Venedegar gallops to Qatar Cup victory page 15

THURSday, OCTOBER 29, 2020

Real Madrid stage comeback; Bayern, and 10,000-goals Liverpool perfect

DPA and he doubled his side’s lead Berlin after the break when he fin- ished off from Alassane Plea’s Record champions Real blocked shot. Madrid came from behind late It took Madrid 87 minutes on to draw 2-2 with Borus- to get on the scoresheet thanks sia Moenchengladbach in the to Benzema’s close-range fin- Champions League, whilst ish, but they had an equal- Paris Saint-Germain’s Italian forward Moise Kean celebrates scoring his team’s second title holders Bayern Munich iser soon after when Casemiro goal during the UEFA Champions League Group H match against Istanbul Basaksehir FK PSG’s Moise Kean (left) celebrates with PSG’s French forward Kylian Mbappe at the and 2019 winners Liverpool smashed into the roof of the at the Basaksehir stadium in Istanbul on Wednesday. (AFP) Basaksehir Fatih Terim stadium in Istanbul on Wednesday. (AFP) maintained their perfect start. net off captain Sergio Ramos. Gladbach found themselves Last-placed Real now face two-up with just half an hour back-to-back games against In- left thanks to a brace from Mar- ter as they look to qualify from cus Thuram. However, Real re- the group for the first knockout fused to give up, with Casemiro round – something which they PSG win in Turkey equalising in the third minute have never failed to do. of injury time after Karim Ben- “We fought all the way to zema had pulled one back. the final whistle,” Casemiro Bayern prevailed 2-1 at said. “Right now we are not Lokomotiv Moscow for their in a comfortable place in our 13th victory in a row in the group but you take a point with Kean’s brace competition. Leon Goretzka’s when you can get it.”

victory after the break in a game Beaten 2-0 away by RB goes that mercifully passed without Leipzig on their Champions incident despite the backdrop League debut after winning a off injured of ongoing diplomatic tensions first Turkish title last season, between Turkey and France. Basaksehir had come close to AFP The result allows PSG, last taking the lead in the first half. Istanbul season’s beaten finalists, to Their skipper, the Bosnian get off the mark in Group H, a international Edin Visca, twice Moise Kean’s second-half dou- week after they started with a narrowly missed the target from ble gave Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 home defeat at the hands of range, while PSG goalkeeper a 2-0 win away to Istanbul Ba- Manchester United. made a key save saksehir in Turkey on Wednes- Kean, who is on loan from to deny Deniz Turuc shortly af- day as the French side got their Everton, had already opened ter Kean’s opener. Champions League campaign his PSG account with a brace The French giants had up and running but lost Neymar against Dijon in last also seen Sarabia shoot over Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro (left) scores the equaliser to injury. weekend and the Italian for- to squander a glorious chance (2-2) during the UEFA Champions League Group B match against The world’s most expensive ward put ’s team at the start of the second half, Borussia Moenchengladbach in Germany on Tuesday. (AFP) player limped out of the action in front in the 64th minute be- but Kean’s opener calmed any before the half-hour mark and hind closed doors at the Fatih nerves and he made it 2-0 with early strike was cancelled out UEFA Champions League went straight down the tunnel Terim Stadium. 11 minutes remaining. by Anton Miranchuk, but a results on Tuesday: to join an already lengthy queue Kylian Mbappe played the This time a miscontrol by well-hit Joshua Kimmich volley Group A: At Moscow: Lokomotiv Istanbul Basaksehir’s head coach Okan Buruk (left) looks after Paris to the PSG treatment room. role of provider with a corner Mbappe fell kindly to Kean, earned his side all three points. Moscow (RUS) 1 (Miranchuk 70) Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar during their UEFA Champions He was replaced by Pablo from the left that was headed who controlled and turned be- Liverpool also remained Bayern Munich (GER) 2 (Gore- League Group H match at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim stadium in Sarabia, but without the Brazil- home from six yards by the un- fore firing past Mert Gunok to perfect with a 2-0 over debu- tzka 13, Kimmich 79) Istanbul, Turkey, on Wednesday. (AFP) ian the visitors ground out the marked Kean. make sure of the points. tants Midtjylland, with the At Madrid: Atletico Madrid (ESP) opening goal from Diogo Jota 3 (Llorente 29, Felix 52, 85) their 10,000th in club history. Salzburg (AUT) 2 (Szoboszlai Mohamed Salah converted a 40, Berisha 47) penalty in stoppage time. Group B: At Kiev: Shakhtar Elsewhere, Atalanta came Donetsk (UKR) 0 (ITA) 0 Ziyech hits first Chelsea goal in rout of Krasnodar from two goals down to draw At Moenchengladbach, Germa- AFP Chelsea move up to four points at the dive full-length to tip behind his curling 2-2 with Ajax, Manchester ny: Borussia Moenchengladbach Krasnodar (Russia) top of Group E after two matches. Sevilla shot inside five minutes. City beat hosting Olympique (GER) 2 (Thuram 33, 58) Real host Rennes later on Wednesday in the Chelsea were awarded a penalty Marseille 3-0 to also make Madrid (ESP) 2 (Benzema 87, Hakim Ziyech scored on his first other game in the pool. when Werner was clipped by Brazilian it two wins out of two, Porto Casemiro 90+3) start for Chelsea as Frank Lampard’s Thiago Silva stayed in London to rest defender Kaio, but Jorginho’s effort hit won 2-0 against Olympiacos, Group C: At Porto, Portugal: side powered to a 4-0 victory away to as Antonio Rudiger made his first ap- the post and bounced off Safonov before and Inter played out a goalless Porto (POR) 2 (Vieira 11, Oliveira Champions League debutants Kras- pearance of the season for Chelsea, lin- Krasnodar scrambled clear. draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. 85) Olympiakos (GRE) 0; At Mar- nodar in Russia on Wednesday. ing up alongside Kurt Zouma in central Hudson-Odoi made the most of his Real were slow out of seille, France: Marseille (FRA) 0 Jorginho missed a penalty for defence. Ziyech joined from Ajax for a opportunity playing behind Werner, and the blocks last week against Manchester City (ENG) 3 (Torres Chelsea but Callum Hudson-Odoi put reported £37 million ($48 million) in the benefitted from a goalkeeping error to Donetsk in their 3-2 defeat, 18, Gundogan 76, Sterling 81) the Blues in front before half-time af- summer but missed the beginning of the break the deadlock on 37 minutes. and although they rebounded Group D: At Bergamo, Italy: ter a mistake by Krasnodar goalkeeper season with a knee problem. Chelsea’s American midfielder Christian The England international’s low with a weekend Clasico win Atalanta (ITA) 2 (Zapata 54, Matvei Safonov. The 27-year-old had made three Pulisic celebrates with teammates after drive looked routine for Safonov, who at Barcelona they fell behind 60) Ajax (NED) 2 (Tadic 30-pen, Timo Werner smashed in a spot-kick cameos as a substitute before earning scoring the team’s fourth goal. (AFP) was excellent in Krasnodar’s open- again in Moenchengladbach. Traore 38); At Liverpool, Eng- on 76 minutes to double Chelsea’s lead, his first start in Krasnodar – a journey ing game, but the Russia Under-21 Thuram opened the scor- land: Liverpool (ENG) 2 (Jota with Moroccan international Ziyech and of some 3,500 kilometres from London. of the group in Rennes last week, and ‘keeper allowed the ball to slip through ing through a blistering coun- 55, Salah 90+2-pen) Midtjylland Christian Pulisic adding late goals. Krasnodar drew their opening game Daniil Utkin forced Edouard Mendy to his grasp. ter-attack in the 33rd minute, (DEN) 0. Hand of God ‘with my right’ – ’s dream 60th birthday gift

AFP happy through football”. Paris “I feel that I’ve given pleas- ure and amusement to those reveals he who watched me in the sta- has a dream present to mark diums or on television,” the his 60th birthday on Friday - Argentine legend told France “to score another goal against Football. England, this time with my Maradona’s birthday cele- right hand”. brations may be compromised The Argentine legend as he is currently in self-isola- made the impish suggestion in tion after a bodyguard tested an interview with France Foot- positive for COVID-19. ball in reference to his ‘Hand The pandemic he says “is a of God’ goal against England real hard blow for the people in the 1986 World Cup quar- of Latin America”. ter-finals, with Argentina go- Maradona, who has a his- ing on to take the title. tory of drug and alcohol abuse Argentina’s football legend Diego Maradona poses on stage ahead of In the past when asked and poor health, is considered the 2018 FIFA World Cup final draw at the State Kremlin Palace in about the handball he has at high risk of coronavirus com- Moscow. Maradona turns 60 on October 30, 2020. (AFP) said: “If I could apologise and plications should he be infected. go back and change history I He has suffered two heart its 44 million population with In what is presented as his would do. But the goal is still a attacks in the past and con- 29,000 deaths. first interview in French media goal, Argentina became world tracted hepatitis. His latest job since hang- for 25 years Maradona sug- champions and I was the best Several weeks ago he went ing up his boots sees him in gests Lionel Messi and Cris- player in the world.” into self-isolation after one the post of manager of Argen- tiano Ronaldo “are a cut above In a more serious vein in of his players contracted the tin first division side Gimnasia the other” players around at Wednesday’s interview he virus with Argentina alone y Esgrima La Plata, who are the moment. A file picture taken on May 20, 2008 shows former Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona controlling suggested his greatest pride recording more than a mil- due to play on the day of his “Not one is able to do half the ball as he poses during a photocall for Serbian director ’s film ‘Maradona by Kusturica’ at was “to have made people lion positive cases amongst birthday of what they can,” he said. the 61st Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France. (AFP) 14 Thursday, October 29, 2020 Sports ‘European Super League’ or new-look Champions League – what does the future hold for football?

AFP There is also the possibil- Paris ity not all leading clubs would necessarily want to be in- The spectre of a European volved in a Super League. Super League looms seem- “For over 10 years we ingly larger than ever after the have been hearing specula- remarkable claims made by tion about the Super League. outgoing Barcelona president However, the main function of Josep Maria Bartomeu, but the world of football is on the any current manoeuvres could development of existing inter- simply all be part of attempts national competitions,” said to put pressure on UEFA with AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis on a revamp of the Champions Wednesday. League set for 2024. And so it comes back to the Bartomeu resigned as Bar- prospect of a revamped Cham- celona president on Tuesday pions League that may well be but one of his last acts was to like a Super League in all but reveal he had accepted a pro- name. posal to play in “a future Euro- Existing broadcast agree- pean Super League”. ments expire in 2024, and That came just a week after the threat of a breakaway may Sky in the UK reported nego- help the biggest clubs get more tiations were nearing conclu- of what they want – money, sion for the creation of a “Eu- guaranteed access, games – ropean ” of 18 from UEFA. clubs, backed by $6 billion of Former Barcelona FC president Josep Maria Bartomeu (left) and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez during the Spanish League match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at “The big clubs want a financing from major banks. the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona last Saturday. (AFP) closed shop in terms of guar- There has been talk for anteed participation, but years of a breakaway competi- the words of one source, “it FIFA focus on UEFA prefers a merit-based tion, with a closed set-up simi- will create a civil war within There has been talk for years of a breakaway competition, with a closed set-up Club World Cup approach based on winning lar to the model of American football”. similar to the model of American major leagues, and even before events of the Meanwhile FIFA president football games rather than major leagues, and even before In any case, it is worth Gianni Infantino is focused on wealth,” said Maguire. events of the last week it felt questioning why Bartomeu last week it felt like a seismic change in European football was coming. his plans for an expanded, 24- In reality only a handful like a seismic change in Euro- dropped his bombshell pre- team Club World Cup. of elite clubs can aspire to win pean football was coming. cisely when he did, as he quit ‘Non-negotiable’ Ceferin told AFP in August. Wednesday reaffirmed its belief The competition was due the Champions League in its The prospect of regular in the wake of an ugly falling- Those opposed to the idea “In a 20-team league, come that no breakaway competition to take place for the first time current format, but at least the games between the likes of out with Lionel Messi and with insist it would become dull. February somebody in this can rival the Champions League. next year but was put back to a rest can still dream. Juventus and Barcelona – Barcelona in crisis. Clubs used to winning their league of stars will have to be “The principles of solidar- later date after Euro 2020 and “That’s the fairytale we who met in the Champions “It’s the comments of a national titles and then meet- 10th, somebody will have to be ity, promotion, relegation and the Copa America were post- love, to follow that it’s actu- League on Wednesday – or jilted lover,” Kieran Maguire, ing in the latter stages of the 15th,” Javier Tebas, president open leagues are non-negotia- poned to 2021 because of the ally possible for a team like Paris Saint-Germain and football finance lecturer at Champions League might end of Spain’s La Liga, told AFP ble,” UEFA stated. coronavirus pandemic. Midtjylland... to go and play Manchester United will ap- the University of Liverpool, up languishing in mid-table in last week. “The people with “That is what makes Euro- “What matters to me is not on the biggest stage,” Rasmus peal to many. told AFP. a Super League. these ideas are dreamers.” pean football work and makes Bayern against Liverpool, but Ankersen, chairman of the However, there is such “He wanted to go out “Any Super League of 10, 12, UEFA’s position could the Champions League the Bayern against Boca Juniors,” Danish champions who are widespread opposition to any with a bang and he certainly 24 clubs will become boring,” not be clearer, and European best sporting competition in Infantino told Swiss newspaper in this season’s Champions Super League project that, in achieved that.” UEFA president Aleksander football’s governing body on the world.” Aargauer Zeitung last week. League, told The Independent. Dodgers end World Series drought According to Portuguese TV1, Cristiano Ronaldo has tested with 3-1 victory over Tampa Rays positive 18 times. AFP Arlington (US)

The Los Angeles Dodgers ended their 32-year wait for a World Series title on Tuesday, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 to claim the Major League Baseball Ronaldo furious at missing crown at last after a string of agonizing near-misses. Juve game against Barca Corey Seager drove in the go-ahead run, Mookie Betts homered late and a AFP 13 while playing with Portugal, stream of Los Angeles pitchers stood Turin and has been in self-isolation firm as the Dodgers won the seventh since returning to Italy. World Series in club history but their Portuguese star Cristiano According to Portuguese first since 1988. Ronaldo has been left out of TV1, the five-time Ballon d’Or Back in Major League Baseball’s Juventus’ team for Wednes- winner has tested positive championship showcase for the third day’s Champions League clash 18 times. time in four years, the Dodgers eased the against Barcelona in Turin, The match against Bar- disappointment of defeats in 2017 and two weeks after testing posi- celona, which kicks off at 2018. They beat the Rays four-games- tive for coronavirus. 2000 GMT, will be the fourth to-two at Globe Life Field in Arlington, The 35-year-old, the top missed by Ronaldo, who has Texas, where the first neutral site World scorer in the history of the com- no symptoms of the virus, and Series in baseball history capped a pan- petition with 130 goals, needed has posted photos of himself demic-shortened campaign. to test negative 24 hours before training on social media. “This is what you think about when the game against his great rival Footballing legends Ron- you are a kid,” said Seager, who was Lionel Messi’s Spanish team. aldo and Messi will now, all named Most Valuable Player of the se- A furious Ronaldo posted a being well, meet in the reverse ries after batting .400 with two home photo on Instagram, with the Group G fixture in Barcelona runs and five runs-batted-in. comment: “Feeling good and on December 8. “You strive to hear that,” he said of healthy! Forza Juve! #finoal- They have not faced off being called a World Series champion. lafine.”H e added a comment since the five-time Ballon d’Or “To do it with this group couldn’t be on the swab tests used to detect winner left Real Madrid for any more special.” The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after Julio Urias #7 strikes out Willy Adames #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays to give the Dodgers the the virus: “PCR IS BULLSHIT”. Juventus in 2018. Added catcher Austin Barnes: “We 3-1 victory in Game Six to win the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. (Getty Images/AFP) Ronaldo, who has more Barcelona and Juventus had our hearts broken so many times.” than 241 million Instagram both won their Champions The Dodgers win completed a innings from Gonsolin. followers, removed the com- League openers – the Span- championship double for Los Angeles, Corey Seager drove in the But he lasted just 1 2/3 innings be- ment after an hour an a half. iards 5-1 at home against Hun- whose LeBron James-led Lakers won go-ahead run, Mookie Betts fore giving way to Dylan Floro. Ronaldo first tested posi- gary’s Ferencvaros and the their first NBA title since 2010 earlier homered late and a stream of Snell, meanwhile, retired the first tive for COVID-19 on October Italians 2-0 at Dynamo Kiev. this month. six batters he faced before giving off As the Dodgers celebrated on the Los Angeles pitchers stood firm a leadoff single to Chris Taylor in the field, key contributor Justin Turner ap- as the Dodgers won the sev- third, then retired nine more as the peared, despite having been pulled in enth World Series in club his- Rays preserved their one-run lead the eighth inning after testing positive through five innings. Quick read for coronavirus – a final sombre re- tory but their first since 1988. Gonzalez retired three straight in minder of the shadow cast on the sea- the top of the sixth, and after the Dodg- Ahmad Ahmad says will stand again for son by the pandemic. Sure enough, when Snell departed, ers seized the lead in the bottom of the Africa’s top job despite controversy It was the first positive test since the momentum shifted. frame Brusdar Graterol took over on the baseball put teams in quarantine bub- Dodgers rightfielder MookieBetts mound for Los Angeles in the seventh. Cairo: Ahmad Ahmad announced on Wednesday that he will seek bles for the League Championship Series, promptly smacked a double up the With two outs in the inning Grat- a second term as president of the Confederation of African Football prompting commissioner Rob Manfred left field line off Rays relief pitcher erol gave up a line drive single to Mike (CAF) despite having faced questions over financial irregularities, all to call it a “bittersweet night” for MLB. Nick Anderson. Barnes, who had sin- Zunino and was replaced by game-four of which he has denied. “The @CAF_Online knew a lot of improve- The Rays, needing a victory to force gled off Snell, advanced to third and starter Julio Urias of Mexico -- who ments for 4 years. I’m proud of my team’s achievements,” the a decisive game seven, couldn’t take scored on a wild pitch. didn’t allow a baserunner in closing out 60-year-old tweeted. “I extend my thanks and gratitude for your sup- advantage of a dominant performance Seager then made it to first on a the victory. port and assistance in the #football in #Africa and beyond. After re- from starting pitcher Blake Snell, who fielder’schoice, with Betts beating the “Man this was just awesome,” said flexion and consultation process,I decided to stand for re-election.” gave up just two hits and no runs with throw to home to give the Dodgers a Seager, who is among the core of play- Earlier this week, it was revealed a letter sent to Ahmad from 46 nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. 2-1 lead. Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles ers who lived through the Dodgers’ of CAF’s 54 member associations had requested him to run for a But Rays manager Kevin Cash opt- “Snell was pitching a great game,” Dodgers celebrates with the Commission- recent World Series defeats, a group second four-year term. Philip Chiyangwa, president of southern Afri- ed to pull Snell with one out and one Betts said. “That’s all we needed.” er’s Trophy. (Getty Images/AFP) that also includes star pitcher Clayton can football body COSAFA, confirmed to AFP that a letter supporting on in the bottom of the sixth with the A parade of Dodgers pitchers – Kershaw – who finally added a World Ahmad had been delivered to the former Malagasy politician. The Rays leading by just one run thanks to it would total seven in all – kept it rookie righthander whose impressive Series title to his Hall of Fame resume. presidency election is scheduled for Rabat next March. A simple Randy Arozarena’s first-inning homer. close after rookie sensation Arozarena regular season numbers haven’t trans- “The resilience, the energy, eve- majority -- 28 votes if each association participates -- is required to “I wanted to keep going, man,” Snell clubbed his record-extending 10th lated in the playoffs. rything that this team’s done this win the election but no official has announced their candidacy.( AFP) said. “I felt so confident in how I adjust- home run of the post-season off an 88 Dodgers manager Dave Roberts year, it’s been fun to be a part of,” ed. I wanted to go the whole game.” mph slider from Tony Gonsolin, the had said he was hoping for five or six Seager said. Sports Thursday, October 29, 2020 15

Al Arabi prevail over Al Rayyan to set up Amir Cup volleyball final clash with Police SC

In what a roller-coaster best of three semi-finals, Al Arabi rallied throughout to get the better of Al Rayyan and set up a final clash with Police SC in the Amir Cup volleyball at the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) Hall in Al Gharafa on Wednesday. Al Arabi clinched the deciding match winning 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11). Earlier on Monday, Al Arabi had bounce back to level the semi-finals 1-1. In the decider, Al Arabi rode on the brilliance of Ribeiro Renan (26 points), Finger Michal (25), Ibrahim Moha (25), and Ibrahim Ahmed Bassam (16). For Al Rayyan, Abo Naboot Belal Nabi (25) and Costa Marcus Vinicius (20) contributed majorly. The final between Police SC and Al Arabi SC will be played on Saturday (Oct 31) at 6pm. Venedegar gallops to Qatar Cup victory HH Sheikh

Mohammed Bin Jockey Oisin Murphy guides Qatar Racing Limited’s Perfect Singh to Khalifa Al Thani’s win at Southwell on Tuesday evening. Ghali Al Athman Qatar Racing’s Perfect makes spectacular debut in Qatar Sign wins at Southwell Tribune News Network and gives Oisin Murphy Doha

Mohammed Bin Hamad 1,000th winner in Britain Khalifa Al Attiyah’s Venedegar (IRE) (Dubawi) won the fea- Agencies for trainer Kevin Ryan and ture event – a 1700m Class 2 Doha jockey Tom Eaves. Conditions for Thoroughbreds A delighted Oisin Murphy – to land the Qatar Cup at the Qatar Racing Limited’s Per- told Sky Sports Racing: “I ride 5th Race Meeting of QREC at fect Sign (IRE) (Charm Spirit for great people and it’s really Al Rayyan Park on Wednesday. x Exceedingly Rare) won her nice to ride my 1,000th win- Alexander Reznikov rode maiden for two-year-old fillies ner in Britain in these colours the Hadi Al Ramzani-trained over 6f at Southwell on Tuesday for Qatar Racing and Sheikh 4YO gelding to a 1¾-length win. evening, giving Oisin Murphy Fahad. When you start out as Abdulla Rashid Al Kubai- The winning team of Mohammed Bin Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah’s Venedegar with their prizes at the QREC on Wednesday. Abdulla Rashid Al his 1,000th winner in Britain. an apprentice, you hope you si crowned the winners of Kubaisi crowned the winners of Qatar Cup. Perfect Sign tracked the can get a licence and then ride Qatar Cup. leaders and came along the a winner and so on. Hopefully Venedegar had only won rail in the straight. Then, she I can ride 1,000 more in the once in 18 outings coming was very much the best in the future. I ride good horses all into Wednesday’s Qatar Cup. last furlong, winning by nearly over the world and I’m very However, a switch to dirt for three lengths for her trainer Mi- privileged to do that.” the first time ever proved fruit- chael Dods. SEALED OFFER Reigning champion jockey ful for Hadi Nasser Rashid Al (GB) (Lethal Force) finished Oisin Murphy won his first Ramzani’s ward as the gelding second for trainer Robert Cow- Classic at the beginning of the bagged the 1700m feature in ell and jockey Luke Morris. year by leading KAMEKO to thrilling fashion. Seaclusion (GB) (Fountain success in the 2,000 Guineas, With Alexander Reznikov Of Youth) was further three in a record time, Qatar Racing in the saddle of the 4yo, Vene- and a half lengths back in third Limited. degar stayed within striking distance of early leader Shab- bab. On the home straight as the pace quickened, Vened- egar steadily took the advan- Vodafone named official tage and then held on for a Alexander Reznikov guides the Hadi Al Ramzani-trained Venedegar HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ghali Al Athman, trained thrilling two length victory. to win the 1700m Class 2 Conditions for Thoroughbreds, the feature by Julian Colin Smart, is guided to victory by jockey Tomas Lukasek in Zuhair Mohsen Zu- race for Qatar Cup in the 5th Race Meeting of QREC at Al Rayyan the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate. sponsor of QOC’s 2020 hair Maki trained Daneyan Park on Wednesday. (Shamardal X Dayita) was sec- Saleh Salem Al Marri was al- riding his third winner this ond under JP Guillambert, rid- gle x Nafa) raced to a spectacu- to win in scintillating fashion. ways in control astride the term so far. In the Thorough- Padel Tournament ing in the colours of Zakhir Rac- lar victory in the penultimate The race saw the Majed gelding as they took the ad- bred Maide Plate (Class 6), Tribune News Network the seamless connectivity to ing, while Mansoor Ebrahim Al race in the eight event card. Mahadi Seifeddine schooled vantage on top of the home Hamad Ahmed Al Malki Al Je- Doha fully enjoy the tournament. Mahmoud’s High Commander In the Thoroughbred colt switch to dirt for the first straight and then held on for hani’s Leafy Moss (Shamardal Communications infra- COMMANDER (Teofilo x Pel- Handicap (Class 3) (75-95), time in almost a year, and the a win by one and a quarter x Botaniique), a runner up over Vodafone Qatar continues structure that can deliver the linore), ridden by Alberto San- Soufiane Saadi moved his 4yo had little trouble making length victory. C&D on his last start, was blis- to support the country’s sports capacity and speeds of the na for trainer Gassim Moham- mount up front coming off it two in two this season under In the Thoroughbred Nov- tering in the six furlong sprint. sector, with company named Vodafone network has become mad Ghazali, was third. wide from the gates. As the Alberto Sanna. The duo were ice Plate (Class 5), Abdulatif The gelding had little as the official sponsor of the increasingly important to en- HH Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al unstoppable as the gap kept Hussain Al Emadi’s Ernest Al- trouble pulling away gamely 2020 Padel Tournament, or- hance the overall experience Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ghali Malki trained 3yo hit the home widening on the home straight drich (Oasis Dream x Wallis) from the competition to win ganised by the Qatar Olympic of live sporting events. Al Athman (Harran ASF x Al straight, he already had a com- between the leading colt and went one step ahead to regis- the dirt race by eight lengths Committee and being held Vodafone Qatar’s network Nefor) made a spectacular de- fortable gap on the rest of the the rest as Ajal won by nine ter his second career win. and three quarters. from October 27 to 31 at the Al has already had a significant but in Qatar. The Qatar-bred field, but Saadi let him build on lengths and three quarters. After finishing runner up Mohammed Khamis Eisa Sadd Sports Club. role in several of the country’s colt, trained by Julian Colin it, as the duo won by a domi- In the Purebred Arabian on his season opener, the Ibra- Al Kaabi’s Lehwaila (Coach A mix between tennis and highly successful local and in- Smart, had Tomas Lukasek nant 17 lengths. It was the sec- Handicap, Nasser Saeed Al him Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki House x Wannabe Free) went squash, Padel is the fastest ternational sporting events in- in the saddle in the Purebred ond victory for the Al Malki- Eida’s Anees (Jaafer ASF x trained gelding was given a one better than her last outing growing racket sport in Qa- cluding the 24th Arabian Gulf Arabian Maiden Plate. Saadi combine on the day. Dixie Darlene) had not en- confident ride by Soufiane to shed her maiden status. tar and the world due to the Cup, HH The Amir’s Sword The 1700m run saw the The gelding X Force had tered the winner’s enclosure Saadi, who was astride the 4yo In the Local Thorough- fun, easy and social nature of Festival 2020 and 2020 Qa- duo move on the outside and bagged a C&D Handicap back at the Al Rayyan Park since a week ago too. They went past bred Maiden Plate, the Ibra- the sport. tar Masters Golf Tournament then pick up pace coming off in March. December 2017. That changed the post three lengths ahead of him Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki As part of Vodafone Qa- enabling organisers, partici- the bend. They steadily took In the Local Thoroughbred on Wednesday when Gassim the competition for a comfort- trained 4yo had Francois tar’s sponsorship, its GigaNet pants and enthusiasts to cap- the advantage on the home Handicap (75 & Below), Ali Bin Mohammad Ghazali’s ward able victory. Herholdt for company, and network will power the venue ture and share all the high- straight winning by three Saeed Aljafali Al Nuaimi’s Ajal topped the race on dirt. Qatari rider Rashid Ali Al the duo, runner-up in season giving players and spectators lights of each day. lengths to spare. (Domestic Fund x My Sweet The 1700m run was a step Marri has already done better opener two weeks ago, eased to Earlier, Al Thumama Rac- Natalie) brushed aside a forget- up from the six furlong sprint than last season in terms of a comfortable three length vic- ing’s X Force (Bungle Inthejun- table previous handicap effort a week ago but Qatari rider wins with the apprentice rider tory in the six furlong sprint.

Bumrah claims 100 IPL wickets as Mumbai Indians down RCB Dubai: Paceman Jasprit Bumrah reached 100 wickets in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday with the key scalp of Virat Kohli and helped Mumbai Indians beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets. Bumrah returned figures of 3-14 as holders Mumbai restricted Kohli’s Bangalore to 164 for six and the batsmen achieved their target in Abu Dhabi to close in on a playoff spot. Suryakumar Yadav smashed an unbeaten 79 to steer Mumbai home in 19.1 overs as he hit the winning boundary with stand-in- skipper Kieron Pollard at the other end on four. “Bumrah continues to keep standing up throughout the tournament,” Pollard said after Mumbai’s eighth win this season. “But again we have been playing total team cricket. Somebody is always there to pick up the slack. “Imagine someone (Yadav) batting at that strike rate after two early wickets. Deep down inside he must be very very disappointed to not to have donned the blue for India.” Table-toppers Mumbai are on 16 points from 12 games and need a win from their remaining two matches to confirm their place in the final four.B angalore are second with 14 points. Scores: Mumbai Indians 166 for 5 (Suryakumar 79*, Kishan 25, Siraj 2-28, Chahal 2-37) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 164 for 6 (Padikkal 74, Philippe 33, Bumrah 3-14, Pollard 1-5) by five wickets. (AFP)