Kohli says India open to playing day-night Test at the Gabba or in Perth PAGE 15 TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020 Badminton World No. 1 Momota hurt, driver killed in Malaysia crash AFP ment they were “saddened” by KUALA LUMPUR the crash. The accident happened BADMINTON world number around 4:40 am (2040 GMT one Kento Momota was in- Sunday), and 10 firefighters jured and his driver was killed rushed to the scene, senior fire in a crash near Kuala Lumpur and rescue department official on Monday just hours after he Norazam Khamis told AFP. won the Malaysia Masters. The injured “were able to Police said the Japanese walk out of the van by them- star, 25, suffered a broken selves with some scratches”, nose and cuts to his face when he added. Pictures showed the van carrying him to the the front of the van crushed city’s airport crashed early in against a lorry but the back the morning, in a blow to his section appeared intact. preparations for this year’s To- Momota enjoyed a stellar kyo Olympics. 2019, winning a record 11 titles A Badminton World Fed- including the World Champi- eration (BWF) statement said Japan’s Kento Momota reacts after winning against Denmark’s Viktor onships, Asia Championships Momota sustained multiple Axelsen during their men’s singles final at the Malaysia Open badmin- and All England Open, a turna- laceration wounds to the face ton tournament in Kuala Lumpur on January 12, 2020. (AFP) round for a player who had been plus right maxillary sinus and banned for gambling in 2016. nasal bone fracture and was mark’s Viktor Axelsen in Kua- But he added those hurt This means he won more taken to Putrajaya Hospital Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department’s rescue personnel working at the scene of a vehicle crash that la Lumpur. were “recovering well, (and) tournaments in a season that for treatment. He is in a sta- killed a driver and injured four badminton players, including Kento Momota, at a major highway linking the “It’s truly tragic, espe- all four are also in stable any other men’s player, includ- ble condition. capital Kuala Lumpur to the country’s main airport in Kuala Lumpur. (AFP) cially involving a badminton condition”. ing Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei Three others involved are icon like Momota,” Malaysian The others hurt suffered and Chinese great Lin Dan. – Japan team assistant coach, tor, William Thomas. lorry on a highway. An assis- The accident came after sports minister Syed Saddiq facial, leg, hand and head in- There is only one major in- Hirayama Yu; team physio- The driver was killed at tant coach, physiotherapist, the dominant Japanese star told reporters, after visiting juries, according to the police. dividual title missing from the therapist Morimoto Akifumi; the scene after the vehicle and badminton official also began his 2020 season in style the injured in hospital south of The Badminton Associa- Japanese player’s trophy haul and Hawkeye system opera- collided with a slow-moving suffered minor injuries. Sunday with victory over Den- the capital. tion of Malaysia said in a state- – Olympic gold. A boost for horseracing in Qatar Neymar shines QREC, Al Sulaiti Holding sign but PSG held by agreement to maximise Monaco in thriller AFP September – but the draw rep- PARIS resented a positive start for racegoer turnout former Spain coach Moreno, NEYMAR scored twice and who replaced Leonardo Jar- created another goal but lead- dim at the end of December. ers Paris Saint-Germain were “We should be very happy. held to an entertaining 3-3 I’m very pleased with my play- draw at home on Sunday by a ers and I want to congratulate Monaco side playing their first them for a great match,” said Ligue 1 game under new coach Moreno. “We played to our Robert Moreno. strengths on the counter- The Brazilian gave PSG the attack. We think we can beat lead after just two minutes at any team and that’s what I the Parc des Princes but Monaco tell my players. That’s our scored two quick goals through philosophy.” Gelson Martins and Wissam PSG had started the new Ben Yedder to move 2-1 ahead year in rampant form by scor- inside quarter of an hour. ing six both times in a pair of A Fode Ballo-Toure own domestic cup wins and looked goal brought PSG level and on track for a 10th win in a row Neymar restored their advan- over Monaco after Neymar con- tage from the penalty spot be- trolled a terrificMarco Verratti fore half-time after a foul on pass to smash home the opener. Kylian Mbappe. Monaco hit back almost But Monaco, who also immediately as Cesc Fabregas host PSG on Wednesday in threaded a neat ball through a rearranged fixture, earned for Ben Yedder and although a point when Islam Slima- he was chopped down by Key- ni’s goal was controversially lor Navas, the rebound rolled awarded after it was initially into the path of Martins who ruled out for offside. tapped into an empty net. Making QREC a tourist attraction to promote equestrian culture, serve community: Al Mohannadi “We didn’t put in our best Keita Balde ran at the de- performance but we tried. It fence before slipping across TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK have a certain area at QREC was a good test. Monaco have to Ben Yedder who applied DOHA and it will be invested in shops a good team but we are superi- a composed finish for his after having obtained the ap- or and we must show it on the league-best 14th goal. IN an effort to transform the proval of the competent au- pitch,” Neymar told Canal+. PSG equalised moments Qatar Racing and Equestrian thorities so that all licences “If we had played at our later when Neymar received Club (QREC) into an attractive will be valid and in accord- best we would have taken the the ball in the box and his destination for visitors, the ance with the regulations in three points. snapshot took a couple of de- QREC management, led by the effect. We are interested in “I think on the third goal, flections – the latter coming off QREC Chairman Issa bin Mo- attracting the public through- the fact our defender touched Ballo-Toure for an own goal. hammed al Mohannadi signed out the week by providing a the ball wasn’t intentional but Kamil Glik headed against an agreement with Al Sulaiti wide range of services and the decision falls to the ref- the post on the half-hour but Holding recently. the events of interest for both eree. They have VAR for that, PSG regained the lead on 41 The agreement is meant families and children. Accord- we can’t complain. We weren’t minutes, Neymar converting to promote horseracing, max- QREC Chairman Issa bin ingly, the scale of activities perfect tonight either.” a spot-kick after Mbappe was imise racegoer turnout in race Mohammed al Mohannadi. at QREC will be large, which It was just the second time brought down by Martins. meetings throughout the sea- will be in favour of good in- PSG have dropped points at Monaco made it 3-3 with son and serve the community, people associated with horserac- vestment. There will be shops home this season – after a 20 minutes to go with the help and in particular the eques- QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida al Kaabi (left) and Al Sulaiti Holding ing”, added Al Mohannadi. and cafés and, being at QREC, shock 2-0 defeat by Reims in of VAR system. trian community. Under the Chairman Dr Ahmed al Sulaiti. “The presence of chil- there will be special emphasis agreement, Al Sulaiti Holding dren and their interest to at- on horse equipment shops. will use the shops existing at shed light on the agreement. at QREC as an organisation of tend the events will definitely “I am not new to the eques- QREC to serve as an open mar- “The main purpose of the agree- a special nature. foster their association with trian sport”, added Al Sulaiti, ket serving customers through- ment is to transform QREC into “In addition, families and QREC. No doubt this agree- “I used to be a jockey and out the week and not only on an attraction for visitors to be children will have the op- ment will be key in achieving ride at QREC race meetings. race days. Such shops will offer added to the other attractive portunity to enjoy the events equestrian sustainability at I have also been involved in a wide range of services, includ- destinations in Qatar”, he said. and associated ambience. It QreC through the diversifica- the sports field in general as ing products and entertain- “This will maximise race- is a new demonstration that tion and enhancement of out- I was the General Secretary ment for children and families. goer turnout and promote QreC’s services are not lim- come in line with the QREC of the Al Arabi Club. I, there- The three-year renewable the equestrian culture and ited to a certain category, but management’s objectives and fore, look forward to success agreement was signed in pres- horseracing in particular. It is are rather available to the aspirations. We have already in this effort and to contrib- ence of QREC CEO Nasser bin not the first effort in this field community at large, which is moved in this direction for a uting to maximising racegoer Sherida al Kaabi and Al Sulaiti as we have already made other another factor contributing long time now with a view to and QREC visitor turnout, es- Holding Chairman Dr Ahmed efforts to this end by operating to realising our objectives by benefiting from and investing pecially as the project will be al Sulaiti.