FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 NNBABA | Page 5 Peru beats Embiid New Zealand dominates to capture last as Sixers WC berth beat Lakers Friday, November 17, 2017 CRICKET Safar 28, 1439 AH Sri Lanka’s Lakmal GULF TIMES rattles India on rain-hit day SPORT Page 4 QNB QATAR INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP Qatar’s al-Emadi, Zorro Z take opening day honours ‘It was a great win. I am very happy with my horse’s performance on the first day and we are looking forward to the next two days’ By Sahan Bidappa Doha atar’s Salman Mohamed al- Emadi put on an excellent round with Zorro Z to emerge triumphant on day one of the QQNB Qatar International Show Jump- ing Championship. At the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s outdoor arena yesterday, the young Qatari rider surprised the experienced fi eld, which consisted of Derin Demir- soy of Turkey and Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, to clinch the feature event – the two-phased 145cm class. The 16-year-old Zorro Z, who was in the past ridden by Edwina, gave al- Emadi a night he won’t forget in a hurry as the gelding showed utmost agility through the course to clock the fastest time of 35.34 seconds. Past winners here, Demirsoy and Ed- wina had to be content with second and third place respectively on the night. Al-Emadi, who pocketed €6,765 for his victory, was delighted with the victory and was already looking to the next two days of competitions. “It was a great win. I am very happy Winner Salman Mohamed al-Emadi (background centre), second-placed Derin Demirsoy (left) and third-placed Edwina Qatar’s Salman Mohamed al-Emadi rides Zorro Z to victory on day one of the QNB with my horse’s performance on the Tops-Alexander celebrate with Qatar Equestrian Federation president Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah (front left) on the Qatar International Show Jumping Championship at the QEF’s outdoor arena fi rst day and we are looking forward podium of the feature event of QNB Qatar International Show Jumping Championship yesterday. PICTURES: Lotfi Garsi yesterday. to the next two days of competition. My horse jumped really great. That’s “I have a young horse. She is just home in 64.54 seconds. 1. Salman Mohamed al-Emadi (Qatar) what I was expecting from Zorro Z. I eight. She was on the plane for the fi rst In the championships’ opening com- Zorro Z. Time: 35.34 secs, Prize money: hope it can continue in the way. When time. So it is a good result. I will try petition, Qatar riders made a clean €6,765 I entered the competition, I was ready. two more horses over the course of this sweep of podium in the 120cm class, 2. Derin Demirsoy (Turkey) Dadjak Ter Now we are looking forward to the next event,” Edwina said. which also had riders from Uzbekistan, Puttenen. 36.87. €4,920 competition in this championship,” al- Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohamed Indonesia, Pakistan and Kuwait. 3. Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) Emadi said. was unable to replicate his famous GCT Saeed Nasser al-Qadi, who has been Veronese Teamjoy. 38.32 secs. €3,690. Demirsoy also enjoyed a good round victory at Al Shaqab last weekend. in fi ne form in the National Series Table A, Against the clock FEI Art. with Dadjak Ter Puttenen but the pair Bassem mounting The Toymaker could Hathab, continued his winning run in 238.2.1 | Max. 130/135 cm | Prize Money had to settle for second place, having only fi nish eighth, having taken 41.91 the international event too. Al-Qadi €8,000 clocked 36.87 seconds. “It was a great seconds to complete the round. topped the timesheets with his go-to 1 Salmeen Sultan al-Suwaidi (Qatar) start for me and my horse. It was a good Earlier, Qatari rider Salmeen Sultan horse, 15-year-old gelding Jessico 4 to Guilder’s Empire of The Sun. Time: day,” said Demirsoy, who took home al-Suwaidi astride Guilder’s Empire take the victory in 24.17 seconds. 58.75secs, Prize money: €2,000 €4,920 in prize money. “You know of The Sun cruised to victory in the Compatriot Mohammad al-Ghazali, 2. Awad al-Qahtani (Qatar) Cassander never know in this sport but today eve- 130/135cm class. Al-Suwaidi mar- astride Jackson 58, fi nished in second Van Het Bremhof. 64.26secs. €1,600 rything went according to plan. I am shalled his 8-year gelding perfectly for spot in a time of 26.73 seconds, while 3. Ali al-Khorafi (Kuwait) Cheril. competing with the same horse (to- a comprehensive win in a time of 58.75 Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi and Fudine fi n- 64.54secs. €1,200 Children enjoy pony rides at the QEF’s outdoor arena yesterday. day),” the Turkish rider added. seconds. ished third in 27.27 seconds. Table A, Two Phases FEI Art. 274.5.3 | Two-time Global Champions Tour Awad al-Qahtani, astride Cassander Max. 120 cm | Prize money: €5,600 3. Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi (Qatar) 15:30: Table A, Against the clock with winner Edwina and Veronese Teamjoy Van Het Bremhof, secured the second Results 1. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Qatar) Jessico Fudine. 27.27secs. €840.00 Jump Off 135 cm came home in 38.32 seconds for a third- spot in a time of 64.26 seconds. In third Table A, Special Two Phases FEI Art. 4. Time: 24.17secs. Prize money: €1,400 Today’s Schedule 18:00: Qualifying competition for the place fi nish, which fetched the veteran place was Kuwait’s Ali al-Khorafi , who 274.5.6 | Max. 145 cm | Prize money 2. Mohamed al-Ghazali (Qatar) Jackson 13:30: Table A, Against the clock with FEI World Cup Table A, Against the Australian rider €3,690. riding under the FEI fl ag guided Cheril €24,600 58. 26.73secs. €1,120.00 Jump 120 cm clock 145 cm. FOOTBALL / GULF CUP Organisers extend Kuwait deadline till Nov 30 AFP Doha ulf Cup hosts Qatar said yes- terday they have received no response from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and GBahrain as the deadline for their confi r- mation for the regional football show- piece passed on November 13. Consequently, the three teams will be considered as having “withdrawn” from the tournament which is scheduled to Gulf Cup Football Federation general start on December 22. “There was no secretary Jassim al-Rumaihi. response to our letter and they are with- drawn from the tournament,” said Jas- the tournament will be cancelled, said sim al-Rumaihi, Gulf Cup Football Fed- the GCFF. eration general secretary (GCFF). Although Kuwait is not part of the po- Doubts have hung over the Gulf Cup litical dispute — it has acted as a regional because of an illegal siege on Qatar mediator since the crisis began back in which began in June. June — its football association has its The only chance that it will go ahead own problems and remains suspended by now rests with Kuwait, which was given FIFA, which means it is unclear if its team a November 30 deadline yesterday to say is eligible to play in the tournament. if they will play in the competition. “We have given 15 days for Kuwait to If that deadline cannot be met, then solve their problems,” said al-Rumaihi. Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani (centre) headed the Executive Committee meeting yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Friday, November 17, 2017 FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Federation Arsenal’s Wenger is a special boss under pressure manager, says Pochettino in Italy Reuters ‘In football history he’s one of the great managers, the same level as Ferguson’ Milan Reuters in the last two seasons. “That’s why my taly’s football federation London respect and admiration is high.” president Carlo Tavecchio While Tottenham have begin to re- faced pressure to follow dress the balance in north London af- coach Gian Piero Ventura rsene Wenger is a ‘special ter years of Arsenal domination, they Iout the door yesterday as the re- manager’ and one of the great- are without a victory at the Emirates criminations continued follow- est innovators in English foot- for seven years. The last three league ing their failure to qualify for the ball, Tottenham Hotspur boss games between the sides have ended in World Cup. Ventura was sacked AMauricio Pochettino said yesterday 1-1 draws. on Wednesday, two days after a ahead of this weekend’s north London Tottenham are hoping that striker goalless draw at home to Swe- derby against Arsenal. Harry Kane, who has a remarkable den meant that Italy would miss Argentine Pochettino is unbeaten record of scoring against Arsenal, is fi t the fi nals for the fi rst time since in six Premier League meetings with after a hamstring problem meant he 1958. The infl uential sports daily Wenger’s Arsenal since arriving from missed international friendlies for Eng- Gazzetta dello Sport devoted an Southampton in 2014, and last season land against Germany and Brazil. Dele entire editorial yesterday calling Tottenham fi nished above Arsenal in Alli and Harry Winks, who also sat out for the 74-year-old Tavecchio, the league for the fi rst time in 22 years. England duty, will be assessed, along who was responsible for the ill- Third-placed Tottenham are already with Kane, today. fated decision to appoint Ven- four points above the Gunners this sea- Should they all return it would make tura, to step down.