SPORT Tuesday 26 September 2017 PAGE | 30 PAGE | 31 PAGE | 36 Dortmund out to Ronaldo struggles, Federer leads ruin Ronaldo’s superb Messi form Europe to maiden big day spark Ballon d’Or racee Laver Cup title 23rd Gulf Cup: Qatar in Group B The draw ceremony of Gulf Cup Football Tournament in progress in Doha yesterday. Pictures: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula Rizwan Rehmat Executive Committee members unity among thee fans,”fans,” he The Peninsula were also present. GULF CUP added. Officials from Saudi Arabia, Al Shaibani, Chairmanhairman of atar yesterday said it was the UAE and Bahrain did not the Gulf Competitionstions Com-Com- going ahead with its attend the draw ceremony. mittee, yesterday said tteamseams preparations to host the “Qatar is ready to organise that decide to boycottoycott the hugely popular Gulf Cup and host this tournament,” Jas- event could face fines.ines. Qfootball event which sim Al Rumaihi, General “We confirm that this scheduled to be held from Decem- Secretary of AGCFF, said tournament is thee firstfirst tour-tour- ber 22 to January 5. yesterday. nament to be heldd underunder thethe Also yesterday, officials of the “As of now, we are ready to supervision of thehe newly-newly- regional body, Arab Gulf Cup Foot- host the tournament. If we have formed AGCFF. Thehe ruleruless anandd ball Federation (AGCFF) expressed less number of teams, then the regulations have beenbeen pre-pre- confidence that the 23rd edition of event will be held on a round- pared with the approvalproval of aalllll the eight-nation event will feature robin format. But right now, we participating countries,”untries,” Al teams from the entire region. are going full steam with our prep- “We received a letter from the Shaibani explained. Hosts Qatar were yesterday arations,” he added. Bahrain Football Federation ask- As for the date of the announce-announce- drawn with Bahrain, Iraq and “Preparations are in full swing. ing us to postpone the tournament ment of the fixtures, Shaibaniaibani saisaid:d: Yemen in Group A. Saudi Arabia, The agreement has been signed with due to the absence of Kuwait. We “It will be developedoped andand Oman and the United Arab Emir- the Local Organising Committee responded to the letter that the announced in coordinationion withwith thethe ates have been placed in Group B (LOC) in Qatar. Now we are coordi- tournament will be held on the LOC and title sponsors.”” with possible inclusion of Kuwait nating with the LOC regarding the basis of the consultative meeting Al Rumaihi said iff onlyonly fourfour who are currently suspended by final preparations including the held in Bahrain (sometime back),” teams were available toto play - in FIFA. opening and closing ceremonies. We Al Rumaihi said. case of pull-outs from Saudi Ara-Ara- Qatar Football Association hope all teams will participate in the “The AGCFF was established by bia, the UAE and Bahrainin - a freshfresh (QFA) President Sheikh Hamad bin tournament,” he said. eight member countries to make decision would be takenken byby thethe Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Thani and “We hope Kuwait will partici- football reach all corners of the AGCFF whether to stagestage thethe QFA Vice President Saoud Al pate in the tournament because it region. The body was established tournament. Mohannadi attended the draw cer- is one of the founding members of to professionalise the growth of the The last edition wass won byby emony that also saw the presence AGCFF. Kuwait’s participation will game. We hope this is how we Qatar after they beat hostshosts of Qatar Olympic Committee Sec- be addressed by the Executive move forward, for the common Saudi Arabia in Novembermber retary General Dr Thani Al Kuwari. Committee of the AGCF in the com- good of the game in the region,” Al 2014. It was the third titletitle Ahmed Al Buainain, QFA Exec- ing weeks,” Al Rumaihi said. Rumaihi said. win for Qatar. The UAEE fin-fin- utive Committee member, Hani Al Rumaihi admitted the Bah- “We hope to hold the tourna- ished in the third spot,spot, Ballan, QFA Executive Committee rain Football Federation had ment on time. We are clear in the followed by Oman in fourthurth member, Mansoor Al Ansari, Gen- approached Qatar for a postpone- mind so we will not mix politics place. eral Secretary of QFA, and AGCFF ment of the event. with sports because football builds China dominate short course swimming in Ashgabat The Peninsula hopes dashed when Thailand’s China finished Ashgabat category, and Paliha golden in Darika Peanpailun answered 2017 Short Course Swimming the -75kg class. he Ashgabat 2017 5th Asian back just a minute later. While competition with 29 medals Finally, the first medals of Indoor and Martial Arts Japan pressed hard to again tie total, 11 of which were gold, to the Indoor Tennis tournament TGames continued for the things up by bringing forward more than double the best were awarded on Monday, with 10th day yesterday, where 11 dif- their goalkeeper for a numbers results of any other nation in the Thailand’s Nicha Lertpitaksin- ferent sports were up for contest, advantage, Jenjira Bubpha was pool. chai and Nuttanon including medal competition in able to lob in a shot from her The first day of DanceSport Kadchapanan claiming Mixed Billiard Sports, DanceSport, own side of centre into the open competition saw more excellent Doubles gold in three sets over Indoor Tennis, Kickboxing, net to seal the deal and ensure results for the delegation from India’s Prarthana Thombare Sambo, Short Course Swimming, Thailand the gold. China, with two pairs of Chinese and Jagadeesan Vishnuvardhan Weightlifting, Wrestling, and the The Games records contin- dancers finishing Monday with – 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. bronze and gold medal games ued to fall right up to the very two gold medal victories, as At the end of the day, the in women’s Futsal. end in the pool, as the final day Yuan Shaoyang and Qi Chongx- medal table saw Turkmenistan The big story of the day was of Short Course Swimming uan won the Waltz and the holding on to a lead atop the the woman’s Futsal gold medal action at Ashgabat 2017 saw five Tango events, and Qiu Yuming standings that looks all but finals, where Japan and Thailand new records established, by and Wei Liying took victories in unassailable; with just two days squared off after a long and Vietnam’s Thi Anh Vien Nguyen the Slow Foxtrot and of competition left, the host A Chinese swimmer in action during the hard-fought tournament, with in the women’s 100m Medley, Quickstep. nation owns 229 medals, 85 of Short Course Swimming competition at Japan looking to make it four- China’s Sun Meichen in the And continue the theme of which our gold, while the Peo- Ashgabat 2017 Games yesterday. China straight AIMAG gold medals. women’s 100m Freestyle, Kaza- good fortune for China, China’s ple’s Republic of China, next finished Ashgabat 2017 Short Course However, Thailand took an khstan’s Adil Kaskabay in the wrestlers also shone on Monday, best in the standings, has but 34 Swimming competition with 29 medals early lead in the contest, putting men’s 100m Freestyle, Korea’s taking three of four possible gold golds and 77 total medals. total, 11 of which were gold, to more than Japan behind for the first time Kim Daleun in the women’s 50m medals in women’s Freestyle Qatar are placed 15th, hav- double the best results of any other nation in the tournament. Battling hard, Breaststroke, and, finally, by Wrestling competition, with Pei ing bagged four gold medals, in the pool. Japan was able to equalize in the China’s men’s 4x100m Medley Xingru winner in the -58kg cat- three silver and two bronze 35’ minute, only to have their Relay team. egory, Xu Rui victorious in -63kg medals. 30 SPORT TUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2017 Koh set to boost Al Rayyan in crunch Al Duhail clash Fawad Hussain have secured full six points from and Al Arabi with ease in their South Korean The Peninsula their first two matches so far. first two matches. The Al Rayyan-Al Duhail Belmadi will be expect midfielder Koh outh Korean midfielder clash has been dubbed as nothing less than a win in this Myong-jin will Koh Myong-jin will be ‘Match-of-the-Week’ and a win match, as his new side looks to be back for Sback in action when his for either team will give it’s start their first season with an Al Rayyan in side Al Rayyan will take on Al players a huge amount confi- eye on Falcon Trophy. clash against Duhail in a crunch QNB Stars dence in their hunt for the Meanwhile, Al Khor are Al Duhail on League (QSL) match to be lucrative title. likely to welcome back two key Friday. played at Al Sadd Stadium this Al Rayyan coach Michael players ahead of their round weekend. Laudrup will be looking to find three game against Al Kharaiti- Koh missed Al Rayyan’s 3-1 the balance in defence and yat on Friday. Antonio Conte victory against Al Kharaitiyat in attack for the crucial tie the According to QSL website the previous round due to one- return of Koh will certainly help yesterday, club officials have match suspension for the red his sides cause as the balance confirmed that the Knights will Homesick card he picked up in Rayyan’s will be important in breaking welcome back Naif Al Buraiki opening game against Al Khor. up Al Duhail attacks. into the squad, after his one- The seasoned midfielder’s Al Rayyan will head into the match ban.