Thompson breaks three-point record as Warriors demolish Bulls PAGE 19 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018 Al Duhail extend QNB Stars League lead WORLD GYMNASTICS PAGE 18 after 1-0 win over Al Sailiya ASPIRE DOME 48TH FIG ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DOHA 2018 TOKYO BOUND: The United States and Russian Federation’s women’s teams which won the gold and silver respectively in the team event of the 48th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Doha 2018 at the Aspire Dome on Tuesday. Biles, USA produce golden show to claim the women’s team title Russia eves RESULTS WOMEN’S TEAM FINALS follow the men’s 1. USA 171.629 points 2. Russia 162.863 with silver; 3. China 162.396 4. Canada 161.644 5. France 161.294 China claim 6. Japan 160.262 7. Brazil 159.830 bronze 8. Germany 159.428 (Top three qualified for Tokyo 2020 Olympics) VINAY NAYUDU DOHA letes managed to get together ANY contest which has a USA- and we performed well.” Russia battle line, can be in- Their leader Aliya Mus- triguing. tafina defended her teammate The women’s team final Lilia Akhaimova’s stumble on of the 48th FIG Artistic Gym- vault saying, “We were taught natsics World Championships to always focus not on the mis- Doha 2018 on Tuesday evening takes, but on the things we’ve at the Aspire went on similar done well. We were aiming to lines. Interestingly, both teams qualify for the (2020 Tokyo) had their fair share of mistakes, Olympic Games. We had a tar- but in the end it was Team USA get and we met.” led by their superstar member Mustafina, back in action af- Simone Biles who emerged vic- ter becoming a mother in June torious with ease. 2017, on her part excelled on the It was the diminutive Biles’ uneven bars for a score of 14.500 first competition since the Rio attracting loud cheers. Olympic Games in 2016 and she For China, Lin Jinru did claimed her 11th world title. very well on the vault (14.366) The US team of Biles, to help her team grab the Grace McCallum (who also bronze and a ticket to Tokyo. celebrated her 16th birthday), Biles, who posted her high- Morgan Hurd, Riley McCusk- est scores on the uneven bars er and Kara Eaker collected and vault, came in for praise 171.629 points, nine ahead from the Russian coach who of silver-medallist Russia on said, “Simone Biles is a very 162.863 points with China respected athlete and she de- third on 162.396. serves the best for her work. Such has been the domi- She’s definitely one of the nance of the US women in leaders in today’s gymnastics. gymnastics that they have now However, our Russian team won every world and Olympic is also very good and we can title since 2011. THE PODIUM FINISHERS: Team USA, Russia and China pose with their medals after the podium ceremony at the Aspire Dome on Tuesday. compete at the highest level. This one was, however, “When it comes to USA, more special for Biles as she is on the balance beam. But then, know the expectations that cially with the group of girls going, but we have to hold up qualify for the Olympics,” their they have a big bench besides making her return to the world her compatriot Kara Eaker we have on ourselves when- we had tonight. It felt unreal. I upon ourselves every time we delegation head Andrei Rodio- their top team, in our case if stage after deciding to take a produced a strong showing ever we go out there, so I think can’t believe its World Cham- go out there.” nenkio said. one girl cannot perform for year off in 2017 following her to record the best score of the that’s what keeps us going,” an pionships and we’re compet- Did in with a margin of Russia’s head coach some reason then the team big show at the Rio Olympics, competition in the discipline. excited Biles soon after after ing again!” 8.766 points, Russia were left Yevgini Grebionkin said, “Un- suffers. We can rise, but the US where she won four golds. And the USA were back in the golden triumph. On extending the streak of to ponder their own mistakes. fortunately the big finals start- team deserve the title.” But it wasn’t as smooth reckoning. “Overall (it was) pretty consecutive USA team golds at “Our gymnasts managed to ed with a trauma for us as our The Russian men’s team and flawless as even Biles got “Mistakes happen. But it’s good. I felt really good. It’s Worlds to four, she quipped, fulfill the main task, which was gymnast Angelina Simakova had also settled for the silver blurred and made some errors just instilled in us. We also exciting to be out there, espe- “It’s exciting to keep the streak to finish in the top three and got injured but our other ath- on Monday. DOHA WORLDS 2018: WOWING ’EM ALL ‘Aspire Dome providing Doha Worlds a great atmosphere’ Doha Worlds, a brilliant spectacle: FIG vice prez Vladimirovina TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK “It was so close and Russia were TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Vladimirovina also stressed that al- DOHA almost there. But congratulations to DOHA most all top gymnasts are taking part the winners China, who did so well. at the Doha Worlds. THE closely fought men’s team finals Japan too were tough in the competi- INTERNATIONAL Gymnastics Federa- “The competition is intense and at the 48th FIG Artistic Gymnastics tion but due to injuries their team tion’s (FIG) vice president Kim Nellia as you can see almost all the stars World Championships 2018 at the became a little weak. The results are Vladimirovina from Belarus, who who competed at the Rio Olympics Aspire Dome on Monday were a fitting quite balanced.” With a few more days gave away the prizes to the winners in 2016 being here in Doha for this tribute to the Doha Worlds, the first of intense competition still left in the and runners-up of the women’s team world championship which also make such event in the Middle East, felt World Championships in Doha, Titov finals at the Aspire Dome on Tuesday, it so special.” International Gymnastics Federation’s said the atmosphere is only some- expressed her appreciation for the On the athletes from her own Vice-President Vasily Titov, who also thing that cannot be missed. “We 48th FIG Artistic Gymnastics Champi- native country Belarus, she said, “Our gave away the prizes. would want the world gymnastics to onships Doha 2018. gymnasts from Belarus are also here Titov, 57, is also a former junior gym- return to the Arab world in Doha and “It’s the first time in Qatar and in but unfortunately they haven’t done nastics champion and President of with pleasure. The championships this part of the world for these cham- exceedingly well. the Russian Gymnastics Federation. have been very well organised. From pionships and I must say it is a great Hopefully, they would be better the Speaking soon after the men’s team the information point of view, from the spectacle so far. next time.” finals, he said, “It’s been electric. presentation, the comfort of all… It’s “Congratulations to the Organis- “I would like to congratulate the Or- top class,” he said. ing Committee for an excellently International Gymnastics Federation’s ganising Committee of Doha Worlds. Titov has been FIG Executive Commit- planned event. It is one of the biggest (FIG) vice president Kim Nellia Great atmosphere, great beginning tee member since 2009 and the vice- world championships of gymnastics Vladimirovina with Competition here at the Aspire Dome and what a president since 2013. He is also the unfolding here given the number of Manager Anis al Saoud at the Aspire closely contest men’s team final we International Gymnastics Federation’s vice-president of the Russian Olympic countries and athletes taking part,” Dome on Tuesday. have had for the start. Vice-President Vasily Titov. Committee. she said. Sports Wednesday, October 31, 2018 17 Warrior spirit drives China’s Ruoteng into title defence Doha Worlds Men’s All-Around Finals today TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA AFTER flubbing twice in Monday’s team final, defend- ing champion Xiao Ruoteng of China will have to deploy more than a warrior’s credo to retain his crown in the men’s All-around final at Aspire Dome on Wednesday, reports worldgymdoha2018.com. “I need to do my best and fight to the end,” said the 22-year-old Xiao, who out- Indian tennis player Sania Mirza (R) and her husband Pakistan crick- scored second-ranked Nikita eter Shoaib Malik were blessed with a baby boy on Tuesday. (AFP) Nagornyy of the Russian Fed- eration by 0.234 points to lead qualifications. ‘Over the moon’: The All-Around final com- petition of the 48th FIG Artis- tic Gymnastics World Cham- Mirza, Malik pionships Doha 2018 will take place at the Aspire Dome from 4pm to 6.50pm. welcome baby boy Xiao enters the final as a favourite for gold, but to re- AFP "It's a boyyyy!!!!" Mirza's main on top he will need to NEW DELHI her younger sister, Anam Mir- avoid mistakes such as the two za, wrote on Instagram. he committed Monday, when INDIAN tennis star Sania Malik's manager and agent, China barely bettered the Rus- Mirza has given birth to a baby Ameem Haq, said the former sian Federation for team gold.