Esperance Storm Their Way to Tunisian Super
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Benzema saves Real the blushes with winner PAGE 18 TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 Bernard McCullagh pulls off second victory PREMIER LEAGUE in a row in Qatari Diar Triathlon PAGE 19 W WANDERERS VS MAN UNITED Qatar to host first round of 2020 Sheikh Joaan crowns Amir Sword Camel Race winners Asian Supersports Championship hosted by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). The meetings included the holding of the first quar- terly meeting at the level of the members of the governing council of the FIM Asia in its new form. The meetings discussed many issues related to various motorcycle races, tournament schedule, and some laws and regulations, as well as work to expand the annual activities The Asian Supersports Championship will be introduced for the first within the various federations time on the agenda of the 2020 season and includes several rounds, belonging to the Asian conti- each held separately in different countries of the continent. nent, whether through tourna- ments or training programs. QNA which will be introduced for Also, the meetings dealt DOHA the first time on the agenda of with the programs of the Asian the 2020 season, and includes talents academy in China, THE Asian Motorcycling Fed- several rounds, each held sep- which attracts riders from the eration (FIM Asia) has an- arately in different countries 13 to 18 age group, as well as nounced Qatar’s hosting of of the continent. the allocation of their own HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee, awarded winners of the six main camel races for the age group of the first round of the Asian This came during the three-course tournament in three to four years on the third day of annual Purebred Arabian Camel Festival for the sword of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani Supersports Championship, three-day FIM Asia meetings Taiwan, Thailand, and India. at Al Shahaniya racetrack on Monday. Esperance storm their way A file pic of All India Football Feder- ation President Praful Patel (right) to Tunisian Super Cup with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. Praful Patel set to be first Indian in The league FIFA Council champions NEW DELHI: The All India clinch their third Football Federation (AIFF) might be fighting a legal battle in the title in Doha Supreme Court over the validity of its constitution vis-a-vis the AYENI OLUSEGUN National Sports Code (NSC) but DOHA President Praful Patel is set to don the bigger role on the world REIGNING Tunisian league stage this week. Patel is expected champions Esperance Sportive to become the first Indian to de Tunis made amends for their be elected as member of FIFA CAF Super Cup loss against Executive Council for a four-year Raja Casablanca as they beat period when elections are held Club Athletique Bizertin 2-1 in in the Asian Football Confedera- the Tunisian Super Cup at the tion (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Al Duhail Stadium on Monday. Lumpur on Saturday. The match played in front of a The executive council is FIFA’s sell out crowd saw the league highest decision making body champions and the Tunisian and it has never had an Indian Cup winners in action for the member in the past. Former AIFF first time in 16 years. president Priyaranjan Dasmunsi Goals from Anice Badri was once elected to the technical and Yassine Khenissi were committee of FIFA. Patel, who enough for the Tunisian re- is currently the Vice President of cord league winners (28 ti- AFC, has decided not to run for a tles) despite Hallim Darragi’s re-election and instead opted to penalty for Bizertin. fight for the FIFA body. His place Esperance came out blaz- in AFC could be taken by the ing after their stunning loss Pakistan representative. “It is an over the weekend and had the eight-corner contest for five spots first shot on target just over a from Asia in FIFA, but we are minute played as Yousef Belaili confident of Patel’s victory. He is shot wide after showing quick being supported by AFC President feet to dance around his mark- Shaikh Salman and all other er. Esperance continued to pile member countries will surely back on the pressure but the Bizer- him in the elections,” AIFF senior tin backline held their own. Fans of teams Esperance Sportive de Tunis (above) and Club Athletique Bizertin cheer their respective Vice President Subroto Dutta The Tunisian champions sides during the Tunisian Super Cup match at Al Duhail Stadium in Doha on Monday. said on Monday. As per new FIFA were however not to be kept statutes adopted in 2016, the out for long and soon found ball. But The Northern Sharks Thamri kept his team in ed time the stopper pulled off executive council is a 37-member the net in the 13th minute af- soon pulled one back from the game in the 88th minute another stunning save but Es- Esperance captain Chamseddine Dhaouadi receives the Tunisian body with AFC having the rights ter some sublime play by Be- the penalty spot. The referee with a point blank save from perance held on to claim their Super Cup trophy from QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin to send one Vice President and laili. The skillful number 10 pointed to the spot after Esper- Badri’s fierce shot and in add- third Super Cup title. Ahmed al Thani and FTF President Wadii Jarii. six members, which include one turned his marker in the box ance Aymen Mahmoud’s need- female member. Led by the FIFA before finding Anice Badri lessly fouled Ibrahim Ouattara President, the council has now who made no mistake guiding in the box and Hallim Darragi a wide range of powers and the the ball home. made no mistake from the spot Secretary General will have to Bizertin, who were the first in the 34th minute. report to it regularly. Apart from Tunisian club to win an African Bizertin hope of staging Patel, the seven other candidates trophy in the CAF Cup Win- a comeback when Wissam are from China, Iran, Japan, South ners’ Cup in 1988, soon found Bousnina was shown a straight Korea, the Philippines, Qatar and their task more difficult when red card for a rash challenge. Saudi Arabia. Patel travelled to Taha Yassine Khenissi dou- Esperance dominated play Kyrgyzstan to campaign for his bled Esperance’s lead minutes and Belaili continued to tor- election with the Central Asian later. Belaili was the provider ment the Bizertin defence and Football Association nation. “The again with a perfectly weighted came close to scoring but the campaign in Central Asia was pass which split the defence ball was deflected wide for a smooth and highly encouraging. for Khenissi to latch on to and corner kick. From the ensu- We are confident of their support coolly slot past the hapless ing kick, Esperance missed to Patel. His election to the FIFA Khemais Thamri in goal. another chance for the killer Council will help Indian football Bizertin finally managed a goal when two players went up immensely,” said Dutta. (IANS) shot on target but Moez Ben for the same ball only to head Cherifa easily held on to the wide off the mark. A tense moment of action from the thrilling match played at the Al Duhail Stadium in Doha on Monday. Sports Tuesday, April 2, 2019 17 Leclerc takes positives Al Watan, QBF sign agreement for FIBA 3x3 after F1 GP heartbreak AFP SAKHIR (BAHRAIN) Victorious CHARLES LECLERC focused Hamilton on the positives on Monday after his heartbreaking bid for a maiden F1 win was foiled by defends engine problems in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Vettel The 21-year-old Mon- egasque, who emerged as MANAMA: A victorious Lewis the sport’s rising star as the Hamilton moved to defend his youngest pole-sitter in Ferra- rival Sebastian Vettel as the ri’s history, had victory in his four-time champion’s recent sights with 10 laps remaining form came under scrutiny fol- when he suffered a power loss lowing another costly spin in that saw him drop to third as Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Mercedes pair Lewis Ham- Hamilton, who was gifted ilton and Valtteri Bottas fin- the 74th win of his career Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) signed a partnership agreement with Dar Al Watan Publishing for the ished first and second. when Ferrari new boy Charles International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) 3x3 World Tour opener to be held in Doha from April 25-26 His misfortune was Leclerc’s engine lost power in at the Katara Cultural Village. The agreement was signed by QBF Secretary-General Ali al Malki and Qatar caused by a single cylinder the final 10 laps, said Vettel’s Information and Marketing (QIM) CEO Abdulrahman Majid al Qahtani. failure, Ferrari said, quashing achievements dwarfed his suggestions of a problem with disappointments. As Fer- the turbo-charger. rari packed up to travel home “To be honest, how I felt after a bitter-sweet weekend in the car, I thought that eve- in which they demonstrated Khulaifi wins a gold and bronze in Sarajevo rything would blow up a few dominant pace and the arrival laps later,” said Leclerc. “But, on the grand prix podium of that was not the case and we their new star Leclerc, Vettel still finished third. faced another Italian inquest “From the whole weekend, over his failings. there are a lot of positives to take. After Australia, we were quite far off. Now, I think we Monaco’s Formula One driver Charles Leclerc of Scuderia Ferrari have found some pace.