NBA | Page 5 MOTORSPORT | Page 6 Gritty Celtics Dixon takes stun Cavs to Indy 500 pole, reduce series Alonso to defi cit start in fi ft h Tuesday, May 23, 2017 FOOTBALL Sha’baan 27, 1438 AH La Liga win is GULF TIMES bigger than World Cup for Zidane SPORT Page 3 AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DEMISE Former MotoGP champion Hayden Lekhwiya eye dies aft er accident Persepolis scalp These two sides have met previously in this competition, in 2015. During that time, both teams had won by a similar 3-0 margin respectively in their home matches This file photo taken on January 10, 2012 shows former Ducati rider Nicky Haiden during a press conference in Italy. Agencies rider to achieve the feat – before Rome a move to the MotoGP World Championship for 2003. He took two podiums that year, at Motegi merican former Mo- and Phillip Island, as a rookie. toGP champion Nicky More podiums followed in 2004 hayden hit by a car in before Hayden took his fi rst pole a bicycle accident in and Grand Prix victory at Laguna AItaly last week, has died of severe Seca in 2005. The following year, brain damage, the Italian hos- the “Kentucky Kid” became the pital where he was treated said MotoGP World Champion as he yesterday. beat Valentino Rossi to the pre- Hayden, 36, who won the mier class crown, securing the 2006 MotoGP world title, suf- title in the last round of the year fered severe chest and head inju- in Valencia. ries in the accident, which hap- He moved to Ducati in 2009 pened while he was training on and, later, the Aspar team, be- his bicycle in central Italy, south fore racing his last full season of the seaside resort of Rimini. in MotoGP in 2015. He was then A true Champion on and off inducted into the MotoGP World track, Hayden will be deeply Championship Hall of Fame at missed. the season fi nale in Valencia. The 2006 world champion, The next challenge for the ‘Ken- File picture of the Lekhwiya team during a training session. The Red Knights play against Iran’s Persepolis in their AFC Champions League Round of 16 first-leg clash. WorldSBK race winner, fi ancé, tucky Kid’ was WorldSBK, where uncle, brother, son, friend or Hayden took a number of podi- By Sports Reporter from Tehran. These two sides have met victory over Al Fateh. the Lekhwiya defence to hold fort and for simply the “Kentucky Kid” who ums and his fi rst win in the class Doha during the group stages of the same com- Midfi elder Nam Tae-Hee is the top that players like Mohamed Musa, Chico rose from American dirt track in his rookie year, besting diffi cult petition in 2015. During that time, Perse- scorer for Lekhwiya in this competition Flores and Ahmed Yasser will have to step to the absolute pinnacle of his conditions at Sepang to join an- polis had played out a 3-0 win at home, so far, having netted four times so far. up and deliver. sport, Hayden was known for other exclusive club as he became ekhwiya will be eager to continue only for Lekhwiya to gain revenge with The South Korean, who recently won the Meanwhile Persepolis are looking to many things to many people, and a winner in both MotoGP and their Asian Champions League the same scoreline in the return fi xture. Qatar Football Association’s Player of the make it fourth time lucky in the Round of put his name to an astounding WorldSBK. form when they face Iran’s Perse- The Red Knights have faced Iranian op- Year award, is a crucial cog in this team. 16 after being eliminated in each of their number of achievements both Hayden raced his last laps for polis today in their Round of 16 ponents in Esteghlal Khuzestan during the Another player who coach Djamel Bel- three previous appearances. within racing and beyond its Red Bull Honda World Superbike fiL rst-leg clash. The Qatari side have been group stages. After sharing points in Iran, madi will want to deliver is striker Yousef The hosts’ tournament-leading scorer limits – key amongst which was team at Imola on May 14th. undefeated in their AFC Champions Lekhwiya defeated Khuzestan 2-1 in Doha El Arabi. The Moroccan won the Mansour Mehdi Taremi has netted seven times, in- his moniker as ‘the nicest man in Hayden will be deeply missed League campaign this season and will be what was a tough contest. A similar result Muftah award for being the top scorer in cluding a hat-trick against Al Wahda to Grand Prix racing’. A true com- by the paddocks he has graced hoping that that trend continues today at would do just fi ne for the Qatari side. the QSL and his goal scoring prowess will seal second place in Group D. petitor with an incredible com- throughout an incredible career, the Azadi Stadium in Tehran. come in handy for Lekhwiya. They also Lekhwiya will have to nullify the Tare- mitment to his sport, and a true his millions of fans around the In the group stages Lekhwiya were UNBEATEN RUN have the services of Yousef Msakni who mi threat if they have to progress. The family man dedicated to the peo- world, and by all those closest to dominant, scoring 15 goals and notching Lekhwiya will take confi dence from their had opened the scoring during Lekhwi- Qatari side has the quality to do so. Now ple around him. him. We wish to pass on our sin- up four wins to top Group B. They won last outing in this competition where ya’s 3-0 win over Persepolis in 2015. The to see if they can convert that into a result First riding on the dirt in his cerest condolences to his fam- the Qatar Stars League on the domestic they had comfortably defeated Saudi Tunisian has the ability to provide the on the pitch today. native USA, Hayden then con- ily, friends, team and colleagues front but lost in the Qatar Cup and Emir Arabia’s Al Fateh 4-1. Also boosting their crucial breakthrough. tinued his career on tarmac and as we sadly bid farewell to the Cup semi-fi nals. cause will be the return of infl uential Belmadi’s boys will have to put in a TODAY’S FIXTURE was crowned AMA Supersport “Kentucky Kid” far too soon – a Lekhwiya have the advantage of play- midfi elder Karim Boudiaf after having disciplined performance in Tehran and Persepolis (IRN) v Lekhwiya (QAT) Champion in 1999. Next came true legend of the sport, and to ing the second leg at home and they will being suspended but Almoez Ali misses then take advantage of the home ground Venue: Azadi Stadium, Tehran the AMA Superbike crown in all those who knew him. be keen to return with a positive result out after he picked up a booking in the and close out the tie. It will be crucial for Kick-off : 6pm 2002 – becoming the youngest (motogp.com) BOTTOMLINE Let’s make it a double celebration: Tae-hee By Sports Reporter Cup stadium and they deserve it,” said box and QFA Under-23 Player of the Year Such was his consistency, his pass Doha the 25-year-old playmaker, whose club Almoez Ali scored the winner. completion rate even outshone one of take on Iranian giants Persepolis at the Nam Tae-hee was full of praise for the most widely admired passers of the imposing Azadi Stadium in Tehran to- his young Lekhwiya teammate and QFA ball the game has ever seen – Xavi, who ewly-crowned Qatar Foot- day. Best Under-23 Player of the Year Al- came in second at 89.2%. ball Association (QFA) Player “It would therefore be befi tting if moez Ali Nam Tae-hee has won four QSL titles of the Year Nam Tae-hee one of Qatar’s football clubs does well Nam, who has won four QSL ti- during his six years at Lekhwiya believes his club, Lekhwiya on the Asian stage this year,” he contin- tles during his six years at Lekhwiya, However, he had nothing but praise NS.C., has it in them to reach the fi nal of ued. “We have built up some experience praised his young Qatari teammate. for the Barcelona legend, who was the AFC Champions League this year, in the Asian Champions League over He said: “Almoez has shown a lot of quoted in the South Korean media the thereby giving people of Qatar another the years and believe we can reach the promise this season and I am happy at day before the award talking highly reason to rejoice following the success- fi nal this year. the speed of his development. He richly about Nam. ful launch of the redeveloped Khalifa “Persepolis are a tough opponent deserves his award. “Xavi deserved the award,” said Nam. International Stadium. but we can return to Doha taking a lead “There are other talented youngsters “He played all the games and helped Al After beating an accomplished fi eld from the fi rst leg. We believe we can in my club and in other QSL clubs and Sadd win two cup competitions. It feels – comprising of Al Sadd duo Xavi trouble top clubs from China and those I am sure they will all come of age by great to win my fi rst ever Player of the Hernández and Hassan al-Haydous to from Asia’s major footballing nations 2022 and help Qatar fl y the fl ag of Asia Year trophy with Xavi and Haydoos also his fi rst QFA award – the South Korean such as Iran, Japan and Korea this year.” in front of the world.” in contention.