China aim to reclaim Asian athletics crown from India PAGE 19

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2019

Caroline Wozniacki and Madison Keys to clash for title PAGE 18 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AL DUHAIL VS AL AIN AL DUHAIL EYE VICTORY OVER WINLESS AL AIN

Al Duhail (left) and Al Sadd players during work out ahead of their AFC Champions League group matches.

rim Boudiaf. ture against Uzbekistan’s Persepolis 1-0. group on three points and ly fourth in the QNB Stars Al Sadd, Al Rayyan of On the other hand, Al Pakhtakor on Tuesday at the Al Sadd are on a high and Persepolis have one. League standings with 34 Ain are yet to record a win Pakhtakor Central Stadium in that confidence should help points, one less than third- also ready for AFC Champions in the 2019 AFC Champi- Tashkent at 17:00. them stand in good stead Rayyan eye second win placed Al Sailiya. ons League. They lost 0-1 Al Sadd lifted their re- in Tashkent. The squad in- Al Rayyan target their sec- In fact, Al Rayyan and Al League group matches at home to Al Hilal, led by cord-extending 14th Qatar cludes the likes of Meshaal ond victory when they host Sailiya played out a 2-2 draw their former manager Zoran league crown last week with Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Jung the UAE’s Al Wahda in Group in a QNB Stars League Week TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK at home before going down to Mamic, before clawing back one round remaining. They Woo-Young, Hernan- B on Tuesday. The kick-off is 21 thriller last week. ’s Al Hilal 1-3 at to snatch a 1-1 draw against took an unassailable lead over dez, Ali Asad, Hassan al Hay- at the Al Sadd Stadium, where The Lions now have a the King Saud University Sta- Esteghlal at the Azadi Stadi- closest challengers Al Duhail dous, , Al Rayyan play their home chance to finish third de- QATARI teams Al Duhail, dium in . Hamed Ismail, , matches, at 18:45. pending on their result Al Sadd Club and Al Rayyan So the encounter as- and Akram All four teams in the group against Qatar SC in the last Club will all be involved in the sumes much significance. Al Duhail are second in Group C with three points, Afif. (Al Ittihad and Lokomotiv be- round. It will also depend on 2019 AFC Champions League Victory will enhance Al Du- behind Al Hilal (six). The Red Knights defeated Iran’s First-choice goalkeeper ing the others) are level on the result of Al Sailiya against action on Monday and Tues- hail’s chances of reaching the Esteghlal 3-0 in the first round at home before going Saad al Dossari and left-back three points after two match- Al Kharaitiyat. day. knockout stage. down to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 1-3 at the King Saud Abdulkarim Hassan, the best es and three of them also have Third place in QNB Stars Al Duhail will host the Al Duhail, coached by Por- University Stadium in Riyadh. player in Asia, will be missing the same goal-difference of League will guarantee Al UAE’s Al Ain in the third tuguese Rui Faria, will also in action as they are recover- +1. Al Rayyan occupy the final Rayyan a berth in next year’s round, scheduled at 18:30, a want to put behind the dis- ing from injuries. spot with a goal difference of AFC Champions League prop- repeat of last year’s Round- appointment of losing out on um in . following their 7-2 victory However, the return of -3. er, without having to qualify of-16 clash between them, the QNB Stars League title to Esteghlal also have one over Al Ahli, their 17th in the Xavi from an injury layoff Al Rayyan recovered from through play-off. with the former emerging Al Sadd last week. point, but are placed last in League. adds strength to the side. an abysmal performance in Al Rayyan mainly have the as 4-1 winners at home 11 They are expected to field the group. The Wolves, semi-final- Meanwhile, Marat Bik- Jeddah that saw them lose 1-5 services of , months ago. a full squad that includes ists in 2018 AFC Champions maev scored the two goals to Al Ittihad. Goals from Luca Sebastian Soria, Rivas and Al Duhail are second in key players such as Ahmed Sadd upbeat League, are currently third in that helped Pakhtakor claim Borges and Gelmin Rivas Luca, with strong support Group C with three points, Yasser, Mehdi Benatia, Mo- Newly-crowned QNB the standings, having opened the summit of Group D, draw- earned them a 2-1 home win from , Ab- behind Al Hilal (six). The Red hammed Moosa, Shoya Naka- Stars League champions Al their campaign with a 2-0 de- ing Persepolis 1-1 and beating against Lokomotiv in their dulrahman al Harazi, Ahmed Knights defeated Iran’s Es- jima, Bassam al Rawi, Almoez Sadd resume their Group D feat against Al Ahli of Saudi Al Ahli 1-0. second game. Abdelmaksood, Koh Myong- teghlal 3-0 in the first round Ali, Yousef El Arabi and Ka- campaign with an away fix- Arabia before beating Iran’s Al Ahli are second in the Al Rayyan are current- Jin and Gonzalo Vieira.

48-team 2022 World Cup Delhi condemn RCB to sixth loss tient 41 off 33 balls (4x1, 6x2), Kolkata cruise to but the other batsmen let him not a done deal: Khater down. The RCB skipper was victory after Lynn, also kept out of the strike for AFP have signalled they would Narine cut loose most part of his innings. KUALA LUMPUR like to hold games -- or fellow blockaders Saudi Arabia co- KKR race to victory QATAR stressed that the hosting the World Cup, given IANS In Jaipur, Chris Lynn (50 2022 World Cup remains at the current impasse. BENGALURU off 32) and (47 off 32 teams as FIFA chief Gi- “Under the current envi- 25) starred in Kolkata Knight anni Infantino piled on pres- ronment, I don’t think it’s a SHREYAS Iyer led from the Riders’ thumping eight- sure to expand the tourna- possibility,” he said, adding front with a brilliant half- victory over Rajasthan Roy- ment to 48 and share it with that studies were underway century as Delhi Capitals (DC) als in their clash at the Sawai other Gulf countries. about the feasibility of Oman beat Royal Challengers Ban- Mansingh Stadium, here on Speaking to AFP at the Nasser al Khater and Kuwait hosting games. galore (RCB) by four Sunday. Asian Football Confederation “We’ve got to take into in a lopsided Indian Premier Chasing a modest target of Congress, Nasser al Khater of but it’s not a done deal for it consideration the capabilities League (IPL) tie at the M. Ch- Delhi Capitals batsman Shreyas Iyer plays a shot during the 2019 140, Lynn and Narine took the Supreme Committee for De- to be a 48-team World Cup.” as they stand today but also innaswamy Stadium, here on (IPL) match against Royal Rajasthan bowlers to the clean- livery and Legacy said Qatar Although Qatar has said it what could be done over the Sunday. Challengers Bangalore at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore ers as the duo forged a 91-run was still planning for 32 and is open to expanding, Khater next three years,” he said. RCB have now lost all their on Sunday. (AFP) opening stand to help Kolkata that studies about adding an- added that “the status quo is Despite the tight timeline, six matches in this year’s IPL, register a comfortable victory other 16 teams were just an that it’s still a 32-team World Infantino has made clear he as they remained at the foot of prieve - dropped on four by four consecutive boundaries with as many as 37 balls to “assessment”. Cup, everything after that is wants 48 teams in 2022 and the points table, while Delhi Parthiv Patel in the first over with the fifth one going down spare. “There’s a feasibility an assessment”. he unsubtly hammered home bounced back after losing their off Tim Southee - to bring the fine leg region for four leg study on the countries that Oman and Kuwait are the message in his address to last game against Sunrisers Hy- up his 11th fifty in the IPL as byes. Brief scores could possibly host. So to- being studied as possible co- the Asian congress. derabad. he joined hands with Prithvi Earlier, Kagiso Rabada Royal Challengers Bangalore: 149/8 (Virat Kohli gether with FIFA we’re look- hosts as Qatar remain under The Swiss-Italian FIFA Chasing a modest 150 Shaw for a 68-run second scalped four wickets to restrict 41; Kagiso Rabada 4/21) lost to Delhi Capitals: ing into those possibilities,” a diplomatic and transport President, who may put the for victory, Delhi always had wicket partnership. RCB to 149/8. The South Africa 152/6 in 18.5 overs (Shreyas Iyer 67, Navdeep Khater said in Kuala Lumpur blockade from other Gulf matter to the world body’s the measure of the game and Delhi never let the game pacer (4/21) bowled a brilliant Saini 2/24) by 4 wickets on Saturday. neighbours. congress in June, said 90 eventually won with seven slip once Iyer and Shaw got go- 18th over to snare three wick- : 139/3 (Steve Smith 72 , “So that’s where we are Khater said there was no percent of football associa- balls to spare. ing. In the third over, Shaw dis- ets, including that of Kohli’s, to Jos Buttler 37; Harry Gurney 2/25) lost to Kolkata now. It’s still open as an idea chance of the UAE -- who tions support the move. Iyer (67; 50b, 4x8, 6x2) played strokeplay of the highest stem RCB’s run flow. Knight Riders: 140/2 in 13.5 overs (Chris Lynn 50, made the most of an early re- order, smashing Southee for Kohli top-scored with a pa- Sunil Narine 47; Shreyas Gopal 2/35) by 8 wickets. 18 Monday, April 8, 2019 Sports Arsenal setback Barcelona & Juventus ominous in CL quarters with strong English accent

AFP glory in the midst of a drain- times for Solskjaer, the match- PARIS ing Premier League title battle winner when United beat Bay- with City? That is the biggest ern Munich in the 1999 final at THE Champions League re- doubt surrounding Jurgen the Camp Nou. He may have turns this week with the com- Klopp’s team, otherwise heavy just been anointed as perma- petition now into the quarter- favourites going into their tie nent United manager, but his final stage and dominated by against Porto. team have lost three of their the Premier League with all That said, they remain on last four games. Were the Old four English representatives course to repeat last season’s Trafford board a little hasty in in the last eight. run to the final after beat- making the appointment? Tottenham Hotspur and ing Bayern Munich in the last One thing though: Bar- Manchester City go head-to- round. And the quarter-final celona have not won in six head, but Barcelona’s clash draw was kind, pairing Liv- away matches in the knockout with Manchester United is the erpool with a team they ham- rounds, scoring just once in tie of the round. mered 5-0 on aggregate in the that time. AFP Sport casts a glance last 16 last season. over the mouthwatering line- The loss of Andy Robert- Ajax v Juventus up ahead of the first legs on son to suspension in the first Cristiano Ronaldo has not Tuesday and Wednesday: leg is a blow, although Porto played for Juventus since suf- – three points ahead of with fering a thigh injury on inter- Hotspur v Man City Benfica, who play on Sunday national duty with Portugal Rarely in the recent his- evening, at the top of the Por- last month, raising concerns tory of the competition has it tuguese league -- are without that he could miss the first leg felt quite so important for the the banned Pepe and Hector of Juve’s tie against Ajax in hosts in the first leg to make Herrera. Amsterdam. Everton’s Phil Jagielka (centre) scores the first goal during the English Premier League soccer match against Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liver- home advantage count as However, Juventus coach pool on Sunday. (EPA-EFE) much as it does for Tottenham Man U v Barcelona Massimiliano Allegri has in- ahead of City’s visit to north In terms of history, this is sisted there are “good signals” London. the tie of the round, a meeting from the 34-year-old forward, Tuesday’s clash will be of two clubs with eight Euro- whose hat-trick did for Atleti- just their second game in pean Cups between them, and co Madrid in the last round. Jagielka the hero their brand new 62,062-seat a repeat of the finals of 2009 With or without him, this stadium, with this the first of and 2011. will be a fascinating clash be- three meetings between the Both of those were won by tween the experience of Ju- clubs in 12 days -- Spurs will Barcelona, and the Catalans ventus -- who have another need a cushion to take to the are heavy favourites against a Serie A title practically in the Etihad Stadium for the return United side sixth in the Pre- bag -- and an Ajax side carried as Everton dent leg, before taking on City again mier League and in their first by the club’s latest batch of in Manchester in the Premier Champions League quarter- young talent. League on April 20. final since 2014. With the likes of Matthijs There have not been many At least the Old Trafford de Ligt and Barcelona-bound all-English ties in this compe- club had a weekend off to help Frenkie de Jong, alongside tition in recent years, although prepare, allowing manager older heads such as Dusan Arsenal’s hopes City did lose to Liverpool at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to travel Tadic and Daley Blind, Ajax this stage a year ago. to take in Barcelona’s 2-0 win dumped out the holders Real REUTERS level with fifth-placed Chelsea signalled a hungry and aggres- They had only two attempts over Atletico Madrid on Satur- Madrid in the last round, set- LONDONA and two clear of Manches- sive display from Everton who, on target in the whole match Liverpool v FC Porto day which put them 11 points ting up a repeat of the 1996 ter United in an increasingly while moving up to ninth on and, with Mesut Ozil failing to Can Liverpool keep up the clear at the top of La Liga. final, which Juve won on pen- ARSENAL’S hopes of a top- tight battle for the Champions 46 points, could have won far offer much inspiration as cap- fight for Champions League These are slightly strange alties. four finish in the Premier League berths. more convincingly if Gylfi Sig- tain for the day, endured one League were dented on Sun- The experienced Jagielka urdsson and Richarlison had of their more frustrating lack- day as Everton Phil proved Everton’s unlikely hero converted any of the side’s 23 lustre away days. Jagielka took advantage of an after his late call-up, becom- attempts on goal. Arsenal’s frustration be- Malaysian golfer dies unexpected late recall to score ing the oldest goalscorer in the “We got one goal but could came obvious when the two in hotel room the winner in a dominant 1-0 league this season at 36 years have scored a few more,” add- managers were involved in a Wozniacki, Keys to victory at Goodison Park. 233 days when he poked home ed Jagielka. brief confrontation in the sec- REUTERS The veteran defender, who his finish after Arsenal failed to He earned special praise ond half. HONG KONG was brought into the team for a clear Lucas Digne’s long throw. from delighted Everton man- “The football is emotional. clash in final rare appearance after Michael The ball had fallen kindly ager Marco Silva, who told He wants the best for his team, MALAYSIAN golfer Arie Keane had to withdraw in after Dominic Calvert-Lewin the BBC: “He was to start on I want the best for mine. At the Irawan died of “apparent nat- REUTERS lost only one more game, win- the warm-up through illness, got the final touch on to him the bench, but showed how end we spoke together and eve- ural causes” on Sunday in his CHARLESTON ning eight in a row to seal vic- scored after 10 minutes to earn in the aerial battle, allow- he is a good professional and rything is normal,” said Silva. hotel room on the Chinese re- tory. his side a well-deserved third ing Jagielka to score his first prepares himself for what the Arsenal boss Emery felt his sort island of Hainan, the PGA FORMER world number one Keys closed out the first set straight league win. league goal in two years and coach and team needs. He is team would have to rebound tour said in a statement. He Caroline Wozniacki main- with a forehand service return, It marked a significant set- become Everton’s second-old- always ready to help the team.” swiftly as they prepared to face was 28. tained her dominance over then broke Puig, the Olympic back for disappointing Arse- est marksman in the Premier Arsenal, who have con- Napoli in a Europa League Arie, who turned profes- Croatia’s Petra Martic on Sat- champion, three times in the nal, who remain fourth in the League era. ceded at least one goal in every quarter-final first leg on Thurs- sional in 2013 and won two urday to move into the final decider. table but missed an opportuni- “I’m not normally a match- league away match this season, day. events on the Asian Devel- of the Charleston Open where Puig did not go quickly in ty to leap ahead of their third- winner, full stop,” laughed the came closest with one curling “It was not a good result opment Tour in 2015, had she will play Madison Keys. the final game, though, saving placed north London rivals former England defender on second-half effort from Hen- today but we are still fourth,” missed the halfway cut at the Dane Wozniacki, showing three match points before Keys Tottenham Hotspur. Sky Sports. “They’re the best rikh Mkhitaryan but were out- said the Spaniard. “We lost Sanya Championship, the sec- confidence after a recent ill- hit a big forehand return on a Unai Emery’s side stay on goals, the little tap-ins from played and outfought by Silva’s and we need to get up quickly ond event on the PGA Tour ness, defeated Martic 6-3 6-4 fourth match point to force an 63 points, one behind Spurs, two or three yards.” His goal team. and find the next step.” China Series. before American Keys turned error from Puig. back Monica Puig 6-4 6-0 in a The rain delay helped Keys. semi-final that was delayed for more than an hour by rain. Azarenka shocks Kerber “I’m just so thrilled to be Victoria Azarenka used her healthy, that’s the main thing,” superior serving and punish- Barca pull 11 points clear as Suarez, the fifth-seeded Wozniacki ing groundstrokes to upset top said after making her first final seed Angelique Kerber 6-4 4-6 of the year. 6-1 and advance to Sunday’s Messi strike in win over 10-man Atletico “It’s been a long time since final of the Monterrey Open I made this long run here,” said against Garbine Muguruza. the Dane who won the South In a battle of former world AFP finding their way into the Carolina tournament in 2011. number ones the momentum BARCELONA game when Manzano showed The fifth seed broke Martic shifted in the Belarusian’s fa- a red card to the Spaniard, twice in the second set to claim vour early in the third set when LUIS Suarez and who had pursued the referee the win and maintain her re- Kerber committed two double scored twice in two minutes as and seemingly insulted him cord of never having lost a set faults in a careless service game Barcelona broke the resistance after a tangle with Philippe to Martic in six meetings. to hand Azarenka a 2-0 lead. of 10-man Atletico Madrid on Coutinho. Wozniacki, world number Azarenka seized the oppor- Saturday to go 11 points clear A fuming Costa was es- 13, grabbed a 4-2 lead in the tunity, consolidating the break of their La Liga title rivals. corted away by Gerard Pique second set but the 16th-seeded in the next game before cruis- Diego Costa was sent off and Barca took control. Jordi Martic bounced back to level ing to the finish line to reach in the 28th minute at Camp Alba had already hit the post at 4-4 before the Dane broke her first final in more than Nou after insulting referee Gil after defence-splitting pass by back and closed out the match. three years. Manzano but while Atletico Messi and Coutinho should Keys led 4-3 in the first set Azarenka came out the vic- held on for almost another have scored after a brilliant when rain halted her match tor in her only previous meet- hour, Suarez and Messi struck backheel by Suarez. with Puerto Rico’s Puig. ing with Spaniard Muguruza, a late to seal a pivotal 2-0 win. Messi came alive at the The big-hitting American, hard-fought 7-6(6) 7-6(4) win The victory leaves Barca start of the second half as one who upset top seed Sloane on the hard courts in Miami in almost out of sight with seven shot was saved by the excel- Stephens in the quarter-finals, 2016. games left to play and main- lent Jan Oblak and another tains momentum ahead of mesmeric run ended with a Wednesday’s trip to Man- feathered pass to Suarez but chester United in the first again Oblak saved, this time leg of the Champions League with his foot. quarter-finals. Finally, the resistance of “It is three crucial points,” FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring the 2-0 lead during the Spanish LaLiga match against Atletico and their goalkeeper coach Ernesto Valverde said. Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. (EPA-EFE) was broken as Barca scored “We are a little closer.” twice in two minutes. The “It gives us a big margin,” snookers just to avoid defeat, superb long-range strike in of resting players, around an first was a peach as Suarez said Suarez. “We’ve taken not let alone pull off the win that the 85th minute, before Messi even greater focus on success lined up a shot from 25 yards just one, but two steps for- their coach Diego Simeone added a second in the 86th. in Europe. and whipped it past the left ward.” had said last week was the The pair have now scored 53 Antoine Griezmann, who hand of Oblak into the bot- United coach Ole Gunnar only result to keep their chal- league goals between them decided against joining Bar- tom corner. Solskjaer was in the crowd lenge alive. this season while for Messi, celona last summer, was The second was a display along with his assistant Mike “I asked the referee and he this was a record 335th La whistled as his name was read of Messi magic, his weav- Phelan but this was a familiar told me Costa said something Liga victory. out before kick-off and he ing run from the right leav- story of Barcelona’s deadly to him,” Simeone said. “Other Only a monumental col- struggled for chances in what ing both Jose Gimenez and duo delivering when it mat- players have said things and lapse could now bring Atleti- quickly became, after Costa Diego Godin on their backs. tered most. not been sent off but that does co back into contention and departed, a contest of attack A tucked finish found its way Costa’s early and needless not justify what Costa did.” more likely is Barca have against defence. in to finish off the game and, dismissal left Atletico needing Suarez intervened with a earned themselves the luxury Atletico seemed to be probably, Atletico too. Caroline Wozniacki: Getting a shot at another title in Charleston. Sports Monday, April 8, 2019 19 China aim to reclaim overall title

team to watch thanks to the bers to support Indian athletes. Many world, Olympic champions pool of talent they have, which Fans turned out in large num- was able to finally dethrone bers in the last edition of the to feature in Asian athletics meet China who had won a record competition in Bhubaneswar, 17 consecutive editions since India, and it really pumped up in Doha; Barshim to lead Qatar’s 1983. our Athletes to give their best,” India’s 19-year-old sen- “Our message to Indian ex- 29-member team sation Hima Das will try to pats in Qatar is: We need you; build on her performance from we want you to fill up the stadi- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Asian Games reigning cham- the 2018 Asian Games where um and we wish to see Indian DOHA pion in 800 metres, will all she won a gold medal in the Tri-Color flying high every- feature in the Doha meet. 4x400m event. The promis- where. Please come and watch SEVERAL world and con- On the men’s side of ath- ing sprinter is also the reigning athletics and support your tinental champions will go letes, China’s team includes world U20 champion in 400m. team,” Sumariwalla added. head-to-head in Doha in two the likes of Xie Wenjun, Asian Mohammad Anas Yahiya Among the top athletes weeks’ time to compete for Games champion in 2014 and is another Indian athlete with featuring in the competition top honours in Asian athletics 2018 in 100m hurdles, who potential to reach the podium. as well is Syria’s Majd Eddin when the Khalifa International will be looking to maintain his The sprinter, who specialises Ghazal. The high jumper, who Stadium hosts the 23rd Asian continental dominance. in 400m, claimed three silver celebrates his 32nd birthday Athletics Championships from China’s path to the top medals in last year’s Asian on the opening day of the com- April 21 to 24. place will not be easy though Games in the individual 400m, petition, is a bronze medallist Nearly 700 elite Asian ath- as the team are likely to face men’s 4x400m and the mixed in World Championships Lon- letes from 44 nations will be strong competition from other 4x400. don 2017 and Asian Athletics competing for 186 medals in elite athletes taking part in the “The Asian Athletics Championships Bhubaneswar 21 men’s events, 21 women’s event. Championships Doha 2019 is 2017. events, and a mixed relay a very important competition Hossein Keyhani is an- event that makes its debut in for our athletes as it will serve other athlete who will be the Asian athletics showpiece. Qatar’s two-time Olympic as a build-up not just for the looking to build on his recent As the competition brings medallist Mutaz Essa World Championships 2019 successes. The Iranian run- together the usual Asian pow- Barshim will lead a line-up but also provides a good com- ner secured gold medal in the erhouses in athletics, China of 29 athletes represent- petition to our athletes who are 3000m steeplechase event at are set to go all the way in at- ing the hosts in the Asian preparing for qualification for the Asian Games 2018, which tempts to maintain their conti- showpiece Tokyo 2020 Olympics. We are he followed on from winning nental dominance and reclaim expecting a similar show from the same race in the Asian In- the top position that India won our Athletes as was in 2017 door Championships. in the previous edition. Hosts Qatar will be aiming where India topped the overall The Asian Athletics Cham- China’s ranks at the 23rd to finish as high as possible in medals tally with a total of 29 pionships Doha 2019 is an of- Asian Athletics Champion- the competition’s medal table, medals. This time too we are ficial test event for the IAAF ships boast female shot put- and they have the personnel to A collage of some of the top athletes from China, India and Jordan will compete in the Asian Athletics expecting to win between 25 World Championships, which ter Gong Lijiao, a 2017 World back that bid up. Championship in Doha from April 21 to 24. to 30 medals,” said Athletics Doha hosts for the first time Championships gold medallist Qatar’s two-time Olympic Federation of India President in the Middle East from Sep- and two-time Olympic medal- medallist Mutaz Essa Barshim Team Qatar will also in- promising female sprinter an opportunity it is to build on Adille J. Sumariwalla. tember 28 to October 6. All list, and Li Ling, Asian Games will lead a line-up of 29 ath- clude 400-metre sprinter Ab- Mariam Farid and hammer our success at the Asian Games With a huge Indian expat major operations, including champion in 2014 and 2018 in letes representing the hosts dalelah Haroun, 400-metre thrower Rania al Naji who will and brace ourselves for the community based in Doha, the the venue, transport and ac- pole vault. in the Asian showpiece. The hurdler Abderrahman Samba attempt to make their mark on World Championships in Sep- Indian team will be counting commodation, are set to be tri- Lu Huihui, a two-time 27-year-old high jumper, who and hammer thrower Ashraf the continental stage. tember,” said Qatar Athletics on their compatriots to gain a alled during the Asian compe- world medallist in javelin holds the Asian record and the El Seify who all won gold med- “Our athletes are ready to Federation President Dr. Tha- home advantage in bid to re- tition to ensure a smooth and throw; Chen Yang, Asian third-best world record, is fit als at the Asian Games 2018 in make the country proud. We ni Abdulrahman al Kuwari. tain their title. spotless experience during the Games title holder in discus again after suffering an injury their respective disciplines. prepared well for this competi- Meanwhile, last edition’s “We expect Indians staying global showpiece in less than throw; and Wang Chunyu, the last year. The team also boasts tion and we realise how great winners India will be another in Qatar to turn up in big num- six months. Jordan Motorsport prepares demanding gravel stages for MERC 2nd round

Attiyah to drive onship (WRC) on three occa- Jordan Dead Sea Resort and two runs through the Suway- Volkswagen Polo sions (2008, 2010 and 2011). Spa with teams using the usual ma, Rawda, Amar and Ma’in The event continues to use de- asphalt service area overlook- specials on Saturday. The cer- GTI R5 manding gravel special stages ing the Dead Sea - the lowest emonial finish will then take that provide their own unique point on earth. place at the Dead Sea from TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK challenge to the region’s lead- The ceremonial start will 17.00hrs. DOHA ing rally drivers, according to take place at Abdali Boulevard Qatar’s Nasser bin Saleh reports from Amman. in Amman from 19.00hrs on al Attiyah is the defending JORDAN Motorsport is put- This year’s rally will take April 25. regional champion and a 12- ting the finishing touches to place over 16 special stages The super special stage time winner of the Jordan the route and logistics for the and 226.62 competitive kilo- has been moved from Thurs- Rally. Fresh from winning the 2019 Jordan Rally, round two metres in a route of 636.64km. day evening and will now run Merzouga Rally in Morocco of the FIA Middle East Rally It marks the first FIA event for for 2.51km on Friday after the last week in a Can-Am Mav- Championship, which takes Zaid Balqez as chairman of the day’s opening gravel stages erick X3, Attiyah has already centre stage in the Dead Sea organising committee working and then for a second time as confirmed that we will tackle Qatar’s Nasser bin Saleh al Attiyah will use his new Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 in Jordan. and Jordan Valley areas on alongside Clerk of the Course the penultimate stage of the the MERC event in a Volk- April 25-27. George Khoury, his deputy rally on April 27. swagen Polo GTI R5 – the car last month attracted one of of those drivers will enter the won by Marouf Abu Samra on Jordan is one of the most Omar Zarour and their experi- Teams will tackle two pass- making its first appearance in the largest fields seen in the second round and join forces his first appearance in a Mo- popular rallies in the Middle enced team. es through the Mahes, Palms the Hashemite Kingdom. MERC series for several years. with the impressive number tortune Ford Fiesta R5. East and hosted a round of The 2019 Jordan Rally will and Baptism specials on April The opening round of Officials at Jordan Motor- of local crews who tackled the Entries for the Jordan Ral- the FIA World Rally Champi- be based at the Crowne Plaza 26 before the action moves to the championship in Qatar sport are hopeful that many recent National Rally that was ly officially close on April 10.

Teatime FC win MBM-VAQ Football Tournament in Doha Galfar Al Misnad cruise to win in Qatar Airways cricket TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

GALFAR Al Misnad, boosted by Kamran Khan’s superb half-century, crushed Tusker Club by eight wickets in a rain- truncated Premier Division in the Qatar Airways Cricket Tournament. Other match of the day be- tween Commercial Bank Qatar Kamran Khan of Galfar Al and Al Feroz Youngsters was Misnad abandoned. Qatar Airways is proud to with 34 in 27 balls, including be the official sponsor of the five boundaries. Shakir added annual Qatar Cricket Tour- 11 off 13 balls. nament. As the country’s na- Galfar Al Misnad then tional carrier, Qatar Airways chased the target with fluent continues to play a vital role in batting and secured the win in enhancing the already flour- 16.2 overs with eight wickets ishing sports activities in Qa- intact. Kamran Khan smashed tar and is a keen supporter for four sixes and four boundaries developing the next genera- to collect 59 off 51 balls. Malik tion of local cricket players. hit 30 with two boundaries, Rain forced the match to facing 42 balls. Nawaf and Bi- be reduced to 20 overs a side pin shared the wickets to fall. from a 50-over affair due to Kamran Khan was de- wet outfield. After Tusker Club clared the match of the match. decided to bat first after win- ning the toss, their decision BRIEF SCORES backfired and they were shot Galfar Al Misnad beat Tusker Club by eight The ninth MBM-VAQ Football Tournament was held in Doha, with Tea- out for 111 in 19 overs. wickets time FC holding off United Kerala by 1-0 in the final. Nasar struck the Tusker Club: 111 all out in 19 overs (Sanu 34 in Khurram Shahzad (three 27 balls, Shakir 11; Khurram Shehzad 3/13, lone goal of the match from the spot kick to see his team through. for 13) and Sammy put the Sammy 2/11) Indian Sports Centre President Nilangshu Dey and MS Bukhari, a rivals under a lot of stress as Tusker Club: 114 for two in 16.2 overs (Kamran prominent businessman and Indian community leader, addressed the they grabbed five wickets be- Khan 59 in 51 balls, Mohammed Awais Malik 30 gathering. A road show was also organised by ISC and VAQ in which tween them, making batting in 42 balls; Nawaf 1/6, Bipin 1/21) many high-ranked officials of the Qatar defence ministry, the ISC and quite difficult for Tusker Club. Man of the match: Kamran Khan (Galfar Al the Indian Cultural Centre took part. Sanu was the highest scorer Misnad)