SPORT Tuesdayy 2121 March 20172017 PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Federer, Vesnina Marsh and Handscombomb MotMotoGP:o Qatar's Losail win at Indian defy India as Aussiess Circuit set to open Wells secure draw intriguing season Qatar, Iran get set for World Cup qualifier Rizwan Rehmat Qatar, coached by Fossati, on Iran Squad The Peninsula Sunday played a friendly game with the national Olympic squad, Alireza Beiranvand, Mohammadreza whereas Iran - managed by Que- Akhbari, Rashid Mazaheri, Ramin Reza- he Qatar football squad iroz - arrived in Doha on eian, Vouria Ghafouri, Jalal Hosseini, Pej- and the visiting Ira- Saturday. man Montazeri, Morteza Pouraliganji, nian team yesterday Four days ago, coach Fossati Ezatollah Pourghaz, Milad Mohammadi, hit the training pitches brought together players of the Mohammad Ansari, Ehsan Hajsafi, Saeid in two separate ses- national junior and senior teams Tsions ahead of their 2018 FIFA ahead of the side's two qualify- Ezatollahi, Ali Karimi, Omid Ebrahimi, World Cup qualifying match on ing matches this week. Masoud Shojaei, Sardar Azmoun, Reza Thursday. A news report said Fossati Ghoochannejhad, Karim Ansarifard, Me- With just two days to go for had been keen not to over-train hdi Taremi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Vahid the key Asian Zone qualifying the national team players since Amiri, Sasan Ansari match at Al Sadd Stadium, both some of the names have been Coach: Carlos Queiroz squads trained under the watch- playing non-stop in the Qatar ful gaze of coaches Jorge Fossati Stars League (QSL) besides fea- calf injury he sustained while play- and Carlos Queiroz. turing in AFC Champions League ing for Bundesliga side Wolfsburg clashes as well. last month. Qatar Squad "I'll be careful not to over- Quiroz will have enough work the Al Rayyan and 'local' inside information on Qatari Hassan Al Haydos, Saad Abdullah Al Lekhwiya players," Fossati said tactics since two of his players Sheeb, Ibrahim Abdul Magid, Pedro at the time. Fossati said taking Montazeri (Al Ahli) and Morteza Miguel, Hamid Ismail, Ali Asad, Moham- care of key players was key in Pouraliganji (Al Sadd) ply their med Kasola, Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed his planning for the two games. trade in the Qatar Stars League. Yasser, Asim Umar, Mohammed Musa, Following their game against Luis Martin, Ali Hassan Afif, Ali Zainabud- Iran, Qatar will play Uzbekistan Qatar national team players taking part in a training session under the watchful eyes of coach Crucial match din, Khizar Kamal, Abdul Matal, Sebastian (away clash) on March 28. Jorge Fossati in Doha yesterday. Soria, Rodrigo Tabata, Umar Bari, Mishal Two days ago, Qatar Foot- Jorge Fossati's side Abdullah, Ahmed Mohammed, Yasser ball Association (QFA) President team players in a brief chat ses- Sunday, last week Qatar lost to 23, Quiroz's side will host China takes on Group A Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin sion. A team official said the QFA Azerbaijan 2-1 in a friendly at Al at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran Abubakr, Khalifa Abubakr, Al Hadi Ali, leaders in a crucial Ahmed Al Thani attended the President met the players to give Sadd Stadium. five days later. The list of 23 play- Yusuf Hussain, Bualem Khoukhi, Akram World Cup qualifying national team training session at them confidence ahead of what The Iranians currently lead ers chosen by head coach Queiroz match on Thursday at Ali Afif and Fahad Ali. Lekhwiya Stadium. will be two key games for the Group A by a solitary point from does not, however, include the Al Sadd Stadium. Coach: Jorge Fossati The QFA President met with national side. second-placed Korea Republic. influential Ashkan Dejagah who Fossati and engaged the national Besides their friendly on Following their clash on March has been ruled out following the FIG ART World Cup Qatar Ahmed Al Dayani trains in Doha ahead of the FIG ART World Cup which begins from tomorrow. More than 240 gymnasts will feature in the four-day championship at Aspire Academy, hosted by Qatar Gymnastics Federation, which ends on March 25. Besides Al Dayani, hosts Qatar will have two more gymnasts Nabil Musa and Jana Elkeky competing at the event. The trio will join a star cast that includes Romanian giant Marian Dragulescu, Australian delight Emily Little and Armenian duo Harutyun Merdinyan and Artur Davtyan. Defoe sets sights on 'dream' 2018 World Cup in Russia London Cup qualifier at home to Lithua- -- it's something you've always AFP nia. Asked if he is already thinking wanted to do from being a kid, about playing at the World Cup growing up watching the great eteran striker Jermain in Russia, Defoe replied: "Of players over the years," he said. Defoe has his sights on a course, yeah. I know how impor- "Playing in the major tour- V"dream" place in Eng- tant it is to play for your country." naments, going out and land's 2018 World Cup squad Defoe was a member of the Eng- emulating the players you've after returning to the fold fol- land squads that went to the 2010 seen on TV. Being lucky enough lowing a near four-year World Cup and Euro 2012 and to have experienced it, you just absence, he said yesterday. says the experiences whetted his want it more and more. The 34-year-old Sunderland appetite for major tournament "I've been blessed to have player was recalled by manager football. gone to two major tournaments. Gareth Southgate for Wednes- "Just going to a major tour- So if I do get an opportunity to day's friendly against Germany nament -- travelling, getting to go to another major tournament, in Dortmund and Sunday's World the hotels, playing the games it'd be a dream." SPORT TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2017 25 Paralympic Day in Doha Qatar team at Special Olympics Winter Games Students taking part in the Paralympic Day pose for a picture with Qatar Olympic Committee The Qatar team, taking part in the ongoing 11th Special Olympics World Winter Games Secretary General, Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, the President of Qatar School in Austria, poses for a picture during the opening ceremony on Sunday. The prestigious Sports Federation (QSSF), Rabea Al Kaabi, the QSSF Secretary General, Ali Al Hitmi, and games are bringing together 2,700 athletes from 107 countries, including 15 Arab countries. the Qatar Paralympic Committee (QPC) Secretary General Dr Hassan Al Ansari, in Doha The delegation is headed by Executive Director of Qatar Special Olympics Amir Al Mulla on Sunday. The event, held by the Organizing Committee of Schools Olympic Program along with Sarah Al Dosari. Abdullah Nasser Al Mannai, Saud Al Sulaiti, Khalifa Al Dosari (SOP) in collaboration with the QPC, brought together 712 students with special needs and Mohamed Jaber Al Bahih are representing Qatar at the games. Qatar is participating representing 70 schools who competed in several sport events. in the Special Olympics World Winter Games for the fourth time in a row. Federer, Vesnina win at Indian Wells Indian Wells But Federer claimed a tightly AFP contested first set with a break in the 10th game, pushing oger Federer claimed Wawrinka into a forehand error a record-equalling to end a tense rally for a set point, fifth ATP Indian Wells on which Wawrinka sent another Masters title on Sun- forehand long. day, continuing his Wawrinka responded imme- Rcareer resurgence with a 6-4, 7-5 diately with a break to open the victory over Stan Wawrinka. first set -- after Federer had held Federer, sidelined some six all 42 of his service games in the months after knee surgery last tournament to that point. year, returned to win his 18th He had saved the lone break Grand Slam title at the Austral- point he faced -- in his straight- ian Open in January. sets thumping of Rafael Nadal in With Sunday's triumph in the the fourth round -- but sent a all-Swiss final, Federer joined backhand long on break point to Novak Djokovic as the only men give Wawrinka the advantage in to win five Indian Wells titles, Roger Federer of Switzerland throws his wristband to fans the set. Wawrinka then with- adding to those he won in 2004, in the stands as he celebrates after defeating compatriot stood two break points to hold 2005, 2006 and 2012. Stanislas Wawrinka in the men's final of the BNP Paribas Open for a 2-0 lead, which proved At 35, Federer is the oldest at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California on short-lived as Federer won the ATP player to win one of the elite Sunday. next three games to take a 3-2 Masters titles, supplanting Andre lead. Agassi who was 34 when he won year because of injury. "I'm not players that I did and the way I Finally Wawrinka found in Cincinnati in 2004. as surprised as I was in Australia, did. himself serving to save the "It's been just a fairytale but still this comes as a big, big "I couldn't be more happy. match. A backhand into the net week once again," said Federer, surprise to me, nevertheless, to It's an absolute, huge start to the gave Federer a chance, and he Roger Federer of Switzerland holds the BNP Paribas Open who missed Indian Wells last win here again and beating the year for me. Last year I didn't win seized it with a volley winner. trophy aloft after his win in the final. any titles. I don't think I was in Meanwhile, Elena Vesnina any finals except maybe Brisbane capped a stellar Indian Wells last year.