SPORT Wednesday 13 December 2017 PAGE | 30 PAGE | 31P PAGE | 32-33 Real Madrid Horn wants to showhow Cook has no eye fifth prize Pacquiao win wasas plans for of 2017 no fluke retirement Sheikh Joaan hails Qatar’s achievements ahead of National Day Doha witnessed many Qatari sporting (IAAF) male athlete of the year. of Qatar National Vision 2030. QNA achievements in different for- Sheikh Joaan added that He added that the current eign events, which was the result World Athletics Championships year saw QOC make a remark- atar Olympic Committee of the great support given to the held in London also witnessed able effort regarding the future (QOC) President H E sport sector by H H the Emir. the excellence of the runner phase as the Qatari athletes’ QSheikh Joaan bin Hamad Sheikh Joaan said that Qatar Abdalelah Haroun who won the development pathway project Al Thani said that National Day participated in the Asian Indoor bronze medal in 400 meters. “Be An Athlete” was announced celebration embodies many con- and Martial Arts Games, which The QOC President also to be complete. The project aims cepts and values as it is a were held in Turkmenistan’s pointed out that the promising to prepare new generations of commemoration of the Founder capital of Ashgabat, and man- Qatari weightlifter Fares Ibra- Qatari athletes in various sports Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed aged to land 11 different medals; him accomplished various through sport federations as a bin Thani who laid the founda- four gold, four silver and three achievements in 2017, most joint project between QOC and tions of the modern State of bronze. Additionally, Qatar par- notably two gold and one silver the Ministry of Education and Qatar. ticipated in the Islamic Solidarity medals at the Junior World Higher Education. Sheikh Joaan said that Games in Azerbaijan’s capital of Championships in Tokyo and Sheikh Joaan said the project National Day celebration is an Baku and won 12 different med- two gold and one silver medals aims to spread the culture of occasion that shows the cohe- als; two gold, three silver and at the Asian Youth Champion- sport in all sectors of the society sion between the wise leadership seven bronze medals. ships in Nepal. Additionally, starting with youth and to prac- and the people and residents of “Other outstanding accom- Fares won a 94 kg silver at the tice sports until retirement. The Qatar, adding that everyone liv- plishments were the World Weightlifting Champion- beginning will be at schools to ing on this land is proud of the achievements of the special ships in Anaheim, California in instill the spirit of sport in the National Day due to the devel- needs team who won two gold, early December. future generation, reach a high Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin opment the country is witnessing two silver and one bronze med- In his interview with QNA, level of awareness of sports, and in various fields. als at the Special Olympics World Hamad Al Thani poses for a photograph with champion Sheikh Joaan spoke about the discover talent in schools. He also added that the slo- Winter Games 2017 in Ramsau, high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim after the latter won the events and tournaments hosted He also explained that Qatari gan of this year’s National Day Austria. Furthermore, the spe- ‘World Athlete of the Year 2017’ trophy at the IAAF Awards by the State of Qatar this year, athletes’ development pathway celebration, “Promise of Pros- cial needs team won a gold and in Monaco in this November 24 file photo. which reached more than 80 project has placed a special perity and Glory,” has many a silver medal at the World Para local, continental and interna- framework for skills and abili- meanings, especially as this Athletics Championships in Lon- Asian championship in Thailand, League after winning the first tional competitions in different ties of talented individuals and statement was made by the Emir don,” Sheikh Joaan added. qualified for the 2018 World place in the five rounds (Doha, games, which confirms the great how to retain them and train, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Sheikh Joaan also noted that Championship in Russia and Shanghai, Oslo, Birmingham and position Qatar has reached as a compete and achieve sports Al Thani to serve as a reassuring the beach volleyball team won achieved the bronze medal at the Zurich). capital for sports in the world. excellence during all stages of message from the leadership to four out of five Asian champion- 10th World Games in Wroclaw, Additionally, Sheikh Joaan Sheikh Joaan pointed out individual growth, which is the people about the prosperous ships in 2017: Bara Master in Poland. noted that Barshim won the that QOC launched a new iden- divided into five different stages. future that awaits Qatar and its Satun in Thailand, Qatar Masters He also highlighted the 2017 Best Athlete of Asia tity and strategy this year, which Sheikh Joaan bconcluded by citizens despite the current in Doha, Grand Osaka in Japan achievements by Qatari athletes, Award, presented by the Asso- marks the beginning of a new stressing on the important role exceptional circumstances, and South Sumatra in Indone- most notably the Olympic silver ciation of National Olympic phase in the history of sport and of QOC in following up the prep- which increased everyone’s sia. He also said that the team medallist Mutaz Essa Barshim Committees (ANOC), pointing Olympic movement in Qatar, arations and readiness of the commitment to the country and won the 26th edition of the Arab who emerged high jump world out that all these achievements adding that the new identity and different Qatari teams for par- loyalty to the leadership. championship in Oman, point- champion at the London 2017 resulted in Barshim being strategy seek to realise more ticipation in future competitions The QOC President pointed ing out that the beach handball Games. He also was the cham- named International Associa- achievements in the field of and qualifying for the 2020 out that the current year team won the sixth pion of the 2017 Diamond tion of Athletics Federations’ sport, which is one of the pillars Olympic Games in Tokyo. Squash Worlds: Umm Salal crush Al Markhiya Gaultier storms and march into QSL Cup semis into quarters Armstrong Vas The Peninsula The Peninsula QSL CUP mm Salal yesterday orld No.1 Gregory Gaultier ended home crushed Al Markhiya YESTERDAY’S RESULTS hope Declan James’s run at the PSA 3-0 at Al Arabi Stadium Umm Salal 3 - 0 Al Markhiya WWorld Championships in Manchester to set up a mouth- yesterday, overpowering the Englishman in Al Arabi 0 - 0 Al Rayyan watering semi-final straight games to progress to the quarter-finals Uclash against football giants Al Al Ahli 3 - 2 Al Sadd while three-time World Champion Nick Math- Gharafa in the QSL Cup. ew’s match against Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi was Also yesterday, Al Arabi held FIXTURES OF SEMI-FINALS suspended with the Englishman leading 2-0. Group B points leaders Al Rayyan December 16 Matthew seemed on course of wrapping the to a goalless draw while a spirited Umm Salal players Al Gharafa vs Umm Salal match in straight games after having won the first Al Ahli edged past Al Sadd 3-2 in in action during At Al Wakrah Stadium (4.00pm) two at 11-4, 11-8 and leading 8-6 in the third when their fifth and final-round QSL Cup their QSL Cup play was temporarily stopped due to an issue with matches. match against Al Al Rayyan vs Al Kharaitiyat the court floor. In Group B, both Umm Salal and Markhiya at Al At Al Shamal Stadium (6.30pm) Earlier, Gaultier, the 2015 World Champion Al Ahli finished on eight points, but made little work of dispatching World No.28 Arabi Stadium. the former advanced on better goal James, claiming an 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 victory in 40 difference (+3 as against Al Ahli’s 0). minutes. In the second semi-final, Al own goal when he accidentally against a determined Al Arabi side. In a solo effort, Al Sadd equal- Gaultier had not dropped a game heading into Rayyan will face Al Kharaitiyat. Both clipped the ball past his own Also yesterday, Al Ahli posted a ised in the 24th minute. Palang the match, having made little work of his round semi-finals will be played on goalmouth. 3-2 win over Doha giants Al Sadd waited for goalkeeper to move out one and two competitors Todd Harrity and Tsz Saturday. One-time feared striker, Khal- at Al Shamal Stadium. of his spot before calmly slotting the Fung Yip. In an all-round display of fan Ibrahim misfired from close A double by U-23 star Fadhl ball into the net with consummate It was a different story for James though, who attacking football Umm Salal yes- range when he just had Al Rayyan Omar Said (21 penalty, and 68) was ease. heroically fought back from two games down and terday easily beat Al Markhiya for goalkeeper to beat but he hit the ball the match-winning effort for Al Ahli The following minute, Al Ahli match ball down against No.15 seed Cesar Sala- a 3-0 win. straight at Saoud Mubarak Al Khater who also benefited from an own could have taken the lead but Fahad zar on Monday. Abdulaziz Al Yahri (31), Mah- in the 15th minute. goal by Al Sadd’s Hassan Kamal (26).