Global Superstars Nurture Next Generation Athletes ‘Being Welcomed at Aspire Academy with Such Warmth Shows How Much Appreciation Qatar Has for Track and Field’
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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 NNBABA | Page 5 Wenger wants Cavs stun to end Arsenal Raptors, Curry ‘love story’ with triumphs in Europa success Warriors return Thursday, May 3, 2018 TENNIS Sha’baan 17, 1439 AH I will work hard to GULF TIMES restore confidence, says Djokovic SPORT Page 6 ATHLETICS / DOHA DIAMOND LEAGUE Global superstars nurture next generation athletes ‘Being welcomed at Aspire Academy with such warmth shows how much appreciation Qatar has for track and field’ By Sports Reporter Doha nthusiastic schoolchildren from across Doha were given the chance to try their hand in athletics with a masterclass Ehosted by World and Olympic Champi- ons at Aspire Academy. Held ahead of tomorrow’s Doha Dia- mond League, the youngsters, aged 9 to 12, eagerly ran onto the track to be led in a warm-up by Olympic medallist Dawn Harper-Nelson alongside fellow Americans, Olympian Sandi Morris, Indoor champion Katie Nageotte and 2017 Diamond League champion Noah Lyles, and javelin world champion Jo- hannes Vetter and Canadian silver medallist Andre de Grasse. Utilising the state-of-the-art indoor athletics track at Aspire Academy, the champions shared their expertise with more than 50 eager youth in sprint- ing, hurdles, javelin and pole vault. Though demonstrations were kept to World champion Johannes Vetter of Germany gives some javelin tips. a minimum, as the athletes begin fi nal preparations for their respective Dia- mond League events later in the week, Harper-Nelson, Lyles and De Grasse couldn’t resist a fun relay race at the end of the class. For Harper-Nelson, meeting the young children of Doha gave wider in- sight into the role of sport in the coun- try. “Being welcomed at Aspire Academy with such warmth from the smiling faces of the schoolchildren shows how much appreciation Qatar has for track Olympic silver medallist Sandi Morris demonstrates pole vaulting to a masterclass participant at the Aspire Dome yesterday. and fi eld. I’ve been motivated to put on a great show for Doha and its commu- met Andre de Grasse who was behind especially with the Diamond League the shy ones out of their shells and help nity and absolutely kill it on the track,” Usain Bolt in Rio! Sport is very impor- season-opener in the city tomorrow them try something new. That’s what she said. tant for me, because as I see it, it’s not a and the IAAF World Championships on sport is truly about; being able to inter- Twelve-year-old Waleed from Lycée complete life without sport.” the horizon in 2019. act with people from all over the world Voltaire expressed his excitement at Organised by the Doha Diamond Speaking after the masterclass, Mor- and build confi dence,” she said. meeting De Grasse and spoke about the League Local Organising Committee, ris spoke about how much she enjoyed This year’s Doha Diamond League importance of sport in his life. “It was in collaboration with Aspire Academy, the morning and the impact sport can promises to be one of the best-ever and a great experience to see these athletes the masterclass aimed to engage and bring beyond the track. “Coming here will take place tomorrow from 5-9pm from all over the world, and even more inspire local schoolchildren in athletics today and meeting these children from at Qatar Sports Club. Tickets are priced being able to run, and try out javelin and celebrate the true spirit of the sport a diff erent background; I was able to from just QR40 and can be bought on- and pole vaulting with them. We even with the next generation of athletes, introduce them to pole vaulting, draw line now at https://bit.ly/2GVnHqN Schoolchildren get some tips from 100m Olympic medallist Dawn Harper-Nelson. SPOTLIGHT Doha Diamond League rehearsal for 2019 Worlds: Dr Thani al-Kuwari QNA champion Mutaz Barshim, the 2017 IAAF Ath- onships, will off er a world-class and fascinat- Qatari star athlete is following in the steps of Doha lete of the Year. ing world championship and will be a legacy Jamaican legend Usain Bolt, who retired last Dr al-Kuwari added that the Doha meet this for the fans of the sport around the world. year. The Qatari champion will be the next ma- year will work as a mini rehearsal for the 2019 Talking about tomorrow’s event, he said jor athlete after Bolt according to analysts as atar Olympic Committee (QOC) World Championships in athletics, which will this Doha Diamond League will see the larg- Barshim enjoys the same charisma, which fans second vice president and Qatar be hosted for the fi rst time in the Middle East. est Qatari participation with 10 track and fi eld adore, al-Kuwari said. Athletics Federation (QAF) presi- The 10th edition of Doha Diamond League next athletes, including Abdellelah Haroun running He added that the organising committee of dent Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman year, he said, will act as the fi nal rehearsal for the the 400m, 2017 winner Abderrahman Samba the 2019 World Championships is planning to Qal-Kuwari said that the 2018 Doha Diamond championship and will be organised at Khalifa running the 400m hurdles, and Ahmed Bader invite Bolt to attend the event next year, along League is one of the most important meets of International Stadium, the venue of the World in the javelin. For the fi rst time, Qatari youth with the Doha Diamond League meet. It would the league given that it is the fi rst of the sea- Championships. The Suhaim bin Hamad Sta- Mohanad Khamis will participate in 3,000m strongly enhance the concept of sports tour- son and the oldest in the Middle East, with the dium will be used for training purposes only. steeplechase and Jamal Hairane in 800m run, ism in Qatar, he said. highest champion participation. In 2019 Doha will host three tournaments whereas the rest of the athletes will participate Asked if QAF intends to change the date of Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he before the World Championships in August, to gain experience and compete against world the Doha Diamond League meet from the be- said that the 9th edition, which will be held to- including the Gulf tournament in March, the champions, he added. ginning of the season to the middle or to the morrow at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, will be Asian tournament in April, and the Doha Dia- He hoped that Qatari athletes win more than end in order to witness season-fi nales, al- more special than the past editions as 20 global mond league in May. one title, al-Kuwari said. Kuwari said that May is better than August in champions, Olympians and 150 athletes will be Al-Kuwari said the federation, with cumu- Talking about Barshim, al-Kuwari said terms of weather, and that kicking off the sea- participating, led by Qatar’s high jump world lative experience in hosting athletics champi- Barshim continues to progress and that the son in Doha motivates the crowd to attend. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, May 3, 2018 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Wenger wants to fi nish Arsenal ‘love story’ with Europa success Atletico are favourites, having secured a 1-1 draw and a precious away goal from the first leg in London last week AFP ates Stadium despite having Sime Vr- Madrid saljko sent off early on while Diego Costa will also return from injury for Arsenal manager Arsene the second leg. “In history Costa has Wenger (right) and Henrikh rsene Wenger wants a happy shown he can make the diff erence,” Mkhitaryan during training ending to his love story with Wenger said. “He played in England session yesterday. (Reuters) Arsenal and admits their and was very successful. It is our job to Europa League semi-fi nal keep him quiet.” Aagainst Atletico Madrid today will af- Simeone will not be on the touch- fect the future of the club. Arsenal, line at the Wanda Metropolitano after adrift of the Premier League’s top Atletico’s coach was sent to the stands four, will have to win the tournament last week. “I believe every manager to qualify for the Champions League has his own personality,” Wenger said. while defeat would mean Wenger’s 22- “He is doing extremely well at what he year tenure ending on a dull note. does.” Atletico are favourites, having se- In last week’s fi rst leg, Antoine cured a 1-1 draw and a precious away Griezmann’s 82nd-minute strike saw goal from the fi rst leg in London last Atletico fi ght back to claim a draw, after week. Diego Simeone’s side have also being reduced to 10 men early on in the not lost a La Liga game at home this fi rst leg following Sime Vrsaljko’s red season. card. “I would like to fi nish my job well,” Arsenal have their work cut out to Wenger said yesterday. “I believe a score at the Wanda Metropolitano as man has to give his best as long as he is Atletico have not conceded in their last somewhere. With all my commitment 11 matches at home. But Wenger is con- and energy, I would like to walk out of fi dent they can fulfi l their objective of Arsenal one day knowing that until reaching the fi nal provided they dem- the last day I focused only on Arsenal. onstrate the same spirit they showed in When my job at Arsenal is fi nished I last week’s fi rst leg at the Emirates.