SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2019 SPORT 05 I don’t think 12th represents Daniel Ricciardo after where we are. I do believe we’re missing out on a top FOOTBALL better. I was more frustrated CRICKET 10 grid slot in his first English Premier League: with myself because I knew it PSL final: Quetta qualifying for Australian Fulham vs Liverpool; was there in the car. Gladiators vs Peshawar Grand Prix. ACTION Everton vs Chelsea Zalmi TODAY’S 12th FIG ART Individual Apparatus World Cup Leading gymnasts set for Doha return FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA Leading gymnasts from around the globe will return to Doha, I am confident that eyeing top honours at the 12th we will live up to FIG ART Individual Apparatus expectation and host World Cup, which starts later this another successful week at the Aspire Dome. The Qatar Gymnastics Fed- competition,” QGF eration (QGF), which is holding President Ali Ahmed Al this event for the 12th consec- Hitmi utive year, has received confir- mation from a large number of gymnasts as the event will play our team is experienced enough crucial in the 2020 Olympic and will succeed,” he added. Games qualification. “We have a star-studded A total of 128 male and 60 line-up of gymnasts this year female gymnasts from 57 coun- also and I am sure fans will enjoy tries have signed up for the four- their experience of watching the day event, which will begin on live action,” said the QGF March 20. President. Qatar has become of center Apart from targeting the of high-profile gymnastics medals, gymnasts will also vie events, with the country reaching for berths that are on offer for the pinnacle of it’s hosting expe- the 2020 Tokyo Games. rience by organising the 48th FIG According to the Article 18 of From left: Anis Saoud, Venue Manager, Abeer Al Buenain, Competition Manager, Ali Ahmed Al Hitmi, ART World Championships - Olympic Qualifications, the top- QGF President and Mohd Al Meraghi, President PR and Media during a press conference yesterday. dubbed as the ‘best-ever’ edition ranked gymnast on each appa- - last October. ratus at the end of the 2018-2019 “I am confident that we will & 2019-2020 series have the live up to expectation and host opportunity to qualify for the includes world champions Xiao back to compete with a younger Nina Derwael will also be seen “We are hoping for a good another successful competition,” 2020 Olympic Games. This place Ruoteng, Zou Jingyuan of China generation of athletes. Ferhat in action in the women’s events. performance from our athletes QGF President Ali Ahmed Al is nominative. and Dutchman Epke Zonderland. Arican, who became the first Three gymnasts to rep- as they have trained well for this Hitmi told a press conference The Olympic Qualification Carlos Edriel Yulo of the Turkish male gymnast after 108 resent Qatar important competition,” said Al yesterday. Ranking list will be established Philippines, who became his years to compete at the 2016 Rio Host Qatar will be repre- Hitmi. “The World Championships after the last competition of the country’s first medal-winner in Olympics, will also hope to pick sented by three gymnasts - “Raslan Saoud is a talented last year was a huge success and 2018-2019 & 2019-2020 World a World Championships here, up a medal on parallel bar. Ahmed Al Dayani, Ahmed Mosa gymnast from Aspire and we are hailed as the best-ever event by Cup Series. will be the cynosure of all eyes. World’s oldest Olympian and Raslan Saoud - in the event. happy to see him featuring in his top FIG officials. It motivates us Star-studded line-up The talented Filipino took the Oksana Chusovitina, 43 of While Al Dayani and Mosa first senior competition. We are to continue hosting events of the confirmed floor honours with a score of Uzbekistan is also returning have enjoyed good experience thankful to Aspire, which is same status. Though it is a dif- Meanwhile, prominent 14.566 at the Melbourne edition. Doha in pursuit of here eighth in the past events. Aspire’s Saoud making huge contribution in pro- ficult task to maintain top names who have confirmed their Romania’s 38-year-old appearance at the Games. Bel- will make his debut in the motion of gymnastics in the standards, I am confident that participation in the Doha event, Marian Dragulescu will also be gium’s reigning world champion competition. country,” said Al Hitmi. Rugby: Wales hammer Ireland McIlroy, Fleetwood share lead at Players to secure Grand Slam crown Championship AFP CARDIFF AFP Ian Poulter (66), Jim Wales claimed a record third Six LOS ANGELES Furyk (64), Brian Harman (69) Nations Grand Slam of coach and Abraham Ancer (66) are Warren Gatland’s reign Rory McIlroy charged up the tied for third at nine-under yesterday as Gareth Anscombe leaderboard on the back nine, 135 at the TPC Sawgrass in kicked 20 points to help beat an firing a seven-under 65 on Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. ill-disciplined Ireland 25-7. Friday to grab a share of the Australia’s Jason Day shot The stunning victory lead with Tommy Fleetwood a 66 and is tied for seventh extended Wales’ winning streak at the halfway stage of the with Keith Mitchell and Kevin to 14 matches, moving them to Players Championship. Kisner at eight-under 136. second in the World Rugby McIlroy, of Northern After making changes last standings and handing Gatland’s Ireland, went seven under par year to correct struggles, team a massive psychological on his final 11 holes, making McIlroy feels he is on the right boost looking ahead to this year’s an eagle on the par-five 16th, track with the Masters, and a Rugby World Cup in Japan. a birdie on the par-three 17 chance to complete a career The Grand Slam was the 12th and par on the par-four Grand Slam, just a month away. achieved by Wales, who opened closing hole to reach a He began Friday’s round Wales players and this campaign with a 24-19 12-under 132 total. with his lone bogey of the day officials celebrate victory over France before fol- He is tied with England’s before going on to make one lowing up with wins over Italy after winning the title Fleetwood who shot a five- eagle and six birdies. (26-15), England (21-13) and yesterday. under 67 for his sixth straight “I felt like I came back Scotland (18-11). round under par. well,” McIlroy said. It was the third under “It was just another good “Once I got a birdie on the Gatland in his 50th and final day on the golf course. I did eighth it started to snowball.” Wales game in European rugby’s everything pretty much the This is the second straight showcase tournament following Auckland Blues before relocating Things weren’t going Ire- And it was he who held up way I wanted to,” McIlroy week Fleetwood has had a Grand Slams in 2008 and 2012, to Wales, was then on hand to land’s way, experienced No 8 CJ James Ryan early in the second said. “My attitude has been share of the 36-hole lead after and a first Six Nations title since produce a superb try-saving Stander then losing control of a period to force an attacking great allall year.”year.” startingstarting ququicklyickly FFriday with a 2013. The tone of what turned tackle on Stockdale in what quick tap and go to lose all scrum in another blow to Ireland birdie-eagle-birdiebirdie-eagle-bird beginning out to be an electrifying start was turned out to be a disappointing momentum, coach Joe Schmidt as Schmidt’s men tried to find a to hishis round.round. set from the off. Ireland’s best chance of the left holding his head in despair. foothold. Tiger WoodsWood just made Gargantuan winger George game. Anscombe increased the Cian Healy then gave away the cut with a one-underon 71 North followed up on Ans- World Rugby player of the home side’s lead to 16 points a soft penalty with an off-the- butbu was left combe’s kick-off, catching Jacob year Johnny Sexton caught the with two further penalties just ball hit on opposite number hhovering Stockdale in possession and Welsh defence flat-footed with before half-time, ironically the Tomas Francis, Anscombe hitting along the cut driving him into touch. a clever raking cross-kick, same lead France held over an elementary three points to line after a The crowd, barely in their Stockdale expertly gathering and Wales after the first 40 minutes take Wales out to 19-0. quadruple seats after stirring anthems, were shrugging off Gareth Davies as in the opening match of this Six Further ill-discipline bbogey seven quickly galvanised as Ken Owens he steamed down the line before Nations campaign. handed Anscombe a fifth shot oonn the pictur- peeled off the attacking line-out, Parkes hauled him down with Alun Wyn Jones, equalling at goal, the Kiwi born to a esqueesqu par-three Hadleigh Parkes gathering Ans- the line beckoning. Gethin Jenkins as the most Welsh mother making no islandisland green. He combe’s dink over the top to Influential playmaker Dan capped Welshman of all-time mistake with Ireland looking finishedfinished tied for 39th touch down within two breath- Biggar made an earlier-than- with 134 caps (including nine increasingly ragged. withwith a three-undert taking minutes, the fly-half expected entry after North went matches for the British and Irish There was a late consolation 141141 total,t nine converting.