Nadal advances in Barcelona Open despite a rare set loss PAGE 17 THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019 Al Rayyan Club storm into Asian clubs volleyball semis PAGE 18 IPL KKR VS RR 23RD ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS CONCLUDE AT KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM Asian Athletics Championships men’s 4x400m gold medallists Japan, silver medallists China and bronze Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani and other officials watch the Asian Athletics Championships action at medallists Qatar pose on the podium after the prize distribution. (PHOTOGRAPHS: HANSON K JOSEPH) the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Wednesday. QATAR SCOOP THREE MEDALS More records fall on last day of Asian athletics; hosts clinch 4x400m bronze due to India’s disqualification AYENI OLUSEGUN DOHA HOSTS Qatar collected three medals (one silver, two bronze) on the fourth and last day of the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships at the majestic Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday. The home ath- letes had earlier bagged three medals – the men’s 400m hur- dles gold along with the men’s 800m gold and a bronze for a total of six medals. Musaab Ali scooped the first medal of the final day for Qatar in the men’s 1,500m. The young distance runner showed tremendous spirit in the final leg of the race, com- ing close to snatching the sil- ver from India’s Ajay Saroj. Abraham Rotich claimed gold with a season best 3:2.85. “In the heat on Tuesday, I went in front from the begin- ning but in the end, I hardly qualified,” Musaab said. “We decided to play the winning 110m hurdles gold medallist Xie Wenjun of China (centre) on the Chitra Palakeezh Unnikirshnan of India on the way to winning the game today and push in the podium after setting a new meet record on Wednesday. women’s 1,500m race on Wednesday. end. The gold was within my grasp but I didn’t make it. make it here in Doha at the bronze medallist added. Overall I am satisfied (with my World Championships, I could WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS More records continued to performance). be placed in a high position.” MEN’S 1500M WOMEN’S 1500M fall as two-time Asian Games “I know I can run fast start- The most dramatic turn of Abraham Rotich Bahrain 3:42.85 SB Chitra Palakeezh Unnikirshnan India 4:14.56 champion China’s Xie Wanjun ing from the Diamond League the night came in the men’s Ajay Saroj India 3:43.18 (.174) SB Gashaw Tigest Bahrain 4:14.81 blitzed to the 110m hurdles Qatar’s Musaab Ali (foreground) with 1,500m gold medallist Abraham here in Doha. The goal is to be 4x400m relay as India were Musaab Ali Qatar (3:43.18 (.180) Winfred Yavi Bahrain 4:16.18 SB gold with a new championship SB Kipchirchir Rotich (Bahrain) and silver medallist Ajay Kumar Saroj ready for the World Champi- disqualified for jostling and WOMEN’S DISCUS THROW MEN’S LONG JUMP record of 13.21sec, ending the (India) on the podium during the fourth and final day of the 23rd onships,” he added. obstruction which upgraded Feng Bin China 65.36 CR, PB Yuki Hashioka Japan 8.22 PB, equals WL eight-year reign of former re- Asian Athletics Championships in Doha. In the hammer throw, Qa- Qatar from fourth to bronze Chen Yang China 61.87 SB Zhang Yaoguang China 8.13 SB cord holder and fellow Chinese tar’s Ashraf El Seify was cruis- medal. During the race, Bas- Subenrat Insaeng Thailand 58.20 SB Huang Changzhou China 7.97 SB Liu Xiang. Kuwait’s Yaqoub al ing to his first Asian Cham- sem Hemeida was clipped just WOMEN’S 100M HURDLES MEN’S 5,000M Youha finished second setting pionships gold but Dilshod after the fourth corner on the Ayako Kimura Japan 13.13 Birhanu Balew Bahrain 13:37.42 the national record with 13.35, Nazarov of Tajikistan proved track. Japan emerged the win- Chen Jiamin China 13.24 PB Albert Rop Bahrain 13:37.57 while Chen Kuei-Rui complet- once again why he’s Asia four- ner, beating China. Masumi Aoki Japan 13.28 Hiroki Matsueda Japan 13:45.44 ed the podium. time champion with a season 60m specialist Xie Zhenye MEN’S 110M HURDLES WOMEN’S 4X400M “I am so excited. I was in best 76.14m throw on his fifth blazed to the 200m gold, as Xie Wenjun China 13.21 CR, WL, PB Bahrain 3:32.10 SB great shape and the track of try. Qatar’s Femi Ogunode pulled Yaqoub al Youha Kuwait 13.35 PB, NR India 3:32.21 SB this wonderful stadium helped “I couldn’t find my rhythm his left hamstring again just Chen Kuei-Ru Chinese Taipei 13.39 equals PB, NR Japan 3:34.88 SB me beat the Championship re- due to the cold but I made a after the bend, much to the WOMEN’S 200M MEN’S 4X400M cord,” said the Chinese. few big ones in the end. I have disappointment of the home Salwa Nasser Bahrain 22.74 CR, PB Japan 3:02.94 Chinese duo Feng Bin won so many titles in my ca- fans. The 200m Asian record Olga Safronova Kazakhstan 22.87 SB China 3:03.55 PB, NR and Chen Yang did not disap- reer but not a World Cham- holder was a surprise starter Dutee Chand India 22.24 (.232) SB Qatar 3:03.95 point as they claimed the gold pionships gold. Maybe I will having been doubtful after MEN’S 200M MEN’S HAMMER THROW and silver, respectively in the make it in Doha,” the Tajik suffering an injury in the Xie Zhenye China 20.33 Dilshod Nazarov Tajikistan 76.14 SB women’s discus throw. Feng who is also president of the same hamstring on Tuesday. Yuki Koike Japan 20.55 Ashraf El Seify Qatar 73.76 had the longest throw going country’s athletics federation Zhenye stunned Asian Games Yaqoub Salem Bahrain 20.84 Sukhrob Hodjayev Uzbekistan 72.85 into the competition this sea- said. gold medallist Yuki Koike who son and followed up with the Ashraf who beat the Tajik could only settle for the silver. championship record with at the Asian Games last year, “I had a glance at the clock leapt to a world lead 2.31 in why I tried in all heights which 65.36m. Thailand’s Subenrat settled for silver while Uzbeki- after the race and I wasn’t re- the men’s high jump final. I really don’t like doing. I Insaeng who was the runner- stan’s Sukhrob Hodjayev com- ally satisfied with my time. I With record holder Mutaz eased into it after making the up at the 2017 meet landed the pleted the podium. finished faster in the semis Bashim out due to injury and qualifying mark for the World bronze. “It took me some time to and I expected to do better, looking on from the stands, Championships (2.30) but I Salwa Nasser stormed to find my rhythm because of apparently I was tired from Ghazal clearly dominated the personally put the bar at 2.35,” another medal and champi- the cold but however, it hap- Tuesdays’ races,” Zhenye said. field and gunned for Bashim’s Ghazal said. onship record in the women’s pens with hammer throwers Syria’s Majdeddin Ghazal record of 2.35 which he set in “It is strange but after 200m final. The 20-year-old to slowly find a big throw,” claimed his first Asian Cham- Kobe, Japan in 2011. Ghazal so many years competing at breezed past Olga Safronova Ashraf said. pionship gold medal on his however, after a few tries gave Asia Championships, this is in the final 40 metres adding Syria’s Majdeddin Ghazal on the podium with his men’s high jump “I want to throw 80m this seventh appearance as the up. only my first gold medal,” another gold to her kitty in this gold medal on Wednesday. season; that is my aim. If I lanky Damascus-born jumper “I was feeling cold that’s the 32-year-old Asian Games championships. Sports Thursday, April 25, 2019 17 QATAR BEAT SAUDI ARABIA IN WORLD CURLING BALUSHI GUIDES RASSAN TO CLUB CUP Rider al Moatasem al Balushi led Rassan, owned by Jassim bin Ali al Attiyah and trained by Jassim Ghazali, to a strong finish in the Club Cup (Late Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari) at the 46th Race Meeting at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Racecourse on Wednesday. The nine-year-old gray horse defeated Kasser with Tadgh O’Shea astride by two lengths on the dirt track. Third Qatar recorded their first-ever win in the World Mixed Curling Championship as they defeated the Saudi Arabian rivals in place went to Ateej and Raqee was fourth, followed by Caid De L’Ardus in the fifth spot. This was the third win of the season for Norway. In a mixed doubles match, Qatar posted a fine 7-3 triumph. Rassan after the Doha Cup in November and the Fuweiret Cup last month, taking his victories to 17 in 54 races. Seven Qataris members in Attiyah eyes lucky OCA standing committees TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK 13th win in Jordan DOHA THE Olympic Council of Asia TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK (OCA) announced the names DOHA of heads and members of its standing committees for the THE Jordan Rally, round two term from 2019 to 2023. of the 2019 FIA Middle East Seven Qatari nominees Rally Championship, gets un- were selected as members in derway at Abdali Boulevard in the OCA standing committees the heart of Amman on Thurs- including Ishaq al Hashemi in day evening.