Sport THURSDAY 14 JANUARY 2021 JamesJa keen to avoid returning to bubble life WellW the bubble was a success from a performance standpoint aas far as our league getting back on. I haven’t thought about ththe bubble much after I left. You continue to give me PTSD eeveryv time you ask me about the bubble. I started shaking ththinking about 96 straight nights in that place. LeBron James Sport |08 QBF SENIOR LEAGUE: Al Wakrah (Julius Coles Jr 30, Nicholas Stover 30) beat Qatar Club (Baden Jaxen 19, Miroslav Todic 16) 79-74 Doha Masters 2021: France grab three gold medals on final day to finish on top Sparkling show: Rock solid Riner returns to winning ways as Noel seals Games berth FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA Doha Masters a After his shock defeat in 2020 following an unbeaten nine-year great success: run, Teddy Riner left no stone unturned to return to winning ways. IJF President From working on different aspects of the sport to shedding around 20 THE PENINSULA – DOHA kilogrammes, the French judo superstar endured countless diffi- The International Judo Federation Pres- culties to make a strong comeback ident Marius Vizer yesterday lauded in the new season, finally getting a Qatar’s organisation of the season- reward for the hard work in Qatar. opening IJF World Judo Masters Doha Yesterday, Riner – a 10-time 2021 that concluded yesterday after individual world champion, five- thrilling battles at the new-look Lusail time European champion and Multipurpose Hall. double gold medalist at the Olympic A total of 399 athletes including 215 Games – clinched gold medal in the male and 184 female judokas from 69 men’s blue ribbon (over 100kg) countries competed for 14 titles during event that culminated the season- the three-day event which offered val- opening IJF World Judo Masters uable qualifying points for Tokyo Doha 2021 at Lusail Multipurpose Olympic Games. Hall. Strict preventive measures were put The 31-year-old showed the in place in the light of COVID-19 same class that lent him 154 vic- pandemic. tories during his winning run since “The Doha World Judo Masters is a 2011 before two defeats last year great success from all points of view,” broke the remarkable feat. Vizer said yesterday. He was confident and slick- “We have great champions and fan- looking as he defeated Russia’s Inal tastic organisation despite the global health Tasoev without much trouble in the situation. The local organising committee final to lead French gold rush on the did everything possible to make the event final day of the three-day event. The a success,” the IJF chief said. French star dominated his coun- “I want to thank the authorities of terpart completely with the terrific Qatar Olympic Committee President, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, posing for a Qatar and the Amir His Highness Sheikh kumi-kata and after being penalised photograph with the podium winners of the Men's Over 100kg event of the IJF World Judo Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as three times and disqualified, Tasoev Masters Doha 2021 at Lusail Multipurpose Hall, yesterday. PICTURES: IJF the national federation of judo, their offered the victory to Riner. President Mr. Khalid Hamad Alatiya and “It’s good to be back on top after hisstea team, ,w who odda did an amazing a a gjob. job. a long gap and qualify for the Tokyo difficult competition. It is the start fast strangle for an ippon finish YESTERDAY'S RESULTS “We“We must alsoalso recognise thethe effortsefforts Olympic Games,” jubilant of the year and it was important to almost at the bell to seal his victory. Men’s +100kg: ofof thethe Qatar OlympicOlympic Committee andand Frenchman said after his victory win for me. It is a year of Olympics “This is a first tournament of the Gold: Teddy Riner (France) itsits President,President, His ExcellencyExcellency SheikhSheikh yesterday. and since I am the world and year and I am very happy to win a Silver: Tasoev Inal (Russia) JoaanJoaan binbin HamadHamad AlAl Thani.Thani. EveryoneEveryone “I was very focused on getting European champion I wanted to gold medal here. It is a big Bronze: Khammo Yakiv (Ukraine) can bebe reallyreally proudproud ofof whatwhat was donedone the win in Doha and I’m so happy I win this event so I am now targeting achievement in this Olympics year,” and Grol Henk (Netherlands) inin Doha.Doha. We hadhad thethe bestbest ofof thethe bestbest succeeded. The opponent was the Olympic Games,” said Malonga. he said after his win. -100kg: athletesathletes in thethe worldworld present. AllAll ofof strong, but I managed to outdo him. “It was a big break during events “I was in top four and with these Gold: Varlam Lipartelini (Georgia) themthem shallshall bebe congratulatedcongratulated andand espe-espe- The venue was absolutely fantastic because of the virus and was dif- points which I got today I think I am Silver: Zelym Kotsoiev (Aze) ciallycially allall thethe winners. In 2023 we’we’llll and I really enjoyed fighting here. I ficult to prepare but I trained daily safe and will go for the Olympics Bronze: Peter Latchik (Israel) and bebe backback in tthehe citycity fforor our WorWorldld always kept my focus and was for this event,” she added. for sure. This is a very nice tour- Arman Adamian (Russia) Championships,Championships, thethe flagshipflagship -90kg: intent only on winning the gold Dicko was also in top form as nament and hospitality is very good eventevent ofof our organisation.organisation. We Gold: Noel Van T End (Netherlands) medal here,” Riner added. she eliminated Cuba’s Olympic and and the weather here is very nice. are allall lookinglooking forwardforward to Silver: Beka Gviniashvili (Gerogia) Also yesterday, reigning world world champion Idalys Ortiz before The organisation is very good and it,”it,” hehe added.added. Bronze: Eduard Trippel (Germany) champion and world No. 1 in under eventually defeating Azerbaijan’s I am happy to perform here again. and Lasha Bekauri (Georgia) 78 kg, Madeleine Malonga and Iryna Kindzerska in the final. I look forward to come here again Women’s European champion Romane Dicko Halfway of the regular time, for the World Championships in +78kg (over 78) won titles for France, Dicko scored a waza-ari that she 2023.” Gold: Dicko Romane (France) which topped the medals race with followed to the floor to hold Kindz- Also yesterday, Gerogia’s Silver: Iryna Kindzerska (Aze) five gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze erska for ippon to confirm her first Varlam Lipartelini won the under Bronze: Nihel Cheikh Rouhou (Tun) medal. South Korea slipped to gold medal at the Masters. 100kg after beating Azerbaijan’s and Kayra Sayit (Turkey) second with three gold medals with Zelym Kotsoiev in the final. Gerogia -78kg Noel confirms Olympics Japan securing third spot with two finished fourth on the medals table Gold: Madeleine Malonga (France) gold and five silver medals. berth with triumph with 2 gold, a silver and a bronze, Silver: Shori Hamada (Japan) Malonga confirmed her status Meanwhile, Dutchman Noel with the Netherlands securing the Bronze: Guusje Steenhuis as top jukoka in her category with Van T End booked his Olympic spot fifth spot with a gold, a silver and (Netherlands) and Loriana Kuka (Kos) an outstanding performance with under 90 title, defeating Geor- five bronze medals. MEDALS TABLE throughout the final day. After gia’s Beka Gviniashvili in the final. The three-day Olympic quali- Gold, Silver, Bronze winning all her preliminary matches Both the finalists put pressure fying event, featuring 399 athletes 1 - France 5,1,1 by ippon, Malonga overcame a stiff on one another but Noel got an edge including 215 male and 184 female 2 - South Korea 3, 0, 0, Teddy Riner battle with Japan’s Shori Hamada scoring a late waza-ari. The judokas from 69 countries was 3 - Japan 2, 5, 0 celebrates his in the final to win gold medal. Dutchman denied pressure from his held under strict health safety 4 - Georgia 2, 1, 2 victory in Doha. “I am very happy. It was a opponent and applied a lightening measures. 5 - Netherlands 1,1,5 Team Qatar leaves Coronavirus-hit US team out of for Egypt today handball World Championship AP – CAIRO tested positive for the coronavirus. QNA – DOHA The United States is the second team The United States men’s handball ruled out by coronavirus cases, fol- The Qatari handball team will leave for Egypt team has been forced to withdraw lowing the Czech Republic. The today to participate in the 27th Men’s World from the world championships in International Handball Federation Championship which kicked off in Cairo Egypt after a coronavirus outbreak. named Switzerland and North Mac- yesterday. The U.S. team said late Tuesday edonia as late replacements for the The Qatari delegation is led by President that “a majority of our players and championships. Other teams have of Qatar Handball Association (QHA) Ahmed staff members tested positive for the expressed dismay at what they see Al Shaabi, and includes member of the Board virus” before the squad planned to as insufficient coronavirus testing of Directors Khalifa Tayseer, Director of the travel to Egypt. at the tournament. Denmark, along Team Youssef Al Hail, and administrative “Everyone seems to be in good with Sweden, Germany, Norway and manager of the team Youssef Al Moallem. The health, with little to no symptoms Austria, said it told the IHF that more technical staff is led by Spanish head coach currently,” the team said. “However, regular tests were needed. Valero Rivera, in addition to 20 players.