SPORT Friday 1 June 2018

PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Zidane quits five Pakistan eye rare days after Champions series win as England League win aim for turnaround QFA announces key dates of the new football season RIZWAN REHMAT April 1 to May 11: Amir Cup the AFC Champions League THE PENINSULA quarter-finals - will be  April 4: Semi-finals of the Cup rescheduled if the teams : The iconic Khalifa Inter- April 18: The final of the advance in the top club event in national Stadium and the Jassim August 3: Sheikh Jassim Cup (Al Duhail vs Al Rayyan) Asia, it was confirmed. Bin Hamad Stadium will host the A few of the clubs that make first four rounds of the new their base camp at neutral football season that is set to kick venues will follow the pattern off in August, details showed here from last year. However, newly- yesterday. promoted Al Shahaniya may The new football calendar choose was officially announced by the as their home club. The decision QFA’s Competitions Committee will be announced in the coming Qatar juniors get after meeting with representa- days. tives of the clubs. Some of the key dates of the The two venues - which will new season include semi-finals be used for matches during the of the Qatar Cup on April 4, 2019. set for England 2022 FIFA World Cup - are The final of the Qatar Cup will be equipped to host games with played on April 18 while the Amir state-of-the-art cooling Cup next year will commence on clash in Toulon technology. April 1. The final of the Amir Cup THE PENINSULA On May 19, the Khalifa Inter- will be played on May 11, 2019, it an equaliser just seconds before national Stadium staged the Amir was announced. the final whistle, Cup final between Al Duhail and The QFA Competitions Com- TOULON, FRANCE: Qatar will Miguel expressed his hap- Al Rayyan in what was the final mittee said the regular 2018-19 take on England today in their piness over the performance of match of the 2017-18 football football season will break in Sep- third clash at the Toulon Inter- the players against China. season. tember, October, November, national Championship. The coach pointed out the The Qatar Football Associ- January and March. Qatar, who lost to Mexico in Qatar team in Toulon is under ation (QFA), the game’s ruling The five breaks will allow their opening clash, produced 19 whereas the Chinese team is body in the country, has con- national teams including Qatar to a fighting 1-1 draw against China fielding a squad which firmed the new season will com- feature in their 2022 FIFA World in the second game on Tuesday. under-21. mence with the Sheikh Jassim Cup Cup qualifying matches and the Qatar is using the eight- The coach also said he is on August 3. 2019 Asian Cup. team event to prepare the expecting a tough fight against The one-off clash will see The Qatar national squad - national juniors for this year’s England. Qatar football giants Al Duhail coached by Felix Sanchez - is AFC U-19 Asian Cup to be held The top three teams at the taking on Al Rayyan. Al Sadd’s players and officials celebrate on the podium with expected to feature in 10-12 inter- in Indonesia in October. AFC U-19 Asian Cup in Indo- The schedule of the QNB Stars the trophy after winning the 2017 Sheikh Jassim Cup at Al national friendlies in the run up After their 1-1 draw against nesia (October 18 to November League (QSL) will be announced Duhail Stadium in this file photo. to the 2019 Asian Cup. China, coach Bruno Miguel said 4) will qualify for the FIFA U-20 on July 3, it was confirmed. Qatar will launch its prepa- Qatar’s participation in the World Cup to be held in Poland The first four rounds of the rations with a training camp in Toulon event is aimed at next year. QSL will see matches held at the The football season will kick Asian Cup to be held from January Austria from June 24 to July 16, it ‘improving the level of our team Qatar won the 2014 edition Khalifa International Stadium and off a month earlier than usual to 5 to February 1 in the UAE. was announced last month. in preparation for the 2018 AFC of the AFC U-19 Asian Cup held Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium to accommodate a busy calendar for QNB Stars League Matches Sanchez has already announced U-19 Asian Cup’. in Myanmar to qualify for the tackle the hot temperature in the the Qatar national team that will involving Al Duhail and Al Sadd a batch of 34 players for the Qatar conceded a penalty 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup month of August. be appearing at next year’s AFC - two of the sides appearing in training camp in Austria. in injury time as China managed which was held in New Zealand. CAF President hails Qatar’s World Cup preparations QNA admiration of the exclusiveness that this will greatly make the hailed the substantial devel- levels, pointing out that Qatar of football in Qatar, evident in finals succeed, especially from opment that he saw at Aspire is always a leader and proactive DOHA: The State of Qatar is the proximity of the hosting the organisational side. Academy, which he had visited in serving football. well-equipped to stage a venues of the Qatar World Cup, Ahmad said he has no seven years ago. He said that He also said that Qatar’s successful and ideal World Cup which, he added, will be the doubt that Qatar World Cup each country needs a similar participation in the 2019 Copa when it hosts the finals in 2022 most accessible tournament will be successful and excellent institute for the sake of devel- America is good for the thanks to its abilities and edition as it allows fans to in light of the full Qatari com- oping the game domestically national team’s preparations capacities, Confederation of attend more than one game in mitment to organize the global and continentally. for the 2022 World Cup as African Football (CAF) Pres- the same day. showpiece. He added that he Ahmad praised Qatar Qatar would take on heavy- CAF ident Ahmad Ahmad said. The CAF president said reviewed the phases of prepa- Football Association’s (QFA) weight national teams and President Speaking during an Qatar is a developed country rations and the under-con- commitment to the partnership have the unique chance of par- Ahmad interview with Al Kass Channel, and its people are open to all struction facilities. with CAF and working con- ticipating in a major Ahmad Ahmad expressed his deep fields, notably football, adding The African football chief stantly to develop it to greater tournament. Sensational Samba creates new records in Rome

Abderrahman IAAF - CHINTHANA WASALA Norway’s Karsten Warholm was thank-you especially. We are now Samba of Qatar ROME THE PENINSULA placed second in yesterday’s event giving the 400m hurdles the on his way to win MEN'S 400M HURDLES with a time of 47.82 secs and by attention it deserves,” the jubilant the men’s 400m DOHA: Qatar’s 400m hurdles doing so, he updated his own Qatari athlete said. hurdles event 47.48 secs. specialists, Abderrahman Samba national record. “Next, I will race in Oslo - I during the Rome improved his world leading time Turkey’s World Championship take every race very seriously and IAAF Diamond with a record-setting performance silver medallist Yasmani Copello the big goal is always to run fast.  League at the New Asian Record to clinch victory at the Rome IAAF was placed third (48.63 secs) in the I don’t know how fast I can run Olympic Stadium in New World Leading Time Diamond League yesterday. high-profile event, which also saw but we will see in the near future,” Rome yesterday. New Diamond League Record At the Olympic Stadium in the Rio Olympic gold winner Samba said. Rome yesterday, the Qatari star re- from the USA and Later, Samba’s compatriot, New Rome Meet Record wrote the Asian record, Diamond the Kenyan former world secured the Samba's Personal Best League record and the event record champion Nicholas Bett vying for second position in the men’s 400 with an impressive 47.48 seconds, honours. metres by pushing USA’s Fred New Qatar National Record bettering his own record of 47.57, “It’s a big feeling for me to Kerley to his limits. Kerley won he set in May’s Doha meeting . break not only my personal best with a time of 44.33 secs while Samba’s performance yes- but also the Asian record, the Haroun finished four hundredths terday also erased the previous national record and the Diamond of a second behind him to earn Asian record (47.53 secs) held by League record. I now hope every Qatar’s second podium finish of the Hadi Soua’an Al Somaily of Saudi race will feel like this,” Samba said day. Arabia, established in Sydney, Aus- after his race. USA’s Paul Dedewo was placed tralia 18 years ago. “I say thank you to my rivals third with a personal best of 44.58 The reigning world champion, for pushing me - I told Karsten secs. 18 SPORT FRIDAY 1 JUNE 2018 Capitals edge Knights to Zidane quits Real Madrid level Stanley AP Liga (in 2017). It was the greatest thing,” the Frenchman said. Cup final MADRID: Zinedine Zidane quit Zidane’s decision to quit as Real Madrid coach yesterday, came after Cristiano Ronaldo AFP less than a week after leading the hinted he could be leaving the team to its third straight Cham- club. The star forward said after LAS VEGAS: The Washington pions League title, saying the the Champions League final Capitals held on to beat the club needed a change in against Liverpool in Kiev that “it Las Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 command. was very beautiful” to have on Wednesday, handing the The 45-year-old Zidane, who played with Madrid. He has yet upstart expansion club a rare was coach for two and half to make any announcements home defeat to level the NHL seasons, said he felt it was the about his future since then. Stanley Cup final at one game right moment - for him and for Zidane was hired in January apiece. the team - to make the move. 2016 for what was his first major Washington captain Alex “This club needs a change to Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane leaves after announcing head-coaching job. The former Ovechkin scored the go-ahead keep winning,” Zidane said. “With his resignation in Madrid yesterday. star player arrived surrounded goal in the second period as me it would have been compli- by doubts because of his lack of the Capitals knotted the best- cated to keep winning.” coaching experience but quickly of-seven championship series It was a surprising League titles, one Spanish League “You have to know when to ones, and I don’t forget them,” surpassed expectations. as it heads to Washington for announcement by Zidane, who title, one Spanish Super Cup, two quit. After three years, (the club) Zidane said. “I want to leave Zidane replaced Rafa Benitez games three and four on Sat- won nine titles as Madrid coach, UEFA Super Cups and two Club needs a change in speech, a new when everything is going well. after a stint with Madrid’s “B’’ urday and Monday. including the three Champions World Cups. work methodology.” This is a good moment to end it team. He had been an assistant Vegas, who surged back “It was a completely unex- Zidane mentioned the well.” to Carlo Ancelotti when Madrid to win game one on Monday, pected decision,” Madrid pres- struggles the team faced this Zidane spoke little about his won the Champions League in lost at home for just the ident Florentino Perez said. season, including in the Spanish future but said he is not immedi- 2014. second time this “Today is a sad day for me, for the league and the Copa del Rey. ately looking to coach another As a player, Zidane was in post-season. fans and for all the people who Madrid finished third in the club. Perez also didn’t talk much two consecutive Champions The Knights had opened This club needs a change work at the club. I wish we could league - 17 points behind about the club’s search for a new League finals with Juventus, the scoring through James to keep winning. With always have Zidane by our side, champion Barcelona - and was coach. losing both times, including to Neal less than eight minutes me it would have been but we know that when Zizou eliminated at home by Leganes Zidane said his best moment Madrid in 1998. He finally won into the contest. complicated to keep makes a decision, the only thing in the quarterfinals of the Copa with Madrid was when he was the European title as a Madrid Washington answered winning. After three years, we can do is to accept it and del Rey, a moment which Zidane signed to play for the club in 2001. player in 2002. with a goal from Lars Eller late respect it.” said was the worst of his coaching “As a coach, there were a lot With France, he won the 1998 in the first, and seized the lead (the club) needs a change Zidane said there wasn’t a career with the club. things, like winning the Cham- World Cup. In the 2006 final, he with second-period goals in speech, a new work specific reason that led him to his “We went through good pions League, but if there was one was sent off for headbutting Italy from Ovechkin and Brooks methodology: Zidane decision. moments but also complicated specific moment, it was to win La defender Marco Materazzi. Orpik. Shea Theodore scored on a powerplay late in the second to pull the Golden Neymar Knights within one, but the Capitals -- who lost leading scorer Evgeny Kuznetsov to Germany hungry for injury in the first period -- held on. Goalie Braden Holtby’s 37 saves included a sprawling back-to-back titles stop against Alex Tuch with 1:59 remaining to preserve the win. AFP capable of raising their perform- Earlier in the third, the Neymar left ances for the big occasions. Capitals penalty killers BERLIN: Joachim Loew believes The 58-year-old stepped up thwarted a 5-on-3 power-play Germany will be hunted “like from his role as assistant to opportunity for 68 seconds. out of Brazil never before” when they attempt replace Jurgen Klinsmann as head After Neal beat Holtby to become the first team for 56 coach in 2006 and Germany went with a shot from the left face- years to successfully defend the on to finish as runners-up at Euro off circle to put Vegas up 1-0 training camp World Cup in Russia. 2008, then third at the 2010 at 7:58 of the first period, Brazil, who lifted the Jules World Cup. Washington scored the next AP Rimet trophy in 1958 and 1962, His crowning moment was three goals. were the last team to win back- when Mario Goetze scored the Eller tied it 1-1 at 17:27 of to-back titles, but Germany’s head winning goal in the 2014 World the first, firing in a shot from : After saying last week that he was not coach Loew says his squad must Cup final. the bottom of the right circle 100 percent healthy, Neymar was left out of Brazil’s show the necessary hunger to However, Loew enhanced his off a pass from Michal main team yesterday at its World Cup training camp. repeat their Brazil 2014 triumph. status in Germany by winning the Kempny. The Paris Saint-Germain striker is still being “Germany will be hunted like 2017 Confederations Cup, beating Eller set up Ovechkin for hampered by a foot injury. never before, and near-super- Chile 1-0 in the St Petersburg final, a power-play goal from the Before heading to London on Sunday, Neymar human forces will be needed if we despite his brave decision to take bottom of the left circle to give said he had not fully recovered after a week of want to end up becoming world an inexperienced squad to Russia Washington a 2-1 lead at 5:38 training with the national team in Brazil. But he pre- champions again,” warned Loew. and rest his star players. of the second. dicted that he would be better for the tournament Loew sees Brazil -- who beat His reward was a contract German Eller one-touched a pass in Russia, which begins on June 14. Germany 1-0 in a friendly in extension which will carry him national from the goal line on the right Brazil will face Croatia in a friendly on Sunday Berlin in March, -- Spain, England, through to the 2022 World Cup football side to Ovechkin and the in Liverpool. It is not clear if Neymar will start. France and Argentina as Ger- finals in Qatar. team head Russian star one-timed the In Thursday’s practice, Brazil coach Tite used many’s main threats at Russia His record of 106 wins in 160 coach puck for his 13th goal of the Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus up front. 2018. matches, with 30 draws and 24 Joachim play-offs. Thiago Silva was also put in the practice team, “Only us, as world champions, defeats, gives him a win ratio of Loew during While the Golden Knights in the place of Marquinhos. have anything to lose.” 66 percent. a training are trying to become the first Earlier, the Brazilian soccer confederation said Germany have reached at He narrowly session debut team in major US sports midfielder Renato Augusto injured his right knee least the semi-finals of every missed a German in Girlan, history to win the title in their and could miss the game against Croatia at Anfield. major tournament since the 2006 national team record northern first year, the Capitals are The 30-year-old Augusto is likely to be rested World Cup finals with Loew in in March when Italy, ahead vying for a first title in their for the rest of the week. charge. Gabriel Jesus’ winning of the FIFA 43-season history -- having Brazil has been practicing at Tottenham’s training Under his stewardship, goal for Brazil in Berlin World Cup reached the final for just the center since Monday and will stay until June 8. Germany have cemented their robbed Loew of a 23rd consec- 2018 in second time, 20 years after The team’s last pre-World Cup friendly will be reputation as a tournament team utive game without defeat. Russia. they were swept by Detroit in against Austria on June 10. 1998. Al Rajhi extends Rally Kazakhstan advantage THE PENINSULA Aktau for the remaining two quickest time by 11 seconds to position in their South Racing Frenchman Patrice Gar- overnight halts, a mere 8min consolidate fourth overall in his Nissan Navara. Spanish team- rouste was again the man to beat AKTAU, KAZAKHSTAN: A third 38sec separates first from third Ford F-150 Evo and, despite mate Fernando Alvarez had suf- in the T3 category and the Polaris fastest time in four days in Rally position in a MINI lock-out of the losing nearly an hour on the fered clutch issues and heavy RZR 1000 driver recorded Kazakhstan enabled Saudi podium positions. FIA World Cup day’s timed section stuck in a time penalties the previous day another stage win in a time of Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi to leader Jakub Przygonski and tricky sand dune, Frenchman Luc and recovered well to set the 12th 5hrs 50min 48sec. Overnight double his outright lead to over Belgian navigator Tom Colsoul Alphand clung on to fifth overall quickest time. Shagirov lost well leader Santiago Navarro com- eight minutes as teams tackled slipped back to third in the in X-raid’s MINI Buggy. over an hour on the stage with pleted the special 7min 57sec a fourth selective section of second X-raid MINI John Cooper G-Force driver Andrey technical issues and slipped behind the Frenchman and 398.57km between Kenderly and Works Rally and now trail the Rudskoy maintained sixth place behind Krotov as well to hold extended his advantage over Aktau yesterday. Russian duo of Vladimir Vasilyev and his team-mate Boris Gadasin 12th overall. fellow Spaniard José Pena Al Rajhi said: “Today we had and Konstantin Zhiltsov (MINI managed to pass Viktor Khoro- Qatar’s Adel Abdulla Campo to 20min 01sec. Kazakh our first puncture after 16km. We Cooper Countryman) by 33 shavtsev (MINI John Cooper recorded his second successive Dmitry Pitulov was third quickest changed it very fast and then we seconds. Works Rally) in the overall stage win in the T2 category in a on the day to stay above Gar- had a second puncture after The Russian complained Yazeed Al Rajhi rankings and climbed to seventh. rented Toyota Land Cruiser, but rouste in the rankings. 200km and we had to drive that he lost time in the dust of The fifth quickest time on the there were large delays for Kaza- Sergey Kupriyanov won the around 180 (km) with no spare. other vehicles on a stage where day’s stage enabled England’s khstan’s Kirill Chernenkov - who National Rally stage in the first I started fourth but we attacked several of the leading cars were a lot of drops and sharp dunes Harry Hunt to strengthen his grip began the day with a lead of of the Team Kamaz Masters like hell. You need to find good running close together for long and vegetation in the sand. Eve- on ninth overall in the PH Sport 10min 12sec over Russia’s Kon- trucks in a time of 5hrs 12min places to overtake. It was not periods. Zhiltsov commented: rything okay except for an Peugeot 3008 DKR. stantin Ivanov - and OFF-ROAD 00sec. easy to overtake (Martin) Prokop. “It was a really interesting incident with the Sentinel. We Germany’s Jürgen Schröder Kazakhstan’s Marat Abykayev. Today, the penultimate stage Luckily we were in a chott and special stage, dust, fesh-fesh and will see.” and his son Dan moved above They were still out in the desert of the event runs for 298.04km we managed to get through.” difficult dunes. I don’t remember Czech driver Martin Prokop Yerden Shagirov and Denis as the leaders returned to service to the north of Aktau sections of With the rally returning to the dunes like that. There were beat Przygonski to the third Krotov and back into 10th in Aktau. which were also used in 2017. FRIDAY 1 JUNE 2018 SPORT 19

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after victory over Argentina’s Guido Pella yesterday. Serena rallies to advance as Nadal and Halep cruise

AGENCIES French wild-card entry Fiona Serena Williams Ferro. of the US during PARIS: Serena Williams battled Halep’s next opponent, her match against back from a set and break down Andrea Petkovic of Germany, beat Australia’s Ashleigh to defeat Australia’s Ashleigh Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-0, 7-6 Barty yesterday. Barty 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the (5) to reach the third round. French Open third round Sharapova is competing at yesterday. Roland Garros for the first time The three-time champion and since 2015. Next for Sharapova is former world number one, a matchup against sixth-seeded dressed again in her all-black Karolina Pliskova, the runner-up catsuit, is playing her first Slam at the 2016 US Open and a sem- since winning the 2017 Australian ifinalist in Paris a year ago. Plisk- Open while two months pregnant. ova’s twin sister Kristyna lost to The 36-year-old, seeking a Serena in the first round this 24th Grand Slam title, will face week. either Germany’s Julia Goerges champion lived up to the status Simona Halep, third-seeded Pliskova reached the third or Alison Van Uytvanck of by easily dispatching Guido Pella Garbine Muguruza and two-time round with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory Rafael Nadal Belgium for a place in the last 16. of Argentina 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 on Court champion Maria Sharapova all over 2015 French Open runner- If she gets past the third Suzanne Lenglen. powered into the third round with up Lucie Safarova. completed round, Williams could face old He will be up against Richard straight-set victories. Muguruza’s third round another rival Maria Sharapova for a place Gasquet of France in the next Halep showed no signs of opponent is Sam Stosur of Aus- in the quarter-finals. round. Gasquet advanced to this fatigue in beating wild-card entry tralia. Ferro, ranked 257th, posed straight-set Earlier, Rafael Nadal com- stage for the eighth straight year Taylor Townsend 6-3, 6-1, despite little difficulty for the 2016 win to reach pleted another straight-set win by defeating Malek Jaziri 6-2, 3-6, playing on consecutive days. champion. to reach the third round, 6-3, 6-0. Sharapova improved to 13-0 They exchanged breaks of the third extending his Roland Garros Among other seeded players in second-round French Open serve at the start of the second round, record to 81-2. advancing were No. 3 Marin Cilic, matches by beating 50th-ranked set. But the Spaniard broke Ferro Nadal is once again the big No. 6 Kevin Anderson, No. 7 Donna Vekic of Croatia 7-5, 6-4. again in the seventh game to take extending his favourite on his favourite surface Dominic Thiem and No. 15 Lucas And Muguruza impressed the lead and closed out the win Roland Garros. following a tremendous clay- Pouille. with her easy movement around with her first match point on court season, and the 10-time In women’s play, top-ranked the court in a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ferro’s serve two games later.

Pakistan eye Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed during nets Qatar name squad for rare series win yesterday. as England aim AFC Volleyball Cup for turnaround FAWAD HUSSAIN Qatar will take on AFP THE PENINSULA Vietnam, Thailand and Australia LONDON: Pakistan captain Sarfraz DOHA: Qatar coach Camilo Soto in their group Ahmed believes his side can hit yesterday announced a 13-man matches at AFC even greater heights against Al Anabi squad to participate in Volleyball Cup. England in the second Test at Head- the AFC Volleyball Cup to be ingley despite a nine-wicket win in held in Chinese Taipei in August. the series opener at Lord’s. Argentinean Soto, who Victory, completed inside four became Qatar’s coach in days at the ‘home of cricket,’ put December last year, picked the Pakistan 1-0 up with one to play players from various clubs on and on the verge of a first series win basis of their performances in in England since fast bowling greats various international assign- Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis ments and the recently-con- starred in a 1996 success. cluded domestic season. Pakistan were widely acknowl- series win in England 22 years Ben Stokes after the all-rounder The list includes Mubarak edged to have outplayed England ago. suffered a tight hamstring during Dahi, Bilal Abunbout, Sulaiman in all departments at Lord’s in the “If we do win this, it will be fielding practice at Headingley Saeed and Milos of Al Rayyan – first Test of the current campaign a series we’ll never forget,” he on Wednesday. the Amir Cup champions. The list but wicket-keeper Sarfraz has added. Stokes will now undergo a also includes Sultan Hussein, urged them not to rest their laurels. “The last time we won a scan to assess the full extent of Othman Abdul Wahed (Qatar “We need to keep improving series in England was in 1996, the injury and is set to face a Club), Ghanem Al Rumaihi, all the time,” Sarfraz said. “As well when Wasim and Waqar were fitness test before England Ahmed Bassam, Rennan, Ibrahim as we played at Lord’s, we can still around, and we drew at Leeds decide whether he can face Said (Al Arabi), Ali Al Kanani (Al play better than that. then,” he added. Pakistan at Yorkshire’s head- Ahli), Khalid Shamia (Al Gharafa) “We made four 50s at Lord’s -- Sarfraz, however, urged his quarters when the series finale and Nadir Abubaker (Police). and if one of them had gone on to players to consign their Lord’s starts today. Ali Ishaq has been appointed the big hundred that would’ve been success to the history books. Uncapped teenaged Surrey as Assistant Coach while Said even better. (Same with the “We have to forget Lord’s seamer Sam Curran has been Aman has been named as the volleyball Cup, which will be Australia is scheduled on August bowlers) if they take three or four and move on to this now,” he called up as cover for fellow Managing Director. Said Salem held from August 8 to 15, will 10. wickets, make it five or six.” said. “If we want to move ahead paceman Stokes. Al Jamaani will serve as General feature 10 teams divided into All the teams except for Sarfraz is well aware of what it as a team we have to forget our “Of course if Ben’s fit we Supervisor. three groups. Qatar have been Chinese Taipei qualified for the would mean to emulate Pakistan’s wins. want him in the side, he’s one of The squad will undergo a bracketed in group C also event after the 2017 Asian Men’s “We did well, we enjoyed it our best players, he brings a lot strenuous training camp in Doha including Australia, Vietnam and Volleyball Championship in for two days, but now we’re to the table and offers so much during which the national team Thailand. Gresik, Indonesia. Chinese here,” Sarfraz added. to this team,” Root told Sky will also play a couple of friendly The group B comprises Iran, Taipei are taking part in the “If we are to move up in the Sports yesterday. matches as part for preparations China and Chinese Taipei while event by virtue of being the rankings we need to forget our “We’ve had some good the Asian challenge. The AFC group A includes Japan, Kaza- hosts. If we do win this, it wins and keep moving on.” preparation, the guys have really khstan and South Korea. The Al Anabi’s training Meanwhile, England captain worked hard and now it’s just AFC VOLLEYBALL CUP GROUPS Qatar will start their AFC camp will start later this month will be a series we’ll Joe Root has admitted his side doing it, going out and proving Volleyball Cup campaign against and will continue till almost Pool A: Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea have a “point to prove” as they a point, putting a really strong Vietnam on August 8 and will two months. During the camp never forget: Pool B: Iran, China, Chinese Taipei

Captain Sarfraz look to square a two-Test series performance in as a group and play their second match on the the team will play friendly with Pakistan. showing some pride in the Pool C: Qatar, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand following day against Thailand. matches against India and Root’s men could be without badge.” Qatar’s last group match against Azerbaijan.

CAS ruling in doping case takes Bolt’s 9th memedaldal

AP the 4x100-meter relay when Bolt test results should be ignored or the Burns, Emmanuel Callender, 2012 at thehe LondonLondon OOlympics,lympics, in took the baton third and helped IOC (disciplinary) decision should Richard Thompson and Aaron a time of 36.8436.84 seconds.seconds. LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Usain Jamaica win in a world record of otherwise be overturned for certain Armstrong. The IOC should Dozensns ofof athletesathletes ttestedested Bolt (pictured) won’t be getting 37.10 seconds. alleged failures.” upgrade Japan to silver and Brazil positive foror bbannedanned ddrugsrugs in an back his ninth Olympic gold In fresh analysis of Beijing The verdict was expected, and to bronze. IOC-orderedred reanalysisreanalysis programprogram medal. samples by the International spoils Bolt’s perfect Olympic The Jamaica team in Beijing using neww andand more accurate A Court of Arbitration for Sport Olympic Committee in 2016, career of three gold medals in the also included Michael Frater and tests on samplesamples stored since judging panel yesterday dismissed Carter tested positive for the stim- 100, 200 and 4x100 at three con- Asafa Powell. the 2008 Beijing OOlympicslympics Jamaican sprinter Nesta Carter’s ulant methylhexaneamine. secutive games in 2008, 2012 and Carter, now 32, was also on and 201212 LonLondondon appeal against disqualification Jamaica was disqualified and 2016. Bolt’s team for three straight world Olympics.. from the 2008 Beijing Olympics stripped of the relay title. With Jamaica’s disqualification championship relay gold medals, Carter’s’s case for a positive doping test dis- The CAS panel said it “could not confirmed again, the gold medals in 2011, 2013 and 2015. They were was the oonlynly covered eight years later. accept any of the arguments raised will go the Trinidad and Tobago also teammates when Jamaica set one involvingving Carter ran the opening leg in by Nesta Carter contending that the team of Keston Bledman, Marc another 4x100 world record in Jamaica.