TENNIS | Page 5 BASEBALL | Page 6 Tennis chiefs Cueto inspires plan revamp To Advertise here Giants to a 2-0 Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 of Davis, Fed win over poor Cup fi nals Dodgers Thursday, September 22, 2016 FOOTBALL Dhul-Hijja 20, 1437 AH PSG beat Dijon 3-0 GULF TIMES to keep pressure on Monaco SPORT Page 9 2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES Team Qatar brings home historic medal haul from Rio Abdulrahman Abdelqader goes down in history by winning Qatar’s first ever Paralympic medal while Sara Masoud became Qatar’s first ever female Paralympic medallist. Both athletes won silver medals in their respective events By Sports Reporter Doha he Rio 2016 Paralympic Games have ended on a high note for Team Qatar after winning two silver medals thanks to the Tincredible performances of Abdelrah- man Abdelqader and Sara Masoud. The Rio 2016 Paralympics were held in South America for the fi rst time in history. The city hosted over 4,000 athletes from 176 countries from all over the world, who competed in 23 diff erent sports from 7th to 18th of September 2016. Abdelqader took home Qatar’s fi rst ever Paralympic medal after an incred- ibly diffi cult F34 shot put fi nal on 11th September in the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Abdelqader, who is ranked third worldwide in shot put, battled tough competitors Azeddine Nouiri from Morocco, who took gold, and Mauricio Valencia from Colombia who won bronze, to secure his silver medal – the fi rst ever Paralympic med- al for Team Qatar since their Paralym- pic debut in the 1996 Atlanta Games. The 27-year-old shot putter stood his ground against the other seasoned athletes and secured his medal early on with an astounding 11.15m. Speaking after the competition Ab- delqader said: “When I fi rst came here I wasn’t expecting a medal – I placed 6th in the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Of course it was my ambition to win a medal in the Rio 2016 Paral- ympic Games and thankfully I made it happen. Winning silver was an inde- scribable feeling – it is the fi rst Paral- ympic medal in Qatar’s history which is something I am incredibly proud of.” Abdelqader adds his fi rst ever Paral- ympic medal to an already growing and impressive repertoire which includes Qatar’s contingent that travelled to the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro team greeted on their arrival in Doha recently. Team Qatar returned with a successful haul of two silver medals. PIC: Jayan Orma a gold medal in shot put and bronze in javelin during the 2014 Asian Para talent, hard work and limitless po- Games, as well as a gold medal in shot ‘Something I am incredibly proud of...’ ‘Extremely proud of our Paralympians...’ tential. Both of them have made his- put during the 7th Fazaa International tory by winning their silver medals Championship 2015. and both have competed in the Doha The Qatari athlete also competed 2015 IPC Athletics World Champion- in the Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World ships – which undoubtedly played a Championships where he narrowly role in developing their skills ahead missed out on a world medal in shot of Rio. This is the kind of legacy we put and took 4th place – an experi- hope to achieve – one which inspires ence he undoubtedly built on ahead audiences and creates new sporting of Rio 2016. heroes.” Meanwhile Masoud also went down Mohammed al-Kubaisi was the in the history books as Qatar’s fi rst ever third and final member of Team Qa- female Paralympic medallist after win- tar, and competed in the 100m T34 ning silver in the F33 shot put event on wheelchair race. Al-Kubaisi went 16th September. The 30-year-old gave head to head with the fastest athletes it her all in the Olympic Stadium that in the world and managed to secure a night and won the silver medal after spot in the final. an especially close fi nal where Alge- Rio 2016 marks al-Kubaisi’s Para- rian Asmahan Boudjadar and Sara Al- lympic debut although has already Senaani from the UAE challenged her had great success on the regional lev- with every attempt. The Qatari Paral- el at only 23 years old including win- ympian secured her medal with an im- ning gold medals in the 100 and 200 pressive 5.09 m throw, with which she meters events during the Beijing 2015 entered the history books. IPC Grand Prix, and snagging a gold medal in 100 meters from the 2014 DEVELOPING TALENT Asian Para Games. Masoud is developing her talent year Commenting on Team Qatar’s after year; after winning a gold medal performance in Rio 2016, Ameer al- in discus throw for F33 and F34, and Mulla, Executive Director of the Qa- shot put F32 and F33 in the 2014 Asian tar Paralympic Committee said: “We Para Games, she went on to win a silver are beyond happy with our team’s medal in the discus throw and shot put performance in Rio 2016. They com- in the Beijing 2015 IPC Grand Prix. peted against the strongest athletes Commenting on the success of in the world and walked away with Team Qatar in the Rio 2016 Paral- Abdelqader and Masoud exemplify what can be done when you silver medals – for the first time in ympics, President of the Qatar Ol- combine talent, hard work and limitless potential. Both of them Qatar’s history. Our athletes have ympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan have made history by winning their silver medals and both have been training extremely hard for Rio bin Hamad al-Thani said: “We are competed in the Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships 2016 and we are pleased to say that extremely proud of our Paralympians “It was my ambition to win a medal in the Rio 2016 Paralympic – which undoubtedly played a role in developing their skills all of their hard work and preparation and the historic accomplishments Games and thankfully I made it happen. Winning silver was an ahead of Rio. This is the kind of legacy we hope to achieve – one has paid off. The future of these ath- they’ve made in the Rio 2016 Games. indescribable feeling – it is the fi rst Paralympic medal in Qatar’s which inspires audiences and creates new sporting heroes.” letes is as bright as ever and we can- Abdelqader and Masoud exemplify history which is something I am incredibly proud of.” - HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, QOC President not wait to see what else is in store in what can be done when you combine their sporting journey.” Gulf Times 2 Thursday, September 22, 2016 CRICKET FIRST TEST Captain Kohli admits India need to play spin better ‘It’s an area where we can improve, we lost a Test in Sri Lanka because we couldn’t play as well as we would have liked’ AFP Kanpur, India kipper Virat Kohli conceded yesterday that India must bat better against spin, as the favourites prepare to take on a dangerous New Zealand in the fi rst Test Sin Kanpur. Kohli pointed to India’s loss last year at the hands of Sri Lanka’s spinners on a raging turner as evidence of his side’s weakness, as they be- gin their quest to regain the number one world ranking spot. His team take on the Black Caps from today in the fi rst of three Tests and India’s 500th in total, at Kanpur’s Green Park which is expected to prove favourable to spinners. “It’s an area where we can improve, we have lost a Test match in Sri Lanka because we couldn’t play as well as we would have liked,” Kohli told reporters. “The team wants to improve on that aspect of the game, (its) something that (we) surely need to get stronger. What has happened is that there was so much being built up about us not being able to play well away from home that we kept focusing on playing fast bowling, and we got re- ally good at it. “We countered conditions really well in Eng- land, in bursts, in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. We sort of didn’t pay that much attention to spin. Now we are putting in more eff ort, to face the spinners longer in nets and practicing small little things by ourselves – someone might sweep, someone might play off the backfoot – whatever it is. If you want to be a champion side, you don’t want to give the oppo- sition any window to get into the game.” he said, adding that his batsmen were working on this. Sri Lankan veteran spinner Rangana Herath claimed seven wickets to skittle India for 112 last August in a stunning victory, although In- dia went on to win the next two matches. Kohli, known for his aggressive brand of cricket, said he was impressed with New Zealand’s “fearless” style of play in recent times and believes the visitors will prove tough opponents. “I think Kane is leading the side very well. We expect very good competition and good India under Virat Kohli (third left) will be playing 13 Test matches this season at home. They take on the New Zealand from today in the first of three Tests and India’s 500th in total. (AFP) hard-fought cricket,” Kohli said of his opposite number Kane Williamson. India, who start the India will have an extended season that will so has been to show composure in Test cricket ers can lack coming into international cricket – fearless, the results will fall your way because series strong favourites after their recent 2-0 comprise 17 Tests.