Sports Tuesday, December 25, 2018 17 AZF launches first Aspire winter camp for kids A fun-filled programme has been designed to keep children engaged during their winter break TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK like football, taekwondo, DOHA gymnastics, aerobics and other recreational games FOLLOWING the tremendous this winter. In addition to success of the previous sum- these sports-based activities, mer camp, Aspire Zone Foun- field visits and informative dation (AZF) launched its first courses in plantation, read- Aspire winter camp for kids. ing, arts and crafts will also The event, held in Aspire take place. Dome, Ladies Sports Hall, and Speaking about the As- Registration of the participants is on. Aspire Park, is for kids aged pire winter camp, Al Anoud 6-14 years and is scheduled to Almesnad, Head of Events run over a two-week period at AZF, said, “Following the until January 3, 2019. The win- great turn-out of kids and ter camp runs from 8:30 am to positive comments from par- 1:30 pm during the week. ents during our previous sum- A fun-filled programme mer camp, we expect the new Kids enjoying basketball during Aspire’s first winter camp. has been designed for children initiative to thrive and secure during their school’s winter similar success due to ideal to follow a healthy and active divided into three groups per Baladna, Cage Sport, Pony break, where several exciting weather conditions, distinc- lifestyle. Because of this, we gender; from 6-8, 9-11 and 12- Cycle, Friends of the Environ- educational and sporty activi- tive facilities and our diverse created this atmosphere to 14 years old. The programmes ment Center and 7th Heaven ties are arranged to nurture programme of activities. engage and connect with kids for each age group are care- Arts Center. the children’s development “We put children at the during their leisure time in a fully tailored to the respective For more information on prior to their return to school. top of our priorities, aiming dynamic way.” Al Anoud Alm- ages. the activities held during the AZF is opening its doors to increase their passion in esnad added. The winter camp is spon- winter camp, please visit www. for kids to enjoy activities sports, and encouraging them Participants have been sored by Angry Birds World, lifeinaspire.qa. Kids at Aspire’s first winter camp India retain MSD Boxing Day Test: Australia vs India for Australia, Batsmen definitely need New Zealand one-dayers to step up, feels Rahane Rohit Sharma is fit, bats at the nets and is likely to make the eleven The glovesman has been included IANS in T20 squad as well MELBOURNE WITH the four-Test series be- AFP tween India and Australia cur- NEW DELHI INDIA SQUADS rently locked at 1-1, India Test India squads ODIs against Australia and Vice-Captain Ajinkya Rahane INDIA on Monday announced New Zealand: on Monday urged his team’s a 16-member squad for the up- Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma, K.L. Rahul, batsmen to step up and sup- coming one-day series against Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh port the bowling unit in the Australia and New Zealand as Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, M.S. Dhoni, Hardik third Test starting at the Mel- they try out candidates for the Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, bourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit World Cup next year. Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami. here on Wednesday. Former captain Mahendra “The batsmen definitely Singh Dhoni retained his place India squad for T20I series against New need to step up. When we dis- in the squad despite a disap- Zealand: cuss the batting unit, that point pointing year which saw him Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma, K.L. Rahul, is very important. Especially average 25 from 13 innings in Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh when we are abroad, the bowl- 50-over games. Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, M.S. Dhoni, Hardik ers have been taking 20 wick- Dhoni, 37, was also picked Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, ets since South Africa, so if the in India’s T20 squad for the Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed. series in New Zealand starting in February. The wicketkeeper-bats- three-month injury layoff. man had been dropped for India will play three ODIs India’s recent T20s against the against Australia followed by a West Indies and Australia. five-match series against New All-rounder Hardik Pan- Zealand. The 50-over World dya makes a comeback in the Cup will be played in England ODI and T20I squads after a from May 30-July 14. India’s Vice-Captain Ajinkya India’s bowler Umesh Yadav (left) and captain Virat Kohli play football during a training session in Melbourne on Monday, ahead of the third Rahane cricket Test match against Australia. (AFP) batsmen help the bowlers the We all know how big this Box- cause the game can change in the way I am batting since Ad- Ashwin sustained a left- results will be favouring us,” ing Day is. Coming here at 1-1 is a session. We need some good elaide,” he said. sided abdominal strain ahead Rahane told reporters here. really good as we expected that batsman-ship in these two Test “I think I will get two hun- of the Perth Test while Rohit The right-hander, who Australia will bounce back in matches and I am sure our dreds but it will be important jarred his lower back when he has scored 164 in his last four Perth,” he said. batsmen will take that respon- for me not to think about it and was fielding in the opening Test Test innings, including two “We had our chances in sibility,” he added. continue the way I am batting. at the Adelaide Oval. fifties, further said there was Perth but it is important to stay Commenting on his indi- If I can read the situation well “Team management is as- no point in looking back at in present right now and give vidual effort with the willow and bat accordingly it will be sessing him (Ashwin). They what went wrong in the sec- our best rather than thinking in the opening two Tests, the better for the team. Personal will be in a better position to ond Test at Perth, where In- about what happened in the 30-year-old exuded confidence milestones can come later,” he answer,” he said. dia lost by 141 runs, and rath- Perth or in Adelaide. on converting his half-centu- added. “I guess Rohit is fit because er insisted on looking forward “It is important to give our ries into a ton in the remaining On premier off-spinner he batted yesterday in the net to a better performance in the best in every session. I think two games. Ravichandran Ashwin and mid- and he is looking really good. upcoming match. this is what matters in Test “It (century) will definitely dle-order bat Rohit Sharma’s in- We will, however, take a call af- MS Dhoni: Wins the confidence of the Indian selectors despite below “I am really happy and ex- cricket. We have to give our come. I`m really sure it will jury updates, Rahane passed the ter the net session tomorrow,” par show cited about this Test match. more than 100 percent be- come in this Test match with query to the team management. he added. Doha Triathlon 2019 to include national RASHED, MESHari QUALIFY FOR SEmiS championship for second consecutive year TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK made it in 2 hrs 03’ 27” and Pia DOHA Sundstedt in 2 hrs 17’ 01”. Dr. Nasser al Mohannadi, THE Doha Triathlon, which Triathlon Director at Qatar Tri- will include the Qatar National athlon Federation, said, “We Championship for the second are very happy to celebrate the year, will be staged on Febru- third event in Qatar National ary 8, 2019 on the grounds of Triathlon Series in lovely loca- the Museum of Islamic Art, tion for triathlon in Museum starting at 6 am with 750m of Islamic Art. As the Board swim in the bay, 20km cycling Member of Cycling and Tri- at the Corniche and 5km run athlon Federation and found- around the park. ing president of QTRI, I would Last year, Ebrahim al Ro- like to thank Qatar Museums maihi emerged as the national for support and hosting the champion with a time of 1 Ebrahim al Romaihi, the Qatar National Triathlon Championship 2018 event, along with all the other hour, 12:43 minutes, followed champion, with other podium winners. sponsors and partners, who by Mubarak Alajji and Abdulla contributed making the event Shaheen al Kaabi. National Triathlon Series in the McCullagh and Ethan Ben- a success for all. Triathlon is During the event, there will season 2018-19, followed by nett who won last year Doha the fastest growing sport in the also be other races accounting Lusail Triathlon and The Pearl Triathlon men’s over all Sprint world and locally.” for Qatar National Triathlon Triathlon. Previous events distance with very tight results Doha Triathlon is spon- Series to score points, starting were previously held at Katara of 1 hr, 06’ 14” and 1 hr, 06’ 55”, sored by Qatar National Tour- at 6:15 and 6:30 am with Olym- in November and Al Ghariya in respectively and Carla Pegigue- ism Authority, with the support pic and Sprint distances. December. iro leading the female Sprint of Qatar Triathlon Federation The Doha Triathlon is the The National Triathlon Se- distance with 1 hr, 15’ 49”.