Injured Osaka Keeps Top Spot
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GGOLFOLF | Page 3 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Relieved Trippier and Thomas beats Morata shine Cantlay by to give Atletico three strokes winning start Tuesday, August 20, 2019 CRICKET Dhul-Hijja 19, 1440 AH Captain Root glad to GULF TIMES see Archer ‘shake up things’ on Test debut SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL Let’s begin: new Qatar Stars League season launched Al Sadd will play Al Wakrah in the first match of the season tomorrow before Qatar SC take on Al Duhail SPOTLIGHT It’s Ooredoo Cup now aft er new two-year partnership Qatar Stars League (QSL) CEO Hani Taleb Ballan, Marketing, Sales and Communication executive director Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, Competitions and Football Development executive director Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Captain Saeed Juma al-Hitmi from Stadium Security Department and other off icials at the new season launch yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil he Qatar Stars League everything related to their favour- the calendar was set in a way that (QSL) launched the new ite club and purchase of e-tickets doesn’t put pressure on the play- football season (2019- and Season Cards. There are two ers, instead letting them perform 20) at the W Hotel in more phases in the development, steadily throughout the season.” TDoha yesterday in the presence of including the possibility of buying As for the new ball, he ex- its CEO Hani Taleb Ballan. sports equipment and clothing for plained that the QSL analysed the Also present on the occasion clubs via the online store. balls used in the major leagues in were Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, The offi cial ball for the 2019- Europe and Asia, and tried this Executive Director of Market- 20 season was also unveiled. The one out last season. It has the ing, Sales and Communication; Qatar league is the fi rst to use it, same specifi cations as that of the Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Execu- with a special design only for the one used in the Asian Cup fi nal, tive Director of Competitions and QSL from Molten. won by the Qatar national team. Football Development; directors Captain al-Hitmi wished all It is being used for the fi rst time as well as heads of departments clubs success in the new season, in the QNB Stars League. at the QSL, Captain Saeed Juma praised the great co-operation Al-Kuwari said preparations al-Hitmi from Stadium Secu- between them and the QSL for for the 2019-20 season had rity Department and a number of the success of the football season started immediately after the club offi cials and representatives as well as their readiness after end of last season, through ar- of the media. having held many meetings with rangements and co-ordination Al Sadd will play Al Wakrah QSL for liaison and arrangements with football club companies. He in the fi rst match of the season for the new season. noted that there would be many tomorrow in a 5:20pm kick-off , On his part, Abbassi said that marketing initiatives, in addition while Qatar SC will face Al Du- everyone was waiting for the sea- to intense communication with hail in the 7:30pm kick-off on the son to start, and that the QSL had clubs in the upcoming period in same day. prepared and equipped itself in order to get their ideas on how to The QSL’s Mobile Applica- order to provide a special season. attract the public more. Moza Khalid al-Muhannadi (left), Director of Sponsorship, CSR tion for smartphones, designed He expected a strong league this On the QSL’s new mobile ap- & Media Strategy at Ooredoo, and Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, by Qatari company Al Konat, was season in view of the contracts plication, he said, “This is one Executive Director of Marketing, Sales and Communication at unveiled and will be a new media signed by clubs with foreign and of the initiatives that we were QSL signed the agreement. platform for Qatar football fans. local players. eager to off er to the public, in co- It allows users functions such as On the early start of the season, operation with Al Konat com- oredoo has signed name — Empower You To Win. news of tournaments organised he said, “Due to a hectic season pany. Due to our keenness to keep a two-year part- “The new Ooredoo Cup is by QSL, news and follow-up of during which many tournaments abreast of events, this app will nership agreement the perfect way in which we clubs, special pages about clubs to will be hosted by the State of Qa- be continuously developed with with the Qatar Stars can promote a healthy, active help the fans keep in touch with tar, we would like to point out that added features.” OLeague (QSL) to sponsor the lifestyle, encourage communi- The off icial ball for the 2019-20 season, by Molten, was also unveiled. QSL Cup, which will now be ty cohesion and support Qatari called Ooredoo Cup. sports teams. The tournament will start We’ve a wealth of talent here on September 6, 2019, with in Qatar, and we’re proud to be the participation of First Di- enabling development of this vision clubs. Teams will be talent as part of our commit- divided into two groups and ment to Qatar National Vision the top four from each group 2030. qualify for the knockout We look forward to the fi rst quarter-finals. The final has matches of the tournament been scheduled for March 30, and wish each team the best of 2020. luck!” Moza Khalid al-Muhannadi, Hassan Rabiah al-Kuwari, Director of Sponsorship, CSR Executive Director of Mar- & Media Strategy at Oore- keting, Sales and Communi- doo, said, “Supporting sport- cation at QSL, said, “We’re ing events is a key pillar of our proud to partner with Oore- corporate social responsibility doo, one of the largest com- strategy for a number of rea- panies in Qatar. The QSL sons, and to this end, we’ve seeks to support young play- a new slogan for all sporting ers and Qatari clubs in this events to which we put our tournament (Ooredoo Cup).” Team jerseys for the QSL clubs for the new season on display during the season launch yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, August 20, 2019 CRICKET FOCUS SELECTION England unchanged Captain Root glad to for third Ashes Test as Anderson continues recovery see Archer ‘shake up AFP Anderson did not play in the London second Test because of a calf in- jury that restricted him to just four overs in Australia’s 251-run ngland named an un- win in the series opener at Edg- changed squad yester- baston. day for this week’s third He is, however, to step his re- Test against Australia at habilitation this week by play- things’ on Test debut EHeadingley. ing for Lancashire 2nd XI against The injured James Ander- Leicestershire in a three-day son, England’s all-time leading friendly match in Liverpool. 24-year-old quick’s sheer speed gave England’s attack a new cutting edge Test wicket-taker, will continue Anderson’s fi tness will be as- his bid to return later in the se- sessed continually ahead of the ries by playing in a county 2nd XI fourth Test at his Old Traff ord match starting today. home ground starting on Sep- England’s selectors kept faith tember 4. with the XI that drew the rain- While England’s fallible top aff ected second Ashes Test at order remains a concern — World Lord’s on Sunday, with the hosts Cup-winning opener Jason Roy having the better of an exciting has made just 40 runs in four in- last day before Australia held out nings this series — the selectors to preserve their 1-0 lead in the have resisted the temptation to fi ve-match series. bring in new faces. Surrey left-arm seamer Sam They were under less pres- Curran, who did not play at sure to make changes after the Lord’s, retained his place in a uncapped duo of Dom Sibley 12-man squad for the third Test, and Zak Crawley, considered to which starts at England cap- be of the best young openers in tain Joe Root’s Headingley home England, were both out for low ground on Thursday. scores on Sunday. With just a four-day turna- Sibley got a duck for War- round between Tests in London wickshire against Somerset on and Leeds, major changes were Sunday and Kent batsman Craw- always unlikely. ley was dismissed for just fi ve Now England will hope that is against Essex. suffi cient time for World Cup- winning fast bowler Jofra Arch- ENGLAND SQUAD: Rory Burns, er, who took fi ve wickets while Jason Roy, Joe Root (capt), Joe repeatedly topping speeds of Denly, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, 90mph on his Test debut, to re- Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Chris cover from the 44 overs he sent Woakes, Jofra Archer, Stuart down at Lord’s. Broad, Jack Leach, Sam Curran England’s Jofra Archer (centre) celebrates with captain Joe Root (left) after taking the wicket of Australia’s Usman Khawaja (unseen) on the fifth day of the second Ashes Test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Sunday. (AFP) AFP with a fearsome bouncer that Root added: “When you’ve got Archer bouncer. his fi rst Test back after complet- London slammed into Steve Smith’s un- that and the skill of other guys “I thought Jofra bowled really ing a 12-month ban for his role in protected neck leading to a con- around it, it makes for a tasty well,” said Australia captain Tim a ball-tampering scandal.