such as CS Pho- by Mercedes, alongside Swe- The Spanish crew of Joan Roma and With the start of the Dakar Rally 2017, on the website using the user-friendly select the helmet design he likes the toshop & Illustrator, they can download den’s Marcus Ericsson. Alex Haro were also on an excellent pace you can support the pride of Qatar dur- design tool. Publish your helmet design most. The winner will be announced on the design form from the website. Once “Obviously, we were hoping throughout the stage and Roma carded ing the rally by participating in the first on the website. Invite your friends to February 15 on the website and through their designs are completed they can to move into a team like Sau- the fi fth quickest time and held a simi- ever helmet design contest for al-Atti- vote for your helmet design(s) on the Red Bull Qatar’s social media channels, then upload their files as per the provided ber — that was the plan but lar position in the overall rankings in his yah. You can now design up to 3 helmets website by sharing your masterpiece on and will win the grand prize. instructions and participate in the contest. things are going to slow down Overdrive Toyota. a little bit,” said Hunnisett. The Dutch crew of Erik van Loon Haryanto started 12 races for and Wouter Rosegaar climbed a place to Andes with a special stage between San Manor in 2016, alongside We- ninth in the overall rankings in the sec- Miguel de Tucumán and San Salvador de hrlein, before being replaced ond of the Overdrive cars to ensure that Jujuy. Trucks will tackle a radically diff er- by French rookie Esteban Ocon Toyota maintained four cars inside the ent special to the rest of the fi eld, but the after the German Grand Prix in top 10. cars will compete over 364 competitive July. Ocon has since moved on After a long liaison across the heart of kilometres in a day’s route of 780km. to Force India. the Grand Chaco, the day’s special stage Australia’s KTM rider and defending Pertamina have been Har- of 275km started near the town of Monte champion Toby Price, meanwhile, took yanto’s constant backers in the Quemado in the Province of Santiago the overall race lead on the motorbikes costly sport, and Hunnisett said Del Estero. as he landed the day’s stage honours. last month that while he was The tracks round their way through Price, 29, covered the 275km in 2hr looking for other non-govern- three passage control points to fi nish 37min 32sec, ahead of Austrian Mat- ment backers he was confident to the east of the city of San Miguel de thias Walkner and Spaniard Paulo Gon- that Pertamina would continue Tucumán and a short liaison took teams calves. Both of the Aussie’s pursuers are to sponsor Haryanto. to the bivouac. now more than two-and-a-half minutes The oil and gas company’s The trucks shared the special with adrift in the overall standings. chief executive Dwi Soetjipto the motorcycles, cars and quads for the Price fi nished the opening day in told a news conference last fi rst section before the trucks switched overall 17th position. February that they were to an alternative route and returned to This year’s Dakar Rally takes competi- contributing five million euros the common track at PC1. tors into high altitudes during 9,000km ($5.6 million) to help secure Today, the route of the Dakar begins of racing, culminating in a grandstand Haryanto’s 2016 seat at Manor. a steady climb into the foothills of the fi nish at Buenos Aires on January 14.

BOTTOMLINE Indian Sports Centre launch on National Sport Day

By Sports Reporter Doha Indian ambassador to Qatar, P Kumaran, with off ice bearers of the proposed Indian ince 2012, Qatar has been cel- Sports Centre yesterday. PIC: Jayan Orma ebrating the second Tuesday in the month of February as Na- Stional Sport Day, which falls on February 14 this year. The day shall hold special signifi - cance this year for the big Indian expat community as it will see the setting up of the Indian Sports Centre (ISC), which will strive to promote sport- ing activities and healthy living for the large Indian expat community in Qatar. The ISC will be fourth apex body un- der the aegis of the Indian embassy in Qatar after the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), the Indian Community Benevo- lent Forum (ICBF) and the Indian Busi- ness & Professional Network (IBPN). Speaking on the occasion, P Kuma- ran, the Indian ambassador to Qatar, said the ISC, once functional, will play Supreme Committee for Delivery & mation of the ISC is to bring all those may bid for the Olympic Games in the ing celebrities from India,” Dey said. effi ciency. Right now there is no proper a supporting role in promoting Qatar’s Legacy (SC) and the other affi liated Na- bodies together under one umbrella, future. The ISC will strive to be a part The ISC will involve Indian blue- co-ordination between various bodies, National Vision to become the hub of tional sports federations. Kumaran said. “This has been a work in of this sporting journey,” he explained. collar workers in its programmes and but once all of them come under one world sports. “Qatar is already a sport- “I am hopeful that the formation progress for over two years. There have The ISC will come into being on Feb- events, said MS Bukhari, chairman umbrella there will be better co-ordina- ing hub, and ISC will strive to support of the ISC will open a new chapter in been a lot of discussions with all the ruary 14, the National Sports Day, in- (Corporate and Business development). tion,” Bukhari said. and take the vision forward. It will sup- boosting the close ties between India stake-holders before coming up with formed Nilangshu Dey, the president of “This body will create a platform for Others present at the press briefi ng port and play a constructive role in tak- and Qatar and bridge the gap further,” the idea of setting up of the ISC. Our the ISC. “There is a proposal to hold a Indian workers working in various com- were Dr Mohan Thomas, chairman (Gov- ing the country’s National Vision for- the Indian ambassador added. aim is to include the Indian community mega sports run on the Corniche on the panies in Qatar get involved in sport- ernment Relations and Premises Devel- ward.” Kumaran said. There are already several independ- in furthering Qatar’s National Vision. day, provided we get the required per- ing activities. We hope this will bring opment), Azim Abbas, chairman (Patron “The ISC will work closely with the ent Indian sporting bodies functioning The football World Cup is coming up mission and approval from the authori- a high level of motivation and create Council) and Hassan Chougule, chair- Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the in Qatar, and the idea behind the for- here in 2022, there’s a chance that Qatar ties. The run will be attended by sport- health awareness which will enhance man (Operations & Public Relations).