Sports Sunday, June 20, 2021 13 Indonesia and The Philippines’ federations praise Qatar’s ‘medical bubble’ employed during FIFA Asian qualifiers TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA BY sharing its expertise and experience on all levels, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) continues to strength- en its relations with fellow federations across the Asian continent. At the same time, it continues to carry out its responsibilities and duties to- wards these federations. In this context, the local organizing committee for the Mansoor Al Ansari, General-Secretary, QFA: Qatar has become a global Joint Asian Qualifiers met with model in organizing tournaments despite the pandemic. representatives of the ASEAN Federation to benefit from the the AFC was so important and the International and Domes- considerable organisational ideal for us, and we were very tic Relations Committee of the expertise of the Qatar Football fortunate to witness and fol- Indonesian Football Associa- Association (QFA), particu- low-up on match management tion, said: “The experience was larly concerning the successful processes and other related wonderful and very valuable, hosting of major tournaments organizational issues in this especially with regard to the during the spread of the COV- unprecedented How The way implementation of the medical ID-19 pandemic by applying in which the peer informa- bubble system, this will all be the “COVID-19 Training and tion and practical applications helpful to us in the implemen- Monitoring” program in co- were presented was impres- tation of domestic and interna- operation with the Asian Foot- sive, and we are very grateful tional competitions, especially ball Confederation. to the Qatar Football Asso- when Indonesia hosts the FIFA The Federation deals with The hosting of the Indonesian and Philippine delegations comes within the framework of a cooperation agreement between the Qatar Football ciation for organizing this pro- U-20 World Cup in 2023.” the pandemic in a highly pro- Association and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which consists of twelve (12) national federations: Australia, Brunei, gram, which we will undoubt- Seisha Marcenti, the Head fessional manner, operating a Cambodia, Timor Eastern, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, Laos. edly benefit from – along with of the Indonesian Football unique preventive system called all ASEAN members.” Association National Teams the “medical bubble” – employ- 2021 due to COVID-19. It will Seisha Marconi, Head of the fying matches; Field visits to ing its global spread while or- Andrea Laurel, Head of Commdelightedd: “We are ing the highest preventive meas- be hosted by four countries, National Teams Commit- Al Sadd Sports Club; Remote ganizing matches and enabling Events, Projects and Club very happy and fortunate to ures in collaboration with all namely Malaysia, Vietnam, tee, and Souraiya Al-Haddar, meetings with various teams fans to return to stadiums. Licensing at the Philippine have experienced real situ- interested bodies, including the Thailand and Indonesia. Head of the International and and departments of the organ- Football Association, said: ” ations on the ground, wit- Ministry of Public Health. The ASEAN Federation Domestic Relations Depart- izing committee. Great benefit and new We very much appreciate how nessed how football competi- The hosting of the Indo- also sets its sights on benefit- ment of the Indonesian Foot- Mansoor Al Ansari, Gener- compliments effective and in extremely col- tions are conducted using the nesian and Philippine del- ing from the experiences of the ball Association, were present. al-Secretary, QFA, said: “Qa- Equally, statements from the laborative manner things were medical bubble system, and egations comes within the Qatar Football Association in Other participants includ- tar has become a global model representatives of the Philip- carried out, despite the move- how this training program framework of a cooperation preparing its file to bid to host ing Coco Torre, Head of the in organizing tournaments de- pine and Indonesian Football ment restrictions and logis- will provide us with the skills agreement between the Qatar the World Cup 2034, which is Competitions Department, spite the coronavirus pandem- Associations confirmed the tical challenges imposed by and knowledge necessary to Football Association and the currently in research, and they and Andrea Laurel, Head of ic challenges, and we value significant role of the Qatar the bubble system. We were safely manage the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian will coordinate with the Qatar Events, Projects and Club Li- sharing our experiences. “ Football Association at all lev- able to learn the precise and competitions in light of the Nations (ASEAN), which con- Football Association on this censing at the Philippine Foot- He also stressed on the im- els, appreciating the extent of comprehensive strategies de- spread of the Coronavirus, es- sists of twelve (12) national file before proceeding to gov- ball Federation. portance of such participation, interest from the local organ- veloped by the Qatar Football pecially when Indonesia hosts federations: Australia, Brunei, ernmental action. The representatives of which enhances the exchange izing committee, which pro- Association and the Supreme the U-20 World Cup FIFA in Cambodia, Timor Eastern, both federations benefited of experience between the vided the perfect facilities and Committee, which I believe can 2023. We appreciate the great Indonesia, Malaysia, Philip- Excellent representation from access to the organi- Asian federations, within the environment for the sharing of be a blueprint, pillar and ref- professionalism of the repre- pines, Singapore, Thailand and great experiences zational capabilities of the framework of the cooperation expertise. erence for the sports bubbles sentatives of the Qatar Foot- and Vietnam, Laos. The participation of the rep- Qatar Football Association, agreement concluded with the This was confirmed by in the future. For this, we are ball Association and the Local The ASEAN Federation or- resentatives of the ASEAN through their presence at the ASEAN Football Association, Coco Torre, Head of the Com- very grateful and look forward Organizing Committee as they ganises its tournament every Federation during their stay residence of the local organ- which includes the pioneering petitions Department of the to more rich participation and prepare to host a wonderful two years with the participa- in Doha was significant and izing committee at the “Al- Qatari experience in organ- Philippine Football Associa- experience-sharing from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and tion of 10 teams, although highly pleasing – a reflection Shula” hotel, per the medical izing tournaments during the tion, saying: “The monitoring Qatar Football Association.” we look forward to continued the 2020 edition has been of their interest in benefiting bubble system. The program pandemic period regarding program organized by the Qa- On the Indonesian side, fruitful and constructive coop- postponed until December from the Qatari experience. included: Attendance at quali- how to contain Covid-19 dur- tar Football Association and Souraiya Al Haddar, Head of eration in the future.” Kohli and Rahane steady the ship for India in WTC Final ANI Scoreboard SOUTHAMPTON India (1st Innings) Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Rohit), 2-63 (Gill), 3-88 CHETESHWAR Pujara might R. Sharma c Southee b Jamieson 34 (Pujara). have perished but skipper Vi- S. Gill c Watling b Wagner 28 Bowling: Southee 17-4-47-0; Boult 12.4-2-32- rat Kohli along with his deputy C. Pujara lbw b Boult 8 1; Jamieson 14-9-14-1; De Grandhomme 11-6- V. Kohli not out 44 23-0; Wagner 10-3-28-1 (1nb) Ajinkya Rahane ensured that A. Rahane not out 29 New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane India does not fall behind Extras: (lb2, nb1) 3 Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Argentina’s Lionel Messi (L) and Uruguay’s Jose Maria Gimenez vie against New Zealand in the TOTAL: (3 wkts, 64.4 overs, 283 mins) 146 Watling (wkt), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle for the ball during their Conmebol Copa America 2021 group phase second session on the second To bat: R Pant, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, J Bumrah, I Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult. match at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, on Friday. (AFP) day of the ongoing World Test Sharma, M Shami. Toss: New Zealand. Championship (WTC) final at the Ageas Bowl on Saturday. Messi lifts Argentina At tea break on Day Two, removed Pujara (8) in the 41st crease. While Rohit (34) was India’s score reads 120/3 with over, and India was reduced to dismissed by Kyle Jamieson Kohli (35*) and Rahane (13*) 88/3. in the 21st over of the innings, to first Copa win at the crease. The second ses- Rahane then joined Kohli Gill was sent back by Neil sion saw 51 runs being scored in the middle and the duo Wagner towards the end of the in 27.3 overs. started to rotate the strike first session for 28. over Uruguay Resuming the second ses- more often, throwing Kiwi Earlier, New Zealand skip- sion on Day Two at 69/2, Pu- bowlers off their length. The per Kane Williamson won the DPA minute effort, before Nicolas jara and Kohli saw off the first duo ensured that India does toss and opted to field first in BERLIN Otamendi had a header saved. 50 minutes without any hic- not lose more wickets, and bad the much-awaited World Test Messi then created space cups. The run-scoring was not light forced an early end to the Championship (WTC) final LIONEL Messi set up the win- down the left for a cross which easy, but the duo frustrated second session and tea was against India. ner as Argentina edged rivals found Rodriguez, who nodded the Kiwi bowlers and they taken. Incessant rain saw the Uruguay 1-0 to claim their in off the inside of the post for were letting the ball come on New Zealand bowler Kyle Jamieson (L) reacts as India’s Virat Kohli’s takes At the lunch break, India’s opening day’s play being first victory of the 2021 Copa his maiden Argentina goal.