SPORT Wednesday 14 June 2017 PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Morgan drops Durant powers Federer ready Bairstow hint ahead Warriors to for return with of today's semi-final NBA title Wimbledon in sights Little Iraqi Memorable victory for Qatar dents Japan's World Cup bid Hasan Al Haydos stars a packed crowd at the venue, the for Al Anabi Al Anabi - ranked 88th in the Tehran world – never let their higher AFP Striker Hasan Al ranked opponents dominate the Haydos scores a game, to secure full points. iminutive midfielder brace while Afif was Al Haydos scored one goal in Mahdi Kamil's late the other scorer for each session while Akram Afif Dequaliser jolted the home side in was the other scorer as Qatar Japan's World Cup qualifying important win downed the World No.43, much bid as they were held to an to the jubilation of home crowd. unexpected 1-1 draw with Goalkeeper Saad Al Apart from the two scorers, Iraq yesterday. Qatari goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb The Blue Samurai seemed Sheeb also played also played key role in the mem- to be cruising to victory in key role with brilliant orable victory with remarkable neutral Tehran after Yuya saves to make home saves in crunch situations. Osako's first-half goal, before fans proud in Doha The Al Sadd star Al Haydos the 164cm (5ft 4in) Kamil gave Qatar a lead with a stun- poached the equaliser on 73 Fawad Hussain ning goal in the 25th minute minutes. The Peninsula when the talismanic No. 10 spot- The result meant Japan ted a free kick up around 5 yards moved one point clear at the triker Hasan Al Haydos outside the Korean penalty area top of Group B but missed the was the star as Qatar and curled a brilliant effort into chance to go three ahead of handed South Korea a Kwoun Suntae's bottom left- both Saudi Arabia and Aus- shock 3-2 defeat in their hand corner. tralia -- their final two pool Qatar's players celebrate after scoring a goal during the World Cup 2018 Asia qualifying match group A World Cup The visitors looked to try and stage opponents. S2018 Asia qualifying match at the hit back immediately with against South Korea at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha yesterday. With Iraq already out of Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Hwang Heechan managing to the running for Russia 2018, Doha, yesterday. take ball to the Qatari penalty The hosts went close to dou- down the left in the 41st minute, after Qatar coach Jorge Fossati Japan looked lively early on Entering the match as under- area, but dragged his shot well bling their advantage with and was about to pull the trigger sent Musaab Khidir to replace and they took the lead after a dogs but backed well by almost wide. Abdelkarim Hassan bursting before a last ditch challenge sees AbdelKarim Hassan. Keisuke Honda corner in the him shank his shot somewhat. Hwang Heechan levelled the eighth minute. Al Sheeb denied South Korea score for South Korea in the 70th Twenty minutes into the the equaliser with a great save minute. second half, Osako came des- in the next minute. Lee Keunho But the hosts were in no perately close to making it burst clear of the Qatari defence mood to drop points and 2-0 when his close-range and rifled a shot at goal with his restored their lead with Al Hay- shot glanced off the post fol- left foot but Sheeb downed dos completing his brace, five lowing Hiroki Sakai's smartly to his left to turn the ball minutes later to stamp the win. pullback in the box. behind for a corner, which was Captain Rodrigo Tabata played Kamil turned the game on cleared away. a through ball to the Al Sadd its head when he took advan- Qatar entered the second striker who made no mistake. tage of some defensive half with an aggressive strategy disarray to score the leveller and succeeded in doubling their RESULTS on 72 minutes. lead with Akram Afif scoring in After Alaa Abdul Zahra's the 51st minute. The Al Anabi star Group A slaloming run was brought to picked the ball up just outside Qatar 3 (Haydoos 25, 75, Afif 61) South Korea a halt, Japan failed to clear the the Korean penalty area, plays a ball and it bounced to Kamil, 2 (KI Sungyueng 62, Hwang Heechan 70) swift one-two with Al Haydos who gratefully slammed it Syria 2 (Al Mawas 12-pen, Al Salih 90+3) China and rifled a shot past Kwoun home. Suntae. 2 (Gao Lin 68-pen, Wu Xi 74) The top two teams from Ten minutes later, the South Group B each of Group A and B qual- Koreans seeking to avoid to the Iraq 1 (Kamil 73) Japan 1 (Osako 8) ify automatically for next shock defeat found their first Thailand 1 (Mongkol 69) United Arab Emirates 1 year's World Cup in Russia, Qatari fans stand in the stalls prior to the start of the World Cup 2018 Asia qualifying match goal when KI Sungyueng scored (Mabkhout 90+3) while the third-placed sides between Qatar and South Korea at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha yesterday. to reduced the lead to 2-1, soon go into a play-off series. Aspire Academy to celebrate graduation of future stars The Peninsula Academy, it has become a part of my family, and I always keep spire Academy today will in touch with teachers, coaches celebrate the graduation and administrative staff.” Aof 38 student-athletes in Fahad Ali Shnain Al Abdul- several sports, including foot- rahman: Football player, 2014 ball, squash, athletics, Graduate Qatar's double gymnastics, table tennis, and Fahad Al Abdul Rahman fencing, who will make up the Olympic medallists Shnain is a football left-back Hammer thrower next generation of Qatar’s sports Mutaz Essa Barshim who currently plays for Belgian Ashraf El Seify teams and clubs. is also an Aspire First Division A side KAS Eupen graduated from Senior officials from Aspire graduate. on loan from Al Sadd SC. He Aspire Academy in Zone will attend the ceremony, represented the Qatar national 2014. along with representatives from line-up of former graduates in London. His silver-medal win football team on several occa- local sports federations and who have left a mark in sports landed him the Athlete of the sions. The 22-year-old defender education institutions. Dr Has- on a local, regional and inter- Year award at the Esquire Man won second place in the ‘Le Lion san Rashid Al Derham, President national levels. Their in 2016. Barshim is currently Belge 2017’ awards for the best of Qatar University, is the achievements are further proof maintaining the lead at the IAAF upcoming Arab players in the event’s guest of honour. of Aspire Academy’s excellence. Diamond League for the Belgian league. This event reflects Aspire Prominent success stories 2016/2017. Speaking about Aspire Academy’s decade of commit- across various sports: Speaking about Aspire Academy, Al Abdulrahman said: ment to the development of Mutaz Essa Barshim: High Academy, Barshim said: “Aspire “I wouldn’t have been the ath- winning Gold medals at the 14th Speaking about the Acad- young local talents and national Jumper, 2009 Graduate Academy played a vital role in lete I am today if it weren’t for IAAF World Junior Champion- emy, he said: “Balancing an teams in Qatar. Mutaz Barshim is a Qatari my sporting development. One Aspire Academy, and for that ships 2012 in Barcelona, Spain academic and sporting career Ever since it embarked on a track and field athlete who spe- of the biggest challenges an I’m eternally grateful. The Acad- with a record-breaking throw is not always easy. But Aspire path to become a global leader cialises in the high jump. He is inspiring athlete faces is being emy plays an important role in of 85.57m, and then again at the Academy allows us to do that, in sports and academic excel- the national record and Asian able to have the right balance the development of youth tal- 15th IAAF World Junior Cham- with lessons via the internet or lence by 2020, Aspire Academy record holder with a best mark between school and training. ents in Qatar.” pionships 2014 in Eugene, USA. special classes with teachers. It's has sought to provide a compre- of 2.43 m. He won Qatar’s first- Luckily for us, Aspire Academy’s Ashraf El Seify – Hammer These wins made him the the perfect environment in hensive academic, social and ever silver Olympic medal at the organised learning approach thrower, 2014 Graduate first athlete in the history of the every sense and you receive sporting programme for it 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio has supported us in finding and Ashraf El Seify is a Qatari World Junior Athletics Champi- exactly the kind of support you student-athletes. de Janeiro, and a bronze medal maintaining that balance. After hammer thrower. Among his onships to successfully defend need to be able to reach your Aspire Academy has along at the 2012 Summer Olympics going through a lot at the greatest achievements were his title. full sporting potential.” SPORT WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE 2017 21 NBA: Durant powers Warriors to title Oakland, United States AFP LeBron's triple evin Durant became a champion and lifted Golden State to double doesn't near-perfection as the Warriors cele- Kbrated their fifth NBA title on ease loss pain Monday, defeating Cleveland 129-120 to win their second NBA Finals in three seasons.