Sport FRIDAY 2 APRIL 2021 15 Tayf impresses as Thomas wins Qatar Bautista Agut eases past Gold Sword in spectacular fashion Medvedev at Miami Open THE PENINSULA - DOHA

Ronan Thomas savoured one REUTERS — MIAMI of his more memorable days as a jockey by guiding Umm Qarn’s Roberto Bautista Agut main- Tayf (Amer x Djelmila) to a Gr 1 tained his spotless record P/A Qatar Gold Sword victory against Daniil Medvedev with on turf at the Qatar Racing and a 6-4, 6-2 quarter-final victory Equestrian Club’s (QREC) Al over the world number two at Rayyan Park. the Miami Open, ensuring Thomas entered the final there will be a new ATP race with hopes of adding to his Masters 1000 winner on three wins on the day and he Sunday. did exactly that. Thomas part- Four of the top six on the nered the Alban de Mieulle- men’s tour have skipped trained 9YO horse to a length Miami, and with the exit of the victory in the 2000m run for Russian top seed on 4YO+ Purebred Arabians. Wednesday there are no Tayf clocked a time of players with a Masters 1000 2:08.57 as Thomas won the top title left in the draw. prize of $142,500. Medvedev, who replaced H E Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al Thani during the prize distribution ceremony at the QREC's Al Rayyan Race Park yesterday. Ronan Thomas Mon’nia, ridden by Tomas Rafa Nadal as No. 2 last month, guided Tayf to Gr 1 P/A Qatar Gold Sword victory yesterday. Lukasek, finished in second spot went into the quarter-final while Julian Smart-trained with a 17-2 win-loss record for Ebraz, who had Albert Sanna in Al Rayyan Park. Jockey Faleh respectively. Bughanaim won $17,600) and Lekhraib (Marco when jockey Thomas guided the the season but had lost to the the saddle, had to settle for the Bughanaim steered the Debbie $142,000 while Guillambert got Casamento, $8,800) sealed the 4YO to a 5½-L win in the 6f experienced Spaniard in their third place. Lukasek won Mountain-trained 5YO gelding richer by $55,000. Sanna won next two places out of 11 entries. Class 1 run for 3YO+ TBs. This two previous career meetings. $55,000 while Sanna collected to a 2¾-length victory in the $27,500. Khalifa Bin Sheail Al was Thomas’ third successive And there was no third $27,500 for his efforts. 2200m run for 4YO+ TBs. Producing a late surge in the Kuwari’s Pom Malpic (FR) win of the day. time lucky for the Russian, In a commanding win, Eng. Pedro Cara, ridden by JP day’s sixth race, Mohammed Bin (Pomellato) completed a double In the day’s second running, with seventh seed Bautista Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s Seey- Guillambert, and Pazeer, who Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah’s Sir winning Al Wajba Trophy with Umm Qarn’s homebred Agut sealing the win in 92 oubyme (FR) (Siyouni) landed had Sanna in the saddle, fin- Monlau (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau) Lukasek in the sadde. Equinoxe (QA) (Atlantic Air x minutes. the Gr 1 Qatar Gold Trophy at ished in second and third spots won the Qatar Silver Sword. With Lukasek holding the Thurayya) won the Local Thor- “To beat Daniil in two sets, Soufiane Saadi rode oughbred it’s because I played great the Alban de Ronan Thomas event with tennis,” the 32-year-old Horse Racing results Mieulle-trained colt guides Tayf past Thomas Spaniard told reporters. to a 1¼-length win in the finish line riding the “I was very solid and I the 1850m run for in the feature Alban de could play with a lot of rhythm, QATAR GOLD SWORD (Gr1 PA) (Far Bend) 4YO P/As. of the day at Mieulle- make him work a lot. Tayf (FR), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas, $142,500 Sir Monlau Qatar Racing trained 4YO “Physically I felt well on clocked a time of and Equestrian colt to a the court. It was a very tight QATAR GOLD TROPHY (QA Gr1) (Far Bend) 2:00.67 as Saadi Club’s Al Rayyan 2-length first set. Well, it was a great Seeyoubyme (FR), Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain, Faleh won $85,500. Tarek Race Park. Tayf win in the match from my side.” Bughanaim, $142,500 Du Soleil, ridden by won Gr 1 P/A 1850m run. After eight tight games in Bughanaim, finished Qatar Gold This was the opening set, Bautista Agut QATAR SILVER SWORD second worth Sword . Thomas’ nudged ahead with a service Sir Monlau (FR), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi, $85,500 $33,000. Djafar, second win break for 5-4, leaving who was ridden by of the day Medvedev to smash his QATAR SILVER TROPHY Guillambert, ended completed racquet in frustration. Sealine (QA), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Carlos Henrique, $45,600 in third spot worth in a time of $16,500. 1:52.04. RESULTS AL WAJBA TROPHY Also yesterday, Umm reigns, the Ali Al Kubaisi- Thomas won the top prize of Men’s Singles Quarter-finals Pom Malpic (FR), Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi, Tomas Lukasek, $45,600 Qarn’s Sealine (QA) (Amer trained filly galloped to a $45,600. Jannik Sinner (21), Italy, def. Alexander x Jaljalah) landed the Qatar ½-length win in the 1850m Umm Qarn’s Al Arabie (FR) Bublik (32), Kazakhstan, 7-6 (5), 6-4. SEALINE SPRINT TROPHY Silver Trophy. Carlos Hen- Class 2 run for 3YO TBs. Pom (Al Mamun Monlau x Altesse Roberto Bautista Agut (7), Spain, def. Daniil Taxiwala (IRE), Osama Al-Dafea, Ronan Thomas, $45,600 rique rode the Alban de Malpic clocked 1:52.79 as D’aroco) won the Purebred Mieulle-trained 7YO horse Lukasek won the top prize of Arabian Maiden Plate in spec- Medvedev (1), Russia, 6-4, 6-2. LOCAL THOROUGHBREDS to a neck win in a time of $45,600. tacular fashion to start the day’s Women’s Singles Quarter-finals Equinoxe (QA), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas, $45,600 1:42.24 in the mile run for The Eng. Osama Omer Al proceedings. Maria Sakkari (23), Greece, def. Naomi Osa- 4YO+ Local Purebred Ara- Dafea-owned and trained Tax- Thomas rode the Alban de ka (2), Japan, 6-0, 6-4. PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE bians. Henrique won iwala (IRE)(Holy Roman Mieulle-trained 4YO filly to a Bianca Andreescu (8), Canada, def. Sara Al Arabie (FR), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas, $17,100 $45,600. Emperor) completed a hat-trick 3¼-length win in the 7f run for Sorribes Tormo, Spain, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Aahil (Ronan Thomas, landing Sealine Sprint Trophy 3-6YOs. New Zealand complete Sri Lanka’s Bangladesh T20 series Nissanka sweep with 65-run win holds up REUTERS — AUCKLAND opening stand with Martin Guptill, who also belted five West Indies New Zealand opener Finn Allen sixes and a four in his 19-ball 44. smashed 71 off 29 deliveries to The touring side, who had REUTERS — NORTH POINT, ANTIGUA help the hosts thrash Bangladesh lost 3-0 in the preceding ODI by 65 runs in the rain-shortened series, suffered the ignominy of Inclement weather and a stoic knock third international being bundled out for 76 in 9.3 from Pathum Nissanka prevented yesterday to complete a 3-0 overs, with New Zealand leg- West Indies from wrapping up Sri sweep of the series. spinner Todd Astle picking up Lanka’s first innings on the third day Allen, who will turn 22 this 4-13 in his two overs. of the second Test on Wednesday, month, hit 10 fours and three Black Caps skipper Tim leaving the match firmly in the sixes in his knock to help New Southee dismissed opener balance. Zealand put on a total of 141-4 Soumya Sarkar and Bangladesh Nissanka, playing only his second after wet weather forced the captain Liton Das off successive Test, was 49 when rain match at Auckland to be reduced deliveries in the first over and Rain shortened the last T20 between New Zealand and Bangladesh yesterday. brought a premature close with Sri to 10 overs per side. returned later to also pick up the PIC: COURTESY @BLACKCAPS TWITTER Lanka 250-8, still trailing by 104 runs. The right-hander added 85 of Mosaddek Hossain to The 22-year-old, who scored a in under six overs for the finish with 3-15. on debut in the first Test, showed a maturity as he scored quickly to cut into the deficit and frus- trate the hosts on a day hampered by rain and high winds. Twenty20 World Cup: ICC holds talks with Only 42 overs were possible at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua with Sri Lanka losing five India to resolve Pakistan visa ‘guarantee’ for the addition of 118 runs after resuming on 136-3. DUBAI REUTERS — committee, led by former The West Indies scored 354 in India captain Anil Kumble, Pakistan Board their first innings. The first Test was Cricket’s world governing also decided to continue with drawn. body has held encouraging the umpire’s call in the chairman Ehsan Mani has talks with India’s cricket Decision Review System asked the ICC to guarantee SCOREBOARD board (BCCI) over visa and (DRS), despite the protocol visas for its players and West Indies 1st Innings – 354 tax arrangements as the facing heavy criticism from support staff ahead of the Sri Lanka 1st Innings (overnight 136-3) country prepares to host the former and current players tournament, as relations D. Karunaratne c Bonner b Joseph ...... 1 L. Thirimanne b Roach ...... 55 Twenty20 World Cup in in recent months. between the two neighbours October, the International The ICC, however, said it O. Fernando lbw b Mayers ...... 18 have been frosty. D. Chandimal c sub (H. Walsh Jr) b Gabriel 44 Cricket Council (ICC) said had tweaked the DRS pro- D. de Silva lbw b Blackwood ...... 39 yesterday. tocols for leg-before reviews P. Nissanka not out ...... 49 Pakistan Cricket Board since 2013 due to political India,” the ICC said in a to ensure “the same umpire’s N. Dickwella c da Silva b Holder ...... 21 chairman Ehsan Mani has tensions. statement. call margin around the clear errors in the game whilst S. Lakmal c Brathwaite b Joseph ...... 6 asked the ICC to guarantee The ICC has also held “This included an update stumps for both height and ensuring the role of the D. Chameera c da Silva b Holder ...... 2 visas for its players and talks with the BCCI over from the BCCI on positive dis- width. umpire as the decision maker L. Embuldeniya not out ...... 0 support staff ahead of the securing tax exemptions for cussions with the Indian gov- “The cricket committee on the field of play was pre- Extras (lb4, lb4, nb6, w1) ...... 15 tournament, as relations the tournament from the ernment around tax arrange- had an excellent discussion served, bearing in mind the Total (103.1 overs, 8 wkts) ...... 250 To bat: V. Fernando between the two neighbours Indian government. ments and visa guarantees. around umpire’s call and element of prediction involved Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Karunaratne), 2-64 (O. Fernando), 3-77 have been frosty. “The Board received an “It is anticipated that both analysed its use extensively,” with the technology. (Thirimanne) 4-152 (Chandimal), 5-177 (de Silva), 6-203 (Dick- India and Pakistan have update on the ongoing prep- issues will be resolved over Kumble said. “Umpire’s call allows that wella), 7-214 (Lakmal), 8-231 (Chameera) not hosted a cricket series arations around the ICC the next month.” “The principle under- to happen, which is why it is Bowling: K. Roach 16-4-54-1 (4nb), S. Gabriel 14.1-3-33-1, A. between the two countries Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in The ICC cricket pinning DRS was to correct important it remains.” Joseph 22-4-64-2 (1w), J. Holder 21-3-40-2 (2nb), K. Mayers Sport

FRIDAY 2 APRIL 2021 BautistaB Agut ousts Medvedev at Miami Open

ToT beat Daniil in two sets, it’s because I played great tennis. I wwas very solid and I could play with a lot of rhythm, make himh work a lot. Physically I felt well on the court. It was a very tighttig first set. Well, it was a great match from my side.

RobertoRoR Bautista Agut Sport | 15

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Tissot Grand Prix of Doha: Vinales expects tough challenge in second MotoGP week

THE PENINSULA — DOHA

Maverick Vinales, winner of the The second round of the opening round of the 2021 championship - Tissot Grand MotoGP World Championship Prix of Doha - kicks off at the last Sunday, won’t go into this iconic Losail International week’s second round in a complacent mood. Circuit (LIC) with the first free The second round of the practice sessions taking place championship - Tissot Grand today. Prix of Doha - kicks off at the iconic Losail International Circuit (LIC) with the first free practice sessions taking place Mir and Rins said they have today. a fierce challenge in front of Vinales (Monster Energy them but staying with the top Yamaha MotoGP) yesterday pack is target for the second headlined the top six riders week also. from last week’s opening round “It was a difficult weekend he won ahead of Johann Zarco because I struggled a lot to find (Pramac Racing) and pole the correct feeling with the winner Francesco Bagnaia front, I was having a lot of (Ducati Lenovo Team). problems and this was making Defending world champion everything really difficult." Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), "Hopefully in warm up we Fabio Quartararo (Monster found something interesting Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Maverick Vinales (centre, front) along with Johann Zarco, and I got the feeling again a bit Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) Francesco Bagnaia, defending world champion Joan Mir, Fabio better, and I was able to make were also present at the pre- Quartararo and Alex Rins, poses from a picture after a press a good race,” world champion event news conference. conference at Losail International Circuit yesterday. RIGHT: Mir said. Last year, MotoGP fans saw Vinales gestures during the press conference. “I expect to change a little five circuits host back-to-back PIC COURTESY: MOTOGP.COM bit the qualifying or the first laps Grands Prix and only the Cir- of the race. We were really cuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto wit- strong in the last part but also, nessed the same winner twice is the same, we saw last year “I think it’s as Maverick says, we recovered, we closed a lot in a row. that when there was two the construction of the tyre is the gaps and also used more the Points leader Vinales yes- weekends in a row, everything always hard to manage. My tyre than normally what you terday said no two race changed a lot. So we have to be race, staying second, me and have to. weekends are the same. ready for any situation. Anyway, Pecco and then try to follow “It will be important to start “No! It’s never perfect, very we know we have a good Maverick I think helped me a with the first group and then difficult to be perfect at all the potential and we will try to fix lot to be competitive until the manage the race with them and tracks,” Vinales said it if we cannot go at the end and even have…. Mir at the to see in the last part of the race yesterday. maximum,” the popular end overtook me, almost at the where we are so this is the main “We have to improve and do Spaniard added. end of the last lap and this gave goal for the weekend.” something different this “I think all the riders can me the possibility to overtake Rins said yesterday: “I think weekend. Not every weekend make a step, we will also try to him again,” Zarco said we did a good race but, in the make a step. It is very important yesterday. end sixth was not enough for us. to improve day by day and for “For Pecco, I think he We need to improve small sure all the riders siting here, doesn’t want to lead the race things that I did during the race. and in the top 10, will be faster. again to save the tyres. This is The target is quite clear, we We have to improve and We will try to be a little bit the key point, the one who leads sentiments when he said: “I we have the possibility at other have good pace and we have the do something different this faster, and we will see. the race maybe will have more think the same. Yamaha and circuits, like we saw last year. machine to go on the front, so weekend. Not every "What we can understand problems in the second half but Suzuki have been very compet- Sometimes, I was struggling and let’s improve the start because weekend is the same, we is the tyre demands are very at the same time we need to be itive like us. In the first part of Johann and Jack were fast, my start from last week was a high, we need to manage really fast so let’s see how to manage the race we were very compet- sometimes I was fast and the disaster.” saw last year that when well and for sure we will work this Sunday. itive, opening up a gap, and we other riders were struggling." He added: “Let’s improve there was two weekends in on that during the weekend,” "Our target is to have more were losing time in some accel- He said: "We know the the start and try to fight for the a row, everything changed he said. possibility to be fast at the end eration that cost us the race but package is very competitive and top positions from the a lot. So we have to be Third-place finisher in of the race like Maverick did, for me we don’t have to be the possibility to win or be in beginning, I mean, let’s keep the Qatar Bagnaia and Zarco will and fight with him or another worried. We know this track is the top three is very possible. tyres and also let’s see which ready for any situation. be hoping to manage the rear rider, to be able to fight for good for us, but it’s also good The great objective to this year strategy Ducati will make, Maverick Vinales tyres better so they can put up victory, not just a podium for other bikes.” is to be competitive and con- because now Pecco already lead a fight in the closing stages of chance,” he said. He added: “We have the stant in every situation and at one race and he knows the way the second round on Sunday. Bagnaia echoed Zarco’s possibility to win for sure but every circuit.” to do it now.” Amir Cup semis: Al Arabi, Al Rayyan grab advantage

Al Rayyan players in action against Al Ahli during the first tie of the best-of-three Amir Cup volleyball semi-final at the QVA Hall, yesterday. Al Rayyan won the match 3-1 (25-17, 27-29, 25-19, 28-25). CENTRE: A Police player attempts to take a point against Al Arabi during the opening tie of the first semi-final. RIGHT: Action from the match, which Al Arabi won 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-18). The second leg of the semi-finals will be played on April 4 and if the teams are tied, the third leg will be played on April 7 to decide the finalists.