Sport TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 2021 IndiaInd eye fairytale Test win as Australia ffretre over paceman Mitchell Starc OneOne thing I know about Mitchell is he’s tough. He has played throughthro some injuries before and got the job done so he’ll be hopefullyhope good to go tomorrow. Australia's Steve Smith Sport |09 NBA RESULTS: San Antonio 103, Houston 91; Brooklyn 122, Orlando 115; Toronto 116, Charlotte 113; Memphis 106, Philadelphia 104 Education City Stadium Voting process begins for QFA Awards THE PENINSULA – DOHA The Board of Trustees of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) Award has announced the start of first phase of voting for the Best Awards for the 2020-21 season. The opening phase of the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 to kick off on February 4 voting process includes the first leg of QNB Stars League, where the Best Player and Best Under-23 Player are voted for. Education City and Ahmad Bin Ali Voting forms (55 question- naires and shortlists of the most prominent players in both categories during the league’s first leg) have been Stadiums to stage FIFA event sent out to the participants in the voting process, namely: QNB Stars League team THE PENINSULA – DOHA stage the first match on February coaches, Qatar national team 4 at 5:00pm Qatar time, and the coach, Qatar Under-23 team Following confirmation that FIFA Club World Cup champions Visa Presale offers exclusive coach, Team managers, Media Auckland City FC will be unable will be crowned at Education City representatives, Represent- to participate in the FIFA Club Stadium on February 11 as the ative of QFA, Representative World Cup 2020, FIFA has final kicks off at 9.00pm. chance to purchase tickets of QSL and the President and adapted the competition’s match The tournament will be con- members of the Board of schedule. tested by home team Al Duhail THE PENINSULA – DOHA purchases for the 2020 Club Trustees of QFA Awards. FIFA, on Friday announced SC who emerged victorious in last World Cup. The Board will receive that Auckland City FC will miss season's QNB Stars League, pow- Visa cardholders in Qatar A range of affordable votes on or before January 21. the tournament in light of the erhouses Al Ahly SC, FC Bayern have the chance to purchase tickets are available on a first- The voting for the Best COVID-19 pandemic and related Munich, Ulsan Hyundai FC and tickets during the exclusive come, first-served basis, with Coach Award will take place quarantine measures required Tigres UANL have joined the Visa Presale for the FIFA Club prices ranging from QR10 for after the end of QNB Stars by the New Zealand line-up for the tournament. The World Cup Qatar 2020 a category 3 ticket for the first League. authorities. field will be completed by the presented by Alibaba Cloud. five matches up to QR300 for The competition format winners of the CONMEBOL Lib- Fans have an exclusive a category 1 ticket for the remains unchanged, with the ertadores final, which is opportunity to secure match final. Neville leaves opening match forfeited. scheduled for January 30. tickets on FIFA.com/tickets by The tournament will now be Following the withdrawal of using a Visa card until 12:00 COVID-19 measures England job to staged at Education City and Auckland City, the local team, Al AST / 10:00 CET on January In light of the COVID-19 Ahmad Bin Ali stadiums, while Duhail SC, will move directly to 21. pandemic, the host country take up Inter Khalifa International Stadium, the second round. Visa, the Official Payment will provide the required and show the status of their which was originally due to host The draw to finalise the Services Partner of FIFA, is safeguards to protect the Ehteraz track and trace appli- Miami role two games, will not be used. pairings will take place in Zurich the preferred payment health and safety of all cation. Clinics will be set up Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium will today at 18:00 Doha time. method for fan ticket involved in the competition. within each tournament REUTERS – LONDON Additional information on venue to treat anyone who Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium coronavirus safety measures displays COVID-19 symptoms. Phil Neville stepped down as for this event can be found on England women’s team FIFA.com. Six teams manager yesterday and the At this time, only residents The tournament will see former Manchester United and with QIDs, Gulf Cooperation the world’s top teams come England defender was named Council citizens and those together next month to the head coach of David Beck- with exceptional entry compete for the most pres- ham’s Major League Soccer permits (EEPs) can enter the tigious honour in global club (MLS) side Inter Miami. country, subject to State of football. Neville, 43, had been in Qatar visa and entry talks with the MLS men’s side, protocols. Last-minute sales who have a vacancy since Attendees will be required A last-minute sales phase, sacking manager Diego Alonso to present either a negative giving fans a final chance to this month. COVID-19 antigen test, a pos- purchase any remaining “This is a very young club itive COVID-19 antibodies test tickets, will take place fol- with a lot of promise and or record of a full lowing the exclusive Visa upside, and I am committed to vaccination. Presale. Tickets will be challenging myself, my players At the stadiums and sur- available via FIFA.com/ and everyone around me to rounding precincts, attendees tickets. grow and build a competitive must wear a mask, adhere to More information on the soccer culture we can all be social distancing, undergo a FIFA Club World Cup 2020 is proud of,” Neville said in a temperature check on arrival available on FIFA.com. statement. Qatar look to top group with win over Croatia THE PENINSULA – DOHA Qatar players celebrate after defeating Japan on Sunday. Sebitic yesterday admitted that facing YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Qatar 'will not be easy', but his team will Group H Qatar coach Valero Rivera yesterday hope for a successful outcome. expressed his delight at the performances The match will kick off at 8:00pm Republic of Korea 26-30 RHF of his players ahead of their third and final Qatar time. Slovenia 29-25 Belarus Group G Group match of the 27th IHF Men’s Yesterday, France, Portugal and Handball World Championship - Egypt Sweden marched into the main round North Macedonia 32 - 29 Chile Group E 2021. with perfect records in their respective Asian giants Qatar booked a place in groups. France 25-24 Switzerland Group F the main round of the 32-team event and North Macedonia, Russian Handball will take on European giants Croatia today. Federation, Slovenia and hosts Egypt also Portugal 26-19 Algeria Group G Qatar started their Group campaign made it to the next stage. with a thrilling 30-25 win over Angola at Meanwhile, Cape Verde have officially Sweden 24-23 Egypt Borg Al Arab Sports Hall, the designated informed the IHF that they withdraw from TODAY'S FIXTURES venue for Group C matches. the World Championship following chal- Group A On Sunday, Qatar clinched a thrilling lenges which already led to the cancel- 31-29 victory over Japan, who stunned lation of their match against Germany on Uruguay vs Cape Verde two-time Olympic champions and former of full points to confirm a berth in the main performances in the World Championship, Sunday. (8:00pm) World Champions Croatia with a 29-29 round, as they are currently placed second having already made it to the next stage. The IHF have accepted their with- Germany vs Hungary draw in their opening match. in Group C, two points ahead of Japan who “Despite the absence of many players, drawal, which safeguards the health of all (10:30pm) “We provided a great level despite the face Angola today. we managed to qualify for the second stakeholders involved in the World Group B big number of absences in our ranks. We For Qatar, it will be a battle to prove round. We won over Angola in the first Championship. Spain vs Tunisia (8:00pm) suffered a little from the numerical who's best in Group C. round and then we won over the strong The competition rules state that each Brazil vs Poland (10:30pm) shortage we had to go through,” Rivera “We did not change our plans after Japanese national team. I consider this team needs to have a minimum of 10 Group C said after Qatar raised their points tally to watching Japan’s surprise against Croatia, victory to be the natural result of the effort players including one goalkeeper, which Japan vs Angola (5:30pm) 4. but we focused on our strengths and our exerted by the team, especially with the the team failed to abide to. Qatar vs Croatia (8:00pm) The Spanish coach added: “I am happy return to action was wonderful,” Rivera absence of a large number of important Their matches will be counted as 10:0 Group D to win two out of two matches and now commented yesterday. players,” Zakar said, adding that his team forfeit victories for their opponents in the Bahrain vs D.R. Congo our focus is on Croatia at the end of the Qatari player Amin Zakar said that will seek to overcome the challenge poised last preliminary round game and the Pres- (8:00pm) preliminary round.” facing strong Croatia will be difficult, but by the former champions today.