Qatar Coach Pep Talks His Boys Ahead of Indonesia U-19 Clash
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Qatar’s sailing star Sharshani shines in Laser Europa Cup PAGE 19 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018 Manchester City, Liverpool remain unbeaten, ITALIAN SERIE A PAGE 18 Chelsea rescued by late goal INTER MILAN VS AC MILAN Qatar coach pep talks his boys ahead of Indonesia U-19 clash QNA/AFC like we did against the UAE then we JAKARTA Maroons in must-win situation to secure a place in AFC C’ship quarter-finals can definitely go through,” he said. “Against Indonesia we want THE Qatar U-19 team are set to take to have the same quality that was on Indonesia in their second Group there in our first match, but of A match at 2018 AFC U-19 Champi- course we want a different result onship on Sunday. this time around. Hosts Indonesia are currently “It will not be easy, but we will leading the group with three points do everything we can to win the next having defeated Chinese Taipei 3-1. game. Indonesia have great sup- The first and second teams in port and some quality players, so it each group qualify for the quarter- should be an excellent match.” finals, which will be played on Octo- Meanwhile, Indonesia coach ber 28 and 29. Indra Sjafri believes a bright fu- ture potentially beckons for several members of his squad. The Southeast Asians began their campaign on home soil with a 3-1 win over Chinese Taipei which saw the dynamic Witan Sulaeman scoring twice and impressive midfielder Egy Maulana Vikri catching the eye at Ja- karta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. “I truly hope the likes of Egy (Maulana Vikri) and the rest of the team will improve even further in the next game,” he said. “There was definitely some im- provement throughout the friendly Confident games we played before the tour- nament and I hope my players can We still believe we will qualify, The Qatar team in action in their opening clash against the UAE in the AFC U-19 Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia. carry that on going forward. and if we play again like we did “I believe not only the likes of The top four teams at the AFC ed the team’s training by explaining several tactical options and urged ter-finals. Miguel feels his side still Witan and Egy have the potential against the UAE then we can U-19 Championship advance for the players the mistakes they com- them to adhere to the plan. has what it takes to go through to to go far, but I truly hope many of definitely go through. the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in mitted in the game against UAE, Qatar’s game against Indonesia the quarter-final, despite their 2-1 the players in our squad can become Poland. which they lost 1-2. is a must win for the Qatari side in opening day loss. “We still believe stars if they perform to their poten- Qatar U-19 coach Bruno Miguel Qatar coach Bruno Miguel start- Miguel explained to the players order to secure a place in the quar- we will qualify, and if we play again tial in this competition.” DOHA WORLD GYMNASTICS Aspire Dome abuzz with activity as organisers make final preparations TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA EVEN as heavy rains greeted Qatar on Saturday, work went on at a hectic pace at the Aspire Dome with the Lo- cal Organising Committee (LOC) fi- nalising last minute preparations for the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Doha 2018 to be held from October 25 to November 3. The Aspire Dome was abuzz with activity with the main hall be- ing given the final touches as also The accreditation centre for the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships the media centre. Meanwhile, many Doha 2018 at the Aspire Zone. athletes could be seen practicing at the training and warm-up halls. ensure excellence and to make the Doha Worlds will be the first championships a truly historic one. mega gymnastics championships to “We are looking forward to be hosted in the Middle East and the bringing the championship to an Organising Committee is leaving no unprecedented level that reflects stone unturned to make sure that Qatar’s high potential,” he stressed. the event is an unprecedented suc- Close 300 foreign mediaper- cess inkeeping with Qatar’s status in sons are expected to cover the event hosting major events. which will be one of the fiercely Over 600 athletes from 78 coun- contested editions in recent years tries, including six Arab nations, as Simone Biles of the US, who and a total of 1,400 other delegates Nasser al Sulaiti. took more than a year’s break, will of team staff and International return to action. Gymnastics Federation (FIG) offi- tions, Nasser al Sulaiti, Director of The tournament will be signifi- cials will descend into Doha ahead the Finance Committee, said, “All cant for the participating countries of the opening ceremony to be held the sub-committees of the Local Or- as medals won from the Team finals on October 25. ganising Committee are inter-acting will earn an entry to the 2020 Olym- The Organising Committee has in a very feasible manner to deliver pic Games in Tokyo. also moved its headquarters to As- an outstanding event for the world The nominative roster released pire Zone to oversee all preparations. to witness. “We have all the capabil- last week includes 265 men and 244 Commenting on the prepara- ities and we shall go the distance to women gymnasts from 78 nations. STARS ARRIVE Biles keeps her cool in constant glare of spotlight DOHA: Superstar status does not has been mastering since childhood. “I burden three-time world all-around think it comes from growing up in the champion Simone Biles of the US with sport and being taught to focus on what any extra scrutiny or pressure as she you’re doing,” said Biles, who won the prepares for the 48th FIG Artistic Gym- all-around title at the 2013, 2014 and nastics World Championships that will 2015 Worlds but did not compete at the begin on October 25. “I try not to focus 2017 Worlds. on who’s watching or what’s happening,” “It’s also a personality trait that I have said the 2016 Olympic quadruple gold had since I was younger.” medalist in a recent media conference Of her six opportunities to win a medal call. “Whenever we go out and compete, here, Biles said team gold would shine you kind of just focus on your gymnas- brightest. “I would pick the team tics and relate to the training.” competition, because we’ve been really Biles, who is expected to challenge for strong over the past couple of years in her fourth all-around title and lead the that event, and we hope to carry the World gymnastics star Simone US to its fourth consecutive world team legacy on,” she said. “Here I am the vet- Biles of the US (right) on her title in Doha, said keeping her cool in the eran, so I’m excited to go out there and arrival at the HIA airport. glare of the spotlight is an attribute she lead them.” (WORLDGYMDOHA18.COM) Sports Sunday, October 21, 2018 17 Japanese Moto Grand Prix Penalty deals a blow to Vettel’s hopes at Austin DPA AUSTIN (TEXAS) SEBASTIAN Vettel’s hopes of turning round the Formula One world championship were dealt a blow Friday as he was given a three-place grid unmatchable 1 minute 47.502 penalty for the United States seconds on a drying 5.513-kil- Grand Prix. ometre Circuit of the Americas Vettel will start his Fer- in the first session. rari three spots down from The second session was his qualifying position in Sun- not a complete washout but day's race for "not slowing steady, heavy rain meant there sufficiently during a red flag was little action. Pierre Gasly period" in first practice. of Toro Rosso looked set for Sauber's Charles Leclerc, the honour before Hamil- Vettel's team-mate from ton pipped him late on with next season, had caused the 1:48.716 minutes as some, stoppage by spraying gravel though not all, cars took the over the track and stewards track in the dying minutes. deemed the German had not Hamilton’s team-mate eased up enough. Valtteri Bottas was second in It leaves him with an uphill the first outing but a huge 1.3 task in the battle with stand- seconds down while the Red ings leader Lewis Hamilton, Bull duo of Max Verstappen Italian MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati Team in action during a free practice session for Grand Prix of Japan at Twin Ring Motegi, Tochigi Prefecture, on Saturday. (EPA-EFE) who has a 67-point lead with and Daniel Ricciardo were just four races left. ahead of Vettel and Kimi Raik- Hamilton will seal his konen in the other Ferrari. fifth career title if he can gain Vettel has seen ambitions eight points more than Vet- for his own fifth title fade in tel on Sunday. And the Briton recent weeks with a series of Dovizioso snatches pole as made the perfect start to the mistakes coming at the same weekend by topping practice time as Hamilton hitting form. twice on a soaking Friday. And with Hamilton having A wet track made early won five of six previous races running slow but when Ham- at the venue in Austin, Texas, Marquez match point looms ilton eventually emerged in the championship now seems his Mercedes he posted an to be within touching distance.