Shane Watson among 36 cricket internationals for Pakistan Super League page 14 THURSday, FEBRUARY 20, 2020 Seven of world’s top-ten players to feature in Qatar Total Open 2020 Injured Andreescu, Konta pull out of WTA Premier 5 tournament Tribune News Network DOHA

World No. 1 and champion Ashleigh Barty of Australia will lead a string of top stars who will be on show at the Qatar Total Open 2020 that swings into action at the Khalifa In- winner of United States will also be ternational Tennis & Squash playing in the Qatar Total Open 2020 tournament. Complex courts from Sunday (February 23). The 18th edition of the an- nual WTA Premier 5 tourna- Top stars for Doha ment in Doha carries a total prize purse of $2,939,695. ● World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty of Australia ● No. 2 of Romania ● No. 3 Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic ● No. 4 of Switzerland ● No. 6 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine ● No. 7 Sofia Kenin of United States ● No. 8 of the Netherlands Among the others from ● No. 11 Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic the top ten WTA rankings (released on Feb 17th), who would be arriving soon in Qa- tar include Australian Open World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty of Australia will be in the spotlight in Doha at the Qatar Total Open 2020 WTA Premier 5 tournament which begins Belgian Elise Merters, who won the Falcon trophy in Doha last year, champion Sofia at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex from Sunday (February 23). will be back along with 2019 finalist Simona Halep of Romania. Kenin of the US (No. 7), two- time Grand Slam champion, the singles event while the Ooredoo named Silver Sponsor stan’s Zarina Diyas has also and a champion in Doha in doubles will have a draw of 32. Knee setback pulled out due to a yet to be 2017 Czech Karolina Plisko- The draw ceremony for the I’m very sad to announce that Qatar’s leading telecommunications operator has announced confirmed injury. Russia’s va (No. 3), Australian Open championship will be held on I won’t be able to compete in that it is to be the Silver Sponsor for Qatar Total Open 2020. duo of Liudmila Samsonova 2020 finalist, and Qatar Total Friday at the Khalifa Interna- the Qatar Total Open. I’m not Speaking of the sponsorship, Manar Khalifa al Muraikhi – Direc- and Natalia Vikhlyantseva, Open champion in 2014 Si- tional Tennis & Squash Com- tor PR and Corporate Communications at Ooredoo, said: “We’re as well as Belgium’s Ysaline mona Halep of Romania (No. plex at 6pm. at 100% yet and following delighted to once again be supporting this major international Bonaventure have now been 2), Ukrainian Elina Svitolina Meanwhile two stars, my team and doctor’s sporting fixture, and proud to be involved with an event that draws placed in the qualifiers. (No. 6), Swiss Belinda Ben- world No. 5 Bianca Andreescu recommendation I don’t want the spotlight to Qatar. We’re firmly committed to supporting events Tournament Director Saad cic (No.4), twice Wimbledon of Canada, and Great Brit- to take any risk to reinjure my that promote a healthy, active lifestyle, as part of our corporate so- al Mohannadi said, “Though champion Petra Kvitova of ain’s Johanna Konta (world knee. Each day I get closer to cial responsibility strategy, and we’d encourage as many people as we would have loved to see Czech Republic (No. 11) – also No. 14) have withdrawn from being back to the court possible to go along, see some incredible tennis and be inspired. Andreescu and the rest of the a winner in Doha in 2018, and the tournament due to knee competing, but Doha is just too We look forward to an awesome event and some exciting matches stars play at this year’s tour- Dutch Kiki Bertens (8). injuries while USA’s Danielle soon. Hope I can come and play from some of the world’s top women’s tennis players.” nament, we, however, under- Joining them will be de- Collins (ranked 50) will also in Doha next year! Tickets for the sought-after event are now on sale at City Center stand that their health is more fending champion Belgian not feature following abdom- Mall, Doha Festival City Mall and Villaggio Mall, as well as at the important at this moment. We Elise Mertens (currently inal injury, the organisers – 2019 US Open champion venue and online at qatartennis.org wish them a speedy recovery world-ranked 17), and 2014 announced. Bianca Andreescu of Canada and also wish them the best as runner-up “I’m very sad to announce we look forward to welcoming of Germany (now ranked 18). that I won’t be able to com- I can come and play in Doha Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia, them to Doha in the future.” A total of 64 players in- pete in the Qatar Total Open team and doctor’s recommen- day I get closer to being back next year!,” said Andreescu. and Russia’s Svetlana Kuznet- The seven-day tourna- cluding eight qualifiers will in Doha next week. I’m not at dation I don’t want to take any to the court competing, but The latest development sova into the main draw. ment will run from February make it to the main draw of 100% yet and following my risk to reinjure my knee. Each Doha is just too soon. Hope moves USA’s Jennifer Brady, In the qualifiers, Kazakh- 23 to 29.

Al Kass International Cup Amadou Sarr scores winner as Inter Milan knock out Aspire

Tribune News Network a fine long-range angle shot got on the end of a long ball Doha narrowly wide of the post after and nodded it into the path 12 minutes, with Surag then of Aqboub who saw his effort Inter Milan’s Amadou Sarr firing into the arms of Inter saved by the Scottish keeper. scored the only goal of the keeper Paolo Raimondi. At the other end, Lindsay burst match as the Italians ended Inter had a glorious op- between two defenders and fed Qatari hopes of a home success portunity on 17 minutes when Ure, but his shot was saved by in this year’s Al Kass Interna- Gabriele Menegatti powered Hasbi, who was also alert when tional Cup on Wednesday. in a fine left-foot drive that racing off his line after Lindsay The Italians had reached Amir Katoul could only parry got in behind the defence and the semi-finals on each of their into the path of Kifle Gambato looked likely to score. two previous visits to Qatar and but the striker failed to take Rangers levelled on 67 they maintained that record advantage and his effort was minutes and inevitably it was with a hard-earned victory in a well off target. Lindsay who provided the fin- game of very few chances. Surag shot wide as Aspire ish. Icelandic midfielder Jo- Aspire, who have played in continued to push forward hannes Bjarnason sent him all nine editions of the tourna- and the lively striker then through on the right and he ment, had topped Group A on went even closer on the half- Mohammed IV Academy striker Action from the match between Aspire Academy and Inter Milan. shot across the keeper from an their way to the quarter-finals, hour mark as he created space Omar Sadik celebrates scoring angle to find the net. and they were much the better on the edge of the box before against Rangers during their Al ternational Cup. Allan won the ball from Has- the match Aqboub fired home. Sadik, a hat-trick hero in team in the first half with Mo- firing just past the post. Kass International at the Aspire Skipper Omar Sadik san Aqboub just inside the The Moroccans delighted Mohammed VI Academy ’s hamed Surag a constant threat Sloppy defending by Inter Zone on Wednesday. scored the winner with his Mohammed VI Academy half their vociferous fans as they 3-0 victory over Altinordu, down the left. skipper Andrea Pelamatti saw fourth goal of the tournament and he found Robbie Ure who took the lead with one of the again proved the hero when Inter raised their game in him dispossessed by Mobark nine minutes remaining, when as the Moroccans continue to played a fine through ball to goals of the tournament on 27 soaring high to head the win- the second half although they Hamza but he couldn’t make he got away from Abdulnasir impress with their fine passing Lindsay who sent a low right- minutes. Harkness was dis- ner on 83 minutes. had to wait until the 81st min- the Italians pay. to head home Mattia Ortelli’s and quality finishing. foot shot past goalkeeper possessed near the halfway Mohammed VI Academy ute to find the all-important Inter were much improved well-flighted free-kick. The result was harsh on Walid Hasbi. line and the ball was played found themselves down to 10 goal, just as the game seemed after the break but there were Debutants Mohammed Rangers skipper Charlie Lind- The lead lasted just two min- out to the left from where men in the 88th minute when to be heading for a penalty few clear-cut chances and Men- VI Academy stun champions say, who netted his fourth and utes though as Jack Harkness Aqboub sent in a beautiful Mohammed Jazouli need- shoot-out. egatti shot straight at the keeper Rangers Tournament debu- fifth goals of the tournament played a weak back pass and curling shot beyond the de- lessly kicked out at Semple to Inter had the better of the shortly after the hour-mark be- tants Mohammed VI Academy to go to the top of the goals- Sadik sent a shot on goal that spairing dive of McConnell. become the first player in the early stages but Aspire were fore Sarr headed narrowly wide. stunned reigning champions coring charts. Jack McConnell saved, but the The second half was less tournament to receive a red the first to have a shot in anger, It was Sarr who finally Glasgow Rangers to reach the Rangers took the lead on keeper was then out of position than a minute old when McCo- card. It means he will now Chalpan Abdoulnasir sending found the net though with just semi-finals of the Al Kass In- seven minutes when Connor as the most valuable player of nnell was tested again. Sadik miss the semi-finals.