Liverpool go atop as own goal sinks Tottenham PAGE 18 MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019 Abdullah al Khelaifi wins Qatar Touring PREMIER LEAGUE Car Championship once again PAGE 19 ARSENAL VS NEWCASTLE UNITED Turf at Al Wakrah Stadium laid in record time of 9 hours 15 mins SC.QA DOHA GRASS turf grown especially in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup has been laid in record time at Al Wakrah Stadium, as the second proposed host venue for Qatar 2022 advanc- es rapidly towards completion. The team building the iconic quarter-finals venue broke the record for the fast- est turf laying of a football pitch by completing it in just 9 hours 15 minutes. The pre- vious record was 13 hours 40 minutes and held by Khalifa International Stadium – the first completed Qatar 2022 tournament venue. The signature pitch that will cover all football fields The Al Wakrah Stadium after the completion of fastest turf laying of a football pitch by completing it in just The grass was packed in 438 rolls. Installation of 6,300m² of turf begun at 9:30 am on Friday (March 22) during the FIFA World Cup 9 hours 15 minutes. and concluded at 6:45 pm. 2022 was grown at the Su- preme Committee for Deliv- transport and plant the turf at Zarraa said, “This is a ma- “We are keen on beginning which has been laid at Al Wak- the entire tournament, we en- seats are made in Qatar by lo- ery & Legacy’s (SC) turf farm the 40,000-capacity venue. jor milestone for the project to shape the economic legacy rah Stadium was developed in sure we have a backup strategy cal company Coastal, while the located within the Al Wakrah The grass was packed in that has been a success thanks of Qatar 2022 now by promot- Qatar at our turf nursery, and if any issues were to arise during steel for the structure is manu- Stadium precinct. 438 rolls and transported to to the smooth coordination ing local companies. This has is our signature pitch which the competition. Now I know factured locally by Sulb. Al Wakrah Stadium Pro- the stadium bowl in groups between all the stakeholders been the case with the instal- has been tested numerous for sure that we’re ready for any A joint-venture between ject Manager, Thani al Zarraa, of 30 using two different en- involved. We are very proud lation of the pitch by Urban times for playability, durabili- eventualities,” he added. MIDMAC, Sixco, PORR Qa- and SC Landscape & Sport trances to ensure efficient de- that Al Wakrah Stadium is the Concept. This local contractor ty and other factors in collabo- The construction of Al tar is delivering the stadium Turf Management Senior livery. Installation of 6,300m² first stadium built from the now has the expertise to do ration with Aspire Sports Turf. Wakrah Stadium continues where more than 90 per cent Manager, Yasser al Mulla, led of turf begun at 9:30 am on ground up for Qatar 2022 to this type of work anywhere in “By installing the pitch in re- to progress rapidly with three of the seats have been in- a team of 50 experts that used Friday (March 22) and con- have a field of play with our the world,” he added. cord time and having a turf farm local contractors involved in stalled. The stadium is set to ten bespoke machines to pack, cluded at 6:45 pm. signature pitch. Al Mulla said, “The grass in the stadium precinct during different areas. The stadium be completed in 2019. Ferrari disaster gifts Hamilton victory DPA SAKHIR (BAHRAIN) MERCEDES were gifted an improbable one-two from world champion Lewis Hamil- ton and Valtteri Bottas at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sun- day after Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel met disaster. Race leader Leclerc missed what seemed an assured first Winner Roger Federer of Switzerland (right) sits with runner-up John Isner of USA soon after their men’s career win over engine prob- singles final of Miami Open in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday. Federer won 6-1, 6-4. (AFP) lems in the closing stages which allowed both Mercedes to pass him. The young Monegasque at Federer floats his way least salvaged his first podium in third place because the race ended behind the safety car af- to 4th Miami Open title ter both Renaults had to retire. Vettel had earlier spun while trying to defend second ATP of the Swiss at the 2015 Paris place from Hamilton, damag- MIAMI Rolex Masters, it was one-way ing his tyres and front wing in Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his teammate Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri traffic for the World No. 5. He the process and having to set- Bottas (second) after winning the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit in the desert south ROGER Federer captured his extended his FedEx ATP Head- tle for fifth. of the Bahraini capital Manama, on March 31, 2019. (PHOTO BY ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) 101st career singles title on Sun- 2Head lead to 6-2 over the top- Hamilton got his 74th ca- day, defeating American John ranked American, also marking reer victory as Mercedes made RESULTS AND STANDINGS Isner in straight sets in the final his second triumph in a title it two one-twos in as many of the ATP Miami Open. match (2012 Indian Wells). season races after Bottas had BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX BEST LAP: Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:33.411 on The 37-year-old Swiss star Entering the final, Federer won from him in Australia. 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 34min 38th lap 21.836sec, 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) at 2.980, 3. RETIREMENTS: Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari), needed only 63 minutes to Roger Federer with his 4th Miami had saved a combined 16 of “That was extremely unfor- Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 6.131, 4. Max Verstappen Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault), Daniel dispatch the defending cham- Open trophy and 28th Masters 16 break points against the tunate for Charles. He drove (NED/Red Bull-Honda) 6.408, 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER/ Ricciardo (AUS/Renault), Nico Hülkenberg (GER/ What went pion and capture his fourth ti- title in Florida on Sunday. (AFP) North Carolina native on all such a great race,” Hamilton Ferrari) 36.068, 6. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) Renault) 45.754, 7. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing- CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER TWO ROUNDS): tle at Miami and 28th Masters surfaces. And he would drop said via team radio. “We’ve Ferrari) 47.470, 8. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Red Bull-Honda) DRIVERS: 1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 44 pts, 2. Lewis wrong trophy. here I am in 2019. It means a just one point on serve in the got work to do to try and keep 58.094, 9. Alexander Albon (THA/Toro Rosso-Honda) Hamilton (GBR) 43, 3. Max Verstappen (NED) 27, 4. Race leader Charles Leclerc The Swiss produced a lot to me.” opening set. these guys on our tails.” 1:02.697, 10. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) Charles Leclerc (MON) 26, 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER) championship masterclass un- One week after falling to Federer put the clamps Leclerc said: “It happens. 1:03.696, 11. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo 22, 6. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) 10, 7. Lando Norris (GBR) missed what seemed an Racing-Ferrari) 1:04.599, 12. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro 8, 8. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 8, 9. Nico Hülkenberg assured first career win over der the Florida sun, dominat- Dominic Thiem in the Indian down on Isner’s mammoth It’s part of motorsport. Of Rosso-Honda) 1 lap, 13. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas- (GER) 6, 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 4, 11. Lance Stroll ing reigning champ John Isner Wells final, Federer was all delivery from the first ball, im- course I’m extremely disap- Ferrari) 1 lap, 14. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point- (CAN) 2, 12. Alexander Albon (THA) 2, 13. Daniil Kvyat engine problems in the 6-1, 6-4 to take his fourth tour- business at the subsequent mediately applying pressure pointed, it happens in a season, Mercedes) 1 lap, 15. George Russell (GBR/Williams- (RUS) 1, 14. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 1 closing stages which allowed nament title and No. 101 in his ATP Masters 1000 stop in on the big-hitting American. and we made the best out of it.” Mercedes) 1 lap, 16. Robert Kubica (POL/Williams- CONSTRUCTORS: 1. Mercedes 87pts, 2. Ferrari 48, 3. both Mercedes to pass him. Mercedes) 2 laps, 17. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren- Red Bull-Honda 31, 4. Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 10, storied career. Miami. He streaked to the ti- He would convert his third Leclerc was the first Mon- Renault) 4 laps, 18. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) 4 5. McLaren-Renault 8, 6. Haas-Ferrari 8, 7. Renault 6, The young Monegasque at The battle between the last tle behind 12 consecutive sets break point of the opening egasque driver on an F1 po- laps, 19. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 4 laps. 8. Toro Rosso-Honda 3, 9. Racing Point-Mercedes 3. least salvaged his first two Miami champions went won, refusing to back down af- game to send a message right dium since Louis Chiron at the podium in third place the way of Federer in a flash, ter dropping his opening set of out of the gates. 1950 Monaco race. He also got There was no team orders in Australia where they finished because the race ended as he needed just 64 minutes the tournament to Radu Albot.