Sport Wednesday 18 August 2021 Tearful Osaka briefly leaves press conference I can’t really help that there are some things that I tweet or some things that I say that kind of create a lot of news articles or things like that ... but I would also say I’m not really sure how to balance the two. Like I’m figuring it out at the same time as you are, I would say.

Naomi Osaka Sport | 15 CYCLING: Vuelta a Espana Stage 4 winner: Fabio Jakobsen (NED) 3:43:07; Overall leader: Rein Taaramäe (EST) 13:08:51

Qatar's medal winners at the recently concluded Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ahmed Tijan, Mutaz Barshim, Fares Ibrahim and Cherif Younousse pose for a photograph with Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Aamal Company QPSC, during a felicitation ceremony held at the Qatar Olympic Committee Headquarters, yesterday. Aamal Company QPSC, one of the region’s leading diversified companies, is a sponsor of Team Qatar since January this year. RIGHT: Qatar's first ever Olympic gold medallist, Fares Ibrahim is receiving a memento from Aamal Company QPSC Chairman. ATTF, QTTA chief Al Mohannadi hails Qatar's show at Arab Championships

The Peninsula – Doha

Khalil Ahmad Al Mohannadi, President of the Arab Table Tennis Federation and Qatar Table Tennis Association, yesterday hailed Team Qatar's performance at the Arab Table Tennis Championships which concluded in Amman, Jordan. Members of the Qatar national parachute jumping Qatari paddlers and team taking part in the Canopy Formation two- officials yesterday way Sequential competition in the 24th FAI World returned to a rousing Championship of Formation Skydiving in Tanay, welcome at the Hamad Russia, yesterday. The Qatari skydivers were International Airport fol- occupying the second place in the competition lowing brilliant show in Officials of the Qatar Table Tennis Association pose for a photograph with the Team Qatar paddlers and officials upon their at the end of three rounds while Qatar's four- Amman where they return to Doha at the Hamad International Airport yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit way canopy formation team are ranked first bagged a total of 19 after three out of eight rounds. medals, including four gold and five going on for years,"Al Mohannadi more and more good performances," tournament which witnessed strong silver medals to occupy the second said. Al Kuwari, who was crowned with competitions which took place place in the overall standings. "Players from different age team gold, and won silver amidst extraordinary circum- Al Mohannadi, who is also the groups and the technical and admin- in doubles and bronze stances due to the COVID-19 First Vice President of the Interna- istrative staff made great efforts in U-11 singles, said. pandemic. tional and Asian Table Tennis Fed- during the local events, preparing "Thank God for The club competitions of erations, yesterday graded the for such big international tourna- the medals. I dedicate the Arab Championships team's 19-medal haul as a historic ments. Training camps were con- this achievement to my kicked off yesterday with Al achievement. ducted in partnership with Aspire father. I will continue to Sadd SC and Qatar SC rep- "What was achieved in Amman Academy. These medals are the work hard because our resenting Qatar in the is historic, whether given the result of all their hard work. And for ambitions are limitless men’s competitions, number of medals achieved by our this they deserve praise and and we have the ability and Qatar Women champions or their diversity. honour,” he said. to compete in club in the Medals were won by players in Sultan Khalid Al Kuwari, who various tourna- l a d i e s ’ many age groups, especially in the bagged three medals during the ments," Al division. junior categories. They are the Championships, expressed his hap- Kuwari said. future of table tennis in Qatar," Al piness at the great reception the E g y p t Mohannadi said. team received upon their arrival at won the first "This achievement didn't come the Hamad International Airport place in the overnight. It is the result of long- yesterday. term preparations that has been "This motivates us to produce Khalil Ahmad Al Mohannadi Qatar Racing Limited’s Battle Of Osmose storms to win at Deauville The Peninsula – Deauville throughout the 1,200m contest. The pair began to draw clear of The Nile scores on handicap debut Breaking smartly from stall three, the field, but Osmose proved much In a race reserved to unraced two- she was settled just behind the the better inside the final 200m and The Peninsula year-old fillies, Osmose (Zoffany x leaders as Zanotchka (Zarak) took went on to score by two lengths. – Wolverhampton Meseika) carried the colours of her the field through the first half of the Enfant Rouge stuck on gamely to owner H H Sheikh Mohammed bin race. With a sensible pace being set, take second, with Beauty Queen Having his first start in a Khalifa Al Thani to a comfortable Osmose was always travelling (Territories) doing some good late handicap, the Qatar success when taking the Prix Le strongly for Demuro. Inside the final work to take third. Racing Limited-owned Cyrano at Deauville yesterday. 400m, Zanotchka began to give way Winning trainer Jean-Claude Battle Of The Nile (Havana Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, and was flanked and passed by both Rouget said after the race:“She was Gold x Gertrud Versed) Osmose was always well-positioned Osmose and Enfant Rouge (Bated straight into the action there. She took the Cazoo Nursery by her jockey Cristian Demuro Breath). has a good temperament and is very Handicap at Wolver- straightforward to ride. hampton yesterday. Cristian said that he only had The two-year-old, to pull her out and away she trained by James Fer- went. She wasn’t fully wound guson, had shown some up for this and she looked a promise on his three pre- little round in the paddock. vious runs, including Battle Of TheN ile on his way to victory. Pic: Jonathon Hipkiss She should come on nicely for when only beaten three that. I think she has a lot of lengths on his most recent start at Battle Of The Nile was switched to the potential, but over the shorter Kempton and was having his first run as outside and once clear, closed down Sag- trips.” a gelding here. ittarius inside the final furlong. He went Bred by H H Sheikh Ridden by Oisin Murphy, Battle Of The on to win easily by a length at the line. Mohammed's Al Shahania Nile was settled towards the rear of the Sagittarius took second, with the strong- Stud, Osmose is by now field in the early stages of the six-furlong finishing Bro (Slade Power) a further head deceased Group One stallion contest. back in third. Zoffany (Dansili). Her dam A strong early pace was set by Tink- Bred by the Gertrude Versed Part- Meseika (Medagliad’Oro) was ertstar (Fast Company) and Battle Of The nership, Battle Of The Nile is by Tween- unraced and is a daughter of Nile travelled well for Murphy. On the turn hill’s Stud stallion Havana Gold (Teofilo). Group One Breeders Cup for home, the eventual second Sagittarius He is out of Gertrude Versed (Manduro), Fillies and Mares winner Unri- (Showcasing) took over and headed the who was twice listed- placed and a valed Belle (Unbrideled’s field into the straight. winner over a mile and three furlongs. Cristian Demuro guides Osmose to victory. Pic: Scoopdyga Song). Sport Wednesday 18 August 2021 14 QSA, QADC host anti-doping workshop

beIN Sports partners with PTO An official speaks during an anti-doping workshop, hosted by Qatar Swimming Association in cooperation with the Qatar Anti-Doping Committee (QADC) for live coverage in Doha, yesterday. The workshop dealt with advice for the athletes participating in the upcoming 28th GCC Aquatics Championships, and introduced the dangers of doping and its negative impact on the life of the athlete in general and the swimmer in particular. RIGHT: Participants during the workshop. of Collins Cup UAE, Saudi teams arrive in Doha ahead of 28th GCC Aquatics Championships The Peninsula – DOHA beIN Media Group, the global sports and entertainment broadcaster and its flagship sports channel beIN Sports, and The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) have agreed a partnership that will see the Collins Cup screened live and on demand in the USA, Canada, and 24 countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on beIN Sports. The Collins Cup is the PTO’s inaugural flagship event taking place on August 28 in Šamorín, near Bratislava, Slovakia and is a new race format modelled after the Ryder Cup, which will see teams of Inter- national, European and USA athletes The contingents of the and Saudi Arabia at the Hamad pitted against one another and put on International Airport in Doha, yesterday upon their arrival ahead of the 28th display the excitement, rivalry, drama Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Aquatics Championships, which will be held from and personalities of the sport of tomorrow at the Hamad Aquatics Centre. The 28th Championships was scheduled triathlon. to take place last year before the organisers, Qatar Swimming Association, As part of the multi-regional deal the decided to move the championship to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. entire Collins Cup broadcast of over 7 hours will be broadcast live on beIN Sports across the Middle East and North Africa, USA and Canada in addition to an hour-long highlights programme of the race action from The Collins Cup. beIN T20 World Cup: India, Pakistan to meet Sports will also air the PTO’s 2-part Beyond Human documentary produced by Noah Media Group, which follows the journeys of three of the biggest names in in Group 2 opener as ICC reveals fixtures the sport – Lionel Sanders (Team Inter- nationals), Sebastien Kienle (Team AP – DUBAI India and Pakistan fans wave flags during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 Europe) and Heather Jackson (Team US) 2017 Champions Trophy in this file photo. Fixtures in their quest to see who rules India will play Pakistan in the 1st ROUND triathlon. opening Group 2 match at the October 17 (Muscat): Oman vs Papua New Guinea, Duncan Walkinshaw, Acting Director International Cricket Council’s Bangladesh vs Scotland of Programs for beIN MENA said: “The Twenty20 World Cup in October, October 18 (): Ireland vs Netherlands, Sri Collins Cup will be fantastic enter- a day after Australia takes on Lanka vs Namibia tainment for triathlon fans, so we are South Africa and the West Indies October 19 (Muscat): Scotland vs Papua New Guinea, thrilled to bring this unique competition meet England in the first games Bangladesh vs Oman to our subscribers across the Middle East of the Super 12 stage. October 20 (Abu Dhabi): Namibia vs Netherlands, Sri and North Africa and our markets in the The ICC yesterday released Lanka vs Ireland United States and Canada. For our sub- the full draw for both stages of the October 21 (Muscat): Bangladesh vs Papua New scribers in MENA this is especially Oct. 17-Nov. 14 tournament which Guinea, Oman vs Scotland exciting given Triathlon, as a sport, is is being played in the United Arab October 22 (): Namibia vs Ireland, Sri Lanka growing rapidly in the region.” vs Netherlands Emirates and Oman after being Tim Godfrey, Chief Marketing Officer Second Round shifted from India because of the at PTO, said: “We are delighted to be able October 23 (Abu Dhabi): Australia vs South Africa impact of the COVID-19 to work with beIN SPORTS in Middle East, October 23 (Dubai): England vs West Indies pandemic. North Africa, USA and Canada to October 24 (Sharjah): A1 vs B2 Bangladesh and 2014 T20 showcase The Collins Cup live as well as October 24 (Dubai): India vs Pakistan World Cup champion Sri Lanka October 25 (Sharjah): Afghanistan vs B1 our behind the scenes documentary.” are among eight teams involved October 26 (Dubai): South Africa vs West Indies in the first stage, which will October 26 (Sharjah): Pakistan vs New Zealand feature double-headers on six October 27 (Abu Dhabi): England vs B2 days at venues in Muscat, Oman, and Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the October 27 (Abu Dhabi): B1 vs A2 UAE. October 28 (Dubai): Australia vs A1 The four leading teams in the first stage will advance to the October 29 (Sharjah): West Indies vs B2 Super 12 round, joining tournament host India and seven other October 29 (Dubai): Pakistan vs Afghanistan automatic qualifiers. The Super 12 round will run from Oct. 23 to October 30 (Sharjah): South Africa vs A1 Nov. 8 and the top two teams in each group will advance to the October 30 (Dubai): Australia vs England semifinals to be played at Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10 and at Dubai on First Round Group A October 31 (Abu Dhabi): Afghanistan vs A2 Nov. 11. India vs New Zealand Ireland, Namibia, Netherlands, Sri Lanka October 31 (Dubai): Dubai will host the final on Nov. 14. November 1 (Sharjah): England vs A1 Group B The defending champion West Indies are in Group 1 along with November 2 (Abu Dhabi): South Africa vs B2, Pakistan vs A2 Bangladesh, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland Australia, 2010 champion England and South Africa. India and November 3 (Dubai): New Zealand vs B1 Pakistan are joined by New Zealand and Afghanistan in Group 2. November 3 (Abu Dhabi): India vs Afghanistan Super 12 West Indies T20 captain Kieron Pollard said his team was excited November 4 (Dubai): Australia vs B2 England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, to begin the defense of the title after a year-long delay in the Group 1: November 4 (Abu Dhabi): West Indies vs A1 tournament. Winner Group A, Runner-up Group B November 5 (Sharjah): New Zealand vs A2 “We can’t wait to get started,” he said. “West Indian cricketers Group 2 November 5 (Dubai): India vs B1 have always played an exciting brand of cricket and I am sure our India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Winner Group November 6 (Abu Dhabi): Australia vs West Indies fans in the Caribbean and all over the world are highly anticipating B, Runner-up Group A November 6 (Sharjah): England vs South Africa seeing us in action.” November 7 (Abu Dhabi): New Zealand vs Afghanistan Virat Kohli’s India squad will have a packed schedule leading Venues: November 7 (Sharjah): Pakistan vs B1 Charlotte Hornets forwardL iAngelo Ball into the tournament. India’s test squad is playing a series in England Dubai: Dubai International Cricket Stadium November 8 (Abu Dhabi): India vs A2 dunks the ball during an NBA Summer now and most players will return for the second half of the Indian Sharjah: November 10 (Abu Dhabi): 1st semi-final League game against the Chicago Bulls Premier League, which is set to resume in the UAE next month after Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium November 11 (Dubai): 2nd semi-final at Thomas & Mack Center on Monday. being suspended in May as coronavirus cases surged in India. Muscat: Oman Cricket Academy Ground November 14 (Dubai): Final Bulls won 99-74. Tsitsipas refuses Tearful Osaka briefly leaves press conference to take vaccine Reuters – CINCINNATI reporter to clarify his question and earthquake relief efforts, Osaka early at the Tokyo Games, where she turned down an offer from the mod- appeared to wipe away tears. was given the honour of lighting the Naomi Osaka briefly left a press erator to ”move on to the next The moderator called for a pause Olympic flame at the opening cer- if not mandatory conference in Cincinnati on Monday question” before giving a full reply. to the proceedings and Osaka left the emony, she said she struggled to cope after she appeared to get upset with “Ever since I was younger, I have room for a few minutes but returned with the huge pressure and expec- REUTERs – NEW YORK a line of questioning about her rela- had a lot of media interest on me, and to complete the news tation placed on her. tionship with the media, leading her I think it’s because of my background conference. Osaka’s agent, Stuart World number three Stefanos Tsitsipas said agent to describe a reporter as a as well,” said Osaka, who is of Jap- O s a k a ’ s Duguid, condemned the he would only get the COVID-19 vaccine if “bully”. anese-Haitian heritage but grew up French Open reporter’s line of ques- it became mandatory to compete in tennis. Osaka withdrew from the French mainly in the United States. withdrawal not tioning on Monday in While the men’s ATP Tour has publicly Open earlier this year after being “I can’t really help that there are only led to her a statement provided encouraged players to get vaccinated, the punished for refusing to do media some things that I tweet or some revealing that she has to Reuters. 23-year-old Greek is among those who still conferences, saying her mental health things that I say that kind of create a struggled to cope with “The bully at the have reservations. was adversely impacted by certain lot of news articles or things like that depression for a Cincinnati Enquirer “No one has told me anything. No one lines of questioning. ... but I would also say I’m not really number of years but it is the epitome of has made it a mandatory thing to be vacci- On Monday, a reporter from a sure how to balance the two. Like I’m also prompted her to why player/media nated,” he said, when asked if he would seek Cincinnati newspaper asked the figuring it out at the same time as you pull out from Roland relations are so a vaccine while competing in the US. “At 23-year-old: “You’re not crazy about are, I would say.” When another Garros and Wimbledon fraught right now,” some point I will have to, I’m pretty sure dealing with us, especially in this reporter began to ask about her prep- for the sake of said Duguid. about it, but so far it hasn’t been mandatory format. Yet you have a lot of outside arations for the summer hard-court her mental to compete, so I haven’t done it, no,” added interests that are served by having a season and her pledge to donate her well-being. Tsitsipas, who received a first-round bye in media platform. How do you balance prize money from this week’s A f t e r the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. the two?” Osaka twice asked the Western & Southern Open to Haitian l o s i n g Naomi Osaka