CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 BBADMINTONADMINTON | Page 5 Captains Sindhu continue war and Saina of words on advance in Ashes eve Hong Kong Thursday, November 23, 2017 GOLF Rabia I 5, 1439 AH Day urges Tiger GULF TIMES Woods to go easy on comeback SPORT Page 6 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TENNIS Djokovic, Thiem set Hazard, Willian to dazzle at Qatar shine as Chelsea ExxonMobil Open cruise into last 16 Conte’s side beat 10-man Qarabag 4-0, reach knockouts with game to spare AFP Baku, Azerbaijan helsea powered into the Champions League last 16 as Eden Hazard and Willian in- spired a 4-0 thrashing of 10- Cman Qarabag yesterday. Antonio Conte’s side reached the knockout stages with a game to spare thanks to infl uential displays from Hazard and Willian at the Olympic Stadium that knocked Azerbaijanis Qarabag out of the competition. Chelsea will go into their last Group C fi xture against Atletico Madrid, who were scheduled to take on Roma at the Wanda Metropolitano later yesterday, on 10 points and still in with a chance of fi nishing top. Novak Djokovic has won the title in Doha for two straight years — 2016 and 2017. Hazard scored Chelsea’s fi rst-half opener from the penalty spot after his By Sports Reporter The Serbian, whose last major tour- pass to Willian provoked a foul on the Doha nament appearance was at the Wim- Brazilian from Rashad Sadygov, who bledon where he was forced to retire in was sent off as incredulous Qarabag the quarter-fi nal match against Tomas players questioned both the awarding efending champion Novak Berdych, will be looking forward to as- of the penalty and the red card. Djokovic, world No. 5 Domin- suring his numerous fans of his return Willian doubled Chelsea’s lead nine ic Thiem of Austria and world to form with a commendable perform- minutes before the interval, collecting No. 15 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of ance at the tournament. Hazard’s deft back-heeled pass before DFrance are just some of the superstars Thiem, who recently broke into the rolling home. Chelsea’s Willian (right) shoots to score their fourth goal in the UEFA Champions League match against Qarabag in Baku, set to dazzle at the 2018 QatarExxon- top fi ve in the rankings for the fi rst time Cesc Fabregas netted Chelsea’s Azerbaijan, yesterday. (Reuters) Mobil Open. in his career, will be hoping to further third from the spot in the 73rd minute The ATP award-winning event will consolidate his positions among the after another foul on Willian, and the fi rst time since being dropped after a gered his side’s 21st-minute opener. with a fl ick into the path of Willian, be held from January 2-9, 2018, at “big boys”. Brazil international crashed home his reported training ground row with the Threading a pin-point pass behind who guided the ball to Hazard. the Khalifa International Tennis and Other top contenders include Berdych, second in the closing moments. Blues boss following the Roma defeat. the Qarabag defence, Hazard sent The Belgian baffl ed the Qarabag de- Squash Complex in Doha. Richard Gasquet and Fernando Verdasco The English champions were heavi- Willian clear on goal and the Brazil fence with a sublime back-heeled pass Of the 32 singles players and 16 dou- as well as Pablo Carreno Busta. ly criticised after a woeful loss at Roma MICHEL RATTLES WOODWORK winger tumbled into the area after into Willian and he made no mistake bles team featuring in the eight-day “We are delighted to once again in their previous Champions League Conte’s side had thrashed Qarabag Sadygov grabbed at his arm. with a clinical fi nish. event, all eyes are defi nitely going to be bring some of the world best players match, but have now won three in a 6-0 in September, but they almost fell Referee Manuel de Sousa saw Conte’s team struck for a third time on former world No. 1 Djokovic, the 12 to Qatar for another rounds of sensa- row in all competitions. behind early on in Baku when Maksim enough contact to give Chelsea the in the 73rd minute when Gara Garayev Grand Slam-winner, who will be com- tional tennis at the Qatar ExxonMobil Conte had bemoaned the fi xture Medvedev was allowed to advance into penalty and sent off Sadygov. conceded a penalty with a tug on Wil- ing back into the game after a lengthy Open. We’ve always been passionate schedule that sends Chelsea to Liv- the area with little resistance. Qarabag were furious but Hazard lian. injury layoff . about organising the best tournament erpool for a crucial Premier League Michel picked up possession and ignored their complaints to stroke Fabregas’s initial spot-kick was Djokovic, who successfully defended and we have been consistent in achiev- game on Saturday, just 48 hours after lashed a fi erce shot against a post be- home the spot-kick for his sixth goal ruled out for encroachment, but the his title last year by defeating the then ing this. The 2018 Qatar ExxonMobil they return to London from the 5,000 fore the rebound was blazed over. in his last seven appearances. Spaniard was unfl ustered as he slotted world no.1 Andy Murray in three sets, Open is once again parading some of mile (8,000 kilometres) round trip to Hazard was nominally Chelsea’s He followed the opener with an ex- home again. Chelsea weren’t done and will be hoping to make it three victo- the strongest fi eld in its category which Azerbaijan. central striker but the Belgian play- travagant touch to help double Chel- Willian capped the rout with a sting- ries in a row in Doha, which has proven is a proof of our commitment over the But he still fi elded a strong side, with maker had freedom to roam and it was sea’s lead in the 36th minute. ing strike from the edge of the area in to be a home away from home for the years,” Tournament Director Karim David Luiz starting in defence for the from a deeper position that he trig- Pedro started the swaggering move the 85th minute. 30-year-old. Alami said. BASKETBALL Tough ask for Qatar as World Cup qualifying begins By Sports Reporter miss out, Qatar will have to be at “We have played against them in the was quoted as saying on the Qatar Doha their very best because of the com- past, and we know our ways around Basketball Federation website. petitiveness of the group. them.” “I am pleased with them. We had a Qatar’s form heading into the The shooting guard feels he can short period of the league and some atar’s basketball team be- tournament is also a matter of con- play a big role for Qatar. of them just played for their clubs. It gin the lengthy and dif- cern. In the Asia Cup held in Lebanon “If I am healthy and in shape, I will is just gauging how much you can do fi cult process of trying to in August, Qatar lost all their group defi nitely be ready to start at the SG and how much you can’t do,” added become one of seven teams matches, eventually fi nishing 13th (shooting guard) position,” he said. Lewis who has also coached Thailand Qin Asia to qualify for the FIBA World out of 16 teams in the continent. “I need to improve my stamina and besides being a consultant for the Cup in 2019 with a Group D match “It was a poor performance,” said fastbreak off ense so I can help out my Philippines team. against Kazakhstan at Doha’s Ali bin Qatar star Mizo Amin, who is offi - teammates who alternate with me, “I feel the Qatari players are pretty Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena tomorrow. cially known as Hassan Mohamed. especially guards like Abdulrahman strong and they have good skillsets. Iran and Iraq comprise the oth- “Many players got injured before Saad and Mansour El-Hadari.” Hopefully, if we can expand the talent er teams in the group D in the fi rst and during the tournament, includ- Against the mighty Iranians, how- pool and grow the base of the players, round of qualifying, with the top ing myself. I suff ered a tear in the ever, Mizo is more realistic as they it will help us in the long term.” three advancing to round two, which knee meniscus, but I still played will play on the road against one of Iran, who fi nished second in the will be contested in two groups of six despite the injury. Our naturalised the best teams in the continent. Asia Cup in August – they were beat- teams each. player Sammy Monroe was not able “As for Iran, while I think they en by Australia in the fi nal – are defi - The top three teams from each to participate due to an injury as well, are tough opponents, we know we nitely the favourites to top Group D, group in round two and the seventh he told FIBA earlier this month.” must compete and bring our A-game with Mohamed Jamshidi and Hamed best team will eventually get to play Mizo feels Qatar have a great against them,” he shared. Haddadi leading their campaign. the global event after qualifying ends chance of beating Kazakhstan who Qatar will be guided by their new Both players were chosen for the All- in February 2019.