CCRICKETRICKET | Page 3 AATHLETICSTHLETICS | Page 4 Opener Jason US trials boast Roy to make speed and Test debut Lyles-Coleman against Ireland showdown Wednesday, July 24, 2019 CYCLING Dhul-Qa’da 21, 1440 AH Ewan claims second GULF TIMES stage win as Thomas takes minor tumble SPORT Page 7 FOOTBALL WORLD CUP FOR CROSS-COUNTRY BAJAS Crucial Spanish T3 showdown awaits Abraham, Barkley Qatar’s Abdulla score in Chelsea’s win over Barca ‘There is more work to do but it’s been a good trip. It’s been positive in all senses’ AFP Saitama, Japan oals from Tammy Ab- raham and Ross Bar- kley saw Chelsea grab a 2-1 victory against GBarcelona yesterday in an exhi- bition match in Japan. World Cup-winning French striker Antoine Griezmann and Agencies addition to young Belgian Ghis- former Ajax midfi elder Frenkie Teruel, Spain lain de Mevius and the Russian de Jong made their unoffi cial driver Aleksandr Dorosinskiy in debut for the Spanish giants, an impressive 10-car T3 fi eld. pleasing some 51,126 fans who atar’s Adel Abdulla Abdulla said: “I am in Spain for cheered every move during the knows the importance the Aragón round. I like this race. star-studded game. of a top result when It is a good race and you really Chelsea striker Abraham he resumes his chal- feel the challenge on the stages. opened the scoring in the 34th Qlenge for honours in the FIA T3 We already did this rally before minute by pouncing on a mis- category of the FIA World Cup in the same area. It is going to be take by Barcelona midfi elder for Cross-Country Bajas at this a tough challenge with the other Sergio Busquets who attempted weekend’s fourth round of the drivers. They are all fast. It will to clear the ball. series in Spain. not be easy for any of us. But with Chelsea midfi elder Baja Spain Aragón is based at “We will do our best to be in Jorginho applying pressure, the the northern town of Teruel and a good position. If you look at ball rolled towards Abraham who is renowned for its high summer the diff erence between me and only had to step past rushing temperatures, dusty and abra- the drivers in front, it is the fact goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Ste- sive special stages, a challenging that I missed the fi rst round in gen and gently send it into the net. route and a strong entry in all the Russia – the Baja Northern For- Chelsea coach Frank Lamp- FIA categories. est. Things go like this. Still the ard was all praise for his young Abdulla and French co-driver championship is on and we will striker. Jean-Michel Polato currently focus to be in a good situation.” “Tammy, he is a goal scorer. Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham (left) in action with Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti during a pre-season friendly in Saitama, Japan, yesterday. (Reuters) hold tied-third position in the Scrutineering checks take He is hungry for goals,” he said. FIA T3 category with Spaniard place in Teruel tomorrow and the Despite facing a transfer ban, Barcelona went on the of- ‘DANGEROUS’ GRIEZMANN Barca coach Ernesto Val- through a translator. Santiago Navarro, but both rivals timed action gets underway with Lampard said Chelsea’s two- fensive in the second half, with Chelsea made it 2-0 with less verde, echoing Lampard, said “This is only his debut game. are 19 points adrift of the early two selective sections of 170km game tour in Japan showed he substitute striker Carles Perez than 10 minutes left as mid- the match was a good test that He will have to fi t into Barca’s season leader Italian Michele Ci- and 80km on Friday. had a “competitive” and “deter- leading the way. fi elder Barkley picked up a cross showed signs of excellence as style. I am sure he will become notto, who heads Russia’s Fedor The shorter of the two stages mined” team. But superb saves by Chelsea in front of the box and curled well as areas to improve. better and better.” Vorobyev by a single point. begins proceedings on Saturday “What I have learned about goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga it into the net, with substitute Valverde was tightlipped about Griezmann said he hoped to Doha-based Abdulla switched morning and the 170km timed players was that they are a good repeatedly denied Barca any at- keeper Neto getting a touch but whether they were moving to ac- shine at his new club. to the T3 section this season after section is repeated at lunchtime strong group, a determined tempt to equalise. unable to block it. quire Neymar from French side “Personally, I want to play in several years running Nissans and before the return to Teruel for the group. I am very happy,” he said. In the 55th minute Perez Just before injury time, Barce- Paris Saint-Germain. many games, score more goals Toyotas in the T2 category for se- ceremonial fi nish podium. “There is more work to do but zipped past three Chelsea de- lona got a free kick just outside But he has high hopes for than the last season, more as- ries production cross-country ve- it’s been a good trip. It’s been fenders but his left toe kick fi n- the box but midfi elder Ivan Rak- Griezmann, whose 120mn euro sists than last season,” he said hicles. He is again set to challenge FIA WORLD CUP FOR positive in all senses,” he said. ish was not good enough to get itic’s shot went above the bar. ($135mn) transfer was contested through a translator, adding that for honours in a Can-Am Maverick CROSS-COUNTRY BAJAS T3 Minutes after the fi rst goal, past Arrizabalaga. Rakitic however quickly re- by Atletico. he had his eye on a “big title.” X3 prepared by the FN Speed Team STANDINGS (TOP 5) Chelsea midfi elder Christian A few minutes later, he dashed deemed himself in injury time, Griezmann “needs to get used The Spanish giants will play and running with support from 1. Michele Cinotto (ITA) 52pts Pulisic showed off his speed and deep into the left side to feed a picking up a cross and fi ring a to the team and how we play”. a friendly on Saturday against Ooredoo, the Qatar telecommuni- 2. Fedor Vorobyev (RUS) 51pts footwork to infi ltrate the Barca high-speed cross to striker Mal- lightning right footer that went “But he proved himself as a Japan’s Vissel Kobe, who feature cations company. 3. Adel Abdulla (QAT) 33pts defence, but his left footer went com, but Arrizabalaga again de- deep into the net for a consola- dangerous player on the ball. He ex-Barca players Andres Iniesta, The Qatari faces a fi erce chal- 3. Santiago Navarro (ESP) 33pts just wide. nied them. tion goal for Barcelona. has a lot of ideas,” Valverde said David Villa and Sergi Samper. lenge from all his title rivals, in 5. Abdullah al-Zubair (OMN) 26pts SPOTLIGHT Staying positive is key, Barshim says aft er strong return to action By Sports Reporter in April this year, but skipped taken after several consultations. the larger athletics world. Fellow Doha the continental meet in order to He referred to his rehabilita- high-jumper Gianmarco Tam- focus on bigger things — IAAF tion phase as the “most diffi cult beri, who in the past has spoken World Athletics Champion- stage” of his recovery period, about the support the Qatari taying positive is key to ships Doha 2019 — which will be adding that it involved “more athlete gave him a few years ago following one’s desires hosted at the same venue, Khalifa than six months of hard work, during the Italian’s own crisis of and ambitions, Qatar’s International Stadium, starting both physical and psychological”. confi dence, posted words of sup- high jump star Mutaz September 27. “Every day, the idea of return port on the social media. SEssa Barshim has said, after mak- The 28-year-old world cham- became almost impossible, but “I wish you the best of luck, ing a memorable return to com- pion posted a string of heartfelt with patience, determination, big brother. Go and show the petition from injury. tweets expressing his anxiety positive thinking and faith in Al- world what ‘jump’ does it means! Barshim suff ered a ligament and thoughts through these try- lah, nothing is impossible,” he said. Always by your side!” Tamberi injury in his left ankle last year in ing months. “Thanks to Allah There was a special mention for posted on Instagram ahead of the July while he attempted a would- for my recovery from the serious his family, friends, team and fans Qatari’s London jump on Sunday. be world record height of 2.76m injury that I suff ered last year,” who stood by him and “helped me For those who are hoping to get in Hungary. However, he was left Barshim, the 2017 World Athlete overcome this experience”. in-depth details of his journey, clenching his ankle in pain, and of the Year, wrote. His recent return to the Dia- including this experience, there then had to undergo extensive “It was a very diffi cult expe- mond League after 13 months will be a book some time next treatment, including a surgery rience,” he said, adding, “espe- in London, where he fi nished year, Barshim said, before sign- and a six-month long rehabilita- cially in the run up to the World second with a jump of 2.27m, ing off with, “I would like to re- tion programme.