Sports Sunday, August 22, 2021 15 ALABSI FINISHES FOURTH IN 100M HURDLES Doha has all capabilities AT WORLD ATHLETICS U-20 C’SHIPS to deliver 2023 Worlds: FINA chief Al Musallam TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK as the best-ever in history. DOHA All of Qatar’s facilities are in place, and they’ve the experi- HUSAIN Al Musallam, who ence to host mega events. We was elected as the new presi- just need to coordinate on the dent of the international swim- work as we move forward,” he ming federation (FINA) in June added. in Doha, returned to Qatar’s The official was pleased capital on Friday for a coor- with the organisation of the dination meeting with Qatar ongoing GCC Aquatics Cham- Swimming Association – the pionship but said more work hosts for the 2023 FINA Aquat- needed to be done by different ics World Championships. countries. Qatar’s Saeed Othman Alabsi narrowly missed out on a medal emerging fourth in the 110m hurdles finish- The top Kuwaiti official “It’s great to see chil- ing in 13.46secs at the World Athletics U-20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday. Alabsi had set met Qatar Swimming Asso- dren from all Gulf nations, a new national record in the event on Friday. Sasha Zhoya of France (right) won with a time of 12.72secs. ciation President Khaleel Al from the age of 11 to 24, take jamaica’s Vashaun Vascianna (13.25) finished second and Poland’s Jakub Szymanshi third in 13.43secs. Jabir and others in an hour- part in events and forge new long meeting at the Hamad friendships. This was a sig- Aquatic Centre, where differ- nificant competition to have ent aspects of the mega event’s as it’s happening after a long Zhoya smashes world organisation were discussed. break due to the pandemic,” “This meeting was primar- he said. ily to discuss about prepara- “The pandemic has affect- U20 record again tions for the 2023 Worlds, ed swimmers’ standards. It’s based on the organisers’ fan- understandable why there’re tastic plan. We now need to not many Gulf records being AGENCIES world record with the first le- 13.43. work together to deliver the broken. I hope this competi- NAIROBI gal sub-13 of his career, a time Fourth-placed Qatari hur- event efficiently,” he told In- tion will act as a starting point of 12.93 in the semi-finals. dler Saeed Othman Alabsi set side Qatar in an interview. FINA President Husain Al Musallam during a coordination meeting for different swimming fed- IF anyone thought Sasha In the final, Zhoya at- a national U20 record of 13.46 “Doha has all capabilities with Qatar Swimming Association -- the hosts for the 2023 FINA erations to move ahead in the Zhoya’s record-breaking feat tacked the hurdles like a man while the second French ath- to deliver the 2023 Worlds Aquatics World Championships at the Hamad Aquatic Centre. coming days,” he said. on Friday in the 110m hur- on a mission and as soon as he lete in the race, Erwann Cinna, dles semifinals was a fluke, shot out of the blocks, he had finished fifth, also with a per- the European U20 champion the rest of the field with him. sonal best of 13.50. cleared all doubts when he On the extreme right was Speaking after his historic totally obliterated the world Jamaica’s Vashaun Vascianna race, Zhoya said: “I’m very Afghanistan U20 record he had set barely who also got a good start and happy with this time and I’m QATAR SWIMMERS, POLO TEAM CONTINUE 24 hours before. was still with him by the fifth happy I could show everyone cricket team Running a calculated and hurdle. that yesterday wasn’t a fluke, TO EXCEL AT GCC AQUATICS spectacular race at the World However, Vascianna because if you do a 12.94, it’s a Athletics U20 Championships brought down a hurdle which very good time but I wanted to might travel in Nairobi on Saturday (21), he slowed him down and even make sure people didn’t think stopped the clock at an aston- Zhoya clipped the sixth bar- it was just a one-time thing to Sri Lanka ishing 12.72, holding everyone rier. Nevertheless, there was and I did that again today. at the Kasarani Stadium spell- no catching him by the sev- “It’s the quickest time on ANI bound as he further under- enth hurdle as he crossed the any hurdle height and that COLOMBO lined his status as the greatest line in 12.72, his jaw dropping makes me really happy. Now ever in the event at U20 level. as he checked the clock while all I need to do is to replicate THE Afghanistan cricket team Coming to Nairobi as the crossing the line. my junior performance to might take a roundabout route world leader and favourite Reminiscent of any world the senior category as I now to get to Sri Lanka for their for gold, the 19-year-old was record-breaking race, there focus into transiting into the scheduled three-match ODI ready to give a good show and were enough spoils to go seniors. series against Pakistan, which this he did as he progressed around, with Vascianna clock- “Now I am really to tackle is due to begin on September 3. through the rounds, easily ing a personal best of 13.25 to all the senior competitions No commercial flights are maintaining an unbeaten run take silver while Polish athlete slotted for 2022 including taking off from Kabul follow- all through to win his heat Jakub Szymanski took the the World Championships in ing the Taliban takeover of with 13.12 before smashing the bronze with a lifetime best of Oregon.” the country, and as per ESP- Ncricinfo, a contingency plan worked out by the Afghani- stan Cricket Board (ACB) is to get Pakistan visas for all the Rajasthan Royals’ Buttler players and support staff, get them to fly to Pakistan first, then to Dubai, and then on to to miss UAE leg of IPL Colombo for the series. Amid uncertainties, ACB CEO Ha- ANI September 21 at the Dubai In- their international commit- mid Shinwari had said that the NEW DELHI ternational Stadium. In their ments. Mumbai Indians and tour is going to be on schedule. last match before the series CSK reached UAE last week “Cricket is doing very well,” JOS Buttler will not be part of had got postponed, Rajasthan and have begun training. Shinwari told ESPNcricinfo the remainder of IPL 2021 in had defeated Sunrisers Hy- The 14th season, which earlier this week. “We are going UAE, as he and her wife Louise derabad by 55 runs. was postponed in May this to the office (ACB). The cricket are expecting a second child Delhi Capitals on Satur- year in the wake of the COV- team is preparing for the Pa- soon, Rajasthan Royals an- day departed for UAE to play ID-19 pandemic, will resume kistan series in Sri Lanka. It is nounced on Saturday. the remaining leg of the 14th on September 19 in Dubai with confirmed. We are committed Taking to Twitter, Ra- edition of the Indian Premier a blockbuster clash between to sending a team to Sri Lanka jasthan Royals wrote: “Jos League (IPL).”Phir Se Ud Chennai Super Kings and as soon as possible. There is a Buttler will not be part of the Chala 2.0. We’re off to UAE,” Mumbai Indians. The action transition going on here in Af- remainder of #IPL2021, as Delhi Capitals posted a video will then shift to Abu Dhabi ghanistan hence there is a vac- he and Louise are expecting on Instagram. where Kolkata Knight Riders uum in flight operations and a second child soon. We wish Earlier, ANI had reported will square off against Royal availability is affected. But we them well, and can’t wait for that the Delhi-based franchise Challengers Bangalore. will fly out as soon as we find the newest member of the will leave the national capital Sharjah will host its first a flight. We have our boys as- #RoyalsFamily.” Rajasthan on Saturday. Star batsman game on September 24 when sembled in Kabul and they are Royals are currently placed at Shreyas Iyer is already in the Royal Challengers Bangalore preparing for the series.” number 5 position after man- UAE with the fitness coach take on Chennai Super Kings. “We hope the squad will aging three wins and six points and the rest of the squad will In all, 13 matches will be held depart in the next four days. from seven matches. The team join the Delhi Capitals set-up in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah, and 8 We have updated both the PCB will be facing Punjab Kings on following the conclusion of in Abu Dhabi. and Sri Lanka Cricket and both are on board. I am thankful to SLC for hosting us and that is really generous of them.” All three matches in the series will be played in Ham- Hesson steps in as RCB coach bantota and will involve a three-day quarantine period ANI IPL 2021, Rajesh Menon, Vice will be part of RCB for the sec- on arrival for both sides. BENGALURU President and Head, Royal ond leg of IPL 2021 in UAE. He With an eye on the current Challengers Bangalore, in replaces Adam Zampa. Hasa- turmoil in Afghanistan, ques- AHEAD of the resumption of a virtual press briefing, said, ranga was the player of the se- tions have also been raised Season 14 of the IPL, Royal “As the season resumes in the ries in the recently concluded on whether the team will be Challengers Bangalore (RCB) UAE, it’s going to be an excit- Sri Lanka-India T20I series ready to participate in the up- announced changes to the squad ing chapter ahead.