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THURSDAY 27 MAY 2021 Nasser aims to rewrite his own history at Jordan Rally I have a lot of nice memories here. My start of racing was here in Jordan in 1989 in the Desert Challenge. We are ready and are so happy to see our friend Hamed Al Wahaibi come back to do the race and to compete in the Middle East Championship. I hope all the drivers con- tinue to come back each year.

Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah Sport | 19

NBA RESULTS: Brooklyn Nets 130 - 108 Boston Celtics; Los Angeles Lakers 109 - 102 Phoenix Suns; Dallas Mavericks 127 - 121 LA Clippers ready to host Diamond : Five things to look out for League round: Dr. Al Kuwari DIAMONDLEAGUE – DOHA Mutaz Essa Barshim, Sha’Carri Richardson and Timothy THE PENINSULA – DOHA Cheruiyot are among the athletes with their eyes on a first Wanda victory of 2021 when the season Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al continues in Doha tomorrow. Kuwari, Second Vice President The second Wanda Diamond League meeting of the 2021 of the Qatar Olympic Committee season begins at from 17:58 (GMT+3), with a number of inter- (QOC) and President of the national stars and Diamond Trophy holders taking their first Qatar Athletics Federation step on the Road To The Final. Here are five things to look out (QFA), yesterday said the Local for: Organizing Committee (LOC) is ready to host the Doha round of Barshim and Samba on home soil the 2021 Diamond League. Doha wouldn’t be Doha without Mutaz Essa Barshim. The The Second Round of the high jump superstar is Qatar’s most successful athlete on the 2021 season will be held Diamond League circuit, with three Diamond Trophies under tomorrow at the his belt. After taking it easy last year, he now returns to action venue of the Suheim Bin Hamad on home soil this Friday. Stadium. He will be joined by another local star in Abderrahman Dr Al Kuwari said that the Samba. The 400m hurdler wowed the word when he broke Doha Round will witness par- the Diamond League record four times in five appearances ticipation of world champions in 2018, and will be looking to reassert himself at the top of and Olympic Games stars the pile alongside world champion and Diamond Trophy holder besides athletes who sparkled Karsten Warholm this season. Tomorrow, Samba will line up at the 2019 against a testing field which includes Rai Benjamin and double Championships that were held Diamond Trophy winner Kyron McMaster. in Doha 2019. He said the medals winners Richardson after first Diamond at the Olympic Games in Rio de League win Janeiro in 2016 will also be After kicking off her season with a strong second-place warming up in Doha for this Owab Barrow finish in Gateshead, US sprint prodigy Sha’Carri Richardson summer’s Games in Tokyo. (100m), Jamal will be hoping to pick up her first ever Diamond League win “The Doha Round is a major The Doha Round is a major event that will be Hairane, Abdi- when she lines up in Doha. event that will be watched by watched by millions of people around the world rahman Saeed Beaten by Dina Asher-Smith at the season opener last millions of people around the especially in light of these exceptional circumstances Hassan, Mahdi El week, the 21-year-old faces a strong field in the Qatari capital, world especially in light of these that the world is going through due to the outbreak Hafez, Musaeb with Diamond League veterans such as Shelly-Ann Fraser- exceptional circumstances that Abdulrahman Pryce, Blessing Okagbare and Murielle Ahouré also looking the world is going through due of the COVID-19: Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Balla, Rabi to notch up their first wins of the season. to the outbreak of the COVID- Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Mohamoud 19,” Dr Al Kuwari said. Committee and President of the Qatar Athletics Mubarak Pole vault champions (800m) The QAF President said the Federation , Abder- Just under two years ago, the world’s best female pole LOC is ready to conduct the rahman Samba, vaulters did battle in Doha at the World Athletics Champion- event providing safety to ath- Doudai Ismail ships, with Anzhelika Sidorova (gold) beating Sandi Morris letes, officials and fans. Bakar, Amor (silver) and Katerina Stefanidi (bronze) to the ultimate prize. “Doha is ready to host this since we decided to subject all athletics in particular. We have Ebed Abdalmujied, Ashraf The three-way rivalry will be resumed tomorrow. Ste- global sporting event, and God participants to be part of a taken special care of the ath- Hussen Osman, Muhand fanidi, Sidorova and Morris lead a high-quality pole vault field willing, we will fulfil this chal- bubble environment and that letes from the moment they Khamis Saifeldin (400m as they once again vy for superiority in the Qatari capital. lenge through great cooperation will help us conclude a suc- landed at the Hamad Interna- hurdles), Mohamed Moussa It is a battle which is too close to call. Stefanidi has dom- with the Ministry of Public cessful event,” the first VP of tional Airport from where they Abdulrahman, Hussein Ibrahim inated the series and held the Diamond Trophy since 2016, Health (MOPH) and the relevant QOC said in an interview posted reached the accommodation Issaka, Abdel Madjid Mohadjir but has not won in Doha since 2017. Both she and Morris have state authorities in the country. on Al Kass website. and now they have access to top Ammar Ismail Yahia Ibrahim already jumped 4.80m this year, while Sidorova has form in We are fully committed to keep Khalifa Abdul Malik, Deputy training facilities.” (400m),Musab Adam Ali, Doha with her World Championship triumph. athletes and fans safe during Director of the Meet, said: “All Khaled Rashid Al Marri, Hamza Driouch, Mohamed Al and after the event,” he added. things are going well at Suhaim Director of the Championship Garni (1500m) and Yaser Walsh and Cheruiyot launch Diamond “We are following all health Bin Hamad Stadium. The and a member of the Board of Baghrab (3000m Trophy defence protocols underlined by MOPH presence of some of the world’s Directors of QAF, said Qatar Steeplechase). With three Diamond League titles since 2016, Tom Walsh and state authorities. We want best athletes here this week will be represented in the Al Marri said Olympic and remains the man to beat in the men’s shot put, and the New to deliver a safe and best version reflects how Qatar remains one Diamond League and sup- world champion Mutaz Essa Zealand star faces an in-form field in Doha. As well as world of a Diamond League round. It of the most popular destinations porting events by Tossin Barshim will feature in the high junior record holder Konrad Bukowiecki, Walsh faces two is possible to do that especially for sports events in general and Ogunode, Femi Ogunode, jump competition. athletes - in Filip Mihaljevic and Armin Sinancevic - who have thrown further than he has this yea. Also launching his title defence on Friday is 1500m master Timothy Cheruiyot, who has held the Diamond Trophy for the last three years. This year, he may face a challenge from rising star Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who got his campaign off to a winning start in Gateshead. Obiri aiming for Doha quadruple Hellen Obiri has fond memories of Doha. The city was the scene of her second successive 5000m gold medal in the World Athletics Championships in 2019, and the two-time Diamond Trophy winner has also clocked up three victories in the , in 2014, 2019 and 2020. The Kenyan star will looking to get her campaign off to a Doha's Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium is ready to host the second round of the Diamond League. winning start as she looks to regain her Diamond League title from Sifan Hassan this season. Qatari players prepare for next month's joint Qualifiers against and Oman

Qatari players cool themselves down during a practice session as they gear up for their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers Group E matches against India and Oman to be played next month. Qatar will play India on June 3 before meeting Oman four days later. Both the matches will be played at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. RIGHT: Goalkeeper Youssef Hassan during a practice session. THURSDAY 27 MAY 2021 SPORT 19

Second round of 2021 FIA Middle East Rally Championship flags off today Nasser aims to rewrite his own history at Jordan Rally THE PENINSULA – DEAD SEA, Qatari driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah on his way to win the Jordan Rally in this file photo. The Jordan event has the car on Monday in the Pan- JORDAN attracted 13 entries in the FIA orama stage before we went to category and competitors from the recce. We did a 30-kilometre The 2021 edition of the world- nine nations. They completed test to fine tune everything and renowned Jordan Rally, round their two days of stage recon- the plan was to do another test two of this year’s FIA Middle East naissance yesterday before cars today. The stages look good. The Rally Championship, gets pass through the mandatory FIA organisers have done a really underway at the Dead Sea today. technical checks on this good job of planning. We have Record-breaking Qatari rally morning. won the Group N category in the driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah Several drivers, including last three years and, of course, will be aiming to rewrite his own Abdullah Al Rawahi and Hamed we want to finish the rally history and win the event for a Al Wahaibi of the Oman Rally without problems.” 14th time as he bids for a 17th Team, also managed to fit in a Several of the leading drivers regional rally title and a 78th shakedown of their cars at the will attend the official pre-event victory on a round of the cham- start of the week to iron out any press conference on the podium pionship since 2003. last minute issues. before the first car crosses the Speaking during the recce Al Meshari Al Thefiri is bidding Dead Sea start ramp from Attiyah said: “We are really organisers and Prince Feisal to “I have a lot of nice memories Al Wahaibi come back to do the to continue his remarkable run 16.20hrs on this afternoon happy to come back here to make this happen. It is very here. My start of racing was here race and to compete in the Middle of successes in the MERC2 cat- The competitive action will Jordan after the rally was can- important for our region. Me and in Jordan in 1989 in the Desert East Championship. I hope all the egory with his Mitsubishi Lancer then take place over 10 gravel celled last year because of Mathieu (Baumel) are excited Challenge. We are ready and are drivers continue to come back Evo X. The Kuwaiti said: “Eve- special stages tomorrow and COVID-19. Thanks to the to be here. so happy to see our friend Hamed each year.” rything is excellent. We tested Saturday. Asian Qualifiers set for epic return and decisive battles

AFC – KUALA LUMPUR

The Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 are set to return with the spotlight shining brightly on Group F leaders and centralised host Japan who will take on Myanmar on Friday at the Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba. Barty excited The COVID-19 pandemic restricted the Asian Qualifiers The quest for supremacy to just four matches since remains wide open in Group for Games November 2019, but after G with just five points sepa- much anticipation, the stage rating the four teams still in is set for 57 matches to be contention for top spot. debut in Tokyo played over 19 days of Vietnam remain in pole thrilling action as the race to position but victory for either REUTERS – SYDNEY qualify for the final rounds of Malaysia or host United Arab the Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Emirates in their battle on Winning a Grand Slam is the ultimate goal Cup China 2023 reaches its Thursday could change the for most tennis players but Ash Barty says climax in eight centralised dynamics of the standings as there is no greater honour than representing venues across the Thailand prepare to face your country and the world number one sees Continent. Action from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Asian Cup 2023 qualifying match between Indonesia in a gripping the Olympic Games as the pinnacle of sport. The attention will shift to India and Qatar at the Al Sadd Stadium in Doha in this September 10, 2019 file photo. contest that could also see the Barty, the 2019 French Open champion, the Suzhou Olympic Sports Blue Elephants ascend to the cannot wait to pull on Australia’s green and Centre on Sunday when top. gold colours when the Tokyo Games begin Group A centralised host Leaders Australia, who boast time), before centralised host spot in the final round of the Meanwhile, the Group H in July after the event was postponed by a China PR take on Guam in an an unblemished record of take on Cambodia at Asian Qualifiers. action returns on Saturday, year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. all-or-nothing battle for the four victories in as many the Bahrain National Stadium FIFA World Cup 2022 and June 5, with host Korea Tennis is normally an individual sport home side who will be matches, are also in action in Riffa two hours later. Group E host Qatar are in Republic fancying their though women players also have the oppor- looking to reduce the eight- on the same day in what Just 400-odd kilometres action against India with chances of extending their tunity to represent their country at the point deficit with leaders promises to be an epic away, Saudi Arabia will Bangladesh slated to take on record of nine consecutive annual Billie Jean King Cup. Syria. contest against host Kuwait. provide the backdrop for Afghanistan in Doha where FIFA World Cup appearances “The green and gold for me is always the Nepal and Chinese Taipei Meanwhile, the June 3 Group D’s only match of the all eyes will be on the West to double figures, but the pinnacle,” Barty told Olympics.com. will kick off the action in action continues in Group C night when Palestine take on Asians, who could open up a Taeguk Warriors will face “I’ve had a very small taste of it, but I Group B on June 3, which with Asian powerhouses at the King Fahd passage to the final round of tough opposition against an think the Olympics is the pinnacle of every also marks the return of Islamic Republic of Iran and International Stadium in the qualifiers for the fifth best inspired Turkmenistan side sport. It’s a remarkable place to be able to qualifying action with 11 riv- fourth-placed Hong Kong Riyadh at 9pm, with both second-placed team should equally determined to carve test yourself against the best in the world. eting battles taking place facing off at the Al Muharraq sides needing a victory to they emerge as leaders on the out their place in Asian All of the best athletes in the world come across the rest of the groups. Stadium at 5:30pm (local remain in the for a final match day on June 15. football history. together in one place, which is quite special. Barty was not even 5-years-old when Cathy Freeman, wearing a green, white and gold bodysuit, won the 400m gold medal at RS Berkane gearing up for CAF the 2000 Sydney Olympics but the indig- enous track star made a lasting impression Super Cup showdown on her. “I remember her outfit ... and, not really knowing a lot (else) of what was happening being such a youngster,” said Barty, who is the first indigenous Australian since Evonne Goolagong Cawley to top the world rankings. Suarez Navarro heads to Paris Morocco's RS Berkane players, the winners of the CAF Confederations Cup, during a practice session after recovering in Doha, yesterday ahead of the CAF Super Cup 2020-21. They will take on Egypt's Al Ahly, the CAF Champions League winners at Jassim Bin Hamad from cancer Stadium in tomorrow's title clash. REUTERS – PARIS

Former world number six Carla Suarez Navarro has confirmed her participation at Children barred from second England vs New Zealand Test the French Open, which starts on Sunday, a month after she said she had been cured of REUTERS – LONDON The same rule will apply to upgrades of child tickets to cancer. the Royal Ascot horse racing adult ones or amendments to Foakes to miss Tests The 32-year-old Spaniard said in Sep- Children will not be allowed to from June 15-19, which has also their bookings. tember that she was diagnosed with early- attend England’s second Test been selected in the second Under-16s will get in free after tearing hamstring stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma and would need against New Zealand at phase. to T20 cricket later in the year, to go through six months of Edgbaston next month after the An Edgbaston spokesman however. REUTERS – LONDON chemotherapy. match was chosen as one of the told Reuters just over 2,000 Royal Ascot said 12,000 “It makes me tremendously excited to British government’s pilot tickets, out of around 70,000, people would be admitted each England wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes has be able to participate in Roland Garros,” she events to allow bigger crowds. had been sold to under-16s day. been ruled out of next month’s two-test series against said on the website of the Spanish tennis The June 10-14 test will be across all five days before the “It is an opportunity to New Zealand after tearing his left hamstring, the federation. the first event in the second ban which he confirmed was demonstrate how racing events country’s cricket board (ECB) said yesterday. “I have been working these last few phase of the government pro- down to medical consent are perfectly suited to safely Foakes, 28, was set to play in what would have months to give myself the opportunity to gramme assessing the risk of issues. hosting spectators in greater been his first home series before sustaining the injury compete one last time in Paris. COVID-19 transmission at “We would have loved to numbers as we progress when he slipped in the dressing room after Surrey’s “I am looking forward to jumping on to mass participation events. have under-16s, it’s an unfor- through the government’s County Championship game against Middlesex. the court and feeling again how special this Edgbaston will now be tunate downside of the pro- roadmap for the easing of He is expected to be out for at least three months. tournament has always been for me.” allowed around 18,000 spec- tocols,” he added. “You want lockdown restrictions,” said James Bracey is now due to make his debut Suarez Navarro, who is currently ranked tators a day, or 70% of as many children as possible British Horseracing Authority behind the stumps at Lord’s, with England coach 118th in the world, returned to practice in capacity, but all ticket holders to see test cricket.” Purchasers chief executive Julie Chris Silverwood calling up Kent’s uncapped Sam December and said last month she had com- must be aged 16 and over. would be offered full refunds, Harrington. Billings as Foakes’s replacement. pleted her treatment and was cured. Sport THURSDAY 27 MAY 2021 18 Official Tokyo 2020 partner urges Games cancellation REUTERS – TOKYO

Japanese newspaper publisher Asahi Shimbun, an official partner of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, called for the Summer The logo of Games to be cancelled in an Tokyo 2020 editorial yesterday, citing Olympic risks to public safety and Games is Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas reacts after scoring a goal against the strains on the medical seen behind Nashville Predators in game five of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Play- system from the COVID-19 a traffic sign pandemic. offs at PNC Arena on Tuesday. Hurricanes clinched a 3-2 come-from-behind victory at Tokyo Several polls have on Tuesday night, pushing Carolina to a 3-2 lead in the first-round series. Metropolitan shown the majority of the Government public is opposed to holding the Games this summer, Office concerned about tens of building. NBA: Mavericks take 2-0 thousands of athletes and officials descending on a country where vaccinations series lead over Clippers have proceeded slowly. Doctors’ associations AGENCIES – LOS ANGELES have protested holding the Games, investors have Luka Doncic blew past Los Angeles talked up the benefits of Tokyo 2020 CEO ravages of overseas nations, defenders for 39 points, seven assists shelving them, and mav- Toshiro Muto shrugged off it has struggled to control a and seven rebounds, leading the visiting erick businessmen such as the editorial, saying that “it Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro fourth wave of infections Mavericks to a 127-121 victory over the Masayoshi Son have called is only natural for all sorts Muto shrugs off the across the country. Clippers on Tuesday and a 2-0 lead in for cancelling the games. of media organisations to editorial, saying that “it is Tokyo governor Yuriko the Western Conference first-round “We ask Prime Minister have all sorts of opinions” only natural for all sorts of Koike said yesterday she play-off series. (Yoshihide) Suga to calmly about the issue, at a news media organisations to have will ask that the current Doncic’s second straight 30-plus- and objectively assess the briefing held yesterday state of emergency, origi- point game leaves the Mavericks in a situation and decide on the evening following a Tokyo all sorts of opinions” nally set to be lifted at the commanding position as the best-of- cancellation of the event this 2020 executive board end of May, to be extended seven series heads back to Dallas for summer,” said the paper, a meeting. Tokyo 2020 President Seiko for “about another month,” Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on left-leaning daily often He said the board did Hashimoto said only one mere weeks before the Sunday. critical of Suga’s ruling not discuss the possibility of coach tested positive for Games is scheduled to start Tim Hardaway Jr. added 28 points, Liberal Democratic Party. a cancellation or post- on July 23. Kristaps Porzingis 20 and Maxi Kleber “We are far from a situ- ponement, instead dis- coronavirus over the course Just over 5% of the 13 for Dallas. ation in which everybody cussing the importance of of four test events with nation has received vacci- Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with can be confident they will communicating how safe almost 7,000 visitors from nations, and it has recorded 41 points. Paul George contributed 28 LA Clippers guard Paul George dunks be ‘safe and secure’,” the the Olympics would be to about 719,000 infections points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and some 50 countries. the ball during the second quarter of paper added, invoking the the public. and 12,394 deaths. Reggie Jackson added 15 points. government mantra about Olympic organisers Although the majority Nets 130, Celtics 108 game two against the Dallas Mavericks the Games. have insisted that the Games coronavirus precautions are of the population remains Kevin Durant scored 26 points and on Tuesday. In a statement later yes- can go ahead as planned. effective”, she said. unvaccinated, the Japan Joe Harris added 25 as Brooklyn seized terday, the Asahi Shimbun Speaking ahead of the “Even baseball matches Olympic Committee is control early and cruised to a 2-0 series and seven of Brooklyn’s 31 assists. said it remained committed board meeting, Tokyo 2020 are being held currently expecting to start inocu- lead over Boston in Game 2 of their Former Celtic Kyrie Irving finished with to being an official partner President Seiko Hashimoto with spectators. Why not go lating the Japanese Eastern Conference first-round series. 15 and Blake Griffin chipped in 11 as no of the Tokyo 2020 Games said only one coach tested ahead with the Games?,” Olympic delegation from Harris hit seven of 10 3-point tries Brooklyn starter played more than 29 and that its editorial division positive for coronavirus Kozo Yamamoto, a heavy- June 1. to tie the franchise record for 3-pointers minutes. had its independent mission. over the course of four test weight politician of the The Australian softball in a playoff game set by Deron Williams Lakers 109, Suns 102 The company would events with almost 7,000 ruling Liberal Democratic team is set to arrive in Japan in 2015. Durant added eight rebounds, Anthony Davis amassed 34 points, “continue its activities as an visitors from some 50 Party, said in an interview on June 1 for a pre-Olympic five assists and four blocked shots and 10 rebounds and seven assists as Los official partner while mon- countries. with Reuters. training camp in Gunma, a made 8 of 12 shots as the Nets shot 52.3 Angeles held off host Phoenix to even itoring the COVID-19 situ- The events “are evi- Although Japan has prefecture about 150 km percent and hit 17 3-pointers. the first-round Western Conference ation,” the statement said. dence that our current been spared the coronavirus northwest of Tokyo. James Harden contributed 20 points playoff series at one game each.