Sports Monday, April 8, 2019 19 aim to reclaim overall title team to watch thanks to the bers to support Indian athletes. Many world, Olympic champions pool of talent they have, which Fans turned out in large num- was able to finally dethrone bers in the last edition of the to feature in Asian athletics meet China who had won a record competition in Bhubaneswar, 17 consecutive editions since , and it really pumped up in ; Barshim to lead ’s 1983. our Athletes to give their best,” India’s 19-year-old sen- “Our message to Indian ex- 29-member team sation Hima Das will try to pats in Qatar is: We need you; build on her performance from we want you to fill up the stadi- Tribune News Network reigning cham- the 2018 Asian Games where um and we wish to see Indian Doha pion in 800 metres, will all she won a gold medal in the Tri-Color flying high every- feature in the Doha meet. 4x400m event. The promis- where. Please come and watch Several world and con- On the men’s side of ath- ing sprinter is also the reigning athletics and support your tinental champions will go letes, China’s team includes world U20 champion in 400m. team,” Sumariwalla added. head-to-head in Doha in two the likes of Xie Wenjun, Asian Mohammad Anas Yahiya Among the top athletes weeks’ time to compete for Games champion in 2014 and is another Indian athlete with featuring in the competition top honours in Asian athletics 2018 in 100m hurdles, who potential to reach the podium. as well is Syria’s Majd Eddin when the Khalifa International will be looking to maintain his The sprinter, who specialises Ghazal. The high jumper, who Stadium hosts the 23rd Asian continental dominance. in 400m, claimed three silver celebrates his 32nd birthday Athletics Championships from China’s path to the top medals in last year’s Asian on the opening day of the com- April 21 to 24. place will not be easy though Games in the individual 400m, petition, is a bronze medallist Nearly 700 elite Asian ath- as the team are likely to face men’s 4x400m and the mixed in World Championships Lon- letes from 44 nations will be strong competition from other 4x400. don 2017 and Asian Athletics competing for 186 medals in elite athletes taking part in the “The Asian Athletics Championships Bhubaneswar 21 men’s events, 21 women’s event. Championships Doha 2019 is 2017. events, and a mixed relay a very important competition Hossein Keyhani is an- event that makes its debut in for our athletes as it will serve other athlete who will be the Asian athletics showpiece. Qatar’s two-time Olympic as a build-up not just for the looking to build on his recent As the competition brings medallist Mutaz Essa World Championships 2019 successes. The Iranian run- together the usual Asian pow- Barshim will lead a line-up but also provides a good com- ner secured gold medal in the erhouses in athletics, China of 29 athletes represent- petition to our athletes who are 3000m steeplechase event at are set to go all the way in at- ing the hosts in the Asian preparing for qualification for the Asian Games 2018, which tempts to maintain their conti- showpiece Tokyo 2020 Olympics. We are he followed on from winning nental dominance and reclaim expecting a similar show from the same race in the Asian In- the top position that India won our Athletes as was in 2017 door Championships. in the previous edition. Hosts Qatar will be aiming where India topped the overall The Asian Athletics Cham- China’s ranks at the 23rd to finish as high as possible in medals tally with a total of 29 pionships Doha 2019 is an of- Asian Athletics Champion- the competition’s medal table, medals. This time too we are ficial test event for the IAAF ships boast female - and they have the personnel to A collage of some of the top athletes from China, India and will compete in the Asian Athletics expecting to win between 25 World Championships, which ter , a 2017 World back that bid up. Championship in Doha from April 21 to 24. to 30 medals,” said Athletics Doha hosts for the first time Championships gold medallist Qatar’s two-time Olympic Federation of India President in the Middle East from Sep- and two-time Olympic medal- medallist Mutaz Essa Barshim Team Qatar will also in- promising female sprinter an opportunity it is to build on Adille J. Sumariwalla. tember 28 to October 6. All list, and Ling, Asian Games will lead a line-up of 29 ath- clude 400-metre sprinter Ab- Mariam Farid and hammer our success at the Asian Games With a huge Indian expat major operations, including champion in 2014 and 2018 in letes representing the hosts dalelah Haroun, 400-metre thrower Rania al Naji who will and brace ourselves for the community based in Doha, the the venue, transport and ac- . in the Asian showpiece. The hurdler Abderrahman Samba attempt to make their mark on World Championships in Sep- Indian team will be counting commodation, are set to be tri- Lu Huihui, a two-time 27-year-old high jumper, who and hammer thrower Ashraf the continental stage. tember,” said Qatar Athletics on their compatriots to gain a alled during the Asian compe- world medallist in javelin holds the Asian record and the El Seify who all won gold med- “Our athletes are ready to Federation President Dr. Tha- home advantage in bid to re- tition to ensure a smooth and throw; Chen Yang, Asian third-best world record, is fit als at the Asian Games 2018 in make the country proud. We ni Abdulrahman al Kuwari. tain their title. spotless experience during the Games title holder in discus again after suffering an injury their respective disciplines. prepared well for this competi- Meanwhile, last edition’s “We expect Indians staying global showpiece in less than throw; and Wang Chunyu, the last year. The team also boasts tion and we realise how great winners India will be another in Qatar to turn up in big num- six months. Jordan Motorsport prepares demanding gravel stages for MERC 2nd round

Attiyah to drive onship (WRC) on three occa- Jordan Dead Sea Resort and two runs through the Suway- Volkswagen Polo sions (2008, 2010 and 2011). Spa with teams using the usual ma, Rawda, Amar and Ma’in The event continues to use de- asphalt service area overlook- specials on Saturday. The cer- GTI R5 manding gravel special stages ing the Dead Sea - the lowest emonial finish will then take that provide their own unique point on earth. place at the Dead Sea from Tribune News Network challenge to the region’s lead- The ceremonial start will 17.00hrs. DOHA ing rally drivers, according to take place at Abdali Boulevard Qatar’s Nasser bin Saleh reports from . in Amman from 19.00hrs on al Attiyah is the defending Jordan Motorsport is put- This year’s rally will take April 25. regional champion and a 12- ting the finishing touches to place over 16 special stages The super special stage time winner of the Jordan the route and logistics for the and 226.62 competitive kilo- has been moved from Thurs- Rally. Fresh from winning the 2019 Jordan Rally, round two metres in a route of 636.64km. day evening and will now run Merzouga Rally in Morocco of the FIA Middle East Rally It marks the first FIA event for for 2.51km on Friday after the last week in a Can-Am Mav- Championship, which takes Zaid Balqez as chairman of the day’s opening gravel stages erick X3, Attiyah has already centre stage in the Dead Sea organising committee working and then for a second time as confirmed that we will tackle Qatar’s Nasser bin Saleh al Attiyah will use his new Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 in Jordan. and Jordan Valley areas on alongside Clerk of the Course the penultimate stage of the the MERC event in a Volk- April 25-27. George Khoury, his deputy rally on April 27. swagen Polo GTI R5 – the car last month attracted one of of those drivers will enter the won by Marouf Abu Samra on Jordan is one of the most Omar Zarour and their experi- Teams will tackle two pass- making its first appearance in the largest fields seen in the second round and join forces his first appearance in a Mo- popular rallies in the Middle enced team. es through the Mahes, Palms the Hashemite Kingdom. MERC series for several years. with the impressive number tortune Ford Fiesta R5. East and hosted a round of The 2019 Jordan Rally will and Baptism specials on April The opening round of Officials at Jordan Motor- of local crews who tackled the Entries for the Jordan Ral- the FIA World Rally Champi- be based at the Crowne Plaza 26 before the action moves to the championship in Qatar sport are hopeful that many recent National Rally that was ly officially close on April 10.

Teatime FC win MBM-VAQ Football Tournament in Doha Galfar Al Misnad cruise to win in Qatar Airways cricket Tribune News Network DOHA

Galfar Al Misnad, boosted by Kamran Khan’s superb half-century, crushed Tusker Club by eight wickets in a rain- truncated Premier Division in the Qatar Airways Cricket Tournament. Other match of the day be- tween Commercial Bank Qatar Kamran Khan of Galfar Al and Al Feroz Youngsters was Misnad abandoned. Qatar Airways is proud to with 34 in 27 balls, including be the official sponsor of the five boundaries. Shakir added annual Qatar Cricket Tour- 11 off 13 balls. nament. As the country’s na- Galfar Al Misnad then tional carrier, Qatar Airways chased the target with fluent continues to play a vital role in batting and secured the win in enhancing the already flour- 16.2 overs with eight wickets ishing sports activities in Qa- intact. Kamran Khan smashed tar and is a keen supporter for four sixes and four boundaries developing the next genera- to collect 59 off 51 balls. Malik tion of local cricket players. hit 30 with two boundaries, Rain forced the match to facing 42 balls. Nawaf and Bi- be reduced to 20 overs a side pin shared the wickets to fall. from a 50-over affair due to Kamran Khan was de- wet outfield. After Tusker Club clared the match of the match. decided to bat first after win- ning the toss, their decision Brief scores backfired and they were shot Galfar Al Misnad beat Tusker Club by eight The ninth MBM-VAQ Football Tournament was held in Doha, with Tea- out for 111 in 19 overs. wickets time FC holding off United Kerala by 1-0 in the final. Nasar struck the Tusker Club: 111 all out in 19 overs (Sanu 34 in Khurram Shahzad (three 27 balls, Shakir 11; Khurram Shehzad 3/13, lone goal of the match from the spot kick to see his team through. for 13) and Sammy put the Sammy 2/11) Indian Sports Centre President Nilangshu Dey and MS Bukhari, a rivals under a lot of stress as Tusker Club: 114 for two in 16.2 overs (Kamran prominent businessman and Indian community leader, addressed the they grabbed five wickets be- Khan 59 in 51 balls, Mohammed Awais Malik 30 gathering. A road show was also organised by ISC and VAQ in which tween them, making batting in 42 balls; Nawaf 1/6, Bipin 1/21) many high-ranked officials of the Qatar defence ministry, the ISC and quite difficult for Tusker Club. Man of the match: Kamran Khan (Galfar Al the Indian Cultural Centre took part. Sanu was the highest scorer Misnad)