Sport SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2021 BartyB itching to get started at Australian Open They can think whatever they like. If they expect me to win the ttournament, then that’s their expectations. But mine certainly aaren’t that for now. It’s about doing the right things right from tthe start, from the very first match. If it’s good enough, it is. AAnd if it’s not, it’s not. But that’s OK. World number one Ash Barty Sport |09 QATAR SENIOR MEN'S VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE: Police SC beat Al Khor SC 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-13) - Police emerge League champions With COVID-19 prevention code in place, fan attendance allowed at venues Qatar set to host FIFA Club World Cup RIZWAN REHMAT championship. Around 80 to 90 THE PENINSULA percent of the preparations will be the same during the World Hosts Qatar will allow fan Cup in 2022.” attendance at both of their FIFA He added: “The teams com- Club World Cup Qatar 2020 peting in Qatar are big with top- venues, top officials confirmed class players. This is an oppor- yesterday. tunity for the players to test the The Feb 4-11 football event facilities in Qatar and see the was initially scheduled to be 2022 FIFA World Cup infra- held in December last year but structure. During the Amir Cup delayed by two months after final, there was a FIFA dele- COVID-19 pandemic disrupted gation that expressed its satis- sports events around the world. faction that Ahmed bin Ali Qatar’s brand new 2022 Stadium can host matches at 30 FIFA World Cup venues Ahmad percent capacity now and 100 Bin Ali Stadium and Education Dr Abdulwahab Al Musleh, Senior Consultant to the Minister of Public Health (MOPH); Jassim Al Jassim, Director of Venue Operations percent when the pandemic sit- City Stadium will host the and Overlays, LOC and Fatma Al Nuaimi, the Communications Executive Director, LOC, addressingdressing the media at a press conference uations improves.”improves.p matches involving six teams held in Doha, yesterday. FatmaFatma AAll Nuaimi, thethe Com-Com- including European giants munications Executive Director,Director, Bayern Munich and Qatari side LOC,LOC, saidsaid yesterday:yesterday: “This“This is thethe Al Duhail. second category, fans who con- system so that they can take success during those eventsvents and helpedhelped us stay away from secondsecond edition of the “This competition will allow tracted the virus after October part in training and matches,” that encouraged FIFA too resume the secondsecond wave.wave. ThoseThose FIFA ClubClub WorWorldld 30 percent fan attendance at 1, 2020, but are free after recov- he said. “And yes, there will be its delayed activities,” DrDr Abdul-Abdul- measures andand thethe CupCup to bebe heldheld in each of the two venues,” Dr ering from the virus can also swab tests for everyone wahab said. “It (resumptionmption of publicpublic com-com- Qatar.Q atar. Abdulwahab Al Musleh, Senior purchase tickets without having including the international football) allowed Qatarar to host pliance,pliance, likelike Remember,Remember, Consultant to the Minister of to be tested. media,” he added. another edition of thehe ClubClub socialsocial ddis-is- wew areare Public Health (MOPH), con- “The third group is for those When asked about the pos- World Cup. We have to adopt tancingtancing hostinghhosting this firmed yesterday. who will have to undergo tests sibility of raising the attendance certain preventive mmeasureseasures andand eventevent duringduring “We have to maintain social at QNCC 48 or 72 hours prior to from 30 percent to 50 percent that will guarantee thee success otheroth e r COVIDCOVID times. distancing that reduces the risk a match. Once they clear the like it was done for the Amir of this event. We are takingaking all measures,measures, TicketTicket salessales (at the venues),” Dr Abdul- test, then they can purchase the Cup final held on Dec 18, Dr necessary precautionsons withwith helpedhelped usus havehave started.started. wahab said at a press con- ticket,” he said. Abdulwahab said: “The MOPH health protocols providedvided by immensely,”immensely,” Public can startstar ference arranged to announce The senior MOPH official laid down safety protocols in top-class medical teamseams 24 hehe said.said. buyingbuying tickets fromfrom the arrangements being carried said the LOC has completed a September last year to allow 30 hours a day around the bubble,”bubble,” JassimJassim AlAl Sunday.Sunday. TicTicketskets can out by the Local Organising comprehensive safety template percent fans for local and inter- he added. Jassim,Jassim, DirectorDirector be bouboughtght from FIFFIFAA Committee (LOC). to welcome the visiting teams. national sports events. We “Of course the experienceperience ofof VenueVenue OOpera-pera- website.website. AllAll ticketticket “There will be temperature “The LOC and other state would be examining the of hosting the Asian Championshhampioi ns tionstions andand Overlays,OvO erlays, detailsddetaails areaare availableavvaiilaablle on checks at entry points of the authorities have put in place potential raise in capacity if the League (ACL) matches hashas beenbeen LOC,LOC,C saidsaid yesterday:yey sterrday:y thethe FIFIFAFAA wwebsite.ebbsite. EvEvenven two venues,” he said. comprehensive health and rate of positive cases drops. very useful along withwith thethe “We“We areare happyhappy to thethe mediamedia willwill havehave to Dr Abdulwahab said fans safety protocols which will be Recently the positive rate has staging of the Amir Cup.p. We had hosthostt thethe 17th17th editionedition followfollow health and safetysafety wanting to purchase match implemented strictly. We have increased slightly so we cannot other international eventsentst also.also.. of thethe FIFAFIFA ClubCllubu protocols.protocols. TheThe presspress con-con- tickets will have to pass strict adopted the bubble-to-bubble go beyond 30 per cent.” We gained huge experiencepere ience WorldWoW rlr d Cup.Cup.p AsAs youyoou ferencesfeereenccese willwill bee conductedconductted qualification process. system for this tournament The MOPH official said pre- managing and conductingcttini g topttop know,know, it willwill beb heldheld virtually.vivirtuaallly.y TheThhe visitingvisiiting “Fans wanting to purchase also,” Dr Abdulwahab said. ventive measures would help events. We learned aboutbout thetheh in twotwwo vvenuesennueu s frffromromm mediamem dia willwill havehavve tot abideabided tickets will fall into three cate- “All the participants will Qatar deliver a successful safety margin. FebFeFeb 4 to 11.111. ItIt willwill byby thethe pandemicpandeemic lawslawsw inin gories: First, fans who have have to show they are not car- edition of the FIFA Club World “That is evidencedd bbyy ththee beginbegig n wiwithithh a ggameame thethe country.ccountrryy. TheThe interna-interna- received the second dose of rying the virus. Swab tests will Cup. positive rates in the bubblebblel thatthaat betweenbeb tweeen QaQataritat rir aandnd tionaltional mediamediaa willwill be fol-foll- vaccine, a week after their be conducted at the airport “In the last three months, was much lower than inn restrese t of AfricanAfA riricac n champions.chc ammpipionons.s lowingloowiw ngg thethehe bubblebubbble rules.rruules.s second shot, can purchase when the teams arrive. Once Qatar has hosted international the country. We have thehhee lowestlowowesest TheThThe twotwwo venuesvveennuueess WeWe willwilill notnonot bebe havinghava ing tickets without any tests,” Dr they are tested, the teams will sports events during COVID-19 positive rate in the worldorrldld ccur-urur- willwiwillll bebe testedtetesstteded anyanany publicpupubbllicc eventsevevenntts ata thethehe Abdulwahab said. “In the go straight into the bubble times. Qatar achieved great rently. The measures wewe tooktotookok duringduduriringng thisthihis venues.”vevennuueses.”” Spanish federation Capote shines as Qatar beat Bahrain 28-23 THE PENINSULA – DOHA YESTERDAY'S RESULTS "Bahrain are a big team, but apologises we did what the coach asked us Asian champions Qatar Group I to do." yesterday staged a fierce Uruguay 23-38 Spain Bahrain coach Halldur Sig- to Tennis comeback to overturn a fusson lamented the lack of one-goal deficit in the first Group II focus his team showed in the Australia period to defeat Bahrain 28-23 Qatar 28-23 Bahrain final 10 minutes. REUTERS – MELBOURNE in their IHF Handball World "This match is obviously Championship Main Round - important for special reasons Spain’s tennis federation Group II match. to both sides," said Sigfusson. (RFET) on Saturday apologised At the Cairo Stadium Sports "We controlled the first to Tennis Australia (TA) after Hall in Cairo, Egypt, the first period and got in front, but we complaining about the period ended with Bahrain lost it in the second period and treatment of two Spanish holding a narrow 14-13 lead. made several mistakes. We players in quarantine before Qatari star Rafael Capote tried to make the comeback but next month’s Australian Open. and Bahrain's Mohamed Ahmed it was too late." More than 70 players have both managed to score five goals Qatar face Argentina been confined to their rooms each in the first 30 minutes. tomorrow, while already-elimi- after some passengers on three Qatar turned the one goal nated Bahrain and Japan meet in charter flights that brought deficit into a 5-goal win, thanks an all Asian clash on the same day. them to Australia tested pos- to Capote forking out another Also yesterday, Spain itive for the new coronavirus. four goals and a number of sus- smashed Uruguay 38-23 in their Other players are able to train pensions hitting the Bahrain second match of Group I. for up to five hours a day. team. Danijel Saric made an Qatar’s Frankis Marzo prepares to score against Bahrain The La Roja Furia snatched The federation had said on extraordinary number of saves during their IHF Handball World Championship Main Round the upper hand of the game Thursday said two players - to further his side’s cause too. Group 2 match, yesterday.