Al Rumaihi Enjoys Perfect Day As Round 8 Kicks Off

SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 21 I am very happy because in the beginning of the day FOOTBALL: QNB STARS LEAGUE it was a disaster but at the Al Markhiya vs Al Khor at Al Arabi Stadium (4.45pm) end it was good and we Qatari rider Al Sadd vs Al Arabi at Al Sadd Stadium (6.55pm) ACTION got the superpole again. Saeed Al Sulaiti TODAY’S Hathab Series: Al Rumaihi enjoys perfect day as round 8 kicks off

CHINTHANA WASALA Hathab Equestrian Tour 2017/2018: Stage 7 Results THE PENINSULA Comp. (2) Medium Tour - Table A, One round against the clock with jump off, DOHA: Mubarak Yousuf Al Art. 238.2.2, 120/130 cm, Prize Money QR20.000 Rumaihi enjoyed a brilliant day Rank Horse Rider Faults Time (Secs) Prize as he grabbed both the first and 1 Viking D Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi 0 32.32 QR5,000 second positions in the Medium 2 SIEC Cosmos Wijngaardhoeve Z Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi 0 34.45 QR4,000 Tour as the round eight of the 3 Guilder’s Empire Of The Sun Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi 0 34.67 QR3,000 Hathab Equestrian Tour National 4 Apple Bee Mohammed Said Haidan 0 34.78 QR2,000 series kicked off yesterday. 5 Desperadito Saeed Nasser Al Qadi 0 35.62 QR1,400 At the Qatar Equestrian Fed- eration’s (QEF) indoor and out- Comp. (1) Small Tour - Accumulator with Joker Art. 269.5, 100/115 cm, Prize door Arena in New Al Rayyan, Al Money QR10.000 Rumaihi guided his seven-year- 1 Gysmo 26 Hamad Nasser Al Qadi 49.71 QR2,500 old gelding, Viking D to complete 2 Alegro 84 Mohammed Khalid Al Qashouti 55.42 QR2,000 a flawless routine in 32.32 sec- 3 Dynamic Diablo Jaber Rashid Al Amri 56.85 QR1,500 onds to win the top prize of the 4 Selva 4 Salman Mohammed Al Emadi 57.04 QR1,000 day worth QR5,000. 5 Casanova Mohammed Said Haidan 63.92 QR700 He then guided his six-year old gelding SIEC Cosmos Wijn- gaardhoeve Z in a similar manner as the duo completed the task in 34.45 seconds to add QR4,000 more to his prize collection. Guilder’s Empire Of The Sun, with Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi in the saddle, took 34.67 seconds to complete the task and joined Al Rumaihi at the podium. He won QR3,000 in prize money. Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi guides Viding D over an obstacle during the Medium Tor of eighth leg Apple Bee, ridden by of the Hathab Equestrian Tour at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) indoor and outdoor arena Mohammed Said Haidan came yesterday. LEFT: Podium winners of the Small Tour, Hamad Nasser Al Qadi, Mohammed Khalid Al fourth. Qashouti and Rashid Al Amri pose for a photograph with officials after the presentation ceremony. The Medium Tour points leader, Saeed Nasser al Qadi who failed to make it to the podium Alegro 84, with Mohammed completed the podium. Al Amri 1 and 2) will be held in the morning yesterday, finished fifth after Khalid Al Qashouti in the saddle, won a prize cheque worth and the Open Class and Big Tour completing the routine in 35.62 spent 55.42 seconds to complete QR1,500. events will follow later in the after- seconds astride Desperadito. the same task and won QR2,000 Selva 4, ridden by Salman noon and evening. The QR1.1m Earlier in the Small Tour which took him 49.71 seconds to impressive performances during in prize money. Mohammed Al Emadi and Cas- series which was launched last Hamad Nasser Al Qadi guided his finish. the eight-stages completed so Rashid Al Amri who guided sanova, with Mohammed Said year by Al Shaqab and Qatar seven-year old gelding Gysmo Al Qadi who is currently far, got richer by QR2,500 fol- Dynamic Diablo Jaber to finish Haidan rounded up the top five. Equestrian Federation (QEF) sees 26 towards victory in a routine leading the Small Tour with lowing yesterday’s win. the job in 56.85 seconds, Today, dressage events (Level all top riders of Qatar taking part. Ageless Federer advances Russian rookie Sirotkin will to quarters in Rotterdam surprise, says AFP Williams ROTTERDAM: Roger Federer moved to within one victory of REUTERS becoming the oldest man to take the world number one ranking on LONDON: Williams say Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin Thursday with a hard-fought 7-6 has earned his place at the Formula One team on merit (10/8), 7-5 victory over Germany’s and is likely to surprise people this season. Philipp Kohlschreiber at the The 22-year-old will partner Canadian Lance Stroll, Rotterdam Open. still only 19, at the former world champions after replacing The 36-year-old was to face retired Brazilian Felipe Massa. Robin Haase in the quarter-finals The Russian was previously a Renault reserve and fin- yesterday. ished third overall in the GP2 support series in 2015 and “Tonight was complicated, I 2016. had to fight and struggle,” said A product of the SMP young driver programme estab- Federer. lished by Russian oligarch Boris Rotenberg, Sirotkin’s rise “I had a good game plan going has raised questions about how much it has been acceler- in, but I was never able to com- ated by his financial backing. pletely pull it off. “I think probably Sergey is one of those drivers you “He came out with a clean haven’t heard of as much as maybe some other new tal- start. I was serving well, that’s a Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return ents who come into the sport, for whatever reason that great sign. I’d rather do that and to Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber during may be,” said deputy team principal Claire Williams at a return poorly.” their second round match of the ABN AMRO team launch. Thursday’s win was Federer’s World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam “But I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people this 13th in as many meetings against on Thursday. year. His technical capability, combined with his track effi- Kohlschreiber. ciency, is really impressive,” added the daughter of team The first set was a 54-minute founder and principal Frank. struggle with the top seed having “This is an exciting challenge, great regrets if I had not come here nearly two hours before finally Both she and technical head Paddy Lowe rejected sug- to work hard against the veteran I’ve struggled to try and get there. this week. I’m very excited for seeing off Damir Dzumhur 6-4, gestions that money had influenced the decision. German who was broken for the I had to win a lot of matches last tomorrow’s match, I can’t wait for 7-6 (7/4). Sirotkin was chosen after a showdown between him only time in the match when he year,” said Federer, who was it to come around.” Rublev, the world number 34, and Poland’s Robert Kubica, a former race winner seeking double-faulted to hand Federer a world number one for the first Second seed Grigor Dimitrov forced his Bosnian opponent to to return seven years after a near-fatal rally accident that 6-5 lead in the second set. time in February 2004. outlasted Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic save 10 of 15 break points while almost severed his forearm. Federer, the 20-time Grand However, he was last at the 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 to also reach the he saved nine of 13. Lowe said he had no concerns about how well the Rus- Slam title winner, then eased to summit in October 2012 and quarter-finals. Russian Daniil Medvedev sian, only his country’s third Formula One driver after now- victory in the 12th game with a slumped to 17 in the world in Jan- Dimitrov has now reached a joined his compatriot in the last departed Vitaly Petrov and Daniil Kvyat, would perform. volley winner on second match uary last year. second straight quarter-final in the eight by beating Pierre-Hugues He said Sirotkin, who first appeared on Formula One’s point. “I never imagined this after my Dutch city, advancing with 13 aces Herbert of France 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), radar when he joined Swiss-based Sauber in 2013 as a The Swiss is excited about the (February 2016) knee surgery. and saving all four break points he 6-4. 17-year-old development driver, had served a “fantastic possibility of returning to the top Number one is a tough place to get faced. The two-and-a-quarter-hour apprenticeship” in the junior series. of the rankings 19 years after he to. The Bulgarian was to face contest featured 13 aces from the “I think he couldn’t be in better shape to hit the ground played Rotterdam in 1999 on his “The most important thing is Andrey Rublev yesterday after the loser and just four from the running as a new driver in Formula One,” added the tech- first career wild card. to be healthy, I would have had 20-year-old Russian struggled for winner. nical head. 22 SPORT SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2018 McLeish conﬁrmed as new Scotland manager AFP will travel to Hungary. How- be in a position to appoint ever, McLeish will have to someone who has experi- LONDON: Alex McLeish has wait until September for the ence of successfully been appointed as the new first competitive game of his managing their country and manager of Scotland, the second spell in charge of we are delighted to reach an Scottish Football Association Scotland, when qualifying agreement with Alex.” said yesterday. for Euro 2020 begins with McLeish, capped 77 McLeish’s return for a the inaugural Nations times by Scotland, had a dis- second spell as Scotland boss League at home to Albania. tinguished career as a ends the SFA’s four-month “It is a tremendous hon- defender for Aberdeen under search for a successor to our to be named Scotland managerial great Alex Fer- Gordon Strachan, his former national team head coach,” guson, winning three Aberdeen and Scotland said McLeish in an SFA Scottish league titles and the team-mate. statement. European Cup Winners’ Cup The 59-year-old McLeish “There is much to be in 1983. won seven of 10 games in positive about in Scottish His most successful charge during his previous football, with players play- period as a manger came in spell in 2007, including a ing at the highest level and nearly five years at Rang- famous 1-0 win away to promising talent breaking ers where he won seven France, as Scotland narrowly through.” He added: “With trophies between 2001 and missed out to Italy for Euro Hampden Park as one of the 2006 before taking charge 2008 qualification. host venues for Euro 2020 of Scotland for the first Scotland’s wait to reach we have an amazing oppor- time. a major tournament has tunity to showcase our He also led Birmingham stretched to 20 years in the talents to the world from our City to English League Cup decade since. own back yard. victory in 2010/2011 before McLeish’s first games in “I am relishing the chal- controversially quitting to charge will come in friend- lenge of leading us to a major join local rivals Aston Villa lies against Costa Rica and tournament and I cannot following the former’s rele- Hungary next month, with wait to get started.” SFA gation from the Premier Scotland manager Alex McLeish his return to the hotseat president Alan McRae added: League. and Alan McRae pose for a widely forecast by British “Alex McLeish is a true Scot- Short unsuccessful spells media reports on land legend and a natural at Villa, Nottingham Forest, photograph during a press Thursday. leader who has enjoyed suc- Genk in Belgium and Egyp- conference in Hampden Park, Costa Rica will visit cess at club level in Scotland tian side Zamalek followed Glasgow, Britain, yesterday. Hampden Park on March 23 and England, and at interna- before a return to his and four days later Scotland tional level. “It is a rarity to homeland.

Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles (right) and Ostersund’s Tesfaldet Tekie vie for the ball during the Barcelona face Europa League round of 32, ﬁrst leg match in Ostersund, Sweden on Thursday. tricky Eibar trip

AFP LA LIGA FIXTURES Fixtures (kick-offs GMT) MADRID: Before their Champions Today League clash with Chelsea in London, Las Palmas vs Sevilla (1200), Eibar vs Barcelona (1515), Alaves Lionel Messi and Barcelona put their vs Deportivo (1730), Malaga vs Valencia (1945) unbeaten record in La Liga on the line Sunday against Eibar in the rather less glamor- Real Sociedad vs Levante (1100), Atletico Madrid vs Athletic ous surrounds of Ipurua today. Bilbao (1515), Espanyol vs Villarreal (1730), Betis vs Real Ma- The modest 7,000-seat ground in the drid (1945) Basque Country welcomes a Barca side Monday

who have laboured to draws against Getafe vs Celta Vigo (2000) Espanyol and Getafe in their last two outings. Those results have allowed Atletico Atletico host Athletic Bilbao on Sun- Madrid to cut Ernesto Valverde’s side’s day and will be hoping to have Diego lead at the top of the table to seven points, Costa back after the striker sat out the with the clubs due to meet at the Camp Europa League trip to Copenhagen. Nou early next month. Real Madrid, meanwhile, travel to Barca’s advantage is still significant, Seville to face Betis hoping to build on and they have no major injury worries, their fine Champions League win against Europa League: Napoli lose at but the danger is that the return of the Paris Saint-Germain. Champions League is a distraction for Zinedine Zidane’s side are still fourth them. in the table behind Valencia -- who go “We will need to proceed with cau- to Malaga -- but they have taken 10 points home; Arsenal and Milan win tion because a bad result can mean that from the last 12 available in the league. you suddenly go from having a very good “We have gone through a difficult REUTERS same score against Bulgarian cham- Madrid recovered from an early fright year to not such a good one,” Gerard phase, but in the last few weeks we have pions Ludogorets. Batshuayi took to win 4-1 at FC Copenhagen as Saul Pique warned this week at a sponsor’s raised our game,” Toni Kroos told Ger- ZURICH: Napoli went down 3-1 at his tally to five goals in three games Niguez, Kevin Gameiro, Antoine Griez- event, where the talk was of Chelsea man media after the PSG clash. “I am home to RB Leipzig, Arsenal and AC since joining Dortmund on loan from mann and Vitolo shared the goals after rather than Eibar. confident that we have a lot of success Milan enjoyed comfortable away wins, Chelsea, with his double against Ata- Victor Fischer had put the Danish side The Basque side, though, have lost ahead of us.” Real are 17 points adrift of and Borussia Dortmund’s Michy Batsh- lanta hauling the Germans side back in front. just once -- a narrow 1-0 defeat to Barcelona, but they do have a game in uayi scored twice to secure a 3-2 victory from 2-1 down after Josip Ilicic FCSB, formerly Steaua Bucha- Atletico -- since the start of December, hand to come at Leganes next in Europa League last 32, first leg action scored twice in five minutes for the rest, beat Lazio 1-0 and Celtic and are in contention to qualify for midweek. on Thursday. Italians. overcame Zenit St Petersburg by the Europe. Sevilla, meanwhile, are in Gran Italian league leaders Napoli Nice striker Mario Balotelli also same score. “We have been playing well for the Canaria to face Las Palmas, where they went ahead against Leipzig but scored two goals against Lokomotiv Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri has last two months and getting good results, will again be without Ever Banega. slumped to a 3-1 defeat after a Timo Moscow only to be upstaged by a made it clear that his priority lies in but we know what we have in front of us Coach Vincenzo Montella will be hop- Werner brace, Arsenal overcame Manuel Fernandes hat-trick as the vis- Serie A and a disappointingly sparse on Saturday,” warned their coach Jose ing the Argentine playmaker can return Sweden’s Ostersunds 3-0 helped by itors hit back to win 3-2. crowd turned up for the visit of Luis Mendilibar, once a colleague of Val- for next week’s Champions League clash an own goal and Milan won by the Twice former winners Atletico Leipzig. verde’s in their playing days. with Manchester United. Trap Concaverde Lonato and QSAA join hands

ARMSTRONG VAS QSAA President Ali Mohammed and in the future also they will shooting practice.” “This is the THE PENINSULA Al Kuwari. train here at Losail Shooting start a project, the first step to a “Every year you will find a Range,” the QSAA official said. long lasting cooperation between DOHA: Qatar Shooting and World Championship or a World Trap Concaverde official our club and Qatar Shooting and Archery Association (QSAA) and Cup, besides local competition. Ivano, visiting Qatar for the first Archery Association,” he added. Trap Concaverde shooting range Every week they have a compe- time, was very much impressed “For those not familiar with in Lonato, Italy have joined tition, local competition have with the facilities on offer at the the range it is regarded as one of hands to promote and improve more crowd then the interna- Losail Shooting range. the best in the world and known the sport, share resources and tional events,” he said Holding “Great range, beautiful, fan- as the ‘University of shotgun’, expertise, develop knowledge, national team camps at Trap tastic and hospitality for the said Antonella, Competition understanding and expansion of Concaverde in Lonato is certainly shooters has been excellent,” he Director of the ongoing Qatar initiatives. on the cards,” he added. said “There are many benefits for Open Shotgun championship. “It is a big step for us to enter “QSAA and Trap Concaverde our club on account of the tie up. “So, most of the top shotgun into a partnership with the Ital- will be sitting with the visiting Our shooters can train at the shooters go there to practice ian range. It is big and famous official of the range, Ivano and beautiful range in Qatar and wit- there. It was started in the early Qatar Shooting and Archery Association President Ali Mohammed range, one reason is its location. drawing out a comprehensive ness the fantastic hospitality. On 1900’s and it a place where some Al Kuwari and Trap Concaverde shooting range official Ivano It is situated close to all the major plan,” Al Kuwari added. the other hand, Qatari shooters of the most successful World Cup exchange mementos. gun and ammunition manufac- “The Italian shooters have can practice at the Trap Con- and World Championships have turers in Northern Italy and been training here ahead ot he caverde in Lonato, another taken place. So, it is something incredible place which every- experience especially if you are boasts of 12 Trench layouts,” said Qatar Shotgun Championship range, a beautiful range, for which is very important and body knows and what to shotgun shooter,” she said. SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2018 SPORT 23 Al Sulaiti shines; Al Asam takes ﬁrst pole THE PENINSULA happy because in the beginning the tyre pressure and it helped me of the day it was a disaster but at a lot. One lap was enough, I DOHA: Qatar’s Saeed Al Sulaiti the end it was good and we got noticed that more than 2 laps, the grabbed another Superpole at the the superpole again. For tomor- tyres get more hot , so one lap, no third round of Qatar Superstock row, the feeling should be the mistakes I think I did it very well 600 held yesterday at Losail same and we’ll push for a win. and tomorrow I will try to hold International Circuit. Many thanks to Ooredoo for their the position’ said Al Asam. Al Sulaiti timings in the free continuous support and to QMMF Adham El Dib will start today practice 1 were not as he expected and Losail Circuit Sport Club for from the second place with a lap but he managed to get better ones the organisation of the event,” Al time of 2:25.414. in free practice 2 and Superpole, Sulaiti said. Al Khelaifi, the defending where he did a lap time of Mishal Al Naimi, will start champion and leader in the 2:04.357. from the second place today, fol- standings, will start from the third “In the free practice 1, the lowed by Nasser Al Malki and place in the grid as he did a lap conditions of the track were not Abdullah Al Qubaisi in third and time of 2:26.296. good as some dust the last days, fourth places in the starting grid Tomorrow, QSTK Race 1 it was something we were expect- respectively. starts at 11.30am and Race 2 at ing but we managed to get the In the QSTK Trophy, the fast- 2.30pm. For QTCC, the first race feeling with the bike. In the free est rider was Soud Al Thani. is scheduled at 1.00pm and the practice 2 we focused on improv- Jassim Al Thani and Essa Al second race at 4.00pm. ing the set up of the bike as in the Mutawa finished second and third Qatar Superstock 600 and last round we had some ideas but respectively in QSTK Trophy. Qatar Touring Car Championship unfortunately they were not Surprisingly, the pole postion Riders in action during the Qatar Superstock 600 Superpole at the Losail International Circuit yesterday. are organized by Losail Circuit working at all,” Al Sulaiti said. in the Qatar Touring Car Cham- INSETS: (Top left) Hamad Al Asam in action during the qualifying round of the Qatar Touring Car Sports Club and Qatar Motor and “When it came Superpole we pionshi fourth round was for Championshi fourth round. (Top right) Qatari rider Saeed Al Sulaiti in action. Motorcycle Federation with Pirelli just decided to go back to the pre- Hamad Al Asam, with a lap time Qatar and Inside as sponsors of vious settings because there is no of 2:24.011 track leaving gravel all over the Qatar’s Al Asam is very happy car is performing better and bet- both championships. room for any mistake. I was really The Qualifying practice was track. Unfortunately Al Hajri with his first pole postion of the ter in every round. I didn’t do The Karting track will be also surprised that I could do this good stoped due to red flag as Man- couldn’t continue the qualifying season ‘ I will start tomorrow anything to the car since the last opened tomorrow from 2pm to lap time, 2:04.357. I am very sour Al Hajri spinned on the session. from first place in the grid. The round, just did more work with 7pm. Guptill’s blitz in vain as Aussies Kohli leads India to another easy chase down record T20 target win over Proteas AP SCOREBOARD REUTERS another dominant per- New Zealand: Australia: AUCKLAND: D’Arcy Short hit M. Guptill c Maxwell b Tye ...... 105 D. Warner b Sodhi ...... 59 formance with captain 76 and David Warner struck a C. Munro c Maxwell b Tye ...... 76 D. Short c Seifert b Boult ...... 76 PRETORIA: India’s Virat Kohli again leading from 24-ball 59 yesterday as T. Seifert c Finch b Agar ...... 12 C. Lynn c Guptill b de Grandhomme ...... 18 Kohli set a new batting the front. Australia pulled off the high- M. Chapman hit wicket b Stanlake ...... 16 G. Maxwell b Southee ...... 31 record as he put on another He scored 129 not out est successful run chase in C. de Grandhomme b Richardson ...... 3 A. Finch not out ...... 36 masterclass with an to set a new record for the Twenty20 international R. Taylor not out ...... 17 M. Stoinis run out ...... 4 unbeaten century against most runs in a six-match cricket with seven balls K. Williamson c Tye b Richardson ...... 1 A. Carey not out ...... 1 hosts South Africa yester- ODI series. remaining to beat New B. Wheeler not out ...... 1 Extras (nb2, w18) ...... 20 day to secure an easy Kohli reached his 35th Extras (lb3, nb1, w8) 1...... 2 Total (5 wickets; 18.5 overs) ...... 245 Zealand by five wickets in the eight-wicket victory and ODI ton in just 82 balls, was Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) ...... 243 Fall of wickets: 1-121 (Warner), 2-143 (Lynn), 3-199 trans-Tasman tri-series. Fall of wickets: 1-132 (Munro), 2-155 (Seifert), 3-212 (Maxwell), 4-217 (Short), 5-238 (Stoinis) win the one-day interna- dropped on 103 and fin- Almost 500 runs were (Guptill), 4-220 (Chapman), 5-222 (de Grandhomme), Did not bat: A. Agar, A. Tye, K. Richardson, B. Stan- tional series 5-1. ished the six-matches with scored overall at Eden Park in 6-224 (Williamson) lake India strode to a com- a total of 558 runs, easily an extraordinary display of Did not bat: T. Southee, I. Sodhi, T. Boult Bowling: Boult 3.5-0-42-1 (2w), Wheeler 3.1-0-64- fortable win at Centurion eclipsing the previous sustained power-hitting. New Bowling: Richardson 4-0-40-2 (2w), Stanlake 4-0- 0 (3w), Southee 4-0-48-1 (1w), Sodhi 4-0-35-1 (1w), as they reached their vic- mark of 491 runs achieved Zealand equaled its highest 43-1 (1w), Tye 4-0-64-2 (4w), Stoinis 4-0-50-0 (1w), de Grandhomme 3.5-0-56-1 (3w) tory target with 107 balls by team mate Rohit T20 score of 243-6 after Agar 3-0-24-1, Short 1-0-19-0 Result: Australia won by five wickets to spare after putting South Sharma against Australia choosing to bat first and Aus- Africa into bat and bowl- in the 2013-14 season. tralia reached 245-5 with came from only 30 balls with Warner, who has struggled ing them out for 204. India, who lost the seven balls remaining in reply. a six off Short’s only over, for form recently, recovered India, who have taken three-match test series 2-1, Martin Guptill scored the which went for 19. Munro with a vengeance and rushed over from South Africa as now play South Africa in fastest T20 century by a New reached his half-century two to his half-century from only the world’s top-ranked three Twenty20 interna- Zealander, from 49 balls, and balls later and also with a six 20 balls with four fours and ODI team, were 206 for tionals at end of their put on 132 in 10.4 overs for the off Short. four sixes. When he was out, two wickets in reply in two-month tour. first wicket with Colin Munro Guptill went on to post his Short took over and guided (76 from 33). Guptill went on century with two consecutive Australia toward victory in a SCOREBOARD to make 105 and take his tally sixes off Marcus Stoinis. His vital partnership with Glenn South Africa 6-142, 7-151, 8-187, 9-192 A Markram c Iyer b Thakur ...... 24 Bowling: Thakur 8.5-0-52-4 (3w), Bumrah 8-1- of runs in T20 cricket to 2,188 second T20 century came Maxwell (31). H Amla c Dhoni b Thakur ...... 10 24-2, Pandya 10-0-39-1, Kuldeep Yadav 10-0-51-1, - the highest by any player from 49 balls, one less than Short was out with the A de Villiers b Chahal ...... 30 Chahal 10-0-38-2 from any country. Brendon McCullum’s former total at 217-4 with 3.2 overs K Zondo c Pandya b Chahal ...... 54 India Australia has already qual- record for New Zealand. remaining. The match seemed H Klaasen c Kohli b Bumrah ...... 22 S Dhawan c Zondo b Ngidi ...... 18 ified for the final. New Zealand Guptill was finally out with in the balance but Aaron Finch F Behardien c Bumrah b Thakur ...... 1 R Sharma c Klaasen b Ngidi ...... 15 C Morris c Dhawan b Kuldeep Yadav ...... 4 V Kohli (not out) ...... 129 will play England tomorrow the total at 212-3 . guided Australia home with an A Phehlukwayo c and b Thakur ...... 34 A Rahane (not out) ...... 34 to decide the other finalist. Warner and Short ensured unbeaten 36 off 14. M Morkel c Iyer b Pandya ...... 20 Extras (B4, LB1, W5) ...... 10 Guptill and Munro reached Australia began at a pace even Australia eclipsed the Imran Tahir c Kohli b Bumrah ...... 2 Total (2 wkts, 32.1 overs) ...... 206 a half-century partnership greater than New Zealand’s, record for a successful run L Ngidi (not out) ...... 0 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-80 Australia’s David Warner bats during the Twenty20 from only 28 balls and New taking 11 runs from the first chase in T20 internationals, pre- Extras (W3) ...... 3 Bowling: Morkel 7-0-42-0 (2w), Ngidi 8-1-54-2 Tri Series match against New Zealand at the Total (46.5 overs) ...... 204 (3w), Morris 6-0-36-0, Phehlukwayo 4-0-27-0, Zealand was 56-0 after five over and reaching their 50 viously held by the West Indies Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-43, 3-105, 4-135, 5-136, Imran Tahir 7.1-0-42-0 Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. overs. Guptill’s half-century partnership from only 24 balls. at 236-6 against South Africa. Thousands enjoy NSD activities at Losail THE PENINSULA for their support in this successful event. Also, many thanks to all the companies, profes- DOHA: More than 3,000 ladies and children sionals and volunteers that took part in it” enjoyed all the activities organised on the Al Remaihi said National Sports Day (NSD) at Losail Interna- Apart from cycling, running or walking tional Circuit. around the 5.3 km of the Losail track, ladies Since the last year’s edition, the NSD at were able to join any of the 30 activities Losail is focused only for ladies and their chil- organized throughout the day such as yoga, dren, giving them the opportunity to exercise basic body exercise, Bollywood dancing and in an outdoor facility in full privacy. Pilates. For those who seek an adrenaline- This year, the event was again a great rush, karting sessions were also organised success as the total attendance was 3,027 by Red Bull and supervised by the Friend of people, duplicating the number from last year the Brand, female drifter Noor Daoud. with a high number participation of Qatari “I went cycling with my friends and walk- women, 77%. The number of kids that came ing around the track in the morning and later to Losail was a 30% of the attendance. we did the Bollywood dance, which was very LCSC Vice President and General Man- fun. This is my first time at Losail and I ger Khalid Al Remaihi was very happy with enjoyed a lot. For sure I will come back again the attendance and participation on the Qatar for the Ladies Training Days,” said Dana, a National Sport Day. participant from Qatar. “We are very pleased to see that the For the children too, there were also a number of female participants has increased lot of activities planned for them. There were compared to last year with a high percent- some dedicated areas for children with Children take part in fun activities during the age of Qatari ladies. For sure, that now more bouncy castles, gymkhana, pedal cars and a National Sports Day (NSD) celebrations at Losail ladies will come to Losail to enjoy the ladies nursery corner for the kids. International Circuit on Tuesday. According to training day that we organise every Tues- It was a fun day of activities for women organisers, the event was great success with day. I would like to extend my gratitude to and children, which will encourage them in the total attendance exceeding 3,000 ladies the Ministry of Culture and Sport, Qatar future to keep practicing different kinds of and children. INSET: Ladies and Children at the Sports for All Federation, Qatar Cyclists, sports activities for good health and Losail International Circuit. Lexus, Red Bull and Qatar Voluntary Centre fitness. SPORT Saturday 17 February 2018

PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 PAGE | 23 Barcelona face tricky Kohli leads India to Al Sulaiti Eibar trip as another easy win over shines; Chelsea lie in wait Proteas Al Asam takes Muguruza in Doha ﬁnal after Halep withdraws; Wozniacki in semis THE PENINSULA QATAR TOTAL OPEN: RESULTS QUARTER-FINALS DOHA: Simona Halep reached the Qatar Open semifinals with Caroline Wozniacki (DEN X1) bt Angelique Kerber (GER a dominating win then promptly X8) 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 6-3 withdrew with a right foot injury Garbine Muguruza (ESP X4) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA yesterday. X7) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 After beating American qual- Simona Halep (ROM X2) bt Catherine Bellis (Usa) 6-0, 6-4 ifier Catherine Bellis 6-0, 6-4, Halep announced her withdrawal from today’s semis, when she was scheduled to play Garbine Muguruza. Halep’s withdrawal means world number four Muguruza will play in tomorrow’s final. Muguruza beat Caroline Gar- cia of France 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Later, world number one Caroline Wozniacki suffered a mid-match blip before getting past Angelique Kerber 7-6(4),1-6 6-3. She next faces the winner of the quarter-final between double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Julia Goerges. No. 2-ranked Halep could have regained the No. 1 ranking this week if she went one round further than Wozniacki. “I am surprised that I could World number two Simona Halep of Romania, celebrates after winning her match against play three matches and win to Catherine Bellis of USA, during their match in the Qatar Total Open 2018 at the Khalifa them,” Halep, the 2014 cham- Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. Right: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, pion, said. returns the ball to Angelique Kerber of Germany. Pictures by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula “I felt pain every day, so it was not easy to manage it. “I didn’t have much time to losing to Wozniacki in the Aus- rest,” she said while talking to navigate her way past a game first set she played very well, this and this is actually the first match, recover before this tournament, tralian Open final. reporters. Garcia, who was on form over kind of game and match changes I guess, that I play against a Top but today was too much, and I Halep added that she would Earlier, Muguruza came from the first 11 games of the match. a lot,” Muguruza said after the 10 this year,” she said. “It was a decided to stop. not return to action until Indian a set down to defeat No.7 seed From 1-1 in the second set, match. good level from both of us.” “The MRI shows I have fluid Wells at the earliest, which begins Caroline Garcia and move into however, the Spaniard upped her “I knew that if I kept con- Muguruza was plagued by and also tendinitis at the fourth next month. her first semifinal of the season. level, winning five straight games centrated and fighting, it could injury in the warmup to the Aus- toe, so I have to take care of it “Definitely until Indian Wells Muguruza came from a set to send the match through to a turn around. I also started to tralian Open, as she was forced to and think about my health first,” I will not play anything. I will down to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. decider. In the final set, Mugu- play a little bit better, and that retire against Aleksandra Krunic she said. decide before the tournament The two-time Grand Slam ruza earned the decisive break helped.” in Brisbane and withdrew prior Halep also withdrew from if I will be able to play I under- champion hadn’t won back-to- in the fifth game, and won 10 of “I think we were playing to a second-round match against next week’s Dubai Open, another stand ideal wells. For the moment back matches in any of her first the last 11 points played on her longer rallies, and I found myself Daria Gavrilova in Sydney. tournament she has won, and said I cannot say much.” three tournaments of the season serve to clinch victory - which in a better position, playing my In Melbourne, the World No.4 she did not expect to be back on “I have to take day by day in Australia, but that’s changed included a key hold out of 0-40 shots and also going for my shots... fell in the second round to Hsieh court for more than two weeks, and to see if I can recover until this week in Qatar. in the eight game of the set. so I gave her a little bit of trou- Su-wei, and she hadn’t played a until Indian Wells. Indian Wells. I need rest, because To reach her first semifinal “I’m happy overall with the ble,” the Spaniard added. match in the three weeks since Halep relinquished No. 1 after I didn’t stay, and this injury needs of the season, Muguruza had to match because even though in the “I didn’t play a lot of matches, before arriving in Doha. Al Sailiya hold Al Rayyan in four-goal thriller THE PENINSULA QNB STARS LEAGUE minute) and substitute Mehdi Taremi (90+3) WEEK 17 scored the goals as Al Gharafa moved to 23 DOHA: Al Rayyan had to settle for a 2-2 points, while Al Kharaitiyat stayed on 13. draw against Al Sailiya in a hotly-contested YESTERDAY’S RESULTS: Al Gharafa dominated the proceedings QNB Stars League encounter in Week 17 of Al Rayyan 2-2 Al Sailiya right from the start and promptly went the QNB Stars League at the Al Sadd Al Gharafa 2 Al Kharaitiyat 0 ahead through Othman, with Ahmed Stadium yesterdayday. Alaaeldin setting the stage for the goal. Al Ahli 0 Qatar SC 1 In the other matches, hosts Al Gharafa Othman was in the thick of the action defeated Al Kharaitiyat 2-0 while Qatar SC TODAY’S FIXTURES: and he sent a long-range shot over the bar. secured all three points following an Al Markhiya vs Al Khor The trend was the same in the second impressive 1-0 win away to Al Ahli. (Al Arabi Stadium, 4.45pm) half and Al Gharafa’s Wesley Sneijder had Goals for Al Rayyan were scored by Al Sadd vs Al Arabi a shot saved by rival goalkeeper Ahmed Sebastia Soria in the 59th minute and (Al Sadd Stadium, 6.55pm) Sofyan. Al Gharafa controlled the midfield Abderrazzaq Hamdallah in the 67th. Al play and Sneijder and Iranian striker Sailiya’s goals came in the fifth minute Taremi made many a move into the oppo- through Dragos Grigore and Mohamed Al Abdulrahman Al Harazi whipped in a cross sition territory. Marri in the 79th. from the right which was met by Soria who After Moroccan striker Rachid Tiber- The game started in rapid fashion as Al flicked it in with a back heel. kanine, back from a one-match layoff, shot Sailiya’s Mohamad Rajeb found himself Al Harazi was replaced immediately straight to Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yousuf clean through on goal, but was impeded by after by Hamdallah who made an instant Hassan after one hour, The Thunders’ best Hossam El Said on the edge of the area. impression. He was on hand to drive home chance to equalise came late, but Josue Grigore stepped up to bend his perfectly- a cross from Soria and put the home side Mohy headed against the horizontal. Al executed free-kick over the wall and into into the ascendancy. Gharafa almost doubled the lead off the the far corner for an early lead. With the game drawing to a close, Al counter-attack only to see Alaaeldin shoot With intense pressure throughout the Sailiya caught the home-side off guard to straight to Sofyan in a one-on-one situa- first half, Al Rayyan looked like they had equalise. A neat interchange on the right tion. Even as Al Kharaitiyat tried hard for equalised when Mohammed Al Alawi drove saw Nadir Belhadj find Al Marri who guided an equaliser, an unmarked Taremi struck down the left, but his shot into the corner home a wonderful diving header. at the death to help Al Gharafa earn three was expertly kept out by Hassan Dicko in Right at the death, Al Rayyan had the crucial points. the opposition goal. chance to grab the winner when they won In the other match, the only goal of the The intensity grew in the second half a penalty, but Tabata’s shot hit the post and game came from Qatar SC’s Syrian striker Al Rayyan’s Rodrigo Tabata (left) is challenged by a Al Sailiya player and it was not long before The Lions were the teams played out a draw. Osama Omari, signed in the January trans- during the QNB Stars League match in Doha yesterday. back on level terms. The energetic Elsewhere, Othman Al Yahri (19th fer window, in the 57th minute.