brace for tough Al Wakrah in Amir Cup page 12

FRIday, MARCH 13, 2020

Australian F1 GP reportedly cancelled as virus hits McLaren

A quick list of global sporting events cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak ARCHERY Mountain Bike World Cup in Lousa, on March Meiji Yasuda Life Women’s Tire Tournament in South America championships in , World Cup in from May 4-10. 21-22. Konan from March 13-15. from March 25-29. ATHLETICS Tour de Normandie in from March 23-27. GYMNASTICS Nordic Tour: Bergen Festival in Norway from March Hong Kong on Feb. 9. Giro di Sicilia in from April 1-4. All-Around World Cup in Stuttgart, on March 28-30. Asian indoor championships in Hangzhou from Feb. EQUESTRIAN 20-22. 12-13. Hong Kong showjumping leg of Longines Masters Series Artistic Jesolo Cup in Italy on April 4-5. WTA: Xi’an Open in from April 13-19. Marathon on March 29. from Feb. 14-16. SHOOTING WTA: Kunming Open in Anning, China from April 27-May Daegu International Marathon in on April 5. FIELD HOCKEY Olympic test event in Tokyo from April 16-26. 3. Wuhan Marathon in China on April 12. women’s tour of China from March 14-25. SKATING ATP Challenger Tour Marathon in on April 12. Ireland women’s tour of Malaysia in March-April. Figure skating world championships in Montreal from Challenger final in Italy on Feb. 23. City Marathon on April 19. GOLF March 16-22. Challenger in China from March 2-8. Dongying International Marathon in China on April 26. US LPGA Tour FOOTBALL Challenger in China from March 9-15. BASKETBALL Honda LPGA in Pattaya from Feb. 20-23. Algarve Cup final in Portugal on March 11: Italy vs. Challenger in China from March 16-22. NBA from March 11 suspended. HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore from Germany canceled. Zhangjiagang Challenger in China from March 23-29. FIBA competitions from March 13 suspended. Feb. 27-March 1. Airways International in with , Challenger in China from April 6-12. CYCLING Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island from March 5-8. , Portugal, from March 26-30. Changsha Challenger in China from April 13-19. Strade Bianche in Siena, Italy on March 7. European Tour SWIMMING Anning Challenger in China from April 20-26. GP Larciano in Pistoia, Italy on March 8. Kenya Open in Nairobi from March 12-15. Asian water polo championships in Nur-Sultan, Challenger in from May 11-17. Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy from March 11-17. Czech Masters in on Aug. 20-23. , from Feb. 12-16. Weightlifting Volta ao Alentejo in Portugal from March 18-22. LPGA Tour Diving world series event in from March 7-9. International Weightlifting Federation Congress in -San Remo on March 21. Daikin Orchid Ladies in Okinawa from March 5-8. Italy Olympic trials in Riccione from March 17-21. Bucharest, on March 13.

“Following the outcome F1, the FIA & the Department ing positive. A ninth person, sporting events around the of the test on a member the of Health and Human Services who is “not associated with world were being cancelled or McLaren team, Formula 1 and in relation to the broader im- any F1 team, the FIA or asso- closing doors to fans. the FIA have been in close plications of this test result.” ciated suppliers,” was waiting Local organisers consist- contact with them on their McLaren said the team mem- on the outcome of a test. ently said the race weekend World champion Lewis Hamilton said he was concerned about the potential spread of coronavirus at the decision and have been coor- ber tested positive for the cor- McLaren team chiefs in- would go ahead as planned Australian Formula One Grand Prix. (AFP) dinating with all the relevant onavirus self-isolated as soon formed the governing FIA of the with fans in attendance even authorities on the next steps,” as they started to show symp- decision to withdraw from Sun- while other sporting events DPA McLaren, the BBC and Ger- the governing body FIA. a statement said. toms and will now be treated day’s race a day before practice around the world were can- Melbourne many’s Bild paper reported. F1 organisers and the mo- “Our priority is the safety by local healthcare authorities is due to start at Albert Park. celled or imposed restrictions. The BBC said it had been torsport governing body FIA of the fans, the teams and all in Melbourne. Mercedes driver and reign- The Chinese Grand Prix in The season-opening Formula told by two senior Formula 1 were considering the next steps personnel at the race.” The The AGPC said on Twitter ing F1 world champion Lewis April has already been post- One Australian Grand Prix sources on Thursday that the after McLaren withdrew from Australian Grand Prix Cor- that eight people had complet- Hamilton had earlier ques- poned and fans will not be on Sunday will be postponed race is off, but there was no of- the race due to a team member poration (AGPC) said it was ed tests for the virus with only tioned why the race was going allowed to attend next week’s after the coronavirus struck ficial confirmation from F1 or contracting the coronavirus. “currently in discussions with the McLaren staff member be- ahead when so many other Bahrain Grand Prix. Al Markhiya shock Rayyan to make their first Amir Cup semis Ayeni Olusegun Doha ’s Josue Gaxiola and Jose Rubio in action at the Katara Cup 2020 being held at Giantkillers Al Markh- Katara Cultural Village’s Amphitheatre on Thursday. iya caused another upset on Thursday as they knocked out six-time winners Al Rayyan Mexican wave hits Katara Cup 1-0 at the Al Stadium to book their first-ever Amir Cup semi- Gstaad Major, clinched the berth in the . I final berth. Gaxiola, Rubio four clashes in a row. never thought that these play- The second division side Gaxiola and Rubio had ers would turn in such kind of had caused a major upset scalp world an incredible nine-point run, amazing performances in Qa- in the last round when they which helped them seal a tar. Ruben is an aggressive net knocked out seven-time win- champions to crucial 1-0 lead and then put player and he proved it in this ners Al Gharafa by a soli- move into final them 7-0 ahead in the second. tournament. tary strike and will now face However, the experienced “Gaxiola is a bit cool and Al Arabi in a dream semi-final. Raajiv Tripathi Brazilians clawed their way he likes to control the match Al Markhiya’s assistant DOHA back into the set and negated from behind. My players have coach Yasin Sharaf had said the advantage, besides getting fire and ambition and they can before the match that the club The Mexican wave literally one set point (20-19), with become champions tomorrow. can spring a surprise while Al hit the Katara Beach Volley- Schmidt taking a touch- out. But to be honest, they have Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre ball Cup as young players nothing to lose now and I will said the Lions will not under- Josue Gaxiola and Jose Rubio also not put any pressure on estimate Al Markhiya. scalped a host of world cham- Results them to win,” added the coach. Al Rayyan though failed to pions and qualified for the gold Round 3: Daniele Lupo / Italy (4) def. Mexicans dazzle Earlier in create any clear cut chances medal match on Thursday. / (5) 21-15, the day, Gaxiola and Rubio cre- 21-18 (0:30); Michal Bryl / Grzegorz Fijalek but began on the front-foot Al Markhiya’s Ahmad Mubarak celebrates scoring from the spot against Al Rayyan at the Al Sadd Stadium At the Katara Cultural Vil- (7) def. Nils Ehlers / Lars Fluggen Germany ated sensation by knocking out as expected. The Lions had on Thursday. lage’s Amphitheatre, Gaxiola (13) 21-13, 21-14 (0:34); Evandro Goncalves / No. 1 seed Russians Krasilnikov chances as early as the second and Rubio, playing their first (6) def. and Stoyanovskiy 21-17, 21-15. minute but a cross into the box Boli was held in the box but the were awarded a penalty kick. game to game, we don’t know overseas FIVB World Beach / Nick; Lucena United States (3) 21-10, 21-12 The former FIVB World Un- (0:31); Josue Gaxiola / Jose Rubio Mexico (28, Q8) failed to pick out anyone in the referee changed his decision to Abdelaziz Hatem could and I am very sure we will Tour event, first disposed of def. / Oleg Stoyanovskiy der-21 runners-up Gaxiola and Markhiya danger area – a sign offside after VAR review. not pull his hand away from fight more in the next game,” current world champions and (1) 21-17, 21-15 (0:38). Rubio took 38 minutes to de- of more near-misses to come. In the second half, Al a floated cross into the box Al Markiya striker Luciano top seeds Viacheslav Kra- Semi-finals: Michal Bryl / Grzegorz Fijalek Poland liver the major shock. Besides, Rodrigo Tabata soon had a Markhiya, having weathered and the referee Meshari Ali al Vazquez said after the match. silnikov and Oleg Stoyanovs- (7) def. Daniele Lupo / Paolo Nicolai Italy (4) 28-26, the world title, the Russians 21-18 (0:43); Josue Gaxiola / Jose Rubio Mexico chance from a free-kick but the the storm ealier, showed more Shamari after consulting the The defeat means Al Rayy- kiy in straight sets in the (28, Q8) def. Evandro Goncalves / Bruno Oscar had bagged the World Tour veteran’s effort was easily gath- composure and defensive dis- VAR awarded the spot kick an’s only hope of securing a quarter-finals. Schmidt Brazil (6) 22-20, 22-20 (0:39). Finals in Rome last season. Sty- ered by Mohamed Said in goal. cipline as Al Rayyan huffed to Al Markhiya. silverware this season lies in Then they went on to hand Friday’s fixtures: 5.45pm: Bronze medal match: anovskiy was second in Qatar Tabata again could have and puffed to no avail. Ahmad Mubarak stepped the QNB Stars League where a 22-20, 22-20 defeat to sixth Daniele Lupo / Paolo Nicolai Italy (4) vs Evandro in 2018 when he and Igor Veli- Goncalves / Bruno Oscar Schmidt Brazil (6) put his side ahead but his shot Yaccine Brahimi was kept up and made no mistake from they trail leaders Al by seeds Evandro Goncalves and 7:00 pm: Gold medal match: Michal Bryl / Grzegorz chiko had lost the final to Dutch was turned onto the the cross quiet and was enable to pen- the spot as the minnows held four points with five matches Bruno Oscar Schmidt in 39 Fijalek Poland (7) vs Josue Gaxiola / Jose Rubio Alexander Brouwer and Robert bar after Said got fingertips to etrate the defence as much on for the most famous win left in the season. minutes in the semi-finals. Gon- Mexico (28, Q8). Meeuwsen. the goal-bound effort. as he had done so far this in the club’s history. “It is difficult to speak after calves won the 2017 Schmidt The young Mexicans set up Yohan Boli should have season. The introduction of “We feel very happy and we this loss, we wanted to qualify and Allison Cerutti were 2015 Gaxiola produced a late the semi-final clash with Bra- done better from the resulting Sebastian Soria did little to did our best. We know that be- for the final and I am disap- World and 2016 Olympic cham- drop to draw level and then Ru- zilian giants and sixth seeds corner but the Ivorian missed impact the game. fore the game nobody thought pointed. The result surprised pions, while Goncalves bagged bio blocked Goncalves to give Goncalves and Schmidt who from close range. In the 80th minute, we could win this but we be- everyone. The responsibility the World crown with Andre his team the first match-point. eliminated Phil Dalhausser Al Rayyan were awarded a Younes Ali’s side finally got lieve in us and you can see how for this loss is for everyone,” Stein two years later. He foiled 210-cm tall Goncalves and Nick Lucena from the penalty late in the first half after the breakthrough when they we gave everything. We go Aguirre lamented. With two victories in a day, again at the net to pull off the United States 21-10, 21-12. The the Mexicans have put them- set and the match. Schmidt Americans have been the run- selves on a course to emulate vented his frustration by throw- ners-up here twice. Dalhausser Chilean Grimalt cousins Este- ing his cap into the court. has also been the world and ban and Marco. Last year, the Mexican team coach Sal- 2008 Beijing Olympic cham- Olympic flame lit in Greece Chileans had also started their vador Gonzalez was delighted pion along side Todd Roger. campaign in Qatar as qualifiers with the sublime performance Lupo and Nicolai and Bryl Athens: The Olympic flame for the 2020T okyo Games was lit in Greece on Thursday in front of a and went home with the title. of his players and commented: and Fijalek made it to the crowd restricted to 100 because of the coronavirus. Only 100 accredited guests from the International On Friday, they will take “This tournament is a very semi-finals with straight for- Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee attended the ceremony, which was on seventh seeds Michal Bryl high level event and it is the ward wins. The Italians ousted televised in Greece, in ancient Olympia. “The Olympic Games are a strong picture of the worldwide and Grzegorz Fijalek, the first event on the Tour outside fifth-seeds and 2019 Chetumal unity of people,” said IOC president Thomas Bach. The Olympic flame is due to arrive in Japan on Poles, who upset Daniele Lupo Mexico for his players. Just 4-Star winners Taylor Crabb March 20 after a Greek relay leg and a handover ceremony in Athens on March 19. (dpa) and Paolo Nicolai, the fourth- like other, we’re also targeting and Jake Gibb from United seeded Italians, by 28-26, 21- the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. States 21-15, 21-18, the Polish Greece’s Anna Korakaki, Rio 2016 gold medallist in the 25m pistol shooting, runs with the Olympic flame 18. This was the fifth meeting “After seeing Gaxiola and pair put it across Nils Ehlers and an olive branch during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia on Thursday.( AFP) between the two teams and the Rubio play like this, I feel we and Lars Fluggen from Germa- Poles, after losing in the 2018 have high hopes of getting a ny 21-13, 21-14.