Sport TUESDAY 10 AuGust 2021 Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra returns to India as superstar I feel very happy that I am getting so much respect from the people (after winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the Tokyo Olympics). Neeraj Chopra Sport | 15 CRICKET: 5TH AND FINAL T20 IN DHAKA Bangladesh 122 for 8 (Naim 23) beat Australia 62 (Wade 22, Shakib 4-9) by 60 runs Murray added QREC announces calendar, racing to US Open main draw season to kick off on October 13 after Wawrinka withdrawal THE PENInsULA – DOHA requirements accurately. We look forward to a successful REUTErs – NEW YORK The Racing Department of the new season for all parties,” Al Qatar Racing and Equestrian Kubaisi said. Former champion Andy Club (QREC), during a meeting Al Boenain said: "We are Murray has been added to the with horse owners and trainers, pleased with this compre- main draw of the US Open yesterday announced that hensive development in the following the withdrawal of action of the new season will programme to meet and reflect Swiss Stan Wawrinka, tour- kick off on October 13 at Al the aspirations and requests of nament organisers said Rayyan racecourse. owners and trainers.” yesterday. QREC has issued two sep- "Their suggestions were Murray, who had hip sur- arate calendars; one for the Al raised through our previous geries in 2018 and 2019, has Rayyan racecourse including 55 meetings and after the issuance only played a handful of ATP race days and the other for the of the first draft of the Tour-level events this year Al Uqda racecourses including programme,to which they pre- having missed the Australian 15 race days making a total of sented a number of valuable Open because of a positive Racing and Technical Adviser to the Chairman of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, Sami 70 race days for the 2021/2022 comments, which were taken COVID-19 test and opting out Jassim Al Boenain, speaks during the meeting. season. into account in the final version. of competing at the French The total number of races The new programme takes into Open. is 531 races, 83 races more than attended by QREC Racing expressed their aspirations for focuses on race variety and account the gradual pro- The 34-year-old Murray the last season. The number of Manager Abdulla Rashid Al a successful season, which will enhancing racing standards. In gression of weekly race reached the third round at races could increase during the Kubaisi, Racing and Technical serve as a basis for their fact, we started to prepare the meetings as the season kicks off Wimbledon but withdrew season when races are divided Adviser to Chairman Sami accurate preparations for future programme as soon as the last to ensure horses reach their from the men’s singles tour- or with new races added Jassim Al Boenain and Handi- seasons. season ended. Our concepts peak potentials in the major nament at the Tokyo according to the developments capper Marcus Weedon. Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing have been based on the meetings, topped by the H H Olympics on the advice of his of the season. Following the meeting, Manager, lauded the cooper- numbers and categories of The Amir Sword Festival days. medical team, dashing his Races at the Al Rayyan owners and trainers, who were ation of owners and trainers. horses as well as the require- It further accommodates all hopes for a third consecutive racecourse will conclude on present, praised the devel- “We have taken into con- ments and suggestions of horse categories as well as their gold medal. May 5, 2022. The races at Al opment of the upcoming sea- sideration that the programme owners and trainers. We have various age groups and ratings Murray, who won the first Uqda racecourse will start on son’s programme, both in terms should include races, which also been keen to complete the and offers fair opportunities to of his three career Grand Slam November 13 will come to a of quantity and suite the various horse cate- programme as soon as possible all through the large number of titles at the 2012 US Open, did close on February 24, 2022. quality. gories,” Al Kubaisi said in order to give them the oppor- races over a variety of dis- represent Britain in the men’s The meeting was T h e y “In line with the QREC’s tunity to prepare for the next tances. We wish everyone all doubles event in Tokyo where strategy, the programme season and set their goals and the best in the coming season.” he lost in the quarter-finals. At last year’s US Open, Murray suffered a straight-sets loss in the second round to Canadian Felix Auger-Ali- assime. Wawrinka, who cap- tured the last of his three career Grand Slam titles at the 2016 US Open, withdrew as he continues to recover from foot surgery. The 36-year-old former world number three underwent an operation on his left foot this year and has not played on the tour since an Riders in action during an earlier edition of The Amir Sword Festival at Al Rayyan Park in this file photo. opening round defeat at the Qatar Open in March. More bad Fans outside Messi’s news for house ‘devastated’ Barca: Injured Aguero out over Argentine’s exit REUTERS – BARCELONA contract but was unable to finalise the deal due to the for 10 weeks Barcelona fans gathered Spanish league’s financial AP – BARCELONA outside Lionel Messi’s house control rules and the club’s yesterday eager for a glimpse huge debts. In more bad news for Barcelona of the club’s greatest ever “I don’t think the club has after the departure of Lionel Messi, player and spoke of their done enough to make him stay, the club said yesterday that new sadness at the Argentine I think it was in the club’s striker Sergio Aguero will not debut leaving the club after 21 years. hands to make him stay, with the club until mid-October A tearful Messi on Sunday beyond the money,” said Barca because of a calf injury. bid farewell to the club he has and Argentina fan Gonzalo Barcelona said medical tests spent his entire career at and Moreno. showed that Aguero has a tendon said he was talking with French Messi said on Sunday that injury in his right calf and will be club Paris St Germain over a PSG was “a possibility” but that sidelined for about 10 weeks. possible move. he had not yet signed any deal. Officials of the Qatar Table Tennis Association pose for a photograph with Team Qatar players It was the latest setback for Bar- “I feel devastated,” said French media have reported at the Hamad International Airport prior to their departure to Jordan ahead of the Arab Table celona after the club announced last Cristian Garcia, wearing a that he is on the verge of doing Tennis Championship which kicks off today. week that it could not sign star Barca shirt with Messi’s name so, however. striker Messi to a new contract and number 10 on the back. There were no signs of because of its financial struggles. “To see a player that I have movement around his house in Arab Table Tennis Championship: Spanish media said Aguero got always followed, who is an the hills of the wealthy district hurt in Sunday’s training session. example for me, to see him of Castelldefels where he has He did not participate at the cer- leave now brings me a lot of made his home with his wife Team Qatar leaves for Jordan emony during which the squad pain.” Messi said he had agreed and three sons, although the was introduced to fans later, nor a 50% pay cut in order to stay player was expected to fly to THE PENInsULA – DOHA Ali Sultan Al Muftah, the Arab Championship will played in the exhibition match in at Barca and sign a new Paris within a day or two. Assistant Secretary of QTTA, be very challenging, espe- which Barcelona defeated The players and officials of is the head of the mission to cially after the long break Juventus 3-0. Barcelona fans wait to see Messi. the Qatar table tennis team Jordan. The team includes due to the COVID-19 pan- Aguero was with the Argentina yesterday left for Amman, Ahmed Khalil Al Mohannadi, demic as all Arab teams and team that won the Copa America in Jordan, to participate in the Ahmed Muthanna Al Awlaki, clubs strive to achieve Brazil last month. Arab Championship which Mohamed Abdel Wahhab, as success and targeting The 33-year-old striker was will be held from today. well as several other players. podium spots. signed in July as a free agent from The 13-day Champi- The women’s delegation "However, our chances Manchester City, where he had onship is organised by the is managed by Noura Al Abri are also good and we also try many injury problems in his 10 Arab Table Tennis Feder- and includes Chinese coach our best to achieve out- seasons at the club. But he still left ation, headed by Khalil Al Sully, and players Maha Ali standing results, especially as City’s record scorer with 260 Mohannadi who is also the Flamerzi, Maha Ali, Maryam since we have prepared well goals. President of Qatar Table Ali and Shawq Al Abdullah. during the recent months. He signed a contract with Bar- Tennis Association (QTTA) Thani Al Zaraa, director We have held training camps celona until the end of the 2022-23 and First Vice-President of of the national teams at both in Qatar and abroad in season with a buyout clause set at the International Table QTTA, confirmed that par- preparation for this event,"Al €100m ($117m).