SPORT Thursday 30 May 2019 PAGEP | 25 PAGE | 27 England Federer and Nadalal laulaunch World power into third CCupup bbid against round at French SoSouth Africa Open Qatar ready for uphill task against USA THE PENINSULA FIFA U-20 World Cup team to ensure their passage to Qatar displayed a gallant TYCHY, POLAND the knockout stage from Group performance against Ukraine D, for the fourth time in their in their second group match Qatar, after losing their first two games, must beat USA Qatar players are ready for an history, by defeating Qatar 1-0 in on Monday. uphill task when they face the by a good margin to keep hopes alive for last 16 stage. Tychy. United States in their final match They can now approach their of the preliminary stage at FIFA The tournament’s 24-team format allows the four best third and final Group D game U-20 World Cup today. third-placed countries from the groups to also progress. against Nigeria – who lost to a Qatar, coached by Bruno USA side that played some Miguel, have lost matches against attractive football. Nigeria and Ukraine at the In an even contest against Ukraine, Qatar displayed Ukraine have now advanced 24-team tournament. better cohesion before conceding a second-half goal. to the Round of 16 in all four of However, the tournament’s their appearances in competition 24-team format allows the four history (2001, 2005, 2015 and best third-placed countries from Maksym Chekh. He will miss tournament with six points from 2019). However, they have yet to the groups to also progress. today’s match. two matches. reach the quarter-finals. In an even contest against Qatar’s young squad has Along with Ukraine, other Nigeria and the US each have Ukraine, Qatar displayed better shown flashes of brilliance in teams to qualify for the next stage three points from two matches cohesion before conceding a their two matches. include Uruguay and New in Group D. second-half goal on Monday. However, a stern test awaits Zealand joining already-qualified Also on Tuesday, Argentina Qatar also received a blow as the Al Annabi squad. Italy and Senegal in the last 16 of beat Portugal 2-0 at the Bielsko- captain Nasir Peer was shown a Ukraine have qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Biala Stadium to book La Albice- red card for a late tackle on the next round of the The Ukrainians were the first leste’s spot in the last 16. QAED, new academic Copa America stint will reap programme for all athletes launched long-term rewards, says Afif THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA DOHA RIO DE JANEIRO The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s Josoor Institute, National team striker Ali Afif It is a very important Qatar Football Association (QFA), Qatar Stars League (QSL) and yesterday said Qatar featuring at Qatar Players’ Association jointly launched an initiative named Copa America will help the young event for all the QAED leadership programme. squad get long-term benefits. players, especially The programme aims to enable current and former ath- Asian champions Qatar are for the younger ones. letes with the desire to pursue further education to broaden set to feature at next month’s their intellectual and educational horizon, and to significantly Copa America. It will be Qatar’s This will give us a very increase post sports-career security in the job market while maiden appearance at the good experience as we following their professional Sports career. 12-team tournament that has prepare for the 2022 QSL CEO Hani Taleb Ballan said the QSL, in co-ordination huge following across the football FIFA World Cup: Ali Afif with its partners and stakeholders, was keen to provide world. assistance to athletes and thus launched this initiative called Coached by Felix Sanchez, Qatari players during a QAED, one of the best educational programmes for athletes. Qatar arrived in Brazil on training session in Rio De gain more experience at the same “We’re proud to have partnered the Qatar Football Family Monday following a short stay in Janeiro on Tuesday. time,” he added. in launching this initiative, and I wish success to all our ath- Texas, United States. Qatar have camped at Porto letes who long to join this programme in order to achieve their Qatar are set to play matches Belo, a coastal town just not too goals and ambitions,” said Ballan. against Argentina, Columbia and South American football giants. “I will do everything in my far away from Rio de Janeiro. QFA General Secretary Mansoor Al Ansari praised the Paraguay. It is a different school of football power to get the opportunity to Coach Sanchez is currently programme. “It is a very important event and we have never played against play well,” Qatar striker Al Ansari helping the squad prepare for an “The interest in the development of former and current for all the players, especially for them before,” Afif added. said. international friendly against professional athletes, especially in education and management, the younger ones. This will give us “We will certainly strive to “This is one of the toughest hosts and five-time World Cup comes within the framework of QFA’s Vision 2021 and it aligns a very good experience as we give honourable performance. tournaments anywhere in the winners Brazil at the famous with the Qatar National Vision 2030. It also reflects QFA’s prepare for the 2022 FIFA World We will go for the best results and world. All the Latin American Maracana Stadium. keenness to stay updated when it comes to leadership and Cup,” Afif, who plays for Al Duhail, confirm our status as Asian teams will be there. I think our According to team officials, progress,” said Al Ansari. said in an interview during team champions. We have not come group - that has Argentina, players are adjusting quickly to “We’re proud of this programme, which supports the devel- training session yesterday. here just to play. We want to win Columbia and Paraguay - doesn’t the six-hour time different opment of young people as well as athletes, and comes in the “We are competing against and succeed in the matches we need any deep evaluation. It is a between Qatar and Brazil. interest of sports in general. It gives everyone the opportunity play,” he added. tough group with quality sides,” After the Brazil clash, Qatar to develop further,” said Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive QATAR FIXTURES “I know that every player he added. are scheduled to play a friendly Director of Competitions and Football Development (Acting) wishes to do well for Qatar in this “Despite the difficulty of this against a local club on June 9 at QSL. June 5: Brazil vs Qatar tournament. This will be our first group, we have a lot of optimism before the coach trims the squad For her part, Josoor Institute, Executive Director Afraa Al (international friendly) appearance in Copa America to achieve positive results, to of 28 players to 23 for Copa Noaimi said: “QAED the academic programme, we’ve launched June 9: Qatar vs club (friendly) tournament and we want to do make strong performances. We America set to be held between in co-operation with our partners in Qatar, is one of the most really well,” he said. have confidence in our capabil- June 15 to July 9. important and effective initiatives to support the country’s sports June 16: Qatar vs Paraguay Afif’s team-mate Abdulaziz ities and potential to do well. Our The entire squad has had a capabilities. We’re always keen to support education of profes- June 20: Qatar vs Colombia Al Ansari said he was looking presence in a strong group is in few training sessions that has sional athletes and help them obtain certificates in studies.” June 23: Qatar vs Argentina forward to making the playing our favour because it will bring centred around physical drills on XI. us the best out of us and we will the pitch. Al Attiyah consolidates lead at Kazakhstan Rally THE PENINSULA crews went out into a picturesque rocky today in order to increase the gap between off-road vehicle, Bernhard continues to of his car. But we had a tire puncture, we KENDERLI valley, where a high-speed section was other race drivers. It was not so simple, but demonstrate an impressive desire for changed the wheel. After that, we safely waiting for them along the Ustyurt plateau. I am happy. I didn’t drive too much, because leadership in the Rally Kazakhstan 2019. drove the rest of the special stage and fin- Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah yesterday The best time was shown by the pilot this stage is more technical and demanded The race driver, taking into account yes- ished. I am pleased with the result, but set the fastest time at Rally Kazakhstan from Al Attiyah, breaking the track in 3 a lot of navigation,” Al Attiyah said terday’s result, rose from fourth to second there are still three days of races ahead, 2019 - the third round of the FIA World hours 9 minutes and 11 seconds. This victory yesterday. place in the overall standings. ”said Ten Brinke after the finish. Cup for Cross Country Rallies - strength- allowed the duet of Al Attiyah and Mathieu The first ever Dutchman to win a Dakar “Today I started the second race, after The current champion of the World Cup ening his lead in the overall standings. Baumel to strengthen the leadership in the special stage behind the wheel of an Nasser, I saw dust from under the wheels for Cross Country Rallies Jakub Przygonski Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke overall standings of pilots and break away passed the third special stage quickly and climbed to second spot while Polish pilot from the close competitors of Bernhard efficiently.