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SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 2020 : Rafael Nadal eases into last 16 as Halep, Thiem impress I think today I played the best match this year at Roland Garros. I hope to continue like this. I’m playing quite well and I played more aggressive than in previous days.

Rafael Nadal Sport | 15 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: SEMI-FINAL (West) Al Nassr vs Persepolis FC - Venue: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (Kick-off: 18:00)

SC webinar discusses ways to host mega sporting events in a COVID-19 world conducts 7,900 PCR tests to deliver safe AFC Champions League competition

THE PENINSULA – DOHA The hosting of the matches successfully Dr Abdulwahab Almusleh, Senior Consultant to the Minister of Public gives us assurance that the country is Health (MOPH), yesterday announced ready for hosting international sports that Qatar conducted a staggering 7900 events in the future. This experience COVID-19 tests during the AFC Cham- gives us a boost on our understanding pions League matches held in the and experience. If for any reason, a sports country in the last three weeks. A total of 16 teams from across Asia event happens in similar situations of a featured in the region’s top club tour- pandemic, the country is surely capable nament that began on September 13. of managing it successfully: Senior The last match of the tournament Consultant to the Minister of Public between Al Nassr and Persepolis will TOP LEFT: Deputy Director Health, Dr Abdulwahab Almusleh be played today. of the Competitions and From the time the teams started Football Events Division arriving in Doha, a strict health and at the AFC, Avazbek safety protocol was established by the Berdikulov; Senior Local Organizing Committee (LOC) that Consultant to the Minister helped in keeping the players and offi- of Public Health, Dr cials safe throughout three weeks, Abdulwahab Almusleh; Almusleh said during a live webinar BOTTOM: HSSE Assurance yesterday. Senior Manager, Gordon Yesterday's webinar was titled Penney during the ‘Hosting mega sporting events in a COVID-19 world’ and the panellists dis- webinar. cussed how Qatar put together a plan to conduct a safe AFC Champions League tournament despite the pan- demic sweeping the globe. “The number of tests we have done so far are 7900. Among the various sub-groups associated with the tour- nament, the officials of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Qatar Football Association (QFA), members of the LOC, the hotel staffers and the players and backroom staff of teams The state-of-the-art Education City Stadium. were all tested often,” Almusleh said. “Although we had very short time to plan, and with cases in the countries LOC members. We adopted strict happened despite the players arriving “The hosting of the matches suc- “When we planned to resume AFC of the participating clubs high, we still measures at the airport, team hotels, with certificates of clearance given to cessfully gives us assurance that the action - after it was stopped in March managed to put together a very good training venues and match stadiums. them two days prior. country is ready for hosting interna- - we had a set of discussions with plan for the tournament. We had We did this eyeing any possibilities of “We identified the cases through a tional sports events in the future. This AFC members. We started to work written public health protocols that a positive case at any of these spots. process called track and trace. That is experience gives us a boost on our with FIFA and other bodies. We came were sent to participating clubs well “We asked each team and their part of MOPH guidelines. We got to understanding and experience. If for up with our own set of guidelines on before the start of the tournament. This travelling delegation to bring a certif- know they tested positive one night any reason, a sports event happens in how to resume the action. We dis- was done before the teams arrived in icate of clearance on COVID-19 before prior to arriving here following a similar situations of a pandemic, the cussed all scenarios before resuming. Doha,” Almusleh said. they landed here. Majority of them did. dinner ceremony (before flying out to country is surely capable of managing I can proudly say that AFC in coop- “The health protocols were based There were certain countries which Doha). So the first cluster was those six it successfully,” Almusleh said. eration with QFA and LOC, did a tre- on the MOPH guidelines. The guide- lacked proper testing. Just before the players and they were detected on Sept Avazbek Berdikulov, Deputy mendous job of putting 16 clubs in one lines were finalised before the teams teams and players entered our bubble- 11. We did the test and got the result in Director of the Competitions and country. arrived here in September after Qatar to-bubble area, we wanted to make 6-8 hours. Football Events Division at the AFC, on Gordon Penney, HSSE Assurance went through several phases as it lifted sure all were negative. We tested “Then we knew the challenges will Friday lauded Qatar for its timely role Senior Manager, said: “It’s an honour the COVID-19 restrictions. We were in arriving delegations when they landed be big. This was unexpected but we in conducting the tournament. to be able to discuss the various parts Phase Four when the tournament at the airport. went for fine-tuning right away. Out “I would like to thank QFA for of the journey itself. I’d like to say started. The protocol was compre- “We expected to discover sporadic of the 8000 tests we conducted, we coming forward and supporting us to running any tournament during normal hensive - detailing all aspects of cases during the tournament. This was got around 96 positive cases and 56 host this tournament. It is a gesture that times - without COVID-19 - involves COVID-19 that included prevention, the reason to set up the bubble-to- reactive cases that had mild is well appreciated by AFC. The infra- complexity. So when you inject the mitigation, response and recovery from bubble environment. I was surprised symptoms,” Almusleh said. structure in Qatar to host sporting COVID-19 situation into that apparatus, this diseases if we found any positive to see relatively large number of pos- The MOPH official said Qatar has events is really unmatched. I have no hosting a tournament like this doubles cases. itive cases among one participating emerged stronger and more confident doubt that the competition was the complexity and all of a sudden it “We put together necessary club - six members, in fact, after we about hosting top sports events in the delivered smoothly,” Berdikulov said becomes a high-pressure environment. arrangements for teams, officials, the tested them at the airport. This future. yesterday. It becomes a massive challenge.” Confident Al Nassr, Persepolis target spot in ACL final

AFC – DOHA needing late goals from Al Nassr three years. In 2017, they far,” said the Persepolis head their prolific strikers. head were beaten by Al Hilal coach. After 19 days of high quality Abderrazzak Hamdallah’s coach SFC 6-2 on aggregate, and “Our record proves we action in the Qatari capital Doha, calmly-taken effort with 15 Rui the following year, they always have a lot to say in this the 2020 AFC Champions minutes to go was enough Vitoria learned their lesson and competition. It shows good League (West) culminates with to guide Al Nassr past beat Al Sadd 2-1 to reach planning at the club and togeth- the semi-final clash between countrymen Al Taawoun, the final, which they lost erness between the players as ’s Al Nassr and while Isa Al Kasir left it to Kashima Antlers. well as mental strength. This year Islamic Republic of ’s Perse- until two minutes from Vitoria’s opposite the difference is that we do not polis FC at Jassim Bin Hamad time to send Al Sadd number Yahya Golmo- have the advantage of playing in Stadium today. crashing in a 1-0 win. Persepolis hammadi took a different front of our fans in Azadi. Both sides finished top of In the quarter-finals, coach Yahya view of his side’s record in Despite 14 AFC Champions their respective groups, with Al both Al Nassr and Perse- Golmohammadi the competition in recent League campaigns between Nassr collecting 11 points to pip polis won with a 2-0 years, while acknowl- them, Al Nassr and Persepolis Al Sadd to the summit of Group scoreline. Abdulfattah Asiri teams want to win,” said Al Nassr some very good players, but edging the 2020 AFC have only met in the compe- D, while Persepolis mounted a and Pity Martinez scored either head coach Rui Vitoria. confidence is something that Champions League throws tition twice, both coming in the comeback from one point in side of the break to help Al Nassr “Since the beginning we have comes from inside for us. We Persepolis a different group stage of the 2015 edition. their first two games to qualify overcome Al Ahli Saudi FC, while been confident. We respect the have to enjoy our play but also challenge. Al Nassr emerged 3-0 winners as Group C leaders with nine it was Al Kasir again with a brace different problems each have the responsibility; this “Any team that comes this in Riyadh, while Persepolis won points, a point ahead of second- to down Pakhtakor. opponent poses to us. All teams balance is my message for the far in the competition is here 1-0 at Azadi Stadium. On the placed Al Taawoun FC. “This is a final match. We have areas where they are good players ahead of this final.” on merit; Al Nassr played very occasion, Persepolis progressed Similarities in the two teams’ wanted to arrive at this game, and others where they are not so Unlike Al Nassr, Persepolis well and earned their place at as group runners-up, while Al paths to the semi-final continued and we are happy to be here but good. have been at this stage of the this stage and we overcame Nassr finished third and were in the Round of 16, with both now we have a game that both “We know Persepolis have competition twice in the past many hurdles to come this eliminated at the group stage. SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 2020 SPORT 15 Alawsj, Hadi De Carrere victorious at St Cloud THE PENINSULA – ST CLOUD Qatari-owned Two Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Arabian races horses’ excellence were run at St. Cloud, Paris, yesterday. The two Gr1 P/A races, run over enhances QREC’s 2000m each, are held every year to set the mood for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. The Gr1 vision: Al Kaabi PA Qatar Arabian Trophy Des THE PENINSULA – ST CLOUD Pouliches for three-year-old fillies was won by Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Alawsj (FR) for trainer QREC CEO, Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi was Thomas Fourcy and jockey Julien delighted with the excellence of Qatari-owned Auge to continue Qatari dominance Purebred Arabian horses at St. Cloud just over this title for the fifth year in a before the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe row. weekend. He stressed that the two victories It was followed by the Gr1 PA landed by Al Shaqab Racing’s Alawsj and Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Poulains Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s Hadi De Carrere for three-year-old colts, which was Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club CEO, Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi (centre) posing for a photograph with the are a new proof of the excellence and bril- landed by Sheail bin Khalifa Al winning team at St Cloud racetrack in France, yesterday. liance of Qatar’s Purebred Arabian racing. Kuwari’s Hadi De Carrere (FR), for the “First, I’d like to congratulate the winners,” same trainer-jockey duo, who scored he said, “especially as the Qatari-owned a quick-fire double on the day, to who is trained by Thomas Fourcy. Alawsj also provided her sire, Alsaher (Mared Al Sahra) was horses showed an excellent level of per- confirm Qatar’s leadership in The race took place on heavy Dahor de Brugere, with a first Group quickly into the lead, with Hadi de formance and secured the top places in the Purebred Arabian racing. Both events ground. There was drama at the start 1 win in this race. He stands in Carrere in behind. The eventual two events. Alawsj won the Gr1 PA Qatar crown the leading filly and colt of this with the withdrawal of the favourite Morocco for Al Shaqab Racing at winner came up to join him at the Arabian Trophy des Pouliches for Al Shaqab age category of the Purebred Arabian Alkedri (Mister Ginoux) after the Sorec. Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, entrance of the straight before Racing while Hadi De Carrere won the Gr1 PA breed. QREC CEO, Nasser bin Sherida jockey, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, fell Alawsj was raised at Haras du Berlais. moving onto the rail on the stand’s Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains for Sheail Al Kaabi was present at St. Cloud and when cantering to the start. She is the first foal out of Bint Jakarta side. He then battled with Alsaher, bin Khalifa Al Kuwari. It was very clear, in the presented the trophies to the winners. Last time out in Mont-de-Marsan, (Af Albahar), winner of the Al Rayyan who began to weaken. At the same two races, that Qatari-owned horses are able Alawsj finished third to Elaf (Rabbah Cup (Gr1 PA) at Deauville. time, Abbes (TM Frex Texas) came to win such type of tough challenge. In Al Shaqab Racing’s Alawsj, de Carrère) and Cocktail Du Loup up with a strong run to steal second addition, excellence in Purebred Arabian races leading filly (Divamer), two fillies she met again Sheail bin Khalifa place. enhances the chances of achieving the QREC’s Opening the weekend of the in this race. Ridden by Julien Augé, Al Kuwari’s Hadi De Carrere, Hadi de Carrère won by a neck, vision of promoting Arabian racing in general.” Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the the eventual winner travelled in third leading colt but with more in hand than the dis- “We look forward to continue such success Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches, position in a race led at a consistent The second Group 1 Purebred tance suggests. in the races of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Tri- a Group 1 for 3-year-old Purebred pace by Elaf. She began making up Arabian race on the card, the Qatar Hadi de Carrère was bought pri- omphe weekend at ParisLongchamp, espe- Arabian fillies, crowns the best ground in the final turn, moving into Arabian Trophy des Poulains, went vately on behalf of his owner by cially in the Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup”, 3-year-old filly of her generation. second. Sitting on the stand’s side rail, to Hadi De Carrere (Nieshan x Viki De Gérard Larrieu of Chantilly Blood- concluded Al Kaabi. Eight fillies lined up in this cham- Alawsj had to fight for the victory. She Carrere) in the colours of Sheail bin stock. He was bred by Catherine The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe pionship race, and it was Alawsj won by just under a length in front of Khalifa Al Thani. The 3-year-old colt Dell’ova, and is the first Group weekend races will kick off at ParisLong- (Dahor de Brugere x Bint Jarkata) Jalela (Mister Ginoux), also for Al was the starting favourite in the race winner for his sire Nieshan (Akbar). champ on Saturday, 3 October with an eight- who lifted the trophy for her owner Shaqab Racing and trained by Thomas and came here off an impressive win His dam, Viki de Carrère (Dormane) race card, including two Gr1 races and 3 Gr2 and breeder Al Shaqab Racing! This Fourcy. Teema (Bibi De Carrere) fin- in the Al Rayyan Cup (Gr1) at Deau- is a sister to the Purebred Arabian races. The races will start at 2:30 pm (Qatar was a first Group 1 win for the filly, ished a close third. ville in August. sire Runner (Tahar de Candelon). time).

Al Duhail emerge Qatar Cup champions IPL: Dhoni Al Duhail players and officials posing for a heroics in photograph as they celebrate after winning vain as SRH the Qatar Cup Hanball Championship after beat CSK defeating Al Wakrah 32-29 at the A lDuhail IANS – DUBAI Arena yesterday. Al Duhail, after A visibly drained MS leaading 15-9 at half Dhoni’s (47*) best efforts time, surged ahead were not enough in the despite a late threat end for Chennai Super by the opponents to Kings (CSK), who secure their second succumbed to a seven- Qatar Cup title. Al run loss to SunRisers Duhail were crowned Hyderabad (SRH) at the champions in the Dubai International 2017/2018 season at Cricket Stadium Al Rayyan’s expense. yesterday. In reply to SRH’s 164/5, CSK could only manage to reach 157/5. CSK lost their first Nadal eases into last 16 as Halep, Thiem impress three wickets within the powerplay as SRH ensured that the chasing AFP – PARIS play good but that doesn’t side’s run rate remained FRENCH OPEN RESULTS mean I have to win every alarmingly low. At the Rafael Nadal charged into the match,” said Halep. start of the 10th over, CSK French Open last 16 yesterday MEN'S SINGLES: THIRD ROUND “I just want to try to take my found themselves at 43/4. and took another confident Dominic Thiem (3), Austria, def. Casper Ruud chance every time I step on the Ravindra Jadeja (50) stride towards equalling Roger (28), Norway, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. court, and I’m not thinking and Dhoni later steadied Federer’s record of 20 major , United States, def. Pedro about title. It’s very far (off).” the ship for CSK with the titles while Simona Halep and Martinez, Spain, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. Two-time quarter-finalist Elina former upping the ante in Dominic Thiem made surpris- Lorenzo Sonego, Italy, def. Taylor Fritz (27), Svitolina ensured she will stick the death overs. The pair ingly short work of tricky oppo- United States, 7-6 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (17). around for the second week put up 72 runs for the fifth nents. Hugo Gaston, France, def. Stan Wawrinka with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Rus- wicket before Jadeja The 12-time Roland Garros (16), Switzerland, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. sia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, the holed out at deep champion dispatched Italian Rafael Nadal (2), Spain, def. Stefano Travaglia, 27th seed. backward square-leg just world number 74 Stefano Italy, 6-1, 6-4, 6-0. Ukrainian Svitolina is full of when he started to look Travaglia 6-1, 6-4, 6-0 in just Jannik Sinner, Italy, def. Federico Coria, confidence after capturing her like taking CSK home. 95 minutes, notching his 96th Argentina, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. 15th career WTA at Strasbourg Sam Curran (15*) victory at the tournament. last weekend and will next came in and hit a six off Nadal next faces 213th- WOMEN'S SINGLES: THIRD ROUND square off against Caroline the very first ball and the ranked American qualifier Iga Swiatek, Poland, def. Eugenie Bouchard, Garcia. situation came down to Sebastian Korda, the son of Canada, 6-3, 6-2. Home hope Garcia dumped CSK needing 28 to win off 1998 Australian Open champion Elina Svitolina (3), Ukraine, def. Ekaterina out 16th seed Elise Mertens 1-6, the last over. and 1992 French Open runner- Alexandrova (27), Russia, 6-4, 7-5. 6-4, 7-5, closing out the upset The over started per- up , for a quarter- Nadia Podoroska, Argentina, def. Anna- win over the Belgian on her fectly for CSK with Abdul final spot. Karolina Schmiedlova, Slovakia, 6-3, 6-2. sixth match point. Samad’s first delivery “I think today I played the Simona Halep (1), Romania, def. Amanda Swiatek dismissed former running to the boundary best match this year at Roland Anisimova (25), United States, 6-0, 6-1. Wimbledon finalist Eugenie down the leg side, as Garros,” said Nadal, now 96-2 Caroline Garcia, France, def. Elise Mertens Bouchard 6-3, 6-2 to seal a wicketkeeper Jonny at the French Open in his 16th (16), Belgium, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. return to the last 16. Bairstow failed to gather appearance. Sixth seed Alexander Zverev the wide ball. But Samad “I’m very happy with this tackles Italian qualifier Marco managed to keep things victory and I hope to continue Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacting during his French Open third round match against Italy’s Stefano Travaglia Cecchinato, who famously beat under control in the sub- like this. I’m playing quite well at Roland Garros in Paris, yesterday. Novak Djokovic on his way to sequent deliveries to and I played more aggressive a semi-final appearance at ensured that CSK finished than in previous days.” Nadal Roland Garros in 2018. seven runs short of the has yet to drop a set in Paris this Stan Wawrinka 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, champion, avenged last year’s changing a little bit the tactics.” Zverev, last month’s US target. week although the combined 4-6, 6-0 in a rain-interrupted Roland Garros loss to Amanda Halep meets another 19-year- Open runner-up, will face Earlier, Priyam Garg ranking of his opponents so far tie. Anisimova by thrashing the old opponent, Poland’s Iga Italian teenager Jannik Sinner (51 not out) and Abhishek is 606, including that of Korda Gaston, 20, next faces Aus- American teenager 6-0, 6-1 in Swiatek, for a place in the should he advance. Sharma’s (38) 77-run who admitted to naming his cat trian third seed Dominic Thiem, only 54 minutes. quarter-finals. She dropped Sinner beat Federico Coria stand for the fifth wicket after the Spaniard. the runner-up to Nadal in Paris The reigning Wimbledon just one game when the pair in straight sets to join coun- was crucial as SRH scored The 20-year-old Korda beat the past two years, who broke champion made only seven met here in the last 16 a year tryman Lorenzo Sonego in the 164 for the loss of 5 Pedro Martinez in straight sets down early resistance from unforced errors as she stretched ago. last 16. Sonego is enjoying his wickets. to become the first man outside Norway’s Casper Ruud to secure her career-best winning run to Halep’s status as the best run and edged Brief scores: the top 200 to make the last 16 an impressive 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 17 matches. women’s frontrunner was rein- a 36-point tiebreak against SRH 164/5 in 20 in Paris since France’s Arnaud victory. “I think I played a really forced following the withdrawal Taylor Fritz to complete a 7-6 overs (Priyam Garg 51 not di Pasquale in 2002. “In general I was super good match. I was very of Serena Williams, on top of (7/5), 6-3, 7-6 (19/17) victory. out, Abhishek Sharma 31; Hugo Gaston, the lone happy with my performance. I aggressive and I knew from last the absence of world number Kiki Bertens will attempt to Deepak Chahar 2/31) Frenchman left in the draw, think was one of the best ones year I had to change something one and defending champion move on her from her stormy CSK 157/5 in 20 quickly became the second such this year,” said US Open and I did that today,” said Ashleigh Barty, as well as US win over Sara Errani after overs (Ravindra Jadeja lowly-ranked man in the fourth champion Thiem. Halep. Open winner Naomi Osaka. which the Dutch fifth seed 50, MS Dhoni 47; T round when the world number Women’s top seed and title “I took the game in my “I don’t feel the pressure. Of departed the court in a Natarajan 2/43) 239 shocked 2015 champion favourite Halep, the 2018 hands. I think I did a great job course I expect from myself to wheelchair. Sport SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 2020 14 COVID cases NBA Finals in double Game 1 figures but draw lowest F1 teams TV rating are clear in history

REUTERS – LONDON AGENCIES – LOS ANGELES

Formula One reported 10 Despite featuring the duo of positive COVID-19 tests over LeBron James and Anthony the Russian Grand Prix Davis, and having two major- weekend but said yesterday market teams playing in the that the teams were unaf- Los Angeles Lakers and Miami fected. Heat, Game 1 of the NBA Finals The sport said 1,822 people on Wednesday night drew had been tested between Sept. Overdrive Racing, TGR to field record-low TV ratings. 25 and Oct. 1 and those who The game -- a 116-98 were found to be positive were Lakers win -- drew 7.41 all ancillary personnel. million viewers to ABC, “Those cases have been strong lineup at Andalucia Rally according to overnight ratings. managed quickly and effec- The previous low was 8.06 tively without impacting the million viewers for Game 3 of event,” it said in a statement. THE PENINSULA – VILLERS-LE- Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah Overdrive Racing teamed the 2003 NBA Finals between “The presence of fans has BOUILLET, BELGIUM up with to develop a the New Jersey Nets and San not affected that situation as prototype OT3 by Overdrive in Antonio Spurs. the public was not allowed to After a season of FIA cross- 2019 and the cars ran well at The number is also a 45 enter the F1 bubble as per our country events decimated by the Qatar Cross-Country Rally. percent drop compared to the protocol in force.” It was the the ongoing Covid-19 Three of the new machines are audience for last year’s Finals highest number of positives pandemic, Overdrive Racing entered in the T3 category in opener between the Toronto from testing so far. The pre- and Toyota Gazoo Racing Andalucia under the banner of Raptors and Golden State vious Sept. 18-24 period (TGR) have entered five Toyota the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Warriors. showed seven, six of them Hiluxes in the new Andalucia Team. On the plus side, the ABC ancillary employees such as Rally in southern Spain. The Sweden’s Kevin Hansen broadcast still led all shows in cleaners or caterers. event takes place on October teams up with Frenchman total viewers, and drew the The Russian race in Sochi 6-10. François Cazelet and American same rating among was the first with a substantial Devised in a short space of youngster Mitch Guthrie is 18-49-year-olds that it drew crowd in attendance. Organ- time, following the cancel- partnered by the experienced for the Oscars. isers said 30,000 people lation of the Rally of Morocco, WRC navigator and 2020 Ha’il As for the night’s big visited the Olympic Park each event officials have managed Rally winning co-driver Ole winner, Week 2 of Fox’s “The day. to come up with a challenging Floene. Fellow American Seth Masked Singer” was up The first eight races of the five day off-road rally, which Quintero teams up with Ger- double-digit percentage points season were held behind will take place on rural tracks, Al Attiyah has been busy in the and is relishing the chance to many’s Dennis Zenz in the from Week 1’s ratings, both closed doors, before some open plains and gravel trails in last couple of weeks since Baja hit the selective sections again third OT3. overall and among adults 2,800 fans per day were the expansive Andalucia Poland tackling a couple of before his country hosts the There will be time for 18-49. The raw audience allowed at the Tuscan Grand region, situated between traditional special stage rallies Dakar for a second time. shakedown tests on Sunday number for “The Masked Prix at Italy’s Mugello circuit. Seville, Malaga and Jerez. in a saloon-type competition Yazeed teams up with Ger- and Monday (October 4-5), Singer” wasn’t too far behind Most, if not all, of the There have been no rounds car. Along with French navi- many’s Dirk von Zitzewitz before the timed action gets the Finals, at 6.93 million. remaining seven races of the of the FIA World Cup for gator Matthieu Baumel, he again after finishing second in underway on the FIA-sanc- The numbers come two season are expected to have Cross-Country Rallies since took part in Terre de Castine the Qatar event in February tioned event with a 10km weeks after MoffettNathanson fans in attendance. Qatar in February and this in France and Rally Terra de with Michael Orr. super special stage on Tuesday Research found that overall TV While paddock access non-championship event will Auga in Spain, the latter fin- Ten Brinke and Belgian nav- afternoon (October 6). viewership was down 26 requires a negative test, and be the only competitive oppor- ishing prematurely after an igator Tom Colsoul finished Action then heads on to the percent year over year in only essential staff and teams tunity for teams like Toyota to in-car fire. second in September’s Baja remote plains and dusty trails August and down 27.1 percent are allowed in, there was some carry out shakedown tests in “Now we are fully focused Poland and are joined by Ten of southern Spain for four through the first half of concern about safety away Europe before the Dakar heads on Andalucia,” said Baumel. Brinke’s fellow countryman Van selective sections on October September. from the circuit in Sochi. to Saudi Arabia in January. “The recent experience we got Loon and his French co-driver 7-10 before the awards’ cer- The Stanley Cup Finals “In Russia, wearing a mask Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al in France and Spain with only Sébastien Delaunay. Chabot and emony in the evening. were down more than 60 isn’t mandatory,” motorsport. Attiyah drives the sole Toyota one pass during the recce will Gilles Pillot crew the fourth of Each of the sections of percent, as well, this year. com quoted Haas’s French Gazoo Racing entry and is help us for the Prologue in the Overdrive entries. approximately 240km (split Game 2 will be played driver Romain Grosjean as joined by a quartet of Over- Andalucia. Then, we have the There will be strong com- into two), 270km (split into Friday night, from the NBA’s saying last weekend. drive Racing-entered Toyotas four days of racing that will petition for the Toyotas, most two), 300km and 210km start bubble near Orlando. “Waiters do, but don’t for Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al give us a good opportunity to notably from two-time WRC and finish at the rally’s hub at Meanwhile, retired star cover their noses. There are Rajhi, the Dutch duo of Erik set up the last changes on the champion and triple Dakar Hacienda El Rosalejo, a large Vince Carter was named as the many fans at the hotel, so we van Loon and Bernhard Ten Toyota for the next Dakar. We winner Carlos Sainz and event venue that is hosting the recipient of the 2019-20 NBA sometimes find ourselves Brinke and Frenchman Ronan will see what happens. It French Dakar legend and entire event at Villamartin. In Sportsmanship Award on sharing an elevator with Chabot. should be interesting.” current FIA World Cup a compact route of 1,354km, Thursday. The award is people from outside the F1 With his sporting calendar Al Rajhi has been out of champion Stéphane 1,030km are set to be designed to honor a player bubble. That’s not something decimated by the pandemic, action since the early spring Peterhansel. competitive. who best represents the ideals I’m super comfortable with.” of sportsmanship on the court. Now an analyst, Carter received 143 first-place votes and 2,520 points in voting by Honda to withdraw from F1 at end of 2021 season NBA players. Brooklyn's Garrett Temple (1,746) and AFP – PARIS Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri to con- for a new engine supplier, a situation it The company transferred its Oklahoma City's Steven Adams tinue competing with its utmost effort will need to resolve quickly to prevent attention to Red Bull’s junior team Toro (1,632) finished second and Honda said yesterday it will withdraw and strive for more victories all the way its in-demand Dutch driver Max Ver- Rosso for 2018 and then Red Bull for third in the voting. from at the end of the 2021 to the end of the 2021 season,” said the stappen seeking a new challenge at 2019, and have won a total of five races Sacramento's Harrison season as part of the car industry’s move Honda statement. another team. over the last two years. Barnes (1,418), Detroit's away from internal combustion engines. Red Bull Team Principal Christian Honda’s glory years in Formula One But they have been unable to sustain Langston Galloway (1,244) and The Red Bull and Alpha Tauri teams Horner said: “The shifting focus within came in the 1980s with McLaren and the a challenge to Mercedes who have Memphis' Tyus Jones (1,016) use power units made by the Japanese the automotive industry has led to defining rivalry of that era time between increased their stranglehold on the sport were also finalists for the manufacturer. Honda’s decision to re-deploy their Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna, who each this season. award. Honda said its industry was under- resources and we understand and spent five years at the team. Honda’s decision leaves Formula The six finalists were going a “once-in-one-hundred-years respect the reasoning behind this. Its move into team ownership One reliant on three engine companies awarded 11 points for each period of great transformation” and it “Their decision presents obvious between 2006 and 2008 ended largely -- Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari. first-place vote, nine for was pursuing “carbon neutrality by challenges for us as a team but we have in failure as it recorded a single victory, The Japanese giant’s commitment to each second-place vote, 2050” using “future power-unit and been here before and with our strength with Jenson Button at the wheel at the new technology also underlines the seven for each third-place energy technologies, including fuel-cell in depth we are well prepared and 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix. dilemma faced by the sport as it seeks vote, five for each fourth- vehicle and battery technologies”. equipped to respond effectively, as we Honda later left the sport, returning to deal with the challenge of the evo- place vote, three for each “To fulfill the expectations of its fans, have proven in the past.” in 2015 but struggled for three years lution of the wider auto industry towards fifth-place vote and one for Honda will work together with Red Bull The decision leaves Red Bull looking working with McLaren. greener solutions. each sixth-place vote.

Barcelona’s Celtic face AC Milan in Europa Argentine forward Messi and Fati Lionel Messi inspire 10-man (BOTTOM) shoots League, Arsenal to play Dundalk to score against Barca to victory AFP – PARIS The Scottish champions and Milan RC Celta de Vigo over Celta last met in the Champions League during their Celtic will come up against Zlatan group stage in 2013/14. They also panish league AFP - VIGO, MADRID Ibrahimovic and AC Milan in a tough faced off several times in that com- match played in Europa League group while Rangers petition in the previous decade Vigo, on Thursday. Barcelona's new double-act will face another former European including in 2006/07, when the delivered again as Lionel Messi Cup winner in Benfica and yesterday’s Italians narrowly won their last-16 and Ansu Fati led them to a draw also placed Arsenal in the same tie en route to winning the trophy. 3-0 victory at Celta Vigo in section as the Irish champions Rangers’ reward for ousting La Liga on Thursday, despite Dundalk. Turkish giants Galatasaray in the Clement Lenglet being sent off Celtic were in the first pot of seeds play-offs and qualifying for the group in the first half. for the draw after scraping past stage for the third season running was After scoring twice in Barca's Bosnian side Sarajevo away in the a spot in Group D with Benfica, opening game of the season, play-offs on Thursday, but they could Standard Liege of Belgium and Lech Fati fired struck early at a scarcely have asked for a tougher Poznan of Poland. blustery Balaidos, only for draw than that handed to them in Steven Gerrard’s side may fancy Lenglet to collect a second Group H. their chances of reaching the yellow card in the 42nd minute for pulling back Denis Suarez. As well as Milan, Neil Lennon’s side knockout phase again, after losing to But even down to 10, Ronald will take on Czech Cup winners Sparta Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 last Koeman's side were undeterred Prague and French club Lille, who season. qualified automatically for the group There were fewer glamour ties for and Messi made the lead more stage after finishing fourth in Ligue 1. England’s representatives but all will comfortable shortly after half- Milan, the seven-time European be expected to progress. time, his weaving run and shot champions, qualified by winning 9-8 Arsenal will play three teams who diverted in for an own-goal by on penalties away to Rio Ave in Por- dropped out of the Champions League Lucas Olaza. tugal on Thursday after being rescued qualifiers in Rapid Vienna, Norwegian by a Hakan Calhanoglu spot-kick champions Molde, and Dundalk of right at the end of extra time. Ireland.