QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Meinhardt of US, QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Deriglazova of claim Grand Prix 2021 titles page 15

MONday, MARCH 29, 2021

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Spanish rider Maverick Vinales celebrates after winning the MotoGP MotoGP podium finishers Maverick Vinales (C), Pramac Racing’s French rider Johann Zarco (L) and Ducati Lenovo Team’s Italian rider Francesco Barwa Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit on Sunday. Bagnaia with officials at the Barwa Qatar Grand Prix prize-presentation ceremony at the Losail International Circuit on Sunday. Vinales wins season-opening thriller under lights at Losail

DPA/TNN Berlin Top 10 1. Maverick Viñales (Monster Maverick Vinales got his Energy Yamaha MotoGP) The start didn’t go well 2021 MotoGP campaign up 2. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and running with a season- + 1.092 but after that I felt the opening victory on Sunday 3. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati potential. I was saving as he charged up from fifth Lenovo Team) + 1.129 tyres to find the right at the Barwa Grand Prix of 4. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) Qatar at the Losail Interna- + 1.222 moment. I tried to be tional Circuit on Sunday. 5. Fabio Quartararo (Monster En- very smart, very calm, Pole-setter Francesco ergy Yamaha MotoGP) + 3.030 Bagnaia could not get away 6. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and chose the right from the chasing pack, which + 3.357 place to push. included Johann Zarco (Pra- 7. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing mac Racing) and his Ducati Team Gresini) + 5.934 Maverick Vinales team-mate Jack Miller. 8. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda With defending world Team) + 5.990 champion Joan Mir - start- 9. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo “The end was difficult,” ing in 10th - and fellow Suzu- Team) + 7.058 While the Yamahas were Bagnaia then dropped Zarco said. “I tried to catch ki rider Alex Rins struggling 10. Enea Bastianini (Esponso- not as fast as the Ducatis on back to third with tyre trou- Vinales but I was sliding a lot. to keep pace initially, it was rama Racing) + 9.288 the straights, Vinales was ble as Zarco moved up to At the end Mir cut me back, Monster Yamaha’s Vinales able to find more speed and second while Mir launched a but thanks to my engine I was who made his move. grip on the corners and he late assault and overtook his able to finish second.” Finding himself in fifth first overtook Zarco before Suzuki team mate Alex Rins Fabio Quartararo com- with 15 laps remaining, Vina- Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Spanish rider Maverick Vinales in action during the Barwa Qatar Grand taking the race lead from to move up to fourth. pleted the top five, with Mir’s les closed the gap on Bagnaia Prix MotoGP action at the Losail International Circuit. Bagnaia with eight laps to go. Mir then eased past Bag- team-mate Rins finishing sixth. by the time the final seven “The start didn’t go well but naia in the final stages to There was misery for came around. Bagnaia’s race looked year’s champion had the and allowing Zarco to clinch after that I felt the potential. move up to third before reel- Takaaki Nakagami, who After threatening once set to go from bad to worse edge on the last lap yet, in second - Bagnaia, who had I was saving tyres to find the ing in Zarco, who was also crashed out on turn nine but being held off, Vina- when he dropped out of the a remarkable twist, he fell blitzed the Losail lap record right moment,” Vinales said. desperately clinging on as midway through the race, les spotted a gap and dived top three altogether. short on the final corner. in qualifying, battling back “I tried to be very smart, he struggled with grip on his with Danilo Petrucci’s Tech3 through to take a lead he It left Zarco and Mir tus- Mir appeared to run wide, to mark his first race for very calm, and chose the rear tyre before Mir’s error KTM debut also coming to a would not relinquish. sling for second, and last with his exit speed dropping Ducati with a podium finish. right place to push.” on the final corner. premature end. Faultless Lowes of Elf Marc VDS claims classy Moto2 win

Agencies British rider beat was losing touch on Lowes and in full swing. Bezzecchi tucked way to remember the late, great Losail Gardner sensed it. The latter in behind Fernandez’s tailpipes Fausto Gresini. Gardner by two seconds was through on his teammate down the home straight and Gardner and the chasing Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS as Di Giannantonio and now had 1.2 seconds to took third place away from the pack will be hoping to make up Racing Team) became the first picked up emotional bridge if he wanted to win his star rookie, with Di Giannanto- ground when the riders attack British rider to win an open- podium for Gresini Team second Moto2™ race in succes- nio making it a six-wheel scrap the Losail International Circuit ing round Grand Prix since the sion. However, Lowes set the for the podium. The Italian fol- again next weekend, who will great Barry Sheene in 1979 after slotted into P2, with Lowes get- fastest lap of the Grand Prix – lowed Bezzecchi through and come out on top in Doha in sev- producing a faultless ride at the ting past a wide Fernandez at a 1:59.529 – and was in a very the Gresini rider locked his ra- en days’ time? Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar on Turn 1 to recover to P3. Lowes commanding groove. dar onto third place Bezzecchi. Top 10: Sunday. then made light work of Bend- A few laps passed by and the Lowes – who received a 1. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS The pole-sitter kept a hard- sneyder at Turn 6, with Jake gap remained at just under one track limits warning – had a Racing) charging Remy Gardner (Red Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Rac- Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s British rider Sam Lowes (left) and Federal and a half seconds between the comfortable 2.2 second lead 2. Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Bull KTM Ajo) at bay as the ing) rising to P5 from P10 on the Oil Gresini Moto2’s Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio celebrate with leading duo. Fernandez con- over Gardner, who in turn led Ajo) + 2.260 Australian took P2 from Round grid on the opening lap. their respective first and third place trophies of Qatar Grand Prix at tinued to keep his teammate Bezzecchi and ‘Diggia’ by 2.4 3. Fabio DiGiannantonio (Fed- 1, with Fabio Di Giannantonio Lap 2 saw Fernandez also the Losail International Circuit on Sunday. honest with Bezzecchi sitting seconds. eral Oil Gresini Racing Moto2) (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) pass Bendsneyder for third 1.2 seconds behind the young The final place on the po- + 5.228 coming out on top of a last lap place as the leading eight rid- Fernandez’s teammate couple of tenths of the race Spaniard, as Di Giannantonio, dium was between the two Ital- 4. Marco Bezzecchi (SKY Racing duel with Marco Bezzecchi ers locked horns. Lowes showed Gardner was the man on the leader, Lowes making a mis- Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing ians and Di Giannantonio sliced Team VR46) + 5.241 (SKY Racing Team VR46) to a wheel to Bezzecchi at Turn 6 move. The Australian slipped by take somewhere to allow the Team) and Dixon were riding up the inside at Turn 11, a classy 5. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull hand Gresini Racing an emo- but at Turn 1 on Lap 3, the Brit- Dixon for P4 but a small error rookie to close him in. Mean- not far behind the podium fight. move pulled off. KTM Ajo) + 6.145 tional podium. ish rider was through and lead- saw Gardner lose the time he’d while, a regrouped Gardner Gardner, on Lap 13, set the fast- Up the road, Lowes took 6. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing A lightning start from Row ing, with seventh place Gardner made up, he was back down to was now ahead of Dixon and est lap of the race – but Lowes a sensational and command- Team) + 6.786 2 saw Bezzecchi grab the hole- setting the fastest lap of the P5. Sixth place Di Giannantonio set the fastest lap of the race set his personal best too and on ing victory as Gardner took a 7. Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta shot with both Lowes and Raul race. Straight away, the pole- was then wide at the final cor- again, with Bezzecchi hav- the next lap, the race leader was well-earned P2, with Di Gian- Racing) + 8.721 Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) man was enjoying a half-second ner, the Italian slipped to P8 as ing the number 87 very close three tenths quicker than Gard- nantonio holding P3 to the line 8. Marcel Schrotter (Liqui Moly slow from P1 and P2. lead, with Fernandez swarming Lowes set the fastest lap of the for company. And with 13 to ner and the gap was now up to by 0.013s to hand himself and Intact GP) + 10.911 Third place Bo Bendsney- all over the back of Bezzecchi – race. His lead was now up to go, Gardner chose Turn 4 as 1.6 seconds. Gresini an emotional rostrum. 9. Bo Bendsnyder (Pertamina der (Pertamina Mandalika SAG and making a Turn 1 move stick one second. his passing place and made a With three laps to go, Lowes’ The first for GresiniR acing in Mandalika SAG Team) + 12.493 Team) got a good lunch from on Lap 4. Super stuff from the Not for long though. Fer- move stick on Bezzecchi. lead crept up to two seconds but Moto2 since Lowes in 2016 at 10. Jorge Navarro (MB Convey- the outside of the front row and rookie. nandez was back to within a With 12 to go, Fernandez the battle for the podium was the Aragon GP, and a fitting ors Belt Speed Up) + 16.800. Sports Monday, March 29, 2021 13 Hamilton begins F1 season with incredible win in Bahrain Mercedes driver prevails in a fierce battle with Max Verstappen of Red Bull over the final laps DPA chases a record eighth world champi- positive. We’re putting the fight on to Sakhir (Bahrain) onship title. them [Mercedes], so it’s great to start A disconsolate Verstappen said dur- the year like that,” Verstappen said. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes secured ing the cool down lap the team should A terrible 11-second pitstop dropped an incredible first win of the Formula have let him go and he could have Bottas out of the lead battle as Mercedes One season at the opening Bahrain pulled out the time gap had he been once again messed up his tyres change Grand Prix by coming out on top in a given a penalty. just like last year in the same circuit. fierce battle with Max Verstappen of But Red Bull said they had to follow Sergio Perez had a fantastic Red Red Bull over the final laps. a call from race control and the team, Bull debut to finish fifth after starting Polesitter Verstappen held position who dominated preseason testing, from the pitlane. He forced an extra after a race start that saw one safety car practice and qualifying formation lap after he pulled out with in the first lap and a virtual safety car sessions, had been a blank steering wheel right before the before five laps completed. hoping to secure race start. But an intense pit stop strategy their first win McLaren and Ferrari starred in a made Hamilton and Verstappen alter- in an open- fierce midfield battle but the British nate turns at the front through the en- ing race in 10 team got the best out of it with Lando tire race. years. Norris in fourth and Daniel Ricciard in With only three laps to go, Verstap- “It’s of seventh. The Italian team had Charles pen cruised around the outside at Turn course a Leclerc in sixth and newcomer Carlos 4 to grab the lead but went outside shame, but Sainz eighth. Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (centre) gestures on the podium next to 2nd-place winner Red Bull’s track limits and had to return the posi- you also Among the season’s rookies, Yuki Dutch driver Max Verstappen (left) and 3rd-place winner Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas (right) after tion to Hamilton, who held on to win by have to see Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri had the best winning the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on Sunday. (AFP) less than 8 tenths of a second. the result with a ninth place finish. Mick Valtteri Bottas took third in the Schumacher other Mercedes but his slim hopes of of Haas was How they finished challenging for the lead ended with 16th, while 1. L. Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec a poor stop, though he did add the team-mate 2. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s bonus point for fastest lap. Nikita Mazepin 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 37.383 “What a difficult race that spun and crashed 4. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 46.466 was. Pitting early we knew as he did in prac- 5.Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull-Honda) 52.047 would be difficult, it was go- tice sessions and 6. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 59.090 ing to take something really retired the car in 7. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:06.004 special. I just managed to the first lap. 8. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:07.100 hold him off - it was one Two-time 9. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692 of the hardest races I’ve world champion 10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713 had for a while,” the Fernando Alonso, 11. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1:28.864 Briton said. who’s returning to 12. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1 lap This was Hamil- F1, also retired his 13. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1 lap ton’s 96th grand prix Alpine car before 14. George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lap win in his career and the chequered flag 15. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1 lap his first in a season- and Sebastian Vettel’s 16. Mick Schumacher (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1 lap opener since 2015 as he Aston Martin debut end- 17. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) 4 laps ed in 15th though team- 18. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 4 laps Mercedes’ British driver Lewis mate Lance Stroll com- Hamilton holds his trophy on the pleted the points in 10th. DNF: Nikita Mazepin (RUS/Haas-Ferrari), Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault), Pierre podium after winning the Bahrain Next in the record 23- Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda), Nicholas Latifi Formula One Grand Prix at the race season is the Emilia (CAN/Williams) Bahrain International Circuit in the Romagna Grand Prix at ’s Fastest lap: Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) city of Sakhir on Sunday. (AFP) Imola track on April 18. 1:32.090. India survive Curran scare to win 2-2 Portugal: Ronaldo denied final One-dayer, clinch series 2-1 dramatic winner ANI Scoreboard Pune after Jota brace India Sam Curran’s unbeaten knock R Sharma b Rashid ...... 37 DPA S Dhawan c&b Rashid ...... 67 Sydney of 95 runs went in vain as a V Kohli b Ali ...... 7 spirited bowling performance R Pant c Buttler b Curran ...... 78 by India helped the hosts to L Rahul c Ali b Livingstone...... 7 Cristiano Ronaldo was de- defeat England by seven runs H Pandya b Stokes ...... 64 nied a dramatic late winner in K Pandya c Roy b Wood ...... 25 while chasing 330 for victory S Thakur c Buttler b Wood ...... 30 contentious circumstances as in the third and final ODI here B Kumar c Curran b Topley ...... 3 Portugal threw away a two-goal at the Maharashtra Cricket As- P Krishna b Wood...... 0 lead to draw 2-2 with Serbia in sociation Stadium on Sunday. Extras: 1lb, 10w ...... 11 World Cup qualifying on Satur- Total: (48.2 overs, all out)...... 329 With this win, India Fall of Wickets: 1-103 Sharma, 2-117 Dhawan, day. clinched the three-match series 3-121 Kohli, 4-157 Rahul, 5-256 Pant, 6-276 Diogo Jota had seen his 2-1. The Virat Kohli-led side Pandya, 7-321 Thakur, 8-328 Pandya, 9-329 double cancelled out by Alek- have now won all the series’ in Krishna, 10-329 Kumar; Did Not Bat : Natarajan sandar Mitrovic and Filip Ko- Bowling: Curran 5-0-43-1 (4w), Topley 9.2-0-66-1 this England’s tour of India. (1w), Wood 7-1-34-3, Stokes 7-0-45-1 (1w), stic - the former becoming Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ron- India claimed the Test se- Rashid 10-0-81-2 (2w), Ali 7-0-39-1, Livingstone Serbia’s all-time leading scorer aldo holds his captain armband ries 3-1 and then won the five- 3-0-20-1. with his 39th international goal moments before he threw it to match T20I series by 3-2. England - at the Rajko Mitic Stadium. the ground after being contro- J Roy b Kumar ...... 14 For India, Thakur bagged J Bairstow lbw Kumar ...... 1 Portugal skipper Ronaldo versially denied an injury-time four wickets while Bhuvnesh- B Stokes c Dhawan b Natarajan ...... 35 was then convinced his last- winner in the FIFA World Cup war clinched three scalps. D Malan c Sharma b Thakur ...... 50 gasp effort had crossed the line Qatar 2022 qualification Group England’s Sam Curran (R) is greeted by a teammate after the third and final One-Day International (ODI) J Buttler lbw Thakur ...... 15 A match against Serbia at the In the last four overs, Eng- L Livingstone c&b Thakur ...... 36 but the officials judged Stefan land were required 41 runs while against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Sunday. Curran, who scored an un- M Ali c H Pandya b Kumar ...... 29 Mitrovic cleared before all of Rajko Mitic Stadium, in Belgrade, hosts just needed two wickets to beaten 95, was unable take visitors over the line as they were bowled out 322 chasing 330 for victory. (AFP) S Curran Not Out...... 95 the ball had done so, with the on Sunday. (AFP) win the series decider. A Rashid c Kohli b Thakur ...... 19 Juventus superstar booked for M Wood Run Out (H Pandya)...... 14 Curran accumulated 18 R Topley Not Out ...... 1 his protestations before he an- post from eight yards after be- runs off the 47th over, needing Extras: 1lb, 12w ...... 13 grily threw his captain’s arm- ing picked out by Cedric Soares’ just 23 runs off the last three Total: (50.0 overs, 9 wkts) ...... 322 band on the floor. fine cross. overs. In the 48th over, Bhu- Fall of Wickets : 1-14 Roy, 2-28 Bairstow, 3-68 It means both Portugal Serbia clawed one back Stokes, 4-95 Buttler, 5-155 Livingstone, 6-168 vneshwar just gave four runs Malan, 7-200 Ali, 8-257 Rashid, 9-317 Wood. and Serbia, who had Nikola just 27 seconds into the sec- and almost a wicket of Wood, Bowling: B Kumar 10-0-42-3 (3w), Natarajan 10-0- Milenkovic sent off prior to ond half, Mitrovic - who the decision was overturned 73-1 (7w), Krishna 7-0-62-0, Thakur 10-0-67-4 the late drama, each have scored twice in the 3-2 win by the third umpire after Eng- (1w), H Pandya 9-0-48-0, K Pandya 4-0-29-0 (1w). four points - one more than over Ireland on Wednesday - Result: India won by 7 runs. land took DRS. Series: India 2-1. Luxembourg, who sealed a re- heading in substitute Neman- Hardik came in to bowl the markable 1-0 win against the ja Radonjic’s cross from six penultimate over of the match. his side over the line. Republic of Ireland. yards for his landmark goal. India lost two back-to-back Earlier, India’s batting Fernando Santos’ side were Anthony Lopes tipped over opportunities to dismiss Wood unit displayed a change of ap- underwhelming in their open- Dusan Tadic’s deflected volley and Curran as first Shardul proach and this ensured that ing Group A clash against Azer- soon after, with Sergej Milink- and then T Natarajan dropped despite losing wickets at regu- baijan on Wednesday, needing ovic-Savic heading narrowly the high catches. lar intervals, the hosts posted an own goal to seal a slender 1-0 wide from the resulting corner. Visitors were required 14 a total of 329. win, but they started sharply and Serbia deservedly pulled off the last six balls with Cur- A combination of pictures shows India captain Virat Kohli successfully diving to take the catch of England’s Rishabh Pant, Hardik went ahead after 11 minutes. level on the hour mark, Kostic ran on strike. Natarajan bowled Adil Rashid (not pictured) at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Sunday. (AFP) Pandya, and Shikhar Dhawan Bernardo Silva’s cross clipping past Lopes after a flow- the final over for India. Curran registered fifty-plus scores as from the right was met by Jota, ing breakaway move involving played the yorker towards long- claim the match despite Cur- Hardik Pandya dropped made 19 runs. India set a 330-run target for who steered a deft header past Radonjic and Tadic. on and in search of two runs ran smashed the boundary on Ben Stokes at mid-on in the Mark Wood and Curran the visitors. Marko Dmitrovic from six Ronaldo thought he had Wood (14) got run out. the fifth ball. fifth over of the innings. kept the fight alive as Curran From the very start, every yards. sealed an important win for his Race Topley joined Curran England scored 322/9, Skipper Virat Kohli took looked confident in the middle Indian batter came out play- The Liverpool forward then side in the dying stages after in the middle and took a single chasing 330, in their allotted a stunner at the cover as he and completed his half-centu- ing aggressively and this saw doubled Portugal’s advantage Milenkovic’s dismissal, but ref- on the first ball. Curran denied 50 overs. Curran remained dived to his left and plunged ry. Curran played an anchor the hosts scoring runs at seven with his fifth international goal eree Danny Makkelie had other runs on the next two balls and unbeaten on 95 runs includ- superbly to grab the ball to see role and remained unbeaten runs per over for the major in the 36th minute, heading ideas, much to the Juventus it was enough was India to ing three sixes and nine fours. Adil Rashid dismissed having with 95 runs but failed to put part of the innings. in off Dmitrovic’s right-hand forward’s dismay. 14 Monday, March 29, 2021 Sports

Al Annabi train for Ireland clash in

Asian champions Qatar were back to training on Sunday after their FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers friendly 2-1 win against Azerbaijan at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, on Saturday. Coach Felix Sanchez’s team had earlier defeated Luxembourg 1-0. Their last and final fixture of the European tour will be against Ireland on Tuesday (March 30). England ease to Olmo strikes late to victory in Albania spare blushes to cement top spot in Group I

DPA ing line-up after being rested against against San Marino, opened the scoring on 38 minutes, fin- England made it two wins ishing off Luke Shaw’s cross. DPA out of two in their World Cup And Mount secured the vic- Barcelona qualifying campaign as they tory just after the hour mark to won 2-0 in Albania on Sunday. put England on six points out of Spain needed a last-gasp Goals from captain Harry six at the top of Group I. stroke of luck to earn a 2-1 win Kane and midfielder Mason England conclude their over Georgia in 2022 World Mount secured three points opening triple-header at home Cup qualifying on Sunday af- for Gareth Southgate’s side, to on Wednesday. Po- ter dropping points in their adding to their win over San land host Andorra later Sun- first game. Marino first time out. day while San Marino wel- Luis Enrique’s side, win- Kane, restored to the start- come Hungary. ners in 2010, almost failed to come away with the three points in after Thurs- day’s draw with Greece, but Dani Olmo’s late long-range strike was mishandled by Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Lo- ria and flew in. Spain thrashed 6-0 in the Nations League in November but have struggled badly against two weaker na- tions in their opening quali- fying matches for the tourna- ment in Qatar next year. La Roja should have taken the lead but Ferran Torres fluffed his lines when Pedri split the defence with a brilliant pass to find him in the box. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sent Georgia ahead in the 43rd minute with a well-taken fin- ish after being put through on the left. Torres made amends Spain’s forward Daniel Olmo celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match against for his earlier miss early in the Georgia in Tbilisi on Sunday. (AFP) England’s midfielder Mason Mount (left) scores during the FIFA World second half to level the scores, Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group I match against Albania at the finishing JordiA lba’s cross af- tant thing was that we worked fence until Olmo’s effort from we needed this win, I’m really but we knew how to react. Air Albania Stadium, in Tirana on Sunday. (AFP) ter Alvaro Morata attempted until the end and got the distance flew in, two minutes happy it ended like that,” said “Everyone has to try and to flick the ball in. points,” said Torres. into stoppage-time. Olmo. use their weapons. Sometimes It was the Manchester City “Opponents usually sit Georgia substitute Levan “It’s hard to explain this, you can’t win, like against winger’s fifth goal in nine ap- back because we like to have Shengelia was sent off mo- it’s a unique feeling. It’s incred- Greece, but today we did to get pearances for Spain, as he the ball and we have to work to ments after the winning goal ible and the help of the team to the three points.” Denmark dismantle continues to thrive under Luis open these defences up.” Pe- with an ugly tackle made in score and the excitement doing The victory takes Spain top Enrique. dri had a shot blocked late on frustration on Barcelona mid- it has been spectacular. of the group with four points Moldova to stay perfect “We knew that we were as Spain pushed for a winner fielder Pedri. “We have to praise Geor- from two games, ahead of going to suffer, we had their but they were unable to break “We have to congratulate gia, they played very well. They Sweden’s visit to Kosovo later fans against us, but the impor- down Georgia’s deep-lying de- the team for what we’ve done, did us damage on the counter Sunday. DPA a double, Jens Stryger Lars- Berlin en and also struck before half-time before A dominate Denmark display Dolberg added his own second swatted minnows Moldova straight after the break. Mbappe miss not costly as Les Bleus cruise in Kazakhstan aside 8-0 on Sunday and kept Moldova managed to avoid ’s side top of a complete collapse, however, DPA on a synthetic surface. Group F in qualifying for the conceding again only late on to Berlin Replacement Mbappe of- 2022 World Cup in Qatar. and Marcus Ing- fered a far greater threat dur- Danish players delivered vartsen. Kylian Mbappe missed a sec- ing a cameo appearance off a slick performance but were Denmark top the table on ond-half penalty but a much- the bench, including drawing aided by a soft penalty, con- six points before concluding changed still coasted to a foul from the combination of verted by , to their opening triple-header a 2-0 win away to Kazakhstan Nuraly Alip and Temirlan Er- break the deadlock in the 19th on Wednesday at Austria, in World Cup qualifying. lanov inside the area. minute. who started with a draw at Les Bleus were punished However, the Saint- Mikkel Damsgaard scored Scotland. for wasteful finishing in their Germain forward was unable opening Group D game against to capitalize on the opportu- Ukraine on Thursday, allowing nity from 12 yards out, Mokin their opponents - who failed France’s forward Ousmane guessing correctly as he dived to manage a shot on target - to Dembele shoots to score a to his left to turn away the grab a 1-1 draw through Presnel goal during the FIFA World spot-kick attempt. Kimpembe’s own goal. Cup Qatar 2022 qualifica- Martial looked certain to However, there was to be tion Group D match against grab just his second inter- no repeat on Sunday as the Kazakhstan at the Astana national goal from Thomas reigning champions registered Arena, in Nur-Sultan, on Lemar’s chipped cross, yet a first win in Group D at the Sunday. (AFP) Maliy stretched out a leg to second attempt. somehow send the ball over Ousmane Dembele gave the crossbar. the visitors a 19th-minute lead stoic fashion for the remainder nied Martial from scoring with along with goalkeeper Hugo Both teams are back in in Astana, accepting a pass of the first half until unfortu- a superb last-gasp clearance, Lloris, retained his place in qualifying action on Wednes- from Anthony Martial before nately falling further behind poor Sergiy Maliy - preoccu- the starting eleven - had a goal day. France have a trip to Sa- firing a low shot across goal- just before the interval, France pied with marking Paul Pogba ruled out for offside early in a rajevo to take on Bosnia-Her- keeper Alexandr Mokin for a doubling their advantage - then headed the resulting second half that saw Martial zegovina, while Kazakhstan rare international goal. thanks to an own goal. corner into his net. forced off with an apparent head on the road as they travel Denmark’s players celebrate their 8-0 win over Moldova in the FIFA Kazakhstan defended in Having impressively de- Antoine Griezmann - who, injury sustained while playing to Ukraine. World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match in Herning on Sunday. (AFP) Sports Monday, March 29, 2021 15 Qatar Olympic Committee to conduct Gender Equality Review

Tribune News Network women. However, the QOC is action. In sport, as in society, Doha committed to making further Promoting gender equality has been, and remains, a we are strongest when we em- advancements and ensuring long-term commitment for the QOC. We are proud of the brace the variety of perspec- The Qatar Olympic Committee that there are equal opportu- tives, insights and experiences (QOC) on Sunday announced nities for women and men to progress that we have made, which is reflected in the of women and men.” that it will undertake a com- build careers in sport, whether ever-growing diversity of our athletes and sports officials. QOC Director of Market- prehensive Gender Equality as athletes, coaches, officials However, we recognise that there is plenty of room for ing and Communications Review to determine how Qa- or sports administrators. improvement. Before we can improve we must identify our Sheikha Asma Al Thani add- tari sport can build on recent The Gender Equality Re- shortcomings so that we can develop tailored policies and ed: “Women’s participation in progress and where further ad- view will evaluate progress programmes to address them. That is why we have sport in Qatar has developed vancements can be made. across five focus areas of the significantly over the last 20 Promoting gender equality IOC Gender Equality and Inclu- launched this Gender Equality Review because we want to years and we are seeing an across Qatari sport has been a sion objectives for 2021-2024 – use its findings to create a Gender Equality Policy which increasing number of women central element of the QOC’s Participation, Leadership, Safe enshrines gender equality within Qatari sport and delivers pursue careers in sport out- long-term strategy. Working Sport, Portrayal and Resource meaningful action. side of competition. However, in partnership with the Qatar Allocation. The findings of the we are committed to creating Women’s Sport Committee review will be used to develop a HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee clearer pathways so that more since 2001, the QOC has made first-of-its-kind Gender Equal- women have the opportunity significant advancements in ity Policy which will ensure the to move into leadership posi- women’s participation in sport promotion of gender parity at for women to move into leader- remains, a long-term com- that there is plenty of room for That is why we have launched tions. Gender equality across and sports administration. all levels of Qatari sport, not just ship positions through tailored mitment for the QOC. We are improvement. this Gender Equality Review sport is the ultimate outcome, Female Qatari athletes have within the QOC but also within career development plans. proud of the progress that we “Before we can improve because we want to use its find- but to get there we need to fo- competed at every Olympic Qatari National Federations. QOC President HE Sheikh have made, which is reflected we must identify our short- ings to create a Gender Equal- cus on gender equity and pro- Games since London 2012 and The QOC will aim to increase Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa in the ever-growing diversity comings so that we can de- ity Policy which enshrines viding equal opportunities for within the QOC itself, more gender balance at governance Al Thani, said: “Promoting of our athletes and sports of- velop tailored policies and gender equality within Qatari men and women to inspire the than 37% of employees are level by creating clear pathways gender equality has been, and ficials. However, we recognise programmes to address them. sport and delivers meaningful next generation.”

The grand finale of FIE Foil Grand Prix Doha 2021 at the Aspire Dome on Sunday was attended by HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali al Thani, a former president of the Qatar Federation; Qatar Olympic The women’s event winners and runners-up after being honoured by QWFF and FEI officials at the Aspire Dome on Sunday. Committee (QOC) Secretary-General HE Jassim Rashid Al Buenain, and other dignitaries. Meinhardt, Deriglazova claim Grand Prix Doha Foil 2021 titles

Russian Inna Deriglazova with her medal on Sunday.

Gerek Meinhardt of the USA (right) in action against Takkahiro Shikine of dur- World No. 1 Inna Deriglazova of Russia (right) battles Qingyuan Chen of during the ing the men’s final of FIE Foil Grand Prix Doha 2021 at the Aspire Dome on Sunday. women’s final at the Aspire Dome on Sunday.

Tribune News Network the 2019 Asian Champion- quite remarkable. The com- health authorities and the the tournament,” said Qatar Doha ship, 15-5. petition is well organized, International Fencing Fed- Weightlifting and Fencing The two winners walked and I’m very impressed. I eration’s health and safety Federation (QWFF) Presi- Gerek Meinhardt of the away with the $5,000 prize hope to continue in this form protocols. dent Mohammed Yousef Al- USA, the 2016 Olympics money while the runners-up and win in ,” Mein- The top-16 finishers in Mana. bronze medalist, and world and the semi-finalists each hardt said. Doha are guaranteed auto- On a day of many surpris- No.1 Inna Deriglazova of got $3,000 and $1,500. The three-day 2020 Sum- matic slots in Tokyo, while es, particularly in the men’s Russia claimed the men The grand finale was at- mer Olympics qualifying the rest will have to go event, the world’s No. 1 Ales- and women title of the FIE tended by HE Sheikh Saoud event had attracted a total of through the continental qual- sio Foconi’s failure to make it Foil Grand Prix Doha 2021, bin Abdulrahman bin Has- 296 male and female fencers ifiers’ route to reach Japan. out of the Last-64 stood out respectively, at the Aspire san bin Ali al Thani, a for- from 51 countries who were “We are happy that the as the most shocking. The Dome in Doha on Sunday. mer president of the Qatar in Doha to secure either di- competition ended on a suc- 31-year-old three-time World Gerek Meinhardt of USA on the podium at Aspire Dome. The world No. 3 Mein- Fencing Federation; Qatar rect qualifications for Tokyo cessful note. This tourna- Cup champion and a gold hardt secured a 15-11 victory Olympic Committee (QOC) or points that add to their ment has further enhanced medalist at the 2018 World fencer from Paris, who went disappointing outing in Doha, over the 20th-ranked Takka- Secretary-General HE Jas- rankings in the quest for a Qatar’s reputation as a top Championship in Wuxi, Chi- all the way to the round of 16 things were however different hiro Shikine of Japan, while sim Rashid Al Buenain, and berth at the Games. destination for global sports. na, suffered a 14-15 defeat in before being stopped in his in the womens’s as Derigla- Deriglazova, a three-time other dignitaries. The competition was the We thank the QOC for their the hands of 350-ranked Ty- tracks by ’s Guilherme zova eviscerated all obstacles world champion and winner “I’m very excited to win first major event to be held in great supports, and I also van Bibard of France. Toldo, the world No. 26. on her way to reach the semi- of a massive 13 World Cups, here in Doha. This is the first over a year due to the COVID thank all the members of The clash was the first Except for the third- finals, where she was pitted trounced China’s Qingyuan competition in over a year 19 pandemic. It took place the organizing committee between Foconi and the ranked Meinhardt, his com- against Frenchwoman Ysaora Chen, a bronze medalist at and to emerge champion is with strict adherence to the for ensuring the success of 21-year-old right-handed patriot , the Thibus, the world No.6 and world No.8 and the 12th- the silver medalist at the 2012 ranked Chun Yin Ryan Choi; European Fencing Champion- all the world’s top-16 fencers ships in Legnano. in the men’s event failed to The 2016 Olympic cham- reach the quarter- finals. pion Deriglazova defeated It- In the semi-finals, Mein- aly’s Beatrice Monaco 15-9 in hardt claimed a convinc- the round of 16 before claim- ing 15-8 over his compatriot ing a 15-11 victory against her Race Imboden, the world compatriot Adelina Zagidul- No.8, while Shikine narrowly lina in the quarters. edged out Alexandre Ediri, the Deriglazova withstood a 106th-ranked Frenchman, 15- late rally from Thibus, who 14 after a very keen contest. almost overthrew a six-point Ediri, one of the major deficit in their clash before revelations of the competi- eventually winning 15-10 to tion, dispatched Russia’s set up the final match against Kirill Borodachev, ranked Chen. 45th, in the round of 16 be- Chen had defeated an- fore dispatching compatriot other Russian, Marta Marty- Alexandre Sido 15-6 in the anova, gold medalist at the quarter-finals. 2019 Tashkent Grand Prix, While the top-ranked 15-13 in the other semi-final Officials and volunteers of Qatar Weightlifting and Fencing Federation after the successful completion of the FIE Foil Grand Prix Doha 2021 at the Aspire Dome. fencer in the men’s event had a encounter.