Harry Kane sets sights on matching Messi’s goal spree PAGE 18 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018

Indian cricket team eyes West Indies boost ahead of Australia tour PAGE 18 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PSG VS RED STAR BELGRADE Solitary goal setback for Al Sadd against Persepolis FC in first leg

IKOLI VICTOR

HOSTS Al Sadd suffered an unfortunate defeat after con- ceding a late penalty (86th minute) against Persepolis of in the first leg of their 2018 AFC Champions League semi-final on Tuesday. Playing in front of over nine thousand fans and with just four minutes to regulation time, goalkeeper Saad al Sheeb brought down Ali Alipour. The resultant kick was neatly dis- patched by the striker. That gave Persepolis an important 1-0 away win . The match started brightly for Al Sadd but no clear cut chances until the 16th minute when Akram Afif inside the Al Sadd’s head coach Jesualdo box has a shot at goal but goal- Ferreira of Portugal during the keeper Alireza Bairanvand match at the Jassim Bin Hamad made a decent catch. on Tuesday. (AFP) The visitors had their own chance when Bashar Resan with a fine pass. delivered the ball into the box Abdelkarim tried another and Nigerian striker Godwin long range shot but keeper Mensha blazed the ball over Alizera made a fingertip save the bar in the 26th minute. in the 79th minute. Al Sadd pressed more in Against the run of play, the opponent’s vital area and Persepolis breached the Al Baghdad Bounedjah in a one- Sadd defence with a quick on-one situation, missed a big counter-attack. The Wolves chance when he sliced the ball custodian rushed out and past Alizera but the Iranian fouled Alipour in the box. had tightened the space when The striker made no mis- he rushed out just on the half- take from the spot to give the hour mark. Iranians a goal and huge ad- The tournament’s top vantage into the second leg. scorer had another go at goal The two sides will now with an audacious shot from lock horns again on October an impossible angle but the 23 at the Azadi Stadium in Te- ball went over the crossbar. hran for the second leg, which Afif was a constant threat will decide who gets to play and his low shot destined into Persepolis FC’s Ali Alipour (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Al Sadd during their AFC Champions League semi-final first leg match at the Jassim Bin Hamad in the final of the AFC the back of the net was kept Stadium in Doha on Tuesday. The two teams will clash again in the second leg in Iran on October 23. (AFP) Champions League. out by the impressive Perse- polis custodian just before the halftime break. In the second period, a de- termined Al Sadd side playing more purposefully met a brick wall as the Iranians were un- compromising in their defend- ing with skipper in charge. Hassan al Haydos replaced South Korean Jung Woo Young but the Qatari inter- national was restricted by the defensive pair of Shojae Khali- ilzadeh and Ali Mosleh. After a disappointing first half Abdelkarim Hassan made some fine contributions and one of his cross into the box almost led to a goal but Persepolis back line cleared the danger. Pedro Miguel’s low shot from 20 yards went an inch off target in the 66th minute as the host looked more desperate. Chances kept coming for Al Sadd but Afif shot wide af- Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah (left) heads the ball during the AFC Champions League semi-final first leg Persepolis FC’s fans cheer their team during the AFC Champions League first leg semi-final at the Jassim ter Bounedjah provided him match against Persepolis FC at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday. (AFP) Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday. (AFP)

48TH FIG WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Quick read Ryder Cup fan blinded by tee shot gymnasts ready to give their best: Coach Razvan takes legal action TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK category. traveling to Romania in a cou- PARIS: A Frenchwoman blinded DOHA “We’ve been training hard ple of days to fine-tune their in one eye after being hit by a and everything has been go- preparations for the tourna- wayward tee shot at the Ry- QATAR coach Razvan Selariu ing in the right direction. The ment. “We are also planning to der Cup is taking legal action has exuded confidence about gymnasts are in top shape and participate in one or two compe- against the event’s organisers, home gymnasts doing well at everybody is ready to give their titions before returning to Qatar she said Tuesday. Corine Re- next month’s 48th FIG Artis- best,” Razvan told worldgym- though nothing yet has been fi- mande, 49, was hit on Friday’s tic Gymnastics World Cham- doha18.com. nalised now. opening day, when American pionships. The Romanian, who guided “This is the first champi- Brooks Koepka's drive on the The competition, to be the Qatar team at the recently- onships to be held in the Arab par-four sixth hole veered off showcased for the first time in held in Jakarta, world and we hope to give it course. She launched her the Middle East, will be held at Indonesia, added that his our best shot,” said Selariu, an legal action in the French city the Aspire Dome from October team’s target will be to reach Olympic bronze medalist with of Lyon on Tuesday. The com- 25 to November 3. the final of at least one appara- his national team at the 2004 plaint alleges organisers were Over 83 countries with tus. Athens Games. responsible for “a lack of safety 700 athletes will be participat- “The championships will “The eyes of the world will rules”. “The player should ing in the gymnastics extrava- be tough considering the pres- be on Doha next month. It will have shouted ‘ball’, or ‘fore’ ganza. ence of top gymnasts, but we be a great privilege for us to do for English speakers. Given the The host nation will be believe we can at least reach the something on home soil. distance, the stewards should represented by Ahmad al pommel horse final going by “It looks a daunting task, have relayed this information Dayani and Ahmed Nabil in the current form of Al Dayani. but it is not impossible. We are to the green,” she adds in the Qatar will be represented by Ahmad al Dayani and Ahmed Nabil in the men’s section, while Jana Kiki will the men’s section, while Jana And anything can happen from ready to make it happen.” complaint. “They told me I’d be country’s sole women competitor at the 48th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to be held Kiki will lead the country’s there,” added the 34-year-old. lost the sight in my right eye,” at the Aspire Dome from October 25 to November 3. competition in the women’s The men’s team will be See also page 19 Ô Remade told AFP. 18 Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Sports

Neymar, PSG UEFA Champions League preview still not at 100 percent: Tuchel Kane plans to emulate Messi’s AFP PARIS

BRAZILIAN star Neymar and his coach Thomas Tuchel fully goal spree as Barca visit London agreed on Tuesday that no-one at Paris Saint-Germain was “yet at 100 percent.” Fixtures Neymar “is perhaps not at Spurs will have 100 percent, but he’s close,” PSG vs Crvena Zvezda Tuchel said at a press confer- to take on Barca Lokomotiv Moskva vs Schalke 04 ence ahead of Wednesday’s Atlético Madrid vs Club Brugge Champions League home game without Eriksen, against Red Star Belgrade. Dembele, Jan Borussia Dortmund vs Monaco “I’m not at 100 percent of Tottenham Hotspur vs Barcelona my fitness, no one is at 100 pe- Vertonghen and PSV vs Internazionale cent, it’s the start of the season Napoli vs Liverpool and we haven’t played many Dele Alli Porto vs Galatasaray matches,” said Neymar. “World football reaches AFP its peak around February and LONDON March, with the biggest match- es. I'm working, every match, HARRY Kane has set his every day, on improving both sights on emulating the in- credible goal-scoring feats of Lionel Messi as the Tottenham striker prepares for his shoot- out with the Barcelona legend. Kane and Messi will be the leading men at Wembley on Wednesday when Tottenham host Barcelona in a crucial Champions League clash. Messi has already scored eight times this season, in- Paris Saint Germain’s head cluding a hat-trick in Barca’s coach Thomas Tuchel. European demolition of PSV Eindhoven, taking his career physically and technically,” tally for the club to well over Neymar added. 500 goals. Lionel Messi (centre) and Jordi Alba (second right) attend a team After losing their opening Kane has been prolific for training session at the Wembley Stadium on Tuesday. (AFP) group game to Liverpool, PSG Tottenham over the last four need a victory against Red Star years, but he admits he needs last season, beating Dortmund pressure starts to build. if they are to salvage their group to become even more ruthless at home. It was not so great to “I’m sure Barcelona want campaign. with his finishing to approach lose to Inter this time around,” to bounce back but it’s our Tuchel said on Tuesday his the jaw-dropping statistics Kane said. chance to stop them and win public statements after the loss compiled by the Argentina for- “We’ve got to prove we four games in a row, which at Anfield were not the same as ward. Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane takes part in a training session at the team’s Enfield Training Centre in can beat the best teams in the would be great momentum for his “unofficial” reaction. “He set the standard, he north London on Tuesday. (AFP) world and we need to do that us.” “You can well imagine that and Cristiano Ronaldo have against Barcelona. Spurs will have to take on the official reaction should not gone above the normal stand- As players you want to play side are to make it to the last Barca have wobbled do- “Barcelona might play bet- Barcelona without Christian be the unofficial reaction,” he ard, when they are scoring 50 against the best in the world 16, a victory over Spanish mestically of late, with two ter than Real Madrid did last Eriksen, Mousa Dembele and said. “It was a very tough defeat or 60 goals a season,” Kane and Messi is certainly that, a champions Barcelona would draws and a defeat, to bot- season. We need to produce Jan Vertonghen, who have for us, we did not play to our said on Tuesday. fantastic player, and we will be a major boost. tom side Leganes, in their last that same energy, the crowd joined Dele Alli on a growing best. Certain criticism had to be “As a striker I want to try do our best to stop him.” And to achieve that goal, three matches. were amazing that night. casualty list. made in the dressing room. and match that. He’s definitely Tottenham lost their they will need England captain Hoping to add to Barca’s “If we can get them on “It is a period when we are “It was only the first match set the standard for the rest of opening European game at Kane at his lethal best. problems, Kane says Totten- their feet as soon as possible, not having good luck with in- in the group, so you cannot ex- us and he still is. Inter Milan, leaving the Pre- Kane, who finished as the ham will draw on the memo- create some chances and take juries,” Pochettino said. aggerate the criticism, we had “It motivates me to get mier League side with no World Cup’s top scorer ear- ries of last season’s stunning one or two it would put us in a “We are not victims to keep calm,” said the German. even better and improve and margin for error as they try lier this year, is back in form, 3-1 Wembley win over Real great position. though. We must feel strong. “I am very happy with their re- hopefully one day score as to qualify for the knockout with three goals in his last two Madrid in the Champions “We went through a stage Every player must feel they action, we have to continue to- many, if not more, than he has. stages. games after a lethargic start to League group stages. where we didn’t win in three can win and achieve what we morrow.” “It’s a great test for us. If Mauricio Pochettino’s the season. “We got off to a great start matches and maybe a bit of want.” Don’t call me cool says After Nike, Federer focusing on World No. 1 ‘very emotional’ Osaka Halep sidelined indefinitely AFP Open. future with new sponsor Uniqlo BEIJING Osaka was not the only with back injury handsome winner on Tues- REUTERS NAOMI Osaka is the reigning day on Beijing’s outside hard TOKYO Still cashing AFP US Open champion, the first courts. BUCHAREST Japanese to win a Grand Slam China’s on-form Wang ROGER Federer said on Tues- O While no financial details singles title and a fast-rising Qiang continued her hot streak day his decision to end a 20- have been announced, WOMEN’S world number star of tennis -- but do not call with a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing of year association with Nike and media reports have said one Simona Halep, who re- her cool. Latvia’s 2017 French Open embark on a new chapter with the new deal would be tired during her first-round Osaka bolstered her grow- champion Jelena Ostapenko. Uniqlo was influenced by the worth around $30 million a match in Beijing over the ing fame as she thrashed un- Ostapenko, the 12th seed, Japanese clothing company’s year, compared with the weekend, said on Tuesday seeded American Danielle Col- required treatment on her left commitment to stay with him $10 million a year she has a herniated disc. lins 6-1, 6-0 in 53 minutes to wrist during the match and said long after his playing days are “I had an MRI on my saunter into round three of the afterwards that she had been over. agreement Federer had back and found out that I China Open on Tuesday. playing at barely 50 percent be- While no financial details with Nike. have a herniated disc,” the Told afterwards that she cause of the injury. have been announced, media 27-year-old Romanian wrote had been branded “Queen of Three-time Grand Slam reports have said the new deal nese tennis after Naomi Osaka on social media. “I will con- Cool” by an Australian ten- winner Angelique Kerber is also would be worth around $30 claimed the country’s first sult doctors in the coming nis magazine, the 20-year-old into round three, along with million a year, compared with Grand Slam singles title at the days and will keep you in- looked startled. reigning China Open champion the $10 million a year agree- U.S. Open last month. formed.” “I don’t like the word ‘cool’ Caroline Garcia of France. ment Federer had with Nike. Federer, a five-time winner “I hope to be back quick- because then I feel like when In the men’s draw, top seed The 37-year-old, who has at Flushing Meadows, praised ly,” she said, without offer- someone meets me, they’ll be Juan Martin del Potro called won 20 Grand Slam singles ti- the mental strength of the ing any timescale. disappointed or something,” for on-court treatment but was tles – a men’s record – signalled Roger Federer (left) with Tadashi Yanai, founder and president of Fast 20-year-old, who has also quali- On Sunday, Halep said Osaka told reporters in Beijing. mostly comfortable in beating the end of his association with Retailing, known as the UNIQLO brand, during a photo session at the fied for the season-ending WTA she was “worried now” when “So they can use ‘expres- Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas Nike in July when he walked out Fast Retailing headquarters in Tokyo on Tuesday. (AFP) Finals. a persistent back problem sionless’ or something,” she 7-5, 6-2 in his opener. onto Wimbledon’s Centre Court “I think winning Indian forced her out of the China added with a smile, playing “It was a difficult start to the dressed in Uniqlo apparel. and Mr. Yanai believed in me children in poverty through Wells helped her to believe that Open after just 31 miserable with the impression formed by tournament for me,” said the Federer said the belief very strongly as being very im- education, and he said Uniqlo she could also win another big minutes. some observers. giant Argentine, the losing US shown in him by Uniqlo’s CEO portant to their brand, even shared that vision. title,” said Federer, who is plan- “I think actually I’m very Open finalist, adding that he Tadashi Yanai and Executive though maybe my playing days “Some people cannot go to ning an exhibition match in Ja- emotional.” twisted his knee in the second Creative Director John Jay had are going to come to an end at school, even though they want pan next year. The Romanian has been Osaka, whose maiden half of the match. been key. some point.” to, some people do go to school “I think she is a champion struggling with injuries over Grand Slam was overshadowed “It was nothing dangerous,” “John Jay in New York, By incorporating Federer but do not get a quality educa- in the sense that she doesn't shy the later stages of the sea- by Serena Williams’s row with he added. “I served well, which where I had an event there, said in their LifeWear range, Uniq- tion and so this is where the away from the big stage. Indian son. She dropped out of the the chair umpire in their New is important for my whole it very nicely: ‘One day I will lo appear to see the Swiss as a Roger Federer Foundation has Wells is the second biggest ten- York final, faces 10th seed Julia game, but I didn’t feel with that retire from tennis but I will not brand off court as much as on it. tried to make a difference in the nis court we have in the world New Haven tournament at Goerges next at the China Open. strength during the game.” retire from life,’” said Federer, One of Federer’s goals after he region of Southern Africa,” he and the U.S. Open is the biggest the end of August with an Osaka has booked her spot Del Potro, enjoying the best who was presented as Uniqlo’s retires is to develop the charity said. one. She succeeded in both of Achilles problem. in the season-ending WTA season of his injury-disrupted new global brand ambassador. work started through his foun- Federer’s switch to Uniqlo them and that shows a winner’s Finals Singapore for the first career, faces Russia’s Karen “Life will go on and Uniqlo dation, which aims to empower comes at a boom time for Japa- mentality.” time, underlining her potential. Khachanov next. The Romanian never But the world number six Also safely into round two looked comfortable against has appeared to struggle men- is third seed Grigor Dimitrov, Tunisian qualifier Ons tally with the fallout from the who defeated the American Jabeur, losing the opening tempestuous final at the US Tennys Sandgren 7-5, 6-3. set of their first-round match Formula One mulling changes to qualifying 6-1 before calling it quits. She said at the time she REUTERS mean we shouldn’t look at ways thought it was a different LONDON of improving it,” Brawn said in back problem from the one a review of last weekend’s Rus- that contributed to her early FORMULA One is considering sian Grand Prix. loss in Wuhan a week earlier. changing qualifying, by possibly He said a recent meeting of “I knew that there is pain, expanding it to four stages from the sport’s Strategy Group had but I thought if I warm up three, but nothing has been considered the four-part idea. during the match, it’s going agreed for next season, accord- That would see four driv- to be better, but it wasn’t,” ing to managing director for ers eliminated in the first three she said. motorsport Ross Brawn. phases with eight competing planted, now we have to make would normally expect to be in The Romanian has been The aim would be to create for pole in the final one rather sure they grow well,” said the the final phase, had penalties struggling with injuries over more excitement for fans and than five in the first two and Briton. that sent them to the back of the the later stages of the sea- greater unpredictability. then 10 in the third. Each seg- Qualifying at the Russian grid. son. She dropped out of the “The qualifying format has ment would take less time with Grand Prix exposed a flaw in The other two Renaults New Haven tournament at now been well established for a shorter gap in-between. the system when five cars did no then had no incentive to try and the end of August with an several years, apart from the “No agreement was reached timed laps in the second phase. beat them because starting out- Achilles problem and then Naomi Osaka of Japan in action at the China Open tennis tournament unsuccessful experiment at the on introducing it for 2019 but That was because three, side the top 10 gave them a bet- lost in the first round of the in Beijing. (AFP) start of 2016, but that doesn’t the seeds of discussion were including the Red Bulls who ter tyre choice. US Open a week later. Sports Wednesday, October 3, 2018 19

48th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Olympic champion to be the star attraction TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA

REIGNING Olympic and three-time world all-around champion Simone Biles is poised to once again star at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. The American made a triumphant return to com- Head coach Stuart Law gives a pep talk to the West Indies players. petition last month, winning the senior all-around crown at the US Classic in Colum- bus, Ohio. The 21-year-old posted Roach to miss the highest all-around score (58.700) with impressive scores on the (15.200), (15.400) and floor exercise (14.750) this opening Test year. In fact, the women’s qualification round will have Golden girl China, who won team sil- its fair share of excitement ver at the 2014 and 2015 edi- when USA take to the podi- American artistic gymnast Simone Biles (age 21) is the 2016 tions and team bronze in Rio, um in Subdivision 5. Olympic individual all-around, vault and floor gold medalist, will compete in Subdivision 7. Japan, who will compete and balance-beam bronze medalist. She was part of the Fast-rising France, who were against India in Subdivision 2, could well second to Russia in the team gold-medal-winning team dubbed the “Final Five” at the continue their surge towards 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. final at this summer’s Euro- a team medal after finishing pean Championships, will eighth in 2014, fifth in 2015 compete in Subdivision 8. Hosts get a chance to find solutions to top-order batting and fourth in Rio Olympics. Russia, who yielded Two Japanese gymnasts – bronze to Britain in the team worries ahead of Australia tour Mai Murakami and Aiko final in 2015, will face the Sugihara – landed among the British ladies anew in Subdi- REUTERS West Indies arrive in In- top six in the All-around final vision 9. Russia and Britain MUMBAI dia on the back of strong test at last year’s Worlds in Mon- team title since Russia took most of their chief rivals are were placed 2nd and 5th re- form at home. They won both treal, Canada. gold in 2010 (Rotterdam, the likely to follow them in later spectively in the team final at INDIA have the perfect op- Tests agasint Bangladesh and The US have not lost a Netherlands), but in Doha subdivisions. the Rio Games. portunity to find a solution drew 1-1 against Sri Lanka in to their top-order batting a three-match series. woes before their year-end However, previous form series in Australia when the against India in the five-day world's top-ranked side host format offers little optimism. two Tests against lowly West West Indies' last Test win Indies, starting in Rajkot on against them was in May Thursday. 2002 in Kingston, while they Murali Vijay and Shikhar have not won in India since a Dhawan opened for India in 243-run triumph in 1994. the first match of the recent Despite the task facing his five-Test series in England side, West Indies captain Ja- but the duo were dropped fol- son Holder was upbeat. Downie sisters return as Mikulak to lead USA’s lowing modest returns during Kemar Roach of West Indies "It's been good. Our last the 4-1 defeat. two-Test series were very Britain announce team 5-member men’s team Lokesh Rahul, the third good," Holder told reporters opener in England, survived The 30-year old fast bowl- on the team's arrival in India. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK will be competing in Doha for TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK each apparatus, and all three the axe after posting a 149 er had to leave the West "I don't want to dwell too DOHA the first time in 18 months af- DOHA scores count in the competi- in the final match at the Oval Indies squad following the much in the past ... we have ter an ankle injury sustained tion which will be held at the and will walk out to face the death of his grandmother a big series ahead of us, a big DOWNIE sisters, Becky and last year. SAM MIKULAK will lead a Aspire Dome from October 25 new ball against West Indies and will only make it back winter to be precise. So the Ellie, were named among She had surgery in Au- five-member US men’s team to November 3. in the company of either May- from Barbados midway focus is on that and to play the five-member Great Brit- gust, 2017, followed by at the FIG 48th Doha Worlds. Mikulak, who will turn 26 ank Agarwal or Prithvi Shaw, through the game good cricket." ain women’s team for the another operation in April 2017 world medalist Yul next month, has won every who are both uncapped. The Caribbean side also 48th FIG Artistic Gymnas- this year. Moldauer, Akash Modi, Colin US all-around title since 2013 Agarwal, 27, was re- suffered a jolt in the buildup tics World Championships. Becky, on the other hand, Van Wicklen and Alec Yoder and finished as high as sixth warded for a 2017-18 season India, who last lost a Test to the tour. Pace bowler Ke- Competitions will be held has had a niggling elbow are the other members in the in the all-around at the 2013 in which he scored heavily series at home in late 2012 mar Roach has been ruled out in the all-around, individual problems which kept her out Qatar-bound squad that was World Championships. across all formats while the against England, started the of the first match. apparatus and team events of competition for the greater announced by the USA Gym- This will be his fourth 18-year-old Shaw has already year with a 2-1 loss to South The 30-year old fast with the main focus for many part of the year. nastics on Saturday following Worlds, though he’s still been tipped to have a bright Africa but then thrashed deb- bowler had to leave the West nations centred on the team “If you’d have asked me a two-day competition held at seeking his first individual future in national colours. utants Afghanistan at home Indies squad following the competition which presents how 2018 would go at the a selection camp in Colorado medal. He finished just off Agarwal and Shaw will be in a one-off match before fly- death of his grandmother and an early opportunity for Ol- start of this year I could never Springs, Colorado. the podium in fourth place keen to make the most of their ing to England. will only make it back from ympic qualification. have predicted so much dra- Only Mikulak and during the high bar competi- chances and book their place Despite losing all-round- Barbados midway through Becky and Ellie, who ma but it’s an absolute hon- Moldauer have World Cham- tion at the 2016 Olympics and for India's four-Test series in er Hardik Pandya and pace the game. make a welcome return after our to be selected to repre- pionships’ experience while 2013 Worlds. Australia, though Vijay has bowler Ishant Sharma to in- Head coach Stuart Law, being sidelined due to injury, sent Great Britain at the 2018 the former also has Olympic Moldauer won the 2017 responded to being dropped jury, India have opted to rest who announced that he are joined by Kelly Simm, World Championships. “It’s experience. national title in Mikulak’s ab- by making a hundred and pace duo Jasprit Bumrah and would be stepping down as Georgia-Mae Fenton and Al- even more special to be back The Worlds will feature sence, and finished seventh three half-centuries in his last Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the head coach following the ice Kinsella. with Ellie after an absolute a team event in addition to at last year’s Worlds in Mon- five innings for Essex in the West Indies Tests. tours of India and Bangla- Lucy Stanhope, a member emotional rollercoaster 18 competition in the individ- treal, Canada. County Championship. The visiting batsmen will desh to take up a role at Mid- of the silver-winning team at months!! Excited to see what ual all-around and on each “Beyond blessed and hon- The trip to Australia will still have to contend with dlesex in England, accepted the 2018 Commonwealth this team can do together,” apparatus. ored to be representing the be the last chance in 2018 India's lethal spin duo of that losing a new-ball bowler Games in Gold Coast, will the Becky tweeted. Each country is allowed USA in Doha Qatar, for the for Virat Kohli's men to show Ravichandran Ashwin and for the opening Test of a se- reserve. The men’s team was re- four gymnasts per appara- 2018 World Championships. they can match their formida- Ravindra Jadeja however, ries against the No. 1 side in Ellie, the 2017 All-around cently confirmed as Dom tus in the qualifying round, I just want to say thank you ble home form with success with left-arm wrist spinner the world was tough. He is European champion and Cunningham, Max Whitlock with the top three scores family, coaches, schools and abroad and show the world Kuldeep Yadav ready to chip however confident the rest of the first to win a major all- MBE, Joe Fraser, Nile Wilson counting for team qualifying. friends/teammates for getting why they are the world's top- in if pressed into action as the the attack could thrive in sub- around title for her country, and James Hall. Three gymnasts compete on me to where I am,” he tweeted. ranked Test side. third slow-bowling option. continent conditions. Gharafa, Arabi look to return to winning ways in Week 8

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ceded 14. are both coming off wins, They both are at the bot- DOHA The match will also be the former defeating Qatar tom of the table, so they are noted for the tactical conflict SC and the latter putting it sure to go all out in order to AL Gharafa Club and Al Arabi between Al Gharafa’s French across Al Arabi. stay away from the danger Club are looking to return coach Christian Gourcuff and zone. to the winning path when Al Arabi’s Croatian master QSC vs Kharaitiyat Qatar SC had replaced they clash against each other Luka Bonacic. Another interesting battle coach Abdulla Mubarak with in Week 8 of the QNB Stars Al Gharafa are sorely on the cards this week is be- Yousef al Noobi, while Al League on October 5. missing the services of star tween Qatar Sports Club and Kharaitiyat brought in Mo- Al Gharafa lost to Al Dutch attacking midfielder and Al Kharaitiyat (October roccan Abdulaziz El Amri Kharaitiyat 0-2, while Al Ara- Wesley Sneijder, who is nurs- 5). with Tunisian Nassif al Baya- bi suffered a similar defeat at ing a muscle strain. But they Qatar SC have got four wi. the hands of Al Sailiya. have in their ranks Vladimir points from one victory and a Cameroonian star Samuel Right now, Al Gharafa are Weiss and . draw, while Al Kharaitiyat are Eto’o leads Qatar SC’s charge. seventh in the standings with Mailson de Farias and occupying the 11th spot with Al Kharaitiyat will mainly seven points from two wins Mohammed El Neel are to three points. rely on Algerian attacking and a draw, while Al Arabi are lead Al Arabi’s challenge. Qatar SC were beaten midfielder Jugurtha Ham- The Qatar paralympics team at the Hamad International Airport prior to their departure the 2018 Asian a step above than them with 1-5 by Aa Sadd in the previ- roun and Abdulhadi Amin to Para Games which will be held in Jakarta, from October 8 to 16. (SOURCE: QOC TWITTER) 12 points from four victories. Big guns ready to blaze ous round. In contrast, Al deliver the goods. Al Arabi will be keen to Big guns Al Sadd and Al Kharaitiyat registered their storm back into the top four, Duhail, who occupy the first first win against Al Ghara- Fixtures 13 athletes to represent Qatar being led by former champi- and second positions respec- fa 2-0, to collect their first Friday (October 5) ons Al Sadd Club. Defend- tively, will be seen in action points. Striker Abdulhadi Al Gharafa vs Al Arabi at Al Gharafa Stadium (17:40) ing champions Al Duhail are on Sunday. Amin scored both their goals. Qatar SC vs Al Kharaitiyat at Qatar SC Stadium in Asian Para Games second, followed by Al Sailiya The Al Duhail vs Umm Qatar SC have only their (19:50) Club and Club. Salal game will be followed upset win over Al Gharafa in TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK compete only in athletics and In Athletics competitions, As for Al Gharafa, they by Al Sadd vs Al Sailiya clash. the opening week and a draw Saturday (October 6) DOHA goalball. the state of Qatar will be rep- have conceded three succes- Al Duhail are second with Al Khor to show for their Al Khor vs Al Rayyan at Al Khor Stadium (17:40) Qatar's goalball squad con- resented by sive defeats and are eager to behind Al Sadd on goal dif- efforts. So both teams are Al Shahania vs Al Ahli at Al Arabi Stadium (19:50) THE Qatar Paralympic Com- sists of Mohammad Hamam Abdullah Abdulqader Nass- make a turnaround in their ference, while Umm Salal eyeing their second victory. mittee announced the Qatari al Mohammad, Mohammad er al Sahouti, Khalid al Hajri, fortunes. are fifth with 13 points after Qatar SC have scored Sunday (October 7) delegation for the 2018 Asian al Kahalout, Abbad Waleed al Debais al Dosari, Mohammad Al Gharafa have scored 12 completing a hat-trick of vic- eight goals, but conceded 16, Al Duhail vs Umm Salal at Al Duhail Stadium Para Games, to be held in Jakar- Shamali, Ikrami Murad, Has- al Abd, Mohammad Rahsed al (17:40) ta, Indonesia from October 6. san al Kohaji and Abdulhadi al goals conceding 14, whereas tories. while Al Kharaitiyat netted Al Sadd vs Al Sailiya at Al Sadd Stadium (19:50) Kebaisi and Sarah Masoud rep- Al Arabi netted 11 and con- Al Sadd and Al Sailiya six and conceded 15 goals. The Qatari athletes will Marri. resent Qatar in athletics.