Ferrari rookie Leclerc claims maiden Formula One pole with lap record PAGE 18

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019

Messi’s double on 675th Barca appearance ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE sends Catalans 13 points clear PAGE 18 LIVERPOOL VS TOTTENHAM

QATAR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT HOLDS LUNCHEON FOR AFRICAN GUESTS

President of the Qatar Football Association Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani held a luncheon in honour of the guests of the African Super Cup led by Ahmad Ahmad, President of the Confederation of African Football, on Saturday. Al Duhail halt Al Sadd title celebrations after 2-2 draw Al Sadd would Weiss bags brace have won the Falcon Shield as Al Gharafa beat had they picked up maximum hapless Al Rayyan points TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK In the other game, Mo- DOHA hammed Bayati’s 86th minute TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK strike sealed a 2-1 win for Al DOHA AL Gharafa fought back from Ahli over Al Arabi. a goal down to beat Al Rayyan Al Ahli, with their 10th vic- AL Sadd and Al Duhail 4-2 in Week 20 of the QNB tory, raised their points tally to played out an entertaining Stars League at the Al Duhail 33 and fourth on the table, two 2-2 draw with two matches Stadium on Saturday. points ahead of Al Sailiya. left in the QNB Stars League A 15th minute penalty con- The match was dubbed ‘Hi- at Al Duhail Stadium in verted by Rodrigo Tabata put lal Derby’ because both clubs Doha on Saturday. the Lions ahead but two quick are located in that area. Al Sadd would have won goals from Vladimir Weiss and Meshaal Abdullah had put the Falcon Shield had they Mehdi Taremi saw the Chee- the Brigadiers headed the hosts picked up maximum points tahs claim the lead but Al Rayy- into the lead in the 24th min- but the Wolves have to wait an levelled the scores when utes after Moutoualli’s cross until next week to win their Gelmin Rivas scored in the was flicked on to the striker 14th league title if they beat 38th minute before half time. who made no mistake from Umm Salal. Al Duhail on Weiss scored his second of close range. their part would hope for the Al Sadd fans cheer on their team during their QNB Stars League match against Al Duhail at the Al Duhail Stadium on Saturday. the match after cooly dispatch- Victor Vazquez equalised near-impossible iif Al Sadd ing a 78th minute penalty after for The Dream Team just after loses their next two matches had put Lucas Mendes’ strike had put the hour mark. Vazquez after and they win to clinch a suc- Al Sadd ahead by scoring in Christian Gourcuff’s men ahead picking up the ball on the left cessive title. the 27th minute before Na- in 10 minutes after the restart. side of attack before dancing The result means Al Sadd ji’s unfortunate howler. Al Rayyan can only blame around his marker to unleash now have 51 points, four Al Sadd, captained by themselves as they conceded a super strike past the goal- adrift of Al Duhail who con- Xavi Hernandez, could have the lead landing a damaging keeper. ceded a an own-goal late in been in the lead in the 14th blow to The Lions’ bid to stay in But Ahli had the last laugh added time when Murad Naji minute had Akram Afif not the third position. late in the game as Bayati’s vol- on the field for four minutes thwarted from the spot by Al Rayyan remain on 33 ley from a cornerkick flew past directed the ball into his own Al Duhail goalkeeper Amine points, while Al Gharafa moved a crowded Arabi goalline to seal net to all but end the Red Lecomte. The penalty came to 25 points. victory for the hosts. Knights title charge. as a result of a foul by Mo- Moroccan striker Yousef hammed Moosa on Bouned- El Arabi, the last two sea- jah. sons’ league top scorer in The Red Knights could Qatar, struck both goals for have equalised in the 45th Al Duhail in the 75th and minute had Japanese mid- 85th minutes. The second fielder Shoya Nakajima’s goal came off a penalty kick, chip shot after evading three awarded by referee Abdul- defenders not hit against the rahman Al Jassim after crossbar. Hamed Ismail fouled substi- The match, played at the tute Ali Afif. Al Duhail Stadium in front of Ace Algerian striker 6,337 spectators, had all the and tournament top scorer Al Duhail’s Shiro Nakajima shields the ball from Al Sadd’s Salem al Hajri during the match. ingredients of a thriller. Barty defeats Pliskova to capture WTA Miami Open title

AFP finding the mental grind of the Open doubles crown she won MIAMI tour too much to bear, turning last September. to professional cricket in a bid Barty, a junior Wimbledon ASHLEIGH Barty’s transfor- to find sporting happiness. winner at age 15, will rise from mation is complete after the Barty, however, knew she 11th to number nine in the Australian defeated Czech fifth had the tennis skills to com- world rankings and become seed Karolina Pliskova 7-6 pete at the very top and after the first Australian woman (7/1) 6-3 Saturday to win the returning in February 2016, since Sam Stosur in June 2013 biggest singles title of her ca- has taken her career to an elite to crack the top 10. reer at the WTA Miami Open. level, culminating in her first- “It has been a phenomenal The 22-year-old Aussie ever WTA Premier Mandatory two weeks both in singles and Al Gharafa’s Vladimir Weiss celebrates scoring against Al Rayyan with quit tennis five years ago after title to follow on from the US doubles,” said Barty. a teammate during their QNB Stars League match on Saturday. Sports Sunday, March 31, 2019 17 Shock & awe for Saeed al Sulaiti Qatar SuperStock 600 rider edges trainee Qubaisi in thrilling finish to end up on same number of points (214) and wins but claims championship on Superpole; Sheikh Jassim bags QSTK Trophy

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

QATAR’S Saeed al Sulaiti clinched the Qatar Superstock 600 title for the third time in a row after a pulsating fifth and last round at the Losail Interna- tional Circuit on Saturday. Until the final moments of the championship, neither Su- laiti nor Abdulla al Qubaisi was sure of the title. After Sulaiti re- corded the win in the first race, Qubaisi won the second, with both tied at 214 points each. Since the first Superpole of the season was won by Sulaiti, he managed to retain the title in the tense finale.

I’m very happy to win the FIM Asia, QMMF and LCSC officials with rider Saeed al Sulaiti, Abdulla al Qubaisi and Mashel al Naimi before the start of the fifth round of the third title in a row. This year QSTK600 Championship at Losail on Saturday. it was really very difficult to bag the championship. Sulaiti was pleased with his STANDINGS which will start in two weeks. In A delighted Sheikh Thani third title in a row. “This year it the next QSTK season, I’ll try my said, “This season was a great QSTK600 champion Saeed al Sulaiti lifts Abdulla al Qubaisi after the Saeed al Sulaiti was really very difficult to bag QSTK600 (after Round 5) best to win the championship,” success for me as I won the prize distribution. Saeed is also the mentor of the young rider Qubaisi, the championship. The first 1.Saeed al Sulaiti 214 pts added Qubaisi. QSTK Trophy. In this round, I who made a clean-sweep of the third and fourth rounds of the cham- 2.Abdulla al Qubaisi 214 race was one of my toughest 3.Mashel al Naimi 173 Mashel al Naimi was third couldn’t win the first race but I pionship. Saeed had won the first superpole of the season on the In the first race, pole rider races here. After five laps, I saw 4.Balint Kovacs 139 in the championship with 173 did it in the second. I am looking basis of which he was declared as the champion. Sulaiti led the race for the first Abdulla and me in front, while 5.Essa al Mutawa 33 points. “It was a difficult season. forward to the next season when three laps trying to create a gap Mashel had fallen behind. I QSTK TROPHY I tried to win at least one race I join the QSTK category.” 1.Jassim al Thani 245 but Qubaisi and Mashel al Nai- tried to let Abdulla come in front 2.Mohammad al Zaidan 205 this weekend but Saeed and Khalid al Remaihi, LCSC mi stayed close to him. Midway, of me but he was smart enough 3.Hassan al Mansoori 130 Abdulla raced very hard and de- Vice-President and General only Qubaisi could keep pace not to accept and stayed behind 4.Nawaf al Shuabi 117 served to finish first and second. Manager) expressed happiness with Sulaiti. Both passed each me,” said Sulaiti. 5.Mohammad al Eidi 98 Next season, I’ll be better pre- at the performance of the rid- 6.Alexander Qabazard 93 other several times in an exhi- “In the Race 2 , I just had 7.Alastair Cunliffe 80 pared. Many thanks to my spon- ers. “We witnessed an exciting bition of brave and gutsy rid- to finish in the top three to win 8.Ali Abdul Hussain 61 sor Ooredoo, the QMMF and QSTK600 championship where ing. However in the end, Sulaiti the championship. I decided to 9.Mustafa Husain 42 LCSC for a wonderful champi- until the end we didn’t know pulled off victory by 0.050s. cross the finish line safely and 10.Hamad Dashti 29 onship. I congratulate all who who will get the title. Our young 11.Mujahed al Kashram 17 The third place went to win the championship. I want 12.Mansoor al Hajri 12 make the championship better generations is pushing very hard Hungarian rider Balint Kovacs. to congratulate Abdulla for the 13.Talal Bilal 6 each year,” Naimi said. as we can see with the close bat- In the second race, Mashel great season. My sincere thanks In the QSTK Trophy, Mo- tles between Sulaiti and Qubaisi. al Naimi and Abdulla al Qubaisi to Ooredoo for sponsoring me. I season in a good way – a second hammad al Zaidan became the So I feel that we are on the right were involved in a nerve-wrack- also thank the QMMF and LCSC place in the first race and a win first rider to end the winning path to help the young riders ing duel at the front, while Su- for organising such an amasing in the second one. I want to first run of Sheikh Jassim al Thani. achieve good results.” laiti had to finish among the top championship,” Sulaiti added. thank my coach Saeed. Without But the latter came back to fin- Trophies were presented three to ensure his successful Younger rider Qubaisi had him, I won’t have finished so ish the season with a victory. by Stephan Carapiet (FIM Asia defence. Qubaisi beat Naimi by a great season, especially the strongly. A big thank you to the He won the QSTK Trophy with President), Stan Yasuhiro (FIM 0.125 of a second to win the race latter half. He fought spiritedly QMMF and LCSC for hosting a 245 points, while Zaidan was Asia Vice-President), Abdulrah- QSTK Trophy Race 2 winner Sheikh Jassim al Thani on the podium and Sulaiti comfortably rode to till the last moments to win the great championship. runner-up, with 205. The third man al Mannai (QMMF Presi- with runner-up Mohammad al Zaidan (left), third-place winner Hassan the third spot, without taking crown. “Overall this season was “Now, it is time to focus place was taken by Hassan al dent) and Khalid al Remaihi al Mansoori, guest and officials at Losail on Saturday. any undue risk. great for me. We finished the on the Spanish championship Mansoori with 130 points. (LCSC Vice-President and GM).

National Equestrian Series Hathab Round 10 Ghazali bags Big Tour title to stay in contention Saeed al Qadi RESULTS SHOWJUMPING: BIG TOUR claims Open Table A, One round against the clock with jump off Art. 238.2.2 (130/145cm) Prize-Money QR35,000 Class; Waldon 1. Rider: Nasser al Ghazali; Horse: Colibri; Faults: 0; Time: 73.89secs; Jump-off: Faults: 0; Time: wins dressage 36.15secs; prize: QR8,750; 2. Faleh Suwead al Ajami; Carport; 0; 73.18secs; 0; 36.30secs; QR7,000; 3. Hamad Towaim al Marri; Chin Van De TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Kranenburg; 4; 70.19secs; QR 5,250; 4. Khalid DOHA Mohammed al Emadi; Fiji; 4; 70.60secs; QR 3,500 Winners and runners-up of mixed doubles event of 2019 ITTF World OPEN CLASS Tour Platinum Qatar Open on the podium on Saturday. NASSER al Ghazali, who was Table A, Six Bar Comp., Art. 262.3 (115/12 cm) Prize-Money QR15,000 fifth on the points tally in the 1. Saeed Nasser al Qadi; St. Lucia; Faults: 0; Faults: 0; Big Tour prior to the start of Faults: 0; Faults: 4; QR3,750; 2. Rami Younis; Inzaghi Ma Long, Shiwen make the 10th Hathab Equestrian Van Molenheide; 0; 0; 0; 16; QR3,000; 3. Shka. Tour 2018-19, pitchforked his Fatima Jabor al Thani; Eddie; 0; 0; 4; QR 1,875; 3. Mohammad Hazim Abara; Cora; 0; 0; 4; QR1,875 ITTF Qatar Open final status clinching the title astride DRESSAGE his grey gelding Colibri at the Test-Level 1, Test E, Prize-Money QR10,000 TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK 11-4, 18-16 victory. Qatar Equestrian Federation 1 Jessica Walson; Lusso Del Castegno; 70.345pts; DOHA She will now face her com- QR2,800; 2. Amna Ahmad al Saffar; Rythm; outdoor arena on Saturday. 69.310pts; QR2,300; 3. Micky Nijboer; Rose patriot Wang Manyu in the Ghazali had 158 points from Alsulaimi; 67.931pts; QR 1,750 OLYMPIC and world cham- semis, after the world number eight rounds of Hathab with Test - Level 2, Test E, Prize-Money QR5,000 pion Ma Long knocked out three saw off Singapore’s eight Saeed Nasser Qadi leading the 1. Mohammed Nasser al Qadi; Kantje’s Este Fana; world number two and tour- seed Feng Tianwei 11-5, 11-9, 11- 70.435pts; QR1,375; 2. Iris Nijboer; Piet Mondrian table with 189 points from same (GB); 69.565pts; QR1,000; 3. Mohammed Salem al nament top seed Xu Xin in the 3, 7-11, 11-7. number of rounds. But Ghazali’s Nasser al Ghazali, who won the Big Tour Table A, One round against the clock with jump off (130/145cm) Marri; Gin Tonic Van De Kranenburg; 68.261pts; QR750. men’s singles semi-final of the Meanwhile, China’s Xu Xin show in this leg will surely take class, in action at the Qatar Equestrian Federation on Saturday. 2019 ITTF World Tour Plati- and Liu Shiwen added another him up higher and he now has num Qatar Open on Saturday. Mixed Doubles title to their two more rounds in the 12-leg In an all-Chinese semis, Long collection following a strong national series to stake a claim bounced back from going one display. In the final, the duo for the overall title. set down to win in six, 14-12, thumped fourth seeds Masataka 6-11, 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 6-11. Morizono and Mima Ito of Ja- Also in the women’s draw, pan 11-5, 11-7, 11-7. This was Xu China’s Liu Shiwen and Sun Xin and Liu Shiwens’s third title Yingsha cruised into the wom- together, having also tasted suc- en’s semi-finals. The third seed cess in Austria last year and in and defending champion Shiw- Hungary earlier this year. en eased past compatriot Wang The men’s doubles title was Yidi 11-2, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4. won by Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Shiwen had beaten another Kit and Wong Chun Ting. The Chinese Wang Manyu in last third seeded pair claimed their Jessica Waldon, who won the year’s final and looks in fine third title by beating Germany’s Dressage Level 1 test event, Asian referees’ course concludes: Htahab 10th tour also saw the form to win her second succes- Timo Boll and Patrick Franziksa receives her prize. conclusion of the new Asian Referees’ Training Course which was held at sive title. 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9. the Qatar Equestrian Federation from March 22 to 30 with the participa- Shiwen will take on qualifier China’s Sun Yingsha and Confident and focused, Nasser al Ghazali receives his prize from Badr al Darwish, Secretary- tion of representatives from 11 Asian countries. Under the guidance and and Youth Olympic champion Wang Manyu, the no.2 seeds, Ghazali excelled in the Table General of QEF and Asian Equestrian Federation. patronage of the President of the Asian and Equestrian Federation, the Yingsha who continued her im- won the women’s doubles title A, One round against the clock training course for the referees in showjumping was held in two phases pressive run as she accounted beating colleagues Ding Ning with jump off Art. 238.2.2 good since he was fourth on ished second. Shka. Fatima lasting four days each. A total of 30 trainees including nine from Qatar for He Zhuojia 6-11, 11-4, 11-4, and Wang Yidi 12-14, 16-1, 11-6, (130/145cm) class returning the points tally with 164 points Jabor al Thani astride Eddie took part. The others were from Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, 11-8, 11-5 in the quarter-finals. 11-13, 11-4. Ding Ning and Wang faultless in both the round before the 10th round. and Mohammad Hazim Abara China, Taipei, Taiwan, Kuwait, Indonesia, India, Hong Kong. The courses On Thursday, China’s world Yidi came through qualification. and the jump-off in 73.89secs The Open Class Table A, on Cora ended up as third best. shall continue in future stages until the next Asian Games in 2022. number one Ding Ning has ad- A contest that ebbed and and 36.15secs respectively to Six Bar Comp., Art. 262.3 Earlier the dressage com- vanced into the semis with a flowed, crucially in the fifth emerge as the best. (115/12 cm) competition saw petitions saw Jessica Waldon Del Castegno to log the most Qatar Olympic Committee. The comfortable 4-0 win over Ger- game Yingsha and Manyu estab- Faleh Suwead al Ajami, Saeed Nasser al Qadi, riding and Mohammed Nasser al points, while Al Qadi stood out series which carries a total prize many’s Han Ying. The 28-year- lished a 5-2 lead at the change who rode Carport, finished St. Lucia, emerge as the best Qadi emerge as best in Level 1 with Kantje’s Este Fana. of QR1.2mn has been highly old, a three-time world cham- of ends, which prove decisive. second clocking 73.18secs and with only four faults. and Level 2 tests. Hathab, launched in 2017, is successful for bright young tal- pion and the reigning Olympic It is the first ITTF World Tour 36.30secs respectively. Ajami Rami Younis on his mount Waldon combined beau- an initiative of HE Sheikh Joaan ent besides encouraging local gold medallist, advanced into women’s doubles title for Ying- also did his overall score some Inzaghi Van Molenheide fin- tifully with her horse Lusso bin Hamad al Thani, President, entrepreneurship. the last four with an 11-7, 11-7, sha and Wang Manyu as a pair. 18 Sunday, March 31, 2019 Sports FORMULA ONE Messi double sends Barcelona 13 points clear

It was a fitting way for the Argentinian to mark his 675th Barcelona appearance

AFP Barca struggled to break MADRID down Espanyol early on, with Messi, Suarez and Ivan Rakitic LIONEL Messi continued his all wasting half-chances in the remarkable run of form with first period. a second-half double as Bar- Barcelona saw a penalty celona continued their march appeal waved away by both towards the La Liga title on the referee and VAR on the Saturday with a 2-0 win over stroke of half-time, and Mal- Espanyol. com was denied just after the The visitors gave their hour mark by away goalkeeper city rivals a tough game at Diego Lopez as the Catalan gi- the Camp Nou, but Messi’s ants grew frustrated. chipped free-kick with 19 min- But Messi has been con- utes to play and a late second sistently unplayable this sea- sent the reigning champions son, and he dinked in a won- 13 points clear at the top ahead derful effort from a set-piece of second-placed Atletico Ma- despite Victor Sanchez’s best drid’s game at Alaves later on efforts to clear off the line. Saturday. The three points were Messi has now netted eight sealed in the 89th minute times in his last four games for as Malcom ran clear on the Barca, and leads the way in the La Liga scoring charts with 31 goals, 13 ahead of teammate Messi’s chipped free-kick Luis Suarez. with 19 minutes to play “I had no idea he would and a late second sent the (From left) Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel (second placed), Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (pole position) and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (third placed) after hit (the free-kick) like that,” reigning champions 13 the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit in Manama on Saturday. (AFP) said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. “I would love to say points clear at the top. that we had planned it, but it’s not true, it’s up to him. He breakaway, before cutting the didn’t need my opinion and he ball across for Messi to sweep Monaco rookie Leclerc wins scored.” a trademark finish low into the It was a fitting way for the bottom corner. Argentinian to mark his 675th Barcelona next visit Villar- Barcelona appearance, which real on Tuesday with a second moved him ahead of Andres successive title looking even maiden pole with lap record Iniesta into second on the more like a mere formality af- club’s all-time list -- 102 adrift ter a sixth straight victory ex- AFP mate who shone in only his team-mate Valtteri Bottas. sius to a little more than 30, it and then Leclerc trimmed the of Xavi Hernandez. tended their unbeaten league MANAMA second race weekend with “The Ferraris have been was the embryonic champion- best time to 1:28.046, leaving He made a low-key re- run to 17 matches. the team. incredibly quick here,” said ship leader Bottas who briefly Vettel playing catch-up after turn to international action in Earlier on Saturday, FERRARI new boy Charles “He deserved it,” said Hamilton. set the early Q1 pace before a team error sent him out in midweek as Argentina lost a fourth-placed Getafe missed Leclerc secured his first pole Vettel. Leclerc rocketed to the top by heavy traffic. friendly to Venezuela, but Val- the chance to solidify their position on Saturday when “Yes, come on!” said ‘Worst spot ever’ a second. “That was the worst spot verde was delighted it did not spot in the Champions League he set a new track record by Leclerc, who is 10 years young- “But that is not all there is to Vettel slotted in as second ever” he complained before affect Messi on Saturday. places as they slumped to a topping a dramatic qualifying er than his team-mate. it and we have to sit down and fastest ahead of Bottas and climbing to second and a top “Messi is the same player 2-0 home defeat by Leganes. session for Sunday’s Bahrain “Tomorrow is the race and work out a way to try and beat Sainz with Hamilton adrift of 10 shootout place. no matter what team he is Uruguayan Michael Santos Grand Prix. it’s where we score points, but them.” his team-mate by two-tenths Out went Renault’s Dan- playing in,” he said. and Spaniard Juanfran scored The 21-tear-old Formula it’s a good beginning... It seems Dutchman Max Verstap- before he improved to third iel Ricciardo, pipped by Rai- “He would be the same if in the second half for Leganes One rookie became the first like we did a good job so I am pen of Red Bull came in fifth and within seven-tenths of the kkonen, British-based Thai he played in Australia... We to give Alaves the chance to Monegasque driver ever to extremely happy.” ahead of Dane Kevin Magnus- Monegasque driver. rookie Alex Albon of Toro Ros- are delighted to have him, it’s move into the top four with a take pole for a world champi- Leclerc became the second sen of Haas. Norris delivered an im- so, Pierre Gasly of Red Bull, a luxury for me to coach him.” win over Atletico. onship race. youngest pole-sitter in F1 his- Carlos Sainz was seventh pressive lap to go through in Mexican Sergio Perez of Rac- Leclerc lapped the Bahrain tory behind Vettel, who quali- for a resurgent McLaren ahead fourth while, after a final scrap, ing Point and Russian Daniil International Circuit in one min- fied three-tenths behind him. of Romain Grosjean in the sec- the men eliminated were Anto- Kvyat of Toro Rosso. ute and 27.866 seconds, beating “In the end, I think Charles ond Haas, Kimi Raikkonen of nio Giovinazzi of Alfa Romeo, Mercedes were first out the mark set by his team-mate did a very good job and he de- Alfa Romeo and British rookie Nico Hulkenberg of Renault, for Q3, but it made no dif- and four-time champion Sebas- served it. I was a bit shy in the Lando Norris in the second Lance Stroll of Racing Point ference as, after Hamilton tian Vettel last year. second sector,” said Vettel. McLaren. and the two Williams men outpaced Bottas, Leclerc Vettel qualified second Five-time world champion After a quiet start in the British rookie George Russell equalled the qualifying to clinch a Ferrari lockout of Lewis Hamilton was less than cooler conditions, the track and Pole Robert Kubica. lap record set by Vettel in the front row and was quick a tenth of a second behind Vet- temperature having dropped The Q2 session began with 1:27.958 before trimming it to congratulate his new team- tel in third ahead of Mercedes from close to 50 degrees Cel- Bottas again before Hamilton on his second rapid run. Al Duhail Stadium to host

The LOC comprises officials African Super Cup finalist Esperance from the Qatar Football Asso- ciation, the Qatar Stars League Sportive de to face Bizertin (QSL) and Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK tique Bizertin. urges fans to purchase tickets in Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates with teammate Malcom after DOHA The one-off clash will fol- a timely manner. scoring a goal during the Spanish league match at the Camp Nou low after the Total CAF Super Qatar’s decision to host the Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. (AFP) THE Qatar Football Association Cup 2019 that was won by 2019 Tunisian Super Cup is the (QFA) and Tunisian Football Morocco’s Raja Casablanca result of the strong relationship Federation (TFF) have agreed who beat Esperance at Al between the two countries and that the Tunisian Super Cup Gharafa Stadium. also of the fact that Qatar is the clash will be played at Al Duhail The sale of tickets for the world’s focal point on the foot- Federer schools Shapovalov, Stadium. The venue announced 2019 Tunisian Super Cup is ball scene as the organizer of the earlier was Al Gharafa Stadium. brisk as fans use Q-tickets plat- FIFA 2022 World Cup. books title clash with Isner After the spectacular suc- form to reserve their seats, or- The Tunisian Super Cup is cess of the Total CAF Super Cup ganisers said. an annual clash between the AFP day’s other semi-final. final on Friday, there is a surg- The tickets are also available Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle MIAMI “The long first game helped ing demand for tickets for the at Qatar Sports Club, Al Gharafa 1 champions and the winners me get a read on his serve and Tunisian Super Cup final, or- Sports Club and Villaggio Mall, of the . Since its ROGER Federer handed Denis I came out of the blocks well,” ganisers said on Saturday. organisers have announced. return in 1994, the one-off clash Shapovalov a tennis lesson at said Federer, the number four The Tunisian Super Cup The Local Organising Com- has been organized only three the Miami Open on Friday seed who hit 30 winners with final now will be played at Al mittee (LOC) has urged fans to times in 1994 and 1995 And night, winning 6-2 6-4 to just eight coming from his op- Duhail Stadium on April 1, buy their tickets as early as pos- 2001. The last title was won by move into his second consecu- ponent’s racket. 2019 when Esperance Spor- sible to avoid the disappoint- Esperance in the 2001 beating tive ATP Masters final. “I made some minor adjust- tive de Tunis face Club Athle- ment later on. Club Sportif de Hammam-Lif. Federer produced a mas- ments and I was happy with my terclass at Hard Rock Stadium variations. I know what to ex- to leave up-and-coming star pect when I play John, he’s got Shapovalov, who grew up idol- an amazing serve so it’s going izing the Swiss, chasing shad- to be tough for sure. I’ll just try Rahul stars in Punjab’s win; Delhi triumph in Super Over ows during a difficult first set. and get as many balls back as The Canadian enjoyed possible. I enjoy it.” IANS (40 off 24) and Mayank Agarwal Knight Riders in a thrilling su- some better moments towards This was Shapovalov’s fifth MOHALI (43 off 21) set up the chase well, Brief Scores per over after the game ended the end of the second, but it ATP Tour semi-final and even lifting their side to register its Kings XI Punjab 177/2 in 18.4 overs (KL Rahul 71 not out, Mayank in a tie at home. wasn’t enough to dislodge the though the 20 time Slam-win- LOKESH Rahul’s unbeaten 71, second win in the tournament. Agarwal 43; Krunal Pandya 2/43) beat Mumbai Indians: 176/7 (Q de With the game ending in three-time Miami champion ning Swiss was standing in his along with some notable top-or- Openers Rahul and Gayle Kock 60, Rohit Sharma 32; Murugan Ashwin 2/25) by 8 wkts. a tie after 40 overs of exhila- who now has a chance to land way of a first final, the 19 year- der contributions, guided Kings provided a solid start to Punjab KKR 185/8 (Andre Russell 62, Dinesh Karthik 50; Harshal Patel rating display, Delhi Capitals his 101st career crown after old stressed beforehand that XI Punjab (KXIP) to a comfort- as the hosts raced to the 50-run 2/40) beat Delhi Capitals 185/6 (Prithvi Shaw 99, Shreyas Iyer scored 10 for 1 in the super missing out in Indian Wells it was a “dream” to take on able eight-wicket victory over mark in 6.5 overs. However, over. In reply, the Knight Rid- where he lost to Dominic Thi- Federer. It quickly, however, Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Krunal Pandya drew the first 43; Kuldeep Yadav 2/41) in Super Over. ers started well with Andre em in the final. turned into a nightmare. Indian Premier League here on blood for Mumbai, dismissing a Russell dispatching Kagiso Federer will play John Is- The Canadian displayed Saturday. dangerous looking Gayle in the form for victory. reading 117/2 in 13.3 overs. Rabada for a four on the first ner , who lifted the 2018 title, in understandable nerves early Despite putting a fighting eight over. Agarwal and Rahul Krunal once again gave ball. However, Rabada bowled Sunday’s final after the Ameri- on, a struggle with his first 176 for 7, Mumbai bowlers failed were then involved in a crucial some relief to the Mumbai camp DC win in Super Over a dot delivery before castling can beat Shapovalov’s friend serve proving as much in a 10 to contain the Punjab batsmen 64-run second-wicket part- as he sent back a good looking Delhi Capitals got back to win- Russell and then went on to and compatriot Felix Auger- minute opening game which as apart from Rahul, Chris Gayle nership, which set the plat- Agarwal with Punjab’s score ning ways by beating Kolkata defend the total. Aliassime in straight-sets in Fri- he eventually won.