SPORT Saturday 9 February 2019 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 19 Man City face Sharma tops Chelsea test; scorers’ list as Liverpool India cruise past under pressure New Zealand Monfils stuns Al Sulaiti tops time sheets in QSTK Tsitsipas in Sofia AFP as Saadon takes his first QTCC pole SOFIA THE PENINSULA Australian Open semi-finalist DOHA Stefanos Tsitsipas was stunned in the quarter-finals of the Sofia Abdulla Al Qubaisi broke Saeed Open yesterday, losing 6-3, 7-6 Al Sulaiti’s lap record with a time (7/5) to veteran Frenchman Gael of 2:03.555 in Free Practice 2 of Monfils. Greek world number 12 the fourth round of Qatar Super- Tsitsipas defeated Roger Federer stock 600 (QSTK). in the last-16 in Melbourne Al Sulaiti’s time was 2:04.024 and before falling to Rafael Nadal in was done during the Superpole the semi-finals of the season’s 2 of the second round of the opening Grand Slam event. season. However, the 20-year-old Yesterday, at the Losail Inter- came unstuck yesterday against national Circuit, Al Qubaisi tried the world number 33. hard during the Superpole 2, but Al Sulaiti topped the time sheets for the fourth time in a row this Berdych season with a time of 2:04.060, only 0.081 in front of Al Qubaisi. advances in “In the first two Free Prac- tices, we were struggling a bit to Montpellier find a good grip but at the same time I was really happy to see Abdulla Al Qubaisi clocking the Qatari rider Saeed Al Sulaiti in action during Free Practice 2 of the fourth round of Qatar Superstock 600 at the Losail International AP record lap time, which is Circuit, yesterday. RIGHT: Saadon Al Kuwari driving his Toyota GT86. MONTPELLIER amazing,” said Al Sulaiti. “For the Superpole, we mod- Former champion Tomas ified the bike a bit and that gave didAbdulla in the last Al round. Qubaisi Al Kuwari (Toyota GT86) took his victory in both races,” Saadon and follow Saadon until he make Berdych reached the Open Sud me more confidence, but still it breaks“I am verySaeed happy Al to Sulaiti’s break the first pole position of the season said. a mistake and not be aggressive. de France semifinals the hard was tough to beat Abdulla. He lap record record and at tomorrow Losail I will with a lap time of 2:21.492 and The championship leader, Al I have to collect at least 20 points, way, saving two match points in was really in form today. In the Internationalpush hard to win both Circuit. races and he will start from the front row Khelaifi, did only three laps at the so finishing second is enough and a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 7-5 win against last five minutes of the Superpole in front of Abdulla Al Khelaifi Qualifying but that was enough no reason to push really hard,” Filip Krajinovic yesterday. 2, we were able to squeeze it and (Honda S2000) who did a lap for him to secure the second Al Khelaifi said. The two players were finish in front of him by only reduce the gap in the standings. time of 2:22.257. place in the grid. Ibrahim Al Abdulghani meeting for the first time on the 0.081,” he said. It will be hard to fight with Saeed In the last round, Saadon fin- “I did only few laps during the (Honda S2000) did the third best ATP Tour, and made it a match “My expectation is that it is but I will give the best of me,” Al ished second in both races and first few minutes of the session. lap time, 2:25.863. to remember. going to be a very difficult races Qubaisi said. he will try to take a double In general, it was good, the track Today, QSTK Race 1 starts at It looked as if Berdych was specially with Abdulla as he is Mishal Al Naimi will start in victory to reduce the gap in the was much better than last round. 11:30 and Race 2 at 14:30. For going through in straight sets going to do his best to win the the third place at today’s grid. standings today. I managed to drop my lap time QTCC, the first race is scheduled when he went a break up in the race. But I will show him that I In the QSTK Trophy, the “Tomorrow’s races will be but unfortunately it was not fast to flag off at 13:00 and the second second set. But Krajinovic took will fight as well,” Al Sulaiti said. fastest rider was Jassim Al Thani, difficult as the timings are very enough to secure the pole, as race at 16:00. The QTCC and the tiebreaker and then led 5-4 Al Qubaisi was very happy followed by Mohammad Al close. I am very happy with Saadon was faster. I am happy QSTK are organised by Losail and 40-15 in the third. with his performance yesterday Zaidan and Ali Abdulhussain. today result. The car is per- even I don’t get the first position Circuit Sports Club and Qatar Berdych, who is unseeded at and said that he is ready to fight In the Qatar Touring Car forming very well, no issues and in the timings and the strategy Motor and Motorcycle Federation the tournament he won in 2012, for another double victory as he Championship (QTCC), Saadon I will try tomorrow to take the for tomorrow is just to stay calm with Pirelli Qatar as sponsor. then turned the contest around. Al Rumaihi, Al Salam bag Medium Tour honours CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA Qatari rider Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi yesterday guided Vivaldi K in a flawless routine to capture the top honours on day one of the 7th round of the Hathab Equestrian Tour by winning the Medium class. He was also part of Team Al Salam, which won the Medium Tour Team Event yesterday. At the Qatar Equestrian Nam Tae-hee (left) and Al Sadd SC’s General Manager, Turki Al Ali pose Federation’s main arena, Al for a photograph after signing a three-year deal in Doha, yesterday. Rumaihi’s favourite gelding topped a field of 35 horses by completing two special phases with times of 45.42 and 30.91 Tae-hee joins Al Sadd secs in the individual event, making no mistakes. That THE PENINSULA made Al Rumaihi richer by DOHA QR5,000. Fiji, with Khalid Qatari football giants Al Sadd yesterday announced the signing of South Mohammed Al Emadi in the Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi in action during the Medium Tour event of the 7th round of the Korean international Nam Tae-hee on a three-year deal, starting from saddle, completed the two Hathab Equestrian Tour at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s main arena, yesterday. INSET: the next season. phases with no errors by Members of Team Al Salam, winners of the team event, receiving their trophy. The 28-year-old charismatic midfielder played a key part in guiding clocking 46.14 and 31.66 to win Al Duhail to capture multiple title honours since 2012. Tae-Hee, hailed as the second place and a prize the ‘Korean Messi’ by his fans during his stay at Ligue 1 club Valenciennes, cheque worth QR4,000. Alegro Fantastique, an eight-year-old the team event and won a prize money after winning the event has played for the Red Knights in more than 160 matches and has scored 84, ridden by Mohammed Al bay gelding. Team Al Salam cheque for QR4,000. Team Al ahead of Mohammed Al over 70 goals. Ghazali, booked the remaining won a prize cheque for Shaqab was made of Khalid Ghazali who guided Michael Al Sadd’s General Manager, Turki Al Ali, yesterday said that the signing spot on the podium with two QR10,000 for their winning Mohammed Al Emadi (Fiji), Jackson in 56.47 to win of Tae-hee, the Player-of-the-Year in the 2017 QNB Stars League, reflects rides that lasted 45.20 and effort. Abdulrahman Adel Nassar QR2,000 and the second the management’s desire to provide everything the team needs, in order 32.46 secs. Ghazali, who was Team Porsche whish had (Dubaii) and Mohammad place. to have a smooth start to the next season. also part of Team Al Salam, the services of Cyrine Cherif Hazim Abara (Cora). Fudine, with Ghanim Nasser “Tae-hee is currently recuperating and will only join the squad for made no mistakes during his (Gerlin VD Waterkant), Hussain Earlier, in the Small Tour Al Qadi in the saddle, completed the next season,” Al Ali said. routine and he won QR3,000 Saeed Haidan (Belucci Van ‘T contest, Ghanim Nasser Al the same task in 57.83 secs to Al Ali also added that the deal was completed in full coordination with in prize money. Vleminkhof) and Sheikha Qadi excelled on Rosconnell book the remaining podium spot the counterparts at Al Duhail. In the team event, Al Fatima Jabor Al Thani (Eddie), Bella by completing a round apart from a prize cheque of “I take this opportunity to thank Al Duhail for their professionalism Rumaihi and Al Ghazai were booked the second place on the against the clock in 53.43 secs QR1,500. and the noble way of dealing with us. This is not new for them, or for any joined by Khalifa Abdulla Al podium and won QR6,000.