'Qatar Welcomes All to Asian Athletics Championships'
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Ashwin, Rahul’s 50 lead Punjab to 12-run victory over Rajasthan PAGE 19 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019 Spurs can beat favourites City, says Pochettino ahead of UCL clash PAGE 18 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MAN CITY VS TOTTENHAM ‘Qatar welcomes all to Asian Athletics Championships’ RAAJIV TRIPATHI DOHA Coach will decide on EVEN as the excitement and momentum gather pace Barshim’s participation in ahead of the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, the organising com- Asian athletics: Dahlan mittee reiterated its sporting stance of welcoming all the RAAJIV TRIPATHI said, “Barshim has recovered athletes and officials from the DOHA and is well on the track of continent, including the three getting into the competitive Gulf blockading nations. THOUGH Qatar’s high jump mode. He is ready but we The Asian Champion- icon and world champion want to wait until his coach ships, which is scheduled at Mutaz Essa Barshim is re- gives him the green light. the revamped Khalifa Inter- portedly fit and raring to re- “We want him to par- natinal Stadium from April 21 turn to action after recover- ticipate in the Asian meet but to 24, is the trial event for the ing from his ankle injury, his his coach knows better what upcoming prestigious IAAF coach Stanislaw Szczyrba will is the best for Barshim. For World Championships, being take a final call on his partici- hosted in the Middle East for pation in the upcoming Asian the first time. Athletics Championships in The 2nd highest high With the competition Doha. jumper in history, serving as an official test It may be recalled that Barshim is keen to event for the IAAF World 2016 Rio Olympics silver defend his title when Athletics Championships that medallist Barshim had hurt Doha hosts the IAAF Doha hosts in September, the his ankle during the Istvan World Championships LOC will test all major op- Gyulai Memorial in Szekes- erations, including the venue, fehervar, Hungary in July accreditation and ticketing to last year. Then he underwent him, I think the bigger goals ensure a smooth and spotless an operation on his ankle. are the Diamond League experience during the global Recently, the Qatar Athletics jumps and the World cham- showpiece in just a little over Federation announced that pionships. So we’ll wait for five months. he has regained fitness and his coach’s OK for him,” add- Dahlan al Hamad, Presi- Asian Athletics Association President and IAAF Vice-President Dahlan al Hamad (centre) with other members of the Asian Athletics Champion- started practising. ed Hamad. dent of the Asian Athletics ships 2019 organising committee during a press conferenece in Doha on Tuesday. (HANSON K JOSEPH) The second highest high Qatar have planned to Association and Vice-Presi- jumper in history after world field 29 athletes in the Asian dent of the International As- come here even from these Tuesday. ships for us is try and deliver tion for the young students record holder Javier Soto- meet and Hamad said, while sociation of Athletics Federa- three countries to cheer their Also present on the occa- a high-standard meet so that of Qatar. “We’ve already mayor, Barshim is more than expressing his expectations tions (IAAF), “We welcome athletes, will be our guests. sion were Eng. Fahad Ebra- it can live up to the expecta- contacted various schools, keen to defend the title at from the home squad, “In- all. Especially in Qatar, we “About 700 athletes and him Jumaa, Vice-President tions of the IAAF officials embassies and communities home when Doha hosts the shallah, we’ll have good re- don’t mix politics with sports. 400 officials from 43 nations and DG of the Asian Athlet- ahead of the world champi- and we hope to have a strong first-ever IAAF World Cham- sults from the Qatari athletes. Even the blockading coun- will gather in Doha for the ics Championships, Saad al onships. Also we wish to set turn-out of fans on all the pionships in the Middle East In this championship, all tries like Saudi Arabia, the Asian Championships. All the Saadi, Director of Venues a new benchmark here for four days. from September 27 to Octo- athletes will be coming well- United Arab Emirates and arrangements are in place for Committee, and Eng. Eman the future hosts of the Asian “Also we’ll take top ath- ber 6 at the Khalifa Interna- prepared to test their prepa- Bahrain all are coming to take the four-day meet. We’ll also al Emadi, Director of Plan- meets,” Hamad stressed. letes on visits to schools and tional Stadium. rations as this is the year of part and we will all welcome test the cooling technology ning and Operations Com- The IAAF vice-president colleges so that our new gen- Asian Athletics Associa- the world championships. them. extensively during the cham- mittee. also added that the hectic ef- eration can feel inspired, take tion President and IAAF Vice- We can’t underestimate any “We will not stop any fans. pionships,” he added during a “The main focal point forts are on to use the Asian to the sport and become stars President Dahlan al Hamad nation.” So all the spectators, who press conference in Doha on during the Asian champion- championships as an inspira- one day,” Hamad said. Al Rayyan shut Al Sadd comeback Road to Qatar 2022: Asian teams set to run to claim Amir Cup Basketball title discover opponents AFC than right here in our great Lenny Daniel KUALA LUMPUR Continent. On behalf of the finished with a Asian football family, I wish all THE first step along the Road our teams the very best of luck double-double as to Qatar 2022 takes place on and I am confident we will wit- the Lions clinch Wednesday when the draw ness another thrilling qualify- for the FIFA World Cup Qa- ing campaign.” record-extending tar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup The Preliminary Joint ninth trophy 2023 Qualifiers - Preliminary Qualification Round 1 draw Joint Qualification Round 1 could revive the exciting con- takes place at the AFC House tests between familiar foes TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK in Kuala Lumpur. four years ago when Bhutan DOHA Malaysia, Cambodia, Ma- defeated Sri Lanka 3-1 on ag- cau, Laos, Bhutan and Mon- gregate and Mongolia edged AL Rayyan snapped Al Sadd’s golia have been seeded as the past Timor Leste. The last edi- comeback to claim their first draw’s top six sides who have tion was also the launch pad Amir Cup Basketball trophy the challenging task of facing for the emergence of India and since 2013 in a nervy 80-77 possible opponents – Bang- Yemen. finish at the Al Gharafa Sta- ladesh, Guam, Brunei Darus- The first leg of the Prelimi- dium on Tuesday. The victory salam, Timor-Leste, Pakistan nary Joint Qualification Round extends The Lions’ Amir Cup and Sri Lanka for a place 1 will take place on June trophies to nine. in the next qualifying 6 with the return leg Al Rayyan’s Lenny Daniel round. scheduled for June 11. led all scorers with 23 points AFC President The six winners will and 11 rebounds as all Rayy- Shaikh Salman bin join Asia’s top 34 an’s starters finished in double Ebrahim al Khalifa teams in the Prelimi- digits. said: “For only the nary Joint Qualifica- Al Rayyan ran out 17-7 second time in his- tion Round 2, which ahead after six minutes in the tory, the world’s big- will commence in Sep- first quarter forcing Al Sadd gest footballing stage tember. coach to call for a time out. The returns to Asia in Qa- With the anticipa- time out seemed to rejuvenate tar 2022. As we have tion building up, the the Wolves as they went on a Al Rayyan players and officials celebrate with the Amir Cup trophy after defeating Al Sadd 80-77 in the final at the Qatar Basketball Federations seen in the last year, AFC is also introducing a 12-2 run -- with scores at 19-19 Multi-purpose Hall at Al Gharafa Sports Club on Tuesday. Qatar is leaving noth- new preview programme, to end the quarter. ing to chance in staging featuring some of Asia’s Faisal Abuissa led Al Sadd lead with Mohamed Hassan -- stretching the lead to 45-40. and later give them the lead three-pointer to give Al Sadd a truly magnificent spec- most familiar faces who will resurgence as they found their and Tanguy Ngombo both hit- Al Sadd’s Dominic James but Lenny Daniel’s hustle a glimer of hope. Wright how- tacle. share their insights on all range from the three point line ting back-to-back three-point- and Miroslav Todic knocked play down the stretch gave ever sealed the win knocking “And what better the teams, final results early in the second quarter. Al ers. Akeem Wright nailed a down shots from downtown Al Rayyan a 78-74 lead but down late free throws for Al way to kick-start this and post reactions of the Rayyan fought back to take the pull-up jumper to end the half to bring the Wolves close Dominic nailed a pull-up Rayyan. exciting journey, draw. Sports Wednesday, April 17, 2019 17 News Djokovic overcomes in brief Colombian cyclist Jarlinson Pantano fails EPO test PARIS: Trek-Segafredo’s Colombian Jarlinson Pantano has failed an out of competition doping test for the blood booster Kohlschreiber fright EPO, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Monday. “In accordance with UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the rider has been provisionally suspended until the adjudication of the af- fair,” the UCI said on Monday.