SPORT Thursday 16 March 2017 PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Happy returns forfor Gritty Chandimal Dragulescu and Little birthday boy as lifts Sri Lanka head Doha Warriors win in second Test star cast Emir awards winners of annual camel race festival Doha Misnad, owner of Shahalel, for win- QNA ning the race of Al Hail category. The Emir then honoured the com- mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin panies that sponsored this year's event. Hamad Al Thani yesterday Crown Prince of Dubai H E Sheikh Eawarded the winners of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al annual festival of Arabian Thorough- Maktoum took part in awarding the bred Camel Race for the Sword of HH winners. Also present yesterday was the Emir, which took place at Al Sha- Personal Representative of the Emir, hania camel racetrack. H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, The Emir awarded the winners of President of Qatar Olympic Committee the four main races with golden tro- H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, phies. Al Shahania camels won three Adviser to the UAE President and Pres- of the four races, with "Khoud" win- ident of the Emirates Camel Racing ning the golden sword. The other two Federation H E Sheikh Sultan bin Ham- camels Mesyan and Tashar won golden dan Al Nahyan, along with a number of daggers. The winner of the fourth race their excellencies sheikhs, ranking offi- was Al Wathba from UAE. cials, and followers of the sport. The Emir also awarded the silver The Emir attended the final races Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani awards the Sword of H H the Emir to the winners of the annual festival sword for Nasser Abdullah Nasser Al of this year's festival. of Arabian Thoroughbred Camel Race, held at Al Shahania camel racetrack yesterday. Mirza tops Elite class as UAE riders continue to dominate Rizwan Rehmat Khalil of Bahrain finished in second while Saudi Arabia's Al In today's action, riders will The Peninsula a time of 47.19 seconds. Hassan Al Momin (17.37 sec- compete in the Cadets Class Kuwait's Jafar Al Ali (47.46 onds) claimed the third spot. (road race) covering a distance AE riding giant seconds), Bahrain's Mansoor Abdulrehman Al Sultan of 46kms. Yousif Mirza yes- Mohammed (48.24 seconds) and (Saudi Arabia, 17.43 seconds), In the Junior Class, the rid- terday eased to a Saudi Arabia's Sultan Al Aseeri Ali Hameed (UAE, 17.50 sec- ers will complete a distance of commanding win (50.40 seconds) completed the onds), Ali Nasser (Bahrain, 18.07 92 kms. in the Elite Individ- top six of the day. seconds) and Manzar Abdullah Tomorrow is the last day of Uual Time Trial, beating Also yesterday, UAE's (19.12 seconds) completed the action when the Elite Class compatriot and brother Badar Abdullah Abdulkareem topped top 7 riders who managed a dis- completes a distance of 138kms Mirza to the top spot on day two the Junior Class with a time of tance of 11.5kms. in the Road Race. of the GCC Road Cycling 31.43 seconds. Abdulkareem's Championships. compatriot Rashid Abdullah GCC ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Bahraini cyclist Sayed (31.58 seconds) finished second. Ahmed Khalil finished in the Bahrain's Mohammed Ibrahim RESULTS OF DAY TWO third spot as a total of six riders (33.15 seconds) emerged as the completed the 34.6km distance third fastest rider in a group of ELITE INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL around Losail International Cir- six that contested in the Junior 1: Yousif Mirza, UAE, 45.21 seconds cuit and Qatar Shooting Range Class. 2: Badar Mirza, UAE, 46.11 seconds facility. Ahmed Naser (Bahrain, 3: Sayed Ahmed Khalil, Bahrain, 47.19 seconds UAE's Yousif Mirza The 28-year-old Mirza, who 33.24 seconds), Yusuf Al Yusuf JUNIORS INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL competes during the became first Emirati cyclist to (Saudi Arabia, 33.49 seconds) 1: Abdullah Abdulkareem, UAE, 31.43 seconds Elite Individual Time compete in Olympics last year and Hassan Ibrahim (34.11 sec- 2: Rashid Abdullah, UAE, 31.58 seconds Trial of GCC Road at Rio Games, clocked a time of onds) completed the top six. 3: Mohammed Ibrahim, Bahrain, 33.15 seconds Cycling Championships 45.21 seconds while Badar fin- UAE's Abdullah Jassim won CADETS INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL at Losail yesterday. ished with his top time of 46.11 the Cadets Class with a time of 1: Abdullah Jassim, UAE, 16.09 seconds Picture by: Salim seconds as UAE riders domi- 16.09 seconds. 2: Jassim Mohammed, Bahrain, 16.54 seconds Matramkot/The Peninsula nated proceedings for the Bahrain's Jassim Moham- 3: Al Hassan Al Momin, Saudi Arabia, 17.37 seconds. second day running. med (16.54 seconds) finished Al Sadd begin preparation for 'Qatar Clasico' Fawad Hussain against Umm Salal in the last One player already con- side’s 2-1 victory over Muaither, The Peninsula round. firmed to be out for the Qatar and now is free to be selected With just three matches left Clasico is defender Mohammed for the game against their local ith just three rounds to in the season, Al Sadd - coached Kasola who is set for a one game rivals. go in the season, Doha by Jesualdo Ferreira - will look suspension, after picking up his El Jaish also revealed that Wfootball giants Al Sadd to win all their remaining games fourth yellow card of the season midfielder Khalid Abdulraouf will have to exhibit a steely including the one against mighty in the Wolves last league game. is continuing his rehabilitation resolve in all fixtures to nail the third-placed Al Rayyan to keep Al Sadd will have to display from a knee injury he suffered Qatar Stars League (QSL) title their title-hopes alive. their best show against Al Rayyan at the beginning of the cam- once again. Knowing the huge challenge who have shown excellent form paign. Club officials confirmed For Al Sadd to lift the QSL ahead of them, Ferreira’s side in recent weeks. that Abdulraouf will now slowly Shield, they must overcome Al has already kicked off their prep- On Tuesday, the Michael return to first team training, Rayyan - the other powerhouse arations for the crucial stage of Laudrup’s side registered a 3-1 and start to get back to full of football in Qatar - in next the QSL with the Xavi Hernan- victory over Persepolis at Al Sadd Al Sadd players fitness. month's eagerly-anticipated bat- dez-led side hitting the training Stadium, moving to the top of celebrate after With the QSL making way tle dubbed as the 'Qatar pitch following 11-day rest. Group D in the 2017 AFC Cham- scoring a goal for international football, El Clasico'. The former QSL champions, pions League. against Umm Jaish has also organized a In an absorbing campaign so however, had a number of nota- Al Rayyan who returned to Salal in their friendly match to maintain fit- far, second-placed Al Sadd and ble absentees in training sessions the QSL in 2015-16 after a one- Qatar Stars ness during the three week points leaders Lekhwiya have who are all currently represent- year hiatus with a title triumph League Round break in action. Sabri Lam- spent the season neck and neck ing Qatar including Hassan are currently on third position in 11 match in this ouchi’s side is set to take on in race to win the Shield with the Haydoos, Ibrahim Majid and the standing and are aiming to file photo. Qatar Gas League side Al Shamal latter side enjoying a two-point goalkeeper Saad Al Dosari. retain their position till the end on March 21. edge. Apart from the group, Iranian of the season. The friendly will be seen as Lekhwiya have 56 points international defender Morteza Meanwhile, El Jaish will wel- round 24 matches against lead- in first team contention after a vital preparation for their match from 23 games so far with Al Pouraliganji has joined up with come back key defender to the ers Lekhwiya. one game domestic ban for against Lekhwiya, which is set Sadd falling two points short in his country ahead of the Russia squad as the soldiers start their The club confirmed that picking up four yellow cards this to take place over the first as many games after a draw 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. preparations for their crunch defender Yusef Muftah is back season. Muftah sat out of his weekend in April. SPORT 16 MARCH 2017 THURSDAY 25 FORMULA ONE TAKES ON A NEW-LOOK FOR 2017 Formula One maps out LAP TIMES Cars are expected to lap between three and five seconds faster due to revised aerodynamics and the tyre changes. The fastest lap in Barcelona testing was quicker than any pole position there since 2007. The gain is coming through the corners, with many taken flat out thanks to improved downforce and grip. That means higher G-forces on drivers. Straight post-Ecclestone future line speeds will be slower but drivers can stay on the throttle for longer. "It's quite unreal. It's amazing. I'm coming through some of these corners...and I'm like a kid on a roller-coaster ride because it's so much better than it was London Lewis Hamilton (left) before," says Mercedes' triple world champion Lewis Hamilton. Reuters and Valtteri Bottas pose TYRES during the launch of new Tyres are fatter. The width of the rears has expanded from 325mm to 405.