Sports Wednesday, June 26, 2019 15 QREC renews Qatar Goodwood Festival sponsorship till 2024 Partnership enhances Qatar’s equestrian sport’s standing and realises QREC’s vision: Issa al Mohannadi Tribune News Network Doha

A new step has been taken, reflecting Qatar’s success in sponsoring global horseracing events and asserting its abil- ity to occupy its well-deserved standing at the most famous racing level worldwide. It has been announced that Qatar, represented by the Qatar Rac- ing & Equestrian Club (QREC), renewed its sponsorship of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The annual mega event has been held at the iconic racecourse for over 200 years. The renewal of the spon- sorship was announced during a meeting held between QREC Chairman Issa bin Moham- med al Mohannadi and the Duke of Richmond, owner of Goodwood racecourse, in presence of QREC CEO Nasser QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohannadi (second left) and Charles Gordon-Lennox (second right), the 11th bin Sherida al Kaabi. Duke of Richmond, owner of the Goodwood Racecourse, shake hands following the signing of the Under the renewed spon- sponsorship renewal agreement. A vibrant and colourful view of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. sorship contract, QREC will continue to sponsor the Fes- tar in such a global event. sorship over the last five years iconic racecourses worldwide. to enter into an agreement of Qatar Goodwood Festival is round is the HH The Amir tival up to 2024 as the initial has benefited Qatar in general The Festival involves the first this type with the organisers of the first of its kind for Qatar’s Sword (Gr1 P/A), which is run sponsorship term will expire Main goal achieved and Qatar’s equestrian sport race or round of the Doha an event that has been held for equestrian sport and horserac- at QREC Racecourse in New in early August this year with QREC Chairman Issa bin in particular because it pro- Triple Crown for pure Arabi- over 200 years. ing in the United Kingdom. Al Rayyan in February. the fifth edition of the five-day Mohammed al Mohannadi moted the name of Qatar in ans, which is in line with the “However, the conviction The Festival features the The Qatar Goodwood Fes- Festival. The very first edi- commented on the renewal of such international gatherings. QREC’s vision. that Qatar, represented in Qatar International Stakes tival also features some of the tion of the Qatar Goodwood the sponsorship: “Based on “It has also helped foster “Goodwood racecourse of- QREC, is fully committed to (Gr1 P/A), which is the first top races for thoroughbreds, Festival was launched in late our experience over five years our relations and cooperation ficials realise that the Qatari such investment has been the round of the Doha Triple including the Qatar Goodwood July and early August 2015. at the Qatar Goodwood Fes- with horse organisations in the sponsorship has contributed key to the renewal and contin- Crown. The second round is Cup (Gr 1), the Qatar Sussex The huge success of the Qatar- tival, the agreement to renew United Kingdom. Besides, it immensely to adding extra uation of the sponsorship up held through the Qatar Ara- Stakes (Gr 1), the Qatar Nas- sponsored Festival over the Qatar’s sponsorship realises enhances Qatar’s commitment brilliance and thrill to the to 2024, which is a significant bian World Cup (Gr1 P/A) on sau Stakes (Gr 1), the Qatar last few years has motivated one of the objectives of QREC to purebred Arabian racing famed Festival. With top races benefit to Qatar’s equestrian the same day of the Qatar Prix Lillie Langtry Stakes (Gr 2), Goodwood racecourse to re- that Qatar has its well-de- with races run at the world’s run in presence of the world’s sport,” Mohannadi added. de l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris- the Qatar King George Stakes new the sponsorship and con- served standing worldwide. In top level and at Goodwood as top horse owners and breed- It is worth mentioning that Longchamp in early October (Gr 2) and the Qatar Gordon tinue the partnership with Qa- fact, the outcome of this spon- one of the most important and ers, it was not an easy matter Qatar’s sponsorship of the while the third and the final Stakes (Gr 1). Need to strike early blows to ‘Thriving’ Kiwis wary unsettle New Zealand, says of unpredictable Pak bowling coach Mahmood

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All-rounder Mitchell Pakistan must win their Santner believes New Zea- early battles against New Zea- land’s unbeaten run at the land if they are to overcome an World Cup has been a tri- in-form Kiwis unit in Wednes- umph of collective skill, but day’s World Cup match at he said they will be tested by Edgbaston, according to bowl- an unpredictable Pakistan ing coach Azhar Mahmood. side in their next match on After Sunday’s compre- Wednesday. hensive win over South Af- The Kiwis are currently rica at Lord’s, Pakistan know at the top of the table with they still need three wins from 11 points from six matches, their last three group-stage with Kane William- matches to have a chance at a son winning plaudits for semi-final spot. racking up 373 runs at an av- The 2017 Champions Tro- erage of 186.50. phy winners showed signs of resurgence against the Pro- Pakistan’s holds the ball as he takes part in a training teas, with openers Fakhar Za- session at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday. (AFP) man and Babar Azam adding Groundstaff work on a rain soaked pitch at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Tuesday, the eve of the ICC World 81 for the first and fast with the new ball. And runs in nine overs in a defeat Cup match between Pakistan and New Zealand. (AFP) bowler Mohammad Amir tak- when we bat, we need to get by India at Old Trafford and ing his wickets tally to 15 for runs up front. was subsequently dropped playing their part. West Indies in tight finishes. Santner said it was far the tournament. “If we can get our disci- against South Africa. “You want everyone to “You look at our side as a from straightforward to pre- Mahmood was pleased pline right like last game - in “I think everyone in crick- step up at different times whole, we’re quite a scrappy pare for a game against Pa- with Pakistan’s all-round dis- , bowling and fielding - et, whether you’re a batsman throughout the tournament, side, and we pride ourselves kistan, who also stunned play heading into the busi- then we can beat any side.” or bowler, goes through good and I think that’s what we’ve on winning those little mo- pre-tournament favourites ness end of the tournament Amir’s knack of picking up and bad form,” Mahmood found so far,” Santner told a ments, like I guess we have England earlier this month. but warned his players it will wickets with both the new and added. news conference on Tuesday. been, and saying that, we “I guess we’ve seen early count for nothing if they do old ball has been key to Paki- “So he’s low on confidence. New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner “We haven’t relied on could have been on the oth- in this tournament they’ve no take their chances in the stan’s qualification hopes. But he’s running in, and work- a few guys to do the bulk of er end of a couple of those taken down big sides. They opening powerplays against Mahmood believes the ing hard on and off the field. But with only West In- the work, but in saying that, games,” Santner added. took down England and took New Zealand. 27-year-old’s form after a dif- It’s just a matter of getting dies scoring more than 250 being on the winning side in A resurgent Pakistan side down South Africa the other “They are a very strong ficult start to 2019 could be a wickets, and he’ll be back. against New Zealand, and tight encounters gives the claimed a comfortable win day,” Santner said. side and have won all their reference point for other bowl- “The same thing happened fast bowlers whole squad confidence.” over South Africa at Lord’s on “When they’re hot, they’re games,” Mahmood told a news ers in the dressing room, espe- with Amir, you know. After the and combining New Zealand’s campaign Sunday, and they must now really hot. We have to obvi- conference on Tuesday. cially fellow paceman Hasan Champions Trophy, he was to take 22 wickets, Santner has been built on a string of beat the Kiwis at Edgbaston ously find ways of trying to “They’ve got match win- Ali. struggling - but still bowling feels it has been an all-round close wins, having edged out to keep alive their chances of cool them down when they’re ners in their side, so it’s go- Ali has come under heavy well. Now you can see that he’s effort with each member Bangladesh, South Africa and qualifying for the semi-finals. like that.” ing to be crucial for us to take criticism after conceding 84 having a good time.”

Lloyd wants players Shakib keeps flag flying for World Cup all-rounders to apply themselves afp dia and New Zealander Rich- ib, a left-arm spinner and left- land and Colin de Grand- Stokes justify their places as AFP Manchester ard Hadlee vied for top-dog handed batsman, has been homme chipping in. England batsmen or bowlers. London status in the global game. the standout all-rounder. have a number of guys who “Hardik Pandya fits any All-rounder Shakib Al Shakib, the world’s top- Former West Indies pace- are specialist bowlers but they batting position, the kind of Clive Lloyd has called on the Hasan is a rare talent who rated all-rounder in one- man Ian Bishop said such can also bat and that is what technique he has got. He can current crop of West Indies could command a place in day internationals, inspired players remained sought after. makes them such a strong bat at three, four, five, six or cricketers to add application to the Bangladesh team as ei- Bangladesh to a convincing “Everyone wants an Im- unit.” seven in different moulds at their talent after a disappoint- ther a batsman or a bowler in win over Afghanistan with ran Khan (the current Paki- India have unearthed all times as the situation de- ing World Cup campaign so far. an age of increasing speciali- his five wickets and 51 runs stan prime minister who led Hardik Pandya as a genuine mands and is a proper bowl- They have won just one of their sation in . on Monday, matching Yuvraj his team to a 1992 World Cup all-rounder to follow in Ka- er,” Harbhajan said. opening six games in England. The 32-year-old has oth- Singh’s feat for India at the triumph) or Shakib Al Hasan pil’s footsteps but he is yet to “If you have all-rounders “West Indies could be one ers for company at the World 2011 World Cup. but they don’t fall out of the fire fully at the World Cup. like him or Ben Stokes, they of the best teams around -- Cup, including West Indies Shakib has scored 476 trees,” he said. England star Stokes made will fit in any squad, Test or they have the talent,” Lloyd captain and runs with two centuries and “Every team wants one his presence felt in a losing one-day. They are special- said in a column for the Inter- England’s Ben Stokes. three fifties in six games in of those (all-rounders). You cause against Sri Lanka when ists in both departments. national Cricket Council. But today’s all-rounders England and Wales and has don’t go out and buy those. he hit an unbeaten 82 and They are not bits-and-pieces “Had the West Indies bats- do not have the same profile also picked up 10 wickets. The core of the team is always bowled five overs for just 16 players. men turned some of those 50s, as they did during a golden Stokes and New Zealand’s built around the specialist Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan runs. “Hardik or Stokes can play 60s and 70s, 80s into hun- era in the 1980s when Eng- have but the all-rounder still has and Mushfiqur Rahim celebrate Former Indian spinner just as a batsman because dreds they would have been in land’s Ian Botham, Pakistan’s also caught the eye during the its place. taking an Afghanistan wicket in Harbhajan Singh believes all- they are good enough and can a better position in the points Imran Khan, Kapil Dev of In- round-robin phase but Shak- “If you look at New Zea- Southampton on Monday. rounders such as Pandya and play just as bowlers.” standing.”