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SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2021 MathewsMath hundred lifts to 229-4 We hhadad to see through a few overs and get the ball slightly older to score somes runs. Credit must go to the bowlers. It was hot and humidhu and they gave nothing away. They set a field that we could notnot scoresco off easily. The fast bowlers had good line and length. We don’tdod n’t kknow what a good score is, just as many as we can get.

SriS Lankan batsman Sport | 15 QVA SENIOR MEN'S LEAGUE: Al Arabi beat Al Shamal 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-13); Qatar SC beat Al Sadd 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-21)

Japan, IOC Double-header in Qatar to deny Olympics cancellation kick off new MotoGP season rumours REUTERS – MotoGP riders in action at Losail International Circuit in this file photo. REUTERS – TOKYO The MotoGP season will start with two races on successive weekends Japan and the IOC stood firm yesterday in Qatar from March 28, followed by on their commitment to host the Tokyo Portugal, organisers said yesterday Olympics this year and denied a report in a calendar re-write forced by the of a possible cancellation but the pledge COVID-19 pandemic. looks unlikely to ease public concern Early season races in Texas and about holding the event during a Argentina have been postponed. pandemic. The Qatar Grand Prix, a floodlit Though much of Japan is under a state night race, has long been the opener of emergency due to a third wave of but will now be followed by a Grand COVID-19 infections, Tokyo Olympic Prix of Doha at the same Losail organisers have vowed to press ahead circuit on April 4. with the re-scheduled Games, which are “The ongoing COVID-19 pan- due to open on July 23 after being post- demic and resulting lockdowns and poned for a year because of the complications sadly oblige the post- coronavirus. ponement of both the Argentina GP A government spokesman said there and the Americas GP until the last started with two races at Jerez. The Qatar will also host pre-season PROVISIONAL 2021 MOTOGP CALENDAR was “no truth” to a report in Britain’s quarter of 2021,” MotoGP said in a southern Spanish track will now host testing after planned sessions in (Round, Date, Race, Circuit) Times newspaper that the government statement. round four on May 2. Malaysia were scrapped, also 1: March 28 - Qatar (Evening race) Losail had privately concluded the Games would The Argentina round at Termas Portugal’s Algarve circuit near because of the pandemic. 2: April 4 - Doha (Evening race) Losail have to be cancelled. de Rio Hondo had been scheduled Portimao ended the 2020 season in MotoGP’s Qatar race was can- 3: April 18 - Portugal, Portimao The Times, citing an unidentified for April 11, with Austin’s Circuit of November and is set for plenty of celled last year due to COVID-19 4: May 2 - Spain, Jerez senior member of Japan’s ruling coalition, the Americas due to follow a week international action this year, with related travel restrictions. 5: May 16 - France, Le Mans said the government’s focus was now on later, on a provisional 20-race cal- the World Endurance Championship The announcement of the March 6: May 30 - Italy, Mugello securing the Games for Tokyo in the next endar published last November. No rescheduling its opener for there 28 starting date ended uncertainty 7: June 6, Catalunya, Barcelona available year, 2032. new dates were set. and Formula One also expected to about the scheduling of a Grand Prix 8: June 20 - Germany, Sachsenring “We clearly deny the report,” Deputy Last year’s pandemic-hit season return. that clashes with Formula One’s 9: June 27 - Netherlands, Assen Chief Cabinet Secretary Manabu Sakai opener on the same evening in 10: July 11 - Finland, KymiRing told a news conference. nearby Bahrain. 11: August 15 - Austria, Red Bull Ring Later, Japan Olympic Committee head MotoGP indicated that further 12: August 29 - Great Britain, Silverstone Yasuhiro Yamashita told Reuters the changes could be made, however. 13: September 12 - Aragon, Aragon report was false and “a fabrication”. Indonesia’s Mandalika Inter- 14: September 19 - San Marino, Misano The governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, national Street Circuit was listed 15: October 3 - Japan, Motegi said there had been no talk of cancelling as reserve venue. 16: October 10 - Thailand, Buriram or delaying the Olympics and a protest 17: October 24 - , Phillip Island should be lodged over the Times report. 18: October 31 - Malaysia, Sepang The Games organising committee also 19: Nov 14 - Comunitat Valenciana, Ricardo Tormo denied the report, saying in a statement 2021 PRE-SEASON TESTING: its partners including the government and March 5 - Qatar Shakedown Test at Losail the International Olympic Committee March 6-7 - Qatar Official Test at Losail (IOC) were “fully focused” on hosting the March 10-12 - Qatar Official Test at Losail games as scheduled. The IOC issued a statement echoing that line, adding: “We will be imple- menting all possible counter-measures Spectators watch against COVID-19 and will continue to action at Losail work closely ... in our preparations for International holding a safe and secure Games this Circuit in this file summer.” The Australian and U.S. Olympic photo. Committees said they were preparing for the Games as planned. IHF World Championship: 23rd Qatar National Arabian Horse Show Qatar take on Bahrain

THE PENINSULA – DOHA TODAY'S FIXTURES Group I Qatar coach Valero Rivera 5:30pm - Uruguay vs Spain yesterday said his team's focus is 8:00pm - Poland vs Hungary now set on the upcoming matches 10:30pm - Germany vs Brazil in the main round against Japan Group II and Croatia. 5:30pm - Qatar vs Bahrain Qatar, who went down to 8:00pm - Argentina vs Croatia World and Olympic champions 10:30pm - Japan vs Denmark Denmark on Thursday, take on Bahrain today. Action during the Representative of Al Nasser Stud receiving the Gold Trophy afterAreeb Al The throw-off is set for Group 2 match Nasser emerged Colt Foal champion on the opening day of the 23rd Qatar 5:30pm Qatar time. between Qatar National Arabian Horse Show at Longines Indoor Arena At Al Shaqab, On Thursday, the Asian cham- yesterday. The premier Arabian Horse show kicked off yesterday with pions suffered their first loss in the and Denmark on Thursday. more than 450 horses vying for honours. BOTTOM: Representative of main round when Denmark Khawla Al Rayyan, owned by H E Sheikh Alqaqa bin Hamad Al Thani cruised through to a 32:23 win. receiving the Gold trophy after winning the Filly Foals Championship. After trailing 12:17 in the first upcoming matches against Croatia we've done so far anyway," said period, Qatar staged a comeback and Japan. Benali. to reduce the deficit temporarily Speaking after the match at "We have less of a chance of before Denmark eventually secured the Cairo Stadium Sports Hall progressing now, but we will try the win. Rivera said the two matches are to keep our hopes alive till the end. Qatar will be targeting their the most important ones. We have two big matches coming first Main Round win today when "Our focus is on Japan and up and we hope to win," Benali they face Bahrain who are already Croatia," said Rivera. said. eliminated as they look to con- "We will fight till the end, we The six-team group also tinue the excellent record against came here missing eight players includes Argentina. their West Asian counterpart. Al but we will be trying our best." The top two finishers will Annabi have a brilliant record Qatari player Youssef Benali advance to the quarter-finals of against the Bahrainis, having won was in a positive mood despite the Championship. eight out of their last 10 games. going down to the reigning cham- Meanwhile, yesterday, France This record has eased the pions by a nine-goal margin. retained Group III lead after tension off coach Rivera, who has "We lost by a margin of nine smashing Iceland 28:26 in their said his main focus is on the goals, but I'm happy with what second game of the main round. Sport SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2021 15 British Athletics Mathews hundred lifts cancels indoor Sri Lanka to 229-4 championships REUTERS – LONDON REUTERS – SCOREBOARD before edging a rising Anderson that he could have left British Athletics has cancelled its SRI LANKA, 1st innings Angelo Mathews scored a L. Thirimanne c Buttler b Anderson ...... 43 onto the . indoor championships set to begin patient unbeaten century K. Perera c Root b Anderson ...... 6 Mathews and opener Lahiru in Glasgow next month due to the yesterday to dig Sri Lanka out O. Fernando b Anderson ...... 0 Thirimanne (43) put on 69 for COVID-19 pandemic, the governing of some early peril and lead his A. Mathews ...... 107 the third wicket before the body said yesterday. side to 229 for four on the D. Chandimal lbw b Wood ...... 52 latter edged Anderson’s second British Athletics said that the opening day of the second and N. Dickwella not out ...... 19 ball after lunch to wicketkeeper process of testing athletes, coaches, final Test against England. Extras (lb2) ...... 2 Jos Buttler. technical officials and volunteers The home side won the toss Total (87 overs, 4 ) ...... 229 among others would not suffi- and elected to bat at Galle Inter- Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Perera), 2-7 (Fernando), (52) added another 117 with ciently mitigate the risks involved national Stadium, but a double 3-76 (Thirimanne), 4-193 (Chandimal) Mathews before he was trapped and it had taken the decision to strike from seamer James To bat: R. Mendis, D. Perera, S. Lakmal, L. Em- leg before wicket by fast bowler scrap the Feb. 20-21 meet as a Anderson with the new ball had buldeniya, A. Fernando Mark Wood, who managed to precaution. Bowling: Anderson 19-10-24-3, Curran 11-2-36- them teetering at seven for two. produce reverse swing early in More than 500 attendees based 0, Leach, 22-3-66-0, Wood 17-2-47-1, Bess 18- Mathews then came to the 1-54-0 the innings and toiled away for across Britain and overseas were crease and settled the innings ENGLAND: J. Root (capt), D. Sibley, Z. Crawley, 17 overs and figures of 1-47. expected at the event with elite with his 11th Test ton and first at J. Bairstow, D. Lawrence, J. Buttler, S. Curran, D. England will be disap- sport allowed to organise compe- Sri Lanka’s most iconic venue. Bess, J. Leach, M. Wood, J. Anderson pointed with some of the lines titions despite a COVID-19 He will resume on the they bowled, particularly the lockdown across the United second morning on 107 not out, spin duo of Dom Bess and Jack Kingdom to stem the spread of the compiled from 228 balls with wicket win in the first Test. Leach, who conceded 120 in 40 virus. 11 fours, and will be joined at Fiery home opener Kusal overs and failed to create much The European Indoor Champi- the wicket by Niroshan Dick- Perera had a wild swing at a in the way of chances. onships are scheduled to be held wella on 19. delivery outside off stump and The tourists are seeking to in Torun, Poland from March 5-7 Anderson produced early was caught by high notch a fifth away Test victory and British Athletics said it reward for England having above his head at first slip for 6. in a row for the first time since Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews plays a pull during acknowledged athletes vying for replaced in a Oshada Fernando (0), who 1913. They travel to for the opening day of the second Test match Britain and Northern Ireland team rotation of the seam attack, the came into the side for Kusal four matches immediately after against England in Galle, yesterday. PIC: SLC selection will need competition to only change from their seven- Mendis, lasted just four balls this series. enable qualification. Champs Serbia vs Al Sulaiti storms to first Germany, Canada in QSTK 600 pole of the season ATP Cup group play

AP – MELBOURNE

Novak Djokovic and his defending champion Serbia squad will play Germany and Canada in group play at the ATP Cup from Feb. 1-5 at Melbourne Park. The draw held yesterday also has Aus- tralia playing in a tough group with Rafael Nadal’s Spain as well as Greece in Group B. Serbia beat Spain in the final of the inaugural 2020 ATP Cup. Greece will be led by No. 6-ranked Stefan Tsitsipas. Alex de Minaur leads the Australian lineup that made the semifinals last year. The inaugural event was played last year Al Sahouti wins QSSP 300 Race 1 in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. But because Qatari rider Hamad Al Sahouti in action during QSSP 300 Race 1 at Former champion Saeed Al Sulaiti in action during the Qatar Superstock 600 Superpole of restrictions in place for the COVID-19 pan- the Losail International Circuit yesterday. Al Sahouti, after taking at Losail International Circuit yesterday. Al Sulaiti clocked a time of 2:04.582 in his last demic, the 2021 edition will be played entirely off from the fourth spot in the starting grid, stormed to victory at Melbourne Park, site of the Australian Open, lap to take the pole position in the season's first QSTK 600 race which will take place ahead of pole sitter Yousif Al Darwish who finished second. Saad which starts Feb. 8. today. Defending champion Abdulla Al Qubaisi is second while veteran rider Meshal Al Harqan finished third. The 12 teams have been divided into four Al Naimi completes the front row in the starting grid for today's race. pools for group stage, round-robin play. The four group winners will advance to the semi-finals. Zidane tests Group A: Serbia, Germany, Canada. Suarez secures Atletico win at Eibar Group B: Spain, Greece, Australia. positive for Group C: Austria, Italy, France. REUTERS – EIBAR, SPAIN Atletico Madrid’s Luis Suarez the ball past Dmitrovic to give Group D: Russia, Argentina, Japan. celebrates with team-mate his side all three points, while COVID-19 Eibar goalkeeper Marko Angel Correa after scoring Eibar were then denied a Dmitrovic defied convention a goal against Eibar, penalty in added time, by scoring a penalty but it was on Thursday. appealing in vain for a handball AP – MADRID Adelaide quarantine Luis Suarez’s spot kick in the against Atleti’s Stefan Savic. dying minutes that proved The Uruguayan’s penalty Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane no different to conclusive as Atletico Madrid secured a sixth successive has tested positive for the corona- secured a 2-1 away win on league win for Atletico, giving virus, the Spanish club yesterday. Melbourne: Thiem Thursday which lifted them Atletico a seven-point lead over The announcement came two days seven points clear at the top of nearest challengers Real after Zidane coached the team in a 2-1 REUTERS – ADELAIDE La Liga. Madrid with a game in hand. loss at third-tier Alcoyano in the Copa Dmitrovic gave Eibar the Atletico coach Diego del Rey. Assistant coach David Bettoni World number three Dominic Thiem (pictured) lead in the 12th minute, coolly Simeone heaped praise on will coach Madrid at Alavés today. said there is no great advantage for players deceiving his opposite number Suarez for winning another dif- "I spoke with (Zidane) this morn- self-isolating in Adelaide compared to condi- Jan Oblak. ficult match which ing and he is fine," Bettoni said. tions in Melbourne where the vast majority Dmitrovic, 28, had never strengthened his side’s bid for The club has notnot are serving the 14-day quarantine requirement previously scored a penalty in a first league title since 2014. providedided anyany ototherher ahead of the Australian Open. his career and became the first “He is a decisive player, he informationormation Tennis Australia Chief Executive Craig goalkeeper to do so in La Liga was always focused on winning on hishis healthealthh Tiley said earlier in the week that the top since Las Palmas’ Nacho the game, he got his first goal status.us. players were sent to Adelaide to ensure organ- Gonzalez, who netted from the after a second ball and then TwoTwo weeks isers did not exceed the limit set by the author- spot against Athletic Bilbao in won the penalty, wanted to ago, ZiZidanedane ities for people quarantining in Melbourne. 2002. late save to thwart Joao Felix late in take it and showed real leadership testeded nega-nega- Some of those isolating in Melbourne have Suarez levelled for Atletico five the game but Suarez had the final to score,” Simeone said. tive fforor tthehe vvirusirus accused organisers of favouring the top minutes before halftime, beating say, drawing a foul from Anaitz Suarez added: “Today was after he had beenbeen players but Thiem said there was no real dif- Dmitrovic from inside the area after Arbilla to earn a penalty that another demonstration that we’ll in closeose contactcontact ference between the locationlocations. Marcos Llorente had won the ball annoyed Eibar’s players and coach have to keep this level of per- withh somsome-e- “It’s“It’s a privilprivilegeege to be herheree in Adelaide. But back on the edge of Eibar’s box. Jose Luis Mendilibar. formance up if we want to fight to one wwhoho was it’s notno that huge an Dmitrovic made an outstanding Suarez oozed calm and chipped win important things." infected.cted. Zinedine Zidane advantage,”advan the Aus- triantria told The Guardian.Gu “We get the Burnley end Liverpool's unbeaten home record sasame amount of practicep time as REUTERS – LIVERPOOL But for all their pressure thet guys in Mel- and 73% possession, Liv- bourne.b It’s just Champions Liverpool erpool struggled to create nnot that busy suffered a shock 1-0 defeat real openings with Ben Mee oon-site. It’s just to lowly Burnley on and James Tarkowski out- ththat we are Thursday, ending their 68 standing in the centre of ((fewer)fe players match unbeaten home Burnley’s defence. here.her record in the Premier When Liverpool did “Compared“C to the League as their title defence manage to find space for a playersplay who are not continued to fade. shot, Burnley keeper Nick in hard quarantine An 83rd minute penalty Pope was up to the test, in Melbourne, we from Ashley Barnes, after he getting down well to keep haveh pretty was brought down by goal- out efforts from Trent Alex- ssimilar keeper Alisson Becker, ander-Arnold and sub- conditions.”co decided the contest after stitute, Egyptian star U.S. Open Juergen Klopp’s side failed Mohamed Salah. championscham Thiem to score for the fourth But too often Liverpool andand NNaomi Osaka will straight league match. drifted in poor crosses Burnley’s Ashley Barnes scores against Liverpool from the penalty spot on Thursday. joinjoin RRafaa Nadal, Novak Liverpool have not won which were easily dealt with Djokovic,Djokovic Ash Barty and for five games in the league by Burnley’s defence. Serena WilliamsWil in playing and trail leaders Manchester victory at Anfield since a superb defensive display. keeper Nick Pope to beat The Clarets, who made a ppre-Australianre-Austra Open exhi- United by six points, in 1-0 victory in September, Divock Origi had struck and Roberto Firmino missed a poor start to the season, bitionbition eeventvent iinn Adelaide at the fourth place. 1974 and Sean Dyche’s side the bar for Liverpool in the a good chance after the move up to 16th place on 19 endend ofof tthehe mmonth.on It was Burnley’s first were rewarded for a first half, with only Burnley break. points.