FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 2 NNBABA | Page 5 QNB Stars Trail Blazers League to kick silence off today aft er Thunder, Heat winter break beat Raptors Thursday, January 11, 2018 TENNIS Rabia II 24, 1439 AH Nadal begins new GULF TIMES era without uncle Toni SPORT Page 7 OOREDOO DOHA MARATHON PAIN NO PROBLEM FOR British long-distance star may have left the track behind but the 34-year-old is ‘MOBOT’ FARAH gunning for glory in marathons (From left) Elite athletes Abdi Abirahman, Gemma Steele, Mo Farah, Arne Gabius and Michael Shelley at the press conference for Ooredoo Doha Marathon yesterday. PICTURE: Ram Chand By Yash Mudgal crazy sessions,” said Farah, who is tak- fi nal. However, in his fi nal track race, Doha ing part in his fi rst event of the year at the inaugural 2017 Diamond League the Ooredoo Doha Marathon. Final in Zurich, he beat Edris for a “And there will be more crazy ses- 5,000m victory. our Olympic gold medals, six sions coming through in case of a mara- After 10 global golds over 5,000 and world titles and he is not done thon. I like to be able to work and work. 10,000m in the space of seven incred- yet. Just hearing the national anthem, it is a ible years, the 34-year-old’s track He is an athlete who personi- proud moment. It could well all depend exploits have already earned him a Ffi es the adage, ‘no pain, no gain’. In fact, on whether one morning I ask myself knighthood, but he still has unfi nished he loves pain. if I want to go through all this, but that business. “I am still competing because I my body decides,” the British athlete, He is taking part in the Doha mara- loooove pain,” retired track star Mo Fa- who announced his intention to focus thon event for the fi rst time with an eye rah stretched a few syllables to amplify on the marathon in 2017, said. on the London Marathon and Tokyo what he felt, while talking ahead of his Farah completed the ‘distance dou- Olympics for a possible fi fth Olympic participation in the elite Half Marathon ble’ of 5,000m and 10,000m titles at title. event in the Ooredoo Doha Marathon the 2013 and 2015 World Champion- Doha race will be the 34-year-old’s yesterday. ships. He was only the second man in fi rst race of 2018 as he prepares for the “As an athlete, as a young boy I history after Kenenisa Bekele to win London Marathon on April 22 where he dreamt of becoming an Olympic cham- long-distance doubles at successive will take on Olympic champion Eliud pion and I remember taking part in as Olympics and World Championships, Kipchoge. many races I could. I think it was 2000 and first in history to defend both “I am really looking forward to open- Sydney Olympics, I had seen Paul Ter- distance titles in both major global ing my 2018 season in Doha. I am tak- gat and Haile Gebrselassie compete and competitions – a feat described as the ing the event as a chance to test myself that’s when I told myself that I want to ‘quadruple-double’. on the fast and fl at run along Doha, and win an Olympic gold medal, and since Since fi nishing second in the also to hopefully check out the city,” then I have been training hard, and go- 10,000m at the 2011 World Athletics Britain’s most successful-ever distance ing on and on. Championships, Farah had an unbro- runner said. “And it happened in 2012, and what ken streak of ten global fi nals wins (the Farah also said a fourth Olympic a way for it to happen. That carried me 5,000m in 2011, the 10,000m in 2017 Games appearance in 2020 is a distinct every day. It felt amazing, it felt beau- and the double in 2012, 2013, 2015 and possibility. “Tokyo is possible. If I’m in tiful. It’s something I enjoy. And once 2016). The streak fi nally ended in Fa- great shape and I’m good enough to get you have gone through it, you can’t just rah’s fi nal World Championship track a medal I will be there,” he said. sit after that. I defi nitely enjoy going race, when he fi nished second to Ethio- Given his incredible journey so far it Britain’s Mo Farah signs autographs during a promotional event in Doha yesterday. (Twitter/Ooredoo) for a run, pulling myself through pain, pia’s Muktar Edris in the 2017 5,000m should not be out of question. BOTTOMLINE International fi eld, record entries for Doha Marathon By Yash Mudgal Qatar continues to witness develop- at the Ooredoo Doha Marathon. since I’m preparing for a spring mara- 2018 Ooredoo Doha Marathon. The half THE FIELD Doha ments in its infrastructure and facili- The British trio and 17 fellow elite thon. It will be great to get a break from marathon event off ers a great course, Men’s Elite ties, it is steadily becoming a preferred men and women will compete over 13.1 training and test my fi tness against some quality competition and a fantastic Mo Farah (GBR) destination for some of the world’s miles, with a record number of 2,000 some of the best athletes in the world. location in which to train and race. The Chris Thompson (GBR) he stage is all set for the Oore- leading sports clubs and federations to amateur runners lining up in mass par- My family is here with me, so I’m even facilities are top class and the people of Abdi Abdirahman (USA) doo Doha Marathon as a stellar host training camps, all of which reso- ticipation for Doha Marathon. more excited. No doubt we will enjoy Qatar are very welcoming. The organi- Arne Gabius (GER) fi eld of international athletes is nates with Qatar’s message of welcom- Farah, the 10-time global track gold the weather and we hope to visit some sation has been great too. I shall run my Hendrik Pfeiff er (GER) ready to take part in the event ing the world.” medallist, will begin his full tenure as a of the cultural institutes, like the Mu- heart out for you,” said Steele, who has Bekir Karayel (TUR) Ttomorrow. He added: “As sports tourism part- road competitor in the Qatari capital as seum of Islamic Art,” Gabius, German been training in Doha since December 30, Ryan Vail (USA) As many as 20 elite men and women ner, we would like to extend a warm he prepares for The Big Half in March marathon record holder and 18-time 2017, for the event, said. Scotty Bauhs (USA) will be joining a record number of more welcome to Sir Mo Farah and all our elite and the London Marathon in April. national champion, said. The elite half marathon has Ayad Lamdassem (ESP) than 2,000 amateur athletes who have athletes participating in the Ooredoo Among those joining Farah and The 2014 Commonwealth Games USD50,000 in prize money up for Daniele Meucci (ITA) already signed up for the mega event. Doha Marathon 2018. The Marathon Thompson, winner of the Great Scot- marathon champion Shelley is one of grabs, with equal prize funds for both Michael Shelley (AUS) These top athletes will represent Qa- takes place at the beginning of the year, tish Run in 2017, are Germany’s mar- the favourites for the event. He is using the men’s and women’s events. Ivan Fernandez (ESP) tar’s key tourism markets including allowing us to capitalise on country’s athon record holder Arne Gabius, the event, as part of his preparation to The invitational elite half is part of the USA, UK, Germany, Italy, Turkey as pleasant winter weather as we work to Turkey’s two-time Olympian Bekir Ka- defend his Commonwealth title later the Ooredoo Doha Marathon, which in- Women’s Elite well as Spain and Portugal. position the Marathon in the calendar rayel, American duo Ryan Vail and Abdi this year at the Gold Coast event. cludes a full marathon, half marathon, Gemma Steele (GBR) Commenting on their participation of international sports events.” Abdirahman, who fi nished third in the In the women’s elite race, the 10K and 5K events for adults and youth Sara Dossena (ITA) Chief Marketing and Promotion Offi cer Apart from Mo Farah, the six-time New York City Marathon in 2016, and 32-year-old Steele, who most recently as well as 3K and 1K events for children. Esma Aydemir (TUR) at Qatar Tourism Authority Rashed al- world champion and four-time Ol- Michael Shelley. won team gold at the European Cross Over the past fi ve years, the Ooredoo Allie Kieff er (USA) Qurese said, “Qatar National Tourism ympic gold medallist, British long- “I’m excited to compete at the Ood- Country Championships, will be joined Doha Marathon has steadily grown to Emma Bates (USA) Sector Strategy 2030 identifi es sports distance runners Chris Thompson and eroo Doha Marathon; this is my fi rst by USA’s Allison Kieff er, Sara Dossena become the largest mass participation Melina Wolf (GER) tourism as one of four key pillars for the Gemma Steele will also begin 2018 by time in Qatar. The half marathon race is of Italy and Turkey’s Esma Aydemir. event in Qatar attracting runners from Azucena Diaz (ESP) development of the tourism sector.