SPORT Thursday 11 January 2018 PAGE | 32-33 PAGE | 32-33 PAGE | 34 Unbeaten Kerber Serbia’s Djokovic Rabada waits looks to extend back with a bang for chance to winning streak in Australia open bowling Mo Farah to ‘run his heart out’ in Doha ARMSTRONG VAS THE PENINSULA DOHA: Four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah said competing at the 2020 Tokyo Games is a ‘possibility’ only if he is convinced he can win a medal. “I am really looking forward to opening my 2018 season in Doha. It is a chance to test myself on the fast and flat run along Doha, and to hopefully check out the city,” said the 34-year-old Briton, while speaking to jour- nalists ahead of the Ooredoo Doha Marathon 2018. “The facilities are top class and the people of Qatar are very welcoming. The organisation has FROM LEFT: Marathoners Abdi Abdirahman, Gemma Steele, four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, been great too. I shall run my Arne Gabius, and Michael Shelley pose for a photograph following a press conference ahead of the heart out for you,” he added. Pictures: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula “It’s my second time in Qatar. Ooredoo Doha Marathon at Sheraton Park in Doha yesterday. I am looking forward to the race, and it’s great to be here amongst some of the top marathon run- Among those joining Farah this line up of stars and be an ners while having a crack at the are Chris Thompson, winner of ambassador for the half mara- 26-mile event. the Great Scottish Run in 2017, thon which is part of the Ooredoo “We’ll see. That’s the goal, Tokyo is possible. Germany’s marathon record Doha Marathon,” said Farah, really. Can I run a decent mara- holder Arne Gabius, Turkey’s American athlete Abdi Abdirahman (left) and Great Britain’s who first came to Doha to par- thon? And if I can, what time can If I’m in great two-time Olympian Bekir Kara- Sir Mo Farah ticipate in the Doha Diamond I run in? That’s the question I am yel, Michael Shelley, the 2014 League. asking, and so many other peo- shape and I’m good Commonwealth Games mara- Farah, who won gold in both ple are asking,” added Farah. enough to get a thon champion, along with “I am really looking forward champion, finished one place the 5,000m and 10,000m events “I need to improve myself. medal, I will be America duo Ryan Vail and Abdi to running in Doha as it will give behind the American in New at London 2012 and Rio 2016 It’s going to be tough. I got to Abdirahman, who finished third me a great insight as to how my York. Games, retired from the track as understand the marathon. A lot there: Mo Farah in the New York City Marathon training is going in the lead up The elite half marathon has Britain’s greatest athlete after of guys doing crazy things doing in 2016. to the Commonwealth Games. $50,000 in prize money up for winning four Olympic and six amazing times. So, I need to train “I’m excited to compete at the Also, it will be a great pleasure grabs, with equal prize funds for world championship titles to hard and do my best..keep win- Sydney Olympics, I had seen Paul Ooderoo Doha Marathon; this is to discover more about Doha,” both the men’s and women’s concentrate on the marathon. ning medals, support my family Tergat and Haile Gebrselassie my first time visiting Qatar. The he said. events. “Tokyo is possible. If I’m in and that what keeps me going,” compete and that’s when I told half marathon race is a great fit In the women’s elite race, The invitational elite half is great shape and I’m good enough said Farah, while elaborating on myself that I want to win an into my overall plans for 2018, 32-year-old Gemma Steel, who part of the Ooredoo Doha Mar- to get a medal, I will be there,” the targets he has set for Olympic gold medal, and since since I’m preparing for a spring most recently won team gold at athon which includes a full Farah added. himself. then I have been training hard marathon. It will be great to get a the European Cross Country marathon, half marathon, 10K “There’s no athlete who’s Farah said he drew inspira- and going on and on,” said Farah, break from training and test my Championships, is joined USA’s and 5K events for adults and ever gone all the way up from tion from the performances of who was adjudged as BBC Sports fitness against some of the best Allison Kieffer, Sara Dossena of youth as well as 3K and 1K events the track straight to the mara- Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie and Personality of the Year. athletes in the world,” Gabius said. Italy and Turkey’s Esma for children. Over the past five thon and been successful,” said Kenyan Paul Tergat. Farah and 17 fellow elite men Shelley, one of the favourites Aydemir. years, the Ooredoo Doha Mara- Farah. “As an athlete, as a young boy and women will compete over for the event said he is using the Kieffer finished fifth at New thon has steadily grown to The Somali-born, who I dreamt of becoming an Olym- 13.1 miles, with a record number event, as part of his preparation York City Marathon last year and become the largest mass partic- migrated to England as an eight- pic champion once and I of 2000 amateur runner lining to defend his Commonwealth is also a past winner of the Miami ipation event in Qatar, attracting year-old boy, said he need to remember taking part in as many up in mass participation Doha Games title later this year at the Marathon, while Dossena, who runners from over 50 improve and keep pace with races I could. I think it was 2000 Marathon. Gold Coast event. is the reigning Italian 10,000m nationalities. Iraq run riot against Afif highlights importance Malaysia in opener of win against Uzbekistan THE PENINSULA AFC U-23 ASIAN CUP Yesterday’s results THETHT E PENINSULAPENINS goal of the match in the CHANGZHOU: Mohammed Jaffal, 55th minute at the Amjed Attwan, Alaa Mwahi and DPR Korea beat Thailand 1 - 0 CHANGZHOU:CCHHANGZHO Qatar’s star Changzhou Sports Hussain Ali all found the back of Iraq beat Malaysia 4 - 1 midfieldermiiddfielder Akram Afif Centre. the net for the Iraqis as the inaugu- (pictured)(picctut red) yesterdayy said The most “We played our best Jordan drew with Saudi Arabia 2 - 2 ral champions made a flying start hishis teamteeama notchedn up an important thing football in the second half. Japan beat Palestine 1 - 0 to life in Group C of the AFC U-23 ‘i‘important’mpm ortant’ win against in the game was We had better control and Asian Cup yesterday. UUzUzbekistanbekists an on Tuesday the goal by Ali was great. The clock had barely clicked wwhwhenhene AAll AAnabin returned to pick up the They were keen to win past the five-minute mark when Jafri Chew’s attempt from inside withwwithh a 1-01-0 victoryv on day full points and and so were we. That the Iraqis took the lead, Hamzah the area was blocked by the Iraq oneoonne off thethe AFCA U-23 Asian I think the next made quality football,” he Adnan’s pace taking him beyond defence. Cup.CCuupp. games will be said. the Malaysian defence before he cut With 56 minutes on the clock, Qatar,Qaatar, coachedco by Felix “The most important back a lofted ball that Jaffal headed Iraq put the result beyond doubt. Sanchez,SSaanncheh z, willw now play more difficult. thing in the game was to firmly home. Ali had seen his effort saved OmOOmanan oonn JJanuary 12 in Hopefully we pick up the full points and Malaysia sought to steady two minutes before Mwahi found thttheirheeiir sesecondcoo Group A will continue to I think the next games will themselves after the early set-back space behind the defence down the matchmmatch followedfollow by a clash fight for points: be more difficult. Hope- and Ong Kim Swee’s side slowly left side of the Malaysian penalty againstaga ainst hostshostts China on Jan- fully we will continue to gained a foothold but, by the 28th area and he curled his left foot shot uaryuauary 15.15. Akram Afif fight for points,” he said. minute, their good work was beyond Ifwat. TheThe 16-team16-tte continen- “We are done with undone as Iraq doubled their Ifwat kept the Iraqis from taltaal tournamenttournam kicked off and played really well,” he Uzbekistan match and advantage. claiming a fourth soon after when onon TuesdayTuesds ay with China added. now we are looking The Southeast Asian side’s he dived to his left to parry Bashar beatingbeatinng OmanOOm 3-0. “There was very good towards the Oman match,” defence failed to adequately clear Resan’s volley to safety and, with “Thank““Thank GodG we picked team spirit. We did not Afif said. Jaffal’s free-kick into the area and 11 minutes remaining, the Malay- upu threethreee pointspo from this limit ourselves in any way. The star midfielder Attwan surged past the defence sians clawed a goal back as Safawi game,”game,” AfifA said when First we blocked their was part of the Qatar before unleashing a low shot that struck with a low shot from just askedas to com- moves and then when we squad that won the 2014 slipped beyond the grasp of goal- inside the area.