SPORT Monday 12 December 2016 PAGE | 27 PAGE | 31 Kohli smashes Sarra Besbes double ton as wins Qatar England slump Grand Prix Xavi surprises workers at Labour City ahead of Match of Champions The Peninsula avi Hernandez, the former Barcelona mid- fielder who is also an ambassador for the XGeneration Amazing Programme of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), paid a surprise visit to football fans at the Labour City this weekend. The Barcelona legend, now the skipper of Al Sadd Club, spent time with the expat workers, The champions of the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, Doha pose for a photograph with International Table tennis Federation and Qatar Table speaking about their involvement in the Gener- Tennis Association officials at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena yesterday. Pictures by Kamutty VP and Mohamed Faraj ation Amazing Qatar programme and answering their football-related questions, also not forget- ting to invite the workers to join him at the Barcelona - Al Ahli Saudi FC 'Match of Champi- ons' which will take place in Doha tomorrow. It was a moment of joy for Justin Santiago, a 36-year-old FC Barcelona fan from Chennai, India, who shook hands with the FIFA World Cup Impressive Ma Long winner in the recreation room of his accommo- dation at Labour City. “I love football, and I’m a huge fan of Bar- celona because they have the best players, like Lionel Messi. I’ve seen so many matches of Xavi on TV, winning the World Cup, the Spanish league and the Champions League, so it was an incredible surprise to see him in person,” San- conquers Doha field tiago said following Al Sadd captain's unannounced visit. For Santiago, the main benefits of the foot- Rizwan Rehmat China dominate match points on hand, but in ball for development project have been felt on The Peninsula the match, I have to control the pitch at Labour City, where the Generation World number one my emotion as much as pos- Amazing Programme is organised in conjunc- orld Ma Long seals China's sible," the champion added. tion with NAAAS Group. number dominance at ITTF Earlier in the women's The programme is also delivered by QDVC one Ma World Tour Grand singles final, third seed Zhu World number and Youth Club in Al Khor, with a total of 570 Long of Finals following Zhu Yuling crushed Germany's one Ma Long workers benefitting on a weekly basis from the China yes- Yuling's women's Han Ying, the no.11 seed, in of China coaching delivered across both sites. Wterday overcame a four games. Zhu Yuling won “I remember the first time I was given tick- singles win. celebrates mid-match crisis to beat 11-9, 12-10, 12-10, 11-3. with his trophy ets to go to a match, I was five or six years old compatriot Fan Zhendong in Zhu Yuling's win yester- and it was to attend a Barcelona game. We all during the six games to claim his fifth time that a Chinese has won day underlined China's love football in our family, and we went to a Gam- presentation ITTF World Tour Grand the men's title in the 21-year dominance of the sport. It per trophy with my father and grandfather, it Finals triumph. history of the tournament. was the 18th time that a Chi- ceremony was a great excitement that I felt before the game. It was a repeat of last “I’m very happy to win nese player had won the today. So it was a pleasure to give tickets to the work- year's final and for Ma Long, my fifth World Tour Grand women's crown in the tour- ers involved in the Generation Amazing Qatar the script remained the same Finals Men’s Singles title. I nament's 21-year history. German finalist Han Ying "QTTA has been a long programme for the Barcelona - Al Ahli game. It as he beat his arch-rival once think I’m in quite good form "I was anxious because became the first player in the time organizer on the ITTF was an honour for me to give them these tickets again. After racing to a 2-0 during this tournament, this is the first time for me to history of the tournament to World Tour with the yearly and surprise them in this way,” Xavi said. lead within minutes, Ma Long especially in the final, I made play in the Grand Finals at the reach the title clash from an Qatar Open and it was been According to Isabel Gultresa, CSR Senior Man- won the final 11-5, 11-4, 11-9, it through the challenge of end of the year. I was eager association outside Asia. a long-term goal to host one ager at the SC, the visit was another important 7-11, 12-14, 11-9. Fan Zhendong," Ma Long to win," Zhu Yuling said after Earlier in the women's day also the prestigious step on the journey the Generation Amazing pro- Ma Long is now three said. her win. doubles, Japanese duo Yui year-ending Grand Finals," gramme has embarked on in Qatar. titles wins ahead of compa- "I played well at the start "Luckily, I could stay at Hamamoto and Hina Hayata President of QTTA Khalil Al She said: “It is very important for us to show triot Wang Liqin who has but I did not deal with crucial the crucial points; for me, this crushed Chinese counter- Mohannadi said. to the participants of our projects how much we three ITTF World Tour points well enough when I match is the accumulation of parts Doo Hoi Kem and Lee “We are so happy to host are encompassing football in their development, Grand Finals titles to his was leading at the middle of experience. Ho Ching to clinch the title. the event in Doha this week," and taking them to a live football match is some- name. the match. It was good "Wining this tournament Hamamoto and Hayata added Al Mohannadi who is thing we thought would be very special and It was the 14th instance enough to be able to win the at the end of this year is a won 11-8, 15-17, 11-9, 9-11, also the Deputy President of relevant. We are taking the important moment of an all-Chinese men’s sin- match. I think it’s common small step for me. I hope I can 11-8, 12-10. the International Table Ten- of our ambassador’s former team visiting Qatar gles final. for any athlete to become play well in the next year," It was the third time that nis Federation (ITTF). to celebrate what the power of football can do.” Despite the loss, it was an impatient when you reach Zhu Yuling said. "In the new a Japanese duo had reached “We worked hard to “It was a very intense and a fantastic expe- impressive run of form from match point and I made that circle of Olympics, I think, no the women’s doubles final. ensure that the 2016 ITTF rience,” Xavi said afterwards. “I saw them Fan Zhendong who is only 19 mistake today. The good matter what problem I will The four-day table ten- World Tour Grand Finals enjoying the visit, and I enjoyed it a lot as well. years of age. thing is I won the sixth. Of meet, I will spare no effort to nis extravaganza was and ITTF Star Awards were We have agreed to meet again at the Barcelona Yesterday's impressive course I feel it was a pity to prepare for Tokyo Olympics," organised by Qatar Table staged in a grand manner," vs Al Ahli game on Tuesday. I didn’t expect so win by Ma Long was the 17th lose the fifth game with four she added. In another first, Tennis Association (QTTA). he said. much euphoria, such a warm reception, I thought that some people wouldn’t recognise me, but eve- ryone did. I was proud to be with them.” ayayayayayayayAl Ahli Saudi FC train ahead of Barcelona clash Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez poses for a photograph with some of the workers who AlAy Ahli Saudi FC players train at the Al Arabi SC Stadium in Doha yesterday, ahead of their 'Match of the Champions' encounter against Barcelona. received tickets for tomorrow's Barcelona vs TheAy game takes place at the Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha tomorrow with the kick-off set for 7pm. Pictures by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula Al Ahli match during his surprise visit to the Pic: Qassim / The Peninsula Ay. → See also page 26 Labour City. SPORT 12 DECEMBER 2016 MONDAY 27 Brazel dazzles Kohli smashes double to win Hong Kong Open ton as England slump Hong Kong Reuters ustralian journeyman Sam Brazel prevailed Mumbai India'sIndia's talismanictalismmana ic KohliKohhlil in a tense final hole shoot-out with run- Three doublee tonstons Virat Kohli greets the crowd AFP hadhad earlierearlier blastedblasted a doubledouubbllee on the fourth day of the Anerup Rafa Cabrera Bello to win the Hong centurycentury thatthat includedincluuded 252 Kong Open by a stroke and capture his first Euro- The 235-run knockknock fourth Test cricket match tar batsman Virat foursfours andand oneone sixsiix duringdduurrinngg hishiis between India and England pean Tour title yesterday. Kohli smashed a marked the tthirdhird 340-ball340-ball stay.stay. The 480th-ranked Brazel struck a sublime at the Wankhede Stadium massive double double centuryury ooff It markedmarked hishiis thtthirdird dou-ddoouu- approach shot from 175 yards to within eight feet in Mumbai yesterday.