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SPORT Wednesday 17 January 2018 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Federer and Djokovic Djokovic delighted Nadal takes centrentre take control at after elbowing out stage ahead of Australian Open Young Kyrgios clash Ali eyes more goals as Qatar prepare for Palestine clash THE PENINSULA CHANGZHOU: Feared striker Amoez Ali yesterday said he is delighted with his goal-scoring form at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup where the tall forward has guided Qatar to the quarter-finals stage of the popular continental tour- nament. Qatar beat hosts China 2-1 on Monday to seal their last-berth by completing their successive win at the 16-team event. Qatar, coached by Felix Sanchez, will take on Palestine on Friday. “Of course, I feel very happy that we have qualified for the next round and I want to say congrat- ulations to my team-mates,” Ali Qatar coach Felix Sanchez celebrates with striker Almoez Ali said yesterday. after the latter scored the winning goal against Uzbekistan “I am also very happy that I Qatari players in action during a practice session in Changzhou, China yesterday. during the AFC U-23 Asian Cup in China on January 9. scored the goals. I now hope I can continue scoring and (in the proc- ess) help my team carry on playing against Palestine and we said that, I have great confidence winning,” he warned. will need to approach that in a in my team-mates. I hope we con- Ali scored both of Qatar’s very careful and serious manner,” tinue our journey with a strong Debutants goals against China. The Al Duhail he added. performance.” forward also managed to get his Qatar’s defender Meshaal Al Qatar defender Omar Al name on the scoresheet in the Shammeri yesterday said: “I would Emadi, who played the drying I feel very happy Palestine beat match against Uzbekistan when like to congratulate my team- minutes against China on Mon- that we have Qatar won 1-0. Akram Afif scored mates for reaching the day, said: “I think we did in the 1-0 win for Qatar against quarter-finals. I think we have a extremely well in the first round qualified for the next Thailand to meet Oman. real challenge in front of us a Pal- as we remained unbeaten against round. I am also very Despite his rich form, Ali said estine cannot be taken lightly. We quality sides. I believe the real Qatar are gearing up for their will face a strong team. They beat challenge starts now. Palestine happy that I scored Qatar in quarters knockout clash thinking of it as a Thailand 5-0 in this are a strong side.” the goals. I now final. tournament.” Al Emadi added: “Both teams hope I can continue AFC “We have played every game He added: “The next clash will be playing to win. In order to as if it was a final and won all of requires out total commitment and dominate the match, we must look scoring and help CHANGZHOU: Tournament debutants Palestine sensa- our three games. We will be doing concentration since it is the knock- to score goals. We must look at the my team carry on tionally qualified for the AFC U23 Championship the same in the quarter-finals out stage of the event. We will face win and attempt to reach the winning: Almoez Ali quarter-finals yesterday as a comprehensive 5-1 win over also,” Ali said yesterday. “We are stiffer challenge now. But having semi-finals.” Thailand, coupled with DPR Korea’s loss to Japan, saw them progress to the knockout phase as Group B runners-up. On a day of high octane entertainment, four first half goals laid the foundations for the thrilling victory which saw the Palestinians secure second place on goal difference from B razilian Oliveira joins Al Markhiya their Korean counterparts, and confirm a last eight meet- ing with Qatar on Friday. THE PENINSULA In what was to be a sign of things to come, Palestine raced out of the blocks at the start of the opening half, as DOHA: Qatar Stars League side Al first Mohammed Rashid fired narrowly over from distance Markhiya strengthened their on five minutes, and then Oday Dabbagh guided a header forward line by signing Brazilian wide of the post when well-placed shortly after. Eric de Oliveira till the end of this That early Palestine pressure was to pay handsome div- season. idends in the 15th minute when Dabbagh’s neat lay-off set The Brazilian attacking mid- up Mohanad Fannoun, who lashed the ball home from fully fielder has vast experience playing 20 yards past Thailand goalkeeper Nont Muangngam. in the leagues of Ukraine, Japan, The energetic Dabbagh duly doubled Palestine’s lead Romania and Saudi Arabia. He last on 26 minutes courtesy of a fine run and shot, before Mah- played for Romanian side Viitorul moud Yousef slid the ball under Nont to register a third from Constanta. close range on the half hour mark after a fine Rashid pass. The Al Markhiya team manage- Thailand were then dealt a further blow just two min- ment decided to bolster their offence utes later when Yousef Alashhab’s cross from the left was because they are the side to have drilled into the net by the onrushing Mohamed Darwish. scored the least number of goals To their credit, Thailand responded well, and they duly (eight) in the QNB Stars League. reduced the deficit when captain Chenrop Samphaodi con- Al Markhiya, who pulled off a verted Tanasith Siripala’s cross as the first half came to a creditable goalless draw with sec- close. ond-placed Al Sadd in Week 12 to By way of contrast, chances were few and far between be placed 11th on eight points, will after the break before substitute Shehab Qumbor rounded Brazilian midfielder Eric de Oliveira (second left) holds an Al Markhiya jersey along with team officials host Qatar SC next at the Al Arabi off a perfect afternoon for Palestine with his side’s fifth in after officially joining the Qatar Stars League side yesterday. Stadium on Friday. the 88th minute. Qatar set to take on New Zealand in Asian Championship opener THE PENINSULA championship will be held under QATAR HANDBALL the aegis of Asian Handball Fed- TEAM: Danijel Saric, Firas SUWON, SOUTH KOREA: The eration over a period of 10 days. Chaieb, Rasheed Yusuff, Rafael Qatari national handball team The tournament also acts as Capote, Mahmoud Hassaballa, will open their campaign against the Asian qualifying tournament Abdulrazzaq Murad, Ahmad debutants New Zealand in Group for the 2019 World Men’s Hand- Madadi, Kamalaldin Mallash, D when the 2018 Asian Hand- ball Championship. Bertrand Roine, Hassan Mab- ball Championship kicks off The top four teams will qual- rouk, Houssem Romane, Aljosa tomorrow in Suwon, South ify for the world championship Cudic, Youssef Ali, Jovo Korea. to be held in January next year. Damjanovic, Moustafa Heiba, Group D also includes China The Spanish Coach of Qatar Anis Zouaoui, Allaedine Ber- and Saudi Arabia. handball team Valero Rivera has rached and Frankis Marzo. Qatari handball players train ahead of the 2018 Asian Handball Championship. The 18th edition of the selected 18 players for the tour. Coach: Valero Rivera 26 SPORT WEDNESDAY 17 JANUARY 2018 Federer, Djokovic produce vintage stuff on Day Two AFP Former Melbourne cham- one Angelique Kerber, who won pion Stan Wawrinka also the tournament in 2016, was also MELBOURNE: Flawless Roger successfully returned from half impressive in dismissing Anna- Federer and Novak Djokovic a year on the sidelines after knee Lena Friedsam 6-0, 6-4. stamped their mark on the surgery, having only decided he “2017, I have said goodbye Australian Open yesterday with was fit to play at the weekend. already, I am not looking back,” focused former champion Maria With the temperatures heat- she said after a forgettable last Sharapova also successfully ing up, he was pushed to four season that saw her relinquish negotiating the first round after sets by Ricardas Berankis before the number one spot and slide her drug ban. prevailing 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/2) Defending champion Fed- in a tough workout he said was erer, rated as favourite to win “proud” to come through. his 20th Grand Slam title, made World number one Simona his entrance on Rod Laver Halep booked her place in round Arena with a sizzling 6-3, 6-4, two, avoiding the first round exit 6-3 lesson for Slovenia’s Aljaz that befell her in the past two Bedene. years. But she made a meal of it The second seeded Swiss, against local hope Destanee who is coming off an extraordi- Aiava. nary 2017, when he won a fifth Both the Romanian and her down the rankings. She is now Australian Open title and a 17-year-old wildcard opponent on a 10-match win streak after record eighth at Wimbledon, was needed on-court medical atten- a perfect early season. in total control. tion before the top seed ran out Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova “I was thinking a lot about a battling 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 winner. and eighth seed Caroline Garcia what happened at the tourna- Third seeded Garbine Mugu- also progressed, in contrast to ment last year because it was my ruza, with heavy strapping on the other side of the draw that favourite tournament of the her injured right thigh, made her saw Venus Williams, Sloane whole season,” said the 36-year- tournament bow with a laboured Stephens and Coco Vandeweghe old, who beat Rafael Nadal in the 6-3, 6-3 win over French wild- crash out on Monday.