NNBABA | Page 5 Clippers pull off biggest comeback in playoff history Wednesday, April 17, 2019 FOOTBALL Sha’baan 12, 1440 AH It’s crunch time for GULF TIMES Manchester City, admits Guardiola SPORT Page 2 FOCUS All systems in place for Asian Athletics Championships ‘We need to have a very high standard of organisation... to set up a format and scale for the future organisers to match’ By Mikhil Bhat Doha ith the Asian Athlet- ics Championships just around the cor- ner, Asian Athletics WAssociation president and local organising committee chairman Dahlan al-Hamad said the focus is on setting the benchmark for future organisers and ensuring that all systems are in place for a successful World Champion- ships later in the year. The 23rd edition of the Asian event will be held April 21-24 at the state-of-the-art Khalifa In- ternational Stadium, and also serves as a test event for the IAAF Athletics World Championships Doha 2019, which is set to be held in September at the same venue. Over four days, more than 700 elite athletes from across Asia will vie for 186 medals in 21 events for men and women each, with a mixed relay event that will makes its debut at the champi- onships. “The main focus is that this is a test event for the World Cham- (From left) Asian Athletics Championships Doha 2019 Planning and Operation Committee director Eman al-Emadi, vice-president and director general Fahad Ebrahim Jumaa, Asian Athletics Association president and pionships, and we need to have Local Organising Committee chairman Dahlan al-Hamad, Venues Committee director Salah al-Saadi, and Marketing and Communication committee head Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Thani address a press a very high standard of organi- conference at the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil sation, to present it to the IAAF in a good way and also to set up Al-Hamad, who is also the future to include the road races”. sessment and requirement.” age the kids to take up a sport and medals and a bronze, in the 22nd For Barshim, the champion- a format and scale for the future IAAF vice-president, cited Qa- The four-day tournament The organisers are looking for- set a goal for the future. If the edition of the Asian Athletics ships will serve as a comeback organisers to match,” al-Hamad tar’s long history of successfully takes place at Khalifa Interna- ward to hosting a large number kids interact with their heroes Championships in Bhubaneswar, event, having been out of action said at a press conference at the organising many international tional Stadium where innovative of fans at the the venue, which is and champions in schools, and India, this time round, the squad since he suff ered an ankle in- Qatar Olympic Committee head- sporting events and was con- and environment-friendly cool- also a Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup also watch the competition, it will be looking to excel in front of jury while attempting for a world quarters yesterday. fi dent of using that “expertise ing technology has been success- stadium. will inspire them for the future.” home fans. record height in Hungary in July The press conference was also to host an ideal and exceptional fully operating, ensuring optimal “We have a large Asian popu- Team Qatar will be represented “Qatari team will have good last year. attended by Championships tournament that will be remem- conditions for athletes and fans lation in Qatar. Even if a fraction by 29 athletes, including World results. But we must also remem- “Barshim, Alhamdullilah, he vice-president and director gen- bered by Asian athletes and fans”. alike. of those people turn up to watch Champion high jumper Mutaz ber that this is a crucial year be- has recovered. He is on the track eral Fahad Ebrahim Jumaa, Ven- One of the novelties at the Given the eff ects of breeze and the championships, we will have Barshim, 400m hurdles Asian cause this is the year of the World now, and we have included him in ues Committee director Salah IAAF Worlds is going to be the wind on performances of track a full house,” al-Hamad said. Games gold medallist Abder- Championships. You cannot un- the list,” al-Hamad said. “But we al-Saadi, Planning and Opera- night marathon around a circuit and fi eld athletes, al-Saadi said, “We are doing everything from rahman Samba, and 400m 2017 derestimate any nation in Asia, want to get the fi nal ok from his tion Committee director Eman planned on the Doha Corniche. “The technical delegates will be contacting the embassies to get- World Championships bronze because everyone is looking to coach. It is most important for al-Emadi and Marketing and However, the Asian champi- advising us of their requirements ting in touch with the schools. medallist and Asian Games gold prepare their athletes. But Insha him to be fi t, compete here, in the Communication committee head onships will not have any road two days before the champion- We are looking to present some medallist Abdalelah Haroun. Allah we shall see good results Diamond Leagues and also the Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz al- races, even though al-Hamad ships. The cooling systems will of the top Asian athletes to these While Qatar had missed out on from Qatari athletes,” al-Hamad world championships. The goal is Thani. said that “we are planning in the be used depending on their as- schools so that they can encour- a gold, fi nishing with six silver said. the world championships.” TENNIS Djokovic survives Kohlschreiber scare in Monte Carlo AFP “I had to fi gure out how I need- start, it was my fi rst time on this The 56th-ranked Norrie was Monte Carlo, Principality of Monaco ed to move, this kind of match court. But playing here is a dream impressed with the dramatic set- can be expected. It was probably — it’s unreal.” ting of the iconic Monte Carlo good for me to spend so long on Cilic was playing here for the Country Club venue which over- ovak Djokovic was se- the court.” 11th straight year, with quarter- looks the Mediterranean from a verely tested before se- Djokovic was able to avoid a fi nal showings in three of the cliff . curing a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 second straight loss to Kohlsch- previous four editions. “I like the conditions here. win over Philipp Kohls- reiber after the 35-year-old beat Left-hander Pella came to the Everything is kind of on top of Nchreiber to survive his opening him last month in the Indian European clay with a title this each other,” he said. match at the Monte Carlo Mas- Wells third round. season in Sao Paulo. He now “It’s pretty sick kind of playing ters yesterday. Djokovic, who lives in the stands 13-3 on the surface in tennis on the side of a mountain The winner of the last three Principality, is playing his ‘home’ 2019. with a water view.” Grand Slams made eight double event for the 13th time in 14 years, Pella moved into a winning Canadian revelation Felix faults, dropped serve four times winning it in 2013 and 2015 and position as he broke Cilic for the Auger-Aliassime advanced into and smashed a racquet after los- losing in the fi nal on two other eighth time of the afternoon, a second-round contest with ing the second set to his German occasions. winning a six-minute game be- third seed Alexander Zverev after opponent in the second-round Kohlschreiber lost his 12th fore serving out the upset, sav- beating Argentine qualifi er Juan encounter. match from 13 played against ing a break point in the fi nal game Ignacio Londero 7-5, 7-6 (5). The world number one was re- top-ranked opponents, but gave and wrapping up victory as Cilic The 18-year-old Auger-Alias- lieved to avoid defeat in his fi rst as good as he got against an out- fi red wide. sime, who reached last month’s match of the clay season. of-sorts Djokovic, who needed Elsewhere, 2014 champion Miami semi-fi nals as a qualifi er, “It was a diffi cult match, there fi ve match points to go through. Stan Wawrinka collapsed after a now boasts a ranking of 33rd — were lots of breaks (a run of eight strong start to a 0-6, 7-5, 6-3 loss up from 175th when he played straight during the second and PELLA POUNDS CILIC to Italy’s Marco Cecchinato, who here a year ago. third sets),” Djokovic said. Argentine Guido Pella dealt a Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates his win over Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber (not pictured) on the reached the French Open semi- “I’m very happy to win my “There were lots of ups and second-round blow to seventh fourth day of the Monte-Carlo Masters yesterday. (AFP) fi nals last year. fi rst match after Miami, because downs. It was not the prettiest of seed Marin Cilic, beating the In the fi rst round, Briton Cam- I didn’t know what to expect,” he matches. Croatian 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. matches since January’s Austral- reer match at the event in the “This is my best surface, I knew eron Norrie advanced in his de- said. “He played well, but a win is a Defeat in just over two hours ian Open, where he went out in fi rst round on Sunday, emerged a I had chances,” the world number but match at the event, with the Italian qualifi er Lorenzo Son- win.